South Africa: Retired Chief Justice Moseneke heads access to justice committee Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has appointed a rationalisation committee tasked with identifying and finding solutions to barriers for access to justice. As we reimagine South Africa into a development State, we need to ensure that the structural barriers which inadvertently hamper access to justice are addressed systemically. I have no doubt that this committee, headed by retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Mosenke, will deliver a report which will bring our systems in line with the best global practices, Lamola said. Together with Moseneke, the committee will include: Retired Deputy Judge President of the High Court of South Africa Western Cape Division, Madam Judge Jeanette Traverso. Retired Chief Magistrate, Renuka Subban, of Verulam Magistrates Court. Retired Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Silas Ramaite. The Justice Department said that historically, those living in South Africa have long faced challenges when they attempt to access justice. Access to justice in South Africa is severely curtailed by the lingering effects of apartheid judicial demarcations and spatial planning. In some instances, the distances travelled by citizens who interact with the justice system, is excessive. In other instances, the proximity of police stations, legal aid and other State functionaries to a particular seat of a division of the High Court, has a bearing on the accessibility of the justice system, the department said. Work done by a previous departmental rationalisation committee ensured that all nine provinces have a High Court. According to the department, the work of this new committee is, in part, to ensure that human resources are distributed equitably to these courts. In order to ensure that these courts are able to fully service our population, the department must assess a number of factors. This includes measuring the population ratio against the number of judicial posts in a division. The rationalisation committee will [also] assess the judicial establishment of each Division of the High Court of South Africa, with a view to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of judicial posts across all divisions, the department said. The committee is expected to submit a report, together with recommendations, to the Minister within the next six months. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Chief Justice Mogoeng's decade of "excellent service" commended Acting Constitutional Court Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has thanked outgoing Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng for his decade of service as the head of the court and his commitment to the judiciary. Chief Justice Mogoengs term came to an end on Monday, following ten years as the head of the Constitutional Court. Under his stewardship, the Judiciary, as an Arm of State, has taken strides to vigorously protect its independence and prove itself as the guardian of the Constitution. I take this opportunity to thank Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng for his excellent service to the Judiciary and to the people of South Africa. Through his outstanding leadership Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng greatly enhanced the standing of the Judiciary in our country. He served this country as Chief Justice during some of the most difficult times in our constitutional democracy and was able to lead the Judiciary with courage, integrity and wisdom, Acting Chief Justice Zondo said. He added that Chief Justice Mogoeng made stellar contributions to the respect of the rule of law through groundbreaking judgements. [He] also made a huge contribution to our jurisprudence and wrote some of the most important judgments that have helped to strengthen and promote the rule of law, the supremacy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In this regard, the people of South Africa will not forget his judgment in the Nkandla matter, his secret ballot judgment in regard to the vote of no confidence in Parliament and his SARS judgment on racism and many others. It has been said that the Chief Justices judgment in the Nkandla matter provided a turning point on accountability and the fight against corruption in this country, Acting Chief Justice Zondo said. He thanked Chief Justice Mogoeng for his dedication to the judiciary over the past decade. We thank the Chief Justice for leading the Judiciary with distinction, for his humility and for his integrity. We thank him for his outstanding service to the people of this country. We thank his wife and family for giving him strong support during his term of office and for allowing him to devote as much time as he did to the service of the nation, he said. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: SA welcomes new High Commissioners and Ambassadors President Cyril Ramaphosa has presided over a ceremony to receive letters of credence from incoming diplomats from countries across the world. The diplomats hail from 15 countries from across Europe, North and South America and Africa and have been elected by their respective countries to serve as Ambassadors or High Commissioners to South Africa. While meeting the President, the senior diplomats took the opportunity to commit to strengthening ties between South Africa and their respective countries. South Africas biggest trading partners on the African continent, outside of Southern and East Africa, Nigeria and Ghana also presented their credentials to the President on Tuesday. New Ghanaian High Commissioner, Charles Owiredu reflected on the two countries shared past going back to the apartheid era. We in Ghana are happy to learn that yourself and [Ghanaian President] Nana Akufo-Addo, have escalated our Joint Commission to the level of a Bi-National Commission...this will further strengthen the relationship in terms of trade and investment and also, the people to people contact, Owiredu said. Incoming Nigerian High Commissioner Haruna Manta said his presence in the country would be to deepen exchanges in education, military training and other areas. Im here to build on the solid foundation laid by my predecessorsto promote trade between our two countries and to also promote our cultural exchanges, he said. Two of South Africas biggest international trade partners, Germany and the United Kingdom also committed to reinforcing bonds. The new German Ambassador Andreas Peschke said that President Ramaphosas recent visit to Germany underlined the importance of the ties between the two countries, which would be strengthened moving forward. Among the priorities for me by my government...are the following, first [is to] enhance the economic relationship between our countries by increasing the level of trade and investment. Second, [is to] cooperate in the field of skills development and education, third, cooperation in the area of health and particularly in the area of vaccines against COVID-19 and others and fourth, cooperation on a fair, just and green energy transition, Peschke said. Incoming United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland High Commissioner Antony Phillipson, who was born in South Africa, described links between the two countries as deep and enduring ties. Our aim is to strengthen this partnership through more trade and investment, enhancing bilateral engagements with a focus on inclusive economic growth and creating opportunities for all. That includes forging new links in areas like science and research. We must also stand together to face global challenges. The most immediate of course is COVID. As we tackle it nationally, we must work together in the G7, the G20, the Commonwealth and elsewhere, he said. The new Ambassadors and High Commissioners who presented their credentials are from: Republic of Bulgaria Oriental Republic of Uruguay Republic of Seychelles Republic of Burundi Republic of Turkey Republic of Sierra Leone United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Federal Republic of Nigeria Republic of Maldives Dominican Republic Canada Federal Republic of Germany Republic of Singapore Republic of Djibouti Republic of Cyprus -SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Ex-Crime Intelligence officer guilty of corruption A former police crime intelligence officer in the Eastern Cape has been has found guilty of corruption. In a statement, provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said: During May 2013, information was received by the East London-based Serious Corruption Investigation team that Khangelani Ngejane, then a member of the Crime Intelligence Division in Mount Frere, was extorting money from a State witness, claiming that the murder case she was acquitted on by virtue of being a State witness was reinstated. Mgolodela said Ngejane, 52, further claimed that he was assigned to investigate the case. He demanded R20 000 from the witness to make the said case docket disappear. The witness paid R5 000 and agreed to pay the balance in instalments. After paying the first instalment, the witness decided to lodge a criminal complaint with the East London Serious Corruption Investigation team. Mgolodela said in the second instance, a sting operation was conducted and the trap money was recovered from Ngejane. Ngejane was then arrested and released on bail. He was further subjected to an internal disciplinary hearing, which left him jobless. The ex-officer was convicted on Tuesday after numerous court appearances. The matter is remanded to 19 October 2021 for sentencing at Lusikisiki Regional Court. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Commission investigates Elgin Fruit Juice for supply of unsafe goods The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched an investigation into the conduct of Elgin Fruit Juice (PTY) LTD, following a recent recall of 100% apple juice by Coca-Cola Beverages, Pioneer Foods and Woolworths. Acting National Consumer Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza said that based on information provided to the NCC, the Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that Elgin Fruit Juice, the supplier of 100% Apple Juice Concentrate, supplied goods that are unsafe or pose a potential risk to the public. In a statement on Wednesday, Mabuza said the investigation will help the NCC understand the nature, causes, extent and degree of the risk to the public. The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) emphasises that every consumer has a right to receive goods that are safe and of good quality. If the investigation reveals that Elgin Fruit Juice (PTY) LTD contravened the provisions of the CPA, the Commission will refer the matter to the National Consumer Tribunal where we will be praying for an administrative fine of 10% of their total annual turnover or R1 000 000, whichever is the greater. The purpose and policy of the CPA amongst others, is to promote fair business practices while protecting consumers and ensuring that consumers enjoy their right to safe and good quality goods. "We will not allow a situation where the health of consumers is compromised, Mabuza said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Water dept buckles down to address Vaal pollution Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has encouraged different stakeholders to work together to ensure that there is clean water for the residents of Emfuleni. Mchunu made the call during his visit to Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal on Tuesday. Together with his two deputies, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi, Mchunu visited several waste water treatment plants in Emfuleni, with the aim of finding a permanent solution to the sewage spillage in the Vaal River. Mchunu said the department needs to locate the problems in the whole system, mainly spillage into the river and sewer spillage into residential areas. Those are the two things that we are focusing on here. Before we finalise this, we have to look at the root cause, including pump stations, pipes from residential areas, pump stations and waste treatment plants. The plants are half functional [and] the pump stations are either very low in terms of functionality or have not been functioning [Work] has started, Mchunu said. Speaking during public engagement with various stakeholders and NGOs, Mchunu warned that the department is not going to succeed unless it works with everyone in the provinces, so that if there is any change in government, the project doesnt change, including [after] fixing of all these problems. Work must be done at a level that is acceptable [and] will keep all the systems working. At the end of the day, we want the Vaal River to be functional, and to be able to assist economically and otherwise, Mchunu said. He also assured that government has the political will to find a permanent solution to the sewage spillage. He said the department has invested a sum of R100 million towards Phase One of the Sebokeng Bulk Waste Water Treatment Project. The whole project, Mchunu said, depends largely on governments political will, more than pumping of millions of rands into the project. The political will is there and it is critical to finding a permanent solution to the problem of sewage spillage at Emfuleni. The Minister used the occasion to extend governments apology to the local community for lowering its guard, which led to the sewage spillage. The biggest mistake that everyone has made was to turn Vaal River into a curse of pollution. The spillage of sewage into township houses was an unforgivable sin [and] the local communities were also wrong to destroy water and sanitation infrastructure. The last sin that we have committed as government was to lower our guard. I dont appreciate the failure to protect our precious river. We would like to extend our sincere our apology to the local community for our sins, Mchunu said. R200 million invested in waste water treatment Gauteng Premier David Makhura - who accompanied the Minister along with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC, Lebogang Maile - said the Gauteng Provincial Government has invested R200 million towards the Sebokeng Bulk Waste Water Treatment Project. The cleaning and reinvestment into the Vaal River is central to everything that is geared towards the regeneration of the economy in the Vaal. The Vaal Dam is the source of water for the Gauteng. However, the damage of infrastructure in the Vaal is a source of great concern, Makhura said. South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) chairperson in the Sedibeng Region, Mlungisi Hlongwane, said the lack of proper consultation with local stakeholders in the Vaal has not helped to bring awareness on the sewage spillage. We would like to see continuous consultation with other provinces that are also responsible for the pollution of the Vaal River. Emfuleni Municipality is not solely responsible for the pollution of the river, Hlongwane said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Post Office mail service now extended to 46 countries The South African Post Office (SAPO) has announced that more transport connections have become available under Adjusted Alert Level 1, which will see the national postal service expand its international mail service to 46 destinations. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country to Adjusted Level 1 lockdown in September. SAPO has reminded customers to include their cell phone number with their address details so that the delivering Post Office is able to send them a SMS when the item is ready for collection. Customers who are expecting an international item are requested to collect the item from their local Post Office when they receive a SMS asking them to do so, the State-owned postal service said. SAPO said international items will be delivered within an average of 10 work days. However, for a quicker service, the Post Office offers EMS, an international postal Express Mail Service, which delivers items within 24 hours of arrival in the destination country. The new SA Post Office is obsessed with the customer. Effective and efficient ways to serve customer needs are continuously being introduced, SAPO said. In addition, customers can easily access the electronic customs declaration form on the Post Office website for quick clearance of parcels. Meanwhile, South Africans are entitled to two tax-free gifts from abroad per year, provided the value of each gift is below R1 400. SAPO advises customers who send parcels abroad to pack the items very securely and to use padding, as the mail is transported as bulk freight. International parcels can be tracked all the way to delivery. It is illegal to send or receive live animals or plants, flammable or explosive goods or illegal substances such as drugs in the mail. Any form of medication may only be imported into South Africa if the sender has a permit to export medication to South Africa. Meanwhile, some countries do not allow the importing of any plant or animal products, even in sealed packaging. For more information, please visit the website of the postal administration in the receiving country According to the SAPO, the mail service is now available to the following countries: Road transport: Botswana Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Namibia Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Airmail: Albania Argentina Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Czech Republic Denmark England France Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary India Ireland Israel Italy Japan Maldives Mauritius Netherlands Oman Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Singapore Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Thailand Ukraine United Arab Emirates USA SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Bott Radio Network Announces the Passing of Oklahoma General Manager Paul Sublett NEWS PROVIDED BY Bott Radio Network Oct. 12, 2021 OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct. 12, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Rich Bott, Chairman & CEO of Bott Radio Network: Late last night I received word that one of our longest serving BRN colleagues passed into Eternity, due to a motorcycle accident. Paul Sublett faithfully served the Lord by fulfilling his role at Bott Radio Network for 37 years. He began as a Studio Operator in 1984. Over the years he also served as Engineer, Operations Manager and then Station Manager. During his tenure Paul oversaw the growth of BRN in Oklahoma from one 250 Watt AM daytime station, to 12 stations serving the state 24/7 including one of the biggest coverage AM stations and a 100,000 watt FM station from a 1,000 foot tower. All of them proclaiming the Truth of God's Word across Oklahoma. Paul died doing something he loved. He was on a motorcycle road trip vacation with his son, brother and a family friend through the scenic eastern Tennessee area when the accident took his life. (None of the others were involved in the accident.) We honor Paul's service. And I am thankful for his friendship. Please join us in praying for Paul's wife Mary, son Joey, and daughters Jessica and Jennifer as they grieve the loss of Paul. Information concerning funeral arrangements is not available at this time. Please also pray for our BRN colleagues in Oklahoma that the Lord will bless them as they build on the work to which Paul devoted his life. Joseph Palmer has been appointed to oversee the Oklahoma operations on an interim basis. Psalm 116:15 Rich Bott Chairman & CEO Bott Radio Network 913-642-7770 (office) bottradionetwork.com About Bott Radio Network Since its founding in 1962, Bott Radio Network (BRN) has grown from one radio station in Kansas City to become a world leader in Quality Christian Talk Radio with 120 radio stations reaching into 16 states with a combined coverage of 60 million people. BRN's quality Christian programs can be heard 24/7 worldwide at BottRadioNetwork.com and on mobile devices with BRN apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Additionally, BRN can be heard on iHeart Radio, Amazon Echo, Apple Music, TuneIn Radio, Roku and Apple TV. Bott Radio Network also connects with listeners on Facebook and Twitter. SOURCE Bott Radio Network CONTACT: Rich Bott, 913-642-7770 Share Tweet Vietnam receives ultra-low temperature freezers from the US to store Covid-19 vaccine The United States has delivered 36 ultra-low temperature freezers to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to assist Vietnam in storing vaccines against Covid-19. The Charge d'Affaires, a.i. of US Embassy Hanoi, Christopher Klein hands over the sign to Vietnamese Vice Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong on October 12 These freezers are the first of 111 ultra-low temperature, medical-grade storage units that the US Department of Defense is providing to the Government of Vietnam with a total value of approximately USD1 million. The handover ceremony was held at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology These freezers can reach -40C to 90C, suitable for storing vaccines that require extremely cold temperatures, such as the nearly 3.1 million doses of vaccine that have arrived from the United States since October 2. Of the 77 freezers originally offered to Vietnam, 14 will remain at National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for national-level distribution and 63 are being sent to regional distribution centers throughout the country. An additional 34 units were requested by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. The addition of these storage units will greatly improve Vietnams capacity and flexibility for distributing and storing COVID-19 vaccines nationwide. Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Canadian International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound on Tuesday dismissed a motion from IOC president Thomas Bach on recent decisions on doping on Russia and called for an extraordinary IOC Session on doping. Pound responded to a proposal from Bach to have the 86 members present at the 129th IOC Session vote on the decisions by an Olympic Summit in June and the IOC executive board in June. "If all you are looking for is recognition, thats fine. But we need to do a lot more to show we do more about fair play and clean competition," he said. "If we want to be the thought leader and morale force of sport we have to do that among ourselves," he added, recalling previous extraordinary sessions after the boycott crisis in the mid-1980s and the corruption affair in the late 1990s. Pound is a former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which Bach wants overhauled over the Russian crisis in which a recent report by WADA spoke of widespread and state-sponsored doping. The IOC stopped short of imposing a blanket ban on Russia, and Bach told the IOC members that "we need a full review of WADAs anti-doping system. The IOC calls for a more robust and efficient anti-doping system." Berlin (dpa) - German President Joachim Gauck has on short notice cancelled plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics on Friday because of a tooth problem. Gauck needs a surgical intervention, his office announced in Berlin late Thursday. More than 40 heads of state and government from around the world are expected to be at the ceremony late Friday, which will officially mark the opening of the Games. Chinese FM calls on G20 to contribute to Afghan peace, stability Xinhua) 08:18, October 13, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Wang Yi, also Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, attends an extraordinary G20 leaders' summit on the Afghanistan issue via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Wang Yi on Tuesday said the G20 should give full play to its own advantages to contribute to the peace, stability, prosperity and development of Afghanistan and the region. Wang, also Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, made the remarks via video link at an extraordinary G20 leaders' summit on the Afghanistan issue. Experience and lessons from Afghanistan over the past two decades have demonstrated that the right way to get along between countries is the respect for independent choices of development paths, and mutual inclusiveness and mutual learning among different civilizations. Imposing one's own ideology on others, arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, or even resorting to military intervention will only bring about continuous turmoil and poverty, and cause serious humanitarian disasters, Wang added. Calling on all parties to help Afghanistan cope with the humanitarian crisis, Wang said China is accelerating the provision of emergency assistance to Afghanistan worth 200 million yuan (31 million U.S. dollars) in food, winter materials, vaccines and medicines. The first batch of materials has been delivered to Afghanistan. The international community should promote Afghanistan to embark on an open and inclusive development path, Wang said, adding that unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan should be lifted as soon as possible, and international financial institutions should increase their funding support of Afghanistan's poverty reduction and infrastructure projects. Afghanistan should be kept away from terrorism, Wang said, calling for the formation of consensus and concerted efforts on various Afghan-related mechanisms. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) World leaders commit to jointly tackling biodiversity loss at COP15 Xinhua) 08:19, October 13, 2021 KUNMING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- World leaders on Tuesday called for global awareness, broad consensus and concrete actions to preserve biodiversity at a United Nations conference held in China. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, kicked off a day earlier in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. It attracts over 5,000 representatives from governments, international organizations, research institutes and enterprises. The leaders, in their speeches via video, pledged to make bold efforts at a time when the world is facing a worsening crisis of biodiversity loss. NATURE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT "Our two-century-long experiment with burning fossil fuels, destroying forests, wilderness and oceans, and degrading the land, has caused a biosphere catastrophe," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his speech. The UN chief described humanity's interference with nature as a "suicidal war" and stressed that "we are losing" it. To reverse biodiversity loss, the leaders participating in COP15 urge a nature-based approach to develop the global economy. The development of ecological civilization should be taken as a guide to coordinate the relationship between humans and nature, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, adding that human activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the meeting is the first global conference convened by the UN to highlight ecological civilization, a philosophy proposed by China. Stressing that more than half of global gross domestic product depends on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystem services, President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado Quesada said the economic benefits of protecting biodiversity outweigh the costs. If the international community wants a successful economy and future and to create jobs, "restoring and conserving our land and ocean is critical," he added. Britain's Prince Charles urged taking bold decisions in this regard. He said the decisions "can regenerate hundreds of millions -- if not billions -- of hectares of degraded land throughout the world, thus protecting and restoring our planet's biodiversity and making nature the engine of our economies." BIODIVERSITY GOVERNANCE COP15 will take place in two parts. The first part will last until Friday, with parallel activities featuring forums on topics including climate change and ecological conservation. 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," a blueprint for biodiversity conservation for the decade to come. The Chinese president announced an initiative to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and that China will take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about 233 million U.S. dollars) to the fund. Meanwhile, China is moving faster to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay, Xi said. In his speech, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the adoption of an ambitious global framework that meets the challenges and expectations of various societies. "It is up to our generation to reverse the trend and recreate virtuous synergies with nature," he said. Calling for deeper awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt has made unremitting efforts to formulate the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" and set achievable goals supported by a clear implementation mechanism. Sadyr Zhaparov, president of Kyrgyzstan, a country with 95 percent of the land covered by mountains, announced a five-year program to ensure the sustainable development of mountain regions. "Kyrgyzstan is open and ready for active international cooperation, and only by joint efforts we could preserve the biodiversity of our planet and achieve desirable sustainable development in harmony with the environment," Zhaparov said. The leaders also called on developed countries to support developing nations in biodiversity conservation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged countries bearing "the historical responsibility" to be "the first to take action in the face of this threat." MULTILATERAL COOPERATION Biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and other global ills have triggered overlapping crises. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that "objectives of nature conservation cannot be successfully addressed by any country individually. This is a common task for all states, for all humankind, without exaggeration." Stressing that the greatest impact of ecosystem collapse would be on developing countries, Guterres called for support to them, including significant financial resources and technology transfer. Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape called for financial support to help the island country preserve its rainforests, or the "lungs of the world." "My country needs development financing in exchange for concentrated effort on conservation, and I would like to use the platform of this forum to invite partnerships for this most worthwhile cause," Marape said. "It is certainly important that national priorities and specificities of each state be taken into account, and special attention be given to the needs of developing and least developed countries," Putin said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Glasgow conference must be turning point for climate action: UN chief Xinhua) 08:21, October 13, 2021 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Xie E) The political package that must be delivered in Glasgow needs to contain at least three key elements: emissions reduction, financing for climate action in developing countries, and climate adaptation, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, next month must be a turning point for climate action. "COP26 must be a turning point if we are to fulfill the promise of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, protect populations from the impacts of climate change and ensure that all financial flows are consistent with the goals of net-zero emissions and sustainable development," he told the sixth ministerial meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, in a video message. With COP26 fast approaching, he said, he remained genuinely concerned over the lack of progress on these priorities. The political package that must be delivered in Glasgow needs to contain at least three key elements: emissions reduction, financing for climate action in developing countries, and climate adaptation, he said. "First, we must swiftly close the emissions gap. That means national pledges must collectively put us on track to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. And each country must be ready to update its climate commitments until we collectively get on track to reach the 1.5-degree objective," he said. Second, developed countries must close the finance gap by providing and exceeding the promised 100 billion U.S. dollars a year to developing countries for climate action, he said. "And this is just a starting point. Beyond that goal, all financial flows, public and private, must align with a net-zero emissions and resilient development pathway." People participate in a march calling for action against climate change in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 20, 2019. (Photo by Riccardo Pareggiani/Xinhua) Third, Glasgow must deliver a breakthrough on adaptation. Climate disruption is already here, affecting ever more lives and livelihoods every year, especially among the most vulnerable. Building resilience and adapting must be a priority for all, said Guterres. "I ask each of you in your national capacity and as shareholders of national and multilateral development banks to consider allocating half of all public climate finance in support of developing countries for adaptation. And I ask that you reconsider how you calculate gross domestic product. Nature's resources still do not figure in countries' calculations of wealth. We need nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation. The current system is weighted toward destruction, not preservation. Governments must reflect nature's true value in all policies, plans and economic systems," he said. As COVID-19 and climate change pose new and unique challenges to low- and middle-income countries, he asked the finance ministers to revise eligibility thresholds for official development assistance to improve access to finance for those countries. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Global digital trade conference kicks off in China's Hubei Xinhua) 08:25, October 13, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2021 shows a scene of the opening ceremony of the 2021 Global Digital Trade Conference and Wuhan (Hankoubei) Commodities Fair in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 12, 2021. (Photo by Wu Zhizun/Xinhua) WUHAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 2021 Global Digital Trade Conference kicked off on Tuesday in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, according to local authorities. The event has attracted diplomatic envoys and representatives of business associations from approximately 100 countries, as well as over 10,000 merchants, experts and scholars. Thousands of types of imported goods from more than 40 countries, including snacks, beverages and handicrafts, are exhibited at the conference, which is being hosted by the provincial government and organized by the municipal government of Wuhan and the provincial commerce department. At the opening ceremony, 15 well-known enterprises and institutions from across the country signed a proposal to support the construction of a national trade logistics center in Wuhan. China's efforts to boost innovation, digital trade and sustainability will not only strengthen its domestic economy, but will also make a significant difference in the global landscape, said Loh Boon Chye, CEO of Singapore Exchange (SGX), in a speech at the event. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) U.S. reaffirms COVID-19 vaccine mandates amid party-line, individual opposition Xinhua) 08:49, October 13, 2021 People enjoy themselves along the waterfront in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Michael Nagle) Experts fear the United States is bumping up against the ceiling of persuadable people, one that is significantly lower than the threshold needed for broad immunity from Delta and, possibly, future variants. "The overwhelming majority of eligible adults who remain unvaccinated in the United States are hard-core refusers," The New York Times reported. NEW YORK, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government is striving to persuade more people to get vaccinated on their own, or push ahead with mandates, while party-line action, vaccine hesitancy and even resistence still uphold in some states and sectors against the Democratic administration's universal call for vaccination against the coronavirus. "We've obviously been trying very hard," Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the U.S. president, told CNN on Monday. "We try to get trusted messengers out there and try and get this away from being an ideological or political statement, get back into the realm of pure public health, and try to convince people." There is evidence that mandates are working in academic settings and at corporations such as airlines, and the best way for the United States to assure that a decline in cases, hospitalizations and deaths will continue is to get "a lot more" people vaccinated, added Fauci, also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The number of Americans getting a dose of COVID-19 vaccine has jumped to about 1 million a day, and the rate of people getting booster shots is now outpacing the rate of people getting their first doses. However, about a quarter of the eligible U.S. population remains unvaccinated against coronavirus, according to official figures. A man takes a COVID-19 test at a testing van in Times Square in New York, the United States, Oct. 2, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Tuesday's vaccination updates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 216,889,814 people had 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. In addition, 7,786,263 people, or 4.2 percent of fully vaccinated group, received booster shots. Meanwhile, according to The New York Times (NYT) data analysis, the 7-day average of confirmed cases of the pandemic stood at 89,526 nationwide on Monday, with the 14-day change striking a 24-percent fall. The COVID-19-related deaths were 1,853 on Monday, with the 14-day change realizing a 10-percent decrease. PARTY LINE U.S. states with stricter restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic led by Democratic governors had a lower spread of the virus than Republican-led states, according to a new research published on the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, which underscores how preventative restrictions have been "politicised" and that it is health professionals who should be calling the shots. Researchers from the Binghamton University calculated a Public Health Policy Index (PPI) to determine how stringent a state's public health policies were, and analysed those findings against the state's transmission of COVID-19 and the governor's political affiliation, finding that states with Democratic governors had a PPI that was 10 points higher on average than states with Republican governors. On average, the 10-point difference in PPI led to an eight percent increase in the expected number of COVID-19 cases in most Republican-governed states between March and November 2020 when the national number of COVID-19 cases peaked. "The main lesson of this research is that better public health requires a less partisan approach to the making of public health policies," said a statement by the study's co-author Olga Shvetsova. Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at a press briefing in Santa Fe, Texas, the United States, May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Steven Song) Republican state officials have always been doubling down on their pandemic-related efforts. Texas businesses and other private entities are banned from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said in an executive order issued on Monday. "The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," he said. Coming in response to the federal government pushing large businesses to require vaccines for employees, Abbott's order makes no exception for hospitals and healthcare facilities, many of which require vaccines for COVID-19, flu and other communicable diseases because patients may be immunocompromised or too young to be vaccinated. His order applies only to the COVID-19 shot, allowing entities to require vaccines for other diseases. Until now, elected officials in Texas have banned governmental entities from requiring vaccines and have banned places of public accommodation from requiring vaccines of their customers, but have allowed private businesses to determine whether to require vaccinations of their staff. REFUSAL STRONGHOLD Millions of U.S. adults are not covered by the vaccine mandates. Experts fear the country is bumping up against the ceiling of persuadable people, one that is significantly lower than the threshold needed for broad immunity from Delta and, possibly, future variants. "The overwhelming majority of eligible adults who remain unvaccinated in the United States are hard-core refusers," reported NYT on Tuesday. The arrival of boosters is making efforts to coax the unvaccinated even more difficult. In a September survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 71 percent of unvaccinated respondents said the need for boosters indicated that the vaccines were not working. "This vaccine has tested me like nothing before and I've been doing this for 40 years," Gary Wiltz, director of the Franklin health center, was quoted as saying. About 56 percent of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, a level that exceeds some early estimates about what it could take to achieve so-called herd immunity against the coronavirus. That percentage will surely rise once the shots are authorized for children under 12. But Delta is so contagious that experts have revised their optimum coverage estimates to 90 percent or higher, according to the report. A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) staff member distributes free masks and hand sanitizers for subway riders at a subway station in Manhattan of New York, the United States, June 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) One vaccine news hard for commuters to swallow was that, at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area, "the full accurate number" of its workers who have received at least one shot is 71 percent to 75 percent, far lower than the city's overall -- roughly 84 percent of adults in NYC have gotten at least one COVID-19 shot. An agency mandate that went into effect at the start of last week requires all MTA employees to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a weekly negative test in order to work. "The MTA's low vaccination rate combined with last week's mandate could worsen a dire crew shortage that has for months crippled city subway and bus service," reported New York Daily News on Monday. Given the MTA's estimate, anywhere from 4,200 to 6,800 of the agency's employees have received shots but for some reason declined to provide proof. If the resistence sustains, the agency will have to confirm the 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. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China issues guidelines on high-quality vocational education Xinhua) 08:56, October 13, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese central authorities have released a set of guidelines on promoting the high-quality development of modern vocational education. A modern vocational-education system should be established in China by 2025, and China's vocational education should be ranked among the best globally by 2035, according to the guidelines jointly released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. Primary and middle school students should receive formative courses on vocational education to cultivate their awareness of career planning, according to the guidelines. Priority should be given to training talent for emerging industries, including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, modern agriculture and artificial intelligence, the document says, encouraging vocational schools to set up majors that meet market demand. Vocational institutions should step up cooperation with enterprises to serve technological upgrading and product research in medium, small and micro businesses, the guidelines add. It also calls on vocational schools to improve the quality of teachers, innovate teaching models and promote overseas cooperation. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) French study refutes COVID-19 origin in Chinese cave: report Xinhua) 09:03, October 13, 2021 MOSCOW, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- A new French study has dismissed a cave in Mojiang County, southwest China's Yunnan Province as an origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The study, published online on the journal Environmental Research in late September, also rebuts lab-leak speculations that link the virus to several miners working in the county in 2012. A retrospective analysis of their clinical reports showed that the miners had displayed symptoms very different from those shown by COVID-19 patients, Sputnik news agency reported. "One must also wonder why a virus which killed more than 5 million and infected more than 200 million in 18 months did not cause any illness in 7 years from 2012 to 2019," the study read. "Dismissing the Mojiang mine theory leaves the laboratory leak narrative without any scientific support thus making it simply an opinion-based narrative," it added. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China, Mongolia pledge to enhance cooperation Xinhua) 09:04, October 13, 2021 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene via video link on Tuesday. Noting that China and Mongolia are close neighbors with sound relations, Li said both countries face tasks of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, developing their economies and guaranteeing people's livelihoods. Enhancing cooperation between the two countries benefits not only China and Mongolia, but also the region, he added. Li said China stands ready to enhance cooperation with Mongolia to strengthen development strategy synergy, explore cooperation in key areas, expand bilateral trade, and facilitate port clearance and increase port throughput under the premise of effective pandemic prevention and control. China hopes the two countries will further implement cooperation in preventing and curbing desertification to jointly build a clean and beautiful environment, the premier said. China will, as it always has, support Mongolia to develop its economy, improve its people's livelihoods and fight COVID-19, Li said. He stressed that energy security is a matter that concerns national interests and people's livelihoods. Though possessing abundant coal resources, China is willing to carry out diversified energy cooperation, Li said, adding that China welcomes a larger volume of coal trading between the two countries to achieve win-win results. Li said China encourages and supports enterprises from the two countries to actively carry out cooperation in line with market principles and business rules, and ensure a smooth and safe energy supply chain with reasonable and stable prices in the long term. Noting that Mongolia and China have a shared future, Oyun-Erdene commended China's neighborhood diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Oyun-Erdene thanked China for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Mongolia and said the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the pandemic has set a model for the international community. He expressed the hope that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in the fields of minerals, infrastructure construction, and desertification prevention and control, and that the two sides will increase their port clearance volume and promote the greater development of bilateral relations. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Brunei ratifies RCEP, world's biggest free trade pact including China, ASEAN Xinhua) 09:12, October 13, 2021 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Brunei Darussalam has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement upon depositing its instrument of ratification with the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Oct. 11. According to a press statement from Brunei's Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) on Tuesday, "Brunei's timely ratification of the RCEP, the world's largest free-trade deal, signals our strong commitment to support the region's post-pandemic recovery efforts, strengthening our economic and trade linkages, creating new opportunities for our businesses as well as support for an open, inclusive, rules-based multilateral trading system." Signed in November last year, the RCEP is a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Brunei is the sixth country to ratify RCEP, after Thailand, Singapore, China, Japan and Cambodia. The free trade pact "establishes a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually-beneficial economic partnership between ASEAN and its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners," the MoFE said. "Being the world's largest regional FTA comprising about 30 percent of global GDP and about a third of the world's population, Brunei is expected to benefit from the RCEP as it will broaden and deepen our economic ties between the members and provide new opportunities for our producers and businesses especially in terms of market access given the level of liberalization for trade in goods, services and investment," the MoFE said. "Realizing that its full potential can only be achieved once the agreement enters into force, Brunei Darussalam looks forward to its RCEP partners to expedite their respective domestic ratification procedures for the timely entry into force of the agreement," the ministry said. The RCEP members have expressed their resolve to ratify the agreement before the end of this year and push for its entry into force by Jan. 1, 2022. Ratifications from at least six ASEAN member countries and three of the other five member countries are needed for the trade deal to take effect. Once in effect, the deal will eliminate tariffs on as much as 90 percent of goods traded between its signatories over the next 20 years. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chinese military releases peacekeeping promotional video China Military Online) 09:13, October 13, 2021 October 25th this year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, on the occasion of which the Chinese PLA rolls out a peacekeeping promotional video For Peace to demonstrate its resolve to serve the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, its efforts to uphold the multilateralism and its important contributions to the world peace. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Australian journalist's book on Wuhan lab leak theory with "contentious" scientific analysis: The Guardian Xinhua) 09:24, October 13, 2021 A medical worker works in a mobile lab for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing in Wuchang District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2021. (Photo by Wu Zhizun/Xinhua) "Details are deficient, scientific analysis contentious and expert voices missing" in Australian journalist Sharri Markson's thesis, which establishes a "crime scene" around the Wuhan Institute of Virology in central China. LONDON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian journalist Sharri Markson's book, which sought to play up a Wuhan lab leak theory, was based on contentious scientific analysis, The Guardian has reported. In an article published Friday, Hamish McDonald, the newspaper's China correspondent who once worked for the Sydney Morning Herald, dismissed the statements in Markson's book, titled "What Really Happened in Wuhan," as potentially "something more sinister" than the coronavirus itself. McDonald argued that Markson's arguments in her new book, built on reporting for News Corp papers and Sky television, and piled up by remarks from Hawkish U.S. politicians such as Mike Pompeo and so-called anti-China "insiders," did not stack up. "Details are deficient, scientific analysis contentious and expert voices missing" in Markson's thesis, which establishes a "crime scene" around the Wuhan Institute of Virology in central China, "with the murder weapon a virus called SARS-CoV-2," McDonald said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Commentary: High time to protect biodiversity Xinhua) 09:25, October 13, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- As species worldwide continue to become extinct at an alarming rate, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation pose a major risk to human survival and development. It is high time for the international community to join hands to protect their common future. As was underscored by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, "Our two-century-long experiment with burning fossil fuels, destroying forests, wilderness and oceans, and degrading the land, has caused a biosphere catastrophe." A key UN conference kicked off this week in southwest China's Kunming to discuss a blueprint for biodiversity conservation over the next decade. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," it is the first global conference convened by the UN to highlight ecological civilization, a philosophy proposed by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke via video link on Tuesday, announcing a series of new, concrete initiatives based on China's firm determination and long-standing efforts in line with the mantra "Green mountains are gold mountains and silver mountains." Among the significant actions, China will establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity protection in developing countries, taking the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (233 million U.S. dollars). China will move faster to establish a protected-areas system with national parks as the mainstay. The country will also put in place a "1+N" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality. These measures are encouraging news for the world amid efforts to improve biodiversity and environmental governance. They also reflect China's resolve to continue building an ecological civilization, as the country is now equipped with better resources to maintain the balance between the dual tasks of economic recovery and environmental protection. China is advancing biodiversity conservation and development in parallel. Biodiversity conservation has been elevated to a national strategy in China and has been incorporated into mid- and long-term plans in all regions and fields. China is also helping developing countries to preserve biodiversity through multilateral channels such as the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation. As the latest move in pursuit of green development, China has set ambitious goals on carbon peak and carbon neutrality, accompanied by a series of supporting measures. China will continue to readjust its industrial structure and energy mix, vigorously develop renewable energy, and make faster progress on planning and developing large wind-power and photovoltaic bases in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts. China will work together with the international community on a new model of global biodiversity governance that is fairer and more reasonable, with each member contributing its share, so as to realize the worldwide vision of harmonious coexistence between humankind and nature. Protecting biodiversity helps protect the Earth, our common homeland, and contributes to humanity's sustainable development. The international community should jointly shoulder the responsibility for future generations and build a community of all life on Earth, and a clean and beautiful world for us all. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Destroyer Suzhou carries out combat-readiness patrol China Military Online) 09:42, October 13, 2021 The guided-missile destroyer Suzhou (Hull 132) attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Eastern Theater Command fires its close-in weapons at mock sea targets during a maritime combat-readiness patrol mission in early October, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wen Zidong) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Ghanaian start-up introduces Chinese-made EV to help reduce carbon emissions Xinhua) 09:46, October 13, 2021 ACCRA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- For a long time, Ghana's public transportation system has been a key source of carbon dioxide emissions. To address the challenge, SolarTaxi Ghana Limited, a Ghanaian start-up, has decided to make a change by introducing Chinese-made electronic vehicles. According to Eugene Amponsah, operations manager of the company, the influx of many internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, especially public buses into Ghana, leads to serious emissions. Official data in 2020 showed the average number of imported vehicles in Ghana stood at around 100,000 per year, while about 90 percent of which were used vehicles with high fume emissions. The motivation for a cleaner environment spurred the company to turn its eyes on China. "Now we source most of our cars and the parts from China. We have the BYD, Cherry, and Dongfeng among some other brands from China," said Amponsah. From a modest beginning in September 2019, SolarTaxi now has 150 electric motorbikes and tricycles with more than 60 electric cars operating in the country. Some of these cars are solar chargeable, and others grid power-charged. The introduction, however, met some skepticism in the very beginning. Some local consumers thought they could suffer electrocution in an electric car during rains, while others suspect that they would be stranded if the battery ran out of power in the course of a journey. According to the company, local consumers' concern eased gradually as they increased the frequency of electric car use, which proved to be more economical and environmentally friendly. The company has also found a way of commercializing eco-friendly bikes. "For the motorbikes, we designed them for courier because we do not get a large number of people buying them. What we rather have is courier companies, including Jumia, coming to rent our bikes," he said. SolarTaxi has so far created a minimum of 250 direct and indirect jobs, including engineers at the assembling and maintenance plants and riders who work with the courier companies. "For now, we do the manual assembling but want to get to a stage where we can install machines to assemble many cars and bikes in a day. And that calls for partnership and funding. We, therefore, want to secure partnerships with some of the Chinese automobile companies to support us with training and equipment," he said. Amponsah told Xinhua that from his own working experience, China is one of the greatest places to look at when it comes to the green economy, and the mass production of environmental-friendly cars is a great example of that. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chinese FM attends CICA foreign ministers' meeting Xinhua) 09:58, October 13, 2021 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the sixth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) via video link, Oct. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Tuesday attended the sixth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) via video link in Beijing. Noting China has always been a participant and promoter of the CICA process, Wang said China stands ready to make new and greater contributions to promoting CICA cooperation. "In the face of the profound epidemic situation and global changes unseen in a century, the CICA should keep pace with the times, leverage its cooperation advantages, enrich its cooperation practices, and contribute its wisdom and strength to the building of an Asian community with a shared future," Wang said. He called on all parties to continue to deepen anti-epidemic cooperation, work together to maintain security and stability, actively promote economic recovery, and firmly practice multilateralism. Wang emphasized that the continuous expansion of the CICA partnership network is a growing force for progress in the international community and will inject positive energy into the democratization of international relations. He said China is willing to work with all parties to deepen and consolidate the CICA process in the post-epidemic era, jointly promote regional development and stability, and work together to build an Asian community with a shared future. The theme of the meeting is Asian security and sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 era. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Egyptian president calls for deeper awareness of importance of protecting biodiversity Xinhua) 09:59, October 13, 2021 KUNMING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday called for deeper awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity that is closely related to human beings and their surrounding ecological environment. "We are in a delicate period in human history," al-Sisi said in a video message to the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15. "We are still dealing with the negative impact of the epidemic in various fields," he said. "If countries around the world do not have a deeper awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity and ecosystem security for our future ... we will be faced with a global disaster," al-Sisi added. Egypt held the presidency of COP14, and has made unremitting efforts to formulate the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" and set achievable goals supported by a clear implementation mechanism, he said. In his remarks, al-Sisi also expressed his confidence in China's capability of continuing this important work, hoping to work together with China towards the goal of protecting biodiversity and the planet's ecosystems. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China helps Uganda boost all-round development Xinhua) 10:10, October 13, 2021 KAMPALA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- As Uganda is marking its 59th independence anniversary from British colonial rule, the African country is embracing a brighter future for development with China's assistance. At Uganda's Entebbe International Airport, the country's major gateway to the world, Chinese engineers together with their Ugandan counterparts are upgrading and expanding the airport, which involves the construction of a new passenger terminal, building a new cargo complex, strengthening two runways and their associated taxiways, and the rehabilitation and overlay of three aprons. Uganda sees the airport project as a springboard that will fast-track its economic development. Out of the airport, there is a 50 km four-lane dual carriageway Expressway which links the airport to the capital Kampala. The four-year-old expressway, which was financed by a loan from China, has halved the journey to or from Kampala to the airport. Also, thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, two hydropower plants in Uganda are set to boost Uganda's power supply, a key facilitator of economic development. The Isimba Hydro Power Plant generates 183MW to the national grid. Further down the Nile river in northern Uganda, China is helping to construct the Karuma Hydro Power Plant that will contribute 600MW to the national grid. The construction of the twin hydropower plants have also helped to reduce local unemployment. About 3,000 local people were employed during the building of the Isimba Hydro Power Plant. At the Karuma Hydro Power Plant, over 6,000 young people were employed. Meanwhile, China has continued to provide support to Uganda in the health sector. In 1983, China sent its first medical team to the country. Since then, the Asian country has sent 21 medical teams on a rotational basis. By sharing skills with their Ugandan counterparts, the Chinese medical teams have played a critical role in boosting healthcare in the country. Besides sending medical teams, supplies and equipment, China has also built a 100-bed hospital in Uganda. The China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, located in the capital of Kampala, has relieved pressure on the Mulago National Referral Hospital, which is overwhelmed with patients. The hospital built by China is now slated to be upgraded into a national trauma center, Uganda's Minister of Health Ruth Aceng has said. As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, China continues to send aid to Uganda. Besides the donation of protective gear, medicines and equipment, Uganda on July 31 received a donation of Sinovac vaccines from the Chinese government. China is also helping Uganda develop its agriculture sector, the economic backbone of the country. Over 70 percent of the country's population derives its livelihood from agriculture, according to official data. Through a tripartite agreement with the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Uganda, and under the South to South Cooperation, China is scheduled to start the third phase of its agriculture support to Uganda. Through the project, according to FAO, small-scale farmers in rural Uganda will benefit from hands-on training to boost production. Chinese technicians and experts will continue to share skills and technology on agronomic practices with local farmers. At the end of the second phase of the project in 2017, about 3,000 farmers were trained in growing cereals, horticulture, aquaculture and livestock in Uganda, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Chinese technicians have also introduced the growth of Chinese hybrid rice to local farmers. According to official studies, hybrid rice can yield up to 10 metric tons per hectare compared with conventional rice, which yields 4.5 metric tons per hectare. China has also supported Uganda's education sector by not only providing scholarships for Ugandans to study in China but also setting up vocational training centers in the country. Zhang Lizhong, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said last month that since bilateral relations were established about six decades ago, both countries have been able to overcome several challenges. "We need to enhance the mutual understanding and support to each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and maintain close collaboration and coordination on major international and regional affairs," he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) HKSAR gov't to donate 7.5 mln doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to COVAX Xinhua) 10:13, October 13, 2021 HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) government said Tuesday it had reached a tripartite agreement with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the drug manufacturer AstraZeneca on the donation of 7.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the COVAX Facility (COVAX). The vaccines donated by the HKSAR government to the COVAX will be donated to COVAX Advance Market Commitment Eligible Economies. The 7.5 million doses will be delivered before the second quarter of 2022 by shipments in batches. Hong Kong has procured and authorized a total of 15 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine and the Comirnaty vaccine for emergency use. Under a two-dose regime, the procured quantity is sufficient for vaccination by the entire Hong Kong population, according to a statement released by the HKSAR government. "While donating the AstraZeneca vaccine to COVAX, the HKSAR government will maintain our participation in COVAX for access to other types of vaccines which cannot be otherwise procured through bilateral purchase agreements. However, we will only exercise our right to make the purchase after carefully considering the needs of Hong Kong, the scientific evidence on the vaccines, etc," the government spokesman said. "As of Oct. 11, over 67 percent of the public have received the first dose vaccine. We will continue to press ahead with the vaccination of target groups, particularly the elderly who are over 70 years of age to protect them from serious illness if they were infected and at the same time to build a protective shield in Hong Kong. "Furthermore, we will consider experts' advice and make reference to international experiences and overseas practices, and continue our discussion with drug manufacturers on the purchase of vaccine booster doses or next-generation vaccines which can better address variants of concern," the spokesman added. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Pic story of rice farmer in Guizhou Xinhua) 10:13, October 13, 2021 Aerial photo taken on July 19, 2021 shows Zhao Xiangrong (R) and experts of Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences check the growing condition of rice in a paddy field in Leping Village of Majiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Zhao Xiangrong, a former truck driver and a chef, returned to his hometown in Guizhou and started planting rice in 2015. Supported and guided by local government and experts, Zhao has developed skills in cultivating rice containing zinc, selenium and other microelement. After six years of hard work, Zhao has accumulated rich experience in sowing seeds, managing field, as well as processing, transportation and storage of rice. The rice planting area of Zhao Xiangrong reached nearly 300 mu (20 hectares) this year, and his high-quality rice has gained great reputation in many provinces of China. Zhao has vigorously shared his experience with fellow villagers and is willing to make further contribution to the development of local rice industry and rural revitalization. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) 2021 My Story of Chinese Hanzi international competition comes to a close People's Daily Online) 13:16, October 13, 2021 Li Xikui, vice president of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, delivers a speech at the finals of the 2021 My Story of Chinese Hanzi international competition in Xining, northwest Chinas Qinghai province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) The final round for the 2021 My Story of Chinese Hanzi international competition, hosted by the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and organized by the Xining Municipal Government and Peoples Daily Online, came to a successful close on Oct. 12 in Xining, capital of northwest Chinas Qinghai province. Li Xikui, vice president of CPAFFC, Ying Xiuli, deputy director of the foreign affairs office of the Qinghai provincial government, Liu Chengyou, head of the Qinghai Bureau of Peoples Daily, and other honored guests attended the event. Luo Hua, Editor-in-Chief of Peoples Daily Online, two professors with the Communication University of China, together with other experts, were invited to be the judges. Li Xikui said that the Chinese character Ren, which represents benevolence and the unity of all things under heaven, has always been a fundamental value that runs in the blood of all Chinese people. The value has helped to foster the Chinese nations concepts of harmony between man and nature and one world, one family. The competition, which took Ren as its main theme, has taken aim at helping more foreigners to understand the Chinese nations pursuit of peace, amity and harmony, he added. The current COVID-19 pandemic has proven once again that the human race is an integral community and that planet Earth is its homeland, Li said, calling on the world to adopt the concept of Ren to build a community with a shared future for mankind. He hopes that all contestants will make contributions to creating a more peaceful, tranquil, prosperous and beautiful world. During the competitions finals, 10 finalists from Germany, Kazakhstan, Argentina, India, Japan and other countries spoke of their bonds to Chinese characters and shared their understanding of the meaning of benevolence and kindness towards fellow human beings, the underlying values represented by Ren. Michael Mubaiwa from Zimbabwe emerged as the eventual winner, after the scoring was carried out by the judges, with the scores comparing competitors Chinese language expression abilities, the core message behind their stories and how their stories promoted exchanges between different civilizations. Since the online competition kicked off on May 17, it has attracted over 3,000 contestants from more than 50 countries and regions around the world. The competition aims to promote the profound nature of Chinese characters, traditional Chinese values, and the aspiration for mutual respect, equity, justice, and mutually beneficial cooperation. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) U.S. businesses suffer setbacks due to Biden's trade policy on China: U.S. media Xinhua) 15:05, October 13, 2021 NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. businesses are feeling the effects of President Joe Biden's trade policy on China, voicing the hope for some relief from the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Arkansas-based public radio station KUAR has reported. Biden will keep the Trump-era tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese goods in place, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced last week. KUAR interviewed Texas-based luggage store owner Tiffany Williams, who said the tariffs combined with COVID-19 and supply chain issues have hurt her business in recent years. Williams said a bag sold at 440 U.S. dollars in 2018 is probably now 550 dollars, considering duties and tariffs and exorbitant shipping costs on top of it. "There's just no way they can continue to sell it for the same price," Williams said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Former senior political advisor of Guizhou charged with bribery Xinhua) 15:30, October 13, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Prosecutors have initiated a public prosecution against Wang Fuyu, former chairperson of the Guizhou provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), over bribery charges. Upon the designation of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), the Tianjin First Intermediate People's Procuratorate examined Wang's case and filed it at the municipality's first intermediate people's court, the SPP said Wednesday. The indictment charges Wang with using the public offices he had held while working in Hainan and Guizhou, as well as his influence after leaving the CPPCC provincial committee, to seek gains for others and in return accept huge bribes. The SPP said the prosecutors had informed the defendant of his litigation rights, interrogated him and listened to the defense counsel's opinions. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Kunming Declaration adopted at COP15 Xinhua) 16:38, October 13, 2021 The Kunming Declaration is adopted at the High-Level Segment of the first part of 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) KUNMING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Kunming Declaration was adopted Wednesday at the ongoing 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu declared the adoption of the declaration at the High-Level Segment of the first part of COP15. "The declaration will send a powerful signal, showing the world our determination to solve the problem of biodiversity loss, and our stronger actions on the issues discussed at this high-level meeting," Huang said. The Kunming Declaration is a political declaration and the main achievement of this conference. The declaration commits to ensuring the development, adoption and implementation of an effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework to reverse the current loss of biodiversity and ensure that biodiversity is put on a path to recovery by 2030 at the latest, towards the full realization of the 2050 Vision of "Living in Harmony with Nature." The declaration took note of the theme of the UN Biodiversity Conference 2020: "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth." Ecological civilization is a philosophy proposed by China. It declared that putting biodiversity on a path of recovery is a defining challenge of this decade, requiring strong political momentum to develop, the adoption and implementation of an ambitious and transformative post-2020 global biodiversity framework and putting forward the 17 commitments. "The Kunming Declaration details some of the key elements needed for success: mainstreaming, redirection of subsidies, rule of law, full and effective participation of indigenous people and local communities," said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Leading officials and scholars at home and abroad highlighted on Tuesday the importance of stepping up efforts by different civilizations to build a community with a shared future for mankind in order to respond to the challenges of the times such as military conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and terrorism. They made the remarks as they gathered in Bengbu, Anhui province, for the sixth annual conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum, Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that despite the severe challenges faced by mankind, countries are increasingly connected with and dependent on each other, and it is the common aspiration for people around the world to pursue peace and development. "With an eye on the development of human beings and the world's future, China proposed building a community with a shared future for mankind. It conforms to the trends of world development as well as people's shared interests," he said. In March 2013, for the first time, President Xi Jinping formally put forward the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind in his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in Russia. According to Wang, since then, China has been working actively to implement the philosophy through putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative, combating the pandemic, alleviating poverty and promoting ecological progress, greatly contributing to global efforts in these areas. "China will also work with people in other countries to make new and greater contributions to world peace, global development and people's health and well-being," he said. Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, said in a congratulatory message to the forum that the complex situation caused by the pandemic and other challenges facing mankind reaffirms how critical intercultural dialogue and mutual support are. "We deem it crucial that representatives of different cultures come together and launch discussions aimed at addressing global problems," he said. In his congratulatory message sent to the forum, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that he shared the opinion expressed by a number of world leaders that mutual knowledge and the ability to learn from each other are the main prerequisites for building a common future, regardless of cultural, ideological or current political attitudes. "The knowledge will give us an explanation for many of the religious, cultural and sometimes political misunderstandings we face in today's world," he said. Romano Prodi, former prime minister of Italy, said in a video speech that "we have tensions, we have problems, and this is unavoidable in a way, but dialogue is the only strength that we have now in order to react to the terrible situation." "At this moment, understanding is much more important than anything else," said Prodi, who also is honorary president of the Taihu World Cultural Forum. Yan Zhaozhu, the forum's chairman, said that there was never in history just a single social system or culture, and the ancient Silk Road proved that different cultures could coexist with each other in a peaceful and inclusive manner and learn from one another. "Now faced with the serious threat posed by global challenges, people should join their hands to overcome the difficulties despite their differences in social systems, values and economic development level," he said. "No country can develop on its own, and we need the peoples of the world to breathe together and share the same fate," said Li Yi, secretary of the leading Party members group of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Zheng Shanjie, Party secretary of Anhui, said that civilizations will become more colorful through communications and exchanges and will become more abundant through mutual learning. "We will enhance soft cultural power so as to make Anhui's contribution to the development of world civilization," he added. Wang Chao, president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, said that the depth and scope of mankind's civilizations in the future will greatly advance with the development of science and technology. "By adhering to equality, mutual respect and inclusiveness, different countries and civilizations will definitely provide the wisdom and impetus needed for addressing global challenges," he said. Zhou Shuchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said that in the three years since the forum's last annual conference was held in 2018, and particularly since the pandemic broke out, people have realized that all countries share their weal and woe with a shared destiny. "Against the background of changes unseen in a century, we should further deepen the exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations with greater efforts and strive to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Zhou said. It is the first time that the conference, which runs through Wednesday, has been held in Bengbu since the city was named the permanent host of the Taihu World Cultural Forum in May. The forum, a high-end, unofficial platform founded by China in 2008 for international cultural exchanges, has previously been held in Suzhou, Jiangsu province; Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Shanghai; the Macao Special Administrative Region; and Beijing. Leading political adviser stresses vital importance of cultural diversity A community of shared future for mankind represents a new awakening and enlightenment of humanity, experts said at a forum titled "Promoting World Cultural Diversity and Building a Community of Shared Future for Mankind", held in Bengbu, Anhui province, on Tuesday. The event was part of the sixth annual conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum, which seeks to deepen cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Experts from China and abroad attended the event or shared their views by video link. According to Zhou Hanmin, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, cultural diversity is of vital importance, and people need to appreciate other's beauty and even help to complement other's beauty. He cited the example of the exhibition of Denmark's famous Little Mermaid statue in China at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Zhou noted that the Danish authorities made a "big decision" to move the national treasure temporarily from Copenhagen to Shanghai. "Many Chinese felt grateful and excited to see the statue," he said, noting that Denmark's decision to loan the famous statue to Shanghai was in order to "complement the beauty of the expo". "We need to appreciate other's beauty instead of rejecting it, and we need to help others to be more beautiful instead of hindering them from making progress," Zhou added. Sergiy Kuzmichov, the first secretary of the embassy of Ukraine in China, who is also a Sinologist, said culture plays an important role in building a community of shared future for mankind. He expressed his appreciation for the concept proposed by pioneering Chinese sociologist and anthropologist Fei Xiaotong (1910-2005) that, "Every beauty has its uniqueness; precious is to appreciate other forms of beauty with openness. If beauty represents itself with diversity and integrity, the world will be blessed with harmony and unity." Kuzmichov said, "Respecting cultural diversity is a must for the prosperity of culture in the whole world." Li Xiguang, director of Tsinghua University International Center for Communication, said that the concept of the community of shared future "requires efforts from people all over the world to work jointly to build it". He said that "opposition, splits and wars" were nothing but humanity "destroying each other", and warned that such practices would lead the human race to "everlasting perdition". His outlook was echoed by David Gosset, founder of the Euro-China Forum, who is also an expert on global affairs and international relations. "The proposal of building a community of shared future for mankind is a modern explanation of the Confucian vision of Da Tongwhich means 'Great Unity', and is a Chinese utopian vision of the world in which everyone and everything is at peaceand it echoes the concept of universalism in the West. The highest goal is to benefit mankind instead of only a part of it. "China's opening to the West, and the West's opening to China, are vital to each other. We must oppose the narrative that the West will inevitably clash with China, since they are all important architects for building a community of shared future for mankind," he added. By Wu Zhenglong India's diplomacy is unique. During the Cold War, it pursued a policy of non-alignment and was able to benefit from both superpowers the United States and the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the latter, in response to the trend of multipolarity in the world, India adopted a policy of strategic autonomy and maintained equal distance. In the era of competition between major powers, it has adopted a policy of multilateral alliance. At present, India is not only a member of the G7+ and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, but is also a member of the BRICS group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, making it the only major country in the world that is a member of all the major organizations of both East and West. This is perhaps the best illustration of India's policy of multilateral alliances that is, pursuing nonalignment through multilateral alliances. No matter how India's foreign policy changes, its core connotation of maneuvering between major powers, leveraging their strengths, betting on both sides, ensuring diplomatic autonomy and maximizing its own national interest remains unchanged; its diplomacy remains speculative, two-sided and practical. After the end of the Cold War, the U.S. actively courted India and helped accelerate its rise under policies pursued by successive American administrations. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. and India have signed four foundational military agreements: the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018 and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA) in 2020. Each of the four agreements represents a different level of military cooperation. From the most basic sharing of secret military information to the mutual opening of each other's logistics from the establishment of encrypted communication systems to the sharing of real-time sensitive data and India's sharing of high-end U.S. satellite data, maps and other spatial information U.S.-India relations have moved up a step every two years. With the signing of the last agreement, India has, at least in theory, enjoyed U.S. treatment as a quasi-alliance. India is one of the largest buyers of high-end U.S. weapons. It not only imports a large number of conventional weapons from the United States but also procures equipment with a strategic support role, such as the C-17 large strategic transport aircraft, the most advanced P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft and MQ-9A Reaper reconnaissance and combat drones. In recent years, the United States has been India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods valued at approximately $80 billion, plus trade in services. Bilateral trade totals nearly $150 billion. The Donald Trump administration aggressively pursued an Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at containing China. President Joe Biden has preserved Trump's policy with the Quad as the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific strategy. Within two months of taking office, Biden institutionalized the Quad and held the first Quad virtual summit, announcing the provision of 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the Indo-Pacific region by 2022, to be produced by India, funded by the U.S. and Japan, and distributed by Australia. It plans to hold the second Quad leaders' summit by the end of this year. The United States favors India for three main reasons. First, both are so-called democratic countries. They share many of the same values and can be said to be like-minded. Second, the border conflict has set back India's relations with China, and the United States believes India can be used to clamp down on China. Third, India is large and has the potential to act as a counterbalance and hold China in check.According to the International Monetary Fund, India was the world's fifth largest economy before the epidemic, with a GDP of $2.9 trillion in 2019, surpassing that the United Kingdom, under whose suzerainty India once lived. Since 1999, India's economy has approximately quintupled. This has led many Western scholars to conclude that India will become the third Asian power and overtake Japan in the near future and become the second-largest economy in Asia and the third-largest in the world. Working with India to maintain maritime security and counter China's influence is the fulcrum of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. India is overjoyed by the olive branch extended by the United States and has actively cooperated with various U.S. initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations and the Quad. The rise to power of Prime Minister eNarendra Modi government in 2014 was an important point that marked the start of a fast track of U.S.-India military cooperation. What the United States wanted but failed to do for more than a decade soon fell into place, step by step. India invited Australia to participate in the U.S.-Japan-India Malabar military exercises for the first time last year, playing an integral role in the institutionalization of the Quad. India is also actively involved in the Quad vaccine production program, but there is a great deal of uncertainty about its implementation in the face of the out-of-control epidemic. After the Galwan Valley incident, India blocked more than 200 Chinese apps, including TikTok, WeChat, Weibo, Baidu Maps and UC Browser. It made things difficult for Chinese companies and slowed down approvals for investment by them. The U.S. was also deeply involved during the India-China standoff in the Galwan Valley, with the former U.S. ambassador to India revealing on his departure that there was close intelligence cooperation between the two sides. India's diplomacy has strong overtones of alliance with the U.S. against China. There are several main reasons India is trying to cater to the United States. For one thing, the U.S. provides favorable conditions for India's development. It works to court India militarily, politically and economically, which will provide the impetus and external environment for India's rise. This is a strategic opportunity that India has been seeking.Second, India needs to leverage U.S. power to counterbalance China's regional presence. India lags behind China economically and militarily, making it difficult to offer the countries of the Indo-Pacific region an alternative to China's aid in economic development. Therefore, New Delhi needs Washington's regional presence to counterbalance and contain China's military and economic influence.Third, India wants to increase its bargaining power in its dealings with other great powers. Its enhanced relations with the United States, Japan and Australia will not only increase its weight on the international stage but will also strengthen its position in the BRICS group and the SCO, reinforcing its ability to maneuver between major powers. However, U.S.-India cooperation is only a stopgap measure. Not long ago, the U.S. Navy carried out so-called freedom of navigation missions in India's exclusive economic zone without India's consent or approval, much to India's consternation. The U.S. side made it clear that it was challenging India's excessive claims to the waters. In addition, according to AFP, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a veiled warning about the regression of Indian democracy during his visit to India, while participating in a civil society roundtable.In a joint news conference with Blinken, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar rebutted this, saying, Freedoms are important; we value them, but never equate freedom with non-governance or lack of governance or poor governance. They are two completely different things. The apparent shared values and close bilateral cooperation do not conceal the lack of mutual trust between the U.S. and India, which have disagreed on many issues such as human rights, trade, Afghanistan and India's procurement of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. In other words, the U.S. and India are only trying to use each other; they are not each other's reliable friends. India has a delicate and complex mindset with regard to the U.S.-India relationship. Although it receives many practical benefits from the U.S., it guards against and is wary of the U.S. in order to maintain its strategic autonomy. India has set restrictions and no-go areas for military exchanges between the two countries refusing to open military bases to the U.S., barring the stationing of U.S. military forces on Indian soil, stipulating that the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, or LEMOA, can be implemented only during warships' visits to each other's ports and joint military exercises, the provision of disaster relief and humanitarian relief and adding security settings to military communications between the two countries to prevent data leakage and data transfer to any individual or entity. In addition, some in India are advocating an India-U.S. alliance to counter China. But India cannot be made an official U.S. ally. An alignment with the U.S. would be contrary to India's founding principles of autonomous diplomacy and would be a toxic topic in India. Moreover, it is not in India's interest to become completely aligned with the United States, as this would not only compress its space for expanding relations with other developing countries but also erode its legitimacy as a member of the BRICS and SCO groups and damage its relations with Russia.Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has boasted that Modi's diplomacy is about throwing up multiple balls at the same time and demonstrating the confidence and skill not to let any of them fall. If India aligns itself with the United States, the balls will fall and the ball-tossing diplomacy of India's multilateral alliance will not work not to mention the dream of becoming a prestigious great power. (The author is a senior research fellow of China Foundation for Int'l Studies) Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn] Commenting on the collision of the US nuclear submarine USS Connecticut with an unknown object on Oct 2 in the South China Sea, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry raised three questions on Monday: Where exactly did the incident take place? Did the collision cause a nuclear leak? Will the accident have any impact on the safe navigation of vessels in the waterway? These questions are not only China's concern, they are also the concern of all countries in the region and the international community at large. It is estimated that 80 percent of global trade by volume and 70 percent by value is transported by sea. Of that volume, an estimated 60 percent passes through the South China Sea. What makes the busy global waterway even busier are the so-called freedom of navigation operations of various countries, the United States in particular. The US uses the pretext that it is safeguarding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea to maintain its military presence in the waters although there has never been anything that threatens navigation, except for the mishaps involving its naval vessels. This is not the first time one of its naval vessels has had an accident. In the past, official investigations have attributed the cause to carelessness on the part of the crew. In June 2017, the US Navy Destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a Philippine-flagged container ship somewhere southwest of Tokyo, killing seven Fitzgerald sailors. There was also a near collision between a US warship and a Chinese counterpart in the South China Sea in 2018. It is natural for China's warships to patrol in its own territorial waters. But for the US warships, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is just a show of military might, which is part of the US' Asia-Pacific strategy to contain the rise of China. If anything, the operations of the US navy in the South China Sea have added fuel to the fire of the verbal disputes among neighboring countries over the sovereignty of the waters. There has never been any threat from any country to freedom of navigation in the waters. The collisions or near collisions caused by the US warships point to the fact that the US military presence in the South China Sea is the real threat to freedom of navigation in the waters. And what if there was a nuclear leak from the submarine as a result of the collision? That would be a disaster for the South China Sea marine environment. The US Navy and the US should not beat about the bush about the incident. They should tell the truth and work with related countries to really safeguard the safety of navigation in the South China Sea and its nearby waters. The picture shows HMAS Rankin, a Collins class submarine of Royal Australian Navy, which will be replaced by a nuclear submarine jointly developed by the US, UK and Australia. By Fan Yanting The US, UK and Australia recently signed an agreement to form an alliance named AUKUS, whereby the US and UK will help Australia build nuclear submarines. But other than this, which analysts described as the most eye-catching point of the alliance, tactical cooperation between the US and Australia will also exert great impacts on the military balance in the Asian-Pacific region, particularly on the change of air forces. US aircraft take turns flying over Australia According to Australian defense minister Peter Dutton, the formation of AUKUS will strengthen the cooperation between American and Australian militaries, and their coordination activities in the Asia Pacific, such as the rotating deployment of American military aircraft in Australia. Duttons words were later corroborated by the head of the US Pacific Air Command. According to a report on the American website Defenseone.com, after the AUKUS partnership officially comes into effect, most warplanes of Royal Australian Air Force will be placed under Americas management and command, along with their maintenance, repair and logistics support after relevant arrangements are made. AUKUS intensifies Americas military presence According to the website, allowing American military aircraft to rotate on Australian territory will intensify Americas aerial presence in the Asia Pacific in three ways. First, it will improve the deployment status of US Air Force and enhance its viability in the region as US aircraft now has access to more airports and bases. Second, the entry of American military aircraft into Australia may improve the coordinated combat capability of the two countries air forces. Third, deployment in Australia enables American warplanes to take off or fly across the country to perform missions with greater ease and freedom. AUKUS escalates arms race Some analysts said the AUKUS trilateral security partnership has raised an alert in East Asia, Southeast Asia and even the world at large. Everyone is worried that Australia may become a nuclear state, but Canberra doesnt care and it is seeking the long-term, rotating deployment of American military aircraft on its soil. That is a pointless risk, said Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir, who is concerned that the aggressive move by the US and Australia may incite other regional countries to take more aggressive measures and consequently escalate an arms race in the region. Mahathir also said even with Americas warplanes and nuclear submarines, Australia doesnt have more security than before. He said to the Australian government that you need to consider your geographical position when deciding to adopt a policy. Blindly catering to American policy doesnt work. You will only end up being played like a chess piece. By Lin Minwang Naval forces from the US, Japan, India and Australia will commence the second phase of the maritime exercise Malabar 2021 in the Bay of Bengalfrom October 12 to 15. The Exercise Malabar was originally an annual bilateral naval exercise initiated by India and the US after the end of the Cold War. However, with the development of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), this bilateral naval exercise has gradually become the military pillar of the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. New Delhi aims to obtain greater geopolitical benefits and the policymakers believe that only by developing relations with the US and joining the Indo-Pacific camp can they have arm-wrestling with China. The Quad mechanism that has become more military-oriented has given India greater self-confidence, who has become increasingly arrogant. Indias arrogance is directly reflected on the China-India border issue. The official Weibo account of Chinese military media bluntly criticized the tricks of Indian media, saying that the Indian media seem to have a special preference for fabricating and hyping up China-India border issues, and like to play up the tension and stimulate populist sentiment from time to time. Maybe in their minds, only by showing how hard India is in containing China, can the US feel its strategic value. This arrogance naturally has its inherent reasons. New Delhi was once worried that India-US relations might be cooled when the Biden administration came to power, given that New Delhis performance in democracy and human rights had been criticized by the Democratic Party. However, the Biden administration did not criticize the Modi administration in accordance with American values, but on the contrary, invited it to participate in the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. This shows that the Indo-Pacific strategy is more important at critical moments and the United States could hold a double standard in values. This move naturally made India a little erratic, so that Modi publicly responded to Biden by saying that India is the mother of all democracies. After the conflict at the Galwan Valle y, China has always focused on the big picture, providing New Delhi with time to reflect, and striving to get China-India relations back on track. Unexpectedly, New Delhi gained some illusory self-confidence relying on the US and its camp. Unfortunately, arrogance will only hurt India in the end. (The author is a researcher at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai) Editor's Note: This article is originally published on the huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. China said on Wednesday that it firmly opposes Indian vice president's visit to to a disputed area on the China-India border, urging India to refrain from moves that complicate boundary issues and bring China-India relations back on the right track and steady development. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks when asked about Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu's visit to the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh." China has never recognized the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh," the spokesperson stressed. Zhao also called on the Indian side to truly respect China's major concerns and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability in the China-India border region. The so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" was established largely on three areas of China's Tibet Monyul, Loyul and Lower Tsayul which are currently under India's illegal occupation. These three areas, located between the illegal "McMahon Line" and the traditional customary boundary between China and India, have always been Chinese territory. In 1914, British colonialists secretly instigated the illegal "McMahon Line" in an attempt to incorporate into India the above-mentioned three areas of Chinese territory. None of the successive Chinese governments have ever recognized this line. China and India have held 13 rounds of corps commander-level talks with the latest round taking place on Sunday. KIEV, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and the European Union on Tuesday signed an open-skies agreement that will establish a joint aviation space, the Ukrainian presidential press service said. The agreement, inked at the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit in Kiev, will open up the air markets of Ukraine and the EU and bolster air safety, air traffic, and environmental protection, the presidential press service said in a statement. The open-skies agreement must be ratified by Ukraine and each EU member state to take effect. By Anthony Moretti A Taliban fighter attends a rally in Kabul as they celebrate the U.S. withdraw of all its troops from Afghanistan, August 31, 2021. /CFP Editor's note: Anthony Moretti is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership of Robert Morris University. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN. Right now, the United States seems transfixed on talking about how to stabilize Afghanistan rather than engaging in necessary actions that will foster stability. Over the weekend, one U.S. media outlet after another dutifully reported on the two days of talks between U.S. and Taliban leaders that took place in Qatar. The conversations focused on issues you would expect the U.S. to be concerned about: terrorism, getting Americans and other foreign nationals out of Afghanistan, the rights of Afghan women and girls, and humanitarian aid. Make no mistake: All of these issues are important to America and the West, but the Taliban remain disinterested in any lectures from American officials about how to run their country. And Afghanistan belongs to the Taliban, even though the U.S. spent 20 years and $2 trillion in failed efforts to create a pro-U.S. government there. Now, let's admit that talks between the two sides are important, provided they set the stage for meaningful follow-up actions. But there is little reason to look at the situation at this point and believe the Americans are ready to do more than talk. Oh, sure, they will contribute to a worldwide humanitarian effort, but they are not listening to the Taliban or significant pockets of the world community. Deafness and stubbornness generally do not work well on the international stage. What also should concern the U.S. is whether Russia and China have already pried open doors with the Taliban that will generate political and economic gains for all of those sides. Russian leaders are scheduled to host their Taliban counterparts next week in Moscow, where detailed talks could include representatives from as many as six nations, including China, all of which have had cool (or worse) relations with the U.S. in recent years. The "Moscow Format" began four years ago, with Russia committing itself to being at the forefront in putting Afghanistan on a firm footing. Meanwhile, roughly one month ago, China committed at least $30 million in emergency aid to the Taliban, including desperately needed vaccines and medical supplies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the press conference on an aid conference on Afghanistan, in Geneva, September 13, 2021. /CFP Granted, the U.S. has promised its own aid to Afghanistan, but it remains unwilling to take the most important step. So far, the Biden administration has refused to release roughly $10 billion in Afghan government assets held in the U.S. In doing so, the White House has ignored cries from multiple non-governmental organizations that have pointed out the desperate economic situation facing Afghanistan and its people. In fact, about the only thing the U.S. will commit to at this point is counter-terrorism operations inside the country, even though Taliban officials have said they do not want either U.S. assistance or interference in the effort to rein in the Islamic State. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful message on October 11; although he did not mention the U.S. by name, it was clear which country he had in mind. He said Afghanistan was in desperate need of cash in order to effectively prepare for the harsh winter ahead, noting that "18 million people, half the country's population" need money to pay for food and other necessities. What was the UN Secretary-General really saying? The Biden administration could provide a massive infusion of money by releasing even some of that $10 billion. Official Washington's response? A shrug of disinterest. Guterres' remarks set the stage for the extraordinary meeting of G20 leaders on October 12. As you might guess, multiple Western leaders remained true to the script: the Taliban must continue to demonstrate a commitment to counter-terrorism operations while advancing human rights. While that rhetoric generates positive headlines in the West, it masks a bitter reality noted by the Guardian: "Afghanistan was 75 percent dependent on foreign aid before the takeover [by the Taliban], and funds held overseas have been frozen by the U.S." The EU, usually walking in lockstep with the U.S., then offered a whopping 1 billion euros in humanitarian aid, a line in the sand the U.S. needs to acknowledge not to mention potentially match. Right now it is fair to say that the Russians are doing something the Taliban wants (meetings next week) and the Chinese, along with other nations, are doing what the Afghan people need (providing emergency aid). Meanwhile, the Americans are doing two things detrimental to stabilizing Afghanistan (insisting on counter-terrorism efforts and holding onto $10 billion). That simple calculus explains how the Biden administration has placed the U.S. in an inferior position in aiding the people of Afghanistan. And the inferior position the U.S. is in is likely to only get worse. To date, the "Moscow Format" participants are steadfast in decoupling any political conditions on the Taliban in exchange for aid. However unpopular such a stance might be for the West, it is likely the only one that can prevent a potential humanitarian disaster in the coming months. If the story is true, the spy would have worked under president Roh Tae-woo (1988-1993) or the first democratically elected president, Kim Young-sam (1993-1998). After working there "for five to six years, he came back safely," Kim added. "There was a case where a North Korean agent was dispatched and worked at the presidential office in South Korea and returned to North Korea safely. That was in the early 1990s," said Kim Kuk-song, a former colonel in North Korea's General Bureau of Reconnaissance. A North Korean spy worked at Cheong Wa Dae for years before returning to Pyongyang in the early 1990s, a high-profile defector told BBC in an interview broadcast Monday. The National Intelligence Service here has denied the story. The BBC said it "cannot independently verify his claims, but we have managed to verify his identity and, where possible, found corroborating evidence for his allegations." Kim worked for North Korean intelligence agencies for 30 years, including five years in the GBR, an agency North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched in February 2009 to reinforce his power base. "I can tell you that North Korean operatives are playing an active role in various civil society organizations as well as important institutions in South Korea," he said. He added spies were dispatched for operations like contacting and recruiting South Korean officials, though it was unusual for an agent to get all the way to the presidential office without being exposed. Kim Kuk-song fled North Korea in 2014 and worked for an agency affiliated with the NIS after settling here. He retired a few years ago. "There are many cases where I directed spies to go to South Korea and performed operative missions through them," he insisted. "Many cases." He also reveals that current leader Kim Jong-un was already engaged in the regime's terrorist activities at the highest level long before his father Kim Jong-il suddenly died in 2011. The sinking of the South Korean navy corvette Cheonan and shelling of the South Korean island Yeonpyeong in the West Sea in 2010 "would not have happened without orders" from Kim Jong-un. Kim junior was "not directly involved in the operations on the Cheonan or Yeonpyeong Island," Kim Kuk-song said, but "this kind of military work is designed and implemented by Kim Jong-un's special orders. It's an achievement." Kim Kuk-song was also active in raising slush funds for the ruling family at the Operational Department of the Workers Party and an overseas intelligence agency called Room 35. "The production of drugs in Kim Jong-il's North Korea peaked during the 'arduous march,'" he said referring to the deadly famine of the 1990s. "At that time, the Operational Department ran out of revolutionary funds for the supreme leader." But he "brought three foreigners from abroad into North Korea, built a production base in the training center of the 715 Liaison office of the Workers Party, and produced drugs." Arms exports also were an important source of funding for the regime. "There were special midget-submarines, semi-submersibles. North Korea was very good at building cutting-edge equipment like this," he said. "Deals were so successful that North Korea's deputy director in Iran would boast about summoning the Iranians to his swimming pool to do business." Weapons and technology were often sold to countries fighting long civil wars. Kim Kuk-song decided to flee North Korea in 2014, apparently because of his close relationship with Jang Song-taek, Kim Jong-un's uncle who was brutally purged the previous year. While still in favor he "was given use of a Mercedes-Benz car" by Jang's wife, who was Kim Jong-il's sister, "and allowed to travel abroad freely to raise money for the North Korean leader," he claimed. But when he found out about Jang's brutal execution, "I was more than surprised, it was a fatal blow and I was appalled," he said. "I immediately felt a danger to my life. I knew I could no longer exist in North Korea." A reformed man, the old spymaster now claims to be fighting for the cause of democracy. "I'll be more active from now on to free my Northern brethren from the grasps of dictatorship and for them to enjoy true freedom," he said. "It's been years since I came here, but North Korea hasn't changed at all. What you need to know is that North Korea hasn't changed 0.01 percent." "We constantly face generalized accusations that we can't be trusted and that we aren't a reasonable international actor," Frost added -- a response to EU claims that the U.K. is seeking to renege on the legally binding treaty that it negotiated and signed. He said a fundamental rewrite of the mutually agreed divorce deal was the only way to fix the exes' "fractious relationship." And he warned that Britain could push an emergency override button on the deal if it didn't get its way. Britain's Brexit minister on Tuesday accused the EU of wishing failure on its former member and of badmouthing the U.K. as a country that can't be trusted. David Frost said during a speech in Lisbon that the EU "doesn't always look like it wants us to succeed" or "get back to constructive working together." There was hope that now-separated Britain and the 27-nation bloc would sail their relationship toward calmer waters. With Christmas closing in again one thing is clear -- it wasn't to be. It was late last Christmas Eve when the European Union and Britain finally clinched a Brexit trade deal after years of wrangling, threats and missed deadlines to seal their divorce. Post-Brexit tensions have crystalized into a worsening fight over Northern Ireland, the only part of the U.K. to share a land border with an EU country, which is Ireland. Under the most delicate and contentious part of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland remains inside the EU's single market for trade in goods, in order to avoid a hard border with EU member Ireland. That means customs and border checks must be conducted on some goods going to Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., despite the fact they are part of the same country. The regulations are intended to prevent goods from Britain entering the EU's tariff-free single market while keeping an open border on the island of Ireland -- a key pillar of Northern Ireland's peace process. The U.K. government soon complained the arrangements weren't working, saying the rules impose burdensome red tape on businesses. Never short of a belligerent metaphor, 2021 has already brought a "sausage war," with Britain asking the EU to drop a ban on processed British meat products such as sausages entering Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's British Unionist community, meanwhile, says the Brexit deal undermines the 1998 Good Friday peace accord -- which sought to protect the rights of both Unionist and Irish Nationalist communities -- by weakening Northern Ireland's ties with the rest of the U.K. The bloc has agreed to look at changes to the Protocol, and is due to present proposals on Wednesday. Before that move, Britain raised the stakes again, with Frost demanding sweeping changes to the way the agreement is governed. In his speech in the Portuguese capital, Frost said the Protocol "is not working." "It has completely lost consent in one community in Northern Ireland," he said. "It is not doing the thing it was set up to do -- protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. In fact it is doing the opposite. It has to change." Most contentiously, he said the EU must also remove the European Court of Justice as the ultimate arbiter of disputes concerning trade in Northern Ireland and instead agree to international arbitration. He said the role of the EU court "means the EU can make laws which apply in Northern Ireland without any kind of democratic scrutiny or discussion." The EU is highly unlikely to agree to the change. The bloc's highest court is seen as the pinnacle of the free trade single market, and Brussels has vowed not to undermine its own order. Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, said Britain's demand was "very hard to accept." "I don't think we could ever have a situation where we had another court deciding what the rules of the single market are," he said. Some EU observers say Britain's demand to remove the court's oversight shows it isn't serious about making the Brexit deal work. Frost repeated the U.K.'s threat to invoke Article 16, a clause allowing either side to suspend the agreement in exceptional circumstances. That would send already testy relations into a deep chill and could lead to a trade war between Britain and the bloc -- one that would hurt the U.K. economy more than its much larger neighbor. The economically tiny but symbolically charged subject of fish, which held up a trade deal to the final minute last year, is also stoking divisions now. France wants its EU partners to act as one if London wouldn't grant more licenses for small French fishing boats to roam close to the U.K. crown dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey, just off France's Normandy coast. In France's parliament last week, Prime Minister Jean Castex accused Britain of reneging on its promise over fishing. "We see in the clearest way possible that Great Britain does not respect its own signature," he said. In a relationship where both sides often fall back on cliches about the other, Castex was harking back to the centuries-old French insult of "Perfidious Albion," a nation that can never be trusted. Across the English Channel, U.K. Brexit supporters often depict a conniving EU, hurt by Britain's departure, doing its utmost to make Brexit less than a success by throwing up bureaucratic impediments. "The EU and we have got into a low equilibrium, (a) somewhat fractious relationship," Frost conceded. "(It) need not always be like that, but... it takes two to fix it." Medical aid groups are welcoming plans by U.S. drug maker Moderna to build a plant for manufacturing vaccines in Africa. The groups say the plant, the first from a company making a COVID-19 vaccine, will help in fighting vaccine inequality. African countries are facing a shortfall of nearly 500 million COVID-19 vaccines according to the World Health Organization. The shortage has left most countries unable to vaccinate even the most vulnerable 10 percent of their populations. Last week, U.S. drug maker Moderna announced plans to build a plant on the African continent. Its statement is raising hope Africa will have a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the future. Medical aid groups say although the plan will boost Africa's vaccine manufacturing capacity, the continent still needs an immediate solution to shortages. Dr. Githinji Gitahi is the chief executive officer at Amref Health Africa. "As significant as it is because of the high financial commitment of 500 million dollars, there are several other factors to consider," said Gitahi. "One, that factory will not be a solution to the current challenge of vaccine access in Africa. If the factory is going to be ready in 2-4 years Africa wants to vaccinate at least 70 percent of its population by the end of June next year. Therefore, Africa still demands the most important step in redistribution of doses earmarked for rich countries to come into Africa." The marathon COVID-19 lockdown in Australia's biggest city, Sydney, ended Monday for vaccinated residents. Stay-at-home orders imposed on June 26 have been lifted. Government advertisements have urged Australians to be vaccinated against COVID-19, promising that freedoms would be returned when vaccination rates passed certain milestones. The message has been getting through to the community. A 106-day lockdown in the New South Wales state capital, Sydney, was lifted Monday because inoculation rates have passed 70 percent for people aged 16 and older. Gyms, restaurants and hairdressers have reopened for the first time since late June. Small gatherings at home are now permitted, and larger groups are allowed to meet at parks and beaches. However, the freedoms apply only to those who have been fully vaccinated. However, all residents still face restrictions on travel beyond Sydney. Those rules will be eased when vaccination rates in New South Wales reach 80 percent. At that point international travel, which has been heavily restricted since March 2020, will resume. Half of all drivers who pocketed government subsidies to scrap their old diesel cars ended up buying another diesel car, which defeats the purpose of reducing pollution. The government spent W845.4 billion in taxpayers' money over the last five years to scrap 959,000 old diesel cars, but over the same period the number of diesel cars on the roads in fact increased nine percent (US$1=W1,198). Drivers who scrap an aging diesel car weighing less than 3.5 tons can get up to W6 million in subsidies. The central government shoulders 60 percent and provincial governments the rest. They can then get another subsidy if they switch to a car powered by something other than diesel. The number of people signing up to donate organs has dropped 25 percent during the coronavirus pandemic. According to data obtained from Korea Organ Donation Agency, in 2020 some 67,160 people pledged to donate their organs after death, down 25.7 percent from the previous year. It is the first time in a decade the number has dropped below 70,000. "Organ donations are often encouraged at hospitals. But as the number of people who visited hospitals decreased due to the pandemic, fewer people made such pledges," a KODA staffer said. However, the number of patients waiting for organ transplants stood at 35,852 last year, up 8.7 percent from 32,990 in 2019. Korea is likely to export more of the country's trademark kimchi than it imports for the first time in 12 years. Despite being the origin of the dish, Korea has been importing more kimchi from China than it exports. But this year imports from China have shrunk, partly due to a health and hygiene scare. According to the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday, kimchi exports reached US$111.46 million as of August, up 13.8 percent on-year, but imports amounted to only $86.1 million, down 9.7 percent, resulting in a trade surplus of $25.36 million. The last kimchi trade surplus was recorded in 2009 because of a drastic decrease in imports in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. But the KCS said this year exports increased substantially thanks to the global popularity of all things Korean. South Koreans are already engrossed in their presidential election campaign before candidates for the ruling and opposition parties are selected this fall. Most Americans will not pay much attention until next March, when South Korean voters go to the polls. But they should, because the election is about much more than democracy. For the U.S., this is arguably the first South Korean election in recent memory where there are substantive foreign policy differences between the two camps that will have real ramifications for U.S. policy. It is no surprise that the conservative and progressive camps have differing views on policy toward North Korea. Progressives can be expected to favor engagement with the North and the early advancement of a peace declaration and inter-Korean economic and humanitarian projects. The U.S. is familiar with the different approaches advocated by conservative and progressive camps because they roughly replicate similar policy lines from previous administrations in Seoul. However, on other foreign policy matters, past South Korean elections generally did not feature major differences. Most of the policy debate focused on North Korea and domestic issues; with general agreement that any South Korean president would generally favor policies that support the alliance with America system and, more broadly, the liberal international order. But this time the differences are real between the two camps. On relations with Japan and U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral policy coordination, the best opportunity for improvement would be a fresh start with a new leadership in Seoul and Tokyo starting next May. But the incumbent government and the ruling party have made clear their ambivalence about improving relations with Tokyo, and trilateral relations thereby give little hope for the new Kishida government to effect any change. The opposition, by contrast, has called for a reversal of the decline in bilateral and trilateral relations, which sends a very different message to Tokyo and Washington about future prospects for cooperation. On relations with China, there are also significant gaps between the two camps. The conservatives have called for a more realistic view of China, acknowledging its economic importance, but also being wary of China's coercive tactics. Memories of Chinese sanctions as a result of the stationing of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in Seongju to defend South Korea still remain very much in the forefront of their strategic thinking. By contrast, the ruling camp remains more cautious about joining in with the Biden administration's turn to strategic competition with China. It still sees Beijing as critical to an engagement policy with North Korea. While the memories of THAAD do not easily fade, they must be subjugated to more immediate economic and security priorities. Perhaps where the differences in foreign policies between the two political camps are most obvious is over the Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue or Quad. This was one of the last significant initiatives of the Trump administration in Asia, bringing together the leaders of the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India. I heard from reliable sources that South Korea was offered a spot at the table in advance of the first Quad summit under President Joe Biden, who took the new alliance over, in March 2021, and that the incumbent government refused the invitation. The ruling party's presidential candidates have also remained silent on South Korea's membership in the Quad. By contrast, I have heard opposition party leaders state openly that under their government, Korea would seek membership in the Quad immediately. Of course, there are many areas where the two presidential camps would continue the work of the incumbent government on the alliance with the U.S. The May 21 summit between presidents Biden and Moon laid out a fantastic work agenda for the alliance that crosses party lines and that would be uncontroversial to pursue in a conservative or progressive government. But the different approaches on the policies toward Japan, trilateralism, China, and the Quad are real. In addition, there are many more differences of significance on policies that impact the U.S. On nuclear energy, the choice is between suspending further production or growing it. On the handover of full operational troop control in case of a war, the choice is between an early handover or a conditions-based approach. On supply chains, the choice is between cooperating with Western-based networks outside of China or not. And on 5G, the choice is between permitting Huawei components in the South Korean market or not. My point is not to say which views are the right ones. That is up to the South Korean people to decide. Moreover, the United States will work with whichever government comes into power next May as a good ally. But this election will reflect a true national debate on all these issues where none existed before. Americans should pay attention to this election because it matters a great deal to the United States and its policies in Asia. The United States will move ahead with its plan to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem as Washington restores ties with the Palestinians and commits to a two-state solution. "As I said in May, we'll be moving forward with the process of opening a consulate as part of deepening those ties with the Palestinians," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Wednesday press conference. But he stopped short of providing a timeline. The U.S. supports efforts to advance a lasting peace in the Middle East, Blinken added, and will continue to "strengthen all aspects of the U.S.-Israel partnership." China to establish five national parks By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-13 18:04 The first batch of national parks to be established by China was announced at the leaders summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) on Oct 12. Sanjiangyuan National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and Wuyi Mountain National Park are the parks in question. The protected land area is 230,000 square kilometers in total, covering nearly 30 percent of the key terrestrial wildlife species found across China. 1. Sanjiangyuan National Park Located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, it is the birthplace of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River. It is an important source of fresh water supply in China, maintaining the lifeline of water security in China and in Asia at large. As the area most impacted by global climate change, it is one of Chinas prioritized areas for biodiversity conservation. 2. Giant Panda National Park Straddling three provincesSichuan, Shaanxi and Gansuthe park is an important national ecological security area, where the population of wild giant pandas in China is concentrated, with an area of 15,000 square kilometers accounting for 58.5% of Chinas total habitation area for wild giant pandas. The park is home to 1,340 wild pandas. 3. Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park It is one of the most important habitats for tigers and leopards in the country, situated in the southern area of Mount Laoye at the junction of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. It is the largest settlement and breeding area for wild Siberian tigers and Siberian leopards with breeding families in Chinese territory. 4. Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Located in the central mountainous area of Hainan Island, it is the most concentrated, most complete and well-preserved, and the largest contiguous continental island tropical rain forest in China. It is the only distribution area of Hainan Gibbon in the world and a treasure house of tropical biodiversity, thus boasting extremely precious resources. 5. Wuyi Mountain National Park Located in the northern part of Fujian Province, it is composed of Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve, Wuyi Mountain National Scenic Area and Jiuqu River Upper Reservoir Protection Zone. Wuyi Mountain, as a key area for global biodiversity conservation, boasts the most complete, most typical, and largest area of the central subtropical native forest ecosystem at the same latitude on the Earth. It is also a gene bank for rare and unique wild animals. The mountain is known as a birds paradise, the kingdom of snakes and the world of insects. (Photos/People.cn) New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Mostly clear. Low 46F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 46F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. US President Joe Biden plans to invite Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the White House for a summit meeting as soon as April, Axios reported Wednesday. If finalized, it would be Mr. Biden first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since t... Community First Bank of Indiana has joined the industry-wide #BanksNeverAskThat campaign, in partnership with the American Bankers Association, to protect consumers during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The campaign seeks to educate consumers about the persistent threat of phishing scams. The FTC estimates that consumers lost $3.3 billion to phishing schemes and other fraud in 2020, nearly double the losses in 2019. To combat phishing, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor and other engaging content to empower consumers to identify fake bank communications asking for sensitive information like their passwords and Social Security numbers. Throughout the month of October, Community First Bank will be sharing engaging and quick tips on our social media platforms and website. Were excited about this campaign because it is designed to be bright and bold with a bit of comedy, and were hoping this can bring new attention to cybersecurity education and fraud awareness, said Lainey Schroer, marketing/communications manager for Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Community First Bank. Find us as Community First Bank of Indiana on Facebook, @CFBindiana on Instagram, and online at www.CFBindiana.com. Community First Bank was chartered in 2003 in Kokomo, where it currently has three branches, two branches in Westfield, and a branch and loan production office in Noblesville. CFB is also opening its newest branch at 93rd and Meridian in Indianapolis in the coming months. For more information about phishing scams and how to stop fraudsters in their tracks, visit www.BanksNeverAskThat.com. This column is dedicated to the hundreds of Hoosiers who attended redistricting hearings across the state, as well as the House and Senate chambers. Ill leave you with this story: In January 2004 I got a phone call from a man in Columbus who was pondering a challenge to the powerful Senate President Pro Tem Bob Garton in the Republican primary. Should I run? he asked. I explained to him that his chances of winning were slim, but he should run as a way to explore and vet issues in his community. That caller ran and won. He attended the Senate redistricting hearings as state Sen. Greg Walker. I tell this story because the new Indiana congressional and General Assembly maps might as well be called the incumbent protection plan. Many of you who testified in August and September were pushing for an independent redistricting commission to draw fair maps filled with competitive districts. But the window for a constitutional amendment required would have taken a couple of General Assembly sessions, thus it closed several years ago. With Republicans holding super majorities in the Senate (39-11) and House (71-29), the lopsided maps were essentially a fait accompli. How uncompetitive are these new maps? George Washington University political scientist Christopher Warshaw said that while Republicans carry about 60% of the vote, they will likely win between 70% and 80% of General Assembly seats. Princeton Universitys Gerrymandering Project analysis of the 159 congressional, House and Senate districts, just 11 will be competitive. Look no further than Indianas nine congressional districts, which Republicans now carry 7-2. Ive drawn on analysis from the Cook Political Reports 2020 Partisan Index, FiveThirtyEight and IUPUI graduate student Nick Roberts. The new maps appear to set Indiana up for a second consecutive decade where no incumbent loses an election. Heres a district-by-district breakdown: 1st CD: This is the one nominally competitive district coming in at D+7 by FiveThirtyEight (which is outside the normal 5% competitiveness threshold). The 2020 Cook Partisan Index had this as a D+8 district. Freshman U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan looks nominally safe. 2nd CD: The Cook Partisan Index rated the 2020 2nd district as a R+11 district (Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton 58.9% to 35.9% in 2016). FiveThirtyEight puts it at R+26 with the new maps. Republican U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski entered this seat in 2012 after narrowly losing to Democrat Joe Donnelly in 2010. It appears out of reach for Democrats now. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute 3rd CD: FiveThirtyEight rates U.S. Rep. Jim Banks new district at R+34. According to the 2020 Cook Partisan Index, the old district was R+18. 4th CD: FiveThirtyEight has the new 4th district represented by Rep. Jim Baird at R+33, compared to R+17 in the 2020 Cook Partisan Index. 5th CD: Republicans shored up this formerly purple district that had been R+9 in the 2020 Cook Partisan Index. FiveThirtyEight has the new district at R+22 as the more Democratic northern part of Indianapolis was shunted off to the new, very blue 7th CD. According to Roberts, in 2020 Trump defeated Biden 50%-48%, while Trump carries the new 5th CD 57%-41%. Rep. Victoria Spartz defeated Democrat Christina Hale by 4% in 2020. Hale is now in the 7th CD. Former legislator Melanie Wright told the Anderson Herald Bulletin she would challenge Spartz, saying, Just because people look at it and think that it might not be doable, I cant let that stop me from getting a moderate message out there. 6th CD: FiveThirtyEight has the new district at R+37, while the Cook Partisan Index had the old 6th at R+18. Roberts data has Trump winning the old 6th by a 69%-29% margin, and 65% to 33% in the new. U.S. Rep. Greg Pence wont have to break a sweat, attend a debate or a town hall to keep his grip. 7th CD: If you want to know how the seven Republican CDs have become even more uncompetitive, look no further than U.S. Rep. Andre Carsons new 7th CD, which is now D+37, according to FiveThirtyEight. It was D+11 in the 2020 Cook Partisan Index, with Clinton carrying it 58.2% to Trumps 35.7% in 2016. Roberts data had Biden winning the old version with 63% in 2020 and the new district with 70%. 8th CD: FiveThirtyEight rates the former bloody 8th at R+36, meaning U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon will be able to retire later this decade undefeated. It had been R+15 in the 2020 Cook Partisan Index. 9th CD: According to FiveThirtyEight, the 9th is now a R+30 district, compared to R+13 in the 2020 Cook Partisan Index. Trump defeated Clinton 60.8% to 34% in 2020, and Roberts has Trump carrying the new 9th CD with 63%. Republican U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth looks safe in 2022 but has said he is self-term limited as of 2024. State Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, made this clear last week when he said of the bill he sponsored, We were striving to follow legal requirements. Compactness and communities of interests were goals. Competitiveness is not a legal requirement. So potential challengers are going to have to embrace the Wright message, which is run to bring the debate to your community, your district. Perhaps lightning strikes, as it did for Sen. Walker. Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at www.howeypolitics.com. Find Howey on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol. Howie Mandel was rushed to hospital after passing out in a coffee shop. The 'America's Got Talent' judge was at his local branch of Starbucks on Woodland Hills, California, with his wife Terry and some friends on Wednesday (13.10.21) when he suddenly fainted, falling over and then being laid out on a cement bench. Sources told TMZ paramedics were called to the scene and took Howie to hospital in Tarzana, though the 65-year-old star was able to sit up by the time the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the cafe. According to insiders, the 'Deal or No Deal' host is a regular at the branch of Starbucks and it is believed he fainted due to low blood sugar, though doctors are now running tests and, at the time of writing, he is still in hospital. Meanwhile, Howie recently admitted he has been "teetering" on the brink of depression because his struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and being a "world-renowned germophobe" has made living life amid the coronavirus pandemic difficult. 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: "People have jokingly said you've been planning for this. It's a nightmare for me, it's really hard... "Honestly, I'm really down and teetering on depression right now as we speak. You see a high wire act on 'AGT, they maintain their balance and don''t fall, I feel that's how I live. "I have a smile and I get to do wonderful things and have an amazing life and amazing family, amazing support, medically, but I'm not going to lie to you, this is really crazy hard." Howie - who has three children with his wife - admitted he only sought help for his struggles after an ultimatum from his wife. He said: "The thing that talked me into getting help was an ultimatum from my wife who said, 'You either get help or you leave', and I wouldn't leave, I'm still here and I got help." Kokomo, IN (46901) Today Snow showers this evening. Becoming clear later. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Snow showers this evening. Becoming clear later. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. William Shatner broke down in tears after becoming the oldest person to go into space. The 90-year-old actor blasted off on Jeff Bezos' New Shepard NS-18 rocket alongside Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's Vice President of Mission and Flight Operation, and crew members Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries on Wednesday (13.10.21) from the company's Launch Site One in Van Horn, Texas, and was overcome with emotion when he landed back on earth. Speaking to Jeff, he said: Im so filled with emotion about what just happened. Its extraordinary, extraordinary. I hope I can maintain what I feel now. I dont want to lose it. Its so much larger than me and life. What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. It hasnt got anything to do with the little green men and the blue orb. It has to do with the enormity and the quickness and the suddenness of life and death. The 'Star Trek' actor hailed the trip a "life-changing" moment. He said in a livestream video of the event: Its life-changing in its way, not because of the aerial adventure, but because of the people Im meeting. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Were just at the beginning, but how miraculous that beginning is how extraordinary it is to be part of that beginning. The crew made it up to an altitude of around 66 miles on the suborbital flight, and felt weightlessness. But just a matter of minutes later, they began their descent and their capsule headed back down to Earth thanks to three parachutes. The crew touched down in the desert at a speed of around 15mph. It was later confirmed the astronauts were all OK following the flight, and a recovery team was sent in to get them out of the capsule. Jeff opened the hatch first so they could disembark, and the billionaire shouted: "Welcome to Earth!" Crowded House are set to rock Hampton Court Palace next summer. The 'Fall At Your Feet' rockers - who released their first studio album since 2010's 'Intriguer', 'Dreamers Are Waiting', in June - will play Henry VIII's former home on June 25, 2022, as part of a star-studded bill for the annual Hampton Court Palace Festival. The group's stop at the music extravaganza will be part of their postponed European tour, which was delayed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Neil Finn and Nick Seymour are joined by Mitchell Froom and Nick's sons, Liam and Elroy Finn, in the current live lineup of the 'Don't Dream It's Over' band. Meanwhile, Lionel Richie and George Benson are also playing the historical royal residence next year. The 'All Night Long' hitmaker will play two consecutive nights kicking off on June 8, and the formidable George Benson will perform on June 16. More dates and artists will be confirmed in due course. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute This summer, the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Rick Astley, Keane, Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Van Morrison graced the 3,000-seat auditorium in Base Court, set against the backdrop of Henry VIII's breathtaking Tudor Palace. General tickets for Crowded House's show are available on Friday (15.10.21) at 10am via the Hampton Court Palace Festival website: www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com. Hampton Court Palace Festival bill so far: Wednesday 8th June Lionel Richie Thursday 9th June Lionel Richie Thursday 16th June George Benson Saturday 25th June Crowded House Press Release October 13, 2021 De Lima files Senate Resolution congratulating Ressa for Nobel Peace Prize Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima filed a Senate Resolution (SR) congratulating Rappler founder, Maria Ressa, for being the first Filipino recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize owing to her extraordinary courage and unwavering efforts in fighting for truth, democracy, freedom of expression and of the press. In filing SR No. 930, De Lima said congratulating and honoring Ressa would signify to the Filipino people that the Senate remains true to its principles as a bastion of democracy, freedom, truth, justice and independence. "Maria Ressa's historic feat is definitive proof that press freedom is still universally recognized as a critical component in any functional democracy, and a monumental slap in the face of oppressive and tyrannical regimes, both past and present," she said. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Ressa is one of two media workers who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their work to protect freedom of the press and freedom of expression last Oct. 8. She is the first Filipino to win such an award. In its announcement, the Committee said that it has decided to award the prize for 2021 to Ressa and Muratov "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." Notably, the Committee highlighted the fact that Ressa "uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines." Ressa and Rappler have been the target of attacks for her media organization's critical coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration and a key leader in the global fight against disinformation. De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, said Ressa's win is as remarkable as it is symbolic, especially under severe oppressive circumstances surrounding those who speak truth to power. "At a crucial time for journalists in the Philippines, Ressa's victory sends a message loud and clear: the world is watching and democracy overcomes even the strongest forces to subdue it," she said. De Lima likewise said in a separate statement posted on Twitter that Ressa's latest accolade "is truly a triumph of truth over lies, and the award has not come at a more opportune time than during our struggle to regain our lost freedoms under Duterte." She added: "On a personal note, I could not be prouder of Ressa as a fellow defender of truth. I have not forgotten that she was among the first to bravely bring light to my political persecution and vilification, through the weaponization of fake news and state-sponsored trolling." It can be recalled that in June 2020, Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. were convicted of cyber libel - a judgment Rappler regards as a failure of justice and democracy. Ressa and Santos are out on bail, and have filed their appeal with the Court of Appeals. This is one of at least seven active cases pending in court against Rappler as of 10 August 2021. De Lima, along with fellow Minority Senators Franklin M. Drilon, Risa Hontiveros and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also filed Proposed SR No. 927 urging the rest of the chamber to confer upon Ressa the Senate Medal of Excellence for being a Nobel Laureate. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque congratulated Ressa on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, but denied the attacks on Philippine media that had been the premise of her fight for press freedom. "Isang malaking sampal sa mukha ni Duterte na kilalanin ng mundo ang kabayanihan ng mga inapi niya... Her win means one thing: Tuloy ang Laban ng mga Pilipino para sa Katotohanan, Katarungan at Kalayaan," De Lima said. Press Release October 13, 2021 Senate panel thanks several groups for support to pursue probe on Pharmally scandal The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee today thanked various sectors and groups for their overwhelming support to its investigation into the alleged anomalous procurement deals that marred the government's response to COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Richard J. Gordon, committee chairman, said the outpouring of public support has bolstered the Senate's resolve to continue finding out the truth behind the scandalous deals with a private supplier Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation. "We thank members of the healthcare sector, various universities and alumni groups, the academe, the Catholic Church, and reputable lawyers' organizations for speaking out against the corruption plaguing this administration," he said. "Your Senate is more than determined to get the bottom of this anomaly. The Filipino people have long suffered during this pandemic, and the government owes them an explanation where the public funds for COVID-19 response went," he added. Droves of statements of support started pouring in after Mr. Duterte ordered his Cabinet officials and their employees not to attend the Senate's investigation and for the law enforcement authorities not to cooperate in serving its arrest orders. Former health secretaries, notably Esperanza Cabral and Manuel Dayrit, public health advocate Tony Leachon, and various respectable medical societies have called on Mr. Duterte to allow the Senate to exercise its oversight function unhampered. Among other medical and allied/paramedical organizations who signed the petition include Makati Medical Center, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Pediatric Society, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, and others. Business associations, such as the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, and Shareholders Association of the Philippines, have also called on the Duterte administration to cooperate with the Senate's investigation. University systems under the De La Salle, St. Paul University in Manila, and several alumni groups of Ateneo de Manila and University of the Philippines have also spoken up against attempts to derail the Senate investigation. Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Philippine Bar Association (PBA) have also expressed grave concern over Duterte's directives, which they said, violate the separation of powers among executive and legislative branches of government. "The Senate has the power to enforce its own processes in accordance with the Rules of the Senate governing its legislative investigations which is recognized under our Constitution and settled jurisprudence," the PBA said in an official statement. Gordon, a lawyer by profession, underscored the importance of the Senate's vast scope of legislative inquiry, which is as important as its lawmaking powers, in finding out how the government spent public funds for COVID-19 pandemic. "We are getting closer to the very meat of these shenanigans. We will pursue our investigation without relent, and run after those who deliberately lied and evaded our questions. They will have to answer to our people," he said. Since the start of the Senate blue ribbon committee's investigation, Gordon and other senators have been subjected to incessant attacks from Mr. Duterte, his minions and their paid trolls to discredit them and distract them from investigating. Your browser does not support the video tag. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Dalondo Moultrie is the assistant managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail him at dalondo.moultrie@seguingazette.com . If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Today - Bio-Analyzer: Crewmembers upload a new Bio-Monitor Application configuration file from an SSC to their iPad. The crew then opened the new Bio-Monitor App configuration file on their iPad and confirmed the overwrite to the internal database with the new file. Bio-Analyzer is a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) onboard instrument that serves as a platform for scientific experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). The instrument performs on-orbit quantification of biological molecules and cellular composition in samples collected and prepared aboard the ISS. Edible Foam: A crewmember inspected the Edible Foam in the Food Processor Consumables Kit, performed an egg white hydration test, and completed the EveryWear Questionnaire. There was some water leakage noted during the egg white hydration, possibly due to a design issue. Edible foam is made from PHA, a naturally occurring polymer synthesized by bacteria. It offers a high level of protection from isolated shocks and vibrations, which is particularly important during flights into space. Eklosion: The Capsule was unplugged from Eklosion and photos were taken in the Cupola in Node 3. The crew then deinstalled the hardware. The Eklosion investigation utilizes a vase, inspired by the VEGGIE plant growth facility, specially designed for use in the microgravity environment aboard the ISS. Eklosion contains within its hull small messages and smells from Earth for the psychological benefit of the crew member who conducts the investigation. Fluids Integrated Rack/Light Microscopy Module (FIR/LMM): A crewmember removed the processed ACE-T1 Module from inside the LMM AFC, installed the LMM Confocal Test Target, and dispensed immersion oil on the target. The test target allows a flat field characterization test to be performed. These will be some of the final activities for LMM before its removal and the installation of a different science module. Photos were taken of the overall view of ACE Module capillaries. The LMM is a modified commercial, highly flexible, state-of-the-art light imaging microscope facility that provides researchers with powerful diagnostic hardware and software onboard the ISS. The LMM enables novel research of microscopic phenomena in microgravity, with the capability of remotely acquiring and downloading digital images and videos across many levels of magnification. The way that matter is organized and moves on the microscopic level profoundly affects the macroscopic world and an understanding of such processes helps scientists and engineers build more efficient materials and machines both for both the earth and space environments. JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-19 (J-SSOD-19): A crewmember Removed the J-SSOD-19 Multi (2 Deployers) from MPEP. The JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) provides a novel, safe, and small satellite launching capability to the ISS. The J-SSOD is a unique satellite launcher, handled by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), which provides containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites. NanoRacks CubeSats Deployer-21 (NRCSD-21): A crewmember installed the NRCSD-21 hardware onto the MPEP. The NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) is a self-contained CubeSat deployer system that mechanically and electrically isolates CubeSats and has been in operation since 2014. NRCSD-21 will be launching CAP Sat (Cooling, Annealing, and Pointing Satellite), PR-CuNa R2 (Puerto Rico CubeSat NanoRocks-2), and SPACE HAUC (Science Program Around Communications Engineering with High Achieving Undergraduate Cadres). Plant Habitat-04: A crewmember removed debris from the Science Carrier/Plant Habitat Facility and took photos from the top of the entire Science Carrier and of each of four quadrants of the Science Carrier. Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat's Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time. An excellent source of Vitamin C, peppers are more difficult to cultivate than many possible space crops because they take longer to germinate, grow, and develop fruit. The investigation includes microbial analysis to improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions in space and assessment of flavor and texture, which vary based on the growth environment and care such as amount of watering. Rodent Research: A crewmember performed an audit of Rodent Research supplies and trashed some items. The Rodent Research Facility provides rodent housing on board the ISS. Animal research is essential for understanding the impacts of spaceflight on the systems of the human body, and for development of potential therapies that will ease harmful responses to space flight. The advisory panel for Animal and Human Biology appointed by the Committee for the Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space was unanimous in its recommendation that an animal habitat be incorporated as soon as possible into the ISS. Time Perception in Microgravity: Crewmembers performed Time Perception experiment combined sessions. The accurate perception of objects in the environment is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of motor tasks. Time perception in microgravity is also fundamental to motion perception, sound localization, speech, and fine motor coordination. The Time Perception in Microgravity experiment quantifies the subjective changes in time perception in humans during and after long-duration exposure to microgravity. Systems: EVA Loop Scrub: The crew performed EMU water loop scrubs and then acquired and tested water samples for conductivity on units 3004 and 3006. EMU Loop Scrubs are required preventive maintenance needed to remove any chemical and biological contaminants from the EMU transport loop. OBT ISS Emergency Hardware Familiarization: The ISS Commander and newly arrived 65S crewmember, FE-4 Anton Shkaplerov, practiced communication with the RS and USOS in the event of an emergency. The Commander worked with FE-4 to familiarize him with USOS equipment as well as locations of the equipment and positions of valves used in emergencies. JSL Pins Repair: Last week, the crew installed a new router and connected the JSL cables as part of the JSL v14 upgrades. After the activity was complete, ground teams discovered that there was a bad connection between the Lab Router and KCU2. As part of troubleshooting steps, the crew inspected the cabling and noticed that Pin 5 & Pin 6 on JSL Data Cable (W3034) Connector P5B were damaged. Today, the crew attempted to repair both pins by bending pin 6 back into place and pulling pin 5, which had receded, back into place. The troubleshooting was unsuccessful and ground teams are working on a forward plan. Completed Task List Activities: None Today's Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) High Pressure (HP) Oxygen Valve Open NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Installation on the MPEP Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Airlock Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Flow Initiation Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub Initiation JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side JEM Airlock Valve Box Remote Controller (VB-RC) Activation Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Iodination JEM Airlock Depressurization and vent Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Airlock Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Flow Terminate EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Scrub Deconfiguration Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) High Pressure Oxygen Valve Close JEM Airlock Valve Box Remote Controller (VB-RC) Deactivation JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Deactivation Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) satellite deployment Maneuver JEM Airlock Slide Table Extension to JEF side JEM Airlock Capture Mechanism Release JEM Airlock Slide Table Retraction from JEF side JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Deactivation Look Ahead Plan Tuesday, October 12 (GMT 285) Payloads: CIR/ACME Hardware replace (NASA) GITAI hardware install (NASA) Immersive Exercise VR charging (ESA) IPU 2 Checkout and closeout (JAXA) ISS HAM pass (NASA) JAXA Video Take 9 (JAXA) LIDAL Data unit move/return (NASA) Lumina Data Transfer (ESA) Maritime radio remove NanoRacks Airlock IPCAM install (NASA) NRCSD-21 deploy photo (NASA) Ring Sheared Drop sample exchange (NASA) Standard Measures Saliva collect, Cognition test, Fecal setup (NASA) Vascular Aging Blood Pressure cuff setup (CSA) Systems: JAXA Video PAO Events Wednesday, October 13 (GMT 286) Payloads: CIR Manifold 2 and 4 bottle exchange (NASA) Food Acceptability (NASA) Immersive Exercise session (ESA) ISS HAM pass (NASA) ManD print remove and stow MMA to PLT3 adapter fix POLAR desiccant swap Standard Measures Saliva, body and fecal collect and presleep question (NASA) Vascular Aging Blood Pressure Changeout (CSA) Systems: EMU HUT ORU R&R Cargo Ops EMU HUT Degas Dragon Undock Prep XF705 Camcorder Deploy JPM Smoke Detector Cleaning COL Hardware Trash JSL 20-Port Switch Thursday, October 14 (GMT 287) Payloads: Behavioral Core Measures ROBOT test (NASA) CIR manifold 4 bottle exchange (NASA) ESA EPO TOUCHS (ESA) GLACIER desiccant swap IPU2 Camcorder connect (JAXA) POLAR desiccant swap Standard Measures Saliva, body and fecal collect and presleep question (NASA) TOILET PT tank install Vascular Aging monitor data transfer and stow (CSA) Systems: JSL 20-Port Switch Clear Temperature and Humidity Control Keep Out Zone Spaceflight Participant Cupola Escort and Familiarization Cargo Ops PAO Events Node 1 Fan Speed Test Setup XF305 Camcorder for realtime downlink Camcorder Video Cable Connection to IPU2 for Checkout Part 2 JEM Stowage Consolidation Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Installation Procedure Review EXPRESS Rack 1 Laptop Computer Power Cycle Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Hardware Gather Eklosion move from Columbus to Cupola Eklosion Message Retrieval Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Part 2 NREP NRCSD Video Setup Eklosion Experiment Deinstallation JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side In Flight Maintenance Joint Station LAN Cable Pins Repair JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) Multi (2 Deployers) Removal from Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Inspection of Edible Foam protective Kit Columbus Cabin photo audit Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap Bio-Analyzer Hardware Connection and Power On NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Installation on the MPEP Installs Li-Ion Batteries into Battery Stowage Compartment Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub Initiation Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Public Affairs Office (PAO) Downlink Message ODF Update on iPads and Samsung EML Gas Valves Opening Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test Time experiment science HRF Veg Veg Questionnaire JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Iodination GITAI Procedure Review ISS Module Recon Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3 AQM Sieve Cartridge Remove and Replace Fluids Integrated Rack Rack Doors Open AQM #1 Antenna R&R LMM Target Configuration Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire On-board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Hardware Familiarization Bio-Monitor Application Configuration File Upload Remove and Replace (R&R) Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) -Y Fluids Integrated Rack Rack Doors Close Plant Habitat-04 DEBRIS Hardware Gather Public Affairs Office (PAO) Social Media Event EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Scrub Deconfiguration In Flight Maintenance Joint Station LAN Cable Pins Closeout Plant Habitat-04 Debris Removal Joint Station LAN (JSL) 20 Port Switch Cable Modification HRF Generic Saliva Collection Setup Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow Bio-Analyzer Hardware Conclude and Stow Plant Habitat-04 MELFI Insertion #1 Ring-Sheared Drop MELFI Sample Retrieve HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope successfully arrived in French Guiana Tuesday, after a 16-day journey at sea. The 5,800-mile voyage took Webb from California through the Panama Canal to Port de Pariacabo on the Kourou River in French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America. The world's largest and most complex space science observatory will now be driven to its launch site, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, where it will begin two months of operational preparations before its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket, scheduled for Dec. 18. Once operational, Webb will reveal insights about all phases of cosmic history - back to just after the big bang - and will help search for signs of potential habitability among the thousands of exoplanets scientists have discovered in recent years. The mission is an international collaboration led by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies. "The James Webb Space Telescope is a colossal achievement, built to transform our view of the universe and deliver amazing science," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Webb will look back over 13 billion years to the light created just after the big bang, with the power to show humanity the farthest reaches of space that we have ever seen. We are now very close to unlocking mysteries of the cosmos, thanks to the skills and expertise of our phenomenal team." After completing testing in August at Northrop Grumman's Space Park in Redondo Beach, California, the Webb team spent nearly a month folding, stowing, and preparing the massive observatory for shipment to South America. Webb was shipped in a custom-built, environmentally controlled container. Late in the evening of Friday, Sept. 24, Webb traveled with a police escort 26 miles through the streets of Los Angeles, from Northrop Grumman's facility in Redondo Beach to Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. There, it was loaded onto the MN Colibri, a French-flagged cargo ship that has previously transported satellites and spaceflight hardware to Kourou. The MN Colibri departed Seal Beach Sunday, Sept. 26 and entered the Panama Canal Tuesday, Oct. 5 on its way to Kourou. The ocean journey represented the final leg of Webb's long, earthbound travels over the years. The telescope was assembled at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, starting in 2013. In 2017, it was shipped to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for cryogenic testing at the historic "Chamber A" test facility, famous for its use during the Apollo missions. In 2018, Webb shipped to Space Park in California, where for three years it underwent rigorous testing to ensure its readiness for operations in the environment of space. "A talented team across America, Canada, and Europe worked together to build this highly complex observatory. It's an incredible challenge - and very much worthwhile. We are going to see things in the universe beyond what we can even imagine today," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "Now that Webb has arrived in Kourou, we're getting it ready for launch in December - and then we will watch in suspense over the next few weeks and months as we launch and ready the largest space telescope ever built." After Webb is removed from its shipping container, engineers will run final checks on the observatory's condition. Webb will then be configured for flight, which includes loading the spacecraft with propellants, before Webb is mounted on top of the rocket and enclosed in the fairing for launch. "Webb's arrival at the launch site is a momentous occasion," said Gregory Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA Headquarters. "We are very excited to finally send the world's next great observatory into deep space. Webb has crossed the country and traveled by sea. Now it will take its ultimate journey by rocket one million miles from Earth, to capture stunning images of the first galaxies in the early universe that are certain to transform our understanding of our place in the cosmos." For more information about the Webb mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/webb Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. International and commercial partnerships are a critical component of NASA's long-term plans on and around the Moon under the Artemis program. The agency recently signed a new agreement with the Australian Space Agency that will further support human and robotic lunar operations for both countries. As part of the agreement, a consortium of Australian businesses and research organizations will develop a small rover that can operate on the lunar surface. The rover would have the ability to pick up and transfer lunar regolith (broken rock and dust) to a NASA-operated in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) system on a commercial lunar lander. Such a rover could fly to the Moon as early as 2026. "This agreement will serve to strengthen the longtime relationship between the United States and Australia in areas related to space exploration - a relationship that goes back more than half a century to the days of the Apollo program," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "By working together with the Australian Space Agency and our partners around the world, NASA will uncover more discoveries and accomplish more research through the Artemis program." The agreement will be supported under the Australian government's $150 million Moon to Mars initiative, announced at a 2019 event at NASA Headquarters featuring Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It will have applications supporting human exploration and science missions for both agencies. Australia is particularly focused on field robotic systems and sensing, resource technologies, and planetary science that could provide a long-term contribution to future space exploration activities. "Australia is at the cutting-edge of robotics technology and systems for remote operations, which are going to be central to setting up a sustainable presence on the Moon and eventually supporting human exploration of Mars," said Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency. "This agreement will leverage our expertise in remote operations to grow our space sector here at home, while developments that come from preparing for space will make sure our resources sector keeps powering ahead too." For NASA, the Australian rover provides a complementary capability. While the lander that delivers the rover will include a mechanism for collecting lunar soil and depositing it into NASA's ISRU system, the rover offers a second means of collection and increases the overall chances of a successful demonstration. Installed on the lander, NASA's ISRU demonstration will attempt to extract oxygen from lunar regolith. The soil contains oxygen in the form of chemical compounds with elements like iron and silicon. The small-scale technology demonstration will aid in the design of larger, more capable units in the future. Such units could enable astronauts to use resources on the Moon to create rocket fuel and other mission consumables. The collaboration aims to further the goals of both countries, including commercial companies conducting missions and operations in cislunar space. For the broader space community, the partnership between NASA and the Australian Space Agency broadens the Artemis coalition across a variety of geographic, as well as scientific and technology, sectors. The result will be a broad lunar exploration presence that is truly global in nature, rooted both in scientific purposes as well as peaceful exploration of outer space. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. John & Kathy Cecchin, Paul & Nikki Davies, Trevor & Shannon Henry and 2021 North America Cup winner Desperate Man are inviting the harness racing industry to an open house this weekend. "We're having an open house on Sunday, October 17 the day after the OSS Super Finals and we're hoping that all of our racing friends and fellow horsepeople will drop by our farm to help us celebrate our big win from last month," Kathy Cecchin told Trot Insider. Friends and fans can drop by the Cecchin farm in Arthur, Ont. anytime after 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. Bring your own lawn chairs should you wish to have a seat (no dogs please) as everything else will be taken care of. The address is #7489 First Line, Arthur, Ontario N0G 1A0. All COVID outdoor gathering protocols will be in effect. The future of travel has all the sci-fi touches which not too long ago were confined to movie CGI studios and fictional novels. No longer. The future of travel is taking shape now, and will come into clear focus in Dubai next month (November) at the breakthrough Hypermotion Lab. This three-day conference one of a trio scheduled for the transformational Hypermotion Dubai event running at Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo Dubai from November 2 to 4 is drawing together the global disruptors who are re-envisioning how we will travel and move goods and services in the very, very near future. In all 27 mobility pioneers from all corners of the globe will share their transformative ideas on the impact of big data, urban air mobility, alternative fuels and the latest on the GCC rail network at the upcoming event, said the event organisers Messe Frankfurt. The multi-national speaker platform comprises life-changing transport gurus whose combined imagination will take us to new ways of going places. They are tearing down boundaries between logistics, mobility, infrastructure, and transport, and looking to replace them with networked, integrated, and inter-modal systems, they stated. Take Prof. Carlo Ratti, Director, Senseable City Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for instance, whos planning to introduce us to the Fifteen-Minute City where traffic jams, polluted air and long commutes will become things of a not-so-distant past. In essence, this is a new urban planning model which divides cities into isochronal neighborhoods that can be easily explored on foot within 15 minutes. "Each of these neighbourhoods is equipped with all the facilities needed in everyday life, and can effectively reduce commuting time, traffic congestion as well as pollution. The audience will have an opportunity to discover some of the best urban planning practices to implement this concept, from Paris, to Portland, to the Milan Innovation District," explained Prof Ratti. The neighbourhoods will focus on micro-mobility which has shot up planning agendas in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic when the need to travel safely avoiding health risks was top of collective minds, he added. He pointed out that devices like e-scooters and bikes help us travel without being in close contact with strangers and are more sustainable than private cars. "Gloves and disinfectants are also useful in giving us additional protection," he stated. Trina Solar Co, a leading global PV and smart energy total solution provider, has announced the availability of the 670W Vertex module in the Middle East and Africa. The series obtained the IEC certification from the TUV Rheinland after passing complete reliability test and realised the mass production. This marks an even higher milestone in the PV 6.0 era and demonstrates that 600W+ is unstoppable in the future. According to Dr Zhang Yingbin, Trina Solar's head of product strategy and marketing department, the 670W Vertex series inherits the non-destructive cutting, high-density interconnection and other high-precision technologies of the 210mm modules; with the ultra-high module power, the single string power gets 34% higher than that of other 500W+ modules in the industry. In addition, 670W Vertex modules maximise the container space utilisation in transportation, as a result of which the 12% up in the loading power and 5 - 7% down in the installation cost, creating more room for reduction of the LCOE and BOS cost. Antonio Jimenez, Managing Director and Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Trina Solar commented: The new 670W Vertex series is a milestone achievement in the PV modules industry, and we are truly proud to be leading the way with our cutting-edge technology that continues to revolutionise the solar energy sector. We are confident that the new 670W Vertex series modules will attract plenty of attention across the MEA region as it does globally, and we are looking forward to fulfilling our customers requests for these ultra-high-power modules. As a type of 210mm module, Trina Solar's 670W Vertex bears non-destructive cutting, high-density interconnection, multi-busbar (MBB) and other forward-looking innovative technologies, with low voltage, high string power and other core features, presenting efficient and reliable product performance. The MBB and high-density interconnection improve the module efficiency to up to 21.6%, while the non-destructive cutting pioneered by Trina Solar significantly reduces the risks of cell micro crack and power loss. Increasing in power of the single string is the core factor to reduce the BOS cost. At the launch of the 670W Vertex, Dr Yingbin explained that in large-scale power plants (-20), the 670W Vertex has 28 modules on each string. Compared to other 500W+ high-power modules in the industry, the 670W Vertex module achieves a total power increase of up to 18,760W per string, 34% higher than that of the 500W+ modules. 670W Vertex module is suitable for large-scale power plants, especially the low-cost power plants which are very sensitive to investment costs, because the 670W modules can reduce the non-silicon cost of silicon wafers and cells for the upstream supply chain, and reduce the cost of trackers, pile foundations, cables and labor for the downstream. Trina Solar once again introduced the reliability the 670W product performed in transportation and installation. For 600W+ series products, Trina Solar innovated the packaging method to vertical placement, so that the width of the modules is no longer limited by the height of the container. Such packaging makes the best use of the container's internal capacity. Compared with the traditional ways, the loading power increases by 12%, which introduces a 12% cost reduction in transportation. For the stage of unpacking and installation, Trina Solar provides simple and easy-to-use auxiliary tools with standard configuration, which can be used as the support of the box body to ensure the safety in the entire unpacking process. The load capacity of Trina Solar's 670W modules is also tested. On one hand, the optimised frame design and material selection prevents the deformation even when the module area increases, and reduces the risk of micro crack. On the other hand, the non-destructive cutting ensures that each cutting surface of the cell is smooth and crack-free. At the beginning of this year, Huawei, Si-Neng, and Sungrow launched inverters compatible with the 600W+modules, and TBEA, GOODWE, Ginlong, Kstar, SMA and some other inverter manufacturers also announced their products compatible with high-power 210mm modules. Almost at the same time, eight world-leading PV tracker manufacturers - Arctech Solar, Array Technologies, GameChange Solar, IDEEMATEC, Nextracker, PVH, Soltec, TrinaTracker - announced trackers of full compatibility with 210mm ultra-high power modules. In early March, glass manufacturers such as Xinyi, Flat, CNBM, Kibing and China Southern Glass also brought the news that they have broken through the bottleneck of width in PV glass raw materials production and started to fully adapt to the large-size 210 modules. The 210mm modules, integrating high efficiency, high reliability, high power generation and low cost have been increasingly favoured by the market, with tenders for large-size modules accounting for more than 78%. By the end of 2021, 210 modules production capacity is expected to achieve 120 GW in the entire industry. At Trina Solar, 210 modules will account for 70% to 80% of its overall shipments this year. -- TradeArabia News Service Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF) has announced the artists that will be participating in Saudi Arabias first contemporary art biennale, to be held from December 11, 2021 through March 11, 2022 in the JAX district of Diriyah, outside of Riyadh. Developed by a team of international curators led by Philip Tinari (Director and Chief Executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, China) the Biennale will unfold in six sections, with works from national and international artists examining the theme Feeling the Stones and engaging visitors in a dialogue around contemporary art. Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said: As the Foundation prepares to open the first contemporary art biennale organized, conceived and hosted in Saudi Arabia, the selection of artists is emblematic of our commitment - to showcase Saudi artists in dialogue with leading artists from around the world. We see the development of cultural exchange and international dialogue in contemporary art as a crucial element in enhancing the cultural infrastructure in this country and look forward to welcoming artists and audiences alike to Diriyah. Curator Philip Tinari, Director and Chief Executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, China, added: The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale presents an unprecedented opportunity for the wide audiences in Saudi Arabia to experience global contemporary art. Inspired by the notion of Crossing the river by feeling the stones, the exhibition explores how social transformation happens in a way that is iterative yet directional, experimental yet pragmatic. We have chosen to focus on major projects by Saudi and international artists, including more than thirty site-specific commissions. We hope that viewers will come away with a heightened sense of enquiry and exploration, having made new connections between the dynamic art scene now emerging in Saudi Arabia and positions from around the world. Established in 2020 with the support of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale will be the Kingdoms first international contemporary art biennale, providing a platform for discovery, connection and dialogue. Details of the public programming and the opening symposium will be published in due course. TradeArabia News Service Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, and Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have announced the renewal of a partnership to launch initiatives to provide the community with new creative experiences in public spaces. The announcement was made during a meeting held at the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) between RTA Director General and Chairman Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer and GDMO Director General Mona Al Marri. As part of the partnership, the two organisations will launch projects that will consolidate efforts to realise Dubais vision to transform itself into an open-air museum. A fresh series of initiatives to be implemented by Brand Dubai and RTA will see them working with local and international artists to enrich Dubais public environment and create new connections with the public through art and other forms of creative expression. The renewal of the partnership is the continuation of a three-year collaboration which resulted in several creative projects, Emirates news agency WAM reported. Al Tayer said: "We are looking forward to combining our resources and capabilities with Brand Dubai to roll out another series of creative projects that will add a new vitality to Dubais urban spaces. Our previous partnership had yielded several projects that brought the community together to celebrate art, creativity, culture and heritage. "RTA is committed to working with leading organisations and artists to transform the environment that Dubai offers to both residents and visitors. Through the next phase of joint projects, we seek to creatively enrich a new set of public spaces in Dubai that will allow the community to relate to these areas in unique ways." On her part, Al Marri said: "Brand Dubai is pleased to extend its collaboration with RTA to launch a new set of projects that make Dubais public spaces more inspiring and engaging. Building on our previous partnership, we will be implementing fresh initiatives to infuse a new creative energy and artistic liveliness into the emirates urban environment to transform Dubai into the worlds best city to live in and work. "These projects seek to celebrate the heritage, cosmopolitan character and aspirations of the city, in addition to enhancing the quality of life and happiness of people who live in and visit Dubai. We believe these initiatives will also support efforts to promote creativity and innovation and attract talent, tourism and investment into our city." In 2018, Brand Dubai and RTA implemented the Dubai Metro Murals Project, which saw international artists paint murals on pillars of the Dubai Metro on Sheikh Zayed Road between the Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Towers stations. As part of the Jumeira Project, the two organisations also launched a series of public art installations at bus stops in 2020 to raise the neighbourhoods profile as a social and creative destination. In 2019, Brand Dubai and RTA organised the Metro Music Festival, which featured performances by musicians from both traditional and non-traditional genres of music at Dubai Metro stations. In the same year, they launched the first phase of the Parking Metres Project that saw parking machines in prominent areas being turned into artworks. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) is set to organise the inaugural edition of World Utilities Congress in the UAE capital next year. To be held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, the event will run from May 9 to 11, said the organisers dmg events. Taking place just a few months after COP26, the congress will provide a powerful, global networking and knowledge exchange platform, drawing together ministers, global leaders and key power and water industry stakeholders to discuss business-critical needs as well as to network and identify new solutions and opportunities. The event will showcase the sectors central role in transitioning to a new era for sustainable energy and water and how it is embracing technological changes that will transform the industry, remarked Taqas Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet. "Abu Dhabi and the UAE has articulated a firm commitment to its sustainability agenda and this event will put decarbonisation, renewable energy and sustainability at the heart of its programme," he added. The World Utilities Congress is supported by the UAEs Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.-TradeArabia News Service The future of travel has all the sci-fi touches which not too long ago were confined to movie CGI studios and fictional novels. No longer. The future of travel is taking shape now, and will come into clear focus in Dubai next month (November) at the breakthrough Hypermotion Lab. This three-day conference one of a trio scheduled for the transformational Hypermotion Dubai event running at Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo Dubai from November 2 to 4 - is drawing together the global disruptors who are re-envisioning how we will travel and move goods and services in the very, very near future. In all 27 mobility pioneers from all corners of the globe will share their transformative ideas on the impact of big data, urban air mobility, alternative fuels and the latest on the GCC rail network at the upcoming event, said the event organisers Messe Frankfurt. The multi-national speaker platform comprises life-changing transport gurus whose combined imagination will take us to new ways of going places. They are tearing down boundaries between logistics, mobility, infrastructure, and transport, and looking to replace them with networked, integrated, and inter-modal systems, they stated. Take Prof. Carlo Ratti, Director, Senseable City Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for instance, whos planning to introduce us to the Fifteen-Minute City where traffic jams, polluted air and long commutes will become things of a not-so-distant past. In essence, this is a new urban planning model which divides cities into isochronal neighborhoods that can be easily explored on foot within 15 minutes. "Each of these neighbourhoods is equipped with all the facilities needed in everyday life, and can effectively reduce commuting time, traffic congestion as well as pollution. The audience will have an opportunity to discover some of the best urban planning practices to implement this concept, from Paris, to Portland, to the Milan Innovation District," explained Prof Ratti. The neighbourhoods will focus on micro-mobility which has shot up planning agendas in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic when the need to travel safely avoiding health risks was top of collective minds, he added. He pointed out that devices like e-scooters and bikes help us travel without being in close contact with strangers and are more sustainable than private cars. "Gloves and disinfectants are also useful in giving us additional protection," he stated. More than 65 countries will be represented by exhibitors from across the globe next month at WTM London the leading global event for the travel industry. Thousands of delegates will converge on ExCeL London from November 1-3 for the physical event, and with the new hybrid format there will be a virtual event on November 8-9. With travel restrictions around the world easing and consumer confidence growing each day, the number of confirmed exhibitors attending the live event continues to grow reflecting the ambitious plans from trade professionals around the world to reconnect, rebuild and innovate, a statement from the organisers said. Exhibitors will be representing a wide range of tourism companies and organisations, including tourist boards, hotel chains, cruise lines, and major attractions, and many will host partners on their stands, to support smaller enterprises. WTM London & Travel Forward Exhibition Director Simon Press said: With less than a month to go until we open our doors, its exciting to see so many exhibitors planning to come to London to connect with buyers, suppliers and media. The UK government has relaxed many of its travel restrictions and scrapped its traffic light system, making it easier for delegates to come in person and the easing of curbs around the world means there are strong indicators and high hopes for a robust recovery in 2022. Our research reveals there is a great deal of pent-up consumer demand for travel, so exhibitors at WTM London will be able to generate valuable business and network face-to-face for the first time in two years. Destinations can showcase their attractions to tourism companies and media colleagues around the world as the sector comes together to rebuild and innovate." Europe leads the way, with representatives from almost 30 countries attending as exhibitors, from major destinations such as France, Greece and Spain and smaller ones, such as Sardinia, Armenia and Gibraltar. Another 38 countries will be represented from major destinations such as the US and India, and smaller, niche exhibitors representing businesses and tourist organisations from the likes of the Falklands, Galapagos and Iran. Alongside popular tourism hotspots, the USA Pavilion will welcome 15 partners, including Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin, The Louisiana Office of Tourism, Memphis Tourism and Visit Mississippi. Visit Florida, LAS Vegas and NYC & Company will also be exhibiting as well as Cruise America, one of Canada and Americas most popular recreational vehicle companies. Every continent is featured, with exhibitors from countries in Central and South America such as Peru and Guatemala; from African nations such as Tanzania and South Africa and North Africa, Egypt, from Asia, such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Emerging destinations will be represented at WTM London, such as Japan and its capital, which are keen to capitalise on the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games. The Middle East and the Gulf regions are well represented with the UAE with Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah plus Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Regions that rely heavily on tourism are well represented, such as the Indian Ocean with exhibitors from Sri Lanka, Maldives and the Caribbean. The Caribbean Tourism Organisations stand will be shared by tourist boards from St Lucia, Cayman Islands, Martinique, as well as suppliers such as the new cruise line Tradewind Voyages and properties such as Sunswept Resort St Lucia and Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. Delegates will also meet exhibitors from the tourist boards of the Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica. Exhibitors from India include the tourist boards of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and tour and hospitality firms. The Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, will lead a high-powered delegation showcasing the states eco-tourism, culture and regenerative tourism initiatives. Meanwhile, Karnataka will highlight its culture, wildlife, beaches, wellness tourism, monuments and temples.-TradeArabia News Service Sabre Corporation, the leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, and Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopias flag carrier and the largest airline in Africa, have renewed their strategic partnership for another seven years with minimum commitment of $110 million. Under the agreement, the airline will continue to use Sabres passenger service system, SabreSonic, enabling it to automate sales and service, helping it to maximise revenue opportunities and create efficient airport experiences for travellers. Furthermore, Sabres Intelligence Exchange will help enhance the airlines passenger experience through providing real-time insights to help make more informed business decisions, a press release stated. Sabre Travel Solutions Vice President EMEA Dino Gelmetti said: Despite the effects of the pandemic, Ethiopian Airlines continues to be one of aviations success stories. "Covid-19 has accelerated airline competitive pressure and the need for digital transformation, and Ethiopian Airlines was able to quickly adapt to the changing landscape, further strengthening its position as recovery gains momentum. The expanded agreement will also include Sabres Dynamic Availability which will help the airline earn incremental revenue by enabling proactive response to ever-changing travel conditions with optimised pricing and Sabres Group Optimizer, which will help the carrier optimise the processes for managing group reservations. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said: Having robust and cutting-edge technology in place plays a key role in our success story. The pandemic created many unknowns in the travel industry, and Sabres intelligent technology will help us quickly understand and adapt to the new landscape. "As travel starts to recover, its crucial that we remain focused on driving profitability and growth. Our extended technology partnership with Sabre will support us moving toward a more flexible and modern environment, while driving operational efficiencies. Sabres travel platform and secure solutions provide the technology on which airlines, agencies and hoteliers rely.-TradeArabia News Service Indias Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed airlines to fly on domestic routes at full capacity as a prelude to the full reopening of international air travel into and out of the country. At the height of the second wave of Covid-19 infections, India had limited domestic flights to operate at 50 per cent of their capacity in June, but has been gradually increasing seat utilization as infections fell in subsequent months, reported Emirates News Agency WAM. The Ministrys order allowing 100 per cent capacity utilization will go into effect on 18th October and coincide with a season of festivals in India. The Ministry has repeatedly cited non-availability of seats on domestic flights as one of the reasons for not resuming regular, scheduled international flights into India. Passengers arriving at internationals airports from abroad would be stranded without adequate domestic connections, it was reasoned. International flights into and out of India were suspended in March last year when India imposed a total lockdown to contain the initial onset of the pandemic. These were replaced by temporary "air bubble" arrangements with more than two dozen countries pending resumption of normal flights. "The airlines/airport operators shall, however, ensure that the guidelines to contain the spread of Covid-19 are strictly adhered to and Covid-appropriate behaviour is strictly enforced," the ministry said in the order. Last week, India announced a phased resumption of tourist visas for foreigners. Those arriving on charters flights will be given tourist visas from 15th October and others arriving on non-charter flights can get tourist visas from 15th November. This decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs is also expected to pave the way for a resumption of regular, scheduled flights and boost seat use of domestic flights. UAE's national airline Etihad Airways has raised $1.2 billion in the first sustainability-linked loan (SLL) tied to environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets in global aviation. The transaction is the largest sustainable financing in the airlines history and follows two innovative aviation financing deals a first-of-a-kind sustainability-linked transition sukuk in 2020 and a loan tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2019. The Abu Dhabi carrier had selected HSBC and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) as the strategic partners and financiers for this transaction. HSBC and FAB acted as joint ESG structuring banks, joint ESG co-ordinators, joint bookrunner and mandated lead arranger. FAB also acted as facility agent. On the deal, Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida said: "Etihad Airways has spearheaded sustainable financing in aviation, and we are proud to continue our innovative track record by being the first airline to secure a sustainability-linked ESG loan." "Financing our operations in a way that supports both our planet and the people in our local communities is the natural next step of our financing strategy. Our goals will have a real-world impact, and to underscore our accountability, we have committed to penalties and incentives of up to $5.5 million linked to our progress against key performance indicators," he stated. Boukadida pointed out that through its greenliner programme, Etihad is pursuing multiple sustainability-related initiatives to improve the environmental footprint of aviation. Green financing, he said, was a key part of the airline's strategy. The loan terms are linked to multiple Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are tied to the following ESG initiatives and will be independently assessed: *Environmental Reducing the carbon emissions intensity of the passenger fleet, as measured in terms of CO2 emissions per revenue tonne kilometres. As part of its iconic Greenliner Programme, Etihad Airways has committed to an ambitious target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has set key milestone goals for 2035 and 2025. *Social Etihad Airways has established the Global Business Service Solution (GBSS) centre in Al Ain, UAE, to contribute towards the socioeconomic development of the community and to increase employment and upskilling of Emirati women in the aviation sector. This KPIs will measure both female participation and ongoing training and development. *Governance Etihad Airways upholds the highest standards of corporate governance, ethics and integrity. This KPI will be linked to the Integrity Score, a comprehensive measure used to assess the overall internal culture of integrity at the airline. Abdulfattah Sharaf, the CEO of HSBC UAE & Head of International Markets, said: "We are committed to helping lead the transition to a net zero carbon economy and were mobilising finance and accelerating innovation to make this happen, working in partnership with our customers to realise the opportunity to build a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future." "This is our second sustainability-linked transaction with Etihad, sending a strong signal that two global companies with leading UAE businesses such as HSBC and Etihad are committed to working in partnership to find innovative ways to finance industry while also protecting the planet," he added. FAB Group Head of Investment Banking Martin Tricaud said: "We would like to congratulate Etihad Airways on the closing of this landmark sustainability- linked loan transaction. As a strategic partner and financier to Etihad in this transaction, FAB has demonstrated its sustainable financing expertise and contributed to the transition towards sustainability across the aviation sector." "As the UAEs largest bank, we play an active role in supporting the economy, environment and communities that we operate in. We recognise the importance of the benefits and opportunities that can be brought about through sustainable finance. FAB is committed to empowering the UAEs priority sectors to grow and become more sustainable through our impactful finance solutions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Hospitality company Sonder is welcoming guests to its newest location in downtown Dubai. The Sonder Downtown Towers boast over 300 spacious, fully-equipped holiday home suites that overlook the Arabian Gulf to the west and city skyline to the east. Located close to the beach and the Dubai Mall, Sonder Downtown Towers offer spacious accommodation for families as well as business travellers. There are two- and three-bedroom apartments between 1,900 and 2,400 square feet, each offering views of downtown Dubai from floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests have access to an onsite fitness centre inclusive of gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and outdoor running track. All spaces also offer a living room, fully equipped kitchen and in-unit laundry. Stays in the Downtown Towers present on-site amenities from artisan coffee, private parking and more. This marks Sonders second property in Dubai, joining Sonder JBR Suites in Jumeirah Beach Residence. Sonder General Manager-Dubai Federico Cerimonia said: Dubai is a global destination with something memorable on offer for all travellers. Thats why our new Downtown Towers have been designed to seamlessly compliment the breath-taking experiences of the city. Each room is underpinned by Sonders contactless offering, and spaces where guests can unwind away from the busy, vibrant centre of the city. The captivating views from these spaces and the doorstep access to the lively streets, high-end stores and gourmet-dining provide a memorable stay. Now boasting over 450 units across Dubai, Sonder has a variety of accommodation choices to suit those venturing to the area on holiday or for work. The Sonder Downtown Towers join new Sonder openings in EMEA this year including Park House in Amsterdam, The Prince in London, and four new properties in Spain - three in Barcelona and one in the Malasana neighbourhood of Madrid.-TradeArabia News Service Help India! The Darrang district authorities in Assam have taken over the farmland of over 250 Muslim families in Niz Shalmara village and asked them to vacate their homes by October 15. The government plans to set up an agricultural product on the land, which as per them will help indigenous youth to gain employment. The locals of the village have resented the latest move of the Assam government and demand proper rehabilitation. Mahibul Hoque | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles ASSAM Around 250 Muslim peasant families in Darrang districts Niz Shalmara village, adjacent to No 1 and No 3 Dholpur villages, where two farmers were killed in police firing on September 23, on Wednesday expressed resentment against the district administrations taking over their farmland for the agricultural project which the Assam government plans to set up at Gorukhuti area under the Sipajhar revenue circle. According to the villagers they have been asked to relocate by October 15 to the Borbari area, the place which as per them gets inundated and up to 10 feet high water submerges the whole place during the rainy season. Residents complained to TwoCircles.net that the district administration has not demolished their houses but tilling the land which they were cultivating. They alleged that they have not been served any written notice. Locals from the area told TwoCircles.net the district administrations move to take over the land at Niz Shalmara village and remaining areas of Dholpur has intensified during the last few days. After the evictions at No 1 and No 3 Dholpur villages and killings of Moinul Hoque and Sheikh Farid, they (district administration) have not evicted us but they are tilling our land. Due to this, we have not been able to do any sowing activities amid this peak season, 37-year-old Moinal Hoque said. Since the first round of evictions on September 20 and 23, the authorities have continued expansion of the agriculture project at the area where, according to government estimates, 77,000 bighas of land (30,800 acres) have been encroached upon by Muslim families. This claim is contested by the locals who migrated to the area four to five decades ago due to erosion induced displacement. Hardly 21,000 bighas of land exists here and rest of the land has already been eroded by the Brahmaputra, they maintain. We are farmers, and carry out agricultural and allied activities. Now the government has ploughed all the land where we graze our cattle? Without cattle and agri-produce to sell, how will I manage the lives of 10 members of my family? lamented Akkas Ali, who used to grow perishables such as cabbage, brinjal, cauliflower etc. on 5 bighas of land. In the village, where three Anganwadi centres and three primary schools cater to the educational needs of the children, young and old farmers expressed similar concerns like that of Akkas. If we do not get land to cultivate, we will have to face a famine-like situation, Ajibar Rahman, who is in his early 20s, said. The area of Niz Shalmara village falls under the Gorukhuti agriculture project, and the village has around 1200 bighas of land and is prone to floods during the monsoon season. As per the Assam government plan, the project would give employment to indigenous youth in the community farm while traditional Muslim dwellers have been asked to relocate to another place. Meanwhile, community members have been trying to negotiate for peaceful resettlement of villagers with the district authorities since the government tractors started tilling the land cultivated by the families. On October 8, circle officer Kamal Sarma met with villagers and suggested that the families shift to a nearby place as soon as possible. As the villagers are demanding a better place and complained that no notice had been served to them, Kamal Sarma said, Issuing notices for eviction is not necessary now and we have been verbally telling the people to relocate so that they get adequate time to shift, adding, Though any settlement has not been formally announced, we are trying to provide educational and other needs of the displaced families this time on humanitarian grounds. Without land to cultivate and rare livestock, it will be like a death sentence to us. As we are bonafide citizens of this country and have our names in the NRC, we should be given proper rehabilitation before our houses and farming land are taken away, a villager from Niz Shalmara said, requesting anonymity. Earlier on September 20 and 23, around 1200 families from No 1 and 3 Dholpur villages were uprooted from 4500 bighas of land they were cultivating for the agriculture project. The families received eviction notices at midnight before the eviction day. When the district administration started demolishing houses, people started protesting and police responded by opening fire, killing Moinul Hoque and Sheikh Farid and injuring fifteen others. 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 The appeal was launched on Weixin, which was later blocked by censorship. Bishop Yang, 99, has difficulty breathing and his body is swollen. He is not an underground bishop, but has never submitted to the religious authorities linked to the Chinese Communist Party. He supported the protests against cross removals in Zhejiang and had run-ins with the police in Hebei. Rome (AsiaNews) Chinese Catholics are calling for prayers for Mgr Stephen Yang Xiangtai, Bishop Emeritus of Handan (Hebei), who is in very poor health. The appeal appeared on the Weixin (Chinese version of WeChat) before it was blocked by government censorship. Bishop Yang, 99, has been in hospital for a while. In recent days, he hasn't eaten much, and is currently breathing with difficulty and his body is swollen. Please, pray for the bishop and ask the Lord to give him the strength to face illness and suffering. Pray for the bishop to recover soon! the Weixin post read. Bishop Yang suffered a heart attack in June 2011 when he heard about the abduction of his successor, Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Sun Jigen. The police seized Mgr Sun three days before his ordination, even though it was approved by both the Holy See and the Chinese government. His official recognition came only in November 2017. Hebei province is home to Chinas largest Catholic population, around one million, with strong underground communities. Handan is a very active diocese in 2018 it had at least 180,000 members. Mgr Yang is not an underground bishop, but he never readily submitted to the patriotism of the religious authorities linked to the Chinese Communist Party. In 2015, he supported the courageous protests by the clergy in Wenzhou against the demolition of crosses in Zhejiang province. After the theft of three tabernacles and the desecration of the Eucharist in the church of the village of Xiao Di Ba, in June 2016, he launched a novena of prayer and a day of fasting as a act of reparation. The police intervened forcing the bishop to cancel public gatherings, a ban that forced the faithful to pray and do penance at home. The blocking of the post on Weixin shows once again that the agreement between the Vatican and China on episcopal appointments has not loosened the Partys iron grip on the activities of religious personnel. After the renewal of the Sino-Vatican agreement in October 2020, four episcopal appointments took place in China; overall, six jointly agreed ordinations have occurred since the signing of the agreement in 2018. by Fady Noun Taking an alarming turn, the investigation by Judge Bitar has been suspended. According to some sources, his family left the country fearing attacks. Threats from Hezbollah are one factor; the Shia group accuses the senior magistrate of having politicised the investigation. President Aoun defends his actions. Beirut (AsiaNews) The investigation into the explosion of the port of Beirut of 4 August 2020 has taken an alarming turn. Under increasing pressure from politicians, the judge in charge of the investigation, Tarek Bitar, was forced again to suspend his investigations on Tuesday, after he issued an arrest warrant against a lawmaker, and not just any, i.e., Hassan Khalil Ali, the number two leader of the Amal Shia movement, a former Minister of Finance. Summoned for questioning, the latter did not show up but chose to send his lawyer. A few minutes later, Judge Bitar was officially notified that he had to suspend his investigation after new complaints were filed before the Court of Cassation by Mr Khalil, against whom he had just issued an arrest warrant, and Ghazi Zaayter, another lawmaker and former minister from Amal. Mr Bitar had already issued a warrant against the former Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, and four former ministers in order to indict them. The incident on 4 August 2020 was caused by the explosion of a huge cargo of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse without proper safety measures. The blast killed at least 220 people, injuring more than 6,500, some of whom will be maimed or disabled for the rest of their life. Several neighbourhoods in the capital were devastated, with hundreds left homeless. On Monday, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary-general, launched violent verbal attack against Bitar, accusing him of politicising the investigation and calling for his replacement by an honest and transparent magistrate. However, There is a political decision not to allow the judge to work, said Nizar Saghieh, director of the legal NGO Legal Agenda, quoted by AFP. The forces challenging him are exhausting all legal remedies at the moment, but it is clear that some parties are willing to resort to non-legal means to prevent him from working, he added. Last night, in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen channel, lawmaker Ali Hassan Khalil, who is close to Hezbollah, threatened a political escalation, perhaps of a different kind if the course of the investigation was not rectified. In his speech on Monday Hezbollah's secretary-general himself alluded to a different kind reaction, without specifying which one. A source close to the families of the victims claim that the judges children and family are no longer in Lebanon at present. For its part, the government today decided to look into the circumstances related to the investigation. At a Meeting yesterday at the presidential palace in Baabda, Shia ministers asked the president that Mr Bitar be replaced, a request he formally rejected. The investigations new suspension has aroused the ire of the victims' relatives as well as the condemnation of several NGOs and the European Union (EU). The investigation should be allowed to proceed without any interference in legal proceedings and those responsible for this tragedy should be held accountable, read a statement by the EU. "How many errors have been made in the history of evangelisation by seeking to impose a single cultural model! Uniformity as a rule of life is not Christian! Unity yes, uniformity no! At times, even violence was not spared in order to make a single point of view prevail." "Criticism of every evangelical novelty is not only of our time, but has a long history behind it." Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "TThe freedom of Christian faith Christian freedom - does not indicate a static vision of life and culture, but rather a dynamic vision, and vision that is dynamic even in tradition. Tradition grows"; for this reason the Catholic Church, that is universal, is open to every tradition, to every culture that by its nature changes over time. "Christian freedom, universal leaven of liberation" was the topic of which Pope Francis, continuing the cycle of catechesis on St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians, spoke to the eight thousand people present in the Paul VI Hall for the general audience. For the Apostle, Francis pointed out, the central nucleus of freedom is "t the fact that, with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been freed from the slavery of sin and of death. In other words, we are free because we have been freed, freed by grace not by payment, freed by love, which becomes the supreme and new law of Christian life. Love: we are free because we were liberated freely. This, in fact, is the key point.." It is this that opens us "opens us up to welcoming every people and culture, and at the same time opens every people and culture to a greater freedom. In fact, Saint Paul says that for those who follow Christ, it no longer matters if they are Jewish or pagan. The only thing that counts is faith working through love (Gal 5:6)." " Pauls detractors those fundamentalists who had arrived there - attacked him over this novelty, claiming that he had taken this position out of pastoral opportunism, or rather to please everyone, minimizing the demands received from his narrower religious tradition. It is the same argument of the fundamentalists of today: history always repeats itself. As we can see, the criticism of every evangelical novelty is not only of our time, but has a long history behind it. Paul, however, does not remain silent. He responds with parrhesia it is a Greek word that indicates courage, strength and he says, Am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ (Gal 1:10). Already in his first Letter to the Thessalonians he had expressed himself in similar terms, saying that in his preaching he had never used words of flattery or a cloak for greed; nor did we seek glory from men (1 Th 2:5-6), which are the paths of faking; a faith that is not faith, it is worldliness. Pauls thinking yet again shows an inspired depth. To welcome faith for him involves renouncing not the heart of cultures and traditions, but only that which may hinder the newness and purity of the Gospel. Because the freedom obtained through the death and resurrection of the Lord does not enter into conflict with cultures or with the traditions we have received, but rather introduces into them a new freedom, a liberating novelty, that of the Gospel. Indeed, the liberation obtained through baptism enables us to acquire the full dignity of children of God, so that, while we remain firmly anchored in our cultural roots, at the same time we open ourselves to the universalism of faith that enters into every culture, recognises the kernels of truth present, and develops them, bringing to fullness the good contained in them." "In the call to freedom we discover the true meaning of the inculturation of the Gospel. What is this true meaning? Being able to announce the Good News of Christ the Saviour respecting the good and the true that exist in cultures. It is not easy! There are many temptations to seek to impose ones own model of life as though it were the most evolved and the most appealing. How many errors have been made in the history of evangelisation by seeking to impose a single cultural model! Uniformity as a rule of life is not Christian! Unity yes, uniformity no! At times, even violence was not spared in order to make a single point of view prevail. Think of wars. In this way, the Church has been deprived of the richness of many local expressions that the cultural traditions of entire peoples bring with them. But this is the exact opposite of Christian freedom!" "In short, Pauls vision of freedom is entirely enlightened and rendered fruitful by the mystery of Christ, who in his incarnation - as the Second Vatican Council recalls - united himself in a certain way with every person (cf. Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, 22). And this means there is not uniformity, instead there is variety, but variety united. Hence the duty to respect the cultural origin of every person, placing them in a space of freedom that is not restricted by any imposition dictated by a single predominant culture. This is the meaning of calling ourselves Catholics, of speaking of the Catholic Church. It is not a sociological denomination to distinguish us from other Christians; Catholic is an adjective that means universal: catholicity, universality. The universal, that is Catholic, Church, means that the Church contains in herself, in her very nature, an openness to all peoples and cultures of all times, because Christ was born, died and rose again for everyone." "Besides, culture is by its very nature in continual transformation. If one thinks of how we are called to proclaim the Gospel in this historical moment of great cultural change, where an ever more advanced technology seems to have the upper hand. If we were to speak of faith as we did in previous centuries, we would run the risk of no longer being understood by the new generations. The freedom of Christian faith Christian freedom - does not indicate a static vision of life and culture, but rather a dynamic vision, and vision that is dynamic even in tradition. Tradition grows, but always with the same nature. Let us not claim, therefore, to possess freedom. We have received a gift to take care of. Rather, it is freedom that asks each one of us to be constantly on the move, oriented towards its fullness. It is the condition of pilgrims; it is the state of wayfarers, in continual exodus: liberated from slavery so as to walk towards the fullness of freedom. And this is the great gift that Jesus Christ gave us. The Lord has liberated us from slavery freely, and has set us on the path to walk in full freedom." In this regard, in his greeting to the Poles, recalling that "this week marks the anniversary of the election of St. John Paul II and the liturgical memorial of St. John XXIII, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Hedwig of Silesia," he said that "their lives are clear examples of Christian freedom. The experience of these saints reminds you that there is no freedom without responsibility and without love for the truth. And the greatest realization of freedom is charity, which is realized in service." The two countries are close to an agreement for the resumption of official relations. A sign of progressive detente after years of tensions, but obstacles and divisions remain, especially over Yemen. King Salman also calls for "tangible results" to rebuild a climate of "trust" between the two nations. Tehran (AsiaNews) - Iran and Saudi Arabia are close to an agreement for the resumption of official diplomatic relations between the two countries and the reopening of their respective consulates, in a sign of progressive detente after years of hostility and proxy conflicts. According to an anonymous institutional source living in the Wahhabi kingdom an agreement to put an end to the tensions of the recent past would be "imminent". "In principle," the source stressed to Afp, "they have reached an agreement to reopen their consulates... and I think the announcement of a normalization of relations could come within the next few weeks." In recent days, the same official authorities in Tehran had shown cautious optimism, stressing that the talks - which also include Yemen, one of the main elements of division - of the last period have taken "the right direction." Tehran and Riyadh broke off relations in 2016, following the assault on the Saudi consulate in Iran, in response to the execution of the Shiite leader Nimr al-Nimr. The controversy triggered heavy repercussions at the regional level, particularly the economic, diplomatic and commercial isolation of Qatar considered too close to Tehran. The two powers are on opposite sides in many issues, from Yemen to Syria. However, in April, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Mbs) said he wanted good relations with Tehran. A change also determined by the change of administration in Washington, with the passage from the "maximum pressure" of Donald Trump, to the attempt of Joe Biden to revive the nuclear agreement. The last round of talks between the two countries took place on September 21 and others are scheduled "shortly". Tehran would like to reopen the respective consulates in the Iranian city of Mashhad and in the Saudi city of Jeddah, as a goodwill gesture. The meetings take place in a relaxed atmosphere, although elements of friction remain when going into details. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on October 8 that "several agreements" had been reached; Saudi counterpart Faisal Bin Farhan al-Saud spoke of meetings in the "exploratory phase," but the hope is to "resolve" the elements of conflict, primarily Yemen. Last month, Saudi King Salman expressed hope that talks with Iran would "lead to tangible results to build trust" and revive bilateral cooperation. He went on to call on Tehran to cease "all forms of support" for armed groups in the region, with a particular reference to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have stepped up missile and drone attacks against the Wahhabi kingdom. by Nirmala Carvalho A mob of Hindu extremists dragged two Ursuline Franciscan nuns to a police station along with a group of Evangelical Christians who were praying at a private home. The religious sisters were released after six hours. For Christian leader, In today's political climate in India, wearing a religious habit means being marked out as a target. Varanasi (AsiaNews) Police arrested two nuns in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and held them for a few hours in the latest anti-Christian incident caused by Hindu extremists. The two religious sisters were catching a bus, when they were forcibly grabbed by a group of radicals who took them to a police station along with another fifty Christians, accused of abusive conversion activities. The incident took place in Mau, a district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, said Fr Anand Mathew, of the Indian Missionary Society, speaking to AsiaNews from Varanasi. Around noon, a mob of extremists attacked a group of Christians gathered for the Sunday celebration. "The two women religious, Sister Gracy Monteiro and Sister Roshni Minj, of the congregation of the Ursuline Franciscans, were not part of the group, but were waiting at a nearby stop for a bus to Varanasi, Fr Mathew explained; however, they too were dragged to the police station and released only at 6 pm, after pressure from high-ranking police officials from the state capital. Rev Abraham Shakil (pictured), his wife Pratibha, and the couple where the Evangelicals met for a prayer meeting were arrested. This came after Hindu extremists filed a complaint against them insulting the Hindu deities, the prime minister and the head of government of Uttar Pradesh. The fact that nuns have also been targeted evinces a sinister new development in the current wave of anti-Christian persecution, noted Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). In today's political climate in India, wearing a religious habit means being marked out as a 'target' or an agent of conversion by right-wing vigilantes, George said. Last March, in Uttar Pradesh, two nuns were forced to get off a train. In his view, The local new anti-conversion law is a tool for political abuses that aim to stir up feelings of hatred against the small Christian community for electoral purposes in view of the 2022 [state] assembly elections. Photo: GCIC by Vladimir Rozanskij Armenian president seeks Pope's intervention in dispute with Azeris over Nagorno Karabakh. Dialogue with Putin to implement the peace agreements made a year ago with Azerbaijan. Possible Georgian mediation in relations between Armenia and Turkey. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Armenia's President Sarkisyan has met the Holy Father for the first time. On October 11, during his visit to the Vatican, Sarkisyan appealed to Pope Francis to intervene in the dispute over Nagorno Karabakh, marked a year ago by a bloody conflict between Yerevan and Azerbaijan. The Armenian head of state has said this is "a human rights issue, which calls for the satisfaction of the right of the Armenian people to live and build their civilization in their ancient Christian territory, recognizing their inalienable right to self-determination." Sarkisyan expressed the gratitude of Armenians "because in times of difficult challenges for Armenia, the Vatican has been able to extend its hand in solidarity." He recalled the messages of appeasement that the pope addressed in the days of the conflict with the Azeris and also later, with appeals for the release of Armenian prisoners of war. The Holy See commented on the meeting highlighting "dialogue on international and regional political issues." Sarkisyan's visit to Italy had begun on October 5. The Armenian president met his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi, then the presidents of the Chamber and Senate and other authorities. He then travelled to the island of San Lazzaro, just off Venice, he then took part in the award ceremony of the "Aurora" prize. For centuriesVenice has been a special place for Armenian history and culture; the award is considered a sort of "Nobel for humanity" and was assigned in memory of the survivors of the Armenian genocide. In the same days, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the implementation of peace agreements with Azerbaijan, according to a step-by-step plan that runs from November 9 to January 11. Next month marks the one-year anniversary of the start of talks between Baku and Yerevan, but so far the two sides have been unable to agree on either the release of prisoners or the unblocking of transportation in Nagorno Karabakh. The return of refugees to their homes in the region, under the control of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, must also be allowed. Putin and Pasinyan discussed in general the prospects for development in the stability of the entire Caucasus region, reviving Armenian-Russian economic and political relations. This was the first official round of talks between the two since Pasinyan's re-election three months ago. In recent days, the katolikos (patriarch) of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, also went to Moscow to discuss with the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow Kirill a possible new "three-way" meeting between spiritual leaders. It is expected to be joined by the Grand Mufti of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, Seyxulislam Hac Allahsukur Pasazad, who was previously contacted by Karekin. The October 9 meeting in Yerevan between Pasinyan and Georgian Prime Minister Iraklij Garibasvili should also be noted as part of the frenetic diplomatic activity of the Armenian leadership. No conclusive information or communiques were released by either side. The Armenian government website notes that the two heads of government "discussed the prospects for cooperation between Armenia and Georgia, with an exchange of views on the situation in the Caucasus region, which will be continued in a friendly and constructive dialogue." Instead the Georgian website specifies that "the plans proposed by the UN for peaceful coexistence in the South Caucasus were discussed, to be expanded to the participation of other interested states." Various sources report one of the aims of the meeting was the possible Georgian mediation in the very complex relations between Armenia and Turkey. The Turks support Azerbaijani positions for the control of the "Zangezur corridor", a disputed territory between Yerevan and Baku. by Mathias Hariyadi Called Ikafite, the group is made of alumni from Universitas Sanata Dharma, a Catholic university. For the cardinal, the group can contribute in various forms and actions to the Indonesian Church. Yogyakarta (AsiaNews) The Faculty of Theology[*] at the Universitas Sanata Dharma (USD), a Catholic university in Yogyakarta (Central Java), has reopened its doors with renewed vigour, thanks to the Ikafite group, a forum of alumni. Formed last September, the group plans to organise events and initiatives in favour of the Catholic Church and Indonesian society in cooperation with the university. We contacted thousands of former students and asked them to join this forum to participate in the activities that we will schedule from here on," said Ikafite group leader Piet Lomena. USDs Faculty of Theology draws most of the seminarians from the different religious congregations on the island of Java and the local dioceses of Semarang and Purwokerto. Currently, it has more than 400 students, both religious and laity. Created in 1967, the school has some illustrious alumni who are now leading figures in the Indonesian Church, most notably Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, Archbishop Robertus Rubiatmoko of Semarang, and Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak. In addition, the Ikafite group includes dozens of professional figures who have distinguished themselves in various capacities in different public and private fields. There is always an opportunity for Ikafite to contribute in various forms and actions that generate benefits to a variety of groups in Indonesia, be it the nation, Catholics, and the people, said Card Suharyo in a pre-recorded video message to the group. A. Kunarwoko, a former student who graduated from a Rome-based university, shares that view. As Indonesian Catholics, we are faced with a constant challenge: how to contribute to the development of the nation and its people. [*] The faculty was formerly known as the Institute of Philosophy and Theology. By Joshua W. Blackman, Astronomer, University of Tasmania W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko The golden age of discovery of planets around other stars (known as exoplanets) began in 1995. Since the first discoveries, more than 4,500 worlds have been found, most of them orbiting ordinary stars like our Sun. The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old, and Earth and all the other planets formed at about the same time. But what will happen to the planets in another 5 billion years, when the Sun eventually dies? In a new study published in Nature, we show a glimpse of the possible future of our Solar System, when the Sun burns through all its hydrogen fuel and becomes a dead star called a white dwarf. This possible future is depicted in the form of a white dwarf thousands of light years away, which hosts a gas giant planet on a similar orbit to Jupiter, between 2.5 and 6 times as far from its star as Earth is from the Sun. Magnifying gravity The journey to this discovery began in 2010, when the white dwarf and its Jupiter-like companion aligned perfectly with a much more distant star in the dense star fields at the centre of the Milky Way. The gravity of the white dwarf and its companion acted like a magnifying glass, bending the light from the distant star and making it appear brighter to observers here on Earth. This effect, known as gravitational microlensing, was predicted by Einstein in 1936. Read more: How we found a white dwarf a stellar corpse by accident While the background star was magnified, the small scale of this chance event meant we could not distinguish between the star in the foreground and the star in the background, let alone the planet. But details in how the magnification of the background star changes over time can be used to reveal properties of the closer star and its planet. So an international team of astronomers led by those from the University of Tasmania and NASA Goddard headed to Hawaii to use one of the largest telescopes in the world for a better look. https://images.theconversation.com/files/425925/original/file-20211012-2... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425925/original/file-20211012-2... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425925/original/file-20211012-2... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425925/original/file-20211012-2... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425925/original/file-20211012-2... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Joshua Blackman The Keck-II telescope atop the dormant Mauna Kea volcano has a 10-metre interlocking array of hexagonal mirrors and laser-guided adaptive optics to filter out twinkling caused by changes in the atmosphere. We used it to obtain extremely high-resolution images of both the background and foreground star. To our surprise, however, we could not see the foreground star at all. Predictions from the original magnification event in 2010 indicated that this star, weighing about half as much as the Sun, should be visible. But we could not detect it. After a few years grappling with our data to ensure we werent making a mistake, we realised we could not see the star because it is a white dwarf, which in this case was too faint to detect. Dead stars White dwarfs are Earth-sized remnants of ordinary stars like our Sun. About 95% of the stars in the Milky Way will eventually become white dwarfs. In about 5 billion years time, when the Sun burns through all its hydrogen fuel, it will balloon in size to become a red giant, likely obliterating Mercury and Venus in the process. Earth may also be destroyed, or at least severely disrupted; if by some miracle humankind still exists by then, our distant descendants will have to move off-world to survive. In the red giant phase, the Sun can delay its inevitable collapse by burning heavier atoms such as helium. However, this reprieve will last only 100 million years or so. When these heavier fuels run out, the Sun will collapse into its final white dwarf state. In the collapse, the Sun will blow off about half its mass as a cloud of hot gas and push the surviving planets into a wider orbit. https://images.theconversation.com/files/425927/original/file-20211012-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425927/original/file-20211012-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425927/original/file-20211012-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425927/original/file-20211012-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/425927/original/file-20211012-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko For the planets, there is a fine balancing act between being swallowed up during the expansion of the red giant and possibly being ejected into deep space when the white dwarf forms. Our discovery shows what some theorists have predicted: that planets at wide enough orbits are likely to survive the death of their host star. Because most stars end up as white dwarfs, we dont have a very precise estimate of what this system looked like when it formed. However, the statistics favour an origin as a star not too different in mass from the Sun. The Universe isnt old enough for stars smaller than about 80% as big as the Sun to have evolved into white dwarfs, and stars more than about twice the size of the Sun are intrinsically rare and also more likely to experience more turbulent deaths that would destroy their planetary systems. Using the Hubble Space Telescope or its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (due to launch in December 2021), we hope to learn more about the system by directly measuring the incredibly faint residual light emitted by this dead sun. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: An astronomer on the team explains how to send a giant telescope to space and why Joshua Blackman receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Andrew A. Cole receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Originally published in The Conversation. Their annual property taxes rose to more than $9,500 starting July 1, from about $4,000 the prior year. That created a shortfall in their escrow account, from which taxes, insurance and other fees are paid, prompting their bank to increase the monthly mortgage payment by almost $970 starting this month. After some desperate communications, the bank agreed to spread the increase over a longer period, meaning the monthly payment went up by a smaller amount about $600 to almost $3,200. The Randallstown NAACP, Baltimore County NAACP, ACLU of Maryland, Maryland League of Women Voters and Common Cause Maryland assert the draft proposal violates provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act by proposing boundaries that pack Black voters into one district and then split Black communities among other councilmanic jurisdictions, diluting the votes of Black, Indigenous and other residents of color. SAN DIEGO The remains of five people and the wreckage of a U.S. Navy helicopter that crashed in the Pacific Ocean off California have been recovered, the Navy said in a statement Tuesday. Videos from 14 finalists will be reviewed by the contests selection committee, comprised of 13 scholars and science leaders from across the globe; the finalists who were the overall top scorer in the popular vote contest and the popular vote top scorer in the space exploration category are automatically sent to the final round of voting. The committee will select up to five entries from those 14 for final consideration. The winner is expected to be announced sometime in November. Baltimore Police said that Maurice Timothy Jones was charged last week with first- and second-degree murder, second-degree assault and various handgun violations. Jones is being held without bail at Baltimore City Central Booking. St. Michaels Media, also known as Church Militant, sued Baltimore and several city officials last month after the city canceled the groups planned protest at the city-owned pavilion. The event, also billed as a rally and prayer meeting, is scheduled to coincide with U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting at the nearby Marriott Baltimore Waterfront in November. Both Yiannopoulos and Bannon, the CEO of former President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign, were advertised as speakers. Baker said he asked five people for suggestions of lieutenant governor picks and Navarro was at the top of each persons list. He wasnt sure she would say yes, or that she would say yes so quickly. Some prospective lieutenant governor candidates might want to wait longer to get a better read on how the gubernatorial field is shaking out, Baker said. 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. Australia study shows plain packaging of tobacco ineffective Botswana should learn from Australia which was the first country to implement plain packaging on tobacco products, in a bid to control consumption but with disastrous consequences, as prevalence and overall consumption jumped to record highs. Australia was the first country to introduce plain packaging of tobacco way back in December 2012. Plain tobacco packaging refers to packaging that requires the removal of all branding (colours, imagery, corporate logos and trademarks), permitting manufacturers to print only the brand name in a mandated size, font and place on the pack, in addition to the health warnings and any other legally mandated information. Botswana parliament moved and passed the Tobacco Control Bill, which among others calls for plain packaging of tobacco products across board a few months ago, despite an outcry over the bill which comes with sweeping changes. The bill is yet to be signed into law by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is also the Patron of the Anti-Tobacco Network Botswana, a World Health Organisation (WHO) sponsored anti-tobacco advocacy forum. This week, sources with intimate knowledge of the tobacco sector, referred Botswana Guardian to a ground breaking study, done in Australia by Luiss Business School in conjunction with Deloitte Financial Advisory, of which, its main purpose was to analyse the impact of plain packaging on smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption in Australia. The authors of the report used data taken years after full implementation of plain packaging, that is up to 2017. From the report, it is evident that, there has been no positive structural changes that has been brought in by the controversial plain packaging, but rather more and more people continue to smoke in high numbers and volumes. Based on our analyses, it is our opinion that the available data up to December 2017 do not support the effectiveness of Plain Packaging as a policy to reduce smoking prevalence or tobacco consumption and there is some evidence to suggest that Plain Packaging has had a counterproductive effect, resulting in an increase in cigarette consumption rather than a decrease, states the report which was commissioned by British Tobacco Company. There are specific figures which shows that Austrialia is failing on getting the intended positive results from implementing plain packaging on tobacco. In fact, the publicly available report shows that, a year after December 2012, average cigarette consumption was 1.374 bln/sticks/month, which is slightly higher than the average cigarette consumption of 1.371 bln/sticks/month in the year before December 2012 (delta equal to 0.2%). The figures also show that, an average Roll Your Own Tobacco(RYO) consumption of 0.163 bln/sticks/month in the year after December 2012, which is higher than the average RYO consumption in the year before December 2012 at 0.157 bln/sticks/month (delta equal to 3.9%). Figure 4 reports results relative to average total consumption one year before and after December 2012. One year after the introduction of Plain Packaging, results show an average total consumption of 1.536 bln/sticks/month, which is higher than the average total consumption in the year before the introduction of Plain Packaging of 1.527 bln/sticks/month (delta equal to 0.6%). In conclusion, Australia shows an increase in total consumption in the year after the introduction of Plain Packaging, while New Zealand (where Plain Packaging was not implemented) shows a decrease in total consumption in the same period. These results suggest that Plain Packaging has not had any significant impact on reducing total legal tobacco consumption in Australia. As a robustness check, we also extended our analysis to longer observation periods, including two, three, four and five years before and after the introduction of Plain Packaging, said the authors of the report. We can state that the results presented in this report confirm that the data available from Australia up to December 2017 provides no evidence to support the effectiveness of Plain Packaging as a policy to reduce smoking prevalence or tobacco consumption and there is some evidence to suggest that Plain Packaging has had a counterproductive effect, resulting in an increase in cigarette consumption rather than a decrease." Meanwhile, in a Journal published in September 2020 by Nature Human behavior, under the title: The effectiveness of plain packaging in discouraging tobacco consumption in Australia, authors were able to see a more serious trend of smoking post plain packaging. In response to the policy, smokers switched from more expensive to cheaper cigarettes and reduced their overall tobacco expenditure and expenditure intensity. However, as smoking became less costly, smokers consumed more cigarettes. To discourage such substitution and to help the policy achieve its intended outcomes, policymakers should consider implementing auxiliary measures, such as taxes or price floors, said authors David Underwood, Sizhong Sun and Riccardo Welters. Back home, BAT Botswana has also argued before the health committee of parliament that, plain packaging is not the best option to go with. The company sells over 300 million tobacco sticks annually and its brands constitute about 90 percent of the market. Making their presentation back in July, BAT Botswana, Country Manager John Masala and Head of Legal Affairs, Mdu Lokotfwako explained that, in the case of Australia, plain packaging has not worked as, in fact, youth smoking has jumped by 36 percent. The above data was sourced from the Australian Federal Government's own National Drug Strategy Household Survey data. Moreover, adult smokers now smoke an average of 11 cigarettes per day. As a result of plain packaging, illegal tobacco has grown to its highest level in years. Illicit trade increased by 30%. This is according to an independent report done by KPMG under the title Illicit Tobacco in Australia. Instead of implementing plain packaging and other related tight clauses that come with the Tobacco Control Bill, 2021, "the ministry of Health must introduce more rigorous education campaigns as part of its tobacco control agenda increasingly, the regulatory burden on tobacco industry cannot be the answer. Chairperson of the parliamentary committee on health and HIV, David Tshere does not agree with the proposed changes that call for no branding of tobacco products. Brands are companies property. This basically means government wants to take away this property without compensation which is against our constitution, he told Botswana Guardian in a previous interview. In Botswana, the tobacco sector supports 25 000 livelihoods, in addition to millions of Pula collected annually as taxes. Campus News Students learn real history in Indigenous health disparities course Dean Senecas Indigenous health disparities course aims to teach students the real histories of American Indian and Alaska Native people, and how the injustices they faced created many of the health disparities that remain today. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki By DAVID J. HILL As a child, Katherine Connelly loved Disneys Pocahontas. It told a beautiful tale of two people from different cultures who fell in love. Or, so she thought. The reality, however, is that Pocahontas was only about 10 when the European colonist John Smith kidnapped her, raped her, forced her into marriage and then forced her to give up her familys tobacco secrets. None of that, of course, is in the Disney film. But when millions of Americans think about Indigenous history and culture, Pocahontas and John Wayne movies are a reference point. Thats why a new course being taught in the School of Public Health and Health Professions is so important, says Connelly, who graduated from the schools master of public health program last spring and took the course taught by UB alumnus Dean Seneca. You cant focus on moving forward without acknowledging the atrocities of the past, Connelly says. And thats not to guilt anyone. Thats not to shame people. That is to bring awareness and inspire people to make true change, just like Dean is doing. He changed my life and he changed the lives of many of the students in this class. I wouldnt be on my path without him. Senecas Indigenous health disparities course aims to teach students the real histories of American Indian and Alaska Native people, and how the injustices they faced created many of the health disparities that remain today. I intentionally created the course to bring my students through a very convoluted and historically misrepresented history of American Indians and Alaska Natives in this country, says Seneca, who received his bachelors degree in planning and environmental design from the School of Architecture and Planning (he received the schools Distinguished Alumni award in 2019). And I really entrench us in that because you cant change if you dont know where you were. If my students want to be public health professionals and working in tribal communities, they have to have an understanding of what really happened, adds Seneca, who in addition to serving as an adjunct instructor in SPHHP is CEO of the consulting firm Seneca Scientific Solutions+. The genesis of the course stemmed from a talk Seneca gave on American Indian and Alaska Native health disparities in September 2020 as part of the Department of Community Health and Health Behaviors Brown Bag Lectures series. Seneca credits SPHHP Dean Jean Wactawski-Wende with making the course a reality and acknowledging that the school needed to do more to improve diversity and equity. Its really through her leadership as a dean and wanting to change that we have this course on Indigenous health disparities for the university, he says, adding that hes so proud that UB has taken this step to create such a course. Today Partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Duluth, MN (55816) Today Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low around 20F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low around 20F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%. George Huguely V of Chevy Chase was convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of Yeardley Love, a Notre Dame Prep alumna who also played lacrosse at Virginia and was two weeks away from graduation when she was slain. Love, 22, of suburban Baltimore, was found dead in her apartment after Huguely kicked a hole in her bedroom door and beat her during a day of heavy drinking, according to trial testimony. Carroll County Ag Center, Westminster Organizers behind the Ag Center maze boast that it is the largest in the area, open every weekend through Oct. 31. This year the 15-acre maze features the eight county high school mascots, with historical questions about each high school strategically placed throughout the labyrinth. Visit the website for more information. After retiring, Ms. Williams continued her work in the community, serving on the board of the Fund for Educational Excellence and on the legislative committee of Maryland Retired School Personnel Association. She belonged to the Association of Baltimore City Public School Retirees. And she remained active with the 29th Street Community Center, the former Barclay Recreation Center, next to the school. In addition, around 10:30 a.m. a bus will take guests on an hourlong tour of nearby preserved farms. There will be two buses with limited space available, and individuals must register in advance online. Check-in will be at the outer pavilions to the left of the museum parking lot and outside the entrance gate. On Tuesday, deputies responded to the 1800 block of Eloise Lane in Edgewood at 6:52 p.m. for the report of a fight, the sheriffs office reported. Deputies could not find the fight when they arrived and started interviewing people to learn what had happened. While speaking to someone, Senior Deputy J. Amrein saw a vehicle in the parking lot that he thought may have been involved in the incident. Howard police on Wednesday identified the victim near the apartment complex as Michael Lokougna, 18, of Columbia, and said he was in serious condition at Shock Trauma. The other victim was identified as Aboubacar Diabate, 22, of Berwyn Heights in Prince Georges County, who remains in critical condition, police said. I am inspired this week by an assignment my wife is doing for a Law in Education class. Her assignment was to write about religion in school and particularly release time for religious classes. It is an interesting assignment for her because, unlike most of her class, she grew up in a state I think that were seeing people still living with the concern and maybe fear of the pandemic. Maybe their health is not necessarily the best and then theyre worried about their personal health, Walsh said in a phone interview with the Tribune. The former Boston mayor, whose political star began to rise as a labor leader, said hes also hearing from employers ranging from health care to financial institutions to construction who say some employees have reconsidered their professional path amid the pandemic and have just left the job market because of their work-life balance. The new version extends the help not only to those at the bottom of the income scale but to just about everyone. That policy has drawn conservative criticism because it doesnt demand paid employment from recipients. This feature, we are told, will cost too much money and encourage idleness. Manchin is mistaken about the choice we face. The United States has long been an entitlement society, with the government operating a variety of social insurance programs to lessen hardship. That was the idea behind Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, food stamps and the original child tax credit. On the palate, Gold Fashioned is a journey a very tasty, very deft, very interesting journey. The best things we eat and drink tell a narrative, with clear beginnings, middles and ends. Gold Fashioned does just that: maple, fruit, vanilla and that savory earthy spice, folded into oaky heat that never overstays its welcome and segues into a long, balanced finish. The base spirits meld beautifully into the whole, but can get lost if too much ice melts (so dont let that happen!). A: That notion of, hey, you can read the Bible and the Gospels and try to imagine what Jesus would want our lives to look like. They take that idea super seriously, probably because of a history of being prosecuted. But theres also a genuine intense respect for the message of the Gospels. They came up with a hardcore way of living and I would have no interest in that, but it is more consistent with the fundamental message. All due respect to the Catholic Church, I dont think Jesus was imagining a pharisaical megastructure of a church following in his wake. You get no glimpse of that anywhere in four Gospels. As I said, I respect Mennonites but its also not my world, so I am not going to set the book in a tiny community in Indiana. I have been reading evolutionary science books lately that are somewhat pertinent to the sequel to this novel and what makes (the genetic variation in) evolution work is random. Certain gene combinations get expressed in random ways and sometimes those get selected. Its like writing a novel. When its done, it seems of a piece and well planned. Which is the way nature works, as if it were proceeding according to plan. Fundamentalists say it is. But in fact, at least with a novel, it starts with random chunks. I wasnt writing about my fellowship exactly. There was a rivalry between professors at the college I went to; they had offices next door and hadnt spoken, literally, in 15 years. I thought that was funny and horrible. So who could Russ (the main pastor in Crossroads) be in a not-speaking relationship with? See, you start with these random scraps then suddenly you have a whole story. Forever indebted to H.G. Wells, William Golding and other cranky visionaries, the hardy, cockroach-like "Hunger Games"/"Divergent" genre has a nickname: "dyslit," after the dystopian best-sellers in which young adult protagonists must prove their physical and mental prowess and lead the revolution to save what's left of their crummy old world. The first "Hunger Games" movie came out in 2012. (Has it really only been two years?) Because that film was so successful, the green lights lit up Hollywood, and suddenly everybody and their creative partners were charging ahead with related material, full of trials by fire, ridiculous life-or-death challenges and weirdly coiffed authority figures murmuring about the necessity of totalitarian control. And just when you think you've had it with this stuff, along comes an exciting, unpretentious film version of yet another dyslit franchise. First-time feature director Wes Ball's version of "The Maze Runner" makes the cliches smell daisy-fresh. The movie comes from the first in James Dashner's trilogy, published in 2009. Its story components are spare. There is a boy, Thomas (played by Dylan O'Brien). At the outset he's sent up in an elevator, his memory wiped nearly clean. He is the latest arrival to the Glade, which is like an open-air Montessori school walled off by immense concrete slabs. Every morning the doors to the Maze open and the maze runners scramble to learn the route to freedom while avoiding giant, deadly robot spiders with nasty big pointy teeth. These are known as Grievers. And that concludes the paragraph known as Plot. Ball was hired for "The Maze Runner" largely on the strength of his impressive seven-minute short film "Ruin," widely available online. The world he creates in his feature debut resembles places we've visited in "The Giver," "The Hunger Games," "Divergent" and other pictures. But the story, and Ball's visualization of it, has a disarming simplicity and directness, and when Thomas' fractured memory flashes images of his previous existence a lab, some experiments, some semblance of the world as Thomas knew it it's sharp and vivid. Unseen forces, eventually seen, have created the Glade for supersecret reasons. When a young woman (Kaya Scodelario), allegedly the last of her kind, arrives to the previously all-male enclave, it's like a thunderclap. The heart of "The Maze Runner" is the action, and Ball seamlessly blends computer-generated mecha-spiders with the actors, with everyone and everything moving very quickly. Aml Ameen plays Alby, the leader of the Glade; Will Poulter, he of the perma-raised eyebrows and recently seen in "We're the Millers," is by-the-book Gally, who becomes Thomas' nemesis. Patricia Clarkson, purring vaguely sinister orders by way of computer screens, portrays the adult, so you know she can't be fully trusted. I'd like to see a spinoff movie wherein Clarkson teams up with Meryl Streep in "The Giver," Kate Winslet in "Divergent" and Donald Sutherland in "The Hunger Games" and they all open an acting school and give lessons in smiling through their teeth. Meantime, at least what we're seeing in "The Maze Runner" works; the movie may be about confinement, but it moves, and Ball has a genuine career ahead of him. The script by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers and T.S. Nowlin may be about 10 minutes longer than needed, but it's treated well by the designers and the director, who create a plausible, textured atmosphere of dread. O'Brien, Scodelario and company should help extend the Henley undershirt's popularity well into the next post-apocalyptic millennium. Are audiences weary of dyslit screen adaptations? "The Maze Runner," already a success in many overseas markets, suggests otherwise. I'm not dreading Part 2. mjphillips@tribune.com "The Maze Runner" - 3 stars MPAA rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images) Running time: 1:53 Opens: Thursday evening Much of the film takes place in the worlds most poorly supervised hospital, where seriously injured Laurie and Officer Hawkins (Will Patton) share some old, bad memories of what happened that night in 78. I found most of the humor in Halloween Kills lame to the point of lousy, and the suspense set-ups (many confined to the old Myers home, now occupied by a gay couple played by Scott MacArthur and Michael McDonald) settle for countless visual cheats. No ones there! No, wait! Hes there! Stab-stab-stabbity-stab. Fake blood hosing from dying persons neck, and ... cut. The editing doesnt maximize the dread, it just cuts out a second or two of visual information so that Myers becomes the Roy Kent of Haddonfield. Hes everywhere! By the early 1980s, Lewis was gathering career momentum and technical polish as a stand-up comedian. A 1984 appearance at Zanies on Wells Street prompted me to write in my review: The material pours out of him confessional-style, and not a word sounds rehearsed or manipulated for laughs. Yet the laughs are there and in unbelievable abundance because Lewis material rings of high craft and because the scenarios he laments go much deeper emotionally than one expects from one-liners. He can communicate more with twisted body language than most comics can with words. He is the rare kind of comedian who broadens the art. Theres a very intentional, distinct lack of personal effects on stage in This Wide Night, presented by Shattered Globe Theatre in association with Interrobang Theatre Project. The set, designed by Sotirios Livaditis with prop design by Rae Watson, is a small studio apartment with a pull-out couch, one small clothing rack and a broken television on the ground. But its the plastered over nail holes on the wall with tarnish around them indicative of where frames once hung that emphasize the central conceit of this play. While this space may have, at one time, been filled with the warmth that comes with art and family photos on the wall, all of that is now a distant memory. I am extremely honored and grateful to be given the opportunity to work with all of you, as well as with the residents of the city of Chicago, to step in at a moment of transition, and to be as helpful as I can to support the ongoing progress and improvement of what needs to be done at the parks right now, Escareno said at Wednesdays meeting. It is unclear whether Heard died as a result of the fire; he was not burned, said Hudson, but could have been affected by smoke inhalation. The medical examiners office had not released his cause or manner of death Wednesday afternoon. Despite his loss, he sat on the unions executive board due to his position as immediate past president. Martin Prieb, a second vice president under Graham, then attempted to have Angelo thrown out of the union for speaking to reporters during then-Officer Jason Van Dykes 2018 trial for McDonalds fatal shooting. But a disciplinary panel found no evidence of wrongdoing and recommended no disciplinary action be taken against Angelo, and the unions executive board voted in agreement, clearing him of any wrongdoing. The 50-plus schools that chose to keep school police were tasked with creating a safety plan and exploring alternatives to school resource officers. Schools this year were permitted to ax just one officer, or they could keep or remove them both. As of late last month, 20 schools had voted this year to keep both officers; 23 schools chose to remove one; and 10 schools opted to nix both. Schools are allowed to re-evaluate their decisions about the program at any time, but they cannot add officers back. As the ambulance traveled away from Humboldt Park and closer to the border of the Old Town and Gold Coast neighborhoods where it later crashed into at least two parked cars, the ambulance struck a person on a bicycle in the 2200 block of West Division Street in Wicker Park. A green 2017 Dodge Ram lost its truck bed cover while traveling northbound on Interstate 355 near Ogden Avenue, according to state police. The driver pulled over to get the bed cover from the right lane. Sigle, who was driving a gray 2011 Hyundai Sonata, is accused of losing control as she approached the bed cover, crossing all lanes of the interstate and hitting the concrete center median on the left shoulder of the roadway, state police said. I did not commit any crime, I am innocent, and I will prove it at trial, the statement said. The charges in the indictment do not relate in any way to my public service or to my professional life. I remain 100% dedicated to serving the people of Chicago to the best of my ability. Brown doubled down on his message that the Police Department is targeting gang violence and is serious about bringing in federal help. Last month, Brown announced he was distributing many of its community safety team officers originally a roving citywide unit tasked with responding to neighborhoods experiencing upticks in violence to specific units throughout the department as part of his strategy to focus on gangs, guns and drugs. Much has changed since then, however. For one, Spann, 44, is now standing trial on federal racketeering charges, rather than a simple murder count in state court. The Rangel killing is just one piece of an extensive indictment that places him at the head of the Four Corner Hustlers, which prosecutors say controlled the West Side drug trade by robbing competitors, killing rivals and terrorizing the community. She tries medication, which can slow the progress of the disease, but it doesnt work for her. And then, out of options, she turns to HSCT, which is currently being tested in a national clinical trial called BEAT-MS with locations including the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic. Burt, who treated Blair, is on sabbatical to publish his findings, teach other doctors about the procedure, and write a textbook, so Northwestern is not currently offering HSCT for MS. Unfortunately, these two professions are suffering from a lack of respect, support and admiration. Both professions are having a difficult time attracting candidates. According to a report by the Learning Policy Institute, for the first time ever the demand for teachers exceeded the supply for K-12 in public education in 2019. This is not new in urban schools, where the need for teachers is great and turnover is high. This shortage is now being felt in areas of the country that typically dont experience shortages. A report by the Alliance for Excellent Education says 40% to 50% of teachers leave the profession within five years. Although these are the facts, we recognize there are still students at Marist who viewed this video or who were at the Homecoming dance that were hurt by these actions. Marist is a family, and when one of us hurts, we all hurt. The fact that there were students who left the homecoming dance hurt by what they witnessed shows us that there is work to do, the statement said. I want to see the budget implications of going back up to 8 miles over the limit for ticketing, maybe find some happy medium without having such high revenue implications for drivers, Tunney said. But then we get into the talk about, Well, thats $20 million less for the budget. Where is that money going to come from? So we have to see, and have those discussions. Debras knowledge and experience on water infrastructure issues, the impact of climate change, and the protection of the Great Lakes will help her lead Region 5, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. I am grateful to have her joining the team and I look forward to working with her to advance this administrations priorities and fulfill the EPAs mission. Reeder testified Wednesday on behalf of the defense stating that no one asked him to lie when he recanted his grand jury testimony, in which he said he felt like a pawn and that Snyder knew about portions of the bid specifications. Bennett also testified that he never told Reeder what to say. Turkish archeologists have unearthed a series of historical remains during the ongoing excavations at a train terminal in Istanbul, local media reported on Tuesday. The excavations covering an area of 68,000 square meters have been completed in Haydarpasa Train Station located at the Asian district of Kadikoy, according to the Demiroren news agency. A Hellenistic tomb and several new tombs, a casting workshop, a Byzantine-era holy spring, and a shelter established during World War II have been uncovered since the excavations launched in 2018. The two-entrance shelter with a length of 400 meters was built in the 1940s to protect soldiers in case of a possible attack, Demiroren reported. A fountain of the Ottoman period has also been unearthed, and the total number of coins excavated has increased to 20,000. Experts argued that the discoveries would shed light on the history of Kadikoy, formerly known as Chalcedon or the "Land of the Blind." Yalcin Eyigun, general manager of Infrastructure Investments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, said the excavations covering a total area of 140,000 square meters are expected to be completed in two years. Eyigun told Demiroren that the terminal would not only serve as a train station but also host an archaeological park and an industrial heritage museum. "We have spent 255 million Turkish liras or 28.3 million U.S. dollars so far," he said, adding that the total cost is expected to reach 700 million liras in total. The Haydarpasa station, constructed in 1908, was a major intercity, regional, and commuter rail hub, as well as the busiest railway station in the country until 2012. The terminal was shut for restoration in 2013, and the excavations began in 2018. Youth music event a success despite pandemic obstacles. "You remind me of my days as a music student here, which are unforgettable. I hope that when you grow up and become a professional musician, you will still remember this, playing music with your friends on a sunny day," violinist Lyu Siqing told members of a student symphony orchestra after a rehearsal at the middle school affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing on Thursday. The students, sitting on the stage while holding their musical instruments, tapped their feet on the floor in warm response to Lyu. The students, all teenagers who are classically trained to become musicians, spent a week together at the school doing rehearsals and attending master classes as part of the Youth Music Festival of Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao. In its first year, the event, which kicked off on Sept 30 and wrapped up with a concert on Friday at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, is designed to provide an opportunity for students pursuing music majors to meet their counterparts from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao and to encourage the exchange of ideas, music and culture. The event was originally scheduled to take place in August, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students of Hong Kong and Macao were unable to travel to Beijing as a result, so the exchange programs moved online. During the event, Lyu not only oversaw rehearsals with the students, but also gave master classes, sharing his experience as a violinist. "When I was a music student, I didn't have much chance to take part in exchange programs like this. As a violinist, I spent lots of time practicing alone. However, it's important-and fun-to play music with others," says Lyu, who, in 1987, became the first Asian violinist to win first prize at the prestigious International Violin Competition Premio Paganini in Italy, an achievement that propelled him to stardom. Lyu began learning the violin when he was 4 years old. By the age of 8, he was enrolled to study at the primary school affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music and, later, the affiliated middle school. At the age of 19, he went to the Juilliard School in New York to study with American violinist Dorothy DeLay. "As well as learning techniques, students also asked me lots of questions, which I also had myself when I was a young student. For example, they wanted to know how to figure out their personal performing styles, how to prepare themselves for major competitions and how to build up a long career as a musician. Though they can get all kinds of information they want from the internet, it's a totally different experience talking to each other and solving problems. It is both personal and mutual," says Lyu, who performed two musical works with the student symphony orchestra-the well-known Chinese violin concerto Butterfly Lovers and Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach-during the concert on Friday. "Butterfly Lovers is very beautiful and I've gained a different feeling for it after training with Lyu. He told us that the only way for the composer who died a long time ago to communicate with musicians today is through musical scores. Thus, it's important to read and study both the scores and the composers' notes very carefully," says 17-year-old Zhao Junjie, a violin student at the middle school affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music. "We spent about six hours a day rehearsing, which was very helpful. Being part of an orchestra means that I need to listen to others while playing my musical instrument. It's quite different from playing by myself. Though we may have some different opinions about music, it's still a rewarding experience," says 18-year-old Hu Yifei, who also studies the violin at the middle school. According to cellist Namura, who is also the school's president and an organizer of the festival, 90 students were selected to join this year's event and celebrated musicians, including pianist Lang Lang, cellist Wang Jian and violinist Lyu, participated as teachers and performers. The event is co-organized by Beijing Music Festival, one of the largest annual classical music events in the country, which kicked off on Saturday and will run through Oct 24. "Hundreds of students from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao applied for the event. Though we had to make changes to the original plan due to the pandemic, we've seen the warm feedback of the students. When the pandemic eventually passes, we will definitely bring the students together," says Namura. "I hope that they can benefit from this event by sharing music and making new friends." Kiora Zhou, a 23-year-old cellist, who is studying at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in Austria, had planned to visit Beijing to take part in the event. "It was very disappointing that I couldn't travel to Beijing due to the pandemic, but I still had a wonderful time talking to those great musicians and music major students over the internet," says Zhou, who was born and raised in Macao. She was also originally scheduled to play the fourth movement of a symphonic suite, titled Dream Bridge, composed by Fang Dongqing, during the concert on Friday alongside Namura. The music piece celebrates the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which opened to the public in October 2018. "It's a very meaningful piece of music. Like the bridge, music also connects people," says Zhou. A square dancing competition kicked off in Haidian Park in Beijing's Haidian district on Monday, attracting more than 300 dance lovers of different ages to strut their stuff at the event. Performances reflecting people's positive attitudes towards life, their determination to embrace a better future as well as their love for the country have been staged by contestants. Chen Jing, director of the culture and tourism bureau of Haidian district, says that the district has launched a project that aims to cultivate around 100 square dancing teams and carry out popular square dancing performances in the following three years. "We will strongly support the development of local dance troupes and ensure our residents enjoy a colorful cultural life," she added. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended and addressed the leaders' summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity via video link in Beijing and called on the international community to enhance cooperation, build consensus and pool strength to build a community of all life on Earth. Noting that biodiversity makes Earth full of vigor and vitality, and lays the foundation for human survival and development, Xi said protecting biodiversity helps protect Earth, our common homeland, and contributes to humanity's sustainable development. The Kunming conference will work for the conclusion of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and identify targets and pathways for global biodiversity protection in the future, Xi said. He stressed the need to respect Nature, follow Nature's laws, protect Nature, and build a homeland of harmonious coexistence between man and Nature. "A sound ecology and environment is not just a natural asset, but also an economic asset, and it affects the potential and momentum of economic and social development," Xi said, calling for speeding up efforts to foster a green way of development and securing a win-win of economic growth and environmental protection. Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over global development, Xi said developing countries in the face of the dual tasks of economic recovery and environmental protection "need help and support all the more." "We need to strengthen solidarity to overcome difficulties and let people across countries benefit more and in a fairer way from development outcomes and a sound environment," Xi said. "We are living in an era both fraught with challenges and full of hopes," Xi said. "For the sake of our common future, we need to join hands and start a new journey of high-quality development for humanity." The development of ecological civilization should be taken as a guide to coordinate the relationship between man and Nature, Xi stressed, adding that human activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment, and holistic conservation and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts need to be carried out. Xi urged efforts to let green transition drive people's efforts to facilitate global sustainable development. "We need to build a green, low-carbon and circular economic system, translate ecological strengths into development strengths, and bring out the great benefit that green mountains and clear waters can offer. We also need to step up green international cooperation and share the fruits of green development among all countries," said the president. Stressing the need to better people's well-being to promote social equity and justice, Xi called for pursuing win-win results in environmental protection, economic development, job creation, poverty alleviation and other endeavors, and increase the sense of fulfillment, happiness and security of people in all countries. "We shall take international law as the basis to uphold a fair and equitable international governance system," Xi said, adding that people need to practice true multilateralism, and effectively honor and implement international rules. He also said that the new environmental protection targets people set need to be ambitious on the one hand and pragmatic and balanced on the other. Noting China has made remarkable progress in building an ecological civilization, Xi said China will continue to advance ecological progress, stay committed to implementing the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, and build a beautiful China. Xi announced China's initiative to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about 233 million U.S. dollars) to support biodiversity protection in developing countries. China calls on and welcomes all parties to make contributions to the fund, Xi said. Pointing out that China is moving faster to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay, Xi said areas with the greatest importance to the natural ecosystem, and with the most unique natural landscapes, the most valuable natural heritage and the greatest biodiversity reserve will be included in the national parks system over time. To achieve its carbon peak and neutrality targets, China will release implementation plans for peaking carbon dioxide emissions in key areas and sectors as well as a series of supporting measures, the president said. The country will also put in place a "1+N" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, he said. China will continue to readjust its industrial structure and energy mix, vigorously develop renewable energy, and make faster progress in planning and developing large wind power and photovoltaic bases in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, Xi said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape and Britain's Prince Charles also attended the summit via video. You are here: China Chinese central authorities have released a set of guidelines on promoting the high-quality development of modern vocational education. A modern vocational-education system should be established in China by 2025, and China's vocational education should be ranked among the best globally by 2035, according to the guidelines jointly released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. Primary and middle school students should receive formative courses on vocational education to cultivate their awareness of career planning, according to the guidelines. Priority should be given to training talent for emerging industries, including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, modern agriculture and artificial intelligence, the document says, encouraging vocational schools to set up majors that meet market demand. Vocational institutions should step up cooperation with enterprises to serve technological upgrading and product research in medium, small and micro businesses, the guidelines add. It also calls on vocational schools to improve the quality of teachers, innovate teaching models and promote overseas cooperation. World leaders on Tuesday called for global awareness, broad consensus and concrete actions to preserve biodiversity at a United Nations conference held in China. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, kicked off a day earlier in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. It attracts over 5,000 representatives from governments, international organizations, research institutes and enterprises. The leaders, in their speeches via video, pledged to make bold efforts at a time when the world is facing a worsening crisis of biodiversity loss. Nature-centered development "Our two-century-long experiment with burning fossil fuels, destroying forests, wilderness and oceans, and degrading the land, has caused a biosphere catastrophe," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his speech. The UN chief described humanity's interference with nature as a "suicidal war" and stressed that "we are losing" it. To reverse biodiversity loss, the leaders participating in COP15 urge a nature-based approach to develop the global economy. The development of ecological civilization should be taken as a guide to coordinate the relationship between humans and nature, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, adding that human activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the meeting is the first global conference convened by the UN to highlight ecological civilization, a philosophy proposed by China. Stressing that more than half of global gross domestic product depends on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystem services, President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado Quesada said the economic benefits of protecting biodiversity outweigh the costs. If the international community wants a successful economy and future and to create jobs, "restoring and conserving our land and ocean is critical," he added. Britain's Prince Charles urged taking bold decisions in this regard. He said the decisions "can regenerate hundreds of millions -- if not billions -- of hectares of degraded land throughout the world, thus protecting and restoring our planet's biodiversity and making nature the engine of our economies." Biodiversity governance COP15 will take place in two parts. The first part will last until Friday, with parallel activities featuring forums on topics including climate change and ecological conservation. 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," a blueprint for biodiversity conservation for the decade to come. The Chinese president announced an initiative to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and that China will take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about 233 million U.S. dollars) to the fund. Meanwhile, China is moving faster to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay, Xi said. In his speech, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the adoption of an ambitious global framework that meets the challenges and expectations of various societies. "It is up to our generation to reverse the trend and recreate virtuous synergies with nature," he said. Calling for deeper awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt has made unremitting efforts to formulate the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" and set achievable goals supported by a clear implementation mechanism. Sadyr Zhaparov, president of Kyrgyzstan, a country with 95 percent of the land covered by mountains, announced a five-year program to ensure the sustainable development of mountain regions. "Kyrgyzstan is open and ready for active international cooperation, and only by joint efforts we could preserve the biodiversity of our planet and achieve desirable sustainable development in harmony with the environment," Zhaparov said. The leaders also called on developed countries to support developing nations in biodiversity conservation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged countries bearing "the historical responsibility" to be "the first to take action in the face of this threat." Multilateral cooperation Biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and other global ills have triggered overlapping crises. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that "objectives of nature conservation cannot be successfully addressed by any country individually. This is a common task for all states, for all humankind, without exaggeration." Stressing that the greatest impact of ecosystem collapse would be on developing countries, Guterres called for support to them, including significant financial resources and technology transfer. Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape called for financial support to help the island country preserve its rainforests, or the "lungs of the world." "My country needs development financing in exchange for concentrated effort on conservation, and I would like to use the platform of this forum to invite partnerships for this most worthwhile cause," Marape said. "It is certainly important that national priorities and specificities of each state be taken into account, and special attention be given to the needs of developing and least developed countries," Putin said. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in late August reflected the general trend of its declining role in the Middle East, indicating that it would further reduce its military presence in the region. Despite the concerns of its Arab allies being abandoned, the U.S. readaptation of its Middle East policy will provide opportunities for regional actors to build security structure via cooperation and coordination. There had been a kind of regional security structure or order in the Middle East since the end of the Cold War though the word "chaos" had been frequently used to define the security situation there for decades. The U.S., as a hegemonic power, had sat at the top of the Middle East security structure, and countries in the region had been divided into moderates and radicals according to their relationship with America. Those who embraced the U.S. were regarded as moderates, while those who opposed it were radicals. The U.S. supported and took care of the security issues of the former, and bullied the latter. This kind of structure has served to maintain a minimal level of stability since the Gulf War in 1991 when the U.S. established its dominance in the region. The structure began to collapse around 2011 when Barack Obama expressed the intention to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. The fragile U.S. security structure is the reason why the region had been often described as chaotic or turbulent. While moderates enjoyed staying under the security umbrella, radicals frequently took opportunities to challenge the U.S. to express their discontent. To put it another way, the security structure created by the U.S. in the post-Cold War Middle East had obvious flaws since its establishment. Those excluded countries and groups, which are a significant part of the region, always wanted to challenge it. Such a flawed security structure was always destined to collapse. After 2011, as the United States shifted its focus to the Asia-Pacific region, others have taken the opportunity to expand their influence. For instance, Iran established the so-called Shiite Arc from Yemen to Syria and Lebanon, which helped it turn into a powerful regional actor. However, those who used to depend on the U.S. for protection had to work out a self-reliant approach to protect their own security. For example, Saudi Arabia tried to establish an alliance with other Arab countries and the Islamic world to confront Iran's influence. The confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, therefore, became the defining feature of regional geopolitical competition over the past decade, which has overwhelmed development of the region, leaving countries and people struggling in uncertainty. It was not responsible for the U.S. to establish a security structure that was exclusive and merely reflected its own will and interests. It was not able to ensure the security of anybody. With the U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East, the fragile stability has collapsed. However, the U.S. withdrawal did provide opportunities for Middle Eastern countries to create a security structure of their own. Countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have finally awakened from the illusion of America's security protection, and began to realize that only by security cooperation and coordination with neighboring countries can they materialize security of their own. Moreover, Iran, despite being a beneficiary of the geopolitical competition over the last two decades, might also be aware that it cannot achieve progress without a stable environment with its neighboring countries. Therefore, we can see that there have been frequent interactions between Saudi Arabia and Iran this year. For example, both countries have engaged in several rounds of negotiations over the Yemen issue. In August, both countries participated in the Baghdad summit hosted by Iraq which aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East region. Moreover, Iran's foreign minister met officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries at Iraq's embassy in New York in September. The decision-makers on both sides have clearly expressed their intentions to improve bilateral relations. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in April that all that they hope for is to have "good relations" with Iran. Likewise, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi also expressed his goodwill to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in his speech after taking office on Aug. 6. Rome was not built in a single day, and a diplomatic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran will not be easy to establish, considering their long-held differences. The good thing is that both countries have realized that cooperation and coordination are the keys to materializing national security and regional prosperity. Their endeavors for dialogue and tensions alleviation will finally lead to a new security structure established in the Middle East. This should not be just a dream. Jin Liangxiang is Senior Research Fellow with the Center for West Asian and African Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene via video link on Tuesday. Noting that China and Mongolia are close neighbors with sound relations, Li said both countries face tasks of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, developing their economies and guaranteeing people's livelihoods. Enhancing cooperation between the two countries benefits not only China and Mongolia, but also the region, he added. Li said China stands ready to enhance cooperation with Mongolia to strengthen development strategy synergy, explore cooperation in key areas, expand bilateral trade, and facilitate port clearance and increase port throughput under the premise of effective pandemic prevention and control. China hopes the two countries will further implement cooperation in preventing and curbing desertification to jointly build a clean and beautiful environment, the premier said. China will, as it always has, support Mongolia to develop its economy, improve its people's livelihoods and fight COVID-19, Li said. He stressed that energy security is a matter that concerns national interests and people's livelihoods. Though possessing abundant coal resources, China is willing to carry out diversified energy cooperation, Li said, adding that China welcomes a larger volume of coal trading between the two countries to achieve win-win results. Li said China encourages and supports enterprises from the two countries to actively carry out cooperation in line with market principles and business rules, and ensure a smooth and safe energy supply chain with reasonable and stable prices in the long term. Noting that Mongolia and China have a shared future, Oyun-Erdene commended China's neighborhood diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Oyun-Erdene thanked China for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Mongolia and said the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the pandemic has set a model for the international community. He expressed the hope that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in the fields of minerals, infrastructure construction, and desertification prevention and control, and that the two sides will increase their port clearance volume and promote the greater development of bilateral relations. Flash French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled on Tuesday a 30-billion-euro (34.6 billion U.S. dollars) investment plan dubbed "France 2030" to boost the country's industry and to help it become a leader in green energy. "France's goal for 2030 must be to produce better, live better and understand the world better," he said. The investment aims to equip France with smaller nuclear reactors and with improved nuclear waste management by 2030, Macron said, explaining that the small modular reactors are safer. France also aims to become a leader in green hydrogen by 2030. As a key element of the investment plan, France will allocate 500 million euros to disruptive technologies in renewable energy, with the decarbonization of industry as its main goal. France will also build at least two megafactories for the production of green hydrogen, he said. "In our strategy for 2030, we have committed to reducing, between 2015 and 2030, our emissions in the industrial sector by 35 percent" using public and private investment, he said. Furthermore, France will invest some four billion euros in the transport sector, and will aim to produce two million electric and hybrid vehicles by 2030 and build a low-carbon airplane. Investments are also foreseen in other sectors, such as culture, health, agrifood and space. "If we do not re-industrialize the country, we will not be able to become a nation of innovation and research again," Macron said, stressing that the "France 2030" plan is not an "impossible dream." Flash The European Commission on Tuesday issued the first NextGenerationEU green bond, raising 12 billion euros (13.8 billion U.S. dollars) to be allocated exclusively to green and sustainable investments across the European Union (EU). A wide range of investors have expressed interest in the bond. The final order book was over 135 billion euros, which meant that the bond has been more than 11 times oversubscribed. This was the largest green bond orderbook ever in global capital markets, the largest green bond ever issued, and the EU is set to become the world's largest green bond issuer by far, according to Johannes Hahn, commissioner in charge of budget and administration. Today's issuance, which followed the adoption of the NextGenerationEU Green Bond framework earlier in September, represents a start to the NextGenerationEU green bond program of up to 250 billion euros by end-2026. The funds from the NextGenerationEU green bond issuance will be used to finance green and sustainable expenditure under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. A minimum of 37 percent of each national Recovery and Resilience Plan has to be devoted to the green transition. "Today's issuance is a strong start for the NextGenerationEU green bond program. Set to turn the EU into the world's biggest green bond issuer, it is a powerful signal of the EU's commitment to sustainability," Hahn told a press conference. "Our future is green and it is extremely important that we seize the opportunity to clearly show to investors that their funds will be used to finance a sustainable European recovery," Hahn said. NextGenerationEU is a temporary recovery instrument of more than 800 billion euros in current prices to support Europe's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and help build a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe. To finance NextGenerationEU, the European Commission -- on behalf of the EU -- will raise up to 800 billion euros from the capital markets between now and the end of 2026. (1 euro = 1.15 U.S. dollars) Flash A new French study has dismissed a cave in Mojiang County, southwest China's Yunnan province, as an origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The study, published online on the journal Environmental Research in late September, also rebuts lab-leak speculations that link the virus to several miners working in the county in 2012. A retrospective analysis of their clinical reports showed that the miners had displayed symptoms very different from those shown by COVID-19 patients, Sputnik news agency reported. "One must also wonder why a virus which killed more than 5 million and infected more than 200 million in 18 months did not cause any illness in 7 years from 2012 to 2019," the study read. "Dismissing the Mojiang mine theory leaves the laboratory leak narrative without any scientific support thus making it simply an opinion-based narrative," it added. You are here: World Flash Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and visiting U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on Tuesday discussed the functioning of diplomatic missions on each other's territories. Ryabkov emphasized that U.S. moves against Russia will not go unanswered, but Moscow does not seek further escalation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He proposed removing all restrictions imposed by both sides over the past few years. Ryabkov told Nuland that the continuation of Washington's confrontational policy regarding bilateral affairs can only lead to a further degradation of relations. He urged the U.S. side to adopt a realistic approach and build bilateral ties on the basis of equality and mutual consideration of each other's interests. Nuland will also meet Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak and Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov during her visit to Moscow from Monday to Wednesday. You are here: World Flash China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Tuesday met with Cambodia's Senate President Samdech Say Chhum via video link. Hailing the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia, Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said the two sides should ensure that high-level exchanges play a politically leading role in bilateral ties. Wang also urged the two countries to provide staunch mutual support on issues concerning their respective core interests, deepen cooperation in all areas, jointly build the Belt and Road, and seek common development. The CPPCC is willing to continue exchanges at all levels with Cambodia's Senate to contribute to the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, he added. For his part, Say Chhum expressed a willingness to enhance cooperation on COVID-19 response, adding that Cambodia's Senate is ready to step up communications and cooperation with the CPPCC to promote bilateral ties. Flash UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, next month must be a turning point for climate action. "COP26 must be a turning point if we are to fulfill the promise of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, protect populations from the impacts of climate change and ensure that all financial flows are consistent with the goals of net-zero emissions and sustainable development," he told the sixth ministerial meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, in a video message. With COP26 fast approaching, he said, he remained genuinely concerned over the lack of progress on these priorities. The political package that must be delivered in Glasgow needs to contain at least three key elements: emissions reduction, financing for climate action in developing countries, and climate adaptation, he said. "First, we must swiftly close the emissions gap. That means national pledges must collectively put us on track to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. And each country must be ready to update its climate commitments until we collectively get on track to reach the 1.5-degree objective," he said. Second, developed countries must close the finance gap by providing and exceeding the promised 100 billion U.S. dollars a year to developing countries for climate action, he said. "And this is just a starting point. Beyond that goal, all financial flows, public and private, must align with a net-zero emissions and resilient development pathway." Third, Glasgow must deliver a breakthrough on adaptation. Climate disruption is already here, affecting ever more lives and livelihoods every year, especially among the most vulnerable. Building resilience and adapting must be a priority for all, said Guterres. "I ask each of you in your national capacity and as shareholders of national and multilateral development banks to consider allocating half of all public climate finance in support of developing countries for adaptation. And I ask that you reconsider how you calculate gross domestic product. Nature's resources still do not figure in countries' calculations of wealth. We need nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation. The current system is weighted toward destruction, not preservation. Governments must reflect nature's true value in all policies, plans and economic systems," he said. As COVID-19 and climate change pose new and unique challenges to low- and middle-income countries, he asked the finance ministers to revise eligibility thresholds for official development assistance to improve access to finance for those countries. 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. Recently I had the privilege of a pilgrimage in Greece and Turkey where I got up close and personal with some incredible Eastern Orthodox art. Coming from a Salvation Army faith tradition, with its roots in Wesleyan Methodism, my experience of church trappings is stripped back when compared to the Orthodox tradition. We dont have ornate church buildings filled with paintings and icons. A Salvation Army hall is meant to be plain and functional. Early Salvation Army converts back in the 1860s came from the slums of East London. Saved through the tent-based outreach of William and Catherine Booth, they were sent back to established churches, only to meet with judgement and discrimination from proper church folk uncomfortable with a riff raff of converted prostitutes and drunkards in their midst. And so, The Salvation Army was born as a church for the outsiders, inspired by Jesuss words: Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled (John 14:23). Sunday meetings were held in the likes of music halls, with a focus on creating places of welcome where all could feel at home, without cultural or ecclesiastical barriers. Because this is my faith tradition, I hadnt worshipped in a setting that included icons and other religious artwork. Which made my time in Greece and Turkey a literal eye-opener. The early Salvation Army conveyed much of its theological teaching in our songs; for the Orthodox Church, the lessons of the Bible and church history are in its paintings and icons. And those icons fascinated me. The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates icons as one of the ways God is shown to humanity through pictures of Christ, Mary, the saints, and angels. Theologically, these icons remind us that we are created in Gods image and therefore carry the icon (or image) of God within us. Sin marred that divine likeness, and salvation is God restoring his full image within us. John of Damascus John of Damascus, an early Church Father, found solace in the icons of his church. He wrote: When I have no books, or when my thoughts, torturing me like thorns, do not let me enjoy reading, I go to church, which is the cure available for every disease of the soul. The freshness of the images draws my attention, captivates my eyes and slowly leads my soul to divine praise. For John of Damascus, church was a place resplendent with Christian iconography that pointed him to Christ. But how am I, living in Aotearoa New Zealand, to find such icons today? Well, its not as hard as you might think. Im a member of a small group where I see the image of God in others. As we share life together, the ups and the downs of it, they frequently point me to Christ. These dear friends are icons in my life. I attend a Salvation Army Recovery Church for those journeying from addition to freedom and wellbeing. When someone first starts coming to Recovery Church, Ive noticed their eyes are often downcast and clouded. They are burdened by addiction, carrying a sense of personal failure and regret. Sometimes they are weighed down by sins others have committed against them, from which drugs or alcohol provided an anaesthetised refuge. They may also carry a sense of shame at how theyve wronged people in the past. Yet, as the weeks pass, their outlook on their identity changes. They start to see their God-given value. Hope and life becomes more visible in their eyes, as does the transformative power of God. The faces I see at Recovery Church are icons that point me to Christ. I was at a conference recently where one of the speakers commented that the Bible is our meeting place with God. Such a simple and obvious statement, and yet the truth of those words gripped me because I realised that is why the Bible is so important in my life. Its where God and I meet! My meeting with God in the Bible and in prayer increases my usefulness as an icon of Christ for others. Genesis 1:27 says, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. All of us are intended to carry the image of God into our world. In fact, when we open our eyes, we can see living icons all around us. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. replica Breitling Professional Emergency Breitling launches one of the better events of Geneva See Day for its top typical car capsule collection Burgers, bumper automobiles, classic cars and completely new watches; this sounds like any childs dream, but this is certainly real life, which is just the beginning intended for Breitling. 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Shelby Cobra: Bold Blue As a personal favorite regarding photographer Ted Gushue, one of many surprise team members, the electric powered blue dial of Shelby Cobra's work contrasts greatly with red, and is right away compared with Shelby Cobra with regards to color and history. As well as the size is 40 mm, which usually reflects the fact that the Shelby Cobra is slightly small compared to the Corvette C2 and also Mustang. Considering this series, one call is more eye-catching than the prior one, just as it is prompted by three cars, it is not easy to choose only one in Breitling's new Top Time Typical Cars Capsule series. High Quality replica watches Kern on the clock Through the speech, Georges Kern distributed his ambitions for Breitling. The most prominent is the determination to a " green" long term. First of all, in order to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint, Kern mentioned that will Breitling, in addition to taking significant measures in production, may also terminate their jet crew due to environmental impacts. Still let us not forget that the " green" target is also inside the monetary sense. Kern didn't " think" that Breitling would come to be his billion-dollar treasure; he or she knew it would. In the yrs after Georges Kern had taken the helm, it became very clear that Breitling had launched into a new path, reduced deviations, and reviewed the design the brand cherished in the past. Breitling's Top Time Classic Cars Capsule set really paved the way to get future success, as Mr.. Kern said, this is " just the beginning". replica Breguet Watches Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Global Fragrance Fixatives Market was valued US$ 1.52 Bn in 2017 and is estimated to reach US$1.81 Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of 2.2% during the forecast period. Changing lifestyle in emerging economies with rising income levels is stimulating the market. Escalating consumption of fixatives, essential oils, the rising popularity of customized & celebrity perfumes, and growth of cosmetics sector in developing economies and has greatly contributed to market growth. Manufacturers are focused on technologies that create a longer-lasting fragrance and looking forward to expanding in developing regions creating growth opportunities to market. New synthetic substitutes for natural, animal-derived fixative compounds are introduced to meet sustainability criteria and environmentalist concerns. Sclareolide is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from plants that are used as a fragrance. Sclareolide is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0%. Sclareolide segment emerged as an inexpensive substitute for ambergris derived from the intestines of the endangered sperm whale. Fine Fragrance will remain the leading end-use segment, occupying over 40 % of the share in 2017. Fine Fragrance is either used to enhance as a functional fragrance marketed and sold directly to the public as a fine fragrance. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/4044 The Asia Pacific is the ascendant region, attributed to rising standards of living coupled with the increase in income have resulted in the increased spending on luxurious in China, India and other Southeast Asian countries. North America is expected to grow at a lower CAGR of 4 % over the forecast years. The report covers the total market for fragrance fixatives and the impact of the different market factors, such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities, challenges key issues SWOT analysis, and technology forecasting is also illustrated in the report. This gives an idea about the key drivers, such as high growth and demand in emerging economies countries. Moreover, the report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Eastman Chemical Company, Tokos, Lotioncarfter, Paris Fragrances Cosmetics Supplies Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/4044/Single SVP Chemicals are leading players of fragrance fixatives market. Scope of the Global Fragrance Fixatives Market Global Fragrance Fixatives Market, By Product: Sclareolide Ambroxide Galaxolide Iso E Super Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate Ambergris Castoreum Civet Clary Sage Others Global Fragrance Fixatives Market, By End-Use: Fine Fragrances Homecare Color Cosmetics Haircare & Skincare Global Fragrance Fixatives Market, By Region: North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East & Africa Key Players analyzed in the Report: Eastman Chemical Tokos BV Lotioncarfter LLC Paris Fragrances SVP Chemicals Synthodor Company PFW Fragrance Fixatives Zaki Landmark Perfumes & Haircare & Skincare s The Essential Oil Company Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/4044 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A Automotive Windshield Washer System Market was valued at US$ 16Bn in 2017 and is expected to reach US$ 28Bn by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.25% during a forecast period. Increasing demand for high performance and luxury vehicles across the globe is estimated to drive the growth of the Automotive Windshield Washer System Market. Advantage of the present system that the use of hydrocarbon-based freezing point depressants may be eliminated with the present system. Passengeras vehicle sales increased 21 percent year-on-year in April-November 2016. Innovation is likely to intensify among windshield washer system technology & alternative fuels factor to impact more on the growth of Automotive Windshield Washer System Market. Based on the Vehicle type, Passenger Vehicle segment is expected to hold the largest share in the market during the forecast period. Passenger vehicle segment leads the market globally due to the emerging disposable income, rising middle-class population which is contributing to the increasing sales of passenger vehicle. Passenger vehicle sales were up 2, 3% to 82 million and LCV sales were up 4 %, 4.05 million vehicles. 13 out of the 52 markets showed double digit growth including Russia, Argentina and Thailand, balancing small declines in major markets like the UK, United States, South Korea and Mexico. Growth in China gain good uplift to just 2.3% from 17% in 2016. India and Brazil were other engines of growth, the former setting a third consecutive annual sales record and the latter recovering from a decline the year before Passenger vehicle sales grew 9.24% to 3.04 million units during 2016-17, the highest since 2010-11 when they grew 28.2%, on the back of demand for SUVs. In Sales Channel, OEM is also expected to lead the market growth. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/4060 The report provides details list of drivers and restraints of the market, which are influencing the market growth. Major driving factors of the automotive windshield washer system market are increasing demand for fuel efficient vehicles and adoption of new technologies adoption of solar reflective windshields is considered. Emergence of newer wiper blade and windshield cleaning technologies is improving significant challenges. Windshield will be on the preference list of customers, other components such as nozzle and hose & reservoirs are expected to top the production and demand list in terms of volume. Increasing demand from passenger and commercial vehicle. Increasing R&D activities by major players for development of cost effective product is expected to create new opportunities. The rising demand for integrated and reversible wiper system is one of the key trends that will gain traction in this market. Higher insurance cost and relative high competition will act as a restraint to the market. In terms of region, Asia pacific is expected to hold the largest share in the market during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is home to some 3.9 billion people representing just over half of the worlds population and implementing stringent quality-improvement processes and driving a multi-year frontline sales transformation to improve customer satisfaction and sales performance. Countries in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region are anticipated to reflect higher inclination toward use of automotive windshield washer system owing to increasing production and use of commercial and passenger vehicles. Population with enormous projected growth has important implications in terms of economic development, China remains the largest single market with 25.8 million sales despite reporting the slowest growth rate in more than a decade. This was largely due to the rapid pace of growth seen in the developing economies in China, India, and Indonesia. The report includes a detailed study of Porteras Five Forces model to analyze the different factors affecting the growth of the market. Moreover, the study also covers a market attractiveness analysis, brand portfolio expansion, mergers, collaborations, joint ventures, acquisitions, PESTLE analysis, Value Chain Analysis, and SWOT analysis. Scope of the Report for Automotive Windshield Washer System Market Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Technology Mechanical Electrical Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Application Headlamp Washer System Windshield Washer System A Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Component Hose & Connectors Nozzles Wiper Motor Reservoirs Windshield Wipers Pumps Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Vehicle type Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/4060/Single Passenger Vehicle Commercial Vehicle Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Sales Channel Aftermarket OEM Automotive Windshield Washer System Market, by Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America Key Players Operating in Automotive Windshield Washer System Market Robert Bosch GmbH Denso Corporation Valeo S.A. Continental AG Mitsuba Corporation Bowles Fluidics Doga Hella Asmo Kautex Shihlin Chaoli Zhenqi Chaodun Riying Exo-s Mergon Group Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/4060 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. crunchy chocolate market was estimated at $16.86 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $27.86 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive scenario, and wavering market trends. High-end product innovation, rise in disposable income of individuals, expansion of retail market, and surge in trend of gifting confectionery items drive the growth of the global crunchy chocolate market. On the other hand, rise in health awareness, fluctuating costs, and unavailability of raw materials restrain the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, increase in demand for organic and premium chocolates is expected to pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. Download Report Sample (307 Pages PDF with Insights) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/13997 COVID-19 scenario- The extended lockdown in the majority of countries gave way to distorted activities in the chocolate processing industry, which in turn impacted the global crunchy chocolate market negatively. However, the overall situation across the globe is getting ameliorated and the market is expected to revive soon. The global crunchy chocolate market is analyzed across type, distribution channel, age group, price point, and region. Based on type, the bar segment accounted for nearly half of the total market revenue in 2020, and is expected to lead the trail by 2030. The balls segment, on the other hand, would cite the fastest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Crunchy Chocolate Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/13997?reqfor=covid Based on distribution channel, the supermarket/hypermarket segment contributed to more than one-third of the total market share in 2020, and is anticipated to dominate by 2030. At the same time, the duty-free outlets segment would cite the fastest CAGR of 8.8% throughout the forecast period. Based on region, Europe held the major share in 2020, garnering nearly two-fifths of the global crunchy chocolate market. The Asia-Pacific region would showcase the fastest CAGR of 5.8% from 2021 to 2030. The other provinces studied in the report include North America and LAMEA. Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts/Industry Experts to Find Solution for Your Business @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/13997 The key market players analyzed in the global crunchy chocolate market report include Mars Inc., Mondelez International, Ferrero Group, Nestle SA, A. Loacker Spa, rh', Pierre Herme Paris Lindt & Spruengli AG, Yldz Holding, and Maison Chaudun. These market players have incorporated several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to brace their stand in the industry. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global protein stability analysis market size is expected to reach USD 2.0 billion by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 10.8%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Protein stability analysis is an essential step in therapeutics stability studies that enables the assessment of factors causing aggregation and degradation of proteins. This analysis keeps a check on the biologic activity, quality, and product safety of biopharmaceuticals. The recent approvals of recombinant protein therapeutics increase the demand for this analysis during the drug development programs. Rising R&D in the biopharmaceuticals arena has pronounced the demand for protein stability protocols. The drug manufacturers are adopting the stability-indicating methods for degradation pathway analysis and stress testing for the development of effective and safe therapeutics. Moreover, government agencies are encouraging the drug safety programs by raising funds in the field of proteomics industry, which in turn, surge the adoption of stability analysis. For instance, in January 2018, funding of USD 18 million from the Genome Canada and Genome BC supported the protein research of the University of Victoria, Canada. Besides, key companies are also entering into collaborations with the venture capitalists for funds to expand their stability analysis portfolio. Browse Details of Market Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/protein-stability-analysis-market Ionic liquids are extensively applied in biological systems as environmentally friendly solvents. It is crucial to analyze the effect of ionic liquids over protein stability as it is helpful in the analysis of biological reaction processes. A study published in April 2019, evaluated the thermodynamics of protein stability in ionic liquids by the utilization of Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Such studies are expected to increase the adoption of protein stability techniques over the forecast period. Protein Stability Analysis Market Report Highlights Reagents and assay kits accounted for the largest share in 2019 owing to frequent usage of these products and low cost associated with them as compared to other product types Broadening application of analytical instruments that are designed to assess several stability-indicating parameters using ultra-low sample volumes at high speed drives the instrument segment with the fastest CAGR Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) held the largest revenue share in 2019 due to numerous advantages of DSC over other determination methods These benefits include simple sample preparation, easy implementation of DSC in both solid and liquid samples, and determination of thermodynamic parameters Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) technique is expected to register the fastest growth rate due to the rising implementation of nanoDSF technique in analytical studies This is attributive to the fact that nanoDSF rapidly and reliably determines the melting point of crude extracts, thus eliminating the requirement for cost and time-intensive protein analysis steps Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies dominated the protein stability analysis market in 2019 due to the presence of well-established drug manufacturers that are capable of performing in-house production of biologics Contract Research Organizations (CROs) are anticipated to witness a lucrative growth rate during the forecast period CROs provide a range of capabilities in protein engineering with integrated platforms and technologies across various geographical regions to support the development of recombinant protein therapeutics A large number of proteomics projects conducted in U.S. and high focus on proteomics research activities by national agencies marks the dominant share of North America Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth rate owing to the rising number of conferences and events conducted to raise awareness about the products available for stability analysis Key players such as Enzo Biochem, Thermo Fisher, PerkinElmer, NanoTemper, and GE Healthcare, have adopted several strategic initiatives to reinforce their market presence. Protein Stability Analysis Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global protein stability analysis market based on product, technique, end use, and region: Protein Stability Analysis Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026) Reagents and Assay Kits Instruments Consumables and Accessories Software Service Protein Stability Analysis Technique Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026) Chromatography Spectroscopy Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Others Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Growth & Trends The global per diem nurse staffing market size is expected to reach USD 11.1 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Higher demand for medical-surgical nurses & increased utilization of staffing agencies, and the rising demand for family nurse practitioners are driving the market. The rising geriatric population leads to an increase in the number of hospital admissions, which is another key factor boosting the market growth. Moreover, the spread of infectious diseases, especially during flu season, is an important factor resulting in a sudden increase in the number of hospital admissions, thereby creating the need for additional nursing staff. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 959,000 people were hospitalized because of the 2017-2018 influenza season in the U.S. Similarly, the 2018-2019 flu season accounted for 69,000-84,000 hospital admissions in the U.S. Such temporary need for an additional nurse workforce can be easily fulfilled by per diem nurses, thereby augmenting the market growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the pressure on the medical workforce. With hospitals being overburdened with COVID-19 patients, the demand for per diem nurse staffing is increasing exponentially. At this point, the main aim of healthcare facilities is to deploy the maximum number of medical staff for the management of COVID-19 patients. Thus, the pandemic is driving market growth. With more patients being hospitalized, more nurses are required for the care, which is impelling the need for temporary nurses. According to June Pulse Survey by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the demand for pre diem staffing increased by 6% during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, lower job security and stringent regulations are creating negativity in nurses to work as per diem nurses, which is a big challenge to the market. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Report Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Report Highlights A significant rise in the number of government & nongovernment hospitals, acute care centers, long-term care centers, and other types of healthcare facilities is anticipated to fuel the market growth North America dominated the global market in 2020 due to the presence of the target population and high demand for nurses Countries like the U.S. have good insurance coverages that make home nurse service, which is usually of per diem type, affordable Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR during the forecast period on account of rising investments by major players due to the growing popularity of per diem services Partnerships and M&As have been the most used strategies in this highly competitive market. For instance, AMN healthcare in 2018 acquired Leader for Today and Philips DiPisa to use their placement expertly Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-per-diem-nurse-staffing-market Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global per diem nurse staffing market on the basis of region: Per Diem Nurse Staffing Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Canada Europe UK. Germany France Italy Spain Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa South Africa List of Key Players of the Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Health trust Workforce Solutions Maxim Healthcare Group Supplemental Healthcare Accountable Healthcare Staffing AMN Healthcare Nurse Staffing LLC GHR Healthcare Interim HealthCare, Inc. CareerStaff Unlimited About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Veterinary Care Market Growth & Trends The global veterinary care market size is expected to reach USD 114.4 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing number of government initiatives to safeguard food security is likely to boost the adoption of better veterinary care worldwide. A significant increase in pet adoption and humanization worldwide is mostly responsible for the high need for veterinary care, which is boosting the market growth. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased adoption of pets. In June 2020, at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, pet adoptions were double their normal rate, with almost 10 or 13 adoptions a day. Furthermore, a waiting list had formed for certain types of canines and puppies, as so few were left. Increasing awareness among pet owners for primary check-ups of their pets is further boosting the market. The demand for animal protein is growing across the globe owing to higher per capita income. According to the article OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029, growth in consumption of meat in the next decade is expected to increase by 12% by 2029. As the demand for meat continues to increase, the demand for veterinary care is anticipated to grow rapidly. Key companies in the market are collaborating with animal welfare organizations to encourage awareness and advance veterinary healthcare, which is further bolstering the market growth. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Veterinary Care Market Report Veterinary Care Market Report Highlights Companion animals held the dominant share in the animal type segment owing to increasing pet healthcare expenditure and increasing pet adoption The production animals segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to increasing government initiatives to improve livestock health Moreover, rising domestic production, consumption, and export of bovine meat is boosting the segment growth Primary care type, for both production & companion animals, dominated the global market in 2020 due to the increased pet ownership, government initiatives to prevent various animal diseases, and a high number of veterinary hospitals & clinics Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-veterinary-care-market Veterinary Care Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global veterinary care market on the basis of animal type, type of care, and region: Veterinary Care Animal Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016 - 2028) Companion Animal Dogs Cats Equine Others Production Animal Veterinary Care Type Of Care Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016 - 2028) Companion Animal Primary Emergency Critical Specialty Services Production Animal Primary Emergency Critical Specialty services Veterinary Care Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Canada Europe UK. Germany France Italy Spain Asia Pacific Japan China India Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East and Africa South Africa List of Key Players of Veterinary Care Market Merck Animal Health Ceva Sante Animale Zoetis Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH Elanco IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Heska Corporation Virbac Vetoquinol S.A. Indian Immunologicals Ltd. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. 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In epilepsy, the brain activity becomes abnormal, resulting in seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Although it could affect anybody irrespective of age and gender, its prevalence is significant and continuously increasing in the geriatric population. get free sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/10427 Epilepsy Research, UK (ERUK) launched a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) Grant Scheme with the aim of capacity building of the UK epilepsy research environment. ERUK is currently inviting applications from research institutes to apply for multiple linked Ph.D. studentships to commence 2021-2023. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the USS National Institutes of Health, had appropriated USD 154 million in 2017 for research on epilepsy. The appropriation rose to USD 188 million in 2019 and is estimated to reach USD 203 million by 2020. The notable studies and research institutes that NINDS has funded include The Epilepsy 4000 (Epi4K), The Center for SUDEP Research (CSR), The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBiosS4Rx), The Channelopathy-Associated Epilepsy Research Center (CAERC), and The Epilepsy Multiplatform Variant Prediction (EpiMVP). The Epilepsy Foundation awarded USD 200,000 to two of the finalists who competed in the 9th Annual Shark Tank Competition on August 27 at the 2020 Epilepsy Pipeline Conference, Maryland, US. This included a grant of USD 125,000 to a researcher for a medical-grade smart-mattress device known as Chorus to reposition individuals and stimulate them post-seizure to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Similarly, National Institute for Health Researchs (UK) Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) program has awarded USD 6.6 million to fund a project investigating epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa in February 2020. Segment Analysis Global Epilepsy Devices Market has been segmented based on Product Type, Technology, Seizure Detection and Prediction Devices, and End Use. On the basis of product type, the global epilepsy devices market is segmented into wearable devices, conventional devices, and implantable devices. The wearable devices segment is further segmented into watches, bracelets, camera devices, mattress devices, anti-suffocation pillows, and others. On the basis of technology, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation and accelerometry. On the basis of seizure detection and prediction devices, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as seizure detection and prediction devices, electroencephalogram, intracranial EEG, surface electromyography, electrodermal activity, electrocardiography, video detection systems, implanted advisory systems, and others. On the basis of end use, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as hospitals & clinics, neurology centers, home care settings, and others. Regional Analysis Global Epilepsy Devices Market, based on region, has been divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas accounted for a larger share of the global epilepsy devices market. The large share is majorly attributed to the presence of key device manufacturers, increasing adoption of innovative software for detection of seizures, technological advancements, and high disposable income. Boost in the research funding in the European region, rising government initiatives, increasing number of patients suffering from epilepsy, an increasing number of manufacturers, improving economies, high disposable income per individual, and increased healthcare spending are resulting in the high the growth of the market in this region. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at a lucrative CAGR over the forecast period. A study funded by the Global Health Department of Sanofi and Grand Challenges Canada (grant number 032504) found that epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). n Southeast Asia, the prevalence was moderate (6%). Around 1012 million people with epilepsy reside in India. A significant number of patients do not receive appropriate treatment, leading to a large treatment gap. A high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy has been reported in onchocerciasis-endemic regions in Central and East Africa. There is compelling epidemiological evidence suggesting that this high burden is caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). Key Players MRFR recognizes the following companies as the Key Players in the Global Epilepsy Devices Market Boston Scientific Corporation, Medpage Ltd (Easylink UK), Cerbomed GmbH (TVNS Technologies GmbH), Liva Nova (Cyberonics), Compumedics, Nihon Kohden, MC10, Empatica, Inc, Medtronic Plc, Neuropace, Inc, and Natus Medical Incorporated. Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/epilepsy-devices-market-10427 RELATED REPORTS Global Wound Closure Device Market Research Report- Forecast to 2027 Contraceptive Pills Market Research Report- Global Forecast To 2027 Dermatology Diagnostic device Market Research Report- Global Forecast To 2027 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Recessed Lighting Market report offers a comprehensive assessment of the market for the forecast years. The report contains several segments and an analysis of the market trends and growth factors that are playing a vital role in the market. These factors encompass the drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This global industry offers an outlook on the strategic development of the market in terms of revenue profits over the forecast period 2021-2026. The key market players for the global Recessed Lighting market are listed below: General Electric Company Halo Commercial Elegant Lighting Inc Acuity Brands Lighting Inc. Philips Lighting Holding B.V. Herbert Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG Globe Electric, Cree Inc. Eterna Lighting Ltd. Cooper Lighting, LLC Juno Lighting Group Acuity Brands Lighting Inc. Zumtobel Lighting GmbH KLS Martin Group Eaton Corporation PLC LSI Industries Hubbell Incorporation Others Click here to get a FREE Sample Copy of the Recessed Lighting Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-29157 The Global Recessed Lighting Market Report is equipped with market data from 2016 to 2026. The report gives a market overview covering key drivers and risk factors. The report is bifurcated by top global manufactures mentioning sales, revenue, and prices as applicable. It also evaluates the competitive scenario of the leading players. The report expands to cover regional market data along with type and application. The report forecasts sales and revenue from 2021 to 2026. The detailed sales channel is also covered in the study. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Recessed Lighting Market The global pandemic COVID-19 has affected the Recessed Lighting market directly or indirectly. This study covers a separate section giving an explicitly clear understanding of the aftereffects of this pandemic. The detailed study highlights the probable outcomes of this global crisis on the Recessed Lighting industry. The impact study on production, supply-demand, and sales provides a holistic approach to the future. Do You Have Any Query Or Report Customization? Ask Our Market Expert @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-29157 Why Purchase this Report? A robust research methodology has been followed to collect data for the report. Data, thus collected passes through multiple quality checks to ensure the best quality is served. The report gives a holistic view of the competitive scenario of the Recessed Lighting market The latest product launches along with technological changes and development are covered in the report. The data analysis in the report helps in understanding the anticipated Recessed Lighting market dynamics from 2021 to 2026. DecisionDatabases has a vast repository of data, therefore, we can accommodate customized requirements also. The graphs, tables and pie charts, and info-graphics covered in the report will help in a better understanding of the report. The market drivers, restraints, upcoming opportunities, and anticipated restraints cited in the report will assist in making an informed decision. To better understand the market scenario, the Recessed Lighting market is segmented as below: By Types: LED Recessed Lighting Compact Fluorescent Recessed Lighting (CFL) Incandescent Bulbs Recessed Lighting Halogen Recessed Lighting Others By Applications: Residential Commercial Industrial Institutions/Schools Others By Regions: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS) (U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, Rest of Asia Pacific) (China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, Rest of Asia Pacific) Latin America (Brazil, Rest of L.A.) (Brazil, Rest of L.A.) The Middle East and Africa (Turkey, GCC, Rest of Middle East) The content of the study subjects includes a total of 14 chapters: Chapter 1: To describe Recessed Lighting product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force, and market risks. Chapter 2: To profile the top manufacturers of Recessed Lighting, with price, sales, revenue, and global market share of Recessed Lighting in 2018 and 2019. Chapter 3: The Recessed Lighting competitive situation, sales, revenue, and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast. Chapter 4: The Recessed Lighting breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue, and growth by region, from 2015 to 2020. Chapter 5 and 6: To segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2015 to 2020. Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11: To break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue, and market share for key countries in the world, from 2016 to 2021 and Recessed Lighting market forecast, by regions, type, and application, with sales and revenue, from 2021 to 2026. Chapter 12, 13 & 14: To describe Recessed Lighting sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix, and data source. Directly Purchase the Complete Global Recessed Lighting Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-29157 About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles, and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise, and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://view.publitas.com/decisiondatabases-com-_vzxge7jabyb/recessed-lighting-market-size-share-industry-outlook-global-forecast-to-2026/ Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Highlights: The Global Cochlear Implants Market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.86% and is due to reach USD 3,203.8 Mn over the forecast period of 2017-2023, projects Market Research Future (MRFR) in a detailed report.Cochlear Implants are medical devices that are surgically inserted to provide a sense of sound to a person with hearing loss. The last few years have witnessed a significant increase in the demand for cochlear implants owing to the rise in a number of patients with hearing impairment who generate demand for diagnosis and treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2025, 900 Mn people are likely to suffer from hearing impairment.The rise in global geriatric population is also expected to be a positive factor influencing the growth of the global cochlear implants market. The aged populace is more susceptible to hearing loss which induces high demand for cochlear implants. There has been increased interest by medical device manufacturers to invest heavily in R&D activities which have led to the development of advanced cochlear implants. The increasing use of next-generation metals, polymers, ceramics and biomaterials in cochlear implants has resulted in enhancement of the value of surgery and improvement of surgical outcomes which has further accelerated the growth of the market.Other factors boosting the growth of the market include a rise in a number of clinical trials, improving reimbursement scenario in developing countries and an increase in the number of FDA approvals. Conversely, the cost of cochlear remains a significant hurdle to the growth of the global cochlear implants market. The estimated cost of a cochlear implant can go up to high amounts which might not be affordable to middle-class and low-income class population. Segmentation: Cochlear Implants Market Growth has been segmented based on product, type, and end user. By Product, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into a cochlear implant system, and accessories & upgrades. By Types, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into cochlear implant system, and accessories & upgrades. By End User, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, research & academic institutes, and others. Regional Analysis: The Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa are the key markets for cochlear implants. The Americas represent a significant market for cochlear implants owing to the presence of a vast patient population. Rising geriatric population, increasing demand for advanced treatment options and affordability are key factors determining the growth of the Americas market.Europe accounts for the second largest share of the global cochlear market. The Europe market is driven by strong government support, availability of funds for R&D activities and high expenditure on healthcare. Asia Pacific follows Europe closely and is slated to be the fastest growing market over the forecast period. Rapid advancement in medical technology in the region and the presence of considerable patient pool in the region drives the market for cochlear implants. Also, improving reimbursement scenario, the growing need for better medical devices, and expanding expenditure on healthcare due to a rise in disposable income has created a conducive environment for the growth of the market. China and India are the key contributors to the APAC market.The MEA market accounts for the least share of the global cochlear implants market. Limited availability of medical facilities, poor economic conditions, and lack of awareness restricts the growth of the Africa market. Meanwhile, the well-developed economy in the Middle East offers growth opportunities for cochlear implants. Competitive Landscape: The notable players in the global cochlear implants market MED-El (Austria), Microson S.A. (Spain), Widex (Denmark), GAES MEDICA (Spain), Cochlear Ltd (Australia), William Demant Holding Group (Denmark), Advanced Bionics AG (Switzerland). Industry Updates: In August 2018, Advanced Bionics, a global leader in cochlear implants, announced FDA approval for its new HiRes Ultra 3D Cochlear Implant. The new cochlear implant is hassle-free and pain-free choice for patients and is equipped with a unique magnet technology. In November 2018, researchers at Asan Medical Center (AMC) developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction platform for cochlear implant surgery. The platform can provide rapid diagnoses, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss. Access Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cochlear-implants-market-5256 RELATED REPORT Heart Pump Devices Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 Picture Archiving and Communications Systems Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 Medical Ceramics Market Research Report - Forecast to 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), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services has been segmented based on product, type, and end user. By Product, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into a cochlear implant system, and accessories & upgrades. By Types, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into cochlear implant system, and accessories & upgrades. By End User, the Global Cochlear Implants Market has been segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, research & academic institutes, and others. Regional Analysis: The Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa are the key markets for cochlear implants. The Americas represent a significant market for cochlear implants owing to the presence of a vast patient population. Rising geriatric population, increasing demand for advanced treatment options and affordability are key factors determining the growth of the Americas market.Europe accounts for the second largest share of the global cochlear market. The Europe market is driven by strong government support, availability of funds for R&D activities and high expenditure on healthcare. Asia Pacific follows Europe closely and is slated to be the fastest growing market over the forecast period. Rapid advancement in medical technology in the region and the presence of considerable patient pool in the region drives the market for cochlear implants. Also, improving reimbursement scenario, the growing need for better medical devices, and expanding expenditure on healthcare due to a rise in disposable income has created a conducive environment for the growth of the market. China and India are the key contributors to the APAC market.The MEA market accounts for the least share of the global cochlear implants market. Limited availability of medical facilities, poor economic conditions, and lack of awareness restricts the growth of the Africa market. Meanwhile, the well-developed economy in the Middle East offers growth opportunities for cochlear implants. Competitive Landscape: The notable players in the global cochlear implants market MED-El (Austria), Microson S.A. (Spain), Widex (Denmark), GAES MEDICA (Spain), Cochlear Ltd (Australia), William Demant Holding Group (Denmark), Advanced Bionics AG (Switzerland). Industry Updates: In August 2018, Advanced Bionics, a global leader in cochlear implants, announced FDA approval for its new HiRes Ultra 3D Cochlear Implant. The new cochlear implant is hassle-free and pain-free choice for patients and is equipped with a unique magnet technology. In November 2018, researchers at Asan Medical Center (AMC) developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction platform for cochlear implant surgery. The platform can provide rapid diagnoses, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss. Access Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cochlear-implants-market-5256 RELATED REPORT Heart Pump Devices Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 Picture Archiving and Communications Systems Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 Medical Ceramics Market Research Report - Forecast to 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), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services Litchfield, CT (06759) Today Rain. Low 33F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain. Low 33F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. The Hartford and Bridgeport men were released after posting $10,000 bond, but the Bridgeport man was rearrested after officials discovered he had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court from Vernon police, Rocheleau said. That man remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond on that charge. State police said they received several 911 calls around 5:15 p.m. about a pedestrian running across the highway near Exit 46. A short time later, the man, later identified as Montes-Rivera, assaulted a tractor trailer driver by hitting him repeatedly with a metal thermos, then pushed him out of the cab onto the highway, police said. There is often tension between saving the past and redeveloping for the future on urban hospital campuses especially ones with long histories like Hartford Hospital, founded in 1854. In modern health care, there is a constant push for advances and innovation. Today, the laboratory is overshadowed by the hospitals modern towers, including the new, $80 million expansion of the Bliss Building. Anna Stacy Heyliger, who works at Sunrise Northeast Inc. in Hartfords West End as well as a second health care group, doesnt qualify for a state-subsidized plan and cant afford the ones offered by her employers. At Sunrise, where contract negotiations have stalled over wage increases, pensions and health insurance, monthly premiums cost $3,800 to $6,000 per month, according to employees and their union, District 1199 New England, an SEIU affiliate. Dwight truly believed we were all equal in the eyes of God, and he willingly gave his life to that belief. Please extend a Virginia State pardon to Aaron Dwight Stevens in recognition of the changes our young country has gone through and the courage he exhibited to fight to the death so that others could be free. Were reaching out to people, making sure there is no confusion, making sure they know that this is what the rules are,' Lamont told reporters recently. One more chance if you want to play by the rules vaccination or testing. Heres your opportunity. Otherwise, you cant work for us now. We made sure it wasnt a matter of misunderstanding. These are mostly mothers and their children who went back to see their families one last time before the Taliban took over,' George said. It happened so quickly that they were caught there. Its families. Theyre our neighbors. Theyre our friends. Theyre enrolled in our family literacy programs. They have been stuck pretty much under house-arrest-type conditions in safe places, waiting for an opportunity to be whisked away, either in an airplane or driven overland to Pakistan or Uzbekistan.' We are deeply honored that President Biden is joining us as we dedicate ourselves to extending the Dodd family legacy, said UConn President Andrew Agwunobi. UConn is honoring over a half-century of public service of Connecticuts father and son U.S. senators, Thomas J. Dodd and Christopher J. Dodd, as well as the commitment of the Dodd family to supporting the growth and development of UConns widely recognized human rights academic, research, and engagement programs. 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. Founded in April of 1987, Denbigh Self Storage didnt have to shut down due to COVID and maintained an occupancy of 90% or more, she said. Now, Glaspie said, only one of the 392 units is available for rent. I understand that not everyone will agree with my decision, but I simply do not feel it would be right for me under the present circumstances to accept a new contract with an Israeli company that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the U.N.-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people, said Rooney, 30, one of the world's most popular and acclaimed young writers and a supporter of the Palestinians in the past. In this Nov. 3, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama, right, speaks at a campaign rally with supporters for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, left, at Washington Lee High School in Arlington. Former President Obama will campaign with McAuliffe in the final stretch of the Virginia governor's race. McAuliffe's campaign announced that Obama will join him in Richmond on Oct. 23, 2021, to mobilize Virginians during early voting, which began weeks ago. (Cliff Owen/AP) Homeland Security police officers enter the U.S. District Courthouse were Jonathan and Diana Toebbe have their hearing in Martinsburg, W.Va., on Tuesday. Jonathan Toebbe, a Navy nuclear engineer, has been charged with trying to pass information about the design of American nuclear-powered submarines to someone he thought was a representative of a foreign government but who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. His wife also was arrested. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Shane, the next door neighbor, said he talked to Bagliones son afterward. The son said his father had moved from Alabama and bought the house sight unseen after discovering it in an online listing. He paid cash and didnt see it in person until after he closed the deal. Tata Motors plans to invest $2 billion in the division and release 10 EV models over the next five years. Mumbai: Tata Motors shares gained over 20 per cent after the company announced a Rs 7,500-crore investment in a newly formed passenger electric vehicle business subsidiary by US-based private equity firm TPG and Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ. Tata Motors shares touched a high of Rs 519.45 on the BSE and finally closed at Rs 506.75, up 20.43 per cent with brokerages expecting more upside in the next few quarters. Tata Motors plans to invest $2 billion in the division and release 10 EV models over the next five years, reports said. Other group stocks like Tata Power and Tata Chemical rallied up to 15 per cent as they would partner with Tata Motors in setting up the infrastructure like charging stations and production of lithium-ion batteries for soon to be incorporated electric vehicle division. Tata Investment Corporation also gained 14 per cent. Buying was seen all Tata firms post-Air India buyout announcement. HYDERABAD: Two days after the Movie Artist Association (MAA) elections results were announced, the members who were elected from Prakash Raj's panel declared their resignation on Tuesday. Prakash Raj himself had resigned from MAA on Monday. Addressing a press meet, the members narrated the alleged unpleasant events that took place on election day. Actor Benerji broke down and claimed that veteran actor Mohan Babu had manhandled him and used unparliamentary language during the elections. Actor Uttej burst into tears while recounting the alleged rudeness of other panel members. Actor Sameer alleged that Mohan Babu threatened the members of their panel. Most of the actors who were present in the press meet recollected the alleged harassment they had undergone that day, with tears in their eyes. Prakash Raj said, "We have resigned because we don't want to give them a chance to blame us in future that because of our presence, the progress of the association has been stopped." Prakash Raj alleged the elections took place in an undemocratic manner, the artistes from his panel were manhandled and foul words were used against them. The other artistes said they were confused if Vishnu or his father Mohan Babu was the contestant. However, Prakash Raj was tight-lipped about rumours that they were planning to announce a new movie artiste's association. Sajjanar told the commission that in the morning of December 6, 2019, he received a call from the Shamshabad DCP about the shooting at 6.20 am and that he reached the place at 8.30 am, following which he stayed there for about an hour-and-a-half. DC file photo HYDERABAD: Former commissioner of Cyberabad police, V.C. Sajjanar told a three-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court to probe the alleged encounter killing of the four accused in the Disha rape and murder case, that he had briefed the media on the day of shooting without reading the confessional statements of the accused. The panel was furious at him for holding a press meet on December 6, 2019, at 3 pm, even as the dead bodies and material evidences were lying a few hundred metres away from him. The official was asked a total of 160 questions by the commission on Monday and Tuesday. It was revealed during the commission's cross examination of forensic experts and other witnesses that the crowd gathered at the Chatanpally site, where the four accused Mohammed Arif, Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Ch. Chennakesavulu were shot dead, caused hindrance to their job. When asked about the same, Sajjanar said he accepted the request of DCP, Shamshabad, N. Prakash Reddy, that the media was waiting for a long time and needed to be briefed. Sajjanar ended up mentioning the Shamshabad DCP's name in almost every answer, so much so that the panel asked him how could an official in his rank be so careless in an investigation of such a grave case. "How could you treat this sensational case like a street crime? Are you not responsible and answerable to the court, the government and the public? How could you have confined yourself to 'morning briefings' from your DCPs and not know about the accused being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction?" asked the panel. Sajjanar told the commission that in the morning of December 6, 2019, he received a call from the Shamshabad DCP about the shooting at 6.20 am and that he reached the place at 8.30 am, following which he stayed there for about an hour-and-a-half. When the panel asked him about the officials informing the judicial magistrate about the shooting, he said that the DCP had informed them at about 10 am. However, the commission revealed that the judicial magistrate was informed only at 5.30 pm. The commission was furious that Sajjanar had addressed the press and revealed investigation details before he even informed the magistrate. The commission asked him about the actions taken against the four officials of Cyberabad police who did not perform their duty while registering an FIR after a complaint from Disha's parents. He said that the officials were suspended but did not know the status of their punishment. The panel asked him to check and get back on that. As per reports, two guns were seized from the spot of the encounter. Combing and search operations by the security forces were underway in the forest till the last reports came in. Representational image/By arrangement BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha police on Tuesday eliminated three Maoist cadres during an exchange with the rebels in Tulasi forest in Malkangiri district. The rebels belonged to the outlawed CPI (Maoist). The slain included two women cadres. Acting on Intelligence inputs about the presence of the Maoists in the area, a joint team of a special Operation Group from Odisha Police and Malkangiri District Voluntary Force launched a combing operation in the area in the wee hours, informed state director general of police Abhay while briefing the media in Bhubaneswar. During the operation, the extremists, hiding in the forest, opened fire at the security forces. Subsequently, the jawans retaliated. Three Maoists sustained bullet injuries and succumbed to it at the spot, said the DGP. So far we have recovered three bodies from the spot. More ultras are expected to have died or injured in the gunfight. Security personnel are scouting for the possible killed or injured rebels, he added. As per reports, two guns were seized from the spot of the encounter. Combing and search operations by the security forces were underway in the forest till the last reports came in. In 2020, as many as 16 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit had been killed in gun-battles with security forces in Odisha. Seven civilians and two policemen had also lost their lives in the violence. Accordingly, the curfew will now be in force from 12 midnight to 5 AM only. So far the curfew hours were 11 PM to 6 AM. (PTI Photo) Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday extended the COVID-19 curfew till October 31, but limited it to only five hours from 12 midnight. Accordingly, the curfew will now be in force from 12 midnight to 5 AM only. So far the curfew hours were 11 PM to 6 AM. The government also eased restrictions on public gatherings, including marriages, permitting a maximum of 250 persons. Previously only 100 persons were permitted in such gatherings. Cinema halls too can now run to full capacity as the government has dispensed with the alternate seating arrangements, according to an order issued by Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal. Following Covid Appropriate Behaviour was still mandatory, he said in the order. The government eased the restrictions following reduction in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent days. farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other parts of UP came together for the 'antim ardas (last pray-ers)' in honour of four farmers and a journalist who were among eight persons killed in the recent violence. (PTI) NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other parts of UP streamed into Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday for the antim ardas (last pray-ers) in honour of four farmers and a journalist who were among eight persons killed in the recent violence. Security was heightened in the district where AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary were among those who attended the event. Samyukta Kisan Morcha and BKU leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Darshan Singh Pal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Dharmendra Malik, besides local farm union leaders also paid tribute to the deceased farmers, who were mowed down by speeding vehicles on October 3 during a protest. No political leader was allowed to share the stage. On the stage set up at the sprawling ground, family members of deceased farmer Daljeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh of Bahraich district, Nachhatar Singh and Lavpreet Singh of Kheri district, brother and daughter of deceased journalist Raman Kashyap of Nighasan (Kheri) sat holding photographs of the deceased persons. A high-voltage drama was witnessed at the Bareilly airport where Mr Chaudhary was stopped briefly by police personnel before he was allowed to go to Lakhimpur Kheri. RLD workers sat on a dharna outside the airport as soon as the news reached them and they tried to block the road, but were pacified by police officials. Additional district magistrate Mahendra Kumar Singh said Mr Chaudhary was stopped for about 45 minutes at the airport due to unavoidable reasons. On the investigation front, the UP Police has made one more arrest in the violence case. Shekhar Bharti, the driver of Ankit Das, who is also implicated in the case, was arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a court. Mr Das along with another accused, Latif, have filed surrender applications in the court of the chief judicial magistrate. With Shekhars arrest, the police has so far arrested four people. Union minister Ajay Mishras son Ashish, who is accused of killing the farmers by mowing them down in an SUV, was on Tuesday taken to the crime branch office by the UP police for interrogation. This comes a day after the court sent him to three-day police custody. It was after 12 hours of questioning that Ashish was arrested and later sent to judicial custody. Ashish was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP deputy chief Minister Keshav Prasad Mauryas visit on October 3. Besides, four farmers, two BJP workers and their driver were allegedly lynched by angry farmers in the incident. Local journalist Raman Kashyap also died in the violence. Aged around 35, Ashish alias Monu looks after the political activities of his father in his Kheri parliamentary constituency and was also vying for a party ticket from Nighasan seat to contest the Assembly polls. Thiruvananthapuram: In a setback for Kerala's ruling LDF, a court here on Wednesday dismissed the discharge petitions filed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty and five others in the 2015 Assembly ruckus case. Dismissing the petitions, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Thiruvananthapuram also directed the minister and five other accused to appear before it on November 22 to frame charges. Besides Sivankutty, the other accused in the case are E P Jayarajan, K T Jaleel, K Ajith, C K Sadasivan and K Kunhammed, all opposition MLAs then. Both Sivankutty and Jaleel are currently members of the State Legislative Assembly. Reacting to the court order, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan said Sivankutty has lost moral right to continue as minister. Urging the minister to quit, the Congress leader said the court rejected their petitions considering the visuals of Sivankutty and others destroying public property by climbing on the desk in the Assembly. The trial court in September last year had rejected the LDF government's plea for withdrawing a case related to the ruckus in the state assembly, saying allowing it would send a wrong message to society. The petition was filed by the government seeking withdrawal of the case registered under sections 447 (criminal trespass), 427 (mischief causing damage), read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sec 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act by the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government. Subsequently on July 28, the Supreme Court dismissed the Kerala government's plea for withdrawal of the case against the six LDF leaders, saying privileges and immunities "are not gateways" to claim exemptions from criminal law which governs the action of every citizen. The apex court had also said that committing acts of destruction of public property cannot be equated with either freedom of speech in the legislature or with forms of protest legitimately available to the members of the Opposition. The assembly had witnessed unprecedented scenes on March 13, 2015 as the LDF members, then in opposition, tried to prevent Finance Minister K M Mani, who was facing charges in the bar bribery scam, from presenting the state budget. Besides flinging the speaker's chair from the podium, electronic equipment like computers, keyboards and mikes on the desk of the presiding officer were also allegedly damaged by the then LDF members, causing a loss of Rs 2.20 lakh. Court has issued orders asking the state government to clear the pending bills with a 12 per cent interest, but the government is not taking action. At the same time, the funds released by the Centre were diverted for other purposes. ANI VIJAYAWADA: The YSRC government is harassing NREGS contractors despite their good contributions to the rural development and poverty alleviation programmes, Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu alleged on Tuesday. The former CM said the state government is even disregarding the court orders to clear the NREGS bills. Investors are not coming forward to set up industries and contractors not in a mood to take up works in Andhra Pradesh because of the wrong policies of chief minister Jagan, he said. In a statement here, Naidu said a contractor, Ranjit, attempted suicide in Elur following non-payment of his bills for a long time. The government should ensure proper medical care for him in hospital. Only a few days ago, a differently abled contractor tried to end his life in Anantapur district because of government harassment. It is improper to harass or cause mental agony to contractors who completed works under the NREGS programme, he said. Naidu said most of these persons who contributed to rural development belonged to the SC, ST and BC communities. Court has issued orders asking the state government to clear the pending bills with a 12 per cent interest, but the government is not taking action. At the same time, the funds released by the Centre were diverted for other purposes. Naidu said the TD would fight this issue till justice is done to the contractors. Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Politburo member Varla Ramaiah on Tuesday called for a detailed investigation by central agencies like the ED and the NIA into the alleged financial irregularities and hoarding of black money by the Hetero and Ramky companies. He urged the prime minister and the Union home minister to order a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the rampant financial offences being committed by Hetero Pharma's Parthasarathy Reddy in both India and abroad. The TD leader claimed that in IT searches, `142.87 crore in cash of `500 note bundles was seized from a Hetero hideout in the past six days. Ramaiah said Hetero Parthasarathy Reddy and Ramky Ayodhya Rami Reddy were co-accused in the illegal assets cases of Jaganmohan Reddy. Three months ago, IT officials seized Rs 300 crore in unaccounted money and identified illegal financial transactions worth Rs 1,200 crore in Ramky. Jagan Reddy has made Ayodhya Rami Reddy a member of the Rajya Sabha and Hetero Parthasarathy Reddy a member of the TTD trust board. How such a tainted person can be appointed on the pious trust board of TTD, he asked. He urged Union finance minister and chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes to take action against the Hetero and other companies that were linked to Jagan Reddy's financial network. A second gunfight took place in Shopians Feripore village in which two militants were killed, the police said adding that the identities of the slain are being ascertained. Representational image/By arrangement SRINAGAR: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday said that five militants were killed in two separate gunfights with the security forces in southern Shopian district earlier during the day. A J&K police spokesman here said that one of the three The Resistance Front (TRF) militants gunned down in Shopians Tulran village early Tuesday was involved in the murder of Virender Kumar Paswan, a pani puri seller from Bhagalpur, Bihar. Paswan, father of five daughters and two sons, who sold pani puri or golgappa snacks in Srinagars Bota Kadal-Lal Bazaar area, was among the seven civilians shot dead in the recent spate of target killings in and outside Srinagar. The J&K police and other security agencies are reported to have zeroed in on a militant from central Srinagar identified as Mehran Yasin Shala who, the officials said, was behind some of these target killings in the city. The police spokesman said that the fighting in Shopians Tulran village broke out shortly before dawn after the security forces including local polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group along with the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force laid siege to it to flush out militants. Confirming the killing of three TRF militants, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar said that one of them was Mukhtar Ahmed Shah, a resident of central district of Ganderbal, who had shifted to Shopian after gunning down the pani puri seller in Srinagar. A second gunfight took place in Shopians Feripore village in which two militants were killed, the police said adding that the identities of the slain are being ascertained.A police statement identified the other slain militants as Danish Hussain Dar, Yawar Hussain Naikoo, Ubaid Ahmad Dar and Khubaib Ahmad Nengroo. 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. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. Contact: Communications Office NewsMedia@flhealth.gov 850-245-4111 The Department of Agriculture Releases Inaccurately Represented Data Tallahassee, Fla. Today, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Nikki Fried, released misinformation regarding school data that lacks epidemiological accuracy and credibility. The Florida Department of Health, the States public health agency and lead on all infectious disease control, welcomes the opportunity to debunk a multitude of issues found during the seven minute, thirty second presentation on inaccurate data representation. There is no evidence that schools are high risk locations of spread. A study supported by CDC and completed by the State Epidemiologist, alongside the State Surgeon General and other top experts at the Department of Health, found that fewer than 1% of students had school-related COVID-19. Second, a brief data quality check revealed several calculation errors, which include a critical error in the inaccurate estimate of average cases per capita, which were then used as the basis for their analysis. Additionally, the data set is not complete or representative of the entire state. This results in false interpretation of data. Further review of the data by a qualified epidemiologist should have occurred prior to publication. To provide context into what is required to maintain scientific credibility when analyzing public health data, the National Center for Biotechnology Information outlines the requirements of epidemiological methodology as the following: Epidemiology utilizes an organized approach to problem solving by: (1) confirming the existence of an epidemic and verifying the diagnosis; (2) developing a case definition and collating data on cases; (3) analyzing data by time, place, and person; (4) developing a hypothesis; (5) conducting further studies if necessary; (6) developing and implementing control and prevention measures; (7) preparing and distributing a public report; and (8) evaluating control and preventive measures. Myth: This data shows clear evidence that school districts requiring masks resulted in up to seven times lower COVID-19 cases per capita than school districts that did not require masks. Fact: Perpetuating causation utilizing incomplete, nonrepresentative and inaccurately conceptualized data is misleading. School case data collected by districts should not be compared without accounting for differences, because they may not be collected the same way. Some may require proof of results, some may not. Some may capture a wider range of results, including home tests, some may not. Some may include multiple positive test results for each student, some may not. The analysis presented by the Department of Agriculture does not define case data. Myth: 22 school districts that required masks saw fewer COVID-19 total cases per capita than those that did not. Fact: This is not an appropriate comparison of data. Only 33 of Floridas school districts have public dashboards which were used for this analysis, and the majority of the schools required masks. This immediately skews data. 42% of the students from counties without mask mandates were excluded from this analysis. This is a skewed comparison of data that is inherently flawed, and not representative of the state, nor does it allow for a credible conclusion. Myth: Five largest school districts had average 0.48 peak cases per capita, while five smallest school districts had 3.51 peak cases per capita. Seven times higher student COVID-19 peak cases per capita in the smallest school districts, without mask requirements, than in the largest school districts, where masks were required. 600 times higher peak cases per capita in maskless Highlands County (12 cases per capita) than in masked Miami-Dade and Broward Counties (0.02 cases per capita). Fact: This presentation does not account for differences in the community, including variations in demographics, vaccine rates, etc. Specifically, Highlands County is inherently more rural with a significantly lower population than Miami-Dade and Broward counties two very populous and metropolitan areas of Florida. Additionally, fewer weeks of data were utilized to calculate cases per capita for Miami-Dade as school years started at different points in time. The Department of Health discourages attempting to analyze data and develop conclusions without a full understanding of limitations of the data, and without appropriate application of epidemiological methods. About the Florida Department of Health The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov. Galt, CA (95632) Today A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. The French Barracuda attack submarine is a smaller but still capable platform compared to other nations' submarines. One essential upgrade is that this type is nuclear-powered over the diesel-electric version but equally lethal when appropriately applied. French smaller and sleeker design for the Barracuda-class Compared to other heavier attack submarines, it is lighter but minor as long as it does its job as an attack submarine. The designers made it capable of arming itself with torpedoes and ship killer missiles. Coupled with these weapons, it becomes as lethal as the American Seawolf sub-hunter killer. Like its namesake, this new addition to the French navy, Barracuda-class or Suffren-class, will be replacing the older Rubis-class that is nuclear powered as well, reported 19fortyfive. Attack submarine design for the class is generally smaller and sleeker, suited for moving fast in the water when hunting bigger submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) in a small 5,000-ton package. The builders made it more prominent than the Rubis-class but smaller than the Seawolf-class and Virginia-class of the US or the UK's new Astute-class. Heaviest in the US submarines weigh at 8,000 tons, while the Astute's 7,500 tons displacement. Notable features of the Barracuda-class Influencing the submersibles size is how much use of installed automated systems in the French sub. For example, Virginia-class needs a total of 140 crew to function compared to the Barracuda-class of 65 only. For some, the smaller crew is okay, but drawbacks might not be evident at first. The units are rotated faster, leading to more fatigue, a severe downtime in reaction time, and logistics problems for the French Barracuda attack submarine. Read Also: US Preparing Countermeasures to Kill New Chinese and Russian Submarines The Barracuda has an improved sensor array added to the bow sonar on all underwater vessels. Other sonar arrays are placed on the hull side below the sail, giving it a starboard and port sensor. It is also an insertion vehicle for a small commando force, with the smaller vessel on piggyback at the back of the sail. The smaller commando carrier has space for 15-special operations soldiers. The French navy has a smaller submarine but bristling with arms to the gills, added to its size and maneuverability to deliver missiles and torpedoes, cited Naval Technology. But the design did not add vertical launch tubes that are different from other subs. Instead, the quartet of torpedo tubes launches missiles and projectiles to hit land or sea targets. Still, the flexible choice of munitions arming the submarine is good but less than the Seawolf-class or Astute-class carries in it, dictated by the size of the vessel, which is one of its most pronounced negatives of the small submarine. It would take more than one to match the American or British submarines, but there is always a philosophy to design. Recently Australia just left a deal with France for diesel-electric submarines after the US and UK offered their wares. Canberra dropped the agreement and went for the other subs, not the French Barracuda attack submarine. Related Article: Los Angeles Class Nuclear Attack Submarine: Cold War Warrior That Fights On Since 1982 @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Astronomers at Leiden may have just discovered the existence of hidden planets orbiting the stars. Dr. Joseph Callingham at Leiden University, ASTRON, and the lead author of the discovery, said that his team is confident that signals they are getting are coming from the magnetic connection of the stars and unseen orbiting planets. This is reportedly similar to the interaction between planet Jupiter and the moon Io. "Our own Earth has aurorae, commonly recognized here as the northern and southern lights, that also emit powerful radio waves - this is from the interaction of the planet's magnetic field with the solar wind. But in the status of aurorae from Jupiter, they're much more powerful as its volcanic moon Io is blasting material out into space, saturating Jupiter's environment with particles that drive unusually powerful aurorae," Callingham said via SciTech Daily. The author added that the model they used for the radio emission from the stars is a scaled-up version of Jupiter and Io. In this case, a planet is enveloped in the star's magnetic field, which feeds material into vast currents that also power bright aurorae. Signals from 19 distant red dwarf stars discovered Prior to their discovery, the University of Queensland's Dr. Benjamin Pope and his colleagues at the Dutch National observatory ASTRON searched for new planets using Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) in the Netherlands. Read Also: Global Internet Could Shut Down for Weeks When Solar Storms Hit With Electromagnetic Surge Pope said they discovered signals from 19 distant red dwarf stars, four of which may have planets orbiting them. Pope also said that they have long been aware that planets in the solar system emit powerful radio waves as their magnetic fields interact with solar winds. However, radio signals from planets outside the solar system have yet to be picked up. More planets throughout the galaxy may be discovered Regardless, Pope believes that this is still an important milestone for radio astronomy because it could one day lead to the discovery of planets throughout the galaxy. Prior to this, astronomers only managed to detect the very nearest stars in steady radio emission. Everything else detected was just interstellar gas or black holes. More recently, radio astronomers can detect plain old stars, which can eventually lead them to discover planets surrounding these stars. However, Pope said that they could not 100 percent confirm whether the four stars that have planets have hosts. But they can say that a planet-star interaction is the best explanation for what the astronomers discovered recently. Four planets found from radio signals is a first of their kind According to Screen Rant, the discovery of new planets is not necessarily news. But the fact that these four hidden planets were potentially found from radio signals makes them interesting. After all, the only planets previously found emitting radio signals are the ones in the Solar System. Science Daily said that this discovery with LOFAR is just the beginning. After all, the telescope can only monitor stars that are relatively nearby or up to 165 lightyears away. But the team believes they will be able to see hundreds of relevant stars at much greater distances in the coming years. Related Article: Consortium of Scientists Develop Two-Step Process That Would Make Water, Oxygen Available on the Moon @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gabby Petito, a cross-country traveler, was strangled, according to a Wyoming coroner. Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was discovered near an undeveloped camping area along the Grand Teton National Park border in rural northern Wyoming on September 19, according to Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue. It was unclear whether the decision would lead to more charges against Petito's boyfriend and traveling companion, Brian Laundrie, who is still missing and is considered a person of interest in her disappearance. Blue said he couldn't say much more about the autopsy or the case in general because of Wyoming law, which restricts what coroners may say, AP News reported. Gabby Petito died by strangulation Petito and Laundrie had been on a cross-country road trip, stopping in Colorado, Utah, and other states. Her parents reported her missing on September 11 after she didn't answer her phone or respond to texts for several days when the pair was visiting national parks in the West. Petito's death had previously been classified as a homicide - meaning she was killed by someone else - but Blue had withheld details about how she died pending autopsy results. Blue didn't say much more about Petito's physical condition, including if she was strangled directly by someone's hands, a rope, or something else; but she did say she wasn't pregnant when asked. However, the three to four weeks her remains was thought to be in the woods, placed her death around the time Petito and Laundrie came to the place on August 27-30. Petito's disappearance has prompted new calls for increased attention to instances involving missing Indigenous women and other people of color, with some commentators referring to her situation as "missing white woman syndrome." Gabby Petito died by strangulation, according to a coroner; but internet sleuths are pointing to her last seen appearance on police body cam film, claiming Brian Laundrie left bruises on her neck. Petito, 22, was last seen on a body camera in Moab, Utah, holding her neck and stating that her fiance, Laundrie, had "scratched and grabbed" her, causing bruises. Read Also: Minnesota Shooting: 3 Suspects Arrested After Incident Leaves 1 Woman Dead, 14 Injured as Shootout Erupts in Crowded Bar Brian Laundrie's attorney calls Gabby Petito's death a "tragedy" Per The Sun, the video in question was taken on August 12 and shows police officers from the Moab Police Department breaking up a physical domestic fight between Petito and Laundrie. Petito and Laundrie had "engaged in some form of altercation" before police broke them up, according to Officer Eric Pratt's report. Maija Polsey, a family friend of the Petitos, first noticed the bruising, saying, "The cop completely skimmed over what Gabby said, and there was a bruise on her cheek, and she stated he grabbed her." Petito put her hand to her mouth to repeat how she got the bruises, according to a body language expert, indicating that she was frightened of telling authorities what had happened to her. Meanwhile, after the Laundrie family attorney asserted that Brian Laundrie is simply a person of interest in the death of Gabby Petito, her mother had some tough comments to say. "His words are garbage. Keep talking," Nichole Schmidt said on Tuesday, as per Crime Online. Petito died of strangulation, according to Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue, who made the announcement Tuesday. Laundrie's family attorney, Steve Bertolino, stated shortly after the press conference that Brian Laundrie has only been charged with credit card fraud and that he has no other accusations pending against him. For nearly a month, the Petito family has been pleading for answers. Petito's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, and Laundrie's parents were sent messages, but no response was returned, according to the Petito family. Related Article: Authorities Doubt Statements of Brian Laundrie's Parents, Claiming Parts of Their Story "Don't Make Sense" @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In many regions in northern Afghanistan, the Taliban have permitted middle and high-school girls to continue their education, demonstrating how the Islamist group's stances on critical subjects are impacted by cultural variations within the nation. The Taliban reopened secondary schools for male students across Afghanistan in September but made no mention of their female counterparts. This resulted in a de facto prohibition on girls continuing their education after the sixth grade. Boys and girls are taught separately in elementary schools, which have reopened to the public. Selected Afghanistan provinces open secondary schools for girls Secondary schools for women have reopened with the consent of local Taliban government officials in four northern Afghan districts, where women have historically played a more prominent part in society than in the more conservative south and east. Teachers, students, and a Taliban spokesperson all verified the decision, which was not publicly reported, as per Wall Street Journal. Unlike in the 1990s, when they enforced strict social norms on everyone under their authority, the Taliban appear to be willing to construct policy around cultural variations across Afghanistan. In the provinces of Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan, schools for teenage girls have reopened, with Taliban representatives frequently visiting. Not all female students have returned to class, even where schools have reopened. According to the administrator of one school in the northern city of Kunduz, a third of the 3,000 kids are missing. A large number of families have left the city. Others are skeptical of local Taliban claims that girls will be permitted to attend school. Some parents are concerned that Taliban fighters would harass their adolescent daughters as they walk to school. One of the most visible indicators that Afghan women's hard-won rights are being pulled back is the Taliban's decision to severely restrict girls' education after gaining control. Read Also: China's Energy Crisis Prompts Warning of More Electricity Shortages From Rust-Belt Province Women, media affected by the Taliban's control in Afghanistan Per Big News Network, women instructors working at an all-boys school in Kabul are facing an unclear future after the Taliban-led Ministry of Education banned them from going to work. According to Asadullah Kohistani, the Principal of Ghulam Haydar Khan High School, the Taliban-led administration has chosen to prohibit female teachers from working, resulting in a teacher shortage in the schools. Students also expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming that the prohibition on female instructors going to work is causing a slew of issues in the classroom. A group of women demonstrated in Kabul against the closure of female-only schools and colleges, claiming that this is a violation of their fundamental rights in Afghan culture. Experts say that now the Taliban has retaken control of Afghanistan after 20 years, Afghan women would face an uncertain future under the terrorist group's rule. Moreover, the Taliban have adopted a two-pronged media strategy since assuming power in mid-August, portraying a press-friendly image to the outside world by conducting frequent news conferences while clamping down, often by force, on a once lively media. Although Taliban officials have refrained from shutting down privately owned news outlets or imposing open censorship, they have imposed such broad limitations that many stations have been forced to eliminate critical programs and self-censor. The Taliban's so-called "11 rules of journalism" restrict the publication or broadcasting of stories that are "contrary to Islam" or "distort news content," as well as the reporting of unconfirmed news. A more recent edict mandates that the Taliban be referred to by their full name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as per Voice of America. Related Article: Taliban Hunts Female Afghan Prosecutor Involved in Child Abuse Investigation; Women's Group Stages Protest in the Country @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Joe Biden's leadership has hit another snag after the border, Afghanistan pull out, and a fuel and energy crisis like Europe. He stopped the Keystone XL pipeline from day one and stopped oil prospecting in US public lands, resulting in the energy-dependent US. This crisis will make problems that should not have been in the White House had not struck down everything Donald Trump did to become energy independent. It would be less burdensome for everyone. Recently, Putin was asked by the US president to prevent chaos; instead, the Kremlin ignored Biden. Biden halting oil prospecting in US led to energy crisis The European Union and China are in the grip of a terrible energy crisis that will not get better soon, resulting in many blackouts and certain deficiencies, including lack of HGV drivers, reported the Express UK. More than a few blamed Brexit as the core of the energy crisis engulfing Europe. However, the US might be next to suffer from the energy shortage already wreaking havoc in EU member countries' energy prices. Ernie Thrasher, who is the chief executive officer of Xcoal Energy & Resources LLC, was told by utility executives that if a short supply happens in the winter. It will cause blackouts in the USA. One concern with the utilities is the assets would not have the supply they would need. Biden blamed for energy crisis Daniel Turner, the founder and director of Power the Future says that Joe Biden took away energy dependence and exposed the US to another fuel and energy crisis. Read Also: The EU Should End Hostilities With Russia To Resolve Europe's Energy Crisis, Give Vladimir Putin an Olive Branch, Not Thorns On a Twitter post, Turner said that Joe Biden had stopped almost all oil and gas exploration in the US, intentionally dismantled the Keystone XL pipeline, wage a campaign on coal and reliable energy. The president created this crisis without consultation. He broke the rule of law by signing tons of memos that included shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline that could have added energy security, cited the Diverse Bulletin. Joe Biden has: Halted most oil and gas exploration in the USA Blocked the Keystone XL pipeline Renewed the war on coal and other forms of reliable energy This energy crisis is Joe Biden's crisis. Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) October 11, 2021 If the pipeline were not shut down, it would be done and piping the oil from Alberta to Nebraska about 1,2000 miles away. It will be connected to an existing pipeline, but its key supporter, former President Donald Trump, had lost in a controversial election. The XL Pipeline had a capacity of 830,000 barrels a day which could have protected the US from Europe's crisis. Biden wanted to use less coal and fossil fuels, but many said to keep a backup of reliable sources, not rely on renewable sources. He insisted on curtailing everything but alternative energy because he could not wait. China is experiencing a similar energy crisis as Europe, but it could get help from Putin, while the White House got snubbed for asking the Kremlin to intervene. China hobbled by renewable energy Last Monday, China was in danger of lessening the production of all its industrial activities, which has caused difficulty in the public and private sectors. Joe Biden's assault on energy independence has made a synthetic fuel and energy crisis come about. Alarmingly, with winter coming, this will be chaos. James Shrewsbury, part of e360 Power LLC, said the US could weather the winter, but it will be different if it gets colder, noted News Kingpin. Related Article: Brexit Minister Tells Joe Biden To Stay Out of Northern Ireland Protocol; Says POTUS Got Own Problems to Solve @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A federal judge on Thursday ruled that New York State health officials are required to include religious exemption under its vaccine mandate to allow employers to give some of their workers the option not to get the coronavirus vaccine. The ruling came as a lawsuit challenging the state's vaccine mandate was making its way through the courts. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's efforts to mandate vaccination on healthcare workers have been temporarily blocked by the judge's recent order. New York's Vaccine Mandate Blocked The judge's rule gives many unvaccinated doctors, nurses, and support workers who remain to be at risk of the virus the opportunity to apply for religious exemption. If not for the ruling, these individuals would be forced to stop working on Tuesday. Despite the judge's rule, healthcare workers experience the full brunt of the vaccine mandate. However, a group of workers who were suing the state over the mandate expressed their support of the judge's ruling. The group's attorney, Christopher Ferrara, also noted that with the recent decision, the court was recognizing that the heroes fighting against the coronavirus pandemic on the front lines could not be immediately treated as "disease-carrying villains" and forced to bow to state health bureaucracy, the New York Times reported. The judge responsible for the ruling, U.S. District Judge David Hurn, said that the question of the issue was whether or not the vaccine mandate conflicted with plaintiffs' and other individuals' rights. He said that the answer to that question was a clear yes. Read Also: Gov. Greg Abbott Issues Executive Order That Prohibits Businesses in Texas From Requiring Employees, Consumers To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Hurd also left an opportunity for an appeal to be filed, arguing that it was important to address the controversial issues that were in dispute. The New York State Department of Health's vaccine mandate was issued on Aug. 26 and gave healthcare workers until Sept. 27 to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk being terminated from their jobs. The judge argued that some of the workers affected by the vaccine mandate were previously infected by the disease, recovered, and returned to work to care for patients. Hurd argued that the protective measures they implemented then were suddenly inadequate now, Fox News reported. Businesses Fined for Noncompliance The situation comes as 14 businesses in New York were fined by authorities for allegedly violating the vaccine mandate. City-data showed that 6,760 businesses were warned that they failed to comply with the city's new requirements. Fourteen of these were given $1,000 fines for noncompliance. Authorities inspected more than 27,500 business establishments since the vaccine mandate was put into place on Sept. 13. However, the city declined to name the businesses that were found to be violating the vaccine mandate. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in August that businesses in the area, including restaurants, bars, museums, and gyms, were required to show proof of coronavirus vaccination from patrons to be allowed to operate indoors. Similar pieces of legislation were implemented in various American cities, including Seattle and Los Angeles. The decisions were made to boost the vaccination rates in the regions and slow the spread of the coronavirus disease, the New York Eater reported. Related Article: UN Asks Moderna To Share Its COVID-19 Vaccine Formula; Pharmaceutical Company Refuses But Plans To Increase Production @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the rising use of coronavirus vaccine booster shots "immoral" and "unfair," calling for authorities to stop the administration of the third shots. The official noted that the use of booster shots in many regions in the United States was unjust amid the continued lack of vaccine doses in countries such as Africa. During an interview, Ghebreyesus said that the start of the administration of booster shots is the worst that the global community can do amid the lack of access to vaccines of other nations. Coronavirus Vaccine Booster Shots 'Immoral', 'Unfair' The WHO director-general said that the coronavirus pandemic will not be stopped if an entire continent was ignored and denied support. He argued that Africa did not have any manufacturing capacity or other means to raise its supply of the coronavirus vaccine. While the global health organization has recommended the use of an additional vaccine dose, they placed priority on people who were considered immunocompromised. Officials have strongly opposed the administration of third shots to the general public. The WHO wanted more people worldwide to be fully vaccinated first before they recommend the use of booster shots to the average person, CNN reported. The situation comes as the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday began discussions of whether or not more Americans should receive coronavirus booster shots. The agency released data that suggested an additional dose of the treatment from Moderna that is given at least six months after the first two doses resulted in increased antibody levels against the disease. Read Also: Gov. Greg Abbott Issues Executive Order That Prohibits Businesses in Texas From Requiring Employees, Consumers To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Available data from both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters will be reviewed by an independent advisory panel of experts in a two-day meeting later this week. Members of the panel will vote on whether or not to recommend emergency authorization of boosters from both pharmaceutical companies. On Tuesday, Moderna released documents that argued the third injection from their vaccine was needed due to the potency of its vaccine decreasing over time. They noted that six to eight months after the second dose, a person's levels of neutralizing antibodies waned. Company officials added that "real-world evidence of reduced effectiveness against the Delta variant" was another reason to have the booster shots, the New York Times reported. Inoculations Worldwide The FDA previously authorized a third, full-strength Moderna vaccine dose for people who had compromised immune systems. On the other hand, a Johnson & Johnson analysis found that a booster dose is given to individuals aged 18 years and older six months or more after their first inoculation had a favorable risk-benefit balance. The data and growing need to protect residents from the coronavirus vaccine have resulted in more and more regions in the United States considering the administration of a booster shot against the coronavirus pandemic. This came as Johnson & Johnson conducted a separate study that showed the potential side effects of the booster shot. Johnson & Johson revealed that as of the end of August, there have been roughly 33.5 million doses of its vaccines administered to people worldwide. The company noted that 14.3 million of those inoculations were in the United States, NPR reported. Related Article: British Government Criticized For Failing To Act Quickly Amid A Rapid Rise of COVID-19 Cases @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In attendance at a church service at London's Westminster Abbey on Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth used a walking stick at a major public affair for the first time. The 95-year-old monarch got out of the vehicle with daughter Princess Anne, clutching a black stick - an unusual sight for the world's oldest monarch. After undergoing knee surgery in 2004, she was photographed using a stick for the first time. Her office did not explain why she used the cane on Tuesday. Queen Elizabeth steps out in public with walking stick The Queen, Britain's longest-serving monarch, has been in good health throughout her life, with the exception of a brief hospital visit with a stomach bug in 2013. Prince Philip, formerly known as the Duke of Edinburgh, died on April 9 at the age of 99, just weeks ahead of his 100th birthday and following a lengthy illness, SCMP reported. After the two stepped out of the vehicle to attend the service on Tuesday, Princess Anne was spotted handing the monarch the mobility device. Queen Elizabeth II smiled as she walked into the room, dressed in a royal blue wool coat and matching hat. Per The Republic World, she later went to the church to find a seat, entering the abbey through the Poet's Yard entrance for simpler navigation. When asked about the monarch's health, Buckingham Palace refuses to comment. The event brought together military families, veterans from the UK armed forces, as well as Commonwealth countries. It honors the Royal British Legion, which was formed in 1921 to serve Royal servicemen. The Queen of the United Kingdom was said to have visited with Canadian troops defending her Windsor Castle home last week. Read Also: Princess Diana Documentary Reveals She Witnessed Father Slap Her Mother; Here's What The Royal Has Been Through Before Marrying Prince Charles The Queen remains in "high regard" despite son's legal battle At the royal palace, the Queen interacted with troops from the 1st Regiment of the Royal Canadian House Artillery who were on duty. Her encounter with the Canadian Army was part of the 150th anniversary celebrations for the establishment of regular elements of the post-Confederation Canadian Army. The British monarch turned 95 this year, marking her 70th year on the throne. Despite the pandemic, her birthday was celebrated by the first complete staging of trooping the color, which included a procession of almost 1,400 troops, according to sources in the British press. Despite her second son Prince Andrew being accused of sexual assault, Queen Elizabeth II is still viewed in "high regard" by the general people. According to a royal historian, people feel "great sympathy" for the 95-year-old Queen whose last years are being "overshadowed" by the ongoing lawsuit. Virginia Robert Giuffre, an alleged victim of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault on three occasions. The prince has categorically refuted all allegations leveled against him. Dr. Anna Whitelock, a royal historian, told Express.co.uk that he believes Prince Andrew is the major emphasis, rather than people's opinions of the Queen, who is regarded in great respect. Prince Andrew has always rejected the allegations against him, claiming in 2019 that they "never happened." Related Article: Queen Elizabeth Struggles To Cut Ties With Dubai Ruler Who Hacks Sons' Lawyer; Prince Charles To Inherit "Tarnished Crown" With Legacy Scandals @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The European Union has pledged to provide $1.15 billion worth of aid relief to Afghanistan amid progressive talks between United States officials and the Taliban as the Afghan economy continues to spiral into chaos. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that there had been progressing in discussions between U.S. officials and the Taliban militant group. The official noted that the two sides agreed on several fronts that aid was needed in the country to support its residents with humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian Aid For Afghanistan World leaders expressed their concerns about the need for urgent actions to avoid the potential collapse of the nation during a G20 meeting on Tuesday focusing on Afghanistan. During the discussions, the EU pledged an additional $1.15 billion worth of emergency funds to aid the country and prevent a "major humanitarian collapse." "We're committed to working closely with the international community and using diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic means to address the situation in Afghanistan and support the Afghan people," said United States President Joe Biden in a tweet after the meeting, CNN reported. President of the European Commission Ursula von de Leyen said in a statement that everyone must do their part to prevent a major "humanitarian and socio-economic collapse" in Afghanistan. The situation came as the Biden administration did not announce any new American aid for the war-torn country after two meetings with Taliban officials. Read Also: US Navy Engineer Caught Red-handed by FBI in an Attempt To Sell Classified Information About US Nuclear Submarine Technology Many argued, however, that the EU's financial pledge was only a temporary solution to Afghanistan's growing crisis. The war-torn country's financial system was on the verge of collapse since the militant group took control earlier this year after the withdrawal of American troops. Since mid-August, the majority of international aid that was supposed to be distributed to Afghanistan was cut off. Many global leaders did not want to support the region after the insurrection group conquered the country's capital of Kabul, the New York Times reported. Worsening Economic Crisis With the growing need for humanitarian aid, Biden and his administration revealed plans to send financial support to Afghanistan. However, Sean Hannity on Tuesday said that many American taxpayers were slowly starting to show their disdain of the White House and its decisions. While the U.S. federal government has agreed to provide financial support to Afghanistan, it has continued to refuse to recognize the Taliban government, the insurrection group said on Sunday. Amid the progressive talks between the U.S. and the militant group, Biden's team argued that the discussions were no signs of a recognition of the insurrectionists' government in Kabul. Hannity noted that for 40 days, Democratic President Biden failed to mention that there were still American citizens stranded in Afghanistan after he pulled the military out of the region. The situation comes amid the leader's promises that his government would use taxpayer funds to support the nation. "The Biden administration is planning to send more money to the Taliban. They're calling it humanitarian aid, but in reality, where I grew up, that looks an awful lot like a massive ransom payment to terrorists," said Hannity, Fox News reported. Related Article: Joe Biden Has No Control Over Domestic, Global Crises That Could Lead to His Own Misfortune, Journalist Claims @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Chinese official claims China is planning to examine tens of thousands of blood bank samples from Wuhan as part of an investigation into COVID-19 origins. The decision comes amid growing requests for greater transparency regarding the virus's emergence. The World Health Organization's team of experts identified the stockpile of up to 200,000 samples, including those from the last months of 2019, as a viable source of vital information that might help identify when and where the virus first passed into people in February of this year. China conducts own COVID-19 origins probe The samples are maintained at the Wuhan Blood Centre and are expected to last until 2019, giving real-time tissue samples from a large portion of the population in the Chinese city where SARS-CoV-2 is suspected to have infected people for the first time. According to Chinese officials, the blood bank samples would be kept for two years in case they are needed as evidence in any case involving the blood donations they came from. For the crucial months of October and November 2019, when most experts believe the virus initially infected people, the two-year waiting period will shortly expire, 9News reported. According to a spokesperson for China's National Health Commission, testing preparations are already ongoing, and testing will take place after the two-year deadline has passed. Read Also: Merck's COVID-19 Pill Reportedly Reduces Risk of Hospitalizations, Deaths: Is it a Game-Changer or Just Another Tool? WHO has been denied to access China's caves and farms The WHO has been denied access to caves and farms near Wuhan that may bear clues to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists plan to go to a series of caves and animal farming regions in Hubei province's Enshi prefecture, which is six hours west of the city where COVID-19 was discovered for the first time. Thousands of wild creatures were reported to be sold out in wet markets on the farms in the region, according to the Washington Post. Their presence has led to the belief that farm animals served as a viral intermediate between bats and humans. However, Chinese officials are refusing to allow the WHO to conduct their research. COVID-19 was first discovered in Chinese wet markets or as a consequence of a lab leak, according to Beijing, which claims it originated abroad. After it was revealed that numerous wet markets where animals from the farms were sold were barred from selling live animals in December 2019, the wildlife farms became a source of attention. This happened only days after the Chinese authorities confirmed the discovery of a new virus in a Wuhan market. Six wet markets in Enshi were shuttered by March 2020, before the rest of the globe went into lockdown. According to a supply chain source, several wild animals marketed in Wuhan were "sourced from Hubei province," including Enshi. Per Daily Mail, some of the wildlife farms are just around a mile from the entrance to the bat caves in Enshi. Humans have also been known to visit the caves. Bats or farm-raised wild animals in Enshi were never tested for the virus, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. Related Article: WHO To Investigate Bat Caves and Breeding Farms in Hubei As Possibility of COVID-19 Sources; China Rejects Request for Probe Access @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi grumbled on Tuesday that the media isn't doing a good job of "selling" President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, which she has failed to sell to her own party. Only 10% of respondents in a recent CBS News survey indicated they recognized "a lot of the specifics" of what's in Biden's $3.5 trillion spending proposal. When asked about the low number of Americans who are aware of the situation, Pelosi blamed the press rather than the White House. Nancy Pelosi chastises a reporter instead of blaming White House However, moderate Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia have expressed reservations about supporting the president's agenda because of the large price tag. For continuing to reject Biden's huge spending package, the two senators have been caught in the crossfire, as per Fox News. Sinema was recently chastised by ABC News for "taking a strong right turn," and left-wing media figures have frequently criticized them for delaying Biden's plans. Both liberals and conservatives have chastised Biden, Pelosi, and other supporters for saying that the Build Back Better plan would cost "zero dollars." The squabbling over Biden's funding package has put off possible passage of an infrastructure bill that has cleared the Senate with bipartisan backing. Pelosi also chastised a reporter for asking what would be the first component to be removed from a prospective agreement, laughing at her and saying that type of bargaining wouldn't happen in front of the press. Pelosi also stated a plan to give the Treasury debt ceiling power instead of Congress has merit. The House is set to vote on a short-term increase of the debt ceiling on Tuesday, but Democrats will have to come up with a means to extend it beyond September on their own, as Republicans have stated they would not support it. To pass reconciliation bills in the divided Senate, Democrats will need all 50 votes in their caucus, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast a tie-breaking vote. Progressives in the House, on the other hand, have stated that they would not vote for the $1.1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure unless the Senate makes headway on the larger package. Read Also: Boris Johnson, Wife Carrie Spend Luxury Trip in Southern Spain Amid UK's Energy Crisis Democrats in disarray over reconciliation package Meanwhile, citing public uproar, a number of states have already notified DailyMail.com that they would not cooperate with the idea to pass over transaction data to the IRS on accounts exceeding $600. According to the Office of Tax Analysis, the proposal, which is backed by $79 billion in increased IRS budget, is anticipated to produce $463 billion over the next decade. A letter criticizing the policy has been signed by 24 state treasurers, auditors, and financial officials thus far. When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushes her party's extreme progressive caucus toward compromise, they appear to fight back - hard. Pelosi wrote a letter to her Democratic colleagues last night, saying that members have told her that they want her to do fewer things well so that we can still have a transformative impact on families in the workplace and properly solve the climate catastrophe. This seems like Pelosi wants to go in the direction of Sen. Joe Manchin, who has proposed that Democrats pick only one or two priorities and fully finance them, rather than cramming everything into a smaller package and only funding them for a few years. Pelosi suddenly flipped and sounded like she was side with the progressives again at a press conference on Tuesday, as per The Washington Examiner. Related Article: Joe Biden Faces Shrinking Timetable To Salvage Build Back Better Agenda as Grip on Allies Weakens @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Re-establishing China and the European Union ties after Joe Biden and unsatisfactory deals with its members has allowed a pivot to normalize relations. The recent gap over issues concerning Beijing is thawing as the EU countries might ditch the US if they reach a good deal. EU will renegotiate with Beijing On Friday, European Council President Charles Michel will hold a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping after months of silence. No one knows how the call will pan out, but both leaders are looking for concessions to restart where the two powers left off. But, how the White House would deal with this is not sure as the EU has lost confidence in the US leader. Rocky times for the EU have prompted all 27 leaders to discuss their options, which involved resuming ties with the People's Republic of China (PRC), reported the Express UK. But not all the member nations are too hot about it, and giving the Asian superpower a pass will not be easy to talk over past issues. This would be the first time Michel and Xi would talk after the last discussion at the 2020's end. Everything was a downslide after that as the Bloc and Beijing did not share the same views on the issues, which led to a massive fallout. But events notwithstanding the US dismal reputation due to Joe Biden might be the factor driving China and the European Union to try to be fixed. Read Also: Nike Not Happy with Anti-China Bill That Bans Imports with Forced Uyghur Labor Critical issues that drove the split The prior months before they split, that was caused by how the CCP would treat the Uyghurs minority in Xinjiang and the treatment of Taiwan opposed by Lithuania. Of the EU members, Lithuania has keen intent on convincing other members that China should not be treated with kid gloves, instead be tougher. Human rights, trade issues to be considered in the call If it is any indicator, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has declared the bloc will deal with China as a solid and unified bloc. The call's priority would be on human rights and trade considerations that both leaders will tackle in the call. An anonymous EU diplomat remarked the EU official would ask Xi to withdraw sanctions against EU politicians who accused China of Xinjiang forced labor, repercussions like scrapping an agreement with Brussel's late last year. An EU diplomat said a better move would be a strategic economy. According to Reinhard Butikofer, the top MEP covering China affairs, there must be moves to push forward a positive development cited Politico. Butikofer posted a Tweet that encapsulated his sentiment that Beijing should take to everyone as a bloc. Many western nations with some EU members accuse China of Genocide and human rights atrocities, especially those against the Uyghur, who are ethnic Muslims living in the Xinjiang province. Based on human rights groups' claims, numerous detainees of Uyghur descent are placed in camps for re-education. It is positive that Xi Jinping is talking to @eucopresident. I read it as a signal that #Beijing begins to understand an important lesson: they can't make real progress by just talking to individual member states' leaders. Such learning is welcome, indeed.https://t.co/Mbgbu2tpxi Reinhard Butikofer (@bueti) October 11, 2021 This minority is even subjected to forced labor and sterilization of their women. There are allegations of sexual assault and torture as well. Beijing vehemently denies it these charges are false and to stop militancy in the mainland. One of the first steps to normalizing China and the European Union is to discuss points that will benefit both, with Joe Biden out of the picture for now. Related article: Report: Five Falungong Practitioners Persecuted to Death by Chinese Officials in Black Jails @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The global energy crisis has extended its reach to China and India, two nations that have been in a long-running standoff amid rising tensions of military forces on the border, as the two regions' coal supply dwindles. Many of India's coal-fired power plants have reported critically low levels of inventory and supply of coal. The situation comes amid the country's economy starting to return to normal since being severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The incident comes as the region continues to record a rising demand for electricity. Growing Global Energy Crisis India gets the majority of its electricity, roughly 70%, from coal-powered power plants. In the event of a possible power crisis, India's economic recovery would be severely impacted. Currently, the slow return to normal is being led by industrial activity instead of services, India economist at Societe Generale, Kunal Kundu, said. It was revealed in government data that 80% of the country's 135 coal-powered plants had less than eight days worth of supplies left as of Oct. 6. The numbers showed more than half had stocks worth two days or fewer, CNBC reported. The statistics showed a sharp contrast from the last four years where the average coal inventory recorded at power plants was around 18 days worth of supply, said Hetal Gandhi, the director of research at rating firm CRISIL. On the other hand, China is trying to reassure its people that the current surge of price due to its major coal mining hubs struggling with heavy rainfall and flooding will not last. The situation could potentially compound efforts to address the country's power shortages. Read Also: Joe Biden, Hunter's Shared Bank Accounts Can Be a Target For FBI Probe as President's Son Complicates White House Anti-Corruption Push Worldwide, many nations are recording massive energy shortages as their economies continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The supply for these demands is unable to keep up due to the lack of services. China's power shortages are primarily the result of its post-pandemic construction growth and its national push to reduce carbon emissions. The efforts have forced hundreds of coal mines to shut down or cut down operational hours earlier this year, CNN reported. Reasons for Energy Shortage Additionally, restrictions on coal from Australia, which is a key supplier for China, and the catastrophic weather across the region, have worsened the issue. This week saw the prominence of the latter as heavy rains battered Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, which are two key mining hubs that contribute to nearly half of the country's total coal output. Other nations, including Tokyo and London, have reported experiencing supply shortages in power and manufacturing components. The situation has added to a deepening disquiet in global markets and underscores efforts in reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuel amid calls to address climate change and its growing threat. Short-dated U.S. Treasury yields have seen a peak in the last 18 months due to a sell-off in global stocks and bonds that extended into Tuesday. For the third straight day, global stocks have fallen in price on fears that they would put a damper on economic growth worldwide, amid concerns of various experts, Reuters reported. Related Article: WHO Chief Criticizes Use of Vaccine Boosters in More Regions, Saying It's 'Immoral', 'Unfair' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Terrifying uncrewed surface vessel 'Sea Hunter' developed by the Chinese as a waterborne force multiplier capable of 24/7 operations in any body of water in South China. These robotic drones use AI to accomplish tasks as an expendable platform for sea combat. These machines are part of fleets as ocean combat shifts from human-crewed ships to uncrewed ships. New sea-borne weapon platforms like these are asymmetrical to traditional weapon systems. China's northern pier docks unreported uncrewed surface vessels The Sea Hunter derivative unmanned maritime drone mounts torpedoes as weapons. It is seen via satellite images showing a naval installation, reported the Sun UK. Images were of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), a new model under testing in an unidentified pier located off China's north coast. The Chinese navy built the JARI USV in 2018 and is stored at the Dalian pier, noted the USNI News. Called the 'mini destroyer,' JARI is about 50-foot long and armed with remotely fired weapons like surface-to-air missiles and light torpedos for killing sea vessels, said the source. Sensors on the asymmetrical weaponized naval drone are high-tech phased array radar, with electro-optical systems and sonar as the suite added to the chassis by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. China's uncrewed surface vessels get upgrades Changes to version 2 of JARI get a size upgrade that is 20-feet bigger, with changes in the superstructure of the weapon, with significant differences from the original. Speculation from naval experts says there is another kept secret under wraps at the super-secret newly-built site, which started in 2017. The terrifying uncrewed surface vessel 'Sea Hunter' is another of these USV which the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has. Read Also: France Upgrades its Small, Nuclear-Powered Barracuda-Class Attack Submarine Making it Dangerous to Other Vessels This pier is used once in a while by the PLAN, where it docked its submarines like the Type-035 Ming Class boat to do ballast tests on the pier. Some PLAN submarines are docked in the Xiaopingdao naval base, less than ten miles away from the pier with the JARI USV. Images by Maxar show another mysterious USV docked almost the same size but not clear about its designation. The mystery drone is about 70-feet long, which has more similarities to a catamaran, with the same armament as the 50-foot JARI drone. Many have compared the PLAN USV to the much larger Sea Hunters of the US Navy. Per unit, the US Navy's next-generation USV costs 147million and will be used as a force multiplier of the US Navy. It can sail starting from San Diego to Guam to Pearl Harbor with a tank of gas. They are stealthy and use sensors to guide them on voyages on their own. More weapons of the PLA Navy Aside from robotic USVs in the water, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has plowed in money for their version of the B-21, noted SCMP. Other systems are hypersonic missiles and robot soldiers on four wheels as the answer to the USA in a future war. One of the most feared weapons at the PLA's disposal is a Carrier Killer missile which is hypersonic and very fast! But the terrifying uncrewed surface vessel 'Sea Hunter' is only one of the deadly systems if ever a conflict should come. Related Article: US Maritime Force Gets Serious, Naval Top Gun School for Submariners Established to Improve Tactics for Undersea Warfare @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Will Higher Oil, Energy Prices Here to Stay, affect the market change in cotton fabric for sale? Stephen Schork, head of The Schork Group, explained the "new normal" for oil prices on Tuesday after West Texas Intermediate crude hit a seven-year high the previous day. Schork told Varney & Co on Tuesday that he thinks oil and energy prices, in general, will continue to move higher. On Monday, West Texas Intermediate crude surged $1.17 to $80.52 a barrel. Earlier on Monday, the energy sector hit a seven-year high above $82. WTI crude rose 28 cents to $80.80 a barrel on Tuesday. Brent crude fell 4 cents to $83.61 a barrel Tuesday morning after hitting a high of $84.23 a barrel. The global benchmark oil price hit $84.60 on Monday, its highest level since October 2018. Late last month, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its forecast for global crude oil prices to $90 a barrel by the end of the year from $80, citing supply disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico and signs of stronger demand Oil hitting $80 a barrel is pretty challenging, ex-Frontier CEO says Bank of America predicted in June that Brent crude could top $100 a barrel next year amid the spread of COVID-19. Pent-up demand, which continues to favor private cars over public transport and telecommuting, will keep demand strong after 18 months of lockdown, which may lead to increased driving. At the same time, supply will be constrained by government pressure to curb capital expenditure targeted by the Paris Climate Agreement, alleviate the need for environmental, social and governance investments, and reduce carbon emissions. On Tuesday, Schork referred to predictions that oil could hit $90 or $100 a barrel and said he "would not bet against it." "But what usually happens is you create a lot of speculation," he continued. Schork went on to explain that energy prices depend on winter conditions. If Europe and North America experienced a cold winter, oil, gas and energy prices "will all go higher," he said. Refinefabrics has been supplying all kinds of cotton fabrics for over 10 years. High quality, durable and beautiful cotton fabrics from Refine fabrics, the company mainly provides fine cotton fabrics, cotton poplin fabrics, high density cotton fabrics, synthetic cotton fabrics and more. Feel free to send an email to sales@refinefabrics.com to get a quote and we will reply within 48 hours. The market size of the cotton fabric for sale in the global cotton fabrics industry With the continuous development of the production technology and process of the cotton fabric for sale in the industrial cotton fabrics industry, the application scope of the cotton fabric for sale is becoming more and more extensive and the market potential is huge. Its development level has become one of the important indicators to measure the comprehensive competitiveness of a country cotton fabrics industry. Industrial cotton fabrics are defined as "products used in many non-cotton fabrics industries" internationally. Compared with the traditional cotton fabrics industry with labor-intensive and low technology content, the cotton fabric for sale industry has the characteristics and advantages of capital intensive, high technology content and huge market demand space. In terms of the global market, the global industrial cotton fabrics market including cotton fabric for sale will reach usd 258.33 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 321.65 billion in 2028. In the next few years, the global industrial cotton fabrics industry will still maintain a growing trend. The market price of the cotton fabric for sale in the global cotton fabrics industry Developed countries and regions such as the United States and the European Union occupy the leading position in cotton fabric for sale global industrial cotton fabrics market while emerging markets such as China and India show a high growth momentum. Since the 1990s, due to the consideration of labor, raw materials and other cost factors, manufacturers in Europe and the United States and other developed countries have shifted their focus to product research and development, brand building, channel expansion and other aspects in China, so that the production and manufacturing capacity of cotton fabric for sale has gradually shifted to East Asian countries, especially the middle and low-end products. The global industrial cotton fabrics cotton fabric for sale production bases are mainly concentrated in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and the European industrial cotton fabrics industry is shifting to Asia and the United States. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the highest proportion of 40%; North America is next at 25 percent, followed by the Middle East & Africa, Europe and South America. The market trend of the cotton fabric for sale in the global cotton fabrics industry Data in 2020 show that China cotton fabrics industry accounts for more than 50% of the world total, chemical fiber output accounts for 70% of the world, and trade accounts for one-third of the world. China has the most complete industrial chain, and most of its cotton fabric for sale process manufacturing and equipment level has reached the international advanced level. China is also the world largest cotton fabrics and apparel market. In 2020, the total retail sales of cotton fabrics and apparel in China exceeded 1,236.7 billion yuan. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the overall development of trade and the cotton fabrics industry. Enterprises in various segments have realized that they are heavily dependent on Chinese suppliers. When China was unable to supply cotton fabric for sale in the early stage of the epidemic, for example, the automobile and cotton fabrics industries could not produce normally. About 90 percent of materials imported by the EU, US and Japan come from China, underscoring the country importance in many products and raw material supply chains. The high-quality global cotton fabric for sale supplier Refinefabrics.com is a professional one stop cotton fabrics solution for apparel, bedding, clothes, T-shirts and other fashion clothing manufacturers. Cotton Fabrics for apparel, dress, T-shirts, bedding, curtain making industries and more. Refinefabrics provides high quality and beautiful cotton fabrics including fine cotton, cotton poplin, high density cotton, and synthetic cotton fabrics with different styles and patterns. Feel free to send an email to sales@refinefabrics.com to get a quote and we will reply within 48 hours. After the previous launch of iPhone 13 and other new products last September, Apple will host another event this October with the tag line Unleashed. Several sources said that the Unleashed event will present two MacBook Pros that have the new M1 chip. Fortunately, fans can watch it anywhere in the world since it will be streamed online. Aside from the MacBook Pros, there are also other Apple products to be expected on the day of the product launch. What Are the Apple Products to Expect on Apple 'Unleashed' 2021 Event? As per Tom's Guide, Apple will introduce two MacBook Pros for the event. The said MacBook Pros are the MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 and the 14-inch version of it. Aside from these, Apple AirPods 3 is also rumored to be unveiled for the upcoming event. Several reports have leaked the specs for both 2021 MacBook Pros and Apple AirPods 3. In addition, Tom's Guide has shared much-detailed information on what are the things to expect for M1X-based MacBook Pros and Apple AirPods 3. MacBook Pros 2021 As mentioned, both the MacBook Pro 14-inch and the 16-inch versions will have the upgraded M1X chip. This upgraded version is expected to have CPU and GPU cores as well as more Thunderbolt channels. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman added that the upcoming MacBook Pros is a big revamp after five years. Aside from its upgraded chip, the latest MacBook Pros will also remove its Touch Bar. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo added that the touchscreen band will be replaced by physical keys same as the previous 2016 MacBooks. The new Apple laptop could also offer more memory and storage, return the HDMI ports, and replace its current LCD Panel to mini-LED. Apple AirPods 3 The said brand new AirPods is expected to have a simpler design. As compared to the AirPods Pro, Tom's Guide said that it is much affordable. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3 Durability: Can These High-End Phones Survive Accidents? Apple 'Unleashed' Event Date and Time According to Tech Spot, Unleashed will take place on October 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time and 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Same with the previous Apple product launch, it will be aired from Apple Park, but it can be streamed online. Invitations to the said event have been sent to several members of the press. Aside from the members of the press, fans can also set a reminder to watch the Unleashed event through this YouTube link. Avid supporters can also visit the Apple website to learn more. Moreover, the Hashflag Browser said that the #AppleEvent Hashflag is paid until December 2021. In addition to this, the timing of the Unleashed event is certainly interesting since Google will also release their new Pixel phones. For those who wants to watch Google's Pixel Fall Launch, go to this link. Related Article: Apple Updates: iPhone Receives Map Fix With iOS 15.1 Beta 3, AirPods Get New 'Find My' Feature Bitcoin went on a massive surge on Tuesday, reaching its highest level since May, while other cryptocurrencies suffered losses. It rose beyond $57,600 on Tuesday morning, as investors look forward to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approval in the coming weeks of a Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). By Tuesday night, however, Bitcoin slid 0.77 percent to $56,337.77, Coindesk reported. Ethereum and Dogecoin prices dropped, with ETH plunging 3.39 percent to $3,475 and DOGE falling 5.98 percent to $0.22. By night time, according to Coindesk, ETH regained its bearings and was up 0.60 percent to $3,521.75, while DOGE also climbed 0.86 percent to $0.229. JPMorgan Chase CEO Says Bitcoin Is 'Worthless' Despite Bitcoin's impressive milestone, however, investment expert and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reiterated that the cryptocurrency is "worthless," equating trading the token with smoking cigarettes, Fox Business reported. Read Also: Bitcoin Price Prediction: Expert Warns of Potential 'Collapse' While speaking at a virtual event organized by the Institute of International Finance, Dimon said that he personally thinks that Bitcoin is "worthless" and said, "I don't want to be a spokesman for that, I don't care. It makes no difference to me." Bitcoin flexed its power on Tuesday as other altcoins took beatings. Crypto analysts forecast a continuing increase in value, possibly reaching an all-time high of about $63,000 this quarter, Fox Business further noted. Bitcoin's rally was impressive as it happened "in the face of a broader risk-off environment" in bonds and equities, as cryptos are apparently detaching from the equities markets, Fox Business quoted a Coinbase newsletter to institutional clients. Coinbase added that it sees BTC "clearly lead this market" as shown by Bitcoin dominance attaining multi-month highs. The SEC is expected to announce its decision on the Bitcoin ETFs by next week. However, these ETFs are based on Bitcoin Futures and would not directly invest on Bitcoin, Yahoo! Finance noted. SEC chair Gary Gensler expressed support for ETFs that would invest in futures contracts instead of Bitcoin because of heightened investor protections. Bitcoin ETF Leads to Broader Mainstream Use of Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin ETF's approval is considered a major milestone for the cryptocurrency to become an accepted mainstream financial asset, thus allowing more people to enter the cryptocurrency market. As other tokens have dropped in value, including Cardano and XRP, one coin has also experienced a massive surge. Shiba Inu, the Ethereum-based alternative to Dogecoin, skyrocketed to 15th place among cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization, touting $11.85 billion in market cap. The meme token soared in October, surging about 300 percent this month. A tweet from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk helped in Shiba Inu's rise, showing a picture of his puppy, which is clearly a Shiba Inu breed. Aside from this tweet, no other factor is seen to lead to the coin's ascent, which is akin to the original meme token Dogecoin's rise at the start of 2021. Dogecoin also soared from a mere $0.01 in January to an all-time high of $0.74 in May before it plummeted in the next months due to several factors, including China's cryptocurrency ban and further tweets from Musk. Related Article: Serious mistakes that every bitcoin traders user should prevent as it can lead to unbearable loss Thousands of Californians eligible for the Golden State Stimulus checks are still waiting on their payments. State officials announced a 45 to 60-day delay depending on circumstances. Other Americans should also look out for the fourth stimulus check updates on their local government agencies. As reported earlier, several government officials agreed that stimulus checks were one of the most effective solutions for the pandemic. It helped many Americans settle rental payments, bills, loans and even buy groceries. It eventually led senators and congressmen to petition for a fourth stimulus check. Unfortunately, the White House has given no response to their letters. With so many Americans desperate for financial relief, some state governments took matters on their own hands and created their fourth stimulus check program. Golden State Stimulus Check: October Release Date California and its iconic Golden State Stimulus checks promised $500 to $1,100 payments to local residents. The program also aims to cater 66 percent of its total population. Note, however, that there are some eligibility requirements for the program. Only California taxpayers who earn $75,000 or less qualify for the program. They must also file their 2020 tax returns before Friday, October 15. Anybody who filed later than that data is subject to payment delays. According to The Sun, processing a late filer's tax returns information could take up to 45-days. Others who submitted their tax returns after their ZIP code payment would have to wait up to 60 days. Sources from AS said the first mailed Golden State stimulus checks were sent out in October 5. The whole delivery process might continue until the end of the year. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3 Durability: Can These High-End Phones Survive Accidents? Fourth Stimulus Check Update: Other Local Cash Boosts Per The Sun, California is not the only state providing cash assistance to Americans. New York budgeted $2.1 billion on their Excluded Workers Fund. The progam is for residents not eligible for unemployment benefits, including the undocumented workers. Residents with an income under $26,208 qualify for the program. New York also supports its local artists with a $5,000 check this October. Eligible residents in Vermont also received monetary benefits. The local government issued hazard pay for frontline workers as recognition of their dedication. Lump sums of $1,200 or $2,000 were provided to healthcare workers, grocery store employees and retail workers. Teachers from Tennessee are also due for an extra $1,000 payment. The local state government hopes it would motivate teachers to retain their work position. The payment might drop sometime by the end of this year. $2000 Online Petition Update: Stimulus Checks for Every American Another fourth stimulus check update worth noting is Stephanie Bonin's petition for $2,000 monthly stimulus checks. She emphasized that Americans would need reliable and recurring checks to help them survive this ongoing pandemic. Many recognized and supported Bonin's petition. At the time of writing, the online petition has reached 2,925,428 signatures out of its 3 million goal. The petition is currently recognized as "one of the top signed on Change.org!" Related Article: Child Tax Credit Updates: Deadline for Signing Up to Get $600 or More, Eligibility, Non-Filer Tool Ever wonder what Dublin, Ireland looks like from space? A NASA astronaut recently captured the city in a photo from the International Space Station. The space view of Dublin is definitely one of the best NASA images of Earth. Texas astronaut Shane Kimbrough, a member of Expedition 65, recently tweeted an image of Dublin, Ireland. He said, "One of my favorite cities - Dublin, Ireland! Look forward to seeing all of my friends there next year. Slainte!" The image stunned many in the internet, getting 818 retweets, 160 quote tweets, and 5,671 likes at the time of writing. For reference, Expedition 65 is the current ISS team tasked with a mission to research on biology, Earth science, human research, physical science and technology development. They also aim to provide foundations or support for future human spaceflight missions beyond the Moon and Mars. NASA Images of Earth: Dublin, Ireland Spotted Interestingly, the image Kimbrough tweeted resembles a golden spiderweb or a broken glass piece. A lot of detail is found in the center, which slowly branched out in the distance and eventually faded into the darkness. The brightest centerpiece is definitely the heart of the city, which operates with a lot of activity even at night. Bustling city life and heavy-duty nightlights illuminate the city, making it visible even in space. Another detail to note in the image is the long winding lines around the city. These are possibly main roads and highways. The lights on these roads are generally visible because of the street lights that span its entire distance, making a connected line. It is also fantastic to see Dublin filled with different colors. Aside from the predominant shades of yellow, the city showcased colors like yellow, red, green, orange and white. Lastly, it is noticeable that Dublin's lights stretched in the distance. This indicates houses or industries that are farther away from the city. Building or houses in this area have a lot more space between the lights. The big black section on the lower right side of the image could possibly be Dublin bay. Read Also: NASA Mars Rover Pictures 2021: New Evidence Proves Massive Floods, Ancient River NASA Hubble Image Shows Galaxies Doing Tug-of-War! Kimbrough's tweet is just one of the many amazing photos captured in space. For example, the iconic NASA Hubble also recently revealed a stunning photo of a celestial phenomena. Earlier last week, the telescope witnessed galaxies in a tug-of-war. The two interacting and intertwined galaxies, collectively called Arp 91, are located approximately 100 million light-years away from Earth. Hubble caught a glimpse of two interacting galaxies, called Arp 91, locked in a dangerous dance more than 100 million light-years from Earth! In this #HubbleFriday image, we see how immense gravitational attraction is causing these galaxies to interact: https://t.co/lqmhYfsnzY pic.twitter.com/9ZmMTA4YCF Hubble (@NASAHubble) October 8, 2021 NASA explained Arp 91 being compromised by galaxies NGC 5953 and NGC 5954. Both are spiral galaxies, but they appear in different shapes due to the orientation of Earth's view. The tweeted image actually shows NGC 5954 being pulled by NGC 5953, which resulted with the spiral arm "hanging" downward. Full details on this space phenomena are available in this article. Related Article: NASA Boeing Starliner Launch Revealed: New Test Flight Window, Update on Major Glitch That Caused Delay The tech giant company Samsung released official news that Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 event is coming our way on October 20. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked The first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event was broadcasted live on Samsung's YouTube channel last August. As expected of the event, Samsung launched new devices that will be added to its array of electronic gadgets. Samsung Electronics introduced its exciting new line of the Galaxy family members, namely the Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch4 Classic, and the Galaxy Buds2. In addition, the South Korean tech giant also launched its own innovative project for the environment, which is known as The Galaxy for the Planet. It is Samsung's new mobile environmental sustainability goal, with an initial objective in 2025 that aims to create a more sustainable Galaxy ecosystem. If you missed Samsung's first Unpacked event in August, the company's live events nowadays are usually archived on Samsung's official YouTube account. If you are unable to watch it at that time, you should be able to view the replay there. Unpacked Part 2 After the company's first Samsung Unpacked event last August 11, in which they released their new technology, the company confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 is happening. The Unpacked Part 2 is a virtual event that will be broadcasted live on the company's YouTube channel yet again. It follows close on the heels of the company's big product reveals in August. According to the Samsung Newsroom, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 encourages everyone to join to see how Samsung is opening up new experiences for self-expression through technology. There will be several new technologies that the company will most likely unveil, but it isn't yet guaranteed what they may be. Read Also: Samsung Unpacked 2021: Where to Watch Online With Free Livestream What's in store for Unpacked Part 2? It is speculated that there is a possiblity that a more colorful Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Fan Edition may be released, or that the colors seen in the invite are a hint at the phone's customizable UI, just like the Android's Material You design. According to the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 invitation, the company acknowledges that they have diverse Samsung users, and they live their lives in a variety of colorful, entertaining, and unique ways. With that, the technology people utilize on a daily basis should represent their unique personalities, and that is the aim of the company in their next virtual event. The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will be starting at 10 a.m. ET. Again, it will be aired live on Samsung's YouTube channel. Unfortunately, Samsung didn't announce more about what to expect at the presentation, but it appears that it will be colorful and may include applications. After the unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which folds outward from a phone into a tablet, and the Galaxy Z Flip 3, a clamshell design, it's hard to believe Samsung has much more up its sleeve, especially as the company has also already revealed the new Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Watch 4, and Watch 4 Classic on display. But, if you want to know what is more to come about the technology of foldable phones in the future, you will want to watch this event. Related Article: Apple iPhone vs. Samsung Galaxy: Major Advantages and Disadvantages, Which Is Better? Filmmaker Im Kwon-taek / Courtesy of BIFF By Kwak Yeon-soo BUSAN Having created more than 100 films over his 60-year-long career, Im Kwon-taek is a prolific filmmaker who has focused on exploring the meaning of Koreanness throughout his cinematic oeuvre. With his overseas success during Korean cinema's darker days, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest Korean filmmakers of all time. A pioneer of modern Korean cinema, Im has brought numerous iconic stories to the silver screen, including: "Seopyonje" (1993), "ChunHyang" (2000) and "Chihwaseon" (2002). From his 1962 debut with "Farewell Duman River," a film about independence fighters in Manchuria during Japanese colonial rule, to 2014's "Revivre," which explores the subject of death, he has persisted in his desire to make significant films in the industry with his own unique vision. Im recalled that early in his career, he made commercial films with entertaining qualities, aiming to imitate Hollywood movies. It was in the mid-1970s that he realized that continuing to do so was an absurd dream, so he began to develop a storytelling style that conveys more of Korea's history and culture. Explaining how his 1979 film, "The Genealogy," which depicts people who try to maintain their family name during the Japanese colonial period, set a standard for his other films, the director noted, "'Jokbo (The Genealogy)' allowed me to find my signature style of filmmaking." Im lived through a period of film censorship, which began during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial era and continued through the 1950-53 Korean War and the subsequent military regimes. When democratization was achieved in the late 1980s, following years of pro-democracy protests that took the lives of numerous people, he was finally able to make a breakthrough into a more artistic period. Im is a major figure of the new wave cinema of the turn of the millennium, which resulted in a boom in Korean cinema and intrigued international audiences at film festivals. His 2000 film, "ChunHyang," the plot of which centers on a traditional folk tale and incorporates "pansori" (traditional narrative music), became the first Korean film ever to compete in the Cannes International Film Festival. A scene from the 2002 film, "Chihwaseon" / Korea Times file Two years later, Im won the Best Director Award at Cannes for "Chihwaseon" (2002), which featured actor Choi Min-sik as a 19th-century painter battling alcoholism and a repressive regime. He also received the Honorary Golden Berlin Bear, which recognizes a filmmaker's lifetime achievements, at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2005. Such overseas success, ironically, created trouble for him at home. Im confessed that, owing to the pressures of working, he was unable to enjoy the actual process of making films. "It was deeply painful and burdensome for me to live up to people's expectations when I felt that I was not good enough. The pressure coming from the media frenzy kept me away from enjoying the process of making the film. I constantly worked in pain," Im told reporters at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Even after winning the awards, Im felt that he had a debt to repay. "I gained a reputation by winning awards from overseas film festivals, but they also sort of limited me. If I had not been obsessed with film festivals, I could have expanded my artistic vision much more," he added. A scene from the 1981 film, "Mandara" / Korea Times file He elaborated on how his films' themes explore Korean values and sentiments. Im showed affection toward his earlier films, such as the 1981 film, "Mandara," about Buddhist monks, and the 1996 feature, "Chukje (Festival)," a reenactment of traditional funeral rituals in Korea. Although he has made more than 100 films so far, he said that there is still one idea that he has not been able to develop as a film. "As a director who has made over 100 movies, I have filmed almost everything that I could think of. Regretfully, however, I couldn't make a film about Korean shamans and the religious spirit of Korean people. I thought about making one, but I didn't have an opportunity. And now, even if I have the chance, I am at this vantage point of age where I should give that opportunity to someone else who can do better," he said. The director expressed his content with the overseas success of Korean filmmakers as world-class creators. He talked about the time when he called director Bong Joon-ho after watching the Oscar-winning film, "Parasite." "Until a few years ago, it troubled me to watch Korean films because there were holes in them. But Bong's film, 'Parasite,' felt nearly complete," he said. "I think Korean films have finally become world-class." Asked if he has plans to make another film, Im said that he's at the age where he should distance himself from the industry. "I'm struggling toward the end of my career. I feel like now is the right time to distance myself from the industry and give more opportunities to younger filmmakers," he said. A scene from the 2000 film, "ChunHyang" / Korea Times file Continuing, the director said he expects that moviegoers will return to theaters after the pandemic. "Looking back at history, films have always given people comfort, motivation and pleasure. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought weird changes to our daily lives, but I'm confident that the film industry will boom again because everyone has the desire to go to theaters," he said. Im thanked his wife for being there for him throughout his long career. "I've never expressed my gratitude toward my wife in public because it's quite embarrassing. But I would like to use this time as an opportunity to thank her. I could not make much money so our life has not been easy, but she put up with me for decades," Im said. At the 26th BIFF, he received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award for his prolific career, spanning six decades, and his role in promoting Asian films around the world. By Park Jae-hyuk Domestic commercial banks have begun to provide the 390 Afghan evacuees in Korea with a wide range of support, so that they can adapt to the unfamiliar environment by having better access to banking, education, mobile communication and medical services. Woori Bank said that it will set up a movable branch until Friday at the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, which has been used as a temporary shelter for the evacuees. The branch will enable them to open bank accounts, use online banking and designate the banks they will use to exchange foreign currency. The bank will also teach them about Korea's financial system. Among the evacuees, 230 minors will receive textbooks and stationery needed for learning how to read hangeul. "Through this project, we will help the Afghan evacuees adapt to Korean society earlier," a Woori Bank official said. KB Kookmin Bank has joined hands with the Korean Red Cross to cover the medical expenses of the evacuees, so that they can continue to live stable lives, even after they move out of the temporary shelter. The bank also plans to provide them with USIM cards for its budget phone service, Liiv M, and to cover their mobile phone bills. In addition, it will help the Afghan minors learn how to read hangeul and math, using tablet computers. "We made this decision to help the Afghan evacuees to regain their mental health and adapt to the new environment earlier," a KB Kookmin Bank official said. The Afghan evacuees arrived in Korea with their families in August, based on their contributions to the Korean government's activities there. The government has decided to allow them to live and work here for at least five years. Arumjigi Culture Keepers Foundation's 20th anniversary exhibition "Homecoming" is held at the Arumjigi Anguk-dong Hanok through Dec. 5. Courtesy of Arumgiji Culture Keepers Foundation By Kwon Mee-yoo Arumjigi Culture Keepers Foundation Chairperson Shin Yun-gyun / Courtesy of Arumjigi Culture Keepers Foundation Kimsooja's "To Breathe" (2021) is installed on the ceiling of the iconic rotunda of the remodeled Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, in Yongsan District, central Seoul. Courtesy of Leeum and Kimsooja Studio By Park Han-sol March 2017 marked the moment when the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, one of the top private art museums in Korea, began to falter, signaled by the sudden resignation of its director Hong Ra-hee, wife of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Her influence in the Korean art scene had been dutifully noted for over a decade since the museum's founding in 2004. Hong's decision came after the arrest of her son and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on charges of bribery in a political scandal involving former President Park-Geun-hye. This sudden managerial vacuum led the art museum to call off all scheduled thematic exhibitions, with only its permanent collection of antiques and contemporary art on display a tentative state that ended up lasting for over four years. It even had to temporarily close its doors in February 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep the country. Last Friday, however, Leeum made a triumphant return to the public adorned with a remodeled interior space, as well as its newly curated permanent collections and large-scale special exhibition titled "Human, 7 Questions." Its reopening has thus once again put the Samsung family's already prominent presence in the domestic art scene on the map, followed by the donation of more than 23,000 art pieces from Lee Kun-hee's private collection to state-run museums in April. Leeum's renovated lobby with a digital display screen showcasing the work of the installation artist Jennifer Steinkamp / Courtesy of Leeum Upon entering the museum's renovated lobby, visitors' eyes are drawn to the 11.3-meter-wide digital display screen awash with vibrant media art from the American installation artist Jennifer Steinkamp. The screen is one of the new features installed to emphasize the architectural details of the space surrounding Leeum's iconic rotunda, whose ceiling is now covered with artist Kimsooja's clear, holographic film sheets that transform the incoming sunlight into a soft rainbow. "The museum, designed by the three world-renowned architects [Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas and Mario Botta], used to contain various subsidiary structures simply placed out of convenience," creative director Jung Ku-ho said at a recent press conference. "We focused on clearing them away and adding visually interesting yet complementary features, with a goal to revive the building's original aesthetics." Installation view of the permanent showcase of the museum's traditional Korean art collection / Courtesy of Leeum "Jar Decorated with Dragons and Clouds" produced in 18th century / Courtesy of Leeum For its permanent showcases of Korean artifacts and contemporary art, the museum has explored different themes and directions to be more inclusive of the pieces that were previously not given much chance under the spotlight. As a result, 160 pieces displayed in the traditional Korean art section include not only National Treasures the rare, surviving Buddhist painting "Amitabha Triad" from the late 918-1392 Goryeo Dynasty and "Daoist Immortals" (1776) by master painter Kim Hong-do of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom but also the newly exhibited ceremonial "Jar Decorated with Dragons and Clouds" symbolizing the prestige of the Joseon Kingdom and "Box Inlaid with Mother-of-pearl," a finely decorated lacquerware produced between the 14th and 15th century. Six pieces of modern artwork by Park Seo-bo and Byron Kim among others that share similar materials, aesthetics or methods of production with such antiques are nestled throughout the section as a compelling intersection between the old and the new. Installation view of the permanent showcase of the museum's contemporary art collection / Courtesy of Leeum The number of pieces exhibited for the first time at the museum is even greater in its contemporary art section, with more than a half of the 76 paintings, sculptures and installations on view having never appeared before the public. To achieve this, curators devised creative and unique themes outside of typical, historical classifications of art that befit a wide range of Leeum's collection. These include "Black Blank," a visual exploration of the color black; "Ephemeral Gravity," a world of non-material art; and "Strange Planet," a curiosity shop featuring fossils of imaginary creatures (Lee Hyung-koo's "Canis Latrans Animatus") and a constellation of crystal spheres that produce countless inverted reflections of viewers when approached (Olafur Eliasson's "Your Unpredictable Path"). Lastly, Leeum's large-scale special exhibition, "Human, 7 Questions," which runs through Jan. 2 of next year, examines a fundamental, timely topic of human existence against the mosaic of social inequality exposed and exacerbated by the global pandemic. Ron Mueck's "Mask II" (2002) on display as part of the special exhibition "Human, 7 Questions" / Courtesy of Leeum "Recurrence SH 2013016" (2011) by Kim Tschang-Yeul / Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai By Park Han-sol The Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) Seoul, the largest of its kind in the country since 2002, opened its doors on Wednesday with a VVIP preview session at COEX in southern Seoul. This year's edition has been highly anticipated among art enthusiasts, as it is expected to continue the streak of success achieved by other local art fairs held earlier including the Galleries Art Fair, the Busan Annual Market of Art (BAMA), Art Busan and Plastic Art Seoul (PLAS). These events all saw record turnouts and sales this year amid surging public interest in the art market and a subsequent influx of new, young collectors. The event's organizer, the Galleries Association of Korea, said that the limited number of 100 tickets for Wednesday's exclusive VVIP previews each priced at 300,000 won ($250) sold out in two days, with the majority of the buyers being in their 30s and 40s. After the preview sessions, the fair will be open to the general public from Friday to Sunday. KIAF Seoul has also started gaining more attention from galleries both here and abroad, most notably due to the launching of its five-year-long partnership with the renowned Frieze Art Fair, starting in September of next year. The partnership will make Seoul the first Asian host of Frieze, a leading global platform for modern and contemporary art. In fact, compared to previous years, the organizer saw more than a 30-percent increase in the number of galleries that applied to set up their booths this year, amounting to nearly 300, according to Do Hyung-teh, the deputy head of the association. "Tree of Life #8" (2020) by David Salle / Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt, New York, Lehmann Maupin, Hong Kong, Seoul and London At COEX, some 170 galleries from 10 countries will showcase paintings, sculptures and media works. Major participants from the domestic art scene include Gana Art, Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, Arario Gallery and PKM Gallery. With Seoul being seen as a rising Asian hub in the global art market, a number of prominent overseas galleries Lehmann Maupin, Perrotin, Tang Contemporary Art, Spruth Magers and Pace will return to the fair this year. Ahead of its joint showcase with Frieze next year, KIAF Seoul will invite Victoria Siddall, the current board director of Frieze, as one of its online guest speakers, to share the vision of the two organizations' partnership and Seoul's potential as a major destination for the art market in Asia. "Seoul can rise to become the center of the Asian art market," Hwang Dal-seung, chair of the Galleries Association of Korea, said at the recent press conference, adding that a heated competition is taking place which could shift the base of the Asian art market from the current hubs of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei or Singapore, to Seoul. "I believe that the Korean art market could grow at least five times its current size, which will be a chance to introduce even more domestic artists to the international scene." Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a meeting on the government's response to COVID-19 at the government complex in Seoul, Oct. 13. Yonhap South Korea will consider introducing a "vaccine pass" for people's gradual return to normal life, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Wednesday, as the country prepares to adopt a "living with COVID-19" scheme. Kim hinted at easing virus prevention measures under the new scheme, which is expected to begin Nov. 9, but he stressed that does not mean that the country should let its guard down against the virus. Under the scheme, COVID-19 will be treated as an infectious respiratory disease, like seasonal influenza. "We are not saying people should take off their masks right away," Kim said during the inaugural meeting of a new government-civilian committee handling the transition to normal life under the pandemic. "Although we may ease quarantine measures, we should also prepare for the worst possible situation." Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in Anguk-dong, Seoul, Oct. 8. Courtesy of Rotary Korea By Nam Hyun-woo In July, Rotary International, one of the largest volunteer service organizations in the world, embraced the new leadership of Shekhar Mehta, chairman and founder of India-based real estate developer Skyline Group. Under Mehta's leadership, Rotary is becoming a more action-oriented organization, focusing on practical goals that can actually change lives. "When I say 'serve,' I'm asking you to do some action," Mehta said during an interview with The Korea Times, Oct. 8, during his visit to Seoul. "And what happens when you serve people? It changes their lives. As you keep changing other people's lives, your life becomes sublime." Mehta became the global head of Rotary International on July 1 and will serve in the post until June 30 of next year. As the president, he has set his theme of leadership to, "serve to change lives," which he said refers to providing tailored and practical help to people in need. "Let's say we are providing service to keep the peace," Mehta said. "Peace is not just the absence of war. Providing a piece of bread to a family that hasn't eaten for days could be peace for them. So that's what Rotarians are doing giving homes to those who are homeless, giving health to people who do not have health, giving education to people who are uneducated." Mehta visited Korea to attend the 2021 Rotary International President Conference in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, which was held from Oct. 5 to 6. The conference highlighted ideas and actions for disease prevention and treatment, with leading domestic experts in healthcare providing lectures. One of the diseases that Rotary International focuses on is polio; the organization has played a key role for more than 30 years in the world's effort to eradicate the disease. "I've been in Rotary for 36 years, and even today when I speak of polio, I have goosebumps," Mehta said. "Thirty-six years back when Rotary started this program, 350,000 children were either dying or getting paralyzed. This year, there are only two cases in two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan and there has been not a single case for the last eight months." As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has been one of the most active organizations in the world's battle against polio, by helping more than 2.5 billion children get immunized in 122 countries. Following these efforts, polio cases have declined by 99.9 percent since Rotary's first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. "In mankind's history, the only vaccine-preventable disease to be eradicated was small pox," Mehta said. "The other one could be polio. For 36 years, 1.2 million Rotarians have had one corporate goal, and that is eradicating polio. And we are now nearly there. Keeping our fingers crossed, for the next four months, I hope there will be no polio cases." According to him, if there are no polio cases in the next four months, the World Health Organization will wait for three additional years to certify the world as now polio-free. However, even if the world reaches polio-free status, he said that Rotary will maintain its focus on its program, to support vaccination programs for the prevention of other diseases. To support this program, Jimin of K-pop group BTS donated 100 million won ($83,700) to Rotary International in July and received a letter of appreciation during the conference here. "It is a big amount," Mehta said. "What's more important is the message. For a man who is so popular, that person is giving hope. I don't expect others to give $80,000 also, but people should see the message in it." During the interview, Mehta showed appreciation for Korean Rotarians' passion in engaging in service, saying that their efforts are providing a boost in Rotary International's global programs. "Let's talk about India in comparison. It is one of the best countries for Rotary performance. There is so much need and people are wanting to donate and serve," he said. "In Korea, the needs are not so much but the passion to serve is there. People here want to do something. They want to serve so they have been doing programs and projects not just here but around the world." Mehta noted that Rotary Clubs in Korea are engaging in a series of projects, such as e-learning programs in India and building blood banks in African countries. According to Rotary officials, Korea was the second-largest country in terms of donations to the Rotary Foundation, with $22.7 million last year, following the U.S. "It's important for people to take care of other people," Mehta said. "And when I say other people, it's not just those in your own backyard. The world is your backyard." Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul called for the military's robust readiness posture during a visit to an Air Force unit on Wednesday, his office said. Won visited the 10th Fighter Wing in Suwon, just south of Seoul, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for boosting his country's defense capabilities following a series of missile launches in September. "The military should maintain its readiness posture to protect the lives and the safety of the people at any conditions," Won was quoted by his office as saying. Won also pointed out that the military can gain public trust from successful missions, such as Operation Miracle under which South Korea evacuated nearly 400 Afghan co-workers and family members who were facing possible Taliban threats. Won also boarded an F-5 jet during his visit as he instructed the troops, according to the JSC. His visit followed a recent series of military actions carried out by North Korea, including the test of a hypersonic missile last month. (Yonhap) South Korea's chief trade delegate said Wednesday that Seoul will play an active role in building a multilateral trade system in line with the World Trade Organization's initiative as it continues to abide by international trade norms. Kim Jeong-il, who led a 16-member South Korean delegation, made the pledges at the eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) session of the WTO on South Korea, which began in Switzerland on Wednesday for a three-day run, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The remarks by the deputy minister for international trade and legal affairs at the ministry came as WTO member nations questioned South Korea's sanitary and phytosanitary measures on agricultural and food products and intellectual property rights policies, among other things. The TPR, one of the key monitoring mechanisms of the WTO, is held on a regular basis to review a member nation's domestic trade policies and commitments. The last TPR session on South Korea was held in 2016. On the sidelines of the session, Kim plans to hold a bilateral meeting with WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam to discuss such pending issues as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ministry. (Yonhap) Tesla CEO Elon Musk reacts to onlookers as he departs after taking the stand to defend Tesla Inc's 2016 deal for SolarCity in a case before the Delaware Court of Chancery in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., on July 21. Reuters-Yonhap U.S. safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn't file recall documents when it updated Autopilot software to better identify parked emergency vehicles, escalating a simmering clash between the automaker and regulators. In a letter to Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric car maker Tuesday that it must recall vehicles if an over-the-internet update mitigates a safety defect. "Any manufacturer issuing an over-the-air update that mitigates a defect that poses an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is required to timely file an accompanying recall notice to NHTSA," the agency said in a letter to Eddie Gates, Tesla's director of field quality. The agency also ordered Tesla to provide information about its "Full Self-Driving" software that's being tested on public roads with some owners. The latest clash is another sign of escalating tensions between Tesla and the agency that regulates partially automated driving systems. In August the agency opened an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot after getting multiple reports of vehicles crashing into emergency vehicles with warning lights flashing that were stopped on highways. The letter was posted on the NHTSA website early Wednesday. A message was left early Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department. NHTSA opened a formal investigation of Autopilot in August after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the dozen crashes identified as part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed. According to the agency, Tesla did an over-the-internet software update in late September that was intended to improve detection of emergency vehicle lights in low-light conditions. The agency says that Tesla is aware that federal law requires automakers to do a recall if they find out that vehicles or equipment have safety defects. The agency asked for information about Tesla's "Emergency Light Detection Update" that was sent to certain vehicles "with the stated purpose of detecting flashing emergency vehicle lights in low light conditions and then responding to said detection with driver alerts and changes to the vehicle speed while Autopilot is engaged." The letter asks for a list of events that motivated the software update, as well as what vehicles it was sent to and whether the measures extend to Tesla's entire fleet. It also asks the Palo Alto, California, company whether it intends to file recall documents. "If not, please furnish Tesla's technical and/or legal basis for declining to do so," the agency asks. Tesla has to comply with the request by Nov. 1 or face court action and civil fines of more than $114 million, the agency wrote. In a separate special order sent to Tesla, NHTSA says that the company may be taking steps to hinder the agency's access to safety information by requiring drivers who are testing "Full Self-Driving" software to sign non-disclosure agreements. The order demands that Tesla describe the non-disclosure agreements and how they are signed by Tesla drivers. The company also must say whether Tesla requires owners of vehicles equipped with Autopilot to agree "to any terms that would prevent or discourage vehicle owners from sharing information about or discussing any aspect of Autopilot with any person other than Tesla." Responses must be made by a Tesla officer under oath. If Tesla fails to fully comply, the order says the matter could be referred to the Justice Department for court action to force responses. It also threatens more fines of over $114 million. Tesla has said that neither vehicles equipped with "Full Self-Driving" nor Autopilot can drive themselves. It warns drivers that they must be ready to intervene at all times. It was unclear how Tesla and mercurial CEO Elon Musk will respond to NHTSA's demands. The company and Musk have a long history of sparring with federal regulators. In January, Tesla refused a request from NHTSA to recall about 135,000 vehicles because their touch screens could go dark. The agency said the screens were a safety defect because backup cameras and windshield defroster controls could be disabled. A month later, after NHTSA started the process of holding a public hearing and taking Tesla to court, the company agreed to the recall. Tesla said it would replace computer processors for the screens, even though it maintained there was no safety threat. Musk fought with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a 2018 tweet claiming that he had financing to take Tesla private, when that funding was not secured. He and the company agreed to pay $20 million each to settle allegations that he misled investors. Later the SEC sought to hold Musk in contempt of court for tweeting a misleading projection of how many cars Tesla would manufacture. Musk branded the SEC the "shortseller enrichment commission," distorting the meaning of its acronym. Short sellers bet that a stock price will fall. The new demands from NHTSA signal a tougher regulatory stance under President Joe Biden on automated vehicle safety compared with the previous administrations. The agency had appeared reluctant to regulate the new technology for fear of hampering adoption of the potentially life-saving systems. The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot's use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to have a better system to make sure drivers are paying attention. The NTSB has no enforcement powers and can only make recommendations to other federal agencies. (AP) By Sho Chang-young All schools in South Korea have started the second semester of their 2021 school year, and their learning systems are rapidly transitioning from remote classes, caused by COVID-19, to in-person ones. In September, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon unveiled a master plan for the capital. In that proposal, he stressed that the Seoul Metropolitan Government would continue to expand the city-run free online education program called "Seoul Learn" in order to bridge the widening learning gap amid the coronavirus pandemic. Seoul Learn aims to provide underprivileged students with online lectures from well-known private crammers (known as "hagwon" in Korean) for free. There is some dispute over this policy among interested groups. I have worked as a teacher, principal and educational supervisor for over three decades. There have been two big challenges I faced during that long period. One was to improve the overall efficiency of classes and the other was to shorten the interpersonal gap in educational results. The former had to do with improving the level of professionalism of teachers and the latter required an educational policy approach. Discussions about teachers' professionalism in class have been ongoing. There may be some disagreements, but it can be said that the efficiency of teaching in the field has generally increased. However, we still have a long way to go when it comes to resolving the gap in education. It has a deep relationship with educational policy, which has fluctuated according to the political ideology of the ruling powers over the years. At the time of the ruling conservative party I've been through, the "excellence in education" concept predominated with the idea of bridging the educational gap, while the view of equality was neglected. The phrase that was often quoted at that time was that "the top 2 percent of talent feeds the remaining 98 percent." To the contrary, when progressive administrations were in control, equality in education overwhelmed any focus on excellence. The foreign proverb that goes, "If you go alone, you go fast, but if you all go together, you go far," was frequently mentioned. Nonetheless, the rule of thumb was that humans are fundamentally selfish. We always want to stay ahead of others as long as conditions allow. I have seen a countless number of cases where influential parents who publicly emphasized equality in education were privately investing heavily to ensure the educational excellence of their children. As such desires cannot be ignored in reality, the state-funded "gifted education" programs led by the central government have been active in each ordinary school, even in an era when educational equality has been emphasized. The term "gifted education" gained universal support to become a kind of buzzword. During my tenure, I have experienced several central or local government policies similar to the Seoul city government's policy aimed at alleviating the inequality in education. Each time I practiced those policies on the front lines. Of course, there were other policies for the opposite purpose and I practiced them too. In my view, most of the arguments felt more like representing the opinions of interested parties than principles. Suddenly, Dr. John W. Gardner's book, "Excellence: Can we be equal and excellent too?" came to my mind. I read it when I had just started teaching. So I picked it up again from the bookshelf and read its faded yellowish pages again. It seemed to be old because it was written in the 1960s and translated in the 1990s, but it came as a fresh surprise to me that the ideas taught by the book are still applicable today. This may be due to the fact that the fundamental functions and nature of education do not change, just like the basic desires and needs of humans. The writer (sochan57@naver.com) is a retired principal of Gunsan Girls' High School. By Nobumasa Akiyama Australia's decision to build attack nuclear submarines in cooperation with the United States and the United Kingdom, while breaking its contract with France to procure conventional submarines, was received with great surprise in Japan. Initially, a proposal to procure conventional Japanese submarines to replace Australia's Collins-class submarines had been regarded as the most likely option, but the French proposal had defeated that of Japan in a 2016 tender. Therefore, interest in Australia's decision was extremely high in the Japanese security community. During the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, two of the four candidates responded to questions from the media that Japan should consider owning nuclear submarines in the future. (However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the winner of the election, did not mention the possession of nuclear submarines.) The so-called AUKUS, a framework for security cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has been attracting much attention for its nuclear submarine deal. But the submarine deal is not the only one. As many commentators have already mentioned, it is part of an effort to build a reliable security supply chain and also includes the procurement of the Tomahawk long-range cruise missile and cooperation in advanced technologies, such as cyber, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It is important to point out that the details of the AUKUS cooperation arrangements will be worked out over the next 18 months and that Australia will not actually operate nuclear submarines until the 2030s, so there are many uncertainties. Nevertheless, the prospect that Australia is about to become the world's seventh nuclear submarine power (or perhaps the eighth, with Brazil ahead of it) will influence security and nonproliferation thinking in Japan and elsewhere in the region. The first question is whether Australia's acquisition of nuclear submarines will stimulate proliferation in the region. It is highly unlikely that Australia itself would pursue the acquisition of nuclear weapons and its nuclear submarine program would become the source of nuclear proliferation or nuclear security problems. However, Australia's decision has the effect of lowering psychological barriers to the possession and transfer of nuclear submarines, and it may trigger greater debate over nuclear submarine possession, not only in Asia but also in the Middle East and elsewhere, and hence accelerates the trend of nuclear submarine acquisition in Asia, which has already begun. In Asia, India possesses nuclear submarines, and in August 2020, South Korea has announced a plan to build nuclear submarines. Also, in January 2021, Kim Jong-un said that North Korea would also work on developing nuclear submarines. In South Korea's case, cooperation from the United States will be the key to acquiring nuclear submarines. Will the U.S. then adopt a double-standard stance of "Australia is good, South Korea is bad," or will it choose to cooperate with South Korea? If South Korea does acquire nuclear submarines, will Japan be able to withstand politically a situation in which it would be the only key player in the region that does not have nuclear submarines? In fact, given the role assigned to Japan's submarine fleet in the current Japan-U.S. alliance's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plan, it would be more rational to invest in improving the quietness and battery capacity of conventional submarines. However, depending on future ASW operations that have geographically and functionally greater missions with more partners such as Australia, Japan may have the appetite to possess nuclear submarines in the future. It may also be linked to the issue of how to cope with underwater arms races, including autonomous nuclear-propelled vessels. Second, Australia's increased capability in ASW and medium- to long-range strike capability means that Australia will become more involved in the East Asian security dynamics, including in the South China Sea. Australia's involvement would be desirable for Japan's security so as to envision a deterrence architecture of the Indo-Pacific (or what the United States calls "integrated deterrence"), to deal with the rapidly growing military threat of China. Japan will also strengthen its cooperation with the United States and Australia to build a more resilient defense supply chain. AUKUS will serve as an important catalyst for envisioning the kind of security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region that is both desirable and necessary for Japan. Prime Minister Kishida announced a review of the National Security Strategy. Seven years have passed since the formulation of the current NSS and the security environment has undergone major changes, including the qualitative and quantitative expansion of China's military capability, the growing risk of a Taiwan Strait contingency, the intensifying strategic confrontation between the United States and China and the improvement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Against this backdrop, Japan needs to re-envision its role in a more integrated regional deterrence architecture and ways to partner not only with the United States, but also with Australia, South Korea and other like-minded countries. AUKUS presents a good alarm for Japan to think about regional security more dynamically, incorporating ways of preventing an escalating arms race and proliferation. Dr. Nobumasa Akiyama is a professor of International Politics at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan. He is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN). His article is published in cooperation with the APLN (www.apln.network). Time to awaken to gravity of stalking crimes A Seoul court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to life imprisonment for murdering a woman he stalked, as well as her mother and younger sister, in a case that raised awareness about stalking crimes. On Tuesday, the Seoul Northern District Court handed out the sentence to Kim Tae-hyun, who had been indicted on five criminal charges, including murder and breaking and entering. Kim claimed the killings of the mother and the sister were not premeditated, saying he wasn't aware of the other family members. But the court rejected his claim and convicted him of all charges brought against him. "The mother and the sister were brutally murdered although they had nothing to do with the defendant. The crimes show the defendant's extreme disregard for human life," the court said. Kim was arrested at the victim's home in Seoul on March 25, days after killing the three women there. He had been stalking the family's eldest daughter he met through online games last year. After she cut communications with him, Kim disguised himself as a delivery man to enter her home and commit his crimes. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for him, arguing that Kim had planned the crimes in advance. But the court rejected their request, stating that Kim acknowledged most of his crimes and had no prior serious criminal record. Nonetheless, the life sentence may seem too light a penalty, given the severity of his crimes. The murder case should serve as an occasion to awaken our society to the gravity of stalking. Stalking is a serious crime that makes it impossible for a victim to lead a normal life. In this respect, it is welcome news that a new law on stalking was enacted in March. Under the law that will go into effect next week, stalkers can face up to five years in jail or 50 million won ($42,000) in fines. Hopefully, this law will take firm root so that no one will fall victim to stalking crimes ever again. Gov. Lee faces tough challenges in presidential bid President Moon Jae-in instructed a swift and thorough investigation into a simmering scandal surrounding a lucrative land development project in Daejang-dong, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. It is the first time Moon has commented on the issue, indicating how seriously he takes it. Moon is under pressure to reveal his position on the scandal, over which public sentiment has turned against his administration and the governing party. He had been silent on the matter, apparently wary of any potential impact his remarks could have had on the primary race of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to pick its presidential candidate. The DPK wrapped up the primary race, Sunday, electing Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung as its presidential candidate. Amid the brewing dispute over the scandal, Lee faces growing allegations about his possible connections to the scandal, as he set up the land development scheme in 2014 as Seongnam mayor as a public-private project for apartment construction. Given the graveness of the case, the prosecution and the police should conduct a thorough investigation to lay bare the truth behind the scandal. Prosecutors are trying to get to the bottom of the case. On Monday, they summoned and questioned Kim Man-bae, a former journalist and major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, an asset management firm involved in the project. The next day the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of offering large bribes to city officials, lawmakers and judges in return for business favors. Kim is also suspected of being responsible for Seongnam City's losses worth 110 billion won ($92.2 million) by raking in most of the development profits by deleting a profit-sharing clause in an illicit manner in collaboration with Yoo Dong-gyu, then acting president of Seongnam Development Corp. in charge of the city-run project. Kim faces allegations that he gave Yoo 500 million won in bribes and promised to offer him 70 billion won in return for his cooperation. Kim also allegedly paid a 5 billion won bribe to the son of Rep. Kwak Sang-do of the opposition People Power Party, in what was called severance pay to curry favor with the lawmaker, who had been a presidential secretary during the 2013-17 Park Geun-hye admninistration. Investigators presumed that Kim embezzled 5.5 billion won from his company to pay for the bribes. However, Kim has denied any wrongdoing. Yoo allegedly played a key role in the project as a close confidant of Governor Lee. As both Kim and Yoo have denied the allegations, the prosecution has been tasked to discover the truth with concrete proof. Law enforcement authorities should mobilize all possible means by tracking accounts of the related figures and thoroughly analyzing their communications records, if necessary. This is all the more necessary for the prosecution, as it has been under public criticism for neglecting to dig deeper into the politically sensitive case. The National Assembly, for its part, should embark on its own fact-finding mission to shed light on the case. If necessary, the ruling and opposition parties should make bipartisan efforts to draft a bill calling for President Moon to appoint a special counsel to reveal the truth about the scandal. As Governor Lee has vowed to attend the annual National Assembly audit of his province, he needs to give a clear explanation about his alleged involvement in the scandal. If he fails to clear himself of any suspicions about the case, his presidential bid will be off to a rough start. Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck Electronics, and Wookyu Kim, managing director of Merck Korea, inspect the company's facility in Sihwa, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 7. Courtesy of Merck Korea By Baek Byung-yeul Germany-based Merck has contributed greatly to the development of high-tech industries such as semiconductors and displays, providing electronic materials to prominent tech companies in the global market. In particular, Merck's electronics business sector has been strengthening ties with the high-tech sector in Korea, a powerhouse in the semiconductor and display industries. These efforts are in line with the Korean government's "K-semiconductor" strategy, which is aimed at establishing the world's largest semiconductor and display supply chain by 2030. On Oct. 7, Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck Electronics, visited the company's facility in Korea and announced a massive investment of 600 million euros ($693 million) into the electronics sector by 2025. The CEO of Merck's electronics business said the company has decided to increase its investments here to beef up cooperation with Korean companies that are gradually expanding their production capacity for semiconductors and OLED displays. "Korea is one of the leading countries in technology and one of the most important customers worldwide. We want to be very close to our customers in Korea and this is why we invest in Korea and try to serve them as close as possible," the CEO told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul, Oct. 8. "Six hundred million euros is a huge number if you compare that to our total investment, which is not small." The company said Korea is one of its key focus countries for investment in electronics. Such an investment is an essential part of the business sector's "Level Up" growth program, which seeks growth opportunities that come along with significantly accelerating global demand for innovative semiconductor and display materials. Merck believes that this soaring demand is driven by the exponential growth of data use and new technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT) and 5G. Thanks to these changing trends, Merck's electronics business is aiming for a compound average growth rate of 3 percent to 6 percent between 2021 and 2025. The CEO said that increasing investment in Korea is in line with the company's business strategy for a post-pandemic world. "The global megatrend of evolving digitization and data growth has been expedited by COVID-19, which has triggered some long-lasting changes in consumers and enterprises' digital behavior. These growing trends confirm that there will be future growth in the semiconductor and display businesses. Both Merck and Korea are well-positioned to contribute to its innovations," Beckmann said. "We recognize that Korea is a big driving force in the electronics industry, and Korean display and semi manufacturers are among the leading players in our industry. Our strategy is to be the company behind the company, supporting Korea's electronics industry to continue to excel in the next data-driven megatrends," he said. The CEO added that Merck's investment can be interpreted as a localization strategy being pursued in Korea to respond actively to demand from customers here. "The 600 million euro investment announcement demonstrates that we are very much interested in localizing our core supply chain. For several reasons, we have to be fast in responding to customers' needs. Second, of course, we need to become more independent from supply chain struggles," he said. "The more you localize, the less you are exposed to these kinds of challenges." As part of Merck's effort to enhance cooperation with Korea, Beckmann also had a meeting with the industry minister to discuss the nation's high-tech industry vision and ways to secure a stable supply chain for high-tech materials. Industry Minister Moon Sung-wook said after meeting with Beckmann, Oct. 8, "The investment from Merck will allow Korea to secure a stable supply chain for semiconductor materials, advanced technologies and skilled labor." "Merck's investment in Korea will be a win-win for Korea in terms of securing stable supply chains, advanced technologies and manpower, and Merck will also establish stable business relationships with companies here," Moon added. Merck established its Korean subsidiary in 1989 and operates 11 research and production sites here. The company's Korean branch has 1,350 employees in electronics, healthcare and life sciences. Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck Electronics, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas hotel, Oct. 8. Courtesy of Merck Korea Seen is the poster for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Unpacked Part 2, online event scheduled for Oct. 20 (KST). Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul In a move to secure its market share, Samsung Electronics is aiming to diversify its mobile lineup by releasing colorful new versions of its Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable phones. On Wednesday, Samsung Electronics said it sent out invitations for its Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 event to be held online on Oct. 20. Unsurprisingly, it didn't unveil exactly which products it will showcase. However, the company is expected to release new color versions of its Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable phones. Samsung didn't give much in the way of hints in the invitational letter, but the announcement will be more about "custom specifications" for Galaxy devices, which is similar to those seen in the company's BESPOKE customizable home appliances. "Our users are multifaceted and live life in so many colorful, interesting and unique ways. As such, the technology they use every day should reflect their individuality. Join Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 on October 20 to see how Samsung is opening up new experiences for self-expression through technology," the company said in the letter. Chances are also there that the company may introduce the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition (FE) smartphone, which was expected to be released within this year, and the Galaxy Tab S8, reports said. "While it was previously reported that Samsung had delayed the launch of the Galaxy S21 FE, it is now rumored that the device could be unveiled during the upcoming event and will launch a few weeks later." Investors' focus is on how Samsung will elaborate its specifics regarding the company's mobile phone sales as its phone business has been affected by the continued global supply chain twist. Plus, rising chip prices have been putting further pressure on its mobile business division's bottom line. Overall smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1.38 billion units this year, up 7.7 percent year-on-year, a recent forecast by the International Data Corporation (IDC) showed. Samsung maintained the top position in the global smartphone market as of the second quarter of this year with an 18.8 percent share. However, China's Xiaomi is catching up with Samsung with a 16.9 percent share during the same period. Samsung is pinning high hopes on its foldable technology and it is on track to release more budgets foldable phones to secure its share bottom line, said analysts. People walk outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), as global supply chain disruptions continue to affect the American economy, Oct. 4, in New York City. AFP-Yonhap KCCI considers establishing 1st liaison office in Washington D.C. By Kim Yoo-chul The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is considering opening up its first liaison office in Washington D.C., in a bid to defend the best interests of Korean companies in the United States, sources familiar with the issue told The Korea Times, Wednesday. The KCCI is the country's most-influential business lobby and is headed by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. The main purpose of opening the office is to voice concerns in some pending and other outstanding issues from Korea's standpoint and to appeal to U.S. politicians on why policy actions matter or don't matter case-by-case, said one source. Lobbying is often criticized as a form of bribery. However, in the United States, lobbying is legal and the "Lobbying Disclosure Act," enables federal lobbying if the activities are registered and disclosed. The KCCI's move comes as the prolonged pandemic and corresponding economic difficulties have been disrupting parts-oriented supply chains in the U.S., one of the top commercial markets for Korea. The continued semiconductor chip shortage is having a grave impact on automotive, industrial and even end user products in the U.S. This situation has been leading U.S. national security experts to explore with its allies the best possible ways to address supply chain bottlenecks. The core point is that the U.S.'s underlying commercial industrial foundations are crucial to its security. From Korea's standpoint, given the country's strong ties with the U.S., Korean companies, which operate manufacturing plants, aren't in the position to turn a blind eye to the U.S. demands for confidential chip supply data. The question is: how can Korean companies protect their best interests amid such tough requests from Washington, in a unified and systematic manner? When asked about the specific timeframe of the liaison office's opening and plans for staffing, the source declined to comment. "Because batteries and semiconductors are considered to have a substantial impact on U.S. national security, and given Korea's strengths in these segments, lobbying to U.S. politicians will be of great importance, as lobbying offers greater access to politicians and acts as the right tool to speak out publicly on key issues," a second source said. Samsung Electronics operates massive semiconductor plants in the U.S. state of Texas and it is waiting for updates from the U.S. government regarding the company's requests for tax benefits, before finalizing its $17-billion chip investment plant in a city near Austin, Texas. LGES, the top-tier electric vehicle battery manufacturer, operates a joint battery plant with General Motors (GM) in the U.S. state of Ohio, and it is building its second battery plant with GM in the U.S state of Tennessee. Additionally, SK Innovation (SKI) is building battery plants in the U.S. state of Georgia with financial assistance. It formed a joint venture with Ford to build battery and assembly lines in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Recent reports from both Republican and Democratic parties raised concerns about the U.S. defense industry's reliance on limited domestic suppliers, with the global supply chain being vulnerable to disruption, as well as about competitor country suppliers, a recent White House analysis said. During a meeting with South Korean media in Washington D.C., early Wednesday (KST), researchers at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) warned that Samsung Electronics will be limited in terms of its participation in Washington-led public procurement programs if Samsung fails to share its key semiconductor supply chain data with the U.S. commerce department. The KEI's public relations chief, Kwon Yong-wook, told reporters that the U.S. government was hoping to maintain its partnership with Samsung Electronics. GS Group headquarters in southern Seoul / Korea Times file By Yi Whan-woo GS Group, the country's eighth-largest conglomerate, is not considered to be as agile as other large business groups when it comes to the speed of transition toward eco-friendly businesses. Some industry sources claimed, Wednesday, that the conglomerate's flagship affiliate, GS Caltex, also one of Korea's four major refineries, is hindered in its attempts to transition due to a 50 percent stake owned by U.S. oil giant Chevron. The other half is owned by GS Energy, a holding company that oversees the conglomerate's entire energy business, from overseas resources to oil refining and producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). "Having half of its stakes held by Chevron may make GS Caltex not fully independent to shift away from the refinery business at its own pace," a source familiar with the Korean company said. The source pointed out that Chevron announced a plan this year to expand oil and gas production through 2025, but has not outlined the specifics on spending. The refinery business accounted for 85 percent of GS Caltex's total sales in the first half of this year, while petrochemicals accounted for another 12 percent of revenue. "The shareholding structure of GS Caltex, therefore, can be said to be influencing GS Group's broader strategy to go green in one way or another," the second source said. A night view of a GS Caltex oil refinery facility in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province / Korea Times file Supporters of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou gather at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 25. AP-Yonhap China's foreign ministry has called on Canada to be "nondiscriminatory" toward Huawei Technologies and other mainland firms after a survey found more than three-quarters of Canadians want the tech giant banned from the country's 5G networks. The Nanos poll was conducted for The Globe and Mail newspaper after China released two Canadians whose detention for almost three years was viewed by Ottawa as hostage diplomacy. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were released last month on the same day as Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who was being held under partial house arrest in Vancouver until she struck a deal with the U.S. that resulted in prosecutors dropping their request for her extradition on fraud charges. Nanos found that 76 percent of respondents wanted Huawei banned, up from 53 percent two years ago. The proportion who thought Huawei's 5G role should be approved was 10 percent, down from 22 percent in 2019, the Globe reported on Monday. The Canadian government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly delayed making a decision about whether to let Huawei play a role in constructing the nation's next-generation wireless internet infrastructure amid security concerns. The U.S., U.K. and Australia have already banned Huawei from such a role. On Sept. 28, Trudeau said he hoped to announce a decision "on telecommunications and Huawei in the coming weeks". On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to the survey findings at a regular briefing in Beijing. "The Canadian side should adopt an objective and unbiased attitude, independently make decisions that are in line with its interests, and provide a fair, just, open and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies," he said. "The sophistication and safety of Huawei's 5G products have been recognized by most operators around the globe," he said. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 6. Reuters-Yonhap Description Location Districtwide (Ventura County CA), CA Job Type Part-Time Faculty Department Districtwide Job Number 2021-02163 Description COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Employees and Students requires that all students and employees of the Ventura County Community College District, which includes faculty, staff, volunteers, student workers, and administrators, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All new employees must be fully vaccinated by the first day of employment. An exemption may be requested by individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical and/or religious reasons. Employees who receive an exemption will be required to wear a mask or face covering while on District property and/or facilities and will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing twice weekly. We are accepting applications on an on-going basis for future consideration for part-time instructors in this discipline at any of our three colleges (Oxnard, Moorpark, and Ventura). While there is no current vacancy in this discipline, applications submitted to this pool will be kept on file for the current academic year ( Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and/or Spring 2022 semesters) and may be considered if a vacancy opens within the academic year. If you have applied to previous pools in this discipline, you will need to apply to this pool to continue to be considered. WHAT YOU'LL DO Under the general direction of a dean, an Instructor (Non-Contract/Temporary) provides comprehensive classroom instruction to students from diverse backgrounds for the purpose of facilitating the attainment of their academic or vocational objectives. In accordance with the provisions of Education Code sections 87482.5, Instructors (Non-Contract/Temporary) may be employed up to 67% of a full-time assignment. WHO WE ARE Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work that we do within the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD). The VCCCD is a public community college district serving residents throughout Ventura County. The VCCCD's three colleges - Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College - offer programs for transfer to four-year colleges and universities; career technical training; basic skills instruction; as well as community service, economic development, and continuing education for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement. The Ventura County Community College District recognizes that a diverse community of faculty, staff, and administrators promote academic excellence. This creates an inclusive educational and work environment for its students, employees, and the community it serves. With the understanding that a diverse community fosters multi-cultural awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides role models for all students, the VCCCD is committed to recruiting and employing a diverse and committed group of faculty, staff, and administrators who are dedicated to the success of all college students. We encourage candidates who are equity-minded to submit an application for employment. We are designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Ventura County Community College District ensures that all employees and applicants for positions will have equal opportunity for employment regardless of ethnic group identification, race, color, language, accent, immigration status, ancestry, national origin, political beliefs, age, gender, religion, transgender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, and/or physical or mental disability. Representative Duties We are accepting applications on an on-going basis for future consideration for part-time instructors in this discipline at any of our three colleges (Oxnard, Moorpark, and Ventura). While there is no current vacancy in this discipline, applications submitted to this pool will be kept on file for the current academic year () and may be considered if a vacancy opens within the academic year. If you have applied to previous pools in this discipline, you will need to apply to this pool to continue to be considered.Under the general direction of a dean, an Instructor (Non-Contract/Temporary) provides comprehensive classroom instruction to students from diverse backgrounds for the purpose of facilitating the attainment of their academic or vocational objectives. In accordance with the provisions of Education Code sections 87482.5, Instructors (Non-Contract/Temporary) may be employed up to 67% of a full-time assignment.Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work that we do within the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD). The VCCCD is a public community college district serving residents throughout Ventura County. The VCCCD's three colleges - Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College - offer programs for transfer to four-year colleges and universities; career technical training; basic skills instruction; as well as community service, economic development, and continuing education for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement. The Ventura County Community College District recognizes that a diverse community of faculty, staff, and administrators promote academic excellence. This creates an inclusive educational and work environment for its students, employees, and the community it serves. With the understanding that a diverse community fosters multi-cultural awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides role models for all students, the VCCCD is committed to recruiting and employing a diverse and committed group of faculty, staff, and administrators who are dedicated to the success of all college students.We encourage candidates who are equity-minded to submit an application for employment. We are designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.The Ventura County Community College District ensures that all employees and applicants for positions will have equal opportunity for employment regardless of ethnic group identification, race, color, language, accent, immigration status, ancestry, national origin, political beliefs, age, gender, religion, transgender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, and/or physical or mental disability. Representative Duties Provide academic instruction to students through lecture, lab, or performance courses; assess and develop cognitive abilities, communication skills, and higher order thinking skills among students through appropriate assignments and activities in one-on-one, classroom, and distance mediated instructional settings. E Advise and instruct students regarding programs of study, other institutions of higher education, lifelong learning resources, and effective study skills; refer students to support services, programs, resources, and other professionals as appropriate. E Observe and evaluate student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, discussions, and examinations; provide feedback in a timely manner to student inquiries in class, online, or during established consultation office hours. E Plan and organize instruction according to approved course outlines and student learning outcomes to maximize student learning in alignment with department, college, and district goals; implement the student performance objectives as listed on the official course outline of record. E Maintain current, accurate records of course enrollment, attendance, student academic progress, course curriculum, and student learning outcomes; prepare and submit data and reports related to course and student progress in a timely manner. E Evaluate and select instructional materials such as textbooks, manuals, software, and tools in collaboration, as appropriate, with discipline faculty; order instructional materials according to campus bookstore procedure to ensure timely delivery. E Revise and update course content and materials of instruction in accordance with new theory, application, and industry developments within the discipline or area of specialization. E Update syllabi; collaborate with discipline faculty on a regular basis to assess and revise measurable student performance indicators for each course. E May participate in curriculum and program development; may provide input into the development of student learning outcomes. May attend and participate on committees and in department, division, campus, and district meetings. May participate in articulation and matriculation related activities. May provide work direction to others. Perform related duties as assigned. E = Essential Duties Minimum Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Candidates must possess the minimum qualifications for the discipline as approved by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and defined in the . Master's in the language being taught OR Bachelor's in the language being taught AND Master's in another language or linguistics OR the equivalent* OR possession of an appropriate California Community College Credential. All coursework must be from a recognized accredited college or university. If you have competed your education at an institution outside of the United States, please see the section below titled "Foreign Transcripts" for additional information. * EQUIVALENCY The Ventura County Community College District, in its desire to select outstanding faculty members from the largest possible pool of qualified applicants, recognizes the fact that candidates may attain expertise in a discipline through a variety of means. Certain combinations of education, experience and other accomplishments in the field may be judged by the District as equal to the stated minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates whose transcripts do not list the title of their degree exactly as listed above, but feel they possess such equivalent qualifications are encouraged to complete and submit the with their application for review by the Districtwide Equivalency Committee. Example : Minimum Qualifications state: "Master's degree in agriculture". Candidate's transcripts state: "Master's degree in agricultural science". Since the degree on the candidate's transcripts in the example do not EXACTLY MATCH the degree listed in the minimum qualifications section, this candidate MUST complete the in order to be considered . When completing the form, be sure to explain in detail how your qualifications are equivalent to the required minimum qualifications. Do not assume that you do not need to submit a Supplemental Questionnaire for Equivalency because your degree is similar to a degree stated in the minimum qualifications. Degree titles that are not an exact match will not be considered outside of the equivalency process. The equivalency review is an independent process for district wide disciplines that is separate from the recruitment process to fill a vacancy. A subcommittee of discipline experts that is coordinated by an Academic Senate President will review the equivalency materials and make a recommendation as to whether or not the applicant demonstrated they have qualifications that are equivalent to those shown in the minimum qualifications section of the job posting. For disciplines that are unique to a specific campus the equivalency may be done by the hiring committee along with an Academic Senate President. Please be aware that the hiring committee may not be able to wait for the results from the equivalency review due to various time constraints and may need to move forward with the recruitment process. For further details regarding equivalency and the criteria by which equivalency may be granted, please review and . Supplemental Information Supplemental Information SELECTION PROCESS If a vacancy in this discipline becomes available at one of the campuses, the applications in this pool will be reviewed by the hiring department. Only complete application packets that include the required documents and that meet the minimum qualifications (or that have been determined to possess equivalent qualifications) will be reviewed. The candidates deemed most qualified for the position will be invited to an interview. When completing the application and the supplemental questions, it is important to outline in detail your education, training (classes, seminars, workshops), and experience. You will be evaluated based upon the information provided. APPLICATION PROCEDURE If you need assistance using the online application system please contact the GovernmentJobs.com applicant support line at (855) 524-5627 between the hours of 6 AM to 5 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. All applicants, including previous and current VCCCD employees , must submit the following documents with their application in order to be considered. Please be aware that the hiring committee will NOT have access to materials kept in District personnel files, such as transcripts, and such materials will not be considered unless they are included in your application packet. All required documents must be submitted by the applicant. You may submit a new application once every 24 hours, but it must have all of the attachments as listed below. Failure to submit these materials may result in disqualification. Please note that only the most recent application submitted will be considered. 1. A completed Ventura County Community College District/GovernmentJobs.com Employment Application. All sections of the application must be filled out. Resumes are not a substitute for completing the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. 2. Cover Letter. The cover letter of must include the following: A) the date, your name, and the position and locations for which you are applying, B) address your sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, social, economic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, and C) provide the screening committee with an understanding of how you will contribute as a fully participating member of the VCCCD community. 3. Resume 4. Letters of recommendation(recommended, not required) If you choose to submit letters of recommendation, they should be uploaded with your application materials. We will not accept confidential letters of recommendation. 5. Supplemental Questionnaire for Equivalency (if applicable) See the section titled "Equivalency" under the minimum qualifications above. 6. Complete official or unofficial college/university transcripts Transcripts must show the degree title and the date the degree was conferred, or the degree will not be considered for the purpose of determining if you meet minimum qualifications. Copies of diplomas will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts . If the qualifying degree has yet to be conferred and you expect to have the degree before you begin employment, you must submit transcripts that state the title of the degree you are working toward obtaining and indicate the anticipated completion date in your response to the associated supplemental question provided during the application process. An official copy of your transcripts will be required upon being hired. Instructors will not be allowed to start working until official transcripts have been received. FOREIGN TRANSCRIPTS If you have completed coursework at a foreign institution that is not recognized as accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education, you must include a full evaluation of the foreign transcript with your application materials if you wish for us to consider the coursework. Visit the or the to search for institutions that are recognized as accredited. If you need your transcripts evaluated, please review the . If applicable, an official copy of your foreign transcript evaluation will also be required upon hire. PAY PHILOSOPHY Starting salaries for PT Faculty are based on educational achievement and relevant experience. Initial placement is within the starting salary range. Further advancements are based on longevity and educational growth. Please review the for more information. STARTING SALARY Part-time faculty with classroom assignments are paid between $1,752 and $2,539 per semester per 10% load. Part-time faculty with non-classroom assignments are paid between $2,337 and $3,385 per semester per 10% load. Part-time faculty salaries are governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the Ventura County Federation of College Teachers, AFT, Local 1828, AFL-CIO and the Ventura County Community College District. More information can be found in the . Please be aware that we will require verification of all part-time teaching experience for which you wish to receive credit toward placement on the salary schedule. You will have 30 days to provide verification upon receipt of the offer of employment. Verification must come from the human resources department and state the percentage of full-time-equivalent assignment you worked during the specified time period. ACCOMMODATIONS Individuals who are invited to participate in the interview process who require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, must notify the Ventura County Community College District Human Resources Department in writing at least two business days prior to the interview. Those applicants needing such accommodations should document this request in an email to and include an explanation as to the type and extent of accommodation needed to participate in the selection process. For more information about the recruitment process at VCCCD, including responses to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our . (recommended, not required)(if applicable)If you have completed coursework at a foreign institution that is not recognized as accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education, you must include a full evaluation of the foreign transcript with your application materials if you wish for us to consider the coursework. Visit the or theto search for institutions that are recognized as accredited. If you need your transcripts evaluated, please review the . If applicable, an official copy of your foreign transcript evaluation will also be required upon hire.Starting salaries for PT Faculty are based on educational achievement and relevant experience. Initial placement is within the starting salary range. Further advancements are based on longevity and educational growth. Please review the for more information.Part-time faculty with classroom assignments are paid betweenandper semester per 10% load.Part-time faculty with non-classroom assignments are paid betweenandper semester per 10% load.Part-time faculty salaries are governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the Ventura County Federation of College Teachers, AFT, Local 1828, AFL-CIO and the Ventura County Community College District. More information can be found in the .Please be aware that we will require verification of all part-time teaching experience for which you wish to receive credit toward placement on the salary schedule. You will have 30 days to provide verification upon receipt of the offer of employment. Verification must come from the human resources department and state the percentage of full-time-equivalent assignment you worked during the specified time period.Individuals who are invited to participate in the interview process who require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, must notify the Ventura County Community College District Human Resources Department in writing at least two business days prior to the interview. Those applicants needing such accommodations should document this request in an email to and include an explanation as to the type and extent of accommodation needed to participate in the selection process.For more information about the recruitment process at VCCCD, including responses to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our . Category Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Education Bachelor's Degree Job type Part 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. Color Management Software Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary Posted: Oct 7, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200295328 The Display and Color Technologies organization in Apple's Interactive Media Group is at the core of designing and implementing solutions for rendering visual media and enhancing visual experience. Examples of technologies that we've developed include High Dynamic Range Video and Images, Media Composition, and Pro Color features such as Display Presets. We are looking for candidates with strong engineering and mathematical intuition who are excited to solve new problems, working with a team from product conception to building production quality software. Key Qualifications Software development skills in C, C++ or equivalent languages Software debugging and optimization skills Comfort with describing problems using mathematics Interest in visual media technologies such as high dynamic range and wide color Interest in building algorithms & prototypes, and constructing visually compelling demos Description In your role as a color management software engineer, you will be responsible for developing software that renders visual media and performs display color management. Your responsibilities will include working with GPU, Pro Color Tools, Media Formats, and Display Hardware teams. Education & Experience BS/MS/PhD degree in Computer Science OR Electrical Engineering OR Equivalent Degree OR Equivalent Experience Additional Requirements - Strong problem solving and communication skills - Ability to stay focused and prioritize your work - Enjoy working in a collaborative environment In recent days, Greece has witnessed a wave of murderous fascist attacks against leftist organisations. This is the most intense violence since 2013, when the murder of rapper Pavlos Fissas sparked a mass anti-fascist movement and the government cracked down on neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. This culminated in the banning of the party in 2020. However, as we warned at the time, legal action by the bourgeois state will not stop the fascists, who enjoy the protection of the police and the connivance of right-wing politicians and media. The youth and workers can only rely on their own forces to combat this menace. The attacks In the last week of September, neo-Nazi youths wielding clubs and knives and hurling Molotov cocktails attacked a leftist gathering at a vocational training school in Stavroupoli, near Thessaloniki. Police stood by as the fascists went on a rampage within the school premises. The following day, a demonstration against the attack was also assaulted. In response, the right-wing New Democracy government issued a statement condemning the neo-Nazi violence... and the anti-fascist movement against it! As public pressure built up, the police arrested a dozen neo-Nazis in Thessaloniki and requisitioned several weapons caches, including pistols and a rifle. On Sunday 3 October, neo-Nazis armed with sticks set upon a rally organised by the anti-fascist organization KEERFA in the Athenian suburb of Nea Irakleio, to commemorate the anniversary of the banning of Golden Dawn. Four people were injured. Police reportedly took over 20 minutes to arrive at the scene. The following day, members of the Greek Communist Youth (KNE), who were putting up anti-fascist posters, were attacked by a neo-Nazi gang in the Thessaloniki neighbourhood of Ilioupoli. But the fascist provocations are once more leading to a massive response. On 7 October, thousands of youths and leftist activists took to the streets across the country to protest these provocations. Golden Dawn openly applauded the fascist attack at Stavroupoli and egged on its supporters. This neo-Nazi organisation was formally banned in October 2020 and its top brass is in prison. However, the party has been allowed to re-organise as the authorities are loath to enforce the ban. Indeed, despite being an illegal organisation, Golden Dawn still has an office in Thessaloniki! Moreover, a string of new fascist groups has cropped up in recent months, such as the Sacred Band and Pro-Patria. They are also connected to the recent spate of violence. As weve seen elsewhere, sizable anti-vaccine rallies in Greece provided a convenient cover and rallying point for fascist activity. The movement against vaccines is extremely heterogeneous. It has been driven by social malaise and mistrust of the capitalist state, and includes confused individuals who could potentially be won over by the revolutionary workers. But the lockdowns hit some layers, like small property owners, particularly hard. These desperate middle-class layers, as well as criminal elements are fodder for fascist gangs. The proliferation of neo-Nazi groups is undoubtedly connected to the anti-vaccine movement. However, it is important to note that these groups represent an extremely small minority of the population. The active core of these gangs comprises only a few hundred or at best a few thousand individuals, albeit well-organised and financed and with powerful sponsors in the state apparatus. The human scum that form the core of these gangs could be smashed and swept away with ease if met with the full strength of the working class. Fascism and the capitalist state It is abundantly clear that these gangs enjoy sympathy from sectors of the police, who were clearly passive in the face of these recent attacks. It is no secret that the Greek police have close connections with the far right. Moreover, electoral data suggests that, in 2015, as many as 40-50 percent of police officers voted for Golden Dawn. The reactionary nature of the police reflects their social function as the armed henchman of the ruling class. The government used the excuse of the pandemic to give more authority to the police to repress protest, which increased their confidence to act with impunity. And given their sympathy with the fascists, the police are inclined to see the latter as useful collaborators in their repressive duties, the fascists being unencumbered by the legal niceties that occasionally limit how thorough the police can be. The ruling class and its representatives in government regard the fascists as a useful reserve weapon for emergencies, although they had been forced to reign these mad dogs in in recent years out of fear of provoking a mass working-class response. / DTRocks, Wikimedia Commons The ruling class and its representatives in government regard the fascists as a useful reserve weapon for emergencies, although they had been forced to reign these mad dogs in in recent years out of fear of provoking a mass working-class response. As noted above, the Mitsotakis administration drew an equivalence between the neo-Nazi attacks, and the defensive actions and counter-protests of the anti-fascist movement. The bourgeois media sings the same song, generally depicting the violence as clashes between gangs of youth hooligans, consciously blurring the political issues at play. Moreover, Mitsotakis and the respectable conservative politicians of New Democracy are indirectly responsible for the rise of fascist violence. They inflame nationalist sentiments, blame social problems on migrants and other vulnerable scapegoats, and pander to religious hatred in order to distract the population from their own failings and that of the capitalist system they represent. As the crisis of capitalism deepens, the ruling class increasingly stirs from the bottom, dredging up vile prejudices to divert the rising anger and discontent in society into safe channels. This hateful filth creates fertile soil for fascism to grow. The Greek ruling class burned its fingers with Golden Dawn in 2013 and decided to turn against it. The crackdown on the party was initiated by the right-wing government of Antonis Samaras. But this was not due to their ideological opposition to fascism. Rather, Golden Dawn had become a dangerous liability. Their provocations sparked a powerful moblisation by the working class and youth, with revolutionary undertones, after the murder of Pavlos Fissas. For the time being, the New Democracy is being cautious and keeping a certain distance from the fascists. For instance, it has prosecuted some of the culprits of the attack in Stavroupoli. Mitskotakis has also dismissed MP Konstantinos Bogdanos, who represents the most reactionary tendency in New Democracy, closest to the extreme right. These moves are a purely tactical calculation, condemning the fascists in words while generally treating them with a light touch. Under certain conditions, if the class struggle were to intensify, the state would have no qualms about mobilising the fascists in earnest to crush the workers and youth. The timing of these attacks is no coincidence they are testament to the tumultuousness of the period Greece has entered. The betrayal of Alexis Tsipras after the referendum of July 2015 confused and demoralised the Greek working class. There was no effective revolutionary opposition to this betrayal, either within or without Syriza, as the partys left-wing faction largely gave up without a fight, and the Communist Party at that time adopted a sectarian position. Given this situation, an epoch of relative social peace followed, punctuated by some important - though isolated - struggles. This is beginning to change. Last year, Greece witnessed powerful movements by high school and university students against Mitsotakis cuts to education and his repressive, anti-democratic legislation. Indeed, the mass rallies in celebration of the banning of Golden Dawn in October 2020 revealed the newfound militancy of the youth. More importantly, some sectors of the working class are entering the fray anew, as evidenced by the militant strike of delivery drivers on 24 September. In its attitude towards the fascist gangs and grouplets, the Greek ruling class has an eye to the future and the rising class struggle. Rely only on your own forces! The banning of Golden Dawn by the bourgeois tribunals in October 2020 was rightly welcomed as a victory of the anti-fascist movement. However, as we warned at the time, certain dangers underlay this success. Firstly, they could generate the impression that the bourgeois state can curb the fascist menace. As recent events show, this is not the case. The fascists have been allowed to reorganise and regroup, resuming their violent activities. Even students on their own campuses are not safe. Secondly, we warned the bourgeois state could use the trial against Golden Dawn to enhance its credentials as a neutral arbiter of social conflict, and as a counterbalance to extremism - of the far right and the far left. This has played out with the repression meted out in recent months by Mitsotakis against leftist students and the anarchists. Only the independent movement of the youth and the workers can destroy the fascists. All class fighters, regardless of their tendency and party affiliation communists, anarchists, student activists, trade unionists, etc. - should be rallied for the counter-offensive. We are all threatened by the Nazis, and as such we should fight them shoulder to shoulder. Self-defence committees should be organised by the workers organisations, and connected to the broader movement for social and labour rights. Above all, they should be armed with an anti-capitalist programme that offers a way out to the exploited and oppressed masses. Such a programme would also undercut right-wing demagoguery by explaining the real cause of all the ills of society, as well as a real solution. Organised on this basis, the vanguard of the youth and the working class could smash the fascists to smithereens. The Greek workers and youth are getting back on their feet after a prolonged hiatus. The defensive struggle against the fascists should become a springboard to go on the offensive and resume the revolutionary struggle against the capitalist system itself, which was derailed in 2015 by the betrayals and disappointment of reformism. In this talk at the International Marxist Tendencys 2021 World Congress, Fred Weston defends the philosophy of Marxism against all the reactionary and counter-revolutionary trends assailed against it: particularly the recent vogue of postmodernism. The fight for ideas is a fundamental part of the class struggle. Lenin, citing Engels, said its importance was at least on par with battles on the political and economic fronts. Marxist philosophy draws on all the most-advanced trends in human thought, all the way back to the great thinkers of Ancient Greece, and develops them to their highest form in dialectical materialism. Marxist philosophy is not merely a tool of intellectual enquiry, it is a guide to concrete action. This is why the ruling class and its intellectual agents in the universities and mass media hate and fear these ideas: they are a powerful weapon of class warfare. This is why they slander Marxism, and attempt to swamp workers and youth in the pessimistic morass of postmodernism: to prevent them from drawing revolutionary conclusions. It is necessary for all Marxists to conquer and defend our philosophy, so as to offer the clearest possible explanation to the working class of the road forward, out of the nightmare of class exploitation towards a decent existence under a socialist society. If you enjoy this talk, you can pre-order 'History of Philosophy: a Marxist Perspective' here. Taking place on the 9th-12th of November at the V&A Waterfront, African Energy Week (AEW) 2021 is the first and only pan-African energy event to place African narratives at the forefront of global energy dialogue. Emphasizing Africas position on oil and gas, energy transition, and financing energy sector developments, AEW 2021 offers real, collaborative discussions on the challenges, opportunities, and achievements across the continents energy industry. As both a key facilitator and overall changemaker regarding Africas energy sector, pan-African legal conglomerate Centurion Law Group has partnered with and sponsored AEW 2021 in Cape Town, further emphasizing the role of African voices, whilst at the same time consolidating the events position as Africas premier energy event. Specializing in cross-border business and energy law, Centurion Law Group offers legal services to new, expanding and established corporations across 57 countries. The firm is committed to leading Africa into a new era of enhanced energy and economic growth, providing services tailored to respective operating environments, and working closely with clients to ensure successful project structuring, development, financing, implementation and operation. Centurions services extend across all facets of Africas energy sector, and with its wealth of knowledge and expertise, coupled with an extensive pan-African network, the firm is considered the ideal partner for both African and global stakeholders. The firm is a leader in African oil and gas, and represents companies across the entire African continent. With its result-based approach, Centurion has successfully negotiated more oil and gas contracts than any other firm on the continent. Accordingly, with its team of dedicated and experienced lawyers, Centurion is not only considered Africas top law firm, but a key driver of Africas energy success. Led by Managing Director Zion Adeoyo, Centurion partners will be coming to Cape Town in November, focused on offering insights into improving the operating environment in Africas energy sector; strengthening Africas network to enrich countries with skills and knowledge; and facilitating critical investment into new and existing African opportunities. As a partner of AEW 2021, Centurion will be instrumental in leading the discussion on a range of topics, including but not limited to foreign investment, domestic capital raising, an adapted energy transition, the role of oil and gas, and regulation and compliance. Centurion is committed to transforming the way law is practiced on the African continent. The firm is both pan-African and pro-African, and has placed African people and business as a core focus of its business strategy. By facilitating maximum investment into the sector, driving productivity and profitability for all clients, and offering up critical legal support for the continent and its stakeholders, Centurion is committed to seeing Africa into a new era of developmental success. The firm is looking forward to providing support to stakeholders in Cape Town, driving key dialogue and being a part of Africas energy sector transformation, stated Adeoye. Meanwhile, Centurion is experienced in regulatory affairs and compliance. With 54 countries in Africa, the regulatory environment is both broad and complex, and Centurion bridges the gap between African states and international companies and investors interested in African opportunities. Offering guidance to companies on local laws, Centurion is focused on ensuring compliance, and is a valuable partner for both African governments opening their markets, and global stakeholders pursuing business relations on the continent. At AEW 2021, the firm will facilitate deals, transactions, and engagement between delegates, enhancing investment in Africa while expanding regional business agreements and operations. At the event Centurion will promote the benefits brought about by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), emphasizing the agreements role in expanding African energy markets and driving associated socio-economic growth. With its notable presence across the continent, Centurion is well positioned to help enhance trade, offering advisory services to expand business operations and increase collaboration in Africa. At AEW 2021 in Cape Town, Centurion will lead the discussion on the AfCFTA, challenging African countries to take on the opportunities created by the agreement. Centurion is committed to free markets, trade liberalization, and capitalizing on the opportunities created by the agreement, and will promote this at AEW 2021 in Cape Town. AEW 2021, in partnership with South Africas Department of Mineral Resources and Energy DMRE, is the AECs annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2021 unites African energy stakeholders with investors and international partners to drive industry growth and development and promote Africa as the destination for energy investments. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn It was at PBS39 where she landed her first job out of college, serving as a reporter and producer for Focus, a weekly news magazine show. Her work at the station landed her multiple Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards. The Lehigh Valley continues to be among the fastest growing regions of the state, with increasing numbers of Hispanic residents driving the change, according to 2020 census data. Over the last decade, Hispanics saw the largest gains of any racial or ethnic demographic in the Valley. In Lehigh County, the Hispanic population increased by more than 31,000 people to 96,981, a 48% increase. Zrinski: As liaison to the farmland preservation board and the parks, recreation and open space advisory council, I see value in preserving both farmland and open space. The former is to secure agricultural security and the latter is to provide green space for recreation and public access. Preservation of both staves off warehouse proliferation. The county has budgeted $3 million per year for farmland preservation and council has approved numerous open space and recreation projects this year but, at the same time, this requires an outlay of cash. ... Neither the county nor a municipality can prevent a landowner from selling property to a developer and often the compensation for preservation is far less than what a developer will pay for a parcel. Thus, the county and many municipalities have placed an emphasis on land preservation. Ballots were mailed to Allentown voters this week. The first question is detailed and asks: Shall Section 606 of the City Home Rule Charter, which requires Heads of Departments Offices and Agencies to reside within the City of Allentown within one year of appointment, be amended to require such individuals to reside within five (5) miles of the Citys borders within twelve (12) months of being appointed? There are people who are dying like [every] 40 seconds, every day, because they feel that they are alone, and they feel like they cant talk about their mental health, they said. And I just hope that, with my run, Ill hopefully break down [some of that] stigma, even if its just a little even if its just in my community just so that we dont have that happen so often. At the beginning of September, the city already had suffered nearly as many shootings as in all of 2020, my colleague Peter Hall reported. With 41 shootings and six homicides two-thirds of the way through the year, Allentown is on pace to match 2019, one of the bloodiest in its history. Burley, ID (83318) Today Rain. Low 37F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain. Low 37F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. National UDA legislators meet WC NNPGs, Mishra in Delhi Spl. Correspondent NEW DELHI, OCT 13 (NPN) | Publish Date: 10/13/2021 12:47:34 PM IST United Democratic Alliance (UDA) legislators led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio met with the Working Committee of the NNPGs led by its convenor N. Kitovi Zhimomi here at Nagaland House on Wednesday. Highly placed sources informed Nagaland Post that the meeting between the UDA legislators and WC/NNPGs was an informal meeting over lunch. Though both sides had also discussed about the ongoing Naga issue in order to push for an early political settlement, no further details were made known. Later, the UDA legislators also held a separate meeting with government of India representative/interlocutor, AK Mishra at Nagaland House. Earlier, during their meeting with Mishra on Sunday, Rio reportedly conveyed the resolution of the UDA all-party government for early settlement of the Naga political issue. It may be recalled that chief minister Neiphiu Rio along with NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang left for Delhi on October 10 with the mission to meet Government of India representative, AK Mishra and the Naga Political Groups already camping in Delhi. They were joined by BJP legislators led by deputy chief minister Y. Patton on Tuesday. Ahead of their trip to Delhi, BJP delegation said that, as facilitators for Naga political talks, they would urge upon the negotiating groups to expedite the protracted Naga peace talks by hammering out differences in order to bring about an acceptable and honorable solution, which has eluded the people for decades. The NSCN (I-M) leaders led by ato kilonser Th. Muivah and chairman Q. Tuccu and also the WC/NNPGs led by N. Kitovi Zhimomi have been camping in Delhi for several weeks now and holding separate meetings with government of India officials. Niki-led NSCN (K) had also returned to Nagaland after meeting AK Mishra on October 7. Baysider Parents speak out in support of masking policy by Elissa Paquette WOLFEBORO The September Governor Wentworth Regional School District board meeting was dominated with a challenge to the district's indoor mask mandate policy. A number of people attempted to flout the policy and take seats for the meeting in the Kingswood Arts Center, but were told that they would have to follow the policy in order to remain seated. A separate room was set up with audio visual support for those who refused to wear a mask but wanted to view and participate in the meeting. The meeting was delayed for 50 minutes as the unmasked attendees decided their courses of action. Five people who insisted on remaining in the auditorium without masks were issued citations in lieu of an arrest for criminal trespassing, obstructing government operations, and disorderly conduct. Arraignments are forthcoming. In contrast, the Oct. 4 school board meeting opened on time with those who chose to remain unmasked situated in the nearby music room. Two attendees referred to it as "the shower room" when offering public comment, and another attendee from Middleton, which tuitions its middle and high school students to Kingswood, referenced the policy as draconian, and spoke of coercion, lies and a slave society, ending with, "You know what you are doing is wrong." But several parents spoke in support of the GWRSD. Holly Williams Aucoin, mother of a son with a seizure disorder whose has had seizures triggered by the common cold, said thank you for the mask mandate, which is in place when the Covid-19 transmission rate is in the substantial/high range (the CDC and NH HHS reference those two different words for the same rate). She went a step further and described a personal experiment. She said she wore an N95 mask and a cloth mask simultaneouslyfor a full day, while monitoring her oxygen levels with an O2 monitor every thirty minutes. Her oxygen level "didn't drop below 98 all day long" even when she, an asthmatic, ran a mile. "I will no longer allow the voices of the anti-maskers to be the loudest voices in the room," she declared. Becka Brownell Smith shared her opinion, stating, "It is not unreasonable to require masks. You are doing the right thing, keeping masks on during a substantial/high rate." "A large part of the community is supporting you," commented Bobbie Boudman, who called on others "to cease and desist on the right to know requests." Boudman also responded to Rhoni Harding's observation that upon driving by Carpenter School, she saw adults without masks but children wearing masks outside. Harding referred to it as hypocritical, but Boudman, a substitute teacher, noted that children are not bothered by their masks, often forget they have them on and leave them on even when allowed to take them off outside. Two online petitions with opposing positions are gathering signatures via Change.org. One, titled "Breathe," started by Ruth Clough says, "The undersigned taxpayers and citizens of the Governor Wentworth School Distict demand that the GWRSD superintendent and school board remove the mask mandate immediately for the 2021/2022 school year for all grades inside and outside of the classrooms." The other, started by Bobbie Boudman, is titled, "Keep GWRSD following the DEHHS Masking Guidelines" It states, "Since many stakeholders cannot attend the GWRSD School Board meetings, here is a way tolet the School Board know that we support their decision that was made at the August meeting to follow DHHS guidelines for masking." An additional petition has been circulating in person around town advocating for the School Board to call a Special Meeting at which a vote would be taken on the mandates. The opinion of the school's attorney, Barbara Loughman, is that even if a special meeting were held and the voters approved a warrant article rescinding the mask mandate, the vote would be non-binding and advisory only, because state law vests the authority to adopt the mask requirement in the school board. Petitioners were reminded that only the signatures of GWRSD residents would be counted. As the Oct. 4 meeting moved into non-public session and the audience was leaving, a person in the music room stood close to the camera, filling the projected image over the stage in the auditorium with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars logo. The line between those who believe masks are a tool of disease protection and those who believe a mask mandate is tyrannical is clearly drawn. WOLFEBORO The September Governor Wentworth Regional School District board meeting was dominated with a challenge to the district's indoor mask mandate policy. A number of people attempted to flout the policy and take seats for the meeting in the Kingswood Arts Center, but were told that they would have to follow the policy in order to remain seated. A separate room was set up with audio visual support for those who refused to wear a mask but wanted to view and participate in the meeting.The meeting was delayed for 50 minutes as the unmasked attendees decided their courses of action. Five people who insisted on remaining in the auditorium without masks were issued citations in lieu of an arrest for criminal trespassing, obstructing government operations, and disorderly conduct. Arraignments are forthcoming.In contrast, the Oct. 4 school board meeting opened on time with those who chose to remain unmasked situated in the nearby music room. Two attendees referred to it as "the shower room" when offering public comment, and another attendee from Middleton, which tuitions its middle and high school students to Kingswood, referenced the policy as draconian, and spoke of coercion, lies and a slave society, ending with, "You know what you are doing is wrong."But several parents spoke in support of the GWRSD. Holly Williams Aucoin, mother of a son with a seizure disorder whose has had seizures triggered by the common cold, said thank you for the mask mandate, which is in place when the Covid-19 transmission rate is in the substantial/high range (the CDC and NH HHS reference those two different words for the same rate).She went a step further and described a personal experiment. She said she wore an N95 mask and a cloth mask simultaneouslyfor a full day, while monitoring her oxygen levels with an O2 monitor every thirty minutes. Her oxygen level "didn't drop below 98 all day long" even when she, an asthmatic, ran a mile."I will no longer allow the voices of the anti-maskers to be the loudest voices in the room," she declared.Becka Brownell Smith shared her opinion, stating, "It is not unreasonable to require masks. You are doing the right thing, keeping masks on during a substantial/high rate.""A large part of the community is supporting you," commented Bobbie Boudman, who called on others "to cease and desist on the right to know requests."Boudman also responded to Rhoni Harding's observation that upon driving by Carpenter School, she saw adults without masks but children wearing masks outside. Harding referred to it as hypocritical, but Boudman, a substitute teacher, noted that children are not bothered by their masks, often forget they have them on and leave them on even when allowed to take them off outside.Two online petitions with opposing positions are gathering signatures via Change.org. One, titled "Breathe," started by Ruth Clough says, "The undersigned taxpayers and citizens of the Governor Wentworth School Distict demand that the GWRSD superintendent and school board remove the mask mandate immediately for the 2021/2022 school year for all grades inside and outside of the classrooms."The other, started by Bobbie Boudman, is titled, "Keep GWRSD following the DEHHS Masking Guidelines" It states, "Since many stakeholders cannot attend the GWRSD School Board meetings, here is a way tolet the School Board know that we support their decision that was made at the August meeting to follow DHHS guidelines for masking."An additional petition has been circulating in person around town advocating for the School Board to call a Special Meeting at which a vote would be taken on the mandates. The opinion of the school's attorney, Barbara Loughman, is that even if a special meeting were held and the voters approved a warrant article rescinding the mask mandate, the vote would be non-binding and advisory only, becausestate law vests the authority to adopt the mask requirement in the school board.Petitioners were reminded that only the signatures of GWRSD residents would be counted.As the Oct. 4 meeting moved into non-public session and the audience was leaving, a person in the music room stood close to the camera, filling the projected image over the stage in the auditorium with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars logo. The line between those who believe masks are a tool of disease protection and those who believe a mask mandate is tyrannical is clearly drawn. Baysider The return of the robots Alton couple lend expertise to Indigenous Peoples' projects Recent Elissa Paquette School Board votes to post Right to Know requests 2021-Nov-18 Hunters closure spotlights challenges posed by COVID 2021-Nov-18 Field of Flags event surpasses expectations 2021-Nov-18 School Board votes to post Right to Know requests 2021-Nov-11 Selectmen, Libby close to agreement 2021-Nov-11 Tuftonboro Fire Department receives thanks 2021-Nov-11 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Gilford Steamer McDonald's brings police and public together by Erin Plummer Gilford School Resource Officer Alyssa Raxter received a Community Policing Award at a recent fundraiser at the Laconia McDonalds. (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) LACONIA - Visitors to local McDonald's restaurants could have the chance to meet with local police officers during a recent fundraising event. McDonald's held a statewide fundraiser for the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association on Wednesday night. A percentage of the sales in all of the 54 McDonald's restaurants in the state went to the NH Chiefs of Police Association. That night officers around the state gathered at their local McDonalds for an opportunity to meet the public. Locally officers from the Gilford and Laconia Police Departments met with guests at the Laconia McDonalds. "McDonald's franchisees across New Hampshire are proud to show our continued support for all the Police Departments statewide. Through this unique fundraising event, we raised nearly $52,000 in 2016 and look to raise $50,000 again this year," said Peter Napoli, local McDonald's Owner/Operator in New Hampshire in a statement. "As business owners, we see the positive impact the police have on our communities and residents, protecting us day in and day out, and we're proud to raise funds so they can operate at their highest level." The Laconia McDonald's hosted the Laconia and Gilford Police Departments. Officers from both departments met members of the public and showed their respective vehicles. Laconia Police Off. Kyle Jepson and his K-9 partner Abby also met with people that night. Gilford Police chief Anthony Bean Burpee said this was a great way for the police and public ro interact. Laconia Police Officer Steve Orton said a lot of people get certain information from the media and form opinions on police officers based on that. He said when people get the chance to meet and talk with police, they see them as human like anyone else. "It's nice for people to see us on a different circumstance," Orton said. McDonald's and the NH Chiefs of Police Association presented Community Policing Awards to officers from around the state. That night, Officer Alyssa Raxter of the Gilford Police Department and Off. Steve Orton of the Laconia Police Department both received the award. Both Raxter and Orton serve as school resource officers in their respective communities. Raxter was recognized for fining unique ways to connect with students during the pandemic, including a Facebook page, a social media art contest, a pen pal program between students and Gilford police, DARE lessons, taking part in library virtual talks and storytelling, conducted a vaping awareness presentation, and visiting local nursery schools when they re-opened. She also helped create the "Unique Needs Program" where parents of students with unique needs could fill out a form with the police so they would be aware of their students' individual needs if they interacted. "I see it as part of the job, it's work," Raxter said. "To me, it's really just what I love to do." Orton recognized all the other officers in Laconia and Gilford, saying any of them were deserving of the award. LACONIA - Visitors to local McDonald's restaurants could have the chance to meet with local police officers during a recent fundraising event.McDonald's held a statewide fundraiser for the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association on Wednesday night. A percentage of the sales in all of the 54 McDonald's restaurants in the state went to the NH Chiefs of Police Association.That night officers around the state gathered at their local McDonalds for an opportunity to meet the public. Locally officers from the Gilford and Laconia Police Departments met with guests at the Laconia McDonalds."McDonald's franchisees across New Hampshire are proud to show our continued support for all the Police Departments statewide. Through this unique fundraising event, we raised nearly $52,000 in 2016 and look to raise $50,000 again this year," said Peter Napoli, local McDonald's Owner/Operator in New Hampshire in a statement. "As business owners, we see the positive impact the police have on our communities and residents, protecting us day in and day out, and we're proud to raise funds so they can operate at their highest level."The Laconia McDonald's hosted the Laconia and Gilford Police Departments. Officers from both departments met members of the public and showed their respective vehicles. Laconia Police Off. Kyle Jepson and his K-9 partner Abby also met with people that night.Gilford Police chief Anthony Bean Burpee said this was a great way for the police and public ro interact.Laconia Police Officer Steve Orton said a lot of people get certain information from the media and form opinions on police officers based on that. He said when people get the chance to meet and talk with police, they see them as human like anyone else."It's nice for people to see us on a different circumstance," Orton said.McDonald's and the NH Chiefs of Police Association presented Community Policing Awards to officers from around the state. That night, Officer Alyssa Raxter of the Gilford Police Department and Off. Steve Orton of the Laconia Police Department both received the award.Both Raxter and Orton serve as school resource officers in their respective communities.Raxter was recognized for fining unique ways to connect with students during the pandemic, including a Facebook page, a social media art contest, a pen pal program between students and Gilford police, DARE lessons, taking part in library virtual talks and storytelling, conducted a vaping awareness presentation, and visiting local nursery schools when they re-opened. She also helped create the "Unique Needs Program" where parents of students with unique needs could fill out a form with the police so they would be aware of their students' individual needs if they interacted."I see it as part of the job, it's work," Raxter said. "To me, it's really just what I love to do."Orton recognized all the other officers in Laconia and Gilford, saying any of them were deserving of the award. Gilford Steamer Streetcar presents All Together Now this weekend Town anticipating further action on PFOA levels Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Gilford Steamer Registration open for GYC Turkey Trot by Erin Plummer This Thanksgiving runners and walkers will have the chance to lace up their sneakers and get some exercise before a big dinner during the annual Gilford Youth Center Turkey Trot. Registrations are open for the annual 5K race for all ages taking place on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving morning. The race started 14 years ago by a group of locals who wanted to get a morning run on Thanksgiving and now draws around 400 people a year. The Turkey Trot is a timed 5K run/walk and welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels. The course starts at the GYC and goes through Gilford Village before ending back at the GYC. According to the GYC website the course is generally flat and runs at a fast place, making it ideal for both runners and walkers. Those taking part as runners will be timed. Times will be posted for the overall times as well as for age groups 12 and under, 13-19, 20-30,31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 60 and over. Times will be posted the same day and will also be available on the GYC website. Walkers will not be timed. "The family walk is a great way for to start the day," read the GYC Web site. "We encourage walkers of all ages, as well as pets and strollers. The Turkey Trot takes place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, starting at 8:45 a.m. for walkers and 9 a.m. for runners. The event costs $26 per person and $90 for a family rate up to five people. The Turkey Trot will go on rain, snow, or shine. Registration is open on the GYC Web site at Proceeds will benefit the Gilford Youth Center and its programs. This year's main sponsor is Winnipesaukee Baygulls 2 of Gilford. This Thanksgiving runners and walkers will have the chance to lace up their sneakers and get some exercise before a big dinner during the annual Gilford Youth Center Turkey Trot.Registrations are open for the annual 5K race for all ages taking place on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving morning.The race started 14 years ago by a group of locals who wanted to get a morning run on Thanksgiving and now draws around 400 people a year.The Turkey Trot is a timed 5K run/walk and welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels. The course starts at the GYC and goes through Gilford Village before ending back at the GYC. According to the GYC website the course is generally flat and runs at a fast place, making it ideal for both runners and walkers.Those taking part as runners will be timed. Times will be posted for the overall times as well as for age groups 12 and under, 13-19, 20-30,31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 60 and over. Times will be posted the same day and will also be available on the GYC website.Walkers will not be timed."The family walk is a great way for to start the day," read the GYC Web site. "We encourage walkers of all ages, as well as pets and strollers.The Turkey Trot takes place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, starting at 8:45 a.m. for walkers and 9 a.m. for runners. The event costs $26 per person and $90 for a family rate up to five people.The Turkey Trot will go on rain, snow, or shine.Registration is open on the GYC Web site at http://www.gilfordyouthcenter.com/2021-turkey-trot-5k-race--family-walk.html . The first 100 people who register will receive a free Turkey Trot t-shirt.Proceeds will benefit the Gilford Youth Center and its programs.This year's main sponsor is Winnipesaukee Baygulls 2 of Gilford. Gilford Steamer Streetcar presents All Together Now this weekend Town anticipating further action on PFOA levels Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Littleton Courier Littleton officials present budget overview by Angel Larcom LITTLETON Municipal budget season has officially begun. During the Littleton Budget Committee's first meeting last Thursday, town officials reported favorable numbers overall, despite a steep increase in welfare costs. "Overall, the town is 5.52 percent under budget, and these numbers are through Aug. 31. However, we do have four areas that are over budget, and these were identified to the Board of Selectmen," stated Littleton Town Manager Jim Gleason. The four over-budget departments include welfare, legal, human resources and advertising. Gleason noted that a $20,000 cost to remove a building was applied to the legal budget, as no correct line item existed for the project. Increased personnel costs could be traced back to an increase in worker's compensation claims, added Gleason. He said the annual personnel budget was set for $67,000, but compensation costs exceeded $78,000. Advertising overages were directly attributable to state statute requirements regarding public notices, noted the town official. He also said that the Littleton Fire Department exceeded its annual budget, primarily due to the addition of three new employees after last year's budgeting process. COVID significantly impacted both the advertising and Fire Department increases, he added. Littleton's welfare department saw the most significant cost increases, specifically under the miscellaneous charges line item. As Gleason noted, "Littleton has become the place that people come to when they have nowhere to stay." Under New Hampshire state law, municipalities are responsible for hotel bills when the local shelters have reached capacity. Former Budget Committee Chair Steve Kelley noted that the group had taken that requirement into account during the upheaval of COVID last year. "Last year, we had set up a reserve account for those costs, based on excess funds in previous years. It was pretty surprising to see that it was gone," stated Kelley. During the August Select Board meeting, board member Milton Bratz noted that welfare payments had increased from $67,000 in 2019 to $191,700 in 2020. This year, the department saw an even higher level of welfare requests, with expenditures reaching 79 percent of the 2020 costs within the first eight months. "A lot of communities are having this problem because people are losing their homes and places to stay. And it's going to get worse because all the mandates are over," said Bratz. Thus far, Littleton has received $307,000 in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, of which approximately $125,000 was applied to welfare costs. Littleton will receive an additional $370,000 next year, noted Gleason. "COVID really impacted us in the welfare area. If you annualized out what we've spent this year, that data will come to over $300,000. We've got a $25,000 line item for welfare, and every year we have that $25,000 line item. We need to talk about changing the policy because the reality of what we're experiencing here is well beyond that $25,000," noted Kelley. Last week's Budget Committee meeting was the first of many in an aggressive schedule leading up to the annual Town Meeting in early March. This year marks the second season of the Committee's holistic approach to municipal and school district funding and appropriation needs. The seven-member group, led by Chairperson Diane Cummings, attempts to keep both systems operational with the least amount of taxpayer impact. LITTLETON Municipal budget season has officially begun. During the Littleton Budget Committee's first meeting last Thursday, town officials reported favorable numbers overall, despite a steep increase in welfare costs."Overall, the town is 5.52 percent under budget, and these numbers are through Aug. 31. However, we do have four areas that are over budget, and these were identified to the Board of Selectmen," stated Littleton Town Manager Jim Gleason.The four over-budget departments include welfare, legal, human resources and advertising. Gleason noted that a $20,000 cost to remove a building was applied to the legal budget, as no correct line item existed for the project.Increased personnel costs could be traced back to an increase in worker's compensation claims, added Gleason. He said the annual personnel budget was set for $67,000, but compensation costs exceeded $78,000.Advertising overages were directly attributable to state statute requirements regarding public notices, noted the town official. He also said that the Littleton Fire Department exceeded its annual budget, primarily due to the addition of three new employees after last year's budgeting process. COVID significantly impacted both the advertising and Fire Department increases, he added.Littleton's welfare department saw the most significant cost increases, specifically under the miscellaneous charges line item.As Gleason noted, "Littleton has become the place that people come to when they have nowhere to stay."Under New Hampshire state law, municipalities are responsible for hotel bills when the local shelters have reached capacity. Former Budget Committee Chair Steve Kelley noted that the group had taken that requirement into account during the upheaval of COVID last year."Last year, we had set up a reserve account for those costs, based on excess funds in previous years. It was pretty surprising to see that it was gone," stated Kelley.During the August Select Board meeting, board member Milton Bratz noted that welfare payments had increased from $67,000 in 2019 to $191,700 in 2020. This year, the department saw an even higher level of welfare requests, with expenditures reaching 79 percent of the 2020 costs within the first eight months."A lot of communities are having this problem because people are losing their homes and places to stay. And it's going to get worse because all the mandates are over," said Bratz.Thus far, Littleton has received $307,000 in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, of which approximately $125,000 was applied to welfare costs. Littleton will receive an additional $370,000 next year, noted Gleason."COVID really impacted us in the welfare area. If you annualized out what we've spent this year, that data will come to over $300,000. We've got a $25,000 line item for welfare, and every year we have that $25,000 line item. We need to talk about changing the policy because the reality of what we're experiencing here is well beyond that $25,000," noted Kelley.Last week's Budget Committee meeting was the first of many in an aggressive schedule leading up to the annual Town Meeting in early March. This year marks the second season of the Committee's holistic approach to municipal and school district funding and appropriation needs. The seven-member group, led by Chairperson Diane Cummings, attempts to keep both systems operational with the least amount of taxpayer impact. Littleton Courier Norton Pike Field renamed to honor David Stoddard Pinewood Motel tenants face eviction, renovations underway Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Littleton Courier Abenaki tribe members speak at Indigenous People's Day event by Angel Larcom BETHLEHEM To celebrate Indigenous People's Day, the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust partnered with Bethlehem's Colonial Theater and the Nulhegan Band of the Abenaki Nation for a one-night screening of Gather, a documentary about the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim cultural identity through food. While most of the film focused on Western tribes, guest speakers Sherry Gould and Darryl Peasley from the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuck in southern NH discussed regional food sovereignty efforts within the New Hampshire, Vermont and southern Quebec. Gould noted that European contact happened several hundred years earlier for the eastern tribes, and the impact was vastly different. For generations, the USDA has doled out low-nutrition commodity foods to the western tribes, which has led to systemic levels of diabetes and other health complications on the reservations. "I grew up gathering and not understanding that other people didn't live like me until I was a young adult. I soon realized that other people didn't even know that cranberries grow here in New Hampshire. As I got older and more into our traditional foods, I realized that we weren't poor. We were fortunate," said Gould. The Abenaki Nation has successfully gained sovereign food gathering rights on Vermont land reserves and trusts in recent years, thanks mainly to the efforts of Vermont-based tribal chief and political leader Don Stevens. However, NH tribal members have met resistance. Gould, the Tribal Genealogist, said they continue to work with various land stewardship organizations statewide to establish memorandums of understanding and food-gathering rights on sacred tribal lands. "This is a new concept in New Hampshire. The pristine wilderness that people think they found when they came here 500 years ago wasn't wild. It was managed for 13,000 years by the Algonquin people. The burns and other things that we did to manage the land helped bring the Atlantic White Cedar into Bradford. It is the northernmost Atlantic White Cedar swamp in the country," stated Gould. The Atlantic White Cedar has long been a critical sacred medicine for the Abenaki. Gould said that 95 percent of the swamps had disappeared nationwide, and rising sea levels were about to kill the remaining 5 percent. She also noted that the State of New Hampshire has yet to provide any pathways for tribal recognition, despite efforts dating back to 2010. However, Vermont state officials established such a pathway in 2012. Peasley discussed a newly-established Abenaki food pantry that he oversees and operates from his Contoocook home. University partnerships have yielded large quantities of food for tribal members, but he said that anyone in need would be helped, regardless of tribal status. "Once the native people in the area found out there was a place to get what they call 'real food' like moose and vegetables, word of mouth started spreading. In Vermont, our tribe partners with three colleges and numerous farmers and growers, and I bring much of that food back to the pantry," noted Peasley. The New Hampshire tribe partners with the Bradford-based Kearsarge Food Hub and several NH-based organic farmers to deliver fresh local foods to tribal members. Peasley said community and local college support was integral to the food pantry's success. Recent grant funding also allowed the tribe to purchase a herd of buffalo for a continual supply of fresh meat. An integral theme of the documentary film was that native tribes across the country are actively reclaiming their political, cultural and spiritual identities through food sovereignty after centuries of genocide. As Gould noted, the Abenaki tribe didn't view the northern New England landscape by towns but rather regional landscapes. When asked how the partnership came about, ACT Outreach Director Gal Potashnick said the organization realized it was missing an indigenous voice as it continued outreach efforts within the community. "We know there are indigenous people here in the North Country, but they're very hard to find. There is so much work that needs to be done within the nations themselves, especially because of COVID. Sherry and Darryl were willing to travel north and give us bandwidth for education, which seems to be part of the Abenaki mission," said Potashnick. On Oct. 8, the same day of the screening at the Colonial Theater, President Joe Biden signed a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 11 as Indigenous People's Day, making it a national holiday. The movement first began in 1990 when the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in America began discussions while sponsored by the United Nations in Switzerland. The first counter-celebration to Columbus Day was held two years later in 1992 in San Francisco and has since gained momentum nationwide. BETHLEHEM To celebrate Indigenous People's Day, the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust partnered with Bethlehem's Colonial Theater and the Nulhegan Band of the Abenaki Nation for a one-night screening of Gather, a documentary about the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim cultural identity through food.While most of the film focused on Western tribes, guest speakers Sherry Gould and Darryl Peasley from the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuck in southern NH discussed regional food sovereignty efforts within the New Hampshire, Vermont and southern Quebec.Gould noted that European contact happened several hundred years earlier for the eastern tribes, and the impact was vastly different. For generations, the USDA has doled out low-nutrition commodity foods to the western tribes, which has led to systemic levels of diabetes and other health complications on the reservations."I grew up gathering and not understanding that other people didn't live like me until I was a young adult. I soon realized that other people didn't even know that cranberries grow here in New Hampshire. As I got older and more into our traditional foods, I realized that we weren't poor. We were fortunate," said Gould.The Abenaki Nation has successfully gained sovereign food gathering rights on Vermont land reserves and trusts in recent years, thanks mainly to the efforts of Vermont-based tribal chief and political leader Don Stevens.However, NH tribal members have met resistance. Gould, the Tribal Genealogist, said they continue to work with various land stewardship organizations statewide to establish memorandums of understanding and food-gathering rights on sacred tribal lands."This is a new concept in New Hampshire. The pristine wilderness that people think they found when they came here 500 years ago wasn't wild. It was managed for 13,000 years by the Algonquin people. The burns and other things that we did to manage the land helped bring the Atlantic White Cedar into Bradford. It is the northernmost Atlantic White Cedar swamp in the country," stated Gould.The Atlantic White Cedar has long been a critical sacred medicine for the Abenaki. Gould said that 95 percent of the swamps had disappeared nationwide, and rising sea levels were about to kill the remaining 5 percent. She also noted that the State of New Hampshire has yet to provide any pathways for tribal recognition, despite efforts dating back to 2010. However, Vermont state officials established such a pathway in 2012.Peasley discussed a newly-established Abenaki food pantry that he oversees and operates from his Contoocook home. University partnerships have yielded large quantities of food for tribal members, but he said that anyone in need would be helped, regardless of tribal status."Once the native people in the area found out there was a place to get what they call 'real food' like moose and vegetables, word of mouth started spreading. In Vermont, our tribe partners with three colleges and numerous farmers and growers, and I bring much of that food back to the pantry," noted Peasley.The New Hampshire tribe partners with the Bradford-based Kearsarge Food Hub and several NH-based organic farmers to deliver fresh local foods to tribal members. Peasley said community and local college support was integral to the food pantry's success. Recent grant funding also allowed the tribe to purchase a herd of buffalo for a continual supply of fresh meat.An integral theme of the documentary film was that native tribes across the country are actively reclaiming their political, cultural and spiritual identities through food sovereignty after centuries of genocide. As Gould noted, the Abenaki tribe didn't view the northern New England landscape by towns but rather regional landscapes.When asked how the partnership came about, ACT Outreach Director Gal Potashnick said the organization realized it was missing an indigenous voice as it continued outreach efforts within the community."We know there are indigenous people here in the North Country, but they're very hard to find. There is so much work that needs to be done within the nations themselves, especially because of COVID. Sherry and Darryl were willing to travel north and give us bandwidth for education, which seems to be part of the Abenaki mission," said Potashnick.On Oct. 8, the same day of the screening at the Colonial Theater, President Joe Biden signed a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 11 as Indigenous People's Day, making it a national holiday. The movement first began in 1990 when the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in America began discussions while sponsored by the United Nations in Switzerland. The first counter-celebration to Columbus Day was held two years later in 1992 in San Francisco and has since gained momentum nationwide. Littleton Courier Norton Pike Field renamed to honor David Stoddard Pinewood Motel tenants face eviction, renovations underway Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Newfound Landing Fundraiser planned to benefit local animal lover's family by Donna Rhodes ALEXANDRIA Residents of the Town of Alexandria are asking the Newfound community to help in supporting the family of 63-year-old Sandra (Sandy) Blais through a special fundraising event that is hoped to raise money for her family as they struggle with her loss. Sandy was a well-known and much loved member of the Newfound community who passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 14 after a brief bout with cancer. Born in Rhode Island she moved to New Hampshire with her husband David Blais in 1993. There she found her niche in the rural community where she raised their children, served as a Sexton of Cemeteries in Alexandria, worked at both Parkhurst Hardware and the Bristol Animal Hospital, and for the last 17 years was a First Student bus driver for the Newfound Area School District's children. Sandy was also known for her love of animals, calling her home "Misfit Farm," where she cared for rescue horses, dogs and any other animal that needed a loving place to live. "There wasn't an animal she didn't love and a friend she wouldn't help," said Jennifer Tuthill. "Now's the time to reach out and respect her memory and help her family through these hard times." In order to meet that goal, Tuthill has been busy organizing an Old Fashioned Animal Fair in Sandy's memory, which will take place at the Alexandria Town Hall from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. Local residents have already been signing up to bring their "people friendly" farm animals to the event but Tuthill said there is always room for more. She hopes the event will introduce more people to domestic farm animals and give them a greater understanding of them along with love and respect. As owner of Patten Brook Pony Rides in Alexandria she said recently had three separate groups of children arrive at her farm who were stunned to see a horse up close for the first time. "They didn't realize what a horse was like in the flesh. The spirit of Sandy would really want us to expose children and adults to these wonderful creatures," Tuthill said. Therefore, she is calling on local owners to bring animals of all kinds to the event while at the same time encouraging people from throughout the area to come get to know them. Visitors will be available to observe, ask questions, pet them and even lead animals or ride one of Tuthill's friendly Ice Horses that day. "We're really hoping for a broad array of animals and counting on people to come out and either bring their animals or come see all those that are there," she said. Anyone willing to bring their farm or home pets, anything from guinea pigs, ducks and chickens to horses, goats, pigs and calves (and more) is asked to contact her in advance so the logistics of their placement, as well as parking for trailers, can be arranged prior to the event. In addition to all the animals, there will be refreshments available. Contributions of that nature, whether it be hot dogs, baked goods or other midday treats, are also greatly appreciated. All donations received from their sales will benefit the Blais family. "We're looking for help of any kind," Tuthill said. "This is a community effort to support them." In the event of rain, any animals who are contained in transportable cages or boxes will be moved inside the town hall so people can still enjoy an up close and personal experience with them all. To make arranges to bring an animal, donate refreshments, or volunteer with set up or cleanup that day, please contact Jennifer Tuthill at 744-6883. ALEXANDRIA Residents of the Town of Alexandria are asking the Newfound community to help in supporting the family of 63-year-old Sandra (Sandy) Blais through a special fundraising event that is hoped to raise money for her family as they struggle with her loss.Sandy was a well-known and much loved member of the Newfound community who passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 14 after a brief bout with cancer. Born in Rhode Island she moved to New Hampshire with her husband David Blais in 1993. There she found her niche in the rural community where she raised their children, served as a Sexton of Cemeteries in Alexandria, worked at both Parkhurst Hardware and the Bristol Animal Hospital, and for the last 17 years was a First Student bus driver for the Newfound Area School District's children.Sandy was also known for her love of animals, calling her home "Misfit Farm," where she cared for rescue horses, dogs and any other animal that needed a loving place to live."There wasn't an animal she didn't love and a friend she wouldn't help," said Jennifer Tuthill. "Now's the time to reach out and respect her memory and help her family through these hard times."In order to meet that goal, Tuthill has been busy organizing an Old Fashioned Animal Fair in Sandy's memory, which will take place at the Alexandria Town Hall from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23.Local residents have already been signing up to bring their "people friendly" farm animals to the event but Tuthill said there is always room for more. She hopes the event will introduce more people to domestic farm animals and give them a greater understanding of them along with love and respect.As owner of Patten Brook Pony Rides in Alexandria she said recently had three separate groups of children arrive at her farm who were stunned to see a horse up close for the first time."They didn't realize what a horse was like in the flesh. The spirit of Sandy would really want us to expose children and adults to these wonderful creatures," Tuthill said.Therefore, she is calling on local owners to bring animals of all kinds to the event while at the same time encouraging people from throughout the area to come get to know them. Visitors will be available to observe, ask questions, pet them and even lead animals or ride one of Tuthill's friendly Ice Horses that day."We're really hoping for a broad array of animals and counting on people to come out and either bring their animals or come see all those that are there," she said.Anyone willing to bring their farm or home pets, anything from guinea pigs, ducks and chickens to horses, goats, pigs and calves (and more) is asked to contact her in advance so the logistics of their placement, as well as parking for trailers, can be arranged prior to the event.In addition to all the animals, there will be refreshments available. Contributions of that nature, whether it be hot dogs, baked goods or other midday treats, are also greatly appreciated. All donations received from their sales will benefit the Blais family."We're looking for help of any kind," Tuthill said. "This is a community effort to support them."In the event of rain, any animals who are contained in transportable cages or boxes will be moved inside the town hall so people can still enjoy an up close and personal experience with them all.To make arranges to bring an animal, donate refreshments, or volunteer with set up or cleanup that day, please contact Jennifer Tuthill at 744-6883. Newfound Landing The champs stay champs Minot-Sleeper Library receives grant funding Recent Donna Rhodes Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness 2021-Nov-18 Plymouth police welcome new Chief, Deputy Chief 2021-Nov-11 Community creates moving tribute to Hazel Roy 2021-Nov-04 Engine dedicated in honor of former Sanbornton Fire Chief 2021-Nov-04 Fundraiser celebrates former Alexandria residents love for animals 2021-Oct-29 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-12 14:57:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People inspect debris of a house damaged during a gunfight at a village in Shopian district, about 62 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 12, 2021. Three militants were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Three militants were killed Tuesday in a gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out Monday evening at village Tulran Imamsahab of Shopian district, about 62 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. According to police officials, the government forces cordoned off the village on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of militants in the area. On Monday, five Indian army troopers including a junior commissioned officer (JCO) were killed in a fierce gunfight with militants at Dera Ki Gali in Surankote area, close to the Line of Control (LoC) in frontier Poonch district, about 185 southwest of Srinagar. Two militants were also killed in two separate similar gunfights in the region, police said. Over the past week, a surge in violence has been witnessed in the region. Meanwhile, a police spokesman Tuesday said a fresh gunfight has broken out in another village of Shopian. "The exchange of fire is underway and details are awaited," the spokesman said. A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently in the region. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 09:56:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will on Thursday attend via video link the opening ceremony of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference and deliver a keynote speech, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here Wednesday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 19:18:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China has built a massive power network often termed "power highways" to transmit electricity from its resources-rich west to the more developed, power-thirsty east. -- As the country is striving to meet its carbon commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, the power highways have seen increasing transmissions of electricity generated by green energy. -- The trend of green power transmission is set to continue as China keeps up its capacity of clean and renewable power generation. YINCHUAN/XINING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- On the western fringes of Maowusu, a major desert in northern China, rows of power towers stand on an area of about 26.7 hectares. Every day, nearly 100 million kWh of electricity is transmitted from the facilities to the eastern coastal city of Qingdao about 1,300 km away. The infrastructure is part of China's massive power network often termed "power highways," built to transmit electricity from its resources-rich west to the more developed, power-thirsty east. The power highways use ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission, the world's most advanced power transmission technology. China is the first country to fully grasp the UHV technology and put it into commercial use. File photo shows facilities of the Yindong 660kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project at sunset in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) As the country is striving to meet its carbon commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, the power highways have seen increasing transmissions of electricity generated by green energy. In 2020, China's 22 UHV power lines delivered 531.8 billion kWh of electricity, of which 244.1 billion kWh were generated from renewable energy sources, accounting for 46 percent of the total, according to a July report released by the National Energy Administration. China's northwestern region is not only rich in fossil fuels but boasts abundant clean energy resources such as solar and wind power. The large areas of desertification land also provide space for developing power generation facilities. In recent years, the new energy industry has experienced explosive growth in the region. Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is an important supplier of the west-to-east power transmission program. Over the past 10 years, the installed capacity of Ningxia's new energy power generation has increased 29 times from 850,000 kW to 25.74 million kW, local statistics showed. Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2020 shows facilities of the Lingzhou-Shaoxing 800kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) In the northwestern province of Qinghai, the amount of electricity produced using new energy resources has accounted for 61 percent of the total installed capacity, official data showed. In December last year, the world's first UHV power line dedicated to transmitting clean electricity was put into operation in the province, stretching over 1,500 km from Qinghai all the way to central China's Henan Province. So far, the line has delivered more than 16 billion kWh of clean electricity to other parts of China. "The electricity transmitted through the line in one second is enough to meet an average household's demand for two years," said Li Binshan, head of the Qingnan converter station at the origin of the power line. At full capacity, the line can deliver 40 billion kWh of electricity generated by clean and renewable energy annually to regions including central China. It is equivalent to that produced by 18 million tonnes of raw coal, cutting 29.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power station at the green industrial development park in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) The trend of green power transmission is set to continue as China keeps up its capacity of clean and renewable power generation. Multiple UHV power line projects will be built in northwest and southwest China during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period. They are expected to have a capacity to transmit a total of 56 million kW of power. The power transmitted across regions and provinces is estimated to increase from 220 million kW in 2019 to 360 million kW in 2025, according to a report by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization. Experts noted that the optimized energy allocation across regions on a large scale will enable China to develop and utilize new energy more efficiently. Yan Zhibin, the deputy chief engineer of State Grid's Ningxia branch, said a new power line is being planned to transmit mainly clean electricity to central China's Hunan Province. "It will serve to promote the consumption of power generated by clean energy sources as China continues to adjust its energy structure and produce more green electricity," he said. Enditem (Reporting by Peng Peigen, Yu Yao, Luo Xiaofei, Xie Tongqiang, Chen Jie; video reporters: Qi He, Yu Yao, Zhang Hongxiang, Li Guangtao; video editors: Yang Zhixiang, Mu Xuyao) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 19:42:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close U.S. President Joe Biden is pictured as he returns to the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Oct. 11, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Biden's target number for the percentage of vaccinated remains unknown, however, and that has led some critics to accuse the president of moving the finish line when it suits him politically. by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden could risk his entire first-term agenda if he fails to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, experts said. The embattled president is plummeting in the polls amid multiple crises -- his botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, skyrocketing urban crime and a crisis at the U.S. southern border, to name a few. But the most pressing concern for the president remains the surging Delta variant, which is running rampant among the unvaccinated, analysts warned. Indeed, a recent poll from Quinnipiac, a leading polling university, found last week that just 38 percent of Americans believe the president is doing a good job, down from 42 percent just three weeks ago. Moreover, only a quarter approved of the president's handling of immigration, 39 percent approved of his handling of the economy and 37 percent approved of him as Commander-in-Chief, the poll found. "Battered on trust, doubted on leadership, and challenged on overall competency, President Biden is being hammered on all sides as his approval rating continues its downward slide to a number not seen since the tough scrutiny of the Trump administration," Quinnipiac said, referring to former President Donald Trump. The key to a comeback is getting the Delta surge under control, analysts said. But millions of Americans continue to decline the jab on fears of possible side effects and disinformation running wild on social media. Others fret over the fact that the vaccine is so new -- created in record time in a public-private partnership spearheaded by former President Trump. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for Biden. If the president can get things under control now, his approval numbers could rebound in the coming months, experts said. If not, he could face a crisis in leadership, and Democrats in Congress could distance themselves from him in the lead-up to next year's midterm elections. Luckily for Biden, he may have time on his side, as the midterms are still a year away. "It doesn't matter so much whether his numbers are down right now. What matters is whether his administration can execute a plan for success in the pandemic, as well as the economy, that people will feel in six months," Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua. People wait to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccine clinic in the Brooklyn borough of New York, United States, Aug. 23, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE Among Americans declining the vaccine, there has been an uptick in deaths as well as hospitals delaying some surgeries because hospital staff are being stretched thin. Manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna said the vaccine is safe and effective against severe illness and death by COVID-19, but the Biden administration has failed to convince millions of Americans, critics said. In a bid to tamp down the number of cases, the White House is now imposing a vaccine mandate for companies that employ more than 100 workers. The move is controversial, with Republicans expressing concern over government overreach and business groups complaining of being shut out of the decision-making process. Biden has taken to the pulpit in recent days to explain his move -- which he said recently was not his first instinct -- and to continue to push Americans to get vaccinated. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that Biden "will continue to push vaccination as long as there are large numbers of people getting sick. It will be a while before the numbers drop to levels that people no longer are worried." Biden's target number for the percentage of vaccinated remains unknown, however, and that has led some critics to accuse the president of moving the finish line when it suits him politically. Senator Ted Cruz last month accused the president of moving the goalposts on the percentage of people who need to be vaccinated before a complete return to normal. Christopher Galdieri, assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua that "I expect Biden will avoid putting a specific number on it." Jeff Archer, an IT worker in the DC area, told Xinhua everyone should get the vaccine, but does not believe it should be mandated, while Francis Wilson, a manager at a small business, said she agrees with Biden's mandate. Students line up for their snacks at Montrara Ave. Elementary School in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 16, 2021. (Xinhua) SCHOOL MASK CONTROVERSY CONTINUES Meanwhile, controversy on how to handle transmission of the virus in the nation's schools continues. In states such as Florida and Texas, governors have been at loggerheads with some school boards, with the latter seeking to implement mask mandates and the former arguing the decision should be left up to parents. Those against mask mandates for children also cite the possibility that mask wearing could impair small children's ability to learn, as young children rely on facial expressions to convey information. Florida Department of Education recently voted to sanction eight school districts that have instituted mask mandates that do not give parents the choice to opt their kids out. This marks the latest development in a fight between the state of Florida and a few school districts that went ahead and mandated masks on their own, in defiance of an order from Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis maintains he wants to give parents a choice over whether their children should wear masks in class or not. The state of Florida has also threatened not to fund school districts that defied the governor's no-mask-mandate order. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children can spread COVID-19, but are less likely to develop severe illness or die from the virus. The extent to which children suffer long-term consequences of COVID-19 remains unknown, it states on its website. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-12 23:26:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Tuesday launched its Global Advocacy Program in hopes of attracting tourists from the country's target markets and seeing increases in visitors by the festive season. The program was initiated by the Department of Tourism, South African Tourism (SA Tourism) and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), following protracted damaging narratives and misinformation reported globally about South Africa. "We are going to embark on a strategic yet direct approach to our markets to ensure that consumers, trade partners and the global media are truthfully informed about the memorable and affordable, easy accessibility and safety factors that come with traveling to South Africa in this COVID-19 environment," said Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu. She said that they have briefed various missions and embassies about the COVID-19 situation in the country and what they have done, adding that the country wanted to tell the world that they are ready to welcome them for leisure and business events. The TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said the plan is to disseminate the correct information about the country and reignite tourism. "Our inbound tourism recovery is dependent on the attractiveness of our brand as a tourist destination. The Global Advocacy Program will help to rebuild our country's brand and this will ultimately attract more tourists to visit our beautiful country. The recovery and reimagination of tourism in South Africa will benefit with the successful implementation of this programme globally," said Tshivhengwa. South Africa has recently been taken off the red lists of key markets such as the USA, Netherlands, UK, as well as Germany, which will serve as a major boost for the struggling tourism sector. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 17:22:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government has rejected an African Union (AU) proposal for a joint stabilization mission with the United Nations (UN) to spearhead peacekeeping operations in the country. It said on Tuesday that the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) did not consider Somalia's views, including that of a joint technical team created to assess the best option for the country. Mogadishu said it strongly disapproved of such arrangements, saying the pan-African body should have stuck with its original plan under the Somalia Transition Plan, instead of endorsing the AU-UN multidimensional stabilization mission in Somalia. "The federal government of Somalia expresses grave concern at the AUPSC continued disregard of Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence by repeatedly pursuing an agenda that undermines the agenda of the AUPSC and violates the basic rights of a member state," the Somali ministry of defense said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. Under the Somalia Transition Plan, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ensures that the Somali Police Force is adequately equipped in preparation to assume full responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country when AMISOM leaves in 2022. The Somali defense ministry statement came after the AUPSC endorsed the deployment of an AU-UN hybrid mission under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which would ensure predictable and sustainable multi-year financing for the future mission, through UN-assessed contributions. AMISOM, whose mandate is due to expire in 2022, is a peace support operation with nearly 20,000 forces on the ground, mainly from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 18:24:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- A ruling by the United Nations' top court on the maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia has drawn opposing reactions from the two neighboring countries in East Africa. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Tuesday that there was no agreed maritime boundary and ruled largely in favor of Somalia which will get a big chunk of the 100,000 square-kilometer area that is potentially gas and oil-rich. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has rejected the ruling, saying Nairobi is profoundly concerned by the import of the decision and its implications for the Horn of Africa region and international law generally. "At the outset, Kenya wishes to indicate that it rejects in totality and does not recognize the findings in the decision," Kenyatta said in a statement released on Tuesday evening. The Kenyan leader insisted the ICJ had no jurisdiction to hear the case but went ahead to, despite the objections that had earlier been raised by Kenya. According to Kenyatta, international tribunals have jurisdiction only to the extent of consent by a State. Kenyatta also accused ICJ of unfairness and bias for refusing to allow Kenya to exhaust the use of regional dispute resolution mechanisms, despite the existence of a robust African Union legal framework on border issues and dispute settlement. Kenyatta said Kenya was forced to withdraw its participation in the public hearings on March 14, noting that Nairobi doubts that any State would have appeared at all in a case such as this. He however said Kenya is committed to a diplomatic solution to the current impasse, noting that Nairobi will resolve the sea border row through regional institutions and other bilateral arrangements. However, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Farmajo said the ruling was a historic victory for all Somalis and exemplifies the integrity and transparency of the ICJ. "The federal government of Somalia hereby confirms that we accept the Court's decision, in line with the international laws and norms. We hope that the Kenyan government will respect the supremacy of international law and will forgo their misguided and unlawful pursuits," he said. He expressed the government's commitment to peaceful co-existence and cooperative relations between the two countries and their peoples, while creating a united front against terrorists who threaten the stability and security of the region. Regional analysts say the UN top court's decision could worsen the fragile relationship between the neighboring countries since Kenya has been a major contributor of troops assisting the Somali government in its fight against the al-Shabab group. It could also have far-reaching security and economic consequences for future relations between the two countries. Somalia took Kenya to the UN court in 2014 over contested parts of the Indian Ocean believed to have rich natural oil and gas reserves after years of diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute failed. Regional blocs had earlier prevailed upon Kenya and Somalia to settle the maritime boundary dispute out of court in order to avert diplomatic fallout that would impact on peace and stability. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 20:18:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Technicians finalize the manufacturing work of the vehicle "DTA 001" made by the engineers of the InnoTechLab in Yaounde, Cameroon, Oct. 6, 2021. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) by Arison Tamfu YAOUNDE, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one years ago, Nestor Mbogni, 20 then, was watching a TV programme at his residence in Cameroon's capital city of Yaounde. Fascinated by technological evolution in Europe, he then decided to go to Germany to study electrical engineering and microelectronics at the Technical University of Berlin. He was later joined there by Cezy Emvoutou, another young Cameroonian passionate about technological innovation. Emvoutou studied embedded systems engineering while in Germany. In 2019, after years of knowledge acquisition and experience out of the country, the two joined 10 other Cameroonians and created Digital Transformation Alliance (DTA), a non-profit organization of young Cameroonian innovators and entrepreneurs living abroad, with a strong desire to build a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable digital innovation economy back home. DTA has been training young Cameroonians since then and liaising with local tech start-ups. Mbogni said they want to show young Cameroonians that "everything is possible" with the mastery of technology. "We want to show Cameroonians the advantages of digitalization. It can transform our industry in a bid to boost our economy. If young people manage to master the technology necessary to develop things, we are certain that Cameroon's and Africa's evolution will only be a child's play," Mbogni who is the technical director of DTA told Xinhua. "We decided to return home because Africa will play a major role in years to come. Africa will be where the world will come looking for workforce. That is why we decided to return to inculcate young people to be interested in what is done elsewhere," said Emvoutou. "Cameroon is today a consuming country, but we want to change that pattern to make Cameroon a transforming, production country. That is why we are bringing in our know-how. We bring in technology that already exists elsewhere and which can be done here with local means and local context," he added. In early October, DTA organized its maiden edition of Technology Innovation Day with an aim to show Cameroon what they are capable of. The major highlight of the event was the unveiling of a fully domestically-produced car baptized DTA 001. It took six months to conceptualize and construct the car which is sophisticated, and mechanically and electrically modern. "The car is adapted to Cameroonian realities and can be used in rural areas. A solar system is also embedded in the car," Emvoutou told Xinhua while presenting the car. "(This shows that) Cameroon is already capable of producing its own vehicles." DTA hopes to multiply production and even export to neighbouring countries. When the right idea with the right backing meets a hungry market, a start-up can grow fast, said Thierry Kamnang, CEO of InnoTechLab, one of the partners of DTA. "(Through the Technology Innovation Day) we wanted to show industries that we have young people who possess the know-how, we have the necessary competence to modernize our industries and to transform the industries from local stage to international stage," Kamnang told Xinhua on phone. Cameroonian government hopes such initiatives could lure more youth to technological innovation as the Central African nation wakes up to the opportunities of technology in the midst of rising unemployment. "Any development undoubtedly relies on human empowerment, job and wealth creation," said Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon's Minister of Employment and Vocational Training. He led a delegation of five senior government officials to witness the innovations exhibited at the Technology Innovation Day event. For the government, youth employment is a national priority and Cameroonians living abroad need to collaborate and transfer skills and knowledge to local youth excelling in the same domain, he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 21:23:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's annual fundraising initiative Cancer Apple Project on Wednesday moved to digitalize its platform as it celebrated 21 years of fighting cancer in Namibia. The project has introduced an e-Apple platform where contributors can purchase physical or virtual apples and apple juice. "With the introduction of the new e-Apple platform, we are excited to kick-start the Cancer Apple Project. At this juncture, we urge the public to support the project; it has and will continue to save lives," said Bank Windhoek's Managing Director Baronice Hans at the launch. The e-Apple platform is a web-based application that allows individuals and organizations to support the Bank Windhoek Cancer Apple Project from anywhere in the world. "It is accessible throughout the year. Individuals and organizations will be able to purchase on the e-Apple platform using their debit or credit card. They have the option of selecting a preferred branch nationwide, from which they can collect their physical apples or juice," said Hans. Cancer Apple Project has raised 30.5 million Namibian dollars (about 2 million U.S. dollars) for the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN), assisting the organization in fighting the disease. CAN's Chief Executive Officer Rolf Hansen said CAN will use the funds raised through the project for its annual outreach programs and pro-bono cancer screening in all 14 regions countrywide. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 21:35:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is scheduled to host a pro bono concert with the aim of mobilizing artists and members of the public to unite in observing the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty which is observed annually on October 17, a civil society organ announced Wednesday. The concert, which will be free of charge, will take place on November 16, the Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition of Namibia spokesperson, Rinaani Musutua said. According to Musutua, the event will feature various artists, including Emily Dangwa, Tapz, and Lamek Ndjaba. "All the artists have volunteered to perform pro bono," she added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-14 03:33:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Algerian police said on Wednesday that it arrested 17 suspects belonging to a separatist group listed by the government as a terrorist organization, state-run ENTV channel reported. The 17 suspects from the Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) were arrested in provinces near the capital Algiers for plotting criminal acts targeting homeland security, ENTV said, quoting a statement of the National Security Department. The collected evidence and the suspects' confessions revealed that MAK members were in constant contact with foreign forces through cyberspace, operating under the cover of Zionist civil society organizations based in a North African country, it added. At the suspects' homes, the police seized weapons and military equipment, banners and leaflets praising the MAK as well as documents providing contacts with Israeli organizations, according to ENTV. Algeria declared the France-based MAK a terrorist organization last year. MAK seeks independence of the Berber-speaking Kabylie region in northern Algeria. In late August, in explaining Algeria's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Morocco, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Morocco had been supporting MAK and the Britain-based Rachad movement which is also listed by Algeria as a terrorist organization. Enditem Source: ANSA| 2021-10-13 08:59:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 12 - The IMF said Tuesday that it expects Italy's GDP to grow by 5.8% this year, 0.9 of a percentage point more than it forecast in July. Its growth forecast for 2020 remained unchanged at 4.2%. The IMF said Italy's public debt should drop to 154,8% of GDP in 2021 from 155.8% in 2020 and then fall to 150.4% in 2022 and 146,5% in 2026. It estimates that the deficit-to-GDP ratio for this year will be 10.2%, up from 9.5% in 2020. It sees Italy's unemployment rate at 10.3% this year, up from 9.3% in 2020. It expects that to go up to 11.6% in 2022. (ANSA). Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 10:14:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Between 700 to 800 people in Spain have been evacuated as a result of the ongoing volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma, local emergency services have said. The new wave of evacuations came after the approximately 6,000 people who were evacuated in the early days of the 24-day eruption on the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the southwest of the island. A new lava flow, which began after the north face of the crater collapsed at the weekend, has so far covered 595 hectares (5.95 square kms) of land on the island, which forms part of the Canary Island archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, an estimated 1,281 buildings have been destroyed by lava and it has also led to the formation of around 60 hectares (0.6 square kms) of new land. One branch of the new flow on Monday destroyed a cement factory in an industrial estate, leaving 3,500 people from the municipalities of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane temporarily confined to their homes due to noxious gasses. Measurements of Sulphur dioxide and a continued chain of small earthquakes have implied that this eruption would last much longer. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will make another visit to La Palma on Wednesday, his fourth of the kind over the three weeks. The prime minister will give further details of his government's emergency aid plan. The plan has already designated 206 million euros (about 237.8 million U.S. dollars) in aid to help evacuees and the island's economy, which is mainly based on tourism and banana planting. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 22:38:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich's French international defender Lucas Hernandez has been summoned to return to Spain later this month to start a one-year prison sentence for violating a restraining order. The Madrid Criminal Court has issued the order for Hernandez, who was on the bench as France controversially beat Spain 1-0 in Sunday's UEFA Nations League final on Sunday, to appear before a judge on October 19th "in order to be personally required to enter prison voluntarily within ten days, in the penitentiary center of his choosing." The incident dates back to early February 2017 when the player, who at the time was at Atletico Madrid, and his wife were involved in an 'incident' in the street. They were subsequently sentenced to 31 days of community service and given a restraining order which prevented them from seeing or communicating with each other for six months. However, the couple ignored this and went on holiday together in a breach of the order and Hernandez was sentenced to a year in prison, with an appeal for that to be changed for community service rejected as he had previously violated the first community service order he had been given. The player's lawyers have said they will again appeal against the sentence, but Hernandez has to be in Madrid on October 19th for the hearing. Bayern Munich claim they have no knowledge of the case. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-14 00:53:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Ludovic Orban, announced his resignation on Wednesday. "As I am no longer chairman of the PNL (National Liberal Party), I think I cannot exercise this function," Orban told a press conference at the Parliament Palace as soon as he officially submitted his resignation. After losing the internal elections for the party's presidency two weeks ago, Orban announced that he had sent his resignation as president of the Chamber of Deputies in order to be at the disposal of the new liberal leader for 15 days. However, he explained that he had not resigned directly to the Chamber of Deputies at that time, so that the party could take action to ensure that his position would not fall into the hands of his political opponent, the Social Democratic Party. According to Agerpres news agency, Orban said his successor Florin Citu and head of state Klaus Iohannis were responsible for provoking and deepening the political crisis that began in Romania in September. Contributing to this period of political instability were the break-up of the ruling coalition, conflict within the major ruling party during internal elections, and the collapse of the government of Prime Minister Florin Citu. Although President Iohannis nominated on Monday a candidate for prime minister to form a new government, local political analysts generally expressed doubts about the successful establishment of the new cabinet, since the main political parties in the Parliament have so far been reluctant to cooperate with the prime minister-designate. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 09:46:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal (L) attends a press conference in Havana, Cuba, Oct. 12, 2021. Cuba will start administering booster shots with its homegrown COVID-19 vaccines in November, Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal said Tuesday at a press conference. (Xinhua/Lin Zhaohui) HAVANA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cuba will start administering booster shots with its homegrown COVID-19 vaccines in November, Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal said Tuesday at a press conference. "In the very beginning, we will administer coronavirus booster shots to vulnerable groups and frontline workers, including doctors, nurses, scientists, and people with the highest likelihood of exposure to the virus," he told Xinhua. The Caribbean nation also plans to expand vaccine studies to children under two, after more than 90 percent of kids aged 2-18 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Portal said. Cuba on Tuesday registered 2,638 cases and 37 related deaths, bringing the national counts to 923,966 and 7,928 respectively. Eduardo Martinez, president of Cuba's biotech company BioCubafarma, said the island nation would open a new plant to produce vaccines at its Mariel Special Development Zone, some 45 km east of the country's capital Havana. "We are in talks with the World Health Organization over the global use of our vaccines," he said. "The Cuban strategy to develop homegrown vaccines has worked." Since the start of the island's vaccination campaign in May, 86.1 percent of the country's 11 million people have received at least the first dose of a domestic coronavirus vaccine. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 14:55:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. businesses are feeling the effects of President Joe Biden's trade policy on China, voicing the hope for some relief from the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Arkansas-based public radio station KUAR has reported. Biden will keep the Trump-era tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese goods in place, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced last week. KUAR interviewed Texas-based luggage store owner Tiffany Williams, who said the tariffs combined with COVID-19 and supply chain issues have hurt her business in recent years. Williams said a bag sold at 440 U.S. dollars in 2018 is probably now 550 dollars, considering duties and tariffs and exorbitant shipping costs on top of it. "There's just no way they can continue to sell it for the same price," Williams said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 16:28:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden could risk his entire first-term agenda if he fails to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, experts said. The embattled president is plummeting in the polls amid multiple crises -- his botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, skyrocketing urban crime and a crisis at the U.S. southern border, to name a few. But the most pressing concern for the president remains the surging Delta variant, which is running rampant among the unvaccinated, analysts warned. Indeed, a recent poll from Quinnipiac, a leading polling university, found last week that just 38 percent of Americans believe the president is doing a good job, down from 42 percent just three weeks ago. Moreover, only a quarter approved of the president's handling of immigration, 39 percent approved of his handling of the economy and 37 percent approved of him as Commander-in-Chief, the poll found. "Battered on trust, doubted on leadership, and challenged on overall competency, President Biden is being hammered on all sides as his approval rating continues its downward slide to a number not seen since the tough scrutiny of the Trump administration," Quinnipiac said, referring to former President Donald Trump. The key to a comeback is getting the Delta surge under control, analysts said. But millions of Americans continue to decline the jab on fears of possible side effects and disinformation running wild on social media. Others fret over the fact that the vaccine is so new -- created in record time in a public-private partnership spearheaded by former President Trump. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for Biden. If the president can get things under control now, his approval numbers could rebound in the coming months, experts said. If not, he could face a crisis in leadership, and Democrats in Congress could distance themselves from him in the lead-up to next year's midterm elections. Luckily for Biden, he may have time on his side, as the midterms are still a year away. "It doesn't matter so much whether his numbers are down right now. What matters is whether his administration can execute a plan for success in the pandemic, as well as the economy, that people will feel in six months," Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua. BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE Among Americans declining the vaccine, there has been an uptick in deaths as well as hospitals delaying some surgeries because hospital staff are being stretched thin. Manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna said the vaccine is safe and effective against severe illness and death by COVID-19, but the Biden administration has failed to convince millions of Americans, critics said. In a bid to tamp down the number of cases, the White House is now imposing a vaccine mandate for companies that employ more than 100 workers. The move is controversial, with Republicans expressing concern over government overreach and business groups complaining of being shut out of the decision-making process. Biden has taken to the pulpit in recent days to explain his move -- which he said recently was not his first instinct -- and to continue to push Americans to get vaccinated. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that Biden "will continue to push vaccination as long as there are large numbers of people getting sick. It will be a while before the numbers drop to levels that people no longer are worried." Biden's target number for the percentage of vaccinated remains unknown, however, and that has led some critics to accuse the president of moving the finish line when it suits him politically. Senator Ted Cruz last month accused the president of moving the goalposts on the percentage of people who need to be vaccinated before a complete return to normal. Christopher Galdieri, assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua that "I expect Biden will avoid putting a specific number on it." Jeff Archer, an IT worker in the DC area, told Xinhua everyone should get the vaccine, but does not believe it should be mandated, while Francis Wilson, a manager at a small business, said she agrees with Biden's mandate. SCHOOL MASK CONTROVERSY CONTINUES Meanwhile, controversy on how to handle transmission of the virus in the nation's schools continues. In states such as Florida and Texas, governors have been at loggerheads with some school boards, with the latter seeking to implement mask mandates and the former arguing the decision should be left up to parents. Those against mask mandates for children also cite the possibility that mask wearing could impair small children's ability to learn, as young children rely on facial expressions to convey information. Florida Department of Education recently voted to sanction eight school districts that have instituted mask mandates that do not give parents the choice to opt their kids out. This marks the latest development in a fight between the state of Florida and a few school districts that went ahead and mandated masks on their own, in defiance of an order from Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis maintains he wants to give parents a choice over whether their children should wear masks in class or not. The state of Florida has also threatened not to fund school districts that defied the governor's no-mask-mandate order. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children can spread COVID-19, but are less likely to develop severe illness or die from the virus. The extent to which children suffer long-term consequences of COVID-19 remains unknown, it states on its website. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 22:18:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic will leave a lasting mark on inequality, poverty, and government finances, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its Fiscal Monitor released Wednesday, cautioning against a great financing divide. Global debt, which includes both public and non-financial private sector debt, jumped by 14 percent to a record high of 226 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020 as policymakers responded to the pandemic, and public debt now amounts to 88 trillion dollars, close to 100 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), according to the report. In 2021 and 2022, public debt is expected to decline by about 1 percentage point of GDP each year; after that, it should stabilize at about 97 percent of GDP, the report showed. In advanced economies, fiscal policy remains supportive of economic activity and employment, while in emerging markets and low-income developing countries, fiscal support -- already more limited than in advanced economies -- "is waning further due to tightening financing constraints," wrote Vitor Gaspar, director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, and his colleagues in a blog on Wednesday. "By 2024, they would still be significantly below our projections pre-COVID-19 and the same is true for their revenues," Gaspar told Xinhua in a remote interview earlier this week. "In the case of low-income developing countries, there is a very persistent financing gap." The IMF urged policymakers to calibrate policies to the pandemic and to economic developments and prospects, prioritize transformation to make economies smarter, greener, and more resilient and inclusive, gradually increase tax revenues where necessary and improve spending efficiency. It also encouraged countries to strengthen the credibility of fiscal policy to create room for further support in the short term without jeopardizing public credit. Noting that strengthening the credibility of fiscal policy is "extremely important," Gaspar said countries that benefit from credible medium term fiscal frameworks "are able to manage their trade-offs better." In light of the great financing divide, the IMF official said the multilateral lender's rapid financing facilities have made a difference in the countries where they were needed the most, and the largest Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation in history makes liquidity available to vulnerable countries. "But we believe that more is needed," Gaspar told Xinhua. "And in particular voluntary channeling of SDRs by countries that have a comfortable external position (to low-income developing countries)." The Fiscal Monitor also noted that with the expiration of the Group of Twenty (G20) Debt Service Suspension Initiative at the end of 2021, ensuring the effective functioning of the G20 Common Framework to provide debt relief will be "essential" to helping the world's poorest and most heavily indebted countries cope with the continuing fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Enditem Leon County Administrator Vince Long was in blatant violation of the law when he announced vaccines would be mandatory for all 714 county employees, the state department of health said in a statement on Tuesday. A total of 14 workers declined to get their shots by the Oct. 1 deadline and were subsequently fired. They adapted a numerical model from computational fluid dynamics that simulates turbulence, modeling cough jets in breezy conditions and in calm conditions that would be typical indoors. They found that mini vortices within the turbulence of the coughs enable bigger droplets to persist in the air longer than has been typically assumed, increasing the time it takes to adequately dilute the viral load in fresh air, the researchers said. As the cough jet evolves and spreads, it interacts with the wind flowing in the same direction, and the bigger infected droplets become trapped in the jets vortices instead of falling relatively quickly to the ground under gravity. Earlier this month, Southwest, which is headquartered in Dallas, ordered all 55,000 of its workers to get their coronavirus shot by Dec. 8. The mandate is in accordance with a federal directive issued back in September by President Joe Biden, calling for all private companies with more than 100 employees to either require COVID vaccines or conduct weekly testing for coronavirus. The big bad of Dopesick is clear; Richard Sackler, with his complete disregard for humanity when there is money to be made. The question is how far should the blame go. Sacklers scientists who found data to prove their point? The FDA, which fell for the too-good-to-be-believed line about the nonaddictive properties of OxyContin? The salespeople who took the apparent lies from the scientists and relayed them directly to the small-town doctors and bragged about their white whales? The doctors who would dole out the pills like candy? The doctors who prescribed the OxyContin? The patients who got addicted? Its not enough progress but as long as there are people within the systems and the institutions that hold it to the standard that we all thought it was holding itself to autonomously, it makes the public more aware. It puts more pressure on the systems to actually reform (the companies) to a place that theyre supposed to be. The unexpected comparison came in a letter asking Manhattan Federal Judge Alison Nathan to keep proposed questions to prospective jurors under seal. The questionnaires typically ask potential jurors if they have opinions about certain individuals who will be discussed at trial. In Maxwells trial, a laundry list of bold-faced names could come up during testimony. If Trump is sick or some other emergency comes up, he must testify by the end of the month, Gonzalez wrote in an Oct. 4 filing. Mullins, who sources familiar with the investigation say is now being investigated for misuse of union funds, pushed the boundaries of NYPD regulations and good taste like perhaps no other prominent cop. When the FBI raided the unions offices and Mullins Long Island home last week, the sergeant was already facing a departmental inquiry for inappropriate tweets targeting Mayor de Blasios daughter and a Bronx congressman. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve New York City as DOIs commissioner alongside the dedicated people at DOI who have inspired me every day with their commitment to truth-telling, holding people accountable regardless of power or position, and giving New Yorkers the honest government they deserve, Garnett said. The 27-year-old Salcedo took a comforter he had draped over his shoulders and descended on the little girl, wrapping her up with it as he tried to run off with her, cops said. But a group of passersby saw what happened and intervened, making him release the the girl and run, cops said. Someone told me to grab the girl, Santiago Salcedo told investigators when he was shown a picture of himself allegedly grabbing little Lilianna Repka outside a BP gas station at the corner of E. Tremont and Baisley Aves. in Schuylerville Monday afternoon. He quickly dropped the child and ran off when a handful of Good Samaritans confronted him. Everyone at the CCRB is committed to being impartial and fair throughout all investigative processes, whether collecting evidence, interviewing or deliberating a final recommendation, Darche said. Some members of service are upset by these clippings so we have removed them while officers use the room for interviews. Michael Wustrow, 59, was caught sharing photos of young boys with an undercover officer in 2016, telling the cop on a messaging app, I want to find a father that is willing to rent me his younger son 12 or 13, according to federal documents. When not laying claim to the White House, said Schoen, the octogenarian Orena known during his reign as acting boss of the Colombos as Little Vic believes he is the warden of the facility where he remains imprisoned, the Federal Medical Center Devens in Massachusetts. Leon, a native of Jamaica who lived in the Bronx with his mother, pleaded guilty to selling marijuana and was sentenced to 21 days in jail, which he served before being placed on home confinement. He was never linked to any of the violence between the two gangs, officials said. Something needs to be done, Ive got kids over here, said Earl Johnson, 54, who lives in the nearby Grace Towers. We call the police and they say theres nothing they can do about it ... As long as its in the hood, they dont care what the hell is going on. On Aug. 31, a homeless woman was stabbed in the neck and stomach on the same streetcorner. She remained unidentified as of Tuesday night, and police have made no arrests in her slaying, an NYPD spokesman said. Victoria was ultimately arrested on three felony counts of burglary, according to the Smoking Gun. The crime site also reports Victoria was ordered to stay clear of the 5-acre property where Mariah lives with the horses owner, whod set-up the cameras that allegedly caught the animal molester in the act. The suspect was reportedly filmed accosting the filly on three separate occasions in a very short amount of time. The fact this hasnt been solved is personal to us, he said. We want to bring closure to the family. For the people out there that might have information, turn that around. What if it was your family member, your father, your husband? You would want the case solved, too. What is even more heartbreaking is the fact Mel expressed fear for his life because he was trans living in Jackson. Trans people should not have to fear violence simply because of their identity, but that is our countrys current reality. This has to do with the prevalence of transphobia in our daily lives and the inaction around the epidemic of violence against the trans community, York added. Capones three surviving granddaughters held the auction in California and sold off a number of items, including what was described as the crime boss favorite gun, Colt .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, which went for $860,000, the Chicago Tribune reports. Last year, Porter County Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford rejected the same plea deal, saying he would have approved a deal that required McGehee to register as a sex offender, according to the NWI Times. However, Bradford retired at the end of his 2020, and new judge Mike Fish signed off on the deal. The entire Saber family is devastated by the loss of our true teammate and friend Specialist Maxwell Hockin, Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, commander of the 91st Engineer Battalion, said in a statement. He had an outstanding work ethic, was a mentor to his peers, and was always willing to help out the team. He will truly be missed. Our thoughts and our prayers are with Maxwells family during this difficult time. The 8040 policy was rushed through to a vote without consideration for the safety of all students, simply to satisfy a liberal agenda a policy that you knew full well would allow our children to be abused inside our schools, one mother said. At least two young women are recent victims of sexual assaults in our high schools, one of them in a restroom. Your moral compasses are busted! You, Dr. Ziegler, and our school board every one of you are complicit in these crimes against our children because you did nothing about it, nothing. The carrier annex is only accessed by postal workers and no customers were in the area, according to the U.S. Postal Service. The strangest property of this new signal is that it is has a very high polarisation, Ziteng Wang, the lead author of the study said. This means its light oscillates in only one direction, but that direction rotates with time. According to The Trevor Project the worlds largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ and questioning youth suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people, with LGBTQ youth being four times more likely to seriously consider suicide, to make a plan for suicide, and to attempt suicide versus their peers. PG&E equipment was blamed for a 2018 fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise in Butte County. The company filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter. PG&E also faces criminal charges for fires caused by its fraying equipment, including involuntary manslaughter counts in connection to a blaze near the city of Redding last year that killed four. They praised Gov. Hochul for recently signing the Less Is More Act, which reforms the states parole system and makes it less likely that parolees will be incarcerated for minor or technical violations. Instead, what is remarkable is that Churaman is risking decades behind bars to clear his name. For years, he has battled a system in the shadows. But sunlight is the best disinfectant, and now he is gambling that injustice will not survive public scrutiny. So, with limited resources, he has mobilized a coalition to his aid. Starting with phone calls from Rikers, Churaman solicited funds for his legal defense, which paid off when an appellate court granted him bail in January 2021. Now under house arrest, he is continuing to lead his alliance in demanding that Katz drop the charges. After our journey on The Father, I couldnt make another film without Anthony, Zeller said in a statement. He was the first one to read The Sons script, as one of its characters was written especially for him. Having him by our side to tell this new story has been an honor, a profound joy and very emotional. The controversy around both Morgan and Osbournes incidents took-on racial undertones. It was Underwoods questioning of Osbourne that seemed to set off the sparks on The Talk. Osbourne later apologized for her panicked and defensive, conduct during the segment that went sideways, but she said for CBS executives, that wasnt enough. From day one, Mr. Hammer has maintained that all of his interactions with [the accuser] and every other sexual partner of his for that matter have been completely consensual...and mutually participatory, Hammers attorney Andrew Bretller said, denying the charges. [The accusers] attention seeking and ill-advised legal bid will only make it more difficult for real victims of sexual violence to get the justice they deserve. Should we be moving in a completely different direction? Jenne asked. What we have been trying to do, a lot of it has been built on one another. Yet we continuously find the same results and find ourselves in these sticky situations. Should we be looking at something new? The plaintiffs first allegations were reported to the FBI, and the Brevard County Sheriffs Office investigated them and determined them to be unfounded, Martinez said in a statement. The plaintiffs have now come back with a different story, which is equally unfounded, that another young female child acted inappropriately with their child. We will vigorously defend this case in court. Typically, these policies dont cost a lot of money, Maharaj said. So the only way a company can come out ahead is if the possibility that someone is going to make it is so low that you can not worry about having to pay out the claim. One scenario asked students to describe their punishment and work if they were a very big, strong slave who rebelled against his master with two other slaves, according to Bay News 9. These dirtbags, with their long criminal histories, thought it was a good idea to throw tools at our deputies and flee rather than surrender peacefully. Maybe they have watched too much TV and were making a movie. They did. One that a judge will see! Thankfully none of our deputies or anyone else was hurt by their actions. Anyone who lives in Central Florida can register to participate either virtually or in-person at an open table gatherings of up to 10 people designed to foster honest, respectful conversation. The discussions, some with free meals, start throughout the day, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. You also can sign up to host a conversation of your own by Oct. 28 and invite up to 10 people to join you. There is no cost to participate or to host a table. The reason why Ocklawaha restoration is many times more affordable and impactful than comparable environmental projects is because we are letting nature do so much of the work for us. Instead of trying to engineer around past mistakes, breaching the Rodman Dam corrects them. It is always more effective and less expensive to allow nature to heal itself, when we have the opportunity to do so. It was actually a certificate that she was able to print out from the website, saying that my rights are restored, Meade said. ... My wife knew because we have a notification on our email that lets us know when mail is coming to the house, and where its coming from. And when she saw that, she automatically assumed it was from the Clemency Board. Lee added, Another important fact is that not only do we conduct audits after every election, but those audits are also open to the public. So, theyre entirely transparent. And any member of the public who has questions or wants to know more or wants to ensure for themselves that they can rely upon and feel confident in our elections outcomes is invited and welcome to participate and actually observe that audit for themselves. Blue Origin said Shatner and the rest of the crew met all the medical and physical requirements, including the ability to hustle up and down several flights of steps at the launch tower. Passengers are subjected to nearly 6 Gs, or six times the force of Earths gravity, as the capsule returns to Earth. New York, US (PANA) - Inclusion is fundamental to rebuild societies in the wake of war and achieve durable peace, UN Secretary-General told world leaders, ambassadors and prominent global citizens meeting in the Security Council on Tuesday Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Some 1,000 women and children, five of them unaccompanied, and at least 30 infants held in migrant detention centres in Tripoli, are at immediate risk to their safety and well-being, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With November being Native American Heritage Month, do you think East Carolina University has increased its efforts to recognize and honor Native and Indigenous cultures and students, faculty and staff on campus. Survey Supreme Court overturns all decisions extending detention of businessman Ponomarev RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:20 13/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 13 (RAPSI) The Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court has canceled all lower courts decisions extending the term of detention of businessman Konstantin Ponomarev, known for his legal battles with IKEA, his lawyer Anna Stavitskaya has told RAPSI. The lawyer reminded that the highest instance initiated proceedings in the Ponomarev case after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that the arrest of the businessman and the extensions of his detention had violated his rights guaranteed by Article 5.3 and 5.4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR ruled that detention of the businessman in the pretrial detention facility (more than three years) was excessively long and indicated that national courts, when extending the detention period, relied mainly on the gravity of the charges, without citing specific facts relevant to the case, without assessing the applicant's personal situation and without considering the possibility of using alternative measures of restraint. The Presidium of the Supreme Court agreed with this position, Stavitskaya said. In total, the Supreme Court overturned 18 lower courts decisions concerning the measure of restraint for Ponomarev in the first criminal case against him. At the end of 2020, a court in the Moscow Regions town of Solnechnogorsk sentenced Ponomarev to 10 years and 2 months in a penal colony having found him guilty of tax evasion, attempted fraud with diesel generators, fined him 900,000 rubles ($12,000) and forfeited the disputed diesel generators to the state. The sentence was cumulated with a previous punishment given to the entrepreneur in a false denunciation case. Investigators claimed that after one of the victories in court against IKEA Ponomarevs company received 25 billion rubles ($340 million) from the furniture corporation and the businessman transferred the money to his own bank account. In this situation, he was to pay income taxes and VAT but failed. Thus, the total amount of unpaid taxes was estimated as 9.7 billion rubles ($132 million), according to the investigation. Ponomarev and his defense insisted in turn that the company did not simply transfer the funds but transferred them in accordance with a custodial services contract. Therefore, an income tax must not be demanded by officials. A second count was related to the lend lease of diesel generators for prime power organization in Crimea. Investigators claim that the entrepreneur demanded over 5.4 billion rubles in court from lease takers. This is the second case against Ponomarev. On July 9, 2019, a court in Lyubertsy, a town in the Moscow Region, found Ponomarev guilty of false denunciation and passed the sentence on him. His lawyer Maxim Zagorsky received 7 years and 8 months behind bars. He was also banned from practicing law for 3 years. A judge held that the defendants committed several crimes related to evidence simulation. The attorney was an organizer of the criminal group, the ruling read. In mid-October 2019, the Moscow Regional Court recalculated the term of actual punishment given to Ponomarev and reduced it by 6.5 months. Actual punishment of Zagorsky in the case was also recalculated. The sentence came into force. The trial of Ponomarev and Zagorsky began in December 2018. Investigators considered initiation of criminal proceedings by a private person on Ponomarevs appeal as false denunciation. The defendants pleaded not guilty and insisted on acquittal. Ponomarev was embroiled in a long-standing dispute with IKEA that opted to rent diesel generators to power its shopping malls in St. Petersburg. Five criminal cases were opened against the businessman at the request of the Swedish retailer. However, a probe over alleged fraud found nothing, and the cases were dropped. The businessman believes that the false denunciation case was resulted from the conflict with IKEA. Ponomarev claims that the company thus wants to stretch the time and siphon assets in order to avoid paying a multibillion debt to him. Investigators seek to detain head of Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences AGN Moskva 13:50 13/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 13 (RAPSI) - Police investigators have filed a motion to place the rector of the The Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (Shaninka) Sergey Zuyev in detention until December 7 as part of a 21-million-ruble (about $300,000) embezzlement case, the press service of Moscow's Tverskoy District Court has told RAPSI. Zuyev is still a suspect in the case. In late September, in the course of the investigation, ex-employees of the Fund for New Forms of Education Development Maxim Inkin and Eugeny Zak as well as executive director of Shaninka Christina Kryuchkova were detained for two months in this case. Former Deputy Education Minister and Sberbank vice-president Marina Rakova initially escaped but was arrested and put in detention on October 6 as well as her partner Artur Stetsenko, the common-law husband of Rakova and CEO of the Federal State Autonomous Institution "The Fund for New Forms of Education Development. According to investigators, in 2019, Rakova, then Deputy Minister of Education, Stetsenko and other defendants were involved in large-scale embezzlement from the Fund during the execution of education state contracts. Sentencing of Doctors Alliance head in sanitary breach case set for October 14 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:44 13/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 13 (RAPSI) - Moscow's Preobrazhensky District Court will annouce sentence against Anastasia Vasilyeva, the leader of medical workers' union Alyans Vrachei (Doctors' Alliance, an organization recognized by the Russian Justice Ministry as a foreign agent), in a case over breaching sanitary norms at an unauthorized rally, on October 14, the court's press service has told RAPSI. In early October, prosecutor demanded to restrict Vasilyeva's liberty for 20 months. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vasilyeva took part in the unauthorized event on January 23 on Pushkin Square in Moscow, where coronavirus-positive persons ordered to isolation were identified among the rally participants. A criminal case over violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules was opened over this fact. Earlier, several allies of jailed Alexey Navalny, including Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, were convicted in this case. St. Petersburg Bar Chamber to decide on disbarment of lawyer Pavlov Ivan Pavlov's personal account on Facebook 16:29 13/10/2021 ST. PETERSBURG, October 13 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) - The Chamber of Lawyers of St. Petersburg will decide whether attorney Ivan Pavlov should be disbarred due to his refusal to sign a pledge of secrecy in a treason case against former journalist Ivan Safronov, lawyer Alexander Meleshko has told RAPSI. The hearing date is not yet scheduled. In early October, the Kuibyshevsky court of St. Petersburg terminated proceedings initiated by the Russian Justice Ministry against Pavlov for allegedly disclosing information related to a police investigation. The Ministry of Justice dropped its claim against the Chamber, the Council of which refused to punish the defense lawyer for refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement on the data of the preliminary investigation in the Safronov case. The case against Pavlov is related to an article published by Vedomosti about Ivan Safronov accused of treason. Investigators believe the lawyer gave the newspaper a copy of the decision to bring the journalist to criminal prosecution and told information agencies and Kommersant newspaper about an interrogation of a secret witness in Safronovs case. Under the respective articles of the Russian Criminal Code, the charges brought against the lawyer envisage punishment in the form of compulsory work for up to 480 hours, or correctional labor for up to two years, or detention for up to three months. The lawyer has left Russia. Pavlov is known for his work for human rights association "Team 29", which provides legal assistance to Safronov and other defendants in high-profile cases. Russian Cabinet approves initiative granting prosecutors status of combat veterans RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 14:12 13/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 13 (RAPSI) The Government Commission on Legislative Activities has approved an initiative granting the status of a participant in military activities to prosecutors who served in the areas of counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia (ALR) Vladimir Gruzdev informs RAPSI. The draft bill gives the status of a veteran of military operations to the employees of the prosecutors office who performed their duties during the armed conflict in the Chechen Republic, as well as in the zones of counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus, Gruzdev said. He noted that the activities of prosecutors and investigators of prosecutor's offices in the zones of operations aimed at restoring Constitutional order and the fight against terrorism did not differ from the activities of investigators and interrogators of other law enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, currently only military prosecutors and investigators have the status of a participant in military activities within the system of the prosecutors offices and the Investigative Committee, according to the ALR Chairman. As per the data available to the Prosecutor General's Office and the Investigative Committee, the number of citizens who, if the law is passed, will receive the status of participants in military activities, exceeds 1,300 persons. War veterans receive a number of benefits, including compensation for 50 percent of the cost of housing and communal services. In addition, family members of prosecutors and investigators, who died in action, will be eligible for serious measures of social support, Gruzdev added. Bill on stricter punishment for regular beatings reaches State Duma RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:07 13/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 13 (RAPSI) - The Government has submitted a draft law toughening punishment for regular assaults to the lower house of parliament, according to the official State Duma website. The respective bill toughens the punishment for persons who have already had a criminal record of physical violence. The initiative brings the Criminal Code into line with the legal positions of the Constitutional Court of Russia, according to Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia (ALR) Vladimir Gruzdev. Currently, the law provides for a two-stage system of punishment for beatings: the principle of administrative prejudice is in effect. For the first violation, a person will be punished under the Code of Administrative Offenses. For repeated beatings such a person is to be brought to criminal responsibility. Such a system is designed to prevent more serious consequences. As even the slightest manifestations of violence is punished, a person is made to understand that such behavior is unacceptable and will certainly entail responsibility. But to make the mechanisms of punishment for beating, which does not result in bodily harm, work, it is necessary that the punishment be increased when the misconduct is repeated, Gruzdev said earlier. Meanwhile, presently there is a legal gap in the system of punishment for beatings, which was pointed out by the Constitutional Court: if a person commits beatings for the third time, the punishment is not toughened. On the contrary, the person is brought to administrative responsibility again, the ALR Chair explained. However, in a situation where the perpetrator regularly resorts to physical violence, albeit insignificant (compared to violence that causes harm to health), this is no longer enough. More stringent sanctions are needed, Gruzdev said. The bill assumes that a person who has committed beatings for the third time or more will be prosecuted and the sanctions will become more strict. For regular physical violence, if it did not cause harm to health, there is to be introduced such punishments as compulsory work for up to 480 hours, restriction of freedom for up to a year and other sanctions, Gruzdev notes. He reminded that, according to the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of Russia, in 2020 more than 1,600 people were convicted under the respective article of the Criminal Code. The number of those convicted under this article, compared to 2019, increased by 17.5 percent. At the same time, 104,000 people were punished under the Code of Administrative Offences in 2020. Thus, one and a half percent of citizens brought to administrative responsibility are repeated offenders, Gruzdev summed up. Posted by Liam on at 01:54 PM CST We are sad to report the passing of Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, a beloved figure within the merchandising world who expanded Star Wars figures to reach the highs that they are at today. Goldner resigned on Sunday. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, daughter, and entire family.Hasbro expanded into licensing deals for popular franchises, and oversaw the deal to adopt the galaxy far, far away after the rights transitioned from their originators at Kenner Toys. Goldner joined the company in 2000, shortly following an unprecedented merchandise push for the company in 1999 with the release of The Phantom Menace.Under Goldners leadership, Hasbros Star Wars line continued to expand throughout the release of the prequel trilogy. Beyond 3 action figures, Goldner saw the transitioned Star Wars Unleashed, Galactic Heroes, Jedi Force, Battlers, Custom, Mighty Muggs, and FX Lightsaber Blade Lines. Goldner also saw the crossovers between Star Wars and the franchise hed just launched in Hollywood: Transformers.Goldner helped retain Hasbros hold on Star Wars, as well as Marvel, as the rights were sold to Disney. The success of the Black Series and the products throughout the sequel trilogy era came thanks to Goldner.In addition to his leadership within Hasbro, Goldner was also a passionate advocate for opioid awareness. The Direct Relief organization provides information, charitable opportunities, and ongoing relief efforts for those struggling with opioid addiction. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/12/2021 -- The report "Adhesives & Sealants Market by Adhesive Formulating Technology (Water-based, Solvent-based, Hot-melt, Reactive), By Sealant Resin Type (Silicone, Polyurethane, Plastisol, Emulsion, Polysulfide, Butyl), Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2025" The global adhesives & sealants market size will grow to USD 80.0 billion by 2025 from USD 63.2 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 4.8% during the 2020-2025 period. The growth of the market is supported by the increasing construction and automobile applications, advancements in formulating technologies, and growing demand in the APAC region. Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=421 Water-based is projected to be the largest formulating technology of the adhesives market. The adhesives market in the water-based segment is driven by the steady increase in demand from building & construction applications in North America and new infrastructure projects in India, Taiwan, and other developing countries across the world. Water-based adhesives provide excellent adhesion to different substrates and are used in a wide variety of packaging applications, such as bookbinding, paper bags, cartons, labels, foils, films, paperboard decals, wood assembly, automobile upholstery, and leather binding. Medical is the fastest-growing application segment of the adhesives market. Medical is the fastest growing application in adhesives market, in terms of volume. Recently, with the outbreak of COVID-19, the governments, the private sector, and people throughout the world have been affected hugely due to the pandemic. Hence, the healthcare and medical devices sector has become the centerpiece for the recovery of patients. Medical devices are being used in large numbers due to the increased number of positive cases. This has increased the use of adhesives. Another driving factor is the aging population, driven by increasing life expectancy, which fuels the demand for medical devices, ultimately increasing the demand for adhesives. APAC is the largest adhesives & sealants market globally. Speak to Analyst @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=421 APAC is projected to lead the adhesives & sealants market during the forecast period which is driven by high economic growth and heavy investments in packaging, automotive, building & construction, medical, and electronic industries. APAC is increasingly becoming an important global trade and commerce center. Various companies and other international players are setting up new plants or expanding their existing adhesives & sealants production units in this region because of the low cost of production and the ability to serve the local emerging market. Don't miss out on business opportunities in Adhesives & Sealants Market. Speak to our analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow. COVID-19 Impact on the Global Adhesives & Sealants Market COVID-19 has posed many challenges for the automotive sector. The US, Germany, the UK, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and Japan are among the adversely affected major industrialized economies. According to a study by Boston Consulting Group, despite encouraging reports on progress toward a vaccine, numerous risks remain. It is projected that the sales in Europe and the US will not rebound to pre-COVID levels until 2023 at the earliest. COVID-19 has posed many challenges in the construction sector. Major economies across the world, such as the US, Germany, the UK, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and Japan, are among the severely affected countries by the pandemic. Social distancing measures, supply chain disruptions, and workforce dislocation have led to the suspension of construction activities in most countries due to the disruptions in supply chains and shortage of raw materials and labor. Construction companies with high debts and lower cash reserves faced a liquidity crisis. However, the construction of temporary hospitals and quarantine centers increased with this outbreak of coronavirus. Get 10% Customization on this Report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=421 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : 1-888-600-6441 sales@marketsandmarkets.com Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/13/2021 -- The Global Autonomous Vehicles Market is estimated to be 0.5 million units in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 68.94% to reach 6.9 million units by 2030. The global semi-autonomous vehicles market is estimated to be 10.5 million units in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.36% to reach 27.7 million units by 2022. The growth of this market is fueled by technological advancements in the field of connected cars and driver assistance features used in vehicles. Connected cars are the stepping stones for autonomous vehicles as they can communicate with other vehicles and their surroundings and driver assistance features help drivers control the vehicle in case of emergencies. The ecosystem of the autonomous vehicles and semi-autonomous vehicles consists of manufacturers such as Volkswagen (Germany), Daimler (Germany), Nissan Motor (Japan), Robert Bosch (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Google (US), Cisco Systems (US), Tesla (US), and Visteon (US) and suppliers such as Continental (Germany), Robert Bosch (Germany), Delphi Automotive (UK), Denso (Japan), and Valeo (France). Opportunities: 1. Autonomous Cars as A Mobility Service 2. Robotic Assistance Request FREE Sample Report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1220 On the basis of component type, Radar and Camera segments hold the largest share in the semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles market, respectively, in terms of volume The radar segment is projected to account for the largest share in the global semi-autonomous vehicles market in 2022 as radar can work well in bad weather conditions also, which is not the case with other components. For autonomous vehicles, the camera segment is estimated to account for the largest share in 2025, followed by radar and LIDAR. Cameras are cheaply available and they can provide the information needed by the artificial intelligence installed in the autonomous vehicles about the shape, size and texture of the object, which is not feasible by other components. Increasing accidents and concerns over the safety and security of passengers in developed and developing countries are expected to increase the growth rate of level 2&3 semi-autonomous cars Level 2&3 automation is expected to grow at a faster CAGR than level 1 automation. It can be attributed to the growing need for highly secured personal cars and government norms in emerging economies. Level 2&3 semi-autonomous cars are having highly advanced driver assistance features that will add to the increased safety and security of passengers. The demand is expected to increase in developing and developed countries such as the USA, Germany, China, and Japan, where key car manufacturers are located. Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1220 North America: Leading the semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles market North America is estimated to account for the largest share, in terms of volume, of the semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles market in 2017 and 2025 respectively. The region comprises few developed economies in the world such as the US and Canada. Vehicle production volumes have increased over the years, with OEMs catering not only to the domestic demand but also to overseas demand. Target Audience: 1. Tier 1 manufacturer 2. Automotive associations 3. Raw material suppliers 4. Vehicle manufacturers/OEMs 5. Automotive software providers 6. Service providers NewYork, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/13/2021 -- Bangladesh Candy Market size is projected to reach $399.2 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% over 2021-2026. Candy is referred to as confectionaries that are prepared by using sugar, honey, and other natural or artificial sweeteners. Candies are available in the form of bars, drops, or pieces and are prepared in combination with chocolate, milk, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients. Hard boiled candies are made of sugar based syrups, sucrose, liquid glucose, water, colour and flavour. Toffee candy is made by caramelizing sugar or molasses and has amazing taste. Sugar confectionaries are referred to as candies that offer a wide range of variety. Rising adoption of modern lifestyle increases the demand of healthy convenient foods, changing consumption pattern, growing availability of candies as a snack and increasing need of organic chocolates or sugar-free candies is the major factor driving the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. In Bangladesh, the food and beverage industry are rapidly increasing owing to rising trends of consuming candies as a snack that increases the production of candies. Furthermore, rising popularity of dark chocolate and increasing disposable income among population are set to further enhance the overall market demand for Bangladesh Candy Market for the period 2021-2026. Bangladesh Candy Market Segment Analysis By Type Based on Type Bangladesh Candy Market can be further segmented into Chocolate and Non-Chocolate. The Chocolate segment holds the major share in 2020. This is mainly owing to the increasing preference of chocolates among population owing to its attractive taste that attracts consumers for adopting chocolate candy. Moreover, owing to rising demand of chocolates among children manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are focusing on developing confectionary products with chocolate flavor that increasing the production of chocolate candy and thus driving the market growth. The Non-Chocolate segment is estimated to register the fastest CAGR of 8.1% for the period 2021-2026. This is mainly owing to rising popularity of consuming new flavors and textures of candies among consumers increases the demand of non-chocolate candy. Moreover, it is widely available in market with a cheaper rate that increases the adoption of non-chocolate among consumers which in turn boosting the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. Request for Sample Report @ https://www.industryarc.com/pdfdownload.php?id=19800 Report Price: $ 4500 (Single User License) Bangladesh Candy Market Segment Analysis By Distribution Channel Based on Distribution Channel Bangladesh Candy Market can be further segmented into Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Online Retail, Convenience Stores and Others. The Supermarkets/Hypermarkets segment recorded for the highest Bangladesh Candy Market share in 2020. This is mainly owing to the availability of separate sections of chocolates in supermarkets allowing consumers to buy chocolates in easier way. Moreover, the rising preference for mass purchasing groceries among consumers increases the demand of supermarkets as it offers a wide range of products that increases the demand of supermarkets among consumers. The Online retail segment is forecasted to register the fastest CAGR of 9.2% over 2021-2026. This is mainly owing to the rising hectic and busy schedule among consumer that are rising the preference of online retail for shopping. Moreover, variety of organic chocolates available in online that rising the demand of candies owing to health conscious people that are driving the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. Inquiry Before Buying @ https://www.industryarc.com/reports/request-quote?id=19800 Bangladesh Candy Market Drivers Rising Availability of Candies as Snack Among Population Rising hectic and busy lifestyle among population increases the demand of convenience snack is a major factor that is increasing the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. Moreover, manufacturers are also focusing on developing a wide range of chocolate snacks such as on-the-go-snacks, chocolate bar, and others that helps consumers to carry candies and bars in their bag. Recently, chocolates are mostly preferred among population that rising availability of candies as snacks which in turn boosting the growth of the Bangladesh Candy Market over 2021-2026. Increasing Adoption of Organic and Sugar-Free Chocolates Rising consciousness about health among population increases the demand for organic and sugar free candies that are driving the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. Moreover, rising prevalence of obesity increases the preference of consumers towards low-calorie and sugar-free food products to eliminate such diseases that growing the adoption of organic candies among people which are propelling the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market over the period 2021-2026. Covid-19 Impact: COVID-19 pandemic had greatly affected the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. During pandemic, the sales of candies, toffee and various confectionery products decreases owing to lockdown. Moreover, the production in food and beverage industry also declined owing to less number of manpower in production that are negatively impacted the growth of Bangladesh Candy Market. Bangladesh Candy Market Challenges Rising Health Awareness The factors that is set to impede the growth of the Bangladesh Candy Market are the rising health consciousness about health that decreases the sales of candies as it contains sugar which is not healthy for health. Moreover, increasing obesity and diabetes owing to high sugar content in candies decreases the sales of candies and are set to create hurdles for the Bangladesh Candy Market. Bangladesh Candy Market Landscape Product launches, acquisitions, collaboration, joint ventures, and geographical expansions are key strategies adopted by players in the Bangladesh Candy Market. Bangladesh Candy top 10 companies are PRAN Rfl Group, Perfetti Van Melle, Olympic Industries Limited, ACI Foods Limited, Mondelez International Inc., Mars Incorporated, The Hershey Company, THE BANG CANDY COMPANY, Quality Candy Company, and Muskoka Candy Company. Developments In 2020, Perfetti Van Melle launched its first soft gummy product under the Fruit-tella brand Fruit-tella Soft Gummies have real fruit puree and are made with pectin instead of gelatin and are available in Strawberry and Raspberry and Peach and Mango varieties that further enhancing the market growth. In 2019, Perfetti Van Melle launched Center Fresh Mints that helps to expand of the business in candy and thus driving the market growth. Related Reports: A. Chocolate Market https://www.industryarc.com/Report/16674/chocolate-market.html B. Confectionery Market https://www.industryarc.com/Research/Confectionery-Market-Research-509513 For more Food and Beverage Market reports, please click here About IndustryARC: IndustryARC primarily focuses on Cutting Edge Technologies and Newer Applications market research. Our Custom Research Services are designed to provide insights on the constant flux in the global supply-demand gap of markets. Our strong team of analysts enables us to meet the client research needs at a rapid speed, with a variety of options for your business. Any other custom requirements can be discussed with our team, drop an e-mail to sales@industryarc.com to discuss more about our consulting services. Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/13/2021 -- According to a research report "Radome Market by Platform (Ground, Airborne, Naval), Application(Radar, Sonar, Communication Antenna), Frequency(HF/UHF/VHF-Band, L- Band, S-Band, C- Band, X- Band, KU- Band, KA- Band, Multi-Band), Offering, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Radome Market is estimated at USD 1.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 3.3 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 15.0% from 2021 to 2026. The radome market is growing at a significant rate across the world, and a similar trend is expected to be observed during the forecast period. The Advancements in composite materials technology for Radome structure, focus on development of compact radome for UAV platforms, demand for technologically advanced radome systems for next-generation aircraft and significance of radomes in warfare are fueling the growth of the radome market. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=157460281 The radome market is being driven by the increased adoption of advanced military UAV systems to gain an advantage over enemy forces and the increasing defense expenditure of various countries. Industry players are undertaking R&D activities that focus on improving the capability of these radomes to perform in all-weather conditions and provide support in commercial as well as defense operations, such as long-range surveillance, search & rescue, navigation, and communications, among others. Based on material, glass fiber is projected to lead radome market by material from 2021 to 2026. Development and procurement of modern aircraft systems, such as targeting and surveillance systems and communication systems, for various applications is driving the demand for radome market globally. The surface of the fiberglass radome is reinforced with additives to enhance the adhesion between them so that the surface paint will not fall off, wrinkle and maintain its color even in severe weather. This also offers excellent electrical insulation and permeability. Based on application, the radar segment will register the highest growth from 2021 to 2026. A radome is often used to prevent ice and freezing rain from accumulating on antennas. In the case of a spinning radar parabolic antenna, the radome also protects the antenna from debris and rotational irregularities due to wind. In November 2020, Meggitt PLC secured a pioneering radome contract with BAE Systems to enable advanced radar technology for the Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet. Browse in-depth TOC on "Radome Market" 219 Tables 51 Figures 240 Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=157460281 Based on Platform, naval segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Upgrades in communication, navigation, and surveillance systems have helped modernize the maritime industry at a significant pace. An increase in automation, modernization of ships, upcoming autonomous technology, and the increase in unmanned marine vehicles are expected to drive the radome market of the naval platform. The naval platform comprises commercial vessels, military vessels, and unmanned marine vehicles. In January 2021, Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed two agreements with the Swedish navy concerning the next generation of surface ships and corvettes. Based on region, North America is projected to lead the radome market from 2021 to 2026. Significant investments in R&D activities for the development of advanced radome solutions by key players and increased demand for advanced radome systems are some of the factors expected to fuel the growth of the radome market in this region. The US is expected to drive the growth of the North American radome market during the forecast period, owing to easy access to various innovative technologies and significant investments being made by manufacturers in the country for the development of improved military ISR and communication & monitoring systems. Several developments have taken place in the field of radome systems in the region. For instance, in January 2020, Telephonics Corporation (US) successfully developed and tested its MOSAIC Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance radar system which requires technologically advanced solid laminate radomes with the US Navy's MH-60S helicopter. The MOSAIC AESA surveillance radar is capable of performing continuous scheduled Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging tasks while simultaneously conducting surveillance, detection, and tracking operations. This report includes a study on the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies. It consists of profiles of leading companies, such as Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Thales Group (France), General Dynamics (US), Saint-Gobain (France), BAE Systems (UK), L3Harris Technologies (US), Raytheon Technologies (US). Related Reports: Military Radars Market by Component (Antenna, Transmitter, Receiver, Duplexer, Display, Digital Signal Processor), Platform (Land, Naval, Airborne, Space), End User, Type, Frequency Band, Dimension, Range, Application, & Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Antenna, Transducer, and Radome Market by Product (Antenna & Transducer, Radome), Platform (Ground, Naval, Airborne), End User, Application, Technology (Radar, Communication, Sonar), Frequency, Region - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 An ancient wine production complex the largest known in the world from the Byzantine period has been discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The 1,500-year-old winemaking facility was unearthed at an archaeological site in Yavne, a city in the Central district of Israel. It had five magnificent wine presses (each covered an area of about 225 m2), four large warehouses for aging and marketing the wine, and kilns for firing the clay amphorae. We were surprised to discover a sophisticated factory here, which was used to produce wine in commercial quantities, said IAA excavation directors Dr. Elie Haddad, Dr. Liat Nadav-Ziv, and Dr. Jon Seligman. Furthermore, decorative niches in the shape of a conch, which adorned the winepresses, indicate the great wealth of the factory owners. A calculation of the production capacity of these winepresses shows that approximately two million liters of wine were marketed every year. At the same time, we should remember that the whole process was conducted manually. The archaeologists also uncovered intact amphorae, known as Gaza jars, and thousands of their fragments. Gaza and Ashkelon Wine was considered a quality wine brand of the ancient world, whose reputation has spread far and wide, a bit like Jaffa oranges denote their origin and quality today from Israel, they said. Everyone knew that this was a product from the Holy Land product, and everyone wanted more and more of this wine. The wine received its name as it was marketed through the ports of Gaza and Ashkelon. So far, other sites where wine was produced are known from the southern coastal plain, but now, we seem to have found the main production center of this prestigious wine. From here, commercial quantities were transported to the ports, and then throughout the Mediterranean basin. Hamas was born out of that Intifada uprising in the 1990s, which helped transform the entire Palestinian political landscape. by Saleem Samad Several factions of Palestinian organizations called for the cancellation of the Oslo Accords and the adoption of a national agenda for holding credible elections, forming a new national government, and rebuilding the state. Recently, the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas negated any reconciliation with the defiant Hamas militants occupying the Gaza strip unless it recognizes international resolutions. Abbas stressed that there would be no dialogue with them (Hamas) unless Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh responded in black and white and [signed] with his name. Responding to Abbas conditions, Hamas spokesperson said that it would be surrendering to the Zionists (Israelis). He stated that it [was] opposed with the Palestinian national consensus, and described the PA stand as a big obstacle ahead of reaching national unity based on the Cairo understandings, which are being accepted by all Palestinian factions. Hamas was born out of that Intifada uprising in the 1990s, which helped transform the entire Palestinian political landscape. Presently, Gaza became a globally recognized symbol of resistance to aggression and the brutality of Israels occupation. Months after the bloody uprising, Israel was secretly negotiating with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Oslo, Norway -- which came to be known as the Oslo Accords. The historic accord was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat on September 13, 1993, in a White House ceremony presided over by jubilant United States President Bill Clinton. The following year, Arafat and Rabin signed the Cairo Agreement, named after the Egyptian capital. The ultimate goal of both the Oslo Accords and Cairo Agreement was a resolution to grant autonomy to the people of Palestine, whereby Israel would end its occupation in both Gaza and Jericho. In reality, the Palestinian Authority was born and Gaza-Jericho first was hailed as the first step towards a Palestinian state and the two nations were supposed to live peacefully. But after three decades, little has changed for the Palestinians. In fact, Israel tilted to the right and the state became more aggressive in its denial of Palestinian rights. The successive governments in Tel Aviv (later shifted to Jerusalem) have done everything possible to undermine both agreements, rendering them into pieces of paper, and causing further disadvantage to the Palestinians. According to the Accords and subsequent agreements, Palestinians should be living in a state within demarcated borders and making their own decisions through a democratic process. The Accords invited the curse for the PLO and its main faction, Al Fatah (founded by Yasser Arafat), which was known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement. Palestinians today remain internally divided and brutally oppressed and are losing more of the land that was promised for their future state. After decades of bloodshed and violence and the grassroots rejection of the occupation by Palestinians, Israeli policymakers came to believe that Israel could not continue its failing and costly occupation. Israel cleverly allowed the PLO to become the civilian authority of PA in a divide and rule policy, like any other colonialist. Thus, it marked a turning point in the Palestinian struggle for independence and freedom, and the ageing liberation movement turned ineffective. Obviously, the Israeli regime is most benefitted from the division of Palestinians along factional lines despite their united goal to create a Palestinian state. Several times, Hamas hoped to join the PLO as a way of becoming recognized by Palestinians as a legitimate national government of the Palestine Authority. In the years to come, factionalism, suspiciousness, and distrust have widened the political divide, leaving no hope for Hamas to be represented in the PLO. Last week, Dr Mustafa Fetouri, a Libyan academic and recipient of the EUs Freedom of the Press prize, wrote in the Middle East Monitor that many Palestinians believe Hamas did the right thing by not insisting on joining the PLO after the latter became no more than a failed and corrupt political organization. Today, the Palestine state, dominated by the PLO, has lost its pride and historical legitimacy to become yet another failed bureaucracy. The PA is riddled with massive corruption and is on the brink of a failed state. Saleem Samad is an independent journalist, media rights defender, recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. 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Jay Inslee to call state Legislators into a special session to develop clearer guidance for the states police reform laws and to push state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to release model policy guidelines for police sooner. The letter would have read basically the same as ones approved by city councils in Lake Stevens, Monroe and Everett, according to Kartak. The Tribune has not reviewed the letter. In an informal 4-2 hands-up decision without a roll call vote, council members Linda Redmon, Tom Merrill, Donna Ray and Judith Kuleta gave a no. Councilmen Steve Dana and Larry Countryman raised their hands to say yes. Councilman Felix Neals was not present for the hands-up poll. Some council members reacted that Snohomish supports its police, and pointed to a Sept. 7 presentation from Police Chief Rob Palmer to say the Snohomish Police Department is navigating the new reform laws well. Councilwoman Judith Kuleta said the letter is causing divisiveness in the community. Councilman Tom Merrill said Snohomish sending a letter like this would cause a wedge to our public. Yes, there are ambiguities in those laws, but we dont have these problems, Merrill said. Maybe Everett does. Kartak told the Tribune post-meeting he found it a little heartbreaking it was received (by council) with a little animosity, and that animosity seems out of place. I dont think public safety should be a partisan issue, Kartak added. Legislators are anticipated to begin amending police reform bills when the full Legislature opens session in January. Kartak said state legislators wont be focused in January like they can in a special session. He calls it an emergent need and that law enforcement officers currently risk facing unacceptable situations because of the law enforcement reform rules that went into effect July 25. Check out our online publications! NSWL Club get together and dinner The National Shortwave Listeners Club would like to congratulate the successful candidates in the recent HAREC examination and are delighted to hear so many new callsigns on the air. Commiserations to those that were unsuccessful, and they hope to see them all attending the upcoming revision classes in preparation for the next HAREC exam on November 27th. The club have organised a radio filled weekend on November 6th and 7th with a visit to the Shannon Aviation Museum and the Limerick Clare Club station on the Saturday followed by their first annual dinner and overnight stay in a nearby Shannon Hotel. The outing will conclude with a visit to the Limerick Clare Club Rally in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Sunday. Some places are still available, and the club extends an invitation to non-members who wish to attend. Enquiries to info at swl.ie IRTS Algiers, 12 October 2021 (SPS) - Special Envoy in charge of Western Sahara and Maghreb countries Amar Belani on Tuesday dubbed insane and irresponsible the statements made by the Moroccan occupation authorities about the aggression committed in November against the Sahrawi territory of El Guerguerat, urging the UN Security Council to assume its political and moral responsibilities in order to guarantee the Sahrawi peoples inalienable right to self-determination. This is outrageous statements made by an inveterate driveller whose contemptible whining are not worthy of attention. Far from these grotesque rantings and to go back to what is important, we are facing a hampered and perverted decolonization process because of the indulgence of the international community, notably the Security Council, which must imperatively assume its political and moral responsibilities in order to guarantee the Sahrawi peoples inalienable right to Self-determination, Belani told APS. The insane statements of the Moroccan authorities on the irreversibility of actions conducted by the Moroccan occupation forces in El Guerguerat, are irresponsible and constitute a major impediment to a possible resumption of the political process, he denounced, in a reaction to the statement made by the representatives of the Moroccan Kingdom, during the commemorative ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the holding of the 1st Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), in Belgrade (Serbia). Belani said also that it is imperative to return to the original parameters of the political settlement, if the international community wants really an effective and serious reopening of direct negotiations, in good faith and without prerequisites between the two sides to the conflict. In the drafting of its next resolution on the issue, that we hope to be more balanced, and in order not to send a wrong signal to the two sides to the conflict, namely the Polisario Front and Morocco, the Security Council is called to take account of the new reality on the ground because, notably of the resumption of the hostilities following the flagrant violation by the Moroccan occupation forces of the military agreements signed by the two sides and shouldered by this same Council of Security. 062/700 Wilaya of Dakhla, Oct 13, 2021 (SPS) - The president of the Federation of Institutions for Solidarity with Western Sahara (Fedissah), Carmelo Ramirez, said Tuesday at the Dakhla camp in Saharawi refugees that the United Nations must ensure respect for the individual and collective rights of the Saharawi people. He called on the United Nations to ensure that these rights are respected, in accordance with international charters, and to organize a free and fair referendum as soon as possible, which guarantees the Saharawi people their right to self-determination and independence. Speaking to the APS on the sidelines of the celebration of the 46th anniversary of Saharawi National Unity, Mr. Ramirez expressed his "deep solidarity with the Saharawi people in their struggle for the recovery of their right to self-determination ''.SPS 125/090/TRA All signs indicate some sincerity on the part of the Taliban government. by Vijay Prashad On October 8, a terrible blast struck the worshippers attending Friday noon prayers at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque in the Khan Abad district of Bandar, the capital of Kunduz, one of Afghanistans largest cities in its northern belt. This is a mosque frequented by Shia Muslims, who were referred to as our compatriots by Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid. Forty-six people died immediately in the blast, and local officials said that many more people were injured in the incident. Not long afterward, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), took credit for the attack on its Telegram channel. The suicide bomber was identified as Mohammed al-Uyguri by ISIS-K. The name of the attacker raised red flags across the region. It indicated that he belonged to the Uyghur community and had a relationship with the Xinjiang region of western China, which is home to most of the worlds Uyghur population. That a Chinese extremist attacked a Shia mosque raised eyebrows in Beijing and in Tehran. Foreign Terrorists In June 2021, the United Nations reported on the presence of between 8,000 and 10,000 foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan. The report further stated that these fighters were mainly from Central Asia, the north Caucasus region of the Russian Federation, Pakistan and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China. Although most of the fighters had reported an affiliation with the Taliban, many also support Al-Qaida and [o]thers are allied with ISIL or have ISIL sympathies, said the report. ISIL refers to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, whose Afghan franchise is ISIS-K. In 2019, in Turkey, I encountered a group of Uyghur fighters from various terrorist organizations, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which is now called the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). These were hardened fighters, whose main goal was to fight infidels; they did not seem interested in anything other than that. The United Nations placed the ETIM on their terrorist list in 2002. During the war on Syria, large sections of the ETIMas the TIPmoved to the Syria-Turkey border. The TIP is now largely based in Idlib, Syria, which is the hub of various global jihadi organizations. When it became clear that the Taliban was going to take power in Afghanistan, many jihadis from Central Asiaincluding from China and Tajikistanleft Idlib for Afghanistan. ETIMs leader Abdul Haq remains in Syria, where he is also a member of the Shura Council of Al Qaeda. Worries Abound in Iran On October 4, four days before the attack on the mosque in Afghanistan, an Iranian delegation arrived in Afghanistan to hold talks about cross-border trade and to seek assurances that the Taliban will not permit attacks on either Afghan Shia or on Iran. Meanwhile, in Kabul, governors of two neighboring border provinces of Irans Khorasan Razavi (Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian) and Afghanistans Herat (Maulvi Abdul Qayum Rohani) agreed on facilitating more cross-border trade and ensuring that there is no cross-border violence. In another meeting that took place on October 4 with Motamedian at the Iranian border town of Taybad, Rohanis deputy Maulvi Sher Ahmad Ammar Mohajer said that the Afghan government will never allow individuals or foreign groups such as ISIS to use Afghan territory against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We (Iran and Afghanistan) have defeated the common enemy, Maulvi Rohani said in reference to the United States. All signs indicate some sincerity on the part of the Taliban government. On October 7, the day before the ISIS-K attack on the Shia mosque in Kunduz, Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafithe deputy prime minister of Afghanistanmet with a group of Shia elders to assure them that the Taliban would not allow anti-Shia activity. Nevertheless, members of the Hazara communitywho are the Shia community of Afghanistantell me that they fear a return to the previous rule of the Taliban; during that time, documented massacres by the Taliban against the Hazara Shia community provided evidence of the Talibans sectarianism. This is why Iran opposed the Taliban, and why Iran has not formally recognized the current government in Kabul. However, for the past few years, the Iranians have been working with the Taliban against ISIS and ISIS-K, with Irans Brigadier General Esmail Qaani as the liaison to the Taliban. And in China In the 1990s, the Taliban government allowed the ETIM and other Uyghur groups to operate from Afghanistan. This time, there is already evidence that they will not officially permit such activity. Earlier this year, ETIM fighters had relocated from Syria to the Badakhshan province in Afghanistan; reports suggested that the fighters had gathered in the sparsely populated Wakhan Corridor in the province, which leads to China. But in recent weeks, the Taliban security has moved them from the towns surrounding the Afghan-Chinese border to other parts of Afghanistan (rumors have been flying about the Talibans intention to extradite the ETIMif not all the 2,000 Uyghurs in Afghanistanto China, but these rumors are unconfirmed). In late August, Mattia Sorbi of Italys La Repubblica newspaper met with Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid. This was a significant interview for the Taliban because Italy is a key partner of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Mujahid told Sorbi that China is currently assisting Afghanistan with short-term funds (including $31 million in emergency funds) and that the Taliban see the BRI as their passport to markets around the world. Chinas long-term concession of the Mes Aynak copper mine, south of Kabul, will allow it to come back to life and be modernized, said Mujahid. The Taliban is keen on the BRI, he said, which will lead to reviving the ancient Silk Road. The BRI runs on both sides of Afghanistan, the northern route through Tajikistan to Iran and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor running southward. The mouth of the Wakhan Corridor would be the opening of a third route, running toward Kabul and to Iran (and linking Pakistans agricultural goods to markets in Central Asia and Russia). Isolation from China and Iran is not a welcome thought in Kabul. The United States is prepared to reengage with the Taliban, which could alter the equations on the ground. If the U.S. allows Kabul to access the funds in its central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank, (sitting in New York) or the IMF funds, these funds will help provide the Taliban with a lifeline. But they are not a solution for Afghanistan, which is caught as it is between China and Iran and the possibility of its connection to the new silk road. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma. Sirisena dealt with the Gin-Nilwala project. What Sirisena, who contested the last general election in Aug 2015 on the SLPP ticket, said was astonishing. The government transferred Rs 1,000 mn to a Chinese company in 2012 for the implementation of the Gin-Nilwala project and another Rs 3,012 mn on January 7, 2015 to thereby bringing the total amount paid to Rs 4,012 mn. by Shamindra Ferdinando The Presidential Media Division (PMD) on the afternoon of Oct. 06, 2021 released a letter (PS/LAD/1/9/2021(iii)) Attorney-at-Law Harigupta Rohanadeera, Director General (Legal) Presidents Office has sent to Attorney-at-Law W.K.D. Wijeratne, Director General, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The letter requested the CIABOC to submit a report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa within a month as regards the revelations made by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) pertaining to Sri Lankans engaged in controversial offshore transactions. Rohanadeeras letter didnt name anyone though by then the media all over the world, on the basis of ICIJ investigations, named former parliamentarian Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan as operators of offshore accounts. Instructions issued to the CIABOC should be examined against the backdrop of Nadesans plea to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he preferred a retired judge of the Court of Appeal to inquire into the Pandora Papers revelations. The following is the text of Nadesans letter dated Oct 06: My name and that of my wife have been referred to as having various accounts/assets offshore. These references are in what is referred to as the Pandora Papers. It is commonly believed that all persons whose names have been so divulged are in some way guilty of wrongdoing. Several world leaders, including His Excellency Imran Khan have publicly announced that they will investigate anyone whose names appear in Pandora Papers. I assure your Excellency that my wife and I are totally innocent and are guilty of no wrong doings. In the circumstances, I humbly request Your Excellency to appoint an independent investigator, preferably a retired appeal court judge, without delay, to investigate this matter so that my name and that of my wife would be cleared. I am making this request to Your Excellency because my wife and I have suffered heartache and pain of mind. We have been presumed guilty, the presumption of innocence is reversed. It is in these circumstances that I make this humble request to your Excellency. Please forgive me for intruding on your time. The one page letter has been sent from Nadesans Horton Place residence Montrose, No 95. Is the CIABOC capable of investigating Pandora Papers revelations? The CIABOC comprising retired Supreme Court justice Eva Wanasundera, retired Appeals Court justice Deepali Wijesundara and former head of State Intelligence Service (SIS) retired DIG Chandra Nimal Wakista, faces a daunting task in producing a report within a month. The ICIJ declared: *In the U.S., lawmakers said they will respond to the Pandora Papers with new legislation targeting financial professionals and other businesses that move dirty money for corrupt clients; *The European Commissions head of taxation said the commission will push to crack down on tax avoidance and expand information exchange between countries; and *Enforcement agencies or leaders in India, Spain, Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Paraguay, Panama and more have vowed to act on the Pandora Papers revelations, as new stories continue to be published and the global response to the investigation continues to grow and evolve. CIABOCs status The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in Oct 2020, deprived the CIABOC the power to initiate action. The much-touted move hailed by the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as a measure to restore political stability, obviously weakened the outfit. However, the CIABOCs performance, even before the enactment of the 20 A, has been questionable though it engaged in some high profile exercises during the yahapalana administration. Its passage with a 2/3 majority in Parliament was followed by the CIABOC giving up on investigations initiated during the yahapalana administration. The Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), the first to demand a thorough domestic investigation into the Pandora Papers has, subsequently lodged a complaint with the CIABOC seeking an investigation. Executive Director TISL Attorney-at-Law Nadishani Perera says the CIABOC has very clear powers and laws to deal with complaints though technically it cannot act on its own as a result of the 20th Amendment. Having lodged the complaint on Oct 7, the day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksas intervention, TISL asserted that the transactions revealed could amount to offences under Section 23A of the Bribery Act hence the need to probe into the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities of Mrs. Nirupama Rajapaksa relating to her tenure as a Member of Parliament. TISL also points out that CIABOC is empowered to take relevant action on acquisitions through unknown sources of wealth or income, under Section 4(1) of the CIABOC Act under the provisions of the Bribery Act or the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law. The anti-corruption outfit suggested that investigations could be pursued under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, to investigate whether public funds had been embezzled and laundered through these foreign safe havens. The contentious issue is whether serving or former parliamentarians or their relatives can be properly investigated without political interference. The CIABOC has conducted successful investigations even on the basis of anonymous complaints. Let me give an example to prove how a successful prosecution has been achieved in the case of a person failing to make an asset declaration. The Colombo High Court of No.6, Judge Patabendige on June 12, 2020, convicted a Supply Assistant of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) attached to the Ratnapura Branch, Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Sumanasekera, in a case prosecuted by the CIABOC based on an assets investigation conducted on an anonymous complaint received by the Commission. The accused, residing at the Millennium City Housing Scheme, No 14, Aturugiriya, has been accused of accumulating Rs.6 mn assets through bribes exceeding his actual income. HC judge Patabendige imposed a five year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000/-. In default of fine, further three months simple imprisonment was imposed. The judge further ordered the official under section 26(b) of the Bribery Act to pay Rs.11,960,093/98 which was twice the amount earned by bribes. In default of payment, the accused was subjected to a term of a further two year rigorous imprisonment. Judge Patabendige also issued an open warrant on the accused and ordered to inform the Department of Immigration and Emigration in that regard. Deputy Director General of CIABOC Mrs. Ranjani Senewiratne prosecuted. Investigation was conducted by the OIC of the Assets Investigations Division. However, the CIABOC will have to work closely with the Central Bank, the Inland Revenue and even the Foreign Ministry in addition to the ICIJ in conducting investigations into the Nadesan affair. Parliament, too, will have to monitor what can be easily declared as the biggest case undertaken by the CIABOC. The issue at hand is whether the assets under the name of Nirupama Rajapaksa and Thirukumar Nadesan had been declared to the relevant authorities. Regardless of attempts to depict the questionable transactions as dealings that had taken place during the 1990-2000 period, the Pandora Papers disclosure placed the SLPP in an extremely embarrassing position. There is no point in denying the fact that she represented the SLFP in the PA and UPFA parliamentary groups for a period of 16 years. Most of all she is a blood relative of the Rajapaksas in power. That is the undeniable truth. The revelations couldnt have happened at a worse time for the government as it struggles to cope up with the deepening economic crisis, primarily brought on by the global pandemic. Conduct of parliamentarians Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala on July 30, 2021 acquitted one-time Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena of all bribery cases filed against him. Assistant Director General of the CIABOC Asitha Anthony told the court that the case had been filed against the former Deputy Minister without the approval of the three commissioners. Attorney-at-Law Niroshan Siriwardena, appearing on behalf of Gunawardena requested that the charges against his client be dropped. CIABOC had filed eight cases against Gunawardena, accusing him of causing losses to the State by leasing vehicles to the Development Lotteries Board (DLB) during his tenure as its Chairman in 2007. While serving as the Chairman of DLB, Gunawardena was alleged to have influenced the officers of the DLB to rent three vehicles from his wife by paying Rs 960,000 per each vehicle where the true value per vehicle was only Rs. 635,000. Gunawardena was convicted for all three charges that were presented against him. The rejected politician was sentenced to a prison sentence of one year on each charge cumulating a prison sentence of three years. Gunawardena was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 100,000 for each vehicle totaling to a fine of Rs 300,000. In case Gunawardena failed to pay the fine, he was to be subjected to an additional prison sentence of six months for each offence. The prosecution was handled by Assistant Director General Mr. Asitha Athony. The dismissal of Gunawardenas proceedings is certainly not an isolated case. When JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised the shocking disclosure made by ICIJ in Parliament, Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out that the case was now before court. Lawmaker Dissanayake was addressing Parliament on Oct 8, the day the CIABOC recorded Nadesans statement. Minister Gunawardena was referring to the controversial case pertaining to Malwana house. SLPP National List MP Jayantha Weerasinghe, PC, challenged Dissanayakes comments. Declaring that he appeared for Thirukumar Nadesan in court, Weerasinghe emphasised that no one in Parliament represented the businessmans interests. Weerasinghe said that Nadesan was an accused in that case. Dissanayake also raised the controversial Gin-Nilwala project and the transfer of funds to Nadesans account by a Chinese company that received a staggering Rs 4,012 mn in two separate transactions from the then Sri Lankan government around the time of the 2015 presidential election. The SLPP repeatedly interrupted MP Dissanayake. A smiling JVPer said that though the SLPP claimed no one in Parliament represented the interests of Thirukumar Nadesan, many spoke on his behalf. Matara District Communist Party member Weerasumana Weerasinghe was in the chair. The reference to money received by Nadesan from the Chinese company given the Gin-Nilwala project amounted to USD 5.9 mn. Dissanayake told The Island that the account that had received USD 5.9 mn was a Hong Kong account. TISL, in its website tweeted that particular section of MP Dissanayakes parliamentary speech. The social media coverage of Pandora Papers underscored the seriousness of the crisis faced by Sri Lanka. A dismal track record Civil society activist Gamini Viyangoda in April this year sought an explanation from the CIABOC and the Attorney Generals Department as regards termination of several high profile cases. Viyangoda questioned the rationale in dropping all charges against former lawmaker and Foreign Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena pertaining to the Mihin Lanka case. That particular case dealt with misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs 883 mn, Viyangoda declared while referring to recent dismissal of cases involving one-time Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan (now an MP backing the SLPP), Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Basil Rajapaksa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. The former CJ received appointment as Sri Lankas top representative in New York. Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, who served as the AG during the Yahapalana administration is the incumbent Chief Justice. What really happened to the money laundering case (HC case No 4648/2009) involving the then parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, who subsequently received the appointment as the Minister of Finance during the previous administration. The money had been received from Raj Rajaratnam, given an 11-year prison sentence for insider trading in the US. The case that had been initially taken up at the HC No 01 was subsequently (May 2015) transferred to High Court No 4 before HC Judge Iranganee Perera who was about to be retired. On the basis of what was called a defective indictment Judge Perera discharged Karunanayake while making specific legal right of the Attorney General to serve an indictment afresh to the accused Ravi Karunanayake. Obviously, that was conveniently ignored. Yuvanjana Wijayatilake served as the AG at that time. Attorney-at-Law and public interest litigation Activist Nagananda Kodituwakku in an affidavit submitted to the CIABOC in March 2017 sought an investigation in respect of the failure on the part of the AGs Department to act on the advice given by HC judge Perera. Kodituwakku asserted that the alleged offence committed could have been dealt with under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. A monument for ICIJ A no-holds-barred investigation is required to examine high profile corruption allegations. So far, the CIABOC hasnt been able to bring at least one of the cases involving politicians to a successful conclusion. It would be pertinent to mention incumbent Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardenas response to waste, corruption and irregularities. Speaker Abeywardena said contentious matters pertaining to financial responsibility on the part of Parliament should be dealt with only by the enactment of a new Constitution. The SLPP MP said so in response to Prof. Charitha Herath, Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) alleging serious hindrance of parliamentary supervision by a section of state enterprises. Prof. Herath explained the daunting challenges faced by COPE at the time he tabled the first COPE report at the outfits ninth session. Proceedings of parliamentary watchdog committees, COPE, COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) and COPF (Committee on Public Finance) depict a frightening picture. Unfortunately, Parliament has conveniently failed to take tangible measures though the three watchdog committees reported rampant criminal waste of public funds, corruption, irregularities involving the revenue collection mechanism and negligence at every level of successive administrations. Have those responsible for ensuring financial discipline forgotten the primary responsibilities of Parliament. The two major responsibilities are financial discipline and enactment of laws. Let people judge whether our political parties have lived up to their much repeated pledges to restore financial discipline. Examination of proceedings of the watchdog committees revealed how the public and private sectors exploited the national economy. Fighting corruption appears to be a just a political slogan propagated by both those in power and the Opposition. The Joint Opposition (JO registered themselves as SLPP) in the run up to 2019 presidential election conducted a major campaign against what it called Top 10 Kamba Horu. Incumbent Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage spearheaded the project. The JO printed a 750-page book that dealt with 10 major corrupt deals that took place between January 8, 2015 and Dec 31, 2015. The JO alleged that the CIABOC never initiated investigations into complaints lodged by the JO. The SLPP owed an explanation regarding the current status of the complaints lodged by them because the party returned to power, nearly two years ago. According to the JO publication, in the public domain, complaints were lodged against Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP, pertaining to the Treasury bond scams, on Oct 29, 2016 (Rs 26 bn fraud/complainant Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MP), ex-MP Ravi Karunanayake pertaining to importation of vehicles, on Nov 09, 2016 (Rs 10 bn fraud/complainant Dr. Romesh Pathirana, MP), ex-MP Malik Samarawickrema pertaining to Mahapola Fund, on Nov 22, 2016 (Rs 1 bn fraud/complainant Sisira Jayakody, MP), Thalatha Atukorala, MP, pertaining to fraud in an insurance scheme for those working in the Middle East, on Dec 07, 2016 (Rs 1.5 bn fraud/complainant ex-MP Niroshan Premaratne), Ranil Wickremesinghe pertaining to 99-year-lease on Hanbantota port, on January 4, 2017 (Rs 15 bn/complainant Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, MP, Speaker), Kabir Hashim, MP, pertaining to cancellation of aircraft ordered by SriLankan Airlines, on January 18, 2017 (Rs 54 bn fraud/complainant Kanaka Herath, MP), P. Harrison pertaining to releasing of paddy to a selected group of companies, on Feb 01, 2017 (Rs 10 bn fraud/complainant Jayantha Samaraweera), ex-MP Ravi Karunanayake pertaining to vehicle racket, on Feb 15, 2017 (Rs 15 bn fraud/complainant Udaya Gammanpila, MP), Dr. Rajitha Senaratne MP pertaining to leasing of Modera fisheries harbour and issuance of licenses to eight vessels for fishing in Sri Lankan waters, on Feb 28, 2017 (Rs 1 bn fraud/complainant the late MP Ranjith de Zoysa) , Dr. Rajitha Senaratne pertaining to irregularities in the purchase of medicines, on Feb 28, 2017 (Rs 1.5 bn fraud/complainant the late Ranjith de Zoysa) and Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP pertaining to procurement of coal for the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant, on March 16, 2017 (Rs 5 bn fraud/complainant Vidura Wickremanayake, MP). The JO declared the above mentioned frauds cost the country a staggering Rs 131.5 bn. Parliament, as an institution, at least now should respond to corruption. In the wake of Pandora Papers disclosures, social media posted a speech made by SLPP Polonnaruwa District MP Maihripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the President. Sirisena dealt with the Gin-Nilwala project. What Sirisena, who contested the last general election in Aug 2015 on the SLPP ticket, said was astonishing. The government transferred Rs 1,000 mn to a Chinese company in 2012 for the implementation of the Gin-Nilwala project and another Rs 3,012 mn on January 7, 2015 to thereby bringing the total amount paid to Rs 4,012 mn. Sirisena questioned how such a transfer could have taken place on the day before the presidential election? Who authorised such a transfer and why absolutely no work was done regardless of the payments. Lawmaker Sirisena owed an explanation during his five-year tenure as President what he did to investigate the Gin-Nilwala project. Perhaps, the Gin-Nilwala link disclosed by Pandora Papers, if properly investigated, can cause such devastation to the current political setup, the public can consider putting up a monument to ICIJ. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom wrote in a memo to the police department on Tuesday that he was freezing all promotions until further notice to address concerns surrounding the recent police department promotions. The promotions already made are not rescinded, but the ones made since August will be undergoing review, he wrote. But in an exclusive interview with the Sun Sentinel last year, Bretas said she was denied medical care and left to give birth to her son in an isolated cell. This came just three months after the state enacted the Tammy Jackson Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women Act, which is meant to keep pregnant woman from being in restrictive or isolated cells during their detention. Jackson delivered her baby in her Broward County jail cell in 2019. 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. Burke has been with the district for 23 years, most recently as chief financial officer. From 2012 to 2016, he served as both CFO and chief operating officer. Though his background is in finance, not academics, Burke understands where money must go to achieve the best results in the classroom. The Veil Written by: K.S Collier Available In: eBook|Paperback Author Website: http://www.kscollier-author.com/ After graduation, Tommie travels to Hawaii for a vacation of a lifetime with her fraternal twin and friends. In Maui a twist of fate takes her on a journey full of secrets, lies, and 200-year-old myths that send her spiraling down a path of death, destruction, and love. Will she survive the ancient myths that really exist and the weresharks that seek to destroy her? Her adventure has just begun. SUBSCRIBER E-EDITION AND ONLINE LOGIN DIRECTIONS Current print subscribers: click "Get Started" below and use your subscription account number (Found on the top left of your newspaper mailing label) to activate your FREE access to the e-Edition and online stories. Log in with the username and password you registered on this website. If you already subscribe to our print edition, sign up for FREE access to our online edition. Thanks for reading The Henderson News. News in English Shippings largest awards event, the Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards, is headed for an in-person return this December as the organisers continue preparations for the traditional end-of-year presentation dinner In Athens. Yearly since 2004, the Greek Shipping Awards has attracted audiences of 1,000 guests or more but last year the event was held virtually, to exciting effect, attracting an audience of more than 5,000 people online. Strong support for this years Awards is led by overall Event Sponsor ClassNK. The welcome drinks are sponsored by Erma First while China Classification Society is once again offering the champagne toast to Greek shippings health. They are backed up by a roster of prestigious Greek and international sponsors of the individual awards. Nominations are coming in as the deadline for entries for the 2021 awards nears. Nominations must be received by the organisers before midnight, Greek time, on Friday 15 October in order to be accepted. Once again, a prestigious and highly knowledgeable panel of judges from across the industry will assess all nominations and will decide the winners of this years Awards. Experienced returning panellists include Hellenic Chamber of Shipping President George Pateras, Haralambos Falios, Chairman of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, and Leonidas Demetriades-Eugenides, the President of the Eugenides Foundation. They will be joined by the General Secretary of the Panhellenic Seamens Federation, Capt Manolis Tsikalakis, Piraeus Marine Club President Irene Daifas, Hellenic Shipbrokers Association President John Cotzias and Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA Hellas. The prestigious judges on this years panel also include the President of Martecma, Stavros Hatzigrigoris, and Nicholas Vouyoukas, President of the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping. The panel, broadly representing the Greek shipping industry, will be tasked with choosing the best of the best in a range of categories that span the full gamut of Greeces shipping industry from the dry cargo, tanker and passenger line sectors, to achievements in safety, sustainability, technology, shipbroking finance and more. There will be excitement, too, in learning the judging panels choice of winners for prestigious individual awards such as Personality of the Year, Seafarer of the Year, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Next Generation Award. All the winners will be revealed at the 2021 gala awards dinner on Friday, December 3 in Athens. Bookings for the dinner will open shortly. Contact:- Event & Guest Coordination Office tel. 210.42.91.195 . JavaScript . 2021 Judging Panel in alphabetical order John Cotzias President of the Hellenic Shipbrokers Association Irene Daifas President of the Piraeus Marine Club Leonidas Demetriades-Eugenides President of the Eugenides Foundation Haralambos Fafalios Chairman of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee Stavros Hatzigrigoris President of Martecma Nigel Lowry Athens Correspondent, Lloyds List George D. Pateras President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping Elpi Petraki President of WISTA Hellas Capt. Manolis Tsikalakis General Secretary of the Panhellenic Seamens Federation Nicholas Vouyoukas President of the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping 2021 Award Categories & Sponsors Event Sponsor ClassNK Champagne Toast China Classification Society CCS Welcome Drinks Erma First Dry Cargo Company of the Year Sponsored by Marichem Marigases Tanker Company of the Year Sponsored by Bureau Veritas Passenger Line of the Year Sponsored by SWS Shipbroker of the Year Sponsored by the Tsakos Group Shipping Financier of the Year Sponsored by Tototheo Maritime Piraeus International Centre Award Sponsored by SRH Marine SAIT Technical Achievement Award Sponsored by DNV The Safety Award Sponsored by SeaJets International Personality of the Year Sponsored by Capital Ship Management Corp. Ship of the Year Sponsored by ABS Award for Achievement in Education or Training Sponsored by Panama Maritime Authority The Sustainability Award Sponsored by Lloyds Register The Next Generation Shipping Award Sponsored by IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry Lloyds List Intelligence Big Data Award * Sponsor to be advised Lloyds List / Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by Shipping Deputy Ministry, Cyprus Greek Shipping Personality of the Year Sponsored by Eurobank * Denotes awards not decided by the panel AWARDS NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE NOMINATIONS Seafarer of the Year Sponsored by Safe Bulkers, Inc. Greek Shipping Newsmaker of the Year* Sponsored by ExxonMobil Marine Note: Special one-year subscription at a reduced price for first-time subscribers or for subscriptions that have been expired for at least one year those living in Jackson County and the Cherokee Indian Reservation (28719) addresses qualify. Offer good through Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover; we do not accept AMEX. MANZINI Civil servants will deliver a petition next Wednesday to the Ministry of Public Service. This was announced by public sector associations (PSAs) during a press conference at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre Conference Room, yesterday. The PSAs are National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) and SNAT. The petition delivery will be preceded by a public sensitisation march that shall commence at the Coronation Park in Mbabane at 10am. SWADNU President Welcome Mdluli said a thorny issue that affected them as civil servants was the failure to convene on the joint negotiation forum (JNF). The JNF is where government and civil servants through representation by the PSAs engage and negotiate on issues that revolve around their welfare. Mdluli said PSAs had tried in vain to convene the JNF. This, he said, affected their welfare as they could not afford basic necessities. We agreed with government that the salary review should be engaged in every five years and this was made an order of the court; but a year is almost complete without it being implemented, Mdluli said. He said the negotiations should have been completed in March 2021; such that in April, it was implemented. In light of this, he said it was necessary that next week Wednesday, all civil servants should head to Mbabane to demand the JNF and the salary review. Mdluli implored civil servants to recall that what was awarded in 2015 was not what they had agreed upon; such that some of the items were to be addressed at a later stage. Making an example, he said nurses were deprived of the occupation specification dispensation (OSD) in that it was acknowledged that their line of work was different from other civil servants and they were to return to the JNF to address this issue. However, this he said, did not happen. He quoted Genesis 27 verse 40 which reads: You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck. The unionist said it was time for civil servants to shake off the yoke that has been on their neck. Worth noting is that according to the July 2016 Collective Agreement, which was then made an order of court, government was expected to commission a salary review exercise during the 2021/2022 financial year. However, the PSAs said the employer had not followed through on this and only agreed after being taken to court. Subsequent to this, the PSAs supposed that it was then that the matter was recalled to the negotiations chamber with the hope that the process shall then be set in motion. The government suddenly questioned the legal standing of NAPSAWU, in a strategy to apply brakes to the salary review commissioning process, reads a statement that was jointly released by the entities after the press conference. The statement claimed that on Thursday, September 30, 2021, PSAs wrote to government demanding reconvening of the JNF by Wednesday, October 6, 2021. The PSAs claimed that to their surprise, the government never responded to the PSAs letter of demand, to date. MBABANE We will be out in full force to protect school property, teachers and learners who want to learn. This was said by the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William Tsitsibala Dlamini when reacting to the ongoing incidents of school-going pupils engaging in protests. Dlamini spoke through a press statement yesterday regarding what he termed ongoing protest actions and criminal acts of sabotage in various schools in the country. He said as a police service, they continued to receive reports of protest actions in various schools around the country. Violent Dlamini said it was disturbing to note that in some schools, the protests turned violent and resulted in ugly scenes ranging from damage to school property, blocking of roads with burning tyres and stones, stoning of motor vehicles and other violent tactics unleashed on teachers and parents had been witnessed. As a law enforcement agency, we condemn the pupils violent protest actions and acts of criminality in the strongest possible terms. The situation cannot be allowed to continue unabated lest it becomes an avenue of instigating anarchy, lawlessness and disorder in our schools and by extension in the country, thus threatening not only the future of our children but also peace and tranquillity, Dlamini said. He said it was against this background that as a police service, they found it apposite to issue a warning against the ringleaders, including the people inciting the pupils behind the scenes, to desist from sowing seeds of anarchy and lawlessness in the countrys schools. Dlamini said the REPS wanted to assure the nation of its total commitment to ensuring that law and order was restored in schools. Hence, we will be out in full force to protect school property, teachers and learners who want to learn. For this reason, we do not expect students to force others to take part in protest actions or to move from one school to another forcing learners to abandon classes and join the protests. Perpetrating Suffice to state that the full might of the law will take its course against those who will be found instigating violence and perpetrating criminal acts. We also wish to plead and urge the learners to think about their future and not allow anyone to manipulate or use them to achieve their own selfish agendas, Dlamini emphasised. Yesterday, this publication reported that at least 82 schools were indefinitely closed after pupils protested, causing chaos. In some of the schools, the protests were characterised by burning of furniture, smashing of windows, blocking of roads and tear gas was fired. There was also an incident where a head teacher was allegedly pelted with stones. MBABANE I regret the error. Judge Mumcy Dlamini now wants the Supreme Court to correct her judgment where she inadvertently wholly suspended a sentence of a murder accused. The judge has since written to the registrar of the High Court, asking her to place the matter before the Supreme Court. Kindly place before the Supreme Court the matter for correction of sentence which was inadvertently suspended at my instance, reads part of the minute dated September 11, 2021. Memo In the memo, Judge Dlamini highlighted that her attention had been drawn to Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No. 67 of 1938. Section 313 (2) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act provides that: If a person is convicted before the High Court of any offence other than one specified in the third schedule, it may pass sentence but order operation of the whole or any part of such sentence be suspended for a period not exceeding three years, which period of suspension, in the absence of any order to the contrary, shall be computed in accordance with sub-sections (4) and (5) respectively. Judge Dlamini said now that she was functus officio, it was her considered view that the Supreme Court was the only competent court that could correct what she described as the travesty of justice. By copy hereof the chief justices attention is humbly drawn to this matter, concluded the judge. Judge Dlamini sentenced Musa Zibunywana Nkomo to five years and suspended the entire sentence for a period of five years on condition that he was not found to have committed an offence involving violence against another. Nkomo, who is a seasonal cane cutter was found guilty of murder, in that on October 4,2015, near Lusoti Village in the Lubombo Region, he killed Bongumusa Tsabedze using a stone. He had been arrested with Mduduzi Sonnyboy Mamba, who was, however, acquitted. The incident is said to have happened after a drinking spree at KaMgico, which is a popular drinking spot in Simunye. In her judgment, Judge Dlamini highlighted that the triad principle was at the backdrop of her mind as she considered the appropriate sentence in this matter. She said on the first principle, which was personal circumstances of the accused, it was common cause as submitted by the defence that Nkomo was of youthful age during the commission of the offence. It was also brought to the attention of the court that the accused had set out on a drinking spree in the company of other youth on the fateful day. SITEKI Head teachers of schools under the Lubombo Region have collectively called for the immediate closure of schools and further advised government to release the incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs) to calm the situation. The head teachers told Lubombo Regional Education Officer, (REO) Richard Dlamini, to compile a report and submit their concerns to the Ministry of Education and Training. This transpired during a meeting of the school administrators attended by over 40 of them. REO Dlamini pointed out that their presence was meant to map a way forward with regard to the ongoing protests by pupils in schools. Dlamini assured the teachers that their submissions and suggestions would be compiled and submitted to the ministry for consideration. Meeting Our meeting reminds me of when Jesus was asleep in a boat with his disciples. A storm shook the boat and in fear, the disciples woke Jesus up and He calmed the waters. It is imperative that the meeting should ensure that the storms we are encountering are calmed, he said. Dlamini said as a region, they had been mandated to come up with a comprehensive report that would be a yardstick of what head teachers wanted to be done by the ministry. We are in the forefront and we are the captains of the education ship in the region. I was told that two trucks belonging to Southern Star were pelted with stones by pupils from Phonjwane and Sibusisweni high schools. The situation is worsening with each passing day, the REO remarked. Worth mentioning was that, the head teachers asked that their identities be concealed to protect them from victimisation. One head teacher said government knew what was expected to be done to calm the situation. He submitted that government should do the honourable thing and release the incarcerated MPs in Hoseas Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisis Mthandeni Dube, to normalise the prevailing situation. If that is not done, we are in danger. My teachers are afraid to return to class after experiences of being assaulted by the pupils. Government should address the political unrest and let teachers go back to class, he said. Another head teacher said the ongoing anarchy in schools was politically motivated, hence government should intervene and released the incarcerated MPs. The head teacher said the pupils had sent a clear message that government continued to ignore. We cannot run away from the fact that the pupils protests are influenced by political elements. Government should do what is expected and not make us scapegoats, he submitted. Another colleague pointed out that in a parents meeting, he was told by parents that their children wanted the incarcerated MPs released. It is our second week since we suspended classes at my school. This predicament is bigger than us as head teachers as it is influenced by people from outside our schools. I was told by the pupils that they wanted their MP, Gawuzela back and that he should be allowed to walk freely without being arrested. So, the ministry should act because we wont resume lessons until government has addressed and attended to the pupils grievances, he said. The head teachers further requested Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) to intervene in the matter. They also made it clear that the pupils have been learning for the past 11 weeks, particularly those in Form III and Form V and needed a break. Break A term has 13 weeks and as teachers, we also need a break to rejuvenate. They also need a break to rekindle themselves because they have been learning non-stop even on weekends, said another head teacher. REO Dlamini said all the submissions would be compiled and submitted to the ministry tomorrow. Also addressing the head teachers was Lubombo Regional Police Commander Charles Magagula, who appealed to the head teachers to co-operate with them. Magagula acknowledged that the situation was beyond the head teachers control but implored them to contact them when they encountered problems or were faced with challenges like the ongoing protests. The pupils should be considerate that change without education is not the right answer. Police also want educated people; we cannot, as a nation, breed uneducated people yet we are looking at having architects from the present crop of pupils, added the commander. MBABANE Government will release the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) and free primary education (FPE) funds only for learners who are in school. This was said by Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza at the height of the ongoing protests in schools. The protests saw a large number of schools being closed. Some closed for safety reasons as the head teachers feared that protesting pupils would vandalise the schools. Mabuza appreciated schools for heeding the ministrys call to reopen on Monday, especially those that continued to run smoothly in this chaotic situation. She encouraged the schools to keep looking for ways to continue teaching and learning, and helping those pupils who were already writing their exams. The minister warned teachers who incited pupils to engage in protests to desist from such behaviour. She said it was not helping the children but destroying their future. Teachers who are found to be party to the ongoing protests will face disciplinary action, said the minister. Protests She said parents who had children in schools that were functional were requested to support the schools by talking to their children about the situation at hand, and encourage them to resist the temptation and pressure to join the protests. Similarly, parents of learners whose schools were closed were also encouraged to engage them on what was happening, stressing the importance of education in their lives. Mabuza said children needed to be guided on acceptable behaviour, particularly during times like these. She further invited schools that were closed to a meeting today at Prince Mfanyana Hall in Manzini. She said each school should be represented by the head teacher, the chairperson of the school committee and the schools manager or grantee. The meeting starts at 10am. The minister said she was aware that some schools had to be closed because teachers feared for the safety of the pupils. She said for those pupils not to be affected in the process of receiving the OVC and FPE funds, the schools will have to recall the learners to school. She emphasised that government will only pay for pupils in class. Longekho umbhadalele lani? said the minster in vernacular. When asked what could be the possible solution to the current situation, the minister said, it was a pity that some of the demands by the pupils were beyond her ministrys control. She said some pupils were demanding democracy, which was not in the ambit of her ministry. She said some were demanding the release of the incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs), and that also was above the ministrys control. On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku made it clear that government would not afford pupil a second chance if they missed out on the examinations due to the ongoing protests. Masuku said government could only lenient to pupils who might miss the examinations due to illnesses or extreme circumstances, not protests. This, he said, was because spaces would be limited for new intake in the next academic year. Speaking on national radio yesterday morning, Masuku said government had put all measures in place to ensure that pupils were prepared for the examinations after losing so much time due to COVID-19. Worth noting is that government, through advice from the Ministry of Health, opened all classes as of last Monday on a full-time basis. This was exactly three months after government closed schools due to escalating cases of new COVID-19 infections. However, 82 schools had closed after some pupils engaged in protests as of Monday. More schools were compelled to suspend classes and send pupils home for safety reasons after some pupils from surrounding schools disrupted lessons. Learning The DPM said it was disturbing that learning institutions were no longer used for their intended purpose, as some people allowed themselves to be used by certain individuals who were pushing their agendas. Noted was that some pupils in some schools demanded the release of the two MPs who were arrested and charged for contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act amid the political unrest in the country. The incarcerated legislators are Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube. However, government and some parents strongly believe that the call for the release of the arrested MPs by pupils is beyond their jurisdiction. Masuku urged pupils not to be used by those who wanted to lure them into interfering in issues beyond their jurisdiction. He said pupils should understand that interfering in issues beyond their jurisdiction might impact negatively on their future. He urged pupils to concentrate on their studies as opposed to allowing themselves to be used by those who wanted to push their agendas. Responsibilities I want to believe that pupils, parents and teachers have different responsibilities. It would be wise for them to stick to the responsibilities assigned to them, Masuku said. He made an example of some of the demands embodied in the petitions that circulated in some schools, stating that one was failing to understand how they came about. We have learnt that some pupils consider braiding hair extensions and wearing of miniskirts as their right. In as much as it could be their right, we are saying they should not use it to disturb classes. No one is against their rights but they should consider doing it after finishing school. What people need to understand is that they should not infringe on other peoples rights while exercising their rights, he said. Masuku also mentioned that government had received reports to the effect that some parents had joined hands in protecting schools amid the ongoing protests across the country. He said government also received reports that some pupils were refusing to be used by those who wanted to destroy their future by luring them into joining the protests. Masuku said government commended the parents and the pupils who took the bold step and stood their ground. The politician appealed to more parents and pupils to follow suit. He also urged church leaders and community leaders to join hands in the fight against violence in schools. Interviewed church leaders concurred with Masuku. However, some clergymen were reluctant to comment in fear of being misinterpretated. The men of God stated that they feared being viewed as taking sides regarding the ongoing political situation in the country. Reverend Johannes Mazibuko said as pastors, their belief relied on integrity. Principled He said integrity required that all people should be principled. Mazibuko said being principled required that there were things that one should not do. He said Masuku was in order as church leaders also wanted educated people in the future. He said without education, people became an unwise generation, which was difficult to govern. Mazibuko stated that uneducated people ended up being slaves as they did not qualify for good paying jobs. It is a big and very important campaign to take children to school. As earlier said, pastors advocate for justice for both rulers and those being ruled, he said. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has signed an MoU with the Government of Mauritania to finance a major refurbishment and modernisation project valued at around AED24 million ($6.5 million). The project is the Tanit Fishing Port, an artisanal fishing port that through this renovation and development of an ice factory will better enable local fishermen to benefit from the countrys fisheries economy, increase export capacity and contribute to the nations food security strategy. The project also aims to increase operational efficiency and improve services for fishermen and providing cooled storage spaces and fish processing service, enabling them to better benefit from the fish-rich coasts of Mauritania. The Memorandum of Understanding to finance the port renovation was signed by Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD and HE Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, Minister of Economic Affairs and Promotion of Productive Sectors in Mauritania. The signing took place at ADFD and drew the participation of several senior officials from both sides. Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi said: ADFD and Mauritania have partnered to support the financing of a wide range of high-impact economic and social development projects going back to 1977. The modernization of the Tanit Fishing Port represents an opportunity to directly impact the livelihoods of local fishing families while contributing to national economic growth and a number of national strategic priorities, including environmental preservation of the Tanit fishery as well as the Mauritania food security strategy. Ousmane Mamoudou Kane said: Our partnership with ADFD has been pivotal for our goals to develop and improve strategic infrastructure in Mauritania. This funding will help improve the facilities and service at Tanit Fishing Port, which in turn will contribute to socio-economic development, increase and export capacity, and achieve sustainable development. The ADFD-funded upgrade will provide local fishermen with access to refrigeration storage and rapid freezing units required to operate the Tanit fish processing plant, which improves access to the fish export market. The project will also enhance safety of maritime navigation into and out of the port, add a 150-square-metre boat repair and maintenance workshop as well as a range of equipment and facilities designed to improve port services and efficiencies. Artisanal fishing is strategically important to Mauritania for its economic contribution and support of local fishing families. Fish represent as much as 58% of the exports of Mauritania and 10% of the nations GDP. The country averages 900,000 tonnes of fish exported annually and is the largest Arab exporter of fish. Tanit Fishing Port is a traditional fishery that serves fishing-reliant households to earn their annual family income. The port is able to dock approximately 400 small and medium sized boats and includes a 1,740-square-metre fish market. In addition to the Tanit Fishing Port project, ADFD has helped finance a wide range of strategic development projects in Mauritania with a total value of AED363 million ($99 million). This includes projects in agricultural development, wind power, healthcare, industrial manufacturing and transportation.-- TradeArabia News Service Ryalize, a fintech platform based in Singapore with offices in Bahrain, has announced the appointment of Bahraini businessman and serial entrepreneur Suhail Algosaibi, as its chairman. The platform offers financial institutions a suite of services to better serve their corporate clients, including an Earned Wage Access solution that allows employees access to their earned, but unpaid salary before payday. This means that employees can choose to be paid more frequently during the month, reducing their financial stress and resulting in an overall increase in employee commitment and loyalty towards their employers. The appointment builds on the companys momentum after the recent signing of an exclusive MOU between Ryalize and Khaleeji Commercial Bank to make its services available to the banks corporate clients in Bahrain. Algosaibi commented: I am delighted to have been asked to chair the board of Ryalize, which I consider to be an innovative and revolutionary Fintech run by dynamic founders. I am excited to be leading the company into the future and helping it expand in the GCC and Mena region. I believe that within a few short years Ryalize will become a partner of choice for financial institutions that will positively impact millions of peoples lives. Elaborating on the appointment, Ryalize Co-Founder and CEO Khalid Alshakrani said: As one of the first such service providers of its kind in the GCC and Mena region, Ryalize aims to helps banks become more agile, relevant, and competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. The success of our MOU with Khaleeji Commercial Bank demonstrates what can be achieved with the right partners in place and opens the door for more banking partnerships, which will be announced soon. We look forward to meeting with strategic partners who can help to cement Ryalizes success. He added: Suhail is a man who needs no introduction in business circles in the region. With his expertise in driving business growth and his unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of ambitious young people, his heading our Board is a major addition to the companys capabilities and market standing. I am confident that he will steer the companys expansion plans in the right direction. Ryalize supports banks by delivering solutions that are unique, innovative, and can be rapidly customisable. Ryalize is set to expand further in the Mena region, where clients have been receptive to their fintech business model.-- TradeArabia News Service Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility have developed the worlds first train that is controlled by digital technology and is fully automated , operating by itself in rail traffic. The driver remains on the train to supervise the journey with passengers on board. Shunting, such as turning the train around, is done without on-board personnel. The project partners DB, Siemens Mobility, and the City of Hamburg have invested a total of 60 million in the digital S-Bahn Hamburg, which is part of DBs Digital Rail Germany project. Dr Richard Lutz, CEO of DB: Today were experiencing the true turn of an era: The railroad has arrived in the digital future and Digital Rail Germany has become a reality. With automated rail operations, we can offer our passengers a significantly expanded, more reliable and therefore improved service without having to lay a single kilometre of new track. It is our goal to make rail transport attractive to ever-larger numbers of people, which is the only way we can achieve the mobility transition. "We are making rail transport more intelligent. Trains drive the perfect timetable automatically, accurate to the second and energy-optimised," says Dr. Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG. "This way, we are supporting our partner Deutsche Bahn in its goal of making train travel more attractive and protecting the climate. With our technology, our customers can transport up to 30 percent more passengers, significantly improve punctuality and save more than 30 percent energy. The digital S-Bahn Hamburg marks a world premiere. The new technology has already been officially approved and, since it features open interfaces, can immediately be used by operators worldwide for all types of trains. Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: "Digitisation holds a lot of potential for the entire Hamburg S-Bahn network. We are creating greater capacities on the existing tracks and improve reliability and punctuality of rail travel. The premiere of the digital S-Bahn at the ITS World Congress is a strong signal for efficient and climate-friendly mobility of the future." The digital S-Bahn had its premiere run at the opening of the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress (ITS) in Hamburg. During the congress, four digital S-Bahn trains will operate automatically along the 23-kilometer section of S-Bahn Line 21 between the Berliner Tor and Bergedorf/Aumuhle stations. The technical basis for digital rail operations is the future European Automatic Train Operation (ATO) standard, combined with the European Train Control System (ETCS). The trains receive their control signals via radio. The four digital S-Bahn trains in Hamburg will provide regular scheduled passenger service beginning in December. Plans to digitalize Hamburgs S-Bahn entire system by the end of the decade are already under way, and investments in trains and infrastructure are being made. The technology is projected to be used nationwide for regional and mainline rail systems. TradeArabia News Service Accenture, Etisalat Digital, and Oracle have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to offer SMBs and large enterprise clients in the Middle East a seamless digital transformation and journey to Oracle cloud solutions. By offering a one-stop-shop for Oracle solutions, the new collaboration will allow Accenture, Etisalat Digital, and Oracle to create a joint value proposition for clients in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the wider region. Under the agreement, Etisalat Digital assumes the responsibility of Managed Services, Security, and Operations, with Oracle as the Cloud Provider and Accenture responsible for cloud-enabled transformation, implementation, and migration services. Enterprises eager to anchor their cloud journeys on Oracle cloud offerings will be provided best-in-class Oracle cloud hosting, as well as delivery and operations services. The MoU was signed by Gerardo Canta, Senior Managing Director at Accenture in the Middle East, Salvador Anglada, Group Chief Business Officer of Etisalat, and Leopoldo Boado, Senior Vice President Business Applications, ECEMEA region, Oracle, in the presence of senior representatives from these organisations. The scope of the agreement will see Etisalat Digital and Accenture shape Oracle-powered cloud transformation journeys and deliver local deployment of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications implementation services in the UAE and KSA. The parties will leverage their global scale, industry expertise, and local knowledge to provide best-in-class digital transformation cloud solutions and unleash the full potential of what technologies can do for organisations and for clients in the Middle East. In addition, the collaboration will accelerate and enhance the power and integration of Oracle solutions for clients, helping them win faster as they transform their businesses. The agreement is closely aligned with the national visions of Gulf governments, including the UAE and KSA, to ensure and drive a sustainable digital agenda while enabling cloud-based transformation that supports easy customer journeys in keeping with the unprecedented changes brought on by the pandemic. The integration of capabilities will help the regions public and private entities through the strategy, design, and implementation of their IT and digital roadmaps, leveraging the unique mix of experience from global and local markets and strong credentials in technology-enabled business innovation.-- TradeArabia News Service Hitachi ABB Power Grids, the global technology leader, has announced its evolution to Hitachi Energy, committing to advancing a sustainable energy future for all. Speaking from its global headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy, commented: At Hitachi Energy, we are championing the urgency of a clean energy transition, through innovation and collaboration. There are many pathways towards a carbon-neutral future to tackle this global challenge, we nurture diverse global teams bringing authentic passion and enduring ownership. He continued: By 2050, global electrification will neardouble in demand and electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system. At Hitachi Energy we have pioneered many of the technologies needed for advancing a sustainable energy future for all and we are committed to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation. Delivering on the promise of a carbon-neutral future will take passion, trust and innovation and the benefits will be for our generations and those to come. With our new name Hitachi Energy we are broadening our commitment to creating real impact for our customers and partners, our people and society. The carbon-neutral energy system will be highly interconnected and HVDC, a technology we have pioneered over 60 years ago is one of the key enablers for bulk renewable energy resources integration and reliable interconnection across countries, regions and continents. As the market leader in HVDC, Hitachi Energy is contributing to many of these interconnections, such as the recently announced award of Saudi Arabia Egypt HVDC interconnector (October 5, 2021) the first ever large-scale interconnector in the Middle East and North Africa and the start of operation of North Sea Link (October 1, 2021) at 720 kilometres, NSL is the worlds longest subsea interconnector linking Norway and the UK, enabling the exchange of renewable energy between the countries. To complement interconnections and meet the growing need for energy system flexibility, Hitachi Energy is also supporting customers with grid edge solutions such as microgrids and energy storage. A recent example can be seen in Cordova, Alaska, where the community has been able to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, whilst gaining energy independence. As part of Hitachi Energys go live celebrations, Claudio Facchin will today host an interesting dialogue with Steven Chu, 12th US Secretary of Energy, scientist and Nobel Prize co-winner for Physics (1997), and Lully Miura, Japanese scholar of international politics and a member of the Growth Strategy Committee of Cabinet Office of Japan. The session titled, Energy technologies and innovations that contribute to a carbon-neutral future, will be streamed from the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2021 Japan. The focus will be on how to realise the ambitious net-zero targets that many countries have committed to and how Hitachi and Hitachi Energy are contributing to establishing a society that is more sustainable, flexible, and secure. One of the related topics is the importance of digitalisation which is critical for overcoming the complexity and capacity challenges brought about by the larger volumes of variable renewable energy being integrated into the worlds energy system. For example, by combining advanced digital solutions and services, Lumada Asset Performance Management provides health and performance insights to prevent critical asset failures while optimising asset lifecycle costs. It enables customers to leverage online and offline data to drive more intelligent, risk-based approaches to asset management. Hitachi Energy is fostering collaboration with customers and partners to find global solutions to solve the global challenge of an inclusive and equitable carbon-neutral future. Earlier this year, the business launched EconiQ its eco-efficient portfolio which delivers a superior environmental performance compared to conventional solutions. Its EconiQ high-voltage offering is proven to significantly reduce the carbon footprint throughout the total life-cycle. The business also recently launched a portfolio of transformer products for offshore floating applications, designed to overcome the challenging offshore environment and efficiently harvest and integrate wind into the global energy system, directly supporting the transition to a sustainable energy future. Hitachi Energy has placed sustainability at the heart of its purpose. The company is advancing the worlds energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure. As the pioneering technology leader, it collaborates with customers and partners to enable a sustainable energy future for today's generations and those to come. Through its Sustainability 2030 strategic plan, it is addressing the urgency of the global energy transition and has set clear targets in: Planet, People, Peace and Partnerships. Hitachi Energy has set targets to become carbon-neutral in its own operations and it expects to hit the first-step target achieving 100% fossil-free electricity in its own operations by 2022. Hitachi Energy reflects the rapidly evolving energy landscape and the opportunity to create economic, environmental and social value. The brand name enables the business to effectively position its pioneering technologies and services to existing and future customers expanding beyond the grid opening up a breadth of opportunities in areas such as sustainable mobility and smart life. The business formally registered Hitachi Energy Ltd. on June 30, 2021, and is currently undertaking the formal process for the change of names globally, with the exception of China where the business will transition at a later date. Hitachi Ltd. has an 80.1% stake in the joint venture which started operations on July 1, 2020, and ABB Ltd. holds the balance.-- TradeArabia News Service The German Government has included Bahrain and the UAE to the German safe list, reducing Covid-19 implemented restrictions for travellers from these countires. The news follows the previous inclusions of Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to the list. The easing of restrictions applies to all travellers 12 years and above regardless of individual vaccination status, with visitors now able to provide a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel, a valid vaccination certificate, or proof of recovery. German National Tourist Office Sales and Marketing Director Yamina Sofo said: The new travel regulations for GCC visitors makes travel to Germany easier and more appealing. The winter season remains an important travel period for Germany, and this news will support regional travellers interest in exploring the array of festive seasonal markets, spa and wellness retreats, and outdoor sporting activities across Germany. The EU issues and updates its recommendations to member states regularly. The safe list is reviewed and revised every two weeks by the EU authorities and members states.-TradeArabia News Service In its Eighth Year, the Global Campaign Aims to Increase Public Awareness of Blood Clots that Result from Hospitalization and COVID-19 MUMBAI, India, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the World Thrombosis Day (WTD) campaign encourages the public, healthcare professionals and policymakers to keep their "Eyes Open to Thrombosis" and join together to place a spotlight on thrombosis as an urgent and growing national and global health problem. A campaign of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), World Thrombosis Day connects and empowers more than 3,000 partner organizations and individuals from over 120 countries to join forces in the awareness, treatment and prevention of blood clots. Thrombosis, also known as blood clots, can trigger a variety of life-threatening medical conditions, including heart attack, thromboembolic stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE occurs when one or more blood clots form in a deep vein, most often in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), and can travel in the circulation and lodge in the lungs (a condition known as pulmonary embolism, PE). "Despite the fact that one in four people worldwide are dying from conditions caused by blood clots, it is not widely known, and is an urgent public health issue," said Prof. Beverley Hunt, OBE, chair of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee. This year, blood clots took to the global stage as research showed an increased risk of blood clots in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, including COVID-19 pneumonia. Additionally, blood clots were found as a rare, but serious side effect to certain COVID-19 vaccines. "In a turbulent year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have unfortunately seen an increased rate of hospital-associated clots due to sick patients with COVID-19," noted Prof. Hunt. "The risk of clots in COVID-19, along with the other causes of hospital-associated clots, can be reduced if thromboprophylaxis is used (blood thinners)." Dr. Roopen Arya, India Spokesperson, World Thrombosis Day, Professor of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, King's College Hospital, London said, "Thrombosis continues to be one of the most dangerous and often overlooked medical conditions. In India, over the past two years, due to the pandemic we have noticed a huge increase in thrombosis as it is one of the most common complications of COVID-19. It is important that we are aware of the risk particularly in patients who are hospitalized in COVID-19 and make sure they get blood thinning injections to prevent the clots. It is also important to stick to evidence-based practice and avoid unnecessary treatments and clotting blood tests in mildly affected people in the community." It is very important for everyone to be aware of this condition and take appropriate preventative action. The World Thrombosis Day campaign is a major step in this direction. " The World Thrombosis Day campaign aims its focus on the following areas this year:Hospital-associated thrombosis: Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of blood clots due to immobility, their illness and/or surgery. Hospital-associated clots can occur in the hospital or within 90 days of discharge, and account for 60 percent of all cases of VTE, as well as being the leading cause of preventable death due to hospital admission. COVID-19-related thrombosis: Research shows that COVID-19 increases the risk of clots by making the blood very "sticky." Cancer-related thrombosis: Patients with cancer are four times more likely to develop a serious blood clot compared to the general population. This increased risk is driven by factors such as surgery, hospitalization, infection, and genetic coagulation disorders by cancer-specific factors including type, histology, stage of the malignancy, cancer treatment and certain biomarkers. Gender-specific thrombosis: Estrogen-based oral contraceptive pills, hormone replacement therapy tablets and pregnancy are all blood clot risk factors for women. Women are five times more likely to develop a blood clot during pregnancy and about one in every 1,000 pregnant women will develop a blood clot. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020, and Cardinal Health, 2019). Approximately 10 million cases of hospital-associated VTE occur annually across the world, yet the condition can often be preventable with early detection and preventative blood thinners. The World Thrombosis Day campaign calls upon healthcare professionals to provide mandated VTE risk assessments to all hospitalized patients. In addition, the campaign encourages the public, including patients, to advocate for a VTE risk assessment. World Thrombosis Day shares these key tips to help prevent blood clots: Know the signs and symptoms of a blood clot. Red flags to look for are unexplained leg pain and tenderness, and redness and swelling. Pulmonary embolism causes shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Ask for a VTE risk assessment. All individuals, especially those who are hospitalized, should ask their healthcare professional for a VTE risk assessment, a questionnaire that gathers medical information to discern a patient's potential risk factors for developing blood clots. Stay active and hydrated. If you plan to sit still for a long period of time, set an alarm for five minutes before every hour, and use that time to get up, walk around and stretch. Staying immobile for long periods of time can increase the risk of blood clots. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can cause blood to thicken, resulting in blood clots. To learn more about blood clots, visit www.worldthrombosisday.org. About World Thrombosis Day Launched in 2014 and held annually on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day aims to increase public, healthcare professional and health care systems' awareness of thrombosis and, ultimately, reduce unnecessary deaths and disabilities from thromboembolic disease through a greater awareness of its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. The mission of World Thrombosis Day supports the World Health Assembly's global target of reducing premature deaths by non-communicable disease by 25 percent by 2025, as well as the World Health Organization's Thirteenth General Programme of Work 20192023, the Montevideo Roadmap 2018-2030 on NCDs and the Political Declaration of UNGA' Third High-level Meeting on NCDs. The ISTH and WTD participating organizations are grateful for the support of the corporate supporters, including the Trailblazers: Bayer; Bristol Myers Squibb; Pfizer; and Johnson & Johnson, the Champions: Daiichi-Sankyo; Sanofi; and Viatris, the Contributors: Inari Medical; and Leo, and the Impact Partners: Aspen; Cardinal Health; Roche; Stago; Sysmex; and Total CME. Special thanks to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For financial support of World Thrombosis Day. Additional acknowledgement goes to Sobi for sponsoring the ISTH Congress Annual Charity 5K to benefit World Thrombosis Day from 2017-2021. Visit www.worldthrombosisday.org for more information and to get involved. About the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,500 clinicians, researchers, and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees, and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at www.isth.org. CONTACT: Disha Shah Executive Account Director, Faction PR +91-9137835225 Chinese mainland reports 8 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases 19 Nov 2021 | 8:03 AM Beijing, Nov 19 (UNI/Xinhua) The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported eight new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Friday. see more.. Planes with evacuees from Afghanistan land at Chkalovsky airport near Moscow - Military 19 Nov 2021 | 7:32 AM Moscow, Nov 19 (UNI/Sputnik) Planes with the citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia and Afghanistan evacuated from Kabul have landed at the Chkalovsky Airport near Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. see more.. US convicts 2 Neo-Nazi leaders on racketeering charges - Justice Dept 19 Nov 2021 | 7:09 AM Washington, Nov 19 (UNI/Sputnik) A US jury convicted two leaders of the Aryan Circle on racketeering charges stemming from attacks they committed as members of the neo-Nazi group, the Justice Department said on Thursday. see more.. US lawmakers introduce measure to end recognition of Putin as Russian president after 2024 19 Nov 2021 | 6:58 AM Washington, Nov 19 (UNI/Sputnik) Two members of US Congress introduced a resolution to end the United States' recognition of Vladimir Putin as president of Russia if he remains in power after 2024. see more.. UW Provost Submits Recommendations for Academic Restructuring Following extensive review and input from internal and external stakeholders, University of Wyoming Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman has submitted recommendations to reconfigure many of UWs academic programs, including eliminating some degree programs. The recommendations, which may be viewed here, were substantially informed by the work of several UW committees, feedback from over 700 comments in a public online portal, and many perspectives shared by external and internal stakeholders. This has been a difficult and unsettling process for the university and many of our stakeholders, but the feedback and discussions have been extremely valuable to arrive at the best possible plan for UW, Carman says. The proposed changes position UW for a strong future as it fulfills its land-grant mission of learning, discovery and engagement. The final recommendations maintain the original proposal to reorganize the universitys academic colleges. But the list of degree programs identified for elimination has been adjusted, as have proposed consolidations and eliminations of some academic departments. Specifically, the recommendations call for the College of Engineering and Applied Science to become the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, with several departments moving there from the current College of Arts and Sciences. Likewise, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources would become the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with several departments moving there from the current College of Arts and Sciences. And the College of Arts and Sciences would become the College of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts -- bringing UW in line with the way many universities organize those disciplines. The proposed names of these colleges are tentative and could be adjusted. Among the changes from the initial proposal: -- The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics would remain in the new College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and not consolidate with the Department of Economics in the College of Business. -- The Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Chemistry would remain separate departments in the new College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. -- The Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering would be not be discontinued but, instead, consolidated into a single department in the new College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. -- The Department of Geology and Geophysics would not be downsized, and it and the Department of Petroleum Engineering would remain as separate departments in the new College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. -- In the new College of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, the Department of Art and Art History, the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance would remain separate departments. Among the proposals that have not changed significantly from the initial presentation: -- From the current College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the program in agricultural communications would move to the Department of Communication and Journalism, although students would still be advised in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences would be reduced, with the nutrition program moving to the College of Health Sciences; and the Early Care and Education Center moving to the College of Education. -- The School of Counseling, Leadership and Design would be discontinued in the College of Education, and the college would be reorganized. The provosts specific proposal, based upon input from a review committee and the deans recommendation, is for the college to have three divisions: one focused on educator preparation; one for graduate education; and one for innovation and engagement. Up to four graduate degrees could be eliminated. -- The Department of Physics and Astronomy would move from the current College of Arts and Sciences and be consolidated into one department with the Department of Atmospheric Science, located in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Also moving to that college would be the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. -- The Department of English and the Creative Writing Program would be merged, but implementation would be delayed until the 2023-24 academic year. -- The American Studies Program would move into the School of Gender, Culture and Social Justice, but there would be no consolidation of degree programs. -- The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies would be reduced. A number of degree programs initially targeted for elimination would be maintained under the provosts recommendations: bachelors degrees in German and French, as well as in Spanish, German and French secondary education; masters degrees in political science, international studies and architectural engineering; and graduate degrees in entomology. In addition to the up to four graduate degrees mentioned above in the College of Education, degrees slated for elimination or suspension are the masters degrees in sociology, philosophy, and family and consumer sciences; the MBA degrees in finance and energy; and the Ph.D. in statistics. Comment is now being accepted on the recommendations. A survey is available on the Academic Affairs website, with an Oct. 27 comment deadline. The provost, along with President Ed Seidel, plans to present the final proposal to UWs Board of Trustees about Nov. 1. The board is scheduled to act during its Nov. 17-19 meeting. The academic restructuring and reduction process is governed by UW Regulation 2-13, which requires a maximum 120-day review period that was triggered in July for most of the proposed changes. Proposed elimination of four graduate degrees in the College of Education, and possible dissolution of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, are new developments that will require their own Regulation 2-13 reviews. There also will be an additional Regulation 2-13 process to consider moving the Human Development and Family Sciences Program to the College of Education and to examine possible alignments for the Textiles, Design and Merchandising Program that currently is part of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. For information on the UW Regulation 2-13 process and answers to frequently asked questions, visit www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/program-review/current/index.html. Minister Daryanani Welcomes MS Borealis on Inaugural Visit to Gibraltar Minister Vijay Daryanani has welcomed the MS Borealis cruise ship on its inaugural visit to Gibraltar. MS Borealis has been Sailing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines since July 2021, which is a UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line with four cruise ships. This vessel holds 702 cabins, with a standard capacity of 1,360 passengers and 662 crew. MS Borealis arrived at the Gibraltar Port this morning at 0800hrs and will depart at 2000hrs. Minister Daryanani and Captain Rommel Pineda engaged in the traditional exchange of plaques at the Gibraltar cruise terminal. The Hon Vijay Daryanani MP said I am very pleased to welcome MS Borealis to Gibraltar for the first time. It is great to see the cruising industry start up again after the manner in which it has suffered so much over the last nineteen months. Gibraltar has missed these cruise calls immensely. I hope this is the first visit of many for this vessel and cruise ships in general. Further reacting to the latest statements from the GSD, Minister Daryanani said: In the spring, Mr Bossino complained that we were going to appoint a CEO based in London. Now,in the autumn, Mr Bossino complains that we had not yet appointed a CEO based in London. In the spring, Mr Bossino complained that we made too many announcements. Now, in the autumn, Mr Bossino complains that we are not issuing enough statements about a vessel we have never heard of. I can only conclude that something has happened to Mr Bossino over the summer which has resulted in him changing his positions entirely in every respect. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-01 21:41:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COTONOU, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Benin's President Patrice Talon has urged his fellow citizens to work harder and make the country strong. He made the statement Saturday in his address to the nation on the eve of the 61st anniversary of Benin's Independence Day, in the economic capital of Cotonou. Talon said that Benin, as a nation taking its place increasingly on the international scene, may speak with a strong voice. "But we absolutely have to work over and over again to develop and empower ourselves so as not to depend on the charity of others but to ensure their own autonomy," he said. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Benin on Sunday celebrated its 61st Independence Day in a sober way, without the usual events such as the military and civil parades. As of Sunday, the country registered a total of 8,394 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom, 8,136 people have recovered, and a death toll of 108. Benin reported its first positive case on March 16, 2020, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 00:48:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Empty registration desks are seen at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, Oct. 14, 2021. International visitors from 19 countries with a COVID-19 positivity rate of less than five percent have been allowed to come to Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said at a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday. (Photo by Bisinglasi/Xinhua) by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian resort island of Bali is waiting in excitement for international tourists as it will reopen on Thursday. As many as 8,000 rooms in 35 three- to five-star hotels are ready to be occupied both for quarantine and accommodation when international tourists are on the island, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association's Chairperson Hariyadi Sukamdani said. "We have been preparing this for 19 months with caution. We are ready to welcome international guests," Sukamdani told Xinhua on Monday. Sukamdani estimated that in the early phase only about 2,000 rooms would be used, but the number would increase if more visitors come. The tourism in Bali is reviving in recent weeks as more and more domestic tourists are coming with the hotel occupancy rate increased by 35 percent, Sukamdani said. The development came as Indonesia's daily new COVID-19 cases dropped sharply in recent days. With the relaxation of public mobility restrictions, shopping centers, cinemas and restaurants are allowed to reopen. The government has also sped up the vaccination program. Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Sukawati said that thousands of attractive tourist facilities, including restaurants, hotels and malls in the resort island are ready to welcome foreign tourists under strict health protocols. Meanwhile, 99 percent of the Balinese have received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 80 percent have got the second doses. Sukawati hoped that reopening the island would revive the tourism sector which in 2019 generated 53 percent of the province's revenues. Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that foreigners who come from countries with a COVID-19 positivity rate of less than 5 percent and those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are allowed to come to Bali. As long as their tests are negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their departures and have proofs of accommodation bookings, the tourists are allowed to visit Indonesia. "They must also have health insurance with a minimum coverage value of 100,000 U.S. dollars, which includes financing for handling COVID-19," Pandjaitan explained. They only need to follow a five-day quarantine, a duration that has been cut from the previous eight days, before exploring the beauty of the island, Pandjaitan said. "If results of PCR tests on the 4th day are negative, they are allowed to leave the quarantine on the 5th day." Upon arriving at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, every visitor are required to take a physical examination and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, among others. The airport has prepared PCR test booths with a capacity of 3,840 tests per day. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 09:02:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Astronomers from Australia's University of Sydney discovered unusual signals coming from the direction of the Milky Way's centre. The discovery, published on Tuesday in the Astrophysical Journal, found the radio waves from an unusual new source, ASKAP J173608.2-321635, named after its coordinates, which could suggest a new class of stellar object. "The strangest property of this new signal is that it has a very high polarisation. This means its light oscillates in only one direction, but that direction rotates with time," said Wang Ziteng, lead author of the study and a PhD student in the School of Physics at the university. "The brightness of the object also varies dramatically, by a factor of 100, and the signal switches on and off apparently at random. We've never seen anything like it." Many types of star emit variable light across the electromagnetic spectrum. Wang said they thought the object could be a pulsar -- a very dense type of spinning dead star -- or else a type of star that emits huge solar flares. But the radio waves fit no currently understood pattern of variable radio sources. However, after surveying the sky to find unusual new objects throughout 2020 and 2021, astronomers did not reveal much more about the secrets of this transient radio source. Wang's PhD supervisor Professor Tara Murphy said the behaviour of the object was extraordinary and intermittent, making it harder to reveal the secret of source. "This object was unique in that it started out invisible, became bright, faded away and then reappeared...We tried the more sensitive MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa. Because the signal was intermittent, we observed it for 15 minutes every few weeks, hoping that we would see it again." Luckily the signal showed up again, but Murphy said the behaviour of the source was dramatically different -- the source disappeared in a single day, even though it had lasted for weeks in their previous ASKAP observations. The astronomers plan to keep a close eye on the object to look for more clues as to what it might be. With tremendous advances in radio astronomy, the study of variable or transient objects in radio waves is a huge field of study helping humans to reveal the secrets of the Universe. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 16:34:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) has approved measures to encourage companies to speed up their digital technology and automation adoptions to promote Industry 4.0 transformation. The newly-approved measures will give eligible companies a three-year corporate income tax exemption covering all their investment for the Industry 4.0 upgrades, the Southeast Asian country's initiative to boost the competitiveness of its manufacturing industry. Applications must be filed by the end of 2022, while companies that receive approval have to fully implement their upgrade plans within three years from the date of issuance of the BOI certificate, according to BOI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit. The new measure supplements the existing measures to support the adoption of automation systems and digital technology adoption, Duangjai said. During the first nine months of the year, the BOI has received investment applications from both domestic and overseas investors totaling 520.7 billion baht (about 15.7 billion U.S. dollars), higher than those for the whole last year. The number of project applications during the January-September period stood at 1,273, compared with 1,037 during the same period last year, indicating investors' sustained confidence in Thailand and in key targeted sectors, Duangjai said. Among these investment applications, key target sectors include electric and electronics, the medical sector, petrochemicals and chemicals, agroindustry and the food sector, according to the BOI. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 19:23:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is planning to export at least 36 million tons of coal next year, authorities said on Wednesday. The plan was announced by Byadran Lkhagvasuren, governor of the country's central bank, while introducing a draft resolution on basic guidelines for 2022 State Monetary Policy to lawmakers. "The majority of our country's exports are mining products, about 40 percent of which are coal. We are planning to export at least 36 million tons of coal next year," Lkhagvasuren said. He added that the target is quite a large one for the country. The Asian country, which is rich in natural resources, exported 11 million tons of coal in the first three quarters of this year, according to authorities. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 19:39:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported 2,565 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 330,869, the country's health ministry said Wednesday. The latest confirmed cases were local infections, and more than half of them were detected in the capital Ulan Bator, the country's hardest-hit area and home to half of the country's population of around 3.4 million. Meanwhile, 17 more people including a teenager died in the past day from the viral disease, pushing the death toll to 1,409, according to the ministry. The resurgence of COVID-19 infections has continued with the highly contagious Delta variant spreading quickly across the country's 21 provinces. The country's health authorities have urged the public to follow all relevant health guidelines to protect themselves and their loved ones. So far, 65.6 percent of the country's total population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and more than 350,000 Mongolians have taken the booster or third dose. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 20:32:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the need to resolve differences through dialogue in a telephone conversation on Tuesday. The ministers discussed the latest developments in the Iranian-Azerbaijani relationship, and stressed the need for mutual respect regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, according to a report on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's official website. Abdollahian said the two countries must prevent misunderstandings, and Iran expects that the current problem of the Iranian trucks transiting through the Azerbaijani territory will be solved. Bayramov described the relations between the two countries as friendly, and said the ties with friendly countries are a priority for Baku, it reported. The Azerbaijani minister proposed talks between customs officials of the two countries to solve the transit problem of Iranian goods. Tensions have mounted recently between Iran and Azerbaijan over the transportation of Iranian goods to Armenia. Iran has also voiced its concerns regarding alleged activities in recent years against Iranian national security from Azerbaijani soil, while Baku has denied the allegations. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 22:51:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov (C) speaks at the oath-taking ceremony for the new Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 13, 2021. The new Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, headed by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the President's Administration Akylbek Zhaparov, took the oath of office on Wednesday. (Press office of Kyrgyz government/Handout via Xinhua) BISHKEK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The new Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, headed by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the President's Administration Akylbek Zhaparov, took the oath of office on Wednesday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the country's parliament with the attendance of President Sadyr Zhaparov. The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved the new structure and members of the Cabinet and President Zhaparov later signed a decree on the appointment of members of the Cabinet of Ministers. The new Cabinet consists of the chairman, four deputy chairmen and 15 ministers. The previous Cabinet was dismissed by the president on Tuesday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 23:21:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will launch immediate investigations into allegations of illegal shark fishing in Trincomalee, eastern Sri Lanka. A local organization, the Pearl Protectors, on Tuesday said in a statement on Twitter said while Trincomalee was once a marine biodiversity hotspot, it had now come under threat as fishermen were increasingly killing local shark species. Tourism officials said that Nilaveli and Pigeon Island in Trincomalee were some of the only places where tourists could swim with sharks and enjoy a boat ride to see the marine species. State Minister of Fisheries Kanchana Wijesekera said on Wednesday following these allegations of illegal shark fishing, officers of the fisheries department will visit Trincomalee and investigate the claims. "Once the initial investigations are concluded legal action will be taken against those responsible," Wijesekera said. Located on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, around 237 km from Colombo, Trincomalee is popular for wildlife lovers as it is one of the best natural harbors in the region. It is one of the country's best hotspots to see blue whales in their natural environment, and a smaller number of sperm whales and whale sharks can also be spotted during some months. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-13 23:26:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan health officials said Wednesday said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was declining as the spread of transmission caused by the Delta variant was easing. A senior health official from the Health Ministry told Xinhua that the viral load in infected patients being reported was low and if all health guidelines were maintained, Sri Lanka could soon lift the existing restrictions, including an inter-province travel ban. The official said that people needed to remain cautious and were advised to wear face masks and maintain social distance in public places as the country was not out of danger from the virus yet. According to official statistics, the number of positive COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka reached 527,735 on Wednesday after 671 patients were reported a day earlier, a decline from the average 3,000 cases reported daily last month. The death toll from the virus was 13,377. Pictures shared by health workers on social media on Tuesday showed empty beds in the COVID-19 wards in some of the major hospitals in the country, which were filled to their maximum when the Delta variant caused havoc since May. Doctors said while this was a relief people needed to behave responsibly to avoid another wave. The Health Ministry has banned all public gatherings until further notice, while cinemas and in-house dining in restaurants also remain closed. People have also been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and are encouraged to work from home while schools nationwide are yet to re-open. Enditem Peru's position was communicated during its participation in the 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council. Peru and other 50 countries voted in favor of this resolution, which is framed by the Constitution, which also recognizes people's right to a balanced and adequate environment for their personal development. In addition, it is in harmony with the Protocol of San Salvador, to which Peru is a signatory country. Said protocol states that everyone shall have the right to live in a healthy environment and to have access to basic public services. Likewise, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on equal participation in public and political affairs, presented by Peru, Czech Republic, Botswana, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. Such resolution stresses the crucial importance of full and effective citizen participation in public and political affairs for democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion, economic growth, sustainable development, promotion of gender equality, and for the achievement of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. (END) NDP/FGM/CVC/RMB The Government of Peru has expressed its support to the resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on the human right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as to equal participation in public and political affairs.Published: 10/13/2021 Representatives from Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland and Sweden, participants in the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF), discussed sea rescue and marine pollution. Currently, the forum prioritizes cooperation in carrying out search-and-rescue operations at sea as well as in responding to marine pollution, the press service of the Russian Federal Security Service for the eastern Arctic region emphasized in a statement. At the forum, the participating states discussed expanding border cooperation, including detecting, preventing and responding to violations of legal regimes in sea areas. They also touched on the problem of countering threats to maritime security. The Arctic Coast Guard Forum was established on October 30, 2015, in New London, Connecticut, USA, at the meeting of the coast guard leaders from the Arctic Council member states. Chairmanship duties of the ACGF rotate every two years. Russia received the chairmanship from Iceland in April 2021. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan will depart for Russia to take part in the third Eurasian Womens Forum. The Forum will take place in St. Petersburg from October 13 to 15. This years Eurasian Womens Forum will focus on the role of women in efforts to build a stable and secure future. The event will take place under the critically important theme, Women: A Global Mission in a New Reality. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The documentation process for the first batch of buses, a total of 53, delivered by China to Armenias capital Yerevan is underway, spokesperson to the Mayor of Yerevan Hakob Karapetyan told Armenpress. He informed that the next batches will arrive soon. There will be a total of 211 buses delivered by China. At the moment we cannot mention exact dates, but everything is being done for the buses to quickly start their operation. I can say approximately that the new buses will operate by the yearend. The buses will be in different routes and will serve all districts. We can say that nearly 17 routes will be served, he said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia highly appreciates Indias principled position and continuous support for the peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship mandate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan said during a joint press conference with Indias Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after their meeting in Yerevan. India, as the worlds largest democracy, major and rapidly developing economy, as well as a country engaged in peace-loving policy, can have its contribution in stability, development and peace in South Caucasus, FM Mirzoyan said. In this context FM Mirzoyan once again reiterated Armenias position that the use of force cannot be the basis for conflict resolution, and that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must receive its comprehensive resolution through peaceful negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship and based on the well-known principles. FM Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia highly appreciates the Indian Foreign Ministrys statement in May calling for the Azerbaijani militarys withdrawal from sovereign Armenian territory. In turn, Armenia reiterated its position in supporting India over the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he said. Our positions also coincide in the issues of fighting against terrorism, extremism and the inadmissibly and condemnation of transfer of mercenary terrorists into conflict zones, he added. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Russia and the EU have held another meeting on the issue of the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates. There will be a series of consultations in order to coordinate the basic recognition parameters of the documents, TASS reports citing the press service of Russias Health Ministry. The negotiation process on the issue of the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates between Russia and the European Union is underway. Another working meeting between the representatives of the Russian Ministry of Health and the European Union was held in a virtual format. During the meeting, the sides planned upcoming joint steps: there will be a series of expert consultations in order to coordinate the basic legal and technical parameters of the mutual recognition of the vaccination certificates, the statement said. In September, the Russian Ministry of Health submitted to the EU representatives the documents requested by the European side during the previous meeting. The work on the mutual recognition of the certificates aims to remove obstacles for Russian citizens travel to the EU and vice versa. Bilateral consultations on this issue will continue, the press service added. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Yerevan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar proposed to use Irans Chabahar port as a hub of the North-South international transportation corridor. At a press conference in Yerevan, the Indian FM said that the lack of direct communication obstructs the contacts between the peoples and the economic, trade exchange between India and Armenia. He emphasized that both India and Armenia are members of the North-South international transportation corridor, which, he added, has a prospect for communication development. I and Mirzoyan discussed the interest Armenia has for using the Chabahar port in Iran, which has been developed by India. We also proposed that the port is used as a hub of the international transportation corridor, the Indian FM said. In turn Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said that they have discussed the issue of infrastructure in the region and the North-South transportation corridor with Mr. Jaishankar. Both countries are interested in the fulfillment of this initiative. We have discussed the latest positive developments around the port, the issue of establishing a direct road communication between Armenia and India, as well as the future transit transfers from Armenia to Russia via Georgia and maybe to Europe via the Black Sea. This is the important component of our agenda, the Armenian FM said. As for the Persian Gulf-Black Sea initiative, Ararat Mirzoyan said they have recently discussed this issue with the Iranian side. According to him, the events around this program, this agreement are developing quite dynamically. I hope in the nearest future we will have a signed agreement around this document, the Armenian FM said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced that there is an agreement to hold a new meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart to continue negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Speaking about the latest OSCE Minsk Group-mediated meeting with Azeri FM Jeyhun Bayramov in New York during the 76th UNGA , Mirzoyan said that during these talks an agreement was reached to solve humanitarian issues and return of the Armenian POWs. He said that Armenia welcomes the resumption of the peace talks within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, stressing that Yerevan sees the settlement of the NK conflict only in this format. Weve reached concrete agreements during the meeting, first of all to discuss and try to solve humanitarian issues such as the release of Armenian prisoners of war, further determination of the fate of missing soldiers and civilians, works in this direction, accessibility of Armenian cultural monuments that have appeared under Azerbaijani control and several other issues, and then to engage in the main component of the co-chairmanship mandate discussions over the NK status, Mirzoyan said. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs preparations of a regional visit were also discussed in New York, and clarifications over this matter will take place soon, he said. Asked whether or not a new OSCE Minsk Group-mediated meeting with the Azeri FM is expected, Mirzoyan said they have at least reached an agreement to continue the process and organize a new meeting. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will soon receive more Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine doses, CDC Director of Department of Epidemiology of Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases Romella Abovyan said on Wednesday. She didnt specify the quantity, timeframes or the brand of the batch. We had a little problem regarding the quantity of vaccines, but now I can say we dont have any problem at all, she added. In addition, Abovyan noted that they are negotiating over a potential supply of Pfizer vaccines. We are engaged in active discussions in the direction of importing the Pfizer vaccine. I think soon authorities will announce the timeframes of its arrival to Armenia. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Finance Minister of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan had a working meeting with the representatives of Berlin Economics independent consulting company and the German Economic Union NGO, the ministry said in a statement. Minister Khachatryan introduced the guests on the governments five-year action plan and talked about the manageability of the current foreign debt and the macroeconomic features. The guests expressed readiness to cooperate around issues of mutual interest and stated that the German partners closely follow the activity of the Armenian government and welcome the ongoing reforms. The sides agreed to continue the dialogue over the issue on the agenda and expressed their support to the development of the Armenian-German bilateral economic ties. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan received today the Chairman of the Montreal Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Chahe Tanachian and the Secretary of the Chapter Hagop Arslanian, the Parliaments press service said. Welcoming the guests, Alen Simonyan highly assessed the activities of the structure aimed at a number of spheres. The Head of Parliament expressed readiness to support all initiatives and programs being implemented in Armenia aimed at strengthening the homeland. The guests presented the priorities of the AGBU Montreal organization, pointing out the main programs which would be implemented in Armenia. During the meeting the post-war situation in Armenia was touched upon. In this context the Chairman of the Montreal Chapter Chahe Tanachian presented the approaches existing on the post-war situation in the Diaspora, and particularly, in Canada. The Speaker of Parliament has underlined that at this moment the issue of the urgent repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and the civilians being kept in Azerbaijan remains of priority. Issues on strengthening Armenia-Diaspora relations were discussed. YEREVAN, 13 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 13 October, USD exchange rate up by 0.47 drams to 479.18 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.68 drams to 553.88 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.68 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.07 drams to 652.98 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 57.94 drams to 27233.94 drams. Silver price up by 1.73 drams to 348.79 drams. Platinum price down by 292.57 drams to 15544.65 drams. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his delegation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. In his welcoming speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted. "Dear Mr. Minister, dear members of the delegation, I welcome all of you. We have always valued our relations with India, we have always had warm relations. Frankly, I'm surprised that you are the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Armenia. This is really amazing because the impressions are that India in Armenia and Armenia in India are very visibly represented. But maybe that fact has a certain symbol in it, we have a lot of missing work that we have to do to fill the gap. I am very happy and thankful for your commitment to intensify our work. I remember, after your meeting with our Foreign Minister in Dushanbe, we had a conversation, and his assessment was also that we have a lot of opportunities, which we may not have used properly, and now we have to do everything to fill the gaps. But I also want you to know that we not only want to express readiness, but we also have concrete ideas, suggestions on what we should cooperate on. I must emphasize that we recorded this intention, atmosphere and agenda during our meeting with Prime Minister Modi in 2019 in New York, at that time we agreed that its time to make our actions more specified. But you know, unfortunately, the coronavirus hit immediately afterwards. We have learned to work under the coronavirus conditions and I hope we will move forward. Mr. Minister, I again welcome your visit to Armenia. I hope it will be historic not only in terms of statistics, but also in terms of content. " In his turn, the Indian Foreign Minister noted, Thank you, Your Excellency. Mr. Prime Minister, first of all, let me convey the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He remembers his meeting with you in 2019 and attaches great importance to my visit. Your Excellency, to be honest, I was also very surprised to learn that no Indian Foreign Minister had visited Armenia. I discovered this fact when I first met my colleague Ararat Mirzoyan in Dushanbe. I want to assure you that even if we have missed to do what we should have done in the past, there is great attention to our important relations today. I agree with you, we have a very good attitude to one another and history, but we must take practical, tangible steps to push our relations forward. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia welcomed the practical disposition of India, reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to enrich the Armenian-Indian partnership with new mutually beneficial initiatives. The interlocutors stressed that the Armenia-India political dialogue is at a high level, and it is necessary to focus more on economic programs, taking into account the existence of great untapped economic potential. The Indian Foreign Minister offered to organize a business forum or send a business mission to Armenia. Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the idea, considering it a mutually beneficial opportunity to get acquainted with the investment opportunities of Armenia on the spot and to activate the Armenian-Indian business ties. An agreement was reached to take concrete steps. Nikol Pashinyan and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar considered the educational cooperation a successful example of the Armenian-Indian partnership and shared the opinion that in the spirit of that successful cooperation, its necessary to develop ties in the spheres of infrastructure, tourism, pharmaceuticals, information technologies, diamond making and and other spheres. At the end of the meeting, the Indian Foreign Minister expressed confidence with his visit a new intensive Armenian-Indian partnership will kick off. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan received the delegation led byProsecutor General of Iran Mohammad Jafar Montazeri on October 13. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, the President of the National Assembly emphasized that in recent years the political dialogue between the two countries has significantly intensified, which is a solid basis for the development of interstate relations in different spheres. Alen Simonyan expressed confidence that the visit of Mohammad Jafar Montazeri will contribute to the strengthening of bilateral friendly ties. Emphasizing the inter-parliamentary cooperation in terms of deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, Alen Simonyan assured that as the head of the legislature, he is ready to support the implementation of any initiative in the interests of the two countries. According to Alen Simonyan, the cooperation between Armenia and Iran can serve as a good example for countries guided by the agenda of peace, development and dialogue between civilizations. According to the President of the National Assembly, Iran's role and potential in reducing tensions, establishing stability in the region is obvious, a clear example of which is Iran's firm position on the inviolability of the borders of Armenia. Issues related to peace and security in the region, including the arrest of two Iranian truck drivers by the Azerbaijani police on the Goris-Kapan road in the village of Vorotan, were touched upon. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri emphasized the key role of the parliaments in terms of the development of inter-state relations. Iran's Prosecutor General, prioritizing security in the region, highlighted the fight against the infiltration of terrorist groups. According to him, for Iran its security and the security of its neighbors is very important and are interconnected. It was noted that only in the conditions of lasting and stable security in the region it will be possible to effectively develop bilateral and multilateral relations. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Acting Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Knapen responded to the written questions addressed to him by MP Dutch Derk jan Eppink on August 6, which are about the Armenian POWs and civilian detainees, as well as the Azerbaijani judges and prosecutors involved in the court decisions over Azerbaijani opposition figures. ARMENPRESS reports the Minister confirmed the cases of illegal imprisonment of Armenian POWs and other detainees by Azerbaijani courts. Moreover, Ben Knapen noted that he is aware that those same judges and prosecutors are included in the black list of the Azerbaijani opposition NGOs. Continuing the same topic, the Minister recalled the commitments of Azerbaijan under a number of international agreements, which provide for the norms of treatment with detainees, the conditions of their detention, and citied various sources, according to which Azerbaijani prisons do not meet international standards. Answering the question about the trials of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, Ben Knapen noted that, in general, the independent trial and the rule of law in that country are in question, as evidenced by the low indicators given to Azerbaijan by Freedom House. In his letter, the Minister stressed the need for the immediate release of Armenian captives, citing EU statements. The Minister responded to the MP's question on the application of additional pressure by the Netherlands, noting that, like his predecessors, he will make efforts to keep the issue of prisoners on the EU agenda in order to make progress in this direction. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The information about releasing the Iranian drivers arrested by Azerbaijan on Goris-Kapan road does not correspond to the reality, ARMENPRESS reports the Azerbaijani media outlets inform that the statement issued by the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan said. The information about releasing the drivers had been spread by Iranian Mehr agency, adding that it happened after the phone conversation between the Iranian and Azerbaijani FMs. On the Vorotan section of the Goris-Kapan highway, the masked and armed Azerbaijani servicemen stopped the drivers of the Iranian trucks, checked the documents and demanded money, substantiating that "they have to pay a tax to enter the territory of their country." They then arrested the Iranian drivers. The Group of 20 (G20) has agreed to work together to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, even if it means having to coordinate efforts with the Taliban, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said after hosting an emergency summit. October 13, 2021, 09:49 G20 agrees aid to avert Afghanistan humanitarian crisis STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: The European Union opened the talks on Tuesday by pledging one billion euros ($1.2bn), which will go to urgent humanitarian needs and also to assist neighbouring countries taking in Afghans who have been fleeing since the Taliban took control of the country on August 15. There has basically been a convergence of views on the need to address the humanitarian emergency, Draghi told reporters at the end of the special video conference. United States President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many European leaders joined the virtual summit, which took place as the Taliban held its first face-to-face talks with a US-EU delegation in Qatar. Chinas President Xi Jinping and Russias President Vladimir Putin sent representatives rather than attending themselves. Draghi said the two leaders absence did not undercut the importance of the meeting organised by Italy, the current G20 chair. This was the first multilateral response to the Afghan crisis multilateralism is coming back, with difficulty, but it is coming back, Draghi said. There was unanimous agreement among the participants about the need to alleviate the crisis in Afghanistan, where the countrys assets overseas have been frozen, banks have run out of money, civil servants have not been paid, and food prices have soared. Millions are at risk of severe hunger as winter approaches. To stand by and watch 40 million people plunge into chaos because electricity cant be supplied and no financial system exists, that cannot and should not be the goal of the international community, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. The EU emphasised its money would go to international organisations working on the ground rather than the Taliban, which has not been recognised by any other government. Much of the G20 aid effort will be channelled through the United Nations, but there will also be direct country-to-country assistance. Canada will accept 40,000 refugees from Afghanistan following the military takeover by the Taliban*, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, Sputnik reported. October 13, 2021, 17:43 Canada to host 40,000 Afghan refugees STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Canada is welcoming 40,000 refugees and were urging others to step up their support to safely resettle refugees, too," Trudeau tweeted. In September, Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said that the country would resettle over 20,000 Afghans from particularly vulnerable groups threatened by the Taliban, including women, rights workers, and targeted minorities. The Taliban entered the Afghan capital of Kabul in mid-August, which led to the collapse of the previous US-backed government, and mass evacuations of foreigners and nationals seeking to escape Afghanistan in fear of the movement. The large-scale evacuation operation was completed on 31 August along with the pullout of international forces. AUBURN The Auburn Enlarged City School District explained the ways it is reaching out to students during National Bullying Prevention Month. Camille Johnson, Auburn's assistant superintendent for student services, spoke at a board of education meeting Tuesday night about what the district has been doing for the bullying prevention month, which is October. She said the district will celebrate Unity Day, which is meant to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. People are asked to wear orange for Unity Day at the district's buildings except for Seward Elementary School, because that day is picture day. Unity Day will be Oct. 21 for Seward. Different buildings will have orange ribbons, bracelets and other items for students who don't have anything orange to wear. "All of our buildings have really been doing many different activities to promote the prevention of bullying," Johnson said. There have been morning announcements in all of the buildings about bullying prevention month, she said, noting there is a new social-emotional awareness program at Auburn Junior High School. Some of the elementary schools have been doing "positive referrals" to their main office, Johnson continued, where students, staff and parents can acknowledge a student "doing something good." Johnson also noted there are other Unity Day activities. She said faculty meetings have included discussions on Unity Day and "the fact that we are promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion in our schools, and (want) to prevent bullying." Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 1 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 backlog of COVID-19 tests is preventing timely contact tracing investigations, the Cayuga County Health Department said Tuesday. There are delays in receiving the COVID-19 test results from laboratories, according to the health department. Because of that extended wait time, any positive cases can't be contacted until their results are known. That also creates a delay in discovering any individuals who were close contacts of the positive case. "We want to remind everyone that the location in which you received your COVID-19 test should be reporting those results to you first," the department said. "The health department will then follow up with you to conduct contact tracing and issue appropriate quarantine or isolation paperwork." Health officials also asked residents to remain at home while they are awaiting their COVID-19 test results. There are multiple factors that could be affecting the laboratories, including supply chain woes across numerous industries. But there has been an uptick in demand for COVID-19 tests over the last several weeks. That's true in Cayuga County, where COVID-19 cases surged in August and September. So far in October, the county has reported 264 cases. The health department said there were 75 new cases in the last four days, 55 of which were unvaccinated. Active cases decreased from 220 on Thursday to 192 on Monday. Hospitalizations dipped from 20 to 18 over a four-day period. A majority of the patients (11 out of 18) are unvaccinated. Fourteen of the individuals are age 60 or older. The youngest patient is under age 10. Cayuga County's vaccination rate continues to lag behind the national and state averages, but there has been a slight uptick since last week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60.5% of eligible residents ages 12 and older are fully vaccinated. Nearly 53% of the county's total population is vaccinated and 56% have received at least one vaccine dose. The health department will hold a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius. The clinic will be in the former Jo-Ann Fabric store. To enter the clinic, use the outside door to the store. The three COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the clinic. Children ages 12-17 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. The health department is participating in a statewide campaign, #VaxtoSchool, to boost vaccinations among school-aged children. Anyone under age 18 who gets their first or second Pfizer dose will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. 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. The Cayuga County Conservative Party reelected its officers and endorsed Lee Zeldin for governor last week. The votes occurred at the party's reorganizational meeting on Oct. 5. David Pappert, who succeeded Greg Rigby as chairman in 2019, will continue to serve in that role. The officers reelected to their posts include Andrew Sheridan (vice chairman), Kathy Magill (secretary) and Richard Gagliardi (treasurer). Other members of the executive committee include Dale Bush, who remains city chairman. The party has six regional directors: Thomas Ambrose, Andrew Cuddy, Bruce Langerlan, Bradley Littlefield, Hans Pecher and Victoria Shaw. "Since 1962, the Cayuga County Conservative Party has identified, endorsed and supported candidates who cherish Conservative values and strive for smaller government, more freedom, the protection of human life, and our Second Amendment rights," Pappert said. "It is an honor to continue to serve as chairman as we continue to strengthen our party." The Conservatives also formally endorsed Zeldin, a Long Island congressman, for governor. Zeldin is the front-runner for the Republican and Conservative nominations. There are other candidates in the race, including Rob Astorino the former Westchester County executive and Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But it's Zeldin who has emerged as the favorite among Republican and Conservative leaders. The Cayuga County Conservative Party's leadership, including Pappert, endorsed Zeldin in April. The executive committee backed him in June. In explaining why the party endorsed Zeldin, Pappert said one-party control of state government "has proven disastrous." "We have suffered the unnecessary deaths of many of our most vulnerable through horrific public health executive orders, and the humiliation of a governor resigning in disgrace," Pappert continued. "Governor Hochul has proven herself equally unsatisfactory, appointing 'defund the police' supporters, demonstrating open hostility to pro-life and Second Amendment values, and even contemplating legalizing prostitution. "New York state needs a governor with outstanding character and qualifications, and that candidate is Lee Zeldin." The Conservative Party is one of two minor parties Working Families is the other with automatic ballot status in New York. There are 162,330 registered Conservative Party voters in New York and 1,402 in Cayuga County, according to the state Board of Elections. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 2 Funny 2 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. WASHINGTON The U.S. side of the Canadian border will open to vaccinated Canadians starting in early November, the Biden administration told senior members of Congress on Tuesday, signaling the end of a 19-month pandemic shutdown that separated families and shook U.S. businesses that counted on customers from north of the border. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced the planned reopening shortly after White House officials told reporters that details of the move will be officially announced Wednesday. Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures," said Schumer, a New York Democrat. "That pain is about to end. Very soon, the link between New York and our northern neighbors will finally be re-established, reuniting families, bolstering businesses and ending a frustrating cycle of waiting for everyone involved. Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, said he received word of the pending reopening from Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator. "It was a long time coming," said Higgins, who has relentlessly advocated the reopening for months. "It should have happened six months ago." The Biden administration the target of ire from cross-border families and angry ads aimed at forcing the reopening spelled out the basics of the reopening on a conference call with reporters. They said the first phase of the reopening will begin in early November, when fully vaccinated Canadians and Mexicans with proper travel documentation will be allowed to cross U.S. land borders for nonessential reasons, such as family visits and tourism. There will be no testing requirement for Canadians entering the U.S., even though Canada requires vaccinated Americans to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada. The second phase of the reopening will begin in January 2022, when all travelers across U.S. land borders even those who are traveling for essential reasons will be required to be vaccinated. Currently, business travelers such as truck drivers can drive into the U.S. even if they are not vaccinated because they are considered essential travelers. "This phased approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers and others to get vaccinated, enabling a smooth transition to this new system," a senior White House official said. White House officials did not offer any detailed explanation for why the U.S. side of the land border remained closed for months after the Canadian government welcomed vaccinated Americans traveling for nonessential reasons to enter that country starting in August. Instead, that senior White House official merely offered some empathy with cross-border families and businesses that have suffered through the prolonged shutdown. "We understand how valuable across-border travel travel from Canada and Mexico is to the economic activity in border communities and to our broader economy," that official said. "And we also know how meaningful the ability to travel is to maintaining the personal ties between people living on either side of the northern and southern U.S. borders, who are often effectively members of one community, and we are pleased to be able to move forward with these strict protocols to ensure cross-border travel can occur in a safe and sustainable manner." Both sides of the U.S.-Canada border closed to nonessential travel on March 21, 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. And every month ever since, the closure was extended often in a tweet or Federal Register notice that offered little explanation for the continued shutdown. And despite the long delay in reopening the U.S. side of the border, both Schumer and Higgins were ecstatic about the move. Kudos to President Biden for doing the right thing and increasing cross-border travel between Canada and the U.S., Schumer said. The high vaccination rates on each side of the border have opened the door of safe cross-border travel and will now safely increase the rebirth of the economic energy of Upstate New York. "This should have been done a lot sooner," Higgins said, "but it's a very positive sign relative to the economics, relative to life quality, relative to uniting loved ones who have been separated for 19 months." Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, also a New York Democrat who has been pushing for the border reopening, said she was pleased with the move, too. The northern border is an indispensable economic partnership and ties our two nations together and I have repeatedly urged the Biden administration to enact this common sense policy now that 78% of Canadians over the age of 12 are vaccinated," Gillibrand said. "This reopening will be welcome news to countless businesses, medical providers, families and loved ones that depend on travel across the northern border. Gov. Kathy Hochul also applauded the news late Tuesday. "Canada is not only our trade partner, but more importantly, Canadians are our neighbors and our friends," Hochul said in a statement. "From Western New York to the North Country, I look forward to welcoming our Canadian neighbors back to New York as we continue to rebuild and recover from this pandemic." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- General Motors and its joint ventures delivered almost 20% fewer vehicles in China in the third quarter of this year when compared with the same span of last year amid global chip supply shortage. Last quarter, the American company delivered 623,000 vehicles in the biggest market, down by 19.24% from a year earlier. By the end of September, its year-to-date deliveries in China amounted to 2.153 million vehicles, increasing 10.69% year on year. Four out of its five brands saw year-on-year decline in third-quarter deliveries. Wuling was the only brand with year-on-year growth in the quarter. Thanks to the record-high deliveries of the Hongguang MINIEV (99,000), its quarterly deliveries topped 309,000 units. By the end of September, the brand has delivered over 1 million vehicles this year. Buick delivered 166,000 units, decreasing from 250,000 units of last year. Deliveries of the Enclave jumped 42% year on year to nearly 8,000 vehicles while the VELITE 6 new energy vehicle family saw deliveries up 36% to 8,500 units. Its luxury brand Cadillac delivered 59,000 vehicles in the third quarter. Demand for the XT6 three-row large luxury SUV remained strong, with sales increasing 40% from a year ago to over 9,300 units. Deliveries of the CT5 luxury sedan jumped 30% year on year to over 17,000 units. Chevrolet delivered more than 49,000 vehicles in the period. Deliveries of the Menlo EV, the brands first NEV model, tripled to about 1,000 units. Baojuns quarterly deliveries slumped 60% from a year ago to 40,000 vehicles. The brand expanded its electric vehicle portfolio with the introduction of the KiWi EV. The combined sales of Baojuns NEV lineup topped 6,200 units. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Baidu Apollo publicly showed its unmanned mining truck achievements with Huaneng Yimin Coal and Electricity Company (Yimin), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., marking the first machine-learning-powered intelligent vehicle application under mining scenario in China. The autonomous mining trucks; photo credit: Apollo As demonstrated, the autonomous mining truck in use at the Yimin strip mine has achieved human-level automated productivity, stepping forward in the crewless mining transportation field. With high computing power and machine learning ability, Baidu Apollo is the first company to provide unsupervised on-mine operation with a fusion of crewed and crewless vehicles in China. After two years of cooperation, the two companies have built autonomous mining trucks and corresponding intelligent dispatching platforms, which was tested day and night on the Yimin strip mine. The intelligent mining solution is capable of numerous industry-leading productive functions, including autonomous navigation, automated discharge, active obstacle avoidance, self-driving under complex road situations, and precise unloading in designated areas. Comparing to Apollos urban mobility service Robotaxi, mining scenarios are relatively controllable and straightforward, therefore easier to achieve fully crewless autonomous driving. The periodic achievement with Yimin signified another commercialized application building on Apollos eight years of autonomous driving technology development, aside from retail, ride-hailing, cleaning, and race track inspection. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Jiangxi Ganfeng LiEnergy Technology Co., Ltd. (Ganfeng LiEnergy), a Chinese lithium power battery manufacturer, recently introduced many new investors, two of which are industry funds backed by Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi, namely, Hubei Xiaomi Yangtze River Industry Fund Partnership (L.P.) and Hainan Jimu Venture Capital Co., Ltd., according to the enterprise information inquiry platform Qichacha. Ganfeng LiEnergy's power battery; photo credit: Ganfeng LiEnergy Founded in June 2011, Ganfeng LiEnergy has a line of businesses covering the R&D, production, and sales of lithium-ion batteries, fuel cell batteries, as well as energy storage batteries. Ganfeng LiEnergy's majority shareholder is Ganfeng Lithium, one of the world's top producers of the commodity used in electric vehicle batteries. As publicly disclosed, Ganfeng Lithium is well known as a supplier of battery-grade lithium to clients including automakers like Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen Group. This was not the first time for Xiaomi to invest in lithium power battery companies. In August, Hubei Xiaomi Yangtze River Industry Fund Partnership (L.P.) appeared on the list of new investors of SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SVOLT), an EV battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor. The Xiaomi-sponsored industrial fund also invested in the CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd.)'s Pre-A round funding that was closed at the end of 2020. Besides, the fund also controls 4.3% stake in COSMX, a Zhuhai-headquartered lithium ion battery supplier. New MasterCard regulations announced in April go into effect this week. Weve heard from many FSC members and industry stakeholders who are confused about their responsibilities under the sometimes broadly worded regulations. Over the past several weeks, FSC has obtained clarification of the MasterCard guidelines that are to go into effect October 15. Through conversations with those familiar with the new guidance, we can hopefully clarify the aspects of the regulations causing the most confusion. We have summarized the clarifications of the guidelines, as we understand them. However, because banks have latitude in interpreting these guidelines, Merchants (platforms), Content Providers (creators or account holders), and other parties should contact their banking institution for more specific requirements. Age and Consent Verification Rests with the Content Provider The platform must validate the age and identity of the Content Provider, and must have the Content Provider confirm that they have the consent from all individuals included in the content. However, many had assumed that a Content Provider would also need to share documentation with the Merchant for every person in every piece of content uploaded to the platform. That does not appear to be the case. The responsibility for verifying, maintaining, and holding that documentation rests with the Content Provider, not the platform. The Merchant does need to have a process to monitor and validate that this documentation is being secured and held by the Content Provider. In other words, the platform needs to ensure creators are keeping these records, but it is not necessarily required to see this documentation by default. Consent Documentation Consent documentation must show that the person consents to be in the content, that they consent to have it distributed online, and, if downloadable, that there is consent to download. Content Providers should review previous model releases and documentation to ensure that all three requirements are met. Most current model releases should provide authority to meet all three requirements. Streaming Content In the case of a live broadcast, like a cam show or live fan show, a platform must be able to view the stream and stop it or block any content in real time. However, when monitoring these broadcasts, automated tools and solutions are not only permissible but recommended. Pre-Publication Moderation All content must be reviewed prior to publication. However, use of automated tools and solutions to moderate is encouraged. Moderation Reports Merchants must provide moderation reports to the bank on a monthly basis, but the specific requirements for those reports will be established by the banks. Those reports are to be made available to MasterCard upon request. Flagging/Content Forms MasterCard has not specified what types of information is required in a notice to remove or takedown content. Merchants should talk with their banks and legal counsel about what type of information is most useful. Content Disputes In the case of a content dispute, a Content Provider needs to be able to provide verifiable documentation of age and consent to the platform. If they can not provide these forms, or a person appearing in the content can demonstrate that the consent is legally void, the content must be taken down immediately. If the platform disagrees that the consent is not valid, it can go to a neutral arbitrator. FSC will continue to do our best to provide guidance on these and other new regulations. As always, please consult with your legal counsel and banking partners as to your particular situation before making any decisions about your business. If you or your team have additional questions, please reach out to [email protected]. Robocalls to Arizonans dropped by more than 3 million in July, to about 84.4 million for the month, as the first phase of a new federal mandate took effect that requires phone companies to implement anti-robocall measures. But consumer advocates say phone carriers could be doing more. A recent report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund found that just 16 of the 49 largest phone companies in the country had fully implemented the STIR/SHAKEN technology by a Sept. 28 deadline, and another 18 had partially implemented it. In Arizona, of the 18 that reported to the Federal Communications Commission, seven said they had completely integrated the system and 11 had partially done so. Another provider in the state had not reported to the FCC by Sept. 28, USPIRG said. The FCC regulation gave the five largest carriers a June 30 deadline to install the STIR (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited)/SHAKEN (Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs) system, which lets providers authenticate caller ID in an attempt to reduce spoofed robocalls. Smaller carriers were given until Sept. 28 to report their progress on the new program. The FCC did not respond to calls on the progress of the providers. But Diane Brown, executive director of ArizonaPIRG Education Fund, said the companies are falling short. Our research documented that over half of the companies that reported their status to the Federal Communications Commission were not using the industry standards, but instead were using their own methods to manage robocalls, Brown said. Companies should always use the highest standard to protect consumers, which Brown said is STIR/SHAKEN. That was echoed by YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. Its definitely not enough for these guys to create their own plan, said Quilici, whose company tracks spam and robocalls. Some of the plans that have been filed with the FCC are just, We promise to look out for bad robocalls and to stop them, and thats the extent of it, he said. Just having a carrier file a plan saying, I promise to be a good guy, isnt going to cut it. Lumen Technologies, which operates in Arizona as CenturyLink, said in an emailed statement that it understands the frustration with illegal robocalls and is working to stop them. We have rolled out STIR/SHAKEN call authentication technology on the IP (internet protocol) portions of our network, which enhances the speed and effectiveness of the traceback initiative, the statement said. This makes it easier than ever before for authorities to identify and pursue illegal robocallers, while also helping consumers be confident that calling parties are who they say they are. The statement went on to say that the company shares our customers frustration with fraudulent and unwanted automated telephone solicitations and are committed to doing our part to stop these annoying and harmful calls. YouMail said that more than 4 billion robocalls were placed to U.S. phone lines in September, with 84.4 million of those in Arizona. Calls in the state have fallen since 2019, when they peaked at 1.1 billion for the year, a drop Quilici attributed to efforts by law enforcement to crack down on fraudulent calls. Not all robocalls are illegal, but the ones that are can be costly as well as frustrating. A legal robocall is one that a consumer opts into, such as a prescription is in, a childs school is closed, or an airline flight is delayed, Brown said. Illegal robocalls are designed to scam or commit fraud to a consumer. Robocallers will often utilize caller ID spoofing, which lets callers disguise their identity with a fake number. That includes what the FCC calls neighbor spoofing, which makes a scammers call appear to be coming from a local phone number that people are more likely to answer. YouMail found that 31% of Arizona robocalls in September were from scammers. In addition to being annoying, illegal robocalls cost Americans $3 billion annually in wasted time and another $10 billion annually in fraud, Brown said. Illegal robocalls can have a significant financial impact on consumers and their credit. In a June statement, the FCC said the new standards should help identify bad actors. Implementation of caller ID authentication technology using the STIR/SHAKEN standards will reduce the effectiveness of illegal spoofing, allow law enforcement to identify bad actors more easily, and help voice service providers identify calls with illegally spoofed caller ID information before those calls reach their subscribers, the statement said. But Quilici said the FCC rules are just one step. Really stopping robocalls will require a combination of efforts, he said, like consumers using apps to prevent robocalls, systems that track scam callers and authorities punishing scammers once they are caught. Regulation has never solved a technology driven problem, he said. The problem here is that its easy and cheap for just about anybody to make large numbers of robocalls. You need enforcement, you need technology, you need consumers changing their behavior, and you need regulation. None of those on their own are going to solve the problem, Quilici said. What youll see is over time all of those all together will put pressure to make it harder and harder for the bad guys to be successful. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Qualifying Beatrice residents will have an opportunity to save on their water and wastewater bills thanks to a new program approved by the Board of Public Works. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is being administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and will provide $5,988,000 in federal funds to qualifying Nebraska residents with no match required. During Wednesdays regular BPW meeting, the board voted to participate in the program. We dont put any money in there, and it is used to help pay for water bills and wastewater bills for families who qualify, said Tobias Tempelmeyer, BPW manager. It has to be residential and theres a lot of ways for people to qualify. Tempelmeyer said applications will have to be completed by residents, and some ways to qualify are to be a family of four with less than around $37,000 in income, receive other state assistance, be part of the low income home energy assistance program and to receive food stamps. It looks very much like some of the other programs the state has out there today, Tempelmeyer said. Well simply notify them if we have an individual who we believe qualifies for assistance. The funds can only be used for water and wastewater bills. The program will go into effect in early 2022 and last until Sept. 30, 2023 or until the funds are all used, whichever comes first. Tempelmeyer said the agreement approved Wednesday doesnt include specifics on how to apply, and more information will likely be available. The BPW can also back out of the agreement at any time with 30 days notice. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Moore was somewhat slow and was prone to making rash decisions, but given the right inpatient psychotherapy, was treatable, Miller said. But three of Coons sisters provided statements saying Moore had taken their brothers life and deserved the maximum sentence. Letters from two of them were read in court and the other, Lori Ann Ford, appeared via Zoom from the Montana Womens Prison, where shes serving time for repeated DUIs. I will never be able to tell my brother Larry goodbye, she said. Who gave you the right to take that opportunity away from me? Berger called the case tragic and noted the mental issues Moore has faced. But he said those were among mitigating considerations behind the plea deal that lessened the charge and possible prison time. He also told Moore she would be eligible for parole after serving a quarter of her sentence, plus she was getting 641 days of credit for jail time already served. The Parole Board was better suited to decide then if she was capable of going free, he said. But he said she deserved the maximum sentence given the nature of the crime and the need to protect society. 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. Congratulations to Montana Republicans! In the November 2020 elections you had the largest Republican victories in the history of Montana. Republicans won control of all 5 statewide offices for the first time, elected only the 3rd Republican U.S. Senator in our history, and the largest Republican majority in the Montana legislature ever. Montana Republicans rightly celebrated as they entered 2021, the year to start governing. But in the last 10 months they must have discovered some very nefarious deeds in their election as they now suggest it was fraudulent. How could that be? The people who run Montana elections are Republican by large majorities. The Secretary of State, who oversees all Montana state local elections, was and is Republican. Most of the county chief election officers are Republican. More Republicans volunteer as election monitors in Montana than Democrats. There surely couldnt have been an election fix or steal that Republicans have discovered, could there? 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. The Biden administration's decision to reopen land borders to nonessential travel next month is welcome but long overdue, say North Dakota officials who have been outspoken about the travel ban prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The border ban on recreational travel has been in place for more than 1 years. New rules announced Wednesday will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel into the country. Gov. Doug Burgum issued a statement saying, While this shift in policy unfortunately includes more needless delays, it is a positive and long overdue step toward ending the unnecessary restrictions that have caused real pain to our communities and citizens on both sides of the border as well as our retail and tourism businesses that rely on Canadian travelers. State Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman told the Tribune in a late-September statement that while leisure traveler numbers are rebounding, "Not having our border open to our Canadian visitors has impacted our (pandemic) recovery." "With more than 672,000 lost passenger trips from Canada to date, our recovery is lagging in the nation," she said. "U.S. Travel reports that on average, tourism-generated revenue is down 5% from 2019, and in North Dakota we are down 12%. The impact has been felt at destinations such as Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the tourist town of Medora in western North Dakota. While the Medora Musical had one of its best attendance years, Medora businessman Doug Ellison told the Tribune in August that "What we're really missing are the Canadians. We used to see a lot of Canadian traffic, mainly going to and from the Black Hills." Canada reopened its border to vaccinated U.S. citizens for nonessential travel on Aug. 9. The White House a week and a half later overhauled some of its international travel restrictions but left the Canada land border ban in place, extending the prohibition on recreational travel until Oct. 21. Burgum at the time called that decision "baffling." The governor also had spoken out earlier in the summer during a previous expansion of the border travel ban. He and the governors of Montana and Idaho and the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan also sent a letter in July to President Joe Biden and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for the lifting of restrictions. Burgum on Wednesday said that We will continue to press the Biden administration -- as we have done repeatedly these past several months with our fellow border states and provinces -- to lift these restrictions as soon as possible and resume normal travel with Canada, our closest friend, ally and trading partner. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., also has pressed the Biden administration to reopen the border, during a Senate committee hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and through a personal letter and a bipartisan letter with other senators. Todays announcement to ease restrictions on nonessential travel between the U.S. and Canada is long overdue," he said in a statement Wednesday. "Weve repeatedly made the case to the Biden administration to safely reopen the border, and this change in policy will be helpful in alleviating disruptions to border communities and our economy. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S., Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The U.S. has been moving to require all international visitors be vaccinated against the coronavirus. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the U.S., such as truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated, The Associated Press reported. The latest move follows last month's announcement that the U.S. will end country-based travel bans for air travel and instead require vaccination for foreign nationals seeking to enter by plane. Senior administration officials previewed the new land border policy late Tuesday, AP reported. Both policies will take effect in early November, the officials said. U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., also issued statements Wednesday. Armstrong called the border announcement "long overdue and welcome news for the thousands of North Dakotans and small businesses who rely on trade across our northern border." Cramer said it was "some positive movement," adding "A closed border hurts our economy and puts unnecessary restraints on our communities." "I urge President Biden to focus his attention more on fixing the crisis at our southern border and less on implementing harmful restrictions on North Dakotans, Cramer said, referencing a recent surge in migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 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. Two state agencies are investigating the abrupt closure of Bismarck photography studio Glasser Images last week, and the business owner is facing at least nine lawsuits. The popular photography studio announced last Thursday that it was immediately closing its doors and would not offer refunds for services already booked, citing the coronavirus pandemic. The news left hundreds of customers frustrated and many workers wondering if they would get paid. An attorney for Glasser Images said Wednesday that the company was working to get photos of weddings that had already taken place to clients, a process that could take weeks. Everything is being secured and kept safely on a number of hard drives, attorney Tim OKeeffe said. Its just a logistical challenge to try to get this stuff to the rightful owners. He declined to comment on the status of any potential refunds, which numerous customers still hope to see. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Attorney Generals Office has received more than 450 complaints from Glasser customers and photographers who worked as contractors for the company. The state Department of Labor and Human Rights has received claims from Glasser employees seeking unpaid wages. Theres a high level of frustration with the public, and I want them to understand how seriously we are taking this, said Parrell Grossman, director of the consumer protection and antitrust division within the attorney generals office. Investigations The attorney generals office has issued subpoenas to Glasser Images and owner Jack Glasser seeking numerous business-related documents, and it will likely schedule a hearing once it has reviewed the material, Grossman said. The state will try to determine if fraudulent conduct has occurred. In situations like this, investigators look at when the business knew or should have known it was in serious financial trouble and whether the company nevertheless continued to collect customers deposits, Grossman said. Glasser Images has deleted its website and social media pages over the past week, but it posted on Instagram soliciting clients just days before its closure. After a hearing, the state could choose to sue Glasser, according to Grossman. It can be a monthslong process or it can take less than that depending on how long it takes for the business to provide records, he said. A potential legal case could end in one of several ways, including a settlement or a judgment ordering Glasser to pay a set dollar amount. Money collected through a lawsuit would be distributed to Glasser clients, Grossman said. Its likely to be a small amount available unless something extraordinary turns up in terms of what financial assets this business could have, he said. There just isnt any scenario in which there is good news. The state could also ask the court to bar Glasser from doing business to prevent it from engaging in deceptive or misleading practices in the future. And it could become involved in bankruptcy proceedings should the company file for bankruptcy, which Glasser had not done as of Wednesday morning. The attorney generals office has received complaints from both customers and contractors, but it has clearer legal authority to pursue the matter for clients and is focused on that, Grossman said. The office also has been in touch with investigators in other states where Glasser operated and is willing to assist them, he said. Glasser also operated in South Dakota, Minnesota and Colorado. Glassers attorney said Wednesday that the company intends to fully cooperate with the attorney generals investigation. The labor department is working through claims from Glasser employees. When a worker files a claim, a department investigator seeks a response from the company and then makes a determination if wages are owed and in what amount, Investigator Kiersten Small said. If a company owes money but does not pay, the department may work with the attorney generals office to try to enforce the claim, she said. The nine lawsuits active against Glasser were filed in small claims court over the past week. A person can file a claim there for amounts $15,000 or less without hiring an attorney. Glassers plan It could be a matter of weeks before Glasser clients hear from the company or its attorneys about their specific situations, OKeeffe said. His law firm has received thousands of inquiries. Glasser is working with other photography companies to sort through and edit customers images, though OKeeffe declined to name the businesses so that they would not get bombarded while the logistics are sorted out. He did not elaborate on compensation for those companies. Were working with companies that are going to be able to deliver the quality that is expected from when (customers) first engaged Glasser, OKeeffe said. Customers can email contact@okeeffeattorneys.com or tim@okeeffeattorneys.com. Former employees can contact OKeeffe about retrieving their personal belongings from the Glasser studio in downtown Bismarck. The company indicated that contracts it had with photographers would not bar them from shooting weddings they were assigned, and contractors are free to release photos to clients, according to OKeeffes law firm. The attorney on Wednesday did not discuss the financial aspects of such arrangements. OKeeffe estimated Glasser worked with 150 contractors. The White Lace Bridal store in Bismarck has set up a GoFundMe account to help compensate photographers and videographers who have donated services or offered discounts to Glasser customers. Several Facebook groups have formed to help customers and photographers. Jack Glasser founded the photography company in 2005. Glasser Images operated in North Dakota and surrounding states shooting weddings, senior portraits and family portraits, and offering other photography services. Glasser has blamed the closure on the pandemic, which hurt a number of businesses that relied on weddings for revenue as couples decided to scale down or postpone the events. Glasser received two loans totaling $500,000 through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, a coronavirus relief effort meant to keep workers employed. It got to the point where Glasser had to make a really tough financial decision and had to close the door, OKeeffe said. There were a lot of factors. I cant point to one thing. Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 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 Supreme Courts authority, grounded since the dawn of the republic in its prestige and reputation, now faces the storms that have overwhelmed Congress and the presidency and diminished the institutional popularity of our political branches. A recent Gallup poll revealed that just 40% of the American people approve of the performance of the nations highest tribunal. The political polarization that has torn apart our grand republic represents a grave threat to the perception of the court as an apolitical body rendering detached, authoritative decisions that preserve and protect the rule of law and fulfill expectations of it as a mouthpiece for the Constitution. Several justices, just prior to the opening of the courts new term, have addressed public concerns. Justice Amy Comey Barrett, the newest member of the court, told a Kentucky audience last month that her job was to persuade the audience the justices are not a bunch of partisan hacks. Justices Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas, the greybeards of the court, declared that the differences among the justices are attributable to different judicial philosophies, not politics. Justice Samuel Alito, one of six Republican appointees serving on the High Bench, stated defensively that some critics portray the court as having been captured by a cabal that resorts to sneaky methods of considering cases before it, a characterization, he noted, that represents an unprecedented effort to intimidate and damage the court. These public statements in recent weeks dovetail the long-standing effort of Chief Justice John Roberts to protect the court against charges that its members promote their own political preferences. Clearly, the justices are embarked on a mission to protect the courts institutional integrity and its mission as an impersonal vessel through which the court speaks. This mission is not new, of course, for the justices, across two-and-one-half centuries, have viewed themselves as the primary defenders of the courts reputation. To many scholars, the duty of preserving the courts reputation, and thus its prestige, explains why, until recent decades, and with few exceptions, the justices have moved cautiously, taking incremental steps in its interpretation of the Constitution, rather than resorting to leaps and bounds in reshaping and overturning precedents. Historically, the court has been reluctant to lead the nation. Exceptions to this rule of behavior can be found, of course, as in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, in which the court overturned a 60-year-old precedent and held that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. And in Engel v. Vitale (1962), when the court held that school-led prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause separation of church and state. And, perhaps more famously, in Roe v. Wade (1973), in which the court upheld a womans right to abortion. The court's wariness in taking bold steps reflects unhappy historical moments. For example, its ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), that the Constitution did not include American citizenship for African Americans, backfired, and the courts reputation was badly damaged, rendering it vulnerable to political attacks by Congress, for roughly 25 years. For the court to lead the nation, and convince the citizenry that it is interpreting the Constitution in a manner free of political motives, it must be able to muster persuasive reasoning to defend its holdings and then rely on millions of supporters, and thousands of low-level governmental officials to embrace and enforce its rulings. The court, as Alexander Hamilton emphasized in Federalist No. 78, lacks the power to enforce its decisions. As a consequence, disregard of the courts rulings undercuts its reputation and thus its power. A felt need among the justices to protect and nurture its authority, contributes to a narrative of caution, rather than bold moves. This sense of restraint judicial self-restraint encourages the court to uphold precedent for the purpose of ensuring stability and continuity in the law. Frequent rulings that overturn precedents, especially those that protect the rights of the citizenry, have a jarring impact on the confidence of the public in the status of their constitutional liberties. It is for these reasons that the courts new term, filled with blockbuster cases, will be closely watched. Judicial observers will scrutinize the courts rulings in forthcoming cases that, among others, may eliminate a womans right to an abortion, expand gun rights beyond precedents, and perhaps chip away at the wall separating church and state. The current low public approval rating of the court threatens the courts role as chief interpreter of the Constitution and raises the concern that controversial rulings may not be perceived as legitimate by the American people which, again, would threaten the courts stature and thus its power. In these circumstances, the court could hardly lay claim to any moral authority, despite efforts to characterize it as the conscience of the nation. Guardians of the courts institutional integrity, the justices themselves bear the primary responsibility, through their written opinions, of reassuring the citizenry that they are above the political fray. David Adler is president of The Alturas Institute. This "We the People" series is provided by the North Dakota Newspaper Association and Humanities North Dakota. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A North Dakota National Guard unit based in Bismarck deployed on Friday for duty on the U.S.-Mexico border. The 957th Engineer Company with 125 soldiers will support U.S. Customs and Border Protection for up to a year. North Dakota is willing to do its part to secure the border. Unfortunately, the border issues should have been resolved years ago. The border has become a political issue left to presidents to deal with while Congress remains deadlocked on border policy. The Trump administration separated children from parents and scattered the children across the country. An unknown number of families remain separated. The exact number is unknown because of shoddy paperwork. The Biden administration was flooded at the border by refugees. Recently, it flew Haitians fleeing poverty and violence back to their country, where they face dire consequences. Many had fled their native land for South America before heading to the United States. Presidents trying to deal with the crisis have seen their policy decisions challenged in court and often overturned. This has resulted in the lack of a consistent border policy, periodic chaos and occasional inhumane treatment of those seeking asylum. This is a lousy situation for North Dakota Guard members and Guard troops from other states. Much of the blame, the Tribune editorial board believes, falls on Congress. It doesnt matter whether Republicans or Democrats controlled Congress or which party held the White House. There has been a failure to reach a compromise. There have been efforts to chip away at the problem. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the Dream Act, was an attempt to create a path for citizenship to workers in the country illegally who were brought here as children. The legislation has been the focus of controversy from the beginning. Unfortunately, members of Congress and some governors are more interested in scoring political points than doing the hard work of reaching an agreement on the border problem. This country needs an orderly system of accepting a reasonable number of immigrants at the southern border. It also needs to work with Latin America countries to curb the tide of refugees trying to reach the Mexico-U.S. border. Theres certainly a place for more Latin Americans in the U.S. Hispanic and Latino Americans are the second-largest ethnic group in the country. There are 52 million people in the group -- or 16.7% of the national population -- with 47 million who have citizenship. It means many seeking to enter the U.S. have relatives here. While the U.S. has a history of accepting immigrants from around the world, our policies havent always been fair. This is an opportunity to create a fair and humane policy for those seeking a better life. The Tribune has no doubt North Dakota Guard members will do an excellent job on the border under difficult circumstances. Its time for our political leaders to focus on compromise and skip the political theatrics. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bully, bully! We may need to go back to the trust-busting days of Teddy Roosevelt. When large companies such as Sanford, Walmart, Delta and CVS, just to name a few, start dictating employees health care choices by imposing vaccinations, that is the day we need to bust up organizations that are so large that they believe they can govern the morality, values and health care choices for their employees. We were warned by our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson once said, I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery. Benjamin Franklin stated, Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. I am concerned about what is happening to us as a society, when we allow businesses/corporations to dictate to their employees get vaccinated or lose your job. What happens if youre overweight or your looks and body image dont reflect the companys brand? Do they tell you to lose weight, get a facelift or grow taller? No, those lawsuits already happened, and they lost. When do my rights as an individual and citizen of the United States stop because I work for a certain employer? When businesses behave in this manner, thats the only time that I believe government should intervene. What possesses a CEO or Board of Directors to determine what they believe is proper for me/us? What arrogance what hypocrisy! No corporation would question ones race, sexual orientation or gender, but they dismiss ones choice or their objection to taking a vaccination whether they believe it works or not. Its their choice! We may have to ask ourselves when did I lose my rights as an individual or as a citizen? When did the Constitution and the Bill of Rights become irrelevant? This country has dealt with polio, tuberculosis, influenza, etc. and we never behaved like this. We never demanded that others are responsible for our health, wellbeing and safety. There are people walking the streets in this state and many other states with tuberculosis, a debilitating and degenerative disease. Try to force them to mask up or go through forced vaccinations. What happened to personal responsibility and choice, let alone freedom? This twisted and morbid behavior by businesses goes unchecked and unregulated as our liberties and freedom as Americans deteriorates. There is part two though! We now have a government that feels they can mandate vaccinations! This is the same government that states you have the right to choose your partner, your gender, and can choose to have an abortion. This is no longer about choice as much as it is about pushing an agenda. An administration that believes they can tell me whats morally, ethically and physically best for me is hypocrisy at its worst. Shame on this administration and Washington for allowing this behavior to go unchecked. Doug Goehring is agriculture commissioner for North Dakota. Love 7 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 11 Several incredible matters have been brought to light over the past several weeks. First, General Mark Milley under oath has testified at United State Senate hearings that President Biden was told by military advisors what would happen with his withdrawal plan from Afghanistan. The president says he doesnt recall that advice. We now have a situation where we need to ask whos lying. The president could not forget that advice unless he is mentally impaired. So, what is it? If mentally impaired resignation or invoking the 25th amendment is in order. If of sound mind the president must be impeached for dereliction of duty by jeopardizing national security, turning over $80 billion of military equipment to terrorists, and more importantly responsible for the loss of life of 13 of our service personnel and the abandonment of United States citizens and loyal Afghans. If General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's testimony under oath is correct, he should have put his stars on the table and told the Biden administration he will have no part of this ineptitude of the Biden withdrawal plan. Independent counsel investigation is also necessary to determine the content of General Milleys conversation with China, and the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as reported in the Bob Woodward book. General Milley no longer has credibility. He should resign. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security adviser Jake Sullivan should all resign and an independent counsel should be appointed to look at prosecution. If we are to survive as a free people, the parties involved in the disgraceful debacle of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal should have consequences. Rewarding incompetency of elected and appointed officials by keeping their jobs or making money on a book or becoming a political analyst on CNN, ABC, etc. as a reward for dereliction of duty and incompetence must stop. Wesley Belter, Fargo Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A recent editorial contributor continued to distort the truth to the delight of the few left wingers and socialists that reside in the state. Its becoming a parody that could only come from a very determined, yet convoluted mind. This writer frequently mentions our states representatives and denounces them for grievous crimes. On Oct. 2 he claimed that Kelly Armstrong, Kevin Cramer, and John Hoeven failed to support (Trumps) impeachment. Of course, he was no longer holding the office when they tried to impeach him. On Aug. 3 he stated that the three failed to support the IRS, instead they are supporting the billionaire tax cheats. The New York Times reports that an Australian man has gotten himself into a potential legal fire because of grammatically sloppy Facebook rant: In the post last year, Anthony Zadravic, the agent, appears to accuse Stuart Gan, his former employer at a real estate agency, of not paying retirement funds to all the agency's workers. At issue is the word "employees" in the post, which read: "Oh Stuart Gan!! Selling multi million $ homes in Pearl Beach but can't pay his employees superannuation," referring to Australia's retirement system, in which money is paid by employers into super accounts for employees. "Shame on you Stuart!!! 2 yrs and still waiting!!!" Naturally, Zadravic's former employer sued him for defamation, because: A judge in New South Wales ruled that the lack of an apostrophe on the word "employees" could be read to suggest a "systematic pattern of conduct" by Mr. Gan's agency rather than an accusation involving one employee. [] The judge, Judith Gibson, wrote in her statement: "The difficulty for the plaintiff is the use of the word 'employees' in the plural. To fail to pay one employee's superannuation entitlement might be seen as unfortunate; to fail to pay some or all of them looks deliberate." If Mr. Zadravic loses the case, it could cost him $180,000. And no, that comma is not a mistake. Missing Apostrophe in Facebook Post Lands a Man in Defamation Court [Livia Albeck-Ripka / New York Times] Image: Jeffrey Beall / Flickr (CC-BY-ND 2.0) Full disclosure: I also write for Wirecutter, which is part of the New York Times Company, which also owns The New York Times. Paddy Maloney, who over a span of decades has entertained hundreds of thousands with his wit, warmth and talent, has passed away at 83 years of age. One of the founding members of The Chieftains, Paddy, along with his band mates not only returned traditional Irish music to popularity in the Republic of Ireland, he championed it, internationally, for decades, bringing tunes once played around kitchen tables, in county halls and at sessions to the world stage. I first met Paddy in the fall of 1997. I'd fallen in with Martin Fay, The Chieftains' second fiddle at the time, after meeting him at a bar in Halifax Nova Scotia. The band was in town recording a few bits and pieces for Fire in the Kitchen. Every evening that week, I'd finish off playing at a bar down in the Historic Properties. He'd wander out to Maxwell's Plumb for a bit of dinner. We'd polish off the rest of the pub's open hours. Wash, rinse, repeat. On the last day of their time in town, Martin, along with the rest of the band at the time, came in to the pub. Unrecognized, they stood around, chatting and nursing pints. I was quietly introduced to each member, in turn. They were to be taking off to a new music festivalCeltic Colourson Cape Breton Island, the next day. Martin asked if I wanted to tag along to keep him company. I didn't have any gigs for the next five days. I most certainly didn't have the money. I said yes, nonetheless. There were to be a number of sessions at the festival. Even if nothing was planned, trad players usually find a way to sit, drink and enjoy tunes together. So, I brought my bodhran and bouzouki with me. I'd been in a bad head space and was on the cusp of making some life-altering decisions. I thought some time playing would do me well. The Chieftains were opening the festival with a concert at the largest venue in Sydney, Nova Scotia. I met up for Martin for a bit of a pre-show nosh. We walked to the venue together. He had me added to their list as one of the musicians on their roster. I assumed it was to get me back stage for some free pints and company. Just before the band went on, Paddy walked into the green room and welcomed me, by name. He told me that Martin said I'd be joining them on stage, that evening. I wanted to say, the hell that I was. All I could manage was a nod and a pressed-lipped smile. 20 minutes later, a stressed-looking talent wrangler came looking for me, told me to grab my shit and follow her. There'd been no soundcheck for me. No warning that this was happening. Mary Jane Lamond smiled recognition at me. Ashley MacIssac, who I'd played with in town a couple of times in Halifax, asked me if I knew Cotton Eyed Joe (no, not that one. This one.) I did. Two tunes later, I was a nobody local musician being welcomed on stage with two of the biggest names in Cape Breton music at the time, by the biggest name in Celtic music. It was absolutely fucking terrifying. And joyful. And over in under 20 minutes. After the show, the band returned to the greenroom to jaw wag and have a few social beverages. Paddy came up to me and apologized for the trouble I was having with my microphone. We talked about our families and the band's plans for the next few months. We shook hands and said our goodbyes. I joined Martin outside for a smoke. We exchanged home addresses and phone numbers to stay in touch. Over the years, I drove or flew out to see Martin, when time allowed, when the band was playing in North America. Each time I wandered back stage for a drink with him, Paddy remembered me by name. I was invited to play. Sometimes I took him up on the offer. More often, I did not. Martin died in 2012, leaving me absolutely gutted. He was a dear friend and father figure to me for over a decade. My association with Paddy should have ended there. It didn't. Over the next decade, I interviewed him for a number of publications I was freelancing for. On the event of our first phone call, he said he was glad to hear my voice and that I was doing well. We talked about 'poor dear Martin'. And how he'd tried to have him return to the band for one last recording, just before he passed. He was still proud of his children, one of which was working for NASA at the time (perhaps he still is.) For all of Paddy's fame and despite the hundreds of thousands of fans, acquaintances and reporters he must have interacted with throughout his career, it amazed me that he never forgot my name, or how dear Martin was to me. He was a fine man. An excellent musician and showman. I'll remember him, fondly. Image via Wikipedia Commons/Buckfarmer/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic On Sunday morning, residents of New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts were rocked by a massive boom that shook homes in the region and understandably freaked people the hell out. Early theories that it was a supersonic aircraft or earthquake were quickly proven wrong. So what was it? Most likely a meteor exploded above New Hampshire. From the New York Times: This time of year, [meteorologists] pointed out, is known for intense meteor showers: the Draconids that peaked two days earlier and the Orionids that continue until November. The fireballs that explode in a bright terminal flash, often with visible fragmentation, are known as bolides, according to the American Meteor Society. "Sure enough, there was a little blip there right around the time that folks started calling and reporting about the sound," Greg Cornwell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, the forecast office for New Hampshire, said in an interview on Tuesday. Mr. Cornwell said that the blip was detected by a geostationary weather satellite, known as GOES-16, that was used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He and his colleagues reviewed the satellite feed from Sunday morning. On it, a blue dot flashed over southern New Hampshire around 11:21 a.m. The magnificent Triadisches Ballet originally premiered in 1922 at the Stuttgart landestheater in Germany. This Avant-Garde ballet was developed by Oskar Schlemmer, a praised Bauhaus faculty member. Here is a stunning reconstruction of the original ballet by Margarete Hastings from 1970: Triadisches Ballett . Hastings worked with Bauhaus students Ludwig Grote and Xanti Schawansky to create the reconstruction, which is incredibly well done. I can't get over how other-wordly the awesome costumes in this ballet are. From the YouTube description: Oskar Schlemmer born September 4th, 1888 in Stuttgart, Germany. He was a painter, sculptor, designer and choreographer. He was also a professor at the BAUHAUS School. This video dance piece of the "Triadic Ballet" is reconstruction by Margarete Hastings in 1970. This was possible with of support of Ludwig Grote and Xanti Schawinsky (Schelemer students from Bauhaus School) and also with Tut Schlemmer, the widow of Schlemmer. Triadisches Ballett (Triadic Ballet) is a ballet developed by Oskar Schlemmer. It premiered in Stuttgart, on 30 September 1922, with music composed by Paul Hindemith, after formative performances dating back to 1916, with the performers Elsa Hotzel and Albert Berger. The ballet became the most widely performed avant-garde artistic dance and while Schlemmer was at the Bauhaus from 1921 to 1929, the ballet toured, helping to spread the ethos of the Bauhaus. Sheriffs in Ohio asked US Senate candidate, Josh Mandel, to leave a school board meeting on Monday after he took the mic to bash transgender students. He dug in his heels, arguing that he had every right to spew his toxic views even in a school board district that he does not live in. His purpose was to "defend the moms and dads" against the district's mask mandate, according to WCPO, saying the district was "using kids as pawns in a political game." "Here in the Lakota District and throughout the state of Ohio, children should not be forced to wear masks," he said. He then slid into transphobic mode. "On top of that, children should not be forced to learn about whether to pick a gender or not pick a gender. Boys are boys, girls are girls." Mandel, who is leading Ohio's packed GOP primary race, "was once denounced by his own family for rejecting his lesbian, veteran cousin," according to LGBTQ Nation: From LGBTQ Nation: Mandel is a Trump-style Republican full of bluster and far-right talking points littered with a fine dusting of racism and homophobia. In 2012, his own family wrote an op-ed denouncing him for rejecting his lesbian veteran cousin. He vocally and repeatedly denounced same-sex marriage and allowing LGBTQ people to serve in the military. The one thing LGBTQ Nation got wrong in their article was its title: "GOP candidate humiliated as police haul him out of school board meeting after trans kids rant." He wasn't humiliated his stunt went swimmingly well for his target audience. With his ignorance and bullying ways, he's a shoe-in for GOP political success. Here is part of the confrontation between Mandel, the school board members, and the sheriffs, which he proudly posted himself: Why are school boards afraid of parents standing up for kids? Thanks to this courageous mom for recording Lakota School Board's crack down on my free speech at a public meeting. This isn't over. pic.twitter.com/iXF61T7j47 Josh Mandel (@JoshMandelOhio) October 12, 2021 Blog Archive November (28) October (48) September (53) August (55) July (64) June (60) May (68) April (66) March (56) February (61) January (51) December (61) November (67) October (87) September (79) August (84) July (82) June (84) May (73) April (74) March (74) February (50) January (66) December (56) November (53) October (70) September (73) August (60) July (86) June (73) May (91) April (64) March (53) February (49) January (79) December (50) November (55) October (46) September (48) August (57) July (46) June (55) May (48) April (49) March (54) February (50) January (52) December (45) November (55) October (56) September (57) August (65) July (47) June (67) May (54) April (64) March (72) February (49) January (58) December (52) November (72) October (60) September (82) August (59) July (64) June (61) May (67) April (65) March (78) February (66) January (72) December (90) November (58) October (71) September (58) August (67) July (68) June (67) May (69) April (58) March (58) February (39) January (49) December (45) November (36) October (48) September (64) August (59) July (58) June (62) May (70) April (72) March (67) February (52) January (68) December (45) November (68) October (68) September (59) August (67) July (53) June (68) May (66) April (63) March (71) February (49) January (60) December (43) November (39) October (74) September (62) August (69) July (86) June (60) May (84) April (71) March (96) February (70) January (82) December (62) November (62) October (66) September (81) August (71) July (61) June (55) May (67) April (46) March (53) February (43) January (54) December (46) November (38) October (46) September (57) August (71) July (73) June (75) May (48) April (44) March (59) February (46) January (36) December (45) November (45) October (41) September (46) August (36) July (40) June (48) May (38) April (35) March (30) February (26) January (30) December (22) November (26) October (34) September (26) August (16) July (17) June (19) May (19) April (12) March (14) February (13) January (26) December (21) November (16) October (14) September (15) August (15) July (17) June (16) May (15) April (11) March (13) February (12) January (11) December (16) November (30) October (28) September (23) August (7) July (6) June (7) May (2) April (1) March (2) February (2) January (2) December (2) November (2) October (1) September (1) August (2) July (3) June (4) May (1) April (1) February (2) Tuesdays high temperature was 80 degrees. The low was 60. (The average high and low for October 12th are 61 and 45.) Thats the kind of day that has been almost commonplace in the last week, in what has been an extraordinarily lengthy and unseasonably warm pattern. Buffalo has had two 80 degree highs, one day with 81, and 6 days in the 70s. The mean temperature for October through the 11th is 67 degrees, 11.7 degrees above the average of 55.3 degrees. Statistically, this would have to be considered a huge warm anomaly. Were not quite done with unseasonable warmth yet, either. Daytime highs will remain in the 70s through Friday, with overnight lows in the upper 50s to low 60s, nowhere near normal. It is probably safe for me to state Tuesdays 80 was the last time well reach that mark this year, but even that is not quite a certainty. In his mayoral runs before, Mayor Byron Brown could always look to the Masten District as a stronghold. He captured 69% of the vote against two well-known rivals in the Democratic primary four years ago. But the mayor didn't run up the score in Masten in the June primary, winning 55% to 41%, a factor in his surprising primary loss to democratic socialist candidate India Walton. So three weeks from Election Day, as he runs as a write-in candidate, can Brown count on the Masten District to supply enough votes to overcome narrower margins elsewhere in the city? A stretch of Deerfield Avenue, in the district where he once served as Common Council member, offers a clue he might not have a lock on Masten voters like in years past. Seven lawn signs for Brown can be seen on the stretch between East Delavan and Pembroke avenues. There are six signs for Walton. Its good to have change, said Dashaun Baldwin, 33, who lives and works in Masten. She voted for Walton in the June primary, and she will again Nov. 2. She likes the idea of a woman in the citys top leadership position. To be able to get that type of input and points of view from a womans perspective would be a different type of change that our city has never experienced before," she said. Ricky McHerrin, a man in his 50s who lives and attends church in Masten, sees the matchup differently. I dont want nobody new to come in that wouldnt do what Byron has done, said McHerrin, as he worked at a hot dog stand on Fillmore Avenue. Brown has been mayor for a long time, but that isn't a negative, McHerrin said of the four-term incumbent. Its been good for the city, he said. Community leaders say Brown still has support in Masten for the Nov. 2 election. But Walton has picked up support here, too, and holding down his vote totals in Masten could be pivotal to her chances. The Masten District extends from Main Street to as far east as Bailey Avenue, and extends generally from East Amherst Street to as far south as Best Street, encompassing all or parts of the Hamlin Park, Delavan Grider, Fillmore-Leroy, Kensington Bailey, Genesee-Moselle and MLK Park neighborhoods. Browns margin of victory in the June primary in Masten was smaller than expected because many residents didn't realize the primary was happening, said Samuel L. Radford III, director of Community Action Organization Masten Resource Center on Fillmore Avenue. There were no cues for people, such as campaign mailings and lawn signs, he said. But Brown seems to have turned it around in Masten, he said. I think that we probably saw lower-than-average turnout, and just listening to people, they said they didnt hear from the mayor in the primary, and now you hear the exact opposite," Radford said. "People know that the mayors running. Younger voters seek change Masten Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo Sr., a Brown supporter, noted Walton's appeal among women. "She's speaking to a base of women in Masten that are between the ages of 18 and 35," he said. Sophia Jackson, who runs a beauty shop on Bailey Avenue near Northland Avenue, said some of her clients "like that a Black woman is running" and will vote for Walton because they want a change. Baldwin said she believes in Walton. She likes Brown, too. I appreciate everything he has done, but at the same time Im open to India, said Baldwin, who acknowledges Waltons lack of political experience worries some voters. A lot of people are always worried about experience, experience," she said. But we never get the opportunity to be the change that we want to be if we always keep just holding on and feeling like you have to have this crazy big track record," she said. "I think that its a lot of moments that people can teach, and they can grow, and they can learn in the same way that Byron got that experience to be where hes at. Time for a change, said Calvin Greene, 37. Fresh blood. Gotta bring somebody new in. At least thats my opinion. Older voters value experience Jackson said many of her customers are older women who are into the politics. A lot of them are not satisfied with Waltons experience, and they are going to vote for Brown, Jackson said. There are a lot older people saying theyre voting for Brown because she doesnt know enough about government, Jackson said. And they are concerned that if Walton wins, she will not be the one in charge. They think a lot of the downstate people who support her will be running things, Jackson said. McHerrin, the Brown supporter, cited Walton's inexperience. She doesnt know as much as Byron does, McHerrin said. Radford said Brown still has a lot of support in Masten. I would say there is a small group of people who think change is not a bad thing, but theres no question theres overwhelming support for the mayor, Radford said. Radford said folks who use the center which offers programs in business development, computer literacy, organizing block clubs and neighborhood watch groups and youth services believe the person in the mayors seat needs to have governmental experience. It should not be on-the-job training, Radford said. Mayor's overconfidence Bishop Michael Badger of the Bethesda World Harvest International Church, near Main and Utica streets, attributed Browns primary loss to overconfidence, in a nutshell. He believes more people will vote in the general election and that Brown will fare much better within the Black community in November and not just in the Masten District. But he isn't sure Brown will win. I dont know," he said. "I think there are a lot of disgruntled people in the African American community, and I think that the numbers show that. I think the mayor understands that, too. I dont think hes oblivious to the fact that there are a lot of people in the African American community that feel like Buffalo has moved forward and their community hasnt. "Im not sure you can blame that all on the mayor," he added. "But when youve been in there 16 years, you got to run on your record, Badger said. I just hope whoever the next mayor is that there will be an intentional focus on the East Side of Buffalo, understanding that it cant be a great city until all of its parts are elevated, he said. George Nicholas, pastor of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church on Masten Avenue, said not much has changed for certain neighborhoods. Nicholas cites continued violence, poor academic achievement of Black children and health disparities in the Masten District. The district includes six census tracts where the percentage of households below the poverty level ranges from 23% to 43%, with four of the census tracts above the city average of 27.5%, according to 2019 census estimates. "It doesnt surprise me that there would be some discontent and dissatisfaction with any leadership thats been there, Nicholas said. And its not just Bryon but by state, federal, city government, and people are tired, Nicholas said. Theyre tired of living in neighborhoods where there are a number of serious safety issues. Theyre tired of sending their children to schools and not getting the kind of education that they deserve, and they when they go outside of their communities, when they go across Main Street and they see whats happened at Hertel. They see whats happening on Elmwood. When they go downtown and they see the Medical Campus and they see Canalside and all these things, and then people are saying, What about us? Wingo, the Council member from Masten, said voters in his district will come out strong for Brown in November. We know that Masten is his stronghold," he said. "Were going to hold him down in Masten because we just cannot accept the threat of a socialist being mayor of the City of Buffalo. 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. Hochul to expand vaccine mandate to health workers in prisons, mental health facilities Unlike hospital and nursing home workers, employees in those facilities have been able to bypass the vaccination requirement with a weekly test. Hochul said the staff reduction comes as a result of different actions by employees who declined to get vaccinated, including people who resigned, retired or were furloughed. The state has also been asked to furnish information about how many vaccinated replacement workers there are, including those via placement agencies from out of state, but it has not furnished that information yet. Hochuls estimate came a day after the state lost in federal court Tuesday in a decision handed down by a judge in Utica declaring that the state must offer a religious exemption to health workers who decline to get vaccinated for moral reasons. About 10,000 hospital and nursing home workers have claimed such exemptions, the state said last week. Hochul on Wednesday called the decision by U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd disappointing," and that the process is already underway to appeal the order. Unlike other vaccination mandates, the Hochul administration did not offer health workers who would not get vaccinated an alternative route to be tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis. The states August order, which took effect last month for most health care workers, had one out for vaccine-opposed workers: a medical exemption. "We understand how valuable across-border travel travel from Canada and Mexico is to the economic activity in border communities and to our broader economy," that official said. "And we also know how meaningful the ability to travel is to maintaining the personal ties between people living on either side of the northern and southern U.S. borders, who are often effectively members of one community, and we are pleased to be able to move forward with these strict protocols to ensure cross-border travel can occur in a safe and sustainable manner." Both sides of the U.S.-Canada border closed to nonessential travel on March 21, 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. And every month ever since, the closure was extended often in a tweet or Federal Register notice that offered little explanation for the continued shutdown. And despite the long delay in reopening the U.S. side of the border, both Schumer and Higgins were ecstatic about the move. Kudos to President Biden for doing the right thing and increasing cross-border travel between Canada and the U.S., Schumer said. The high vaccination rates on each side of the border have opened the door of safe cross-border travel and will now safely increase the rebirth of the economic energy of Upstate New York. 'It feels like we're forgotten:' Extended U.S. land border closure produces anger, anguish The news that the U.S. land border will remain largely closed to Canadians came the way it often does, via Twitter rather than in a human voice but it prompted angry and anguished cries all across the border. An attorney representing the families of three people who died at the hands of a former Wisconsin police officer filed another federal lawsuit against him Wednesday, saying his department taught him to view Black people as dangerous. The lawsuit alleges that former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah violated Jay Anderson's constitutional rights when he fatally shot Anderson after discovering him sleeping in a park after hours in 2016. According to the lawsuit, Anderson followed all of Mensah's commands but Mensah still considered him a threat because he was Black. Mensah, who is Black, said Anderson was reaching for a gun, and a county prosecutor declined to bring charges in the case. The lawsuit alleges Wauwatosa and its police department have a history of racist officers dating back decades, pointing to police parties in the late 1980s and late 1990s where officers dressed in blackface and Ku Klux Klan literature was present but officers were never disciplined. The lawsuit also asserts that the city is 95% white but Black people made up 83% of arrests in 2018. "Mensah, having learned the lessons of a police department rife with racism and racial discrimination, immediately decided that a Black man sleeping in his car was suspicious and dangerous," attorney Kimberley Motley wrote in the lawsuit. "The WPD devalues people of color which is reflective in their over policing of Black people." The filing seeks unspecified damages from Mensah, the city, and former Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber. Online court records did not list attorneys for Mensah or Weber. Wauwatosa City Attorney Alan Kesner didn't immediately respond to a message Wednesday morning. Mensah joined the Wauwatosa Police Department in 2015. That year he fatally shot Antonio Gonzales, who identified as Latino and American Indian. Prosecutors said Gonzales refused to drop a sword. The following year he discovered Anderson sleeping in his car in a park around 3 a.m. He said he shot Anderson because Anderson reached for a gun on the passenger seat. Motley contends that Anderson never touched the gun. Last year, Mensah fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole as he fled from police following a disturbance in a mall. Cole was Black. Mensah said he shot him because he pointed a gun at him. That shooting sparked months of protests. Prosecutors chose not to file charges against Mensah in any of the shootings. Motley filed a federal lawsuit against Mensah on behalf of Gonzales' family in July. She's mulling filing one in Cole's death as well. Motley also used a John Doe proceeding, a little-known Wisconsin legal maneuver similar to a grand jury inquiry, to persuade Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro to order a special prosecutor to consider charging Mensah in the Anderson case. The judge is expected to make the appointment this month. Mensah resigned from the Wauwatosa Police Department in November 2020 and joined the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As expected given a judges ruling last week, the owner of a business near the site chosen for a city-owned temporary mens homeless shelter on Tuesday amended a lawsuit intended to block the sale of the building, this time adding the city of Madison as a defendant. On Friday, Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn denied a motion for a temporary order that would have barred the sale of the former Gander Mountain sporting goods and Savers store at 2002 Zeier Road to the city for $2.6 million. The lawsuit, brought by Moving to the Music dance studio at 2001 Zeier Road, at that point had named the buildings current owner, BIP Enterprises, as the sole defendant. Bailey-Rihn said BIP is not the party that would be in violation of restrictive covenants that have existed in the business area east of East Towne since the late 1980s that would effectively bar the opening of a homeless shelter. She said if the city were a defendant in the lawsuit, thats a different story. There was no immediate comment from the office of Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. The lawsuit alleges that BIP and the city failed to seek approval for the plan to open the shelter from a three-person Design Committee specified in a 1987 document created when the land was sold for development by Raymond and Loraine Zeier. And if it had, the lawsuit states, its unlikely a homeless shelter would have been approved, because the covenants bar uses in the area that are not retail or commercial enterprises. The Design Committee is currently made up of Loraine Zeier and her son, Dennis. A city representative on the committee is typically filled by the citys Urban Design Commission secretary, but that position is currently vacant so interim UDC secretary Kevin Firchow is stepping into the committee role. The lawsuit states those who are attempting or threatening to violate the covenants face the possibility of legal action by the owner of any other property in the area governed by the covenants. Moving to the Musics attorney, Eric McLeod, said during Fridays hearing that BIP is threatening to violate the covenants by selling the property to the city for a planned homeless shelter, but Bailey-Rihn ruled the city is planning to open the shelter, not BIP. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A proposed pedestrian bridge announced in Sauk City Wednesday could one day connect bike trails on either side of the Wisconsin River with a new route, allowing users to pedal from the Madison area to Devils Lake State Park and beyond on dedicated non-motorized trails. Although still only in the planning phase, the $4 million pledged by officials from Dane and Sauk counties should help leverage the federal money needed to make the proposed recreational, scenic gateway a reality. County Executive Joe Parisi, who has included $2 million for Dane Countys portion of the cost in his 2022 budget, said trails benefit the environment, public health and local economies. The money will pay for design and engineering of a bridge to replace a century-old rail bridge that was mostly demolished after a pier failed during flooding in 2018. Parisi said he hopes those plans will help attract federal funding for construction of the bridge, which is expected to cost about $8 million. The bridge would connect to the Great Sauk State Trail, a 13-mile recreational trail between Sauk City and the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area, to two new trail segments under development on the Dane County side of the river: a 7-mile path along the river to Mazomanie known as the Walking Iron Trail and a connector to the popular Highway 12 trail. A proposed extension to the north would connect to the 400 Trail, which leads to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, the nations first rails-to-trails project. Someday youll be able to hop on a bike in Middleton and ride all the way to the Mississippi River, said Marty Krueger, chair of the Great Sauk Trail Commission. A study done earlier this year by UW-Extension researchers found the proposed Gateway to the Driftless Trail System could attract hundreds of thousands of cyclists and snowmobilers from across the region, generating more than $6 million a year in direct economic impact. Krueger said it will also help rural communities along the route attract and retain skilled workers. This addresses quality of life, Krueger said. I think this pandemic has taught us a number of lessons, and one of them is that quality of life matters to people. Parisi said it was important for Dane County to partner with a neighboring county. Were literally and figuratively building bridges, Parisi said. By connecting the two trails, the project promises to open new opportunities for cyclists using those trails now, much as the Lower Yahara River Trail connected McDaniel Park in McFarland to Lake Farm Park and the Capital City Trail in Madison in 2017. That project, which also cost about $8 million and was built with local and federal dollars, includes Wisconsins longest bicycle bridge, a 1-mile segment made up of floating boardwalks with views of Upper Mud Lake, Lake Waubesa and surrounding wetlands. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Republican lawmakers have drafted legislation that would allow Wisconsin residents and businesses to lease solar panels, something advocates say is critical to expanding access to renewable energy. The bill authored by Sen. Rob Cowles, of Green Bay, and Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, of Appleton, is intended to address ambiguity in state statutes over who is considered a public utility, which has allowed utilities to refuse to connect leased systems to the grid. Distributed solar is an economic driver, creating thousands of family-supporting jobs, and making Wisconsin businesses more competitive, the lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking co-sponsors. This de facto ban continues to hurt job creators looking to expand their businesses, employ Wisconsinites, and offer competitive options to interested households, hospitals, schools, and local businesses. The bill, which also applies to wind, hydroelectric, excess industrial heat and other renewable energy sources, comes as the Public Service Commission has repeatedly declined requests to clarify whether a company that leases solar panels is considered a utility and therefore subject to regulation. The PSC has spoken clearly that they want the Legislature to clarify, said Jason Mugnaini, an aide to Cowles who says it shouldnt matter how customers finance the cost of solar panels. Nobody asks you how you finance your new furnace, Mugnaini said. The issue has spurred at least two lawsuits: One from an Iowa company that was blocked from installing solar panels for the city of Milwaukee, and another from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which claims the PSC overstepped its authority by preventing non-utility companies from providing services such as financing. Utilities have opposed such leasing arrangements, sometimes called third-party financing, on the grounds that state law allows only regulated utilities to sell electricity. A spokesman for the Wisconsin Utilities Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has lobbied against the proposal. Heather Allen, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, said the bill would expand access to renewable energy, particularly for government and nonprofit organizations that cant benefit from federal tax credits. Without clarity, Wisconsinites lack access to all of the financing options they need to meet their clean energy goals, create jobs, and manage energy bills while improving the resiliency of the electric grid, Allen said. Wisconsin must affirm the legality of third-party financing to facilitate the shift to clean energy for everyone. Scott Coenen, executive director of the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum, said the bill would bring Wisconsin in line with the rest of the nation to allow consumers the freedom to pay for solar panels however they see fit. Right now, outdated and muddled laws make Wisconsin the only state explicitly preventing consumers from leasing solar panels, Coenen said. This artificial barrier disenfranchises consumers, businesses, local governments and communities across the state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) One of the sectors that have proven to be resilient during the pandemic is the real estate and property development industry. But it could do more with the help of digital marketing, especially at a time when handing out brochures and inviting people to showrooms in person have become challenging. Its a good thing the Villar Group of Companies is helming the much-anticipated virtual recruitment and marketing summit, The ViCon: Business Opportunities Summit (BOSS) on Oct. 15. The second installment of The Vicon will assemble existing sellers, referral partners, and brokers to join Villar Groups pool of business partners in an online property expo to share insights about the digitization of the real estate industry. The ViCon: BOSS aims to guide and hone a new generation of successful real estate sellers in targeted marketing geared particularly for digital and social media platforms and help them become their own boss. Villar Group Chairman Manny Villar said The ViCon: BOSS will offer everyone hope and opportunity to succeed in life. Everyone deserves to be successful. Being an entrepreneur is one way of achieving such. Ive always been an entrepreneur. I am my own boss with sipag at tiyaga. I have achieved success especially in real estate. In this time of the pandemic, our group wanted to give hope and provide everyone with the opportunity to earn big in real estate, even at home. I say to you: Be the boss, secure your opportunity. This is your time, join The ViCon 2: Business Opportunities Summit, said Villar. The ViCon: BOSS will feature the wide portfolio of property giants Vista Land and Golden MV, which include trusted brands such as Brittany, Crown Asia, Vista Residences, Camella, Lessandra, Lumina, Bria, Golden Haven, and Vista Mall. The panelists who will grace the summit include seasoned marketer Carlo Ople, who will discuss effective digital audience engagement; e-commerce advocate Janette Ching Toral, who will expound on how one can maximize the digital platform for real estate; and vlogger Chris Suarez, who will share his journey as a realtor. To join, register for free at https://thevicon.ph/registration and join the conversation online using the hashtags #VillarCreations #TheViCon #VillarGroup, and #BiggestVirtualRecruitmentSummit Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Three people died following a landslide in Baguio City while 29,063 farmers and fisherfolk in Luzon and the Visayas suffered agriculture losses worth over 600 million amid the onslaught of tropical cyclone Maring, authorities said Wednesday. Rescue personnel retrieved the bodies of two missing children aged 12 and four on Wednesday morning, the Baguio City Public Information Office said. The body of a 49-year-old male was found early Tuesday, the local government reported. For its part, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a 33-year-old woman from Badoc, Ilocos Norte was confirmed missing. The agency is still validating 13 possible deaths, three injuries, and eight missing persons. Crops, houses damaged; thousands affected Meanwhile, losses as of Wednesday stood at 608.5 million, the Department of Agriculture's disaster management unit said. Affected were 29,063 farmers and fisherfolk from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. At least 109 houses in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Caraga, and CAR were damaged due to the weather disturbance, the NDRRMC said. Maring affected 6,111 families or 21,511 individuals from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Caraga and CAR, NDRRMC added. The NDRRMC also reported that 53 areas in affected regions were flooded, but the flood in 40 localities already subsided. It also noted 14 landslide incidents. As of 4 a.m., Maring was last located 765 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, outside the Philippine area of responsibility, the state weather bureau said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration warned areas in northern Luzon of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides in the next 24 hours due to high saturation of soil caused by large amounts of rainfall brought by the storm. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion called on the government to consider downgrading Metro Manila to Alert Level 2 to help businesses recover in the last quarter of the year. "The last quarter is just three months, its not a long period. But this is the quarter that people may either live or die in terms of their businesses," Concepcion told CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday. "We have to allow people to open up because this is the last stop. If we can't jump in this train, we will not be able to cross over 2022 and many people will be affected," he added. Under the government's alert level scheme, Alert Level 2 would allow businesses to operate at a maximum 50% capacity, with an additional 10% if they have Safety Seal certifications. OCTA Research Fellow Guido David also recommended the easing of restrictions, citing a significant decrease in cases in Metro Manila over the past week. READ: OCTA elated at 'very fast' decrease in COVID cases in NCR Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 4, allowing a 30% capacity for outdoor operations and 10% for indoor activities in select establishments to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. The next alert level system will be announced before Oct. 16. RELATED: EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the COVID-19 alert level system in NCR Concepcion said it's about time cinemas and spas are allowed to open, especially with the holidays coming up. "We have to bring back confidence, we have to have the sense of Christmas spirit," he added. He also called on the Duterte administration to consider mandatory vaccination, as the country's vaccine supply continues to increase. "Maybe this is the time that President Duterte should really mandate vaccination for all. And that's being done in America, especially for government employees, those in critical areas," he said. "Different governments are mandating now the vaccination." The country has received more than 87 million doses from different vaccine manufacturers, with increasing supply from Western brands Pfizer and Moderna to pave the way for the inoculation of children and the general public. Only over 23 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far. Vaccination in the Philippines is currently not mandatory, but Filipinos are highly urged to register with their local government units to get their COVID-19 shots. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Senators on Wednesday expressed dismay over the slow progress of the Panay-Guimaras Bridge as they urged Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua to look into the project's progress. "To be honest with you, I am totally disappointed at the attention given to this project as evidenced by the timetable...nakakalungkot po eh matatapos ito [it will end on] 2030, nine years from now," Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said during budget deliberations for the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Chua told members of the Senate Finance Committee that the project's engineering design will begin in October next year while its construction is expected to start in 2025. The NEDA chief noted a "shift" in the project's funding from China to Korea, with the government's feasibility study revealing a cost reduction from almost 190 billion to 187 billion. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently in talks with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) on the project's loan financing. Drilon also lamented how his fellow Western Visayans expected the project as it will improve lives and livelihood in the area, adding he has been consistently following up its progress. Agreeing with Drilon, Senate Finance Committee chairman Sonny Angara urged Chua to review the processes involved in the project. "As an economist you must be concerned about opportunity cost, you must be concerned about efficiency. You know this is the display of the total opposite," Angara told the Cabinet official. Chua vowed to meet "as soon as possible" with the DPWH and the Department of Finance to review the project's timeline and get back to the panel immediately. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 14) The government has failed to balance its COVID-19 response with the need to solve economic problems caused by the health crisis, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). During the Senate hearing on NEDAs budget on Wednesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said authorities focused more on addressing the spread of COVID-19 that led to other consequences like higher unemployment and diminishing income. I have always been a proponent of better balancing the two important facets of our lives today: COVID and non-COVID. I think in the past, we have been too focused narrowly on COVID, Chua told senators. Now, economic managers are seeing light after pushing hard to reopen the economy and to do away with the region-wide implementation of community restrictions, he noted. We are moving away from ECQ (enhanced community quarantine). We have a new system, alert one to four, focusing only the quarantines or lockdowns on a more granular scale, he said. A lot of our restrictions, I understand, have been lifted only focusing on three Cs, he added, referring to closed areas, crowded areas, and spaces that allow close contact. The NEDA chief also noted that limited in-person classes will start next month after over a year of distance learning. Despite slashed economic growth forecasts for the Philippines, Chua said he is still optimistic. READ: IMF cuts anew 2021 growth projection for Philippine economy He pointed out that the reimplementation of ECQ this year was different from last year as seen by greater mobility for workers. Google Mobility data shows that even at the same level of ECQ classification, our workers are just down 20%. Last year around the time of August, September, it was down by 50%, Chua said. Given this, the economy would not see the same fate as we saw last year, he added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Karl Chua wants more groups added under his office in line with efforts to reorganize the agency. Chua told senators on Wednesday these proposed new additions are the Strategy and Results Group, the Monitoring and Evaluation Group, and the Legislative, Legal and Institutions Group. Chua said the Strategy and Results Group will serve as the agency's "futures thinking" arm while the establishment of the Monitoring and Evaluation Group entails the separation of these functions currently spread out in the agency "to be more objective." Meanwhile, the Legislative, Legal and Institutions Group will handle comments on proposed bills in Congress and reviews of "big" contracts from the likes of infrastructure projects and joint ventures. Each headed by an undersecretary and supported by an assistant secretary, these will bring the total groups under the socioeconomic planning secretary's office to seven. The proposal also includes the establishment of innovation and strategic foresight staff under Strategy and Results, along with evaluation staff under Monitoring and Evaluation. NEDA's legislative liaison will likewise be elevated to full staff under the Legislative, Legal and Institutions Group. Infrastructure staff under the preexisting investment programming will be split into connectivity infrastructure, and social infrastructure staff. "All of these, we will propose as amendments to the NEDA bill. It is not necessarily that we will ask for a big budget. We will try our best to do efficiency and internal reorganization so that we try to live within our means," Chua said. Senators Win Gatchalian and Imee Marcos who chairs the Senate Economic Affairs Committee filed bills in the chamber aiming to institutionalize NEDA and define its functions and composition, among others. Stronger regional offices The NEDA chief also proposed measures to strengthen the agency's regional offices in line with the government's devolution efforts. These include the assignment of an Attorney IV position and the establishment of a regional development council unit under the office of the regional director. "Presently, our support as secretariat to the regional development council is on an ad hoc basis. We propose to make it more permanent by creating the RDC unit," Chua said. Chua said the agency also proposed the creation of some positions for procurement and information and communications and technology "as we move into the digital economy and devolve more functions." NEDA's proposed budget for 2022 is at 14.12 billion, just 0.2% higher than this year's - with the Philippine Statistics Authority again getting the biggest slice of the pie. The Senate Finance Committee has endorsed the agency's budget proposal to the plenary. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2021 Victoria Vincent confirmed that she was offered to represent New Zealand in the Miss Universe pageant this year, but she declined the offer. The 26-year-old Filipino-Kiwi beauty revealed that she received the offer shortly after the Miss Universe Philippines coronation night last Sept. 30. After a week of contemplation, countless discussions with my family, friends, and team, I eventually came to the decision to politely decline the offer, Vincent said in an Instagram post. My heart is, and always will be here to serve the Philippines. Some may say Im not Filipina enough, and thats ok. I know who I am. I know what I stand for. I am a Filipina, she added. Vincent also thanked the Miss Universe New Zealand organization for considering her for the opportunity of a lifetime. So many people will say Im crazy for turning down this opportunity, but I had to choose what I know in my heart was the right thing to do, she said. Vincent represented the province of Cavite in the second edition of the national pageant. Meanwhile, Beatrice Luigi Gomez of Cebu City will represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel in December. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) One person was killed while another was hurt in a fire that hit Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila Wednesday evening, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said. The fire hit a residential area and reached first alarm at 6:44 p.m., then second alarm 15 minutes later, according to the BFP. The bureau declared the blaze under control by 8:10 p.m., and fire out at 9:31 p.m. The fire started in the ground floor of a two-storey building. The cause is still unknown. This story will be updated. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday warned he will again push for a deployment ban on Saudi Arabia if it refuses to settle the billions' worth of unpaid wages and benefits of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In a briefing, Bello said the Middle Eastern country still hasn't paid the claims of thousands of OFWs who were repatriated in 2016 after their employers did not pay them some, for as long as two years. According to the Labor chief, the total claims amount to 4.6 billion. "Kapag hindi tayo pinagbigyan [If they still refuse to pay], I will again recommend a deployment ban," he warned. Bello added he will bring up the issue in an upcoming meeting with his Saudi counterpart and other labor ministers from around the world. "I will not give them any more grace period," he added. "The settlement should be now and not later. Mahigit apat na taon na 'yan eh. Hirap na hirap na 'yung ating mga kababayan [It's been over four years. Our fellow Filipinos have been struggling because of it]." In late September, the Department of Labor and Employment also threatened to halt the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia following complaints of maltreatment by OFWs against their employer a retired Saudi Arabian military general. At that time, two of the over a dozen complainants were still in the hands of the allegedly abusive employer. Last week, DOLE Information and Public Service director Rolly Francia said the suspension will no longer push through as the two remaining employees were already in the custody of Philippine authorities and were set to go home. (CNN) The world's largest wine factory from the Byzantine period has been uncovered by archaeologists in the Israeli town of Yavne, after a two-year excavation process. The 1,500-year-old complex was used to produce wine in huge commercial quantities, with the directors of the excavation calculating that around two million liters were marketed every year. The site boasts five wine presses, four large warehouses where wine was aged and marketed and kilns for firing the clay amphorae -- or jars -- where the wine was stored. The Byzantine Empire existed roughly between 330 AD and 1453, becoming one of the leading civilizations in the world. "What's really exciting is the scale. It's the sheer scale of the production over here," archaeologist and excavation co-director Jon Seligman told CNN Tuesday. He added that the "complexity of the architecture and of the industrial process" had come as a surprise. He said the excavation, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority, was one of -- if not the -- largest in the country, with around 300 staff members working five days a week. The directors of the excavation said the site was most likely the main production area for "Gaza and Ashkelon wine," a famous brand of the ancient world. From Gaza and Ashkelon, the wine would be distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin as a commercial product, they said. Seligman added that various ancient sources said it was a "light white wine." "It was a prestige product, which was liked by many [members] of the aristocracy during the period," Seligman said. "For example, we know that it was preserved during the coronation of Justin II in 566 at his table during the coronation feast... And that gives an idea of the importance of this, both gastronomically but also economically to the area." Some amphorae, known as "Gaza jars," were discovered intact alongside hundreds of thousands of fragments at the site. Rare Persian wine presses -- older than the complex itself at around 2,300 years old -- were also found at the estate. As the entire wine production process was done manually, grapes were crushed barefoot to extract their liquid on a treading floor, which stood next to compartments where the wine was fermented and octagonal vats where it was then collected. The excavation was completed as part of an Israel Land Authority initiative to develop the town of Yavne, and directed by Elie Haddad, and Liat Nadav-Ziv alongside Seligman. The public has been invited to tour the site before it is closed off during the rainy season. The authorities eventually plan to preserve the complex and open it to the public as part of an archaeological park. This story was first published on CNN.com 'World's largest Byzantine wine factory uncovered in Israel' Editor's note: Michael D'Antonio is the author of the book "Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success" and co-author, with Peter Eisner, of the book "High Crimes: The Corruption, Impunity, and Impeachment of Donald Trump." The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) She has his last name, for goodness sake. She sat in his chair at his first G-20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany. No doubt the picture pleased him, his daughter smack between British Prime Minister Theresa May and China's President Xi Jinping. In fact, she has warmed lots of important chairs without incident. With this resume, why wouldn't former President Donald Trump think Ivanka would make a terrific president of the World Bank? As The Atlantic reported in 2019, Trump considered putting his daughter in charge of the world's main source of financial assistance for developing countries -- he may even have been quite keen. With nearly $100 billion in loan commitments this year alone, the World Bank is a global leader in the struggle against poverty. Apparently, the former president believed this was a good mission for his eldest child. He was stopped from appointing her by the intervention of Steve Mnuchin, who was then Secretary of the Treasury, according to The Intercept. In 2019, Ivanka Trump was a 37-year-old with a bachelor's degree who, but for a brief stint with a rival real estate company, never worked for anyone other than her dad or herself. This record included, of course, her loosely defined work as a White House aide -- the role which led her to become her father's seat-warmer at the meeting of the world's 20 biggest economic powers. Earlier that year, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim surprised official Washington by announcing his resignation. A former president of Dartmouth College, Kim is a Harvard-trained anthropologist and physician who founded a global healthcare nonprofit. He had been at the bank since 2012. Only James Wolfensohn, Eugene R. Black, and Robert McNamara, a giant historical figure who had been the US Secretary of Defense for President Kennedy and Johnson, served longer in office. As was reported at the time of Kim's resignation, then-President Trump immediately considered his daughter for the appointment. Heidi Cruz, wife of Senator Ted Cruz, was also in the running. She had actual credentials, including relevant experience at the National Security Council and the Department of the Treasury. If he had chosen Cruz or his daughter, Trump would have been responsible for naming the first woman to the World Bank presidency. Trump said in 2019 his daughter would be a good fit at the bank "because she's very good with numbers." Ivanka Trump said she passed on the post because she was "happy with the work" she was doing. Her main job at the time seemed to be promoting women entrepreneurs. Her signature project, a women's empowerment program, was so poorly run the Government Accountability Office couldn't even assess its performance. Another president might scratch a candidate from an appointment list if she had run a program that defied assessment. However, her smoke-and-mirrors performance was par for the course in the Trump family. For decades, outsiders attempting to gauge the condition of Trump's business enterprises faced an impossible task. The benefit for Trump was this allowed him to say pretty much anything he wanted about his business acumen and his wealth -- even as his companies endured one bankruptcy after another. Most recently, Trump was bumped off the Forbes list of the richest 400 Americans. Forbes estimates his wealth at $2.5 billion. Number one on the list is Jeff Bezos with $201 billion, whom the former president has repeatedly attacked. As president, Trump could compensate for his ego-bruising decline in wealth by wielding his presidential power. He did so as he gave pardons and commutations to friends such as Steve Bannon and Paul Manafort, both of whom worked in his 2016 campaign, and installed so many sycophants in high office, Washington Monthly declared he had "assembled the worst cabinet in history." Given his record, the people around Trump had to respond to his Ivanka-for-the-World-Bank musings with real seriousness. "It came incredibly close to happening," one source told The Intercept. Mnuchin, aware the whole world was watching, reportedly talked Trump out of his impulse -- although Ivanka did still assist Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on selecting David Malpass, another controversial figure, for the World Bank presidency. Mnuchin is also credited with persuading Trump to make a conventional choice as he named the head of the Federal Reserve and coaxing him to sign the pandemic relief bill called the CARES Act, which helped America fight the Covid-19 and endure its economic impact. That Mnuchin had to put so much effort into coaxing Trump to do the right things and blocking his instinct to do terrible things aligns with all we know about the 45th president. From the beginning of his term to the end, chaos emanated from the White House. Though many hoped he might "pivot" toward normalcy, he never did stop making a mockery of his office. With his sights set now on a return to office in 2024, it's no surprise we're getting new details on just how bad things were the first time around. As they tell us how bad it really was, insiders are doing their best to warn against going back there. This story was first published on CNN.com 'Ivanka Trump almost landed one of the world's biggest jobs' (CNN) Most evacuation flights scheduled to depart Afghanistan this week have been canceled, according to a State Department email sent to US citizens in the country on Monday that was reviewed by CNN. The email did not say why the flights had been canceled and told the recipients to "be ready to travel on short notice," given how quickly the situation has been evolving. "We will continue our efforts to facilitate the safe and orderly travel of US citizens, LPRs, and Afghans to whom we have special commitments and wish to leave Afghanistan. Because there is an ongoing terrorist threat to operations of this nature, we will not be sharing details of these efforts before people are safely out of the country," a State Department spokesperson said, adding that they will continue to engage diplomatically with the Taliban to resolve any issues. Thousands of people -- including at least 129 US citizens and 115 US green card holders --- have departed Afghanistan with US assistance since the NATO withdrawal was completed at the end of August, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday. The department has formed a team to coordinate across government agencies and with outside groups to facilitate the departure of American citizens, legal permanent residents of the US and Afghans. But there are still Americans and many Afghans in the country who are finding it incredibly hard to leave, and the email underlines just how challenging the situation is. According to the State Department, about 100 US citizens remain in Afghanistan who wish to depart. Price said one flight left the country on Monday but provided no details about who was on board or why that flight left and others are not. One American citizen, Prince Wafa, told CNN he is still in Afghanistan after more than a month of trying to get out of the country. He was hoping to be on a flight this week, but it was canceled. Wafa, who became a US citizen in 2019, lives in San Diego, where he owns a 7-Eleven, having previously worked as an interpreter with the US military in Afghanistan. He traveled to Afghanistan over the summer when he was trying to figure out how to get his wife to the US. She applied for a visa in 2020 but had not yet received approval. "I came here to get her out and we both got stuck," Wafa said. The 30-year-old American says he has been told by US officials that his wife can fly out of the country with him but they have not been able to get onto any of the departing flights. Earlier this month he went to the airport with his wife for a flight, but it was canceled when they got there. He worried about their safety when he left the airport to return to their rented apartment in Kabul, fearing that the Taliban would see him leaving and target him. Some of his recent conversations with US officials have been deflating, he said. "In the last week or so my contact with US State Department was absolutely useless. It seemed like they were googling information," Wafa said. "After my flight was canceled, I said who should I call for help? Should I call the Taliban for help? The lady told me call whomever you think will help you." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Most evacuation flights from Afghanistan this week have been canceled." (CNN) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he decided not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, in an on-air interview with Jovem Pan radio on Tuesday night. Previously, Bolsonaro -- who has been eligible to get vaccinated since April -- has said he would take the vaccine after the last Brazilian was immunized. "I decided not to take the vaccine anymore. I'm seeing new studies, my immunity levels are through the roof. I am going to get the vaccine for what? It would be the same thing as playing $10 in the lottery to win $2. That's out of place," he said Tuesday. Bolsonaro argued that Brazilians have the right to not get vaccinated, saying: "For me, (it is) freedom above all. If a citizen does not want to get the vaccine, it is his right and that's it." Bolsonaro's remarks come as the Brazilian population is showing major support for the vaccine. According to Johns Hopkins University, Brazil has fully vaccinated about 47% of its population and according to Our World In Data, 72% of the population got at least one dose. On Wednesday, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director Carissa Etienne said: "In Brazil we have seen the impact of weekend-long vaccine drives, and vaccine champions to encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated. These and other tailored strategies will be key to reaching those that we have not yet reached." Bolsonaro has been fiercely criticized at home for his handling of Covid-19 and long-standing reluctance to impose public health precautions. In September, the Brazilian president publicly flouted a UN requirement that required foreign delegations to be vaccinated before entering its headquarters in New York. Multiple members of his delegation later tested positive for the virus. Since the pandemic began, Brazil has been hard-hit with over 600,000 deaths -- second only to the United States. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Brazil's Bolsonaro says he will not be vaccinated against Covid-19." Members of Butler County's Always Busy Clovers 4-H Club gathered at the Hruska Memorial Library in David City on Wednesday, Oct. 6, to donate a telescope to the library. "We got the funds to do it from the Governor's Ag Excellence Award," Always Busy Clovers Co-leader Christina Podolak said. "It was a $500 award. Ben and Lisa were the ones that did the legwork. Lisa had the idea and Ben wrote up our application for it." Ben Lyons is a member of the Always Busy Clovers -- a community 4-H club with over 45 members as of the last headcount -- and his mom, Lisa Lyons, is one of the club's co-leaders. Lisa said she saw a telescope checkout program on the Facebook page for a library group around the same time the 2021 Governor's Ag Excellence Award application deadline was extended from March 1 to April 1. "I just said, 'This would be great!' and the club approved the idea," Lisa said. Ben began working on the award application near the beginning of the year. The Always Busy Clovers were one of 28 Nebraska 4-H clubs to receive a 2021 Governor's Ag Excellence Award. According to a page about the award winners on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) 4-H website, the awards are sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority. "The purpose of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation's Governor's Ag Excellence Awards is to recognize 4-H clubs for the work of the individuals in the club and the community service work of the entire club," the web page said. Each award recipient received a $500 check to be used to complete a project that will have a lasting community impact. When applying for the award, each 4-H club had to detail their plan for using the $500 and how their project would benefit their community. "It's great publicity for the club that we're donating this to the library and it spreads the 4-H message," Ben said. Ben said the application also mentioned that, thanks to the free county-wide library memberships supported by the Butler County Board of Supervisors, anyone in the county -- not just David City residents -- would be able to benefit from the donation of the telescope to the library. Gov. Pete Ricketts gave out the awards at a June 28 ceremony in Lincoln, but the Always Busy Clovers had to wait until the telescope arrived to donate it to the library. Library staff, Butler County Extension employees and 4-H club members were present as the library received the telescope in the afternoon on last Wednesday. "I'd like to thank the extension office for their support of this project and all of the encouragement, the library for accepting the donation of the telescope and everyone else who supports 4-H," Ben said. Louise Niemann and Rachel Fuxa with Butler County Extension indicated that they are hoping the telescope donation encourages more 4-H'ers' interest in the sciences, particularly this year's 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Challenge. According to the 4-H STEM Challenge page on the UNL 4-H website, this year's challenge -- 'Galactic Quest' -- "focuses on the mysteries and adventures of space exploration." Those interested can learn more about the challenge by visiting 4h.unl.edu/4h-stem-challenge. In the meantime, the library will be working on its checkout policy for the telescope. Children's Librarian Lucy Watts told the Banner-Press that the telescope will remain on display in the library until the end of October, and will be available for checkout starting Nov. 1. Molly Hunter is a reporter for The Banner-Press. Reach her via email at molly.hunter@lee.net. 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. WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS In August, the Iowa Tribes of Kansas and Nebraska was notified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that it received a fully funded Natural Resource Development in Tribal Youth for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska grant. The funding gives critical support for conservation and environmental awareness training for tribal youth on the Iowa Tribe Indian reservation in northeast Kansas. Columbus-based environmental firm New Century Environmental (NCE) wrote the grant for the Iowa tribe. The grant will provide $50,000 to obtain biological information and provide training by NCE staff over the coming year. The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Indian Reservation is located in Brown and Doniphan Counties in northeastern Kansas and Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska. The reservation is located within the tallgrass prairie ecoregion. The immediate vicinity contains unique natural resources such as the forested bluffs overlooking the Missouri River which runs adjacent to the Reservation. The goal with the grant application was to create awareness in Native American youth related to forestry and natural resource management. Getting any youth connected to nature that has not been exposed is extremely difficult and NCE wish to develop and propose a curriculum that will effectively mentor tribal youth in the direction of natural resource management. Primary tasks of the grant are to develop educational materials, to offer internships for experience, to discuss conservation and land use and to schedule an eco-camp for summer 2022. The first task will be to develop a natural resource assessment for creating a syllabus to use as instructional materials for youth, junior high age through college age, on the reservation. The syllabus will have information related to all the flora and fauna on the reservation and the pollution problems related to their existence. The next major activity that is unique in natural resource training is a week-long eco-camp which will emphasize survival, shelter and fire building, edible plants, animals, camp lore, outdoor cooking, knife building and sharpening and a variety of other outdoor life skills. The eco-camp is designed to connect all youth to nature in a natural setting. Native American history will also be overviewed during the camp. New Century Environmental LLC, an environmental consulting business based in Columbus, Nebraska, employs a team of environmental and ecological professionals who provide quality environmental services across the Great Plains. It provides wetland science expertise, environmental training and a broad spectrum of environmental impact assessment services related to rare plant and animal species. Michael Gutzmer, Principal and owner of the firm, has been in business for 15 years in the Columbus and Great Plains area. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Not everyone involved has walked away from the recent rash of traffic accidents in Platte County. Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 7, 10 vehicle drivers and passengers were involved in six different collisions in Platte County. Those six accidents included two trains, three semis, one truck and five cars. Platte County Sheriff Ed Wemhoff acknowledged that it's a higher-than-average number of collisions in a short span of time. "It's no one thing; they're random accidents, they just all seem to have happened right around the same time," Wemhoff said. Weather is thought to have been a contributing factor in two of the accidents, both of which took place the morning of Oct. 7, when Platte County was blanketed by a thick fog. Seatbelts were not being worn in at least two of the six recent accidents, including the Oct. 1 rollover of a 2006 Chevy Colorado three miles east of Monroe. The driver and lone occupant of the Chevy Colorado -- Mary Pinney, 65, of Genoa -- was in critical care at CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha as of the Oct. 2 press release on the accident. Wemhoff did not have information on Pinney's current condition, but urged people to wear seatbelts. "I believe seatbelts do save lives. That's why the Sheriff's Office actively participates in the click it or ticket enforcement that the state of Nebraska supplements through grants," Wemhoff said. "...We will have people work overtime, paid for by the grant, to help drive home the importance of wearing seatbelts." According to a Sept. 27 press release, alcohol was suspected as a contributing factor in another collision, which occurred at approximately 4:44 p.m. on Sept. 23 at the intersection of 18th Avenue and Lost Creek Parkway in Columbus. Columbus Police Department (CPD) Capt. Douglas Molczyk said CPD is still investigating that accident, which involved a semi tractor/trailer and a pickup truck, both traveling on Lost Creek Parkway. According to the Sept. 27 CPD press release on the collision, preliminary investigation indicated that the semi was headed west and the eastbound pickup was preparing to turn north onto Wilderness Road. The pickup struck the driver's side of the semi, which jackknifed and slid into a ditch. On Sept. 23, Interim Columbus Fire Chief Kyle Lingenfelter told the Telegram that the semi driver refused care and was uninjured. The driver of the pickup was transported to Columbus Community Hospital (CCH) for treatment. Molczyk reminded travelers to exercise caution when driving, especially at unmarked intersections or intersections with stop signs but no traffic lights, like on Lost Creek Parkway in Columbus. "Make sure you're checking and double-checking the cross traffic before you enter the roadway," Molczyk said. "...And a good rule of thumb for me has always been, at stoplights, to count to five when the light turns green -- then go. You allow for any of the people that might be running the yellow light to exit the intersection." One man -- Valentin Torres Martinez, 58 -- passed away during surgery following a collision on Sept. 28 at the intersection of Lost Creek Parkway and 18th Avenue in Columbus. Torres Martinez, driving a 2006 Lexus, failed to yield the right of way to a 2002 Ford Explorer, which struck the driver's side of the Lexus. Both drivers were from the Columbus area. The driver of the Ford Explorer was transported to CCH and was later released. Meanwhile, Torres Martinez was extracted from the Lexus by Columbus Fire Department personnel and transported to CCH, as was a juvenile passenger of the Lexus. Both were later transported to a higher level of care and Torres Martinez passed away at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Molly Hunter is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at molly.hunter@lee.net. 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. 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 re-registering is necessary. The change was made official on 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 Sheriff's Offices and Dodge and Hall County Departments of Corrections. If users head to VINE and select "Nebraska," a message now reads: "VINELink is not available in your area." The new website comes after two years of planning and one year of development, according to the press release. "By bringing the victim notification system in-house, the commission virtually eliminated maintenance costs," officials said. "Further, having direct control of the system allows the commission to work more closely with its data partners and be more responsive to opportunities to foster innovation." The website also has a section with resources for crime victims, including links to the federal victim notification system, victim advocacy programs and other organizations that can provide help. The website can be accessed at nevcap.nebraska.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In a recent ABC Good Morning America interview with co-anchor Robin Roberts, former President Barack Obama sent a clear, but somewhat couched, warning signal to President Joe Biden. Obama told Roberts that open borders are unsustainable, an observation that ABC subsequently edited out of the televised portion of the interview. Although Obama didnt specifically mention that by ignoring open borders, Biden was risking the 2022 House and Senate races (and a filibuster-proof Democratic majority), that was his sub rosa message. During his eight years in the White House, Obama learned much about Americans immigration opinions. In 2013, the Democratic-controlled Senate overwhelmingly passed an unpopular immigration bill commonly referred to as the Gang of Eight bill (the eight being the four Republicans and four Democrats who wrote the first draft). By having an equal number of Republicans and Democrats as cosponsors, the Senate could promote the legislation as bipartisan. In fact, the onboard Gang of Eight Republicans had career-long pro-immigration voting records. Looked at closely, the bill offered many benefits for the 11 million-plus illegal immigrants immediate amnesty for the unlawfully present aliens, lifetime valid work permits, Social Security, health care and other affirmative benefits. The Congressional Budget Office predicted that, if it became law, the bill would create a net population growth of 10.4 million within a decade. The projected net population growth would also mean an increase of about 1.6 million temporary workers and their dependents. For citizens, however, the bill vaguely promised more border enforcement at some point down the road. The bottom line on the bill: amnesty right now; enforcement, maybe later. Although Obama used his bully pulpit, and the media hailed the legislation, the majority of U.S. Representatives knew how unpopular the immigration bill was among their constituents, and also were aware that their re-election bid was not far away. Tellingly, from the Gang of Eight, only South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham faced voters in the then-upcoming November 2014 election. But his state was a Republican stronghold that hadnt elected a Senate Democrat since 1954, when Strom Thurman before he switched parties won as a write-in candidate. Analysts concluded that the senators knew that immigration bill was unpopular, but hoped that by the time their turn at the polling place arrived, voters would forget. In the end, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid never forwarded the bill to the House for consideration, and it therefore never became law. The Gang of Eight bill led to a 2014 disaster at the polls for Democrats. Republicans won nine Democratic-controlled seats, held the 15 seats they were defending, and regained Senate control for the first time since 2007. If pending immigration legislation angered voters in 2014, imagine what their sentiments will be in November 2022 after more than 2 million illegal immigrants, including thousands of Haitians, will have crossed into U.S. territory. Bidens Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas further rolled out the red carpet for illegal immigrants, and added to voters ire when he said that illegal presence is no longer sufficient cause for deportation. Mayorkas statement represents a blatant immigration law violation, which requires the attorney general to remove aliens. Citizens who must fund illegal immigration may be growing weary. In 2017, U.S. taxpayers doled out approximately $116 billion at the federal, state and local levels to provide for services to illegal aliens, according to a study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Bidens gamble is that a year from now, the images of destitute Haitians gathered under the Del Rio bridge, and the unchecked Northern Triangle caravans entering the U.S. will be ancient history. But the current immigration crisis is more severe than the 2013 amnesty threat, and voters may be unwilling to forget how effortlessly Biden forfeited American sovereignty. Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I was watching TV the other night, and one of those ubiquitous campaign ads popped up. This time, it was a female candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, discussing all of her accomplishments. Other than the fact that it was refreshingly positive and didnt engage in any vitriol there was nothing particularly notable about the ad. But something stuck with me, something that others might consider completely innocuous but that has been bothering me for years. The candidate noted that she was the first in her family to go to college. Many people have used that in the past, the whole American Dream story about children doing better than their parents, who did better than their own parents. Its a classic narrative of upward mobility, and who can blame someone who has struggled for being proud of their accomplishments? But as the child of the first college graduate in his family, and someone who, herself, has two degrees which were paid for through trust funds, student loans and a few annoying summer jobs, I am starting to realize that there is something really wrong with measuring ourselves by our level of education. My grandmother Mamie left school in the third grade because her mother and father needed her to earn a paycheck. She worked in a cigar rolling factory, in a candy factory, in restaurants, in stores, in any place that didnt care about child labor laws. That covers pretty much every industry in the early 1900s. My grandfather Mike was a trashman and spent the best part of his youth and adulthood driving through the streets of Philadelphia, gathering up other peoples refuse. My mother Lucy ended her academic career with a diploma from West Catholic Girls in 1956, and then went to work. She handed over every paycheck, unopened, to her parents. It never occurred to her to go to college, because that high school diploma was already more than Mike and Mamie could have hoped for her. My father Ted worked his way through school, didnt get a penny from his own parents, gratefully accepted the love and financial assistance from his girlfriend-fiancee-wife Lucy, and ended up on Temple Law Review. And the rest is history. I write these things to point out that getting a college degree is only a measure of someones value if they did it by themselves, without having stood on the shoulders of beloved people. My father would have been the first to tell you that he was only able to do what he did because of my mother. My mother would have been the first to tell you that she was only able to wear her own cap and gown because Mamie rubbed her knuckles until they bled, washing someone elses clothes. She was only able to do it because Mike lived among the steaming discards of strangers. There is nothing wrong with that judge being proud of her accomplishment as the first college graduate in the family, as long as it is mentioned with humility and generosity of spirit and not as some attempt to separate herself from her origins. As someone who was blessed with the ability to spend 20 years of her life in a classroom on someone elses dime, I am in no position to undervalue importance of a college education. It is the greatest gift my parents gave me, after life. But I would never, ever say that I was the first in my family to do something (especially since Im actually the second). My father was no longer alive when I got my degree from Bryn Mawr, but Mamie was. The first person I ran to when I got the diploma, the first person whose arms wrapped tightly around me in an embrace that smelled of Jean Nate and powder, was my grandmother. And the first person I thought of at the party afterward, looking at the plates of half-eaten food and empty bottles of soda, was Mike. He would have cleaned up the mess, and not danced in the aisles. There are reasons that I am able to write at all and reach strangers with these thoughts, and they have nothing to do with my college education. My life is possible only because other people did the hard work, the dirty work, the work that goes unmentioned in campaign ads. So the next time I hear someone say she was the first to go to college in my family, I will wait for her to thank that family for the glory in their life. When I go to sleep tonight, Ill be thanking my own. Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " The rental house looks great but should you be worried about hidden cameras? Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images When you arrive at your Airbnb- or VRBO-booked rental home, you hope to relax and let your hair down. But these days, high-tech surveillance gadgets of all kinds make it easy for unscrupulous property owners to spy on you, perhaps during your most private moments. Modern surveillance cameras are cheap, tiny, and in some cases, designed to be difficult to spot, particularly if you're not keeping an eye out for them. They are often made to look like other products, like smoke detectors, alarm clocks, AC power adapters, computer speakers, books, houseplants, or other common objects, all the better to disguise their real purpose. A 2019 survey by financial services firm IPX found that 11 percent of respondents had discovered a hidden camera in an Airbnb. You'll never know and may never want to know what a sketchy person might do with those photos and videos. Ugh. It's almost enough to make you opt for a permanent staycation in the familiar surroundings of your own home. But let's back up for a moment. Is it legal for someone to record your activities at a rental property? After all, you don't own the place and it's understandable that landlords might be anxious to make sure you're following the rules and not throwing wild parties that could damage the home. "There is no federal law regulating hidden surveillance, which means that the law of the state in which the Airbnb property is located would govern," emails Matthew A. Dolman, a managing partner at Sibley Dolman Gipe, a Florida law firm. "For example, in Florida, Minneapolis and Minnesota, hidden cameras are only prohibited where a person would have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy.' Whether a kitchen or living area owned by a host would fit into this category would depend on the circumstances." He says that by contrast, in New Hampshire, Maine, South Dakota, and Delaware, the host would legally need consent to use hidden surveillance of any kind. Some rental companies realize the issues and try to balance the power of owners and renters. "Airbnb prohibits the use of indoor security cameras without full disclosure, and cameras are prohibited entirely from bedrooms or bathrooms," says Dolman. "However, if you're staying at an Airbnb and discover a camera planted without your knowledge, a refund is the most the company will generally do to remedy the situation." In short, private rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms really should be off-limits for any law-abiding owner. But it's the bad eggs we're worried about. How can you proactively protect yourself? Advertisement Searching for That Hidden Camera A physical inspection is the first and most obvious step. Look for items that are conveniently located near beds or showers where a tiny camera might be hidden. Even innocent items like tissue boxes and stuffed animals are suspect keep in mind that modern cameras need only a hole the size of a small nail head to disguise their presence. They call 'em "spy cams" for reason, you know. If you listen carefully, you may even hear motion-activated cameras as they turn on when you enter a room. Some models buzz, click or even cause static-laced interference on phone calls as you talk to a friend. There's another vital point to consider all cameras require a lens, and lenses glint in bright light. Turn off all lights, close the curtains, and then use a bright flashlight (or your phone's flashlight) to check each room, says Attila Tomaschek, a digital privacy researcher with ProPrivacy, which sells spy gear. You may see light bouncing off a tiny lens hidden in an air vent or similar spot. The darkened rooms may also help you detect lights emitted by the cameras. Some cameras have LEDs that illuminate when they're powered on. See that mirror in the bedroom? Press your finger against it and look at your fingertip. On a normal mirror, there's a gap between your fingertip and the mirror. On a see-through mirror, however, there's no gap. Your smartphone's camera is a useful detection tool, too. "Your front-facing camera (the one you take selfies with) typically won't have an infrared light filter, which means that you'll be able to use it to detect the infrared light sources that night-vision cameras rely on to operate in the dark," says Tomaschek, via email. "Simply turn out the lights and activate the front-facing camera on your phone and sweep the rental while watching your phone's screen. If you notice any lights show up on your screen that are purple or white, take a closer look at where those lights are coming from and you may find a hidden camera." Advertisement Apps for Detection You can continue by checking your host's WiFi network with a scanner app like Fing, says Tomascheck. You'll be able to see all of the devices connected to the network, listed by name and/or functionality. Your smartphone and laptop will appear, as well as smart TVs, routers and other common devices. You may also spot a Ring device or similar gadget that's meant to surveil the front door or other parts of the exterior. If you see cameras mounted near the front and back doors, well, it's no surprise that those devices are using the network. Of course, if the camera isn't connected to the network (or it's connected to another network you can't access) you won't spot it. As an extra step, you may also want to turn on your phone's Bluetooth and stroll through the house to see if you notice any unknown devices appear on your screen. Or you can try apps like Hidden Camera Detector, which gets mixed reviews but performs many of the functions of so-called camera detectors (which can cost more than $100) for just a few bucks. If you want to spend the money, you can invest in a camera detector that blends lens-glint detection with radio frequency detection in an effort to pinpoint cameras. There are also ultra-pricey options that essentially illuminate the camera for you, even if it's powered off. With all of the tech options at your disposal, don't overlook one very powerful tool of self-protection your intuition. "If you personally meet the host of the property you're renting, you can ask them directly if there are any hidden cameras on the property that you should know about," says Tomascheck. "Pay close attention to how your host responds. If the host seems cagey or is in any way uncomfortable with the question, do a thorough sweep of the property for hidden cameras, or find alternate accommodation if possible." Now That's Interesting Some companies offer "party" detectors meant to protect the sanity of homeowners and the privacy of vacation guests. The detectors don't have cameras, but they recognize sounds and environmental cues, like sustained (and elevated) noise, constant motion, and elevated humidity that might correlate to a packed party house. " " Concerned about your digital footprint? Private search engines help to make it smaller. Ridalv/Getty Images If you're like most people, you probably don't think very much about online privacy. You have nothing to hide, right, so why would you bother covering up your tracks online? The fact is that if you are using a regular browser like Chrome or Safari, and if you conduct most of your searches through a non-private search engine like Google or Bing, then third-party websites and other unknown entities can track your every move. According to a Princeton University study of the top 1 million websites, the web is riddled with third-party trackers. News websites are some of the worst offenders, with an average of 40 trackers running in the background. The most common trackers are owned by Google and its subsidiaries, plus Facebook and Twitter, but lots are also operated by shady entities in places like Russia and Germany. Even if you go into Chrome's settings and enable the "do not track" feature, those are only voluntary browser requests. Turns out that the biggest tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter don't comply with "do not track" requests. Taken all together, a ubiquitous tech company like Google can analyze your entire online footprint to paint a remarkably accurate picture of you both the public and private you. Google and Facebook use that data to sell ads, though hackers might use it for perhaps more sinister purposes. OK, so now you might be thinking, "it's time to make my internet activities more private." Let's look at the different ways you can go about it. Advertisement 1. Use Incognito Mode on Your Browser The first (and easiest) method would be to go to the browser you normally use and set it to "incognito" status. For instance, if you use Chrome, you click on the three dots at the top right and select New Incognito Window. The little icon of the hat and the glasses will appear plus a dark screen (to remove simple click on the icon and select Exit Incognito.) Other browsers have similar features or names. If you use incognito mode on your browser, it means that information like browsing history or downloaded cookies are not automatically stored on your device. But your activity might still be visible to the organization providing the internet connection, like a college or corporation. Also, the websites that you visit might still have access to your information. And those settings won't do a thing to stop third-party entities from leaving cookies in your browser or seeing your unique IP address. In other words, you can still be tracked "in the dark." Advertisement 2. Use a Private Search Engine Level two privacy would be to use a private search engine rather than the ubiquitous Google. These include DuckDuckGo, Ecosia and Startpage. They all promise to evade the myriad third-party trackers that are spying on you behind the scenes. "There's a lack of awareness of just how much data are being collected," says Daniel Davis, communications manager for DuckDuckGo. "People kind of expect that when you use a search engine like Google that your search terms are going to be recorded somewhere and they're going to be tracked. What people don't realize is the extent of the other data that's linked to those search queries and the third parties that it's shared with." DuckDuckGo does not block ads from showing up in the browser. But instead of collecting lots of data like Google to serve up "behavioral advertising," DuckDuckGo uses "contextual advertising." That means that it only serves up ads with keywords that are directly related to your search terms. It's true that search terms include a lot of private information: questions about personal health issues, financial information like your bank name or mortgage lender, loads of geographic data, and even your romantic preferences. But there's a lot of other data that can be tied to those search queries. If you use Gmail, then Google can collect all sorts of information about your online purchases and upcoming travel plans and connect them with your search terms. And if you also use the Google Chrome browser, think of the dizzying amounts of data that can be gleaned from your browser history. Not to mention if you also use Google Maps and other Google products. These private search engines work in ways similar to each other. For instance, you can install the DuckDuckGo browser extension on any major browser simply by going to the DuckDuckGo website. On their homepage will be a large icon inviting you to "Add DuckDuckGo" to Firefox or Chrome or whatever browser you happened to be on. (DuckDuckGo also has mobile browsers for Android and iOS). Installing the extension makes DuckDuckGo your default search engine. So, when you type search terms into the address bar, no data are collected about your search and nothing is shared with the sites you click on in the DuckDuckGo search results. DuckDuckGo uses an algorithm that includes Yahoo and Bing results as well as 400 other sources to compile its search results. (Startpage uses Google for its search results but submits the queries anonymously.) The DuckDuckGo browser extension automatically defaults to the encrypted version of any website. If you've noticed, most websites use the prefix "https" instead of "http" at the beginning of their web address. That extra "s" means that your connection to the website is encrypted, so that no other party can eavesdrop on data sent between your computer and the website. You'll also see a small padlock icon next to web addresses that are encrypted. Oddly, even websites that have an "https" version don't always make that encrypted connection available as default. The DuckDuckGo browser extension enforces the encrypted version every time. The DuckDuckGo also features a "privacy grade." For every website you visit, DuckDuckGo assigns it a grade from A+ to F based on three criteria: whether there's an encrypted connection, how many third-party trackers are found on the site, and the strength and transparency of the site's privacy policy. Cookies have gotten a bad rap, but Davis notes that not all cookies are bad. For example, you want your social networks and email service to leave cookies on your browser, so you don't have to log in from scratch every time. DuckDuckGo and other privacy browsers generally leave those first-party cookies alone, though they will block third party trackers as a default. However, you can change your preferences to block all cookies and scrub your browser cache after each session. Advertisement 3. Use an Anonymous Browser OK, maybe you want absolutely no trace of your internet activities to be tracked. Then you might want to look at a browser like Tor. As Tor's website puts it, "Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers worldwide: it prevents somebody watching your internet connection from learning what sites you visit and it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location. Tor works with many of your existing applications, including web browsers, instant messaging clients, remote login, and other applications based on the TCP protocol." Tor was used for Edward Snowden's whistleblowing activities and for communication during the Arab Spring events. Rather than adding an extension to an existing browser, you download the Tor browser as a replacement. It warns that it will block flash, RealPlayer and other add-ins. It's also rigorous about which background scripts can run and wipes off everything at the end of each internet session, including cookies left by other sites and any browser history on the app. Wired magazine noted that this browser runs slower than others due to the extra encryption, "but in terms of staying invisible on the web, it's the best there is. It can even help you get online in countries where the internet is blocked or censored." Other anonymous browsers include Epic, which comes with access to a free VPN and Brave. In all cases, you download a browser rather than using an existing one like Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Now That's Not Cool If you're still not concerned about online privacy, note that companies like the office-supply chain Staples and the travel website Orbitz were found to have displayed different prices to different users based on their location. And Facebook got into hot water when people found out that job ads were being hidden from older applicants. The state Department of Health reported 126 cases of COVID-19 and four deaths for Cumberland County Wednesday. The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased to 114 in Wednesday's report, seven more than Tuesday. There are 20 adults in intensive care (the same as Tuesday) and 16 on ventilators (one more than Tuesday). Nine adult ICU beds remain open of the 109 currently staffed across the county, and 39 of 95 ventilators in the county are in use. Wednesday's report included 339 test results, with 36 probable cases. Comparing just the number of negative tests (213) and confirmed positive tests (90), the county saw 29.7% of its tests come back positive. The countys seven-day average of cases now sits at 101.86. Its 14-day per capita rate sits at 638.20. The southcentral region reported 911 cases and 32 additional deaths Wednesday, with 231 cases in York County and 165 cases in Dauphin County. That's the most deaths in the region since since Jan. 27 (39 deaths). Franklin County reports 87 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Wednesday (down eight from Tuesday), with seven of 33 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 18 of 35 available ventilators in use. There are 16 adults in intensive care and 13 on ventilators. Dauphin County reports 117 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Wednesday (down 12 from Tuesday), with 34 of 198 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 80 of 177 available ventilators in use. There are 33 adults in intensive care and 26 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 Tuesday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 61.2% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's vaccine eligible population of people ages 12 and older, 70.6% have been fully vaccinated. County numbers in the southcentral region (for Oct. 13): Adams County (pop. 103,009): 57 new cases; 12,601 total cases (10,356 confirmed, 2,245 probable); 43,458 negatives; 210 deaths (+4); 48.8% of county population vaccinated 57 new cases; 12,601 total cases (10,356 confirmed, 2,245 probable); 43,458 negatives; 210 deaths (+4); 48.8% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 24 new cases; 6,398 total cases (4,356 confirmed, 2,042 probable); 12,187 negatives; 158 deaths (+2); 34% of county population vaccinated 24 new cases; 6,398 total cases (4,356 confirmed, 2,042 probable); 12,187 negatives; 158 deaths (+2); 34% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 61 new cases; 16,322 total cases (12,852 confirmed, 3,470 probable); 46,274 negatives; 366 deaths (+3); 45.4% of county population vaccinated 61 new cases; 16,322 total cases (12,852 confirmed, 3,470 probable); 46,274 negatives; 366 deaths (+3); 45.4% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 126 new cases; 26,792 total cases (21,147 confirmed, 5,645 probable); 99,196 negatives; 591 deaths (+4); 61.2% of county population vaccinated 126 new cases; 26,792 total cases (21,147 confirmed, 5,645 probable); 99,196 negatives; 591 deaths (+4); 61.2% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 165 new cases; 33,343 total cases (28,661 confirmed, 4,682 probable); 125,443 negatives; 618 deaths (+9); 57.2% of county population vaccinated 165 new cases; 33,343 total cases (28,661 confirmed, 4,682 probable); 125,443 negatives; 618 deaths (+9); 57.2% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 58 new cases; 20,843 total cases (17,206 confirmed, 3,637 probable); 63,456 negatives; 430 deaths (+3); 44.2% of county population vaccinated 58 new cases; 20,843 total cases (17,206 confirmed, 3,637 probable); 63,456 negatives; 430 deaths (+3); 44.2% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 8 new cases; 2,086 total cases (1,053 confirmed, 1,033 probable); 4,901 negatives; 26 deaths; 29.9% of county population vaccinated 8 new cases; 2,086 total cases (1,053 confirmed, 1,033 probable); 4,901 negatives; 26 deaths; 29.9% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 31 new cases; 6,534 total cases (5,400 confirmed, 1,134 probable); 19,740 negatives; 150 deaths; 45.6% of county population vaccinated 31 new cases; 6,534 total cases (5,400 confirmed, 1,134 probable); 19,740 negatives; 150 deaths; 45.6% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 10 new cases; 2,747 total cases (2,495 confirmed, 252 probable); 6,481 negatives; 112 deaths (+1); 39.1% of county population vaccinated 10 new cases; 2,747 total cases (2,495 confirmed, 252 probable); 6,481 negatives; 112 deaths (+1); 39.1% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 60 new cases; 19,846 total cases (17,000 confirmed, 2,846 probable); 61,870 negatives; 320 deaths (+2); 49.6% of county population vaccinated 60 new cases; 19,846 total cases (17,000 confirmed, 2,846 probable); 61,870 negatives; 320 deaths (+2); 49.6% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 52 new cases; 6,805 total cases (6,426 confirmed, 379 probable); 17,256 negatives; 186 deaths; 47.5% of county population vaccinated 52 new cases; 6,805 total cases (6,426 confirmed, 379 probable); 17,256 negatives; 186 deaths; 47.5% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 28 new cases; 5,038 total cases (3,894 confirmed, 1,144 probable); 12,917 negatives; 114 deaths (+1); 45.8% of county population vaccinated 28 new cases; 5,038 total cases (3,894 confirmed, 1,144 probable); 12,917 negatives; 114 deaths (+1); 45.8% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 231 new cases; 59,160 total cases (48,230 confirmed; 10,930 probable); 190,418 negatives; 930 deaths (+3); 53.9% of county population vaccinated ZIP code-level counts (updated Oct. 13): 17013: 3,265 positives, 15,248 negatives - +68 since Oct. 8 17015: 1,938 positives, 7,507 negatives - +30 since Oct. 8 17050: 3,076 positives, 15,634 negatives - +44 since Oct. 8 17055: 3,447 positives, 17,895 negatives - +65 since Oct. 8 17011: 3,211 positives, 14,916 negatives - +53 since Oct. 8 17007: 467 positives, 1,902 negatives - +5 since Oct. 8 17065: 339 positives, 1,325 negatives - +6 since Oct. 8 17324: 360 positives, 1,397 negatives - +6 since Oct. 8 17241: 877 positives, 3,370 negatives - +22 since Oct. 8 17257: 2,250 positives, 7,632 negatives - +29 since Oct. 8 17240: 209 positives, 679 negatives - +3 since Oct. 8 17025: 1,466 positives, 6,047 negatives - +28 since Oct. 8 17070: 1,362 positives, 5,787 negatives - +19 since Oct. 8 17043: 465 positives, 2,190 negatives - +5 since Oct. 8 17019: 1,599 positives, 5,913 negatives - +29 since Oct. 8 17266: 26 positives, 134 negatives - +2 since Oct. 8 School district and college case counts (updated Oct. 11) 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. The social construction of nature, that it is pristine and authentic, has been manifested by culture, media and education to shape our understanding that nature is something to be managed and maintained. The social construction of nature has led to the creation of the National Park Service to provide a place for people to escape their day-to-day stresses but has excluded minority groups while negatively impacting the environment from overuse, which can be explained through a study of the Appalachian Trail (AT). The first issue with the social construction of the AT is that it became a consumer-oriented place where individuals could exercise and explore nature. The AT is seen as a consumer good at humans disposal providing economic benefits to those who build a community around it. Research has found that approximately 71.4% of AT hikers are male and 96% of hikers described themselves as white while only 1.6% described themselves as African American. Reasons for the disparity in representation on the trail is due to access issues, communication barriers and lack of representation working for the park service. Lastly, an issue of the social construction of the AT is it has not maintained the preservation of the environment like its original intention. A common issue on the AT is that hikers set up camp in an undesignated spot, damaging soil, vegetation and rare plant and animal species. In the research done along the Great Smokey mountains, less than 50% of the trail was in good condition. It has been demonstrated that the social construction of nature has led to profiting of the AT, exclusion of minorities and harming the environment it was supposed to protect. Moving forward, society needs to consider the original purpose of the trail and how that has shaped our understanding. Drew Yager Dickinson College Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Biden administration recently announced support for a push by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to strip intellectual property protections from Covid-19 vaccines. That endorsement, though well-intentioned, should send shivers down the spines of university and corporate R&D lab workers across America. Especially since it follows on the heels of some policymakers' attempts to seize American firms' intellectual property, using a strained interpretation of a four-decade-old law. Gutting IP protections would eliminate the incentives for private sector investors to take initial discoveries often made in university labs and turn them into tangible medicines and medical devices that actually benefit patients. Advocates for stripping IP protections often point to successful drugs that initially benefited from research at a university that was federally funded and thus should be 'controlled' by the government. These IP rights, however, are currently protected by the University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act. This bipartisan legislation, enacted in 1980 and better known as the Bayh-Dole Act, allows universities to own and license inventions that arose from federally-funded research. Universities license IP rights to private sector companies who commercialize research discoveries and make products available to the public. Before this law, the federal government (not universities) held the rights to such patents. Some 30,000 of those patents languished, gathering dust in federal filing cabinets, with fewer than 1 in 20 ever reaching the clinic or the open market. For Senators Birch Bayh, D-IN, and Bob Dole, R-KS, the purpose of the act was to "spur the interaction between public and private research so that patients would receive the benefits of innovative science sooner." In the ensuing 40 years, their legislation has enabled universities and industry licensees to develop and bring to market more than 200 life-saving new medicines. All have witnessed the most recent fruit of the Bayh-Dole Act mRNA technology from the University of Pennsylvania was licensed to Pfizer and Moderna, who used it to develop Covid-19 vaccines. I fear that Biden's IP waiver on Covid-19 vaccines, coupled with ongoing attempts to twist the Bayh-Dole Act to allow government officials to modify the terms of IP licenses that companies receive from universities, will disincentivize the private sector from investing in early-stage university inventions that are years away from becoming viable commercial products. If companies fear that the government will intervene after years of expensive R&D, they will not invest in the first place. IP protections exist for a reason because they work. We must not allow the admirable quest for health equity to kill the research goose that lays innovation's golden egg. Carol Mimura is the former executive director of the Office of Technology Licensing at the University of California, Berkeley and current U.C. Berkeley assistant vice chancellor for Intellectual Property & Industry Research Alliances. This piece originally ran in the Mercury News. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The small settlement of Libertyville saw the end of a historic era with the closing Saturday of the oldest operating Masonic Lodge still meeting in its original building, west of the Mississippi River. St. Francois Masonic Lodge No. 234 closed its doors after 157 years of fellowship with the remaining members merging with Farmington Masonic Lodge No. 132. In an interesting convergence of opposing events, the last meeting of the lodge is the first ceremony held for the retirement of a lodge's charter ever held in the state of Missouri. Lodge history Worshipful Master Wayne Hutchings gave a history on the founding and operations of the lodge. The history of this lodge is that 13 people from the Farmington lodge in 1863 petitioned to Missouris Grand Lodge for a charter to begin this lodge, he said. It was chartered in 1864. This building was started in 1865 and finished in 1866. We have had regular meetings once a month in this building since 1866. It is the oldest lodge west of the Mississippi that was built as a Masonic lodge and had continual meetings. Hutchings explained that, while the Farmington lodge's charter is older than Libertyville's, the building it meets in is not. Some lodges, through natural disaster or making a whole bunch of money, would be forced into starting another building, he said. There are lodges that are older, but they are not meeting in the same building. According to Hutchings, because the Libertyville lodge's membership and funding were dwindling to the point of unsustainability, the remaining members decided they would have to close. We explored merging with another lodge and decided to merge back with the Farmington lodge, he said. After todays retirement of charter, thats what will happen. We will become members of Farmingtons lodge once again as our brothers were in 1863. Time stands still Of course, the building will remain and be given to a neighbor who is a member of the lodge and intends to preserve it in its current state. On the second floor where the meetings are held, its as if time stood still for decades. Hutchings pointed out several items that were original to the founding of the lodge. There are scrolls dating from 1875-1880 that were formerly used by lecturers to explain the different degrees of Masonry to initiates. Sitting in a corner of the room is a secretarys desk from 1875 where generations of Masons recorded minutes of meetings. Hanging on the walls are coal-oil lamps with reflectors. Electricity didnt come here until 1935, Hutchings said. Until then, they used coal oil lamps. These are original to the lodge. In the center of the room is an altar on which lays an 1859 King James Bible. The Bible is the original one used by the lodge. It was semi-retired and only used for special occasions. Hutchings said that Masonic lodges always have an open and illuminated Bible during their meetings. He pulled a vintage candelabra stand out of storage. We have three candelabras original to the lodge, Hutchings said. We use these occasionally for what we call a lamplight meeting. We forgo the electric and have nothing but coal-oil lamps and candles. Limited space By current Masonic standards, the lodge is a small building with limited space in which members can conduct their rituals. Some items had already been moved out of the room to accommodate more people. For instance, Hutchings pointed out two antique chairs sitting on a counter in a back room. We took all of our chairs out of the lodge so we could seat all of our people, he said. These barrel chairs we had 60 of them. These are original to this lodge. We have the receipts for them where they come down the Iron Mountain Railroad for $2 apiece in 1870. We took most of them to Farmington. There is a wood stove downstairs from 1870, and it used to set up here. Thats how the lodge was heated until about 1999. It was ridiculously uncomfortable. If you were setting by the stove, you were sweating. If you were across the room, you were freezing. Losing history Hutchings lamented the end of the lodge in which he and his fellow Masons had been very active for decades. We are losing a lot of history here, he said. Its just a shame, but we just dont really have a community around here anymore. A lot of the older members of this lodge lived around here. I came in this lodge in 1976. I was initiated into this lodge and a lot of the people around here and belonged here they lived in this community. We had a member of our lodge his brothers were 50-year members of this lodge, which is a quite an achievement. Our goal was to try to keep us open long enough for Tom Sloan to get his 50-year pin. We did that a few years ago. Then we thought we could make it last a little longer and we did. "We changed some things. We changed our meeting day and time. We did some things and it helped. This was always a pass-the-hat type of lodge. We put a roof on this lodge about 20 years ago. The way we did that, we had a Valentines dinner that we had every year. At the Valentines dinner, we said, 'We need to put a roof on the building for $33,000.' We didnt have $300. "We took money and IOUs from members. We raised enough money there at that dinner wrote everybodys name down and how much they donated and we raised enough money at that dinner to put a roof on the lodge. Then, we had fundraisers and auctioned this and that, and everybody that wanted their money back, got repaid. We were not a lodge like in St. Louis that has CDs forever and someone has left them money. Masonry's importance Hutchings considers Masonry to be an integral part of America's beginning and development as a nation. It has often been misunderstood, however, with some calling the Freemasons devil worshippers, among other things. The historical aspect of this has always fascinated me, he said. We have a picture of George Washington proudly displayed. George Washington was a Mason, a Grand Master of a lodge in Washington, D.C. The fathers of our country were Masons. If they werent Masons themselves, they affiliated with Masons. Our Founding Fathers created this country. Those Founding Fathers werent worshipping Satan. In my opinion, country lodges like this were how this country was civilized. You would have a community the first thing they wanted was a school. The next thing they wanted was a lodge. little Masonic lodges like this sprang up all over the country. It was a part of civilizing our nation. The ceremony A central part of the historic closing of this historic lodge, was the Charter Retirement Ceremony. Dr. Ty Treutelaar, grand master of the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of the state of Missouri, helped in the development of the new ceremony as a way to properly recognizing the lodge members past efforts. Its based loosely on our rededications, he said. Its almost a reverse of how you would dedicate a lodge. A lodge is the men. Lodges are made up by the men, its not the building. When you retire a charter, it means that those men are going to a different lodge. "We never retired a charter, we just canceled them. Now we can retire them and those men can feel like they did make a tough decision, but have a future. I think thats the most important thing that they really did it right. As grand master, Treutelaar presided over the meeting and led out in the ceremony. Speaking to those assembled, he said, The ceremony you see sprang out of the head of (Right Worshipful Brother) Emmett Bryson several months ago. It is a unique one based on some other historical pieces. We also bring it together at the end with probably one of the oldest pieces of ceremony of Freemasonry. Treutelaar spoke about his close ties to the Libertyville lodge, mentioning a member named Vincent Kinkead who had died. He gestured toward a spot near the front of the room. Boy, Vincent would be mad at you guys today, he said. You took his chairs out. Vincent Kinkead sat there. What was fun about opening this lodge, closing this lodge, being in this lodge, was you knew something wasnt necessarily going right or wrong. If Vincent didnt like it, there was this, 'Humph!' Either way if it was good or bad he was right over here. A historian at heart, Treutelaar marveled at the condition of the original charter document. We may have to have a discussion about this charter, because I have never seen a charter of this vintage in the absolutely amazing condition it is in. It is an amazing document, I have never seen anything like this. It is museum quality. Final thoughts After the meeting, Treutelaar spoke of the honor he felt in presiding over the retirement ceremony and about his connection to the Kinkead family through their involvement in the lodge. This is the first one we have done and Im very proud to do this for this lodge, he said. This lodge and the Kinkead family mean everything to me and how I developed as a Freemason. Vincent Kinkead was a past grand master. He and I got along really well. When he passed away, Evelyn Kinkead gifted me his grand masters jewel that I will wear through this year with the understanding that I will return it to the Grand Lodge of Missouri to go in their archives. The historian in Treutelaar surfaced again in a final comment he made about St. Francois Lodge No. 234. The fact that this was done during the Civil War that to me is the single most remarkable thing, he said. That these men had this faith in the future that they were able to do this and create this during the Civil War, thats amazing. It is a remarkable lodge, a remarkable building, unbelievable history. Mark Marberry is a reporter for the Farmington Press and Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3629, or at mmarberry@farmingtonpressonline.com 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. The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the law license of a Columbia defense attorney who has long been one of the leading figures in efforts to legalize marijuana in Missouri. Dan Viets, who has led the Missouri chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, will be able to apply for reinstatement of his law license in six months after the court sided with the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel in a conflict-of-interest case against Viets. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel said Viets violated rules of professional conduct regulating conflicts of interest when he represented a brother and sister in a 2011 St. Francois County criminal marijuana case. Siblings David G. DePriest and Natalie DePriest, who were living in Farmington when they were arrested, were both sentenced to state prison in 2013 for marijuana cultivation and for possession and intent to distribute a controlled substance. Court records say marijuana plants and a gun were found in David DePriests room and that marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in common areas of a rented condominium the two shared. Records say Natalie DePriest was often away from the condo and spent about 20 days there that summer. A case summary said prosecutors offered various plea deals. Some offers stipulated the siblings either testify against each other or not in favor of the other sibling. The summary said the siblings agreed to a deal that included prosecutors dropping a weapons charge as well as an unrelated charge against Natalie DePriest in exchange for her entering an open plea to the marijuana charges. The deal required David DePriest to plead guilty to all charges. David DePriest received a 22-year prison sentence, while Natalie DePriest was sentenced to 15 years, according to the cases summary. The Missouri Supreme Court vacated their sentences in 2017. After that, the states Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel took disciplinary action against Viets, according to court records. In addition to suspending Viets law license, the Supreme Court also fined Viets $1,000 to cover investigative costs. Court rules generally prohibit concurrent conflicts of interest and state one exists if the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client or if there is a significant risk the attorneys work for one client will be materially limited by the lawyers responsibilities to another client. If there is a conflict of interest, the rule says attorneys may represent clients if certain conditions are met and the clients give informed consent in writing. The case summary said the siblings signed a waiver Viets provided them. My clients signed a waiver of conflict of interest, Viets said on Tuesday. I thought I was abiding by the rules. I think the essence of what the court has found is that they said my waiver wasnt adequate. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel said Viets waivers did not constitute informed consent under state rules. The DePriests had no legal training, little experience with the criminal justice system and little to no experience in hiring an attorney, the office said. The Waivers did not disclose that different levels of culpability or group plea offers create conflicts. The state also said Viets led the DePriests to believe there would be no conflict of interest unless they decided they wanted to turn on each other. According to the case summary, Viets argued he should be reprimanded, not suspended. Viets, in addition to a long history of advocating against marijuana prohibition, also hosts a radio show in Columbia on KOPN (89.5 FM) called Sex, Drugs and Civil Liberties. He raised concerns earlier this year about a 2020 directive by the Supreme Court warning lawyers they could face professional discipline for participating in violations of federal law. Marijuana, though legal for medical use in Missouri, remains illegal under federal law. Viets has also worked on the Legal Missouri 2022 initiative, one of several efforts to fully legalize cannabis in Missouri next year. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The small settlement of Libertyville saw the end of a historic era with the closing Saturday of the oldest operating Masonic Lodge still meeting in its original building, west of the Mississippi River. St. Francois Masonic Lodge No. 234 closed its doors after 157 years of fellowship with the remaining members merging with Farmington Masonic Lodge No. 132. In an interesting convergence of opposing events, the last meeting of the lodge is the first ceremony held for the retirement of a lodge's charter ever held in the state of Missouri. Lodge history The history of this lodge is that 13 people from the Farmington lodge in 1863 petitioned to Missouris Grand Lodge for a charter to begin this lodge, Worshipful Master Wayne Hutchings said. It was chartered in 1864. This building was started in 1865 and finished in 1866. We have had regular meetings once a month in this building since 1866. It is the oldest lodge west of the Mississippi that was built as a Masonic lodge and had continual meetings. Hutchings explained while the Farmington lodge's charter is older than Libertyville's, the building it meets in is not. Some lodges, through natural disaster or making a whole bunch of money, would be forced into starting another building, he said. There are lodges that are older, but they are not meeting in the same building. According to Hutchings, because the Libertyville lodge's membership and funding were dwindling to the point of unsustainability, the remaining members decided they would have to close. We explored merging with another lodge and decided to merge back with the Farmington lodge, he said. After todays retirement of charter, thats what will happen. We will become members of Farmingtons lodge once again as our brothers were in 1863. Time stands still Of course, the building will remain and be given to a neighbor who is a member of the lodge and intends to preserve it in its current state. On the second floor where the meetings are held, its as if time stood still for decades. Hutchings pointed out several items that were original to the founding of the lodge. There are scrolls dating from 1875-1880 that were formerly used by lecturers to explain the different degrees of Masonry to initiates. Sitting in a corner of the room is a secretarys desk from 1875 where generations of Masons recorded minutes of meetings. Hanging on the walls are coal-oil lamps with reflectors. Electricity didnt come here until 1935, Hutchings said. Until then, they used coal oil lamps. These are original to the lodge. In the center of the room is an altar with an 1859 King James Bible. The Bible is the original one used by the lodge. It was semi-retired and only used for special occasions. Hutchings said that Masonic lodges always have an open and illuminated Bible during their meetings. He pulled a vintage candelabra stand out of storage. We have three candelabras original to the lodge, Hutchings said. We use these occasionally for what we call a lamplight meeting. We forgo the electric and have nothing but coal-oil lamps and candles. Limited space By current Masonic standards, the lodge is a small building with limited space in which members can conduct their rituals. Some items had already been moved out of the room to accommodate more people. For instance, Hutchings pointed out two antique chairs sitting on a counter in a back room. We took all of our chairs out of the lodge so we could seat all of our people, he said. These barrel chairs we had 60 of them. These are original to this lodge. We have the receipts for them where they come down the Iron Mountain Railroad for $2 apiece in 1870. We took most of them to Farmington. There is a wood stove downstairs from 1870, and it used to set up here. Thats how the lodge was heated until about 1999. It was ridiculously uncomfortable. If you were sitting by the stove, you were sweating. If you were across the room, you were freezing. Losing history Hutchings lamented the end of the lodge in which he and his fellow Masons had been very active for decades. We are losing a lot of history here, he said. Its just a shame, but we just dont really have a community around here anymore. A lot of the older members of this lodge lived around here. I came in this lodge in 1976. I was initiated into this lodge and a lot of the people around here and belonged here they lived in this community. We had a member of our lodge his brothers were 50-year members of this lodge, which is a quite an achievement. Our goal was to try to keep us open long enough for Tom Sloan to get his 50-year pin. We did that a few years ago. Then we thought we could make it last a little longer and we did. "We changed some things. We changed our meeting day and time. We did some things and it helped. This was always a pass-the-hat type of lodge. We put a roof on this lodge about 20 years ago. The way we did that, we had a Valentines dinner that we had every year. At the Valentines dinner, we said, 'We need to put a roof on the building for $33,000.' We didnt have $300. "We took money and IOUs from members. We raised enough money there at that dinner wrote everybodys name down and how much they donated and we raised enough money at that dinner to put a roof on the lodge. Then, we had fundraisers and auctioned this and that, and everybody that wanted their money back, got repaid. We were not a lodge like in St. Louis that has CDs forever and someone has left them money. Masonry's importance Hutchings considers Masonry to be an integral part of America's beginning and development as a nation. It has often been misunderstood, however, with some calling the Freemasons devil worshippers, among other things. The historical aspect of this has always fascinated me, he said. We have a picture of George Washington proudly displayed. George Washington was a Mason, a Grand Master of a lodge in Washington, D.C. The fathers of our country were Masons. If they werent Masons themselves, they affiliated with Masons. Our founding fathers created this country. Those founding fathers werent worshipping Satan. In my opinion, country lodges like this were how this country was civilized. You would have a community the first thing they wanted was a school. The next thing they wanted was a lodge. Little Masonic lodges like this sprang up all over the country. It was a part of civilizing our nation. The ceremony A central part of the historic closing of this historic lodge, was the Charter Retirement Ceremony. Dr. Ty Treutelaar, grand master of the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of the state of Missouri, helped in the development of the new ceremony as a way to properly recognizing the lodge members past efforts. Its based loosely on our rededications, he said. Its almost a reverse of how you would dedicate a lodge. A lodge is the men. Lodges are made up by the men, its not the building. When you retire a charter, it means that those men are going to a different lodge. "We never retired a charter, we just canceled them. Now we can retire them and those men can feel like they did make a tough decision, but have a future. I think thats the most important thing that they really did it right. As grand master, Treutelaar presided over the meeting and led out in the ceremony. Speaking to those assembled, he said, The ceremony you see sprang out of the head of (Right Worshipful Brother) Emmett Bryson several months ago. It is a unique one based on some other historical pieces. We also bring it together at the end with probably one of the oldest pieces of ceremony of Freemasonry. Treutelaar spoke about his close ties to the Libertyville lodge, mentioning a member named Vincent Kinkead who had died. He gestured toward a spot near the front of the room. Boy, Vincent would be mad at you guys today, he said. You took his chairs out. Vincent Kinkead sat there. What was fun about opening this lodge, closing this lodge, being in this lodge, was you knew something wasnt necessarily going right or wrong. If Vincent didnt like it, there was this, 'Humph!' Either way if it was good or bad he was right over here. A historian at heart, Treutelaar marveled at the condition of the original charter document. We may have to have a discussion about this charter, because I have never seen a charter of this vintage in the absolutely amazing condition it is in. It is an amazing document, I have never seen anything like this. It is museum quality. Final thoughts After the meeting, Treutelaar spoke of the honor he felt in presiding over the retirement ceremony and about his connection to the Kinkead family through their involvement in the lodge. This is the first one we have done and Im very proud to do this for this lodge, he said. This lodge and the Kinkead family mean everything to me and how I developed as a Freemason. Vincent Kinkead was a past grand master. He and I got along really well. When he passed away, Evelyn Kinkead gifted me his grand masters jewel that I will wear through this year with the understanding that I will return it to the Grand Lodge of Missouri to go in their archives. The historian in Treutelaar surfaced again in a final comment he made about St. Francois Lodge No. 234. The fact that this was done during the Civil War that to me is the single most remarkable thing, he said. That these men had this faith in the future that they were able to do this and create this during the Civil War, thats amazing. It is a remarkable lodge, a remarkable building, unbelievable history. Mark Marberry is a reporter for the Farmington Press and Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3629, or at mmarberry@farmingtonpressonline.com Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 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. Updated Oct. 13 to add local legislators' comments: As daylight grows shorter and the weather gets colder, the number of nice days for motorcycle riding decreases. The number of motorcycle fatalities, however in this first year of Missouris rescinded helmet law have increased. St. Francois County has contributed four of them. People dont want to be told what to do, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C. My body, my choice. Many people still dont even want to wear a seat belt. State Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, was a strong proponent of repealing the helmet law. Local representatives to Jefferson City shared their thoughts. Dale Wright, R-116th District, said he and other legislators considered helmets a "matter of personal choice" akin to getting vaccinations, smoking or wearing a seatbelt. According to the St. Louis law firm Goldblatt and Singer, Missouri retains the law that requires drivers and passengers 16 and older to wear a seatbelt, and to make sure those younger than 16 are properly restrained in vehicles. Mike Henderson, R-117th District, said although he no longer rides, he's been on motorcycles since he was 8 years old and his son road off-road for year. "I do believe any time we see an increase in deaths like we have over the past 10 months, it is concerning and something we need to continue to monitor," he said. Thompson reported 116 motorcycle fatalities have occurred since Jan. 1 up until Tuesday, with 59 fatalities occurring in situations where the driver and/or passenger was not wearing a helmet. In 2019, 98 fatalities had occurred from Jan. 1 to Oct. 13. Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation modifying Missouris helmet law in July 2020. The 1968 law had resulted in part from the federal government tying highway safety funds to the enactment of state helmet laws. By 1975, all states but three Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire had complied. In 1978, the federal government stopped tying federal monies to helmet laws and states have been slowly rescinding their helmet laws ever since, with only 19 retaining a helmet law that applies to all motorcycle riders. Missouris law, which took effect in August 2020, still requires riders 25 and younger, as well as anyone operating under a learners permit, to wear helmets. It doesnt apply to motorized bicycles, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower less than 3, and maximum speed of 30 mph. Otherwise, anyone 26 and older who has health insurance and wants to feel the wind blow in their hair and is willing to risk asphalt in their teeth can forego the helmet and ride naked-headed. The Missouri Department of Transportation issued a news release in mid-July, marking the halfway point of the "100 Deadliest Days" between Memorial Day and Labor Day. So far this year, there have been 65 motorcyclist fatalities - an increase of 25% from this time in 2020, it read. Thirty-five of these motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet. There were only two such fatalities at this point last year. Motorist are encouraged to help the safety of motorcyclists by paying attention and looking twice for motorcycles, since their smaller size makes them more prone to being hidden in a vehicle's blind spots or simply being overlooked. Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 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. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection has opened the first part of the two-part exhibition Irrititja Kuwarri Tjungu (Past & Present Together): 50 Years of Papunya Tula Artists, tracing the Papunya Tula Artists movement from 1971 through the mid-1990s. It can be seen through Feb. 27, 2022. The second part, celebrating the role of women artists and featuring paintings created during and since the 1990s, will be open from March 17, 2022, to Feb. 26, 2023. Boomalli Prints and Paper: Making Space as an Art Collective can be seen through June 19, 2022. Breathe with Me: A Wandering Sculpture Trail can be seen outdoors through Sunday. Make reservations to visit. Tours have resumed and will be led for free by volunteer guides at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day the museum is open. Longer tour experiences for groups will be available for purchase. Masks are required. Make reservations at kluge-ruhe.org. 400 Worrell Drive. (434) 244-0234. Greater Albany Public School's so-called listening sessions were supposed to quell emotions, to be a safe space for people to voice questions and concerns. But the first stab of this new kind of public forum on Monday prompted a school board member to walk out amid outbursts from audience members and an analogy equating masks with the Nazi Germany's use of the Star of David. The analogy came from an employee assigned to tend to the district's most vulnerable students. GAPS devised the listening sessions in response to the length of public comments at school board meetings. Currently members of the public may submit written comments, which are either read aloud or summarized by interim Superintendent Rob Saxton, about items on the school board agenda. Monday's session at Central School was the first. Another is planned from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 at South Shore Elementary School, 910 Bain St. SE. On Monday, Tara Dixson, foster care liaison at GAPS, compared mask wearing to being forced to wear a yellow Star of David during the Holocaust. Some audience members protested that the comparison was inappropriate, while others gave a standing ovation when Dixson finished speaking. In response, school board member Michael Thomson left the meeting. There are lines and as a volunteer I can choose to leave, Thomson said in an interview the next day. Had it been a racial epithet, I would have done the same thing. After Dixson's comment, Saxton made clear that the comparison was inaccurate, as the Holocaust resulted in the deaths of millions, and mask-wearing protects people. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. I do think that when you invite public opinion you get full opinion from the public, Saxton said in a separate interview. There are times when people might say things that will stretch your thinking personally. There were a couple of things that I felt were difficult to listen to, and one that I thought was not appropriate. Other comments made Monday included concerns about critical race theory, the upcoming vaccine mandate for teachers and the potential merging of Takena and Central schools. Each speaker had eight minutes to address Saxton, Thompson and board member Pete Morse. Board members will rotate for each listening session. Because the entire school board does not attend each listening session, they are not live streamed or recorded. This was the first listening session of many throughout the year in place of traditional public comment during school board meetings. Thomson said the listening sessions are a good idea, but it would be better if they were livestreamed, so people who cannot attend could watch them later. If you make a comment at a regularly scheduled meeting, it gets put in the minutes, he said. Thats whats missing here. The full schedule for the listening sessions is available on the district website at albany.k12.or.us/listening-session. Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 1 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 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. Thank you for the article in the Sept. 26 issue titled Jailbreak shines light on mass incarceration of Palestinians. Israels use of mass imprisonment plays a major role in its system of control over the Palestinian people; this prison break was celebrated widely. Most Palestinians view all Palestinians under Israeli incarceration as political prisoners in the national struggle for liberation. According to Addameer (Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association), immediately following the six prisoners escape from Gilboa Prison on Sept. 6, the Israeli Prison Services forcibly transferred more than 350 Palestinian prisoners to unknown locations across Israeli prisons, including interrogation wings. The IPS then instituted a large-scale lockdown, denying all access including from families and lawyers to more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners. Collective punishment by an occupying force is prohibited under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. To many, the prison break on Sept. 6 symbolized the possibility for Palestinians as a whole to break free of the occupation. It was a metaphor for the Palestinian peoples resolute will to freedom. Valori George and Joshua Hough Corvallis Palestine Solidarity Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 News featured Interstate movers left in limbo after Denton company hasn't delivered their things Al Key/DRC 1512 Interstate 35W, Suite 104, the address listed for Sirius Van Lines, is shown on Tuesday evening. Leslie McAskill of California packed up her possessions for a cross-country move this summer, but the Denton-based company that picked up her belongings didnt deliver her things when they said they would. During a summer that one interstate moving industry worker called the busiest in his experience, many moving companies were unable to fulfill orders due to a shortage of workers and trucks. Sirius Van Lines, a moving company with a Denton warehouse, took on much of the bookings from Alliance Van Lines, which seeks moving contracts for customers. Now, Sirius has yet to fulfill several of its deliveries, leading to multiple complaints and police reports in more than one state. Its federal license to offer interstate moving services was revoked in July, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. A couple of people reported possible theft and fraud to the Denton Police Department, but investigators closed at least one case believing that Sirius is just a failing company and that there wasnt intent to commit theft. McAskill, 67, went all summer without her belongings after making the move to Kentucky from California to live with her daughter, Rachel. Rachel McAskill said the first available delivery date for her moms things was July 12 and the latest date 30 business days after. The 30th day passed, and she still didnt have her things. We just want some kind of answer, she said in September. If [they] could just tell us, Given COVID, we have less drivers, fine. That would give me a little bit of peace. But as of now, no answers, it makes you wonder if they even have your stuff or if theyre going to deliver it. Were not asking for much. Just information. The McAskills didnt respond Tuesday for an update on their situation. Leslie McAskill had been preparing since January for the big move, and she was excited. Rachel McAskill said her mother paid a deposit of $1,389 and then added another $500 to that deposit because she added more stuff to the move. Upon pickup, she said she paid Sirius $1,500, with the remaining balance due upon delivery of the items. She started packing four months before the move [and got rid of] the stuff she knew she wasnt going to need, Rachel McAskill said. Weve been planning this for four years now. She retired, and she wanted to move in to spend time with her only grandson. What was supposed to be a joyous moment has kind of turned into I dont know how to say it. For the worst, for her. Her mom initially contacted moving company Alliance Van Lines about relocating, got a quote, paid a deposit and was given a pickup date. What she didnt know is Alliance Van Lines books moves for people but does not actually make the pickups. To be a booking agent [with us], they have to have a license, John Edwards of Alliance Van Lines said. All of our carriers are licensed and insured. We have 409 [hauling] agreements with everybody. We cant just dispatch out to anybody. Edwards said Alliance checks once a year with the agents they book with to see if their licenses are valid. Edwards said he has several customers who are having service issues with Sirius Van Lines and that Alliance isnt getting orders from them anymore. He said summertime is the busiest season for long-distance moving because kids are out of school. This summer was different because there were fewer moving trucks, movers and moving companies because some of those businesses fell through the cracks. Ive been working with [Sirius] for multiple years and never had issues like this, Edwards said. Their customer service got overwhelming, and they disappeared on everyone. I think that what happened this summer is they took on too much work that they could handle. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revoked the companys license for refusal of audit/No Contact interstate commerce. This license is required for businesses that offer interstate moving services. According to the FMCSA, the company has received 44 complaints this year. Thirty-six were relating to pickup and delivery, 24 were about deceptive business practices, and 21 were about estimates/final charges and hostage. The FMCSA on its website says a complaint can fall into more than one category. The Denton Record-Chronicle called two phone numbers listed online for Sirius Van Lines but had not received a call back by Tuesday evening. Edwards said Sirius owner, Alon Sabin, now operates under a different name called Van Lines Express Brand LLC. Sabin didnt return a call for comment. Van Lines Express Brand, based in Hickory Creek, is currently licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation but isnt authorized to operate. The Record-Chronicle called the phone number listed for Van Lines Express Brand on the Department of Transportations database, but had not received a call back by Tuesday evening. Several Sirius Van Lines customers have alleged the company hasnt followed through on their deliveries following cross-country moves via police reports, complaints to a federal motor carrier agency, complaints to the Better Business Bureau and allegations that customer service staff havent responded or helped. Amy Cunningham, a spokesperson for the Denton Police Department, said one report was deactivated because it was out of their jurisdiction. Another caller on Aug. 10 said she paid the company $630 to move her items from Dallas to California, paid an additional $685 upon pickup and hadnt received her belongings. Cunningham said that case was then closed after the caller went to the Denton warehouse and was able to load up her belongings. Its believed its a failing business situation with no intent to commit theft, Cunningham said. Another report from Aug. 2 alleged a persons belongings were picked up and they havent been able to get in touch with anyone to schedule a delivery. The Better Business Bureau opened an investigation into Sirius Van Lines in July after getting complaints with the same pattern as the McAskills. The complainants alleged the company received payments to move peoples belongings across state lines but didnt follow through. Attempts from customers to reach them to get their belongings were met with arbitrary and unfulfilled deadlines for delivery, and sometimes they werent able to reach customer service. Rachel McAskill said she and her mother have called multiple times but never get a call back. By the end of September, her mother had gone three months without 67 years worth of tangible memories. Its sad and almost like hopeless feelings at times, Rachel McAskill said. I know its not my stuff, but Im having to see my family member suffer with the unknown of where this is going to end up, how this is going to end up. The BBB sent the company correspondence to address the complaints, but Sirius Van Lines hasnt responded to any communication. When she was able to speak to someone, Rachel McAskill said she found out her mothers things are at the Denton warehouse. I want to fly out there and go to the warehouse and get a U-Haul and hire some movers and drive it here, she said. I dont know if that would work out as beautiful as that sounds. Id do anything to get her stuff back. Edwards said one of his customers sons called recently to report some good news. The son was in Rachels position of helping a parent get their things back. His mothers shipment recently got delivered, Edwards said. As upset as people are, I think everybodys shipments are still safe. Its just Sirius is having a serious issue getting shipments out because delivery costs grew astronomically in the summertime and there are a lot of companies that didnt make the proper adjustments. 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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 Secretary of State's Office announced on Monday that it's investigating a second complaint alleging campaign finance violations by Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters. Hungary is launching a HUF5 billion (US$16 million) initiative to help consumers switch from 3G devices to 4G/5G smartphones. According to Budapest Business Journal, around half a million Hungarians are still using devices that cannot access 4G services. Monika Karas, the head of Hungarys National Media & Infocommunications Authority, has confirmed that from February 2022 a subsidy totalling HUF20,000 will be made available to help users upgrade to newer devices. This sum would fully cover the cost of around 250,000 device upgrades. CommsUpdate reports that the upgrade initiative will be implemented by the NMHH alongside the Ministry of Innovation & Technology. The move is timely, with both Hungarian market leader Magyar Telekom and rival Telenor Hungary recently indicating that they planned to start winding down their 3G networks from around June 2022. Vodafone Hungary has confirmed plans to shutter its 3G network accounting for market conditions and subscriber needs, but has not set a date. According to TeleGeography, Telenor Hungarys Tamas Csaba specified that the operator aims to shut down UMTS-900 in 2022 and and UMTS-2100 the following year, adding that currently 3G data traffic accounts for 3% of its total and was constantly declining. However, Csaba acknowledged that the device subsidy may not provide enough of an incentive for 3G users to upgrade since most were pre-paid customers with little data usage. Magyar Telekoms Istvan Taszner said: The date of [3G] withdrawal is determined by the deadline for the tasks to be solved and thus the achievement of the minimum customer disturbance. Moscow, ID (83843) Today Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low near 35F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low near 35F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Beasley, who has taught in the system for 32 years, claimed age and sex discrimination, stating that the policy negatively affected teachers, who in her district are disproportionately women. She also said that when she took her complaints to the mostly male school board, the teachers were written off as whiny females. Stated otherwise, they dismissed our claims and told us to cut out the female hysteria and shut up, she wrote. Rebecca Kennedy, who teaches fourth grade at Holt Elementary School, said she was inundated with calls and emails from virtual students that kept her up late at night. I am an educated, trained and experienced teacher, not a computer scientist or web designer, Kennedy wrote. ...While everyone, including teachers, must do their best during this pandemic, the burden of the pandemic should not and cannot be solely carried on the backs of already overworked and underpaid educators,especially when most of them are women, and most of them also have to be the primary caregivers of their children and other relatives. Heres a challenge few if any people saw coming: Alabama schools are experiencing food shortages. This week, Alexander City Schools asked parents to feed their children at home before sending them to school or send snacks or other food with them, because theres no guarantee therell be anything to feed them at the schoolhouse. In Dothan, city school Superintendent Dennis Coe initially warned parents that if the situation worsens, theyd send the students home and return to remote learning, but later assured parents the system would find enough food for the students. Its not that were in dire economic times, although the result is the same. Its because of a one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted the usual flow of supplies and created a dearth of available workers. For some public school families, its an inconvenience. Theyll have to factor in meals for their school-age children and make sure they remember to take them to school. For many others, however, it means theyll go hungry. An SUV is seen at an event in central Quang Nam Province. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh Auto sales in Vietnam plunged 50 percent year-on-year to 13,537 units in September as Covid-19-triggered social distancing forced dealers to close. This is the second monthly lowest figure this year behind August with 8,884 units sold, according to Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA). In the first nine months, sales rose 5 percent year-on-year, compared to 40 percent in the first half, showing a decline in sales in the third quarter when strict social distancing measures were imposed in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) led in sales in the first nine months with 65,764 units sold, up 10 percent year-on-year. The remaining four companies in the top five saw sales decline. Toyota came in second with 38,055 units sold, down 7 percent. It was followed by Mitsubishi, Ford and Honda. The hatchback VinFast Fadil was the best-selling car in September, followed by the sedan Hyundai Accent and SUV Kia Seltos. A worker is seen at the factory of Datalogic in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong The operation capacity increase of Datalogic Vietnam brought relief to its CEO Tran Tien Phat after months of limited production, even though he confronts worker shortages and lack of orders. The HCMC-based electronics manufacturer company has seen its workforce grow from 40 percent to around 60 percent after the city eased social distancing earlier this month. "We plan to recruit and welcome employees back to the factory, and expect productivity to return to 80 percent in the last months of the year," Phat told VnEpxress International. The companys current goal is to win back orders and seek more customers, he added. Since HCMC started reopening its economic activities earlier this month, companies have been trying to increase their production, boost manufacturing in the last quarter after three months of limited operations. With 74.5 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated, the city is gradually lifting restrictions to "live with Covid-19," as the new normal and trying to avoid another citywide closure. Businesses under the Food and Foodstuff Association of HCMC are working to recover production from the current 50 percent of capacity to 80 or even 100 percent by the end of the year. Many companies are also targeting the domestic market, expecting to see rising demand in the remaining months and in the Lunar New Year holiday which runs from late January to early February, 2022, the Government News Portal quoted chairwoman of the association Ly Kim Chi as saying. But several difficulties remain for businesses to fulfill their plans. Japanese companies in Vietnam want to reach total capacity as soon as possible, but because the stay-at-work scheme is still in place, companies need to submit dozens of documents to comply with the regulations, said Takeo Nakajima, chief representative of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Hanoi and vice-chairman of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). "It takes time. We still wait and see how business activities will resume after restrictions are lifted," he said, noting that while some companies are back to normal others have not resumed operations. Many workers cannot commute to factories, and a large number of employees who left for their hometown will not return anytime soon, he said, adding that delays continue in cross-border delivery of parts and materials. "We do not have data on the Japanese companies' revenue and profits in 2021. But I won't be surprised if it would be one of the lowest ones in decades," Nakajima said. As HCMC authorities relax their control and ask companies to take responsibility for curbing the spread of Covid-19, some companies playing safe with their reopening, waiting for the pandemic situation to come under better control before resuming full capacity. Sewing machine maker Juki Vietnam in District 7 has said it will continue with the stay-at-work model to ensure production is not interrupted. The company is compiling data of all its employees to report to the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) so it can resume full production soon, said CEO Dao Quoc Cuong. Other companies are experiencing labor shortage as a serious hindrance. Datalogic Vietnam is having difficulties recruiting employees to the positions of managers and quality inspectors. Other challenges it is facing include a global shortage of components, shipping costs increasing every week and transportation delays. Expensive reopening "To meet [reopening] requirements, our business has to spend a huge amount of money," Phat said, referring to the cost of testing all of its on-site workers to get them the green pass, a work permit which contains all Covid-related information of the holder. Costs like building temporary houses and transportation to bring workers back were not part of the original expense plans for the year and will likely eat into profits. For South Korean companies in HCMC and neighboring provinces, the immediate target is to increase production capacity, which is currently at 20-30 percent of pre-pandemic levels. "The short-term goal is to try and gradually adjust to the new normal," said Lee Jong Seob, president of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Southeast Asia-Oceania and general director of KOTRA in Hanoi. The main challenges Korean companies face are increasing transportation costs, financial burden due to stay-at-work and testing expenses, and labor shortages, he said. "The fact that many workers have returned to their hometown gives business owners the headache of bringing them back for resuming production." Lee proposed that the government facilitates the interprovincial movement of workers so they can travel back to the city for work. Also, a free flow of goods should be ensured as the current procedures for logistics and shipment are both time consuming and very expensive, he added. "There should be more support policies for businesses to reduce business costs, in the form of credit support, tax exemptions, extensions, etc." Nakajima said Japanese companies need more guidelines in acquiring the green pass as many are not sure if employees who have received one vaccine shot can return to work or whether two shots are mandatory. The "post-fourth wave period" will be a crucial one for Vietnam in regaining its reputation and the confidence of international investors. It has to send a message that it is still a safe country to do business. "If Vietnam continues to impose stringent containment policies, foreign investors' assessment of the country will be more negative even when a significant portion of the nation gets the second vaccine," Nakajima said. Reopening the border is also a critical question for multinational enterprises, as experts and engineers need to travel in and out of Vietnam freely, he added. The government this week issued a new set of regulations on controlling Covid-19, assuring goods could be transported freely between localities, while manufacturing facilities operate despite the local severity of the pandemic. An excavator speeds up work to reinforce the embankment at a local beach. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the storm was 490 km away from Thanh Hoa, 495 km away from Nghe An and 475 km away from Ha Tinh with wind speeds of 90-100 kph. It was expected to move west at the speed of 25-30 kph over the next three hours. The storm then would enter the southern sea regions of the Gulf of Tonkin and may gradually weaken, said the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. By 10 a.m. Thursday, it would be located above the sea areas off provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh with a maximum wind speed of 75 kph. Within the next 24 hours, the storm would maintain its direction and speed, making landfall between Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh and devolve into a tropical depression, weather experts predict. Turkey will donate 200,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Vietnam, its vice president, Fuat Oktay, told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Tuesday. Speaking to the Vietnamese PM by telephone, he also promised "several" oxygen generators and other medical equipment for treating Covid-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. At the time of going to the press, it was not known which vaccine Turkey planned to provide. Chinh thanked the Turkish government for the gesture, and said he looked forward to sharing experiences and working closely with Turkey in combating the pandemic and reopening the economy. Oktay said Turkey is also ready to share with Vietnam the "development results" of its indigenous vaccine, Turkovac, and mutually recognize vaccine passports. Despite the pandemic, trade between the two countries increased by 26 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of this year to more than $1 million. Turkey has invested over $700 million in Vietnam. The government expects to receive 54 million vaccine doses in October from various sources, which will raise the total number so far to 110 million, according to the Ministry of Health. The country of 96 million has vaccinated around 55.2 million people at least once and fully vaccinated 16 million. Educational institutions in key host countries, most of which bore the brunt of Covid's fury last year, are reopening their doors to international students, including those from Vietnam. One silver lining of Covid-19 and its impact on global higher education is that overseas study has become a "buyer's market." There are more high-quality, fulfilling, and meaningful study abroad opportunities than ever, resulting in the agony of choice. Of over 250,000 young Vietnamese studying overseas at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, seven of 10 are in five countries. In descending order, they are Japan (62,233, 2020), South Korea (59,876, 2020), the U.S. (25,816, June 2021), Australia (22,823, July 2021), and Canada (~21,222, 2020). Rounding out the top 10 hosts are Taiwan, mainland China, Germany, Russia, and France. Other destinations with sizable numbers of students from Vietnam are the U.K., Finland, and New Zealand. Some other up-and-coming places with considerable untapped potential include Ireland and the Netherlands, where Vietnamese students number in the hundreds. Not surprisingly, 63 percent of all Vietnamese studying overseas are relatively close to home in East Asia. This reflects the close cultural and business ties that these countries have with Vietnam, including trade relationships and the influence of popular culture. After English, the most popular foreign languages are Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, skills that many are putting to good use in their work for public, private, and non-profit entities that do business with those countries. Rosy picture All of this is good news for young people and their parents who have an interest in overseas study. There is literally something for everyone in terms of location, degrees, programs, cost and post-graduation employment opportunities. Some more good news is that many foreign institutions want and need international students because they recognize their intrinsic and tangible benefits. The former is a reference to student body diversity while the latter includes tuition revenue and other examples of economic impact. In order to attract more international students, whose numbers declined after the arrival of Covid-19 in those countries, institutions are offering a variety of financial incentives that make it more affordable for qualified and deserving students. Vietnamese students have a well-earned reputation for strong academics, dedication, and participation in extracurricular activities, including in leadership roles. Where? Thats the question If students dont have a strong preference and are open to different opportunities, the process of choosing a shortlist among so many appealing alternatives is both an art and a science. Each country and its education system have their own unique set of advantages and drawbacks. Some countries are known for being among the most student-friendly for international students while others with a pro-immigration policy offer clear post-graduation employment pathways. All the host countries offer programs in general and vocational education. Students attend an education fair in Vietnam in 2019. Photo by Global Education Fair Studying in the European Union gives students the golden opportunity to travel in 26 Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Several countries offer quality education at a reasonable cost. Study in Germany is free in most states (Lander), assuming students can pass the German language proficiency test and gain admission to a university. The average cost of living is about $12,000 a year. In Finland, international students paid between $4,700-21,000 in 2019-20 for bachelors and masters degree programs taught in English. Monthly living expenses for room, board, travel, insurance, etc. range from $800 to $1,000, depending upon the location. In the U.S., overall costs can be much lower than average if the student is able to win need-based aid or earn a merit-based scholarship, or if she/he is willing to live in a location with a lower cost of living, e.g., the Midwest or the South. In most countries, international students can have a part-time job with some placing restrictions on the number of hours per week visa-holders can work. One notable exception is the U.S., which only allows on campus employment and post-graduation employment on a student visa through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. While most programs are offered in the local language, many countries have programs taught in English, which tend to be more expensive. Included in this category are bi-national partnerships such as Duke Kunshan University in China and branch campuses like the University of Utahs Asia campus in Seoul (Incheon), South Korea. Most host countries offer an array of scholarships funded by the respective national government and educational institutions, assuming students are proficient in the local language, e.g., Chinese, French, German, and Russian. U.S. a top draw There were just over a million students from all over the world in the U.S. last year, most of them enrolled at the nations colleges and universities. That included about 25,000 from Vietnam, which ranked fourth among sending countries. In spite of stiff competition from Australia, Canada, the U.K. and other countries and some vexing problems and unresolved issues at home, U.S. higher education remains a leading global brand. The most obvious reason, a so-called pull factor, is world-renowned quality, especially in research, as measured by rankings, academic awards, and grants and contracts, but also teaching, depending upon the institution. Another is the sheer size of its higher education system, which reflects the vastness of the country of which it is a part (4,690 km from New York to California and 2,863 km from Canada to Mexico by car). It includes 50 different state (public) systems of higher education and hundreds of private, non-profit institutions, which means that there is something for everyone in terms of academics, extracurricular activities, climate, cost, internships, and location. There are urban, suburban, and small college town settings from which to choose. There are nearly 4,000 regionally accredited (RA) institutions, the gold standard of institutional accreditation. The happy reality is that most of the country is safe, including secondary and postsecondary educational institutions and their communities. A third reason is the large number and variety of scholarship opportunities, now more than ever because of the detrimental impact of Covid-19 on enrollments, both domestic and international. Aid packages can include both self-help (employment) and gift aid (scholarships and grants) offered by the more selective institutions. Studying in the U.S. is among the most expensive options in the world on paper but can be very affordable after discounts, need-based aid, and merit-based scholarships have been deducted from the official cost. Finally, U.S. institutions are known for the quality of their student services, including academic and career advising. There are many enrichment opportunities and its up to students to be proactive and take advantage of them. One caveat: studying in the U.S. is not for everyone. For example, if students dont have the necessary qualifications to earn a scholarship to defray the overall cost, it may be too expensive. If theyre looking for a seamless transition to the world of work either on a temporary or permanent basis, other countries have a clear and predictable pathway to accomplish this goal. However, if students goal is long-term employment and, possibly more (permanent residency and citizenship), they still have the opportunity to work after they complete their degree for one to three years, depending upon their major, through the OPT program. Some international graduates are then able to shift to an H-1B (work) visa with the assistance of employers who are pleased with their performance and wish to retain them, to mention one possibility. Carpe Diem Students who decide the U.S. is for them should create a shortlist of "best fit" institutions to which they would like to apply based on accurate information, realistic expectations, and quality guidance that has their best interests at heart, be it from a consultant, an education agent, or other source of assistance. If they feel sufficiently confident and empowered, they should by all means apply on their own. If the U.S. is not a good fit, for whatever reasons, then students should shift their focus to another country that welcomes Vietnamese and other international students. There is a world of overseas study opportunities from which to choose. Ultimately, you, your host institution and country and Vietnam will benefit immeasurably from this life-changing experience. *Mark A. Ashwill, Ph.D. is the managing director and co-founder of Capstone Vietnam, a full-service educational consulting company established in 2009. From 2005-09, he served as a country director of the Institute of International Education-Vietnam. Low travel demand causes more flights to be canceled An aircraft takes off from Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi, October 11, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Though domestic flights have resumed on some routes after two months of being grounded, many lack enough passengers to fly. Only nine out of 19 permitted flights took off on Tuesday while an equal number were canceled as they had few or no passengers. The other failed to leave due to quarantine regulations, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). Those that were canceled due to lack of passengers were from HCMC to Da Nang, Phu Yen, Hai Phong, Rach Gia, and Ca Mau; Da Nang to Can Tho and Dak Lak; Hanoi to Da Nang; and Thanh Hoa to Lam Dong. The HCMC-Gia Lai flight operated by Vietjet Air was also canceled for a second consecutive day as authorities in the Central Highlands province required arrivals from HCMC to undergo seven-day quarantine. Hanoi, Hai Phong and Thua Thien-Hue too had such requirements before they scrapped them and allowed passengers from HCMC to monitor their health at home for seven days. A spokesperson for a carrier said the travel demand to HCMC remains low, forcing cancelation of flights to avoid losses. Besides, airlines are only allowed to sell 50 percent of their seats due to social distancing requirements, leading to an increase in fares. The CAAV wants the Ministry of Transport to remove the requirement after the trial program ends on October 20. The ministry requires all passengers to be fully immunized at least 14 days before travel or have recovered from Covid-19 within the previous six months. They should also furnish Covid negative results obtained within 72 hours of departure. The United States will contribute nearly $180 million in additional assistance for the humanitarian crisis facing Rohingya in and outside of Burma, as well as for Rohingya refugees and affected host communities in neighboring Bangladesh. In late September, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the announcement, which brings the total U.S. contribution to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis to more than $1.5 billion since August 2017 when more than 740,000 Rohingya were forced to seek safety in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh due to ethnic cleansing and other horrific atrocities and abuses in Burmas Rakhine State. This assistance will save lives, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. It will provide protection, shelter, food, safe drinking water, health care, and psychosocial support. It will support disaster preparedness and COVID-19 relief for Rohingya. And it will bolster access to education and skills training for Rohingya in Bangladesh. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield praised the Government of Bangladesh and its people who have taken on an enormous responsibility in hosting refugees. U.S. humanitarian assistance also provides support to more than 472,000 affected members of the local host community in Bangladesh. In a press statement about the additional U.S. funding, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price underscored the need for continuing commitment by the international community to addressing and resolving this crisis. He too praised the people and Government of Bangladesh for the generous response to those who have sought refuge in their country. However, more assistance is required, he said. We urge other donors to come forward now with additional funds to sustain and increase support for the Rakhine State/Rohingya refugee crisis. Spokesperson Price pointed out that many of those who led the military coup in Burma in February 2021 are the same individuals who are responsible for atrocities against Rohingya, as well as atrocities and other human rights abuses against members of other ethnic and religious minority groups. The military junta must immediately stop the violence, release all those unjustly detained, restore Burmas path to democracy, and implement ASEANs Five Point Consensus, he declared. We also call on the regime to allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need -- including for the delivery of critical COVID-19 assistance. ELKO Clearly Nevada Gallery is hosting the work of Dave Patton, a lifelong artist. My dad was a photographer, Patton said. He mostly did food photography before World War II. He was hired to become the head of the photography department for Ampex Corporation, a big company that first invented videotape. There were five kids in the family and from an early age he taught us photography. He would pay me a nickel a print in the darkroom. Ultimately, that helped me get into the career that I was in, which was television. After serving in the military, Patton was looking desperately for a job. A buddy from the Marine Corps told him to come to the town where he was sheriff in California. I got a job at the local TV station, KCOY, in Santa Maria, California. They hired me because all of their news footage was done on film. Patton developed still images. He was also good at illustration and architecture, so he started helping with graphics and building sets. He then got a job at KRON TV in San Francisco. Later he became an art director at KPIX. His career moved forward in computer graphics and Patton worked for Pittard Sulivan, a company that was a broadcast advertising and design agency. He had the opportunity to work in Eastern Europe, Turkey and Israel. He worked out of Munich for about seven years. I loved Israel because every extra minute I had, I would go to Jerusalem, Patton said. He shot a large amount of film each time he was there, occasionally having it taken or exposed by security officers. In retirement, Patton moved to Elko where he helped a local photographer shoot rodeo. He eventually got involved with Shooting the West and Stuart Scofield, who was then overseeing the popular photography symposium. Patton took local classes in photography at Great Basin College. All along Patton has been working on his own imagery. A few years back he did an exhibition at Northeastern Nevada Museum centered on the concept of Wabi Sabi, a Japanese philosophy of accepting the imperfection or transience of life. Pattons imagery tied into Nevadas history of rust, weathering and patterns of change. I like old stuff thats been buried in the ground forever or used so much that its all cracked and worn. Or, really old people that are all wrinkled. There is a beauty to them. His exhibit focuses mostly on panoramic work. He uses a Linhof technorama camera that shoots three frames as one image. Patton also uses a Nikon 7000 for other imagery. There are desert scenes and a vertical of a very old, deceased tree trunk in Yosemite National Park. He said the tree looked like that when he was a child and it is still there today. Elko murals: Love 1 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. Builders worldwide tend to favor materials like brick and cement when constructing houses as they tend to last longer than wood and can help keep homes either cool or warm depending on the climate. In the United States, wood has long been the preferred building material in the residential construction sector. According to Valdus Construction, builders have opted for wood over brick in many parts of the country because wood is a flexible material capable of withstanding low-intensity earthquakes or light tornadoes. The price has also driven its popularity. Typically wood has been a comparatively cheap building material because of the ample supply provided by the country's significant logging industry. However, domestic and global supply chains fell apart during the pandemic, and with a surge in demand paralleling this supply shortage, prices hit record levels. One report from April 2021 showed that the increase in the price of lumber had boosted the cost of constructing a single-family home by more than $35,000. As the market stabilizes, most experts are confident that prices will return to their pre-pandemic levels. Historical availability of wood When European colonizers first came to the United States, they opted to construct many houses and commercial buildings from wood because it was readily available. Additionally, many settlers chose wood as a building material because structures can be built more quickly than when using brick or cement. However, this has come at a high environmental price. Forest experts estimate that in 1630, around half of land in the US was forested, totaling more than 1.02 billion acres. By 1910, this level had fallen to approximately 721 million acres. This widespread deforestation led to the endangerment and extinction of many animals and many other long-term consequences. In the twentieth century, deforestation and ecosystem degradation motivated many environmentalists to call on the government to exercise more control over the logging sector. Nevertheless, the United States continues to be a significant player within the global timber market, occupying the top spot on the list of countries with the highest annual harvesting volumes. Sustainability and Legality When examining the wood product market and the laws that govern its trade, it is critical to understand that legal and sustainable are not synonymous. Just because there is a legal standard does not mean it aims to ensure the sustainable use of forest products, and visa-versa, a long-term forest management plan could be "sustainable" and still violate the law. The Forest Legality Initiative at the World Resources Institute explained that many countries have shifted focus to legality to avoid debates over the metrics used to evaluate sustainability. In a 2018 publication, researchers wrote that "after years of debate, stakeholders had not been able to reach a consensus on what qualified as sustainable," which prompted many countries to place a greater emphasis on forest legality. This change allowed governments to enact laws that integrated sustainability to support the unique forest context in their country. Illegal logging in the United States The illegal wood trade is the fourth largest black market globally, costing governments up to $152 billion in lost revenue from the payment of taxes and royalties. In 2008, the United States amended the Lacey Act to include timber and forest products. The amendment prohibited the import, export, transport, harvest, and storage of illegally sourced wood products. Under Lacey, private sector actors must practice due care to limit the risk of illegal material entering their supply chains. The European Union, Australia, Japan, and South Korea have followed suit and implemented similar laws over the last decade. While these laws represent an essential step in restricting illegal trade, significant gaps in global supply chains still allow for wood products of illicit origin to make it into regulated markets. The extent to which illegal wood products are entering the US market became evident after a study was published by the World Wildlife Fund, the World Resources Institute, and the US Forest Service Forest Products Lab. The organizations found that of the nearly seventy-five wood products examined, over half were mislabeled. This meant that the product had a certain species listed that was later shown to be inaccurate. Experts see mislabeling as one indicator that a product could be of illegal origin. The results show that many consumers are purchasing products that are being advertised falsely. Mislabeling can be difficult to prove as it requires scientific testing to validate if the label is accurate. However, the Department of Justice has prosecuted various cases against US-based companies for failing to adequately control their supply chains. In 2016, Lumber Liquidators pled guilty and paid more than $10 million in fines after an investigation confirmed that some of their flooring products were illegally sourced from China and the Russian Far East. Housing and the illegal wood trade Consumers have few resources to reduce the risk of purchasing wood products of illegal origin. There are fewer risks within the residential construction sector as many of the species used are not at a high risk of illegality. Many of the most common species used in the construction are softwoods like spruce, fir, and pine. The risk is higher when looking at furniture and flooring (i.e., Lumber Liquidators). When buying these products, a few questions can be asked to gauge the measures taken by a retailer to reduce the risk of illegal material from entering the supply chain. In just a few short weeks, world leaders will gather in Scotland for the 2021 Glasgow Climate Change Conference, after the event pandemic caused event leaders to postpone. This year's event is significant because it marks five years since the signing of the historic Paris Climate Accords. As a part of the agreement, countries are tasked with reporting on and reevaluating their nationally determined contributions every five years. Major announcements from countries on how they plan to meet their climate targets are expected at this year's event. Presidnet Biden tries to reestablish the US as a leader on combating climate change Just after taking office, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad," which outlined the initial steps his Administration would take regarding climate. The Presidnet committed himself to host a Leaders' Climate Summit to re-establish the US as a leader on combatting global climate change. During the event, hosted in the Spring, President Biden announced a historic emissions reduction target in which he committed the country to reduce fossil fuel emissions by fifty percent from the levels recorded in 2005 by 2030. However, he does not have the authority to enact the changes needed to meet this target alone. President Biden has called leaders of various environmental agencies to work together to help the country meet the targets he has outlined. One of the key directives was for the Department of the Interior. He called on the agency "to increase renewable energy production on" public lands and waters "with the goal of doubling offshore wind by 2030 while ensuring robust protection for our lands, waters, and biodiversity and creating good jobs." Secretary Deb Haaland announces historic clean energy plans On Wednesday 13 October, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, announced her agency's plans "to increase renewable energy production on public lands and waters including a commitment to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030." The Secretary also spoke to the urgency the government needs to act with saying, that her agency "is meeting the moment." However, with any major infrastructure project, the possible impacts must be evaluated. The department is currently examining various projects and locations to begin building to ensure that "the needs of other ocean users and potentially impacted communities" are met. Where will the wind farms be established? At the Boston-based event, Sec. Haaland informed the public that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is working to establish seven new offshore leases to build wind farms by 2025. The BOEM has identified various locations, including: the Gulf of Maine; the New York Bright; the Central Atlantic (North Carolina and South Carolina); the Gulf of Mexico; and the West Coast (California and Oregon). The agency hopes to be able to make the exact locations will be made public soon. At this point, the agency is focused on engaging with a wide group of stakeholders, like "government agencies, Tribes, industry, ocean users," to develop "clear goals, objectives, and guidelines." The department must also review the available science to ensure that the projects do not create negative impacts on the marine ecosystems in the areas that are selected. Environmental officials from nearly 20 countries, as well as the European Union, attended a roundtable on "Putting Biodiversity on a Path of Recovery", both in person and virtually, on Tuesday at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, in southwest China's Yunnan Province. Yasmine Fouad, environment minister of Egypt, and Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, as co-chairs of the two-hour session, discussed with their global peers how to protect, restore and sustainably use biodiversity. "Protecting and restoring biodiversity is the key and foundation for solving all issues, including climate, health, food and water security and sustainable development," stressed Zhao at the opening. "To restore and realize biological diversity is an urgent task, and mankind must immediately make historic, transformational and overarching changes." In the introductory speech, Wei Fuwen, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China has achieved remarkable results in the protection of endangered species, ecosystem restoration and other areas, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the international community's response to corresponding challenges. "We must place species and ecosystems, as key elements of biodiversity and human well-being, at the foundation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework," said Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment. "We know that climate change is exerting additional stress on our cities, so we need to find strategies for mitigation. Biodiversity offers wonderful tools," Minister Celine Caron-Dagioni of Monaco said. "An approach that focuses on the lowest common denominator will not suffice," said European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius. Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Germany, Greece and other countries also introduced their practices and achievements on various issues such as ocean protection and wildlife conservation. Illustrative image. (Photo:nongnghiep.vn) The US imported over 97,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 615.68 million USD during the first seven months of this year, an increase of 0.5 percent in volume and a drop of 6.1 percent in value compared with the same period last year, according to US International Trade Commission. The volume of imports from most main suppliers increased, but the growth of imports from Vietnam was the lowest in the reviewed period. Specifically, the US imported 87,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 545.88 million USD from Vietnam, up 0.7 percent in volume but down 6.4 percent in value compared to last years figure. Strict social distancing measures and high freight costs caused by the fourth wave of COVID-19 have exerted a negative impact on Vietnamese cashew exports to the US. However, the share of Vietnam's cashew nut in the US market during the first seventh month of 2021 rose slightly to 89.26 percent from 89.08 percent last year. The country maintained its position as the number 1 cashew nut supplier of the US thanks to its stable supply and good quality. Vietnam Airlines operates first commercial flight on HCM City-Da Nang route The Da Nang International Airport welcomed the first commercial flight from HCM City operated by Vietnam Airlines on October 12 evening after the route was resumed, VNA reported the carrier s announcement on October 13. Passengers on the flight satisfies pandemic prevention and control requirements including a negative testing COVID-19 certificate, full vaccination of two shots, or certificate of recovery from the disease. (Photo: VNA) Passengers on the flight satisfied pandemic prevention and control requirements including a negative testing COVID-19 certificate, full vaccination of two shots, or certificate of recovery from the disease. The airline has restored 14 domestic routes since October 10. For the routes between Da Nang and Hanoi and HCM City, it is allowed to conduct five return flights on each route during the pilot period from October 10 to 20. The number is expected to increase in the coming days after cities issue specific pandemic prevention and control regulations and facilitate the travelling of people. Vietnam Airlines operated nine commercial flights on October 12, comprising two between Hanoi and HCM City, two each on routes connecting HCM City and Hue, Dong Hoi and Phu Quoc, and one between HCM City and Da Nang. The Hanoi-HCM City route is the most crowded with seat occupancy of up to 94 percent. Storm Kompasu shock at level 14 According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 4am on October 13, the location of Storm Kompasu, the eighth storm that has entered the East Sea/South China Sea this year was about 270 kilometres to the northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, packing 100-120 kilometres per hour winds (level 11) near its eye,. The projected path of Kompasu storm (Photo: nchmf.gov.vn) For the next 24 hours, the storm will move west at a speed of 25-30 kilometres per hour and is likely to gradually weaken in intensity, reported NDO. By 4am on October 14, the location of storm will be around 18.8 degrees north latitude and 107.7 degrees east longitude, packing 75-90 kilometres per hour winds (level 11). The danger zone in the East Sea in the next 24 hours will be 16.0 degrees north latitude and 117.0 degrees east longitude. All vessels operating in the danger zone are at high risk of being affected by strong winds, high waves and tornadoes. In the next 24-36 hours, the storm will move mainly westward, at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour, travel inland from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh provinces and weaken into a tropical depression. By 4pm on October 14, the location of the tropical depression will be around 18.7 degrees north latitude and 105.2 degrees east longitude. The strongest winds in the area near the centre of depression are expected to be about 40-50 kilometres per hour (level 6), with shock at level 8. 36 to 48 hours from now, the tropical depression will travel west at about 20 kilometres per hour inland and weaken into a low pressure area over Central Laos. The danger zone on the East Sea in the next 24-48 hours will be at 15.5 degrees north latitude, 111.0 degrees east longitude. All vessels operating in the danger zone are at high risk of being affected by strong winds, high waves and tornadoes./. General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, at the talks. (Photo: VNA) So said General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, on October 11 during online talks with Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Josephine Teo. At the talks, Minister To Lam stated that the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership has been continuously consolidated and developed in many fields, from politics and economy to security and defence. Along with that, the cooperation relationship between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and Singapore law enforcement agencies continues to be maintained and developed. The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore have actively cooperated in preventing and combating transnational crime. In particular, within the ASEAN framework, the two countries have actively participated and made joint contributions to improving the capacity of ensuring cybersecurity, preventing and combating cybercrime and high-tech crimes in the region. The two sides have actively coordinated to effectively implement the results of the AMCC-5 Conference by developing and finalizing legal documents in the field of cybersecurity; and developing an agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on cybersecurity cooperation. To further promote cybersecurity cooperation and prevention of cybersecurity crime and transnational crime, Minister To Lam proposed both sides reach consensus on ASEAN member states awareness and actions regarding cybersecurity, towards building common legal foundations conducive to international cooperation in the field. They need to work closely together to build the ASEAN Cybersecurity Centre, and establish a joint cooperation mechanism for relevant long-term and intensive training in the bloc with the support of dialogue countries such as China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, he added. During the talks, Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Josephine Teo emphasized that the good cooperation relationship between the law enforcement agencies of Singapore and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam over the past time has been constantly maintained and developed in all areas, thereby contributing to strengthening political trust and deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. She also said she believed that both sides will overcome difficulties and lay a foundation for further development in the future, towards building ASEAN with a heightened role and position in the region and the world./. Photo for illustration. (Source: VOV) The countrys 5% broken rice is currently on sale at between 433 USD and 437 USD per tonne, marking an increase of 40 USD per tonne from the export price seen in the middle of August. Furthermore, Thailand's 5% broken rice is currently at between 384 USD and 388 USD per tonne, a drop of 21 USD per tonne compared to mid-August. Elsewhere, Indian rice remains at between 368 USD and 372 USD per tonne and Pakistani rice at between 378 USD and 382 USD per tonne, a rise of 25 USD per tonne. In the segment of 25% broken rice, Vietnamese rice export price also stands at far higher than that of its competitors, with the price hovering at 403 USD per tonne on October 11, while Thai rice was traded at 373 USD per ton, and both Indian and Pakistani rice were sold at 338 USD per tonne. According to a representative of a rice business based in the Mekong Delta region, this increase in the Vietnamese rice export price can largely attributed to the fact that the Government has increased its purchase of national reserves, coupled with the rising demanding in the global market since the beginning of September. According to figures given by General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnamese rice exports in September reached over 593,600 tonnes of rice worth over 293.1 million USD, an increase of 19% in volume and 20.5% in value. The country also exported 4.57 million tonnes of rice worth over 2.41 billion USD during the nine-month period, a drop of 8.3% in volume and 1.2% in value against the same period from last year./. Ambassador Thai Xuan Dung presents the special prize to winner (Photo: VNA) In this round, 17 contestants were selected, representing Vietnamese communities in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Norway. This was one of the large-scale cultural events held by the Vietnamese Cultural and Art Association in the Czech Republic, with support from the Union of Overseas Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic. The event aimed to boost the connection among the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic and across Europe. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Hoang Dinh Thang, President of the Union of Overseas Vietnamese Associations in Europe, said that the Union of Overseas Vietnamese Associations in Europe was pleased to sponsor the event. The event not only aimed to discover new talents but also to tighten the cohesion and solidarity among the Vietnamese community in Europe and with the homeland, he emphasized. For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Thai Xuan Dung praised the efforts and role of the Vietnamese Cultural and Art Association in the Czech Republic, especially the organizing board of the contest, in promoting art movements as COVID-19 pandemic had been controlled in the Czech Republic. He expressed his hope that the Union of Overseas Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic would continue to support the Vietnamese Cultural and Art Association in the Czech Republic in holding meaningful cultural events. According to the organizing board, the contest received entries from over 17,000 participants from 17 European countries. The preliminary rounds were held online over two years to select 17 finalists. The contest was not purely a simple playground for artistic talents, but also a place for the overseas Vietnamese in Europe to support each other to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Tran Phuong Quyen from the Czech Republic was awarded special prize. In addition, the organizing board also presented 3 golden prizes, 5 silver prizes and 7 bronze prizes. Previously, the Vietnamese Cultural and Art Association in the Czech Republic held an event to celebrate Hanois 67th liberation anniversary at the SAPA Shopping Mall./. The activity was initiated in 2012 to honor efforts of girls empowerment globally. This year, the focus was on the importance of strengthening digital literacy for girls to ensure a safe and inclusive digital space. In 2019, the Swedish Embassy became the first Embassy in Hanoi to participate in the Girl Takeover series. Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Mawe held a discussion at the ceremony. (Photo: The Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi) Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Mawe affirmed this is such an important event, and stressed: No country has achieved gender equality. Women and girls are still subjected to systemic discrimination and subordination, all over the world. But despite this, girls are standing up against outdated traditions, norms and laws. Girls agency and leadership contributes to breaking the negative cycle. That is why we want to support them and contribute to increasing their visibility. This year, 20 year old Y Nhi from Hanoi Takeover girl in 2021 had a chance to fill in the shoes of the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Mawe. Besides having a tour of the Embassy, she had meaningful discussions with Ambassador Mawe and Phuong Anh, Takeover girl in the last two years, on their challenges and achievements over a year of fighting against COVID-19. Recalling the Takeover event last year, Ambassador Ann Mawe, Y Nhi and Phuong Anh signed a petition to media companies to act against sexual harassment. Over the past year, following up with the petition, Plan Global and youths have excelled in youth-led campaigns including listening sessions with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Maruchatbots for girls, and Future Online research to fight for a better digital world for girls and children. The efforts continue to spread further, as Vietcetera, an emerging media company, has joined this years Girls Takeover series. Swedish Ambassador and two girls empowered in 2019 and 2021. (Photo: The Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi). They recognized that challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have particularly affected children and girls, interrupting their education, posing greater economic challenges, greater risk of exploitation, child labour and gender-based violence, as well as limiting their access to sexual and reproductive health services. When most activities have to move online, it is increasingly vital to ensure a safe and inclusive digital world where girls are protected and can learn, lead, decide and thrive. However, children and girls are still facing numerous risks online. Among others, the spread of false information online has devastating impacts, especially for girls. Phuong Anh shared her concerns over the spread of false information online. Choices are limited in the time of COVID-19. A large part of our personal and professional life happens on the Internet. Information vital to our physical and mental health and development are accessible online. But it is not easy to identify fake news. False information online has real life consequences, something needs to be done about this, said Phuong Anh. Speaking of misinformation and disinformations consequences, Y Nhi said: If children and girls are taught necessary skills to navigate false information online, they are capable of fighting against false truths, misogyny, hate speech, and inequality. This task can only be carried out effectively if people join hands to teach all children about digital literacy. Ambassador Mawe reiterated that Sweden was the first country to launch a feminist foreign policy in 2014 to promote gender equality, empowerment of women and girls, and their full enjoyment of human rights. The advanced Swedish agenda on gender equality is the result of longstanding and persistent advocacy by civil society, without which little change will be made in our society. Ambassador Mawe and the two girls also discussed several initiatives and suggestions on how national governments, as the primary duty-bearers for ensuring girls enjoyment of human rights, can increase children and young peoples digital literacy. Through the activity, the Ambassador gained more insights about gender equality in the digital space in Vietnam, especially through the lens of the young generation and under the impacts of COVID-19. After their meaningful discussion, Ambassador Mawe and the two Takeover girls signed Plan Internationals petition in solidarity with girls who are speaking up about the spread of false information online. The Embassy of Sweden committed to work with youth activists and Plan to promote digital literacy for girls and children in Vietnam. More support is needed so that girls and young women in Vietnam and around the world are equipped for an increasingly digitized world, and are confident to step into leading roles, acclaimed Sharon Kane, Plan International Vietnams Country Director. She also thanked Ambassador Mawe and the Embassy of Sweden for the meaningful experience that Phuong Anh and Y Nhi had./. TRIPOLI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday expressed concern about the safety of children migrants held in detention centers in the Libyan capital Tripoli. The safety and wellbeing of at least 1,000 women and children, including five unaccompanied children and at least 30 infants held in detention centers in Tripoli, is at immediate risk, UNICEF said in a statement. Around 751 women and 255 children were among the thousands of migrants and asylum seekers caught up in recent mass arrests carried out by the Libyan authorities in different parts of the capital, UNICEF said. "Migrant and refugee children in Libya continue to face grave child rights violations including arbitrary detention," said Cristina Brugiolo, acting UNICEF special representative to Libya. UNICEF and other humanitarian actors urged Libyan authorities to protect children and prevent their separation from their parents, caregivers, and families. UNICEF also called for the immediate release of all children in detention centers across Libya. "UNICEF stands ready with partners to provide technical support including alternative care arrangements for the detained children," said Brugiolo. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. Enditem Editor: WXY UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Front) briefs the Security Council on diversity, state-building and the search for peace at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 12, 2021. Guterres said Tuesday that diversity must be seen as a source of strength instead of threat in search for peace. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that diversity must be seen as a source of strength instead of threat in search for peace. "For countries emerging from the horrors of conflict and looking to a better future -- indeed for all countries -- diversity must not be seen as a threat. It is a source of strength," he told an open debate of the Security Council on diversity, state-building and the search for peace. Diversity should be seen as an anchor of peace and stability and a rallying point for every person to contribute to a better future -- for themselves, and for their societies, he said. Parties to conflict can agree to end hostilities. They can agree to begin the long process of rebuilding a country. And they can even join forces to reconstitute a government. But without including a wide range of diverse voices at every step of this process -- without bringing all people along -- any peace will be short-lived, he warned. Long-standing grievances, inequalities, mistrust and social divisions do not simply vanish when the fighting stops. They can easily flare up again. And they can be worsened if people and groups hungry for change do not see their needs and vision for the future being addressed, he added. To promote inclusion in the process of rebuilding communities and sustaining peace, Guterres emphasized three areas for action. First, national institutions and laws must work for all people. This means protecting and promoting human rights, including people's rights to health, education, protection and opportunity. It means implementing policies and laws that protect vulnerable groups, including laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. And it means working with all partners to develop stronger national capacities that can serve all people equally, he said. Second, countries should explore ensuring a greater voice to subnational regions. Countries emerging from years, or even decades, of instability cannot afford to ignore the views of entire segments of their populations and risk fueling future resentments. Governments must find ways to move people forward together, as one, through constant dialogue -- recognizing and respecting differences -- even if this means devolving some areas of authority, he said. Third, women, young people and the most marginalized must be involved every step of the way. Building and sustaining peace requires their voices and actions. That's why UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions put a strong emphasis on greater inclusion and meaningful participation of women and young people. The international community must continue encouraging and supporting the full and active participation of women and young people in this journey, he said. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the leaders' summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, GMW.cn makes no representations as to accuracy, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine will initiate early school holidays from October 18. On October 12, the State Commission on Manmade Disaster, Emergency Response supported the proposal of the Ministry of Health to recommend to the Ministry of Education and Science shifting the start of the autumn holidays in educational institutions to October 18, 2021, the ministry's website said. Ukraine is waiting for a clear answer from Russia about the readiness of Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmiytro Kuleba has said. "Every day I receive some news from the Russian Federation, where officials comment on the prospect of holding this meeting. They are already commenting in all kinds of ways, and on the one hand, they avoid this meeting in every possible way, and on the other hand, they cannot stop talking about it. Therefore, at the moment we are waiting for a clear answer from Russia whether they are ready to meet or not," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Wednesday. According to the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, such a meeting could take place within the framework of the Normandy Four summit or separately. "This meeting can take place within the framework of the Normandy summit, if such a meeting is held, and we want it to be held in the near future, it can take place separately, this is already a matter of negotiations. But the main thing is that now Russia looks confused and cannot give us a clear answer whether it meets with us or not," said Kuleba. Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel is working on organizing an internship for Ukrainian military medics at the Emek Medical Center in Israel The exchange of experience between Israeli and Ukrainian doctors, as well as the organization of internships for Ukrainian military medics were discussed during the visit of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk to the largest medical institution in northeastern Israel - Emek Center (Afula). The Embassy of Ukraine to the State of Israel reported this at Facebook. There was an acquaintance with its specializations, educational and training base, the challenges faced by the medical center, especially against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the conversation, great attention was paid to the establishment of cooperation in the exchange of experience and internships of Ukrainian doctors in this clinic, in particular Ukrainian military medics, - the statement reads. The Embassy emphasizes that an agreement has been reached to provide offline and online internship programs for the possible organization of the process of exchanging the experience of Israeli doctors with Ukrainian specialists. The event was sponsored by the Israeli Medical Tourism Association. Nothing threatens the visa-free regime of Ukraine with the European Union, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said. "I want to draw your attention to what was not discussed at yesterday's summit [Ukraine-EU]: there were no public or non-public talk about any mythical threats to visa-free travel, about any failures of the EU policy in Ukraine. This is convincing evidence that fakes of certain political forces or demotivating political statements that relations between Ukraine and the EU are in crisis and have no prospects, in fact, have nothing to do with reality. Nothing threatens Ukraine's visa-free regime and our cooperation, our integration into the EU," Kuleba said at an on-online briefing on Wednesday. Kuleba also drew attention to the fact that in a joint statement on the results of the 23rd Ukraine-EU summit, the Associated Trio was recognized for the first time. "We have long insisted on differentiation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership so that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are perceived as special partners with special ambitions and prospects in relations with the EU. Over the year we have managed to overcome skepticism and bring support for this idea to the level of a joint statement of Ukraine and the EU," he pointed out. The Minister noted that Ukraine proposes to hold in the near future the next meeting in the EU plus Associated Trio format, at which further liberalization of trade between Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova with the EU in the context of the Green Deal and the digital transition of the EU will be discussed. "Together with our colleagues from Georgia and Moldova, we will continue the practice of joint visits to the EU member states at all levels in order to acquaint European partners in detail with the initiative of the Associated Trio and the development of new areas of interaction," Kuleba added. The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) of Ukraine granted the motion of the detective of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and imposes pretrial restraint on the son of former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Oleksandr, in the form of detention "On Wednesday, October 13, the investigating judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court granted the NABU detective's motion and imposes pretrial restraint on the son of the former President of Ukraine in the form of detention. The pretrial restraint was chosen in the absence of the suspect (in absentia)," the court said in its website on Wednesday. It is noted if this person is detained and no later than 48 hours after his delivery to the place of criminal proceedings, the court will consider with the participation of the suspect the issue of applying the chosen pretrial restraint in the form of detention or changing it to a milder measure of restraint under the law. The actions of the suspect are qualified under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 205, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. "The full text of the order will be announced on October 19, 2021 at 16:30," the court said. In turn, the press service of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said the fugitive president's son, along with his father, was suspected of illegally taking possession of the Mezhyhirya state-owned residence complex, which caused over UAH 500 million in losses to the government. As reported, on August 25, the HACC investigating judge, at the request of the SAPO prosecutors and NABU detectives, granted permission to conduct a special pretrial investigation (in absentia) against the former president of Ukraine and his son. Ukraine joins Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action as part of IMF and World Bank annual meetings Ukraine has joined the Coalition of Finance MinistersforClimate Action as part of annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the Finance Ministry said. "The result of the meeting (which took place on October 12) was approval by the countries participating in the Joint Ministerial Statement, which states the need to implement systemic changes in economic and financial policy, dedication to the Helsinki Principles for achieving sustainable recovery and key climate goals," the Ministry of Finance said. The Helsinki Principles, in particular, stipulate the need to harmonize policies with the Paris Agreement, develop measures to achieve effective carbon pricing, and take climate change into account in macroeconomic policies. The finance ministers in a joint statement noted the unity of views on the current and potential challenges related to climate change and the implementation of climate policy through macro-fiscal finance. The Coalition of Finance Ministers was launched in April 2019 and is currently joined by 65 countries. Finance ministers are working on strategies to integrate the climate issue into economic and financial policies to ensure a just transition to a low-carbon environment. Interview of Chloe Allio, Head of Section Operations Economic Cooperation, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment, EU Delegation to Ukraine, for Green Deal Portal Author: Sergey Shestak - The EU Delegation has recently visited Ternopil to open the EU Sustainable Energy Week, focused on the thermal modernization of buildings. Why has the EU determined energy efficiency as a flagship initiative, as you call it, which would contribute to facilitation of the green transition in Ukraine? There are also a lot of other spheres where CO2 emissions are more significant. - Europe will not be able to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050 without Ukraine. We are in the same boat, on one planet, and therefore it is very important to us to support Ukraine in its aspirations to reduce CO2 emissions. We decided to invest over EUR 100 million in the Energy Efficiency Fund in Ukraine, as we can see a number of key benefits in this area. First, it can contribute to increase Ukraines energy independency. A decrease in gas consumption, primarily in the residential sector, will reduce the need to purchase foreign gas. Second, Ukrainian citizens will be able to save considerably on utility bills and increase their expenses on other needs to improve quality of life. Third, of course our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in Ukraine, including in the process of heating the buildings. Furthermore, heating in the residential sector accounts for 60% of all energy losses, which is equivalent to UAH 80 billion per year. - In what other areas could you provide financial assistance to Ukraine to speed up the countrys transformation as a part of the decarbonization process? - We support Ukraine in all aspects of the green transformation. The EU has already invested over EUR 300 million in projects in green transition areas such as energy efficiency, energy, agriculture, forestry, transport, environmental protection and climate change. This includes EU support provided through blending mechanisms with international financing institutions which already allowed to finance around EUR 700 million investment in Ukraine. In addition, through the European Fund of Sustainable Development (EFSD and future EFSD+), we have signed guarantee agreements with international financing institutions as de-risking mechanisms, where the EU budget is guaranteeing a portfolio of investment including in Ukraine. Through our projects, we provide expert assessment and technical assistance to support the reforms in Ukraine and transpose EU laws and regulations into the Ukrainian legislation, as provided by the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. We also see that the Ukrainian government is developing the Ukraine Green Deal concept at the inter-ministerial level. We closely interact with Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and her team of deputy ministers within the framework of the focused dialogue on European Green Deal/Ukraine green transition. - Is the dialogue with the government progressing well? - We are engaged in a very comprehensive dialogue that has intensified since its launch in February. During the first meeting in May we covered a rather wide range of issues from energy efficiency, climate governance, coal transition, industrial alliances, forestry, to hydrogen. For the second meeting in September, we decided to continue these discussions but also to have more in-depth discussions on some topics, in particular environmental reforms and the legislation that needs to be adopted in the areas of waste management, industrial emissions, air pollution, biodiversity and also in the area of environmental control. On the latter, it is very important that environmental inspectors have access to companies and can verify that these companies meet environmental standards. During this second meeting, it was agreed to create a platform on green transition financing, where we will be able to discuss policy and finance, and coordinate the involvement of different donors and international financial institutions in the financing of Ukraines green transformation. It is important to reflect how to best mobilize private investment and government financing, together with donors support. Overall, our focused dialogue is progressing well and we are going further into details. - As we know, the EU encourages Ukraine to develop milestones to reach climate neutrality by 2050, which is 10 years ahead of the earlier announced term. It has been also pointed out in the joint statement following EU-Ukraine Summit Could you explain this? - We welcome the efforts of the government in setting more ambitious goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2060. 2050 is the decarbonisation target set by the EU to be consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The message that we wanted to convey is that while starting to implement the measures aimed at decarbonisation, you can discover an even greater potential for emission reduction, which can accelerate achievement of decarbonisation goals. - In your opinion, what is the biggest flaw of the Ukrainian government in addressing the climate issues? - We are building a frank and constructive dialogue with the Ukrainian government and we see that the Cabinet of Ministers has a very strong desire to work on the climate agenda. The Ukraine Green Deal concept being developing based on Ukraines updated Nationally Determined Contribution, is new, but we see a strong potential for shaping sectoral decarbonisation goals and for closer interaction with the industry. The government needs to develop implementation plans on how to achieve these goals. At the same time, many reforms are still needed in various areas of the green transition, starting with environmental legislation. As is the case with many laws in Ukraine, effective implementation is also key. However, we can see that the government is set on reforms and we are ready to offer technical support on our part, involving also EU experts. I believe that exchange of experience and expertise is a very important aspect of our future success. - But it is less important than the financial one - Green transition is a difficult path and we try to share the best European practices and help Ukraine. The issue of green transition financing will be discussed within the new platform that will be launched under the umbrella of our dialogue to facilitate both policy and financing coordination. Ukraines green transition will not be financed only from public funds (national or international), it will also come from private investment. Investment in modernization of productive capacities is needed in Ukraine and will be part of the green transformation. The green economy also offers business opportunities for Ukrainian companies to integrate into European and international value chains as the demand for green products is increasing. We see that many companies in Ukraine are willing to take this path. On Monday, October 18, at 10.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host press conference entitled "Searches in local govt bodies: who is most under pressure from central govt. Presentation of results of monitoring study of court decisions." Participants include Head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU) Oleksiy Koshel; Deputy Director General of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine Natalia Linnyk (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. On October 7-8, the Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) was held at the Parkovy Exhibition and Convention Center. Over 1,500 participants attended the event, during which 25-panel discussions took place. Over 120 speakers from leading international organizations and private companies, in particular the European Investment Bank, BlackRock Investment Institute, WTO, EBRD, OECD, Club of Rome, World Economic Forum, McKinsey & Company, and others, shared their vision of the future of the global economy. The initiator of the Forum was the UFuture holding company, headed by the entrepreneur Vasl Khmelnytsky. KIEF is a platform for the formation of a strategy for the economic development of Ukraine. The Forum is focused on organizing a dialogue between experts, business, and government, borrowing the best world experience, creating a roadmap for development, and facilitating the conversion of ideas into real actions. In his opinion, Ukraine has significant prospects in the world market. A powerful agricultural sector creates prospects for the development of modern production in FoodTech. The government and businesses must invest more in the processing of raw materials and the creation of finished products, which creates additional jobs and contributes to overall economic growth. According to the founder of KIEF, there is a problem with the development of the infrastructure of startups, now in Ukraine. Despite the availability of high-quality technical education, university graduates do not have a proper business education. For this, the state must create an ecosystem for the development of startups. Vasl Khmelnytsky noted the positive changes in the state's approach to the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine. A positive example is the 5-7-9 lending program, which made it easier for entrepreneurs to access capital. However, according to the entrepreneur, the state has a lot to do. Thus, the share of SMEs in the structure of the Ukrainian economy is 1.5%, while in the world it is 3-4% on average. For the development of entrepreneurship, the state must conduct educational work, in particular, starting from school. General Director of the Forum Yurii Pyvovarov noted that the country's reputation is important for leaders of business, and the country itself. The world should understand that it is comfortable to live, work, invest, develop business here. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a long-term strategy for the development of the image of Ukraine, and KIEF has been making a great contribution to the development of this reputation for the eighth year. There are three major trends to be an economically successful country. First: money goes into innovations and ideas. Here we have a chance. It is necessary to develop the infrastructure of incubators, start-ups, and the state to support promising projects. The second trend is climate. There is a lot of money going there, new, more environmentally friendly production facilities are being built. The third trend is the development of production. The pandemic has shown that there are logistical difficulties in transporting from China to Europe. There is a window of opportunity in Ukraine, but it is small. Work is underway to develop production, in particular, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a draft law on the development of industrial parks. But this requires more effort, said Pivovarov. During the forum, the issue of investment in developing countries, their risk, and profitability were raised. If earlier it was more profitable than investing in developed countries, in the last decade the trend has reversed. And we need to understand whether Ukraine in such conditions can be attractive for foreign and domestic investors. Among the advantages of Ukraine, the speakers named low competition, which creates the preconditions for a quick return on investment and getting large profits. Another plus is that Ukraine is striving to join the European Union. This choice means harmonization of legislation and regulation with the European one, predictability, and building a level playing field. Experts named IT, infrastructure, agriculture, banking, fintech, e-commerce, and big data as the most attractive in terms of investment. During the panel "Can Developing Markets Fuel Global Recovery?" panelists noted that the digital trend is growing all over the world, and the covid only contributes to this. Beata Harasim, the senior investment strategist at BlackRock Investment Institute, said many countries are underfunded to move to green energy. Emerging markets need additional support from wealthy countries. Covid has helped reinforce several trends, one of which is the transition to zero carbon emissions. Countries whose economies are based on exhaustible resources should pay more and more attention to renewable energy sources, said Beata Harasim. One of the discussions was: Financing the Future: Money for Sustainable Development. Speaking during the meeting, EBRD Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Matteo Patrone said that in order to achieve the sustainable development goals set by 2030, it is necessary to invest about $30 trillion, at least $1 trillion annually. The private sector should also make a contribution because the state does not have the necessary resources. The $27 trillion invested in low and negative yield bonds could be reinvested to achieve sustainable development goals, he said. He believes that the time for such investments is not lost yet. In Ukraine and many others, there is a deviation from the goals of sustainable development. Approximately $1 billion of investments in Ukraine are under threat, said Patrone. Ann Cairns, the Executive Vice-Chair of Mastercard, spoke at the panel Economy of the 21st Century: An Era of Changes and Opportunities. She said that Mastercard has seen a change in online shopping in the past 10 months, more than in the last 5 years. People started spending more locally, which is understandable due to widespread lockdowns. Almost a billion people received payments from their governments around the world during the period of covid. The corona crisis has intensified digitalization: we see the development of artificial intelligence and the introduction of digital currencies, as well as a huge development in the financial sector. And Vice Prime Minister Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov noted that during the pandemic, technology companies developed most of all, those that are convenient: Uber, Booking and the like. They have transformed established business models. According to the speaker, states should turn into technology companies, be fast, convenient, and develop those areas where there is no business component. And the best way for Ukraine is to become the most comfortable country in the world, and this is possible thanks to technology. Digitalization has made a leap in our country, not only thanks to the pandemic but also because of a change in consumer culture and a change of government. Fedorov believes that Ukraine has made digitalization a certain pop culture, which is why we are on the right path, where convenience is a competitive advantage in the struggle for development. KIEF remains a permanent discussion platform for developing strategic decisions for the Ukrainian establishment, business, and society. The organizers predict that next year the Forum will be even larger and expand the geography of its participants. Nearly 15,000 Yemeni Houthi fighters have been killed near the strategic city of Marib since June, sources close to the rebels said Thursday, in a rare admission of their casualties during the seven-year war. Around 23 million students started their school year on Sunday amid tightened coronavirus restrictions with hopes of keeping coronavirus infections to a minimum throughout the year. Schools in Egypts 27 Egyptian governorates have opened their gates to students for daily attendance, with the state exerting its utmost effort to maintain in-person classes after adopting a virtual education system for the past year and a half due to the pandemic. With attendance obligatory for all students from the first day of school, students were seen wearing face masks during morning assemblies and maintaining social distancing. Tackling parents concerns, the education ministry has assured that all sanitisation tools are available in schools and almost all teachers and administrative employees have been vaccinated. This comes as part of a mandatory vaccination campaign the state has launched for all those above 18 years of age in the education sector, including university students, staffers, and instructors. In crowded schools, the school day will be divided into shifts, Minister of Education Tarek Shawky said. Schools nationwide have thermometers and rooms for isolation and are also equipped with sanitisation gates. Inspection committees will be visiting schools to ensure coronavirus preventive measures and other education standards are consistently applied, the minister added. All those in charge of the education process in Cairo have received the coronavirus vaccine, Governor Khaled Abdel-Aal said on Sunday. Abdel-Aal said the capital has around 5,624 schools, including 2,900 public ones, comprising about 2.5 million students. The governor affirmed that the state has taken all measures required to protect the students health, including vaccinating all those in charge of the education sector in Cairo to provide the maximum level of safety for students. Until earlier this month, up to 70-80 percent of school staffers nationwide have already received the vaccine, Health Minister Hala Zayed said in a press conference on Monday. The health ministry is also considering including high school students who are younger than 18 years old in the country's vaccination plan. Universities and high institutes also started a new academic year on Saturday amid strict coronavirus restrictions during in-person classes. In a joint press conference on Saturday, Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said 3 million students have returned to public and private Egyptian universities nationwide. He said the country has vaccinated more than a million higher education students and will vaccinate the rest within a few days. During the conference, Cairo University President Mohamed El-Khosht said the university has implemented all preventive measures against the coronavirus in all faculties and at the highest levels. He said the university has allocated 19 clinics for vaccination purposes. Abdel-Ghaffar stated in late September that only vaccinated students will be allowed to live in university dorms. The rate of vaccination among university staffers stands at 90 percent, while around 35 percent of university students have received jabs, Zayed said in a press conference on Monday. Zayed also affirmed her determination to continue the academic year, arguing that the high vaccination turnout among students, workers, and employees in the education sector will be a helpful factor. Abdel-Ghaffar, however, has said in recent televised remarks that the ministry has an alternative plan to move to a hybrid system of remote learning and in-person classes to handle any possible surges in infections. The education ministry also announced procedures to be taken in case coronavirus cases were detected inside classrooms, including possible closures of a classroom, school, school complex, and even schools in a governorate or a village, according to the scale of infections. Search Keywords: Short link: After the Jordanian King Abdullah II received his first phone call from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in over ten years, the Turks wondered if their country would come next. The word is that Saudi Arabia is having unofficial talks with the Assad regime in tandem with the accelerating steps to mend Ankaras fences with Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Riyadh. Yet if Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) moved to reconcile with Syrias ruling Baath Party, that would be the most earthshaking U-Turn in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans foreign policy in over decade. Erdogan will do anything to stay in power, said an opposition Turkish politician who originally opposed the Turkish drive to overthrow Assad. Last month, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Turkish NTV station that a political meeting with Damascus was out of the question. Critics dismissed this as a smoke screen. After all, it is an open secret that Erdogans trusty Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan, who oversees Ankaras relations with Syrian opposition groups in Turkey and militias in Syria, has been engaged in backchannel talks with the head of Syrian National Security Bureau Ali Mamlouk. It was widely reported in fact that the two were to meet in Baghdad at the end of September, although the meeting ended up being postponed. Erdogan must certainly be aware of the shrinking popularity of his party against the backdrop of the countrys economic dire straits. People in Turkey secretly blame him for causing the problem with Syria to begin with. He is the one who sheltered the Syrian rebels including untold numbers of jihadists, they say. Such anger and frustration has been reflected in the polls. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu is aware of that public sentiment. He has pledged that, if elected president, he would return the Syrian refugees to their homes within two years of taking office. Recent opinion polls found that large numbers of Turks are fed up with their countrys involvement in Syria; they believe that sitting with Assad is the key to solving the refugee problem. Economic pressures, which are part of the blowback from Erdogans foreign policies, are reflected in mounting degrees of xenophobia and violence directed against Syrian refugees as well as minority communities in Turkey. Given the general domestic climate, it comes as little surprise that the government has started touting a set of new policies which have led some observers to believe that Erdogan is truly on the verge of a major shift on the Syrian question. Or, perhaps more accurately, he is looking for a way to stage a graceful exit. He has frequently called for US forces to leave Syria. But, in reality, he wants them to remain as a counterweight to the Russians there. If he railed against the US and its presence in Syria, this was merely his way of venting his anger at Joe Biden for not having given Erdogan a photo-op on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York last month. Unlike Trump, who gave Erdogan the green light to invade northeast Syria, Biden has made it clear that Erdogan should not expect any gifts from him, and that the US will keep about 800 special forces in northeast Syria for the rest of his term, if need be. To make Erdogan really see red, Biden called the Turkish military operations in northeast Syria a threat to US interests and, in a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, he formally extended Executive Order 13894, which is intended to protect the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the main ally on the ground in Syria in the fight against ISIS. In the letter, Biden did not mince his words: The situation in and in relation to Syria, and in particular the actions by the government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria, undermines the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, endangers civilians and further threatens to undermine the peace, security and stability in the region, and continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Ilham Ahmed, the chairperson of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political arm of the YPG, welcomed what she described as a clear commitment to the Kurds, in contrast to the lack of clarity under Trump. Given this situation, Turkeys best bet to achieve its goal of destroying the Syrian Kurds self-administration would be to secure a deal with the [Syrian] regime, writes Amberin Zaman for Al Monitor. Turkey would allow Assad to retake the rebel-held province of Idlib and back his claims that the country is safe for the return of refugees. This, in turn, would persuade the international community to release funds for Syrias reconstruction. The UN would be at hand to oversee it all. Zaman adds that this would suit Assad since the Kurds, under US protection, have control over the countrys major oil fields, dams and agricultural land, and pose a greater threat to his authority than he is willing to admit. At the same time, a deal with Damascus would give Turkey unfettered freedom to go after Kurdistan Workers Party targets in Syria much as it did in the wake of the 1998 Adana Accords signed between Turkey and Assads father, Hafez, in the wake of Turkish threats to invade Syria. Whatever the case, Zaman believes that if the Erdogan regime does do an about-face on his Syria policy, the motive is less likely to be the Syrian refugees than his paranoia over Kurdish gains in Syria under US protection, which has prompted three major Turkish military incursions into northern Syria. Omar Kadkoy, a policy analyst at the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, is among those who believe it is inevitable for Ankara to reach out to Damascus, but perhaps not as fast as Ankara has been going with Egypt and the UAE. As he told Al Monitor, what would propel Turkey is if Damascus, along with Moscow, could guarantee that the Kurdish influence in northern Syria would not grow further and would fall under the Syrian governments control. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Turkey has detained an Iranian and a Turk on spying charges, a senior official said Wednesday, in the latest espionage case threatening to roil relations between the two neighbouring regional powers. The two alleged spies were detained as they plotted to kidnap and forcibly repatriate a former Iranian military official from the eastern Turkish region of Van, the official told AFP. Six local "collaborators" were also arrested in operations conducted jointly by Turkey's MIT national intelligence agency and the national police, the official said. The official did not disclose the suspects' identities or the reasons for their attempted kidnap of the former Iranian military official. Turkey and Iran have historically close economic relations but occasionally find themselves on opposite sides of regional conflicts, including in Syria. In February, Turkey briefly detained an employee of the Iranian consulate in Istanbul in connection with a probe into the assassination of an Iranian dissident in Turkey in 2019. Search Keywords: Short link: President Janos Ader expressed Hungarys keenness to support Egypts developmental efforts in a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Budapest on Tuesday. El-Sisi has been on an official visit to the Hungarian capital since Monday, when he attended a summit for the Visegrad Group in which he tackled Egypts efforts to fight terrorism and block illegal immigration to Europe. Ader expressed during his meeting with El-Sisi following the summit his countrys keenness to extend its support to Egypt in all fields by exchanging expertise and fostering joint investments, a statement by the Egyptian presidency read. El-Sisi, from his side, said that Hungarian investments and industries currently have an opportunity to enter the Egyptian market and enjoy the countrys modern infrastructure and its access to African markets. The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially the developments in Libya, Afghanistan, as well as joint efforts to face the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic. Ader hailed Egypts role in consolidating stability in the Middle East and Africa as well as its efforts to combat illegal immigration, ensure co-existence among religions, and back peaceful solutions to the regions crises. The Hungarian president stressed that his country fully understands the Egyptian stance towards the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the importance of the River Niles water to Egypt, affirming that settling the GERD dispute should enhance stability in the entire region. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia recently expressed their readiness to engage in the African Union-sponsored negotiations to resolve their decade-long dispute over the mega dam Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile. In this regard, El-Sisi reiterated on Tuesday Egypts stance on the need to reach a legally binding agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the dam based on international law and the UN Security Councils presidential statement, which was issued in mid-September, encouraging the three sides to return to the negotiation table of the AU. The two leaders also hailed the ongoing level of cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Hungary in the management of water resources, especially water treatment plants. Since 1926, Hungarys manufacturer Ganz EEPM has delivered more than 200 complete pumping stations to Egypt, according to the companys website. Ader also lauded Egypts recent steps regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which led to consolidating calm between the Israeli and Palestinian sides and improving the Palestinians humanitarian conditions. Egypt, through diplomatic efforts, has urged the revival of the peace process between the Israeli and Palestinian sides to ensure Palestinians legitimate rights, ease regional tensions, and achieve stability in the Middle East. Such efforts included a meeting between El-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last month in Egypt, marking the first time an Israeli PM has made a visit to Egypt in a decade. Additionally, in May, Egypt sponsored a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian factions within the Gaza Strip to end an 11-day episode of Israeli military aggression on Gaza, during which more than 250 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed. Egypt also pledged $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli attacks. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday that he would be happy to receive Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Egypt to attend the inauguration of the New Administrative Capital (NAC). Egypt plans to inaugurate the NAC which is set to house 6.5 million people later this year and relocate tens of thousands of government employees there. In a press conference with Orban in Budapest, El-Sisi said the inauguration of the new capital will be a declaration of a new republic in Egypt after the difficult period the country witnessed over the past decade. During the presser, El-Sisi hailed Orbans continuous support for Egypt in the past years and his confidence that Egypt will overcome the hard circumstances it passed through in 2011, 2012, and 2013. El-Sisi also agreed with Orban on boosting cooperation between the two countries in agriculture, tourism, and various industries, affirming Egypts keenness to benefit from Hungarys technological capabilities. The president reiterated his call to secure stability in countries within the region, saying that it is a prerequisite to blocking illegal migration to Europe, noting that illegal migrants use beaches and seaports of unstable countries in the region to reach Europe. Orban said that Egypts ability to protect its land and maritime borders is essential for Hungary and Europe, Hungary Today reported. He hailed Egypts success in combating illegal migration since 2016, saying that it is a huge contribution to Hungarian security and the entirety of Europe. El-Sisi has been on an official visit to the Hungarian capital since Monday and attended on Tuesday a summit for the Visegrad Group (V4) in which he tackled Egypts efforts to fight terrorism and block illegal immigration to Europe. El-Sisi also held a meeting with Hungarian President Janos Ader and laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Budapests Heroes Square on Wednesday. In his meeting with Orban on Wednesday, El-Sisi expressed his aspiration that Hungarys current presidency of the V4 sees progress in different cooperation fields with Egypt, a statement by the Egyptian presidency read. El-Sisi affirmed Egypts reliance on Hungary to deepen Egyptian relations with the V4. Regional issues, peace process During the meeting, Orban applauded Egypts positive role in working to achieve a political settlement to the current crises in its regional surroundings, the statement read. He also lauded Egypts enhancement of dialogue among African, Arab, and European countries, as well as its efforts to combat extremism and establish the values of tolerance, freedom of choice, and acceptance of others. El-Sisi and Orban agreed on the need to intensify international efforts to revive the Israeli Palestinian peace process and resume negotiations in a bid to reach a settlement for the Palestinian crisis based on international legitimacy resolutions. Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, El-Sisi affirmed Egypts commitment to the negotiation track, emphasising the need for the international community to play an influential role to resolve this very prominent issue that affects Egypts water interests. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia recently expressed their readiness to engage in the African Union-sponsored negotiations to resolve their decade-long dispute over the mega-dam Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile. Boosting investments Additionally, Orban voiced Hungarys keenness to boost joint investments and maximise trade exchange with Egypt, especially by allowing Hungarian companies to participate in implementing national mega projects in Egypt. The Hungarian PM affirmed his countrys willingness to enhance cooperation and coordination with Egypt on all levels in light of Egypts pivotal role as a pillar for stability, security, and peace in the Middle East and Africa. During the presser, Orban thanked El-Sisi for calling on major Hungarian economic players to play a role in developing Egypts economy. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated during a phone call on Wednesday his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied on the formation of a new Tunisian cabinet, said presidential spokesman Bassam Rady. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's support of all steps that lead to preserving stability in Tunisia, and hailed "the brotherly and deeply-rooted ties binding the two countries' governments and peoples." President Saied thanked the Egyptian president, reaffirming his keenness on enhancing cooperation with Egypt. Saied also praised "Egypt's permanent support of Tunisia and its vital role in boosting mechanisms of Arab and African action in the face of regional challenges." On Monday, Tunisia's President Kais Saied said in a statement that he had approved a new government, nearly two months after he sacked the government of Hichem Mechichi and suspended the activities of parliament. The Tunisian president announced a number of drastic decisions in late July, suspending the parliament, dominated by the Islamist party Ennahdha, and relieving his prime minister in a step that sparked demonstrations for and against the decision. Egypt has repeatedly affirmed its support for Saied following his actions in July, calling them historic and reiterating its trust in Saieds wise leadership. The new government took the oath two weeks after the appointment of Najla Bouden as the countrys prime minister. Bouden, a 63-year-old geophysics university professor, is the first ever female prime minister in Tunisia and the Arab world. Bouden's government features a record number of women ministers; nine out of 24 ministers are women. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Health Ministry said 14 citizens suffered from suffocation as "limited" fire broke out on Wednesday in the main hall allocated to host El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) in the Red Sea governorate. No deaths were reported. Civil protection units brought the fire under control, the GFFs administration said in a statement, adding that flames devoured a small part of the hall prepared to host the opening of the festival. The cause of the fire is being investigated, the administration said, suggesting a short circuit took place. The press conference of the fifth GFF will be held today at 4pm as scheduled, the administration affirmed. The Red Sea city of El Gouna is scheduled to host the fifth GFF between 14 and 22 October. In its statement, the health ministry said 20 ambulances, medical teams, and mobile clinics were dispatched to the scene. Eight people were sent to the nearby El Gouna Hospital, the ministry said. The rest were treated on site. Business Tycoon Naguib Sawiris, the founder of the GFF, tweeted a photo of the El Gouna conference centre that will host the festival, saying it was unaffected and that the fifth GFF will be held as scheduled. Established in 2017, El Gouna Film Festival is held annually to showcase a diverse range of films in the attendance of a large number of actors, actresses, and filmmakers. Search Keywords: Short link: Qatar's foreign minister said isolating Afghanistan and its new Taliban rulers 'will never be an answer' and argued Wednesday that engaging with the former insurgents could empower the more moderate voices among them. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke amid a flurry of diplomatic meetings taking place in Qatar, where the Taliban have maintained a political office for years in the lead-up to their takeover of Afghanistan in August. The world has been looking to see how the Taliban transition from two decades of insurgency and war to governance after they seized control of Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from the country. This week, the United States, 10 European nations and European Union representatives held face-to-face talks with Taliban leaders in Doha, the Qatari capital _ the first such meetings since the Taliban blitz. Al Thani told an audience of counterterrorism specialists in Doha that Qatar believes the international community should urge the Taliban 'to take the right steps and to incentivize' that _ rather than talking only of penalizing them for 'negative steps'. 'We see that it's very important to provide guidance for them', he said. 'This will create an incentive for progress and for the way forward'. 'This will help the moderate power (voices) to also provide an incentive to be more influential and more effective in their government', Al Thani added. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Washington has made it clear in talks with the Taliban this week that the group will be judged by their actions on issues related to combating terrorism and protecting human rights. He declined to discuss 'various carrots and sticks' approaches related to Afghanistan's central bank reserves, currently frozen abroad and inaccessible to the Taliban leadership. 'We engaged on a practical and pragmatic basis with the Taliban, as we have done in recent weeks, focusing on security and terrorism concerns', Price told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. The Taliban and U.S. share common concern about the more radical Islamic State group in Afghanistan, but the Taliban have ruled out cooperation with the U.S. in fighting IS. However, the most pressing issue facing Afghanistan is deepening poverty, with the country heavily reliant on international aid. Its financial system is collapsing and millions face hunger. The Taliban are struggling to pay the wages of most teachers, doctors and some half-million civil servants. Prices of food staples have increased and the country is struggling to import medicine because it is blocked from the global financial system. The EU on Tuesday announced a support package worth 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion), including 300 million euros ($346 million) that had been committed earlier, to help the Afghan people amid the crisis. The United States, the single biggest donor to Afghanistan, provided $330 million this year. 'Isolation will never be an answer', Al Thani said at the Global Security Forum in Doha. 'Engagement is required with whoever is governing Afghanistan because abandoning Afghanistan would be a big mistake'. The forum, organized by The Soufan Center, drew speakers in-person and virtually from U.S. security and counterterrorism agencies, as well as officials and experts from other countries. Qatar's role in stabilizing Afghanistan has become increasingly vital in the wake of America's chaotic troop withdrawal and the hurried U.S. airlift of more than 100,000 people from Kabul in August. The tiny gas-rich Arab nation served as a transit point for some 60,000 evacuees. Qatar describes its role as that of a mediator in talks with the Taliban. The U.S.-Taliban deal known as the Doha Agreement was signed in Qatar in February 2020, paving the way for the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. The Taliban say they want international recognition, warning that weakening their government will affect security and spark an even bigger exodus of migration from the country. They also face an increasingly active Islamic State group, which has ramped up attacks in recent weeks, including a suicide bombing Friday at a Shiite mosque in the city of Kunduz that killed 46 worshippers and injured scores. The international community has condemned some Taliban actions since the U.S.-backed Afghan government crumbled. The Taliban have brought back public hangings and other brutal tactics. They have only allowed girls to return to primary school but have barred them from going to high school in all by one province. Women have not been allowed to return to work. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is among those in Doha this week, said the Taliban reject the imposition of external ideologies and political models on Afghanistan. 'The differences of ideas, ideologies, ethnicities, languages is a reality, and this reality must be acknowledged', Muttaqi told an audience at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. 'Just as we are able to grasp differences of others with us, our expectation is that others also grasp our differences with them'. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that battle-hardened militants from Iraq and Syria are "actively" entering Afghanistan. "The situation in Afghanistan is not easy," Putin said during a video conference with security service chiefs of ex-Soviet states. "Militants from Iraq, Syria with experience in military operations are actively being drawn there," he said. "It is possible that terrorists may try to destabilise the situation in neighbouring states," he added, warning that they could even try "direct expansion". Putin has repeatedly warned about members of extremist groups exploiting political turmoil in Afghanistan to cross into neighbouring ex-Soviet countries as refugees. While Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about the new Taliban leadership in Kabul, the Kremlin is concerned about instability spilling over into Central Asia where it houses military bases. In the wake of the Taliban takeover, Russia held military drills with ex-Soviet Tajikistan -- where it operates a military base -- and in Uzbekistan. Both countries share a border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan's national security chief, Saimumin Yatimov, for his part told the video conference that he had registered an "intensification" of attempts to "smuggle drugs, weapons, ammunition" from Afghanistan into his country. Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, with profits from the illicit trade helping fund the Taliban. Earlier Wednesday French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Tajikistan's leader Emomali Rakhmon in Paris, vowing to help the Central Asian state maintain stability. While the Taliban has said it does not pose a threat to Central Asian countries, the ex-Soviet republics in the region have previously been targeted by attacks attributed to allies of Afghan Islamists. Last week the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Russia will invite the Taliban to Moscow for international talks on Afghanistan scheduled for October 20. Search Keywords: Short link: The AUKUS Agreement between the US, UK, and Australia opens vistas onto an intense New Cold War that is only just beginning Frances angry reaction to Australias cancellation of its $80 billion submarines-provisioning deal and its replacement with another with the US and UK has taken centre stage in international circles recently. But that is not where attention should be focused. The coming together of Australia, the UK and the US as part of the so-called AUKUS deal transcends economic and even defence considerations. It ushers in strategic changes that will prove highly consequential in the coming years. First, AUKUS marks a fundamental change in the US strategic posture in the face of Chinas expansion out of its immediate sphere. It has been clear for at least a decade that the US has been assessing how to solve a dilemma how to constrain Chinas expansion without limiting its courses of action so that a collision between the old superpower and the rising one becomes inevitable. The solution that the US has adopted over the past decade has been to enhance American capabilities in its existing bases in the region without introducing new mechanisms in its military operations. Now, however, the US is changing both its operating mechanisms and its geographical footprint in Asia. Unlike the deal that Australia had with France, AUKUS is anchored on nuclear-powered technology. This technology, according to experts, enables much wider and longer maritime patrols, which mean that Australian (or AUKUS member) submarines will have much stronger capabilities to restrict the operations of the Chinese navy in the Pacific. This leads to the geographical point. For several years now, Chinas main military objective has been to deter the US, particularly its navy, from operating in Chinas maritime neighbourhood. This increases Chinese leverage when it comes to Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula and is a sign of Chinas increasing dominium over its immediate neighbourhood. So far, the US has respected that objective, in practice if not always in rhetoric. But the maritime border of East Asia south to the meeting between the Pacific and Indian Oceans is something else. With AUKUS, the US has begun to actively widen its presence in this large area that is exactly where China has been building its presence, not least through maritime routes linked to its Belt and Road Initiative. The geographical point is not only deliberate, but it has also been in the making for some time. With the dilution of the US military presence in the Middle East, lessening capabilities in Western Europe, shifting of resources to East Asia, withdrawal from Afghanistan and now AUKUS, the US has gradually been building a much stronger presence in the Pacific and in areas outside its traditional centres in East Asia. Second, AUKUS will result in rearranging the seats within the Western alliance. AUKUS builds on close military cooperation between the US, UK and Australia, which are members of the Five Eyes, the most powerful intelligence-gathering and assessment coalition in the world. Plus, the three countries have many cultural and societal connections. AUKUS, however, puts Europe in a difficult position. On the one hand, Europes defence agreements and cultural inclinations pull it close to the US. But on the other, most European countries see major benefits in having healthy relations with China. Europe also sees itself as a major global power that must have a say in the most important strategic dossiers in the world. And nothing is more strategic these days than the Wests relationship with China. To some extent, this explains the intensity of Frances anger at the way its deal was scrapped. However, the anger is subsiding, and cold calculations are now replacing raw emotion. Europe, including France, is beginning to negotiate with the US so that the Western alliance does not become an Anglo-Saxon-led club. In addition, Europe needs the US to appreciate that Europe ought to have different postures towards China, from the assertive to the accommodating, depending on the context. However, China, and likely also Russia, will see opportunities in Europes deliberations vis-a-vis Americas new strategy. The result will likely be different alignments within the Western alliance, with varying degrees of closeness to the US in its confrontation with China. AUKUS is one feature of an intense New Cold War, and these military and political considerations are the early dynamics of the nascent Cold War between the US and China, which will be more intense than the previous one. China has internalised the lessons of the first Cold War from the 1950s to the 1980s, including the perils of over-cautiousness (a feature many Chinese and Russian strategists ascribe to the former Soviet Union) and the impossibility of sustaining a strategic standoff over many years. On the other hand, the US has tasted for over three decades now the seductive wine of being the worlds sole superpower, and a number of American economic power-centres (especially in technology and finance) have reaped immense benefits from this hegemony. As a result, both the US and China will be much more assertive in the approaching New Cold War than the US and the Soviet Union were in the previous one. Internal challenges in both countries also exacerbate the wars intensity. China today is far from following the classic communist model of the previous Cold War, and its current economic and political model is much more complex than the simplistic designation of state-led capitalism. For several decades, China has been evolving a new system of social development that is unprecedented in human history in its simultaneous objectives of internal political stability, major economic betterment for colossal societal segments, and bringing large parts of the world into economic integration with, and often reliance upon, that system. Yet, the current Chinese model and behind it the Chinese Communist Party is facing acute internal challenges that threaten not sudden collapse in the way the Soviet Union earlier crumbled, but the eruption of internal volcanoes of anger that could consume the energy of Chinas leadership and that could, under certain challenging circumstances, lead it to use highly assertive measures internally as well as in its immediate neighbourhood. Nothing in international relations would be more dangerous than an angry, threatened China that feels that its decades of hard work and patience are not yielding what it sees as its historic rights. The US model has also changed dramatically since the end of the first Cold War. It has become simultaneously more appealing as well as more problematic. Innovation engendered, nurtured and spread within and because of the US socio-economic model has enabled some of the most impressive leaps in human history in technology and therefore in living standards to take place over recent decades. But there have also been accumulating failures in the US system that have created enormous inequalities and have convinced many in the US (and in other parts of the West as well) that the system is rigged towards the rich and powerful. These failures have appeared ever more blatant over the past 15 years. Now they are slowly eroding the foundations of liberalism, the bedrock of the US model in the previous Cold War. Such problems make both the US and China more vulnerable to internal shocks and less confident about their capabilities vis-a-vis the other. This will likely make the New Cold War a naked power-grab and race for interests and one stripped of the intellectual content and moral facade that characterised the previous one. AUKUS has grabbed the worlds attention because it ticks interesting boxes: colossal arms deals, military alliances and diplomatic crises. In reality, it is important because it has lifted the veil on dynamics that are shaping the most consequential international relations dossier in the world today and in the immediate future. Understanding these dynamics opens vistas onto the intense New Cold War that is only just beginning. * The writer is the author of Islamisim: A History of Political Islam (2017) and Egypt on the Brink (2010). *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Following a visit by an Egyptian delegation to the US last week, Washington has welcomed Egypts new National Strategy for Human Rights. An Egyptian delegation including two members of the newly reconstituted National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) visited Washington last week to discuss Egypts new National Strategy for Human Rights. Responding to a question on the Egyptian delegations visit in a press conference on 7 October, spokesperson of the US State Department Ned Price said that Yael Lempert, US acting assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, had met with new chair of Egypts NCHR Mushira Khattab and board member and head of the Dialogue International Taskforce Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat. We welcomed this visit and the opportunity to discuss how the United States can support Egypt in achieving the objectives set out in its own National Human Rights Strategy which it launched last month, Price said. Sources said the delegation included two MPs, Ihab Ramzi, a lawyer and a member of the Republican Peoples Party, and Youssef Al-Husseini, deputy chairman of parliaments Media, Culture, and Antiquities Committee and a member of the Nations Future Party, and senator and leading member of the Islamist Nour Party Ashraf Thabet. The delegation members also held meetings with a number of US think tanks, among them the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, to discuss Egypts new National Strategy for Human Rights, launched on 11 September in the New Administrative Capital in the presence of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. The strategy, which runs until 2026, addresses four sectors: political and civil rights; economic, social and cultural rights; the rights of marginalised groups (women, children, disabled people, youth, and the elderly); and education and capacity building in the human rights field. The delegations visit to Washington came just three days after Egypts NCHR was reconstituted by the House of Representatives, the lower house of Egypts parliament, on 4 October. The NCHRs new board includes a mix of public figures, prominent rights activists, politicians, journalists, and ambassadors. The appointment of Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat, chair of the liberal Reform and Development Party and nephew of late president Anwar Al-Sadat, to the NCHRs new board was the biggest surprise in the NCHRs new make-up. Al-Sadat, chair of parliaments Human Rights Committee between 2011 and 2016, was expelled from the chamber in February 2017 on the grounds that he had been involved in leaking a draft law regulating the performance of NGOs in Egypt to a number of foreign embassies in Cairo. Al-Sadat said he had been expelled because of his sharp criticisms of the new NGOs law. He has good relations with US diplomats and went on to create the Dialogue International Taskforce, an initiative composed of public figures representing political parties and civil society activists, in addition to members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Al-Sadat said the main goal of the taskforce was to build bridges with international partners, conduct dialogue on the domestic political and economic development of Egypt, and highlight the status of freedoms and rights. He said in a press interview that he had been involved over the last few months in a national campaign seeking the release of activists remanded in custody pending trial. He said that Senate Speaker Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek had promised that hearings would soon be held with civil society organisations to address human rights and media freedoms in Egypt. The reconstitution of Egypts NCHR has received much praise in political circles over recent days. Nehad Abul-Qomsan, president of the Egyptian Centre for Womens Rights and a new member of the NCHR board, said the naming of a woman, Khattab, as chair of the NCHR was a very progressive step. Khattab has been a tough fighter for human rights since 2008, Abul-Qomsan said, indicating that she has good national and international relations that she can use to serve the new agenda of human rights in Egypt. The new make-up of the NCHR in general also includes political activists and journalists who have a good record in defending human rights, Abul-Qomsan said, adding that what is important is that the state translates the new national strategy into a fact on the ground. This can come about only through forging close links with organisations concerned with human rights in Egypt. New NCHR member Nevine Mosaad, a professor of political science at Cairo University, also praised the naming of Khattab as head of the council. Naming Khattab conveys a great message on the high status currently held by women in Egypt, said Mosaad, adding that not only is Khattab the first woman to chair the council, but she also has great experience in the area of defending human rights at both the national and international levels. Essam Shiha, a new NCHR member, said in a newspaper article on 30 September that the publication of Egypts new National Strategy for Human Rights and the reconstitution of the NCHR were very good steps. But the state should be serious about implementing the new national strategy as soon as possible because if it fails to do so, it will be sure to face a lot of internal and external pressure, he said. Al-Ahram political analyst Amr Hashim Rabie noted that the House of Representatives should play a major role in implementing the new National Strategy for Human Rights. It is very important that the law on pre-trial detention be amended as this law has led Egypt to face a lot of criticism in foreign circles, Rabie said, adding that the laws regulating criminal procedure and the setting up of an anti-discrimination commission have also to be drafted. Minister of Justice Omar Marawan said in a TV interview last week that Egypts new strategy targeted changing the law on pre-trial detention. We do not currently have any amendments in this respect, however, because when we decide to change a law, we should first study the recommended changes very carefully, Marawan said. He added that there is nothing called a political trial in Egypt, and the Ministry of Justice conducts periodical inspections of Egyptian prisons to make sure that prisoners receive good treatment. Let me indicate that some foreign human rights organisations that publish reports on Egypt paint a misleading picture in this respect, he concluded. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekl Search Keywords: Short link: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby shared his thoughts on the role of spiritual leaders to resist tyranny, support democracy, and agree on how to disagree with Al-Ahram Weekly during his visit to Egypt last week. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was in Egypt last week to launch a new province of the Anglican Church in North Africa and the Horn of Africa. He led the faithful in prayers, inspected charities, and met with the Coptic Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox patriarchs of Alexandria during the visit. Welby, a modest but articulate and precise man, spoke firmly of the need for fairness and justice to prevail across the world, particularly in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East. He called for a negotiated settlement to disagreements over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Palestinian-Israeli struggle and for an end to all forms of discrimination by the followers of one faith against another. He also met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo. Welby arrived in Egypt last Thursday after attending a conference at the Vatican in Rome where he also had a meeting with the grand imam among other spiritual leaders. In recent years, he had visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories to provide support to the Anglican communities. During his visit to Cairo, the 105th archbishop of Canterbury told Al-Ahram Weekly that the decision to inaugurate a new province of the Anglican Church with Alexandria as its seat to cover 10 countries in North Africa and the Horn of Africa was not only designed to serve the followers of the Anglican Church in these countries. Most Christians in these 10 countries, which include Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, are not followers of the Anglican Church. But Welby said the inauguration of the new province was not necessarily about having a lot of followers of the Church in this part of the world, but instead was about a vision to show the love of Jesus through reaching out to those needing support. The visit and the inauguration of the new province comes against the backdrop of a drop in the numbers of Christians in this part of the world, often due to emigration. Welby said he was aware of this sad and deeply disturbing fact, which he said was often a function of persecution and oppression. He shared his particular concern over the situation of Christians in Syria and Iraq. He is hoping that the presence of more clergy in the countries of the region will allow much more locally based encouragement to those who might need it. The need to lend support to believers was a topic of concern that the head of the Anglican Church shared with his counterparts in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, not just in Egypt and the rest of the countries on his itinerary, but also in the Vatican. He joined over 70 spiritual leaders who represent over 70 per cent of the people of the world and a group of international scientists to call on world leaders meeting in Glasgow in the UK in November for the COP26 Climate Change Conference to act to reduce global warming that is having devastating impacts on agriculture and health, among other areas. Participants in the Vatican meeting, led by Roman Catholic Pope Francis alongside Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, issued an appeal to the leaders meeting in Glasgow to act. Climate change is a grave threat, it said. We advocate for common but differentiated climate action at all levels. Speaking to the Weekly at the Anglican All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek, Welby said that a participating bishop from the Global South at the meeting had told him that for citizens of the North the issue of climate change was a reason for worry for the coming generations, but for those in the South it was a very pressing concern already. He told me that for you it is something for your children or grandchildren [to worry about], but for us it is a matter of life or death today, he stressed. PROMPT ACTION This soft-mannered but vocal clergyman could not be more articulate on the need for world leaders to act now to address the issue of climate change, which if left inadequately attended to will add to world levels of hunger, he said. These had started to show a decrease during the past few years before rising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Spiritual leaders need to be clear about how [wrong] it is for people to go hungry, Welby said. Hunger, he added, might be more of a problem for the Global South than it is for the North, but it is also something for the people of the North to worry about. He said that in the UK today there are close to one million children who have to deal with issues related to food security. Spiritual leaders, he said, have to keep nagging world leaders to act promptly on this and other issues. They have to make sure that their voices are heard and that their contributions to resolve such issues are clear. I have to pray and to say that I am willing to do something, he stressed. According to the archbishop of Canterbury, attending to issues like global warming, development, education and hunger falls squarely within the mandate of religious institutions. He complemented the work that some churches in Egypt are doing to equip people to earn their own living. [One] can hand out food, but human dignity is best served if people earn their own meals, he said. Meanwhile, he acknowledged the need for spiritual leaders to consider the receding influence of religious institutions among the younger generations, whose take on faith may be sceptical. This situation, he suggested, is a function of insufficient contact between the religious institutions and the young in a modern way. We need to act as Jesus told us to act: to love one another in the same way I [Jesus] loved you, Welby said. He said that a church that does not lead by example, a church that is obsessed by hierarchy, is a church that is bound to fail the expectations of its followers, particularly the young who are looking for a faith that is challenging and amazing and not one that is boring and pompous. It is a very big challenge, he agreed. Another challenge that Welby said was facing spiritual leaders and religious institutions in the world today is standing up against suffering caused by multiple reasons, including political oppression. He said he was convinced that the joint work of all those who believe in doing good, including spiritual leaders, was essential to face up to the reasons for suffering, including bad governance, whereby the best interests of the people are compromised in favour of that of tyrannical rulers. Democracy reflects the dignity of human beings God created people with intrinsic dignity, he said. Rich or poor billionaire or beggar on the street, everyone is brought into equality through the process of democratic voting in which all have the right to vote. Welby said that this equality should include all people irrespective of faith. This, he added, should be the main purpose of the dialogue of leaders of different faiths. We need to accept that people are different but [at the same time] people are mixed up, he said. There needs to be mutual accommodation, as the followers of every faith end up interacting every day. For spiritual leaders to be able to encourage such mutual acceptance, Welby said, they need to avoid tea-and-cake dialogue that does not issue in serious conversation on the harmonious co-existence of the followers of often diverging faiths. Dialogue, he said, should be on how we can disagree well. The present failure of mutual acceptance might be best summed up in the hatred that is emerging in some European countries against the waves of migration that are causing tens of thousands of people from the south to go to the north of the Mediterranean region. Welby is unequivocal in stressing the humanitarian responsibility of caring for aliens and exiles. However, he adds that at the same time we must care for the receiving communities as well, especially since many immigrants may end up in poorer areas where resources are already over-stretched. For the archbishop of Canterbury, however, it all comes down to the power of loving the other and wanting to act upon this love, just as Christ preached. It is all about the need for a vision to show love. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is well on the way towards becoming an electrical and energy hub for the wider Mediterranean region. The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and the Saudi Electricity Company signed contracts last week for the implementation of an electrical interconnection project between the two countries. The project is scheduled to start operations by 2024 and has a total capacity of 3,000 Megawatts (MW), with surplus electrical power to be exchanged between the two countries during peak times, which are different for each. Peak electricity consumption in Egypt is at night but is during the day in Saudi Arabia. The electrical interconnection project will link the national grids of the two countries from Badr City in Egypt to Medina and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia via a transmission line stretching over 1,300 km and marine cables in the Gulf of Aqaba to a length of 22 km. The first phase of the project is expected to be operational in late 2024 with a capacity of 1,500 MW. It is scheduled to be operational within about 36 months of the signing and to be completed after 52 months at a total cost of $1.8 billion. The project consists of three high-voltage substations, East Medina Station and Tabuk Station in Saudi Arabia and Badr Station in eastern Cairo, Sabah Mashali, managing director of the EETC, said. The stations are connected by overhead transmission lines to a length of about 1,350 metres and marine cables in the Gulf of Aqaba to a length of 22 km. The project, when operational, will achieve a number of benefits for the two countries, including enhancing the reliability of the national electrical grids, supporting their stability, and benefiting from the excess capacity of electricity generation available in the two countries, as well as timing differences in their peak electrical loads, Mashali pointed out. The line between Egypt and Saudi Arabia provides the possibility of selling energy to the Gulf countries in the future. The two countries signed an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project in June 2013. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have the largest electricity generation networks in the Arab world, with a total capacity of 150,000 MW representing 38 per cent of the total capacity of all the Arab countries. Mashali said that the signing of the contracts for the project between Egypt and Saudi Arabia represents a strong link between the two largest electricity networks in the region and will reflect the stability and increase the reliability of electrical supply between the two countries, in addition to the other economic and developmental returns. Mohamed Shaker, Egypts minister of electricity and renewable energy, stressed the importance of electrical interconnections with neighbouring countries, referring to the existing links with Jordan, Libya and Sudan. He added that the government has allocated about LE77 billion to the electricity sector until 2024, saying that Egypt is looking to increase its links with other Arab, African and European countries. He said that Egypts vision is to turn the country into a regional hub for electricity connections with other countries regionally and internationally. Shaker said that Egypt is an active participant in regional electricity network projects, especially with neighbouring countries, and that Cairo has signed a cooperative agreement with the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (GEIDCO) covering a number of fields, mainly electrical interconnections. Egypts power link with Jordan has a capacity of 450 MW, and its link with Libya is 200 MW. Shaker confirmed that there are plans to raise the capacity of the link with Libya to approximately 2,000 or 3,000 MW, adding that the existing line between Egypt and Libya currently has a total capacity of 240 MW. In April, the EETC turned on the electrical current in the interconnection line with Sudan to a capacity of 70 MW in the first phase out of a total of 300 MW to be reached in the future. The cost of the first phase is $6.8 million. Work is currently underway to increase the transferred capacity between the two countries, Egypt and Sudan, from the current capacity of 80 MW to 300 MW. The completion of the final steps of projects linking Egypt with Saudi Arabia, in addition to with Cyprus and Greece, are also near, such that Egypt becomes a regional hub for energy exchange with Europe and the Arab and African countries. Shaker announced that an electrical interconnection project between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece will be signed during the next few days, with Egypt planning to export up to 3,000 MW of electricity to Cyprus and Greece. Egypt signed in May 2019 a MoU on electrical interconnection between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece via the island of Crete. Egypts electricity sector has been diversifying its sources in recent years, with a special interest in renewable energies through ambitious plans to increase the latters proportion of the energy mix to 20 per cent by 2022 and 42 per cent by 2035. Egypts Dabaa Nuclear power plant is expected to start operations in 2026 with a total capacity of 4,800 MW. The countrys electricity grid had a total capacity of about 59,063 MW at the end of 2020, compared to approximately 35,000 MW in 2015. Until 2014, Egypt experienced frequent power cuts that began to end in 2015 when several new power stations started operations and some existing ones were upgraded. The Egyptian Electricity Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency announced earlier that peak electricity consumption in Egypt had reached a record high of about 32,000 MW nationwide in the summer months. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi arrived in the Hungarian capital Budapest on 11 October to participate in the second round of the Visegrad Group Summit (V4) which includes the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. This is the second time for the president to participate in the V4 summit, the first being in 2017. The summit, considered a political and cultural ally of the four countries, is meant to discuss several issues, among them Egypts role in the Middle East, cooperation to counter terrorism, illegal immigration and opportunities to develop trade, investment and tourism. Al-Sisi is scheduled to hold meetings with senior Hungarian officials, including President Janos Ader and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in addition to participating in the Egyptian-Hungarian business forum, according to presidential official Spokesman Bassam Radi. The V4 countries are keen to familiarise themselves with Egypts vision and assessment of the situation in the Middle East, especially in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, in order to help find political solutions to the regions crises and to curb illegal immigration, Sayed Ghanem, a professor of political science at Cairo University, said. Egypt is the first country in the Middle East that is invited to participate in the Visegrad Summit, the third country in the world to participate in the gathering after Japan and Germany, added Ghanem. According to Ghanem, Europe has appreciated Egypts efforts in curbing illegal immigration since 2016 up until today. Ghanem expects the visit to include discussions on investment opportunities available in the current national and development projects in Egypt, the development of infrastructure and new and renewable energy projects, and benefiting from Egypt to enter the Arab and African markets to realise mutual interests between the two sides. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: There was a boom in Egyptian natural gas exports during the first quarter of 2021, according to the Ministry of Petroleum, with the country recording a 315 per cent increase in sales compared to the first quarter of last year to reach $564 million thanks to global increased demand. But some experts believe that focusing on exporting natural gas is less beneficial than using it in local industries, whether as a fuel or a production input. Natural gas prices rose internationally by 2.34 per cent on Monday to reach $5.834 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu). This coincided with a rise in the price of benchmark US Texas crude oil above $80 a barrel and Brent crude approached $84. According to former minister of petroleum Osama Kamal, Egypts natural gas would be better spent producing petrochemicals. He said the petrochemical companies revenues had been climbing by leaps and bounds since 2020, and production from the sector had reached nearly four million tons annually compared to 500,000 in 2002. The sector is expanding rapidly, and several petrochemicals projects were launched in 2021 in the framework of a government-led strategy to transform Egypt into a petrochemicals production hub According to reports by the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade, petrochemical exports account for 25 per cent of Egypts overall commodity exports. Egypt produces 6.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, with two-thirds being the governments share and the remaining third the share of foreign partners. Egypt has the sixth-largest natural-gas reserves among the Arab countries at 2.1 trillion cubic metres, while daily domestic consumption stands at six billion cubic feet. After years of being a net importer of fuel, Egypts newfound gas reserves have helped it to achieve self-sufficiency. Local discoveries of natural gas saved Egypt from importing $3.5-$4 billion worth of gas during the summer, Kamal said. The Ministry of Petroleums Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) plans to add 3.2 billion cubic feet of gas to daily production by 2022, which will offset the normal depletion of reserves. Several natural gas projects are also underway in various concession areas across the country, including the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Western Desert, according to Kamal. Egypts consumption of natural gas increased during the 2019-20 fiscal year by 27.7 per cent to reach 60 billion cubic metres, compared to 47 billion in 2015. It relies on natural gas to generate 75.5 per cent of its electricity. We have achieved self-sufficiency using our quota and the quota of our foreign partner, and it is best to use it in transformative industries, Kamal said. However, Medhat Youssef, former deputy head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), favours the idea of increasing the countrys natural gas exports. He said consumption of natural gas fed electricity power plants during the winter season. The surplus gas could either be exported or used by the petrochemicals industry, he said, but Egypt has a relative advantage when exporting natural gas because of its proximity to Europe. While some believe higher international prices benefit exports, others say they harm domestic production. Tamer Abu Bakr, chair of the Petroleum and Mining Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said gas prices in Egypt were too high for the industrial sector at more than $4.5 per MMBtu. The high prices undermine the export potential of industries that use natural gas as a source of energy, Bakr explained. He added that the price of gas is crucial for industries that use it as a fuel and not as a production input, since fuel accounts for three to nine per cent of their cost per unit. Abu Bakr proposed selling gas to factories at minimum cost as an incentive for the industrial sector. He said that a fair price for one MMBtu for industries in Egypt was $4 to $4.5, as compared to between $4 and $7 now. He said that the government could not slash prices now, but once global prices stabilise it could take such as step. Kamal said prices do not need to be discounted for the industrial sector, claiming that companies using natural gas as a source of fuel were already making huge profits, especially those producing petrochemicals. The Abu Qir Fertilisers Company delivers urea to agricultural cooperatives in Egypt at a cost of around $220 per ton, at a time when the price of urea has reached $720 per ton worldwide. Nonetheless, the company still made a profit of LE3.5 billion. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Within days of the Ethiopian parliament confirming incumbent Abiy Ahmed as prime minister for a second, five-year term, humanitarian organisations reported that Ethiopian troops had launched yet another wave of air and ground raids on Tigray rebels in the northern region of Amhara. The bombardments seemed to reflect speculations about a major push by Ethiopian government forces against the rebels, led by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). The two sides have been locked in a brutal conflict for nearly a year, pushing thousands of refugees into Sudan, displacing over two million people and leaving up to seven million in Tigray, Amhara and Afar in need of food and other emergency aid. This includes more than five million people in Tigray, where an estimated 400,000 people are living in famine-like conditions, according to UN officials. The UN humanitarian chief told the Associated Press last week that the situation in Ethiopia is a stain on our conscience. In his inaugural speech on 4 October, Abiy vowed to stand strong and defend Ethiopias honour despite mounting international criticism of the conflict and alarm about the humanitarian crisis it has triggered. Only a handful of visiting African leaders those from Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and neighbouring Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya and South Sudan attended the inauguration, in which Abiy bristled at international pressure aimed at changing his confrontational and many would say arrogant policies. Yet the misery on the ground and massive humanitarian suffering will not be solved with populist, defiant speeches. When the war broke out in November, Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, promised a swift victory as government forces quickly took control of Tigrays cities and towns. However, only a few months later, the TPLF recaptured most of the region including the capital Mekele. However, Abiys wars in Tigray and other Ethiopian regions are not the only challenges he needs to face. Due to his intransigent stands and refusal to listen even to nations and world organisations known to maintain friendly ties with Addis Ababa, Abiy is facing deteriorating ties with the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and African allies. The ongoing dispute with Egypt and Sudan, reflecting Abiys insistence on disregarding the drastic damage the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will cause to their shares of the Nile waters, is one more example of how the Ethiopian prime minister seems to be triggering conflicts with historic neighbours in a bid to distract observers from his own internal difficult challenges. During his visit to Cairo this week, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir revealed that Ethiopia would have started the GERD negotiations this month, but has so far delayed them due to the war in the Tigray region. After meeting President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi on Sunday, Kiir said the Ethiopian prime minister is not in a good position now to move forward despite all his capabilities, adding that Ethiopia is facing two problems with Egypt and Sudan in addition to its problem with the Tigray. Yet, Egypt and Sudan should not be expected to continue waiting for Premier Abiy to solve his endless internal problems. President Al-Sisi reiterated in his talks with his South Sudanese counterpart the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement on the operation and filing policies of the GERD. Reaching a legally binding agreement on the GERD will boost stability in the region for all and will open new ways of cooperation between the Nile basins countries, Sisi said. The ongoing wave of fighting in Tigray, worsening humanitarian conditions, and the delay in restarting GERD talks are a further blow to Abiys international standing and a test to his new government from day one. While preparations were underway to launch the new wave of fighting against Tigray rebels last week, Abiys government sparked global outrage when it expelled seven senior UN officials from Ethiopia for meddling in its affairs, exacerbating concerns about the humanitarian response in Tigray. UN Chief Antonio Guterres was clearly shocked with the Ethiopian decision, which surpassed all measures nations in similar conflict situations have taken against UN officials. He added that Ethiopia had no right to expel UN staff and it was violating international law in doing so. Guterres confirmed that the UN has only one agenda in Ethiopia, and that agenda is the people of Ethiopia Tigrayans, Amharans, Afaris, Somalis, the people of Ethiopia. Similarly, a month ago, US President Joe Biden threatened to impose sanctions on Ethiopian officials and rebel leaders in Tigray unless they stopped fighting and opened up humanitarian access to the region. The US State Department also announced that access to essential supplies and services to refugees and the displaced was being denied by the Ethiopian government. A senior Biden administration official warned in statements to The New York Times last week that if the conflict continues on its current trajectory, it could cause the collapse of Ethiopia, a country of over 110 million people, with disastrous consequences for the Horn of Africa region and beyond. As he begins his second term, the Ethiopian leader can either reconsider his policies and cooperate with his countrys neighbours to solve their differences peacefully, or maintain his policy of responding to mounting international pressure with anger and defiance. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The Arab world today is at a crossroads, with the transition to more open political systems looking possible in many of the Arab countries. The Arab world is in transition after a decade of uprisings, upheavals, revolutions and civil wars. By their very nature, transitions are critical phases in the history of nations, and this is also the case with the Arab countries. The last ten years have witnessed almost the withering away of state institutions, and the very notion of the nation-state has sometimes seemed to be on the brink of disappearing. Egypt itself was under a threat of this sort for a brief period from 11 February 2011, the day when former president Mohammed Hosni Mubarak relinquished power, to 30 June 2013, when Egyptians from all walks of life descended on Cairos Tahrir Square to push for the overthrow of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. That day will go down in history as the beginning of the end of the phenomenon known as Political Islam across the Arab world. Today, the tide of history is shifting once again to the benefit of the nation-state and nationalist-inspired attempts at the rejuvenation of the state in the Arab world. However, in order to succeed, transitions need enlightened and progressive leaders and strong state institutions and political forces that enjoy sufficient legitimacy to bring about fundamental changes in state structures and the philosophy of governance. In other words, there needs to be a broad consensus for authoritarian regimes to transition to more democratic ones based on a commitment to good governance and the peaceful transfer of power in free-and-fair elections. The Arab countries are well placed today to jump-start their transition to good governance. And whether dealing with the situation in Libya, Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, or to a lesser degree in Lebanon, the world is willing to help. Elections are scheduled for this year or next in many of these countries: in Libya next December, if things go to plan according to the agreed-upon timetable; and in Lebanon in the first quarter of next year. The Iraqis went to the polls on 10 October to elect a new Iraqi parliament. Syria, the battleground for foreign and regional confrontations through proxies, is still searching for a way out of the destabilisation of the last decade. Despite the war unleashed in Syria in March 2011 against the rule of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, the latter is still in power with a new constitutional mandate, however dubious this might appear to be in the eyes of those foreign, regional and Arab forces that have tried to overthrow the Syrian regime. Today, the winds of change are also blowing in the opposite direction in Syria, and some of those very powers that previously worked against the Syrian regime have begun either reopening their embassies in Damascus or having their leaders call the Syrian president in developments not seen since March 2011. The UN-instituted Constitutional Commission in Syria is scheduled to meet again on 18 October in Geneva as part of another attempt to come up with a Constitutional Document that can garner the support of the Syrian government, the Syrian opposition, whatever this term might mean in practice, and the foreign powers that have backed it. The situation in Syria has come to symbolise all that has gone wrong with what we could call the democratic winds that blew across the Arab world in 2011. In retrospect, we have come to realise today that a great gulf has existed, and I presume continues to exist, between the democratic aspirations of the Arab peoples and the political forces that have come to the fore to claim that they are the true incarnation of these aspirations. It goes without saying that the forces that came to the forefront in leading the democratic movement in Syria have themselves by definition been anti-democratic. Their only commitment to democracy has been the ballot box, and once in power they have shown no willingness to relinquish it. The Constitutional Declaration made by the Muslim Brothers in Egypt in November 2012 is a reminder of how undemocratic are all the groups that hail from Political Islam. Syria remains a living testimony of how far Political Islam has been willing to go to reach power through the tacit help of foreign powers. The situation in Libya is no different from that in Syria, but there is a major difference between the two cases in that the neighbouring countries of the former, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia, have provided a counterweight to the disintegration of Libya, realising, rightly, that such disintegration would run counter to their national security. For a brief period, Egypt suffered terrorist attacks from across its western borders. The UN and the international community have been pushing for a successful political transition in Libya through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2510 of 12 February 2020, which was adopted in its entirety in the Berlin Declaration of 19 January 2020. According to the timetable agreed among the various Libyan political forces, with the support of their respective international and regional backers, presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled in Libya on 24 December this year. According to recent reports, the Libyan National Assembly has decided to hold the presidential elections on this date and to postpone the legislative elections until next year. But there is no consensus on this unnecessary separation between the two sets of elections. In Iraq and Lebanon, elections are seen as the starting point for transitioning to more representative political regimes not based on sectarian or religious grounds. This is a tall order, however deep are the popular demands in both countries for more democratic forms of governance. To illustrate how challenging this transition could prove to be, there has been the regrettable decision by the Lebanese parliament not to allocate seats for women in the next elections out of fears that this could adversely impact the sectarian distribution of power in the country. I have not discussed the situation in Yemen. This is because although Yemen witnessed a popular uprising in 2011 led by the Muslim Brotherhood, regional and Arab intervention in Yemeni affairs complicated the situation, and four years later Yemen saw a proxy war between Saudi Arabia on the one hand and Iran on the other. That war is still raging, and despite incessant efforts by the UN at mediation between the warring parties, it would be surprising if it came to an end before the Saudis and the Iranians work out their political differences that have seen each side trying to checkmate the other. The Arab world today is at a crossroads. Either the transition to more open political systems succeeds, or it descends into a stalemate that will block the emergence of more democratic regimes in the Arab countries. The decisive moment could come when some Arab countries lead by example and decide to guide the transition to democracy. * The writer is former assistant foreign minister *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: D-CAF (1-22 October) This ninth edition of D-CAF (Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival) spotlights a world-class selection of new media artworks: groundbreaking pieces conceived at the intersection of art and technology. Victoria Rooftop House Embraces is an augmented reality exhibition created by award-winning Danish animator Sara Koppel. The exhibition comprises thirteen artful illustrations, each featuring an embracing couple. By downloading an app and holding their smartphones up to the drawings, viewers can watch a series of fantastical stop-frame animations unfold from the artworks. The short films shed light on a universal truth that transcends ages, borders, and even species: all living creatures share an essential need for love, warmth, and embrace (16-21 October). NYX is a thrill-eliciting sensory dive into an immersive simulation, conceptualized by media designer and animator Marcell Andristyak and produced by the Hungarian studio Glowing Bulbs. The multi-projector interactive installation invites audiences to embark on an eerie voyage through the depths of a misty woodland populated with fantastical creatures. On this journey, they become part of a quest for light in the shadowy realms of night (16-21 October). This year, D-CAF has put together The Virtual Reality Experience. This cutting-edge display includes an Oculus Quest installation curated by VR expert Omar Kamel and a world-class selection of VR films presented in collaboration with the French Institute in Egypt. The showcase will include music, dance and creative activities; games, films, and documentaries tackling a range of topics from wildlife to social justice and awareness a stunning line-up promising to enchant visitors of all tastes and from all walks of life (16-21 October). Forgotten as if You Never Were photography exhibition by Egyptian artist Hana Gamal. Gamals first solo exhibition takes its title from a Mahmoud Darwish poem. In keeping with the themes of the poem, the exhibition is a multilayered journey of memory, introspection, and reconciliation (1- 22 October). Azad 4 Mohamed Anees St, in front of the Embassy of China, Zamalek, Tel 0100 3270364 The Hunger, a mural oil painting by Taha El-Korany (3-28 October). The American University in Cairo New Cairo Campus, Abdul Latif Jameel Hall, Plaza Level, Tel 02 2615 3318 The Photographic Gallery Land of Unrealized Dreams is a duo exhibition features works by emerging photographers Ali Zaraay and Ahmad Gaber. Both photographers embarked on separate journeys to study abroad when the Covid 19 pandemic hit, derailing their plans. Each found solace with his camera, which they both used to document life under the Covid 19 pandemic (closing 14 October). Cairo International Art District (CIAD) Art DEgypte will take up to 12 spaces in Downtown, Cairo, creating the grand art concept Cairo International Art District, a city-wide art exhibition. The spaces in Downtown embrace contemporary art solo and group exhibitions, as well as independent projects. The spaces in Downtown; include Kodak Passage, Cinema Radio, The Factory, 6 Shops, Access Art Space, and 36 Abdel-Khaleq Tharwat Street Shop. The spaces comprise a range of paintings, photography, sculptures, installations, video art, new media arts (holograms), and sound. CIAD will also host a series of public lectures, workshops, and talks targeting artists and art enthusiasts. These will be hosted by esteemed artists and academics in the field of art at Rawabet Space. The event will be in parallel to Art DEgyptes latest International Exhibition by the Pyramids of Giza, Forever is Now, which is the first of its kind in the 4500-year-long history of the pyramids. This will be Art D'Egypte fourth edition and will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the patronage of UNESCO. For this project, Art DEgypte is also partnering with the Embassy of USA, the Embassy of Spain, the Embassy of Switzerland, the Italian Cultural Institute, and many more. CIAD will include a diverse array of well-established artists from all over the world including Egyptian, American, Belgian, Brazilian, British, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Saudi Arabian, Spanish, Sudanese, and Swiss artists. The exhibition would also incorporate upcoming local Egyptian artists (15 September - 27 October). Cairo Opera Complex Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek Salah Taher gallery Tel 02 2739 0132/0144 Oil paintings by Taher Abdel-Azim (15-21 October). Music Library (Ziad Bakir) gallery Glimpses of a Dream, a duet exhibition of oil and acrylic paintings by artists Nahla Abdel-Salam and Asmaa Mansour (12-18 October). Gezira Arts Centre 1 Al-Sheikh Al-Marsafi St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2737 3298/96 Fatal Sequences, an exhibition of drawings by Hamdy Abdallah (6-25 October). Italian/Egyptian Centre for Restoration and Antiquities (CIERA) 31 Al Suyuffeya St, Al Helmeya, Cairo, visitors are welcomed by appointments so contact the manager Mr. Salah Ramadan 0100 8716067 Architectural complex of the Mevlevi Dervish Samaa Khana, Restorations and Restorers permanent exhibition of the activities of the working/formation sites for the restoration and recovery of the monuments. Visitors are welcomed during the opening hours determined by the Ministry of Antiquities. Liwan 23 Hassan Assem St, Zamalek, 02 2735 3538/ 012 00999448 Aspiration, a group exhibition of painting and sculpture by Dalia Negm, Ahmed Magdy, Alia Eissa, Khoshoua El-Gohary, Omar Sedik and Toka Amr. The gallery will feature an artwork by special needs guest of honor Karim Fawzy (closing 28 October). Mahmoud Mokhtar Culture Centre 5 Tahrir St, beside Cairo Sporting Club, Tel 02 2735 1123 Isis Hall Absence, artworks by Hany El-Feqi (closing 14 October). Nahdat Misr Hall Absence, paintings by Taha Ashmawy (closing 14 October). Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art 15 Mahmoud Bassiouny St, Qasr Al-Nile, Downtown, First Floor, Tel 02 25750353 / 0100 1704554 A Man in All His States, the gallery displays paintings by young self-taught artist Essam Alaa, for the very first time (closing 14 October). Museum of Modern Egyptian Art Cairo Opera House Grounds, Gezira, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 6667/65 Al-Bab Selim Hall Scarecrow, paintings by Ahmed Nabil (5-16 October). Picasso 30 Hassan Assem off Brazil St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 7544 Hall I Time Capsules, exhibition of paintings by Asmaa El-Nawawy (10-27 October). Hall II Impress, sculptures by Nashaat Alousi (10-27 October). Safarkhan 6 Brazil St, Zamalek, Tel 012 70169291 Charisma, a trio exhibition featuring artists; Kinda Adly, Tasneem El-Mashad and Khaled Abdo, exploring the original personal perspective that emanates from each of these artists works (closing 20 October). Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC) AUC's Tahrir Campus, entrance through Mohamed Mahmoud St, Opposite Pizza Hut Algorithmic Perfumery, the unique and popular art/data installation experience by Frederik Duerinck, which allows users to make their own personal scents, is back for another round in collaboration with Cairotronica. At Algorithmic Perfumery, participants walk away with tangible and usable memorabilia of the work. A unique scent is made and compounded on-site, based on the participants questionnaire to be finished. The test consists of psychological, sociological, cultural questions and a few focused-on scent preference. Tickets are available on tickets marche, every day from 10am to 10pm including weekends from 10am to 2pm (closing 18 October). TAM Km 28, Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Abu Rawash, Giza-Egypt, 0100 0773860, Regular visiting hours: Weekdays (Sun-Thurs):10am 7pm, Saturdays: 12pm - 7pm Daydreaming, an exhibition dedicated to digital prints and photography (5-23 October). TAM Mall of Arabia, open every day, gate 17, first floor opposing Ikea floor, Working hours: Weekdays: 10AM to 11PM, Weekends: 10AM to 12AM Boundless exhibition features over 60 of Egypts best-loved artists showcasing some of their most exquisite works. UBUNTU 20 Hassan Sabry St, (entrance from Ibn Zinki St), Zamalek, Tel 0100 2792223 First Floor Shuffle a group exhibition featuring works by Adham Ghareeb, Doaa Fakher, Sarah Mohy-Eldin, Philip Andrasevic, Mohamed Sabry, Mohamed Tanash, Mahmoud Talaat, Mona El-Kateb, Maha Massoud and Yousef Sabry (closing 16 October). Ground Floor Ballet paintings depict ballerinas by Georges Bahgory (closing 16 October). ALEXANDRIA Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Archeological Museum A permanent exhibition on the results of the Archaeological Mission of the University of Turin in Nelson Island. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: American University in Cairo Sat 16, 7-8pm: The Arab and Islamic Civilizations Departments Arab Cultural Programme, in collaboration with the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, is organizing an evening about literary adaptations in Egyptian cinema. Professor of Comparative Literature at Cairo Universitys Faculty of Arts Salma Mobarak and Associate Professor at York Universitys Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics Walid El Khachab will talk about their recent book Al-Iqtibas: Min al-adab ila al-cinema, Dar al-Maraya, 2021. The lecture will be conducted in Arabic. The zoom link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300058811 Mon 18, 7-8pm: Join this Gerhart Center Webinar Series titled From the Myth of Capitalism to Embodied Economics session featuring Denise Hearn, senior fellow, American Economic Liberties Project. Hearn is co-author of The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition named one of the Financial Times Best Books of 2018. Her writing has been featured in The Financial Times, Quartz, The Globe and Mail, and The Washington Post. She has presented to audiences around the world on competition policy, macroeconomics, and new economic thinking. The link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300056974 The American University in Cairo Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tahrir Campus, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077 Oriental Hall Wed 20, 6 - 7:45pm (Cairo Time): School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) will hold its Tahrir Dialogue (94) titled, Turkeys Regional Policy. Moderated by the Founding Dean of GAPP Ambassador Nabil Fahmy, the talk will introduce ambassador Karim Haggag, Professor of Practice and Programme director, Middle East Studies at GAPP, Founding director of the Middle East Institutes Turkey Programme Gonul Tol, and political analyst Hend El-Dawy. D-CAF (1-22 October) Mon 18, 7-8.30pm (Online): International Touring: Getting More Mileage from your Artistic Ideas without Travelling an Inch, session is in English with live Arabic interpreter. In light of international travel restrictions and the ongoing climate crisis, identifying alternative models of touring work for example translating a stage show to different media or licensing an idea to another company is increasingly of interest to artists across the globe. This year, D-CAF has partnered with British cultural organization Farnham Maltings to present a workshop geared towards art practitioners wishing to bring their work to international audiences in this unprecedented global climate. Farnham Maltings International Producers Hannah Slimmon and Sophia Victoria lead the organizations international programme, supporting theater-makers, producers and art organizations to think and work internationally by providing training, opportunities and events that foster collaboration and understanding. The session will present a series of case studies from international artists and organisations that will spark ideas and confidence to find new and creative ways to get your work out there, generate income and reach audiences from the world over. Facilitators are hosted by Victoria and Slimmon. Italian Cultural Institute Italy has been celebrating the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri. Also, the Italian Institute continues to post videos in Arabic with translations from Dante Alighieris masterpiece The Divine Comedy to bring the Arab-speaking public closer to the work of the supreme poet. Videos are directed by Giabluca Barbadori, with the special participation of Ashraf Farouk, Amir Salaheddin, Sherine Hegazy, and Sara El-Mokadem. Mon 18 to Sat 23(Online): In its twenty-first edition, the Italian Language Week in the World entitled Dante and the Italian Language is dedicated to the celebrations of Dante Alighieri in the 700 years since his death. Considered the father of the Italian language, Alighieri will inspire events and conferences dedicated to him. In collaboration with the Swiss Embassy, the Italian schools and Departments of Italian at the Egyptian universities. Activities of the week will take place in various locations and online, and admission is free. For the detailed programme, go to the IIC website. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled, a Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday. Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was found Sept. 19 near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in remote northern Wyoming, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said in a news conference. This police camera video provided by The Moab Police Department shows Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito talking to a police officer after police pulled over the van she was traveling in with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, near the entrance to Arches National Park on Aug. 12, 2021. [Photo: The Moab Police Department via AP] It wasn't clear if the determination might lead to additional charges against Petito's boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her disappearance and remains unaccounted for. Blue declined to say more about the autopsy or the case overall, saying he was prevented by Wyoming law that limits what coroners can release. Petito had been on a cross-country trip with Laundrie, visiting Colorado, Utah and other states. She was reported missing Sept. 11 by her parents after she did not respond to calls and texts for several days while the couple visited national parks in the West. Blue previously classified Petito's death as a homicide meaning her death was caused by another person but had not disclosed how she was killed pending further autopsy results. A detailed analysis led to his conclusion Petito was strangled, Blue said. Nothing is obvious in a case like this, he said. Blue said little more about Petitos physical condition including whether she may have been strangled directly by somebodys hands, a rope or some other item but noted when asked that she wasnt pregnant. The three to four weeks her body was believed to be in the wilderness, however, put her death around the Aug. 27-30 period investigators believe Petito and Laundrie had traveled to the area. Petitos case has led to renewed calls for people to pay greater attention to cases involving missing Indigenous women and other people of color, with some commentators describing the intense coverage of her disappearance as missing white woman syndrome. The search for Laundrie has generated a frenzy, with TV personalities like Duane Chapman known as Dog the Bounty Hunter and longtime Americas Most Wanted host John Walsh working to track him down. Petito and Laundrie posted online about their trip in a white Ford Transit van converted into a camper. They got into a physical altercation Aug. 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop, which ended with police deciding to separate the quarreling couple for the night. No charges were filed, and no serious injuries were reported. Investigators have searched for Laundrie in Florida and also searched his parents home in North Port, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Sarasota. Federal officials in Wyoming last month charged Laundrie with unauthorized use of a debit card, alleging he used a Capital One Bank card and someones personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. They did not say to whom the card belonged. Asked about the coroners determination, the attorney for the Laundrie family, Steven Bertolino, in a statement noted his client only faces the fraud charge in the case. At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the fraud charge pending against him, Bertolino said. In Florida, FBI-led search teams have been looking in a vast nature preserve for any sign of Laundrie. Weeks of searching in the swampy Carlton Reserve south of Sarasota where Laundries parents say he went after returning home from the West have turned up nothing. Some pavilions perfectly complement their natural settings in autumn, allowing tourists to sit back and soak up the colorful vistas in Donghai County, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province. [Photo: Xuexi.cn] This bird's-eye view of Donghai County shows why many people wait until autumn to visit this hot spot in east Chinas Jiangsu province.[Photo: Xuexi.cn] This bird's-eye view of Donghai County shows why many people wait until autumn to visit this hot spot in east Chinas Jiangsu province.[Photo: Xuexi.cn] By Chananthorn Kamjan and Petchanet Pratruangkrai, KYODO NEWS - Oct 13, 2021 - 21:20 | World, All, Coronavirus, Feature Thailand is gearing up to reopen the country from November even as its high COVID-19 rate poses a dilemma for the government, which seeks to control the pandemic while mitigating its impact on the tourism-reliant economy. Although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced in mid-June that the country would fully open within four months, a daily infection caseload exceeding 10,000 has forced his government to settle for a partial reopening starting Nov. 1. Addressing the nation about the reopening plan on Oct. 11, Prayut said fully vaccinated visitors from certain low-risk countries will be allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine from next month. The list of eligible countries, including Britain, China, Germany, Singapore and the United States, will be gradually expanded from December. The foreign visitors will be welcomed in designated places of 10 provinces, including the bustling capital Bangkok and the northern tourist hub of Chiang Mai, known for its diverse cultural and natural attractions. The original plan was altered after relevant agencies cautioned that the goal of fully vaccinating at least 70 percent of the population remains far from being achieved. A trial reopening has been under way since July in the southern resort islands of Phuket and Samui, plus some smaller islands. They have accepted a limited number of COVID-free and fully vaccinated foreign tourists, who can stay for 14 days under health protocols before traveling elsewhere in Thailand if testing negative. Since the start of the flagship "Phuket Sandbox" scheme, over 43,000 foreign tourists have visited the idyllic island, with only 148 of them testing positive as of mid-October. Thailand's private sector has welcomed the step-by-step reopening of the country after being hammered by the pandemic since early last year. Business figures who spoke with Kyodo News shared the view that lockdown measures cannot continue indefinitely. They said people must learn to live with the coronavirus as an endemic reality to pave the way for economic recovery. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, said that while he supports the government's reopening plan, it must accelerate the provision of vaccines for both Thais and foreign residents to create "herd immunity" at the earliest. "Many businesses, accounting for three-fourths of all enterprises in the country and over 18 million workers, have been affected by the pandemic during the past year. It's time that the government and people learn to live with the pandemic safely and allow the businesses activities to proceed as normal," he said, while urging stringent prevention measures amid the gradual reopening. Suphan Mongkolsuthee, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said Thailand is ready for reopening as the public health care system has proven its ability to manage infections. Yet, he said, Thailand should not reopen the whole country at once as each area faces different circumstances, with many people in some rural areas of the country yet to be fully vaccinated. Private sector organizations have jointly concluded that the reopening plan could ward off a recession and enable the Thai economy, which welcomed around 40 million tourists in 2019, to expand between 0.7-1.2 percent this year. Thai Restaurant Association President Taniwan Koonmongkon lamented that due to the pandemic, tens of thousands of restaurateurs and street food venders have had to shut down their businesses. Taniwan agreed with the reopening plan would pave the way for economic activity to further resume while allowing more people to earn a living. "Lockdown measures would only dampen growth. We have to learn to live with the pandemic," she said. She said most Thais are eager to be vaccinated and forecast that the 70 percent vaccination goal could be achieved within the year. As for the health risks of reopening, Medical Association of Thailand President Amorn Leelarasamee said an inflow of foreign visitors will have unavoidable consequences. Therefore, he suggested the government maintain essential infection prevention measures, particularly the just revised 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew, while people must maintain self-discipline and continue taking such precautions as getting vaccinated, wearing masks and practicing social distancing. "The daily infection figure should be around 5,000 or less for reopening the country. But I understand that the economy needs to be quickly restored, so we have to find a balancing point to live with it," he said. However, some Thais have voiced their concerns about the risks that would come with the country reopening. Freelance make-up artist Viracha Tussanaumpai, 35, said she was delighted that the reopening will be slightly delayed even though the impact affects her income. She said the most worrying factor is the country's infection caseload, which is still high. "Frankly speaking, I think the situation is still out of control, and the government should reopen the country when the caseload is significantly small...the economic situation will not be worse than this, so we can wait," she said. Airline engineer Thanan Vongsuravanich, 45, said the schedule does not matter as it would be safer to reopen after more than half of the population have had their second dose of vaccine. "The incoming visitors could possibly bring the virus to the country, leading to a new wave of outbreak," he said. Among a total population of 66.1 million, vaccinated people as of Oct. 13 numbered 36.1 million for the first dose and 24.4 million for the second dose. KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2021 - 20:30 | World, All North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the military danger facing his country has increased in recent years, while the United States has done nothing to make him believe it has dropped its hostility toward it, state media reported Tuesday. In a speech at a weapons exhibition in Pyongyang on Monday, the text of which was carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said the security situation is "different from that 10 or five, nay, three years ago," citing heightened military tension and rivals' rapid development of military techniques and hardware. He appeared to be suggesting that instability has increased since 2018 when talks were held three times between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae In, who is proud of the inter-Korean summits as a political achievement. Pointing to U.S.-South Korea military exercises and South Korea's "intolerably undisguised" efforts to beef up its military with enhanced missiles, submarines and fighter aircraft, he said, "We can easily guess how military environment will change in the region of the Korean peninsula tomorrow." "South Korea has been unhesitant...in disclosing its ambition for securing military supremacy over us under the preposterous excuse of deterring threat from us," he said. Regarding the United States, Kim said it "has frequently sent signals that it is not hostile to our state, but its behaviors provide us with no reason why we should believe in them." "The United States is still generating regional tension with its wrong judgment and acts," he said, in remarks that seemed to suggest North Korea is not ready to engage in dialogue anytime soon. Kim made the speech at the opening ceremony of a defense development exhibition titled "Self-Defence-2021." North Korean media published photos from the event, including those of a weapon presumed to be the hypersonic missile North Korea says it has newly developed, as well as an intercontinental ballistic missile. On a conciliatory note, Kim said, "Undoubtedly, we are not strengthening our defense capability targeting at south Korea." "The dreadful history of having recourse to arms against the fellow countrymen must not be repeated on this land," he said, alluding to the 1950-1953 Korean War in which U.S.-led U.N. forces fought alongside the South against the North, backed by China and the Soviet Union. "We are not talking about a war with someone; we are building up war deterrent true to the meaning of the words in order to prevent the war itself and to safeguard the sovereignty of our state." Kim called the "grand-scale" weapons exhibition "an epoch-making demonstration of our national strength no less significant than a large-scale military parade." North Korea marked the 76th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday without holding a military parade. The country held one on the anniversary last year. In response to Kim's speech, South Korea's Unification Ministry suggested that North Korea resume talks with Seoul as communication lines between the two Koreas were recently reconnected. "Now that the inter-Korean communications lines are restored, it is time to restart talks as soon as possible while maintaining the stable operation of them," an official of the ministry told reporters, vowing to work toward recovering South-North ties and building a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. The official added that the South Korean government will not prejudge North Korea's stance shown in the speech and will closely analyze messages from Pyongyang in a more comprehensive way. Related coverage: North Korea's Kim vows to improve people's lives amid food crisis North Korea says it test-fired anti-aircraft missile on Sept. 30 FOCUS:North Korea's missile launches aimed at prodding US to ease sanctions KYODO NEWS - Oct 13, 2021 - 23:56 | All, Japan Honda Motor Co. will introduce its first electric vehicle to the Chinese market next spring, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday. With the electric-powered sport utility vehicle as a start, Honda will accelerate the electrification of its products sold in China, the world's largest car market. The automaker also unveiled a strategy that all new models to be launched in China after 2030 would be EVs or hybrid vehicles. As Honda said in April that all its cars to be introduced worldwide would be EVs or fuel cell vehicles in 2040, the electric SUV model in China is seen as a groundwork for the automaker's shift to electrified products. The SUV model with two types, e:NS1 and e:NP1, will be sold respectively by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and Guangqi Honda Automobile Co. based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The two companies are joint ventures of the automaker and local car manufacturers. Dongfeng Honda and Guangqi Honda, also known as GAC Honda, will also build EV-dedicated plants, aiming for starting operation in 2024. Honda plans to release 10 types of EVs in China over the next five years and also to export them. Katsushi Inoue, head of Honda's China operation, said, "(The electric SUV) is a car of high level that sells in the world market." "We want to provide value that will not fade in China, the world's largest market that will continue to grow for 5 to 10 years," he added. Regarding batteries, a key in developing EVs, Honda has promoted cooperation with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., a major battery maker that has a capital tie-up with the automaker. New Delhi: The Centre has banned separatist Yasin Malik's Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The outfit has been banned for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. They said the organisation has been banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Malik is currently under arrest and at present lodged in Jammu's Kot Balwal jail. "Central government has today declared Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Yasin Malik faction) as unlawful association under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This is in accordance with policy of zero tolerance against terrorism followed by government," Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said. Gauba said that JKLF led by Malik has spearheaded the separatist ideology in the valley and it has been at the forefront of separatist activities & violence since 1988. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba: 37 FIRs have been registered by Jammu and Kashmir Police against JKLF. Two cases including the case of murder IAF personnel were registered by CBI. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also registered a case which is under investigation. https://t.co/fHVpvQsN4F a ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019 He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered 37 cases against JKLF. "Two cases including the case of murder IAF personnel were registered by CBI. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also registered a case which is under investigation," Gauba said. Central government bans Separatist Yasin Malik led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. pic.twitter.com/W9R2NrdOFj a ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019 This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for five years under anti-terror law on grounds that it was ain close toucha with terrorist outfits and was expected to aescalate secessionist movementa in the state. A notification, banning the group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs after a high-level meeting on security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indias long wait to upgrade its firepower will end next week. According to latest report, indigenously-developed Dhanush howitzers will be inducted next week. Formal induction ceremony will be held at the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur on March 26, a defence ministry official was quoted as saying by Time of India. After the Bofors scandal in 80s and subsequent trouble in deals involving South African Denal, Singapore Technology Kinetics, India was unable to upgrade its artillery arsenal. Indias first indigenous, long-range artillery gun Dhanush, aka Desi Bofors, was also showcased for the first time at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi this year. The 155-mm gun cost about Rs 14.50 crore a piece. Besides features like electronic gun-laying and sighting systems, the indigenous gun has a strike range of 38 km, which is 11 km more than the imported Bofors guns. The gun, a towed howitzer, has been developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata, after going through the design and documents running into over 12,000 pages which were given to India under the first phase of Transfer of Technology (ToT) as part of the Bofors gun deal in the late 1980s. The army had been desperately looking for 155-mm howitzers for more than a decade now. It had roped in an Israeli company, Soltam, to upgrade the imported, Russian-made 130-mm gun to 155-mm at GCF. But the project, after the upgraded guns trial, ran into hot water, the official claimed. The Modi government has expedited several key defence projects. Amid tension with Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack, several experts had pointed out that Indian armed forces have poor inventory. In wake of such scenario, the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday passed a crucial defence project. According to news agency ANI, Nirmala Sitharaman-led defence ministry has cleared a major project for the Indian Army. The project will result in acquisition of 10 lakh 'made in India' multi-mode hand grenades. The new hand grenades will replace the existing inventory. The more than Rs 500 crore proposal is critical as the government has already taken care of the main personal weapon requirements of the Army soldiers by signing two contracts for modern rifles. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Six militants, including two of Pakistani origin who killed a 12-year-old boy held hostage by them, were gunned down in separate encounters with security forces on Friday in Bandipora and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed since Thursday to eight. Two terrorists were killed in an overnight gunfight in the Hajin area of Bandipora district, officials said. The operation started on Thursday but the security forces had to proceed with caution as the ultras had taken two civilians hostage, the officials said. While one civilian was rescued Thursday evening, the other -- a 12-year-old boy -- was killed by the militants, they said. "Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in the Hajin encounter...they were identified as Pakistani nationals, Ali and Hubaib," a police spokesman said. He said while one hostage, Abdul Hameed, was rescued Thursday evening, the second captive, Aatif Ahmad, "could not be saved and was brutally killed by terrorists". Two local Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) militants were killed in another encounter with security forces in Shopian district. The security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Imamsahib area of Shopian in south Kashmir following information about the presence of militants there, an army official said. He said the militants opened fire at the security forces, who retaliated, triggering a gunfight. He said the duo were involved in several atrocities against civilians and police personnel, including the recent killing of a woman SPO in Shopian. Meanwhile, another gunbattle broke out between militants and security personnel in the Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district in which two militants was killed, the official said, adding that a search operation was on in the area.? Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in a separate encounter with security forces at Kalantara in Baramulla district on Thursday, while three security force personnel, including an officer, sustained injuries during the operation. A police spokesman said while one of the slain militants was Amir Rasool, a resident of Sopore, the other slain ultra was a Pakistani national. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Expressing concern over the health of a Manipur-based journalist who is under detention, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday targeted the BJP alleging the party has no respect for freedom of speech. According to media reports, Kishorechandra Wangkhem, the Manipur-based journalist jailed since November 27 under the National Security Act (NSA), has taken seriously ill and is being treated at the government-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS) in Imphal. I am concerned about the falling health of Mr. Wangkhem. I understand that theres no respect for freedom of speech in the BJP but Id still expect some humanity from its governments, Gandhi said in a Facebook post. I wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Wangkhem. My prayers are with you, he said. Manipur is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Amaravati: The Congress released its manifesto on Friday for the April 11 general elections in Andhra Pradesh, promising to accord Special Category Status to the state on the first day of coming to power (at the Centre). It also promised to implement all other provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy, Manifesto Committee chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju and other leaders released the manifesto at the state party office in Amaravati. The main promises include waiver of loans up to Rs two lakh for all farmers, tenant farmers and women Self Help Groups; extension of interest-free loans to farmers, tenant farmers and SHGs; creation of a Rs 5,000 crore price stabilization fund to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce and introduction of a minimum income guarantee scheme. All vacant government posts would be filled up within 100 days if the Congress came to power, the manifesto promised. "We will implement a Bundelkhand-type special development package for backward districts in the state. Prakasam will also be included in the backward districts along with four in Rayalaseema and three north-coastal Andhra," Raghuveera Reddy told reporters on the occasion. We will establish a full-fledged railway zone in Visakhapatnam if voted to power, Reddy added. The Right to Information Act and the Right to Education Act would be effectively implemented, he said. While petrol and diesel would be brought under GST regime, the handloom sector would be exempted. "We will bring out district-specific manifestos within a week, in tune with the wishes of the people. We will ensure their implementation in five years," the PCC chief promised. Old-age pension of Rs 2000 a month would be given to those aged under 60 years, Rs 2,500 up to 70 years and Rs 3,000 to those above 70 years. Pension for differently-abled and single women would also be raised to Rs 3,000 a month, he added. New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested a man affiliated with terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed from Delhi. The arrested has been identified as Sajjad Khan. He was arrested from near the Red Fort area on Thursday night. According to the police, Sajjad Khan was in contact with the mastermind of the Pulwama attack, Mudassir Ahmed Khan. Sajjad Khan had moved to Delhi and living as a shawl seller before the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. Sajjad Khan, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, knew the details of the Pulwama attack on the CRPF convoy. His two brothers were also Jaish terrorists but were killed by the forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by India Today. One of his brothers was killed in an encounter along with Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's nephew Usman in South Kashmir's Tral in October 2018. Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Sajjad Khan (in grey sweatshirt) who was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell, earlier today. He was a close associate of Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir who had been eliminated earlier this month. Y: ANI Read full story: https://t.co/NSgybvaB6a pic.twitter.com/G1puUTUnNt a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) March 22, 2019 As per reportsA Mudassir Ahmed Khan was killed in an encounterA on March 11. Mudassir was the one who had arranged the vehicle and explosives used in the Pulwama terror strike. Suicide attacker Adil Ahmed Dar, who blew his explosive-laden vehicle next to the bus, had been in constant contact with Mudassir. The investigation has revealed that Sajjad was communicating with Mudassir and Pakistani terrorist Yasir via an app using fake numbers. News Nation had reported on March 20 that the National Capital is on high alert following a specific input by the intel agencies. We hadA 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 had 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Abu Dhabi: Eleven Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco signed on to the first regional team to cooperate on a space programme, the UAE said. Today at the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi, we attended the signing of a charter to establish the first Arab body for space cooperation, bringing together 11 Arab states, said Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum in comments carried by the government media office. The pan-Arab teams first project is a satellite that Arab scientists will work on from here in the UAE, he said. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed, the UAEs vice president, and prime minister, vowed in 2017 to send four Emirati astronauts to the International Space Station by 2022. The UAE announced last month that its first astronaut will blast off on a mission to the station on September 25. The oil-rich Gulf state has two astronauts in training as it looks to get an ambitious space programme aimed at exploring Mars off the ground. The astronaut programme would make the UAE one of only a handful of states in the Middle East to have sent a person into space, as it looks to make good on a pledge to become a global leader in space exploration. The first Arab in outer space was Saudi Arabias Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, who flew on a US shuttle mission in 1985. Two years later, Syrian air force pilot Muhammed Faris spent a week aboard the Soviet Unions Mir space station. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government on Friday banned Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for promoting secession of the militancy-hit state of Jammu and Kashmir. JKLF, founded by Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat in Birmingham, England on 29 May 1977, has been spearheading separatist ideology in Valley for decades. Khan had established JKLF's branches across UK, US and middle east before coming to Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 1982 and then in Jammu and Kashmir in 1987. The organisation is the descendant of Khan's PoK-based Plebiscite Front's unofficial armed wing called National Liberation Front, which carried out sabotage activities in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the hijacking of a Delhi-Srinagar commercial plane. The aircraft was then taken to Lahore where the passengers were released and the plane was burnt down. In 1987, following the alleged rigging in state elections, the JKLF indoctrinated Kashmiri youth to take up arms against the Indian rule and started sending them across the border to receive arms training. The organisation waged a war against security forces and kidnapped the daughter of then home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The war against the military had an ill-fated end and JKLF leader Yasin Malik was arrested in wounded condition. By 1992, most of the JKLF militants were either killed or captured. In 1994, under the leadership of Yasin Malik, the JKLF in Jammu and Kashmir announced indefinite ceasefire and reportedly disbanded its military wing. The organisation decided to take the political route for achieving its objective of Jammu and Kashmirs independence and sowed the seed of separatist ideology. However, the decision didnt go down well with the organisations PoK branch which split off from the group. Over a decade later, the two factions merged again in 2005 retaining the original identity. JKLF is often accused of sponsoring the stone pelting against security personnel in Valley. The JKLF claims to be a secular with one single goal of secular, independent Kashmir free of both India and Pakistan. JKLF leader Malik is currently lodged in Kot Balwal jail in Jammu, and is likely to face trial in the three-decade-old case of kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of then Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and gunning down of four IAF personnel in Srinagar. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The United States President Donald Trump on Friday said the Islamic State jihadist group is "100 percent" defeated inA Syria. The announcement was made after Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan briefed the President that the militant group Islamic State no longer holds any territory in Syria. "The territorial caliphate has been eliminated in Syria," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders was quoted as saying. Soon after the development Trump took to Twitter and wrote "ISIS uses the internet better than almost anyone, but for all of those susceptible to ISIS propaganda, they are now being beaten badly at every level....". "....There is nothing to admire about them, they will always try to show a glimmer of vicious hope, but they are losers and barely breathing. Think about that before you destroy your lives and the lives of your family!" he added. ....There is nothing to admire about them, they will always try to show a glimmer of vicious hope, but they are losers and barely breathing. Think about that before you destroy your lives and the lives of your family! a Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2019 The development comes a day after Trump had on March 21 said that the Islamic State's last bastion in Syria will be "gone" by the end of the day. He was showing off maps that illustrate the dramatic shrinking of territory held by the jihadist group in the period from his election in 2016 and now. In one map shown by Trump to reporters in Washington and then again at a rally to factory workers in Lima, Ohio, IS territory marked in red extends over large areas. A second map, he said, shows the jihadist organisation about to be wiped out. "There is no red. In fact, there's actually a tiny spot which will be gone by tonight," he said. Fighting continued in Baghouz, Syria, on Wednesday, but the IS jihadists are down to a tiny scrap of land, where they are surrounded and under heavy fire from a US-led coalition of Kurds, Syrians and others. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid reports of him joining theA Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jitin Prasada, senior Congress leader and two-time Lok Sabha MP, on Friday refused to answer a question regarding the same. Speaking to media,A Prasada said,A "There should be some basis for such a question. Why should I answer a hypothetical question?" The Congress Rajya Sabha MP won from Shahjahanpur and Dhaurahra Lok Sabha constituencies in the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, respectively. This comes as a massive jolt to the Congress as Jitin Prasada was considered to be very close to Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Congress' Jitin Prasada on being asked if he is going to join BJP: There should be some basis for such a question. Why should I answer a hypothetical question? pic.twitter.com/Dv2D0NhUve a ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019 Forty five-year-old Jitin Prasada was the Minister of State form Steel from April 2008 to May 2009 in UPA-I government of prime minister Manmohan Singh. He held the portfolios of Minister of State, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways, and Human Resource Development in UPA-II. Jitin is an alumnus of The Doon School, Dehradun. He did his graduation in B Com (Hons) from Delhi University's Sri Ram College of Commerce and then went to do his MBA from IMI, New Delhi. He comes from a family which has traditionally supported the Congress with his grandfather Jyoti Prasada being a member of the party. His father Jitendra Prasada was a Congress vice president and served as the political advisor to former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao. Jitendra has also contested against Sonia Gandhi for the post of the party president in 2000 but had lost. Congress Randeep Surjewala said, "It is bullshit," when asked about the media reports on Jitin Prasada joining the BJP. New Delhi: Danish Ali, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) general secretary who until recently was involved in alliance negotiations with the Congress and the JD-S in Karnataka, had joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on February 16. And now BSP chief Mayawati has given him the ticket from the Amroha Lok Sabha constituency. The BSP released a list with names of 11 candidates on Friday. Speaking to media after joining the BSP, Ali had said that he took the permission of former prime minister and JD-S leader Deve Gowda and will do whatever work is assigned to him by Mayawati. I never asked for anything even when I was in JD(S), it was upto HD Deve Gowda ji to decide what work to assign me. I have come here after taking the blessings & permission of Deve Gowda ji. I will work wherever Behen ji assigns me, news agency ANI quoted Ali as saying. Ali, who was born in Uttar Pradesh, said that despite all his efforts, he could not help the JD-S grow in his home state. Given the threat to the Constitution, he said, it became essential to use his energy with a strong leadership. JD(S) doesn't have a large orga structure in UP. Despite all my efforts I could not have raised it in my 'janmabhoomi, my 'karmabhoomi'....The way in which there is a threat to constitution today, it has become essential to use our energy with a strong leadership, he said. Danish Ali was a close associate of Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and he had played the crucial role in Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka. He was also involved in the seat sharing negotiations between the parties for the Lok Sabha elections. New Delhi: The Grand Alliance of opposition parties led by Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar has announced the seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to the list announced, the RJD will contest on 20 seats, Congress on 9, Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) on 5, Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) 3 and, Vikasshil Insan Party (VIP) 3 and Left will contest on one seat from RJDs quota. Former Janata Dal United president Sharad Yadav will contest on RJD ticket. HAM president and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi will contest from Gaya Lok Sabha seat. Addressing the media on seat sharing with Congress, RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha said, "The alliance is being formed to save the Constitution. The grand alliance is a natural one." "We have decided nine seats for Congress and 20 seats for RJD," state RJD chief Ram Chandra Purve said. 'CPI(ML) will contest one seat from the RJD quota. Five seats have been allocated to the RLSP and three to VIP and HAM(S) respectively. Jitan Ram Manjhi will contest from Gaya," Purve said. Former chief minister and HAM(S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi will be contesting from Gaya, while RLSP candidate Bhudeo Chaudhury has been fielded from Jamui. HAM(S) leader Upendra Prasad will contest from Aurangabad and RJDs Veebha Devi from Nawada. The Shiv Sena has also announced its first list of 21 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, from its quota of 23 seats and retained most of the sitting members. As per the BJP-Sena alliance, the two ruling allies are contesting 48 parliamentary seats in the state in the ratio of 25:23, leaving nothing for its five smaller allies. The BJP announced on Thursday evening its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha elections that begin next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary seat he retained after winning two seats in the 2014 election while BJP president Amit Shah will fight from Gandhinagar in his home town Gujarat; a seat where BJP veteran LK Advani is the sitting lawmaker. New Delhi: A villager in Jammu and Kashmirs Hajin area on Thursday pleaded to Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists to release the 12-year-old boy, who was held captive by them and later killed. In a viral video on social media, one of the villagers is heard telling the Pakistani terrorists that what they are doing is not jihad (armed crusade) but jahalat (benighted). However, the requests from the villagers fell to dumb ears as the boy, identified as Atif Mir, was brutally killed by the LeT terrorists. The incident took place in Hajin area near Srinagar where the terrorists had taken shelter in the boys house at gunpoint, the police officials said. The terrorists - Ali alias Furkan and Hubaib allegedly wanted to sexually abuse Mirs sister but the family helped her escape. This infuriated them and they started beating up the family members. Hearing their cries, the locals informed the police. Reaching the spot, the police started the rescue mission and successfully extracted Mirs parents and other family members. Before the police could rescue Mir and his uncle Hameed, the terrorists open fire. We knew that the boy and uncle were trapped inside and, so, we asked the villagers to appeal to the terrorists to release them, news agency PTI quoted a senior official as saying. On the request of police, the head of the village asked the terrorists to release the boy. Do whatever you want, but this is not Jihad but Jahalat. Please release the boy, he pleaded. Later, wife of Hameed also made appeals to release her husband and nephew but the stone-hearted terrorists didnt reciprocate. Later, the police made a room clearing intervention and managed to bring Hameed out of the house. Hameed told police that he was beaten black and blue by the terrorists with an iron rod and AK rifle. I tried my best to get my nephew out of this. I begged them but they remained unmoved, Hameed told the police. Meanwhile, the area was completely seized by the security personnel and realising that there was no escape, the terrorists killed the boy before being neutralised by the forces. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bamako: Militia fighters descended on a village in central Mali before dawn on Saturday, killing at least 115 people in the latest deadly attack blamed on an ethnic militia, local authorities said. The massacre in the village of Ogossogou left the village chief and his grandchildren dead in the ethnic Peulh community, according to a local official who had received detailed accounts from the remote area. The victims included pregnant women, young children and the elderly, according to Abdoul Aziz Diallo, president of a Peulh group known as Tabital Pulaaku. It was not immediately possible to independently corroborate the toll given by those in contact with survivors from the Peulh village. The UN mission in Mali confirmed reports of an attack but gave no figures. Militants from a Dogon group known as Dan Na Ambassagou have been blamed for scores of attacks over the past year, according to Human Rights Watch. The umbrella group comprises a number of self-defence groups from the Dogon villages among others. The growing prominence of Islamic extremists in central Mali since 2015 has unravelled relations between the Dogon and Peulh communities. Members of the Dogon group accuse the Peulhs of supporting these jihadists linked to terror groups in the countrys north and beyond. Peulhs have in turn accused the Dogon of supporting the Malian army in its effort to stamp out extremism. In December, Human Rights Watch had warned that militia killings of civilians in central and northern Mali are spiraling out of control. The group said that Dan Na Ambassagou and its leader had been linked to many of the atrocities and called for Malian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators. Malis Dogon country with its dramatic cliff landscapes and world renowned traditional art once drew tourists from Europe and beyond who hiked through the regions villages with local guides. The region, though, has been destabilized in recent years along with much of central Mali. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire for the fifth consecutive day by shelling forward areas and posts along the LoC with mortar bombs in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, according to reports. At 03.45 pm Monday, the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire along the LoC in Mendhar sector. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. The firing was underway when the last reports came in. "Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violated ceasefire in Poonch district today at about 15:45 hours by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Mendhar sector. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," the news agency ANI reported. Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violated ceasefire in Poonch district today at about 1545 hours by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Mendhar sector. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly. a ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019 Early in the day, two Army jawans were injured as Pakistani troops continued night-long mortar shelling and firing in Pallanwala, Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. The two Army jawans, who were injured in Pallanwala sector, were admitted to a hospital, the officials said. On Thursday, an Army jawan was killed as Pakistani troops shelled forward areas and Indian posts with artillery and mortar bombs heavily along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The border skirmishes witnessed a spurt after India's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 42 CRPF personnel were killed and dozens of others injured. Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire over 110 times along the Line of Control (LoC) this year. The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations, numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops, in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday announced that his party Digvijaya Singh will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. The development comes days after Nath said that if Singh wants to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he should choose the toughest seat in the state. Responsing to this, Singh had said that he was ready to contest from wherever party chief Rahul Gandhi wants him to, adding that "accepting challenges was his habit". Earlier, Congress sources said Nath is keen that Singh contest from Bhopal. Former President late Shankar Dayal Sharma was the last Congress winner from the seat in the 1984 general elections. The Congress had last won Bhopal constituency in 1984, after assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The seat was the represented by Congress' KN Pradhan. In 2014 Parliamentary elections, the BJP won 27 seats in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress' tally was just two. Normally, Singh and his family members have contested Lok Sabha elections from their traditional Rajgarh seat. Singh had represented Rajgarh in 1984 and 1991. His brother Laxman Singh had represented the seat in 1994 (bypoll), 1996, 1998, and 1999 from Congress, and in 2004 from BJP. In 2009, Digvijaya Singh loyalist Narayan Singh Amlabe won from Rajgarh. Singh's choice of seat is hotly debated in the faction-ridden Congress. While a section of leaders want him to contest from Rajgarh, a "safe" seat, the gauntlet to enter the poll fray from either Indore or Bhopal is also thrown at him at the behest of another faction. The European Union and Ukraine signed an open-skies agreement that will establish a joint aviation space, the Ukrainian presidential press service said. The agreement which was signed on Tuesday, focussed at the twenty-third Ukraine-EU Summit in Kiev, will open up the air markets of Ukraine and the European Union and bolster air safety, air traffic, and environmental protection, the presidential press service said in a statement, according to media report The open-skies agreement must be ratified by Ukraine and each European Union member state to take effect. The signing ceremony was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. On June 28, 2021, the European Union Council agreed to sign Common Aviation Area (CAP) agreements with Ukraine, Armenia, Tunisia, and Qatar. Negotiations on the Comprehensive Assistance Package with Ukraine were completed in 2013, but the signing of the deal had been blocked due to a conflict between the UK and Spain over the status of Gibraltar airport. Joe Biden to host Kenyan prez Uhuru Kenyatta tomorrow China objects to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Arunachal Pradesh Kunming Declaration adopted at COP15 Kathmandu: A passenger bus on its way to Gamgadhi in the Mugu district of Nepal went out of control on Tuesday and plunged 300 metres down the road into the river. At least 32 people have lost their lives and several others are said to be injured in the accident. Mugu is famous for the beautiful Rara Lake, which is located 650 km northwest of Kathmandu. Many passengers on the bus were returning home from different parts of the country to celebrate the Dussehra celebrations. A Nepal Army helicopter has been sent from Surkhet for rescue operations at the accident site. According to media reports, the bus coming from Nepalganj towards Gamgadhi fell into the Pina Jhayari river. The incident took place in the Chhayanath Rara Municipal Corporation area. In this unfortunate incident, a passenger bus going to Gamgarhi in Mugu district slipped off the road and fell into a river 300 metres below. More than 32 people died and several others were injured. According to the report, 'According to the latest information, 32 people have died in the accident. The number of injured is also increasing.' Most of the passengers on the bus were returning home from different places on the occasion of Durga Puja. Santosh Shah, in charge of the Nepalganj airport security guard, said 10 people suffered severe head injuries, who were taken to Kohlpur Medical College and five others were sent to a nursing home in Nepalganj for treatment. Drugs case: Lawyer who saved Salman in hit-and-run case will now fight Aryan's case, hearing today Sudden firing on funeral participants, dead bodies scattered Harish Rawat hampered return of Congress 'Rebels,' said- 'Mahapaapi' should apologise first "The latest data provided ... by the Louisiana Department of Health showed 223,918 doses of the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been thrown out," said the report published Saturday. The number of trashed COVID-19 vaccine shots in the U.S. state of Louisiana has nearly tripled since the end of July, according to a recent report by The Associated Press. "The latest data provided ... by the Louisiana Department of Health showed 223,918 doses of the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been thrown out," said the report published Saturday. More than 21,500 doses simply were not used before their expiry dates, it said, adding that within November, another nearly 50,000 doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will expire. The problem continues to swell as health providers cannot find enough residents willing to get vaccinated even amid a fourth surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. "The throwing away of doses in the United States comes as millions of people around the globe still are waiting for the opportunity to get inoculated against the COVID-19 illness," it added. Karnataka: Relaxation in Covid norms to be taken after Dasara: CM Bommai Now masks to be worn indoors too, state govt launches campaign Biden Admn to Ease Covid-19 Travel curb with Canada and Mexico (Based on Nirvik Jung Rayamajhis conversation with historian Mahesh Raj Panta.) I have written about Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepalis, in many newspaper articles and books. Yet, there is still a lot of confusion about the festival. People have been arguing over how and when this festival started, without facts and evidence. Due to this, many have been confused, so here are some simple yet important things about the biggest festival of Nepal: 1. Dashain was not celebrated by all; it was the Chhetris festival Tika and jamara for the tenth day of Dashain. According to our religious scriptures, the four classes/groups have their own major festivals. For example, the Brahmins have Janai Purnima; the Chhetris have Dashain; the Vaishyas have Lakshmi Puja and the Shudras have Holi (or Phagu Purnima). Therefore, even if a Brahmin does not observe Dashain, that is no crime as the most special festival of them is Janai Purnima (or Rishitarpani). Today, Dashain is a festival that a majority of Nepalis celebrate. But, in ancient literature, Dashain is rarely mentioned there, not as much as Janai Purnima, Tihar or Holi. The truth about Dashain can only be discussed if we do it based on the scriptures. 2. Dashain is only around 6.5 centuries old Going through the old scriptures, the reference to Dashain in Nepal can be found traced back to the year 1375. Many say the country started celebrating Dashain after Prithvi Narayan Shahs regime [in the 18th century]. But, there is ample evidence that the Malla kings celebrated Dashain with much fervour at their palaces. There is no mention of Dashain during the Lichhavi period. Although, in an inscription from the reign of King Mandeva in 503, Bhagawati, the goddess worshipping during Dashain, is mentioned. There are no other mentions. In the Malla regime, the king and the kingdoms were one and the same, unlike in the west where the king and the state were different. Therefore, the king and the entire state celebrating Dashain meant the same. After the arrival of Prithvi Narayan Shah in Kathmandu, Phulpati gained rather special importance. It can be said that the practice of giving leave to the employees, giving allowance to the army started then. Then, Dashain gradually gained more importance in society. Similarly, in Nepal Sambat 798 or in 1678 AD, Malla King Nripendra Malla and Gorkhali King Prithvipati Shah became mits (special friends with each other) on the day of Vijaya Dashami or Dashain Tika, at Mohanchok of Hanumandhoka Durbar. This shows how much importance these two kings gave to Dashain. 3. Phulpati was celebrated by the Newa community also File: Phulpati is being anointed during the Dashain festival, in Kathmandu, in 2019. It has often been said that the Newa community does not celebrate Phulpati. But, there has been some evidence that says otherwise. On Ashwin Shuklapaksha Saptami 1669 or Nepal Sambat 789, there is a memo about the festival. There is another mention in the book Varshakriya written in the Malla period, so it is difficult to believe they did not celebrate it. (This is mentioned on pages 186-187 of Gautam Vajra Vajracharyas book Hanuman Dhoka Rajdarbar 2033) 4. Mahanawami was the time to prepare for the war File: Devotees thronging to Taleju Mandir that opens only on Mahanawami of Dashain. To worship weapons on the day of Mahanavami meant to be prepared to invade another state. In the middle age, people would go to attack another state after autumn as the streams would be cleared after the monsoon. There were mentions describing the victorious kings and their victory parades in the autumn. In this perspective, Dashain is a celebration of state expansion. On the other hand, evidence of elephant worship and horse worship on different days of the Dashain festival can be found from the seventh century. In Nepal Sambat 786 (1666 AD), Suvarnapatra mentioned that King Srinivasa Malla of Lalitpur prepared the main square in the palace and built a temple in the middle on the day of Mahanawaami. On the day, it is said he worshipped the family deity Yantaju. And, he is known to have allocated money to Mahanawami celebrations. 5. Malashree is from Sanskrit Representational image. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Some have said that the Malashree tune played during Dashain comes from the Nepal Bhasas Myali, which means a kind of flute or tube instrument. But, that is wrong. The Malashree Dhun is mentioned in our ancient Sanskrit literature. On the other hand, some Newa people are saying that Dashain and Mohani are different. But, Dashain is a misinterpretation of the word Dashami whereas Mohani is of Mahanawami. (Based on Pantas conversation with Onlinekhabar journalist Nirvik Jung Rayamajhee) Kathmandu, October 13 The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that Nepals Covid-19 tally has reached 897,134 as of Wednesday afternoon. The ministry said 365 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours. In this period, 3,671 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which returned 326 returned positive. Likewise, 1,923 people underwent antigen tests for the virus, of which an additional 39 tested positive. As of today, there are 14,267 active cases across the country. Of them, 1,095 are hospitalised, 315 in intensive care units and 107 on ventilators. Of total tests, 8.88 per cent of the PCR and 2.02 per cent of antigen samples returned positive, keeping the overall per-day positivity rate at 6.52 per cent. In the past 24 hours, 609 people have achieved recovery whereas four deaths have been reported. Of the total cases so far, 778,350 people have achieved recovery. Likewise, 11,261 died, according to the ministry. The countrys recovery rate is 96.8 per cent and the death rate is 1.4 per cent. Meanwhile, 2,275 people were vaccinated today. Home Just In To kill or not to kill: Why Nepal debates whether to continue animal sacrifice every Dashain Dashain, the festival that honours goddess Durga symbolising power, prosperity, motherly love, and valour, is also surrounded by many fierce debates. One of the biggest debates that Nepali society experiences around this time every year is about animal sacrifice in the goddesss puja. For many, Dashain is synonymous with feasting on the meat of the sacrificed animal as a prasad. During the 15-day celebration, thousands of goats, buffaloes, sheep and poultry are slaughtered in many temples (shakti peeths) and private houses. At the same time, many activist protests this practice stating this as an inhumane and gruesome ritual that ignites the instinct of violence in humans in the name of pleasing the goddess Durga. As both sides have their own arguments for and against this practice, the debate is unlikely to end anytime soon. Even the pioneers of traditional Hindu culture are also divided about the issue. Clash of faiths Devotees offering their prayers at Bhadrakali Temple, Kathmandu. Govinda Tandon, a heritage and culture expert and animal rights advocate, stands against this tradition. He is worried that animal sacrifice has been an essential of Dashain for many people as the worshipping of goddess Durga, management of the expenses for the celebration, and shopping are. For him, Dashain is only a festival of worshipping nine goddesses (Navadurga) during the Navaratri, hence an auspicious occasion of knowing and understanding the inner self and the essence of being born as a human being. Once people understand their inner self, Tandon believes, people get conscious to do only good deeds, and animal sacrifice is necessarily not a good deed. But, we, people, made this holy festival ugly by advocating Dashain as a festival of animal sacrifice, asserts Tandon. The credence that without feasting on meat or without animal sacrifice, Dashain celebration and worshipping is incomplete has taken over the minds of the people as the time passes by. Opposing the views of Dr Tandon, Prof Dr Madhav Bhattarai, the former chairperson of Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, advocates for the continuation of this age-old tradition. Although a vegetarian claiming he has never sacrificed any animals in life, Bhattarai, however, presents himself as a supporter of this tradition. As per Bhattarai, animal sacrifice holds a great significance in this festival as this will provide salvation to the sacrificed animals and appease the bloodthirsty goddess Durga. He further adds, Animal sacrifice is also a kind of worship. But, Govinda Tandon questions, Who gave people an authority to give salvation to any other beings? How can the goddess as a motherly figure be pleased by killing her own offspring even if offering the blood of those innocent animals gives them salvation? He also urges supporters of the tradition to ask themselves a question: can they offer their own family members to the goddesses so as to grant them salvation? They are just doing it for the sake of their tongue (taste) and stomach (hunger) in the name of pleasing the goddess, he continues, Nobody has seen any goddess and god eating those sacrificed animals. It is the humans who do that out of their selfishness. For Tandon, no god and goddess have asked for animal sacrifice or any kind of violence to please them. He says religious scriptures demand people to kill their own lust, greed and anger, but not any other life. On this, Bhattarai counters, Yagyabalkiya Smriti, an ancient religious text, says animal sacrifice can be given on three occasions: for the worship of gods and goddesses, for the honour of the guests, and for the ancestors (pitris). Glory of the Satvik people Representational image. Photo: Pexels/ Maarten van den Heuvel Bhattarai also explains the practice of animal sacrifice connecting to the idea that there are three kinds of people in society. One is Satvik; the vegetarians do not have the feeling of competition and do not give animal sacrifice. The second ones are Rajashi, who have the feeling of competition, who are non-vegetarians and who ritually give animal sacrifice. And, there is another kind called Tamashi, the ones who are non-vegetarian, who eat whatever they like to, who do not abide by rules and regulations, who are lazy and give animal sacrifice (but not ritually). He says if one can be a Satvik, that can be the best and there does not exist any practice of animal sacrifice. However, such people are only a handful in todays world. On this, Tandon also agrees but adds people of other kinds can also be made Satvik with good thoughts as it is essential for a society to progress. What do the scriptures say? Perhaps the division between those promoting and protesting the culture of animal sacrifice stems from contrasting views in various religious texts. Bhattarai says, In Kalika Purana, it is stated that animals are born to serve yagyas. Even in Geeta, it is stated that whatever you eat, it should be first offered to the gods and goddesses. His idea is that protesting the practice of sacrifice is okay for vegetarians, but the non-vegetarians should offer meat to god before they eat it. Also, killings done for yagyas are not considered killing as per Manusmriti, Bhattarai says, adding, However, if one eats the animals for ones taste, s/he is considered a culprit. But, Tandon does not agree with this. He says Parisankhya Bidhi says violent acts should not be done at all, rather this should be gradually decreased and, in fact, eliminated from its root cause. He stresses that the biggest lesson that religious scriptures have taught is that non-violence is a virtue and virtue leads to victory. On the other hand, death is the cruellest suffering to every being on earth. If one earns virtues by killing those beings, what could be a sin for them, questions Tandon. He further says, Animal sacrifice increases violence in society, which is not good anyway. Instead, We all want peace. Human beings, being the greatest being, should think of the good of all the creatures. From the archive EFE Latam Videos Caracas, 18 nov (EFE).- El oficialismo y la oposicion de Venezuela, que acude a las urnas por primera vez desde 2017, cerraron este jueves la campana electoral para las elecciones locales y regionales apurando los ultimos momentos para reclamar el voto a sus simpatizantes, un desafio especialmente complejo para los antichavistas. La ultima jornada de campana fue testigo de una escena que hace anos se antojaba inedita, chavistas y opositores -sin lideres- pidieron el voto y repartieron panfletos unos frente a otros en varias zonas de la gran Caracas, sin problemas entre ambos grupos. En un gran acto celebrado por el Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) en el estado Miranda, que alberga parte de Caracas, la vicepresidenta Ejecutiva, Delcy Rodriguez, aseguro que los comicios serviran para dar una "leccion democratica, para que los imperios del mundo aprendan a respetar a Venezuela". "Ellos (la oposicion) saben que le vamos a dar una paliza este 21 de noviembre", afirmo Rodriguez, quien insistio en que mantendran el legado del fallecido presidente Hugo Chavez tras la contienda electoral. En este mismo acto participo el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional (AN, Parlamento), Jorge Rodriguez, quien apostillo que "es imposible" que les sea arrebatada la victoria en las elecciones del domingo. "La hora mas dura ya paso y no pudieron con nosotros, las agresiones mas graves ya las infringieron y no pudieron con nosotros. Resistimos, les ganamos, los derrotamos", asevero Rodriguez antes de alzar el brazo del gobernador y candidato a la reeleccion en Miranda, Hector Rodriguez. El mandatario regional, considerado por muchos como el delfin del presidente Nicolas Maduro, prometio que iba a tener "la victoria mas grande" del chavismo en ese estado, tradicionalmente opositor. Hector Rodriguez tambien prometio "corregir" todo lo que sea necesario y "cambiar todo" lo que deban. Finalmente, aseguro que sera "un gobernador que no va a estar perdiendo el tiempo en peleaderas" en contraste con la oposicion, que ha protagonizado una disputa por la candidatura entre Carlos Ocariz y David Uzcategui que ha protagonizado parte de la campana. La disputa se decanto, en el ultimo instante, del lado de Uzcategui, impulsado por el partido Fuerza Vecinal (FV) que ha promovido varios alcaldes del area metropolitana de Caracas. LA OPOSICION LLAMA AL VOTO En el municipio de Chacao, gran bastion opositor venezolano, su alcalde y aspirante a la reeleccion, Gustavo Duque -tambien de FV-, hizo un llamado a sus simpatizantes a que acudan a votar: "El domingo les digo a todos que vayan de manera organizada a su centro electoral". La asistencia a las urnas sera clave para que la oposicion consiga un buen resultado que le permita obtener varias gobernaciones y alcaldias clave tras casi un lustro llamando a la abstencion. "Estamos cerrando la campana electoral en Chacao con mucho orgullo, rodeado de miles de vecinos que vinieron a darnos un espaldarazo (...) Estar junto a los vecinos y poner de primero al ser humano nos ha generado este respaldo", dijo Duque a Efe antes de anadir que su partido llego para "sacudir al politica venezolana de forma positiva". En Caracas, gran bastion del chavismo los ultimos 22 anos y uno de los mayores desafios de la oposicion, el aspirante opositor, Tomas Guanipa, cerro su campana afirmando que la capital "hoy demuestra voluntad de cambio" y el "hastio" con la situacion que vive el pais. "Lo que yo veo en la calle es indignacion, la gente quiere recobrar su derecho a decidir quien esta y quien no en el poder", afirmo en las ultimas horas de campana. LA UE DESPLIEGA A SUS OBSERVADORES DE CORTO PLAZO De otro lado, los 34 observadores de corto plazo de la Mision de Observacion Electoral de la Union Europea (MOE-UE) se desplegaron hoy por el pais. La jefa de la mision, la eurodiputada portuguesa Isabel Santos, saludo a los observadores antes de su partida por tierra a los distintos destinos que tienen asignados. Santos fue preguntada acerca de las criticas vertidas por el numero dos del oficialismo, Diosdado Cabello, quien ha pedido a sus simpatizantes que desconfien de los observadores de la UE, ya que -aseguro- su trabajo "se basa en la desacreditacion" del proceso. En varias ocasiones, ha afirmado que la delegacion de la UE en Venezuela tiene "el guion escrito sobre el ejercicio democratico que se desarrollara en Venezuela, el cual se basa en la desacreditacion de todo el proceso comicial". Al respecto, la observadora jefa se mostro sorprendida y nego que tengan "un informe preparado". "La gran dificultad de esta mision es que estamos aqui, observamos hasta el final, y producimos el informe con base en todos los informes que nos aportan todos los observadores (...) Ese tipo de afirmaciones es algo muy raro para mi, muy sorprendentemente", concluyo. (c) Agencia EFE Description Gold Coast International Film Festival is back with in-person and virtual film screenings! In-Person tonight - THE HUMANS, starring Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer and Steven Yuen. "A remarkably powerful portrait of the American family...it should be a major contender at awards time." - Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter A piercing, haunting debut film from writer-director Stephen Karam, adapted from his Tony Award-winning play. Erik Blake has gathered three generations of his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughters apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the groups deepest fears are laid bare. The Humans explores the hidden dread of a family and the love that binds them together. Manhasset Cinemas @ 7:30pm. Spiders are scary but avoidable Media Contact: Brian Brus | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-6792 | BBrus@okstate.edu As Oklahomans pull end-of-year holiday decorations out of the attic and put away tools in sheds, they may end up disturbing some of their smallest neighbors. Exclamations of surprise will be uttered. Bites might be delivered. Squashing, unfortunately, happens too often. Andrine Shufran, Oklahoma State University Extension associate specialist with the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, said human-spider interactions don't need to be so dramatic. In Oklahoma, only two spiders are considered dangerous to people: the brown recluse and black widow. Their relatives tarantulas, wolf spiders, jumping spiders and others only look scary, with bites that are less harmful than bee stings. We notice them more at this time of year partly because theyve gotten larger at the end of their lifecycles, and they might be protecting egg sacs, said Shufran, who is also director of the Insect Adventure program. Theyre also like us in a certain way: Many are preparing for winter, looking for food, water and shelter, which might be inside our homes. Shufran offered some helpful tips: The brown recluse, or fiddleback, is less than an inch long and light tan to dark brown. It rests during the day in dark spaces such as in baseboards, crevices and piles of clothes. It normally only bites when physical pressure is applied, such as when people put on shoes, roll over in bed or reach behind cabinets. The black widow is obvious by its red hourglass marking, measuring more than an inch with legs spread. It tends to cast webs around piles of debris, under low-growing shrubs, in boxes and utility housings. Unlike brown recluses, which arent designed to make it through winter, black widows may remain active in sheltered environments all year long. If bitten, relieve swelling and pain by applying an ice pack or alcohol directly to the injury. If the bite causes a severe reaction particularly from a brown recluse or black widow consult a physician immediately. Spiders overall would prefer to be left alone so they can eat other insects that bother people. Regular maintenance is key to keeping spiders away: They dont like frequent cleaning in closets, cellars and other potential hiding spots. Shufran also suggested commercially available paper sticky traps. Its hard for people to appreciate this, but spiders are good they protect our fruits and vegetables, Shufran said. By comparison, butterflies and moths are bad theyre responsible for eating a large portion of our crops. OSU Extension provides a fact sheet for dealing with Oklahomas spiders, as well as information on related pests. A video feature about spiders is available online at SUNUP, the award-winning agricultural television show produced by OSU Agriculture. Cybersecurity Clarke stresses cooperation as momentum builds on Capitol Hill behind breach disclosure legislation (Image credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock.com) Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), who chairs a key cybersecurity subcommittee in Congress, said Tuesday that improved information sharing between the public and private sectors was critical to combat the rise in ransomware attacks seen in recent months. "So much of our critical infrastructure is within the private sector, that it's important that we bring all stakeholders to the table to really get at the heart of what makes most sense," the congresswoman said at The Hill's cybersecurity summit on Tuesday. Clarke is sponsoring the bipartisan State And Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which would create a $500 million grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to help boost funding at the state, local and tribal levels for cybersecurity initiatives, and would also establish a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee. There's momentum building on Capitol Hill for more sweeping cybersecurity legislation to mandate breach reporting for critical infrastructure companies and private companies of a certain size. A bipartisan bill that passed out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee would require covered companies to report incidents to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within 72 hours of discovery. A separate bipartisan bill offered by leaders on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence sets a 24-hour clock for reporting. Clarke didn't say whether she supported the 24-hour or 72-hour requirement, instead stressing the importance of private entities immediately identifying and addressing cyber intrusions, while building trust to expand and advance information sharing procedures. "There's a divergence of thought about what is the best way to get the private industry in particular to do their reporting" on cyber-related incidents, Clarke said. "We recognize that in cyberspace it is critical that we build that trust, and create a space where entities feel safe in reporting to us what is taking place." The addition of Glamit expands Accenture Interactives world-class commerce capabilities BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Glamit, a boutique e-commerce agency in Argentina. Glamit offers experience design and technology, including e-commerce and platform architecture, brand strategy, digital marketing services and direct-to-consumer solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005236/en/ Accenture has acquired Glamit, a boutique e-commerce agency in Argentina. (Photo: Business Wire) To meet the needs of the rapidly growing Argentinian e-commerce market, todays brands are looking to reinvent their commerce experience swiftly and at scale. With the addition of Glamit, Accenture Interactive further enhances its robust omnichannel e-commerce and marketing solutions and the ability of the Accenture SynOps platform to power connected and seamless commerce experiences. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Buenos Aires, Glamit, brings proven partnerships with leading technology and platform companies including Magento, VTEX and Mercado Pago, and other related services to deliver commerce excellence across multiple industries for international and local brands. Recognized by the eCommerce Institute for outstanding leadership and offerings to support online businesses in Argentina, an outstanding partner by Mercado Pago and most recently, Great Place to Work in Argentina, the agencys 260 employees will join Accenture Interactive in HSA. Flaviano Faleiro, Accenture Interactives president for Growth Markets, said: "Glamit fits into our vision of transforming commerce across Latin America. With them as part of the Interactive family, we will help our clients in the region balance the complexities and simplicity of digital commerce and create exceptional experiences that delight consumers and drive brand success." Story continues Andres Dorfman, CEO of Glamit, said: "Weve always been focused on helping brands create connected experiences for their consumers. Joining Accenture Interactive will allow us to continue to do so, in a way that extends our reach and increases our impact. It provides an excellent opportunity for our teams to drive marketing transformation and commerce reimagination in a big way that helps our clients deepen their presence on a global scale." Accenture Interactives commerce offering is centered on supporting clients design, implement and operate transformative experiences for the consumer, offering expertise in emerging platforms and modern commerce architectures such as headless and composable commerce. Accenture was named a leader in commerce services by Forrester in 2021. About Accenture Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services all powered by the worlds largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 624,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. Accenture Interactive is reimagining business through experience. We drive sustainable growth by creating meaningful experiences that live at the intersection of purpose and innovation. By connecting deep human and business insights with the possibilities of technology, we design, build, communicate and run experiences that make lives easier, more productive and rewarding. Accenture Interactive is ranked the worlds largest digital agency by Ad Age and has been named a Most Innovative Company by Fast Company. To learn more, follow us @AccentureACTIVE and visit www.accentureinteractive.com Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accentures results of operations have been significantly adversely affected and could in the future be materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; Accentures results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the companys clients businesses and levels of business activity; Accentures business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the companys services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the companys results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the companys business, the utilization rate of the companys professionals and the companys results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture could face legal, reputational and financial risks if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accentures profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accentures level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the companys effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accentures ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; as a result of Accentures geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; Accentures business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accentures work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accentures results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the companys results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accentures services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accentures results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders ownership interest in the company; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plcs most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accentures expectations. Copyright 2021 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are trademarks of Accenture. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005236/en/ Contacts Gabriela Olivan Accenture +54 9 11 3822-0352 gabriela.olivan@accenture.com Isabel Herrera Accenture +56 9 58735520 isabel.herrera.leon@accenture.com Cecilia Niscovolos Accenture +54 9 11 65386801 cecilia.niscovolos@accenture.com Kelly Coffed Accenture +1 678 657 8614 kelly.coffed@accenture.com MultiChoice prepares to put Mzansi on show at Expo 2020 Dubai Dubai, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MultiChoice is excited to announce the opening of its highly-anticipated premiere week at the Expo 2020 Dubai with headliner events, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase. Known for its incredible talent, South African shores are laden with authentic culture and creative prowess that make the country unlike any other in the world. One Night with Mzansi, taking place at the Dubai Opera House on 17 October, will be a celebration of South Africa and its talent, showcasing our uniqueness through storytelling, performance, and music that takes our artists to the world. The live show which will be hosted by South African born and internationally recognised talent, Nomzamo Mbatha, will be broadcast live by MultiChoice, the official broadcast partner of Team SA, on 1Magic (DStv channel 103) and Mzansi Magic Music (DStv channel 321) at 21:00 on the 17th of October. The event will feature performances by local favourites - Mi Casa, Blaq Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, Daliwonga and Ami Faku with addresses by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa and the South African Business Council. In attendance will be production companies, Tshedza Pictures and The Bomb Shelter, who have worked closely with MultiChoice over the years to not only produce some of South Africas brightest talent but to entertain millions daily. Artists include; Sho Madjozi, Pabi Moloi, Thando Thabethe, Coenie de Villiers, Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane, Khuzani Mpungose along with Mzansi Youth and Drakensberg Boys Choirs. 18 and 19 October will see Content Showcase, where cast and production teams of M-Nets gripping international co-production Reyka and the upcoming international co-production and Showmax Original, Bloods Psalms, will be in attendance along with invited guests for the viewings. Throughout the duration of the Expo, Team South Africas events will be carefully curated to expose the calibre of talent South Africa has, in addition to highlighting the countrys beautiful natural assets and being open for business. Story continues MultiChoices Group Non-Executive Chair, Imtiaz Patel explains that, MultiChoice has chosen this strategic direction as its contribution to national efforts to kick start the South African economy and contribute to job creation interventions. South Africas attractiveness in the creative and cultural sector has, over the past few years, emerged as a key growth opportunity for the country, and as a platform on which to position and showcase its natural beauty and diversity using the international film and multimedia stage. The World Expo 2020, is therefore a platform to showcase the countrys assets, both natural and people to, amongst others, the international business, investor, creative and tourism sectors. Both the creative and cultural, as well as the tourism sectors, have been hardest hit by the pandemic and the exposure at the World Expo 2020 can give these sectors a much needed boost. Lights, camera, investment Both events, at their core, are to encourage global investment in the post-pandemic economic recovery of South Africa. By showcasing the talent, culture and potential of the country, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase act as open-calls to international guests to visit, explore and experience the gateway to Africa. South Africa, which accounts for a large portion of the African GDP, is an emerging market powerhouse rich with resources, which enable fruitful collaboration with other global countries. MultiChoice is Team South Africas official broadcast partner during the Expo 2020 Dubai, at which it will bring the message, Think South Africa, Think Opportunity. The Group will leverage its more than 20 million subscribers and 100 million viewers across the continent to bring the South African story of resilience and constant re-invention, to global audiences until the end of March 2022. CONTACT: Elizabeth Fourie MultiChoice Group Ltd +27834825241 elizabeth.fourie@multichoice.co.za Motley Fool Shares of tech giant Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) got an unexpected bump in stock price Thursday after Bloomberg reported that the company is "pushing to accelerate development of its electric car" and "refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities." Apple Watch software executive Kevin Lynch is spearheading the Apple effort, reports Bloomberg, and "targeting a launch of its self-driving car in four years." Bloomberg notes that industry insiders who've been monitoring Apple's efforts in this field had anticipated it would take Apple more like five to seven years to put a self-driving car on the road. Venezuelas main airport Simon Bolivar International is lining up a cryptocurrency payment service. Freddy Borges, director of the facility 12 miles west of the capital Caracas, said the airport was striving to accept Bitcoin, DASH, and Venezuelas oil-backed digital Petro currency. More than two million passengers a year pass through the airport. Borges confirmed the payment process in cryptocurrencies would be established within the requirements of the local regulator, Sunacrip the Venezuelan cryptocurrency watchdog. We must advance in these new economic and technological systems to be accessible, Borges explained. We will activate a button for cryptocurrency payments in the airport platforms and commercial activities, in coordination with Sunacrip. Venezuelas crypto future The direction of the South American countrys financial approach seems to favour cryptocurrency and digital currency as the Central Bank of Venezuela launched a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that began its circulation on October 1. The central bank said the decision to create a CBDC will not impact the value of the Venezuelan bolivar. The bolivar will not be worth any more or any less, in order to facilitate its use, it is being taken to a simpler monetary scale, the central bank said. In August, Venezuelan carrier Turpial Airlines accepted Bitcoin as payment for flight tickets, while Caracas Air, the largest aviation training academy in the country offered discounts to customers who paid in Bitcoin. The food industry has also taken advantage of the popularity of cryptocurrency in the country as Pizza Hut began accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum as payment in November 2020. In January 2021, Burger King accepted Bitcoin and DASH as payment in 40 of the nations restaurants. BP plc BP is witnessing a transformation in the ownership profile of its Shah Deniz gas project in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan. Russia-based Lukoil agreed to obtain an additional 15.5% interest in the BP-operated Shah Deniz gas project from Petronas for $2.25 billion. Shah Deniz is a natural gas condensate field, which covers about 860 square kilometers. The field began commercial production in 2006, and its production capacity is currently more than 58 million standard cubic meters per day of gas. Upon the deal closure, Lukoil's interest in the project will increase to 25.5% from an initial 10%. BP is the operator, with a 28.8% ownership stake in the project, while TPAO, SOCAR, NICO, and SGC are its other partners. In 2020, the Shah Deniz consortium extracted 639 billion cubic feet of gas and 3.6 million tons of gas condensate. The gas produced from the field is sold on the markets of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Since December 2020, the gas is also delivered to Europe through a pipeline system. Over 25 years, Lukoil gained considerable experience in the Caspian region, and created extensive production and transport infrastructure. This is Lukoil's second Azeri Caspian Sea deal in recent weeks. The company signed an agreement to acquire a stake in a BP-operated Shallow Water Absheron Peninsula (SWAP) exploration project. Once completed, BP will remain the operator of the SWAP project, holding a 25% ownership, while LUKOIL will own 25%. Energy companies have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as it weakened oil demand, resulting in plummeting oil prices and production declines. With the global economy gradually recovering from the pandemic-induced crisis and oil prices rebounded to multi-year highs; BP and partners are expected to create synergetic opportunities from the project. Companies like ConocoPhillips COP, SilverBow Resources, Inc. SBOW and Pioneer Natural Resources Company PXD recently expanded their existing footprint in the most promising oil and gas fields to gain operating synergies as fuel prices continue to remain high. Notably, the higher fuel prices and the rapid development of effective COVID-19 vaccines have opened the door to economic recovery. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BP p.l.c. (BP) : Free Stock Analysis Report ConocoPhillips (COP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD) : Free Stock Analysis Report SilverBow Resources (SBOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research DALLAS, October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capital Senior Living Corporation ("Capital Senior Living" or the "Company") (NYSE: CSU), a leading owner-operator of senior living communities across the United States, today announced that, due to the continued impact of COVID-19 and to protect the wellbeing of its employees, shareholders and community, the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") scheduled for October 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time will be held solely in a virtual meeting format. As described in the proxy materials, the record date for determining the stockholders eligible to vote at the Special Meeting is the close of business on August 25, 2021. Shareholders can attend the Special Meeting live online at https://meetnow.global/MJRQM2P. To attend and participate in the Special Meeting (including to ask questions), you will need the 14-digit control number included on your WHITE proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to attend the Special Meeting virtually on the Internet. To register to attend the Special Meeting online by webcast you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your holdings along with your name and email address to Georgeson. You must contact the bank or broker who holds your shares to obtain your legal proxy. Requests for registration must be labeled as "Legal Proxy" and be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 20, 2021. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after we receive your registration materials. Requests for registration should be directed to us by emailing an image of your legal proxy to usproxyservices@georgeson.com. The Companys Board of Directors strongly recommends that all stockholders vote "FOR" each of the proposals at the Special Meeting. Story continues Capital Senior Living stockholders who require assistance with voting their shares or have questions may contact Georgeson LLC at (866) 431-2108. No Offer or Solicitation / Additional Information and Where to Find It This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The amended rights offering will be made pursuant to the Companys shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which became effective on May 6, 2020, a prospectus supplement containing the detailed terms of the rights offering filed with the SEC on September 10, 2021, and an amendment to the prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on October 4, 2021. Any offer will be made only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement forming part of the registration statement. Investors should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement and consider the investment objective, risks, fees and expenses of the Company carefully before investing. Copies of the prospectus and prospectus supplement may be obtained at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In connection with the proposed transaction with Conversant, the Company filed a proxy statement with the SEC on August 31, 2021 and filed an amendment to the proxy statement with the SEC on October 4, 2021. The Company may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. The proxy statement, and any amendments thereto, have been delivered to stockholders of the Company. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document that may be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, AS AMENDED, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement and the amendment to the proxy statement and other documents containing important information about the Company and the proposed transaction through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Participants in the Solicitation The Company and its executive officers and directors and certain other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the Companys directors and executive officers is available in its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on November 3, 2020, and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, as amended on April 30, 2021. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials relating to the proposed transaction filed with the SEC. About Capital Senior Living Dallas-based Capital Senior Living Corporation is one of the nations leading operators of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities for senior adults. The Company operates 75 communities that are home to nearly 7,000 residents across 18 states providing compassionate, resident-centric services and care and engaging programming. The Company offers seniors the freedom and opportunity to successfully, comfortably and happily age in place. For more information, visit http://www.capitalsenior.com or connect with the Company on Facebook or Twitter. About Conversant Conversant Capital LLC is a private investment adviser founded in 2020. The firm pursues credit and equity investments in the real estate, digital infrastructure and hospitality sectors in both the public and private markets. Further information is available at www.conversantcap.com. Safe Harbor The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Companys actual results and financial condition to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the Companys ability to obtain stockholder approval for the proposed transaction; the satisfaction of all conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction; other risks related to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the risk that the transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the costs related to the proposed transaction; the impact of the proposed transaction on the Companys business; any legal proceedings that may be brought related to the proposed transaction; the continued spread of COVID-19, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of such spread; new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19; the actions taken to prevent or contain the spread of COVID-19 or treat its impact; the legal, regulatory and administrative developments that occur at the federal, state and local levels in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the frequency and magnitude of legal actions and liability claims that may arise due to COVID-19 or the Companys response efforts; the impact of COVID-19 and the Companys near-term debt maturities on the Companys ability to continue as a going concern; the Companys ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, additional proceeds from debt refinancings, and proceeds from the sale of assets to satisfy its short and long-term debt obligations and to fund the Companys capital improvement projects to expand, redevelop, and/or reposition its senior living communities; the Companys ability to obtain additional capital on terms acceptable to it; the Companys ability to extend or refinance its existing debt as such debt matures; the Companys compliance with its debt agreements, including certain financial covenants, and the risk of cross-default in the event such non-compliance occurs; the Companys ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions upon favorable terms or at all, including the transfer of certain communities managed by the Company on behalf of other owners; the Companys ability to improve and maintain adequate controls over financial reporting and remediate the identified material weakness; the risk of oversupply and increased competition in the markets which the Company operates; the risk of increased competition for skilled workers due to wage pressure and changes in regulatory requirements; the departure of the Companys key officers and personnel; the cost and difficulty of complying with applicable licensure, legislative oversight, or regulatory changes; the risks associated with a decline in economic conditions generally; the adequacy and continued availability of the Companys insurance policies and the Companys ability to recover any losses it sustains under such policies; changes in accounting principles and interpretations; and the other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006157/en/ Contacts Media Inquiries: Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani Sloane & Company dzacchei@sloanepr.com / jgermani@sloanepr.com Investor Inquiries: Chris Hayden Georgeson LLC (212) 440-9850, chayden@georgeson.com Company Contact: Capital Senior Living Kimberly Lody President and Chief Executive Officer (972) 308-8323, klody@capitalsenior.com Company invests in proof of time cryptography to provide state-of-the-art hardware for the industry, enhancing the Chia ecosystem and future cryptographic projects Partnership further fortifies Chias blockchain, reaffirming its status as the most decentralized and safest blockchain available Partnership improves Chias capabilities as a secure programmable digital money SAN FRANCISCO, October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chia Network, Inc., a new energy-efficient decentralized blockchain founded by Bram Cohen, today announced a partnership with Supranational, a leader in hardware accelerated cryptography, to further secure and scale hardware that makes transactions as safe as proof of work but at a fraction of the energy use. By advancing an already state-of-the-art process, this collaboration brings to life a critical component of proof of spacetime while making it open-sourced, affordable and accessible to everyone, everywhere. At the core of the partnership is industry-leading technology based on a new mathematical proof on the hardware acceleration, and implementation, of "verifiable delay functions" (VDFs), also known as timelords. These VDFs will fundamentally change the future of blockchain as it will become sustainable and secure to the point where it could be the safest way for businesses, banks and even nations to transfer large amounts with confidence. Building on research by Chia founder Bram Cohen, Chias academic advisors including Dan Boneh and his team at Stanford, Krzysztof Pietrzak of IST Austria and independent work by Benjamin Wesolowski, the upcoming VDFs establish the proof of time and space that makes attempting to attack the Chia blockchain even harder than before. "Timelock cryptographys time has come," said Bram Cohen, Founder and CEO of Chia Network. "The worlds best proof of time is about to become the worlds fastest, and by extension, safest. To us, its simple: the future of blockchain requires VDFs, and were making that happen with Supranational." Story continues "Advancing the current state of the art for VDFs is critical for the future of blockchain adoption," said Kelly Olson, Co-Founder at Supranational. "VDFs help bring truly decentralized transactions by generating cryptographically provable randomness. Were proud to have a hand in driving such an important technology that will improve the security, scalability, and energy-efficiency of blockchain networks." Chia and Supranational are targeting the launch of their new VDFs in the second half of 2022. For more information about Chia Network or its new smart transaction programming language, Chialisp, please go to https://www.chia.net/about/. To learn more about Supranationals projects and services, visit https://www.supranational.net/. About Chia Network Chia Network Inc. is a state-of-the-art open-source decentralized blockchain, digital currency and smart transaction platform. Founded by Bram Cohen, inventor of BitTorrent, the Company believes that "digital money" should be easier to use than cash, harder to lose and nearly impossible to steal. Using the first new secure Nakamoto consensus algorithm invented since Bitcoin, Chia operates an eco-friendly, secure and user-friendly system for cross border payments, issuing and exchanging financial assets, lending, escrow payments, institutional custody and distributed identity. Chias blockchain is based on "Proof of Space and Time" which has a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to "Proof of Work," used by all other crypto networks. Built on Chialisp, the companys smart coin language, Chias blockchain allows its users to build and execute secure "smart coin" transactions. The Company is funded by leading venture capitalists including Richmond Global Ventures, Slow Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Naval Ravikant, True Ventures, Cygni Capital, Galaxy Digital, Greylock, MetaStable, Stillmark, DCM, and others. Chias advisors include Dr. Dan Boneh, Research Partner at a16z and Applied Cryptography Professor at Stanford University; David Frazee, Managing Partner at Richmond Global Ventures; Katie Haun, General Partner at a16z; Dr. Krzysztof Pietrzak, Cryptography Professor of IST Austria. For more information, visit chia.net and connect with us on Twitter (@chia_project), Facebook, GitHub, Reddit, and LinkedIn. About Supranational Supranational designs and develops hardware accelerated cryptography for verifiable and confidential computing. The team has decades of experience in algorithmic optimization across CPU, GPU, FPGA, and ASIC platforms. Accelerated cryptography developed by Supranational is currently in production in blockchain networks such as Ethereum 2 and Filecoin. For more information visit https://www.supranational.net/ or e-mail hello@supranational.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005324/en/ Contacts FTI Consulting Antonia Gray/Carrie Winans/Sabrina Negron E: chia@fticonsulting.com Companies covered in commercial seed market are Adama Agricultural Solutions, KWS SAAT SE, Groupe Limagrain, DowDuPont, Syngenta AG, Nufarm, Land O'lakes, Sakata Seed Corporation, and Bayer CropScience (Monsanto), and more players profiled Pune, India, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Nations forecasts the global population to cross 10 billion by 2050, which is expected to bode well for the global commercial seed market . The rising population will increase the demand for food, finds Fortune Business Insights in a new study. According to the study, the global commercial seed treatment market will be worth US$ 61.32 Bn by 2025 from US$ 40.70 Bn in 2017, with a promising CAGR of 5.8%. The rising industrialization is reducing arable land in emerging nations thus adversely impacting the production of crops. However, with government support and increasing awareness about modern farming techniques, it is possible for farmers to increase their crop yield. Such initiatives taken by governments are driving the global commercial seed market. Additionally, crop producers are getting increasing subsidies in order to promote commercial seed production, subsequently ensuring smooth production cycle and seamless crop management. A smooth supply-demand balance ratio is maintained by low initial cost for crop production and this will propel market to grow exponentially in the coming years. Another major factor fueling the demand for commercial seeds is that farmers are encouraged to use biotech or hybrid crops for better crop production. This was possible because of various initiatives conducted to spreads awareness among farmers on the modern ways of improving crop yield. Crop cultivated using advanced technologies are both insect and abiotic stress tolerant. The rising adoption of innovative farming practices will pave way for the growth of the global commercial seed market. Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/commercial-seed-market-100078 Story continues Increasing Use of High-yielding Crops to Increase Demand for Commercial Seeds The rising disposable income of people is expected to result in increasing and unbridled consumption of resources. This will further fuel demand for commercial seeds for improving crop yield as compared to their farm seed counterparts. With the advancement of molecular biology, mapping of the genetic codes of plants have become faster and cheaper. These advancements are likely to boost commercial seed production. On the flipside, low margins set for major industrial crops such as guar, fibre hemp, cuphea, plantago, sunflower, sugar beet, safflower, potato, rape seed, maize, jojoba, cassava, oil palm, and peas may create challenges for the commercial seed market to generate more market revenues. Again government regulations set for trading specific crops may also hamper the commercial seed market. This, accompanied with the existing ban imposed on neonicotinoids, may hamper commercial seed production during the forecast period. Nevertheless, rising application of high-yielding value crops is likely to bode well for the global commercial seed market. Promotional Activities about Improved Quality Seeds to Boost Market Although the rising resistance to crop protection of products may challenge the future market, the fact that seed treatment provides a low-cost crop protection solution, will create better growth opportunities in the long run. The fruit and vegetable seed segment with respect to crop segment is projected to earn huge revenues during the forecast period owing to growing popularity of health consciousness among people and higher demand for farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Developing new hybrid vegetable seed variety is also expected to witness faster growth in the coming years. The rising awareness among farmers regarding the advantages of using improved seeds is helping the market to expand in Asia Pacific. This, coupled with, government support and initiatives encouraging the use of improved quality seeds is anticipated to drive the global commercial seed market in Asia Pacific, thus making it the fastest growing region in the market. Some of the players operating in the global commercial seed market are Adama Agricultural Solutions, KWS SAAT SE, Groupe Limagrain, DowDuPont, Syngenta AG, Nufarm, Land O'lakes, Sakata Seed Corporation, and Bayer CropScience (Monsanto). Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/commercial-seed-market-100078 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Supply Chain Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Commercial Seed Trade Analysis TOC Continued! Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Agricultural Adjuvants Market Size , Share and Industry Analysis By Type (Activator Adjuvants, Utility Adjuvants, Others), By Application (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Others), By Crop (Cereals, Oilseeds, Fruits & Vegetables, Other Crops), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 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. 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 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FBInsightPvtLtd MANCHESTER, N.H., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, an impressive mansion on 88 acres in southern New Hampshire will be sold at a luxury auction scheduled for this Friday, October 15, 2021. Friday's auction will be held without reserve, meaning the highest bidder will become the new property owner regardless of the high bid amount. Prior to hitting the luxury auction block, the property had never before been listed for sale. New Hampshire Mansion Featured in Wall Street Journal Readies for Luxury Auction Sale Oct 15 Luxury real estate auction house Platinum Luxury Auctions was hired by the property owner to promote and manage the sale in cooperation with the listing brokerage of record, The Masiello Group of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, in Nashua, NH. The Cheshire County mansion enjoys rural New Hampshire's coveted serenity and natural beauty, and is located within 10 mins of the popular Spofford Lake area. It was custom built in the 1990's by and for an area businessman who affectionately named it "The Farm at Pond Brook," a moniker that is still displayed on its main entry gates. After the owner's passing in 2013 the property went into the family trust, which ultimately hired Platinum for the sale. "These sellers have already spent years carefully managing the property. They don't want to spend years also trying to sell it, stated Trayor Lesnock, Platinum's Founder and President. "They're instead seeking efficiency and expedition via the luxury auction process." Lesnock applauded the family trust's property management, which included making substantial, big-ticket improvements such as the installation of a new slate roof with copper gutters in 2020. "The most expensive and difficult work has been done. The next owner's biggest concern, if any, should be limited to choices in decor." The entrance to the colonial-inspired residence features a large, circular motor court with central fountain, creating a grand sense of arrival. Its handsome exterior of brick and stone is complimented by elegant yet approachable interiors. Three living levels combine for nearly 16,000 square feet, with 6 spacious bedrooms, 8 full and 3 half baths. Story continues Notable home amenities include an entertainment lounge with a wet bar and billiards area, in addition to an indoor pool and spa with glass ceilings. When hundreds of guests used to gather at the home for large events, a special glass covering was used to convert the pool to a festive dancefloor. Much of the property's 88 acres are securely fenced or naturally bordered by mature forests. Grounds include carefully manicured lawns, a private pond with charming gazebo, a full tennis court and even a putting green. Information on the sale of The Farm at Pond Brook is located at NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. Platinum's project manager, James Smith, can also be reached at 800.871.9269. Property previews are available by appointment through the close of Thursday, October 14. Bidders must register with Platinum by 5pm ET on the 14th in order to participate in the auction the following day. Contact Platinum for registration details. About Platinum Luxury Auctions: Platinum Luxury Auctions is responsible for developing the luxury auction model for high-priced real estate auctions and owns the federal trademark rights to the term "luxury auction." The firm specializes in the non-distressed sale of multimillion-dollar properties within and beyond the United States. Platinum's team has closed more than $1.05 billion in luxury real estate auction sales to date, while consulting on more than $2.7 billion in additional luxury property assets worldwide. This 88-acre estate in southern New Hampshire is selling at luxury auction this Friday, October 15. While never previously offered for sale, it will now go to the highest bidder in a no-reserve auction. Custom built and named The Farm at Pond Brook by its original and only owner, the property features a tri-level estate, manicured lawns, a private pond, tennis court, putting green and indoor pool. Platinum Luxury Auctions is managing the sale. Learn more at NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. The tri-level residences stately brick exterior and circular motor court with central fountain create a grand sense of arrival. Custom-built in the early 1990s by its original (and only) owner, the property has enjoyed substantial improvements in recent years, including a new slate roof in 2020. More at NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. This cozy living area provides direct access to the indoor pool. A wood-burning fireplace offers charm, while a wet bar with an old-fashioned soda fountain dispenser adds a touch of whimsy. NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. Handsome woods are used throughout the interiors, as shown here in the executive study/library. Natural light pours in from the semi-circular windows surrounding the meeting area. NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. The estates indoor pool features a Machin Conservatory glass ceiling (made popular in the U.K.) that was custom-made by artisans in North Carolina. A large hot tub is adjacent to the pool, in addition to ample deck space. NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. A sprawling patio overlooks the propertys neatly manicured lawns and serves as an excellent space for both quiet relaxation or celebrations on a grand scale. Mature landscaping around the estate augments its privacy. NewHampshireLuxuryAuction.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-hampshire-mansion-featured-in-wall-street-journal-readies-for-luxury-auction-sale-oct-15-301399525.html SOURCE Platinum Luxury Auctions LLC Invesco DB Oil Fund DBO is probably a suitable pick for investors looking to gain momentum. The fund just hit a 52-week high and is up 135.5% from its 52-week low price of $6.29/share. Lets take a look at the fund and its near-term outlook to get an insight into where it might be headed: DBO in Focus The fund tracks changes, whether positive or negative, at the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index Excess Return plus the interest income from the holdings of primarily U.S. Treasury securities and money-market income less expenses. It has AUM of $468.4 million and charges 77 basis points in annual fees. Why the Move? Oil prices crossed the $80-a-barrel mark amid the ongoing global power crisis. The price of crude reached a seven-year high level. Shrinking crude inventories, supply disruption in the Gulf of Mexico following a couple of hurricanes and surging fuel demand are pushing oil prices higher. Soaring coal and natural gas prices in Europe and Asia due to a supply-demand imbalance before the severe winter season is driving consumption of diesel and kerosene (according to a Bloomberg article). TheOrganization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and a Russia-led group of oil producers, collectively called OPEC+ decided to raise production by 400,000 barrels a day each month. Also, the coronavirus vaccine rollout is gradually controlling the spread of the outbreak across the globe and augmenting demand for the fuel. This makes funds like DBO an attractive investment option. More Gains Ahead? It seems like the fund will remain strong with a positive weighted alpha of 97.66, which gives cues of a further rally. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Invesco DB Oil ETF (DBO): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Jovan Scurry of Augusta, GA receives $20,000 Scholarship from Legal & General America in Commemoration of Life Insurance Awareness Month FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Legal & General America (LGA), a top-ten life insurance provider, announced that Jovan Scurry, a senior high school student in August, Georgia, is this year's recipient of its sponsored Life Lessons Scholarship. The scholarship is part of Life Happens' annual program, a non-profit that recognizes students for perseverance following the loss of a parent or guardian with little to no life insurance coverage. Jovan Scurry, Howard University student In 2009, Scurry's father took his own life, leaving 5-year-old Jovan, his younger sister, and mother, with no life insurance or means to support themselves. After several years, Jovan was forced to help contribute to his family financially by helping at this grandfather's business, missing out on school-aged activities with his friends and neighbors. "We are so proud to be able to award this scholarship to Jovan." said Mark Holweger, President and CEO of Legal & General America. "Our organization's mission is to help protect American families, which we do through the products we offer. Support such as this scholarship is an extension of the importance we place on social responsibility. We applaud Jovan for his perseverance during such a difficult time." "With this scholarship, I'll be able to attend my dream college, Howard University, to which I was just accepted. I will be majoring in TV and Film Production to chase my dream of becoming a filmmaker and hope to attack the mental health issues facing the African American community," said Scurry. "There are too many people around the world with the same skin color as me that are ashamed to say they are not okay." Through its annual Life Lessons Scholarship Program, Life Happens recognizes students through scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, to help pay for their college education. The program started in 2005 and has awarded roughly $2,800,000 to over 740 students at over 350 schools. Legal & General America has worked with Life Happens for over 10 years on the program. Story continues "Reading these students' stories serves as a reality check for many and reminds us of the importance of providing a safety net for your family through life insurance. It's not for you, but for those you leave behind. We are truly honored to play even a small part in these student's lives thanks to the support of partners like Legal and General America," said Andrea Englert, manager of Consumer & Industry Programs at Life Happens. About Legal & General America Legal & General America is part of the worldwide Legal & General Group. For over 70 years, the Legal & General America companies have been in the business of providing financial protection through life insurance for American families. The Legal & General America companies are Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York. With more than $57 billion in new coverage issued in 2020, LGA is ranked in the top ten of U.S. life insurers and ended 2020 with in excess of $782 billion of coverage in force with 1.5 million U.S. customers. LGA shares Legal & General's independent financial strength ratings: A+ Superior from A. M. Best and AA- Very Strong from Standard and Poor's and Fitch. For more information, please visit https://www.lgamerica.com . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legal--general-america-awards-annual-life-lessons-college-scholarship-301399519.html SOURCE Legal & General America (LGA) Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2021) - The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. ("Ginkgo" or "the Company") (NYSE: DNA) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Ginkgo is the subject of a report published by Scorpion Capital on October 6, 2021. The report alleges that the Company is a "colossal scam." The report describes the Company as a "shell game" whose revenues are highly dependent on related-party transactions. Scorpion Capital alleges that the Company is a "Frankenstein mash-up of the worst frauds of the last 20 years." Based on this news, Ginkgo shares fell as much as 20% in intraday trading on the same day. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 info@schallfirm.com www.schallfirm.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99388 TGA and MEDSAFE clearances open Australian and New Zealand markets to Second Opinion, Pearl's flagship AI solution. LOS ANGELES, October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pearl, the leader in AI solutions for efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in dental care, today announced that it has received authorization to introduce its Second Opinion AI solution to the Australian and New Zealand dental markets. The clearances from Australias Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and New Zealands Medical Devices Safety Authority (MEDSAFE) follow the European CE marking Second Opinion received earlier this year for use as an assistive tool in dental radiology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006161/en/ Pearl today announced that it has received authorization to introduce its Second Opinion AI solution to the Australian and New Zealand dental markets. (Photo: Business Wire) The clearances announced today signal growing recognition of AIs utility in clinical dentistry. Pearl a driving force behind AIs emergence in the dental category developed Second Opinion to aid dentists in their evaluation of patient x-rays. The tool applies radiologic computer vision to highlight potential areas of interest, giving dentists a second set of eyes when reading x-rays both to help dentists ensure that patient care decisions are based on the strongest foundation possible and to give dentists a new level of assurance when communicating findings to patients. "Patients in Australia and New Zealand will soon have the opportunity to experience AI during dental appointments and gain assurance that they are receiving the best diagnosis and treatment plan based on their individual needs," said Ophir Tanz, CEO and founder of Pearl. "Our Second Opinion technology enables dentists to perform their job more confidently, see more patients and ensure a higher standard of need-based care. All of these factors are driving growth and better patient outcomes in dentistry." Story continues Second Opinion detects a comprehensive array of pathologies, existing restorations and natural anatomy in dental x-rays. The system analyzes the images upon capture, allowing dentists conducting exams to review Second Opinion detections in real-time, as well as to add their own detections and remove any AI findings they consider unhelpful. Practices in Australia and New Zealand can sign up here for early access to the software through Pearls Second Opinion beta launch program. About Pearl Pearl is shaping the future of dental care by delivering AI and computer vision solutions that advance efficiency, accuracy, transparency and patient care. Founded in 2019 by Ophir Tanz, Pearl is backed by Craft Ventures and other leading venture capital firms. For more information or to request a demonstration, please visit hellopearl.com/demo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006161/en/ Contacts Alex Foley Matter Health for Pearl Pearl@matternow.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on recent exploration activities on its projects in Ghana and Canada. Highlights of Recent Exploration Activities A diamond drilling program to test for extensions to the Pokukrom gold resource mineralization has commenced on the Manfo project in Ghana. One-meter re-assays of significant mineralized intervals from the maiden Dankran project RC drilling program returned an intercept of 14.17 g/t Au over 3 meters, including 39.20 g/t Au over 1 meter. Ground Induced Polarization Survey completed at Gowan Cu Zn Ag Au polymetallic project, to refine drill targets. Drill contract secured for Dome West project; drilling to commence in late October. Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO commented, " We are anticipating three very exciting drill programs at our Manfo, Dome West and Gowan projects over the next several months. These programs follow our maiden drilling at Dankran that returned significant results over 2.7 km and intercepted 14.17 g/t Au over 3 meters, including 39.20 g/t Au over 1 m; as well as the Gowan airborne VTEM survey that identified the large, 1.5 km X 1 km moderate VTEM anomaly on the flank of large magnetic anomaly. Further, we look forward to seeing the exploration work commence at Birch Lake with our option partner First Mining." GHANA Manfo Project A diamond drilling program commenced on the Manfo Project designed to test for extensions to the known mineralization in the Pokukrom East and Pokukrom West deposits. Pokukrom East and West contain the majority of the gold resource at Manfo, estimated to be 195,000 oz (at 1.52 g/t Au) Indicated and 298,000 oz (at 0.96 g/t Au) Inferred by SRK in June of 2013. Refer to the Mineral Resource Evaluation Technical Report, Manfo Gold Project, Ghana, authored by SRK and released by Pelangio on June 21, 2013. Story continues A 3,700-meter diamond drilling program has been engineered to test for down-dip and down-plunge extensions to the mineralization in these two deposits in addition to evaluating exploration targets in the immediate vicinity. The drilling program commenced in September with two holes in progress on the smaller, higher-grade Pokukrom West deposit, where historic drilling by Pelangio returned a number of high-grade intercepts including 32.90 g/t Au over 10 meters (hole SPDD-090), 8.60 g/t Au over 12 meters (hole SPDD-084) and 4.49 g/t Au over 26 meters including 8.08 g/t Au over 12 meters (hole SPDD-083), with all Au intercepts reported "un-cut". The first hole at Pokukrom West was completed to a final depth of 151.5 meters and was designed to provide an improved structural understanding of the mineralization from oriented drill core with the hole drilled in the midst of previous high-grade drill holes. Assays are pending. The second hole is in progress, planned for 230 meters depth, and is designed to test for the down-plunge continuation of the high-grade mineralization at Pokukrom West approximately 175 meters down-plunge (to the north) of previous drilling. Refer to Figure 1. The drilling program will pause after completion of these initial two holes to allow for sampling to be completed and assays received as the results could alter the planned drill hole priorities if exceptional results are returned. Figure 1:Planned Diamond Drilling at Pokukrom, Manfo Project Dankran Project A maiden RC exploration drilling program consisting of 2,491 meters drilled in 36 RC holes was completed on the Dankran Project in June with the results reported by Pelangio on July 21, 2021. Sampling was conducted at 1 meter drill intervals and were composited to 2 meters for analysis by Fire Assay. The 1-meter samples from all significant drill intercepts plus "shoulder' samples were recently submitted to the Intertek Minerals Limited laboratory in Tarkwa Ghana for 50g Fire Assay for a check of the results and in order to provide a more accurate measure of gold mineralized widths. Results returned varied considerably from the initial 2-meter composited results with several mineralized intervals being diminished while several others were significantly improved in the 1-meter analyses. For example, hole DKRC036, which reported 4.30 g/t Au over 2 meters from the 2-meter composite samples returned a significantly higher grade 14.17 g/t Au over 3 meters (uncut) including 39.20 g/t Au over 1 meter from the recent 1-meter assay exercise. This suggests the possibility of a nugget component to the gold mineralization at Dankran, not unusual for high-grade vein-hosted gold mineralization, and also indicates the potential for higher grades than was returned from the initial 2-meter analyses of the Dankran drilling. Future drilling will consider 2 kg bottle roll (BLEG) analysis and/or screened metallics fire assay to check for and counter a gold nugget issue. Refer to Figure 2. The Dankran RC drilling program has returned significant results over 2.7 kilometers of strike along a regional metavolcanic-metasedimentary contact 28 kilometers northeast of AngloGold Ashanti's giant Obuasi gold mine, with minimal and shallow drill testing performed to date. Further drilling will be planned to infill the limited drilling conducted as well as to investigate the potential at depth with several deeper core holes. Figure 2:Dankran RC Drilling Results and Soil Geochemistry CANADA Dome West Project The Dome West Property is located in main portion of the Timmins mining camp, more specifically the property is comprised of 10 mining cells or 56 hectares of mineral rights located approximately 800 meters west of Newmont's Dome Mine and 450 meters northwest of the former Paymaster Mine (see Figure 3). A recent review compiled from historical level plan data from government reports and limited underground drill hole data from the adjoining former Paymaster Mine has allowed for the planning of the final proposed program. The following salient points from this review are as follows: Underground Paymaster Mine drill holes collared at the 1000-foot level (304.8 m) of the mine to the east of the Dome West property boundary (see Figures 3 and 4) demonstrated the existence of a series of gold bearing felsic porphyritic (FP) intrusive bodies and sills. The better gold values from these FP intrusives returned 21.6 g/t gold over 1.82 meter and 59.6 g/t gold over 1.98 meters. The FP intrusives also contained numerous anomalous intercepts ranging from 0.342 to 1.03 g/t gold. Due to the proximity of these intrusives to the Dome West property boundary, interpretation suggests that the strike and dip projections of the FP intrusives will cross the Dome West boundary. These FP intrusives are representative of very high-quality targets which are untested on the Dome West Property. It can be noted that substantial amounts of gold and copper ore have been mined from FP intrusives in the various mines in Timmins such as the former McIntyre Mine and Preston East Dome. (References: Historical Paymaster Drill Holes PM10155 & PM10156; and Gold 86 International Symposium Proceedings, A.J. Macdonald,1986) The review of composite level plan data from OGS Report 58 (Furguson, S.1968) and a recent Pelangio drill hole DW1901 demonstrated that the prospective Vipond stratigraphy which hosts a substantial portion of the ore at the Dome and Paymaster mines crosses the Dome West boundary from the Paymaster Mine at the 1000-foot level (304.8 m). (See Figure 4) This significant target horizon is virtually untested on the Dome West Property for 400 meters of strike length and no drilling below 300 meters, the depth at which the Vipond stratigraphy crosses the Dome West boundary line. Figure 3: Area Location Map with Proposed Hole Locations Pelangio has signed a drill contract and anticipates commencing a first phase drill program of 1200 meters in late October. This is the first test of both the feldspar porphyry target extension and the prospective Vipond stratigraphy in the history of the property. Figure 4: Composite Level Plan Gowan Property The Gowan polymetallic property is a 4.3 square kilometer property located in Gowan Township, 27 kilometers ("km") northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario and approximately 16 km due east of Glencore's Kidd Mine Site. The property is prospective for both copper-zinc-VMS deposits with associated precious metals, and nickel-copper-sulphide deposits. The northeastern portion of the Gowan property is underlain by a prospective felsic volcanic package of rocks. Limited exploration efforts in the early to mid 1970's focused on evaluating the northern portion of the property for a Kidd style copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposit. These early exploration programs were successful in demonstrating the potential for this type of mineralization. The highlight of these early exploration efforts was a broad semi-massive sulphide intercept grading 0.32% Cu and 0.35 oz/ton Ag over 36 feet. A shorter interval within this broad section returned 0.66% Cu and 0.31 oz/ton Ag over 12.5 feet including an interval of 0.95% Cu and 0.20 oz/ton Ag across 3 feet. Also of note is a bedrock sample from the bottom of a reverse circulation (RC) drill hole returned 2.26% Cu and 0.11 oz/ton Au . Very limited follow up was conducted on the massive sulphide intercepts and no drill follow up was completed on the copper gold occurrence detected in the bottom of the RC hole. The southern portion of the property is interpreted to be underlain by ultramafic volcanics from limited drilling and magnetic data; this area of the property is thought to be a prospective for nickel-copper sulphides. (Reference: Alamo Petroleum Assessment File, R.S. Middleton P.Eng. 1975) In late March of 2021, Pelangio received preliminary results from an airborne VTEM Plus electromagnetic survey and magnetic survey. The survey outlined a large (1 km by 1.5 km) moderate VTEM response on the flank of a large magnetic anomaly (see Figure 5). In October of 2021, Pelangio completed an induced polarization survey over the central portion of anomaly to define priority drill targets within the broad anomaly. The field data has just been received and processing of the data and interpretation is under way. A drill program for this project is fully funded and will be initiated after a review of the data. Figure 5: Gowan VTEM Response and Compilation Map Qualified Persons Mr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in the Ghana section of this release. Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0221), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in the Canada section of this release. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km 2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km 2 Obuasi property, located four km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario on its Grenfell property, located 10 km from Kirkland Lake, at its Dome West property, situated some 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins and is advancing its Hailstone property in Saskatchewan. See www.pelangio.com for further detail. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, delays due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/667829/Pelangio-Exploration-Provides-Update-On-Exploration-Activities-in-Ghana-and-Canada Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Principal Financial Group Marilyn Swinney is familiar with feeling like an outsider, just for being who she is. More than 20 years ago after graduating from the University of Manchester in England with a textile technology degree Swinney made the selection process for a graduate production manager role at a manufacturing facility, affiliated with an international, blue-chip company. Raised in Malaysia, of Sri Lankan-Chinese descent, Swinney was diagnosed at birth with Stargardts disease, which is a genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss, eventually resulting in blindness. This graduate program would be her first foray into a full-time career. When she toured the facility, she was introduced to a team she would manage, about 20 people all men. She had a simple question. Where is the womens bathroom? The manager hesitated. Oh, you might have to share with the men, he said. That was 20 years ago. Gender diversity was not something taken seriously, Swinney said. It was a real wake-up call as a young, female, engineering graduate thinking we can be anything, to the reality and prevailing social dynamics. Which in this case didnt have anything to do with my different ability, but just being a woman in a completely male-dominated environment. When you have a different ability, youre fearless every single day of your life. Theres always a challenge. Marilyn Swinney, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Sales, United Kingdom and Ireland for Principal Global Investors That experience led Swinney to a career change. She subsequently made the selection for a management consultancy graduate program at a large Australian bank in London, where she found another male-dominated career. The previous discrimination and different ability only fueled her desire to improve inclusion efforts. She wanted to work for companies that influenced big organizations in the form of shareholder voting influence, in this case to promote workforce and board diversity. Story continues Swinney, 44, is now managing director, head of institutional sales, United Kingdom and Ireland for Principal Global Investors, the asset management arm of Principal Financial Group. Shes become the leader she dreamt shed be, lifting others up and creating opportunities for all. But that passion didnt come easy. Everyday Fearlessness Its never a question of whether Swinney will encounter barriers because of her low vision its about bridging them. When you have a different ability, youre fearless every single day of your life, she said. Theres always a challenge. Her challenges run the gamut, from mobility issues to other peoples unconscious biases. During the pandemic, her work commute was a daily battle. Swinney couldnt read the signs to navigate the London Underground. Asking people for directions was risky and thorny. I cant make eye contact, and the need to [socially distance] is difficult for people with vision impairment, Swinney said. So just going to work required fearlessness. And she faced plenty of fearless moments in her two-decade career in finance. Because her different ability is progressive and somewhat hidden, its hard to recognize that Swinney has low vision. She makes daily decisions about what to disclose and when. Once people become aware of her limited sight, she relies on allyship for support. In my days as a portfolio risk analyst, Swinney said, I had people questioning whether the numbers in a report I presented had the decimals in the right place. I was lucky to have an emphatic manager who stepped up and vouched for me. That was important. Despite these barriers, Swinney ascended the ranks, from analyst to business development to management. She became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, even though taking the exam was difficult because of her different ability, which required special accommodations. Pass rates were very tough for this professional qualification in some years only 20% of candidates got though to the next level and Swinney did fail. But she studied as much as she could in audio form and eventually passed all three levels and earned the designation. That took a lot of resilience and perseverance, and incredible family support, Swinney said. What energy would you have for life if you had no idea how long youll be able to work, or how long youll have the sight you have?Marilyn Swinney For Swinney, she looks at her different ability as a motivator, not a drawback. And thats been the key for her unending drive to break through roadblocks in her career. What energy would you have for life if you had no idea how long youll be able to work, or how long youll have the sight you have? Swinney said. Thats my perspective. Dreaming Big for Others Swinney is an ally for others because she knows firsthand what allyship can mean. Being an ally and investing in others is like sowing seeds of change that knows no boundaries. My story is really about the story of others. One incredible woman who grew up in a poor, rural community in Malaysia, with little educational opportunities, had to draw on what little resources she had when her firstborns vision prognosis became clear at a young age. The doctor said to her: Prepare yourselves for a life of total dependency. She wont amount to much. But because of a role model in her mother, who often had to dig deep in tough times with two children, plus determination and help from her peers, Swinney found success. She particularly remembers one small, but life-changing act of empathy in elementary school. For years, the only accommodation for her diminishing sight was the incremental movement of her desk closer to the blackboard so she could read. Before long, Swinney was isolated from classmates, sitting five inches from the board. Everything changed the day a classmate asked the teacher, Could I read out loud whats on the board for Marilyn? I didnt even know the girl, Swinney said. Being stuck alone at the front of the room in a class of 45 was humiliating. That all changed because of her kindness a girl who chose to be an ally not because she knew me but because she saw a problem and thought she could help solve it. Swinney has done the same for others, mentoring people with disabilities and helping them kickstart their careers. She worked with Blind in Business, a nonprofit that helps blind and partially-sighted graduates compete equally with sighted candidates for jobs. Im just so grateful for every day I can work and I want to set an example for my girls. They understand why I work and give it so much energy, and theyre proud of me. -Marilyn Swinney At first, she could only focus on the graduates who didnt get permanent jobs I took it as a personal failure, Swinney said. It took a toll on her. So, she took a break for several years. That is, until she had her children. That pushed her desire forward, if anything to help create a brighter future for her three daughters, now 12, 11 and 7. My children are what made me really stand up, Swinney said. Im just so grateful for every day I can work and I want to set an example for my girls. They understand why I work and give it so much energy, and theyre proud of me. Swinney now volunteers with a handful of other organizations, like the Diversity Project, which champions a more diverse and inclusive culture within the savings and investment profession, and Ambitious About Autism, a charity that provides services, raises awareness and influence policy for Neurodiversity. And at work, Swinney began seeking employers with aligned values. As she was researching Principal, she was impressed with how leadership encouraged team members to live authentically and spread the diversity message. Swinney works in business development, overseeing a team that creates financial partnerships across the globe. With three daughters, and Im quite passionate about helping women so they can achieve financial independence, Swinney said. Theres a definite need for more awareness and education, even at a young age. Making a company feel like a welcome mat for people of all different talents and backgrounds that is success to me. Marilyn Swinney Since joining Principal, Swinney has shared her message to the masses. She published an article earlier this year about neurodiversity in the workplace. Historically, Swinney said she hasnt been as open about her different ability. But she wants to change that, to help others see a path to success. Swinney also believes encouraging allyship and sharing challenges unites people. Making a company feel like a welcome mat for people of all different talents and backgrounds that is success to me, Swinney said. University of Manchester, Blind in Business, Diversity Project and Ambitious About Autism are not affiliates of any company of the Principal Financial Group Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co. (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Co. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc., 1-888-774-6267, Member SIPC. Principal National, Principal Life and Principal Securities are members of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392. Betty Lee, Principal National and Principal Life Financial Representative, Principal Securities Registered Representative, Financial Advisor. Principal, Principal and symbol design and Principal Financial Group are trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Principal Financial Group on 3blmedia.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/seeing-the-world-differently-marilyn-swinney-of-principal-financial-group-258448048 GRENOBLE, France, October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Spartoo (ISIN: FR00140043Y1 ticker: ALSPT), one of the leading online retailers for fashion items in Europe, announces today its support for Amref Health Africa for the seventh consecutive year. Amref Health Africa1 is a leading African public health NGO whose mission is to strengthen health systems in Africa through the training of dedicated professionals. For more than 15 years, Amref has been working to ensure equitable access to health care on the continent, particularly for women and children, through distance learning for medical professionals, telemedicine and computerized patient monitoring. Its Cellal e Kisal program aims to reduce the pre- and post-natal risks for mothers and children, as 80% of maternal deaths worldwide occur in sub-Saharan Africa2. For the past 7 years, Spartoo has been supporting this initiative through the sale of solidarity products (this year, a baby bib with an illustration of an elephant and its calf), the profits from which are donated to the NGO, and by calling for donations directly on its e-commerce site (https://www.spartoo.com/operation-amref.php). To date, this commitment has enabled the launch of training program in Senegal and Ivory Coast that have directly benefited more than 4,400 midwives and nurses. Boris Saragaglia, co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spartoo, stated: "We are particularly proud to renew our support for the Amref initiative, which has become a key pillar of Spartoo's SRI strategy over the years. We invite you to take part in this operation by following this link: https://www.spartoo.com/operation-amref.php. Since the beginning of our commitment, thousands of midwives and nurses have been trained to care for women and children, enabling them to live in good conditions. Sub-Saharan Africa still has the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world, deaths that could be prevented if more staff were trained locally. It is the responsibility of companies like ours to commit to the development of concrete solutions in the most disadvantaged countries." Story continues To receive next press releases from SPARTOO, just click here! Subscribe to our mailing list newcap@spartoo.com. Next financial event 2021 Full-year GMV, on Monday February 7, 2021, after market close About Spartoo With 8,000 brands and more than 1 million items, Spartoo offers one of the widest selections of fashion items (shoes, ready-to-wear, bags) in more than 30 countries in Europe, thanks to its team of more than 400 employees of nearly 30 different nationalities. In 2020, the Group generated sales of 134 million, corresponding to a GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) of 194 million, 39% of which was generated internationally. With an integrated logistics platform and after-sales service, Spartoo stands out for its customer-centric approach, as evidenced by a very high customer satisfaction rate. The strategy is based on the strong synergies between the online sales model and the advantages of physical stores, which support loyalty and brand awareness. Capitalizing on its e-commerce know-how, Spartoo has also developed a complete range of services for professionals. Visit the Groups websites: www.spartoo.com www.spartoo-finance.com 1 https://amref.org/ 2 Source : UN, 2017 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005833/en/ Contacts Spartoo 04 58 00 16 84 investors@spartoo.com NewCap Louis-Victor Delouvrier Nicolas Fossiez Investor Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 94 94 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 94 98 Texstyle Launches Kleenscreen Featuring Sanitized and X-Weave 10% Texstyle Kleenscreen Texstyle Kleenscreen Texstyle Kleenscreen STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rollease Acmeda, a global leader in the window covering industry, has released two new roller shade fabrics, Kleenscreen featuring Sanitized and X-Weave 10% through auxiliary fabric brand Texstyle. The Kleenscreen fabric collection features eight modern colors (Pure White, Barely, Alloy, Canyon, Ash, Raven, Graphite, Black) with three openness factors (1%, 3%, and 5%) in two widths (98" and 118"). Kleenscreen features Sanitized. Sanitized is a unique antimicrobial hygiene function that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew on fabrics. This enhances the performance and life span of your shades. The X-Weave 10% addition is an expansion of the existing X-Weave collection and is available in the same eight colors as the 5% collection. The new collection provides another view through option for greater visiblity (or view through) while still maintaining the same great features the X-Weave has to offer. These solar screen fabrics support a reduction in solar transmission and glare while preserving view through and providing privacy. Both fabrics have NFPA-701 classification, are fragrance-free and have supporting Health Product Declarations and Greenguard and Greenguard Gold certifications. Both fabrics are in stock and available now. Learn more at Texstyle.com. PRESS IMAGE KIT About Rollease Acmeda - Rollease Acmeda innovates, designs and manufactures window covering hardware components and systems, manual and automated, as well as specialty fabrics for use in both commercial and residential applications. Rollease Acmeda is the largest independent engineered component and systems manufacturer and distributor in the window covering industry. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Rollease Acmeda has a global team of over 250 employees and distribution facilities spanning the USA, Australia and Europe, serving thousands of customers in over 40 countries around the world. To learn more about the company, visit rolleaseacmeda.com Story continues Media Contact Ciara Sachkowsky Content Marketing Specialist 203-490-6791 ciara.sachkowsky@rolleaseacmeda.com Related Images Image 1: Texstyle Kleenscreen This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Trez Capital is pleased to announce that Sandra LaFontaine has been appointed as the firm's Chief Compliance Officer. As one of Canada's largest non-bank lenders, Trez Capital supports borrowers with custom real estate financings and investors with reliable income. The firm operates across North American with the vision to help build a successful future for developers and investors alike. As the Chief Compliance Officer, Ms. LaFontaine is accountable for the oversight of all regulatory and compliance matters which arise in conjunction with Trez Capital's statutory obligations as a registrant. Trez Capital logo (CNW Group/Trez Capital) "Trez Capital is proud to have a Chief Compliance Officer like Sandra LaFontaine," said Morley Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Trez Capital. "Her knowledge of the regulatory environment, financial services and real estate industries are essential to the firm. We are honored that Sandra has spent many years with Trez Capital and we look forward to building a successful future together." Ms. LaFontaine's focus will be ensuring that the firm meets the highest standard of compliance in our industry. She will provide strategic direction to the Board of Directors on the company's compliance efforts. "Compliance plays a pivotal role, not only in our firm but in our industry," Ms. LaFontaine said. "A strong ethical foundation speaks directly to how we partner with our clients and borrowers and build trust inside and outside the firm." With over 20 years of experience in compliance, Ms. LaFontaine brings significant expertise to the firm. She has been with Trez Capital since 2014 as Director, Compliance. For over seven years she has ably navigated the compliance framework and regulatory obligations for Trez Capital. Prior to joining our firm, Ms. LaFontaine was the Chief Compliance Officer for Mirabaud Canada Inc. and Mirabaud Gestion Inc. during an 11-year tenure. In a previous role, Sandra worked as a compliance examiner for a regulator. Story continues Ms. LaFontaine earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University and has completed a variety of courses with the Canadian Securities Institute, most notably; the Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Qualifying Examination, the Chief Compliance Officer Qualifying Examination, the Option Supervisor Course, the Canadian Securities Course and the Conduct and Practices Handbook Course. About Trez Capital Founded in 1997, Trez Capital is a diversified real estate investment firm and preeminent provider of commercial real estate debt and equity financing solutions in Canada and the United States. Trez Capital offers private and institutional investors strategies to invest in a variety of opportunistic, fully secured mortgage investment funds, syndications, and joint ventures; and provides property developers with quick approvals on flexible short- to mid-term financing. With offices across North America, Trez Corporate Group has over $3.9* billion CAD in assets under management and has funded over 1,500 transactions totaling more than $13 billion CAD since inception. For more information, visit www.trezcapital.com. (*Trez Corporate Group AUM includes assets held by all Trez-related entities as well as $2.7 B Manager AUM (Trez Capital Fund Management Limited Partnership)). SOURCE Trez Capital Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/13/c9934.html UAGC Sponsors Full-ride Tuition for New Rio Salado Graduates, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) launched a new scholarship program on Oct. 11, providing an opportunity for six Rio Salado College scholars to receive a full-ride scholarship to pursue a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in early 2022 at UAGC. UACG Horizontal Logo (PRNewsfoto/University of Arizona Global Campus) (UAGC) launched a new scholarship program on Oct. 11, providing an opportunity for six Rio Salado College scholars "We are thrilled about this partnership with Rio Salado, which will increase access to higher education for students here in Arizona, across the country, and around the world," said UAGC President Paul Pastorek. "What better way to celebrate the launch of this partnership than helping Rio Salado scholars continue their educational journey with UAGC." The transfer partnership between UAGC and Rio Salado began in September 2020. These scholarships celebrate the relationship between the two institutions and provide a no-cost path to advanced degrees. UAGC will award four alumni and two faculty and staff scholarships. The application opened this week and is available to local and national Rio Salado alumni, current students who will complete an associate degree by 1/31/22, staff, and faculty. Eligible candidates can apply online now until the application deadline, December 10. The scholarship application page, including all terms and conditions of the scholarship program is: https://www.uagc.edu/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships/rio-salado-partnerships-scholarship. Scholars will be announced on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Applicants who are not granted a scholarship may be eligible for tuition savings* through the larger partnership between UAGC and Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges. "We are grateful to the University of Arizona Global Campus for extending this generous scholarship opportunity to our family of scholars," said Rio Salado President Kate Smith. "The investment UAGC is making in our community through this scholarship will likely have a life-changing impact on the scholars and a rippling effect on their families and communities. I look forward to joining the UAGC team in announcing the awardees this January and celebrating them on the next step of their academic journey." Story continues There are no restrictions on the types of degree programs scholarship recipients can pursue. UAGC has 50+ programs, including these seamless transfer pathways with Rio Salado College , which give students an opportunity to earn up to 90-credit hours at community college tuition rates: Free information session. Rio Salado and UAGC will host a webinar on Monday, Oct. 18 at 1:00 PM PT, to publicly celebrate their partnership, and to formally kick off this scholarship opportunity. *Savings on tuition and fees available to those who qualify. About University of Arizona Global Campus The University of Arizona Global Campus ("Global Campus" or "UAGC") is an independent university that is operated in affiliation with the University of Arizona. Global Campus is designed to provide flexible opportunities for working students from diverse backgrounds who seek to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to achieve their life and career goals. Global Campus is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is one of the nation's most innovative online universities, with approximately 30,000 students. UAGC offers more than 50 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. For more information visit uagc.edu, www.facebook.com/UniversityOfArizonaGlobalCampus, or https://twitter.com/uazglobalcampus. About Rio Salado College Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving nearly 50,000 students annually with more than 28,000 online in 50 states and internationally. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado offers 600+ online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs , and general education courses. The college also provides support for , military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona. dual enrollment , military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-university-of-arizona-global-campus-offers-6-scholarships-to-rio-salado-college-scholars-beginning-oct-11-301398823.html SOURCE University of Arizona Global Campus European entity declared "Fit and Proper" by the AMF and ACPR TSX: VOYG OTCQX: VYGVF Borse Frankfurt: UCD2 NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Voyager Digital Ltd. ("Voyager" or the "Company") (TSX: VOYG) (OTCQX: VYGVF) (FRA: UCD2), one of the fastest-growing, publicly traded cryptocurrency platforms in the United States, today announced, following a standard review by the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) and the Autorite de controle prudentiel et de resolution (ACPR), that Voyager Digital, Ltd, its wholly owned subsidiary LGO Europe SAS (LGO) and its leadership have been declared "Fit and Proper" to operate under the LGO registration. Voyager is the first non-French, non-European firm to get this designation. Voyager Digital, Ltd. (CNW Group/Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd.) "We appreciate the regulators for recognizing Voyager's platform as Fit and Proper to serve customers in France and the European Union. Voyager supports global regulation and will continue to operate only where it is fully licensed and approved," said Steve Ehrlich, CEO and Co-founder of Voyager. "This recognition is a major step in the process to bring the Voyager app and product suite to European customers and continues our vision of building Voyager into a truly global financial services company. Leveraging the recent acquisition of Coinify, which has fully compliant KYC and AML solutions as well as fiat on-ramps in over 20 currencies, Voyager is positioned for an initial launch of our trading app in certain European countries late in the March 2022 quarter." "Voyager will be a key player in Europe and internationally. We are happy that a non-European player has chosen France to set up and develop its activities. We will continue to ensure that the legal framework is attractive and stable for all those who wish to undertake in the crypto-asset sector," commented Pierre Person of the Assemblee Nationale. "We have a long waiting list of European customers who are looking forward to the launch of our app," said Lewis Bateman, Voyager's Chief International Officer. "The crypto economy is global and we are excited about the prospect of servicing these customers and delivering the Voyager quality access to a broader customer segment." Story continues Voyager closed the merger of its European operations into LGO in December 2020. The merger gave Voyager direct control of the AMF regulated entity and enables Voyager to service the European Union with its consumer-friendly crypto trading platform. This approval fulfills the remaining conditions of the merger, whereby 1 million shares of Voyager are issuable to the selling shareholders of LGO and are subject to release in equal tranches on the 6, 9 and 12 month anniversary of the date of the approval of the AMF. About Voyager Digital Ltd. Voyager Digital Ltd. (TSX: VOYG; OTCQX: VYGVF; FRA: UCD2) is a fast-growing, publicly traded cryptocurrency platform in the United States founded in 2018 to bring choice, transparency, and cost efficiency to the marketplace. Voyager offers a secure way to trade over 60 different crypto assets using its easy-to-use mobile application, and earn rewards up to 12 percent annually on more than 30 cryptocurrencies. Through its subsidiary Coinify ApS, Voyager provides crypto payment solutions for both consumers and merchants around the globe. To learn more about the company, please visit https://www.investvoyager.com. The TSX has not approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. Press Contacts Voyager Digital, Ltd. Michael Legg Chief Communications Officer (212) 547-8807 mlegg@investvoyager.com Voyager Public Relations Team pr@investvoyager.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voyager-digital-secures-final-approval-to-begin-operations-in-europe-301399023.html SOURCE Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/13/c7332.html So we carry on, she said. With more wisdom, understanding, more light, more shadows, more of ourselves that we had forgotten in the frenzied pace of life before the threat of a virus took hold of us all. Each movement is based on one of Norman Rockwells works, which will be projected on a large screen. Echoed in the music are his paintings Artist Facing a Blank Canvas, an expression of his own creative process; The Stay at Homes, showing an old man, a boy and a dog looking at the sea; Checkers, of a game of checkers played by circus performers; Murder in Mississippi, his 1965 response to racialized murder; and The Peace Corps, which evokes the legacy of John F. Kennedy. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Abigail Rockwell became involved after Bartram approached her with Sungs work. She didnt know about the piece before, but said it brought her to tears when she heard it. She knew the famous artist simply as Pop. For Rockwell, letting music and art speak in an event like this is a heady mix: Its powerful, the mixing of art, music and biography, at a time when we need to believe in goodness of people again in this country, in the world, she said. Wedded to Pops work is the feeling of an essential belief in people. Foggy mornings will give way to sunnier afternoons during the Fredericksburg areas midweek period. A dense fog advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. along and west of the Interstate 95 corridor in the Fredericksburg area this Wednesday morning. Overnight temperatures dont have to drop very far to approach local dew points, which are hanging in the sticky low 60s. When those two readings are near each other, fog is a likely result. Thats the case this morning and will be also on Thursday morning. The good news is that the stubborn cold air damming wedge that trapped clouds and drizzle east of the mountains is finally breaking down today. Both the high pressure over New England and low pressure centered off the Mid-Atlantic coast will drift far enough east to relax Da Wedges grip on Fredericksburg and vicinity. As that occurs, a weak cold front will creep across West Virginia, helping to swap surface winds around out of the south instead of from the east off the cool Atlantic waters. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A few of those individuals addressed their concerns with City Council at the past two meetings. Former Councilwoman Bea Paolucci implored council to return the two minutes to residents. The change didnt occur at the start of the pandemic, but was instituted in July 2020 after the protest movement following the death of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Clerk of Council Tonya Lacey received 124 letters on July 14, 2020, and read aloud 34 of them, which took one hour and 40 minutes. For the Aug. 11 meeting, city officials decided to implement the three-minute rule for speaking and the 40-minute limit for overall public comment. City public information officer Sonja Cantu noted that neighboring Spotsylvania and Stafford counties have a three-minute limit at Board of Supervisors meetings. She also said the lengthy public comments section of the meeting last July forced council to adopt a motion to suspend the rules to go past 11 p.m., an adjournment time established by City Code. Still, Paolucci said that rare occurrence shouldnt have been the catalyst for changing longstanding guidelines without a public vote. Keene, who also chairs the Culpeper County School Board, said he has fought for parental choice at the local level. We gotta keep it going. Mr. Youngkin is the man at the top whos going to support us in doing that, he said. He is for parents and our individual freedoms. McAuliffe has accused Youngkin of modeling himself after former President Donald Trump in seeking to divide people. Youngkin did not speak the 45th presidents name at the Culpeper rally, though a few in the crowd donned Make America Great Again caps. Youngkin said he almost fell down when McAuliffe made the statement at last months debate about parents not interfering in schools. The last 20 months has been parents coming together, asking please open our schools five days a week teach [students] how to think, not what to think. Tell us what material is being used in the classroom or the library so we can choose what we want in our kids lives, the gubernatorial candidate said. Parents have a fundamental right to be engaged in their kids education. Youngkin added that McAuliffe confirmed what we are all fearingthat the liberal leadership believes the government should stand between our children and our parents. Should we be alarmed that the man again seeking to be Virginias chief executive believes taxpaying parents opinions on education should be muzzled? After his own wife served as chair of the board of trustees at their childrens private school in McLean? The words separate but equal immediately come to mind. Conservative gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin correctly states, Parents should be in charge of their kids education. Its mandated by law! McAuliffe also refuses to denounce any vestige of CRT, which is based on the melanin level of students rather than their cognitive ability. This repugnant concept is propagated by Ibram X. Kendis book How to Be an Anti-Racist. Troubling racist statements are found in Kendis book, beginning on page 19. He writes, The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination. It is appalling that an educator could suggest ending racism with more overt racism. And so on. Every possible point of compromise or consensus was rejected by one side or the other. When Harris and two other Democratic commissioners walked out on Friday, commissioners had not even agreed to ask for a 14-day extension to finish work on the legislative districts. This is not what voters had in mind last November when they overwhelmingly voted for the constitutional amendment setting up the Redistricting Commission instead of relying on partisan gerrymandering by the majority, as was always done in the past. To be fair, commissioners were faced with the extremely difficult task of reconciling not only the placement of minority voters based on seemingly contradictory court orders that prohibit both packing and cracking, but also creating compact and contiguous districts that do not separate communities of interest. All while following statutory standards and criteria that prohibit unduly favoring or disfavoring any political partyand keeping the population of each new district relatively equal. Church hosting food drive, soup supper Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church of Fremont will be having its annual canned food drive/soup supper from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20. Everyone attending can enjoy a free homemade soup supper as the church collects canned goods for the LifeHouse Pantry in Fremont. If you dont have any canned goods, a freewill offering will be taken to also support LifeHouse. If you have neither canned food items nor cash, the church encourages you to come anyway. Everyone is invited. The ladies of the congregation will be hosting a quilt/craft/bake sale during the soup supper as well as a quilt raffle. Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 1693 County Road 17, at the corner of County Road 17 and County Road Q (5 miles west of Platte Valley John Deere on County Road Q or 4 miles north of U.S. Highway 30 on County Road 17). Love 1 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 Wahoo police officer arrested in Dodge County pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault of a child Friday. Sean M. Vilmont was initially arrested Sept. 24 after turning himself in on two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of unlawful intrusion. The Nebraska State Patrol and Attorney Generals Office filed a criminal complaint four days prior. Vilmont, 51, of Fremont is accused of sexually assaulting a now 13-year-old child and rewarding them with gifts for the acts between 2015 and 2021. He was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and criminal investigations and had been relieved of his duties pending his right of appeal. According to court documents, allegations were previously investigated in 2015 and 2017 by the Fremont Police Department. The department interviewed Vilmont, who denied the allegations, and made applications for arrest warrants, but was denied both times. The victim was interviewed by the Nebraska State Patrol on Jan. 31 in Grand Island. That same day, electronic communication devices, video recording equipment and computers were seized during a search warrant granted on Feb. 9. On Sept. 28, Vilmont was released from the Saunders County Jail on a 10% of $10,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 7. On Oct. 6, Vilmont filed a document waiving his right to physically appear for the hearing and to enter a plea of not guilty on the three charges. Vilmonts arraignment hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 15 before District Court Judge Geoffrey Hall. The sexual assault counts are Class 3A felonies, which has a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment in the state of Nebraska. The intrusion count is a Class 4 felony, which has a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment. According to a Wahoo Police Department release issued the day of Vilmonts arrest, the department was notified when NSPs investigation began. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Minutes after Brandon J. Boone killed his girlfriend, an Omaha police detective testified Tuesday, he couldn't keep his mouth shut about it. Boone told a friend who watched him fire the shots that he thought he might have killed Jamie Nau, 29. As he washed his hands at an apartment, he told a woman to forget him if anyone came looking for him. He told a woman whose car he was driving as he fired the shots that he just "caught a body," meaning he had killed someone. And he told another girlfriend, who was in the Douglas County Jail at the time, to watch the TV news so she could piece together what he did. Boone, 28, of Blair, will stand trial on first-degree murder and firearm charges, plus a charge of failure to stop and render aid in connection with a collision that occurred an hour after the shooting. Nau was shot once in the head just before 7 p.m. Aug. 22 outside an apartment complex near 83rd and Miami Streets. Two men who were with her one who had just met her that day and the other who said she was a close friend said they had been driving around that day searching for car parts to fix a vehicle that was parked near the apartments. Nau had seemed scared throughout the day, telling the men, "We gotta get out of here" and "What are we doing here," Omaha Police Officer Michael Young testified. At one point, Nau borrowed a woman's phone to text Boone: "Where are you, B." She never received a response, Young said. Nau told one of the men the night before that Boone had "left her on a dirt road and taken everything from her," Young testified. Both Boone and Nau used methamphetamine, Young said, the side effects of which can cause paranoia and anxiety. The two men and Nau returned to the apartment that Sunday evening. As the pickup truck they were in slowed and turned into the driveway, Nau, in the front passenger seat, jumped out of the truck. The men heard a scream and two shots. A black Acura sped away, according to multiple home video surveillance recordings. Police later interviewed a friend of Boone's who was in the hospital after a collision near 56th Street and Sorensen Parkway that involved the black Acura. The friend told police that he and Boone had been driving in the area of 83rd and Miami to look for tools to sell. They saw the truck and Nau scowling at them. Then the friend said he saw Boone fire two shots, the second of which hit Nau. Boone sped away, the friend said, and was panicking that he "might have killed (Nau)," Young testified. After going to an apartment to do drugs, the officer said, the two men came upon the owner of the Acura, who had let Boone borrow the car. She told police that Boone told her to get into the car, but she refused to unless she could drive. Then Boone told her he did something bad in the car and "caught a body," meaning he just killed someone, Young said. After an argument, Boone sped off. The car collided with a Dodge Charger about 8:10 p.m. when Boone ran a red light at Sorensen Parkway, Young said. Boone's friend suffered a broken neck in the crash. Boone ran off. Just 10 minutes later, another girlfriend called him from the Douglas County Jail, upset that he had not answered when she called earlier. Boone told her that he "(expletive) up" and will never see anyone again. He instructed her to watch the news to figure out what he had done, Young said. That call, because it was made from the jail, was recorded. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Flights of Afghan refugees from a U.S. air base in Germany have resumed, a spokesperson for the base said on October 12, adding that nine flights have left for the United States since October 9. More than 2,500 people were flown out on those nine flights, the spokesperson for Ramstein Air Base said. Another 1,600 were due to fly out on October 12, leaving about 4,000 still waiting. The flights were interrupted for several weeks while thousands of people who were evacuated from Afghanistan weeks ago were vaccinated against measles and other diseases. About two dozen cases of measles, which is highly contagious, were identified as Afghan refugees began arriving at bases around Europe and the Middle East. In response, U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month paused all flights of Afghan refugees. Afghans headed to the United States must get vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), polio, COVID-19, and other age-appropriate vaccinations as a condition for their official permission to enter and remain. The Ramstein spokesperson said that, to date, more than 28,500 Afghan evacuees have departed the base for the United States or another country. Ramstein Air Base, one of the largest U.S. military bases outside America, and a U.S. base in Qatar have been the main hubs for onward travel of Afghans flown out by the U.S. military after the Taliban took power. Spain also has been receiving Afghans this week. A second flight carrying 160 people arrived at an airport outside Madrid on October 12, a government source said, according to AFP. The first flight arrived on October 11. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares visited Pakistan and Qatar in early September to lay the groundwork for the flights. Madrid evacuated more than 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. The European Union's foreign policy chief has urged the bloc's members 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," Josep Borrell said on October 8 in Madrid. With reporting by AFP and dpa The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will hold joint military drills near the Afghan border in Tajikistan between October 22 and 23, the Kremlin said on October 13. Besides Tajikistan, which has a lengthy border with Afghanistan, the CSTO includes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Belarus. The CSTO held three days of military exercises in Kyrgyzstan last month. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the drills are taking place amid growing concern in the region about the situation in Afghanistan. "These exercises are crucial," Peskov told reporters on October 13. "The CSTO presidents met just recently to stress their concern over the way the situation in Afghanistan has been developing. They emphasized the unpredictability of this situation and the need for the CSTO to be on guard," Peskov said. CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov said in late August that another round of military exercises is scheduled to take place in the region next month. Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS The surprising speed with which the Taliban took control over most of Afghanistan after foreign forces began withdrawing from the country left Afghanistans neighbors in a difficult predicament. All of them had considered the possibility the militant group could seize power, but suddenly they needed to publicly state what their policy toward Taliban-ruled Afghanistan was. Generally, the response was that the Taliban in charge was the reality and the neighboring countries were willing to at least talk with these new leaders of Afghanistan. Except Tajikistan. Pakistan -- long a backer of the Taliban -- clearly welcomed the group's success in Afghanistan. China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan all conceded there was nothing they could do about Afghan internal politics and held out hope that some form of cooperation with the Taliban might be possible. But Tajik authorities have taken a different position and that has raised questions about why Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his government continue to make clear their strong opposition to a Taliban government in Afghanistan. First, it is worth remembering that Rahmon was Tajikistans leader more than 20 years ago when the Taliban had control of most of Afghanistan. None of the other current leaders in the countries bordering Afghanistan were in power when the Taliban was ousted by a U.S.-led military invasion in 2001. Rahmon supported a group led by ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan who were fighting the Taliban in the late 1990s and he has given moral support to the ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan now -- including the holdout group in the Panjshir Valley that continues to oppose Taliban rule. There is a large population of ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan -- where they make up about 25 percent of the population -- and the Tajiks in Tajikistan feel a strong connection to them. That is not true of any of the other states neighboring Afghanistan. In fact, Rahmons public concern for the Tajiks in Afghanistan has earned the generally unpopular leader of Tajikistan some rare public support in his country, an important detail as he positions his eldest son, Rustam, to take over as president. Tajikistan's Civil War There is another reason it would be difficult for Rahmons government to publicly engage with the Taliban. During Tajikistans 1992-1997 civil war, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) was the major group in an alliance of forces fighting against the Tajik government. The war ended with a peace agreement that provided for 30 percent of the positions in government to be filled by representatives of the wartime opposition. The IRPT was legalized and was the second largest party in Tajikistan after Rahmons Peoples Democratic Party of Tajikistan. The IRPT was also potentially the biggest threat to Rahmons increasing grip on power and in September 2015 -- after years of pressuring the IRPT and its leadership and whittling down its places in state bodies -- the government used a bizarre and vague incident involving a high-ranking officer in the Defense Ministry to make dubious claims that the IRPT had tried to stage a coup. The IRPT was quickly declared an extremist group and its activities banned in Tajikistan. The IRPT is an Islamic-based political party, but it is far more moderate than the Taliban. It is difficult to see how the Tajik government could establish ties with the Taliban, let alone consider recognizing a Taliban government, while continuing to hunt and repress members of the IRPT. And Tajikistans chief Islamic cleric, Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, made it clear in a September 11 interview with state news agency Khovar that improving ties with the Taliban is out of the question. Islam is compassion and brotherhood," Abdulkodirzoda said. "But today the terrorist movement known as the Taliban call themselves an Islamic state and execute women, children, and brothers." Abdulkodirzoda had more to say and, since all of Tajikistans top clerics are carefully vetted by the government, his views can be taken as the governments views. The big question is how Rahmon and his government can feel so confident in confronting the Taliban. The answer to this is more difficult to discern. Tajikistan is, in terms of territory, the smallest of Afghanistans neighbors and economically it is the poorest. Though small, Tajikistans military has been receiving help from powerful countries for many years. Russia is the biggest supplier of arms to Tajikistan, but China has been increasing its aid to the country's armed forces for more than a decade. And the United States, NATO, the European Union, and the OSCE -- while not supplying weapons -- have been helping with money and equipment for border posts, surveillance equipment, winter and summer clothing, off-road vehicles, and other such items. None of that is likely to cow the Taliban or, more importantly for Tajikistan, some of the extremist groups that have been fighting alongside the Taliban for years, many with roots in Tajikistan. And Rahmon seems quite aware of this. Not many countries welcomed the Taliban coming to power in Afghanistan. Official press statements often express a fatalism about the turn of events, but there is not much enthusiasm for what has happened since the U.S.-led military withdrawal began on May 1. Tajikistans government is no doubt saying what many governments are thinking. The Carnegie Endowment's Paul Stronski mentioned this during a recent Majlis podcast and suggested Tajikistan is a messenger for the views of other countries. Tajik political expert Khairullo Mirsaidov agreed, telling RFE/RLs Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, Rahmon could not have made such a statement without Russian consent. Now that the United States has left the region, Russia does not want to give full control of Afghanistan to Pakistan. He added: It also gives momentum for Rahmon to take an opportunity for internal use of the topic, bringing him closer to his own people. Russia has a military base in Tajikistan and China has a small military post in the eastern part of the country. Both Moscow and Beijing have expressed confidence that it is possible to deal with the Taliban, but both are concerned by the presence of militants from their own countries who are in groups currently inside Afghanistan that are allied to the Taliban. And there are many countries with citizens still inside Afghanistan and the governments of those countries need to keep this in consideration when commenting on events in the country. After Rahmon said during an August 25 meeting with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that Tajikistan would not recognize any Afghan government that was seen as exclusive, he specifically mentioned that he expected ethnic Tajiks to be included. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron invited Rahmon to visit Paris. Which proved that there are obviously some dividends to be gained by openly opposing Taliban rule in Afghanistan -- and Rahmon seems to appreciate that. RFE/RL Tajik Service Director Salimjon Aioubov contributed to this report When the last U.S. soldiers left Afghanistan on August 31, the Taliban triumphantly declared an end to the two-decade war in Afghanistan. The Western-backed Afghan government had collapsed, the Taliban captured the capital, Kabul, and many Afghans expected the hard-line militants to restore order. But the Talibans intensifying rivalry with the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), a rival militant group, has signaled the beginning of another phase of war in Afghanistan -- a development that many Afghans dread will provoke further bloodshed. Every day, two or three people are killed, Abdullah, a resident of the eastern province of Nangarhar, a stronghold of IS-K, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Abdullah said IS-K bomb attacks and assassinations have increased since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on August 15. People here are perplexed, said Abdullah, who did not reveal his real name for fear of reprisals. IS-K, he added, was very weak under the previous government but is now experiencing a revival." There has been surge in IS-K attacks against the Taliban and Afghan civilians in the past two months. Experts say the extremist group has been bolstered by the diminished U.S. counterterrorism presence in Afghanistan and the Taliban's inadvertent release of hundreds of IS-K inmates from prisons during its sweep of the country. An IS-K suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in the northern province of Kunduz on October 8, killing more than 70 people and injuring over 140. It was the deadliest attack since the international troop withdrawal. The Taliban has tried to downplay the threat posed by IS-K, vowing to eliminate the group. But communities caught in the middle of the intensifying war between the Taliban and IS-K said they fear more violence. We dont know if Daesh is behind it, but Taliban fighters are being killed in attacks here, said Gul, another resident of Nangarhar, using the Arabic acronym for IS-K. Such attacks then prompt the Taliban to raid houses and detain people, who turn up dead days later -- sometimes mutilated or beheaded, added Gul, who revealed only his first name for fear of reprisals. Death, Destruction, Displacement Nangarhar, located along the border with Pakistan, has been the epicenter of clashes between the Taliban and IS-K militants. Since its emergence in early 2015, IS-K swiftly seized pockets of territory in Nangarhar and in the provinces of Kunar and Jowzjan. The atrocities it committed -- which included forcing civilians to sit on explosives -- forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes. Subsequent Afghan and U.S. operations as well as Taliban attacks weakened IS-K. But the group has remained resilient and is now threatening to unleash another war in Afghanistan. Death, destruction, and displacement will likely afflict tens of thousands of Afghans in the coming months and years if IS-K is not kept in check, said Andrew Mines, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University in Washington. Experts said IS-K is trying to sow sectarian divisions and render Afghanistan ungovernable. If the country is unstable, it delegitimizes the Taliban and could provide IS-K chances to rule in areas where the Taliban is diminished, said Jacob Zenn, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation think tank in Washington. Ironically, IS-K might try a strategy against the Taliban that the Taliban had used against the U.S. That strategy, experts said, included infiltrating and exploiting governing institutions, forming operational alliances with other groups, and assassinating moderate voices of opposition. Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi claimed the new government was "controlling" the IS-K "issue." "Whatever preparations they had made have been 98 percent neutralized," Muttaqi told an event in Qatar this week, using the formal name of the Taliban-led government. Experts said the Taliban faces the difficult task of adjusting from an insurgency to a government. The Taliban, they said, will likely have to make compromises to gain international recognition, stave off an economic collapse, and tackle the countrys devastating humanitarian crisis. IS-K, observers said, will attempt to exploit any concessions made by the Taliban. Over time, things may quickly become more advantageous for IS-K, said Mines. Experts said the Taliban has inadvertently strengthened IS-K by releasing hundreds of its inmates from prisons during its sweep of the country during the summer. These escapees may be partially responsible for the uptick in IS-K attack operations, Mines said. With more assets and personnel back in their ranks, IS-Ks operational capacities almost certainly improved. He added that the Taliban has since targeted high-profile IS-K escapees. 'Threaten Our Future' Bearing the brunt of the escalating war between IS-K and the Taliban are Afghans caught in the middle. In the northern province of Faryab, years of deadly clashes between the Taliban, IS-K, and Afghan government troops forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Afghans have been burning in war for over 40 years, said Ahmad, a resident of Faryab who only revealed his first name. Every house has orphans, widows, and disabled people. Ahmad hoped the Taliban takeover would herald a period of relative security, even if Afghans had to endure the militant group's repressive laws and draconian rules. But he said IS-K's resurgence has shattered those hopes. Daesh poses a serious threat to the future of our country, the 28-year-old said. They disturb the peace and threaten our future stability. Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have warned U.S. and European envoys that continuing to use sanctions as a means to put pressure on the militant group would trigger a new wave of economic refugees. The acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, told Western diplomats at talks in Qatar that "weakening the Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone because its negative effects will directly affect the world in (the) security sector and economic migration from the country," according to a statement published late on October 13. The United States and the European Union have said they are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan but want guarantees the Taliban will respect human rights, in particular those of women. The Taliban toppled the Western-backed Afghan government in August following a blitz offensive across the war-wracked country amid the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces that put an end to the two-decade-long conflict. Afghanistan's economy is in free fall with most aid cut off as winter nears, food prices rising, and unemployment spiking. "We urge world countries to end existing sanctions and let banks operate normally so that charity groups, organizations, and the government can pay salaries to their staff with their own reserves and international financial assistance," Muttaqi told the Doha meeting according to a statement by his spokesperson. The EU during its first talks with the Taliban in Doha announced an expanded support package for Afghanistan and its neighbors worth about 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion). Brussels hopes that donating money to help stabilize Afghanistan and assist countries around it could prevent a repeat of Europe's 2015 migration crisis, when more than 1 million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East arrived in the bloc. But European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that it would be used to help Afghanistan's neighbors or given in "direct support" to the Afghan people, bypassing the Taliban government. "We have been clear about our conditions for any engagement with the Afghan authorities, including on the respect of human rights," she said on October 12. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Attorneys sparred Tuesday before the Colorado Supreme Court, debating how far the state's new redistricting commission must go to empower minority voters and whether its congressional map should be used for the next decade. Debate centered on a key passage from the voter-approved amendments that created the new independent redistricting process in Colorado in 2018, which prohibits "diluting the impact of ... racial or language minority group's electoral influence." The commission's attorneys have said the phrase is a restatement of federal voting rights laws that apply to district maps where it's possible to draw "minority-majority" districts, where a non-white voting bloc makes up the majority of the district, and unlike any districts in the map adopted by the commission in late September. But civil rights groups and minority advocacy organizations argue the provision requires special considerations, even in districts where minority voters don't comprise a majority, but could be empowered to influence election outcomes, like they claim is the case in some parts of the state. The groups challenging the commission's map say the panel needed a more thorough analysis of minority voting patterns to draw a map avoiding avoid the dilution described in the state constitution. Congressional redistricting commissioners discussed their approach to minority voting protections at public hearings, but they received legal advice about the issue in closed-door sessions, designed to maintain attorney-client privilege. The congressional redistricting commission didn't conduct a "racially polarized voting analysis," which has become a routine in redistricting, when facing these questions. Because Colorado has a dispersed Hispanic population that can't be drawn into a single "minority-majority" district, the critics argue, upholding the commission's process would mean the influence of minority voters in the state would be practically off-limits for any redistricting under the new system. "If the court agrees with the commission, we will have made race a forbidden topic in this state," said Kendra Beckwith, an attorney with the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization. Justice Monica Marquez said she struggled with how the court could establish a standard to use to determine whether minority voter dilution occurred: "How much is constitutionally sufficient?" she asked. Beckwith argued for an analysis that explores the effect of district options on minority voting blocs, which the commission did not perform. Some of the justices questioned the commission's position, as well as what the commission is permitted to decide. Justice Melissa Hart, in questions to the commission's attorneys remarked, "the inclusion of that language, 'electoral influence,' seems to be doing something beyond the VRA (federal Voting Rights Act of 1965)," contradicting the commission's legal position. "It feels like the commission has decided, 'well, we think that's unconstitutional, so we're not going to apply it,'" Justice Richard Gabriel said, "and I'm not sure, with all great due respect, that the commission has that authority." The justices also wondered, during the hearing, how rejecting the adopted map would play out, if they agree with the challengers to the map, but the exact process, everyone involved has said, is unclear, as this is the first time for the new system. The state Supreme Court will decide what to do with the adopted map by Nov. 1. It could approve the map, which would lead to its implementation for the next decade. Or the court could reject it, and send it back to the commission for alterations. Syringes and drug paraphernalia found during the cleaning of an illegal homeless camp in Denver. A dispute between factions of the El Paso County Republican Party over whether to ask school board candidates to answer questions about election integrity and voting equipment ramped up this week, with one party officer resigning, another finding his official party email address had been disabled and the county party distributing two competing sets of candidate questionnaires. From pursuing a medical career to producing cannabis to opening four eateries and then going back to medicine, its been a wild ride over the past eight years for Michael Thompson. His plan was to be a surgeon. So how does it happen that, before age 40, he and his wife, Crystal, are the proprietors of four successful eateries and a downtown lounge in Colorado Springs? You likely have heard of them: T-Byrds Tacos and Tequila (the first, which opened in 2016), Dirty Byrd Whiskey and Wings, Mood Tapas Bar, Bird Tree Cafe and District Elleven lounge. A second location of T-Byrds is scheduled to open in November. In 2013, I was in graduate school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center when I went on vacation visiting a friend from high school in Colorado, he said. I met some people who needed a medical director for their future cannabis company as well as someone who could run production. Thompson did some research and weighed the pros and cons of dropping out of school. I loved school, still do, but I felt that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to jump on board of something as large as cannabis legalization. I knew it would be huge, he said. And I always said that I would go back to school. Of course, I had to talk Crystal into it, but she was surprisingly open to the idea. Thompson joined the team of what would become Emerald Fields A Cannaboutique, and embraced the challenge of understanding the cannabis plants growing process. I had to learn about agriculture because we planned to build a large growing facility, he said. I had the chemistry covered from classes I had taken in college and grad school so I understood the science of making infusions and extracts. When he eventually became an owner of the business, his role shifted to much less hands-on, which freed him up to pursue a new interest: opening a small taco bar. We were doing OK, he said. We were living comfortably. Crystal was an area account executive with Christian Dior, we were renting a small house and our cars were paid for. We decided to take a chance on starting a food business. They leased a small space that was part of the former Hunan Springs restaurant downtown and got started. We were literally out of money by the time that we opened the doors, Thompson said. We ate a lot of tacos for the next five weeks. We opened with $88.27 from a piggy bank. They continued with their day jobs as well, putting all their money back into the taco bar so they didnt have to take out a loan. My philosophy is dont give up, Thompson said. Thats when people fail; 90% percent of owners who fail lost their confidence. Once thats lost, its hard to come back. Since all of their restaurant experience had been as a waitress and a bartender during college, they hired a relative to run the kitchen. Their determination has paid off. Thompson projects that the taco bar will make more than $2 million this year. Cost control is the most important thing, he said. I run a spreadsheet every day on each restaurant to be sure the right decisions are being made. Despite finding success, Thompson decided he wasnt done with his original career choice. I was liking what I was doing, he said, but what I reallydwanted to do was be a doctor. His biggest hurdle to going back to school would have been taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Because of COVID-19, however, the testing centers were closed and schools began to evaluate candidates without requiring an MCAT. I said, This is it, the sign. It was time, he said. Rather than go back to Texas or apply in Colorado, Crystal remembered him talking about offshore medical schools. They liked that idea and, in 2019, Michael was accepted at Ross University School of Medicine in Florida. We get to spend one year out of four on an island, which is what Crystal liked, he said. Michael finished his first year of med school online and the couple welcomed a baby girl, Sunny Byrd Thompson, in May. The family will move to Barbados in January so that Michael can complete his second year. He remains a partner in the cannabis business and has built his restaurant team with top professionals who he and Crystal can depend on to run the businesses. Because we have employees we trust completely, we can leave them in charge while we are away, he said. We moved to Boston for 13 months a couple years ago and they proved to us that they could step up to the occasion. For some parents, having a child drop out of graduate school to get into the cannabis business would be unthinkable. Not Mary Wright, Thompsons mother. I didnt have any misgivings about his decision, she said. That was a wise decision for Michael at that time. He has always been relentless about pursuing his passions. As for the success of his restaurants, Wright calls it amazing. Both he and his wife, Crystal, have worked exceedingly hard to make the restaurants special, distinct experiences, she said. His own success has built his optimism. He now knows it can be done. Contact the writer: 636-0271. A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war. When Gen. William J. Palmer founded Colorado Springs in 1871, he wanted to make the city desirable to families, schools and churches. One way to attract the latter was by offering free lots. At first, congregations floated around town, meeting in random locations until they had enough money to construct buildings. The first church in the Springs was First United Methodist Church, which now stands at 420 N. Nevada Ave. Other early churches were First Congregational Church and First Presbyterian Church. It's no secret that a bear's appetite sees a serious uptick during their hyperphagia phase basically when they're packing on the pounds for winter hibernation. During this time, Colorado's black bears can eat up to 20,000 calories of food per day. An image recently published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows just how much food that is. An heir to the Sinton Dairy fortune bought a Broadmoor neighborhood mansion Friday for a record $8 million, according to El Paso County land records. The 16,594-square-foot home two blocks from the 2,500-acre resort was sold by the founder and head of a Colorado Springs commercial real estate services company. The six-bedroom, 11-bathroom complex had been on the market on and off for more than three years with an $8 million asking price, most listed recently with LIV Sotheby's International Realty. Carolyn Cathey, a longtime local real estate agent who represented the buyer, said her client was interested in the property, which was built in 2007, because most of the living space is on the main level and it offers a more modern home with more privacy than the buyer's current residence, which is a bit more than a mile away. Cathey said the property went under contract in mid-August at the full asking price. The home's price was the highest listed in records of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, which tracks transactions handled by real estate agents in the Pikes Peak region. The deal displaces the previous record $6.7 million sale in August 2020 of the Southard Star Ranch, near Colorado Highway 83 and Old Northgate Road. The ranch features 14,563 square feet of living space on nearly 55 acres with a duck pond, a stream that runs throughout the property, meadows, a chicken coop and a pirate-themed tree house. The new record-holder near the Broadmoor features an above-garage apartment and a separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house as well as a large library, office, game room, home fitness center and spa. The residence also boasts a theater, a 1,000-bottle underground wine cellar and a tasting room. The new owner will be greeted by African mahogany doors while treading on Italian Travertine and hand-scraped pecan floors with soaring Douglas fir beams from Oregon above. "You could not duplicate this home for even close to the sales price today, even if you could obtain the materials," needed to build it, LivSotheby's Katie Williams, who represented the seller, said in a news release. LivSotheby's Adana Leonard, who also represented the seller, called the wine cellar and tasting room the "crown jewel" of the property. The sale comes amid a boom in sales of Pikes Peak region homes priced at more than $1 million. The Realtor association recorded 321 sales of homes priced above $1 million in the first eight months of the year, or more than seven times the number sold in all of 2016. The association currently lists 180 Front Range properties priced at more than $1 million on the market, headed by the Bears Head Ranch southwest of Pueblo for $9.5 million. "I've done several homes in the million-dollar-plus price range. We have had a pretty good run of homes in that price range during the past four or five years," Cathey said. The buyer's family owned Sinton Dairy, founded by Melvin Sinton in 1880, which grew successful by selling milk products to health-seekers under doctors orders to drink large quantities of milk to cure their tuberculosis, according to a history on the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum website. The company was Colorado's largest producer of dairy products when it was sold in 1980 to Associated Grocers and is now owned by Mexican dairy giant Grupo Lala. A Republican-led effort to influence the states new independent redistricting process will end up being scrutinized by an administrative law judge, after the Colorado Secretary of State's Office announced it intends to pursue claims of lobbying disclosure violations. The secretary of state explained in a referral to the states Office of Administrative Courts that her office found reason to believe that two Republican operatives working for a group called Colorado Neighborhood Coalition, former Colorado House Speaker Frank McNulty and former state House and Senate member Greg Brophy, failed to properly register as redistricting lobbyists. Colorado Neighborhood Coalition is a 501c4 nonprofit organization; the group formally registered this year as a group that would lobby the states new independent redistricting commissions. The complaint filed against Colorado Neighborhood Coalition originated with a rival, Democratic-led 501c4 nonprofit organization that also registered his year as a group who would lobby the redistricting commissions. When 501c4 nonprofit organizations spend in elections, theyre called dark money groups, because they are not required to disclose where their funding comes from. While the Secretary of States elections division found that McNulty and Brophy may have violated lobbying rules by being paid by Colorado Neighborhood Coalition and having contact with commissioners that could qualify as lobbying while not being registered as lobbyists, the division found that the groups single registered lobbyist, former state GOP executive director Alan Philp, did not run afoul of disclosure requirements, as the complaint against the group claimed. The division will pursue claims 1 and 2 of the complaint against McNulty and Brophy, but will not pursue claim 2 against Philp, or claim 3, an attorney working for the secretary of states elections division wrote in the referral. Philp has been registered as Colorado Neighborhood Coalitions lobbyist since April, but the complaint claimed that by only disclosing his $2,000 per month compensation once, and not itemizing payments for specific interactions with the commissioners, his disclosures were inadequate. The secretary of states referral explained that the division views Philps April disclosure as a good-faith effort to comply with the reporting requirements, and blamed their own lobbying database for the inability to find Philps total compensation: The system lacks the capability to update the total figure absent updated disclosures being filed, which is part of a pattern of lobbying disclosure data managed incorrectly by the Secretary of States Office. McNulty wrote in an email that the finding of no problems with Philp's disclosures proves that the complaint, at least partially, has no merit, and that he expects him and Brophy to also be found to have done nothing wrong. "The bogus claims that partisan Democrats have made against me and others are already unwinding. The first domino fell yesterday when the Secretary of State's Office tossed the baseless claims against Alan. The road for the rest of us will be longer, but the result will be the same," McNulty wrote. "Powerful Democrats continue to bully and threaten Republicans who are productively participating in the redistricting process." A stranger in Colorado inspired by a Denver Gazette story has agreed to give Fahemeh Amini a lifeline that could allow her escape from Afghanistan and shelter from Taliban death threats. Amini, a university administrator, sought to flee a new Afghan regime that has a history of killing female educators and those with any ties to the west, but had no way out until Colorado Springs Army veteran Paul Studdard offered to open his home. That act of generosity means Amini has an American sponsor, possibly allowing her to enter the U.S. as a refugee. "Thank you so much. But I don't know if it works or no," she wrote The Gazette. "I am so sad. I just want to get out of this country." Amini knew finding an American who would be willing to sponsor her getaway from Afghanistan would be a longshot. In despair, Amini wrote an open letter to Vice President Kamala Harris begging for help, but got no response. She knew one Afghan-American who lived in a place called Colorado with whom shed worked at Herat University, but her friend Wahid Omar had already sponsored three Afghan families the maximum allowed under U.S. rules. By September, with Islamic State terrorists battling the Taliban in a bloody fight for power in the streets and mosques of Afghanistan, Amini, as an educated woman, was in danger. The Taliban brought an extremist view of Islamic law to power in Kabul, which stripped that nation's women of most rights. While the Taliban government has pledged to treat women with respect, when they ran the nation in the 1990s, the Taliban banned women from working, owning property, leaving their homes without a male relative as an escort and possessing bank accounts. Amini's money is frozen in the Afghan banks and the 30-year-old Herat University professional lost her job. ..... Amini's plight was featured in a Gazette story earlier this month. The next morning, a reader took the challenge. I will sponsor her, Paul Studdard of Colorado Springs wrote The Gazette in an email. I am just a man of modest means along with my wife, but we shall open up our house to Ms. Fahemeh Amini if it is OK with the State Department. A view of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountain range greeted Studdard outside of his barracks every morning when he was stationed in Bagram, Afghanistan in 2007. The Army Reservist fell in love with the rugged countryside which reminded him of the Rockies back home. Aminis situation reminded Studdard of an Afghan he had befriended who later disappeared, perhaps a casualty because the man helped the American military. The Taliban controlled checkpoints and roads, especially after dark, said Studdard. There are so many needy people in the United States, but if I have a chance to prevent a young woman from being captured, tortured, raped or beheaded, I will do what I can. When Amini heard the news that a family was interested in helping, she was cautious, Its a long shot, but I have no other way. I wont lose my hope," she said. Studdard, meanwhile, has received a crash course in American Immigration 101. The $575 fee for a humanitarian parole visa application is not a guarantee. In order to ensure that his family has the cash to sponsor Amini, hes been required to release his tax returns, employment information and bank statements. He's also working with a New York attorney, working pro bono on the Aminis case, to file Aminis paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security. And she will wait in line with 8,000 Afghan refugees. Amini must find the money to fly from Kabul to a neighboring country like Pakistan or Uzbekistan. Once there, she will visit the American Embassy to be processed, screened and vetted with voice prints, iris scans, palm prints and facial photos. The journey could take months. In a bid to speed things up, Studdard plans to enlist the help of Colorado Springs Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn When Kabul fell in August, Lamborn said, he was "working around the clock with numerous individuals trying to secure safe passage for those the Biden Administration recklessly left behind." Lamborn's communications director, Cassandra Sebastian on Tuesday said the congressman was still pushing to bring Afghan refugees to freedom, but wouldn't comment on individual cases for security reasons. While Amini waits out the refugee process, Studdard is preparing his home for her arrival. He recently gathered his family to discuss what opening their home to a stranger from a completely different culture could mean. His wife and daughter quickly made up their minds. Everybody talks, talks and talks. Im tired of talking, Studdard told The Gazette. It may not be the smart thing to do, but its the right thing to do. My daughter said Daddy, you do what you think is best. If accepted as a refugee, Amini would come to Colorado on "humanitarian parole," a temporary status commonly offered to people who face significant danger in their homeland. Getting from there to citizenship is a difficult and lengthy path. But Amini is already figuring out how she can thank Studdard's for their help. She plans on working to pay them back, hopefully in an American university. I just sent my documents to start the process, she reported Tuesday. Just waiting. Hopefully. Oregon automates hospital capacity data analysis Oregon has launched a statewide command center to monitor hospital capacity and critical medical resources. The Oregon Capacity System (OCS) will roll out to every hospital in the state by summer 2022. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) partnered with GE Healthcare to build the OCS to help manage the transfer of patients between hospitals and ICUs in real time. Prior to the launch of OCS, finding the right kind of bed in the right hospital for a particular patient could take several calls by someone working from a spreadsheet. Now, OCS is tracking 7,368 beds and approximately 800 ventilators across 60 hospitals, processing 4.2 million data points each day. To date the system has saved participating hospitals 45,000 hours of labor and is expected to save even more time as further automation reduces the burden of manual reporting. GE Healthcare created the design concept, based on the technology already in use in OHSUs Mission Control, a command center originally dedicated to managing inpatient capacity across four hospitals during high-occupancy situations. The system features large screens mounted on the walls, each displaying various tiles showing a snapshot for each hospital. Details include current occupancy in various hospital units, patient movements, bed requests, pending discharges and tasks needed, such as imaging, cleaning, pharmacy orders or patient transportation. Apprise Health Insights and GE Healthcare will help expand the system to track and process more than 5 million data points per day, including acute, pediatric, ICU, specialty, rehab and psych bed availability data as well as information on personal protective equipment, emergency department activities and the availability of life support systems. This data will be automatically pulled directly from each hospitals electronic medical records system in near-real time and fed into the OCS while ensuring patient privacy is appropriately protected, officials said. The information is available through easy-access dashboards on a website that can be accessed from a PC, tablet or smartphone. The system uses a combination of artificial and human intelligence, Jeff Terry, CEO of Clinical Command Centers, GE Healthcare, told the Portland Business Journal when the center launched. The AI can spot that this patient may be better served at a community hospital, or we should prioritize discharge activity because were holding up a bed, so we dont have a blockage in surgery today, he said. Figuring out what to do about it requires a human to be thoughtful. Theres a lot of nuance. The system proved invaluable when the pandemic hit, allowing hospitals to share critical resource information. Despite Oregon being one of the states with the lowest ratio of beds per capita, this system has given us such a clear and accurate view of capacity across hospitals that weve been able to maximize resources and even bring in patients from out-of-state, said Helene Anderson, regional director of capacity and throughput at Providence Health and Services. Having shared visibility has promoted collaboration at the state level to navigate capacity constraints and overcome challenges to patient flow to help patients get the care they need when they need it. With a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Apprise Health Insights will lead the statewide deployment of the system. A governance group made up of hospital and health care system leadership, with both technical and operational expertise, advisors from other stakeholders will provide overall system management and oversight. Born out of the need for real-time information in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this type of centralized platform can aggregate and surface complex data to front-line care providers, Apprise Health Insights CEO Andy Van Pelt said. As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, health care systems must be nimble and ready to provide appropriate care in resource-constrained circumstances, and doing so requires continuous information and situational awareness, said HHS National Healthcare Preparedness Programs Branch Deputy Director Jennifer Hannah. That is why the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is supporting the development of tools that provide valuable statewide insight into hospital capacity and critical resource monitoring. Easy come, easy go. It was $500 that Clear Lake police say Michael Patrick Reich offered to an officer in exchange for not taking him into custody on July 16. The offer was politely declined, according to court documents filed in Cerro Gordo District Court. It was $500 that Reich, 34, of Manly, paid in cash bond on July 23 to be released from the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Clear Lake woman arrested in drug investigation A Clear Lake woman with a long history of interactions with the criminal justice system is a And it was $500 that Reich forfeited when he failed to show up for his court date on Oct. 5, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was picked up from the Worth County Jail, where he had been a guest, on Tuesday. On July 16, Clear Lake police were called to McIntosh Woods State Park, where they found Reich, who had been banned from the park by the state Department of Natural Resources and was trespassing, according to court documents. After resisting arrest, it was then that Reich offered Officer Mathew Berry the bribe to not take him to jail, according to the documents. Reich was cited for trespassing and charged with felony bribery and misdemeanor interference with official acts. He was also charged with violating his parole from an April 2021 domestic abuse incident, where he faced multiple related charges. He now remains a guest of the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $7,000 cash bond. Love 0 Funny 1 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. A cash bond of $500,000 from Purpose Driven Events was deposited before the event. If we do not receive full payment of $337,592.29 by October 28, 2021, we will deduct the full amount from the remaining Bond on hand and then wire the remaining $11,854.20 to the appropriate account as outlined in your September 29th email, Pittsylvania County Administrator David Smitherman wrote in an Oct. 1 letter to Jonathan Slye, of Purpose Driven Events. This letter was sent after an amended meals tax report was received, also taken from the bond. Before the festival began, I spent many hours working on administrative tasks related to the festival that fall under my normal job duties, and these costs were not billed to the promoter, Pittsylvania County Administrator David Smitherman said in a statement. However, just as it would not be fair to the taxpayers for our public safety department or sheriffs office to work this kind of event without being compensated by the promoter, it would not be appropriate for me to spend nearly 60 hours helping to manage a private event without Pittsylvania County recouping those costs. For Smithermans time, the county billed $8,775 representing $150 per hour for 58.5 hours, according to the invoice. In all, more than $150,000 in employee income was part of the charges, officials said. Regarding FDAs limited concerns on those applications not currently on the market, we are carefully studying the agency analysis and decision. Vuse is the No. 2-selling e-cigarettes in the U.S. with a 33.3% market share, according to the Sept. 25 Nielsen survey of convenience store sales. Top-selling Juul was at 41%. The Vuse Solo products are the first to be approved by the FDA through the daunting regulatory gauntlet known as the premarket-tobacco product application process. For these products, the FDA determined that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use would outweigh the risk to youth, provided the applicant follows post-marketing requirements aimed at reducing youth exposure and access to the products, according to the FDAs news release. While todays action permits the tobacco products to be sold in the U.S., it does not mean these products are safe or FDA approved. All tobacco products are harmful and addictive and those who do not use tobacco products should not start. The FDA declined to identify the 10 flavored products it rejected, citing potential confidential commercial information issues. PATRICK COUNTY, Va. The local health department will stage a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site next week in Danvilles Ballou Park. The event is open to all ages, but tests will not be administered to anyone who walks up to the site. The clinic is planned from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at the Ballou Park Recreation Center located at 760 W. Main St. or until supplies of the 200 free tests run out. Those wanting a test are asked to enter the site from the West Main Street entrance, then turn left toward the main parking lot. Those with symptoms of respiratory illness are encouraged to come and be tested, but anyone who seeks a test will receive one, said Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. Everyone is welcome. The city of Danville is teaming up with the health department to offer the free event. No appointment is needed. But test results are only part of the picture, Spillmann said in a news release. And a negative test today is not a vaccine; it doesnt protect you from a possible exposure tomorrow. Spillmann said community transmission of COVID-19 is widespread. Cone Health, which operates Triad area hospitals including Rockingham Countys Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, announced plans on Tuesday to return to a normal surgical schedule by the end of the month. On Aug. 30, Cone Health asked surgeons and patients to delay non-essential surgeries that needed to be done in a hospital or required an overnight stay. The action was taken to reduce the number of people in Cone Health hospitals as COVID-19 cases climbed, the hospital system said in a news release. I thank our medical staff and I especially thank the people who decided they could wait for that knee surgery or hernia repair, said Kenneth Rempher, chief nurse executive for Cone Health. Just because a surgery may not be lifesaving, doesnt mean its not life changing. Many surgeries alleviate pain or improve the quality of life our patients lead. Our staff is ready, and we are comfortable with our ability to resume those. As of Monday, 112 people with COVID-19 were in Cone Health hospitals, the fewest since Aug. 20, the release said. The number and types of surgeries being resumed will depend on how many COVID-19 patients remain in Cone Health hospitals, the number of patients in emergency departments and other factors, officials said in the release. People ready to reschedule a delayed surgery, should contact their doctor, Cone officials advised in the release. EDEN Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Board of Education visited Rockingham County Monday to recognize the public school district for providing an exemplary mental health program to its 11,700 students. Administrators saluted Stephanie Ellis, executive director of Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention and Student Services and Student Safety and her team for creating a model that provides a full continuum of support for mental health and emotional wellbeing for students, the school district announced in a press release Monday. State education leaders said they hope to have more of the states school districts adopt similar behavioral health plans. The states notice of Rockingham Countys efforts comes at a time when students nationwide are considered at increased risk for mental health problems, partly due to the stress brought from the coronavirus pandemic and irregular schedules. Various national studies found that between 20-30% of all teens report depression or anxiety, for example. To that end, NCDPI leaders have asked Ellis to present a seminar in November at the NCDPI AIM Conference to instruct other districts how to implement effective behavioral health services within their systems. EDEN The return of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Eden will be the focal point of a weekend of activities honoring Vietnam Veterans and other war heroes, according to David Turner, Commander of American Legion Post 254. The post is coordinating the wall under the sponsorship of the City of Eden. Although activities surrounding the wall begin on Wednesday and continue through the closure of the wall at 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, the highlight of the weekend will be the Heritage & Heroes: A Celebration of Our Nation event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Freedom Park in Eden. They will be in the ballfield parking lot across from wall. This event is sponsored by Armor Express, said Edens Marketing and Special Events Manager Cindy Adams. Headlining the program will be the All American 82nd Airborne Division Band from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Adams said. The band will be Telling the Army Story in support of soldiers and their families, community and recruiting initiatives and music education programs. A number of military vehicles and other exhibits will displayed throughout the day. Children can participate in a number of kids activities, and visitors can reminisce with veterans at the Veterans Speaker Tents. GIBSONVILLE A Yadkinville man is facing several charges, including driving while impaired, after he stole a box truck and led authorities on a chase into Guilford County early Wednesday morning, Gibsonville police said in a news release. About 4:15 a.m., Gibsonville police officers attempted to stop a yellow, 2010 GMC box truck traveling west on Burlington Road without headlights or taillights, according to police. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, making a "hard" left turn onto N.C. 61 and nearly flipping the truck, police said. Officers pursued the driver as he continued onto Interstate 40 west, traveling from one side of the road to the other at speeds up to 75 mph, police said. Eventually, Guilford County sheriff's deputies joined Gibsonville police when the box truck took the South Elm-Eugene Street exit. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The box truck came to a stop at the end of Sebastian Road, partially parked in a wooded area, police said. As officers got out of their vehicles, the box truck began quickly backing up, striking a Gibsonville patrol vehicle. The patrol vehicle was forced back about 20 feet, where it crashed into a deputy's vehicle, police said. GREENSBORO When the late Craig Thomas was lightheartedly asked one Christmas about the one thing needed most at Marys House, the executive director said cookware. Thomas could have said money to expand the treatment program for recovering female addicts. Or she could have said cars so participants could get to school or work. And each would have been true. But Thomas responded with a spirited reply. One of our less experienced cooks burned up our best frying pan! Thomas said at the time. The mothers learn to cook here so they can properly feed their families. Marys House, on a tree-lined street in the shadow of downtown, is now empty as the award-winning nonprofit lost its funding and ponders its future and is the kind of properties being eyed as temporary housing for Afghan refugees. I dont want the agency to completely fizzle out, and I would like for a way for us to regain our footing, said accountant Michael Jackson, the board chairman, who was approached this past weekend about the possibility. I dont think Craig would be against it because it would be one way to help the community. First and foremost, the entire situation is incredibly unfortunate, Epley said. Nobody wants to be in a situation where were talking about someone who lost their lives, and thats obviously what happened. Norman could not be reached by email or phone. Luke Largess, a Charlotte attorney representing Dunns mother, Freida Winters, said they agreed not to talk about the case as part of its settlement. Epley and Thompson said they would not release the settlement agreement until it is recorded in the minutes of the next county commissioners board meeting on Tuesday . The commissioners had approved it in a closed session several weeks ago, they said. Approval of meeting minutes isnt required to release a lawsuit settlement, which is a public record under state law, said Brooks Fuller, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition at Elon University. If there is a signed and executed settlement agreement, its a public record and must be produced, he said. The settlement is the second in less than three years in which Cleveland County has paid more than $300,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging liability in an inmates death. In 2019, the county paid $303,000 to the family of Archie McNeilly Jr., 40, who died of renal failure in 2015. And yes, it is unfortunate that students have to deal with complex issues. Wed love to live in a world in which they could retain their innocence a bit longer. But we live in the real world in which children are aware of these matters. Gay and transgender people are regularly targeted for discrimination and bullying. As a result, theyre more likely to be victims of depression, anxiety, self-harm and even suicide. Its entirely appropriate for schools and libraries to offer materials and other supports that might just keep them alive and help them thrive. We trust them more than we trust bigoted figures like Robinson. Despite the situation, Robinson claims that he can still help lead the state. I will fight for and protect the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBTQ community to express themselves however they want, he said. We dont believe him. Those people he associates with the term filth are not likely to believe him, either. This is not the first time that Robinson has put into words attitudes that are offensive, discriminatory and downright crude. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " Scientists may not know exactly why body temperatures are declining, but researchers have been able to confirm that they're below 98.6 F outside of places like the U.S. and U.K. Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images Feeling under the weather? Chances are you or your doctor will grab a thermometer, take your temperature and hope for the familiar 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) everyone recognizes as "normal." But what is normal, and why does it matter? Despite the fixation on 98.6 F, clinicians recognize that there is no single universal "normal" body temperature for everyone at all times. Throughout the day, your body temperature can vary by as much as 1 F (0.56 C), at its lowest in the early morning and highest in the late afternoon. It changes when you are sick, goes up during and after exercise, varies across the menstrual cycle and varies between individuals. It also tends to decline with age. In other words, body temperature is an indicator of what's going on within your body, like a metabolic thermostat. An intriguing study from earlier this year found that normal body temperature is about 97.5 F (36.4 C) in Americans at least those in Palo Alto, California, where the researchers took hundreds of thousands of temperature readings. That meant that in the U.S., normal body temperature has been dropping over the past 150 years. People run cooler today than they did two centuries ago. The 98.6 F standard for "normal body temperature" was first established by the German physician Carl Wunderlich in 1867 after studying 25,000 people in Leipzig. But anecdotally, lower body temperatures in healthy adults have been widely reported. And a study in 2017 among 35,000 adults in the U.K. observed a lower average body temperature of 97.9 F (36.6 C). What might cause these subtle but important changes? And are these provocative hints of changes in human physiology occurring only in urban, industrialized settings like the U.S. and U.K.? One leading hypothesis is that thanks to improved hygiene, sanitation and medical treatment, people today experience fewer of the infections that would trigger higher body temperatures. In our study, we were able to test that idea directly in a unique setting: among Tsimane horticulturalist-foragers of the Bolivian Amazon. " " People swim and wash clothes in a river in the Amazon region. Researchers wanted to see if the pattern of body temperatures trending downward held up outside of industrialized areas, so they headed to the Bolivian Amazon to find out. Julio Etchart/ullstein bild via Getty Images Advertisement Tracking Temperature in the Tsimane The Tsimane live in a remote area with little access to modern amenities, and we know from firsthand experience that infections are common from the common cold to intestinal worms to tuberculosis. Having worked with the Tsimane studying a variety of topics related to health and aging for two decades, our team had a rich opportunity to observe whether body temperatures were similarly declining in this tropical environment where infections are common. As part of our ongoing Tsimane Health and Life History Project, a mobile team of Bolivian physicians and researchers has been traveling from village to village monitoring health while treating patients. They record clinical diagnoses and lab measures of infection at each patient visit. When we first started working in Bolivia back in 2002, Tsimane body temperatures were similar to what was found in Germany and the U.S. two centuries ago: averaging at 98.6 F. But over a relatively short period of 16 years, we observed a rapid decline in average body temperature in this population. The decline is steep: 0.09 F (0.05 C) per year. Today Tsimane body temperatures are roughly 97.7 F (36.5 C). In other words, in less than two decades we're seeing about the same level of decline as that observed in the U.S. over approximately two centuries. We can say this with confidence, as our analysis is based on a large sample (about 18,000 observations of almost 5,500 adults), and we statistically control for multiple other factors that might affect body temperature, like ambient temperature and body mass. More importantly, while having certain ailments, like respiratory or skin infections, was associated with higher body temperature during a medical visit, adjusting for these infections did not account for the steep decline in body temperature over time. Advertisement A Clear Drop, Unclear Why So why have body temperatures decreased over time, both for Americans and Tsimane? Fortunately, we had data available from our long-term research in Bolivia to address some possibilities. For example, declines might be due to the rise of modern health care and lower rates of lingering mild infections now compared to in the past. But while it may be the case that health has generally improved in Bolivia over the past two decades, infections are still widespread among the Tsimane. Our results suggest that reduced incidence of infection alone can't explain the observed body temperature declines. It could be that people are in better condition, and so their bodies don't need to work as hard to fight infection. Or more access to antibiotics and other treatments means that duration of infection is lower now than in the past. It's also possible that greater use of certain medications like ibuprofen or aspirin may reduce inflammation and be reflected in the lower temperatures. However, while lab measures of system-wide inflammation were associated with higher body temperature during patient visits, accounting for this in our analyses did not affect our estimate of the amount that body temperature declined per year. Another possible explanation for the historical declines in body temperature is that bodies now don't need to work as much to regulate internal body temperature because of air conditioners in the summer and heaters in the winter. While Tsimane body temperatures do change with the time of year and weather patterns, the Tsimane don't use any advanced technology to regulate their body temperature. They do, however, have more access to clothes and blankets than they previously did. Understanding why body temperatures are declining remains an open question for scientists to explore. Whatever the reason, though, we can confirm that body temperatures are below 98.6 F outside of places like the U.S. and U.K. even in rural and tropical areas with minimal public health infrastructure, where infections are still the major killers. We hope that our findings inspire more studies about how improved conditions might lower body temperature. As it's fast and easy to measure, body temperature might one day prove to be a simple but useful indicator, like life expectancy, that provides new insight into population health. Michael Gurven is a professor of anthropology at University of California Santa Barbara and Thomas Kraft is a postdoctoral scholar in anthropology at the University of California Santa Barbara as well. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. Montanas Canadian border will once again reopen to its neighbors from the north, conditional upon full vaccination, beginning next month. The Associated Press first reported the decision by the Biden administration Tuesday evening. Montana's senators both praised the decision Wednesday. The 19-month restriction on nonessential services has sequestered families on either side of the border, squeezed businesses acclimated to foreign travelers and raised the ire of Montana officials, who for months called on Biden to open the northern border with Canada as vaccination rates climbed in the provinces to the north. Montana officials, from Gov. Greg Gianforte to Montanas congressional delegation, have continuously called on the White House to open the northern border to Canadians, who have outpaced the U.S. and Montana in vaccination rates both nationally and in provinces closest to the Treasure State. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, late last week tried to heave a bill out of committee and through the Senate that would reopen the northern border with Canada through a procedural maneuver, but was halted by a lone objection by a senior Democrat on the committee considering Daines bill. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, had signed onto a letter nearly a week earlier to the Centers for Disease Control director with a bipartisan group of senators questioning Biden's logic in a recent decision to allow Canadians into the U.S. by airplane but not by car travel into the U.S. Montana's border communities, like Shelby, have suffered losses in commerce with the loss of Canadian travelers, while nearby urban hubs like Great Falls have seen considerable losses. Daines spoke on the Senate floor last week of 20-25% loss in business without the regular injection of Canadian customers. In a statement Wednesday, Tester said he will push to make sure the opening happens soon. The Biden administration didn't have an exact date for the opening, which is expected to be in November. Montanans depend on cross-border trade and travel to support our businesses and keep our communities connected, and the Biden Administrations decision to keep the northern border closed has unnecessarily hurt our economy, Tester said in a statement. Im glad that the Biden Administration listened to me and the thousands of Montanans who fought back against this shortsighted policy, and I will continue pushing to make sure that the northern border re-opens as quickly and as safely as possible so that families and businesses on both sides of the border can continue to fully rebound from this crisis. Daines also applauded the decision and called for the lifting of all restrictions on crossings. Montana families, small businesses and communities will finally be able to feel some of the relief theyve been seeking for months now that the northern border is partially reopened. While Im glad to see President Biden take this initial step to reopen the U.S.-Canada border for vaccinated Canadians, I urge him to end all restrictions and fully reopen the northern border Montanans are depending on it, Daines said in a statement. Montana's lone representative in the U.S. House, Republican Matt Rosendale, issued a statement Wednesday welcoming the news of the border opening and calling the vaccine requirement a "tool to advance" vaccine mandates. Since February of this year, I have been calling for the northern border to be open. The closure of the northern border has been devastating to our small northern communities that depend upon international trade and travel. While I am happy the Biden administration is going to allow land travel to resume, I am very concerned that President Biden is using this as a tool to advance his COVID-19 vaccine mandates for those to participate in essential trade, especially as our supply chain continues to have dire consequences for American consumers," Rosendale said in a statement. Gianforte, also a Republican, issued a statement Wednesday morning also urging the lifting of remaining restrictions on travel across the border. Though long, long overdue, reopening the northern border is welcome news to Montanans whose families, businesses, and communities have suffered for many months from the Biden administrations continued closure of the U.S.-Canada border, Gianforte said. Ill continue to urge the Biden administration to fully reopen the U.S.-Canada border to trade and travel to make our Montana communities whole. 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. Money from Montanas portion of a multibillion-dollar emissions settlement is going toward replacing older diesel vehicles to reduce emissions. The state Department of Environmental Quality recently announced up to about $7.3 million for diesel replacements from a Volkswagen emissions settlement, as well as funding from a similar program for school buses. The settlement program would partially fund less polluting replacements for diesel vehicles like dump trucks, concrete mixers and transit buses. This involves an emissions cheating scandal that Volkswagen was caught up in a number of years ago, Neal Ullman with DEQ said at a webinar last week. The U.S. Department of Justice came to a settlement agreement with Volkswagen, and based on the number of registered vehicles in each of the states, the states were eligible for a portion. Volkswagen admitted to installing software on millions of cars worldwide that turned on pollution controls during testing to make it seem as if the cars met limits on nitrogen oxides, according to the Associated Press. NOx gases can contribute to asthma and respiratory diseases, according to DEQ. The replacements program comes out of about $12.6 million allocated for Montana. Government agencies, businesses and nonprofits can all apply, though government applicants are eligible for generally higher proportions of funding. Applicants would have to properly scrap the old vehicles, Ullman said, such as cutting a hole in the engine block. Eligible vehicles are generally models from 1992-2009, and replacement vehicles must operate in the state for at least half the time, or mileage, for at least five years. Missoula County is considering replacing two snow plow trucks, according to Public Works Director Shane Stack. He said the county is in need of vehicle replacements beyond what its current budget can cover. It essentially means were out there with outdated equipment, and we try to maintain it as best we can," Stack said. Missoula County set a goal of 100% clean energy by 2030, Lee Newspapers reported. Electric vehicles would fit with those expectations, Stack said. For us, its pretty low risk, Stack said. If theyre going to pay for 85% of the cost, I can buy two electric trucks and still be below the cost of a new diesel. Dedicated charging stations are eligible for program funding with electric replacements. The program could also cover EPA-certified diesel vehicles or those powered by other fuels like propane or natural gas, though these couldn't get fueling infrastructure funding, according to DEQ documents. Airport ground support vehicles are eligible under the program, though only for electric replacements. Missoula International Airport has six belt loader vehicles for baggage and hopes to replace at least two of them, according to Dan Neuman, its business development manager. DEQ also announced another round of applications for the Clean School Bus Program, a similar setup but funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. Applicants are not allowed to double dip in both programs for the same vehicle. The current pot of bus money has helped fund 31 diesel school bus replacements since January 2020 and DEQ hopes for another eight to 10 this round, Ullman said in an email. In north-central Montana, Winifred School District is looking to replace two buses, one small and one large, with newer diesel models, according to Superintendent Chad Fordyce. He said the districts enrollment increased by around 17%-20% this school year. Since the programs aim to reduce emissions, Ullman said they require replacements in the same class of vehicle, generally not larger. School bus program applications are due Nov. 15. Applications for the first round of the settlement program are due Jan. 14, 2022, with a second round due Jun. 17, 2022, if theres money left over. Love 3 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. Im glad that President Biden broke with precedent and withdrew American troops from Afghanistan, ending, on Aug. 31, 2021, nearly 20 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 20 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 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 October is here, leaves are falling, and perhaps Montanans should not be surprised that the Montana Democrats on the Districting and Apportionment Commission are carving up our state like a pumpkin. While they claim they want to create a competitive district, their maps go far beyond that. So far in fact, that they fail to meet the mandatory criteria in the Montana Constitution, that the districts be as equal in population as is practicable, be contiguous, and be compact. Democrats often lament gerrymandering; however, a quick view illustrates that is their current intent. Do Kalispell and Libby belong with Sidney and Ekalaka in eastern Montana? Or would they be more accurately situated with Missoula and Helena in western Montana? You may be surprised at the difference of opinion! Various measures of competitiveness are found on the publicly accessible map drawing software options that Montanans used in unprecedented numbers to draw suggested maps. Most of those were some version of an east-west split which has been our historical precedent and which was supported by the last Democrat to represent the Western District, Pat Williams. But those software models all suffer from a common weakness in that they use the big Trump presidential victories in Montana in 2016 and 2020 as a proxy for average Republican voting strength. That is a bad proxy and here is why. In 2016 Trump won 55% to 35% or a 20% win while the average vote for Montana Republicans winning statewide (except the AGs race which was an outlier) was less than a 9% win. Similarly in 2020, Trump ran ahead of most Montana Republicans. Clearly, many Montana voters who supported Trump also voted for Montana Democrats or third-party candidates. You cannot simply use the presidential race as a proxy for average Republican voting strength when Trumps brand of fiery populism attracted many people who would not vote Republican on down ballot races. The I vote for the man, not the party is still heard around these parts. In contrast, when Republicans on the commission drew our suggested east-west map splits, we used the 2016 governor election and the 2018 U.S. Senate election to measure competitiveness. In both, Democrats Steve Bullock and Jon Tester won after very competitive campaigns. We focused on drawing suggested maps that followed historical precedent and met the constitutional mandatory criteria, rather than attempting to draw two safe seats for Republican candidates. All four Republican proposals showed Bullock and Tester winning the western district comfortably. In contrast, the Democrats' map proposals using the Bullock 2016 and Tester 2018 wins create Democrat districts with a margin of 56-58% D to 40% R. That is uncompetitive by any measure. Republicans have been transparent throughout this entire process, while the Democratic party has yet to comment, instead utilizing partisan interest groups for messaging. This may be because they are looking to place about half of Montanas Democratic counties, mostly Native American reservations, in a district that theyll never have a chance at winning, while awkwardly contorting counties to create a Democratic congressional seat. Please email the chair of the commission appointed by the Montana Supreme Court, Maylinn Smith at Maylinn.smith@mtleg.gov, and ask her respectfully to follow the mandatory criteria of the Montana Constitution and lead the commission to draw congressional districts that follow the Constitution, follow the law, represent Montanas interests and do not unduly favor one political party. View the commission's nine proposals at mtredistricting.gov and comment. Comments are due by Oct. 19. Jeff Essmann and Dan Stusek are Republican members of the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission. Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 MOLINE Union leaders spent Wednesday in last-minute contract negotiations with Deere and Co. More than 10,000 workers were set to walk off the job at 11:59 unless a deal was struck. The United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America rejected the company's latest offer on Sunday. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others. Brian Rothenberg, a UAW spokesman, said negotiators from both sides had resumed talks Wednesday in an effort to avert a strike. A strike would affect workers in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. Each Deere plant covered by the contract is organizing its own strike outside of its respective buildings, most of which will begin striking at 6 a.m. Thursday. Once a strike is started at a plant, it will continue for 24 hours a day, seven days a week until an agreement is reached, union leaders have said. Union members say Deere this week began training salaried workers to fill in for some hourly workers who'd be affected by a strike. Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages. Recommended for you Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register that he thinks a strike is imminent and could make a significant difference. The whole nations going to be watching us, Laursen said to the newspaper. If we take a stand here for ourselves, our families, for basic human prosperity, its going to make a difference for the whole manufacturing industry. Lets do it. Lets not be intimidated. The contract talks are unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year. The Deere production plants are an important contributors to the economy, so local officials hope any strike will be short-lived. We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said to the Quad-Cities Times. Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Todays Highlight in History: On Oct. 13, 1792, the cornerstone of the executive mansion, later known as the White House, was laid by President George Washington during a ceremony in the District of Columbia. On Oct. 13: In 1775, the United States Navy had its origins as the Continental Congress ordered the construction of a naval fleet. In 1845, Texas voters ratified a state constitution. In 1943, Italy declared war on Germany, its one-time Axis partner. In 1944, during World War II, American troops entered Aachen Germany. In 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon held the third televised debate of their presidential campaign (Nixon was in Los Angeles, Kennedy in New York). In 1972, a Uruguayan chartered flight carrying 45 people crashed in the Andes; survivors resorted to feeding off the remains of some of the dead in order to stay alive until they were rescued more than two months later. In 1974, longtime television host Ed Sullivan died in New York City at age 73. In 1999, the Senate rejected the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, with 48 senators voting in favor and 51 against, far short of the 67 needed for ratification. Recommended for you In 2000, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Longtime American communist Gus Hall died in New York at age 90. In 2003, the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution expanding the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. In 2006, The United Nations General Assembly appointed South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon the next U.N. secretary-general. Banker Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh won the Nobel Peace Prize for using microcredit to lift people out of poverty. In 2010, rescuers in Chile using a missile-like escape capsule pulled 33 men one by one to fresh air and freedom 69 days after they were trapped in a collapsed mine a half-mile underground. In 2011, Raj Rajaratnam the hedge fund billionaire at the center of one of the biggest insider-trading cases in U.S. history, was sentenced by a federal judge in New York to 11 years behind bars. In 2016, Donald Trump heatedly rejected the growing list of sexual assault allegations against him as pure fiction, hammering his female accusers as horrible, horrible liars. Bob Dylan was named winner of the Nobel prize in literature. Death claimed Thailands longtime monarch, King Bhumibol, at age 88 and Nobel Prize-winning Italian playwright Dario Fo at age 90. In 2021, in the first of two days of questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett deflected Democrats questions on abortion, health care and a possible disputed-election fight; she declined to say whether she would recuse herself from any election-related cases involving President Donald Trump. Early voting began with long lines in Texas, one of the few places in the U.S. not allowing widespread mail balloting during the pandemic. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SHELBYVILLE A Shelbyville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to fatally strangling his grandmother and was sentenced to natural life in prison, authorities said. Clayton Anderson, 26, entered the plea to first-degree murder and agreed to the sentence, which includes no chance for parole, during a hearing in Shelby County Circuit Court. Additional charges stemming from the murder of 72-year-old Sherry Hubbartt, who was found dead in a closet of her Shelbyville home, were dismissed. States Attorney Nichole Kroncke said in a statement that Anderson confessed to fatally strangling his grandmother following a verbal argument. Hubbartt had an active order of protection against her grandson at the time of the incident. The collaborative efforts of five separate law enforcement agencies led to a brutal murderer being swiftly brought to justice for his unconscionable crime," Kroncke said. "This case resulted in an agreement to the harshest punishment available under Illinois law as a result of the thorough investigation completed by these dedicated law enforcement agencies. Kroncke said that on April 17, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office received a report from family members that Hubbartt and her 2009 Chevrolet Impala were missing. While Hubbartts whereabouts were unknown, her debit card was used at various business in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. Recommended for you Later that same day, Nevada Highway Patrol located Hubbartts vehicle following a report that its occupants were shooting at moving vehicles. According to the news release, Nevada Highway Patrol and Las Vegas Metro Police Department pursued the vehicle at high speeds through the Las Vegas strip until it eventually crashed on Interstate 15. Anderson was determined to be the driver and BB guns were found in the vehicle following a search. Thomas Miller, who has charges pending in Shelby County for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and concealment of a homicidal death, was identified as the passenger. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial. A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 29. Anderson was charged with first-degree murder and held on a no-bond arrest warrant issued in Shelby County. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail from a Las Vegas detention center on Sept. 30 after serving a jail sentence in Las Vegas stemming from the high speed chase. The investigation was led by the Illinois State Police with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department, the Decatur Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Las Vegas Metro Police Department assisting. Love 0 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. Daniel Flores, who attends MacArthur, also mentioned problems at Stephen Decatur Middle School. There are still fights going on over there (at MacArthur), Flores said. Students and teachers are concerned about violence over there. I asked them what they'd like to see changed, and they said more security and for you to do whatever you can to try to quell this disturbance. Student ambassador Elizabeth Palagi first brought up the issue at the school board's Sept. 28 meeting. She said then that fights used to be an occasional occurrence, pre-COVID, but since returning to in-person learning this year, they're happening every day, and students come into most of her classes late, saying getting from class to class on time is impossible due to the chaos in the hallways. Recommended for you At Tuesday's meeting, which was also attended by student ambassador Sciler Treacy, they brought up the issue again. With so many fights, it's chaotic at times, Treacy said. Students have to take responsibility for their contributions to the problems, Treacy said, but students who are grateful to be back at school after months of remote learning are at the mercy of those who do not want to be in school. In no way can we just take education away from anybody, that's not right, but those people have to be held responsible, Treacy said. Kids who want to be there should not be at the mercy of those who do not. Some students do not want to go to school because of fears for their safety. Teachers are honestly worried about their safety doing their job. Recent random security checks of bags, and using metal detecting wands on students entering the building, are appreciated, added Palagi, who attends Eisenhower. But students are asking for clear communication from the board and administration on plans to address the violence. The district's legal counsel, Brian Braun, told the student ambassadors that there are legal barriers to telling them details, which the students said they understand. They're just asking for a central location to find general information, they said. Henry Walker, director of operations, said a committee is working on solutions and he hopes to have progress to report soon. At the Sept. 28 meeting, Interim Superintendent Bobbi Williams said she had a meeting planned with administrators to discuss security, and one thing other board members suggested was student photo ID cards worn on lanyards around their necks. That way, school personnel would know immediately if someone did not belong in the building. "When it comes to security, our committee met again this morning, (and) we are considering all options, including installing metal detectors and getting students IDs at both high schools," said district spokeswoman Denise Swarthout on Thursday. "I dont have a timeframe to share as of yet, as the planning and ordering process is still underway." Walker said with supply chain difficulties in the country, obtaining the needed equipment for IDs would likely take longer than normal, and that is one thing the committee is working on. Other issues, such as hiring more security guards, could take longer. Several positions are already open, and creating more positions with several already unfilled isn't practical, he said. I'm trying to figure out how we can fix this, Treacy said to the board. It's a two-sided problem, and we have to come to a compromise. In some ways we do feel the school board and administrators could do better, but at the end of the day they can only do so much. The students have to want it, too. "If we show more involvement with the higher ups, the board and the administration, it might help more students realize how important education and following certain rules are. The rules don't have to be very strict, but if you don't want an education, you can't force that on somebody, and we don't feel safe getting our education right now. We don't feel we're getting enough education right now because of the disturbances. Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter 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. DECATUR Some questions are to be expected. But some hurt. People ask me if I've ever killed a lion, said Cherissa Kaze, a junior pre-med student at Millikin University who hails from Burundi. Sometimes I want to say 'yes' to see if that impresses them. Some American Black students are resentful, said Bella Ingabire, a junior business management major who is also from Burundi, and say things to them like You sold us (into slavery). Of Millikin's 108 international students, who come from 30 countries around the world, 30 of them are from African countries. Most of them speak three or four languages fluently. Their homes are in cities, and yes, they have cars and TV and life is much the same there as it is here in many ways. Recommended for you At home, they speak French most, though each also has a native language, different depending on what part of Africa they're from, and all can speak English, though they learned a more formal, British style of English in school than they hear around them at Millikin. Students learn English there the way students learn another language here, without a lot of opportunity to converse with a native speaker. When she arrived, said senior Corumba Niasse, from Senegal, she could communicate and understand, and it wasn't as hard as she had feared. A lot of the questions the students encounter from their American classmates are the same kind of questions you ask anyone you're getting to know, Kaze said. We also also ask them questions, when we find something different from what we are used to, Ingabire said. Also for us, there is a lot of stuff that we find new, Kaze said. Sometimes we are lost, so we ask them questions, like 'So things work like that?' and we are also getting something. One thing that they've all noticed is that friends aren't as affectionate in the United States. At home, said Kentina Ishimwe, who is Kaze's sister, friends typically greet each other with hugs and even kisses. It would be considered impolite and odd to just say hi or wave from across a room. And families are especially affectionate, said Chris Barambona. My parents always kiss me goodnight, he said. Even now (as an adult). Tapping his cheek to illustrate, he added, I wondered, who's going to kiss me goodnight (while I'm away from home)? He laughed, and so did the other international students, but they also nodded in agreement. Because her sister and a couple of friends were already at Millikin, Ishimwe said, it made the institution an easy choice. I'd rather come here where I already know people, than go into a completely different environment, she said. We have an opportunity to get a better education, compared to back home, said Anny Itonde, and we have more opportunities to study what you really want and for the first time to learn about new cultures, to meet new people, to travel at the same time and it's pretty interesting. At first, you get scared because it's your first time going far from home. I don't know about anybody else, but for me it's the first time going far from home, and you're going to study in English, which is not my first language, neither is it my second language. Barambona agreed and said the style of learning is also different at Millikin. You're not just going to hear a lecture and take notes and go home and put it in your mind and go back to school and put it on a paper, he said. You're going to study and put it into practice, which is different from home, and which I really appreciate. Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter 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. More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers are hours away from a strike, a move that would send shock waves through the Quad-Cities economy. After overwhelmingly voting down a contract Sunday night, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America 281 recalled its bargaining committee, effectively ending negotiations, and set a hard strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. A picket-line roster is in circulation. The strike would affect workers in three states, including thousands in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Contractors, suppliers and other companies that do business with Deere would also become increasingly affected the longer a strike lasts. Workers say the agriculture manufacturer isn't offering adequate wage and benefit increases as the company enjoys record profits. The company did not respond to requests for comment for this story. In its latest offer, Deere bargained for incremental wage increases over six years, equal to about a $1.20 raise in hourly pay at the end of the six-year contract, according to employees. 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. John May, CEO and president of Deere, made a total compensation of $15,588,384 in 2020 and $6,005,692 in 2019, according to Deeres SEC filings. Recommended for you A Tuesday evening announcement on One John Deere, a website where the company announces contract updates, stated Under the tentative agreement, John Deere made the best wages in the agriculture and construction industries even better. In a graphic, it depicted Deere workers annual wage increasing from $60,562 to $66,886. However, $3,500 of that wage increase is categorized as a ratification bonus, meaning it would only be available to workers if they ratified the contract before the Wednesday deadline. Without the bonus, it is a $2,824 increase for higher-paid employees that make around $31 an hour. It is unclear what the calculations for lower-paid employees would be. Workers say they deserve a greater share in the company's success. They left us behind, said one worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of being fired. They had a great, great few years, and they obviously showed us that they thought so. I was hoping they were going to be (giving raises) to us but it seems like they still want us, our pay, and benefits to keep declining. Union members say they experienced mandatory overtime, an increasing workload, and lack of support from managers. If a strike does take place, the Milan plant will be the first to initiate, having workers outside the plant at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning. Each plant covered by the contract is organizing its own strike outside of its respective buildings, most of which will begin striking at 7 a.m. Thursday. Once a strike is started at a plant, it will continue for 24 hours a day, seven days a week until an agreement is reached. Strike pay will be available for Deere employees. According to the UAW, weekly strike pay is $275 per week, or $55 per day, beginning on the eighth day. A bonus check is paid the week prior to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said both the workers and company are important parts of the citys economy. We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rayapati said. Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon. Meanwhile, scores of other workers might be left out of the new contract regardless of the strike. Supplemental employees at Deere plants are full-time workers that receive fewer benefits than full UAW corps members while still paying union dues, according to David Schmelzer, a Deere inspector at the Milan plant who began his career as a supplemental worker. Schmelzer said language in the unions master agreement allows supplemental workers to be paid about $5 less than full corps members. In addition to less pay, supplemental employees have three days of paid leave and sometimes work holidays and Sundays. In the most recent tentative agreement, supplemental workers did not qualify for paid family leave that full corps members received, according to Schmelzer. The fact that this company thinks that it's OK to do that is just disgusting, Schmelzer said. Theyre people just like everybody else. The potential of a strike is already interfering with Deeres hiring practices, according to Schmelzer. There were group-scheduled hirings for Oct. 11 for the Milan plant, but when prospective employees showed up at the plant they were told to go home and that their hiring status was placed on hold. Schmelzer and other workers said the end of the elimination of the tiered supplemental program is necessary in the next agreement and, if necessary, they will strike for it. Said another worker: We'd like to get back to what John Deere used to mean for a lot of people when it comes to working for them. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SHELBYVILLE A Shelbyville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to fatally strangling his grandmother and was sentenced to natural life in prison, authorities said. Clayton Anderson, 26, entered the plea to first-degree murder and agreed to the sentence, which includes no chance for parole, during a hearing in Shelby County Circuit Court. Additional charges stemming from the murder of 72-year-old Sherry Hubbartt, who was found dead in a closet of her Shelbyville home, were dismissed. States Attorney Nichole Kroncke said in a statement that Anderson confessed to fatally strangling his grandmother following a verbal argument. Hubbartt had an active order of protection against her grandson at the time of the incident. The collaborative efforts of five separate law enforcement agencies led to a brutal murderer being swiftly brought to justice for his unconscionable crime," Kroncke said. "This case resulted in an agreement to the harshest punishment available under Illinois law as a result of the thorough investigation completed by these dedicated law enforcement agencies. Kroncke said that on April 17, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office received a report from family members that Hubbartt and her 2009 Chevrolet Impala were missing. While Hubbartts whereabouts were unknown, her debit card was used at various business in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. Recommended for you Later that same day, Nevada Highway Patrol located Hubbartts vehicle following a report that its occupants were shooting at moving vehicles. According to the news release, Nevada Highway Patrol and Las Vegas Metro Police Department pursued the vehicle at high speeds through the Las Vegas strip until it eventually crashed on Interstate 15. Anderson was determined to be the driver and BB guns were found in the vehicle following a search. Thomas Miller, who has charges pending in Shelby County for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and concealment of a homicidal death, was identified as the passenger. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial. A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 29. Anderson was charged with first-degree murder and held on a no-bond arrest warrant issued in Shelby County. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail from a Las Vegas detention center on Sept. 30 after serving a jail sentence in Las Vegas stemming from the high speed chase. The investigation was led by the Illinois State Police with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department, the Decatur Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Las Vegas Metro Police Department assisting. 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. The mayor also said the financial side was a big factor when the cost estimates to build a new jail are well beyond the citys financial capability. Building a new jail in Virginia currently costs about $200,000 per inmate, City Manager Randy Eads said, so a 400-inmate facility would cost about $80 million. The city doesnt have the fiscal capacity to borrow anywhere near that much money. Its difficult to find the money just to build a new school, Farnum said. I think one factor is, as a city, do we want to be in the business of building jails or building schools? On the opposing side, Osborne expressed concern about how the change would affect the families of those incarcerated. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I made a commitment three years ago to support public safety jobs police, fire and sheriffs department and I held to that commitment. I think once you lose a city jail you dont get it back, Osborne said. I do have a concern about the families of inmates. This is somebodys mom or dad, somebodys son or daughter. It will make it much harder to go to the regional jail to see them and you dont have a local face to hold accountable for the well-being of your inmates. Nave, who also appeared to be listening intently, said she has concerns. The Rev. Kris Aaron, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bristol and a Forest Hill resident whose family has been impacted by the landfill, said the purpose of the community meeting was to harness the shared anger and frustration of the group to use it productively while also providing information to help residents advocate for themselves. A new community group called HOPE for Bristol was announced at the meeting. The acronym stands for Healing Our Polluted Environment. Our main goal at this time is the safe, timely and fiscally responsible closure of the Bristol, Virginia landfill, organizer Joel Kellogg said. Were still in the early stages of organizing and development. The HOPE group included a community symptom and odor survey. Kellogg asked each household to explain the types of odors they smell and the type of symptoms their families have experienced. Those symptoms included irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; dizziness; headaches; nosebleeds; anxiety; tremors; depression and brain fog. I dont think there is anybody in Bristol that can deny there is a terrible problem, the Rev. Samuel Weddington of the First Presbyterian Church, and one of the organizers of the event, told those gathered. He said he refers to the smell as the beast. The beast needs to be seen for what it truly is gas toxic gas coming off of that landfill and sweeping through the city this or that way with the wind, he said. 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. ABINGDON, Va. - A few meandering spirits will entertain and educate guests Saturday when the Washington County Historical Society hosts its second annual An Evening with the Spirits of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Cemetery. The fall presentation, beginning at 7 p.m. at the cabin at the Abingdon cemetery, is a seated event featuring some of the spirits from past cemetery tours. Seating will be on the grass in front of the cabin. The event is just another way for us to present our historical stories to more people, said Martha Keys, immediate past president and a member of the board of directors for the historical society. We live in a wonderful town and every year people tell us theyve never visited this cemetery. By bringing these people to life, we are honoring our past and the people who helped to build Abingdon and Washington County. The interactive program will be presented in a casual, fun, and informal way so that its easy to learn, absorb and remember. Everything the spirits say will be factual, she said. ABINGDON, Va. The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to abolish the countys farm equipment tax. An ordinance abolishing the tax will take effect July 1, 2022. I dont like taxes, said Supervisor Randy Pennington. I wish we didnt have to pay any. Commissioner of Revenue Mark Matney earlier proposed abolishing the tax. It just dont make sense to me why theres an argument about this, said Matney. Washington County is the only locality in Southwest Virginia that has a farm equipment tax. About 700 farmers pay the tax on tractors, hay balers, four-wheelers and other equipment. Farm equipment is taxed at the same rate as personal property: $.1.70 per $100 of assessed value. You have a chance to right a wrong. Do the right thing for the farmers, Matney told the supervisors. Vote this ordinance in. Quit playing around with it. This tax brings in revenue of about $136,592 each year, according to Matney. China is smiling at the idea that it funded Pakistan so Pakistan could support the Taliban in defeating NATO. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} 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 Pashtun 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. " " Former Secretary of State George C. Marshall speaks on the second anniversary of his address at Harvard University where he outlined the Marshall Plan. He told his audience of representatives of the Marshall Plan nations, "There is much yet to be done." President Harry Truman listens intently, left. Bettman/Getty Images It took Secretary of State George Marshall only 12 minutes to outline a plan to save Europe after World War II, though he planned to keep his remarks even briefer. Rather than addressing Congress or the newly formed United Nations, Marshall chose a Harvard commencement speech on June 5, 1947, as his platform to unveil the U.S. State Department's strategy for reviving the flagging European economy. Emphasizing poverty relief above political conflict, Marshall spoke in simple, concrete language. Days later, officials in the United States and Europe initiated discussions about what would be recognized as the most significant foreign policy exchange in U.S. history. World War II, which came to a close in 1945, had devastated Western Europe. A quarter of Germany's urban housing had been destroyed, combined with a 70 percent drop in gross domestic product [source: Hoover]. Industrial production across the continent was at 60 percent of prewar levels [source: Machado]. Though some nations verged on recovery, a drought followed by a brutal winter in 1946 ruined wheat harvests and intensified the scarcity of commodities. The gap between imports and exports widened, worsened by the repayments of war debt. Will Clayton, Under Secretary of Economic Affairs during the Truman administration, observed the postwar wreckage in Europe and described, "millions of people ... slowly starving" [source: Hindley]. Advertisement In the face of rising malnutrition, homelessness and unemployment, Communist regimes gained popularity. By 1947, the French Communist Party held a sizeable presence in the national parliament, and Italian Communists had won comparable political influence. As relations between the United States and the Soviet Union chilled, the U.S. government feared the escalation of Communist support in response to the crumbling European economy. Amid this tenuous international environment, George C. Marshall was slated to receive an honorary doctorate from Harvard. In a letter from Marshall to the university president, the secretary of state explained that he would say a few words of thanks at the commencement ceremony and "perhaps a little more" [source: Hindley]. Addressing a lay crowd gave Marshall more leverage. Strict isolationists in Congress might have dismissed the recovery strategy immediately, forcing him into an uphill battle. Instead, the largely conservative Harvard audience and the media in attendance applauded the plan, paving the way for its reception on Capitol Hill. Burleson to speak at homecoming Homecoming at Jackson Park United Methodist Church will be on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 10:30 a.m. Guest preacher will be Rev. Erin Burleson. The church is located at 715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis. New Gilead BBQ dinner New Gilead Reformed Church is holding a BBQ Chicken Dinner on Saturday Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. until sold out. Carry out only, no dine in. Price includes: half barbecue chicken, beans, slaw, roll, chips, and dessert for $10; Whole Chicken for $8; Quart of slaw for $5. The church is located at 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord. For questions or call ahead orders: 704-788-1202. Victory annual barbecue coming up Victory Tabernacle Ministries of Harrisburg will host its annual barbecue sale on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. until. The sale will be held at 206 Morris Drive, Harrisburg. Theres a bus trip this weekend to Greensboro thats been about 40 years in the making. Thats roughly when J.C. Taylor and Ken Briggs met each other, as members of the Roanoke Kiwanis Club. Taylors a Black entrepreneur in the real estate industry. Briggs, now retired, is a white businessman who owned an office-supply company. Over the years, their introduction grew into a close friendship. And that friendship involved some no holds-barred discussions on some touchy subjects like race. Those were honest and sometimes beyond their own comfort zones. Both men recognized that, in terms of civil rights, our nation has come a long way since the days of slavery. They also realized that in other ways, a societal divide remains. And that Sundays are a prime example. We talked about how segregated we were in our Sunday (church) meetings, said Briggs, who attends Windsor Hills United Methodist Church in Roanoke County. Taylors church is Shiloh Baptist in Salem. 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 didn't address the Pakistan policy of interference. One day when I was trying to share Jesus with a man and asked him if he knew Jesus as his Savior? The stranger responded that my question was personal, and no one should ask it. You know he was absolutely right as far as the question being a personal matter. However, Jesus has made it the responsibility of each Christian to share Christ with all who may be lost, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20, NKJV). The question must be asked, the lost are dead in their sins and destined for hell. There is no hope unless they find Jesus. We cannot save, but we can be the avenue for someone to find Christ. Adnkronos La Germania vara nuove regole per non vaccinati e introduce restrizioni anti covid per contrastare la quarta ondata di contagi. Il governo federale e i primi ministri dei 16 governi regionali hanno deciso di introdurre ampie restrizioni alla vita pubblica per chi non si e vaccinato contro il covid. Bar, ristoranti, luoghi di svago, sport e cultura saranno accessibili solo a chi e vaccinato e guarito dal covid. La regola del 2G - via libera a vaccinati e guariti - scattera, come gia e accaduto in SHELBYVILLE A Shelbyville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to fatally strangling his grandmother and was sentenced to natural life in prison, authorities said. Clayton Anderson, 26, entered the plea to first-degree murder and agreed to the sentence, which includes no chance for parole, during a hearing in Shelby County Circuit Court. Additional charges stemming from the murder of 72-year-old Sherry Hubbartt, who was found dead in a closet of her Shelbyville home, were dismissed. States Attorney Nichole Kroncke said in a statement that Anderson confessed to fatally strangling his grandmother following a verbal argument. Hubbartt had an active order of protection against her grandson at the time of the incident. The collaborative efforts of five separate law enforcement agencies led to a brutal murderer being swiftly brought to justice for his unconscionable crime," Kroncke said. "This case resulted in an agreement to the harshest punishment available under Illinois law as a result of the thorough investigation completed by these dedicated law enforcement agencies. Kroncke said that on April 17, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office received a report from family members that Hubbartt and her 2009 Chevrolet Impala were missing. While Hubbartts whereabouts were unknown, her debit card was used at various business in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. Later that same day, Nevada Highway Patrol located Hubbartts vehicle following a report that its occupants were shooting at moving vehicles. According to the news release, Nevada Highway Patrol and Las Vegas Metro Police Department pursued the vehicle at high speeds through the Las Vegas strip until it eventually crashed on Interstate 15. Anderson was determined to be the driver and BB guns were found in the vehicle following a search. Thomas Miller, who has charges pending in Shelby County for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and concealment of a homicidal death, was identified as the passenger. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial. A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 29. Anderson was charged with first-degree murder and held on a no-bond arrest warrant issued in Shelby County. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail from a Las Vegas detention center on Sept. 30 after serving a jail sentence in Las Vegas stemming from the high speed chase. The investigation was led by the Illinois State Police with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department, the Decatur Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Las Vegas Metro Police Department assisting. Love 0 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. MATTOON Junior Madison Barnes set out to gather information at Mattoon High School's new College & Career Readiness event with a general focus area in mind for her future profession. "I really want to work with kids somehow," Barnes said while visiting with some of the representatives of more than 30 employers and colleges there. She was accompanied by her mother, Michelle Barnes, who said: "I like this. I think it's helping those who don't really know what they want to do yet see there are more opportunities out there than what they might think." The event included personnel from Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, and other businesses that serve children. Various employer representatives there reported high demand to fill positions in those and other fields, including diesel technicians. Alex Love, a human resources business partner at Sarah Bush Lincoln, said they always hiring for registered nurses, surgical technicians, diagnostic imaging technicians and other healthcare positions. She said events such as the Readiness Night on Tuesday are great resources for meeting students who may want to work in those positions after graduation. "We just like to talk to students about the different opportunities in healthcare," Love said. Sarah Bush Lincoln distributed job shadowing applications at the event for students interested in observing healthcare workers on the job. Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System representatives were also on hand to share information about the Health Occupations program for high school students that it conducts and Sarah Bush Lincoln hosts. EIASE representatives Debbie Rotramel, who is the associate director of special education, and Marlo Spidle, principal of the Kansas Treatment & Learning Center, said there is high demand for special education teachers and related positions, such as occupational therapists and social workers. "If students have the passion for it, they should do it. It's worthwhile. We have both been doing our jobs for a long time, and I still love my job everyday," Rotramel said. Spidle also said she loves her work, particularly because they have a positive impact on children. Junior Ashlyn Smith visited the EIASE representatives and several other booths. Ashlyn, whose father, Todd Smith, grew up in agriculture, said she is considering a variety of careers in agriculture and other fields, including as an electrical line worker. Ashlyn said she loves that line workers are among the first responders after a storm and power outage. Sophomore Evan Diedrich was among the students visiting the Birkey's Farm Store company booth. Diedrich said he is still considering a variety of career possibilities, including in finance like his mother, Bridget Diedrich, and he attended the event to help narrow down those choices. Birkey's education and recruitment specialist Travis McClure said the company, which has an administrative office and 17 store locations, employs staff members in accounting, marketing, information technology and other professions that some might not associate with agriculture. McClure said their highest demand area is for diesel technicians, noting that these positions comprise nearly 180 posts in their workforce of approximately 440 staff members. He said Birkey's hires students from the Case New Holland technician program at Parkland College in Champaign and from diesel tech programs at other schools. "Throughout the whole diesel tech field, there are tons of opportunities there," McClure said. 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. CHARLESTON Stephen Szigethy has been serving the Charleston community for years, as a police officer with Eastern Illinois University and the Charleston Police Department, and as a veteran in Afghanistan. Now, he is sharing even more, with his familys connection to an important piece of history one that is often overlooked. Szigethy is the son of Hungarian immigrant Steven B. Szigethy, who died in January 2020. His father fled to Canada in the wake of turmoil caused by the Hungary's revolution against the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. Whenever he left, he pretty much left with just the clothes on his back, said Szigethy. He didnt really talk a whole lot about it. Szigethy did, however, remember several stories. His father was a participant in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, which caused thousands of Hungarians to emigrate to the United States and Canada, and many others to lose their lives in the conflict. Once, his father told him about how he and a group of the revolutionaries ran a firehose into the office of communist secret police and flooded the building, forcing those inside to exit. He knew what his participation would likely mean if he was caught, said Szigethy. A Cold War story Those interested in learning more about the Hungarian Revolution can visit EIU's Booth Library, where artifacts from the revolution are now on display. Some of the items belonged to Szigethys father, including several of his medals awarded to participants in the revolution, and a pufajka or puffy jacket that resembles the one Szigethys father wore when he came to the United States. Also among the artifacts are a letter from a student publication, uncensored newspapers, and an old radio used to broadcast updates to those involved in the revolution. Its right here in the heart of campus, said EIU history professor Ed Wehrle. Students can view this piece of history as they walk to class. The revolt actually began as a student protest before it spread throughout the entire country. The protest against the communist rule eventually led to warfare, resulting in the deaths of thousands of citizens. It also led to thousands of Hungarians needing to flee the country. Its very much a Cold War story, said Wehrle. Szigethys father needed to move to Canada, leaving his mother behind for several years. After everything settled, he went back to school in Vienna and became a doctor. He eventually settled in Oblong, Illinois, with his wife, who was also an immigrant. She was born in Columbia. Stephen Szigethy created the exhibit with the help of Sandor Vasony, who provided him with genealogy and information about his father. Vasony was also a participant in the revolution when he was only 9 years old. "I very much hope that you, as a visitor of the exhibition, will recognize the significance of the Hungarian uprising of 1956, the heroism of the Hungarian people, and learn about and remember the atrocities of the evil empire that has crippled the lives of millions starving for freedom for decades, Vasony said in a message to Szigethy. In the face of very, very difficult odds The Hungarian Revolution is not something often taught in U.S. classrooms, said Wehrle, because the United States did not really get involved, only sending small parcels of aid. My father, like many other Hungarians, hoped that help would come from the West, but help never came, said Szigethy. Still, Wehrle thinks now is an important time to look at the Hungarian Revolution because it is relevant, or it rhymes with current events. Those resonate a lot, and rhyme a lot with what went on in 1956, said Wehrle. You look at what has recently gone on in Russia, with (Alexei) Navalny sitting in prison, protests in Iran, and women in the streets in Afghanistan facing down the Taliban knowing what the horrific results will be I think the key rhyming is bravery and courage in the face of very, very difficult odds. 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. Eddie Bolden claims a Chicago police detective had a succinct explanation in 1994 for why police would get away with framing him for double murder in a case that would put him behind bars for 22 years. Youre just another (expletive), Bolden says then-Detective Phil Pesavento told him, using a racial epithet. Nobody gives an (expletive) about another (expletive). That explosive allegation was made to a federal jury by Boldens attorney Tuesday as his wrongful conviction lawsuit went to trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. The lawyer for Pesavento, however, not only vehemently denied his client ever said it, but doubled down on Boldens original murder conviction, telling the jury in her opening statement Mr. Bolden is not an innocent man. The police, the prosecutors and the jury that convicted him all got it right, attorney Barrett Boudreaux said. Bolden, 51, is suing Pesavento and retired gang specialist Officer James Oliver, as well as the estates of two other detectives who have since died, claiming he was framed in the January 1994 slayings of Derrick Frazier, 24, and Irving Clayton, 23, during a drug deal in Chicagos Woodlawn neighborhood. The lawsuit alleges the detectives zeroed in on Bolden as a suspect despite having flimsy evidence and witnesses who claimed Bolden was inside a restaurant playing a Pac-Man video game at the time of the shootings. Boldens 1996 trial hinged mostly on the testimony of Fraziers brother, Clifford, who was wounded in the shooting and was the only eyewitness, later identifying Bolden as the gunman in a lineup at the Area 2 headquarters. Bolden was convicted by a Cook County jury of two counts of murder and a count of attempted murder, and sentenced to life in prison. But in 2014, an Illinois appellate court ruled Bolden had made a substantial showing that his trial lawyer had been ineffective by failing to call alibi witnesses to the stand who claimed Bolden was playing a the video game inside a JJ Fish & Chicken on Cottage Grove Avenue at the time the shooting took place. After the case was sent back to the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Cook County Associate Judge Alfredo Maldonado ordered a new trial. Bolden was released in 2016 after the Cook County states attorneys office dropped the case, saying they no longer believed they could meet their burden of proof. Bolden has since been granted a certificate of innocence allowing him to recoup money from the state for his time in prison. In his opening statement Tuesday, Ron Safer, an attorney for Bolden, said that in a rush to solve the case, police ignored key evidence, including that Bolden himself had called 911 from inside the restaurant after a wounded Frazier came barging in with a gun in his hand. Safer said the shoddy investigation turned up no evidence that Bolden had been involved in the drug deal and no physical or forensic evidence tied him to the murder scene. Undaunted, detectives held an unconstitutional lineup where Bolden was the only one matching the physical features Frazier had given on the suspect, the lawyer said. Whats more, Safer said, Boldens criminal defense attorney at the time, Charles Ingles, will testify that Frazier was improperly told police had got the guy who did the shooting, then walked him in front of Bolden in the stations before the lineup. Detectives promised Ingles he could be present with Frazier as he viewed the lineup, but Pesavento had blocked him from entering the room at the last minute, Safer said. And that was the last moment of freedom Mr. Bolden would ever have for 8,082 days, Safer told the jury. This was intentional, and it was malicious. As a result of his wrongful conviction, Bolden was behind bars for the deaths of his grandparents and, later, his parents, Safer said. He contemplated suicide. His daughter, who was 1 year old at the time Bolden was arrested, graduated college a month after his release, Safer said. He missed 22 years of birthday parties, first days of school ... the joys, the sorrows, all the things that make life worth living, Safer said. But Boudreaux painted a far different picture of Bolden. She said he was best friends with Anthony Ant Williams, a high-ranking Gangster Disciples governor whose family owned the JJ Fish restaurant where all of the supposed alibi witnesses worked, as well as the apartments above it where most of them lived. Its no surprise, she said, that police did not believe their stories about Boldens whereabouts. They were covering for Eddie Bolden, she said. At the time of the murders, Bolden was already on the radar of the FBI, which was conducting an unrelated investigation into Williams and his associates dubbed Ant-Ban, Boudreaux said. Police later learned from that FBI probe that Bolden was believed to be the shooter, she said. Boudreaux also denied that the lineup was rigged, saying Frazier picked Bolden out immediately. Whose version of events makes more sense? Boudreaux said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When Mercy Hospital & Medical Center stopped receiving Chicago Fire Department ambulances earlier this year, it meant one less outlet for emergency care on the Near South Side and it meant an overflow of ambulances heading to University of Illinois Hospital on the citys Near West Side. Since February, the number of ambulances going to U. of I. Hospital each month has doubled to more than 700 some months, according to city data obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request. Wait times in the busy emergency room routinely stretch six to 12 hours, leaving patients who arrive with symptoms such as chest pain, diarrhea and vomiting languishing, nurses say. Ambulances sometimes line up outside the hospital, waiting to bring in patients. Were handcuffed. We have no ability to provide dignity or care to these people, said Paul Pater, an emergency room nurse at U. of I. Hospital. Staffing issues and a surge in medical care needed by patients who put off doctor visits during the COVID-19 pandemic are squeezing U. of I. Hospitals ER, nurses say. But medical workers and local leaders say the situation also demonstrates the dangers of cutbacks at community hospitals such as Mercy. Bronzevilles Mercy Hospital & Medical Center which changed ownership earlier this year and is now called Insight Hospital & Medical Center Chicago is ramping up to take Fire Department ambulances again in the near future, its new owner, Insight Chicago, said in a statement. It already has enough doctors to start welcoming ambulances but is grappling with the nationwide nursing shortage, Insight said. In the meantime, U. of I. Hospital is doing the best it can under challenging circumstances, said Dr. Lauren Smith, director of the hospitals emergency department operations. She said the sickest patients will be treated immediately and waits of 12 hours or longer are outliers. All patients are triaged shortly after arrival to see who needs help most urgently. The increase in ambulances after Mercy stopped receiving them wasnt unexpected, she said. When you take away health care from the community, the patients are still there so they still need care, Smith said. The challenges facing U. of I. Hospital have not significantly impacted patient care, said Michael Zenn, CEO of the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics, in a statement. The spike in ambulances, and its effects on U. of I. Hospitals ER, shouldnt surprise anyone, say community advocates and leaders. Its exactly the type of thing that happens when community hospitals, such as Mercy, close their doors or scale back services an increasingly common occurrence in Illinois, especially in brown and Black communities, said Deborah Harris, former executive director of Action Now Institute, which works to empower Black families on the citys West and South sides. Now you have an unbalanced system at another hospital where the resources arent up to the task of taking on what you have pushed onto their shoulders, Harris said. Where is the respect for human life? Were just overwhelmed Originally, Mercy Hospital was supposed to close entirely, after more than 150 years on the Near South Side. When the closure was announced in July 2020, the facility was owned by hospital system giant Trinity Health. Community leaders and advocacy groups mobilized to protest the proposed shutdown. They said it would leave a largely brown and Black community without access to much-needed health care. Amid the controversy, Mercy stopped receiving Fire Department ambulances, after years of confusion over whether it had a basic level ER or a comprehensive-level ER. The Chicago Fire Department transports patients to comprehensive ERs but not basic ones. Mercy told the state, starting in 2018, that it had a basic level ER. But the hospital told Emergency Medical Services that it was still a comprehensive ER in 2019, said Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold in an email. The state Health Department noticed the discrepancy early this year, and asked the hospital to clear it up, she said. Mercy was officially designated as a basic level ER and stopped getting Fire Department ambulances. Several months after Mercy stopped receiving Fire Department ambulances, the nonprofit organization Insight Chicago took over the hospital, on June 1, pledging to operate the facility as a full-service hospital with a comprehensive ER. But until Insight starts receiving fire department ambulances, patients who call 911 in Bronzeville are being taken to other hospitals, including U. of I. Hospital. Though Rush University Medical Center, Stroger and U. of I. hospitals are all within a few blocks of one another, U. of I. Hospital is technically the closest of the three to the area that was served by Mercy. U. of I. Hospital would sometimes get 10 ambulances during a busy overnight shift before Mercy stopped receiving ambulances, said Debreshia Anderson, an emergency department nurse and union steward for the Illinois Nurses Association. Now, the hospital is sometimes getting four or five an hour, she said. One day we had 67 ambulance runs, during one 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. shift, she said. The ambulances would not stop coming. Im thinking why cant they just go to Rush (University Medical Center)? Guidance from the Region 11 EMS Medical Directors Consortium, which oversees emergency medical services in Chicago, requires patients be taken to the nearest hospital appropriate for the medical needs of the patient, said Larry Langford, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department. That means that some patients may be taken to slightly farther hospitals, if those hospitals can better meet certain medical needs, such as a cardiac issue or gunshot wound. But, generally, most non-life-threatening injuries go to the nearest available hospital. Thats meant longer waits for care at U. of I. Hospital, medical workers say. Patients with chest pain often end up waiting, Anderson said. Theyre given EKGs when they arrive to see if theyre having heart attacks, and, if it appears that theyre not, theyre often sent back to the waiting room. But bloodwork performed later sometimes finds evidence of a heart attack that didnt show up initially on an EKG, she said. Multiple times Anderson has had to clean off patients who vomited or had diarrhea while sitting in the waiting room, she said. People who are too sick to sit in waiting room chairs are placed on stretchers by a nurses station. Its now not uncommon for half a dozen people to be waiting on those stretchers, she said. We have a lot of very sick patients, and we dont have enough staff or enough beds, she said. Daniel Culliver-Dodd, an emergency medical technician in the hospitals ER, called the situation chaotic. Theres no way that this can be sustained, said Culliver-Dodd, who is also Service Employees International Union Local 73 chief steward at UI Health. Someone because of this ... waiting in the waiting room will die or get seriously injured. An overflow of ambulances isnt the only reason for backups in the ER. The ER is also stressed when beds fill up in other parts of the hospital. When that happens, patients are boarded in the emergency department, meaning they wait in beds in the ER until they can be admitted to the hospital. Its a common practice at busy hospitals, but its exacerbating the situation in the U. of I. Hospitals ER, nurses say. The ER backups and waits arent good for patients or nurses, said Pater, who is co-chief union steward for the Illinois Nurses Association at UI Health. Our patients are understandably angry about that, he said. As nurses, were put there to kind of mitigate that anger. Pater has been on workmans compensation leave from the hospital for more than a month, after a patient brought by ambulance kicked him while he was trying to give her a COVID-19 test, he said. He now needs surgery to address the painful injury. Were just overwhelmed, Pater said. Smith, with the U. of I. Hospital, said the hospital is doing all it can to address ER conditions, but its not a quick fix. The hospital is working to get patients discharged faster when theyre ready to go home, to free up beds for patients waiting in the ER to be admitted overnight. And its receiving $65 million in state funding partly to create a new clinical decision unit by the ER to rapidly screen and test incoming patients and to upgrade the 42-year-old ER. The hospital also, occasionally, goes on bypass, meaning it tells ambulances to bring new patients elsewhere when its too full. But under new rules implemented during the pandemic, hospitals must now get permission from the state to go on bypass. And even going on ambulance bypass more often wouldnt offer complete relief, she said. Only about 20% of the ERs patients come from ambulances, and the rest are walk-ins. Like many hospitals, U. of I. is seeing many patients who delayed getting care during the pandemic, allowing their conditions to worsen. Now, those people are coming back, and theyre sicker than usual. Its a stressful situation, I understand, for the nurses and physicians as well as our techs, but this is the situation were in, Smith said. Were seeing some of the ramifications of COVID and patients not having care for the last year and a half, and now theyre showing up and they need care, so were happy to help them. The majority of our patients are walking in the door, so we cant turn those away. Hospital ERs across the city are seeing more patients and longer wait times because of similar stresses, she said. U. of I. Hospital has been trying to staff up, despite the national nursing shortage, Zenn said. Since March 2021, UI Health has hired 160 full-time nurses to fill new positions, he said. The hiring of those nurses was part of a contract agreement reached with the Illinois Nurses Association, after the nurses went on a weeklong strike over staffing woes in September 2020. Hospital closures have ripple effects Other Chicago hospitals may also be dealing with fallout from the changes at Mercy though not as dramatically as U. of I. Hospital. Rush got 478 ambulances in July, compared with 371 ambulances in August 2020, according to city data. The City of Chicagos Office of Emergency Management and Communications did not respond to requests for data showing how many ambulances Stroger has received. But Stroger is now getting about as many ambulances as it did before the pandemic, said Cook County Health spokeswoman Alexandra Normington, in an email. University of Chicago Medical Center, which is about 4.5 miles south of Insight, has also been seeing an increase in demand. Its difficult to know whether the ambulance traffic at those hospitals is because of Mercy, the pandemic or other factors, leaders of those institutions say. But the loss or closure of a single organization or even cuts to services at a hospital can further strain the regions already overburdened health system, said Tom Jackiewicz, U. of C. Medical Center president, in a statement. Every time a hospital closes or reduces services, it creates a ripple effect on other hospitals and Mercy wont likely be the last Chicago hospital to threaten to close its doors or scale back services, hospital and community leaders say. Many community hospitals have been struggling to survive, amid changes in health care. Theyve had to contend with a shift away from overnight care in favor of outpatient care, reimbursements from Medicaid that dont keep up with the costs of care, and larger institutions attracting away more of their patients. Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park and MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island closed in recent years. Many Chicago community hospitals that remain open have cut services, such as obstetrics and pediatric units. All of those hospitals that have closed now have patient bases that have to be absorbed by the remaining hospitals, Smith said. Whether they come to UIC or Stroger or Rush, every hospital, I think, is starting to feel that impact now. Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr., D- Chicago, who represents the area Insight serves, is encouraged that Insight expects to begin getting Fire Department ambulances again soon. But hes concerned that patients now must take longer ambulance rides to hospitals such as U. of I. to get treatment. Its part of a larger problem of inadequate health care on the citys South and West sides where many Black and brown people reside, he said. Its important to help struggling community hospitals now, before they end up in the same situation that Mercy did, further contributing to inequality in health care, he said. We need to make sure that we hear their cries early, Robinson said. All of our safety net (hospitals) are struggling. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The next phase of Truist Financial Corp.s branch-reduction initiative appears to include the consolidation of its downtown Winston-Salem retail space. The N.C. Commissioner of Banks website has Truist listed as pending the shifting of its drive-through operations at 150 N. Marshall St. into the 200 W. Second St. branch within its former corporate headquarters. Truist still would have 13 branches in Forsyth County. A Truist spokesman said Wednesday the bank did not have immediate comment about the local branch-consolidation plans. Truist is scheduled to release its third-quarter financial report by 6 a.m. Friday, in which it may update the branch initiative. Truist has closed or consolidated at least 401 branches in the past 15 months, or from 2,957 on March 31, 2020, to 2,556 on June 30, 2021. That includes 226 branches during the first quarter, but just a net reduction of one during the second quarter. That put Truist at just above the halfway mark of its plans to close or consolidate 800 branches by first quarter 2022. We want him to get whatever help he needs, Hawtree said. We still love him and forgive him for any false accusation he has thrown. According to a criminal complaint read over the phone by a Catawba County clerk, Tabor is accused of emailing and texting many horrible things to various family members. Those family members include Lisa Isenhower Forsyth, Tabors mother-in-law. The complaint said that Tabor was making these statements over the past six months June 1 through Aug. 20 in an effort to get $250,000 from them. Before these charges, Tabor had faced criminal allegations in 2010 that came out of a heated exchange between Tabor and another man, Governor Spencer. Tabor was found not guilty of assaulting Spencer. On Sept. 8, Jordan Tabor, his wife, filed for temporary custody of the couples 16-year-old daughter, according to court records. The couple separated on June 23. Jordan Tabor also previously filed for a restraining order against her estranged husband, alleging that he had sent a constant stream of harassing text messages, emails and social media postings. According to a complaint, she said Nathan Tabor had exhibited erratic and frightening behaviors over the past six months. Employees of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will be getting two additional bonuses on top of the $1,000 they will receive in their paychecks at the end of October. The school board voted on Tuesday to approve a $700 bonus for teachers and certified staff members employed through Dec. 1, to paid on Dec 16. They will get another $700 bonus if they remain with the district through May 1, to be paid on May 31. Classified staff members, which include nutrition workers, maintenance and bus drivers, will be on the same schedule for their bonuses, which will be $500. Like other school districts across the country, the local district is facing staff shortages, Jevelyn Bonner-Reed, the chief human resources officer, told the school board at its work session. We started to look ahead and think what else can we do to support staff in this challenging labor market and this challenging time, and how can we support them and retain them, Bonner-Reed said. Other school districts have been using bonuses as an enticement for employees to stay on the job. Most notably, Davidson County Schools announced last week that it is giving all its fulltime employees a one-time bonus of $4,500. At his own news conference, Robinson played a voicemail in which a caller said he should be hung from the tallest tree and repeatedly called him a racial epithet. I have disagreed with people socially, Robinson said. I have disagreed with people politically. I have disagreed with peoples spirits but never have I disrespected somebody like that. Robinson has drawn attention for criticizing the Jewish and LGBTQ communities and the Black Lives Matter movement. Robinson said he does not have the right to tell anyone how to live their life. In fact, I am in favor of people being able to determine how they live in their own space and being safe in their own space and being secure in their own space, Robinson said. Robinson has doubled down on his statements in recent days as they made national news, saying that his comments were based on materials in North Carolina public schools. At both the news conference and in a response video posted to Facebook he showed sexually explicit illustrations from a book he said is in schools. You can look at this and clearly see this is quite possibly and probably child pornography being presented to our children, Robinson said. Robinson responded to criticism by blaming the media and those on the left for trying to change the focus from education to the LGBTQ community. And former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker of Greensboro defended Robinson, saying he is 100% accurate in describing the sexualization of our children in public schools. The content is filth, and the agenda is no less filthy. We think everyone recognizes that Robinsons comments about the LGBTQ community were in the context of education. Thats one reason they were so despicable. And yes, it is unfortunate that students have to deal with complex issues. Wed love to live in a world in which they could retain their innocence a bit longer. But we live in the real world in which children are aware of these matters. Gay and transgender people are regularly targeted for discrimination and bullying. As a result, theyre more likely to be victims of depression, anxiety, self-harm and even suicide. Its entirely appropriate for schools and libraries to offer materials and other supports that might just keep them alive and help them thrive. We trust them more than we trust bigoted figures like Robinson. Also, the U.S. is now cooperating with the Taliban to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans while refraining from acknowledging that the Taliban is in charge, wink wink (Taliban: US offers humanitarian aid). And whats this? A Navy nuclear engineer has been passing U.S. secrets to an FBI agent he thought represented a foreign power (Navy engineer charged with trying to pass secrets)? Wonder what else is going on behind the scenes. Oh, and gas prices have gone up again to an average of $3.31 per gallon $1.07 more than a year ago (Gas prices). Yeah, President Biden sure has things under control, doesnt he? Kevin Miller Winston-Salem A childish mind The writer of the Oct. 1 letter Change the law asks, of teenagers who are convicted of using guns in crimes, Why should these children be protected? The answer is, to me, found in the question itself. As they finalized the Aug. 24 issue of the oldest continuously published university newspaper in Nebraska, many of the students working on the Doane Owl were blindsided by news that their organization's budget had been slashed among many victims of the school's prioritization process. "Basically, everything was done," said Abrianna Miller, the editor-in-chief of the paper, who learned along with her staff that there weren't funds available to pay the student journalists for the work they were already doing, much less a whole semester's worth of it. "We had been working on things for six days," Miller continued. "And things were due in 2 1/2 days. Every story was in its final stages. Graphics had been made. Pictures had been taken." That's when, Miller said, she and her staff found out Doane University had eliminated funding traditionally set aside to pay the student reporters, designers, photographers and editors at the liberal arts campus in Crete. The Owl's faculty adviser, Eric Tucker, paid the staff that week out of his own pocket, and the students worked to make that week's online-only issue count. They published a story on the front page headlined "DSM budget cuts approved," with the acronym referring to Doane Student Media. Im just interested in seed collection and the process of taking native seeds and redistributing them as a way of prairie management, Christensen said. I have an interest in prairie management, and it was a great opportunity where I could help volunteer, but also educate myself, too. Christensen said the seed collection was her second time experiencing Homestead and that she plans to continue volunteering there in the future. Korgie said because of a prescribed burn at Homestead later this fall, taking place near where these seeds will be sown, shes not sure when exactly they will be planted. She said the plan is to do it over the winter, so roots and sprouts can start forming by spring. I find it very interesting that this parcel of land started as tallgrass prairie, then it was turned into a farm and the National Parks Service restored it to tallgrass prairie. They did a lot of different methods to try to get this prairie back to the glory it once was. An unbroken prairie. It has over 200 different species of plants, flowers and grasses. Its had a few close calls. Oligmueller said the core drilling extracted to date the tree showed fire scars. It escaped axes wielded by early settlers looking for building materials and fuel. Its gnarled trunk shows spots where the tree has lost limbs over the years. Its got a few dead limbs now, but park workers wont prune them, opting to let nature take its course, just as it has for nearly four centuries. Its been through some stuff, Oligmueller said. Bur oaks have a 200-300-year lifespan, and some live 400 years or more. The Old Oak Tree is believed to be the oldest documented tree in Nebraska. Visitors who had their pictures taken with it when they were younger now bring grandchildren for similar pictures, often putting them in a crook in the tree thats the perfect height for kids to sit in. Follow the winding park roads and the signs pointing the way to a small parking lot at the top of a hill. A set of steps takes you down to the historic tree. Oligmueller says its not as big as you might expect a tree that age to be. Its had to compete with other trees for sunshine over the years, but theres enough open prairie around it to allow ample sunlight through. Shes back again. An angel statue that usually sits atop the Driehaus Family Fountain in front of the Riviera in downtown Lake Geneva has been returned to its rightful spot after being vandalized for a second year in a row. City crews re-installed the statue back onto the fountain during the morning hours of Wednesday, Oct. 13. The statue was damaged about 12 a.m., June 5 by two out-of-state suspects. Police have said an officer noticed a suspect hanging from the statue, while another suspect was in the fountain with him. The statue was damaged and broken off the fountain. Public Works Director Tom Earle said he is pleased that the statue is back on the fountain now that it has been repaired from the damage it sustained back in June. We are happy to have her back, Earle said. Police said Todd Stewart, 20, of Fort Wayne, Indiana has been charged with criminal damage to property over $2,500, resisting and obstructing a police officer and disorderly conduct as a result of the incident. Stewart plead not guilty to the charges Sept. 23 and is scheduled to appear for in court for a status conference Dec. 7, according to court records. Evan Waller, 20, of Palantine, Illinois has been cited with damage to property and underage consumption of alcohol, according to police. The statue was damaged in similar fashion in July 2020. A 21-year-old man from Spring Grove, Illinois was the suspect in that case. The statue has been repaired by VanGuard Sculpture Services in Milwaukee both times. Earle said security cameras have been installed around the Riviera to help discourage vandalism in that area. Yes, there have been several cameras installed and up and running around the entire Riviera, Earle said. The fountain was donated to the city by the late Richard Driehaus in 2004 and is a replica of the Angels of the Waters fountain located in Central Park in New York city. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MOUNT PLEASANT A child playing with a lighter ignited a fire that injured one person and caused about $40,000 in damages. The South Shore Fire Department responded to the 2000 block of Howe Street at about 8:05 p.m. Tuesday on the report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters located the fire in an upstairs bedroom. It took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. One person was treated and released for minor burns by the South Shore Fire Department paramedics. SSFD was assisted at the scene by the Mount Pleasant Police Department and We Energies. NFPA According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2014 to 2018 about 30,460 fires stemmed from someone playing with fire. NFPA reported these fires resulted in an estimated 50 deaths, 510 injuries, and $205 million in direct property damage each year. According to the American Red Cross, more than 50% of fires started by children playing with fire occur in a bedroom and bedding is the first material ignited. The Red Cross recommends keeping cigarette lighters and matches stored where children cannot access them. Additionally, parents and caregivers should talk to children about the importance of notifying an adult if matches or a lighter is found. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Among the unvaccinated are children, who are either too young to be vaccinated or whose parents have chosen not to get them vaccinated. In the early days of the pandemic, children represented just 16% of COVID cases in the U.S. For the seven-day period ending Oct. 7, children made up close to 25% of cases nationally, according to a report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In the City of Racine, that number is a bit higher. Stephan Kurdas, the citys coordinator of laboratory services, provided the city Board of Health with an update on local COVID cases on Tuesday. He said recent cases of COVID in those younger than 18 is on the rise. As we saw in the Southern states, our youth make up a higher percentage of cases overall, Kurdas said. He explained that last year at this time, individuals under the age of 18 made up about 10% to 15% of the daily reported cases. But they make up in the neighborhood of 30% (of new cases) at this current point in time, Kurdas said. This increase in cases is attributed to the fact schools opened in full this year, he said. However, as information provided by the Racine Public Health Department demonstrates, the rate of youths getting vaccinated is proceeding at sluggishly as the adult rate. Children and COVID According to the AAP, over 6 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic and the rate of new cases remains exceptionally high. AAP reported in the week prior to Oct. 7, there were 148,000 new child cases of COVID-19; in the month prior there were 750,000 new cases. The report noted that while death and hospitalization due to COVID are rare for children, the long-term impact of COVID on developing bodies is still being studied. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children with long-term COVID experience symptoms similar to those experienced by adults: Fatigue, headaches, insomnia, trouble concentrating, muscle and joint pain, and cough. Although scientists initially thought children were not contributing to the spread of COVID at the same rate as adults, an article published by Harvard Medical School on Oct. 7 indicated the possibility that children were as contagious as adults despite their usually more mild symptoms. Vaccination rates According to the CDC, American youths ages 12-17 have a vaccination rate of 42% with 32% completing the series. In Racine, 12- to 15-year-olds have a vaccination rate of 30.6% with 26.4% completing the series. For 16- and 17-year-olds in Racine, the vaccination rates are a bit higher, with 33.9% vaccinated. Of that, 29.5% have received the entire series. However, it is also true they were the most recent groups to get the vaccine option. Seniors have the highest rate of vaccination about 80% are fully vaccinated but they were also the first age group to be fully eligible for vaccination. In Racine, 50.1% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine and of that number, 45.2% are fully vaccinated. Statewide, 57.2% of Wisconsinites have received at least one vaccine dose and 54.5% are fully vaccinated. Last week, 140 individuals received the vaccine in the city, whether it was a booster shot, the first dose or completion of their series. How mask ordinance could be lifted Kurdas report to the Board of Health was a mixture of good news and bad. While the confirmed case count was up 154 cases, there were no deaths, and the hospitalization rate remained roughly the same. So that is good news, Kurdas said. Otherwise, the citys progress remains sluggish: The case rate hasnt changed and the transmission level remained high. The citys current mask ordinance is tied to the transmission level. Currently, the citys case rate is 203 active cases per 100,000 residents, which the CDC rates as high. The city needs to get that rate below 49 cases per 100,000 people for three weeks to rise back into the moderate category and have the mask ordinance lifted. So we have a bit of work to do ahead of us, especially going into the winter season, where we know it will be a little more challenging to reduce our exposure and risk of transmission, Kurdas said. The CDC and the City of Racine Public Health Department continue to encourage those who are eligible to get vaccinated. 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. RACINE Jenny Ulbricht's life is full of adventure. She has spent the last couple of years turning her hobby of coffee into a business, roasting her own beans at East View Coffee Roastery in Kenosha, 5706 6th Avenue. It was an adventure in itself: She spent about $40,000 on equipment (a chunk of which was her savings) and taught herself to go from a coffee hobbyist to a professional. But in the past, she's spent time plumbing in Antarctica, kayaking across Lake Superior and even trudging through vast trails in the Midwest. Her newest quest is in the City of Racine, offering warm cups of good coffee to the patrons at the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, Inc. More information For more information on East View Coffee Company, visit facebook.com/eastviewcoffee or eastviewcoffee.com. The roastery, 5706 6th Avenue in Kenosha, is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays or by appointment. Everyone deserves coffee Donating free coffee might be small beans for Ulbricht, but helping the community gives her just as much adrenaline and fulfillment as adventuring. Her partnership with HALO is just one of the partnerships in her company's Powering the Good program, which donates coffee to local charities and organizations. Ulbricht began the partnership with HALO over the summer under the belief that "everyone deserves a good cup of coffee." "It's a small gesture but it's part of my goal here with East View Coffee, is just to show up for the community and to do what I can," she said. Ulbricht, a Racine resident, drops off a few pounds of coffee every couple weeks to the patrons at HALO. "It's hard. A lot of us are walking in with our mugs from our favorite coffee shop that we stopped at," said Holly Anderle, HALO's executive director, "when most of our guys and gals won't have the wherewithal to stop at a coffee shop and get these special blends." A good cup of coffee like the one Ulbricht provides can "make the difference between a really good day and a really rotten day," Anderle said. Jo Gravitter, business operations administrator for HALO, Inc., said a cup of coffee can provide "a sense of normalcy." A life of adventures Ulbricht spent seven months on a plumbing job in the South Pole in 2001 after she graduated college; she was a geologist by trade before going into coffee. The job was a "one-time stint" at McMurdo Station, the largest research stations in Antarctica; Ulbricht wanted to try something new. "I just packed up, drove out to Denver from living in Northern Wisconsin, and just tried my hand at it," Ulbricht said. Denver is a common jumping off point for those who are heading to the South Pole. Before taking the job up, Ulbricht only had about six months' experience in plumbing. At McMurdo Station, her job was to harvest water from underneath ice sheets that were about two miles deep. At the time, there was internet, but she had very few ways to get connected to the outside world, like scheduled phone calls. "It was very isolating," she said. "It was a crazy place to work just kind of a surreal place." Shortly after her Antarctica expedition, she set out to kayak across Lake Superior as part of a fundraiser trip for Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities explore the natural world in shared adventures. "I became the second woman the first in the counterclockwise direction to sea kayak around Lake Superior," Ulbricht said. It took her two months and she went with two other friends. Ulbricht said what inspires her to be so adventurous outdoors is her "enjoyment and the personal growth and the satisfaction of what is given to me being able to go out into the wilderness." She said she fundraised for WI because she believes everyone deserves that freeing experience of exploring the outdoors. Passing it down When Ulbricht delivered another supply of fresh coffee beans to HALO, her mother, Kathy Ulbricht, was in tow. She said the most important thing for her and her husband, Robert, while raising Jenny was to provide her with "roots and wings." "We wanted her to have a strong foundation, and to be able to reach out to others," Kathy, a former veterinarian, said of her daughter's generosity. She recalled when Jenny had spent one Christmas morning cleaning animal shelters. Jenny said she had grown up with her parents' love of animals and the outdoors and their altruism as influences. "That was a big part of our life and a big part educationally coming up and in grade school." And nowadays, she's instilling the same passions in her 8-year-old daughter, Betsy. Their adventures so far have been backpacking across Porcupine Mountains in Michigan, hiking at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and also kayaking in Lake Superior to name a few. "We've even talked about walking the Ice Age Trail," Jenny said. The Ice Age Trail is a 1,200-mile trail stretching across Wisconsin. "She's ambitious. We'll see." 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. The crash occurred just before 8 p.m. when an SUV apparently struck a stalled semi in the 7100 block of Interstate 94, according to Lt. Keith Fonk of the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department. Kenosha Fire Department rescue personnel transported the woman to a landing zone established at Fire Station No. 7, 9700 52nd St., at the Kenosha Regional Airport, according to Fire Dept. Capt. Dan Tilton. A Flight for Life emergency medical helicopter flew the injured motorist to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. The condition of the injured motorist was not immediately known. The call resulted in one fatality and one person flighted to Froedtert, Tilton said. Fonk said deputies were initially called to respond to the semi that had broken down in a northbound traffic lane on the interstate. A few minutes later, a car drove into the rear end of it, Fonk said. The truck driver was not injured and was cooperating with authorities investigation, Fonk added. The semitrailer itself ... possibly hit some road debris, unknown what it was, which caused the failure in the trailer braking system causing the tires to lock up, Fonk said. The eventual brake system failure led to the semi stalling on the interstate, according to Fonk. Initial law enforcement radio traffic reports indicated the motorists may have been trapped in the vehicle following the crash. However, Tilton said that rescue personnel did not have to use extrication equipment at the scene. According to a Sheriffs Department online social media report, deputies and detectives continued investigating the crash late Tuesday night. As of 11 p.m., all northbound lanes were still closed with traffic being re-routed to the exit at Highway 50. Some Fire Department personnel remained at the site for about two hours to assist with lighting for the investigation. The Wisconsin State Patrol was also on scene assisting. This story continues to develop and may be updated. Check back later at www.kenoshanews.com. Her name is Frances Haugen. We hope shell be remembered in the years to come as the whistleblower who forced Facebook to change for the better. In an interview televised on the CBS news program 60 Minutes on Oct. 3, she said: The thing I saw at Facebook over and over again was there were conflicts of interest between what was good for the public and what was good for Facebook. And Facebook, over and over again, chose to optimize for its own interests, like making more money. Haugen, a 37-year-old data scientist and former Facebook product manager with a degree in computer engineering and a masters from Harvard in business, secretly copied tens of thousands of pages of Facebook internal research, one of which contained the following statement. We have evidence from a variety of sources that hate speech, divisive political speech and misinformation on Facebook and the family of apps are affecting societies around the world. On Oct. 5, she testified before Congress, spending hours detailing how the social network harms young people, the New York Times reported. U.S. Sen Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Haugen whether Facebook had dedicated enough resources to removing coronavirus falsehoods, noting that YouTube said in late September that it would ban all anti-vaccine misinformation. I do not believe Facebook, as currently structured, has the capability to stop vaccine misinformation, Haugen said, adding that Facebook itself said that its efforts were only likely to remove 10 to 20 percent of content. In a virtual news conference immediately after the Oct. 5 hearing Tuesday, Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., were effusive in praising Haugen. I have rarely if ever seen or heard as credible or compelling a witness on an issue so difficult or challenging, Blumenthal said. Francis Haugen wants to fix Facebook, not burn it to the ground. Blackburn commended the witness and her preparation, noting that she was there at the table by herself with no need for notes. There was no we will get back to you, she said, an allusion to past congressional appearances by Facebook executives including Mark Zuckerberg, the companys chief executive, that required follow-up answers after a hearing concluded As often happens when whistleblowers come forward, Facebook ran what TheVerge.com aptly described as the cowards playbook: Attempting to discredit Haugen. Today, a Senate Commerce subcommittee held a hearing with a former product manager at Facebook who worked for the company for less than two years, had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives and testified more than six times to not working on the subject matter in question, read a statement from a Facebook spokeswoman, Lena Pietsch. Blumenthal, the Times reported, acknowledged that Haugen may not have worked in certain areas, but supplemented that with thousands of pages of documents she copied from the company before leaving. She came armed, he said. While aiming to smear Haugen, Facebook also said new rules for the internet were long overdue, stating that: It is time for Congress to act. Thats a curious statement coming from the 800-pound gorilla of the internet. Facebook has an estimated 2.89 billion users. Its time for Congress to act? Really, Facebook? Are you unable to take action yourselves? That being said, we agree with Facebook. It is time for Congress to act. And if Facebook wants to suggest that Haugen is not credible, they can remedy that by making CEO Zuckerberg available for questioning under oath. Wed like to hear what one of the worlds richest men is planning to do about the harm his website is causing in the world. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas Your choice for flooring in Central Texas! Your flooring is more than just the surface you walk on it's an integral part of your home. With over 35 years of flooring experience, The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas has the resources and knowled 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 With that in mind, here are four tips that can help first-generation college students not only get into the college of their choice, but also secure scholarship money to help pay for it. 1. Look up how students do after they graduate If you want to see your odds of getting into a particular school, how much it will cost or what percentage of students graduate from the school each year, the federal government has provided several websites to do that. One website is called the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, or IPEDS. More user-friendly websites include the College Navigator and the College Scorecard. The College Scorecard provides information about how much student loan debt and what kind of salary you can expect after graduation. This information can be looked up by particular majors. 145 Years Oct. 14, 1876 A defective chimney in the building owned by Messrs Knoble and occupied by Dr. Heiti, in the upper part of town, came near furnishing us with a first class fire item last Monday morning. The bells sounded the alarm, and a crowd soon gathered and in a short time had the flames under perfect control. No damage resulted except for the roof through which a hole was cut, and to a temporary partition which was torn down. 135 Years Oct. 16, 1886 The several committees appointed to raise funds, by subscription, to purchase a grist mill site have secured about $1,000. As this is evidently the best that can be done, and as the sum is too small to buy the site selected, Messrs. Evans, Hughes and Sowden have decided to try and secure a suitable site near the railroad track, south of the Omaha depot. The $1,000 raised will stand as a bonus for them or any other parties who may decide to build a mill and to select and buy their own site. We understand that Messrs. Evans, Hughes and Sowden have accepted the bonus and will build the mill. 125 Years Oct. 16, 1896 John Evans was at Heron Lake, Minn, last week, when bank robbers fired a barn for the purpose of creating a diversion while they looted the bank. The plan miscarried because the funds were in the vault. The would-be robbers then proceeded to Sherburne on their bicycles, entered a bank at that place, killed the cashier and collected agent, and got away with $1,200. Later, they were both captured- one dead and the other alive. 100 Years Oct. 13, 1921 Mrs. Angeline W. Stout and son, William W. Stout, have just presented a deed to the Menomonie Improvement association for all that part of the lake front lying between Broadway and the waters edge and extending from the north line of the Bertha Tainter hall property to the city bridge. This tract was purchased by the late Senator James H. Stout many years ago for the purpose of preventing its falling into the hands of persons who would utilize it for commercial purposes. One great advantage from the gift is that it provides for the public a means of reaching the lake such as is obtainable at no other point, the water there being approached by a gradual slope instead of down a steep declivity. 75 Years Oct. 16, 1946 Fair Oaks is the name that has been given the area owned by Stout Institute, located on Seventeenth street and Wilson avenue, where work has started in the erection of 33 metal (two-family) barracks. Fair Oaks covers eight city blocks. Thirteen foundations have been completed and sewers have been laid. Fair Oaks has been referred to by the contractors doing the work as being the most scenic temporary housing site seen by them. Stouts wooden barracks have been shaping up to completion, but the lack of plumbing materials is holding up the final work, before the buildings can be moved into. When all are completed, Stout will have control of 121 family units. 50 Years Oct. 13, 1971 Nearly 25,000 pints of blood have been collected in Dunn County since the Red Cross bloodmobile began its program here in 1949. During those years the principal stops have been Boyceville, Colfax, and Menomonie. The totals for all three communities are Boyceville 3,769, Colfax 3,218, and Menomonie 16,091. The total for the three communities is 23,078. The largest amount of blood was collected in 1967-68 when donors in the county contributed 1,659 pints. The number of pints donated has diminished considerably since that year. 25 Years Oct.16, 1996 More than 200 walkers, bikers and even a few friends from the canine kingdom enjoyed the sun, fresh air and shuffling through fall leaves on Sunday to collect a record amount of donations which will be used to combat hunger. The annual CROP Walk and Hunger Parade helps support activities which educate and act to eliminate hunger. In Menomonie, there were more than 30 area churches and organizations which joined together to pound the pavement. They will now be collecting pledges for each mile walked. Walk organizer Julie McNaughton called the event a wonderful success and said the group is hoping to meet its goal of $8,000. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You might remember that throughout the summer of 2020, we asked a lot of questions in this column about Vernon Countys old country schoolhouses. The point of all those questions was to collect information for a book about the schools, and that book has at last been published. "Country Schoolhouses of Vernon County, Wisconsin" is now available for sale. The book includes one page for each rural school in the county, arranged alphabetically by school name, from Ames School in town of Liberty through Wood School in town of Greenwood. Each page includes basic information about that school: the school district number, the location of the school, the year it was built and the year it was closed, and any later use of the building, plus photographs old and new. We have tried to take into account the fact that sometimes district numbers changed, and sometimes a schools location did too. We also researched how many buildings a school had over the years, and when each opened and closed, such as when a schoolhouse burned down and was replaced. And we have recorded what happened to each school building once the school closed, as that information was available to us. The book is also full of historic photographs, featuring the schoolhouses and the children who went to them. A special feature is the modern, full-color photographs of the old school buildings as they look today, for those buildings that are still standing, which is the majority of them. A map at the front of the book will help you to locate the schools in the locations where they stood about 100 years ago, especially useful if you cant quite remember the name of a school but do know where it was. At the back of the book is a list of alternative names for those schools that had name changes over the years. For example, if you want to look up Central School but dont see it in the book, the list at the back will show you that the more common name was Partridge School, in the town of Wheatland, and thats the name its found under. The book sells for $20, plus $5 shipping if you need it mailed. Books are available for sale at the museum during regular hours, which are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m., through the end of October. (Winter hours of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, noon to 4 p.m., begin on Nov. 1.) Books can also be purchased from our online bookstore go to our website at vernoncountyhistory.org, and either look for the announcement on the home page, or click on Bookstore in the index on the left. In celebration of this new book, a Rural School Road Rally has been planned for Saturday, Oct. 23. The rally will involve taking a drive through northwestern Vernon County to view the old rural schools as they are today. First pick up a map at the Seas Branch School, now located next to Westby Elementary, between 9 a.m. and noon on Oct. 23. Suggested donation of $10 to participate. For more information, visit our website, vernoncountyhistory.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When Operation Allies Welcome first kicked off, one of the biggest challenges was communicating with the Afghan evacuees. Some spoke English, but there were still some troubles in guiding Afghan evacuees through the initial processing as there was still that language barrier. Thankfully, among the ranks of 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Sgt. Mohammad Jamil, a tank gunner, volunteered to help be the communication source to both the Afghans and U.S. government officials. My role in OAW is to provide linguistic services, said Jamil, so that U.S. government officials, soldiers, and all the Afghan allies that we have on Fort McCoy can communicate with each other and get their immigration and everything done in here. When the request was pushed out to units across the U.S. for assistance in OAW, Jamils chain of command went to him and asked if he wanted to assist in the immigration process for Afghan evacuees at Fort McCoy. My thought was since I came from an Afghan background I immediately started thinking about my situation. How I was feeling when I was new to the United States and after thinking about this assignment I realized that by doing this I will be able to help Afghan people, the people that I belong to, and also serve my current country, Jamil said. This isnt Jamils first time working as a linguist for the U.S. Army. Before moving to the United States, he worked as a linguist for several Army units in Afghanistan. I was a local national linguist in Afghanistan, said Jamil. I worked as a linguist for about a year and a half and I got to work with different units from Hawaii, from Fort Carson, and Texas. The best part is that the unit I used to work for in Afghanistan as an interpreter Im assigned to that same unit right now. So it was a great journey for me. I moved to the United States in 2014. Shortly after moving, I realized that the United States has given me so many opportunities. A new life, a guaranteed future, therefore I wanted to return the favor and serve the country the best way I could think of and join the U.S. Army. Being one of the first interpreters to work with Task Force McCoy, he has given it his all to aide the Afghans in being able to transition to a new country. Sgt. Jamils efforts to assist Afghan evacuees have been instrumental in helping them transition from life in Afghanistan into their new lives in the United States, said 1st Lt. Alexander Werden, deputy public affairs officer, 4th Infantry Division, currently tasked to support Operation Allies Welcome at Fort McCoy. He was one of the first interpreters on the ground at Fort McCoy and would volunteer to stay for hours beyond his assigned 12-hour shifts to ensure that the needs of every single arriving guest were met. You could tell that he cares about helping as many people as he can and he continues to do that every day in the medical clinic by drawing from his experiences living in Afghanistan to use extraordinary empathy while assisting our guests. Having come a long way from his hometown, assigned to the same unit he once worked for as a local national, now he is getting the chance to repay that favor by helping his fellow Afghans as they go through the same struggles he did. I feel very honored, said Jamil. I feel like a lot of normal Afghan-American citizens that are living in the United States are not as lucky as I am because I get to serve my country, the United States of America. Then I get to help the people that I have a background from. So for me, I cannot find a word to describe how I feel because Im feeling blessed and honored that Im helping my people to deal with their frustration in moving to a new country and help them start their new life here. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The following people have been charged with felonies in La Crosse County Circuit Court: Seth Arttus, 38, Sparta, was charged with receiving stolen property. According to the criminal complaint, Arttus pawned three rings valued at $10,200 that were stolen Sept. 9 from a residence where Arttus was working as a roofer. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $10,000 cash bond. Tracii J. Riley, 30, La Crosse, was charged with intimidating a victim. According to the criminal complaint, Riley vandalized a woman's phone after she threatened to call police during an Oct. 5 domestic dispute in La Crosse. He is free on a $1,000 signature bond. Jennifer L. Fagan, 33, La Crosse, was charged with causing bodily harm to an officer. According to the criminal complaint, Fagan bit an officer in the calf as she was being arrested for disorderly conduct Oct. 7 in La Crosse. The complaint says the wound drew blood but didn't require medical treatment. Fagan is free on a $1,000 signature bond. A felony criminal complaint has been filed against the following person: Katy E. Brown, 37, La Crosse, is accused of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud. According to the complaint, Brown used a fake name to have an oxycodone prescription filled in La Crosse Sept. 27. The complaint alleges she obtained a second fraudulent prescription Sept. 29 that wasn't filled. She has an initial court appearance set for Nov. 30. Love 0 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. A 41-year-old La Crosse man and a 17-year-old juvenile male face multiple drug charges after police were called to a report of suspicious activity Oct. 10 at a La Crosse hotel. Drae Broadnax and the juvenile were both charged Monday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of heroin with intent to deliver. According to the criminal complaint, police were called shortly after 4 a.m. to AmericInn on Rose Street, where a caller said that a person was smoking something inside a running parked car. The caller also said a person in the drivers seat, later identified as Broadnax, was acting erratic. The complaint says police approached the vehicle and saw in plain view a jar containing marijuana. Broadnax complied with a police request to hand over the jar and reportedly told the officer, thats it. Police determined there was probable cause to search the vehicle and reportedly found 29.4 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of heroin and 33.8 grams of crack cocaine. Police also reportedly found $3,500 in cash, which Broadnax said he earned doing roofing work. Broadnax was released on a $5,000 signature bond. The juvenile had a calendar call set for Oct. 18. Love 0 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. Another Democrat has entered the race for Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District. Rebecca Cooke, Eau Claire small business owner, political consultant, nonprofit leader and current board member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, officially announced her campaign on Wednesday morning, vying to become the districts first congresswoman. Growing up, it was a struggle to make ends meet like it is for so many Wisconsin farm families, but we always showed up for neighbors in need, Cooke said in a statement. Those core values of serving others and building community have guided my life, from my own familys kitchen table to the board room. That drive to bring people together is why I started a small business and founded a nonprofit focused on empowering entrepreneurs right here in western Wisconsin, she said. Cooke is an Eau Claire native where she was raised on a dairy farm and began working at an early age and was involved in 4-H and showing cattle and waited tables throughout high school. She received a degree in marketing and public relations from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, during which her campaign said she was supported by Pell Grants, scholarships and other financial aid. After school Cooke worked in financing on political campaigns across the U.S., including aiding in electing Democratic California Congressman Raul Ruiz in 2014, according to Bluegold Media in 2016. She then returned to Eau Claire where in 2015 she launched a political finance consulting firm, Cooke Strategy, and opened her shop Reds Mercantile, which sells home goods and accessories. From her business stemmed Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit Cooke started in 2016 that helps support female entrepreneurs. Cooke also served as campaign manager for Eau Claire County Judge Sarah Harless in 2018, according to the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. In 2019, Cooke was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the board of the WEDC, where she currently serves as the secretary. Cooke was described in her announcement Wednesday as understanding the economic and social challenges facing the small towns and rural communities, saying she has fiercely advocated for them throughout her career. Her platform includes the cost of health care, workforce issues, education access and broadband and infrastructure issues, according to her announcement. We face big challenges as a country, Cooke said in the statement. Our rural communities are tired of Washington turning its back on us, and Im ready to get to work because we need representation with the lived experience and drive to get results for our region. Cooke joins two other candidates in the race to become the Democratic candidate for Wisconsins 3rd, a closely watched battleground race in the upcoming 2022 midterms. Wisconsin Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska, announced he would take a shot at the seat last week, and Holmen native Brett Knudsen has also entered the left side of the race. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, is currently the only Republican in the race. The seat was left wide-open after longtime Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, announced he would not seek another term after more than 20 years in office. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Wisconsin residents could be paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes this winter because of a global energy crunch that has sent natural gas prices to the highest level in a decade. The federal Energy Information Administration last week forecast steeply higher heating bills for all U.S. households, regardless of the weather. The Midwest is expected to be hardest hit, with some households spending up to 69% more. We Energies, the states largest utility, says the average household could be paying an extra $25 a month for gas this winter. Sister company Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, which is served by a different pipeline, warned of a $40 monthly hike for customers in the colder northeast region. Xcel Energy says its customers in northwest Wisconsin could be paying $45 to $65 more per month between November and March, which includes additional costs resulting from winter storm Uri. Madison Gas and Electric says its customers will likely see additional costs of $25 to $30 a month. Alliant Energy has not calculated the bill impacts, though both utilities recommend cost-saving measures such as turning down the thermostat, changing furnace filters and sealing window and door openings. Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, says the price surge comes on top of bill increases tied to winter storm Uri, which froze wellheads and pipelines across Texas and Oklahoma last February and caused prices to jump nearly 10,000%. Unlike the equipment monopoly utilities use to deliver energy, fuel is an unregulated pass-through charge. Utilities dont earn a profit on the gas they sell or burn to generate electricity, but when the price goes up, those costs are passed on to customers. For now, the added costs will affect gas bills, but customers could also see an impact on their electricity bills starting early next year as regulators adjust rates to account for higher fuel costs. Since 2019, about a third of Wisconsins electricity has been generated with natural gas. Prices on the rise The Energy Information Administration expects it will cost about 30% more this year to heat with natural gas, the most common heating fuel in Wisconsin. Costs for heating oil are expected to be about 43% more than last winter, while propane customers in the Midwest will spend an extra 69%. Whats more, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this winter will be slightly colder than average, which could increase costs even more. The Public Service Commission is recommending propane and heating oil customers fill up their tanks soon as prices are expected to rise throughout the winter. The reason for the price hikes is a worldwide increase in demand coupled with supply constraints that has pushed the price of gas for delivery in September to over $5 per million BTU for the first time since January 2010, according to Energy Information Administration data. Prices have nearly doubled since the start of the year. Emily McClain, a senior gas analyst with Rystad Energy, said multiple factors have created a perfect storm scenario: colder temperatures coupled with a global economic recovery fueled strong demand, but shale producers have been slow to ramp up production, and pipeline and storage constraints will limit their ability to meet demands. McClain said prices should moderate, though Rystad expects prices to remain in the $3 to $4 range through 2023. Help available CUB encourages residents who are struggling financially to apply for energy assistance grants and those who can afford it to consider replacing old furnaces or adding insulation to their homes with the help of Focus on Energy incentives. Weve been fortunate that natural gas prices were as low as theyve been for the last few years, Content said. This is kind of a wakeup call. Kendall Richards, president of All Comfort Services, says hes heard some rumbling from customers looking to get ahead of the price increases, but most customers dont think about their furnace until it breaks down. But with his suppliers sitting on smaller inventories and facing difficulties getting computer chips and other parts, Richards warns this is not a good year to wait. It may be better to do it on your timetable, Richards says. Richards says a furnace tuneup may only improve performance by a couple of percent, but it does add up. He adds that many Madison homes still have chimney-venting furnaces, which waste much of the heat generated and pull cold air into the home; upgrading to a high-efficiency model can result in savings of 30% to 40%. Financial help is available from the states Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) for households earning less than 60% of the state median, which works out to about $50,000 for a family of three. Help is also available from the nonprofit Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund. The state estimates some 205,000 households will receive an average of $388 to offset heating costs this winter and about $195 for electricity. We try to estimate the need so we can serve everybody, said Barb Klug, director of the states Home Energy Plus bureau. Lets hope for a warm winter. 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. TITLE: River to Redemption AUTHOR: Ann H. Gabhart This is the story of the 1832-33 Cholera epidemic that affected the entire nation but emphasis is on the state of Kentucky. One-tenth of the populations there died, as not much was known about the disease. People fled the town of Springfield, but one slave named Louis stayed on even refusing help to go north and be free. He continued running the hotel, caring for the sick and burying 57 victims. In 1849 when a second epidemic of Cholera struck he once again was in charge of the sick and dying. A monument was erected in his memory at the Springfield cemetery to honor all that he had done for the town. Now onto the rest of the story. The local teacher, Peter, died from the disease leaving his wife, Ruth, a widow. Seven-year-old Adrias parents and her 2-year-old brother were also victims of that terrible disease that left her an orphan. Louis and another slave servant Tilda raised her at the hotel until they found her a home with a white person, as it was not legal for Blacks or slaves to raise a white child. Who would be willing and be suitable to take Adria? Where would she live? Would she go to school? How did she adapt after losing both parents whom she had cared for at age 7? Was there any chance she could live in the family house? At age 19 she was dating a young man named Carlton and it was assumed they would marry some day. Why didnt that occur? They had been friends since childhood. Then a second suitor named Logan entered her life, offering her anything she wanted as he was from a wealthy family. She refused both proposals for different reasons. What were the reasons? Adria was secretly writing and working with an abolitionist group because she opposed having slaves and in Springfield all the wealthy families had Black servants. She was willing to go against the law and her community to prevent slave auctions. How did that work for her? How did she get a young Black girl to the north without being caught? What was the punishment for helping slaves enter the north? Her dream was to go to Boston some day and get laws changed. Could she do it? Ruth, the teachers widow, continued teaching and after two years she and the new pastor Will Robertson married. Both had lost spouses and were struggling with moving forward. Wills little girl Willena came to live with them in Springfield. She had been with Wills sister and family so why the change? How did Willena and Ruth get along? Adria and Willena? Just as things were going well for the community there was a fire in the wagon shop that spread into nearby buildings. Will lost his house and all his belongings just like many others. Who or what caused the fire? Who broke into the store demanding money from the safe? After the wealthy George Sanderson passed away all his black servants were to be sold including Louis. How was money raised to buy freedom for Louis? Who organized it? How much money was needed? So many questions to be answered so read the book! Becky Stakston is an avid reader from Westby. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A person was killed after a vehicle crashed off an Elizabeth Township road and then burst into flames Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle crashed into a pole along West 28th Division Highway (Route 322), near Pumping Station Road about a mile north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike north of Lititz at 1:51 p.m., according to a supervisor with Lancaster County-Wide Communications. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle ablaze, according to a dispatch report. At least one person was trapped in the vehicle, a second dispatch report stated. The person later died of their injuries. An autopsy to determine the persons cause and manner of death will take place Friday morning, Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said. Diamantoni was unable to visually identify the person who died inside the car due to the blaze. The coroners office will likely use dental records to identify the crash victim, he said. Route 322 was shut down between Speedwell Forge Road and Boyd Street in nearby Lebanon County. As the father of two multiracial children, Adam Hosey believes in having open and transparent conversations with his kids about their racial identities to help ensure theyre proud of who they are. Hosey, 34, whos lived in Lancaster County for eight years, identifies as Korean and makes sure his four- and two-year-old can find Korea on a map. He and his wife dont forget to touch on her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, either. We will serve kimchi alongside sauerkraut, Hosey said. We talk about the similarities and the differences there. Lancaster Countys multiracial population skyrocketed from approximately 10,200 people in 2010 to nearly 35,000 in 2020, reflecting a county that continues to grow more racially diverse, according to last years census. Nationwide, the population identifying with two or more races followed a similar trend, increasing by 276%, as persons identifying as being multiracial comprised the second- or third-most prevalent racial groups in more than two thirds of United States counties. The data is clear on what drove the increase in Lancaster a jump in the countys multiracial Hispanic residents from just under 3,700 in 2010 to nearly 20,000 last year, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total change over the decade. The county also saw significant increases in the number of non-Hispanic whites who identified with Native American, Black or Asian heritage. Together, multiracial residents comprised 6.3% of the countys 553,000 population in 2020, the census found. Whats less clear is why such a dramatic leap occurred locally and nationally in ten years since the last census. While migration, birth rates and shifts in how people self-identify may have played a role, changes to the Census Bureaus methodology also likely affected the numbers significantly. For example, the Census Bureau expanded the amount of write-in responses to the race and ethnicity questions it coded as data in 2020, enabling it to capture a wider array of identities in each response. The bureau also added more detailed examples of groups categorized under its race and ethnicity options and included write-in response areas for every race option. The results we released last month reflect both improvements to how we measure, collect, tabulate and process these data on the concepts of race and ethnicity, as well as the demographic changes, said Nicholas Jones, the director and senior adviser of Race and Ethnic Research and Outreach at the Census Bureau. While were seeing very large differences, were also getting a more accurate portrait than what we measured in the past. Lancaster County, like the nation, is growing more racially diverse as a whole, with increasing numbers of Hispanic, multiracial, Black and Asian residents. The countys 6.5% population growth from 2010-20 came entirely from nonwhite groups, as non-Hispanic whites share of the population declined from 84.9 to 79.7%. Marlyn Barbosa, the director of Tec Centro, a workforce development program operated by the Spanish American Civic Association, said many Hispanic-identifying residents will mark some other race on the census because they dont see themselves as fitting any of the other categories. During last years census, clients would ask Barbosa what to fill out for the race question after marking themselves as Latino on the ethnicity question. Theyre a little bit of everything, said Barbosa, 39, who was born in Puerto Rico. Im multiracial, and I know many, many Latino families will identify themselves like that. Another potential driver of the growth in Americans identifying with multiple races is the increased availability of DNA testing. A 2021 study in the journal Demography found that U.S adults who had taken genetic ancestry tests were more likely to self-identify as multiracial, particularly with three or more races. Joann McLaughlin, 52, vice president at the Circle Legacy Center, a Native American education and culture organization based in Lancaster, said many people come to the group as a result of DNA testing that shows they may have Native American ancestry. The number of multiracial people identifying as white and Native American in Lancaster County grew from just over 1,000 to nearly 3,900 from 2010-20, according to the census. We do have a lot of people that are actually starting to want to feel like they are from somewhere, and they want to know from where, McLaughlin said. Everybody comes from somewhere, and we try to do our best to help that person to self-identify. Multiracial residents comprised approximately 6% of Pennsylvanias population in 2020, up from approximately 1.9% in 2010. Hosey, who works as chief equity officer at YWCA Lancaster, said his organization has heard from participants at the associations racial equity trainings that there is a void when it comes to spaces where multiracial people can share their experiences, though those spaces are growing as social media provides a place for people to express pride in their identity. I think talking about race is much more acceptable now, which is a good thing, Hosey said. As many bad things that do happen because of social media, there is a lot of celebration and joy and really great spaces. Jasmine Kraybill, a real estate agent in the county, identifies primarily as Black though her father was white, she said. While she initially didnt question her dual identities as a child, learning about racism in the world and experiencing it personally as a teenager made her realize that people would view her chiefly as Black. Kraybill is expecting a daughter in November with her husband, who identifies as white. Just the way that the world is, its like, I am very about letting the world know that I am Black. First and foremost, I am a Black woman, and I stand for Black people, she said. Its so vital for my daughter to grow up and to be a proud woman like I am, to be Black. Three state Superior Court judges are hearing arguments at the Lancaster County courthouse Wednesday and Thursday as an educational community outreach of sorts. Superior Court is an appeals court and panels of its 15 judges usually meet in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but occasionally meet elsewhere. Holding sessions elsewhere gives the legal community and public an opportunity to see the court at work and learn more about the appeals process, according to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Two days of sessions in Lancaster began Wednesday, marking the first time since the pandemic that Superior Court judges listened to arguments in person. Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth welcomed Judges Judith Ference Olson, Mary Jane Bowes and Megan McCarthy King. Being back in Lancaster was also a homecoming of sorts for King, who worked on elder- and child-abuse cases for the Lancaster County District Attorney's office from 1996 to 1999 and 2012 to 2015. King later joined the Chester County District Attorney's office and was elected to a 10-year term on the Superior Court in November 2019. She said it was wonderful to be back in Lancaster and to see some familiar faces in the courthouse. Olson told the few people gathered Wednesday morning in the ceremonial courtroom of the old courthouse that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, created in 1727, is the nations oldest appeals court and that the Superior Court was created in 1895 to help the Supreme Court. Pennsylvania's Superior Court is one of the busiest courts in the country, hearing about 8,000 cases a year, Olson said. Just five of the several dozen cases scheduled for Wednesdays and Thursdays sessions concern parties with ties to Lancaster County. One involves a divorce and two concern business ventures. One case scheduled for Thursday is an appeal in a criminal case. Christopher Shaw, 35, of Lancaster, was convicted of carrying a firearm without a license and public drunkenness earlier this year and was sentenced to 6-23 months in jail. According to Lancaster police, Shaw was drunk when he walked out of his house in August 2019 with a handgun concealed in his waistband. He did not have a concealed carry permit. Police had stopped him in the 400 block of Poplar Street after getting a call about a man walking down the street carrying some type of rifle, according to police. Shaw told police he heard a disturbance and went to check it out. The other Lancaster case to be argued Thursday concerns a wrongful death claim in which the widow of a Camp Hill dentist killed in an April 2018 plane crash near Altoona wants her case reinstated. Pilot James Durkin, an East Hempfield Township business owner, and passenger Stephen Grady departed the Lancaster airport to attend a University of Notre Dame Alumni Association Leadership Conference. The crash was determined to be pilot error. Gradys widow, Patricia Grady, sued Aero-Tech Services, which operates near the airport, and two of its instructors, claiming they were responsible for her husbands death because they failed to adequately instruct him. Lancaster County Judge Leonard Brown dismissed the case in January, finding that educational malpractice is not recognized grounds for a claim in Pennsylvania. Depending on the case, attorneys for each party receive either five to 15 minutes to make their case, elaborating on written arguments previously submitted. Judges do not rule from the bench. After todays session, the judges are scheduled to travel to Tioga County for their next satellite hearings. Chester County commissioners recently adopted a new climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county by 80% by 2050. The Chester County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 7 to adopt the Climate Action Plan, according to a news release. A series of public meetings and public comment influenced the plan developed by the Chester County Planning Commissioner, which provides an update to the energy savings initiatives suggested in the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Report. We have to address global climate change at every level of government and collaboration if we are going to create a healthier planet and maintain our quality of life, said commissioner chairwoman Marian Moskowitz in the release. The action we take today sets an ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goal but one we believe is imperative and attainable. With the anticipated 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the goal of the Climate Action Plan is for cleaner air and, in turn, improve public health, according to the release. Other benefits include saving money through more energy efficient vehicles, lessening environmental damage and creating jobs. The plan reports that in 2018 there were 91,000 clean energy jobs in Pennsylvania, an increase from 57,000 clean energy jobs in 2014. Over the last century, temperatures in Pennsylvania have increased by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection website. The department expects that by 2050, temperatures will rise by another 5.9 degrees Fahrenheit. We were reminded all too well last month of the real effects of climate change as flooding devastated several communities and affected thousands of people in our county, said commissioner Josh Maxwell in the release. The flooding was the most significant in my lifetime, and we know it will only get worse unless we take steps like those outlined in the plan. Outside of county-owned facilities, the Chester County government does not have direct control over many actions cited in the Climate Action Plan. Instead, many of the actions will require coordination and cooperation with local communities, municipal governments and other stakeholders, according to the release. In 2015, the county greenhouse gases totaled 7.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, with a net emissions of 7 million metric tons, according to the plan. The county accounts for a 2.5% share of statewide global emissions. The commercial and industrial energy sector produced nearly half of the countys emissions in 2015. Chesters Climate Action Plan outlines seven pages of actions the county and its inhabitants can take to reduce emissions including creating a webpage to track the countys energy efficiency initiatives, analyzing the potential to expand on-site solar energy generation and a continuation of initiatives to switch over to LED lighting. More than 170 were in attendance at a March public meeting to discuss the plan and the county received 130 additional comments via email and an online comment portal, according to the release. We very much appreciate the interest and input from county residents that went into this plan, said Chester County Planning Commission executive director Brian OLeary in the release. People are seeing and feeling the effects of climate change and most strongly agree that we need to accelerate mitigation efforts. Its Officially a `Public Nuisance, But How Long Will Carson Odor Last? The stench emanating from the Dominguez Channel that began fouling the air in Carson and neighboring communities about a week ago has been officially labeled a public nuisance, but it remained unclear today if anything can be done to eliminate the odor, or if residents will have to wait for organic material rotting in the channel to fully decay. The Carson City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution declaring the foul odor a public nuisance, but the move may mean little to residents complaining that the noxious rotting-egg-like stench was leading to problems such as headaches or other health maladies. The county departments of public health and public works were continuing to investigate and explore possible solutions, along with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Authorities have confirmed elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air, but according to the AQMD, monitoring data does not show elevated levels of volatile organic compounds or other air toxic pollutants typically associated with petroleum operations such as oil pipes, refineries, etc. ADVERTISEMENT On Friday, Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes wrote on Facebook that the cause of the odor had been identified as a hydrogen sulfide leaking pipeline, but by Sunday, she wrote that the leaking-pipeline theory has been ruled out, saying investigators again were focusing on organic waste material drying out after being exposed during low tide. According to county officials, the source of the hydrogen sulfide and resulting smell is believed to be the natural decay of organic material, vegetation and marine life, at the bottom and sides of the Dominguez Channel. Authorities said they are working to determine if there is any way of reducing the order, or at least determining how long the stench will continue. In the meantime, officials urged residents to keep their doors and windows closed to prevent the stench from entering homes, and consider replacing air filters with stronger, activated-carbon HEPA filters to help clean the indoor air. Residents experiencing persistent, worrisome or worsening symptoms from the odors are encouraged to contact their health care providers, especially if they have any chronic health conditions, according to a Monday statement from the county Department of Public Health. Residents should also ensure that they have adequate supplies of their medications, especially if they have heart or lung conditions. In addition, Public Health recommends temporarily leaving the area where odors are present to alleviate health impacts. Health officials also said schools in the area should exercise discretion regarding outdoor student activities. LA City Council Passes Motion Aimed at Using CA Funds to Clean Near Freeways The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion today aimed at using funds from the $100 billion California Comeback Plan to clean public spaces near freeways. The motion was introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and directs the Chief Legislative Analyst and the City Administrative Officer to report on the states budget, including the $1.5 billion investment to clean public spaces, and identify the amounts of funding and planned expenditures that will benefit Los Angeles and clean public spaces near highways. We need to take this opportunity because frankly, as we know, the federal government is still stuck in conversation with their investments in infrastructure, Rodriguez said. Absent that happening, we have this really tremendous opportunity with the state funds to making sure that we are geared up, that our staff is prepared to go after each opportunity and make maximum use of those dollars so we can compliment that investment here in the city of Los Angeles. Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson amended the motion, calling for assurances the funding is equitably distributed. His amendment directs the CLA to report on 311 calls regarding public spaces in and around freeway exits and prioritize those areas for funding. ADVERTISEMENT We have a strong ethic around equity, about spending the resources where theyre needed the most. I want to make sure the state does that with these funds to deal with freeway exits, and they dont do a thing where they dedicate the same amount of money to each exit, they look at where there are problems, Harris-Dawson said. You just take the 10 freeway Councilman (Mark) Ridley-Thomas and I share the Western Avenue exit, it frankly looks like its in a different country than the Fourth Avenue exit in Santa Monica, and its the same freeway, and the same people are responsible for it. Man who drove truck onto sidewalk gets beaten, dies near LA A man died after he tried to hit people on a sidewalk with his truck, crashed against a building and then was pulled out and beaten by the group in Southern California, authorities said. The man was asked to leave a business in Hawthorne early Saturday and then argued with someone while walking to his truck, said Lt. Hugo Reynaga of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. ADVERTISEMENT The man then intentionally drove the truck onto the sidewalk, nearly hitting a group of patrons before his truck wedged against a tree, the Daily Breeze reported. As the patrons tried to take the man out of the drivers seat, he accelerated again and hit the corner of a nearby building, Reynaga said. The patrons took the driver out of the truck and continued fighting with him as Hawthorne police arrived, sheriffs Deputy Grace Medrano said. The driver suffered blunt-force trauma, Medrano said. He died at the scene. The incident was captured on surveillance video, but the footage was grainy and the fight occurred behind the truck partially out of view, Reynaga said. You could see there was a fight going on, but you couldnt tell who was doing what, he told the newspaper. Netflix backs Chappelle despite criticism over trans remarks A top Netflix executive said Dave Chappelles special The Closer doesnt cross the line on hate and will remain on the streaming service despite fallout over the comedians remarks about the transgender community. In an internal memo, co-CEO Ted Sarandos told managers that some talent may join third parties in calling for the shows removal, adding, which we are not going to do. Netflix declined comment on the memo, which was reported Monday by Variety. ADVERTISEMENT But the company responded to news reports it had suspended three employees, including one, Terra Field, whod criticized Chappelles special in tweets. Field identifies herself on Twitter as a senior software engineer at Netflix and as trans. It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so, Netflix said in a statement. According to a person familiar with the matter, the three employees joined a quarterly meeting for company directors and vice presidents without gaining authorization. The person, who wasnt authorized to discuss the situation publicly, said one worker was suspended as a result of an investigation. What if any action was or might be taken against the other two workers was unknown. Field didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. In her posts, she said that Chappelle was being criticized not because his comments are offensive but for the harm they do to the trans community, especially Black women. ADVERTISEMENT Field included a list of trans and nonbinary men and women of color who she said had been killed, adding in each case that the victim is not offended. A representative for Chappelle didnt respond to a request for comment. In a statement Monday, the media watchdog group GLAAD said that anti-LGBTQ content violates Netflixs policy to reject programs that incite hate or violence. GLAAD called on Netflix executives to listen to LGBTQ employees, industry leaders, and audiences and commit to living up to their own standards. When Chappelles special was released last week, the group said that the comedians brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities. Jaclyn Moore, who was a writer and producer on the Netflix show Dear White People, tweeted that she worked with executives and others at the service who fought for important art and that she told the story of my transition for @netflix. But she faces hate and attacks because Im not a real woman, Moore said. I will not work with them as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content, she said on Twitter. San Gabriel Valley Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Scheming to Launder Drug Money Via Black Market Peso Exchange A West Covina man was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for laundering more than $900,000 in drug money over a two-year period via a Black Market Peso Exchange for Mexico-based drug traffickers. Oscar Sanchez, 52, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips. Sanchez pleaded guilty in November 2020 to a single-count information charging him with concealment money laundering. A Black Market Peso Exchange scheme allows drug traffickers who have their proceeds in U.S. dollars to convert it to a different currency, such as Mexican pesos, via the sale of goods shipped across international borders. ADVERTISEMENT From 2017 to 2019, Sanchez, who worked in downtown Los Angeles, laundered drug money from the United States to Mexico. According to court documents, co-conspirators based in Mexico told drug traffickers to deliver drug proceeds to Sanchez. The drug traffickers contacted Sanchez and used coded language to arrange the delivery of money. Sanchez met with the traffickers at his place of business in Los Angeles and at other locations where he received the money. Using coded language, Sanchez reported to his co-conspirators the amount of money received. The co-conspirators directed Sanchez to provide the money to third parties in the United States and pay invoices at Los Angeles-based businesses to conceal the source of the money. The U.S.-based third parties who received the money directed payments to be made to co-conspirators in Mexico, completing the money laundering cycle. For example, in August 2018, a California-based drug trafficker told Sanchez he was speaking on a Mexico-based co-conspirators behalf and that he was instructed to deliver something, according to the prosecutions sentencing memorandum. Sanchez asked if he would be delivering merchandise coded language for money and agreed to meet. Sanchez later met with the trafficker in Los Angeles, where he received the U.S. dollars in cash. Shortly after the meeting, a Mexico-based co-conspirator called Sanchez and asked him if someone stopped by to take some samples from him. Sanchez said a total of 34 bras coded language for $34,000 was taken. Sanchez knew the money he received was drug proceeds. In total, Sanchez laundered at least $914,641 in drug proceeds. By assisting members of Mexico-based narcotics trafficking organizations ADVERTISEMENT move their proceeds to Mexico, [Sanchez] contributed to the cycle of narcotics distribution that causes substantial harm to communities in the United States, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. [Sanchezs] use of coded language during dozens of intercepted calls demonstrate that he was deeply involved in the conduct. The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph T. McNally and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case. Wednesday, October 13, 2021 The Idaho Supreme Court imposed sanctions on an attorney for pursuing a frivolous appeal We conclude that this case presents a textbook example of an appeal that was pursued in violation of Rule 11.2, and that attorney fees should be awarded against appellants counsel personally as a sanction. Vernon K. Smith, the Drinkards counsel, has shown a penchant for disregarding Idaho Appellate Rules, and his failure to abide by this Courts prior admonitions warrants a sanction in this case. The merits (or lack thereof) The Drinkards claims are not well-grounded in fact, nor are they warranted by existing law or an extension thereof. First, the Drinkards appeal contains little in the way of legal argument or authority The Drinkards brief fails to include appropriate citations to the record or a comprehensible argument. Large swaths of the Drinkards argument are merely block-quoted statutes or lengthy sections of cases with little attempt at a cogent argument explaining the applicability to the facts of the case. Second, Smith asks this Court to disregard existing lawnot based on a good faith argument to reverse that lawbut because he disagrees with how this Court applied the law in a case in which he was a party. Disagreeing with this Court is not a sufficient reason to disregard precedent or to advocate that this Court do so. Appellate arguments must be warranted by existing law . . . . Id. Smith pursued this appeal against Alpha even though he had litigated the very case that decided principles of law against his position here. Smith II, 164 Idaho at 53, 423 P.3d at 1005. He was thus aware that the issues on appeal have been settled directly against his position in this case. Pursuing the appeal anyway is frivolous and a waste of time and needlessly increased the cost of litigation for Smiths clients and for Alpha. The court noted prior warnings but As noted, these warnings included admonitions not to simply argue positions against what had been decided by this Court previously. Now, Smith appeals to this Court, representing the Drinkards, raising the exact issues on which this Court has ruled against him before. Smith asks this Court, in effect, to second-guess the holding we reached in Smith II, a case, as we have noted, in which he was a party. But the Drinkards case by any other name is still the same argument. On our own motion, we may award fees and costs against both the party and the partys attorney who have violated Rule 11.2. We have done this before in a case involving Smith. Still, Smith continues to flout Idaho Appellate Rules and the standard for good faith appeals. As such, the Drinkards appeal was filed in direct contravention of I.A.R. 11.2(a); it was frivolous, unreasonable, and without foundation. For these reasons, the Court sanctions Smith by requiring him to personally pay Alphas attorney fees and the costs Alpha incurred in defending its position in this appeal. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/10/the-idaho-supreme-court-imposed-sanctions-on-an-attorney-for-pursuing-a-frivolous-appeal-we-conclude-that-this-case-presents.html MOSCOW After a slow start for both teams, a second-quarter blitz from Lewiston put the Bengals on the path to their first girls basketball win of the season, a 59-31 Inland Empire League decision against Moscow on Wednesday at Bear Den. A state of emergency in Santa Barbara County was declared Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors as a result of the Alisal fire that ignited about 2:30 p.m. Monday and in 24 hours charred more than 8,000 acres above the Gaviota Coast. Supervisors unanimously approved a proclamation and resolution with no discussion and no public comment on the issue that was added to the meeting agenda during the boards lunch break and closed session. Declaring an emergency will allow the county to ask the state to declare an emergency, which could then open the door to state disaster assistance funds but also federal funds. County Fire Department has already requested assistance from the Federal Management Assistance Grant program, according to a report from Kelly Hubbard, director of the County Office of Emergency Management. In the report, Hubbard noted the fire which at that point was still reported at 6,000 acres and 0% contained had shut down Highway 101, halted Amtrak service, forced the evacuation of 270 residents, prompted an evacuation warning for another 260 and threatened at least 100 structures, including homes, ranches, farms, state campgrounds and county infrastructure. Hubbard said ash and smoke from the fire had also degraded the air quality in the South County. The proclamation states the the Alisal fire is causing conditions that are a threat to public health and create conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the county of Santa Barbara. These conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the combined forces of Santa Barbara County Operational Area to combat It continues that these conditions warrant and necessitate that the county proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency in order to utilize all resources necessary to respond to the damage caused by the local emergency and receive any needed funding through the California Disaster Assistance Act and any other funding both State and Federal funds that may be available. About 600 firefighters from Santa Barbara County, including Santa Maria and Vandenberg Space Port Base, as well as Los Padres National Forest and San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Kern counties were on the lines Tuesday. County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said more resources had been ordered, including aerial tankers that as of Tuesday morning had been unable to fly due to the strong, erratic winds. I wish I had better news, but were hoping for better [weather] conditions, which will help us a lot, Hartwig told supervisors Tuesday morning, referring to an anticipated shift from offshore winds to an onshore flow. We expect that [flow] to run up into the canyons where the fire is established. The U.S. Forest Service is scheduled to assume command of the firefighting effort Wednesday. The Solvang City Council on Monday bid farewell to its Hans Christian Andersen-inspired "Little Mermaid" logo in favor of a sleek, new brand featuring a Danish-style windmill. The design will be featured on any new city signage, letterhead, brochures, website, print and online marketing pieces. According to City Manager Xenia Bradford, the windmill design was developed after a survey of residents showed more support for the windmill than another option. Of the 83 respondents, 47% preferred the windmill theme over nearly 34% which preferred the mermaid. Other options included: agriculture, Danish half-timber architecture, or city name-oriented logo, each of which received less than 10% approval. The logo was adopted on a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Clau Orona dissenting. I would love to see other options because I see a huge conflict of interest in that it looks awful similar to a logo used by another local business. I think its a sneaky way to get free advertising, Orona said. The logo was designed by Rene Kaerskov free of charge and offered for the citys use. Kaerskov owns Danish Mill Bakery, which uses an almost identical logo for its own business. We obviously appreciate the help, and we all care about the time and work that went into it to do it well, but he didnt change, not even the color scheme, so it looks awfully similar, Orona said. Local featured top story West Fraser buys Angelina Forest Products for $300 million CARA CAMPBELL/ The Lufkin Daily News Chief Operating Officer Garry Sorrell stands at the base of a machine meant to sort lumber by length and width on the Angelina Forest Products property in this March 2019 file photo. West Fraser announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the AFP lumber mill for approximately $300 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. JESS HUFF/The Lufkin Daily News The first load put together by Angelina Forest Products is loaded onto the McCoys Building Supply truck to be taken to the Lufkin Branch of McCoys in this December 2019 file photo. AFP has been sold to West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom and Europe. SAMFORD Angelina Forest Products LLC celebrated the sale of its first load of lumber to the Lufkin branch of McCoys Building Supply in December 2019. Less than two years later, AFP has been sold to West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. West Fraser announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the AFP lumber mill for approximately $300 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The transaction is anticipated to close following successful completion of U.S. regulatory reviews and satisfaction of customary conditions, a press release states. The announcement was a surprise to Bob Samford, director of the Lufkin Economic Development Corporation We really dont know when things like that are happening with a publicly traded company, he said but one he called a positive step for the economic health of Angelina County. We fully support the transaction and are excited about having a company with the credibility and history of West Fraser, he said. The LEDC considers this to be a positive move for the city and for Angelina County West Fraser produces lumber, engineered wood products, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals and renewable energy from responsibly sourced and sustainably managed forest resources, the release states. The companys products are used in home construction, repair and remodeling, industrial applications, papers, tissue and box materials. Company management will provide an update and further details about the acquisition during West Frasers third-quarter earnings call Oct. 28, according to the release. Samford called the transaction a good move and one that will ensure the sustainability of the sawmill for a long period of time. (West Frasers) commitment to building products is a really good sign that our local guys made a wise investment, he said. They are a good mill and their employees are dedicated to making a good product. Were proud to have West Fraser be a part of our community and we look forward to working with them. West Fraser president and CEO Ray Ferris said he looks forward to welcoming the Lufkin mill employees to the business. The company completed its acquisition of wood-based panel manufacturer and oriented strand board producer Norbord, which has a facility in Nacogdoches, in February. The management team at Angelina Forest Products has done a commendable job developing the Lufkin team and operations, and we believe this modern, high-margin facility will enhance our existing U.S. platform of lumber mills and help us to better meet the growing demand for our lumber products in Texas and the U.S. South, Ferris said. With this acquisition, we will be able to quickly capitalize on a fully-invested and high-quality manufacturing facility. This includes a trained labor force and the local community and logistics infrastructure to support the mills supply chain, distribution and outlet for residuals. Further, we are able to immediately reap the cash flow benefits of our investment while significantly reducing the associated risks of greenfield construction, execution and start-up. The acquisition is one West Fraser describes as another important step in (its) continued expansion of its U.S. lumber operations. You can see from the CEOs comments that this acquisition is an integral investment for West Fraser, Samford said. Its part of their portfolio that will probably be a gold standard for other sawmills in their company. AFP is expected to progress toward full production capacity of approximately 305 million board feet over the next three to four years, according to the release. The transaction includes approximately $4 million of target working capital and approximately $24 million of supplemental tax attributes that are expected to result in a direct cash flow benefit to West Fraser. West Fraser said it expects the new, highly efficient facility to be a top quartile mill that will integrate with and support its existing East Texas lumber and OSB business. The company also said it anticipates AFP to be among the lowest cost operations in its lumber mill portfolio, citing the mills strategic location near low-cost and abundant fiber as well as large and growing end-markets. AFPs additional lumber production also will allow West Fraser to better serve the companys growing customer base in Texas and the southern U.S., the release states. Samford credits AFP for building a great workforce of dedicated employees that will continue on and be profitable for West Fraser and our community for many years into the future. Its the employees that make up a company, Samford said. You can buy all the technology and sophisticated equipment, but at the end of the day, its the employees that make a business. Upon completion of this transaction, West Fraser will have combined Canadian and U.S. lumber production capacity of approximately 7 billion board feet, with U.S. capacity of southern yellow pine lumber representing approximately 50% of the companys capacity. As far as the economic development health of Angelina County, we have some prospective people that well be working with and were happy to have West Fraser be a part of our community, Samford said. AFP started building its brand-new state-of-the-art softwood lumber production plant in the fall of 2018, promising to invest $100 million into the facility and hire at least 100 people. As of December 2019, AFP employed around 135 workers, which is 35 more than promised originally, and was still looking at improvements they were excited to make, Garry Sorrell, chief operating officer of the facility, told The Lufkin Daily News at the time. At that point, AFPs employees were working two shifts to produce 2-by-4 through 2-by-12 board lengths from 8 feet to 20 feet. The business is identified as Mill No. 33 by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. The sawmill spans half of the old Buck Creek Trailer Plant facility. Their neighbors on the property, cross-laminated timber mat manufacturer Sterling Lumber Company, celebrated the grand opening of its 350,000-square-foot Lufkin facility in October 2019. Though the economy has begun to mellow after 2020, last years market left lasting impacts both good and bad on the Deep East Texas timber and lumber industry in 2021. Demand for lumber increased while supply dropped, resulting in the pricing for materials to skyrocket over 300%, a June report from the Texas A&M Forest Service stated. On top of that, while consumers saw costs increase, timber producers didnt see the benefits expected with the increased costs, according to the report. Consumers looking at building supplies definitely noticed the rising prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but industries relying on lumber also struggled. One thing Adkins was adamant about was that he didnt just want to reproduce the Photoshopped photo in the April Fools Day prank. He wanted to make a legitimate CurderBurger that would taste good and stand on its own merits. This isnt going to just be a media stunt, or throw something together for the engagement opportunities, Adkins said. Everything we do always has to deliver on the quality, and the spoken and unspoken promises that we make to each of our guests. If it wasnt going to just knock it out of the park, I dont think this ever would have seen the light of day. The result, selling for a suggested price of $5.79, essentially takes a Culvers Deluxe burger (minus the slice of cheese, obviously) and adds what Adkins has dubbed a cheese crown on top of the patty. About the same size and shape as the beef, the cheese crown is essentially a giant saucer-sized cheese curd, filled with a mix of yellow and white cheese. Besides resembling the big cheese curd in the April Fools Day prank, the cheese crown solves the problem that comes when trying to put cheese curds on a burger how to keep the curds from tumbling out into your lap. The paper emphasized that the federally licensed Wisconsin gun shop wasn't at fault. The burglars waited on a New Year's Eve until the local police were distracted by a fight at a local bar, and after failing to break through two doors, they finally found a way in to get through a third by using a crow bar. Once inside, smashing a glass showcase and gathering the guns in a cloth bag was easy. But the series showed how difficult it is to get a handle on the proliferation of firearms in so many of the nation's largest cities, and now even here in Madison. What's disturbing is that guns have now become so pervasive in the U.S. that they're being bartered by criminals who are finding them more valuable than actual money. Thousands are stolen every year and wind up in the hands of people who shouldn't have them. Stolen weapons in Wisconsin alone jumped from 97 in 2018 to 217 last year. The paper also noted that in 2019, 460 guns confiscated by Chicago law enforcement originated in Wisconsin. One person interviewed by the Trib's reporters commented, "Gun violence in Chicago and opioid addiction in Superior and Duluth (Minn.) continue to rage." The old timers among us would remark, what a sad state of affairs. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. MOUNT PLEASANT Roland Bud Pater is celebrating his 106th birthday as perhaps the oldest living World War II veteran in Wisconsin. Two visitors from the Veterans Affairs in Milwaukee marked the occasion Monday by attending Paters birthday party in Mount Pleasant and delivering personal regards. Ann Knabe and Darcie Greuel brought Pater a birthday cake and two challenge coins, which are medallions shared with military members to commemorate good conduct or individual achievement. What an honor, Greuel said after meeting Pater. Its like walking back in time. Pater, who was born in 1915, spent his 106th birthday Monday, Oct. 11, surrounded by friends and well-wishers at home, sharing memories of his childhood and his military service. Right now, Im happy, he said to those gathered around him. So many nice people. Few remain Paters historic birthday comes as American World War II veterans are dwindling in numbers every day, from an original 16 million who served to just 240,000 remaining. According to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, an average of 234 are dying every day from among those who served in the war fought between the years 1939 and 1945. Wisconsin has fewer than 4,400 WWII vets remaining. And although nobody is quite sure, officials at the museum and the Department of Veterans Affairs believe Pater is among the oldest left in Wisconsin if not the oldest. Pioneer He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939 and served in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force. Knabe, a colonel in the Air Force Reserves, said she feels especially drawn to Pater knowing that he represents the early days of the Air Force while she represents the modern Air Force. Its fascinating to make this connection, she said. I see this as part of my heritage. Greuel, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, said she traveled to Mount Pleasant with Knabe for Mondays party because she wanted to meet the man who could be Wisconsins oldest remaining WWII vet. The visiting dignitaries, in their 50s, work in the VA complex in Milwaukee. Both wore military uniforms as a show of respect for Pater, who served in Europe and participated in both the landing at Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge. Its incredible, Greuel said. It just makes my heart sing to know that he just hugged me. Born in Racine, Pater graduated from Park High School in 1933. He told the crowd at his birthday party that he enjoyed model airplanes as a child, and he later joined the Boy Scouts, and sold magazines and delivered newspapers to raise money during the Great Depression. I wanted to do everything, he said of his youth. Once in the military, he initially wanted to become a pilot. When he realized he was not cut out for flying, he became a mechanic who worked to keep Army pilots airborne, leading the United States and its allies to victory over Adolph Hitler and Germany. A lifelong fan of motorcycles, Pater operated a Harley-Davidson dealership in Racine in the 1960s and 70s. His wife, Evelyn, died in the 1990s, and he now lives in Mount Pleasant with Keith Kaydo, a former son-in-law who has remained close friends with Pater for more than 40 years. Kaydo described his longtime friend as polite and honest with a lively sense of humor. Hes like a father to me sort of like a grandfather, Kaydo said. Other friends who joined the 106th birthday party recalled getting to know Pater through his motorcycle dealership. Gerry Gallo, 87, of Kenosha, said he started out buying parts from Pater for a motorcycle, but he later ended up working for Pater. Hes a great guy, a great person, Gallo said. Richard Bohaczek, 81, of Somers, said he, too, was a Harley-Davidson customer who become friends with Pater. Bohaczek said he can hardly believe that Pater has lived to 106. Unbelievable, Bohaczek said. He must be doing something right. Pater entertained the crowd with stories of his days in the military, including when he was stationed briefly in Puerto Rico. He enjoyed the hot, sunny weather so much that he wanted to ride his motorcycle. So, he persuaded a friend back in Wisconsin to somehow ship Paters motorcycle to Puerto Rico. If you want to do something, you could do it, Pater said. Asked by others in the crowd about his secret to longevity, Pater said, That I dont know. Some are quick to point to an explosion of new pet owners to explain the increased demand on veterinary clinics. But that's not entirely accurate. Overall shelter pet adoptions in 2020 were the lowest they've been in five years, but intake also dipped substantially during this time. The remaining pets were just getting adopted faster, which explains the empty cages. Instead, vets say that pet owners new and existing were simply paying more attention to their pets, finding lumps, bumps and symptoms they had never noticed before. "You just had this influx of owners who were now at home and all they were doing was focusing on their pet, because they used to be at work every day," said Forcey. She said that sustainable growth for a veterinary practice her size is generally about 20 new pets per month. Since April 2020, her office has seen 1,058 new pets nearly 60 per month. Veterinary appointment bookings grew by 4.5 percent in 2020 and are on track to grow by nearly 7 percent in 2021, according to a report from the American Veterinary Medical Association. But this boom in business is happening while veterinary practices are operating with reduced capacity in order to meet COVID-19 safety protocols. The boy has denied deliberately shooting his sister. His attorney, state Assistant Public Defender Ben Gonring, said in court on Oct. 1 that the shooting was clearly an accident. According to a juvenile delinquency petition, the boy told police he had found the gun near a sofa at the apartment. Police called the weapon a ghost gun because it was put together from parts, some of them polymer 3D-printed components. The boy told a detective he removed the ammunition from the guns magazine, then put the magazine back into the gun, but did not check the guns chamber, the petition states. The boy said he was raising the gun up in the direction of his sister to set it on the kitchen table when it fired. He said he did not pull the trigger and believes the gun misfired, the petition states. Four other people were in the apartment at the time, according to the petition. One of them said she saw the boy showing off the gun and saying, Look what I have, then remove the ammunition from the gun. She said he pointed the gun directly at his sister and shot her, according to the petition. A Fitchburg man arrested early Sunday following a struggle, during which authorities say an officer was shot, was charged Tuesday with five felonies, none of them related to the shooting. Court documents filed Tuesday dont make clear whether the officer was shot as police struggled with Katoine L. Richardson, 19, who later told an investigator he ran from police because he did not want to get caught carrying a gun while he violated a curfew imposed in other criminal cases pending against him. Richardsons attorney, state assistant public defender Stanley Woodard, said in court Tuesday that Richardson did not fire a gun and did not shoot anyone, and suggested the officer may have been shot by another officer. Our local press here has really done a number on this young man, Woodard said. They have claimed that he shot the officer who was injured. No one wants to see anyone shot, especially those who are carrying out their duty to protect our community. The point of the matter is he didnt shoot anyone. The gun that he had was not fired. But yet we see (this) in the paper without any clarification by the police department that Mr. Richardson did not shoot a police officer. Woodard said Richardson told him the shot may have been an inadvertent accident by an officer on the scene who did that. WASHINGTON Congressional Republicans on Thursday objected to a move by the Justice Department to investigate violent threats made against local school board members and teachers, arguing that the federal agency is policing the speech of citizens and concerned parents. Idaho Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher is among the lawmakers pushing back against the investigation. An angry crowd of protesters last month swarmed a building in Coeur dAlene, where a school board was expected to meet to consider school reopening measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Violence and true threats of violence should have no place in our civic discourse, but parents should absolutely be involved in public debates over what and how our public schools teach their children, even if those discussions get heated, according to a letter led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this week directed the FBI to meet with local governments and law enforcement officials to probe increasingly frequent clashes at school board meetings over mask mandates and discussions of race in public schools. His action followed a Sept. 29 plea for help from the National School Boards Association to President Joe Biden, in which school meetings in Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Nevada were cited. As these acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, the association said. As the threats grow and news of extremist hate organizations showing up at school board meetings is being reported, this is a critical time for a proactive approach to deal with this difficult issue, the letter added. But the GOP senators said that it was entirely inappropriate for the association to ask for a review of whether crimes are being committed under various statutes including the PATRIOT Act, which is aimed at deterring terrorism. 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, they wrote. Furthermore, we urge you to instruct the FBI and the various United States Attorneys to make clear in the meetings discussed above that speech and democratic processes, like those that occur at a local school board meeting, must be respected. Over the last year, school board meetings across the country have been the target of conservative activists and some parents over requirements to mask in school to curb the spread of COVID-19 and over critical race theory, which is not taught at the K-12 level and instead is an academic theory studied in college. Critical race theory is the study of the intersection of race and U.S. law. Garland said threats against public servants are illegal and wrong. Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety, Garland wrote in his memorandum to the FBI director. Other Senate Republicans who signed the letter to Garland include Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Kennedy of Louisiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri. Dozens of House Republicans on Thursday also sent a similar letter to DOJ, led by U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. Threats of violence are completely unacceptable; however, this is nothing more than a scare tactic to silence parents who are pushing back against unnecessary mandates and an agenda they disagree with being forced down our childrens throats, the House Republicans wrote. School boards are elected bodies and its their duty to be responsive and fairly represent the parents and students in their district. Some GOP lawmakers who signed included Reps. Daniel Webster, Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube of Florida; Tom Emmer of Minnesota; Bob Gibbs of Ohio; Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin; Russ Fulcher of Idaho; Debbie Lesko of Arizona; Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania; and Ben Cline of Virginia. In the Senate letter, Republicans argued that the local school board meetings that the NSBA characterized as disruptive could have been dealt with by local law enforcement. Citizens expressing their concerns in an appropriate forum is not a matter for law enforcement, and it is even more difficult to imagine what role federal law enforcement would play in such a scenario, the senators said. In Florida, a school board meeting was disrupted when parents and protesters came to discuss items that were not on the agenda such as critical race theory, as reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the NSBA told the White House. Similar situations happened at school board meetings in Michigan and Nevada. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a school board meeting in Gwinnett County, Georgia was disrupted when participants refused to wear masks and objected to the schools requirement that students, teachers and staff wear masks. This too does not appear to warrant criminal investigation, especially by the federal government, according to the GOP letter. Not wearing a mask in a public place may or may not be a violation of a local law, but at most it is a petty offense wholly unworthy of the federal governments attention and the sort of civil disobedience many Democrats would embrace if the politics of wearing masks were reversed. Idaho Capital Sun reporter Audrey Dutton contributed. BOISE Sen. Mike Crapo held a roundtable discussion at the Idaho Capitol on Tuesday with several representatives from local banks and wealth management firms to discuss his concerns about proposed changes to the Internal Revenue Service that would enhance enforcement efforts, saying the changes constitute government overreach and an invasion of privacy. The discussion included Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth and Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf, as well as the chief executive officers of D.L. Evans Bank, Idaho Central Credit Union, CapEd Credit Union and Western Idaho Zions Bank. The discussion was prompted by a proposal from President Joe Bidens administration to double the budget of the IRS with an $80 billion increase that would also change reporting requirements from banks on accounts with at least $600 or at least $600 worth of transactions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has stated the change would help IRS officials more effectively audit the wealthiest earners in America and raise more revenue for government investments. Banks are already required to report interest paid on accounts when it exceeds $10. I think its important to recognize that we have a tax gap thats estimated at $7 trillion over the next decade, Yellen said in a recent congressional hearing. That is taxes that are due and are not being paid to the government that deprive us of the resources we need to do critical investments to make America more productive and competitive. There are a class of partnerships, businesses, high-income individuals who have opaque sources of income that the IRS doesnt have direct information about, and thats where the tax gap is, not low-income people. Crapo said the $600 threshold would include almost every American with more than a lawn mowing job. It includes virtually the entire economy, Crapo said, and it gives the IRS the ability to go in and mine this data. According to reporting from the New York Times, U.S. Treasury officials say the change would not be meant to track individual transactions and was set at a low amount to exclude accounts with little use while still providing comprehensive data. After pushback from banking lobbyists, who say the requirements would raise costs for banks and raise privacy concerns with customers, the administration is contemplating raising the $600 threshold to $10,000 instead. It doesnt matter to me if its a penny or a billion dollars, wrong is wrong, said Kent Oram, president of Idaho Central Credit Union. I dont think theres any number that justifies this. Crapo said he would be in favor of additional funding for the IRS to upgrade its computer and software programs and increase cybersecurity efforts. He added that if people want to make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share of taxes, it should come in the form of changes to the tax code, because most cases of what is considered tax evasion are legal based on existing law. If we dont want those kinds of policies in our tax code, we can eliminate them, Crapo said. The solution is not to provide the data to go into the bank accounts and financial transactions of every American and see if they can just drive up the number of compliance dollars that they can squeeze out. Crapo has introduced the Tax Gap Reform and IRS Enforcement Act bill in response to the idea, but the legislation has not yet been considered by a committee. He encouraged those in attendance to contact their representatives and alert their social circles about the proposal. Crapo told the Idaho Capital Sun he is aggressively raising campaign funds but will announce if he is running in 2022 in January. In his last campaign in 2016, Crapo received $342,250 in campaign donations from commercial banks, and $888,600 from securities and investment donors, according to OpenSecrets. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Facebook is again in the hot seat. It is the company we love to hate. Congress and 60 Minutes threw figurative tomatoes at Mark Zuckerberg and his company while millions watched. We have found the enemy, and he wears grey t-shirts! Meanwhile, back in the larger world, we may have forgotten the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. Over a year ago, whistleblowers from other companies explained the dangers of social media and search engines. Zuckerberg has testified before Congress on the need for government regulation. Another way of looking at the current whistleblowers documentation is that Facebook has researched the social harm media can inflict on its users. Members of Congress get free publicity when they forcefully lash out against Facebook and social media. As citizens, we might begin to believe that Something. Will. Be. Done. Dont hold your breath. Free speech should not extend into the area of deliberate disinformation and the promotion of insurrection. We need a common conclusion about how far our legal right to free speech extends into the domain of political power. Do libel laws need to have more substantial wording? How do we punish the harm of disinformation and tell it from unintentional misinformation? Before we can regulate anything, we must understand how algorithms influence the delivery of free speech. Algorithms are the unseen manipulation of data that results in computer output. Only advanced mathematicians can decipher them. These intellectual constraints impede applicable legislation. Since our Congress has lately been more interested in playing the childrens game of King of the Hill, thoughtful consideration and research of these issues is unlikely. Everyone wants speech controlled if it comes from the other side. The debate about the scope of governments control on our lives is essential to democracy. All autocratic governments contradict democracy. And they restrict oppositional thought. However, the prominent leaders from Silicon Valley and less known members of the digital workforce are calling for government regulation. There is a profit-centered motive for their petitions. In any industry, increasing the cost of production or cutting back the value to the consumer can decrease profit if those actions decrease market share. Media is an immense industry with intense competition. Social Media competes within that space. Less prominent media focuses on gathering customers who want the disruptive information regulators are eyeing. Media profits from its consumer, and it should. The problem has become that social media influenced its consumers to prefer harmful content. The early practitioners of advertising, public relations, propaganda, and psychological warfare could not have imagined the ease of spreading their message made possible by the internet. Providing internet service and content, cable content, or print content is expensive. In the case of social media, there is no cost to the user. The expenses are borne by whoever wants the users attention. Those who have hurtful, destructive, and even subversive intent are willing to pay to get our attention because the message is spread far and wide by others they dont pay. Eliminating damaging content is expensive. Users who object will go elsewhere. Regulation levels the field because it defines what companies must do to diminish harm. Of course, users will have no choice. Hence, the free speech debate. Any governments fundamental role is to provide safety and security. Because reports show that Social Media content is stirring civil unrest, content associated with disinformation is a security issue. What the government should do about bullying and psychological harm is a further dilemma. Individuals can take action to weaken the influence of harmful messages. However, those actions require attention, time, and energy. The federal governments intelligent control of social media can make the task easier. When our educational institutions have helped us master our critical thinking skills, false or biased reasoning is harder to sell. Taxpayers are already paying the price for Mental Health counselors in schools. Would government regulation of social media be a weapon against a students mental problems? Just because regulating social media is complicated does not mean we should not restrict it. The size and monopoly power of Big Tech and media conglomerates is a different problem. We must keep our attention focused on the emerging malevolence in all media and Social Medias role in promoting it. Linda Brugger, retired from the Air Force Reserve, leaning Democrat and community activist can be reached at IdahoAuthor@outlook.com. She welcomes feedback. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As you move throughout your day, you begin to notice that you feel a bit run down, you are beginning to cough, your head is starting to ache, and you think you might have a fever. Do you have COVID? Or is it the flu? The symptoms of flu and of COVID are similar, and both diseases spread in a similar manner through particles in the air when someone infected coughs, sneezes or talks. The differences are 1) the onset of symptoms following exposure is faster for the flu (1-4 days) than it is for COVID (typically 5 days, but can appear 2-4 days after infection), 2) the length of time you can spread the illness (flu 7 days, COVID 10 days or longer with severe illness), and 3) how contagious the virus might be (COVID is generally more contagious). As the leaves begin to change, and we enter the fall season, we know that flu season also begins to ramp up. During these uncertain times of the COVID pandemic, it is more important than ever to do all we can to prevent the flu. Flu prevention techniques are similar to those that help us avoid getting COVID. Wash your hands, wear a mask indoors and when you cant be physically distant from others, stay home when youre feeling ill, and most importantly get vaccinated! If you havent yet received the COVID vaccine, you can get it at the same time you get your flu vaccine. You need both vaccines to be protected from flu and from COVID. Idahos hospitals are at or near capacity with COVID patients who are predominantly unvaccinated. Both flu and COVID can result in serious illness and complications, particularly for those who are high risk older adults, people with underlying medical conditions, and those who are pregnant. If you experience complications from the flu, there may not be available healthcare resources to treat you. I dont know about you, but I dont want to get sick with flu and then worry about whether I will be able to access the care that I need. When it comes to flu and COVID, there is good news. We have vaccines that can prevent severe illness and hospitalization, that are proven safe and effective. There are now tests that healthcare providers can use to test for Influenza A and B and COVID-19 at the same time. Testing and vaccines are easily accessible in pharmacies, and in your community. You as an individual have a role in public health and can support the health of your community by getting vaccinated against the flu. I got my COVID and flu vaccine to protect myself, my elderly parents, and my toddler. Who will you protect when you get vaccinated to fight COVID and the flu? Jennifer Adams is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. She has worked as an immunization advocate for 20 years. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 While working the crime scene to identify and collect evidence, it became quickly apparent that it appeared to be a staged crime scene, said Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry at the time. Evidence was collected, and then over the past 16 months we have continued working very diligently on this case, going through the evidence. Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester has not said why he thinks Pequignot killed his wife. Copies of the search warrants and original police reports remain hidden from public view. Henry County Sheriff Offices Capt. Wayne Davis said the documents were not made available in an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation. Perry has said the mountain of evidence his investigators collected included dozens of interviews, some in South Carolina and other locations. Essie Handy of Ridgeway, Hopkins-Pequignots sister, told the Martinsville Bulletin shortly after the alleged murder that someone with the sheriffs department told her Hopkins-Pequignot was asleep when she was murdered and that some family members had observed blood all over the mattress after her death. Pequignot is due back in Henry County Circuit Court on Jan. 21, over four years after the crime was committed, for a review to determine if he has been mentally restored in order to face trial. He is charged with a single count of first-degree murder. Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 236. Follow him @billdwyatt 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 they start kindergarten they have a pathway forward, said House. Not everybody is going to college that a reality but for those that want to go, we want to make sure that they have the opportunity. Although the Harvest Foundation has announced the grant money for SEED 2.0 is capped at $10.3 million, House said the figure was only an estimate. This covers any kid in those two school systems (Martinsville and Henry County) to go to P&HCC, House said. There is no limit. In other matters: Awards from the Virginia School Board Association were presented by School Board Clerk Janie Fulcher to Superintendent Zeb Talley, board vice chair Yvonne Givens, Dillard and board member Emily Parker for their efforts in improving their boardmanship skills through conferences, webinars and other trainings that they attended in the past year. Givens read a proclamation from Gov. Ralph Northam regarding October being recognized by the state a Bullying Prevention Month. Principals of all schools were then presented with a copy of the proclamation to display in their respective schools. When asked about the structural integrity of the building and its cupola, Oates said I cannot comment on the structure, but I can assure you that we always operate a safe working environment for our employees. The building was constructed in 1903 as the First National Bank of Marion. This was likely a part of the rebuilding process that Marion went through following the great fire of 1894, which destroyed much of the downtown. The bank had its roots in the Commercial Bank of Marion, which had been established in 1896. At that time, the building had a meat market in the lower level, according to the book Marion by Kim Clark. For the largest portion of its history, this structure has been a bank. First Union probably was there the longest. This long-time banking company later moved to another building and became Wachovia and then eventually Wells Fargo. 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. 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 Pashtun 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. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world were faced with the trade-off between shutting down their economies to reduce the burden of the pandemic and the stress on healthcare systems or remaining open. Either way, each option relies on human response to respect or not to respect the chosen measure. The impetus of a Florida Atlantic University study is to illuminate the impact of human behavior on controlling influenza-like illnesses with a focus on economic impact that uses an analytical and numerical perspective. Necibe Tuncer, Ph.D., study author and an associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and collaborators from the University of Florida are the first to introduce a novel mathematical framework to study the interplay between infectious diseases, human behavior, and economic growth. Their robust framework explores the interaction between infectious diseases that can be controlled using non-pharmaceutical interventions specifically social distancing and human response to this intervention and economic growth impacts. Many infectious disease models fail to account for the joint contributions of these three components, let alone considering all three components in a single framework. For the study, published in the Journal of Biological Dynamics, researchers introduced two models: a coupled disease-human behavior (or disease-game theoretic) model to study the impact of full social distancing, and a coupled disease-human behavior model with an economic component to study the interplay between infectious diseases, human response to disease control measures, and the associated economic impact. Results reveal that disease elimination might be possible. According to the first model, this is possible only if the entire population practices complete social distancing. The second model, however, highlights the role of the economy. If the economy is weaker than the social norms, then elimination of the disease is only possible if the entire population practices complete social distancing a scenario that is probably not very realistic. However, if the economy is stronger than the social norms, then elimination is possible with some portion of the population practicing complete social distancing at the expense of the economy. "The lack of economic perspective has been identified as a serious drawback of the multiple COVID-19 mathematical models that have emerged since the beginning of the pandemic," said Tuncer. "In fact, the question is so important that it has driven some preliminary studies with limited mathematical discussion, which is what inspired us to develop our models, which combine epidemiological, evolutionary game theory and socio-economic perspectives in a single framework." The first model can have five different kinds of equilibria: a disease-free, social-distancing free equilibrium; a disease-free, full social-distancing equilibrium; and an intermediate level of full social distancing. The second model of social distancing with an economic compartment has 10 possible equilibria. The economic model, based on the neoclassical economic growth model, emphasizes structural relationships between different factors of production such as capital (e.g. equipment, infrastructure, education, health, among others), labor, and economic productivity. Specifically, the neoclassical growth model describes the change in capital with time according to the equation. "Because this interdependence between disease and economic activities is not limited to COVID-19, our new models lead to new dynamics, new insights at the interface of disease-human behavior-economics, and new conclusions," said Tuncer. Explore further New model helps determine optimal strategies for combining vaccines and social distancing More information: Maia Martcheva et al, Effects of social-distancing on infectious disease dynamics: an evolutionary game theory and economic perspective, Journal of Biological Dynamics (2021). Maia Martcheva et al, Effects of social-distancing on infectious disease dynamics: an evolutionary game theory and economic perspective,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2021.1946177 Each opioid receptor subtype displays specific sequences or barcodes recognized by regulatory proteins. This unique network of interacting proteins will dictate its localization and signaling, thus impacting its physiological functions such as induced analgesic effects. Credit: Jade Degrandmaison. Opioid receptors are proteins in the central nervous system that are targeted by opioid drugs for pain relief. There are three subtypes of opioid receptors, MOP, DOP and KOP, in addition to the opioid-related NOP receptor. The most prescribed opioids, such as morphine, fentanyl and codeine, target opioid receptors (MOP). In recent years, however, many neuroscientists have also been investigating the therapeutic potential of drugs that target the other subtypes of opioid receptors. Past research suggests that the -opioid receptor (DOP) could be a particularly promising therapeutic target for chronic pain management drugs. In fact, substances targeting DOP receptors appear to have fewer adverse effects than commonly used opioids, while still providing relief for pain associated with inflammation, diabetes, cancer and other health conditions. While the molecular mechanisms governing the trafficking of MOP receptors are now well understood, there have so far been relatively few studies focusing on the trafficking of DOP receptors. Some recent papers, however, have highlighted a series of unique characteristics that could set DOP receptors apart from other subtypes of opioid receptors. Researchers at Universite de Sherbrooke in Canada have recently reviewed these past findings with the aim of painting a more exhaustive picture of the mechanisms governing the trafficking of DOP receptors. Their paper, published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research, summarizes what is currently known about the amino acid patterns involved in the regulation of different opioid receptors' trafficking. "Over the past several years, we have been interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the distinctive regulation of the -opioid receptor, a promising pharmacological target for the treatment of chronic pain as well as various mood/psychiatric disorders," Louis Gendron, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Medical Xpress. "Although DOP shares high homology with the other opioid receptor subtypes, this receptor displays very unique characteristics regarding its subcellular localization and intracellular trafficking." The mechanisms underlying the intracellular trafficking of opioid receptors are known to depend on the receptors' interactions with regulatory proteins. Therefore, Gendron and his colleagues set out to delineate the similarities and dissimilarities between amino acid sequences and motifs (or "barcodes") that could explain the differences between DOP receptors and other opioid receptors. "Given their distinctive characteristics, many studies have used DOP and MOP as model receptors for the study of trafficking mechanisms," Gendron explained. "We thus took advantage of these comparative studies to highlight and discuss the differences between both receptors." Gendron and his colleagues also reviewed studies that investigated the trafficking of other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), as the "barcodes" identified in these studies could also be relevant to the opioid receptor physiology. Although less is known about the regulation of their trafficking, the team also discussed the trafficking of kappa (KOP) and nociceptin (NOP) receptors. "While writing our review, we kept in mind that our analysis and mapping of the known recognition and regulatory motifs ("barcodes") could help future investigations of these important receptors," Gendron said. The literature review authored by this team of researchers could have important implications. Most notably, it identified a new series of potential "barcodes" that could be specific to each opioid receptor subtype, which could be further examined in future studies. "Although further research will be needed to validate our predictions, we think that our analysis could help guide future investigations," Gendron said. In the future, the researchers' paper could prove to be a valuable resource for neuroscientists investigating the trafficking of opioid receptors and of GPCRs in general. In fact, other receptors in the central nervous system could be regulated by cellular mechanisms that resemble those outlined by Gendron and his colleagues. "We are now investigating several proteins that were identified in one of our recent publications as DOP-interacting partners directly from brain tissues," Gendron said. "By studying their impact on the specific regulation of the trafficking and signaling of the DOP, we wish to eventually develop novel analgesics exhibiting fewer adverse effects than currently prescribed opioids." Explore further Age, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brain 2021 Science X Network Cases, deaths, hospitalizations and Long COVID cases under four distinct vaccination strategies. Vaccinating essential workers before people aged 70+ (strategies C and D) reduces cases, deaths, hospitalizations and Long COVID compared to vaccinating people aged 70+ first (strategies A and B). Credit: Mulberry et al., 2021, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) In areas where COVID-19 vaccines are limited, vaccinating essential workers before older adults can reduce infections and deaths, according to a modeling study published this week in the new open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Nicola Mulberry of Simon Fraser University, Canada, and colleagues. In vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, many jurisdictions are using age-based rollout strategies, reflecting the higher risk of severe outcomes of infections in older adults. However, as new data emerge on the effectiveness of approved COVID-19 vaccines in reducing infection and transmission as well as minimizing severe outcomes and "Long COVID," vaccine rollout strategies must be reassessed. In the new study, researchers modeled the impact of five different vaccination strategies on COVID-19 infections, chronic outcomes, hospitalization and deaths in British Columbia, Canada. For each vaccine rollout scenario, the rates of vaccination per day matched the projected timelines released by the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. The scenarios varied in whether or not vaccines were distributed by age group, and whether or not essential workers were given priority vaccination. In all scenarios, adults aged 80 years and older were vaccinated before any other groups. The team found that, across a range of scenarios for COVID-19 transmission and vaccine efficacy, vaccinating essential workers earlier gives large reductions in infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and instances of Long COVID (with symptoms lasting longer than 28 days). In a simulated region with limited vaccine supply and a population of 5 million, vaccinating essential workers earlier leads to an estimated 200,000 fewer infections, 600 fewer deaths, and produces a net monetary benefit of more than $500 million USD. The authors conclude that vaccination strategies that explicitly target high-contact essential workers may be key to minimizing negative outcomes of COVID-19 during the rollout of vaccination. Author Paul Tupper notes: "The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted essential workers, who often have lower incomes and no option to work from home. Our findings suggest that prioritizing them for vaccination not only would help to reduce this substantial disparity, but it does not even come at the cost of increased adverse outcomes in others; rather, it is better for everyone." Explore further COVID-19 vaccine delivery by age may mitigate deaths and severe health impacts More information: Mulberry N, Tupper P, Kirwin E, McCabe C, Colijn C (2021) Vaccine rollout strategies: The case for vaccinating essential workers early. PLOS Glob Public Health 1(10): e0000020. Mulberry N, Tupper P, Kirwin E, McCabe C, Colijn C (2021) Vaccine rollout strategies: The case for vaccinating essential workers early.1(10): e0000020. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000020 In a development that could mean Johnson & Johnson might encounter resistance over its application for authorization of a booster shot of its coronavirus vaccine, a new analysis filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday suggests the company's evidence may not be strong enough for approval. A key test used by the company to measure immune response from a booster shot six months after the original shot was likely not sensitive enough, according to the FDA analysis. The agency also questioned whether the boost in immune response was as big as the data suggested. "It is likely that the results seen are due to the low sensitivity of the psVNA assay used," the agency stated in its report. Also, the agency said that it didn't have enough time before Friday's meeting on the J&J booster shot to independently review much of the raw data from a number of company trials on the booster. About 15 million Americans have received the J&J vaccine, and now it's not clear if they'll be given the green light to get a booster shot of the same vaccine, or will have to get one using another vaccine, The New York Times reported. In its application for booster shot approval, Johnson & Johnson included the results of a large-scale trial that began last November, in which they gave half their volunteers a second dose two months after the first. The other half received a placebo. In August, the company said the U.S. portion of that trial showed an overall efficacy rate of 94%, but the FDA analysis focused on the worldwide results, in which the increase rose to 75%, the Times reported. Against severe to critical COVID-19, two shots had an efficacy of 100%. But regulators warned in the analysis that there was little data from that trial on the highly contagious Delta variant, which now causes the vast majority of infections in the United States. The FDA did note the company trial showed a potential boost in protection from a J&J booster given two months after the first shot. "Although not independently confirmed by FDA from datasets, summaries of the data suggest there may be a benefit in a second dose administered approximately 2 months after the primary dose," the agency said. A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the FDA analysis, the Times said. The FDA has already approved a booster shot for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for people who are older than 65 or have health conditions or workplace exposures that put them at risk. Moderna has also submitted a booster shot application that will be evaluated by FDA advisers on Thursday, the Times reported. Explore further J&J to ask FDA to approve its COVID booster shot More information: Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more on Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more on COVID vaccines Provided by New York Times 2021HealthDay. All rights reserved. Confidence in Dr. Anthony Fauci providing trustworthy information about preventing and treating COVID-19by reliance on different media sources. From Annenberg Science Knowledge survey, Aug. 16-Sept. 5, 2021. Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center Four in 10 Americansand 7 in 10 heavy users of conservative mediasay they would take ivermectin if they had been exposed to someone who has Covid-19, according to a new survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. Although ivermectin is approved for use to treat parasitic roundworm infections in humans, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of this anti-parasitic drug to prevent or treat Covid-19, and studies of use of it for those purposes have been inconclusive. The FDA says current data "do not show ivermectin is effective against Covid-19" and using it for that purpose in humans or animals "can be highly dangerous." "The finding that heavy consumers of conservative media are more likely to report a willingness to take ivermectin is consistent with our finding in the summer of 2020 that this audience was more likely to be willing to take hydroxychloroquinewhich at the time was under study, and which the FDA later concluded was an ineffective treatment for hospitalized Covid patients, one whose risks outweigh its benefits," said APPC Director Kathleen Hall Jamieson. The survey is the third wave of data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults that was empaneled in the spring of 2021. This wave of the survey, which was conducted in August and September among 1,669 respondents, finds that: Overall confidence that health authorities including Dr. Anthony Fauci are providing the public with trustworthy information about Covid-19 was largely unchanged from June to early September; Confidence in Fauci continues to be significantly lower among people who are heavier users of conservative media and very conservative media; Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) say they are not likely to be vaccinated and over half of them10% of the total samplesay there is nothing that would change their mind; A quarter of respondents (25%) say they know someone, including themselves, who was fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and nonetheless tested positive for Covid-19 (a so-called breakthrough case); and Unvaccinated people are significantly more likely than vaccinated people to say they know a vaccinated person who experienced a breakthrough case of Covid-19. "The evidence that those who are unvaccinated are more likely to report knowing a vaccinated person who experienced a breakthrough infection may indicate that the unvaccinated seek out evidence consistent with their vaccination hesitance or are more likely to live in under-vaccinated communities with higher ongoing spread of Covid-19or both phenomena may be at work," Jamieson said. "The public health community needs to remind the public that vaccinated individuals who do get breakthrough infections are far less likely to need hospitalization or to die from Covid than are the unvaccinated." (See additional details near end of release.) The latest Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) survey was conducted among 1,669 U.S. adult respondents from August 16-September 5, 2021. Data were weighted to represent the target U.S. adult population. The margin of error is 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The survey, conducted for the Annenberg Public Policy Center by SSRS, an independent research company, is a follow-up to June 2021 and April 2021 surveys fielded with the same respondents. Confusion over ivermectin Conservative media personalities have long promoted the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to prevent or treat Covid-19. For example, in a show on March 8, 2021, Fox News' Laura Ingraham said: "And we know that our FDA has in many ways failed us by not allowing for the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, both of which are used around the world to reduce Covid hospitalizations and deaths." Multiple large studies are assessing the use of the drug but at this point it is unapproved for Covid-19 by the FDA, which warns that its use can be dangerous. Just 1 in 10 Americans (10%) say the statement "ivermectin is an effective treatment for Covid-19" is true, compared with 27% who say it is false. A majority of Americans (63%) say they are not sure whether that statement is true or not. But when asked how likely they would be to take ivermectin if they had been exposed to someone with Covid-19 and the drug were available, 40% of Americans said they were somewhat or very likely to do so. Ivermectin and media exposure The survey asked respondents to describe their media use on a six-point scale, from 0 (none) to 5 (a lot of information). Respondents who gave a 4 or 5 to a type of media use are referred to here as heavy or heavier users. Our analysis of respondents' self-reported media exposure found that among people who said they are heavier users of Very conservative sources such as Newsmax, One America News (OAN), Gateway Pundit, Parler or Telegram: 75% said they were likely to take ivermectin; sources such as Newsmax, One America News (OAN), Gateway Pundit, Parler or Telegram: 75% said they were likely to take ivermectin; Conservative media sources such as Fox News, Mark Levin, or Breitbart: 70% said they were likely to take ivermectin; sources such as Fox News, Mark Levin, or Breitbart: 70% said they were likely to take ivermectin; Social media sources such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter: 46% said they were likely to take ivermectin; sources such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter: 46% said they were likely to take ivermectin; Mainstream print/broadcast media sources such as ABC, NBC, and CBS News, the Associated Press, and the news pages of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal: 35% said they were likely to take ivermectin. Confidence in U.S. health authorities As in the June survey, the current ASK survey found that the most trusted source of information for treating and preventing Covid-19 is an individual's primary health care provider: Primary health care provider : 87% are confident their primary health care provider is offering trustworthy information about treating and preventing Covid-19up significantly from 83% in June. : 87% are confident their primary health care provider is offering trustworthy information about treating and preventing Covid-19up significantly from 83% in June. Food and Drug Administration : 76% are confident that the FDA, which authorized emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccines available in the United States, is providing trustworthy information about Covid-19statistically the same as in the prior surveys, in April and June. : 76% are confident that the FDA, which authorized emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccines available in the United States, is providing trustworthy information about Covid-19statistically the same as in the prior surveys, in April and June. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : 75% are confident the CDC is providing trustworthy information on Covid-19, statistically unchanged in our surveys since August 2020; : 75% are confident the CDC is providing trustworthy information on Covid-19, statistically unchanged in our surveys since August 2020; Dr. Anthony Fauci: 68% are confident that Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is providing trustworthy advice on Covid, statistically unchanged in our surveys since August 2020. Willingness to use ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19by reliance on different media sources for information. From Annenberg Science Knowledge survey, Aug. 16-Sept. 5, 2021. Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center Lower confidence among conservative media users While confidence in the CDC, FDA, and Fauci remains high overall, it is substantially lower for all three among people who are heavier users of very conservative sources, and lower for the CDC and Fauci among those who are heavier users of conservative media sources. Among the heavier users of: Very conservative media : 31% express confidence in Fauci, 59% in the CDC, 51% in the FDA, and 86% in their primary health care provider; : 31% express confidence in Fauci, 59% in the CDC, 51% in the FDA, and 86% in their primary health care provider; Conservative media : 49% express confidence in Fauci, 60% in the CDC, 68% in the FDA, and 90% in their primary health care provider; : 49% express confidence in Fauci, 60% in the CDC, 68% in the FDA, and 90% in their primary health care provider; Social media : 76% express confidence in Fauci, 83% in the CDC, 80% in the FDA, and 94% in their primary health care provider; : 76% express confidence in Fauci, 83% in the CDC, 80% in the FDA, and 94% in their primary health care provider; Mainstream print/broadcast users: 87% express confidence in Fauci, 90% in the CDC, 90% in the FDA, and 96% in their primary health care providers. The data are consistent with those in June. The only statistically significant change was seen in social media users' 94% confidence in primary health care providers, up from 83% in June. Vaccines and prevention The ASK survey found that 75% of respondents reported receiving a Covid-19 vaccine, up from 70% in June and 47% in April, when the same group was surveyed. Of the current sample's vaccinated respondents, 52% said they got Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, 40% got Moderna's, and 6% got Johnson and Johnson's. Of the total respondents, 49% reported discussing Covid-19 vaccination with a health care provider and 51% did not. Speaking with a health care provider about the vaccine was not significantly associated with the decision to be vaccinated or not, an analysis found. Of those who spoke with a health care provider, 83% said the provider was an M.D./medical doctor, 3% said it was an osteopath/D.O., and 1% said it was a chiropractor. Asked whether that health care provider was supportive of or opposed to the Covid-19 vaccine, 85% said the provider was supportive, 4% said the provider was opposed, and 11% said they were not sure. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said they knew someone who died from Covid-19. As mentioned above, a quarter of those surveyed (25%) said they know a vaccinated person (including themselves) who had a breakthrough case of Covid. Almost 1 in 4 of those (23%) who are vaccinated reported knowing a vaccinated person who had a breakthrough case of Covidbut almost 1 in 3 of those (31%) who are unvaccinated people reported knowing someone with a breakthrough case, a statistically significant difference. The survey respondents who knew someone with a breakthrough case were asked about the severity of those people's symptoms. The respondents said 57% of the people who tested positive for Covid-19 despite being vaccinated had moderate or severe symptoms and 43% had no or mild symptoms. Not vaccinated and not likely to be Among the total sample, 1 in 4 (25%) Americans said they have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, compared with 30% in June. Among this still-unvaccinated group, 79% said they have the information they need to decide whether to get vaccinated, but 21% say they still do not have the information they need. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) people in the still-unvaccinated group said they were not likely to be vaccinated. When this group was asked, "Is there anything that could change your mind and convince you to get vaccinated, or not, or are you unsure," over half of the groupor 10% of the total respondentssaid there was nothing that would change their mind. The top reasons selected by the group who say they are unlikely to be vaccinated: 61% - It's still too untested/I'm waiting to see what happens (*up significantly from 48% in April) 53% - I don't trust the government (*up significantly from 40% in April) 51% - I don't trust the scientists and companies that make the vaccine (*up significantly from 36% in June and 30% in April) 49% - I'm worried about allergies and side effects (*up significantly from 35% in April) 28% - I'm just not concerned about coronavirus/Covid-19 26% - I never get vaccines, generally 15% - I had coronavirus/Covid-19, so I think I'm immune (*up significantly from 7% in June and April) The total exceeds 100% because people were allowed more than one response. Provided by Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain India currently has no plans to give booster doses as some nations have begun doing, the government's chief COVID-19 advisor said Wednesday as the country nears the milestone of one billion vaccine injections. Doctor Vinod K. Paul said meanwhile with the country's vaccine makers ramping up production and domestic needs diminishing, India should be able to resume being a major exporter of jabs from next year. More than 15 countries worldwide have begun issuing third doses of coronavirus vaccines to older citizens, including in Israel and in European Union nations such as France, Italy and Germany. But Paul, part of the Indian government's advisory body NITI Aayog, said there is no clear guidance on whether a third dose is necessary, including from the World Health Organization. "As of now we do not have a recommendation for a booster bump-up dose," Paul told reporters, adding however that the government would "continue to watch this space very carefully". His comments came with the number of vaccine doses administered in India set to hit one billion in the coming days, with some 75 percent of those eligible receiving one shot and around 30 percent double vaccinated. India is the world's largest vaccine producer but the country halted exports of COVID jabs earlier this year to focus on its domestic needs after a devastating infections surge overwhelmed hospitals. But with vaccination rates now high and coronavirus cases down sharply, exports have resumed in recent days, with a total of around four million doses reportedly being sent to Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Iran. Production of Covishieldthe Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccineand the homegrown Covaxin is currently around 250 million shots per month and is on course to reach 270 million soon, according to officials. Combined with the production of other vaccines made in Indiaincluding Johnson & Johnson with local partner Biological Ecoming on line, the country could begin exporting again on a large scale next year. "Huge, huge availability can be visualised potentially," Paul said, allowing Indiaa vital supplier to other low-income countriesto be "potentially very generous" again in 2022. 2021 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Dr. Christopher Duntsch was a spine surgeon so reckless, incompetent or impaired that he's now in a Texas prison. Better known as "Dr. Death," Duntsch severed nerves, vocal cords and arteries that should not have been touched. He left patient after patient maimed, paralyzed or dead. Moreover, his story exposes the inability or reluctance of the medical community to stop him. Eventually, the Texas Medical Board did revoke his license. But three fellow surgeons, certain that Duntsch would simply move to another state and resume his career of carnage, implored the Dallas County district attorney to prosecute him. In 2017, a jury took just four hours to convict. Although sentenced to life in prison, Duntsch is up for parole in 2045, when he will be 74. As a law professor and social psychologist, I've been following the problem of patient safety for four decades. Some of my work was included in "Closing Death's Door," a 2021 book co-authored with my colleague, emeritus professor of law Stephan Landsman. After studying the failures of the health care and legal systems, we have seen how certain legal innovations could improve patient safety. Good intentions, horrific consequences The media's fascination with Duntsch is precisely because he's such a bizarre outlier. By contrast, the harm you might suffer in health care would likely be at the hands of a provider who is competent and well-intentioned. When something goes seriously wrong, it's typically due to a small slip or oversight. Still, the blunders can be devastating and are all too common. Examples go back decades: In 2006, when a biopsy sample was mislabeled, a Long Beach, New York, woman without breast cancer was misdiagnosed and got a mastectomy. In 2013, a Boston surgeon misread a label and injected the wrong type of contrast media into a patient's spine; the patient died an agonizing death. And sometimes, left and right still get mixed up, even when the hospital has policies to stop wrong-location surgeries. Medical errors are a major cause of death Medical mistakes, and not the patient's underlying condition, produce more deaths and injuries than all other types of accidents in the U.S. combined. They are one of the leading causes of death, behind heart disease and cancer. Studies from the early 1970's onward estimate that about 200,000 to 400,000 Americans die from medical errors every year, perhaps more than 1,000 a day. By comparison, about 115 people in the U.S. die per day in motor vehicle crashes, 14 from workplace accidents and approximately zero from commercial airliner crashes. And for every patient who died from a medical mistake, two more suffered moderate to severe injuries. What's more, all of those mistakes involved hospital patients only. The studies did not include errors at outpatient surgery centers or the doctor's office, including prescription snafus or lab errors. There have been glimmers of progress, but no major advances. Despite decades of talk, hospitals seem unable to appreciably reduce preventable injuries and deaths. The persistent high numbers also suggest that conventional malpractice litigation has been inadequate as well. Focus on organizations, not caregivers Humans inevitably make mistakes, but most patient safety advocates believe medical error is embedded in the systems, procedures and processes of health care organizations, and are not simply the result of individual caregiver errors. If the law's focus of accountabilityand liabilitycould shift from doctors and other caregivers to the hospitals where they work, that would push organizations to develop safer systems. A proposed legal approach, "enterprise liability," is intended to do exactly that: Every provider must belong to one or more health care organizations, which would be accountable for that practitioner's work. When errors are made and patients are harmed, only the organizationnot the practitionercould be sued. By refocusing accountability, health care organizations would be encouraged to choose personnel more carefully, train and supervise them better and invest more in safer systems. Negligence rewarded Perverse incentives at these institutions have impeded safety improvements. For instance, medical mistakes requiring additional care bring more revenue to the very health care organizations that could have prevented the mistake. Erroneous injuries, however inadvertent, lead to financial reward. This contributes to the inertia that many hospitals already have about making expensive changes. A hospital determined to be safer will spend time and money making those improvements, but success will mean a permanent reduction of its income. That's why making safety investments more attractive to hospital administrators is critical. Medicare and Medicaid now refuse to pay hospitals when patients suffer certain "hospital-acquired conditions." Another possibility: "pigovian taxation," which recoups costs for those injured by medical mistakesthe safer the hospital, the smaller the tax. Restructuring the system Most hospital systems, stunningly fragmented, could benefit from a redesign, perhaps modeled after high-reliability organizations. Exemplified by the commercial aviation industry, high-reliability organizations operate complex and high-hazard enterprises so effectively that errors are difficult to makeor, if made, are caught by computers or double-checking humans before harm occurs. Technology, although a blessing, brings its own opportunities for error. At some hospitals, operating rooms contain the same equipment but different makes, models, designs and vintages. Staff must remember how to work the varied technology. If hospital equipment was consistent across operating rooms, the risk of error would be lowered. And then, the most direct kind of legal intervention: Closely monitor a limited number of high-profit, high-risk procedures. Regulators would receive risk-adjusted data on a caregiver's performance; if mortality rates exceed acceptable levels, the regulator would terminate the provider's authorization to perform the procedure. This has been done successfully in New York state with coronary artery bypass graft procedures. A range of these innovationsin health care organizations, technology and lawhold the key to reducing the astonishing and tragic frequency of preventable deaths and serious injuries. Without such changes, the future of patient safety won't be better than its past. Explore further Study: Patient harm common in New Zealand This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A substantial number of English communities experienced a decline in life expectancy from 2010-2019, Imperial College London researchers have found. In the five years before the pandemic (2014-2019) life expectancy went down in almost one in five communities for women, and one in nine communities for men, according to the new study published in The Lancet Public Health journal and funded by the Wellcome Trust, Imperial College London, the Medical Research Council, Health Data Research UK and the National Institute of Health Research. The new study is the first to analyze longevity trends in ultra-fine detail and could identify where life expectancy declined with much more precision than before. The researchers tracked life expectancy in communities of around 8,000 people, while other statistics are typically based on much larger areas (such as local authority districts, which have a median population of around 140,000 people). They found that communities with the lowest life expectancy (below 70 and 75 years for men and women, respectively) were typically situated in urban areas in the North of England. Although recent data from the Office for National Statistics found that life expectancy for men in the UK had fallen for the first time in 40 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new research shows that life expectancy was declining in many communities years before the pandemic began. Senior author, Professor Majid Ezzati from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "There has always been an impression in the UK that everyone's health is improving, even if not at the same pace. These data show that longevity has been getting worse for years in large parts of England." "Declines in life expectancy used to be rare in wealthy countries like the UK, and happened when there were major adversities like wars and pandemics. For such declines to be seen in 'normal times' before the pandemic is alarming, and signals ongoing policy failures to tackle poverty and provide adequate social support and health care." The new study analyzed all deaths in England for all years from 2002-2019, amounting to more than 8.6 million deaths records, and assigned them to the community where each person lived at the time of their death. There were 6,791 local communities included in the study, and the researchers assessed life expectancy trends over time for each of these for men and women. The study found that between 2002 and 2010 the vast majority of communities saw their life expectancy increase. However, from 2010-2014, longevity began declining for women in one in 20 communities (5%, 351/6,791 local areas) and in one community for men. This deterioration accelerated and spread from 2014-2019, with life expectancy declining for women in almost one in five communities (18.7%, 1,270/6,791), and in one in nine communities for men (11.5%, 784/6,791). In these places, between 2014-19, life expectancy declined by an average of 0.17 years for women (around two months) and 0.12 years for men (around a month and a half). Taken over the entire time from 2002 to 2019, the biggest life expectancy decline seen for women was a loss of three years for an area of Leeds (from 78.7 to 75.6 years), and for men was of 0.4 years in a part of Blackpool (from 68.7 to 68.3 years). There were also startling reversals in life expectancies for women in a number of communities in Yorkshire and The Humber over this time. The researchers note that the regions where life expectancy declines occurred often already had lower life expectancy, and high levels of poverty, unemployment, and low education. In comparison, between 2002 and 2019, life expectancy increases of nine years or more were seen for men and women in some parts of central and north London. These trends created stark geographical differences. In 2019, there was about a 20-year gap in life expectancy for women living in communities with the highest and lowest life expectancies (one region of Camden had a life expectancy of 95.4 years, compared to a community in Leeds with a life expectancy of 74.7 years). For men, the gap was 27 years (life expectancy in one area within Kensington and Chelsea was 95.3 years, compared to 68.3 years in a part of Blackpool). Communities with the lowest life expectancy were typically located in urban areas in the North, including Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool. Communities with the highest life expectancies were often based in London and the surrounding home counties. Lead author, Theo Rashid from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "These results mirror an earlier trend in the U.S.which also saw life expectancy declines prior to the pandemic. In both England and the U.S., life expectancy declines are associated with unemployment and insecure employment following deindustrialisation, compounded by reductions in social and welfare support, and reduced funding for local governments. These factors had larger effects in the North of England than in London and Southern parts of the country." "These changes impact life expectancy because they are associated with poorer nutrition and housing, riskier behaviors, and more restricted health care services, all of which lead to worse health and premature deaths." The researchers conclude that urgent action must be taken to stop the deterioration and improve health in disadvantaged communities. They call on the Government to increase investments in public health and healthcare in communities with lower life expectancy, and to introduce pro-equity economic and social policies. Professor Ezzati said: "The post-COVID 'Build Back Better' agenda can create an opportunity for better health, but it currently does not focus on equity and the resources allocated to 'levelling up' agenda are too little to address these concerning trends. To level up health, the government must make significant investments in people, communities and health services to first reverse this deterioration of health in so many communities." The researchers note that they did not study the diseases that underlie death, so cannot determine the diseases driving the differences in life expectancy across England. They also flag that although they divided communities into smaller groups with similar socioeconomic status, there are still likely to be some variations within them. To understand life expectancy differences related to specific socioeconomic characteristics would require linkages of health with census, education, and income data. Explore further Cuts to local government funding in recent years cost lives, study finds Credit: Keele University As featured on BBC News, over 75 percent of cancer patients involved in a study at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford say their mental health has been given a boost thanks to a virtual reality research project by a local filmmaker, in partnership with Keele University researchers. Professor Saeed Farooq and Dr. Rashi Negi from Keele's School of Medicine and the Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust have worked with Ben Malone, the owner of Project Vae, a non-profit community interest company, on a study where patients were able to 'visit' destinations across the world through the use of 360 videos and virtual reality headsets, from the comfort of their armchairs. Over 75 percent said they felt improvements to their mental health and reported feeling less nervous, anxious or on edge after the trial. The team now hope to build on the results of the Project Vae study by rolling it out on a larger scale and working towards improving the mental health and wellbeing of other patients within the care system. The explorative study, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, looked at whether utilizing virtual reality technology to show hospice patients field trip style videos would lead to positive changes in their mental health and wellbeing. Over seven weeks, patients experienced six virtual reality videos, including 360 visits to destinations including Germany, Scotland, Cornwall, the Peak District, The Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool and Thailand. The videos ranged from six to 24 minutes long and were filmed in a vlog- style manner to allow the participants to feel like they had a companion with them on the adventure, rather than just being shown static clips of a beautiful location. They were also given flight-like experiences connected to a drone during some of the videos, allowing the patients to see the landscapes from an aerial perspective. The researchers evaluated the impact of the videos on the mental health of patients by having the participants complete a questionnaire on various aspects of their mental health before and after watching the videos. Dr. Rashi Negi, honorary senior clinical fellow, said: "I am delighted with the result that this study has achieved and truly believe that the potential uses of this technology are limitless. I am hoping that the next stages will be rolling out this technology in larger groups of patients at hospices but also in many other patient populations such as patients suffering with dementia and other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety in care homes, in their own homes and on geriatric wards. "This study perhaps has even more relevance for today and for the future, given the current COVID pandemic that unfortunately, has caused increases in anxiety, depression and social isolation. I am truly grateful to Ben for approaching us with this innovative idea and for his dedication and commitment to develop this idea further." Professor Farooq, professor of psychiatry and public mental health, said that "it was truly exciting to use the virtual reality in the hospice and to see its wonderful impact in improving the mental health and well-being of hospice patients. Using 360 videos as virtual field trips for hospice patients is highly innovative. I am pleased to be part of this project and hope that this can be used in people living with other debilitating conditions and in situations where social interactions are limited such as lockdowns due to the pandemic." Explore further How COVID-19 changed the delivery of mental health services Estimated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs, in thousands) caused by dengue each year from 2010 to 2020 in Singapore under different scenarios: A) age dependent disability weights (DW), constant expansion factors B) age dependent disability weights, age dependent expansion factors C) constant disability weights, constant expansion factors D) constant disability weights, age dependent expansion factors. Credit: Soh et al., 2021, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) New research suggests that denguea viral infection spread by mosquitoscould be suppressed in Singapore in a highly cost-effective manner through the release of mosquitos infected with the bacterium Wolbachia. Stacy Soh of the National Environment Agency in Singapore and colleagues present these findings in the new open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health on October 13, 2021. Singapore experiences periodic dengue outbreaks, including a 2020 outbreak that peaked at 1,792 weekly cases. Mosquitos infected with the natural bacterium Wolbachia are less likely to spread dengue, and evidence suggests that dengue can be suppressed by releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitos into local mosquito populations. However, the overall cost-effectiveness of this strategy had not been studied. To evaluate the potential cost-effectiveness of Wolbachia suppression in Singapore, Soh and colleagues first used economic and epidemiological data to calculate the impact of dengue in the country from 2010 through 2020. They estimated that, over that 10-year period, dengue cost Singapore between $1.014 to $2.265 billion in 2010 U.S. dollars, as well as 7,645 to 21,262 disability adjusted life years (DALYs)total years of human life lost to illness, disability, or death. Next, the researchers calculated the hypothetical cost of a Wolbachia program over the same 10-year period. They considered a strategy in which Wolbachia-infected males would have been released, as opposed to infected females, in hopes of suppressing existing mosquito populations. In this scenario, the researchers modeled a minimum of 40 percent efficacy, in line with results from real-world studies. The researchers calculated that, under such a program, averting a single DALY would cost $100,907, for a total of $329.40 million saved overall. The authors note that future work could help refine these cost estimates. For instance, future research could address how a Wolbachia suppression program might unfold in the context of distribution of a newly developed dengue vaccine, or alongside other existing vector control efforts, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Regardless, the authors consider their estimates indicate that a Wolbachia program would be highly cost-effective and suggest that its rollout be prioritized in Singapore to suppress the spread of dengue. Author Dr. Lim summarizes: "The release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes is a promising disease intervention strategy that aims to control dengue and other arboviral infections, however, the overall cost-effectiveness of the technology is not well studied under the suppression approach that aims to suppress the wild-type mosquito population through the release of Wolbachia-infected males. Using Singapore as the primary case example, this study found that the Wolbachia releases in Singapore are expected to be highly cost-effective and its rollout must be prioritized to reduce the onward spread of dengue." Explore further Mosquitoes infected with virus-suppressing bacteria could help control dengue fever More information: Soh S, Ho SH, Seah A, Ong J, Dickens BS, Tan KW, et al. (2021) Economic impact of dengue in Singapore from 2010 to 2020 and the cost-effectiveness of Wolbachia interventions. PLOS Glob Public Health 1(10): e0000024. Soh S, Ho SH, Seah A, Ong J, Dickens BS, Tan KW, et al. (2021) Economic impact of dengue in Singapore from 2010 to 2020 and the cost-effectiveness of Wolbachia interventions.1(10): e0000024. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000024 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Cells carrying mutations can out compete early tumors in the mouse esophagus, so they never make it into cancers, new research has shown. Normal human esophagus is a patchwork of cells containing mutations, known as mutant clones. This new research, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, and collaborators, used state of the art 3-D imaging techniques and mouse models to visualize microscopic tumors at an earlier stage of development than was previously possible, allowing researchers to uncover an unexpected role that mutant clones play in tumor prevention. The paper, published today (13th October 2021) in Nature, shows that these high mutant clone burden creates a highly competitive environment in which microscopic early tumors struggle to grow before they are swept out of the tissue by the surrounding mutant cells. Despite this, a few early tumors survive and may develop into oesophageal cancer. Understanding the mechanisms that prevent the majority of these newly formed microscopic tumors from becoming cancer will give new insights into the prevention of this disease. All tissues in the human body accumulate mutations over an individual's life. In the esophagus, there is a high density of these mutant clones, which compete for space in order to survive in the tissue. While most mutant clones contain mutations that have been associated with the development of cancer, the rate of tumor formation is not as common as expected, suggesting that there are other factors preventing the growth of cancer. In this research, the teams from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, and other collaborators, were able to show that early tumors up to approximately 100 cells struggle to grow in the competitive environment created by the presence of highly competitive mutant clones carrying more advantageous mutations. This research shows that the survival of early tumors in mice does not depend solely on the mutations they carry, but also on the mutations within the neighboring normal tissue. In addition to this, it shows that while some mutations can be the cause of cancer, other mutant clones can have a tumor suppressive role, which is independent of the body's immune system. These findings help to explain how there is a relatively low rate of cancers compared with the very high number of mutant cells. Further studies into whether the same interactions are seen in human tissue, which mutations lead to cancer cells being successful in this aggressive environment, and the mechanisms behind this, are needed to gain further understanding about the development of oesophageal cancer. Dr. Bartomeu Colom, first author and Senior Staff Scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said that "studying the highly competitive environment of the esophagus and how cells interact and evolve to survive here has given us new insight into how the surrounding cells impact the ability of early tumors to progress in mice. If we understand these interactions fully, it could lead to new ways to prevent early tumors from growing into cancers." Dr. Albert Herms, author and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said that "adult tissues have multiple barriers that cancer cells need to overcome in their route from the initial accumulation of mutations until the development of cancer. In this study we uncovered a new mechanism of protection against cancer that oesophageal tissues use, which is the competition for the space between cancer-driving cells and their neighbor mutant cells." Dr. Phil Jones, senior author and Senior Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the MRC Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge, said that "before our research, it wasn't understood how the cells in the esophagus could contain so many cancer-driving mutations and not have a higher rate of tumors. Our study unravels part of this mystery by showing, in single-cell resolution, that these clones can engulf and remove early tumors in mice, leading to a protective effect. Future research can continue to build on this to try to uncover why some of these tumors develop into cancer." Explore further Potentially cancerous cells kept in check by competitive neighbours, study of oesophagus finds More information: Phil Jones, Mutant clones in normal epithelium outcompete and eliminate emerging tumors, Nature (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03965-7 Journal information: Nature Phil Jones, Mutant clones in normal epithelium outcompete and eliminate emerging tumors,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03965-7 (HealthDay)The incidence of myocarditis is low but increased among individuals aged 16 years and older who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, with the highest incidence among young men, according to two studies published online Oct. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Guy Witberg, M.D., from Beilinson Hospital in Israel, and colleagues searched the database of the largest health care organization in Israel for diagnoses of myocarditis in patients who had received the BNT162b2 vaccine. The researchers found that 54 cases met the criteria for myocarditis among more than 2.5 million vaccinated individuals aged 16 years or older. The estimated incidence was 2.13 cases per 100,000 persons who had received at least one dose of vaccine. The incidence of myocarditis was highest among males aged 16 to 29 years (10.69 cases per 100,000 persons). Seventy-six percent of cases of myocarditis were mild, and 22 percent were intermediate. There was an association with cardiogenic shock for one case. Dror Mevorach, M.D., from Hadassah Medical Center in Israel, and colleagues reviewed Israeli Ministry of Health data obtained from Dec. 20, 2020, to May 31, 2021, for all cases of myocarditis. The researchers found that 142 of 283 cases occurred after receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine; 136 of these cases were definitive or probable. In 129 recipients, the clinical presentation was judged to be mild; one fulminant case was fatal. The overall risk difference was 1.76 per 100,000 persons between the first and second vaccine doses. The largest difference was seen among males aged 16 to 19 years (difference, 13.73 per 100,000 persons). After the second dose, the standardized incidence ratio compared with expected incidence for myocarditis was 5.34 overall and 13.60 for males aged 16 to 19 years. "On the basis of data from an Israeli national database, the incidence of myocarditis after two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was low but higher than the incidence among unvaccinated persons and among historical controls," Mevorach and colleagues write. Several authors from the Witberg study disclosed ties to Pfizer; several authors from the Mevorach study disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry, including Pfizer. Explore further Acute myocarditis rare after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in adults Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. PhD Student Yaolei Zhang, DTU Bioengineering, with the Ossabaw pig Donna in the BioFacility stables at DTU Ris Campus. Donna is the pig, whose complete genome was mapped. Credit: Jesper Scheel Mapping of the complete genome of the obesity-prone Ossabaw pig gives new hope for further insights into human obesity and associated diseases For the first time in history, researchers at DTU Bioengineering and DTU Health Tech in collaboration with researchers in China and the US have mapped the complete genome of the exceptional Ossabaw pig. Important data, which is now freely available to the research community for further investigation. The Ossabaw pig is generally regarded as the most complete and most human-relevant obesity model available, including the very complex mechanisms linking obesity with irreversible, serious obesity comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. These relevant disease mechanisms makes the Ossabaw pig useful for understanding human obesity, as it is similar to and therefore can be translated to human conditions. The origin of the Ossabaw pig's tendency to obesity and obesity comorbidities lies within its more than 500 years of natural evolution in isolation on the Ossabaw Island off the coast of Georgia, U.S., where food supply is highly variable. This setting is similar to the way the 'feast' (food surplus) and 'famine' (food scarcity) environment is hypothesized to have shaped the human genome in early human history. The genome of the Ossabaw pig is therefore of considerable interest. "The complete mapping of the genome provides a unique possibility to identify genes that are different from the genome of common, lean breed of pigs and therefore may be related to the obese phenotype, indicating obesity mechanisms, biomarkers and targets for treatment. We now have a human-translatable genomic blueprint for the very complex state of obesity-associated disease," Professor Peter M.H. Heegaard, DTU Health Tech, says. "This will consolidate the use of the Ossabaw pig as the obesity model of choice and we are excited to be able to provide European collaborators with DTU Ossabaw pigs in the coming years." "Whole genomic information is extremely important for identifying genetic changes that drive formation of unique features for species and tracing diseases. The Ossabaw genome will provide a valuable resource for studying obesity related metabolic syndromes in the future," Ph.D. Student Yaolei Zhang, DTU Bioengineering, explains, when asked about future perspectives derived from his work. For further details, read the scientific paper recently published in iScience. Explore further Access to rare pigs could provide researchers a more effective way to develop treatments for diabetes More information: Yaolei Zhang et al, The genome of the naturally evolved obesity-prone Ossabaw miniature pig, iScience (2021). Journal information: iScience Yaolei Zhang et al, The genome of the naturally evolved obesity-prone Ossabaw miniature pig,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103081 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Although many states currently mandate that pregnant and postpartum women be assessed for perinatal depression, interviews with patients in central Illinois suggest that health care providers may conduct the screenings in ways that hamper their efficacy and overlook patients' symptoms. In interviews with 29 patients who had recently undergone depression screenings in obstetrics and gynecology clinics or hospitals, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that many of these patients viewed the screening process as ineffective because their symptoms were disregarded or there was a lack of communication about the screening's efficacy, purpose or results. Nearly half of the women reported that their results were not shared with them afterward or that they did not receive a second screening, even though their scores on the first assessment indicated that they had elevated depressive symptoms. "Patients reported that providers were unsupportive when they expressed concerns about their moods, even when the screener indicated they had clinically significant depression symptoms," said first author Wan-Jung (Wendy) Hsieh, a graduate student in social work. "These expectant and new mothers wanted a compassionate, one-on-one conversation with their provider in which they could discuss their experiences, have their voices heard and talk about the resources that might be appropriate in their situation." Equally concerning were patients' perceptions that their health care providers' attitudes were negative or dismissive, conveying to patients that the screenings were a trivial or burdensome requirement to be dispensed with as quickly as possible, the researchers found. "Many of the patients expressed a desire for a social worker to be part of the screening process and facilitate a conversation around it," said social work professor Karen M. Tabb, who led the research project. "They also recommended that medical providers receive specific training to enhance their sensitivity to patients' concerns and levels of compassion shown." Published in the journal Health Affairs, the study's findings point toward a critical need for a standardized protocol and a patient-centered approach that requires providers to explain the purpose of the screening tool, share the results with the patient, and coordinate services for diagnosis and treatment when needed, Tabb said. Illinois is among the states that currently have or intend to enact mandates that pregnant and postpartum women be screened for depression. Under Illinois' policy, enacted in 2008, clinics and hospitals that provide prenatal care, labor and delivery services are required to screen patients at least twice. However, it's unclear whether these policies are improving outcomes for mothers and their children, Tabb said. Participants in the study were recruited via notices posted at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District office, but most discussed treatment experiences at other medical facilities in the broader community. CUPHD serves about 1,000 pregnant and postpartum women monthly, administering the depression screening once during each client's pregnancy and again after delivery, according to study co-author Brandon Meline, the director of the Maternal and Child Health Division. Many of CUPHD's patients speak limited or no English and live at or below the federal poverty level, making navigating the local health system on their own difficult and an additional barrier to obtaining care, Meline said. The population served by the clinic also tends to be transient, complicating efforts to follow up with patients as needed. Many of the women in the study were unaware that the form they had filled out was a depression screening because staff had not explained it to them, they said. Some of the women feared being stigmatized as bad mothers and their children being removed from their home if they sought mental health treatment or were diagnosed with depression. Other women feared that the screening results might negatively affect their ongoing child welfare or custody cases. While patients were provided with a list of mental health resources available in the broader community, study participants said they saw little value in these lists and would have preferred that clinic staff assisted them in arranging follow-up appointments. Women in the study also suggested that the screening process should encompass the family and not just the mother, since maternal depression affects the other parent or partner, too. "Although the sample was small, our findings underscore the importance of educating clinical staff about the manner in which they provide depression screenings so that women feel supported and comfortable discussing any symptoms they may be having," Tabb said. "Likewise, it's important that patients understand the nature of the screening and its significance. Maternal depression not only raises mothers' risks of harming themselves but also increases their infants' risks of dying within their first year of life." Explore further Perinatal depression screenings may not detect women having suicidal thoughts, study finds More information: Wan-Jung Hsieh et al, Patients' Perceptions Of Perinatal Depression Screening: A Qualitative Study, Health Affairs (2021). Journal information: Health Affairs Wan-Jung Hsieh et al, Patients' Perceptions Of Perinatal Depression Screening: A Qualitative Study,(2021). DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00804 Terminology. (A) Single-plate (Champy) fixation. (B) Biplanar fixation. The angle of the mandible (in purple) is at the junction between the ramus (in red) and corpus (in green).The symphysis is indicated by the dotted line and bordered on either side by the parasymphysis (in yellow). Labial (close to lip), lingual (close to tongue), and buccal (close to cheek) surfaces are indicated in black. Credit: DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10559 Research led by the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) has found the technique currently used in clinics to fix a broken jaw is not biomechanically stable. The study set out to investigate the best way of repairing the most common subtype of lower jaw fractureangle fracturesas unsuccessful jaw trauma and repair can result in serious short and long-term problems for the patient and are a major cause of morbidity, costing millions in hospitalization annually. The findings showed that the biplanar fixation technique, which is least preferred by surgeons due to its invasive nature, was biomechanically the most stable in the treatment of angle fractures. Biplanar fixation requires a surgical incision through the cheek, splitting a major muscle of chewing (the masseter) that sits in this area. This incision allows for the addition of a second miniplate on the lower part of the jaw offering a more rigid structure than the most popular miniplate (Champy) technique, which although less invasive, results in a biomechanically unfavorable environment that likely inhibits bone healing. There was also an unexpected finding that chewing from the same side of the fracture after repair creates a more biomechanically stable environment than chewing from the unfractured side. While there can be many causes for a broken jaw, including congenital disorders, oropharyngeal cancers, falls, battlefield injuries and vehicle accidents, the most common cause are assaults involving drug-or alcohol-affected young men aged 20 to 40 years and can significantly impact a patient's health and wellbeing due to pain and difficulty in eating. The findings were published today in JBMR Plus. The study was led by Monash BDI's Dr. Olga Panagiotopoulou lab in collaboration with Professor Callum F Ross from the University of Chicago, surgeon Professor Russell R Reid from the University of Chicago Medical Centre, and collaborator Dr. Jose Iriarte-Diaz from Sewanee, The University of the South in Tennessee, US. "The jaw is the primary bone for chewing, an essential behavior for our survival. Identifying the best method to fix a broken jaw will promote bone healing, improve facial aesthetics and most importantly restore chewing without pain," Dr. Panagiotopoulou said. In the short term, jaw trauma and unsuccessful repair can result in tissue dysfunction, bone infection and bone healing problems, which affect the patient's ability to eat and cause pain, she said. "In the long term, improper fixation of jaw fractures can result in increased pain and analgesic use, which can lead to opioid abuse and addiction," Dr. Panagiotopoulou said. "Past research has shown that the pain associated with jaw fracture repair negatively impacts on mental health, and jaw fracture patients are more likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs than those undergoing other maxillofacial procedures." Professor Reid said: "Currently the Champy technique is the most popular technique due to its relative ease of application, but has the drawbacks of being limited to more simple fractures (non-fragmented) and may lead to micromotion of the bony segments after fixation, which may compromise healing. "This research is groundbreaking because it challenges current paradigms in fixation and rehabilitation and may lead to the development of new devices (plate and screw designs, e.g.) in the future." First author Dr. Hyab Mehari Abraha from Dr. Panagiotopoulou's lab said: "Our study showed that this popular (Champy) surgical repair technique for jaw fracture may not provide enough rigidity for the bone to heal, particularly when patients are chewing on the opposite side to their fracture." Dr. Panagiotopoulou said the study's combination of specific engineering techniques, animal models and use of computer simulations formed the most robust testing environment for angle fracture and repair developed to date. However, in-vivo feeding behavior data was needed pre- and post-fracture and repair before the study's results could be used to guide clinical decision-making about fixation technique and chewing side during rehabilitation, she said. Explore further Researchers identify stem cell population key for bone regeneration More information: Hyab Mehari Abraha et al, Fracture fixation technique and chewing side impact jaw mechanics in mandible fracture repair, JBMR Plus (2021). Hyab Mehari Abraha et al, Fracture fixation technique and chewing side impact jaw mechanics in mandible fracture repair,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10559 A man rides his bike past the closed main entrance of the international border bridge that connects the cities of Del Rio, Texas and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano The U.S. will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The new rules, to be announced Wednesday, will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the U.S. regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel into the country. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the U.S., like truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated. Senior administration officials previewed the new policy late Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to speak ahead of the formal announcement. Both Mexico and Canada have pressed the U.S. for months to ease restrictions on travel that have separated families and curtailed leisure trips since the onset of the pandemic. The latest move follows last month's announcement that the U.S. will end country-based travel bans for air travel, and instead require vaccination for foreign nationals seeking to enter by plane. Both policies will take effect in early November, the officials said. They did not specify a particular date. The new rules only apply to legal entry to the U.S. Officials cautioned that those seeking to enter illegally will still be subject to expulsion under so-called Title 42 authority, first invoked by former President Donald Trump, that has drawn criticism from immigration advocates for swiftly removing migrants before they can seek asylum. One of the officials said the U.S. was continuing the policy because cramped conditions in border patrol facilities pose a COVID-19 threat. According to the officials, travelers entering the U.S. by vehicle, rail and ferry will be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard U.S. Customs and Border Protection admissions process. At officers' discretion, travelers will have their proof of vaccination verified in a secondary screening process. A traffic sign directs drivers to the USA, Ciudad Acuna, and PH LA Amistad, in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. AmistadSpanish for friendshipbinds the sister cities of Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano Unlike air travel, for which proof of a negative COVID-19 test is required before boarding a flight to enter the U.S., no testing will be required to enter the U.S. by land or sea, provided the travelers meet the vaccination requirement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. will accept travelers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, not just those in use in the U.S. That means that the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in Canada, will be accepted. Officials said the CDC was still working to formalize procedures for admitting those who received doses of two different vaccines, as was fairly common in Canada. The delay in the vaccination requirement for essential cross-border travel is meant to provide truck drivers and others with additional time to get a shot and minimize potential economic disruption from the vaccination mandate, officials said. All told, the new procedures move toward a policy based on the risk profiles of individuals, rather than less targeted country-based bans. The vaccination requirement for foreign nationals comes as the White House has moved to impose sweeping vaccination-or-testing requirements affecting as many as 100 million people in the U.S. in an effort to encourage holdouts to get shots. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Labor completed the initial draft of an emergency regulation that will require employers of 100 workers or more to demand their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly. The Office of Management and Budget is now reviewing the order before its implementation. Mexico has not put in place any COVID-19 entry procedures for travelers. Canada allows entry of fully-vaccinated individuals with proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as well as proof of a negative test conducted within 72 hours of entry to the country. Explore further US plans to require COVID-19 shots for foreign travelers 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Crows sit on grave crosses in the section of a cemetery reserved for coronavirus victims in Kolpino, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky Russia is ready to provide up to 300 million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine to the U.N.-backed COVAX initiative, a top Russian official promoting the shot says, even though the World Health Organization hasn't yet signed off on it and production issues have fanned customers' concerns worldwide. Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev and the World Health Organization had vastly different takes Wednesday on when the Russian vaccine would get WHO's stamp of approval. Sputnik V has been authorized for use in 70 countries around the world despite not yet being approved by the U.N. health agency even for emergency use. Some countries, especially in Latin America, have expressed fears lately that they are not getting the vaccine's second shot in time to properly innoculate their people from COVID-19. Dmitriev told The Associated Press that the Russian vaccine will be made available to COVAX, the U.N.-backed program designed to share vaccines more evenly around the world, once the shot is approved by the WHO. He said he expects WHO's approval to come in the next two months. The COVAX program cannot use a vaccine that is not approved by the WHO. "We believe that we can supply COVAX around 200 million doses a year, 200 to 300 million," Dmitriev said in an interview. "We just need the WHO approval to work with COVAX." Medical workers carry a patient suspected of having coronavirus on a stretcher at a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko But Dr. Mariangela Simao, the WHO's assistant director-general for access to health products, wouldn't make any commitment to that timetable. She said the approval process for Sputnik V is currently on hold, and once the legal procedures are sorted out, "we will reopen the assessment, which includes the submission of the data in the dossierit's still incompleteand resuming the inspections in the sites in Russia." "The timeline will depend when we get these legal procedures done and then we will be able to assess, with the applicant and the manufacturer, what would be the next step and how long it will take," Simao said at a briefing in Geneva. "So we don't know yet." Dmitriev's comments came even as Russia has run into delays in providing the contracted amounts of Sputnik V to countries in Latin America and is facing a surge in infections and record-breaking daily virus deaths at home amid a slow vaccination rate. Dmitriev, however, insisted that Sputnik shipments to Latin American nations are back on track. "All those issues have been fully resolved," Dmitriev told the AP. "All of the issues with the second component are resolved in all of the countries." Medical workers carry a patient suspected of having coronavirus on a stretcher at a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Despite his assurances, countries such as Argentina and Venezuela said they are still waiting for the promised vaccine shipments. Dmitriev argued that "there is not one vaccine manufacturer in the world that didn't have vaccine delivery issues." including Russian plants making Sputnik V. He claimed that by year's end, there will be the capacity to produce 700 million doses of Sputnik V and its one-shot version, Sputnik Light. He said 50% of the output will come from abroad through partnerships with more than 20 manufacturers in more than 10 countries. Dmitriev said a new study conducted by the vaccine's developer shows that Sputnik Light, a one-shot version of Sputnik V, was 70% effective against infection with the delta variant of the coronavirus during the first three months after vaccination. But the study he cited was not made available and has not been reviewed by outside experts, so it is not possible to verify the results. Dmitriev's fund said the study was submitted for eventual publication online. Dmitriev noted that Russia has a three-month vaccine stockpile, allowing it to boost exports now, and hailed Sputnik V's reported efficacy and the lack of side effects. Ambulances stand in line to deliver patients suspected of having coronavirus to a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko The European Medicines Agency's expedited approval for Sputnik V began in March. Experts from the EMA visited some of Sputnik V's manufacturing sites earlier this year and the agency said further visits could be required depending on additional data submitted. The EMA's head of vaccines strategy, Marco Cavaleri, said last month the agency was still waiting for some outstanding data from Russia. He noted that the timeline for a decision was "uncertain," but estimated the EMA might make a decision on Sputnik V by the end of the year. Russia, meanwhile, reported another record daily coronavirus deaths amid a slow vaccination rate and authorities' reluctance to tighten restrictions to stem the spread of the virus. The government coronavirus task force reported 984 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, the pandemic's new high. Russia has repeatedly marked record daily death tolls over the past few weeks as infections soared to near all-time highs, with 28,717 new cases reported Wednesday. The Kremlin has attributed the mounting contagion and deaths to a lagging vaccination rate. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Tuesday that about 43 million Russians, or 29% of the country's nearly 146 million people, were fully vaccinated. Experts say vaccine skepticism and vaccine disinformation are widespread in Russia. A medical worker helps a patient suspected of having coronavirus to leave an ambulance at a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Medical workers stand near their ambulance as they deliver a patient suspected of having coronavirus to a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Russia hit another record of daily coronavirus deaths Tuesday as the country struggled with a rapid surge of infections and lagging vaccination rates, but authorities have been adamant that there would be no new national lockdown. Credit: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Dmitriev attributed the low vaccination uptake to Russians widely underestimating the danger of COVID-19, which is already straining hospitals in some regions. "Russia was a little bit victim of its own success, because early on it was very successful in fighting COVID," Dmitriev said. "Many people basically assumed that COVID is already defeated, but then the delta variant came and it's a big challenge." Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the need to speed up the vaccination rate, but he also has cautioned against forcing people to get vaccine shots. The Kremlin has also ruled out a new nationwide lockdown like the one during the first months of the pandemic, which badly crippled the economy and dented Putin's ratings. Some Russian regions have restricted attendance at large public events and limited access to theaters, restaurants and other places. But life remains largely normal in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other Russian cities. Overall, Russia's coronavirus task force has confirmed 219,329 deathsthe highest death toll in Europe. The state statistics agency Rosstat, which also counts deaths where the virus wasn't considered the main cause, has reported a much higher tollabout 418,000 deaths of people with COVID-19. Both those numbers put Russia among the top five hardest-hit nations in the pandemic, along with the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico. Explore further Russia sets another daily COVID-19 deaths record 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: CC0 Public Domain As Maria Young came to, she had visions of being held captive on a cruise ship. Trapped against her will, she cried out for help. It was early February, more than three months since the health communications specialist from Rockville, Maryland, contracted COVID-19. She spent that time under a heavy blanket of sedation as a team of medical professionals at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore worked to save her life. Young, 42, has no memory of those months. But the physical and emotional scars she carries from the near-death experience, and its aftermath, may never heal. "They had multiple conversations with my parents about preparing for the end of my life," Young said in an interview. "The trauma they lived through during that time, I'll never understand." Young is one of some 540,000 Marylanders to have been infected with the coronavirus since the state health department began tallying cases in March 2020. While more than 10,000 people have died from it statewide, thousands more have been hospitalized and brutalized by the disease that continues to perplex medical professionals, scientists and researchers, who say much about it remains unknown. Countless families, communities and extended networks have been ravaged by the virus. Young, for example, said her extended critical care stay forever altered her family. "There's a ripple effect after ICU stays," she said. "The trauma isn't done when the person survives." Young attributes her recovery to the dedicated team of health care workers who didn't give up, even as her lungs weakened past the typical point of return. She also credits the ECMO machine, a device that oxygenated her blood outside her body to lower the demand on the heart and lungs and gave her more time. Now a revitalized Young hopes to offer others the same fighting chance. 'Mariacle' Young and members of her care team describe her survival and near-full recovery as nothing short of miraculous. Close friends dubbed it a "Mariacle." ECMO machinesshort for extracorporeal membrane oxygenationare costly and require trained operators and staff to monitor the patient and the machine at all hours of the day. Data from ELSO, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, which keeps a registry of patient outcomes on ECMO machines, shows that the global mortality rate for COVID-19 patients treated on ECMO in the past 90 days stands at about 48%. Most of the ECMO cases are logged in North America, highlighting a likely discrepancy in worldwide resource allocation and care. So expensive and resource-heavy is the equipment that many U.S. hospitals don't keep the machines on hand. And those that do have the equipment may not have the clinical expertise on staff, especially given the nationwide nursing shortage exacerbated by the public health crisis. "The largest limiting factor right now in our center, our system and our nation is our shortage of nurses," said Dr. Ali Tabatabai, associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and medical director of the Lung Rescue Unit, Adult ECMO and the Biocontainment Unit at the institution's R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. "Larger centers of excellence who have more experience and application on a routine basis should have better [ECMO] outcomes than those who do it infrequently." Andy Owen, a Maryland Department of Health spokesman, said the state's hospitals had 13 ECMO machines as of Wednesday, but the number fluctuates. It has been as high as 22, he said. There were 325 ECMO procedures performed in Maryland during 2020 and 162 during the first two quarters of 2021, according to data from the Maryland Health Care Commission. Dr. Errol Bush, surgical director of lung transplants and severe lung disease at Hopkins' Comprehensive Transplant Center who oversaw Young's care, said the institution could "reasonably" treat about 12 patients at a time, but even then would be limiting the degree of care it could provide to other patients. Hopkins has treated 40 COVID-19 patients with ECMO since the coronavirus pandemic reached Maryland in March 2020, Bush said. He said the hospital saw 12 total ECMO patients in 2019. Young arrived at Hopkins last fall just as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths began to skyrocket across the country. In Maryland, COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a pandemic peak in January of more than 1,900 people. Bush said Hopkins uses strict criteria to determine which patients are eligible for ECMO treatment. Using this framework, the hospital has had to turn potential patients away, he said. "We've had to say 'no' before, much more than 'yes,'" Bush said. "We use ECMO as a last-chance therapy, after we've tried everything else." Eligibility typically depends on how long a person has been on a ventilator, another scarce medical resource, as well as how damaged a person's lungs already are. Of the people who do recover after ECMO, Bush said they typically start to improve after the first month. Maria spent 69 days on the machine and about 100 days intubated. Grabbing onto threads Before her diagnosis, Young did her best to stay safe from the coronavirus. She wore masks indoors, attended infrequent outdoor gatherings and worked from home, she said. Had COVID-19 vaccines been available to her before getting sick, Young said, she would've been first in line to get a shot. She felt a jolt of optimism last summer and fall as businesses, shops and restaurants reopened, cases and hospitalizations fell, and clinical trials testing the vaccines in humans offered promise. Young said she started feeling ill after a weekend spent with friends, mostly outside. On Sunday, Oct. 25, she canceled plans to visit another friend. She spent the next few days in and out of doctors' offices and emergency rooms as her symptoms worsened. She tested negative for COVID-19 several times and wondered whether she had a severe case of the flu. Young said she listened to her gut, though, which told her a different story than the COVID-19 tests. "All I remember thinking is that most people can handle this at home," she said. "If this is the level that you can handle at home, then, holy cow, what is the level you need to go to the hospital?" Finally, Young tested positive for COVID-19, an early case in what became the winter wave. Chest X-rays revealed pneumonia in both lungs. Physicians at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda transferred her to Johns Hopkins Hospital by mid-November. Within hours, she was put on ECMO. Alone in the hospital, Young's lungs collapsed multiple times as she slept. She endured transfusions, a blood clot and infections throughout the body, including in her eyes. Her sister wrote a eulogy. Young wasn't eligible for a lung transplant, doctors said, because she was too weak to survive the surgery. If she did wake up somehow, they added, she could develop neurological damage. Walking outside Hopkins hospital Thursday, Young said she not only woke up, but also regained almost all of her bodily functions. It took time, though, and some days she felt like she would never get out of bed. Swallowing, breathing and speaking all had to be relearned. When Young's team lowered the sedation, she hallucinated, unable to separate from the darkness that had enveloped her for so long. "It becomes this integration between the fantasy world and reality, and you have to work through it," she said. "You have to grab onto a thread you can follow." Advocacy Once Young got her cellphone back, she began reaching out to stunned friends and family members. She joked about the embarrassment of having an attractive male nurse help her use the restroomproof, she said, that she not only lived but also kept her sense of humor. But it wasn't an easy road: She was weak, was sore and woke up with a head wound and matted hair. A kind nurse cut it all off. Young said she didn't sleep for a stretch of six days, fearing she would never wake up. Some days she felt too tired to change the television channel. After returning home in March, members of her inner circle and her employer reached out asking whether they could contribute to her medical bills or support her financially as she recovered. Luckily, insurance covered the costs, she said, leaving her to wonder what those without health care coverage would do after an extended critical care stay. Even as she made gains at home, Young's family continued to reel from the experience. And one week after Young's release from the hospital, a cousin, Martha, died of COVID-19 in Ecuador. In August, Young launched "Maria's Miracle," a nonprofit that aims to bring more ECMO machines and training to hospitals and connect more critical care survivors and their families with resources and financial assistance. She also is back on her feet and returned to work part time. Young said she ultimately wants to remedy the international disparities in ECMO treatment as well, but will focus first on the U.S., a country that boasts top-notch medical care but often fails to meet all patients' needs. "This flattened me, made me reevaluate my values and where I want to put my time and energy," she said. "I wasn't a selfish person before, but now I want to give. I want to help. I have a different motivation now." 2021 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Treatment effect on osteoarthritis pain and dropouts due to adverse events compared with oral placebo, ordered according to treatment effect size on osteoarthritis pain. Blue: oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; green: topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; orange: opioids. Area between dashed lines shows treatment effect estimates below the minimum clinically important difference. See web-appendix 17 for caterpillar plot ordered according to odds ratio of dropouts due to adverse events. Credit: DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n2321 Topical medication for pain relief is safer and more effective than opioids in treating knee osteoarthritis pain, according to a meta-analysis by Unity Health Toronto researchers. The paper, published in BMJ, compared the benefits and harms of different doses of commonly prescribed treatments for hip and knee osteoarthritis, including oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), topical NSAIDs, opioids, and acetaminophen (Tylenol). The meta-analysis looked at 192 large, randomized clinical trials comprising of over 102,000 participants. Researchers found, regardless of preparation or dose, opioids did not significantly relieve pain for osteoarthritis patients. They also found that topical Diclofenacknown to consumers as Voltarenis effective in treating knee osteoarthritis. The topical treatment, which can be purchased over-the-counter, is generally safer than oral NSAIDs and should be considered as first-line pharmacological treatment for knee osteoarthritis, the study authors say. Osteoarthritis affects millions of Canadians. We spoke with the study's lead author, Dr. Bruno R. da Costa, Acting Director of the Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC) at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, about the findings and why he says opioids should only play a secondary role in osteoarthritis treatment, if at all. Why is it important to investigate the benefits and harms of different doses of commonly prescribed pharmacological treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis? Recent clinical practice guidelines recommend that when these treatments are used, the lowest possible dose should be prescribed to minimize the risk of adverse events. However, it is currently unclear what the lowest but still effective doses of these drugs are. Osteoarthritis affects more than 4.6 million people in Canada. Our findings allow physicians, patients, or their caregivers to have a better understanding of which of these treatments at their lowest doses would be safest while still being effective. In the larger context of the opioid epidemic, what makes these findings significant? Although there is robust evidence about the harmful effects of opioids, and international concerns around the opioid epidemic, opioids remain among the most prescribed drugs for osteoarthritis pain in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. In addition to the immediate reactions following opioid use like nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness, their chronic use is associated with increased risk of fractures, cardiovascular events, opioid dependence, and mortality. Between 2000 and 2017, opioid-related mortality increased by 593 percent in Canada. In our meta-analysis, none of the opioid interventions, regardless of dose, seemed to have a clinically relevant effect on pain or physical function. Our results show that opioids should only play a secondary role in osteoarthritis treatment. Namely when all other conservative treatment options have been exhausted, if at all. What surprised you most about the findings? Even maximum recommended daily doses of opioids do not have an effect in osteoarthritis pain that patients would consider relevant. We did not observe an association between higher opioid doses and greater pain relief It was also interesting to see that lower doses of topical Diclofenac (Voltaren) have a similar beneficial effect to the most effective oral NSAIDs in knee osteoarthritis. This is important to know as topical NSAIDs would be safer than oral NSAIDs for patients with gastrointestinal or cardiovascular comorbidities, or those who are frail, because of reduced systemic exposure. Adverse events of topical NSAIDs are minimal and mild; most are minor and transient local skin reactions. All topical diclofenac trials included only patients with knee osteoarthritis, so the evidence is unclear for hip osteoarthritis. The depth of the hip joint would make it unlikely for a benefit to occur. What's next for this research? We need to better understand the safety of oral NSAIDs in patients with comorbidities, as well as the safety of its long-term use on an as-needed-basis with varying doses, as opposed to fixed daily doses. It would also be helpful to understand if there are sub-groups of patients that have exhausted other conservative treatment options but would still benefit from opioids or acetaminophen. Explore further Study shows opioid use among US patients with knee osteoarthritis costs 14 billion dollars in societal costs More information: Bruno R da Costa et al, Effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis: network meta-analysis, BMJ (2021). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Bruno R da Costa et al, Effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis: network meta-analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n2321 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Exposure to a traumatic event may haunt you decades after the initial exposure. Eighty-five percent of military veterans have been exposed to traumatic events and this puts them at elevated risk (ranging from one to 22 percent depending on the conflict era) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While many veterans are resilient, a new study has found that those with trauma exposure experience greater trauma-related memories and PTSD symptoms as they near death. "When PTSD and serious illness co-occur, PTSD may impact care, coping and common end-of-life symptoms," explains corresponding author Anica Pless Kaiser, Ph.D., clinical research psychologist at the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System and a research assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Individuals with PTSD may be more likely to experience chronic pain and pain may exacerbate PTSD symptoms. Individuals with PTSD may use dysfunctional coping mechanisms, leading to increased distress in individuals with chronic medical conditions and dementia. In an effort to better understand what PTSD symptoms were experienced by these Veterans at end of life, the researchers conducted 10 focus groups with hospice and palliative care clinicians who provide care for Veterans. The hospice and palliative care clinicians reported observing many symptoms and behaviors in this population consistent with re-experiencing of traumatic events, including intrusive memories, dreams/nightmares, flashbacks or dissociative reactions, and psychological distress in response to trauma reminders and cues. They also noted that re-experiencing sometimes occurred in tandem with dementia or delirium. According to the researchers, this work is important because little is currently known about how PTSD looks in Veterans who are at the end of their lives. "Some providers may not recognize PTSD or be trained in how to appropriately assess and respond. Existing therapeutic approaches to treating PTSD may need to be modified to address the moral, spiritual and existential concerns that are often encountered as death nears," says Pless Kaiser. The researchers believe future research is needed to understand and evaluate care for veterans with PTSD at end of life as well as their families. These findings appear online in the journal Progress in Palliative Care. Explore further Understanding post traumatic stress disorderwhen to get help More information: Anica Pless Kaiser et al, Hospice and palliative care clinicians' perceptions of posttraumatic stress disorder at end-of-life in military veterans, Progress in Palliative Care (2021). Anica Pless Kaiser et al, Hospice and palliative care clinicians' perceptions of posttraumatic stress disorder at end-of-life in military veterans,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2021.1980649 BOISE, Idaho U.S. officials and a sheep industry group have dropped their appeals of a court ruling preventing sheep grazing in western Montana and eastern Idaho by a sheep research facility long targeted by environmental groups concerned about potential harm to grizzly bears and other wildlife. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month granted a request by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station and Colorado-based American Sheep Industry Association to drop the appeals filed earlier this year. They had sought to overturn a ruling in April by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush that the government hadnt adequately examined all of the impacts with its 2017 environmental review allowing the grazing. U.S. officials opted to drop their appeals first and were followed shortly after by the association. The U.S. Department of Justice, which represents federal agencies in lawsuits, didn't respond to a request for comment sent through its online portal. We're very disappointed that the feds dropped their appeal on this, said Chase Adams, senior director with the association. That's the only facility dedicated to full-time sheep industry research, and the impacts to that facility are huge not just for the U.S. sheep industry, but in other areas of the world that have similar climate and elevation and terrain. Grazing was suspended in 2013 following previous lawsuits by environmental groups contending the areas contain key wildlife habitat that is a corridor for grizzly bears between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Conservation groups contend grizzly bears have been killed because of sheep station activities. The groups also say bighorn sheep, which can acquire deadly diseases from domestic sheep, and greater sage grouse use the area. Grazing resumed following the release of a 2017 environmental impact statement considering the effects of sheep grazing on wildlife. Western Watersheds Project and the Center for Biological Diversity were among the groups that filed a new lawsuit in early 2019 challenging the governments decision allowing sheep owned by the University of Idaho to graze in the Centennial Mountains of Idaho and Montana. The sheep station has two grazing areas in those mountains straddling the two states totaling about 25 square miles. In the lawsuit, Bush ruled the government hadnt sufficiently examined the projects potential effects on grizzly bears and bighorn sheep, and didnt objectively analyze alternatives. He also ruled that the government had adequately examined the effects of grazing on sage grouse. He said the government must review the project again in line with environmental laws, and until that review is complete, sheep grazing isnt allowed in those areas. That means redoing the environmental impact statement, a process likely to take at least two years. Were hopeful that the government will come up with a new strategy and new use for the sheep station, said Andrea Zaccardi, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. Grazing domestic sheep in the Centennials just does not make sense for the wildlife that live there. The Agriculture Department has said that the sheep station conducts research on lands ranging from about 5,000 feet to nearly 10,000 feet in elevation. The Sheep Experiment Station, based near Dubois, Idaho, has not only been targeted by environmental groups but has also been on the federal budget chopping block under the administrations of both President Barrack Obama and President Donald Trump. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, who represents the area, has played a crucial role in restoring funding. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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, 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 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, Haystack and Finley Point fires mirror this dysfunction. In all of these instances, a plethora of aerial assets were nearby and readily available for immediate dispatch, however due to federal priorities elsewhere it took days to commit meaningful resources. The Deep Creek Canyon incident was the most notable. It featured a state helicopter tragically crashing, and as a result we nearly lost five firefighters. That fire was in the foothills near Canyon Ferry Lake and Super Scoopers were fueled and ready to launch out of Bozeman. Sadly, they were never called. If deployed, these Super Scoopers could have dropped 1 million gallons on that fire in the first 12 hours. 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. Proposal: Montana Aerial Firefighting Task Force The outline below contains details to establish a state-based aerial firefighting operation dubbed the Montana Aerial Firefighting Task Force. - Authorization: MT DNRC and Montana counties have the authorization to fight fires that occur on federal land if those fires pose a direct threat to citizens, property or state/county resources. - Delays: Many delays in responding to fires result from them starting on private land. USFS can be late to respond since private landowners are expected to carry some responsibility for the fire cost. - State Precedent: MT DNRC can contract its own fleet of aircraft -- as Washington, Colorado, California, Minnesota and others already do -- that reside within the state solely for the purpose of responding to Montana fires under the control of the MT DNRC. - Federal Reimbursement Opportunities: The costs for these aircraft can be carried by the state, however, reimbursements can be made by the federal government on a per incident basis when federal lands are part of the fire response. FEMA emergency funding can also be utilized to reimburse state costs related to fire incidents. - ROI: Stopping fires when theyre small will save more for the Montana tax base than waiting on federal partners to prioritize Montana fires. The economic impact of evacuating Red Lodge, Bridger Canyon, Lewistown, Finley Point, etc., is immense and highly disruptive to numerous industries while also hurting quality of life for current inhabitants and deterring prospective residents from moving to the state. The cost of funding a Montana AFF TF is miniscule compared to these economic, environmental and societal costs. - Task Force Formation: Suggested make-up of the task force would be a Montana-based vendor list. These assets should be on exclusive use contracts from May 15Oct. 1, with an additional 2 Super Scoopers, 1 Air Attack and one large air tanker on a call when needed agreement for when extra capacity is needed. o Billings Flying Service: Type 1 Helicopters (3 across the state, 1 in Miles City/Billings, 1 in Central Montana, 1 in Western Montana) o Bridger Aerospace: 2 Super Scoopers based in Bozeman for statewide dispatch paired with a Type 1 Air Attack. 1 UAV team for fire mapping and surveillance. - Cost: This composition would cost the state roughly $35mm per year in up-front cost, however, a large portion of that would be reimbursed through federal and emergency funds. Given Montanas budget surplus of $800mm, the state wouldnt be required to find separate funding mechanisms. Too much of Montana is at risk every summer and the cost to losing our precious landscapes and our livelihoods is too high to wait any longer to take action. Lets be prepared for the summer of 2022. Tim Sheehy is CEO of Bridger Aerospace. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " Gas prices are skyrocketing in California and across the U.S. where they've reached the highest levels since 2014. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline inched up to $3.20 during the month of October. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Critics of any U.S. president are quick to blame the commander in chief for things that are totally beyond his or her control. (Of course, presidents and their supporters are equally quick to take credit for things that are beyond their control.) The price of gasoline is a perfect example. Former president Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans took credit for low gasoline prices in 2019 [source: Rainey]. And now that Joe Biden is president, gasoline prices are at a seven year high. Is Biden to blame? The truth is that no president Democrat or Republican, friend of "big oil" or supporter of alternative fuels can do much of anything to affect the short-term price of oil, and therefore gasoline. The overriding factor that determines the price of oil from day to day is the market principle of supply and demand [source: U.S. Energy Information Administration]. It comes down to simple economics: When demand is greater than supply, prices rise. Advertisement The actual price of a barrel of oil is constantly changing, since oil is a commodity that is traded on the futures market. Buying and selling oil futures is called speculating, because you're making trades based on expectations of future supply and demand. And for a while, demand was skyrocketing. After the Great Recession ended, demand steadily increased as the global economy recovered and kicked back into high gear. To match that demand, U.S. oil production rose dramatically from around 5,000 barrels a day in 2009 to a record high of 13,100 barrels a day in early 2020 [source: Macrotrends]. Thanks in large part to the drilling technology called hydraulic fracturing (or " fracking"), American oil producers were able to keep pace with demand and keep gasoline prices stable. The COVID-19 pandemic slashed global demand and hit the oil and gas industry hard. One upside of the global oil glut was lower gasoline prices at the pump. But that's all changed now. The world has reopened and demand for energy is up. The problem is supply can't keep up. Crude oil prices, in response, have skyrocketed. On Oct. 11, 2021 a barrel of crude oil was $80 the first time since 2014. Compare that price to April 2020 when a barrel was just $40 and you can understand why Americans are seeing red at the pump. So if gasoline prices are largely at the mercy of global fluctuations in supply and demand (plus the occasional pandemic), what can a president actually do, if anything, to influence gas prices? Find out next. About 90,000 Americans likely died from June through September for failure to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Kaiser Family Foundation analysis that says the disease was the country's second-leading cause of death last month. The high number of preventable fatalities was caused by insufficient vaccination rates, a spike in coronavirus infections fueled by the delta variant and the loosening of social distancing restrictions, the analysis found. It used Even though COVID-19 has been waning in the fall, it claimed the lives of 49,000 Americans in September, the report estimates. That trails only heart disease among the nation's leading killers, and it was actually No. 1 in the 35-54 age group, which has a lower vaccine uptake than seniors. "COVID-19 killed more people age 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 in August and in September than it did in any other month prior, despite the widespread availability of vaccines,'' the study says. COVID briefly became the country's No. 1 killer early in 2021 during the horrid winter surge, but dipped to No. 7 in July as vaccines became widely available. However, with some 60-70 million eligible Americans still unvaccinated, the disease keeps finding vulnerable hosts. "The overwhelming majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continue to be preventable,'' the analysis concludes. Also in the news: In a survey by the journal Nature of more than 300 scientists who have talked to the media about COVID-19, 22% said they had received threats of physical or sexual violence and 15% said they got death threats. More than 800 of Boston's 18,000 city workers have been suspended without pay for failing to comply with the citys coronavirus vaccine mandate. Boston employees are required to either show proof of vaccination or submit to regular testing. The head of the Chicago police officers union has called on its members to defy the citys requirement to report their COVID-19 vaccination status by Friday or be placed on unpaid leave. Story continues Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals reversed course and announced proof of vaccination is no longer required to attend the California events. A Rhode Island man was sentenced to 70 months in prison for COVID-19 stimulus-funds fraud. He received close to $600,000 in stimulus money from three different banks and spent the money on trips to Las Vegas and New Hampshire, a Camaro, home renovations and online gaming. Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 44.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 719,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 239 million cases and 4.87 million deaths. More than 187 million Americans 56% of the population are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. What we're reading: Leaders and staff at a federal veterans nursing home in Illinois mismanaged a coronavirus outbreak that killed 11 residents in fall 2020, well after employees had been put on notice about the danger the pandemic posed to its elderly population, a government investigation found. Read more here. Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY's Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group. J&J study of booster shot includes data from just 17 people after 6 months While 8.5 million people who got the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have received a booster shot, those inoculated with Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines continue to wait for the companies' boosters to be authorized. A federal advisory committee will meet for two days this week to discuss the safety and need for those boosters, but its members won't have much data to go on for the J&J extra shot. Information posted by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday showed about 8,000 people had been studied after receiving a J&J booster two months after getting the first dose of the single-shot vaccine, and only 17 were tracked after getting a second shot at six months. It's not clear whether that will be enough data for the FDA panel to grant its approval. The hope was that we would get a resolution of this issue and that J&J would get their emergency use authorization for a booster," said Dr. William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "Now things have gotten a little more complicated." Karen Weintraub and Elizabeth Weise Vaccinated global tourists will be allowed to cross land borders into US Starting next month, the United States will allow fully vaccinated foreign visitors to cross its land borders for non-essential purposes such as tourism or seeing friends and family. The change would allow foreigners to enter the U.S. through land or ferry ports for the first time since March 2020. Government officials have not yet announced a date for the policy change but said it will take place in "early November," in tandem with the country's updated international air travel rules. This is an important step that will further enhance the safety of international travel and the safety of Americans at home, senior administration officials said. These new vaccination requirements deploy the best tool we have in our arsenal to keep people safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unlike air travel, for which proof of a negative COVID-19 test is required before boarding a flight to enter the U.S., no testing will be required to enter by land or sea, provided the travelers meet the vaccination requirement. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the U.S., such as truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated. Boeing to require shots for 125,000 US workers Boeing says it will require its 125,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated by Dec. 8 to meet requirements of an executive order issued by President Joe Biden affecting federal employees and contractors. Boeing, which builds commercial planes as well as military aircraft for the U.S. government, said in a statement that exemptions will be approved for "disability or sincerely held religious belief. Chicago-based Boeing has major operations throughout the U.S. including Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order this week banning businesses from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Federal contractors have until Dec. 8 to be fully vaccinated under guidance issued by the federal Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) issued a statement saying it is talking to employers to ensure "implementation gives proper consideration to members' concerns, health issues and abides by the provisions of our negotiated contracts." Cases and deaths falling in US and globally, but CDC chief warns about high transmission New coronavirus infections in the U.S. fell 12%, hospitalizations 11% and deaths 5% last week over the week before, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday. In addition, the World Health Organization said the global number of new cases and deaths dropped 7% and 10% respectively, continuing a downward trend that began in late August. However, Walensky pointed out an average of 1,400 Americans died each day over the seven-day period that ended Tuesday, and much work remains in the battle against the pandemic. "Most cities across the country are still experiencing substantial to high levels of community transmission," she said at a White House briefing. "We are certainly not in a place where our cases are under control." Mom whose child recently died: 'COVID is not over' A Virginia mother whose 10-year-old daughter died of COVID spoke at a school board meeting this week, warning that COVID is not over and pleading for people to do everything we can to protect our children. Nicole Sperry, a teacher from Suffolk, Virginia, spoke at the Chesapeake Public Schools board meeting. Her daughter's funeral service was Sunday. Sperry alleged in a post on Facebook that daughter Teresa Sperry was required by a teacher to walk sick classmates to a nurses office at Hillpoint Elementary School before testing positive for COVID-19. Teresa died days later. My message for you and all that are listening is that COVID is not over, no matter what people who have been standing up here have said, Sperry said. Marina Pitofsky Florida county faces $3.57M state fine for vaccine requirement Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made good on his threat to fine local governments that require employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, giving Leon County until Nov. 5 to pay a $3.57 million penalty. In mid-September, DeSantis said he would not let Floridians be fired because of a vaccine mandate and announced he would begin leveling $5,000 fines per employee. After Leon County Administrator Vince Long made vaccines a requirement of employment, all 714 employees had to get vaccinated or fall under a select few exemptions by Oct. 1. In all, 14 employees were fired because they declined to do so. Democratic lawmakers representing Tallahassee claimed the decision to impose a fine was an overreach by the governors office. The governor has gone too far, said Rep. Ramon Alexander D-Tallahassee. Local governments cannot just sit on their hands and should have the ability to issue emergency standards. Vaccines are an important tool that is helping us control this pandemic. Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat Brooklyn Nets ban Kyrie Irving from team activities until he's vaccinated The Brooklyn Nets took a drastic step to compel All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to get the COVID-19 vaccine. NBA star Kyrie Irving wont play or practice with his team until he is eligible to be a full participant, Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement Tuesday. The NBA has tried to get players vaccinated through education and health and safety protocols that will make the season easier for vaccinated players and more onerous for unvaccinated players. New York City has a vaccine mandate that states Irving, who isn't vaccinated, and other Nets and New York Knicks players must be vaccinated to play at Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden. The Nets faced a scenario in which Irving would play road games but not home games a suboptimal situation for any team, especially one with the talent (Kevin Durant, James Harden) to win an NBA championship and ultimately opted to play without the point guard unless he becomes vaccinated. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Southwest, American Airlines among Texas businesses defying governor Two of the nation's largest airlines Southwest and American said Tuesday that they plan to follow looming federal guidelines and require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, despite an order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that attempts to block such mandates. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines last week ordered all of its estimated 55,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID 19 by Dec. 8. That followed a directive from President Joe Biden, who in September said all private companies with more than 100 workers must require employees to be vaccinated or conduct weekly tests for the coronavirus. Southwest said in a statement Tuesday that the president's executive order supersedes any state mandate or law, adding that the company is required to adhere to it despite Abbotts action to remain compliant as a federal contractor. Austin American-Statesman staff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 90,000 deaths since June were preventable with vaccines: COVID updates Voters who have been waiting to cast a ballot for school or their local town council will get the chance Thursday. Early voting for the November Burke County Board of Education and municipal elections starts at 8 a.m. Thursday and runs through Oct. 30. Early voting hours on weekdays are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The only Saturday voting is the last day, which will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Sites for early voting in Burke County are: Burke County Board of Elections, located at 2128 S. Sterling St., #100, Morganton Burke County Library/Senior Center, Located at 101 Main Ave. W, Hildebran Rutherford College Town Hall, located at 980 Malcolm Blvd., Rutherford College Burke County Senior Center, located at 501 N. Green St., #100, Morganton Debbie Mace, director of elections for Burke County, said the typical early voting site at Glen Alpine Town Hall will not be open this election because its not needed. She said the site is only used as an early voting site during even-year elections. Mace said shes hoping voters will turn out to cast a ballot this election because the races are the ones that affect peoples lives most directly. The state of North Carolina develops a statewide plan that is submitted to the federal government for approval. Once the state-wide plan is approved, the State Board of Education then passes a state board plan, Lawson said. The plan is then given to the Department of Instruction, which determines how the funds will be allotted based on the master plan. Lawson also presented a quarterly financial report to the board regarding use and predictions of funds used by BCPS. The use of federal funds has increased due to the availability of ESSER funds and the use of funds provided by Burke County commissioners has been the same for three consecutive years, Lawson said. Therefore, no additional funding has been requested from the county commissioners from BCPS. Other items of business Melanie Honeycutt, chief information officer for BCPS digital teaching and learning, updated the board on the complaints made by a parent regarding materials offered in five BCPS media libraries. The media materials that were sourced in the parents complaint were Dear Martin and The Hate U Give. 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. 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 nationwide blood shortage is being felt locally as Montanas primary blood supplier is calling for 1,000 more donations per week to ease the effects. Nationally, 10,000 more donations are needed each week, according to the American Red Cross, which is seeing post-summer donations drop to its lowest levels in six years. Donations and drives at Montana blood supplier Vitalant have been declining over the last few weeks as COVID-19 precautions force cancellation of blood drives. Donations normally dip in the summer as vacation season takes off and school is out of session. Fall blood drives on high school and college campuses usually replenish blood banks and provide about 20 to 25% of blood supplies. Normally, Vitalant strives to have four days worth of blood on hand, but in some places, there is less than a two-day supply, said Vitalant Communications Manager Tori Robbins. The sudden turn in weather doesnt help either, Robbins said. Icy roads and closures jeopardize Vitalants mobile drives, which make up a significant portion of donations. Robbins urges donors who have been told they cant donate to call a donation center, as some changes have been made recently in regards to COVID-19. A COVID vaccine or flu shot does not prevent donors from giving blood and there is no waiting period to donate after receiving the vaccinations. Those recovering from COVID can donate 14 days after their last symptom presents, Robbins said. As the relentless Delta variant pounds the state, more drives are being canceled and more people are working from home in order to social distance. COVID is making everything much more challenging. There are more difficulties to host blood drives, more difficulties to host school blood drives and more people working from home when their place of work holds a drive, said Montana Red Cross Communications Director Matt Ochsner. With the rise of Delta people are hunkering down. Nationwide, Red Cross usually keeps five days worth of type O blood on hand, but now, only a half-days supply is available. Why we're so alarmed right now is because we usually see a dip in the summer, and then we see donations go back up in the fall, and were not seeing that right now, Ochsner said. Then the holidays are a busy time for families and thats when we see another dip in donations, so this dip in the fall is alarming. In particular, more donations of type O blood are needed. O negative blood, the universal blood type, is used in emergency situations when doctors dont have time to determine the patients blood type. The majority of blood units are used for patients with medical conditions that require transfusions on a regular basis, according to Robbins. Planned usage makes up about 90% of blood use. A single donation can be split into three different transfusable components: red cells, platelets and plasma. When a donation is split, it is possible to save up to three lives through one unit of blood. Those who receive a transfusion generally need more than one unit, meaning more than one donation is needed to save a life. Patients rely on volunteer donations given by about 3% of the U.S. population, yet most people are eligible to donate. There are so many people, whether cancer patients or surgery or expectant mothers and countless others who depend of these donations, Ochsner said. Blood donation takes less than an hour and a single donation can save up to three lives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The last time United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) went on strike against John Deere & Co., they were out for 163 days, according to media accounts at the time. The strike started on Aug. 24, 1986, and the parties reached a tentative settlement on Jan. 27, 1987. Requested job security measures were initially turned down by Deere negotiators, prompting the strike. Throughout the five months, local Deere suppliers in the area suffered financial losses due to the sudden decrease in demand from Deere factories. Companies collectively laid off hundreds of employees to limit the financial impact. Union members ratified the tentative settlement with 84% of workers voting for the contract. Workers gained settlement bonuses for the strike, diversions on the quarterly cost of living payments, an increase in retirement and pension pay, and Martin Luther King Day off as a holiday. In order to gain job security against layoffs, the union agreed to a wage freeze. Union workers gained job security in 1986 through the Protected Employee Group. Ninety percent of laid-off employees were required to be put into the group, where they would be put into training programs or shift to a different type of work or plant location. Hes a danger to society, Tiffany Stevens said of Serrano. Now he cant hurt anybody else. Under Iowa law, a charge of first-degree murder also includes charges of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. The jury decides based on the evidence which charge the defendant will be sentenced for. While the Stevens family had hoped for a conviction for first-degree murder, they said they are satisfied with the verdict. Before the trial started we suspected this is what he would get second-degree, Andy Stevens said. Once the trial was over, after closing arguments, we felt there was a strong chance for first-degree. We were surprised a little bit, but overall this is what we expected. As closing arguments of the trial were given, the courtroom visitor seats were filled past capacity with friends and family of Stevens, as well as several members of Serranos family. The Stevens family is very thankful to all the people who have shown support during the last year. Tiffany Stevens said that community support has been vital for the family and she thanked everyone who had gone to the trial, missed work, used vacation time, and rented hotel rooms to stand by the family. She commented that the support of loved ones has been vital since July 19, 2020. Some local juvenile justice advocates argue building and operating an oversized detention facilities will only fuel the existing disproportionate incarceration of young people of color and high number of Scott County youth waived to adult court. Croken and others contend resources would be more effectively invested in youth jail diversion programs and supportive services for families that keep young people safe, secure, engaged and productive. Farmer said a larger detention facility providing more physical separation of personnel, contractors and juveniles would aid detention staff in meeting pandemic operational needs and implementing COVID-19 mitigation tactics in congregate settings, including incarceration settings, which is an allowed use under current federal guidelines. That, Farmer said, would include space for a medical suite and to isolate COVID-positive juveniles from others to prevent possible outbreaks, as well as eliminate the use of double bunking and provide improved air handling and ventilation. County officials also face a Dec. 18 deadline under a state and federal mandate that any youth awaiting trial as an adult, with limited exceptions, be removed from jail, necessitating further need for more space, Kaiser said. Task: Iceland is unique when compared to Venice and Thailand, the amount of local support for the Icelandic tourism boom is believed to be underreported. In 2008 Iceland suffered heavily from the global financial crisis, followed by a series of eruptions at Eyjafjallajokull, which released a tremendous amount of ash and smoke across Western and Northern Europe which hamstrung air travel further damaging Icelands economy (Sorsdottir et al. 2020). Iceland can be described as an insignificant country on the far outer-edges of Europe. Sorsdottir et al. 2020 mentions that Iceland could be seen as a place of natural beauty that has been overrun by selfie-stick wielding tourists. Between 2010 and 2019 tourism in Iceland experienced a bull market, that is to say arrivals increased from about 500,000 to 2.3 million over a decade which is a tremendous rate of growth for such a small country thats far away from most tourism contributors (Sorsdottir et al. 2020). According to (Presser 2019) crowding is a challenge presented to Icelandic authorities within the realm of tourism and public order. To quote Presser People feel that all of Iceland is crowded but thats like saying a rock concert is fully booked when there are 50 people in the front row and no one in the back (Presser 2019). What this notion means is that a vast majority of tourists within Iceland, congregate around a handful of bucket list landscapes or venues and thus dont engage with the culture of the country or its natural beauty. For example, the Westfjords only receive 12% of all tourist traffic as a majority of tourists prefer to stay in the comfort of five-star hotels in Reykjavik and not leave the city (Presser 2019). In conjunction with not engaging with the country outside of Reykjavik another challenge is tourists not engaging with local business and culture. Presser (2019) states that the best way to engage with local culture is to leave the city and visit rural Iceland. Icelandic culture is strongest on the south and east coasts of the island; however, many tourists dont visit these locales since theyre unknown and not part of the social media bucket list (Sorsdottir et al. 2020). Thailand (Sinead 455) Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Asia with a total of 39.9 Million tourists visiting in 2019, a rapid rise on the 32.5 million who visited in 2016 (Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 2020). Although tourism contributes to the overall growth of the Thai economy, it has inflicted damage on a number of natural tourist sites Thailand is most known for. For example, Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island has faced extensive damage resulting in its closure to tourists. Phi Phi Island rose to popularity through the release of Hollywood films that were set in Maya Bay such as The Beach (2000). According to Asia News Monitor (2021), At the height of its popularity, there were more than 5,000 people visiting a day. The consequences of this mass tourism wave are evident across the island, with the ecosystem put under immense pressure from the high levels of tourists docking on its shores everyday. According to Muller & King (2021), Tourist traffic has resulted in pollution from discarded rubbish and damaged coastal vegetation this is evident with the coral reefs which Muller & King also mention the percentage of coral reefs has dropped from 70% to 8% in thirty years. This damage was caused by tourist boats that dropped anchors onto the coral reefs below. To help the island recover from the damage of overtourism, The Thai government announced the closure of Phi Phi Island in 2018 in order to rejuvenate the reefs and surrounding environment until 2021 (Gunia, 2019). Overtourism in Thailand has also affected the local culture and resulted in Thai social and cultural characteristics becoming at risk in popular tourist hotspots and drastic change for locals in their traditional ways of life (Sangchumnong & Kozak, pp.2). This is not just limited to beaches and islands but places of worship as well, with two temples in Thailand being overrun with tourists. An example of this is the Ban Wangka Temple which is located on the Thailand-Myanmar border which has seen a rise in tourists over 20 years due to its unique Mon and Thai geographic division with the growth of tourism to the area directly related to the unique cultural melting pot (Sangchumnong & Kozak, pp.6). A sharp rise in tourists during 2013-2015 bought changes to the community and resulted in conflict between the locals. These issues according to Sangchumnong & Kozak included Congestion and insufficient services such as a lack of parking areas, supermarkets, accommodation and rubbish bins (pp.9) With the shortage of these necessities, locals invested money into unregulated services to earn tourist income which led to conflicts within the community. Sangchumnong & Kozak believe these conflicts will eventually result in the decimation of this unique destination (pp.9). VENICE (680) Venice has been a tourist magnet that dated as far as the 18th century that even before, residents already complained about overcrowding. UNESCO World Heritage recorded Venice as one of the oldest cities to establish a tourism industry in history. Nowadays tourism is a democratised product, the true mark of globalization and of the different advances that both transport and technology have experienced. Sometimes, tourist consumption is so high that regulating it is so complex that terms such as over-tourism and tourism-phobia were made to describe this phenomenon. Venice is one of these examples and its reduced space essentially forces visitors to be concentrated in the same place (at the same time) and so the actual visiting experience loses quality (Trancoso Gonzalez, 2018). According to Hospers (2019), Venice has been a shrinking city for a long time. The city has not been able to strike a balance between the basic needs of citizens and the demands of tourists, which is more in favour of the latter. The damage made in the lagoon and in the heritage sites of Venice are caused by the massive over-tourism it experiences over the years. Venice started to promote mass tourism in the city centre. From that moment on, the city has remained in a spiral of economical, residential, demographic crisis and urban crisis is still damaging Venice, according to Segui (cited in Trancoso Gonzalez, 2018). Among all these factors, cruise ship tourism particularly influenced the damage made to Venice, given the citys Mediterranean circuit location as its gateway to tourism. Trancoso Gonzalez stated, cruises have a major impact on cities, especially Venice, due to pollution, noise, smoke, heritage and changes in the environment, citizenship, architectural and cultural heritage, and endangering the environment. Describing the arrival of ships as taking the form of a skyscraper ship insulting the city and the Venetians in a very arrogant and damaging way. Testa (cited in Trancoso Gonzalez, 2018) illustrated, these cruises are like floating cities 60 metres or more higher than Palazzi on the Great Canal. The average height of a Venetian building does not exceed 15 metres. Cruise issues have global implications, as we assume large tourist impacts (massive), spatial and financial implications (which are also unjustified). The decline in population of Venice is another issue which should not be underestimated. Described by Hospers (2019), this population declination is not only due to rising house prices, but also to a feeling of discontent among many locals. They have negative opinions about tourists and feel that their city has been taken over. Over-tourism has given enough experience to local communities of Venice to consider the deterioration of the quality of life in their own city. Evidence of such negative complaints from the local Venetians most of the time were shown through protests, similar scenes can be seen in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. Although studies show that residents attitudes towards tourists differ from everyone, some residents still feel that they are not welcome in their own city anymore. This Italian canal city is majority built on wooden piles and surrounded by water- which poses serious threats to the conservation of monuments and bridges. To make it worse, Venice has done so over the years due to declining land levels and rising sea levels, increasing the possibility of flooding. Obviously, this process has been accelerated by mass tourism. For some years now, the situation in Venice has worsened with the arrival of cruise ships: large ships not only unload many tourists at once, but also disturb and pollute the local aquatic ecosystem. The arrival of cruise ships in Venice has sparked many protests outside the city limits. For example, UNESCO has declared that Venice is in danger of being removed from its prestigious World Heritage List. Lastly, Hospers (2019) illustrated that in fact, locals are aware of the negative effects of over-tourism when prices for housing, transportation, shops, and cooking go up. However, tourism is associated with positive effects, such as a more international atmosphere, better image of the city and more attention to historic parts and traditional architecture Requirements A Discussion based on the main idea of the effect of over tourism in Iceland, Thailand and Venice South Africans who are experiencing problems with their Covid-19 vaccine records will have to return to the site of their vaccination to rectify the issue. Speaking to Radio 702, Milani Wolmarans, project manager for the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS), indicated that it is the responsibility of staff at vaccination sites to capture the data correctly. This comes after several vaccinated South Africans found that their details have been captured incorrectly on the EVDS, making it impossible to download their vaccine certificate as the OTP is sent to the wrong phone number. According to Wolmarans, if your information was captured correctly, you would have received your EVDS number within 24 hours. Usually, the SMS is sent within 15 minutes of being vaccinated, she said. Many South Africans are also facing problems when attempting to download their vaccine certificates, with the platform often displaying a Network Issue. Wolmarans indicated that this was due to an overload during peak times. We do have certain peaks during the course of the day, which are difficult to predict, she said. She added that server capacity issues had been addressed, but the department still has some challenges when many people access the system. South Africas vaccination certificate will be used to facilitate travel and offer access to certain events. The UK also recently announced that it would recognise proof of vaccination cards from South Africa. This came as the country removed South Africa from its red travel list. From Monday (11th Oct) Ill be cutting 47 destinations from our red list including South Africa, with just 7 countries and territories remaining all others will be included in the rest of world category, said UK transports secretary Grant Shapps. Im also making changes so travellers visiting England have fewer entry requirements, by recognising those with fully-vax status from 37 new countries and territories including India, Turkey and Ghana, treating them the same as UK fully vax passengers. Now read: Former Uber South Africa exec Alon Lits in new app venture A robotics engineer has created the worlds first iPhone with a USB-C port. In a recent video posted on YouTube, Kenny Pillonel provides a teaser of a working iPhone X he had modified to support charging and data transfers via a USB-C cable. The video illustrates the iPhone charging with a MacBooks USB-C cable connected to a power brick and being detected when plugged into the MacBook with the cable. Pillonel explained that he reverse-engineered the iPhones C94 connector with its Lightning standard to make a flexible PCB (printed circuit board) with a USB-C port. Once he had drawn up the schematics, he had to shrink the design down, remove the Lightning connector, and install his own creation. Below are screenshots from the video showing the iPhone Xs USB-C port and proof that it charges. Replicating his modification wont be an easy task even for the most gifted tech enthusiast. Pillonel is currently doing his Masters degree in Robotics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and works as an engineering consultant part-time. According to Apple Insider, he spent at least a few months on the project. A blog post from May details his thinking behind the replacement and the issues he would face replacing the Lightning port. He also posted a video of a prototype that could charge the iPhone but was still too big to fit into the phones enclosure. In an update in late September, he said he ordered the flexible PCB required to make the compact iteration of his design. There should be more clarity on the entire process in an upcoming video that Pillonel is still editing. In the last few years, Apple has gradually switched most of its devices to USB-C for charging, including its iPad and MacBook Pro models. While there have been many rumours about the iPhone also switching to USB-C, the company has stuck with the Lightning port. That could soon change. Pillonels video comes as the European Commission recently proposed legislation that will make USB-C the standard for charging ports on smartphones. If the legislation comes into effect, Apple will be required to add a USB-C port to iPhones sold in the region within two years. The video below provides a sneak preview of Pillonels modified iPhone X. Now read: Apple fixes critical iPhone security flaw Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf never set out to be a winemaker. Or a retailer. But on Oct. 2, Picayune Cellars celebrated its 10th anniversary in Calistoga with a glamorous party for 100 featuring French berets, a lobster dinner, live music, and of course, Picayune wine. At the celebration, Weinkauf expressed her gratitude to the people of Calistoga for their ongoing support, especially over the last, difficult 18 months. Yet despite the challenges of the pandemic lockdown that included Picayunes tasting room closing, then opening, then closing again, along with having to move all wine sales online temporarily in 2020, the tasting room and mercantile are once again open and hosting Friday evenings on the patio with wine and music as well as other local events. It was tough, says Weinkauf, but I am an optimistic person with a fabulous staff, and our team figured out a way to make things work. 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! A native of Auvergne, France, Weinkauf studied in Chile and Argentina and then returned to France before making her way to the U.S. As an enthusiastic wine drinker, she worked a harvest in France and subsequently met Paul Hobbs of Paul Hobbs Winery, who invited her to come work with him in California. Later, she met and married Spottswoode winemaker Aron Weinkauf; together they have two children, Hugo, 7, and Celeste, 3. When she got to the states, Weinkauf was shocked by how expensive wine was, even what she terms everyday wine. She started consulting for different local wineries before embarking on a journey to bottle her own wine with a close friend, Jennifer Roberts. Starting with a 1,000-gallon barrel of Sauvignon Blanc in 2011, the two sold their wine wholesale and to restaurants. Today, Picayune has grown into a full-blown shop on Lincoln Avenue as well as a tasting room, and Weinkauf does everything from harvesting and bottling her own wine, shopping for French-made and inspired items for her shop, and also organizing special events and leading annual wine-tasting barge trips in France. I started with the Sancerre region, she said, and then Champagne. We had to cancel this summers trip to Burgundy, but we plan to go next year. Im everywhere, Weinkauf said with a laugh. I feel a deep personal connection to my wine, and I make what I like. Im not trying to make the special stuff that you only bring out for occasions. I want people to enjoy my wine as part of their daily lives, a glass they might sip before dinner or even just while reading a book. Weinkauf added, Calistoga is my village, and I am forever grateful to its wonderful people. Cheers to another successful decade for Picayune! Im still here, Dear Readers! Its been an odd few weeks what with lack of print space and a lingering illness on my part (just a nasty cold, dont worry), and Im happy to be back. *** First up is a special screening of No Time to Die at the Cameo Cinema at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, with all proceeds benefiting the Spring Mountain Fire Safe Council. A suggested donation of $50 gets you a ticket to the movie, food bites from Oak Avenue Catering, some Spring Mountain wine, and a chance to help a community that was ravaged by the Glass Fire. Get your tickets at brownpapertickets.com/event/5268326. *** Attention, bargain shoppers and water conservers. You can get a $90 Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor for only $65. Just buy it for the full price, install it, and the City of St. Helena will give you a $25 rebate. Go to flumewater.com/partners/sthelena or call 968-2746. *** The Rianda House calendar is packed with intriguing events. First theres a music appreciation class on Beethovens Fidelio at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27. Pre-register by calling Elizabeth at 963-8555 ext. 103 or emailing elizabeth@riandahouse.org. *** Then theres a Spooky Drive-thru from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the parking lot of the St. Helena Seventh-day Adventist Church at 1777 Main St. Rianda House invites us to jump in your car and drive-thru, wearing a costume or a funny hat. (As if I have any hats you wouldnt consider funny.) RSVP to Elizabeth using the contact information above. *** Finally, and most intriguing, is a directors talk with Eleanor Coppola at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Cameo Cinema. Coppola will show clips from her most recent films, Paris Can Wait (2016) and Love is Love is Love (opening Nov. 12). She will talk about her adventures direction fiction films after making nothing but documentaries for nearly 40 years including Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse, the behind-the-scenes doc to end all behind-the-scenes docs, in my opinion. This is sure to be a popular event, so RSVP to Elizabeth by Oct. 29. *** Do you love the library? (Who doesnt, correct?) The St. Helena Public Library Board of Trustees is trying to fill a vacant position for a term ending June 30, 2022. Applications are due Oct. 26 and may be submitted through cityofsthelena.org or in person at the temporary City Hall on 1572 Railroad Ave. please call 968-2742 for an appointment. *** In other library news, Woodhouse Chocolate is offering a special Chocolate Cat in honor of Elsie the Library Cat, with a portion of the proceeds going to the librarys Friends & Foundation. Feel free to indulge, but dont even think about trying to take a bite out of the real Elsie, even in jest. She doesnt suffer fools gladly, especially those who disrupt her naps. *** Beat L.A. Napa has restaurants and wine tasting rooms galore, but according to businessman Jack Anthony III, the city is woefully underserved when it comes to one particular service: automated car washes. If Anthony gets his way, hell open a state-of-the-art, drive-through 7 Flags car wash, the likes of which Napa County has never seen. Were talking three pay lanes, a see-through roof and windowed walls providing an open and airy, experience, a conveyor belt that carries your car into its bath and service offerings including the Lava Shield, Waterfall Rinse and Bug Prep. 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! We think we have something the city of Napa would be very pleased to have, said Anthony. Its a perfect fit. Anthonys vision would be built on one of Napas main gateways, at 459 Soscol Ave., across the street from the Napa Toyota dealership. He recently filed a pre-application with the city to review his proposal. Weve been trying to get into Napa for the past five years, said Anthony. The problem is, You need about an acre of property. There are very few places (in Napa) that are large enough and have the right demographics. By demographics, he means the number of locals who live nearby, as well as good visibility. Easy entry and exit are also a must. It has to be convenient, said Anthony of the car wash facility, so it becomes a part of your daily routine. Thats the whole purpose. Thats why well-traveled Soscol Avenue is so desirable, he said. Anthonys not new to the car wash business. His family opened the first 7 Flags car wash in Vallejo in 1964. The company used to fly seven different flags at its car washes, he said, explaining the name. Since opening, the Vallejo-based company has grown to include 13 car washes, with a 14th under construction. Those are found mostly in Solano County, but also in Contra Costa and Sacramento counties. This is a family-run business, now on its third generation, he said. Anthonys sons are now the president and vice president of the company, he said. The Soscol Avenue car wash would be their first Napa County operation. But to Anthony, Were local. Were right next door. The Napa 7 Flags car wash would showcase the Tommy Car Wash System, which includes automated cashiers and other computer-driven technology, he said. Free vacuums and mat cleaners are also provided. Its very efficient, the businessman said. Its a modern, attractive building, said Anthony. When it comes to such car washes, Its nothing like anybodys seen before. Compared to a traditional full-service car wash that can require as many as 40 to 50 employees, the Tommy system only requires about a dozen, he said. That doesnt mean Anthony will skimp on staffing. Thats not how you run a professional car wash, he said. Hes aware of the stereotype of a car wash as a dirty, dingy place. I get it, he said of the stigma. But hey, take a look at what were doing. If you dont think this is appropriate, I would like to know what is. When asked about opening a car wash during a drought, Anthony explained that 7 Flags automated car washes use less than 20 gallons of water to wash a car. To compare, washing a car at home can use more than 80 gallons, he said. Plus, We recycle all of our water. That recycled water is then combined with fresh water for future washes. Remaining wastewater is also treated before it goes into the sewers, he noted. According to Anthony, its been many years since a new automated car wash facility has opened in the city. Were bringing something to Napa, that locals will surely appreciate. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com 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. SACRAMENTO California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week vetoed legislation that would have required the California Department of Human Resources to develop employee "upward mobility goals" that would factor in race, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, and physical and mental disabilities. Assembly Bill 105, authored by Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, was intended to give women and minority state job candidates a better opportunity to navigate the state's civil service system. The bill also would have required that state boards and commissions have at least one board member or commissioner from an underrepresented community. In his veto letter, the Democratic governor acknowledged that the goals of the legislation were "laudable," but that "elements of the bill conflict with existing constitutional requirements, labor agreements, and current data collection efforts. Therefore, it may have unintended consequences that warrant further consideration." One of the constitutional requirements that may have conflicted with AB 105 was Proposition 209, the 1996 ballot measure that bans the state from using race, sex or ethnicity in public employment. California voters in 2020 upheld that ban when they rejected Proposition 16, which would have overturned Prop. 209 and reinstated affirmative action in the state. Newsom also pointed to initiatives in his own administration that he said advance diversity in the government workforce. "The goal of this initiative is to implement policies that promote a diverse and inclusive workforce reflective of California, ensure a respectful workplace free of harassment, and address gender and racial pay gaps in the state workforce," Newsom wrote in his veto message. The governor called on Holden to collaborate with his administration to address those concerns, and said that some of what the bill was intended to achieve could be accomplished through next year's budget process. In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, Holden said that he was disappointed with the governor's veto, but that he will "take it in the spirit of which he wrote it." 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! Holden said he plans to introduce legislation next year to address at least some of what AB 105 would have done. "We think that we can come back next year with a more laser-focused bill, even though I think this one was right on point," he said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Not a single structure burned down in the city of South Lake Tahoe. And yet, the threat of the fast approaching Caldor Fire cost surrounding El Dorado County tens of millions of dollars, if not more. In South Lake Tahoe, Domi Chavarria, co-owner of Verde Mexican Rotisserie, felt the devastation of the Caldor Fire even before the city was evacuated in August. Smoke had blanketed the city, and the tourists had mostly left. When the evacuation orders came down, Verde was stocked with food, almost all of which went bad during the more than two weeks the restaurant ultimately remained closed. Produce wilted; proteins went bad; prepared sauces couldnt be used. All that stuff, none of thats made to last weeks its all made the last days, says Chavarria. He estimates the lost inventory was worth between $10,000 and $13,000. None of it was covered by his insurance. 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! Losses like Chavarrias add up to at least $50.3 million in lost economic activity for El Dorado County, according to an initial estimate shared with CalMatters. Knowing the true cost of wildfires could spur more ambitious action from both government and the private sector, experts say. For instance, tracking the costs systematically over several years could help policymakers figure out which fire prevention and mitigation strategies are most cost effective. But right now, California has an incomplete understanding of how much wildfires cost the state each year. The costs of business disruption, the cost of damage to uninsured homes, the cost of ecosystem damage, and the cost of secondary health impacts such as those caused by wildfire smoke arent being tracked. Right now, we dont have a comprehensive picture of the economic harm wildfires cause each year, according to Teresa Feo, senior science officer at the California Council on Science and Technology and lead author of a 2020 report from the council on the cost of wildfires in California. There isnt a statewide systematic tracking effort to figure out these costs, says Feo. She said it took only about a month of digging into the question to realize: Oh no, you cant come up with a number, this is actually impossible with the existing data. The state does not track or estimate the cost of wildfires in a way that accounts for public health costs or ecological damage on a regular basis, confirmed Heather Williams, communications director for California Natural Resources Agency. Those would always be a moving target since health impacts can occur years later. But with more research being funded, this may be more feasible to help the state better understand the economic and ecological impacts so we can continue to make science-based informed policy decisions, Williams wrote in an email. The different costs of wildfires The initial analysis of the Caldor Fires economic impact was prepared by Tom Harris, an economist at the University of Nevada, Reno, for the Tahoe Prosperity Center, an economic development organization for the Lake Tahoe Basin. It estimates the combined losses of El Dorado and Nevadas Douglas County at $93 million. And, says Harris, that preliminary estimate is low: It doesnt include the losses in sectors like rental homes or recreation businesses. Nor does it include the lost economic activity caused by residents evacuating, and it doesnt take into account the healthcare costs associated with wildfire smoke exposure. Some costs are more immediate the cost of Chavarrias rotted food, for instance, and the fact that the fire took place over Labor Day weekend. Thats not a slow weekend in Tahoe, says Chavarria. Tourism is about 63 percent of the Tahoe basins economy, according to a 2018 report from Tahoe Prosperity Center. Between the slowdown in business due to smoke and the evacuation, Verde lost several weeks of revenue. Chavarria says that a month of sales for the restaurant is more than $100,000. Verdes employees also went without paychecks for the two weeks the restaurant was shut down. Nicole Smith, co-founder and taproom manager of South Lake Brewing Company, said her business fared better than many, partially because none of the beer went bad. But between the loss of sales in the companys own taproom and the beer it sells to other local businesses, the brewery lost somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000 of revenue during the evacuation, estimates Smith. In addition to lost business, some figures are easier to pin down, like the amount Cal Fire spends on fire suppression. But the state, for example, does not systematically track deaths and health conditions linked to wildfire smoke exposure. The costs associated with smoke may be the largest costs were missing, says Feo. One study produced by public health department researchers and academics tracked the use of Medi-Cal services during San Diegos 2007 fall fire season. It found that during the peak fire period, emergency room visits for respiratory conditions increased by 34% and visits for asthma increased by 113%. Especially concerning was a 136% increase in ER visits for children four and younger for asthma. That finding, the authors wrote, is cause for particular concern because of the potential for long-term harm to childrens lung development. A systematic effort to track wildfire smoke effects would be especially profound, says Feo, because it reaches so far beyond the location of the fire. In 2018, for example, smoke from the Camp Fire clogged San Francisco, a city more than a 100 miles away. If you can put figures on the impact of smoke across the whole state, whos impacted by the fire suddenly changes very dramatically, and therefore who benefits from the prevention and mitigation changes, she said. Different approaches to wildfire data The current approach to assessing the aftermath of wildfires is a hodgepodge of research looking into different aspects that is not led by any one agency. A smattering of data collection efforts includes: The California Air Resources Board is funding a study of the health impact of wildfire smoke statewide for 2017, 2018 and 2020, which will be ready in three or four years; The board is also funding a study of lost work days due to wildfire smoke, which will be ready in a couple of years; Cal Fire is also increasing funding for research into forest health; The Department of Insurance tabulates the damage to insured homes for some major wildfires, but does not track damage from all wildfires each year; And a variety of academic studies. Academic research on the cost of wildfires tends to come out several years later, and different studies focus on different fires using different methodologies. That makes it difficult to compare the findings, or track the costs over time. These studies are also conducted based on the interests of the particular researcher, says Louise Comfort, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a faculty affiliate at UC Berkeleys Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society Policy Lab. That doesnt give us a comprehensive view, Comfort says. She credits an UC-system wide effort to study the impacts of wildfires as a step in the right direction, but says the results are still not coming in in a standardized way. The state may be in the best position to lead the effort on tracking the economic impact of wildfires. The only thing that would give us a comprehensive view is if the state really said, We want this kind of information, says Comfort. But the state agencies shouldnt go it alone, she says, they should engage experts in the university system. Without statewide, systematically published numbers, its more difficult to compare how different regions are suffering from wildfires, or to assess the cost effectiveness of different wildfire prevention strategies. And it may be more challenging to justify spending on expensive, but nonetheless cost-effective, mitigation or prevention programs. Thats a question that comes up when talking about spending taxpayer dollars, Feo said. While wildfire costs arent tracked, there are some academic studies that attempt to estimate those costs and produce mind boggling figures. In 2020, for example, a team of researchers studied the nationwide impact of Californias 2018 wildfire season, and estimated that its economic damage totaled $148.5 billion. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, captured direct capital costs, such as buildings burning down; health costs, including those related to air pollution exposure; and indirect losses such as the economic disruption of lost hours working, as well as disruption to regional and national supply chains. The costs identified in that study exceed that of any disaster in the U.S. between the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, other than Hurricane Katrina, says Adam Rose, a research professor at University of Southern California and an expert in energy and environmental economics. Rose said that a standardized methodology for assessing the total cost of wildfires should be established and applied on a regular basis and it needs to be one that can be implemented relatively rapidly, as opposed to several years after a fire. That would allow a whole field of researchers to help track these costs, and would make their findings comparable. In addition to helping make the political case for government-led fire-prevention efforts, those numbers might spur private sector action on fire prevention efforts. But not all experts said that measuring the costs associated with each wildfire season is important. William Siembieda, a professor emeritus at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and senior member of a Cal Poly team that prepared several of the states annual hazard mitigation plans, says he doesnt know how policymakers would make use of those numbers. What would be useful, Siembieda says, is for cities to model the economic impact of different levels of fire damage. What would be the cost if 5% of the city burned? What if 10% or 20% burned? With those estimates, local officials could decide whether theyre prepared to eat that loss, insure against the risk, or pursue other strategies. Whats next for victims? For a couple weeks now, South Lake Tahoe residents and business owners have been reopening their restaurants, shops, and adventure outfits, taking stock of what happened. When Lisa Schafer, co-owner of Wildwood Makers Market, returned to the city and drove to her shop for the first time, she felt waves of different emotions. There was the fear shed been holding on to that her hometown, her house, and her business would all burn to a crisp. There was the gratitude she felt for the fact that they had all been spared. I cried the whole drive, she said. Her shop, which sells jewelry, wall decor, embroidery kits and other gifts, smelled smoky for her first few days back. It wasnt a pleasant campfire smell; it smelled like beef jerky. Business didnt return to normal immediately; tourists didnt rush back to the area. All told, Shafer lost about 60% of sales in September. Her insurance wont cover that loss of business. Its clear, she says, that these fires are not going away. She said she wishes there were some sort of automatic aid for businesses and individuals impacted by the fire. Ultimately, Wildwood Makers Market will bounce back from loss of business, Schafer said. But if something happens in the winter that disrupts the holiday shopping season, that could be catastrophic, she says. One more hit would not be good for us. CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters. PG&E Corp., still wrapping up a wildfire safety blackout that began earlier this week, is preparing to launch another outage across parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, Bay Area and Central Coast. California's largest utility announced late Tuesday it could start shutting power to 29,000 homes and businesses in 19 counties early Thursday. In both cases, weather and climate are the driving force: PG&E blamed the drought, dry conditions and another windstorm in the forecast. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for most of the day Thursday. The new public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, would affect customers in parts of the following counties: Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Kern, Lake, Napa, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba. The warning came as PG&E was continuing to restore electricity to about 24,000 customers hit with a PSPS blackout that began Monday. 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! The PSPS outages reflect PG&E's ongoing struggle to curb wildfire dangers. The utility is under investigation in this year's Dixie Fire, the second largest wildfire in California's history, and has been indicted on criminal charges in connection with last year's fatal Zogg Fire in Shasta County and 2019's Kincade Fire in Sonoma County. The company emerged last year from bankruptcy protection, the result of a string of disasters capped by the November 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Updated at 3:27 p.m. The man who was arrested near the site of a 132-acre fire Monday evening in American Canyon remained hospitalized Tuesday with burn injuries and is a person of interest in connection with the blaze that briefly caused an evacuation warning in a city neighborhood, according to the Napa County Sheriffs Office. Spreading quickly over arid grasslands, the Newell Fire broke out shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday in the Newell Open Space Preserve on American Canyons east side. The blaze prompted an evacuation warning for residents of the Via Bellagio neighborhood and caused the closure of American Canyon Road into the city. 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! Firefighters worked to corral the Newell Fire on Tuesday and achieved 100% containment by 6:15 p.m. Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit, which revised the fire's size downward from the 150 acres it announced Monday night. A 26-year-old man was detained by sheriffs deputies who encountered him near a car that was in flames and off the road, according to the sheriffs office. Witnesses saw the man trying to run from the burning car and pointed him out to law enforcement officers, sheriffs spokesperson Henry Wofford said. The 2000 Honda Accord sedan had been reported stolen in Vallejo earlier Monday, Wofford added. The man, whose name was not immediately released, was arrested in connection with the reported theft. He remained hospitalized for non-life-threatening burns as of 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, and the sheriffs office was awaiting medical clearance to interview him in connection with the fire, according to Wofford. Update: Man detained near burning car near site of American Canyon fire, according to Napa County Sheriffs Office The Newell Fire spread to 150 acres and caused a brief evacuation warning before fire crews stopped its forward progress, according to Cal Fire. Due to the expected length of the mans hospital stay, Napa County has released him from custody but will continue to treat him as a person of interest in the Newell Fire and the car theft, Wofford said Tuesday afternoon. Its not a matter of if we talk to him, its a matter of when, he said, explaining that the sheriffs office will work with Cal Fire to determine whether the car theft and the fire were related. Wofford said arson has not been ruled out as a source of the American Canyon fire, but spokesperson Tyree Zander of Cal Fire, the investigating agency in the blaze, did not say whether the state firefighting agency is investigating the incident as arson. Less than an hour after the fire began, the Napa County Office of Emergency Services issued an evacuation warning for the Via Bellagio neighborhood in south American Canyon east of Highway 29. The notice, which was not an order to evacuate, was lifted shortly before 8:15 p.m. During the fires early hours, the California Highway Patrol closed American Canyon Road from Interstate 80 to Highway 29 as numerous fire departments sent trucks and crews to the city. The road reopened at about 10:15 p.m. The Newell Fire began during a red flag warning the National Weather Service had issued for parts of Napa and other Bay Area counties, mainly higher-elevation areas, due to a combination of strong winds, low humidity and vegetation left dry by the California drought. The weather warning began Sunday night and was to stay in force through 5 p.m. Tuesday. Mondays fire was the largest in two years to approach the city of American Canyon. On Oct. 6, 2019, the American Fire erupted on grasslands off American Canyon Road, spreading to 526 acres on slopes overlooking the town. The blaze forced road shutdowns and evacuation advisories in the northeast corner of the Vintage Ranch development. You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com 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. California has led a movement among states to establish and improve paid family leave and job protections for all workers, but we must do more to eliminate the inequities built into leave policies With paid leave on the agenda in Washington, we have an opportunity to ensure Californias experience informs an even stronger federal policy that is inclusive of all workers. The problems with current policies are in who is left out. Employees of small companies, part-time workers and recent hires get limited, if any, benefits due to exemptions and basic eligibility requirements in the federal Family Medical Leave Act, which provides unpaid leave in some circumstances. Gender and race are not specifically addressed in the act, but a recent analysis from UCLA shows that exemptions apply disproportionately to women and people of color. 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! Workers who are eligible and have access to paid leave based on state laws face other barriers. For example, a young father who wants to take paid paternity leave to be with his newborn knows that his family cannot get by for even a short time at the wage-replacement rate. A wage replacement of 60%, the current rate in California for most workers who qualify, is much different for a low-wage worker, who depends on their entire salary for daily living expenses, than for someone with a higher income. Unequal access to paid time off compounds the hardships in low-income communities and widens racial and gender disparities. A look around the world shows that paid leave for all workers is possible. UCLAs review found that 181 countries have paid medical leave laws without broadly exempting small businesses. More than two-thirds of high-income countries with paid or unpaid medical leave include self-employed workers, and 93% cover part-time workers with no minimum tenure before coverage begins. The U.S. currently has no national paid leave policy, and unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act is full of exemptions. When anyone lacks paid leave, everyone is affected. For 4.6 million care workers in the U.S. who help with children, elders and individuals with disabilities, the ramifications of inadequate paid leave reach far beyond their households, impacting countless people who rely on them for care and their families. Strong paid leave policies offer workers the security and flexibility they need to remain in the workforce while also caring for their own families. Generous paid leave has broader benefits to health as well. It allows time for self-care, increases family caregiving and leads to higher rates of breastfeeding along with improved maternal and child health. Paid leave also reduces financial stress, a risk factor for many health issues, including domestic violence. And paid leave improves access to preventive care, which often is unavailable outside working hours. A wealthy state and nation like ours should provide paid leave for everyone, eliminating disparities across race, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status. Building on Californias success, a new national medical leave policy must include an adequate wage replacement rate of at least 90% to 100% for the lowest-paid workers; provide at least 12 weeks off for major illness, bonding with a new child and other needs; and explicitly guarantee coverage regardless of employer size, tenure, hours or occupation type. Providing widespread, equitable access to paid leave will benefit our whole society and improve health and health equity in California and across the nation. Debbie I. Chang is president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation. Jenya Cassidy is director of California Work & Family Coalition. They wrote this for Calmatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters. Look, if you're not vaccinated, your chances of getting COVID-19 are eight times higher than if you had the shots. It gets worse: If you're unvaccinated and test positive, your odds of being hospitalized jump by 13 times. And you're 18 to 20 times more likely to die. 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! Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency, cited those California numbers when I asked what difference vaccination makes especially for school kids. Gov. Gavin Newsom has set in motion COVID-19 vaccination mandates for all public and private school children making California the first state to require inoculation for classroom learning. "The No. 1 thing we should do to get COVID behind us is to get more people vaccinated," Ghaly says. "The mortality on kids is very different than with adults. That said, we've still lost more young people to COVID than to any other infectious disease, such as measles or mumps." Schoolchildren already must be vaccinated for those ailments along with polio, chickenpox, rubella, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. So, you've got to wonder about the people refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and protesting their kids being inoculated. What are they taking instead of the vaccine? Some anti-vaccination extremists call COVID-19 a "phony" disease. That's idiotic. So far, the disease has killed more than 710,000 people nationwide, including nearly 70,000 in California, according to the federal and state governments. In this state, 96 are dying of the disease every day. Across America, it has infected 44 million, including 4.7 million in California. Those stats are not phony. They're scary, heartbreaking and for many economically disastrous. The Times reported Saturday that only 60% of Californians are fully vaccinated, based on the paper's data analysis. In rural counties with low vaccination rates, residents died of COVID-19 during the summer at significantly higher rates than people in better-vaccinated regions such as Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Anti-vaxxers and Republican politicians complain that people lose their liberty when vaccinations are mandated. Getting shots should be a personal choice, they contend. Nonsense. Personal freedom doesn't give someone the right to spread a disease to other people. No one has the personal freedom to drive 100 mph on the freeway or conduct target practice with a rifle in a downtown park. That's because it endangers others. "Individual choice is important, but when it affects the lives and health and safety of a community, individual choice does not win out and shouldn't," says Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a former state Senate leader. There's also a high-minded argument about local control. School boards should decide whether their students must be vaccinated, many local officials and parents contend. Baloney. We should have one statewide policy on school vaccinations. They ought to be required everywhere. This is a case where one size does fit all. We shouldn't have one district mandating shots while the neighbor next door allows them to be voluntary. Then things get confusing and mischievous as parents district-shop. Steinberg has observed the local control argument from both city and state perspectives. "Local control is an important value. It's just not absolute," the Democrat says. "There is a time when an issue is so compelling to the lives of people that local control must be secondary to protecting the public health and safety. "If there was ever a case to be made about a single state standard, this is it. This is about life and death." Steinberg recently contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. At 61, he was in a vulnerable age group. "I had a fever and congestion a little more than flu-like symptoms," he says. "I was fatigued and lost my sense of taste and smell. It lasted two weeks. "I'm convinced if I'd not received my vaccination, I would have wound up hospitalized. It was the difference between moderate symptoms like I had and serious illness and possibly death." Newsom is on the right track with his vaccination mandates for students and teachers. Some think he's moving too slowly. But it's about as fast as a governor can move given political practicalities and legal speed limits. He understandably wants to wait for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve vaccines for school-age kids before requiring the shots. The plan is to begin implementing the statewide mandate in the school term following FDA approval. That could be in January or next July. Middle and high schools would be first, followed by kindergarten and elementary grades. But there'll be a sizable loophole in the mandate unless the Legislature passes a law to remove an oft-abused exemption for "personal beliefs." The Legislature did that for other childhood vaccines in 2015. But a governor can't do it on his own. Senate Health Committee Chairman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a pediatrician who has sponsored laws tightening student vaccination requirements, says he may introduce a bill to eliminate the personal belief exemption for COVID-19 shots when the Legislature reconvenes in January. Good idea. There'd still be a medical exemption. Parents could refuse to have their children vaccinated. But the kids would have to enroll in online classes, join an independent study program or be home-schooled. "If you don't want to vaccinate your child, you don't have to," Pan says. "But there are consequences. They're not to punish but to protect other children who deserve to be safe." Another consequence could be that the unvaccinated kid acquires a mild case of COVID-19 and foists it on a vulnerable grandparent. Then the parents should be grounded. Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for nearly 60 years and for The Los Angeles Times since 1974. According to a press release published by BAE Systems on October 13, 2021, more than 28 tonnes of Australian steel has been rolled off the production line at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide with the completion of structural manufacture of the first steel prototype unit for the Hunter Class Frigate Program, the largest surface shipbuilding project in the Australian nations defence history. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Artist rendering of BAE Systems Hunter-class frigate (Picture source: BAE Systems) The 217sqm unit, which has a bigger footprint than the average Australian house, has been moved from the shipyards primary manufacturing hall into the next stage of production where it will be outfitted and consolidated (with the addition of three more units) into the first prototyping block. The prototype unit is one of four in the first representative ship block and is the first to have been blasted and painted, cut and constructed in the new Shipyard. This particular unit and block are located in the middle of the ship and would contain the Officers Accommodation. BAE Systems Maritime Australia will build nine of the worlds most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. The prototyping phase commenced in December 2020 and program mobilization continues at pace with more than 1,300 people now working across the program including 35 apprentices and 26 graduates. The Hunter program will create and sustain 5,000 jobs over the life of the program. Steel for the prototyping phase of the Hunter program has already been procured from Bluescope AIS at Port Kembla, NSW and structural steel from Infrabuild in Whyalla, SA. The Hunter program has already placed around 40 contracts with Australian businesses to support design and prototyping. Around 20 further contracts will be awarded to support prototyping, including ship outfitting, gaskets, whole ship eye plates, insulation and deck coverings. The Hunter-class frigate is a future class of frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Anzac class. Construction is expected to begin in 2022, with the first of nine vessels to enter service in 2031. The Hunter-class frigate will be an Australian variation of the Type 26 class frigate that is to be operated by the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s. The class will have a 8,800-tonne (8,700-long-ton) full load displacement and will be approximately 150 metres (492 ft 2 in) in length. The vessel will be capable of sailing in excess of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and will have a full complement of 180 crew. A Saab tactical interface with the Aegis combat interface will be used. The vessel will be able to carry one MH-60R ASW helicopter, and has the ability to host other Australian aircraft such as the MRH90 helicopter. 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 His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians today, escorted by a delegation, had a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and all Russia in Moscow, as reported the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Greeting the Catholicos of All Armenians and his delegation, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church touched upon the centuries-old fraternal relations between the two churches and talked about the friendly and cordial relations between the two peoples and countries. In his turn, the Armenian Pontiff affirmed that Armenia and Russia have centuries-old strong and friendly ties. Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the objectives to overcome the consequences caused by the war, the Supreme Patriarch expressed his fraternal gratitude to the Russian Church and its Pontiff for the support provided to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people in that difficult period. The efforts for peacekeeping made for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed during the conversation. At the end of the meeting, Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and all Russia conferred upon the Catholicos of All Armenians the First Degree Order of Glory and Honor of the Russian Orthodox Church for the contributions to the development of friendly relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Patriarchate of Moscow and on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of His Holiness. The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed gratitude and emphasized that he views the award as a sign of respect and love of His Holiness for and towards the Armenian people and Armenian Church. On October 13, the Armenian Pontiff will attend the trilateral meeting of the spiritual leaders of the region in Moscow, the press release of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. YEREVAN. The first ever visit of a minister of foreign affairs of India to Armenia testifies to the deepening of relations between the two peoples and countries. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this at Wednesdays joint news conference in Yerevan with his visiting Indian colleague, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. "India is a key partner of Armenia, and strengthening relations [with India] is one of Armenia's priorities; it is reflected in the government's program," Mirzoyan added. He noted with satisfaction the agreements reached during their talks, and confirmed the readiness of the Armenian side to implement them as soon as possible. The Armenian FM reminded that this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and noted their successful cooperation at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations. "India can contribute to the stability and development of the South Caucasus. We highly value India's principled position on a peaceful settlement [of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict] within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group mandate," Mirzoyan said, adding that Armenia has repeatedly stated that force cannot be a means and the conflict shall be settled through peace talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, and based on the well-known principles. The Armenian official emphasized that Yerevan lauds the statement of the Indian side on the inadmissibility of the presence of the Azerbaijani military in the sovereign territory of Armenia. For his part, Ararat Mirzoyan confirmed their support for India's position on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The FM of Armenia noted the development of Armenian-Indian bilateral relations in several spheres, and stated that the Armenian side has great expectations in connection with the implementation of programs in a number of domains. In his turn, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar noted that his current visit to Armenia marks the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between the two countries. According to him, their talks in Yerevan were productive, and the two parties positions coincide in most issues. The Indian FM reminded that India was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia, and the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations will be broadly celebrated. However, their relations goes back centuriesuntil the Middle Agesthere is a great Armenian heritagechurches, cemeteries, and education institutionsin India, the Armenian heritage in his country is preserved with care and respect, and the contribution of the Armenian community in the history of India is great, added the Indian official. Also, he thanked the Armenian authorities and people for their kind treatment of Indian students living in Armenia, expressed special gratitude for the installation of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Yerevan, and promised to visit it today. In conclusion, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar invited Ararat Mirzoyan to visit India, the invitation was accepted with gratitude, and Mirzoyan promised that he would be accompanied by business representatives in order to establish contacts and strengthen the agreements on location. The secretary of the Security Council of Armenia has categorically rejected plans for the creation of new corridors in the southern parts of the Caucasus after the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war last fall. In an interview with Tasnim news agency of Iran, Armen Grigoryan said the latest war paved the way for the presence of terrorists in the region, Tasnim reported. Voicing concern about the insecurity caused by the presence of terrorists and the armed forces of certain countries in the region, he said, We have always warned others against these issues. But these warnings given by Armenia did not help in preventing terrorists and armed people from entering the region. Grigoryan said the issue of unblocking the roads and economic routes of the region has been cited in the November 2020 statement and has also been discussed in the trilateral meeting among the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan, held in Russia on January 11. Id like to emphasize confidently that neither the two statements nor the meetings have made any reference to the corridor, the Armenian official stated. I want to make it clear that Armenia has never proposed, and will not propose anything about the corridor, and it has never held and will not hold negotiations about the corridor, Grigoryan underlined. The secretary of the Security Council of Armenia noted that he has reiterated Yerevans stance on the issue in meetings with his counterparts and colleagues. Before the snap parliamentary elections in Armenia and during an election campaign in Kapan city, Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made it clear that there would not be any talk of creation of a corridor, he added. You know that we won the majority vote of people in the most recent elections. It indicates that our stance and policy have been accepted and comprehended by the Armenian society and they (people) support our stance. They, too, have realized that there is no talk of the corridor, Grigoryan added. The official also expressed Armenias readiness to open its routes for transportation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, but underscored that the routes are wholly placed under sovereignty of Armenia. Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his delegation. In his welcoming speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted. "Dear Mr. Minister, dear members of the delegation, I welcome all of you. We have always valued our relations with India, we have always had warm relations. Frankly, I'm surprised that you are the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Armenia. This is really amazing because the impressions are that India in Armenia and Armenia in India are very visibly represented. But maybe that fact has a certain symbol in it, we have a lot of missing work that we have to do to fill the gap. I am very happy and thankful for your commitment to intensify our work. I remember, after your meeting with our Foreign Minister in Dushanbe, we had a conversation, and his assessment was also that we have a lot of opportunities, which we may not have used properly, and now we have to do everything to fill the gaps. But I also want you to know that we not only want to express readiness, but we also have concrete ideas, suggestions on what we should cooperate on. I must emphasize that we recorded this intention, atmosphere and agenda during our meeting with Prime Minister Modi in 2019 in New York, at that time we agreed that its time to make our actions more specified. But you know, unfortunately, the coronavirus hit immediately afterwards. We have learned to work under the coronavirus conditions and I hope we will move forward. Mr. Minister, I again welcome your visit to Armenia. I hope it will be historic not only in terms of statistics, but also in terms of content. " In his turn, the Indian Foreign Minister noted, Thank you, Your Excellency. Mr. Prime Minister, first of all, let me convey the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He remembers his meeting with you in 2019 and attaches great importance to my visit. Your Excellency, to be honest, I was also very surprised to learn that no Indian Foreign Minister had visited Armenia. I discovered this fact when I first met my colleague Ararat Mirzoyan in Dushanbe. I want to assure you that even if we have missed to do what we should have done in the past, there is great attention to our important relations today. I agree with you, we have a very good attitude to one another and history, but we must take practical, tangible steps to push our relations forward. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia welcomed the practical disposition of India, reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to enrich the Armenian-Indian partnership with new mutually beneficial initiatives. The interlocutors stressed that the Armenia-India political dialogue is at a high level, and it is necessary to focus more on economic programs, taking into account the existence of great untapped economic potential. The Indian Foreign Minister offered to organize a business forum or send a business mission to Armenia. Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the idea, considering it a mutually beneficial opportunity to get acquainted with the investment opportunities of Armenia on the spot and to activate the Armenian-Indian business ties. An agreement was reached to take concrete steps. Nikol Pashinyan and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar considered the educational cooperation a successful example of the Armenian-Indian partnership and shared the opinion that in the spirit of that successful cooperation, its necessary to develop ties in the spheres of infrastructure, tourism, pharmaceuticals, information technologies, diamond making and and other spheres. At the end of the meeting, the Indian Foreign Minister expressed confidence with his visit a new intensive Armenian-Indian partnership will kick off. The trilateral meeting of the spiritual leaders was the seventeenth one similar meetings have been held from time to time since 1988, and the axis of the meetings has been the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue and the challenges that emerged after the war; the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, as well as the issues on the pullout of snipers from the border, the return of captives and clarification of the fate of the missing were discussed. This is what Head of the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Priest Yesai Artenyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, touching upon the meeting of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh held through the mediation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. This was the platform where the issues on security of the people of Artsakh and the truths related to the issue of Artsakh were raised, the platform where an attempt was made to find solutions through discussions, and time showed that the agreements reached during the meetings of the past years had a certain positive impact on the establishment of peace in the region. We hope and anticipate that this meeting will contribute to the solution to the issues raised, particularly the return of prisoners of war and clarification of the fate of the missing. We cant guess to what extent this will become a reality, but lets hope that the relevant authorities pay attention to the issues raised, he stated. The last trilateral meeting of the spiritual leaders of the region took place in 2017. Asked what led to the emergence of the need for a new meeting after a long interval, Priest Yesai Artenyan noted that the trilateral meetings are usually held at the initiative of the Russian Patriarch, and since the tragic consequences of the recent war in Artsakh are escalating and troubling, the current challenges led to the emergence of a demand to organize a new meeting. Priest Yesai Artenyan fell short of saying whether there were agreements reached in regard to the return of prisoners of war and other humanitarian issues during the meeting and mentioned that he couldnt transmit further information. After the war, Azerbaijan desecrated the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Shushi by launching construction, lowering the hood of the cupola of the cathedral, transforming the internal structure of the church and trying to erase the Armenian spiritual-cultural trace. Azerbaijan is also leading a consisten policy to ascribe Armenian shrines to the spiritual heritage of the Ouds. Armenian News-NEWS.am asked Priest Yesai Artenyan if these issues were on the agenda of the trilateral meeting and whether agreements were reached to prevent the attempts to erase the Armenian historical-cultural trace. We hope to achieve results with regard to the protection of not only the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, but also all the other remaining shrines. The Supreme Patriarch touched upon the preservation of Armenian shrines in the territories that are under the control of Azerbaijan, which implies emphasis on not distorting history, and we see this in Azerbaijan, he noted. Over the past few months, Azerbaijan has been prohibiting Armenian pilgrims from visiting Dadivank Monastery. In response to Armenian News-NEWS.ams question, Priest Yesai Artenyan informed that there is still no progress in lifting this ban, based on the results of the trilateral meeting. Its very hard to imagine that the "3+3" format can be created when there needs to be cooperation between Georgia and Russia, Iran and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is what Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Aleksandr Iskandaryan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, touching upon the recent statements on the creation of a new format ("3+3") with the participation of the countries of the region and the feasibility of the format. First of all, there is no complete information about this. This proposal was made quite a long time ago and has been considered for a long time, but I dont think it is realistic. Alongside the talks about the creation of the "3+3" format, Tbilisi is active. Georgias Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili recently visited Azerbaijan and then Armenia and stressed that Georgia is ready to play the role of a mediator for settlement of regional issues. Georgia is expressing willingness to stay involved in the processes unfolding in the region. However, in this regard, Tbilisi has several restrictions with regard to the absence of diplomatic relations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Russia. At the same time, the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group is starting to become active. The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met for the first time after the war under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and both Yerevan and Baku have made official statements on the possible meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. I am certain that the negotiations will resume. Iskandaryan said. Story Highlights 45% of full-time employees working partly or fully remotely in September Nine in 10 remote workers want to maintain remote work to some degree Same number anticipate keeping remote hours for rest of the year and beyond WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Forty-five percent of full-time U.S. employees worked from home either all (25%) or part of the time (20%) in Gallup's September update of its monthly employment trends. These figures are unchanged from remote working rates in July and August, signaling that U.S. companies' return-to-office plans remain on hold. Line graph. Monthly trend from April 2020 to September 2021 in amount U.S. employees are working remotely/from home. Most recently, 25% worked exclusively from home, and 20% worked some of the time from home, for a total of 45% working remotely. These rates have been steady each month since July. The overall percentage working remotely was highest last April, at 69%, before trending down to just over half by October 2020. Given the high proportion of white-collar jobs traditionally done in an office, the remote rate among these workers is particularly noteworthy. Two-thirds of employees in white-collar jobs (67%) reported working from home either exclusively (41%) or some of the time (26%) in September, As with the rate of remote work among all full-time employees, remote working among white-collar workers has been steady in recent months. However, the percentage has dwindled since January's 79% as the vaccination rate among Americans has increased, giving more people the confidence and freedom to return to the office. Line graph. Monthly trend from April 2020 to September 2021 in amount white-collar workers in the U.S. have been working remotely, from home. Most recently, 41% were working exclusively from home and 26% partially from home, for a total of 67% working from home to some degree. The overall percentage working remotely was highest last April, at 83%. It varied for several months before steading near 75% in January. It fell to 68% in March and has since held near that level. In contrast to the high rate of remote work in white-collar professions, working remotely is far less prevalent among workers with interactions that typically occur in person, such as in education (48%) and healthcare (35%). Gallup's trends on remote work are based on Gallup's COVID-19 survey conducted via web surveys using the nationally representative, probability-based Gallup Panel. The latest results are based on adults employed full time who work for an employer (are not exclusively self-employed) interviewed in mid-September. Employees See Many Advantages to Remote Work Separately, Gallup's State of the Workforce study conducted in May/June with more than 9,000 American workers finds strong reasons for employers to consider bringing remote workers back to the office in a hybrid fashion -- spending part of the week at home and part on-site. Most notably, the study reveals that: Employees hope remote is here to stay. 91% of workers in the U.S. working at least some of their hours remotely are hoping their ability to work at home persists after the pandemic. Hybrid work is most preferred. Overall, 54% of employees who work remotely at least some of the time say they would ideally like to split their time between working at home and in the office -- a hybrid arrangement. A little over a third (37%) would like to work from home exclusively, while 9% want to return to the office full time. Nearly half of fully on-site employees whose job can be done remotely wish they could work partially (37%) or exclusively from home (11%). Time preservation is a key reason for wanting to work remotely: Not having to commute, needing flexibility to balance work and personal obligations, and improved wellbeing (which likely results from having more time) are the top-cited reasons for preferring remote work. Employers are at risk of losing talent if they do not allow remote work. Three in 10 employees working remotely say they are extremely likely to seek another job if their company eliminates remote work. Most workers don't foresee remote work harming company culture. While most workers don't think remote work will improve their office culture, they don't think it will hurt it either. Two-thirds of all full-time U.S. employees think that having people work remotely long term will have either no effect or a positive effect on their workplace culture; the remaining third think it will be negative. Hybrid looks like the way of the remote future. 76% of remote workers say their employer will allow people to work remotely going forward, at least partially. 61% of remote workers say they anticipate working hybrid for the next year and beyond; 27% expect to be fully remote. DETAILED FINDINGS Workers Overwhelmingly Desire the Flexibility of Some Remote Work When asked what their preferred work location would be going forward, 91% of remote workers interviewed in May/June (those fully and partially remote, combined) indicated they wanted to be hybrid (54%) or exclusively remote (37%). But the amount employees wanted to work remotely differed according to their work situation: Those working from home full time were divided between wanting to remain fully remote (49%) and preferring a hybrid arrangement (45%). Just 6% said their ideal was to be fully on-site. By contrast, 70% of those working remotely part of the time would prefer a hybrid arrangement; the rest were divided, at 15% each, between wanting to be fully remote or fully on-site. Those working on-site full time, but whose job can be done remotely, were evenly split between wanting to continue to work on-site (52%) and wishing they could work hybrid (37%) or exclusively from home (11%). U.S. Employees' Preferred Future Work Arrangement, by Current Work Arrangement Prefer exclusively on-site Prefer hybrid Prefer exclusively remote Total prefer remote % % % % Remote workers Working from home exclusively 6 45 49 94 Working partially from home/partially on-site (hybrid) 15 70 15 85 Total working remotely (hybrid or exclusively) 9 54 37 91 Potential remote workers Working on-site, but job can be done from home 52 37 11 48 Gallup Panel, May 26-June 9, 2021 In summary, most employees working hybrid want to continue working hybrid (70%). About half of exclusively remote workers (49%) and 37% of those on-site in a job that could be done remotely would prefer hybrid. Commute Time, Wellbeing and Flexibility Are Top Reasons to Work Remotely When asked to name the top three reasons for their work location preference, those who say hybrid or exclusively remote work is ideal are most likely to cite the lack of commute time. Improvements to their wellbeing and the flexibility it affords are the next two highest-ranked reasons. At the same time, those who prefer exclusively remote work uniquely mention "having fewer distractions" as a top perk. This speaks to the advantage of having more focused work time when working entirely from home. Conversely, those who prefer hybrid work uniquely mention getting to "spend time in person with coworkers," which speaks to the opportunities for interpersonal connection and collaboration afforded by this type of flexible work arrangement. Meanwhile, employees who would prefer to be fully on-site chiefly name productivity as the top reason for that choice, followed by better access to technology and easier collaboration with others. Personal productivity and wellbeing make it into the top five reasons across all three location preferences, underscoring that workers' productivity and wellbeing needs are met differently. Where people work best is highly individualized and dependent on the type of work they do -- and how much collaboration time they require. Table showing U.S. employees top reasons for why they prefer to work either fully on-site, fully remote, or hybrid (partially on-site and partially remote). Those who prefer to be on-site are most likely to say it makes them feel more productive (41%), followed by having better access to technology (32%), finding it easier to collaborate (32%), feeling more connected to their organization (31%), and saying it's better for their wellbeing (30%). The top three reasons for those preferring to be fully remote are avoiding commute time (52%), saying it's better for their wellbeing (44%) and needing flexibility to balance family and other obligations (37%). The top three reasons for those preferring to be hybrid are the same, with 48% naming each. Additionally, 35% of those preferring to be fully remote say they feel more productive and 29% cite having fewer distractions. Among those who prefer hybrid, 30% cite having the option to work in-person with coworkers and 26% say they feel more productive. Hybrid Workers Disagree on How to Coordinate Office Time Managing hybrid workers, many of whom grew accustomed to working exclusively from home over the past year, may take some finesse. There is little agreement among employees regarding how often and when they want to go to the office. When asked how often they want to work on-site in a hybrid setting, 38% said they preferred to spend 2-3 days in the office. In contrast, 37% want to spend less than 2-3 days on-site, and 24% would like to be in the office more often than 2-3 days per week. When asked how they want their time in the office to be determined, nearly four in 10 employees (38%) who want a hybrid arrangement going forward desire complete flexibility and autonomy in those decisions. This group wants the decision about how many days, and which days, to be on-site each week left entirely up to them. In contrast, the remaining six in 10 would rather have their employer, manager or team establish clear guidelines for being in the office: 24% would prefer their employer requires a certain number of days per week to be on-site. 16% would prefer their employer to require all members to be on-site a few specific days per week but leave the rest up to the employee. 22% want their manager or team to coordinate schedules so that everyone is on-site together for at least one day per week. Mixed Predictions For Impact of Remote Work on Work Culture The majority of full-time U.S. employees are unconcerned about the effect that remote work could have on their company's culture. Among all workers, 54% believe the culture of their company would be the same if a substantial number of employers worked remotely long-term, and 12% think it would be better, while 33% predict it would be worse. Employee views on the culture question differ according to workers' current remote work status -- the more employees work from home, the more upbeat they are about the potential effect of remote work on company culture. By contrast, exclusively on-site workers are divided, with 49% believing that having people work remotely long-term would make the culture worse, while 7% say it would be better and 44% say it would be about the same. Will Calling Workers Back Drive Them Away? About three in 10 remote workers (31%) say that losing the option of working from home, should their employer remove it, would make them extremely likely to look for employment with another organization. That stretches to 49% when factoring in those rating their chance of leaving a "4" on the five-point likelihood scale. The inclination to leave over losing the ability to work remotely is higher among employees working exclusively from home (37% describe themselves as "extremely" likely to look for another job) than among those working partially from home (19%). U.S. Employees' Likelihood of Leaving Job Over Lack of Remote Work Option, Based on Current Work Arrangement If your employer decides not to offer opportunities for you to work remote some or all of the time long term, how likely would you be to look for opportunities for employment with other organizations? Currently fully remote Currently hybrid Currently fully on site % % % 5 (Extremely likely) 37 19 11 4 17 19 8 3 17 19 17 2 10 12 14 1 (Extremely unlikely) 19 30 50 Gallup Panel, May 26-June 9, 2021 Remote Workers See Hybrid in Their Future Three in four employees who were working remotely exclusively or part of the time in September indicate that their employer will allow people to continue working from home on some basis. For now, an even higher percentage of remote workers expect to be working from home for "the rest of the year and beyond." About a quarter (27%) plan to do so exclusively, and another six in 10 (61%) plan to do so part of the time. Just 9% anticipate working a minimal amount from home or not at all. Amount Remote U.S. Employees Anticipate Working Remotely for Rest of the Year and Beyond All remote workers Exclusively remote Partially remote (hybrid) % % % Exclusively remote (100%) 27 47 2 Hybrid (10%-99%) 61 49 77 Not remote (>10% or never) 9 3 16 Not sure 3 1 5 Gallup Panel, Sept. 13-19, 2021 Looking at the U.S. workforce at large, regardless of where people are currently working, the poll finds that 13% of all full-time employees plan to work exclusively from home, 31% plan to work hybrid and 52% plan to work fully on-site, with 4% unsure. Bottom Line Pre-pandemic normalcy remains elusive, but a new normal has settled in among workers who have grown accustomed to working from home -- commuting less and enjoying improved wellbeing and flexibility. Nearly half of full-time employees in the U.S. (45%), including two-thirds of white-collar employees (67%), are still working from home to some degree. The good news for these workers -- who overwhelmingly do not want to return to the office full time -- is that their employers largely foresee making remote work a permanent offering, at least on a hybrid basis. Leaders and managers may recognize the many benefits of remote work, along with the risk of losing top talent if remote work flexibility is taken away. Employers may still worry about the effect remote work has on company culture, but most workers do not share this concern. The greater risk to culture could be not providing options for work location flexibility that match what employees desire and make them more productive. Gallup research suggests that a mismatch between where employees work best and where they are required to work could impair employee engagement, and ultimately, employee retention. Jeffrey M. Jones and Sangeeta Agrawal contributed to this report. To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter. Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works. From an early age, former McDonalds President and COO Raul Alvarez learned the importance of embracing opportunities and taking risks. His parents, who brought him (at just five years old) and his brother to Miami in 1961 after fleeing Fidel Castros communist Cuba, instilled in him a deep sense of drive to make the most of the familys improved conditions. You have been given an opportunity in this country, dont waste it, he remembers their advice. Dont leave anything undone. Be the best that you can be. He reached the pinnacles of executive leadership in the fast-food industry by following their guidance. In 1976, upon graduating from Miami Herbert in just three years with a bachelors in accounting and finance, he began his career as an auditor for what is today Deloitte Touche. Two years later, he joined the accounting team at Burger King Corporation, one of the largest employers in the city even at the time. Here, shortly into his new position, his boss gave him surprising advice. If you want to move up, you have to be on the sales side, he recalls his bosss words. You have to stop counting the burgers and start selling the burgers. For Alvarez, the advice proved among the most important in his professional career. Once in sales, he discovered that he loved working directly with both customers and employees. Understanding how to motivate people either to buy your products as a customer or to perform better as an employeeunderstanding the psychology of humansthat is, for me, the most interesting part of the business world, he says. Thriving in his new environment, opportunities came quickly. At just 27, he accepted his first international assignment: heading the operations in Madrid, Spain. Suddenly, he found himself amid the more challenging but formative experiences of his career. I was running a $30 million business with no support structure around me, he says. I had to rely on curiosity, quick learning, and surrounding myself with talented people in disciplines that I didnt have. The dedication paid off. A successful performance led him to London as head of the European operations, to Toronto as president of Burger King Canada, and eventually back to South Florida as the lead of the Florida division. In 1989, when Burger King was acquired by a parent company whose scope extended broadly beyond fast food, Alvarez considered it the right moment to leave the company. He accepted a position at Wendys, also as head of operations of the Florida division. By 1994, he had made a name for himself, as he discovered when recruiters of industry leader McDonalds Corporation approached him, an extraordinary move as they did not readily recruit outside of the company. For the next 15 years, Alvarez again accepted all opportunities and relocated as necessary to fulfill ascending leadership roles, which included running the northern California division, positioning Chipotleat only 14 restaurants at the time of acquisitionfor rapid growth, and leading operations for McDonalds Mexico. Eventually, he returned to the United States as president and COO of country-wide operations, then of all North America, and finally, in 2006, of the entire global corporation, serving in this role until the end of 2009. In 2010, he embarked on private equity ventures and participated in the purchase of Skylark Co. Ltd., the largest restaurant company in Japan with 3,500 locations and 100,000 employees. Living between the U.S. and Japan for five and a half years, he served as chairman and helped revitalize the company, taking it public just a few years after purchase. More recently, as a director on the board of Traeger Wood Pellet Grills and as chairman of First Watch Restaurants, he similarly helped steer both companies towards successful IPOs. Alvarez attributes his accomplishments to a constant commitment to a high level of performance. As part of an immigrant family, you carry a certain burning need inside to get established and achieve in this new country, he states. My parents push to always strive for my best led me to take risks because opportunities were about working towards excellence and performance. Alvarez, who has been married for 42 years to his wife Gloria (also a Cuban immigrant), said his family shares the drive to excel, and the University of Miami has played an important role in that drive. His mother, a Ph.D.-level marine biologist in Cuba, found work as a researcher at the University upon arriving in the early 60s. Fourteen years later, she attained her masters in the School of Education and moved on to fulfill her passion as a public school teacher. His son, Kyle Patrick, a 2005 UM graduate, followed the family tradition and became a third-generation Cane. His daughter, Kelly Marie, took a different route and is an alumna of the University of California San Diego. Moreover, Alvarezs brother, University of Miamis Professor of Physics Orlando Alvarez, has been a faculty member for 29 years. Alvarez's mother, Maria Alvarez, at RSMAS in the early 1960s. Today, Alvarez visits the campus as a frequent guest speaker at Miami Herbert events. He advises students to take classes that build a solid foundation not only in the numbers side of business, but also in the psychology behind human behavior. If you are going to be in business, you have to understand how to motivate and reward people on both sides of the relationship, both customers and employees, he emphasizes. The influential Hispanic leader, who describes himself as proud of my heritage and proud of this country, also enjoys mentoring Hispanic employee groups in the companies where he serves on the boards of directors, including Lowes Companies and Eli Lilly and Company. In addition to stressing the importance of education, language skills, and the strengths of a multicultural background, he imparts the wisdom that most guided him: Dont be afraid to take risks, he tells them, especially when youre young. Residents of Guanica, Puerto Rico, have long known about the troubled past of pollution that has plagued the waters of the small inlet situated off their towns southern coast. Edgardo Cruz, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who grew up in this town of more than 16,000, can recall vividly the story his father told him about the tanker that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into the bay nearly 60 years ago, turning its waters black. He was a fisherman and had to go miles and miles offshore just to make his living, Cruz recalled. The waters were too polluted. Other residents, especially the elders, remember how the towns fertilizer plant used to produce ammonium sulfate and sulfuric acid in the 1950s and 1960s, dumping its untreated waste into the inlet. Today, Guanica Bay is once again at the center of a contamination crisis, and a University of Miami scientist is helping to bolster efforts aimed at abating the problem. Raising awareness is just part of the solution, said Naresh Kumar, a professor of environmental health in the Miller School of Medicines Department of Public Health Sciences, who, since 2014, has been tracking and documenting elevated levels of a group of harmful chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, in Guanicas scenic bay. Scientific research and following the science is the key, he said. Without data, we cannot even begin to create educational awareness. So, our approach has been a holistic one. Its about aiding community members who could be at risk, informing them what kinds of actions they can take to reduce their exposure. Seven years ago, Kumar and his team tested sediment samples from three locations in Guanica Bay, discovering that they contained the second-highest levels of PCBs ever recorded anywhere in the world. Second only to those found in Canadas St. Lawrence River in 1995, Kumar said. Their testing revealed PCB levels higher than those detected by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who analyzed sediment from the bay shortly before Kumars team. He and his team members, who spent about a week in Guanica conducting research and public hearings on the contamination, also found high levels of PCBs in two species of fishmutton snapper and common mojarrathat inhabit the bay. Once valued for their stability and used as insulating fluids and coolants in electrical equipment such as transformers, PCBs were banned in the U.S. in 1979 because of their toxicity. But they can still be found in the environment because of their resistance to natural degradation and their bioaccumulation in the food chain. In underserved municipalities like Guanica that lack both extensive resources to test for dangerous chemicals and the effective measures to clean them up, PCBs can pose a serious public health threat, Kumar said. They can damage the immune and reproductive systems and the nervous system, as well. And exposure to them has been documented to cause cardio and cerebrovascular disorders. Since his teams initial testing of sediment from the bay, contamination at the site has spiked. Two years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, Kumar and his team returned to Guanica to conduct follow-up analyses of the sediment, finding that PCB levels had increased threefold. His hypothesis is that the storms powerful winds dredged the bottom of the bay, bringing up more PCB-contaminated sediment. At a community event in Guanica, students distributed information on the environmental and health impacts of PCBs. But it was what they found during a different kind of sampling that raised more serious concerns: elevated levels of the chemical in blood samples taken from 150 Guanica residents, which suggests some of the townspeople consumed fish from the bay. If any location qualifies to be a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is the area surrounding Guanica Bay, according to Kumar. The Superfund program centers on cleaning up contaminated areas. And such a designation would force parties responsible for the contamination to either clean up the site or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work. But the agency, following the completion of the NOAA study, ruled that the site didnt qualify as such, saying that no exposure pathways for humans were present. Now, however, that may change. Last month, the EPA proposed to add the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. in Guanica to its National Priorities List, starting a comment period that will run through Nov. 8 and during which Guanicas residents can voice their concerns. The EPA will not make a final decision on the site until it has reviewed comments received from interested stakeholders, said EPA spokesperson Stephen McBay, who added that the agencys next update on the Ochoa site is expected in March 2022. The site at the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. consists of two parcels: a 13-acre western lot along Guanica Bay and a 112-acre eastern lot within 500 feet of the inlet. The facilitys former operators manufactured ammonia, ammonium sulfate, and sulfuric acid at the site beginning in the 1950s, ceasing those operations in 1968. Today, fertilizer is produced on the 13-acre lot. But it is not the fertilizer or the chemicals that were manufactured there in the past that are to blame for elevated PCB levels in the bay, but rather generators that once produced electricity for the plants operations, theorizes Helena Solo-Gabriele, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Miamis College of Engineering. A member of Kumars team, she traveled to Guanica on two occasions to collect and test sediment from the bay. Professor of environmental engineering Helena Solo-Gabriele analyzes a Guanica Bay sediment sample for dissolved oxygen. The energy needs of such a plant are substantial because, essentially, nitrogen from the air has to be combined with hydrogen gas to produce the fertilizer, Solo-Gabriele explained. Its a very energy-intensive process. So, it is possible that there were once old PCB-insulated capacitors onsite that caused the contamination. Kumars team, however, has no evidence so far to back up that scenario. He pointed out that his team also detected other chemicals in Guanica Bays sediment, including arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. Whatever the EPA decides, Kumar and his team are determined to keep Guanica Bays PCB contamination issue at the forefront. Not long after their initial testing of bay sediment, the team collaborated with Guanicas Aurea E. Quiles Claudio High School to launch a public awareness campaign about the contamination in the bay. Students created posters listing PCB contamination rates and the potential impacts the chemicals could have on human health and the environment, and they went out into the community to distribute the information. Some of those students later attended a summer training program at the University, learning about environmental issues and using portable biosensors designed by researchers in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to test water samples for the presence of PCBsknowledge they would later take back to their communities in Guanica, Kumar reported. For one of those students, Michael Gambale, the issue hits close to home. His mother still lives in Guanica, and he has other family members there. So, working on this project was like giving them a security blanket, said Gambale, who is now a senior at the University of Central Florida and plans to return to Puerto Rico after he graduates. I could see the passion for the project in Dr. Kumars eyes when he was in Guanica, and that sort of rubbed off on all of us, Gambale said. Cruz, the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, would like to see Guanica Bay restored to its former luster. He is the founder and owner of Guanicas community library, La Casa Del Guaniqueno, and helped organize some of the community events that doled out information to residents about the bays contamination. Cleanup of the bay, he noted, could help transform his hometown into a major tourist hub, attracting more visitors and boosting an economy that has sometimes suffered. He and other community partners recently participated in a teleconference call with Kumar to explore future outreach efforts now that the EPA is considering adding the Ochoa site to its National Priorities List. This endeavor is vitally important to us, said one of those partners, Roberto Viqueira Rios, executive director of Protectores de Cuencas, a Puerto Rico-based NGO (non-government organization) that focuses on ecological rehabilitation, green infrastructure, and sedimentation and erosion controls. Guanica Bay is a priority conservation area for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, Puerto Ricos government, and other organizations, and we plan to continue our collaboration with Naresh on outreach and education efforts. Kumar remains optimistic that the EPA will designate Guanica site as a Superfund location. Weve clearly shown that some children from the community swim in the bay and that some people are catching and eating fish from it, he said. So, theres an obvious link to human exposure. Welcome back to 10 Things in Politics. Sign up here to receive this newsletter. Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go - click here for iOS and here for Android. Send tips to bgriffiths@insider.com. Here's what we're talking about: With Phil Rosen. Rep. Matt Gaetz's friends think his phone is being monitored. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite 1. BURN(ER) AFTER READING: Matt Gaetz's friends think twice these days before texting the Republican Florida congressman. One Gaetz friend told Insider the sprawling anti-corruption inquiry involving a sex-trafficking investigation into the congressman "makes people hesitant to reach out." Here's what else people close to Gaetz are saying: No one wants to be connected to the legal cloud: "No one wants to inject themselves into anything while there's 16 dozen people looking into everything that comes into that phone," one friend told Insider. (Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. He also so far has not been indicted.) A former official says it's possible Gaetz's communications are being monitored: In a public corruption inquiry involving a sitting congressman and perhaps multiple other government officials, it's a fairly safe assumption that at some point investigators would've sought to obtain court-authorized surveillance of Gaetz's communications, said Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence. Read more about how Florida politicos are "sitting back with popcorn" as they wait for the next shoe to drop. 2. House Democrats approve a two-month debt-limit hike: It amounts to a momentary reprieve as Senate Republicans are already pledging to block any future renewal of America's ability to pay its bills. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation soon. No House Republican voted in favor of raising the US debt ceiling. Story continues 3. US says its borders with Canada and Mexico will soon open to fully vaccinated travelers: Officials say they will lift travel restrictions in November for fully vaccinated tourists. The US has already been open to some categories of travelers, but the latest changes will apply to those looking to visit family or shop in the US. This signals a new phase for tourism as US officials roll back pandemic-related travel restrictions. 4. Democrats are still at odds as Biden's agenda hangs in the balance: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to wrap up negotiations on the party's massive $3.5 trillion social-spending plan by the end of the month, Politico reports. But Democrats are privately worried their disagreements could drag on until December, a month already jam-packed with must-pass legislation to keep the government open and pay its bills. Pelosi has suggested trimming the size of the spending bill and limiting the length of its key programs as ways to further keep costs down. Here's where things stand on the core of Democrats' agenda. 5. There's a second Facebook whistleblower: A former employee named Sophie Zhang also said she had shared inside documents with a US law agency and is ready to testify before Congress. She has criticized what she believed was Facebook's failure to stop authoritarian governments from abusing its platform. Here's the rundown on Facebook's next whistleblower. 6. Biden is getting hammered in the polls: Biden is in a predicament close to what President Barack Obama found himself in during his first term, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a diminished standing among voters unaffiliated with a party are unique to the current president. Biden's support among independents has fallen so much that he's nearing Trump territory. Key stats: Biden started with a 61% approval rating among independents polled by Gallup, an unprecedentedly high mark. That support has steadily decreased in each month of his presidency, dropping to 37% in September directly following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Biden's vaccine mandate for employers. An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Carlos Yudica/Shutterstock.com 7. Top companies flout Texas' ban on vaccine mandates: American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, and Southwest announced they wouldn't be complying with Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on private companies requiring employees to a COVID-19 shot. Both airlines cited their belief that Biden and his administration's actions superseded any state-level requirements. Abbott is calling on the Texas legislature to pass a law backing up his executive order. Legal experts also say Texas' ban is unlikely to be enforceable. 8. Coroner finds Gabby Petito died of strangulation: Petito died as a result of "manual strangulation/throttling," according to an official document filed by the coroner and viewed by Insider. She was reported missing during a summer cross-country road trip that she took with her now-missing fiance, Brian Laundrie, who remains the subject of an FBI-led manhunt. More on the news. 9. California is banning the sale of gas-powered lawncare tools: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation over the weekend that would require all new small off-road engines, a type of small engine primarily used in landscaping equipment, to emit zero emissions by 2024, The Washington Post reports. California is the first state to enact such a ban, though a state board could delay its implementation if the ban is found to be unfeasible. More on the debate raging in the state and what the future might hold. Taco Bell 10. Have a bad date story? So does this TikTok influencer: Elyse Myers said a guy she met on a dating app once forgot his wallet and made her pay for 100 tacos he ordered at the Taco Bell drive-thru. The social-media video of Myers' "worst date ever" has amassed 2.4 million likes and 43,000 comments on TikTok. Watch her explain the crunchy and cringy night. Today's trivia question: Today marks the anniversary of the laying of the White House's cornerstone. Who was the first president to step into the Oval Office? Read the original article on Business Insider MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two U.S. Postal Service workers were fatally shot Tuesday at a postal facility in Memphis and a third employee identified as the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said, the third high-profile shooting in or near the west Tennessee city in weeks. U.S. Postal Inspector Susan Link said that three postal workers were found dead after the shooting at the East Lamar Carrier Annex in a prominent Memphis neighborhood. The suspected shooter is one of the three employees who have died, said Lisa-Anne Culp, a spokesperson for the FBI. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, she added. Authorities did not provide a motive for the shooting or the victims' identities at an initial news briefing late Tuesday afternoon. The FBI also responded to the shooting, an FBI spokesperson said, in part because the office is a federal building, where the bureau has jurisdiction. The FBI also has the authority to respond to shootings in places of public use. Memphis Police Officers are on the scene of a shooting at 2801 Park Ave in support of the FBI and USPS. The Memphis Police Dept. is assisting with securing the perimeter and the scene. There are no active threats. The scene is secured. Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) October 12, 2021 The Postal Service is saddened at the events that took place today in Memphis," the agency said in an emailed statement at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. "Our thoughts are with the family members, friends and coworkers of the individuals involved. The Postal Service will be providing resources to all employees at the East Lamar Carrier Annex in the coming days and weeks." The agency did not respond to questions about any victims or suspects in the shooting. The police department said the scene was no longer active and had been secured. A white Ford sedan was towed from the facilitys parking lot around 3:40 p.m., but it was not clear who it belonged to. Story continues The facility, called the East Lamar Carrier Annex, is one used by employees and is not a post office retail location where customers come for mail services, said the local union president by phone Tuesday afternoon. 'He was a humble soul': Family remembers long-time worker Waiting outside the facility, Roxanne Rogers cried and talked on the phone. She identified one of the people who died as her cousin, James Wilson. Wilson was a longtime employee of the USPS, she told the Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network. He was a humble soul, one of the nicest supervising managers you could ever wish there was, she said. He treated nobody different. He treated everybody the same. He had compassion for people. If you had a problem, hed work it out for you. He was a post office family person. Rogers, who is also a postal worker but at a different location, said her's is a "post office family." Wilson worked for USPS for several years, following in the footsteps of his mother's career. He just came back to this facility after filling in at a different location, she said. Wilson was married with no children, she added. USA TODAY Network: 2 dead, at least 12 injured in shooting at Kroger grocery store in Tennessee More: Woman who died in Tennessee Kroger shooting identified; gunman was third-party vendor, police say 'Wake-up call for us': Back-to-school gun violence was highest on record. Active shooter drills may not be the answer. He didnt mind going the extra mile for his job or the workers there, Rogers said. He wasnt just a manager, he was a friend to all. Melvin Richardson, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 96, did not provide specific details about the shooting. He said carriers depart from annexes in the morning and staff remain throughout the day with tasks such as sorting mail. In more than a dozen years with the Memphis union, Richardson said he does not remember a shooting like this taking place. "We just ask that everybody keep the victims and their families in prayer as they try to deal with this tragedy," Richardson said. It was the third high-profile shooting in or near that west Tennessee city in weeks. The violence follows other shootings in the Memphis area in recent weeks. The franchise owner of a sushi counter inside a Kroger grocery store fatally shot one person and wounded 14 others before killing himself on Sept. 23, investigators said. A week later, a teenage boy was shot and critically wounded inside a Memphis school and police detained a second boy believed to be the shooter. On Oct. 18, 2010, two mail workers were fatally shot during a robbery at a post office in the rural West Tennessee town of Henning. The post office was named in honor of the slain employees last week. Follow Laura Testino and Katherine Burgess on Twitter @LDTestino and @KathsBurgess Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Postal service workers killed during a shooting at Memphis facility An Afghan interpreter who helped rescue President Biden in Afghanistan in 2008 when he was a senator has safely left the country with his wife and five children, the State Department confirmed to Axios on Tuesday. Why it matters: Aman Khalili, who was instrumental to the mission that rescued Biden's helicopter when it was caught in a snowstorm according to U.S. veterans, was forced into hiding after the Taliban took over Kabul. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free He directly asked Biden for help with evacuating in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Aug. 31. Context: When U.S. troops fought the Taliban in 2008, Khalili "was there the entire time," combat veteran Brian Genthe told the Washington Post. The interpreter would go six or seven months without seeing his family in his determination to "make his country right," Genthe added. He worked with U.S. soldiers to rescue Biden, who was with then-Sens. John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, after they were forced to land in a valley vulnerable to Taliban attacks. Details: The family arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Monday after the State Department requested Pakistani government approval to send them to the Persian Gulf state on a U.S. military flight. The big picture: Genthe led the effort to evacuate Khalili and his family after the interpreter pleaded for help in a Facebook message to him. Khalili had applied for a Special Immigrant Visa, which is granted to Afghan allies who worked with U.S. troops, but was forced to wait for the program to clear its backlog, according to CNN. He was among the crowd of people outside Kabul's airport attempting to secure spots on the last flights out of the country during the U.S. military withdrawal, but said American soldiers told him his family could not enter, per the Journal. The State Department later agreed to assist Genthe's group of Arizona military vets and the aid nonprofit Human First Coalition to plan an escape for Khalili through Pakistan. What they're saying: "After 144 hours of driving day and night and getting through so many checkpoints my family was so scared, but right now this is a kind of heaven," Khalili told the Journal. "Hell was in Afghanistan." Khalili safely left the country "with extensive and high-level engagement and coordination among the U.S. government, private U.S. citizen groups and many others who also supported him along the way," the State Department said in a statement to Axios. A Human First spokesperson noted in an interview with WashPost that "there are tens of thousands of people who remain in Afghanistan who do similar things, acts of valor protecting Americans over the course of the last 20 years, maybe not for somebody who is as famous as the president, but who are just as deserving to leave." More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - For one young Afghan refugee girl, her new home in South Korea has already brought simple freedoms she would otherwise be denied. "In Afghanistan, you can't do activities as freely as men do, and it's satisfying to do Taekwondo without a hijab in Korea right now," the girl told reporters after a Taekwondo class on Wednesday. She is one of nearly 400 Afghan evacuees who arrived in Seoul in August under a special programme that aims to grant long-term residency to Afghans and their families who provided special service to South Korea. Along with other refugees who spoke to reporters, the girl was not identified by age or name under an agreement with South Korean government officials. The Ministry of Justice said it was giving the refugees Korean language classes as part of a "Social Integration Program," and all had received alien registration cards. They were currently residing in processing facilities, officials said. "Most of my experience living in Afghanistan so far has been war, and when I listened to the history I heard from my parents, I only heard about war," one boy at the Taekwondo class told reporters. "Now, life in Korea is stable and I am enjoying life." (Reporting by Josh Smith, additional reporting by Sunghyuk An; editing by Jane Wardell) Tirop celebrates 10k bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships (Getty) Kenyan long distance runner and world bronze medallist Agnes Jebet Tirop has been found stabbed to death at her home, with her husband named by local police as a suspect in their murder investigation. Athletics Kenya released a statement on Wednesday morning which reported she was discovered in her house in Iten, a town in the west of the country where many athletes train. Tom Makori, head of police for the area, said: When [officers] got in the house, they found Tirop on the bed and there was a pool of blood on the floor. They saw she had been stabbed in the neck, which led us to believe it was a knife wound, and we believe that is what caused her death. Her husband is still at large, and preliminary investigations tell us her husband is a suspect because he cannot be found. Police are trying to find her husband so he can explain what happened to Tirop. Makori added that CCTV at the property could help the inquiry. Tirop won 10,000m bronze at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, and won gold at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. Last month, Tirop smashed the women-only 10km world record in Germany, crossing the line in 30:01 to shave 28 seconds from the previous record held by Moroccos Asmae Leghzaoui from 2002. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta said: It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that weve lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, had brought our country so much glory. It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people. I urge our law enforcement agencies to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes so that they can face the full force of the law. In its statement, Athletics Kenya said it was distraught by the news. Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track. Story continues Just last month, she broke the women-only record in the womens 10km at Road to Records Race in Germany, timing 30:01 ... Tirops decorated CV also includes a World Cross Country title in 2015 during which she made history as the second youngest medallist at that level. She also won the African Cross Country Championship in 2014 in Kampala, Uganda, as well as the World Junior Cross Country Championship in 2013 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. We pray that God may grant strength to family and friends at this difficult time. Read More Bournemouth and Wales midfielder David Brooks diagnosed with cancer Jon Rahm keen to win at Valderrama for historic reasons and nostalgia Claudio Ranieri not worried about Watfords trigger-happy owners Multiple individuals aboard one of the evacuation flights leaving Kabul, Afghanistan, intended on hijacking the plane, the Air Force revealed. Officials received an intelligence tip that five people on board one of the commercial airline flights intended to hijack the aircraft," the Air Force said in a statement on Tuesday providing new information regarding the chaotic evacuation efforts in August. VOLUNTEERS EMPTY THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS TO SAVE AT-RISK AFGHANS "Our team worked to get them clear of the NATO ramp, relocated to the north side away from friendly forces, then ultimately onto the south side where the situation was handled," Lt. Col. Brian Desautels, 71st Rescue Squadron and Personnel Recovery Task Force commander, said. The statement did not provide additional details about when this took place or how it was resolved. The first couple of days of the non-combatant evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport were chaotic as thousands of people rushed the runway while planes were trying to take off. There was a viral video showing people trying to hold on to the outside of the planes as they went down the runway, though, "Not caught on video and less than a minute later, both HC-130J Combat King II took off on a sliver of remaining runway. With seconds to spare, they were airborne skimming just 10 feet above the crowd," the Air Force said. "I was able to contact the CFACC (Combined Forces Air Component Commander) and received authorization to take off from the taxiway, if needed," Desautels added. "The strategic message: We would have a runway." The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations is currently reviewing the incident, which included videos purportedly showing people falling from planes after they took off in addition to the human remains that were discovered in the wheel well of a C-17 aircraft once it landed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Story continues An Air Force spokeswoman confirmed to the Washington Examiner on Monday that the investigation is ongoing. More than a week later, on the evening of Aug. 26, the intelligence and military community's fears of a possible terrorist attack at HKIA came to fruition. A suicide bomber, Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri, detonated a device near Abbey Gate outside the airport where there were "over 10,000 people," the Air Force added. "The terrorists then engaged with small arms fire." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Thirteen U.S. service members lost their lives in the bombing, as did roughly 170 Afghan civilians, while 17 others received care at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, before being transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. "There were lots of very badly injured people hurt ... lots of blood," Desautels explained. "The surgeons were worn out. Many died on the operating table." Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Air Force, War in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Defense Original Author: Mike Brest Original Location: Air Force reveals commercial evacuation flight from Afghanistan was nearly hijacked Catholic U.S. troops should be allowed to reject the COVID-19 vaccine if taking it "would violate the sanctity" of their conscience, said Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy Broglio in a statement out Tuesday. Why it matters: Broglio encouraged troops to get the vaccine, but acknowledged that some people have questioned whether the church's position encouraging the shot "precludes an individual from forming a sincerely held religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience." Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. "It does not," wrote the archbishop. Driving the news: The Pentagon mandated the vaccine for troops back in August, but many service members are still unvaccinated as deadlines approach. Between the lines: Broglio noted that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were tested using an abortion-derived cell line. "That type of a link has been for centuries considered remote material cooperation with evil and is never sinful," Broglio wrote, underscoring his approval of the two-dose vaccines. "The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed, tested, and is produced, with abortion-derived cell lines. That vaccine is, therefore, more problematic. If it were the only vaccine available, it would be morally permissible, but the faithful Catholic is to make known his or her preference for a more morally acceptable treatment." The churchs guidance allows Catholics to take vaccines derived from fetal tissue when no other vaccine option is available. Broglio has supported the decision to mandate the vaccine for U.S. troops, and his statement Tuesday appeared to codify his earlier suggestion that troops could reject the vaccine because of their personal conscience. Go deeper: Hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops remain unvaccinated as deadlines near Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. MADISON, Wis. (AP) An attorney representing the families of three people who died at the hands of a former Wisconsin police officer filed another federal lawsuit against him Wednesday, saying his department taught him to view Black people as dangerous. The lawsuit alleges that former Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah violated Jay Anderson's constitutional rights when he fatally shot Anderson after discovering him sleeping in a park after hours in 2016. According to the lawsuit, Anderson followed all of Mensah's commands but Mensah still considered him a threat because he was Black. Mensah, who is Black, said Anderson was reaching for a gun, and a county prosecutor declined to bring charges in the case. The lawsuit alleges Wauwatosa and its police department have a history of racist officers dating back decades, pointing to police parties in the late 1980s and late 1990s where officers dressed in blackface and Ku Klux Klan literature was present but officers were never disciplined. The lawsuit also asserts that the city is 95% white but Black people made up 83% of arrests in 2018. Mensah, having learned the lessons of a police department rife with racism and racial discrimination, immediately decided that a Black man sleeping in his car was suspicious and dangerous," attorney Kimberley Motley wrote in the lawsuit. The WPD devalues people of color which is reflective in their over policing of Black people." The filing seeks unspecified damages from Mensah, the city, and former Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber. Online court records did not list attorneys for Mensah or Weber. Wauwatosa City Attorney Alan Kesner didn't immediately respond to a message Wednesday morning. Mensah joined the Wauwatosa Police Department in 2015. That year he fatally shot Antonio Gonzales, who identified as Latino and American Indian. Prosecutors said Gonzales refused to drop a sword. The following year he discovered Anderson sleeping in his car in a park around 3 a.m. He said he shot Anderson because Anderson reached for a gun on the passenger seat. Motley contends that Anderson never touched the gun. Story continues Last year, Mensah fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole as he fled from police following a disturbance in a mall. Cole was Black. Mensah said he shot him because he pointed a gun at him. That shooting sparked months of protests. Prosecutors chose not to file charges against Mensah in any of the shootings. Motley filed a federal lawsuit against Mensah on behalf of Gonzales' family in July. She's mulling filing one in Cole's death as well. Motley also used a John Doe proceeding, a little-known Wisconsin legal maneuver similar to a grand jury inquiry, to persuade Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro to order a special prosecutor to consider charging Mensah in the Anderson case. The judge is expected to make the appointment this month. Mensah resigned from the Wauwatosa Police Department in November 2020 and joined the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. ___ Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1 A federal judge stopped the city of Baltimore from banning a planned protest during a meeting of U.S bishops later this year. District Judge Ellen Hollander ruled Tuesday that St. Michael's Media cannot be prohibited from renting a pavilion in Baltimore to organize the protest, saying, "[Baltimore] cannot conjure up hypothetical hecklers and then grant them veto power." The city previously barred the event, expressing concerns about public safety and the possibility of violence. "The First Amendment to the Constitution is at the heart of this case," wrote Hollander. "[St. Michael's Media] has demonstrated a substantial likelihood that it will prevail on the merits of its free speech and assembly claims under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The balance of the equities favors the plaintiff, and an injunction is in the public interest." TRUMP TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST 'FREE SPEECH' FOR CREATING FAKE ACCOUNT FOR HIM "We are disappointed by the court's decision and potential threat to public safety if this event ensues," Cal Harris, communications director for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, told the Washington Examiner. "The proposed rally is slated to take place on Baltimore city property, and we have a responsibility to protect our property and fellow citizens. We remain committed to this charge and will appeal this decision." While Hollander ruled in favor of St. Michael's, she refused to set a court-ordered contractual term for the rally. Instead, the judge stated in the order that she "anticipates good faith negotiations, but expresses no opinion on the terms of a contract." St. Michael's Media had initially aimed to host a rally on Nov. 16. The rally was scheduled to occur simultaneously with the national meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The event is expected to feature appearances by Steve Bannon and Milo Yiannopoulos. Story continues "The judge clearly took her time to ensure that she got the constitutional issues right," said Marc Randazza, attorney for St. Michael's Media, in a press release. "I think that this is a great victory for the First Amendment," CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Church Militant, the primary platform operated by St. Michael's Media, is a Michigan-based news website owned by Michael Voris and unaffiliated with the Catholic Church. The website claims to be a Catholic news website that intends to "convert non-Catholics to the faith founded personally by Jesus Christ, and strengthen the faith of existing Catholics." In 2020, the website drew backlash after Voris accused Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory of being a "closeted homosexual," "Marxist," and an "African Queen." Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Free Speech, Catholic Church, Baltimore, Steve Bannon Original Author: Christopher Hutton Original Location: Baltimore cannot ban protest against US Catholic bishops, judge rules By Alexandra Alper, Steve Holland and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged the private sector to help ease supply chain blockages that are threatening to disrupt the U.S. holiday season and said the White House plans a nationwide overhaul of the clogged system. Biden said the Port of Los Angeles would join the Port of Long Beach, two of the country's busiest, in expanding round-the-clock operations to unload an estimated 500,000 containers waiting on cargo ships offshore. Walmart, Target and other big retailers https://www.reuters.com/business/how-target-home-depot-ups-fedex-plan-ease-us-port-congestion-2021-10-13 would also expand their overnight operations at the ports to try to meet delivery needs, Biden said. It is a "big first step" to revamping supply chains in the United States, the world's biggest consumer market, Biden said, adding the government would be heavily involved. "If federal support is needed, I'll direct all appropriate action, and if the private sector doesnt step up, were going to call them out and ask them to act, the president said in remarks at the White House. The broader goal, he said, is to address long-standing weaknesses in the U.S. supply chain. The stop-and-start nature of the pandemic has snarled global supply chains that are optimized for just-in-time movements of goods. The supply crisis is driven in part by the global COVID-19 pandemic, as sales of durable goods jumped amid worker shortages and transportation hub slowdowns https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/containergeddon-supply-crisis-drives-walmart-rivals-hire-their-own-ships-2021-10-07. A shortage of warehouse workers and truck drivers to pick up goods is partly to blame. Lower-than-expected Christmas sales could hurt U.S. companies and pose a political risk for Biden, who is already battling a host of other domestic problems in his first year in office. Story continues The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the economy continues to be the most important issue for Democrats and Republicans alike. White House officials have said that Americans may face higher prices and some empty shelves this Christmas https://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-may-not-get-some-christmas-treats-white-house-officials-warn-2021-10-12 season due the supply chain problem. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters Biden could not guarantee there would be no holiday disruptions. "What we can do is use every lever at the federal government level to reduce delays," she said, when asked about the possibility of mobilizing National Guard or other troops. ALL HANDS ON DECK Besides the stepped-up port activity, three large carriers of goods - Walmart, FedEx and UPS - plan to step up their round-the-clock operations to speed the shipment of goods across the country. Samsung, Home Depot and Target are also increasing their work in off-peak hours. The White House expects the pledges from the six companies to expand their hours will amount to 3,500 additional containers moving each week through the end of the year. Biden spoke after meeting with executives from the two ports as well as from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the Teamsters, the AFL-CIO, Walmart, FedEx, UPS, Target, the National Retail Federation, the American Trucking Association, the Pacific Maritime Association, and more. Some CEOs scheduled to attend noted they are already working around-the-clock. "Weve been running 24/7 supply chain operations for years, including at the ports," said Target CEO Brian Cornell in a blog post https://corporate.target.com/article/2021/10/supply-chain-update ahead of the meeting. Target handles about 50% of its containers that arrive in California ports at night, he wrote, and is committed to increasing that amount by 10% over the next 90 days. The Consumer Brands Association urged the White House to set up a supply chain war room and bring in private sector experts and government officials to help rapidly identify problems. We cannot ignore the warning signals of higher prices and reduced availability, said the trade group's CEO, Geoff Freeman. The White House has been trying to tackle inflation-inducing supply bottlenecks of everything from meat to semiconductors. The administration formed a task force in June that meets weekly and named a "bottleneck" czar, John Porcari, to push private-sector companies to find ways to get goods flowing. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper, Steve Holland and Nandita Bose in Washington; Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Arriana McLymore in New York, and Richa Naidu in Chicago; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Heather Timmons and Lisa Shumaker) Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund files motion to intervene, saying government wont defend farmers program aggressively. A group of Black farmers has filed a motion to intervene as part of a Texas federal court battle over $5 billion in debt relief for farmers of color. The motion was filed this week by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, and it includes declarations from six farmers alleging discrimination from federal aid programs, according to Politico. A Black farmers group in Texas has filed a motion to intervene as part of a federal court battle over $5 billion in debt relief. (Photo: Fotolia) As previously reported, in June, Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District Court of Florida ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed against a loan forgiveness program for Black farmers written into President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan. White farmer Scott Wynn alleged he had loan debt and also experienced financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Another federal judge, Reed OConnor, issued a preliminary injunction against the program in July and ordered that all payments to Black farmers penned into Bidens March plan be halted until the suits are resolved. Other judges in Florida and Wisconsin have also issued orders against it. On National Farmer's Day, learn how Black people who worked as farmers continued to face systemic barriers even after slavery ended and still do today. pic.twitter.com/1qkYfPHeEO AJ+ (@ajplus) October 12, 2021 Just weeks after the rescue plans passage, the very first lawsuit, Miller v. Vilsack, was filed in Texas by the states agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller, who argued that the program discriminates against white farmers. His suit is backed by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. The Black farmers are seeking to intervene in the suit, claiming that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the initial lawsuits target, and the Justice Department would not defend the program as aggressively as they would. Story continues Its members realize the benefits from the program and that the constitutionality of racial justice programs be upheld, wrote the groups attorneys with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Although the Federations members will be most impacted by the outcome of this case, the record is currently devoid of any stories or narratives of Black farmers or other farmers of color, they assert, opining it is certain that the Federation will present the case of past governmental discrimination more comprehensively and compellingly than the government has to date. Democrats in Congress looking for ways around the lawsuits are now seeking to amend the program to be open to an economically distressed and at-risk farmers list that would also include whites. Advocates for the Black farmers are discouraged by the recrafted language, which does not include specific relief for socially disadvantaged farmers. We are encouraged by Congresss current attempt at debt relief through reconciliation, said Dania Davy, director of land retention and advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, per Politico. Unfortunately, we do not believe that this attempt goes far enough to address the concerns regarding the implementation of Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan including both direct and guaranteed FSA loans that form the basis of our approach in the courts. According to a June 2021 report in The Washington Post, Black farmers in America have lost more than 12 million acres of farmland over the past century, a result of what agricultural experts and advocates for Black farmers say is a combination of systemic racism, biased government policy, and social and business practices that have denied Black Americans equitable access to markets. 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 Black farmers fight back amid Texas lawsuit over $5B in debt relief appeared first on TheGrio. SAO PAULO (AP) It's been a while since Brazil had a home crowd advantage. The Brazilian team will have home fans in the stadium for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began when it hosts Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday. Brazil leads South American qualifying with 28 points and Argentina has 22 from 10 matches. Both have completed one less game than the other eight teams in the competition after their encounter last month was suspended after seven minutes due to health protocols. Second-placed Argentina, led by Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul, will seek to consolidate its rise when it takes on Peru just five days after trouncing Uruguay 3-0. Ecuador and Uruguay have 16 points, but the Ecuadorians have more wins and hold third place. Colombia is fifth with 15 points. Paraguay is three points behind in sixth place, followed by Peru (11), Chile (10), Bolivia (9) and Venezuela (7). The top four teams in South America will secure an automatic spot at next years World Cup. The fifth-place team will enter an intercontinental playoff for a spot in Qatar. BRAZIL vs URUGUAY If Tuesday's training in Manaus counts, Brazil coach Tite will test three new starters against Uruguay. Right-back Emerson Royal will replace Danilo, defender Lucas Verissimo will replace Marquinhos and winger Raphinha will take the place of Gabriel Barbosa. Brazil's unimpressive 3-1 win at Venezuela and Sunday's 0-0 draw with Colombia did not show the team's backbone and added pressure on playmaker Neymar. But there's no doubt that Tite will continue experimenting with his lineup and combinations. A win will give Brazil 31 points, which is more than every team that qualified to the World Cup in fourth position since the current format was put in place in 1998. The Selecao will have at least another six matches in qualifying. Meanwhile Uruguay is apparently giving up on the back five defense it used in the 3-0 loss to Argentina. Coach Oscar Tabarez brought the veteran forward combination of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani back together in training. Story continues Tabarez lost another defender to injury on Tuesday, with Ronald Araujo ruled out of the Brazil match because of a muscular injury. Uruguay was already without defender Jose Maria Gimenez and midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta. About 10,000 fans are expected to attend the match at the Arena da Amazonia. ARGENTINA vs PERU A win against Peru will put Argentina and Lionel Messi very close to a World Cup spot, which is much different from the team's experience in recent editions of South American qualifiers. Coach Lionel Scaloni's Argentina will seek another convincing victory in front of home fans to maintain its momentum since the latest Copa America title in July. He will also be keen for 10 of his players to avoid suspension ahead of two difficult rounds in November, when Argentina travels to Uruguay and then hosts Brazil. Starters Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo de Paul, Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez will miss the match against Uruguay if they get a yellow card against Peru. Five other players sitting on a yellow card are likely to be substitutes at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires: German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Exequiel Palacios, and Nicolas Dominguez. Scaloni is expected to recall left-back Marcos Acuna, who was replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico against Uruguay. Argentina could also rest midfielders Leandro Paredes and Giovanni Lo Celso. Peru has slimmer chances of qualifying for its second consecutive World Cup after its 1-0 loss at Bolivia on Sunday. Even a win at Argentina might not be enough for the Peruvians to close the gap on fifth-placed Colombia, which will Ecuador. Also on Thursday, Bolivia will play against Paraguay and Chile will host last-place Venezuela. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Iqlauit waterfront is seen on 19 August 2011 (Wikimedia Commons / Sebastian Kasten) Residents of a Canadian town have been told not to drink the water after a petrol leak into the areas water supply. People in Iqaluit, the capital city of Canadas northernmost territory Nunavut, have been advised by the towns Department of Health to avoid drinking or using the water for cooking for the time being as it might contain petroleum hydrocarbons, CTV News reported. Neither boiled nor filtered water have been determined to be safe. Pregnant women, newborns and infants should not take baths or be bathed in tap water. Do not use tap water to mix infant formula, a public health advisory issued on Tuesday stated. The city, which has about 8,500 residents, has said that doing laundry, cleaning and taking showers remains safe to do, but residents have been told not to swallow any water if they take a bath. The public health guidance comes days after residents complained about the smell of fuel coming from their taps. Active investigation of the citys drinking water system and additional testing of the drinking water are ongoing, the advisory states. The Department of Health anticipates receiving additional test results from out of territory environmental laboratories in about five business days. An emergency meeting of the city council took place on Tuesday, during which councillors said that a notice to not drink the water must be issued when risks are detected and they are connected to water consumption that cannot be made safe by boiling the water or publishing a water quality advisory. Thank you @LoriIdlout for reaching out and offering support So far our new MP, a few local business, GN and the Feds have all reached out offering support. Not so lonely when everyone is working together for the people, thank you all from the bottom of my heart Mayor Bell (@MayorofIqaluit) October 13, 2021 This can include, for example, a chemical spill near water intake or where a water system may have been subject to vandalism or an event that resolution through additional disinfection protocols happened, chief administrative officer Amy Elgersma said during the meeting. In this case, we suspect that there is some type of petroleum product that has entered the water system. Story continues This mornings reality for our water. This is our temporary water supply at #SylviaGrinnell River OCT.13.2021 #Iqaluit #Nunavut pic.twitter.com/4q7TYItNzS (@FrankReardon1) October 13, 2021 Residents who get water from trucks have been asked to run their taps dry and empty their tanks. The city will provide chlorinated water for its residents, residents receiving water via truck will get their tanks refilled, and others will be able to get water at designated public spots but have been asked to bring their own water jugs to fill up. Stressful day in Iqaluit...an important reminder that clean drinking water is a right and necessity, for all communities. Thinking of the public systems in place to test and treat water - glad many dedicated people are on it. Thanks, @MayorofIqaluit @GOVofNUNAVUT https://t.co/n4c3niudDA Yipeng Ge (@yipengGe) October 13, 2021 Councillors added that residents getting their water from a river should boil it before use as the water hasnt been treated. Water system loaded. Iqaluit next. Rampies make the world go round. Thanks so much! pic.twitter.com/StRlKw8CDH Jimi Onalik (@kivalliqboy) October 13, 2021 There have been reports since Saturday, a week ago, that theres a smell in the water, Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell told CTV News. But it was so erratic, in multiple different places and towns, that we really couldnt pinpoint it. But all of our tests that we normally undertake daily, weekly and monthly, all passed the national standard. We knew there was something wrong and of course the investigation continued with the government of Nunavut and ... they ultimately found what they believe to be the source of the petroleum products, he added. Theres a well in our treatment centre, a closed well that they opened and a strong smell of petroleum products came out of it, he said. Were not sure how that got in there because it is a closed system. Tests are being conducted on the water in the well to determine its source. Read More With virus cases down, Florida cities resume usual water use Pro-Trump candidate suggests taking all boats out of the water to lower sea levels Millions of people in Yemen could be left without water due to Red Sea oil spill Judge calls for civil rights investigation into treatment of Capitol riot suspects Florida fines county $3.5m for enforcing proof of Covid vaccine rule Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner dies two days after going on medical leave 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, [] William Shatner, center right, speaks as Audrey Powers, left, Chris Boshuizen, center right, and Glen de Vries all look on during a media availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) LM Otero/AP William Shatner, famous for portraying Capt. James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, became the oldest person to travel in a rocket to space Wednesday as part of a Blue Origin flight. "Not only is it different than what you thought, the impression I had, that I never expected to have, is the shooting up," Shatner said upon landing after his flight. Shatner, 90, broke the record, which was set during a July Blue Origin flight, by eight years, according to a report. CAPT. KIRK IS HEADED BACK TO SPACE "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, diverting myself in now & then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me," Shatner tweeted after landing. The mission launched from a site in West Texas, and Jeff Bezos, the founder of the aerospace company, drove Shatner and his team to the site, the report said. After the team landed, Bezos greeted the group with a champagne shower, as shown in the livestream. "This is a pinch-me moment for all of us to see Capt. James Tiberius Kirk go to space," said Jacki Cortese, Blue Origin's launch commentator. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Shatner concluded that everybody in the world needs to see what he saw. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Texas, Star Trek, Jeff Bezos, Space Original Author: Luke Gentile Original Location: Capt. Kirk goes back to space: William Shatner, 90, breaks record Oct. 13A Tahlequah physician employed by Cherokee Nation was arrested in Chicot County, Arkansas on Tuesday for the first-degree murder of Moria Kinsey, 37, and a candlelight vigil has been slated to honor the victim. Dr. Tyler Tait was taken into custody by special agents with the Arkansas State Police. This comes after law enforcement responded to a report of a woman in need of medical assistance. Chicot County Sheriff's Office deputies found Kinsey lying outside of a parked vehicle along Highway 65, about two miles north of Lake Village, where Tait was also found. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to the Cherokee Nation Communications team, Tait is an employee with Cherokee Nation Health Services. As per policy, he is on administrative leave pending an investigation. Kinsey was reportedly employed as a nurse with CNHS. Tait and Kinsey had reportedly been traveling together. According to reports, special agents examined the vehicle the pair were traveling in and discovered evidence of a physical altercation inside. According to court records, Tait has a history of alleged domestic violence. In 2017, a protective order was filed against him by Shelby Nicole Burris. That was ultimately dismissed, after Tait was charged with violating the order, but Burris filed another protective order against Tait in 2020. The last information on that case indicates it would be up for review in June 2022. In May 2017, Tait was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. That case was dismissed without fine or costs. Then again in January 2021, he was charged with domestic abuse, assault and battery. That case, like the others, was dismissed, this one "for lack of subject matter jurisdiction." Since the McGirt ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, jurisdiction for cases involving Native Americans has reverted to the tribes on whose reservations the crimes occurred. A source with the state said Tait's medical license is likely being stripped. The candlelight vigil is slated for Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8:30 p.m. at Norris Park. One aldermans move to roll back Mayor Lori Lightfoots policy of using speed cameras to ticket cars going as little as 6 mph over the limit advanced Tuesday, while another said he hopes to partially rescind her change. The council Rules Committee voted to move Ald. Anthony Beales ordinance to the Finance Committee for further consideration, though Beale doubts he will get a hearing on his plan. Beale, one of Lightfoots most outspoken critics, wants to stop $35 tickets for cars caught by the cameras going 6 to 9 mph too fast the lower citation threshold Lightfoot started as part of the citys 2021 budget. Beale would keep $35 tickets for cars caught going 10 mph too fast, and $100 tickets for those busted at 11 mph or more over the limit, the rules in place before this year. Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney, meanwhile, said he wants to find a way to meet the mayors stated goal of improving safety around schools and parks with a lower ticket limit, but not so low that it hits drivers so close to the posted speed. I want to see the budget implications of going back up to 8 miles over the limit for ticketing, maybe find some happy medium without having such high revenue implications for drivers, Tunney said. But then we get into the talk about, Well, thats $20 million less for the budget. Where is that money going to come from? So we have to see, and have those discussions. Beale introduced his measure in March, but it was stuck since then in the Rules Committee, where the mayor and her allies send ordinances they dont want to grant hearings. Beale tried to force a City Council vote on the ordinance last month, but the mayor ruled him out of order. The Rules Committee on Tuesday also moved to the Budget Committee a Beale ordinance to give the City Council its own attorney, separate from the corporation counsel whos chosen by the mayor. On Tuesday, Beale tried to vote both ordinances directly from Rules to the full council, but colleagues rejected that, sending speed cameras instead to the Finance Committee. Story continues Beale said he doubts Finance Committee Chairman Ald. Scott Waguespack, a Lightfoot ally, will give it a hearing. Beale said he would then use another parliamentary maneuver to force it to the floor. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. A Tribune investigation in August revealed that the number of tickets issued by the cameras around Chicago skyrocketed in the first few months since Lightfoots change took effect. The Tribune found cameras across Chicago issued 322,447 of the $35 tickets during March and April, the first two months of the new policy, which would bring in $11.3 million to city coffers if violators pay all the fines. Thats a nearly 17-fold increase over those same months in 2019, when the city was only hitting drivers with $35 citations for going exactly 10 mph over the limit and 19,480 such tickets were issued. Drivers caught on camera at higher speeds receive $100 tickets. In justifying the lower threshold for tickets, Lightfoot who campaigned on a pledge to end Chicagos addiction to fines and fees argued last year that with fewer cars on the street during the pandemic, remaining vehicles were driving faster and fatalities were up. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Twitter @_johnbyrne Seventy-five countries around the world called for an end to what they describe as vaccine nationalism in a joint letter to the United Nations this month. The letter, spearheaded by China, demands that COVID-19 vaccines be treated as a global public good for health, arguing that richer countries should not be allowed to stockpile their resources while poorer countries go without. The pandemic knows no borders, the letter says in part. The only solution lies in global solidarity, unity and multilateral cooperation. ... At this critical time, it is crucial to step up our joint efforts to leave no one behind. The concept of vaccine nationalism refers to the signed agreements a number of countries made with the vaccine manufacturers before the shots became available to the general public, allowing them to buy up large amounts, which in turn makes the initial supply of vaccines unaffordable and inaccessible to poorer countries. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 1. (Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images) More than 18 months into the pandemic, while some wealthy nations appear headed toward pre-pandemic normals, many cash-strapped countries remain ravaged for resources. Mexico, Egypt and North Korea were among the countries that signed the joint letter. Noticeably absent were the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. The letter outlines deep concerns regarding a lack of vaccine equity for poorer countries, which, it argues, only exacerbates already prevalent issues of poverty and hunger, trade and more. Sixty-five percent of the population of high-income countries had received at least one vaccine shot as of Sept. 9, while just 2 percent of the population of low-income countries had received at least one dose, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This summer the European Union secured 900 million doses of Pfizers vaccine and reserved an option to double this amount by 2023. Even without exercising that option, the EU could give all its citizens at least six shots each. The U.S. has secured more than a billion shots, enough to inoculate every American at least five times. Meanwhile, residents of many smaller and poorer nations have yet to receive a single dose. Story continues Vaccination rates in countries like Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain less than 1 percent, according to Reuters tracking data. A medical worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine for a man in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Oct. 8. (Zanem/Xinhua via Getty Images) The disparity in vaccination rates also comes with a hefty price tag. A National Bureau of Economic Research study determined that uneven distribution of the vaccine could cost upwards of $3.8 trillion globally, while vaccinating the worlds most vulnerable fifth of the population would cost less than $40 billion. Aaditya Mattoo, World Bank chief economist for the East Asia and Pacific region, expressed disappointment in the current rollout. "I am a trade economist and all my life, I believed that production should happen where it is most efficient and then be distributed to where there is greatest need," Mattoo told the Manila Times last week. "But this crisis has disappointed me because instead of countries pursuing a globally optimal cooperative strategy, there has been what we call vaccine nationalism. Poor and middle-class countries have accrued enough vaccines through 2023 to vaccinate at most half their populations, while the majority of rich countries have secured more than 350 percent of the doses needed for their populations, according to UNICEF data. Worldwide access has faltered, but attempts have been made to fill the gap. Smaller countries that depend on the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, or COVAX an international initiative seeking to ensure equitable access to vaccines have made little progress. COVAX was formed in April 2020 as a way for high-income countries and corporations to pay for vaccine access to the 92 poorest countries. The program initially appeared to run smoothly as vaccine distributions began in late February, with almost every country in the world signing up. But as the months went on, supply chains slowed and COVAX could not financially compete with richer countries that were buying up market share. An analysis by Global Justice Now revealed that more than 82 percent of COVID-19 vaccines have been purchased by the wealthiest countries, accounting for just 14 percent of the world population. The long-term effects of this could be dire. A man receives a COVID-19 vaccination in the village of Summercourt, England, on Sept. 25. (Hugh Hastings/Getty Images) Infectious disease expert Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman of Malaysia says the longer people remain unvaccinated, the more potential there is for the virus to mutate into an even more dangerous strain. I hope the world doesnt live to regret the nationalism that we are practicing, Kamarulzaman said during a webinar last week. A Princeton University and McGill University study published in August in the journal Science also revealed that vaccine nationalism likely has a direct correlation to the transmission of the virus. Unequal vaccine allocation will result in sustained transmission and increased case numbers in regions with low vaccine availability and thus to a higher associated clinical burden compared with a vaccinated population, the study found in part. Coordinated vaccination campaigns across the world, combined with improved surveillance and appropriate nonpharmaceutical interventions to prevent case importation, are imperative. Leaders from several developing countries in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly last month criticized wealthy countries for enabling COVID variants to emerge because of their selfishness. Rich countries hoard lifesaving vaccines, while poor nations wait for trickles, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said at the conference. They now talk of booster shots, while developing countries consider half doses just to get by. This is shocking beyond belief and must be condemned for what it is a selfish act that can neither be justified rationally nor morally. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lambasted the entire world on vaccine inequity, calling it an obscenity and saying, We are getting an F in ethics. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Assembly on Sept. 21. (Eduardo Munoz-Pool/Getty Images) The World Health Organization has set an ambitious goal to have 40 percent of the world vaccinated by the end of the year and 70 percent by the middle of 2022. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 3.75 billion people worldwide have received a dose of vaccine, accounting for just under 49 percent of the global population, according to the New York Times tracker. But more than 50 countries missed the WHOs September target of 10 percent, with most of them located in Africa, whose overall vaccination rate remains under 5 percent. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo told the U.N. General Assembly last month that Africa is the continent hardest hit by vaccine nationalism 900 million Africans need to get the vaccine in order for the continent to reach the 70 percent threshold, with very little help in sight. President Biden has called this moment an all-hands-on-deck crisis, pushing for all countries to reach a 70 percent vaccination rate by the fall of 2022. To do its part, the U.S. last month pledged to buy more than 500 million vaccine doses for other countries, which will bring the total number of donations promised by the U.S. to more than 1 billion. "We're not going to solve this crisis with half-measures or middle-of-the-road ambitions. We need to go big," Biden said at a virtual summit on the pandemic last month. But as many rich nations administer booster shots to the elderly and immunocompromised, many critics question if the U.S. is doing enough to encourage equity on the world stage. The more people that are vaccinated, the less likely new variants will evolve, Avery August, a Cornell University immunologist, told Yahoo News. However, all of these examples highlight the crucial lack of access lower-income countries have to the most cutting-edge medicines and vaccines. If these countries do not have the financial resources, or the scientific infrastructure, to participate in the development of these vaccines, they tend to be left out of the benefits, or at the very least are the last in line to receive the benefits. Bottles of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. (Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images) While many poorer countries push for access to vaccines, richer countries continue to vaccinate thousands each day. More than 216 million Americans, or 65 percent of the U.S. population, have had at least one dose of a vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just over 56 percent of the country is fully vaccinated. Similarly, in Canada, 71 percent of the population has been inoculated at least once. While critics fault countries like the U.S. and the U.K. for stockpiling resources, others say a collective approach needs to take place to help those in need. Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a public health professor at George Washington University, told Yahoo News its a false choice to argue that the U.S. should stop giving out booster shots in order to help other countries. We need to scale up the manufacturing of doses around the world, Wen said. We need to be working with other entities to increase distribution systems for lower-income countries. But at the same time, we cannot deny Americans, including American children, including American adults, the ability to get an additional layer of protection. Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images, Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By Kate Holton DRIFFIELD, England (Reuters) - Two sisters running a pig farm in northeast England have a message for Prime Minister Boris Johnson: lift strict immigration rules for butchers or risk seeing the pork sector collapse under the weight of overly fattened animals. Farmers across Britain say a combination of Brexit and COVID-19 have sparked an exodus of east European workers from abattoirs and meat processors, leaving pigs to back up in barns and fields across the country. As the pigs gain weight from the extra time spent on the farm, eating food that has also jumped in price, they risk passing the size threshold at which abattoirs impose financial penalties because they have become harder to handle. While some have started culling pigs, others like Kate Morgan and Vicky Scott are desperately trying to keep theirs until they can go for slaughter, but they warned that tensions were running high and many farmers were quitting the job. "The pressure is like pressure we've never had before, emotionally it's absolutely draining, financially it's crippling," Scott told Reuters over the squeals and grunts of a couple of hundred pigs. "We're in a fairly bad place right now." Industries across Britain have warned in recent months that they are struggling to maintain operations after European workers returned home in the summer, with gaps being felt on farms, in factories and throughout the freight sector. The problem has hit pig farming hard. Making little profit at the best of times, it is now losing money on every pig sold and the National Farmers Union warned two weeks ago that up to 150,000 pigs could be culled. TECHNOLOGY AND WAGE HIKES Morgan and Scott say a 25% capacity cut by their abattoir has left some 5,000 pigs in the towering barns that stand out on the open, flat fields of east Yorkshire. While talking to Reuters they received news of another abattoir cancellation. Morgan said they were doing everything they could to avoid a cull but that the pressure was building. "We are juggling everything, trying to put pigs where maybe they shouldn't be just so that we don't get to that situation," she said. Story continues She urged Johnson to ease post-Brexit immigration rules and allow European butchers to enter Britain without needing to first pass a comprehensive English language test, a requirement that the industry says is putting off workers. The pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears. Johnson has said businesses need to wean themselves off the "drug" of cheap migrant labour and invest in technology and higher salaries to recruit enough British workers. He has provoked the ire of farmers in recent weeks by quipping, variously, that bacon sandwiches come from dead pigs and that animals are bred on farms to be slaughtered. "Have you ever had a bacon sandwich?" Johnson asked a Times Radio journalist when questioned about a possible pig cull. "Those pigs, when you ate them, were not alive." Scott says their farm has ploughed money into technology and retained staff by frequently hiking wages. The problem lies in abattoirs and meat processors where butchers are often more efficient than machines. The sisters note that higher wages in the sector would also lead to higher food prices. Short term, Scott says a relaxation of visa rules is the only solution to get the industry straight. "Hopefully the government are listening to us now," she said. "It's critical, it's very time critical and we need them to do something, now." (Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) A California woman is facing charges for allegedly hosting sex parties for minors, including her son, during which she provided so much alcohol some of them passed out, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office. Shannon O'Connor, 47, is also accused of encouraging minors to have sex with each other including nonconsensual sex, as the children were so drunk they could not give consent during an eight-month period starting in June 2020. She is charged with 39 criminal counts, including felony child abuse, sexual assault, and providing alcohol to minors. It took a lot of brave children to come forward and to untangle this deeply disturbing case, said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. As a parent, Im shocked. As the DA, Im determined to hold those adults who endanger children fully accountable to the law and our community. DOJ CONVICTS MAN WHO USED FACEBOOK TO SOLICIT WOMEN TO PRODUCE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY O'Connor was arrested Saturday in Idaho, where she recently moved, and will be brought back to California for the trial. A court date has not yet been set. In a statement of facts, the prosecutors detailed parties at which children aged 13-16 were allegedly given so much alcohol they could not walk or talk and, in some cases, passed out. The children were not allowed to tell their parents what happened, and O'Connor threatened to spread rumors about them if they did, according to prosecutors. One party allegedly happened in a cabin for O'Connor's son's 15th birthday. Prosecutors said O'Connor texted the children or created a group chat on Snapchat to ask what kind of alcohol the children wanted. Approximately 12 minors were at the party, and videos allegedly show some children urinating on the house and others passed out, according to prosecutors. Other times, O'Connor would tell the girls to have sex with the boys. If they did not, she told them they clearly did not love the boys, prosecutors said. Story continues The statement of facts detailed how a 14-year-old girl was intoxicated at one of the parties and was lying in a bed when O'Connor allegedly brought in one of the drunken boys and told him to have sex with the girl when she was too drunk to protest. When it was done, the girl asked, Why did you leave me in there with him? Like, why did you do that? Like, you knew what he was going to do me," the statement of facts said. One of the children had Crohn's Disease that inflamed the child's stomach, according to the statement of facts. Alcohol is known to trigger the disease or harm the medication taken for it. The disease at one point was so bad he needed surgery. However, O'Connor knew of this and allegedly still gave him alcohol. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER None of the children's names were given in the statement of facts, instead referring to them as "Jane Doe" and a number for a girl or "John Doe" and a number for a boy. In a separate case, O'Connor is charged for allegedly making unauthorized charges of over $120,000 to a company credit card, according to KTLA. She worked as an administrative assistant for Aruba Networks. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Child Abuse, Rape, Sexual Abuse Allegations, Alcohol, children, California Original Author: Misty Severi Original Location: 'Disturbing': California mother charged for allegedly hosting booze-filled sex parties for minors Southlake police arrested a man they say stole a car in Lewisville on Tuesday after fire marshals noticed a driver who seemed to be having a crisis and followed him to a Home Depot parking lot. Southlake police said on Twitter the fire marshals followed the driver to the Home Depot parking lot, where he seemed to be disoriented and ran into the building. Fire marshals saw him climb into a lumber pile to hide, according to the tweets from police. The fire marshals called police to the scene, where they ran the cars license plate and found it was reported forcibly stolen. They entered the Home Depot and began searching for the man, who had since moved from his original hiding place. The search ended when the man was found behind the plumbing and toilet section of the store. He was taken into custody for Lewisville police. Fire marshals in Southlake were driving around Carroll Avenue when they noticed the vehicle being driven extremely erratically, according to the tweets. The car fishtailed onto a frontage road in that area and drove through the grass before speeding back up the embankment, going around 60 to 70 miles per hour toward Kimball Avenue. The fire marshals feared a medical episode or someone in need of help, according to the tweets, so they followed the car and parked next to it. When they got out to talk to the man, he ran into the store, looking behind him to see if they were following. By Maggie Fick NAIROBI (Reuters) -An air and ground offensive by Ethiopian troops and their allies against rebellious forces from the northern Tigray region is intensifying, a spokesperson for the Tigrayan forces said on Wednesday, claiming "staggering" casualties. Getachew Reda of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) told Reuters by phone that the Ethiopian military and allies from the Amhara region were fighting the Tigrayan forces on several fronts, in both the Amhara and Afar regions which neighbour Tigray. A spokesperson for the Ethiopian military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The military and government have not acknowledged a fresh offensive, which the TPLF says began with air strikes last week, days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new five-year term. "It's an ongoing fight and the number of casualties is staggering," Getachew said, adding that he could not give details of the number of dead or wounded. He said there was fighting near the town of Weldiya in Amhara and that fighting had resumed in Afar, in the Haro and Chifra areas near the Amhara border. Reuters was not able to independently verify the situation on the ground or to confirm casualty numbers because the area is closed to journalists and many phone connections are down. The fighting has raised fears that it could further destabilise the Horn of Africa nation of 109 million people and plunge Tigray deeper into famine. The conflict has already drawn in Ethiopia's neighbour, the secretive and repressive nation of Eritrea, which sent troops across the border to support the Ethiopian military when the conflict erupted in November 2020. Aid workers citing witnesses told Reuters that Eritrean fighters were still inside Ethiopia and taking part in the conflict. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Another humanitarian worker citing witnesses said Eritrean forces were fighting Tigrayans in Berhale, a town in the Afar region. Story continues The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it was considering the use of economic sanctions to penalise parties responsible for the violence. Thousands of civilians have been killed and millions displaced by fighting since war erupted in Tigray. Tigrayan forces were initially beaten back, but recaptured most of the region in July and pushed into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, displacing hundreds of thousands more people. Amhara claims the Western Tigray, a swathe of fertile farmland with a strategically important border with Sudan, which has been under Amhara control since the fighting began. Tigray's borders are now surrounded by hostile forces and the United Nations says the government is blockading food aid to hundreds of thousands of starving people - a charge it denies. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that in Tigray more than 90% of the population needed food aid and about 400,000 people were living in famine-like conditions, based on the latest U.N. analysis. "We are seeing acute malnutrition rates, at levels comparable to those we saw at the onset of the 2011 Somalia famine," he said. In that famine in Somalia, 260,000 people died. Tedros said no medical supplies had gone into Tigray since July. "Just a fraction of health facilities in Tigray remain operational due to a lack of fuel and supplies. People with chronic illnesses are dying due to lack of both food and medicine," he told a news conference in Geneva. The prime minister's spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, and Lia Tadesse, the health minister, did not immediately respond to Reuters messages requesting comment on Tedros' statement. (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Writing by Maggie Fick; editing by George Obulutsa, Katharine Houreld and) PARIS (Reuters) - The visit by the European Union coordinator to Iran comes at a critical time in efforts to revive nuclear talks with world powers and cannot be considered as "business as usual" given the worsening nuclear situation on the ground, E3 diplomats said. "The visit comes at an important time, as the Vienna talks on a full return to the JCPoA have now been suspended by Iran for almost four months," the diplomats from Britain, Germany and France said in a note on Wednesday, referring to Thursday's visit by EU coordinator Enrique Mora. "The situation in the nuclear field has been worsening and worsening continuously since then. For this reason, we do not see this visit as "business as usual", but rather as a crucial visit in the crisis." (Reporting by John Irish) A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has been giving participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot higher sentences than those sought by prosecutors, citing the necessity of consequences for taking part in the insurrection, Reuters reports. Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Wednesday sentenced two cousins who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 and took selfies to 45 days in jail more than two weeks longer than the 30 days sought by the prosecution, according to Reuters. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. On Tuesday, Chutkan sentenced another Capitol rioter to two weeks in jail and 60 hours of community service, even though prosecutors had recommended a probation sentence, per AP. Last week Chutkan sentenced another rioter to 45 days in jail for a misdemeanor charge, marking the first time a Capitol rioter received a sentence harsher than the one asked for by prosecutors, according to Reuters. What she's saying: "There have to be consequences for participating in an attempted violent overthrow of the government, beyond sitting at home," Chutkan said at one of their hearings, per Reuters. The big picture: More than 670 people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot, and over 90 have pleaded guilty so far, according to Business Insider. At least 17 of those defendants have been sentenced, noted Reuters. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. WASHINGTON The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it is opening a civil rights investigation into juvenile detention facilities in Texas following reports of sexual and physical abuse of children at the hands of staff members emerged from media outlets and advocates in recent years. The Justice Department found "significant justification" to open the investigation after 11 recent arrests of staff members alleged to have sexually abused children in juvenile detention. In other incidents, children were thrown to the ground, kicked and choked, said Kristen Clarke, the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Clarke said one incident that triggered the investigation occurred in February, when a child in a Texas juvenile detention facility was reported to have been pepper sprayed; placed in handcuffs, a belly chain, shackles and a spit mask; and then body-slammed. Other staff members were reported to have paid children with cash or drugs to harm other children, she said. "All too often children in correctional facilities like those at issue here are abused, mistreated and deprived of essential services. And because they are children, still growing and developing, they are uniquely vulnerable to harm," Clarke said. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has the authority to open investigations into police departments, city governments, detention systems and other local jurisdictions if it has cause to believe civil rights are being systemically violated. Recent high-profile investigations involve police departments after deaths of Black men at the hands of police, such as the investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after the death of George Floyd. The investigation announced Wednesday follows a series of legal measures the Biden administration Justice Department has announced involving Texas, including a challenge of the state's near-total ban on abortions. Story continues The investigation will determine whether Texas' juvenile detention system shows a pattern and practice of physical and sexual abuse of children, harm using chemical restraints, excessive use of isolation and lack of adequate mental health services, Clarke said. A team of civil rights lawyers from the Justice Department will conduct an "independent, thorough and fair" investigation in Texas, she said. "If our investigation reveals reasonable cause to believe there is a systemic constitutional violation we will provide written notice to Texas of the violation or violations ... and remedial measures," Clarke said. In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas sai, In July, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate reports of certain [Texas Juvenile Justice Division] staff engaging in potentially illegal behavior. Throughout his time serving the people of Texas, Governor Abbott has always prioritized the safety and well-being of all Texas children, including those in the states care. The State of Texas will cooperate fully with the Department of Justices investigation. Florida could face a shortfall of 59,100 nurses by 2035, according to a projection using data from before the pandemic. Commissioned by the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, the report found that Floridas aging population and expected growth will worsen the already-existing demand for new nurses. The report, done by market analysis group IHS Markit, says the issue could partially be caused by a shortage of nursing school graduates: A 2018-19 survey by the Florida Center for Nursing found that many nursing programs didnt have the resources or funds to expand, and couldnt find enough faculty or clinical sites even when they could. A strong health care workforce and capacity in the education system to graduate needed nurses over the coming years are critical, said Mary C. Mayhew, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Association. Yet as hospitals try to fill thousands of vacant positions, Floridas nursing students pass the required nurse licensure exam at one of the lowest rates of any state. Many well-regarded programs with higher pass rates for the test, called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), regularly turn away qualified applicants because their programs dont have enough resources to expand. During the 2018-19 academic year, 182 of Floridas pre-licensure registered nurse programs received nearly 8,000 more qualified applicants than total seats available for new students, according to the Florida Center for Nursing. Every single year ... we have more applicants than seats. And thats been our biggest challenge, said James Henningsen, president of the College of Central Florida. Henningsen estimates that the school rejected 40-60 qualified applicants during the most recent admission cycle. The University of Central Florida rejected over 200 qualified applicants to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for the 2020-21 year, said Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF College of Nursing. Seminole State College of Florida rejected almost 200 applicants to its nursing program in Fall 2021, said Nancy Gasper, dean of nursing. Story continues These public schools not only had exam pass rates from 85% to 100% in 2019 but also offer more affordable options than the for-profit schools throughout the state. If they want to get into nursing, they know the wages are good, theyre going to go to a for-profit if they have capacity, and pay five times as much and end up with all the student loan debt, Henningsen said. Each of the three public schools said more state funding could help them further grow their programs by building more physical space, converting existing space into nursing facilities, or hiring more faculty. Many have gotten funding from the state to grow or build new facilities, but still say they need more. Florida allocated $1.3 billion in state operating funds for Florida colleges for the 2021-22 budget, a $64.5 million increase. The state allocated $2.8 billion for its universities, a $130 million increase, according to budget highlights. Floridas colleges and universities also received about $2.1 billion in federal pandemic relief funds. Florida allocates less funding per student to support general operations of higher education than the national average, according to a 2018 study by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Further complicating the issue is that even though there are more qualified applicants than spots, programs enroll fewer students than seats. The Florida Center for Nursing found that in 2019 there were about 6,400 empty slots statewide. About one out of three nursing schools actually said they did not get enough qualified applicants to fill all their seats. Seats left vacant may relate to other capacity concerns other than the total number of seats available, the report states. Its also hard to find nursing faculty and place students at clinical sites, said Michael Vitale, vice president of academic affairs at Lake-Sumter State College. He said the colleges nursing program hasnt had to turn away qualified applicants recently, though it struggled with the issue a few years ago. The real, ultimate limiting factor is finding nurses that want to teach, to leave the nursing profession ... and become a faculty member, Vitale said. The Florida College System Council of Presidents, a group of presidents from the Florida College Systems 28 institutions, hopes to get more funding to grow nursing and other health care programs in the 2022 legislative session, said Angela Garcia Falconetti, president of Polk State College and group chair. However, growing the nursing profession in Florida will not simply be solved by increasing opportunities for would-be nurses to get their degrees, said Michelle Mahon, assistant director of nursing practice at National Nurses United, a union of registered nurses. Its very important to remember the commissioner of this report is the hospital association themselves, she said. Theyre focusing on education, and rightfully so, however, just filling a pipeline, we will continue to be in this problem. ... There is a hole in the pipeline that is ... glossed over by the report. Her opinion is that the report prioritizes education to shift focus from actions the hospitals could take to improving working conditions and keep more nurses in the state. One example, she said, comes when the report notes that Florida nurses are paid significantly less than the national average, but does not propose paying nurses more as a solution to the shortage. National Nurses United is advocating for minimum staffing ratios and workplace violence prevention standards, among other policies to increase nurse retention and safety. Mahon also thinks the report wrongly assumes that the surge of nurses who quit or relocated during COVID-19 will be temporary. They optimistically view this as a short-term problem, she said. However, we do expect there to be a massive sequela on nurses mental health as a result of the conditions theyve had to face in this pandemic ... and they were preventable by the hospitals. She also notes that the new report contradicts a widely distributed 2017 study by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which predicted Florida would actually have an oversupply of 53,700 full-time registered nurses by 2030. This Florida Hospital Association report suggests there will be a shortage of over 31,000 RNs by that point. Both HRSA and IHS Markit representatives said the differences can be attributed to updated data, different datasets, and different definitions of a full-time equivalent nurse. Spokesperson Peter Sinclair said HRSA intends to publish its own set of updated nursing workforce projection numbers this year. Leslie Postal contributed to this reporting. ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com Fox News Fox News hosts Lisa Kennedy Montgomery and Julie Banderas on Wednesday took turns berating a liberal panelist for having the temerity to dispute their claim that New York City is a hellhole. Kennedy and Banderas, in an effort to bolster their case that the city is a terrifying, crime-ridden wasteland, boasted that they talk to cops and read the New York Post as evidence for their claims. Besides whipping their viewers into a frenzy over vaccine mandates and critical race theory, Fox News has spent much of its time fear-mongering about supposed crime waves in Democratic-run big cities. (The reality is a bit more complicated, as murders are on the rise but robberies, property crimes, and rapes have all significantly declined this year.) On Wednesdays broadcast of Fox News midday roundtable show Outnumbered, the panel was wrapping up yet another segment squarely blaming crime on Democrats and police reform efforts when the hosts took direct aim at New York. Its impossible to ignore the fact that crime rates are up, Banderas declared. And where are they up? Theyre up in Democratic-run cities. Its also impossible to note that the police have been under attack for years. And the Biden administration hasnt certainly stuck their neck out for them. After Banderas said that Democratic cities and states are not backing their police departments, Kennedy added: And New York is a hellhole. Banderas wholeheartedly agreed, saying NYC is a hellhole thanks to Mayor de Blasio. That remark prompted former Biden surrogate Jenna Arnold, serving as a guest panelist, to object to such a broad, fear-based characterization of the city. No, its not. You dont get to call New York that, she exclaimed. I live here, sister! Kennedy sneered in response. I walk the streetsnot like that! I read the New York Post. I talk to cops, I know whats going on here! Arnold, who noted that she also lives in New York, responded that the Post is not an accurate journalist outlet, prompting Banderas to fire back with her own journalistic bonafides. Story continues No, I will tell you, as a journalist, I talk to all the cops and I know a lot of people in the NYPD, the Fox News host claimed. A lead detective in New York city texted me during the show. So let me just tell you, the police here can not do their jobs because theyre not backed up by the Democratic leaders. New York is certainly struggling but please dont call it a hellhole, Arnold pleaded. Thats not accurate. While Banderas suddenly insisted the city is not a hellhole and that I love New York City, Kennedy stood by her guns. Go talk to your local precincts! Kennedy shouted. I feel perfectly safe walking around the city, Banderas ultimately admitted. Do I trust the Democratic leaders are actually giving the police the power to protect us? No, were sort of on our own. Thank you, Mayor de Blasio! 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. PARIS (Reuters) - The French government will ask lawmakers to extend its pandemic state of emergency until July 31 next year to deal with the continuing coronavirus crisis, spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday. The state of emergency extension would mean that the government will keep the power to extend or reinstate restrictive measures such as the use of a health pass to gain access to venues such as restaurants, bars and cinemas. The state of emergency and the requirement of a health pass are due to expire on Nov. 15. "There is a non-negligible risk of an epidemic resurgence," Attal told reporters after a cabinet meeting. "We must stay vigilant until next summer." (Reporting by Matthieu Protard and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Catherine Evans) By John Irish and Parisa Hafezi PARIS (Reuters) - A pending visit to Tehran by the European Union coordinator for talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal cannot be deemed "business as usual" given escalating Iranian nuclear activities and the stalling of negotiations since June, European diplomats said. Enrique Mora, the EU's political director, is due to hold talks on Thursday with members of Iran's nuclear negotiating team four months after talks broke off between Iran and world powers, including the United States, to rescue the accord. "The visit comes at an important time," the diplomats from Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3, said in a note on Wednesday. The three countries along with China and Russia are parties to the deal. "The situation in the nuclear field has been worsening and been aggravated continuously since then," they said, alluding to Iran's accelerating enrichment of uranium to higher fissile purity, a possible pathway to a nuclear bomb. "For this reason, we do not see this visit as 'business as usual', but rather as a decisive visit in the crisis." The Islamic Republic has repeatedly said it will return to the negotiations "soon" without giving any sense of what that actually means. Western diplomats have tentatively said a return to the Vienna talks may be possible before the end of October. "Through its statements and actions on the ground, the new Iranian administration of President (Ebrahim) Raissi raises doubts about its intention to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA)," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters in a daily online briefing. "While refusing to negotiate, Iran creates facts on the ground that further complicate the return to the JCPoA," she said, adding that Tehran would also need to be clear about its intentions should it come back to the talks. Story continues Since then-U.S. President Donald Trump ditched the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, Tehran has been rebuilding stockpiles of enriched uranium, refining it to higher levels of purity and installing advanced centrifuges to speed up enrichment. President Joe Biden aims to restore the deal to restrain Iran's nuclear programme but the sides disagree on which steps need to be taken and when. Key issues include what nuclear limits Tehran will accept, what sanctions Washington will remove, whether there will be any guarantees and the prospect of follow-on talks on Iran's future nuclear programme, regional and ballistic missile activities, diplomats have said. Mora said on Twitter that he would raise the "urgency to resume" the talks from where they left off in June. Diplomats have said they are concerned Tehran's new negotiating team - under a president known as an anti-Western hardliner unlike his pragmatist predecessor - may make new demands beyond the scope of what had already been agreed. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who is expected to lead Iran's new negotiating team, confirmed on Wednesday that he would meet Mora. "Exchanging views on bilateral & regional issues including Afghanistan, as well as talks on removal of cruel sanctions, are on the agenda," he said. (Reporting by John Irish and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich) World leaders met virtually on Tuesday to discuss how to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This was the first such meeting of G20 leaders since the Taliban seized control in August. Two months on and the country is facing economic collapse - banks are running out of money, civil servants have not been paid and food prices have soared. All agreed that ordinary Afghans desperately needed help but most states are reluctant to formally recognise the new Taliban government. While much of the aid effort will be channelled through the United Nations, there will still be some direct country-to-country assistance. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi chaired the summit:. "It is very hard to see how one can help Afghan people, which is a big number, and Afghanistan is a big country, without some sort of involvement of the Taliban government, of de facto government, let's call it this way, very difficult to begin with to bring the necessary aid. I mean if they don't want us to enter, we don't enter. So, this is the degree of involvement which as I said doesn't imply at all recognition, recognition is a political decision." This was the first multilateral response to the Afghanistan crisis but two leaders were noticeably absent. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not dial in, suggesting differing international positions on the emergency. Ahead of the meeting, China demanded that economic sanctions on Afghanistan be lifted and that billions of dollars of Afghan international assets be unfrozen. Sen. Ted Cruz. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Conservatives claimed recent Southwest flight cancellations were linked to a staff anti-vaccine mandate protest. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were among those pushing the rumor. Southwest's CEO and the FAA said the cancellations were actually due to technical issues and bad weather. Conservatives are heaping praise on what they claim was an anti-vaccine mandate protest by Southwest Airlines pilots, which authorities say didn't happen. Southwest canceled thousands of flights last weekend, citing bad weather in Florida and air traffic control issues. But former President Donald Trump, GOP lawmakers, and right-wing media personalities have for days been pushing unsubstantiated rumors that the cancellations were the result of a walkout by staff protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates. As flight cancellations began on Saturday, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, linking to a news report that provided no substantiating evidence, claimed that the situation was actually due to staff shortages linked to the vaccine mandates. "Joe Biden's illegal vaccine mandate at work. Suddenly, we're short on pilots & air traffic controllers," he tweeted. Donald Trump Jr, the former president's eldest son, also linked cancellations to a staff vaccine protest in a Sunday tweet. "The fact that thousands of Southwest employees walked off the job protesting the COVID vaccine mandate forcing the airline to cancel more than 1000 flights is not getting enough attention. Media will make sure you don't see it but keep watching, it won't be the last protest!" Trump Jr. said. And in a Sunday radio interview, Donald Trump himself speculated that the flight cancellations had to do with staff protesting his election loss last year, as well as vaccine mandates. "I think it has a lot to do with a lot of things. I think it has something to do with the election that was rigged," he said in a radio interview this weekend. "I think these are big fans of your favorite president, I think that this has something to do with that. I think it has something to do with the ... I think it has a lot to do with mandates." Story continues A Southwest Boeing 737-800 plane. Steven M. Keller According to the rumors, the cancellations were the result of staff calling in sick en masse in protest at the vaccine mandates. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association had filed a federal court request last Friday for the mandate to be blocked. Southwest, its pilots' union, and the Federal Aviation Authority have denied that there is any truth to the rumors. In a Tuesday CNBC appearance, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said vaccine mandates had "zero" relation to the flight cancellations. "We have some very strong views on that topic, but that's not what was at issue with Southwest over the weekend," said Kelly. Casey Murray, the president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, told The New York Times that the real reason for the cancellations was that there had been problems reassigning thinly-stretched staff to new flights. The Federal Aviation Authority also hit back at the rumors. "To be clear: None of the information from Southwest, its pilots union, or the FAA indicates that this weekend's cancellations were related to vaccine mandates," it tweeted. Republicans have for months been seeking to damage Biden by attacking COVID-19 vaccine mandates issued by his administration. The mandates were issued over the summer, amid lagging vaccination rates, for federal workers, contractors, and employees of large companies, and have yet to come into effect. Southwest has said it will require staff to follow the mandate and get fully vaccinated by November 24, with exemptions for religious and medical reasons. Read the original article on Business Insider Oct. 13The state Supreme Court denied a third request by the office of the Public Defender to release certain classes of prisoners early to help alleviate the crowded conditions that help spread, noting rising inmate vaccination rates and a declining number of infections in Hawaii's jails and prisons. Between April and June 2020, 650 inmates were released to help ease overcrowding and limit conditions that make it easy for the virus to tear through modules of incarcerated people. "The record is insufficient to warrant the extraordinary relief requested except as it relates to DPS's (Department of Public Safety ) compliance with the requirements of HRS 353-6.2.4. Unlike when OPD filed its August 2020 petition, the total number of active positive COVID-19 cases among inmates in all Hawaii community correctional centers and facilities as of October 8, 2021 is 34. Vaccines are now widely available to all inmates, and it has been reported that statewide, as of September 14, 2021, 66 % of inmates are fully vaccinated, " wrote Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald and associate justices Paula Naka yama, Sabrina McKenna and Todd Eddins. The justices did order DPS, including the Hawaii Paroling Authority, to comply with a package of 2019 legislative reforms that included a requirement that DPS send updates every 90 days about whether pretrial inmates should be released or remain in custody. During oral arguments Sept. 22, there was disagreement over whether those updates were happening and Recktenwald asked if an order requiring the state to follow the reforms would help. Public defenders use that information to file motions requesting the release of prisoners to help ease crowding. The reforms require "the relevant community correctional centers, on a periodic basis but no less frequently than every three months, shall conduct reviews of pretrial detainees to reassess whether a detainee should remain in custody or whether new information or a change in circumstances warrants reconsideration of a detainee's pretrial release or supervision." Story continues "DPS shall comply with the requirements of, including timely transmitting its findings and recommendations by correspondence or electronically to the appropriate court, prosecuting attorney, and defense counsel, " the justices wrote. "The Department of Public Safety and its correctional facilities have a mandate to provide for the care and safe custody of inmates and will do what is necessary to ensure the inmates under our custody are taken care of. It is challenging but all facilities are working diligently to maintain operations for the safety and security of inmates, staff, and the general public. The well-being of all who live in, work in, and visit our facilities are of the utmost importance to the Department and many measures are in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, " said Public Safety Director Max Otani, in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "PSD is doing everything in its power to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 into the facilities and will continue to follow the pandemic plan which is based on Department of Health (DOH ) and CDC guidelines for correctional facilities. Each facility has adapted the plan to meet their individual facility needs and are executing their plans, to the best of their ability, to medically isolate, quarantine and cohort inmates." The state Office of the Public Defender did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the court's order. According to the state DPS, as of Tuesday, 2, 838 inmates have been infected and recovered from COVID-19 with 39 active cases in nine facilities that house Hawaii prisoners. Nine inmates have died from complications associated with the virus. Corrections staff have recovered from 380 infections, with 12 active cases. DPS continues to educate corrections staff and inmates about the vaccines and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, according to Otani. Vaccines are offered daily, anytime an inmate requests it, and to all new intakes. Sign-up sheets are posted in each housing unit and health care staff members frequently ask inmates if they would get vaccinated, especially if they are scheduled for release. At intake, inmates are required to watch a 10-minute COVID-19 educational video that includes instruction on infection prevention measures, detailed hand washing procedures, and vaccinations, said Otani. "The State is committed to ensuring the health, safety and security of all the people of Hawaii and agrees with the Court that blanket releases of inmates from correctional facilities do not accomplish these goals, " said Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors, in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. "The State continues to provide vaccinations and healthcare services for inmates, and is working with the recently-established on its COVID-19 response in the correctional facilities." BY THE NUMBERS 650 : Inmates released 66 %: Fully vaccinated inmates 2, 838 : Recovered from COVID-19 39 : Current COVID-19 infections 380 : Staff recovered from covid-19 12 : Current staff COVID-19 cases COVID-19 IN HAWAII'S JAILS AND PRISONS650 : Inmates released between April and June 2020 to help ease crowding amid the pandemic39 : Active COVID-19 infections among inmates in nine Hawaii facilities380 : Staff recovered from COVID-1912 : Staff with active infections Correction : Justice Todd Eddins was the fourth author of the Hawaii Supreme Court ruling, not Justice Michael Wilson as reported in an earlier version. A mother whose 10-year-old daughter died of COVID-19 spoke at a school board meeting this week, warning that COVID is not over and pleading for people to do everything we can to protect our children. Nicole Sperry, a teacher from Suffolk, Virginia, spoke at the Chesapeake Public Schools board meeting on Monday. Her daughter's funeral service was on Sunday. My message for you and all that are listening is that COVID is not over. No matter what people who have been standing up here have said, Sperry said. During the last meeting, there were parents or concerned citizens that voiced misinformation to you. They said that COVID was basically over and that healthy people do not die. When they were sharing this information, their opinions, the fact was, I was sitting next to my healthy daughters deathbed." Sperry added that now more than ever, we need to do everything that we can to protect our children. We need to be the example to them on how to wear masks correctly. We need to be the example to them on how to show compassion and empathy." The mother added that her family has taken precautions and done everything possible to help lower the spread of COVID. She said her daughter was learning how to roller skate, but their family avoided taking her to crowded places to practice as the virus spread. COVID is real, and our wish is that people take it more seriously, Sperry said. USA TODAY was unable to reach Sperry for more information. Education: Boys of color were hit hard by COVID and gun violence. Schools are doing little to help. Wisconsin: Parent sues school district, says her son contracted COVID-19 from a classmate Teresa Sperry died Sept. 27, according to multiple reports. Her mother alleged in a post on Facebook that the girl was required by a teacher to walk sick classmates to a nurses office at Hillpoint Elementary School before testing positive for COVID-19. School officials launched an investigation into the claim, according to multiple reports. Story continues Though children are less likely than adults to become severely ill with COVID-19, the most recent wave of the virus saw more children testing positive relative to older adults largely due to COVID-19 vaccines being approved for individuals who are 12 and older. Hospitalizations of kids with COVID-19 increased in August and September. Weekly pediatric admissions reached over 3 kids per 100,000 during the week ending with Sept. 5. In Wisconsin, a parent filed a federal lawsuit against the Waukesha School District and Waukesha School Board, saying that her son got sick after being exposed to a classmate with COVID-19 symptoms. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mom warns school the COVID pandemic isn't over after daughter dies Tony I wish I could say that I chose this time to speak out, except, I feel that its this time we are in that chose me, Good Morning America producer and journalist Tony Morrison recently wrote. During the pandemic, with nowhere else to look but the mirror, I found the courage to face myself and the fortitude to live honestly and openly. In a deeply personal and moving essay published on GMAs website in August, Morrison recounts an eight-year journey beginning with a positive HIV diagnosis at 24. He then describes the years of darkness that followed and explains how our current global COVID crisis was, ironically, what led him to finally free himself from HIV stigma once and for all. Upon meeting Morrison, or even seeing his pics on Instagram, its hard to believe the now two-time Emmy-winning 32-year-old has lived through such difficult times, considering his charismatic smile and a personality that seems to radiate positivity. But sadly, trauma came early in Morrisons life, as he explains he lost not one but two father figures early in life. I was actually born in the Philippines Im half Filipino, half Indianand my birth father passed away when I was very young, like one or two years old, he recalls. My mother remarried an American and we eventually moved to the U.S., to Florida. I became naturalized in seventh grade. Morrison says that after a long bout with illness, his stepfather eventually passed away too. So thats like, [my] foundation of trauma, he says, especially for my birth father, I didnt really get to know him. Morrison says he got his first job at Disney World, of course, and went to college in Tampa. After not quite finding his footing in business school, Morrison says he got into photography, moved to New York for fashion photographyand then realized Fashion Week was only two weeks out of the year, and I really needed an actual job. web_plus145_fea_amazing-2021_tony-morrison-backstage-gma-007_credit-abc-news.jpg Tony Morrison with GMA meteorologist Ginger Zee and co-anchor Amy Robach Story continues From there, he fell into TV and news production and worked at CNN for a while, and has now been with ABC News and the GMA team for six years. However, in the midst of all that career growth in the Big Apple (no small feat!), Morrison was grappling with a painful secret he was living with HIV and silently suffering the debilitating effects of stigma. I have been living with HIV for eight years, reads the opening words of Morrisons essay. It has taken me eight years and a global pandemic to be able to articulate those words confidently and put to paper. Not a day has gone by that I didnt feel shame, fear, guilt and often, anguish, he continued. And I have lived every single one of those days carrying a weight of humiliation, because thats what society told me I should feel; thats what our society told me I deserved. And I know thats what society has probably whispered to you too, about people like me. Morrison also explained in the essay that after his diagnosis he became very depressed and convinced myself I could never be worthy of love. For eight years, I dealt with my diagnosis in hiding and I grieved in silence. A turning point he says happened when a caring health care professional explained the concept of U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable) to him: I finally landed in the care of a doctor who I will never forget. She was kind and patient and was the first to assure me that my life had only just begun. Most of all, she told me that I wasnt alone. web_plus145_fea_amazing-2021_tony-morrison_gma-03_credit-heidi-gutman-abc-news.jpg Fast forward to 2021. Morrison says that in a much quieter, post-pandemic world, he could no longer avoid the demons hed been running from. He decided it was time to face them head on. It was a few layers of things, he says now of the decision to come out as living with HIV. But the main thing was, you know, this time during COVID, a time of self-reflection, of solitude, of just being alone, I discovered I really liked that alone time It gave me the opportunity to really finally connect with myself in a way that I really did not take the time to, up until now. And really, it was an offer to deal with this part of my life. And that compiled with the environment of loss, he continues. Just the overall COVID loss and loss in general, loss in my life, burying two dads, you know, thinking about all those things. I arrived at the thought that it was really unfair for me to live a life of shame and regret and apprehension when so many [who died during the early days of the epidemic] didnt get the chance to. And that really weighed on me. So it was like, Get your ass into gear. Youve built a really great life and youve done nothing wrong. Morrison says that not only did he realize, I should share my story, but as a journalist and a producer, I really thought it would be a disservice to not do it in the way that I did, given the mediums that I command and report on. Ive set up LGBT communities internallyand help with their inclusive storytelling here [at ABC] but I sort of at times felt like a fraud because I was telling these stories but not my own. Despite the freedom and support he now feels in opening up about his HIV status, Morrison advises others to not feel pressure to come out whether it be as LGBTQ+ or as living with HIV and only to do so if and when it feels right and safe for them. I would say, let life take you on that journey, he says. Let the time choose you versus you choosing that time. Thats what happened for me. I put this off for so long. And I dont think I would have had the tools mentally, physically, emotionally to do all this until now, in a weird kind of screwed up way, I guess. web_plus145_fea_amazing-2021_tony-morrison-03_credit-heidi-gutman-abc-news.jpg These days Morrison says hes looking forward to continuing to build a future in the world of TV and film, and is enjoying his newfound role as an advocate for others living with HIV. I was out at dinner the other night and someone came up to me and asked if I was Tony from Instagram, Morrison recalls. They have been wanting to come out to their mom and said reading my story helped them. And was I was like, Thats cool. So in moments like that, I know that sharing my story in such a way was more than the right thing to do. And [it] just opens so many other doors for other people, when were able to have these kinds of conversations and normalize these kinds of conversations about our own personal stories, whatever they might be. BEIJING (Reuters) - Japan's Honda Motor will launch a new electric vehicle brand in China next year, it said on Wednesday, and will only launch battery electric, hydrogen fuel-cell or petrol-electric hybrid vehicles there from 2030. Known for its fuel-efficient internal-combustion engines, Honda sold over 1.6 million vehicles in China last year. The new brand will be called "e:N Series" and it plans to roll out 10 models with partners GAC and Dongfeng Motor over the next five years, Honda said. Its two joint ventures, GAC-Honda and Dongfeng-Honda, plan to build new EV-only assembly plants that are expected to begin production in 2024. The planned new models will use a new vehicle operating system and are being developed based on an auto product platform designed for electric vehicles. Honda will set up an e:N Series section in all its existing retail stores. Over time, Honda also plans to set up dedicated e:N Series retail stores but did not provide detail on that plan. Honda has roughly 1,200 Honda brand stores currently. China's sales for electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are expected to reach three million this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Tuesday. Honda will continue to sell existing gasoline-powered models even after 2030, it said. (Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu and Yilei Sun; editing by Jason Neely) After the Senate advanced a temporary lift in the debt limit of $480 billion last week in a 50-48 party-line vote, the measure passed in the House Tuesday, staving off a default crisis. The short-term extension, which now heads to President Bidens desk for his signature, was proposed as a compromise by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Through it, the Republicans would allow Democrats to use normal procedures to pass an emergency debt limit extension at a fixed dollar amount to cover current spending levels into December. McConnells offer gave Democrats the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, which was broken on a 61-38 vote Thursday, to enact the increase. For months, McConnell and the GOP have refused to support raising the debt ceiling to subsidize what theyve called new spending sprees spearheaded by the Democrats. Republicans have insisted that the Democrats finance their own massive social spending packages through the reconciliation process, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others have rejected. Many Republican representatives still opposed the increase at the House vote. This accomplishes nothing more than kicking the can down the road on something that should be addressed now, Republican Minnesota Representative Michelle Fischbach said. Multiple Democratic senators agreed last week to accept McConnells short-term solution, while adding that the party would not unilaterally raise the debt ceiling via budget reconciliation for the long term. We made it clearwere not doing it through reconciliation. Thats a recipe for long-term disaster. So its up to Republicans, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said. More from National Review During the 'great Wiphalazo', sympathizers of the MAS ruling party arrived in La Paz where Arce gave a speech at the San Francisco Square. "If they (the opposition) don't respect the results at the polls, if they don't respect democracy, if they don't respect the popular vote, then brothers and sisters we'll demand respect for it in the streets," said Arce as hundreds of demonstrators waved Wiphala flags. Idahos U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo hopes to stop a federal proposal that would require banks to share more customer data with the Internal Revenue Service. The Treasury Departments proposal would mandate that financial institutions share data on accounts if those accounts have at least $600, or have deposits or withdrawals of more than $600 in a year. It would not monitor individual transactions. Though Democrats have since said the threshold could be raised, Crapo said no increase would justify what he calls government overreach and a privacy invasion. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said the requirement will remain in Democrats social-spending package, though the threshold of total activity could increase from $600. Were looking at a phenomenal abuse of the authority, Crapo said Tuesday at the Idaho Capitol, where he held a roundtable discussion with bank officials and business owners. I think this is the biggest violation of personal privacy that has ever even been proposed ... by the United States government, and its something every American ought to be incredibly worried about. The Treasury Departments proposal would be included in a $3.5 trillion social spending package. Republicans have pushed for the proposal to go through a committee. If it did, it could be discussed by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, where Crapo is a ranking member. Crapo and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, a ranking member on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, introduced a bill that would prohibit increasing audits for taxpayers making less than $400,000 a year. That bill would need to go through the Finance Committee. Treasury says proposal would strengthen IRS ability to find unpaid taxes The Treasury Department has defended the policy as a way to help the IRS crack down on wealthy Americans who have skirted paying an estimated $7 trillion in federal taxes. The proposal follows a ProPublica article that examined thousands of tax forms and found that billionaires including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and George Soros at times paid no federal income taxes. Story continues The leak to ProPublica shows that the IRS cannot be trusted to keep private tax information confidential, Crapo said. Others expressed concerns that the IRS is incapable of keeping such private data secure from cybercrimes. Crapo said that if theres a problem with unpaid taxes, the fix would come from closing corporate loopholes, not surveillance on taxpayers. The solution is not to give the IRS the ability to get into everybodys assets, but the solution is for Congress to change the tax laws, Crapo said, because most of these cases, Im told, is by absolutely legal compliance with existing tax law. John Evans Jr., president and CEO of Albion-based D.L. Evans Bank, said the proposal would be a significant burden for banks, small businesses and credit unions. Bankers firmly believe that Americans should honor their tax obligations, Evans said Tuesday. The regulatory burden that it would create for all of us is just unbelievable. State officials react to Treasury Department proposal Republican State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth said no amount of increase to what now is a $600 threshold would garner her support. She was one of 24 state treasurers who wrote a letter opposed to the the reconciliation bill and increased powers to the IRS. It is an egregious overreach, Ellsworth said Tuesday. State Controller Brandon Woolf on Tuesday said public trust in the federal government has been at an all-time low in a decade. Efforts by his office to increase trust in government, such as creating the Transparent Idaho website and making all state transactions publicly accessible, is undermined by such policies. The rest of Idahos congressional delegates U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, and U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher also oppose the proposal. The Biden administrations latest proposal to require banks to report financial activities over $600 to the IRS is absolutely absurd, Simpson said in a statement. This is clearly a violation of individual privacy, not to mention a hugely inappropriate government overreach. DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has proposed fining Facebook up to 36 million euros ($42 million) in one of more than a dozen probes it has opened into the social media giant, according to a draft decision published by the complainant on Wednesday. Under European Union 2018 data protection rules, the DPC must now share the preliminary ruling with all concerned EU supervisory authorities and consider their views before making a final verdict. The Irish commission is the lead regulator of Facebook and many other of the world's largest technology company's under the bloc's "One Stop Shop" data regime, due to the location of their EU headquarters in Ireland. The complaint, lodged by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems, concerned the lawfulness of Facebook's processing of personal data, specifically around its terms of service. The DPC proposed a fine of 28 million to 36 million euros for Facebook's failure to provide sufficient information, according to the draft decision, published by Schrems' digital rights group NOYB. The draft ruling described the infringements as serious in nature and criticised Facebook for a lack of transparency. Facebook was not immediately available to comment. Schrems criticised the findings, saying they amounted to the DPC greenlighting Facebook's bypassing of the EU's GDPR privacy rules by moving consent clauses relating to areas such as advertisement and online tracking into its terms and conditions. A spokesperson for the DPC said it had sent the draft decision to the other supervisory authorities and had no further comment as the process is ongoing. Facebook's WhatsApp subsidiary was fined a record 225 million euros by the Irish regulator last month after the EU privacy watchdog pressured the DPC to raise the penalty following criticism from other supervisory authorities. The DPC also increased a far smaller 450,000 euro fine on Twitter - its first sanction under the GDPR rules - after similar interventions from other regulators. ($1 = 0.8663 euros) (Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Mark Potter) Jack Neos eldest son Regent got married over the weekend. Some say that his wife looks like actress Awkwafina. (Photos: Instagram/jackneock, Instagram/awkwafina) Singaporean director Jack Neo took to his Instagram to announce that his eldest son Regent, 27, tied the knot on Saturday (9 October). My eldest son is married. Thank you everyone for your blessings! Jack Neo wrote in his post. Many celebrities left congratulatory messages for Neo, including the stars of his movies such as Joshua Tan from Ah Boys To Men, and Long Long Time Ago stars Aileen Tan and Ryan Lian. Jack Neo told Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao that he hoped his daughter-in-law would give birth to three children as the house will be livelier. He also shared that Regents wedding ceremony was held at a small church with family and friends in attendance. Not much is known about Regent's wife. Malaysian Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily said that she looks like American actress Awkwafina, who recently featured in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Jack Neo further revealed that the newly-weds had planned for a 250-pax wedding banquet, but that had to be postponed to 8 November due to the new COVID-19 restrictions. He said, This pandemic wave caught us off guard. Many of our relatives and friends are elderly, so we must take greater precautions. When asked what gifts he had prepared for the couple, Jack Neo replied with an air of mystery that they had followed the general etiquette and customs, but would not disclose exactly what gifts were involved. According to the traditions of a Chinese wedding, the groom will present betrothal gifts, such as gold jewellery and wine, to the brides parents. The 61-year-old director has a daughter Ethel, 29, who is already married with two sons and three sons Regent, Ritz, 22, and Raffles, 17. Regarding the marriages of his two other sons, Jack Neo laughed while saying that that would not happen so soon as they were still schooling. SHERMAN, Texas (AP) A federal judge has denied a request by Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman La'el Collins for an injunction that would have halted his five-game suspension with one game remaining. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant suggested in his ruling issued Tuesday that the NFL suspended Collins in violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players' union. However, Mazzant ruled the arbitrator's decision in Collins' appeal was based on a reasonable construction of the parties' agreements. The ruling means Collins won't be eligible to play Sunday at New England. The seventh-year player can return to the team next week, when the Cowboys are idle. Collins can play again in Week 8 at Minnesota. The NFL accused Collins of bribery in a court filing that opposed the request for a preliminary injunction. Representatives for Collins have strongly denied that and said the league misled the arbitrator by saying Collins had been suspended four games when he hadn't. Collins sued the NFL, its management council and Commissioner Roger Goodell last week. The lawsuit said Collins was suspended when the new labor agreement signed in 2020 no longer allowed for suspensions over missed tests or positive marijuana tests. The league countered by saying Collins had a long history of discipline for repeated violations. Clearly in a fair hearing, a fair court, with a judge like we had here, wed win hands down, said player agent Peter Schaffer, one of Collins' representatives. Im humbled and honored to represent Lael. He stood up against the league knowing he was right. The only reason he was suspended is this is how the league treats its players. The suspension was announced the day after Dallas 31-29 loss to defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay in the opener, Collins' first game since 2019. He missed all of last season because of hip surgery. Mazzant is based in Sherman, Texas, north of Dallas. Just before the start of the season four years ago, Mazzant granted star running back Ezekiel Elliott's request for an injunction to stop a six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations. That ruling sparked a two-month legal saga that ended with Elliott serving the suspension. ___ More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Kansas Republicans condemned the economic agenda of Democrats and President Joe Bidens administration on Wednesday, a day after first lady Jill Biden declared during a visit to the state that government can be good. Amanda Adkins, the likely 2022 Republican opponent of Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids in the states 3rd Congressional District, moderated a roundtable discussion on business issues in Lenexa that amounted to an implicit response to the first ladys trip to Kansas City, Kan. During the visit, Biden touted the federal aid available to small businesses. The panel featured Kansas Republican national committeewoman Kim Borchers, Eudora state Sen. Beverly Gossage and Kansas City area businessman Frank Oddo, founder of the janitorial services company City Wide. They took turns voicing fears that the United States economy is on the wrong track. The panel came hours after the United States reported a surge in consumer prices pushed inflation up 5.4% in September from a year ago. Inflation has risen in recent months as the economy recovers from the pandemic and global supply chains are snarled. As Ive been out in the community talking with business leaders, the number one issue I hear first and foremost is inflation, Adkins said. Theres a lot of concern about inflation. Adkins, a former Cerner executive, ran against Davids in 2020 and lost by more than 10 points. The likely 2022 rematch comes as the dimensions of the district remain uncertain ahead of a once-a-decade redistricting process by the GOP-controlled state Legislature. During the panel, Oddo, whose businesses include construction, said prices have risen on lumber and other products, sending the project costs higher. In addition, he said his businesses have struggled to hire workers (labor advocates say employers arent paying enough). Gossage said she had received emails as a state senator from people saying they could make more under expanded unemployment programs than by working. This is what somebody told me, I feel like a fool if I dont take this government money, she said. Story continues While some conservatives say enhanced unemployment benefits during the pandemic discouraged people from working, many economists sharply dispute the notion. When the enhanced benefits expired nationally last month, economists at JPMorgan found zero correlation between job growth and state decision to end unemployment aid early. About half of states terminated the extra aid early. An economist at Columbia University also found only minimal benefits. The message at the GOP gathering in Lenexa stood in stark contrast to the Biden event on Tuesday when the first lady, Davids and other officials emphasized the importance of federal initiatives as the economic recovery continues, such as the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan, a relief loan for struggling small businesses. The program has provided about $2.6 million in loans to Kansas so far. I think a lot of times people dont have a really positive image of the government and what the government does, so I think its important we get out the message, the first lady said Tuesday. In a statement, Davids said every day she works to bring the voices of the Third District to Washington, whether thats advocating for Kansas business owners on the House Small Business Committee, or working to make sure every community is included in our economic recovery. The Associated Press contributed reporting MEXICO CITY (AP) A lawyer shot his client to death in a courtroom in northern Mexico Wednesday, than fled into an adjoining chamber and killed himself with a gunshot to the head. Prosecutors in the northern state of Sonora initially said the two were both lawyers, and were related. It later specified that the first victim, 27, was a nephew of the shooter, 65, as well as being his client. The state prosecutors office ascribed the killing to a family legal matter, and said the two apparently had an argument. The court apparently did not have metal detectors in place. Family courts in Mexico handle cases like custody, divorce and alimony. A statue of Christopher Columbus stands beneath Coit Tower in San Francisco in 2014. (Associated Press) To the editor: The bias mentioned in the op-ed article about Christopher Columbus' anti-Muslim animus is not unique to one group in American history. While it is commendable to reject Columbus Day and rename it something that honors oppressed peoples, focusing solely on one injustice falls short of recognizing all injustices perpetrated against many different groups throughout U.S. history. American history is replete with such injustices, from the original sins against Native Americans to slavery, anti-immigrant violence, lynchings, the internment of Japanese Americans, turning back Jews escaping from Nazi Germany, anti-Asian pandemic-era violence, discrimination against the LGBTQ community and more. Therefore, it would make more sense to have an October holiday that provides us an opportunity to reflect on all injustices in U.S. history, not just one. Perhaps such a holiday should be named "Acknowledgment Day" to be a day of atonement for transgressions against all wronged people in American history. Mark Henderson, Dana Point .. To the editor: Yale historian Alan Mikhail could have added to his article the fact that Hernan Cortes' men, veterans of the recent conquest of Spain from the Moors, shouted "Santiago Matamoros" as they went into battle against Indigenous forces in what would become New Spain. St. James was the patron saint of the Spanish. "Santiago Matamoros" referred to St. James the "Moor killer," and Matamoros became the unlikely name of several towns in Mexico. Michael Hittleman, Los Angeles .. To the editor: By shoehorning Columbus' life and times into our 21st century perspectives on race and ethnicity, Mikhail applies a narrow ideological lens to the complex issue of historical mind-sets and linguistics. The Spanish language was enriched by seven centuries of Muslim interaction in the Iberian peninsula. This left its mark on thousands of words. Check out any Spanish-language dictionary: Around alfanje the scimitar mentioned in the article I counted more than 30 derived from Arabic with the prefix "al": alcoba, alcohol, alfil, alfombra, alforja, algebra, aljibe, almacen, almohada, alcaucil and alcalde. Story continues Columbus used the words of his time Italian and Spanish to describe new things. And moro (Moor) was not, and still isn't, a pejorative noun. Maria Elena de las Carreras, Northridge This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Charlotte business leaders are teaming up with a startup incubator to launch a program they hope will help boost the citys next big tech company at its early stages. Carolina Fintech Hub and entrepreneurship non-profit MassChallenge are launching what they call The Meta Lab, an initiative designed to support new financial and health technology startup companies in Charlotte. The news of the plans came on Wednesday, the same day of the initial public offering for Charlotte-based payment software company AvidXchange. CEO Michael Praeger founded the multibillion-dollar firm in a local coffee shop in 2000. Charlotte has become a fintech destination in recent years, Tariq Bokhari, a Charlotte city councilman and executive director of the fintech hub, said in a news release. The Meta Lab is the next chapter in that story of inspiring growth. Truist Bank and Charlotte-based investment management firm Barings are collaborating with MassChallenge and Carolina Fintech Hub on the project. Startups selected for the program will have the chance to collaborate with Carolina Fintech Hub anchor partners like U.S. Bank and Fifth Third Bank. Entrepreneurs from anywhere can apply. Participating firms will also have the chance to dip into an equity-free innovation prize pool fund made possible by Charlotte-based firms Movement Mortgage and LendingTree, as well as EY. Later phases of the Meta Lab could help new companies with business development, capital investments and even acquisitions, the news release said. Bokhari called the initiative a new approach to recruiting fintech and healthtech companies to Charlotte. The city has already attracted some significant expansions in the last couple of years, from Robinhood to Better.com and Credit Karma. Charlotte is a relatively affordable city with strong financial infrastructure and a broad talent pool, Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wells Fargo, told the Observer last week. Those factors benefit growing companies and AvidXchanges sizable IPO could stand as a beacon of whats possible for future firms. A performer who has appeared in multiple productions of the hit musical "Hamilton" said their contract with the show was ended after they asked management for a gender-neutral dressing room. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images Suni Reid said their "Hamilton" contract wasn't renewed after they asked for a gender-neutral dressing room. Reid is transgender and said they were misgendered after coming out in 2019 while performing. "Hamilton" in a statement denied all of Reid's accusations. A performer who has appeared in multiple productions of the hit musical "Hamilton" said their contract with the show was ended after they asked management for a gender-neutral dressing room, according to a complaint filed Wednesday with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Reid, who uses they/them and she/her pronouns, first began working as a performer in the Broadway production of "Hamilton" in 2017, playing "Man 6." From 2017 until 2021, Reid played other roles in the show, including George Washington, Aaron Burr, Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. In the complaint, Reid, who appeared in productions in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, alleged "frequent incidents of discrimination and harassment from cast members and management of Hamilton" due to their "race, sexual orientation/LGBTQ+ status, gender, and gender identity." Representatives for "Hamilton" did not immediately return Insider's requests for comment Wednesday. A spokesperson for the show told TheWrap and other outlets it denied all of Reid's allegations in the complaint. "Suni Reid was a valued cast member for more than three years. We offered them a contract to return to 'Hamilton' with terms responsive to their requests," a spokesperson for "Hamilton" told the outlet. "We deny the allegations in the Charge. We have not discriminated or retaliated against Suni. "Since the shutdown, our organization has taken care of our community. We have treated Suni with the same respect and consideration as all the company members of 'Hamilton.' Specifically, we have given Suni direct financial support, paid for their health insurance, and paid for their housing. We wish Suni well in their future endeavors," the spokesperson said. Story continues Hamilton, a musical that features a multiracial cast and retells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton, is often heralded for its diversity. During one instance, Reid alleges a cast member of the Chicago production threatened them with violence. They also alleged members of the cast regularly misgendered them in front of management after they came out as transgender and gender-nonconforming while performing in Chicago in 2019. Lawyers for Reid in the complaint write that Reid asked their agent in May or June of this year to request a gender-neutral dressing room at the Los Angeles production of the show, which would reopen in August. The dressing room would not be used exclusively by Reid, the complaint says. "This request was driven by the bullying and attacks that Mx. Reid had faced in the male dressing rooms at Hamilton in the past, as well as Mx. Reid's knowledge that other cast members would welcome having such a space available as well," the complaint said. Reid's agent, identified in the complaint as Michelle Large, on June 23 asked "Hamilton" management to accommodate Reid's request because the gendered dressing rooms were "anxiety provoking" for Reid, according to the complaint. The complaint said "Hamilton" management agreed to create a gender-neutral dressing room facility by placing a sheet in one of the gendered dressing rooms, which was "not a viable set-up," according to the complaint. At one point, the complaint said Rory O'Malley, the actor who played King George in the Los Angeles production, offered to give up his personal dressing room for the purpose of creating a gender-neutral one. After Reid asked for the gender-neutral dressing rooms, management brought up their social-media posts In a June 29 email, a member of the people and culture team at "Hamilton," emailed Reid's agent and questioned their desire to work with the show, referencing their prior social-media posts about their experience working as a "Hamilton" performer represented a "continual and consistent disparagement of Hamilton and its leadership team," according to the complaint. But Reid and their lawyers allege in the complaint that the posts were made on multiple occasions "in an effort to call attention to and spur action to address issues of racial equity" in management and about "safety for cast members" who belonged to marginalized groups." Insider was unable to verify the content of the social media posts, which were made in Instagram Live videos and on Twitter, per the complaint, because Reid's Instagram and Twitter profiles are no longer publicly available. Lawrence M. Pearson, an attorney for Reid, told Insider he was unable to provide links to any of the posts. The complaint says management had previously been aware of Reid's posts because a contracted lawyer for the show, who was hired "as a factfinder to help address cultural issues at Hamilton," reached out to Reid to discuss their concerns, according to the complaint. Reid was not aware, the complaint said, that the posts would be used against them. Suni Reid in "Hamilton." Provided of Wigdor LLP "Reid's online posts were not disparaging of the show, but rather raised issues of discrimination faced by particular individuals and expressing Mx. Reid's experiences as a transgender person of color in the theatrical industry while with Hamilton," the complaint said. The complaint said management also refused on July 2 this year to engage with Brandon Nase, the executive director of Broadway for Racial Justice, who attempted to resolve the situation on Reid's behalf. Reid is also on the board of the nonprofit organization. Then, on July 7, Luckie told Reid's agent that Reid's contract had been put "on hold," calling their social-media posts about the show "slanderous." Reid informed the show on July 30 through their lawyer that they had legal "claims of discrimination and retaliation," in relation to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other human-rights and employment laws in California and in New York. Reid was informed on September 18 through their lawyer that "Hamilton" was no longer interested in having "Reid perform in any Hamilton company or production" and said "renewal of their contract was no longer an option." "Not only was this termination in blatant retaliation for Mx. Reid's legally protected request for a gender-neutral dressing room and protected complaints of discrimination and retaliation, but furthermore was retaliation for Mx. Reid's legally protected activity in retaining legal counsel and asserting claims of discrimination and retaliation against the Company," the complaint says. Read the full complaint below: Read the original article on Insider Lord Frost - Peter Byrne/PA The EU appeared to have moved significantly with its offer of a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, Lord Frost said as he called for intensive talks with Brussels to begin. In a sign that the threat of triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol had been put on ice for now, the Brexit Minister said he would work very hard to strike a deal with the EU. The European Commission is expected to set out proposals on Wednesday that will dramatically cut the number of customs checks on British goods imported into Northern Ireland. But Brussels is expected to reject a UK demand to strip European judges of their role overseeing EU law in the province, which continues to follow some Single Market rules to avoid a hard Irish border. Lord Frost said: We're expecting proposals from the EU today, and obviously we will look at those very carefully and positively. We now need an intensive talks process and to try to find an agreement that everybody can get behind. That's what we want to happen. Obviously, we haven't seen what the Commission have put forward, I hope they have moved significantly, and obviously we will look at it positively if they have, but we'll wait and see what they come forward with, and then we'll see what we can do. Britain had demanded significant changes to the protocol, which created a customs border between Northern Ireland and Britain. Goods currently face checks to ensure they meet EU standards in case they cross the invisible border into EU member state Ireland. The proposals could remove up to 50 per cent of checks on goods and about 80 per cent of checks for SPS, which are for animal and plant health. Goods destined for Northern Ireland only could go in an express lane when arriving in the province from Britain. Brussels wants real-time access to UK trade databases in order to police which products cross into the Republic of Ireland, the EUs external border, and for the UK to fully implement existing requirements in the protocol on border posts. Story continues Maros Sefcovic - Brian Lawless/PA Speaking to broadcasters, Lord Frost said the Northern Ireland Protocol was undermining the Good Friday Agreement. But asked if a compromise was possible based on briefings so far, he said: So we really would like to get a consensus solution, we're working very hard to get one, it's obviously the best way forward if we can find agreement and build a new future for Northern Ireland. Lord Frost said the reach of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) was a key issue. The problem with the protocol at the moment is that EU law, with the ECJ as the enforcer of it, is applied in Northern Ireland without any sort of democratic process. So we need to find a solution everybody can get behind, and that means looking at some of the fundamentals, it means we need to get to a solution of significant change. It came as Dominic Cummings risked inflaming tensions with Brussels at a critical juncture by claiming the UK had never intended to stick to the deal it signed with the EU in 2019. The Prime Minister's former adviser and mastermind behind Vote Leave said it had always been the plan to ditch bits we didnt like in the protocol after it had been negotiated. Leo Varadkar - Niall Carson/PA His comments conflict with the Government's insistence that it had negotiated the agreement in good faith and sought to implement it. Dublin said that Mr Cummings's comments were alarming, with Leo Varadkar, who negotiated the protocol with Mr Johnson when Irish premier in 2019, suggesting countries around the world should think twice before striking deals with the UK. Mr Varadkar, who is now Ireland's deputy prime minister, said: I hope Dominic Cummings is speaking for himself and not for the British Government. But those comments are very alarming because that would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world. If the British Government doesnt honour its agreements, it doesnt adhere to treaties it signs, that must apply to everyone else too. At the moment theyre going around the world, theyre trying to negotiate new trade agreements... Surely the message must go out to all countries around the world that this is a British government that doesnt necessarily keep its word and doesnt necessarily honour the agreements it makes. And you shouldnt make any agreements with them until such time as youre confident that they keep their promises, and honour things, for example, like the protocol. By Tom Hals (Reuters) -A U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday that Maine can bar religious exemptions to its requirement that healthcare workers in the state get vaccinated against COVID-19, a day after a judge ordered New York to allow such exemptions to its mandate. U.S. District Judge Jon Levy in Bangor, Maine, said the healthcare workers who brought the case have not been prevented from staying true to their religious beliefs, although refusing the vaccine will cost them their jobs. The workers also failed to show Maine officials were motivated by an improper animus toward religion or that the state lacked a compelling reason to impose the vaccine requirement, said Levy, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama. "All Maine healthcare workers have the legal right to request reasonable accommodation for their sincerely held religious beliefs and forcing COVID shots without exemptions is unlawful," said Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal advocacy group that represented the workers. The group filed an appeal with 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston and requested the ruling be put on hold during the appeal process. COVID-19 vaccines have become highly politicized in the United States, where only 66% of Americans are vaccinated, well short of the initial goals of the Biden administration. Maine Governor Janet Mills announced her state's mandate on Aug. 12, and workers have until Oct. 29 to comply. Exemptions were allowed for medical reasons. Unlike most states, Maine does not allow for religious or philosophical exemptions to vaccine requirements. The plan was challenged by a group of healthcare workers who said they opposed COVID-19 vaccines because some vaccines were developed from cell lines of aborted fetuses. The workers also sued several healthcare companies where they work. Maine removed religious exemptions from mandated vaccines in 2019 and voters overwhelming rejected a referendum challenging the law last year. As a result, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is consistent with state law and does not single out religion, Levy said. Story continues By comparison, he said New York's mandate originally allowed religious exemptions and then removed them as the deadline neared. New York also allows religious exemptions to other mandated shots, Levy said. At least 24 states have imposed vaccine requirements on workers, usually in healthcare. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; additional reporting by Nate Raymond in BostonEditing by Noeleen Walder, Marguerita Choy and Bill Berkrot) Norways Erling Haaland could be moving to Manchester (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Archive) What the papers say Talks between Manchester City and Erling Haalands management are reportedly due to begin in January. The Times says the 21-year-olds agent Mino Raiola will meet with City representatives to discuss bringing the striker to the Etihad in the summer. The Norway international is contracted to Borussia Dortmund until 2024 but his deal is understood to have a 64million release clause that can be triggered from 2022. Staying at the Etihad, where The Sun reports Raheem Sterling wants to be given assurances about his future before talks continue with City. The England forward has started just four of 11 matches for the Blues this season, with the 26-year-old said to be concerned about time on the pitch as he moves into the final two years of his current contract. North London is reportedly calling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Paul Ellis/PA) (PA Wire) Could a return to the Emirates be on the cards for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Arsenal are interested in re-signing the midfielder from Liverpool following his north London exit in 2017, according to the Mirror, which reports the Reds will sell him in January if they can get the right price. The Mail cites Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo as reporting Liverpool have commenced talks to sign Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer in the summer. The France winger, 24, is out of contract at Barcelona at the end of the current campaign. Manchester United have become the latest club to express interest in Monaco talent Aurelien Tchouameni, according to the Express. The paper reports the Red Devils will compete with Chelsea and Juventus to sign the 21-year-old midfielder, who recently paired with Uniteds Paul Pogba for France against Spain in the Nations League final. Social media round-up Newcastles latest 'priority January transfer target' is injured for next five monthshttps://t.co/SyYz8ynOtU pic.twitter.com/Y4RXHuX2Z8 Daily Star Sport (@DailyStar_Sport) October 12, 2021 Chelsea need to be ruthless in transfer market with Eden Hazard linked with Stamford Bridge returnhttps://t.co/RMoAAoLhES pic.twitter.com/Fs3GxiPykN Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) October 13, 2021 Players to watch Story continues Sam Johnstone: The 28-year-old England and West Brom goalkeeper is being considered by Southampton, Tottenham and West Ham, according to Hampshire Live. At least three clubs are reportedly interested in Sam Johnstone (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Wire) Clement Lenglet: Spanish outlet Sport.es reports the France and Barcelona defender, 26, is set to be Newcastles first signing since the clubs takeover. Sergio Reguilon: The Express cites Defensa Central as reporting Real Madrid want to bring the Tottenham full-back, 24, back to the Bernabeu before next season. Former President Donald Trump in New York City. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Trump Org exec Jeffrey McConney has testified twice for the grand jury investigating the company. He's the second-in-command to CFO Allen Weisselberg, who's been charged with tax fraud. McConney may be able to give prosecutors a better understanding of the company's finances. For months, prosecutors investigating the Trump Organization's finances have struggled to get the cooperation of Allen Weisselberg, former President Donald Trump's main money man. But they have had success getting information from his second-in-command: Trump Organization Controller Jeffrey McConney. McConney has testified at least twice to a grand jury empaneled by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The Manhattan prosecutors, along with the New York attorney general's office, are investigating the Trump Organization's finances and examining whether the company broke tax, insurance, and bank laws. Prosecutors brought charges in July against the Trump Organization and Weisselberg, its chief financial officer. Weisselberg and attorneys for the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the special-grand-jury investigation is ongoing. Weisselberg has worked for former President Donald Trump's company and family since 1973 and perhaps knows more about Trump's finances than anyone else. Prosecutors have sought to "flip" Weisselberg into cooperating with the investigation. Several witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Jennifer Weisselberg, his former daughter-in-law, believe he ultimately will - if he hasn't already. But there's no public indication the executive is cooperating. McConney has been at the Trump Organization since 1987, according to his LinkedIn profile, working closely with Weisselberg. In 2017, the chief financial officer told investigators in the New York attorney general's office that he trusted McConney so much, he'd sign documents McConney prepared without even looking at them. Story continues "Knowing that it went through Jeff McConney, who provided the original information, then he told me it's OK to sign, I would go ahead and sign these things," Weisselberg said in the interview. McConney helps manage the Trump Organization's finances The 66-year-old McConney is a staunch Trump supporter. He's a "rank-and-file Republican voter" and sometimes wears Trump-branded neckties, according to The Daily Beast. His home in Marlboro, New Jersey, is a short drive from Trump's golf club in Colts Neck. Barbara Res, who oversaw Trump Organization construction projects in the 1980s and '90s - and who also says Weisselberg may flip - told Insider McConney handled billing when they overlapped at the company. "We were spending money, and someone had to go over what we were spending," Res said. McConney was eventually promoted to be the company's controller and a senior vice president. In an interview he gave to state investigators in 2017, which was reviewed by The Daily Beast, he said his team oversaw paperwork for bank loans, tracked checks, maintained tax documents, and prepared Trump's personal financial statements. McConney also helped prepare tax returns for the Trump family's charity organization, Weisselberg told investigators in 2017. Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg in September. AP Photo/Craig Ruttle Prosecutors obtained at least 6 million pages of evidence for its July indictment against the Trump Organization and Weisselberg. Much of that evidence is subpoenaed financial documents, which experts say likely include tax returns and preparation documents. McConney may be able to walk grand jurors and prosecutors through those documents. The interviews McConney and Weisselberg gave to the New York attorney general's office were for an investigation into the Trump Foundation. The charity was shuttered in 2019 after the investigation found that Trump used its funds to advance his political career and for his personal gain. McConney, who handled day-to-day matters for the foundation, told investigators that it wrongly used $120,000 in funds to pay fines and settle lawsuits on Trump's behalf, according to The Daily Beast. He also said he regretted a $25,000 payment to a political campaign for Pam Bondi, who, as Florida's attorney general, declined to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. "Anything and everything that could go wrong did go wrong," McConney said. He has links to Trump's 2016 campaign According to Weisselberg, McConney jumped at the opportunity help Trump's campaign for president. In January 2016, Weisselberg and McConney tagged along as Trump skipped a Republican debate and instead hosted a fundraiser for veterans charities. "I asked Jeff McConney if he'd like to go with me. And he said sure," Weisselberg told investigators in 2017. "So he grabbed the checkbook." Trump speaks to veterans at Drake University on January 28, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images McConney worked with Brad Parscale, then the digital director of Trump's campaign, to set up a fundraising website. He also worked with Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager at the time, to select charities to direct money to, emails obtained by investigators and reviewed by Insider showed. McConney's son gave Trump perhaps the biggest contribution of all: instructions for using Twitter. Justin McConney, who ran the Trump Organization's social media between 2011 and 2017, recalled in an interview with Politico how he encouraged Trump to use the app. "The moment I found out Trump could tweet himself was comparable to the moment in 'Jurassic Park' when Dr. Grant realized that velociraptors could open doors," the younger McConney said. "I was like, 'Oh, no.'" McConney testified twice for the Manhattan grand jury and is reportedly referenced in charging documents Prosecutors brought in McConney to testify for grand jurors twice, in July and September. At least one of those times, according to disclosures from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, McConney had complied with a subpoena. The Trump Organization previously asked courts to block prosecutors' subpoenas, including for documentation related to McConney's work, but the Supreme Court ruled in February that it had to comply. Under New York state law, witnesses who are subpoenaed to testify in front of grand juries automatically receive "transactional immunity," which blocks prosecution for crimes related to the activity they testify about. But if McConney came to a cooperation agreement with prosecutors before being subpoenaed, they may still be able to bring charges against him. Patricia Pileggi, an attorney representing McConney, didn't respond to Insider's requests for comment. Trump, Allen Weisselberg, and Donald Trump Jr. in 2017. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Prosecutors also appeared to reference McConney in their July indictment. "Unindicted Co-Conspirator #1" - who, according to The Wall Street Journal, is McConney - "agreed to and implemented" a compensation scheme that prosecutors allege underreported Weisselberg's income and allowed him to avoid certain taxes. McConney also made an appearance in 2018 charging documents federal prosecutors in New York brought against Cohen, ProPublica reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. In 2016 Cohen, who at the time worked as a lawyer for the Trump Organization and for Trump personally, paid off two women who said they had affairs with the then-presidential candidate to ensure their silence ahead of the election. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign-finance charges for the payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Manhattan prosecutors are said to be examining whether the payments broke state-level campaign-finance laws as well. At least one of those payments was processed by two executives at the Trump Organization, federal prosecutors said in their indictment. One of them was Weisselberg, according to Cohen; the other, according to The Journal, was McConney. Read the original article on Business Insider Atlanta was built with bricks and stones made and chiseled by men, women, and sometimes children at works camps, where they labored without pay to the point of exhaustion, permanent injury, and sometimes death. A coalition now wants to honor them starting with acknowledging the labor practice at what will become Atlantas largest park. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Driving the news: Jill Savitt, the president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, says the museum and cultural rights organization is partnering with northwest Atlanta residents and artists, corporations like Microsoft and nonprofits including the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to create whats thought to be the first convict leasing memorial, in Westside Park. The centerpiece of the 280-acre greenspace, which opened this year, is a 30-day emergency drinking water reservoir made from the remnants of the 400-foot-deep Bellwood Quarry. Context: Neighborhoods near Westside Park were becoming gentrified at such a dizzying clip that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in 2020 called time-out on issuing building permits in the area. Microsoft plans to build a 90-acre tech complex next door to Westside Park. History lesson: The period after the Civil War and the early 20th century is known as the nadir of African American history, a time of lynchings, theft of Black-owned property like farms and convict leasing. With no free labor to exploit, the Souths emerging new businesses collapsed. Private businesses started paying local or state governments to put convicted people mostly Black and often falsely accused or picked up for petty misdemeanors, historians say to work in grueling conditions like brickyards and railroads. The most well-known example in Atlanta, described in thorough detail in Doug Blackmons Pulitzer-winning book "Slavery by Another Name," is the Chattahoochee Brick Company, roughly 4 miles from Westside Park. Much less is known about the history of Bellwood Quarry, which closed in 2007, one year after being purchased by the city. What's next: Savitt tells Axios that the group is launching Truth and Transformation, a multiyear, multipart initiative to learn more about convict leasing, the Atlanta Race Riots of 1906 and other lesser-known parts of Atlanta history. One goal, Savitt says, is to show the hardships endured and the resiliency of survivors. Story continues Next week, group members head to West Creek Ranch, a retreat where nonprofits can share strategies and build camaraderie. By early 2022, theyll release a detailed plan of meeting dates, focus-and-feedback sessions and other opportunities for public engagement. Memorial design, curriculum planning and multidisciplinary public engagement will continue throughout the year with extensive charrettes, public meetings and information sessions. The group is aiming for the memorial to be constructed by 2025. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The United States needs to invest more heavily in Central America if it hopes to slow record levels of northbound migration, Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Wednesday. Record numbers of migrants have passed through Mexico this year toward the United States, driven by economic downturns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and drawn by the hope of more welcoming immigration policies under U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden has vowed to focus on the underlying causes of migration in Central America by working to reduce poverty, violence and corruption. "There needs to be a bigger investment from the United States in Central America than has been given, without a doubt," Ebrard told a Mexican radio program when asked about the prospect of Mexico acting as a barrier for migrants. "Without this investment, if the United States does not support Central America, it's very hard to think that the migration flows that are happening will diminish," Ebrard added. Biden noted in a recent letter to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that the United States provided more than $600 million in foreign assistance over the past year to the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The letter added that Biden has requested another $861 million from U.S. Congress for the 2022 fiscal year to also allocate to Central America. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Karishma Singh) The archbishop for the military services argued that Catholic service members should receive the coronavirus vaccine, though he supports exemptions for those who say it would go against their conscience. No one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience, Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy Broglio said in a statement released on Tuesday. He has previously supported people getting the vaccine. VOLUNTEERS EMPTY THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS TO SAVE AT-RISK AFGHANS The archbishops note comes roughly seven weeks after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin mandated the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine shortly after it received the Food and Drug Administrations full authorization. Each military branch has announced its own deadline to comply with the order. Since that time, some service members have sought exemptions via the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, he said, noting that it raises the question of whether the vaccines moral permissibly precludes an individual from forming a sincerely held religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience," though he said, "It does not. Broglio said that its morally permissible to get the vaccine, even though the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were tested using an abortion-derived cell line and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed, tested, and is produced, with abortion-derived cell lines, because the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith found that receiving the vaccine does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion, and is therefore not sinful. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced during Tuesdays briefing that 80% of the military have received are at least partially vaccinated, while 65% are totally inoculated from the virus. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The denial of religious accommodations or punitive or adverse personnel actions taken against those who raise earnest, conscience-based objections, would be contrary to federal law and morally reprehensible, Broglio added, later noting that any service member who gets exempted from the vaccine mandate must continue in the act in charity for their neighbors and for the common good by continuing COVID-19 prevention measures. Story continues Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Vaccination, Coronavirus, Pentagon, Military, Religion Original Author: Mike Brest Original Location: Military archdiocese urges service members to get vaccinated but supports religious exemptions Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO. Getty Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, has 55% of the company's voting shares, giving him majority power. Experts say it's "a bad idea" for one person to hold so much control of a behemoth such as Facebook. The notion is more profound given leaked docs that show Facebook's dismissal of its societal harm. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, holds 55% of voting shares in the company, a former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen told Congress last week. That's significant, she said, because it's "a very unique role in the tech industry." She added, "There are no similarly powerful companies that are as unilaterally controlled." Or put more bluntly in another part of the hearing: "There is no one currently holding Mark accountable but himself." He is, essentially, Facebook's "keyman," a person who has ultimate say in business decisions and without whom the firm would be heavily affected. Experts told Insider that there is cause for concern around one person having control over a controversial family of platforms that affect hundreds of millions of people. "I don't think it's a stretch to argue that Mark Zuckerberg is the most powerful person who's ever walked the face of the earth, and I think that kind of power being held by one person is generally a bad idea," said Whitney Tilson, a former hedge-fund manager and the CEO of Empire Financial Research. Zuckerberg's outsize power has been debated for years Company founders with majority control of a firm aren't rare. It's most prevalent in the tech world, where dual-class structures are common. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, for example, stepped away from the giant in 2019 but remained on the board. Collectively, they still have majority control of the company. "You typically don't have companies like GM or Ford or Bank of America that are controlled by any one investor," said Chris Haynes, an associate professor of international affairs and political science at the University of New Haven. "This is not the norm." Story continues Proponents of the arrangement often say it allows company leaders to stay trained on long-term success without distractions from short-term pressures. "Having a company controlled by a single person, 'the brainchild' when it comes to tech companies, it does make the company much more nimble, and they're able to really turn a dime," Haynes said, since they don't have to get a lot of investors on board to make a decision. But it can also slow things down. Facebook lists Zuckerberg's outsize control as a potential risk factor for investors, saying it "could delay, defer, or prevent a change of control, merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets that our other stockholders support." Critics say the control can shield companies from concerns that can harm society and investors, and it can cause volatility. "I think you're seeing that in the case of Facebook," Haynes said. Facebook has had a rocky few weeks after documents leaked by Haugen to The Wall Street Journal showed Zuckerberg and other insiders knew the company's platforms had negative effects on the public and dismissed those concerns. "Facebook is bigger than any religion in the history of the world, and there is 100% control residing in one man," Tilson said. Joy Poole, a former Facebook employee who's now at the consulting firm Emergence, said lawmakers should "absolutely" explore how regulation could decide the amount of majority share CEOs have in their companies. But there may be more pressing issues. "Mark Zuckerberg has majority control over a company with a tremendous amount of influence in the world," Poole said. "I don't believe for a minute, though, that if he had 49% control, that we would magically find answers to the complex questions we are facing here." But last week's hearing with Haugen and her disclosure of internal documents to the US Securities and Exchange Commission could change things, Tilson said, though it's not likely. If the SEC investigation finds that Facebook misled investors by failing to disclose research of negative harm on teens, among other findings, then the agency could demand that he step down, Tilson said. "That would be the only way I can think of that would overcome his controlling voting shares," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Nashville is looking to hire plumbers, nurses, correctional officers and more as multiple city agencies scramble to keep their rosters full. The city is hosting a wide-ranging career fair Saturday, the latest sign that the national worker shortage is hitting close to home. Why it matters: Many of the jobs Nashville leaders are looking to fill are central to key city services. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Metro Water Services has 96 openings, department spokesperson Sonia Allman tells Axios. Nearly 25% of budgeted waste services positions are vacant. Hiring for in-person, labor-intensive jobs has gotten more difficult during the pandemic, Allman says. The big picture: Heightened competition from the private sector, including a constant stream of construction jobs and major companies relocating to Nashville, is exacerbating the strain of the pandemic. "We're in a war for talent," Michael Taylor, assistant director of Metro human resources, tells Axios. "It's very competitive here in Nashville and we're just trying to do the best we can." Another career fair is in the works for next month to meet the demand. Meanwhile: The health department is looking for animal control officers, dental hygienists and nurses (which hospitals also are competing to hire). What they're saying: Sheriff Daron Hall tells Axios he has more than 100 vacancies, the biggest hiring pinch he's seen during his decades on the job. "Yeah, we're desperate," Hall said of his agency. "To me it's the biggest crisis we're dealing with in our environment right now." The crunch for workers forced Hall's team to get creative, overhauling hiring practices to get applicants in the door faster. "We've flipped a lot of things upside down and realized that we're going to have to do things differently," Hall said. Hall added he's considering pay raises and expanding part-time positions in an effort to attract younger applicants. Yeah, but: Not every participating agency is looking to fill a large number of positions. Story continues Department of Emergency Communications director Stephen Martini tells Axios he only has four vacancies, accounting for 2% of his department. He doesn't plan on hiring additional staff until next spring. Zoom out: The pandemic has rocked the labor market nationally. A record number of workers quit their jobs in August, according to new federal data. Local hospitals, schools and restaurants have all reported a heightened demand for workers. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Netflix logo is seen displayed on a screen. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Image Netflix has fully reinstated a trans staff member and two others who were suspended after protesting Dave Chappelle's comedy special 'The Closer.' Trans employee Terra Field was earlier suspended for attending an executive meeting she was not invited to. Trans staff at Netflix are now planning a walkout to protest co-CEO Ted Sarandos' stand that the comedy special not be taken down. Netflix has fully reinstated a trans employee and two others who criticized the company's latest Dave Chappelle stand-up comedy special, "The Closer." Terra Field, a software engineer at the company, said in an October 13 tweet that her employment status with Netflix was fully reinstated after the company found "no ill-intent" in her attendance at a "director-level" meeting to which she had not been invited. Field was one of three employees suspended after attending the meeting. Field's suspension occurred amid an ongoing controversy regarding comedian Dave Chappelle's sixth stand-up special, "The Closer." Chappelle was criticized and accused by trans people of making anti-trans comments during his stand-up special and for declaring that he is "Team TERF!," which stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. Field posted a Twitter thread on October 7, where she said that Chappelle "attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness - all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups." She and two other employees were subsequently suspended, per reports by The Verge and Variety on Monday. A Netflix spokesperson told Deadline that the two other suspended employees were also fully reinstated, along with Field. On October 13, Field posted what appears to be a screenshot informing her that she'd been reinstated as an employee. The message reads: "Our investigation did not find that you joined the QBR [quarterly business review] meeting with any ill intent and that you genuinely didn't think there was anything wrong with seeking access to this meeting. Additionally, when a Director shared the link it further supported that this was a meeting that you could attend." Story continues "I'm going to take a few days off to decompress and try to figure out where I'm at. At the very least, I feel vindicated," she said. Netflix previously told Insider that Field had not been suspended for tweeting about the comedy special. "It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show," a Netflix spokesperson said. "Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly, and we support their right to do so." Comedian Dave Chappelle was accused by trans people of making anti-trans comments during his latest stand-up special, "The Closer." Netflix Per an exclusive report by entertainment news site Variety, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote an internal memo to Netflix staff on October 8 defending Chappelle's special. "Several of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate. We don't allow titles at Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don't believe 'The Closer' crosses that line," it read. "Particularly in stand-up comedy, artistic freedom is obviously a very different standard of speech than we allow internally as the goals are different: entertaining people versus maintaining a respectful, productive workplace," Sarandon added in the memo seen by Variety. Netflix staff are planning a company-wide walk-out on October 20 to express their discontent with Sarandos' response. According to reporting by The Verge, the walkout is being organized by a trans employee resource group at Netflix. "Trans Lives Matter. Trans Rights Matter. And as an organization, Netflix has continually failed to show deep care in our mission to Entertain the World by repeatedly releasing content that harms the Trans community and continually failing to create content that represents and uplifts Trans content," read the internal memo announcing the walkout seen by The Verge. Netflix declined to comment on the memo, per reporting from Insider's Travis Clark. Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider on the planned October 20 staff walk-out. Read the original article on Insider North Carolina school safety officials are waiting on the state's budget to see whether more funding will be set aside for school safety, weeks after a school shooting in the state. As of Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper and legislative leaders had not reached a compromise on the details of the state's spending plans for the next two years. Cooper met with members of the Center for Safer Schools Task Force, law enforcement and other school safety leaders Tuesday morning to discuss keeping the state's schools free of tragedy. Cooper said the state could prevent school violence with key investments in mental health services, higher teacher pay and law enforcement collaboration. "I remain committed to our public schools and the best we can during this long budget negotiation to make sure that we invest in education, and that we steer as much of our tax dollars toward investment," Cooper said. "That's what it is, investment in our children and our public schools, the people who teach them the staff who are around them." A 15-year-old student at Mount Tabor High School was shot killed Sept. 1 on school grounds. Authorities arrested a fellow classmate on murder charges for the incident. While school officials are responding to the aftermath and the traumatic effects on students, Cooper said more should be done in schools to prevent similar incidents, bullying and suicide. "We want to prevent violent events from happening to start with," Cooper said. "When you look at what our Constitution requires, a sound basic education for all children. Their mental health, their safety is all a part of that." Cooper told members of the task force hiring and paying teachers with more degrees, hiring more counselors and school psychologists and paying for more wrap-around services could help students in crisis. The task force is the advisory board for the North Carolina Center for Safer Schools. The state center focuses on school emergency preparedness and discipline and other school safety concerns. Story continues The House and Senate approved separate budget proposals in August, but lawmakers have not voted to approve one final version. Leaders of the General Assembly agreed to a compromise budget late last month, and sent it Cooper first to review before calling for a final vote. Cooper's office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday on the status of the state budget. Details of the compromise budget have not been made public. Educators would see a 3% pay increase under the current published Senate plan. The published House plan provided 2.5% raises for most state employees, and teachers would see step raises around 5.5%. Other school personnel would receive $13 an hour in pay during the first fiscal year and $15 an hour pay during the second fiscal year under the House plan. The Senate plan provided $13 an hour over the two years. The House also restored advanced degree supplements for the first time. The General Assembly's current published budget proposals included $10 million each of the next two fiscal years for a new School Safety Grant program for mental health in schools, school safety training and school safety equipment. "As is everyone else, we are waiting on the state budget," North Carolina Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen Fairley said. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, State, North Carolina Original Author: Nyamekye Daniel, The Center Square Original Location: North Carolina school officials wait on state to address safety Social media hasn't quite snapped back to normal since last week's outages, with Snapchat users reporting problems this morning. Snapchat confirmed on Twitter shortly before 8 a.m. that the company was aware of an issue and was working to fix it. As users flocked to Twitter to confirm if their problems with the app were more widespread, #snapchatdown started trending with over 37,000 tweets. TRUMP TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST 'FREE SPEECH' APP FOR CREATING FAKE ACCOUNT FOR HIM Were aware that some Snapchatters are having issues using the app right now - hang tight, were looking into it! Snapchat Support (@snapchatsupport) October 13, 2021 Some users reported being locked out of or unable to sign into accounts, while others were unable to load content or lamented the streaks they might lose. At 10:30 a.m., Snapchat tweeted that it had resolved the issue. People reported in the comments that they were still experiencing problems, but it is unclear whether these are related to the main issue. The issue has been fixed! If you're still having trouble, please let us know. Happy Snapping! Snapchat Support (@snapchatsupport) October 13, 2021 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER On Oct. 4, Facebook and its subsidiary platforms Instagram and WhatsApp were down for seven hours for some users. Instagram users reported more problems on Friday. The outages reportedly cost CEO Mark Zuckerberg's net worth billions of dollars. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Snapchat, Social Media, Big Tech, Twitter Original Author: Virginia Aabram Original Location: Oh, snap: Snapchat becomes third social media platform experiencing outages in two weeks From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Pure Foods Tasmania Limited's (ASX:PFT ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Check out our latest analysis for Pure Foods Tasmania Pure Foods Tasmania Insider Transactions Over The Last Year There wasn't any very large single transaction over the last year, but we can still observe some trading. Michael Cooper purchased 135.00k shares over the year. The average price per share was AU$1.13. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Does Pure Foods Tasmania Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Pure Foods Tasmania insiders own about AU$6.3m worth of shares. That equates to 21% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Pure Foods Tasmania Tell Us? The fact that there have been no Pure Foods Tasmania insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Pure Foods Tasmania insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Pure Foods Tasmania (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about. Story continues Of course Pure Foods Tasmania may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. What does colonialist mentality look like in the Filipino American community, and how does it affect mental health? (Michelle Lagasca / For The Times) Daniela Pila spent an hour after school one day scrubbing her brown skin with a bar of papaya soap, hoping it would turn white. She was 12 and had never really cared much about the color of her skin. But the negative comments she had received about her physical features throughout her life had started to weigh her down. She remembered a family member saying her nose made her look like a pig. Her classmates called her fat, ugly and damak a Filipino term that means filthy. She saw that her peers with lighter complexions were showered with compliments. "I was so tired of having people comment on my body and my skin tone and my body parts things I had no control over," said Pila, now 32, a postdoctoral researcher in critical race studies at Fordham University. "And I thought, 'Maybe if I'm lighter skinned, people will leave me alone.'" The critical comments about her appearance tore at Pila's self-esteem. She became depressed and anxious and didn't have any friends. Pila's experience isn't unfamiliar among Filipino Americans. Many know about skin-whitening products like papaya soap. They've heard advice to stay out of the sun so their skin doesn't get dark and to pinch their noses so they become sharper. Daniela Pila, a postdoctoral researcher, remembers scrubbing her skin with papaya soap when she was 12. (Rodrigo Cid / For The Times) The impact of the value placed on Eurocentric features, such as lighter skin, is one of the most prominent examples of the repercussions of the Philippines' colonial history on Filipino American mental health. Rule under Spain and the U.S. resulted in widespread internalized oppression referred to by ethnic studies scholars as colonial mentality . And colonial mentality had centuries to take hold. The Philippines' colonial history spans nearly 400 years, starting in the mid-16th century with Spain, which occupied the country until 1898. That's when the Philippines declared its independence, but Spain ceded its colonial claim to the United States, which then occupied the Philippines for almost 50 years. Story continues EJ David, a professor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, whose research focuses on the impact of colonial mentality on Filipino Americans, said this mentality manifests in a number of ways. He said it's seen in the community's widespread preference for lighter skin, feelings of inferiority, shame for being Filipino and discrimination against Filipinos perceived as not Westernized enough. "Many people have asked the question, 'So what? Maybe it's good for us to have colonial mentality because we can speak English well and we can get better jobs,'" David said. "'So what if I prefer a lighter skin? Maybe it'll make me look more beautiful and then I'll face less discrimination.'" But the feelings of inferiority that people experience led him to dig deeper. "It just made theoretical sense that if you feel ashamed or embarrassed of who you are, there might be some mental health implications," David said. He noted that some research suggests that an association of lighter skin tones with nobility existed in the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization, though there is no evidence this perception was widespread across ethnic groups. It was Spanish colonialism that solidified the "whiteness equals better" mentality, he said. A racial hierarchy was established where Spaniards born in Spain were at the top, while brown and darker-skinned Indigenous people were at the bottom. This discrimination against darker-skinned individuals or colorism is rooted in white supremacy, David added. Throughout Spanish colonization of the Philippines, jobs such as fishing and farming which require people to spend hours under the sun and resulted in darker skin became perceived as lower-class occupations. David said it didn't happen by accident. More people with darker skin tones end up with such jobs because society is set up in a way that lighter-skinned people are preferred for upper-class jobs, he said. Class is a key component to any serious discussion of colorism. Mary Toni Cerrado, 24, a San Francisco Bay Area resident, remembered attending a retreat when she was around 16 where some participants joked that "Everyone needs to keep their living spaces nice and tidy because we don't have a Filipino maid to clean up after you." It's an experience that stayed with her and led her to feel ashamed of her identity. Colonial mentality, a type of internalized oppression, can lead to lower self-esteem and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. (Michelle Lagasca / For The Times) Research David conducted revealed that people with higher levels of colonial mentality tend to have lower levels of self-esteem and hold a lower regard for the ethnic group they belong to. The belief or perception that their group is inferior may lead individuals to isolation if they feel inclined to separate themselves from their family or community because they're ashamed of them, he said. And that can leave people without a buffer something that's critical during challenging times. "If you've disowned your family and your social support because you don't see them as being Americanized enough, it's hard to get that social support when you need it," he said. Lower self-esteem is also linked to a higher likelihood to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as substance use, as well as increased anxiety, symptoms of depression and lower levels of life satisfaction. "Self-esteem really is an important variable when it comes to our mental health," David said. "And the fact that colonial mentality is related to lower self-esteem was huge." Loss of language That negative regard for self is seen in more ways than the preference for Eurocentric features like white skin, sharper noses and thin bodies. In listening sessions with 26 Filipino American mental health providers, academics and community members from across the U.S., some participants said they also saw the influence of colonialism in the loss of language. Kayzelyn Magsino, 31, a mental health advocate in Los Angeles, moved to the United States from the Philippines when she was 3. Tagalog was her first language. But when her family arrived in the U.S., she and her siblings were advised to speak only English so they wouldn't struggle to fit in. They lost their ability to speak their native tongue. Magsino said losing her ability to speak Tagalog affected the way she communicated with her family. She remembered having symptoms of depression in junior high and being unable to comfortably express what she was experiencing to her family. Kayzelyn Magsino is a mental health advocate in Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Julianna Domingo, 21, a freelance journalist in Chula Vista, moved to the United States from the Philippines when she was 10. She is no longer fluent in Tagalog. "I think just not being able to speak it and also learn it in an academic setting, that definitely hurt [my mental health] a lot," she said. "And there were some times that I did feel pretty insecure even to this day about speaking Tagalog." David said the loss of language is important when examining the impact of colonialism on Filipino Americans. He noted that English is an official language in the Philippines and that many elected officials in the country conduct business in English. "A lot of people have just automatically assumed that being able to speak English and speak it without an accent is a sign of intelligence," he said. He added that while English proficiency can provide the benefit of being able to obtain better jobs with higher salaries, it comes at the cost of relegating the more than 100 Filipino languages to inferior statuses. Losing the language results in losing part of a culture. Invisible effects of colonial mentality Kevin Nadal, professor of psychology at the City University of New York and author of "Filipino American Psychology," said "every single mental health issue that any Filipino American has can at least be traced or correlated with some form of colonial mentality." Body image issues, inferiority and low self-esteem can be related to the expectations that they're supposed to fit a certain ideal, he said. Substance abuse could be related to colonialism if it occurs because people feel inferior at work or socioeconomically. RJ Taggueg, director of research at the UC Davis Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies and a PhD candidate who studies race and migration, said another way Filipino Americans are affected by colonial mentality is through the model minority myth, a stereotype that paints Asian Americans as a successful group that doesn't need any assistance. It's a stereotype that, despite some positive connotations, is still exclusionary. "That is destructive in its own way," he said. For one, upholding one group suppresses others, he said. But for those deemed a model minority, it requires sacrifice, time and attention to maintain that title. In the case of Filipino migrants, that often looks like accepting the world for what it is and not speaking up. Taggueg said that in his research and in his personal life, he has heard stories from Filipino Americans who have been praised for their work ethic. People [tell us they] love hiring Filipinos because they are so amicable, easy to work with, because they are so diligent and they do get the job done, he said. But praise for these traits often doesnt translate into better opportunities. "Would they ever promote them? Probably not," Taggueg said. Multiple studies show that Asian Americans account for a disproportionately small amount number of leadership and management positions. A study from the journal Feminist Economics shows that Filipinos are less likely to be promoted to manager or supervisor than white Americans with comparable qualifications , an experience observed by multiple individuals who participated in listening sessions for this article. Another outcome of colonial mentality is colonial debt a tendency to tolerate, accept or minimize experiences of injustice, including racism and discrimination. An example is healthcare providers who might tolerate less-than-ideal working conditions while working during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting themselves at higher risk of contracting the disease, David said. A study published in April in the journal Gender, Work & Organization found that Filipino registered nurses were less likely to leave jobs that caused burnout due to "the confluence of transnational pressures, unequal power relations, and socioeconomic factors influenced by a colonial past that have entrapped them into staying." Dealing with the added stress of racism can also affect mental health. "If you just tolerate it and say, 'It's OK because at least I'm here in America and I'm earning dollars instead of pesos,' that, over time, can have an accumulative effect on our mental health," David said. "Our bodies can only handle a certain amount of stress. And then eventually it'll give up and we will have a breakdown. And that breakdown can be a physical breakdown or it can be a psychological breakdown." Decolonizing mental health issues Nadal said it's important to dismantle the ingrained mindsets and beliefs linked to colonialism. One way to decolonize mental health issues among Filipino Americans is to have open conversations with children about colonialism in the Philippines and colonial mentality, as well as racism and oppression in the United States. "A lot of those manifestations of colonial mentality and internalized oppression start from a very young age," he said. "Most Filipinos can tell you their earliest memories of learning that being Filipino was bad or that their skin was too dark or that their nose was too big or that they were fat or their hair was not pretty. We have to start with kids to ensure that from a very young age they learn that all parts of them are beautiful and acceptable and wonderful and should be celebrated. And then to also understand that if they hear other messages that are based in colonialism and oppression, that they have to actively work to negate those things." Carla Brizuela-Perez is a psychotherapist and the founder of the Filipina Social Worker. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Carla Brizuela-Perez, a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, said part of addressing the mental health impact of colonialism is having culturally sensitive services more widely available, including more Filipino American mental health professionals. "Understanding imperialism and colonialism all that stuff that has played a role that's already something that at least emotional labor is removed," she said. She also heals alongside her clients by allowing herself to cry. "Of course, many times it's like, 'Oh, you're supposed to be this objective person.' But I feel that hurt also, and I want to let the client know that that hurt is valid," she said. "So in that way, I'm trying to help reshape what therapy looks like." Meanwhile, Pila's efforts to decolonize her mental health have made her comfortable with her body a far cry from the 12-year-old girl who had hoped to scrub her skin white with a bar of papaya soap. She's also happily married with a 3-month-old daughter. "My goal as a mom is to make sure my daughter is comfortable in her skin," she said. "I will never comment on her body. I will never tell her, 'It's so good that you're light skinned! But your nose should be longer.'" Updates: 10:13 a.m. Oct. 19, 2021: This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Piers Morgan (PA) Piers Morgan has received backlash after hitting out at the Rolling Stones decision to retire their 1971 hit, 'Brown Sugar'. The British rock band has retired the song due to its lyrics in relation to slavery, expressing concerns about their implication in the modern climate. However, Morgan was not pleased with the decision and wrote on Twitter: For the love of god its ANTI-slavery!!! Read more: When Mick Jagger apologised over The Rolling Stones 'racist' lyrics His comment garnered a critical response from his Twitter followers, who said that it wasnt his place to say whether or not it has those connotations. In response, Morgan wrote in a scathing Daily Mail piece: "Brown Sugar is demonstrably a song aimed at defending and supporting black women, not one that seeks to denigrate them or make light of slavery. "But the woke-fueled narrative will now be that the song IS racist, so the Stones are therefore racist, and theyve abandoned performing it because they accept these assertions." "What utter nonsense," he added. "As with so many of these woke campaigns, my guess is that it will massively backfire. "Most reasonable people dont share this incessant hysterical desire for cancelling everything and everyone thats even vaguely contentious or problematic." Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones in October 2021 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Former X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson responded: "My grandfathers family were slaves maybe [Piers] can interview my grandfather about the lyrics and other people whos family were slaves! Im happy to set the call up! Another follower added: Lol, Piers Morgan explaining Rolling Stones lyrics, as if he knows better than the author, is so Piers Morgan. Read more: Rolling Stones pay poignant tribute to drummer Charlie Watts at first show since his death During a recent interview with LA Times to mark their North American 'No Filter' tour, songwriters Keith Richards and Mick Jagger both discussed the decision to pull the track from the set list. Story continues Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform onstage in 2021 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) "I'm trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn't they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they're trying to bury it, Richards said. He added with a laugh: "At the moment I don't want to get into conflicts with all of this s**t. But I'm hoping that we'll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track." Jagger, the primary creator of the song, added: We've played Brown Sugar every night since 1970, so sometimes you think, 'We'll take that one out for now and see how it goes.' My grandfathers family were slaves maybe @piersmorgan can interview my grandfather about the lyrics and other people whos family were slaves! Im happy to set the call up! https://t.co/Z4508LcJp8 Rebecca Ferguson (@RebeccaFMusic) October 13, 2021 "We might put it back in. The setlist in a stadium show, it's kind of a tough one. We did Let It Bleed last night, which I managed to play on 12-string guitar." Brown Sugar, by Jaggers own previous admission, has deliberately ambiguous lyrics which could have connotations for slavery, rape and heroin use. In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he quipped: God knows what I'm on about on that song. It's such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go... I never would write that song now, adding he would censor himself. Watch: The Rolling Stones arrive for No Filter Tour at SoFi Stadium This in essence is the police version of how to get away with murder, said BIvory LaMarr, one of Jacob Blakes attorneys, after learning details behind the Department of Justices decision not to pursue criminal civil rights charges against the officer who left the Wisconsin man permanently paralyzed last year. On Oct. 8, the Department of Justice released its final report on Blakes shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23, 2020, after investigating for more than a year. The Justice Department determined there was insufficient evidence to prove Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey willfully used excessive force when he shot 30-year-old Blake seven times. Blakes run-in with Officer Sheskey was captured on a viral video which sparked national protests. The video shows Blake struggling with officers outside of his vehicle before breaking away to get to the drivers seat, where Sheskey, holding Blakes shirt with one hand, shot him seven times in the back as he tried to enter his vehicle. In January, the Kenosha County District Attorney, Michael Graveley, also chose not to press charges against Sheskey in his report, citing the officer feared he was going to be stabbed with Blakes knife that was in his possession at the time of the shooting. It is absolutely incontrovertible that Jacob Blake was armed with a knife during this encounter, said Graveley during a Jan. 5, 2021, news conference. This case is not over, says Wisconsin NAACP State Conference of Branches President, Wendell Harris. Harris says the Kenosha NAACP branch chapter and the Blake family will determine their next steps in their pursuit of justice. LaMarr added the pursuit for justice on a legal front must involve substantive policy change so police can be held more accountable. He wants police reform advocates and policymakers to reevaluate the law, specifically the willful standard, which means prosecutors must establish beyond reasonable doubt that an officer willfully or deliberately deprived an individual of a constitutional right. Story continues A lot of times these types of investigations close without prosecution because the government is stating that they cant establish because of the officers conduct was necessarily willful, not necessarily that a constitutional right was not deprived, but because they cant necessarily establish that an officers conduct was willful, said LaMarr. LaMarr expanded on his comments, saying, This in essence is the police version of how to get away with murder. You have an individual, you claim that I see a weapon, Im in fear of my life. If you utter those four words, many times officers can find a way of escaping liability, especially criminally. As for Jacob Blake and his family, LaMarr says, Blake, who is now paralyzed from the waist down, is still working through the pains associated with being shot by Sheskey last year. He says the Justice Departments decision only makes Blakes recovery worse, but they will continue advocating for social justice and police reform. To read more stories like this, visit AtlantaBlackStar.com Oct. 13Edward C. Hyman, 42, of New York City spent last Friday night sleeping on a piece of cardboard outside the Preble Street Resource Center's soup kitchen. In the early morning he encountered a Portland police officer, who shot him, leaving him hospitalized. The story of what led to the incident remains murky, mostly pieced together from others who were sleeping near Hyman on the street. Portland police have offered few details of the first shooting by a Portland police officer since Sgt. Nicholas Goodman killed "Chance" David Baker in 2017. Goodman was cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting. Police have said that Officer Nevin Rand was responding to a burglary and that witnesses pointed to Hyman as the suspect. They have said he was trying to talk to Hyman at the time of the shooting, which was 5:24 a.m. They have said that when Hyman is released from the hospital he will face two misdemeanor charges of criminal threatening and resisting arrest. But they have not pinpointed the site of the shooting or said whether a burglary actually occurred or indicated in what way Hyman might have threatened Rand, who has been on the force since 2018 and is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. At a time of heightened scrutiny of police conduct, Portland police have declined to answer even the most basic questions about the case, the alleged burglary or Hyman. Interim Chief Heath Gorham has said more information will be released at a time deemed appropriate. The Maine Attorney General's Office, which investigates all police-involved shootings in the state, also has declined to answer questions. On Oxford Street, where the shooting occurred, a man who said he slept next to Hyman that night and had befriended him in recent weeks had more details to offer. He said Hyman was a new face in East Bayside, where unhoused people from Portland and all over Maine often congregate. WAKING UP TO A COMMOTION Richard McDowell, 41, said he spent Friday night on a discarded couch next to Hyman, who was depressed and nearly inconsolable. Story continues McDowell's first memory of Saturday morning, he said, was waking up to a commotion and hearing people say that someone had broken into the resource center. Then McDowell said he heard police confront Hyman. "They told him to get up and approach them, and as he was approaching them, they told him to take his hands out of his pockets," said McDowell, who said he heard but did not see the encounter because his face was under a blanket at the time. He said police gave the order repeatedly. Then he heard three shots, he said. The gunfire was frightening. "It was so close I was under the blanket going, 'Please God, I hope those bullets don't hit me,'" said McDowell, who was also interviewed by police. "After that I heard a whole bunch of commotion trying to get him to the ground. And then the ambulance came and took him away." Hyman said he does not know why Hyman apparently did not want to take his hands out of his pockets, but suspected that he did not want to be caught with drugs. His new acquaintance, he said, had become increasingly despondent and hopeless. He had started using drugs to cope with his unraveling life. He had recently lost his car, which was his livelihood, McDowell said. DESPONDENT AND HOPELESS Police records show Hyman crashed his red 2017 Mitsubishi into a guardrail in Auburn on Thursday, two days before he was shot. The state trooper who responded to the crash found a hypodermic needle on the ground near the vehicle and suspected Hyman may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His vehicle, disabled by the crash, was towed away, and a blood test is pending. But it does not appear that Hyman was arrested in that crash. He has no criminal history in Maine and no pending criminal charges, according to the State Bureau of Identification. McDowell said he left the shooting scene sometime after the shooting. When he returned later that morning, he found orange spray paint on the asphalt marking where Hyman, and the officer's shell cases, had fallen. McDowell said he used Coca-Cola to get the stain of Hyman's blood off the pavement. Since the shooting, rumors have been circulating among the small community of people who live in the shelter or on its surrounding streets. One woman, who did not give her name, said Tuesday that Hyman had two weapons. McDowell said he'd never seen Hyman be violent or carry a gun or knife but he'd seen that his life was coming apart. "It wasn't as if he felt life had no meaning to it, but he was on the verge," McDowell said. "He was on a knife's edge." On Tuesday, Hyman's condition was listed as stable, Portland police Capt. Robert Martin said. Upon release from Maine Medical Center, he will likely face charges. When the attorney general's investigation into Rand's actions is complete, more information from the incident, including video and audio recordings, reports and witness statements, may become public record. But that moment could be years away. To date, no shooting by Maine police has resulted in criminal charges. Using the nationwide legal standard, every such shooting has been determined to be legally justified. State investigators have a backlog of 19 police shooting investigations dating to 2018, including eight cases from 2021. Maine officers often are permitted to return to duty long before the attorney general determines whether their shootings were legally justified. POLICE SHOOTINGS RARE IN PORTLAND Shootings by Portland police are rare. The last to be shot was "Chance" David Baker, who was killed in February 2017 in the parking lot of a busy shopping center. Baker was wielding a rifle-style pellet gun, and police say Baker pointed the the realistic looking weapon toward officers. His shooting by Goodman was found to be justified in March 2018. Baker's killing led to a call by Portland's mayor to speed up the implementation of a body-worn camera program in Portland, a years-long project that was completed in 2019. Now, most interactions between Portland officers and the public are recorded on audio and video. Police haven't said whether Rand's camera was on and working during the shooting this weekend. It was unclear if Rand was alone when he interacted with Hyman, or if other officers were nearby when the confrontation unfolded. Rand received two commendations in 2019 for his performance responding to an armed robbery call and when a man barricaded himself in an apartment and set it ablaze, according to a city report. The use of deadly force by anyone in Maine, including police, is permissible only in self-defense or in the defense of others and only under two conditions. First, the person who uses deadly force must reasonably believe that he or she or someone else faces an imminent deadly threat. Second, the person must believe that deadly force is necessary to counter the imminent threat. To determine whether a police officer's use of deadly force is justified, the attorney general's office examines the totality of the circumstances and judges an officer's actions from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene a legal standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark 1989 ruling. BODY CAMERAS NOW A FACTOR While it has become standard practice in Maine to release only the barest of details when an officer shoots someone, other departments around the country have begun to release body camera footage and other records in a timely fashion. In April, for instance, a Chicago police officer shot and killed Adam Toledo, 13, as Toledo fled down a dark alley. The officer fired his weapon as Toledo turned toward him and put up his hands. Police, originally called to investigate gunfire, found a weapon near where Toledo stopped running. Chicago has a robust citizen-led oversight structure for its police department that investigates officer-involved shootings. Within a matter of weeks, the body-worn camera footage was released to the public, giving journalists and public officials a deeper understanding of the facts of the controversial case. The release was well before a city-mandated 60-day deadline to release such video when police use force. The video illustrated the split-second decisions that officers are forced to make in the face of possible threats to their life. Toledo's killing remains under investigation. On Tuesday morning, Portland police and city workers cleared out the makeshift encampment on a narrow strip of grass where Hyman, McDowell and others slept, throwing their blankets, shopping carts and other items into a garbage truck. Oct. 13More than 30 protesters gathered at City Hall in Dayton on Wednesday morning in response to the treatment of a paraplegic Black man who Dayton police officers pulled out of his car during a Sept. 30 traffic stop. Protesters outside and inside during the Dayton City Commission meeting called for police reform and an independent investigation into the officers' actions. Ari Divine, one of the protest's organizers, said the officers involved should be suspended until an investigation is completed. Divine expressed frustration that the community is asked to get involved and be part of coalitions, but then suggested changes aren't implemented. "Here we are again.' Chad A. White Sr., pastor of The Word Church in Dayton, spoke outside and said the protesters came to talk about justice. "We came together to sit on community coalitions and boards to try to address the issues of policing in Dayton, and yet we continue to see the same problem over and over again," White said. "We are here again. We are in this place again." He called for implementation of reforms the community groups proposed during the review of policing in Dayton, and he also called for an outside review of the Owensby incident. "For years, centuries, the police have been policing themselves, and the outcome remains the same, that they are found not guilty," White said. Whaley: Reform efforts helping Mayor Nan Whaley and Dayton city commissioners said watching the video was painful. But they said they think the city's ongoing police reform efforts helped bring this incident to light because the police department acquired and deployed body cameras because of that work. Calls for respect During the public comment portion of the city commission meeting, Bishop Richard Cox demanded the city apologize to Clifford Owensby and fire the police officers who pulled him out of his vehicle. Cox said the officers disrespected, mistreated and humiliated Owensby, who was in the front row of the commission meeting. Story continues Multiple speakers said the police officers involved violated Owensby's civil rights and called their actions criminal. Owensby did not receive the respect he deserved as a human being, said Melissa Bertolo. Speakers also said Dayton police are mistreating disabled community members and that must stop. White asked for more respect to be shown to people with disabilities, noting nearly everyone has someone with a disability in their family. "We would hope that they would be treated with respect and dignity," he said. Outside review The officers involved need to be removed from the street and an outside agency not the police department needs to do an independent investigation of this incident, said Daj'za Demmings. Owensby left the commission meeting before it ended, and he was visibly upset as he exited. About eight speakers spoke out against his treatment and called on the city and police department to suspend the officers without pay and bring in an outside agency to investigate the incident. "All eyes right now are on Dayton, Ohio," Tommy Owens Jr. said, noting national news outlets and famous Black celebrities are paying attention to this case. "You guys (the city commission) have an obligation to make sure this is taken care of." "We voted you into office and we can vote you out of the office," he said. What led to the protests Police pulled over Owensby's car Sept. 30 in connection to a traffic stop and drug investigation in the 1200 block of West Grand Street, according to police. Body camera footage shows officers checking the car's window tint and noticing a young child in the back seat who was not in a car seat. During the video, officers asked Owensby to get out of the car. "I'm paraplegic," said Owensby, who also told police "I got help getting in." "Well, I'll help you get out," the officer replies. "Well, I don't think that's going to happen, sir," Owensby said. An officer told Owensby that due to his history, which includes drug and weapons charges, they're calling a K-9 unit for a "free air smell." Department policy requires the occupants of vehicles to exit during free air smells for the safety of the occupants and the K-9 officer, according to the police department. Owensby asked for a supervisor, and an officer responded a supervisor would be called after the officer pulled Owensby out of the car. "Here's the thing, I'm going to pull you out and then I'll call a white shirt," the officer said. "Because you're getting out of the car. That's not an option. You're getting out this car, so you can cooperate and get out of the car, or I will drag you out of the car. Do you see your two options here?" The officers then grabbed Owensby to pull him out of the vehicle. An officer can be seen pulling Owensby by his hair while the other grabs his arm. Video shows Owensby yelling to help and asking people to record the incident. He was handcuffed and dragged to a police cruiser. Owensby said he was injured during the incident, including scrapes and reinjuring a previous back injury. After he was pulled from the car, Owensby was taken to a local hospital, where he was evaluated and released, police said. Officers found more than $22,000 in the car, which a K-9 alerted to, meaning that it had been in close proximity to illegal drugs, police said. Owensby was cited for traffic violations (tinted glass) and for child restraint because police said there was an unrestrained 3-year-old child in the back seat. Calls for action In the days following, national and local civil rights group have called for action. During a press conference Sunday, the NAACP Dayton Unit said the incident stresses the need for police reform and additional training for officers when encountering people with mental health and other disability issues. The National Urban League released a statement calling for the officers involved to be dismissed and prosecuted and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus released a statement saying the incident underlines the need for police reforms in the state. 'Officers followed the law' Jerome Dix, president of Dayton Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #44, said the officers acted lawfully when they pulled Owensby from the vehicle. "The officers followed the law, their training and departmental policies and procedures," Dix said. "Sometimes the arrest of noncompliant individuals is not pretty, but is a necessary part of law enforcement to maintain public safety, which is one of the fundamental ideologies of our society." Dayton Police Interim Director and Chief Matt Carper said in a prepared statement last week the department always strives to improve to meet its core values of professionalism, integrity, respect and fairness, and upcoming training for all Dayton officers and supervisors will include diversity, equity and inclusion; de-escalation; bias-free policing; and procedural justice. "We need to do better, and this can be done by further developing the mutual respect and accountability to make our city safer," he said. WASHINGTON BuzzFeed News is publishing a database of the hundreds of pages of documents filed in connection with the first 100 guilty pleas in connection with the Capitol riots. A close reading of these materials yields a wealth of information not just about what the consequences look like for individual rioters who joined the mob that assaulted the Capitol, but also about the status of the larger investigation. Plea agreements like the 100th one that Jenny Cudd of Texas entered on Wednesday show what charges prosecutors have been willing to drop (or not) in exchange for a plea, and how those decisions lower the amount of prison time a rioter is facing. They detail how much money defendants are being required to pay to cover the cost of the damage to the Capitol anywhere from $500 to $2,000 apiece and the fact that defendants are giving the FBI a final look at their phones and online accounts as agents comb digital records for more evidence. The documents also show what rioters are willing to admit they did, building an uncontested record of how each person contributed to the chaos and violence that day and what motivated them to join in the attack. Heres what weve learned from the first 100 plea deals and what to look for as the prosecution effort which stands at more than 630 federal cases and counting presses on. The date Prosecutors began revealing in court hearings in early March that they were extending plea offers to people charged in the riots. Agreements signed this summer shed light on which defendants received early offers and came forward first. Anna Morgan-Lloyd and Dona Bissey, friends who traveled together to DC from Indiana and werent charged with violence or more serious crimes, entered guilty pleas in June and July, respectively, to a single misdemeanor count. The offers they signed were dated mid-March. The dates in plea documents can also shed light on activities taking place out of the public eye. A plea offer letter extended to Caleb Berry of Florida was dated July 9. Berry, who pleaded guilty to being part of a conspiracy involving the extremist group the Oath Keepers, signed the deal on July 13 and agreed to cooperate with the government. Prosecutors initially filed his case under seal so he could have time to work with the government without tipping anyone off in advance of his plea hearing a week later on July 20, which is when his case and information about his cooperation was unsealed. Story continues The charges For Capitol rioters publicly charged or indicted, its clear what charges prosecutors dropped as part of an agreement. Graydon Young pleaded guilty to two felony counts in June: being part of the same Oath Keepers conspiracy that Berry admitted being part of and obstructing Congress. A grand jury previously indicted him for additional felony crimes, including destruction of property, civil disorder, and tampering with the investigation by deleting a Facebook account. He pleaded guilty to the most serious crimes he was charged with in terms of maximum sentences, but received credit for taking an early deal and avoided a trial on the full indictment. Another cooperator in the Oath Keepers conspiracy case, Mark Grods, pleaded guilty to the same two charges as Young. But like the Berry case, Grods case was secret until his plea deal was announced on June 30 and, unlike Young, he was never indicted by a grand jury, so theres no record of what charges he would have faced if hed rejected the deal. Nearly every Jan. 6 defendant, regardless of whether theyre also accused of more serious criminal activity, faces the same four baseline charges: two class-B misdemeanor counts for demonstrating in the Capitol and disorderly conduct, and two class-A misdemeanor counts for being in a restricted building and disruptive activity. The class-B crimes have maximum sentences of six months in prison while the class-A crimes carry up to a year. Most of the 100 plea deals feature a misdemeanor, not a felony. One judge has questioned the decision by prosecutors to let most rioters plead guilty to a class-B crime, since in those cases judges dont have the authority to order longer-term court supervision. Additional charges The agreements explain that prosecutors can bring new charges in the future if they learn about violent conduct. Hours before Robert Reeder of Maryland was set to appear before a judge on Aug. 18 for sentencing, online sleuths working to independently identify rioters posted new footage online that appeared to show Reeder assaulting police at the Capitol. Reeder had only been charged with misdemeanor crimes, and the US attorneys office asked to delay his sentencing to look at the new evidence. The prosecutor notified the court on Sept. 28 that Reeder wouldnt face more charges, but that the government would bump up its sentencing recommendation from two months in prison to the maximum of six months. The judge sentenced him to three months behind bars. Wired deals When prosecutors extended plea deals to Erik Rau and Derek Jancart friends from Ohio who went into the Capitol together those offers came with a catch: Both had to take the deal, or neither of them could get it. Wiring is a tool prosecutors have to pressure clusters of defendants to take a deal. Four couples who were charged together and, eventually, pleaded guilty together also had wired offers. The sentencing range Congress sets maximum sentences for federal crimes, but the US Sentencing Commission gives judges detailed guidance to decide whats appropriate in each case. These guidelines assign numerical values to each offense as well as other factors that might come into play, such as the severity of the crime, a defendants past criminal record, and whether the person accepted responsibility. Those numbers are added up and the final value corresponds to a range of recommended prison time. That range isnt binding on judges, but theyre supposed to give it a lot of weight to keep things consistent across the criminal justice system. These sentencing guidelines calculations help explain why people charged with the same crime in connection with the same event can face different amounts of prison time. Josiah Colt and Paul Hodgkins both pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding, but Colts estimated range is 51 to 63 months in prison, while Hodgkins was 15 to 21 months. Colt, like Hodgkins, wasnt accused of hurting anyone, but he ended up with a higher offense level because the government presented evidence that hed planned in advance for chaos, if not violence, on Jan. 6 and played a more active role in disrupting Congress that day. Hodgkins received eight months in prison. Colt, who is cooperating, hasnt been sentenced yet. These sentencing calculations are where pleading guilty and doing it early can be beneficial, since those are both factors that lower a persons final offense level. The sentencing guidelines dont apply to the class-B misdemeanors most Capitol riot defendants have pleaded guilty to. That means judges are free to hand down any sentence within the six-month maximum. Some rioters have received prison time, some have received home confinement, and some have received probation. In recommending sentences for a misdemeanor plea, prosecutors are parsing the details of what each defendant is accused of doing before, during, and after the riots. The government has argued for stiffer penalties for people who urged on other rioters or who didnt express remorse after, for example. The sentencing hearing These agreements allow defendants to argue for a sentence below the estimated range. Hodgkins, the only person sentenced so far after pleading guilty to a felony, unsuccessfully tried to avoid prison. His lawyer argued that his conduct on Jan. 6 making his way into the Senate chamber and walking around with a large TRUMP flag was more like that of Morgan-Lloyd, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and received probation. Hodgkins judge wasnt persuaded, although his eight-month sentence was below the 15- to 21-month guidelines range and the 18 months that the government wanted. Conditions of release The vast majority of Capitol riot defendants have been allowed to go home after being charged and arrested. Once they plead guilty, whether they can stay out of jail pending sentencing is up to the judge. In misdemeanor plea deals, prosecutors have agreed to not ask judges to revoke a defendants release conditions. During a July plea hearing for Lori Vinson and her husband Thomas Vinson, who each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, US District Judge Reggie Walton briefly pondered whether jail would be appropriate now that theyd admitted participating in an atrocious act against democracy. In the end, he let them go home until their sentencing, but it was a brief moment of tension. Cooperation Seven defendants agreed to fully cooperate with investigators. Of that group, five have a connection to the Oath Keepers. Cooperation can mean anything from talking to the FBI and turning over evidence to testifying before a grand jury or at trial. It also delays sentencing so that defendants can get as much credit as possible for whatever help they give the government. At least 60 people who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor agreed to cooperate with the feds, too, but to a lesser extent theyre letting the FBI take a look at anything they posted on social media about the riots or sitting for an interview. The evidence in the investigation has drawn heavily from messages, photos, and videos from Facebook, Parler, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms. Its an unusual provision, since usually cooperation is all or nothing. At a plea hearing in August, one judge described the partial cooperation condition as something shed typically never seen, to be honest. Covering costs Prosecutors have placed a price tag on the damage that rioters caused to the Capitol on Jan. 6 $1,495,326.55 and theyre requiring defendants who plead guilty to help cover that. In misdemeanor cases, defendants have agreed to pay $500 in restitution. In felony cases, most defendants have agreed to pay $2,000. It's ultimately up to judges to decide how much money defendants should pitch in, and they can also separately impose a fine as another form of punishment. US District Judge Trevor McFadden ordered a $3,000 fine plus $500 restitution in the case of Danielle Doyle, an Oklahoma woman who admitted climbing into the Capitol through a broken window; she pleaded guilty to the parading misdemeanor charge. Witness protection Jon Schaffer was the first Capitol riot defendant to plead guilty, appearing before a judge in April. He pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and entering the Capitol with a weapon; he was recorded on surveillance cameras carrying a can of what prosecutors identified as bear spray. Hed been affiliated with the Oath Keepers, and his deal included cooperation. It also included an agreement by the government to sponsor him for the Justice Departments witness protection program if he decided it was necessary for his safety. Its the only plea agreement to date to include that language. His status is unknown theres been no public docket activity in his case since his plea hearing, except for a short September order from the judge directing the parties to file a status report. His lawyer declined to comment. More on this No sibling rivalry here! On Tuesday, Reese Witherspoon wished her older brother, John, a happy birthday in an Instagram post that featured the two of them. Happy Birthday to the best BIG brother a girl could ask for, she captioned a photo of the two of them sitting by a birthday cake that proved her daughter, Ava, isn't the only one in her family who looks like her. Always being there for me & my kids. Being my biggest supporter since Day 1. Love you, Brother John! Photos of the older Witherspoon arent too common, but his Oscar-winning sister has shared some in the past. Its my brother Johns birthday! she captioned a photo of them together on Facebook in 2018. Gosh I love how hes always had my back. A great dad, husband and a hardworking family guy. My big bro always watched out for me, took me on fun adventures, cooked me dinner, and encouraged me to be joyful everyday. Heres to all the big brothers out there!! Happy birthday to my big brother, John! she wrote alongside a picture of the pair in 2017. Cheers to this guy who has the biggest smile and sweetest heart. Sending you lots of love today! Heres to my brother who always volunteers to be my chauffeur when Im in town! Love you big bro! she captioned another photo of them in a car on Facebook the day after his birthday in 2019. In 2017, the "Walk the Line" actor also celebrated National Siblings Day with a throwback photo of her and John as kids. Happy #nationalsiblingsday to my brother John! Thanks for always laughing at my jokes...and making me laugh....from back in the day till today! she wrote. A Richland County high school was placed on lockout while deputies searched the area for a suspected shooter, according to a statement from the Richland County Sheriffs Department. Westwood High School was secured Wednesday morning while a search for the shooter was being conducted in a nearby neighborhood. At about 7 a.m. Wednesday, Richland County deputies were called to the 300 block of Glen Dornoch Way in Blythewood, a three-minute drive from Westwood High School. When they arrived, they found a man who was unresponsive outside of a home, according to the statement. The man, who was not named, had been shot in the upper body, according to the statement. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. Deputies said the shooter left the scene and a search ensued. Thats when Richland 2 School District decided to secure Westwood High School, according to the statement. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Richland 2 officials could not be rimmediately eached for comment. Ryanair has barred passengers from flying if they received refunds from credit card companies for flights they missed during the pandemic. Reuters Ryanair said it's banned passengers who claimed refunds for flights they missed because of the pandemic. The flights were non-refundable, which the airline said was clearly stated in its terms and conditions. If customers want to fly again, they have to pay back the amount they received from the refunds, reported MoneySavingsExpert. Ryanair has banned passengers who claimed refunds from their credit card companies for flights that they missed because of COVID-19 lockdowns, the airline said Tuesday. The crux of the dispute lies with the flights being non-refundable, which a Ryanair spokesperson said is "clearly outlined" in the airline's terms and conditions agreed by the customer at the time of booking, per The Guardian. The airline said that these passengers "unlawfully processed chargebacks from their credit card company" and that fewer than 850 people are affected by the new measure, according to a Ryanair statement to Insider. Banned customers who want to fly Ryanair again must first "settle their outstanding debt" before being allowed on board, said the airline. "This regretted restriction applies to only a tiny fraction of Ryanair's 150 million passengers annually who chose to unlawfully break their booking agreements with us," the airline added. The announcement was first reported by finance website MoneySavingsExpert, which wrote that some passengers were told they couldn't fly until they returned the costs of their refunded tickets, ranging from $545 to $857. These passengers told the site they recently bought Ryanair tickets with no issue, but were stopped from flying when they tried to check into their flight or make a change to their bookings. Guy Anker, MoneySavingExpert's deputy editor, wrote in the article: "This is outrageous from Ryanair. Some may have sympathy for the airline, given it incurred the costs of the original flights that went ahead that passengers chose not to take. However, it's used up any sympathy by the way it's treated holidaymakers afterwards." Story continues Ryanair previously said it wouldn't refund passengers for flights still operating during the pandemic, but would allow them to change their flights to a later date or give them vouchers. Last week, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority closed its investigation into British Airways and Ryanair over whether they had broken the law by not offering refunds for customers who couldn't fly because of COVID-19 restrictions. The regulator said the law regarding ticket refunds wasn't clear when it came to such situations, and called for it to be clarified. Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, said he believed customers who couldn't fly because of the pandemic should be given full refunds. Read the original article on Insider A homeless man in San Francisco was killed after he was allegedly set alight while sleeping in his sleeping bag, authorities have said. The 43-year-old male victim, who has not been identified, was asleep when he was set alight on 8 October at around 5am. He woke up and found his sleeping bag had been set alight, in an incident that was treated as an aggravated assault with fire at first. It happened in the area of 25th Street and South Van Ness Avenue, a thoroughfare cutting north to south through San Francisco, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) told The Independent. Police say the man suffered injuries to his lower body and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he died the following day. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has classified the incident as a homicide and an investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, San Francisco investigations commander R Vaswani tweeted that his Homicide [unit] is investigating a case in which a person asleep in a sleeping bag on the sidewalk at 25th/South Vanness was lit on fire & died. Police have called on any witnesses or anybody with information to come forward, with the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. San Francisco had among the highest rates of homelessness in the US before Covid last year, and according to figures in May, there were 383 tents in the city hosting homeless people. A further 887 were sleeping in vehicles, and as many as 10,000 more were placed in homeless shelters, according to CBS SF Bay Area. Read More Psaki slams Abbotts anti-vax executive order: Against all public health information and data out there California bullet train's latest woe: Will it be high speed? 'Difficult decisions' as Biden, Democrats shrink plan to $2T Newsom writes children's book about boy with dyslexia Kyrsten Sinema eyes $100bn cut in funds to combat climate crisis in Biden bill, report says By Shulie Tornel Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Edison International Jocelyn Ramirez, founder of Todo Verde, shared her healthy vegan twist on a classic Mexican dish, Mole Verde con Champinones. As the first and only Mexican-American student enrolled in her Omaha public school, Phyllis Barajas was asked by her first grade teacher, What are you? Phyllis quickly responded, Im Mexican and Im proud, as she was taught by her father. Barajas immigrant parents prepared their children to live in two different worlds: a predominantly white neighborhood in Nebraska and their Mexican household. Today, Barajas is the founder and CEO of Conexion Inc., an executive mentoring program that helps organizations become more diverse. Barajas was the guest speaker at Southern California Edisons 11th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, honoring Hispanic/Latinx communities and business partners with the theme, Embracing the Future as a Community. Attendees were treated to cooking demos using energy-efficient induction cooktops. Chef Leo Razo and his wife Teresa, co-owners of Cambalache Grill in Fountain Valley, demonstrated traditional Jalisco cuisine with a Tequila Sunrise Shrimp dish. Jocelyn Ramirez, founder of culturally inspired food business Todo Verde, shared a healthy vegan twist on a classic Mexican dish, Mole Verde con Champinones. The SCE celebration also honored the city of Santa Ana and Woodville Union School District for its achievements in clean energy; Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) and Embracing Latina Leadership AllianceS (ELLAS) received an award for community partnership. Small businesses were honored for their efforts to support global and local Latin American communities. Circle Wood Services offers construction project management and support services for public utilities, including SCE. Circle Wood received the Gwen Moore Diversity Award for its work as a diverse business enterprise, as nearly half of its employees are people of color. "This year's theme holds true to the morals by which we aim to run our business and the reason we have such great success and partnerships throughout the year," said Mackenzie Kalantari, Circle Woods Human Resources manager. Story continues Polls show that California Latin American communities recognize that addressing global climate change is a top concern more than any other ethnic group. This years theme of embracing the future as a community really reflects what were doing here at Edison, said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, parent company of SCE and Edison Energy. We are harnessing and embracing the diversity thats reflected in our communities that we serve and were leveraging it to lead the clean energy future in a way that includes all of us. Actress Bel Hernandez, known for her roles in the films My Family, Selena and The Purge: Anarchy, shared her journey as a young immigrant in the United States, growing up in an environment where people did not look like her or speak her language. Hernandez is now CEO of the trade publication, Latin Heat Media, which highlights and supports the growing impact of Latinos in Hollywood. We all know the problems. What we need is action for real change to happen, she said. We can create the change we want to see in our community. Click here to view the recorded event. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/sce-celebrates-hispanic-heritage-month-566402672 By Ross Kerber and Hyunjoo Jin (Reuters) -Electric carmaker Tesla Inc on Wednesday reported lower support than usual for two directors at its recent shareholder meeting, and greater support for a call to review the company's use of mandatory arbitration after a court decision in favor of a temporary employee who accused Tesla of racial discrimination. The votes indicated growing shareholder dissatisfaction at the company. In a securities filing Tesla said support for a shareholder resolution on how it handles arbitration matters rose to 46% of votes cast at its annual meeting last week, from 27% for a similar proposal in 2020. Both directors up for election this year also received less support than any did last year. The nonbinding resolution on arbitration had asked Tesla's board to study the impact of its use of mandatory arbitration to resolve workplace complaints of harassment and discrimination. The issue drew more focus after a jury award of $137 million to a Tesla contract worker last week over workplace racism. Tesla had opposed the resolution, arguing arbitration can benefit both parties of a dispute. The company did not immediately comment on the shareholder vote. Other technology companies have scaled back or eliminated mandatory arbitration including Uber Technologies Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc. In April, nearly half of Goldman Sachs Group Inc shareholders voted in favor of examining the bank's use of mandatory arbitration. Kristin Hull, CEO of Nia Impact Capital who filed the resolution, called the higher support this year "a huge improvement as we educate folks on why this matters for building an innovative team with a diverse and inclusive company culture." Tesla CEO Elon Musk owns 23% of Tesla's shares, according to its proxy statement, meaning the measure would have passed aside from his votes, Hull said. Another measure tied to racial issues won a majority of support, with 57% of votes cast. Filed by Calvert Research and Management the measure asked Tesla to report in detail on its diversity and inclusion efforts. Tesla had opposed the measure, citing current and future reporting plans. Story continues Wednesday's filing showed among the two company directors up for re-election last week, James Murdoch received support from 70% of votes cast, and Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk's brother, received support from 80% of votes cast. Directors at large U.S. companies typically receive 90% support or more. At Tesla, "the director nominees in question should do some heavy thinking about the quality of their oversight and how they/the company can better communicate that to the market," said corporate governance consultant Francis Byrd of Alchemy Strategies Partners. (Reporting by Ross Kerber and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Stephen Coates and David Gregorio) MADRID (Reuters) - Authorities in northern Spain evacuated a local university campus in Leioa near Bilbao and arrested a suspect on Wednesday after shots were fired on campus grounds, police said, adding that no-one had been injured. A police spokesperson said the suspect was a young man, but would not give further details. "The campus was evacuated at 6:50 pm (1650 GMT) and the person detained, but there was no personal damage," the spokesperson for the regional police in the Basque Country said. Several local media outlets said the young man was armed with a shotgun and that his shots shattered some window panes. (Reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Jan Harvey) KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Sudan's security service has slapped a travel ban on members of a task force overseeing the country's transition to democracy, government sources said, as tensions between civilian and military leaders threaten to boil over weeks after a failed coup. The political crisis https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-coup-drama-lays-bare-distrust-between-civilian-military-leaders-2021-10-08 erupted on Sept. 21, when Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said rogue troops still loyal to Omar al-Bashir had sought to derail by force the revolution that removed the ousted president from power in 2019. Two senior civilian government sources said on Wednesday that the General Intelligence Service's (GIS) travel ban affected 11 civilian officials, most members of the Committee tasked with dismantling Bashir's financial and political legacy. In a statement later on Wednesday the GIS denied reports that it banned officials from travel and said that was not within its powers. "The Service affirms that it is operating according to its duties as stated in the transitional constitution," it said in the statement. The sources said the list included Mohamed al-Faki, who at a news conference last month accused the military of using the failed coup as an excuse to try to seize power. Al-Faki is also part of the ruling Sovereign Council, on which both civilian and military officials sit and which has run Sudan since Bashir's overthrow. Since the coup attempt, military leaders have withdrawn protection for the task force and demanded changes to the civilian coalition with which they share power. "Who said we want to leave this country for them to ban us!" wrote committee member Wagdi Salih, who sources said was also on the list, on Twitter. A senior military source said the military had no involvement in the travel ban, and that such measures were not among its responsibilities. The sources said the ban was illegal as it originated from the GIS rather than the public prosecutor's office, and that the cabinet - which sits below the Sovereign Council - was pressing for an investigation. The ban came to light after another person on it, businessman Salah Manaa, managed to board a flight to Cairo, the sources said. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz, writing by Nafisa Eltahir; editing by John Stonestreet) A Texas man is accused of sending a threatening message to a prominent out-of state doctor a known vocal advocate of COVID-19 vaccines over the shot. Scott Eli Harris, 51, of Aubrey was indicted by a federal grand jury in Baltimore, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday after his arrest. Harris is charged with willfully transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person, the release says. This is in connection to violent and explicit threats sent to the Maryland doctor. The message sent from Harris phone included the lines Never going to take your wonder drug. My 12 gauge promises I wont, and I cant wait for the shooting to start, according to the news release. The doctors race and national origin were also mentioned in the message. If Harris is convicted, hed face up to $250,000 in fines and up to five years in prison. Harris is scheduled to make his first appearance at a U.S. District Court in Plano, Texas, on Wednesday. Family mistakenly given COVID vaccines instead of flu shots, Indiana attorney says Missouri hospital wont enforce Biden COVID vaccine mandate over fears staff may quit Pharmacist killed by brother who called COVID vaccines poison, Maryland officials say Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Bob Daemmrich/Pool Photo via AP A Texas state agency removed online LGBTQ resources after Gov. Abbott's challenger mocked the site. Emails obtained by the Houston Chronicle show the webpage was removed in response to the criticism. The website remains offline as a review is "ongoing." A Texas state agency disabled a website that included a suicide hotline and resources for LGBTQ youth after Gov. Greg Abbott's primary-election opponent accused the lawmaker of advocating "for transgender ideology," records obtained by the Houston Chronicle showed. Don Huffines, a business owner and former state senator, is running against Abbott for the Republican Party's gubernatorial nomination as Abbott sinks to the lowest approval ratings of his career. In late August, Huffines published a video on Twitter attacking the governor for allowing Texas Youth Connection, a division of the state's Department of Family and Protective Services, to host on its website a suicide-prevention hotline and other resources meant to help queer kids, including a section of the site titled "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation." "These are not Texas values. These are not Republican Party values," Huffines said in the video. "But these are obviously Greg Abbott's values." Hours after Huffines' video began gaining traction on social media, the "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation" webpage was deleted. Shortly thereafter, the entire Texas Youth Connection website was disabled. The website for Texas Youth Connection is an offshoot of Family and Protective Services. It aims to help kids prepare for life after foster care and included resources for housing and education, in addition to information about LGBTQ identity, the Chronicle reported. The website has since been replaced with this message: "The Texas Youth Connection website has been temporarily disabled for a comprehensive review of its content. This is being done to ensure that its information, resources, and referrals are current." Story continues A screenshot of the landing page for the Texas Youth Connection website. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Almost two months later, employee emails obtained by the Chronicle through a public-records request showed that Department of Family and Protective Services employees discussed removing the "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation" webpage on the Texas Youth Connection website as a direct response to Huffines' video, right before the page was taken offline. The outlet reported that Marissa Gonzales, the agency's media-relations director, emailed a link of Huffines' video to Patrick Crimmins, the department's communications director, 13 minutes after it was posted. "FYI. This is starting to blow up on Twitter," Gonzales wrote, the Chronicle reported. Crimmins then reached out to the agency's web- and creative-services director, saying, "We may need to take that page down, or somehow revise content," the Chronicle reported. The entire Texas Youth Connection website remains "temporarily disabled" as of Tuesday. In a statement to the Chronicle, Huffines took credit for the site's removal. "We aren't surprised that state employees who are loyal to Greg Abbott had to scramble after we called their perverse actions out," Huffines told the newspaper. "I promised Texans I would get rid of that website and I kept that promise." Crimmins, who serves as the department's spokesperson, told Insider that a content review was "still ongoing," but he didn't answer specific questions about why the site had been taken down. This is not the first time Abbott and the state government have been pressured to restrict resources for the transgender community in 2021. Miffed after the state legislature failed to pass a law restricting transgender children from accessing transition-related care, the governor pledged in July to find an alternate route. The governor also acquiesced and added plans to create a law restricting transgender kids from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity after hounding from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Read the original article on Business Insider Thomas Young will return to Cardiff after eight years in England (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive) Cardiff have announced the signing of Wales international flanker Thomas Young from Wasps. Young, whose father Dai is Cardiffs director of rugby, will move to the Arms Park at the end of this season. The 29-year-old, capped three times, has been ineligible for Wales in recent seasons due to a senior player selection policy that means players plying their trade outside of Wales cannot be selected if they have won fewer than 60 caps. But it is understood that Young has received dispensation to be available for Wales immediately following confirmation of his move to Cardiff for next term. The clause was used in scrum-half Rhys Webbs case ahead of the 2020 Six Nations after it was announced he would be rejoining the Ospreys from Toulon. He had a brief stint at Cardiff before joining Wasps, where he became one of the Gallagher Premierships most consistent players and made more than 140 appearances. I am really excited to have this opportunity at Cardiff, and I am looking forward to returning home to Wales, Young told Cardiffs official website. It was a difficult decision to make because Ive had such an enjoyable time at Wasps and learnt so much, which I remain very grateful for, but I am also a proud Welshman and the opportunity to stake a claim for further international honours was too great to turn down. Once I made that decision, Cardiff was always my preference. This is my home club, I played all of my age-grade rugby for the region and still have a lot of friends here from that time. Dai Young added: It is my job to improve and develop this squad, and I have no doubt that Thomas will significantly add to our strength and depth in the back-row and drive standards in our environment. He suits the style we want to play, and I know he will do his talking on the pitch and show everyone in Wales how good he is. A day after Georgia officials testified that they were unable to find any counterfeit or fraudulent ballots from the 2020 presidential election, a judge has dismissed the final lawsuit in the state filed by a group of Donald Trump supporters alleging voter fraud, landing yet another blow to the spurious legal challenges filed by the former president and his supporters. Following the ruling on 13 October, the former president slammed the decision as unfair and revived his baseless narrative that election results were manipulated in a string of brief, Twitter-like statements issued by his spokesperson. Our country is going to hell and we are not allowed transparency even in our elections, he said. The fight continues, we will never give up. The ruling is the latest in a pile of nationwide legal challenges filed by Mr Trumps allies in a nearly year-long attempt to overturn election results in contested states, all of which have been rejected. In his ruling, Georgia Superior Court Judge Brian Amero said that the plaintiffs allege their votes have been diluted due to the substantial likelihood that fraudulent ballots were introduced during ballot processing, a claim that state and federal investigators have roundly rejected. They also allege that the issue will persist in future elections if not corrected, Judge Amero wrote. Regardless of the veracity of these allegations, the court finds petitioners have still failed to allege a particularized injury. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs had no standing in the case invoking the legal principle in which plaintiffs must show that they suffered a specific injury to sue but evidence presented from the state informed his decision. Following several investigations and three ballot counts, including a hand recount of the results, Joe Biden defeated Mr Trump in Georgia by roughly 12,000 votes. Plaintiffs sought a review of thousands of ballots cast in Fulton County, including scanned ballot images and physical copies of every mail-in and absentee ballot that was counted, audited, and recounted, according to court documents. Story continues State investigators and the US Attorneys Office found no evidence of fraudulent ballots, according to court filings submitted on behalf of Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on 12 October. I have said time and time again that though Fulton County was sloppy and made lots of mistakes in November, as they have for decades, there was no widespread fraud or illegal voting that would overturn the November election, Mr Raffensperger said on Wednesday. The results were, as we reported, that President Trump came up short in the state of Georgia, he said. Joe Biden won, Donald Trump lost its time for the other side to face the facts and move on, Fulton County Board of Commissioners chair Rob Pitts said. This lawsuit was the result of the big lie, which is nothing more than a meritless conspiracy theory being spread by people who simply cannot accept that their side lost, he said in a statement. Its defeat here today should echo throughout the nation. In a statement, lead plaintiff Garland Favorito said it is not adequate for any organisation to secretly tell us there are no counterfeit ballots and refuse to let the public inspect them. (This October 13 story has corrected to fix spelling of surname of Petar Atanasov, from Atansov, in paragraph 6) By Angus McDowall and Marc Jones TUNIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Tunisia's new government said this week that balancing public finances will be a priority, but it and President Kais Saied face a hard road to convince markets and foreign donors they are ready to hash out a rescue package. Even before the pandemic Tunisia was struggling to bring its public debt and fiscal deficits onto a sustainable trajectory, and has since been hit hard by a lockdown and the collapse in tourism. By the summer it needed urgent help. Then, talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan that could unlock bilateral aid from major donors were derailed when Saied suspended parliament, sacked the prime minister and took power in what his opponents called a coup. It has taken Saied 11 weeks to appoint a new government under Prime Minister Najla Bouden - one essential step towards restarting IMF talks. But he has not yet laid out a plan to restore normal constitutional order as donors demand. Donors also want Tunisia to set out a series of credible economic reforms, potentially involving subsidies, the public sector wage bill and loss-making state companies, that would curb the deficit and debt. "The risk of a sovereign debt restructuring has increased, in our view," said Petar Atanasov of Gramercy, a well-known distressed debt fund, saying Tunisia's political problems made it less likely to deliver on reforms needed for an IMF loan. Market concerns are visible in Tunisia's bond yields - a reflection of how much the government would have to pay to borrow in international capital markets - which have climbed to nearly 16%. That is more than double what Pakistan has to pay, though it also has a B- credit rating and relies heavily on IMF help, and is much higher than the 9% paid by Ecuador, which has recently defaulted. Story continues "They clearly need to get an IMF programme, rebuild their resources and then tap the market in three years or so," said Viktor Szabo at ABRDN in London, which holds Tunisian debt. REFORMS Last week Central Bank Governor Marouane Abassi warned that financing the budget internally carried economic risks including boosting inflation, reducing the bank's reserves and weakening the currency. "When would there be a failure? Nobody has a clear picture of Tunisian finances," said a diplomat in Tunis. Abassi is emerging as a central figure in efforts to save the economy and is preparing proposals to discuss with the IMF, said the diplomat. Last week the governor said Tunisia's friends stood ready to help it. But they may have little support to offer without an IMF deal in place. That would likely require two politically contentious manoeuvres that Tunisia has not yet laid out - an inclusive constitutional roadmap and a set of credible economic reforms. Saied has brushed aside much of the 2014 constitution and said he can appoint a committee to amend the document and put it to a referendum, adding he would hold a dialogue on it with Tunisians. So far he has shown little inclination to work with Tunisia's other major political or civil society forces - something that could scupper his chances of getting donors on board. Recognising his government to the extent of agreeing loan deals without the inclusive process they have called for "would be a complex question", said the diplomat. Going it alone would also leave Saied without the broad-based support he may need from unions or political parties whose overtures he has so far spurned for the sort of unpopular reforms that could be required for a deal. His public pronouncements have focused not on readying Tunisians for a looming financial crisis and steps that may be needed to avert it, but on extra money he hopes to raise by tackling corruption. Successive Tunisian governments have stumbled on the difficulty of agreeing unpopular reforms after a decade of perceived economic decline. To do so now, Saied may have to push aside his apparently unilateral instincts and start working with others. (Reporting by Angus McDowall and Marc Jones, additional reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Alex Richardson) Oct. 13JUNEAU Alaska state Sens. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, and David Wilson, R-Wasilla, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quarantining at home, away from the state Capitol. Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, said he is feeling ill but has tested negative for COVID-19. He believes he has a cold or the flu. The Alaska Legislature began a special session Oct. 4, with lawmakers called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to create a new annual formula for the Permanent Fund dividend. Speaking Tuesday evening, Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said senators' absence whether for illness or for previously scheduled travel has contributed to the Senate's inability to advance negotiations. He did not name the senators who tested positive; they later confirmed their status. In the state House, lawmakers are scheduled to hold a series of meetings on formulas proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and members of the House, but no meetings have taken place in the Senate, and the special session is almost one-third of the way through its 30-day limit. Legislators in both the House and Senate say agreement on any one option is unlikely during the ongoing special session, but talks now could pave the way for an agreement during next year's regular session. Reached by text message, Reinbold said she is resting and improving quickly using a variety of products, including vitamins, a Vicks steamer and the antiparasitic medication ivermectin. Ivermectin is not authorized for prevention or treatment of COVID-19 federal health agencies and the drug's manufacturer have warned against its use for such purposes, especially as many people have turned to formulations designed for animals, not humans but it has gained traction on social media among vaccine skeptics and among conservative public figures. [Several of Alaska's Republican state lawmakers push for easier access to ivermectin to ward off COVID] The Eagle River senator has opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates by sponsoring legislation to prohibit businesses and local governments from requiring vaccinations. She has also been a consistent critic of mask requirements. Story continues She unsuccessfully fought the Capitol's mask mandate and was banned by Alaska Airlines for her refusal to comply with that company's mask policy. More recently, she appeared at an Anchorage Assembly meeting where she opposed a proposed citywide mask ordinance. At least two top city officials who attended that meeting, and other Assembly meetings where most of the people in attendance weren't wearing masks, have since tested positive for COVID-19. In Fairbanks, Bishop said he's feeling somewhat under the weather but has tested negative for COVID-19 once and may test again, just to be safe. In either case, he's staying away from the Capitol for the time being. At home in Wasilla, Wilson said he is feeling ill with minor symptoms but doesn't have a fever. He said he doesn't believe COVID-19 is preventing the Senate from making progress on the special session's agenda. Seventeen of the Senate's 20 members are healthy and well, and given that count, he said he believes policy differences, not procedural hurdles, are what matter. Roughly two-thirds of Alaska's state budget, including the dividend, is paid for by an annual transfer from the $82 billion Alaska Permanent Fund. On Tuesday, members of the House introduced several formula proposals that call for divvying up that transfer and setting aside a proportion specifically for the dividend. Earlier this year, Dunleavy proposed splitting the transfer 50-50, with half going to the dividend and half going to the state budget. At current levels of spending and taxation, that would create a significant deficit, which the governor has proposed to fill with extra spending from the Alaska Permanent Fund. Dunleavy's idea doesn't have majority support in the state House or Senate, and Tuesday's proposals in the House included a 75-25 split, a 65-35 split, and a 50-50 split with different conditions from those proposed by Dunleavy. The first hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast online at akl.tv. In the Senate, no hearings have been scheduled, but Micciche said he is attempting to create a special committee to handle dividend-related legislation. The committee would include members of different Senate blocs in an attempt to break the deadlock within the Senate. By Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Labor Department on Tuesday submitted to the White House the initial text of President Joe Biden's plan to require private-sector workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested regularly. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration submitted the proposed rule for review. Some details could change, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move indicates the proposed standard could be released soon. The mandate will apply to businesses with 100 or more employees and will be implemented under a federal rule-making mechanism known as an emergency temporary standard. It would affect roughly 80 million workers nationwide. Along with Biden's order last month that requires all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated, the orders cover 100 million people, about two-thirds of the U.S. workforce. Biden's mandate announcement in September came at a breaking-point moment as the country was struggling to control the pandemic and a large swath of the nation's population was refusing to accept free vaccinations that have been available for months. The coronavirus has killed more than 700,000 Americans. The workplace vaccine order has spurred pushback from many Republican governors. On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued an executive order banning businesses and other private entities in his state from requiring Covid-19 vaccinations for employees. The plan has also drawn mixed reactions from companies. Many support the government's goal of speeding the pace of vaccinations, but smaller employers and those with mostly hourly workers have expressed concern the policy could be difficult to implement especially as it may lead to losing employees in a tight labor market in addition to managing the cost and complexity of vaccinate-or-test mandates. Several big employers such as Procter & Gamble, 3M along with airlines such as American and JetBlue have imposed mandates since Biden's announcement. Others such as IBM have said it will require all of its U.S. employees to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, regardless of how often they come into the office. Several other large U.S. employers such as Walmart, have yet to issue broad requirements. The Labor Department's standards will require many such companies to introduce mandates. (Reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Sandra Maler) The CBI and other businesses called the business rates system 'uncompetitive, unproductive and unfair', saying UK property tax levels are four times higher than Germanys, and 50% higher than the G7 average. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), along with 41 other trade associations, has called on the chancellor to reform the current business rates system which is essential for green investment. A joint statement from associations spanning the UK economy, including the British Retail Consortium (BRC), UKHospitality and the SMMT, said action from Rishi Sunak at this months budget could bring business investment across key government priorities. This included levelling up the UK economy, as well as helping to reach net zero targets. If we as a country are to truly level up and meet our net zero commitments, leading by example in the year we host COP26, then unleashing a wave of business investment should be the focus, the letter said. The groups, which represent around 261,000 businesses and 9 million employees, highlighted that the outdated current business rate regime, acts as a drag on the governments goal of a high wage, high productivity and high investment economy. Read more: CBI calls for more UK action on net zero ahead of COP26 It called the business rates system uncompetitive, unproductive and unfair, saying UK property tax levels are four times higher than Germanys, and 50% higher than the G7 average, as a proportion of GDP. Up to 50% of business investment is potentially subject to business rates, meaning that the current scheme actively dis-incentivises funding in decarbonisation and wider investments. If a business invests in solar panels, or other plants & machinery to improve their property, this increases their rates bill. As these investments take several years to yield a return, the immediate increase in rates often makes the investments unviable. It added: The government has backed business throughout the pandemic with short-term reliefs, but as businesses begin to rebuild, they need the confidence to invest. Watch: Top tips for helping the environment on a tight budget The letter pointed out that the financial burden on firms is high and the 2023 revaluation could see it increasing further. Story continues Action to get investment flowing into and around the UK is sorely needed to reinforce our recovery, Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, said. The Government deserves credit for convening the supply chain advisory group to unblock temporary challenges, but as were seeing with energy prices, there is no substitute for longer-term planning and investment. He added: The Chancellor has an opportunity to fix this, starting with fundamental business rates reform at the Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review. By setting out an approach which attracts investment, he can equip the UK with the tools it needs to secure the high wage, high productivity and high skill economy of the future. Read more: CBI backs Labour's pledge to scrap business rates Meanwhile, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: Sky high business rates are closing stores up and down the country and preventing new ones from opening. A recent BRC survey found that four-in-five retailers will be forced to close shops unless the rates burden falls following the governments upcoming Fundamental Review. The comment comes ahead of the COP26 conference, which is being held between 1 and 12 November. It will be the largest summit the UK has ever hosted, and will have dozens of world leaders in attendance, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries, including experts and campaigners. It was originally scheduled for November 2020 but was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has been described as the most significant climate event since the global Paris Agreement was secured in 2015. Watch: COP26: Boris Johnson told to 'get a grip' ahead of climate summit instead of 'touring the beaches' on holiday By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Union Pacific Corp said on Wednesday it will require its 31,000 U.S. employees to be vaccinated under President Joe Biden's executive order requiring that federal contractors mandate vaccines by Dec. 8, except for employees who receive an approved exemption. "As a federal contractor who ships goods supporting our nation's armed services, ... all employees are required to report their vaccination status or have an approved medical or religious accommodation by the federally mandated deadline," Union Pacific, the top U.S. railroad operator, said in a statement. Last month, U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said it will require nearly all of its 18,000 employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Nov. 22. Boeing Co, another federal contractor, said on Tuesday it will require its 125,000 U.S. employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8. Major U.S. airlines have said they will also meet the deadline imposed on federal contractors, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines Co, JetBlue Airways Corp and Alaska Airlines, as has aircraft parts manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems. The White House announced the Dec. 8 deadline for employees of federal contractors last month and the requirements are expected to cover millions of employees. Government contractors International Business Machines Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp have also said they will require all U.S. employees to be vaccinated. The White House is adding clauses to future government contracts mandating inoculations. The Labor Department separately plans to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers with more than 100 workers to have them inoculated or tested weekly - a policy expected to cover more than 80 million workers. The department sent the proposed ETS to the White House regulatory office on Tuesday. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler) BEIRUT (AP) The United States does not support efforts to normalize relations with the government of President Bashar Assad or lift sanctions imposed on Damascus until there is progress in the political process in the war-torn country, the U.S. secretary of state said Wednesday. Antony Blinken's comments come as some Arab countries recently began improving relations with Syria. Assad and King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke over the phone last week for the first time since Syrias conflict began in March 2011. Syrias defense minister last month visited Jordan and met with Jordanian military officials. Syria was also invited to take part in the Dubais Expo 2020, the first worlds fair in the Middle East. Crisis-hit Lebanon is working on getting electricity from Jordan through Syria and a 10-year old deal to transport Egyptian natural gas through Jordan and Syria to Lebanon was also revived in September. Blinken spoke during a joint news conference in Washington with the foreign ministers of Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Arab and Western countries blamed Assad for the deadly crackdown on the uprising that erupted in 2011, and supported the opposition in early days of the conflict. Syria's civil war has killed more than 350,000 people and displaced millions. The tide of the war changed in late 2015, when Russia threw its military weight behind Assad. Still, Syria is struggling with sanctions imposed by the United States and many Western nations. What weve not done and we do not intend to do is to express any support for efforts to normalize relations or rehabilitate Mr. Assad or lift a single sanction on Syria or change our positions to oppose the reconstruction of Syria, Blinken said in Washington when asked whether the U.S. endorses that some Arab countries are resuming normal ties with Assads government. He said this policy will not change until there is irreversible progress toward a political solution, which we believe is necessary and vital. Starting next month, the United States will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to cross its land borders for nonessential purposes such as tourism or visiting friends and family. The change would allow foreign tourists to enter the U.S. through land or ferry ports for the first time since March 2020. Government officials have not yet announced a date for the policy change, but said it would take place in "early November," in tandem with the country's updated international air travel system. This is an important step that will further enhance the safety of international travel and the safety of Americans at home, senior administration officials said in a call with reporters. These new vaccination requirements deploy the best tool we have in our arsenal to keep people safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Come explore with us: Subscribe to our Travel newsletter Starting in November, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can enter the U.S. through land or ferry ports for the first time since March 2020. How does it work? Wednesday's update follows the White House's Sept. 20 announcement saying the U.S. would implement a new international air travel system in "early November," allowing foreign travelers with COVID-19 vaccines approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organization to enter the country. "We want to have a consistent approach to both land and air entry into this country," senior administration officials said. "And so this is the next step to bring those into alignment." The new land border travel restrictions will be broken into two phases, both of which introduce vaccine mandates: Phase 1: The first phase will go into effect in "early November" and allows fully vaccinated travelers to enter the U.S. for nonessential reasons. Unvaccinated travelers can only travel to the U.S. for essential purposes in this phase. Phase 2: The second phase will begin in "early January" and will only allow travelers to cross the land border for both essential and nonessential reasons if they have been fully vaccinated. There will be no testing requirements in either phase. "This phased approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers and others to get vaccinated, enabling a smooth transition to this new system," senior administration officials said. Story continues Specific dates for each phase have not yet been released. The current travel restrictions which are set to end on Oct. 21 will be extended until the new policy goes into effect. Currently, U.S. land borders are open only to "essential travel," such as work and trade. US air travel: Foreign travelers with COVID-19 vaccines approved by FDA, WHO can enter the US in November Canada travel: Travel in Canada is a prize for the vaccinated and vigilant, be prepared to jump through hoops How can travelers show proof of vaccination? U.S. Customers and Border Protection will enforce the new travel requirements and will spot-check travelers proof of vaccination documents. Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country. Foreign travelers will be able to show vaccination status in either a paper or digital format. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to give an update on what sort of paperwork will be accepted at the borders in the coming days. Land border travel restrictions: US extends land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico through Oct. 21 Passport status: Wait times are dropping, but travelers are still waiting months for it Which vaccines will be accepted? Government officials havent announced which vaccines will be accepted at the borders. If the land and ferry borders follow the new air travel systems lead, foreign nationals should be able to cross with vaccines that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organization. These include: Pfizer/BioNTech Moderna Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield Sinopharm Sinovac Its not clear whether travelers who have received mixed doses will be able to enter the U.S., but officials said the CDC is "working through" that question for both land and air travel. Why now? The actions from U.S. officials come months after Canadas decision to reopen its land borders to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents on Aug. 9. The American hold on its travel restrictions on Canada has drawn backlash, given Canada's high vaccination rates. Canada has about 73% of its population fully vaccinated, compared with 57% in the U.S. and 38% in Mexico, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. "We've been working for weeks ... on a plan to do this safely and not increase the risk to Americans," a senior administration official told reporters. "We have seen increased vaccine availability obviously in Canada, which now has very high vaccination rates, as well as in Mexico. ... We think this system will make it safer both for Americans over the long run." The news was received positively by government officials representing regions along the U.S.-Canada border. "For months now we've heard from businesses that are suffering and families distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown," New York Congressman Brian Higgins said in a Tuesday statement. "The sigh of relief coming from Northern Border communities following this announcement is so loud it can practically be heard on either end of the Peace Bridge." At long last, there is action by the U.S. to open the doors & welcome back our Canadian neighbors beginning in November. This is good news for businesses & families that have suffered under the continued border shutdown. Further details coming tomorrow. My statement here pic.twitter.com/YEN7LuxGle Brian Higgins (@RepBrianHiggins) October 13, 2021 This announcement will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada, and to businesses in Point Roberts and other northern cities and towns hurting due to the decline in Canadian tourism. (2/2) Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) October 13, 2021 Canada travel: Vaccinated Americans can enter Canada starting Monday. Here are 11 things to know before a trip. Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vaccinated tourists can cross US land borders in early November shapecharge / iStock.com Half of employed Americans intend to make career changes, citing the lack of empathy or the lack of flexibility in the workplace, according to a new survey. Explore: Why Child Care Still Plays a Significant Role in Getting Parents Back to Work Teachers Deserve a Break: McDonalds Honors School Staff With Free Breakfast for a Week in October The survey follows the Labor Departments Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey yesterday. The data reflects a similar trend, as there was an increase in quits rates, in August, with 2.9% of workers voluntarily quitting their jobs, according to the data. The CNBC and global gender equality firm Catalyst report, The Great Work/Life Divide: How employee desire for flexibility and employer concern is driving the future of work, conducted by Harris Poll, shows that flexibility remains a top priority for employees. Over half of the employees want to leave [their jobs], and theres really two reasons that came out of the survey, Catalyst President and CEO Lorraine Hariton told CNBC. One is if they felt that their employers did not understand them, that they werent providing empathy. This is especially true for working parents, male or female. They didnt feel good about the experience, and theyre looking to leave. The second thing is that people are really leaning into flexibility, whether thats flexibility by location, by when they work, or how they work. They want to leave if the employer is not providing that. Related: Why Employers Need To Adapt to Employees Post-Pandemic The report also shows that 41% of those surveyed say they are considering leaving their job because their company has not cared about their concerns during the pandemic and a whopping 76% say they want their company to make work permanently flexible in terms of schedule and/or location, according to CNBC. Of the 50% of employed Americans who intend to make career changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% are seeking flexible and/or remote work, 39% desire a raise and/or promotion and 33% are interested in changing industries. Story continues I think of this as the great reimagination of work, especially for office workers, Hariton told CNBC. And companies really have to respond to that. See: Study Indicates Millennials and Gen Z Plan To Retire Before Age 60 Thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic Learn: Applying for a Job? Even a White Lie on Your Resume Could Cost You the Position In addition, 32% of employees who intend to make a career change because of the pandemic say theyre going to look for another job in the same industry, while about 22% say they are going to quit their current job and start their own business. More From GOBankingRates Last updated: October 13, 2021 This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: A Whopping 50% of Americans Plan To Change Careers Due to COVID-Related Job Gripes Denise Williams, 29, died during treatment for postpartum depression at a Queens Hospital. Now her family is demanding answers. Denise Williams, a 29-year-old Black mother of two, went to Queens Hospital Center in August seeking treatment for postpartum depression. Just 48 hours later, Williams family learned she had died but why still isnt clear. Family, friends, and advocates demanded answers Tuesday from the city-run hospital, where more than a dozen people gathered to call attention to the case. Denise Williams We dont want condolences, we want answers, said Charlene Magee, Williams maternal aunt. Its been three weeks, and [my sister] has no idea what happened to her child. Two days after Williams checked into Queens Hospital, a hospital staffer called Williams mother, Linda Magee, on Aug. 30 to say an autopsy was going to be performed on Williams, according to Charlene Magee. That marked the first communication from the hospital indicating that Williams had died, her family said. It took another half hour for another staff member to call Linda Magee to say that Williams was dead, said Charlene Magee. Nearly a month has passed, and the family says the hospital still hasnt provided an official cause of death. Williams left behind two young daughters, an 8-week-old and a 3-year-old. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has expressed our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, the city public hospitals corporation said in a statement. We are committed to quality, equitable and safe care for every patient and will continue to work with the family as appropriate. Denise Williams family, including her 3-year-old daughter Aviana, protested her death at Queens Hospital while suffering from postpartum depression. (Jessica Washington/THE CITY) Where is the Justice? Protesters also spoke about the larger issue of Black maternal mortality, postpartum depression, and the unequal treatment of Black women in health care. In New York City, Black women are eight times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. Black women in New York are also more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, and studies have shown that on average women of color are less likely to receive treatment for disorders like PPD. Story continues Brian McIntyre, whose partner, Amber Rose Isaac, died after giving birth via emergency C-section at Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx last year, attended Tuesdays protest and spoke out in solidarity with Williams family. We are facing a public health crisis, he said. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice? Assembly members Ron Kim and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas also lent their voices to the protest. Our health system is racist and has specifically harmed Black women, said Gonzalez-Rojas (D-Queens). She then led the crowd in a say her name call and response chant, often used by activists to highlight the death of Black women. Bruce McIntyre, whose partner, Amber Rose Isaac, died during childbirth, attended a protest for Denise Williams after the mother died at Queens Hospital while suffering from postpartum depression. (Jessie Washington/The Fuller Project via THE CITY) We are facing a public health crisis, he said. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice? Assembly members Ron Kim and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas also lent their voices to the protest. Our health system is racist and has specifically harmed Black women, said Gonzalez-Rojas (D-Queens). She then led the crowd in a say her name call and response chant, often used by activists to highlight the death of Black women. A Familys Vow Katy Cecen, a midwife and former natal intensive care unit nurse, said that lack of adequate funding to public facilities like Queens Hospital, which disproportionately treat Black patients, is a large part of the maternity health crisis. According to Charlene Magee, Williams and her mother had requested that she go to another local hospital they felt was safer, but paramedics denied their request. Photos of Denise Williams. (Jessie Washington/The Fuller Project via THE CITY) In New York City, studies have shown that the differences in where Black and white women give birth may account for 47% of the disparities in severe but non-fatal maternal outcomes. Charlene Magee said that she and the rest of Williams family wont stop fighting for the families of Black women who have died in New York City hospitals. We dont want Denise to be ignored, Magee said. We are going to be out here every day. Youre going to hear from our family. This story was originally published on The Fuller Project in partnership with THE CITY. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Young Black mother dies after seeking postpartum help at NY hospital appeared first on TheGrio. Looking back on the last two years, Clair said one of the best things she feels the school board accomplished was fostering a more productive working relationship and communication with the Nelson County Board of Supervisors, helping the local government entities work together toward the best interest of those they serve, especially from a budgeting standpoint. It is a relationship she hopes to continue and grow, if re-elected. Looking forward, I want to continue to develop that relationship, and advocate constantly for the schools, which doesnt always mean asking for more money, but to be considered as a super important part of what the county does, Clair said. Because when you think about [what] county government exists for, I dont know if there is a more important job that they have than educating the children. They are our future. The coming year is one Clair aims to be as a recovery time for the school system amidst challenges from the pandemic years. We just need to get through another budget year; get kids and everybody back to normal as much as possible; and then set up for an even better year next year, Clair said. Part of that work involves the school boards participation in advocating policy with the Virginia School Boards Association, Clair said. Procedures started Tuesday to imprison a 90-year-old former senior government official convicted over a high-profile accident in Tokyo in 2019 in which his runaway car killed a woman and her young daughter and injured other people. After being summoned by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, Kozo Iizuka, former head of the now-defunct Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, was taken to the Tokyo Detention House in Katsushika Ward. On Sept. 2, the Tokyo District Court sentenced Iizuka to five years in prison, without suspension, for negligent driving resulting in death and injury. The ruling became final on Sept. 17 as neither the defense nor the prosecution filed an appeal. In a statement released through a supporter Tuesday, Iizuka said, Looking at the evidence (submitted in my trial) and the court ruling, I realized that my car ran out of control because I mistakenly confused the brake with the accelerator due to my negligence. It was the first time that Iizuka, who pleaded not guilty in his trial, had admitted fault. I deeply apologize to the family of the two victims Mana Matsunaga, 31, and her daughter, Riko, 3 and people who suffered injuries in the accident, he said, adding, I will serve the sentence to reflect on my negligence. New Delhi: The Pakistani terrorist arrested by Delhi Polices Special Cell on Tuesday had conducted recce at various sites in the national capital, said sources. The accused, Mohd Asraf, had conducted a recce ahead of the 2011 Delhi High Court blast. During interrogation when a photograph of an accused in the 2011 Delhi High Court blast was shown to him, he disclosed that he had done a recce of the High court. However, his involvement in the blast cannot be stated clearly. It will be clarified on further investigation. There is no evidence as of now, sources close to the developments told ANI. Apart from this, Asraf had also done a recce of the Police Headquarters (Old Police Headquarters) located at ITO. He revealed that he has done a lot of recces but not much information could be gained as he was not allowed to stop outside the police headquarters for much duration. He had also done a recce of ISBT and information was sent to Pakistani handlers, sources said. It was also revealed by Asraf that he did a recce at India Gate and Red Fort as well. He has said that he did a recce at 10 places, sources said. In the interrogation, he said that VIP areas were not among the targets as casualty would have been less. All these recce were done a few years ago. He has not revealed as yet the places where he wanted to undertake a terrorist operation, they added. At present, the investigating agencies are interrogating him about whether he has been involved in any blast in Delhi. Mohd Asraf, a resident of Pakistans Punjab province was held from Laxmi Nagar. Police had seized an AK-47 rifle from his possession among other things including a grenade and pistols. He has been trained by Pakistan ISI, was sent through Siliguri border via BangladeshOne Naseer from Pakistan had tasked him (to carry out terror operations). In the last, he was also disguising as 'Peer Maulana' in and around Delhi: DCP Special Cell pic.twitter.com/CppJrEjAtz ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2021 He had obtained forged Indian national ID from a village sarpanch in Bihar, informed sources. They said that the accused revealed in the interrogation that he entered India by first going to Bangladesh and then travelling to Kolkata in West Bengal. He visited Ajmer Sharif, where he met people from Bihar whom he accompanied to their village and took refuge there. In Bihar, he gained the trust of a sarpanch and obtained his Indian national ID from him, said sources. After the arrest, relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Act, Arms Act and other provisions have been invoked against the man. An immediate benefit for those who decide to go solar is a lower monthly electric bill. Depending on when individuals and companies install and turn on solar, they may also be eligible for state and federal income tax credits, Wolf said. The less immediately noticeable impact will be in the reduction of carbon emissions and pollution created to power the attached buildings, helping to create better air quality and an environment here in Council Bluffs. Patricia Slatin, a Council Bluffs local, said she hasnt had an electric bill (besides the required fees) since panels were installed at her home. Even in January and February, the panels provide more electricity than the house needs, she said. The extra output goes to the MidAmerican grid and helps to supply other houses electric needs, and Im happy to do this. She said the extra output is significant enough that shes able to consider getting an electric vehicle, which she hopes to do early in 2022. Slatin said her main reason for going solar was her concern about climate change and to protect the environment. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The state has reported 271,550 cases of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic. Nebraska tallied 15 additional deaths last week, bringing to 2,845 the number of confirmed or probable deaths since the pandemic began. Nationally, the seven-day average of new cases has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since early August. Hospitalizations and deaths also are declining. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease doctor, cautioned on CNN on Sunday that the nation must be careful not to prematurely declare victory over COVID, noting that the virus still could resurge among unvaccinated Americans. Indeed, areas with low vaccination rates continue to pose a concern in Nebraska. The current case rates in rural Nebraska, where vaccination rates are much lower, are almost double those in the states biggest cities. A World-Herald analysis in June found that Nebraska had the nations widest gap between urban and rural vaccination rates. In the past month, Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster Counties have had 101 new cases per 10,000 population, compared with 180 in the states other 90 counties. These standards have led us to ask ourselves if the western half of the state is getting fair representation in the department of education, the writer said. What can be done so that future such committees that develop standards have a better representation of the culture and values of the majority of Nebraska? With statewide health standards postponed indefinitely, schools will continue to write their own. Blomstedt said the department absolutely could have done some things differently to ensure a fair process. He said the public had ample chance to weigh in once it was released, and it did. The process worked at least on that front, but it didnt work to actually arrive at a set of standards that people could accept across the state, necessarily, he said. Thats kind of the next step, we have to examine that, with a better approach to going forward. On Friday, several members of the state education board indicated they want the board to conduct a review of the process. Omaha board member Jacquelyn Morrison said the department needs a process thats written and transparent and works. He said he has very few relatives in the Council Bluffs area. At the meeting, Lima expressed concern about family members serving together on the City Council and becoming a voting bloc. Lacking an answer on Peterson and Sandau during the meeting, she spoke as if they were related. There are things he and I may agree on and things I'm sure we will disagree on, Disalvo said. To say we would vote as a bloc is a falsehood. Lima said she wanted to make sure people knew about the connection. Thats my purpose in bringing this before the board, to make sure all Council Bluffs voters have relevant information before they go to the polls, Lima said. Lima noted many nonprofit organization and other boards have bylaws against family members serving together. "Relationships must be transparent," she said. Disalvo said he would like to think all those running for local office would be professionals and have the best interest of our community in mind. Attempts to reach Hunter on Tuesday were not immediately successful. 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. Allen testified that Torres instead pulled up to where his window was almost directly in front of the muzzle. I immediately started screaming to go away, Allen said. Dont you f---ing stop. Get the f--- out of here. I said it four or five times. Allen said Torres ignored him, leaned down in his car as though he was picking up a weapon, and then opened the drivers side door and put one foot on the ground. At that point, Allen said, he shot Torres, aiming for what he called the soft tissue areas the hip, butt and gut. I just wanted him to stop. I didnt want to kill him, Allen said as his voice cracked with emotion. An expert forensic pathologist witness testified Friday that Torres sustained 19 gunshot wounds, including 13 entry marks. Nine slugs were removed from Torres body. Allen said he did not know how many times he fired the Glock but knew that he still had ammunition in the weapon and what he believed were more people to deal with. Allen said he believed that Torres and two other individuals were armed and meant to do harm. I said, Yes, I should, Griffin said. Then another of our volunteers said the same thing, unconnected with each other. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} He called Kay, who was really excited about it and wanted Roy Yanagida to talk to me. The museum director knew Yanagida, who farmed in Lincoln and Custer counties and managed a Broken Bow John Deere dealership for 23 years, would bring some family keepsakes to the meeting. But instead, they brought artifacts and Roy said, I have a deal for you, Griffin said. Yanagida offered to donate $25,000 up front toward a Japanese-American exhibit, plus another $25,000 if the museum could raise $25,000 on its own and agree to finish and open the exhibit within a year. I kind of think and believe that the legacy and history of the folks who grew up here will be preserved in this way, Yanagida told The Telegraph later Tuesday. A lot of those people who came from Japan were just like my dad, Charles Yanagida, who emigrated to Hawaii at age 16 in 1900 and arrived in Lincoln County before World War I. They came to America to be active in the American way. You have probably heard of the partisan and reckless spending spree congressional Democrats are putting together, and that the final total of the plan will number in the trillions of dollars. But as much as the high price tag is concerning and will hurt Nebraska families, I also want to share with you some of the specifics of whats actually in this measure. Hidden deep in the plan is a provision that would give the IRS permission to spy on your bank account. The government already has the power to ask banks for information about transfers of more than $10,000 if they suspect ties to terrorism or money laundering. But President Bidens Build Back Better plan would give the IRS broad authority to look at your personal finances for any reason at all. Under the House of Representatives version of this plan, any payments made through third-party networks, such as PayPal or Venmo, would be reported to the IRS if they total more than $600. The Senates version of the plan is expected to contain a higher ceiling, but it would require banks and other financial institutions to report this information to the IRS as well. Photo: @LUCHA_AZ/Twitter As senators Kysten Sinema and Joe Manchin hold up passage of the Build Back Better Act, protesters are getting inventive. In Washington, D.C., several West Virginia natives kayaked up to Manchins famous houseboat, seeking an audience with the senator. Arizona activists were even bolder. In a controversial incident, members of Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, followed Sinema into a bathroom on the campus of Arizona State University. Yesterdays behavior was not legitimate protest, Sinema said in a statement released on Monday. It is unacceptable for activist organizations to instruct their members to jeopardize themselves by engaging in unlawful activities such as gaining entry to closed university buildings, disrupting learning environments, and filming students in a restroom. BREAKING: Blanca, an AZ immigrant youth confronts @SenatorSinema inside her classroom, where she teaches @ ASU. "in 2010 both my grandparents got deported bc of SB1070...my grandfather passed away 2 wks ago & I wasn't able to go to Mexico bc there is no pathway to citizenship." pic.twitter.com/JDZYY2fOD2 LUCHA Arizona (@LUCHA_AZ) October 3, 2021 Sinema has her allies. Definitely getting $3.5T now, sniped journalist Bill Scher. Sinema, wrote Charles Cooke in the National Review, was pursued by a rabble of activists wielding camera-phones and speaking in declarative slogans. He added, Where I come from, avoiding others while using the lavatory is standard procedure. Being followed into the lavatory by angry crowds is not. But Cooke is a columnist, not a senator. The distinction matters. Sinema and Manchin are accountable to the public, at least in theory, and protesters wanted an audience. People offended by LUCHAs tactics could argue, credibly, that the group changed nothing; Sinema probably wont capitulate on trillions of dollars in spending just because protesters followed her into a bathroom. Its far too easy, though, to condemn protesters while ignoring a bigger and more important question: If a senator ignores the public, how should voters hold them responsible? In her statement, Sinema said that she and her office had met with LUCHA members on previous occasions. It is the duty, she added, of elected leaders to avoid fostering an environment in which honestly-held policy disagreements serve as the basis for vitriol raising the temperature in political rhetoric and creating a permission structure for unacceptable behavior. This is half-right. Politicians have undeniably created an environment where policy disagreements, honestly held or otherwise, provoke so-called unacceptable behavior. Left unexamined, though, is Sinemas own complicity. When the easiest way to get a senators attention is to purchase a plate at a fundraising dinner, such as the one she flew back from Washington to attend, people have few other options to make themselves heard. This doesnt necessarily mean that an activist has to follow an elected official into a bathroom. Manchins protest encounter, for example, was different; nobody cornered him, and the West Virginia senator offered activists a few crumbs of engagement from the deck of his yacht. Sinema was trying to avoid protesters altogether. Nor is her argument just about the bathroom. Its much more sweeping. As articulated in her statement, the campus is forgive this a safe space, a learning environment that had been disrupted by activists. Even if you think the bathroom should be off-limits, its harder to argue that protesters somehow erred by tracking her down on campus. Call it a learning experience for her. Choose public office, then block your own partys transformative progressive policy, and people will eventually get mad at you. Aggressive protest tactics like the one that so incensed Sinema tend to be a symptom of a much larger problem. When people are shut out of a supposedly democratic process, they have no choice but to agitate. The Senate is a broken institution, one that is hidebound by archaic rules like the filibuster. It is an increasingly expensive proposition to run for office at all, which keeps the Senate in the hands of those who can afford to be there. Activists arent wrong to think that democracy is in decline and that it is threatened, further, by elected officials like Sinema, who attend expensive fundraising dinners while holding up bills their donors despise. That anger is valid, and it has to have somewhere to go. There are options that dont involve a bathroom stall, but, frankly, there arent many, and time is short. If youre feeling outrage, reserve the largest share for Sinema. SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency Tuesday in 72 communities in two regions of southern Chile amid disturbances and attacks sometimes claimed by Indigenous Mapuche groups demanding the return of their ancestral lands. The decree limits freedom of assembly and movement and also allows the military to support police. Such an order by the president can run for a maximum of 15 days, renewable for 15 more days with the agreement of Congress. The measure affects 40 communities in the Biobio region and 32 in La Araucania. In the latter region, violence and conflicts have dragged on for decades, including attacks on forestry machinery and trucks. In Biobio, which neighbors La Araucania, arsonists burned two churches, one Roman Catholic, one Evangelical. Pinera said the state of emergency is to be able to protect the population, to safeguard public order and the rule of law. After learning of the measure, truckers began to gradually lift road blockades they had set up in both regions to demand greater safety on their routes. La Araucania has spent years under the custody of militarized police, who have been criticized for the 2018 shooting of a young Mapuche. A year earlier, a police intelligence unit fabricated evidence against eight Mapuches who were jailed for allegedly organizing attacks in the area. Some 12% of Chiles 19 million people are Mapuches descended from the countrys original people. Half of them live in poor rural communities. The Spanish never managed to conquer the Mapuches, who were finally dominated by Chilean forces in the 18th century when they were pushed south and colonizers took over their lands. Washington, PA (15301) Today Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%. I just began reading about this last week and apparently there was confusion about his age. Ppl thought he was 28 fsr. Reply Thread Link OP,FYI your cut is broken Edited at 2021-10-13 03:23 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link fixed it! Reply Parent Thread Link he looks 38. Reply Parent Thread Link I'll say it again. Fire the cops that let her die. It's the least they could do to people who don't do their jobs. This didn't have to happen. There was more than enough proof she needed help. Cops only protect and serve their own, anyone else, nah. Reply Thread Link I wonder if those cops will actually be fired considering all the attention and the fact that the victim was a young white girl. I really fucking hope so Reply Parent Thread Link I doubt it. At most they go on paid leave while it's "investigated" and the department concludes that, while the outcome was ~unfortunate, it's a tough job and they followed procedure. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Neither the Constitution, nor state law, impose a general duty upon police officers or other governmental officials to protect individual persons from harm even when they know the harm will occur, said Darren L. Hutchinson, a professor and associate dean at the University of Florida School of Law. Police can watch someone attack you, refuse to intervene and not violate the Constitution. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the government has only a duty to protect persons who are in custody, he pointed out. https://mises.org/power-market/police-have-no-duty-protect-you-federal-court-affirms-yet-again They wont be. The Supreme Court ruled cops have no obligation to actually protect anyone.Neither the Constitution, nor state law, impose a general duty upon police officers or other governmental officials to protect individual persons from harm even when they know the harm will occur, said Darren L. Hutchinson, a professor and associate dean at the University of Florida School of Law. Police can watch someone attack you, refuse to intervene and not violate the Constitution.The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the government has only a duty to protect persons who are in custody, he pointed out. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Especially when it comes to domestic abuse, cops are the most useless waste of space and funding. I went with a family member to the cops after finding out her boyfriend hit her. The cops literally shrugged and were like, can't do anything unless you want to press charges or get a restraining order. As if a restraining order actually keeps him physically away from her. Even giving us resources to reach out to or an abuse hotline would have helped a little. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I tried watching that body cam footage of the incident in the park with them and the van. It's extremely jarring to compare it with literally any other video of cops interacting with people of color. Like, the cops in this video are practically deferential to Brian and of course bend over backwards to help Gabbie-as well they should have, she was clearly in distress. They have so much patience and talk about their own relationships etc. I just wish the same courtesy could be extended to non-white people in any other law enforcement situation. Edited at 2021-10-13 03:33 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I mean the Supreme Court ruled cops have no legal obligation to actually help anyone in a dangerous situation so, protect and serve lol the NYC cops let a serial stabber slash a guy half the death on the subway and hid in the conductors cabin and let this dude get stabbed a ton of times before they decided the victim had softened the stabber up enough to come and help and when he tried to sue, lost big time bc the cops are legally speaking NOT here to help Reply Parent Thread Link lmao firing a cop is like trying to kill a cockroach, (but then again at least with the cockroach there's respect for his willing to survive. cops are just bastards.) Reply Parent Thread Link I genuinely don't know how these people (cops) go through life feeling fine that they've let so many men murder their wives or girlfriends. Same with parole boards that let men who have committed intimate partner murders and they immediately do it again. Reply Parent Thread Link i wish it would be a wake-up call to all white people (especially white women) that bend over backwards to defend the police that no, actually, they dont really give a shit about you either. cops arent your friends and while they might not all be intentionally malicious, the number of them that are downright incompetent is staggering. like if you look at a lot of unsolved crimes, especially violent crimes against women, theyre not unsolved because the criminals were brilliant masterminds who covered their tracks, theyre unsolved because the police fucked up. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Sad stat below [ Spoiler (click to open) ] Strangulation victims are 750% more likely to be killed than victims who have never been strangled, according to The Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, a California-based program. Her cause of death makes sense considering how great a predictor of homicide it is in dv relationshipsSad stat below Reply Thread Link Idk if this phrasing makes sense but likeits so, so sad and distressing that we have a statistic like that period Reply Parent Thread Link It makes sense to me But yes, it's is a major indicator. Reply Parent Thread Link strangulation should be its own category of crime given how serious an indicator it is of further violence and murder. idt it's taken seriously enough in the eyes of the law or the police (obviously given the content of this post) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link https://crosscut.com/2020/02/spokane-nurses-want-strangulation-stop-being-overlooked-domestic-violence-cases This came out shortly before COVID, so idk if there has been any follow up. Yep, nurses in my state want it to quit being overlooked.This came out shortly before COVID, so idk if there has been any follow up. Reply Parent Thread Link yep, here strangulation triggers a sane case even in the absence of concomitant sexual assault for just that reason. Reply Parent Thread Link Yep, strangulation is the ultimate last act of control. it's so horrendous, they get to literally squeeze the life out of you. Reply Parent Thread Link Men absolutely LOVE to kill women this way because it's extremely intimate, it takes a long time, and they get to watch her die slowly. If a man chokes you during sex, girls, get the fuck out right now and do not look back. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link And that stat is why choking in porn is so disturbing to me. It normalizes something that is so dangerous. Reply Parent Thread Link Looks like I have more processing to do. I was assaulted by someone I was on a date with and I guess I downplayed the danger I was in. He had his hands around throat and was throttling me. It's been 15 years but I keep finding I've been repressing parts of the incident. Jesus. Reply Parent Thread Link not surprising at all considering at one point in the bodycam footage she states that he grabbed her face hard enough to leave marks. i don't doubt the results of the autopsy, but how does a coroner determine definitively that she was strangled when she was left in the wilderness for almost a month? wouldn't it be difficult to see soft tissue damage at that point? :s Reply Thread Link There might be bone damage/breaks that are consistent/can only be explained by strangulation. Reply Parent Thread Link I know one way that they determine that is by looking at the hyoid bone in the neck to see if it is broken. That bone is rarely broken/fractured in the typical ways that people may fracture something. But is commonly fractured as a result of strangulation. Reply Parent Thread Link If there's no broken bones, they can still find blood clots and damage in the deeper tissues of the throat. Reply Parent Thread Link Strangulation breaks bones and blood vessels that leave behind evidence. Reply Parent Thread Link I just saw the body-cam footage earlier today, from when they were stopped on the highway. this is so distressing, why didn't they arrest him then Edited at 2021-10-13 03:26 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link > why didn't they arrest him then bc they do the same at home (grabbing hard enough to leave marks, probably choking) to their own wives and girlfriends and thought nothing of it. Reply Parent Thread Link Domestic abuse isnt taken seriously, violence against women isnt a priority, they both allege they were violent towards each other (which ignores that abuse victims can retaliate/defend themselves which does NOT make them abusive in return), white privilege, male privilege, some sort of misguided lets not make a bad situation worse with arrests when a bit of time apart will let cooler heads prevail which really doesnt work with DV - goes to the crux off the matter that if youre not trained to recognize the patterns (shes upset, hes calm, he wont talk until he knows what shes saying, she doesnt want to press charges even though a disinterested third party called 911 saying he was slapping her) which all point towards abuse, youre going to miss shit like this. Do I think the cops thought he was going to kill her? No, I dont. Do I think if theyd been actually trained to interact with DV cases they might have seen the signs? I do. Maybe we should invest in that instead of brand new AK-47s or something. Also, I think they were park rangers, not police? If you interact with the public in ANY kind of law enforcement, you should know this shit. Reply Parent Thread Link I think, ultimately, cops would have to care about domestic violence first and even with proper training, they literally just don't. Reply Parent Thread Link Most of the fucking world doesnt have a division for hate crimes against women, except Canada does and I think parts of the Netherlands. With incels multiplying like crazy and gunning down women in attacks on women more and more (Atlanta Spa shootings are Asian hatred but the media ignores the women part of it all), the US still doesnt give a shit about women. We are raped and sexually abused and yet crimes against women are still NOT CONSIDERED A HATE CRIME. Reply Parent Thread Link They didnt arrest him because she literally said she hit him? I get that its distressing, but the cops basically did what theyre suppose to do which is de-escalate and make them go to separate places Reply Parent Thread Expand Link not gonna read the post but thank you for the update, OP. arrest his parents indict the cops end the boyfriend Reply Thread Link He has to be dead if they havent caught him, right? Reply Thread Link Hes a huge naturalist who has previously camped in the woods for months on end. I was in Moab like, 2 days after them. Went to the blue ridge mountains last weekend. Nature is fucking MASSIVE. You really cant comprehend how goddamn big this country is until you drive for 6 hours to go from the tail end of nowhere only to end at the ass end of nowhere with like, one gas station in between. Hes got a head start, money, gear and the know how to exist in nature for prolonged periods of time. Odds are good this fucker is alive and kicking in the Appalachians. Reply Parent Thread Link jesus that sounds like a horror movie plot Reply Parent Thread Link Hes a huge naturalist who has previously camped in the woods for months on end. It seems like most people doubt any of that is true. Theres a difference between van life and actually surviving in the wild. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Probably dead, but then I think about how Eric Rudolph was able to live in the woods in North Carolina for a few years. I don't know if there are enough things for him to scavage or clean enough water where he's at if he's still in Florida. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I havent been following closely but I had the same thought. Is the other theory that his parents helped him escape to the wilderness and hes just roughing it in nature and making some kind of getaway off the grid? One of the early reports when they were looking for him I (probably unsupported by the info available) sensed they were searching in a manner expecting to find his body not him hiding out. Reply Parent Thread Link i think he's dead tbh Reply Parent Thread Link He had such a head start that it wouldn't be super hard for him to disguise himself somehow, I think Reply Parent Thread Link Nah, his parents helped him escape Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's a weird survivalist so I don't know. As more time passes it makes the most sense that he's dead but I also feel like if he was dead he would have been found by now? He strangled his girlfriend, stole her van and used her credit card to fund his return trip home then went about life like nothing happened, even going on a family camping trips where he posed for cutesy photos with his nephews. He doesn't strike me as the type to harm himself. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link hes hiding somewhere thanks to his mommy and daddys help Reply Parent Thread Link one the one hand, since dead bodies can't conceal themselves by moving around then I feel like if he is dead then he'll be found sooner than if he's alive/moving around to avoid getting caught on the other hand, we live in a world of surveillance and computerization so his only real option for evading capture is remaining in the wilderness for literally forever. it's a hell of a lot harder to go start a new life now than it was for John List. even the Unabomer eventually got caught! if I had just murdered my girlfriend and didn't want to kill myself and I had as much of a headstart on anyone suspecting anything as he did, I would've gotten onto a flight to a country that doesn't have an extradition agreement (or doesn't have one for potential death penalty cases - does Wyoming have the death penalty?? idk) rather than try to rough it indefinitely, which kinda makes me think he just went and killed himself. he would've had to do it in or near Florida though, otherwise he'd be caught on gas station tapes and whatnot and idk how easily it is to remain hidden in the wilderness in Florida (as opposed to like, wherever they found Forest Fenn's treasure) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's either dead or has gotten extremely lucky. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean I know they have to check this nature reserve since thats where his parents said he was going, but good god, he had a four day head start and his parents were clearly in on it, so I tend to not believe that he went there at all. With four days, sadly he could be anywhere. Reply Parent Thread Link there are loads of tiktok videos that think his sister his hiding him up in her loft/attic Reply Parent Thread Link I guess it depends on the man power they have looking for him. Reply Parent Thread Link I read an article and a lot of expert survivalists were saying he is either at the tail end of his ability to survive out there, dead, or not there because that terrain is especially difficult with the wildlife and bugs and swampland. Reply Parent Thread Link His parents only recently being like oopsie doodle we meant September 13th not 14th re: the last day they saw brian is ASTOUNDING How do you not know the last day you saw your kid when hes missing? If my child would missing Id be obsessing over the day Reply Thread Link Theyre def trying to save him I bet he came home, told them what happened, got a head start and took off. ugh it gets me so angry Reply Parent Thread Link some people are speculating he's hiding in a bunker in a backyard because drone footage shows the mom in the garden and what looks like a hand reach out and her something. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Holy shit, I had not heard that. His parents can rot alongside him. Reply Parent Thread Link his parents are POS. i hope they suffer and wish them the worst. Reply Parent Thread Link Notes to my future children: I will turn you in for murder Reply Parent Thread Link This entire case has been so upsetting. Seeing how calm he was with the cops contrasted with how distraught she was should have tipped them off. Dont they have training for domestic issues? Reactive abuse is a thing and that entire incident was a giant red flag. Reply Thread Link I cant get over how useless the cops were. they still let her leave with him despite there being signs of abuse. They failed her and now she has become another victim that has lost their life Reading the headlines this morning left me feeling queasy. This monster offed himself in the woods by now bc people like him dont ever want to face the consequences so they take the easy way out Reply Thread Link This is exactly why cops shouldn't be sent out to handle domestic violence calls, we need people who are actually trained and could fucking SEE the signs of her distress and know what to do. Cops never do anything of use when it comes to these calls. It's heartbreaking. Reply Parent Thread Link It really fucked me up watching the cops take her at face-value when she, whilst distraught and clearly traumatised, deferred to blaming herself for the situation escalating in that video. Like wtf you dipshits, that is symptomatic of a cycle of abuse that she would be so ready to say it was something she did that caused it to get physical. Meanwhile fucknut is jovially having a chin wag with the other cops. I mean, at that point is it even fucking critical thinking???? Reply Parent Thread Link It's not surprising and yet it's not any less heart wrenching. I hope everyone involved in this situation gets what they deserve. Reply Thread Link that piece of shit and his parents are going to hell Reply Thread Link This hearts my heart so much. I knew it the fucking instant I watched the dash-cam footage. It was so familiar, how they make you look like the one whos hysterical and out of control while they act completely stoic and unaffected. He was probably furious with her for being so emotional that it got them in trouble with the cops. Just a guess based on personal experience, I hope he and his family rot in jail. Reply Thread Link Same. Triggered a dissociative episode for me. Knew for certain that poor girl wasnt alive anymore. Edited at 2021-10-13 04:22 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Im so sorry. I know this story has been deeply affecting me, too. Love to you, friend Reply Parent Thread Link I hope he's dead Reply Thread Link I dont, not yet anyway. I want to see Justice for Gabby and her family, and then the inmates can have their way with him and his parents. Reply Parent Thread Link If he is dead, I at the very least hope his parents are held to account for Gabby and her family's sake. Reply Parent Thread Link If she's feeling nostalgic for her exes it could be worse. God forbid she starts up with Billy Bob Thornton again. Reply Thread Link Her and Johnny have been friends all along though. It's just probably more exciting now that she's also seen with Abel Reply Parent Thread Link I think it's nice they've maintained a friendship all these years. I can't imagine going out to dinner with an ex turned friend and having it become a headline but I guess it makes for a good chuckle. Reply Thread Link God forbid the woman eat in the presence of a penis owner. Reply Thread Link I mean at least it's not Billy Bob. Reply Thread Link ngl i always loved them together Reply Thread Link at this point I like their friendship way more than any romance she's had since, a true OTP imo Reply Parent Thread Link I can't believe it's been 5 years since the airplane incident and Brangelina aren't ever divorced yet. Reply Thread Link 5 years!? Reply Parent Thread Link I only follow him on IG for his cat. That's all I have to contribute to this post. Reply Thread Link omg, his name is Popcorn awww Reply Parent Thread Link Okay, THIS reunion I could get behind. He was the best of her (male) exes imo Reply Thread Link Abel, your move. Reply Thread Link Theyve maintained a friendship for years why is this news Reply Thread Link bc they're both hot and we need this Reply Parent Thread Link cause they're both finally single at the same time Reply Parent Thread Link man how does she make the face masks look so glam (besides "being angelina jolie" I guess lol) Reply Thread Link isnt he married anyways? Reply Thread Link That's sad though! Reply Parent Thread Link It really sounds like they are gonna have to strike, which fucking sucks for everyone. The studios are not being reasonable at all. Reply Thread Link such bullshit that their demands have not yet been met best of luck to everyone striking Reply Thread Link Imagine being pissy because your staff want to eat and rest. Reply Thread Link Sounds like good old Capitalism to me. /s Reply Parent Thread Link sounds like every boss i've ever had tbh. and my last job was unionized too. Reply Parent Thread Link Reading IA_Stories on IG was horrifying. Women literally buying a water bottle and using it as their pee bottle like wtf. Edited at 2021-10-13 11:45 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Those demands look like basic human rights like wtf Reply Thread Link These demands are so common sense. It sucks that there has to be a strike but if studios can't budge on this shit, it's what they deserve. Reply Thread Link If they strike, what does that mean for the general public? What do we need to boycott to prevent from becoming scabs. Reply Thread Link idk if there's a lot we can do in real time. it seems like if there's a strike most movie/tv production will stop. unless people cross the picket line, and then maybe it would be boycotting that stuff when it comes out? but that'll probably be after the strike ends, so idk that it would help. Reply Parent Thread Link It seems like it could possibly be like what happened with that writers strike in 2007-2008 when a lotttt of shows were delayed Reply Parent Thread Link I think productions will just be paused (other than non-union stuff -- so indies and commercials that don't employ any union crew or SAG actors). Reply Parent Thread Link Consider giving to any strike funds you see put up for the locals and if you live in a town that sees a lot of productions (not applicable to most of us, I know) you can join pickets if they occur. Reply Parent Thread Link You can't really scab unless you take an IATSE job while the strike is happening. Reply Parent Thread Link I've seen some member say don't cancel your streaming services because it will only make it look like the demand isn't there and one of the big issues is with the streaming content saying it's still too new to make any sort of regular rules and conditions, like healthcare and retirement funds. Reply Parent Thread Link so what you're saying is it's the perfect time for me to resubscribe to n*tflix and d+ Reply Parent Thread Expand Link We read books. But seriously, it'll delay ALL union productions so we wait until the producers/studios give a decorum of better wages and working conditions for people other-wise seen as expendable. Reply Parent Thread Link The only thing I can think of that applies to the general public is concerts/other events that require stages, though these events are likely to be cancelled rather than non union workers being hired to set up for them. I believe the Teamsters are striking in solidarity, which makes it even more difficult to set up for these events without union members. ETA: I'm honestly not 100% certain about any of this because I'm not very well versed on what the IATSE does, this is just what I've read on Twitter about concerts happening in the next few months. Edited at 2021-10-13 11:21 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Should be fighting for a 12 hour turnaround... Reply Thread Link They were until their leader decided to be a bitch for no reason. Reply Parent Thread Link I know, it's so fucking disappointing. They have all the leverage and they fucked it up. Reply Parent Thread Link Welp....I needed a break anyway. I was kinda hoping everyone would just walk out at once during the day, but I'll take this. Hope someone texts me. I can't believe (I mean I can but I can't) AMPTP won't budge. COME ON! It's billions of dollars we're talking about. Across the shows and movies still filming plus the lost box office and ad revenue. Do they think people aren't just going to stand up and walk out? We're all 2 mins away from doing that on a regular day. The 10-hour turnaround is nothing, but the 54-hour weekend turnaround is interesting. I'm too tired to do math and figure out how that would work. Reply Thread Link So why did their shitty fucking leader betray the membership by making concessions behind their backs with no explanation???? I have zero confidence that this will end well, it feels like every week I hear a new story about useless union leaders and this is no different. Reply Thread Link idk what the story is in this particular instance but negotiations are not open to all members. All members don't vote on what will be bargained and/or agreements. The bargaining team can bring a finished proposal for a membership vote but individual issues are not voted upon by the union at large. Reply Parent Thread Link The president of IATSE folded under pressure and decided that 14-hour shifts are acceptable even though the previous position was for 12 hours maximum. He didn't even give membership the basic decency of advance notice that he was gonna abandon one of their core demands, and (unless I've missed something today) he has yet to explain. That is pathetic and weak no matter what the technicalities are surrounding bargaining power. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The major ask is that the union is seeking a 10-hour turnaround between shifts, with 54-hour turnaround for weekends. I cant believe they have to strike for this, jfc. Such a fucked up industry Reply Thread Link It is kind of fascinating that we seem to be stumbling towards an unintentional general(ish) strike. Kaiser Permanente nurses (35,000) are planning to strike, Kellogg's factory workers (1,400) are on strike, and with this strike, we could have close to 100,000 people on strike somewhat soon. Similar to the strike wave of 1945 - 1946 . Hopefully we get the equivalent of United Steelworkers' 750,000 members going on strike soon. And hopefully we don't get an equivalent of the Taft-Hartley Act in response. Reply Thread Link #Striketober 60,000 Film and TV workers set 10/18 strike date 10,000 John Deere workers strike deadline tonight 2k hospital workers in Buffalo already on strike 1,400 Kellogg's cereal workers 1,100 coal miners in Alabama 30k+ Kaiser Permanente health workers authorized strike pic.twitter.com/KI7DiOKIe6 Michael Sainato (@msainat1) October 13, 2021 Reply Parent Thread Link They've been on strike more than 7 months now! And one of the hospitals where all the nurses are on strike, they've hired scabs and already told the striking nurses they won't get their old jobs in their previous departments back because they're keeping the scabs, so... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/not-where-we-expected-be-massachusetts-nurses-strike-hits-7-n1281053 They've been on strike more than 7 months now! Reply Parent Thread Link its gonna sound silly but ive seen astrologers (who have been studying for decades) on tiktok predict this. Reply Parent Thread Link Thanks for the link and naming the Taft-Harley act which I didn't know about but looked up. Just forever cutting down workers' rights. Reply Parent Thread Link Imagine shutting down hundreds of productions because you don't want to give people lunch breaks, the ability to use the washroom in a timely fashion and enough time off of work so that people don't fall asleep behind the wheel and die driving home. All so studios get to keep what is really a small percentage of the overall profits. Reply Thread Link There are penalties now for union members not getting lunch breaks but producers think it's cheaper to pay the penalties than break for half an hour. Reply Parent Thread Link Despite rising costs and the increasing influence of OPEC+ producers, the United States remains a country with the substantial potential to return to swing-producer status Less than two years ago, the U.S. was the new major swing producer in global oil markets, but the pandemic has upended its status Less than two years ago, the United States was the worlds largest producer of crude oil. It was the new major swing producer that moved prices up or down with a shrug of the shoulder, challenging OPECs long-standing role as price-setter. And then it all changed as the pandemic struck. The second pandemic year is drawing to a close, and oil is rising fast thanks to tight supply combined with stronger than expected demand resulting from a set of favorable circumstances that have pushed West Texas Intermediate to the highest in eight years. But the swing producer is not swinging anymore. It is asking OPEC to pump more. The Biden administration first asked the oil cartel to step up the supply of crude in the summer. OPEC ignored the plea, just as it did t its last two meetings where the members of the extended group OPEC decided to keep adding 400,000 bpd to global supply every month and not more. Washington remains concerned. Joe Biden knows that high gasoline prices are not good for incumbents, Daniel Yergin, oil historian and vice chairman of IHS Markit, told Bloomberg in an interview this week. Well certainly be hearing more from the administration. Less than two years ago, it would have been ridiculous to even think the worlds new swing producer, the worlds biggest producer, pumping some 13 million barrels of crude daily three months before the coronavirus spread, would need to ask OPEC to bring more oil to the market. Yet this is exactly what the White House is doing. So, what happened? One of the things that happened was capital discipline. The U.S. oil industry had only just recovered from the 2014 price crash. It was still lavishing every dollar on production growth when the pandemic hit, reinforcing an already simmering disgruntlement among shareholders. Pressure ensued, which added onto the pressure from banks that were increasingly unwilling to lend so generously to exploration and production companies amid the rise of the green transition agenda. Yet, it wasnt only ESG considerations that caused banks to cool towards oil companies. It was also underperformance of oil fields that added to the increasingly negative sentiment, as did consistent failure to amass any considerable amounts of cash for much of the industry. Shareholders were unhappy. Lenders were unhappy. And then, in April, WTI turned negative. The only path that made sense in that situation was to tighten belts. This is exactly what U.S. oil companies did and what they are still doing. And this, in turn, is why the Biden administration has to ask OPEC to help bring prices at the pump down. The chief executive of Pioneer told the FT earlier this month that U.S. shale drillers cannot boost supply to curb the price rally even if they wanted to, so price remained under OPEC control. Everybodys going to be disciplined, regardless whether its $75 Brent, $80 Brent, or $100 Brent, Scott Sheffield said. All the shareholders that Ive talked to said that if anybody goes back to growth, they will punish those companies. I dont think the world can rely much on US shale, he also said. Its really under Opec control. Thats a sad end to a short rise-and-fall story, but the story in no way means U.S. oil is dead as a swing producer. Despite the strict discipline that public shale producers are maintaining, smaller private companies are not bound by the constraint of keeping any shareholders happy. And these producers are drilling. The FT wrote in September how small private drillers were ramping up production and how some observers forecast that led by these drillers, U.S. production could add 800,000 bpd in output to the U.S. total over 2022. That would make the U.S. the producer with the fastest-growing output outside OPEC+. Then, earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that production levels in the Permian were close to pre-pandemic ones. The companies responsible for the increase are the smaller, private players, funded by private equity or family money. However, the ramp-up will not be strong enough to have any meaningful bearish impact on oil prices, according to the report. Its a win for the privates without being a loss for the oil markets, Raoul LeBlanc, an analyst at IHS Markit, told Bloomberg. The big takeaway is that private growth wont ruin the party. Meanwhile, the bigger, public players that spearheaded the previous production growth spurts remain reluctant to boost production as they still face hypersensitive shareholders. How long this hypersensitivity will continue is anyones guess and will largely depend on the progress of the energy transition. In Europe, we are seeing the first signs that not all is going well and that mistakes may have been made along the way. It will take a while before we see the same in the United States, if ever. Meanwhile, the United States remains a country with the substantial potential to return to swing-producer status. Whether its oil industry will ever again have the necessary motivation remains to be seen. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: For over a decade academics and analysts have warned that Venezuela, which could soon be Latin Americas next failed state, is evolving into a regional hub for transnational crime. President Maduros authoritarian regime, under rising pressure from the near-collapse of Venezuelas oil industry, an economic crisis, and strict U.S. sanctions, has increasingly turned to illicit enterprises as a means of generating urgently-needed income. Caracas has not only turned to Russia and China as lenders of last resort but has allowed a fundamentalist Shia Iran to extend its influence into Venezuela. This includes allowing Teherans proxy organization Hezbollah to establish significant illicit operations in the petrostate. It is acknowledged, by security analysts, that Hezbollah, with Teherans support, has built a well-oiled and sophisticated criminal network in Venezuela, with tentacles running into neighboring Colombia and other regional countries. The presence of this organization not only fuels regional instability and challenges U.S. hegemony but heightens the risk of further conflict and terrorist attacks. Hezbollah, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization, is an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia political party and militant organization that has become an important proxy for Teheran in its fight for dominance in the Middle East. The militant group followed Iran into Latin America, building effective intelligence and criminal networks in the unstable region. Hezbollah has actively sought to coopt and control local Shia communities in Latin America, including recruiting sympathizers from within the Shia Muslim diaspora in Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela. In 1992, Hezbollah bombed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and, two years later in the same city, a Jewish community center, killing a total of 114 people. The militant political organization is actively involved in a range of illicit activities across Latin America with a focus on cocaine trafficking, which is an increasingly lucrative source of revenue. The importance of cocaine trafficking to Hezbollah is highlighted by the group sending a high-ranking operative Nasser Abbas Bahmad to establish (Spanish) a cocaine smuggling ring in Paraguay at what is known as the tri-border area where Brazil and Argentina meet Paraguay. While that operation was eventually dismantled by Paraguayan and U.S. authorities by early 2021, Hezbollah is still heavily engaged in cocaine trafficking as well as money laundering in Latin America. The U.S.-designated terror group obtains the lucrative illegal drug from Colombia, which is the worlds largest producer. According to the latest UN report, Colombias 2020 cocaine production soared to a record 1,222 metric tons, 7.5% more than the 1,137 metric tons manufactured a year earlier. While there are no clear figures available, it is estimated that Hezbollah is generating at least $300 million in annual revenue from its network of illicit activities in Latin America, with much of that being earned from cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Related: Is Decarbonization Threatening Europes Energy Security? Venezuela, partly because of its proximity to Colombia, has become an important operational hub for Hezbollah in Latin America where it, along with its sponsor Iran, has become a key supporter of an increasingly embattled President Maduro. That has occurred over a considerable period starting when Hugo Chavez became president and launched his socialist Bolivarian Revolution. Maduros current Minister of Petroleum, Tareck El Aissami who is of Iraqi Lebanese descent, figures prominently in a range of schemes that aided Hezbollah to strengthen its presence in Venezuela. When El Aissami was Venezuelas Minister of Interior and Justice it is alleged that he used his authority to grant Venezuelan passports to members of Hezbollah arriving in Venezuela from Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He also figures prominently in money laundering and cocaine trafficking investigations conducted by U.S. authorities. The U.S. Department of State alleges that El Aissami has overseen and financed large shipments of cocaine from Venezuela which, along with other illicit activities, has led to him being charged with various criminal offenses by the U.S. Department of Justice. Other senior Venezuelan figures, including President Maduro, are also charged with a range of offenses including narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. Over the last two decades, Venezuela has become an important transnational shipping hub for cocaine. The breakdown of the Venezuelan state, the collapse of government institutions, and the massive economic and humanitarian crisis engulfing the country have allowed crime and corruption to flourish virtually unchecked. The highly porous nature of the Colombian Venezuelan border facilitates the flow of people, arms, drugs, and other illicit goods between the two countries. U.S. officials estimate that up to 20% of all cocaine hydrochloride produced in Colombia is shipped to Venezuela where it is then trafficked to the U.S. and Western Europe. The drug trade and the support that the Chavez and Maduro regimes provided to Colombian leftist guerillas have allowed non-state illegal armed groups to thrive in Venezuela. While the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC Spanish initials) demobilized in 2017, various dissident groups have established strongholds in Venezuelas border regions. Colombias latest organized leftist guerilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN Spanish initials) has aggressively expanded its operations in Venezuela with it now thought to have a presence in at least 13 of Venezuelas 23 states and in some communities is even acting as a de-facto government. That is only further facilitating the smuggling, extortion, and illegal gold mining in the country. All of this has created a significant opportunity for Hezbollah to ramp up its lucrative illicit operations in the near-failed state. Related: Is America Doomed To Replicate Europes Energy Crisis? Teheran-backed Hezbollah is a key supporter of the authoritarian Maduro regime. The militant group provides an ideal regional proxy for engaging in illegal activities including cocaine trafficking and terrorism. Hezbollah is also actively co-opting and recruiting from the large Lebanese and Shia diaspora in Venezuela and Colombia. Hezbollah is an influential voice among the various familial clans that dominate Venezuelas and Colombias Syrian and Lebanese communities which have become important political and business players in both countries. Many of those clans are firmly embedded in Maduros regime and Venezuelas rapidly expanding illicit economy, with some being integral players in cocaine trafficking and other criminal activities. Many also have considerable influence in neighboring Colombia which is the primary source of Hezbollahs cocaine. This relationship building and recruitment not only bolsters Hezbollahs and Teherans political influence but the militant political organizations revenue which is then directed to boosting its influence in Lebanon and conducting Middle East operations. Hezbollah is a powerful proxy weapon that Teheran can wield to challenge U.S. hegemony in Latin America by allowing Iran to engage in criminal and terrorist acts without being directly linked to such activities. The militant organizations transnational criminal networks allow it to profit from illicit activities and launder the proceeds, generating a crucial source of revenue. Hezbollahs growing regional power and influence make it an important ally for Venezuelas failing government. That gives Teheran, which is a crucial supporter of Maduro, greater influence within OPEC as a key buyer of Venezuelan crude oil. As well as magnifying regional insecurity and challenging Washingtons geopolitical supremacy in its own backyard, the growing influence of Hezbollah amplifies the risk of further terrorist attacks in Latin America. All of this underscores why Washington needs to reappraise its use of sanctions against Venezuela, especially after considering its failure to initiate regime change while creating an environment conducive to allowing transnational terrorist and criminal organizations to flourish. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The United States simply has not had to rely on the rest of the world to provide its energy supply, and thats really what Europes problem has been. have more room to rise, but they are unlikely to follow the skyrocketing rallies of the European and UK gas prices. U.S. natural gas prices hit a 13-year high last week as the energy crunch in Europe and Asia pushed the prices in these two regions to the highest on record. And depending on winter weather, U.S. natural gas prices do have more room to rise. But they are unlikely to follow the skyrocketing rallies of the European and UK gas prices and the price of spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Asia, analysts say. Although the regional natural gas markets are now interconnected more than ever thanks to the LNG trade, U.S. gas prices will largely be spared the extreme volatility and record-high European and Asian prices. The United States has a fairly adequate natural gas supply in storage ahead of the winter. This is unlike Europe, where depleted inventories and rebounding demand have created a rush to stock up for the coldest months of the year, which in turn has caused a supply crunch and record-high gas and power prices. Moreover, U.S. natural gas production is rising slightly, while weekly injections into storage over the past month have been higher than usual for September. Despite the record LNG prices in Asia and the handsome netbacks that U.S. exporters are getting for their LNG cargoes, the United States has a certain capacity to feed gas to its LNG export terminals. All cargoes available will be scooped up, mostly by Asia, but the infrastructure will not allow too much incremental LNG supply out of America that would have severely tightened the domestic U.S. market. Record Global Gas Prices Last week, natural gas prices in Europe hit a fresh record high to the equivalent of $205 a barrel of oil based on the relative value of the same quantity of energy from each source. The worsening global energy crisis sent Asias spot LNG prices soaring by 40 percent last Wednesday, as cargo for delivery into North Asia in November was priced at as much as $56 per million British thermal units (mmBtu)a record high that beat the previous record from the week prior of $34.52/mmBtu. In the turbulent global markets, U.S. natural gas prices also reacted to these mind-blowing record highs, and the benchmark Henry Hub price settled at $6.312/mmBtu on October 5the highest level since 2008. Since the beginning of 2021, U.S. natural gas prices have more than doubled as demand is bouncing back from the pandemic slump, and American producers are not rushing to add too much supply. U.S. Insulated From Global Gas Crunch, Price Spikes However, U.S. pricesdespite being now more influenced by global gas pricesprimarily reflect domestic supply-demand factors and the booming global LNG demand. So, American natural gas prices are more insulated from the global spikes in gas prices, even if they have further room to rise in case of a colder winter in the United States. The U.S. is much more insulated from this global energy trend than the rest of the world, Francisco Blanch, head of Global Commodities, Equity Derivatives and Cross-Asset Quantitative Investment Strategies at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told CNBCs The Exchange recently. Sure, analysts now expect U.S. natural gas prices to be higher than earlier forecasts because of the ripple effect of the global energy crunch and natural gas price rally. JP Morgan and Credit Suisse have recently raised their Q4 average price outlooks to $5.50/mmBtu and $5.75/mmBtu, respectively. A double-digit Henry Hub price is in the cards if the winter is very cold, but a crunch similar to Europe and Asias is unlikely for the United States, Robert Thummel, managing director at TortoiseEcofin, told CNBC last week. [The U.S.] hasnt had to rely on the rest of the world to provide its supply, and thats really what Europes problem has been, Thummel said. In addition, U.S. LNG export capacity is not infinite, despite the nice netbacks exporters would get because of the large premium of LNG prices in Asia to the U.S. Henry Hub prices. Youre not going to see the U.S. to the rescue here, because theres just not enough infrastructure on either side on the U.S. side or the European side and most importantly on the Asian side to solve this, Thummel told CNBC. Regardless of how much Asian LNG prices surge, the current capacity in the United States allows 10.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of gas to be turned into LNG. Natural gas deliveries to U.S. LNG export facilities typically average 10.0 Bcf/d - 10.5 Bcf/d, out of total U.S. dry natural gas production of around 92.3 Bcf/d. U.S. Gas Supply More Adequate Compared To Europe, Asia Crunch The U.S. has an adequate natural gas supply, and although the injection season between April and October has seen lower-than-average net injections into gas storage, recent weekly stock builds have exceeded the average for this time of the year. The net injections into storage totaled 118 Bcf for the week ending October 1, compared with the five-year average net injections of 81 Bcf and last years net injections of 75 Bcf during the same week, EIA data showed. This weeks weekly build is again expected to be a bit larger than the five-year average and potentially again over 100 Bcf, according to NatGasWeather.com, which also forecasts low to very low demand for this week. U.S. natural gas prices are not entirely detached from the global energy turmoil, but America will likely be spared the skyrocketing prices elsewhere. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Crude oil imports into China fell by 6.8 percent over the first nine months of the year, to 387 million tons, according to customs data cited by Reuters. Natural gas imports, on the other hand, jumped by more than 22 percent over the period, to 89.85 million tons, the data also showed. In September alone, crude oil imports fell by more than 15 percent from a year ago. Gas imports went up to the highest since the start of the year at 10.62 million tons, Reuters also reported, citing the official data. "China's ambitions to cool commodity prices by drawing on commercial and strategic reserves, combined with power curbs in the industrial sector that cut into fuel demand, took a toll on crude oil imports," said Seng Yick Tee, senior director at SIA Energy, an oil and gas consultancy, as quoted by Reuters. In addition to highand still risingoil prices, imports into the world's largest buyer of foreign oil were affected adversely by a crackdown on the Chinese private refining industry. Investigations for environmental law violations and tax evasion were one step Beijing took to rein in the so-called teapots. Another was asking state oil majors to stop trading import quotas with the private refiners and cutting the latter's fuel export quotas, too. The authorities also increased taxes on fuels to restrain excessive supply growth on an already oversupplied market. Meanwhile, however, China is struggling to keep the lights on because of the soaring prices of natural gas and the equally soaring prices of coal. The country has instructed utilities to do whatever it takes to ensure enough power generation raw material supply for the winter and has ordered an immediate boost in coal production capacity. Earlier this week, Beijing also said it will be prioritizing energy security over climate commitments, with Premier Li Keqiang saying that the stable supply of energy must be the foundation of any transition to a less emission-intensive future. "Energy security should be the premise on which a modern energy system is built, and the capacity for energy self-supply should be enhanced," Li said in the statement. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Israel will no longer issue permits for onshore oil exploration, Energy Minister Karine Elharrar said on Wednesday at a committee hearing of the Israeli Parliament, the Jerusalem Post reported. Ehud (Udi) Adiri, director general at the energy ministry, also said that Israel would import only electric vehicles (EVs) beginning in 2030. The energy minister of Israel not a big oil producer, but a large natural gas producer already said last month that the country would stop issuing permits for onshore oil exploration as it would look to focus on renewable energy sources. Israel currently has five onshore oil production licenses and three onshore oil exploration permits. Elharrar, appointed energy minister in the new Israeli government in June, also believes that natural gas which Israel is producing offshore and exporting to some countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean is only a temporary solution to energy demand. Oil is a highly polluting fuel that has no place in a country that is doing everything to reduce the use of coal and understands that [fossil fuel] gas is also only an intermediate solution until we can rely on renewable energies, Elharrar said. The new energy minister differs from her predecessor Yuval Steinitz, who strongly supported Israels offshore gas industry. Israel has bet big on the largest gas field offshore the country, the Leviathan gas field, the biggest energy project in Israel ever. More recently, Israel put on hold a major oil pipeline deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over environmental concerns. Israel has environmental concerns over a request it is currently assessing to increase the volumes of oil passing through the country, Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg told Reuters last week. The Israeli government will decide within weeks whether to grant the request for increased oil transportation through its territory, the minister added. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The success of OPEC+ in stabilizing the oil market after last year's price crash shows that the group has all the chances to expand cooperation and include areas such as new technologies and emissions reduction, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Russian Energy Week forum on Wednesday. OPEC+, in which Russia leads the group of the non-OPEC producers, played a key role in stabilizing the market during the pandemic, Putin said. Russia is a responsible member of the OPEC+ alliance, the Russian president said, adding that Moscow assumes that the current deal would be in effect until the end of 2022. "At the same time, the results show that the OPEC+ cooperation has all the chances for further development, it could include more areas of cooperation, including development of new, environmentally-friendly technologies for oil and gas production and processing, and exchange of best practices on how to account for and reduce the carbon footprint," Putin said in his speech at the forum. The Russian president also spoke about the turmoil in the global gas markets, especially the European market. Unlike on the oil market, the situation on the European gas market doesn't look predictable or balanced, Putin said. According to the Russian president, the surge in renewable energy generation across Europe left insufficient nuclear and gas-powered reserve capacity to offset the drop in wind power generation, as it happened in September and kick-started the gas market rally. European energy policies have been flawed in the past decade, and this led to the gas and power crisis, Putin said. Russia fully meets its contractual obligations to European customers, and is ready to discuss additional actions, Putin said. Some analysts and Members of the European Parliament have suggested that Russia has been deliberately withholding gas supply to the European market in recent weeks, exacerbating the gas crisis and pushing prices higher, possibly with the ultimate goal of pushing the European Union into admitting that it needs the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline to avoid a severe crisis when the winter comes. Gazprom has started withdrawing gas from its storage facilities to stabilize the gas market, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told a BBC program on Tuesday, adding that "It's not in our interest to rock the boat further." By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The financial aid officer will be able to tell you if your question can be resolved on the FAFSA or if you need to submit updated information directly to the college after it has received your financial aid form. Where not to turn for free help Stay away from the websites that say they can help you fill out the FAFSA faster and better, Keller says. Generally, these websites software systems are designed to transfer your familys financial information from their site into the FAFSA, but the software doesnt accommodate signing the FAFSA or amending it with updates. Signatures can only be secured directly through the official government website, Keller says. The FAFSA website is also the only place to add a new college or print your Student Aid Report. Thats why its best to avoid third-party sites. Start on fafsa.gov, stay there, use your FSA ID, and get advice from a live, informed person, Keller says. What they dont tell you: Hey, if you rely on us to auto-enroll you, chances are well start you at a contribution rate that ensures you dont qualify for our maximum match. Employers are free to draw up their own formula for how they dole out a matching contribution, and there are dozens of different formulas in play. One of the more common formulas is to offer a 50% match for an employee who contributes 6% of their pay into their retirement account. That is, if you send 6% of your pay into your retirement account, your employer will kick in another 3%. According to T. Rowe Price, less than 40% of plans that auto-enroll workers set an initial deferral rate of at least 6%. That suggests plenty of workers are being set up to leave money on the table. Moreover, Vanguards annual report on workplace retirement plans it administers says that 20% of plans (which cover nearly one-third of all participants in Vanguard-administered plans) have to wait one year before they are eligible for the matching contribution. Spend four years at a job and you only get three years of a match. A retired couple will need around $300,000 to cover healthcare costs. Spohn said mandatory sentencing minimums initially were enacted to prevent racial, gender and class bias by judges. It meant to take away that discretion from judges and force them to treat everybody equally, but in practice it doesnt work that way because of prior records, he said. Thats why racial impact statements have become popular with new legislation if research shows a law will have a disproportionate negative effect on minorities, the law cant pass in some states, Spohn said. Racial disparities in prison populations across the nation have occurred for decades. The particular drivers of disparity are known to be related to a mix of social policies that stretch beyond crime policies to those related to housing, education, receipt of public benefits, child care and employment, the report says. According to the study, which collected 2019 data from the U.S. Census and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 27% of Nebraska inmates are Black, despite Black Nebraskans making up just 5% of the population. For Iowa, 25% of the incarcerated population is Black, but the Black population of the state is 4%. Perez will participate in the National Teacher of the Year competition later this year. Teachers apply for the award, submit examples of lesson plans and secure letters of support. A panel of Nebraska educators selected Perez for the award, which recognizes classroom teachers who are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, skilled and who have the ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. Other finalists for the award this year include Mikayla Bruner of Westside Middle School, Abby Jones of Gibbon High School in Gibbon and Kim Pickering of Lincoln High School in Lincoln. Perez teaches his students content and language but also how to navigate the school system and culture in the United States. Perezs fathers family immigrated to the United States from northern Mexico and were migrant field workers who eventually settled in Nebraska. Growing up, the immigration road here wasnt easy, but it definitely paid off, Perez said. His familys own immigration story allows Perez to empathize with his students, many of whom have come from trauma, war, famine or political destabilization. At some point, Kinkeads mother, Sarah, also moved to Plattsmouth. She died in 1901 of severe burns after her dress accidentally caught fire. In the early 1900s, Ralph, a tailor, moved to Seattle, while Laura worked as a schoolteacher in Lincoln and Etta was studying art in Chicago. The family got together at Christmas 1909 and decided they would all follow Ralph in moving to Washington state. But Cynthia Kinkead didnt make it. On a cold Thursday morning in February 1910, Benton overslept. When he got up, he found Cynthia dead, apparently from a heart attack. She was 60. By 1913, Benton was living at Ettas home in Seattles Wallingford district. Ralph and his wife, Lillian, lived nearby. So did Laura, who taught at a school in the neighborhood. Three years later, Benton Kinkead fell ill with pneumonia and died on Nov. 8, 1916, at age 71. He was cremated a practice far less common at that time than it is today. But for reasons that are lost to history, his ashes were never claimed by his three children or another relative. We dont know, said Mike Pauly, an Air Force veteran from Plattsmouth who is working with Reisdorph on Kinkeads funeral tribute. Thats where everything kind of drifts into the clouds. LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts expressed sympathy Wednesday for the idea of calling a special legislative session to pass a law blocking vaccine mandates. But the governor said he would not be willing to call such a session unless there were 33 senators willing to vote for such a law. Thats the number needed to overcome a likely filibuster by opponents. I dont believe we have the votes to be able to pass something, so Im not willing to call a special session, Ricketts said, when asked about the issue at an afternoon press conference. As he has before, Ricketts promoted vaccination Wednesday as the best way to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. He got vaccinated himself as soon as the shots were offered to people in his age group. But he remains adamantly opposed to vaccine mandates It absolutely should be a voluntary decision, he said Wednesday. At least one Nebraska lawmaker wants a special session to address vaccine mandates. State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said he called the governor last month to urge him to bring lawmakers back for another special session on the issue. The Legislature recently completed a special session on redistricting. Let's not assume these stresses started with Trump, the police murder of George Floyd, or the pandemic. They're as old as our nation's contradictions. America becomes most unsettled when it pursues truth, justice and equality. Sabato says he's worried, and not just because of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. "You're talking to a guy from Charlottesville, with the Neo-Nazis marching in front of my home" during that city's August 2017 rally of white supremacists, he said. He called Jan. 6 "probably the dress rehearsal for what's to come." "The purpose of this study was not just to tell people we're in trouble, because I think most people knew that already, though this suggests we're in deeper trouble than they knew," Sabato said. "The purpose of the study was also to find some common ground between pieces of the Trump coalition and pieces of the Biden coalition." The common ground appears to be substantial bipartisan support for investment in infrastructure: bridges, roads, ports, rail lines, water and wastewater systems. This gives Sabato a hope he acknowledges may be idealistic. "We need some idealism," he said. "We need to inject it back into the system and get people thinking how to stave off violence and disaster." In the 21st century, her life story continues to inspire Nebraskans. Joe Starita, a now-retired journalism professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who has written a biography of Picotte, points out the strength of her commitment in the face of multiple challenges: No matter how many diseases, no matter how many land grabs, no matter how much racial prejudice, no matter how much gender bias none of those could stamp out Susans spirit. She was going to become a doctor, and it didnt matter what 19th-century America thought of Indians and what the white male-dominated society thought about women. Picotte could have pursued high-paying positions in the medical profession, but she instead returned to the Omaha Reservation in northeast Nebraska to serve her people. There, she showed enormous dedication and vision in extending medical care in her area, for Omaha tribal members and for nearby Whites. Not least, she became an energetic national advocate for Native tribes, especially in opposing land grabs of tribal lands. BLOOMINGTON The cocoa beans that will turn to Butterfingers, Crunch bars, Nutella and more chocolate candies will soon be processed in Bloomington, marking the first time the Italy-based company Ferrero will process its chocolate in North America. The company joined by local mayors, council members, county, state and federal officials broke ground Wednesday for construction of its 70,000-square-foot facility. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2023. It will be Ferreros third chocolate processing facility in the world and its first in North America. This, of course, is a joyous moment for Ferrero as we celebrate the expansion of our capabilities here in the United States," said Todd Siwak, Ferrero North America president and chief business officer. "Being able to take cocoa, sugar, milk and other ingredients and turn it into high-quality chocolate right here behind me makes us stronger and a more vertically integrated company." The $75 million project is expected to bring up to 50 jobs to the processing facility. Commercial properties in the enterprise zone receive expanded local and state benefits for facility expansions, renovations and other improvements. Among the incentives, which Ferrero will benefit, are sales tax exemptions on building materials. All of the local governments that are part of the enterprise zone had to come together on the idea, Mwilambwe said. But then from there, you also had staff members who work for Ferrero to try to make sure that many of their needs were met and it really culminated for us in the nitty-gritty aspect of the expansion with permitting and things like that. Siwak said Bloomingtons location was more appealing than the other facilities in Illinois and North America because what became evident to us over the last three years is how supportive this community is, and how it is supported by a deep network of skilled and talented team members who are willing to join the Ferrero team. In a video displayed Wednesday morning at the construction site, Gov. J.B. Pritzker boasted the companys commitment to Bloomington. Ferreros continued investment in Bloomington will generate new jobs and sweeten the economy for the region and across the state for years to come, Pritzker said. Ferrero currently spends about $300 million in Illinois with about 1,400 employees and 560 suppliers. The processing facility will be built directly next to the existing 226,00-square-foot Ferrero building at 2501 Beich Road in Bloomington, which currently manufactures 100Grand, Rasinets, Crunch and Buncha Crunch using chocolates processed in Europe. Once the new building is complete, it will provide the processed chocolate necessary to make Ferreros various products at the manufacturing facility next door, as well as at its manufacturing plants in Franklin Park and Brantford, Canada. Ferrero acquired the Bloomington facility and others in Illinois in 2018 when the company bought out Nestles U.S. confectionery business for $2.8 billion. The company employs more than 3,000 people in 18 offices spanning North America. It has locations in at least 49 countries across the world. Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather Love 1 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. NONFICTION: The many contradictions of Oscar Wilde are captured in this captivating biography. "Oscar Wilde: A Life" by Matthew Sturgis; Alfred A. Knopf (864 pages, $40) If Oscar Wilde had behaved himself, he would be little remembered today. His poetry has been mostly forgotten; his witty plays are a staple of the community theater circuit, but they don't achieve the high watermark of great theater. But Wilde was incapable of lying low. At the pinnacle of success he defied the conventions of British Victorian society, egged on by his young lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. He eventually went to prison for multiple sex acts with young men, and today he's a symbol of cultural rebellion and gay martyrdom. Tragedies make the best stories, and Matthew Sturgis makes the most of Wilde's in his new biography, "Oscar Wilde: A Life." Sturgis' clear-eyed understanding of Wilde is acute, his narrative assured. Drawing on new material, including the full transcript of the libel trial that set Wilde on the path to prison, he assembles an indelible portrait of a confounding and complex man. Born to a well-known Dublin couple, Wilde's life changed when he won a scholarship to Oxford. There he stood out, with his unusual height and outrageous outfits, "more like the incarnation of Apollo than an ordinary human being," and began his lifelong preoccupation with the Greek version of man-boy love. From Oxford, Wilde moved on to London, where he cut such a wide social swath that he was parodied by Punch. Already a celebrity in England, he traveled to more than 100 American cites to lecture on aesthetics and shore up his finances. Back in England, Wilde fell in love with Constance Lloyd, had two sons with her and hit his stride penning plays like "A Woman of No Importance" and "The Importance of Being Earnest," theater that entertained Victorian audiences while lacerating their hypocrisies. But his latent sexuality would not be denied, and Wilde dropped hints of his inclinations in "The Picture of Dorian Gray," a dark novel of secret lives. After he met Douglas at Oxford, the couple, "fired by a shared and predatory enthusiasm for sex with others," set up at London hotels and procured services from a parade of young men. And then Wilde made a grave error. Enraged when Douglas' outraged father left a card at Wilde's club labeling him a sodomite, Wilde sued him for libel, unaware that the aristocrat had engaged detectives to follow him. When Wilde saw the witness list for the trial, young men he'd had sex with, "a vertiginous chasm" opened at Wilde's feet. He lost the libel judgment and was arraigned on multiple charges of gross indecency. Sentenced to two years in prison, Wilde and his reputation never recovered. Sturgis captures Wilde's contradictions: generous but erratically cruel, brilliant but careless. He doesn't fully analyze Wilde's wanton streak, but the evidence is abundant: Wilde opined that "nothing is good in moderation. You cannot know the good in anything until you have torn the heart out of it by excess." Today he's famous for those excesses: "the countercultural rebel, the homosexual 'martyr,' the precursor of cool." Was immortality worth it? If only Oscar Wilde were around to tell us. Mary Ann Gwinn is a book critic in Seattle and a former member of the National Book Critics Circle board. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MIDDLE-GRADE: Minneapolis author Anne Ursu tackles questions of privilege and power in this feminist fairy tale. "The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy" by Anne Ursu; Walden Pond Press (432 pages, $16.99) In the kingdom of Illyria, boys are groomed from a young age to be sorcerers one of the land's most powerful roles while girls are taught to conform to a rigid, secondary role. The sorcerers protect the kingdom from threats, especially from a formless enemy known as the Dread, which attacks whole villages, sucking the life out of everything in its path. In the world of Anne Ursu's new fantasy "The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy," 12-year-old Marya Lupu has tried to conform. She's tried to stay in the background, to shrink her curiosity and tendency to speak out when things are unjust. While her mother polices Marya's "wild" tendencies, her older brother Luka receives the education and attention she craves. Her sole respite is her time with her neighbor, Madame Bandu, a weaver who sees a future for Marya beyond housework. When the Council for the Magical Protection of Illyria comes to test Luka for his magical abilities, a series of unfortunate events leads Marya to embarrass the family in front of some of Illyria's most powerful men. Luka fails the test, dashing the family's hopes for social advancement, and not long after, Marya receives a letter ordering her to report to a school for troubled girls. At Dragomir Academy, tucked in a remote, mountainous area at the edge of Illyria, students are told to leave their "troubled" past behind and remake themselves into girls who can be trusted to work for the kingdom's sorcerers. Those who don't follow the rules bring down harsh punishments and others disappear for weeks at a time with a mysterious sickness, only to return a shadow of themselves. Despite this rigid structure, Marya slowly begins to develop friendships, and her curiosity leads her to research the history of the kingdom, its past wars with the witches of neighboring Kel and clues to the identity of the Dread. Madame Bandu, too, helps Marya, letting her in on a secret code of resistance by female weavers and advising her to ask, "Who does the story serve?" when she's told to accept things that don't add up. When the Dread appears near Dragomir Academy, Marya must marshal her resources, the secrets she's begun to unravel and the relationships she's built, to save those around her and find a path toward a better future for the kingdom and its girls. "It's difficult to be a girl in Illyria," the headmaster says as Marya arrives at Dragomir Academy. "There are not many places for you. It is easy to feel as if you are not valued." Minneapolis author Ursu lays out the social levers that help one group (men) concentrate and hold power and the ways that those a step below them (women) often are the enforcers of such unequal systems. But it's her characters who make the biggest impact. Marya and her fellow students and teachers at Dragomir Academy lingered with me, long after the story concluded. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NORMAL Keeping older adults connected to the Activity and Recreation Center despite its physical doors being shut has landed the center's director of operations, Rick Lewis, a leadership award from East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging. Lewis is the recipient of the Dr. Arthur H. Larsen Leadership Award for 2021. The recognition is giving annually to a community member who has "demonstrated outstanding leadership in advancing programs, services and opportunities for older persons in East Central Illinois," according to a statement from the group. By way of pivoting to Zoom and phone calls to keep seniors connected to the ARC, as well as holding blood drives and mass vaccination clinics, Lewis "improved the lives of thousands of seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic," the agency said. ARC Member Services kept some programming ongoing virtually, even though COVID mitigations prevented in-person gatherings, made 5,800 wellness check and 3,800 birthday calls via phone under Lewis' direction. Once vaccinations were available, a partnership between ARC, the McLean County Health Department and Carle BroMenn Medical Center resulted in vaccination clinics where 5,800 older adults to get their shots. Lewis also serves on ECIAA's Advisory Council. He has been director of ARC since 2019. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON Pressure is building for Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe to fill a vacant seat on the city council, as several residents criticized him for recommending a former council member who lost the same seat in the 2019 election. The Ward 6 seat, which covers portions of downtown and the west side, has been empty since Aug. 30. Ald. Jenn Carrillo resigned two years into a four-year term because Carrillo was unable to find new housing within ward boundaries. An email shared to social media by a current council member shows Mwilambwe is considering Karen Schmidt, who served as a Ward 6 council member for 20 years and lost the seat in 2019 to Carrillo by 42 votes, to again represent Ward 6. The mayor must appoint and the council must approve a replacement by Oct. 30. Mwilambwe was not available for comment Tuesday. A voicemail to Schmidt was not immediately returned. Schmidt served on the council with Mwilambwe for eight years. She also helped him in his campaign for mayor and appeared in a campaign video for Mwilambwe. Some residents raised concerns about appointing Schmidt, who was not among the 11 candidates who submitted an application for the seat. Luisa Gomez, a resident of Ward 6, said she turned in her application for the position but never received confirmation from the city that it was received. We put in our applications at the desired deadline that was set for us, but then we were told it was extended for others, Gomez said. Now were told that someone else who did not follow the procedures is being considered. Coretta Jackson, also a ward resident, told council members and city staff Monday that the current makeup of the city council does not accurately represent the city. Right now, Ward 6 is not a part of our city because that seat is empty. There have been many decisions made in this room over the past several weeks that do not include the voices of the people of Ward 6, Jackson said, mentioning recent votes such as a plan to aid flood victims from summer rainstorms, other infrastructure matters, and a vote to increase city manager Tim Gleasons salary. Mwilambwe in his email to council members said Schmidt understands the role of council member and that they make decisions not just for their ward but also the community as a whole. Ward 2 Ald. Donna Boelen reiterated that idea at Mondays council meeting. The appointment is entirely the mayors prerogative and the ward represents their constituents, but also makes decisions that affect the entire community, Boelen said. The mayor also told the council in his email that his goal all along has been to find the candidate with the broadest amount of consensus amongst council, Ward 6 residents and the community. "I have spoken to Karen and she has indicated her willingness to serve but only to finish out the term as she would not run again," Mwilambwe wrote to the city council. The email was shared to Facebook by Ward 8 Ald. Jeff Crabill, who in the post accused the mayor of wanting to find middle ground between progressives and conservatives on the council because one other candidate did not garner support from conservative members. This flies in the face of Democracy, Crabill wrote. It is virtually unheard of that after an elected loses their seat, particularly through no fault of their own, that their opponent in the last election would fill that vacancy. Mwilambwe did not address at Mondays council meeting the email or the offering of Schmidt to fill the seat. He said in the email that Schmidts name has been mentioned to me by several people who believe she would be the candidate who would reach the broadest level of consensus. Instead, during his discussion session at the end of Mondays council meeting, Mwilambwe said: I just want to mention what is obvious, is that the search for Ward 6 continues. Other business Also approved Monday at the Bloomington City Council meeting was an ordinance creating a Welcoming America Commission, which comes nine months after the council approved the Welcoming America initiative. The commission would serve as an advisory board to the city council and other officials in developing and maintaining the citys Welcoming America initiative. The Welcoming America Initiative connects leaders in the community, both in government and nonprofit sectors. It builds on current work by providing methods and approaches to creating inclusive, welcoming places for immigrants. The initiative can also assist in creating policies and reinforce welcoming principles. The ordinance passed 5 to 1. Ward 5 Ald. Nick Becker voted no and Ward 3 Ald. Sheila Montney and Boelen did not vote. That vote came after a proposed amendment by Crabill that would have added text to the section of the ordinance about membership reading: The mayor shall strive to the make appointments that are reflective of the diverse nature of our community, including those residents that are first-generation immigrants. The commission is also well-served with community members who have backgrounds in advocating for immigrants. That amendment was shot down by Boelen, Becker, Montney, and Ward 9 Ald. Tom Crumpler, with Mwilambwes no vote as a tiebreaker. The overall Welcoming America Commission ordinance did pass with a different amendment by Crabill which added one function of the commission to be to establish indicators that will allow the city to measure how well the community is meeting the Welcoming America standard. A resolution increasing the percentage of funding available through the Harriet Fuller Rust Grant program for projects in Wards 1, 4 and 6 also passed the city council Monday. The resolution increases the percentage that the city would provide for rust fund grants from 50% to 75%. The program helps fund facade projects that aim to make buildings more accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It does not call on the city to spend any more money, Ward 7 Ald. Mollie Ward said. This would simply say that people could be reimbursed for up to 75% of their costs. And the other portion of this (resolution) has to do with marketing the program to increase awareness of the program. Currently, its had very little use, if any. Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather 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. What OSF Cancer Center adds to health care options in the area, officials said during a media tour Wednesday, is another chance to get treatment quickly after a diagnosis from a team based in the same space, working together for the same goals. BLOOMINGTON Issues in the propane industry don't happen often, said Illinois Fire Service Institute instructor Mark Clapp. But when they do happen, it's big. Compared to a building fire, putting out a propane fire is a totally different type of firefighting, said Eric Davison, public information officer for the Bloomington Fire Department. Department staffers and others on Tuesday completed what Davison said is a "cornerstone class" with the Illinois Fire Service Institute: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Firefighting. "This sort of training is done throughout the fire academy in basic fire training," he said Tuesday afternoon before the class. "It's not new to anyone, but it's a refresher and an amazing opportunity from IFSI to be proactive." It was held at Bloomington Fire Station No. 2, 1911 E. Hamilton Road, with a 500 pound residential tank. Davison said propane tank fires are a high-risk, low frequency type of event. He said the training mainly focuses preventing on a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. "When something starts to boil," Davison said, "it creates pressure, and the vessel can no longer contain that pressure and explodes and we're trying to avoid that." It's a danger that's become scarred into Illinois firefighting history: Oct. 2 marked the 24th anniversary of an explosion that claimed the lives of two firefighters with the Carthage Fire Department. The IFSI website said Michael Mapes and Walter Buckert died in 1997 when they were hit by a large, exploding LP tank. They were fighting the fire at a farm outside of Burnside, which is two hours west of Peoria. Clapp also said a record was set in Murdock when a rail car was blown a mile away. Davison said there's a few different ways firefighters can prevent a BLEVE. One is by cooling down the container, which he said has a blow-off valve. "It's a pressure regulator on the top," he said. "When it hits a certain pressure, it lets out the contents of that tank. As it starts to shoot off that gas, it's going to relieve some of the pressure in that tank." Depending on the situation, he said, "sometimes it's best to let it burn off." Davison said as they get water on top of the tank, it will potentially cool it down and avoid a BLEVE. He also said if the tank is releasing gas and the pressure is dropping, "we can essentially shut off that thank." "What you'll see in the class, well open up a fog pattern, which is a wide open spray," he said, "and that creates a water curtain to get us closer to the tank itself. "And then we will be able to shut off that valve." While the whole class is about propane, Davison said it generally also deals with pressurized tanks that hold flammable content. "Anytime we deal with hazardous materials, we want to ensure we know what the contents are," he said. He said with propane, there's not a lot of danger with having it burn off. "We burn propane for heating, cooking, and all sorts of things," Davison said. "If it was a hazardous material, we would identify it, and if it's something that could cause a hazard by burning, were working more to turn that off," he continued. The propane was donated by Evergreen FS. "Partnerships like these allow us to provide better training and be of better service to the citizens of Bloomington," Davison said. He also advised people to keep any kind of grill propane or not away from your home. 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. CHICAGO The head of the Chicago police officers union has called on its members to defy the city's requirement to report their COVID-19 vaccination status by Friday or be placed on unpaid leave. In the video posted online Tuesday and first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration to court if it tries to enforce the mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week. After Friday, unvaccinated workers who won't submit to semiweekly coronavirus testing will be placed on unpaid leave. Catanzara suggested that if the city does enforce its requirement and many union members refuse to comply with it, It's safe to say that the city of Chicago will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend coming up." In the video, Catanzara instructs officers to file for exemptions to receiving the vaccine but to not enter that information into the city's vaccine portal. He said that although he has made clear his vaccine status, "I do not believe the city has the authority to mandate that to anybody, let alone that information about your medical history. During a news conference Wednesday, Lightfoot accused Cantazara of spreading false information and dismissed most of his statements as untrue or patently false. She said COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be effective and that getting vaccinated would protect city workers and their families. What were focused on is making sure that we maximize the opportunity to create a very safe workplace, Lightfoot said. The data is very clear. It is unfortunate that the FOP leadership has chosen to put out a counter narrative. But the fact of the matter is, if you are not vaccinated, you are playing with your life, the life of your family, the life of your colleagues and members of the public. She said the city is prepared to deal with any fallout related to the vaccination requirement. Violent crime has spiked in the city this year, from expressway shootings to a rise in carjackings. Chicago police reported 629 homicides this year through early October, compared with 605 during the same period last year and 402 in the same time frame in 2019. First responders around the country have been hit hard by the virus but have been resisting vaccine mandates. More than 460 law enforcement officers have died of COVID-19, including four members of the Chicago Police Department, according the Officer Down Memorial Page. On Tuesday, Dean Angelo, who once held Catanzara's union position, died of the disease. Los Angeles police and county sheriff, and Seattle police are among the departments either under vaccine mandates or facing one. Catanzara has clashed with the mayor over a host of issues. After the city announced the vaccine mandate in August, the union head compared it to something that might happen to Nazi Germany, telling the Sun-Times, This ain't Nazi ... Germany (saying) 'Step into the ... showers, the pills won't hurt you.'" Lightfoot blasted Catanzara for his "offensive outburst" and Catanzara posted a video on the union's YouTube channel apologizing for his choice of words, saying he was not trying to link vaccinations to what happened during the Holocaust. The St. Louis-based natural gas company Spire Inc. is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to keep operating a pipeline through Illinois and Missouri, warning that a winter shutdown could be devastating to St. Louis-area customers. In a filing last week, Spire requested a stay that would allow operation of its Spire STL Pipeline until the issue is resolved in the courts. If the Supreme Court declines to take up the case, operation of the pipeline could cease on Dec. 13 unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission extends an emergency order granted in September. Spire's court filing said shutting down the pipeline in the middle of winter could result in the loss of natural-gas service to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses" in the St. Louis region. With winter heating season less than one month away, customers who rely on the STL Pipeline need assurance that this critical infrastructure will continue to deliver a reliable and affordable energy supply, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. But the Environmental Defense Fund's lead counsel, Natalie Karas, said the stay is unnecessary because Spire already has approval through mid-December "and FERC is poised to issue another temporary certificate to keep the pipeline operational through the winter to ensure reliable service to St. Louis customers. The pipeline runs for 65 miles (105 kilometers), from Scott County, Illinois, to near St. Louis, where it connects with a national network. FERC granted approval in 2018. Spire has called it vital for providing reliable and critical energy access to 650,000 homes and businesses throughout the St. Louis region. But the EDF contended in a lawsuit that the pipeline harms land in its path, and that taxpayers will foot the bill for decades to come. In June, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that FERC failed to adequately balance public benefits and adverse impacts in approving the pipeline. The panel also wrote that evidence showed the pipeline is not being built to serve increasing load demand and that there is no indication the new pipeline will lead to cost savings. The ruling vacated approval of the pipeline, prompting FERC's 90-day order allowing its continued operation. Spire cited a severe cold spell last winter as evidence of the pipeline's value. While other areas struggled with lack of supply and high natural gas costs in February, the STL Pipeline ensured the St. Louis region had access to reliable, affordable energy, when it needed it most," the company said in a statement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Shes a fan of TikTok. She loves to dance. She is shy and petite and her 15th birthday is coming up next Tuesday, according to relatives. She is the 14-year-old girl who was shot outside Phillips Academy High School. The girls grandmother, Johneece Cobb, said the family is not comfortable releasing the teens name because she is a juvenile. Wednesday morning as the high school freshman was in an intensive care unit, recovering from two gunshot wounds, her family and about 25 others gathered in front of St. Sabina Church on the South Side to hear an update on the teens recovery. She made it through surgery last night, Cobb said. Shes stabilized, shes going to make a full recovery and there was no severe damage to her organs. The news conference was held as the police report surfaced, revealing the girls mother, who had been planning to pick up her daughter, had arrived outside the school prior to the last bell and in time to see the shooting unfold. The girls mother told police that she saw a man get out of a small silver sedan, walk up to the doors of the high school, located at 244 E. Pershing Road in the Bronzeville neighborhood, and fire shots at her daughter and a man in his 40s around 3:30 p.m., the report said. ShotSpotter the citys gunshot detection system picked up eight gunshots in the area, and police responded to calls of a shooting at the school, the report said. Eight .45 caliber shell casings and one expended bullet were found at the scene. The man who fired the shots got back in the sedan and fled north, the report said. The woman told police that the man was wearing a mask and a white and black camouflaged hoodie, and he looked to be in his 20s and not a student, the report said. The girl was shot in the left armpit, the left side of her back and pelvis, the report said. She was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital in critical condition, police said. Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said Tuesday that the shooting happened just after the security guard, a 46-year-old man, opened the doors in the back entrance near Pershing Road and Giles Avenue. The guard was shot in the right elbow, left arm and his back and he was in fair condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center, police and the report said. The guard was standing 10 feet from the door when the shooting took place, Deenihan said. Outside St. Sabina Wednesday, the 14-year-old spoke to her grandmother on FaceTime from her hospital bed with a message she wanted to share. Please tell everybody I said thank you, she said. I can feel the prayers. Cobb said the color in her granddaughters face had been coming back and Cobb was optimistic about the progress shes made thus far. Shes hopeful the person who shot her comes forward, but she also has compassion. I believe the person who shot my grandbaby is hurting, Cobb said. She added: Please, know that we are praying for you too. Cobb lost her nephew Edwin Cobb in 2015 to gun violence. Since then, she has joined a support group called Purpose Over Pain for parents and family members who lost loved ones to gun violence. Tuesday, before she learned the news of her granddaughter, she went to visit his gravesite. She said Edwin and her granddaughter were close and he was an active participant in anti-violence marches. No one was in custody and an investigation remains ongoing, Deenihan said. A motive was unknown, he said. Around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, shots were fired near McDade Elementary Classical School, located at 8801 S. Indiana Ave., hitting a window, police said. A male was standing outside when a sedan drove past him and someone inside starting firing shots, police said. He was not hit. No arrests have been made, police said. The Chicago Teachers Union wrote in a post on Twitter that they are praying for safety after learning that the elementary school building was hit. Lamar Johnson, who leads a program called The Brave Youth Leaders at St. Sabina Church also addressed the crowd Wednesday morning. He said he has received multiple calls from parents, principals and counselors who are concerned about the safety of their students. The fact that this keeps happening in our inner cities to our Black and brown teens thats living in trauma every single day needs to be declared a state of emergency, Johnson said. He said he started a petition for J.B. Pritzker to declare a state of emergency in response to the ongoing gun violence; people can text Chicago SOS to sign. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church hugged and consoled the weeping grandmother. He is asking for politicians to be more proactive. We want a plan and a strategy that says when are we going to stop the violence, Pfleger said. Money is money but lives are lives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A falsehood-fed fire is engulfing American democracy, where more than half of Trump voters -- and 4 out of 10 Biden voters -- support secession from the union. Those startling numbers are from an online survey by the University of Virginia Center for Politics in partnership with Project Home Fire, an initiative "dedicated to finding common ground in American politics." According to their survey, 52% of the respondents who voted for Donald Trump and 41% of those who voted for Joe Biden at least somewhat agree with the idea of states seceding from the union. One in four Trump voters strongly agreed. Eight out of 10 voters for each man view elected officials from the opposition party as "a clear and present danger to American democracy." Four out of 10 respondents could support a president operating without checks and balances. And 4 out of 10 Trump voters surveyed strongly agree that the nation needs a powerful leader "to destroy the radical and immoral currents in our society today," according to findings of an online survey of more than 1,000 Trump and Biden voters in late July and early August. "I was surprised that such a large percentage on both sides want the other side to secede," said Larry Sabato, founder and director of the Center for Politics. "That's beyond stunning. It's threatening." Didn't we settle this matter 160 years ago? "You're not gonna have secession like you did in 1861," Sabato assured me, pointing out that every state, red or blue, has pockets of the other hue. "Are you going to build a fence around them, or build a wall?" But not everyone in the Confederate states supported secession; Union-supporting counties in northwestern Virginia broke away from the Old Dominion at the start of the Civil War. We live in a nation where minority rule is enshrined through the electoral college, and through a U.S. Senate that gives equal weight to California and Wyoming. Gerrymandering has already walled off folks from real democracy; others appear ready to try something else. "If you look throughout the course of history, and you see times when people have veered towards authoritarian or totalitarian lines of thinking, thats been in times when theres some big withdrawals being made from peoples body budgets," Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychology professor at Northeastern University, told National Public Radio on Oct. 6. "And the two most expensive things your brain can do is move your body and deal with uncertainty and chaotic circumstances." Let's not assume these stresses started with Trump, the police murder of George Floyd, or the pandemic. They're as old as our nation's contradictions. America becomes most unsettled when it pursues truth, justice and equality. Sabato says he's worried, and not just because of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. "You're talking to a guy from Charlottesville, with the Neo-Nazis marching in front of my home" during that city's August 2017 rally of white supremacists, he said. He called Jan. 6 "probably the dress rehearsal for what's to come." "The purpose of this study was not just to tell people we're in trouble, because I think most people knew that already, though this suggests we're in deeper trouble than they knew," Sabato said. "The purpose of the study was also to find some common ground between pieces of the Trump coalition and pieces of the Biden coalition." The common ground appears to be substantial bipartisan support for investment in infrastructure: bridges, roads, ports, rail lines, water and wastewater systems. This gives Sabato a hope he acknowledges may be idealistic. "We need some idealism," he said. "We need to inject it back into the system and get people thinking how to stave off violence and disaster." Of course, this common ground has been poisoned by the big lie of a stolen election, a fallacy most Republicans profess to believe in. Others are just playing along. "This is their way of taunting the left and making it impossible for Biden and the Democrats to govern," Sabato said. "But they're also destroying our system. Because once people lose faith in the honesty of the election process, it is over. The republic is dead." We can't stave off this disaster for democracy if we refuse to acknowledge how undemocratic this nation has been from the git-go. What we're witnessing is not so much a radical departure from the norm as a return to form. If there's little-to-no accountability for the attempted takedown of U.S. democracy, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out what's next. This nation was built not on common ground, but on a foundation of inequality. A home that's truth-resistant will never be flame-resistant. Williams: Pharrell Williams is not happy. If his Virginia Beach music festival is to continue, that city's leadership must listen and learn Pharrell Williams has reeled in a boatload of awards as a recording artist and producer. But the Virginia Beach natives greatest hit may have been the 2019 Something in the Water music festival on that citys waterfront. Michael Paul Williams is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Va.; read more of his columns on Richmond.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago Oct. 13, 1921: The American Legion chose Bloomington over Springfield for its state headquarters. Bloomington won by 200 votes. The Legion will be headquartered in the new McBarnes Memorial building, and will enjoy free rent. The first offices will move here in January. 75 years ago Oct. 13, 1946: Gen. Joseph Vinegar Joe Stillwell died in a San Francisco hospital. He was 63 and succumbed to liver cancer. Stillwell commanded U.S. troops in Burma (a loss) during World War II, and also at Okinawa, which resulted in victory. He asked to be cremated and his ashes scattered. 50 years ago Oct. 13, 1971: West Twin Grove Christian Church will celebrate its 130th anniversary this Sunday. There will be the regular service, a basket dinner and a program. The congregation was founded in 1841 but had no building until 1848. In 130 years the church has had only 20 pastors. 25 years ago Oct. 13, 1996: Downtown Bloomington is looking a little different. With a renovation in progress its hard to see daily changes. But slowly the south side of the square is being upgraded, apartments are renting, and stoplight posts are even being painted to match the trash cans. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August, evidence of the considerable leverage workers have in today's economy. About 2.9% of the workforce quit in August, up from 2.7% in July, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report, released Tuesday. That marks the highest quit rate since the report began in late 2000. The number of workers who quit rose by 242,000 from July as more Americans demanded higher pay, better working conditions and more flexible arrangements. Those number of people who quit rose in accommodation and food services, wholesale trade and state and local government education. "If you're unhappy with your job or want a raise, in the current environment it's pretty easy to find a new one," said Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC. "We're seeing people vote with their feet." Companies continue to grapple with a serious worker shortage. Job openings remained very high at the end of August at 10.4 million, the JOLTS report showed. However, that marks a decline of 659,000 from the end of July. The numbers show the worker shortage was even worse than realized this summer. The number of job openings in July was revised higher to 11.1 million, a record high since this report began in 2000. 'Golden age' for workers Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, said this may be witnessing the start of what might eventually be considered the "golden age for the American worker." "The American worker is now confident that he or she has the bargaining power and can obtain a reasonable wage -- and have influence over the shape of working conditions," Brusuelas said. That bargaining power comes from their willingness to quit jobs they don't like and look for new ones. And this shift is not merely centered on simple economics -- but a broader reassessment around quality of life and purpose. "This is what happens after great wars or depressions," Brusuelas said. "It's hard to spot while you're in it, but we've gone through a shock that has elicited an unexpected change upon the population. And it will take some time to sort through." All of this helps explain why employers, including factories, trucking companies, restaurants, construction firms and schools, are having trouble finding workers. In the long run, such a workforce transformation will be a positive thing, allowing more people to find satisfaction in their careers and for businesses to have happier employees. And it can allow more workers to make a living wage and contribute to the broader economy, easing the alarming gap between rich and poor. In the short run, however, the worker shortage will continue to complicate the reopening of the global economy, contributing to rising prices, supply chain stress, product shortages and shipping delays. "It takes some for these things to work themselves out," said PNC's Faucher. Source: CNN 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 Micro-investing platform, Trove, has announced plans to make its investment platforms available to Africans across the continent. The plan to expand to more African markets rides on the back of the mammoth adoption the fintech startup has recorded in its launch market, Nigeria. Oluwatomi Solanke, CEO & Founder of Trove Global, said, Our organizations goal remains to further this mission in different consumer markets across Africa. We are optimistic the solution will be well received. From Anambra to Accra, Kampala to Kisumu, we remain committed to spreading financial wellness to all of Africa. Curious? Secure Your Spot Right Now. Click Here to get started! https://launch.trovefinance.com/ghana As the pioneer Stock investment platform in Nigeria, Trove was created with a mission of providing new and better ways for African investors to earn higher returns and build a global investment culture. To achieve its goal of providing a world-class digital investing service, Trove Global is fully licensed to offer investment advisory services, allowing the company to layer investment advice as a key part of its service offering. Austin Akagu, CCO at Trove, stated one of the first questions most people ask when they begin investing is, where do I begin? To help answer this critical question, we have built an amazing suite of digital investing products, including direct investment (Stocks/ETFs) recommendations, that will shorten the investment journey for both our new and experienced investors. We have done the heavy lifting. Its time for you to sit back and invest with ease! Austin said. The pioneering startup stayed true to its promise to democratize investing for Africa in many ways. Trove provides more than 10,000 financial assets spread across stocks, bonds and Exchange-traded Funds (ETFs) for users to invest. The company has solved the problem of restricted market access for Africans that wish to diversify their portfolio more extensively than any current market player. Africans can easily assemble a competitive portfolio with the tap of a few buttons at price points that align with global standards, compared to the status quo of hiring a dedicated fund manager. Furthermore, Trove has broken the barrier of high entry cost(s) that has locked most Africans out from participating in the global markets. With as little as $10, Trove offers most Africans an opportunity to own global stocks seamlessly. Trove has softened the barrier of the high cost of entry that has locked most Africans out from participating in the global markets. With as little as $5, Trove offers most Africans an opportunity to own global stocks seamlessly. The goal remains to further this mission in different consumer markets across Africa. We are optimistic the solution will be well received. Source: 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 President Bouteflika was forced to resign in the face of mass protests against his bid for a fifth term in office in 2019, and died in September aged 84. His departure was followed by a string of prosecutions against senior members of his inner circle, most prominently his brother Said who had been seen as the real power behind the throne after the longtime ruler suffered a stroke in 2013. The prosecution had called for seven years' jail for Said, who was charged with other former officials for "abuse of office", "inciting the falsification of official documents", "obstruction of justice" and "contempt of court". The main accused at the trial in Dar El Beida, east of Algiers, was former justice minister Tayeb Louh. He was handed six years in prison while tycoon Ali Haddad was sentenced to two years, APS said. Both were close to the former president. Ex-inspector general of the ministry of justice Tayeb Belhachemi was also sentenced to two years in prison. The court acquitted six other defendants. Said Bouteflika, 63, was arrested in May 2019 and sentenced to 15 years for "plotting against the state and the army" during the final days of his brother's rule. On January 2, he was acquitted of those charges by a military appeals court, but was handed to a civil court to face trial on corruption charges. Source: France 24 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 Some sit in the mud, holding buckets or sieves in their hands. Other children have their feet or hands submerged in a pond. Some of these children look younger than 10 years old and yet they are already working in the gold mine in Kambele, a village near the town of Batouri, located in the East Region of the country, not far from the border with the Central African Republic. Journalist and blogger Jean-Charles Biyoo Ella went to Kambele on October 4 to report on the situation there. He sent our team these images. 'Children practically grow up in the mine' Thousands of children come to the mine in Kambele each day to look for gold. You see a lot of kids under the age of 14 but there are also some very young children there. The youngest child Ive seen at the site was barely a year old. They come with their mothers who work in the mine. Some of the children come to take care of their younger siblings while their mothers work. The children who are a bit older dig around for gold without any protection. They bring anything they find to gold panners, who will buy it from them for a bit of money. There is a primary school in the village, right by the mine. When the school year started back in September, there were 200 children. Just a month later, there were only 45 children. They had all left school and gone back to the mines. Many parents cant afford their childrens school fees or the materials they need, so they decide that it would be more beneficial for the entire family for the children to work instead of going to school. So these children dont go to school. They practically grow up in the mine. However, on August 30, the Minister of Mines, Gabriel Dodo Ndoke, banned children from accessing all mining sites across the country". His ruling also explicitly banned school-aged children (in Cameroon, aged six to 14) from working in these sites. This decision was made after at least 10 people, including several adolescents, died in a mine collapse in Kambele in late May. But our Observer says that little has changed on the ground. There were two or three times as many children in the mines in October as in June. The police do carry out random checks, but they dont do them often. We would need constant monitoring to really control this problem. When they are in the mines, the children are exposed to toxic substances like mercury and risk getting ill [Editors note: mercury is used to help separate gold from sand]. 'People who work in these mines dont have the means to care for themselves' Bezalel Ndifo Wafo is a doctor at the Catholic Hospital in Batouri. He often sees patients with illnesses caused by mercury exposure. When people are consistently exposed to mercury, they can inhale it or ingest it accidentally and their digestive and respiratory systems can become affected. The patients we see often have pulmonary problems or lesions on their esophagus or stomach. You cant get rid of mercury easily and these lesions can lead to complications in the long term. You can also get skin allergies. The women who work in the mines are particularly vulnerable. They often stand in water up to their waists and so their genitals come into contact with water that has been contaminated with mercury. They can develop vaginal lesions. And if they happen to be pregnant, mercury exposure can affect the fetus and may impact its neurological or psychomotor development. Unfortunately, people who work in the mines dont have the means to care for themselves. When they come, we treat the visible symptoms. But once they are doing better, the patients return to the mines and, when they come back to see us, their symptoms are usually even worse. We need to do more thorough examinations, using better technology, but either we dont have the equipment or they cant pay for the treatment. So what really needs to be done is raise awareness about the risks of mercury exposure. Our team contacted Nico Landry Ndorman, the regional representative of the Ministry of Mines in the East Region, but he did not respond to our requests. Cameroons artisanal mining industry produces an estimated two tonnes of gold each year, most of which is produced in the east of the country, according to an Interpol report published in 2021. Source: France 24 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 Supreme Court will on October 26, this year, rule on a review application challenging the courts decision to prohibit the judge presiding over the trial of a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni. The A-G, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, is asking the apex court to set aside its decision to prohibit Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, a Justice of the Supreme Court, who was presiding over the trial as a High Court judge. A seven-member review panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, fixed the date yesterday after listening to arguments from the A-G, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, and lawyer for Dr Opuni , Mr Samuel Cudjoe. Members of the panel are Justices Gabriel Pwamang , Agnes Dordzie , Prof. Ashie Kotey , Avril Lovelace Johnson , Getrude Torkornoo and Issifu Omoro Amadu Tanko. A-Gs case Making his case for the review, Mr Dame argued that the Supreme Court committed a fundamental error of law when it took Justice Clemence Honyenuga off the case. It was his submission that the trial judge did not commit any breach or rules of court or any law when he dismissed a submission of no case and ordered Dr Opuni to open his defence. He argued that there was no basis for the prohibition, as a ruling on the submission was within the jurisdiction of the trial court and, therefore, Justice Honyenuga was performing his duties as required by law. According to the A-G, even if for the purposes of argument, the trial judge did commit an error, the remedy for Dr Opuni was to appeal at the Court of Appeal but not invoke the supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to prohibit the judge. Mr Dame urged the court to uphold the application on the basis that the decision by the ordinary bench of the court had occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice I pray for the decision of the majority to be reviewed as it contained errors that goes against the administration of justice, he submitted. Opunis response In response, Mr Cudjoe disagreed with the A-G and argued that the Supreme Court did not commit any error of law, but rather applied the law in prohibiting Justice Honyenuga. Counsel said certain statements made by Justice Honyenuga in his ruling on the submission of no case clearly indicated that he (judge) had predetermined the guilt of his client even before he (Opuni) opened his defence. According to him, the A-G had not met the threshold for review, which was that the ordinary bench ruling should have led to grave miscarriage of justice. The A-G wants the court to come up with a new principle that if a party is not happy with a judgment, then he goes for a review, counsel submitted. Prohibition On July 28, this year, the Supreme Court, in a 3-2 majority decision, prohibited Justice Honyenuga from presiding over the trial of Dr Opuni, and a businessman, Seidu Agongo, who have been accused of causing financial loss of more than GH217million to the state. The court held that in dismissing a submission of no case filed by Dr Opuni, Justice Honyenuga made certain pronouncements which could be interpreted that he (judge) had already found the accused persons guilty even before they opened their defence. Such an act, the court held, gave rise to a likelihood of bias. According to the court, Justice Honyenugas duty at the ruling on submission of no case was to establish whether or not a prima facie case had been made against the accused persons, but the pronouncements he made was as if the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Also, the court quashed certain portions of the ruling on the submission of no case in which Justice Honyenuga expunged certain evidence said to be in favour of Dr Opuni. It said Justice Honyenuga breached the law when he expunged those exhibits as hearsay evidence. A reasonably well-informed observer, taking account of the exclusion of the exhibits that appear to favour the accused person and the pronouncements made by the judge which connote that the 2nd and 3rd accused persons have defrauded COCOBOD and it would not have happened but for the applicant (Dr Opuni) herein deliberately and knowingly facilitating it and that by that he has caused financial loss to the state, would come to the conclusion that the judge would not be impartial in the consideration of the any defence the accused person has to put forward, the court held. The majority decision was authored by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who was joined by Justices Agnes Dordzie and Issifu Omoro Tanko . Justices Dotse and Lovelace Johnson dissented. Not guilty Dr Opuni is standing trial with Seidu Agongo, the CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, an agrochemicals company. Agongo has been accused of using fraudulent means to sell substandard fertiliser to the COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers, while Dr Opuni is accused of facilitating the act by not allowing Agongos products to be tested and certified as required by law. The two have denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 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 The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has charged the reconstituted Legal Service Board to ensure that the right calibre of staff are recruited to ensure effective delivery of services. The country cannot afford to have a Legal Service that is made up of people whose competence and diligence to work are in doubt, he said. Dr Bawumia, who is also acting as the President because President Akufo-Addo is out of the country on official duties, was speaking at the inauguration of the nine-member Legal Service Board in Accra on Monday. The board is chaired by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame. Other members include the two Deputy Attorneys-General and Ministers of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Ms Diana Asonaba Dapaah; the Solicitor-General, Ms Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu, and a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse. The rest are the Chairperson of the Public Services Commission, Dr Janet Ampadu Fofie; a representative of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Kwaku Gyau, and two nominees of the President, Mr Daniel Kwaku Tweneboah Asirifi and Mrs Sylvia Assimeng Archer. The board is expected to advise the President on matters connected with the structure and the conduct of affairs of the service, such as recruitment, appointment, promotion and conditions of service of officers. Advice Dr Bawumia advised the board to discharge its mandate by working together as gladiators to lead the Legal Service in carrying out its statutory responsibility of creating and sustaining a reputable legal system to enhance access to justice for the people. He also urged the board to ensure that the country was always ahead of its peers when it comes to the provision of legal services for the state. According to the Vice-President, having a competent workforce would have a multiplier effect on other sectors of national development and, therefore, asked the members to let their expertise and experience impact on the work. He gave an assurance that the Office of the President would offer the board the necessary support to be able to carry out its duties effectively. Assurance Mr Dame said members of the board were mindful of the burden placed on them and assured the Vice-President of working to justify the confidence reposed in them. He said he considered their selection as a call to duty, for which reason they would not take their responsibilities lightly, adding that the high calibre of persons on the board demonstrated the seriousness the President attached to the work of the board. 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 The Membership of Rotary Club of Accra-industrial pay a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Sugandh Rajaram- The Indian High commissioner to Ghana, in his office at Roman Ridge in Accra. This visit follows an invitation extended to the members of the Club following a request by the President of the Club Mr. Santosh Gopalan Nair and the Rotary International President Mr. Shekhar Mehta for H. E. to officially join the Rotary family. INDUCTION The President and the Board of the Rotary Club of Accra-industrial took advantage of the visit to officially induct H.E. Mr. Sugandh Rajaram- the Indian High commissioner to Ghana to the club. He has been made an honorary member and also in attendance were The Charter President Mr. Francis Sam, the President Elect Master Senchim Dean, the Membership Director Ms. Nana Konadu, PR and Fundraising Director Mr. Prosper Ashiquaye Doku and other members of the board. The induction ceremony was conducted by the President in the presence of the board members. Rotarian President Santosh in inducting the diplomat, indicated that, Rotary as an international organization and its member clubs, from time to time, add new members so that it may not only increase its usefulness and influence as a club, but also to extend the spirit of Rotary throughout its jurisdiction and beyond. He welcomed the diplomat to the ranks and admitted him to membership in the Rotary Club of Accra Industrial. He affirmed that the Diplomat manifested and exemplified those qualities of head and of heart, which fit him to interpret and impart the message and ideals of Rotary to those with whom he comes in contact with. He stated that, H.E. Mr. Sugandh Rajaram has been admitted not only to the Rotary Club of Accra Industrial, but also to a worldwide association; and by virtue of his membership in this club; he will be welcomed into the fellowship of any Rotary club the world over. He said, the honor and privilege of Rotary membership carry with it duties and obligations and charged him to abide by the Four Way Test which is one of the governing instruments of what Rotary members Do, Thing and Say in their daily endeavors. He was symbolically pinned which pin he must carry all the time. He was also given implements contained in a file that included; a pen drive containing various rotary information, a framed Four Way Test, a bannerette and a rotary cloth. He was therefore implored to honor the club's meetings, to perform his share of club service, and to place his knowledge, expertise and talents at the disposal of the club in its task of carrying the principles of Rotary into the daily life of the community we serve. ACCEPTANCE The diplomat in his acceptance speech expressed his profound gratitude and relished the invaluable opportunity accorded him by the rotary club of Accra-Industrial to serve humanity some more. He underscored the need for Rotary and his outfit to collaborate on many fronts to serve the vulnerable. He intimated that his life, both public and private is about service to humanity which fits squarely into the ideals and objects of Rotary and so therefore he would use time available to him to serve as an honorary member of the club. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL Rotary is an international Service Organisation with a global network of over 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. We believe that solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's People of Action have used their Classifications and professional expertise, passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health and we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to this to the end. CLUB HISTORY Rotary Club of Accra-industrial is the 52nd Rotary Club in Ghana, sponsored and Chartered by the Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road-Central in December 2019 with Rotarian Francis Sam, the group General Manager of Melcom as their Charter President. As a young Club with membership spanning many Classifications and backgrounds, we have and continue to be engaged in many projects to better the lives of people within and out of our jurisdiction. Some of these Projects include; Borehole Project to provide portable water for a community in TEIMAN (Gt/R)- yet to be commissioned, Medical Health Screening, donation of wheel chairs to Mother and Child Hospital in Kasoa, Career Counselling with the youth in and around our catchment area, Economic Empowerment Project with or mother club, distribution of rotary branded PPEs to some less privileged around the lorry parks and educated them on their use, and many more. As a young club, with some very ambitious projects in our project bank pending executions, we look forward to good partnership to executing them. Some of these include; Building of wash-rooms at the Ankaful Hospital Leprosarium, Clean Accra Project: A clean-up and sensitization Project amongst many, Donation of Dustbins to the Lorry Parks around, Supply and installation of medical facilities in the northern part of the country and many more. Meetings day for the club are held every Wednesday at 6:00pm for 6:45pm officially at the Cove 177 Restaurant, in the SSNIT Building opposite Dizengoff, Acircle- Accra. Source: Public Relations Department, ROTARY CLUB, Accra 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 Mr. Samuel Tetteh Korboe, the outgoing Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Information Services Department (ISD), has urged the Department to review its charges and tenancy agreement to shove up its revenue. He cited for example the Departments landed properties located in prime areas like Kanda and North Industrial Area, saying rent paid by occupants did not reflect the key locations of the properties. Mr. Korboe said this when the Audit Committee of the Information Services Department on Friday, October 9, officially ended its four years of tenure in office. The Committee, which was constituted in 2017, had its mandate renewed in 2019 after the first term of two years of service. He said the Committee had a very fruitful working relationship with the Department and hoped the Department would extend the same level of support and cooperation to the next committee. He said, however, that the Committee detected few audit infractions during the four-year term of office and, therefore, asked the management to build the capacity of the staff of the Internal Audit Unit and the Accounts Section to enable them to tighten all the financial transactions to nip future audit infractions at the bud. Mr. Korboe recommended to the management to seek advice from public institutions such as the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Ministry of Finance, Controller and Accountant-Generals Department to help the Department sanitise its financial transactions. On his part, the Acting Chief Information Officer, Mr David Owusu-Amoah, noted that because of the good counsel of the Committee for the past four years, the Department never appeared before Public Accounts Committee to answer questions. Although there were challenges before and after the inauguration, the Audit Committee has helped us do things in the right way, he added. He said the ISD had learnt a lot of lessons from their services and pledged the support of the Department to the next Committee to be constituted. Members of the Committee were Mr Samuel Tetteh Korboe (Institute of Charted Accountant, Ghana), Mr Andrews Anim- Boateng (Internal Audit Agency), Mr Frank K. Amedume (IAA), Mrs Ethel Codjoe Amissah (ISD) and Mr Kwamena Yartel Amuah (ISD). Source: 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 The mother of a victim of incest in the Central region, Mavis Ayitey has renewed calls for justice for her underaged daughter who was impregnated by her father. The victims mother Mavis Ayitey said police at Agona Swedru are failing to act on the issue after the suspect (Kwesi Dawood), an NDC official was granted bail. The victim herself has confirmed the incest allegations made against her father in a current interview with EIB Correspondent, Yaw Boagyan. Mavis Ayitey said Central Regional Police Commander COP Kwadwo Antwi Tabi instructed Agona Swedru Divisional Police Command to re-arrest Kwesi Dawood and charge him with a criminal offence but the Swedru Police have since failed to act. The troubled mother wants swift justice for her daughter calling on the Inspector General of Police,(IGP) COP George Akuffo Dampare to intervene in the matter. I didnt impregnate my daughter The suspended Communications Officer of the NDC in the Central region, Kwesi Dawood has denied media reports alleging that he impregnated his biological daughter and forced her to abort it. The said report was carried out by the Daily Guide newspaper on 11th October 2021. Reacting to the development, the main opposition NDC official said: I wish to state unequivocally that the said publication is a false and malicious fabrication. Meanwhile, he asked the general public to disregard the publication in its entirety as he begins the process to prove his innocence through the justice system and pursue a defamation action against the Daily Guide newspaper. 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 Former NPP Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira West, Benjamin Kofi Ayeh, has joined the force against the LGBTQ+ community stressing their practices won't be accepted in Ghana. There are currently contentions over an anti-gay bill before Parliament which seeks to criminalize the LGBTQ+ activities and commit them to a fine or jail term or both. The private members bill proposed by Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George and supported by seven other Parliamentarians is recommended to check homosexuality in Ghana but a group of scholars, lawyers and Civil Society Organizations contend the bill violates the fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Hon. Ayeh wondered how the bill infracts human rights because laws are made to check human behaviour excesses since every person has a right. ''If I decide to kill myself and don't die, the law will deal with me. Why? Is it not my right? Is it not my life? Why doesn't the law permit me to do what I like? Right now, if I have sex with my daughter, will the law deal with me or not?...But because, based on our values and culture, we have said we accept this or reject that; if you go against the acceptable conduct, you will face the laws. How come someone is using his values to adulterate our values that we now want to embrace it?'' he asked. He strongly believed allowing homosexuality to thrive in Ghana will ruin the nation. He further questioned; ''If you are a man and feel that you're a woman, will you be taken to the girls' or boys' hostel when he goes to the Secondary school? Or if he goes to the hospital, will he be admitted into the female ward or male ward?'' Benjamin Kofi Ayeh was shocked at those making arguments in favour of the LGBTQ+ group emphasizing he's never seen a male dog chase fellow male dog for sex . "I haven't seen my male dog having sex with another male dog. No, no, it doesn't happen. How much more we, humans, who feel we're superior beings?'' Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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 A Liberian teenage motorcycle taxi rider has become a national hero after he found and returned $50,000 (37,000) that had gone missing from a prominent businesswoman in north-eastern Nimba County on the border with Ivory Coast. The young man, Emmanuel Tolue, saw the money wrapped in a plastic bag on a highway and heard the owner, Musu Yancy, desperately making a radio appeal to anyone coming across the cash. He then let her know he had found it in the presence of local officials. Ms Yancy told the BBC she and her boss have rewarded the cyclist with $1,500 (1,100) and other gifts. She was so happy and relieved about getting the money back she has almost lost her voice thanking God. As people sing the praise of the motorcyclist, well-wishers have been pouring into the home of the lady in the town of Tappita in celebration. Such gestures are exceptionally unusual in post-war Liberia. Source: BBC 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 Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress has conceded that the party shot itself in the foot in the 2020 elections. Gyamfi said on Metro TV's One On One show which aired on Monday (October 11, 2021), that the partys vigilance at the polling stations was far from satisfactory. The NDCs failure to be vigilant and the connivance of the Electoral Commission and the governing New Patriotic Party, Sammy Gyamfi believes led to the defeat the party recorded. He however assured that lessons have been learned and that the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling station in 2024. Reiterating John Mahamas do or die comment, Sammy Gyamfi said that the NDC will activate all legal ballot protective measures during the 2024 elections. But for the fact that we made certain mistakes which the NPP capitalized on with the help of the Jean Mensa-led commission, we would have won power. I believe that we could have been more vigilant at the polling station where I believe a lot of ballot stuffing took place. That is why we are saying that weve learned from our mistakes and we are going to be extra vigilant in 2024. It's going to be do or die. Sammy Gyamfi also downplayed suggestions by Vice President Bawumia that the party played the tribal card in the 2020 elections. He defended that the party executed an issue-based campaign that was devoid of personal and tribal attacks. I dont know how anybody can accuse the NDC or John Mahama of playing tribal politics because the NDC is the only national mass political party in the country. The party is made up of people from mass and diverse backgrounds in the country. From 1992 till now, weve chosen leaders from various backgrounds. Rawlings from the Volta Region, Professor Mills from the Central Region and President Mahama from the North. Im not sure our brothers from the NPP can say same. They have only chosen southerners to be their presidential candidates. If you take the vice-presidential position too, youll see the same trend. We dont discriminate. We see Ghanaians as one people, he said. 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 General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, has urged members of the party to make inputs for amendments of the partys constitution. Such inputs, he said, should made in written submissions to that effect in the form of amendment proposals to his office before the deadline of October 19, 2021, per the stipulation in the party constitution. The NPP constitution, he said, provided in Article 19, that every amendment to the partys constitution shall be made at the National Annual Delegates Conference so long as notice of such amendment had been submitted in writing to the general secretary not later than two months before the National Annual Delegates Conference. The 2021 National Annual Delegates Conference of the party is scheduled to take place from December 18-20, 2021 in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi. Western North Mr Boadu gave the reminder while addressing the Western North Regional annual delegates conference of the party last Monday in Sefwi Wiawso, the Western North regional capital. The Western North delegates conference was attended by party executive members from all the nine constituencies in the region, as well as Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the region. In attendance was Mr Fred Oware, a representative from the Office of Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. It was held on the theme: Consolidating the gains of 2020 elections the role of stakeholders. Submissions The Western North Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr William Benjamin Assuah, led the conference to consider and approve the statement of accounts, as well as a statement on the state of the party presented by the Regional Treasurer, Mrs Gifty Adu Ankamah and Regional Secretary, Samuel Kofi Abiaw respectively. 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 Winneba, the Municipal capital of Effutu in the Central Region is the place to be as the entire West African sub-region converge in the town. About one hundred and ten (110) Members of Parliament across the entire West African sub-region have met at Winneba for the ECOWAS Extraordinary Parliamentary Session. This is historic in the sense that never has ECOWAS held such a summit in a city or town other than the national capitals of member states. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo graced the opening ceremony with his presence on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The colourful event has sent thousands of people in and outside the country to Effutu and its surrounding towns. Businesses are booming, tourism is being enhanced as hotels and other guest houses have had more than enough customers patronizing their edifices. The summit will end on Friday, 22nd October, 2021 when all the participating MPs from the various countries would leave for their respective countries. In all these, we cannot ignore the key role played by the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwwmena Afenyo-Markin who, through engagements with the powers that be, ensured that this all-important summit was held in Winneba. 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 immediate-past Member of Parliament for Tema-East constituency, Hon. Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover has admonished defeated NPP Members of Parliament and Parliamentary candidates in the 2020 general elections to take full responsibility for their defeat and shun away from pointing accusing fingers at the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Divine Otoo Agorhom. To him, such comments are a recipe for disintegration of the party. Hon. Titus Glover made these remarks via phone-in interview with Asempa FM on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in reaction to a barrage of allegations by Hopeson Yaovi Adorye, defeated NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Kpone-Katamanso constituency in last year's elections, against the Regional Chairman. Hopeson Adorye alleged, last week on the same platform, that the Regional Chairman of the party sabotaged his campaign in Kpone-Katamanso leading to his defeat and thus vowed to unseat him in the partys Regional elections next year. "As the Chairman of the Kingmakers Association of Greater Accra, I can assure you that, I'll do everything within my power to make sure that we unseat Chairman Divine Agorhom and elect a formidable Chair", he emphasized. Chairman Agorhom, who was in the Asempa FM studios on Tuesday to talk about the party's upcoming Regional Annual Delegates Conference, refuted Hopesons claims asking "why and how will a Chairman who wants to win seats in order to have a bragging right sabotage his own Parliamentary candidates? Who does that?'' Jumping to the Regional Chairmans defence, Titus Glover, who is also a former Chairman of the Greater Accra MPs Caucus in Parliament, averred that its totally unfair and misleading for any person to blame Chairman Agorhom for the party's poor performance. According to him, the NPP's loss of seven (7) out of the twenty-one seats it held in the Region namely Krowor, Tema-East, Okaikoi-North, Ledzokuku, Ablekuma-Central, Adenta, Madina constituencies slipped through the party's fingers because of unresolved internal bickering and lack of cooperation between the candidates and the Regional leadership. "No one can and should hold the Regional Chairman (Divine Agorhom) responsible for the loss of seats in the region. We (Parliamentary candidates/MPs) must blame ourselves. Our own behaviors, petty quarrels and vindictive attitudes gave out those seats to the NDC", he fumed. Call For Unity And Thursday's Annual Delegates Conference In a related development, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom has called for peace and unity among the rank and file of the party. According to Chairman Divine, he, as NPP Regional Chair, will be the last person to subscribe to tribal politics, knowing the danger it poses to the country. He thus advised warmongers to eschew creating divisions since it could plunge the country into chaos. He also outlined the scope of Thursday's Regional Annual Delegates Conference expecting in attendance President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia, John Boadu - NPP General Secretary among other dignitaries. Source: J. F. Davis/Freelance journalist 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 Celebrated sound engineer, Appiah Dankwah, popularly known as Appietus, has stated that he cannot forcefully pass on his knowledge in music to young talents on how to make good music. Appietuss comment comes at the back of Doctar Canns question on Happy FMs Ayekoo After-Drive Show as to why he is not teaching upcoming music producers how to produce great music like he has done over the years in the field. Honestly speaking, you can only help the ones who are ready to learn. You cant force it on anybody. With my experience as a sound engineer, I had to try my hands on some things some years back to know how its done, I had to travel out of Ghana to realise that there are types of microphones, learn what they are made from, which microphone is best for which occasion, the limit each microphone can take up to and a whole lot, he said. He added that, To gain the knowledge I have acquired in music today, you need to go the extra mile to learn whatever you need to learn about the career that you have chosen in music. My doors are also open to anyone ready to learn. Appiah Dankwah is a Ghanaian actor, musician, music producer, and sound engineer. The name Appietus, which was coined from the phrase Appiahs Tools, gained prominence from his signature Appietus in the mix. He has been the winner of six music industry awards in the 10 years from the start of his career. He won the Ghana Music Honours 2015 Best Music Producer and Sound Engineer award, Sun Shine Music Awards 2010 Best Sound Engineer award, and the UK Ghana Music Awards, Best Sound Engineer in 2008 among others. Source: Daily Guide 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 Podcasts have become a beloved pastime for many people around the globe, and data shows that Ghana is joining the trend. Since launching in the West African nation, Spotify, the worlds most popular audio streaming subscription service, has noticed a keen interest in podcasts among Ghanaians. So what exactly are Ghanaians streaming in terms of podcasts? Spotify is excited to reveal the top podcasts in Ghana over the last 90 days. At number 1 is Sincerely Accra -- a firm favourite among podcast listeners in the country. Interestingly, the rest of the top 10 podcasts are a curious mix of religious and relationship-focused podcasts: Joseph Nti, co-creator of Sincerely Accra, the number one podcast in Ghana, says they are focused on putting out episodes that their amazing community supports: Kwame and I found out in April that we were the top show on Spotify, and having our hard work be validated felt pretty amazing -- especially with our pretty intense production schedule with an episode out every two weeks, says Nti. The Michelle Obama Podcast and the Joe Rogan Experience also made the list, which are both highly popular shows streamed worldwide. Similarly, TED Talks Daily is a well-loved podcast that many people around the world tune into every day. The rest of the top 25 podcasts range from paranormal shows to motivational shows, like: Supernatural with Ashley Flowers Motivational Speeches 7 Good Minutes Daily Self-Improvement Podcast About Spotify Spotify transformed music listening forever when it launched in 2008. Discover, manage and share over 70 million tracks, including more than 2.9 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features for music including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free listening experience. Today, Spotify is the worlds most popular audio streaming subscription service with 365m users, including 165m subscribers, across 178 markets. Facebook: @SpotifyAfrica | Twitter: @spotify | Instagram: @spotifyafrica | #SpotifyAfrica Download the Spotify app via the Android or iOS app store or by heading to www.spotify.com - to embed Spotify into a website - right click on any playlist, go to 'share' and copy embed code. 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 " " Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place U.S. flags at headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in preparation for Memorial Day. The regiment has been doing this for Memorial Day for more than 70 years. Arlington National Cemetery For most Americans, it signals the start of summer, the perfect excuse for a three-day getaway, and the first chance of the year to bust out those barbecuing skills. But how many Americans really understand the significance of Memorial Day? Before lighting up the grill and diving into the pool, get to know why this holiday holds a special place in so many American's hearts. The name pretty much says it all, but Memorial Day is much more than a symbolic day of commemoration. It was originally called Decoration Day, and the tradition dates back to the 1860s when men and women decorated the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers with wreaths, flowers, flags and other items. The inspiration for the day came from local observances that had been popping up throughout the country in the three years following the war. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for veterans of the Union Army, was responsible for declaring the nationwide day of remembrance on May 5, 1868. In his proclamation, Logan wrote: The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. Advertisement Why May 30? May 30 was somewhat of a neutral date since it wasn't the anniversary of any one specific Civil War battle. The first national commemoration on May 30, 1868 was a major event at Arlington National Cemetery, with a speech from former Union General and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield. Following Garfield's words to attendees, 5,000 participants joined in to decorate the graves of more than 20,000 soldiers both Union and Confederate who were buried at Arlington. That tradition still lives on at Arlington to this day, usually involving the current U.S. president or vice president laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the ceremonial placement of American flags on each grave. This isn't the only account of the holiday's history, though. According to a 2018 New York Times article, Yale historian David W. Blight traces Memorial Day back to a series of commemorations in 1865 held by freed black Americans after Union soldiers, including members of the 21st United States Colored Infantry, liberated the port city of Charleston, South Carolina. "The war was over, and Memorial Day had been founded by African-Americans in a ritual of remembrance and consecration," Blight wrote in the 2011 New York Times essay. "The war, they had boldly announced, had been about the triumph of their emancipation over a slaveholders' republic. They were themselves the true patriots." While Blight's origin theory isn't universally accepted, the facts behind the story are worth keeping in mind when celebrating this Memorial Day. " " Every year over Memorial Day weekend, more than 135,000 people visit Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have died while in the armed forces. Arlington National Cemetery Advertisement From Decoration Day to Memorial Day While most people agree that the commemoration was originally intended to pay homage to Civil War soldiers, as the United States entered World War I in 1917, the holiday evolved to honor the lives of any U.S. military personnel lost in any war. And while Logan proclaimed May 30 as the official calendar date, a full century later in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in an effort to create three-day weekends for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971, and since that switch, Decoration Day became Memorial Day and the holiday has been observed on the last Monday of May each year. Several Southern states also observe a separate day to specifically commemorate fallen Confederate soldiers: January 19 in Texas; the third Monday in January in Arkansas; fourth Monday in April in Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and South Carolina; the last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee. Advertisement Memorial Day by the Numbers As far as holidays go, Memorial Day does some heavy lifting in terms of the sheer number of people it pays tribute to. A few stats to keep in mind: More than 45 million soldiers have served the United States during war time. More than 1.35 million Americans have died in armed conflicts around the world. There are 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, and each one is decorated with an American flag on Memorial Day. But of course, over the decades since its official inception, Memorial Day has taken on somewhat of a hybrid vibe as many Americans consider the extra day off as a way to usher in summer. Here are some of the more lighthearted facts to know: About 41.5 million Americans traveled over Memorial Day weekend 2018. 60 percent of Americans fire up the barbecue to celebrate the holiday. More than 180 running races are held each Memorial Day. Now That's Interesting Traditionally, the American flag is raised to the top the morning of Memorial Day, then slowly lowered to half-mast until noon, and then flown at full mast the rest of the day. Advertisement Originally Published: May 22, 2019 " " How did the donkey and elephant end up as the symbols of the two major U.S. political parties? Leontura/Getty Images When the Democratic Party gathered for its 2008 convention in Denver, Colorado, a live donkey named Mordecai was there to serve as the first official live mascot in the history of the Democratic Party. The "official 'asscot," as his owner Curtis Imrie called him, didn't deliver a memorable address to the party like Barack Obama did. But his presence provided a light-hearted moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). The Republican Party, however, has never had a live elephant at one of its conventions. But a donkey being at the 2008 DNC raises a question. Where did these two symbols come from? Why do the Democrats choose to affiliate themselves with an oft-ridiculed member of the horse family? And how did the Republicans come to be represented by an ivory-tusked pachyderm? Advertisement The origins of these two iconic political symbols were created by noted German-born political cartoonist Thomas Nast, whose drawings also helped create modern images of Uncle Sam and Santa Claus. Nast moved to New York City when he was 6 years old and displayed artistic ability at an early age. Nast joined the staff of Harper's Weekly in 1862. By the time he left in 1886, he had not only stamped the elephant and donkey as political party symbols, he'd also become one of the most influential cartoonists in American history. By the time he used the donkey as a Democratic Party symbol, Nast was already a household name. He had ascended to fame with cartoons that confronted the Civil War, Reconstruction, immigration and the Tammany Hall political machine, eventually helping bring down the Boss Tweed ring. " " A private detective's notebook shows pictures of women who have gone missing along Canada's Highway of Tears. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images Sixteen years ago, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) opened an investigation surrounding nine women and girls who had gone missing or were found murdered along a desolate stretch of roadway in northern British Columbia. The effort was dubbed Project E-PANA, named for the goddess that the Inuit people of Canada believe cares for souls before they go to heaven or are reincarnated. The number of women that the RCMP identified in its probe soon doubled, to 18, and to keep the numbers from climbing even higher, authorities placed criteria on who would be included on the list. They had to be women or girls, they had to be involved in high-risk activities like hitchhiking, and they had to be last seen or their bodies found within a mile or so of Highways 16, 97 or 5 in upper British Columbia. The Highway of Tears, as the main throughway was dubbed, instantly became a symbol for unchecked violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. And it remains a symbol for the violence and the many reasons behind it that endures today. " " Canada's Route 16, which connects Prince George to Prince Rupert through the province of British Columbia, has been dubbed "Highway of Tears" because many First Nations women and girls have been murdered or disappeared from here. Andrew Lichtenstein/ Corbis via Getty Images Advertisement What Is the Highway of Tears? The drive from Vancouver, B.C., (which is a little less than a three-hour ride from Seattle) to the city of Prince George in northern British Columbia takes nearly nine hours. From there, a western turn along Highway 16 to the port city of Prince Rupert is another eight hours. It is that final 416-mile (718-kilometer) section of winding, mostly two-lane highway between those two cities through mountain passes, dozens of tiny villages, countless lakes and a whole lot of wilderness that has become known as the Highway of Tears. The remoteness of the highway, coupled with the fact that it bisects so many remote Indigenous communities without access to adequate transportation often used by young Indigenous women hitchhiking simply as a means of getting from one place to another along the long, lonely road makes it a ripe ground for violence. "It's very, very isolated. You can drive for 15 minutes and not see a car. There are rivers and mountains. It's very heavily forested," says Wayne Clary, a retired RCMP investigator who has been brought back to work on the E-PANA cases. "It's interesting when we look at some of our murders along there and we think, 'Was this a traveler who came upon this girl and had the opportunity to do what he did, or a local person?' It's dark, and the winters are pretty severe. You get a young girl hitchhiking and no one's around ... there one minute, gone the next." " " (Left) Gloria Moody was the first of the 18 women identified by the RCMP in the E-PANA project; 14-year-old Aielah Saric Auger (right) was the last. RCMP/Project E-PANA Advertisement Giving Names to the Victims In October 1969, Gloria Moody, a 26-year-old mother of two and a member of the Bella Coola Indian Reserve of the Nuxalk Nation, was found dead along one of the Highway of Tears roads, naked, beaten and sexually assaulted. She became the first of the 18 women identified by the RCMP in the E-PANA project. Over the next almost 40 years, 17 other women became victims along the highway. The last was 14-year-old Aielah Saric Auger of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nations community, near Prince George. Her almost-unrecognizable body was discovered on an embankment of Highway 16 in February 2006, eight days after she went missing. At its zenith, more than 60 RCMP investigators worked the cases along the Highway of Tears. But now, more than 15 years after Auger's body was found, barely a handful of police are still actively involved. No one has been added to the list since Auger, in 2006. Project E-PANA now consists of 13 homicide investigations and five missing people's investigations. All the files, officially, remain open. But Clary has been forthright in informing the victims' families that many of the cases may never be solved. "We've had some success," Clary says, noting that DNA samples tied notorious serial killer Bobby Jack Fowler to 16-year-old Highway of Tears victim Colleen MacMillen, found dead along the Highway in 1974. Fowler, suspected in at least two other Highway of Tears cases, died in an Oregon prison in 2006, before the connection in the MacMillen case was solidified. In 2019, authorities also got a murder conviction in the case of Monica Jack. The 12-year-old girl went missing in 1978, but her remains weren't found until 1995. That ruling is under appeal. "We had a couple of very strong suspects, but just don't have the evidence. And we've used everything in our toolkit that we can," Clary adds. "I'd say we've probably ruled out a lot of bad guys, too. It's still ongoing, but ... a lot of water is under the bridge." " " DNA tied serial killer Bobby Fowler to the death of Colleen MacMillen (left); Garry Taylor Handlen was convicted of murdering 12-year-old Monica Jack (right). RCMP/Project E-PANA Advertisement Getting Legal Justice Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), based in British Columbia, works to secure social and legal justice for First Nations and other Indigenous families. They began the Highway of Tears Initiative to put into action 33 recommendations made in the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendations Report. The recommendations include measures like better transportation options, increased police patrols, the establishment of awareness and prevention programs among at-risk women and their families, a wide-ranging media campaign and emergency readiness plans. Yet the violence against Indigenous women, all across Canada, continues. According to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability: Based on 15 years of Homicide Survey data (2001-2015), homicide rates for Indigenous women and girls were approximately six times higher (48.2 per million population) than rates for non-Indigenous women and girls (8.2 per million population). Other research suggests that Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than any other women in Canada and 16 times more likely than Caucasian women. "It's far too common. Even just this year alone, we've had three former clients go missing, you know?" says Elsie Wiebe, the Calls to Justice Coordinator with CSFS's Highway of Tears Initiative. "Just how common it is for Indigenous women to go missing and be found dead, or not be found at all. It has a devastating impact." What still needs addressing, Wiebe and many other Indigenous peoples advocates say, are the underlying conditions that lead to the violence. A 2019 report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls put it this way: Colonial violence, as well as racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia against Indigenous women, girls, and , has become embedded in everyday life whether this is through interpersonal forms of violence, through institutions like the health care system and the justice system, or in the laws, policies and structures of Canadian society. The result has been that many Indigenous people have grown up normalized to violence, while Canadian society shows an appalling apathy to addressing the issue. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls finds that this amounts to genocide. Project E-PANA has been the highest-profile police investigation involving missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, yet it touches on only a tiny fraction of the problem. Reliable statistics are difficult to come by, but more than 2,000 Indigenous women and girls in Canada have been reported to have gone missing or been murdered in the past three decades. Some are poor or undereducated, victims of domestic violence, drug abusers or are otherwise struggling in a larger society in which they are too often viewed as outsiders in their own lands. But Wiebe says that kind of lazy descriptor is unfair and devalues the defining characteristics of Indigenous communities who have survived immeasurable oppression, racism and targeted violence. "The women and girls we've lost along the Highway of Tears were stopped short in the middle of their goals, dreams, education or careers. They all had full lives ahead of them and they leave behind loving families and friends who continue to look for them and wait for their return. Families and whole communities mourn them dearly," says Wiebe. "Too often those who are missing or were murdered are unfairly framed as drug users or people in poverty living risky irresponsible lives and this negative stereotyping is not the true story or lived experience of those who we are missing. If the lives of each of these Indigenous women and girls had not been interrupted and taken, some would today be our teachers, psychologists, doctors, mothers, sisters, aunties, daughters, grandmothers, wives." Says Wiebe: "I think it's really easy for people to think that there's something lacking in these people. Well ... it's what we stole. It's time to reexamine how we set up these people to ensure that they fail." " " A sign posted by the tribal offices warns against hitchhiking in Hazleton, British Columbia. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images Advertisement Today Along the Highway of Tears These days, billboards dot the shoulders of the Highway of Tears, warning against hitchhiking, even as the practice remains, to many underserviced Indigenous communities, a primary and necessary means of travel. Clary and other law enforcement authorities continue to talk to the media and work the Highway of Tears cases, hoping that someone, somewhere saw something or heard something and will come forward. CSFS has recently been awarded new funding in its efforts to support families of currently missing women and girls and others affected by violence against women. May 5, 2022, will again be a national day of awareness for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada. Meanwhile, the Highway of Tears rolls on, a tragic and lasting symbol of a problem that stretches across the width and breadth of Canada, and much of the world. "It's not just Canada. It's not just North America," Wiebe says. "We need to be aware of how residential schools [the nearly century-long system that the government used to indoctrinate Indigenous children into European/Christian culture in Canada] and colonialism are not a thing of the past. There's still work to be done to undo those colonial practices. There's still policies that are absolutely unfair and biased against Indigenous people. We need to look at that ... and we need to really see and respect Indigenous people and families for their strength and beauty and resilience. We all need to take a personal look at ourselves, and identify the ways that we have bias and behaviors that are discriminatory." " " A missing poster for Mackie Basil, who disappeared in 2013, is now nearly covered in weeds near the entrance to Tachie, the small First Nation village in British Columbia. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images NOW THAT'S INTERESTING In September 2020, a totem pole was raised along the Highway of Tears in Kitsumkalum Territory as a memorial to commemorate Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Gladys Radek came up with the idea. Radek is the aunt of Tamara Chipman, a member of the Witset First Nation, who disappeared along the highway in 2005. Advertisement Originally Published: Oct 12, 2021 " " People gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. to protest the Muslim travel ban in April, 2018. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for MoveOn.org In no period of American history not in its founding or at the height of its most soaring successes, during none of its many wars or in the oft-spasmodic years in between has xenophobia not been a problem. It is as much a part of this nation as its immigrant roots, as Abe Lincoln's stovepipe hat and Donald Trump's hair. It's not always blatant. Xenophobia even appears, at times to be on the decline say, after the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But often, too, it seems to spurt, with fury and venom, unapologetically from the mouths of common citizens and presidents alike. It's a fact of American life, never easy to face, and never, ever pretty. "To me, when I see it throughout history, I see it as changing, morphing, adapting, but not necessarily going away," says Erika Lee, a history professor and the director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota. "It's very common to be swept up in some of these moments. But when you look at it more carefully, especially in the long sea of history, we see more adaptation and shapeshifting, rather than we see sort of demise." Advertisement What Is Xenophobia, Exactly? Lee, the author of "America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States," defines xenophobia by the book. "An irrational fear and hatred of immigrants," she says. The concept of xenophobia often is muddied with "-isms" like racism (Merriam-Webster: "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race") and nativism ("a policy of favoring native inhabitants as opposed to immigrants"). And, to be sure, xenophobia goes hand in hand with both. It's sometimes hard to tell them apart. But it's probably best to keep the idea simple: Xenophobia is the fear and hatred, held by some people in a country, of those who are not from that country. It's a fear of immigrants, or just of people from other countries. Of foreigners. That fear could be because of skin color or culture or religion. It could be because of all of that. Or it could be something else. Mainly, the hatred and fear are because those people are not from here. That, of course, raises all sorts of questions, perhaps the biggest being, "Who exactly is from this country?" It's a riddle that's especially pertinent in the U.S., which bills itself as a nation of immigrants and is, supposedly if not always factually welcoming of them. It's important to point out that xenophobia is alive and thriving in many parts of the globe. And it has been forever. But because of America's reputation as a haven for immigrants the country has some answering to do when it comes to its deeply embedded history of xenophobia. " " During World War II, the United States sent its own Japanese citizens to internment camps, like Manzanar Relocation Center in California seen here, purely out of fear. Ansel Adams/Library of Congress Advertisement The History of Xenophobia in the U.S. From the very beginning of the country, many who were there even if they'd immigrated only recently cast a squirrely eye on newcomers. From Lee's book: Americans have been wary of almost every group of foreigners that has come to the United States: German immigrants in the eighteenth century; Irish and Chinese in the nineteenth century; Italians, Jews, Japanese, and Mexicans in the twentieth century; and Muslims today. Historical accounts prove that every group that has immigrated to America has battled hatred, discrimination and worse from some already in the country. German and Irish Catholics in the mid-1800s were shunned and even killed. During the Great Depression, 20 percent of the Mexican and Mexican American population was deported. (And more than half of them were American citizens by birth.) Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. Muslim Americans battle xenophobia today. "We see this in the campaigns against Irish Catholics in the 19th century; 'Their drunkenness, they don't make good citizens because they're only going to vote the way of their Catholic priests,'" Lee says. "We see it in campaigns against Chinese immigrants ... 'They're cheap laborers, they take away jobs from deserving white Americans.' "We could go on. 'Italians are also criminals. Mexicans are illegals and bandits. Muslims are terrorists.'" Many of those groups, even long after they've carved out a place in American society, after generations, still grapple with xenophobia. It's at the crux of a uniquely American dichotomy, Lee says. " " Amnesty International activists in London, England, hold signs as they protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban in March 2017. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images No country has allowed more immigrants to settle and more refugees a safe haven than America. Yet no country has deported more: Some 57 million since the late 1800s, according to Lee. "It points to a contradiction that is as old as the United States," Lee says. "We have these very conflicting notions about who an American could be. There were very romantic proclamations that an American is someone who chooses to be an American. As long as you had it in your heart to accept the ideals and the values of the United States, then we unlike countries that were based on a monarchy or hereditary citizenship we had this much more inclusive definition of American citizenship. And in many ways that was true. But in many other ways, it was very narrow." The first naturalization law, for an example, was passed in 1790. And it was relatively open, mainly because the country was starting from scratch. It said that "any alien, being a free white person," could apply for citizenship as long they lived in the United States for at least two years. But that law did, of course, excluded African slaves, Native Americans and others. Even when the U.S. seemingly has taken steps that would seem anti-xenophobic, it falls back. The Immigration Act of 1965 overturned immigration quotas that were based on national origins, originally designed to favor immigrants from European countries. The law paved the way for millions of legal and illegal immigrants from Latin America and elsewhere. And that spurred some xenophobic reaction. From a 2015 piece by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute: The law's proponents see it as a historic success and assert that the estimated 59 million immigrants who have come to the United States since its passage [2015 numbers] have made the country younger, infused it with diversity and talent, and generated prosperity and economic growth. Critics contend that high admission levels of diverse groups of immigrants have created more competition for low-skilled U.S. workers, and shattered the country's cultural homogeneity. Advertisement The Dangers of Xenophobia "The connection with racism is really powerful," Lee says. "So what's wrong with racism? It treats people unequally. It demonizes entire groups as dangerous and threatening, either because they're racially different, or they practice a different faith, or that they're just thought of as inherently dangerous. And we treat them as a group ... rather than treating them as individuals." Worse yet is when the government codifies that way of thinking into law. "The United States, time and time again, acted on those beliefs and made policy," Lee says, "that justified unequal treatment." It's hardly the "self-evident" truth etched forever into the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." But it's undeniable at this point: America again, like many other countries has a xenophobia problem. It's deep-rooted and insidious. And it won't be cured any time soon. Now That's Scary There are numerous current examples of xenophobia in the U.S. A literal wall is being built on the Southern border because of the unfounded fear that immigrants bring crime and disease and they'll take our jobs. President Donald Trump has banned people from predominantly Muslim countries for fear of terrorism, a policy that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2019. Trump also calls the deadly coronavirus a "foreign" virus or the "Chinese virus," prompting fear of Chinese people. Of note: About 90 million people in America are immigrants or U.S.-born children of immigrants. That's about 28 percent of the total population. PHOTO: Teo Ghim Heng/Facebook SINGAPORE A former property agent sentenced to death for killing his heavily-pregnant wife and their four-year-old daughter in 2017 has appealed his conviction and sentence at the Apex Court on Wednesday (13 October). Teo Ghim Heng, 46, strangled his wife Choong Pei Shan and then his daughter on 20 January 2017. He placed their bodies side by side on his bed and slept next to them for a week with the air conditioning on. He then set them on fire in his home before policemen came knocking. He was found guilty on two counts of murder with intention under section 300(a) of the Penal Code by Justice Kannan Ramesh on 20 November last year. Those charges carry the mandatory death penalty. Teo is represented by lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam, Johannes Hadi and Suang Wijaya, who argued on Wednesday that Justice Ramesh's finding - that Teo did not suffer from major depressive disorder at the time of the offences, which could have substantially impaired his mental responsibility - was against the weight of the evidence. The lawyers argued that Teos impaired state of mind due to his major depressive disorder availed him to the partial defence of diminished responsibility, and that Section 300(a) under the Penal Code was unconstitutional. Said the lawyers, (Teo) was a quiet and reserved man who doted on his wife and daughter. By all accounts, they were a close and loving family. We also know that (Teo) was under tremendous stress from his precipitous occupational decline and financial ruin. On 20 January 2017, in the midst of being berated by his wife, something snapped in him. He strangled his wife and then their daughter to death. Two of the three psychiatrists who examined him diagnosed him with depressive disorder. The last psychiatrist, while accepting that there was an overall loss of who he (previously) was, diagnosed him instead with adjustment disorder." Arguing before Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justices Belinda Ang, Chao Hick Tin, Steven Chong and Judith Prakash, Thuraisingam cited witnesses who testified to Teos character during the trial. Story continues The principal of his daughters kindergarten had testified that he did not talk much and scared some teachers due to his stoic look . Others testified to his introverted personality. However Justice Chong noted that this was not remarkable behaviour. I think you need to engage the court on adverse findings... all this is (a) general description of his behaviour pre-offence. His immediate conduct post-offence, in that six to seven days between the murder and his arrest, is pretty significant. I think you need to deal with that, he said, referring to Teo's reaction to his offence, his responses to family members who were looking for his wife, and to those trying to enter his house. Several family members and Teo's colleagues had visited the flat but did not get a response. Teo had also lied to his family members and in-laws to explain his familys absence from Chinese New Year reunion dinners and Chinese New Year visits. Arguments over his 'abnormal state of mind' Thuraisingam then pointed out a psychiatric report on Teos abnormal state of mind as seen by how he continued to sleep on the same bed as the corpses for some eight days, and how he tried to commit suicide on multiple occasions. Teo had been labouring under mounting debts, which gave him a feeling of hopelessness, added the lawyer. During the murder of his wife, Teo has testified that his mind went blank, showing that he was in some form of distress, said Thuraisingam. However CJ Menon said Teos financial difficulties were not controversial. He added that the trial judge had dealt with the argument of diminished mental responsibility in considerable detail by looking at corroborative evidence against Teos self-reported symptoms to the psychiatrist. The trial judge had considered that Teo's decision not to abort his unborn baby, and to sell the flat to raise money, was suggestive of an element of hope, said CJ Menon. Justice Prakash also said that if Teo had truly given up, he would have confessed or truly killed himself. However Teo had tried to put everyone off his trail, made excuses and carried on life as per normal. Arguing against the defence was Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Man, who said that Teos error of judgment did not cross the threshold of diminished responsibility as Teo presented the picture of a wholly-functional human being able to make concerted efforts to perform well at work and to delay discovery. The prosecution argued that the assessment of the psychiatrist relied on by the defence was not sufficiently robust and unduly relied on self-reported symptoms. Judgement was reserved and will be given at a later date. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore TRACER installation of the ARM mobile facility in La Porte, Texas, outside of Houston. Credit: ARM For decades, scientists have debated the impact of human-made and environmental particles in the atmosphere, called aerosols, on severe weather. Climate studies suggest aerosols may help shape and even strengthen elements of storms such as rainfall and lightning. However, studying aerosols in the atmosphere is difficult. There are many types, and the particles are small. Their chemical and physical processes can also be subtle or short lived. Scientists have voiced the need for more detailed data on aerosols. New data are especially needed to improve the representation of clouds and storms in climate models. To provide these important data for scientists, policymakers, and the public, the Department of Energy's Office of Science is supporting a team of researchers who are scanning clouds in the Texas sky at high resolution. By tracking aerosols and clouds in this way, the team hopes to better understand the relationship between the particles, clouds, and storms. DOE's mobile atmospheric observatory A new project called TRACERTracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experimentis using a DOE mobile observatory from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility to record micro processes happening in clouds. The experiment runs from October 2021 to September 2022 in the Houston area. The ARM observatory consists of portable shelters outfitted with instruments and communications equipment. The observatory site may look inconspicuousbut it is one of the world's most advanced facilities for collecting atmospheric data. The Office of Science's Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program manages several ARM observatories as a multi-laboratory user facility. For over 30 years, research campaigns have taken these mobile stations to the frontiers of climate and atmospheric sciencefrom the South Pole to the North Pole to the tropics. The data collected from these field expeditions help improve climate model predictions. Advancing our understanding of aerosols Aerosols are human made and natural particles that make their way into the atmosphere. Human-made aerosols may include pollutants emitted from automobiles or industrial plants. Natural aerosols may include sea salt, dust, wildfire smoke, and other particles from the environment, either nearby or carried hundreds of miles by wind and weather. "One of the major questions of the TRACER campaign is the extent to which atmospheric aerosols can make storms more severe," said Shaima Nasiri, BER Atmospheric System Research program manager. Connecting the dots between small particles and storms is a complex problem. Fortunately, solving multiscale problems such as this one, spanning fundamental chemistry to global climate modeling, is a specialty of the Office of Science. TRACER is led by DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory principal investigator Michael Jensen, with many co-investigators across other DOE national laboratories, the University of Houston, and scientists around the globe. The one-year campaign will focus on aerosols found in deep convective cloudsa common type of storm cloud. "Convective clouds act as the elevators of the atmosphere," Jensen said. "They're vertically developed and tend to transport water vapor, heat, momentum, and particles from the surface up to the atmosphere." To better observe aerosol and cloud interactions across time (minutes to months) and space (small particles to storm clouds), the TRACER team added new tools to ARM's suite of sensors, weather balloons, and radar. New scanning and artificial intelligence techniques will automatically track clouds as they develop. Then, specialized radar systems will make detailed measurements of clouds and particles. "We will also collect aerosols on the surface to measure their size and number," Jensen said. These tools will lend precision techniques from the laboratory to field observations. HoustonA real-world cloud laboratory If you're a scientist studying aerosols in convective clouds, Houston is a good place to do your work. The region's subtropical climate on the Gulf of Mexico experiences predictable heavy rainfall, storms, flooding, and even hurricanes. Convective clouds hover over the city half the year and are more frequent in the wet, summer months. Houston is also a thriving city with shipping and industryand the aerosols that come with it. The metropolitan area ranks high among U.S. cities for poor air quality, including particle pollution. But the sprawling Texas landscape around the city boasts clearer air, providing a laboratory-like control environment for comparison. Houston is also a typical American city. About 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas and about 40 percent live on the coast. "The majority of people in the United States live in cities like Houston," Nasiri said. While many ARM mobile observatories have been deployed in remote environments vulnerable to climate change, TRACER may serve as a model for future ARM urban campaigns. "I think the technology has advanced to the point that scientists feel they can make progress on the pressing questions in atmospheric sciences related to urban impacts," Nasiri said. As cities like Houston can attest, climate change impacts hit closer to home than ever. Devastating storms can lead to loss of life, dangerous power outages, and costly property damage. "This is our first major urban field campaign of its kind, and going forward, we're interested in more closely studying emissions in cities," said Jeff Stehr, BER Atmospheric System Research program manager. Long-lived data for future climate studies Available to anyone to use, TRACER data will be an important resource for scientists and communities for years to come. Although the campaign is based on fundamental science questions about aerosol interactions, the BER program expects TRACER data will inform other studies. Scientists may use the data in research ranging from basic science on aerosol chemistry to pollution, extreme weather, and climate change and resiliency. The program itself will fund basic science research using TRACER data after the campaign is complete. "We've also had a lot of interest from other agencies, with a diversity of people participating," Jensen said. "The initial science team included 35 co-investigators, but it has grown to a much larger partnership with interagency and international collaborators." To maximize data gathered and pool the results, other U.S. science agencies, including NASA, NOAA, and the National Science Foundation, will conduct their own atmospheric experiments during the TRACER campaign. Regional organizations, such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, are also collaborating with the project. With many potential uses for TRACER's high-resolution climate data, research results could go beyond the study of aerosol and cloud interactions. "We may not even know what the biggest outcome of the campaign is going to be," Nasiri said. "The biggest takeaway could be something we're not even thinking about." Explore further Does pollution make thunderstorms more severe? In this undated image released by the Australian Space Agency, an imagined scene on the moon is depicted. Australia has agreed to build a 20-kilogram (44-pound) semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen, the Australian government said on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Credit: Australian Space Agency via AP Australia has agreed to build a 20-kilogram (44-pound) semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen. The rover would collect soil that contains oxides and NASA would use separate equipment to extract oxygen from that soil, a government statement said. Oxygen extracted from the lunar surface would ultimately be used to sustain a human presence on the moon and support future missions to Mars. Australian Space Agency deputy head Anthony Murfett said NASA had been impressed by technology used to remotely control from 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) huge dump trucks that transport iron ore from mines in northwest Australia. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the agreement would strengthen a relationship with Australia related to space exploration that dates back more than 50 years. The agreement depends on the rover meeting a range of conditions during its development Explore further NASA selects Moon site for ice-hunting rover 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain As veteran actor William ShatnerCaptain Kirk of "Star Trek" famebecomes the latest celebrity to go into space on Wednesday, we look at the recent rush of amateur astronauts. Beam me up, Bezos Shatner went where no 90-year-old has gone before aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket. The Canadian became the oldest person to go into space on the flight, beating pioneering female pilot Wally Funk, 82, who also flew with Bezos in July. Shatner experienced a few minutes of weightlessness 60 miles (100 kilometres) from Earth, before returning in the reuseable rocket. Bezos and his brother Mark were also on Blue Origin's maiden mission in July. Russian first Last week, Russian actress Yulia Peresild blasted off to the International Space Station with a film director to try to pip the United States in making the first feature film in orbit. They want to best "Mission Impossible" star Tom Cruise who announced his own movie project with NASA and Elon Musk's SpaceX last year. They hope to wrap their story about a female surgeon who is dispatched to save a cosmonaut by the time they touch down on Sunday. Three-day trip SpaceX sent US billionaire Jared Isaacman and three of his guests into orbit for three days last month. It was the first time Musk's outfit blasted non-professionals into space. Space Station holiday Axiom Space are sending three businessmen to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay in January in the first of three trips aboard SpaceX rockets. Musk is also handling an orbital voyage organised by Space Adventures for four paying clients next year. Fly me to the Moon Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is due to take a trip around the Moon, possibly in 2023, aboard another SpaceX rocket in a mission called dearMoon. He hopes to take eight amateurs with him on the first civilian lunar mission and has already invited "La La Land" and "First Man" film director Damien Chazelle. Chazelle says he will have to ask his wife. Virgin troubles Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson took part in a test flight of its rocket-powered spaceplane in July. But it has since been grounded over a "mishap" and the company that made the early running in space tourism hopes to resume flights next year. 2021 AFP Credit: Matti Ahlgren Researchers from the Department of Computer Science in Aalto University and University of Helsinki Faculty of Social Sciences joined their forces in the ELEBOT-2021 project. They analyzed a large set of social media data and focused on automated accounts, so called bots, on Twitter around the municipal elections from May until June 2021. Bots produce either real or distorted information in an automatized manner. They are a notorious form of information operations that aim to influence, for example, election results. In addition to bots, the research team was interested in the number of suspended accounts, which have violated the rules of Twitter. Low number of bots is not itself that surprising According to the report, the absolute number and influence of Twitter bots on political discussions around the municipal elections remained low. The findings are in line with results from previous analyses in 2019, when researchers from Aalto analyzed discussions before and during the Finnish Parliamentary elections. In the Finnish municipal elections, only 11.7 percent of tweets created by bots were retweeted at least once. The level of occurrence is low compared to, for example, the US mid elections held in November 2018. In the US elections, more than 35 percent of bots' tweets were retweeted. The results of this study were sort of expected, states Antti Gronow, Senior Researcher from the University of Helsinki. Even though this research did not offer big surprises, key results can be interpreted as significant from the perspective of democracy. "Low activity of bots was good news for us. It means that there are no wide-scale automated information operations in the social media aimed at influencing our political system," Gronow says. The number of bots slightly differed between opinion bubbles Bots and suspended accounts were also examined from the perspective of opinion bubbles. Opinion bubbles are formed when political opinions are polarized to the extent that people fall into two opposing camps. Previous research on opinion bubbles has shown that they can be susceptible to the influence of bots. The present analysis focused on opinion bubbles around the biggest Finnish political parties as well as two thematical areas: immigration and environmental issues, including climate change. While bots' activity remained low also in the case of opinion bubbles, the report revealed that bot-like accounts were most common in opinion bubbles formed around the supporters of the Finns Party and the National Coalition party, and in those that oppose the Green League and leftist parties. Bots were also more common in bubbles that were critical of climate change policies and immigration compared to those that favored them. For instance, in the Twitter user group that had a positive outlook on immigration, bots counted for only 2.5 percentage of users. Respectively, in the group with more critical views on immigration, bots counted for 4.7 percentage of all users. Bots are not easy to spot The study also provided new information on the technical limitations of bot identification. These challenges need to be addressed in the future, says Mikko Kivela, Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science. "We may have failed to recognize some bots. On the other hand, some basic Twitter users may have accidentally been labeled as bots, because of their accounts had features typical for bots," Kivela states. A major problem in identifying bots is that the used methods do not recognize Finnish words and expressions. Thus, there exists a need for a tool that could analyze the content of Finnish tweets. The researchers collected and analyzed a total of 1 124 550 tweets, posted between May and June 2021. The ELEBOT-2021 project was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Justice. Explore further One in seven Twitter accounts may be nothing more than software 'bots' Peter Stott, Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial Denial of climate science emerged simultaneously with key scientific discoveries about humanity's impact on our planet, according to a new book. Professor Peter Stottauthor of "Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial"began 25 years ago in the then-obscure field of the detection and attribution of climate change. As scientists saw increasing evidence of global warmingand detected the "fingerprints of humans" as the causeorganized climate-change denial rapidly became a powerful force. Examining how and why this happened, the book says so-called "climate skeptics" have "weaponised doubt in the service of the fossil fuel industry." "In the face of increasing evidence that humans were causing climate change, we saw increasing determination from a whole range of lobby groups to deny it," said Professor Stott, of the University of Exeter and the Met Office. "There was a small group of scientifically trained people who cherry-picked data and produced arguments that sounded scientific." The book includes some of Professor Stott's experiences during the fierce debate of recent decades. He attended a 2004 meeting in Moscow that became a "show trial" of climate science, where the "climate denier community" gathered to prevent Russia ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. On the flight home from Russia, he saw someone reading a UK newspaper that described global warming as a "load of poppycock." "It seems odd now, but back then certain aspects of climate science were still fairly obscure, even in academia," said Professor Stott, who will lead the Science Pavilion for the Met Office at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow next month. "However, things were beginning to change. "I vividly remember attending a press conference in Paris in 2007, and it really seemed that people were listening. "The BBC broadcast the evening news live from the conference. We felt we had some momentum." But in 2009, the Copenhagen climate summit ended in failurefollowing what the book calls a "vicious attack on science by the climate deniers" in the wake of the Climategate scandal. "We were on trial," said Professor Stott, and member of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. "However, despite the negative consequences, this scandal led to far greater interest in scientific detailsand that focus helped the media, the public and policymakers understand what the evidence was saying. "It took timetime we didn't have to wastebut in 2015 we reached the Paris talks, in which the targets under discussion were based on scientific evidence." And this month, two climate scientists, Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. It is recognition that climate science and the detection and attribution of climate change is no longer an obscure field of research like it was 25 years ago. Professor Stott's work focusses on extreme weather events, and he believes recent storms, floods, heatwaves and droughts have led to a growing acceptance that climate change "really is here." "These extreme events have shown us again and again how vulnerable we are, all around the world," he said. "This may be the end of straightforward climate-change denial. "However, we need urgent international action, and there are still plenty of attempts to delay that." Professor Stott is hopeful that agreements can be reached at COP26 to dramatically cut global emissions of greenhouse gases. "This is feasible and achievable, and the benefits range from protecting the climate to improving human health and economies," he said. Hot Air is out now in hardback, published by Atlantic Books. Explore further Better information needed to understand extreme weather With its extreme weather conditions, climate change poses a threat to rice farming across the world, among other things due to anticipated irrigation water scarcity and escalated labour costs. Credit: Ragnar Vaga Pedersen With its extreme weather conditions, climate change poses a threat to rice farming across the world, among other things due to anticipated irrigation water scarcity and escalated labor costs. Not only that, conventional paddy, where rice is grown by transplanting seedlings in puddled soils, is a major emitter of methane. In Asia alone, these types of rice growing systems are considered the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Moreover, they are labor, water and energy intensive, and have a negative effect on soil structure. "There is a dire need to promote new systemic solutions to promote sustainable and climate-neutral farming systems," says Dr. Udaya Sekhar Nagothu from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research. "Shifting to climate neutral and resilient farming systems such as direct seeding of rice can address both climate adaptation and mitigation if implemented in the right way." Reduced methane emissions in both wet and dry conditions Dr. Nagothu coordinates Resilience, a collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-actor supported research program, which is currently being implemented in the two states of Odisha and Assam located in the east and northeastern parts of India. Here, the main goal is to improve agricultural productivity, adaptive capacity and livelihoods of smallholders to climate and economic changes. "In Resilience, our aim is to find ways to increase the climate resilience of Indian smallholders. This can be achieved by implementing sustainable solutions combined with agroecological farming approaches in order to strengthen their food and nutrition security," says Dr. Nagothu. One of the systems which has been implemented in Resilience's project areas, is direct seeding of rice (DSR) in both wet seeded and dry seeded conditions. The system entails growing a rice crop from rice seeds sown directly in the field, as opposed to transplanting seedlings raised in nurseries customary in traditional rice paddies. "Both earlier research and our results show a significant reduction in methane emissions from DSR fields under both wet and dry conditions," Dr. Nagothu says. "There are a few challenges though, one of which concerns elevated nitrous oxide emissions. This can be solved by developing proper nitrogen management practices to curtail the losses of reactive nitrogen." As far as the global warming potential (GWP) of DSR is concerned, the overall net effect of the greenhouse gases emitted decreases by 1633 percent in comparison to conventional rice farming practice. Direct seeding of rice has many advantages As a system, DSR ensures optimal plant density and high-water productivity. In rainfed areas, DSR can reduce climatic risks, thus benefitting smallholders by reducing the risk of market failure by timely management of irrigation and tillage operations, along with reducing the cost of buying these services. Another major advantage with DSR is the avoidance of transplanting shock, and more biomass overall compared to that of conventional practices. As far as grain yield is concerned, the findings of Resilience show that it is highest in wet seeded DSR, followed by dry seeded DSR. According to Dr. A. K. Nayak from the National Rice Research Institute in India, the rice yield under DSR increased by approximately 6.7 to 13.3 percent compared to conventional practices in the wet season, and between 6.5 to 11.5 percent in the dry season. "Taking a modern biotechnological and genetic approach for the development of resource efficient rice varieties can assist in optimizing the DSR yields further," Dr. Nagothu says. "This, together with the development of effective crop management practices for enhancing resource use efficiency, make DSR stand out as a better alternative to conventional transplanted rice." Good management strategies needed to tackle challenges In order to cope with the vagaries of climate change, a continuous effort for a resource efficient alternative rice establishment method is needed. In the Resilience project, DSR has proved to be a viable option for climate-smart rice production as it, in addition to being relatively climate-neutral, offers similar and comparable yields to that of conventional, transplanted, puddled rice. "Efficient management of the limited irrigation water availability for enhancing water use efficiency is, however, a challenging task," Dr. Nagothu says. Another important aspect to take note of is weeds, as they are one of the major constraints when it comes to limiting grain yield. Site specific integrated nutrient and weed management strategies are needed in order to address yield decline and enhance efficiency under DSR. These are among the challenges which are currently being addressed by Resilience in order to make the system easier for farmers to adopt. In the time ahead, the project plans to scale up DSR in the case study areas. They will also provide the involved farmers with training, accessibility to good quality seeds, drum seeders, selective herbicides, along with appropriate policy measures and institutional support. Explore further Climate-smart crop rotation works for Gangetic plains Provided by Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research The new 3D collimation technique begins by inducing a collective mode oscillation in the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) due to atomic interactions (top). The BEC is released once it has collapsed around its axis (right), leading to a reduced expansion along that same axis (red arrows). To reduce the expansion in the other two dimensions, a cylindrical magnetic lens (qualitatively shown in green) is applied after 80 ms, when the interaction energy has been converted into kinetic energy. Full 3D collimation is observed after free fall via absorption imaging of the BEC (bottom). For comparison, 2D collimation (no induced oscillations but only magnetic lens) is shown on the left. Credit: APS/Alan Stonebraker, via Physics A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Germany and two in France has set a new record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in a lab setting38 picokelvins. In their paper published in the journal Physics, the group describes their work with a time-domain matter-wave lens system. Vincenzo Tamma with the University of Portsmouth has published a Viewpoint article in the same journal issue discussing the work done by the team in Germany. Prior research has suggested that the lowest possible temperature that can exist is absolute zero0 Kelvin. Prior research has also shown that as substances grow colder, some begin to see a change in their properties. The liquid form of helium, for example, becomes a superfluid at very low temperatures. Such changes in the properties of substances have been the subject of much research, as have efforts aimed at creating colder environments for testing. In this new effort, the researchers have created the coldest environment ever by using a lens made out of a quantum gas. The work employed a quantum gas lens and the famous Bremen Drop Tower in Bremen, Germany, which has a 122-meter-high drop tube. They started by creating a gas cloud at the top of the tower made of rubidium atoms. The cloud was held in place by a magnetic trap that also served as a matter-wave lens that focused the atoms in the cloud into a Bose-Einstein condensate, making the cloud grow cold. The researchers then turned the trap off, allowing the cloud to expand in every direction (and making it even colder) as it fell down the length of the tower. Detectors on the sides of the tower measured the kinetic energy of the atoms in the cloud as they passed by. The process lasted only two seconds, but that was enough to show it produced a record cold environment. The researchers note that small changes in the setup, such as reducing the number of atoms in the cloud, could possibly lead to even lower temperatures. Tamma notes that the setup created by the team in Bremen could likely be used to test gravity theories at the quantum level. Explore further Technique characterizes phases of superfluids changing to supersolids and back 2021 Science X Network Artists rendition of a newly-discovered Jupiter-like exoplanet orbiting a white dwarf, or dead star. This system is evidence that planets can survive their host stars explosive red giant phase and is the very first confirmed planetary system that serves as an analog to the fate of the Sun and Jupiter in our own solar system. Credit: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko Astronomers have discovered the very first confirmed planetary system that resembles the expected fate of our solar system, when the Sun reaches the end of its life in about five billion years. The researchers detected the system using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii; it consists of a Jupiter-like planet with a Jupiter-like orbit revolving around a white dwarf star located near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. "This evidence confirms that planets orbiting at a large enough distance can continue to exist after their star's death," says Joshua Blackman, an astronomy postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tasmania in Australia and lead author of the study. "Given that this system is an analog to our own solar system, it suggests that Jupiter and Saturn might survive the Sun's red giant phase, when it runs out of nuclear fuel and self-destructs." The study is published in today's issue of the journal Nature. "Earth's future may not be so rosy because it is much closer to the Sun," says co-author David Bennett, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "If humankind wanted to move to a moon of Jupiter or Saturn before the Sun fried the Earth during its red supergiant phase, we'd still remain in orbit around the Sun, although we would not be able to rely on heat from the Sun as a white dwarf for very long." Artist rendering of a main sequence star ballooning into a red giant as it burns the last of its hydrogen fuel, then collapses into a white dwarf. What remains is a hot, dense core roughly the size of Earth and about half the mass of the Sun. A gas giant similar to Jupiter orbits from a distance, surviving the explosive transformation. Credit: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko A white dwarf is what main sequence stars like our Sun become when they die. In the last stages of the stellar life cycle, a star burns off all of the hydrogen in its core and balloons into a red giant star. It then collapses into itself, shrinking into a white dwarf, where all that's left is a hot, dense core, typically Earth-sized and half as massive as the Sun. Because these compact stellar corpses are small and no longer have the nuclear fuel to radiate brightly, white dwarfs are very faint and difficult to detect. High-resolution near-infrared images obtained with Keck Observatory's laser guide star adaptive optics system paired with its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRC2) reveal the newly-discovered white dwarf is about 60 percent of the Sun's mass and its exoplanet survivor is a giant gas world that's about 40 percent more massive than Jupiter. Artist rendering of a dying sequence star with an orbiting planet. The star is in the red giant phase when it burns the last of its nuclear fuel before collapsing in on itself and forming a smaller, fainter white dwarf. Credit: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko The team discovered the planet using a technique called gravitational microlensing, which occurs when a star close to Earth momentarily aligns with a more distant star. This creates a phenomenon where gravity from the foreground star acts like a lens and magnifies the light from the background star. If there is a planet orbiting the closer star, it temporarily warps the magnified light as the planet whizzes by. Strangely, when the team tried to look for the planet's host star, they unexpectedly discovered the starlight wasn't bright enough to be an ordinary, main sequence star. The data also ruled out the possibility of a brown dwarf star as the host. "We have also been able to rule out the possibility of a neutron star or a black hole host. This means that the planet is orbiting a dead star, a white dwarf," says co author Jean-Philippe Beaulieu, Professor, Warren chair of Astrophysics at the University of Tasmania and Directeur de Recherche CNRS at the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris. "It offers a glimpse into what our solar system will look like after the disappearance of the Earth, whipped out in the cataclysmic demise of our Sun." Artist rendering of Jupiter and its white dwarf host. If humans survive to see the Sun die, they could theoretically move to a Jovian moon and remain safely in orbit. However, they could not rely on the diminished heat from the stellar corpse of our Sun once it collapses into a white dwarf. Credit: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko The research team plans to include their findings in a statistical study to find out how many other white dwarfs have intact, planetary survivors. NASA's upcoming mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope (formerly known as WFIRST), which aims to directly image giant planets, will help further their investigation. Roman will be capable of doing a much more complete survey of planets orbiting white dwarfs located all the way into the Galactic bulge at the center of the Milky Way. This will allow astronomers to determine whether it is common for Jupiter-like planets to escape their star's final days, or if a significant fraction of them are destroyed by the time their host stars become red giants. "This is an extremely exciting result," says John O'Meara, chief scientist at Keck Observatory. "It's wonderful to see today an example of the kind of science Keck will be doing en masse when Roman begins its mission." Explore further Astronomers see dust disk around young super-Jupiter More information: Joshua Blackman, A Jovian Analog Orbiting a White Dwarf Star, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Joshua Blackman, A Jovian Analog Orbiting a White Dwarf Star,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03869-6 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers have revealed that non-mammalian vertebrates might have a much more simple and effective way of deciphering between color and greyscale information than humans. Tom Baden, Professor of Neuroscience, and others from his lab at the University of Sussex were investigating how zebrafish respond and decipher between different wavelengths, or colors of light. Prof. Baden said, "Zebrafish, unlike humans, have four types of cone-photoreceptors, specialized neurons in the retina which respond to light. These four types are often called red, green, blue and UV. The assumption is that each should do what it says on the tinred should respond to red light, green to green light, and so on. However, we found that this isn't the case." In the first ever direct in-vivo measurements of "color tuning" from a vertebrate photoreceptor, Prof. Baden and his team, collaborating with researchers at the University of Tubingen, Germany and Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, USA, found that zebrafish can decipher color in a much simpler way to humans. Their study, published by Science Advances, describes how "red cones" responded to brightness, i.e., black or white information, while "green cones" responded to color information. Prof. Baden explained, "In basic principles, color vision requires visual circuits to disentangle brightness from color information. In nature, these are fundamentally entwined so to disentangle them is no trivial task, which in some cases can require quite a lot of neurons. "In humans, some of these are distributed all over the eyes and brain in ways that are still far from understood. In contrast, zebrafish solve this basic problem themselves at the earliest possible site, in the synapse of the photoreceptors themselves." From an evolutionary perspective, Prof Baden explains that this "fish strategy" is probably much closer to the "origin of vision" in vertebrates. In contrast, during the age of the dinosaurs, humans' early mammalian ancestors are thought to have escaped to the forests and adopted a nocturnal lifestyle. In the process, they lost all but two of their cone-photoreceptor types, resulting in most mammals being dichromaticonly able to see in two colors. Dogs, cats, horses, even hamsters and mice, can all distinguish blues from greens, but none of them can readily distinguish greens from reds. Accordingly, we imagine them to see the world in colors that may be similar to what a red-green color-blind human might experience. Unlike other mammals, humans and the evolutionary lineage of gorillas and chimpanzees, much later evolved to become trichromatic, regaining some of the lost abilities in color vision. However, this occurs in a much more complicated way, which requires a lot of computation, thought to be performed by the brain rather than within the eye. This is a complex process and means that distinguishing between some colors has to be learnt in early infancy through the developing cortex. Prof. Baden said, "Our study essentially shows that vertebrates like zebrafish, and presumably most non mammalian vertebrates like other fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians, can actually solve this fundamental 'color puzzle' right at the first synapse of vision. In comparison, humans are stuck with this overly complicated 'knock-off' strategy because of early mammalian ancestry." The study also references links to insects, as flies also have four such "color vision photoreceptors," determining color in exactly the same way as the zebrafish despite evolving completely independently. In a follow-up paper, due to be published in Current Biology soon, the researchers use the same technique to investigate the second layer of processing in the retina, the so-called bipolar cells. Expanding on the above results, they show that at this second layer of processing, zebrafish represent three (rather than the previous two) types of color contrast. This "third" is built by comparing UV- to all other wavelength, and it bears striking resemblance to one of the two color channels that humans usethe so called "blue-yellow" system. Together, the papers imply that the human blue-yellow system is truly ancient, predating the split of tetrapods from fish almost 400 million years ago. It seems that when it comes to seeing color, we do at least share some traits with essentially all vertebrates that see color. Explore further Newly discovered two-cell color detection system of lamprey is clue to the evolution of color vision More information: Takeshi Yoshimatsu et al, Ancestral circuits for vertebrate colour vision emerge at the first retinal synapse, (2020). Takeshi Yoshimatsu et al, Ancestral circuits for vertebrate colour vision emerge at the first retinal synapse,(2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.26.356089 Philipp Bartel et al, Spectral inference reveals principal cone-integration rules of the zebrafish inner retina, (2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.10.455697 Journal information: Science Advances , Current Biology Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Over recent decades, community-based environmental monitoring (often called "citizen science") has exploded in popularity, aided both by smartphones and rapid gains in computing power that make the analysis of large data sets far easier. Publishing in BioScience, handling editors Rick Bonney, of Cornell University, Finn Danielsen, of the Nordic Foundation for Development and Ecology (NORDECO), and numerous colleagues share an open-access special section, already downloaded thousands of times, that highlights numerous community-based monitoring programs currently underway. In an article on locally based monitoring, Danielsen and colleagues describe the potential for monitoring by community memberswho may have little scientific trainingto deliver "credible data at local scale independent of external experts and can be used to inform local and national decision making within a short timeframe." Community-based monitoring efforts also have the potential to empower Indigenous rightsholders and stakeholders through their broader inclusion in the scientific process, writes Bonney in a Viewpoint article introducing the section. Moreover, he says, "Indigenous and local peoples' in situ knowledge practices have the potential to make significant contributions to meeting contemporary sustainability challenges both locally and around the globe." Explore further The growing promise of community-based monitoring and citizen science More information: Finn Danielsen et al, The Concept, Practice, Application, and Results of Locally Based Monitoring of the Environment, BioScience (2021). Finn Danielsen et al, The Concept, Practice, Application, and Results of Locally Based Monitoring of the Environment,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab021 Rick Bonney, Expanding the Impact of Citizen Science, BioScience (2021). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab041 Journal information: BioScience La Cumbre Vieja began erupting on September 19. There is no prospect of the volcanic eruption in Spain's Canary Islands ending "in the short or medium term", experts said Wednesday after three-and-a-half weeks of activity. At the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island, "levels of sulphur dioxide don't currently lead us to think the end of the eruption will be in the short or medium term," said Maria Jose Blanco, spokesman for the Canaries' volcanologist group Pevolca. Other experts have suggested the event could last for weeks or even months. Beginning on September 19, the latest eruption is the third in a century for La Palma, an island of 85,000 people, after San Juan in 1949 and Teneguia in 1971. "The volcano's activity is not stopping and it doesn't seem that we can expect to observe a reduction in the coming days," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday, during his fourth visit to the island since the eruption. So far no-one has been killed by the continuous lava flows, but the molten rock has covered around 640 hectares (1,600 acres) and destroyed 1,400 buildings, 764 of them homes, Pevolca technical director Miguel Angel Morcuende said. More than 6,000 people have been evacuated, hundreds of them leaving all their belongings to the lava. Flights are currently reaching La Palma's airport, which has been closed twice during the eruption due to volcanic ash. Weather forecasts suggest it will be able to remain open for at least the next four days. Explore further Thousands locked down as La Palma volcano destroys cement works 2021 AFP Depictions of the protein structures of green fluorescent protein (far left) compared to alpha-synuclein (top) along with the engineered amino acid acridonylalanine (Acd) and the natural amino acid tryptophan (Trp). The inset image (bottom right) shows how this synthetic fluorescent amino acid can be used to image alpha-synuclein proteins in living cells. Credit: E. James Petersson New research conducted by researchers in the lab of Penn's E. James Petersson in collaboration with Oregon State University and the University of Washington describes how proteins in living cells can be engineered to include synthetic fluorescent amino acids that are bright, long-lasting, and have properties that sense their environment. This work can help biologists study proteins more easily, with implications for understanding the mechanisms of complex neurological diseases. The results were published in Chemical Science with two associated studies published in eLife and Scientific Reports. The Petersson lab has long been interested in developing new ways to label proteins with fluorescent tags, especially for proteins like tau- and alpha-synuclein, which are implicated in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Currently, specific proteins are tracked in cells by adding fluorescent tags like green fluorescent protein (GFP) and using microscopy to find their location in cells. However, proteins like GFP are very large, making it challenging to study smaller proteins, including alpha-synuclein, which is around half the size of GFP. Other platforms with smaller tags do exist, but because they are toxic they cannot be used to study living cells for long periods of time. An alternative approach being pursued by the Petersson lab is to chemically synthesize fluorescent versions of amino acids, the small, individual building blocks of proteins. Then, researchers can use engineered enzymes that allow the fluorescent amino acid to be incorporated into proteins when they are being made in a cell. "By encoding our fluorophores as amino acids, our system can give you a labeled protein that behaves exactly like the native protein," says Petersson. Previously, the Petersson lab had been able to get bacteria to add an amino acid not found in nature called acridonylalanine (Acd) into its proteins, but they hadn't yet been able to get this system to work in mammalian cells, which are more relevant to studying human disease. Now, with the help of collaborators at Oregon State University and the University of Washington, first author and Petersson lab Ph.D. student Chloe Jones was able to bring together a breadth of techniques spanning synthetic organic chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and microscopy in order to incorporate Acd into proteins in mammalian cells. First, the researchers conducted directed evolution experiments in E. coli in the lab of Ryan Mehl, a leader in genetic code expansion at Oregon State. Using engineered aminoacyl tRNA synthetase enzymes, the researchers were able to "hijack" the protein synthesis process by reassigning a portion of the E. coli genetic code to be designated as a place where Acd should be inserted. Then, the researchers determined which specific mutant synthetase enzymes were the best for incorporating Acd into the protein structure. They also ran computational models to understand why the specific mutations made this possible. After refining their methods for incorporating Acd into proteins in E. coli, the researchers relied on the expertise of the University of Washington's William Zagotta and Sharona Gordon, who had experience adding unnatural amino acids into mammalian cells, most notably on neuronal ion channel proteins. In their Chemical Science paper, the researchers found that Acd is "better than any of the unnatural amino acids that have been used before," Petersson says. Compared to other fluorescent amino acids, Acd is more photo-stable, meaning that the fluorescence won't degrade during longer experiments. It also has a high quantum yield, meaning that it shines more brightly than other probes. In addition, Acd also has a long fluorescence lifetime, a measure of the delay between the time the light is absorbed to the time the light is admitted. "The fact that it has a long lifetime allows us to see changes in what environment the Acd is found in. We could see when it's in complex with another protein versus when it's near the cell membrane, for example," says Petersson. In the eLife study, led by Zagotta and Gordon, the researchers demonstrated that Acd can be paired with metal ion probes to measure distances in proteins as they change shape. The scientists had previously used this method with other fluorescent amino acids but found that Acd is a superior fluorescence donor due to its long fluorescence lifetime. This new approach with Acd will be used to study structural changes that are essential for the ability of these channels to regulate electrical activity in neurons. In the Scientific Reports paper, members of the Petersson laboratory used computational modeling of protein structures and machine learning to develop algorithms to predict favorable locations for the placement of Acd so that the labeled protein will behave identically to the native protein. The machine learning approach overcame barriers encountered in their previous attempts to predict Acd tolerance. Now, the Petersson lab is using this newfound understanding of the machinery required to incorporate Acd to create engineered fluorescent amino acids with additional colors, expanding from the current system that glows blue to include green, yellow, and red probes. This would allow researchers to track more types of proteins in a single cell without the need to add on bulky protein tags like GFP. This work is also an important milestone for ongoing research in the Petersson lab studying the underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. "Being able to use these fluorescent amino acids to tag the proteins that are involved in those diseases in cell models will be really useful to look for changes in cellular conditions when these proteins undergo a toxic aggregation process, and we're working on setting that up to be able to use it in those neurodegenerative disease contexts," says Petersson. Explore further Computational protein design utilizes unnatural amino acids More information: Chloe M. Jones et al, Genetic encoding of a highly photostable, long lifetime fluorescent amino acid for imaging in mammalian cells, Chemical Science (2021). Chloe M. Jones et al, Genetic encoding of a highly photostable, long lifetime fluorescent amino acid for imaging in mammalian cells,(2021). DOI: 10.1039/D1SC01914G William N Zagotta et al, An improved fluorescent noncanonical amino acid for measuring conformational distributions using time-resolved transition metal ion FRET, eLife (2021). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.70236 Sam Giannakoulias et al, Biomolecular simulation based machine learning models accurately predict sites of tolerability to the unnatural amino acid acridonylalanine, Scientific Reports (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97965-2 Journal information: Chemical Science , Scientific Reports , eLife Danish Meteorological Institute, Denmark - Iceberg, Baffin Bay 2021. Credit: Steffen M. Olsen Improved climate modeling can predict fish stocks in the North Atlantic, as well as warming effects across the Northern hemisphere, for instance in Europe and North America. Fragile and exposed to climate change, the Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet. As the frozen ground melts, carbon dioxide and methane trapped within it are released into the atmosphere, further contributing to global warming. Michael Mann, the EU's Special Envoy for the Arctic, describes the current environmental situation in the Arctic as extremely serious. He warns: "It's just getting worse and worse." The consequences are being felt elsewhere. Extreme events in Europe, such as the unusually heavy snowfall in Greece and Spain last winter, is thought to be linked to warming in the northernmost regions. "The Arctic is the main suspect for larger changes in conditions in the northern hemisphere," said Dr. Steffen Olsen, a climate researcher at the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen. Since the Arctic is the focal point for global climate change, being able to better forecast Arctic warming could help mitigate its impact, both in the Arctic and elsewhere. The EU is preparing to adapt to the rapid changes that the Arctic is experiencing. One of the goals of the EU missions, namely Adaptation to Climate Change, is to provide new strategies and solutions and empower communities to lead the societal transformation. The EU mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030 will deploy innovative solutions at basin-scale (sea basin and river basin) through mission lighthouses which will each lead on one of the mission objectives. A lighthouse initiative covering the Atlantic and Arctic sea basin is part of the mission objective to protect and restore marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The new EU Arctic policy is also on the horizon to address new challenges and opportunities. Why aren't climate models better at predicting Arctic warming? Danish Meteorological Institute, Denmark - Arctic monitoring setup on sea ice NW Greenland 2021. Credit: Steffen M. Olsen Existing climate models typically describe the physics of large-scale processes in the atmosphere and the ocean, such as atmospheric jet streams or how ice is retreating. However, many small-scale phenomena are not well represented. This is particularly true of predictions for the Arctic, which lack accuracy. "Apart from uncertainties in representing different aspects of the atmosphere, we also see that the pathways of ocean currents from the North Atlantic to the Arctic are poorly represented in our model systems," Dr. Olsen said. Together with his colleagues in the Horizon 2020 funded Blue-Action project, Dr. Olsen aims to improve how the climate in the northern hemisphere, including the Arctic, is modeled and predicted. They focused on variability from one year to the next and between decades. Predictions at these mid-range timescales are often lacking, despite their potential to reveal significant details about climatic changes. "That may mean that you have a number of years where conditions don't follow the more linear track of (predicted) scenarios," explained Dr. Olsen. "A warming tendency can be reversed for some years, for example." Members of the Blue-Action team first conducted several complex experiments where they were able to identify strengths and deficiencies in current climate models. Then, they were able to make improvements, for example by incorporating additional data such as the effect of cracks in Arctic sea ice on heat flux. They also figured out how to predict the key components contributing to atmospheric variability over the North Atlantic Ocean. These factors are known to have a major effect on winter conditions in Europe. From forecasting fish stocks to heat wave early warning These enhanced climate models were used to develop new prediction systems. The team developed a system that can forecast certain fish stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean over a 10-year period, for example, changes such as surface water temperature fluctuations play a role in when fish will migrate and reproduce. "It's the first time you will see predictions of fish stocks years in advance, based on climate model predictions," said Dr. Olsen. They also created an early warning system for European regions to help reduce the impact of heat waves on human health, which have caused more fatalities on the continent than any other extreme weather event in recent decades. By combining their new climate models with heat mortality data from 16 countries, the system allows for preventative measures to be taken if high temperatures are expected. "That has been one very promising line of service development," said Dr. Olsen. Making the best use of good observations Better use of existing monitoring systems could also help improve climate models. Dr. Thomas Jung, head of the Climate Dynamics section at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany and his colleagues, were also aiming to improve climate predictions in the Arctic as part of the APPLICATE project, partly by investigating the role of observations. "You need observations in the right place and once you have good observations, you need to make best use of them," said Dr. Jung. Arctic monitoring on sea-ice with Inuit hunters NW Greenland 2021. Credit: Peter Avike, Qillaq Danielsen The team performed experiments where they removed certain types of observations from climate models of the Arctic to see how this would affect forecasts. They found that microwave observations from satellites, which can indicate temperature and moisture levels, had the most significant impact on medium-term forecasts. The project also aimed to develop more detailed and accurate medium-range climate models for the Arctic that could be put to practical use. To ensure they would be widely adopted they partnered with modeling experts from weather prediction centers in Europe. Since there are a few Arctic countries on the continent, such as Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, more advanced weather predictions would benefit local policymakers, businesses and people so that they can be better prepared for upcoming changes. Arctic climate's link with lower latitudes To figure out how climate change in the Arctic impacts regions further south, the scientists conducted experiments with multiple climate models. They focused on understanding the physical mechanisms through which warming in the Arctic would affect climate and weather in lower latitudes. The team's results suggest that the link between climate change in the Arctic and extreme weather events in Europe and North America might be overestimated. "There is a link; there's no doubt about this," noted Dr. Jung. "But it's probably not as large as suggested by observations." There is another link between Arctic warming and what happens in lower latitudes, too. Climatic changes in polar regions aren't primarily caused by its inhabitants, obviously, but rather by emissions produced by the rest of the world. "The problem has to be dealt with more globally," said Mann. An ambitious climate action plan for the Arctic In an attempt to do just this, the European Union (EU) Arctic policy aims to tackle climate change effects in the region as well as promote sustainable development and international cooperation. Tackling permafrost thaw in the Arctic is one of the issues that will be addressed when the policy is updated this month. Satellites that are part of the EU's Copernicus program, for example, can help track changes, since they are able to measure the thickness of frozen ground. "I think Copernicus will play a major role," said Mann. The new policy will also target black carbon, or soot. It attracts sunlight and heat when deposited on snow and ice in the Arctic, contributing to warming. However, it is currently hard to follow changes in these emissions: There are few monitoring sites and large areas where no observations are made. "Establishing monitoring stations has to be the starting point," noted Mann. "Hopefully, the EU can give that a helping hand." Explore further Building a better model of Arctic ecosystems A trilobite fossil, Redlichia rex found at Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island a marine creature that lived over 500 million years ago during the Cambrian period. Credit: Macquarie University Six years ago, grazier Robert Hacon was driving around his cattle property in outback Queensland when he drove over what he thought was a cow skull. When he turned his ute around, on the ground in front of him lay the 1.6 meter jaw bone of a Kronosaurus queenslandicusan 11-meter-long marine creature with a crocodile-like head that lived about 100 million years ago. It turned out to be the most intact Kronosaurus jawbone ever found. A year later, construction workers building Sydney's light rail in Randwick uncovered tens of thousands of spearheads and tools used by Bidjigal or Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation, including evidence they traded with people from what is now the Hunter Valley. So what should you do if you stumble on a fossil or an Indigenous artifact in your backyard, at the beach, in a local park, on a bushwalk or on a rural property? Macquarie University Biological Sciences Masters student Sally Hurst is trying to answer these questions. She's created a website Found a Fossil to inform people what steps to take, who to contact and what your rights are over ownership of the fossil or artifact. Honorary Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Glenn Brock, says the site will potentially engage thousands of people around Australia online who might have found an important fossil or an artifact and are not sure what to do next. "It greatly improves our chances that more finds will end up in the hands of scientists who'll recognize their significance," says Brock who supervised Hurst during the project. The website is part of Hurst's research which includes surveying people's attitudes to fossils and artifacts Australia-wide. "There's a huge gap in knowledge and information and so I saw it as an opportunity to do something," Hurst says. "I'm passionate about paleontology, archaeology and also an enthusiastic science communicator and this project has combined all my interests." What most intrigues Hurst is that through her website she's engaging members of the public to become citizen scientists. She encourages them to photograph, record the GPS location, determine if there's other similar objects nearby and then report their find. "Fossils are really important," Hurst says. "They give us information about the evolution and extinction of plant and animal species. They also tell us about our changing environment. We need to understand this to adapt to future changes." Similarly, learning about artifacts deepens our understanding of our shared culture and our history. Own the land, own the fossil The good news is that if you find a fossil on your private property in NSW, then you own it and you can decide what to do with it, says Hurst. "But you still should inform your local council or museum, because if it's a rare find, then it will contribute to our scientific knowledge." Also, it's important to report it for preservation purposes. "If it's been in the ground for a long time and then a storm or some kind of digging disturbs it, and it's suddenly exposed to the air, it could rapidly deteriorate. A museum will know how best to take care of it," she says. If you discover the fossil in a national park, on a beach or someone else's private property then you'll have to get the landowner's permission for what to do next. Spread the knowledge Finding a cultural artifact involves similar steps, Hurst says. After growing up on a property in central NSW, Hurst knew of many farmers who had a box full of Aborignial stone tools at the back of a cupboard, unsure of who to talk to about it. "If you find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artifact on your property it does not affect your land ownership at allyou're just encouraged not to disturb it as it's part of the oldest living culture and people want to interpret it. So the best thing is to inform your local council or Indigenous community." On her website, Hurst also includes contact details to report or donate your discovery to the Australian Museum and different state museums, as well state cultural heritage guidelines and sites. It also links you to Fossils Australia to identify your fossil. To further inform her website content, Hurst is conducting a survey of Macquarie University students to find out what they would do if they found a fossil or artifact. Early next year, she'll launch an Australia-wide survey as part of her Masters project to gather information about what people would do if they did find something. "My hope is that this project, and the website resources, will contribute towards the protection of Australia's natural and cultural heritage for the future," she says. Visit Found a Fossil if you have found a fossil or artifact and would like more information on what to do next. Explore further Rare bone artifact discovered near Lower Murray River Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses and from horses to people. Credit: CSKK, Flickr CC-BY NC ND-2.0 Scientists at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, have uncovered a new type of Hendra virus in flying foxes, confirming the virus can be found across a broad region of the country. A paper detailing the findings has been published just days after the new genetic type (HeV-g2) was detected in a horse near Newcastle in New South Wales, the most southern case of Hendra yet recorded. Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses, and from horses to people. Previous studies had found the virus in flying foxes in Queensland and parts of New South Wales. After monitoring flying fox samples from 2013-2021, researchers at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) found the new genetic type in flying foxes in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. ACDP is a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratory for Hendra and Nipah virus diseases. Reference expert and CSIRO scientist Dr. Kim Halpin said spillover of the disease from flying foxes to horses has still only been reported in Queensland and New South Wales. "However, because Hendra Virus Genotype 2 is so genetically similar to the original Hendra virus, there is a potential risk to horses wherever flying foxes are found in Australia," Dr. Halpin said. "It's important to note that Hendra has never been reported to spread directly from flying foxes to humansit's always been transmitted from infected horses to humans. We expect this new genetic type would behave the same way. "And given the similarities, while more research is needed, we expect the existing Hendra virus vaccine for horses should work against this new type too. "This finding really underscores the importance of research into flying foxesit's crucial to helping us understand and protect Australians against the viruses they can carry." Another project, called "Horses as Sentinels," led by the University of Sydney and CSIRO and funded by a Biosecurity Innovation Program grant from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, detected the same genetic type earlier this year in samples collected from a horse from Queensland in 2015. Results of this research are available in preprint. Dr. Steve Dennis, President of Equine Veterinarians Australia, said the findings are a reminder there's a risk of Hendra virus wherever there are flying foxes and horses. "Owners and any people who interact with horses can reduce the risk of infection from Hendra virus and other zoonotic viruses through vaccination of horses or humans where available, wearing appropriate PPE, and seeking veterinary attention for sick horses," Dr. Dennis said. CSIRO and the "Horses as Sentinels" project team have been working closely with vets and laboratories around Australia to implement improved tests for horses with signs of Hendra virus disease. Peer-reviewed results of CSIRO's flying fox study have just been published in Virology Journal. Explore further Faster diagnosis of deadly Hendra virus in horses More information: Jianning Wang et al, A new Hendra virus genotype found in Australian flying foxes, Virology Journal (2021). Jianning Wang et al, A new Hendra virus genotype found in Australian flying foxes,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01652-7 Edward J. Annand et al, Novel Hendra virus variant detected by sentinel surveillance of Australian horses, (2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.16.452724 More information for horse owners is available at www.outbreak.gov.au/for-vets-a entists/hendra-virus Journal information: Virology Journal Describing quantized light-matter interaction can be a cumbersome task that demands many building blocks to add up correctly, a bit like building the Berlin Gate from individual stones (right). Schaefer et al. found a new way to reshape the equations describing the matter so that they account for much of the quantum light, a bit like carving the Berlin Gate from an individual stone rather than building it block by block. Credit: Joerg Harms / MPSD When light interacts with matter, for example, when a laser beam hits a two-dimensional material like graphene, it can substantially change the behavior of the material. Depending on the form of interaction between light and matter, some chemical reactions appear differently, substances turn magnetic or ferroelectric or begin to conduct electricity without any losses. In particularly thrilling cases, an actual light source may not even be necessary because the mere possibility for light to exist, i.e., its quantum equivalent, the photons, can change the behavior of matter. Theoretical scientists try to describe and predict these fascinating phenomena because they could be crucial in the development of new quantum technologies. However, calculating quantum light-matter interactions not only eats up enormous amounts of time and computing powerit also becomes very cumbersome. Describing the strong interaction between a realistic material with photons easily consumes thousands of Euros. Now scientists from the Theory Department of the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg have found a way to simplify some of these calculations. Their work, now published in PNAS, provides a significant step towards integrating the quantum nature of light into modern-day devices. "Imagine you are given a set of construction bricks to build a model of the famous Berlin Gate," says Christian Schafer, lead author of the study. "Intuitively, we start placing the stones on top of each other to resemble the shape of the gate, but with each stone, the construction becomes more unstable and expensive. Similarly, because we sometimes have to consider many hundreds of photons, our calculations can become overwhelmingly complex and the cost of our theoretical predictions spirals very quickly. In fact, this cost is so prohibitive that predicting the full interplay between many photons and realistic molecules is de facto impossible to compute, even on the fastest and biggest existing super-computers." Now, the MPSD team, based at the Centre for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in Hamburg, has found a simple but brilliant way to circumvent this problem. By reshaping the equation so that the material part itself accounts for the quantum mechanical uncertainty of the light, far fewer additional photons are needed to describe the combined system of quantum light and matter. "In effect, we built the Berlin Gate by carving it from the first stone to arrive at approximately the same result," explains Schafer. "This allows us to describe the quantum interaction between light and matter with very little additional cost compared to just considering the material." To take an example, when the interaction between light and matter becomes so strong that both systems become truly interlacing, each possible configuration of the light-field can demand the consideration of hundreds of photons. The new approach can capture most features of this extreme limit without the need to consider any photon at all. Adding just a few photons is then enough to provide the full picture. The method yields considerable savings in computing time and provides a framework for scientists to predict the interplay between quantum light and matter for realistic systems in situations that were prohibitive to simulate. "Our approach can serve as a solid foundation for future developments, providing a path to integrate quantum light more strongly into chemistry, material design and quantum technology," Schafer says. "Within the general formalism many novel effects might still await discovery," adds MPSD Theory director Angel Rubio. "The engineering of materials and molecular complexes through light is becoming a reality. We are embarking on a long and exciting journey to explore its full potential implications in novel quantum technologies and the team's work provides an important step along this path." Explore further A quantum of light for materials science More information: Christian Schafer et al, Making ab initio QED functional(s): Nonperturbative and photon-free effective frameworks for strong lightmatter coupling, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Christian Schafer et al, Making ab initio QED functional(s): Nonperturbative and photon-free effective frameworks for strong lightmatter coupling,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110464118 Fig. 1. Map of study zones in Dongting Lake wetland. (A) Location of the Dongting Lake in the Yangtze River Basin and its tributaries, (B) sampling and monitoring sites in the Tuanzhou (TZ), Junshan (JS), and Xiaoxi Lake (XXL) wetlands, (C) The yellow dots represent the Carex meadow sampling points, while the red dots are those for the Reed wetland. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2021.105761 Litter decomposition determines the return of carbon (C) to the atmosphere, which plays a key role in carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Studying the effects of litter decomposition on surface soil organic carbon pool (S-SOCP) during the carbon cycle in different habitats of seasonal flood wetlands is important to further understand the carbon cycle in wetlands. Recently, a team of researchers from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed how hydrological environment influences litter carbon input to S-SOCP in Dongting Lake floodplain of China. Their study was published in CATENA on Sept. 30. They investigated the effects of hydrological changes (soil water content and days of flooding) on the litter decomposition process and S-SOCP from January 2018 to November 2019 in the Dongting Lake floodplain, and calculated the contribution of litter to the S-SOCP in Carex meadow and Reed wetland. "The flooding environment changed the intrinsic limiting factors of litter decomposition and promoted the carbon input of litter," said Zhu Lianlian from ISA, the first author of the study. In the Carex meadow and Reed wetland, the belowground litter contribution was higher than the aboveground litter during the non-flooding season. While, during the flooding season, the aboveground litter contribution in the Carex meadow was higher, and the belowground litter contributed more in the Reed wetland. Soil water content showed a positive correlation with soil organic carbon, and a negative correlation with the microbial biomass carbon and dissolved organic carbon in the Carex meadow. However, it indicated a negative correlation with soil organic carbon and a positive correlation with microbial biomass carbon in the Reed wetland during the non-flooding season. During the flooding season, the variation of dissolved organic carbon was positively correlated with days of flooding in the Carex meadow and Reed wetland. Soil water content and days of flooding are the main drivers of litter decomposition into the S-SOCP in non-flooding and flooding seasons, respectively. Therefore, the construction of microhabitat with prolonged flooding and relatively higher soil water content are essential ways to improve the carbon sequestration potential in floodplains. Explore further Priming effect caused by root litter varies with root order More information: Lianlian Zhu et al, Effects of hydrological environment on litter carbon input into the surface soil organic carbon pool in the Dongting Lake floodplain, CATENA (2021). Lianlian Zhu et al, Effects of hydrological environment on litter carbon input into the surface soil organic carbon pool in the Dongting Lake floodplain,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2021.105761 Lianlian Zhu et al, Factors controlling Carex brevicuspis leaf litter decomposition and its contribution to surface soil organic carbon pool at different water levels, Biogeosciences (2021). DOI: 10.5194/bg-18-1-2021 Journal information: Biogeosciences This undated photo made available by Blue Origin in October 2021 shows, from left, Chris Boshuizen, William Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries. Their launch scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 will be Blue Origin's second passenger flight, using the same capsule and rocket that Jeff Bezos used for his own trup three months earlier. Credit: Blue Origin via AP As William Shatner prepares to be beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight, and to become at 90 the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier, he's bringing out the awe in the small handful of people around a rural Texas spaceport. Shatner's 10-minute trip with three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will be more like the first space launches of the 1960s than the fictional galactic voyages of the Starship Enterprise on "Star Trek," but the very idea of him leaving the atmosphere is powerful. "It's time Captain Kirk actually physically got up into space. I'm kind of excited about that," said Becky Brewster, mayor of Van Horn, a rural town of about 1,800 people on what was once desolate desert ranchland in far West Texas that has been transformed by the presence of the Blue Origin spaceport facilities 25 miles away. The mayor, a lifelong "Star Trek" fan, said she was disappointed she wasn't invited to the launch site but is savoring the moment anyway. She's planning to watch from her backyard with the livestream playing. "He and Mr. Spock were the ones that got me interested in space and science fiction and and everything else," Brewster said. "So, from junior high age up to now where William Shatner is actually in our town fixing to go up into space. You know, it's kind of like the whole circle now for me." In this May 6, 2018 file photo, actor William Shatner takes questions from reporters after delivering the commencement address at New England Institute of Technology graduation ceremonies, in Providence, R.I. Star Trek's Captain Kirk is rocketing into space this monthboldly going where no other sci-fi actors have gone. Jeff Bezos' space travel company, Blue Origin, announced Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 that Shatner will blast off from West Texas on Oct. 12. Credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne, file Beyond his celebrity identity, Shatner being space-bound at his age is a kick for close observers. Joseph Barra, who works as a bartender for a Los Angeles catering company, heard only that he was getting an unusual gig at a remote Texas launch site. "I'm like stop. You had me at space. Had no clue what else," Barra said. "And then all I heard was their gonna send some 90-year-old man into space. And I'm like, Dang, that sounds intense. Like, I wonder who that is. Then you get in site and I'm like, Oh, it's William Shatner." Barra said the experience of serving drinks to Shatner and his crew mates has been surreal and then some. "We're seeing that the man who in a sense like made space popular or made or gave everybody dreams of going to space," Barra said. "Now he's the one going to space and he's the one setting the bar. It's inspiring. Some like here, this man is 90 years old, proving that no matter how old you are, you still have more to do and accomplish on this Earth, and you can still give people an inspiration and a source and something to aspire to." Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket sits on the landing pad after carrying passengers Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and space tourism company Blue Origin, brother Mark Bezos, Oliver Daemen and Wally Funk, from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas on July 20, 2021. The performer who breathed life into "Star Trek's" Captain James T. Kirk is, at age 90, heading toward the stars under dramatically different circumstances than his fictional counterpart when Shatner boards Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin NS-18. Credit: AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File Barra said he heard Shatner say he plans to just gaze out the window at Earth during his minutes of weightlessness. But he has a bit more planned apparently. A Twitter user asked Shatner, an avid tweeter, on Tuesday whether he will post from space. "I cannot bring my phone but I've prearranged a little something," Shatner replied with a wink emoji. Earlier in the week he tweeted a photo of himself and his fellow crew members in blue flight suits that are far more futuristic than the yellow leotard-style uniform he wore on the original "Star Trek." "Aren't we all adorbs!" Shatner said. Bezos, who was on Blue Origin's debut flight in July, is also a big "Star Trek" fan, and invited Shatner to take the flight as a guest. He'll join three otherstwo of them paying customers in the burgeoning business of space tourismaboard a Blue Origin capsule. In this 1988 file photo, William Shatner, who portrays Capt. James T. Kirk, attends a photo opportunity for the film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." Star Trek's Captain Kirk is rocketing into space this monthboldly going where no other sci-fi actors have gone. Jeff Bezos' space travel company, Blue Origin, announced Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 that Shatner will blast off from West Texas on Oct. 12. Credit: AP Photo/Bob Galbraith Gene Walker, of Denison, Texas, makes a photo of a Blue Origin mural on a building for sale in Van Horn, Texas, Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021. Today's launch has been pushed to Wednesday due to weather. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero Van Horn Mayor Becky Brewster shows-off a Star Trek themed hand sign as she poses for a photo in Van Horn, Texas, Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021. The nearby Blue Origin launch site is 20 miles north of her city. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero A pedestrian crosses the street in Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Tuesday's Blue Origin launch near the city has been pushed to Wednesday due to weather. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero Albert Fehrenbach, left, makes a photo as his wife, Susan Fehrenbach, center, chats with Rick Pratt outside the entrance to the Blue Origin launch site near Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Tuesday's launch has been pushed to Wednesday due to weather. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero The fully automated flight, delayed by a day due to weather, will take them no higher than about 66 miles (106 kilometers). The capsule will parachute back to the desert floor, not far from where it took off. Shatner plans to get right back to his work as Captain Kirk once he's back down to Earth. "I'm doing Space, then Indiana Comic Con, & then on Sunday Wizard World Chicago," he tweeted. Explore further Blue Origin delays William Shatner's space flight 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Jomon teeth vs Native American teeth. Credit: G. Richard Scott, University of Nevada Reno A widely accepted theory of Native American origins coming from Japan has been attacked in a new scientific study, which shows that the genetics and skeletal biology "simply does not match-up". The findings, published today in the peer-reviewed journal PaleoAmerica, are likely to have a major impact on how we understand Indigenous Americans' arrival to the Western Hemisphere. Based on similarities in stone artifacts, many archaeologists currently believe that Indigenous Americans, or 'First Peoples', migrated to the Americas from Japan about 15,000 years ago. It is thought they moved along the northern rim of the Pacific Ocean, which included the Bering Land Bridge, until they reached the northwest coast of North America. From there the First Peoples fanned out across the interior parts of the continent and farther south, reaching the southern tip of South America within less than two thousand years. The theory is based, in part, on similarities in stone tools made by the 'Jomon' people (an early inhabitant of Japan, 15,000 years ago), and those found in some of the earliest known archaeological sites inhabited by ancient First Peoples. But this new study, out today in PaleoAmericathe flagship journal of the Center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M Universitysuggests otherwise. Carried out by one of the world's foremost experts in the study of human teeth and a team of Ice-Age human genetics experts, the paper analysed the biology and genetic coding of teeth samples from multiple continents and looked directly at the Jomon people. "We found that the human biology simply doesn't match up with the archaeological theory," states lead author Professor Richard Scott, a recognized expert in the study of human teeth, who led a team of multidisciplinary researchers. "We do not dispute the idea that ancient Native Americans arrived via the Northwest Pacific coastonly the theory that they originated with the Jomon people in Japan. "These people (the Jomon) who lived in Japan 15,000 years ago are an unlikely source for Indigenous Americans. Neither the skeletal biology or the genetics indicate a connection between Japan and the America. The most likely source of the Native American population appears to be Siberia." In a career spanning almost half a century, Scotta professor of anthropology at the University of Nevada-Renohas traveled across the globe, collecting an enormous body of information on human teeth worldwide, both ancient and modern. He is the author of numerous scientific papers and several books on the subject. This latest paper applied multivariate statistical techniques to a large sample of teeth from the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, showing that quantitative comparison of the teeth reveals little relationship between the Jomon people and Native Americans. In fact, only 7% of the teeth samples were linked to the non-Arctic Native Americans (recognized as the First Peoples). And, the genetics show the same pattern as the teethlittle relationship between the Jomon people and Native Americans. "This is particularly clear in the distribution of maternal and paternal lineages, which do not overlap between the early Jomon and American populations," states co-author Professor Dennis O'Rourke, who was joined by fellow human geneticistsand expert of the genetics of Indigenous Americansat the University of Kansas, Jennifer Raff. "Plus, recent studies of ancient DNA from Asia reveal that the two peoples split from a common ancestor at a much earlier time," adds Professor O'Rourke. Together with their colleague and co-author Justin Tackney, O'Rourke and Raff reported the first analysis of ancient DNA from Ice-Age human remains in Alaska in 2016. Other co-authors include specialists in Ice-Age archaeology and ecology. Shortly before publication of the paper, two other new studies on related topics were released. A new genetics paper on the modern Japanese population concluded that it represents three separate migrations into Japan, rather than two, as previously believed. It offered more support to the authors' conclusions, however, about the lack of a biological relationship between the Jomon people and Indigenous Americans. And, in late September, archaeologists reported in another paper the startling discovery of ancient footprints in New Mexico dating to 23,000 years ago, described as "definitive evidence" of people in North America before the Last Glacial Maximumbefore expanding glaciers probably cut off access from the Bering Land Bridge to the Western Hemisphere. It remains unclear who made the footprints and how they are related to living Native Americans, but the new paper provides no evidence that the latter are derived from Japan. Professor Scott concludes that "the Incipient Jomon population represents one of the least likely sources for Native American peoples of any of the non-African populations." Limitations of the study include that available samples of both teeth and ancient DNA for the Jomon population are less than 10,000 years old, i.e., do not antedate the early Holocene (when the First Peoples are understood to arrive in America). "We assume," the authors explain however, "that they are valid proxies for the Incipient Jomon population or the people who made stemmed points in Japan 16,00015,000 years ago." Explore further Ancient DNA rewrites early Japanese historymodern day populations have tripartite genetic origin More information: Peopling the Americas: Not "Out of Japan", PaleoAmerica, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/1 0555563.2021.1940440 Peopling the Americas: Not "Out of Japan", Top: Images based on simulations show how three phases of matter, including skyrmionstiny whirlpools created by the spins of electronscan form in certain magnetic materials. They are stripes of electron spin (left); hexagonal lattices (right); and an in-between phase (center) that's a mixture of the two. In this middle, glass-like state, skyrmions move very slowly, like cars in a traffic jamone of several discoveries made in recent studies by scientists at SLAC, Stanford, Berkeley Lab and UC San Diego. Bottom: Patterns formed in a detector during experiments that explored fundamentals of skyrmion behavior at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source X-ray free-electron laser. Credit: Esposito et al., Applied Physics Letters, 2020 Scientists have known for a long time that magnetism is created by the spins of electrons lining up in certain ways. But about a decade ago, they discovered another astonishing layer of complexity in magnetic materials: Under the right conditions, these spins can form little vortexes or whirlpools that act like particles and move around independently of the atoms that spawned them. The tiny whirlpools are called skyrmions, named after Tony Skyrme, the British physicist who predicted their existence in 1962. Their small size and sturdy naturelike knots that are hard to undohave given rise to a rapidly expanding field devoted to understanding them better and exploiting their strange qualities. "These objects represent some of the most sophisticated forms of magnetic order that we know about," said Josh Turner, a staff scientist at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and principal investigator with the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) at SLAC. "When skyrmions form," he said, "it happens all at once, throughout the material. What's even more interesting is that the skyrmions move around as if they are individual, independent particles. It's like a dance where all the spins are communicating with each other and moving in unison to control the motion of the skyrmions, and meanwhile the atoms in the lattice below them just sit there." Because they are so stable and so tinyabout 1,000 times the size of an atomand are easily moved by applying small electric currents, he said, "there are lots of ideas about how to harness them for new types of computing and memory storage technologies that are smaller and use less energy." Most interesting to Turner, though, is the fundamental physics behind how skyrmions form and behave. He and colleagues from DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, San Diego have been developing methods for capturing the activities of skyrmions in their natural, undisturbed state with unprecedented detail using SLAC's X-ray free-electron laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). It allows them to measure details at the nanoscaleas small as millionths of an inchand observe changes taking place in billionths of a second. In a series of recent papers, they describe experiments that suggest skyrmions can form a glass-like phase where their movements are so slow that they look like they're stuck, like cars in a traffic jam. Further, they measured how skyrmions' natural motion with respect to each other can oscillate and change in response to an applied magnetic field, and discovered that this inherent motion never seems to entirely stop. This ever-present fluctuation, Turner said, indicates that skyrmions may have a lot in common with high-temperature superconductorsquantum materials whose ability to conduct electricity with no loss at relatively high temperatures may be related to fluctuating stripes of electron spin and charge. The research team was able to observe skyrmion fluctuations in a thin magnetic film made of many alternating layers of iron and gadolinium by taking snapshots with the LCLS X-ray laser beam just 350 trillionths of a second apart. They say their method can be used to study the physics of a wide range of materials, as well as their topologya mathematical concept that describes how an object's shape can deform without fundamentally changing its properties. In the case of skyrmions, topology is what gives them their robust nature, making them hard to annihilate. "I think this technique will grow and become very powerful in condensed matter physics, because there aren't that many direct ways of measuring these fluctuations over time," said Sujoy Roy, a staff scientist at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source. "There are a huge number of studies that can be done on things like superconductors, complex oxides and magnetic interfaces." Sergio Montoya, a scientist at the Center for Memory and Recording Research at UC San Diego who designed and crafted the material used in this study, added, "This kind of information is important when you develop large-scale electronics and need to see how they behave throughout the material, not just in one little spot." Quick snapshots of atomic-scale changes Montoya started studying the iron-gadolinium film around 2013. At the time, it was already known that skyrmion lattices could form when magnetic fields were applied to certain magnets, and there were strong research efforts to discover new materials capable of hosting skyrmions at room temperature. Montoya carefully crafted the layered materials, adjusting the growth conditions to tune the properties of the skyrmion lattice"the design and tailoring of the material play a huge role in studies like these," he saidand teamed up with Roy to examine them with X-rays from the Advanced Light Source. Meanwhile, Turner and his team at LCLS were developing a new tool that's like a camera for taking snapshots of atomic-scale fluctuations at extremely fast shutter speeds. Two X-ray laser pulses, each just millionths of a billionth of a second long, hit a sample millionths to billionths of a second apart. The X-rays fly into a detector and form "speckle patterns," each as unique as a fingerprint, that reveal subtle changes in the material's complex structure. Skyrmions (top and bottom left) are little vortexes or whirlpools created by the spins of electrons when magnetic fields are applied to certain magnetic materials. Skyrmions can form regular lattice patterns (top right) that match the pattern of the atomic lattice that spawned them, although theyre about 100 times larger. They can also move independently to form different patterns (bottom right), including alternating stripes of electron spin and disordered, glass-like phases. In a series of recent studies, scientists at SLAC, Stanford, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC San Diego used an X-ray laser to discover new aspects of skyrmion behavior. Credit: Greg Stewart / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, based on numerical simulations by Sergio Montoya / UC San Diego "We use soft X-ray pulses with very low intensity that don't disturb the sample," explained LCLS scientist Matt Seaberg. "This allows us to get two snapshots that reveal the intrinsic fluctuations in the material and how they change in the very short time span between them." It wasn't long before the LCLS, Berkeley Lab and UC San Diego teams joined forces to aim this new tool at skyrmions. As Turner put it, "Imagine getting a telescope and choosing where to point it first. Skyrmions seemed like a good choiceexotic magnetic structures with many unknowns about their behavior." More powerful tools ahead Based on what they saw in these experiments, "We think that it's basically the interaction between adjacent skyrmions that might be causing their intrinsic oscillations," Seaberg said. "We're still trying to understand that. It's hard to see exactly what is oscillating from the type of measurements we made. We've had a lot of discussions about how we could figure out what's happening and what the signals we measured actually mean." The specialized instrument they built for these experiments has since been taken apart to make way for other things. But it will be reassembled as part of a new experimental station that's part of a major LCLS upgradean ideal place, the team said, for continuing this new class of experiments on fluctuations in materials like superconductors, as well as a fruitful and collaborative scientific journey that Montoya describes as a "joyful ride." Turner said, "It's remarkable how much we are learning about these kinds of magnetic objects with the special capabilities we have at the LCLS. This project has been a lot of fun. Working with such a great team and with so many things to try, there is literally a treasure trove of information waiting to be uncovered." Explore further Observing the life cycle of skyrmions in exquisite detail Caenorhabditis elegans. Credit: Wikipedia A mother's response to stress can even influence her grandchildren. Biologists at the University of Iowa found that roundworm mothers subjected to heat stress passed, under certain conditions and through modifications to their genes, the legacy of that stress exposure not only to their offspring but even to their offspring's children. The researchers, led by Veena Prahlad, associate professor in the Department of Biology and the Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, looked at how a mother roundworm reacts when she senses danger, such as a change in temperature, which can be harmful or even fatal to the animal. In a study published last year, the biologists discovered the mother roundworm releases serotonin when she senses danger. The serotonin travels from her central nervous system to warn her unfertilized eggs, where the warning is stored, so to speak, and then passed to offspring after conception. Examples of such genetic cascades abound, even in humans. Studies have shown that pregnant women affected by famine in the Netherlands from 1944 to 1945, known as the Dutch Hunger Winter, gave birth to children who were influenced by that episode as adultswith higher rates than average of obesity, diabetes, and schizophrenia. In this study, the biologists wanted to find out how the memory of stress exposure was stored in the egg cell. "Genes have 'memories' of past environmental conditions that, in turn, affect their expression even after these conditions have changed," Prahlad explains. "How this 'memory' is established and how it persists past fertilization, embryogenesis, and after the embryo develops into adults is not clear. "This is because during embryogenesis, most organisms typically reset any changes that have been made to genes because of the genes' past activity." Prahlad and her teams turned to the roundworm, a creature regularly studied by scientists, for clues. They exposed mother roundworms to unexpected stresses and found the stress memory was ingrained in the mother's eggs through the actions of a protein called the heat shock transcription factor, or HSF1. The HSF1 protein is present in all plants and animals and is activated by changes in temperature, salinity, and other stressors. The team found that HSF1 recruits another protein, an enzyme called a histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase. The latter normally acts during embryogenesis to silence genes and erase the memory of their prior activity. However, Prahald's team observed something else entirely. "We found that HSF1 collaborates with the mechanisms that normally act to 'reset' the memory of gene expression during embryogenesis to, instead, establish this stress memory," Prahlad says. One of these newly silenced genes encodes the insulin receptor, which is central to metabolic changes with diabetes in humans, and which, when silenced, alters an animal's physiology, metabolism, and stress resilience. Because these silencing marks persisted in offspring, their stress-response strategy was switched from one that depended on the ability to be highly responsive to stress, to relying instead on mechanisms that decreased stress responsiveness but provided long-term protection from stressful environments. "What we found all the more remarkable was that if the mother was exposed to stress for a short period of time, only progeny that developed from her germ cells that were subjected to this stress in utero had this memory," Prahlad says. "The progeny of these progeny (the mother's grandchildren) had lost this memory. However, if the mother was subjected to a longer period of stress, the grandchildren generation retained this memory. Somehow the 'dose' of maternal stress exposure is recorded in the population." The researchers plan to investigate these changes further. HSF1 is not only required for stress resistance but also increased levels of both HSF1 and the silencing mark are associated with cancer and metastasis. Because HSF1 exists in many organisms, its newly discovered interaction with H3K9 methyltransferase to drive gene silencing is likely to have larger repercussions. The paper, "Gene bookmarking by the heat-shock transcription factor programs the insulin-like signaling pathway," was published online Oct. 13 in the journal Molecular Cell. Explore further Mother roundworms have ultra-protective instincts More information: Gene bookmarking by the heat-shock transcription factor programs the insulin-like signaling pathway, Molecular Cell (2021). Journal information: Molecular Cell Gene bookmarking by the heat-shock transcription factor programs the insulin-like signaling pathway,(2021). "It was unbelievable," said William Shatner (second from left), known to Star Trek fans as Captain James Tiberius Kirk. "Star Trek" actor William Shatner finally became a real space traveler on Blue Origin's second crewed mission Wednesday, calling it the most profound experience of his life. "It was unbelievable," said the 90-year-old Canadian, known to the sci-fi show's legion of "Trekkies" as the daring Captain James T. Kirk, a role he first played more than half a century ago. He was joined on the 11-minute journey beyond Earth's atmosphere and back again by three others: Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen, and Glen de Vries of Medidata Solutions. A New Shepard rocket took off from the company's West Texas base around 9:49 am (1449 GMT) after experiencing two brief delays, eventually soaring to 66 miles (106 kilometers) above sea level. Founder Jeff Bezos was on hand to greet the crew members as they climbed out of the capsule, which parachute-landed in desert, and were showered with applause and champagne. Like the almost 600 astronauts who have gone before him, Shatner marveled at the experience of weightlessness and the stunning view of our world from space. "What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. I'm so filled with emotion about what just happened," he said, moved to tears. New Shepard NS-18 mission crew members (L-R) Blue Origin vice president Audrey Powers; "Star Trek" actor William Shatner and Medidata Solutions Co-Founder, Glen de Vries ride to the launch pad on October 13, 2021. "What you're looking down on is Mother Earth, and it needs protecting," he later told reporters. The mission was a replay of the company's maiden human flight in July, which included Bezos and was seen as a breakthrough moment for the nascent space tourism sector. This time around, all attention was focused on Shatner, who became the oldest-ever astronaut, despite an appearance suggesting a man decades younger. The intergalactic voyages of the USS Enterprise, commanded by Shatner's character Kirk, helped turn American attention to the stars as the US space program was starting out. "Captain Kirk... represents 'the final frontier' perhaps more than anyone else for a couple different generations of people, in the US and worldwide," screenwriter and Trek historian Marc Cushman told AFP. Shatner, also known for his role as lawyer Denny Crane in "Boston Legal," among many others, has spoken in the past about an at-times difficult relationship with Star Trek and its fan culture. Graphic explaining the different flight stages of Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. But in recent years, the actor has leaned into the fame brought about by his most famous role. "I'm overwhelmed by the response," said Shatner, when asked by AFP about the outpouring of support he has received from fans and the wider space community since the mission was announced. Space tourism heating up For Blue Origin, meanwhile, a second mission in less than three months represents another step forward as it tries to establish itself as space tourism's leading player. Boshuizen and Vries brought the company's total number of paying customers to three, after Dutch teen Oliver Daemen who was on board the first flight. Competition in the sector is heating up. Virgin Galactic, which offers a similar experience of a few minutes' weightlessness and a view of the Earth's curvature from the cosmos, launched its founder Richard Branson in July, a few days before Bezos. Blue Origin is trying to establish itself as space tourism's leading player as the competition is raging. And in September, SpaceX sent four private citizens on a three-day trip whizzing around the planetan altogether more ambitious, but also likely far more expensive endeavor. For many space enthusiasts, Shatner's voyage was a fitting coda for a pop culture phenomenon that inspired generations of astronauts, scientists and engineers. The show has had a long-running association with NASA, whose scientists were sent early scripts to vet their accuracy, according to Cushman. "Those scientists, as well as nearly everyone at those space agencies, were avid Star Trek watchers, and they well understood that the popularity of the series helped spark growing interest and funding for the space program," he said. The crew, (from R) Chris Boshuizen, Canadian actor William Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries, will hop just beyond Earth's atmosphere. Another mega-fan: Bezos himself. The Amazon founder shared an Instagram post of Star Trek artwork he made when he was nine years old. Bezos has said Amazon's Alexa voice assistant was inspired by the conversational computer on the Enterprise, and he even made a cameo as an alien in the 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond," sporting an egg-shaped head. 2021 AFP LAKE GEORGE State police said alcohol was likely a factor in the crash caused by a woman who drove the wrong way on the Northway last month. The crash took place on Sept. 28 in Lake George. Cynthia L. Murphy, 59, of South Glens Falls, was traveling south in a Hyundai Santa Fe on the northbound side of the highway at about 5:19 p.m. Her vehicle collided with a northbound Hyundai Elantra driven by 35-year-old Lake George resident Jamie Yard of Lake George. Yard was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries and has since been released. Murphy was taken to Glens Falls Hospital for evaluation. Trooper Kerra Burns, state police spokeswoman, said Tuesday that charges are pending against Murphy. She did not say when they would be forthcoming. This was the second wrong-way crash on the Northway in a month. Police said Saranac Lake resident Dennis M. Ford, 66, drove drunk in his 2017 Mini Countryman north in the southbound lanes at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 in Chester. He crashed head-on with a 2004 Volvo XC70 traveling south. The two passengers in the Volvo 27-year-old Matthew G. Huff, of Westfield, New Jersey, and 31-year-old Kerry OReilly, of Dorchester, Massachusetts were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 31-year-old Lauren Huff was injured in the crash. Ford was charged with felony second-degree vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. His case is pending in Warren County Court. Michael Goot covers politics, crime and courts, Warren County, education and business. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com. 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. LAKE LUZERNE The Open Space Institute has preserved nearly 60 acres of land between Moreau Lake State Park and West Mountain, expanding a wildlife corridor that links northern Saratoga County with the Adirondack Park. The 59.62-acre parcel located off Call Street links the Palmertown Range with the southern Adirondacks, and furthers the Open Space Institutes goal of establishing trails between Saratoga Spa State Park, Moreau Lake and the Adirondacks, according to a news release. The property is also a crucial connection for wildlife in the area and will likely be sold to either the state Department of Environmental Conservation or the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, according to the release. It is really exciting to be able to purchase this property to continue that connection, Eileen Larrabee, senior vice president for communications for the Open Space Institute, said in a statement. This part of the state is growing fast, which makes preserving outdoor recreation opportunities all the more important. Marge French and her late husband Ken owned the property for nearly 40 years before the sale. Realize Brokers & Consultants, a Glens Falls-based real estate company, brokered the $125,000 deal. The Open Space Institute has made it a mission in recent year to preserve land near West Mountain, which is in the Hudson River watershed. The heavily forested mountain is also considered essential for capturing carbon, a key contributor to global warming. Over the years, the Open Space Institute has preserved five properties totaling 3,300 acres in the Palmertown Range, including a 1,260-acre acquisition last year next to Ralph Road State Forest. The parcel near Ralph Road State Forest will be sold to the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 2023. Chad Arnold is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls and the town and village of Lake George and Washington County government. Follow him on Twitter @ChadGArnold. Love 9 Funny 0 Wow 0 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. Last week the court ruled to arrest Archimandrite Ephrem, abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos, in connection with a large-scale investigation into real estate deals between the Monastery and the Greek State initiated in 2008. On weekend the police came to the Vatopedi Monastery to arrest Fr. Ephrem. After medical doctors had examined the abbot, it was decided to leave him in the Monastery for health reasons. It was reported on Tuesday, however, that Fr Ephrem was arrested and taken away from Mr. Athos. Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchates Department for External Church Relations, gave his appraisal of the actions of the Greek authorities in his short interview to Interfax-Religion. - Your Eminence, the Greek authorities arrested Archimandrite Ephrem, abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, who has recently accompanied the Belt of the Mother of God in Russia. Please, give your comments. - We do not and can not know all about the charges in abuses in real estate transactions made by the Vatopedi Monastery in the past filed against Fr Ephrem and other persons. Whether these charges are just, the Greek court will decide; we cannot interfere. However, it is quite obvious that detention under remand of Archimandrite Ephrem, who does not pose any danger, without considering the case on its merits and before a court ruling, is an extraordinary action that surprises us deeply. The authorities arrested nobody but the elderly and ailing priest. This ruling arouses grave concern of believers of the Russian Orthodox Church, puts her hierarchs on guard, and makes us ponder over its true reasons. - The concern of the Russian Church for the situation with Fr Ephrem has been shared by the Athos Holy Community which confirmed the authoritative status of the respected elder - We know that the Vatopedi Monastery, once dilapidated, has revived since hegumen Ephrem has come into it. Fr Ephrem has done great services to the Vatopedi Monastery; this was shown by solidarity expressed by the Holy Community under the circumstances. Archimandrite Ephrem is widely known not only in Greece, but also in the entire Orthodox world as a spiritual leader, who zealously cared for the ordering of monastic life in accordance with the centuries-old traditions. Anyone who visited the Vatopedi Monastery experienced the spirit of hospitality that prevails in the monastery and embraces all the pilgrims. Fr Ephrem has become near and dear to many in the Russian Orthodox Church after the month he spent in Russia with a great shrine the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God venerated by millions of Russian believers. They are surprised how it happened that after returning from his trip to Russia the abbot of the largest and, one may say, exemplary monastery on Mt. Athos, was arrested in Greece, an Orthodox country, as it celebrates the Nativity of Christ. Their surprise is understandable as are the sentiments of many Greek bishops, clergymen, and laymen who believe that the ruling on Archimandrite Ephrem is a hostile attack against the Athonite monks and the entire Orthodox Church. DECR Communications Services MIDDLE TOWNSHIP A project to bring fresh water to homes in the Del Haven section of the township took a step forward with a bid approval Oct. 6. A statement from township officials said the vote sealed the deal. The Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority signed off on a $9.97 million contract with low bidder P&A Construction Inc. Work should start in early 2022. The small community of Del Haven hugs the Delaware Bay, miles from the nearest water line in Middle Township. Residents rely on shallow wells but have a strong motivation to connect to municipal water. For years, residents have complained of salt water intrusion from the bay. In some cases, the taste and strong mineral smell think sulfur have made the water from some wells undrinkable and ill-suited for other uses. For years, township officials wrestled with potential options before reaching an agreement with the LTMUA in 2019 to bring water across the municipal border, along Bayshore Road and connecting to the expanded municipal water system in the Villas section of Lower Township. Hurdles remain, including shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} +3 Who is running for a seat on your local and regional school boards? There will be several crowded contests this year for seats on local school boards on Electio Dredging work has begun on Nantuxent Creek in Cumberland County, the state Department of Transportation said Wednesday. The $1.6 million project will restore channels to a safe and navigable depth and restore endangered species habitat, the DOT said in a news release. The project will dredge the State Channel in Nantuxent Creek to allow for safe navigation in and out of the port at Money Island in Downe Township. It also will restore a section of shoreline to serve as essential habitat for endangered species, the DOT said. The project is underway and will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week through November, the DOT said. An estimated 40,000 cubic yards of sediment will be removed from the channel, which will be dredged to a depth of 9 feet at low tide with an allowable overdredge of 1 foot. Large storm events, such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012, have caused extensive damage to the Money Island shoreline and deposited large quantities of sediment, which has narrowed the channel, the DOT said. Simonsen and McClellan both served in municipal office in Cape May County before winning state office in 2019, Simonsen as mayor of Lower Township and McClellan as an Ocean City councilman. Each is seeking a second term in the Assembly. In recent interviews, both Simonsen and McClellan said they were working during the campaign to raise their profiles in Cumberland County. According to the poll, all three Democrats were unfamiliar to 67% to 70% of poll respondents. The Republicans didnt fare that much better, as 57% to 60% were unfamiliar with the GOP Assembly candidates. These are fairly typical results for Assembly candidates who have not been in office for many years, said John Froonjian, the Hughes Centers executive director. Testa did best in name recognition. The poll found 34% said they didnt know Testa, who was viewed favorably by 45% and unfavorably by 19%. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Ocean City honors local Afghan veterans OCEAN CITY City resident Brian Day was among the last American airmen at Bagram Air Base, For more than 40 years, nonprofit Habitat for Humanity has been plugging away at its affordable housing model. People who need a home help build it themselves and otherwise work for Habitat, with the assistance of many volunteers. No-interest loans from a revolving fund often provide the money. These efforts dont make a big splash anymore, just a steady slow stream of new, appropriate houses many of which get a little story in the newspaper. The latest last month got a little more attention because the volunteers included former Miss Americas and other officials celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of the pageant in Atlantic City. An Alabama couple that had made a million dollars before they were 30 years old got the Habitat ball rolling. After selling their possessions, their search for a more meaningful life took them to a Christian farming community near Americus, Georgia, where they developed a housing ministry. In 1973 they tested their housing model in what was then Zaire in Africa. Three years later they returned to the U.S. and with close associates created Habitat for Humanity International. Seeds planted by civil rights trailblazers Winifred and Frieda Parker still growing today, tomorrow WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. During the early stages of the American civil rights movement and well before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, sisters Winifred and Frieda Parker were leading the effort to integrate student housing on Purdues campus and across Indiana. On Oct. 3, the Parker sisters were honored for their courageous leadership with the dedication of two residence halls in their names on the Purdue University campus. The ceremony, which included hundreds of supporters and members of the Parker family, was the formal celebration of the Purdue Board of Trustees June 2021 vote to name the residence halls after the Parker sisters. When Winifred and Frieda were admitted to Purdue in 1946, Black students were denied access to housing in West Lafayette, which included Purdues campus. While their father conducted a campaign encouraging Purdue to modify its policies, the sisters courageously paved the way for their peers and future generations of Black students on campus. Winifred Parker and Frieda Parker halls the first buildings on campus named for Black alumnae stand as reminders to all students of the courageous steps it takes to make meaningful change. The buildings, and the tree planted during their dedication, represent more than a single heroic moment in time; rather, they are the latest manifestation of one familys ongoing pursuit for and celebration of the power of equitable, accessible education. This tree, a dawn redwood, will become tall and strong just as Winifred Parker White and Frieda Parker-Jefferson grew and became strong leaders throughout their lives, John Gates, Purdues vice provost for diversity and inclusion told the audience. This tree will make the living experience on our campus more beautiful for generations to come and remind those who stop and gaze at its beauty of two young women who are forever linked to the great ongoing story of Purdue. Alongside the Black Cultural Center at the corner of Third and North Russell streets, the tree and residence halls are reminders that a legacy like the Parkers is not the result of one moment or one action. Though based on a single, core principle that education should be available, accessible and equitable the Parkers actions became a legacy when Winifred, Frieda and their family chose to stand by that principle, in the face of adversity, each day of their lives. By choosing to persistently pursue their values, the Parker family demonstrates how single steps made again and again and again can act as seeds of change that continue to grow for generations. Hear their story and impact on Purdue in this YouTube video. Today, student employees working in the two Parker Halls boast a slogan that represents Winifred and Frieda well: Pioneers in their own way. Boilermakers in every way. After graduation, the sisters went on to live rich lives as educators, scientists and advocates. The Parkers and their families remained vocal Purdue loyalists long after graduation. Their story is featured in the 2009 documentary, Black Purdue, as well as A Force for Change: The Class of 1950, by historian John Norberg. Now, archival exhibits in the Parker Halls will share their story to new audiences. Like Neil Armstrong or Amelia Earhart, Winifred and Frieda Parker are heroic Purdue icons, and its my hope that these facilities and the exhibits within them will help amplify their role in the American story, says Renee Thomas, Purdues associate vice provost for diversity and inclusion. The great equalizer The Parkers legacy as changemakers began with Winifred and Friedas father, Frederick. During the early part of the 20th century, Fred was one of several distinguished Black men recruited to attend Amherst College, an elite liberal arts college in Massachusetts. Selected to be educated amongst the most elite individuals from across the nation, my grandfather realized that education was the great equalizer, says Adrienne White-Faines, daughter of Winifred Parker White. He believed that when you are in the classroom, learning together, taking the same exams, its beyond your skin color, beyond your story and beyond your history. To his core, Fred believed in the power of education. As a teacher and principal at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, he is known for having instilled high academic expectations and cultural pride in his students, laying solid foundations for their aspirations of becoming doctors, lawyers, educators, artists and more. Fred Parker received the Harvard Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1970 and an honorary doctorate from Amherst College in 1973. Because of his opportunities and experiences, my grandfather dedicated his life to helping thousands of Black men and women gain access to and receive degrees in higher education, White-Faines says. He changed the trajectory of lives and families for generations. As firsthand recipients of this lesson, White-Faines says, there was no question that Winifred and Frieda would go to college. After being admitted to Purdue in 1946, the sisters arrived on a campus still learning how to provide accessible and equitable education for all. Years before the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education opened the doors for desegregation in public schools and legally established the principle that separate accommodations could not offer equal opportunities, students of color were forbidden from living in West Lafayette, which included campus. My grandfather recognized that education in itself happens in a variety of environments, White-Faines says. Education happens in the classroom. Education happens in the dining hall. Education happens in the dorm room. Education happens because you come together to hear perspectives and learn. Black students, therefore, were being admitted into Purdue, but yet they weren't. In the face of policy-supported segregation, adversity and prejudice, Purdues Black students bolstered their academic success by tapping into their shared strength and resiliency. Many, many Black students, in order to survive, relied on their own internal culture and community, White-Faines says. And it was those communities that allowed you to make it through. Those were your friends. They were how you were affirmed. They helped you find your strength to put on your coat, if you will, and go out into this environment to earn your education, understanding that you were navigating a very dynamic world of acceptance. No matter the strength of their support system, without full acceptance into the residential campus experience, the Parkers and their peers faced systemic barriers that prevented them from receiving the full potential of their education. In the rural Midwest of the 1940s, many basic services including haircuts and restaurants were not open to Black Americans in West Lafayette. Imagine being a student, having to study, to do your work, then to travel all the way across the bridge into downtown Lafayette to get home, often by foot they didnt have access to the transportation services we have today, Thomas says. Were not just talking about missing social events, which anyone would recognize as an important part of the residential college experience. Every basic need required a commute getting a haircut, going to sleep at night, finding a place to eat. That takes an enormous amount of time and energy. Segregation denied Black students access to the most essential aspects of a quality education, making their college experience very different from that of todays students. The right women for the job Convinced that Winifred, Frieda and their peers were not receiving the education he envisioned for them, Fred Parker and his family started a campaign on two fronts: As Fred began petitioning state and university leadership for integrated housing, Winifred and Frieda continued creating bridges on campus. He made it well known that Purdue was a land-grant school supported by state taxes, and his taxes supported the school just like everyone elses. So why couldnt his children live on campus? Frieda Parker wrote of her father in her contribution to Force for Change. The fact that Blacks were not allowed in the dorms was a policy that had been set up in the housing office at Purdue. It was not a law. White-Faines says, Because of my grandfathers confidence and courage, he was comfortable reaching out and taking the risks to say, I know what equity looks like. I know what right looks like. And I'm not afraid to politely, but firmly, advocate. He was able to give voice not only to my mother and aunt, but to all of the Black students on the campus who were not yet allowed to live on campus or in West Lafayette. In January 1947, both sisters were admitted to Bunker Hill, which sat just down the block from the newly named Parker halls. The change brought its own challenges for the newly admitted Black residents. It was Winifred and Friedas turn to show confidence and courage. We received a letter from the dean of women who did everything she could to discourage us from coming and living on the campus short of telling us how much happier we would be and how the people wouldn't speak to us and, you know, the same old thing all the time, Frieda says in the documentary Black Purdue. We didn't believe them anyway. Asked how her mother and aunt faced their move into yet another predominantly white space, White-Faines describes women capable of setting aside their own fears, because you need to be present for those around you. The beauty is, my mother and my aunt were both incredibly warm, kind my aunt was infectiously funny and approachable people. You couldn't help but like them, she says. I can picture my aunt's humor breaking awkward moments, because only she could do that. And my mother could turn with her empathetic and compassionate self and make people warm up to new things. It wasnt only the Parkers and their peers who were treading new water. As the first Black residents of Bunker Hill, the Parkers bore the burden of making their white peers comfortable with the situation. What Purdue did by integrating the dorms was to open a whole different world, not just for Black people, but for all the white women who were living in their dorms, White-Faines says. It demystified the idea of Black women. They could walk away going, They brush their teeth just like I do. They laugh in the room just like I do. They can be friends. I can see them as people. Access is not just about making a way for Black people. It's making a way for the world to appreciate the diversity that exists within all of us, so we can all grow. We all suffer when that is denied, she says. Those were not easy days lots of challenges but they were the right women to do it. The Parker familys legacy did not end with their class, with Black students, or even with Purdue. Friends with civil rights giants such as Charles Hamilton Houston, dean of Howard Law School and a founder of the National Bar Association, Fred Parker was connected to a number of individuals bringing forth litigation against colleges and universities across the nation for issues related to segregation and unequal access, Thomas says. This story really resonates with me because it provides historical context for the wonderful story that Purdue University has as it relates to the African American community. Yes, it started as a fault by the institution and society, but Purdue rose to the challenge to change, and we keep moving forward, Thomas says. An American legacy During Sundays dedication ceremony, Purdue President Mitch Daniels expressed admiration not only of the sisters, but of their familys shared commitment to a united cause. I love what a family story this is, he said. As unique as these two sisters were, youve just seen, and I hope you already knew, the story of a great American family. The Parkers story is just that a story made of many moments, many people and many contributions. It began with Fred Parkers belief in the value of education, carried on through the lessons he shared with others, persisted in the courageous actions of his children, and endures still in the actions taken by Purdue University in honor of the Parker family story. With sunshine breaking through a hazy sky, Purdue leadership took the stage to iterate the role of education in creating a just society. They took the opportunity to reaffirm Purdues commitment to creating equitable pathways for all. Education is the great lowerer of barriers, and in the knowledge economy we live in today where there has been a lot of progress it is still the biggest barrier to upward mobility of free people, Daniels says. Purdue is committed to lowering that as our contribution to a more just and more successful society for all. Affordable, accessible and equal opportunity to a Purdue education is our highest commitment. Last year, the Purdue Board of Trustees created the Equity Task Force, whose assessment of structural and environmental barriers to success of faculty, staff and students of color resulted in an entire strategic pillar committed to not only bettering but excelling at creating an environment of success for Black Boilermakers. Our overarching goal is for Purdue to become the first-choice institution for Black students, faculty and staff, Gates told the crowd. Second choice just won't do. Gates also relayed the universitys commitment to double Black undergraduate enrollment and substantially increase the number of Black faculty over the next five years, citing actionable plans for new scholarships, cluster hires, mentoring programs and community-building initiatives. The Board of Trustees has committed to a goal of $75 million during the next five years to support this initiative, Gates says. Seventy-five million dollars is one of the largest sums of any public university in the United States for such a cause. That's our Purdue. Purdue is at a defining moment in creating a future for Blacks at this university that will be a model for other universities to follow and we will succeed. Said White-Faines at the dedication event: My mother, Winifred, and my aunt, Frieda, came to Purdue with the clear and unwavering goal to pursue and receive their bachelor degrees as their parents had instilled in them that education is the great equalizer. At the time and still today, its understood that likely the strongest and most efficient and effective pathway to a more just and peaceful world is through education. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. Writer, Media contact: Christy McCarter, mccarter@purdue.edu Source: Renee Thomas, rathomas@purdue.edu ROYAL RUMBLE ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, GREAT NXT UK MAIN EVENT TOMORROW, SHAWN BENNETT AND MORE WWE NEWS WWE Royal Rumble 2022 tickets officially go on sale this Friday, so there should be an online pre-sale tomorrow. NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov vs. A-Kid will headline tomorrow's edition of NXT UK. Outsports.com covered WWE referee Shawn Bennett making his sexuality public as part of National Coming Out Day this week. WWE has two live events in the Southwest this weekend. Saturday they will return to Rio Rancho, New Mexico at the Rio Rancho Event Center with Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. The Street Profits & Finn Balor and WWE Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair advertised alongside Damian Priest and Bobby Lashey. Sunday 10/17, they will hit El Paso, Texas at the Don Haskins Center. There are no matches announced but advertised for the event are Reigns, Priest, Belair, Lashley, Nikki A.S.H., The Mysterios. Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. If anyone is attending either event, PWInsider.com is seeking live reports, notes and results. NXT debuted the following new vignettes last night, teasing new debuts: Paul Jordan sent the following: WWE Shop has "Chase U" T-shirts for NXT superstar Andre Chase. Rikishi joins Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! A Tuesday evening announcement on One John Deere, a website where the company announces contract updates, stated Under the tentative agreement, John Deere made the best wages in the agriculture and construction industries even better. In a graphic, it depicted Deere workers annual wage increasing from $60,562 to $66,886. However, $3,500 of that wage increase is categorized as a ratification bonus, meaning it would only be available to workers if they ratified the contract before the Wednesday deadline. Without the bonus, it is a $2,824 increase for higher-paid employees that make around $31 an hour. It is unclear what the calculations for lower-paid employees would be. Workers say they deserve a greater share in the company's success. They left us behind, said one worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of being fired. They had a great, great few years, and they obviously showed us that they thought so. I was hoping they were going to be (giving raises) to us but it seems like they still want us, our pay, and benefits to keep declining. Union members say they experienced mandatory overtime, an increasing workload, and lack of support from managers. According to Iowa Law, the human resources records of police officers and other government employees are confidential, with a few exceptions. One is listed in Iowa Code 22.7(11)(a)(5): "the fact that the individual resigned in lieu of termination, was discharged, or was demoted as the result of a disciplinary action," then "the documented reasons and rationale for the resignation in lieu of termination, the discharge, or the demotion," should be considered public record. Sisler said Denoyer did not resign in lieu of termination. "Andrew Denoyer verbally resigned on the evening of Sept. 27, 2021. Denoyer was not asked to resign, nor had any internal investigation been opened by the Eldridge Police Department. Denoyer approached me and resigned on his own free accord," Sisler said in an email. Per his union contract, Denoyer was compensated for unused vacation days and personal time after resigning and will continue to have health care benefits through the city until Oct. 31, according to Eldridge City Clerk Denise Benson. Benson said that had Denoyer been fired, he would only have received comp time, as that was worked hours. CHICAGO - Shes a fan of TikTok. She loves to dance. She is shy and petite and her 15th birthday is coming up next Tuesday, according to relatives. She is the 14-year-old girl who was shot outside Phillips Academy High School. The girls grandmother, Johneece Cobb, said the family is not comfortable releasing the teens name because she is a juvenile. Wednesday morning as the high school freshman was in an intensive care unit, recovering from two gunshot wounds, her family and about 25 others gathered in front of St. Sabina Church on the South Side to hear an update on the teens recovery. She made it through surgery last night, Cobb said. Shes stabilized, shes going to make a full recovery and there was no severe damage to her organs. The news conference was held as the police report surfaced, revealing the girls mother, who had been planning to pick up her daughter, had arrived outside the school prior to the last bell and in time to see the shooting unfold. The girls mother told police that she saw a man get out of a small silver sedan, walk up to the doors of the high school, located at 244 E. Pershing Road in the Bronzeville neighborhood, and fire shots at her daughter and a man in his 40s around 3:30 p.m., the report said. For years, my wife pestered me to return to Galveston County and follow up on the story. She wanted to know how the trauma affected the kids and what the ramifications of the crime were for everyone involved. So, four years ago, I returned and wrote that story. The killer, Clyde "Buddy" Spence, became eligible for parole after serving seven years of his 30-year sentence. For more than 20 years, brothers and sisters of the woman who was murdered wrote the Texas Parole Board asking that Spence not be released. "Its horrible," said one of the sisters, Kim Barksdale. "I cant think of a better word. Its just horrible. Its very emotional. Every year weve done it. ... We wrote the letters and got petitions and got the newspaper to do an article on him. It was very emotional, stressful. "You almost want to just give up and say, 'Fine just let him out.' That way you dont have to relive everything. You cant just walk in and say, 'Hey will you sign the petition?' Everybody wants to know why. 'What is it?' And then they say, 'Oh, Im so sorry I didnt realize it was your sister.' Everybody remembers." Gary D. Fisher CRAWFORD, NE | Gary D. Fisher, 78, died on Oct. 7, 2021 in Crawford, NE. Gary was born in Rushville, Nebraska on Oct. 3, 1943, to Buford and Florence (Sandoz) Fisher. He was welcomed home by big sister, Karen, who spent their childhood trying to force him to take his cod liver oil, throwing scissors at him, and running the pedals of the Jeep while Gary steered, raking hay in the Sandhills meadows before either was big enough to see over the dash. A few years later, Gary's ally was born: "Little Brother," "Shorty," Wayne William. The two boys built a relationship--and a lot of stack movers--that stayed as strong and steady as anything they manufactured: Fisherbuilt. One day after he graduated high school, Gary went to Fort Robinson to shoe a horse everyone else was afraid of. On the way home he worked up the nerve to call a girl from Crawford he'd seen once or twice. He stopped in Hay Springs and called the Moore household long distance, hoping he remembered the right sister's name. He asked for Nancy. She was the right sister. Gary and Nancy lived and worked in and near Crawford and Harrison their whole lives, except for a summer on the shore of Lake Superior, where Gary worked in a research lab. They moved back because Gary didn't know what to do with a job that required only eight hours a day. Gary worked at the fish hatchery in Crawford, delivering fish and night-calved heifers at the USDA Beef Research Center at Fort Robinson. Then he started Fisher Welding and Manufacturing, which moved from the Table to West Ash Creek, then a mile north of Crawford, then back to West Ash Creek. While they lived north of Crawford he added White River Carriage works, where he built wagons and wagon wheels. A freight wagon he built is at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. They were "Uncle Gary and Aunt Nance" to nieces and nephews, starting with Mick Freimuth, who loved spending time with them, milking the cows, feeding the chickens, having water fights, "helping" in the shop and playing with the dog. In 1976 they got a phone call telling them they would be Mom and Dad to a baby boy. A few days after Nancy's 30th birthday they adopted and brought home Matthew Wayne, who somehow had Gary's blue eyes and way of looking at, and solving, problems. Fifteen months later, Levi Dwain joined the family the traditional way, with Gary's face, Gary's hands and love for cattle, horses and family. A baby girl completed the family four years later, when Maria Ellen was born. The day she was born Gary bought a Browning .22, which he gave to her for Christmas when she was 12. Gary and Nancy always worked toward moving "home," on West Ash Creek Road, where they lived not long after they were married, and brought home their two boys. They accomplished that in 1992. The family worked together running cattle, riding and driving horses, caring for the place Gary and Nancy always dreamed of having, planting trees, building and fixing in the shop, and spraying weeds. Gary was always there to offer his big hand as Maria walked down the steps at the 4-H style revue, went shopping by himself for her gifts--sometimes a pocket knife, sometimes a frilly doll--and checked the oil and air in her tires before she left. Gary tried hard to balance the need to provide for his family with his want to be there for their big moments. He and Nancy never missed the Nebraska State Rodeo Finals any time Levi made it there, wearing the spurs Gary had made for him. Matt always lived within half an hour of Gary and Nancy, and spent many evenings and weekends helping with anything they needed to have done, fishing in the dam and just talking to Gary about life and projects. Anytime Matt was stumped he could call Gary and figure out an answer. With Nancy's support, Gary served on the school board, was a 4-H leader, on the Natural Resources District Board, founded Running Water Ranching Coalition and Northwest Nebraska High Country and served two terms as Dawes County Commissioner. He was in the Nebraska National Guard for seven years. Gary and Nancy's family provided emergency and therapeutic foster care for several years. Services will be Friday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Chadron Berean Church, with reception to follow at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Gary be remembered through contributions to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department or Crawford Public Library. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Author, biologist and Chadron State grad Mark Peyton will be presenting his talk, The Accidental Author at the annual Friends of the Library banquet on October 18th at 6:00 PM. Peyton is the author of three books; "The Village Naturalist," a book of essays about natural history, "It Wont Go Through Skin," a personal narrative about his tenure as a bartender at the Favorite Bar in Chadron, Nebraska, and soon to be released, More Than a Reference, essays about the people associated with scientific discoveries that changed the world. A member of the Nebraska Writers Guild, Peyton has written essays for the Rural Electric Associations Nebraska Magazine for the past twenty-one years, and has also published multiple essays in the Prairie Fire, the Chicken Dance Trail Newsletter and the Nebraska Writers Guilds Voices From the Plains Anthologies. Peyton is both a Chadron High School and Chadron State College graduate who went on to become a teacher and biologist. He has twenty years of experience in the classroom and another twenty-three years of experience as the Senior District Biologist for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. Peyton still considers himself a teacher, but he is also a storyteller, amateur historian, and author. Peyton spent time in the field studying a variety of different animals including clams, whooping cranes, bald eagles, least terns, piping plovers, various kinds of fish, toads, snakes, turtles, dragon flies, and American burying beetles. He is a charter Board Member of the Nebraska Environment Education Association, he served two terms on the Board of Directors of Keep Nebraska Beautiful, nine years on the Gothenburg School Board, six as President, and he is presently the President of the Local Branch Advisory Board for the YMCA in Gothenburg, which is the smallest community in the United States to host a YMCA. A master scuba diver, Peyton has traveled almost around the world on hundreds of dives, both professionally and for pleasure. He and his wife, Cindy, also a CSC graduate and a retired special-education teacher, are the proud parents of two boys, Reece and Alex, and they have two beautiful granddaughters Ellie and Emmie. Rounding out the family are spoiled cats, a fat dog, some snakes, turtles, and occasionally, a spider or two. This years Friends of the Library banquet will at Country Kitchen, 1250 West 10th in Chadron, and will also feature local broadcaster Mike Kesselring. Guests will have the choice of a meal featuring roast beef or smothered chicken. People interested in attending the Friends of the Library Banquet, can pick up Friends of the Library membership and banquet ticket forms at the Chadron Public Library on 507 Bordeaux Street, or sign up electronically at Eventbrite (this option costs a couple dollars more because Eventbrite charges a small processing fee) Author, biologist and Chadron State grad Mark Peyton will be presenting his talk, The Accidental Author at the annual Friends of the Library banquet on October 18th at 6:00 PM. Peyton is the author of three books; "The Village Naturalist," a book of essays about natural history, "It Wont Go Through Skin," a personal narrative about his tenure as a bartender at the Favorite Bar in Chadron, Nebraska, and soon to be released, More Than a Reference, essays about the people associated with scientific discoveries that changed the world. A member of the Nebraska Writers Guild, Peyton has written essays for the Rural Electric Associations Nebraska Magazine for the past twenty-one years, and has also published multiple essays in the Prairie Fire, the Chicken Dance Trail Newsletter and the Nebraska Writers Guilds Voices From the Plains Anthologies. Mark M. Peyton is both a Chadron High School and Chadron State College graduate who went on to become a teacher and biologist. He has twenty years of experience in the classroom and another twenty-three years of experience as the Senior District Biologist for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. Peyton still considers himself a teacher, but he is also a storyteller, amateur historian, and author. Peyton spent time in the field studying a variety of different animals including clams, whooping cranes, bald eagles, least terns, piping plovers, various kinds of fish, toads, snakes, turtles, dragon flies, and American burying beetles. He is a charter Board Member of the Nebraska Environment Education Association, he served two terms on the Board of Directors of Keep Nebraska Beautiful, nine years on the Gothenburg School Board, six as President, and he is presently the President of the Local Branch Advisory Board for the YMCA in Gothenburg, which is the smallest community in the United States to host a YMCA. A master scuba diver, Peyton has traveled almost around the world on hundreds of dives, both professionally and for pleasure. He and his wife, Cindy, also a CSC graduate and a retired special-education teacher, are the proud parents of two boys, Reece and Alex, and they have two beautiful granddaughters Ellie and Emmie. Rounding out the family are spoiled cats, a fat dog, some snakes, turtles, and occasionally, a spider or two. This years Friends of the Library banquet will be held at the Country Kitchen at 1250 W 10th St. in Chadron, and will also feature local broadcaster Mike Kesselring. Guests will have the choice of a meal featuring roast beef or smothered chicken. People interested in attending the Friends of the Library Banquet, can pick up Friends of the Library membership and banquet ticket forms at the Chadron Public Library on 507 Bordeaux Street, or sign up electronically at Eventbrite (this option costs a couple dollars more because Eventbrite charges a small processing fee) You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The main building of the Ascent Innovation Campus in downtown Rapid City has been named the David Lust Accelerator Building, in honor of a man who was committed to community service and economic development through Elevate Rapid City. Lust, 53, died unexpectedly on July 23. The Board of Directors of Elevate Rapid City made the naming announcement Tuesday during the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house of the $15 million David Lust Accelerator Building, or D-LAB. Members of Lust's family attended the emotional ceremony. Elevate Rapid City Board of Directors Chairman Darren Haar said he hopes that when people drive by the 40,000-square-foot building at Main Street and East Boulevard they will think of all the entrepreneurs, all the joint community efforts that came together to build the D-LAB for the future of Rapid City. "I'm going to ask you to think of one person in particular when you drive by this building Dave Lust," Haar said. "[He was a] friend and servant messenger. I had the opportunity to work with him on many projects. I saw him as a friend and mentor. Someone you could really rely on. Dave was the kind of guy who was always there for his community. He was there for us individually. "And when you drive by this building, I want you to think about the people, I want you to think about David, that build communities. It's people like him that do this." Lust was a business attorney for more than 22 years and in 2006 was elected to the South Dakota Legislature where he served for 11 years, including two terms as majority leader. He served on the boards of Rapid City Economic Development Partnership, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce and championed the goals of Elevate Rapid City for economic development. The Rapid City Council unanimously approved the Ascent Innovation Campus in November 2017 with the groundbreaking of the building now named for Lust in October 2019. Elevate Rapid City was also established in 2019 through the merger of the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership, and the Economic Development Foundation to lead development and small business efforts in the Black Hills region. The David Lust Accelerator Building will primarily serve as an entrepreneurship incubator for new and existing small businesses. The D-LAB will provide management assistance, cost-effective space, and a collaborative approach to develop local businesses. According to Tom Johnson, President/CEO of Elevate Rapid City, the D-LAB is already 70% leased, with anticipated move-in dates for businesses in February 2022. "This is a great day for Rapid City. This space will further our mission," Johnson said during the ceremony Tuesday. And the Ascent Innovation Campus is looking to continue growing following the opening of the David Lust Accelerator Building. The plan for the original Ascent Innovation Building on the campus of South Dakota Mines is for it to be sold back to the school. Johnson said Elevate is a strong partner with South Dakota Mines and views the campus as critical for the growth of innovation in Rapid City. As the Ascent Innovation Center has relocated closer to downtown, Johnson said it is fitting for the school to take ownership and expand their mission as well. The D-LAB will be phase one of a larger Ascent Innovation Campus, Johnson said. "When we are done with this one, we are about to turn around and do another one with another incubator," Johnson said. "We're going to do this again real soon and hopefully have another groundbreaking. We couldn't have done this without those who have come before us like David Lust." Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 5 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 proposed 2022 cannabis legalization ballot initiative has been approved by the South Dakota Secretary of State for signature gathering, according to a news release from South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws. The statutory cannabis legalization initiative would make personal cannabis possession and cultivation legal for adults 21 and over, according to Matthew Schweich, SDBML campaign director. To make it on the 2022 ballot, SDBML will need to collect just under 17,000 valid signatures from South Dakota registered voters by Nov. 8. "At the 2020 Election, 54% of South Dakota voters approved Amendment A, a constitutional cannabis legalization initiative," the release states. "However, since then, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has orchestrated a taxpayer-funded lawsuit that has suspended implementation of the law. The case is currently before the South Dakota Supreme Court. The hearing was on April 28 but a ruling has still not been issued. In 2020, 70% of South Dakota voters also approved Measure 26, a medical cannabis law, making South Dakota the first state to approve recreational and medical cannabis reform at the same time. The proposed short, statutory ballot initiative was one of five filed with the state. Out of those five, Schweich said the short statutory legalization initiative was chosen to move forward because it is the most likely to withstand any future legal challenges. "Statutory is less likely to be scrutinized than a constitutional amendment. Courts are going to be a little harsher, stricter if you're trying to do a constitutional," Schweich said. The short version has less components to it as well, which helps negate potential challenges to it for predicating too many areas of public policy, he added. Signature drives in Rapid City, Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and other locations in South Dakota are planned to help garner the required number of signatures before the Nov. 8 deadline. The locations and dates of the signatures drives will be announced within the next few days. We have less than a month to collect the signatures we need, but our supporters are very energized," Schweich said. "They are deeply frustrated by Governor Noems decision to launch a taxpayer-funded lawsuit against Amendment A, the lack of a ruling in the case, and Governor Noems failed attempt to severely delay the implementation of Measure 26." The initiative text and related documents can be found on the South Dakota Secretary of State's website at https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/2022-ballot-questions.aspx. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 7 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. South Dakota state Rep. Taffy Howard formally announced Tuesday that she is challenging Dusty Johnson, the state's lone U.S. congressman, in next year's Republican primary. Howard will try to capitalize on a shift within the Republican party that is largely based on loyalty to former President Donald Trump. The lawmaker, who has challenged the GOP establishment during her time in the Statehouse, has positioned herself to the political right of Johnson, a popular incumbent who has held the seat for three years. Howard echoed Trump's discredited claims of widespread voter fraud and has criticized Johnson for voting to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. She said she would like each state to conduct a thorough review of the election that goes beyond just a recount. "I believe there was fraud in the last election that needs to be investigated," Howard said. Our current congressman is not willing to admit that there was an issue. Trump's own attorney general has said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in last year's election, and almost all of the legal challenges casting doubt on its outcome have been dismissed or withdrawn. Johnson argued at the time of the vote in January that it was not Congress role to judge the Electoral College votes. He is known for constantly crisscrossing the state to attend events. His campaign has $1.5 million to spend, while Howard said she has raised $110,000. A federal campaign finance report for Howard was not yet available. But Howard argued she has popular support, saying she decided to enter the race after hearing from so many people that are clamoring for change." The congressman has frequently touted his work with a bipartisan group in the U.S. House known as the Problem Solvers Caucus. He also voted to keep Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming congresswoman, in GOP House leadership. Scorecards rank me among one of the most conservative Members of Congress, and Ive been a champion for fiscal responsibility," Johnson said in a statement. "Ive delivered legislative victories for South Dakota, and Im going to keep doing so." Howard, who has held a South Dakota House seat for five years, has a reputation for defying top Republicans and at times has clashed with Gov. Kristi Noem. The lawmaker has pushed some of the most conservative positions, both on social and fiscal issues, in the Statehouse. She listed gun rights, building a wall at the U.S. and Mexico border, and limiting the national debt as top priorities if she is elected. Howard, of Rapid City, scheduled a pair of events to kick off her campaign Tuesday, but her intentions had been known for weeks as she set up a campaign website and filed to run for Congress. The Republican primary is next June. Democrats have yet to announce a U.S. House candidate. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 7 South Dakota Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch is being sued for keeping secret a list of lawmakers who voted to hold a special Legislative session to consider impeaching the state's attorney general. The Argus Leader and the South Dakota Newspaper Association jointly filed a lawsuit Wednesday with the South Dakota Supreme Court. The complaint alleges the Glenham Republican, who presides over the state House, is in violation of state open records laws by refusing for weeks to make public the names of lawmakers who formally signed a petition calling for the special session into Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg next month at the capitol. "It's inexcusable for Speaker Gosch to continue hiding this information from the public," Argus Leader News Director Cory Myers said, noting attempts to work with Gosch and his private attorney to resolve the matter were unsuccessful. "There's a constitutional requirement to record legislative votes, and at the very least, an obligation of elected servants to be transparent about their processes. "This is basic accountability, and that's something we will always fight for," he added. In South Dakota, it takes the support of two-thirds of lawmakers to convene the Legislature outside of their annual winter gathering in Pierre. And last month, after House leaders called for one to consider whether Ravnsborg's involvement in a fatal crash last year merits impeachment, Gosch announced the special session would take place Nov. 9. But the public doesn't know how many, nor which, lawmakers signed the special session petition. The list of Senators who supported the special session was provided to the media last week after an Argus Leader request. Gosch, however, has maintained he has no obligation to make the vote public, citing the "correspondence" exemption under South Dakota's open records laws. He also said it was his position that how lawmakers voted on whether to hold a special session was not material to the question of impeachment itself, therefore irrelevant. "We're just voting for a meeting. That's all we're voting for. So ultimately, who voted on whether or not we should get together is not relevant," Gosch told the Argus Leader in September. Gosch has since declined to comment on the matter, citing pending litigation and referring questions to his attorney, John Von Wald. Von Wald could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Following the filing of the lawsuit, SDNA executive director David Bordewyk said it's imperative that basic government information be open for public inspection, including official votes that trigger Legislative action. "That especially includes the action take by legislators to consider this special session," he said. "These are unique circumstances legislators considering impeachment proceedings. All the more reason why any and all official actions related to this must be public." The lawsuit being brought against Gosch requests the Supreme Court not only compel the release of the House vote on the impeachment special session, but also halt the special session from going forward until the litigation is resolved. "Only this Court can provide the relief and/or remedy that will prevent a flagrant violation of the publics right of access to government records a right protected by constitution, statute and common law," reads the filing from Jon Arneson, an open records attorney representing the Argus Leader and SDNA. "And even if there were no supporting law, common sense, alone, dictates that this information is something that the citizens have a right to know and government has a duty to reveal." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 0 The COVID-19 new infection numbers are larger than normal due to the holiday but the trend of active cases continues to improve in South Dakota. According to the daily report from the Department of Health, there were 1,088 new infections from Friday at noon through Tuesday at noon, however, active cases dropped by 450 to 6,089 in the same time period. Even with the high number of new cases reported, active cases are back down to levels last seen at the beginning of September. No deaths were recorded over the four-day reporting period, but hospitalizations increased to 207. There are 60 people in ICU and 33 on ventilators. In the Black Hills region, hospitalizations continue to decline as there are 53 patients here with 16 in ICU and 16 on ventilators. Active cases for students in the Rapid City Area Schools dropped below 100 for the first time since the beginning days of school. There are 99 active infections among students and 261 quarantined students. After climbing over 50 at one point recently, active cases for staff members is below 20 now at 19. The number of quarantined staff members was over 50 too, but now sits at 22. Of the 1,088 new cases reported Wednesday, 213 were children under 19 and 120 were over 70. Pennington County reported 204 new infections and there were 224 in Minnehaha County. Minnehaha County has 1,248 active cases and there are 1,253 here. Meade County reported 42 new infections and there were 35 in Lawrence County. Oglala-Lakota County recorded 18 positive tests and there were 16 in Fall River County. Custer County had 14 new infections and there were 12 in Butte County. Brown County reported 65 positive tests and there were 64 in Lincoln County. Codington County reported 58 new infections and there were 33 in Yankton County. Hughes County had 32 positive tests and there were 18 in both Brookings and Union counties. Beadle and Todd counties each reported 17 cases and there were 16 in Clay County. Davison and Grant counties each had 15 new infections and there were 13 in Spink County. Moody and Walworth counties each reported 11 new infections and there were eight each in Day and Deuel counties. Six new cases each were recorded in Charles Mix, Edmunds and Lake counties and there were five each in Hamlin, Harding, Kingsbury, Lyman and Roberts counties. Seven counties each reported seven positive tests, six more had three each, four added two each, and there was one positive test each in seven counties. Interstate 90 west of Rapid City closed at 10 p.m. Tuesday until further notice as conditions continued to worsen from a strong winter storm in the Black Hills. The South Dakota Department of Transportation announced the enforced closure will impact Interstate 90 in both directions from the Wyoming border to Exit 55/Deadwood Avenue in Rapid City. There was no expectation when the highway will reopen as of Tuesday night. The winter storm is associated with a low pressure system in Colorado and began earlier than originally anticipated for Rapid City and the Black Hills, transitioning from rain to snow during the late morning and early afternoon hours on Tuesday. As conditions changed Tuesday, the Sturgis Police Department issued a no travel advisory for the rest of the evening into Wednesday for all city streets. Reports indicate more than 6 to 8 inches of snow in Sturgis and Belle Fourche. Higher totals are expected in Spearfish. Additionally, the Meade School District cancelled classes for Wednesday due to the winter weather. In the Lead-Deadwood area, the National Weather Service in Rapid City forecasts more than two feet of snow. Large snowflakes equivalent to 1-2 inches of snowfall per hour were observed in Rapid City around noon Tuesday. However, with temperatures above freezing the snow quickly turned into a slushy mess on roads and some accumulation in grassy areas. As of 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, the city's Communication Coordinator Darrell Shoemaker said Street Department crews were treating hills and bridge decks and patrolling road conditions along Rapid City's 19 snow routes. "Drivers are advised to use caution as snow conditions persist," Shoemaker said. "In addition, drivers are advised to watch for fallen tree branches in roadways due to the heavy, wet snow." Melissa Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Rapid City, said the snow accumulation dwindled in the late afternoon Tuesday but was expected to pick back up later Tuesday night and through Wednesday. "We are expecting the intensity of the snow to go down some this afternoon, then pick back up," Smith said. Smith said the surface temperatures in Rapid City are warm, causing the snow to melt in the daytime hours, but it could cause icy patches and slushy roads throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday, especially during the overnight hours with more snow accumulation expected. Farther into the Northern Black Hills, areas from Hill City to Lead-Deadwood saw significant snow beginning to accumulate Tuesday in grassy areas and along some roadways. Tuesdays wintry weather also caused power outages affecting thousands of customers, according to Black Hills Energy. The largest reported outage was in Sturgis where 3,072 customers lost power at around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Earlier in the day, 1,000 Black Hills Energy customers in southwest Rapid City lost their power for three hours. It was reported that all but 31 had power restored by 4:45 p.m. Information on Black Hills Energy power outages and a map of the affected area can be found at https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/outages. According to the National Weather Service in Rapid City, steady daytime temperatures Tuesday in Lead were at 32 degrees, with conditions expected to continue deteriorating throughout Tuesday afternoon, evening and into Wednesday. The weather service called for 4 to 8 inches of Tuesday daytime snow accumulation in Lead, 10 to 14 inches during the overnight hours, and an additional 4 to 8 inches on Wednesday. In Rapid City, precipitation transitioned to a rain/snow mix with some sleet after 4 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service said additional snow was expected during the overnight hours and into Wednesday, with an additional 3 to 7 inches of snow ending by 11 a.m. The rest of Wednesday is expected to transition to a rain/snow mix Wednesday evening. Daytime temperatures in Rapid City are expected to be in the low- to mid- 40s through Wednesday, with overnight temperatures below freezing. A warm-up is expected by the weekend, with Sunday's high temperature forecast to be in the high 60s. Journal reporter Shannon Marvel contributed to this report. Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. Letters to the editor, Oct. 13, 2021 Thank the RINOs Have you ever wondered, as I have, why Senator John Thune ,Senator Mike Rounds and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso are never controversial among leftist media outlets or Democrats? Could it be because they are the useful tools of Democrats when they are needed for a vote? Senator John Thune The Republican Whip cant whip, but he can count votes. When his vote is needed by Democrats, he will vote accordingly. For instance, he voted against the Infrastructure bill even though his boss, Mitch McConnell and his comrade Mike Rounds voted in favor. When his vote was needed, Senator Thune voted to suspend the filibuster rule increasing the debt ceiling, once again, along with Senator Rounds, Senator Barrasso, Senator McConnell and seven other RINO Republicans. The usual suspects who constantly distinguish themselves by loading the country with debt and borrowing. Wisdom comes with having it stuck to you often enough by these faux politicians full of excuses that will not meet the smell test any longer. Make no mistake, the country would not default, you would still get your Social Security and Medicare. What we have gotten however is greased skids for more indefinite future spending and debt. Thank RINOs. Larry McIntyre, Custer Abortion: Luxury of the Wealthy If Kristi ended up pregnant with her tryst with Mr. Lewandowski (instead of her husband) do you really think she would show up at the office in a maternity smock to cover her baby-bump? No way. She would simply use taxpayer money to fly in the governors jet to get an abortion in a state where it is safe and on-demand. Millionaire Kristi made a calculated decision to make this safe medical procedure unavailable to SD women without the financial means to termination a pregnancy. Instead of raising wages for women, she devotes her political influence to force SD women to have children they cannot afford emotionally, physically, financially. The bottom line is that Noem is using her political capital to keep women and families in generational poverty. This is her choice and incredibly cruel. Immorality and hypocrisy seem to run rampant in Noem household. This, also, is her choice. Connie Pich, Spearfish, SD You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 (Both candidates for Stevensvilles Ward 2 position were asked three questions. They included: Why are you running? Development pressures are building in and around Stevensville. What is your vision for the town? What role should town government play in guiding that growth? Stevensville town government has often been sidetracked by acrimonious disputes? If elected, how would you address that?) I think it is important for active and involved community members to help move our town forward. Like many people in Stevensville, I moved from out of state. Even at 18 years old, I knew that I wanted to live in a smaller town and be a part of a community so I attended the University of Montana, majoring in elementary education. Shortly after moving to Stevensville, I purchased an old door from a local online marketplace and when I went to pick it up, we fell into conversation about the troubles that were so deeply rooted in the town. Ironically, the door was never hung in my home, but rather sat in a shed out back. However, it piqued my interest, and I began listening to every meeting and became deeply concerned with the cyclical turmoil that seemed to overrun the meetings. While I typically attended the meetings virtually, I was taken aback by the uncomfortable nature of sitting in the padded chairs of the library meeting room. As a teacher, I would listen to the meetings and think about how my eight-year-old students worked with one another and spoke to each other, and the vast difference between the children and the adults present in the meeting room. In the last couple years, I have achieved two graduate degrees, a Masters of Education in Instructional Design and Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. My background has taught me how to be a leader, and how to help people achieve a common goal. I enjoy being a part of the work, forming relationships with people in town, and being an active participant in moving our town forward. In the last couple years, our town has seen a lot of growth. While it is imperative that the growth plan aligns with Stevensvilles small town values, I believe our town is a place that should welcome young families. This ensures that our town continues to thrive. Recently, the town discussed the Burnt Fork Estates. Community members attended the meeting and discussed their fears of businesses moving into the commercial buildings as well as the multifamily housing that is planned for that subdivision. Although I will always be willing to drive a longer distance for a big box store, I will always stand up for affordable housing in our community. I believe in growing our town, but I am also willing to work alongside the community to establish regulations for our growing subdivisions. I was appointed to council in June 2021. If elected, my values will remain the same as they are now. I believe that everyone should have a seat at the table whether you attend the meetings or not. I will continue to vote for the constituents and be a driving force in moving Stevensville forward. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 (Both candidates for Stevensville mayor were asked three questions. They included: Why are you running? Development pressures are building in and around Stevensville. What is your vision for the town? What role should town government play in guiding that growth? Stevensville town government has often been sidetracked by acrimonious disputes? If elected, how would you address that?) Bio: Montana resident 47 years, married 47 years, two children and two grandchildren. Montana public Sdervant 40 years, B.A. Criminal Justice. Prior to being elected to the Montana Legislature was administrator of Montana Juvenile Corrections, Youth Services Division where I was responsible for a budget of over $20 million and 200 employees. Served in the Montana Legislature where I was chairman of the Appropriations Sub -Committee for Justice, Corrections, Judiciary, public defender and PSC, in the 2011 and 2013 sessions, and vice chair of Appropriations in 2013. Former Stevensville council president 1. I was approached by close to a hundred Stevensville residents encouraging me to run. I have a proven record of leadership, honesty, integrity and fiscal responsibility. I believe that my experience and ability to work with others is a good fit for the mayor's position. As a former citizens' legislator and council president, I understand that if elected I work for all the citizens of Stevensville. 2. There will be growth, but the growth must be responsible and any growth needs to take into consideration Stevensville's culture, history, habitat and recreational opportunities. Traffic issues and other infrastructure needs to be addressed before development takes place. The town needs to address water capacity, storage, leakage of 10 to 15 million gallons of water a month, before any further development. I would propose using Federal Recovery Act funding from the state to address these and other infrastructure issues without putting the burden on the Stevensville tax payers. Also need to allow the concerns of the public to be heard and listened to. 3. If elected mayor I understand that the residents of Stevensville are my employers. It is their money. Enhance, not limit public participation. If elected I pledge to follow local policies and ordinances and applicable state law. It is the Mayor's role to make recommendations, manage the budget and listen. The council makes the decisions. We cannot spend more money than we receive in revenue. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHEYENNE, Wyo. Cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled, a Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday. Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was found Sept. 19 near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in remote northern Wyoming, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said in a news conference. It wasn't clear if the determination might lead to additional charges against Petito's boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her disappearance and remains unaccounted for. Blue declined to say more about the autopsy or the case overall, saying he was prevented by Wyoming law that limits what coroners can release. Petito had been on a cross-country trip with Laundrie, visiting Colorado, Utah and other states. She was reported missing Sept. 11 by her parents after she did not respond to calls and texts for several days while the couple visited national parks in the West. Blue previously classified Petito's death as a homicide meaning her death was caused by another person but had not disclosed how she was killed pending further autopsy results. A detailed analysis led to his conclusion Petito was strangled, Blue said. Nothing is obvious in a case like this, he said. Blue said little more about Petitos physical condition including whether she may have been strangled directly by somebodys hands, a rope or some other item but noted when asked that she wasnt pregnant. The three to four weeks her body was believed to be in the wilderness, however, put her death around the Aug. 27-30 period investigators believe Petito and Laundrie had traveled to the area. Petitos case has led to renewed calls for people to pay greater attention to cases involving missing Indigenous women and other people of color, with some commentators describing the intense coverage of her disappearance as missing white woman syndrome. The search for Laundrie has generated a frenzy, with TV personalities like Duane Chapman known as Dog the Bounty Hunter and longtime Americas Most Wanted host John Walsh working to track him down. Petito and Laundrie posted online about their trip in a white Ford Transit van converted into a camper. They got into a physical altercation Aug. 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop, which ended with police deciding to separate the quarreling couple for the night. No charges were filed, and no serious injuries were reported. Investigators have searched for Laundrie in Florida and also searched his parents home in North Port, about 35 miles south of Sarasota. Federal officials in Wyoming last month charged Laundrie with unauthorized use of a debit card, alleging he used a Capital One Bank card and someones personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. They did not say to whom the card belonged. Asked about the coroners determination, the attorney for the Laundrie family, Steven Bertolino, in a statement noted his client only faces the fraud charge in the case. At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the fraud charge pending against him, Bertolino said. In Florida, FBI-led search teams have been looking in a vast nature preserve for any sign of Laundrie. Weeks of searching in the swampy Carlton Reserve south of Sarasota where Laundries parents say he went after returning home from the West have turned up nothing. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 " " An oversized bottle of Tabasco hot sauce is displayed outside of the Tabasco factory on the grounds of Avery Island, Louisiana, in 2019. The sauce has been made there for more than 150 years. Drew Angerer/Getty Images When it comes to American-made hot sauce brands, one name stands above the rest: Tabasco. The Tabasco company was founded in 1868 in the rural community of Avery Island in southern Louisiana. New Orleans banker Edmund McIlhenny, tired of the bland cuisine of the Reconstruction era, used pepper plants of the Tabasco variety (capsicum frutescens) brought from Latin America to create a spicy and delicious sauce. McIlhenny called his creation Tabasco Pepper Sauce, patenting the name. The hot sauce quickly gained popularity in America and Europe in the 1870s thanks to the recipes the company created to use with the sauce. It is now an important part of Louisiana's famous cuisine, added to dishes like shrimp etouffee. Relatives of the McIlhenny family still run the company. Advertisement The pepper sauce production process has remained relatively unchanged over the last 150 years. The field hands that originally worked on Avery Island used what's known as le petit baton rouge, or a "little red stick," to determine the Tabasco peppers' ripeness. The pepper had to match the color of the deep red on the stick in order to be picked. Surprisingly, despite technological advancement, the company still uses the sticks, as workers still pick peppers by hand. So far, a machine hasn't been developed that can make that determination on ripeness, John Simmons, the great-great-great grandson of Edmund McIlhenny, told Louisiana Farm & Ranch. Versions of the red sticks are sold in Tabasco's gift shop. Once the right peppers have been selected, they are mashed and barrel-aged for up to three years in white oak barrels sourced from bourbon distilleries. Nowadays, most of the peppers are grown in Latin America and South Africa, but the pepper seeds all come from Avery Island. These are then shipped overseas for growing. After they are harvested, the peppers are ground, mixed with salt into a paste and shipped back to the island. Avery's abundant salt reserves come in handy, as a thick layer of salt is placed on top of each sealed barrel. The salt settles into any small air holes that may exist in the barrel and prevents moisture from seeping in. But don't sample yet, as this pepper mash is a whopping 10 times hotter than Tabasco's completed sauce. Each batch of mash is inspected by a member of the McIlhenny family to confirm that the color and aroma are just right. After the aging process, the mash is mixed with vinegar and churned for about three weeks. Then, the liquid is strained and poured into the classic red-topped glass bottles. Each of the 2-ounce (59-milliliter) bottles can hold 720 drops of the sauce and the Tabasco factory can produce up to 700,000 bottles per day. The flagship variety of the sauce varies in heat, usually between 2,500 and 5,000 Scoville units, the measure of spice level. The brand boasts eight total varieties, including habanero, chipotle and sriracha, some of which may be hotter. So, the next time you add Tabasco to your food, remember the process that goes into it, from one little red stick to a red-topped container. Now That's Spicy Tabasco has also been a part of military rations around the globe and served to members of the British royal family and NASA astronauts. You can also visit Avery Island and take the factory tour, visit the gift shop and dine at the 1868 restaurant, where almost everything on the menu has some of the famous sauce in it. Goochland County-based used car retailer CarMax Inc. said Tuesday that it is planning to hire for about 275 jobs in the Richmond region by the end of this year. The local hiring is part of a larger plan to add about 3,700 positions at the companys operations nationwide this year, with the company offering signing bonuses to fill some of the highest-demand positions a tactic used by some other companies to attract employees in a tight labor market. Jobs the company identify as high-demand include auto technicians and service operations employees, including detailers, painters and others. The company is looking to fill about 1,400 jobs in those fields nationwide, at pay ranging from $19 per hour to $53 per hour. The pay varies by location based on an employees experience, the company said. The company said it also is looking to fill more than 700 customer service jobs and managerial positions in its overall operations. That includes about 100 jobs in the Richmond region. Those jobs pay $18 to $20 per hour plus a monthly bonus. Some locations are offering sign-on bonuses of up to $2,000, and an additional $1,500 bonus for bilingual hires. The company also is looking to fill about 40 corporate jobs and 20 jobs at its Richmond-area retail stores. Three Meadowbrook High School students have been charged with assaulting a school resource officer during a brawl inside the school last month in which, according to police, the officer used his body to shield a student who was being attacked by a mob. A fourth student has been charged with assaulting a school administrator during the same series of fights, police said. The students, ages 14, 15, 16 and 17, were charged in juvenile petitions in connection with the Sept. 23 fights at the school, which required multiple school resource officers and roughly 20 outside police officers to bring under control. Police identified at least 13 teenagers as being involved in the fights, which police said initially started over a girl. The school briefly was placed on lockdown until the violence was quelled. The three teens accused of assaulting the officer have been charged with felonies and will go to court. The teen accused of assaulting the administrator was charged with a misdemeanor, but she was placed into a diversion program and will not go before a judge, said Chesterfield Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Jennifer Nesbitt. The teens were not identified because they are juveniles. The new language in the former says that students who express a gender identity that differs from their official education records may seek help from their school counselor. Once the school has been notified and with consent of parents or legal guardians students can use single-user restroom facilities, which are open to all students, or the restroom or locker room assigned to the students expressed gender identity. That proposed policy also says that with the exception of middle or high school sports, which fall under the oversight of Virginia High School League, the Hanover school system will not segregate students by gender when theres no legitimate educational purpose, and that in cases of gender-specific courses or sections within a course, transgender students are allowed to enroll in the course corresponding with their gender identity. Within the records policy, proposed changes explain that the county is required to maintain information such as students legal names and sex recorded at birth and report it for purposes such as standardized testing. But absent a reason like the standardized reporting procedures, the proposed policy says school staff should avoid the inadvertent disclosure of such information about transgender students preferred identities. 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. Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, "but never to the extent of jeopardizing it." Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, "I think it has merit." In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Biden's big federal government spending boost with the nation's rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden's $3.5 trillion plan makes it into law. "Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it," McConnell said in a letter to the president. "They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help." McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage. Lets not assume these stresses started with Trump, the police murder of George Floyd, or the pandemic. Theyre as old as our nations contradictions. America becomes most unsettled when it pursues truth, justice and equality. Sabato says hes worried, and not just because of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Youre talking to a guy from Charlottesville, with the Neo-Nazis marching in front of my home during that citys August 2017 rally of white supremacists, he said. He called Jan. 6 probably the dress rehearsal for whats to come. The purpose of this study was not just to tell people were in trouble, because I think most people knew that already, though this suggests were in deeper trouble than they knew, Sabato said. The purpose of the study was also to find some common ground between pieces of the Trump coalition and pieces of the Biden coalition. The common ground appears to be substantial bipartisan support for investment in infrastructure: bridges, roads, ports, rail lines, water and wastewater systems. This gives Sabato a hope he acknowledges may be idealistic. We need some idealism, he said. We need to inject it back into the system and get people thinking how to stave off violence and disaster. VPAP gave a hypothetical example. If a client paid a lobbying firm $84,000, split equally between services billed and retainers, the firm could report compensation of $84,000, or $42,000, or a lower number of only the estimated time spent directly lobbying lawmakers. So the law makes it difficult to examine or compare lobbyist compensation because there are a variety of ways it can be reported. In short: The public has no way of knowing exactly how much money lobbyists are paid to lobby their elected representatives. Haner said in an interview that his experience as a lobbyist gave him firsthand knowledge of how lobbyists avoid reporting how much they actually get paid. A lobbyist may spend four hours setting up a five-minute meeting with a lawmaker, he said, but then only count the five minutes for purposes of reporting payment. Its just a game that they play, he said. I was taught how to do it by one of the old lawyers. And on the topic of weak disclosure law, theres another important void, he said. Lobbyists arent required to disclose the bills or appointments over which they lobbied. They can simply report things like, matters related to energy. Court records showed that the two attempted murder charges were amended to two counts of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, and that Williams entered no contest pleas. Judge Brad Finch imposed two five-year sentences, then suspended all but one year and three months of it. Finch said that Williams is to be supervised by the probation office for three years after his release. Williams also was convicted of destruction of property, eluding, and failing to stop, with a three-year sentence for each charge and all of the time suspended. After the hearing, Griffith called for a veterans treatment docket to be established in the regions courts to handle such cases. This case is a reminder of just how many veterans struggle to reintegrate out of the service and there is no set time line for when their struggles may lead them down this path, Griffith said. The New River Valley already has special courts for certain drug offenders. In Montgomery County, there also is a docket for some cases involving mental health issues. These courts were spearheaded by specific judges. A veterans court could make a real difference in ensuring other veterans like Mr. Williams can receive specialized services, and individualized treatment plans, Griffith said. The county still can appeal the boards decision, according to Lockaby. The board of supervisors has 30 days to appeal the boards ruling. If they choose that route, it would be taken to circuit court and a judge would make a ruling, he said after the meeting. The county is still weighing its options, according to spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury. Botetourt County will take the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruling under advisement and further discussions will be had by the Board of Supervisors, she wrote in an email. Apex had already filed a lawsuit against the county and Pearson in Botetourt County Circuit Court prior to the meeting, saying that he lacked the legal authority to make his decision. Loftin said no decision has been made on if or when it would drop the lawsuit against Pearson and the county. A second lawsuit, filed late last year by a group of citizens opposed to the 612-foot turbines, challenges a permit issued to Rocky Forge by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The proposed complex of 14 mountaintop wind turbines would stand about twice as tall as the Wells Fargo tower in downtown Roanoke. " " Ultra close-up of a ferrofluid, or magnetic colloidal liquid, which becomes strongly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field and can be used in ways that solid magnets cannot. virtualphoto/Getty Images Back in the second century B.C.E., the Chinese developed a spoon-shaped compass made of lodestone, or magnetite ore, which was capable of helping them figure out the directional position of north. Since then, inventors have found all sorts of other ways to use magnets, ranging from magnetic audio and videotapes, to computer hard drives and MRI machines for scanning the insides of the human body, to those magnets that you use for sticking your kids' drawings to the refrigerator door. Up to this point, magnets have been made of solid materials. But now, in an article published July 19, 2019, in the journal Science, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveal that they've figured out a way to make a 3D-printed magnetic device out of liquid. Advertisement Liquid magnets could be fantastically useful for creating tools that range from artificial cells that deliver cancer-killing medication, to flexible liquid robots that can change their shape and adapt to their surroundings. (Maybe T-1000 from "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" isn't so far-fetched after all.) "We've made a new material that is both liquid and magnetic. No one has ever observed this before," said Tom Russell, a visiting faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab and professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said in a press release. "This opens the door to a new area of science in magnetic soft matter." Russell and Xubo Liu, the study's lead author, got the inspiration to try to form liquid structures from ferrofluids solutions of iron-oxide particles that become magnetic in the presence of another magnet. They used a 3-D printer to make tiny droplets, just 1 millimeter across, from a ferrofluid solution containing iron-oxide nanoparticles that crowded at the droplet's surface. The research team then put the droplets in a solution near a magnetic coil. When they removed the coil, the droplets gravitated toward each other and became permanently magnetic. Now That's Interesting Back in 2013, scientists constructed a tiny magnet made of just five iron atoms. " " Not all germs are destructive and some scientists see the need to bank them for possible future use. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images People hate germs. Just look at the hand sanitizer industry, where business is booming. Companies sold $2.4 billion worth of the on-the-go cleaning liquid in 2017. The market for Purell and other similar cleaning agents is expected to jump to $5.5 billion by 2024. Sanitizer dispensers are popping up just about anywhere someone might touch something that gives them a case of the heebie jeebies about catching a cold (or worse), from doctors' offices and elementary schools to public bathrooms. The truth is that not all germs are bad. Many forms of bacteria, for example, are important for gut health. Some doctors also say that kids should be exposed to certain germs at a certain age to help build immunity. Advertisement A Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick-led team of researchers is even calling for a "germ bank," where microbes can be stored out of harm's way and possibly used to ward off disease in the future. The vault (its official name is Microbiota Vault) would be used to preserve microbes particularly at risk of being wiped off the planet as areas like South America and Africa become more developed. "We're facing a growing global health crisis, which requires that we capture and preserve the diversity of the human microbiota while it still exists," said Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, the lead author and a professor in Rutgers-New Brunswick's Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology and Department of Anthropology, in a press release. "These microbes co-evolved with humans over hundreds of millennia. They help us digest food, strengthen our immune system and protect against invading germs. Over a handful of generations, we have seen a staggering loss in microbial diversity linked with a worldwide spike in immune and other disorders." Microbes are already being used to treat a wide range of maladies, from rare genetic conditions to cancer. But as human resistance to certain drugs builds over time, germ bank supporters say a "Noah's Ark" of bacteria and other potentially life-saving material will help ensure that new medicines can be developed before it's too late. Now that's interesting Hippocrates, a Greek physician who died in 360 B.C., is often called the "father of modern medicine" because he wrote a number of books describing various diseases and their treatments. Let me state that this is not a political column. I do not have a D, I or R behind my name. Only an A standing for American citizen. There seem to be numerous issues occurring that need to be addressed, and knowing who the enemies are is one of the key bits of information we need. Ignoring the Constitution cannot and should not be one of the options we take. Parents talking at school board meetings when they disagree with some of the decisions made by the school board or the school system does not, in my opinion, make them domestic terrorists, despite what the U.S. Attorney says. Their comments fall within the protection of the freedom of speech as identified in the constitution. They can object when the board they elected/hired takes action they disagree with. Threats are not protected, but free speech is, and from what has been reported does not constitute a clear and present danger to anyone as stated in some of the Supreme Court rulings. The board meetings are usually open to the public, and normally attendees can speak and state their opinions. I realize I did not attend any of the board meetings, but I have seen news reports concerning some of those meetings. My opinions are based on those news reports that hopefully were factually accurate. Making the case for deferred federal sentencing for individuals (like corporations) | Main | US Sentencing Commission issues new report on "Federal Sentencing of Child Pornography: Production Offenses" The title of this post is the title of this new publication by The Sentencing Project authored by Ashley Nellis. Here are parts of the report's overview: This report details our observations of staggering disparities among Black and Latinx people imprisoned in the United States given their overall representation in the general population. The latest available data regarding people sentenced to state prison reveal that Black Americans are imprisoned at a rate that is roughly five times the rate of white Americans. During the present era of criminal justice reform, not enough emphasis has been focused on ending racial and ethnic disparities systemwide. Going to prison is a major life-altering event that creates obstacles to building stable lives in the community, such as gaining employment and finding stable and safe housing after release. Imprisonment also reduces lifetime earnings and negatively affects life outcomes among children of incarcerated parents. These are individual-level consequences of imprisonment but there are societal level consequences as well: high levels of imprisonment in communities cause high crime rates and neighborhood deterioration, thus fueling greater disparities. This cycle both individually and societally is felt disproportionately by people who are Black. It is clear that the outcome of mass incarceration today has not occurred by happenstance but has been designed through policies created by a dominant white culture that insists on suppression of others.... Truly meaningful reforms to the criminal justice system cannot be accomplished without acknowledgement of its racist underpinnings. Immediate and focused attention on the causes and consequences of racial disparities is required in order to eliminate them. True progress towards a racially just system requires an understanding of the variation in racial and ethnic inequities in imprisonment across states and the policies and day-to-day practices that drive these inequities. KEY FINDINGS Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly 5 times the rate of white Americans. Nationally, one in 81 Black adults per 100,000 in the U.S. is serving time in state prison. Wisconsin leads the nation in Black imprisonment rates; one of every 36 Black Wisconsinites is in prison. In 12 states, more than half the prison population is Black: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Seven states maintain a Black/white disparity larger than 9 to 1: California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. Latinx individuals are incarcerated in state prisons at a rate that is 1.3 times the incarceration rate of whites. Ethnic disparities are highest in Massachusetts, which reports an ethnic differential of 4.1:1. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Eliminate mandatory sentences for all crimes. Mandatory minimum sentences, habitual offender laws, and mandatory transfer of juveniles to the adult criminal system give prosecutors too much authority while limiting the discretion of impartial judges. These policies contributed to a substantial increase in sentence length and time served in prison, disproportionately imposing unduly harsh sentences on Black and Latinx individuals. 2. Require prospective and retroactive racial impact statements for all criminal statutes. The Sentencing Project urges states to adopt forecasting estimates that will calculate the impact of proposed crime legislation on different populations in order to minimize or eliminate the racially disparate impacts of certain laws and policies. Several states have passed racial impact statement laws. To undo the racial and ethnic disparity resulting from decades of tough-on-crime policies, however, states should also repeal existing racially biased laws and policies. The impact of racial impact laws will be modest at best if they remain only forward looking. 3. Decriminalize low-level drug offenses. Discontinue arrest and prosecutions for low-level drug offenses which often lead to the accumulation of prior convictions which accumulate disproportionately in communities of color. These convictions generally drive further and deeper involvement in the criminal legal system. OLDWICK, N.J., October 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best representatives will be providing demonstrations of Bests Financial Suite at the 2021 SIR Virtual Annual Conference & Exhibit Fair on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at 2:45 p.m. (EDT). The conference takes place Oct. 18-19, 2021. Jennifer Rudy, account manager, and Jay Eihausen, senior account manager, will be available at AM Bests online booth to explain and discuss how the product can power your insurance industry research with quality data, insurer credit ratings and analytical tools. They will also be available to discuss: Bests Insurance Reports : Enhance top-level research with AM Bests insight into the financial performance of insurance companies worldwide, along with the latest insurer information. Bests State Rate Filing : Keep up with U.S. property/casualty program innovations, determine which competitors are entering specific markets and create targeted product development strategies. Bests News & Research Service: Stay on top of whats happening, why its happening, and how it affects your business with news and research from AM Bests unique perspective. Those interested in AM Bests products can learn more by contacting sales@ambest.com. More information about the 2021 SIR Virtual Annual Conference & Exhibit Fair is available at this official event page. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005668/en/ Contacts Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson. "The Lt. Governor has tested positive for coronavirus," Justin Pinkerman wrote in an email. "He has mild symptoms and is self-isolating as he recovers." Pinkerman said that two-sentence statement was the only update the office would provide at this time. He did not answer questions regarding whether Foley was vaccinated, whether Gov. Pete Ricketts was exposed, and whether Ricketts was taking additional precautions in light of the news. Ricketts is scheduled to speak at an event in Omaha Tuesday evening. Earlier Tuesday, Pinkerman had emailed an updated version of Foley's public schedule to members of the media that showed all plans for the week had been canceled. A schedule sent last Friday showed Foley was planning to travel the state to offer remarks at "Excellence in State Service" recognition ceremonies in Kearney, North Platte, Scottsbluff and Norfolk. Foley has been Nebraska's lieutenant governor since 2015, after he was elected to his position as Gov. Pete Ricketts' running mate. He had been a candidate for governor before Ricketts defeated him in the Republican primary that year. Before that, he was the Nebraska auditor of public accounts and a state senator. Foley is far from the first prominent state official to test positive for the coronavirus. Toward the end of a special legislative session focused on redistricting, state Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk tested positive for COVID-19. Flood confirmed his positive case two days after Secretary of State Bob Evnen canceled an event announcing his reelection bid because he had tested positive for COVID-19. Both men were fully vaccinated against COVID. At the time, neither case was described as severe. Flood said he quarantined for 10 days and now feels fully recovered. Earlier in the pandemic, Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus was hospitalized with COVID-19 for five weeks in May and June of 2020. Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte said in November that he had tested positive. That same month, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced he had tested positive for COVID. All of those cases occurred before COVID-19 vaccines were available. HOMER, Neb. -- The field of grass and wildflowers on 210th Street, a few miles north of Homer, may not look like much to the untrained eye. But, on Tuesday, an archaeological team from the Nebraska State Historical Society used ground penetrating radar to see if the site was the location of a lost cemetery for a 19th century village called Omadi. Located in Dakota County, at the mouth of Omaha Creek, Omadi was founded in 1856, more than a decade before Nebraska was admitted as a U.S. state. With a population that peaked at around 400, Omadi was thought to be comparable in size to nearby Sioux City around 1860. However, the waters of Missouri began to wash away the town's left bank, undermining the site. If that wasn't enough, the promise of riches from the gold-mining town of Pike's Peak, Colorado, caused the town's population to plummet, from 400 to just a few dozen people. By 1865, it was considered a ghost town. A few longtime Dakota County residents had heard stories about the Omadi Cemetery (also known as Sand Ridge) but no photographic evidence of the graves or headstones exists. Indeed, Dakota County Historical Society President Dennis Reinert hadn't heard about the site until a few months ago. "I was talking with an old-timer and he asked if I knew what was Dakota County's first cemetery?" Reinert said. "I immediately thought of the Dakota City cemetery but the old timer said, 'No, it was the old Omadi.' " Utilizing archival material and old maps, Reinert said there may have been around 30 people buried in the Omadi Cemetery, some as recently as the early 1900s. But no headstones have been found. After studying old maps and reports, Reinert and other county Historical Society members were able to pinpoint the probable location of the old cemetery. The field of grass and wildflowers is privately owned. The Nebraska State Historical Society, headed by archaeologist Rob Bozell, expressed interested in assisting with the search. Bozell's investigators utilized electromagnetic pulses to survey a site without having to break ground. Such ground penetrating radar (GPR) is used to discover buried evidence or artifacts by observing changes in soil. Archaeologist Robert K. Nickel said the team will study readings taken from the 30-by-30-foot site. The results of their investigation will likely be completed by the end of the week. "We so appreciate the state sending archaeologists to assist in the search," Reinert said. "Finding the Omadi Cemetery would be of great historical significance to Dakota County." Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- A Spirit Lake, Iowa, man has been found guilty a second time of fatally shooting another man during an argument at a rural Sioux County home. A Sioux County District Court jury returned its verdict at 9 p.m. Tuesday, finding Gregg Winterfeld, 71, guilty of second-degree murder for the May 9, 2020, death of Grant Wilson, 58, of Cleghorn, Iowa. He faces a 50-year prison sentence. A sentencing date has yet to be set. Originally charged with first-degree murder, Winterfeld was found guilty in April of second-degree murder at the conclusion of his first trial, in which jurors found him guilty of the lesser charge and allowing him to avoid a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. In June, District Judge Jeffrey Neary granted Winterfeld a new trial because of an error made while choosing the jury for his first trial. Winterfeld shot Wilson at a rural Ireton, Iowa, house while the two were arguing. Winterfeld pulled out a Ruger .22-caliber revolver and shot Wilson in the forehead. Sheriff's deputies who arrived at the scene found Wilson dead inside the house. A woman inside the house at the time of the shooting was not harmed. The three had been drinking beer and whisky throughout the day prior to the shooting. Winterfeld's attorney said Winterfeld acted in self-defense. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. Earl Horlyk Food and Lifestyles reporter Follow Earl Horlyk 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 OMAHA -- In the midst of one of the driest years in the upper Missouri River basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a meeting in Sioux City to provide a look at planned operations on the river for 2022. A public meeting to preview the 2022 Annual Operating Plan for next year's runoff season is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Betty Strong Encounter Center at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Road. In adherence to the U.S. Defense Department's COVID-19 meeting guidelines, attendance will be limited to 50 people, including presenters, and all attendees must wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth. The meeting also will address current conditions in the basin, which in September once again experienced below-average precipitation. Runoff into the river above Sioux City was 0.8 million acre-feet, 67% of average. Approximately 88% of the basin is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions or drought, up 6% from August. "Upper basin runoff was below average in September and is expected to stay low through the remainder of the calendar year. Lower basin runoff has been below average as well," John Remus, chief of the corps Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, said in a news release. The corps' 2021 runoff forecast is 14.8 MAF, 57% of average. That total would be the 10th lowest in the basin since 1898. The average annual runoff is 25.8 MAF. Precipitation throughout much of the river basin has been well below normal since October 2020. In July, the corps began water conservation measures, reducing releases from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota, and cutting into the river's flow in support of downstream navigation. Releases currently are at 32,000 cubic feet per second. Winter releases from Gavins Point likely will be at the minimum level of 12,000 cfs, the corps has said. Releases will be reduced to winter levels around Nov. 22. 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. SIOUX FALLS -- A Yankton, South Dakota, man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of filming three underage girls and one boy engaging in sexual conduct. Jason Sejnoha, 43, is charged in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls with four counts of production of child pornography. According to an indictment filed Oct. 5, Sejnoha "... did knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor, under the age of 18 ..." to engage in sexually explicit conduct so that he could record video of the sexual activity. The filming took place in May, June, July and August. Authorities seized a hidden camera and digital memory card containing the footage on Aug. 12. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 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. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City school district failed to properly document pay raises for some administrators, reimbursed staff for over $1,000 in questionable expenses and mistakenly overpaid a former employee by over $6,550, according to a report released Tuesday by the Iowa Auditor Rob Sands. Responding to a request by then-district critic Dan Greenwell, the Auditor's Office agreed to "reaudit" the district's finances between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2019. In the report, the auditor's staff identified five areas of concern -- documentation of employment contracts, reimbursements of expenses, payroll calculations, use of district credit cards and mileage calculations, and made recommendations to correct those issues. The district responded "favorably" in each instance, either outlining fixes they had already done or acknowledging changes they need to make. Greenwell, a businessman, made a state reaudit a central theme of his campaign for the school board in 2019, as he won a first term as the leading vote getter. He said Tuesday the report validated his concerns from two years ago. Our financial controls and procedures and budgeting process is much, much stronger than it was two years ago, Greenwell said. The school district issued a statement in response to the release of the auditor's report. We are grateful that the state auditors reaudit confirmed the findings of the accounting firm that conducts the Districts annual financial audit while also providing us with an opportunity to learn new ways that we can improve our accounting practices, according to a district statement. We look forward to working alongside the Districts Board of Directors to implement recommendations by the state auditor to strengthen our board policies. Sand said the readuit found that board meetings during the time period examined did not sufficiently document salary increases for staff not covered by a collective bargaining agreement and did not include approval of final individual pay increases. That was one of the main concerns Greenwell brought to the state auditor. He said the school board would approve a fixed percentage of salary distribution, but Superintendent Paul Gausman would divide the districtwide pie, and give different administrators different percentages of the increase. Nine individuals received "one-time" lump sum bonus payments in lieu of a salary increase, according to the auditor's report. Six contracts also were not signed by the employee or a board member prior to the start of the contract, the report said. Sand's office recommended that in the future all employment contracts not covered under a master contract be reviewed and approved by the board. The board meeting minutes should document the employee and approved salary. Today, the district holds an open meeting review of salaries that are part of the overall budget approval. The reaudit also identified at least two example of incorrect payroll calculations. In one stance, an unidentified employee left the district prior to fulfilling the number of days requested by the employment contract. The district prorated the employee's final paycheck, based on the number of days worked, but the employee also erroneously received a full check. As a result, the error resulted in $6,556.08 in improper gross payroll costs paid to the former employee and $1,095.50 of proper costs for the district's share of payroll taxes and IPERS contributions. The district did not seek reimbursement from the individual, the report said. In another payroll error, an employee who started work after the beginning of the school year was underpaid by $7,055.60 on the first paycheck, according to the report. The employee was later reimbursed for that amount. The reaudit also identified 12 checks totaling $979.11 issued to district administrators for purchases of food, snacks and decorations for staff meetings, United Way campaign kick offs and staff holiday parties. While these expenses do not meet the test of public purpose, Sand said these issues are worth public input. He said this particular spending can boost morale and help employees stay productive. But theres a fine line to be walked between that and what point its done too much, he said. Its the kind of thing we put in our report because we think the public should know and have input on. The reaudit also pointed out eight checks totaling $382.11 issued to Gausman as reimbursements for meals he purchased for himself and other district staff while in Sioux City. While the district views the superintendent as a liaison between the District and the community, the public purpose served by the reimbursement of meal costs within the District boundaries is not clear, the report said. The report also found a $98 reimbursement for mileage to a meeting but the supporting documentation did not identify a location for the meeting. "As a result, we were unable to determine if the propriety of the mileage claimed and we classified the payment as unsupported," the reaudit said. The use of district credit cards for non-district employees was also outlined in the auditor's report. Between 2017 and 2019 Gausmans wife, Suzi, accompanied him to some out-of-state conferences. Some of the costs paid for with the district credit card were for his wifes meals and transportation costs. The superintendent did not seek reimbursement for his wife's expenses, but Sand said district credit cards should not be used for non-employee travel costs. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 4 OMAHA -- Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School teacher Lee Perez was named Wednesday as the 2022 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Perez, a teacher for 13 years, is an ESL teacher at Buffett, which is in the Omaha Public Schools in northwest Omaha. Perez said that as he works to teach his students a new language, he also celebrates their backgrounds and cultures in the classroom, according to a news release from the Nebraska Department of Education. Perez said in his application for the award: "It is important to embrace diversity. We should acknowledge that being different is special and these differences should be showcased during learning." Perez said his message to other teachers is to be "kind, culturally aware and tolerant and that kindness should be our new pandemic." Perez earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. A panel of Nebraska educators chose Perez for the honor. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A 24-year-old Turkish woman who stands 7 feet, 0.7 inches tall has been confirmed as the world's tallest living woman by Guinness World Records. Rumeysa Gelgi's phenomenal height is due to a condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes accelerated growth and other abnormalities, Guinness World Records said in a statement. Gelgi was re-measured this year after being named the world's tallest living female teenager in 2014 at the age of 18. Due to her condition, Gelgi usually moves around in a wheelchair, but she is able to use a walker for short periods. Gelgi is keen to use her platform to inform people about rare medical conditions like Weaver. "Every disadvantage can be turned into an advantage for yourself so accept yourself for who you are, be aware of your potential and do your best," she said in the statement. Her height intrigues people when they see her, but most people are kind and supportive, Gelgi told Guinness World Records. The world's tallest living man, Sultan Kosen, is also from Turkey and stands 8 feet, 2.8 inches tall. Guinness World Records said the fact that both the tallest living male and female record holders are from the same country is "a rare occurrence." The last time it happened was in 2009, when China's Bao Xishun (7 feet, 8.95 inches) and Yao Defen (7 feet, 7.85 inches) held the records. Gelgi took over the record from Yao. The tallest woman ever recorded was Zeng Jinlian from Hunan Province, China, who measured 8 feet, 1 inch at the time of her death in February 1982. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Southwest Airlines has canceled more than 2,000 flights since Friday, amounting to about a third of its schedule over the long weekend. The disruptions left tens of thousands of passengers stranded, and the carriers operations are still playing catch-up. On top of the usual consumer agony and social media meltdowns that this has inspired, theres a bizarre twist: Southwests predicament has become a talking point for conservative commentators and politicians in their campaign against vaccine mandates. That would be wild if there was some truth to a mandate causing these problems (spoiler: it didnt), but whats actually going on might be even more enervating. Fasten your own seatbelt before fastening any others, and Ill explain whats going on. Advertisement Whats the cause of these flight cancellations? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Southwest, weather and air traffic control snafus began grounding a number of flights on Friday. (The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a staffing shortfall at an air traffic control center, weather, and military training exercises did cause cancellations and delays, but only for a few hours.) That initial wave of cancellations, Southwest said, discombobulated their whole system by preventing aircrafts and crews from being in the right places at the right times according to schedule. There was then a cascading effect in which other flights also had to be canceled because of these labor and airplane issues piling up. Southwest is also still trying to ramp up operations again after it made cutbacks during the height of the pandemic, which also affected its ability to absorb the initial shock of nixed flights. Advertisement Woof. Is this happening to other airlines? This appears not to be an aviation problem so much as a Southwest problem; other airlines were able to carry on with minimal cancellations after Fridays disruptions. Southwest has generally struggled with coordinating its operations as of late; it had the highest percentage of cancellations and worst on-time performance among the countrys four major airlines in June and July. The Southwest pilots union further blamed the companys technical systems and processes for reassigning pilots when disruptions occur, claiming that these are long-standing problems that executives have failed to fix for years. The airline has struggled with rerouting pilots partly because it uses a point-to-point system, which focuses on flying passengers directly to their destinations. This is opposed to the hub-and-spoke model that American Airlines uses, in which passengers are often first routed to a main base of operations before departing for their final destination. While the point-to-point system has the advantage of reducing travel times and the number of connecting flights, it can be difficult to adapt to unexpected situations. Southwests point-to-point network also covers an unusually large geographic area, which makes reassigning pilots even more complicated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sounds like a mess. Whats the right-wing angle? Southwest Airlines set an Oct. 4 COVID-19 vaccination deadline for its employees. The airline established this policy in order to abide by a new federal requirement dictating that government contractors, like Southwest, have to enforce vaccination mandates. The pilots union at Southwest proceeded to petition a federal court in Dallas to temporarily block the companys mandate on the grounds that it allegedly violates labor laws. The ensuing cancellation debacle led conservatives to speculate that staff like pilots and air traffic controllers were calling in sick and walking out in order to protest the mandate. Theyve been wielding this theory as a cudgel to knock the Biden administrations vaccine requirement, insinuating that its hurting the economy. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted that Joe Bidens illegal vaccine mandate was leading to a shortage of pilots & air traffic controllers. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson identified himself in a tweet as a loyal Southwest customer and urged the company to stop the madness before more damage is done. Conservative media have also been pushing this narrative, with Fox News Tucker Carlson claiming the cancellations were a direct consequence of Bidens policy. Advertisement Advertisement Is there any evidence backing up these claims? Based on the information publicly available at the moment, Southwests vaccine mandate appears to have little to do with the cancellations. The FAA announced that there havent been any air traffic staffing shortages since Friday. Even people at Southwest who are opposed to vaccine mandates in general say that the new policy was not to blame for the disarray. In a Tuesday interview on CNBC, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly criticized Biden for forcing private companies to establish mandates, but nevertheless said, Thats not what was at issue with Southwest over the weekend. The pilots union, which is suing Southwest over the mandate, pushed back on speculation about a walkout protest. The unions president, Casey Murray, told CBS News that the pilot sick rate over the weekend was consistent with what the company experienced over the summer. Southwest also isnt the only airline thats faced internal pushback for its mandate. Hundreds of employees protested American Airlines vaccine requirements at the companys headquarters in Texas last week. Yet American only had a 2 percent cancellation rate on Sunday, while it was 30 percent for Southwest. Advertisement Advertisement How long is this problem expected to last? Operations seem to be returning to normal to some degree. The airline only canceled 87 (or about 2 percent) of its flights on Tuesday, which is a marked improvement from this weekend but still worse than most other U.S. airlines. To prevent this from happening again, the airline has said that it will be cutting down on the number of flights it has scheduled for the fall and build up a reserve of staffers to act as a cushion in the event of an emergency. Seems like a pretty good time to consider becoming a pilot. Episode 6 of Impeachment: American Crime Story focuses on one pivotal incident, the questioning of Monica Lewinsky in a Ritz-Carlton hotel room for 11 hours (with breaks) by members of special prosecutor Ken Starrs team. The seriess first episode ended with a bewildered and frightened Lewinsky being escorted by FBI agents from the mall food court where shed been lured by Linda Tripp for coffee, which is where this episode picks up the story. At first the vibe in the room is that of a pack of hounds cornering a terrified rabbit, but Lewinsky displays more inner steel than you might expect. Meanwhile, hotel bathroom handsets have a rare moment in the spotlight as suspense accelerators. We look at how accurate or otherwise this depiction of her detention and interrogation is. Lewinsky Took a Break With a Prosecutor and an FBI Agent at Crate & Barrel Lewinsky insists she wont make a decision about whether to cooperate until she speaks to her mother, Marcia (Mira Sorvino), which leaves Lewinsky, the prosecutorial team, and the FBI agents with not a lot to do for the four hours it will take Marcia to get to Washington by train (shes scared of flying). Lewinsky persuades the authorities to let her get out of the room for a while and, shadowed by prosecutor Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks) and an FBI agent, heads for Crate & Barrel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This sounds like a surreal, Veep-like piece of invented detail, but it is absolutely true. Lewinsky was an inveterate shopper, so its not out of character that she would seek a bit of retail therapy for relief from a highly stressful situation. According to Slates Slow Burn podcast, As evening fell, Lewinsky told the prosecutors she was feeling claustrophobic, and that she wanted to stretch her legs. Emmick and one of the FBI agents agreed to accompany her back to the Pentagon City Mall, where they could wander around a bit and get some semblance of fresh air. And so, the three of them went shopping. The first stop on the excursion was Crate & Barrel, where Lewinsky looked at household goods and tried to lighten the mood by cracking jokes. Advertisement Advertisement And, as depicted in the episode, Lewinsky then joined her monitors for an equally surreal dinner at a Pentagon City Mall restaurant, Mozzarellas American Grill, before being escorted back upstairs to the hotel interrogation room. In between, under pretense of going to the ladies room, she frantically tried to call Bill Clintons secretary, Betty Currie, from a pay phone to warn the president of the perjury trap being set, but Currie didnt pick up. One can only imagine how the course of history might have been different if she had. Did Starr Underestimate Lewinsky? The Starr team is under time pressure because Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoffs article revealing the existence of Linda Tripps tapes will appear in 48 hours, and tomorrow morning Clinton is scheduled to be deposed in the Paula Jones civil case. Since the Republicans impeachment strategy depends on Clinton perjuring himself by denying an affair with Lewinsky, it is essential that the president does not learn this affair has become known to the Starr prosecution and Jones lawyers. The prosecutors also want Lewinsky to wear a wire for future conversations with Clinton, Vernon Jordan, and Betty Currie in the hope that they will incriminate themselves by offering the so-far-elusive quid pro quo for Monicas silence. Starrs pit bull Jackie Bennett thinks it will be a piece of cake to get Monica to agree, predicting, Young girl, white-collar crimesimple witness like that takes less than an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his 2018 memoir, Contempt, Starr admits his team misjudged Lewinsky: It was becoming increasingly clear: in thinking she was a naive, starstruck young woman in love who would quickly cooperate, we underestimated her. In her determination to protect the president, Monica kept a team of experienced FBI agents and career prosecutors twiddling their thumbs for much of the day. He asserts, Monica doubtless calculated that if she could maneuver the situation, she would skate from criminal prosecution and at the same time not turn on the president. Clueless groupie or scheming minxthere is no middle ground. The possibility that Lewinsky was acting instinctively out of loyalty seems to be entirely discounted. Even with hindsight, Starr still underestimates her, characterizing her in the memoir as a sort of petulant teenager being told she cant go to the prom (in fact the code name for the detention was Prom Night), noting, For an hour, Monica screamed, she cried, she pouted, and complained bitterly about her scheming, no-good, so-called friend, instead of seeing her as an isolated and terrified young woman in a room full of men who are threatening her with lengthy imprisonment if she doesnt make a life-changing decision right away. Did Lewinsky Want Tripp to Watch? Tripp has been put in a bedroom adjoining the suite where Lewinsky is initially being questioned. When a door opens and Lewinsky catches sight of the FBI hustling her former friend out of the room, she shouts: Make her stay and watch. I want that treacherous bitch to see what she has done to me. Advertisement Advertisement This is verbatim what Lewinsky said at the time, according to Andrew Mortons 1999 book Monicas Story, which was written with Lewinskys cooperation, although Morton maintains Tripp was actually in the room for the early part of questioning, not sequestered in a bedroom. Did Lewinsky Contemplate Suicide During the Interrogation? When the prosecutors reveal Tripp taped her conversations with Monica and that the tapes are now in their possession, Lewinsky is not slow to grasp the implications. My life is over, she gasps. When she takes her time returning from a trip to the suites bathroom, Emmick finds her in a bedroom, contemplating throwing herself out of the window. Advertisement According to Lewinsky, this also actually happened. She told Britains Channel 4 News in a 1999 interview that she considered throwing herself out of the 10th-floor hotel window. Did Starrs Prosecutors Stop Lewinsky From Calling Her Lawyer? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On being told she could be facing federal charges for multiple felonies including perjury and obstruction of justice, Lewinsky repeatedly asks to call her lawyer, Frank Carter. The prosecutors, while not outright forbidding her, repeatedly try to put her off the idea. Bennett tries to undermine her faith in Carter, saying hes a civil case lawyer when she needs a criminal one (in fact, hed been a public defender for six years). The prosecutors also say that if she shares anything about what theyve said, even with her lawyer, the offer of immunity for cooperation will be withdrawn. With Lewinsky still insisting on waiting for her mother before shell decide anything, the prosecutors let her call Carter, but by then its 4:45 and hes left for the day. Advertisement In reality, the prosecutors did repeatedly discourage Lewinsky from phoning her lawyer, finally allowing the call to Carter even later, at 5:23 p.m. They had an incentive: Their biggest leverage was the perjury charge Lewinsky could face as a result of lying about her affair with Clinton in the affidavit sent to Paula Jones legal team. However, at the time of the questioning, that affidavit had not yet been filed in court in Little Rock, Arkansas. Had Lewinsky reached Carter, he could have called FedEx to cancel delivery of the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Because the prosecutors knew Lewinsky had a lawyer, they were on thin ice questioning her at all; Justice Department guidelines generally prohibit prosecutors from having direct contact with people under criminal investigation who have legal representation, especially while negotiating cooperation. The purpose of the restriction is to prevent ordinary people from being taken advantage of by the prosecutors superior knowledge of the law. Starrs office would later argue Lewinsky did not fit the definition of a represented party because Carter had been hired to help in a civil, not criminal, matter. In a subsequent inquiry into Lewinskys questioning and detention, lawyers working for Starrs successor as independent counsel found that the Department requires far greater respect for an individuals choice of attorney, for attorney-client relationships, and for the role of defense attorneys in the process than that exemplified in this case. The report, completed in 2000, remained sealed for another 14 years for reasons that are unclear. Ridley Scotts medieval #MeToo drama The Last Duel opens big as it sets the stage for a 1386 duel to the death between two armored combatants on horseback. Just as the first blow is about to be struck, the story cuts to 26 years earlier, when the two combatants, the knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and the squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) fought side by side in the Hundred Years War. With that temporal shift, the movies point of view changes as well, as a title promises us the truth according to Jean de Carrouges. Instead of a Gladiator-style battle epic, it seems, we have entered a Rashomon-inflected psychological thriller where the same event will be reconstructed from three different points of view. Advertisement The first third of the movie, scripted by Damon, tells the story of the marriage of Jean de Carrouges to Marguerite (Jodie Comer), the beautiful and well-educated daughter of a knight who has fallen into disfavor for his disloyalty to the king. The bride is meant to come with a dowry that includes a valuable parcel of land, but thanks to the machinations of Le Gris friend and protector, the louche Count Pierre DAlencon (Ben Affleck), the real estate in question winds up being taken away from him and given to Le Gris. The two mens battle-forged friendship turns into a bitter enmity over the ensuing years as the dashing, urbane Le Gris gains favor in the eyes of King Charles VI (Alex Lawther), a sulky adolescent with a pronounced sadistic streak. Carrouges is Le Gris polar opposite in demeanor, a crude, glowering sort known for his courage in battle rather than his wit and charm in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. 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. When Carrouges returns from a short trip to be told by Marguerite that Le Gris has taken advantage of his absence to gain admittance to their castle and rape her, the storys perspectival splintering comes into play. Carrouges vows to avenge Marguerite, less out of concern for his wifes well-being than because of the hatred he bears toward his longtime rival. As the trial gets underway, the second chapter of the film begins: Now we see the same events from Le Gris point of view, with the character of Carrouges coming off not as a valorous warrior but as a petty, grudge-holding landowner. (This section of the film was written by Affleck, who was originally set to play Le Gris.) Even in Le Gris self-serving retelling, the encounter between him and his former friends wife is unequivocally shown as a rape. Though he presents himself to her on bended knee as a lovestruck courtier, when she orders him to leave, he has no compunction about taking her by force. Its a tough scene to watch even in a movie full of brutal battle sequences, and in the third chapter, told from Marguerites point of view and scripted by the writer-director Nicole Holofcener, it will only get tougher. Advertisement When the words the truth according to Marguerite de Carrouges appear to mark off that last section, the word truth lingers longer on-screen than the rest of the title card, tipping off the audience that this version is the closest we will get to what actually happened, not just between rapist and victim but between husband and wife. The wedding night Carrouges account presented as tender and mutually satisfying becomes, in her retelling, a brusque and loveless deflowering. A later scene shows Carrouges berating and humiliating his wife for wearing a fashionably low-cut dress. The crime of rape, one legal adviser tells Le Gris, is a property matter, with the woman playing a role not significantly different from that stolen parcel of land that started the feud between the two men. Marguerites version of the tale emphasizes the grotesque misogyny at the heart of the legal system. As she is cross-examined on trial, she is repeatedly asked whether or not she enjoyed her own sexual assault, an act of rhetorical violence not unfamiliar to survivors in our own day and age. Advertisement Advertisement The Last Duel is based on a real-life event, the last legally sanctioned duel to the death to be fought in France, as chronicled in a 2004 book by Eric Jager.* Though period details are minutely observed on the level of costume, setting, and production design, with the southwestern French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine standing in for medieval Paris and Normandy, the dialogue is often pointedly modern, sometimes with what seems like a deliberately campy edge. As Afflecks libertine lord invites his best bro Le Gris to join his orgy, he delivers the immortal line Come in! Take off your pants! Later, in a scene that unsubtly foreshadows the toxic machismo of the final duel, Damons Carrouges stops a runaway stallion from mating with his prize mare by beating the tumescent steed with a shovel. Advertisement Advertisement Affleck and Driver at times appear to be on loan from a different, dopier movie, possibly one involving Monty Python. Comer, best known as the psychopathic hitwoman Villanelle in TVs Killing Eve, has a sly intelligence that suits her perfectly to the part of a woman whose freedom and pleasure are constrained by historical circumstances. She seems at times too modern in her self-presentation, but in a movie that deliberately positions itself as a #MeToo allegory, that anachronism is part of the point. Damon, his stolid face seamed by a deep battle scar, also makes sense as a thuggish medieval knight. If Affleck and Driver at times appear to be on loan from a different, dopier movie, possibly one involving Monty Python, they both have such a cape-swooshing, mustache-twirling good time that its hard to blame them for going all in on their characters villainy. And speaking of mustaches, its been a while since a movie has brought us such a wealth of bad historical hair, from Damons tiny-banged mullet to Afflecks platinum-blond Corky St. Clair. Comer and Driver have better luck with their coiffures, serving us luxurious (and ahistorically clean) tresses straight off the cover of a bodice ripper. Advertisement Advertisement Scotts gift for staging violent historical spectacle, so memorably displayed in Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, is on full display in the bone-crunching and genuinely suspenseful mounted battle that ends the movie. Having no familiarity with the historical event The Last Duel revisits, I had no idea which of the two men would prevail, but like Marguerite de Carrouges watching the duel from the stands with her legs in shackles, I was painfully aware that whoever emerged victorious, the damage had already been done. If youve spent enough time on the internet, you know his face: an ordinary-looking man whose face evokes a visceral feeling of resentment, but also hilarity. In 2018, ClickHole published an article titled Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made a Great Point. Accompanying the copy is a balding man squinting somewhat intently, thin-lipped, in front of a blurred background. The short piece (which has no byline) captures a specific yet universal feeling: that upsetting realization that you have when, unfortunately, you do gotta give it to them. Its also a commentary on how insufferable social media is, a place that in ones average experience appears so overrun by horrible people with terrible opinions that any exception to that general rule feels almost shocking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. 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. It wasnt long after the article was published that Worst Person You Know became internet shorthanda meme and a constant reminder of our fallen state. And this has meant people have used this mans face probably millions of times. Every few seconds someone in the world is letting everyone else know that a smart observation is coming from an otherwise wreck of a human being. OK, the face conveys to Ben Shapiro, you may be right that the Beach Boys are better than the Beatles, but youre still a peanut. In this way, using the Worst Person You Know is also supposed to reflect kindly back on youthat youre open-minded enough to consider what someone says, but wise enough to remember exactly how much they suck. Advertisement At some point it struck me as I saw his visage for the umpteenth time that while the ClickHole article was fake, the man in the photo was real, and had become as familiar a face as the faces of those closest to mehis stubble, his furrowed brow, his thin beard and even thinner hair. But who was he? And did he know how synonymous his expression had become with the language of the internet? I felt I had to find out. And it turned out I was hardly the first to feel that way. The internet is strewn with posts of people asking if anyone knows who this man is, all abandoned without an answer. Advertisement But for some reason, I felt I had to look harder. To a borderline compulsive internet sleuth, the mystery of who he was felt like an itch that I yearned to scratch but was just out of reach. Advertisement The image on ClickHoles website isnt credited. I emailed ClickHole, but never heard back. A reverse Google image search returned dozens upon dozens of results that traced back to the satirical websites use, leaving me no closer to finding its original source. Advertisement A Twitter search revealed that user @iamtherog had previously traced the image back to Getty, one of the largest stock and editorial photo companies. That meant someoneprofessional or amateurhad submitted the photo to Gettys library for others to use. When I tried to look up the photo, the file had been removed from Gettys website, but the images ID number gave me an additional search term to use for my internet trawling. Advertisement I spent my spare time over months trawling through pages upon pages of Google searches from the imagelooking for a scent, anything! One weekend I found myself on an Indian health website. The same face greeted me there, illustrating a page about the risks of vasectomy. His eyes were squinting as they always did, but this time as if to say, Oh, youre still looking for me? Advertisement I downloaded the image file to check the metadata for clues, as I had countless times before. I couldnt believe my eyes. This time, the metadata included the original photographers name and location in Spain. I found him on Instagram and sent him a message briefly explaining my obsession and asking whether he could put me in touch with the model. Nothing. So I sent another message, and another. Advertisement The photographer, who obviously had no idea about the ClickHole article, responded by asking why I was interested. After a back-and-forth in which I tried to explain the provenance of my search, which sounded weirder the more I typed, he finally responded sorry i dont interested and stopped responding. I was distraught. My only connection to my white whale, gone. I tweeted through my sadness. A handful of people who read my posts about the Worst Person pointed out that one of the photographers friends on Instagram looked a lot like him. Advertisement It was him. And yet it wasnt. It was the guy from the meme, yes, but he was doing things my mind couldnt quite parse: He was joking with friends, he was doing unironic gym selfies, he was even doing the weird thing that happens to all men in their late 30s where they suddenly lose the ability to smile at the camera. I felt a sense of cognitive dissonance as two competing versions of this man clashed in front of me. Advertisement Advertisement Trembling, I tapped out a message to him. The Worst Person You Know responded in Spanish and English. I resorted to using Google Translate to speak to him. I asked if he knew that he was famous or how his image was used. He gave terse answers. No, sorry. Im from Barcelona and I dont now it, he wrote. At no point did he show any curiosity about why people might have thought this about him. He even dropped a Spanish slur in a self-deprecating way at one point in our conversation. And he rebuked my interest in how the photo came about and questions about his life. But, why? he said in response to my queries. Im sorry but I dont think its that important. Advertisement Finally, he said he didnt want to talk anymore and blocked me. At the time, I was bummed. He really was the Worst Person you could speak to for a story like this. Its not that he was boring (though a little brusque), or merely that he chose not to offer any introspection, insight, or color that could make his accidental fame as a meme come alive. Its that he didnt care, and that made my own consuming desire to find him seem like a big joke. I shelved the story and ignored the requests I received about whether Id found my man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As time went on, it began to dawn on me that I had been looking for something from this man that he could never provide. The meaning of his face to millions of netizens really has nothing to do with him as an actual person. Hes just some dude whose friend took a photo of him that, by chance, happened to be a stock image chosen by a comedy website that struck satirical gold with its post. Hell, people differ on whether his ultimately inscrutable expression means he is the titular Worst Person or if hes the person who realizes that the actual Worst Person, somewhere off-screen, Made a Great Point. (For the record, I was in the former camp but now Im in the latter.) But this randomness shouldnt diminish what ol squinty means to us. The power of his face comes from the meaning that weve collectively imbued it with. He may have lived up to his reputation as the Worst Person for the purposes of my quest. But in some ways, its better this way, that he can go on living his life, with his friends, at the gym, while his face goes on to live a completely different one online. While it may be wholly undetectable to the naked eye, Democrats have made a modicum of progress on their signature Build Back Better Act, the all-purpose, party-line megabill for enacting new social spending programs and keeping the planet semi-habitable. That small bit of progress is recognizing that there is not going to be any $3.5 trillion bill, as its so often described in shorthand. Instead, to cater to small factions of moderate and conservative Democrats in the House and Senate, the target is now more like $2 trillion. Advertisement Where Democrats are now stuck, though, is figuring out how to cut the bill to nearly half its proposed cost. There are two basic approaches. The most straightforward is to drop a bunch of proposals from the bill. The other is to seed as many of the proposals as possible, for a shorter duration, and gamble that theyll be renewed later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As ever, progressives and moderates have different preferences, are becoming deeply entrenched in their preferences, and will not easily suffer the other faction prevailing. Same show, new season. But with a new season comes a new character: the New Democrat Coalition. Sandwiched between the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Blue Dogs, the 95-member caucus is, according to its own description, a solutions-oriented coalition seeking to bridge the gap between left and right by challenging outmoded partisan approaches to governing. Its members are committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies, and they believe the challenges ahead are too great for Members of Congress to refuse to cooperate purely out of partisanship. Just put on a Patagonia vest, stroke your chin a few times, and throw a few vanilla buzzwords into a Mad Libs template, and youll have a sentence that the New Dems can put on their About Us page. Theyre center-left Democrats who like business but mostly do what Nancy Pelosi tells them to do. Advertisement When it comes to the big bill, the New Dems have been advocating for months to do a few things well, for longer. In other words, to trim the scope of the bill. A list of priorities they released over the summer has become a sort of consensus for the pillars of the fewer thing well school: Making permanent fixes to the Affordable Care Act and the expanded Child Tax Credit, addressing climate change, and seeing whats left. (My colleague Jordan Weissmann has some ideas, too.) Trimming the bill this way would allow Democrats to make longer-term investments on their top priorities, and it would also make the bill easier to explain. Advertisement Pelosi appeared to side with this approach earlier this week. Overwhelmingly, she wrote in a Monday night letter to House Democrats, the guidance I am receiving from Members is to do fewer things well so that we can still have a transformative impact on families in the workplace and responsibly address the climate crisis: a Build Back Better agenda for jobs and the planet For The Children! Advertisement Advertisement The Congressional Progressive Caucus, confident after staring down a faction of House moderates late last month, and their progressive Senate allies beg to differ. They emphasize that everything in the $3.5 trillion vision was included because it was vital to a certain community, and that it wasnt simply a wish list. Breaking down the bill means breaking down the coalition in support of it. We are not going to pit child care against climate change, the CPC chair, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, told reporters Tuesday. Were not going to pit housing against paid leave. Were not going to pit seniors against young people. The reality is these are transformational programs that different parts of our communities desperately need. Advertisement What would be on the chopping block if Democrats focused on a few core items? Well, consider the way West Virginia Joe Manchin has reportedly put it: Between the Child Tax Credit, paid family and medical leave, and child care, Democrats need to pick one. It would almost certainly require nixing an expansion of Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision benefits. Thats a problem for Sen. Bernie Sanders, who views that provision as something of a legacy item in his career-long pursuit of expanding public health care. Advertisement There really is something fundamentally wrong when, in the richest country in the history of the world, there are millions of seniors who have rotting teeth in their mouths, or are unable to hear what their grandchildren are saying, Sanders told reporters Tuesday. The truth of the matter is these provisions should have been included in the original Medicare bill, they were not, and the time is now, 50 years later, for us to include it. Advertisement This, to me, is not negotiable. In order to fit $3.5 trillion worth of spending into a $2 trillion box, progressives recommend immediately implementing all of these programs but sunsetting themallowing them to expireafter a shorter number of years, so they appear to cost less over ten years. It is not that progressives actually want these programs to expire, though. Instead, theyre resorting to the use of cliffs as, essentially, a budget gimmick. Advertisement The idea is that once popular benefits have been introduced, it would be difficult for the governing party to allow them to disappear overnight. They would be renewed in some form or fashion. This is a bipartisan trick: The George W. Bush tax cuts were designed to sunset after ten years, and were mostly renewedexcept at the top endunder Barack Obama. The Republican tax cut bill in 2017, meanwhile, scheduled all of the individual tax cuts to expire at the end of 2025. That way, Republicans had enough budget space to make all of their business tax cuts permanent, and pretty good historical precedent to believe that most of the individual tax cuts would be renewed later on. Advertisement One issue with setting up cliffs is that Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, and other conservative Democrats, are wise to the idea that this is a budget gimmick disguising the true cost of programs, and wont want to go along with it. But its also an enormous risk to enact so much of your vision for a new social contract on a few-years basis and bet that Republicans, likely to return to power in at least one chamber of Congress, wouldnt allow many of these programs that they hate to expire. Have you met a House Republican? Have you heard Mitch McConnell speak words before? Still, Pelosis position, as announced in her Monday night letter, that Democrats should take the fewer things well approach lasted about 12 hours. In a Tuesday morning press conference, Pelosi appeared to favor the progressives approach of fiddling with timelines. When asked what would be the first thing to go to bring down the cost of the bill, Pelosi said that the timing would be reduced in many cases to make the cost lower. Advertisement Advertisement In other words, no one has decided on anything. Whats the likely outcome here? Whos going to prevail: Team Fewer Things or Team Tinker Around With Timing? Wed guess that, after some brutal negotiations its a mix of both. A couple of core items are structured to be permanent, and then a couple of other items are set up for a few years with the hope theyll be renewed. This is because Democrats need to find a way to satisfy both groups, or else all of these ideas will expire before theyre ever implemented. Last month, an incredibly vague but also weirdly specific memo started making the rounds at the Pentagon. It was about something Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin labeled an anomalous health incident, which is defined a series of troubling and sudden sensory events. An AHI, as its called, could involve headaches or make you feel hot. It could be accompanied by sounds or make you feel pressure. Michael Wilner, a senior national security and White House correspondent for McClatchy, says AHI is Pentagon speak for something you may already know about: Havana syndrome, which is named thus because it first emerged in Cuba in late 2016. Since then, one incident after another has piled up in other countries: China, Russia, Austria. Diplomats, CIA operatives, and even White House employees have been struck. The Pentagon memo was essentially an acknowledgement that, if you work for the department, you could be at risk. The list of things that are actually known about Havana syndrome is short, but Wilner says that if you look closely, the way the Biden administration is reorienting its priorities right now tells you all you need to know. On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Wilner about how Havana syndrome is becoming a national security crisis. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: Havana Syndrome got its name because of some incidents that happened in Cuba in late 2016 and early 2017. Can you explain what happened? Michael Wilner: So about 26 or so U.S. government officials were stationed in Havana, and the intelligence officials and diplomats felt a sudden onset of several concerning symptoms: hearing loss, vertigo, pressure in the head. And this was when they were in their homes. Somewhere in their homes around the embassy. And because of the large cluster, it became a significant event. Youve spoken to people whove had symptoms. How do they describe what it feels like? The problem is that the physiological symptoms are different for every person. One person I spoke with collapsed with pain in the head and said they were very nauseous. It was really the sudden onset of it, with no clear explanation, that flagged for them that this was an unusual phenomenon. Advertisement Its been tough for the intelligence community to get its arms around because the symptoms are so amorphous. Back in 2017, when the Trump administration was dealing with the fallout of the original attacks, there was doubt that the ailments were even real. It seems to me like doubt was baked into the response to what was happening with these officials employees in Cuba. At some point, the University of Pennsylvania was looped in, and State Department employees starting going to the brain injury center there to be evaluated. At least one reporter noted that before folks came, some significant contingent of the doctors said, This is probably psychosomatic. This isnt necessarily a real thing. Advertisement The FBI doubted it. There were elements of the intelligence community that had their doubts. This essentially led to a period of stasis: You had government officials who were reluctant to come forward. There was a lot of concern at the time that this was mass hysteria, and it wasnt until cases started popping up elsewhere that the debate was resurfaced over what might be causing these events. Advertisement Advertisement I wonder if the turning point was when people who worked in the White House started experiencing something that sounded very much like what had happened in Cuba. Within the White House, they couldnt really avoid the topic. One national security official was walking to his car out of the White House compound, collapsed due to the sudden onset of heat and pressure in the head, and had to get care immediately. There was another case in the suburbs of Washington with an individual U.S. government official who was walking their dog, and both the dog and the official had sudden pressure symptoms in their heads. These two incidents happened in quick succession, which caused the Trump administration to commission a report by the National Academy of Sciences. Their best hypothesis as to what was causing the attacks was microwave energy directed at American officials. That idea is still holding water, even as more attacks happen and more information comes to light. Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen cases in Vienna, a hot spot for espionage activity. Weve seen cases in Vietnam so concerning that they delayed Vice President Kamala Harris trip from Singaporeshe was on the tarmac for three hours as her security detail tried to figure out if it was safe to proceed. Weve seen cases in London and in Serbia. The accumulation of these cases is concerning, but it has provided an accumulation of evidence, and that has bolstered the confidence, in this administration, that this is a real pattern. The difficult part of reporting this Havana syndrome story out is that there are so many breadcrumbs. Take what high level officials are calling these incidents: Publicly, President Joe Biden and his administration are using that anomalous health incidents language. But there are signs that some high-ranking officials want to be more explicit. Earlier this year, during his confirmation hearing, CIA Director Bill Burns called them attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Up until that point, there really was no official in a senior capacity, much less someone from the intelligence community, coming forward and describing these as attacks. They havent said there is a government or state actor thats behind it, but it is known to the government that the technology that would be required, the reach, and the motive are unique to a select number of state actors. Advertisement It sounds like youre saying that to understand whats happening with Havana syndrome, you need to look at the subtext as much as the text. Even though Biden hasnt been explicit, hes been putting people in charge of investigating Havana syndrome, who have been so trusted within government that it implies he is taking those theories seriously. Advertisement There is a lot of implication in this story and not a lot thats explicit, and obviously that makes it hard to report on. The careful wording of everything the administration says on this is due to a lack of confidence in what it knows. Were also talking about intelligence officers being affected in the field and privacy concerns for diplomats. There are a lot of reasons why they cant talk about the specifics in each and every case. Three consecutive administrations have suspected that Russia is behind this phenomenon for several reasons. Russia is known to have microwave energy technologies that its deployed as a surveillance toolit has the reach, especially in the countries where weve seen reported cases, be it Vietnam or Austria or the U.K., certainly the Washington area, and of course Cuba. The Russians are known to operate and thrive in the gray. They deploy poison and cyberweapons that give them plausible deniability. This fits within that pattern, so it has long been suspected that Russia is the most likely culprit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens team, during his first in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, brought this up with the Russians, and that is not an insignificant thing. Do we know what happened once he brought this up? We were told before the meeting that this would not likely come up because the team wouldnt mention it if they didnt have the confidence that Russia had something to say. So it was quite surprising to us when we discovered that, in fact, it had come up. Its telling. There was confidence. There was something to talk about with the Russians, and they had something to contribute here. I would say the other big revelation in the past couple weeks or months has been in this workforce guidance thats gone across the national security space. The direction to U.S. government personnel is move away from the immediate area with everyone else if you feel sudden symptoms. To us, that is a clear clue that the government is considering the working theory that this is a directed energy attack of some kind from somewhere. And its operating based on that theory, even if it hasnt fully proved it yet. It has always been a challenge for the United States to come up with options to respond to this. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. On a recent episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with professor Lee Epstein, who studies judicial behavior using empirical legal research, about the perceived hyperpartisanship on display at the Supreme Court last term. They dig into the data to better understand whats really going on at the court and why our prevailing narratives might be flawed. A portion of their conversation, which has been edited and condensed for a clarity, is transcribed below. Dahlia Lithwick: This past week, as I read the term previews, and they were all laced with these really political claims about poll numbers and wobbling public legitimacy, and this judicial charm offensive gone horribly wrong, all I could think to myself was: What would Lee Epstein think? This is shocking to SCOTUS watchers, but its the water Lee swims inpolitics, judicial behavior data, all the way down. So, Lee, welcome to the I Told You So, Dahlia world tour. It is lovely to have you on the podcast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee Epstein: Its a pleasure to be here. Part of the story is, I think, an I told you so story. Its hard to believe that people didnt see this coming. Obama is president for eight years; he gets two appointments. Trump is president for four years; he gets three appointments, and he moves the center of the court toward Brett Kavanaugh, away from the chief justice. So, yeah, I told you so. Theres a lot of predictability here, and abortion and gunsnot at all surprising. But theres another side to this story, and thats from the data side. If you look at the data from last term, this doesnt look like a really socially, culturally extreme court. And thats whats a little perplexing about last term. Now, whether this is going to hold next term, I dont know. But right now, theres a side to this court that looks, kind of, standard issue Roberts court. Advertisement Oh, so this is interesting. So youre telling me that while we were sort of asleep at the switch for a long time as the court was drifting rightward, were actually now getting the data wrong on the other sidethat were overcorrecting or overreading a couple of shadow docket opinions from the summer and these dopey speeches. But that in fact, if you look at the data from last term, its not as bad as we now think it is, but its worse than we thought it was when we were asleep. One hundred percent right. Its almost like theres two courts operating. Theres this, Ill call it, Trump court, aided and abetted by Alito and Thomas. And you see that in the abortion case this summer. You saw it in the voting rights case. Although, as you know, voting rights is kind of hallmark Roberts court, well before the Trump justices got there. You see it in the fact that they took a gun case this term and so on. And the COVID religious case, that flipped when Barrett got on the court. Advertisement Advertisement If you look at the data from last term, this doesnt look like a really socially, culturally extreme court. Lee Epstein But then you start to look at the data. So the data show a court that was almost 50 percent unanimous in nine-person decisions. The average for the period going back to 1937 is, like, 33 percent. So you see above-average unanimity; you dont see the 63 decisions that we thought thered be a lot of, along partisan lines. If you look at 63 partisan split decisions, they only made up about 15 percent of argued cases. And then look at the cases that made the front page of the New York Times. Yes, theres a voting rights issue. Even if you take into account the emergency cases, it doesnt look like the Democrats on the court have lost 90 percent. So theres two stories going on here. A standard kind of moderate conservative institutionalist Roberts court and a kind of Trump court. Advertisement Advertisement Cynics like me who read the raft of end-of-term pieces that made the points youre making, that looked at the data and said, Look, this is a 333 court, right? We have John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh in the middle. And there was an immense amount of unanimity, and there was very unpredictable splits. And folks like me said, The problem with the set youre looking at is it weights every case equally. It weights the swearing cheerleader as though thats the same as invalidating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Thats got to be wrong. And thats what the problem is with those crunches of the 57 whatever merits case: It doesnt weight for what is consequential. And I think it also doesnt take into account those shadow docket cases. Advertisement And so I think there was a sense that weve got the set wrong and thats why those conclusions were wrong. And I guess the last thing I would say, and fight me on this, because I think its really hard to prove this empirically, but even some of those 81, 72 casesIm thinking of Fulton, the foster care caseit may look like its not doing something consequential, but its actually changing a test and its changing a test in the footnote. So help me look at this. Theres a way in which the court looks like its doing something unanimous, but in fact, the land moved, the doctrine changed. And we certainly saw that in that COVID case youre describing from April. How do we account for all that? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, let me push back on the first point. And the first point is that if you only look at the important, salient cases from last term, a very different picture emerges than the standard Roberts court picture, and Im going to push back on that. There were, I think, 11 cases that made the front page of the New York Times. So thats one way to think this is an important case, right? We could talk about definitions, but lets just do that. And if you look at those cases, there wereOK, so weve got the voting rights claim. Thats a clear loss for the Democrat side of the court. But then lets go down the line, and Im counting the emergency cases. Look at the 2020 election challenges, right? Look at the Trump tax records, Obamacare, the cheerleader case. This was not a total blowout for the Democratic side, which to me was a little unexpected. Think about the counterfactual, where they strike down Obamacare; they didnt do that. And the cheerleader case, right? A win for free speech. NCAA, the student athlete case. So, Im going to push back a little bit on that point, if you just look at salient cases, the term looks different; actually it doesnt look that much different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In trying to get at the doctrinal aspects, thats, as you know, very, very hard empirically. And I think Fulton is the best example of, Yeah, the Democrats were on the winning side of that case, but what did they actually win in that case? The doctrine did move. And thats hard for me to do with data. I think thats hard for anyone to do with data. So I take the second point. Advertisement So if we meet in the middle and we agree there are two different stories being told right now. And one is very overheated: The court is a bunch of feral dogs gone mad, and democracy is about to crumble. Youre saying that is certainly not reflective of last term. Then my question is, how do we deal with the fact that a lot of court watchers seem to be experiencing this feeling for the first time? Advertisement This seems to be the cycle: We all start from the place that the court is fundamentally a political institution. The court likes to pretend its above politics. The press corps largely agrees with the court that its above politics. Something happens. The court behaves politicallyIm thinking of Bush v. Gore. The press corps is baffled. The public is angry, and the political scientists just stand around and say, Ha, ha, you chumps. And were definitely in one of those cycles. How do you, looking at the data, looking at the numbers, know when weve jumped from that first story of the court is essentially above politics into that second? How would you know when its the break-the-glass moment and the court really is purely partisan? Advertisement Advertisement Well, looking at the data, I tend to look at the partisan vote splits in the data, so that tells me a story. I look at the voting patterns of the individual justices. I look at things like the salient cases, how are the high profile cases going? Those are the kind of indicators I look at. Straight voting, up or down, not looking at the doctrine, that tells me a story about the court too. This was a very hard term to analyze, because of these two different kinds of courts operatingthis kind of socially conservative aggressive court. To me, abortion is driving a lot of the narrative. Thats what I keep seeing and reading. What if they had stayed the Texas law? Would we be in this kind of crazy partisan cycle right now? Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, my strong sense is that if they had stayed it and just waited and taken this in December as the Dobbs case, and in June, came down with some apparently reasonable decision where they fudge the lines on undue burden, they could have a 57 percent approval rate this fall. I just keep saying it was this self-own, because there was an immense legitimacy cost, and I still dont understand to what end. This is an unforced error given that it was taking on guns and abortion and probably affirmative action and religious liberty, and could have behaved in a way that would not have sent the country into orbit. One of the reasons I wanted to talk to you is if you and I agree on this that the only weapon the court has is its legitimacy. Why would you set that on fire in a big dumpster the week before the term starts? Advertisement Advertisement So I think youve answered your question, which is, What has driven this orbit? And abortion is a lot of the answer as to what has driven it, the Texas abortion case, and the world would look a little different today had they not done what they did. So theres a couple of stories to tell about it. One is a lot of my conservative, Federalist Societytype friends tell me, look, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Barrett. They were put on the court to overrule Roe v. Wade. I dont think you think thats going to happen. I dont think thats going to happen, but they were put there to do that. And this is kind of a step in that direction. So, thats one narrative. Advertisement The other story to tell is this is really about Brett Kavanaugh. Brett Kavanaugh could have prevented this whole new cycle that youre referring to. And what is going on in his mind? I havent a clue. If you look at the data, hes normally, not always, but normally with the chief and why he didnt join the chief here is perplexing to me. So I could tell a bunch of stories, but Im making stuff up here about whats going on. Advertisement In five years, weve gone from Anthony Kennedy as the median justice to Brett Kavanaugh as the median justice. And from where you sit, mashing the numbers, thats a sea change. Advertisement Thats a sea change. And its a change in terms of the level of uncertainty. Kennedy was a little quirky as you know, but there were certain issues on which his vote was highly predictable. Give me a First Amendment case, give me a due process case, right? Kavanaugh at this point, its a little harder to predict. And the other point to make is we got used to a court very driven by one justice, Kennedy. And before him, OConnor. I do think in the abortion case, Kavanaugh is pivotal. But going down the line, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Barrett right now, their voting patterns are very, very close. And we havent seen that kind of court in a long time where theres sort of the soft middle, and that also creates uncertainty and less predictability. Its like the Stewart-Powell-White days, where they could jump over and form different kinds of coalitions. This is why we had some trouble analyzing this term. It makes the court a little less predictable; theres a little more uncertainty. To hear the entire discussion, listen below, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. ARCHIVED - Covid measures make people in Spain more susceptible to flu Last winter, there were practically no cases of flu reported in Spain due in part to coronavirus safety regulations Protective measures against coronavirus , such as masks, extra hand-washing and social distancing, led to a drastic drop in the number of people affected by flu last winter in Spain, but experts are now concerned that this could translate into a loss of acquired immunity and even an increased susceptibility to the disease. The flu season of 2021/2022 is expected to reach its peak around January next year, but it is difficult to predict how it will affect the population; therefore, the best advice of the professionals is to get the flu jab, which can be taken at the same time as the Covid-19 vaccination Last year, there were practically no cases of the flu, while in a normal season, it affects between 250 and 300 people per 100,000 inhabitants each week. In 2020, the line touched absolute zero, according to the scientific head of the National Flu Center of Valladolid, Ivan Sanz. While at the outset this may appear to be good news, Mr Sanz has warned that as there has been virtually no circulation of the virus for almost two years, the immunity of the population has almost certainly been lowered, and with a relaxation in Covid safety measures, the next season could hit people hard. The experts are also worried that once the Spanish government begins vaccinating children under 12 against Covid, restrictions will be relaxed even further, which could certainly lead to a harsher flu season. The severity of the flu is highly conditioned by many factors, however, and the scientists pointed out that last year, the highest number of people ever got vaccinated against influenza in Spain, something which needs to be encouraged again this winter. With the flu virus and Covid to begin circulating together in the coming months, there is certainly a possibility that people could catch both at the same time, but this would be very rare, according to the experts, with the likelihood dropping even further for those who are double jabbed. In addition, Mr Sanz highlighted the fact the having the flu actually makes it a little more difficult for the coronavirus to get into the system, indicating that both viruses exclude each other a bit. Image: Archive ARCHIVED - Spain explores legalising recreational cannabis use The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is already being debated in Spain With 90% of the population of Spain in support of the legalisation of Marijuana, according to a study by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) and given that more than 70 countries have already decriminalised it, it would appear that Spain is relatively late to the party, but that all might be about to change. While Congress is working on a proposal to regulate the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes , three parties Podemos, Mas Pais and ERC have presented bills this week for comprehensive regulation of the drug, including its recreational use in Spain. According to Carles March, a professor at the Andalucian School of Public Health (EASP), it is time for Spain to move with the times and recognise that cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties, is a muscle relaxant, helps with nausea and vomiting, is effective against chronic pain and, above all, with the terrible side-effects associated with chemotherapy. However, Mr March was quick to point out that there are less appealing aspects associated with this drug use, including aggravating bronchitis and emphysema. In extreme cases, cannabis can exacerbate mental health issues and can even have effects on memory and learning. The PSOE has insisted that it has gathered evidence that the benefits of cannabis outweigh the negatives, after the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, called for scientific evidence from a clinical trial. However, Jose Carlos Bouso, a doctor of pharmacology specializing in the therapeutic properties of cannabis, believes she is missing the point. Cannabis improves the quality of life for many patients, which is the most subjective aspect of a disease, he said, reiterating that definitive evidence would be impossible to obtain. Spain banned the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis in 1967, six years after the United Nations convention on narcotics included it in list IV along with the most deadly drugs, including heroin. It has since been removed, and a recent study by EDADES de Sanidad shows that it is the most widely used drug in Spain, with 37.5% of the population having tried it at some point While the partys' proposals differ on the finer details, they do agree on the fundamental point that recreational cannabis should be legalised, albeit subject to stringent regulations. Self-cultivation with a certain maximum number of plants or kilos should be allowed, the politicians have argued, in addition to requesting that the sale of cannabis be allowed in authorised establishments as part of a regulated market. Image: Archive article_detail ARCHIVED - UK citizens with dual nationality: rights in Spain The Withdrawal Agreement allows dual UK/EU nationals residing legally in Spain before Brexit to remain After the UK left the EU on January 31 2020 the government insisted that one of its main priorities was to provide certainty to UK nationals living in the EU, and so the Withdrawal Agreement set out to ensure that citizens rights would be protected. Part Two of the Agreement states that all UK nationals who hold the nationality of a member state (dual nationality) and who resided lawfully in a member state prior to the end of the transition period are allowed to remain living in that EU country. Any family members resident in the host state by December 31 2020 will also be covered by the rights set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The situation is slightly different when it comes to Southern Ireland, however, as a Common Travel Area has been established whereby UK nationals in Ireland do not need to register their residence. Generally, people who hold dual nationality in the UK and Spain , whether by birth or naturalisation, are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement once they have exercised free movement rights in the host country before the end of the transition period. These citizens will be also to move freely between the EU and the UK and can leave Spain for up to five years without losing their residency. Unfortunately, this element of the Withdrawal Agreement doesnt apply to those who were not legally resident in an EU country prior to December 31, 2020. Once granted, the right to reside permanently in Spain can only be lost if the person lives away for more than five years. These residents and their families will not be subject to the 90 days in 180 rule. Image: Archive People choose private jets to avoid contact with other passengers or to fly to business destinations that have become difficult to access. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Slovaks use private flights to travel either for business or for leisure. (Source: Courtesy of ABS Jets) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The main attributes of private flights used to be luxury and flexibility, but the pandemic has changed this. The outbreak of Covid-19 and the implementation of anti-pandemic measures curbed regular air transport, creating more opportunities for private flights. Smaller types of airliners are an advantage during the pandemic, Bohumil Klecak, executive director of the Letisko Piestany airport, told The Slovak Spectator. Many passengers used their services for fast transport, either repatriation or sanitarian flights. At the moment when measures were released, business flights, in particular, grew in popularity. Globally hit industry The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented, negative impact on air transport globally, probably the largest since the outbreak of WWII, said Matus Hrabovsky, spokesperson of the M. R. Stefanik Airport Airport Bratislava. Flights from and to Slovakia were completely banned for three months starting in March 2020. Subsequently, until mid-September, only flights to selected countries were allowed, but these were accompanied by strict border measures. After the record years of 2018 and 2019, these factors represented a huge loss for the Bratislava airport. After years of development, the pandemic has pushed the airport 18 years back, said Jozef Pojedinec, the airports general director. The airlines operating in Slovakia have resumed most regular flights, although at a lower frequency compared to the past. At present, traffic is slowly returning to normal, but the airport is still far from achieving pre-pandemic operating performance, Hrabovsky told The Slovak Spectator, adding that in the winter flight plan, Ryanair will even launch two new routes Lanzarote in the Canary Islands and Copenhagen. Slovakia is no exception to the global decline in air transport, though. Related article Related article Logistics getting greener Read more The operation of commercial airlines was reduced which, in turn, has supported the charter market for private jets, Marketa Janatova of ABS Jets, one of the largest business jet operators in central and eastern Europe and the leading organisation on the Czech and Slovak markets, told The Slovak Spectator. Flights for business and holidays dominate Passengers who travel to Banska Bystrica by train will spot a Soviet fighter next to the Sliac railway station. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. The MiG-21 jet fighter became part of the new Tri Duby recreation park next to the railway station in Sliac, central Slovakia. It was transported here from the local air base. (Source: Jan Kroslak/TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled An MiG-21 fighter jet has "landed" in the new Tri Duby park situated next to the railway station in the spa town of Sliac in central Slovakia, which is also home to a military air base. The fighter jet is the same since the future commander of the base, Jozef Krakovsky, flew to Sliac shortly before Soviet troops left the airport in 1991, Sliac Mayor Lubica Balgova told the TASR newswire. The town has obtained the aircraft from the Military History Museum in Piestany for six years. Made in 1974 Sliac was first supposed to have obtained a different jet. When the aircraft meant to be exhibited in the new park was dismantled in Piestany, it was revealed that it contained Czechoslovak emblems, but Balgova did not want to put such a jet on display and requested another. We were eventually given a fighter jet that flew to Sliac on May 7, 1991, Balgova told the MY Zvolen website. The aircraft was manufactured on June 30, 1974, by the GAZ Znamia Truda plant in Moscow, and it joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in the same year. A monument marks the departure of the Soviet Army from Sliac, central Slovakia. (Source: Jozef Poliak/TASR) Slovakia obtained the jet when Czechoslovakia broke up in the early 1990s. A decade later, the jet became the property of the Piestany museum, after being decommissioned by the Slovak Air Force. Place for military history buffs The new park opened in Sliac at the end of the summer during celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the local Tri Duby Airport and the 77th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, a resistance movement against the Nazis during WWII. In addition, the Soviet army left former Czechoslovakia 30 years ago, in 1991. The spa town unveiled a monument marking the departure of Soviet troops five years ago. Though the new Tri Duby recreational space serves Sliac residents in the first place, with new installed benches and a WiFi spot, Balgova hopes the fighter jet will attract aviation history enthusiasts as well. Spectacular Slovakia travel guides The general budget deficit is projected at 4.94 percent of GDP. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The ruling parties have finally agreed on the state budget for 2022. The draft was discussed at the coalition council meeting held on October 11. The state's total incomes are expected to amount to 19.97 billion, while the expenditures are projected at 25.44 billion. The state budget deficit should thus amount to 5.47 billion. The general budget deficit should amount to 4.94 percent of GDP, the SITA newswire reported. However, the final version of the state budget for 2022 is conditioned with the adoption of several important laws, such as the pension reform, the law on expenditure caps and the law on debt brakes, said Finance Minister Igor Matovic. If the coalition fails to agree on them and pass them, the deficit will be 4.3 percent of GDP rather than 4.94 percent. The budget is written just as the EU rules allow us, Matovic added, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The coalition needs to decide on the extra money we should get and thus also decide on whether well be responsible and meet the promises we have given to voters. Slovakia ready to roll out its recovery reforms Read more Yet, the draft already has its critics. This includes opposition leaders Robert Fico (Smer) and Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), but also some members of the Economic and Social Council who discussed the draft at their October 13 meeting. Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) said mainly the Association of Towns and Villages of Slovakia (ZMOS), the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) and the Federation of Employers Associations (AZZZ) had the most objections. The draft will now be discussed by the cabinet on October 14; it has to be submitted to the parliament by October 15. What are the priorities? https://sputniknews.com/20211013/ankara-claims-russia-us-share-responsibility-for-kurdish-attacks-in-turkish-occupied-syria-1089891368.html Ankara Claims Russia, US Share Responsibility for Kurdish Attacks in Turkish-Occupied Syria Ankara Claims Russia, US Share Responsibility for Kurdish Attacks in Turkish-Occupied Syria Turkey has carried out three incursions into northern Syria since 2016, mostly against US-backed Syrian Kurdish militias calling themselves the Syrian... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T12:32+0000 2021-10-13T12:32+0000 2021-10-13T12:40+0000 turkey syria /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107896/04/1078960490_0:117:1182:782_1920x0_80_0_0_0fb30ed13519dd84ba21b7f17c81f758.jpg Russia and the United States have failed to live up to their responsibilities in Syria, and share the blame for Kurdish terror attacks in the Turkish-occupied areas of Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has alleged.Without elaborating on his claims about Russia, Cavusoglu accused the US of supplying weapons to terrorists, and suggested that statements from Washington about its concern over attacks by Kurdish forces were insincere. What can we do? We must resolve our problems ourselves. We will do everything necessary to clear this area of terrorists for the sake of our safety, he warned.The Turkish top diplomats words come in the wake of threats from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday that Ankaras patience was overflowing as a result of terrorist attacks against Turkish forces and their allies in Syria. We will soon take the necessary steps to eliminate the threats emanating from Syria on our own", Erdogan said.The sharp rhetoric coming out of Ankara follows remarks from the countrys defence minister Hulusi Akar last week that Turkish troops had eliminated five Kurdish terrorists in response to the killing of a Turkish serviceman in a rocket attack. On Sunday, Turkey reported that two of its police special forces personnel were killed in a separate rocket strike. On Monday, officials in Turkeys Gaziantep province reported that one of its cities had come under fire. Ankara blamed Syrian Kurdish forces.Ankara classifies the Turkey-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Defence Units (YPG) as terrorist entities and has accused them of coordinating with one another to carry out attacks against Turkish military and police formations, as well as civilians, in both Syria and Turkey. About a dozen countries list the PKK as a terrorist entity. When it comes to the YPG and its affiliates, however, only Turkey and Qatar have done so.Turkey launched three successive operations in northern Syria between 2016 and 2019 under the pretext of fighting Daesh (ISIS)* and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the war-torn country. These operations have occasionally seen Turkish troops and their local allies getting into firefights with Syrian government forces trying to liberate territories controlled by Turkish-backed militants. Syrian authorities have accused Turkey of ethnic cleansing, cutting off water supplies, and other crimes in areas under their control. Ankara has denied these allegations.Damascus has a chilly peace with Kurdish militia forces controlling large swathes of oil and energy-rich northeastern Syria, and has repeatedly called for these territories to be returned to the central governments control. Syria has also demanded that the Kurds US allies withdraw from the country immediately, and vowed that it will stop at nothing to eventually restore the Arab Republics territorial integrity. https://sputniknews.com/20211011/erdogan-says-turkey-sick-and-tired-of-terrorist-attacks-in-syria-will-eliminate-the-threats-1089842886.html https://sputniknews.com/20210927/syrian-foreign-minister-urges-turkey-us-to-withdraw-troops-at-unga-1089461680.html vigilante Islamist Erdogan has never fought against ISIS, quite the contrary he has financed them and support them in his vicious war against the Kurds. 2 vot tak This nostromo anti-Russian spambot is sabotaging your comment section with the comment equivalent of a ddos attack, Sputnik. And you are letting it do it. You are destroying your own news site. 2 45 turkey Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov turkey, syria https://sputniknews.com/20211013/arizona-audit-how-partisan-divisions-upend-us-ability-to-sell-its-image-as-city-on-hill-to-world-1089900845.html Arizona Audit: How Partisan Divisions Upend US' Ability to Sell Its Image as 'City on Hill' to World Arizona Audit: How Partisan Divisions Upend US' Ability to Sell Its Image as 'City on Hill' to World Ongoing partisan strife over the outcome of the 2020 election is mirroring what happened after Donald Trump's victory in 2016, says American journalist Max... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T18:59+0000 2021-10-13T18:59+0000 2021-10-13T19:00+0000 arizona joe biden donald trump news world us opinion maricopa county republican party audit /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105606/15/1056061542_0:219:4390:2688_1920x0_80_0_0_9e84c36ede133b81e5bd887e2e031e63.jpg The release of the Arizona draft audit report late last month has prompted further controversy: while Democrats claim that the recount confirmed that Joe Biden won the 2020 elections in Maricopa County, the GOP insists that the examination of ballots exposed glaring anomalies and election irregularities.The House Oversight and Reform Committee chaired by Democrat Carolyn Maloney held a hearing with Arizona election officials and experts on 7 October in an apparent effort to dot the i's and cross the t's with regard to the audit. It appears that the hearing went as the Democrats planned, raising new questions about Maricopa County's election integrity.Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) got Maricopa Supervisors Board members Jack Sellers and William Gates to admit that they had deleted election data from servers subpoenaed by the Arizona Senate. The data in question was "archived" and Maricopa supervisors didn't feel obligated to hand it over to auditors because the latter "did not subpoena" those archives, claimed Gates. When asked by Biggs whether purging data from 2020 election databases was a standard practice, Gates and Sellers shied away from confirming it but said that they needed to clear room for forthcoming election data due to limited space on hard drives. Still, it turned out that while 2020 election data was deleted from Maricopa County servers, information from previous elections remained on the hard drives intact.In an exchange with Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) Biggs highlighted that Democrats are "cherry-picking the line which talks about the recount versus the tabulation machines," when claiming that the audit confirmed Biden's victory. In reality, nobody knows who won the election in Arizona, because "there are a lot of issues with this election that took place," Biggs emphasised.Truly Impartial Audit Seems Impossible in Polarised US SocietyThe unfolding drama appears to be a repeat of the hyper-partisan issues that plagued the 2016 US presidential election, according to American independent journalist Parry.While the journo acknowledges that "there were issues with the 2020 election in Maricopa County or anomalies of duplicate ballots and so forth," he understands concerns of those who consider firm Cyber Ninjas "pro-Trump" and "biased."Parry recalls that five years ago the Democratic National Committee (DNC) also requested help from an allegedly independent cyber-security contractor, CrowdStrike, which publicly claimed that DNC servers were hacked by "the Russians." Later, CrowdStrike admitted under oath that they did not have concrete evidence that "the Russian hackers" had stolen any files from the DNC.Election Rules and ID LawsIn the aftermath of the 2020 elections which saw loosened election rules and broader use of mail-in ballots amid the COVID pandemic, GOP politicians implemented voting reforms in some states to tighten election rules and ID restrictions. These moves came under heavy criticism from the Democratic Party, who accused the GOP of discrimination against ethnic and racial minorities.Still, this whole issue was entirely politicised with the circumstances of the pandemic, during which Democrats were more likely to vote by mail than in person, the journalist notes, adding that prior to 2020 and COVID-19 "neither party really benefited from mail-in voting."2022 Midterms May Result in New Audits & Legal DramasThe ongoing blame game is likely to spill over into the 2022 midterms, he forecasts. It's also likely to get even worse given that the Democrats are seeking to retain their slim majority in both chambers of the US Congress, while the GOP is planning to take the Senate and, possibly, the House, back. As Biden's approval rating plummets, political observers warn that this could backfire on the Democratic Party's performance during the 2022 elections. It was also suggested earlier this year that the Republicans could add congressional seats in the House of Representatives due to decennial redistricting: they are in control in most states that are adding seats as a result of the 2020 Census count. Last month a battle over how states redraw their districts began, according to CBS News.Bankruptcy of Both Parties in WashingtonThe independent journalist notes that while the US two major parties are struggling for power, the crux of the matter is that tens of millions of Americans do not cast their ballots in the elections."In the 2016 election, less than half of the US population even voted at all speaks to the bankruptcy of both parties in Washington," Parry believes. "Even in the 2020 election which had record turnout because of the circumstances, 80 million Americans still didn't participate."This situation, largely neglected in the mainstream press, speaks volumes about the state of American democracy, according to the journalist.At the same time, "it undermines US imperialism's military adventures of exporting democracy when its own system of government appears to be crumbling before the eyes of the international community," the journalist concludes. https://sputniknews.com/20211007/arizona-senator-petitions-50-state-audit-decertification-of-inaccurate-2020-election-results-1089743258.html https://sputniknews.com/20210508/is-pelosi-ready-to-raise-the-white-flag-why-dems-are-likely-to-surrender-the-house-to-gop-in-2023-1082829549.html arizona maricopa county Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova arizona, joe biden, donald trump, news, world, us, opinion, maricopa county, republican party, audit, us democratic party, us midterm elections https://sputniknews.com/20211013/bidens-financial-footprint-may-tie-us-president-up-in-fbi-probe-involving-son-report-suggests---1089878739.html Biden's Financial Footprint May Tie US President Up in FBI Probe Involving Son, Report Suggests Biden's Financial Footprint May Tie US President Up in FBI Probe Involving Son, Report Suggests It was reported earlier this month that Hunter Biden sold five art pieces for $75,000-apiece ahead of his New York City art show opening date. As ethics... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T04:17+0000 2021-10-13T04:17+0000 2021-10-13T04:15+0000 joe biden hunter biden federal bureau of investigation (fbi) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/11/1083403304_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_b9a64452e8cda11d65c3d0e0af2e0b5e.jpg Citing emails from Hunter Biden's alleged laptop, the DailyMaill.com reported on Tuesday that the US president's financial ties to his younger son may get him sucked into the FBI's ongoing probe regarding the 51-year-old's businesses and possible money laundering charges. Referenced emails from the abandoned laptop appeared to show that Hunter Biden and business partner Eric Schwerin were, at one point, conversing about bill payments and his father's tax returns. "I was dealing all afternoon with JRB's taxes (but solved a big issue - so it was all worth it)," Schwerin wrote in an email to Hunter, dated April 9, 2010. This financial footprint could serve as reasoning to drag the US president into the debacle, according to the report. "Whatever transaction you're looking at, if there's a connection to a family member or a friend, sure the answer is yes [they would be investigated]," a money laundering and criminal tax law expert told the outlet. "Obviously, if you're talking about the president of the United States, you'd better have a pretty damn good reason to talk to that person."It is worth noting that Hunter Biden has not been charged in connection with the alleged investigations active with both the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. The former is said to have been active since 2019. TruePatriot Here comes the impeachment trial, eh? 1 INSPECTRE i wonder who hunter got to paint the pictures for him? and $75 grand each? yeah, seems like the perfect way to bribe someone legally. suprised no one thought of it before.. everyone else gotta do speeches and write books 0 2 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead 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 Evan Craighead joe biden, hunter biden, federal bureau of investigation (fbi) https://sputniknews.com/20211013/blinken-holds-press-conference-with-israeli-uae-foreign-ministers-after-talks-in-dc-1089889161.html Blinken Holds Press Conference With Israeli, UAE Foreign Ministers After Talks in DC Blinken Holds Press Conference With Israeli, UAE Foreign Ministers After Talks in DC Earlier, the US Department of State said that the agenda of the talks will focus on the progress made since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, as well... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T16:16+0000 2021-10-13T16:16+0000 2021-10-13T16:17+0000 united arab emirates news world israel antony blinken /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/0e/1083386138_0:192:2959:1856_1920x0_80_0_0_2b1ddf2d878a295b76d9a26e4cd7701d.jpg Sputnik goes live from Washington, DC where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are holding a press conference after a trilateral meeting on Wednesday, 13 October. The meeting took place following Blinken's bilateral talks with Israeli and UAE counterparts earlier in the day. According to the US Department of State, the sides were expected to discuss what has been achieved since the signing of the Abraham Accords last year, as well as future opportunities for collaboration, and bilateral issues including regional security and stability. Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! ema.ruv gli USA continuano a mettere il naso in tutti gli accordi per poi sabotarli e finanziare tutti gli schieramenti che poi andranno in guerra. E' proprio in questo modo che loro (gli USA, la NATO, gli EBREI DI WALL-STREET etc.) vendono le loro armi. vendono le loro armi a tutti i partecipanti ai FINTI ACCORDI consegnando le armi migliori con buone prestazioni al paese che vogliono vincente, mentre consegnano armi inferiori a coloro che vogliono far perdere. La 2 soluzione (se non bastasse) propongono qualche tipo di EMBARGO unilaterale o alle NAZIONI UNITE e dirigono cosi la partita...!!! 0 1 united arab emirates israel 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 Blinken Holds Press Conference With Israeli, UAE Foreign Ministers After Talks in DC Blinken Holds Press Conference With Israeli, UAE Foreign Ministers After Talks in DC 2021-10-13T16:16+0000 true PT1S 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 united arab emirates, news, world, israel, antony blinken, https://sputniknews.com/20211013/blinken-warns-israels-lapid-of-risks-to-shared-national-security-interests-from-chinese-projects-1089902819.html Blinken Warns Israels Lapid of Risks to Shared National Security Interests From Chinese Projects Blinken Warns Israels Lapid of Risks to Shared National Security Interests From Chinese Projects During a Wednesday meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly cautioned him to control Chinese... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T20:43+0000 2021-10-13T20:43+0000 2021-10-13T20:41+0000 yair lapid us china israel investment antony blinken /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089902794_0:251:3072:1979_1920x0_80_0_0_04f2c4e5e0b0b6a0d33bcd0e25561e34.jpg A senior US State Department official told reporters via teleconference on Tuesday that at the Wednesday summit in Washington, DC, Blinken would be candid with our Israeli friends over risks to our shared national security interests that come with close cooperation with China.While Blinken and Lapid had their own separate meeting, they were also joined later for a trilateral conference by Abdullah bin Zayed, foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, which signed a peace agreement with Israel just over a year ago.The same State Department official later said that the US views China as a competitor that challenges the existing international rule-based order. And as weve said previously, our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be.China is Not a Friend of the RegionSince the prior US administration of Donald Trump, the US has moved to excise Chinese firms from the economies of the US and its allies, especially Chinese tech companies like Huawei, which it has claimed are security liabilities. However, the accusations have ranged across industries, including Shenzhen-based drone maker Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) and China Railway Construction Company (CRCC).China Civil Engineering Construction Corp., a subsidiary of CRCC, has worked on a number of projects in Israel over the last decade, including digging the Gilon Tunnel on the rail line connecting Haifa and Karmiel, working on the Carmel Tunnels project underneath Haifa, and Tel Aviv Light Rails Red Line, according to the Jerusalem Post.According to the Post, senior Israeli defense officials have also pushed Bennett to form a new committee for the purpose, staffed by senior intelligence and defense officials and under Hulatas purview. A previous committee formed in 2019 is part of the Finance Ministry and does not cover parts of the economy in which China invests.In August, CIA Director Bill Burns told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the US was concerned about Chinese investments in Israels tech and infrastructure sectors, including port facilities in Ashdod and Haifa and Tel Avivs newest tram line. However, a senior Israeli official told Axios that we told the Americans we welcome US infrastructure companies to work on big projects in Israel, but they dont apply to the tenders.Bennett notably opposed US attempts to restrict Israeli trade with China as an MK, before he became prime minister this past June.The proposal was floated in a December 2020 paper by Mark Dubowitz and Jonathan Schanzer at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish neoconservative think tank in Washington, DC. They claim China aims to extract ... expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, edge computing, and other cutting-edge technologies all in an effort to accelerate Chinas aggressive efforts to modernize its military.Blinkens predecessor, Mike Pompeo, also pushed Jerusalem during an August 2020 visit to block Chinese firms like Huawei from any work on 5G internet projects in Israel, but also to trim cooperation with Beijing in general as a form of punishment for continuing to buy Iranian oil in violation of US maximum pressure sanctions against Tehran."It says a lot about China that they vote no to extend the arms embargo on Iran and enter a strategic agreement with Iran that will not be good for the security of Israel or the Gulf countries, Hook added. "People need to recognize that China is not a friend of the region. China does not share Israels security interests or those of our Gulf partners. It is important that we work together to counter Chinas efforts to strengthen Iran.""Ask yourselves if you think China will ever be committed to Israels security as the US is, or promote agreements like the Abraham Accords," David Schenker, Trumps assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs, said in a December 2020 Zoom speech hosted by the Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership (SIGNAL) think tank.China responded to the accusations in a March 2021 statement from its embassy in Tel Aviv, calling fear China had penetrated the Israeli economy ill-founded and a falsehood.Israel is an independent sovereign nation. China respects Israel's legitimate security concerns and intends not to harm its special relationship with other countries. USSuxRuskyNuts The US can't compete with China in any market place ever since the US allowed their manufacturers to ship their manufacturing technology to China back in the 70's. Now China is the manufacturing powerhouse and now the US is having a tantrum over it! 9 Ladyshadow Ignore the US they only want you to depend on them with no regard as to what is best for Israel. The US can accept any challenge to their world domination from anyone. 8 5 us china israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.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 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg yair lapid, us, china, israel, investment, antony blinken https://sputniknews.com/20211013/china-says-its-military-drills-near-taiwan-aimed-at-preventing-outside-interference-1089881623.html China Says Its Military Drills Near Taiwan Aimed at Preventing Outside Interference China Says Its Military Drills Near Taiwan Aimed at Preventing Outside Interference BEIJING (Sputnik) - China conducts military exercises near the border with Taiwan to guard its national sovereignty and prevent foreign interference in the... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T06:28+0000 2021-10-13T06:28+0000 2021-10-13T06:28+0000 asia & pacific china taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106378/98/1063789838_426:0:4574:2333_1920x0_80_0_0_1989c06b2ca3c3f77ecf0882b41c0f0b.jpg "The PLA [People's Liberation Army] exercises are necessary actions to protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity, they are aimed against separatist movements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," the diplomat told a briefing.The drills are also aimed at protecting the interests of the Chinese people, as well as specific interests of "Taiwanese compatriots," as the island's independence would bring "disastrous effects" to them, Ma Xiaoguang noted.Last week, Taiwanese Defene Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said that Beijing might consider mounting a full-scale invasion of the island by 2025. The statement came after Beijing sent nearly 150 military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense zone on 1 October.Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a territory with its own democratically elected government maintains that it is an autonomous country and has political and economic relations with several other nations that recognize its sovereignty. 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 asia & pacific, china, taiwan https://sputniknews.com/20211013/clashes-in-kosovo-leave-10-serbs-hospitalized-one-seriously-injured-hospital-director-says-1089892909.html Clashes in Kosovo Leave 10 Serbs Hospitalized, One Seriously Injured, Hospital Director Says Clashes in Kosovo Leave 10 Serbs Hospitalized, One Seriously Injured, Hospital Director Says BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Up to 10 Serbs sustained injuries, including one in serious condition, after the local population clashed with Kosovo police earlier on... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T13:42+0000 2021-10-13T13:42+0000 2021-10-13T13:42+0000 kosovo serbia europe police /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/1c/1089478953_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_03afc9c3e9f01e113beb8278b267dcb1.jpg "A total of 10 injured Serbs were admitted. Eight of them were injured by rubber bullets, sound and flash grenades, and tear gas. These patients were released home after treatment. Two patients were hospitalized, and one is seriously injured. He was shot in the back, and the wound is near the right shoulder blade, which is broken. His second rib bone is also broken, and the bullet went out from the front side of the neck," Elek said.The doctor noted that the patient admitted in a serious condition underwent an urgent surgery to stop the bleeding. The man is currently in intensive care and his condition is stable, he added.Earlier in the day, local media reported that six Serbs were hospitalized following the protests.People gathered in the Serbian part of Mitrovica to protest against the actions of the Kosovo police, which raided local pharmacies and shops and required owners to provide customs declarations and documents related to the goods. The police reportedly used tear gas and flash grenades to disperse the crowds. kosovo serbia 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 kosovo, serbia, europe, police https://sputniknews.com/20211013/five-percent-of-truth-the-rest-is-lie-azerbaijani-president-comments-on-pandora-papers-leak-1089887102.html 'Five Percent of Truth, the Rest is Lie': Azerbaijani President Comments on 'Pandora Papers' Leak 'Five Percent of Truth, the Rest is Lie': Azerbaijani President Comments on 'Pandora Papers' Leak BAKU (Sputnik) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday that he did not read the so-called Pandora Papers investigation about himself, adding... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T10:35+0000 2021-10-13T10:35+0000 2021-10-13T10:51+0000 pandora papers azerbaijan news investigation pandora ilham aliev /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104724/58/1047245818_0:0:2925:1645_1920x0_80_0_0_1a9e3a560021bc38779371d6c3a7ca56.jpg The Guardian reported earlier that Alievs family sold $540 million worth of property in the United Kingdom in recent years.The Azerbaijani president also said that his biography is well known and mentioned that he was a successful entrepreneur before becoming a president."After becoming president, I stopped being directly involved in business and transferred the business to my family. You will probably understand that unlike other people in the West, who left their entire heritage to cats and dogs, in Italy and Azerbaijan we honour family values. Therefore, I gave my whole business to children. They are continuing the business. They mainly invest in Azerbaijan. They also have investments outside Azerbaijan. All their business activities are transparent and internationally verified, and no one can claim that something is wrong here," Aliyev said.Earlier this month, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the so-called Pandora Papers, which are nearly 12 million leaked documents that reveal offshore data and allege that many world leaders, businessmen, and celebrities have been engaged in offshore activities. NikSput Lastname The US has more than 800 Billionaires but none are in the papers. Why is that? 2 Emris Rex Sultan Erdogans mini me 2 3 azerbaijan 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 azerbaijan, news, investigation, pandora, ilham aliev https://sputniknews.com/20211013/fk-andy-murray-trolls-himself-after-losing-to-bitter-rival-alexander-zverev-at-indian-wells-1089889474.html 'F**k': Andy Murray Trolls Himself After Losing to Bitter Rival Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells 'F**k': Andy Murray Trolls Himself After Losing to Bitter Rival Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells Former world no. 1 Andy Murray and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev have a frosty relationship on the ATP tour. The Briton has publicly backed the German's... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T15:35+0000 2021-10-13T15:35+0000 2021-10-13T15:35+0000 tennis andy murray sport women tennis association (wta) wimbledon sputnik atp tour allegations accusations sport /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089894515_0:39:2716:1567_1920x0_80_0_0_da9001b18b127818b8e0f38a2fbfbdf0.jpg Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray trolled himself after his 6-4, 7-6 loss to bitter rival Alexander Zverev at the Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday.Murray, who became the first Briton to win Wimbledon after 77 years in 2013, posted "f**k" on his Twitter handle following his defeat to the world no. 4 in the Californian desert, showing his disappointment.Murray has been vocal about his support of women on the WTA tour. His backing for Sharypova, in particular, has not gone down well with Zverev and has fuelled animosity between the duo.The tension between Murray and Zverev was plain to see on court. While Murray, who has struggled with hip problems in the past and only made a full return to action last year, tried his best to overcome the 2020 US Open finalist, he failed as the German eventually won in straight sets.After the match, Murray gave a frank assessment of his game. He was not only critical of his own performance, but also acknowledged that his level wasn't high enough to trouble the German. "I'm not saying he played great either, but I don't think I played well today. There were a lot of mistakes," Murray said. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.png Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.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 Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.png tennis, andy murray, sport, women tennis association (wta), wimbledon, sputnik, atp tour, allegations, accusations, sport, sport, tennis, allegations, accusations, domestic abuse, troll, sputnik, olympic champion, tennis star https://sputniknews.com/20211013/french-interior-minister-urges-schools-to-boost-security-ahead-of-anniversary-of-teachers-beheading-1089900293.html French Interior Minister Urges Schools to Boost Security Ahead of Anniversary of Teacher's Beheading French Interior Minister Urges Schools to Boost Security Ahead of Anniversary of Teacher's Beheading PARIS (Sputnik) - French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has circulated a letter among all French prefectures instructing them to bolster security in... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T17:59+0000 2021-10-13T17:59+0000 2021-10-13T17:59+0000 france security school beheading /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/03/09/1082289866_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8503895c68b02ba0175cfb9a2ce66665.jpg "It is necessary to prevent any actions that might be committed similar to this assault and the events in remembrance of it," Darmanin wrote, as quoted in the report, calling for enhanced security in and around education institutions.The French education ministry will open a memorial board to Paty on October 16, exactly a year after the tragedy.The teacher was beheaded near Paris by an 18-year-old of Chechen origin, who was then killed by the police. The murder was presumably committed out of religious revenge, as Paty had shown caricatures depicting Islamic prophet Muhammad to his students when discussing free speech. France advanced anti-terrorist measures after the attack. france 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 france, security, school, beheading https://sputniknews.com/20211013/good-first-step-new-yorks-hochul-apologizes-to-families-of-nursing-home-covid-19-victims-1089902059.html 'Good First Step': New York's Hochul Apologizes to Families of Nursing Home COVID-19 Victims 'Good First Step': New York's Hochul Apologizes to Families of Nursing Home COVID-19 Victims Governor Kathy Hochul has apologized to the relatives of those who died in nursing homes due to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomos controversial COVID-19... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T19:26+0000 2021-10-13T19:26+0000 2021-10-13T19:24+0000 new york governor andrew cuomo covid-19 kathy hochul /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/09/1083560767_0:68:3401:1981_1920x0_80_0_0_a97037c3342fd86eb2df48351237625b.jpg Hochul met with families of victims and State Representative Ron Kim (D- Brooklyn), in what has been described as a tearful and emotional affair. The group gave the governor a list of demands to right the wrongs of her predecessor.The group demanded that the state enact elder-care reforms; admit fault in the controversial directive; support an investigation into the nursing home crisis; release all remaining nursing home data; conduct a re-audit of all COVID-19-related nursing home deaths; introduce a nursing home victims compensation fund; and create a nursing home victims memorial.Hochul apologized to the families for the policy and the subsequent dismissal of allegations carried out by former Governor Andrew Cuomo who enacted the policy. Haydee Pabey, who lost her 72-year-old mother Elba Pabey to COVID-19 in a nursing home, said it was hitting a brick wall with the last administration.At the height of the pandemic, hospitals in New York were extremely overwhelmed, with some facilities going as far as bringing in mobile morgues to store the deceased. To open up space at hospitals, then-Governor Cuomo forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients that were not in critical condition.The disastrous policy led to widespread COVID-19 outbreaks and death in New York nursing homes. Cuomo, who had earned praise for his handling of the pandemic, instructed his aides to alter pandemic data to misrepresent how many nursing home deaths there had been.Following a damning sexual misconduct probe into Cuomo, the governor was ousted as New Yorks chief executive, leaving his then lieutenant governor - Hochul - to deal with the fallout of his deadly nursing home policy. TruePatriot This new governor is acting very much like Witchmer in Michigan. When is she going to have Cuomo prosecuted for murder and crimes against the citizens of NY with his tyrannical diktats? 0 1 new york Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown 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 Nevin Brown new york, governor andrew cuomo, covid-19, kathy hochul https://sputniknews.com/20211013/guatemala-condemns-attempts-to-topple-several-statues-to-protest-colonial-legacy-1089884049.html Guatemala Condemns Attempts to Topple Several Statues to Protest Colonial Legacy Guatemala Condemns Attempts to Topple Several Statues to Protest Colonial Legacy MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports has condemned acts of vandalism directed at historical monuments in the capital, after... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T09:13+0000 2021-10-13T09:13+0000 2021-10-13T09:13+0000 guatemala world protesters /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089884021_0:0:2909:1637_1920x0_80_0_0_3c8fb824f02d00585c37ec918a856b60.jpg "We condemn the acts of vandalism and irreparable damage inflicted on several city monuments and historical heritage this morning," the government said in a statement, issued overnight Wednesday.Videos spread on social media show protesters trying to pull the statues off their pedestals with ropes, in one case breaking off a part of the figure.The protest was linked to the Columbus Day, which is celebrated in the United States, Canada and Europe on the second Monday in October. In Guatemala the day is known as the Indigenous Resistance Day in view of the negative public sentiment against the commemoration of Columbus' arrival to the American continents in the late XV century. The celebrations are aimed at drawing attention to the sufferings of indigenous communities during the colonial era.The country's police released footage of one of the arrested vandals, calling the attacks on monuments illegal.Former colonies, including Latin American countries, have recently stepped up efforts to reassess their historical heritage, including monuments and other symbols of the colonial past. Boris Jaruselski Just because Western woke-ers see it fit to erase their involvement in colonizing the world, ...because the 'daft' ancestors did that, doesn't automatically follow, that the countries who were former COLONIES, should to the SAME! An analogy: The Russian Federation does NOT pull down the monuments of their fallen in WWII, because these monuments are functioning as a REMINDER to the current generation, what CAN happen! Former colonies AREN'T doing themselves any favours by eliminating the REMAINDERS of their colonial past! ...peradventure their CHILDREN will be colonized AGAIN! 0 1 guatemala 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 guatemala, world, protesters https://sputniknews.com/20211013/indias-federal-government-blames-states-for-coal-mismanagement-amid-heavy-load-shedding--1089880620.html India's Federal Government Blames States for Coal Mismanagement Amid Heavy Load Shedding India's Federal Government Blames States for Coal Mismanagement Amid Heavy Load Shedding Several Indian states including Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, and Jharkhand have flagged concerns about alarmingly low coal reserves, warning... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T13:05+0000 2021-10-13T13:05+0000 2021-10-13T13:34+0000 india punjab india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089887780_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_b19a1057f0bca075d08333d7cadddb25.jpg As many states in India continue to impose long power cuts citing coal shortages, the central government has blamed them for not lifting the coal quota from Coal India Limited. Coal India Ltd is a central government-owned coal mining and refining corporation.While rejecting the states' claims about the coal shortages in the country, the Narendra Modi government has revealed the daily production of coal is being raised from 1.94 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes from next week.Coal India Ltd, the single largest coal-producing company in the world, maintains that no supplies have been disrupted. The government has also cited heavy monsoon rains in coal mining areas as a reason for the shortages throughout the country. Government sources told the ANI news agency that "states have to pay nearly INR 200 billion ($3 billion) to Coal India Ltd. and the payment is pending for a long time."Punjab, which is witnessing nearly six-hour power outages both in rural and urban areas, is trying desperately to meet electricity demand. On Tuesday, P.K. Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, held a meeting with Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain to draw up a plan to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to power plants. The federal government sent a letter to all state governments and distribution companies on Tuesday to warn that it would curtail electricity supplies if anyone was caught selling power to cash in on surging electricity prices. https://sputniknews.com/20211012/several-states-in-india-hit-by-power-outages-as-pm-modi-steps-in-to-review-energy-crisis-1089860802.html https://sputniknews.com/20211010/indias-federal-power-minister-denies-claims-that-delhi-might-see-a-blackout-amid-coal-crisis-1089809695.html india punjab 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, punjab, india https://sputniknews.com/20211013/jan-6-committee-issues-fresh-subpoena-for-former-trump-doj-official--1089903469.html Jan. 6 Committee Subpoenas Former Trump DoJ Official Who Backed Fraud Claims in 2020 Election Jan. 6 Committee Subpoenas Former Trump DoJ Official Who Backed Fraud Claims in 2020 Election Jeffrey Clark, a former Department of Justice official and prominent ally of former US President Donald Trump, was named last week in a Senate Judiciary... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T21:12+0000 2021-10-13T21:12+0000 2021-10-14T02:44+0000 us subpoena /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089904098_0:0:1290:727_1920x0_80_0_0_1af7f52067a73753c82c9b4a066eb015.png The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol has issued a subpoena for Jeffrey Clark, a former acting Civil Division assistant attorney general, to produce relevant documents by October 29, the date of his deposition before the committee. "You proposed that the department send a letter to state legislators in Georgia and other states suggesting that they delay certification of their election results and hold a press conference announcing that the department was investigating allegations of voter fraud." The move comes as the committee, comprised of seven Democrats and two Republicans, seeks to make sense of how Trump tried to pressure DoJ officials to probe baseless claims of election fraud during his final days in office. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee released a report which claimed that Clark - while employed as a DoJ official - was involved in the former US president's attempt to delay a peaceful transfer of power. The report detailed that Clark repeatedly violated the DoJ-White House contacts policy when he met with Trump on multiple occasions late last year. Clark, being both a US Senate-confirmed assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division and an assistant attorney general for the Civil Division, was prohibited from meeting with the US president without prior authorization. The Select Committee has also issued subpoenas for a number of key Trump allies, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Trump 'senior adviser' Steve Bannon. Thompson has suggested that the group will consider issuing criminal referrals to those who refuse to cooperate with the investigation. vot tak The net closes a bit more on these likudite israelis. 2 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead 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 Evan Craighead us, subpoena https://sputniknews.com/20211013/leaked-facebook-dio-blacklist-appears-to-show-disproportionate-censoring-1089883621.html Leaked Facebook DIO Blacklist Appears to Show 'Disproportionate Censoring Leaked Facebook DIO Blacklist Appears to Show 'Disproportionate Censoring Facebook, which has faced pressure to be more transparent about its policy against "dangerous individuals and organisations", has consistently refused to... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T09:48+0000 2021-10-13T09:48+0000 2021-10-13T09:48+0000 george w. bush 9/11 terrorism facebook treasury department hate speech /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/14/1083666051_0:317:3076:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_e39b8c48595631b972c0779bd767358f.jpg A blacklist of over 4,000 people and groups that Facebook's Dangerous Individuals and Organizations (DIO) policy is built on, leaked by The Intercept, shows how the company may be meting out disproportionate censoring to various communities.A reproduction of the DIO list is also accompanied by an associated policy document intended to aid the work of moderators who are tasked with deciding what posts to delete and which users to punish.The "blacklist is divided into the categories Hate, Crime, Terrorism, Militarized Social Movements, and Violent Non-State Actors, all of them accordingly organised into a system of three tiers indicating the type of enforcement the company will take in regard to content". While no one featured on the DIO list is allowed onto the Facebook platforms, the tiers determine what other users are allowed to say about the banned entities. The most restrictive is Tier 1, featuring alleged terrorist groups, hate groups and criminal organisations. Terror is defined as organising or advocating for violence against civilians, and hate as repeatedly dehumanising or advocating for harm against people. Users may not express anything deemed to be praise or support for groups and people in this tier. In the terrorism category - which is said to constitute 70 percent of Tier 1 - nearly 1,000 of the entries note a designation source of SDGT, or Specially Designated Global Terrorists, a Treasury Department sanctions list. The latter was created by George W. Bush in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks. Also sourced for listees in this tier were the Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium private subscription-based database of purported violent extremists, and private terror-tracking Intelligence Group SITE. Tier 1s criminal category is almost entirely comprised of US street gangs and Latin American drug cartels, predominantly Black and Latino.Tier 2 is labelled Violent Non-State Actors. To a greater degree it consists of groups like armed rebels who engage in violence targeting governments, with users allowed to praise groups in this tier for their nonviolent actions but not permitted to express any substantive support for the groups themselves. Tier 3, which includes Militarized Social Movements that are predominantly white, is for groups that are not violent but repeatedly engage in hate speech, appear to be likely to become violent soon, or repeatedly violate the DIO policies. Other Facebook users are allowed to freely discuss those listed in Tier 3. Moderator Guidelines Internal Facebook materials also revealed by the outlet shed light on how the outsourced content moderation workforce of contractors is guided on censoring speech about the blacklisted people and groups. While Facebook has previously offered a public set of guidelines, there were limited examples of what the terms specifically mean. The leaked materials aim to help moderators define user praise or support for a person or organisation listed in the DIO. Furthermore, detailed examples are suggested as being more illustrative, including a list of hypothetical situations to better determine the best action to pursue regarding flagged content.Internal Facebook guidelines say users are allowed to apply neutral or critical speech regarding Tier 1 entities, to rule out any commentary be deemed positive and, accordingly, be construed as praise. Users are prohibited from saying anything that seeks to make others think more positively or legitimise a Tier 1 listee.Statements presented in the form of a fact about the entitys motives are acceptable, but anything that glorifies the entity through the use of approving adjectives, phrases, imagery, etc. is not, say the internal guidelines.However, Facebook moderators are allowed to decide for themselves what constitutes dangerous glorification versus permitted neutral speech.Internal Facebook guidelines say users are allowed to apply neutral or critical speech regarding Tier 1 entities, to rule out any commentary be deemed positive and , accordingly, be construed as praise. Users are prohibited from saying anything that seeks to make others think more positively or legitimise a Tier 1 listee.For example, speaking positively about a designated entity, would be saying that the Sinaloa cartel donates much of its profits to charity. However, stating that an entity is not a threat relevant or worthy of attention is not deemed by the guidelines to be speaking positively about them. The material cite as an example in this case, White Supremacy is not a threat.As another example, the materials offer the phrase, Hitler did nothing wrong. In this case, legitimising in reference to a designated entity is defined as making claims about moral, legal, other justification for criminal, hateful or terrorist activity. Claim of justification present renders it as a violating statement.Regarding violent incitement, the guidelines permit, in the policy materials, calls for violence against locations no smaller than a village. Cited as an example is the statement We should invade Libya.Challenging historical events and facts also does not violate Facebook guidelines, seemingly allowing for neutral debate.A Facebook moderator working outside the US was cited by the publication as acknowledging that analysts typically struggle to recognise political speech and struggle to determine what content meets Facebooks definitions of banned speech. Facebook had previously refused requests by legal scholars and civil libertarians to publish the DIO blacklist list, despite the fact the companys Oversight Board formally recommended publishing the list on multiple occasions, insisting the information is in the public interest.Prioritizing Security, Limiting Legal Risks The company has repeatedly claimed that revealing the list would endanger employees and permit banned entities to circumvent the DIO policy. Facebooks policy director for counterterrorism and dangerous organisations, Brian Fishman, responded to The Intercept with a written statement that emphasised that the blacklist is kept secret because [t]his is an adversarial space, so we try to be as transparent as possible, while also prioritising security, limiting legal risks and preventing opportunities for groups to get around our rules. A Facebook spokesperson was cited as dismissing perceived concerns that the company gave some communities in the US special treatment, stating: Foreseeing criticism of disproportionate treatment along racial and and/or religious lines across the spectrum of Facebooks tiers, the spokesperson underscored the presence of white supremacists and hate groups in Tier 1, adding that focusing solely on terrorist groups in Tier 1 is misleading. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko george w. bush, 9/11, terrorism, facebook, treasury department, hate speech https://sputniknews.com/20211013/new-delhi-rejects-chinas-condemnation-of-indian-officials-visit-to-disputed-region-1089889337.html New Delhi Rejects China's Condemnation of Indian Official's Visit to Disputed Region New Delhi Rejects China's Condemnation of Indian Official's Visit to Disputed Region NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - New Delhi rejects China's criticism of the Indian vice president's visit to the disputed Arunachal Pradesh area, and sees the region as... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T11:55+0000 2021-10-13T11:55+0000 2021-10-13T11:55+0000 asia & pacific china india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089889255_0:320:3073:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_776e251951c7efdead59f3df6c9ec126.jpg "We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," the spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry, Arindam Bagchi, said.Bagchi added that the deteriorated situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was caused exclusively by China's attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the area.Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China strongly opposes Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh and urged India to refrain from such moves.Since May 2020, the region near the Chinese-Indian border has witnessed numerous standoffs. The two neighboring countries have stepped up their military presence in the area.Over the past weekend, China and India held the 13th round of talks in an effort to settle the conflict, but failed to come to a compromise. china india 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 asia & pacific, china, india https://sputniknews.com/20211013/norways-indigenous-people-seek-queens-help-in-returning-centuries-old-shamans-drum-1089897583.html Norway's Indigenous People Seek Queen's Help in Returning Centuries-Old Shaman's Drum Norway's Indigenous People Seek Queen's Help in Returning Centuries-Old Shaman's Drum The president of the Sami Parliament of Norway reportedly said that she hopes Margrethe II, the Queen of Denmark, may act as the conscience of the Danish... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T16:48+0000 2021-10-13T16:48+0000 2021-10-13T16:48+0000 denmark europe norway queen margrethe ii return artefacts /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104605/93/1046059325_0:94:3361:1984_1920x0_80_0_0_480e804779c681c4692eff01ad231302.jpg Sami indigenous people in Norway are seeking the help of the Queen of Denmark to reclaim a cultural artefact confiscated by Denmark over three hundred years ago, The Guardian reports.According to the newspaper, the object in question is a drum that belonged to a Sami shaman named Anders Poulsson. It was confiscated following a witchcraft trial in 1691 and ended up in the art collection of the Danish royal family.In 1849, the drum was transferred to Denmarks National Museum and since 1979, the artefact has been on loan to the Sami Museum in Karasjok, Norway, though the loan agreement is set to expire on 1 December.The Sami Museum in Karasjok already sent a request to the Danish National Museum earlier this year to formally take ownership of the object.Keskitalo also expressed hope that Margrethe II, the Queen of Denmark, "may act as the conscience of the Danish people and the Danish state."As the newspaper points out, however, the queen hasnt yet responded.Meanwhile, the head of research of the National Museum of Denmark reportedly announced that his team was considering the Sami claim. denmark norway Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Andrei Dergalin Andrei Dergalin 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 Andrei Dergalin denmark, europe, norway, queen margrethe ii, return, artefacts https://sputniknews.com/20211013/over-100-swedes-jabbed-with-expired-vaccine-1089880857.html Over 100 Swedes Jabbed With Expired Vaccine Over 100 Swedes Jabbed With Expired Vaccine The authorities said that there are no known medical risks associated with getting vaccines that are stored past the expiration date, and assessed that the... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T06:12+0000 2021-10-13T06:12+0000 2021-10-13T06:12+0000 news europe sweden vaccine pfizer scandinavia covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/1a/1083003393_0:0:3051:1717_1920x0_80_0_0_206e0debe9cd565d0a7e79d690e50d9b.jpg More than a hundred people have been inoculated with an expired COVID-19 vaccine in the Swedish city of Nykoping, Sodermanland County, south of Stockholm.We have breached our internal control, regional vaccination manager Magnus Johansson admitted in a press release.The doses were administered on Monday. According to the local authorities, the vaccine has been stored correctly, but the manufacturer Pfizer's recommended expiration date has passed.The people who received the doses have been alerted.This summer, 899 New Yorkers who received expired Pfizer shots were subsequently offered a third one. Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation urged African countries to keep the expired vaccines as Sudan and Malawi moved to destroy a batch of AstraZeneca past the best before date. Among the 102 Swedes who received expired shots, 88 were aged between 12 and 15, as Sweden moves on with its campaign to inoculate teenagers.Swedish Public Health Agency Director General Johan Carlson admitted that while severe COVID-19 among children is unusual, it still happens, which is why the agency lowered the vaccination age to 12.Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven emphasised that the inoculation is being carried out for the sake of children. However, the campaign also sparked protests from medical professionals, as a group of 24 doctors penned an open letter against it, warning of past tragedies related to botched vaccinations that resulted in side effects such as narcolepsy and unnecessary deaths. 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, vaccine, pfizer, scandinavia, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211013/polish-government-approves-construction-of-border-wall-on-frontier-with-belarus-1089896623.html Polish Government Approves Construction of Border Wall on Frontier With Belarus Polish Government Approves Construction of Border Wall on Frontier With Belarus Warsaw and its allies have spent months accusing Minsk of deliberately trying to push illegal immigrants from third world countries into Poland. Belarusian... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T15:15+0000 2021-10-13T15:15+0000 2021-10-13T16:56+0000 belarus poland migrant crisis migrant /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089891988_0:0:3095:1742_1920x0_80_0_0_3eee157bedcca3e4e90c5fab45537d18.jpg The Polish government has adopted a bill on the construction of a barrier on the border with Belarus, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski has announced.In a tweet, Kaminski said that the project, which will now go to Parliament for approval, envisions the creation of a towering barrier equipped with monitoring and movement detection systems.Polands border guard service recorded over 6,000 attempts to illegally cross the border into the country from Belarus since the start of October. In September, 18,000+ attempts were recorded. Warsaw has a state of emergency in place in regions bordering Belarus, with about 1,500 troops and police units called on to assist border guards in preventing the flow of migrants.Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia accuse Belarus of deliberately allowing large numbers of illegal migrants from the Middle East and Africa to attempt to enter the European Union via their borders. The crisis began in the summer of 2021, after Belarus froze an agreement with Brussels on the readmission of illegal immigrants, in retaliation to crushing economic sanctions by the EU targeting Belarusian potash, petroleum and tobacco industry exports.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dubbed the sanctions a component of a hybrid war against Belarus, and said Minsk no longer had the resources or the energy to effectively protect the EU's eastern frontiers from migrants and drug smugglers. Relations between Minsk and Brussels sunk to historic lows in the aftermath of the August 2020 presidential elections, which sparked to mass protests by the countrys pro-Western opposition, and the creation of a self-proclaimed government in exile by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.Amid the border crisis, Belaruss border guards have repeatedly reported on the forcible expulsion of would-be migrants from Lithuania, Poland and Latvia back to Belarus, and recorded instances of the harsh treatment of migrants, such as the dumping of unconscious persons from vehicles along the frontier, the use of tear gas, and other abuses. In August, Belarus accused Lithuania of beating an unidentified Iraqi man to within an inch of his life and turning him back toward Belarus. The man was later said to have died from his injuries in Belarusian custody. Lithuania dismissed the allegations. Last month, Poland reported that four Iraqi nationals were found dead at the frontier between the two countries after succumbing to exhaustion and hypothermia.Warsaw has accused Russia of involvement, with foreign minister Mateusz Morawiecki claiming last month that the situation was a mass organised, well-directed action from Minsk and Moscow. Morawiecki produced no evidence to support the allegations.Brussels has joined Poland and the Baltic states in blaming Minsk for the situation at the Belarusian-EU border. Last month, the European Commission announced that it would be willing to commit resources to defend the EU blocs common border with Belarus if Poland requested such assistance. https://sputniknews.com/20211011/polish-border-guards-shoot-in-air-to-force-migrants-into-belarus-minsk-says-1089840931.html https://sputniknews.com/20210920/poland-claims-russia-and-belarus-behind-well-directed-action-to-send-migrants-over-eu-border-1089240482.html Lin Wren They never learn any lessons from history. Who cares frankly? 2 ema.ruv In un modo od in un' altro la POLONIA quindi la NATO stanno pagando le loro malefatte in AFGANISTAN, IRAQ, SIRYA, etc...!!! HAHAHAHA :-)) 1 2 belarus poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov belarus, poland, migrant crisis, migrant https://sputniknews.com/20211013/putin-merkel-macron-talk-normandy-format-for-resolution-of-issues-imperialist-return-to-africa-1089876431.html Putin, Merkel, Macron Talk Normandy Format for Resolution of Issues; Imperialist Return to Africa Putin, Merkel, Macron Talk Normandy Format for Resolution of Issues; Imperialist Return to Africa The leaders of Russia, Germany, and France are discussing the need to coordinate their efforts to deal with a myriad of international security issues in a... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T09:46+0000 2021-10-13T09:46+0000 2021-10-15T09:57+0000 libya julian assange abu zubaydah tony abbott normandy four the critical hour aukus radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0c/1089876385_29:0:1273:700_1920x0_80_0_0_d60d82b4145a31f6e597664fc38ef1ce.png Putin, Merkel, Macron Talk Normandy Format for Resolution of Issues; Imperialist Return to Africa The leaders of Russia, Germany, and France are discussing the need to coordinate their efforts to deal with a myriad of international security issues in a format known as the "Normandy Four." Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Iraqi elections. It appears that the influential Shi'ite cleric and nationalist Moqtada al-Sadr's party, Sairoun, is currently performing the best.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net & CounterPunch and the author of "Danger to Society: Against Vaccine Passports," joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Kevin Gosztola argues that the recent information regarding Mike Pompeo's moves to kidnap and assassinate Julian Assange proves that the legal persecution of the publisher is driven by an unethical and illegal thirst for revenge. Also, we discuss the upcoming hearing at the end of October regarding a previous lower court decision.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss the Normandy Four. The leaders of Russia, Germany, and France are discussing the need to coordinate their efforts to deal with a myriad of international security issues in a format known as the "Normandy Four."Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa. Dr. Horne analyzes the resurgence of coups and imperialist intervention in Africa. Recent events may show that the US empire and the French imperialists are on the move again in the resource-rich continent.K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott published a speech that he gave in Taiwan. The speech can be interpreted in several ways, but many see it as a message that the Chinese island should not look to the West for protection if a war starts. International security observers argue that the West is setting Taiwan up for a fall as they push them towards a crushing military defeat.Obi Egbuna, activist, and US Rep for The Zimbabwean Newspapers, joins us to discuss Libya. The US/NATO imperial regime-change operation has led to disastrous conditions in the African nation. Additionally, it has opened the gateway to African migration to Western Europe.Marjorie Cohn, professor of law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, joins us to discuss torture. The Biden administration is moving forward with an absurd argument that their highly publicized torture program is a state secret. This move comes to stop the court from compelling psychologists involved in the torture to testify.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss EU gas issues and the AUKUS submarine deal. There is talk of fast-tracking the Nord Stream 2 pipeline process as the EU faces a disastrous shortage of fuel.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com libya Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.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 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg libya, julian assange, abu zubaydah, tony abbott, normandy four, the critical hour, aukus, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20211013/putin-says-global-arms-race-has-accelerated-thanks-to-us-withdrawal-from-abm-treaty-1089892648.html Putin Says US Has Triggered Global Arms Race by Withdrawing From ABM Treaty Putin Says US Has Triggered Global Arms Race by Withdrawing From ABM Treaty The United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia in 2002, prompting Moscow to dust off Soviet-era plans on the creation of... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T13:26+0000 2021-10-13T13:26+0000 2021-10-13T17:46+0000 vladimir putin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107139/78/1071397875_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_065289646fb94a395464f577d363215e.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of opening a Pandora's Box to a global arms race by withdrawing from the ABM Treaty, and said that while the US initially pretended that it didn't care about Russia's hypersonic weapons projects, they have now expressed concerns over these systems' potential.Speaking at the Russian Energy Week forum on Wednesday, Putin said a global arms race was now "in full swing," and recalled how he had urged his then-US counterpart George W. Bush not to withdraw from the ABM in the early 2000s due to the treaty's status as a "cornerstone of international security." Moscow, he stressed, saw the US decision to quit the treaty as "not just about defence, but an attempt to receive strategic superiority, effectively eliminating the nuclear potential of a potential rival.""I said that we would do this," Putin recalled. "The response from our American partners was that 'our missile defences are not directed against you, do whatever you want, we will proceed from the fact your projects are not against us.' We built our systems. What claims do they have against us now? Now they don't like them."Asked to comment on Russia's 'hypersonic Mach 3 guided missiles', Putin corrected his interlocutor: "No, no, no. Mach 3 I think is what the US is working on, and even more than that. Our hypersonic missiles fly at more than Mach 20, and these are not just hypersonic, these are intercontinental missiles. This is a far more serious weapon than what you've just mentioned. And they are already in service in Russia," he said.Similar weapons are being developed in other countries, Putin said, but Russia has not and will not abuse its superiority in this area or threaten anyone."Moreover, we are prepared to engage in negotiations on the reduction of offensive arms and, proceeding from the interests of our American partners, are ready to take account of the fact that we have such systems in the negotiating process," Putin said. Washington, he added, seems to be embarking on the path to starting "a substantive conversation" in this area. Putin said new contacts have been developed following his Geneva summit with US President Joe Biden in June.Commenting on the "trust deficit" which has developed in relations between Russia and the West, including in the military sphere, Putin emphasized that Moscow always remains "willing to talk directly to NATO."What's the ABM Treaty?The Soviet Union and the United States signed the Anti-Ballistic Treaty in 1972. The agreement limited the two countries' development of anti-ballistic missile shield technology, allowing each side to create only a limited anti-missile system in one location with the USSR building its site around Moscow and the US creating its own in North Dakota. The treaty was put under pressure in the 1980s, after US President Ronald Reagan announced his "Strategic Defence Initiative" - or "Star Wars" missile defence umbrella. This prompted the USSR to begin working on hypersonic weapons capable of defeating missile defences in the late 1980s. The collapse of the USSR, the end of the Cold War and the warming of relations between Moscow and Washington led to these plans being put on the shelf, but they were dusted off after the Bush administration unilaterally scrapped the ABM Treaty in 2002.In 2018, Putin unveiled several new hypersonic weapons system at a state-of-the-nation address to lawmakers. The systems include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, carried into orbit aboard intercontinental ballistic missiles and the Kinzhal air-launched, nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missile. Russia expects these and other strategic weapons to help preserve the global strategic balance, and to cool the heads of Pentagon planners working on the concept of a "Prompt Global Strike" - i.e. the idea of decapitating Russia's leadership and nuclear potential using a massed precision-guided conventional missile attack. Seam He's right! 5 mandrake Have lost it big way, almost banrupt and about 30 pct of the population on the dole and stand in line at the soupkitchen while the military industrial complex sets the agenda for the rest of the people, together with the financial industrial complex and the bought and paid corrupt lawmakers in wshington dc - no future for moronistan (aka usa). 5 7 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov vladimir putin https://sputniknews.com/20211013/rampant-infiltration-of-drones-from-pakistan-a-constant-concern-indian-punjab-minister--1089853184.html Rampant Infiltration of Drones from Pakistan a Constant Concern', Indian Punjab Minister Says Rampant Infiltration of Drones from Pakistan a Constant Concern', Indian Punjab Minister Says A politician from India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, Vijay Inder Singla currently holds the portfolio of Administrative Reforms and... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T07:29+0000 2021-10-13T07:29+0000 2021-10-13T07:30+0000 punjab india indian national congress india interview /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089882084_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_d651a59eb4d89f9f989589af311ef1a7.jpg Vijay Inder Singla is the only cabinet minister retained in Punjab's new Congress party government who was sworn-in in India's Punjab last month after Captain Amarinder Singh stepped down as state chief due to an internal party fiasco.The prominent politician from Indias main opposition party Congress is presently serving as a cabinet minister in the Punjab government. Sputnik talked to Vijay Inder Singla, who is also the partys national spokesperson and was adjudged as one of the best parliamentarians during the Congress-led federal government. He addressed issues including cross-border terrorism and the success of his government in uncovering narcotics supply chains, ahead of Punjab legislative polls that are just months away.Sputnik: What national security concerns have been raised by some politicians recently in Punjab state, which shares a border with the countrys arch-rival Pakistan?Vijay Inder Singla: Punjab is a sensitive state. It has already witnessed a lot of terrorism in the past. In the recent past, we have seen a series of continuous proxy attacks on the border. There is heightened penetration through drones that have been used to drop different kinds of gadgets that are used for terrorist activities. There is always a fear in the state of a revival of terrorism and constant concerns about the rampant infiltration of drones from Pakistan.Punjab cannot be compared with any other state in the country for its sheer history of having faced extreme terrorism, its geographic location and zeal among the people to contribute to the country's growth. It is a state known for its great freedom fighters, who made a huge impact on our freedom struggle. We have already seen the troubles that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has brought to this state. The current sensitivity in the state is not really related to elections. Whenever elections are held, the issue of national security is strongly raised by political parties and leaders.To handle the state (of Punjab), you need to have a very strong government or people who can take good decisions, who know about the sensitivity of sharing a border with Pakistan.Sputnik: Since there have always been security concerns in Punjab due to its proximity with Pakistan, do you think this time such concerns are more serious in nature in comparison to the past?Vijay Inder Singla: There is a new worrying trend of cross-border terrorism, with patterns fast emerging in which terror groups are using advanced gadgets and drones to make a strike or gather intelligence about our installations and equipment. Drones are also being used from across the border to push weapons and drugs into the state. Recently, four people were arrested after a terror attack, when tiffin bombs were used to blow up an oil tanker in the border area. Links to Pakistan were traced in that terror attack as well. Sputnik: Punjab is also considered to be the entry point into India for the drugs smuggled from Afghanistan via Pakistan. How is your government fighting the war against the drug mafia?Vijay Inder Singla: This has been a very serious issue for our government. The Narcotics Control Bureau has also tried to play its role in checking infiltration at the border, with drugs being pushed from Pakistan on the other side.The federal government and paramilitary forces are entrusted with the task of checking drugs smuggling along the 5,400 km-long border.We have managed to break supply chains at the grassroots-level. Earlier, the penetration of the drug mafia was so deep that every household was supplying drugs. But we have worked to end that.Sputnik: Some of the top politicians in Punjab have been blamed for working hand in glove with drug smugglers. Do you view it as a major part of the drug problem gripping the state?Vijay Inder Singla: If you have influential people involved in the drug racket then it's very easy for the infiltration to penetrate to the villages and streets of every small town in the state.If you dont have powerful people protecting this business, obviously it is easier to eliminate.At a time when the (opposition) Shiromani Akali Dal party was in power, all the powerful people were behind the drug mafia. These powerful people had enormous clout and the drug mafia received their support.The Congress government has been able to break the supply chains in the villages only because powerful people are not supporting the drug mafia anymore and they are not able to penetrate. https://sputniknews.com/20210730/india-says-suspected-drones-from-pakistan-spotted-in-three-areas-of-jammu-and-kashmir-1083489674.html punjab 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 punjab, india, indian national congress, india, interview https://sputniknews.com/20211013/russia-seeks-to-teach-ai-to-think-differently-1089866706.html Russia Seeks to Teach AI to Think Differently Russia Seeks to Teach AI to Think Differently Scientists from the University of Tyumen (UTMN) have proposed a new approach to developing artificial intelligence (AI). 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T00:00+0000 2021-10-13T00:00+0000 2021-10-13T00:00+0000 artificial intelligence (ai) ai science /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080290191_416:0:1616:675_1920x0_80_0_0_51ef4742040a93ff3ab674fce1642147.jpg Researchers claim that the model, designed using analysis of existing systems and a wide range of research in this area, will form the basis of future artificial intelligence (AI), which will be error-proof and capable of abstract thinking. The research paper was published in the Mind and Matter (Journal).AI systems help humans facilitate and automate decision-making in a multitude of areas, from housekeeping to warfare. In the future, AI will make increasingly more decisions without human intervention, the UTMN scientists said. This creates the need for approaches to AI architecture that are guaranteed to avoid unacceptable risks.Robots and AI systems used today, for example to drive cars, predict consumer behaviour, and even adjudicate, derive their answers statistically, based on an array of analysed examples. These systems can be very effective in certain computational tasks, but they are still far from general, or strong, artificial intelligence. Therefore, the scientists stated that it is not uncommon for AI to make incorrect and unethical decisions.As long as AI is guided by a given set of samples with no ability to re-evaluate or expand it in virtually real time, there will be a risk that the automatic decision will turn out to be wrong, the UTMN scientists said.To mitigate such risks, the universitys researchers have proposed an approach to developing AI that will make it more intelligent and conscious. According to the authors, their AI architecture model combines the results of a wide range of physical, mathematical, cognitive, philosophical, and other research in the field.Abstract thinking for both humans and machines means using consistent models and conceptual frameworks that allow you to study the world from different angles, expanding your interaction with it, the scientists explained.The ethical issue of AI is not whether machines lack a common human understanding of the world that includes unambiguous moral attitudes and the idea of moral responsibility. High-level cognition, consciousness and ethical behaviour stem from the same source the ability to master broad conceptual frameworks, not just specific tasks. We believe that this process can also be reproduced in a machine, Louis Vervoort explained.The proposed approach has some similarities with David Rosenthals high-order-thought (HOT) theory of consciousness, as well as with Bernard Baars Global Workspace Theory (GWT). According to UTMN scientists, these theoretical models of consciousness and abstract cognition were supported by recent experimental research in cognitive neurobiology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA). Some of the most advanced AI systems, mimicking to some degree abstract thinking, were produced by physicists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These studies demonstrated AI's capacity to independently formulate and combine physical laws the first step towards theories.The researchers believe that the proposed approach would form the basis for the development of the next generation of AI. In the future, the research team plans to continue working closely with experts in artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop specific computational approaches based on the new model. https://sputniknews.com/20211011/already-a-done-deal-ex-pentagon-chief-software-officer-says-us-yielding-to-china-in-ai-battle-1089832033.html WhatTheFishIsThis Cybernetics is the way to go .. and plugged into Google. Choosing the problems best left to humans !! Don't forget to add the shutdown or suicide switch. 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 artificial intelligence (ai), ai, science https://sputniknews.com/20211013/russian-sputnik-light-vaccine-shows-70-efficacy-against-delta-covid-19-1089890181.html Russian Sputnik Light Vaccine Shows 70% Efficacy Against Delta COVID-19 Russian Sputnik Light Vaccine Shows 70% Efficacy Against Delta COVID-19 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The efficacy results of the single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine when administered alone against the Delta variant of COVID-19 reach 70% and... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T12:30+0000 2021-10-13T12:30+0000 2021-10-13T13:10+0000 russian direct investment fund (rdif) news world russia vaccine sputnik v delta variant of covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089890381_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_ec6ec4890360e6303e654737ae6ae98d.jpg According to the Gamaleya Centre analysis, the Sputnik Light vaccine administered alone demonstrated 70% efficacy against the Delta variant during the first three months after vaccination. In the age group up to 60 years, the vaccine has demonstrated 75% effectiveness. For the Delta variant, Sputnik Light has been shown to be more effective than some two-shot vaccines, the RDIF statement said. The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on the human adenovirus serotype 26, the first component of Sputnik V the worlds first registered vaccine against coronavirus. Sputnik Light has been authorised in more than 15 countries with the registration process ongoing in a further 30 countries. Sputnik Light will be produced by RDIFs international partners in more than 10 countries (India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, Argentina, Serbia, Turkey, etc.). This includes the Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine producer. Sputnik Light has been proven to be safe and highly effective by real-world vaccination data in a number of countries. In particular, the vaccine has demonstrated the efficacy of between 78.6-83.7% among the elderly as confirmed by the Ministry of Health of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguays Ministry of Health also found Sputnik Light to be 93.5% effective during the countrys ongoing vaccination campaign.Thanks to its safety and efficacy, the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine is now used both on a standalone basis and studied in combination with vaccines from other producers in multiple countries. The heterogeneous boosting approach (a vaccine cocktail using human adenovirus serotype 26 as the first component and human adenovirus serotype 5 as the second component) was at the core of Sputnik V. This approach was proven to be successful in creating a longer and more durable immunity against coronavirus. RDIF initiated partnerships with other vaccine producers to conduct joint studies on the combination of the first component of Sputnik V with other vaccines. Such studies are currently ongoing in Russia, Argentina, Azerbaijan and UAE, among others.According to the recent observational study published by The Lancet, Pfizer and BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine shows a drop in efficiency rate against the Delta variant to 47% six months after the injection. The global outbreak of the pandemic was declared in 2020 after the first reports came from Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organisation has so far recorded a cumulative total of 237,655,302 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,846,981 deaths. Boris Jaruselski The glaring discrepancy in the efficacy of Sputnik V and Western vaccines, is due to the different 'technologies' used of how to make the human body respond. ...long story short, a 'vector' is used to make the human body respond to the 'infection'. In Western vaccines that vector is animal DNA, ...chimpanzee, Sputnik V the vector is human. No wonder then, that Sputnik V is readily recognized by human bodies and not wonder either, that these 'typical' vaccination side effects in the Western vaccines, don't occur with Sputnik V. 0 1 russia 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 russian direct investment fund (rdif), news, world, russia, vaccine, sputnik v, delta variant of covid-19, https://sputniknews.com/20211013/saudi-led-coalition-destroys-two-explosive-laden-houthi-boats-1089885562.html Saudi-Led Coalition Destroys Two Explosive-Laden Houthi Boats Saudi-Led Coalition Destroys Two Explosive-Laden Houthi Boats Earlier, an explosives-laden drone attack targeting the international airport in Abha, the capital of Saudi Arabias Asir Region, was intercepted by coalition... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T10:13+0000 2021-10-13T10:13+0000 2021-10-13T10:40+0000 middle east yemen saudi arabia houthi rebels /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089887285_0:235:3134:1998_1920x0_80_0_0_f7c336d58981c67f84ad3f4047d3e5d7.jpg The Saudi-led coalition had destroyed two boats laden with explosives used by Yemeni Houthi rebels, according to Saudi State TV.On 6 October, an explosives-laden drone attack targeting the international airport in Abha, the capital of Saudi Arabias Asir Region, was intercepted by coalition forces. At the end of August, at least eight people were injured during a Houthi attack on the same airport. Since 2015, the Saudi-led coalition, fighting on the Yemeni government's side, has been conducting air, land and sea operations against Houthi rebels. The Houthis often use drones laden with explosives to attack Saudi border areas. NthrnNYker59 Yea sure it did --- for some reason, when they DO have a real success, they plaster videos of that success all over the internet --- 0 1 yemen saudi arabia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Maxim Minaev Maxim Minaev 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 Maxim Minaev middle east, yemen, saudi arabia, houthi rebels https://sputniknews.com/20211013/several-people-killed-in-bow-and-arrow-attack-in-norway-1089901344.html Photos: 'Bow and Arrow' Attack in Norway Kills At Least Five People, Two Others Left Injured Photos: 'Bow and Arrow' Attack in Norway Kills At Least Five People, Two Others Left Injured A major police operation unfolded in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg after a "bow and arrow" incident took place on Wednesday that local police described as... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T18:44+0000 2021-10-13T18:44+0000 2021-10-14T03:35+0000 europe norway attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105255/93/1052559314_0:0:1983:1115_1920x0_80_0_0_4441060be7a3535302d2c572f685b274.jpg Local authorities have indicated that the deadly incident killed five individuals and injured two others. The NRK broadcaster has reported that a police officer is among the injured.The unidentified suspect has been arrested; however, police have yet to reveal his identity or motive. Police have indicated that the suspect is a 37-year-old Danish citizen who lives in Kongsberg.Law enforcement officials believe the perpetrator acted alone, but referred to the incident as very "serious".Police say it's to early to answer the question whether it was a terror attack, but that they are not ruling it out as a motive.According to Laagendalsposten, a regional newspaper, the Norwegian Elite Police Unit, also called Delta, military forces and a large number of police cars and ambulances are in place in Kongsberg.An investigation is underway. armor However, Russia is important to me, my love for Russia will not be clouded by SN. It is just a pity. 7 ASmith_ Shades of deliverance! The Western Nations is so desperate to take away citizens firearms, they progressed to knives and now bow's and arrows while Western SWAT and police patrol with machine guns, heavily armored carriers, attack dogs wrapped in kevlar and buying up massive amounts of ammo from the domestic ammo manufacturers. 6 6 norway 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, norway, attack https://sputniknews.com/20211013/spread-the-message-uk-govt-doesnt-keep-its-word--agreements-irish-deputy-pm-says-1089887853.html Spread the Message: UK Gov't Doesn't Keep Its Word & Agreements, Irish Deputy PM Says Spread the Message: UK Gov't Doesn't Keep Its Word & Agreements, Irish Deputy PM Says Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has issued a warning to all world leaders, suggesting that Downing Street cannot be trusted on its promises and deals. 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T12:17+0000 2021-10-13T12:17+0000 2021-10-13T12:17+0000 dominic cummings leo varadkar northern ireland protocol /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107701/44/1077014419_0:7:2867:1619_1920x0_80_0_0_9a38876477a865ceece1db1701cb2c55.jpg Leo Varadkar, who negotiated the Northern Ireland protocol (NI) with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in October 2019, has reacted to the comments by Johnson's former aide, Dominic Cummings. Cummings most recently posted a series of tweets on his page, suggesting that the government had planned from the start to "ditch" the NI protocol. The UK government singed the flawed Brexit deal to gain political leverage and whack [Jeremy] Corbyn, said Cummings. Reacting to Cummings' comments, Varadkar called them "alarming" in an interview to RTE Morning Ireland, adding that if true, they would indicate that Downing Street "acted in bad faith".Varadkar believes that this message needs to be "heard around the world". Varadkar's comments come ahead of the G20 Summit in Rome end of October, with Britain eyeing new trade deals and partnerships with EU members. Adherence to the NI protocol has been cause of political and trade tensions between London and Brussels, as they interpret its implementation slightly differently. While the UK says that the protocol is a compromise on its part, it wants to remove customs checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A new system, proposed by Britain, would see goods circulating freely in Northern Ireland if they conform to either EU or UK regulations. Johnson's government also wants to remove the role the European Commission and the European Court of Justice have in overseeing how the protocol works.Meanwhile, the EU have ruled out a renegotiation of document but signalled it is ready for creative solutions. Brussels proposed to scrap many existing checks on goods and ease customs controls, relating to products like meat, among others. The NI Protocol is a document that governs the customs and immigration issues on the border in the island of Ireland after Brexit.The border checks imposed on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland stand in the way of British food staples such as sausages from entering the "southern" part of the island. 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 dominic cummings, leo varadkar, northern ireland protocol https://sputniknews.com/20211013/stalin-led-dmk-party-wins-village-council-polls-in-indias-tamil-nadu-1089888516.html Stalin-Led DMK Party Wins Village Council Polls in India's Tamil Nadu Stalin-Led DMK Party Wins Village Council Polls in India's Tamil Nadu The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which started the Dravidian movement one of southern India's biggest egalitarian social shifts has returned to power... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T15:21+0000 2021-10-13T15:21+0000 2021-10-13T15:21+0000 joseph stalin tamil nadu bharatiya janata party (bjp) world india world india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/03/1082789201_0:8:2330:1319_1920x0_80_0_0_908e7125abb241df036000bb5155a5dd.jpg Months after winning the legislative assembly elections, the ruling party of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu DMK on Wednesday emerged victorious at the local village council polls held in nine districts. The elections were held on two days 6 and 9 October with as many as 79,433 candidates vying for 27,003 posts.Although the official result is yet to be declared by the State Election Commission, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is the clear frontrunner and is expected to win most of the seats of the 140 District Panchayat (village council) Wards, as per Indian media reports.The local elections have been also viewed as the first test for newly elected State Chief and DMK leader M. K. Stalin.This is the first election since Stalin took charge of the state in May, after defeating the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.Stalin took to Twitter to congratulat all of his party workers and winning candidates. He also thanked voters for the result and called it an endorsement of the first five months of his party's government. Meanwhile, "#SinglevoteBJP" is trending on Twitter after BJP politician D. Karthik only managed a solitary vote in the polls.However, Karthik later clarified that he contested the election as an independent candidate, not representing the BJP. tamil nadu 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 joseph stalin, tamil nadu, bharatiya janata party (bjp), world, india, world, india https://sputniknews.com/20211013/star-trek-actor-william-shatner-blasts-off-into-space-on-blue-origins-new-shepard-ns-18-rocket-1089885214.html Star Trek Actor William Shatner Blasts Off Into Space on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-18 Rocket Star Trek Actor William Shatner Blasts Off Into Space on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-18 Rocket On Sunday, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin announced that it would delay the second launch of its crewed New Shepard spacecraft to 13 October due to unfavourable... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T13:00+0000 2021-10-13T13:00+0000 2021-10-13T13:01+0000 world blue origin space launches new shepard /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089886646_0:0:2048:1153_1920x0_80_0_0_d6d19d2cfc09f5e52126ad7c86292060.jpg Blue Origin is launching the New Shepard NS-18 spacecraft from Van Horn.The mission will carry four astronauts to space and back. They include Blue Origins vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, Star Trek actor William Shatner, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen, and Medidata Solutions co-founder Glen de Vries.Shatner and Powers will join their crewmates - former NASA engineer Chris Boshuizen and Dassault Systemes Vice Chair Glen de Vries.90-year-old Shatner. the actor who portrayed Captain Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series, will become the oldest person ever to travel to space.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! Charlie McD Leave him up there. 0 Rokenbok Captain, say hello to Scotty while you are up there. God Bless. 0 2 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 Star Trek Actor William Shatner Blasts Off Into Space on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-18 Rocket Star Trek Actor William Shatner Blasts Off Into Space on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-18 Rocket 2021-10-13T13:00+0000 true PT162M43S 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 world, blue origin, space launches, new shepard, https://sputniknews.com/20211013/taliban-not-going-to-remove-ministers-from-government-under-sanctions-threat---spokesman-1089876583.html Taliban Not Going to Remove Ministers From Government Under Sanctions Threat - Spokesman Taliban Not Going to Remove Ministers From Government Under Sanctions Threat - Spokesman DOHA (Sputnik) - The Taliban* is not going to remove ministers from the government under threat of US and UN sanctions; it is carrying out purges in the... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T00:06+0000 2021-10-13T00:06+0000 2021-10-13T00:04+0000 us assets afghanistan qatar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/12/1089196425_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7c63683640c222b46ce79ec48962ecea.jpg On Monday, it was reported that the Afghan interim government held a meeting at which it was decided to expel "unwanted persons" from positions in the Taliban government or the leadership of the movement. Details were not provided.Explaining the concept of "unwanted persons," Naeem emphasized that the possible expulsion of its members from the cabinet under US or UN sanctions was a "misinterpretation."The spokesperson's remarks came shortly after a meeting in Qatar with the EU delegation.Release of Afghan AssetsNaeem had earlier detailed that representatives for the US, UK and several other Western nations had opted to keep quiet about the Taliban's ongoing request to unfreeze Afghan assets.US State Department spokesperson Ned Price weighed in on the topic of Afghan assets on Tuesday, tellings reporters during a news briefing that the US will make a decision regarding Afghanistans financial reserves on the basis of the future governments conduct."When it comes to central bank reserves, we will judge and interact with any future Afghan government on the basis of its conduct and its conduct in key areas," Price said during a press briefing.The Biden administration has decided to freeze billions of dollars of Afghanistan government reserves held in the US financial institutions to halt the Taliban from accessing these funds.After the Taliban entered Kabul in mid-August, leading to the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund suspended financial aid to the new Afghan government. Their support accounted for nearly 75% of Afghanistan's public expenditure. The United States has also frozen billions of dollars in assets belonging to the Afghan Central Bank.*The Taliban is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries. FeEisi Russia can spread its influence in Afghanistan. Both the Taliban and Russia can agree to open a drone base in Afghanistan that can be used to help fight ISIS and stop ISIS spread into Tajikistan and Central Asia. Russia can also reach an agreement considering Afghanistan's northern border by giving support to the Taliban to better control the border and keeping ISIS from crossing. 1 1 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 us, assets, afghanistan, qatar https://sputniknews.com/20211013/tehran-accuses-tel-aviv-of-spreading-false-fabricated-claims-about-iran-while-stockpiling-nukes-1089885660.html Tehran Accuses Tel Aviv of Spreading False, Fabricated Claims About Iran While Stockpiling Nukes Tehran Accuses Tel Aviv of Spreading False, Fabricated Claims About Iran While Stockpiling Nukes Israel has repeatedly threatened to launch a military attack against Iran to stop its alleged nuclear weapons programme. Tehran has long denied having any... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T10:21+0000 2021-10-13T10:21+0000 2021-10-13T10:48+0000 israel iran nuclear /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106819/12/1068191268_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_e4832adbca0911f933d26421c38a3632.jpg Israels nukes, and not Irans supposed nuclear weapons ambitions, are the true threat to the Middle East, Irans envoy to the United Nations General Assemblys first committee on global nuclear disarmament has alleged.Israel continues to defy all international regimes governing weapons of mass destruction by refusing to adhere to the [Non-Proliferation Treaty], the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Committee, Iranian representative Heidar Ali Balouji said, speaking at a committee meeting in New York City on Tuesday.Accusing the Jewish State of seriously hampering the creation of a nuclear-free Middle East, which he recalled was proposed by Iran in 1974, Balouji suggested that Tel Avivs nukes pose the most serious threat both to the security of regional states, and to the non-proliferation regime. Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons, in a policy known as 'deliberate ambiguity'.Balouji accused Israel of making standard practice out of the dissemination of false and fabricated accusations against regional countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of IranNevertheless, it is quite evident that no amount of disinformation and manufactured crises can cover up the criminal nature, as well as the expansionist and warmongering policies, that this regime has pursued over the past 70 years, he said. The diplomat went on to accuse Israel of violating the rights of Palestinians and other Arabs living in Israeli-occupied territories.Baloujis comments follow remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett earlier Tuesday calling on the UN Security Council to take action against Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons ambitions. Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Bennett suggested that Irans behaviour in the nuclear sphere was a global problem.The back-and-forth allegations about one anothers alleged nuclear potential are part of a decades-old nuke-related diplomatic battle between Iran and Israel. Israeli officials have long accused Tehran of secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, while keeping mum about Tel Avivs own suspected stockpile of nukes estimated to number between 80 and 400 warheads. On Tuesday, in a break from standard Israeli claims that Iran could be just weeks or months from amassing the technical capability to build its first nuke, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen told a news conference that Tehran was not even close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, thanks in part to the activities of Israeli intelligence (which in the past has included the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and sabotage attacks against Irans nuclear facilities).In 2018, Israel successfully lobbied the Trump administration to pull out of an international agreement on Irans nuclear programme known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which promised the Islamic Republic sanctions relief in exchange for a commitment to limit its peaceful nuclear programme. Since coming into office in January, the Biden administration has held multiple rounds of negotiations with remaining JCPOA representatives in Vienna on reactivating the agreement, but talks have hit a roadblock, as neither side wants to take the first step to restoring the deal. Iran insists that the United States must first remove its crushing sanctions, and drop any aspirations to include Irans conventional missile programme into the nuclear agreement. Washington says Tehran has to bring its uranium enrichment and stockpiling activities back in line with limits established by the JCPOA.Iran first proposed the idea of a nuclear-free zone for the Middle East in a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in 1974. The resolution, put forth amid growing regional concerns about Israels suspected nuclear ambitions, was put forth again by Iran in 2006 and 2015. https://sputniknews.com/20211012/iran-not-even-close-to-nuclear-weapon-but-israel-can-act-alone-if-required-ex-mossad-chief-says-1089874220.html vot tak As Balouji has described the israelis are the problem. They need to go and Palestine needs to return. 5 mandrake Since teheran talks about the jews in palestine, teheran should be believed. Nobtwo things about it - deceit, theft and murder is the very essence of the palestinian jews which the world ought to know by now and, like south africa, the only way to finish the murderous and thieving jews illegally occupying palestine is by boycotting the illegal setlement and sanction any breacher said boycott. 4 3 israel iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov israel, iran, nuclear https://sputniknews.com/20211013/uk-climate-protesters-block-major-london-road-again-despite-injunction-1089886512.html UK Climate Protesters Block Major London Road Again Despite Injunction UK Climate Protesters Block Major London Road Again Despite Injunction LONDON (Sputnik) - Activists from Insulate Britain, an environmental campaign group demanding that the government insulate and retrofit homes across the UK... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T10:29+0000 2021-10-13T10:29+0000 2021-10-13T10:29+0000 protesters uk insulate britain /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089121415_0:0:2048:1152_1920x0_80_0_0_5768796d5aef51f538bce713456a6c79.jpg Videos posted on social media showed people at an industrial park near Dartford Crossing, east of London, snatching banners off the hands of the protesters and dragging them off the road, while asking them: Why arent you at work?The group said in a press release that around 40 people have returned to the streets for the thirteenth time over the past four weeks fully aware that their protest was in breach of the injunction granted to National Highways Authorities on September 22.According to the climate campaign group, 8,500 deaths in an average UK winter are a result of cold homes, and thousands of families "have to choose between heating and eating."Last week, UK Home Minister Priti Patel announced that the government will enforce penalties of up to six months in prison and unlimited fines, or both, against protesters who block major roads. Police will also be given new powers to crack down on disruptions caused to motorways and other key transport infrastructure.Despite the prison threat, Insulate Britain said their actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful statement indicating its intention to insulate all of Britains 29 million leaky homes by 2030, and all social housing by 2025. 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 protesters, uk, insulate britain https://sputniknews.com/20211013/ukraine-ready-for-normandy-format-talks-waiting-for-signal-from-russia-foreign-minister-says-1089893072.html Ukraine Ready for Normandy Format Talks, 'Waiting for Signal' From Russia, Foreign Minister Says Ukraine Ready for Normandy Format Talks, 'Waiting for Signal' From Russia, Foreign Minister Says KIEV (Sputnik) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday he is ready for a Normandy-format meeting and expects that Russia will confirm its... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T13:45+0000 2021-10-13T13:45+0000 2021-10-13T13:45+0000 world russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102633/70/1026337018_0:209:4000:2459_1920x0_80_0_0_1ef901e605b6a001cf723c66c8727664.jpg "Throughout this year, my German or French colleague has come to me several times and asked if I am ready for a meeting in the Normandy format at the level of foreign ministers. And each time I replied without hesitation, yes! But no meeting has since been held, because Minister Lavrov is trying to avoid it in every possible way," Kuleba told briefing.The minister expressed the hope that Russia will agree to the meeting as soon as possible.The Kremlin said on Tuesday that a meeting between foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries, namely Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine, is a strong probability, and details of the leaders' summit will become clear thereafter.The so-called Normandy format of negotiations on Ukraine has existed since June 2014. The most recent Normandy summit took place in Paris on 9 December 2019. The Kremlin has said that it would be good to hold a summit in the Normandy format, but the agenda must be carefully prepared. Russia believes the parties may not have a chance to gather for such a summit under outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Boris Jaruselski ...mmmhhh, talk about what buddy? Scrapping Nord Stream 2? Withdrawing support for Ukranian 'breakaway republics'? Stealing Natural Gas from Russia? Russia giving their consent Ukraine to become a NATO member? ...have I 'forgotten' something? 1 Holger H. Talk with the NAZI Scum is futile... they didnt honor the first agreement and therefore are not trustworthy 1 2 russia ukraine 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 world, russia, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20211013/us-marine-who-publicly-slammed-bidens-hasty-afghanistan-exit-to-plead-guilty-at-court-martial-1089888895.html US Marine Who Publicly Slammed Biden's Hasty Afghanistan Exit to 'Plead Guilty' at Court-Martial US Marine Who Publicly Slammed Biden's Hasty Afghanistan Exit to 'Plead Guilty' at Court-Martial Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller had been put in the brig after publishing a series of videos where he condemned the Biden administrations abrupt US troop... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T12:25+0000 2021-10-13T12:25+0000 2021-10-13T12:25+0000 kabul joe biden lloyd austin afghanistan mark milley bagram air base /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/1c/1083737389_0:139:1000:702_1920x0_80_0_0_21e55506bb91a53ec71ed76dbb4cc450.jpg A Marine officer sent to the brig for publicly criticising the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will plead guilty to several charges filed against him, reported The Hill, citing his attorney.Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller Jr. is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina. He faces a court-martial on six violations: contempt toward officials, disrespect toward the superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying superior commissioned officers, dereliction in the performance of duties, failure to obey and order or regulation, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.According to the attorney, he is working on an agreement to obtain Scheller an honourable discharge or a discharge with honourable conditions. A possible plea deal was first reported by Coffee or Die Magazine and The Washington Post.After spending a totally excessive and unnecessary week in prison, Scheller should only get a letter of reprimand and no additional punishments, believes the lawyer. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was relieved of command after a video of him criticising senior US officials for failures in Afghanistan went viral. The Facebook post in August came after 13 service members were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport during the massive evacuation that was launched after Taliban Islamist group swept to power in the wake of the US and NATO exit. Scheller, dressed in uniform, had echoed bipartisan criticism directed at the administration of President Joe Biden, and stated that senior leaders had let people down. However, he underscored, none of them are raising their hands and accepting responsibility and saying we messed this up. He rebuked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley for the bad idea to evacuate Bagram Airfield, and for not anticipating the swift fall of the Afghan National Security Forces in the face of the Taliban offensive.The following day Scheller was removed from command of the advanced infantry training battalion at Camp Lejeune due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command, according to Maj. Jim Stenger, a spokesman for the Marines. He was subsequently thrown in the brig to await military trial for contempt. The former officer attempted to resign, in a written request, and relinquish his $2 million pension, but his request was denied by the military. After Scheller was released on 5 October, his spokesperson release a statement saying: It was added that Scheller appreciated the support of his legal team, family and friends, Members of Congress, the Pipe Hitter Foundation and the Marines, as well as the American people. The Piper Hitter Foundation has raised $2 million for his defense. The Washington Times reported that Scheller's initial court appearance was delayed after protests from the media that they would not be allowed to attend.*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Volkan Kalender Good morning after supper. Didn't I say that the USA is still supporting Al-qaeda, Isis, Taliban terrorists? 1 Brian the military is not democratic 0 2 kabul afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko kabul, joe biden, lloyd austin, afghanistan, mark milley, bagram air base https://sputniknews.com/20211013/us-national-security-advisor-sullivan-meets-with-skorean-counterpart---spokeswoman-1089877829.html US National Security Adviser Sullivan Meets With S.Korean Counterpart - Spokeswoman US National Security Adviser Sullivan Meets With S.Korean Counterpart - Spokeswoman WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his South Korean counterpart Suh Hoon discussed regional security, the White House said... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T02:27+0000 2021-10-13T02:27+0000 2021-10-13T02:28+0000 south korea korean peninsula north korea democratic republic of north korea (dprk) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/02/1083512342_0:0:2677:1506_1920x0_80_0_0_354c3d3d10baa9af4fbd0696d7f4c499.jpg "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with the Republic of Korea (ROK) National Security Advisor Suh Hoon, and both emphasized the important role of the US-ROK alliance as the linchpin of peace, prosperity and security in northeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific," US National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said."Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Suh held detailed discussions on the current security situation in the region and called on the DPRK to enter into serious and sustained diplomacy towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Horne said.Sullivan also said North Korea should refrain from escalatory actions."They acknowledged the important steps taken to broaden and expand the U.S.-ROK relationship following President Moons visit to Washington in May, and committed to deepening cooperation in critical areas such as advanced technology, secure and trustworthy 5G, resilient supply chains, and global health," according to the statement.The latest remarks regarding the Korean Peninsula come shortly after North Korea restored its communications hotline with its southern neighbor, a move which followed a monthslong halt in talks between the two Koreas. south korea korean peninsula democratic republic of north korea (dprk) 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 south korea, korean peninsula, north korea, democratic republic of north korea (dprk) https://sputniknews.com/20211013/us-to-reopen-borders-for-fully-vaccinated-travelers-in-november-1089878495.html US to Reopen Borders for Fully Vaccinated Travelers in November US to Reopen Borders for Fully Vaccinated Travelers in November The Biden administration will be lifting pandemic-era travel restrictions on Wednesday, effectively reopening land borders with Canada and Mexico to... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T04:06+0000 2021-10-13T04:06+0000 2021-10-13T04:04+0000 mexico us canada border vaccination covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/03/0a/1082303995_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0f2e46c92e107d829166d9b318351410.jpg Senior administration officials detailed late Tuesday that the Biden White House would be allowing individuals to enter the US as long as they provide documentation showing full vaccination against COVID-19. Reports have also noted that essential travelers such as truck drivers will need to be fully vaxxed to enter the US.Although an exact date was not released, the new measures are expected to begin in November.It has also been detailed that, unlike individuals traveling by air, those entering the US via land borders will not be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test if they are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.Although the COVID-19 vaccine provided by AstraZeneca was at the center of debate during the height of the pandemic, it is believed that the US will accept the company's jab. Any vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization will reportedly be sufficient for US entry.Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner.Unvaccinated travelers will still be prohibited from entering the US for nonessential travel.The latest development comes just weeks after US President Joe Biden lifted a ban on foreigners traveling to the US from overseas. The US land border travel ban has been ongoing for some 20 months. TruePatriot If anything those that have been jabbed should be quarantined because they can very easily carry the bug and also because they are apt to be "shedding" the bug, whereas those who haven't been jabbed are either ok or are ill with something. 1 astrodetective Meanwhile 100,000 s illegal migrants don't need to be vaxed c/- Biden commo's 1 6 mexico canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Gaby Arancibia Gaby Arancibia 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 Gaby Arancibia mexico, us, canada, border, vaccination, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211013/why-us-uks-show-of-force-failed-to-deter-china--how-beijing-may-benefit-paris-and-berlin-1089882872.html Why US-UK's Show of Force Failed to Deter China & How Beijing May Benefit Paris and Berlin Why US-UK's Show of Force Failed to Deter China & How Beijing May Benefit Paris and Berlin The US and UK's zero sum approach towards China won't benefit anyone and may even lead to a great powers conflict; in contrast, a win-win approach may open new... 13.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-13T12:00+0000 2021-10-13T12:00+0000 2021-10-13T12:00+0000 france news world us asia & pacific opinion china germany territorial integrity xi jinping /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/10/1083398847_0:24:695:415_1920x0_80_0_0_6fb91f1c62715224f6db3f38b256fd0a.jpg Over the past two weeks, the US and UK have been engaged in a show of force in the Indo-Pacific and ramping up their anti-China rhetoric.The USS Carl Vinson, the USS Ronald Reagan and the HMS Queen Elizabeth, joined by naval ships from Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands, carried out naval exercises in the Philippines Sea on 3 October, according to the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), a Beijing-based think tank. On 4 October, US and UK warships sailed through the South China Sea most of which is claimed by China SCSPI said, citing satellite images. The drills came on the heels of a landmark nuclear submarine deal with Australia, which triggered harsh criticism from France, which was sidelined by its British and American allies.Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal broke on 7 October that a US special operations unit and a contingent of Marines "have been secretly operating in Taiwan to train military forces there" for at least a year. According to Beijing's One China vision, Taiwan is an integral part of the People's Republic.On the same day, the CIA announced the creation of a new China Mission Center to tackle what it called "the most important geopolitical threat [the US] face[s] in the 21st century" "an increasingly adversarial Chinese government".Bidens Failed 'China Containment' StrategyWashington's increased sabre-rattling against China appears to be a response to Joe Biden's plummeting approval rating over a blundered COVID-19 handling, slow economic recovery and disastrous Afghan withdrawal, suggests Thomas W. Pauken II, a Beijing-based Asia-Pacific affairs commentator and author of US vs. China: From Trade War to Reciprocal Deal.It is unlikely that the news about the US military presence in Taiwan has caught the Chinese by surprise, since they are closely monitoring everything that's happening on the island, according to the author.The Wall Street Journal's expose will only prompt the Chinese to step up surveillance of Taiwan's border and customs, thus creating additional risks for US military personnel, Pauken notes, questioning the magazine's motivation. Similarly, the CIA's public announcement of the creation of the new China Mission Center appears awkward and places CIA agents at greater risk, according to the commentator. "What happened to the days when a CIA office was not publicly announced like a grand opening for a new shop?" Pauken asks rhetorically.When it comes to the US multinational war games, it failed to produce any psychological deterrent effect on Beijing especially in the light of USS Connecticut colliding with an underwater object in the South China Sea on 2 October, according to the commentator.Why US and UK's Stepping Up Pressure on China May End Badly for AllThe multinational naval drills led by the US and UK came on the heels of China's National Day, a holiday commemorating the Kuomintang's defeat and subsequent retreat to Taiwan and the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.On 3 October, Washington issued a "warning" to Beijing over China's military activities near Taiwan, calling them "provocative" and undermining "regional peace and stability". According to the Global Times, by this message the US sent "a very wrong and irresponsible signal". Thus, on 4 October, China dispatched a whopping 56 warplanes consisting mainly of fighters and bombers for drills near the breakaway island.The French politician suggests that "if the Anglosphere imagines it can, by continually increasing its pressure, do a replay with China what it did with the USSR in 1989, and 'bring down Communism', it makes a deadly mistake," which could easily translate into a third world war nightmare."The 'perceived threat' the West sees from China and its main ally, Russia, is not military, but cultural, scientific, technological and civilisational," Vereycken says. "That is the real motive of the 'Asia Pivot' formalised by Obama and continued by both Trump and Biden as the 'Quad' and Boris Johnsons Global Britains drive for AUKUS."The French politician does not rule out that the current response of the West means that "the military-financial oligarchy is preparing for war, since the main battlefield of modern warfare is that of the mind and the soul of the worlds population".'A Grand New Realignment'While the US, UK and their Anglophone allies are flexing their muscles in China's backyard, the EU's major powers Germany and France appear to regard Beijing as a promising partner. In July 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the idea of quadrilateral cooperation on Africa, dubbed an "Africa Quad", to Berlin and Paris. Xi said that Africa needs assistance and at the same time offers "the greatest development potentials".The French politician lamented the fact that "geopolitical shortsightedness remains dominant in the EU". He notes that "so far, France thought that by behaving as servile lackeys to NATO, they would get more crumbs to eat". According to Vereycken, Paris should not cry about the US, UK and Australia's "treasonous behaviour" when it came to the French submarine deal: "the 'Five Eyes' empire only acted according to its own nature", he believes. For its part, "China should increase its cooperation with France and Germany as much as possible, but without illusion", the politician says.The Anglo-Saxon "tilt" vis-a-vis China on the one hand and European powers' interest in deepening cooperation with Beijing on the other hand show "a grand new realignment", according to Thomas Pauken. He believes that "China will come out the winner as they can capture better relations with Brussels, Paris and Berlin." https://sputniknews.com/20211007/cia-china-study-center-threatens-to-foster-groupthink-infect-analysis-ex-officer-says-1089753460.html https://sputniknews.com/20211008/what-does-uss-connecticuts-mysterious-collision-say-about-pentagons-strategy-in-south-china-sea-1089775900.html Boris Jaruselski The Us, ...at least for now UNITED Kingdom, is between a rock and a hard place, ever since they left the EU. Mainland Europe, especially Germany, are probably happy, the UK isn't in the union anymore... China, with their One Belt, One Road initiative have probably never looked at the British Isles as a place worthwhile doing business with, so they have instead focused primarily on the Balkans and Central Europe. France always have maintained somewhat of a lofty position, but alone they can't stand, so in the end, the idea that originated in the Kremlin of Euro-Asian Union will come to fruition, minus the British Isles... 7 1 france china germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova france, news, world, us, asia & pacific, opinion, china, germany, territorial integrity, xi jinping, hms queen elizabeth, uss connecticut, uk, aukus The betting public at Century Downs was all over Icy Blue Scooter in his quest to double up in Tuesdays $8,100 Open Pace, and the veteran gelding didnt disappoint his backers. The eight-year-old son of Blue Burner-Jills Scooter quarter poled-moved to the lead in the Tuesday feature for trainer/driver Nathan Sobey and that proved to be the winning move. Icy Blue Scooter was second and parked past the opening quarter in :28 before eventually working his way to the top over early leader Retros Mystery. Once in command of the tempo, Icy Blue Scooter ripped through fractions of :57.1 and 1:24.4 before using a :29.2 closing quarter en route to winning by a half-length margin over Crackle N Burn in 1:54.1. Outlaw Gunsablazing took home third prize in the six-horse affair. Sent off at odds of 1-5, Icy Blue Scooter improved his 2021 record to 6-3-2 from 14 starts for Sobey and partners Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. The 35-time winner has now banked over $267,000 to date. To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results Century Downs. When we have same-day Tuesday elections and the polls are just open for 12, 13 hours, there are a lot of people who cannot vote that day, Levy said. The right to vote is basic. We should be able to take it for granted but we cant. We have to really work to protect it. Spotsylvania NAACP President Moe Petway expressed concern that during the countys Souls to the Polls event, there were candidates from the Republican party approaching voters throughout the day. Petway said the NAACP will request that Spotsylvania relocate its early voting satellite office located at 4924 Southpoint Parkway. He said its too close to the countys Republican headquarters, which is at 4920 Southpoint Parkway. Acors noted that the countys office of elections leased the building for the sole purpose of early voting in late August 2020 and the Republicans arrived two doors down afterward. Acors said the location is convenient because its in the same vicinity of the main office of elections at 4708 Southpoint Parkway. Still, Acors said the satellite office will likely be moved. She said there have been disturbances in the parking lot between opposing parties. NSBA CEO Chip Slaven praised Garlands action as sending a strong message to individuals with violent intent who are focused on causing chaos, disrupting our public schools, and driving wedges between school boards and the parents, students, and communities they serve. In recent weeks, Slaven said school board members and other leaders have received death threats and been harassed online and in person. The individuals who are intent on causing chaos and disrupting our schoolsmany of whom are not even connected to local schoolsare drowning out the voices of parents who must be heard when it comes to decisions about their childrens education, health, and safety, he added. These acts of intimidation are also affecting educational services and school board governance. Some have even led to school lockdowns. But on Oct. 6, the VSBA distanced itself from the NSBAs stance, saying it was not consulted about this letter, did not provide information to NSBA, and was not informed that the letter was being sent. Sixty-five soldiers with the Nebraska Army National Guards 1057th Military Police Company will mark a year-long deployment Friday. Members of the 1057th Military Police Company, which is based in Chadron and has detachments in Scottsbluff and Kearney, were notified about a year ago that they would deploy to the US. Central Command Area, which covers 20 nations: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen. The soldiers will spend several weeks in Fort Bliss, Texas, for final pre-deployment training. Accounting for training time, Maj. Scott Ingalsbe, state public affairs officer, told the Star-Herald, the soldiers will be deployed for about a year. Many have joined the unit, knowing that this deployment was coming up, Ingalsbe said. ...I think its something most of the soldiers have been looking forward to, and planning on, for some time. Major General Daryl L. Bohac, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard, will be on hand during send-off ceremonies for the soldiers and their families that will be held Friday. Ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m., at the Weborg 21 Centre. The Kimball City Council will interview two candidates for its city administrator position. The city administrator position has been open since April 2020, after its administrator Dan Dean retired. The search process has been beleaguered by troubles, with Kimball councilmembers turning back Mayor Keith Pruntys recommendations among staff twice and applicants from previous interviews not accepting the position. The process has even included attempts to recall Prunty, though organizers of the recall didnt go through with that effort in April. On Tuesday, the City of Kimball announced it had been working with search firm Baker Tiller and two finalists had been selected. Those candidates will be interviewed during a public meeting on Saturday, Oct. 16. Finalist Patrick Davidson will be interviewed at 11 a.m. The other finalists, Annette Brower, currently works for the City of Kimball and will be interviewed at 12 p.m. The City of Kimball provided brief bios of each candidate. Discussion about supervision by Rief seemed to have caused the most discussion, and possibly the controversy that led to his wifes impassioned speech. Among discussion from Rief at that Sept. 20 meeting, he said his role is to handle the operations of the organization, with the councils role to set policy and guide the community direction. Rief said he had directed city staff to direct questions by councilmembers to him, encouraging them to be polite and kindly assist officials but to refer them to him. After four positions in city management, he said, I think the biggest challenge that we have is sometimes we get that one council member, or two in some cases, that dont always have the best interests in mind. They have an agenda. And I think its hard to weed through that. 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 re-registering is necessary. The change was made official on 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 Sheriff's Offices and Dodge and Hall County Departments of Corrections. In August, Oregon Governor Kate Brown privately signed a bill ending a requirement that high school students prove they are proficient in writing, reading and math before graduating. The law lasts for three years. The pandemic was blamed for students falling behind, but the real motive was revealed by the governors spokesman, Charles Boyle, who said existing standards failed students who dont test well and that new standards would aid the states Black, Latino, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Tribal and students of color. Im surprised he didnt include, as President Biden often does, the LGBTQI-plus demographic. In New York, outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered the elimination of the citys gifted and talented program. You can probably guess the reason. Critics of the program claim it is racist because white and Asian students are overwhelmingly represented. De Blasio will let children currently enrolled to complete the program, but no new students will be accepted. Instead, reports The New York Times, The system will be replaced by a program that offers the possibility of accelerated learning to students in the later years of elementary school. Who will qualify for that? And who gets to say? What if it is the same racial and ethnic imbalance as now? From left to right: 37 year old Brandon Thornton and 28 year old Chelsea Hart, both of Albuquerque, New Mexico You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Agricultural research in Southwest Virginia by Emory & Henry College is among the recipients of grants announced recently by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. GROW(TH): The Business of Agriculture in Southwest Virginia has received $52,950 in state grant money, according to a news release from the governors office. This will benefit the counties of Smyth and Washington and the towns of Abingdon, Glade Spring and Saltville. With the money, E&Hs College of Business will complete a feasibility study of an innovation hub for an agriculture initiative, the release states. This will support ongoing agriculture-related entrepreneurship education through a set of distinct, custom programs that will drive workforce growth, Northam announced. This grant was part of a package of economic boosts announced recently by Northam with a total allocation of more than $7.7 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants to advance community economic recovery efforts. The Appalachian Council for Innovation Business Continuity and Resiliency received a grant of $68,500. This regional grant benefits the counties of Bland, Wythe and Tazewell and the towns of Bluefield and Wytheville. DAMASCUS, Va. Damascus Town Council struck down proposals to change the rules of transient lodging at Thursdays council meeting. I think we need to let this situation cool down, said Town Council member Beaty Jackson. This is a hornets nest. Earlier this year, a committee spent five months preparing a new list of rules for property owners who rent lodging to transient or temporary visitors, who typically stay overnight or a few days. Damascus relies on tourism for its economy. The towns tourist traffic is driven by its proximity to the Virginia Creeper Trail, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Appalachian Trail and the nearby Cherokee National Forest. Newly appointed Town Council member Robert Van de Vuurst headed the committee that studied the transient lodging issue. Van de Vuurst also cast the lone vote against Jacksons motion to table the issue. There are more important issues, Jackson said. Neighbors arent talking to each other. People arent being civil about it. Some citizens have complained that they dont like being neighbors next to houses that are continually rented by strangers. Andy Parker said during a press conference announcing the FTC complaint that he also wants to see action from Congress, echoing some of the calls made last week by whistleblower and former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, who has accused the company of harming children, inciting political violence and fueling misinformation. "Alison's murder, shared on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, is just one of the egregious practices that are undermining the fabric of our society," Parker said. Parker said he agreed with Haugen on the need for Congress to impose new curbs on the long-standing legal protections for speech posted on social media platforms. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called for stripping away some of the protections granted by a 25-year-old law in a provision known as Section 230 that shields internet companies from liability for what users post. In her Senate testimony last week, Haugen urged lawmakers to remove the protections in cases where dominant content driven by computer algorithms favors massive engagement by users over public safety. We felt that there was a very timely opportunity to not be dependent on the whims of Asia when we have right here, in America, all the skills, capabilities and intelligence to be market-leading, self-sufficient and highly competitive, Blue Star-AGI Co-Chief Executive Officer Marc Jason said in a statement. 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 $4 million for a new 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 medicine, while prioritizing manufacturing here at home of such reserves. Per a VCU news release, generic drugs constitute 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., but 87% of active pharmaceutical ingredient facilities for such treatments are housed in other countries. The Longview School Board heard reports on a new housing development near Mint Valley Elementary School and on this years student demographics at Monday nights meeting. Jennifer Westerman with Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington told the board about Sunrise Village, a 45-unit development that will house families and elderly people. Located near Mint Valley on a 2-acre lot donated by the Longview Presbyterian Church, the project is in the financing stage and could be completed by fall 2022, Westerman said. The goal is to make sure the buildings fit in the larger community, and the project has been very intentional in the families it hopes to house, Westerman said. We want to work as closely as we can with the school district, she said. Board Vice President Jennifer Leach said she was glad to see the project because its needed. Superintendent Dan Zorn thanked Westerman for the communication over the past two years. Board member Crystal Moldenhauer asked if there would be any restrictions on who lives in the housing project, as it is near a school. She said she was opposed to it being sex offender housing or anything similar. Westerman said as the project is federally funded, there are sex offender restrictions and we specifically selected this population knowing there is a school district next door and wanting to make sure its a good fit. Were taking that very seriously, Westerman said. District Director of Assessment, CTE and Technology Integration Bill Ofstun gave a student demographic report, telling the board the main takeaways are the district saw a 5% drop in enrollment in the 2020-2021 school year, the count of homeless students dropped slightly and the district continues to have a much higher percentage of students in the special education program and in the free and reduced lunch prices program than the state average. Although the districts homeless student population dropped from 3.4% to 2.9%, Ofstun said that likely had more to do with the difficulty of counting who is homeless when school is remote. He said the eviction moratorium also is likely having an effect on the count. The district recorded a slightly higher special education count, moving from 18.4% to 18.9%. The state average is about 14.1%. Overall, the district remains slightly more male, and the percentage of Hispanic students grew from 21.6% to 22.7%. The percentage of American Indian or Alaskan Native students remained steady at 1.5%, while the percentage of Asian students increased from 1.9% to 2%. The percentage of Black students also is slightly higher than the previous year, at 1.3% from 1.1%. The number of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students also grew, from 0.9% to 1.3%. Students who identify as white decreased from 66.1% to 63.9%, and the percentage of students who identify as two or more races increased from 6.9% to 7.3%. The board also passed two policies, an update to the students experiencing homelessness policy; and a new policy on requests for disability accommodation by parents, guardians and community members. The homelessness policy updates cleaned up language and added an option for the school to help students get healthcare if a guardian cannot help them. The second policy sets out how the school district will accept and respond to requests from parents, guardians and other community members who have a disability and need accommodations to access school services, programs and activities. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. The United States (US) has overtaken China to account for the largest share of the world's bitcoin mining, data published on Wednesday by Britain's Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance showed. The figures demonstrate the impact of a crackdown on bitcoin trading and mining launched by China's State Council, or cabinet, in late May, which devastated the industry and caused miners to shut up shop or move overseas. China's share of the power of computers connected to the global bitcoin network, known as the "hash rate", had fallen to zero by July from 44% in May, and as much as 75% in 2019, the data showed. Miners elsewhere have taken up the slack, with mining rig manufacturers shifting their attention to North America and Central Asia and larger Chinese miners moving as well, though this process is fraught with logistical difficulties. As a result, the United States now accounts for the largest share of mining, some 35.4% of the global hash rate as of the end of August, followed by Kazakhstan and Russia, the data showed. Bitcoin is created or "mined" by high-powered computers, usually at data centres in different parts of the world, which compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles in a process that makes intensive use of electricity. Russia's low energy costs and cool climate enabled some companies using surplus electricity to benefit from bitcoin's surging prices earlier this year, but concerns are growing about illegal mining. In a letter to the government in Moscow in late September, Igor Kobzev, governor of Russia's Irkutsk region, pointed to "avalanche-like growth" of energy tariffs, blaming underground cryptocurrency mining. "(The situation) is further worsened by the ban on mining imposed by the Chinese authorities and the relocation of a significant amount of equipment to the Irkutsk region," Kobzev said in the letter, according to a report by the Vedomosti daily on Wednesday. Authorities elsewhere are more tolerant or even welcoming of bitcoin mining, while Chinese authorities announced even tougher rules for bitcoin mining and trading last month. "Our current focus is accelerating the construction of compliant mining farms in North America and Europe," a representative for mining rig maker Ebang International Holdings told Reuters after the latest crackdown. But industry players remain bruised. "As a veteran who witnessed the industry's birth in China, I feel the situation today is lamentable," said Mao Shihang, founder of F2Pool, once the world's biggest bitcoin mining pool, and co-founder of Cobo, a Singapore-headquartered crypto asset manager and custodian. "China is losing its share of computing power ... the industry's centre of gravity is shifting to the United States," he said, speaking before the Cambridge data was published. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Public temperature checks have become common practice around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers at Texas A&M University hope to make it possible to check the temperatures of large groups of people more quickly and at a less expensive cost than allowed by current methods. Choongho Yu, professor and Sallie and Don Davis '61 Faculty Fellow II in the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, is working alongside his students to harness the thermal energy generated by body heat to power a small, self-sustaining electronic device capable of detecting fever in its wearer. The team's research was recently published in Nature Communications. If successful, Yu said such a device could benefit a large number of peopleespecially when implemented in a public settingby quickly and efficiently identifying fever. "The fever detector can be distributed to many unspecified people at public places at a low price, and this technique could be helpful in the early and fast detection of fever commonly observed from a viral infection such as COVID-19, SARS, MERS and swine flu," Yu said. Graduate student Yufan Zhang, who works with Yu on the project, said that while fever detection can serve as an effective way to minimize viral transmission during a pandemic, a cheap, visible and self-sustainable technique is needed to accomplish this goal. "Thermal energy scavenging shows great potential since an output voltage can be obtained by a temperature difference supplied by the fever," Zhang said. "To visualize the temperature changes, an electrochromic fever detector has been fabricated and connected to the thermal energy harvester." Using new principles of thermo-hydro-electrochemical energy conversion, Yu and his team are working to develop an effective method of providing charge to their fever detection device by harnessing the thermal energy typically wasted by its user via the corrosion properties of carbon steel electrodes. "Our device is based on carbon steel corrosion to generate voltage and current," Yu said. "The lifetime of our device depends on the speed of the corrosion process." Given the typical rate of corrosion for carbon steel, Yu said the amount utilized by their device could last for more than a decade. While the team is still working to improve the power and current of the device, the results so far have been promising, with the observed thermal-to-energy conversion generating an unprecedented 87 millivolts per degree Celsius. This has provided a few voltslarge enough to operate typical wearable electronicsby connecting between four to eight devices in a series, unlike conventional thermoelectric devices that require at least 1000 devices to get an equivalent voltage. Explore further Cooling mechanism increases solar energy harvesting for self-powered outdoor sensors More information: Yufan Zhang et al, Colossal thermo-hydro-electrochemical voltage generation for self-sustainable operation of electronics, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Yufan Zhang et al, Colossal thermo-hydro-electrochemical voltage generation for self-sustainable operation of electronics,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25606-3 In this Oct. 8, 2021, file photo Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin in Moscow, Russia. During an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is sitting down to talk cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. Credit: Aleksey Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File Amid an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is sitting down to talk cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks was not invited to a two-day meeting starting Wednesday to develop new strategies to counter the threat. The virtual discussions will focus in part on efforts to disrupt and prosecute ransomware networks like the one that attacked a major U.S. pipeline company in May, a senior administration official said. The attack on Colonial Pipeline, which led to gas shortages along the East Coast, was attributed to a Russia-based gang of cybercriminals. The exclusion of a country so closely tied to the global ransomware phenomena reflects the overall poor relations between Moscow and Washington. Despite that, the U.S. has used a "dedicated channel" to address cybersecurity with Russia, said the official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity to preview this week's meeting with around 30 countries and the European Union. Since President Joe Biden raised the issue directly with President Vladimir Putin this summer in a summit and later phone call, there have been "candid discussions" about cybercriminals operating within Russia's borders, the official said. "We've had several, and they continue, and we share information regarding specific criminal actors within Russia, and Russia has taken initial steps," the official said. In this Oct. 8, 2021, file photo President Joe Biden speaks about the September jobs report from the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington. During an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is sitting down to talk cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks around the world was not invited to a two-day meeting starting Wednesday. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File It is unclear what steps Putin's government has taken. Russia does not extradite its own citizens, and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate told a security forum last month that he has seen "no indication that the Russian government has taken action to crack down on ransomware actors that are operating in the permissive environment that they've created there." The issue was expected to be on the agenda this week in Moscow as Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland met for talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The Biden administration took office amid a massive cyberespionage campaign known as the SolarWinds attack, which U.S. officials have linked to Russian intelligence operatives. Ransomware attacks, perpetrated generally by criminal hacker gangs rather than state-sponsored groups, have caused tens of billions of dollars in losses to businesses and institutions and become a major source of tension between the two nations. Ransomware payments reached more than $400 million globally in 2020 and topped $81 million in the first quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. government. Actions taken by the Biden administration include imposing sanctions on a Russia-based virtual currency brokerage that officials say helped at least eight ransomware gangs launder virtual currency and issuing security directives that require pipeline companies to improve their cyber defenses. Most of this week's ransomware meeting is expected to be private as participants attend sessions led by India, Australia, Britain and Germany and will focus on themes such as developing resilience to withstand ransomware attacks. Other participants include Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Kenya. Explore further Biden to meet next month with private sector on cyber issues 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Infosys chief Salil Parekh said growth was the fastest in 11 years. Indian software giant Infosys said Wednesday it expects to grow faster than previously projected after reporting quarterly earnings that beat analyst estimates. The company reported revenues of 296 billion rupees ($3.9 billion) in the three months ending September 30, an increase of 20.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year. "On a year-on-year basis, our growth was the fastest in 11 years," chief executive officer and managing director Salil Parekh said in a media briefing. "Given this continued momentum we have further increased our revenue growth guidance to 16.5 to 17.5 percent." Revenues from digital services grew 43 percent year-on-year, contributing more than 56 percent of its total revenues, up from 54 percent in the previous quarter. At the same time, revenues from the firm's legacy consulting and technology business grew only 0.7 percent in the three-month period. Net profit at India's second-largest IT company rose to 54.21 billion rupees, 11.9 percent higher than the same quarter last year. The company maintained its operating margins at 23.6 percent, compared to 23.7 percent in the previous quarter despite absorbing the impact of wage hikes in the period. However, Infosys left its forecast for operating margins at 22-24 percent for the current financial year 2021-22. The company signed deals worth $2.15 billion in the quarter, down from $2.6 billion in the previous quarter ended June 30. Infosys said it will expand its graduate hiring programme to 45,000 recruits this year to meet increased demand for digital services, even as its attrition ratea key metric for IT companiesspiked to 20.1 percent from 13.9 percent in the previous quarter. Software companies in India are facing intense competition hiring and retaining talent as demand for digital services booms during the coronavirus pandemic. The board announced an interim dividend of 15 rupees per share for shareholders. Infosys was at the forefront of an outsourcing boom that saw India become a back office to the world, as Western firms subcontracted work to a skilled English-speaking workforce. Over 60 percent of its revenues come from North American markets. Shares in the company closed more than one percent higher in Mumbai ahead of the earnings announcement. Explore further India's Infosys posts highest revenues in decade on strong demand 2021 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An Israeli hospital was targeted Wednesday by a ransomware attack, officials said, with the state's cyber directorate calling it the first such attack on a hospital in the country. The Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is "currently using alternative systems to treat its patients", it said in a statement, describing the attack as "totally unexpected". "Medical treatment is continuing as usual, aside from non-urgent elective procedures," Hillel Yaffe said. Yigal Unna, director of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, called it a "major" attack. "We're in the middle of trying to solve it, it does not look very good," he said at a virtual summit on ransomware attacks hosted by the US National Security Council. According to Unna, it was "the first time in Israel" that a ransomware cyber attack targeted a hospital, although medical centres in other countries have experienced similar attacks. His agency said that "the health ministry has updated hospitals as a preventive measure". One in every five businesses in Israel has been targeted in a cyber attack, according to data presented by Unna in July, with the attacks causing damage to a fifth of the establishments attacked. Explore further Israeli cyber chief: Major attack on water systems thwarted 2021 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain A "human error" took down the servers of one of Europe's biggest cloud computing groups on Wednesday, causing thousands of websites to crash for more than hour, the company said. OVHcloud, a French tech success story which is set to launch an initial public offering on Friday, attributed the problem to an intervention on a part of its network in the United States following persistent cyber-attacks. Octave Klaba, the Polish-born founder of the group, said it was "a human error" in a message posted on Twitter. The timing of the outage is embarrassing for the group which is hoping to sell shares worth 350 million euros ($400 million) on Friday, which would value the whole group at 3.5-3.75 billion euros. OVHcloud competes with dominant American tech groups Amazon Web Services and Google to offer cloud computing services, which enable companies to store data remotely rather than on their own servers. The French group pitches itself as a safe European alternative to its American rivals and guarantees that data are stored in accordance with EU laws. It enjoys strong political backing in Paris, which sees it as part of efforts to reduce Europe's reliance on the United States for security and technology. OVHcloud offered its "most sincere apologies" to clients and promised "the utmost transparency on the causes and consequences" of the outage. The IPO by the group will be the third major public share offering by a French tech star following the flotation of music streaming company Believe in June and cybersecurity specialist Exclusive Networks in September. OVHcloud suffered a major fire at one of its facilities in eastern France in March this year that caused problems and outages for 12,000-16,000 clients. Explore further Fire at French cloud computing firm disrupts websites 2021 AFP A Tesla electric vehicle emblem is affixed to a passenger vehicle Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Boston. U.S. highway safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn't file recall paperwork when it updated Autopilot software so it would do a better job spotting parked emergency vehicles. In a letter sent to Tesla on Tuesday, Oct. 12, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric car maker that it has to do a recall if an over-the-internet update mitigates a safety defect. Credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne, File U.S. safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn't file recall documents when it updated Autopilot software to better identify parked emergency vehicles, escalating a simmering clash between the automaker and regulators. In a letter to Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric car maker Tuesday that it must recall vehicles if an over-the-internet update deals with a safety defect. "Any manufacturer issuing an over-the-air update that mitigates a defect that poses an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is required to timely file an accompanying recall notice to NHTSA," the agency said in a letter to Eddie Gates, Tesla's director of field quality. The agency also ordered Tesla to provide information about its "Full Self-Driving" software that's being tested on public roads with some owners. The latest clash is another sign of escalating tensions between Tesla and the agency that regulates vehicle safety and partially automated driving systems. In August the agency opened an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot after getting multiple reports of vehicles crashing into emergency vehicles with warning lights flashing that were stopped on highways. The software can keep cars in their lane and a safe distance from vehicles in front of them. Messages were left early Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla. NHTSA opened a formal investigation of Autopilot after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the dozen crashes that are part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed. According to the agency, Tesla did an over-the-internet software update in late September that was intended to improve detection of emergency vehicle lights in low-light conditions. The agency says Tesla is aware that federal law requires automakers to do a recall if they find out that vehicles have safety defects. The agency asked for information about Tesla's "Emergency Light Detection Update" that was sent to certain vehicles "with the stated purpose of detecting flashing emergency vehicle lights in low light conditions and then responding to said detection with driver alerts and changes to the vehicle speed while Autopilot is engaged." The letter asks for a list of events that motivated the software update, as well as what vehicles it was sent to and whether the measures extend to Tesla's entire fleet. It also asks the Palo Alto, California, company whether it intends to file recall documents. "If not, please furnish Tesla's technical and/or legal basis for declining to do so," the agency asks. Philip Koopman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, said NHTSA clearly wants Tesla to issue a recall. "They're giving Tesla a chance to have their say before they bring the hammer down," said Koopman, who studies automated vehicle safety. When automakers find a safety defect, they must tell NHTSA within five working days, and they're required to do recalls. NHTSA monitors the recalls to make sure they cover all affected vehicles.. Automakers are required to notify all owners with letters explaining the repairs, which must be done at company expense. A public recall allows owners to make sure the repairs are done, and so people buying cars are aware of potential safety problems. NHTSA's actions put all automakers on notice that when they do software updates via the internet, they have to be reported to the agency if they fix a safety problem. It's another new technology that the agency has to deal with as numerous automakers follow Tesla with internet software capability. "Now every company has exposure every time they do an over-the-air update because NHTSA may come back weeks later and say 'wait a minute, that was a stealth recall,'" Koopman said. Tesla has to comply with the request by Nov. 1 or face court action and civil fines of more than $114 million, the agency wrote. In a separate order to Tesla, NHTSA says that the company may be taking steps to hinder the agency's access to safety information by requiring drivers who are testing "Full Self-Driving" software to sign non-disclosure agreements. The order demands that Tesla describe the non-disclosure agreements and say whether the company requires owners of vehicles with Autopilot to agree "to any terms that would prevent or discourage vehicle owners from sharing information about or discussing any aspect of Autopilot with any person other than Tesla." Responses must be made by a Tesla officer under oath. If Tesla fails to fully comply, the order says the matter could be referred to the Justice Department. It also threatens more fines of over $114 million. Tesla has said that neither vehicles equipped with "Full Self-Driving" nor Autopilot can drive themselves. It warns drivers that they must be ready to intervene at all times. Shares of Tesla rose slightly in Wednesday morning trading. It was unclear how Tesla and CEO Elon Musk will respond to NHTSA's demands. The company and Musk have a long history of sparring with federal regulators. In January, Tesla refused a request from NHTSA to recall about 135,000 vehicles because their touch screens could go dark. The agency said the screens were a safety defect because backup cameras and windshield defroster controls could be disabled. A month later, after NHTSA started the process of holding a public hearing and taking Tesla to court, the company agreed to the recall. Tesla said it would replace computer processors for the screens, even though it maintained there was no safety threat. Musk fought with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a 2018 tweet claiming that he had financing to take Tesla private, when that funding was not secured. He and the company agreed to pay $20 million each to settle allegations that he misled investors. Musk branded the SEC the "shortseller enrichment commission," distorting the meaning of its acronym. Short sellers bet that a stock price will fall. The new demands from NHTSA signal a tougher regulatory stance under President Joe Biden on automated vehicle safety compared with the previous administrations. The agency had appeared reluctant to regulate the new technology for fear of hampering adoption of the potentially life-saving systems. Explore further Tesla on part-automated drive system slams into police car 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. South Hills (15301) Today Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Garrett has extensively researched topics, spoken to industry professionals and presented what she has learned. Last March, she participated in Texas Youth Institutes World Food Prize where the paper she worked on received the Ambassadors Choice for Viability. She was then chosen as a Texas Delegate at the Global Youth Institute, where later this month she will be presenting in front of people who operate at a high level in the industry, including representatives from the United Nations. Through her involvement in these organizations, Garrett has been able to learn more complex issues about the agricultural industry that she might not have been able to learn about had she gone the more traditional hands-on route, Jones said. She is special. She comes from an ag background but in a non-traditional setting, Jones said. She is great for advocating for our program by doing big research projects and giving great speeches. Through FFA, Garrett has researched topics like soybeans in the United States-China trade war, feral hog control in Texas, and how herbicides are affecting water contamination in the College Station area. In the World Food Prize contest, Garrett wrote about making the locust swarms in Ethiopia edible rather than controlling them with pesticides. Content Editor Corinna Richardson writes The Scoop every Wednesday in The Facts. If you hear a good rumor, pass it along and well find out if there is any truth to it. Contact Corinna at 979-237-0150 or corinna.richardson@thefacts.com. One of the first responsibilities of a U.S. attorney is to be able to form relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, he said. At the same time, he said, I absolutely need to reconnect with the folks here in the Roanoke office, many of whom he has worked with in the past. They dont have to win me over, he said, because I know the work they are doing every day. Kavanaugh has practiced before all of the judges in the Western District, which has seven courthouses. In his new job, the bulk of his work will be administrative. Some of the offices policies will be guided by the administration of President Joe Biden, who nominated Kavanaugh for an appointment that was confirmed last week by the Senate. In June, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he was imposing a moratorium on federal executions while the Justice Department conducts a review of its policies and procedures. He gave no timetable. Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the Justice Department authorized federal prosecutors to seek the death sentence for Samuel Silva, who is charged with killing a fellow inmate in the U.S. Penitentiary in Lee County. 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. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} 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. 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. 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. Newly unsealed indictments in Franklin County show that a 2017 murder case is being revived, with Jordan Iman Witcher again charged with killing Moses Lewis. In 2018, the case against Witcher, then 18, derailed when an investigator admitted that the dying Lewis, 18, only identified his killer as Jordan, and that the officer did not question others at the scene to confirm that Witcher was the person named. The investigators admission came at a preliminary hearing in Franklin County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and a judge declined to send charges of first-degree murder and other offenses on to a grand jury. This time, Witcher, now 21, of Rocky Mount, is charged with second-degree murder, along with using a gun to commit a felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A two-day jury trial in Franklin County Circuit Court is scheduled to start on Feb. 23. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Franklin County Commonwealths Attorney A.J. Dudley this week confirmed that the new charges are for the shooting of Lewis, who was 21 when he was found fatally wounded at a house in the 1900 block of Bonbrook Mill Road. Dudley declined to comment on what prompted the revival of the charges or what new evidence might be presented. In recent weeks, the commonwealth made major inroads on two medical fronts. In Southwest Virginia, Northam announced Monday that Blue Star NBR and American Glove Innovations plan to create 2,500 jobs over the next three to five years making PPE at Progress Park in Wythe County. Per a release from the governors office, the $714 million project would produce billions of gloves per year for health care, government, retail and hospitality clients. We felt that there was a very timely opportunity to not be dependent on the whims of Asia when we have right here, in America, all the skills, capabilities and intelligence to be market-leading, self-sufficient and highly competitive, Blue Star-AGI Co-Chief Executive Officer Marc Jason said in a statement. 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 $4 million for a new water tank, all of which should boost future potential to land more manufacturing jobs, the release added. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Quandt noted that the boundaries were set with the voters in mind. We tried staying on arterial streets, or streets so that its easier for the taxpayer, the people who are voting, to know what district theyre in, he said. A lot of times, weve had it where people say, I dont know what district Im in. We even get people who call us and think were City Council people. The proposed maps were also forward-thinking. It preserves the ability for some areas, such as Ward 2, to grow, and looks at other areas with the possibility of less growth, over the course of the next 10 years, Nabity said. Lancaster defended the maps compiled by the commissioners. It was the right decision, I believe, to have the commissioners make these decisions, she said. We made substantial decisions based on the commissioners direction, and based on the fact that we know our districts best. Overstreet complimented the committee for their really good work. Heres some news hot off the griddle: IHOP is coming to Grand Island. Construction has begun on the restaurant, which will be behind Kens Appliance and Burlington, facing Highway 281. It will be directly across the highway from Discount Tire. The restaurant will be owned by Mohanad Khmous of Manhattan, Kan. Khmous was honored by IHOP Restaurants as its 2015 Franchisee of the Year. He and his wife, Annie, operate the restaurants. Asked when the Grand Island location might open, Annie didnt waffle. She said they hope to have the restaurant open in December. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} It will total 4,555 square feet. Ray OConnor of Grand Island sold the land, which is in Northwest Commons, to Khmous. Khmous currently owns five IHOPs in Kansas and three in Missouri. This will be his first location in Nebraska. Khmous doesnt want to operate too many restaurants because he and his wife like to keep close tabs on each. Were usually in each of our stores multiple times during the week, Annie said. Social and Emotional Learning Online SEL Can Help Students Overcome Struggles and Barriers A school counselor explains how technology can be paired with relationships to improve mental wellbeing for todays stressed students. Lately, its impossible to miss the news stories about the pandemic and the resulting long-lasting effects on student mental health. The last year and a half have taken a toll on all of us, and especially on our nations young people. Whether students were in-person or remote, school was hard last year and this year may not be easier. As a school counselor, I am always amazed at kids' resilient ability to adapt. But I continue to see the effects of social isolation and learning loss walking through the school doors every morning. The chatter in school halls, sharing in my office, and social media feeds full of parent worries tell the same story. So many of our students struggle with focus. They feel overwhelmed and lost. They are struggling to learn. Given what I am hearing from students, I can imagine that this is the same reality every school faces today. School-based counseling teams are finding the need to support students is the top priority and an incredibly challenging one. Were all wrestling with trying to find a solution to help teach our students how to calm fears, re-engage, and thrive. It can feel overwhelming, especially as the pandemic persists. A national shortage of highly qualified professionals to support students compounds the challenge. The American School Counseling Association recommends a student-to-counselor ratio of 250 to 1, roughly half the national average of 464 to 1. Despite all the challenges, there is a good reason for hope. New social-emotional learning (SEL) solutions are emerging, and with the support of technology tools, schools and teachers can support more students. Technology has the power to remove barriers, and effective SEL technology can offer three things learners need for long-term growth: Equitable student support; High fidelity of implementation; and Learning that delivers long-term behavioral change. Equitable Support for Every Student There are many barriers to accessing appropriate mental health services: stigma, cost, transportation, and access, among others. School-based supports can overcome these considerable hurdles by providing timely, effective services to students directly through the school systems. Before the pandemic, a 2019 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed that nearly 60% of the 3.8 million youth aged 1217 who reported a major depressive episode received no treatment. Of those who did get help, the majority of these students got it at school. Education technology can help bridge these gaps. For example, a plug-and-play curriculum centered on real-time student needs can effectively empower classroom teachers to lead Tier 1 SEL lessons. Fidelity of Implementation Teachers are tasked with much more than their content these days. And relying on these busy professionals to manage growing workloads, continual pandemic shifts and student mental health supports is a recipe for teacher burnout. Evidence-based lessons delivered via educational technology allow teachers to reach students in a personalized way without requiring hours of preparation. With the necessary resources curated into short lessons, teachers can quickly meet students where they are, rather than relying on generic YouTube videos or exercises. Multi-tiered systems of support are the foundation of a strong SEL program. For example, teaching students to take charge of their thoughts and feelings, learn healthy relationship and communication skills, and talking about goals setting during elementary school will help them thrive throughout their learning career. Students who understand their internal locus of control are more likely to thrive in school, in work, and in their lives. That is the promise of strong, effective, integrated SEL programs. [Comments have been posted] SA* Another great victory in the neverending battle to keep America safe from photographers occurred last Saturday at LaGuardia Airport in New York. A Republic Airways aircraft operating as American Flight 4817, full of patriotic Americans going about their everyday business, was proceeding from Indianapolis to LaGuardia when an alert woman correctly identified a man seated near her as a vintage camera enthusiast. Fearing that at any moment he might try to capture her image on a negative without obtaining a model release from her, thus violating her God-given copyright to images of herself, she properly alerted authoritiesokay, flight attendantsthat he had a device. She was correct: he did. The device might have been something like a Certo 6 folder with a Synchro-Compur shutter built in East Germany (the former Communist part) in the 1950s. Experts from counter-photography watchdog agencies who monitor the activities of suspicious photographers say it is possible to use this shutter to MacGuyver a detonator for a 1950s Russian nuclear warhead, and that for this reason photographers are always attempting to smuggle these shutters from one terrorist cell to another. "It's DA BOMB!!" It was later determined that the passenger was merely engaged in an activity known as "camera fondling" and was not actually planning to take any pictures without permission. However this form of fondling is well known to quickly lead to pederasty and the permitting of male animals to legally marry each other in civil courts with their hoofs or paws on the Holy Bible and with an American flag not all that far away. Fearful that this aberrant passenger might actually have more vintage cameras in his carry-on or even packed away in the baggage compartment, feet or even inches from the vulnerable essential systems of the jet, pilots immediately panicked, requesting that air traffic control divert the plane to...well, LaGuardia, where it was headed anyway. Air traffic controllers of course complied. The pilots, however, made the landing as quick and rough as possible in order to heighten the drama, while responders massed on the ground to quickly close in on the deviant. Passengers were rewarded for the scary landing by being allowed to slide down those cool inflatable slides, which is something many passengerswell, okay, many male passengershave always secretly wanted to do. The vintage camera collector was forced to lie down on the runway while people kept their distance just in case he had a Minox or a Minolta TC-1 secretly duct-taped to his midriff ready to go off. Some background for context The public is reminded yet again that photographers are always up to no good. In 1997 following the tragic death of Princess Diana, everyone became hyper-vigilant about the cult of extremist fanatics known as the paparazzi, who relentlessly hound celebrities to death by chasing them to the point of exhaustion and bad judgement, similar to the way English aristocrats on horseback in cool costumes used to molest foxes. (Photographers of any type may be damned by association to paparazzi, because close enough.) Then after 9/11 it became known that anyone photographing the outside of any building or any other feature of our national infrastructure, no matter how remote or insignificant, were secretly planning to blow it up. In response, bored security guards were given carte blanche to harass said terrorists until they went away. These miscreants are often cunningly disguised as tourists and are often seen with camera backpacks or camera bags that probably contain bombs. One telltale is that these "photographers" are constantly seen with different bags. Why? It is believed to be because the old ones were used in the commission of crimeswhy else would anyone need so many different bags?*** Finally, anyone taking any picture with a child visible in any part of the image can automatically be deemed a predatory pedophile even in the absence of other evidence. And so forth. Torches and pitchforks Dept. Disappointingly, although the vintage camera collector was detained, he could not be executed or even imprisoned, for the very inconvenient reason that he had not actually broken any, well, you know, laws. But he was definitely stressed out and shamed, which should make him think twice the next time he settles down with a three-quarters-full bottle of cheap Chardonnay and opens up eBay on his browser instead of going to bed. However, support among the passengers for the heroic actions of everyone involved, from the Governor of New York (who Tweeted soothingly to calm the populace [seriously, she did]), to the police, the fire crews, airport authorities, pilots, cabin crew, and the lady who sounded the alarums, was strong. Some passenger comments in the aftermath: "You just never know when you're going to be trapped on a flight with one of these freaks. Why can't he just collect guns like everyone else?" "This was a close one, and I agree with the decisions made. He should be taking pictures with his phone like a normal person." "Honestly, taking out a camera and fondling it in public? What did he expect would happen? Certain things, like picking your nose or doing Elaine Benes dancing in your undies, you should do in the privacy of your own home." "I guess this turned out to be just precautionary. But the slide was great. They should let us get off the plane like that every time." "I was trapped in a window seat next to a Leica collector once, so I know what she was going through. At least she realized she could get an emergency landing and a super-quick deplaning out of it. I wish I had known that." "You just dread the day when your slightly odd eight-year-old says something like, 'Daddy, what's a view camera?' Your heart just sinks." In the end, everything was fine. Fox5 News New York got a really alarming news segment out of it to agitate the public with the unimportant half of a story, another photographer was harassed for God and country, and all the survivors had quite an exciting story to tell when they got home, without ever actually having been in any danger. The advice for air travelers is clear: if you're on a plane and you see someone taking out an old camera, don't think. Scream. Mike Disclaimer: I have seen no report yet about what camera(s) the passenger actually had. *Satire Alert. I was especially miffed by PetaPixel's headline, "Mans Vintage Camera Mistaken for Bomb, Causes Emergency Landing," the syntax of which clearly implies that it was the man's vintage camera that caused the emergency landing. Whose side are they on?! The asinine woman jumping to completely incorrect conclusions and sounding a false alarm caused the emergency landing, not the poor fellow's vintage camera! **Re the title: My grandmother, born 1901, used to call a funny story "a scream." ***I was going to link to that amazing video called "Bag World (with Dr. David Alan Harvey, Professor of Bagology)" showing the famous Magnum photographer rummaging through his absolutely vast collection of old camera bags. Sadly for photo-geek culture, that video is no longer available. Book o' the Week Friedlander First Fifty. A very fun little book that gives a tour of the first fifty of Lee Friedlander's booksextra copies of which are apparently stashed all over every floor of his house. By his grandson, who is trying to sell full sets on eBay. This is very enjoyable, but also might be the most unique book about photobooks ever. Who else has published fifty photobooks? 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: Christopher Kleihege: "Yes, the alleged satire above follows my train of thought exactly. Like I said, the photographer should have taken Amtrak. Remember the old Dudley Do-Right cartoons with the damsel tied to the tracks?" Don Parsons: "As a former regional pilot and a current teacher of many of Republic Airways pilots, I find this both funny and alarming. Don't people think any more?" Daniel M: "At first, I was thinking that you have presented a funny story to entertain us. But, with the link you have posted, I have discovered that it was real, very sadly...." Dillan: "You never know what you're going to read here! That was great! As an aside, I can just imagine your grandmother as a flapper girl in the 1920s, telling her bestie that she had a funny story to tell. 'Oh Gertie, you have to hear this! It's such a SCREAM!'" John Krumm: "This morning, after dropping off a car at my auto mechanic, I was walking down a residential street with my still new Fuji X100V, taking the occasional photo of interesting houses. A woman came out of one house, loudly saying, 'excuse me' to get me to stop. She was super concerned because I had taken a photo of her neighbor's house and it had kids inside, apparently. She wanted my full name, which I refused, though I did explain I was a hobby photographer, and she can see some of my neighborhood photos on my website. Two blocks later I was talking to a cop, who had received a 'suspicious person' call from said woman. He asked for my ID and checked for warrants, which surprised me. I was in no mood to argue with a cop, but I know that was wrong. Frankly my whole morning was kind of a mess emotionally after that." Mani Sitaraman: "From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's news story about the incident. 'The woman was traveling with her husband and children, sitting across the aisle from her spouse, when she spotted another man in her husbands row scrolling through videos and photos of vintage cameras, sources said.' Life with Mom." Lee Rust: "I thought you were kidding at first...like a spoof article in The Onion...but no...I looked it up and all the initial news stories were about the threat and the drama and the emergency slides and etc....and then, nothing. 'No further information is available at this time.' it seemed like the 'authorities' were pretty embarrassed and just wanted the story to go away, which it did. Except for here, of course." Eric Rose: "That lady should be sued by the owner of the camera plus have to pay compensation to all the passengers who were affected by her hysterics. The crew should also be better trained in what is and what is not a bomb. This whole thing just shows how hysterical and unhinged America has become." scott kirkpatrick: "Two-three days later, it's not news and in several pages of Googling I can't find any further information about who was the photographer or what camera he had. The picture of a TLR was the result of a reporter going to Willoughby-Peerless and asking 'what is a vintage camera?' So not much of a clue. I realize that deep in my Leica bag is an external self-timer. I can imagine the reception I might get if I wound it up in public and let it buzz down to its 'click!' And, at Oren G.'s suggestion, I will never again go out in public with my Pentax Spotmeter in its holster. But why did nothing happen to the lady who caused all the trouble? Neither embarrassment nor education resulting from the moment...." David Lee: "I hope this woman is added to the no-fly list as soon as possible. "Years ago in the Denver airport, a TSA guy asked me to take my camera out of my bag so he could inspect it. He started looking at it with that gesture in his face that can only mean 'I wont get fooled.' He asked me to turn the camera on. I cant, I said, its an old camera, no batteries inside. Then he removed the lens cap and looked through the viewfinder to make sure he could see through the lens (it was a Leica M3). After he convinced himself it was a real camera, he gave it back to me. The funniest thing is that I was one of the pilots in the flight." The tassel loafer is nowadays one of the most versatile shoe models; over the past decades, it has evolved from a primarily casual option to an increasingly more formal shoe model that is worn today not only with khakis or jeans, but also with flannel trousers and even suits. Alexander Kraft has been an early fan of the tassel loafer, and for more than 25 years has worn these shoes in either caramel suede or a rich dark brown calf with his trademark navy or grey suits, in the Italian tradition that has been adopted across the globe, especially in France and in the US. When setting out to create tassel loafers for his Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo brand, Kraft paid particular attention to three points: First, he wanted his tassel loafers to have a more elongated, elegant shape than many other models in the market, making them more suitable for formal wear with suits. Secondly, he wanted his shoes that have been hand - welted utilizing the Goodyear - process, for optimum quality and longevity. Lastly, he wanted his shoes to be hand-burnished, giving each pair a unique patina and making them an individual work of artisanship). The Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo tassel loafers are hand-made by an artisan cobbler in Portugal using only the finest calf leathers and leather soles whilst adopting the Goodyear-method, and hand-polishing them to a deep, rich shine in a unique caramel-brown color with discreet black accents. This unique patina separates them from many other models in the market and makes them a universal weapon, suited for wear both with jeans or slacks and formal suits alike! However, the most extraordinary aspect of these high-end shoes may be their price: At 450 (inc. tax), their price is only a fraction of what models of comparable quality usually cost. Due to their completely artisanal construction, they are sold only in a very limited edition. SPRINGFIELD A new report released Wednesday says staffing shortages at nursing homes in Illinois have reached crisis proportions and that people of color are most at risk of suffering the consequences. Thats because those individuals are more likely to live in understaffed facilities or in ward rooms with three or four beds per room, the report notes, a fact that became tragically evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when Black and brown Medicaid patients in nursing homes were 40 percent more likely to die of the disease than white patients. The report by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services calls for a dramatic overhaul in the way the state Medicaid program reimburses nursing homes to reward those that improve their staffing levels and quality of care. This is not a report that can sit on a shelf and collect dust, Kelly Cunningham, DHFSs deputy director for long-term care, told a legislative panel Wednesday. The need to take action is now. The issues we're dealing with are urgent. Continuation of the status quo is not acceptable. And we must hold long-term care providers across Illinois to a higher standard. The agency is proposing a $345 million increase in nursing home reimbursement rates, with increases tied to a facilitys staffing and other quality and safety improvements. That money would come from a combination of streamlining billing procedures and an increase in a tax the state levies on each nursing facility occupied bed in the state, a pool of money that also draws additional federal Medicaid reimbursements. That would translate to an average payment rate increase of about 13 percent, although the amount for any given facility would vary. Funding increases would be based on a formula that also takes a facilitys profit margin into account so that profitable nursing homes that do not adequately staff their facilities would not see their reimbursements increase on par with those that do. The report notes that Illinois spends billions of dollars each year on nursing facility care for roughly 45,000 Medicaid patients, but the state consistently ranks last in the nation for staffing, as measured by the national Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification, or STRIVE Project. In fact, Illinois accounts for 47 of the 100 most understaffed facilities in the nation when comparing actual staffing levels against their STRIVE target levels. Andy Allison, DHFSs deputy director for strategic planning and analytics, said those shortages had tragic consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine ourselves in the year or two prior to COVID, and if we had known it was coming, whether we would have considered resident safety, room crowding, and staffing to have been urgent issues, he said. We lost this is hard for me thousands in our nursing homes. I don't think there's anyone in the country who would not at that point have said, this is urgent. And I think the point is nothing has changed, except that now we know just how bad it can be. Allison also said increased funding alone will not solve the staffing shortage in nursing homes. He said the industry itself also needs to make fundamental changes to address its workforce challenges. We are in a an urgent race to strengthen that labor market not to capture them, but to entice them to stay in the serving profession that they've chosen, he said. And one of the ways to do that is to make it more of a profession, to give it a pay scale, to allow for promotion, to provide a payoff to staying with it, which is actually one of the principal policy objectives that HFS, the department, has had for years, which is consistency of the relationship between a staff and the residents that they serve. The recommendations came as welcome news for some in the nursing home industry. Angela Schnepf, executive vice president of LeadingAge Illinois, an association of nonprofit aging service providers, said the policy changes DHFS recommend are long overdue and should have been part of the plan when Illinois first adopted its nursing home assessment in 2011. As many of you know, 10 years ago, the General Assembly by a thin margin passed the bed tax for a $105 million increase to support the staffing ratios passed in the spring of 2010, she said. The rate increase funded the status quo with an assumption that understaffed nursing homes would apply the money to increase their number of staff. One would have thought this made sense. However, the data shows that did not happen. Schnepf went on to say that a survey of nursing homes just before the pandemic showed that the 120 facilities with the lowest staffing levels had actually reduced their staffing hours per resident day by 5.8 percent since 2010, the year before the assessment went into effect, while the statewide average for all nursing homes in the state increased 4.5 percent. As you may or may not know, LeadingAge Illinois opposed the bed tax in 2011 because we anticipated the tax would shift money from well-staffed nursing homes to the pockets of owners of understaffed nursing homes because of the zero requirement of accountability to apply the new money to increasing their staff, she said. As a result, over 40 percent of Illinois nursing homes were losers or lost money, and over 60 percent of our LeadingAge Illinois members were losers. That means good providers bore the tax burden to fund the failed attempt to increase staffing in understaffed nursing homes, all to no avail. But Matt Pickering, executive director of the Health Care Council of Illinois, which represents for-profit nursing homes, criticized the plan for reinforcing what he called a punitive relationship and called for an across-the-board rate increase, especially for those with high percentages of low-income residents. These facilities face the most challenges to providing care due to the state paying among the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country, he said. We must prioritize quality health care for low-income residents and not jeopardize the stability of our long-term system. Wednesdays hearing before a joint meeting of four health care-related House committees was for informational purposes only, and no action was taken. Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, who chairs the Appropriations-Human Services Committee, called the recommendations only the first step toward improving the quality of care for Illinois seniors, and she said there would be more joint hearings in the future. This first step does not dictate that we're going to have quality services in these nursing homes, she said. It does improve some of the staffing issues. But it does not mean we're going to change the quality until we change the mindsets of those who are working in this facilities and why they are there. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PINCKNEYVILLE George Culley knows something about feeding the hungry hes been doing it for nearly 25 years at Least of the Brethren Food Pantry. Culley was a coal miner living in West Frankfort when he was laid off. He says he lived on about $300 a month for about nine months. He opened Least of the Brethren Food Pantry in January 1997 to help others who, like himself, needed the extra hand. He said the operation in West Frankfort was small. Culley began hearing about people from Pinckneyville that the mines in the area had closed. So, Culley decided to move his food pantry to Pinckneyville in June 1998. Culley will finish his 25th year in December. I want to feed people. God will hold me accountable if I dont feed them, Cully said. I love this job. Culley is 68 and said he feels like he is on a big horse riding slowly into the sunset. Hes had three stents, 13 major surgeries and other medical issues. Ive had a wonderful life. I want to thank my team. When people come in here, Im going to feed them, he said. To look at Culley, you see someone who has worked for almost everything hes had. One exception to that is his wife, Betty. They met on GodTube, a Christian video sharing platform, and began having more frequent contact. He traveled to her home in Maine to see her, and stopped in New York to call her to ask her to marry him. He says Betty Culley was looking at a building to purchase to start a food pantry in her home. She gave that up and moved to Pinckneyville. They were married in 2012. She gave everything away, he said. Since their marriage, the two have been inseparable and have been feeding the hungry. The food pantry at 407 S. Douglas St. is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Friday. The Culleys have an apartment in the building. A small church area is there as well. Culley said God told him to feed the hungry. It was easy to get discouraged, especially in the past 19 months. Things were very trying for the first six months of the pandemic, and it is still discouraging. Other farmers markets closed. Food was in short supply. Manufacturing plants faced difficulties. Today, Culley believes things are better, but quickly added that they are still not back to normal. The pantry began giving away more food to each family and the St. Louis Area Food Bank provides enough food to do that. The Culleys also want to give away more food. A hungry stomach doesnt discriminate, Culley said. Culley will continue to preach and give away food as long as he can, with the help of his wife. To find out more, call 618-357-9530. Love 1 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. The FBI's Springfield office is offering up to $10,000 to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest of the suspect in the Keeshanna Jackson case. The Carbondale Police Department is offering an additional $5,000 for information. Jackson was shot and killed at a party where three others were injured after the first week of classes in Carbondale. She was 18-years-old and a freshman at SIU. The FBI said 75-100 people attended the party where Jackson was killed on the 500 block of West Cherry Street, according to a news release. There is still no suspect information at this time but law enforcement has asked that anyone with photos or videos from the party or any parties that evening turn them in. Police have confirmed multiple shooters were involved. Officers said they found a gunshot victim later identified as Jackson at the scene and attempted to save her life, but she was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. While officers were at the hospital, three other gunshot victims came into the ER with gunshot wounds that were not life threatening, officers said. The victims came on their own to the ER and from the same location as the shooting, police said. The Southern is not naming the three individuals who were shot but survived. The victims were a 29-year-old from Marion, a 23-year-old from Murphysboro, and a juvenile victim from Marion. Anyone with information concerning this case should contact the FBI Springfield Office at 217-522-9675, or the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200, or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 618-549-2677. You may also call your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Though its not yet Halloween, mail carriers UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service have released their recommended deadlines to ship packages in time for the holidays. Supply chain woes have industry experts warning consumers to shop early, but shipping deadlines are relatively consistent with past years. For delivery by Dec. 25 within the lower 48 states, the U.S. Postal Service advises people using its ground service to send items by Dec. 15. Those using First-Class Mail and Priority Mail have until Dec. 17 and 18, respectively one day earlier than last year. The recommended shipping date for Priority Mail Express, Dec. 23, hasnt changed. UPS advises sending packages within the U.S. by Dec. 21 if using UPS 3 Day Select or as late as Dec. 23 if sent by UPS Next Day Air the same dates as last year. Ground shipping deadlines vary depending on the packages route, and UPS advised checking its website for estimated shipping times. FedEx, meanwhile, advised sending packages no later than Dec. 15 if using FedEx Ground and Dec. 22 if using FedEx 2-Day. The deadline for FedExs Same Day service is Dec. 24, one day earlier than last year. Last holiday season, many retailers warned of shipping delays as consumers did even more of their holiday shopping online than usual. The Postal Service, in particular, struggled with delivering packages on time under the weight of historic holiday volume and staffing shortages from COVID-19. All three package carriers are staffing up for another surge this year. UPS and the U.S. Postal Service have said they plan to hire 100,000 and 40,000 seasonal employees, respectively. FedEx aims to hire 90,000, up from 70,000 last year. Many of those jobs remain open. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COLUMBIA South Carolina 6th District Congressman James E. Clyburn praised the appointment of Dr. Saundra Glover as the U.S. Department of Agriculture South Carolina state director of rural development and Laurie Funderburk as the USDA South Carolina Farm Service Agency executive director Wednesday. I want to thank President Biden for accepting my recommendations and making these outstanding appointments to the South Carolina offices of the USDA, Democrat Clyburn said. Dr. Glover and Ms. Funderburk have led distinguished careers, and I am confident their extensive backgrounds and experiences working with South Carolinas rural and farming communities will allow them to continue to serve this state well. Glover is the former vice president for research and economic development at South Carolina State University and distinguished professor emerita at the University of South Carolina. During her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of economic development in rural South Carolina. She has a wealth of experience developing comprehensive socioeconomic policies and addressing the disparities that limited-resource farmers face when impacted by natural disasters. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University and received her MBA and Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Funderburk was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2004 to 2020. In the state legislature, she served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where she advocated for needed infrastructure, housing and other resources for farming communities. Born into a farming family, she understands the challenges facing rural communities. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College and the University of South Carolina School of Law. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Three young children and their father havent returned to Orangeburg after leaving on Oct. 2, according to the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. The agency is calling this a custody dispute incident at this time, according to a City of Orangeburg press release on Wednesday afternoon. The childrens mother reached out to ODPS on Oct. 6, three days after the childrens father, 27-year-old Michael Dion McGee, was to return the children to her, according to the incident report. The children and McGee, were last seen at a Clarendon Street residence. The mother told officers that she wasnt concerned that McGee would harm the children, but she was worried about his ability to properly house and feed the children, the report states. She told officers she simply wanted her children back, the report states. She last saw McGee and her children around 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 2. She allowed McGee to take the children so they could spend time with him, the report states. She told police that McGee agreed to return the children to her by 9 a.m. the next morning, but he didnt. McGee and the children may have headed to Atlanta with a final destination in Tennessee. McGee is from the Memphis area, according to the incident report. McGee has no reported phone numbers and has no known vehicle, the report states. The missing children include: 9-year-old Michael Dione McGee III, a black male standing 4-foot-2 and weighing 70 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. His hair is in a growing fade-style. Gracy Ann McGee, 7, is a black female standing 3-foot-9. She has brown eyes and black hair. Her hair is styled as two ponytails, one on each side of the top of her head. 4-year-old Gerald J.L. McGee, standing three feet. He has brown eyes and black hair. His hair is in a growing fade-style. The childrens father has brown eyes and black hair. His hair is styled in long dreadlocks and he has a chinstrap-style beard. Anyone who has information or questions is asked to called Juvenile Investigator Sam Jenkins at 803-664-1347. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 3 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. Imagine a family of six people coming to your house. They knock on the door. They look tired, frail, dirty and very hungry. They are desperate. Two of the six people are under 6 years old. Their clothes are rags and their shoes are barely still on their feet. They tell you about their plight. They have traveled a long way. They left their country in search of a better life. They need you to help them. They need you to give them shelter, food, clothes and some cash. They need to stay with you for a while. What if your sole income is $2,000 a month in Social Security? What if your pantry is no longer overstocked? What if you have trouble saving enough money each month to pay your utility bills and keep your car running? Your heart goes out to these people. You would like to help them, but you dont have the means to care for yourself and so you have to say, I cant. The reason I cant is because seriously, I just dont have the financial means to do so. The next thing that happens is they totally ignore what youve just said and come into your house anyway. They scatter out to your bedrooms and begin to make themselves at home. They open your refrigerator and eat the food you have and then ask you to fix them more. Next, they need money. Do you have money you can please give us? they ask. You ask them to leave but they remind you they are desperate people who need for you to help them. Next they insist you go to the bank and draw out your life savings and hand it over to them. They are desperate and need money. They promise they will leave. Now you are scared. You wonder whats next? You call The White House. You talk to Joe Biden and he lets you know that Kamela Harris is on top of this and hangs up. Of course, you dont see any of them moving in with him. Delaware is a long way from the border. He doesnt figure Immigrants will be much of a problem up there when he retires. At least 60,000 immigrants are coming to the border of Mexico to enter the United States. They are all desperate people in search of adequate housing, jobs, free education, free medical insurance and more. Panamas Prime Minister sounded a warning that a massive group is passing their county and many of them are coming from Haiti. Erika Mouynes is reported to have notified the White House of the most recent migration surge. Prime Minister Mouynes recently described how her country has seen 80,000 Haitian immigrants and evacuees crossing from South America, through Panama, headed to the United States this year. Outlaws rob out of desperation. Drug addicts steal and kill out of desperation. Rapists assault out of deranged desperation. We dont overlook these criminal acts in America. They are coming here. They are moving in. They are desperate for shelter, food, free education, free Medicare, free transportation and more. Their desperation doesnt make it right. America is a nation of immigrants. Most of them have come legally and followed an orderly process. If our national leaders do not gain control of our border crisis, a further humanitarian crisis unlike,weve ever seen is fast approaching. Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books, including "Uncommon Sense." His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Democrats are in a real mess. Moderates and liberals are sniping at each other with the same animosity they usually aim at Republicans. A breaking point came after liberals torpedoed a House vote on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, vowing to block its passage until Congress approves a much larger $3.5 trillion package of expensive progressive priorities such as free community college and expanded Medicare benefits. Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida, a leading moderate, called it "a sad day for our nation." Another centrist, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, accused liberals of putting "civility and bipartisan governing at risk." In June, Politico ran a headline that said, "The left hates Joe Manchin," the West Virginia Democrat who is holding up that liberal spending package in the Senate. One lefty even called Manchin "the new Mitch McConnell," a damning reference to the obdurate Republican leader who has throttled Democratic ambitions for years. COMMENTARY: Immigration desperation Imagine a family of six people coming to your house. They knock on the door. They look tired "Everybody's frustrated," observed President Joe Biden after a fruitless effort to bring Democrats together. "It's a part of being in government, being frustrated." There are two words, however, that could still propel the Democrats out of their fratricidal stalemate and toward a compromise. The first is "minority." The second is "Trump." No matter how much they distrust or dislike each other, every Democrat in Congress has a core common interest: to preserve their narrow majorities in next year's elections. The odds are heavily against them; the president's party almost always loses seats in midterm balloting. But to have any chance at all, Democrats must unify behind a legislative program that enables them to go to voters next year and say: See, we kept our promises. We justified your confidence. So the question becomes: What legislative package would best serve the Democrats politically? It has to accomplish two goals that are, to some extent, in tension: deliver real benefits to working families, while not swinging so far left that supporting it endangers Democrats in tightly contested districts. Liberals have to accept an unpalatable but undeniable truth: Democrats cannot preserve their majorities without moderates like Manchin in the Senate and Murphy and Gottheimer in the House. The road to victory for Democrats does NOT run through Brooklyn and Berkeley. And unless liberals recognize that reality and help protect their more pragmatic colleagues in swing suburban districts, they will doom their chances of maintaining a majority. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, another centrist Democrat, told The Washington Post that "his progressive colleagues need to understand the only reason they have a majority with which to legislate is because of hard-fought victories moderates have scored in the country's most competitive congressional districts, and so their concerns should not be dismissed." "I think that progressives don't trust moderates, and I keep telling the progressives, 'Hey, how do we get to a majority?'" Cuellar said. "It's the moderate swing areas that people like myself have that they need to worry about." EDITORIAL: Washington battle is far from over The agreement in Washington to expand the federal government's ability to borrow by raising Then there is the Trump factor. Beyond 2022 looms 2024, and the former president is clearly preparing to run again, traveling to campaign-style rallies and raising tons of money from his devoted base. Of course, it could all be a bluff, a ploy to stroke his ego and stuff his bank account. And plenty of Republicans, at least in private, worry that he would lose again. His favorable rating stands at a paltry 42% in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, with his negatives soaring to 52.3%. "His toxic brand continues to turn off voters in the suburbs, according to strategists in battleground states," the Post reports. "Many of the party's top donors have privately told strategists and party leaders they want a nominee other than Trump." And yet, Trump has been badly underestimated before. And every Democrat shares or should share the fear expressed by former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham. She said of her old boss on ABC: "I am terrified of him running in 2024. I don't think he is fit for the job. I think that he is erratic. I think that he can be delusional. I think that he is a narcissist and cares about himself first and foremost. And I do not want him to be our president again." If Democrats want to hold the majority in Congress while avoiding the nightmare Grisham describes, they have only one option: Bury their antagonisms and fashion a compromise that their candidates can defend in swing states and districts, both next year and in 2024. Steven Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University. He can be contacted by email at stevecokie@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The year 2020 was a tough one with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Local industries felt the effects, but they rebounded and are looking to the future. Orangeburg County boasts a diverse industrial landscape of more than 100 firms, with manufacturers employing over 8,000. About 19% of the county's population works in manufacturing, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages from the third quarter of 2020. Manufacturing is the largest sector of the county's workforce, with 5,150 individuals employed in manufacturing out of a workforce of 26,824. A 2020 study shows the entire state has reason to appreciate manufacturing. SC Future Makers, a nonprofit workforce and education organization affiliated with the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, released the economic impact study of South Carolina's manufacturing industry. Prepared by Dr. Joseph Von Nessen, Research Economist with the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, the study documents the uniquely large footprint that manufacturing maintains in the Palmetto State that has an estimated economic impact that totals between $194 billion and $206 billion annually. Key economic impact findings from the study include: 16% of the State's GDP is associated with manufacturing; manufacturing supports, either directly or indirectly, over 30% of all jobs statewide. Industries pay well and average an annual salary that is 33% higher than the state's average wage. Manufacturing creates more jobs than virtually any other sector and has a multiplier effect of 2.4. 38% of South Carolina's General Fund revenue comes from the manufacturing industry. South Carolina manufacturing is largely anchored by the aerospace, automotive and tire sectors along with their extended supply chains. These three sectors experienced growth at a collective rate of more than three times the state average over the past decade. "The manufacturing industry has been the driving force of our state's economy for over a century," said Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. "The value and promise that American manufacturing provides is South Carolina's story. Ours is an industry that offers great careers, drives innovation, transforms communities for the better, and creates lasting impacts that benefit all South Carolinians." The study reinforces the strong foundation the manufacturing industry has in South Carolina and the economic stability it creates, a foundation reinforced recently by Gov. Henry McMaster in recognizing Ocotober as S.C. Manufacturing Month. In Orangeburg County, the month brings good news from a site for which there has been high hopes for years. Thirteen years ago, Dubai World, parent company of Jafza International, said it was considering Orangeburg County for a $600-700 million logistics, manufacturing and distribution center. The recession that began in 2007 changed the plans and has left the site with minor development over more than a decade. That is changing with activity at the 1,322-acre South Carolina Gateway Industrial Park, formerly known as JAFZA Magna Park. Two pads have been built at the site to house future speculative buildings. One pad is on a 22-acre site and will house a 250,000-square-foot speculative building. The other pad is a 20-acre site and will house a 125,000-square-foot spec building, according to the project's website. "DP World is excited to move this project forward both on a small scale -- the first building -- but on a larger scale of growing the park in what we refer to as our premier industrial park in the U.S.," Vice President of Parks Logistics and Zones DP World Brian Hoffman says in a video presentation on the company's website about the Santee project. Hoffman says the park's master plan projects upwards of 6.5 million square feet of building space. About 350 acres are currently available for sale or built-to-suit development. "The reason we are seeing speculative buildings and pads being developed is because of the commitment from County Council and our utilities to make the sites more readily available," Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said. "We are preparing ourselves for the future investment." And it should come to a county that is positioned for growth, in manufacturing and with other enteprises. Combine the development moving from Charleston and Columbia toward Orangeburg County with the new interchange at Interstate 95 and U.S. 301, and plans to widen Interstate 26 through the county and improve the I-95/I-26 interchange, and the logistics stars are aligning. Orangeburg County has reason to appreciate manufacturing during this October observance, but were looking for even bigger and better things going forward. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. Coquille, OR (97420) Today Periods of rain. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. A powerful, early season storm dropped more than a foot of snow over parts of Wyoming on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in widespread highway closures. Overnight Tuesday, most of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80 were closed, as was a large section of Interstate 90. Multiple other highways also shut down for a time due to the heavy, wet snow and gusty winds. For a time, most major highways connecting Casper to the rest of the state were closed including sections of U.S. Highway 20/26 and Wyoming 220. By Wednesday evening, the interstates had reopened, though some of the smaller highways remained closed. Along with the heavy snow, the storm brought high winds to parts of the state, making travel difficult to impossible in places. Blizzard warnings were in effect for a time in Converse, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties, according to the National Weather Service. The storm dropped nearly 13 inches of snow in the Casper area, 18 inches near Buffalo and 8 inches in Lander, according to preliminary snow totals from the National Weather Service. Schools remained open in Natrona County, but students in Midwest attended classes remotely, according to the school district there. Schools in Goshen County were closed, as were schools in Campbell County, media there reported. Glenrock schools were also closed due to the weather, according to a Facebook post from that district. The Natrona-County Health Department cancelled a scheduled flu clinic amid the storm. The scheduled Oct. 23 clinic at the Mike Sedar firehouse is still expected to go forward from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As of Wednesday morning, the Casper Police Department had responded to 16 reports of road accidents since the snow started Monday night. The Natrona County Sheriffs Office received five calls reporting accidents in the same time period. Of all accidents recorded, three were reported to have possible injuries. Casper Fire-EMS public information officer Andrew Sundell said Wednesday in a video briefing that the agency also sent vehicles to several road accidents on Tuesday. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 0 Harriet Hageman, who launched her U.S. House candidacy with former President Donald Trumps endorsement, has raised about $300,000 in the first three weeks of her campaign. She announced her bid to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney on Sept. 9, and the filing deadline for fundraising numbers came exactly three weeks after on Sept. 30. The Hageman campaign ended the third quarter of this year with roughly $244,000 in cash on hand (money it has available to spend), a campaign official told the Star-Tribune. A fuller picture of Hagemans fundraising numbers along with the rest of the candidates will be released Friday. After announcing her bid for Wyomings lone House seat, the campaign appeared to be off to the races. Hagemans campaign team includes multiple former Trump aides. She has been at gatherings across the state and has already started to form a campaign centered around being anti-Cheney and pro-Wyoming, repeatedly arguing that Cheney is not adequately fighting for the Cowboy State. Some of Trumps biggest donors have started to give to Hageman as well, Politico reported Wednesday. The list of names includes Peter Thiel, a tech billionaire, and Timothy Mellon, a Wyoming businessman who was the single biggest donor during the 2020 election to the main pro-Trump super PAC $20 million dollars, according to federal elections data. Mellon also donated the maximum amount for candidate contributions, $2,900, to state Sen. Anthony Bouchards campaign before Hageman entered the race. Its unclear whether or not Mellon is still donating to the lawmaker. Cheney, who had 10 more weeks than Hageman to fund raise this past quarter, brought in $1.7 million in the third quarter, her second highest amount for any single quarter. Cheney now has roughly $3.7 million in cash on hand, compared to Hagemans $244,000. Still, this race isnt Hageman versus Cheney. While Hagemans entrance to the race prompted Darin Smith and Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, to drop out of the race, four candidates remain. Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, Denton Knapp, Marissa Selvig and Robyn Belinksey remain in the race. That said, Bouchard is so far the only candidate to file significant fundraising numbers. In a state with a history of crowded candidate fields splitting the electorate, things could get complicated for the Cheney and Hageman campaigns. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. Some Wyoming lawmakers are already working on bills for the impending special session aimed at fighting the Biden administrations vaccine mandate for all companies with over 100 employees. Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, has requested two bill drafts, he told the Star-Tribune. One of his bills would ban vaccine passports, while the other attempts to ban vaccine mandates. Grays bill banning mandates is not confined to companies over 100 employees. It classifies firing, demoting, promoting, compensating or refusing to hire based on vaccination status as a discriminatory or unfair employment practice. If companies violate the provisions of Grays bill, they may face civil penalties of a $500,000 penalty payable to each victim. There would also be criminal penalties: a misdemeanor with jail time of up to six months, a fine of up to $750, or both. The $500,000 payments, if adopted, would far exceed most other employment discrimination awards. Most claims in Wyoming which can stem from discrimination on the basis of disability, age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or pregnancy are paid out on a case-by-case basis based on the employees lost income and legal fees, and average around $40,000 per claim according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Its unclear what kind of effect the bill would have. The U.S. Constitution gives federal law precedent over state statutes. Sen. Tom James, R-Rock Springs, is taking a workaround approach that would also institute a misdemeanor penalty. His bill bars any public servant from enforcing or attempting to enforce any act, law, statute, rule or regulation of the United States government relating to mandating covid vaccination, James posted on Facebook. Anyone violating the rule would be guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. This goes to show that we can bring something that prevents government overreach and does not infringe on the private sector, James added. The final version of both bills will be posted online for the public to view a few days before the session is proposed to start on Oct. 26. The special session is intended to fight back against the Biden administrations executive order issued in early September that mandates employees at private companies with over 100 workers get vaccinated or be tested weekly for COVID-19. Its unclear exactly how many Wyoming companies meet this criteria, but sources have estimated between 200 and 300 businesses. The federal mandate is not yet in effect, and must still go through the federal rule-making process. In practice, this means that its next to impossible to know exactly how to fight back against the vaccine mandate until those details are released, multiple lawmakers have said. All of Wyomings Democratic state lawmakers said they plan to vote against the impending special session and have urged others to do the same, according to a statement issued Tuesday. All members of our caucus intend to vote NO on the vote for a special session, and NO for any proposed rule changes if the vote for a special session is successful, the letter stated. The letter from the Wyoming Democrats stated that a special session would only serve to create an opportunity for grandstanding instead of constructive problem solving. To hold a special session, the legislators need to pass three votes all with different thresholds. The first vote, which has already been successful, required 35% support from both the House and the Senate. No Democrats voted in favor, according to Matt Obrecht, director of the Legislative Service Office. The second vote is a public tally that requires a majority from both chambers for the special session to move forward. Lawmakers must send their votes by mail and have them postmarked by Thursday, meaning results of the poll could be delayed due to the recent snowstorm that closed highways around the state. If that vote succeeds, a special session would occur. Once lawmakers convene, they need to vote on rules for the session, which requires a two-thirds majority. Technically, they could use the rules of the 66th Legislature if they do not reach the supermajority, but legislative leadership said they will not allow that outcome. Senate President Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, and Speaker of the House, Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, said they would request that the session be dismissed if they do not reach the supermajority needed to enact the proposed rules. The proposed rules mainly confine the session to a couple days and require the session to only address vaccine mandates, among other parameters. Democrats are taking issue with the fact that speeding up the the session to only a couple days excludes public input. Committee meetings would be limited to the first day of the session, according to a copy of the proposed rules provided to the Star-Tribune. Meanwhile, Republicans have repeatedly said that many of their constituents have reached out to them in support of the special session and with concerns about the federal vaccine mandate. Support for the special session does not fall along party lines. Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said hes working to get others to vote no for the special session, too. Case has expressed doubt that the matter can be fixed legislatively rather than judicially. There will be quite a few no votes, Case said. Editors note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that there would be no committee meetings at the special session. As proposed, there would be committee meetings on the first day. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 9 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 University of Wyoming will keep its face mask requirement for indoor spaces where six-feet of social distance cant be kept, trustees agreed Wednesday. The policy was approved without much disagreement just before students returned to campus in late August, with the understanding that trustees would revisit the policy at later board meetings. With just over 40% of students reporting to the school that they have been vaccinated, school administrators and a committee tasked specifically with steering the university through another COVID-19 school year have recommended the masks to prevent an outbreak requiring more drastic measures. Students have largely supported, or at least tolerated, the mask policy. President of the associated students group Hunter Swilling said Wednesday more than 70% of surveyed students were somewhat or completely in favor of the mask policy. University president Ed Seidel told trustees Wednesday the institution is doing relatively well, in managing the virus this year. Just 27 virus cases were active campus-wide as of Tuesday, only seven among students living on-campus, according to the universitys COVID-19 dashboard. Those figures are half what they were at the start of the month. Seidel described vaccination rates as not bad. Some would say pretty good, acknowledging that UWs rates would not match those seen at schools with vaccine mandates. As of Wednesday, 75% of benefited employees and 36% of non-benefited employees have reported they are fully inoculated against COVID-19. Fewer than 42% of students have reported that status. Seidel said based on survey results, the number among students may be closer to 60%. The reported rate is below Albany Countys overall vaccination rate, which is the second-highest in Wyoming, at just below 50% of the community fully inoculated. The university has produced videos that Seidel is calling mini-courses on the science behind how the vaccines work, as well as general information about COVID-19. One video, featuring Student Health Services Director Mary Beth Bender stresses the steps students can take to mitigate the viruss spread. It reiterates many of the same points physicians and public health officials have made since vaccines became available to Wyomings general public. There are six videos in all, which students will be required to watch. It is not immediately clear when each of those videos will be published or shared with students. Follow health and education reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @m0rgan_hughes Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 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. ASSET by asset, the liquidators of the CL Financial group are selling off the company that it took Cyril Duprey and his nephew, Lawrence, 73 years to build up. The liquidators are plodding through the sale of thousands of acres of land, millions of dollars worth of shares in a local conglomerate, a major local insurance firm, a manufacturer of resins and a security company. Mother of four, Rehana Jaggernauth, was beaten, stabbed and strangled before being thrown into the Guayamare River, where she drowned, an autopsy has found. And her relatives are convinced that Jaggernauth was lured to her death by someone she knew. Is mask wearing more important than purchasing testing kits for Covid-19? Proper mask wearing prevents you from transmitting or receiving infection. The testing kits tell you if you are asymptomatic but carrying the virus. Wearing your mask properly prevents you from spreading it. A Covid-19 testing kit cannot do this. I am of the view that while it is nice to know if you are a carrier how many times do you have to self-test? Sundt Construction, Inc.: Sundt Construction Inc. ranked No. 58 on Engineering News Records (ENR) 2021 Top 400 Contractors list. ENR, the construction industrys principal trade publication, generates its list of Top 400 Contractors based on the prior years construction revenue. Sundt has consistently placed within the top 100 on the list for the past decade. Sundt reported over $1.5 billion in construction revenue during 2020. More than $1.3 billion came from new projects, landing the company on ENRs Top 100 Contractors by New Contracts for the second consecutive year. Pima County Health Department: The Pima County Health Department has been honored with the 2021 Gold Innovative Practice Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. This award celebrates local health departments for developing innovative programs to meet the needs of their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department earned the award for the creative, community-focused work being done by the Mitigating COVID-19 in Communities of Color (MC3) Program. The MC3 program has led the way for much of Pima Countys efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, rapid response care coordination, and case management services for underserved communities. The designation as a Gold Innovative Practice demonstrates the highest level of program innovation and reflects the countys commitment to collaboration, adaptability and resiliency in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. County considering suing city of Tucson over new rates that will see the average Tucson Water customer in unincorporated county limits will see monthly water bills increase from $50.28 to $56.45 per month. The draft contract that Fann signed with Shiva Ayyudurai, after the audit started, to separately look at the signatures on ballot envelopes. Communications between Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan and audit liaison Randy Pullen regarding the conduct of the audit. Three emails between Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, and Republican Reps. Leo Biasiucci, also of Lake Havasu City, and Mark Finchem of Oro Valley. The ruling eventually could set the stage for disclosure of a flood of documents that the Senate has so far refused to produce. Langhofer told another judge looking at the same issue of privilege that the Senate has about 1,000 documents it considers not subject to disclosure. In his ruling, Hannah said there is some precedent for legislative privilege. For example, he said, requiring full disclosure of all communications among lawmakers and even among their advisers could chill legislators from their deliberations. But he said that is narrow. The legislative privilege does not apply to everything a legislator says or does that is somehow related to the legislative process, Hannah wrote. The shield extends only as far as necessary to preserve the integrity of the legislative process. FLAGSTAFF Reagan Evans passion for overlanding and nature conservation is rooted in fond childhood experiences of outdoor adventures with his family. Overlanding is a form of self-sufficient, off-grid adventure-seeking that commonly uses large SUVs and pickup trucks to travel to remote locations using established roads and trails, and then camp, often for extended periods. To most overlanders, the journey is the goal. Evans, 46, an Overland Expo Foundation scholarship recipient and full-time traveler from Texas, said overlanders take to natural habitats to explore new sights or get away from civilization. I would take vehicles and go explore places that got a little bit further away from the crowds, whether it was a national park or state park, just getting a little further down the road or off the road was really appealing, Evans said. And then as the means of travel changed, motorcycles gave even more freedom, where all we needed was a goat trail to follow and we found some amazing vistas. OPINION: "The importance of an opinion journalist at a newspaper, and the reason the press is mentioned in the First Amendment, is to call out powerful people when they abuse their power," writes the Star's new Opinion editor, Curt Prendergast. That is not to say that we are satisfied. While no one test score defines a student, teacher or school district, it does provide us another data point that we can use to reflect on our practices and strategize in order to increase student achievement. Two individual campuses did fall short of the states proficiency threshold, including the 8GC in math and Smith Elementary in science. Both sixth and seventh grades reflected a null in science, given that the subject is not tested at those levels. Owassos overall lowest performing differences in proficiency, compared to Oklahomas standards, include fourth and sixth grade English, as well as fifth grade math. It would be difficult to find an aspect of life that has not been altered in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, Korphage said in the separate story. Schools are no exception, and it would not have been realistic to think that disruptions caused by the pandemic would not affect students. The statewide testing results also show that the majority of Collinsville school sites came in above average, with Collinsville Upper Elementary topping the list in math and science, and Wilson 6th Grade Center following suite in English. Those sites that fell under the state average include the 6GC and Collinsville Middle School in math, along with Collinsville High School in science. Sixth grade reflected a null in science. Andrea Eger, Curtis Killman and Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton with the Tulsa World contributed to this report. 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 corn cake that served as the basis of the sope was crisp on the outside and tender within. The chicken that topped it, along with the usual array of vegetables and sauces, benefited from a generous dose of lime juice. The alhambre also needed the brightness of lime to punch up the dish, which was mostly vegetables and chunks of pineapple with threads of bacon and a scattering of small bites of steak. Two salsas, a tomatillo-and-avocado-based salsa verde, and a dark red sauce made with roasted peppers that carries a definite smoky aura, are available upon request. Taqueria King Burrito also offers tortas, huaraches (a flatbread that resembles its namesake footwear), salads and quesadillas. Several varieties of agua frescas are also available, including horchata and pineapple. The space has undergone some extensive renovations; all the booths have been removed, and tables are arranged to provide some measure of social distancing. The kitchen area has also been extensively updated. Mota said he has not done too much to advertise the restaurant, wanting to get his employees up to speed on operations. Marshall will also be pouring its Oktoberfest lager, Dunkel lager, This Land lager, Volks pilsner, Atlas IPA and Sundown Wheat. This is always one of our favorite things to do, Alexander said. We love to really showcase it, this festival, the traditional German-style lagers that we brew and produce and offer. We start traditionally about six months in advance, getting ready for the festival. Our Oktoberfest started being brewed in July. Marshall will have lots of beer 275 50-liter kegs, to be exact. All that beer has to be poured. To do that, it takes volunteers, and Oktoberfest wouldnt exist without them. What makes Tulsa Oktoberfest so special are the people that work behind the scenes and the people that are on the front lines, serving the beer. Those are all volunteers. Those arent people that are paid. Those are people that out of the goodness of their heart and for the joy of being in the atmosphere, agree to come out and, and serve beer and German-style food to all of us, Alexander said. Dead Armadillos tent, or Das Lokal Dead Armadillo, is just a couple of tents south of Das Glockenspiel. They will have plenty of brew there, too. They are bringing Tulsa Flag, IPA, Bavarian wheat and their Dunkel. Prost! 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. TikTok administrators publicly condemned the rumored slap a teacher challenge earlier this month and claimed it was not a trend on the social media platform. Along with a warning that it was violating the applications content guidelines, a search Tuesday on TikTok for slap a teacher and similar variations yielded only videos of teachers posting their reactions to the proposed challenge and what they would do if a student attempted to slap them. In an email, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Education Association said none of the organizations school district-level affiliates have reached out to date with concerns about the challenges that call for physical violence against school employees. Tulsa Public Schools has not been immune from the effects. Stephanie Andrews, interim executive director of student and family support services for TPS, said almost all of the districts 19 secondary sites have had to address on-campus vandalism or theft brought about by the Devious Licks challenge. Like their suburban counterparts, TPS has had to take disciplinary action against students caught participating in the challenges, up to suspensions. My three daughters school was in-person most of the year, Cammack said, but depending on the kiddo I had a third-grader, a second-grader and a kindergartner I had one quarantined for a couple of weeks, and then they were back (in school). And then I had another one quarantined, and then they were back. But in talking with each other and talking to other states, having that in-person instruction matters. One of the most strong takeaways is that children need to be with their peers in front of a teacher that they trust, said Hofmeister. The latter part of the equation has been the tough one, she said. Even when youre in person, you may not have your teacher there because your teacher is ill or quarantined, she said. Although not mentioned Tuesday, Tulsa Public Schools has come under particular criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt and some Republican lawmakers for remaining in distance learning for an entire calendar year as a safety precaution and because of a shortage of teachers and staff caused by COVID-19. Other area districts have remained open to various degrees but have closed individual schools and even entire districts for periods of time for the same reasons. Green said he anticipates that there will be some money for paid signature collectors. Circulating petitions is one of the most difficult parts of managing an effort like this, he said. It is a resource war. Green said efforts to improve and handle problems with the medical marijuana program through the legislative process have been a failure and that we dont believe the Legislature is going to be able to give us the streamlined agency function we need. The challenge period for individuals seeking to protest the measures is Wednesday through Oct. 27, he said, adding that it will be 45 days or so before proponents can start collecting signatures if the measures clear the challenge period. In the meantime, supporters will be hosting voter registration drives, Green said, adding that only registered voters can sign the petitions to get the measures on the ballot. In 2018, 507,582 people voted in favor of SQ 788 while 385,176 opposed it, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. Efforts to secure approval for recreational marijuana have failed in the past. But in the last three or four months, supporters used a public process to craft the language of the two initiative petitions, Green said. We are devastated and mourning the loss of Moria Kinsey, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement. Although not a Cherokee citizen, Moria is a former employee and member of our Cherokee Nation work family, dedicated to helping improve the lives of our citizens. A prayer vigil for Kinsey is slated for Thursday at Norris Park in Tahlequah, according to Hoskin. We know Moria had so much to give and will be truly missed, he said in a statement. According to online Cherokee County court records, Tait has been prosecuted by the state of Oklahoma on domestic violence-related charges three times since 2017. The most recent case, a misdemeanor, was dismissed due to jurisdiction issues brought up by the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling. Two prior cases in Cherokee County, including a felony and a misdemeanor, reportedly were dismissed at the request of the alleged victim or victims. Online court documents show that Tait was the subject of multiple petitions for protective orders by the mother of his child, who alleged violent outbursts that coincided with the timing of state charges being filed. Vietnam has seen automobile consumption bouncing back following almost six months of steep declines as car showrooms closed due to COVID-19 social distancing orders. The latest data by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) reveals that a total of 13,537 cars were sold in September, up 52 percent against August but down 50 percent year on year. TC Motor, the distributor of Hyundai cars in Vietnam, said it sold 4,079 units last month, up 87 percent from August, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Vinfast, a domestic automaker under Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, also saw strong sales growth in September with 3,497 vehicles sold, up 51.4 percent compared to August. The combined sales of VAMA members, TC Motor, and Vinfast hit 21,113 vehicles in September and 258,791 cars in January-September. Other brands like Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Volkswagen, Volvo, and many more refused to disclose their figures. Of these, sales of passenger cars in September jumped 34 percent against the previous month, reaching 8,347 units. Commercial vehicle deliveries increased 108 percent to 4,886 units while special-purpose vehicles contracted two percent to 304 autos. Deliveries of completely-knocked down (CKD) vehicles grew 37 percent to 7,316 units, while sales of completely-built unit (CBU) vehicles surged 76 percent to 6,221 autos over a month earlier. The best-selling models were VinFast Fadil with 2,565 units, followed by Hyundai Accent with 1,392 cars. Experts forecast the Vietnamese car market will post growth toward the end of the year as customer demand is supposed to rise during the post-pandemic economic recovery. However, the full-year numbers may be lower than expected after the market has spent nearly two-thirds of the year under the adverse impacts of the coronavirus crisis, according to the experts. In the coming time, dealers and car manufacturers will likely continue launching promotion programs and new car models to attract more buyers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! BENGALURU -- India on Tuesday recommended emergency use of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 shot in the 2 to 18 age-group, as the world's second-most populous nation expands its vaccination drive to include children. The country has so far fully vaccinated around 29% of about 944 million eligible adults, as per government data, which includes administration of more than 110 million doses of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The company, however, is still in the process of securing an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization, a decision that is expected later this month. Without the WHO nod, the two-dose shot is unlikely to be accepted as a valid vaccine around the world. Several countries have been working to authorise vaccines for children, with the United States clearing Pfizer's shot for children aged 12 and above. The advisory panel to the U.S. regulator will meet later this month to discuss the shot for children between 5 and 11 years of age. While COVID-19 is known to usually cause mild disease in children, there is a risk of rare post-disease complications. "Children with comorbidities should be vaccinated as soon as possible now that a vaccine with immunogenicity in children and a large safety database in adults is available," said Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor at Christian Medical College, Vellore. "For healthy children, given low risk and low virus circulation at the moment, it is safe to wait until more adults are covered," Kang, who is also a board member of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, said. CEPI is an international body that funds development of vaccines against epidemic disease, including COVID-19. Bharat Biotech began a trial of Covaxin in children in June following a devastating second wave led by the Delta variant that brought the country's healthcare system to its knees. The data for the 2 to 18 age-group "has been thoroughly reviewed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and Subject Expert Committee and (they) have provided their positive recommendations," the company told Reuters. But Bharat Biotech has not publicly shared the efficacy and safety data for children. If approved by India's drugs regulator, Covaxin would be the first shot to be available for kids aged between 2 and 12, while those in the 12-18 years age-group can choose between Covaxin and Zydus Cadila's DNA-based vaccine. Two other companies, Serum Institute of India and homegrown drugmaker Biological E., have also been allowed to test their shots on children. Serum is enrolling children aged 7-11 years for its trial of U.S. drugmaker Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, while Biological E. has been allowed to begin mid-stage studies of its shot in children above 5 years. Scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that Moderna Inc had not met all of the agency's criteria to support use of booster doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, possibly because the efficacy of the shot's first two doses has remained strong. FDA staff said in documents that data for Moderna's vaccine showed that a booster does increase protective antibodies, but the difference in antibody levels before and after the shot was not wide enough, particularly in those whose levels had remained high. The documents were released ahead of a meeting later this week of the FDA's outside expert advisers to discuss booster doses of the vaccine. The FDA typically follows the advice of its experts, but is not bound to do so. A panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will meet next week to discuss specific recommendations on who can receive the boosters, if the FDA authorizes them. "There was boosting, sure. Was it enough boosting? Who knows? Theres no standard amount of boosting that is known to be needed, and nor is it clear how much boosting happened in the study, John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said in an email. Moderna is seeking authorization for a 50-microgram booster dose, half the strength of the original vaccine given in two shots about four weeks apart. The company has asked regulators to clear a third round of shots for adults aged 65 and over, as well as for high-risk individuals, similar to the authorization gained by rivals Pfizer and German partner BioNTech for their mRNA vaccine. President Joe Biden's administration announced plans earlier this year to roll out booster doses for most adults, but some FDA scientists later said in an article in journal The Lancet that there was not enough evidence to support boosters for all. Data on the need for boosters has largely come from Israel, which rolled out the additional shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to large swaths of its population, and has provided details on the effectiveness of that effort to U.S. advisers. No similar real-world study populations exist for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The evidence for Moderna's booster appears to have "a lot of holes," said Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, noting that the data provided was limited and offers no insight into how the boosters actually perform in people. "That is fairly short of what Pfizer had from Israel, where they had the full restoration of the vaccine effectiveness from the booster," Topol said. The FDA's advisers will also consider booster doses for J&J's single-dose vaccine on Friday. The FDA has not yet released its briefing documents on those shots. J&J has asked the FDA to authorize a booster at least two months after the initial shot. It said data suggests high-risk adults should receive boosters earlier, but that lower-risk individuals could benefit from waiting at least six months for their second shot. Read what is in the news today: Society -- The Vietnamese government has adopted new guidelines on safe adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic, which stipulate four levels of risks, namely low risk or green, medium risk or yellow, high risk or orange, and very high risk or red, and specify response measures applicable to the corresponding activities of organizations, public agencies, and businesses. -- The Ho Chi Minh City High Command has decided to start withdrawing reinforcements assisting the southern city in the fight against COVID-19 on Wednesday, after the citys daily activities have been gradually restored under new normal conditions. -- A coal gasification explosion at a tile company killed three people and injured six others in northern Bac Ninh Province on Tuesday afternoon. -- As many as 2,000 security cameras have been installed to trace contacts of suspected COVID-19 cases among passengers at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. -- The Peoples Committee of Hanoi has agreed with its counterpart of northern Dien Bien Province on reopening the air route between the two localities on a trial basis from Wednesday to October 20. Business -- The latest data by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) reveals that a total of 13,537 cars were sold in September, up 52 percent against August but down 50 percent year on year. -- Bitis, a long-standing Vietnamese footwear company, has confessed to using Chinese brocade to manufacture its new sneaker collection, which was originally inspired by patterns on the brocade of Vietnams Cham ethnicity, after meeting with criticisms from experts. -- The Routes, a UK-based aviation networking event organizer, has announced Da Nang City in central Vietnam as the host of its16th annual air route development forum called Routes Asia 2022. Sports -- Vietnam squandered a one-goal lead to concede a 1-3 defeat against Oman in the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers on Tuesday night. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The operator of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi detected two cases of foreign object intrusion in September, which could pose security and safety threats to the airport, a report from Vietnams Ministry of Transport stated. The first case was detected on September 14 at the east end of the airport, while the second was reported on September 29 at the west end, located near Dien Xa Village of Soc Son District. Officers spotted flying objects, which were suspected to be unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), during both instances, classified as foreign objects and posing a direct threat to the safety of commercial flights at Noi Bai. The detection prompted relevant bodies and aviation authorities to work with Noi Bai Airport Police Station, as well as police units and military forces of Hanoi, to implement checkups and searches, but they have found none of the suspected objects so far. In the meantime, the airport has reported no damage following the intrusions. The use of unregistered UAVs and lightweight flying machines in Noi Bai is a violation of aviation security and safety, the Ministry of Transport stressed. The ministry urged the Hanoi Peoples Committee, the municipal air defense forces, and police units to clear the case and implement preventive measures to curb similar happenings in the future and ensure safety for the Noi Bai airport -- a facility of significance in national security. The transport authority also asked aviation operators to provide investigating units with relevant information to inspect the case, as well as devise preventive measures to detect UAV intrusions in domestic airports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The United States has delivered another batch of nearly 392,000 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shots to Vietnam, raising its total vaccine donations to the Southeast Asian country to 9.5 million doses. The United States is proud to support Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19 by providing an additional 391,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on October 13, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said on its verified Facebook page. The U.S. has so far donated approximately 9.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Southeast Asian nation. More vaccine shipments will be sent to Vietnam in the coming time, the U.S. Embassy stated. Vietnam and the U.S. have been cooperating to improve the formers capacity in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the diplomatic agency continued. The collaboration is based on the long-term relationship between the two countries as well as the U.S.s support worth nearly US$1 billion to help Vietnam develop its health infrastructure over the past years. In addition, the U.S. has committed $26.7 million worth of assistance to support Vietnam since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health received 36 out of 111 ultra-low temperature freezers that the U.S. Department of Defense had pledged to provide to Vietnam. These freezers can reach -40 to -90 degrees Celsius, suitable for storing vaccines that require extremely cold temperatures. Vietnam had documented 846,230 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon, with 786,095 recoveries and 20,763 deaths. More than 55.2 million vaccine doses have been administered since inoculation was rolled out in March, with over 16.1 million people fully vaccinated. Health authorities aim to immunize at least two-thirds of its nearly 98 million population 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! The United States has transferred 36 ultra-low temperature freezers, part of a support package worth about US$1 million, to Vietnam to assist the country in COVID-19 vaccine storage. The 36 freezers were handed over to Vietnams Ministry of Health during a ceremony at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in Hanoi on Tuesday. They were the first of 111 ultra-low temperature, medical-grade storage units that the U.S. Department of Defense had pledged to provide to Vietnam with a total value of approximately $1 million. At the event, Christopher Klein, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, praised the relationship between the two countries, stating that both sides have been helping each other to combat COVID-19. Vietnam donated a large amount of medical supplies to the U.S. when the latter went through the worst period in the fight against COVID-19 last year, Klein continued. Christopher Klein (R), Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Hanoi, talks with Dang Duc Anh, head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, October 12, 2021. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The best thing about these freezers is that they will greatly improve Vietnam's capacity and flexibility in distributing and storing vaccines across the country, he added. Along with millions of doses of vaccines that have been sent to Vietnam, this support not only means to help a friend in need, but also gives hope in repelling the pandemic. Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong highlighted the significance of the donation, considering it is a meaningful gesture for the Vietnamese government and people amid the current pandemic. A lot of vaccines have been coming to Vietnam, but the country still lacks proper storage and preservation equipment, Cuong said. An ultra-low temperature freezer is pictured at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, October 12, 2021. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The U.S. government has provided 9.5 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Vietnam via the COVAX Facility, the official continued. Along with the vaccine support, the ultra-low temperature freezers will offer a great source of encouragement for the country to push back the pandemic, he added. These freezers can reach -40 to -90 degrees Celsius, suitable for storing vaccines that require extremely cold temperatures. Of the 77 freezers to be delivered to Vietnam, 14 will remain at NIHE for national-level distribution and 63 are being sent to regional distribution centers throughout the country. The remaining 34 units will be given to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City at the request of the institute. An ultra-low temperature freezer is pictured at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, October 12, 2021. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is taken out of an ultra-low temperature freezer at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, October 12, 2021. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs has proposed a nine-day Lunar New Year break that starts on January 29, 2022 for public employees. The traditional Lunar New Year, or Tet, is the biggest festival in a year for Vietnamese as it is an occasion for family reunions, with the upcoming holiday due in late January and early February of 2022. In accordance with the event, officials, public servants, and employees working at administrative, non-business agencies, political and socio-political organizations will have nine days off, the ministrys proposal stated. More specifically, civil servants can spend nine consecutive days off work from January 29 to February 6, 2022. The streak includes a five-day holiday break and four days of weekend leave, it explained. Workers who are not officials or public servants will have their schedules arranged by their employers and will get compensatory leave if they need to work during the national holiday. Employers must inform their staffers about the Lunar New Year leave schedule at least 30 days before the holiday commences. The labor ministry is collecting opinions from 16 related agencies before seeking government approval for the holiday plan, which is two days longer than the prime minister-approved Lunar New Year break in February 2021. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 7NEWS Spotlight returns this Sunday with The Vanishing in which Melissa Caddicks husband Anthony Koletti breaks his silence on his wifes disappearance. Presenter Michael Usher said: Like everyone, Ive been fascinated in the truth behind Melissa Caddicks disappearance from the beginning. Ive had so many questions, and now Ive had the chance to put them all to Melissas husband. He answers them all. The replies, at times, arent comfortable. His explanations, equally revealing and curious. Hes lost his wife. Melissas teenage son has lost his mum. Her investors have lost millions of dollars. And her death is shrouded in mystery. The interviews with Melissas husband are a rollercoaster of questions, more questions, surprising answers and intrigue. The mystery surrounding fraudster Melissa Caddick and her missing millions has transfixed the nation ever since she disappeared from her beachside mansion in the early hours of November 12 last year. The day before, Australian Federal Police and ASIC had surprised Caddick, her husband and her teenage son when they raided her multi-million-dollar home, uncovering designer clothes, handbags and jewellery along with piles of fake business documents all evidence of the elaborate Ponzi scheme Caddick had been operating since 2012 to swindle up to 60 trusting investors out of more than $23 million. What Australia has heard so far is just the tip of the iceberg. 7NEWS Spotlight returns to screens this Sunday with a bombshell investigation into the disappearance of conwoman Caddick, as her husband Anthony Koletti breaks his silence. No topic is off limits and Australia will be stunned as Michael Usher puts all the allegations and evidence to Koletti, who was the last person to see his wife alive. With unprecedented access to the mansion he shared with Caddick, for the first time see inside Caddicks lavish walk-in wardrobe where her designer dresses still hang and inside the office from where she orchestrated her infamous scheme. Extraordinary new details emerge of the extent of her fraudulent scheme and more victims come forward including her own brother, as the investigation follows the money trail and goes inside the AFP and ASIC raid the day before Caddick disappeared. Murder? Mischief? Did she fool us all? 7NEWS Spotlight investigates all possible scenarios surrounding Caddicks disappearance, uncovering new leads and presenting new evidence on her foot that washed up on a south coast beach. 7pm Sunday on Seven. Actor Erik Thomson took to social media following Sevens Upfronts to lament the state of Australian drama, noting that just one new local drama has been commissioned for 2022: the 2 x 2hr Claremont. On social media he wrote, So the Seven Network has only one new first play drama for 2022: a four part True Crime series about the Claremont killer in WA. Fortunately, they have Home and Away for their drama points. But it really is remarkable how quickly their drama slate has declined. In my time there over 14 years and three series, I heard the various CEOs say that Drama was in their DNA. It seems that is no longer the case. Nine and 10 will fare similarly with only the ABC producing numerous high quality drama and comedy series. But the ABC as an entity is under constant threat. Thomson, who recently appeared in ABC comedy AfterTaste and the Seven-produced Back to the Rafters (for Amazon Prime Video) added to the call for local quota points on streaming services -something the Federal Government is still considering. There is hope that the big streamers will take up the slack, but unless a content quota is legislated, I get the feeling that their involvement will be shallow and piecemeal. We really need a bilateral political agenda to protect the Australian TV drama industry. Or we will be facing very lean times with crippling competition well into the foreseeable future, he wrote. In late 2020 the government introduced flexible local quota points, a complex system of 250 points which networks can amass via a mix of scripted, documentary or childrens content of their own choosing. Last year when the government suspended quotas temporarily, Seven met the suspended Drama quota, but was dismally low in Childrens TV, 10 just missed the annual quota in Drama and fell short in Childrens TV while Nine was well short in both Drama and Childrens overall. At their 2022 Upfronts Nine announced new dramas, Underbelly: Vanishing Act and jury drama After the Verdict. 10 unveils their slate next week. When director Corrie Chen embarked on a very ambitious plan to cast a bilingual period drama for SBS, she wasnt sure if it was too big a challenge. New Gold Mountain, which portrays the Chinese experience during the 1850s Gold Rush of Victoria, entailed 65 speaking roles spanning 3 languages, Cantonese, Hakka & English. A very large part of the cast needed to speak Cantonese, which was something that we had to consider in the casting process. But it was quite surprising that it wasnt really an issue in terms of the quality or the number of screen tests that we looked at. It just reminded me these actors are out there, if you just look a bit harder, she tells TV Tonight. I really felt we uncovered some new talent I went into the process wondering how we were going to do this. Not to say it wasnt difficult, but I didnt feel like I had to compromise because there werent enough people. I really felt we uncovered some new talent or talent that hadnt quite been exposed to the size of this kind of production before. Chen is Taiwan-born and having directed Homecoming Queens, SeaChange, Wentworth and Mustangs FC, the 4 part western is her biggest project to date. Her interest was piqued when she heard the project was in development with Goalpost Pictures. I was just so utterly desperate to do it The story about the origins of Chinese Australians was something that I had personally been captivated by from the very first time I heard it when I was a kid. Hearing that it was being developed, I was just so utterly desperate to do it. I think the energy I was putting out into the universe led to an invite to read the first ep and pitch to Goalpost, she explains. I felt like I was at a stage of my career where I had done quite a bit of episodic drama, and got the frequent flyer points and experience under my belt. l was really ready to take that step into, not only setting-up, but authoring a series. This was probably a little bit bigger and more ambitious than what I would have expected as a first series, but opportunities like this dont come around every day. So I really had to take my shot. New Gold Mountain was filmed in Victoria in November December 2020, when the state was still emerging from lockdown. Pre-production was faced with Stage 4 restrictions. There was a lot of Gumtree, Facebook marketplace I marvel at how the Art Department were able to source every single thing in this show during a time where they couldnt go to an op shop. They couldnt even go into regional Victoria where there were probably more of these props available. There was a lot of Gumtree, Facebook marketplace and working incredibly hard. Sovereign Hill formed the backbone of how we presented Ballarat on screen. The Chinese village and the European camp was an entire set that we had built out at Yellow Gum park in Plenty. We were there for probably half the shoot. The You Yangs is where we had positioned all the gold scenes, in a sand quarry, which were also constructed and dug out as well. It was quite a logistical effort to do that. Amongst a sprawling cast are Yoson An (Mulan, Dead Lucky), Christopher James Baker (True Detective), Dan Spielman (The Code), Sam Wang (Runaway Millionaires), Rhys Muldoon (Informer 3838), Alison Bell (The Letdown), Chris Masters Mah (Underbelly Files: Chopper) and Travis Cotton (Romper Stomper). But it is the characters played by Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings), Mabel Li (The Tailings) and Leonie Whyman (Redfern Now) that also excites Chen. The female characters are one of my favourite things about this show. With Belle (Alyssa Sutherland), Lei (Mabel Li) and Hattie (Leonie Whyman) are three incredibly different women, having very specific experiences related to their cultural background. I love that they werent judge against a sense of suffering, in order to exist in a world, she continues. They have a sense of humour, theyre vulnerable, intelligent and able to consistently outwit Shing (Yoson An) -even though hes our hero. I think thats incredibly satisfying to watch. Shes one really worth keeping an eye on She also singles out Mabel Li (pictured top) whose only other screen role is SBS digital short, The Tailings. I really believe shes quite a discovery for the show and also for our industry. When we cast her she was fresh out of NIDA. I just feel like shes one really worth keeping an eye on, says Chen. She was able to bring to that role a really beautiful vulnerability and strength, as well as terror to the character. Chen also references other genre pieces such as Deadwood, but acknowledges in its push to land as premium drama, the script by Peter Cox is nowhere near as explicit, stylistically. Implied violence most of the time is a lot more effective and dramatic when you see it on screen Im a pretty squeamish person so I dont think we ever reached like Tarantino levels of violence. Characters get hit across the face and so forth but I do feel a lot of it was implied. Implied violence most of the time is a lot more effective and dramatic when you see it on screen. Thats what I believe. She adds, It has a lot to say about who we are, and the Australian identity, but at the same time, its scintillating and humorous and lyrical at times as well. I think thats hopefully the kind of television that we should be striving for. New Gold Mountain is now available at SBS on Demand and continues 9:30pm tonight, Wednesday & Thursday on SBS. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. The fifth and final day of the Millionaire Maker will start soon. Two bracelet winners remain in the field, and one of them is Daniel Lazrus (60,200,000), who comes into the day with around forty-five percent of the chips in play and will be looking to take down his second bracelet. Four-time bracelet winner Michael Gathy (21,900,000) is hoping five will be the number of the day, as this fifth day of the event starts with five players and he will be trying to win his fifth bracelet. Ignacio Moron (30,600,000), Jeffrey Gencarelli (13,500,000), and Darryl Ronconi (7,400,000) will all be looking to win their first bracelet, along with the $1,000,000 prize. Not only will today's event be reported here in the live updates, but those with a subscription to PokerGO can watch the live stream. Millionaire Maker Starting Day 5 Counts Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Daniel Lazrus United States 60,200,000 100 2 Ignacio Moron Spain 30,600,000 51 3 Michael Gathy Belgium 21,900,000 36 4 Jeffrey Gencarelli United States 13,500,000 22 5 Darryl Ronconi United States 7,400,000 12 Day 5 starts at 4 p.m. local time on October 13 in the Amazon Room of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The tournament resumes at Level 36 with blinds at 300,000/600,000/600,000. Stay tuned for all the updates from the PokerNews live reporting team as one player will win a bracelet and one million dollars. For almost two weeks now, the Iranian-Azerbaijani crisis has been the main topic of regional media. Thus, Middle East Monitor writes that with the victory of Azerbaijan against Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region almost completing its first year, the South Caucasus region does not yet seem ready to enter a phase of long-term stability. The peace agreement, sponsored by Turkey and Russia, succeeded in ending the war between the two countries and opened, for the first time, prospects for the possibility of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, but it only addresses the local factors of this conflict, ignoring the external factors affecting it. Three regional countries are involved in the issue: Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and while Moscow and Ankara managed to end last year's war and have peacekeeping forces in Karabakh, Tehran found itself side-lined in a new geopolitical equation, and its feelings of vulnerability were increased recently by growing Azeri-Israeli relations. After the defeat of Armenia, Azerbaijan regained areas along the 130 km of its border with Iran, which Armenia had occupied in the 1990s. It also recovered part of the main highway linking Iran to Armenia via Azerbaijan, an important trade route to the Black Sea and Russia. Azerbaijan's decision to impose duties on trucks transporting goods to Armenia angered Tehran, and it responded by conducting military exercises on the border with Azerbaijan. This conflict quickly took on a regional aspect with Turkey announcing military manoeuvres with its ally, Azerbaijan, in the Nakhichevan region. The marginalisation of Iran in the new Caucasian equation has awakened multifaceted Iranian concerns. On the one hand, it came at the expense of Turkey's growing influence, which will enable the Nakhichevan-Azerbaijan corridor project agreed upon in the peace agreement to reconnect it geographically with the Turkic-speaking countries in Central Asia. Therefore, Iran finds itself the biggest loser in this transformation, compared to the gains of Turkey and Russia. Iran's concerns are not limited to fear of isolation in the new situation, but also include the context of competition for energy supply lines in a region where pipelines shipping oil and natural gas to the West intersect. Since 1994, BP has invested more than $70 billion in energy and transportation development projects from Azerbaijan. The projects include a pipeline connecting the production of the Caspian Sea to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Turkey's strengthening of its political and economic relations with the Turkic-speaking countries will help it in the future to develop the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to include Turkmenistan's oil and gas. This line would be a competitor to the proposed Iranian pipeline that runs south of Iran's Pars field towards Europe through Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, to supply European customers, as well as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, Ahval with a reference to Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), writes that any sharp military escalation risks drawing in Turkey. Azizi said that the chances of military hostilities breaking out between Azerbaijan and Iran remained low, but lingering tensions following last years war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh are bubbling to the surface. Much of Irans anger towards Azerbaijan has revolved around the latters detention of Iranian truckers in Nagorno-Karabakh and disrupting their trade with Armenia. Turkeys strengthened position in the South Caucasus, strengthened by increased military support for Azerbaijan, has not escaped Irans concerns, said Azizi. Moreover, Turkish firms have assumed the lions share of reconstruction projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azizi said that Iran does not place Turkey on the same level as Israel as a security threat, and its close bonds with Azerbaijan are nothing new. However, he argues that rivalry with Turkey is taking a broader strategic context and Iran sees Ankara in a stronger position regionally after the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Turkeys aspirations to serve as a transit route for East-West trade via projects such as Chinas One Belt One Road initiative put it into direct competition with Irans own interest in playing a similar role. Ankaras push for energy cooperation in the Caspian Sea, together with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, to fulfill long-held aspirations of developing its gas transit role to Europe also rankles Iranian decision-makers. To address its concerns in the South Caucasus, Iran has recently turned to Russia for diplomatic support. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian traveled to Moscow, but Sergei Lavrov did not accept claims of his Iranian counterpart and underscored the importance of the 3+3 format that includes the countries of the South Caucasus as well as Turkey and Iran. 80 million Turks will not wrestle 10 million Greek brothers and sisters to the ground, but many are concerned about the interests of the Turkish diaspora in Western Thrace and the Aegean Islands, Hakki Ocal writes in the article for Daily Sabah. Even though you can almost touch Kastellorizo (Megisti-Meis) from Kas, near Antalya, we take our passports with us when we go swimming in the Buyukcakl or Kucukcakl beaches. Who knows, if you swim a little far and the Greek coast guard may fish you out of the sea. Yet, it is a Greek territory. It is not hard to accept; that is what had happened at the Paris conference in 1946. Turkey could have objected to it and it could have gone to international litigation. It had chosen not to. The 46 islands in the "Egeo Pelagos" (Aegean archipelago) are now recognized Greek territory, and Turkey, as a peaceful and respectful member of the United Nations has been and will be recognizant of this. Not just the islands, Turkey has also been swindled off its lawful territory in Western Thrace. Okay, I take the word swindle back. Perhaps it was the unfortunate result of something psychologists call learned helplessness; perhaps the Turkish government took the Kemalist dictum Peace at home, peace in the world too much to heart. Turkey was trying to secure its place in the family of nations the Ottomans were booted from for denying nations under its rule the opportunity of autonomous development as former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson claimed, and the world accepted. Islands, islands, islands With equal resolve, I will express a fact: Greece cannot arm those islands that have been put under Greek sovereignty in the aforementioned Paris agreement: Lesvos (Lesbos-Midilli), Chios (Sakz), Samos (Sisam), Icaria (Ahikerya), Lemnos (Limni), Samothrace (Semadirek), Karpathos (Kerpe), Kastellorizo (Megisti-Meis), Rhodes (Rodos), Symi (Sombeki), Tilos (Ileki), Kos (Istankoy), Kalymnos (Kelemez), Leros (Ileryoz), Patmos (Batnoz), Psara (Ipsara), Kasos (Coban), Nisyros (Incirli), Leipsoi (Ilipsi) and Halki (Herke). On these 20 islands, neither the Greek government nor its agents (read: the French and the Americans) can store, emplace or deploy any arms other than the small firearms that law enforcement forces carry. They cannot fortify these islands, either. Kapish? ? Now, what does the Greek governments deploying heavy arms on these islands do to the Paris agreement to which I have been bending over backward showing my respect? It voids, abrogates, utterly destroys, headshots. Right? When you abolish an international agreement, what do the other parties do? Keep sheepishly accepting it? That is a question that Turkeys allies and friends in NATO, namely Greece, France and the United States should answer now. If they dont answer the question now it may be too late to keep the Paris agreement as it is. Note to Mitsotakis I am dwelling on this issue of the fortification and arming of the Greek Islands because of what Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had implied when he introduced the Greek-French defense pact. He said his government was not only buying six more French Dassault Rafale twin-engine multirole fighter planes bringing the total number to 24 and three French-made frigates, but also signing a defense agreement with France that has an article like the NATO agreement: if a third party attacks Greece, France will help defend it. The NATO agreement has the very same article: if a country attacks Greece, Turkey will be one of the NATO countries to rush to its help! So, Greece now has an alliance within an alliance. In his speech in the Greek parliament, Mitsotakis said this is especially important for his country in his words given the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean. He didnt name names, but everybody understood that he was implying Turkey. Turkey indeed has a couple of issues with Greek actions in those maritime areas. Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are not respecting the exclusive economic zones of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Turkey has been issuing naval warnings about their actions. Just recently, a rented research vessel violated the Turkish continental shelf and Turkish naval ships had to push the intruder back to international waters. Turkey doesnt say that those research vessels cannot safely sail the Turkish continental shelf; rather, it says such activities should be coordinated with Turkey. Lets assume that Mitsotakis gets his warplanes and frigates soon; if his rented research ship gets pushed back again when it violates Turkish territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or continental shelf, is he then going to attack the Turkish ships and draw in France? Thank heavens that former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also attended that parliamentary session to add that Mitsotakis was only buying a dream from France. 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. On the seventeenth day of the war, October 13, the Armenian Armed Forces continued shelling the front-line Azerbaijani settlements all night, as well as re-occupying the lands in the direction of Hadrut and the villages of Talish and Sugovushan. Since the beginning of the war, 42 civilians of Azerbaijan have been killed under shelling by Armenian troops, another 206 have been injured, and 37 schools have been destroyed. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs held talks with the Armenian Foreign Minister in Moscow. Patriarch Kirill called on Baku and Yerevan to extend the ceasefire and hold peace talks. The International Committee of the Red Cross also expressed hope for the observance of the ceasefire, later the head of the U.S. State Department did the same. The Swiss ambassador to Azerbaijan testified to the fact of the Ganja terrorist attack, in which ten people died, and three children lost both parents. The terrorist attack in Ganja was reported on the BBC. Turkey stressed that the terrorist attack in Ganja is a crime against humanity. At the same time, the OSCE Minsk Group, after holding negotiations with the Armenian Foreign Minister, only called on to observe a ceasefire, without touching on the issue of the Armenian Armed Forces' strike with medium-range missiles at the Azerbaijani city of Ganja, located 60 km from the front. The World Council of Churches has also called for an end to the fighting. The action "Karabakh is Azerbaijan!" was held in Houston. The WHO drew attention to the fact that the hostilities in the occupation zone contribute to the spread of the coronavirus. After 19:00, the first video footage of the liberated village of Hadrut was published. The Baku Armenians called on Yerevan to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan. Thus, on the seventeenth day of the war, the Azerbaijani liberation army continued preparations for the assault on Fuzuli and access to the Khudaferin reservoir for further advancement to the southern section of the border with Armenia. At the diplomatic level, the mediators did not react to the terrorist attack in Ganja organized by Armenia and only called for the observance of the ceasefire, without planning to bring Yerevan to justice for violations of the ceasefire. Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili agrees to involve a multifunctional group of doctors to examine and analyze his health condition, - Giorgi Gelkhauri, one of Mikheil Saakashvili's lawyers, said after leaving the prison. He said no one has anything to hide, InterPressNews reports. "Mikheil Saakashvili has no objection to the involvement of these doctors. It is simply important that his personal doctor visits the penitentiary. Yes, Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili agrees, no one has anything to hide. He is morally very courageous. It's more speculation when we are talking about a group of doctors, when his personal doctor is not allowed to visit. He agrees to avoid speculation, but it is important for his personal doctor to visit him", - Gelkhauri said. For reference, the Ministry of Justice appeals to the Minister of Health to set up a multifunctional group of doctors to examine and analyze Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition. Belarus plans to launch the full-cycle production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine by the end of the year, Belarusian Health Minister Dmitry Pinevich told journalists on Wednesday before a meeting of the council for health cooperation of the CIS. "The full [production] cycle of Sputnik V [is planned] by the end of this year at the facilities of Belmedpreparaty," the health minister noted. He did not indicate the planned production volumes of Sputnik V noting that the important part is to produce a quality vaccine that would "completely resemble the existing vaccine." The health minister explained that for the full-cycle production of Sputnik V it wont be difficult to localize the Sputnik Light vaccine which Belarus is currently purchasing. "Its localization will be needed only when it is clear that Sputnik Light will enter mass circulation and it will be economically practicable," he specified. The health minister noted that "colleagues, strategic partners from the Russian Federation, in addition to Sputnik Light are also developing childrens vaccines on the basis of Sputnik." "This production (following the full cycle in Belarus - TASS) should comply with all possible variants of localization and the full-cycle production of a bloc of Sputnik [vaccines]. Then, and this is the indispensable condition of this project, after the pandemic is over, the immunobiological preparation of various applications must be produced there," he noted. The contract between Gazprom and Hungary for the supply of gas bypassing Ukraine does not go against European legislation, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Reuters. Ukraine is lobbying its Western allies to punish Russia for what it says is Moscows attempt to use gas supplies as a weapon against Europe. Energy concerns also sparked a row between Ukraine and its EU neighbour Hungary last month, after Budapest signed a new long-term energy deal with Russia that sidelined Ukraine as a transit country. Ukraine wants the EU to investigate the deal, arguing it could violate EU energy rules. Member states are free to do bilateral agreements, Borrell said. As far as I know, there is nothing illegal, nothing that goes against European law, on this deal between Hungary and Gazprom. Azerbaijan has made and will make decisions independently, based solely on its national interests, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the Italian La Repubblica newspaper. The president stressed that accusations of ties with Israel, voiced by the Iranian side, are only a pretext. "The reasons for what it is happening is not because of our relations with some other country, because our foreign policy is very open, transparent, stable and as I said independent. No other country can or should try to influence Azerbaijans decisions. Decisions are made here in Baku, by me, based on the national interests of Azerbaijan. Whoever tried to use artificial pretext and to blame Azerbaijan for kind of relations with some other countries, failed. This is not the right path. It will lead to deadlock," he said. "The reasons for what it happened, is very simple. Azerbaijan wants respect to its borders. After liberation of Karabakh, we came to our borders with Armenia. So, we came to our borders, and we sit on our borders. And it happened that the road between some Armenian cities is crossing Azerbaijani territory. But then we started to see that this road is used for illegal cargo transportation to Karabakh, to our territory. This is not acceptable. We demand respect to our borders. We do not violate any other countrys borders illegally. So, our message was very simple-stop it. We made a very friendly communication, not public communication, but friendly communication to stop it, because it is not right. We control that road. We see. There is no way to cheat, no way to say that it doesnt happen," Ilham Aliyev noted. "Unfortunately, this warning was not adequately responded, then, we had to take the second step. We made a diplomatic nota. We invited the ambassador and made it public, in order to stop it. But actually it became even worse. The number of trucks from Iran to Karabakh increased and we considered it as an assault, as a deliberate disrespect. So, then we took other measures which is absolutely legitimate. It created big turbulence and unnecessary movements in the neighboring country-inappropriate statements, threats, military trainings on our border. Because it was strange that first it was said that these military trainings are planned, but then it was said that they were in order to demonstrate us something," he recalled. "No one can impose its will on us. We want to have friendly relation with all the countries, in the first place, with our neighbors. On many occasions, I, talking about foreign policy priorities of Azerbaijan, and they are all published, said that our priority is the relations with the neighboring countries. We, with Iran and during the previous Iranian government with which we worked for eight years, managed to elevate our relations to actually highest possible level. I had more than ten meetings with my counterpart Mr. Hassan Rouhani. All of them were productive. We signed many agreements and we implemented them on energy, on transportation, on cultural development, security. Our relations were actually the symbol of friendship and good neighborhood," Ilham Aliyev pointed out. "When the new government of Iran, the new president was elected, what weve done? We send the big delegation to his inauguration led by head of our parliament and deputy prime minister. They delivered my message of friendship to Iranian President directly. At the same time, and the other message which was delivered particularly what I said before please, pay attention to this illegal business activity in Karabakh by Iranian businessmen. We were not in a position to accuse Iranian government. We understood that its some private companies who do it. But we asked to stop it. What happened in return, everybody sees. And what we have in the end. Again, nothing good," the Azerbaijani leader stressed. Therefore, first, we reject all the accusations about Azerbaijan bringing Israel to the liberated territories. That is absolutely nonsense. It is just a pretext aimed at the domestic audience in order to demonize Azerbaijan. Everybody can go and see that there is no life there. Everything is destroyed. Second, that we demand respect to us, the same respect which we show to others," the Azerbaijani president urged. He also noted that in general Baku is satisfied with the Russian peace mediation. "Its almost one year since the war ended and Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in Azerbaijan, in our region of Karabakh. During this period of time, with some exception of minor incidents the situation is stable, and in general we are satisfied. Of course, there are some issues which is still to be resolved, particularly, permission of Azerbaijan to foreign citizens to visit our territory which is now in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers. Though the number of the so-called foreign tourists to Karabakh was significantly decreased, still there are some foreigners who enter our territory illegally and enter the zone of Russian peacekeepers. We communicated with the Russian authorities and the Defense Ministry to put an end to that. I think this or maybe some other minor issues are still to be handled. But in general, yes. We are satisfied," Ilham Aliyev said. "A special investment program for liberated territories have been adopted. For this year the total investments are close to actually exactly $1.3 bln. Investments are mainly in infrastructure. By the end of the year all the electric power of the liberated territories which is 10 thousand square kilometres will be already totally completed," the president said. "We are now building roads, railroads. The first airport in the liberated territories, in Fuzuli is already ready and is already receiving the planes. We built it in eight months. Two more airports are now in the phase of construction. Also, we started already the housing projects. City planning of two cities have been already proved and we started. So, we started very actively, and the plan is to return the former refugees as soon as possible to their homelands," he concluded. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaking at the XVII Meeting of heads of security agencies and intelligence services of CIS countries, stated the need to block supply channels of military products to terrorists in Afghanistan. "Its necessary to prevent any further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country resulting in the increasing migrant influx in Central Asian direction. We share the concerns that under the guise of refugees, terrorists and other radical elements can infiltrate the country via the southern borders. Its necessary to promptly block the supply channels of all variety of military products," he said. The minister emphasized the importance of reinforcing cooperation within the CIS, CSTO and SCO. "Recently our leaders discussed this in detail at the September summits in Dushanbe," TASS cited the top diplomat as saying. The Taliban radical militant group (outlawed in Russia) launched a large-scale offensive to seize control of Afghanistan after the United States declared its intention this spring to withdraw its troops from the country. On August 15, the Taliban entered Kabul without encountering any resistance while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and fled the country. The Taliban declared on September 6 that they had established control of the entire Afghan territory. On September 7, the movement unveiled the composition of an interim government. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva took control of the treatment of 10-year-old Eldar Ahmadzade, who is suffering from leukemia. Eldar, who is now being treated in Istanbul, needs bone marrow transplantation. His brother will be his donor. Before the operation, Eldar must undergo a course of chemotherapy. Its important that Eldar Ahmadzade, who has already received two courses of chemotherapy, undergoes another two or three such medical procedures. On the instructions of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, who took control of Eldar's treatment, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation took over the issues of support for additional courses of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. A convoy of vehicles moving from the Sugovushan settlement of the Tartar region towards the Kalbajar region in Azerbaijan with the aim of delivering non-military goods for the construction of infrastructure in the Kalbajar territory came under fire from illegal Armenian armed formations near the Gozlukerpu settlement at about 14:00 (GMT+4) on October 13, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. No one was dead or injured as a result of the shelling. The shelling by illegal Armenian armed formations of a convoy of civilian vehicles accompanied by Russian peacekeepers with the aim of delivering non-military cargo for the restoration of civilian infrastructure in the liberated territories is unacceptable, said the ministry. An appeal was sent to the command of the Russian peacekeeping forces temporarily deployed in a certain part of the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, and to the Joint Russian-Turkish Monitoring Center to investigate the incident. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and Brussels next week, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing yesterday. Austin and his team will be preparing for a trip to Europe next week. They will stay in Georgia, Ukraine and Romania, and he (Austin) will also conclude this important visit with allies and partners in Brussels, where the meeting of NATO defense ministers will take place, Kirby said. He did not disclose further details of the visit such as exact dates. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had a telephone conversation on October 12, according to the MFA press service. The ministers exchanged views on the current condition of relations between the two countries. The parties noted that the rhetoric observed recently does not correspond to the level of friendly relations between our countries and all disagreements should be resolved through dialogue. The ministers stressed the importance of continuing to guiding by the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries. During the telephone conversation, it was decided to discuss issues related to transit through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan through direct contacts between the relevant state bodies. The ministers also discussed other issues of mutual interest. According to the Iranian FM's press service, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in this telephone conversation, emphasizing the need for mutual respect, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, added that Tehran and Baku have long-standing relations with each other. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is close to selling his luxury hotel in Washington, DC, for more than $370 million, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The lease for the Trump International Hotel could be acquired by the Miami investment firm CGI Merchant Group, the report said. The firm has also considered removing the Trump family name from the hotel, the report said. The hotel, situated along Pennsylvania Avenue not far from the White House, has been at the center of a political firestorm over allegations that Trump violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution an anticorruption rule that bars government officials from receiving gifts or profiting from foreign governments by profiting from foreign dignitaries staying at the hotel. Trump said in financial disclosures that he earned over $150 million in income from the hotel between 2016 and 2020. But the Trump International Hotel lost over $73 million during that period, documents released on Friday by the House Oversight Committee showed. The committee said that Trump had to "inject at least $24 million to aid the struggling hotel" from a holding company owned by the former president himself. "The Committee found that President Trump provided misleading information about the financial situation of the Trump Hotel in his annual financial disclosures," the committee said in a statement. "By filing these misleading public disclosures, President Trump grossly exaggerated the financial health of the Trump Hotel." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday said the PKK, and its Syrian offshoot YPG, are targeting Turkey and Ankara is not going to watch the developments as a mere spectator. He made the remarks at a joint press conference in Turkey's capital Ankara with Denis Moncada Colindres, the minister of foreign affairs of Nicaragua. Turkey will do whatever it takes to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria, Cavusoglu said, referring to the YPG/PKK, which repeatedly targets Turkish forces in the region. "In the latest attacks... both Russia and the U.S. have a responsibility as they did not keep their promises," Cavusoglu said. "Since they are not keeping their promises, we will do what is necessary for our security," he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Turkey was determined to eliminate threats originating in northern Syria, and added that the YPG killing two Turkish police officers in a terrorist attack was "the final straw." "We have no patience left regarding some regions in Syria which have the potential of being used for attacks on our country," Erdogan said in a news conference following a Cabinet meeting. "We are determined to eliminate the threats originating from here either with forces active there or by our own means," he added. "The latest attack on our police and harassment that targets our soil are the final straw," Erdogan said. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed the "strength and the endurance" of the bilateral relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv during a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Speaking ahead of their meeting, Harris said the US-Israel relationship is "unwavering, a relationship that is based on shared values, shared history, and a shared concern for the mutual safety and security of the people of our two countries." "We will also discuss, of course, what we must do to strengthen those relationships andin particular, security concerns that Israel always has had and continues to have, and our commitment to ensure the security of the people of Israel," she said. In addition, Harris said she and the top diplomat discussed the "issue of peace, security, and prosperity for Palestinians as well as Israelis, and, of course, the regional challenges that we face," as well as normalization agreements struck by former US President Donald Trump between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations, which Harris said she and President Joe Biden "strongly support." Lapid, for his part, said that even when there are differences between Washington and Tel Aviv, the two nations mutually "know that our goal is common, which is to see Israel strong, secure, and thriving." "It's true that the center of my visit is the Iranian nuclear program, but it deals with one more thing: strengthening our bipartisan relationship with the next generation of young Americans," he said. Biden has attempted to bring the US and Iran back to mutual compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed an unprecedented international inspection regime on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions. The effort to return to compliance has been vocally opposed by Israel. Trump unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and went on to pursue what his administration called a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran geared at bringing Iran back to the negotiating table by reimposing sanctions and adding new ones to a laundry list of penalties, which was ultimately futile. Iran, in retaliation, stepped back from its commitments under the agreement. In addition to meeting with Harris, Lapid also sat down with Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who "reaffirmed President Bidens commitment to ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement. "The officials agreed that the United States and Israel will continue to consult closely on Iran and other critical matters impacting the security and stability of the region," she added. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland described her talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, where they discussed both bilateral and global issues, as constructive, Jason Rebholz, spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow, wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday. "Under Secretary Nuland: Constructive meetings today to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues with mfa_russia counterparts," he wrote. Ryabkov and Nuland spoke for more than one and a half hours at the Russian foreign ministry on Tuesday. Nuland will stay in Russia on a visit till October 13, and will hold meetings with the Russian presidential aide for international affairs Yuri Uhakov and deputy chief of the presidential staff Dmitry Kozak. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin took part in Ryabkovs meeting with Nuland. Ryabkov said after the talks that he had discussed issues of strategic stability with Nuland. He said he had expressed Russias concern over a new pact created between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS). He also said that Russia and the United States plan to hold specialized cons The U.S. administration believes that U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland is having constructive and productive meetings during her visit to Moscow, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday. "I would guess that shes having quite constructive, productive meetings on the ground while shes there. I know shes meeting with a range of leaders on the ground," Psaki said without elaborating. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Nuland spoke for more than one and a half hours at the Russian foreign ministry on Tuesday. Nuland will stay in Russia on a visit till October 13, and will hold meetings with the Russian presidential aide for international affairs Yuri Uhakov and deputy chief of the presidential staff Dmitry Kozak. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin took part in Ryabkovs meeting with Nuland. Ryabkov said after the talks that he had discussed issues of strategic stability with Nuland. He said he had expressed Russias concern over a new pact created between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS). He also said that Russia and the United States plan to hold specialized consultations on visa issues and the operation of diplomatic missions. Most enterprises can now resume usual operations as Vietnam has entered the new normal period. However, their production and business have been obstructed by sub-licenses, or new regulations set by agencies. Obstacles At the Governments September regular meeting, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong estimated that Vietnam may obtain a GDP growth rate of 3-3.5 percent this year. Vietnams GDP growth rate in the first nine months of the year was modest, just 1.42 percent. To obtain the goal, the country needs to grow by 7.06-8.84 percent in the last three months of the year. Quarterly growth rates of 7 percent and higher were the figures Vietnam once obtained in the past. However, analysts said in the current conditions, the growth would partially depend on safe adaptation to the pandemic. Vietnam needs to have conditions to obtain a growth rate of 7.06-8.84 percent in Q4. Workers must be allowed to travel between localities and goods, both input and output, must be put into circulation. Phuong stressed that only when the conditions can be satisfied will the economy be able to develop. Businesses now both have to restore production and ensure safety during the pandemic, so it would be a success if they can restore 80 percent of their performance. However, businesses complained that sub-licenses may make it impossible for them to resume normal operation. The business community in Tien Giang has sent a petition to the provinces Chair after the plan on restoring production designed by the provincial authorities was released. Under the plan, the production resumption period would include three stages, from October 1 to October 31, from November 1 to December 31, and from January 2022 afterwards. In stage 1, enterprises would have to apply the three on-the-site production mode. They must be the producers of essential goods and they have to PCR test all of their workers once every seven days, and test the workers receiving belongings from outside once every three days. Enterprises can only use workers who have had at least one vaccination jab at least 14 days prior and the workers must show negative PCR test results before entering factories. The business community commented that the plan is difficult to implement in stage 1, because most workers are still within barricades set up to protect green zones. To date, only 50-60 percent of workers have had first shots and less than 1 percent have the second shot. Meanwhile, specialists at foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) still cannot come back to work. Businesses are worried about the requirements for stage 2, when only fully vaccinated workers can go to work. If vaccinations cannot be accelerated, it will be very difficult to satisfy the requirement to restore production. Some large associations of enterprises in HCM City, including food and foodstuff, textile and garment, mechanical engineering, fine arts and woodwork have asked the HCM City Peoples Committee to amend Document 3252 because of unreasonable provisions in the document, which will increase production costs. The associations also pointed out that the document isn't in line with the Ministry of Healths (MOH) instructions on testing. Under the document, workers and specialists who go to production facilities in HCM City and vice versa will have to show negative testing results once every seven days, though they have been fully vaccinated or fully recovered from Covid-19 for six months. Meanwhile, MOHs Document 8228 says that cities/provinces with very high risks, workers with high risks, or those who provide direct services to enterprises dont have to test periodically if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 within the last six months. Testing is encouraged, and is not compulsory. The member companies of these associations all have factories located in Binh Duong, Long An, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh, which means the number of workers and specialists traveling regularly between HCM City and the provinces is very high. Enterprises fear that the new regulation will be an obstacle to their operation. No sub-license: experts A VASEP (Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers( survey found that only 30-40 percent of member companies will be able to restore production when the lockdown is removed, while it will take other enterprises a long time to do this. The material supply chain has been disrupted, so it will be not easy to resume production. In such circumstances, if localities continue applying regulations that cause difficulties, enterprises wont be able to come back to normal. The material supply chain has been disrupted, so it will be not easy to resume production. In such circumstances, if localities continue applying regulations that cause difficulties, enterprises wont be able to come back to normal. Vu Tien Loc, Chair of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center, said the last three months of the year is the golden time for Vietnam to recover the economy. Loc thinks the Government needs to give general guidance about safe and flexible adaptation to the pandemic. The guidance needs to concretize the principle mentioned by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh that no new business condition, no new licensing procedure and no new sub-license will be set. Ly Kim Chi, Chair of the HCM City Food and Foodstuff Association, said businesses will collapse completely if another blow is dealt on them. The Government needs to release guidance on how to safely adapt to the new circumstances, so that businesses can take the initiative in arranging their plans. Chi stressed that the regulations must be consistent from the central to grassroots levels, while local authorities must not be extreme and set sublicenses causing difficulties for enterprises. Cao Ngoc Lan, Deputy Chair of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA), also stressed that the policies must be transparent and the support needs to be enough to help revive travel firms, 90 percent of which have not been operating. Tran Thuy Vietnamese enterprises need cash to revive Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel, a big tourist company in Vietnam, said that due to the impact of the 4th wave of Covid-19 epidemic, the entire tourism industry of Vietnam has been closed since May 2021. The first commercial flights have been provided in the new normal period. However, the application of different regulations in different localities have caused problems. The ink was barely dry on the regulations when state agencies had to amend them to make them suit the new circumstances. 1. The Hanoi Healthcare Department on October 10, 2021 released a regulation requesting passengers from HCM City to spend 7-day concentrated quarantine at the quarantine zones of the city, or at the accommodation facilities licensed by the city. Passengers were warned that they will have to pay quarantine and testing fees. As for the passengers from Da Nang to Noi Bai International Airport who stay in Hanoi, they were asked to quarantine at home/accommodation facilities for 7 days and test twice on the first day and the sixth day, before the quarantine time ends, and to continue monitoring their health conditions for another 7 days. Just one day later, on October 11 afternoon, Hanoi removed the requirement on 7-day concentrated quarantine applied before to passengers from HCM City. This means that passengers from HCM City and Da Nang only have to monitor their health conditions at home. On October 12, people read in newspapers that Hanoi suggestex hanging a signboard with the words there are people monitoring health condition to fight Covid-19 over the houses where there are people from HCM City and Da Nang. But later, on the afternoon of the same day, Hanoi no longer required to hang such a signboard. Experts say the promulgation and abrogation of regulation within three days shows the confusion of the Hanoi authorities when designing solutions to ensure safety for the city when it reopens. 2. The events on the first day of the domestic air route reopening showed that the management of different localities didnt match. Twenty seven commercial flights could not take off on the day because of the typhoon and because of the lack of necessary legal documents. Vietnam Airlines, the national flag air carrier, failed to provide flights on 5 air routes. The HCM City - Hanoi flight was canceled because there was no guidance on concentrated quarantine in Hanoi as the destination point. On October 10, when passengers came to Tan Son Nhat Airport to fly to Da Nang, they were informed that the flight could not be implemented because Da Nang still refused commercial flights. Explaining the refusal of the flights from HCM City, Doan Hung, Deputy Director of Middle Airports Authority (MAA), said there was no legal document guiding how to receive passengers coming to the city. In an effort to create favorable conditions for Da Nang residents, on the afternoon of the same day, the municipal authorities released a document on some measures to prevent and control the pandemic, applied to air passengers. The first commercial flights have been provided in the new normal period. However, the application of different regulations in different localities have caused problems. Da Nang requires information about passengers who have residence and work in Da Nang submitted after the flight to the management teams at wards/communes to serve supervision; and confirm with MAA that passengers have arrived at residence/accommodation facilities. Da Nang asked MAA and the Da Nang International Airport to tell airlines not to sell tickets to citizens who still cannot satisfy the requirements set by the Ministry of Transport (MOT). At the meeting on October 11 afternoon, CAAV (the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam) Head Dinh Viet Thang urged local authorities to soon agree on the conditions passengers must have to be able to take flights. Thang said many passengers who took a flight from HCM City to Da Nang on October 10 wanted to continue going to Quang Nam and Thua Thien - Hue after landing in Da Nang, but they were not allowed to do so. The passengers were taken to concentrated quarantine zones and asked to pay the quarantine fee. Thang went on to say that different localities set different requirements on testing results. On October 12, Da Nang City released a dispatch on new measures to fight the pandemic applied to returnees from other localities. The returnees from Quang Nam province are no longer required to show negative testing results. This has been hailed as a move that creates favorable conditions for traveling in new normal so as to help restore production and business. The cities/provinces which have airports need to set clear requirements on the measures to control the pandemic, applied to passengers flying to Hanoi but not staying there. CAAV has proposed that passengers from green zones are only required to show negative testing results within the last 72 hours to create favorable conditions for people to come to large cities to work. The vaccination rate in Vietnam is still low, except for in Hanoi and HCM City. If these passengers also have to be fully vaccinated, the air routes from Hanoi/HCM City to other cities/provinces will have few passengers. Nguyen Hien Airways, railways reopen as local authorities adjust policies Airways and railways have gradually reopened after a long period of hibernation. Obstacles have been cleared for flights to resume. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary General, said the renaming to ITU Digital World is a great initiative of Vietnam reflecting the importance of digital technology in the communications ecosystem. ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao The first ITU Telecom was organized 50 years ago. Most recently, the events were organized in Budapest, Hungary and Durban, South Africa. Host countries are chosen through competitive candidacy. I think Vietnam is a wonderful host country to organize the event, he said in an interview with VietNamNet. Vietnams strong commitments and enthusiasm to organize ITU Telecom World 2020 offline in 2020 were recognized, but because of Covid-19, the event was organized online. And Vietnam continues to host the event this year ITU Digital World 2021. Vietnams significant achievements in ICT development and its important role in ASEAN both make Vietnam an ideal host of the event. He said he is impressed with the rapid ICT development in Vietnam. He acknowledged Vietnam's role as a leading ICT service provider and digital economy in ASEAN, and an important partner in many markets from Asia, Africa to Latin America and the Caribbean. For a long time, the old image of fixed-line telephone set was shown when talking about telecom. But nowadays, when talking about ICT, one would think about the development of technology firms and applications. In 2019, the event was organized in Hungary ITU Telecom World 2019. But Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung has suggested renaming it ITU Digital World, a wonderful initiative which shows the importance of digital technology in communications ecosystem. The Covid-19 pandemic has posed many challenges. However, with ICT services, billions of people still can work, study, take care of others and maintain contacts throughout the pandemic all over the world, including the participants of ITU events. However, half of the global population still cannot access technology and necessary digital services. ITU has built its position as an ICT leader in the United Nations great family to support the organization of events and meetings under online mode. Online meetings show greater inclusivity than offline meetings, allowing people, no matter where they are, to participate in events as panel speakers or delegates. The organization of WSIS this year online, for example, has been highly appreciated by all parties because it helps intensify participation and promote cooperation all over the world. Organizing ITU events online is an important decision to respond to the crisis. The 2020 meeting was the first large-scale event of ITU and it was successfully organized thanks to the cooperation, qualification of the staff and great efforts of the partners in Vietnam. And this years event has gone smoothly also thanks to the staff. Houlin Zhao praised the Vietnamese Governments strong support and enthusiasm in organizing the edition of 50th anniversary of ITU Telecom. He believes that organizing the event in Vietnam is a right decision. Vietnams great achievements in ICT development makes Vietnam a wonderful model for the region and the world. He hopes that the Ministers conference in some days will convene leading representatives of the public and private sectors to consider the role of governments in cutting broadband costs, expanding broadband connection and promoting digital society. Vietnams experience and initiatives in digital transformation, including the newly announced e-Government strategy will help orientate the discussions and it is really an active model for other governments to consider. A lot of issues are expected to be discussed at the event, including digital transformation, support to people to access broadband at reasonable costs, and the building of a digital future. Themed Building a Digital World Together, ITU Digital World 2021 gathers parties from all over the world and the ICT ecosystem, governments and businesses, from small and medium technology firms to large corporations, institutes and international organizations. Houlin Zhao said the Covid-19 pandemic shows the importance of digital connection and services, as well as the digital gap between the people who can access and those who cannot. Its now the right time to take action to narrow the gap and create conditions for 3.7 billion people to access broadband and the opportunities and benefits it can bring. The goal can be reached through the cooperation between governments, nations, the entire ICT industry, international organizations, the public private and civil sectors. The main message of the event is that together, we can connect the people who remain inaccessible and accelerate the development of new technologies, from AI to 5G mobile infrastructure, which is the center of the digital economy. Its now the time to speed up digital information in Vietnam, the region and the world, he said. Nguyen Thai Digital World 2021 contributes to global tech transformation The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)s Digital World 2021 opened with a launch ceremony yesterday evening in Ha Noi. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 12 sent a letter to his US counterpart Joe Biden thanking the US Government for helping Vietnam with vaccines, medicine and medical supplies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) President Phuc appreciates the efforts made by the Biden administration to support countries in the world in containing COVID-19 outbreaks and overcoming the difficulties brought by the pandemic. He expressed a wish that the US would continue to assist Vietnam in the fight against the pandemic, and Pfizer would early deliver to Vietnam 31 million doses of vaccine as it had committed during his visit to the companys headquarters in New York last September, so that the country could inoculate children from 12 to 18 years old. Also on October 12, the Health Ministry received 77 ultra low temperature freezers donated by the US Government. So far, the US Government has provided Vietnam with 8.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, and granted directly 1 million doses of vaccine and 77 ultra low temperature freezers for vaccine storage./. Source: VNA The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)s Digital World 2021 opened with a launch ceremony yesterday evening in Ha Noi. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and participants at the opening ceremony. Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the event would contribute to the exploration of digital transformation and digital technology, in the interest of a collaborative and sharing digital economy, for the benefit and progress of all people around the world. PM Chinh said the world was undergoing rapid and profound changes, especially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of science, technology and the digital transformation process all over the world was creating both opportunities and challenges. "However, one thing is certain digital transformation is vital, in order to both secure a new normal in the digital space and ensure economic recovery while prioritising the health and safety of citizens," he said. The PM noted that as a country affected by the pandemic, Viet Nam's economy was still expected to grow in the mid to long term, as the pandemic was gradually brought under control, while Viet Nam's macro-economic factors were secured, its political and social stability was maintained, and its growth drivers were sustained. Viet Nam was, step by step, adapting safely and flexibly to the situation, restoring its production and business activities, and advancing socio-economic development. The Government of Viet Nam considers digital and data infrastructure alongside its national digital platforms to be key factors. In this process, the Government always places its trust in Viet Nam's digital enterprises as a key player in the success of this process. The goal is for Viet Nam's digital sector to account for 20 per cent of GDP by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030. ITU Digital World 2021 is an opportunity for organisations and businesses from various countries to showcase their technological products, services and solutions. It will bring about unique opportunities and demonstrates the readiness, creativity and collaboration for a safe, peaceful and prosperous digital world, said Chinh. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said: Nearly two years since the outbreak of COVID-19, all countries are facing tremendous difficulties. The pandemic will be over, sooner or later. But the big question is whether we can adapt to the new normal, to turn challenges into opportunities, for digital transformation. Expanding digital access Digital infrastructure plays a key role in digital transformation. In Viet Nam, our ministry is working with telecom operators to provide access to the remaining unconnected villages, so that by the end of this year, 100 per cent of our people can access the internet. 5G trials have been conducted since last year. We are now preparing to issue commercial and frequency licences, so 5G services will be available nationwide in 2022. Hung said in the strategy for digital transformation, the Government played a vital role, in transforming public services and key sectors, such as education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation and finance. "We have very strong support from the Government, from the Prime Minister, in creating and enabling the environment and mobilising every resource for digital transformation in Viet Nam." Delivering a speech at the conference, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union Houlin Zhao thanked Prime Minister Chinh for his support and praised the Government of Viet Nam for hosting this event. Zhao expressed a desire that ITU Telecom events would witness unforgettable moments, like when Nelson Mandela travelled to Geneva to address ITU TELECOM 95. He can still remember him talking about the rift between what he called the information rich and information poor and calling for more international investment partnerships. Under the framework of ITU Digital World 2021, the ITU ministerial roundtables and workshops will discuss development trends, management policies, and technology solutions to promote the digital economy and digital society. The ministerial conferences will be divided into six sessions on digital transformation investment and promotion. Participants will look into policies, measures and initiatives to develop digital infrastructure and digitalise our daily lives to accelerate digital transformation. Like an on-site exhibition, ITU Digital World 2021 will include online exhibition activities and an online forum. Participating in the online exhibition, organisations and businesses will demonstrate 2D and 3D online booths, display their products, services, and digital solutions. The booths will be maintained for a month from October 12 to November 12, 2021. The online exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to promote their brands, expand markets, and approach customers and partners from ITU's 193 member countries. Other events on the sidelines will include a digital festival, investment promotion forum, a seminar on digital creativity, a digital job festival, a start-up space and a talk on digital skills. In 2020, the first online ITU Digital World was held under the initiative of Viet Nam, with the participation of delegates from 149 countries around the world. The success of this event contributed to consolidating and enhancing Viet Nam's position internationally and affirming the technological capacity of Vietnamese enterprises. Source: VNS PM: digital transformation needs global approach Digital transformation is an inevitable trend and a process of changing all socio-economic activities intensively and extensively, said PM Pham Minh Chinh at the opening ceremony of the ITU Digital World 2021. At the ITU Digital World 2021, Vietnam will bring concerns related to its digital transformation for discussion at the Ministerial Roundtable. Relating to the ITU Digital World 2021, General Secretary of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) told VietNamNet that ITU Digital World has expanded a new space for ITU. "In the past, when we talked about telecommunications, it was still the old image of the fixed phone, but when it comes to the ICT field, it means the new development of technology and application businesses. This is also a growing trend in the world. In 2019, the event was held in Hungary and we still called it the ITU Telecom World. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung proposed changing the name to ITU Digital World. Changing the name of the event from ITU Telecom to ITU Digital World is a great initiative of Vietnam, to reflect the importance of digital technology in the communication ecosystem, said Mr. Houlin Zhao. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam said the forerunner of the ITU Ministerial Roundtable and ITU Digital World are the ITU Telecom World, which was organized for the first time by ITU in 1971. This event was officially renamed to ITU Digital World in 2020 at the initiative of Vietnam's Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung. At the previous ITU Ministerial Conferences, the phrase "digital transformation" was never mentioned, just traditional fields such as: 5G, broadband, bringing the Internet and universalizing telecom services to everyone. This year, Vietnam is hosting the ITU Digital World, which will focus on digital transformation. With the new space, the ITU Digital World will discuss the popularization of telecom and digital services through infrastructure development, promotion of digital transformation, narrowing the digital gap, bringing digital services to everyone at a cheaper price. In particular, ITU has mentioned the issue of online public services, content services aiming to bring the best value to people to develop the digital economy and digital society. At the ITU Digital World 2021, Vietnam will bring its digital transformation issue to the discussion of ICT Ministers and experts. At the event, ICT ministers, experts and ICT businesses will share initiatives and propose ideas to solve problems that Vietnam is facing during its digital transformation process. Thus, Vietnam will learn knowledge and experience of the world to solve its own problems," said Deputy Minister Phan Tam. In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, it is very meaningful for Vietnam to host the event. Through this event, Vietnam and the ITU expect to affirm the role and significance of digital technology in improving the resilience and adaptability of countries to global fluctuations and challenges. Digital transformation will be a hot issue As planned, the online ITU Ministerial Roundtables will take place from October 12 to 14, 2021, on a digital platform developed by Vietnam. The theme of this event will be: Cutting access network costs to accelerate digital transformation; Accelerating infrastructure development: the role of the Government in digital transformation; Digitizing daily life: public services and digital transformation-driven content. Focusing on the topic Affordable Internet Access Expenses Can Accelerate Digital Transformation, participants will discuss how ensuring universal access of Internet is rapidly becoming an issue of affordability and capacity rather than infrastructure or technology. According to ITU data, more than 90% of the urban population and more than 70% of the rural population globally have access to 4G, satellite or other technologies by 2020 - but only 51% of the world's population is using Internet. Barriers to Internet use include affordability, digital capabilities, public awareness, and availability of content in local languages. This roundtable will raise the big question of how can governments deal with affordability? Can businesses sufficiently manufacture affordable devices that allow people to connect and use the Internet? How can governments work with manufacturers to encourage plans to reduce prices or increase the availability of low-cost equipment? Should the government support access or even provide free connectivity for everyone? By answering these questions, solutions to the problem of universalizing Internet services to everyone in order to promote digital society and digital economy will be found. In addition, the ICT Ministers will discuss the issue "Promoting Infrastructure Development: Rethinking the Government's Role in Digital Transformation". Digital technology is transforming all areas of life. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this process, including work from home, Government information and healthcare programmes, testing and tracing apps, and digital vaccination certificates. The ICT Ministers will also discuss how the pandemic has affected the use of digital content and services. What is the role of government services in general in promoting digital transformation? How can citizens best be equipped with the right digital skills for a true digital future? Are we at risk of a new digital divide in society, where vulnerable groups like the elderly cannot access health care services and essential information without digital devices and digital skills? With new content about digital transformation, for the first time the ITU Digital World has expanded into a new space and made a qualitative change. Technology is entering every corner of life and making life better. The ITU Digital World 2021 is expected to find breakthrough solutions for a digital future. Thai Khang Rainfall in October, November and the first half of December in Vietnams central region is forecasted to be 30-50% higher than the average of previous years, but it will not be as intense as it was in 2020. Floods occurred in the central province of Quang Binh in October 2020. Photo: Thanh Tung In 2020, Vietnam reported a record number of 5 storms/tropical depressions within one month. This year, in the first half of October, Vietnam witnessed consecutive storms/tropical depressions the 7th storm and the upcoming 8th storm. The question is whether extreme natural disasters will repeat like last year? Nguyen Van Huong, Head of the Climate Forecasting Department of the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said that according to the centers forecast made in mid-2021, From October to early December, consecutive storms/low pressures will affect Vietnam. According to annual statistics, October is also the month with the highest frequency of storms and tropical depressions in the year. Therefore, it is normal that many storms/tropical depressions appear in the first half of October. Huong added that the storm No. 8 is forecasted to be a strong one, which is stronger than the storm No. 7. Due to the impact of storms and tropical depressions, there will be continuous heavy rain in the central provinces in October, November and the first two weeks of December. "It is forecast that rainfall in these months in the central region will be 30-50% higher than the average of many previous years, but the intensity will not be as fierce as in 2020," Huong said. Huong noted that typhoon Kompasu, which moved into the East Sea on October 12 tonight, would cause bad weather in the seas, so fishermen should not go out to sea at this time and should move immediately out of dangerous areas. On the mainland, from October 13-15, heavy rain will continue in the South of the Northern Delta and the central provinces. Therefore, from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien - Hue, there is a possibility of floods, and landslides in the mountainous areas. Urban areas like Hanoi can be flooded. Central localities asked to brace for Storm Kompasu Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on October 12 chaired an online meeting of the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control with six central localities on measures to respond to Storm Kompasu, the eighth entering the East Sea so far this year. Representatives of localities that are forecast to be hit by the storm - Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue said that they had made prompt preparations to brace for the storm, including alerting fishing vessels at sea and designing plans to respond to heavy rains and flooding in different scenarios. Concluding the event, Deputy PM Thanh required localities to focus on giving drastic directions to minimise the storms impacts, thus preventing the double effects from COVID-19 and natural disasters. Stressing the need for plans to evacuate locals in high risk areas to safer places while still ensuring pandemic prevention, he asked the localities to pay special attention to giving safe shelters and support to migrant workers on the way to their hometowns from southern localities. Alongside, it is necessary to ensure safety of dams, dykes and reservoirs, while preparing forces and vehicles for rescuing activities. The Deputy PM asked the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to form working groups to inspect and direct activities to respond to the storm. According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, on October 12 morning, Storm Kompasu entered the East Sea. At 4pm the same day, it was about 530km east-northeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands, packing winds of 90-120km per hour. In the next 24 hours, the storm is forecast to move westwards with speed of 20-25km per hour. It will enter the southern part of the Tonkin Gulf and land in the area from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh before weakening to a tropical depression./. VNA Huong Quynh Dallas attorney Carlos Lopez, a former state district judge, argued in his motion to abate the cases that 95% of courts that have heard similar motions have ruled against the attorney generals office, and appeals of those rulings already are pending in the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin. He suggested that for the sake of judicial economy and to prevent a confusing patchwork of rulings on the same issue that Menard abate the two cases in Waco and add them to the dozen or so cases pending in Austin. Lopez said the states continued insistence on pressing Menard to issue the temporary injunction amounts to forum shopping, a tactic used by attorneys to try to find a court possibly favorable to their position. We are here because other courts ruled against them and they want another bite at the apple, Lopez said. They are saying, We want a do-over. If you abate the cases, then they can all go up in a nice, consistent package because we all know this matter is ultimately going to be settled by the Texas Supreme Court anyway. Assistant Attorney General Will Wassdorf said McLennan County is the proper venue for the lawsuit because Waco and La Vega schools are violating the mask mandate ban and they are in McLennan County. The dustup will almost certainly end up in court since GOP attorneys general in nearly half of the states have vowed to sue once the rule is unveiled. The courts have long upheld vaccine mandates, and the Constitution gives the federal government the upper hand over the states, but with the details still unannounced and more conservative judges on the bench, the outcome is not entirely clear. White House officials brushed off Abbotts order, saying the question of whether state law could supersede federal was settled 160 years ago during the Civil War. They said the Biden administration will push through the opposition and put into effect the presidents package of mandates, which could affect up to 100 million Americans in all. Noting the nations COVID-19 death toll of more than 700,000, White House press secretary Jen Psaki accused the opposition of putting politics ahead of safety. I think its pretty clear when you make a choice thats against all public health information and data out there, that its not based on what is in the interests of the people you are governing. It is perhaps in the interest of your own politics, she said. That testing evidence was crucial to prosecutors because the witness recanted his testimony a month before the upcoming trial, First Assistant District Attorney Nelson Barnes said. The motion sets forth our position completely, Johnson said Wednesday. Our situation is something that came up recently as we were preparing for trial and we could not put the prosecution at risk. We had no other choice but to dismiss and keep working on the case. That is what we did. I cant talk about the ruling of the 19th District Court, but if Albert Love gets out of jail, it is because of that ruling. When asked why his office was not prepared for Loves retrial when it had almost three years to get ready, Johnson said, Things happened that are beyond our control. When we have a witness recant a month before trial, we have to turn over every stone and that is what we were doing, Johnson said. We were just asking for an additional 90 days. That was our first motion for continuance. The reason the case was delayed from the time we took office in January 2019 was because the defense lawyer had cancer. Things are beyond our control. We just needed 90 days to get the DNA back, which could prove exculpatory or inculpatory. If that sounds familiar, it should. Its the same reasoning that governments worldwide have been using to roll out identity control systems under the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, a relatively benign virus freaked everyone out as they were bombarded with messaging and government-mandated restrictions that played up fear of the virus to plague-like levels. Then came the jab and related mandates, coupled with a government-issued QR code system, in Europe and elsewhere, that enables identity verification. And now an increasing number of venues are insisting on presentation of that identity-linked code for access. That system now makes enough people feel so secure however illusory such security may be in actuality that they warmly welcome the increased government control, some even to the point of denouncing those who express skepticism over the apparatus and the sanitary pretexts that ushered it into place. I grew up in extreme poverty. But for the Cold War GI Bill sponsored by Texas populist Senator, Ralph Yarborough, the "Peoples Senator," its likely I would never have gone to college. Yarborough decried demagoguery, but he always implored, Lets put the jam on the lower shelf so the little people can reach it. Thats populism. The populists of today are people like senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown, and President Joe Biden. I am proud to call myself a populist. Charles Reed, Waco Anti-woman, period With abortion made illegal in Texas, it is good to know that pro-lifers will support candidates who want to provide welfare for indigent parents forced to have children. It is good to know that pro-lifers will support Head Start and other needed programs for these children that will enter a world of poverty and dysfunction. Of course, I am being sarcastic. Conservatives only care about the fetus. The born are not really cared about by these so called pro-lifers until they reach military age. They will then be used to fight the rich man's war. These people are not pro-lifers at all. They are anti-woman, plain and simple. Ferrell said they chose to buy a used vehicle to save money, but got a great deal in the process. The truck is already outfitted with all of the equipment needed, including an alarm system that will automatically roll down windows and turn on fans when the dog is inside the vehicle and it is getting too hot. The type of dog that will be purchased has not yet been determined. Ferrell said the company will get an idea of Nelsons personality and will try to match the dog to her. Once the dog has joined the department, the name will be chosen in a special way. During the summer and fall, the WPD operated a booth at two downtown events. There they allowed the public to submit names for the new dog. The name will be chosen randomly and announced publicly in late December or early January. Fundraising was a big part of the campaign to add a K9 unit to the WPD. Initially the department set a goal of raising $25,000 and have about $21,000 so far, Ferrell said. The department recently received a $6,600 grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and they plan to apply for other grants as they anticipate needing additional funds to maintain the K9 unit. Ferrell estimates it could cost $2,000 to $4,000 annually for equipment maintenance, veterinary bills, recertification and dog food. In the absence of better collective bargaining agreements, over 100,000 unionized employees, including Hollywood production crews, John Deere manufacturing workers, and Kaiser Permanente nurses, have authorized strikes. In a broad attempt to obtain greater wages and improved working conditions, workers throughout the country are considering going on strike in several different sectors. More than 100,000 unionized employees, including members of the Hollywood production crew, John Deere factory workers, and Kaiser Permanente nurses, have overwhelmingly voted to authorize strikes and are preparing to join the picket line if they do not receive stronger collective bargaining agreements in the near future. Thousands of people have already gone on strike, including 2,000 hospital employees in New York, 700 nurses in Massachusetts, and 1,400 Kellogg plant workers in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. These strikes come at a critical time for labor organizations, which have been gradually losing momentum over the last several decades due to anti-union legislation and corporate crackdowns on organizing. However, as businesses struggle to fill open positions, labor unions are finding more power in their efforts to raise frontline salaries, which have traditionally been constrained by a constant supply of candidates ready to accept lower-paying positions. Following a stalemate in contract talks, unions representing more than 24,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other healthcare employees in California and Oregon voted on Monday to approve a possible strike, which passed by a nearly unanimous majority. Approximately 38,000 Kaiser employees have now given their permission to their union officials to launch a strike if necessary. In response to pandemic-induced fatigue that is worsened by low staffing levels, Kaiser nurses are demanding 4 percent yearly increases and an increase in the number of new hires. They are opposed to the business's proposal to raise yearly compensation by one percent over the next three years and establish a two-tier structure that would pay freshly recruited employees less than those who have been with the company for a more extended period. Kaiser's proposed changes, according to Jodi Barschow, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, "demonstrate a fundamental disregard for the frontline healthcare professionals who are putting their lives at danger during COVID." Even though they are at odds over contract negotiations, both parties claim they want to avoid a strike that would significantly impede medical treatment during the coronavirus outbreak. The statement from Arlene Peasnall, senior vice president of human resources at Kaiser Permanente, stated, "We urge that our workers reject a call to walk away from the patients who need them." In the meanwhile, "our first goal is to ensure that our members get high-quality, safe treatment." More than 10,000 John Deere workers in the Midwest may walk off the job on Thursday due to a resounding vote to reject a new labor agreement reached between the agricultural equipment company and the United Auto Workers (UAW) over the weekend. According to UAW Vice President Chuck Browning, ninety percent of the union's members voted against the plan, which would have provided immediate increases of 5 to 6 percent for the majority of employees. Employees complained that the wage increases were insufficient because John Deere is projected to earn almost $6 billion this year. Union members also expressed dissatisfaction with how pension reductions for new employees will offset the salary increases. If the two sides cannot reach a deal by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, the employees will go on strike for the first time in thirty years. According to reports, approximately 60,000 TV and film production crew members in California voted last week to authorize a strike after their union was unable to reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood studios and streaming giants such as The Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers, and Netflix. According to a statement, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is calling for more time for food breaks and sleep, as well as higher salaries and an end to reduced compensation for employees who assist in the production of streaming performances. As the union's president, Matthew Loeb, said on Friday, a settlement would need to be struck quickly to avoid a strike, which would effectively shut down the production of popular television programs and movies. If such strikes are carried out, they will represent some of the most significant walkouts in recent history. Because of a decline in union membership, strikes have become less frequent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were only 11 significant work stoppages in 2020, which were defined as strikes and lockouts affecting 1,000 or more employees. Between 1950 and 1980, the United States had about 300 work stoppages each year on average. As a result of the national labor scarcity, workers believe they have more bargaining power than they had in past years. They think that if they walk out, their employers will have difficulty replacing them. According to a Labor Department study published on Tuesday morning, there were 10.4 million job vacancies in the United States in August. This is a small decrease from the record high of 11 million in July. According to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, workers are "fed up" with terrible working conditions and stagnant pay amid a pandemic that has exacerbated economic disparity, prompting them to seek better contracts in a recent interview with The Hill. This, she said, is "the capitalism system that has pushed us to the verge of extinction." "It seems as if inequality is just growing worse and worse...." "We believe that labor unions are the answer." Labor leaders are optimistic that the current increase in organizing will put a stop to the decades-long decline in the number of people who belong to unions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 11.3 percent of wage and salary employees were represented by a union as of last year, a significant decrease from over 20 percent in 1983. Activists refer to a Gallup survey conducted in September, which found that Americans' support of labor unions had reached a 60-year high. More than two-thirds of those polled expressed support for organized labor, with 77 percent of Americans between 18 and 34 expressing support. CONTRACTS AT&T's FirstNet to be deployed at 15 Air Force bases NOTE: This article first appeared on GCN.com. FirstNet, the high-speed wireless broadband communications network built for public safety, will now provide its services to 15 Air Force bases. Under the 21-year deal, the bases will be able to support voice, data and streaming video communications, interoperability with existing land mobile radio assets as well as secure and interoperable communications between first responders on base and the local public safety workforce. Users will get access to FirstNets priority and preemption services across LTE Band 14 spectrum plus all of AT&T's commercial LTE spectrum bands. FirstNet will give the Air Force bases tower-to-core encryption so that all traffic is automatically secured as it navigates different parts of the network. FirstNet now covers 2.7 million square miles and features an upgraded 5G core. Additionally, it is built to strict public safety specifications and requirements, unlike commercial networks, AT&T said in its announcement. When off-base first responders support on-base responses, they will benefit from these coverage enhancements, Lance Spencer, client executive vice president for defense at AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, told Air Force Magazine. Key command and operations positions will also be able to access this network. Spencer said the company aims to deploy FirstNet to all Air Force and Space Force bases. Last year, the Air Force worked with AT&T to test 5G networking-as-a-service capabilities at three bases, where the company also provided a base-area network, wide-area network, telephony, internet access and secure interoperability with legacy systems at the three bases, company officials said at the time. PEOPLE CMMC's Arrington sues DOD to clear her name NOTE: This article first appeared on FCW.com. Katie Arrington, who spearheaded the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program at the Department of Defense, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to spur the Pentagon into resolving her languishing personnel case. Arrington's security clearance was suspended on May 11 according to the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. One day after the clearance suspension, Arrington was placed into paid, non-duty status. According to the complaint, the memorandum suspending Arrington's clearance stated that the action "is being taken as a result of a reported unauthorized disclosure of classified information and subsequent removal of access" by the National Security Agency. Since then, Arrington has been unable to fulfill her duties as chief information security officer for acquisition and sustainment. Most prominent among these duties is the management of the CMMC program, which is designed to compel compliance with a strict cybersecurity regime among defense contractors. The program has proved controversial, especially among small businesses, because of concerns about costs. The lawsuit alleges that the move to sideline Arrington "was designed to interfere" with the running of CMMC, "which NSA did not support." Additionally, Arrington's political background as an elected Republican state representative in South Carolina and as a 2018 candidate for Congress endorsed by then-President Donald Trump is not winning her friends in the Pentagon, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that "certain high-ranking DOD officials" are "using the NSA's decision as a pretext to remove her." The lawsuit also points to "unknown individuals within DOD [who] have improperly, and possibly illegally, leaked privacy protected information concerning [Arrington] to unauthorized third parties for the purpose of further causing harm." This information, much of which has been shared on LinkedIn, a hotbed of CMMC commentary, includes what the complaint characterizes as "completely false and defamatory" information, including assertions that Arrington had been fired by DOD or that her clearance had been revoked. After five months of non-duty status, Arrington is seeking some answers. "It is rare that an individual holding a Senior Executive Service position would be left dangling in this way," the complaint states, adding that defense officials "are purposefully delaying or failing to take action in this matter in order to compel [Arrington] to resign." Arrington is asking for DOD to complete any personnel actions currently in progress as well as the chance to address any charges against her. The lawsuit also seeks a "name-clearing hearing" and an order to DOD to share information about the ongoing personnel actions with Arrington's lawyers. "If DOD takes any formal action against her clearance, Arrington would be entitled to the equivalent of a 'name clearing hearing,'" Arrington's lawyer Mark S. Zaid explained in an email exchange with FCW. "But this claim allows us to push harder for that to happen. It is a very novel approach we take on occasion when someone's reputation is at issue." The CMMC program itself is currently on pause amid an internal DOD review. Defense officials have been urging contractors to continue preparing for the program's implementation while the review is ongoing. The last time United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) went on strike against John Deere & Co., they were out for 163 days, according to media accounts at the time. The strike started Aug. 24, 1986 and the parties reached a tentative settlement on Jan. 27, 1987. Requested job security measures were initially turned down by Deere negotiators, prompting the strike. Throughout the five months, local Deere suppliers suffered financial losses due to the sudden decrease in demand from Deere factories. Companies collectively laid off hundreds of employees to limit the financial impact. Union members ratified the tentative settlement with 84% of workers voting for the contract. Workers gained settlement bonuses for the strike, diversions on the quarterly cost of living payments, an increase in retirement and pension pay, and Martin Luther King Day off as a holiday. In order to gain job security against layoffs, the union agreed to a wage freeze. Union workers gained job security in 1986 through the Protected Employee Group. Ninety percent of laid-off employees were required to be put into the group, where they would be put into training programs or shift to a different type of work or plant location. The 1986 strike prompted the Iowa House to discuss lock-out pay measures to allow striking workers to receive unemployment insurance. Employees are still not eligible today. In June 1983, UAW workers went on strike for about 13 hours before a new agreement was reached. At that time, there were 28,500 UAW members at 11 Deere plants in Illinois and Iowa, and an additional 390 members in warehouse jobs in Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota and Tennessee, according to published reports. The workers received a 3.9 percent cost of living increase on base wages and quarterly cost-of-living adjustments. On Oct. 1, 1979, about 31,000 UAW workers walked off the job at Deere, for a three-week strike. During that negotiation UAW targeted Deere for a strike while continuing to negotiate with the two other large implement factories, International Harvester and Caterpillar. They ultimately agreed to a contract with 3% pay increases annually, a quarterly cost-of-living increase, and increased retirement benefits that included free eye and hearing aid benefits for retirees and their dependents. according to published reports at the time. Strikes in 1976 and 1967 each lasted about six weeks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers are hours away from a strike, a move that would send shock waves through the Cedar Valley economy. After overwhelmingly voting down a contract Sunday night, the UAW recalled its bargaining committee, effectively ending negotiations, and set a hard strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. A picket-line roster is in circulation. The strike would affect workers in three states, including thousands in the Cedar Valley. Current Deere employment in Waterloo stands at about 5,000, fairly evenly divided between production and salaried workers. Contractors, suppliers and other companies that do business with Deere would also become increasingly affected the longer a strike lasts. Workers say the agriculture manufacturer isnt offering adequate wage and benefit increases as the company enjoys record profits. The company did not respond to requests for comment for this story. In its latest offer, Deere bargained for incremental wage increases over six years, equal to about a $1.20 raise in hourly pay at the end of the six-year contract, according to employees. 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. John May, CEO and president of Deere, made a total compensation of $15,588,384 in 2020 and $6,005,692 in 2019, according to Deeres SEC filings. A Tuesday evening announcement on One John Deere, a website where the company announces contract updates, stated Under the tentative agreement, John Deere made the best wages in the agriculture and construction industries even better. In a graphic, it depicted Deere workers annual wage increasing from $60,562 to $66,886. However, $3,500 of that wage increase is categorized as a ratification bonus, meaning it would only be available to workers if they ratified the contract before the Wednesday deadline. Without the bonus, it is a $2,824 increase for higher-paid employees that make around $31 an hour. It is unclear what the calculations for lower-paid employees would be. Workers say they deserve a greater share in the companys success. They left us behind, said one worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of being fired. They had a great, great few years, and they obviously showed us that they thought so. I was hoping they were going to be (giving raises) to us but it seems like they still want us, our pay, and benefits to keep declining. Union members say they experienced mandatory overtime, an increasing workload, and lack of support from managers. If a strike does take place, each plant covered by the contract is organizing its own strike outside of its respective buildings, most of which will begin striking at 7 a.m. Thursday. Once a strike is started at a plant, it will continue for 24 hours a day, seven days a week until an agreement is reached. Strike pay will be available for Deere employees. According to the UAW, weekly strike pay is $275 per week, or $55 per day, beginning on the eighth day. A bonus check is paid the week prior to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Meanwhile, scores of other workers might be left out of the new contract regardless of the strike. Supplemental employees at Deere plants are full-time workers that receive fewer benefits than full UAW members while still paying union dues, according to David Schmelzer, a Deere inspector at the Milan plant who began his career as a supplemental worker. Schmelzer said language in the unions master agreement allows supplemental workers to be paid about $5 less than full corps members. In addition to less pay, supplemental employees have three days of paid leave and sometimes work holidays and Sundays. In the most recent tentative agreement, supplemental workers did not qualify for paid family leave that full corps members received, according to Schmelzer. The fact that this company thinks that its OK to do that is just disgusting, Schmelzer said. Theyre people just like everybody else. The potential of a strike is already interfering with Deeres hiring practices, according to Schmelzer. There were group-scheduled hirings for Oct. 11 for the Milan plant, but when prospective employees showed up at the plant they were told to go home and that their hiring status was placed on hold. Schmelzer and other workers said the end of the elimination of the tiered supplemental program is necessary in the next agreement and, if necessary, they will strike for it. Said another worker: Wed like to get back to what John Deere used to mean for a lot of people when it comes to working for them. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 8 WATERLOO Plans to offer a womens studies course at East High School raised concerns Monday for one Board of Education member because a similar class focusing on men isnt being proposed. Social studies teacher Jason Knittel framed his idea for a semester-long elective course on womens history around the concept of equity during the boards discussion of the 2022-23 high school program of studies. Equity is one of the strongest points that we talk about in our district, said Knittel, noting that he started thinking about proposing the class because East already has an African-American history class. I feel that females also deserve an opportunity to be educated for their history. But board member Lyle Schmitt took issue with the idea that equity would be achieved by offering only that class. You mentioned equity, he told Knittel. I guess Im not sure I understand that if you dont have anything equivalent for males. ... What are we doing for our young males? Schmitt cited a female graduation rate in Waterloo Community Schools that is significantly more than it is for males and noted the majority of college students are now women, which is part of a growing trend. And, he added, males are more likely to end up in prison. So, I dont quite understand why you arent proposing something for males, Schmitt said. Its not directly just aimed at females, its aimed at anybody, Knittel responded. The class would examine womens struggles, womens rights, take a look at different aspects, he explained. Im not talking about just focusing on the concept of feminism or anything like that. Im talking about the women, how they impacted our history. Its the female experience in the country, just like we have African-American studies, said board member Astor Williams. Its a focus on the contributions of African-Americans. Board member Stacie Mills contended that textbooks historically have emphasized mens contributions to society. Theyve been male-driven and their content, thats what it is. Thats how history has been, white males, she said. So, I dont think theres an issue just pulling together for one semester information that may even be in those textbooks but is not being highlighted. Still, Schmitt insisted, with a trend line that especially in the last five years has been at the disadvantage of the males the district needs to look at offerings for males, as well. If we dont, were missing a whole group of potential graduates and affecting their success in life. Superintendent Jane Lindaman said the board was looking at the course because of women being a marginalized population. She noted that theres still an equity gap between men and women with more men holding chief executive officer positions at companies and average wages being lower for women. Even though females may be at the top of the class at a higher level and they still may be graduating at a higher level theyre still holding far fewer positions of power, as far as talking about the top levels, said Lindaman. Schmitt argued that changes occurring in society mean that students now in school wont face as severe disparities when they get into the workforce and that conditions could continue improving. You cant just take the data from 50 years ago and say that applies today, he said. Despite his concerns, Schmitt joined all other board members in approving the program of studies, which serves as a course catalog for what is offered at the high schools. 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. WATERLOO The Board of Education Wednesday approved a contract with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the search for a new superintendent. The decision during a special meeting followed a Tuesday work session with Trent Grundmeyer and Roger Wilcox of the Ankeny firm, the boards top candidate for the process. Superintendent Jane Lindaman announced Oct. 7 that she is retiring from Waterloo Community Schools effective July 1. I am confident that this search firm can lead us forward and get us the best candidates for our next superintendent, Shanlee McNally, board president, said before the unanimous vote. She said members looked into a number of search firms last week and then met Friday in closed session to discuss those possibilities. A maximum fee of $17,984 will be paid for the services of Grundmeyer and Wilcox, which includes up to five trips to the district and associated expenses. If fewer trips are needed during the process, $500 will be deducted per trip. The fee is equal to 8% of Lindamans salary from a past year. Board member Endya Johnson said she wanted to ensure the search firm would recruit a diverse candidate pool. Board member Sue Flynn noted that one of the initial questions for search firms considered was about the diversity of candidates. I absolutely believe that they will customize this to Waterloo, said McNally. They are going to cast a wide net. On Tuesday, Grundmeyer said the search process will begin with establishing a salary range, benefits package and interview process for the position. The recommended salary is $205,000-$225,000, depending on experience. Lindamans salary for the current year is $239,700, which was approved by the board in September. The board will also seek stakeholder feedback through online surveys and possibly hold input meetings to help determine the sort of candidates desired. The survey data is important, but youre going to have the final say on what the application will look like, said Grundmeyer. The job will be advertised from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2, although he noted you could get that posted ahead of Thanksgiving, giving potential candidates another holiday weekend to apply. Board members will receive weekly updates including all application materials submitted by candidates during that time. Other background information on candidates that the search firm finds, including through social media, will be shared with the board after the application period closes. We will go as deep as we possibly can, Grundmeyer said, of that background information. Were very transparent about what we see, said Wilcox, noting the board will see it as well. In early January, a pre-screening review of the applicants will happen with the board in closed session. Grundmeyer said the pool of candidates will be reduced at that point to eight or fewer semi-finalists. Initial interviews will take place through videoconferencing with the board, narrowing the field to a recommended three finalists. Formal interviews will take place during the week of Jan. 24, based on a potential timeline presented by the firm. We do strongly recommend bringing your finalists in on the same day, noted Grundmeyer. He showed a scheme where each candidate would be interviewed by district leadership, two teams made up of community members and people associated with the schools, and the board. The board would then meet to review data collected from the interviews by the firm and make a decision on which candidate to hire. 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. WATERLOO Municipal officials seeking funds for highway reconstruction lined up to bend the ear of members of the states transportation commission during a meeting Tuesday morning. Mayors of Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Ottumwa, as well as officials from nearby cities and state legislators, sought help for local projects at the Iowa Transportation Commissions public input meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott in Waterloo. The work you do here is, of course, near and dear to my heart, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart told the commission, noting the incredible projects that have happened that have completely transformed our community. Iowa Department of Transportation-financed projects in Waterloo, like the U.S. Highway 63 corridor, have made possible new development, from the TechWorks campus to North End Crossing. That includes the very hotel where the meeting took place, said Noel Anderson, community planning and development director. I think weve seen over $120 million in private investment to follow the $30 million public investment from the state, Anderson said. Commission members, who toured several areas of Waterloo on Monday, praised city staff. Youre to be complimented for all that youve done, said commission member Charese Yanney. Its a beautiful city today. Others asked the commission more directly to consider funding needed projects. Kyle Durant, a transportation planner with the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, or INRCOG, said he is looking forward to the next phase of creating an alternative route to the Northeast Industrial Area to connect truck traffic more directly from Interstate 380 to Tyson Fresh Meats, John Deere Tractor, Cab and Assembly Operations and other businesses in that area. One alternative would be to improve Plaza Drive by adding through lanes and turning lanes, as well as a traffic signal on the southern end, for around $2 million. Another would create an alternate route over the two sets of railroad tracks and Dubuque Road, adding bridges and routing traffic along a portion of Conard Road, at a cost estimate of $18 million. We look forward to moving through that project, Durant said. He also asked for help with the $36 million project to improve the Iowa Highway 58 intersection with Greenhill Road in Cedar Falls, saying it was a desperately needed project and dangerous corridor, something Cedar Falls officials asked the commission to consider as well. The time has come now for the DOT and the city of Cedar Falls to get serious about improvements to Greenhill Road, said Chase Schrage, public works director for Cedar Falls. He said the area was experiencing significant traffic growth due to nearby developments, and noted it was a critical urban freight network with frequently bottlenecked traffic. Unfortunately, there was another fatality just south of this intersection last week, he added, referencing a Hampton man killed in a motorcycle crash Oct. 6. Dylan Mulfinger, Iowa Highway 150 commission chair and Oelwein city administrator, said he was hoping for improvements to Highway 150 due to the ever-expanding Independence area traffic issues, including truck traffic and bottlenecks. He said his commission simply wanted a super two, or wide two-lane highway with a periodic passing lane a cheaper proposal than a four-lane along that route. I know every day you get asked for four lanes in this state, Mulfinger said. Super two is something were asking for at this point. The commission will consider those thoughts and review them with Iowa DOT staff, it noted on Tuesdays agenda. 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. WATERLOO -- Quota of the Cedar Valley will host Quartermania, an afternoon of shopping, a quarter auction, desserts, and a cash bar. It will be from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Majestic Moon, 1955 Locke Ave. Auctions will be held at 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. This will be followed by a celebration of life for Monica Haag, a long-time quota member. All are welcome to attend. Food will be provided. There will also be a silent auction of Longaberger items from 2:30 until 7:00 p.m. For more information, go to www.quotaofthecedarvalley.com and click the annual event link. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO Union leaders were in last-minute contract negotiations with Deere and Co. Wednesday afternoon as workers were hours away from a strike. More than 10,000 workers were set to walk off the job at 11:59 Wednesday unless a deal was struck, after the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) union rejected the companys latest offer on Sunday. Brian Rothenberg, a UAW spokesperson, told the Quad-City Times negotiators from both sides had resumed talks Wednesday in an effort to avert a strike. But on Wednesday, Waterloos UAW Local 838 pinned the following post on its Facebook page: ATTENTION MEMBERS: Be prepared for your strike duties, followed by a list of union contacts at each of Waterloo and Cedar Falls John Deere facilities. Those locations include John Deere Waterloo WorksTractor, Cab and Assembly Operations, which manufactures the 6R, 7R, 8R and 8RT and 9R and 9RT Series tractors; John Deere Waterloo WorksDrivetrain Operations, which does transmissions, drives and axle machining and assembly; John Deere Waterloo WorksFoundry Operations; John Deere Waterloo WorksService Parts Operations; Power Systems and Engine Works. A strike would affect workers in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. Each Deere plant covered by the contract is organizing its own strike outside of its respective buildings, most of which will begin striking at 6 a.m. Thursday. In Waterloo, the strike would commence at 7 a.m. Thursday. Once a strike is started at a plant, it will continue for 24 hours a day, seven days a week until an agreement is reached, union leaders have said. Deere employees have already started preparing for the strike, according to one Quad-Cities union worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because of the fear of retribution. Sign materials have been obtained by local union offices and workers on later shifts at the Milan plant were told not to report for work. Union members say Deere this week began training salaried workers to fill in for some hourly workers whod be affected by a strike. In its heyday, the John Deere Company was the largest employer in Waterloo, and second only to Rath Packing Company in terms of its manufacturing prowess and impact on the local economy. Northeast Iowa native John Froelich invented the first practical gasoline-powered tractor in 1892, and he and a group of investors from Waterloo formed the Waterloo Gasoline and Traction Engine Company in 1893 to produce and market it. The company built a total of four tractors, but two of those were returned by unhappy customers, according to a history of the company. The company then reorganized as the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1895 and pivoted to focus on building gasoline engines for things like powering grain elevators, and Froelich left the company. In 1902, the company merged with the Davis Engine Company to become Waterloo Tractor Works and tried to become a manufacturer of stationary engines and automobiles. When that didnt work, the merger ended, and the company then focused on the development of stationary gasoline engines including the Waterloo Boy, first produced in 1904. By 1910, the company used the Waterloo Boy to power a practical tractor, and averaged 46 orders a day for it. They employed 700 workers in 1915, becoming Waterloos leading employer, according to a 2002 history of downtown Waterloo submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. More tractor models were introduced, including the Model L-A in 1913, the Model R in 1914 and the Model N, and by 1918 the company had sold more than 10,000 Model R and N tractors, and decided to abandon stationary engines to focus solely on building tractors. In March of that year, Deere and Company in Moline, looking to add tractor manufacturing to their line of farm implements, bought the company for $2.35 million. Tractors continued to be sold under the Waterloo Boy name until 1923, when the John Deere Model D was introduced. An agricultural depression after World War I dropped sales volume for the company, though its Model D proved successful and led to a growth in manufacturing jobs in Waterloo: By 1927 there were 1,150 Deere workers in Waterloo, growing to 4,852 in 1941 and 6,387 by 1947. John Deere tallied 69,600 employees worldwide as of 2020. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 5 Angry 0 The Iowa Democratic Party on Monday asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' 2020 financial disclosure, saying the ophthalmologist representing Iowas 2nd Congressional District omitted information. Im very concerned Mariannette Miller-Meeks doesnt want to play by the rules and she doesnt think transparency is important, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn said Monday. Miller-Meeks filed her new filer financial disclosure report Aug. 13. The two-page report says none disclosed for assets and unearned income, liabilities, positions or agreements, The Gazette reported on Sept. 17. For her earned income for 2020, Miller-Meeks reported $100,000 for her salary as a U.S. representative, although she didnt start that job until January 2021. Its possible she intended that amount to represent the share of her $174,000 congressional salary shed been paid through Aug. 13, when the report was filed. Miller-Meeks did not list her $25,000 annual salary from the Iowa Senate, where she served from January 2019 to January 2021. Will Kiley, a spokesman for Miller-Meeks, told The Gazette on Sept. 15 his boss would update her form to add her Iowa Senate salary, but no update had been filed as of Monday. Eric Woolson, a Miller-Meeks for Congress spokesman, said in an email Monday: The Congresswoman's office is working with the House Ethics Committee and House Clerk's office on several substantive questions to resolve the discrepancies of her most recent personal financial report. This will ensure that her upcoming amended report covers all the necessary bases. We anticipate that the amended report will be filed as soon as her staff receives the answers to those questions. Kiley said in September said Miller-Meeks does not have any outside income, including from IRAs or 401(k)s, that she would be required to report on the form. The Democratic Party complaint disputes this. It pointed to Federal Elections Commissions records showing Miller-Meeks loaned her 2020 campaign $95,000 in March 2020 and $100,000 in October 2020. She loaned her campaign almost $200,000, so to say she has no assets or income is suspicious, Wilburn said. Where did the money come from? The request for investigation cites the inaccurate salary information Miller-Meeks filed Aug. 13. Miller-Meeks also failed to list on the new filer report $34,646 in income from Great River Health Systems and her state pension that she listed on a candidate disclosure report in May 2020 covering Jan. 1, 2019, through May 5, 2020. Miller-Meeks reported on her Aug. 13 financial disclosure form she was paid at least $5,000 in 2020 in deferred compensation from the Great River Health System in Burlington, where she was employed. But the Iowa Democratic Party said that disclosure was made in the wrong section. The law and guidance are clear that only fees generated by individuals with an ownership interest in their employer should be included on Schedule J, the complaint states. If Rep. Miller-Meeks has an ownership interest in Great River Health Systems, she must disclose that interest immediately. The Iowa Democratic Party is requesting an immediate investigation to ensure that Rep. Miller-Meeks complies with federal law and that the public is granted full disclosure of Rep. Miller-Meeks finances as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center last month raised questions about the financial disclosures of seven congressional members, including Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat representing Iowas 3rd District. The center said Axne did not report more than 40 transactions with a potential financial range of $43,000 to $645,000, The Gazette reported. Axne had updated those reports by last week. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Experience. New ideas. Vision Those are the reasons to support Frank Darrah again for the Cedar Falls City Council. He has been involved in local activities including Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning for 38 years. He has been on the council since 2006 -- a strong contrast to others on the council where nobody else has more than four years of experience. We need new ideas, but we also must have experience to consider what has been tried before and what does or does not work. By coupling new ideas with his vast experience, Frank offers Cedar Falls a continuing great vision for the future. Democritus, who has declared that he was acquainted with every variety of the grape known in Greece, is the only person who has been of opinion that every kind could be enumerated; but, on the other hand, the rest of the authors have stated that they are quite innumerable and of infinite extent, an assertion the truth of which will be more evident, if we only consider the vast number of wines. I shall not attempt, then, to speak of every kind of vine, but only of those that are the most remarkable, seeing that the varieties are very nearly as numberless as the districts in which they grow.* Answer: yes and no. The wine industry always has complexities.Back in Ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder wrote (in his Naturalis Historia ):Ancient Greece was the origin of grapes cultivated to make wine, as far as the Romans were concerned. So, Pliny was suggesting, in part, that the number of grape varieties is associated with the lengthy time over which they have been cultivated.However, he is suggesting something else, as well. It is also possible that the number of grape varieties is associated with the amount of land that is used for that cultivation. That is, the more area available, and thus the more micro-climates, then the more likely it is that different varieties will be grown (and thus different wines made). Pliny is thus considered to be the originator of the idea of terroir in wine-making.I thought that I might look at these two things, together. As a source of data, I have used the Organisation Internationale de la vigne et du vin , which lists countries with vineyards larger than 50,000 hectares in 2020 (with 2016 as the latest available data for smaller areas). Since my question is about wine-making not grape-eating, I have excluded (in decreasing order of grape-growing area): China, Turkey, Iran, India, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkmenistan. I have used all other countries, except that the data for the number of varieties are missing from South Africa. The remaining data are plotted in the first graph. Each dot represents one wine-making country, located with the number of reported grape varieties shown vertically. The horizontal axis represents the recorded vineyard area (in hectares) note that the scale is logarithmic. This might look like a bit of a mess; but, in fact, it illustrates both of the points made above: the number of varieties can be influenced either by cultivated land area or by length of cultivation. To see this more clearly, I have annotated the graph for you, in the next figure. I have added labels for some of the countries, and a summary line illustrating the relationship between number and area. Let's take the line first. This illustrates a strong logarithmic relationship for 15 of the countries (ie. excluding Georgia, New Zealand, Armenia, Moldova, Chile, Spain). It indicates that whenever we double the vineyard area then we get c.80 more grape varieties (technically, this accounts for 70% of the between-country variation in the number of varieties).** So, we may safely conclude that, yes, the number of wine-grape varieties often increases with the amount of land that is used for their cultivation. Note that Italy and France are at the top of the line, with the greatest number of recorded grape varieties (454 and 383, respectively). It has often been claimed that Pliny also commented to the effect that Italy has more kinds of wine grapes than there are grains of sand on a beach. Alternatively, it has also been noted that the Roman poet Virgil said: It would be easier to measure the grains of sand in Greece, despite the different varieties of grapes.Greece is no longer in the picture as the cradle of wine-making. This role is now acknowledged to have occurred at least 8,000 years ago, in the area now occupied by Georgia and Armenia , which are much further east. You can see the result of this in the graph, as they both have a large number of grape varieties even though these days they do not have a lot of grapevine area. (Aside: in Georgia the vineyards share of the total agricultural crop area is greater than in any other country.) Most of these varieties have been there for thousands of years, but are not ones in common use elsewhere. In Georgia , for example, the two most common grapes are the whites Rkatsiteli and Tsolikouri, followed by the red Saperavi when was the last time you saw these on the label of a bottle of your wine ( U.S. wine imports from Georgia and Armenia )?That accounts for two of the exceptions to the area / number relationship ancient history is important. New Zealands placement in the graph is probably explained by recent history, instead experimentation in response to climate change, trying new varieties to see which ones work in the new climate regime. This is also being done in Australia , and also the USA . However, the graph indicates that it is not (yet) being done in Chile, the only other New World country that does not fit the area / number relationship. In the Old World, the current trend seems to be more towards re-purposing the current varieties , rather than trying new ones.This leaves Spain as the remaining odd-one-out. Spain is well known for producing oodles of bulk wine from a few high-yielding varieties, much of which ends up in France, to help bolster what is labeled EU wine. This may be slowly changing, especially in areas such as Rioja . Nearby, Portugal is a very different place. In the graph, it is the unlabeled point furthest above the line. It has only 20% of the vineyard area of Spain, and yet it has 2.2 times as many grape varieties this is much more normal, according to the graph.* This same book is usually credited as the source of ...volgoque veritas iam attributa vino est. [It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth.]** Remember: this relationship applies among the points, not outside them. It would, for example, be naive to think that doubling from 10 Ha to 20 Ha would add 80 varieties! As late summer temperatures cool and those cozy autumn vibes kick in, we're shifting our drink choices accordingly. Some of our favorite Bay Area bartenders are spiking their cocktails with seasonal fixingsthink cinnamon, turmeric, and dateswhile others are finding comfort in playing with childhood favorites (boozy Count Chocula, anyone?). Here five local bar stars share their fall cocktail recipes to mixed up at home. Cheers. Cocktail Recipe: Calavera's Nixta, an Old Fashioned with a corn whiskey twist. (Courtesy of Calavera) At Oakland's Calavera, Grande Antonio adds a muddle to his variation of an Old Fashioned cocktail by including a Mexican staple: maize. "To make this fall cocktail and stay true to the Calavera style, I used Abasoloa native corn whisky from Mexico," he says. "Muddling roasted corn, a fresh slice of ginger, orange peel, and Demerara sugar mimics the way indigenous people would make a salsa fresca with a molcajete. This cocktail is a wonderful marriage of an Old Fashioned and the taste of Mexico." Ingredients 2 ounces Abasolo Corn Whisky 1/4 ounce sherry (Aurora Pedro Ximenez) 1 ounce roasted corn 1 slice ginger 3 dashes Angostura bitters 3 dashes orange bitters 1 peel orange 1 teaspoon Demerara sugar Combine the roasted corn, ginger, orange peel, bitters, sherry, and sugar into a mixing glass. Muddle well into a paste-like mash, then add the whisky and ice. Stir vigorously for 20 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass with one large cube. // Calavera, 2337 Broadway, Oakland, calaveraoakland.com Drink Recipe: Le Colonial's Quarantine Cocktailyour daily dose of turmeric. (Michelle Cheng) Lead bartenders Ignacio (Natcho) Garcia and Gabriel (Gabby) Toledo created this seasonal sipper. "Considering that all of us have personal health and wellbeing on our minds, we felt that this refreshing, turmeric-infused gin and ginger cocktail delivers health benefits in a tasty libation and an excuse for a cocktail during quarantine times." Ingredients 2 ounces gin (or turmeric-infused gin*) 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (if not using turmeric-infused gin) Juice of a lime 3-4 ounces ginger beer Lime wheels and candied ginger for garnish Add ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into highball glass filled 2/3 of the way with ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel and candied ginger. *To make turmeric-infused gin, soak a peeled root of the spice in four ounces of the spirit overnight. // Le Colonial, 721 Sutter St. (TenderNob), lecolonialsf.com Cocktail Recipe: Sidebar's Darkest Before Dawn, an adult beverage for Count Chocula lovers. (Courtesy of Sidebar) Jared Hirsch, bar manager at Sidebar in Oakland, explains his comfort cocktail: "I love the milk at the bottom of my cereal bowl so much, I use it as an ingredient in drinks. For this recipe, I used that nostalgic monster cereal, Count Chocula, and paired that chocolatey goodness with Cherry Bomb, our cherry-cacao-coffee syrup. This drink can be made with or without alcohol and, as there's no caffeine in our syrups, it's completely safe for kids." Ingredients 2 ounces Count Choculainfused milk* 1 ounce Cherry Bomb syrup 1 ounce vodka (or more milk) Add ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and garnish with pieces of cereal. * To make cereal milk, submerge cereal in enough milk to cover. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain out cereal. // Sidebar, 542 Grand Ave, Oakland, sidebar-oaktown.com Cocktail Recipe: Elixir's Maple Rye Sour, an elevated take on the whiskey classic. (Courtesy of Elixir) H. Joseph Ehrmann, Elixir's proprietor, created this take on the traditional whiskey sour, perfect for warming up during San Francisco's fall evenings. Ingredients 1/2 ounce Rittenhouse 100 Rye whiskey 1/2 ounce Tap 357 Maple Rye whiskey 1/2 ounce Bekerovka 3 ounces Fresh Victor Lemon Sour Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. // Elixir, 3200 16th St. (Mission), elixirsf.com I first beheld Fauxnique back in the fall of 2005. She was performing at a SoMa art gallery, at the book launch for K.M. Soehnlein's You Can Say You Knew Me When. I was a young editor, pretty fresh out of a U-Haul to San Francisco from my hometown of Dallas, Texas; and Fauxnique (aka Monique Jenkinson) was not just any drag queen. She was a classically trained dancer who held the trailblazing title of Miss Trannyshack 2003 and, most notably (to me, at the time), she was a woman in the traditionally gay male role of impersonating an extravagantly made-up woman. Now y'all, we did not have those back in Texas. All these years later, I don't remember much about her performance that night (though her later, effing-fabulous feminist production and performance of "The F Word" sticks with me), but her very existence dazzled me. She was irreverent, whip-smart, self-conscious and ballsy at once. And funny! This was the reason I had come to SF, to be in the place where boundaries were constantly broken and re-drawn by people who gave a fuck about what mattered and no fucks about the rest. We can all say what we will (and we will!) about the ever-changing city and its takeover by tech money and homogenous bro culture, but San Francisco's queer culture is thriving and keeps on pushing the limits. Just look at how the old LGBT community, once summed up in a tidy four-letter acronym, has rolled forward on and on, like a Texas tumbleweed, to gather strength in numbers and letters. Today's LGBTQIA+ community has blown the lid off the exclusionary and is taking inclusivity to a whole new level, making space for a whole host of gorgeous nonconformists to live and be celebrated here. Since Jenkinson became the first cisgender woman to be crowned a pageant-winning drag queen, cisgender drag queens have become a thing (hi, Victoria Scone of Drag Race UK). The artist, choreographer, performer, and writer has appeared on international stages and is anticipating the January 2022 release of her truly original memoir, Faux Queen: A Life in Drag. Later this month, her publisher, Amble Pressthe new queer imprint of Bywater Bookswill be hosting a reading during Litquake's closing night Lit Crawl of local queer authors. Jenkinson will be among them, joined by her friend of more than 20 years, author K.M. Soehnlein, whose second novel, incidentally, brought me to Fauxnique in the first place. Soehnlein is an icon in queer and literary circles. His debut novel, The World of Normal Boys, which told the story of a queer kid's sexual awakening amid family tragedy, won a Lambda Literary Award and is now in its 10th printing. Next fall, Amble will publish his fourth book, Army of Lovers, an autobiographical novel about Soehnlein's own AIDS activism in the 1980s and '90s. (On a more personal note, the USF writing teacher also penned 7x7's August 2013 print cover story "More Than Meets the Eye," about another community icon, drag diva Juanita More.) Since Jenkinson and Soehnlein go way backhe even reads her tarot cardswe tasked them with interviewing each other about their upcoming works and about life, art, and activism in SF. Below is a snippet of their recent conversation. Pull up a chair, then catch the pair at The Make-Out Room during Lit Crawl, on Saturday, October 23rd. Monique Jenkinson's debut book, 'Faux Queen' (January 2022), is a memoir about her journey as a cisgender woman and performance artist in San Francisco's world of drag. (Courtesy of Amble Press) K.M. Soehnlein: Monique, you're a performance artist, and now you've written a book. Which is harder: standing on tiptoe for 30 minutes while the audience enters the theater, or editing your life into a coherent narrative? Monique Jenkinson: Writing and editing, by far. K.M.S.: What's hard about it? MJ: Well, I've written a lot for performance, and I'm no stranger to delving deeply, but I've never done writing that's demanded this level of delving. K.M.S.: What are you delving into? MJ: Faux Queen is a memoir about drag. I delve into how I ended up becoming a pageant-winning drag queenthe long, twisty road to get thereinto my ballet training, which is a form of drag and, of course, playing dress-up as a kid. I delve into issues around the body, which drag helped me resolve. And into friendship between me and gay men. Does writing help you figure out what you think? Yes. Writing puts thoughts into words. Army of Lovers is an autobiographical novel about my time as an AIDS activist with ACT UP and Queer Nation in the late '80s and early '90s. I've had lots of time to think back on those years, trying to figure out how to create a character who could grapple with the things that I was grappling with at the timewhat effect the AIDS activist movement had on a young guy like me who was HIV-negative, entering into a world full of people fighting for their lives. Why did I do that? What did I learn from it? MJ: Did you figure out why you did it? K.M.S.: It comes down to I was a young person who was fired up politically and this was the most important political issue of my time. It was my community, and I wanted to be part of it. Okay. Question for you: The idea that a cisgender woman can excel as a drag queen is still unexpected in some places, though it's been going on in San Francisco for decades. Do you think the times have finally caught up to you and your sister faux queens? MJ: Maybe? The club I entered embraced women into their drag queen fold. Everyone was playing with the performance of gender in different ways. Now we have Victoria Scone on Drag Race UK, which is an indication that the world is catching up. I'm curious how people are responding to her on the show and how it's being edited. K.M.S.: Drag Race has spawned a legion of young cisgender girls who want to do drag. MJ: Oh, I have heard from a lot of them over the years, and I say, "go for it." The liberty to play with femininity is anyone's to claim. The queer kids right now seem very into their LGBTQ+ history. What kind of responsibility do you feel as someone who was there? K.M.S.: The younger generation is very curious and interested in what older generations lived through. I'm interested in talking to those kids. In the 10 years it took me to write Army of Lovers, a couple of important documentaries about AIDS activism have come out, plus nonfiction books like Sarah Schulman's Let the Record Show and Peter Staley's Never Silent. I'm glad to be part of that wave. As a novelist, I'm interested in the emotional experience. I'm not a documentarian or historian. I take artistic liberties. I think we need to tell a lot of stories in a lot of different ways to teach the children. MJ: Absolutely. I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility because my memoir contains so many other people's stories. Artists need a disclaimer, even when they're writing memoir, that it's always through a subjective lens. I'm also interested in the emotional and bodily experience of times and places, as opposed to hard facts. Hopefully I get things "right enough." K.M.S.: Yeah, we live in a world where people are obsessed with pointing out whether you got it right or wrong, so every artist and writer who puts things out into the world is going to have to contend with that noisy dialogue. Good luck, girl. MJ: And you, Mary. Goddess, give us strength. K.M.S.: You came of age at a backlash time when there was a reluctance to embrace the word "feminism," but younger generations are embracing, expanding, and redefining it. Do you feel hopeful about the future for women artists in our patriarchal dumpster fire of a culture? MJ: Girl, I do feel hopeful. My feminism holds the possibility for us to come together in glorious difference and intersectionality. There are moments when I feel divided and conquered and lose hope in the future of feminism. But having just seen the shows that are up right now in big institutionsJoan Mitchell at SFMOMA, the Judy Chicago retrospective at the de Young, the incredible Wangechi Mutu at the Legion of HonorI just feel my feminist artists' pantheon all around. I'm proud to be a feminist making art. K.M.S.: I love that. K.M. Soehnlein's forthcoming novel, 'Army of Lovers' (Fall 2022), is inspired by his own work as an AIDS activist with ACT UP and Queer Nation in the late 1980s and early '90s. He is pictured here on NYC Pride Day in 1988 (he thinks). (Courtesy of K.M. Soehnlein) MJ: How do art and activism intersect for you? K.M.S.: When I say 'activism" I mean the kind that shaped me, which is direct action, nonviolent civil disobedience: a movement that has a vision for change, comes up with demands, and then enacts interventions in public spaces, like people getting arrested to shift the public dialogue. That's not what art does. Art channels the imagination into communication. When I'm writing about activism, I'm not doing activism. I'm using imagination, craft, artistry, etc to produce something that you can experience, so that your imagination gets engaged. The challenge for me was to write about activism in a way that was exciting not didactic, not polemical, to paint a picture in the reader's mind or a feeling in their gut of what it's like to be at a demonstration and what it's like to be arrested in an act of civil disobedience. MJ: Your description of writing a group scene feels to me, as a choreographer, like choreography. K.M.S.: It is. You gotta move the bodies around on the page. I remember when you hosted a drag night of Literary Heroines. Which literary heroines did you bring to life on stage? MJ: Ha! I first proposed it to Heklina, who said "No, absolutely not. I'm a businesswoman!" Years later, the queens at club Some Thing asked me to co-host and I said "how about literary heroines" and they said "Great." I realized my dream of portraying three suicidal women writers. I started as Virginia Woolf, drowned myself, came back as Sylvia Plath, stuck my head in a cardboard oven, came back as Anne Sexton and turned on the fake gas. I thought about a hopeful ending as the eternal Joan Didion, but it didn't fit. K.M.S.: That reminds me of the time I brought a friend to the pageant, she was a bit older than me, a mother, not a regular in the clubs, and that night one of the drag queens gave herself an abortion on stage. I was worried what my friend would make of that, but she thought it was amazing. She said, "Drag takes every difficult thing and adds humor to it." That's one definition of performance drag, right? MJ: Absolutely. It's liberating and can be troubling and problematic, but it does the work of the clown, taking something that might be sacred and treating it with irreverence, making it a little profane. Just slap a wig on it. There was something redemptive in my Literary Heroines number. I wasn't really making fun of it. My intention was to honor. So, speaking of literary heroines, let's do a lightning volley from the famous Proust Questionnaire. K.M.S.: I love a Proust questionnaire moment. What's your idea of happiness? Being in the ocean under the water. K.M.S.: Hi, Virginia Woolf. MJ: But living to tell the tale. What do you appreciate most about your friends? K.M.S.: Honesty and laughter. What's your idea of misery? MJ: A hoarder house! What is your chief characteristic? K.M.S.: Resting Intense Face. I have a furrowed brow even when I'm relaxed. MJ: You know they have a botulism toxin for that. K.M.S.: I'll get on the phone with my Kaiser provider. Who are your favorite authors? MJ: Wayne Koestenbaum. Maggie Nelson, Zadie Smith. So many more. What's your favorite flower? K.M.S.: Lilac. There was a lilac bush in my front yard where I grew up, and the smell just transports me to a beautiful happy place. You can't get them in the Bay Area and it kills me. Every year, they pop up at Whole Foods for like a week, but as soon as you bring them home, they die. Who are your art heroes? MJ: Marilyn Minter, Wangechi Mutu, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Sandra Bernhard, Judy Chicago. And there's a huge number that I'll totally forget and be killing myself over, but that's fine. And what are you, my darling, doing for fun right now in this not-quite post-pandemic world of our lovely city? K.M.S.: The pandemic has made me really appreciate small gatherings of people indoors, and I'm hanging on to that sweet intimacy. I'm also giving lots of tarot readings to people and that has been a source of great "woo"-joy for me. MJ: I can give a plug for those tarot readings, which are amazing. K.M.S.: Tarot With Karl. And what are you doing for fun in our not-quite post-pandemic world? MJ: Oh, like you I have embraced some of the lessons of the pandemic. I love hanging out with people outdoors. As much as I love going to bars and drinking expensive cocktails, sometimes a $10 bottle of wine in the park with a friend beats a $17 cocktail in a bar. And I'm with you on the small gatherings, super sweet. K.M.S.: One of the most fun times I've had in the last few months was right here in this living room with friends playing hearts. Just playing cards for hours, chattin' and scratchin' like cats. MJ: I love it! // "Voices From Amble Press: A New Queer Publisher" will take place during Lit Crawl, the culminating event for Litquake's 2021 festival; 5pm, Saturday October 23rd at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St. (Mission). For more information, go to litquake.org. Halloween 2020 is not cancelledat least not if these San Francisco residents have boo to say about it. While trick-or-treating is strongly discouraged this year, as are gatherings of more than 12 people, the city isn't giving up on one of its favorite holidays. Homes across SF have gone all out to keep things festive, with towering skeletons, goblins, and graveyards invading lawns and stoops from Presidio Terrace to Forest Knoll. SF photographer Brendan Mansfield captured the witchy mood. Mt Stirling Gold System Expanded Perth, Oct 13, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited ( ASX:TNR ) is pleased to announce results from various drilling campaigns at Mt Stirling. Results continue to expand the extents of gold mineralisation at various prospects and multiple gold domains, with pierce point intercepts beyond the current resource boundaries.Torian Executive Director Mr Peretz Schapiro said: "For a while we have been hypothesising that the Stirling Well and Mt Stirling gold systems may be linked. The latest round of drilling has given us a greater picture as to what we may be actually sitting on in the Mt Stirling region.Our current geological interpretation indicates that our current prospects on the Strling Block may actually be one large interconnected system. From Stirling Well in the west to Tyrannus in the East, and from Mt Stirling in the South and Hydra in the North. The structure of the system also indicates that the Mt Stirling region would be very amenable to a large, low strip, open pit mine.We are also really pleased that the latest round of drilling has delivered record turnaround times for us, with results received within 2-4 weeks from holes being drilled. Slow turnaround times on assays are really frustrating for management and shareholders, so to have this level of turnaround time is a true testament to the work ethic of our hard-working field and geological team.Whilst auger vacuum drilling and other field work at the Mt Stilring Project continues, we are looking forward to recommencing RC drilling in the coming weeks, which will focus on following up on anomalous arsenic zones and recently announced gold intercepts at the Hydra and Tyrannus prospects.Subject to the continued success of the drilling campaign, rig(s) availability and assay turnaround from the labs, we will look to commission a Global resource estimate at the end of 2021 for the entire Mt Stirling Project.Mt Stirling - Viserion Drill UpdateOn sections 1800N & 1840N ~50m up-dip extension has been confirmed from intercepts:- 10m @ 2.05 g/t Au from 34m (MSRC109); inc 3m @ 4.13 g/t Au from 34m and 1m @ 4.82 g/t Au from 35m- 1m @ 3.97 g/t Au from 58m (MSRC110)- 6m @ 1.11 g/t Au from 47m (MSRC108); inc 1m @ 2.02 g/t Au from 49mMt Stirling and Viserion up-dip extensions have also returned:- 1m @ 2.96 g/t Au from 35m (MSRC111)- 1m @ 2.44 g/t Au from 179m (MSRD001)- 5m @ 1.16 g/t Au from 147m (MSRC124); inc 1m @ 2.38 g/t Au from 147m- 2m @ 1.36 g/t Au from 241m (MSRC094); inc 1m @ 1.78 g/t Au from 241mMt Stirling East zone(s) extensionsEastern mineralised zones have been re-interpreted as shallow easterly plunging sub-horizontal saprolitic gold and lode material (alike Stirling Well mineralisation).Eastern flat lodes and mineralised zones are also interpreted to merge with Tyrannus mineralisation, with potential to add considerable shallow open-pittable tonnage.Further Eastern zone(s) shallow gold intercepts have been received including:- 1m @ 6.03 g/t Au from 3m (MSRC086)- 1m @ 1.77 g/t Au from 3m (MSRC120)- 1m @ 1.74 g/t Au from 30m (MSRC093)- 1m @ 1.61 g/t Au from 47m (MSRD002)Follow-up shallow extensional drilling is now being planned to quantify and assess scale-potential.Mt Stirling SE Drill UpdateAs has been previously announced, the Mt Stirling Gold system extends 280m further to the SE with mineralised strike now continuous over 1040m (1080N - 2080N).Mt Stirling SE intercepts include:- 1m @ 1.67 g/t Au from 39m (MSRC080)- 1m @ 1.77 g/t Au from 83m (MSRC065)- 5m @ 0.83 g/t Au from 244m (MSRC068); inc 1m @ 2.31 g/t Au from 244mHydra Drill updateHydra RC drilling to recommence in coming weeks with 12 drill holes for ~980m planned to test anomalous arsenic zones and extents of interpreted gold system to NW.Assays from first holes drilled are expected within 3 weeks.Diorite Drilling updateDiorite East and Kiaora-Meteor preliminary drill assays received.Assays from the Diorite East SZ have returned anomalous shallow composite samples of up to 4m @ 0.67 g/t Au from 16m (DIRC022)Assays from Kiaora-Meteor have returned shallow mineralisation up to 1m @ 1.09 g/t Au from 29m (DIRC027)Assays from recent RC drilling at the Unexpected mine at Diorite North are expected within 2 weeks.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Torian Resources Limited Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia. Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits. Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Jordan Nunez delivered the final blow that killed his 13-year-old brother by repeatedly flipping a dog crate in which the boy was confined, a prosecutor said Tuesday during the first day of Nunezs sentencing hearing. Nunez, 23, had been an active participant throughout weeks of torture that left Jeremiah Valencia hobbling on a cane with broken ribs and numerous other injuries, 1st Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in her opening statements. Prosecutors contend Nunez should receive the maximum sentence of 24 years in prison in connection with the 2017 beating death of Jeremiah Valencia at the familys home in Nambe. Nunez knew that his little brother, who had just gotten a severe beat down, was in this cage, Carmack-Altwies said, referring to the 26- by 39-inch dog crate in which the severely injured boy was confined. A witness in a previous hearing testified that Nunez flipped it over and over and over again, Carmack-Altwies said. Nunez faces 14 to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty in March 2020 to one count of recklessly permitting child abuse resulting in death and two counts of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors are asking District Judge Matthew Wilson to rule the crime a serious violent offense, which would require Nunez to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he would become eligible for parole. An attorney for Nunez responded that the real monster in this case was Nunezs father, Thomas Ferguson, who devised Jeremiahs punishments and terrorized Nunez and other family members. Ferguson killed himself in the Santa Fe County jail in April 2018 while awaiting trial in connection with Jeremiahs killing. After Fergusons death, prosecutors immediately focused on Jordan (Nunez), attorney Mark Earnest said in his opening statement. They are trying to group Jordan with Ferguson. They are trying to make him monster 2.0. Prosecutors responded that Nunez in fact was monster 2.0 who participated with Ferguson in Jeremiahs torture and abuse and, after the boys death, helped wrap the body in plastic and bury it. Jeremiah became the target of those two men, Carmack-Altwies said. Basically, anything that could be used to hurt a 13-year-old boy was used on Jeremiah. That abuse included putting a shock collar around Jeremiahs neck and shocking him, dropping a sledgehammer on the boys hands and using the boy for target practice with a homemade spear, she said. About two weeks before Jeremiahs death on Nov. 25, 2017, Ferguson body-slammed the boy, fracturing three of his ribs, Carmack-Alwies said. After that attack, Jeremiah needed a cane to walk. A perfectly healthy 13-year-old boy could barely walk, couldnt eat and needed a cane, she said. Jordan Nunez was watching his little brother hobbling around on a cane, bleeding on it, and did nothing. Prosecutors presented evidence that Jeremiahs blood was found throughout the house. A large amount of blood was found inside a fireplace where the boy was confined behind a specially made door. Ferguson gave Jeremiah a final beat down on Nov. 25, 2017, just hours before the boys death, Carmack-Altwies said. The Office of Medical Investigator found that the boys jaw was broken in two places, likely as a result of that beating, she said. Nunez also pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with evidence for allegedly helping to wrap the boys body with plastic and tape, putting it in a plastic container, then burying it in a shallow grave, court records show. Jeremiahs mother and Fergusons girlfriend, Tracy Pena, 39, pleaded guilty to child abuse in 2018 in connection with her sons killing and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, according to her sentencing order. Also Tuesday, Roberto Montoya, a building contractor who hired Nunez and Ferguson and befriended the family in 2018, said Ferguson had become convinced that Jeremiah was possessed and sought help from a pastor for the boy. More than a year after a Roswell man allegedly strangled the mother of his child and ran to Mexico with their 3-year-old son, authorities say the boy has been found safe. But the FBI wont say when, where or how Osiel Ernesto Rico was found. They are also tight-lipped on whether the father, 33-year-old Jorge Rico-Ruvira, still wanted on murder and child abuse charges, is in custody. At this time, the FBI is not commenting on this case, FBI Albuquerque Field Office spokesman Frank Fisher said in an email. When or if that changes, I will make sure to let you know. New Mexico State Police Officer Ray Wilson sent out an email Tuesday afternoon cancelling the January 2020 Amber Alert for Osiel. Osiel Ernesto Rico has been located safe. For additional information please reach out to the FBI, he said. Wilson did not respond to questions. At the time of the alert a relative told Roswell police that Rico-Ruvira would go to Mexico and authorities said his phone was pinging south of the border. Rico-Ruvira is charged in U.S. District Court with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. In state court, Rico Ruvira is charged with an open count of murder and child abuse in the death of Isela Mauricio-Sanchez, 27. He is also facing a charge of aggravated battery against a household member for allegedly choking Mauricio-Sanchez in the months before her death. There is a warrant out for his arrest as of July 2021 in both cases. Police were initially called about the disappearance on the morning of Jan. 7 after relatives found Mauricio-Sanchez strangled in her southeast Roswell home. There were closets cleaned out, signs of a struggle and Rico-Ruvira, Osiel and the womans maroon SUV were missing, authorities said at the time. A former teacher and two business owners are competing for the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education District 6 seat. District 6 is bordered roughly by Comanche on the north and Interstate 40 on the south; Eldorado, Sandia and Manzano high schools all fall within the district. The winner of the District 6 election will join a school board made up predominantly of newcomers. None of the four current board members with terms expiring this year sought reelection. Current District 6 seat holder Elizabeth Armijo declined to seek reelection after serving one term. Josefina Dominguez holds a masters in literature from New Mexico State University and has 28 years of teaching experience. She taught middle school and high school in three states, including New Mexico, and seven districts before retiring in 2013. Business owner Arthur Carrasco has lived in Albuquerque for 30 years and owns a mortgage and real estate company, in addition to being a licensed Realtor. He holds a masters in business administration from the University of New Mexicos Anderson School of Management. Write-in candidate Celia Cortez graduated from UNMs Anderson School of Management with a bachelors degree before going on to work in a variety of corporate jobs. Since 2014, she has worked as an artist specializing in pen and ink. The candidates largely disagree over such broad educational issues as what challenges face New Mexicos largest school district and such pandemic-related issues as vaccine and mask mandates. Dominiguez said the biggest issue facing APS is the health and safety of the classroom and school, asserting that there is a need for more professionals on campuses to ensure physical and mental safety. Carrasco said the districts rankings have been near or at the bottom for the past 12 years, which has caused a snowball effect of companies not wanting to move to Albuquerque due to the lack of an educated workforce. For Cortez, the biggest issue facing the district is a combination of societal issues that inhibit student outcomes, such as working parents without time to support their children and a need for the district to help set expectations for students based on their career paths. The candidates also differ in their approaches to such pandemic-related issues as vaccine and mask mandates. Dominguez said mandates will have to be considered based on case numbers and community input, but she would have to balance science and legal considerations. To Carrasco, it is important to implement policies that keep children in classrooms. Whatever it takes, weve got to keep our kids in school, he said. Cortez, however, does not support a vaccine mandate and said the choice to vaccinate should be left to families and their health care professionals. As for mask mandates, both Dominguez and Carrasco say they would follow legal and scientific guidelines, although Carrasco advocated for following advice from local doctors, in addition to the federal Centers for Disease Control Prevention. Cortez said decisions on whether to wear masks should, like vaccine mandates, be left to students and parents. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Public safety, bail reform and making New Mexico a national hub for hydrogen development are near the top of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams list of priorities for the legislative session in 2022. Speaking Tuesday at a luncheon hosted by the New Mexico chapter of commercial real estate organization NAIOP, the governor highlighted the states economic progress over the last few years and laid out her vision for how the state can continue to shake off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken together, Lujan Grisham said the three proposals can help the state build on some of its successes over the past few years. I stand before you today feeling really good about where we are, and about our potential future, Lujan Grisham said. Lujan Grisham, who plans to run for reelection in 2022, has talked about each of her legislative priorities at various forums over the past several weeks, but provided additional insight into what New Mexicans can expect from the upcoming session. New Mexico has 30-day sessions in even-numbered years that are generally limited to budgetary matters and issues authorized for debate by the governor. An influx of federal dollars and a recovering oil and gas industry means the state is expected to have around $1.4 billion in new money in the coming year, which represents the difference between expected revenue and the states current budget. It means that we have incredible resources at our disposal to do any number of things, Lujan Grisham said. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for the governor to better address public safety following a wave of violent crime in Albuquerque. During the luncheon, Lujan Grisham said she plans to ask for $100 million to help fund efforts to hire 1,000 officers across the state. The funding would also help standardize training and certifications. The influx of money would help alleviate the problem of officers jumping to a new jurisdiction, which Lujan Grisham called a chronic problem. We need to think about how we do that differently, she said. On bail reform, the governor said she wants to shift the burden of proof so that people charged with violent offenses where a weapon is used are required to show they can safely be released. We think thats going to be a sea change in what were seeing occur in every jurisdiction, she said. Last month, the governor discussed plans to make New Mexico a national leader in hydrogen development, which Lujan Grisham said will help decarbonize the nations transportation infrastructure and potentially generate billions of dollars for the state. Some environmental advocates have raised concerns about using hydrogen in this capacity, calling the technology unproven, according to previous Journal reporting. Despite the impact of the pandemic, the governor said she was encouraged by the states economic progress over the past couple years. Lujan Grisham noted that property values across the state increased by 14%, and the state has recorded a 4% increase in overall economic activity over the past two years. She also cited unofficial reports showing that more people moved to New Mexico than from it during the pandemic. However, she added that the state also has 83,000 open jobs. She told the crowd of businesspeople that she would like to see a public-private strike force designed to get people into new jobs and recruit workers from other states, augmenting work from other state and local initiatives. We have all of those programs in place, but in the meantime, we have to go out and actively recruit folks to come to New Mexico, Lujan Grisham said. Instagram Celebrity The 'Ayy Macarena' spitter has voluntarily turned himself in to Los Angeles police after his ex-girlfriend Camaryn Swanson accused him of abuse following an alleged altercation. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - Rapper Tyga has got his freedom back. The "Ayy Macarena" rapper was released from jail after spending hours behind bars by posting a $50,000 bond following his domestic violence arrest. On Tuesday, October 12, the 31-year-old musician voluntarily turned himself in to Los Angeles Police Department after an alleged altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Camaryn Swanson. Prior to his arrest, the authorities confirmed that the rapper, whose real name is Micheal Ray Nguyen-Stevenson, was cooperating with them. The alleged altercation between Tyga and Camaryn reportedly took place on early Monday after the 22-year-old influencer showed up at the rapper's California mansion. At the time, she called the cops after her ex-boyfriend allegedly put his hands on her. According to reports, the responding police officers saw "visible marks" on her and "took a report for felony domestic violence." Following the incident, Camaryn took to her Instagram Story to share photos of her bruised cheek and eye and bloodstained cuff. "I've been emotionally, mentally and physically abused and I'm not hiding it anymore," the social media star wrote. In a separate Story, she uploaded a video of her showing marks on her eyes and arms. "I'm so embarrassed and ashamed it had to get to this but I have to stand up for myself," she captioned the clip. Camaryn also shared a screenshot of iMessage exchange between her and an unidentified man that suggested Tyga had sent a car to pick her up and transport her to his house. "I didn't show up 'screaming' or uninvited," she wrote, denying reports that claimed she came to his home "screaming in the middle of the night." She added, "When I tried to leave he physically assaulted [me] and refused to let me leave for hours." Tyga, who was previously engaged to Blac Chyna and dated Kylie Jenner, reportedly began dating Camaryn in early 2021. The pair went Instagram official in February, with the influencer sharing a sweet snap of their date at Disneyland Resort in California. At the time, she captioned her post with heart emojis. WENN/Johnny Louis Celebrity The 'Wipe Me Down' spitter was charged with criminal damage to property, inciting a riot, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass and spent a night in jail. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - Boosie Badazz (Lil Boosie) had a brief jail stint due to a recent altercation. The rapper has been arrested following a fight that occurred during his performance in Atlanta earlier this month. According to TMZ, a spokesperson at the Fulton County Jail reveals that the Baton Rogue native was taken into custody on Monday, October 11 and was charged with criminal damage to property, inciting a riot, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. A mug shot obtained by the site shows him wearing a plain white T-shirt and giving a blank expression when he was booked. Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Ivy Hatch Jr., only spent a night behind bars. The spokesperson adds that the 38-year-old was released on Tuesday afternoon after signing his own bond. The fight broke out during Boosie's performance on Saturday, October 2 as part of the "Legendz of the Streetz Tour". During his set, a man exited the DJ booth and confronted another man onstage. The "Wipe Me Down" MC and his entourage reportedly got involved in the brawl. They also allegedly damaged items that belonged to their production company and destroyed property owned by the arena. Atlanta Police Department was called to the venue for vandalism around 12:41 A.M. local time. The following day, he was removed from the "Legendz of the Streetz Tour". Blasting the concert officials, he said, "THIS IS THE MOVE THEY PULLING OFF ON THE TOUR SO U CANT GET REFUNDS ,READ IT CLEAR LOL LIKE PEOPLE GO READ A SIDE DOOR LOL S**T OUT TO ALL MY BALTIMORE FANS LOVE YALL." This is hardly the first time Boosie had a run-in with the law. In 2011, he was sentenced to eight years in state prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. He was released in 2014 and remained on parole until 2018. Instagram/WENN/Avalon Celebrity Years after falling out with his 'Fast Five' co-star, the 'Jungle Cruise' actor shares the story of them sitting down together in the former's trailer to address their past drama. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - Vin Diesel tested his new working relationship with former rival Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson by suggesting he gave the "Jungle Cruise" star acting tips during their recent trailer summit meeting. The two stars fell out in 2016 after Johnson publicly complained about the professionalism of some of his "Fast Five" co-stars, calling them "candy a**es" in a since-deleted social media post. It was later determined he was particularly upset with Diesel. Johnson told America's Vanity Fair magazine he recently sat down with Diesel in his trailer to address their past drama and came to the conclusion he and Diesel will never see eye to eye, because they are "philosophically two different people." Diesel then suggested he gave Johnson "tough love" during their meeting, so he could improve his performance. The former wrestler claimed his co-star's comments were "bulls**t," admitting they made him "laugh hard." "One part of me feels like there's no way I would dignify any of that bulls**t with an answer," Johnson explained. "I've been around the block a lot of times. Unlike [Diesel], I did not come from the world of theater. And, you know, I came up differently and was raised differently. And I came from a completely different culture and environment." "And I go into every project giving it my all. And if I feel that there's some things that need to be squared away and handled and taken care of, then I do it. And it's just that simple. So when I read that, just like everybody else, I laughed. I laughed hard. We all laughed." NEON Movie Paul Webster, the man behind 'Atonement', admits he broke his own rules in funding development and early pre-production when financiers failed to see the power in Pablo Larrain's movie. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - The producer of upcoming Princess Diana biopic, "Spencer", had to sink his own money into the film's pre-production when British funders refused to back the project. Paul Webster, the man behind British movie hits "Pride And Prejudice" and "Atonement", broke his own rules when financiers failed to see the power in Pablo Larrain's movie, starring Kristen Stewart as the doomed royal. "No British funders came through to support us," he said. "The three producers, myself, Jonas Dornbach of Komplizen in Germany, and Juan Larrain, ended up funding development and early pre-production... That required a lot of belief and faith. It was really stressful. We didn't actually get funding until January, and we shot the movie in February and March this year." "I was hoping that we'd have proper British money in the film, but for various reasons, nobody bit... Apart from the tax credit, there's not a penny of British money in the film, which is a shame. I'm sad about that because... if the movie's successful, it would be great to feed those institutions that support British film so diligently." When asked by Film London chief Adrian Wootton if he had any hesitancy in the project, Webster said, "There's a whole industry around Princess Diana, and it doesn't seem to go away. It's nearly 25 years since she passed away, and still she's one of the most recognized faces in the world." "But that doesn't necessarily translate to bums on seats," he elaborated further. "I think you still have to deliver the goods with the film, and hopefully we do." And it looks like Webster is sitting on a success story - "Spencer" premiered to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival in Italy last month (September 2021) and has become one of the most-anticipated films of the autumn, with Stewart picking up Oscar buzz for her role as the title character. ABC TV The new episode sees the celebrity contestants on 'Dancing with the Stars' season 30 celebrating Disney villains with two couples being sent home at the end of the episode. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - In the second Disney Night, celebrity contestants on "Dancing with the Stars" season 30 celebrated Disney villains. The episode, which aired on Tuesday, October 12, kicked off with a performance by Jimmie Allen and his pro-dancer partner Emma Slater. The pair, who opted for Tinkerbell-themed outfit, hit the ballroom to dance the Jazz to Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy". "You're surprising me each week, because your dancing is coming right on point," judge Len Goodman praised Jimmie. Jimmie got 35/40, bringing his total score to 67/80. Later, Cody Rigsby and pro Cheryl Burke followed it up with a performance of the Viennese Waltz to "Gaston" from "Beauty and The Beast". Bruno Tonioli gushed, "You were irresistibly dashing. I am so happy to see you in the full production exploiting your talent. You can work a stage." The pair got 31/40 which made his total score become 58/80. The next performer was Mel C (Melanie C) who danced the Viennese Waltz to "Once Upon a Dream" from "Maleficent" alongside Gleb Savchenko. Of the performance, Carrie Ann Inaba said, "That was your best dance by far. The transformation that we were looking for, you were the queen of evil, sensual, powerful, the continuation of the movement, so sensuous, I loved it." Mel C earned 35/40 and her total score for both nights was 66/80. As for JoJo Siwa and her pro dancer partner Jenna Johnson, they opted to dance the Paso Doble to "Ways to Be Wicked" from "Descendants 2". Len loved the control and Derek Hough echoed it, saying, "I think the hecticness was the hair flying around. I agree with Len, it was in control, it had the power." JoJo was given 35/40 and her total score was 70/80. Dancing the Viennese Waltz to "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande in a "Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs"-inspired performance were Kenya Moore and Brandon Armstrong. Carrie Ann admitted to being "impressed" by how the reality TV star "kept on your center," but the judge noted, "However, your foot came off the ground, but that was your best dance." As she got 30/40, Kenya's total score for both nights was 59/80. Iman Shumpert and his partner Daniella Karagach then hit the stage to dance the Argentine Tango to "Arabian Nights" from "Aladdin". "I am kind of speechless, that was really good. The opening and ending lift was iconic, that control. I felt that in the room, well done, it was really good," Derek raved. The pair got 33/40, bringing Iman's total score to 63/80. Melora Hardin and her partner Artem Chigvintsev, meanwhile, danced the Jazz to "Mother Knows Best" from "Tangled". Carrie Ann called the set "so theatrical" and "amazing." Len added, "That had wit, charm, it was truly delightful." The actress got 37/40 and her total score is 73/80. Impressing the judges tonight were The Miz and Witney Carson with their Argentine Tango to "Be Prepared" from "[tThe Lion King]". "Be prepared, I wasn't prepared for that. I liked the lifts, lovely, theatrical, well done," Len gushed, while Bruno said, "There was so much content, in general very good, great performance." The Miz was given 34/40 with total score of 65/80. Dancing the Paso Doble to "He's a Pirate" from "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl" were Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess. "You were great tonight, fully loaded, try to control your free arm, you are going in the right direction," Bruno commented. Brian got 27/40, bringing his total score to 52/80. Matt James and Lindsay Arnold followed it up with the Paso Doble to "Jungle" by X Ambassadors & Jamie N Commons in a "The Jungle Book"-inspired performance. "I am impressed with the acting, I feel like it was a little safe for me. I encourage your growth," Carrie Ann praised him. As Matt got 35/40, his total score was 70/80. Olivia Jade and Valentin Chmerkovskiy danced Jazz to "Remember Me (Ernesto de la Cruz)" from "Coco". "I am having so much fun, you captured the spirit of the movie perfectly. You are getting better as a dancer, but we know you can act as well," Bruno said. Olivia got 35/40 and her total score for both nights was 70/80. Meanwhile, Suni Lee and Sasha Farber teamed up for a Viennese Waltz to "I Put A Spell on You" by Annie Lennox in a "Hocus Pocus"-themed performance. Derek said of the set, "I am still recovering from Sasha running off as a cat. Your performance is starting to come out, well done." The pair got 35/40 and Suni's total score was 68/80. Rounding out the night were Amanda Kloots and Alan Bersten who hit the ballroom to dance the Paso Doble to "Call Me Cruella" from "Cruella". Derek loved it as he commented, "You are so good, overall that was phenomenal." Amanda earned 36/40 which brought her total score to 68/80. It was time for the results. Brian & Sharna, Matt & Lindsay and Kenya & Brandon were in the bottom three. Brian and Sharna were eliminated as they got the lowest combined scores, while the judges had to choose one couple from the remaining couples to be saved. Matt and Lindsay were eventually sent home. WENN/Will Alexander Celebrity The SKIMS founder and the 'Gold Digger' rapper reportedly negotiate a buyout price for the home that they bought for $20 million in 2014 and shared during their marriage. Oct 13, 2021 AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's divorce is still on despite recent reports suggesting otherwise. The reality TV star has scored a major win in their divorce as she has been awarded the $60 million estate in Hidden Hills, California. Per TMZ report, the former spouses negotiated a buyout price for the property, which they bought for $20 million in 2014. They fully remodeled the house, the design and construction of which was spearheaded by Kanye, in 2019. Kim and Kanye lived in the estate for several years of their marriage. The SKIMS founder has continued to stay in the property with her four children, North, 8, Saint, 5, Chicago, 3, and Psalm, 2, since she filed for divorce in February. According to the news outlet, the negotiations on the home were extremely cordial between the exes, with Kim paying cash to even things out between them. Kanye himself recently purchased a $57 million Malibu beach house and just listed his Wyoming ranch for $11 million. Back in 2020, Kim opened up with Architectural Digest about the home renovations. "I really didn't know anything about furniture before I met Kanye, but being with him has been an extraordinary education," she told the magazine. "I take real pride now in knowing what we have and why it's important." Kanye worked with Belgian designer and tastemaker Axel Vervoordt to bring his vision to life. Of their similar tastes, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" alum explained, "The one thing Kanye and I had in common was our preference for a neutral palette. I love the simplicity of the design. Everything in the outside world is so chaotic. I like to come into a place and immediately feel the calmness. Kanye would come up with the most far-out ideas, and I'd say, 'This is not normal. We need drawers!' I was the voice of functionality." ABC Celebrity The former Spice Girls member sparks concerns about her appearance as many suspect that she has fillers injected into her lips ahead of her 'Good Morning America' visit. Oct 14, 2021 AceShowbiz - Victoria Bechkam (previously Victoria Adams) has gained a lot attention following her "Good Morning America" appearance, though not for a good reason. The fashion designer has sparked concerns as she sported a noticeably fuller pout. The former Spice Girls member didn't address her fuller lips, but fans couldn't help noticing her different look. Clearly shocked by her appearance, many suspected that she has undergone a procedure to get lip fillers ahead of her "GMA" visit. "What's happened to your face? Stop filling your face with crap. You look plastic," one person commented on Victoria's look. Also not impressed with her fuller lips, another tweeted, "I love the Beckham's but ... Please no more lip fillers. It's all [too] much." A fan admitted, "Love Victoria Beckham but what's been done to her lips is a shame." Someone else wrote, "Victoria Beckham on GMA is freaking me out. She only moves her eye lids and lips when speaking... it's so unnatural and distracting. The botox/filler game can work for pics, but wow it's not good for life things." "My gosh her lip injection looks terrible. Whyyyyy are women doing this to themselves??!!" another asked, while someone else posted, "Victoria beckham got the extra good lip filler i see!" Another wrote, "Watching @GMA and asking myself what's wrong with @victoriabeckham lips. She seem that like she doesn't have an upper lip!" Speaking out against cosmetic procedure in general, one other chimed in, "Victoria Beckham looks freakish. Geez Ladies. What is the goal? What is the ultimate look. Face pulled back to behind the ears. Lips busted and glossed. Stretched out Cat eyes. Sorry, I just turned 47, maybe I'm just getting too old for these older ladies." Victoria is no stranger to plastic surgery. The wife of David Beckham has previously admitted to have gone under the knife to enhance her boobs, though she later regretted it. In a letter to her younger self, she once wrote, "Don't mess with your boobs All those years I denied it - stupid. A sign of insecurity. Just celebrate what you've got." Instagram Celebrity The 'America's Got Talent' judge has been rushed to a hospital via an ambulance after passing out in a coffee shop during an outing with family and friends. Oct 14, 2021 AceShowbiz - Comedian and TV personality Howie Mandel was hospitalised on Wednesday morning (13Oct21) after passing out at a Starbucks coffee house in Woodland Hills, California. Howie was hanging out with his wife and some friends when he collapsed. Paramedics were called to the scene and the "America's Got Talent" judge was taken to a hospital in Tarzana via an ambulance. Sources tell TMZ doctors are now running a battery of tests at the hospital before discharging Howie. Hours before news of his hospitalization broke out, the 65-year-old comedian still looked upbeat in a video he posted on Instagram. He was goofing off with a briefcase model from "Deal or No Deal", the popular game show he hosted. "Low key at the park," he quipped. The latest hospitalization was his second trip to see doctors in a month. A week before his sudden collapse, he underwent a regular endoscopic examination and told his online devotees, "I'm prepping for my colonoscopy today. I'm nervous cause I don't like getting my picture taken." A few days later, he went to enjoy a relaxing holiday. One clip was taken from Channel Islands while another showed him in Santa Fe. He also just celebrated his son's birthday. He twinned with the birthday boy and wrote a caption, "@alexmandel knows how to throw a party. Happy birthday. Love you." Sheila was born in Greater Manchester, UK, received her BSc Hons in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield, and was awarded her PhD in inorganic/organometallic chemistry from the University of Birmingham. After five years as a Research Fellow at Aston University working on methacrylate-based hydrogels, and her marriage to Glyn, a psychology professor at the University of Birmingham, she settled down to a life in industry. Sheila joined Courtaulds plc, Coventry, working in a Strategic Research Group focusing on surface modifications to enhance the performance of fibers, films, coatings and advanced materials. Eventually, Sheila changed her focus to cellulose-based products and fiber technologies. A position in New York piqued Sheilas interest, and after much discussion she applied for a research post with International Paper (IP), in Tuxedo, NY. Swapping a Birmingham-Coventry commute for a UK-US one she embarked on a 5-year journey with IP to enhance the performance of dissolving pulps culminating in her position as manager of the Chemical Cellulose Business. It wasnt until she moved to another pulp company, Rayonier in Georgia, that Glyn took early retirement from his job as head of department, and joined Sheila on St Simons Island, GA. Retirement didnt last long for Glyn and two weeks after relocating he started a new career with a community mental health clinic. Sheila went on to spend 10 years at Rayonier serving in several different management roles from research to manufacturing. Finally, Sheilas industrial career turned full circle when she joined Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI) in Delaware a chemical company with products based on both cellulose and synthetic polymers. Meanwhile, Glyn retired from his CEO position and relocated to Delaware only to be lured back to work to temporarily help out at his last place of employment. After five years at Ashland, Sheila took voluntary severance and joined her husband back in the south where he continues to work as CEO despite Sheilas encouragement for him to join her enjoying retirement. CHICO, Calif. At its meeting today, the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to extend the time and hours of the Butte County Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Unit. The Department of Behavioral Health gave a presentation to supervisors that stressed the importance of continuing to provide mental health services to the homeless and mentally ill. Right now, the mental health crisis unit works with Chico and Oroville police departments on calls that might be related to mental health issues. Supervisor Debra Lucero asked the other supervisors to approve funding the extension of the hours of this unit in Chico and in Oroville. Our staff will go out and correspond with a specialist and a counselor and will be asked to meet that person and if willing de-escalate the situation to see what we can do, said Director for Butte County Behavioral Health Scott Kennelly. All supervisors also voted to extend the mobile crisis unit to assist the Paradise and Gridley police departments. Supervisors approved $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan to pay for these changes. Initially, Butte County received $42 million from the American Rescue Plan which was to be used to address impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Butte County Board of Supervisors also discussed its redistricting plans for the county. Right now, Butte County is split into five districts and each supervisor is assigned to a district but the county did not make a decision on how this will change just yet. Every 10 years, counties look at the latest census data to check local population sizes. On Tuesday, the board of supervisors looked at three different maps of possible options for redistricting the county. People in the community showed up to the meeting to express their concerns with these maps. I wholeheartedly agree that lake Oroville should absolutely be connected to the city of Oroville, said a Butte County resident. All of Bidwell park should be connected to the City of Chico. Since the barber neighborhood is an identified area, and right now they are split up and I would like to see that area brought back into district two, said a Butte County resident. Bidwell Park is Chico. It has to be in Chico. Supervisors will consider more community input and other map options before making a decision. Supervisors also extended the Camp Fire disaster recovery ordinance for a year. YUBA COUNTY, Calif. - Firefighters stopped the forward progress of a vegetation fire that is about 40 to 50 acres in Yuba County, according to CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. CAL FIRE said it is assisting the Beale Air Force Base with the fire. It said the fire is burning near base housing and is 20% contained. The Beale Air Force Base said parents of Lone Tree Elementary school were asked to pick their kids up around 2:42 p.m. Tuesday. Kids at the Youth Center were evacuated and homes west of Camp Beale Highway were evacuated around 1:55 p.m. HAPPY VALLEY, Calif. - The Happy Valley Union School Board voted to not comply with any mandatory COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students and staff at their school board meeting tonight. The Happy Valley Elementary School Gym was filled with parents, teachers, and community members all letting their voices be heard on vaccine mandates. Most people who spoke during public comment did not approve of the vaccines, especially vaccinating children. Rick Mall, a Happy Valley Union School District (HVUSD) parent, expressed his concern over the vaccine and wanted the school district to take a stand. And yeah, were risking a lot but really, are we? Mall said. If were looking at the steps forward, and theyre going to take it [The COVID-19 vaccine] anyway, I think we need to pave the way and say no. This is what were doing, this is Happy Valley, this is our spot. The board agreed with the community, voting 3-1 to not support staff vaccine mandates, and unanimously to oppose student vaccine mandates. Teachers can still be tested for COVID-19 weekly, but parents and community members were more concerned with rejecting any future vaccine mandates for students. HVUSD Superintendent Sherry Craig expressed concern that rejecting the mandates would be a distraction to the district and teaching the over 450 students they serve. Craig declined to comment on what will happen to unvaccinated staff members after the Oct. 15 deadline for California teachers to be vaccinated and what not complying with the mandates means for the district. MODOC COUNTY, Calif. - The Modoc County Correctional Facility has reported its first positive case of COVID-19 among inmates. On March 12, 2020, Modoc County declared an emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. For 579 days, the Modoc County Sheriff's Office says it has managed to keep COVID-19 out of the facility. "We believe we are the last correctional facility in California to get a positive. We knew at some point it would happen. The staff has been so challenged this year and they have managed to step up to every obstacle and change," Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy said. Modoc County was the last county in California to get a positive case of the virus. The county has seen an increase in cases in the past weeks with currently 41 active cases and 763 cases recorded in the last 579 days. The Modoc County Sheriff's Office says 40% of residents are vaccinated for COVID-19. "Two inmates tested positive and any inmates exposed have been put in quarantine and observed for symptoms. The two positive cases have been isolated. Both cases have mild symptoms including aches and loss of taste and smell," Dowdy said. "All of the inmates have been tested for the virus and have been offered the vaccination." The Sheriff's Office says it will continue to regularly sanitize the facility, provide PPE to staff and inmates, and increase checks for symptoms of COVID-19. PARADISE, Calif. - Paradise Town Council met Tuesday night to discuss when a property for sale needs to be in compliance with local vegetation management ordinances. This was related to defensible space and hazardous fuel management. The Paradise Town Council came to a consensus tonight that they will revisit this topic during their next meeting with more information regarding enforcement and local application. The current ordinance states that if a property is not in compliance, then the buyer and seller have to exchange a written document saying they will have the property complaint within a year of escrow closing. Councilmember Steve "Woody" Culleton brought this item before the council stating that he believes the property should be in compliance prior to escrow closing, just as the state law requires. RELATED: An extra process for fire prevention could be added when Paradise property ownership changes According to CAL FIRE, Office of the State Fire Marshal, as of July 1, 2021, state law requires the seller of a real property located in the State Responsibility Area, which includes Paradise, has to present the buyer with documentation saying the property is compliant. An inspection is completed after the property is tended to in order to confirm that it's compliant. "Certainly, it will cost less than going through the whole civil abatement process, getting the attorney involved and making it a court action. By having it done proactively before the close of escrow, theyre anticipating more parcels coming into compliance with our regulations," said Tony Lindsey, The Community Development Director for Paradise. Several people attending the meeting said it should be the responsibility of the current owners of the property to make it compliant before selling, but others think this will put too much pressure on the owners. RED BLUFF, Calif. - Update as of Oct. 12 at 7:22 p.m.: Shortly after 7 p.m., Norris was located by the California Highway Patrol in the Modesto area. He was found in good health and officers are currently working with Norris' family so that he can be reunited with them. -- The Red Bluff Police Department is searching for a missing 81-year-old man named Albert Norris. On October 12 the Red Bluff Police Department was contacted by a family member about Norris. Officers learned that Norris had left his residence in Rancho Tehama on Oct. 11 due to a power outage. Norris was reported en route to a friends residence on McCoy Rd. in Red Bluff but he did not arrive at his destination as planned, the Red Bluff Police Department said. Norris is driving a silver 2013 Dodge Dart 4-door sedan with a California license plate / 7CKW324. RBPD says it is believed Norris is traveling by himself. Norris is described as a white male adult, 510 tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He has blue eyes and short gray hair with a full beard. Norris was last seen wearing a flannel shirt, a gray jacket with North Pump on the back, and black slippers. Norris also wears eyeglasses. Authorities say Norris reportedly has the on-set of Dementia (sundowners). During the investigation, RBPD learned a photograph of Norris vehicle was captured by a license plate reader in South Redding on Oct. 11 at approximately 9:30 p.m. A Silver Alert has been activated for Norris. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Red Bluff Police Department at 530-527-3131. Heralding the festive season this year is a unique collection of exquisite wall textures Taana Baana by Asian Paints Royale Play. Inspired by the heritage of Indian crafts and weaves, Taana Baana is a work of art that will invoke a myriad of emotions and memories. From the charpais at our ancestral home to the ubiquitous wicker baskets we keep our fruits and flowers in, from grandmas priceless ikkat saree to the bandhej dupatta in a brides trousseau, Taana Baana has recreated precious crafts to adorn our walls, and lives. Taana Baana literally means warp and weft, which refers to the orientation of any woven fabric. They are the basic components of weaving, which turn thread to yarn, yarn to fabric, and fabric to lifestyles. The collection consists of 8 elegant wall textures that are a tribute to the crafts passed on through generations of skilled artisans. From age-old traditions to contemporary homes, Taana Baana finishes are distinctive and represent all parts of India. The textures come to you in multiple shade combinations in metallic, and non-metallic variants and are sure to bring a sense of personal touch with a modern outlook to your living spaces. Each texture derives its concept from a native craft that was popularised either by a state or a group of craftsmen. The Charpai texture captures the criss-cross weave of the snugly woven charpoys found widely across North India. The Palm Weave texture is inspired by the chevron weaves of the giant palm leaves along with Indias Western coastal states of Goa and Kerala. The Bandhej texture, as the name suggests, is inspired by its namesake ancient tie-dye form native to the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Basket texture finds its way to us from the states in the northeast known for their distinctive cane and bamboo handicrafts, which are meticulously twisted and woven into furniture and artefacts. The Madras Checks texture preserves the vintage of the timeless plaid weave, a staple in the Southern states of India. The threadlike texture and natural asymmetry of the Ikkat texture beautifully recreate the poetry of the loom brought to us from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Orissa. The Pompom texture is pure joy! Inspired from the cool northern states of Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, it summons the coziness and warmth of sitting by a fireplace on a winter evening. Like the untamed spirit of the silkworm, the Tussar texture flows freely to bring luminosity and depth to large walls. It is as luxurious and breath-taking as the Tussar silk produced in the Eastern states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Speaking about the one-of-its-kind collection, Amit Syngle, MD and CEO, Asian Paints Limited said, We at Asian Paints are pleased to share Royale Play Taana Baana, a truly special collection of wall textures inspired by the heart and soul of India - the artisans and their handicraft. The seamless transition of these crafts to our walls will not only create a strong sense of belonging, but also a unique decor theme something that is indigenous and contemporary. The collection will fit into Indian homes with ease and will evoke fond memories. bitsCrunch, which is one of the leading AI companies in Germany and excels in Blockchain technology, today announced that it will encourage more women in its workforce. Taking a strong stand towards gender equality, bitsCrunch also introduced a program that is designed to encourage women to restart their careers at any time irrespective of break or a gap in their career. Explaining this concept, Mr Vijay Pravin Maharajan, Founder & CEO, bitsCrunch, said, We hear about Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos on a daily basis but women in the top management hardly get the same kind of attention. Sheryl Sandberg, who is the COO of Facebook did manage to break the glass ceiling. Lisa Su, who is the current CEO of AMD, brought the company from the brink of bankruptcy, back to the top. However, these examples are few and not quoted often enough. At bitsCrunch we believe in giving equal opportunity to every woman. We strongly believe that a woman can restart her career any time that she wants and encourage them to take the leap. The move by bitsCrunch is deeply inspired by the lines from Sheryl Sandbergs book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead". The lines are as follows: Women need to shift from thinking "I'm not ready to do that" to thinking "I want to do that- and I'll learn by doing it. bitsCrunch has been constantly encouraging women to restart their careers. Taking this a notch higher, the company has identified top women in their workforce that have joined the corporate race after a gap and helping them in shaping their careers. Some of these women have rejoined the corporate race after a decade and have been welcomed with open arms. At bitsCrunch numerous steps are being taken on a regular basis to encourage more women in their workforce. They have been giving a fair chance to women that have a gap in their resume. Mr Vijay Pravin Maharajan, Founder & CEO, bitsCrunch further added Traditionally employees with a gap in their resume were frowned upon and screened out without even making it to the interview. We at bitsCrunch believe in giving every person a fair chance and accept every individual for the merits that they bring in,. Apart from this bitsCrunch organises various training programs for its employees on a regular basis. There are also internship and mentoring programs for all women employees. bitsCrunch does not just believe in diverse hiring but also offers the necessary support and flexibility to each employee. There are also special childcare and parental leaves policies that encourage them to have a good work-life balance. As an organisation, bitsCrunch sets up business network meetings that enable people to grow their network. The company also organises discussions in regards to career trajectory to help employees ascertain what path they should take. There are also opportunities in regards to reskilling available to them if the women employees may want to take them. CoinDCX, Indias safest crypto exchange, launched its new song dedicated to the dreams of millions of crypto investors in India. The song captures the dreams of people and inspires them to achieve them along with CoinDCX. The music video #pancchiawaara captures the dreams of crypto investors and bitcoin incipient in a parallel storyline. The film goes into the realm of real people and real houses, and authentic & raw emotions. In the video, people can be seen talking about their dreams, expressing their wishes to buy a property, travel abroad, be the first billionaire from the family, etc. The essence of the video conveys how small crypto investments make it possible for them to reach one step closer to their dreams. The thought behind it was just to be honest with our user community and celebrate them, for they are the ones pulling the crypto bandwagon forward. The video opens with #Bitcoin's incredible journey, which started in 2009 and progressed from $ 0.30 in 2011 to $50000 in 2021. Presently, India has around 10 million bitcoin investors. This video showcases the journey of investors and bitcoin, drawing parallels amongst both -what was once a naive dream is now worth $1 trillion. Mr. Ramalingam Subramanian, Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications, CoinDCX, said #PanchiAwaara is a homage to those who dream big and make crypto investments to make their dreams come true. We want crypto to be accessible to people, and we want them to understand it. The technology behind it, and the future it holds. Our objective through the song is to raise awareness about cryptocurrency among Indians and inform them to consider it as a viable investment option." CoinDCX aims to educate prospective investors & traders about the crypto space and brings it one step closer to its ultimate goal of onboarding 50 million Indians into crypto. Colors Tamil, Viacom-18s fastest-growing channel in the Tamil GEC space, unveiled two new prime-time shows, Dance Vs Dance Season 2 and Enga Veetu Meenakshi. As part of newly launched brand campaign, Ini Dinam Dinam ColorKattum, the channel aims to showcase tales that celebrate women and their families through high-impact, contemporary shows. Kick-starting the new line-up, Colors Tamils flagship dance reality show - Dance vs Dance Season 2 will premiere on 17th October with a grand launch episode at 6:00 PM, followed by competitive rounds every Saturday and Sunday at 7.30 pm starting from 23rd October. Adding to this new line-up, the channel also announced the launch of its new fiction show Enga Veetu Meenakshi, directed by Ramkumar, with Actor Poornima Bhagyaraj, Actor Jeeva and Actor Shritha Sivadas in the lead. The tale set in the backdrop of Karaikudi will premiere on 18th October 2021 at 7:00 PM and will be telecast from Monday to Friday. Commenting on the occasion, Colors Tamils new Business Head, Mr Rajaraman, said: True to our ideology of ColorKattum, Colors Tamil aspires to entertain families with novel plotlines, engaging characters and a fresh format altogether. The channel has always been keen to break stereotypes and showcase progressive themes that serve as an inspiration to audiences, especially by highlighting different facets of women. He added: We have a stellar star cast in actor Kushboo and choreographer Brinda Master for Dance Vs Dance while Jeeva, Shritha Sivadas and Poornima Bhagyaraj lead the Enga Veetu Meenakshi brigade. We believe that a change in the prime-time format and the launch of these two shows will begin a new and exciting journey for the channel. The first season of Dance Vs. Dance was a huge hit among the masses. The second season has the charming Actor Kushboo and renowned Choreographer Brinda Master in the judges panel. The show also boasts of four team owners- Actor Shaam, Choreographer Sridhar, Actress Ineya, and Abhirami Venkatachalam who will be seen heading different teams. With supremely talented dancers partaking in the show from across the country, the show is all set to create new benchmarks in the dance reality space. Talking about the show, Actor Kushboo said, It is a great pleasure to have been associated with Colors Tamil as the channel has been setting new benchmarks in the Tamil GEC with its innovative line-up of shows. Dance vs Dance Season 1 was a mega hit and I am confident that the second season is also going to be a success. Renowned Choreographer Brinda said, Having been a part of the success of Dance vs Dance Season 1, I am positive that the second season will take dance reality shows in the Tamil GEC to the next level. The new talent on the show is truly promising. The new show Enga Veetu Meenakshi revolves around the life of a lecturer Meenakshi and Chidambaram a 35-year-old wedding planner. The plot traverses around the beautifully woven relationship of Meenakshi and Chidambaram as they set out on a quest to unite their families. The fiction show features a larger-than-life star cast with Shritha Sivadas (Meenakshi) and Jeeva (Chidambaram) in the lead roles along with Poornima Bhagyaraj (Valliamma), Aadukalam Naren (Devanayagam), Raj Kapoor (Meiappan), Bava Lakshmanan (Nalapagam Nagaraj), and Gnanasambandam (Principal) in supporting characters. Commenting on the launch of the new fiction show, Director Ramkumar Dass said, We are extremely thrilled to launch Enga Veetu Meenakshi. Unlike other fiction shows, it has a unique storyline that focuses on the idea that women are the harbingers of prosperity among families and the fact that they can achieve anything once they set their minds to do so. Commenting on the occasion, Actor Poornima Bhagyaraj said, I am happy and delighted to be part of Enga Veetu Meenakshi, which has a very distinctive narrative with well-defined characters. Each character in the show has a pivotal role to play. I really liked the way my character has been portrayed and I can tell you that is indeed profound. Further, the channel strengthens its prime-time content by rejuvenating its line-up of shows with Amman Season 2 at 6 PM, Enga Veetu Meenakshi at 7 PM, Idhayathai Thirudathey Season 2 at 8 PM, Abhi Tailor at 9 PM and Sillunu Our Kadhal at 10 PM, Prime Time is going to be even more power-packed with a dramatic mix of new storylines and introduction of a host of interesting characters from 18th October. Adding to this, the channel will also premiere an interesting array of movies during weekdays at 1.30 pm. Dont miss any of these exciting shows on Colors Tamil, which is available on all leading cable networks and DTH platforms - Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO1515), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553). Viewers can also tune in to VOOT any time to see them at their convenience. To consolidate its footing in the region, Mullen Lintas has announced a new leadership at their Delhi office. The business function for the North region will be led by Sunil Singh Manhas who has been appointed as Senior VP and Business Head. Nisheeth Srivastava, elevated to Group Creative Director, will oversee the creative product and will be partnered by Sarabjit Singh, who has also been elevated to Group Creative Director (Art). Saumya Baijal, appointed as VP and Head of Planning North, will lead the planning function for the region. The agency's Delhi office has a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from Consumer Appliances, Consumer Durables, Home Improvement, FMCG, Healthcare, etc, and also handles flagship brands like Havells and Dabur. It has also won creative mandates for AkzoNobel and LifeCell International recently. The revamp of the leadership team is aimed to bring about a transformative change to the agency's Delhi office. Sunil Singh Manhas, the business lead for the office, comes from Dentsu and has worked extensively across multiple categories and brands like, Honda, Maruti Suzuki, KFC, Hindustan Times, Max Life Insurance, Paytm, CP Plus, Herbalife and Moov. With over a decade of experience with agencies like Ogilvy, DDB Mudra and Dentsu, his knack for understanding the business of brands will be a great addition to the agency's Delhi office. Sunil's mandate will be to deepen the relationship with existing businesses and build new ones. Commenting on strengthening the business function, Hari Krishnan, CEO, Mullen Lintas said: Mullen Lintas Delhi is poised for growth having already added a diverse mix of brands into the portfolio this year. We felt that this is the right time to bring in a new leadership team that is young, talented and driven. Sunil Singh Manhas comes on board as Sr VP & Business Head for Delhi. Sunil is a seasoned campaigner and knows the Delhi market inside out. He brings with him a wealth of cross-category experience and knowledge. His drive for new business and his passion for ideas will augur well for us. Nisheeth Srivastava, who has over 13 years of experience in marketing, advertising, content and digital, started his career as a Brand Executive with Mudra Ahmedabad in 2007. In 2010, he moved to Lowe Lintas Delhi as a Creative. He has also worked with Radio Mirchi (UP) as Cluster Programming Head and OLX India as Brand Creative Lead in the past. A strong advocate of a digital-first approach resulting in conversation and conversion, he has created some highly recognised work for brands such as OLX, Google Pay, ABP News, Philips Lighting, Dabur Real, Havells, Maruti Suzuki, Cargill Foods, and India Gate rice. Nisheeth's mandate will be to steer the agency's creative product to the next level and boost clients' confidence in the agency. Sarabjit Singh, who will partner Nisheeth in leading the creative duties, brings 15 years of experience to the table, having worked in agencies like Lowe Lintas, Leo Burnett, Cheil and Rediffusion, in the past. His work has won several awards at shows such as Cannes, Spikes Asia, New York Festivals, Effies etc. Sarabjit joined Mullen Lintas when it started in 2015 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. At Mullen Lintas, Sarabjit has lifted the creative product of several brands that the agency handles out of its Delhi office. Saumya Baijal has over 14 years of advertising and marketing experience working across agencies like Ogilvy, Lowe Lintas, McCann Erickson and others. She has extensively worked on brands like Google, Uber, Fabindia, HT Radio, Philips and more. Previously, she has also worked at Cisco, as Brand Manager - India. She is a strong voice in the gender movement and a bilingual writer. Her articles and poems have been published in popular, widely read national publications and various anthologies. Her role as the chief strategist will be crucial in the transformation of the planning function at the agencys regional office. Speaking on the strengthening of the Creative and Planning function, Hari Krishnan added Under the creative leadership of our CCOs Azazul Haque & Garima Khandelwal, theres a lot that we have achieved already in terms of creative reputation with some stellar work across offices. To reproduce the same momentum in Delhi, weve strengthened the creative team with Nisheeth Srivastava & Sarabjit Singh. They are hybrid creative folks with an innate understanding of digital and traditional. The strategic planning product of Mullen Lintas follows the challenger philosophy and under the leadership of our National Planning Director Ekta Relan, weve made many strides across different brands in our portfolio in terms of brand impact. In keeping with the challenger mentality of the agency, we have brought on board Saumya Baijal as VP and Head of Planning for North. Saumyas passion for ideas & her energy and enthusiasm towards all things creative, is just what we need for our young & agile operation. With the four of them leading the operation, we are confident of making a prominent impact in Delhi. The new roles are effective immediately. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sought compliance reports from broadcasters with regard to the implementation of NTO 2.0. The broadcasters should give the report on the New Tariff Order to the regulator within 10 days. It may be recalled that the appeal for a temporary reprieve sought by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation's (IBDF) was rejected recently by the Supreme Court. It was in 2017 that the TRAI notified NTO 1.0. The regulatory framework was amended in the year 2020 and called NTO 2.0. Broadcasters such as Viacom18, Star India, Sony Pictures, etc., challenged NTO 2.0 before the Bombay High Court. TRAI will take the next course of action upon the receipt of feedback from the broadcasters. It is likely that the regulator will take a stern position in this regard. Some industry insiders are of the opinion that since the Supreme Court has refused to provide any interim relief, the broadcasters may abide by the NTO 2.0 by introducing new bouquet rates. The apex court will take up the matter for a final hearing on November 30, 2021. Voltas Beko Home Appliances Private Limited (Voltbek) - a JV between Indias No. 1 AC Brand, Voltas and Europes leading consumer durable player, Arcelik, has introduced a new digital video commercial (DVC) drawing parallels between powerful mothers and the goddess on the occasion of Durga Puja. Conceptualized by Voltas Beko and Wunderman Thompson, the video is a homage to all mothers who are the modern-day epitome of the goddess, through striking visuals, audio and imagery. The DVC depicts the typical day of a mother who embraces various roles with ultimate grace, through fast snap footage of different situations of a mothers hand in action. From starting her day by getting children ready for school, cooking for the entire family, managing her professional responsibilities to fixing the car and running the household, the DVC showcases a mother as an eminent creator, nurturer and destroyer of all evil that might ever touch the people she truly cares about. Towards the end, the images of a mother performing different activities come together to form a collage of the goddess, conveying how the ten hands of the goddess symbolize a mothers ability to multitask and handle different deeds in her daily life. The video also has an interesting treatment of audio with the background score being an enhancement of the activities being done by mothers such as beeping of the ovens alarm, chopping noises while preparing food and fixing of nuts and bolts. The absence of a voice-over is deliberate and increases our focus only on the visuals. Celebrating the auspicious Durga Puja, Mr. Jayant Balan, Chief Executive Officer, Voltas Beko said, The festival of Durga Puja holds great importance in the country as it signifies faith in the power and the ultimate victory of good over evil. This DVC is an ode to all mothers who have displayed supreme strength in the face of the pandemic while ensuring the safety of their family members. We salute the spirit of motherhood and this festive season, we wish to continue to empower our customers by offering products and services that simplify everyday household chores. Siddharth Prasad, Vice President and Executive Creative Director, Wunderman Thompson, said The recent pandemic brought new pressures on mothers managing the various aspects of their families daily activities, and Voltas Beko emerged as their able ally in handling the many calls upon their time. This video draws inspiration from the multiple facets of Goddess Durga and creates a parallel with how mothers show some of these powers too dealing effortlessly with so many things and emerging victorious every day. WPP today announces that its majority-owned subsidiary, Finsbury Glover Hering Corporation (Finsbury Glover Hering), and Sard Verbinnen & Co (SVC) have reached agreement on the terms of a merger to create the worlds leading strategic communications firm advising clients in navigating critical opportunities and challenges (the Transaction). The new firm will help clients achieve their missions and realise their business goals, with approximately 1,000 professionals operating from 25 offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, including its global headquarters in New York. Pro forma combined 2020 revenue was more than $330 million. Over the past three decades, both Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC have built impressive reputations advising clients during their most significant transformational events. The firm will be a leader in all aspects of strategic communications, including government affairs, corporate reputation, crisis management, and transformation and change, as well as the leading force in financial communications worldwide, with strong experience and expertise in M&A, private equity, IPOs, SPAC transactions, shareholder activism and restructurings. The new firms professionals have deep sector knowledge within rapidly growing industries such as Health, Food and Agriculture, and Renewable Energy, as well as expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), litigation and regulatory communications, and cybersecurity. Senior professionals from Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC will lead the new company. SVCs George Sard will join Finsbury Glover Herings Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew as Co-Chairmen. Alexander Geiser will serve as Global CEO, Ajay Junnakar will serve as Global CFO, Sydney Neuhaus will serve as Global COO and Andrew Cole as Deputy Global CEO. Completion of the Transaction is conditional on the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. The Transaction is expected to complete in Q4 2021 and the combined company will operate under a new name starting in 2022, to be announced in due course. Finsbury Glover Hering Co-Chairmen Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew said: Our clients operate in an increasingly complex world with diverse stakeholder interests. To generate growth, open markets, shape policy and attract capital, companies need to seamlessly communicate to more audiences and across more markets than ever before. This merger brings together the most accomplished communications professionals, operating within a global firm that will have the expertise and experience to deliver reputation advisory services to address critical c-suite concerns. SVC Co-Founders George Sard and Paul Verbinnen added: This is a combination of two successful, growing firms with strong track records, complementary leadership positions, deep entrepreneurial spirits, cultures of collaboration and integrity, and a heritage of delivering for our clients at their most high-pressure moments. Our success has been driven by our teams tireless commitment to supporting our clients and one another, and upholding high standards of excellence in all that we do. We are particularly excited that the combination will enable us to provide additional professional development opportunities and establish a new generation of employee owners in the combined company. Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: The demand for Board-level strategic advice on a growing range of financial, reputational and social issues has never been greater. As the reputations of companies and their brands become ever more closely linked, our leadership in this area is a core part of our offer as we support our clients continued transformation. WPP is delighted to support the ambitions of the leadership teams of Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC in creating a powerhouse in strategic communications, with the expertise, scale and footprint to provide unparalleled service to global clients. Transaction Structure The Transaction values the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group at an equity value of $917m, and SVC at $303m. The Transaction will be effected by a new company (Newco) which will become the holding company for the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group. WPP will convert its existing loan note in Finsbury Glover Hering into shares in Finsbury Glover Hering, and all shares in Finsbury Glover Hering held by WPP and by employee shareholders (the Finsbury Glover Hering Managers) will then be exchanged for new shares in Newco. WPP will subscribe in cash for further new shares in Newco for $150m. Newco will then acquire SVC from Golden Gate Capital and SVC employee shareholders (the SVC Managers) in consideration for the $150m in cash (net of customary adjustments) and the issue of new shares in Newco, representing 16.6% of the total issued share capital of Newco. Following completion of the Transaction, WPP will remain as the majority shareholder of the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group, holding 57.4% of the total issued share capital of Newco, with FGH Managers holding 25.9%. The terms of the Transaction also provide for Golden Gate Capital and the SVC Managers to have the option to require that WPP purchases their shares in Newco in the event that an IPO or sale of Newco has not taken place by 1 January 2024 or later (the Put Option). The Put Option is exercisable on a staged basis over a minimum period of 4 years from 2024 to 2028 at the earliest and is at multiples of profit that are at a material discount to the Transaction multiple. Existing put options, based on comparable terms, held by the Finsbury Glover Hering Managers will be rolled over into the new structure. The Transaction is a Smaller Related Party Transaction under the UK Listing Rules as certain Finsbury Glover Hering Managers are directors of Finsbury Glover Hering and some of its subsidiaries and therefore are related parties of WPP. As such, the Transaction is subject to the requirements of the Listing Rule 11.1.10R. The current directors of Finsbury Glover Hering, who are deemed to be related parties of WPP, will together own 9.5% of Newco. No Finsbury Glover Hering Manager (including the directors) will realise the value of their shareholding at completion of the Transaction nor are they expected to do so ahead of an IPO or sale of Newco. As at 31 December 2020, Finsbury Glover Hering had gross assets of $426.8m and profit before tax of $53.5m, and SVC had gross assets of $52.2m and profit before tax of $36.4m. The Federal Council Bern, 13.10.2021 - At its meeting of 13 October, the Federal Council approved bilateral climate protection agreements with Georgia and Dominica. The agreements create the conditions to enable Switzerland to make a greater contribution to global emissions reductions through climate protection projects in these two countries than it can do through domestic measures alone. Switzerland has already concluded similar agreements with Peru, Ghana and Senegal. Under the Paris Agreement, Switzerland has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to half its 1990 levels by 2030. It plans to meet this target primarily through domestic measures; but the Paris Agreement also allows states to achieve their climate goals through climate projects in other countries. This allows Switzerland to count emissions reductions achieved in other countries towards its national reduction target. On 20 October 2020, Switzerland signed the first ever agreement of this kind with Peru, similar agreements will follow in the next few months with Ghana and Senegal. At its meeting of 13 October, the Federal Council approved two further such agreements, this time with Georgia and Dominica. These allow Switzerland to reduce CO2 emissions in these two countries through climate protection projects. In Georgia, for example, a national programme to promote energy efficiency in buildings is being developed. The many years of experience from the Swiss Buildings Programme will be of particular benefit in that respect. In Dominica, the focus is on the electrification of transport on the island. In addition, geothermal energy should play a greater role, thereby allowing Dominica to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Strict environmental protection and human rights standards In signing these agreements, Switzerland is setting a standard for international climate projects that meet strict environmental protection requirements while also respecting international human rights standards. The agreements also commit both parties to using a method that prevents double counting of emission reductions. The projects will be regularly reviewed to ensure that they meet the established criteria. Address for enquiries Franz Perrez, Ambassador, Head of International Affairs, Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, Tel. +41 58 462 93 23 Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html Federal Office for the Environment FOEN http://www.bafu.admin.ch/en Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Speakers scheduled to appear at the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention in Wichita will talk about the 2022 cattle and beef markets, With the mission of creating the largest nature preserve in the contiguous United States, the American Prairie Reserve (APR) has bought land and is making quite a presence in north central Montana. The APRs goal is to create an American Serengeti, and in doing so, the organization wants non-interrupted grazing land for their bison. In 2017, the APR submitted a bold request to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), wanting to modify the grazing agreements on 18 different BLM allotments across multiple counties in north central Montana. Modification included changing the class of livestock on the permit from cattle to bison, changing the authorized season of use, as well as modifying and/or removing fencing within the allotments. Opposition to this 2017 proposal was significant, so the APR circled the wagons and in 2019 they submitted their Alternative B proposal. This proposal to the BLM only impacted eight allotments exclusively in Phillips County. The same modifications were requested. In July of this year, the BLM released their draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposal and with it, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The BLMs response has been met with opposition from area land owners, as well as state grassroots organizations like the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA). From a Montana Stockgrowers perspective, we have concerns in quite a few areas, said Raylee Honeycutt, director of natural resources for MSGA. One concern we have is bison graze differently than cattle, we know that. We feel like there is going to be significant impact on rangeland health, riparian areas, as well as the socio-economic impacts to the cattle industry in the area. Critics have been calling on Netflix to cancel Dave Chappelles new special titled The Closer. However, the Hollywood actor/comedian's show currently has a 96 percent audience score at Rotten Tomatoes, making it somewhat doubtful that the cancel mob will get their way this time. Chappelle has been fighting an ongoing war with the LGBTQ community for more than a decade. He calls them the Alphabet people because they have laid claim to twenty percent of the alphabet with the acronym for their movement. He says, Ive got friends who are Ls, Ive got friends who are Bs, and Ive got friends who are Gs, but the Ts hate my (expletive-deleted) guts. And I dont blame them. Its not their fault. Its mine. I cant stop telling jokes about these people. Minutes later he adds, I feel bad for Ts, but theyre so confusing. And its not all my fault. I feel like they need to take some responsibility for my jokes, because I didnt come up with the idea that a person can be born in the wrong body on my own, and they have to admit this is a (expletive-deleted) hilarious predicamentwhat if I was Chinese, but born in this (n-word) body? Thats not funny? In one of his specials, Chappelle tells the story of writing a sketch fifteen years earlier for his television show, in which he used the word faggot to refer to a gay person, even though the vulgar expletive is in the dictionary. Soon thereafter, Dave received a call from a woman named Renee in the networks Standards and Practices department. They had a meeting and she told him his sketches were great but said hed used a verboten word in reference to the gay community and told him it needed to come out of the sketch. Chappelle says he agreed, but then it occurred to him to ask why he could use the (n-word) with complete impunity but couldnt use the word faggot to refer to a gay person. She said, Because David, you arent gay. Chappelle replied, Well, Renee, Im not a (n-word), either. Chappelle has come under fire from the transgender community again, this time for siding with Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling after she had the audacity to tweet, Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with whatever consenting adult wholl have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill. The Maya in question refers to Maya Forstater, a tax expert working at the Centre for Global Development whose contract was not renewed after she posted controversial comments such as men cannot change into women and it is unfair and unsafe for trans women to compete in womens sport. Transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox won not one but two fights against female opponents by fracturing the (biological) womans skull. Ms. Forstater makes a valid point. Or, as Chappelle jokes, LeBron James could claim to be a transgender woman and play in the WNBA, where he would score on average around 800 points per game. Thats only a slight exaggeration. Rowling was viciously attacked by transgender activists, who labeled her a TERF. The word TERF is an acronym that stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist. The term refers to feminists who dont believe men can become women simply by wanting to be a woman and vice versa. It should not come as a surprise to know that people born without ovaries and a uterus are not biological women. Giving birth is not a job done better by females; it is a job reserved exclusively for women. There might be a small but vocal group of people who believe men can become women and women can become men through a combination of surgery, drugs, and therapy, but the reality is that only biological men are born with a Y chromosome, and only biological women can give birth to children. In his 2019 special Sticks and Stones, Dave tells a story about meeting a transgender fan named Daphne Dorman, an aspiring comedian who once asked him, (Critics) say you normalize R. Kelly by telling jokes about him. I wonder why they never said you normalize transgenders by telling jokes about us? Chappelle expanded on his relationship with Daphne in The Closer. He talked about hiring her as his opening act when he played San Francisco, and how terrible her act was. He also talked about how she defended him against the online transgender mob after Sticks and Stones for as long as she could before snapping. Daphne later committed suicide by jumping off a roof. Critics accused Dave of using Daphnes death as cover and an excuse to make more transgender jokes. NPR critic Eric Deggans ludicrously claimed Chappelle was using white privilege to excuse his homophobia and transphobia by telling a story about giving a transgender woman a job. White transgender activist Jocelyn Moore, former show runner for the Netflix series Dear White People, declared she would never work for the network again while Chappelles show was on the air, but in the process left herself and the show open to charges of hypocrisy, given the fact her own show is focused on addressing racial tensions at a fictitious ivy league college through quite the progressive lens white liberals exploiting black people for financial gain. Dormans family rushed to Chappelles defense, saying he was an LGBTQ ally and mourning their sister in the way he knew best, through his comedy, but the cancel mob was still coming for him. GLAAD released a statement saying, Dave Chappelles brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities, but I have news for GLAAD Dave Chappelle makes fun of everybody. Hes not playing favorites. The National Black Justice Coalition also called for the show to be pulled from the streaming service, but nobody cared. The most controversial thing Chappelle said in The Closer was, Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on Earth had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on Earth. That is a fact. Chappelles premiere of The Closer opened at the Hollywood Bowl before a sold-out audience, where he mocked critics by saying, If this is what being canceled is about, I love it. I dont know what to tell you except Im a bad mother-f***er. In a more serious moment, he said, Do something nice for someone who looks nothing like you. We have to trust one another. Words of wisdom, indeed. After the show, the crowd gave Chappelle a standing ovation. John Leonard is a freelance writer and author of several detective novels including Coastal Empire and Hunters Omen, both recently re-edited and re-released. He may be contacted via his website at southernprose.com. Image: John Bauld, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0 To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The 19th-century art critic John Ruskin once observed that the qualities of the rich and the poor differ greatly. The rich, according to Ruskin, will, generally speaking, be industrious, prompt, covetous, methodical, insensitive, ignorant, and proud. The poor, on the other hand, will be made up of a motley crew of the entirely foolish, the entirely wise, the idle, the reckless, the humble, the thoughtful, the dull, the imaginative, the sensitive, the well-informed, the improvident, the irregularly and impulsively wicked, the clumsy knave, the open thief, and the entirely merciful, just, and godly person. When reading the lawsuits against Governor Jay Inslees vaccine mandates in Washington state, this quote comes to mind. Those resisting are a motley crew of dissenters, of state troopers, healthcare workers, firefighters, women, men, black, white, single, married, pregnant, not pregnant, those who have already had COVID, those who dont know if theyve had COVID, the very sick, the very healthy, the anti-vaxxers, the pro-vaxxers (who normally take vaccines but dont want this one), the very religious, the anti-religious, and everything else in between. William and Sherra Clearys Case: Harking Back to the Washington Constitution To listen to William and Sherra Clearys story is to begin to see the madness of a blanket mandate like the one Governor Inslee issued in August. The Clearys have one daughter and wanted another child, but a few years ago Sherra Cleary miscarried her second baby. Now pregnant again with another child who has been clinically diagnosed with a heart condition in utero, the couple applied for but were denied, a medical exemption based on their unborn babys health. Since both work for government entities, they both could lose their jobs and be without health insurance prior to the birth. The deadline for state employees to be vaccinated is October 18th, less than a week away. All those who do not comply, according to Inslees executive order, face termination. The case of William and Sherra Cleary was filed against Governor Inslee and the state of Washington in Walla Walla County on September 10th. According to the plaintiffs, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate exceeds the authority of [Governor Inslees] office by the Washington Constitution statute and violates the rights guaranteed to the state worker by the Washington constitution and applicable laws. Among the violations of the mandate, the lawsuit contends, are: A violation of the separation of powers A violation of the plaintiffs rights to life, liberty, and property A violation of the right to privacy A violation of religious freedoms A violation of freedom of speech and assembly A violation of Washington law against discrimination Joseph Jensens Case: Harking Back to the Constitution Joseph B. Jensen, Sr, is a Richland, Washington man who works on the Hanford nuclear site as a subcontractor for the Federal government. He filed a lawsuit against Joe Biden, Jay Inslee, and Anthony Fauci in response to Bidens order that all federal employees get the vaccine or undergo regular testing. Jensen includes his son in the lawsuit because as a father, he is entrusted with protecting and enforcing (his childs) rights. He says that the mandates violate his right to bodily autonomy and bodily integrity and that they constitute cruel, unusual, and unnecessary punishment. Jensen also contends that mandatory COVID testing is an unwarranted intrusion into the core principle of the Constitution that people shall be secure in their person, as well as being an invasive body search in which a biological sample is taken from the person. Its tempting to think of Jensens lawsuit as flailing around while handcuffed and bound. Many would say that he should find other work and give up his job as a subcontractor for the federal government. We live in a time when the majority have little patience for those who hark back to our inalienable rights, our Constitution, and our founders vision for a separation of powers but keep in mind that Jensens lawsuit stands as a testimony to opposition to the tyrants who hold our livelihood in their hands. Governor Inslees Office: Exemption Approval Not a Guarantee of Continued Employment In the beginning, the governor said the state would make religious and medical exemptions available. In practice, those exemptions have been hard to come by. The state also has a loophole in that they may approve your exemption and yet still fire you if they cant find you an accommodation away from the public. It almost makes one believe that something more sinister is in effect, a purging of sorts. Could it be that the state of Washington wants a particular type of individual in public service? That is, it does not want the kind who abide by the Constitution, but the kind who step in line and follow their federal and state overlords and take the jab. Image: US Secretary of Defense To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The New York Times hopes to incite Republicans to vote for Democrats with a much-noted column published Tuesday, "We Are Republicans. There's Only One Way to Save Our Party From Pro-Trump Extremists." Written by Miles Taylor and former New Jersey Republican governor Christine Todd Whitman, the article is yet another attack on Trump and "Trumpism." This year we joined more than 150 conservatives including former governors, senators, congressmen, cabinet secretaries, and party leaders in calling for the Republican Party to divorce itself from Trumpism or else lose our support, perhaps with us forming a new political party. Taylor previously appeared on the op-ed page of The New York Times, September 5, 2018, with an anti-Trump screed written anonymously, but claimed to be from a high-ranking official, titled: "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration." He was chief of staff in the Department of Homeland Security at the time, serving from 2017 to 2019. On October 20, 2020, he admitted his authorship of the anti-Trump column. Reading this call on the GOP to hand itself over to the left brought to mind a famous scene in It's a Wonderful Life, where George Bailey (played by James Stewart), at a meeting of the Bailey Business and Loan after the death of his father, stands up to the movie's villain, the banker Henry F. Potter (played by Lionel Barrymore). Here is the scene, which is a minute and a quarter long: George defends giving a home loan to cab driver Ernie Bishop, a loan Potter says he turned down. George asks Potter: "Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars?" He continued: "Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be!" Potter shot back: "I'm not interested in your book. I'm talking about the Building and Loan." George replied: "I know very well what you're talking about. You're talking about something you can't get your hands on, and it's galling you. That's what you're talking about." Taylor and Whitman began their column by alluding to the hope that after President Trump was defeated in 2020, "conservative pragmatists" would regain control of the Republican Party. "But it's become obvious," they asserted, that political extremists maintain a viselike grip on the national and state parties and the process for fielding and championing House and Senate candidates in next year's election." To borrow from George's remarks to Potter at the Building and Loan board meeting, what's "galling" Taylor and Whitman is the reality that they are unable to "get [their] hands on" the GOP and given their politically warped frustration, they would rather see the country ruined by Democrat rule than made great again with a majority of conservative populists in the House and Senate and a conservative populist like Donald J. Trump returned to the White House. There is a huge difference between conservative "pragmatists" extolled by Taylor and Whitman and the conservative populism that "Trumpism" is really all about. Populists stand up for the people the ones who make our great country work. Pragmatists are the folks who defer to the aggrandizers, who live off the sacrifices of the people. Taylor and Whitman try to deceive the voters into thinking that there are "moderate Democrats" with whom Republicans can join forces. Taylor and Whitman even claim that House Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Elissa Slotkin are moderates. Do Taylor and Whitman think we are ready to believe that any House Democrat is going to cut her strings to House puppetmaster Nancy Pelosi? Taylor and Whitman include Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger "in a small nucleus of courageous Republicans." What nonsense! It doesn't take courage to denounce Donald Trump and "Trumpism." What it takes to attack President Trump and his "Make America Great Again Agenda" is loathing for our birthright of individual liberty and disdain for conservative populists. The truth is, these days, when woke-ism threatens to transform America into an authoritarian country ruled by self-anointed elitists like Taylor and Whitman, it takes courage to defend the liberty-loving spirit of America. It takes courage to stand up for common sense. It takes courage to distinguish right from wrong. May the Cheneys and Kinzingers continue as the "small nucleus" Taylor and Whitman say they are, and may their numbers diminish, and may the American people, in 2022, 2024, and thereafter, reject what the Taylors and Whitmans really represent: Potterism, the political movement that sees the MAGA-oriented population as "riffraff." Photo credit: YouTube screen grab (cropped). To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I am not an atheist, nor even an agnostic. Keep that in mind, because I am not saying the Bible promotes atheism. Quite the opposite, of course but there is a passage in the Bible that helps us Jews and Christians to understand why some people are atheist/agnostic and why we cannot persuade them otherwise. The reason may humble us. From 1 Corinthians 2:14 (King James Version): [T]he natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. This passage rebukes atheism, but it also reveals to us the central difference between those of us who believe in God and those who do not. We are given no reason to hold ourselves above atheists, for we are not the authors of our own faith. We are, instead, the recipients of a free gift, having done nothing to earn it. There may seem to be, at first, every reason to reject spiritual faith in God and to accept a purely material (i.e., natural) explanation of reality. Indeed, many a believer in God experiences doubt when confronted by the vast array of influences from physical science. Only when we further investigate the core of materialist science do we find at its center emptiness and futility. Bear in mind that this is not a condemnation of science, but rather a rejection of the unscientific philosophy that underpins the beliefs of many modern scientists. That philosophy avers that the only explanation for physical reality is...well, physical reality. That circular philosophy makes no mention of right or wrong, of good or evil, or of the inherent worth of humankind. It leaves no room for our spiritual nature. Indeed, it is at a loss to explain the most obvious scientific evidence of our nonphysical nature, our consciousness, which is the only observed phenomenon that observes itself. Finally, in rejecting the independent agency of the human soul that is, free will physical science abandons all notions of personal accountability. Such a philosophy offers nothing useful. As for accountability, the atheist cannot say the devil made me do it; he says instead that nature made him do it. Indeed, according to him, everything you think, do, and say is forced upon you by the unknowing, uncaring, and blind forces of nature. In that paradigm, nothing is ever anyone's fault, nor is there any virtue in doing right. The atheist says there is no purpose in our existence unless we imagine one, but that sort of imagination is not purpose; it is illusion. The atheist demands proof and, finding none, rejects God. In Acts 26:28, the Bible gives an example of the futility of trying to prove God by physical means: "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.'" Almost, but not quite. While one cannot proceed by logical steps from atheism to faith in God, one can, instead, if beginning with faith, explain the place of physical science in the spiritual life of man. As Bishop Fulton J Sheen wrote: The great arcana of Divine Mysteries cannot be known by reason, but only by Revelation. Reason can however, once in possession of these truths, offer persuasions to show that they are not only not contrary to reason, or destructive of nature, but eminently suited to a scientific temper of mind and the perfection of all that is best in human nature. We cannot, then, persuade the atheist. Only God can do that. What we can do, however, is to stand fast in our faith and not let it be taken from us, neither by force nor by guile. Image: Jakob Vogel. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Dean Cain, who played Superman in the 1990s series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and played him very well, I might add appeared on Fox & Friends to express his disdain for DC Comics' announcement that Clark Kent's and Lois Lane's son, who is the "new" Superman, is bisexual and will have an affair with a "hacktivist" while fighting climate change and defending illegal aliens. Cain made the excellent point that this storyline isn't fresh and bold; it's hackneyed, boring, and singularly lacking in bravery. First, Cain pointed out something that I had missed since I pay little attention to comic books, which is that one of the sundry iterations of Robin, from Batman and Robin, finally came out of the closet. As Cain said, and we all must agree, "Honestly, who's really shocked about that one? I had some thoughts about that a long time ago." (In fact, Robin is now bisexual.) Those of us who grew up on the camp 1960s TV Batman always knew that Robin was a little light in the loafers, as they used to say back in the day. And it's not just Robin. Marvel announced this past June, in honor of Pride Month, that Captain America, the onetime all-American patriot in the lead-up to and during World War II, is also gay now. Indeed, if you want to see how LGBT-obsessed superhero comics have become, check out this Daily Mail story, which has lots of pictures. So when Superman Jr. starts smooching with a guy, Cain knows what it is: "I say they're band-wagoning[.] ... So, I don't think it's bold or brave or some crazy new direction. If they had done this 20 years ago, perhaps that would have been bold and brave." You know what? He's right. Cain went on to describe some ideas that would be really bold and brave. Currently, DC Comics plans to use stories that come from the mainstream media. Most notably, as far as Superman Jr. is concerned, the big evil isn't a modern Hitler or Lex Luthor or any other crazed criminal seeking world domination. Instead, Little Superman is going to do his bit to fight climate change and make America safe again for deported illegal aliens. Pshaw! Cain's having none of that: Brave would be having him fight for the rights of gay people in Iran, where they'll throw you off a building for the offense of being gay. They're talking about him fighting real world problems like climate change, the deportation of refugees, and he'll be dating a hacktivist whatever a "hacktivist" is. I don't know. Why don't they have him fight the injustices that created the refugees whose deportation he's protesting. That would be brave. I'd read that. Or fighting for the rights of women to attend school, and have the ability to work and live, and boys not to be raped by men under the new warm and fuzzy Taliban. That would be brave. There's real evil in this world today. Real corruption and government overreach. Plenty of things to fight against. Human trafficking. Real actual slavery going on. It would be brave to tackle those issues. Shine a light on those issues. I'd like to see the character doing that. Dean Cain's discussion about a really brave Superman starts at about the 2-minute mark. https://t.co/X8hO7WeeT9 Bookwormroom (@Bookwormroom) October 13, 2021 Cain is right. Leftist navel-gazing about climate change (a natural phenomenon, although it's true that China is polluting regional air and water, with India close behind) and gay rights ignores what Cain correctly characterizes as "real evil in this world today." There's a reason Dean Cain was the best Superman. He's a genuinely intelligent and decent guy, qualities that he brought to the screen when he played a fictional superhero in an enjoyably silly TV series. As for me, in a world in which, despite two decades of relentless proselytizing, the LGBT crowd still represents less than 6% of the population, I don't see a huge market for all these gay superheroes. My children's friends, all nice liberal kids who were assiduously not homophobic, nevertheless would have no interest whatsoever in seeing bisexual male cartoon characters making out. Image: Dean Cain. Fox News screen grab. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I get tired of progressive snowflakes and professional offense-seekers claiming that Republicans and conservatives somehow make them "afraid." They claim that any opinion, belief, or ideal whether written or spoken that in any way diverges from their own is an existential threat to their mental and physical health. They believe that this (free) speech is violence and should be outlawed but that actual violence committed in the furtherance of their goals is (free) speech...and fully protected by the First Amendment. If, Gaia forbid, they happen to stumble across the truth, they run for their safe spaces like John Kerry in search of a camera. Well, I, too, get scared. I am afraid of Biden and his administration. I "don't feel safe" with leftist wackos running the country. With damn good reason, I might add. Everything is going to hell in a handbasket. Our foreign policy is in shambles. We have gone from the one true superpower to an international joke in nothing flat. Prices of goods and services are skyrocketing. There is a severe labor shortage in a time of high unemployment. We are no longer energy independent, and some are predicting that rolling blackouts will span the nation this winter, to add to the sudden shortage of most other consumables. More Americans have died from COVID-19 in the first ten months of 2021 than perished from the China Virus in all of 2020. Worse, every one of the U.S. government's intelligence agencies has been tasked with surveilling, harassing and potentially imprisoning the roughly 4050% of Americans who still believe in the founding principles of their nation. Christian? Patriotic? Believe in limited government of, by, and for the people and the rule of law? Think our rights are unalienable and granted to us by our Creator? Then you are a "domestic terrorist." And you will be placed on a list that no one wants to be on. We are a long, long way from "Father Knows Best." Incredibly, many Americans now believe that government knows best. Somewhere, Jefferson weeps. The vast majority of so-called Americans are okay with the government telling them that they must allow an unvetted foreign substance into their bodies, no questions asked, or have their freedoms and their jobs curtailed or eliminated. I don't feel safe with vaccine mandates. Or lockdowns. Or mask mandates. Or with a ruling elite telling me my job is "not essential." Or that I must use certain pronouns or words when addressing certain people. Or that I must believe that a man can be a woman or vice versa. I did feel safe when Ronald Reagan was president (Ronald "Ray-gun," as many liberal morons called him). And when Donald Trump was in office. But I don't feel safe when those in power try to take my Second Amendment rights away from me, effectively telling me I can't defend myself or my family, and that our lives just aren't that important. No more "necessary" than our jobs, I guess. I don't feel safe when ill-educated, over-indoctrinated, faceless automatons in the Deep State try to dictate to elected officials and citizens alike. I don't feel safe when the president of the United States curtsies to tyrants like the supreme leader of Iran, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, or Xi Jinping. I don't feel safe when they openly declare their intentions to teach our kids to judge each other based on their skin color, via the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory. And I sure as hell don't feel safe when the truth is referred to as "misinformation." Welcoming to all? Today's "liberals" mistake strength for warmongering, candor for hate speech, and the truth for "The Big Lie." And yes, I am "afraid" for my country when I watch so many fellow citizens blithely, docilely give up their God-given rights to the ruling elite. The left works tirelessly to sap Americans' independence and integrity and make them dependent on...the left. The Biden administration tries to divide Americans by sowing envy and distrust and by coercing everyone to emphasize our (race, ethnicity, sex, class, etc., etc.) differences. This, too, is the opposite of the erstwhile American creed of E Pluribus Unum, "out of many, one." And it has effectively made many fear and detest each other. Tragically, a large percentage of Americans have turned away from each other and God and looked to the government for support and redress. This never ends well. As Thomas Jefferson said, "when government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." This has, historically, always been the case. Ironically, the government does not fear us now because too many of us don't fear the government. It is time to change that. Graphic credit: Kquest4nz, CC BY-SA 4.0 license. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Ostensibly democratic governments around the world have reacted shamefully to the spread of COVID, with law enforcement personnel helping them abuse their power. What has happened in New Zealand and parts of Australia is truly frightening. Those two formerly free and democratic nations have seen the exercise of cruel totalitarianism in the past months. Despite the fact that lockdowns have not mitigated the spread of COVID anywhere in the world, despite the failure of mask mandates to affect the number of cases when compared to regions without mask mandates, some states in Australia and all of N.Z. have continued the most rigid restrictions, and their citizens are suffering the consequences. Police fire rubber bullets into a crowd of demonstrators (YouTube screen grab). Elderly women are tackled in the streets by police and attacked with pepper spray for being outside without a mask. Perfectly healthy people are prevented from leaving their homes and if surveilled will be likewise treated like dangerous criminals. New Yorkers have protested in solidarity with Australians. The police who were just a year and a half ago viewed as the protectors of law-abiding citizens in Australia and N.Z. are now feared and despised by many. Is this reversal of civilized fortune coming here? It is already here. By now most people have probably seen the video of a man, Scott Smith, being wrestled to the floor at a school board meeting in Loudoun County, Va. His 9th-grade daughter had been raped in her school's restroom by a "gender fluid" male dressed in a skirt. She reported it, a rape kit was used, the abuser charged and released to another high school, where he similarly molested another young girl. Mr. Smith had been warned not to speak to anyone about the attack and was assured that justice would be served, but that was a lie. Nothing was done beyond the 15- year-old rapist being passed off onto another school. The far-left, pro-LGBT school board certainly all knew of the attack; each was informed by law. But when Mr. Smith tried to explain why he was opposed to their permissive pro-trans policies, he was prevented from speaking, his accusation was denied, the school board lied, the police were called, and he was arrested. Luke Rosiak has written the definitive account of the case. Read it all. It is a grim, disgusting story, one that would make any parent purple with rage. Knowing full well about the attack on Mr. Smith's daughter, the superintendent lied and asserted that there had been no incidents involving transgender students at any of their schools. Another woman present told Mr. Smith she did not believe him and threatened to ruin his business on social media. He was then set upon by a policeman who was present, manhandled to the floor by several men, and arrested. The local prosecutor, Buta Biberaj, a Soros-installed pro-criminal attorney, appeared in court to personally prosecute Smith for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She, too, knew what had happened to Mr. Smith's daughter but seeks jail time for him. This is the opposite of justice, and it's beginning to feel like the new normal. Why did that policeman who was present not protect Mr. Smith, who did nothing but try to speak? He was the law-abiding citizen, the members of the school board the criminals. There have been similar incidents of police overreacting and abusing citizens they perceive as violating one silly mandate or another but none so egregious as this. Does not this event feel familiar, like what has happened to the hundreds of people who were at the Capitol on January 6? All Americans should be aware by now that that so-called insurrection was nothing of the kind. It was a set-up, the violence instigated by federal operatives in order to put a stop to the possible delay of certification of the election results. The only person killed was murdered by a policeman, and she, like all the others, was unarmed. They were not violent, and in fact, many were ushered into the Capitol building by officials on the job that day. Again, it was a set-up. That is clear now, so provable that Pelosi's pathetic commission is as dead as a doornail. If she moves forward with it, she will be the fool on the hill. She may even have been in on the plan, for it was Pelosi who nixed the National Guard that President Trump had offered. She tried to misuse the Capitol Police. A few of them have come forward to tell some inconvenient truths of the day's unfolding. As an example of the height of injustice insanity, the man who shot Ashli Babbitt that day, Charles Byrd, told 60 Minutes that "he saved lives that day." On what planet does killing an unarmed woman translate into saving lives? Everything is upside-down. Why isn't Charles Byrd in prison? Why are those peaceful protesters of Jan. 6 rotting in jail, many in solitary confinement like the tortured prisoners of a Saddam Hussein? Obama weaponized the FBI, DOJ, and CIA, and Biden has picked up where he left off. Or is Obama still running things? A.G. Garland should be impeached for attempting to use the FBI to criminalize parents who attend school board meetings in order to protect his son-in-law's business of promoting CRT. He is just one of the "cabinet of horrors." Why aren't the Republicans demanding his resignation? Good question. Our Republican representatives continue to disappoint. They enjoy luxuriating in their swamp dwelling and don't want to rock their boat floating on all that corruption. Our law enforcement personnel have every right to be angry and justified in feeling unappreciated. The American left has done a bang-up job of demonizing them, defunding them, and criminalizing them. The anti-cop left has legitimized open season on our cops. Given all that has transpired over the past few years, one would think our police would be on the side of those of us who have fought for them, not against them. But something awful is happening: some of them, like those cops in Australia, N.Z., and in Loudoun County, are taking their anger out on the good guys. Those down-under cops should be standing with the folks fighting for the freedom they've taken for granted all their lives. The cops in Loudoun County should be standing with the parents against those perverted school boards who mean to undermine every traditional American value, especially the protection of childhood innocence. Surely, they have kids, too. Something is very wrong in America, and the Biden administration is doubling down on rotten. Will law enforcement capitulate to Biden's absurd vaccine mandate or stand together against it? Will they physically abuse citizens who don't wear masks or have proof of vaccination? Our police need to decide which side they are going to protect: the criminal politicians and bureaucrats or law-abiding citizens. If they, along with their brothers and sisters who are firefighters, paramedics, and health care workers, present a united front, perhaps we can win America back from the communists wildly wielding their undeserved power over us all. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. In 2005, Brian Nichols, who was awaiting trial at the Fulton County, Georgia courthouse, escaped and went on a killing rampage that ended when a hostage convinced him to surrender. What struck me most was that his spree started when he overpowered a female sheriff's deputy, beating her into a coma. It's entirely possible he could have done the same to a man, but I have no doubt that her being a female facilitated it. I thought of that sad story when Not The Bee dug up footage of two female police officers in Montreal struggling with a skinny man. The video from Montreal, I must admit, is incredibly funny. Two female police officers have a skinny guy up against their vehicle as they prepare to cuff him. Instead, he shakes them off with practically no effort and runs away. The women are too slow to chase him on foot, so they race back to the car and chase him leaving their abandoned handcuffs lying in the gutter. People speaking what seemed, to my untutored ears, to be an African language laugh hysterically as this plays out in front of them. I laughed, too. But the fact is that this ended reasonably well. Worse things could have happened. As John R. Lott wrote in 2005, at the time of Nichols's escape, affirmative action (now rejoicing under the name "diversity") has made life generally more dangerous for police. We older folks grew up in a time when police had to meet size and strength standards. However, as women pushed to be on police forces and become firefighters, the standards changed: The problem is that because of large differences in strength and size between men and women, different standards are applied to ensure that there are more female officers. In the Nichols case, the difference was stark: the suspect was 33 years old and 6 feet tall; the female sheriff's deputy guarding him was 51 years old and 5-foot-2. These same differences in strength requirements benefited minority men as well because some ethnic groups, such as Filipinos, tend, on average, to be smaller. I have done martial arts on and off for years. The finest fighter I ever met was a small Filipino man whose speed and strength made him a match for anyone in hand-to-hand combat. I've known some powerful women, too. But on the great bell curve of human strength, guys are bigger and stronger than women. They just are. As Joel Abbott, in his post about those two police officers, wrote when it came to women who serve, "y'all are awesome so please don't roast me alive" and "mad respect for you women to serve." In his 2005 article, Lott agreed that women play an important part in law enforcement: There are extremely important benefits to having police departments that mirror the characteristics of the general population. Females and minorities are important for undercover work. A female victim of crime might feel more comfortable talking to another woman. Women might be particularly useful in domestic violence cases. The same holds true for minority victims of crime. Minority officers who come from the local communities they are policing might also bring knowledge about the area that makes them more effective officers. But you can't get around the fact that policing is physical work and at the end of the day, biological reality is such that, in a battle between an average, or even skinny man, and a couple of average women, the man's going to win every time. And that is good only for the criminals. As for the rest of us, sometimes we're going to get a laugh, and sometimes, as happened in Atlanta, a lot of people are going to die. Image: Female police officers. Twitter screen grab. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. This page contains all of The Anchorage Press coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and the illness it causes, called COVID-19. Because this outbreak impacts public health, our coverage of the coronavirus is available to all readers. Our journalists are working hard to bring you the verified information below. Please consider supporting important local journalism with a subscription. (Click Here) Are you an Anchorage resident whos been affected by the illness? Send us an email: matt.hickman@anchoragepress.com. Pets hold a special place in our hearts. For a flat rate of $50 along with a photo, celebrate their life and a special message through placing a Pet Obituary today. Pet Obits are published once a week in the Anchorage Press and on AnchoragePress.com. Our customer service team will contact you directly if there are any questions during our regular business hours. Thank you and please accept our deepest sympathies for your loss. Click here to submit Your guide to the summer treasures of the North of Boston and Merrimack Valley regions Click Here In a fast-paced world, making quick edits to PDFs can be a hassle. Adobe is rectifying this by launching Chrome and Microsoft Edge extensions for its popular PDF tools. These extensions offer access to PDF reading and editing tools within the browser, thus saving users the trouble of installing a specific software on their computer. Moreover, users dont need an Acrobat Pro DC subscription to access basic functionality on these extensions. You can sign documents, add comments to PDFs, and even download/print files for free. Most of the features of the new extensions are accessible for free However, users will need to get a subscription if they want to convert PDFs to Word documents, Excel sheets, and so on. The company wants users to check out the Acrobat Pro DC to unlock some of these other tools. New users also get a 7-day free trial for the Acrobat Pro DC subscription. Advertisement These extensions should do the job for basic tasks like signing documents or adding comments to PDFs. Adobe makes it clear that these new extensions are not related to the companys Acrobat web which was updated not too long ago (via). Adobe hit a bitter-sweet landmark in its history this year when Flash Player was removed. The decision was in the works since mid-2017 and finally materialized in early 2021. The company has also worked in tandem with Google to branch out its productivity tools. In May this year, the two companies announced improved integration between Creative Cloud and Google Workspace. Adobe first brought Creative Cloud to Gmail in the form of an add-on in 2020. The feature now extends to Docs and Slides as well. Advertisement What this meant is that users wouldnt have to leave their Google apps to access services like Photoshop, XD, Illustrator, and InDesign. Easy access to Creative Cloud libraries also opens up tools like brand colors, character styles, and graphics, all within Docs or Slides. This integration between Google and Adobe services made sense given that both productivity tools are extensively used while collaborating. Google acknowledged that support for Adobes Creative Cloud was one of the top requests from Workspace admins. PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* CAIRO - Libya has run into another institutional problem putting at risk the holding of elections called for by the UN to bring peace and political consolidation to the country. The president of the High State Council (HSC), Khaled Al-Mishri, has asked the National High Election Commission to freeze electoral laws approved unilaterally by the House of Representatives in violation of the political accord until an agreement is reached with the HSC on these laws, reported the website Libya Observer. On Monday, Mishri met with jurists in Tripoli to draw up a "legal strategy" against the decisions by the House of Representatives. The law on the parliamentary elections was approved on Oct. 4 by only about 50 of the 200 representatives, "in violation of the Libyan political accord" the HSC said. The parliamentary body had already sent the law on the presidential vote to the electoral commission. This law, however, had not even been voted on and was rejected by the HSV in part because it would allow military candidates such as Gen. Khalifa Haftar to run. 150 migrants arrive in Spain's Canary Islands and Melilla Seven managed to get over border barrier into enclave (ANSAmed) - MADRID, OCT 13 - About 150 migrants arrived over the night between Tuesday and Wednesday on boats in Spain's Canary Islands and in the Spanish enclave of Melilla after yet another attempt - only partially successful, but some did manage - by many to climb over the barrier on its border with Morocco, according to the authorities and local media. In the archipelago of the Canary Islands, emergency services assisted 91 people on the Gran Canaria island and another 55 on Fuerteventura, all previously sighted on makeshift boats at sea. Most are migrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan African countries, according to the regional emergency services. One was hospitalized. Around 4:30 AM, a group of migrants instead tried to get into Melilla by climbing over the barrier on the border with Morocco, according to sources from the Spanish government delegation cited by the Spanish news agency EFE. At least seven managed to enter the enclave. One member of the Spanish Civil Guard was injured during an operation by the security forces to stop the migrants, the sources added. (ANSAmed). 97 migrants on boat in distress off Tunisia, Alarm Phone 'Drifting from 2 AM, risk of capsizing' (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, OCT 13 - There are 97 migrants on a boat in distress off Tunisia, Alarm Phone reported on Twitter on Wednesday. "The people are adrift since 2am, 30km from #Kerkennah. Water is entering the boat and they risk to capsize. Unfortunately we don't have a GPS position but we urge authorities to launch a search and rescue operation based on the info we sent," the hotline for refugees in distress at sea wrote. (ANSAmed). MADRID - At least 656 hectares of terrain have been buried by lava and over 1,400 buildings damaged or destroyed, according to the EU's Copernicus, by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma, one of the Canary Islands. The data was elaborated from a satellite image taken Tuesday morning of the eruption, which began on September 19. On the map provided by Copernicus, it can be seen that between Sunday and Tuesday the most active lava flow - north of the main one - had progressed towards previously untouched areas. As a result of that advance, on Tuesday the authorities issued an evacuation order for about 700-800 people, in addition to those concerning the approximately 6,000 already displaced since the eruption began. "Unfortunately, the news that we are getting from the scientific committee is that the activities of the volcano will not stop and it does not seem that they will be reduced in the next few days," Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez said from La Palma, where we was on a visit for the fourth time since the eruption began. " I have to ask for something that I know is very difficult, after the days and especially nights that many inhabitants of La Palma have suffered, and that is patience," Sanchez said in his statement, which ended without leaving time for journalist questions. Migrants in Bosnia suffering more as cold and rain set in Hundreds in makeshift camp on Croatian border, women and kids (ANSAmed) - SARAJEVO, OCT 13 - With the arrival of the cold season in the northwestern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina along the so-called Balkan route, migrants continue to camp out in extremely precarious conditions along the border in an attempt to cross into Croatia and continue their journey towards western Europe. Local media report that hundreds of refugees that did not find space in reception centers are instead staying in a makeshift camp near Velika Kladusa near the Croatian border, including numerous women and children. The low temperatures and rain of recent days have worsened living conditions considerably, with few or no washing facilities and a lack of food, availability of which is mostly linked to activities of humanitarian organizations and private donations. According to local authorities, in the Unsko-Sanski canton in the far northeastern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, there are currently about 1,500 migrants, mostly near Velika Kladusa and in Bihac. (ANSAmed). BELGRADE - Tension has risen more in northern Kosovo after reports of a Serb being seriously injured in Zvecan by bullets that Serbian media say were shot by Kosovo police involved in putting down protests on Wednesday morning against a wide-ranging anti-smuggling operation. Belgrade media said that the man had been hit by a bullet in his shoulder and that he will be operated on. According to Petar Petkovic, head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo, dozens of Serbs were injured in incidents on Wednesday morning after the arrival of the Kosovo police. In a press conference in Belgrade, Petkovic spoke out against the situation, which he claimed had been caused by the "psychopath (i.e. Prime Minister Albin) Kurti". Petkovic added that, during the operation, heavily armed Kosovo special police units (ROSU) had been used, as well as armoured vehicles. Petkovic called on the Serb population to remain calm and not give in to the "provocations" from Kosovo authorities, which he said aim to spark a new, wide-ranging crisis. According to a statement issued by Kosovo police, the anti-smuggling operation began in the early morning Wednesday and continued during the day, with goods of different natures confiscated, sparking protest from the Serb population. In the northern, Serb-majority sector of Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan, protestors have blocked some streets, throwing rocks and other objects at the police, who responded by firing tear gas and sound bombs. Serbian media reported that a car had been set fire to in the protests in northern Mitrovica. A police statement said that the anti-smuggling operating was also being conducted in the southern (Albanian-majority) sector of Mitrovica, the capital Pristina, Pec, and other locations. The operation is being conducted in coordination with customs services, prosecutors' offices and courts, on the order of which checks and searches are being carried out in shops, pharmacies, warehouses, depots, shops, and private homes. Meanwhile, the Serbian media report that President Aleksandar Vucic has gone to Raska in southern Serbia along the border with Kosovo for an urgent meeting with representatives of the Serb population in Kosovo. Protesting against the Kosovo police operation was also Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic, who called for a reaction from the international community, the EU, and NATO against what she called the latest "provocations" by Kosovo prime minister Albin Kurti. Trial against Egypt security agents for Regeni murder 14/10 Issue of defendants in absentia to be dealt with (ANSAmed) - ROME, OCT 13 - A trial will begin on Thursday in Italy against four Egyptian security agents charged with kidnapping and murdering Giulio Regeni, an Italian researcher found dead in Egypt in February 2016. In the first hearing, before the third Court of Assizes, the absence in the courtroom of the defendants will be dealt with: Gen. Sabir Tariq, the colonels Usham Helmi and Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim and Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif. The judges will have to decide - as did the preliminary investigative judge - whether the trial can go forward with the defendants in absentia. Regeni's parents Paola and Claudio have presented a list of witnesses including the various prime ministers since 2016 as well as foreign ministers and undersecretaries in charge of the secret services. The Rome prosecutor's office has charged the defendants with kidnapping with multiple aggravating circumstances, and one is charged with involvement in aggravated personal injury and murder with aggravating circumstances.(ANSAmed). CAIRO - In speaking before the Visegrad group in Budapest, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed that Egypt would not give in to any "orders" from the EU on human rights issues. Egyptian media reported the comments made by the head of state on Tuesday at the summit of the group of countries: Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Sisi "told summit leaders: you are dealing with a state that respects itself and fully respects its people" and that "in Egypt there is a power that does not submit to any orders", the independent daily Al Masry al Youm reported. In explicitly addressing "our European friends", Sisi said that "it is necessary to understand what is happening in Egypt". "Egypt respects its population and does not submit to any orders," was the headline on both Al Ahram and Al Gomhuria. Sisi had previously rejected international criticism and denunciations on human rights issues in Egypt. Last month, taking advantage of the launching of the first "national strategy" on human rights, the former general said that wanting to impose a Western vision of human rights protections in Egypt was "a dictatorial approach". TUNIS - US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Tuesday said that the appointment of a new Tunisian government was a positive step and congratulated the country on the new government under Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane. "The new government, which includes 10 female ministers, is a welcome step forwards towards addressing the significant economic, health and social challenges facing the country," Price said in the statement, which ended with: "We look forward to further announcements to establish a broadly inclusive process for a rapid return to constitutional order". On Oct. 8, Price had urged Tunisian president Kais Saied and the prime minister-designate at that time, Najla Bouden, to meet the population's demands for a clear timeline for a return to a transparent democratic process involving civil society and diverse political voices. Adele has said she is finally ready to put out her new album 30 as she revealed it will be released next month. The singer described the upcoming release, which will come out on November 19, as her ride or die throughout the most turbulent period of my life. She shared the release date on social media alongside an explanation of the thought process behind the new album. In a post on Twitter, she added: I was certainly nowhere near where Id hoped to be when I first started it nearly 3 years ago. Quite the opposite actually. I rely on routine and consistency to feel safe, I always have. And yet there I was knowingly willingly even, throwing myself into a maze of absolute mess and inner turmoil! Ive learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way. Ive shed many layers but also wrapped myself in new ones. Discovered genuinely useful and wholesome mentalities to lead with, and I feel like Ive finally found my feeling again. Id go as far as to say that Ive never felt more peaceful in my life. And so, Im ready to finally put this album out. Adele (Ian West/PA) The album served as my friend who came over with a bottle of wine and a takeaway to cheer me up, she said. My wise friend who always gives the best advice. Not to forget the one whos wild and says Its your Saturn return babes f*** it, you only live once. The friend whod stay up all night and just hold my hand while Id sob relentlessly not knowing why. She added: And then that friend who no matter what, checked in on me even though Id stopped checking in with them because Id become so consumed by my own grief. Ive painstakingly rebuilt my house and my heart since then and this album narrates it. Last week Adele gave her fans a glimpse of her comeback single Easy On Me by playing a clip of the track in a livestreamed video on social media. Adele has not released an album since 2015s 25 and all three of her studio albums have been named after the milestone ages she hit during the creative process. Last week she appeared on the cover of both the British and American editions of Vogue magazine. It was the first collaboration of its kind in the magazines 129-year history, with each edition of the magazine featuring a different fashion shoot and interview. Astronomers have discovered evidence of a gas-giant planet orbiting a white dwarf star in the Milky Way. Models have suggested planets of this size in a similar orbit might have been able to survive the death of their host stars from the giant phase into white dwarfs. But no such planet has previously been observed. The new research indicates the gas-giant, Jupiter-mass planet is orbiting a white dwarf star in a wide orbit in the Milky Way. White dwarfs are stars that have burned up all of the hydrogen they once used as nuclear fuel. White Dwarf System (W M Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko/PA) Joshua Blackman, from the University of Tasmania, Australia, and colleagues determined that it formed at the same time as its host star. According to the study, the planet managed to survive after the star stopped burning hydrogen in its core. Gas-giant planets orbiting white dwarfs are typically thought to move to orbits five or six astronomical units (AU) away but this planet is around 2.8 AU from its star. The researchers say their findings provide evidence that planets can survive the giant phase of their host stars evolution, and support the prediction that more than half of white dwarfs will have similar planetary companions. The findings are published in Nature. The naval police would have had no hesitation in investigating any possible military involvement in the sinking of a French fishing vessel had the evidence pointed that way, an inquest has heard. All five French crewmen lost their lives when the Bugaled Breizh went down very suddenly in favourable conditions off the Lizard Peninsula on January 15 2004. The question of whether a submarine may have become entangled in the Bugaled Breizhs trawler gear and caused it to capsize has been raised repeatedly since it sank. An inquest at Londons High Court heard on Wednesday that the Royal Navy Police Special Investigation Branch (RNPSIB) would not have been blocked from investigating the potential involvement of British combat vessels. Andrew Billings, a former commander who led the RNPSIB team investigating the sinking in co-operation with the French authorities, said he had found no evidence any submarine of any flag was within five nautical miles of the trawler. He told the inquest he had been confined to investigating British involvement, but would have escalated concerns about foreign vessels if he had had any. The wreck of the Bugaled Breizh (Field Fisher/PA) We didnt, in my opinion, have the jurisdiction to investigate foreign nationalities i.e. the Dutch submarine nearby and there was a German boat as well, he said. Mr Billings continued: Had I had any suspicion that they were involved in any way or had proof, more importantly, I would have most certainly raised that as a credible issue and raised it up through the chain of command and then obviously taken advice from there. I found nothing that would have made me alarmed at what Id found and no evidence pointing towards any foreign involvement, he said. When asked by Judge Nigel Lickley QC what he would have done if there had been some military involvement, he said: We would have investigated it. You know its not unheard of weve investigated many incidents involving submarines. Mr Billings cited the deaths of two sailors aboard HMS Tireless in 2007. We investigated that over a number of years to draw a successful conclusion for the families, he said. We would have had no hesitation but to do the same thing in this instance had the evidence pointed that way. The inquest is only considering the deaths of skipper Yves Marie Gloaguen, 45, and Pascal Lucien Le Floch, 49. Their bodies were recovered in the hours after the ship sank and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital. It means that under English law an inquest must be held here. The body of a third man, Patrick Gloaguen, 35, was recovered during a salvage but was taken to France, while the bodies of Georges Lemetayer, 60, and Eric Guillamet, 42, were never found. As a result, their deaths are not the subject of the inquest, although their families are taking part in the process. A senior naval officer previously told the inquest it would be unthinkable for a British or allied submarine crew to falsify records about a vessels location. Commander Daniel Simmonds is currently in charge of daily operations of all UK submarines and Nato submarines that come under British operation and control. When asked what the consequences would be for anyone found to have falsified logs or other records, Cdr Simmonds replied: It would erode trust at the highest level. He told the court: My answer would be very simple. Whilst Ive never known it to happen, because its just unthinkable, the ramifications would be significant and would absolutely erode the trust at the highest levels between allied partners. The inquest also heard the Royal Navy is very confident there were no non-allied submarines within 50 nautical miles of the Bugaled Breizh when it sank. A Dutch submarine, the Dolfijn, is believed to have been the closest submarine, and was 12 nautical miles south of the Bugaled Breizh when it sank. The inquest, which is scheduled to run until October 22, continues. EU proposals to cut Irish Sea trade red tape could open up the home stretch to solving the Northern Ireland Protocol row, Maros Sefcovic has said. The European Commission vice president urged the UK to work with the bloc to end the stand-off over the contentious post-Brexit trading arrangements as he unveiled a series of measures that would slash regulatory checks and dramatically cut customs processes on the movement of goods. The measures, designed to tackle disruption caused by the protocol, would see an 80% reduction in checks envisaged for retail agri-food products arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. The proposed changes also remove the prospect of certain British produce, including Cumberland sausages, being banned from export to the region. The protocol, which was agreed by the EU and UK to maintain a free-flowing land border on the island of island, has created a series of economic barriers on the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The EU plan to ease the resultant trade friction also includes a 50% reduction in customs paperwork required to move products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. More products and companies would be exempt from customs tariffs as a result of expanding trusted trader arrangements and a concept that differentiates between goods destined for Northern Ireland and those at risk of onward transportation into the Irish Republic. The EU has also offered to legislate to ensure no disruption to the supply line of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Mr Sefcovic, who canvassed the views of politicians and business leaders on a visit to the region last month, said the bloc had put in a lot of hard work to come up with an alternative model for implementing the protocol. We have explored every possible angle of the protocol and, at times, went beyond current EU law, he told a press conference in Brussels. He added: With this robust package of practical, imaginative solutions we can continue to implement the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland for the benefit of all communities on the ground. It not only cements stability and predictability, an indispensable ingredient for the local economy to flourish, but also paves the way for enhanced opportunities. An anti-NI Protocol sign near the entrance to Larne Port (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Sefcovic continued: We continue to stand united behind Northern Ireland while at the same time remaining determined to protect our internal market. Now I invite the UK Government to engage with us earnestly and intensively on all our proposals. With them Im convinced we could be in the home stretch when it comes to the protocol. As part of its proposals, the commission has also pledged to enhance engagement with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including politicians, business representatives and other members of civic society. However, the measures contained in four separate papers published by the bloc on Wednesday evening do not offer any concession on a key UK Government demand, the removal of the oversight role for the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In return for the scaled-back checking regime, the EU has asked for certain safeguards to be implemented to provide extra assurances that products said to be destined for Northern Ireland do not end up crossing the Irish border. Those include labelling of certain products, making clear they are for sale in the UK only, and enhanced monitoring of supply chain movements and access to real time trade flow information. European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on a visit to Stormont last month (Peter Morrison/PA) It said access to the real time data, and the construction of new checking facilities at ports in Northern Ireland, were commitments the UK had already made but was yet to deliver on. The full extent of checks required under the protocol has yet to be applied due to the continuation of a series of grace periods that the UK has unilaterally extended on an indefinite basis. The EUs pledge on agri food checks refers to an 80% cut in the number that would be required under full implementation of the arrangements, though the proposal would also lead to a reduction in checks currently applied during the grace periods. While the range of measures would go some way to reducing everyday friction on trade caused by the protocol, they do not address the UK demand over the role of the ECJ. UK Brexit minister Lord Frost has made clear the removal of the courts oversight function in policing the protocol is a red line for the Government if a compromise deal is to be struck. Under the terms of the protocol, which was agreed by the UK and EU as part of the 2020 Withdrawal Agreement, the ECJ would be the final arbitrator in any future trade dispute between the two parties on the operation of the protocol. The UK now wants to remove that provision and replace it with an independent arbitration process. A lorry leaves a Brexit checking facility at Belfast Port (PA The European Commission has insisted it will not move on the ECJ issue. It has pointed out that Northern Ireland would be unable to retain unfettered single market access, a key provision of the protocol, if the arrangement is not subject to oversight by European judges. Lord Frost has warned that the UK could move to suspend parts of the protocol, by triggering the Article 16 mechanism, if an acceptable compromise cannot be reached. The EU plan amounts to a set of counterproposals in response to a wish list of protocol reforms outlined by the UK Government in July. The proposals from both sides are now set to form the basis of a new round of negotiations between Brussels and London in the weeks ahead. Earlier on Wednesday, Lord Frost insisted the reach of the ECJ was a key issue. The problem with the protocol at the moment is that EU law, with the ECJ as the enforcer of it, is applied in Northern Ireland without any sort of democratic process, he told broadcasters. So that, I think, has to change if were to find governance arrangements that people can live with. Brexit minister Lord Frost has called for the removal of the ECJs oversight role (Aaron Chown/PA) Irish premier Micheal Martin backed the EUs proposals. The Taoiseach said they were the obvious way forward and the obvious way out of the issues. Mr Martin added that the European Commission had demonstrated imagination, innovation, and also a listening ear to the people who matter, the people in Northern Ireland who are on the ground dealing with these issues. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson described the proposals as the EUs starting point. However, he said that on first inspection they would appear to fall far short of the fundamental change needed. Stormonts Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill welcomed what she described as the far-reaching proposals. I think that demonstrates both in word and deed that the EU side are living up to their commitments that they made to both business and civic leaders as well as political leaders, she said. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as a way to sidestep the major obstacle in the Brexit divorce talks, the Irish land border. It achieved that by shifting regulatory and customs checks and processes to the Irish Sea. The arrangements have created new economic barriers on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This has caused disruption to many businesses in Northern Ireland and has also created a major political headache for the Government, as unionists and loyalists are furious at what they perceive as a weakening of the Union. However, other businesses have benefited from the terms of the protocol, which provides Northern Ireland traders unique unfettered access to sell within the UK internal market and EU single market. Travellers were left unable to board flights on Wednesday after the Covid Pass within the NHS App failed to load. The issue resulted in air passengers being turned away, while Britons already on holiday were banned from entering tourist attractions. People travelling abroad must show a QR code within the app to prove their vaccine status or print out a letter in advance. By around 3.15pm, the service was working again. NHS Digital said the glitch was caused by a technical issue with a global service provider. But it was too late for some holidaymakers, including Chuck Adolphy and his girlfriend, who were not allowed to proceed for an EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to Slovenias capital Ljubljana. The NHS COVID Pass service was temp unavailable 11:45 15:15 today due to a technical issue with a global service provider that affected many different organisations. After an urgent investigation, this has been fixed and COVID Passes are available via the NHS App and online. NHS Digital (@NHSDigital) October 13, 2021 Speaking to the PA news agency, he described the incident as a shambles. Went to go on the app and my Covid Pass wasnt appearing, he said. Didnt even realise at the time there was an outage was just turned away and told they couldnt do anything about it. Rang the number and they said the app and site are down and there is nothing they can do. EasyJet said nothing either. Showed them my vaccine card and nothing. Callum Melia from Liverpool also told PA he was unable to access tourist attractions on his holiday in Naples, Italy, as a result of the app issue. Were about to enter these tours around the city when we discover we cant get on the app to access the QR code, the 26-year-old told PA. We also had further problems accessing bars and restaurants. The NHS App has gained more than 10 million new users in recent months as it became the platform for accessing the pass, which shows proof of a persons vaccination status and is required for international travel. A spokesperson for NHS Digital said: The NHS Covid Pass service was temporarily unavailable between 11:45 and 15:15 today as a result of a technical issue with a global service provider that affected many different organisations. Following an urgent investigation, this has been fixed and Covid Passes are available both via the NHS App and online. Like many Donald Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Dona Sue Bissey has promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory on social media. But the judge sentencing her Tuesday to 14 days in jail said it was for her actions, not her beliefs. Bissey, 53, pleaded guilty in July to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of six months' imprisonment. Prosecutors have argued that a rioter's statements, in person or on social media, should be considered when fashioning an appropriate sentence. And the federal prosecutor on Tuesday cited Bisseys online support for QAnon and other conspiracy theories. But they also have said Bisseys was a rare case in which they agreed to recommend probation instead of home detention or prison, based on her early acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan instead sentenced her to 14 days of incarceration and 60 hours of community service, stressing she did so because Bissey had celebrated and bragged about her participation in what amounted to an attempted overthrow of the government. The fact that she subscribes to bizarre conspiracy theories, that's her right. That's something she is allowed to do as an American, Chutkan said. The most serious criminal cases arising from the massive investigation are against leaders and members of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Some are charged with plotting coordinated attacks on the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's electoral victory. But several QAnon adherents also played prominent roles in the riot, and the conspiracy theory appeared to galvanize many others who joined the mob. Long before the attack, many experts warned of a growing threat of violence driven by disinformation and conspiracy theories like QAnon and its predecessor, the conspiracy dubbed pizzagate. Justice Department prosecutor Joshua Rothstein said Bissey appears to be an avid consumer of other conspiracy theories, including that the coronavirus is a hoax pandemic and that the COVID-19 vaccine is part of a Jewish plot to murder people. She also appeared to believe the pandemic was foreshadowed by predictive programming during the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics in London. It's one thing to believe in conspiracy theories in your basement. It's another thing to act out on them," he said. Over 630 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Federal authorities have connected at least 27 defendants to QAnon, typically through social media posts or clothes they wore at the Capitol, according to an Associated Press review of court records. The tally of guilty pleas by Capitol rioters is due to top 100 this week. At least nine QAnon-connected defendants have pleaded guilty so far. Two were sentenced to probation before Bissey became the 15th rioter to be sentenced. Meanwhile, approximately 70 defendants charged in the Jan. 6 attack are jailed while awaiting trial. Authorities have linked at least 21 of them to far-right extremist groups or movements, including six QAnon supporters, the AP's review found. A core belief for QAnon followers is that Trump was secretly fighting a Satan-worshipping, child sex-trafficking cabal of prominent Democrats, Hollywood elites and deep state enemies. Pizzagate centered on the baseless belief that Democrats were running a child sex ring out of a pizza shop. A federal intelligence report released in June predicted that some digital soldiers in the QAnon movement could resort to "real world violence as they lose trust in the conspiracy theory's prophesies. Some QAnon followers were easy to spot on Jan. 6 since they wore clothes or toted signs adorned with a telltale Q. A shirtless, face-painted man who wore a furry hat with horns and called himself the QAnon Shaman became one of the most recognizable rioters. Bisseys attorney said she found comfort in a steady diet of cable news and Facebook-scrolling to distract from her financial worries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawyer said Bissey and a friend, Anna Morgan-Lloyd, traveled to Washington to attend the rally where Trump spoke on Jan. 6 and only joined the mob after Trump wrapped up his inciting calls to action. Though this belief has since been debunked, Ms. Bissey was convinced on January 6 that the claims of election meddling were true, the defense lawyer wrote. Bissey was jailed for two days after her arrest in February. In a letter to the judge, Bissey said some of her neighbors in Bloomfield, Indiana, have shunned her since the riot. She called herself a God fearing, country loving, law abiding, hard working patriot." I am not and never have been a violent individual, she wrote. Some QAnon-linked defendants face significant prison time. Sentencing guidelines for Arizona resident Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, who pleaded guilty to a felony, could call for a prison term ranging from 41 to 51 months, according to a prosecutor. Iowa resident Douglas Jensen, whom prosecutors have called a religious QAnon adherent, was charged with five felonies and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. Jensen, whose confrontation with a Capitol police officer was captured on video, was freed from pretrial detention but jailed again for violating terms of his release. Also facing a possible prison term is New Jersey resident Scott Fairlamb, who pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a police officer and is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Fairlambs Instagram and Facebook accounts showed he was a QAnon believer who promoted the bogus claim that Trump would become the first president of the new Republic on March 4, 2021, prosecutors said. A prosecutor in another riot case cited a California man's embrace of QAnon in arguing that he was dangerous and should be detained before trial. The defendant was not just there sitting in his basement absorbing this material. He is acting on it, amplifying it and re-broadcasting it, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bosse said during a Feb. 12 detention hearing for Eduardo Nicolas Alvear Gonzalez. Defense attorney Rodolfo Cejas said it wasn't illegal for Gonzalez to tout conspiracy theories online. Unfortunately, if people want to believe that the earth is flat, thats not a crime. There are some people who dont believe that anyone went to the moon. Thats not a crime, he said. Also on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced Texas resident Eliel Rosa to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service for joining the riot. A prosecutor had recommended one month of home confinement and 60 hours of community service. WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to the nation's debt limit, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the economy. The $480 billion increase in the country's borrowing ceiling cleared the Senate last week on a party-line vote. The House approved it swiftly so President Joe Biden can sign it into law this week. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned that steps to stave off a default on the country's debts would be exhausted by Monday, and from that point, the department would soon be unable to fully meet the government's financial obligations. A default would have immense fallout on global financial markets built upon the bedrock safety of U.S. government debt. Routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel would also be called into question. The relief provided by passage of the legislation will only be temporary though, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December a time when lawmakers will also be laboring to complete federal spending bills and avoid a damaging government shutdown. The yearend backlog raises risks for both parties and threatens a tumultuous close to Biden's first year in office. Im glad that this at least allows us to prevent a totally self-made and utterly preventable economic catastrophe as we work on a longer-term plan, said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Republicans signaled the next debt limit debate won't be any easier and warned Democrats not to expect their help. Unless and until Democrats give up on their dream of a big-government, socialist America, Republicans cannot and will not support raising the debt limit and help them pave the superhighway to a great entitlement society," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. Procedurally, the House took a single vote Tuesday that had the effect of passing the Senate bill. The measure passed by a party-line vote of 219-206. The present standoff over the debt ceiling eased when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to help pass the short-term increase. But he insists he won't do so again. In a letter sent Friday to Biden, McConnell said Democrats will have to handle the next debt-limit increase on their own using the same process they have tried to use to pass Biden's massive social spending and environment plan. Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 that's typically required. In the 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote. Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts. Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, but never to the extent of jeopardizing it." Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, I think it has merit." In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Bidens big federal government spending boost with the nations rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden's $3.5 trillion plan makes it into law. Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it," McConnell said in a letter to the president. "They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help." McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage. The debate over the debt ceiling has at times gotten personal. McConnell last week suggested that Democrats were playing Russian roulette" with the economy because they had not dealt with the debt ceiling through the process he had insisted upon. He called out Pelosi for traveling to Europe last week. I can only presume she hopes the full faith and credit of the United States will get sorted out," McConnell said. Pelosi did not let the shot pass. Russian roulette from Moscow Mitch. Interesting," she said. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday's vote marked the 50th time dating back to President Ronald Reagan that he has voted on extending the debt limit. Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit, he said. Because the Senate bill only allowed for a stopgap extension, Hoyer called it a lousy deal." And then were going to play this game one more time, a despicable and irresponsible act for adults who know better, Hoyer said. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he wanted to thank" Hoyer for sharing that he had previously voted for raising the debt ceiling 49 times. When he came into this body, the debt was about a trillion dollars," Roy said. Thank you, I guess, on behalf of the people of America who are staring at 28-and-a-half trillion dollars of debt." The current debt ceiling is $28.4 trillion. Both parties have contributed to that load with decisions that have left the government rarely operating in the black. The calamitous ramifications of default are why lawmakers have been able to reach a compromise to lift or suspend the debt cap some 18 times since 2002, often after frequent rounds of brinkmanship. Feature Your News Online $25.00 / for 30 days Highlight your business' news for just $25! We'll feature your content on our News From Local Business section & our Marketplace front page to give it maximum exposure for the next 30 days. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. India supports the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said during a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan. Our position is very consistent. Since the clashes began we have been supporting the peaceful settlement through diplomatic means. We have expressed our support to the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group. India always supports peace and stability in this region, the FM said. He added that last year Armenia passed a very difficult stage and expressed deep condolences to the Armenian people on behalf of the Indian government and people. Commenting on his first visit to Armenia, the minister said this is a beginning of a new stage for the cooperation between the two countries. The Indian FM noted that the friendship of the two countries has a history of centuries, starting from medieval times. He stated that they have Armenian heritage, churches, educational institutions in India, adding that the Armenian heritage has been preserved with great attention and respect. The minister also emphasized the great contribution brought by the Armenian community to the history of India. As for his meeting with the Armenian FM, Minister Jaishankar said they had very productive meetings. We outlined our comprehensive bilateral relations, discussed the bilateral issues and mainly agreed on the future cooperation and exchange. We agreed that our bilateral relations have expanded in cultural, political fields. There is still a great opportunity to expand the economic relations, tourism, infrastructure and investments fields, he added. He emphasized that Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), noting that currently discussions are underway on a trade agreement between India and EAEU. The Indian FM also informed that they have discussed with his Armenian counterpart the possibility of mutual flights. We view Armenia as a closely cooperating country, the Indian Foreign Minister said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, France, Russia and the US have been working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a long-term agreement on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot said, reports TASS. I can assure you that we have been working with our Russian and American partners on the process of signing a long-term agreement over Karabakh, she said. Replying to the question of whether it is necessary to expect an acceleration of the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, the ambassador said that the meeting of foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York demonstrates that intermediaries have started working actively. I think that Yerevan and Baku should move forward, she added. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian hospitals are out of beds for COVID-19 patients amid rapidly rising infection rates, the CDC Director of Department of Epidemiology of Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases Romella Abovyan said on Wednesday. She said that the epidemiological situation in the country is very tense, with data of the past two weeks showing nearly 50% increase of new cases. Abovyan warned that by European standards Armenia might soon be included in the very-risky category above the current red zone. The infection rate is high all across the country, she said, noting that persons aged 30-50 are mostly affected. Hospitals are overloaded, we are out of beds, there are many cases of infections which proceed with serious clinical manifestations, Abovyan said. Abovyan warned people against downplaying any flu-like symptoms. In many cases people contact doctors too late. They get tested with delays, and upon having symptoms they think it might be a seasonal cold. They delay a visit to the doctor so much that their lungs get very infected. I am asking our citizens to contact a doctor immediately upon having a sore throat, headache, fever or fatigue, Abovyan said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan The G-20 grouping comprises 20 of the worlds major economies, including India PM Modi emphasised the centuries-old people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan and mentioned that over the last two decades, India has contributed to promoting socio-economic development and capacity building of youth and women in Afghanistan. (PTI) New Delhi: Addressing the G-20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan on Tuesday evening in a virtual mode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that the Afghan territory should not become a regional or global source of radicalisation and terrorism and called for a joint fight against the nexus of radicalisation, terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and arms in the region. To preserve the socio-economic gains of the past two decades in Afghanistan and to restrict the spread of radical ideology there, PM Modi once again called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan, which includes women and minorities. Talking about the great feeling of friendship that the Afghan people feel for India, PM Modi said every Indian feels the pain of Afghan people facing hunger and malnutrition and pushed for immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. The G-20 grouping comprises 20 of the worlds major economies, including India. On Afghanistan, New Delhi has serious concerns on terrorism after the Pakistan-backed Taliban took over the strife-torn nation in a lightning military sweep in mid-August following the ignominious American military withdrawal. This had led to the dismantling of the then Ashraf Ghani government which India had strongly backed. New Delhi had also pulled out all its diplomats from there two months ago. In a statement, New Delhi said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated virtually in the G-20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan earlier on Tuesday. The Meeting was convened by Italy, which currently holds the G-20 presidency, and chaired by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Issues under consideration at the meeting related to the humanitarian situation; concerns relating to terrorism; and human rights in Afghanistan. The MEA also said, The Prime Minister also underlined the need to ensure that Afghan territory does not become a source of radicalisation and terrorism, regionally or globally. He emphasized on the need to enhance our joint fight against the nexus of radicalisation, terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and arms in the region. In order to preserve the socio-economic gains of the last 20 years and to restrict the spread of radical ideology, the Prime Minister called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan, which includes women and minorities. He conveyed support for the important role of the United Nations in Afghanistan and called for renewed support of the G-20 for the message contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2593 on Afghanistan. Calling for the international community to forge a unified international response without which it would be difficult to bring about the desired change in Afghanistans situation, PM Modi emphasised the centuries-old people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan and mentioned that over the last two decades, India has contributed to promoting socio-economic development and capacity building of youth and women in Afghanistan. The PM recalled that over 500 development projects have been implemented by India in Afghanistan. 'As regards the growth of India, we are looking at near close to double-digit growth this year and this would be the highest in the world' Boston: India is looking at near close to double-digit growth this year and the country will be one of the fastest-growing economies, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. The minister also emphasised that she expects the economic growth next year to be in the range of 7.5-8.5 per cent, which will be sustained for the next decade. As regards the growth of India, we are looking at near close to double-digit growth this year and this would be the highest in the world. And for the next year, on the basis of this year, (the) growth would definitely be somewhere in the range of eight (per cent), Sitharaman said here on Tuesday during a conversation at Harvard Kennedy School. She noted that while the Ministry of Finance has not done any assessment as yet about the growth number, but the World Bank, IMF and rating agencies have all come nearer to this kind of growth number for India. So, the next year would also be somewhere in the range of eight to nine (per cent), 7.5 to 8.5 (per cent) would be the growth. And I expect that to be sustained for the next decade because of the rate at which expansion in core industries is happening, the rate at which services are growing, I don't see a reason for India to be any way lesser than in the next coming decades, she said. During the conversation with Professor at Harvard University Lawrence Summers during the talk organised by the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Sitharaman, when asked about the state of the global economy, said: I don't think you can have one picture for the entire globe. The emerging market economies are likely to recover speedily and are likely to have a growth trajectory, which will probably be even the title of engine for growth. They are the ones who are going to be pulling forward the global economy. And in that, at least from the data which has been released yesterday and the week before, I can say that India's growth this year will be the highest in the world, of course, based on a lower base of last year, but that will continue into the next year. And even there, we will be one of the fastest-growing economies, she noted. She added that some other countries in the emerging market areas will also record high growth rates. The developed world will also catch up because their base is very high. So, the growth that they can show off will not be closer to double-digit but certainly will be also adding to the global growth, she said, adding that she sees "different picture in different regions. When asked about the sustained growth of 8 per cent, a historical rarity, her medium and long term vision of where that growth is going to come from, Sitharaman underlined that the growths post-pandemic of any country can be compared with what had happened earlier, prior to the pandemic. The reset which the globe has seen itself tells you a narrative that the way in which countries are going to plan their growth is going to be very different from what it was earlier, she said. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic itself is one of the reasons for the reset, which is happening from certain geographical territories where people are coming out of it, looking for other places where they can run their businesses from because no longer you have the transparency and rule of law in certain geographical territories. Therefore, the industry is the first one to get out. Investments are the first ones to get out and they are looking for destinations where certain assumptions can be taken up - rule of law, democracy, transparent policies and assurance that you're with a broad global frame of things and that you are not an outlier, that you will not have anything to do with the global scheme of things, and it's no good for us. The minister said all these are extraneous factors that helped India to attract industries to set businesses there. She also pointed out that India itself is a huge market. Today, our demographic dividend is not a dividend without reason. It's a dividend, which has great purchasing power ability. The middle class in India has the money to buy things, she said, adding that the people who are moving from other destinations to invest in India and to produce in India will have a captive market. The same demographic dividend also gives us another advantage - the youth population of India today is a skilled set of youngsters skilled in various different areas, most of them in STEM, the minister noted. Sitharaman said India will attract investments and have the purchasing power to demand the best of things from whoever produces it. India is even today best in agriculture. The food security of many countries depend on imported food. Many in the Middle East depend on India for their basic food materials. We will be one of the largest exporters of food and food processed materials, she added. Similarly, labour intensive units, partly-skilled labour-intensive sectors such as textile, footwear, leather, and certain parts and components for the industry are all manufactured in India. So, I see every reason to believe that this 7.5 to 8.5 (per cent) growth is absolutely sustainable for the next decade. These are features that don't exist in any one country all put together. You may have one in one country, and the other in a different country. But India has it all, the minister said. India and South Africa had submitted a proposal in April suggesting a waiver for all WTO members Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan, via video conferencing, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: India has sought waiver of intellectual property rights (IPR) and dismantling of new trade barriers in the fight against the Coivd-19 pandemic. The World Trade Organisation too found that tariffs on critical products to manufacture vaccines remain high and this might impede the flow of vaccines across borders. Minister of commerce Piyush Goyal in his address to the G20 Trade and Investment Minister-ial Meeting in Naples, Italy, stressed on resolving supply side constraints of Covid-19 vaccines. Our response to the pandemic needs to ensure equitable access to vaccines and other Covid-19 related health products by ensuring quick resolution of the supply side constraints. One of the ways to demonstrate this is by accepting the Trips waiver proposal, Goyal said. The WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights governs copyright, industrial designs, patents and protection of undisclosed information or trade secrets. India and South Africa had submitted a proposal in April suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the Trips agreement for the treatment of Covid-19 and made a revised submission in May. Apart from focusing on facilitating free flow of goods, I invite G20 countries to join in efforts to make health services accessible and more affordable by the citizens of the world by enabling free flow of health services, he said. Goyal also called for actively resolving new trade barriers like vaccine differentiations or Covid passports, which impose mobility restrictions and impede the movement of personnel needed for delivering critical services. Covid-19 crisis is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness, and the need for a coordinated global strategy to overcome such an unprecedented public health situation, he said. The WTO in its report said that tariffs on critical products to manufacture vaccines remain high, especially in some developing countries, and this might impede the flow across borders. Story Timelines In our effort to always give our readers the best, up to date local reporting, we have recently collaborated with Ohio University students to build interactive, constantly updated timelines for stories that are important to you. Graveside services for James "Jimmy" Gary Hope 67, of Athens, are scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday November 20, 2021, Union Cemetery in Crossroads, TX. Pastor Jeff Jackson will be officiating. Jimmy passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Jimmy was born on July 3, 1954 In a very simplified manner, yes, HRH owns a car that runs on wine and cheese. It smells delicious when you drive it, he once joked, and it even paved the way to a favorite joke with HRHs cousin, David Linley: How does Prince Charles drive his Aston Martin? Caerphilly. Its a very British instance of dry humor, but it is accurate.Prince Charles got the Aston Martin in 1969, either as a gift from the Queen on his 21st birthday or as a treat to himself. Much like Land Rover, Aston Martin has been enjoying a very fruitful relationship with the Royal Family, one that goes back decades, all the way to 1954. This particular car is a high-output Vantage, one of the 29 Volantes built for the DB6, starting with 1966.Originally, the 4.0-liter straight-6 engine delivered 325 hp at 5750 rpm (for the Vantage edition), with 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque at 4500 rpm, a top speed of 241 kph (150 mph) and 060 mph (96.5 kph) acceleration in 8.4 seconds. The DB6 might not be as famous worldwide as the ultimate James Bond car , the DB5, but it brought several improvements over it. Its an iconic vehicle and a most coveted classic.Prince Charles got his in what would ultimately become the Prince Charles Specification, with little custom touches meant to heighten his driving experience . He would enjoy it as it was in 2008, even though his involvement in environmental issues goes back all the way to the 70s. This was when he decided to convert it to run on bio-ethanol so as to be able to enjoy it with a clean conscience.As noted above, Aston Martin balked at the suggestion.However, the maker eventually relented when HRH threatened to stop driving it altogether, and Gloucestershire-based Green Fuels came into the picture to provide the waste-derived bio-ethanol. Its E85 bio-ethanol, a blend of white wine unsuitable for human consumption, whey from cheese manufacturing, and 15 percent unleaded gasoline.When the conversion was done, they had to admit that the car now performs better than ever, Prince Charles told Wallpaper magazine in an interview in 2018. The Aston Martin was powerful before, so much so that HRH had former Formula One world champion Graham Hill privately teach him how to drive it, but it is even more so now.The world may joke that Prince Charles Aston Martin is just like a bored housewife, surviving on wine and cheese, but that would be minimizing the issue. HRH is a known motorist and car collector, and the Aston Martin is just one of the cars he has converted along the years, though perhaps the most famous. He also owns modern EVs , starting with the first addition to the fleet, the then-brand new Jaguar I-Pace And HRH lives him life in accordance with the principles he publicly espouses, as much as possible. Highgrove, in Gloucestershire, has a Home Farm that is organic and agroecological, using homeopathic treatments for the animals instead of antibiotics. The castle is fitted with solar panels and biomass boilers, so most of the energy consumed is produced on site. In addition to driving old cars that have been refitted for the demands of an ever-changing and damaged environment, Charles himself has a strict anti-waste policy that has seen him, for instance, wear the same suits hes owned for decades. Shortly after its founder Andre Citroen passed away in 1935, the French company went bankrupt, but it was miraculously saved by the famed tire manufacturer Michelin who took full control of its operations. Citroen was quickly revived, mainly thanks to another pioneering car called Traction Avant , yet during the Second World War, it was reduced to producing military vehicles.Despite this, the men behind the aforementioned model, Italian sculptor, and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni, along with French aeronautical engineer Andre Lefebvre were working in total secrecy to develop the most revolutionary cars ever built.It took them no less than 18 years to complete the project and in 1955 the DS made its public debut at the Paris Motor Show. According to the carmaker, 743 orders were taken in the first 15 minutes and by the end of the day, that number rose to 12,000. It was an absolute record that stood for more than 60 years, and was only surpassed by Tesla when it introduced the Model 3 People were in awe with its design, which looked nothing like the cars roaming the roads at the time, yet what really made them so eager to own one was the unprecedented number of pioneering features it boasted.Lets start with the suspension, easily its most famous innovation. Not only was it among the first fully independent suspension designs to be fitted to a mass-produced vehicle, but also introduced a new hydropneumatic system developed in-house by Paul Mages. Although a similar system was used on the rear of the Traction Avant, the version on the DS enabled automatic leveling and variable ground clearance on all four wheels.This gave the car supreme handling and an unprecedented level of comfort which was essential on the poor, war-ravaged roads of the time. Even today, many experts consider it the best riding car the world has ever seen.Apart from the suspension, the handling was improved by the low center of gravity that resulted from the low-slung body that featured a fiberglass roof. Furthermore, understeer was greatly reduced by using different front and rear track widths.This marvelous Citroen was also among the first mass-produced cars to employ disc brakes and instead of a conventional brake pedal, it came with a rubber button. Yes, it was weird and needed a little time to get used to, but owners have reported that it eventually made driving easier and more comfortable. Furthermore, it came with power steering and a 3-speed semi-automatic gearbox that functioned as a conventional manual but didnt require a clutch pedal to shift gears. Later models got a revised 4-speed version along with standard 4- and 5-speed manuals.Another famous feature that was implemented on the 1967 Series 3 was the use of directional headlights. Behind each glass cover, the inboard high-beam lamp could swivel up to 80 degrees in sync with the steering, similar to the central headlight of the 1948 Tucker 48 The DS should have been powered by a powerful yet fuel-efficient flat-six but due to government regulations in place at the time throughout Europe, a modest inline-four made it under the hood of the production model. It initially made a meager 75 hp, yet owners didnt complain since virtually all of them purchased the car for the unparalleled ride quality it provided. Power was increased in future models to 83 hp, then 105 hp, and finally, a respectable 141 hp in 1973.It was manufactured in 1,455,746 units from 1955 to 1975 and throughout its production run, the groundbreaking DS was available as a 5-door wagon and a 2-door convertible , in addition to the popular 4-door sedan. Most of them were sold in Europe but the French carmaker also brought the DS to North American shores where it was offered from 1956 to 1972. Although it came with a conventional brake pedal, the less-than-thrilling engine, quirky design, and a poor marketing campaign didnt help it succeed.Although 66 years have passed since it was introduced, the DS remains one of the most innovative cars ever created. It helped revitalize both Citroen and the French automotive industry after the Second World War and pioneered many features that are still in use today.If you want to learn more about it, we recommend the 2015 episode of Jay Lenos Garage that you can find below. Everybody has a phone in their pocket, be it an Android device or an iPhone, and installing Android Auto and CarPlay support in a car is fairly cheap, so automakers have no reason to ignore this growing demand for advanced infotainment capabilities in their models.But in the last few months, theres a trend that isnt necessarily good news for some: the world is migrating to a wireless future, and CarPlay and Android Auto seem to be part of the whole thing.Google praised the wireless version of Android Auto a few months ago, revealing that it was already installed in over 100 million cars out there, all without considering aftermarket upgrades performed by users on vehicles not supporting such systems from the factory.And right now, there are plenty of head units out there allowing for wireless Android Auto, and in some cases, they dont cost more than a few hundred dollars without taking into account the installation costs.Google bragging about the adoption of Android Auto wireless isnt necessarily surprising, as the company itself is making big efforts to get this system to as many people as possible. The release of Android 11, for example, unlocked the wireless mode of Android Auto for all phones out there, as long as they come with 5 GHz Wi-Fi support. Previously, only select Samsung and Google Pixel models were supported.So its pretty clear Google is betting big on the wireless version of Android Auto, both right now and in the long term, with cables slowly but surely losing ground in this ecosystem. Especially since devices like AAWireless are so successful , that is.Pretty much the same thing is happening in the Apple world too.While the adoption of CarPlay is on the rise, the wireless mode is very often favored over the cable version, though this time, there are no actual figures because, you know, its Apple were talking about here and the Cupertino-based tech giant sticks with its FBI-like secrecy for pretty much everything.But its not hard to figure out that the future of CarPlay is wireless too. Just earlier this week, Infiniti announced wireless CarPlay as a free upgrade for several 2020 models, therefore allowing owners to run the app without the need for a cable.Apple is remaining tight-lipped on its long-term CarPlay plans, but on the other hand, its believed the company is even planning a portless iPhone that would ditch the Lightning connector. For CarPlay users, this means the wired version would be pretty much gone.The good thing that comes after this en-masse transition to wireless is the demise of the often-buggy wired connection. Its not a secret that cables have often turned into one big headache not only for Android Auto users but for those running CarPlay too, all because they ended up causing things like random disconnects, pairing problems, and even rendering issues in some apps.And choosing the right cable to run Android Auto and CarPlay in a vehicle isnt easy either. Android Auto users need to pick a high-quality and high-speed cord that works with their phones, and most people go for Anker cables; though not even these are a guarantee, they would be provided with a smooth experience behind the wheel.CarPlay adopters typically stick with the original Apple cable that (still) ships in the box, but unsurprisingly, some of them are struggling with random disconnects, and nobody knows if the culprit is the cable itself or some sort of update released by the Cupertino-based company recently.But at the end of the day, it just looks like the days of wired Android Auto and CarPlay are already numbered. Itd certainly take many years until the migration to wireless is complete, but right now, both Google and Apple are planning to make cables a thing of the past, and automakers out there seem to be all-in on this. Australia, were going to the Moon. ???? Weve reached an agreement with @NASA for an Australian-made rover to be part of a future mission, harnessing our skills and expertise in the resources sector. pic.twitter.com/uoJLis2YPr Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) October 12, 2021 The partnership is part of NASAs vast program Artemis for Moon exploration. Australias lunar rover project will be supported by the Trailblazer program, which is the countrys $150 million Moon to Mars initiative, announced in 2019.Australias small rover will be semi-autonomous and will weigh no more than 44 lb (20 kg). Its purpose will be to collect regolith, which consists of broken rock and dust from the surface of the moon. The regolith will be transferred to an ISRU (in-situ resource utilization) system operated by NASA, on a commercial lunar lander. NASA will attempt to extract oxygen from the lunar regolith, as the soil contains it in the form of compounds with elements such as silicon and iron. According to NASA, the Aussie-made rover will serve as a second means of collection that increases the chances of success, as the lander that delivers the rover will already include a mechanism for picking up lunar soil.While this specific demonstration will be a small-scale one, in the future, NASA aims to develop much larger and capable such units. They would allow astronauts to create rocket fuel and other consumables using the resources on the Moon.Australias rover is scheduled to fly to the lunar surface no earlier than 2026. So far, there havent been any other details revealed on the rover , but the Australian Space Agency assures us more information will be provided once the Trailblazer program opens later this year.According to Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, the country is at the cutting-edge of robotics technology and systems for remote operations, which are going to be central to setting up a sustainable presence on the Moon and eventually supporting the human exploration of Mars. As boasted by Continental, the cabin sensing technology was developed to meet the future EU safety standards and help automakers score well in the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) testing, as explained by Ulrich Luders, head of strategy and portfolio at Continentals business unit Human Machine Interface.For instance, starting with 2023, the Euro NCAP rewards the installation of interior camera systems. Also, starting with 2024, the European Commission will include some specifications for driver and vehicle monitoring, such as the ability to detect driver fatigue or lack of attention behind the wheel.The Germans cabin sensing solution combines interior cameras with radar sensor technology and smart algorithms, offering real-time object monitoring of the entire car interior. The camera is integrated directly into the display, with the company taking advantage of the miniaturization of technology. Continental s monitoring solution can detect a childs breathing, can identify him as a living person, and alerts the driver by sounding an alarm. This way, there is no risk of parents forgetting a child in the back seat for instance. The same goes for animals and even objects.If the luggage is left behind, Continentals system can detect it and will send a notification to the owners phone.Moreover, Continental claims that in the future its cabin sensing technology will transform the car into a smartwatch, being able to measure object movements but also health parameters such as breathing rate, pulse, or body temperature, to detect any health emergencies. In case any of them occur, the system will safely stop the vehicle.The cabin sensing solution has also been developed with autonomous driving in mind, with the cameras and sensors being able to tell whether the driver is able to take over the control of a car in case a traffic situation requires it. EV China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology offered no details about how the data would be collected or assessed. According to standards now in place, automakers are not allowed to export critical vehicle data abroad before checking with regulators and gaining official approval.The Chinese ministry said regulators would improve monitoring of vehicle data security measures and encourage telecom companies to invest in cyber security technologies aimed at ensuring that goal.Beijing has expressed concern about the potential mountains of data in the hands of private firms and says theyre worried that automotive data could be hacked or otherwise misused by foreign states. The government there reveals that regulators are developing hardware and technology to track data sent abroad.The reliance on expanding the arrays of sensors and cameras to assist drivers is said to be the motivation for the new rules. While that data is often used by manufacturers to create new technologies like autonomous driving systems, the Chinese are aware that it could also be used for nefarious purposes.Chinese automakers are currently required to store data generated from vehicles locally.U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc is the focus of scrutiny in China over how thecarmaker stores and handles customer data.In May, Reuters reported that the effort has gone so far that staff at Chinese government offices were banned from parking their Tesla vehicles inside government compounds. The government explained that the measure was taken over concerns about cameras in the vehicles. China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co Ltd (CAERI) said in a recent statement that it has developed a system to analyze the path of data transmission from autos and that it uses a detection device to monitor uploaded data and data gathered from vehicles. According to CAERI, the system is the first of its kind in China.The institute has tested the system against Tesla's Model 3 sedan and a list of SUVs made by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover. No results of those tests have yet been disclosed. For their part, automakers including Tesla, Ford Motor Company , and BMW are already at work setting up local data centers to meet the current Chinese regulatory requirements. SUV No need to beat it around the bush. The latest incarnation of the legendary off-roader is way too successful for its good. So, the waiting list is already incredibly long and continuously growing, mirroring other popular apparitions, such as the C8 Corvette And the upcoming arrival of the 2022 Lexus LX is certainly not going to solve the availability problem. It just gives Toyota the chance to hike up the price for the J300 some more. Unfortunately, there are no foreseeable solutions to these real-world problems, given all that is going on around the automotive world.But that doesnt mean virtual artists cant try and identify some CGI workarounds. Case in point, Theo the pixel master better known as theottle on social media has decided to once more play with the minds and souls of Land Cruiser J300 enthusiasts around the world. With a little Malaise twist, this time around.Its adamantly clear the iconic Toyotahas been a darling of the CGI imagination land even before its official arrival. Its been lowered, tuned, blown to rugged off-road proportions, and constantly transformed into its luxurious Lexus LX counterpart. But this time around it goes in the opposite direction.As such, the virtual artist has found a crazy solution to Land Cruisers long waiting list and big price tag. But were not sure anyone is going to like it... because the J300 styling was transplanted inside the body of a little-known Malaysian A-segment SUV.Its the Perodua Ativa, a recent interpretation of the Daihatsu Rocky, which is now hilariously dressed up with the front and rear fascias of the 300-series Land Cruiser! Definitely not everyones cup of tea... But lets start with the essential information that anyone can figure out by simply browsing the photo gallery in the article.This 1965 Corvette has already received a series of customizations, and eBay seller lexcyny says they have all been made in the late 70s. In other words, this Corvette comes with some old-school mild tuning, but at the same time, theres something that you may not necessarily be excited about: the paint.The current finish that you see on the body isnt the original one that came with the Corvette when it rolled off the assembly lines, and the seller explains the car has been repainted at some point during the 70s.And even worse, its now showing signs of wear, which means that whoever ends up buying the Corvette might have no other option than to repaint it for the second time, especially if what theyre aiming for is a mint condition with a spotless body.And yet, this doesnt necessarily mean the car no longer looks good. It does, and partially to thank to for the whole thing is the previous owner of the Corvette, who took proper care of it for over 30 years and always kept it inside a garage The 350 (5.7-liter) LT1 engine under the hood is said to run amazing, while the tires are old and would almost certainly need to be replaced. The odometer indicates just 33,500 miles (54,000 miles), all believed to be original.If this is a Corvette that tickles your fancy, be ready to spend big money on it. However, the seller is willing to let it go for nearly $40,000, and he also enabled the "Make Offer" button, meaning that he might consider other deals. It's not every day that we see a company lay out the road map for ten new vehicles. It's even rarer for them to all be electric and rarer still that five of them are releasing in just four years' time.That's exactly what Honda did today though as the Japanese company announced plans to release two new models next year and eight more by 2030. These vehicles will fall under a new series called e:N. Yes, little e, big N. According to Honda, e:N "represents Hondas desire to energize people who are trying to do things based on their own initiative in this era of electrification."Honda says that next year we can expect the release of the first two vehicles under the e:N badge. The first will be the e:NS1 , a semi-sporty-looking crossover with a flashy paint job. The second is the e:NP1, another crossover that looks to be aimed squarely at rival models from the upper segments, such as the Mazda CX-9.Honda says that to support this new effort they'll be making a specific e:N space in each of its Chinese dealerships. Then when the time is right, they'll create e:N-only dealerships in major Chinese cities.They also say that they plan to make most of the vehicles in their GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda factories. They also announced that they'll begin the application of their advanced driver-assistance system, Honda SENSING 360 , in China in 2022.This marks a giant leap forward for Honda as they attempt to capture market share with new products, new support, and more technology than ever before in the Chinese market. The best part is that Honda says they'd like to export vehicles as well so maybe we'll get our hands on an e:N sooner than later. 4 This Custom Honda CBR1000RR Is Infused With a Healthy Dose of Neo-Retro DNA 2 2023 Honda Civic Type R Gets Hit With the CGI Stick, Do You Like the Design? 1 600-HP Civic Steps up to a GT3 Bentley, You Won't Believe What Happens Next Honda Unveils HondaJet 2600 Concept, the World's First Transcontinental Light Jet Honda has unveiled a new business jet concept that fits a different segment from the original HondaJet aircraft. The HondaJet 2600 Concept is intended to be the world's first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the U.S. 6 photos The aircraft's Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) technology on wings and fuselage nose and the carbon composite fuselage are also retained. Building upon these technological advancements, the HondaJet 2600 Concept will have sufficient range to enable it to compete in the mid-size segment. With a range of 2,625 nautical miles (3,021 miles/ 4,861 km), It offers a spacious interior that can seat 11 passengers and class-leading pressurization with a cabin altitude of 6,363 feet (1,939 meters) at its max operating altitude of 47,000 feet (14,326 meters). Guests will also be able to choose from 3 types of modular and customizable cabin configurations. The Honda aims to deliver a sustainable aircraft capable of reducing carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to traditional light jets. Not only that, but its advanced integrated technologies will make the concept 40% more fuel-efficient than a mid-size jet. "With the HondaJet 2600 Concept, which enables efficient transcontinental flight, offers new level of cabin comfort and capacity, and dramatically reduces CO2 emssions, we are introducing a new generation of business jets," said Honda Aircraft chief executive Michimasa Fujino. Honda Aircraft Company has unveiled the new concept during a special event hosted by the company at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition. Its design is based on the original HondaJet, maintaining its Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, which works with the airflow over the wing to minimize aerodynamic shockwave, increasing the jet's top speed.The aircraft's Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) technology on wings and fuselage nose and the carbon composite fuselage are also retained. Building upon these technological advancements, the HondaJet 2600 Concept will have sufficient range to enable it to compete in the mid-size segment.With a range of 2,625 nautical miles (3,021 miles/ 4,861 km), Honda aims to make the HondaJet 2600 the world's first light jet that can fly nonstop transcontinental flight across the U.S.It offers a spacious interior that can seat 11 passengers and class-leading pressurization with a cabin altitude of 6,363 feet (1,939 meters) at its max operating altitude of 47,000 feet (14,326 meters). Guests will also be able to choose from 3 types of modular and customizable cabin configurations.The aircraft was designed to be operated by a single pilot. As a result, the cockpit features advanced technologies such as electrification and automated systems, including autothrottle and autobrake. An additional high-tech interface will also reduce the pilot's workload.Honda aims to deliver a sustainable aircraft capable of reducing carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to traditional light jets. Not only that, but its advanced integrated technologies will make the concept 40% more fuel-efficient than a mid-size jet."With the HondaJet 2600 Concept, which enables efficient transcontinental flight, offers new level of cabin comfort and capacity, and dramatically reduces CO2 emssions, we are introducing a new generation of business jets," said Honda Aircraft chief executive Michimasa Fujino. load press release Blake Resnik is from Las Vegas and was 17 when the Mandalay Bay mass shooting shocked the entire world. It was at that moment the young inventor first thought about developing a drone that can be deployed in dangerous places ahead of first responders, to serve them and prevent them from risking their own lives. It is how his company, Brinc Drones, was born.The Lemur S was designed as a tactical drone that can enter certain structures first to communicate from inside buildings and be the eyes and ears of first responders while keeping them safe. This system uses Lidar technology where GPS doesnt work and can provide two-way communication. It can locate people inside homes, skyscrapers, and vehicles. It can also easily push interior doors to get access inside.It took three years for the drone to be developed under the Brinc Drones brand, and the company finally began selling the drones earlier this year.The Lemur S has a rugged construction and can cope with falls from up to 40 ft (12 m) high. It has a Turtle Mode that allows it to flip itself over in case it lands on its back so that it can relaunch and finish its mission.Weighing just 2.4 lb (1.1 kg) and measuring 12.7 x 15.2 x 3.7 in (32.4 x 38.6 x 9.6 cm), it is easy to handle. In terms of battery life, the Lemur S has a 31-minute flight time and you can charge it to 90 percent in 45 minutes.The Lemur packs two ultra-sensitive mics that can catch any sounds from up to 100 ft (30 m) away. It also comes with a small loudspeaker with adjustable volume and can be heard from up to 500 ft (152m), allowing for two-way communication.Because it was designed to work in any lighting conditions, the drone is equipped with a 1080p, 60 fps wide-angle fixed lens with a built-in night-vision system and infrared illuminators. The Lemur can carry a wide variety of payloads, making it suitable for various types of missions , from hazmat operations to search and rescue. It comes with various accessories such as a glass breaker attachment, flood light attachment, multi-purpose dropper attachment, and more.An onboard micro SD card slot allows you to record high-quality video and audio and theres a 64GB micro SD card included.The Lemur S tactical drone is available to purchase from several retailers, but you have to request a quote. You can also ask for a demo of the drone on the Brinc website Brinc has recently raised $25 million in funding and is now looking to build a system designed to respond to emergencies within seconds and succeed the police helicopter. The company is also making drones for industrial use in situations that are too dangerous for people. All the products are made in the U.S. If you are a Maserati fan, you already know that the great Juan Manuel Fangio raced a Maserati 250F race car for the brand's debut in Formula 1. That is where the F comes from in the "F Tributo Speciale" name, but the Tributo part comes from the Italian term for homage or tribute.The special edition of these two Maserati models comes in two exclusive colors, Azzurro Tributo and Rosso Tributo. The former is blue, while the latter is red. The former was chosen because Maserati race cars were always blue, historically speaking, but this particular shade is meant to remind people of the city of Modena, which is the brand's modern home.Meanwhile, red is a representative color for Italian motorsports, and it is also a reference to Fangio's 250F, which had a red and yellow livery. The yellow part of the said livery can be seen both in the brake calipers and on the wheel trim.All Maserati F Tributo Special Edition cars come with 21-inch wheels finished in gloss black. The Levante gets the Anteo wheel model, while the Ghibli gets the wheels that are called Titano.Customers will also notice the F Tributo badge on the wheel arch, as well as the company's trident logo painted in body color on the C-pillar. The interior of these models comes in black, full-grain leather that has red or yellow stitching.These special editions of the Ghibli and Levante were first launched back in April when Maserati celebrated exactly 95 years since the company's racing debut with the Tipo26, which is Italian for Type 26. The car went on to win its class, the 1,500-cc one, at the 1926 Targa Florio, and its driver was Alfieri Maserati.This may be evident, but you probably know that Alfieri Maserati is one of the Maserati brothers who have named the Italian automaker. You might not know that the Maserati family had seven sons, but only six reached adulthood.Alfieri passed away at the age of 1, and the next born son was named after him. The second Alfieri went on to become an automotive engineer, mechanic, and race car pilot.Unfortunately, a racing accident back in 1927 left Alfieri Maserati with kidney damage, which led to this death in a hospital in Bologna on March 3rd, 1932. The company started by his brothers commemorated him with a concept car in 2014 , so this special edition marks a second homage to the Italian pilot, engineer, and co-founder of the Maserati Car Manufacturing Company.While the Italian marque did not specify pricing, there is a link where customers can check out the inventory of the F Tributo cars in North America. From what we can gather, the Ghibli F Tributo Q4 starts at an MSRP of $98,890, but many other available units start at $101,390.Meanwhile, the Levante F Tributo starts at an MSRP of $106,590.Mind you, the prices written above come from the company's webpage and may change at any given moment, and terms and conditions apply, so be sure to ask a dealer before ordering one. A Webb team spent over a month folding, stowing, and prepping the giant observatory for shipment to South America after completing testing in August at Northrop Grumman' s Space Park in Redondo Beach, California.On September 24th, Webb traveled about 26 miles (42 km) through Los Angeles streets in a custom-built environmentally controlled container, escorted by police, from Redondo Beach to Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach.From there, the telescope was transferred to MN Colibri, a French-flagged cargo ship. The space science observatory departed Seal Beach on September 26th, and after 16 days, it arrived at its future launch site: the Guiana Space Centre.This ocean journey was the last earthbound journey for Webb . NASA's engineers will conduct final tests on the observatory's condition after it is removed from its shipping container. The next step for the team is to make the final preparations for the telescope's big space journey.On December 18th, Webb will be launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket and will travel for about a month to reach its final orbit located 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from the Earth. Once in space, Webb will peer into all phases of cosmic history and will help scientists search for evidence of potentially habitable alien worlds."Webb has crossed the country and traveled by sea. Now it will take its ultimate journey by rocket one million miles from Earth, to capture stunning images of the first galaxies in the early universe that are certain to transform our understanding of our place in the cosmos," says Gregory Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA Headquarters. Recently, BMW managed to stir a fair bit of controversy with the abominable grille theyve slapped on the facelifted M3 and M4 models. However, lets give credit where credit is due, shall we? The isolated occurrences when the House of Munich gets something wrong are few and far between, so I guess well eventually forgive them for slaughtering the beloved kidney grille on these machines.At the end of the day, the Bavarian manufacturer graced us with countless two- and four-wheeled marvels over the years, and this fact alone should cleanse their sins at least in part. To take our minds off the recent mishaps for a minute, well leave the cars aside and examine a gorgeous entity thats been produced by Motorrad back in the early seventies.To be exact, what youre seeing here is a pristine 1973 BMW R75/5 that packs numbers-matching componentry, a toaster-style fuel chamber, and a youthful pair of Avon Roadrider tires. Furthermore, the bikes engine was subjected to a comprehensive rebuild under current ownership, receiving dual-spark cylinder heads and fresh fuel lines, as well as a Dynatek ignition booster and new spark plugs.Following the overhaul, the mill flaunts an additional four cubic centimeters of displacement. The drivetrain modules have been honored with an invigorating makeover, as were the Beemers Bing carburetors and telescopic forks. In terms of its fundamental specifications, the 73 MY R75/5 features an air-cooled 749cc boxer-twin powerplant, with two pushrod-operated valves per cylinder.At 6,200 rpm, this bad boy will go about delivering 50 ponies to a four-speed gearbox, which spins the rear wheel through a shaft final drive. Without further ado, were thrilled to tell you this spotless titan is going under the hammer at no reserve on Bring A Trailer, and youd need a mere 3,500 bucks to best the current bid (for now)! If youre feeling inclined to do just that, well have you know the BaT auction will be open until Monday, October 18. The new vehicle was developed under the codename Project Maybach. Gorden Wagener, Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer, teamed up with Virgil Abloh to conceive the car. This is not the first collaboration Mercedes-Benz has with the American designer, who also helped reimagine the G-Glass.Very little has been said about Project Maybach. However, Wagener said that the idea is to transform the brand into a luxury electric future. With Maybach, the electric shift may be easier than for Rolls-Royce: the German brand may start with a clean sheet of paper without any commitment or compromise with anything it produced in the past.As interesting as that may seem, it also seems unlikely that Maybach will do something independently. Lately, Maybachs are just more luxurious versions of Mercedes-Benz models. That is one of the reasons why we think Project Maybach may turn out to be a fancy derivative of the Vision EQXX concept, which is yet to be presented. Daimler promises it will be unlike anything previously seen from Mercedes-Benz and that the concept exemplifies the possibility of design that is untethered by existing blueprints, or production specifications. In that sense, it may be something completely unusual, but we wonder what would be the point. A more luxurious derivative of the EQXX makes more sense.The German brand will only reveal the Project Maybach weeks from now. The presentation will coincide with the Art Basel in Miami Beach, which opens on December 2. The art show assembles more than 250 of the worlds leading art galleries. How does that relate to an ultra-luxury electric car? We have no clue. The car could be presented as a work of art. It could also mean that it is just a fantasy. Well have to wait to understand what Project Maybach is all about. Today, if you have enough time, money, and passion, it feels like getting a classic car up to snuff with contemporary rides is easier than ever. Restored and modified, these vehicles look vintage but ride as comfortably and/or hard as their modern counterparts.Oddly enough, some people dont just settle for the classic look. Matteo Gentile, the pixel master behind the mattegentile account on social media, has an artsy and very personal style of creating automotive restomods. Some of his creations go for a vintage atmosphere with murdered-out widebody looks Others take everything up a notch or two, quite literally, with crazy Porsche 911 VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) compositions that might forever alter ones perception of digitally floating cars. Now, probably just to show the wide range of ideas he comes up with, theres also a quick glimpse into a possible future where restomods blend styling with technology at unprecedented levels.Based on the legendary Lancia Stratos a model that has already been replicated and reinvented on occasions the CGI expert decided it was time for something truly mesmerizing. We have no idea if this will turn out to be a memorable digital piece of automotive art. But we certainly dig the futuristic combination of Stratos DNA with styling cues taken from the current wedge master aka Lamborghini.We are also not here to judge if any Stratos aficionado would agree to blatantly inspire a Lancia from the Lambo design book. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and we understand if this creation wont be everyones cup of tea. But frankly, its styling is so far-fetched (and partly rooting for an autonomous lifestyle ) that it really doesnt matter. We just need more audacious creations in our life like this one... and with no strings attached. SUV The Mirafiori plant used to produce more than 600,000 cars a year back in the 1970s. Currently, it builds the Maserati Levante, as well as the new Fiat 500 battery-electric minicar.According to Italian outlet La Repubblica, Stellantis is also looking into increasing production of the combustion-engine Fiat 500 at Mirafiori by shifting some volumes there from Tychy, Poland, reports Autonews Europe At the same time, the company will create a new electrified platform specific for Maserati, to the benefit of the Ghibli and the Quattroporte Stellantis is working with determination and alacrity to anticipate and prepare for the energy transition of all its Italian industrial sites, the carmaker said in a statement yesterday. By improving its manufacturing performance, Stellantis could give this country (Italy) a strategic role among the groups main domestic European markets.Furthermore, all 1,100 workers from the nearby Grugliasco site will move to Mirafiori by 2024, with no overall impact on jobs in the area, added the company. This decision marks the end of full car manufacturing at Grugliasco, less than a decade after it began rolling out Maserati models.Back in February, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares spoke with Italian unions about the high production costs at Fiats factories - up to four times more than PSAs costs for production in France or Spain for similar models with blame being assigned to low sales numbers rather than high labor costs.Now that steps are being taken to remedy such situations, Stellantis can look forward to maximizing its opportunities in Italy, and it all starts with shifting focus over to electric mobility. In fact, it was Michael Jordan himself who shamed the sneaker designer into giving up his scooter in favor of riding motorcycles back in 2003.Five years after Hatfield made the transition to bikes, Thor Drake co-founded See See Motorcycles in Portland, Oregon, and he then began building custom and cafe racer bikes to display at the very first One Motorcycle Show It was this shared love for motorcycles and design that led the pair to collaborate on a custom Zero SR/F project.According to Hatfield, it was the look of the Zero he said it was akin to an Italian superbike that led the pair to Portlandize the machine and take on the build. The resulting machine draws inspiration from aviation design and tattoo history.The Zero SR/Fs silhouette they came up with includes a riveted, polished aluminum fuel tank and the look recalls WWII fighter planes or perhaps even Airstream trailers.Add to the look teal-colored rims, gold handlebar ends and a frame powder-coated white, and the look comes together. But its the hand-painted, Japanese-inspired tattoo-esque custom seat that functions as the highlight of the machine.In addition, Drake upgraded the machine with an Ohlins suspension and a Brembo braking system.Following the builds debut, the custom SR/F will go to the Los Angeles Bonhams Auctions event on October 21, 2021. The proceeds are set to benefit the Friends of Columbia County."This bike was a true labor of love and I'm thrilled to be partnering with the Bonhams team in bringing it to market," Hatfield said. This fourth-generation sedan might look mostly stock on the outside, but it packs a fire-breathing dragon under the hood. It's a "hybrid" that brings together the bottom of a forged, 3.0-liter 2JZ and the cylinder head of a 2.5-liter 1JZ. The latter was actually offered in the fourth-gen Cressida. The combo, commonly referred to as a 1.5JZ engine, runs on methanol, mates to an MV Automatics Powerglide, and packs a whopping 1,200 horsepower.And amazingly enough, it's still fitted with a Toyota G-series IRS rear end and runs on slicks instead of radial tires. And it also competes in Australia's Sport Compact Street289 class, dominated by smaller and lighter, rotary-powered cars . At almost 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) long, the fourth-gen Cressida is no shorty, but it's impressively quick.Driven by Shane Crichton, the sedan recently broke its own record on the quarter-mile. A 7.81-second up until October 2021, the Cressida advanced into the 7.6s at a recent event. Following a slower-than-usual, 7.89-second run, the four-door Toyota stormed the quarter-mile in an impressive 7.65 clicks. To go with a trap speed of almost 182 mph. Shane cemented the new benchmark with a second 7.65-second sprint and a similar trap speed.I haven't seen that many Cressidas stretching their wheels at the drag strip , so this one might just be the quickest and most powerful of its kind.Based on the sixth-generation Toyota Mark II, the fourth-gen Cressida debuted in 1988. The final generation offered in the U.S., the Cressida was praised for its comfortable and solid fuel economy. The gap left by the discontinuation of the U.S.-spec Cressida in 1992 was filled by the Avalon in 1995. EV ADAS FSD The company has rapidly denied that the groups CEO would have said that. Still, Reuters said two different sources confirmed the conversation, first reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt. What it confirmed is that the competition is making Volkswagen speed up theshift even more.A Volkswagen spokesman called Michael Manske told Reuters that Tesla and Chinese competitors made the carmaker address the competitiveness of its Wolfsburg plant. Apart from being the oldest and largest Volkswagen plant in the world, Wolfsburg has a political meaning that cant be underestimated.The German carmaker would be studying alternatives to make the factory produce electric cars as soon as possible. According to Manske, theres nothing defined about that so far. However, he mentioned that Tesla is setting new standards for productivity and scale in Grunheide, which is curious for a plant that has not produced a single vehicle so far.Until Teslas factory really starts to pump out the Model Y, its threat is only theoretical. Apart from that, it is debatable if a single product could represent any danger to Volkswagen. Although it is a direct competitor to the ID.4, Volkswagen also sells the ID.3, a vehicle that Tesla has no competitors for.By generically mentioning Chinese competitors, the company probably did not want to bring awareness to BYD, NIO, and Xpeng. The first is the one that poses the most risk for Volkswagen, as a recent video from Fully Charged clearly showed. With the Dolphin , BYD could reach very high sales volumes in Europe if it can manufacture enough cars for the Chinese and European markets.Costing the equivalent of 12,500 in China, the Dolphin has about the same size as a Honda Fit/Jazz and presents LFP batteries with an 800V system. That allows it to recover 150 km (93 miles) of range in only five minutes with suitable chargers. If there is any car Volkswagen should be worried about, it is this one.Apart from the Dolphin, NIO and Xpeng have aggressive expansion plans. NIO offers a successful battery swapping system that could make all other electric cars somewhat inconvenient if it manages to establish a battery swapping network in Europe. Xpeng wants to offer anthat can seduce Tesla owners as a more robust trustworthy option to Autopilot andBoth companies are already the preferred used EV brands in China: Tesla comes third. It makes sense that Volkswagen did not name any of them: it could make European customers start paying attention to what they can offer. If it is more than Tesla can in EV terms, that will also be a problem for the German automaker. Copyright 2020 by Mountain Times Publications. Digital or printed dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action. The Biden administration is working with private companies, port officials and unions to keep the Port of Los Angeles running 24/7 in order to reduce the backlog of cargo ships floating in the Pacific, according to administration officials. Why it matters: With the International Monetary Fund citing supply chain problems as a major factor in cutting global growth projections, the White House is scrambling to address some of the sources of the problem at U.S. ports. The delays caused by shipping logjams could leave holiday shelves bare, with disruptions affecting everything from retail, to remodeling to rental cars. Driving the news: The White House is on Wednesday convening business and union leaders, as well as port officials, to discuss the delays at ports and the congestion across the transportation systems. President Biden will meet with leaders from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to discuss how they address the challenges in Southern California. They will announce public and private commitments to improve operations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together are the point of entry for 40 percent of containers to the U.S. What to watch: The goal is to accelerate the shipments of goods throughout the country. Walmart, UPS, FedEx, Samsung, The Home Depot and Target will all be part of the effort. Between the lines: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has agreed to have its members work those extra shift to expand capacity. The Port of Los Angeles will expand to 24/7 operations following the Port of Long Beach last month. Go deeper: Era of depletion and disruption The Florida Department of Health on Tuesday fined Leon County $3.5 million for requiring its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, saying it violated the state's ban on "vaccine passports." Why it matters: This is Florida's latest move to penalize local officials who have attempted to implement mask or vaccine mandates to contain the spread of the virus. Leon County, which is home to the state's capital, is said to have violated Florida law by requiring 714 employees to provide documentation certifying that they had received the vaccine and by firing 14 employees who hadn't complied, according to the notice of violation. Local governments in Gainesville and Orange County also had similar requirements, but Gainesville rescinded the vaccine mandate last month. What they're saying: "Every single day over the last 20 months of combating the pandemic, [our] emergency response and mitigation efforts have been informed by expert public health guidance," Leon County Administrator Vincent Long said in an emailed statement. "The Governor's position in this instance unfortunately appears to be less of a public health strategy and more about political strategy," he added. "Leon County fully intends to enforce its rights using any remedies available to settle all arguments about the applicability of the statute at issue so that we can continue to direct our full and undivided attention on combating the virus." "It is unacceptable that Leon County violated Florida law, infringed on current and former employees' medical privacy, and fired loyal public servants because of their personal health decisions," DeSantis said in a statement. The big picture: Florida has become the epicenter of the nation's outbreak this summer, with deaths in the state comprising over 20% of COVID-related deaths across the U.S. last month, Axios' Shawna Chen writes. Go deeper: DeSantis threatens to issue "millions" in fines over local vaccine mandates The meeting was very productive, Pashinian said in an overnight Twitter post. We discussed both the bilateral agenda and the situation in the region. We will continue our contacts to implement the agreements reached, he wrote in Russian. It was not clear if he referred to new or earlier understandings reached with Putin. Putin and Pashinian met in Moscow on Tuesday for the fourth time this year. The talks apparently focused on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. An Armenian government statement said they discussed ongoing developments in and around the conflict zone, efforts to shore up stability in the region and the implementation of Russian-brokered agreements to establish transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russian-Armenian relations were also on the agenda, added the statement. Neither the government nor the Kremlin announced any agreements reached by the two leaders. Senior representatives of Armenias ruling Civil Contract party did not comment on Wednesday on the results of the talks. Benyamin Poghosian, an Armenian political analyst, suggested that Pashinian sought to ascertain Moscows position on Azerbaijani demands for a permanent land corridor that will connect the Nakhichevan exclave to the rest of Azerbaijan via Armenias Syunik province. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has threatened to forcibly open such a corridor if Yerevan continues to oppose its creation. Armenian leaders have denounced Aliyevs threats as territorial claims. They maintain that a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement that stopped last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh only calls for transport links between the two South Caucasus states. The Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani governments set up in January a trilateral working group tasked with working out practical modalities of opening the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for commercial traffic. The groups Russian co-chair, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, insisted last month that it has not discussed possible transport corridors. Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, hosted a meeting between the spiritual leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on Wednesday. Kirill said at the start of the meeting that he will discuss with Armenias Catholicos Garegin II and Azerbaijans top Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, ways of overcoming the consequences of the Karabakh conflict. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said he and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reached concrete agreements to that effect during the talks held in Yerevan. He also reaffirmed Armenias support for India in its long-running dispute with Pakistan and praised New Delhis principled position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Pakistan staunchly supports Azerbaijan in that conflict, refusing to not only establish diplomatic relations with Armenia but also formally recognize it. Islamabad underscored that support during last years Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Karabakh. But it denied claims that Pakistani soldiers participated in the six-week war on the Azerbaijani side. Pakistani troops regularly take part in joint military exercises held by Azerbaijan and Turkey. By contrast, India has backed international efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict spearheaded by the United States, Russia and France. It has also effectively sided with Armenia in an Armenian-Azerbaijani border dispute that broke out in May this year. In a statement issued at the time, the Indian Foreign Ministry called on Baku to pull back forces immediately and cease any further provocation. Mirzoyan recalled and hailed that statement during his joint news conference with Jaishankar. For our part, we reaffirm our position in terms of supporting India on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he said. Mirzoyan stressed that forging closer ties with India is one of Armenias foreign policy priorities. We need to take joint steps to elevate our relations in the political, economic, military and cultural fields to a new level, he said. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian echoed that statement when he met with Jaishankar later in the day. We not only express readiness but also have concrete ideas and proposals regarding what we should cooperate [with India] on, he said. Jaishankar, who is the first Indian foreign minister to ever visit Armenia, told reporters that he and Mirzoyan approved a roadmap for future cooperation and mutual visits at different levels. He singled out closer economic ties between the two nations whose bilateral trade was worth only $128 million last year. In that regard, both ministers, who previously met in Tajikistan on September 16, stressed the importance of establishing an Armenian-Indian transport link passing through Iran and its Chabahar cargo port in particular. India has built and operates two terminals at the Gulf of Oman port to bypass Pakistan in cargo traffic with Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian countries. New Delhi has also proposed Chabahars inclusion in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project initiated by Russia, Iran and India in 2000. The project envisages a 7,200-kilometer-long network of maritime and terrestrial routes stretching from Mumbai to Moscow. We support using the Chabahar port and other initiatives that would expand links between our two countries, said Jaishankar. Mirzoyan said the Iranian port could be used for cargo shipments to not only Armenia but also neighboring Georgia and further north, to Russia and even Europe. He said Armenia and Iran are planning to sign an agreement on such freight transport. Montazeri met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian after discussing with his Armenian counterpart Artur Davtian Armenian-Iranian cooperation in combatting cross-border crime and extradition of dozens of Iranian nationals jailed in Armenia on mostly drug-related charges. Pashinian hailed that cooperation, saying that it is in tune with his and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis intention to reinvigorate the broader Armenian-Iranian relationship. According an Armenian government statement, he stressed the need for new impetus to bilateral commercial ties. We are interested in developing ties with Armenia to the benefit of our countries, the statement quoted Montazeri as saying. Those ties allow the two neighboring states to jointly confront the existing challenges in the region, he said. The two men, the statement went on, also touched upon processes taking place in the region, with Montazeri saying that Iran will not put up with the presence of terrorists and war-mongering forces along its borders. The conservative cleric thus echoed recent days statements by other Iranian officials accusing Azerbaijan of harboring Sunni Muslim militants and Israeli security personnel near the Iranian border. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again rejected these accusations in a newspaper interview published on Wednesday. He said Tehran is simply unhappy with Bakus decision to start levying hefty fees from Iranian trucks transporting goods to and from Armenia. The vehicles are being stopped at a 21-kilometer section of the main Armenia-Iran highway which Yerevan controversially ceded to Baku shortly after last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyev again said that Azerbaijani police and customs set up a roadblock there on September 12 because Tehran failed to stop Iranian trucks from carrying out cargo shipments to Karabakh. Two Iranian truck drivers were arrested there and accused of illegally travelling to Karabakh. They were reportedly set free on Wednesday one day after the Iranian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers spoke by phone in a bid to ease the unprecedented Azerbaijani-Iranian tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was reported to tell his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov that the two Shia Muslim neighbors should not let their enemies damage their relations. He made clear at the same time that the Islamic Republic expects a solution to the problem of cargo transit. Bayramov reportedly proposed that Azerbaijani and Iranian customs officials meet and discuss the issue. The amendments to the Armenian Criminal Code made grave insults directed at individuals because of their public activities crimes punishable by heavy fines and a prison sentence of up to three months. Those individuals may include government and law-enforcement officials, politicians and other public figures. The first criminal case stemming from the new Criminal Code clauses was reportedly opened a month ago. The police went on to launch about a dozen other investigations of this kind. A police spokesperson declined to clarify on Wednesday whether all of them relate to insults aimed at Pashinian. The police department of Yerevans Avan and Nor Nork disticts is conducting several such inquiries. One of its senior investigators, Sargis Papoyan, acknowledged that all of them are targeting individuals who insulted Pashinian, including with social media posts containing swear words of sexual character. Papoyan said one suspect identified by police investigators is a woman who posted a picture of Pashinian on Facebook and commented on it in an offensive manner. That person has said that the reason for her comment containing a grave insult is the situation on the countrys borders, the officer told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. U.S. democracy watchdog Freedom House deplored the Criminal Code articles shortly after the Armenian authorities began enforcing them. It spoke of a clear degradation of democratic norms in Armenia, including freedom of expression. Alen Simonian, the Armenian parliament speaker and a close Pashinian associate, rejected the criticism earlier this week. When a child gets to see a politician swearing on the Internet is that freedom of speech? he said. Armenian civic activists also see a threat to free speech. One of them, Zaruhi Hovannisian, argued on Wednesday that the new legal provisions do not clearly define grave insults and give excessive discretionary authority to law-enfocement bodies. As we can see, the new law serves to scrutinize comments about people in the highest echelons of power, said Hovannisian. The controversial amendments have also been condemned by the Armenian opposition. Opposition leaders claim that Pashinian himself has relied heavily on slander and hate speech since coming to power in 2018. All forms of slander and defamation had been decriminalized in Armenia in 2010 during then President Serzh Sarkisians rule. Two Kern drinking water systems are among 11 statewide that dont comply new federal standards for arsenic that took effect in 2006. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Oregon Coast Town Was Inspiration Behind Herbert's 'Dune:' Celebrations Ensue Published 10/11/21 at 4:26 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Florence, Oregon) Did you know that the seminal sci-fi book series (and now two movies) were influenced by a central Oregon coast town? (Photo courtesy Flickr / Sheila Sund) History can be one trippy storyteller and so was author Frank Herbert, who penned the Dune anthology series. The universe he created around the planet Arrakis and the mind-bending intrigue that took place there and in space influenced at least three generations and created legions of obsessed fans. It turns out, Herbert was visiting the Oregon National Dunes Recreation Area and Florence back in 1957, studying the movement of the dunes and the beachgrass of the area, and that planted a seed in his mind. A few years later, it culminated in being much of the inspiration behind his book series, with the first Dune book getting published in 1965. Herbert's connection to the Oregon coast and Florence will be celebrated in a large way in town, starting October 12 and going through November 4. The celebrations will include screenings of both the 1984 David Lynch movie and the new film debuting on October 22. City Lights Cinemas and the Siuslaw Public Library will present a series of screenings and discussions during the Frank Herbert Dune Celebration, honoring the historical ties between the Florence dunes and the seminal science fiction classic that influenced a generation of books, music, and films. Herbert traveled to Florence, Oregon, to write a magazine article on the Oregon Dunes. Fascinated by the struggle between nature and humanity, he wrote to his agent, Sand dunes have been known to swallow whole cities, lakes, rivers, highways. The article never materialized, but the awe of the Oregon dunes became the inspiration for Dune, said Meg Spencer, executive director for the Siuslaw Public Library. Visitors to the library and City Lights Cinemas will be able to see rare items from the Frank Herbert collection including books, film memorabilia, and art, all of which were donated to the library by Herbert's family. Herbert was born in Tacoma, Washington, and spent some time in Portland after living in Salem for many years, graduating from North Salem High School. The article never materialized, but the awe of the Oregon dunes became the inspiration for Dune, said Meg Spencer, executive director for the Siuslaw Public Library. Visitors to the library and City Lights Cinemas will be able to see rare items from the Frank Herbert collection including books, film memorabilia, and art, all of which were donated to the library by Herbert's family. Michael Falter, proprietor of City Lights Cinemas, said the book made quite an impact. Herbert's fantasy world came to life in a series of landmark books, movies, and graphic novels that formed some of the most influential fiction, music, art, and film of all time while shaping culture, science, and politics, Falter said. Event organizer Jared Anderson said that even the plains of Saturn's moon, Titan, are named after the book, as well as a crater on Earth's moon, adding, Because of Herbert's work, and that of his family, friends, and all those who love great writing, the inspiration of the Florence dunes has spread into the stars. We are so excited to invite the science fiction-loving public to Florence for this series of special events, said Bettina Hannigan, president/CEO of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. Florence will proudly embrace its place in the saga's history over the next several weeks at City Lights Cinema, the Oregon Coast's leading arts film theater, and at our amazing library's Dune Room', with special screenings, lectures, and discussions. Visitors can see both the 1984 Universal picture directed by David Lynch, and the greatly anticipated 2021 Warner Brothers adaptation directed by Denis Villeneuve, while learning the rich history behind Dune and the Oregon coast. Here is the schedule of events: October 12 (3:30 and 6:30 p.m.) A special screening of the 1984 Dune with an informative presentation by the inspired and knowledgeable film experts at City Lights Cinemas. Discover the tumultuous journey to bring Dune to cinemas along with its ties to some of the biggest sci-fi hits in cinema history. A special standalone film plays at 12:30 p.m. without a presentation. October 21 & 22 (7:00 p.m.) A premier screening of the brand new Dune movie and an exclusive filmed intro with Byron Merritt, Frank Herbert's grandson, who will talk about the legacy of Dune and its connections to Florence. Merritt was a consultant on the new Dune film. October 23 (3:30 p.m.) Dune (2021) and presentation by Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative. Learn more about Herbert's history with Florence's dunes and the effort to restore them. October 24 (3:30 p.m.) Dune (2021) with an intriguing in-theater book club event contrasting the book and film from page to screen presented by the Siuslaw Public Library director Meg Spencer. Both the novel and the new graphic novel are available at the library and City Lights Cinemas. November 4 (10:30 a.m.) Online book club with the Siuslaw Public Library discussing the themes and meanings of the book. Get details at ref@siuslawlibrary.org or call 541-997-3132. Tickets on sale now at https://www.citylightscinemas.com/dune-celebration/, or in person at City Lights Cinemas, 1930 Highway 101, Florence, OR. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Yachats Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Heaven's Gate Suicide Cult and its Connections to Oregon Coast The group had distinct connections to Gold Beach and Waldport. Sciences, history Oceanfront Marvels of Lincoln City's Pelican Shores Inn - Central Oregon Coast Not a lot of attention but one heck of a loyal following. Lincoln City lodging, Depoe Bay, Pacific City Nye Beach a Bit of Oregon Coast Time Travel - But Which Direction? The 'hood in Newport runs from kooky to futuristic to time trippin'. Travel tips The group had distinct connections to Gold Beach and Waldport. Sciences, historyNot a lot of attention but one heck of a loyal following. Lincoln City lodging, Depoe Bay, Pacific CityThe 'hood in Newport runs from kooky to futuristic to time trippin'. Travel tips Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Spooktacular Fun on Central Oregon Coast with Lincoln City Events Published 10/12/21 at 4:36 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) It's the central Oregon coast town that's collectively saying boo! Lincoln City pulls out the ectoplasmic stops during Halloween season, with a wide array of fun and unique gatherings and events that are safe and socially-distanced. October brings to town the Haunted Taft walking tours, a live-action Zombie Apocalypse Archery Arcade, costume contest and a Spooky Spectacular drive-thru haunted house. All this spooky frivolity joins new and old attractions with their otherworldly sides, including the Harry Potter-themed Cheeky Caldron, Siletz Bay ghost ship, haunted Wild Flower Grill and the legend of Devils Lake. A whole lotta happenin's take place over the month. Here's a basic schedule: Live Action Zombie Apocalypse Archery Arcade: Lincoln City Archery (1500 SE East Devils Lake Rd., Ste. 41) will host a live action zombie apocalypse simulation starting at 5 p.m. on Oct. 18, running through Nov. 1. Players will work in teams, and zombies will outnumber players by a ratio of 2 to 1. Players purchase lives, and zombies will start at 14 yards away, trying to take them away. Skillful shots stop zombies from reaching the kill zone and taking a life from the players. Haunted Taft Walking Tour: Haunted Taft takes guests on an eerie stroll through the Historic Taft District of Lincoln City (starting at Sapphire Center, 4840 SE Hwy 101). Tours begin twice a month in April every year and finish with every Saturday in October. Guests hear the spooky tales, from the mysterious Ghost Schooner of Siletz Bay to a ghostly barefooted bartender at the oldest operated bar on the Oregon Coast to legends of pirates and the exploits of pioneers. Costume Contest at The Beach Club: On Oct. 29 and 30 between 7:30 and 11 p.m., The Beach Club (2020 NE 22nd St.) will host a costume contest with prizes. In addition, the band Vintage, renowned for its great dancing music, will perform both nights. The Beach Club will charge a $10 cover. Spooky Spectacular Drive-Through Haunted House: Guests this year are welcome to participate in a drive-through trick-or-treat experience on Halloween at the Lincoln City Outlets Parking Garage (1500 SE East Devils Lake Rd.), taking place Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. A special sensory sensitive experience will be offered from 3 p.m. through 4 p.m. All pranks and animations will go into gear at 4 p.m., including scary animatronics, smoke machines, music and spooky interactive characters. Cheeky Cauldron, courtesy photo Harry Potter-themed Cheeky Cauldron (1640 NE Hwy 101): The Cheeky Cauldron is a Harry Potter-themed retail shop that offers magical sorting ceremonies plus oracle and teal leaf readings. To celebrate Halloween, the Cheeky Cauldron will host a costume contest the entire month of October. Costume photos are posted for their followers to rate, with a winner announced on Oct. 31. Additionally, anyone who comes into the shop wearing a Harry Potter-themed costume now through the end of October will receive a discount on any purchases. The Cheeky Cauldron will also host a Hallows High Tea on Oct. 30 and 31, in addition to in-person potions classes and both in-person and online tarot readings. More information at cheekycauldron.com. Lincoln City's Haunted Attractions Siletz Bay Ghost Ship: One hundred and fifty years ago, a ship drifted into the Siletz Bay at the south end of Lincoln City, and legend holds that - while the ship was fully stocked with supplies - there was not a soul aboard. Until the early 2000s, the ribs of this schooner could be seen peeking through the mudflats of the Siletz Bay, before being completely swallowed by the earth. To this day, the Ghost Schooner is occasionally spotted sailing into the bay before vanishing into thin air. Legend of Devils Lake: It's said something tentacled and mysterious lurks in the greenish depths of Devils Lake. Local Native American oral legend speaks of a bad spirit, an octopus-like creature that dwells within the lake. Breakfast with Matilda: The Wild Flower Grill (4250 NE Hwy 101) has a resident benevolent spirit named Matilda, who enjoys opening and closing cabinets. On one occasion, she rattled a locked doorknob of an employee restroom and then pushed the door open without unlocking itbut no one was there. One witness claims to have seen Matilda stroll past him in the restaurant and disappear on the balcony. Lincoln City Glass Center: Home to multiple hauntings, from the building's varied past, guests at the Lincoln City Glass Center (4821 SW Hwy 101) may see a 1940's milk truck, which appears on misty nights, the portrait of Baby G, which was found in the building and now mysteriously moves itself about, and visitations from the memorial glass art created using the ashes of the departed. Snug Harbor: The oldest continually operated tavern on the Oregon Coast, Snug Harbor (5001 SW Hwy 101) is home to ghosts of rowdy loggers and fishermen who make themselves known after closing, served by the famous barefoot bartender. Haunted North Lincoln Historical Museum: Perhaps the spirits of Lincoln City feel comfort surrounded by its history, as more than one has been sensed at the North Lincoln Historical Museum (4907 SW Hwy 101). The former museum curator claimed to hear human noises wandering the exhibits while working alone late at night. Psychics say that a group will meet around the conference room table on the second floor - maybe harkening to the days when the building served as a meeting space for City Council. For more information, visit: explorelincolncity.com. Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees nearly 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted (Bloomberg) -- International Business Machines Corp., American Airlines Group Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. will follow President Joe Bidens mandate requiring that employees be vaccinated against Covid-19, defying an order from the Texas governor blocking such actions. The decisions Tuesday set up an immediate challenge to Republican Governor Greg Abbott by three of the states largest employers. Companies with business operations in Texas have been caught between Abbotts decree and a White House measure that says federal contractors must require the shots. IBM is a federal contractor and must comply with federal requirements, which direct employees of federal contractors to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by December 8th or obtain a medical or religious accommodation, a spokesperson for the New York-based company said. We will continue to protect the health and safety of IBM employees and clients, and we will continue to follow federal requirements. IBM has more than 6,000 people in its Austin-area workforce alone, according to the local chamber of commerce, and the two airlines have an even bigger footprint in the state. American, the largest U.S. carrier, is based in Fort Worth, and No. 4 Southwest has its headquarters in Dallas. Both airlines have contracts with the federal government for transporting employees and goods. We believe the federal vaccine mandate supersedes any conflicting state laws, and this does not change anything for American, American said of the Texas ban. Southwest echoed that statement. We would be expected to comply with the presidents order to remain compliant as a federal contractor, the company said. The Texas governors office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The states effort to blunt the impact of Bidens order was criticized by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who accused Abbott of putting politics ahead of health. Its not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing, she told reporters at a briefing in Washington. Were going to continue to implement the law -- which the president of the United States has the ability, the authority, the legal authority to do -- and we are going to continue to work to get more people vaccinated, to get out of this pandemic. The corporate blowback to Abbotts order came a day after the vaccine issue surfaced as Southwest worked to get operations back on track after canceling 3,100 flights over four days. As customer outrage grew over long waits, some politicians linked the disruptions to employee objections to the required shots. Southwest executives and its pilots union denied that work slowdowns or sickouts were responsible. American set a deadline of Nov. 24 for all workers to be fully vaccinated or face possible job loss. Southwest, which carries the most domestic passengers of U.S. airlines, set a Dec. 8 deadline. Both have said they would consider exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Abbotts move to counter the White House action came amid a national debate over vaccine mandates, which has engulfed corporate America as it tries to placate customers, employers and regulators. Some large oil and gas companies with operations in Texas, such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc, said they were still evaluating the ban and others, including Valero Energy Corp., declined to comment. No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a Covid-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, Abbott said in his executive order Monday. He plans to put his ban before a special session of the state House and Senate, which would let the Republican-controlled legislature enshrine his executive order into law. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Click here to read the full article. Eon executive James Higgins, who spent over thirty years at the James Bond production company, has died, his family have confirmed. He was 98. Higgins began his career as a student salesman at MGM in 1951. His fist job posting was to Wales, where he sold films to workmens halls (leisure facilities for miners and their families.) In the 1970s he worked for Paramount/Cinema International Corporation before becoming the head of distributor United International Pictures in the 1980s. During the 1990s he was president of what is now called the Film Distributors Association. During the course of his distribution career Higgins was responsible for overseeing the U.K. releases of blockbusters including the Indiana Jones films, Top Gun, Back to the Future, Jaws and Grease. With the experience that Ive had I can tell fairly well whether a film was going to be a big success or not and one tailored the advertising budgets and the number of prints that one had to ones expectation, he said of his successes. Higgins then joined Eon, the production company behind the James Bond franchise, as well as Astoria Productions, Barbara Broccolis independent production company. He remained a director of both companies until his death, acting primarily in an executive and advisory capacity. Over his lifetime, Higgins watched the film industry assaulted first by television (he described the launch of the BBC, followed by ITV in 1955, as having a cumulatively disastrous effect on admissions for cinemas in this country) and then by the Internet. In a 2012 interview he said hed heard about the end of cinema numerous times over the course of his career but suggested it was unlikely. It always remains that people enjoy seeing a film in the company of an audience and the reaction that you get from an audience, Higgins said. Its a different sensation from just watching it on the television. Thats what keeps it going. And people want to go out. Higgins died at home on Oct. 1, leaving behind three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by us all and his many friends, his family said in a statement. A funeral will be held in Higgins hometown of Wokingham at the end of the month. The family have requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Film and TV Charity (formerly the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund). Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fresh off an executive order the night before effectively banning vaccine mandates in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott made a trip to Beaumont Tuesday night to address the business community. Abbotts remarks as the key speaker for the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerces Annual Meeting mostly focused on economic wins for the state and legislative victories during the previous special sessions. But, absent in his remarks were any mention of the new order that extended a ban on mask requirements on private businesses. Related: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans coronavirus vaccine mandates, including for private businesses Instead, Abbott broached the policy briefly to the media before his remarks, explaining why he thought the order and a formal bill placed on the third legislative sessions agenda was necessary. This is a move to help restore freedom to individuals to make their own choice about whether or not they receive a vaccine, Abbott said. Ive talked to countless Texans in every part of the state who were literally crying because they were faced with two difficult choices: were they going to earn a livelihood or not be able to have money to pay their bills because they have to take a shot. It was a fitting event for the governor after promising to add mandate bans to the third legislative agenda as formal law. Most of the news of the day focused on major businesses in Texas reacting to the order, with companies like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines announcing they planned to keep vaccine requirements in place, according to CNN. Related: Boeing tells workers they must get COVID-19 vaccine Google and Facebook, which have significant campuses and employee bases in the state, also responded to the order. Facebook released a statement confirming its guidelines for employees remained unchanged, and Google had previously announced it would require proof of vaccination at all of its campuses. One of the economic notes Abbott cheered in his list of victories for the state was capturing the headquarters of tech companies like Hewlett-Packard and Tesla during the last year and a half. But, alongside economic development projects, Abbott said legislative actions like the reform of COVID-19 liability for businesses were some of the most important goals reached for the state economy. Abbotts remarks were near the end of a night dedicated to Beaumonts local businesses and industry, which have spent the last several months adapting to new guidelines and challenges from the global pandemic. Chamber President and CEO Bill Allen said it was a year that still brought success to Southeast Texas businesses despite the uncertainty along the way. Related: Jason's Deli founder remembered for exemplary life To help members navigate new operations and guidelines, the chamber has helped advise local business owners throughout the pandemic with best practices and expert resources. But Allen said the most successful tool theyve used are surveys. By compiling and comparing what businesses were experiencing and doing to adapt to supply chain issues or COVID-19 protocols, the chamber has been able to pinpoint questions in the community. Allen said a new survey would be launched soon, and it would be likely that the chamber would gain new information about how local businesses are reacting or adapting to Abbotts latest executive order. I think the most effective thing weve been able to do is provide those resources and connections for our members, Allen said. Beaumonts own Jasons Deli was given the annual Spindletop award for 2021, the chambers premiere honor for local businesses. Abbott said that he was actually a frequent customer of Jasons Deli, which has locations across the country, and said it represented the kind of businesses that he felt made Texas great. Good businesses are businesses that invest in their bottom line, Abbott said. But, great businesses are businesses that invest in their community that they operate in. Prior to Abbotts arrival, some protestors and demonstrators were waiting outside the Civic Center. Most were waving signs and chanting disapproval to Abbotts recent support of legislation effectively banning abortion in the state. Jamey West, a Beaumont resident and part of the crowd outside, said it felt important to gather together in their own town for a chance to send a message to the governor, as it wasnt an opportunity they often get. We would just want him to consider what it means to represent all of Texas and all Texans that also means all women, West said. jacob.dick @beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Boaters hoping to get back on the water at Mesquite Point are one step closer to achieving that goal. This week, the Jefferson County Commissioners Court approved an award of $191,662 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for contracting engineers at the private firm Freese and Nichols, Inc for repairs on the Mesquite Point Public Boat Ramp Project. Freese and Nichols will work in conjunction with Michelle Falgout, the county engineer. The ramp was damaged during hurricanes. The building of the bridge by Walter Umphrey State Park and the passage of industrial shipping boats through the channel stirred up sediments that eroded the end of the ramp. This caused safety hazards and property damage for constituents. They would call the judge and complain that their trailers or their boats or their cars were damaged launching their boats there, said Commissioner Michael Shane Sinegal. To fix the problems, the engineers will be performing bathymetric surveys, topographic surveys, geotechnical analysis, hydraulic modeling of the current, drawing up plans with specifications and obtaining permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Construction is slated to begin next May and the project should be finished by November 2022. We look forward to this being a very successful project, Falgout said. Our folks in this area like to go fishing. With the intercoastal canal and Sabine Lake, its no wonder this spot is considered a gem. Its some of the best fishing in southeast Texas, Sinegal said. Its some of the best crabbing, fishing and even going out on the lake sunning if you choose to do that. rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/ontheREKord Very few people live to be 100. Far fewer are still working at the age of 100, and even less than that have been working at the same vocation for 75 years. Father Luis Urriza checks all of those boxes and one more. He has spent the majority of his 75 years as a Catholic priest at the same church - Cristo Rey - which he founded upon immigrating to Texas from Spain in 1951. This is really unprecedented, and he is quite an amazing man, Bishop David Toups said, adding, I think thats also why Pope Francis wrote him a personal letter to congratulate him on his amazing life. Im so grateful for the life and ministry of Fr. Luis, and in particular his care for the Spanish-speaking members of our church. He has shown extraordinary love for them, and has been a Godsend for them for many years. Thursday, August 19, Fr. Urriza gathered with parishioners, Bishop Toups and fellow priests for a mass of thanksgiving celebrating his 100th birthday. And in true fashion, he was working, leading the mass and performing the consecration of communion- a sacred rite hes performed at the very least 3,900 times. It is one of many Catholic rites and ceremonies Fr. Urriza has performed for Southeast Texans over the years. The number of weddings, first communions, last rites, and baptisms hes done is innumerable. Some are documented in thick bound volumes shelved at his office in the rectory, like his Baptismal Registry. It logs 912 baptisms - its last entry dated 2021 with the baptism of Jonathan Torres. Among those hes baptized is Father Stephen McCrate, head pastor at St. Louis Catholic Church in Winnie. Fr. McCrate delivered the homily at Fr. Urrizas birthday mass, recounting stories of the pastor that brought laughter to the congregants as well as Fr. Urriza, who countered his stories with a well timed wag of his finger and clever reply. It was mere evidence of how much Fr. Urriza the centennarian is on top of his game now as much as hes been for decades. The fact that he has been able to maintain his schedule of masses, baptisms, marriages, and other celebrations in the community is remarkable. He hears confessions daily and takes walk up appointments to the parish on a daily basis. I have been edified since my arrival at his extraordinary availability to the people of God, Toups said. Fr. McCrate gathered with Fr. Urriza and fellow priests in a back room as parishioners filled the pews for the celebratory mass. Many looked through a booklet filled with old photos chronicling Fr. Urrizas life, from his birth in Spain to his installation as a priest and later as head pastor at Cristo Rey. The booklet ended with a holiday portrait - Fr. Urriza and parish children dressed in their finest for Christmas mass. As Fr. Urriza processed to the altar, parishioners held their phones aloft, recording the historic moment. It is a moment of which he was the feature, but merely one of many memorable moments encountered throughout his lifetime. There have been wars, upheavals in the church, a global pandemic before the novel coronavirus made its entry on the world stage - the second pandemic through which Fr. Urriza has lived. Hes seen changes in policy to immigrants, especially those of Hispanic descent, and a new bishop who finally addressed the Southeast Texas Hispanic community in their own language upon his installation. Fr. Urriza was among the first to stand in applause as then-Monsignor Toups addressed his community of priests - first in English, then Spanish. It wasnt always that way when Fr. Urriza arrived. He came to America after getting permission from his superiors in Spain following multiple requests from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Port Arthur for him to come and serve as a parish priest and organist. He is an accomplished organ player who still dabbles upon the keys of the piano in the rectory. When he arrived after 15 days at sea, he found another priest already in the position and was then asked by the diocese if hed be interested in working in Beaumont instead. I began to think, what am I going to do in Beaumont? he recalled. Researching the area he found hundreds of Hispanic families in the community who had no place, no priest, and sent a letter to his superiors in Spain, asking them to alter his assignment. They approved, and that day he said his first mass at the Bishops house. Soon after, he got to work building Cristo Rey. He reached out to the Hispanic community, asking if they wanted a church of their own. One man told him, Yes, if you build it, I will come to church. That man would be part of the crew that helped build Cristo Rey when they broke ground in 1953 and became one of its first congregants. Over time, Fr. Urrriza has served multiple generations of families whove joined Cristo Rey - becoming a part of their families as much as theyve become part of his - a family for which hes continued to advocate. Little by little, its growing, and getting better, Fr. Urriza says of the Beaumont diocese in its service to the Hispanic community. Fr. Urriza has been instrumental to that growth through his lengthy service that is unusual in a church climate that sees few priests lasting decades leading the same congregation. We all owe Fr. Luis a debt of gratitude for what he has done for our community, Toups said. That gratitude extends beyond Cristo Rey Church and the Diocese of Beaumont to the heart of the Catholic church. The congregation gasped as Bishop Toups ended the birthday mass reading from a letter thanking Fr. Urriza for his life-long service - a letter that was signed, Yours, Francisco. Pope Francis, the first Hispanic Pope, was among many, including Felipe VI, the King of Spain, recognizing Fr. Urrizas special gifts, particularly as they relate to the Hispanic Catholic community. The documents now sit among the many mementos filling Fr. Luis rectory office. They will be among the most beloved memories he will pack soon for a move back to Spain. Fr. Urriza was recently told by the diocese that he had to retire given his age. Its news that neither he nor his parishioners wanted to hear. People are really crying and crying. They are worried, he said, adding, Im really sorry to have to leave. I dont want to retire. This is my home, but theres nothing I can do. He was told, St. Peter told us that you had to retire. Fr. Luis has found a small church just outside Madrid that will allow him to continue working. It is the next step in a life-long priestly journey that began at the age of 12. He remembers his mother telling him one day, tomorrow were going to the seminary, and then we went and now Im here. But I have no regret, he said, adding, God called me and Im here, and I will do anything I can to work in the church - here or anyplace. Though he is sad to be leaving his house at Cristo Rey in the final chapter of his life as a priest, Fr. Luis said, God will be with me - that I know for sure. kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com Lee Smith, the slim, trim, perpetually cheerful Port of Beaumont commissioner who served two years as the boards first African-American president and was recently re-elected to a new six-year term in May, has died after a short illness. He was 79. Smith spent 19 years on the ports board, helping to steer its growth into the regions under-celebrated economic powerhouse, which recorded a 7.6% increase in tonnage in its most recent fiscal year, vaulting it to more than 7 million tons in the fiscal year ending in September 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to port records. Lee was almost a perfect ambassador for the port, said Chris Fisher, the ports chief executive officer. He was a wonderful port commissioner. Related: Port of Beaumont appoints first black president Fisher said he and Smith almost grew up together at the port, remarking that he became the ports top executive at around the same time Smith joined the board 19 years ago. Smith replaced Everette Bo Alfred on the board after Alfred won the Precinct 4 seat on Jefferson County Commissioners Court. Smith served as the boards vice president for several years while C.A. Pete Shelton served as the board president. He was a good, good port commissioner, said Shelton, who is 89 years old. He took it very serious. He always studied the issues. Shelton said Bo Alfred had recommended Smith as his replacement and Smith had made it known he was interested in the position. Related: SE Texas receives $5.9 million in port security grants He served us well and did a good job, Shelton said. Fisher said Smiths service on the port board was an integral part of its growth across the past two decades, particularly in forging a partnership with Jefferson Energy Corp. that developed the ports Orange County property on the eastern bank of the Neches River. The property is a major crude oil storage and shipment terminal. He was very proud of that, Fisher said. Smith had retired from the former Ameripol Synpol plant in Port Neches where he served in office management, again one of the first African-Americans in a management capacity for a petrochemical plant in Southeast Texas. He was always insightful and easy to work with, Fisher said. As part of the ports policymaking board, Smith had a hand in supporting its $248.8 million capital improvement program that has almost completely transformed the port on its east and west banks over the past 20 years. Modernizing terminals, dredging the harbor, advocating for the federally approved deepening of the Sabine-Neches Ship Channel and attracting more business, including bulk liquids, bagged goods and military cargoes, which increased by almost 50% in the previous fiscal year. Related: Beaumont port seats first female president Smith often could be seen around Beaumont wearing a crisp Port of Beaumont shirt or a blue blazer with the ports logo on his breast pocket. He was always a sweet man, Fisher said. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include his wife, LaRue, daughter Lesia Linton and her husband, Stephen and their children including two girls, Taylor and Lauryn and a boy, Ryan. Fisher said its up to the ports board on filling the vacancy since Smith had just begun a new term. Mercy Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Dan Wallach is a freelance writer. Vista College, a private for-profit chain, closed its Beaumont location Friday, citing financial circumstances, surprising students and staff who were unaware that Oct. 8 would be the last day of operation for the campus. In a letter sent to students and staff Friday obtained by The Enterprise, Vista College said, due to unforeseen events we could not continue with the new term on Oct. 11 nor continue the current nursing term. In addition to the Beaumont campus, Vista College shuttered all of its Texas locations in College Station, El Paso, Killeen, Lubbock and Longview. The announcement shocked student Sierra Ocampo, a level four nursing student who had been in the licensed vocational nursing program since January 2020. I couldnt believe it. I only had a few more weeks left until I was finally done, the 22-year-old Beaumont native said. All I could think about was, What is next? Will I become a nurse? Will my credits transfer over to another school? Will I have to start over from the beginning? Related: Beaumont women file suit against Brightwood College Ocampo said she was notified in August that the school would be closing, but the school would not be enrolling more students when the new semester started and it wanted students currently in levels two, three and four to finish the program. In the August email obtained by The Enterprise, the college said, We will continue to offer the courses you need to graduate from your programs and that most active students in good academic standing should not experience significant changes to their educational experience. According to the email, the school was experiencing a dramatic decline in student population because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused business conditions to deteriorate across all industries, including (theirs), which has also been impacted by changing regulations. The August email did not specifically mention that the school was facing financial difficulties. Related: Lamar employees fired after asking students if they were vaccinated Vista Colleges closure notice stated that the school is working to identify potential transfer colleges and schools to complete degrees, but Ocampo said she has not received any more information regarding transferring her credits. Ocampo said she has been unable to get answers from the school to any of her questions. She contacted the Texas Board of Nursing on Monday, which told her to see if she could get into another school. The short-term nursing program is what drew Ocampo to the college. A 2019 graduate of its medical assistant program, she was already familiar with the campus. Ocampo said she never had any problems with the college until she enrolled in the nursing program. She said her courses were often understaffed. I felt like we had to teach ourselves sometimes, she said. Related: New leader in technical studies comes to Lamar Orange Transferable credits arent the only thing Ocampo is concerned about now that the school has closed. She is worried about having to pay the school and about her student loans. During the weekend, Ocampo was sent two emails from the college notifying her that she was no longer enrolled. However, the emails did not reference the school closing. One email read, Youve stopped taking classes at Vista College and wed like to know why and if we can help you return. Ocampo said the emails make it look like she dropped out of the school. In the Friday closure notice, the school provided information regarding loan discharges in the event of school closure. However, the discharge only applies to federal loans and, according to Federal Student Aid, cannot be discharged if a student transfers those academic credits to another school or if a student completed all coursework for the program before the school closed, even if (the student) did not receive a diploma or certificate. Vista College could not be reached for comment. Lamar Institute of Technology and Lamar State College-Port Arthur are recruiting former students of Vista College to enroll in their programs. LSC-PA is hosting an information session specifically for Vista College students from 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. today at the Ruby Fuller Building Exhibit Hall. Ocampo said she plans to attend the session. Attendees will be able to meet with faculty, advisers, financial aid and admissions about transferring to LSC-PA. olivia.malick@beaumontenterprise.com Rapid Action Battalion officers present two suspected members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh after they surrendered in Bogra and pledged to leave the militant organization, Oct. 5, 2016. Updated at 7:49 a.m. ET on 2021-10-14 A Facebook official said the online platform did not want to facilitate violence as he responded to a news report this week that published a leaked document of organizations and people blacklisted by the social media giant, including outlawed militant groups in Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia. The Intercept, a U.S.-based non-profit news website, on Tuesday released a copy of the 100-page Facebook document, which it had obtained and that lists thousands of names of Dangerous Organizations and Individuals, saying it was edited slightly for clarity. Facebook had not publicized the contents of the list. Brian Fishman, Facebooks policy director on counterterrorism and dangerous organizations, responded with a series of tweets noting that the list is not comprehensive. That matters b/c the list is constantly being updated as teams try to mitigate risk. Like other tech comps, we havent shared the list to limit legal risk, limit security risks, & minimize opportunities for groups to circumvent rules, he said in messages posted via Twitter. Facebook does not want violence organized or facilitated on its platform and the DOI list is an effort to keep highly risky groups from doing that. Its not perfect, but thats why it exists, he said. When contacted by BenarNews on Wednesday, Fishman responded with a statement. We have rules prohibiting terrorists, hate groups or criminal organizations from using our platform and remove content that praises, represents or supports them whenever we find it, he said. To enforce these rules, we have a team of more than 350 specialists focused on removing these organizations from our platforms and looking out for emerging threats. While we ban thousands of organizations, including over 250 white supremacist groups, under these rules, we also update this list as new ones emerge. Included on the list are Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a local terror group banned in 2005, and Islamic State Bangladesh. Government leaders have long denied the existence of Islamic State members in the South Asian country, even after IS propaganda channels on social media claimed that the terror group was behind a massacre of hostages carried out during an overnight siege at a cafe in Dhaka in July 2016 Bangladeshs deadliest terrorist attack to date. A Bangladesh security analyst applauded Facebooks efforts and said more must be done. He and a cyber-security expert said the government needed to take action. The Facebook move to list a handful of Bangladeshi militant outfits and an individual in its dangerous list is a good decision, but it is not enough. In terms of the magnitude of the militants presence in Facebook and other social media, the action is a tip of the iceberg, the analyst, retired Maj. Gen. A.K. Mohammad Ali Shikder, told BenarNews. Shikder noted that the militant groups have recruited their own tech-savvy experts, and he expected they would open fake accounts to hide their online activities. But the unfortunate part is that the Facebook authorities do not always respond to the government request to block the accounts proved to have been involved in spreading extremist and militant ideologies, he said. So, the cyber security units of the law enforcement agencies must work more closely with the experts and the social media platform authorities to track the militants online network. Tanvir Hassan Zoha, a cyber-security expert working with the law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, said the list was bad news because those on it pose a huge security risk. The Facebook list has exposed an unseen danger. We all know about the JMB, HuJI-B [Harakat ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh] or Ansarullah Bangla Team as referred in the list, but we know little about Al Mursalat Media and Tariqul Islam. This means that there are more militant outfits involved in social media platforms which we do not know about, Zoha told BenarNews. The counter terrorism officials must intensify their efforts to detect the suspected militants activities online. There is no way to be complacent that we have crushed the network of militants the upcoming challenge is huge, he said. Blacklisted Filipino, Indonesian groups The Facebook list names various Islamic extremist groups in the Philippines, including Ansar al-Khialfah and the Maute Group. The Maute band, a pro-IS Filipino group, took part in a five-month militant siege of Marawi city in the southern Philippines in 2017. Facebooks Philippine list also included the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its founder, Jose Maria Sison, who lives in self-exile in the Netherlands. In 2020, the government placed the CPP and its military wing, the New Peoples Army, on its list of terrorist organizations. In June, the government added the CPPs political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), to that list and froze bank accounts linked to the movement. At the time, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomed the move, noting there had been probable cause to brand the NDF as a terrorist organization, pointing out that Sison had said it was one of the partys allied organizations. His wife, Juliet De Lima-Sison was also recently named as the interim chairperson of the NDF negotiating panel, Lorenzana said. The CPP/NPA themselves continue to launch attacks against the Filipino people, victimizing innocent civilians and destroying billions worth of crucial public infrastructure for a principle that has long since been rendered obsolete. In addition, the list names individuals with alleged links to the Abu Sayyaf Group, an Islamic extremist group based in the southern Philippines and which was involved in the 2017 takeover of Marawi, as well as alleged members of Jemaah Islamiyah. JI, the Southeast Asian affiliate of al-Qaeda, was blamed for terrorist attacks in Indonesia in the 2000s, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people. In Indonesia, Facebook listed under the category of terror groups Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an IS-linked Indonesian militant network, which has carried out suicide bombings and other attacks in recent years in the country. Facebooks blacklist also included a dead man terrorist Santoso who was killed by Indonesian government forces in July 2016. He was the first militant from the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country to publicly pledge allegiance to IS. Santoso founded and led the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT), which is on the list as well. In June 2020, Indonesias counterterrorism chief, Boy Rafli Amar, sought congressional backing for a 65 percent hike in his agencys budget, saying it needed more cash and resources as he warned that MIT and other militants were looking to increase recruitment during the coronavirus pandemic. Radical groups are still actively carrying out recruitment propaganda both online and offline during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. We are seeing today the rampant abuse of the cyberspace to spread the ideology of terrorism. Meanwhile, the tweets by Fishman, the Facebook executive, challenged The Intercepts story, saying it used misleading information to allege that Facebook did not take some terror groups seriously. I dont condone this leak. In the aggregate it makes everything harder. There will be criticism. But well use it as an opportunity to get better, Fishman tweeted. I dont want to suggest that FBs Dangerous Orgs list, or its enforcement, is perfect. It isnt, he wrote. We dont get to every organization as quickly as wed like and the policy, as weve long stated, is blunt. Enforcement is not perfect, in part because groups are adversarial. This reported has been updated to include more information about Southeast Asian organizations and people blacklisted by Facebook. A passenger train crosses the Chikubang bridge as it travels from Bandung to Jakarta near Padalarang in West Java, Indonesia, Aug. 25, 2015. The Indonesian presidents decision to allow the government to share the cost of a financially bloated China-backed railway project could deplete state coffers and lead his nation into a debt trap, experts and an opposition lawmaker warned on Tuesday. President Joko Jokowi Widodo signed a presidential decree last week that authorizes the government to provide cash for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, Chinas flagship One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project in Indonesia, which is about U.S. $2 billion over budget. A presidential spokesman said Jokowis directive would allow the project to be completed, but an economist said this was a bad time for Jokowi to authorize such a move. The decision will further burden the state budget, which is already unhealthy due to the pandemic, Mohammad Faisal, executive director of the Indonesian Center for Reforms of Economics (CORE), told BenarNews. Jokowis new decree overrides a 2015 one signed by him that prohibited the use of state funds for the project Indonesias first venture into constructing a high-speed rail line. The latest decree does not say how much money the government will inject into the project, whose cost has swelled to U.S. $7.9 billion from an estimated $6 billion. Faisal said state revenues were currently in bad shape. The government should get its priorities right, he said. Separately on Tuesday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that this years budget deficit may be higher than earlier estimated. She said it could hit 5.82 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), up from the previous estimate of 5.7 percent, due to COVID-19 measures following a horrific surge in infections between June and August. Local state-owned companies comprise 60 percent of the PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) consortium which is building the railway, but the domestic firms operate as commercial entities without government support. Arya Sinulingga, spokesman for the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, said in a statement Sunday that the pandemic had depleted the cash flow of many construction SOEs involved in the high-speed rail project, according to a report in the Jakarta Post. Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, a presidential spokesmen, said Jokowi was determined to see the project through. Whats wrong with using the state budget for a national strategic project so that it can be completed on schedule? Ngabalin told CNN Indonesia. However, a politician from the opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), criticized Jokowi for reneging on his earlier decree pledging that his administration would not allow money from state coffers to be spent directly on the high-speed rail project. This is evidence of how badly planned it is, PKS lawmaker Ecky Awal Mucharam said in a statement. Big-ticket project Launched by Jokowi in 2016, the Jakarta-Bandung rail line is expected to shorten the travel time between the Indonesian capital and Bandung to 40 minutes from three hours, officials said. The project is part of Beijings estimated U.S. $1 trillion-plus OBOR infrastructure program to build a network of railways, ports and bridges across 70 countries. Since construction began in 2017, the rail project has been dogged by criticism about its impacts on surrounding areas, as well as concerns about rising costs. Critics said it has worsened air quality, clogged canals and damaged homes of many people who live along the 89-mile stretch of the future line. Rising costs associated with the rail project, along with the governments intervention in it, could lead Indonesia into a debt trap, said Bhima Yudhistira, director of the Center for Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS). The government would then be forced to continue to collect more tax from the public or increase debt in the future, Bhima told BenarNews. That means the government may have to borrow to share the cost of the project, which is now scheduled for completion in 2022, three years after its original 2019 deadline. According to a study by AidData released late last month, Indonesia owes $17.28 billion in hidden debt to China, more than four times its $3.90 billion in reported sovereign debt. Nearly 70 percent of Chinas overseas lending is now directed to state-owned companies and private-sector institutions and the debts, for the most part, do not appear on government balance sheets, said AidData, a U.S.-based international development research lab. The hidden debt problem is less about governments knowing that they will need to service undisclosed debts (with known monetary values) to China than it is about governments not knowing the monetary value of debts to China that they may or may not have to service in the future, it said. But this is not hidden debt, according to a deputy at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. They are investments by Chinese companies, Iskandar Simorangkir told BenarNews. Parliament must uncover the real reason Bhima, from CELIOS, urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to evaluate the project. The DPR must uncover the real reason why the cost [of the project] has swollen. Its dangerous in the long term for the state finances, Bhima said. In addition to cost overruns, the rail line cannot be commercially viable, according to Agus Pambagio, a public policy expert and former trade negotiator for the government. The reason, he said, is that the rail lines stations are not located at busy city centers. I told Jokowi that these things could happen. It was a miscalculation from the beginning, Agus told CNN Indonesia. According to the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, design changes and rising land prices were factors behind the projects cost overrun. Almost all countries have experienced the same thing and this is our first [high-speed train project], ministry spokesman Arya said. Agung Budi Waskito, the chief executive of PT Wijaya Karya, which is part of the consortium of local companies, said in April that the group was negotiating for China to increase its stake in the project, because of the rising cost. Since then, there has been no word on how those negotiations turned out. Mirza Soraya, a spokeswoman for the Indonesian Chinese consortium building the rail line, declined to comment on the controversy. We are focusing on speeding up the construction, she said. Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta contributed to this report. Members of a police bomb-squad inspect the wreckage of motorcycles at the site of a bombing outside a church in Surabaya, Indonesia in which the TATP explosive was used, according to experts, May 13, 2018. Information obtained from a convicted pro-Islamic State militant led to the seizure of 35 kilos of home-made explosives at the foot of a mountain in West Java province earlier this month, Indonesian police said Wednesday. Prisoner Imam Mulyana, a member of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an Indonesian militant network affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, was arrested in 2017 in Cirebon, a city in West Java, for a failed attempt to attack an entourage of President Joko Jokowi Widodo. Imam made an astonishing confession that he and his group had kept 35 kilograms of TATP, said Aswin Siregar, a top officer with Densus 88, Indonesias elite anti-terrorism police unit. Imam guided the police to Mount Ciremai near Cirebon to find the stash of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a powerful home-made explosive known to militants as the Mother of Satan, Aswin told BenarNews. TATP, which is highly unstable, has been used in several terrorist attacks in recent years. These include the 2005 London Underground bombing, terror attacks in Paris in 2015, attacks on the Brussels metro and airport in 2016, and a bombing the next year at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, according to New America, a Washington think-tank. Thanks to our de-radicalization efforts, Imam Mulyana asked us on October 1 to secure the dangerous material, said Aswin, who heads the operational support at Densus 88, which also runs a program to reform militants and reintegrate them into society. Imam traveled with the police to the mountain hideout the same day. Aswin said that a police bomb-squad disposed of the stash of TATP in the mountain as soon as the authorities found it. Only 50 grams of the materiel was enough to create a one-meter-wide and 20-centimeter-deep hole when detonated in a controlled explosion, Aswin said, adding the blasts from disposing of the explosive caused severe vibrations, holes in the ground, and landslides. Imam, 31, was fully aware that the terrorist act they had planned was a crime against humanity and a betrayal of his religion, Aswin said. Stanislaus Riyanta, a security researcher at the University of Indonesia, praised the police for their work. This is proof that [the militants] had a big plan. This finding should prompt the police to look for more explosive stashes, Stanislaus told BenarNews. JI militant trial Meanwhile, people convicted of the 2002 Bali bombings testified in the trial of Aris Sumarsono, who is better known as Zulkarnaen and is the former military leader of the outlawed militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Zulkarnaen, 58, who had been on the run for about 18 years when he was arrested last year, is charged with a criminal conspiracy for allegedly harboring Upik Lawanga. Police said Upik, who was also arrested last year, was a top JI bomb-maker. Indonesian authorities blamed JI for a series of deadly attacks in Indonesia in the early 2000s, including the October 2002 bombings at nightclubs in Bali, which killed 202 people in Indonesias most fatal terror attack. The outlawed JI is the Southeast Asian affiliate of al-Qaeda, but it has not staged a major attack here since 2011. Zulkarnaen is not charged with involvement in the Bali bombings, even though witnesses said he was the groups military leader at that time. In a virtual hearing, the witnesses told the court that Zulkarnaen formed and recruited members for a JI special team to prepare attacks. But they said they never met or took orders from Zulkarnaen before the Bali attack. Regarding the Bali bombing, [Zulkarnaen] has nothing to do with it, but long before the Bali bombing, he had been our leader, said Sarjio, who is serving a life sentence for helping assemble the bombs used in the attack. Another witness, Suranto, said Zulkarnaen had never provided any directions regarding the Bali bombings. Suranto said he joined the special team set up by Zulkarnaen. I have known him since we joined military training in Pakistan. Other members have known the defendant since he was in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Suranto testified. Muhammad Adhe Bhakti, a researcher at the Center for Radicalism and De-radicalization Studies (PAKAR), said terror groups created cells whose members often do not know each other. It is possible that the witnesses of the Bali bombing did not know who played what role in the attack, including what role Zulkarnaen played, Adhe told BenarNews. According to the indictment, Zulkarnaen helped write JIs guidebook. During his escape, other JI members helped Zulkarnaen and provided him with cash because he was considered a valuable asset and had military expertise, it said. Police officers escort suspected militant Zulkarnaen (center) upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport outside Jakarta, Dec. 16, 2020. [AP] On Tuesday, a top counter-terrorism official said that police remained vigilant against threats posed by JI. Police have arrested 876 members of the group since the 2002 Bali bombings, according to M.D. Shodiq, a director at Densus 88. But the number of JI members and sympathizers is estimated to be 10 times as many, with 67 JI-affiliated religious schools suspected to be breeding grounds for militants, he warned. In 2020, JIs overall leader, Para Wijayanto, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The groups radical spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, 83, was released from prison in January after serving nearly a decade of a 15-year-sentence on terror-related charges. Ronna Nirmala contributed to this report from Jakarta. At least nine people were listed as missing Wednesday after floods and landslides from a storm devastated parts of the Philippines and left at least 13 dead, according to government reports, as rescue teams scrambled to reach hard-hit communities. Eight of the deaths occurred in remote mountain towns in the northern provinces of Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan, where Severe Tropical Storm Kompasu dumped nearly 25 inches of rain overnight on Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. The storm-related deaths included four people killed in western Palawan province, according to a tally of the dead compiled by the government. Benjamin Magalong, the mayor of Baguio, a hill town in Benguet famous for its resorts, said the heavily saturated hills could no longer hold water, resulting in landslides. Rescuers had recovered the bodies of two children and their grandfather, who were killed when a mudslide crushed their house, he said. The two missing children were found dead under thick mud. Their house was buried in a landslide after hours of torrential rainfall in the city. Rescuers are trying to retrieve their remains along with the bodies of two dogs, Magalong told reporters. Nine incidents of landslides were reported in the city due to the effects of the severe tropical storm, he said. Kompasu, known as Maring in the Philippines, made landfall Monday night on Fuga, an island in Cagayan, bringing winds of 100 kph (62.1 mph) near the center with gusts of up to 125 kph (77.6 mph), the Philippine weather bureau said. Rescue personnel and teams from the local government units are on the scene as we assure all requests for rescue and assistance are being acted upon by all relevant agencies, Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday. Support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection are likewise mobilized and deployed. Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., leader of the militarys Northern Luzon Command, said disaster response teams were mobilized in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region. Military personnel and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary are actively participating in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in the affected areas, he said. 21,000 displaced By Wednesday, the number of Filipinos displaced by the storm and its aftermath had swollen to more than 21,000 as more reports from the field came in, with nearly 6,000 being housed in evacuation centers, disaster relief officials said. Work and construction crews had restored power to most northern areas by Wednesday morning, while major highways and mountain passes had been cleared of debris, government officials said. But rescue teams were still trying to reach some of the worst affected regions, they said. The head of the Cagayan Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office said damage in his region totaled 46 million pesos (U.S. $909,000). Our estimate for our agriculture is 34 million pesos ($671,000); in livestock, the damage to our livestock is almost 1.2 million pesos ($23,700). Here in our infrastructure, it also reached 11 million pesos ($217,000), Col. Darwin Sacramed told reporters during a press briefing by the presidential communications office. About 20 tropical storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year, some of them devastating. Kompasu was the 13th tropical storm to hit the country in 2021. In November 2013, at least 7,000 people died and scores were reported missing after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines and caused massive storm surges. Tropical Storm Ketsana, which flooded large parts of the capital Manila in 2009 and resulted in more than 900 deaths, dropped 18 inches of rain about six inches less than Kompasu the state weather bureau said. Jojo Rinoza and Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Dagupan City and Cotabato City, Philippines. The United States is denying Chinas accusation that it has been covering up a submarine collision that occurred earlier this month in the South China Sea. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian called the delay in releasing information about the incident an irresponsible attitude and stonewalling and cover-up practice. When asked about the Chinese spokesmans statement on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: Its an odd way of covering something up when you put out a press release about it. Kirby did not provide any additional detail about the Oct. 2 incident, saying it is a Navy matter. Five days after the incident, the U.S. Pacific Fleet issued a statement saying the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) struck an unknown object while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region, but there were no life-threatening injuries to the sailors. The Oct. 7 statement added that the subs nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remain fully operational. The submarine arrived at Naval Base Guam on Friday where it would undergo an assessment and preliminary repairs while the Navy investigates the collision, according to Associated Press news agency. Meanwhile, the South China Sea Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, said that based on satellite imagery, the USS Connecticut was spotted in waters off the Paracel islands on Oct. 3, one day after the reported collision. It suggested that the U.S. submarine could have been assigned to guard the (aircraft carrier) USS Carl Vinson or to spy on PLA's SSBNs - Chinese army ballistic missile submarines. While not commenting about the Chinese think tanks suggestion, Rear Adm. James Goldrick, fellow at the naval research institute Sea Power Centre - Australia, said submarines have the right under the UN Law of the Sea to operate submerged anywhere in the seas outside the 12 nautical mile territorial limit of coastal states. China ramps up criticism China has been vocal with its criticism of the delayed U.S. announcement of the incident, saying it only makes the international community more suspicious of the U.S. intention. Beijings spokesman said the U.S. should take a responsible attitude, give a detailed account of what happened as soon as possible and make a satisfactory explanation of the incidents location and whether it caused a nuclear leakage as well as marine pollution. Alexander Neill, a defense and security consultant based in Singapore, said: China is playing up the risks because of the AUKUS (Australia-U.K.-U.S. trilateral security pact) announcement. The tripartite defense partnership announced last month will help Australia develop nuclear submarines. It is widely viewed as a pushback against growing Chinese military power in the region. China has been calling the pact extremely irresponsible, and saying that AUKUS seriously undermines regional peace and intensifies the arms race. In the light of AUKUS and Chinas anti-AUKUS narrative, this is a windfall for Beijing, perfect for the narrative that the U.S. and allies are nuclearizing the South China Sea and violating counter proliferation regimes, Neill said. But he said there was no nuclear leak or damage to the nuclear propulsion system of the USS Connecticut although theres still little known about the cause of the collision. Anonymous U.S. defense sources were quoted in media reports as saying at the weekend that 11 sailors were hurt in the incident. Risky business Sub patrols are risky and sometimes dangerous, especially when subs are at periscope depth, explained Neill, pointing out that there is always the risk of hitting junk in the sea like wrecks or lost containers, or fishing vessels and even sea animals. In 2003, after surfacing in an ice pack between the North Pole and Alaska, the same USS Connecticut was stalked by a polar bear for 30 minutes. Luckily the bear only chewed briefly on the rudder and didnt cause any damage to the submarine. But some other submarine incidents proved fatal. The USS San Francisco struck a seamount near Guam at full speed in 2005, killing one sailor and injuring 24 others; and in 2001 the USS Greeneville collided with a Japanese ship in waters near Hawaii, killing nine Japanese fishermen. An Indonesian sub sank a few months ago and Singapore offered to send a rescue sub. If China or the U.S. had a similar accident would they help each other? Neill asked. What if the U.S. sub hit a Chinese vessel and people died? That would be the recipe for fast escalation with China! According to the Singapore-based security expert, this demonstrates that there is always a potential for unmanaged escalation in the submarine domain. There should be protocols for unplanned encounters and incidents at sea. It is up to a submarine itself to ensure it doesnt hit anything, Goldrick said, adding: But, if there is an uncharted obstruction at the depth at which it is operating, then it may be practically impossible for a submarine running silently with no active sonar to detect it. Observers say the South China Sea has become a flashpoint of tensions between the U.S. and China and a potential conflict zone between the two powers. China itself is very selective about publicizing its maritime activities in the South China Sea. Its excessive claims in those waters are not recognised by international law and rejected by neighboring states. In 2009, a Chinese submarine collided with a sonar array being towed by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain near Subic Bay in the Philippines, causing damage to the sonar but no further details were provided. China has the largest navy in the world including a dozen nuclear-powered submarines. This number is likely to increase to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S.s Office of Naval Intelligence. Workers from the Hilal Ahmar Foundation in Saba Yoi, a district in Songkhla province, carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim for burial in a cemetery in Songkhla, Thailand, Oct. 13, 2021. Public health staff are scrambling to vaccinate residents of Thailands troubled Deep South, officials said Wednesday, adding that COVID-19 infections were climbing in provinces across the border region because people have become lax in following health protocols. Ramping up vaccinations this week is a priority to contain the rise in infections, said Dr. Anurak Sarapap, a public health service officer in southern Pattani province. The short-term plan is to vaccinate 50 percent of the population within this week, Anurak said during a radio broadcast on Wednesday. When there is a big spread in any area, we use antigen test kits to find the infected persons those found negative, we will immediately vaccinate and those testing positive will be placed in community isolation. We have enough vaccines, he said. Accounting for a fifth of the nations new infections this week, the regions four provinces have seen only about one-third of their 3.58 million people be fully vaccinated. About 42 percent of the regions residents, or 1.5 million people, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Nationwide, about 33 percent are fully vaccinated, according to information from Our World in Data. Thailand kicked off a long-awaited national campaign to inoculate the general population against COVID-19 on June 6 amid a soaring wave of infections that began in April at Bangkoks nightlife venues. While new cases have fallen in recent weeks in much of the country, an average of a little more than 10,000 infections are being reported each day. Infections have risen in the Deep South because of lower vaccine penetration and because people neglected pandemic precautions such as avoiding large crowds and wearing masks after the strict lockdown was eased, said Dr. Udomkiat Poonsawat, director of Pattani provinces Khok Pho Hospital. From interviews, the spike happened domestically through funerals, festivities, after a relaxation of [lockdown] measures in September, he said. The poor people live in large numbers in the same household, making that itself a cluster. Udomkiat warned that the daily infections could reach 1,000 a day in Pattani province, which could strain hospital capacity, adding people need to strictly follow pandemic protocols and a lockdown must be imposed, at least in some areas. Regional infections The daily COVID-19 caseload in the Deep South peaked at 2,332 infections on Sunday, accounting for 21.55 percent of the countrys 10,817 cases, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). On Wednesday, daily infections in the region dropped to 1,968 despite all four provinces ranking among the top ten in terms of cases. Thailand's southern border region along the Malaysian frontier encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces, and four districts of Songkhla province, and is home to a decades-old separatist insurgency waged by rebels from the area's Malay-Muslim majority. The infection numbers include cases in all Songkhlas districts. The provinces logged a total of 124,368 infections since the third spike began in April while Thailand reported 1.71 million cases during the same period. When the Deep South caseload started rising last week, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha directed public health ministry officials to focus on the region, according to the government spokesman. About 1 million anti-viral drug Favipiravir tablets, 20,000 rapid test kits, 100 ventilators and 25,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines were shipped to the Deep South, said Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government spokesman. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he plans to visit the region to see for himself the severity of the situation. He said another 500,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines were shipped to the region on Monday. In Songkhla, a hospital director said COVID-19 infections could rise in the province in the next two weeks, leaving hospitals with potential shortages. We aim to add 4,000 beds, said Dr. Chaiyasith Thepchatree, director of Hatyai Hospital. At the moment we are coordinating with the local administration to set up a pre-admission center and field hospitals. Meanwhile, Thailand is set to lift COVID-19 quarantines for fully vaccinated travelers from at least 10 countries starting Nov. 1. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 33F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 33F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. A memo that Attorney General Merrick Garland issued Monday, to address a rise in criminal conduct targeting school personnel, is being misrepresented online. NYU Langone Health in New York, pictured, as well as all New York hospitals, will release newborn babies or infants in neonatal intensive care units to parents who have not been vaccinated. A widely shared video by the group Project Veritas has led to a false claim online that purported that emails among Pfizer officials show that the pharmaceutical companys COVID-19 vaccine contains aborted fetal cells. Theater Review What: Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story by Kim Senklip Harvey Harvey (Syilx and Tsilhqotin Nation). Directed by Estefania Fadul With: Sarah B. Dennison, Ria Nez, Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed Where: WAM Theatre, Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Shakespeare & Company campus, 70 Kemble St., Lenox When: Through Oct. 24. 7 p.m., Oct. 16, 21, 22, 23; 3 p.m., Oct. 15, 17, 24; 10 a.m. ,Oct. 14; available for digital streaming in U.S. only, Nov. 1-7 Running time: 2 hours (including one intermission) Tickets: $25-$100; digital streaming, $15-$75 Reservations and information: 413-637-3353; wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa. Audience advisory: Due to the use of profanity, drinking, and thematic elements, WAM recommends this play for audiences high school age and older. COVID-19 safety protocols: All patrons are required to show a form of ID and presentation of a COVID vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours. Masks are required indoors regardless of age or vaccination status. LENOX With Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story, Canadian Indigenous playwright Kim Senklip Harvey (Syilx and Tsilhqotin Nation) has given us a thoughtful comedy about two sisters who, over the course of the play, come into their own as they each claim their power and heritage as Indigenous women. With all its cultural and human richness and theatrical opportunity, Kamloopa deserves better treatment than it is getting in director Estefania Faduls loosely formed, hit-and-largely miss production for WAM Theatre, which opened over the weekend, with an all-Indigenous female cast, in Shakespeare & Companys Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. Theater Review What: Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story by Kim Senklip Harvey Harvey (Syilx and Tsilhqotin Nation). Directed by Estefania Fadul With: Sarah B. Dennison, Ria Nez, Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed Where: WAM Theatre, Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Shakespeare & Company campus, 70 Kemble St., Lenox When: Through Oct. 24. 7 p.m., Oct. 16, 21, 22, 23; 3 p.m., Oct. 15, 17, 24; 10 a.m. ,Oct. 14; available for digital streaming in U.S. only, Nov. 1-7 Running time: 2 hours (including one intermission) Tickets: $25-$100; digital streaming, $15-$75 Reservations and information: 413-637-3353; wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa. Audience advisory: Due to the use of profanity, drinking, and thematic elements, WAM recommends this play for audiences high school age and older. COVID-19 safety protocols: All patrons are required to show a form of ID and presentation of a COVID vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours. Masks are required indoors regardless of age or vaccination status. Harveys play which won the 2020 Governor Generals Literary Award for Drama in Canada draws its title from one of the largest powwows in Western Canada, held annually (its been suspended during the pandemic) just outside the town of Kamloops in British Columbia. The powwow is the destination of two Indigenous sisters Mikaya (Ria Nez) and her older sibling, Kilawna (Sarah B. Dennison) who set out on a road trip to the event guided by a newcomer to their lives, an individualistic young Indigenous woman they met at an Indigenous hangout who identifies herself to Kilawna and Mikaya as Indigenous Friend No. 1 (Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed). Kamloopas first half is set in the East Vancouver apartment shared by Kilawna and Mikaya. Kilawna (played by Dennison with a nearly unvarying air of desperation and exasperation) works at an office and does her best to hold things together keeping house; tidying the messes her sister leaves behind while Mikaya, a college student, has yet to find her groove, They are both caught in a world of White Settler supremacy that has over centuries brutalized, slaughtered, victimized, dismissed and diminished their race and culture. They find out youre Native and everyone looks at you with constipated faces. Like you were once a real person and then all of a sudden youre in a museum, standing behind the glass, holding a basket of corn, Kilawna says to Mikaya, who is grumbling about a condescending art history professor. Dont let these leftist, white, liberal women professors get to you. Youre fine. Its fine. This (Indigenous) thing. Just leave it alone. But she cant; not quite. Then, one day in class, the art professor pushes Mikaya to her limit of comfortability in front of the whole class; put me on the spot .. and I completely flubbed it, Mikaya tells Kilawna. The moment is rescued by a super-Indigenous woman who stands up and before everyone in the lecture hall delivers an ah-ha moment for Mikaya as this woman relates a story from her Nation in her nations language. Then a ray of light came through the roof as a drum appeared in their hand and an eagle landed on her shoulder and they sang a song together around a fire that just suddenly, poof, appeared, Mikaya tells Kilawna. She turned everyones constipated faces into these enlightened looks of ease and contentment. I want to do that! I want to influence the wind with my mind, the sun with my songs, and the birds with my stories. Kilawna, who has been the object of disrespectful comments at her office, responds with wry, sarcasm. She grows even more wary when, after a night of bar-hopping with Mikaya, they find themselves with a roommate who calls herself (Indigenous) Friend No. 1 INFI for short. Shes a young, individualistic, idiosyncratic Indigenous woman who hooks on to Kilawna and especially Mikaya as a guide, a tutor to help the sisters reclaim their culture. I told her how its important that we know what it really means to be Indigenous and she said she would help. It is INFIs idea that the three of them attend Kamloopa. Since she is the only one with a drivers license, Kilawna reluctantly agrees to drive them to the powwow. On the page, Kamloopa is a finely told story about two Indigenous women who learn not only how to claim their heritage but also the heart and soul of a sibling relationship that can be as contentious and challenging as it is warm and inviting. Unfortunately, Faduls production is not as sure-footed as Harveys writing. The rhythm, particularly in the first half, is choppy, loose; not at all crisply defined. As INFI, Goodspeed is more concerned with striking attitudes and poses than developing a meaningful character. Nez struggles to find her footing as Mikaya. Dennison, on the other hand, is on a much more clearly defined path as Kilawna. She and Nez rise to Harveys occasion in a consequential argument between the two sisters at their campsite on the eve of the powwow but the emotional groundwork is missing. Its as though this argument is happening in a vacuum. Scenes, especially in the first half, drift from one to the next without connection or cumulative sense of the dramatic arc that drives Kamloopa to its hopeful natural outcome. Not only does Faduls production miss opportunities to get inside the fabric of Harveys narrative, it also fails to more embrace the storytellings elements of magical realism. In terms of lighting and of sound, the manifestations of the ancestors and spirit animal shifters are mundane, unimaginative; barely felt. The road to Kamloopa may be well-intentioned, but its a bumpy ride nonetheless. LENOX History certainly was in motion when Eugene Ionescos The Chairs premiered in 1952. Queen Elizabeth II ascended the United Kingdoms throne. In the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected the nations 34th president. Gamal Abdel Nasser engineered a coup in Egypt. Nelson Mandela was arrested in South Africa. Mother Teresa opened her home for the poor and dying in Calcutta. Theater Review What: The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco. Translated by Donald M. Allen. Directed by James Warwick With: Malcolm Ingram, Barbara Sims Where: Shakespeare & Company, Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble St., Lenox When: Through Oct. 31 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Running time: 1 hour, 1 minute (no intermission) Tickets: $27-$67 Reservations and information: 413-637-3353; shakespeare.org COVID-19 safety protocols: All patrons are required to show a form of ID and either presentation of a COVID vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours. COVID vaccination card or negative COVID test result also may be submitted electronically through Bindle. In the United States, Jonas Salk was one year away from announcing he had developed a polio vaccine while the number of polio cases in the U.S. rose to 58,000. A re-elected Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy was planning his investigation into so-called communist infiltration of the governments departments and agencies. Singin in the Rain was released in movie theaters; The Today Show premiered on NBC and revolutionized morning television; Mr. Potato Head and Mad Magazine made their respective debuts; the Holiday Inn and Kentucky Fried Chicken chains and franchises were launched. And, the United States tested its first hydrogen bomb; Great Britain tested its first atomic bomb. It was a time to laugh and to cry at once. Now, just about 70 years later, during a period of profound divisiveness and COVID-19 isolation, the timing couldnt be better for a revival of The Chairs, says director James Warwick, whose fitful but determined production opened over the weekend in Shakespeare & Companys Tina Packer Playhouse. Warwick has set his production on the rocky promontory outside an isolated lighthouse inhabited by a nonagenarian couple, The Old Man (Malcolm Ingram) and The Old Woman (Barbara Sims), who have been married 74 years. The Old Man is preparing to deliver a message, his philosophy, to the world. Youve no right to keep your message from the world, his supportive, encouraging wife says. You must reveal it to mankind, theyre waiting for it the universe waits only for you. He has invited everyone to come everybody who is a little intellectual and proprietary, he says. He also has hired an orator to deliver his speech on his behalf. The guests begin arriving, people who are invisible to the audience but are clearly real and present to the couple who interact with their guests while, at the same time, ensuring they are made comfortable. The guests arrivals are paced carefully, gradually gathering steam as The Old Man and his wife become caught in a frenzy of bringing out enough chairs to seat everyone. Its as if we are plunged into Alice in Wonderlands mad tea party, Ionesco-style. Ionesco is in his prime here, especially in the Donald M. Allen translation Warwick uses. Fat cats, poseurs, the politically powerful and wannabes, lost loves are ripe targets for Ionescos sharp, sly observations. Time is not on the couples side. A large clock face with Roman numerals, painted on the stage floor, is a steady, silent reminder of life cycles; of finality; of completion. Time, events, memory crowd the mind of The Old Man. Truth is as likely to be fiction. It all builds to the arrival of the orator a real flesh-and-blood character in Ionescos play whom Warwick has transformed into a creation of spotlight and sound. Warwicks just-over-one-hour production begins with haunting, captivating music box-like, carousel-circus music written by the late Joseph Albanese and Drew Keriakedes, members of Circus Contraption, a Seattle-based circus-cabaret style performance art group. (The two were among five victims of a 2012 one-person shooting rampage in a Seattle cafe). The music catches the dark and the playful currents in Ionescos play. Unfortunately, the suggestive edgy playfulness of Circus Contraptions music doesnt carry through Warwicks production. Ingrams journey with The Old Man is labored and effortful in ways that go beyond The Old Mans mental limitations, particularly in the production's first half. Ingram is more on his game roughly from midpoint to the plays concluding apotheosis. Sims is, by turns, delightful and affecting as a woman who is everything her husband needs her to be, especially in this last act of their lives. The Chairs demands a great deal from its actors and, by consequence, its audiences. At this early stage of the run, its an accomplishment that these two veteran actors can get through Ionescos expertly constructed material. The dots, however, are not yet all connected. The palette is waiting to be filled out. You are the owner of this article. Pittfield Police on Sunday arrested a woman on a single count of attempted arson after she allegedly tried to set fire to a building that she owns on Third Street. The lieutenant governor takes over the executive powers whenever the governor leaves the state or vacates the office. Beyond that, the state constitution outlines few official duties for the second-in-command position Elected as lieutenant governor in 1998 alongside Gov. Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift took over the governors duties after Cellucci resigned in 2001. Other than filling in when the governor travels out of state or vacates the office, Swift said, the main role of the lieutenant governor is to forge connections between the executive office and elected officials across the state. Reporter Greta Jochem, a Report for America Corps member, joined the Eagle in 2021. Previously, she was a reporter at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is also a member of the investigations team. NORTH ADAMS There soon might be a shortlist of places for a new public safety building. The story so far: A working group is narrowing a list of about 10 sites for a new public safety building, Mayor Tom Bernard told city councilors Tuesday night. The building is at the end of a deferred maintenance challenge that is decades in the making, Bernard said. One that has involved a number of expensive Band-Aids over the years. Why it matters: The aging building, built in the 1950s, is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A complaint that it is not handicap accessible led to a 2012 settlement agreement with the Department of Justice, in which the city agreed to make a long list of fixes to make the city more accessible. There also are concerns about the buildings water and holding cells. Last winter, the heat in the buildings basement stopped working. North Adams police decry broken heating, accessibility issues in public safety building NORTH ADAMS For weeks now, police have used space heaters to keep the basement of the city Whats next?: Were still reviewing the information and the next steps, based on the conversation we had last week, and I look forward to bringing forward some of that information to you at an upcoming meeting, Bernard told councilors. He referenced state Auditor Suzanne Bumps recent report on infrastructure challenges in rural areas, which said many Western Massachusetts communities have outdated buildings, and most cant finance repairs without help. Auditor: Poor rural towns in Massachusetts arent getting the help they need to keep up with wealthy ones Its rescue time for rural Massachusetts, state Auditor Suzanne Bump declared Monday, as her department releases evidence of inequitable government investment in the western part of the state. Bernard said he reached out to Bump. I invited her to North Adams, should she need a case study and demonstration project for why this level of investment is so necessary. In other city infrastructure news: At the same meeting, Bernard told councilors that, of the 50 broken fire hydrants set to be replaced, 43 are done. Last winter, broken hydrants delayed firefighters in their efforts to fight at least two fires. Reporter Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S. Protesters against a COVID-19 mandate gesture as they are escorted out of An Aug. 12 Clark County School Board meeting at the Clark County Government Center, in Las Vegas. The nation's school boards are asking President Joe Biden for federal assistance to investigate and stop a growing number of threats made against their members. The Pittsfield Board of Health has asked Verizon Wireless to remove or relocate the cell tower at 877 South St. to an area that still meets cell service needs. Since the tower went into operation last summer, near Alma Street, neighbors have complained of various health problems. A school board member in Virginia Beach, Va., is trying to get rid of books written by several popular African American authors including Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, claiming they are pornographic, The Daily Beast reports. Victoria Manning, an at-large member of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, led the demand to remove four books from circulation or use in the districts curriculum due to their pornographic nature. These are Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison; Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe; A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines and The Bluest Eye by Morrison. Manning admitted in her letter to the board that she hadnt read these titles, only skimming them, she made it clear that she wanted the books out and further demanded that staff involved in approving the books be disciplined. A Lesson Before Dying which addresses racism and racial identity in 1940s Louisiana, had been approved for 11th graders. It was banned because of a scene of a couple getting undressed. Virginia Beach City Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence said Manning had also separately requested the review of Beyond Magenta and Good Trouble: Lessons from the Civil Rights Playbook, The Daily Beast reports. According to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, she condemned a decision to partner with an educational nonprofit because it advocates for (The New York Times) 1619 Project and other leftist ideologies. Manning also spoke out against a group of middle school teachers who conducted a book study with students using The Racial Healing Handbook by Anneliese A. Singh, calling it appalling and disgusting. She claims to be some type of whistleblower on classroom conversations about race. According to The Daily Beast, she runs a wokeness checker page linked to her personal website where she blasts the teaching of Critical Race Theory. Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. LEWISTON - Congressman Mike Simpson unleashed a storm of controversy by calling for the breaching of the four lower Snake River dams, all located in the state of Washington. His proposal says it would compensate all those impacted by the loss of the dams, to the tune of $33.5 billion. Thats a bold proposal for someone from one of the reddest Congressional districts in the nation, says Outdoor Idaho host Bruce Reichert. We decided to examine his comprehensive proposal in the first show of our 39th season. Trying to tell this story in a way that makes sense has meant a lot of travel and a lot of interviews this past summer by producers Aaron Kunz, Forrest Burger and Bruce Reichert. The result can be seen in the upcoming Outdoor Idaho episode, Salmon Reckoning. Breaching the four dams would seriously affect the seaport of Lewiston and the barging of Palouse wheat. The Northwest would lose on average about 1,000 megawatts of clean power. Simpson believes there are ways around these big problems, but that the Northwest has to accept change. Change is coming, says the twelve-term congressman from eastern Idaho. Are we going to take advantage of it? Are we going to design our future, or are we going to have it imposed on us? I think we can do a better job designing it ourselves. I think we can save salmon. Simpsons district encompasses the Sawtooth Valley, where salmon breed and die after spending several years in the Pacific Ocean. To me, the science is clear. Youve got to remove the dams. Seattle Times newspaper reporter Lynda Mapes has covered the salmon debate for three decades, but she was surprised when Congressman Simpson got involved. All of a sudden onto the scene comes somebody named Mike Simpson. I had to keep looking up his name. Who is he? Republican out of Idaho. Whoever would have thunk it! Mapes has talked with irrigators and others who rely upon the Snake River and see that change is on the horizon. They would rather shape that change themselves through the Simpson proposal, or something like it. A Northwest decision by northwesterners, rather than something imposed from a courtroom. Opponents of Simpsons far-reaching proposal argue breaching the four Snake River dams would be devastating to Palouse wheat farmers. The Snake River system is integral to the economy of north central Idaho. This is our highway to international markets, argues David Doeringsfeld, manager of the Port of Lewiston. If we lost that river system, it would dramatically change what we grow in this area. Doeringsfeld says barging is the most cost-effective way to get soft white wheat to places like Portland. The four dams also provide a clean source of energy. Its a big deal. For us, hydro is over 80 percent of our power supply; the Snake River dams provide 10 percent of that, explains Rick Dunn, manager of Benton PUD in Washington. Both Dunn and Doeringsfeld believe science should determine whether the dams are breached. There is no surprise to me that these four lower Snake dams are creating the problem they are, says Virgil Moore, former director of Idahos Fish and Game Department. He has studied the plight of Idahos salmon for 40 years. We spent the last 20 years narrowing that uncertainty down to the point where folks like Congressman Simpson can now come out and say there is very little, if any, uncertainty about the fact that we cant get functional recovery with these dams in place. For many Idaho anglers, like Link Jackson, this is not a difficult decision. Take the dams out. Theyre killing the most magnificent run of salmon on the planet. We need to get rid of them, pronto. The conditions are so complex, argues retired Idaho lawmaker Steve Hartgen. Changing currents, weather patterns, climate change. Salmon were here before we got here, but that doesnt mean they have to stay here. So were dodo birds. Federal courts give the Northwest tribes a major voice in what happens next, and the tribes arent walking away from this fight. Without the salmon, its a pretty lonely world, says Hemene James of the Coeur dAlene Tribe. One of the earliest advocates for breaching the four Snake River dams is long-time salmon advocate Ed Chaney, who bluntly says, The salmon have run out of time. The extinction train is still rolling down the tracks. And if we dont do something, its over. Those dams dont even pay for their own maintenance. Theyre zombie money-losing dams. This is certainly one of our most controversial programs ever, says Outdoor Idaho host and producer Bruce Reichert. As we say in our show, Idahos star will shine more brightly if these fish can continue to return to central Idaho, just like theyve done for thousands of years. Salmon Reckoning on Outdoor Idaho airs Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. on Idaho Public Television. IdahoPTV Passport members can stream it early beginning Thursday, Oct. 7. WASHINGTON - Starting in October, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will hire and train new staff to ensure Veterans claims are adjudicated quickly and help reduce an expected increase in the backlog of claims pending more than 125 days. VA will hire and train 2,000 new employees to assist in claims processing. The VA will also Leverage authority to transfer CARES funding to the Veterans Benefits Administration and utilize the American Rescue Plan to fund overtime to ensure timely claims processing. As of October 11, there were more than 204,000 backlog claims in an inventory of 603,000 total claims. VA identified more than 70,000 claims to review for additional entitlement stemming from the presumptive relationship between Agent Orange and Parkinsonism, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism. Many of these will enter the backlog in October which is projected to reach 260,000 pending claims. Several factors have contributed to the recent backlog. Beginning in March 2020, operational changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an untimely delay of the Federal Records Centers retrieval of documents and suspended Compensation and Pension examinations. VA workload has also increased as a result of the aforementioned recent decisions and actions, including a court order mandating the review of previously denied Veterans on the basis of qualifying service in the 12 nautical miles surrounding Vietnam. The backlog has decreased by more than 14,000 claims since the end of August 2021. Saf Sindhi, creative partner at Ogilvy Johannesburg How do you feel about judging at this years Loeries? Tell us more about yourself and why you believe you were selected your judging experience and so on. When you heard about being selected as a judge, how did you celebrate the news? What does this mean to you, personally? Which category will you be judging? What do you expect to experience as a judge? What specific criteria will you be looking for when judging? You have some major experience in the creative industry. Could you comment on the impact of Covid-19 on the industry? Creatives are capitalizing on an opportunity to connect with their audiences in fresher and more innovative ways than ever. Share a few of your favourite Loeries-related moments over the years either from attending personally or agency winning work-related. Any predictions of trends that are likely to stand out at Loeries 2021? What does #FightTheGoodFight mean to you? So, no matter what it is you do, whether youre a lawyer or an accountant, a designer or an analtherapist, if youre using your talent, your skills, your passions to help make the world a better place, youre fighting the good fight. I felt like Randall Abrahams.I think this may be my fourth or fifth year in a row judging now and I still feel honoured every time that email from Pale pops up in my inbox. It just a little sign that lets me know that Im still doing something right in amongst all the fried chicken slingin.With a 6-hour long pre-prod.It just a little sign that lets me know that Im still doing something right in amongst all the fried chicken slingin.Live, PR and OOH.Ive never judged PR before and I was really excited to do so, especially this year because I thought the work would be standout given the context of the world right now and all the problems that need solving. I wasnt wrong, there were some really interesting and purposeful pieces of work in there.Eduardo, our jury president was great this year. He embodied everything a seasoned creative with an eye for good work does, and I believe that it will reflect in the results. Juries were tough on the work this year and thats important. Originality and cultural relevance are two very, very important factors behind any of the pieces that were awarded.Okay, so Covid came and it enforced behavioural changes all across the world and in multiple facets of our everyday lives. The way we worked, socialized, dressed, spent and consumed all changed and very quickly. And then it stayed that way for whats been around 18 months now but what thats done is, it's given us a flurry of brand new, original insights to work with. And its evident in the work were starting to see.Ah, the Loeries is such a good time, there are so many to choose from. Ill never forget when Xolisa Dyeshana broke into song, duuumb ways to die, so many dumb ways to die and the entire audience joined in with him or when we sang Happy Birthday to ex Loeries Chair, Tseliso Rangaka! And then of course there are the wins; the golds, the Grand Prix and winning the Loeries Young Creative award is just one of a few memories Ill never forget.Purpose over persuasion seems to be the order of the day. And the world needs it. But Im still a sucker for a funny insight that simply sells a benefit, so Im hoping to see some work that doesnt take itself too seriously get awarded.Theres a piece of art hanging on the wall in my office which reads, unfuck the world. And that - is The ultimate good fight, right? To make the world better. South Africa's leading owner and manager of branded business parks, Inospace, is delighted to announce the launch of three new business parks in Midrand, north of Johannesburg - growing its portfolio to 42 branded parks. These new sites follow the Company's September launch of two new business parks in Johannesburg acquired from Arrowhead Reit Ltd. The three recent locations in Midrand span a total net lettable area of 20,000 square metres, taking Inospace's assets under management to 400,000 square metres.The three industrial parks: Coventry Park, Richard's Park and Lanzerac Estate, currently comprise warehousing logistics, storage and light manufacturing spaces. The property is 90% let to a mix of SME tenants, perfectly fitting Inospace's business model, which focuses on entrepreneurial businesses looking for logistics and warehouses.Rael Levitt, chief executive officer of Inospace, says, "Midrand is a new node for us. We see demand in the area for our high-demand parks, and we will add value to these properties through our innovative business model and in-sourced operational initiatives."We have grown our footprint by 40% since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant economic fallout."According to Levitt, his company has been looking to grow its Gauteng presence into the Midrand area. "Midrand has a solid and diverse SME sector of which Inospace has good knowledge."The three new parks, branded under the Inospace livery, are in a bustling business node situated along the N1 highway between Sandton and Centurion. "The area has experienced significant growth and modernisation in the last decade, mainly due to its excellent highway links. It is fast becoming a business nucleus, and there is now little break between the outskirts of Johannesburg and those of Pretoria."Known for its business parks' unique combination of office, warehouse, industrial and storage space, Inospace has developed a reputation for flexibility, affordability and community, and entrenching the 'Space-as-a-Service' model that offers a range of business services and facilities."These high-quality assets deepen our exposure to a market in which we already have extensive experience. The new parks will provide several compelling operational synergies and widen our range of customer offerings, particularly when considered alongside our other existing business parks in Johannesburg's northern suburbs."The industrial and logistics sector has been the standout property sector globally and in South Africa. The sector has been performing exceptionally well for some time now, particularly during the corona pandemic, where accelerated online retailing trends and new supply-chain resilience requirements have significantly boosted demand.Inospace's model, which focuses on the multi-let industrial sector, has been highly resilient. When the company offered short flexible leases, with lease breaks at the tenant's discretion, demand increased even further. The company has grown its footprint by 40% since March 2020 and is indicative of the demand for its flexible, client-centric customer offering. A lot of the coverage has been really, really positive, Haugen reported at a Zoom event hosted by Yale Law School last week, and boy is she ever right. Youd almost think Haugen is an angelic figure who descended from the heavens, and not someone whose image has been finely-crafted by a professional PR operation, which just so happened to perfectly orchestrate her primetime TV debut as a lead-in for her hotly anticipated Senate testimony. She even touts herself explicitly as a whistleblower, which is kind of strange usually whistleblowers just kind of humbly and even reservedly accept that title, rather than turning it into a multi-platform branding exercise. Then again, its also strange that Twitter had a coveted blue check waiting for her right as her 60 Minutes segment aired: You are a 21st century American hero, effused Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). She is courageous, authoritative, and utterly convincing, gushed Johana Bhuiyan, the Guardians chief tech reporter. (How much courage does it really take to waltz into the spotlight with a guarantee of mandatory adulation? Does anyone think that Haugen hasnt already been deluged with further lucrative employment opportunities? What great sacrifices has she made, exactly? Shes even been invited back to address Facebook itself, notwithstanding the mortal danger one would have thought she faces as a whistleblower.) The title of whistleblower was bestowed so swiftly onto Haugen because its intended to confer virtue and selflessness, and by dint of being unanimously labeled a whistleblower, Haugen attains a kind of saintly moral status. But notice that whistleblowers only seem to receive this kind of coordinated official endorsement if they are telling powerful factions exactly what they want to hear, and Haugen has done just that. Once the saintly status is attained, questioning her motives or political prescriptions is deemed sacreligious. Try to find a single establishment orthodoxy as regards Big Tech and speech regulation that Haugens statements have undercut rather than strengthened, and you will come away empty-handed. Nevertheless, her trailblazing nobility has been extolled throughout the media and in Congress, with hardly a critical word even whispered. And there Haugen revealed a major reason why she has been treated to such effusive bipartisan praise ever since she burst onto the scene last week with a superbly choreographed 60 Minutes special. On top of her argument that Facebook must more aggressively regulate political speech and her calls for the Federal Government to more aggressively involve itself in these speech regulation activities Haugen is also fluent in the BS-infused jargon of natsec, thus making her appear Extremely Serious. This is quite crucial. Shes naturally adept at rattling off impressive-sounding terms like threat intelligence org, the mere mention of which elicits nods of solemn affirmation from lawmakers, think tankers, and other similarly Serious individuals who gather to be imparted with her incredible wisdom. I believe the fact that Congress doesnt get a report of exactly how many people are working on these things internally is unacceptable, Haugen continued. Because you have a right to keep the American people safe. I believe Facebooks consistent understaffing of the counter-espionage information operations, and counter-terrorism teams, is a national security issue, Haugen warned , agreeing with Sullivan about the Facebook-based threat posed by state actors such as China and Iran. (What kind of Facebook-related espionage is she referring to exactly? Unclear. Perhaps sardonic Ayatollah memes.) In a lesser-noticed but revealing portion of Frances Haugens stage-managed PR tour last week, the vaunted Facebook Whistleblower took a moment to show off her national security credentials for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. After the two had finished rehearsing all the reasons why American children are at such grave risk from a dangerously unregulated internet, they pivoted to another topic that being Haugens previous experience at Facebook working in what she describes as counter-espionage operations. Yes, you read that right: Haugen was apparently a project manager at something called the threat intelligence org, located deep in the bowels of Facebook, at which she claims to have presided over a team carrying out counter-espionage ops on behalf of Mark Zuckerberg. She also participated in a meeting with the European Commission last week and will soon be called to testify before the UK Parliament. Has any other whistleblower ever gotten such over-the-top Red Carpet treatment? If a whistleblower is immediately feted and glorified by the worlds most powerful institutions, perhaps whistleblower is not the most apt term. Functionary might work better. Indeed, Haugen has conceded that she doesnt even have an inherent problem with the massive power wielded by Facebook, she just thinks that power ought to be wielded more judiciously in accordance with her political and cultural priorities with the help of government regulators. As an algorithmic specialist... Im actually against the breaking up of Facebook, she said at the Senate hearing last week. What she wants instead is a government jobs program for revolving-door functionaries such as herself. There needs to be a regulatory home where someone like me could do a tour of duty after working at a place like [Facebook], and have a place to work on things like regulation, Haugen implored. Creating a new regulatory agency where amateur Philosopher Kings like Haugen can comfortably ponder how to define the common good, a phrase she constantly uses as though shes one of historys great ethicists? And contemplate what speech should and should not be allowed on the internet? Dont worry, Haugen would like you to know that the creation of this new Federal body is not, in fact, a political recommendation. Because like any effective campaigner seeking to achieve a political outcome, Haugen insists that she is stridently non-political. I dont view this as a political issue, Haugen has insisted in regards to her whistleblowing. Of course, thats also music to the ears of the powerful actors shes ingratiating herself to, because if she had a straightforwardly partisan motive, shed be much easier to criticize and wouldnt attract such an outpouring of compulsory veneration. Clues about Haugens political orientation and objectives are not hard to come by, however. At the Yale event, Haugen went out of her way to clarify that achieving virality on Facebook is not always bad, notwithstanding all the horrors of misinformation and divisive content which she says gets algorithmically promoted to the masses, who by her lights are too stupid to deploy critical thinking skills in assessing the veracity of what theyre consuming online. Even with the adjustments to Facebooks architecture that she proposes, Haugen maintains it would still be possible for ideas whose time has come as she put it to gain viral momentum. One such example of a Facebook-enabled social movement worth preserving according to Haugen is Pantsuit Nation, an anti-Trump group that she said got something like 12 million members in two weeks after the 2016 election. Why Haugen chose that particular group as an example of the good that can still come from Facebook, we can only speculate. Share Haugen also claims that she wants to ensure that Facebook is able to promote the good on the civic side. But of course, what is good from the standpoint of civics is an inherently political question, however aggressively one chooses to disavow any partisan affiliation. Can you name anything more obviously political than rival notions about what constitutes the civic good? The thing with Haugen and other people who hold themselves out as unsullied, non-political actors is that their conception of political tends to be narrowly defined as Democrat vs. Republican, and because theyre not overtly declaring themselves to be partisan activists, they therefore lay claim to somehow not being political even when theyre engaging in the most nakedly political activity imaginable. Counter-espionage against officially-designated adversaries of the US Government has nothing to do with politics? What a joke. Haugen was previously a member of the Civic Integrity Unit at Facebook, which infamously lapped up US Intelligence Community propaganda and censored news coverage of Hunter Bidens email archive on the (false) grounds that it was Russian disinformation. As shockingly discrediting as that episode was, Haugen has nonetheless expressed satisfaction with her work on the project: We didnt see a repeat of 2016, she said of the 2020 election, where you had nation-state actors distributing all sorts of things on the platform. What things, exactly? Doesnt matter! None of this is political anyway because Haugen has the minimal restraint required to refrain from explicitly festooning her Pantsuit with a collage of Kamala in 2024 bumper stickers. If we want to live in a society where we treat each other with respect, Haugen told her Yale admirers, if we dont want a cancel culture, we need to not have systems of information that choose for us what to focus on, and choose based on anger and extreme positions. Well, what even constitutes an extreme position these days? Ive been personally labeled some sort of dangerous extremist for reporting on nonsensical COVID policies, so Im not sure why Haugen or anyone she imagines will occupy the new government regulatory body shes advocating should be trusted to fashion themselves as the rightful adjudicators of extremism. But perhaps well get more details soon, because Dana Bash of CNN excitedly announced that Haugen is poised to meet with the January 6th committee. An entity which were also supposed to believe is entirely divorced from politics. For the record: Sure, excessive use of Facebook (or more commonly, Instagram) by children and teenagers can be a problem for their self-esteem, and may subject them to teasing, ridicule, and other social ostracization tactics common among kids both online and off. It can be especially bad for teen girls. However, think of the children! mantras tend to generate support for censorship precisely because they appeal to the natural instinct adults have to shield children from danger including, in this instance, Republican Senators, many of whom would be wary of giving Big Tech additional censorship powers if not for the child safety angle shrewdly emphasized by Haugen. I dont even like or use Facebook, but the melodramatic scapegoating of the company for everything from girls body issues, to stoking division in society, to destabilizing democracies has gotten completely over-the-top to the point that its become an excuse for power factions to neglect doing any introspection about their own culpability in social problems. Whats next, Facebook ate your homework? Its also notable that the capitulations Facebook made to elite pressure after the 2016 election when they were accused of allowing misinformation and Russian interference to install Donald Trump in the White House are now being decried as not having gone nearly far enough. They may have hired Haugen and a whole crew of like-minded functionaries to oversee speech-regulation efforts during the 2020 election, but that only resulted Haugen becoming an official whistleblower on the grounds that she didnt have enough free rein to impose her preferred censorship dictates. Lesson: nothing will ever suffice for pro-censorship zealots, because theyll always find another content area that they lack the ability to regulate to their liking. Haugen attempts to skirt the idea that shes promoting censorship by arguing that her suggested interventions are not content-based, but this doesnt make any sense, because what shes arguing for is that malevolent content be obscured to users based on subjective determinations (such as her own) about the supposed undesirability of that content. How else could one conclude that content being promoted on Facebook or any other social media platform is unduly divisive if not on the basis of an expressly content-based determination? Its a clever little end-run that certainly has beguiled many of the public officials shes attempting to convince, including censorship-wary Republicans, and also helps her create the impression that shes not advocating for any sort of political issue. But the ultimate result of what shes advocating is ever-more control over the content of political speech online. How that control gets exerted is a political issue regardless of how assiduously Haugen avoids expressing a personal partisan preference. Mouthing platitudes about National Security along with the need to Protect Children is a perfect little pairing to generate maximum deference from powerful institutions, and deference is not what genuine whistleblowers are typically accorded. You have to admit, her PR handlers whoever they are, exactly have done a fantastic job. Last month, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced it had developed a new asset class and accompanying listing vehicle meant to preserve and restore the natural assets that ultimately underpin the ability for there to be life on Earth. Called a natural asset company, or NAC, the vehicle will allow for the formation of specialized corporations that hold the rights to the ecosystem services produced on a given chunk of land, services like carbon sequestration or clean water. These NACs will then maintain, manage and grow the natural assets they commodify, with the end of goal of maximizing the aspects of that natural asset that are deemed by the company to be profitable. Though described as acting like any other entity on the NYSE, it is alleged that NACs will use the funds to help preserve a rain forest or undertake other conservation efforts, like changing a farms conventional agricultural production practices. Yet, as explained towards the end of this article, even the creators of NACs admit that the ultimate goal is to extract near-infinite profits from the natural processes they seek to quantify and then monetize. NYSE COO Michael Blaugrund alluded to this when he said the following regarding the launch of NACs: Our hope is that owning a natural asset company is going to be a way that an increasingly broad range of investors have the ability to invest in something thats intrinsically valuable, but, up to this point, was really excluded from the financial markets. Framed with the lofty talk of sustainability and conservation, media reports on the move in outlets like Fortune couldnt avoid noting that NACs open the doors to a new form of sustainable investment which has enthralled the likes of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink over the past several years even though there remain big, unanswered questions about it. Fink, one of the worlds most powerful financial oligarchs, is and has long been a corporate raider, not an environmentalist, and his excitement about NACs should give even its most enthusiastic proponents pause if this endeavor was really about advancing conservation, as is being claimed. How to Create a NAC The creation and launch of NACs has been two years in the making and saw the NYSE team up with the Intrinsic Exchange Group (IEG), in which the NYSE itself holds a minority stake. IEGs three investors are the Inter-American Development Bank, the Latin America-focused branch of the multilateral development banking system that imposes neoliberal and neo-colonalist agendas through debt entrapment; the Rockefeller Foundation, the foundation of the American oligarch dynasty whose activities have long been tightly enmeshed with Wall Street; and Aberdare Ventures, a venture capital firm chiefly focused on the digital healthcare space. Notably, the IADB and the Rockefeller Foundation are closely tied to the related pushes for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and biometric Digital IDs. The IEGs mission focuses on pioneering a new asset class based on natural assets and the mechanism to convert them to financial capital. These assets, IEG states, make life on Earth possible and enjoyableThey include biological systems that provide clean air, water, foods, medicines, a stable climate, human health and societal potential. Put differently, NACs will not only allow ecosystems to become financial assets, but the rights to ecosystem services, or the benefits people receive from nature as well. These include food production, tourism, clean water, biodiversity, pollination, carbon sequestration and much more. IEG is currently partnering with Costa Ricas government to pilot its NAC efforts within that country. Costa Ricas Minister of Environment and Energy, Andrea Meza Murillo, has claimed that the pilot project with IEG will deepen the economic analysis of giving nature its economic value, as well as to continue mobilizing financial flows to conservation. With NACs, the NYSE and IEG are now putting the totality of nature up for sale. While they assert that doing so will transform our economy to one that is more equitable, resilient and sustainable, its clear that the coming owners of nature and natural processes will be the only real beneficiaries. Per the IEG, NACs first begin with the identification of a natural asset, such as a forest or lake, which is then quantified using specific protocols. Such protocols have already been developed by related groups like the Capitals Coalition, which is partnered with several of IEGs partners as well as the World Economic Forum and various coalitions of multinational corporations. Then, a NAC is created and the structure of the company decides who has the rights to that natural assets productivity as well as the rights to decide how that natural asset is managed and governed. Lastly, a NAC is converted into financial capital by launching an initial public offering on a stock exchange, like the NYSE. This last stage generates capital to manage the natural asset and the fluctuation of its price on the stock exchange signals the value of its natural capital. Source: IEG However, the NAC and its employees, directors and owners are not necessarily the owners of the natural asset itself following this final step. Instead, as IEG notes, the NAC is merely the issuer while the potential buyers of the natural asset the NAC represents can include: institutional investors, private investors, individuals and institutions, corporations, sovereign wealth funds and multilateral development banks. Thus, asset management firms that essentially already own much of the world, like Blackrock, could thus become owners of soon-to-be monetized natural processes, natural resources and the very foundations of natural life itself. Both the NYSE and IEG have marketed this new investment vehicle as being aimed at generating funds that will go back to conservation or sustainability efforts. However, on the IEGs website, it notes that the goal is really endless profit from natural processes and ecosystems that were previously deemed to be part of the commons, i.e. the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of a society, including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable earth. Per the IEG, as the natural asset prospers, providing a steady or increasing flow of ecosystem services, the companys equity should appreciate accordingly providing investment returns. Shareholders and investors in the company through secondary offers, can take profit by selling shares. These sales can be gauged to reflect the increase in capital value of the stock, roughly in-line with its profitability, creating cashflow based on the health of the company and its assets. Researcher and journalist Cory Morningstar has strongly disagreed with the approach being taken by NYSE/IEG and views NACs as a system that will only exacerbate the corporate predation of nature, despite claims to the contrary. Morningstar has described NACs as Rockefeller et al. letting the markets dictate what in nature has value and what does not. Yet, its not for capitalist institutions and global finance to decide what life has value. Ecosystems are not assets. Biological communities exist for their own purposes, not ours. A New Way to Loot The ultimate goal of NACs is not sustainability or conservation it is the financialization of nature, i.e. turning nature into a commodity that can be used to keep the current, corrupt Wall Street economy booming under the guise of protecting the environment and preventing its further degradation. Indeed, IEG makes this clear when they note that the opportunity of NACs lies not in their potential to improve environmental well-being or sustainability, but in the size of this new asset class, which they term Natures Economy. Source: IEG Indeed, while the asset classes of the current economy are value at approximately $512 trillion, the asset classes unlocked by NACs are significantly larger at $4,000 trillion (i.e. $4 quadrillion). Thus, NACs open up a new feeding ground for predatory Wall Street banks and financial institutions that will allow them to not just dominate the human economy, but the entire natural world. In the world currently being constructed by these and related entities, where even freedom is being re-framed not as a right but a service, the natural processes on which life depends are similarly being re-framed as assets, which will have owners. Those owners will ultimately have the right, in this system, to dictate who gets access to clean water, to clean air, to nature itself and at what cost. According to Cory Morningstar, one of the other aims of creating Natures Economy and neatly packaging it for Wall Street via NACs is to drastically advance massive land grab efforts made by Wall Street and the oligarch class in recent years. This includes the recent land grabs made by Wall Street firms as well as billionaire philanthropists like Bill Gates during the COVID crisis. However, the land grabs facilitated through the development of NACs will largely target indigenous communities in the developing world. As Morningstar notes: The public launch of NACs strategically preceded the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the biggest biodiversity conference in a decade. Under the pretext of turning 30% of the globe into protected areas, the largest global land grab in history is underway. Built on a foundation of white supremacy, this proposal will displace hundreds of millions, furthering the ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples. The tragic irony is this: while Indigenous peoples represent less than 5% of the global population, they support approximately 80% of all biodiversity. IEG, in discussing NACs, tellingly notes that proceeds from a NACs IPO can be used for the acquisition of more land by its controlling entities or used to boost the budgets or funds of those who receive the capital from the IPO. This is a far cry from the NYSE/IEG sales pitch that NACs are different because their IPOs will be used to preserve and protect natural areas. The climate change panic that is now rising to the take the place of COVID-19 panic will surely be used to savvily market NACs and similar tactics as necessary to save the planet, but rest assured NACs are not a move to save the planet, but a move to enable the same interests responsible for the current environmental crises to usher in a new era where their predatory exploitation reaches new heights that were previously unimaginable. It was a pretty good weekend in Louisiana's East Baton Rouge Parish if you have a criminal record and you wanted the COVID vaccine. Why? Because if you played your cards right, you got your shot...and your record has been scrubbed clean. On Saturday (October 9), the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office held a free vaccination event where area residents could get a free COVID vaccination and get assistance filling out the proper paperwork to have their criminal records expunged. East Baton District Attorney Hillar Moore and members of his staff, the Public Defenders Office and the Clerk of Court all gave up a day off to assist. Moore said that to be eligible, more than five years must have passed since sentence completion for misdemeanors. For felonies, 10 years since completion of one's sentence was required. In addition, cases that did not result in a conviction were expunged immediately. Pre-event promotion said those taking part were also eligible to win "free food and a VISA gift card." Moore says the Parish holds the record expungements monthly, adding that this was a way to encourage an increase in the Parish's vaccination rate. Moore also said that, in most of the cases, the Parish also waived the $550 record expungement fee. An informal count showed more than 100 took advantage of the DA's offer. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 814-368-3173 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. DETROIT (AP) U.S. safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn't file recall documents when it updated Autopilot software to better identify parked emergency vehicles, escalating a simmering clash between the automaker and regulators. FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2019, file photo, a sign bearing the company logo stands outside a Tesla store in Cherry Creek Mall in Denver. U.S. automobile safety regulators have denied petition seeking an investigation into Tesla software updates, saying it's unlikely a probe would show there's a safety defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 denied the 2019 petition, which alleged that over-the-internet software updates cut battery range in response to battery fires across the globe. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file) DETROIT (AP) U.S. safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn't file recall documents when it updated Autopilot software to better identify parked emergency vehicles, escalating a simmering clash between the automaker and regulators. In a letter to Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric car maker Tuesday that it must recall vehicles if an over-the-internet update deals with a safety defect. Any manufacturer issuing an over-the-air update that mitigates a defect that poses an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is required to timely file an accompanying recall notice to NHTSA, the agency said in a letter to Eddie Gates, Teslas director of field quality. The agency also ordered Tesla to provide information about its Full Self-Driving software that's being tested on public roads with some owners. The latest clash is another sign of escalating tensions between Tesla and the agency that regulates vehicle safety and partially automated driving systems. In August the agency opened an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot after getting multiple reports of vehicles crashing into emergency vehicles with warning lights flashing that were stopped on highways. The software can keep cars in their lane and a safe distance from vehicles in front of them. Messages were left early Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla. NHTSA opened a formal investigation of Autopilot after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the dozen crashes that are part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed. According to the agency, Tesla did an over-the-internet software update in late September that was intended to improve detection of emergency vehicle lights in low-light conditions. The agency says Tesla is aware that federal law requires automakers to do a recall if they find out that vehicles have safety defects. FILE - A Tesla electric vehicle emblem is affixed to a passenger vehicle Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Boston. U.S. highway safety investigators want to know why Tesla didnt file recall paperwork when it updated Autopilot software so it would do a better job spotting parked emergency vehicles. In a letter sent to Tesla on Tuesday, Oct. 12, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric car maker that it has to do a recall if an over-the-internet update mitigates a safety defect. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) The agency asked for information about Teslas Emergency Light Detection Update that was sent to certain vehicles with the stated purpose of detecting flashing emergency vehicle lights in low light conditions and then responding to said detection with driver alerts and changes to the vehicle speed while Autopilot is engaged. The letter asks for a list of events that motivated the software update, as well as what vehicles it was sent to and whether the measures extend to Tesla's entire fleet. It also asks the Palo Alto, California, company whether it intends to file recall documents. If not, please furnish Tesla's technical and/or legal basis for declining to do so, the agency asks. Philip Koopman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, said NHTSA clearly wants Tesla to issue a recall. They're giving Tesla a chance to have their say before they bring the hammer down, said Koopman, who studies automated vehicle safety. When automakers find a safety defect, they must tell NHTSA within five working days, and theyre required to do recalls. NHTSA monitors the recalls to make sure they cover all affected vehicles.. Automakers are required to notify all owners with letters explaining the repairs, which must be done at company expense. A public recall allows owners to make sure the repairs are done, and so people buying cars are aware of potential safety problems. NHTSAs actions put all automakers on notice that when they do software updates via the internet, they have to be reported to the agency if they fix a safety problem. Its another new technology that the agency has to deal with as numerous automakers follow Tesla with internet software capability. Now every company has exposure every time they do an over-the-air update because NHTSA may come back weeks later and say wait a minute, that was a stealth recall, Koopman said. Tesla has to comply with the request by Nov. 1 or face court action and civil fines of more than $114 million, the agency wrote. In a separate order to Tesla, NHTSA says that the company may be taking steps to hinder the agencys access to safety information by requiring drivers who are testing Full Self-Driving software to sign non-disclosure agreements. The order demands that Tesla describe the non-disclosure agreements and say whether the company requires owners of vehicles with Autopilot to agree to any terms that would prevent or discourage vehicle owners from sharing information about or discussing any aspect of Autopilot with any person other than Tesla. Responses must be made by a Tesla officer under oath. If Tesla fails to fully comply, the order says the matter could be referred to the Justice Department. It also threatens more fines of over $114 million. Tesla has said that neither vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving nor Autopilot can drive themselves. It warns drivers that they must be ready to intervene at all times. Shares of Tesla rose slightly in Wednesday morning trading. It was unclear how Tesla and CEO Elon Musk will respond to NHTSA's demands. The company and Musk have a long history of sparring with federal regulators. In January, Tesla refused a request from NHTSA to recall about 135,000 vehicles because their touch screens could go dark. The agency said the screens were a safety defect because backup cameras and windshield defroster controls could be disabled. A month later, after NHTSA started the process of holding a public hearing and taking Tesla to court, the company agreed to the recall. Tesla said it would replace computer processors for the screens, even though it maintained there was no safety threat. Musk fought with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a 2018 tweet claiming that he had financing to take Tesla private, when that funding was not secured. He and the company agreed to pay $20 million each to settle allegations that he misled investors. Musk branded the SEC the shortseller enrichment commission, distorting the meaning of its acronym. Short sellers bet that a stock price will fall. The new demands from NHTSA signal a tougher regulatory stance under President Joe Biden on automated vehicle safety compared with the previous administrations. The agency had appeared reluctant to regulate the new technology for fear of hampering adoption of the potentially life-saving systems. ____ Follow AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher at http://twitter.com/tkrisher Last month, local parent Sheena Desmarais learned her five daughters who attend King George School had all contracted COVID-19. Advertisement Advertise With Us KYLE DARBYSON/THE BRANDON SUN The exterior of King George School on Tuesday afternoon in Brandon. The Brandon School Division confirmed over the long weekend that the school had registered its first two COVID-19 cases of the 2021-22 academic year, although a local parent recently told the Sun she thinks the real number of cases connected to King George is much higher. Last month, local parent Sheena Desmarais learned her five daughters who attend King George School had all contracted COVID-19. However, none of these cases have been reported by the Brandon School Division so far, which is a major source of frustration for Desmarais and her family. "To me, it doesnt seem like they are being truthful," she told the Sun Tuesday. "It seems like theyre trying to put out as little information as possible." Desmarais revealed that her five daughters, whose ages range from five to 10 years old, all tested positive for the virus in late September, only a couple weeks after the K-12 fall semester began. While her daughters have since recovered from COVID-19 and returned to in-person classes on Tuesday, some of the symptoms are lingering for Desmarais, since she also contracted the virus. "I still cant taste or smell anything," Desmarais said, mentioning that she is only partially vaccinated. "Im the only one who had shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue." But Desmarais bigger concern right now is the lack of transparency between BSD, public health and the broader school community in Brandon, especially when it comes to the COVID-19 cases those groups choose to report. On Saturday, BSD did confirm that two cases had been discovered in a Grade 1/2 CR and Grade 4/5 S classroom, with the individuals in question possibly being infectious between Oct. 6 and 7. This marks the first time the division has publicly reported any COVID-19 cases at King George since the start of the 2021-22 academic year. However, Desmarais maintains that these two cases do not involve any of her daughters. The Sun reached out to BSD on Tuesday to ask why the public wasnt informed about Desmarais five children contracting COVID-19 in September. While BSD doesnt comment on the status of individual students, a division representative told the Sun through an email that notifications are only sent out to parents under certain circumstances. "If a student or staff member tests positive but did not attend the school during the period of communicability, a notification will not be given to the school community," the BSD representative wrote Tuesday. "Since the person was not in attendance during the period of communicability, there is no exposure at the school." However, Desmarais is convinced that her daughters contracted the virus while attending King George based on the timeline of events and how school officials reacted to news about their illness. "When my daughters got sick, the principal actually phoned me, and he apologized to me and said theyre taking extreme measures now to sanitize everything," she said. Plus, Desmarais revealed that some of her daughters were enrolled in the classrooms later flagged by BSD officials as being the source of two recent COVID exposures (Grade 1/2 CR and Grade 4/5 S). After going through this experience, Desmarais has become wary of how BSD reports on its COVID-19 cases, especially since the division has attached the phrase "the infection is not believed to be acquired at school" to virtually all of its COVID-19 notices released so far this semester. Moving forward, Desmarais said she would like to see improved transparency in terms of the divisions COVID-19 notices, since these news releases are designed to keep King George parents better informed about how to ensure the safety of their children during the ongoing pandemic. "If somebody in my kids [class] got COVID, I would want to know," she said "Because I probably wouldnt want to send my kids to school, and you dont know what underlying conditions other kids have and how it will affect them." According to the provinces COVID-19 school tracker map as of Tuesday evening, King George School has endured at least five cases in the two weeks prior to Oct 11. Since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year, 11 Brandon-based K-12 schools have registered COVID-19 cases. Outside of King George, these exposure sites include: Riverheights School, Vincent Massey High School, St. Augustine, Ecole OKelly, Betty Gibson School, Ecole New Era, Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, Kirkcaldy Heights School, Linden Lanes School and Christian Heritage School. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter:@KyleDarbyson The COVID-19 pandemic has been financially challenging for a lot of people and organizations, but less so for Manitoba Public Insurance Advertisement Advertise With Us The COVID-19 pandemic has been financially challenging for a lot of people and organizations, but less so for Manitoba Public Insurance The Crown corporation announced Tuesday it would be asking the Public Utilities Board in its hearing starting that day for a 1.2 per cent rate decrease for ratepayers. Additionally, MPI is asking for permission to remove its capital release provision, which had previously represented a five per cent rate discount, and return excess capital by way of a rebate instead. Instead of the $202 million figure for the rebate MPI had originally predicted will be a $335 million rebate, which a news release stated was the second largest rebate in its history after a $336 million rebate in 2011. These rebate cheques will start to be mailed out early next year with details to come about the average cheque amount ratepayers should expect. According to MPI, its customers have received a total $179 million in rebates connected to COVID-19. The proposed rate decrease will take effect April 1, 2022, but for some vehicle owners on staggered renewal dates, they may not start paying their new rates until March 31, 2023. The PUB is expected to announce its ruling on the matter in December. "MPI continues to demonstrate strong financial performance, which has resulted in its applying for a third consecutive rate decrease, and in time, applying for a third consecutive customer rebate," Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton was quoted in the release. "The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all Manitobans. I am pleased that Manitoba Public Insurance will once again be in a position to provide its policyholders with much-needed financial relief early in the New Year." The Brandon Sun OTTAWA - Public health advocates and environmental groups say the federal government needs to close a loophole allowing the sale of second-hand products containing asbestos. A chunk of asbestos is displayed in Asbestos, Que., in an August 10, 2016, file photo. A group of doctors and environment advocates say the Liberals need to close a loophole that is allowing the resale of second-hand products containing asbestos. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson OTTAWA - Public health advocates and environmental groups say the federal government needs to close a loophole allowing the sale of second-hand products containing asbestos. Canada banned the cancer-causing mineral and products that contain it in December 2018, more than 30 years after the World Health Organization designated it as a carcinogen. In a July letter to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Friends of the Earth Canada and several others say they're still finding lots of products that contain asbestos for sale online. "We are disturbed by the fact that asbestos-containing products and asbestos samples continue to be sold in Canada," wrote Kathleen Ruff, director of RightonCanada.ca and a long time activist who has pushed Canada to stop mining, using and exporting asbestos. Mined widely in Quebec for decades, asbestos was once a popular product to make everything from construction materials to textiles and auto parts more durable and fire retardant. But negative health effects began to appear more than a century ago, particularly among workers mining the fibres or using them to manufacture things like floor tiles, brake pads, oven mitts, insulation and roofing materials. When inhaled the tiny fibres of asbestos lead to numerous health problems including lung disease known as asbestosis and a rare form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Asbestos is the leading cause of workplace deaths in Canada, responsible for thousands of cases of and deaths due to mesothelioma in the last two decades alone. The 2018 ban applies to the use, sale and importation of the mineral itself, and also to the importation, manufacture, sale and use of products that contain asbestos. There are exceptions for products already integrated into buildings and vehicles. Ruff said a search online recently uncovered numerous asbestos-laden products such as ironing board covers, gloves and car parts, but when that was pointed out to Environment and Climate Change Canada, it didn't see a problem. "This is negligence," said Ruff. "Why is the government of Canada not responding with concern?" The federal department initially told Ruff the exemptions to the regulations meant any products produced before the ban took effect were grandfathered, so they could still be legally sold and used. It later clarified that the exception applies only to products made and used before the ban took effect. So an ironing board cover containing asbestos, made at any time but still in original packaging in a storage room, can't now be sold. But products with asbestos can be sold if they've already been used, as long as they were made and first used before Dec. 30, 2018. Ruff and the other signatories said they don't agree with Environment Canada's interpretation of the law, but said if there is such a loophole it should immediately be closed. A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said asbestos is harmful to human health, which is why it was banned in the first place. In a written statement Joanna Sivasankaran said it's up to the enforcement branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada to uphold the law. "This is done independently of the ministers office," she said. Jane McArthur, the toxics program manager at the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said "on the basis of the scientific evidence of the human health impacts, there's no clear justification for allowing the sale and trade of these products." She said older products are likely more harmful because they have the highest risk of being worn down so the asbestos fibres would be exposed. Asbestos is harmful when the tiny fibres are inhaled. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. HALIFAX - Recently released figures show a record number of Nova Scotians are waiting for family doctors, backing up the new Tory government's campaign warnings about personnel shortages in the province's health-care system. A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope in a doctor's office in Stuttgart, Germany, Monday, April 28, 2008. Nova Scotia's new Progressive Conservative government's predictions of rising shortages of family doctors are being confirmed by recently released figures. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle HALIFAX - Recently released figures show a record number of Nova Scotians are waiting for family doctors, backing up the new Tory government's campaign warnings about personnel shortages in the province's health-care system. As of Oct. 1, 77,696 names were on a health authority's waiting list for access to a family doctor, a jump of 60 per cent from the same time last year. That number represents about eight per cent of the population, up from five per cent a year ago. The list is also for access to nurse practitioners at a family practice, though the large majority of family practices are still operated by physicians. The figure indicates more people have signed up on the list while the number of available doctors in the province remained stagnant, Dr. Heather Johnson, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, said in an interview Tuesday. "I'd say we've been treading water over the past few years," said Johnson, whose organization represents physicians in Nova Scotia. "There's been retirements (of family doctors) and there have been people recruited to fill their positions ... but the new family practice doctors usually have fewer people on their roster." During the summer election campaign, the Tories repeatedly warned about the crisis in the health-care system, adding that deficit spending was needed to make necessary reforms. The party's platform promised tens of millions of dollars in the first year of its mandate to recruit and retain more doctors and other health professionals, including a pledge to create a pension plan for physicians. Johnson said the 60 per cent increase in people waiting for doctors could be partially explained by the pandemic, as some people without a doctor may have decided it was time to be looked after. "During COVID-19, there was an increasing number of people reflecting on their health care and they were at home and decided to attach themselves to a health-care provider," she said. In addition, the Health Department on May 1 came out with a pilot project allowing anyone on the waiting list to access virtual care. Johnson said this incentive also may have caused some people to register for a family doctor. Johnson said there's optimism among health-care officials that the Tories' plans to fix the system will help in recruitment and retention. "Every year we graduate 40 new family physicians just from Nova Scotia, and if we can focus on retaining them ... then we have the ability to impact that list," she said. Brendan Elliott, a spokesman for Nova Scotia Health, said in an email that another factor causing the waiting list to grow is there are more Nova Scotians suffering from chronic diseases as they age, requiring more care. In addition, Elliott said "unexpected departures," particularly in the province's eastern and northern zones, have left patients in need of a new doctor, while there has been a steady growth in the province's population, with 43,000 more residents since 2016. Dr. Kevin Orrell, the deputy minister and CEO of the newly created Office of Health Care Professionals Recruitment, said in an interview Tuesday that wider reforms in the health system will be key to retaining physicians and other health professionals. "We need to acquire more people to work in the system, but if we just do that, we won't solve the problems that exist in Nova Scotia. We will have to create a different way these people work," he said. He said the reforms to the system will also need to include improvements to working conditions for nurses, paramedics, lab technicians and other health professionals with each of these elements feeding into an overall improvement in the work environment for doctors. "These are no quick fixes. This is a system that is extremely complex," he said. Still, Orrell said as the various reforms occur, he is hopeful that the waiting list will shorten. "We can certainly witness some improvement over the next six months," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled the last name of Brendan Elliott. Canadians with family in the United States expressed relief Wednesday at the prospect of soon being able to drive across the border to visit their loved ones. Advertisement Advertise With Us Canadian and American flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-USA border crossing in Windsor, Ont. on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Canadians with family in the United States expressed relief Wednesday at the prospect of soon being able to drive across the border to visit their loved ones.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rob Gurdebeke Canadians with family in the United States expressed relief Wednesday at the prospect of soon being able to drive across the border to visit their loved ones. Betty Chaborek, who turned 77 on Wednesday, likened the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians to "a super birthday present." "I'm so excited that I can barely wait. I was ready to go today," Chaborek said with a chuckle during a phone interview. The U.S. plan, first announced by New York congressman Brian Higgins late Tuesday, is set to take effect in early November, although a firm start date has not been released. It's also unclear whether Canadians who received mixed vaccine doses will be deemed eligible. For Chaborek, however, the news was nonetheless welcome. The Windsor, Ont., resident said there had been many times during the pandemic when she'd stare at traffic on the Ambassador Bridge border crossing from her condo and wonder when she'd be allowed to drive over to see her family in the U.S. Prior to the U.S. land border closing to Canadians when the pandemic hit, Chaborek said she would visit her daughter, her son-in-law and their two children in Michigan almost every weekend. Chaborek said shes looking forward to catching up with her family and celebrating upcoming holidays with them. "This is absolutely incredible that we have the freedom to live our life like we want," she said. "Its been too long." Mike Osborne also couldn't contain his excitement after hearing the news about the border reopening. The Welland, Ont., resident said he used to see his daughter, her husband and their two-year-old son in Niagara Falls, N.Y., a few times a week before the global health crisis began. "I've been waiting for such a long time to be able to cross over and see family actually, you know, physically, instead of it being always on FaceTime or Messenger and stuff like that," he said. The border being closed was especially difficult for his family, Osborne said, as he lost his wife to cancer in May three days after Mother's Day and his daughter could only come across into Canada for short compassionate visits. He and his family in the U.S. haven't seen each other since his wife died, he added. "To know now that the borders opening up to us, it'll give us the time for us to heal together, in a physical way," said Osborne. Osborne said he is going to visit his family as soon as he can and plans to "spoil" them. "We definitely are going to be celebrating Christmas. We're probably going to make up for Thanksgiving. We're going to make up for Easter," he said. "I think we're going to do all the holidays in about a week's time." Jaslyn DeClercq, who has been in a four-year, long-distance relationship with her fiance who lives in Ohio, said she also was yearning to make up for lost time. The Tillsonburg, Ont., resident said she started crying in her car when she heard the land border was reopening. "Its been a long 19 months," she said. Before COVID-19 hit, DeClercq said she and her American fiance saw each other every weekend, if not every other weekend. It's been especially "heartbreaking" to tell their two-year-old daughter that she couldn't regularly see her father due to the pandemic, she said. DeClercq and her daughter flew to the U.S. for the little girl's birthday, and her father has made two trips to Canada during the pandemic, she said. "It was a drastic change and not one that I ever want to see happen to any family ever again," DeClercq said. "I'm looking forward to being able to drive down to (my fiance's) home and spend the family time that we've been waiting two years to spend together." Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents have been allowed back into Canada since August, provided they have waited at least 14 days since getting a full course of a Health Canada-approved vaccine and can show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. The U.S. will not be requiring travellers to show proof of a negative test for COVID-19 as part of the new easing of restrictions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. WASHINGTON - Environmental activists in the United States are seizing on Canada's decision to invoke a 44-year-old treaty with the United States as an "audacious," misguided and misleading gambit aimed at short-circuiting Michigan's effort to shut down the Line 5 cross-border pipeline. In this Thursday, July 6, 2017, file photo, Lauren Sargent, of Ann Arbor, Mich., takes part in a protest before the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline public information session at Holt High School in Holt, Mich. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File WASHINGTON - Environmental activists in the United States are seizing on Canada's decision to invoke a 44-year-old treaty with the United States as an "audacious," misguided and misleading gambit aimed at short-circuiting Michigan's effort to shut down the Line 5 cross-border pipeline. Oil & Water Don't Mix, a coalition of Michigan environmental and Indigenous groups that includes the Sierra Club and the Michigan Climate Action Network, said Tuesday it has a 33,000-signature petition that it plans to circulate among U.S. lawmakers this week. The petition urges U.S. President Joe Biden to support the state of Michigan and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in their legal effort to shut down Line 5, a 68-year-old pipeline that crosses beneath the Great Lakes to deliver crude oil and natural gas liquids from Canada to the U.S. Midwest. The state has revoked the 1953 easement that allows Calgary-based owner Enbridge Inc. to operate Line 5, citing the risk of a catastrophic spill in the Straits of Mackinac, an ecologically sensitive waterway that links Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The resulting dispute has lawyers for both sides arguing in court about whether a district court in Michigan has the jurisdiction to decide the fate of the pipeline and Enbridge's efforts to upgrade and fortify the twin lines that run along the lakebed under the straits. Last week, the federal government filed court documents confirming that it wants formal negotiations with the U.S. under the terms of a 1977 treaty specifically drafted to deal with cross-border pipelines, and asking Judge Janet Neff to hold the case in abeyance. "We're calling on the president to stand with Gov. Whitmer in rejecting Enbridge's delay tactics," said Sean McBrearty, the co-ordinator for Oil & Water Dont Mix. McBrearty called the treaty tactic a "direct attack on our sovereignty" that intentionally misinterprets the treaty itself "to make the audacious claim that we must leave a major risk pumping oil indefinitely through the heart of the Great Lakes." He pointed to the oil spill last week off the coast of California, which was likely the result of an underwater anchor strike precisely the sort of peril that Whitmer and her supporters fear could befall the Great Lakes shoreline if Line 5 continues to operate. "This fight is not really about Enbridge's fuel," he said. "This fight is about Michigan's water." Andy Buchsbaum, the legal adviser for the National Wildlife Federation, said when it comes to pipeline safety and environmental concerns, Michigan is well within its rights to demand the line be shut down. "The government of Canada is misrepresenting the terms of the 1977 treaty, which explicitly authorizes Michigan to take exactly the kind of action it did when it issued the order shutting down the pipeline," Buchsbaum said. The shutdown order "is actually authorized by the same treaty that Canada claims invalidates the shutdown order." Michigan's attorney general showed similar contempt for Canada's move, disputing the notion that treaty talks are relevant to the legal matters at hand and that the hearings should be paused to allow those talks to proceed. "Canada is wrong on both counts," Dana Nessel wrote in a response filed in court last week. "Neither the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty itself nor Canada's recent invocation of the dispute resolution process ... are relevant to the sole legal issue now before this court: whether it has jurisdiction over the state's complaint removed by Enbridge." Canada's letter, she continues, "is devoid of any legal authority or persuasive argument for its assertion that this court should decline to rule" on the matter. "Staying this case based on some speculative outcome of international treaty negotiations would deprive the state of its ability to protect these core sovereign interests while indefinitely enshrining the status quo that Enbridge desires." Proponents of Line 5 say its 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids per day are a vital energy source for markets across the Midwest, including Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as Canadian refineries that provide jet fuel to some of Canada's busiest airports. Enbridge has insisted from the outset that it has no plans to voluntarily shut down the pipeline. A court-sanctioned voluntary mediation process, which began in April, has failed to yield any agreement and appears to have fallen apart, although the official status of those talks remains unclear. Court documents show the state has no "desire to continue with the mediation process," while Enbridge has said publicly that it wants the talks to continue. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. OTTAWA - French President Emmanuel Macron wants face time with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soon and he hopes for more than passing chit-chat on the margins of upcoming summits. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron are seen at the start of a bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, England, on June 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - French President Emmanuel Macron wants face time with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soon and he hopes for more than passing chit-chat on the margins of upcoming summits. Kareen Rispal, France's ambassador to Canada, said that in addition to unfinished business the two countries started before the COVID-19 pandemic, Macron wants to hear Trudeau's views on the alliance formed last month between the United States, Britain and Australia. The new AUKUS alliance angered Macron and was seen by France as a stab in the back from trusted allies. Trudeau has shrugged off Canada's exclusion, saying the alliance is about selling Australia nuclear submarines something that doesn't interest Canada. "It's very vague. The only announcement about this club is the perspective of providing Australia with submarines," Rispal said in a recent interview at the French Embassy in Ottawa. "So, to us, it's pretty weak." AUKUS was formed to help Australia deal with the fallout it has faced over China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific. Helping Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear submarines was touted as the key feature, but it has also established greater co-operation in the defence industries of all three countries. That angered France because its defence contractors also build nuclear submarines. Macron responded to the AUKUS announcement by pulling his ambassador out of Washington. He has since returned to his post, while top Biden administration officials are working hard to heal hurt French feelings. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Paris last week to meet Macron. Macron is working on a setting up a meeting with President Joe Biden. Rispal said Macron wants to meet Trudeau in person as well because pandemic-inspired videoconferencing is wearing thin. "It's very important to get together and have a meeting in Paris or Ottawa quite soon, and to discuss strategic matters. We are eager to strengthen our transatlantic link," said Rispal. "We have relations of confidence and trust and friendship with Canada." A spokesman for Trudeau said he was pleased to participate with Macron at Tuesday's virtual G20 leaders' summit on Afghanistan and to meet him in person at the G7 gathering hosted by Britain last June, but he was unable to confirm any pending meeting. "Prime Minister Trudeau looks forward to sitting down again with President Macron at the earliest opportunity," spokesman Alex Wellstead said in an email. Both countries are deeply seized with the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, especially China's growing military and political influence, Rispal said. "I think that Canada, like France is very aware that China is a competitor could be a partner on some subjects, and can be military or strategic threat," said Rispal. "I think we share the same view that the model that Beijing wants to impose is not the one that we want to expand," she added, citing Canada and Frances's views towards human rights and the need to respect international law and trade rules. Rispal said the pandemic has prevented any meaningful follow-up on an agreement Macron and Trudeau signed three years ago to deepen co-operation on promoting democracy and gender equality, as well as fighting climate change. Macron visited Ottawa in June 2018 for a one-on-one with Trudeau before the G7 leaders' summit in Charlevoix, Que., where the pair agreed to create a Franco-Canadian Council of Ministers that was supposed to meet every two years. But it hasn't due to the pandemic. "COVID is maybe not over, but you know, we are in a better position," said Rispal. "It's time to be together physically in the same room. And to have a strong discussion about strategic matters, about economic matters, about innovation, about the environment." Macron wants a meeting before the end of 2021, she added. The electoral calendars of France and Canada are squeezing both leaders. Canada's election has recently come and gone, but French voters are to go to the polls in April. "The window is narrow," said Rispal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, are the latest to join the boom in sustainable investing as they follow Wall Street in embracing a multitrillion-dollar industry. The couple is joining Ethic, a $US1.3 billion ($1.8 billion) investing fund based in New York, as impact partners in the hope of raising awareness around issues such as racial injustice, climate change and income equality, said co-founder Jay Lipman. The Sussexes have investments managed by the firm and also backed the fund manager financially earlier this year, according to reports. When we invest in each other we change the world, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement on the website of Archewell, their organisation which runs a charitable foundation and a media production business. Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle The Duchess of Sussex say they put their values in action. Credit:AP We believe its time for more people to have a seat at the table when decisions are made that impact everyone. We want to rethink the nature of investing to help solve the global issues we all face, they announced. The boss of the small Melbourne biotech that will help Monash University make doses of its mRNA COVID vaccine says Australia needs to learn from the vaccine rollout to ensure the nation has more manufacturers for future pandemics. On Wednesday IDT Australia confirmed it had signed a manufacturing deal with Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences to complete doses of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for use in trials. We have existing facilities which could potentially be deployed to manufacture mRNA vaccines, says David Sparling, chief executive of pharmaceutical company IDT Australia. Credit:Wayne Taylor. Australia had no ability to produce mRNA vaccines, such as the successful Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines, at the start of the pandemic and the government is still determining the best way to support making these at scale. Industry heavyweights have warned that local research and production of these products will take time and resources. On Tuesday CSL chief executive Paul Perreault told this masthead the biotech giant would not be focusing its efforts on developing its own mRNA products for COVID-19, saying the business is looking beyond to other uses like influenza. Australias biggest hydrogen developers have thrown their support behind the NSW governments plan to offer $3 billion in incentives for green hydrogen projects, calling it a leap forward in scaling up the emerging industry. NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean said the new strategy released on Wednesday to develop hydrogen for domestic use and export would help the state cut its carbon footprint in half by 2030 and create new opportunities that could grow the economy by more than $600 million this decade. Premier Dominic Perrottet and Fortescue chairman and Founder Andrew Forrest. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Mining magnate Andrew Twiggy Forrest, who is embarking on a major push into the clean-energy sector including seeking to build a $1.3 billion hybrid gas- and hydrogen-fuelled power plant at Port Kembla, said there would be no bigger industry in the future than green hydrogen and ammonia. It will dwarf the scale of iron ore, it will dwarf the scale of coal, said Dr Forrest, the founder and chairman of iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group. Noomi Rapace got her first sliver of a film role in Iceland, where she lived for three years as a young child. Her stepfather was looking after the horses for a medieval spectacular called Shadow of the Raven and she had tagged along to the set. Before she knew it, she was on camera dressed as a Viking. It was a very small part, she laughs. But it changed my life. I think I discovered that you can have fun as an adult because I saw all the actors go in every day with so much bravery and concentration. It was a really brutal story I saw a lot of deaths and really romantic, like Tristan and Isolde. I was standing there entranced, thinking I never want to leave this universe. Noomi Rapace: Iceland always had this effect on me: it feels like Im looking at myself Credit: A year later, the family returned to Sweden. Noomi went to acting school and was eventually catapulted to world renown as Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its two sequels. Now 41, she recently returned to Iceland to star in the stunning Lamb, which won a prize at the recent Cannes Film Festival for originality. It is the story of a farming couple conjoined in grief following the death of their only child. Then an extraordinary event gives them the chance to be parents again, Rapace plays Maria strong, capable, stoic whom she describes as a mix of herself and her Icelandic grandmother. Most of the convicts who arrived with the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788 were British, but its recorded that at least 10 men of African descent were also on board, and as Chingaipes film reveals, some of these men played pivotal roles in Australias historical landscape and have tens of thousands of descendants. Written, produced and fronted by African-Australian journalist Santilla Chingaipe, who, having experienced racism of the go back to where you came from variety (despite having lived here since childhood), decided to delve into stories shed heard about people who look like me in our national mythology. Its well documented that colonial Australias history has been whitewashed from the beginning, but this documentary will likely surprise even the most ardent Australian history buffs. Part of SBSs Australia Uncovered series, Our African Roots reveals that modern Australias multiculturalism began with the arrival of the First Fleet. Chingaipe meets several descendants of one of these men, John Randall, thought to have been a slave who had fought with the British. His name is recorded in the first fleet archive, but his life is largely a mystery beyond a few references; one of his distant relatives says there was talk of an older family member having a touch of the boot polish, but little beyond that. Previous generations were loathe to acknowledge any African heritage, and less so official histories. It is known, though, that Randall eventually married an Irish woman and became patriarch to one of Australias first multicultural families. John Black Caesar not only instilled a spirit of resistance, he was essentially our first bushranger. Then theres John Black Caesar, another former slave who escaped into the Australian bush and survived stealing provisions and raiding Indigenous camps. Caesars escape was reportedly followed by some 50,000 attempts by convicts to run away; he not only instilled a spirit of resistance, he was essentially our first bushranger. The ultimate underdog, our first rebel, escaping capture four times before his death the very attributes we celebrate in the Ned Kelly mythology. Chingaipe also relates the story of Billy Blue, a Jamaican convict who, once a free settler, started Sydneys first ferry service, effectively connecting both sides of the harbour. Blue at least has several landmarks named after him, and a handful of portraits, but again, how many people would know his incredible story? The backstories Aside from the shows writing staff, the shows long-arc story plotting uses a handful of media experts who lend the show their insider knowledge of the business and the families that rule it, Armstrong reveals. They are Wall Street Journal writer Merissa Marr, business writer William Cohan and media executive Jon Klein. We have the landscape in our heads, but we couldnt write it without the knowledge of the media and business landscape, Armstrong says. For many of the shows twists and turns, as the family battle for control of Waystar RoyCo, you can get these rather byzantine processes, Armstrong says. They help us get all that detail right. And knowing that we have them gives us the confidence the business stuff that we portray [is accurate]. The set and locations Unlike many hour-long scripted American dramas, Succession has very few standing sets, Armstrong says. Most of the scenes, including those on the familys multi-million-dollar yachts, penthouses and offices, are filmed at various locations under the guidance of director Mark Mylod and production designer Stephen Carter. We have a lot of discussions about this, and the filming style is documentary derived, so the writing seeks to sort of give you the feeling of having a peek behind the curtain, Armstrong says. And thats our creative touchstone, when we talk about the sets, what is it really like? And what it is really like is, sometimes, rather more anodyne and international hotel-ish. If you have seven homes, every room is not a beautifully curated expression of your personality. The filming locations need to be real, Armstrong says, which means there is a lot of money. All portrayal can have a sort of element of glamourisation, and we dont want to glamourise or de-glamourise it. It just should be what it is, which is the spaces you end up in with a lot of money, and their private jets, and their homes that feel quite a lot like international hotels. Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) in Succession. Credit:HBO The score One of the most surprising things about Succession is that the shows composer, Nicholas Britell, is the guy who also did the scores for Moonlight, The Underground Railroad and the Disney reboot Cruella. Signing him, Armstrong says, was an unexpected boon of having Adam McKay direct the Succession pilot. Hed worked with Nick on The Big Short and so when we were talking about the score, he was like, Nicks the best. Nick used to talk about this waltz that was an unsteady three-beat, like the three central kids [of the Roy family], never in time with each other, Armstrong says. So it became this kind of wonky, percussive, New York sound that I just immediately responded to and loved. Even in the edit, I usually watch the credit sequence for the episode and I still enjoy it. Its a tonal reminder of what the show is, right? Shakespeare or soap opera? The question is a simple one: is Succession a reboot of Dallas or King Lear? The answer is probably a little bit of both, though Armstrong confesses to be more familiar with the tonal notes of Shakespeare than with the history of 1980s-era American soaps. The key, Armstrong says, is to focus on the most dramatic moments in these characters lives. The challenge is to clearly commit to one or the other. Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) in a scene from Succession. Credit:HBO The things that happen to these corporations are dramatic, and the things that happen to the people in their lives are dramatic, so I think, in a way, the challenge is to keep on incorporating how incredibly fast the media world, especially as tech collides with it, is changing, and the impact on the people in it, Armstrong says. As long as we follow the stories that weve set up and have the courage of our convictions, it feels like we dont have that [uncertain] tension. The University of NSW, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney are among city institutions that will make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for students to return to campus from this week, in line with public health orders. UTS said people visiting the campus over the next few weeks, staff including contractors and students could attend campus provided they have proof of vaccination and comply with COVID-safe requirements at all times. UTS is among many universities which have made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all staff and students returning to campus. Credit:Steven Siewert The majority of classes for the spring teaching session, which ends on October 29, would continue to be held online. But study spaces in most buildings will be open for fully vaccinated students from October 18 onwards, including during StuVac and the final assessment period. The library is already open for booked study seats and click and collect. The campus will not be open to visitors. Students coming to campus this term for scheduled classes are not required to show proof of full vaccination, but their faculty must have a COVID-safe plan in place. NSW has called on the federal government to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all healthcare workers nationally after frustrated doctors warned the exemption of GPs, dentists, pharmacists and other private health practitioners is putting patients at risk. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there was a massive gap in the issue of mandating coronavirus vaccines for private practitioners, and it is the responsibility of the federal government to enact a uniform approach across the country. Under the states current public order, only NSW public health staff and some private health employees are required to be double-jabbed by the end of November. The nations peak health advisers have called for mandatory vaccinations for all healthcare workers. Credit:Glenn Hunt The states and territories have accepted the responsibility to mandate vaccination for public staff in their health facilities and primary hospitals, with a few states reluctantly extending that to private practitioners, Mr Hazzard said. But there is still a massive gap in the issue of compulsory vaccines for GPs, pharmacists and allied health staff across the country. The state government has rejected several key recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into Aboriginal incarceration rates, including a push to expand the powers of the independent police watchdog to allow it to fully investigate deaths in custody. A NSW parliamentary committee examining the unacceptably high level of First Nations people in custody made 39 urgent recommendations when handing down its report in April, on the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Attorney-General Mark Speakman conceded more has to be done to reduce the incarceration rates of Aboriginal people. Credit:James Brickwood According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Indigenous people made up 27 per cent of the average daily prisoner cohort in NSW despite making up just 3 per cent of the states overall population. Meanwhile, analysis from Deloitte released in 2018 found only 64 per cent of the 1991 royal commission recommendations had been implemented in full. Two people believed to be involved in a shooting in Brisbanes northern suburbs are still on the run. Two other teenagers faced court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder after allegedly being involved in the storming of a Brisbane home and the shooting of a young woman inside. The scene in Zillmere after the alleged shooting. Credit:Nine News Queensland Police said the attack, after 11pm on Sunday at a Handford Road house in Zillmere, was not random and that the people involved knew each other. On Wednesday afternoon, police said two other people involved in the incident were still on the run. An Extinction Rebellion activist has climbed onto the roof of the main entrance at Queensland Parliament as supporters hung dead fish on the buildings fence. The protest on Wednesday morning aimed to raise awareness about the uncertain future of the Great Barrier Reef and the fish and coral species that depended on it, according to the group. The sight greeting MPs at Queensland Parliament on Wednesday morning. Credit:Felicity Caldwell One male activist climbed onto the annexe roof using a ladder about 7.30am. Firefighters and police were at the scene and did not intervene for hours, but after about two hours the protesters hands were unglued and he was removed using a fire truck ladder. A father and son are stuck in bureaucratic limbo after a medical mission to the United States ended in Sydney hotel quarantine rather than home on the Sunshine Coast. Fabio Silveira took his six-year-old son Lenny overseas for brain surgery, but limited flights meant they had to return via Sydney. They were then directed into mandatory hotel quarantine despite Mr Silveira highlighting how Fabios doctor believed he would recover better at home with other family members. Fabio also has cerebral palsy. Fabio Silveira has pleaded to be allowed to home quarantine with his son. Credit:Nines Today show Mr Silveira told Nines Today neither NSW nor Queensland had approved requests for them to be allowed to quarantine at home. Queensland recently launched a home quarantine trial and Mr Silveira said he was willing to meet any requirements to be included with his son. Workers at an Esso oil rig in the Bass Strait were afraid of being sacked if they raised safety concerns in the lead-up to a flash fire that injured an employee on the drilling platform in April. The federal offshore oil and gas regulator has ordered the company to hire independent experts for a review of its eight oil rigs in the strait after a scathing assessment of the workplace culture before the fire. Workers feared for their jobs on a Bass Strait oil rig Credit:James Davies The notice to take action, published on Tuesday, is the second major intervention this year in Bass Strait operations by the normally hands-off National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA). In May the authority ordered a massive environmental clean-up, ruling that 180 oil wells in the area should be capped and 10 production platforms dismantled. Police have been forced to disperse crowds at a regional Victorian doctors surgery after hundreds are alleged to have gathered there in recent days to seek COVID-19 vaccination exemptions. Regional Liberal MP Richard Riordan said hed been inundated with calls from locals about the doctor, who was well known in the Colac community. Video footage allegedly taken on Wednesday showed numerous cars parked along both sides of the country road while dozens of people lined up outside the clinic on foot. Police are investigating whether anyone in attendance breached the Chief Health Officers coronavirus directions, including Melburnians who may have travelled outside their 15-kilometre limit to see the doctor. Magistrate Catherine Crawford will continue sitting as a full-time Childrens Court magistrate in Fremantle, Armadale and Rockingham courts after she withdrew her lawsuit against the president of the court, Judge Hylton Quail. Ms Crawford will be based in the Fremantle Childrens Court from mid-November. Perth Childrens Court Magistrate Catherine Crawford. Credit:ABC Perth Ms Crawfords civil trial that was being heard before the Supreme Court of Western Australia ended abruptly on Wednesday, which was the second day Ms Crawford was due to give evidence in the witness stand. Shortly before lunch, the court heard that the matter was no longer proceeding and Supreme Court Justice Jeremy Allanson made no order about costs. Australia will need a surge in renewable power and a dramatic shift to electric cars to meet a call from the United Nations to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison tries to quell fresh fears from the Nationals over a deal on climate change. A new analysis shows the federal government will have to deepen its carbon cuts to 47 per cent by 2030 to meet the goal set on Tuesday for nations attending a UN climate summit that begins on November 1, stepping up demands on Mr Morrison while he considers whether to go. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says advanced economies have to pledge faster action. Credit:AP But senior Nationals ministers are warning against stronger action on climate ahead of a party room meeting this Sunday, despite assurances from Energy Minister Angus Taylor that industries such as mining and gas will not suffer in the policy to be revealed next week. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made it clear forecasts would not be enough to meet the new obligation on leaders at the summit in Glasgow next month, saying advanced economies had to pledge faster action. Universities face the prospect of further rules to protect academics free speech after Education Minister Alan Tudge raised concerns about a High Court decision upholding the sacking of marine physicist and climate change sceptic Peter Ridd by James Cook University. The decision ends Dr Ridds four-year legal battle with JCU after he was censured and ultimately sacked for challenging his colleagues views on climate change and the Great Barrier Reef, along with the universitys attempts to discipline him. Dr Peter Ridd failed to overturn James Cook Universitys decision to sack him. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Tudge said on Wednesday he was concerned that, in some places, there is a culture of closing down perceived unwelcome thoughts rather than debating them and was seeking advice on the cases implications. While I respect the decision of the High Court, I am concerned that employment conditions should never be allowed to have a chilling effect on free speech or academic freedom at our universities, he said. University staff and students must have the freedom to challenge and question orthodoxies without fear of losing their job or offending others. Three months ago, a desperate plea was made to health authorities to sign off on home quarantine for a Queensland father and his son when they returned from critical brain surgery overseas. But after waiting months for an answer, and while stuck in hotel quarantine, the debacle was solved a short time after their story appeared on television. Lenny Silveira in hospital after receiving treatment for his disabilities. Credit:Today Fabio Silveira took his six-year-old son, Lenny, to the US for brain surgery in September. Limited flights meant they had to return via Sydney, where they were ordered into 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine before being allowed to travel to Queensland. Lenny has cerebral palsy and his doctor believed he would recover better at home on the Sunshine Coast with access to specialised rehabilitation equipment. Singapore: The last time Chinas President Xi Jinping travelled overseas, Donald Trump had yet to face his impeachment trial, bushfires were still burning down the east coast of Australia and the Wuhan City government was hosting a banquet for 40,000 families. It was January 18, 2020. Xi had flown to Myanmar to meet with now-deposed President U Win Myint. More than 60 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed that day in Wuhan, but the coronavirus was not yet on the agenda. In Naypyidaw, Xi wanted to talk to Myint about speeding up the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and Myanmars development strategies. Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in March, 2020. Credit:AP The virus that would go on to kill 4.8 million worldwide was not mentioned in the readout from the meeting. Within five days Xi would return home to seal off the city of Wuhan. It was the first sign of the brutal and effective methods China would use to deal with a pandemic, an approach that remains to this day. Xi has not been overseas while his borders have remained closed, preferring to beam into global meetings. He gives speeches calling for unity and railing against Western exceptionalism the mysterious aura of Xis image floating on a big screen over the UN General Assembly or UN climate negotiations as he outlines his alternative vision for the world. Then he checks out. There are no other world leaders there to question him. New York: The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised British American Tobaccos e-cigarette Vuse and its tobacco-flavoured pods, the first major e-cigarette products cleared in a sweeping review of whether millions of cigarette alternatives have a public-health benefit. Vuse is the first vape-type product from a major company to win the health regulators backing to continue US sales, with the agency saying it can help users reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. The FDA is working through millions of applications, and while the products under review have already been sold in the US, the companies need the FDAs approval to keep them on the market. Vuse electronic cigarettes have been approved by the FDA, as a product that can potentially benefit adult smokers. Credit:AP The agency denied BATs request to sell flavoured Vuse products, saying those must be removed from the market. Its still evaluating a proposal to keep selling a menthol version. Stakes are high for the FDA to decide on the benefit of such products given that COVID-19 has intensified concerns about lung health. A spate of lung illnesses in 2019 also scared some vape users back to smoking, increasing the pressure for an authoritative decision on whether alternative products are safer. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor com Inc has been repeatedly accused of knocking off products it sells on its website and of exploiting its vast trove of internal data to promote its own merchandise at the expense of other sellers. The company has denied the accusations. But thousands of pages of internal documents examined by Reuters, including emails, strategy papers and business plans show the company ran a systematic campaign of creating knockoffs and manipulating search results to boost its own product lines in India, one of the company's largest growth markets. The documents reveal how Amazon's private-brands team in India secretly exploited internal data from in to copy products sold by other companies, and then offered them on its platform. The employees also stoked sales of Amazon private-brand products by rigging Amazon's search results so that the company's products would appear, as one 2016 strategy report for India put it, "in the first 2 or three search results" when customers were shopping on Amazon.in. Among the victims of the strategy: a popular shirt brand in India, John Miller, which is owned by a company whose chief executive is Kishore Biyani, known as the country's "retail king." Amazon decided to "follow the measurements of" John Miller shirts down to the neck circumference and sleeve length, the document states. The internal documents also show that Amazon employees studied proprietary data about other brands on Amazon.in, including detailed information about customer returns. The aim: to identify and target goods - described as "reference" or "benchmark" products - and "replicate" them. As part of that effort, the 2016 internal report laid out Amazon's strategy for a brand the company originally created for the Indian market called "Solimo." The Solimo strategy, it said, was simple: "use information from Amazon.in to develop products and then leverage the Amazon.in platform to market these products to our customers." The Solimo project in India has had international impact: Scores of Solimo-branded health and household products are now offered for sale on Amazon's U.S. website, Amazon.com. The 2016 document further shows that Amazon employees working on the company's own products, known as private brands or private labels, planned to partner with the manufacturers of the products targeted for copying. That's because they learned that these manufacturers employ "unique processes which impact the end quality of the product." The document, entitled "India Private Brands Program," states: "It is difficult to develop this expertise across products and hence, to ensure that we are able to fully match quality with our reference product, we decided to only partner with the manufacturers of our reference product." It termed such manufacturer expertise "Tribal Knowledge." This is the second in a series of stories based on internal Amazon documents that provide a rare, unvarnished look, in the company's own words, into business practices that it has denied for years. Amazon has been accused before by employees who worked on private-brand products of exploiting proprietary data from individual sellers to launch competing products and manipulating search results to increase sales of the company's own goods. In sworn testimony before the U.S. Congress in 2020, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos explained that the e-commerce giant prohibits its employees from using the data on individual sellers to help its private-label business. And, in 2019, another Amazon executive testified that the company does not use such data to create its own private-label products or alter its search results to favor them. But the internal documents seen by Reuters show for the first time that, at least in India, manipulating search results to favor Amazon's own products, as well as copying other sellers' goods, were part of a formal, clandestine strategy at Amazon a and that high-level executives were told about it. The documents show that two executives reviewed the India strategy a senior vice presidents Diego Piacentini, who has since left the company, and Russell Grandinetti, who currently runs Amazon's international consumer business. In a written response to questions for this report, Amazon said: "As Reuters hasn't shared the documents or their provenance with us, we are unable to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the information and claims as stated. We believe these claims are factually incorrect and unsubstantiated." The company did not elaborate. The statement also did not address questions from Reuters about the evidence in the documents that Amazon employees copied other companies' products for its own brands. The company said the way it displays search results doesn't favor private-brand products. "We display search results based on relevance to the customer's search query, irrespective of whether such products have private brands offered by sellers or not," Amazon said. Amazon also said that it "strictly prohibits the use or sharing of non-public, seller-specific data for the benefit of any seller, including sellers of private brands," and that it investigates reports of its employees violating that policy. Piacentini and Grandinetti didn't respond to requests for comment. The unfiltered insight the documents offer into Amazon's aggressive use of its market power could intensify the legal and regulatory pressure the company is facing in many countries. Amazon is under investigation in the United States, Europe and India for alleged anti-competitive practices that hurt other businesses. In India, the allegations include unfairly favoring its own branded merchandise. Amazon declined to comment on the investigations. Jonas Koponen, an antitrust attorney with Linklaters LLP in Brussels, said the Reuters findings on Amazon's practices in India would likely interest the European Commission, which is probing whether the company has used non-public seller data to boost its own retail business. India has cooperation agreements with the United States and the European Commission to exchange information related to enforcement of antitrust laws. "When any one competition authority is looking into aspects of one of these globally present organizations' behavior, they will certainly be interested in understanding what evidence there is in other parts of the world and the extent to which that evidence relates to the practices that they themselves are investigating," Koponen said. The documents also support criticism of Amazon laid out by Lina Khan, the new chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or FTC. Khan published a paper in 2017 that argued that Amazon's private-brand business raised anti-competitive concerns. "It is third-party sellers who bear the initial costs and uncertainties when introducing new products; by merely spotting them, Amazon gets to sell products only once their success has been tested," she wrote. "The anticompetitive implications here seem clear." Amazon filed a petition in June with the FTC asking that Khan recuse herself from all matters related to the company because of "her repeated proclamations that Amazon has violated the antitrust laws." Khan and the FTC didn't respond to requests for comment. In the first article in this series, Reuters reported in February that Amazon had for years given preferential treatment to a few big sellers on its Indian platform, and used those sellers to circumvent regulations designed to protect the country's small retailers. That report triggered action by India's main financial crime-fighting agency, which sought information and documents from Amazon. In addition, the nation's antitrust watchdog submitted the story as an exhibit in a court battle with Amazon over its investigation into the company's alleged anti-competitive practices. The court rejected Amazon's request to halt the probe. "We are committed to extending cooperation to all authorities in India and are confident about our compliance," Amazon said in its statement to Reuters. Like many other retailers, Amazon views its own brands as a major driver of increased profitability. Private-brand products often have higher profit margins than normal retail brands because production and marketing costs can be lower. An internal email sent by Amazon executive Grandinetti to a group of company executives in December 2018 stated: "We believe that over the next several years, Private Brands will be one of the most important growth and profitability drivers in the Consumer business." Grandinetti added that company executives believed private brands "can achieve 10% penetration" of the company's consumer business worldwide over the next five years. Introducing Amazon's own brands was especially critical in India. The company began its e-commerce foray there in 2013, and soon recorded millions of dollars in losses, one internal document shows. To make the business "sustainable in the long run," the 2016 Private Brands document notes, Amazon embarked on a strategy centered on introducing its existing private brands, such as AmazonBasics, and new ones tailored to India. The 2016 document stated a goal: offer Amazon's own goods in 20% to 40% of all product categories on Amazon.in within two years. Amazon would achieve profitability in its private-brand business by "only launching products that will provide more margin than comparable reference brand products." Amazon predicted private-brand sales would reach nearly $600 million by 2020 in India, according to a 2017 internal business strategy document. "We will be amongst the Top 3 brands in each sub-category that we play in," the document stated. Whether it achieved that sales goal isn't clear; Amazon doesn't disclose its private-brand sales in India. The company didn't comment on the strategic goals and other details from the documents reported in this article. An Amazon press release in 2018 revealed just how successful its private-brand business was becoming in India. Celebrating "record sales" during an annual promotion, the release stated, "Amazon Brands saw its best performance ever with 11X jump over last Great Indian Festival." Today, Amazon.in lists thousands of Amazon-branded offerings a from garbage bags, bed sheets and soap to air conditioners and televisions. According to the website, many are best-sellers. One key person involved in 2016 with Amazon's private-brand business in India was Amit Nanda, who later became a country director of the program, according to his LinkedIn profile. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, one of the nation's top business schools. Before joining Amazon in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile, he worked at Citibank and the Indian arm of consumer-goods giant Unilever. As Amazon was reviewing its private-brand strategy in India in 2016, Amazon India employees had a meeting with Grandinetti. A longtime Amazon manager, at the time he was in charge of content for Kindle, the company's popular reading device. But Amazon had announced that he would soon lead its international consumer business, including India. During the meeting, Nanda was assigned various tasks, according to one Amazon document. Among them: The India private brands "business should be large and profitable. Build for scale." Nanda declined to comment for this story. 'GLANCE VIEWS' With its population of 1.3 billion people and a growing middle class, India represents a huge and potentially lucrative market for Amazon. But it's also a country where foreign e-commerce players face a complex and protectionist regulatory regime. The country's brick-and-mortar retailers comprise an important political constituency for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Concerned that predatory pricing could hurt these merchants, India prohibits foreign e-commerce players from selling most goods directly to consumers, as they do in many other countries. Amazon and other foreign are restricted to operating an online marketplace of third-party sellers, with no one vendor allowed to hold an advantage over another. As a result, Amazon sells most of its private brands through other vendors. In launching its private-brand business, internal documents show how Amazon used its Indian website to gain a clear edge for its own products on the platform. The creation of its Solimo brand offers a case study. According to the internal documents, the word Solimo is derived from SolimAes - the name for the upper stretches of the Amazon River in Brazil. With the Solimo line, Amazon aimed to offer items that equaled or exceeded the quality of competing brands but were 10% to 15% cheaper, the 2016 Private Brands document shows. Amazon employees studied different product categories, and compared their overall market size with how well those segments were doing on Amazon.in. They then targeted categories such as home furnishings. Amazon found that furnishings was a $2 billion business in India - but its own website's three-month sales in mid-2014 totaled about $1 million. In its analysis, Amazon used a metric called "glance views" that quantified which products were being viewed by customers on its website. Explaining why it zeroed in on glance views, the 2016 Amazon document noted that monitoring its India website traffic provides "an opportunity to influence interested customers who are actively considering" a purchase in a product category. Amazon has said some of the data its private-brand teams use in launching products is public a such as the website's rankings of best-selling merchandise. This is how Amazon described the system to a U.S. congressional subcommittee last year: "Like anyone else at Amazon or in the general public, members of these teams can also visit Amazon's product detail pages to learn a product's best seller ranking and read customer reviews and star ratings to assess whether a product is selling well in Amazon's store." But seven current and former Indian sellers on Amazon.in told Reuters they can't access internal sales data of rival brands offered on the website. Four of the sellers said they can access glance views, but only for their own products. Amazon has access to more data on sellers, including the number of product units shipped and details about customer returns, the 2016 document shows, giving it an advantage in market intelligence. Amazon's own use of the data to develop and promote its private-brand products "destroys the level playing field," said one current seller, who asked to remain anonymous. Amazon said in its statement that it "does not give preferential treatment to any seller on its marketplace." The company also said it "identifies selection gaps based on customer preferences at an aggregate level only and shares this information with all sellers." HOW TO 'REPLICATE' PRODUCTS Once Amazon's private-brand employees had decided which categories to enter, they reviewed sales and customer-review data on Amazon.in to identify "reference" or "benchmark" brands to "replicate," the 2016 private-brand document showed. In the case of Solimo, the 2016 document stated that to ensure the brand's goods meet "customer requirements in terms of performance we identify and replicate these reference products." Amazon had no comment on the Solimo project. Amazon's strategy also called for manufacturers of its private-brand products to use other companies' goods as models to develop samples for pre-production testing. Among the brands Amazon employees planned to "benchmark," the document states, were American ones a "Old Navy/GAP" men's shirts. The document does not indicate whether the employees followed through. Gap Inc, which owns the Old Navy and Gap brands, declined to comment. The rival products Amazon targeted also included other brands popular in India. For pots and pans, a "reference brand" was Prestige, one of India's largest kitchen-equipment For men's shirts, the benchmarks included Peter England and Louis Philippe, both made in India by conglomerate Aditya Birla Group. Amazon also targeted John Players, a menswear brand then owned by Indian conglomerate ITC Ltd. Chandru Kalro, managing director of TTK Prestige, which owns the Prestige brand in India, told Reuters, "We have no knowledge of us being a 'reference brand' for Amazon and we don't know what it means to be an Amazon reference brand." Aditya Birla Group declined to comment. ITC did not respond to a request for comment. In early 2016, Amazon private-brand employees were internally noting the success of Xessentia, a clothing brand they had launched on Amazon.in in partnership with a seller. The seller owned the brand; Amazon designed the products. Sales of Xessentia men's business shirts were surging, and in the first quarter of 2016 had become that category's second-most popular brand on the India site after the American brand Arrow, licensed to the Indian company Arvind Fashions. To create the Xessentia line, Amazon had used Louis Philippe as the benchmark brand, because it was "premium and popular," the 2016 document said. But something was amiss: About one in every 12 Xessentia shirts was being returned in the first quarter of 2016 for sizing issues. More than 350 were returned because customers complained they were too small. Amazon employees conducted a "deep dive," the 2016 document reports, by poring over a year's worth of data from Amazon.in, including customer complaints and return numbers for Xessentia, Arrow and seven other brands. They found that a brand of men's business shirts in India called John Miller had far outsold Xessentia shirts, despite carrying "a similar" average selling price. John Miller also had about half the rate of customer returns for "quality issues." The upshot: "Our learning is that our customer is different from the Louis Philippe customer and doesn't prefer this fit," the 2016 document stated. "We concluded to follow the measurements of Business Shirt of John Miller for Xessentia because of wide acceptance with our customer base." So Amazon revised the fit of Xessentia shirts to copy John Miller's sizing, matching it down to the neck, shoulder, armhole, sleeve and waist dimensions. Amazon didn't reply to questions about its Xessentia project. Arvind Fashions declined to comment. John Miller is a brand owned by retail mogul Kishore Biyani. Amazon and Biyani later became business partners in India, but had a falling out. Amazon is now embroiled in a legal battle with Biyani over the proposed sale of his retail assets to Reliance, which is run by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, considered India's wealthiest man. Ambani and Amazon are fierce rivals, with the Indian magnate in recent years launching his own e-commerce business. A spokesperson for Biyani's Future Group said the company was "shocked and surprised" to learn that Amazon was using Indian brands to build its own. "They are in a powerful position of being both an online marketplace operator and a seller and collector of data," the spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. "This is leading to misuse of consumer and seller data giving them the power to kill Indian entrepreneurs and their brands." After the launch of Xessentia, Amazon introduced a brand of U.S.-and-European-style clothes in India called Symbol. "For every product line identified for launch, we will identify an optimal reference brand based on customer reviews and size of business," state the plans for Symbol and another private brand. "The replication of the 'Fit' of this reference brand will be a crucial step in our product development process." The Symbol brand is still going strong. On Oct. 11, 11 of the top 25 best-selling men's formal shirts on Amazon.in carried the Symbol brand name. 'SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF COPYING' Amazon has been repeatedly accused in the United States of copying product designs. In 2018, home-goods retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc filed a federal lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of copying its proprietary designs for chairs, lamps and other products for an Amazon private brand called Rivet. "Amazon has engaged in a systematic campaign of copying," the lawsuit alleged. The exhibits filed in the case included pictures of similar-looking products from Amazon and a Williams-Sonoma brand. In court filings, Amazon denied the copying allegations. Last year, the two parties reached a confidential settlement. Both didn't comment about the case for this story. Joey Zwillinger, co-founder of Allbirds Inc, a San Francisco-based maker of sustainable footwear and apparel, told Reuters that around 2016 or 2017, Amazon began inviting his company to sell its goods on the e-commerce giant's platform. Allbirds said no. Then, in 2019, Amazon introduced a wool-blend sneaker that closely resembled a popular Allbirds wool shoe a and sold for much less. Zwillinger said the Amazon product used cheaper material but that the design was so similar, "it's hard to tell the difference in a silhouette." Allbirds didn't sue. There are always subtle differences in designs, and copycat cases can be time-consuming, Zwillinger said. But he and Allbirds' other co-founder posted online a letter to Bezos, noting that the Amazon product was "strikingly similar to our Wool Runner" sneaker. Writing that Allbirds was "flattered at the similarities," they offered to help Amazon use more sustainable materials in its product. Zwillinger told Reuters that they didn't receive a response. Amazon had no comment. In India, Amazon didn't just knock off products for itself. One of its employees suggested that another seller consider replicating a company's products. In 2020, Amazon India employee Aditi Singh advised Mohit Anand, who was then selling products on Amazon.in, on how he could succeed on the platform. She suggested that Anand "replicate" a furniture company's products, according to a recording of a phone call reviewed by Reuters. Noting that an Indian furniture brand called DeckUp was selling well on Amazon.in, Singh suggested that if Anand were to "replicate DeckUp's range" and charge lower prices, then the products "will sell very well" on Amazon.in. Anand told Reuters that he didn't take the advice. Utheja Pulluri, DeckUp's founder and a former Amazon India employee, said that as long as the e-commerce giant was "not sharing confidential data on us, I don't have a problem a This appears to be business guidance, a generic insight." Singh referred a Reuters request for comment to Amazon's public relations team. The company didn't comment. 'SEARCH SEEDING' AND 'SPARKLES' How high products rank when customers search the Amazon website is critical to online sellers' success. An internal document in 2017 noted that more than half of users' clicks on search results are for the products listed in the top eight. Amazon has said its search algorithms don't favor its private-brand products. Asked during the 2019 congressional hearing whether Amazon alters algorithms to direct consumers to its own goods, associate general counsel Nate Sutton replied: "The algorithms are optimized to predict what customers want to buy regardless of the seller." Yet the internal Amazon documents show that in India, Amazon manipulated search results to favor its own products. The company used a technique called "search seeding" to boost the rankings of its AmazonBasics and Solimo brand goods, according to the 2016 private-brand report. Referring to Amazon's product codes, known as ASINs, or Amazon Standard Identification Numbers, the report stated: "We used search seeding for newly launched ASINs to ensure that they feature in the first 2 or three ASINs in search results." The document also referred to another technique that gave Amazon an edge: "search sparkles." "We have aggressively used search sparkles on PC, Mobile and App to specifically promote Solimo products on relevant customer searches from 'All Product Search' and Category search," the 2016 private-brand report said. According to one current and two former Amazon employees, search seeding and search sparkles are digital techniques the company has used to direct customers to certain products. Two of the sources said Amazon has used seeding to alter search rankings to boost products, such as new ones, whose sales are so low that there's insufficient data for the company's technology to rank them. Sparkles are banners that Amazon has planted above search results to direct customers to certain products the company wants to promote. While such tools have legitimate uses to assist online shoppers find certain hot new products, using search seeding to boost the rankings of Amazon's own products hurts rival merchants' sales on the platform, one of the former employees said. Search seeding and sparkles were both used to promote AmazonBasics products on the company's India platform, the 2016 document reveals. Within months of the launch of AmazonBasics in India in 2015, four of its products were "#1 Bestsellers in their category week after week," the 2016 document said. It added that "promos" were placed on "detail pages of competitor products to direct traffic to AmazonBasics brands products." Piyush Tulsian, a New Delhi retailer of computer accessories, told Reuters he used to earn about $1,500 a month selling mouse pads on Amazon.in made by Logitech International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Wednesday said it has tied up with Gilera Motors to reinvigorate and expand its operations in one of the key markets in South America, in line with its aggressive global business strategy. As part of the agreement, Gilera Motors will be the exclusive distributor for the sale and service of motorcycles and scooters in It will also make new investments in operations to drive business growth, said in a regulatory filing. is an important market for us and we are happy to have Gilera Motors Argentina as our partners here. With their long history and expertise in the motorcycle market, Gilera is the ideal partner for Hero MotoCorp in Argentina as we introduce our technologically-advanced and globally benchmarked products and services here," Hero MotoCorp Head Global Business Sanjay Bhan said. The company's immediate focus is to develop a robust and widespread sales, service and spare parts network across the entire country, he added. "We expect our new range of products to excite the customers and our market share to grow in the near future," Bhan noted. With more than 68 years of sustained operations, Gilera Motors Argentina is one of the leading automotive in Argentina and one of the most enduring motorcycle manufacturers in Latin America. "The partnership's business operations are expected to have a multiplier effect on the local economy, by bringing in investment and generating new direct and indirect jobs," Gilera Motors Argentina Director Ramiro Di Liscia stated. Gilera Motors Argentina Vice-president Omar Caruso noted that with new investments, the company would set-up modern operations to support the roll-out of Hero MotoCorp's globally popular products, including latest motorcycles which comply with Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards. Hero MotoCorp and Gilera Motors Argentina have an aggressive expansion plan that includes scaling up the sales and service network across the country, including a flagship store in Buenos Aires. The are also focused on ensuring the availability of spare parts for all customers. Hero MotoCorp plans to launch a range of new motorcycles in Argentina, including the Xpulse 200 and Hunk 160R. The Xpulse 200 is an on/off-road motorcycle that has already been highly successful around the world and especially in the Latin American markets. Hero MotoCorp's products are designed and developed at R&D centers in India and Germany and manufactured at manufacturing facilities in India, Colombia and Bangladesh. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IT company on Wednesday said it is in talks with several states in India to expand its 'SkillsBuild' initiative. The company has unveiled a global plan to provide 30 million people of all ages with new skills needed for the future jobs by 2030. "Today, commits to providing 30 million people with new skills by 2030. This will help democratize opportunity, fill the growing skills gap, and give new generations of workers the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and society," chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna said in a statement. To achieve the goal, IBM had announced a road map with more than 170 new academic and industry partnerships. IBM India and South Asia head for corporate social responsibility Manoj Balachandran said that as part of the 'SkillsBuild' initiative, IBM has partnered with several state governments for their skills initiatives - state government of Goa, Sikkim, AP, Telangana and now with Haryana. "There are several other states where we are having talks for partnerships. Apart from SkillsBuild, we also have MoUs signed with 11 state governments for the STEM for Girls program where we are currently teaching over 300,000 students," Balachandran said. IBM said it will continue the partnerships in India with Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (DST), CBSE , Councils in Goa, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, NPTEL- IIT-Madras etc through its implementing partners to upskill youth from across the country. The company last month partnered with the Haryana State Board of Technical Education and Uttar Pradesh SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training) for its initiative. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Softbank-backed announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire London-based Appsumer, a performance insights platform for mobile app advertisers that provides a 360-degree view of marketing spend across channels, allowing advertisers to turn complex data into rich insights. Appsumer has been the intelligence platform of choice for performance marketing teams at consumer brands, including Miniclip, Picsart, Viber and more. The company was funded by Galvanise Capital and named a Top 100 UK startup. Appsumers self-serve technology platform, intellectual property and team will support InMobis end-to-end content, monetisation and marketing stack and empower marketers to assess their performance marketing spend all in one place. Together, and Appsumer intend to build an operating system that makes understanding user acquisition funnels easier by using (AI) to build predictive capabilities into the platform to help growth marketers more quickly experiment and iterate to optimize results from their user acquisition strategies. Shumel Lais, CEO and Founder of Appsumer joins and will continue to lead the division, charting its future growth path and product roadmap. The full Appsumer team will join InMobi to ensure client service continuity and further develop and support the analytics and automation offering under the InMobi umbrella. Appsumer will continue operating independently as a subsidiary within the global InMobi organisational structure. Appsumer brings a next-generation approach for advertisers to better understand the efficacy of their marketing efforts across multiple channels that growth marketing teams employ daily, said Abhay Singhal, Co-Founder of InMobi Group and CEO of InMobi Marketing Solutions. The acquisition of Appsumer extends InMobis recent enterprise expansions. Last month, InMobi launched InMobi Telco to help mobile carriers and handset manufacturers optimize their customer experiences and diversify their revenue streams. The Bihar government has set up COVID-19 vaccination camps at Durga Puja pandals in the state to encourage people to get inoculated. Speaking to ANI, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday said, "These vaccination camps have been set up to encourage people to get vaccinated. It is very important to keep COVID-19 at bay." "In order to increase the vaccination and testing, we have decided to set up camps at puja pandals. The government has requested people to follow COVID-19 protocols such as wearing masks at public places, maintaining social distancing etc," he said. Speaking further, the minister said: "Awareness among the public is important for vaccination drive. During the festival when there is a possibility of the congregation of people at public places is common, we must be attentive and vigilant in order to combat the spread of the virus in the state. We are enhancing the vaccination and testing. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Wednesday reported a net reduction of 7,247 in active cases to take its count to 207,653. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 1.17 per cent (one in 85). The country is ninth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Tuesday, it added 15,823 cases to take its total caseload to 34,001,743 from 33,985,920 an increase of 0.1%. And, with 226 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 451,189, or 1.33 per cent of total confirmed infections. With 5,063,845 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Tuesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 964,379,212. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 33,342,901 or 98.06 per cent of total caseload with 22,844 new cured cases being reported on Wednesday. Now the ninth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 129,862 cases in the past 7 days. India now accounts for 1.17% of all active cases globally (one in every 85 active cases), and 9.25% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths). India has so far administered 964,379,212 vaccine doses. That is 2836.26 per cent of its total caseload, and 69.02 per cent of its population. Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (121903541), Maharashtra (93998944), West Bengal (69619706), Gujarat (69302651), and Madhya Pradesh (68217172). Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (1106113), Delhi (1086253), Gujarat (1085017), Jammu and Kashmir (1028190), and Uttarakhand (1009939). Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 38 days. The count of active cases across India on Tuesday saw a net reduction of 7,247, compared with 12,447 on Monday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Mizoram (103), Hinachal Pradesh (75), West Bengal (23), Assam (17), and Jharkhand (7). With 22,844 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 98.06%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.33%. The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.75%), Uttarakhand (2.15%), and Nagaland (2.14%). The rate in as many as 16 is higher than the national average. Indias new daily closed cases stand at 23,070 226 deaths and 22,844 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 0.98%. Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%. Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 1489.1 days, and for deaths at 1383.5 days. Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (7823), Maharashtra (2069), Tamil Nadu (1289), Mizoram (1224), and West Bengal (768). Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Kerala (97.43%). India on Sunday conducted 1,325,399 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 586,363,442. The test positivity rate recorded was 1.2%. Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR) percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases are Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.74%), Kerala (13.24%), Goa (12.62%), Sikkim (12.28%), and Maharashtra (10.89%). Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added are Mizoram (12.99%), Kerala (9.09%), Sikkim (5.88%), Manipur (5.18%), and Meghalaya (2.97%). Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1516055), J&K (1135041), Kerala (1017466), Karnataka (724517), and Telangana (682721). The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6581677), Kerala (4809619), Karnataka (2981732), Tamil Nadu (2680857), and Andhra Pradesh (2058065). Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 2069 new cases to take its tally to 6581677. Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 7823 cases to take its tally to 4809619. Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 332 cases to take its tally to 2981732. Tamil Nadu has added 1289 cases to take its tally to 2680857. Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 503 to 2058065. Uttar Pradesh has added 20 cases to take its tally to 1709985. Delhi has added 34 cases to take its tally to 1439252. The government has withdrawn a advisory that added Covid-19 related additional checks and restrictions on those arriving from the after the British government ordered discontinuation of mandatory testing and quarantine norms for those vaccinated with Covishield travelling from India. In an official memorandum issued on October 11, the health ministry said that based on the evolving scenario, it has been decided that the revised guidelines stand withdrawn and the earlier guidelines on international arrival issued on February 17 shall be applicable to all travellers arriving in India from the Earlier this month, India had said that all British nationals arriving in India from the will have to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. India's had made this announcement after the UK recognised Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India but retained the 10-day quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers from India. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya on Wednesday claimed the searches conducted by Income Tax officials on premises linked to family members of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister are the "biggest" such raids in India. "The raids are going on for the last 7 days. According to me, the searches have reached more than 24 promotors, directors, owners, firms, projects. (IT sleuths) are getting something from the lockers concealed in the walls, from server rooms, basements, and parking lots," he claimed while addressing a press conference here. Officials had also searched businesses linked to the sisters of and other relatives based on accusations of tax evasion. Somaiya alleged links between and a sugar mill in the Satara district. "I wanted to ask Ajiit Pawar who are the owners and the main shareholders in that sugar factory," he said. Somaiya said if Netflix decides to make a series (on IT raids), Ajit Pawar will get a minimum royalty of Rs 200 crore to Rs 400 crore. "This Thackeray-Pawar government is a number one scamster government. The BJP aims to free Maharashtra from this scamster government," he alleged. Ajit Pawar had told reporters earlier that he would speak on the matter once the "government guests" leave after conducting searches. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) File photo of Mahant Narendra Giri | Photo: ANI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission from the Chief Judicial Magistrate court of Prayagraj to conduct a polygraph test (lie detector test) on the three accused in the alleged suicide case of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) President Mahant Narendra Giri. Accused Anand Giri, Adhya Prasad Tiwari and Sandeep Tiwari who are currently in judicial custody till October 18 are lodged in the Naini Central Jail. Police in their application to the Prayagraj court claimed that all the three accused were not presenting true facts during their remand in police custody. "In order to unravel the truth behind the death of Mahant Narendra Giri, scientific tests of the above three accused persons are required to be conducted," the application said. Mahant Giri, who was the president of the largest organisation of saints in India, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Baghambari Math in Prayagraj on September 20. A purported suicide note was recovered from the site of the incident in which the name of the seer's disciples, Anand Giri, and two others were mentioned. The probe in the matter was transferred to on September 23. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister on Wednesday said that the new will host the G-20 summit in 2023. Speaking at the launch of the new exhibition complex (Exhibition Halls 2 to 5) at Pragati Maidan, the Union Minister said, "PM GatiShakti- Master Plan will give a push and direction to various development plans and will also encourage investments. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit will be held here in 2023 for the first time." PM Modi launched PM GatiShakti- Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity at in the capital. PM GatiShakti is the result of the Prime Minister's constant endeavour to build Next Generation Infrastructure which improves Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business. The multi-modal connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services from one mode of transport to another. It will facilitate the last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people. PM GatiShakti will provide the public and business community information regarding the upcoming connectivity projects, other business hubs, industrial areas, and the surrounding environment. It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports and UDAN. Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity and make Indian businesses more competitive. It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics). (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noting that India's COVID-19 vaccination will cross the landmark of 100 crore vaccine doses in a few days, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday that the country will produce over 28 crore doses in October as it continues to ramp up its supply. Speaking to reporters, Mandaviya said that nearly 73 percent of the eligible population has received a single dose of vaccine and around 29 percent both doses. States have now over eight crore doses with them, he said. Of the 28 crore doses to be available this month, up from more than 22 crore in September, nearly 22 crore will be Covishield and six crore will be Covaxin. Also, nearly 60 lakh DNA jabs will be produced, he said. With around 97 crore vaccine doses administered so far, the numbers are expected to reach the 100 crore milestone next week, likely on October 19 or 20, he said. Official sources said that as of now the health ministry has no plans to push booster doses as expert opinion on the matter is yet to crystallise. They also expressed satisfaction at the overall vaccination programme, saying hardly any state is now complaining about lack of vaccines. Asked about the political blame game between the Delhi BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party government in the national capital over restraint on the Chhath puja due to the pandemic, they noted that all states have SOPs in place about the observation of festivities and no politics should be done over this. The Delhi government has written a letter to Mandaviya in this regard after the local BJP unit targeted the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation over it. Asked whether the Union government is considering resumption of vaccine exports, official sources said it will be looked at only after the domestic requirement is met. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) claimed that its Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik Light, a single dose shot or the first dose component of Sputnik V vaccine shows 70 per cent efficacy against the Delta variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus. In people under 60 years, the vaccine is even more effective at 75 per cent, the RDIF said. The developer of the vaccine, Gamaleya Center, has submitted an article analysing Sputnik Light's efficacy against the Delta variant, to the medRxiv preprint server for health sciences for publication this week. Speaking to the media from Moscow, Kirill Dimitriev, CEO, RDIF, said, Sputnik Light has demonstrated a superior efficacy compared with some two-shot vaccines, which have shown a major decline in efficacy against the Delta variant to less than 50 percent five months after injection. Standalone use of Sputnik Light also provides much higher efficacy against severe disease and hospitalisations, RDIF claimed. The analysis was conducted based on data from 28,000 participants who had received a single dose of Sputnik Light, compared with a control group of 5.6 million individuals who were not vaccinated. The data used in the study was collected in July 2021 in Moscow, it said in a statement. The two-dose Sputnik V vaccine shows efficacy over 83 per cent against infection and over 94 per cent against hospitalsation. Dimitriev said that Sputnik Light can thus act as a booster shot for even those who have been vaccinated with other vaccines like mRNA candidates. We are working with AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Moderna to test a mix-and-match approach of two different vaccines, he added. RDIF has 20 manufacturing partners across 10 countries and almost 50 percent of the Sputnik vaccine production happens outside As such in India, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has recommended the conduct of Phase III clinical trials of Russias single dose COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik Light in September. Dr Reddys Laboratories (DRL), RDIFs partner here had presented updated safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data of Phase III clinical trial of Sputnik Light vaccine conducted in Russia, along with the proposal to conduct the clinical trial in India. The SEC has asked DRL to assess primary endpoints of the trials at day 42, 90 and 180 and interim analysis can be conducted at the day 42 as this data was not generated during the Sputnik V trial in India after the first dose, which was stated to be available up to day 21 only. Sputnik V has got emergency use authorization in India. Meanwhile, Hetero has got permission to export 4 mn doses of Sputnik V out of India. Its one of the great puzzles of the pandemic. Most developed economies are now highly vaccinated with some of the most effective shots on offer, so why are the latest Covid-19 outbreaks more deadly in some places than in others? While its clear vaccines led to a drop in fatalities during the most recent delta variant-driven waves compared with earlier bouts with the virus, some countries saw deaths fall to a greater degree than others, an outcome scientists still dont have answers for. Countries like Germany, Denmark and the U.K. have seen Covid deaths fall to roughly a tenth of previous peaks, according to Bloomberg calculations using data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In Israel, Greece and the U.S., fatalities fell but remained more than half of the previous peaks. A number of countries -- mostly developing economies with less capable healthcare systems -- relied on Chinese or Russian vaccines that have proven less effective than the mRNA shots used in the U.S. and throughout Europe. Those places have experienced an increase in both cases and deaths since July, when delta started wreaking havoc globally, compared to outbreaks that occurred before widespread was an option. We lensed in on the economies that have vaccinated more than 55% of their populations and relied on a mix of western shots from Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE to AstraZeneca Plc, which have effectiveness rates of about 60 to 90% against symptomatic cases of the delta variant. One thing is clear: its not just the type of shots nor the extent of that counts in bringing down the death toll. There are a lot of factors beyond vaccinations that contribute to different outcomes across locations, said Natalie Dean, an assistant professor of biostatistics at Emory University. Even in places with high vaccinations, we see delta can cause a spike in cases. But do you see a strain on the health care system? And in the end I think we are seeing more variability in that outcome as well. To be sure, the data is a snapshot in time. Theres no guarantee that the countries where deaths have been low thus far can sustain that trend. But there are lessons to be drawn from what is the biggest and most ambitious global rollout in history. Weve learned more in the last year and a half about human immunology and human vaccine responses than we probably learned in the previous several decades, said John Wherry, director of the institute for immunology at the University of Pennsylvanias medical school. Methodology Explainer This analysis focuses on places that have over 55% vaccine coverage and a population of at least one million. The group is further filtered to include only those that faced two meaningful virus waves: One that peaked within six months before reaching 10% vaccine coverage, and then another over the northern-hemisphere summer when delta started to spread across the globe. The peak-on-peak comparison figures were derived by comparing the seven-day average peak for deaths and cases during a pre-vaccination wave to the seven-day average peak that occurred after widespread vaccination and the advent of delta. Dose Intervals Some of the places seeing lower death rates spaced their two shots further apart than the three-to-four week interval commonly used around the world. Controversial at the time, the U.K.s decision in December to allow as long as 12 weeks between doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford so more people could get their first shot is now been validated by scientific studies as providing stronger protection. Denmark and Germany also approved longer delays between vaccinations, allowing up to 12 weeks between AstraZeneca doses in Germany and six weeks on the Pfizer-BioNTech shot in Denmark. The combined effect of two shots appears to be more potent when the second is administered after the bodys immune system has fully responded to the first shot -- something that takes longer than a month. It was a natural experiment of immunology, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, on the decisions by the U.K. and Canada to extend dose intervals. They may have had a much more superior response because we know immunologically that peoples immune systems may be much better primed for that second dose if they wait until that whole maturation process is accomplished. Slow and Steady Then theres the complex interplay of vaccination campaigns and the highly transmissible delta. First discovered last year in India, the variant ravaged the worlds second-most populous country through the northern-hemisphere spring before infiltrating developed economies around mid-year. The fastest vaccinating countries like Israel and the U.S. -- once envied for their world-leading campaigns -- likely had a weaker inoculation shield by the time delta descended because of waning immunity, said experts like Hitoshi Oshitani, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tohoku University in Japan. Research has now confirmed that of two groups of people exposed to delta, the cohort that had been vaccinated five months earlier had a more than 50% higher rate of symptomatic breakthrough infections. With the waning of immunity, the earlier you started vaccination, the more breakthrough infections you have now, said Oshitani. This is probably why they are having high numbers of cases and deaths per population in Israel. In contrast, European nations that were slower to kick-start their vaccination campaigns delivered the bulk of doses only through the spring, just a few months before delta started spreading locally. Age Profile Denmark hasnt seen a major new wave of cases or deaths since vaccinations were started earlier this year, and the country has lifted all domestic Covid restrictions. Officials say its focus on vaccinating the elderly first helped hold down the wider death toll. The peak seven-day rolling average of deaths, which never spiked above 36 in pre-vaccination waves, fell to 9% of the previous peak after vaccination. We were able quite early in the pandemic to contain Covid-19 disease among the elderly, especially also in the old-age care homes and also elderly citizens residing in their own houses, said Soren Brostrom, the head of the Danish Health Authority. Focusing on the elderly also helped Japan, though not to the same degree. The nation has now vaccinated around 90% of residents over the age of 65 and the effect of that was already evident when delta drove a record wave of infections in August. During that wave, highest deaths dropped 43% from the previous peak, though cases were 2.5 times higher. Given that Japan is home to the worlds oldest population, delta could have cut a deadlier swathe were it not for the prioritization of older people in its initially sluggish vaccine rollout. The age distribution of infections is really important to consider, said Spencer Fox, an associate director at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in infectious disease modeling. For example if children are primarily where infections are spreading in one country, but older individuals are where infections are spreading in a different country, those countries will have very different case-to-death ratios. Natural Immunity Japans summer delta surge also points to another complex, mystery factor: natural immunity in the population from previous waves. Thanks to effective containment measures, Asian countries largely avoided the worst of the pre-delta pandemic, which means they are likely more vulnerable to the highly-contagious variant -- a concern underpinning the reluctance of places like mainland China and Hong Kong to opening up their borders. At the same time, deadly pre-delta waves may have helped some highly-vaccinated countries better weather the variant. South America, a region ravaged by the gamma and lambda variants earlier this year, has seen limited impact from delta potentially due to those earlier mutations creating a level of immunity, with the vaccines then acting as a booster, experts said. Another difference is the populations behavior, said Fox. If unvaccinated people in one country are acting like normal, but unvaccinated people in another country are still taking large precautions, you will see very different trends. The U.S.s resistance to lockdown measures and the rapid recovery of movement and travel in the first half of 2021 may have contributed to its delta death toll peaking at a higher proportion of its pre-delta level compared to European countries. There are lots of moving parts in all these places, and things are moving in different directions, said David Fisman, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Toronto. I think well be able to understand in retrospect but its hard to figure out in real time. US Treasury Secretary will host the next round of India Economic and Financial Partnership (EFP) meet with her Indian counterpart Union Finance Minister here on Thursday. Yellen will host the meeting on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, an official announcement said Tuesday. Sitharaman is currently on nearly a week-long trip to the US. This meeting builds on the recent momentum in the US-India relationship and will address a range of critical issues, including economic recovery from the global pandemic, climate finance, multilateral priorities, financial regulation, and AML/CFT, the Department of Treasury said. Yellen, the treasury said, on October 14 will host the eighth meeting of the US-India Economic and Financial Partnership with Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Jerome Powell, Finance Minister of India and Governor Shantikanta Das of the Reserve Bank of India. On Wednesday, the finance minister is scheduled to attend meetings of G-20 and interact with investors at a round table hosted by US India Business Council and CII. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's May 2018 message about Air India to a key government official was precise: Sell the airline, pull back what you cant sell but dont sit on it. This was just weeks before the abortive bid to sell the state-owned carrier was about to reach its logical failure. R N Choubey, civil aviation secretary had gone on record just days before the deadline for bids was to end, saying We are seeing a lot of excitement about the sale. However, if the required amount is not met, we will decide whether the sale will take place or not. He had ... : The Centre's Gati Shakti National Master Plan for infrastructure, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would bring in better coordination among 16 ministries under one portal, Chennai Port Trust Chairman Sunil Kumar Paliwal said here on Wednesday. Modi earlier in the day launched a Rs 100 lakh crore national master plan for multi-modal connectivity that aims to develop to reduce logistics costs and boost the economy. The PM Gati Shakti targets to cut logistics costs, increase cargo handling capacity and reduce the turn-around time, Modi had said at a function to launch the plan. Briefing reporters here, Paliwal said what is being envisaged through the programme is coordination of 16 ministries like civil aviation, ports, highways and shipping, railways. Paliwal who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Kamarajar Port Ltd, assumed additional charge as Chairman of Chennai Port Trust on October 1, according to CPT. "All these Ministries are undertaking various projects and details of the projects will be put on this portal. Today, I do not know what projects the Railways are doing and they do not know which port is doing a project", he said. Elaborating, he said one cannot put a new port in isolation and the new Port should have proper road connectivity, rail connectivity, telecom and an airport nearby. "When I put details about the new Port on the portal, it will be on the radar of Railways, and any permissions for signalling, it goes to PM Gati Shakti programme and there will be a better coordination with railways. Basically, to bring everybody together, that is what our Prime Minister has tried to achieve (through the launch of the programme)", he said. Paliwal said Chennai Port had submitted the projects it has undertaken so far to the Centre to be integrated with the PM Gati Shakti Programme and would be sharing details of the future projects it would undertake in the coming days. On the Multi-Modal Logistics Park to come up in Tamil Nadu at an investment of Rs 1,200 crore in Mappedu village in neighbouring Tiruvallur district, he said the Chennai Port Trust, TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation) Ltd, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Ltd and Railways, which signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Nadu government, would have equity in the project. "TIDCO has already started the land acquisition (for the project) and then we (Port Trust) will be bringing in a private partner to develop the A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would bring in (road and rail) connectivity from outside", he said. Chief Minister M K Stalin had said that the project, to come up on 158 acres, would facilitate employment opportunities to the tune of about 10,000 in the region. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the government debt, including that of the Centre and the states, to rise to a record 90.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) during 2021-22 against 89.6 per cent in the previous year. It will then moderate to 88.8 per cent during FY23, but will remain over 85 per cent during the next five years till 2026-27, the IMF said in its latest Fiscal Monitor. Before Covid-19 hit the country, the remained less than 80 per cent in the recent past. For instance, it was 74.1 per cent during FY20, 70.4 per cent in the previous year, 69.7 per cent in FY18 and 68.9 per cent in the year before that. While upgrading the outlook on Indias sovereign rating to stable from negative, Moodys Investors Service recently counted high general government debt, low debt affordability among other parameters as principal credit challenges for the economy. The Centres debt was at 58.8 per cent of in FY21. It fell slightly to 57.6 per cent in the first quarter of FY22. One positive development is the Centre including GST compensation to states in its calendar for overall borrowing, which was kept unchanged at Rs 5.03 trillion in the second half of FY22 even after incorporating borrowings for GST compensation to the states. After its February Budget announcement of Rs 12.05 trillion of gross market borrowing, the government in May said it may have to borrow an additional Rs 1.58 trillion from the market to meet the GST compensation shortfall. However, market borrowings constitute a small fraction of the Centres total debt. For instance, it accounted for 6.1 per cent of total debt during Q1FY22. IMF also projected Indias fiscal deficit, of both the Centre and the states, to remain in double digits in FY22 even as it would moderate to 11.3 per cent of GDP, from 12.8 per cent in the previous year. According to the Fiscal Monitor, the deficit will remain above the pre-Covid levels in the next five years. It is likely to be at 7.8 per cent in 2026-27. The gap between the expenditure and revenues of the governments was at 7.4 per cent during FY20. It should be noted that the IMFs methodology to calculate fiscal deficit is slightly different than Indias. For instance, it does not include disinvestment proceeds and licence-auction revenues in the government receipts. The India-China trade volume looks set to cross the record figure of USD 100 billion this year as the total has already touched USD 90 billion in the first nine months, despite a chill in bilateral relations due to the continuing military standoff between the two countries in eastern Ladakh. China's total imports and exports expanded 22.7 per cent year on year to 28.33 trillion yuan (about USD 4.38 trillion) in the first three quarters of 2021, official data showed on Wednesday. The figure marked an increase of 23.4 per cent from the pre-epidemic level in 2019, according to the General Administration of Customs. The bilateral trade between India and China totalled to USD 90.37 billion by the end of September, an increase of 49.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY), according to the nine-month data released by the Chinese customs. China's exports to India went up to USD 68.46 billion up 51.7 per cent YoY, apparently aided by massive imports of urgent supplies, like oxygen concentrators, when India was in the grip of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in April and May this year. The Indian exports totalled to USD 21.91 billion, registering a noteworthy increase of 42.5 per cent. However, from India's point of view the trade deficit, which remained a concern over the years, reached USD 46.55 billion and is expected to climb further by the year-end. Observers say with three months still remaining, the target of USD 100 billion trade previously set by both the countries was expected to be reached this year despite the eastern Ladakh impasse. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union on Wednesday said there was no outage due to power shortage in the national capital amid concerns over coal supplies to power generation units. The maximum demand of Delhi was 4,707 MW (peak) and 101.5 MU (energy) on October 12, the ministry said as it provided a fact sheet about the power supply situation in the national capital. "As per the information received from Delhi discoms, there was no outage on account of power shortage as the required amount of power was supplied to them," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The fact sheet provided by the ministry showed that there was no energy deficit in the city from September 27 to October 12. In Delhi, 101.5 Million Units (MU) of electricity were available against a requirement of 101.5 MU on October 12. According to the ministry, energy availability was higher than the requirement on October 11. On that day, 101.9 MU of electricity was available whereas the requirement was 101.1 MU. It also showed that peak power demand and peak power demand met (supply) remained the same during the period. The power distribution companies (discoms) in Delhi had drawn less power than made available to them, as per the data. Further, the data showed that coal plants of NTPC offered 17.49 MU of electricity to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (DDL) against the allocated 19.03 MU. But the Tata Power DDL had drawn 16.91 MU, which was 96.64 per cent of the energy made available to it by NTPC (coal). Similarly, power made available by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and NTPC (gas) to the discoms in Delhi was either equal to or more than that drawn by these utilities. BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd are the other two discoms in the national capital. Various power plants in different parts of the country are grappling with fuel shortages and efforts are being made to increase fuel supplies. Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said cumulative coal supplies to thermal power plants crossed 2 million tonne on Tuesday and dispatch of the dry fuel is being enhanced to the plants. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All the colleges and universities in can conduct physical classes from October 20 and students must be fully vaccinated in order to attend the classroom sessions, state Higher and Technical Minister Uday Samant said on Wednesday. He made the announcement while speaking to reporters here. The decision comes in the wake of schools across the state resuming physical sessions for classes 5 to 12 on October 4 after being shut for over one-and-a-half years due to the pandemic. "All the non-agricultural colleges, state-run universities, deemed universities, self-financed universities and colleges affiliated to them can start holding physical classes from October 20. The teaching as well as non-teaching staff should complete their vaccination on priority," Samant said. "Only the students who have taken both the doses can attend the classes. Those students who are yet to complete their vaccination against COVID-19 should get it on priority by coordinating with their respective colleges," he added. The decision related to how many students should attend a class would be taken after discussing the matter with the local authorities empowered under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Every university should issue the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to the colleges affiliated to it, he said. A proposal to allow college-going students to board local trains in Mumbai and neighbouring areas will be submitted before the state chief secretary soon, the minister said. Those students who need to stay at the hostel will be intimated by their college administration. The colleges are supposed to discuss the issue with the officials of higher and technical officials regarding the opening of hostels for students, he added. has been witnessing a steady decline in infection cases and fatalities over the past few days. On Tuesday, the state's COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 97.36 per cent. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The announced plans Wednesday to open a representation in the Arctic and vowed to protect in a region the bloc says is of key strategic importance. The 27-nation bloc said it will open a European Commission office in Greenland and use EU funding to promote sustainable development in the Arctic. The Arctic is warming up to three times faster than the rest of the planet. The melting of ice and thawing of permafrost in the Arctic further accelerate climate change and have huge knock-on effects," said Virginijus Sinkevicius, the commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries. Acknowledging its environmental footprint in the region, the EU pledged to support marine protection and to promote research into the thawing permafrost. Amid fierce competition between superpowers, the EU said it will also seek commitments from partners to agree to an end of exploitation of oil, gas and coal. Russia has sought to assert its influence over wide areas of the Arctic in competition with the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway as shrinking polar ice from the warming planet offers new opportunities for resources and shipping routes. China also has shown an increasing interest in the region, which is believed to hold up to one-fourth of the Earth's undiscovered oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at USD 30 trillion. The Arctic is changing rapidly, owing to the impact of global warming, increased competition for natural resources and geopolitical rivalries," said Josep Borrell, the bloc's top diplomat. These developments show that Europe must define its geopolitical interests broadly to promote stability, safety and peaceful cooperation in the Arctic. The great Brexit brawl is heading into its next standoff on Wednesday when concessions to improve trade in look likely to be deemed insufficient by the United Kingdom. Officials said that the EU's top Brexit official Maros Sefcovic is to propose major practical changes in the Byzantine system of customs and checks in Northern Ireland, which is UK territory but remained part of the EU's borderless trading market when the UK left the bloc last year. Under the new rules, goods must be checked between Britain and However, welcome such a cut in red tape might be to London, it is also insisting on a further, fundamental change. It wants the EU to cede final legal oversight of any trade disputes there, and leave it to independent arbitration. EU officials, member nations and the bloc's parliament have bristled at the thought that the EU's Court of Justice would lose its preeminence over part of its trading market, and Sefcovic's room for maneuver is narrow in negotiations starting later this week. "The role of the ECJ ... is not up for negotiation, said Nathalie Loiseau, a key EU parliamentarian from France. Both Britain and the EU agreed it was essential to avoid a hard land border between and EU member Republic of Ireland, since the island long was the scene of deadly sectarian violence before the border posts were brought down as a key part of the 1998 Good Friday agreement. The EU thought years of Brexit wrangling were over when the government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson officially signed the legally binding divorce agreement and the subsequent free trade deal at the end of last year. Now, the EU says Johnson is seeking to row back on the Northern Ireland deal that he himself signed. Charges of British duplicitousness and were given even more fodder on Wednesday when Johnson's former top aide Dominic Cummings suggested the UK government never intended to honour the withdrawal agreement it signed up to. "That would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Irish broadcaster RTE. "This is a British government that doesn't necessarily keep its word and doesn't necessarily honour the agreements it makes, he added. France has similarly said that Britain can't be trusted in a dispute over fishing licenses that Paris said should have long been granted as part of the signed trade deal with London. French spokesman Gabriel Attal said the government intends to announce retaliation measures before the end of the month. It is in such a heated context that Sefcovic now must negotiate with his UK counterpart David Frost to smooth trade in Northern Ireland. He will be travelling with wide-ranging proposals to cut the paperwork for goods entering Northern Ireland, and eliminate impediments that have created irritants such as when British Cumberland sausages couldn't make it onto Belfast dinner tables because of EU rules on chilled meat. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a snub to China, is moving its language programme from to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, from next year after complaining of an unwelcoming environment from the host institution here. The programme decided to move to Taipei due to a perceived lack of friendliness from the host institution, Language and Culture University (BLCU), Jennifer Liu, director of the Harvard Academy summer study abroad programme, told student newspaper The Harvard Crimson. The shifting of the programme by the Ivy league American University to Taiwan is regarded as a snub to China which considers the estranged island as part of the mainland. Liu said in recent years, the Harvard programme began to have difficulties accessing the needed classrooms and dorms. For instance, the BLCU did not provide a single dorm for all the students, instead requiring the programme to split the students into two different dorms of different quality, or to find a hotel that could keep their students together, The Harvard Crimson report said. Given the condition they provided, we really couldn't run the programme with the quality that we are hoping to deliver to our students, Liu said. Liu suspects that the unwelcoming environment may be a product of a subtle shift in the government's attitudes towards US institutions, one precipitated by (President) Xi Jinping's rise to power, Harvard Crimson report said. In past years, the programme would typically host a small party to celebrate the Independence Day of the United States on the Fourth of July, during which students and faculty would eat pizza and sing the national anthem. However, in 2019, BLCU notified the programme that it could no longer hold this holiday party. We were told that our students we're not allowed to sing, to celebrate, Liu said. However, William Kirby, a professor of China Studies and chairman of the Harvard Centre Shanghai, said the switch was made for purely logistical reasons, and collaborations between the Ivy League university and academics were continuing. This is not a time in which this university is retreating from its engagement with China it's actually seeking every way possible to deepen it, the newspaper quoted Kirby as saying. Established in 2005, the Harvard Beijing Academy is a nine-week programme run jointly by Harvard and BLCU in which students from US universities such as Harvard and Yale study Chinese language and culture, and take part in exchanges with Chinese families. According to BLCU's website, as of 2019, an estimated 1,300 students had participated. The Harvard programme had been suspended since last year because of Covid-19, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. An unnamed Chinese language teacher at the university told the Post that the pandemic had brought visa complications. China has closed its borders to most travel since March last year and stopped giving visas. Over 23,000 Indian students mostly studying medicine in China too were stuck in India due to Beijing's reluctance to lift travel restrictions for them. There is no sign of restrictions being eased soon, whereas foreign students can enter Taiwan, the Post report said. Asked for his reaction, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here on Wednesday that he was not aware of the specific details. I would like to stress that China welcomes foreign students to pursue their studies in China. We attach high importance to protect their legitimate rights and interests and actively address their legitimate concerns. We are against politicising people to people and cultural exchanges, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to the nation's debt limit, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the The USD480 billion increase in the country's borrowing ceiling cleared the Senate last week on a party-line vote. The House approved it swiftly so President can sign it into law this week. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned that steps to stave off a default on the country's debts would be exhausted by Monday, and from that point, the department would soon be unable to fully meet the government's financial obligations. A default would have immense fallout on global financial markets built upon the bedrock safety of US government debt. Routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel would also be called into question. The relief provided by passage of the legislation will only be temporary though, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December -- a time when lawmakers will also be labouring to complete federal spending bills and avoid a damaging government shutdown. The yearend backlog raises risks for both parties and threatens a tumultuous close to Biden's first year in office. I'm glad that this at least allows us to prevent a totally self-made and utterly preventable economic catastrophe as we work on a longer-term plan, said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Republicans signalled the next debt limit debate won't be any easier and warned Democrats not to expect their help. Unless and until Democrats give up on their dream of a big-government, socialist America, Republicans cannot and will not support raising the debt limit and help them pave the superhighway to a great entitlement society," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. Procedurally, the House took a single vote Tuesday that had the effect of passing the Senate bill. The measure passed by a party-line vote of 219-206. The present standoff over the debt ceiling eased when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to help pass the short-term increase. But he insists he won't do so again. In a letter sent Friday to Biden, McConnell said Democrats will have to handle the next debt-limit increase on their own using the same process they have tried to use to pass Biden's massive social spending and environment plan. Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 that's typically required. In the 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote. Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts. Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, but never to the extent of jeopardizing it." Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, I think it has merit." In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Biden's big federal government spending boost with the nation's rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden's USD3.5 trillion plan makes it into law. Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it," McConnell said in a letter to the president. "They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help." McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage. The debate over the debt ceiling has at times gotten personal. McConnell last week suggested that Democrats were playing Russian roulette" with the because they had not dealt with the debt ceiling through the process he had insisted upon. He called out Pelosi for traveling to Europe last week. I can only presume she hopes the full faith and credit of the United States will get sorted out," McConnell said. Pelosi did not let the shot pass. Russian roulette from Moscow Mitch. Interesting," she said. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday's vote marked the 50th time dating back to President Ronald Reagan that he has voted on extending the debt limit. Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit, he said. Because the Senate bill only allowed for a stopgap extension, Hoyer called it a lousy deal." And then we're going to play this game one more time, a despicable and irresponsible act for adults who know better, Hoyer said. Rep Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he wanted to thank" Hoyer for sharing that he had previously voted for raising the debt ceiling 49 times. When he came into this body, the debt was about a trillion dollars," Roy said. Thank you, I guess, on behalf of the people of America who are staring at 28-and-a-half trillion dollars of debt." The current debt ceiling is $28.4 trillion. Both parties have contributed to that load with decisions that have left the government rarely operating in the black. The calamitous ramifications of default are why lawmakers have been able to reach a compromise to lift or suspend the debt cap some 18 times since 2002, often after frequent rounds of brinkmanship. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Monetary Fund chief on Wednesday distanced herself and the fund from a data-rigging scandal involving her former employer, the World Bank, but said she did not expect the saga to hamper decades of close collaboration between the two institutions. Georgieva, who was cleared of wrongdoing in the matter by the IMF's executive board on Monday, had sharply criticized a report prepared by law firm WilmerHale for the World Bank's board, and the decision to make its findings public. The law firm's investigative report alleged that Georgieva and other senior officials applied "undue pressure" on bank staff to make changes to boost China's ranking in the bank's 2018 business climate report. Georgieva vehemently denied the accusations, and she and her lawyer faulted WilmerHale for not telling her she was a subject of the probe. Some of her backers, including Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz called the report a "hatchet job" by President David Malpass, and Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, called for Congress to investigate Malpass's actions in the matter. Malpass has not commented on the probe's targeting of Georgieva, saying only that the report speaks for itself. The bank also canceled the Doing Business report https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2021/09/16/world-bank-group-to-discontinue-doing-business-report, and is now implementing reforms aimed at ensuring research integrity https://www.reuters.com/business/world-bank-taking-steps-boost-research-integrity-after-data-rigging-scandal-2021-10-11. Georgieva, a longtime official, on Tuesday insisted in an interview with Reuters that the data issues were limited to the bank's controversial Doing Business series, and had nothing to do with the work of the fund. "Look for the problem. It is on the other side of 19th Street," she told reporters on Wednesday, a reference to the Washington address of both institutions. At the same time, she underscored her belief that the controversy would not harm strong ties between the two. "I love the bank, and I love the fund," she said, adding, "This is a twin institutional setup that has delivered for the members. ... We have major, major challenges, where our institutions are best at addressing and working together." Those included efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing high debt levels among developing countries and joint work on financial sector assessments. The World Bank underscored its commitment to a "constructive relationship" and said it looked forward to productive meetings this week with colleagues and its members on urgent challenges facing developing countries, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and high debt levels. Georgieva brushed aside questions on whether a proposed new Resilience and Sustainability Trust overlapped with the mandate of the World Bank, saying that fund officials were working closely with their bank counterparts in developing the new instrument. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior diplomats from Japan, the and urged on Tuesday to return to talks over its missile and nuclear development, a day after it announced it successfully tested new long-range cruise missiles, indicating an advancement of its military capabilities. The three-way meeting in Tokyo was attended by U.S. Special Representative for Policy Sung Kim, South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-duk and Japanese Director-General for Asian and Oceanian affairs Takehiro Funakoshi. U.S. envoy Kim said the three countries were open to diplomacy with to make tangible progress that increases the security of the and our allies." He urged North Korea to respond positively to our multiple offers to meet without preconditions. Washington and its allies will continue to work to fully implement all UN Security Council resolutions in addressing North Korea's missile development, he added. All three agreed on the timeliness of their meeting Tuesday. Our trilateral cooperation is essential for complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, Noh said. On Monday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the tests of the new missiles showed they can hit targets 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away. North Korea hailed the missiles as a strategic weapon of great significance, suggesting that they were developed with the intent of arming them with nuclear warheads. North Korea says it needs nuclear weapons to deter what it says is hostility from Washington and Seoul. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was to arrive in Seoul on Tuesday for talks with South Korean officials on bilateral relations and the freeze in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea. Wang is scheduled to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Wednesday. Chung is expected seek a more active role from Beijing, North Korea's main ally and economic lifeline, in persuading the North to return to the negotiating table. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said before the trilateral meeting that it was a good occasion to reconfirm close cooperation among the three countries and discuss the latest North Korean situation. Japanese officials and some experts said North Korea's weekend missile tests were a new threat to the region. and are both key allies of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) eased on Wednesday on worries that crude demand growth would slow, which ate into recent gains that had brought prices to multi-year highs in recent sessions. Analysts noted that some traders likely took profits in U.S. crude after West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures hit their highest since October 2014 during the past three sessions. Brent futures fell 24 cents, or 0.3%, to settle at $83.18 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 20 cents, or 0.3%, to $80.44. Prices came under pressure early when China, the world's biggest crude importer, released data showing September imports fell 15% from a year earlier. The market is awaiting U.S. oil inventory data that analysts expect will show a 0.7 million barrel build in crude stocks. [EIA/S] [API/S] Data from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, is due at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) on Wednesday and from the U.S. Information Administration on Thursday. The data was delayed by a day following the Columbus Day holiday on Monday. Shortages of coal and natural gas in China, Europe and India have boosted prices for the fuels burned for electricity generation. Oil products are being used as a substitute. The European Commission outlined measures the European Union could use to combat surging prices, and said it would explore joint gas purchasing among countries. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) trimmed its world oil demand growth forecast for 2021 while maintaining its 2022 view. But OPEC said surging natural gas prices could boost demand for oil products as end users switch. "Today's monthly OPEC report appeared to offer something for both the bulls and the bears with the agency unexpectedly reducing their global oil demand forecast...for this year while adjusting their non-OPEC supply growth estimate downward," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois. Global should not expect more oil from Iran in the near future. The United States said it was ready to consider "all options" if Iran is unwilling to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin said could reach $100 a barrel and noted Moscow was ready to provide more natural gas to Europe if requested. are focused on how the supply crunch will affect oil demand, especially in the world's second biggest economy China. "These are troubling times for China. A severe energy crisis is gripping the country," said Stephen Brennock of broker PVM. In India, which is suffering its worst power shortages since 2016 due to a crippling lack of coal, saw fuel consumption crawl higher in September as economic activity ramped up. India is the world's third-biggest oil importer. In the United States, the government projected consumers will spend more to heat their homes this winter than last year due mostly to surging energy prices. The White House has been speaking with U.S. oil and gas producers about helping to bring down rising fuel costs. U.S. gasoline and diesel futures closed at their highest since October 2014 on Wednesday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares rallied 10 per cent to hit an over two-year high of Rs 47 in intra-day trade on Wednesday. With today's gain, the scrip has soared 50 per cent in the first nine trading days of October. The stock of the iron and steel products company was quoting at its highest level since May 2019. On October 8, 2021, announced that the company has successfully bagged an order worth Rs 237 crore from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for the supply of seamless casings pipes. The company primarily caters to companies in the Oil & Gas sector, where it is a registered vendor for major domestic oil producers and refiners. In addition, it also caters to other segments, including power plants, boilers, automobile engineering etc. For the upstream oil & gas sector, involved in exploration and production, the demand outlook looks stable. The company has an upstream exposure of 30 per cent and mid and downstream exposure of 70 per cent. In addition, 50 per cent of the industry mix is coming from oil & gas. The company's focus on newer products should help it in retaining and improving the market share, said in its FY21 annual report. With the development of the renewable power portfolio across Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the company has been able to meet its green energy requirements. The companys capacity share in the domestic seamless pipe market stands enhanced further with the acquisition of United Seamless Tubulaar Private Limited (USTPL). With the addition of USTPL, it has added to its revenue and profitability through the introduction of new products like the oxygen cylinder pipes which should cater to the lack of supply for the high demand products, it added. The demand for Seamless and ERW pipes which got impacted in 2020 due to pandemic is back on track in 2021 riding on decent planned government expenditure, corporates being bullish on the economic recovery and with the opening of international borders for trade, exports are seeing an upside and increasing trend in the steel prices coming to help, the company said. Shares of two aviation firms rose by 1.14% to 4.27% as the government will remove restrictions on domestic aviation capacity from 18 October 2021. SpiceJet (up 4.27%) and InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo) (up 1.14%) jumped. The Union ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) on Tuesday allowed domestic flights to fly with 100% capacity from Monday, 18 October 2021 onwards. The ministry reduced the permissible capacity to 50% with effect from 1 June 2021 due to the second wave of the pandemic. It increased it to 72.5% with effect from 12 August 2021, and further to 85.% with effect from 18 September 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Centrum Capital surged 15.64% to Rs 46.20 after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a small finance bank (SFB) license to the consortium of Centrum Financial Services (Centrum) and Resilient Innovations (BharatPe). Centrum Financial Services is profitable small business lending arm of the Centrum Group. Resilient Innovations is one of India's fastest-growing fintech companies. "A new bank license has been issued after a gap of nearly 6 years, and we thank the RBI for the confidence shown in the abilities of Centrum and BharatPe, Centrum Capital said in a statement. The new SFB, has been incorporated as 'Unity Small Finance Bank'. The proposed business model for the SFB is one of collaboration and open architecture, uniting all its stakeholders to deliver a seamless digital experience. Centrum's MSME and micro finance businesses shall be merged into Unity Small Finance Bank. Jaspal Bindra, executive chairman, Centrum Group, said We are delighted to receive the license and excited to partner with BharatPe to create this new age bank, with a strong team. We aspire to be India's first Digital Bank. In June this year, the RBI issued an in-principle approval to Centrum Financial Services for establishing a small finance bank (SFB) with Resilient Innovations (BharatPe). The Central Bank had said that the in-principle approval had been accorded in specific pursuance to the Centrum Financial Services' offer dated 1 February 2021 in response to the expression of interest notification dated 3 November 2020 published by the Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank, Mumbai. The SFB will be guided by the directions and timelines of the RBI on the amalgamation of Punjab & Maharashtra Co-Operative Bank. The Centrum Group has diversified fee businesses and a lending platform for institutions and individuals. institutional services include investment banking, mid-corporates & sme credit and broking to fiis, pension funds, indian mutual funds, domestic institutions etc. It also provides MSME credit, wealth management services to HNIs and family offices, affordable housing finance in tier 2 & 3 cities, micro finance loans and retail broking. Its asset management business offers funds across private debt and venture capital. The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 10.53 crore in Q1 FY22 as against a net loss of Rs 12.20 crore in Q1 FY21. Total income during the quarter rose 19.2% YoY to Rs 136.34 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IT majors Infosys and Wipro will release their quarterly earnings today, 13 October 2021. Tata Motors and TPG Rise Climate entered into a binding agreement whereby TPG Rise Climate along with its co-investor ADQ, shall invest in a subsidiary of Tata Motors that will be newly incorporated. TPG Rise Climate along with co-investors shall invest Rs 7,500 crore in compulsory convertible instruments to secure between 11 % to 15 % stake in this company translating to an equity valuation of up to $9.1 billion. Reliance New Energy Solar (RNESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries (RIL), has entered into an agreement with NexWafe GmbH (NexWafe) for acquiring 86,887 series C preferred shares of face value of EUR 1 each of NexWafe at a price of EUR 287.73 per share aggregating EUR 25 million. RNESL will also be issued 36,201 warrants which are exercisable for a consideration of EUR 1 per warrant subject to achievement of agreed milestones. Bajaj Finserv said that trustee company under the name of Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund Trustee has been incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. IndusInd Bank announced, that it has been authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for collection of Direct and Indirect Taxes, on behalf of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Power Finance Corporation said that the Government of India has granted Maharatna Status to the company. Karur Vysya Bank said that RBI has authorized the bank to collect Direct Taxes on behalf of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Centrum Capital said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a Small Finance Bank (SFB) license to the consortium of Centrum Financial Services and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe). Happiest Minds Technologies announced that it has entered into partnership with Tech4TH Solutions, a company incorporated in the USA. Choice International said the company has acquired the mutual fund distribution business of Centcart Money Services by the company's step-down subsidiary Choice Wealth. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of automaker were locked in 10% upper circuit at Rs 462.85 on the BSE. Tata Motors said that it has entered into a binding agreement with TPG Rise Climate, whereby TPG Rise Climate along with its co-investor ADQ, shall invest in a subsidiary of the company that will be newly incorporated. TPG Rise Climate is the dedicated climate investing strategy of TPG's global impact investing platform TPG Rise. TPG Rise Climate pursues climate-related investments that benefit from the diverse skills of TPG's investing professionals, the strategic relationships developed across TPG's existing portfolio of climate-focused companies, and a global network of executives and advisors. Established in Abu Dhabi in 2018, ADQ is one of the region's largest holding companies with direct and indirect investments in more than 90 companies locally and internationally. Both an asset owner and investor, ADQ's broad portfolio of major enterprises span key sectors of a diversified economy, including energy and utilities, food and agriculture, healthcare and pharma, and mobility and logistics, amongst others. TPG Rise Climate along with co-investors shall invest Rs 7,500 crore in compulsory convertible instruments to secure between 11% to 15% stake in this passenger electric vehicle subsidiary (TML EV Co.) of Tata Motors, translating to an equity valuation of up to $9.1 billion. The new company shall leverage all existing investments and capabilities of Tata Motors and will channelise the future investments into electric vehicles, dedicated BEV platforms, advanced automotive technologies and catalyse investments in charging infrastructure and battery technologies. Over the next 5 years, this company will create a portfolio of 10 EVs and in association with Tata Power, catalyse the creation of a widespread charging infrastructure to facilitate rapid EV adoption in India. N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Motors, commented, I am delighted to have TPG Rise Climate join us in our journey to create a market-shaping electric passenger mobility business in India. We will continue to proactively invest in exciting products that delights customers while meticulously creating a synergistic ecosystem. Tata Motors expects the first round of capital infusion to be completed by March 2022 and the entire funds will be infused by end of 2022. The transaction is subject to conditions precedent and customary approvals. Tata Motors is a global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. The auto major's consolidated net loss contracted to Rs 4,450.92 crore in Q1 FY22 as compared to a net loss of Rs 8,437.99 crore in Q1 FY21. Total revenue from operations soared 107.63% YoY to Rs 66,406.45 crore in Q1 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 1359.9, up 2.32% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 262.11% in last one year as compared to a 51.6% gain in NIFTY and a 162.58% gain in the Nifty Metal. Tata Steel Ltd rose for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1359.9, up 2.32% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.87% on the day, quoting at 18147.8. The Sensex is at 60704.11, up 0.7%. Tata Steel Ltd has dropped around 6.36% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has dropped around 1.77% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5829.35, up 1.44% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 99.83 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 103.81 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1367.45, up 2.49% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd is up 262.11% in last one year as compared to a 51.6% gain in NIFTY and a 162.58% gain in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 8.63 based on TTM earnings ending June 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two very newsworthy happenings over the last week, linked to celebrity endorsements, have opened up a very interesting debate on loyalty a brands loyalty to the celebrity, and concurrently the celebritys loyalty to the endorsed brand. Byjus put their campaign on hold post the controversy surrounding his sons arrest in the Cordelia cruise drug seizure case. And then on his 79 th birthday earlier in the week, announced that he was dis-associating himself from Kamla Pasand pan masala brand as he had finally figured out that it was surrogate advertising. He also returned the remuneration he had received for the endorsement. has been Byjus brand ambassador for almost 5 years now almost ever since the brand started to advertise on mass media. His name and face have been synonymous with the edu-tech platform. Byjus, one of the largest education start-ups in the country, has temporarily taken down all its advertisements featuring the superstar amid the growing backlash on social media. The actor, as also the platform, were heavily trolled over the past few days due to the drug investigation against SRKs son. Pulling out the ads must not have been easy since bookings on television are made well in advance and cancellations can entail heavy costs, especially on the IPL. Byjus has an estimated 42 million registered users and 3 million paid subscribers. Students spend a reported 71 minutes on the app daily. Shah Rukh can legitimately claim some credit for Byjus enormous success. But one whiff of controversy and Byjus put Shah Rukh in the cooler. No one of course knows if SRKs exit is a temporary hiatus or a terminal boot-out. The story has even more twists and turns. Bachchan was trolled on social media for endorsing Kamla Pasand ads last month. His top-fan, one Vijay Kalla, had questioned him on the need for him to endorse a pan masala. Mr. Bachchan had replied him, If someone is doing well in their business, we should not wonder why we are joining them. If there is a business, we also have to think of our business. You feel I should not have done this, I was also paid for it but there are many people working in our profession. Bachchan fans were left aghast. Then Shekhar Salkar, President, National Organisation for Eradication of Tobacco wrote a scathing letter to Big B. He said that medical research has proved that addiction to tobacco and pan masala decays the health of the citizens, especially the youth, and said that since he (Bachchan) is the government brand ambassador for the high profile pulse polio campaign, he should drop out from the pan masala ads as soon as possible. Mr. Bachchan finally woke up to all the negative sentiment. On his 79 th birthday, on Monday, Bachchan grandly announced his withdrawal from the advertising campaign of Kamla Pasand saying he did not know the product he was endorsing (silver coated elaichi) was a surrogate for pan masala! So we now have two interesting situations: one where the brand almost dropped the celebrity; and the another where the brand was dropped unceremoniously by the celebrity. Hence the question of loyalty. And love. And relationship. Should the brand Byjus not have been so weak-kneed and should they not have stood by SRK during his troubled times? Or was it fair for them to pull out of the fire before the brand got burnt further? In Bachchans case, the Big B obviously ran for cover post SRKs trolling in the Aryan drug arrests, which had started to extend to his endorsement of Vimal pan masala (again under a euphemism). Mr. Bachchan just dumped Kamla Pasand and returned his endorsement fees post haste. Should he have really done so? The question of loyalty is actually easy to answer. Prima facie, the celebrity is nothing more than a gun for hire. They hardly ever use the product they peddle, in their real lives. The entire arrangement is purely commercial. Most celebrities have mostimes never heard of, or used, the brand they vociferously endorse in the ads. It is just about money, money and more money. So, since there is no real relationship between the celebrity and the brand, it is only fair that both keep their respective options open, and on the first signs of trouble, bail out. Each to his own; each on his own. Yet, in SRKs case, over five years, some relationship mustve been surely forged between the company and the celebrity. It does look a bit shallow therefore for Byjus to have jettisoned the superstar so quickly. Trolling is not always reflective of the public sentiment. A thousand well-orchestrated trolls, working in co-ordination, can create a Twitter trend in a few minutes. So trolling, howsoever vicious, cannot become a trigger for submission to supposed public sentiment. Methinks Byjus were unfair to SRK. They should have shown more grit. And atleast some visible resistance in defence of their beleaguered brand ambassador. In the case of Mr. Bachchan, his conduct is really unpardonable. For a seasoned personality like him, with an army of advisers, lawyers and managers at his beck and call, not knowing that the elaichi he was endorsing was actually a pan masala surrogate is totally unbelievable. In fact Big B defended the endorsement for well over a month with some very strange utterances in his own defence before bolting away from the brand. To me it looks like rank opportunism: pocket the money if you can; then play moral messiah when matters hotten up. Especially from the great Bachchan such behaviour is certainly not expected. There have been occasions in the past too when brands could have dropped problematic brand ambassadors. But they didnt. It was the year 2006. Toyota was just launching a new campaign with Aamir Khan for the Innova. On the day of the press conference, the media broke a story about Aamir Khans love child, Jaan, with Jessica Hines. There could not have been worse timing for the Japanese client. But they stood by Aamir and went ahead with the launch despite the raging controversy surrounding their brand ambassador. The Innova went on to become a super-duper hit. And the Jaan story petered out a few days later. Virat Kohli dropped Pepsi after many years of endorsing the brand claiming he had become fitness conscious and did not want to endorse a cola as he found the fizzy drink unhealthy. Pepsi took the hit on the chin. Not only did Kohli exit the endorsement after enriching himself for many years through fat celebrity fees earned from the cola giant, but in his exit he actually bad mouthed the entire category. So much for a goodwill ambassadorship! Moral of the story? You watch your backside, I will watch mine. Old fashioned virtues like love or loyalty dont really exist. In the celebrity world everything is for hire: moral values included. (Dr. Sandeep Goyal is the Chief Mentor of the Indian Institute of Human Brands.) Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. Voicing concern over the recent killing of civilians, former Chief Minister on Wednesday said "everyone is feeling unsafe", and asked the administration to give the people a sense of security cutting across religions. Pointing out that terror attacks in the Union Territory this year had claimed the lives of 28 civilians cutting across religious lines, Abdullah, who is the vice-president of the Conference (NC), at the same time hoped there will not be a fresh exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, both of whom had been targeted in the recent days. "All of us should try our level best to ensure that we do not see a fresh exodus of minorities from Kashmir", he said, adding that no one community feels safer than the other. "Whatever can be done to stem this and to restore the sense of security to these communities must be done. Obviously, the lion's share of this work has to be done by the administration but as the majority community, we also carry some of that responsibility. We must fulfil that responsibility", he told PTI in an interview here. Castigating the administration for trying to "score propaganda and public relations victories rather than focus on the ground realities", Abdullah asked the authorities to "take a long hard look at why we have reached where we have". Abdullah, however, refrained from terming the recent attacks as an intelligence failure, saying: "... I think it's the failure to act on intelligence. That is a failure you cannot just blame the police for because the counter-militancy operations are conducted by police, paramilitary and military. It is the collective failure of our counter-insurgency grid." He reasoned that for the last few months there has been chatter about targeted attacks against minorities, particularly against Kashmiri Pandits. "So obviously, if somebody like me who has no association or anything like that with the government and is not privy to any intelligence reports, if I could hear this, then I am sure the intelligence agencies also picked it up and if they have picked it up, they would have passed it on to the people who matter," he said. Expressing concern about locals joining various terror groups, he said this is an issue that the government and political parties should be concerned about. I am not privy to statistics, I don't know the numbers but from my own colleagues, I do understand that this trend continues and it is not a trend limited to a particular area, we hear these reports from south, central and north Kashmir, he said. "It is something that should concern us and again it is for the government to create the necessary conditions that these youngsters do not get attracted to the idea of picking up a gun," he added. Abdullah recalled the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24 this year of removing dil ki doori and Dilli ki doori (removing distance between hearts and between Delhi and Srinagar) and suggested, "If we take some concrete steps in this direction, even this move towards joining militant tanzeems, I think we will be able to reduce it to a great extent. We may not be able to eradicate it but we will be able to reduce it". Abdullah, however, cautioned against detaining people across the valley and said, "We need to be very careful not to get into knee-jerk reactions. Reactions for the sake of reacting, just because we have to show something, we do this." "I am sure that I don't doubt that perhaps these 400 plus people have some sort of dossier with the government, for whatever reason -- whether they were involved in stone pelting, linked to proscribed organisations. The fact is, are they directly connected to this attack or is there any linkage between them and this attack?"If there is, by all means proceed and file charges and let the courts decide about the guilt but this sort of random and wanton sort of arrest, it doesn't help the situation and in fact anything it makes the situation worse," Abdullah said while replying to a question about the recent crackdown by police in Kashmir and detaining over 400 people. He said the government needs to be very careful and should not be seen to be carrying out activities with a view to take revenge. Instead, it should be seen as an organisation or as an "entity that delivers justice by all means, he said. Abdullah, who was the chief minister of the erstwhile state for six years between 2009-14, had been able to clear central and north Kashmir of terrorists and their supporters. Asked whether he was disheartened that the place has been infested by terrorists again, he said: "Disheartened will perhaps be a strong term, disappointed and concerned yes because we know militants are moving around in areas that have been free of militancy. "Srinagar city was completely cleared of militancy. Same is true for Ganderbal and Budgam districts. It is disappointing but again the government needs to take a long hard look at why these areas have been occupied again and then see what corrective measures the government needs to take. The corrective measures that are not at the cost of everybody, they know they have to be very careful how they go about their activities," he said. Abdullah asserted that the situation in Afghanistan would have no impact on the security situation in Kashmir other than the distinct possibility that it may act as a morale booster for terror groups operating in the Union Territory. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned as Punjab unit chief a few days ago, will meet Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Punjab Incharge Harish Rawat on Thursday, October 14. The party's Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat, earlier on Tuesday, tweeted that Sidhu will meet them to discuss the "organisational matters" of the state Congress. His tweet said, "Navjot Singh Sidhu, President Punjab Congress will be meeting me and KC Venugopal for discussion on certain organisational matters pertaining to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee at Venugopal's office (in Delhi) on October 14." After the resignation as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Sidhu will be having his first official meeting with the Congress central leadership. Sidhu had announced his resignation as PPCC chief on Twitter on September 28. According to sources in the party, the high command is not happy with the resignation of Sidhu and no such meeting with central leadership happened after his resignation. Sidhu, after his resignation, had said he will always stand by party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. "Post or No Post will stand by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi! Let all negative forces try to defeat me, but with every ounce of positive energy will make Punjab win, Punjabiyat (Universal Brotherhood) win and every Punjabi win," he has said in a tweet. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sought the support of his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao for the demand to abolish NEET, the national exam for admission to medical courses. Stalin is reaching out to non-BJP chief ministers over the demand from the Centre to abolish National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). Two MPs of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday called on Telangana minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao and handed over to him the letter written by Stalin to Chandrasekhar Rao. MPs T.K.S. Elangovan and Kalanidhi Veeraswamy met Rama Rao, who is also the son of the chief minister and urged him to back DMK's stand over the issue. The MP said keeping in view the future of students, they were demanding abolition of He claimed that TRS leader responded positively to their request for support over the issue Elangovan said exam was affecting the students of the states. "We built infrastructure for medical colleges and pay salaries to professors but deprives our students from getting admissions in the same colleges," he said Stating that is against federal setup, the MP demanded that education should be brought back to state list instead of concurrent list. "We are talking to chief ministers of all opposition parties in the country in this regard. The attempts by Centre to take away rights of the states need to be stopped and we have to raise our voice strongly," he said. TRS MP Ranjith Reddy said the DMK MPs discussed the issue in detail with Rama Rao. Stalin demanded NEET abolition after three NEET aspirants from Tamil Nadu died by suicide last month. He is reaching out to non-BJP chief ministers to mobilize support for the demand. --IANS ms/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) International cooperation is key to deal with the challenge of ransomware, a top US official said on Wednesday as he described countries like India, Australia, the UK and Germany as central and indispensable to organising a global meet of 30 nations on the issue. "We view international cooperation as foundational to our collective ability to deal with the ecosystem, to hold criminals and the states that harbor them accountable, and to reduce the threat to our citizens in each of our countries," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in his address to the White House Facilitated Counter Initiative meeting. Being held virtually, the two-day meeting that kicked off Wednesday is being attended by participants from as many as 30 countries. According to experts, is one of the key threats of 2021. "Our governments may have different approaches with respect to the tools we believe are best to counter ransomware everything from how to secure our networks, to leverage diplomatic tools, and even the most effective ways to counter illicit finance," Sullivan said. "But your participation underscores that our governments are very much like-minded in one important respect: we recognise the urgency of the ransomware threat, the need to protect our citizens and businesses from it, and the criticality of international cooperation to counter it, he said. "Many of your governments have been central, indispensable to organising this meeting, including in leading the panels under which will carry out work over the coming days. I want to thank India, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany in particular for organising those panels, Sullivan said. Ransomware incidents, he said, have disrupted critical services and businesses worldwide from schools to banks to government offices to emergency services to hospitals, to energy companies, to transportation and food companies all of these have been affected. "And we have seen from these incidents that organisations of all sizes are targets, regardless of where they are located from the largest companies to small businesses that are just trying to support a family or small community, he said, adding that President Joe Biden has prioritised countering this threat. US Government agencies, he said, are pursuing an integrated effort to disrupt the ransomware ecosystem. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi is on a two-day tour to coal-rich states Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh beginning Wednesday amid the dry duel shortage at the country's power plants. The minister will on Wednesday review and visit three mines--Gevra, Dipka and Kusmunda in Chhattisgarh -- of arm South Eastern Coalfields Ltd and will hold meeting with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, according to an official. On Thursday, the minister will review the performance of arm Central Coalfields Ltd and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd and visit Ashoka mine of CCL, the official said. Joshi had on Tuesday said the government is making full efforts to meet the coal demand of power producers and stressed that steps are being taken to soon ramp up the dry-fuel supply to two million tonne per day, from the current overall dispatch of 1.95 million tonne per day. The minister had assured all stakeholders of the coal supply required for power generation. He had further said the coal supply will go up as the monsoon recedes. "As of now...at Coal India, we have around 22 days' stock and as you all know the monsoon is receding now and our supply will further go up," he said. CIL had earlier said it is marshalling all its efforts to bridge the demand-supply gap to the extent possible. accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taiwanese tech company on Wednesday said that it will help consumers in India responsibly dispose of their e-waste, by offering free home pick-up for the discarded gadgets. The #DiscardResponsibly campaign will go live on the International Day, which falls on October 14, and will run till October 31. According to the United Nations, each person on the planet will produce on average 7.6 kg of in 2021, meaning that a massive 57.4 million tonnes will be generated worldwide. Only 17.4 per cent of this electronic waste containing a mixture of harmful substances and precious materials will be recorded as being properly collected, treated and recycled. "Through this campaign, we aim to spread awareness and at the same time, encourage people to take accountability of their ecosystem by adopting eco-friendly practices," said Leon Yu, Regional Director, System Business Group, India & South Asia. has released a toll-free number and a microsite (https://asus.in/discardresponsibly/) to activate the management drive, to provide information such as name, contact number, email, and address to schedule a pick-up slot. The company is also driving the campaign via its retail network. "More cooperative efforts are required to make people aware of this increasing issue and take appropriate countermeasures supported with appropriate research and training," said Yu. --IANS wh/na (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tech giant has updated its Global Goals (SGG) app that will empower Galaxy smartphone users in India to donate for causes related to inequality, climate and environmental degradation, and education. All projects are linked to causes that help further the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the updated SGG app, Galaxy users in India will now be able to donate to projects using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). These projects include educating young women, feeding school children, protecting children's rights, supporting the fight against poverty and helping ease the loss of grieving families impacted by Covid-19, the company said in a statement. The projects listed on the app support UN SDGs such as No Poverty (Goal 1), Zero Hunger (Goal 2), Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6), Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) and Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12). Galaxy users will soon be able to also contribute towards United Nations Development Programme projects in India such as supporting women artisans working on Warli folk paintings, helping Safai Saathis who are frontline sanitation workers, conserving Snow Leopards in the Himalayas, one of the world's rarest cats, and supporting the lives and livelihoods of people impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. "The updated Global Goals app will now provide Galaxy smartphone users in India, including Gen Z and millennial users, an easy way to learn about the SDGs and support causes in India that are most important to them. The app furthers our vision of #PoweringDigitalIndia that aims to empower the next generation of young India," said Partha Ghosh, Vice President & Head, Corporate Citizenship, Samsung India, in the statement. --IANS rvt/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Bajaj Finserv EMI Store is home to all the top-selling mattress brands including Duroflex, Sleepycat, The Sleep Company, Durfi, Sleepyhead, Century, Amore and much more. Customers can buy mattresses on No Cost EMIs starting Rs. 834 and get flat 25% off as a cashback voucher. Customers can choose from a wide range of based on their requirements. Five of the top-selling memory foam mattresses available on No Cost EMIs on the EMI Store are: 1. Duroflex LiveIn 6 Inch HR Foam King Size Memory Foam Mattress on EMIs starting at Rs. 1,477, with zero down payment option available. 2. Doctor Dreams Max 8 Inches King Size Memory Foam Mattress on EMIs starting at Rs. 1,402, with zero down payment option available. 3. Springtek 6 Inch Orthopaedic King Size Memory Foam Mattress on EMIs starting at Rs. 1,084, with zero down payment option available. 4. Durfi 10 Inch Orthopedic King Memory Foam Mattress on EMIs starting at Rs. 4,909, with zero down payment option available. 5. Springwel 8 Inch Infinity King Size Memory Foam Mattress on EMIs starting at Rs. 5,562, with zero down payment option available. Customers can shop for memory foam mattresses from over 1,000 cities on the EMI Store. These include metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad etc. By purchasing on the EMI Store, one can avail a host of unique benefits like zero down payment on select products, No Cost EMIs and doorstep delivery. Customers can conveniently repay over a tenor of 3 to 24 months. Order online on the EMI Store in 4 easy steps: 1. Log in to the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store using your registered mobile number. 2. Choose the memory foam mattress you wish to purchase and select a convenient EMI repayment tenor. 3. At the payment page, add your shipping address and click on 'Generate OTP'. Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number and click on submit. 4. A confirmation of purchase will be sent to you and the ordered item will be home delivered. *Terms And Conditions Apply Finserv MARKETS is an online digital marketplace by Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv. Finserv MARKETS is a one-stop digital marketplace that assists consumers to compare and choose from a wide range of financial products. Its core proposition is driven by a strong intent to deliver tailor made financial products to the consumers. It offers customers abundance in choices in offering the required financial products to achieve all their financial and personal goals. Finserv MARKETS has partnered with leading financial providers in the Lending, Insurance, Investments and Payments space to provide 500+ financial and lifestyle products, all in one place. For further information, please visit (https://www.bajajfinservmarkets.in/) or download Finserv MARKETS App on Google Play Store or App Store. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): Captain Zack, renowned pet care and hygiene brand celebrated their 4th anniversary by unveiling a new campaign and launching a special pupcake mix. Captain Zack started as a pet hygiene brand and transitioned into a holistic pet care brand that specialises in creating nasty chemical-free, pH balanced, safe and ISO certified products. They are the first brand in India with veterinary licensed products to ensure that your pets are happy and healthy. Captain Zack, is unveiling their DIY pupcake mix, to mark their 4th year anniversary. The new line of cake mixes are designed and created especially for canines. These easy to make ready mix pupcake mixes come in two interesting flavours; Banana Le Crunch - with banana, peanut and oats and Oats De Chicken - with Chicken and crunchy oats; they are gluten and dairy free and are made with all fresh, preservative free and natural human grade ingredients. These nutritious pupcake premix will be available in all their online stores and retail outlets. Mohit Lalvani, CEO & Founder of Captain Zack says, "When we first started Captain Zack, we had no idea we would come so far, it was something we did to relieve our own little furry friend, Zack. We are so thrilled to have been able to help pet parents find safe and healthy alternatives to improve the lives of their pets using our products, it only seemed fitting to celebrate our 4th anniversary with a pupcake mix, to mark our 4th successful year we are also running exciting offers and discounts on our products as a means to thank our loyal patrons, without whom this wouldn't have been possible. We are dedicated not only in furthering the care of pets safely and organically but also empowering pet parents and enabling them to make better and healthier lifestyle choices for their four-legged friend." The accompanying campaign "Behind every healthy pet is a proud parent", highlights how a pet parent can take pride every time the world stops to admire their fur baby, through this campaign Captain Zack wants to further solidify their commitment towards our pets having longer, healthier lives via their safe, cruelty-free and best in class products. The brand wants to communicate to their patrons and all animal lovers that as pet parents they are the sole decision makers for their pets and choosing Captain Zack as their pet care partner they are moving one step closer towards building a longer and healthier life for their furry friends. Dr. Cooper, Head Vet and Small Animal Veterinarian & Dean of The University of Barkley, says, "The team at Captain Zack is committed to providing quality care for your pets with our products. All our products are clinically tested on sensitive human skin, are paraben free and do not have any harsh chemical content. Our vision is to provide the safest care for our four-legged babies and empower pet parents, this campaign is a way to highlight that and reinforce our mission statement." Leena Mukhi, Director Pet Care who is also the person behind the research and development at Captain Zack shares, "We at Captain Zack have always been at the forefront and continue to remain focussed on safe pet care and healthy pets. This pandemic has given us a lot of time to introspect and innovate for the future. One such exciting launch is the gluten free cake premix, formulated to be fun but keeping in mind the nutritional benefits." The campaign and launch of the pupcake mix are just the beginning of many more things to come for Captain Zack. They are steadily expanding and growing and making a meaningful impact on the pet health landscape. The 'Behind every healthy pet is a proud parent' campaign is a shining example of what Captain Zack means when they say that they not only care about your pets but about pet parents too and are actively working towards empowering pet parents to make conscious decisions for their pets. Captain Zack was conceived in 2016 when Owner & Founder, Mohit Lalvani was unable to find a good shampoo and conditioner for his beautiful pup Zack who had sensitive skin. Mohit a seasoned entrepreneur put his 3 decade long personal care and pharma experience to use which led him to formulate a non-irritant, gentle and pH balanced shampoo for his puppy Zack. Ecstatic from the success Mohit decided to build a brand that will be a catalyst towards solving these problems for other pets and pet parents. Captain Zack is also closely associated with the 'We Love Animals' foundation and donates part of their profits to the organisation. Captain Zack also runs a program called 'The University of Barkley' dedicated towards educating pet parents on pet care, pet health and ensure pet parents have all the tools they need to raise a happy, healthy and content fur baby. Website URL: (https://captainzack.in) Captain Zack Online Store & Website Facebook: @captzackIndia Instagram: capt.zack_india This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], October 13 (ANI/Target Media): Interior Design Students of Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), the largest network of Design Institutes designed sets of leading fashion designer shows during the recently concluded FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. INIFD is the only student body that is giving such an opportunity to its existing Interior Design students at India's only official Fashion week being held in Mumbai. INIFD for the last 6 seasons has been providing its interior design students with a direct chance to design sets of designer shows, at the prestigious Lakme Fashion Week where eminent Designers like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, JJ Valaya, Rajesh Pratap Singh to name a few, unveil their collections at this coveted Fashion Week. The 5 INIFD Interior Design students worked with the team of FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week throughout the Event, on all 5 Days, Simran Badani of INIFD Indore, Vishnu Priya of INIFD Patna, SamruddhiMewada of INIFD Pune Koregaon Park, Rachana Dinesh Nayak of INIFD Panvel, Vinita Shewakramani of INIFD Ajmer designed sets for the top Fashion Designers during this 5-day premier fashion and lifestyle event of India. INIFD Interior Designers exhibited their design skills by translating the theme into a uniquely designed venue while understanding the need of the designer and the entire set elevating the synergy in harmony to create a perfect ambience for a successful show. Anil Khosla, Global CEO of INIFD, introduced these budding student designers to the media at the conclusion of the Lakme Fashion Week. Khosla said, "INIFD is the only Design institute in India which gives chance to its existing students to design sets at the official, world-renowned Fashion Week - Lakme Fashion Week, direct from their classrooms these designers showcase their creative talent to mesmerise the elite audience." "This unique platform provides exposure and experience to the interior design students while working under the able guidance of industry experts, adding value to their portfolios and giving a kick-start to their careers besides getting recognition & media publicity," said Khosla. He further added that "INIFD Chief mentor Twinkle Khanna, Manish Malhotra & IIID have been vital in enriching and guiding the creative talents of the interior design students enabling them to be abreast with the much-appreciated design trends, they also bring to our institution a perspective & experience that is one of a kind. Khosla said INIFD is the only institute in India that gives it's Interior Design students a chance to work under top global Interior Designers at World Famous Global Interior Design Expo at London Called Decorex held every year in London Fashion Week." The final selection of INIFD Interior student designers to design Ramp & sets at Lakme Fashion Week was done during Nationwide 'The Design Festival'. The Design Festival is a unique and exclusive platform by INIFD & RISE worldwide where eminent jury members select INIFD Interior design students, for direct entry to Lakme Fashion Week. These 5 student Interior designers were selected from over 5000 entries received from INIFD students pan India and RISE Worldwide selected one student each from 75 premium Centres of INIFD. A jury comprising top Interior Designers like Nain Belliappa, Ar. Suvrita Bhardwaj, Gayathri Padmam, Noopur Shah, and Disha Bhavsar, Media heads like Shefalee Vasudev and TV & OTT personality Neeraj Gaba selected one winner from each zone who was later mentored by Design experts - Bikram Singh & BaneetMarwah for set designing at FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. INIFD revolutionizes the entire field of Design education in the country, keeping in sync with today's rapidly changing dynamics of the interior design World. Over the years INIFD has established a strong global presence and has emerged as the largest network of design Institutes that have been instrumental in taking Fashion & Interior Design education and training to the next level by giving an opportunity to its existing students to showcase their skills & creativity at 3 official world-renowned Fashion Weeks which includes INIFD Presents GenNext & INIFD Launchpad at Lakme Fashion Week in India, London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. Website:(https://www.nifd.net) This story is provided by Target Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Target Media) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], October 13 (ANI/BusinessWire India): The (https://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org) Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) selected INT Advisory Council Private Ltd. (IAC) an India-based consulting firm, as its overseas representative to facilitate Indian companies' expansion to the U.S. market in Fairfax County. This is the second time that IAC was selected under a competitive bid process. "The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority congratulates IAC on being re-selected as our business representative in India," said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. "Since 2018 IAC has diligently and creatively facilitated overseas expansion for Indian companies to Fairfax County, a job that has been made more difficult by a global pandemic. We look forward to continuing to work with IAC to attract more Indian companies to our dynamic business location." Since 2004, the FCEDA has maintained an India office that serves as a local resource for companies interested in expanding into the U.S. market. About 30 Indian companies have a presence in Fairfax County, including Apex Advanced Technology, Hexaware, HCL, Kellton Tech, Newgen, QBurst and Tata Communications. Since 2018, the IAC team has conducted more than 20 outreach events and enabled the successful expansion of eight companies from India to Fairfax County. "International Advisory Council is delighted to be selected again to represent FCEDA in India. IAC has been promoting FCEDA in India since 2018 and even during the pandemic we continued to promote FCEDA with virtual events, meetings and webinars. There are many Indian companies looking to expand in the US and we see great potential for more Indian tech companies setting up at Fairfax County. Mr. Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of FCEDA will be addressing a select group of prominent Indian companies in a virtual round table discussion on October 27, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. IST and we are all looking forward to it," said Ashish Mehta, CEO at International Advisory Council. Fairfax County's business community features 11 Fortune 500 headquarters, leading government contractors, a mix of more than 8,700 technology businesses, and the global headquarters for companies such as Hilton, Mars and Freddie Mac. Well-known tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook, have a presence in Fairfax County, which is also home to the regional headquarters of Amazon Web Services. Fairfax County's proximity to Washington D.C. and strategic East Coast location can be a critical advantage for Indian companies in the aerospace and information technology sectors, especially firms focused on cyber, IoT, big data, AI, fintech, and emerging sectors such as nano satellites, autonomous vehicles and mobility, food tech and ed tech. The favorable time zone and business ecosystem make a perfect combination for Fairfax County to be the launch pad for these Indian companies to grow their business in the United States and worldwide. The FCEDA India office, with presence in Bangalore and Mumbai, can provide a wide array of information and services to help companies and organizations locate or expand commercial operations in Fairfax County. The services - all free and confidential - include business assistance and introductions to potential partners, identifying commercial real estate options; offering workshops for new and existing businesses, acting as liaison to local and state governments; providing marketing and industry insights; and providing support for marketing/public relations visibility. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on (https://www.facebook.com/FairfaxCountyEDA) Facebook, (https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxcountyeda) Instagram, (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairfax-county-economic-development-authority) LinkedIn, (https://twitter.com/FairfaxEDA) Twitter and (https://www.youtube.com/c/fairfaxcountyeda) YouTube. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sonipat (Haryana) [India], October 13 (ANI/OP Jindal University): Pursuant to its commitment to promoting internationalization and continuing in its collaborative initiatives, Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), has signed MoUs to establish 10 new international collaborations with international partner universities. The new partners of JGLS include 10 universities in 8 countries Australia (2), New Zealand (1), Portugal (1), Slovakia (1), South Africa (1), United Kingdom (2), United States (1), and Uzbekistan (1). The types of collaborations include short-term study abroad programmes, J.D. transfers, pathways to master's degrees, joint research and faculty exchange programmes. Students of the 5-year law programmes, 3-year law programme, and postgraduate programmes will be the beneficiaries of these collaborations. Further, pathways to many M.A. and selected LL.M. programmes of the Queen Mary University London have been exclusively secured for the students of the three-year B.A. (Hons) Legal Studies programme. The Law Schools and Universities are: Federation University, Australia University of South Australia, Australia Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Portugal The University of Waikato, New Zealand Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia The University of Capetown, South Africa City, University of London, United Kingdom Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom Texas A & M University, United States of America Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan These new partnerships are in addition to the 20 MoUs signed since August 2020. With these new collaborations in place, the Jindal Global Law School has over 200 international collaborations that will provide unparalleled global education opportunities to its students. All collaborations of JGU are methodically planned, institutionally sustainable, and meticulously implemented. Reflecting on JGU's efforts in promoting international collaborations, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University and Founding Dean, Jindal Global Law School, states that, "Internationalization has been one of the five pillars of strength for JGU (the other four being its Interdisciplinary Curriculum, Global Faculty, vibrant Research Ecosystem, and effective Student Career Services). We have been putting relentless efforts in strengthening our ties with educational partners from all over the world such that we maximize the possibilities of intercultural learning experience for our students. As JGU and JGLS grows in leaps and bounds through the introduction of innovative and socially relevant programmes, thereby increasing its student strength, we consider it our duty and responsibility to make certain that opportunities are in abundance for all our students who aspire to become part of our short-term study abroad programmes, student exchange programmes, dual degree programmers and other pathways to pursue higher studies in the leading law schools and universities of the world. All these collaborations are based on the needs of our programmes, right-partner identification, and pre-assessed learning outcomes". Professor Kumar further observed, "The institutional resilience of JGU is demonstrated by the fact that the Jindal Global Law School has itself established 30 new international collaborations during the pandemic in the last one year. We are committed to providing a world-class legal education to our students and we will overcome all challenges to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of our students." According to Professor (Dr.) Sreejith S.G., Professor and Executive Dean, Jindal Global Law School, "Our global rankings, international standing, and our galaxy of faculty members have a reputational effect that prompts many international institutions to collaborate with JGLS. Their openness and reception to JGLS have been refreshing. The immense success in the past collaborations and outstanding performance of our students during the short-term study aboard programmes have certainly contributed to this reception". Professor Malvika Seth, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (International Collaborations), Jindal Global Law School adds that "When we reach out to partner institutions and explain our motivations and goals during the preliminary meetings, we have found them to be sharing the same. Hence, they always reciprocate our enthusiasm to partner with them. This sense of having common goals and aspirations helps in mutually designing innovative and appropriate types of collaborations between two institutions. Apart from the custom collaborations, some of the partner universities have expressed interest to have joint clinics, joint moots, resource sharing, and mutual teaching of course modules". JGLS was established in 2009 and in a short span of 12 years, has grown to become a premier law school in the country. JGLS has been ranked 76th in the world and 1st in India in the "QS World University Rankings 2021 By Subject: Law". Today JGLS, as the law school of JGU, is also an "Institution of Eminence" as conferred by the Government of India. It has 10 academic programmes including 5-year and 3-year law programmes, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in law, and B.A. programmes in Legal Studies, Human Rights, Gender Studies, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. The School has 475+ full-time faculty members from 25+ countries in the world. This story is provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/OP Jindal University) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 13 (ANI): Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), and Denmark-based Stiesdal A/S (Stiesdal) signed a cooperation agreement for technology development and manufacturing of Stiesdal's HydroGen Electrolyzers in India, the RIL informed on Tuesday. The agreement was signed during a state visit of Denmark to India and announced in the presence of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen. Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, had announced ambitious plans of setting up a giga factory for manufacturing of HydroGen Electrolyzers in Gujarat's Jamnagar. Through this agreement, RNESL and Stiesdal will combine their strengths and capabilities and collaborate to further advance the technology development of HydroGen Electrolyzers and scale it up to set up manufacturing facilities. "As part of this agreement, RNESL and Stiesdal have also agreed to extend their collaboration to development and implementation of other path-breaking climate change technologies which include offshore wind energy, next-generation fuel cells for conversion of hydrogen to electricity for mobile and static electricity generation, long-duration energy storage and production of carbon-negative fuels," a statement released by RIL and Stiesdal said. Speaking after signing the agreement, Mukesh Ambani said, "We at Reliance see this cooperation agreement with Stiesdal as yet another opportunity to implement our philosophy of 'Caring for the Planet' and 'Caring for the People'. It is an important step towards fulfilling our commitment to accelerate India's transition to green energy benefitting from our vast solar energy sources and scaling up innovative and leading technologies to meet this objective. We aim to leverage Stiesdal's impressive portfolio of climate technologies to serve the Indian market and work together to make this portfolio a global pacesetter. In partnership with Stiesdal, we will strive to achieve our stated goal of offering Hydrogen energy under USD 1 per kg in 1 decade - the 1-1-1 target for Green Hydrogen. Reliance is committed to making the greatest contribution to the National Hydrogen Mission announced by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day this year. Our vision is to put India on the global hydrogen map and fulfil the developmental aspirations of 1.35 billion Indians." CEO of Stiesdal A/S Henrik Stiesdal, said, "We are excited to enter into this agreement with Reliance New Energy Solar Limited, the New Energy platform of India's largest industrial company. As a company, we are committed to the fight against climate change, seeking to deliver the largest possible impact in the shortest possible time. For us, there could be no greater impact than seeing our technology scaled up for use in the world's largest democracy. Production of low-cost hydrogen is a vital strategic element of the green transition in India and the world, and Reliance Industries have the reach and capability to ramp up electrolyzer production to the required levels." The HydroGen Electrolyzer technology is developed by Stiesdal PtX Technologies. It is an effective technology for green hydrogen production at a game-changing cost level. The HydroGen Electrolyzer benefits from a combination of innovative solutions and a thoroughly industrialized approach to product design and achieving maximum economies of scale in both the output from the electrolyzer unit as well as mass production of the electrolyzer itself. Combined with Reliance's deep expertise in innovation, project execution and operational excellence and its world-class talent pool, this partnership will bring affordable green hydrogen to millions of Indians, the statement added. (ANI) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi (Delhi) [India], October 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): Room to Read's Phase-II of its nationwide campaign called #Harkadambetikesang: Leadership ki Tarang 2021, which started on 28th September '21, displayed solidarity with girl students across the country in the light of the upcoming International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October '21. Phase I of the campaign was implemented in July earlier this year, and phase II culminated on 12th October '21 across 6 Indian States. A series of online and offline activities were implemented in Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttarakhand. Throughout the campaign, key offline and online activities included government and community activations and spreading awareness for girls' education and gender equality through television broadcast, 93.7 Big Fm, Podcast series 'Hausle Ki Dagar', among other unique initiatives to reach out to the masses through engaging content and audio jingles. In Delhi, the campaign catered to more than 13,000 stakeholders, including Girls' Education Program (GEP) scholars, non-GEP scholars, teachers, principals, Anganwadi workers, SMC members, Shiksha Mitra, etc. With the reopening of schools in September 2021, most activities were conducted across the 11 schools of GEP interventions. Leadership-based debates with GEP and Non-GEP scholars in 4 schools. Exhibition walks were performed in all schools to share leadership stories and the leadership thoughts of scholars. Wall paintings have also been done in the community and school spaces with maximum footfall to ensure the message spreads across the wider community. The core agenda of the campaign was to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of girls as in the post-pandemic world, their challenges have increased exponentially, but even during these trying times, they have shown tremendous courage, resilience, and demonstrated leadership skills. One of the campaign's main objectives was to create awareness among parents, teachers, and community members to support girls' education. In Chhattisgarh, the campaign was supported by the Government of Chhattisgarh, including the Department of Education and Tribal Welfare Department. Room to Read ensured girls have access to learning opportunities, enhancing their leadership skills, and creating awareness among the communities to meet their specific needs. DD Chhattisgarh and 94.3 My FM platform were utilized to reach the masses through engaging content and audio jingles. As the campaign geared up across the states, the girls, their parents, and community members came forward to create awareness by organizing rallies and community events adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. Women from local communities led the rallies on two-wheelers and tractors to disseminate the campaign message to create greater community awareness and encourage girls' leadership. During these awareness rallies, adolescent girls were motivated to set their goals and achieve them by overcoming their insecurities. The young girls broke gender stereotypes and rode a tractor to set an example for the audience. Room to Read interacted with various GEP school teachers, students, and Headmasters, in person and over calls, oriented them on the campaign, and requested them to join the movement by providing support in promoting girls' education, recognizing the leadership qualities appreciated girls for continuing their education. Further, in Telangana, the Room to Read disseminated the campaign materials via WhatsApp to all the GEP scholars, Teachers, and various govt. officials across 33 districts. Discussions were undertaken with the local community by organizing talk shows with parents on the importance of girls' education and how to support children in sending them back to schools once they reopen. The meetings were conducted in both virtual mode and in-person. Room to Read also organized student well-being workshops with Life-skills trained teachers to support children once they return to school. Towards the end of the campaign, the webinar was organized on the International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October '21 - The key speakers present in the 1. Keynote Address - A Global Perspective on Girls' Education: Stephenie Foster, Partner at Smash Strategies, former Senior Advisor and Counselor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues US Department of State 2. Special Address: Lucina Di Meco, Senior Director, Girls' Education Program, Room to Read 3. Panel Discussion: Girls' Education: Driving Leadership in 21st Century a. Sunisha Ahuja, Education Specialist, UNICEF b. Dr. Poonam Agrawal, Professor and former Head, Department of Gender Studies, NCERT, New Delhi c. Dr. Krishna Menon, Professor, School of Human Studies, Dr. BR Ambedkar University, Delhi d. Sonam, Girls' Education Program Scholar, Grade 11th, New Delhi 4. Closing Remarks: Puja Trisal, Program Operations Director, Room to Read India "With #Harkadambetikesang: Leadership ki Tarang 2021, Room to Read has ensured that the Girl leaders come forward and share their stories of leadership and resilience. The Girl leaders have shown how self-learning and blended learning are effective models to ensure education endures in the new normal," said Sourav Banerjee, Country Director, Room to Read India. "It is now more important than ever to strengthen the agency of adolescent girls in the process of developing solutions to rethink education globally during the crisis. Policymakers and parents should together find ways to make it happen through understanding the unique challenges, sending girls to school once schools reopen, and incentivizing girls' education," Stephenie Foster, Partner at Smash Strategies, former Senior Advisor and Counselor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues US Department of State. The campaign, thus, brought out powerful leadership stories of girls and their families and caregivers - stories that demonstrate resilience and leadership, despite all the challenges that have come and may come. Room to Read India was established in 2003 and presently has programs in 9 states- Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Our Literacy Program has been implemented in 15642 government schools, training 25,741 teachers trained in library management and reading activities. Over the same period, our Girls' Education & Gender Equality Program has benefitted over 71,626 girls. Till date, we have benefitted 4.7 million children, distributed ten crores of age-appropriate storybooks, and set up more than 10,000 libraries in government schools. Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on Literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during two time periods that are most critical in a child's schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls' education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized, and sustained by governments. With its, global headquarters in San Francisco, Room to Read has benefited 23 million children across over 30,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Grenada, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia. Website: (https://www.roomtoread.org/countries/india) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/roomtoreadindia). Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/roomtoreadindia). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 13 (ANI/BusinessWire India): SuperQ Technologies India Pvt Ltd., a subsidiary of Qpi Technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cryogenic Engineering Department of IIT-Kharagpur to accelerate their research in the field of Superconductors. Led by Founder and CEO, Dr. Nagendra Nagaraja, SuperQ is a next-generation research and product development company aiming to build and deploy industry-scale superconducting devices technology. Novel discoveries in superconducting-based products will pave the way for growth in a multitude of domains. Some of them range from healthcare, power generation, energy storage and distribution, high-energy physics and quantum computing. In collaboration with Prof. Abhay Singh Gour from IIT-Kharagpur, the SuperQ team envisions accelerating R & D to assure faster commercial viability and deployment of Superconductor based products, with superconducting cables in focus. Founder and CEO, Dr. Nagendra Nagaraja said, "At SuperQ, we believe there is an immense potential and applications of high temperature superconductors in many areas of Quantum circuit, Quantum networks, EVs, smart city grid, electrification and medicine. We are very excited about this partnership with IIT-Kharagpur that will help us achieve our vision and in executing our product roadmap with early customers by FY22. We are thankful to IIT-Kharagpur and Prof Abhay Singh Gour for their kind support and help." While one of SuperQ's products, SSPD, is already being prepared for scaling and production, their next focus along with IIT-KGP will be on superconducting cables/tapes and fault current limiters. Dr. Balaji Sompalle, Material Researcher at SuperQ, said, "We are pleased to formally inaugurate the partnership between IIT-KGP and SuperQ. We have long been aware of stellar research at IIT-KGP in the areas of superconductivity and cryo technologies. We, at SuperQ, are planning to fast track the research into building superconducting devices thereby building an entire ecosystem for innovation, industrial competitiveness and convergence. We are delighted to be working together." Dr. Manjunath G, Material researcher at SuperQ adds, "In India, research in the areas of superconductivity and cryo technologies are limited and slow. Our teamwork will gear up research and development in the field of superconducting materials and their applications at a lower cost for mankind." "We have a role to play in the building the future of next generation superconductor-based technologies, working with IIT-KGP is only going to help us get there sooner", agrees Dr. Purnima Sethi, Fabrication Research Scientist at SuperQ. The Director Quantum Circuits from QpiAI, PinakinPadalia, acknowledged, "The MoU will be mutually beneficial, both for research and for industrial development of superconducting solutions." Under the terms of the MoU, Prof. Abhay Singh Gour is offering a certification program on superconductivity to the SuperQ team. SuperQ is offering employment opportunities to students and joint research proposals for taking laboratory research to industry level. Dr. Amlan Mukherjee, Director Quantum Hardware and Research at QpiAI, mentioned, "Superconductivity is a remarkable quantum phenomenon that promises to unleash a multitude of technological innovations and applications. In India, there has been little industry participation in this area till now. The Memorandum of Understanding with IIT-KGP is a step in the right direction and provides the groundwork for the quantum future." Both SuperQ and IIT-KGP are enthusiastic about how this partnership will bring a paradigm shift in their respective spheres of work and navigate advancements through the superconducting domain. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the crucial COP26, TERI organizes the National Conference on the COP26 Charter of Action with eminent speakers and distinguished guests New Delhi (Delhi) [India], October 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): "Equity and climate justice are touchstones of any global climate response," said the Union Minister of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India Bhupender Yadav, at the National Conference on COP26 Charter of Actions in his Video Address. He further added that "Concerted actions are needed in terms of cooperation between all countries especially with developed countries taking a lead in climate action through mitigation, adaptation and providing support to developing countries in terms of climate finance, capacity building and technology transfer." The National Conference was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), with support from the British High Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd. and Rockefeller Foundation. By acting as a platform for the dissemination of the messages of the COP26 Charter of Actions, a knowledge document prepared by TERI, the conference facilitated dialogues and discussions around raising climate ambition at the national and global level. The Charter of Actions prepared by TERI assimilates questions and challenges concerning key themes for India such as equity, green finance, adaptation & resilience, nature-based solutions, energy, clean transport, and business and industry. Welcoming experts across the domain at the National Conference, Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI said, "Successful climate negotiations in COP26 will further our fight against climate change. We at TERI believe that steering discussions around COP is imperative." Delivering the opening address of the National Conference, Natalie Toms, Counsellor Economics and Prosperity, FCDO, British High Commission highlighted, "It was great to join TERI's National Conference ahead of ahead of COP26, which will be a pivotal moment for the world to come together to accelerate action on climate; our last best chance to keep 1.5 degrees of global warming within reach. The UK and India are working together to tackle climate change under the UK-India Roadmap agreed by our Prime Ministers in May." This was followed by a soft launch of the COP26 Charter of Actions, after which Dr. Shailly Kedia, Associate Director, TERI gave a presentation on the key messages from the COP26 Charter of Actions. Expanding on the "aspects of India's leadership" in her presentation, Dr. Kedia said, "India's normative and entrepreneurial leadership is key to achieve the goals of climate stabilization." Subsequently, the National Conference saw an expert panel discussion on "Beyond Net-Zero: What Short and Long-term Strategies are needed for Realizing Twin Goals of Climate Stabilization and Equity?" which was chaired by Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, Former Climate Negotiator and Distinguished Fellow Emeritus, TERI. Speaking at the panel discussion, he said, "From a purely practical point of view, equity considerations apart, there can be no magical year in which every country, individually, whether it is one of the most affluent ones or a developing country can achieve net-zero in 2050." In his address, Srinivas Gotru, Joint Secretary, United Nations Economic & Social (UNES) Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India said, "The technology support and mobilising finance needs to be highlighted in the international climate negotiations not just in COP26 but also beyond it." The panel discussion saw experts highlight the importance of climate stabilization and equity while viewing them through the lens of both short-term and long-term strategies. At the discussion, Atul Bagai, Country Director - India, UNEP underscored, "The need to widen the dialogue of climate change from a focused group of experts to local, household level with a growing focus on adaptation." "Global COPs and conversations notwithstanding, the locus of actions is firmly embedded in countries and they will go as fast as their national politics around climate change allow them. Where and how fast we move will be a constant tussle," stressed Dr. Navroz K. Dubash, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research in the discussion. Dr. Archna Negi, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University said, "The strategic concerns that will drive what India does in COP26 and they will derive from a lot of action that happens outside the COP track including G20 and BRICS." "Global problem requires global solution, and nobody can address it in isolation. Collaboration around technology and fund transfer from developed countries to developing countries is essential," underlined Manish Chourasia, Managing Director, Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd. "It is in India's interest that a serious effort is made globally to meet the 1.5C goals. In this endeavour, we can either be a bystander or a leader," expanded Chandra Bhushan, Chief Executive Officer, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology. The session was brought to a close by Manjeev Puri, Former Ambassador and Distinguished Fellow, TERI. Summarising the discussions of the conference and delivering the Vote of Thanks, he said, "India needs to act and can become a global leader but at the same time needs to protect its policy space. For a large developing country like India, a level playing field for international response is crucial." The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an independent, multi-dimensional research organization, with capabilities in policy research, technology development, and implementation. It has pioneered conversations and action in the energy, environment, climate change, and sustainability space for over four decades. Headquartered in New Delhi, TERI has regional centres and campuses in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Panaji, and Nainital, supported by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists, engineers, administrative professional and state-of-the-art infrastructure. YouTube Link to the National Conference on COP26 Charter of Actions: (bit.ly/YTCharter). Media Pack for the National Conference with Minister's Address: (bit.ly/CharterPack). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just weeks after Mukesh Ambani announced a $10-billion investment by his over the next three years in clean energy, Gautam Adani committed an outlay of $20 billion over the next decade for the sector. And within weeks of that, Ambanis on October 10 announced two key deals on the same day -- acquisition of Norway-based REC Solar Holdings for $771 million, and purchase of a 40% stake in Shapoorji Pallonji Group company Sterling & Wilson Solar for $370 million. These investments and the increased activity in the green space come against the backdrop of pressures from both investors and governments to lower carbon footprints for fighting climate change and global warming. Lets look at the broad goals of the two groups. Reliance has announced setting up of four giga factories to make solar modules, hydrogen, fuel cells, and a battery grid to store electricity, at a cost of $8.1 billion. It will also invest $2 billion in value chain, partnerships and future technologies. It plans to facilitate solutions for large renewable plants across the world and become net carbon-zero by 2035. Accelerating its transition to green energy, announced two major deals on October 10. Its unit Reliance New Energy Solar has acquired Norway-based REC Solar Holdings for $771 million from Chinese state company China National Bluestar Group. And it also agreed to acquire a 40% stake in Shapoorji Pallonji Group company Sterling & Wilson Solar for $370 million. REC, which has factories in Norway and Singapore, manufactures solar cells and modules along with solar-grade raw polysilicon. Reliance plans to use RECs technology, comprising 600 patents, to manufacture metallic silicon and solar panels at its gigafactory in Gujarats Jamnagar. Sterling and Wilson, on the other hand, is a leading solar engineering and construction contractor. It has installed 11.4 Gw of solar power projects across the world, and also provides operations and maintenance services. In August this year, Reliance had invested $50 million in US energy storage startup Ambri, which makes batteries that can store energy for up to 24 hours in a cost-effective manner. It is in talks with Ambri to set up a large-scale battery manufacturing facility in India. Adani Group, meanwhile, aims to triple the share of renewable power generation capacity in its total portfolio to 63% from the present 21%. It wants to make Adani Ports a net-zero carbon emitter by 2025 and power all data centres with renewable energy by 2030. It has also said that it will spend 75% of its planned capital expenditure until 2025 on green technologies. This month, the groups renewable energy arm Adani completed the $3.5-billion acquisition of SB Energy India, which was an 80:20 joint venture between Japans SoftBank Group and Indias Bharti Group. The transaction marks the largest acquisition in the renewable energy sector in India. Both are looking to capitalise on Prime Minister Narendra Modis target of increasing the countrys renewable energy capacity fourfold to 450 gigawatts by 2030. Adani currently has an installed renewable energy capacity of 20 gigawatt, while Reliance wants to establish 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2030. Adani plans to invest the $20 billion across renewable energy generation, component manufacturing, transmission and distribution businesses. Adani group chairman Gautam Adani said. Quote "This opens up several new pathways for us, including setting us up to be one of the largest green hydrogen producers in the world" unquote. Ambani, whose business generates 60% of its revenue from oil refining and petrochemicals, had said earlier that India could bring down the cost of hydrogen to $1 per kg within a decade. Meanwhile, hinting at a foray in hydrogen production, Adani promised to produce the worlds cheapest green electron. The industrialists have a monumental task ahead to turn their goals into reality. We will have to wait and see how they fare in this transition. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed has secured the crucial no-objection certificate (NoC) from the ministry. He wants to set up the new airline in India on the optimism that more people will travel by air. The carrier expects to start operations next summer. Billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, also known as Warren Buffet of India, has invested Rs 247.50 crore for a 40 per cent stake in an ultra low-cost carrier, According to Forbes, Jhunjhunwala has an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion. Another big name of Dalal Street, Madhav Bhatkuly, founder of investment fund New Horizon, has also has also invested around Rs six crore in the company. Bhatkuly is known for identifying big at early stage. The ace investor is planning to launch the airline with former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube and former president of Indigo, is also collaborating with him for the venture. Dube has roped in many of his former colleagues from Jet Airways and GoAir, where he served as CEO. Senior executives on board are: Promoter Vinay Dube is the CEO. Praveen Iyer has been appointed chief commercial officer. Iyer, a former colleague of Dubey at Jet Airways, is one of the founding members of the team Neelu Khatri who has been appointed as head of corporate affairs, was most recently president of Honeywell Business in India. Anand Srinivasan (chief information officer). Srinivasan used to head revenue management at Bhavin Joshi as senior vice-president of finance and aircraft leasing. The company hired Ankur Goel, former head of IndiGos treasury and investor relations, as chief financial officer. Goel, was a core member of the team that led IndiGos public listing in 2015. With Goels hiring, the airline has now completed hiring of its top management. Sweat equity The key executives have been allotted 63-125 company shares each in form of sweat equity. Till the time the company starts generating revenue, it has decided to compensate employees through sweat equity. Now what is that? Sweat equity is a non-monetary benefit that a company's stakeholders give rather than a monetary contribution. This is offered normally in start-ups where employees receive stock or stock options, becoming part-owners of the firm, in return for accepting salaries, which are lower than industry standards. About the new airline will now have to apply for the Directorate General of for operations permit. It would be flying as many as seventy 180-seater aircraft. The team has built a route network covering 30 airports with a 70 aircraft fleet. In a statement, the airline said that it plans to offer flights across India, with an aim to be the nations most dependable, affordable and greenest airline. It aims to start operations by the summer of 2022 and plans to operate approximately 70 planes in the next four years. The airline intended to place bulk aircraft orders and induct 20 planes within a few months of launch. Industry sources expect it could help it earn valuable sale and lease back income and achieve a certain scale to take on competition, such as Market leadership gives pricing power to control fares, favouring the market leader. Airbus's A320 or Boeing's B737 Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer recently told PTI that the plane maker is in conversation with Akasa for an aircraft procurement deal. Although, multiple media reports had said two months back that the airline is in talks with US aerospace company for buying up to a hundred 737 Max aircraft. Now, Airbus's A320 series of aircraft competes with Boeing's B737 series of planes in the aviation market. flies the most successful single aisle airplane in the world (Airbus's narrow body aircraft) and it is also the most modern, which is the A320 and now the A321. Among all Indian carriers, only and Express operate Boeing's narrow body aircraft. Christian said would be positioning A350 as a far superior alternative to B777. Advantages of the venture can use the start-up advantage to design a low-cost structure and have an edge over its financially weaker rivals, say industry sources. Low cost and vast fleet allows to match competitors on routes and prices and Akasa will be aiming for a quick ramp up of fleet in initial few months, Reduced aircraft lease rents, easy availability of pilots and expected buoyancy in air traffic will also help the airline. According to industry estimates there are 300-400 trained pilots in India without a job. These include former Jet Airways pilots and also those whose contracts were terminated by West Asian airlines after the outbreak of Covid-19. The cost of acquiring aircraft, hiring crew had significantly come down which would allow a startup airline to match the unit costs of IndiGo. Disadvantages of the venture According to Kapil Kaul, South Asia CEO of CAPA, $50 million startup capital plus aircraft sale and lease back gains will give the airline $300-350 million capital which is critical to make the venture work. Domestic airlines are expected to post a combined loss of $4.1 billion in FY22 similar to that in FY21, according to aviation consultancy CAPA. IndiGo posted a net loss of Rs 5,806 crore in FY21 while made a loss of Rs 998 crore in the same fiscal. Its a bold bet by Jhunjhunwala, in a market that has seen some airlines collapse in the face of intense fare wars and high costs. Everybody knows that the aviation sector has suffered massive headwinds due to the global spread of coronavirus, with planes being grounded or running at muted capacities, and airlines burning cash big time. Thats not deterring Jhunjhunwala though. I think some of the incremental players may not recover. Ive got some of the best airline people in the world as my partners. he recently told a TV channel. When asked why he is investing in a new airline, Jhunjhunwala said that for the culture of a company to be low cost, one needs to start fresh. I am very bullish on Indias aviation sector demand, he said. Even before the pandemic, airlines in India were struggling. Kingfisher Airlines Ltd., once the countrys second-largest domestic carrier, ended operations in 2012, and Jet Airways India Ltd., which was recently approved to fly again, collapsed in 2019. The new airline should have enough capital to bear losses for at least for the first three or four years. Will Jhunjhunwala soar to new heights with this venture, or will this be just another grim story in the aviation space? Only the time will tell. The Nobel Prize, instituted in 1901, was initially awarded in five categories Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace. A sixth award, the in Economic Sciences was instituted in 1968 by the Royal Bank of Sweden and first awarded in 1969. The is named after Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, and is awarded annually from a fund that Nobel set aside in his 1895 will for this purpose. This years was unique. We had the first Nobel for climate scientists. The Nobel Prize in Physics this year went to Syukuru Manabe, a Japanese-American meteorologist and climatologist, for his pioneering work on understanding climate change. In 1967, Manabe and Richard Wetherland wrote a research paper describing the impact of carbon dioxide and water vapour on global warming. Manabe, now at Princeton University, shared one half of the prize with Klaus Hasselmann, another climate scientist. Hasselmann, 89, from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany, used Manabes work and created computer models that managed to link weather and climate. Hasselmanns work helped scientists identify whether a certain phenomenon was caused by natural forces or human activity The other half of the Physics Nobel went to Georgio Parisi for his contributions in advancing the understanding of complex systems Complex systems have a very high degree of randomness, like weather and climate phenomena The Physics Nobel for climate scientists is perhaps a greater indication of how fraught our future is by the perils of global warming. Before this, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had won the Peace Nobel in 2007, for its role in creating awareness about the fight against climate change. The Nobel Prize for chemistry this time has been awarded to Benjamin List and David WC MacMillan. The Nobel panel said List and MacMillan in 2000 independently developed a new way of catalysis. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without taking part in the reaction, or without undergoing any changes during the chemical reaction. The Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine has been awarded to American scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian. Theyve understood the mechanism through which our body perceives temperature and pressure. The award-giving body said their discovery could pave the way for new pain-killers. The Nobel Peace Prize this year went to two journalists, from the Philippines and Russia, who have been running independent news organisations in their countries in authoritarian regimes where they face threats of detention and death. Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia received the Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression. This years went to 72-year-old Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, an author of 10 novels and several short stories. And, the Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences went to 3 US-based economists David Card, Joshua D Angrist and Guido W Imbens. David Card is a Canadian labour economist and Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He has won the Nobel for his empirical contributions to labour economics. Card has analysed the labour market effects of minimum wages, immigration and education. His work has challenged conventional wisdom. The results of his studies on restaurants in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania have shown that increasing the minimum wage does not necessarily lead to fewer jobs. "We now know that the incomes of people who were born in a country can benefit from new immigration, while people who immigrated at an earlier time risk being negatively affected. We have also realised that resources in schools are far more important for students future labour market success than was previously thought," the Nobel Committee said. Meanwhile, Joshua D Angrist and Guido W Imbens got the prize for their methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships." Heavy fog enveloped cities across China Thursday morning, causing low visibility in several regions. The fog started to appear in cities like Wuhan in Central China and Urumqi in Northwest China earlier this week, creating traffic jams. On Thursday, Beijing authorities shut down multiple highways to avoid accidents, while the northeastern city of Shenyang issued the highest-level alert as visibility reduced to less than 20 meters in some areas Nov 18, 2021 06:18 PM The Facebook Papers project represents a unique collaboration among 17 American news organizations, including The Associated Press. Journalists from a variety of newsrooms, large and small, worked together to gain access to thousands of pages of internal company documents obtained by Frances CAMEROUN :: Four people arrested with a stolen baby chimp :: CAMEROON Four people have been arrested in Douala for stealing and trafficking in a baby chimp from a sanctuary. They were arrested on September 28, 2021 during a crackdown operation carried out by wildlife officials of the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife, in collaboration with the Police. The operation was technically assisted by the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA), a wildlife law enforcement support body. Two of the alleged wildlife traffickers were apprehended on the spot,with the baby chimp in a storeroom close to a Chinese tiles shop at Nkoulouloun, a popular neighbourhood in Douala. Meanwhile, two others,including the brain behind the trafficking who is also the owner of the storeroom were napped days later in the same storeroom by wildlife officials working in collaboration with the police. Information about the loss of a baby chimp at a chimpanzee sanctuary led to investigations being carried to determine the whereabouts of the animal. This led to the discovery of a baby chimp at the storeroom. The chimp was found with wounds all over his body and,looked malnourished. Preliminary investigations also show how the chimp was aggressively tossed around and, kickedby people who were supposed to be taking care of the animal. Under the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) regulations and laws, for which Cameroon is a signatory, the chimpanzee is classified as an Appendix 1 species. This means that trade in chimpanzees and parts are completely banned and the 1994 wildlife law of the country states that anyone found in possession of a whole of a protected species, shall be considered to have captured the animal and is liable to a prison term of up to 3 years and/or pay a fine of up to 10 million CFA francs. Chimpanzees share 98% of humans DNA, making them very susceptible to human borne diseases such as Ebola a problem that surfaces as the result of human growing population in their space. Human encroachment and human activities such as logging and mining pose huge threat to chimpanzee population as well as illegal trade. Chimps are mostly killed for food than to fuel the illegal wildlife trade. However, because they live in troops, and are very protective of their own, the adults are often killed as the only way to obtain the baby chimps. FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo, Michelle Chester, director of employee health services at Northwell Health, prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital in Valley Stream, N.Y. Hospitals and nursing homes across the country are preparing for worsening staff shortages as state deadlines arrive for employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. New York health care employees had until the end of the day Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, to get at least one dose. (Eduardo Munoz/Pool Photo via AP, File) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. LETTER TO THE EDITOR: For whom are his plans better? Melrose (Atkinson-Sanbornville, NH) - Atkinson-Sanbornville: With deep sadness we announce that Lewis Charles Stevens "Chucky" passed away on Thursday, October 21, in the comfort of his son's home. He fought a hard battle with cancer and heart disease and was blessed to be surrounded by love Carroll, IA (51401) Today Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 21F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 21F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph. Inspired by observations, encounters, and personal experiences, Mielgo attempts to reveal the impossibility of knowing just what love really means, especially in a world where random in-person encounters have been replaced by technologically mediated swipes and likes. Combining keyframe-animated cg characters with digitally painted backgrounds, The Windshield Wiper is a poignant and visually impressive work that captures the challenges, superficialities, and chances of modern love. Cartoon Brew spoke with Mielgo, as well as producer and lead artist Leo Sanchez, via Zoom to discuss the long process of making the film. Cartoon Brew: What are the origins of The Windshield Wiper? Alberto Mielgo: Its a very personal film, so personal that its extremely subjective. Like a voyeur, you get a peek at different lives for a minute. I wanted to show how love from the outside is something we dont know much about. I had a few vignettes and was obsessed with love. The philosopher was the first of my ideas, in fact, and what triggered the main story. I was having lunch in that same cafe in Madrid overhearing conversations, and the structure of the story came fast. I remember putting together a whole storyboard and saying, Lets see if I can direct a film. I started some production with some studios but that didnt work. Then I realized it had to be done in a very independent way. How long did it take to settle on the story and characters? Mielgo: I did it pretty quickly. I did the storyboards over a Christmas holiday. I had some characters (all invented, but based on pieces of myself) and vignettes and personal experiences, and I just started laying them out and doing the editing. Later, I was adding and removing scenes. The base was done fairly quickly. Leo, how did you end up working with Alberto on The Windshield Wiper? Leo Sanchez: Alberto and I have known each other since back in the day in London. I arrived in London in 1999 and was there until early 2006, when I moved to L.A. Alberto has a similar trajectory, just different years. We met there and have remained friends. Alberto and I were hanging out. He showed me the animatic of his new short film and I loved it. I offered to bring my studio, and experience in 3d and character creation and development, to the project. So one thing bled into another. It went from doing service to co-financing, and I was in charge of the front-end 3d pipeline and character creation. Alberto, youre coming from a more commercial background. Do you make these side projects to keep yourself sane or do you see yourself moving more towards personal projects? Mielgo: Ive been working in commercials because I need it, but I would love to gravitate towards more personal work otherwise. Its very important to be pure with my art. It happens more and more that big networks approach me with scripts and ideas that do not resonate with me. Theyre juicy in terms of money, but I refuse to go that way. Im humbled that big networks approach me, but then they say they dont want nudity and sex, which is a part of my work. Its a bit offensive because its like liking a person for how beautiful they are but telling them not to talk. Talk a bit about the design and overall technical approach Mielgo: In terms of design, I come from an art direction and painting background. When Im directing, I like to design the character, design the clothes, the overall look of the film. Thats something that obsesses me. Like The Witness, The Windshield Wiper is very simple in terms of technique. The same way that Master Disney was doing it back with Bambi. We have a background thats like a 3d painting, and then a character walking around within that space. Thats very much what we did here and with The Witness, but instead of having a 2d character, you have a 3d character walking within that space. Sanchez: On the character side, one of the things I knew looking at Albertos work: it has very graphic but tangible lighting and texture. That was my perception. One of the things was to work on the rendering and lighting in 3d, but also to get Albertos graphic level onto the model, the designs, and the animation. We developed custom tools that allowed us to meticulously sculpt the characters on each shot, so we could get the level of graphism required by Albertos style and art direction, preserving a much more crafted feel. Were your roles clearly defined or was there a lot of overlap? Mielgo: Leo and I have separate studios, but in a way, we were going in the same direction. It was more like two creative forces that needed to be aligned. Weve been friends for a long time, so thats overlapping too and Leo has a role as an artist too. There were a lot of moments where we thought this was getting messy. It wasnt a field of flowers. Its not easy to make a film with friends, but the film reflects love. Sanchez: At the end, we put the credits as we best described. It was Albertos vision, and I translated his characters from 2d paintings to 3d. It was a great synergy. Weve never really worked together so it was quite interesting. Not being a commercial project meant there was room for evolution and change. How long were you in production and what was the budget? Mielgo: I would say forever. Its not a financed film. We did it for the sake of art and with no money. We were doing it in the evenings or between jobs. If we got a big gig, wed have to stop. We might leave the film for a year. So from beginning to end and theres Covid, which forced us to stop for a year it was probably six years. Its not firm because we cant quantify it like that. Sanchez: In terms of budget, it would be so unfair to just throw out a number. There is so much love put in this work, uncountable numbers of hours we have put in all these years, and the work of amazing artists around the globe just with a true passion to be part of this. Lets talk about love. Are we meant to find true love, to just love one person? Sometimes it feels like love is a brand thats sold to us to rush out and consume. Mielgo: I am extremely cynical with love. Maybe I can answer best by explaining the title. When it rains while youre driving, the windshield wiper creates a sort of pattern. Each time you clean, the pattern appears again but completely different. Love is like this. Its always going to change. Maybe its called flove the next time or flaff. Maybe we struggle so much with love because we try to define it. No one relationship is the same. Its complex and theres the commercial part of love: dinners, proposals, Valentines, and all this crap. Youve got a segment with two phone-obsessed people in the grocery store completely oblivious to the possible love that is standing right next to them. Do you think technology has made it harder to find love or is it just reflective of what the next generation wants? Mielgo: I used to be more active to meet people in person. Hollywood films are full of accidental encounters, but nowadays because of technology and changing societal codes, its maybe made it more difficult to meet people. Yet dating apps are also connecting you with people you might never see in your life, so I have a very mixed feeling about this. Aside from the time and lack of funding, what was the most challenging part of this long process? Mielgo: I think Leo or anyone who works in 3d will agree: 3d is the most challenging. Its extremely unexpected. There are a lot of things that can happen and go wrong. Why did the character come out without hair or a head? Its very frustrating. The technical side just exhausts everybody because theres one mistake after another. Sanchez: Yeah, you tend to underestimate the technological side, and we were doing this on the side. If we had more financing it would have been a different story. Mielgo: It was nuts. Just like love. Mielgos and Sanchezs answers were edited for clarity and brevity. Below is a gallery of production background paintings and character designs by Mielgo: Photo: Andy Devin It's getting crowded in the Kelowna Rockets goal crease. The Rockets Tuesday night acquired 18-year-old netminder Colby Knight from the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2025 prospects draft. Knight appeared in 18 games for the Oil Kings during the shortened 2020-2021 season. He had a 3-1 record with a 2.25 goals against average and .885 save percentage. He was originally a fifth round pick of the Oil Kings back in 2018. The deal means the Rockets have four goaltenders on the active roster, including Knight, Cole Schwebius, Cole Tisdale and Nicholas Cristiano. Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton will have to make a decision on which two will remain moving forward. He also has to decide on which overage players to keep. The Rockets presently have four 20-year-olds on the roster, one over the limit. Teams must be down to three by the weekend. Photo: The Canadian Press An outreach worker and a nurse lean over an orange mesh fence to speak to a woman on the other side as tents flap in the cold wind at a homeless camp in Central Alberta. Someone is in trouble. He's described as bloated, purple and losing consciousness. Workers with the Open Door Association risk being fined if they enter the camp, which was set up in August on a plot of land owned by the City of Wetaskiwin. One of the workers calls for an ambulance. They debate whether or not to jump the fence. Wetaskiwin's only emergency housing shelter, the Open Door 24/7 Integrated Response Hub, was closed after the city terminated its lease. Its clients then set up camp outside a local food bank. The city shut that down, too, and agreed to move the vulnerable population to land behind a Walmart on the city's outskirts. While some health workers and community members can access the camp, the city singled out Open Door as not being allowed to provide on-site support. In mid-September, Alberta Health Services notified the city that the encampment, where about 60 people sleep each night, did not meet minimum housing standards under the Public Health Act. The health agency directed the city to provide lighting and a plan to deliver firewood. The city said neither was possible, but agencies would be allowed to deliver wood from the landfill. A senior employee with AHS, who asked not to be named, described the site as "worse than a refugee camp." There is no running water. Two portable toilets are close to overflowing. Trash and belongings are scattered. Tents are tethered to the ground with shards of wood and COVID-19 poses a constant threat. As the sun lowers, people huddle together around fire pits. Some burn whatever they can find cardboard boxes and trash. It's cold and expected to get colder. Temperatures dip to below 0 C overnight. "They are trying to kill us," said Kristen Anderson, 41, who lives in one of the tents. "I know that's a blunt word, but there has already been people who have passed away in this camp." Since the camp was erected, Open Door executive director Jessica Hutton said four clients have died. One died by suicide on the nearby train tracks. Two died from untreated medical conditions and another overdosed on drugs. When Open Door opened the Hub in a downtown civic building last November, it provided a range of services including medical care, housing and addictions supports, food and shelter. Its data shows about 74 per cent of clients were Indigenous with complex medical needs. Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam said council voted to close the shelter after receiving complaints from residents and businesses about crime, open alcohol, drug use and assault. He said Open Door failed to mitigate harms to the community. The city now refuses to work with the association and its workers will be ticketed for trespassing if they go in the camp. Hutton did not say if staff have entered the camp, but said none have been ticketed yet. She added the city's concerns are exaggerated. AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson said the health authority is part of a group focused on finding solutions for the homeless in Wetaskiwin, but it does not direct municipal legislation. In a video of a special council meeting about homelessness on Aug. 19, one Wetaskiwin councillor said he wants to know what other communities unhoused individuals are coming from. "I feel we're opening the door to 'hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin let's go,'" said Coun. Joe Branco. Gandam said the city hopes to secure provincial funding to open a warming shelter when winter comes. Justin Marshall, press secretary to Alberta's minister of community and social services, did not say whether funding has been secured but that progress has been made to "advance a solution for shelter services." Photo: Unsplash/Scott Blake Until recently, technological innovation has made only a small impact on construction, says Helen Goodland, the head of research and development at Scius Advisory, a Vancouver boutique consulting firm. But the situation is changing rapidly, and were in the thick of it now, with more big changes on the way, said Goodland. Construction is changing quickly and it is going very high-tech. The whole industry is going through a switch from analog to digital that is transforming every facet of how construction functions. Construction is facing unprecedented challenges, such as labour shortages, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and resource security. The industry cant continue to use traditional methods if it wants to be profitable, Goodland said. These days construction companies of all sizes have to learn how to do more with less. Fortunately, there are technical resources available to help them. Until recently it had been possible to participate in construction with only a minimal investment in technology. But now, as computing horsepower goes up and costs go down, there are an increasing number of digital tools that can be used by construction companies, she said. Digital technology is also having an impact on construction safety. Some examples of its effect include analytics that turn data into predictions to prevent job-site accidents, robots that can move heavy construction equipment, wearable technology that can detect employee fatigue levels and programmable sensors that can detect air quality, ultraviolet radiation, heat levels and ambient temperature. Theres also an increasing use of occupational health and safety management software, such as SiteDocs, said Mike McKenna, executive director of BC Construction Safety Alliance. It and software like it keep all relevant safety documents in one spot, where they can be used anywhere and shared quickly. McKenna said he expects that in the future, equipment will replace humans for dangerous jobs, such as work in confined spaces. And new technologies, such as geofences, will protect workers from dangerous areas of construction sites, he said. Geofencing is a GPS-enabled technology that helps create a virtual boundary or fence around a specified area, such as a construction site or equipment storage area. Once a geofence has been set up, the operator receives automated alerts or push notifications by email, phone or text whenever a worker or device enters or leaves the fenced-off area. Monitoring workers physical location and using location data to keep them from entering or leaving specific areas can help them stay safe. Geofences can be made to face inward or outward; outward-facing fences are meant to keep workers and vehicles inside an area, while the inward-facing variety keep them out. Technological advances and construction safety is one of the subjects that will be covered at the BCCSAs 2021 Virtual BC Construction Health and Safety Conference, which takes place October 14. Keynote speaker Jim Harris, an author and futurist in Toronto, said advances in technology are creating new ways of working that are making construction sites safer. In 2007 a drone cost $100,000, said Harris. But today you can get one for only $100. That reduction in cost by one thousand times is driving the wholesale adoption of drones in construction. Harris said drones are used to inspect electric power lines and, in construction, to inspect balconies and bridges. The result is lower scaffolding costs, faster inspections and, most importantly, safer construction work sites, he said. Digital technology will not only make work sites safer, but will also help the construction industry attract and retain young workers. Todays youth are mobile phone-centric, Harris said. They have a supercomputer in their pocket, and they go nowhere without it. Construction needs to make itself exciting and cool to them by changing the way it works. Because young people have grown up with digital technology, theyre comfortable with it in a way their elders are not. A couple of writers are questioning the validity of vaccine mandates being imposed on workers in certain sectors, primarily in the public sector right now but coming soon to a private business near you. The (Canadian) Charter (of Rights and Freedoms) guarantees some basic human rights, yes. It guarantees access to food, seeking shelter etc. Activities that are deemed essential in other words. It does not however view eating out or attending concerts or most travel as essential, hence the mandate for the passport. All employers in Canada have a responsibility to protect workers in their employ. In the case of a pandemic, the courts will give some latitude to employers who choose to mandate vaccines on that basis. The ones who have implemented this step have already consulted with labor lawyers to give them guidance on how to do it right. Most are waiting to see what happens but will fall in step once they are comfortable with the legality of imposing these measures. This is why you are seeing more and more businesses taking this step. We all have rights and they need to be protected but those rights are not guaranteed in all cases and this is one of those cases. For me, I am sad that it has come to this but I also understand why it is happening. My choice to get vaccinated was borne out of the reality of having a severely immunocompromised child. I did it for her but the spinoff is that I also did it for you. I know that I am not 100% immune to contracting Covid-19 because I am vaccinated but I also know that the likelihood of contracting it is lessened and if I do get it, my symptoms should be greatly reduced. I also know that the potential for me to spread it is reduced and after weighing the odds for and against, my choice was simple. I understand why some may be hesitant and all I can say is that if you choose your information sources wisely, you give yourself a better chance of truly understanding why vaccines are the best decision. There are no guarantees in life but the odds as they stand now are squarely in the corner of getting vaccinated. Peter Haslock, West Kelowna Photo: The Canadian Press Businesses on the U.S. side of the border are welcoming news that Canadians could soon be travelling south after the Biden administration said it would reopen land crossings in November. Betsy Smith, who runs a package receiving service in Ogdensburg, N.Y., says it'll mean everything for the border to reopen after nearly 20 months. She says she's had to cut her staff by more than half because of the sharp drop in demand caused by the closed border, while two sporting goods stores that she runs have also been hit hard. Cody McCormick, who manages two Duty Free Americas shops in Calais, Maine, said sales are at about a quarter of where they are normally and that the whole town is hurting. He said that while the peak tourism season is well past, he still expects to see a big jump in travellers once the border reopens to fully vaccinated Canadians sometime next month. U.S. officials have not yet given a specific date for the reopening of land crossings to Canadians, while fully vaccinated U.S. citizens have been allowed into Canada since August. Photo: Selena Rivera An outer coast transient killer whale (OCT030B) leaps from the water in a high-speed hunt of a Pacific white-sided dolphin in Monterey Bay, Calif. Theres a mysterious killer whale that prowls deeper waters and specializes in hunting big game, research by a B.C. scientist suggests. West Coast residents are familiar with the well-known and iconic chinook salmon-eating endangered southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea, and the more numerous Biggs killer whales, or transient orcas, that ply the shallower waters of B.C.s coast and inlets in search of seals and other sea mammals. But growing evidence indicates theres a population of orcas outer coast killer whales that are a distinct subgroup of transient whales, and which frequent the ocean depths along the continental shelf off the coast of central California and Oregon, said lead author Josh McInnes, a scientist with the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia. Once believed to be part of the larger West Coast population, these outer coast killer whales have a vocal dialect and culture distinct from their transient cousins, and they specialize in hunting big game, such as gray whale calves and massive elephant seals or sea lions as well as other smaller cetaceans in the open sea and around the Monterey Submarine Canyon, McInnes said. Its very, very complex and exciting, and we're just starting to scratch the surface, McInnes said. Identifying and cataloguing 150 members of the outer coast population involved combing through more than 100,000 images and survey data taken over 13 years from Marine Life Studies (MLS), a non-profit organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Victoria-based Transient Killer Whale Research Project, and various whale-watching operations. More individuals are likely to be identified over time as research continues, McInnes said While most of the outer coast orcas seem to stick to the ocean south of the U.S. border, 26 members of the group have been sighted in B.C. waters mixing with coastal transient groups, McInnes said. And the reverse is true, with sightings of B.C.s transient whales mingling with orcas from the coast group in the ocean south of the border. This is really exciting because this kind of shows how complex in nature these animals are, and that we still don't know enough about their socializing and this connection between (them). The outer coastal killer whales may be travelling north to take advantage of the large seal populations in the northern waters, he said. Or the differing whales may be sharing knowledge about other feeding grounds and hunting techniques, he added. It could be that we're also seeing an opportunity for meeting and socializing in spreading the genetics between regions, he said. The outer coast whales specialize in hunting gray whale calves that migrate north with their mothers through California waters in the spring to arctic feeding grounds, and again in the fall when they return south to breed in Mexico. We believe them to be big whale hunters, McInnes said. Its a fascinating event that happens every spring. The orcas congregate in the ocean canyon at Monterey, particularly in April and May, to ambush the gray whales. The hunts, though gruesome, are very dramatic as the orcas take turns chasing the gray whales to exhaust the calves, which cant keep up. The killer whales work to separate the offspring from the adults and repeatedly ram the calves to incapacitate them. If successful, the orcas will often feed on a calf for up to two days. The remains dont go to waste, said McInnes, noting many marine organisms derive nutrients as the carcass sinks to the ocean bottom. When gray whales are absent, the outer coast killer whales predominately prey on California sea lions that can weigh up to 900 pounds and are capable of fighting back, he said. The pods rely on similar techniques when hunting gray whales, but they also throw the sea lions into the air as they try to tire and drown them. The orcas also prey on other smaller cetaceans, such as dolphins, porpoises, and minke whales, as well as seals. More research is needed to sort out whether the outer coast whales are genetically different in some way from the transients farther north, and what other dividing lines beyond geography exist between the two groups. Theres even emerging evidence to suggest theres potentially an additional subtype of orca that inhabits the deep ocean hundreds and hundreds of kilometres offshore, McInnes said. Little is known about these oceanic killer whales, with 48 being identified so far, he said. This group of orcas dont seem to be associated with other transient groups and are most commonly seen up to 300 kilometres offshore. The whales often have a specific type of ocean barnacle on their dorsal fin and tell-tale bite marks and scarring from a small parasitic shark with razor-sharp teeth called the cookie cutter shark, which frequents deep, warm ocean waters far from shore. These killer whales may form a population of their own, or they may be part of a transient orca community, said McInnes, noting its difficult to study killer whales given their speed and the distances they travel. But more research is needed to study all orcas and their possible subgroups, he stressed. Understanding the population dynamics or community structure of a species is so important, McInnes said. Because it helps us set up specific management plans to protect killer whales apex predators that are very beneficial to marine ecosystems. Re: Peter Haslocks letter: All rights not guaranteed (Castanet, Oct 13) Peter Haslock seems keen for everyone to willingly surrender their (Canadian) Charter rights. He claims that governments and corporations have already consulted with labor lawyers. This may be so but such decisions are there to be challenged to verify their legitimacy. They probably got the answers they wanted rather than a reasonable level of guidance. Under the various regimes of totalitarian health tyranny across Canada, such legal challenges have merit. It is not possible to trust such out of control, power-mad politicians and their apparatchiks. Some try to move ahead with mandates before any such thing is even in effect. I ask Peter, and others who have happily surrendered their freedoms, what their personal line in the sand is? Is it when children are forced to accept mandatory vaccination with experimental phase 3 serums? Is it when they are forced to maintain up-to-date (including all boosters) Freedom ID to enter grocery stores, as in Lithuania? To work, as in Italy? Or, as in Israel, where booster No. 3 replaces No. 2 in the Green Pass regime. Then booster No. 4, as planned soon. Perhaps it is upon acceptance of the flu vaccine for six-month old babies, given at birth before being handed to the birthing parent (as recommended by the Centres for Disease control in the U.S.). Or a combo concoction with the latest flu and Covid (vaccine) update to battle the Zeta variant, the one that seems very much like the common cold. Or perhaps it is when you are forced to wear a mask when leaving your house, driving your car or walking in the fresh air, as in Australia. Masks for eternity, as if we are some vile permanently-infected dangerous species? Permanent misery and suffocation, while inhaling grotesque bacteria. All for our health. How many years are you willing to wear a mask for? Two weeks to flatten the curve has become life as a mirror image of a day in Beijing. Canadians seem to adore their oppression and misery, wearing sackcloth and ashes, like a medical hairshirt. Proud demonstrable virtue signals to show compliance and martyrdom. At what point do you value your freedom? Or perhaps, you simply want the government to dictate every aspect of your life for you? It seems we are almost at that point now. This isn't the Canada we knew, and for your offspring, it will be like nothing you ever knew before. Are you OK with being a walking QR code, a test subject for vaccines, an unwilling consumer of various as-yet longitudinally unproven medical procedures? Where's your own personal line in the sand? Ricky Daytona, West Kelowna Dry bulk freight rates continue to soar 13 October 2021 On 7 October 2021, the Baltic Dry Index, a global indicator of bulk freight rates, reached 5670, marking its highest level since September 2008. This compares to just 393 in mid-May 2020 at the height of the pandemic (see Figure 1). The surge in rates can be attributed to a number of causes, primarily the re-opening of economies following COVID-19, which has led to a spike in demand for sea transportation as manufacturing resumes. However, due to the staggered nature of the reopening, vessels have often been in the wrong place to meet demand, causing bottlenecks and port congestion. According to Braemar ACM Shipbroking, almost six per cent of the global dry bulk fleet is currently waiting offshore in China due to the reintroduction of lockdown measures in the country. Soaring fuel costs are also to blame with bunker fuel prices the highest they have been since July 2014, forcing shipowners to raise freight rates. With many cement producers relying on marine transportation, not only for their supplies of input materials and fuel but also exports, the surging freight rates have had a notable impact on both cement prices and trade. One study by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers saw the average cost of imported clinker come in at US$100/t in September 2021, compared to US$47/t for locally-produced clinker. Ocean freight from South Africa to Karachi has also risen from US$11/t in September 2020 to US$30/t in the same month a year later. Elsewhere, Bangladesh saw freight rates to transport clinker from Indonesia, Vietnam and the Middle East in May 2021 increase by up to 30 per cent over just a few months. Many countries are reporting declining cement exports, including Pakistan, where they fell 49.5 per cent YoY in September 2021, and Saudi Arabia where they tumbled almost 45 per cent YoY in July 2021. Faced with an ongoing squeeze on margins, not only due to rising freight rates but also escalating energy costs, producers have been left with little choice but to raise prices. Iran saw its cement prices rise five-fold in July this year while prices in Turkey advanced by around 56 per cent in the same month. In September, the price of a 50kg bag of cement increased from US$10.50 to US$13 in Zimbabwe, while India saw its cement prices advance by around INR50 (US$0.66)/50kg bag in the opening week of October. Leading players have already responded, including Cemex which will be implementing two price hikes in 2021 as surging input costs continue to put pressure on margins. With the economies around the world currently competing for a finite supply of coal and China willing to pay any price due to its low stockpiles, dry bulk freight rates are not expected to fall anytime soon. Published under This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Chatham, VA (24531) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 35F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 35F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Students and employees from Southern Adventist Universitys automotive program will be providing free vehicle inspections for the community on Sunday, Oct. 24 from 1-4 p.m. in the Samaritan Center parking lot, 9231 Lee Hwy. in Ooltewah. They will check fluids, belts, hoses and other maintenance items on the vehicles. While the team will not be doing any repairs on site, following each inspection they will explain to the owner anything that should be fixed.Southerns automotive program is ranked fourth in the nation by College Choice.This hands-on program was introduced at Southern nearly 30 years ago, and it has grown to include bachelors and associate degrees, as well as a one-year certificate.For more information, contact Southerns Applied Technology team, housed in the School of Business, at 423-236-2863 or technology@southern.edu. The wait is nearly over. Fans will be able to get a sneak peek of the Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball program next Thursday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET as the team will host a "Blue & Gold" scrimmage inside McKenzie Arena.The inter-squad scrimmage allows fans to catch a glimpse of the roster and start building excitement heading into the highly-anticipated 2021-22 season. The format will be treated to nearly reflect a "normal" game and will provide flashes for what's to come.As head coach Lamont Paris stated earlier in the offseason, this is a great group of guys who ask and deserve support from Chattanoogans this season."I want to lay out a challenge to our community to come out and support this team," coach proclaimed."We have incredible young men ... they're great kids and they're really, really good.""This is the year to do it [support]. If you're in the market for watching high-level basketball with great kids that are going to win, come out and support your Mocs basketball team."2021-22 season tickets are available for purchase starting at under $100 for lower level seating! Get yours today by clicking HERE or by calling the McKenzie Arena box office at (423) 266-MOCS. Box office hours inside McKenzie Arena run Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.EVENT DETAILS- Doors to the event open at 6:00 p.m. and admission is FREE.- The first 100 students will receive FREE food, courtesy of Jack's.- The women's basketball program will be participating in on-court promotions during various media timeouts.- Format will consist of two 16-minute halves with media timeouts.**subject to change. I dont plan to make a habit of paying too much attention to the kind of baloney, drivel, or nonsense that one of your regular contributors periodically sends you; today I make an exception. A recent piece about Blue Cross-Blue Shield and how they have supposedly force fed Critical Race Theory to their 6,700 employees is a good example of reactionary misinformation and misdirection that has come to be a regular staple of our daily lives. For starters the force fed comment is not attributed to anyone in the entire diatribe. The opinion writer is entirely entitled to his opinion but not to his own facts. He quotes a number of sources as saying the theory is grossly inappropriate. He fails to cite a definition of what they are so opposed to. Of course, no attribution of the sources It seems BCBST wants its employees to be sensitive to the needs of its customers. Employees have to attend sessions about diversity and equity. What a great idea. Then the writer names some of those BCBST leaders who he hopes readers will complain to about this supposed problem. After about eight paragraphs, the writer gives an online website credit for reporting this story first. He runs a full-length story from something called the Tennessee Star.com. Tennessee Star has been reported to be in the words of the respected website Politicoa Baby Breitbart. This is not a compliment. Snopes - a well-known and trusted fact checking website - reports that the Tennessee Star is paid for and or supported by outside or undisclosed interests. Snopes reports that Steve Gill, the political editor, owns a media consulting firm that a political candidate and a Political Action committee (PAC) paid before receiving positive coverage in the Tennessee Star. Several of their writers have worked for PACS without disclosing that fact. Whatever it is, the Tennessee Star is not a local newspaper producing transparent journalism. Its called journalism for sale. One of its so-called journalists worked for a political PAC to help elect Bill Lee governor in 2018 There is so much more wrong with the opinion writers recounting of the supposedly terrible things BCBST is foisting on its employees, but thats enough. BCBST should be congratulated for all its efforts to be responsive to the broad audience it serves. I for one say, good job. Before anyone asks, I dont work on BCBST and I dont have BCBST insurance. Im not happy about the huge salaries of the leadership team, but thats for another day. If Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training is the worst thing BCBST is doing, there is nothing here but very good news Fred Gault * * * It isnt often you find a well written, thoughtful opinion piece in the Chattanoogan. Ive given up the notion that my words would change anyone elses opinion, however, I do want to thank you. I agree with every word you wrote. Cecilia Lewis Southern Champion Tray broke ground on a $60 million expansion in the Centre South Riverport Industrial Park Wednesday. The new facility will add more than 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its current Chattanooga operations, converting paperboard into packaging products utilizing the latest manufacturing technology. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2023, and is being built by Hoar Construction. This first phase of construction is one of four phases planned for the site. In addition to this building, SCT will maintain three other facilities in Chattanooga with a combined footprint over 1 million square feet. As part of the expansion, SCT will create more than 150 new jobs in Hamilton County over the next seven years with an emphasis on training and development as well as a strong desire to attract new team members from the communities closest to the Centre South site. The modern, air-conditioned facility will provide numerous opportunities for all types of manufacturing positions, ranging from entry level, to various types of skilled machine operator roles. According to Chief Operations Officer Brian Hunt, Todays ground breaking follows the culmination of work from an amazing team at Southern Champion Tray. While our growing company had maximized all operations in three states, a new large-scale site was needed. County Mayor Coppinger and his team were instrumental in providing support and guidance in finding a location to support our continued growth in Hamilton County. Similarly, helping us extend our roots deeper in Chattanooga was a goal of Steve Hiatt of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce while the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority have provided substantial assistance to make this a reality. For their extensive work, we are appreciative and grateful. President and CEO John Zeiser added, SCT has been blessed to grow and thrive in this community for almost 95 years. We look forward to continuing that growth in a manner that is good for our team members and good for our community. SCT manufactures and distributes paperboard packaging products including food trays, window boxes, cupcake inserts and others. More recently, the company has created a new tamper-evident packaging system for use by restaurants and food delivery services. The Guarantab, dubbed Fort Knox in a box, securely locks the container so that customers will know their food has not been disturbed during the delivery process. Headquartered in Chattanooga, SCT is a third generation, family-owned company. SCT employs more than 800 people and produces over 500 stock products for customers in the foodservice and baking industries. In addition, the company provides custom packaging solutions for customers across a number of industries. Those interested in getting a Pfizer vaccine booster shot will no longer need to schedule an appointment beforehand. Interim health department administrator Sabrina Novak told the County Commissioners that rule was no longer in place as of Monday.She said around 500 booster shots are being administered per day, and that the number of vaccinations administered are low numbers. She said that the health department is only giving out Pfizer booster shots, although Moderna boosters should be on the way in the future.The FDA is meeting later this week, and the CDC is meeting next week about their recommendations and what their guidance would be, Ms.Novak said. Well also get further guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health. We are ready to roll out the Moderna boosters as soon as they come out with their recommendations.She said that in order to combat misinformation about the vaccine and COVID-19, the health department is utilizing both its communications team and an outreach manager to encourage Q&A sessions.The main thing is that you need to ensure that you got the second shot of your primary series at least six months before you come back for your booster, Ms. Novak said. If you do have your vaccination card, its important for you to bring it. On our website, we have instructions on how to replace the information on your vaccination card if you have lost it. A man on Citico Avenue told police his vehicle was stolen from around the area after he left the vehicle to go get gas. He said he had just recently purchased the vehicle and it ran out of gas on the way to the gas station. He said he accidently left the keys in the car when he went to get gas. When he returned, the vehicle was gone. Prior to the man calling, police responded to ... (click for more) This fall, there are many ways to take advantage of the ability to attend in-person events again. These events in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains are perfect opportunities to celebrate the fall season and Halloween. Maple Lane Maze The corn maze and pumpkin patch returns for its 23rd year on weekends in October, with a haunted maze nightly from Oct. 22-31. At the farm of Albert and Shirley Schmidt in Greenback, Tn., there will be fun for the whole family. https://tnmaplelanefarms.com/ First Baptist Alcoa Fall Festival First Baptist Alcoa is hosting their very first Fall Festival. The event on Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. will have food trucks, games, inflatables, a trunk-or-treat and more. https://stayhappening.com/e/fba-fall-festival-E2ISTW0AAAU Hyde Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze In Greenback, Tn., Hyde Farms is opening their pumpkin patch and corn maze again from Oct. 1-30. It will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. After picking pumpkins and getting lost in the maze, children can play around in a corn pit and a play area. https://www.hydefarms.net/ A.M.S. Haunted Attractions A.M.S is hosting a haunted house for those who want to be spooked. On Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 3 Nov. 6, the haunted house will be open from 7:30-10:30 p.m. On Sundays, it closes at 9 p.m. On Nov. 5 and 6 from 8-10:30 p.m., they are having a Lights Out event. They are also hosting a Trunk-R-Treat on Halloween at 12 p.m. The haunted house will be at 3661 E Lamar Alexander Parkway in Maryville. https://www.tennesseehauntedhouses.com/halloween/ams-haunted-attractions-tn.html Encore: 80s Halloween Blowout Attendees can relive the 80s at The Shed in Maryville and watch Skankbanger perform classics from the period. On Oct. 30, everyone will dress up in their best 80s attire and can participate in costume contests with cash prizes. The gates open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/encore-80s-halloween-blowout-feat-skankbanger-tickets-127993729691 Information on visiting Blount County and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be found at smokymountains.org. Peace Communications announces its sponsorship of the local Chattanooga Weatherphone service. The trusted service has been a part of the Chattanooga community since the 1960s and still receives a daily average of 4,000 to 5,000 calls, according to Randall Hinton, spokesman for The Weatherphone Company. Call counts show that time and temperature services are as popular as ever, mainly due to the convenience factor, said Mr. Hinton. From Nome, Alaska to Miami, Florida more people call Weatherphone sites daily than watch The Weather Channel on television. Officials said, "The Weatherphone number has been Chattanoogas go-to source for time, temperature and the local weather forecast for nearly six decades, and years after it came into play, its still holding strong. Many people recall teaching their children to use a telephone with the number. "In addition to meeting a basic community need, the service has been especially useful to citizens with special needs, such as Alzheimers disease and blindness. Those who suffer from Alzheimers disease often use the number as a reminder of the day and date, and for the blind, a simple day-part reference (morning, afternoon, evening) can be a big help." The number, 423-265-1411, will remain the same going forward, and Peace will use its own Hosted PBX Infrastructure to add additional overflow numbers to handle the fluctuating call volume. The service was on the verge of going away forever if the Weatherphone Company didnt find a new sponsor, said Jim Peace, founder, and CEO of Peace Communications. We are happy to step in and support this valuable community service for Chattanooga and surrounding Hamilton County." Lee University will host a faculty recital with K. Alan Shikoh, guitar, on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall, located in Lees Humanities Center. Mr. Shikoh, described as offering a beautiful, nuanced arrangement that showcased incredible poise and technique by Guitarist Magazine, will perform a wide variety of music, including pieces such as P.S. I Love You by Gordon Jenkins and Johnny Mercer, Haunted Heart by Howard Deitz and Arthur Schwartz, Waltse for Dave by Chick Corea, My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen Foster, Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn, and What a Wonderful World by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, among others. Also included are two of his own compositions, Adobe and Below and Doxology. Every piece in the recital was arranged, composed, or transcribed by Mr. Shikoh. Mastery of his instrument is glaringly evident, said Dutch Progressive Rock Page. Texture and mood are added seemingly effortlessly, and there is a wonderful fluidity to his playing. Beginning his musical journey at the age of 12, Mr. Shikoh was trained in classical guitar at The McCallie School in Chattanooga and received his Bachelor of Music in guitar performance from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and his Master of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. He has performed on the NPR radio show From the Top, was chosen as a finalist for Acoustic Guitarist of the Year by MusicRadar and Guitarist Magazine, and has won multiple awards for his compositions, including first place in the Roland Dyens International Arranging Competition and second place in the Portugal International Guitar Composition Competition. Mr. Shikoh has served as a session player for a wide range of musical projects. He has also taught as an adjunct faculty at Lee University, Southern Adventist University, and Covenant College. The recital is free and open to the public. The recital will also be available via livestream at https://livestream.com/leeu. For more information on the event or the Lee University School of Music, email music@leeuniversity.edu or call 614-8240. It looks like The Bachelorette Season 18 with Michelle Young will have more than one winner sort of. Recently, key players from the franchise revealed the next Bachelor star after Matt James will be from Michelles journey. Now, host Jesse Palmer mightve just confirmed the new Bachelor role on Instagram. So heres what Palmer teased and what Bachelorette spoilers suggest. [Spoiler alert: This article contains potential spoilers from The Bachelorette Season 18 with Michelle Young and The Bachelor Season 26 in 2022.] Jesse Palmer | Mike Pont/WireImage Clayton Echard is reportedly the new star of The Bachelor Season 26 in 2022 In September 2021, Variety reported that Clayton Echard will be the next star of The Bachelor Season 26 in 2022. The new lead will be a contestant on Michelles season of The Bachelorette. Of course, The Bachelorette Season 18 hasnt even begun yet. The new cycle starts Oct. 19. But even though fans havent met Clayton yet, producers allegedly fell in love with Michelles suitor. Bachelor Nation star Clayton Echard | ABC/Craig Sjodin RELATED: The Bachelorette Promo Trailer Drops New Clues About Michelle Young and Her Cast New Bachelor host Jesse Palmer teases Clayton Echard as the next lead on Instagram ABC has yet to confirm Clayton as the new bachelor, but it seems Palmer already spoiled the big news. On Oct. 12, the host posted a photo with Clayton on Instagram. Palmer also used The Bachelor hashtag, seemingly confirming the upcoming lead. Meet my younger, bigger, better looking brother from another mother, @claytonechard #TheBachelor, Palmer captioned the Instagram photo alongside Clayton. RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Why Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs Really Broke Up and How They Got Back Together Then, of course, many fans were quick to point out that ABC hasnt made an official announcement yet. Wait. Has it even officially been announced that Clayton is the bachelor? LOL, a fan wrote on Instagram. The Bachelorette spoilers tease when Clayton Echard leaves and who Michelle Young ends up with Bachelor Nation stars Michelle Young and Clayton Echard | ABC/Craig Sjodin RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Serena Pitt and Joe Amabile Tease Future Kids, Marriage, and Moving In Together While Bachelor Nation viewers have to wait and see what happens to Clayton, it seems likely he wont win Michelles season of The Bachelorette. So how far does the new bachelor get on the show? Recently, franchise blogger Reality Steve shared a few Bachelorette spoilers predicting Clayton will leave sometime after the final 12. Based on video I have from Minnesota, I know Clayton at least made Top 12 since hes in a group date of 10 that I have when they first got to Minnesota, Reality Steve wrote. Meanwhile, new Bachelorette spoilers hint that Clayton doesnt make it to the top two. According to Reality Steve, Michelle will pick between Nayte Olukoya and Brandon Jones. Then, Nayte allegedly wins Michelles heart at the end of season 18. It also seems unlikely that well watch a potential will they get back together storyline between Michelle and Clayton on The Bachelor. The spoilers suggest that Nayte and Michelle are still together and engaged. So whatever happens next, it appears we have two potential happy endings to look forward to. Stay tuned. The Bachelorette Season 18 with Michelle Young starts Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Dolly Parton has a husband, but shes always been happy to share details about her crushes. While she and Carl Thomas Dean are happily together now, she recently reflected on her first kiss. Her first crush and first kiss were not the same person, and she explained how she felt about the moment. Dolly Parton | Tabatha Fireman/Redferns via Getty Images Dolly Parton spent her childhood in Tennessee Dolly Parton grew up in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a town nestled in the Smoky Mountains. She was one of 12 children born into a two-bedroom mountain home. According to Parton, she knew very early that she wanted to be a musician. When she was young, shed use a tobacco stick and a tin can as a microphone and sing to whoever was around, often just her siblings and the familys animals. In school, she announced her dream to classmates. I said, Im going to Nashville to be a star, Parton told USA Today. There was a lot of laughter, and it kind of embarrassed me, because to me, that was what I was going to do. It was only years later that I realized that that was just a big dream for a little kid. Dolly Parton | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The country icon recalled her first kiss Long before she realized her childhood dream, Parton attended a party at a classmates house. She explained that this is where she had her first kiss. My first kiss? Lord have mercy, Parton told W Magazine. I think my first real kiss was still in grade school. Some girlfriend had a party at her house. In a classic adolescent moment, Parton stumbled into her first kiss via an age-old party game. We played spin the bottle, she said. I got my first kiss from a boy there, a different boy than my first crush. Despite missing out on the chance to have her first kiss with her crush, Parton says shes happy about one thing. I was happy that it landed on one of the cute boys, she said. I had a lot of boys in my life. I loved boys, and I still do. Dolly Partons husband stays out of the spotlight, but theyve been together for decades Years after her first spin-the-bottle kiss, Parton married Dean. She met him outside of a laundromat on her first day in Nashville. She told The New York Times that on her first chance to go anywhere with Dean, he drove me straight to his folks house and introduced me to his mother and daddy. Cause he said he knew right the minute he saw me that thats the one he wanted. Even though people warned her that marriage could damage her career, she married Dean in a small, private ceremony two years later. Since then, theyve been happily together, though the public doesnt often see Dean. While Parton basks in the limelight, her husband shirks it. Despite these differences, Parton says they get along well. He loves to hear about the things I do. I love to hear about the things he does, she told Parade. So we enjoy each others company. We get along good. Hes got a great sense of humor. Weve just been best buddies and best friends and, evidently, its working! RELATED: Dolly Parton Ate This Ferocious Food Growing Up Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacre have been married since 1994. They are among the rare Hollywood couples who have been in a relationship for decades. How did the celebrities fall in love and get married? Whats the secret to their long marriage? Heres a look at how Connick met his wife. Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacre Jill Goodacre and Harry Connick Jr. | Matt Winkelmeyer/MG18/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Connick says his wife, a former Victorias Secret model, is more than his spouse. According to him, he and his other half enjoy a close friendship. I married my best friend, and I married a woman who I look up to infinitely, he tells US Weekly. He adds that he and his wife get along so well because they have similar values. We have the same values so its easy for us to try and impart those on our children, he says. How Harry Connick Jr. met Jill Goodacre During an interview with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on Live with Regis and Kelly, Connick shared how he met his wife. He says he was swimming in a hotel pool when he noticed Goodacre walking past him. They happened to be staying at the same hotel. Connick joked he was so awestruck that he almost drowned when he first saw her. He got out of the pool and asked Goodacre to have lunch with him. At first, she declined, but she later accepted after he asked again. The secret to Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacres marriage Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacre in 2005 | Theo Wargo/WireImage How have Connick and Goodacre managed to remain together for so long? Connick says the secret to maintaining a strong marriage is to remain interested in each other. He continues to stay engaged in the relationship. For me, its all about my maintaining interest in her, Connick tells Fox News. I mean, shes fascinating to me, shes still mysterious to me, Im still very interested in her and everything that sort of makes her tick, and I think its mutual, he says. Connick adds that he and Goodacre take each day as it comes. He says he is thankful for the time they have together. According to him, things are simple. He doesnt feel like he has to try hard to keep the fire alive in their marriage. Things naturally fall into place for the duo. We never really think of it in terms of keeping the spark going, says Connick. I love being around her, I respect her infinitely, and I admire her so much. Shes a hero of mine. We just take it day to day, and you know, count our blessings, really. Furthermore, Connick says love and respect are key ingredients in their recipe for a successful marriage. The couple tries to teach their three children (Georgia, Sarah, and Charlotte) how to have loving and respectful relationships. Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter. Justin Duggar left Arkansas and hasnt looked back. The 18-year-old hasnt said much about his famous family since his February 2021 wedding, and it doesnt look like hell be commenting anytime soon. In fact, Duggar family followers noticed that the newlywed has yet to comment on Josh Duggars arrest or his upcoming trial, despite being somewhat active on social media. Justin Duggar and his wife, Claire Spivey, just bought their first home While the Duggar family appears to be in a state of suspended animation as they await Josh Duggars trial, there is one family member who seems to be moving forward without much concern about the eldest Duggar son. Justin, 18, has been making big moves since moving to Texas in February 2021, and his brothers arrest doesnt seem to be affecting him at all. See the Fixer-Upper House That Newlyweds Justin & Claire Duggar Just Bought https://t.co/QlpmuQmsIb CafeMom (@cafemom) October 13, 2021 According to The Daily Mail, Justin and Claire, 20, purchased a home in Fort Worth, Texas, in September 2021. The house appears to require a fair bit of work, and there is no telling whether Justin and Claire plan to call the property home. Justin, like several members of his family and social circle, is in construction. Before his wedding, Justin renovated a house in Arkansas that he later flipped. He may be doing the same with this Texas property. The 18-year-olds new home purchase has some Duggar family critics looking in his direction. They note that Justin seems to be entirely unbothered by what is going on in Arkansas. After his February 2021 wedding, hes remained tight-lipped about his family. Justin has never spoken openly about his brothers arrest or upcoming trial. He also did not appear to be present at the bond hearing. Several other Duggars are believed to have logged into the digital hearing in May 2021. Justin has, however, been somewhat active on Instagram since the April 2021 arrest. In May, he shared photos of his wedding party. While several of his brothers served as groomsmen, Josh was not one of them. In July, he posted for James Duggars birthday. Claire has also remained active on the social media platform, sharing photos of life in Texas. She has not commented on Joshs situation, either. He is one of a few married Duggars who hasnt issued a statement Justins hesitance to speak publicly about Josh Duggars arrest is noticeable because he is one of only a few married Duggars who hasnt mentioned the situation at some point. At the very least, he is one of the only Duggars active on social media who hasnt brought it up. The Duggar family visits Extra | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra In the wake of the April 2021 arrest, Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo, and Joy-Anna Forsyth issued statements shortly after the news broke. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also issued a statement, acting as spokesman for the entire Duggar family. Their statement noted that they love both Josh and his wife, Anna Duggar. They went on to thank their fans for their continued prayers. Josh Duggars mug shot | Washington County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images The married men of the family were noticeably quieter. Josiah Duggar did not issue a public statement, but that was to be expected. Josiah and his wife, Lauren Swanson, have largely stepped out of the public eye. Their Instagram account has gone dormant. John David Duggar and his wife Abbie Burnett have been sharing pictures on Instagram since Josh Duggars arrest, but neither has spoken directly about the charges. The same is true for Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Caldwell. Interestingly, John David was outspoken about Joshs 2015 cheating scandal. My Big Fat Fabulous Life is a TLC reality show that follows the life of Whitney Thore, a woman who is on a mission to promote body positivity and learning to love yourself no matter what skin you are in. The show doesnt just feature Whitney Thore, but also her parents, Glenn Thore and Barbara Thore, her brother Hunter Thore, and a handful of her closest friends. With season 8 and current episodes, the show has addressed Whitney Thores most recent breakup, the dynamics within her friendships, and her concern with her parents. What fans are curious to know is why Hunter Thore is appearing on many more recent episodes than he used to. Hunter Thore has appeared in many recent episodes of the show Hunter Thore has appeared in at least one episode each season of My Big Fat Fabulous Life, however, it is usually a brief appearance while visiting his parents. What fans have noticed over seasons 8 and 9 is that Hunter Thore is being featured in nearly every episode, either at home with his parents or helping Whitney Thore out, like when he sat in on her appointment with a doctor for a weight loss surgery consultation. There is a simple explanation for his more frequent appearances on the show. At the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Thore moved back to Greensboro, North Carolina to be with his parents. This was at a time when Whitney Thore was still living in Charlotte, more than an hour away from her parents, and didnt want to travel and potentially expose herself or her parents to the virus. Now that everyone is vaccinated, Whitney Thore brought up the fact in a recent episode of the show that it was time for Hunter Thore to move back to New York and live his own life again, causing Whitney Thore to continue the discussion for moving her parents from their upstairs master bedroom to the first level of their home. What does Hunter Thore do for a living? Hunter Thore and Whitney Thore | Cindy Ord/Getty Images for TLC Hunter Thore isnt just famous for being Whitney Thores brother and appearing on My Big Fat Fabulous Life. Although he appears in at least a couple of episodes of My Big Fat Fabulous Life each season, he is not a full-time reality star like his sister. In his professional life, Hunter Thore is an actor and musician based in New York City. He plays as a guitarist with the New York-based band Plague of Jackals and has appeared in a handful of movie shorts and television series. He played Drake in Skeleton Crew and Jesse in Demon Doctor. Thore also has a few upcoming projects set to be released in the near future. Whitney and Hunter disagree about moving their parents downstairs The one issue that fans have noticed most taking place throughout the Thore family is the question of whether Hunter Thore and Whitney Thores parents should move to the master bedroom downstairs. Whitney Thore is in favor of the move because both of her parents have had falls down the stairs, and Whitney Thores mother is still dealing with health issues stemming from her stroke and her most recent fall while walking to attend her COVID vaccination appointment. Whitney Thore is encouraging the move because of Hunter Thores plans to go back to New York and continue with his career. Hunter Thore, however, is on the other side of the argument. He believes that his parents will know when the right time is to make the move to living full-time on the first floor of their home. He does not want to pressure his parents into doing something they are not quite ready for. Their parents are still adamant that they do not need to move to the downstairs bedroom quite yet. RELATED: My Big Fat Fabulous Life: What Do Whitney Way Thores Tattoos Mean? Science fiction lovers can rejoice. The newest adaptation of the novel, Dune, written by Frank Herbert, will premiere in theaters on October 22, 2021. It will also be available on HBO Max for 30 days. Canadian director Denis Villeneuves adaptation of this classic novel is sure to please viewers with the exotic and extreme scenery. Villeneuve insisted the film be shot on-location filming locations and receive minimal special effects. So where did he go to ensure his film was true to the book? The plot of Dune is considered a triumph of the imagination set on a desert planet Dune is a hero story about a brilliant young man, Paul Atreides, who has a great destiny he cant fully comprehend, as IMDb details. He must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe in order to save his family and his people. There, on the planet Arrakis, one can find the most precious resource in the universe: a specific spice. This spices drug-like properties can extend human life and improve human thought. Everyone wants this resource and will fight for it. Atreides must do what is necessary to protect this most precious resource. Strong Arabic themes and desert locations inspired the world of Dune. Islamic and Arabic culture influenced Herbert when writing his novel. A strong theme in the book involves the struggle over the spice, a resource needed for intergalactic space travel and higher thinking. One could argue about similarities between this spice and oil in the Middle East. In both instances, there are strong power struggles to control the valuable resources. The distinct themes of the desert struggle over a product made the filming location crucial for the authenticity of the film. Where was Dune filmed? Dune director Denis Villeneuve at the Toronto International Film Festival | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images When Villeneuve agreed to film the latest adaptation of Dune he sought to keep it as real as possible. Gizmodo reports that he said, I strongly believe that as human beings, what is around us has an impact on inspiration. He explained that he only agreed to the movie on the condition that he shot in the real desert. My argument was, They didnt shoot Jaws in a swimming pool.' Villeneuve wanted the world of Dune to feel real for both the actors and the audience. While CGI (computer-generated imagery) is effective in most science fiction films, it does not provide the authenticity for the world he sought to create. To fix this problem, Villeneuve filmed across Europe and the Middle East, shooting scenes on location instead of in front of a green screen. The Focus reports that locations for Dune included the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Norway. Specifically, production shot the ocean world of Caladan in Stadlandet, Norway. Jordan and Abu Dhabi served as most of Arrakiss desert world. It is clear that Villeneuve worked hard to create an immersive, beautiful, and believable world. Dune costumes give a nod to the 1984 adaptation Fans of Dune will be thrilled to see a nod to the 1984 movie adaptation in the 2021 version thanks to costume choices. For example, Dune aficionados will notice: The bulky green armor of the Harkonnen soldiers Workers on Arrakis wear black uniforms complete with high collars and kepi caps. And the full pressure suits of the Sardaukar The three main worlds of the story dictated the costumes. Variety reports that over 300 specialty costumes were created for Dune in order to keep the story as immersive and stunning as possible. Each costume fits the character who wears it as well as the characters location, paying special consideration to the climate and culture. Filming Dune was not an easy task for Villeneuve, but with the help of stunning filming locations, a top-notch cast, and an army of costume designers, the film is sure to impress audiences. RELATED: Dune: How Many Marvel Stars Appear in Denis Villeneuves Science-Fiction Movie? Innovations in high-performance plastics For over 50 years, ElringKlinger Engineered Plastics has been one of the technology leaders for seals, engineering design elements, assemblies and modules. For our customers around the world, we develop and produce individual, market-driven solutions from high-performance plastics such as Polytetraflon- PTFE, the thermoplastic materials Moldflon-PTFE, -PFA, -FEP, -ETFE, -PVDF, -PEEK, -PPS, -PEI, and -composites. We define ourselves as a technology partner of challenging industries. Our solutions meet the toughest demands to be found in the field with economy, sustainability and reliability guaranteed. Many years of application and processing know-how in virtually all industrial sectors and an extensive array of state-of-the-art machines enable us to produce both miniature and large-diameter components. Whether you require single items or large-volume production, including in clean room conditions if necessary we are the right partner for your challenge! At ElringKlinger, innovation always starts with the material. Due to in-house materials development and compounding, Polytetraflon-PTFE materials and Moldflon-thermoplastic materials can be customized. Optimal performance for our customers is achieved not only by means of component optimizations using the Finite Elements Method (FEA) but also by selecting suitable materials. 700 employees at 5 locations on 3 continents with a strong commitment to quality and the environment ensure that our customers are served according to the standards they expect of us. Relevant certifications according to IATF 16949:2016, EN ISO 14001, GMP and EN ISO 13485 are central elements of our corporate policy. Memorial service for Kevin Hair, 65, of Chickasha, OK will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha. Floyd Kevin Hair was a well loved father, son and brother. He was such a good brother-in-law that he just had to be called "brother." Christian evangelism entails a conversation with people of different beliefs. But those conversations are also often between people of different cultures. Thats where Effective Intercultural Evangelism, a new book from missiologists W. Jay Moon and W. Bud Simon, steps into the discussion. They want to help Christians share the good news of Jesus in a world of diverse cultural perspectives. Readers might assume such a resource would be aimed at those in cross-cultural missionary contexts. But the authors want us to realize that when we talk with the average non-Christian in our communities, they dont just believe differently than we do. They often think, process, feel, appreciate, and evaluate differently than we do. They come to the conversation with different worldviews. Consider, for example, the category of human desires. The authors encourage believers to ask their friends, If you could receive any one of the following four things, which would it be? Deliverance, restoration, forgiveness, or belonging? Its a helpful question. Is deliverance more appealing to you? What about restoration? Do you ultimately seek forgiveness and cleansing? Or does discovering a sense of belonging and a longing for home more accurately describe your desires? Moon and Simon believe that a persons greatest desire is shaped by their worldview. The aim of their book is to help readers discern various worldviews and how to continue God conversations that are relevant to each of these worldviews. In other words, they want to equip evangelists to tap into the needs, desires, values, and assumptions of those around them. As Christians better understand the perspectives of their conversation partners, theyre more confident and competent to help them take the next step toward following Jesus. Fluid worldviews Heres how Moon and Simon define intercultural evangelism: as the process of putting Christ at the center of someones worldview in order to initiate them into Christian discipleship through culturally relevant starting points. The authors group these cultural starting points into worldview categories that form the structure of much of the book. Borrowing from the work of the pioneering Bible translator Eugene Nida and others, they address the dominant worldview frameworks of guilt/justice, shame/honor, and fear/power, along with an emerging category they identify as indifference/belonging with purpose. At the outset, its important to acknowledge that the borders between these categories are porous. Each perspective can be present to one degree or another in any given person, group, or larger culture. Worldview studies popular among evangelicals a generation ago may have erred at this point by assigning people fixed labels and lumping them into rigid categories. But one strength of Moon and Simons work is how it recognizes that worldviews can change and develop over time and within people. For example, the category of indifference/belonging with purpose represents just such a situation, as the authors connect it to the climate of the modern West, where a secularist mindset increasingly prevails over a more traditional guilt/innocence framework. They also cite research that shows millennials in the US increasingly demonstrating characteristics of shame/honor culture. This seems to be a byproduct of globalization and multiculturalism, but also the rise of social media and a collectivist mentality toward shame and fame. Commenting on this development among younger generations, the authors quote Andrews University religion professor Glenn Russell: These days, writes Russell in a 2016 youth ministry conference address, you know if you are good or bad almost immediately as the online responses reveal whether you are honored (famed) or excluded (shamed). Russell continues, Morality is less about right and wrong and more about inclusion and exclusion. This phenomenon demonstrates an overlap of cultures. It also signals the significant turbulence in our day over morality and priorities. Article continues below While Moon and Simon recognize and empathize with non-Christians desires, such as avoiding exclusion or shame, they dont isolate or absolutize those desires. Instead, they talk about the fundamental problem of the human condition as sin and how that sin leads to other felt problems. Whereas non-Christian worldviews tend to make fear or shame primary, the Bible depicts such problems as secondary and derivative. The solution to those problems, then, must include repentance, the critical step of turning away from sin to follow Christ. Whats a little less clear is how the framework of indifference/belonging with purpose fits into Moon and Simons discussion of worldview. For example, its easy to find biblical stories of people who respond to God and their human condition in guilt, shame, or fear. Indifference isnt as simple to spot, and the authors attempts at Scriptural examplessuch as Zacchaeus finding belonging and purpose with Jesusfall flat at times because of it. A culture of religious apathy appears to be a later historical development almost foreign to the biblical world. Nevertheless, I found the authors observations of growing indifference in Western society resulting from secularism and pluralism to be some of the most interesting and thought-provoking parts of the book. Thankfully, other writers (like Alan Noble and Kyle Beshears) are also helping the church think evangelistically through these developments. One has to wonder, though, if such apathy is an anomaly that will ultimately succumb to more traditional, dominant worldviews. Furthermore, Western indifference toward Christianity could quickly give way to intolerance within our lifetimes. A posture of preparedness Perhaps the greatest strength of Effective Intercultural Evangelismis the cross-cultural experience of the authors. Throughout the book, they share stories of initiating evangelistic conversations with those who inhabit different worldviews. When those around them interpret lifes events through a certain cultural lens, the authors immediately identify an opening for the gospel. For example, if someone attributes cancer or a devastating drought to evil spirits, the authors take that as an open door to talk about Gods authority and compassion. Rather than trying to dismantle someones worldview, they point to where God fits within it. Presumably, the same approach could be taken with those who ascribe hurricanes or forest fires to purely naturalistic or manmade causes, such as climate change or public policy. The point isnt to argue; its to direct others to a powerful God who cares. But this requires a posture of preparedness for evangelism, a willingness to listen as a people-oriented learner, to be empathetic, and to meet people where they are. Christians must also be ready to respond and believe God can and will speak in that moment. As the authors demonstrate, what wont work is the typical passive congeniality approach thats well-intentioned but rarely demonstrates a willingness to speak of Christ in everyday conversation. On further reflection, the cultural indifference that Moon and Simon diagnose isnt only a characteristic of non-Christians. Its also pervasive in the Western church. This suggests, then, that the greatest hindrance to evangelism isnt necessarily the dispassionate starting point of nonbelievers but rather that of believers. Its our unconcerned apathy and passivity toward those who need to hear the gospel. Article continues below Of course, that gospel should connect with people where they are. The good news of Jesus has something to offer every culture and every person. To the guilty offender it extends forgiveness and justification. To the shamed and excluded it offers the hope of glory. To the fearful and weak it promises deliverance and power. Even the indifferent and listless it welcomes with belonging and purpose, a future and a home. But this is where I would add to Moon and Simons thesis about the positive way Christ speaks into diverse worldviews. The gospel doesnt merely connect with personal desires and cultural values; it critiques them. To those who aspire to honor and glory, the Cross speaks shame. To those who desire power and privilege, the Cross speaks weakness. To those who want to be in the right, the crucified Jesus holds out his arms as a condemned criminal. The gospel is culturally relevant and radically counter-cultural. Such also is the paradoxical nature of those who follow Jesus. The shocking reality of the kingdom is that women and men across the world are following Christ even when it results in shame, suffering, exclusion, and oppression. By the power of Jesus resurrection life, Christians are those who willingly and gladly take on that which their culture is conditioned to despise and reject. Not only that, but they do so with joy inexpressible. Perhaps when we live out these counterintuitive values of the kingdomand when we open our mouths with the joy of knowing Christhis gospel will awaken the desires of every culture, even the otherwise indifferent. Elliot Clark works with Training Leaders International. He is the author of Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in Our Own Land as well as a forthcoming book, Mission Affirmed: Recovering the Missionary Motivation of Paul (Crossway, January 2022). You know, Mike, I used to be gay, I said. Mike stopped moving his paintbrush as the words fell clumsily from my mouth. He was painting the St. Louis apartment I called home in the summer of 1997 as I began working toward my PhD in historical theology. Hed asked me about my schooling, and we got to talking about faith. Mike had explained to me how he felt he could never go to church because he was gay. I know they say thats not supposed to happen, I went on, after dropping the bombshell. But thats my story. Mike stared at me with interest as he set the paint can down, gently balancing his brush on its edge. Looking back on this encounter, I can see that it had all the trappings of what became known as the ex-gay movement, of which I was once an eager proponent. Most notable is my use of the ex-gay script: I used to be gay. The phrase implied that I wasnt gay anymore. I had a testimony, a story to tell about leaving homosexuality behind. To be clear, my sexual attractions at that moment were drawn as exclusively to other men as ever. I was still at the top of the Kinsey scale that researchers since the 1940s have used to classify sexual orientation. What made me ex-gay was that I used the ex-gay script. I was trying to convince myself that I was a straight man with a diseasea curable onecalled homosexuality. A condition that was being healed. My terminological maneuver was an integral component of conversion therapy. Alan Medinger, the first executive director of Exodus International, described it as a change in self-perception in which the individual no longer identifies him- or herself as homosexual. It was all about ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. David French, a former attorney and political commentator, joins Russell Moore to give listeners a taste of their conversations over coffee. Moore and French share similar values when it comes to having difficult conversations without animosity. As leaders with their fingers on the pulse of American society, they discuss the Christians role in advocating for religious liberty. In this episode, Moore and French get to the bottom of what David Frenchism is. They discuss the importance of respect and decency when having differing beliefs on controversial topics. They demonstrate gracious debate, giving listeners a framework for a mature dialogue. Finally, they show how Christians can have fruitful discussions by taking on the opposing views side. The Russell Moore Show is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb Theme Song: Dusty Delta Day by Lennon Hutton If Canadians have been longing for meaning in their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that anyone has told them about Jesus. According to a recent survey conducted by Alpha Canada and the Flourishing Congregations Institute, 65 percent of church leaders say that evangelism hasnt been a priority for their congregations over the last several years. Fifty-five percent say their congregations do not equip Christians to share their faith. Shaila Visser, national director of Alpha Canada, said she was somewhat surprised by the numbers because she sees so many opportunities for Christians to share their faith. The pandemic, in particular, has caused people to ask significant questions about the meaning and purpose of their lives. The opportunity before the church in Canada is to meet them and their questions with the person of Jesus, she said, to show them that Jesus is very good. The survey asked Canadian leaders across Christian denominations, As you think about your local congregation/parish over the last several years, to what extent would you say your congregation/parish has given priority (or not) to evangelism? More than 2,700 church leaders responded between May and July 2021. About 20 percent said evangelism was a moderate concern. Only 9 percent said it was a high priority for members of their congregation to share their faith. Respondents included a few leaders from the mainline United Church of Canada and just over 20 percent from the Roman Catholic Church. The majority, though, came from evangelical traditions, including leaders from Baptist churches, Pentecostal churches, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Evangelical Free Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Foursquare Church, and the Salvation Army. The tendency not to emphasize evangelism appears to be widespread. Steven Jones, president of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada, said he was deeply concerned by the numbers. He notes they reflect the continued decline of evangelical Christianity in Canada. Historically, about 10 percent of Canadians have considered themselves evangelical. Today, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of Canadas quadrennial census, only 6 percent of Canadians are evangelical. These are the lowest numbers on record. Christianity has increasingly been viewed in a negative light in secular Canadian culture, particularly in the wake of sexual abuse scandals and light being shed on the role churches played for decades in residential schools for Indigenous people in Canada. Dozens of churches were spray-painted, vandalized, and burned following the discovery of mass graves at several residential schools this summer. That negative view was clearly seen in the responses to the Alpha survey. The number one challenge to evangelism, leaders said, was perceived antagonism toward Christian values and the Christian church. According to David Koop, pastor of Coastal Church, a large urban congregation in Vancouver, British Columbia, a lot of younger Christians have accepted the secular Canadian criticisms of the faith. The next generation has a really different narrative that theyre listening to, he said. Because secular society views church as a problem, he said, many Christians seem to shy away from sharing their faith. At the very least, theyre more averse to traditional methods of evangelism. For much of the 20th century, evangelism meant passing out tracts or knocking on peoples doors. Today, Koop said, theres more emphasis on relationships and showing people how you live out your faith. When the survey participants were asked to list the three most common methods of evangelism encouraged among their congregation/parish, the most common answer was showing ones faith through their actions. In some ways, Koop thinks thats a positive shift. I think the most effective way is still just to do what Jesus said in Luke 10, Koop said. Go to peoples homes. Get to know them. Live in a community relationship. Pray for them. Hes found the pandemic has created roadblocks in that effort with many churches looking inward rather than focusing on evangelism. Theres a weariness, he said. Theres a sense I need to keep my own fences mended and stay strong. Jeff Eastwood, who lives and pastors a church on the opposite end of the country in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, sees the same thing. Broad cultural changes have made it more difficult to speak about faith when antireligious rhetoric abounds. When the majorityor it seems like the majorityare giving assent to this ideology, it becomes more difficult for Christians to speak into that, especially in a nuanced way, said Eastwood, who pastors Grace Baptist Church. Eastwood encourages Christians to do what Jesus did, though, and connect with people where they are, engaging them and speaking to their specific situations. The best evangelism comes out of relationships, he said. The survey was done during widespread lockdowns in Canada because of the pandemic. Christian leaders say theyre not clear what effect COVID-19 has had on evangelism. It may have exacerbated the problem and made evangelism harder. Outreach became more difficult, with gatherings prohibited and many people limiting contact to a small bubble of people. Eastwoods church, for example, had to cancel its Vacation Bible Study. Plus, church leaders who were already working as hard as they could were overwhelmed trying to adapt to changing conditions. It became easier for churches to focus on themselves and not the broader community. COVID has given a great excuse to be very selfish," said Vijay Krishnan, who pastors The Well, a church in the suburbs of Toronto. Krishnan believes that this tendency is something that believers have struggled with since the New Testament period. The early church was content to stay in Jerusalem rather than carry out the Great Commission. It took persecution, he said, to scatter them to the ends of the world as Jesus had commanded. At the same time, Krishnan said, the pandemic has created opportunities for people to be more open about their struggles. Most people have been impacted in some way by the pandemic, and that shared cultural experience can open doors to talk about more personal matters. When people share their struggles, he doesnt just tell them hell pray for them but prays for them at the moment. Its like youre inviting them to a spiritual encounter with a God you know, Krishnan said. Visser has also had opportunities to pray with people because of COVID-19. What it provides is an encounter between two people with God in the middle, regardless of what they believe, she said. The best way to share your faith is to listen to people, she said, and then run toward their pain and meet them in the messiness of their lives or in the beauty of their lives. In a time when many are suffering from loneliness, providing opportunities for human interaction can be a powerful form of evangelism. The world is longing for in-person connection around meaningful conversations, and inviting them into spaces where they can have that connection and encounter God is increasingly important, Visser said. Its more important than it was before the pandemic. In a pandemic, though, that may mean going online. Visser ran an Alpha program on Zoom for friends spread across Canada. She said she probably wouldnt have done that before COVID-19. We have never met in person as a group, and we have formed some of the deepest, most wonderful supportive community opportunities you could even imagine, she said. All on Zoom. Jones said a lot of evangelical churches are embracing online opportunities and looking for opportunities they wouldnt have before. I think all our churches need to be live streaming because we are reaching people who would never go through the door of a church or facility, but they will go to your website, he said. Its a good first place. And the need is urgent. Canadians are looking for meaning and purpose, struggling with loneliness, and dealing with the tragedies brought by COVID-19. People are hurting, and theyre confused, Eastwood said. We have an opportunity to speak into that in a real way. Conflict is a troublesome word to describe a society. But increasingly across advanced global economiesand particularly the United Statestheir societies believe it is the correct label. If there is any good news, religious conflict lags behind. The Pew Research Center surveyed almost 19,000 people in 17 North American, European, and Asia-Pacific nations this past spring about their perception of conflict across four categories: between political parties, between different races and ethnicities, between different religions, and between urban and rural communities. The US ranked top or high in each. A global median of 50 percent see political conflict, 48 percent see racial conflict, 36 percent see religious conflict, and 23 percent see urban-rural conflict. But in the US, 9 in 10 viewed political conflict as serious or very serious. Asian nations varied considerably. South Korea matched the US at 90 percent seeing serious political polarization, with Taiwan third at 69 percent. Singapore was lowest overall at 33 percent, while Japan was 39 percent. France (65%), Italy (64%), Spain (58%), and Germany (56%) followed Taiwan. In terms of race, the US ranked first again, with 71 percent seeing serious conflict. France was second at 64 percent, and South Korea and Italy third at 57 percent. Singapore again ranked lowest, at 25 percent. South Korea had the highest perception of religious conflict, at 61 percent. France followed at 56 percent, and the US at 49 percent. Germany and Belgium registered 46 percent each. Taiwan was lowest, at 12 percent. Nearly 1 in 4 French (23%) saw religious conflict as very serious. Age plays a role in perception. Pew noted that adults under 30 are significantly more likely than those ages 65 and older to see strong religious divisions in Greece (60% vs. 24%), Belgium (62% vs. 38%), Japan (42% vs. 22%), Italy (49% vs. 30%), the US (58% vs. 42%), Spain (24% vs. 10%), and Taiwan (17% vs. 7%). Conversely, Canadians under 30 are significantly more likely than Canadians ages 65 and older to say there is no strong religious conflict (78% vs. 65%). [Editors note: See full chart at bottom.] Religious diversity, however, is not a consistent indicator of conflict. Pew estimates France to be 58 percent Christian and 8 percent Muslim. South Korea is 30 percent Christian and 22 percent Buddhist. Yet the US is 76 percent Christian and 1 percent Muslim. The three lowest perceptions of religious conflict are also across the spectrum. Taiwan (12%) is 44 percent folk religious, 21 percent Buddhist, 15 percent other, and 6 percent Christian. Singapore (21%) is 32 percent Buddhist, 18 percent Christian, 16 percent Muslim, 9 percent other, and 7 percent Hindu. Yet Spain (19%) is 75 percent Christian and 3 percent Muslim. Pew also tracked the perception of religious conflict between the religious and nonreligious, and in every nation the percentage of unaffiliated is substantial. The overall difference in perception was negligible, however, except in certain subcategories. Half of conservatives in the US perceived conflict between the religious and nonreligious, compared to only 39 percent between religious groups. The political right in Germany, Canada, and Italy had similar perceptions. In Sweden, the only statistically significant difference was found on the political left, among which 26 percent perceive interreligious conflict but only 12 percent perceive secular conflict. Politics exacerbates perceptions across the board. In the US, Democrats and those leaning Democrat have a 24 percent difference in their perception of racial conflict, compared to corresponding Republicans. The racial divide is less severe, with Blacks perceiving conflict at 82 percent, Hispanics at 70 percent, and whites at 69 percent. Democratic affiliation also creates a difference in perception of religious conflict (+17%) and urban-rural conflict (+10%). Tellingly, there is no difference between political parties in perception of political conflict (90% each). And more than half (54%) of Americans viewed this conflict as very strong. France has similar political polarization. Its largest gap is in the perception of racial conflict, where 22 percentage points separate the right-of-center Republicans (76%) and the ruling En March (54%). Socialists, however, are the outliers in politics and religion. They trail the Republicans (67%) by 20 percentage points in their perception of religious conflict. But they are ahead of En March (57%) by 14 percentage points in their perception of political conflict. In Singapore, however, where the Peoples Action Party has 89 percent political representation, differences in perception are shaped instead by ethnicity and religion. Indians recognize political (49% vs. 28%), ethnic (46% vs. 18%), and religious (35% vs. 14%) conflict more readily than their fellow Chinese citizens. Singapores Muslims, meanwhile, recognize ethnic (40% vs. 23% vs. 14%) and religious (36% vs. 20% vs. 11%) conflict more readily than the city-states Buddhists and Christians. Pew tested two factors that may contribute to the overall sense of conflict. A global median of 61 percent believe COVID-19 made their societies more politically divided. And a global median of 39 percent believe most people disagree on basic facts. Highest are France (61%), the US (59%), and Italy and Spain (55% each). Measuring all four conflict areas on a 4-point scale, the US scored a 2.85. South Korea scored 2.83, and France 2.72. Singapore was lowest at 2.13. Yet despite the recognition of widespread conflict, there may be additional good newsdepending on perspective. Around the world, increasing numbers express support for diversity. A global median of 76 percent believe having people of many ethnic groups, religions, and races makes their society a better place to live. The sentiment is strongest in Singapore (92%), New Zealand (88%), Canada (86%), the US (85%), the United Kingdom (85%), and Australia (85%). Only Greece (51%) and Japan (50%) believe it makes their society worse. South Korea ranks third (36%). But the negative sentiment is changing. In the 11 nations where this question was also asked in 2017, 9 nations have seen increases in support. Greece climbed 24 percentage points in the past four years, Japan 15 percentage points, and South Korea 6 percentage points. Pew noted three indicators of disproportionate support: identification with the political left; the belief that the economy is doing well; and youth. Of the latter, the generation gap is clear. Those ages 18-29 in Italy (84%) express support for diversity 33 percentage points greater than those 65 and older (51%). In France, the age difference is 30 points (83% vs 53%), while in Japan it is 28 points (60% vs 32%). Those who view diversity negatively tend to associate with the populist right. Supporters of the Sweden Democrats are 41 percentage points higher for unfavorable (89%) than the rest of society (48%). Supporters of the Alternative for Germany are 32 percentage points higher (76% vs 44%), as are members of Italys Lega (73% vs 41%). Alongside growing openness to diversity, there is a recognition that societies may not be living up to their ideals, stated Pew researchers. [But] overall, fewer people see strong religious conflict. Authentic authority and the threat of raw power Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On Friday, leaders of 136 nations took actions that should send a chill up the spines of their citizens. The representatives of those countries acted on a proposal by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to establish a global business tax. After recovering from my shock, questions blasted in my mind: Who gave this organization the right to implement a global business tax? Is this an ominous step toward the establishment of other worldwide regulatory mandates? At what point do other global groups act on the precedent by extending their powers into broad facets of policy that should be the purview of sovereign nations? President Joe Biden and Janet Yellen, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, applauded the move. They had both the constitutional authority and the power to do so. However, in the Biden administration, as in others, the balance between authority and power is delicate. The big issue here has to do with executive authority and power, and the importance of holding it in balance. The Bible and the histories recorded there, reveal the differences between authentic authority and raw power: Authority is granted from the higher to the lower, while raw power is seized As Jesus stands before the Roman magistrate, Pontius Pilate, He tells him, You have no authority over Me at all if it had not been given to you from above. Authority is granted to those under authority, but raw power is submitted only to itself King Saul learns this the hard way. He refuses to honor the commands of Samuel, the High Priest, the representative of God Himself. Saul disobeys, coming out from under Samuels authority, and loses his kingdom. Authority is accountable to the higher authority; raw power is accountable only to its own interests Though Jesus Christ is God Himself, in His incarnate existence, He acknowledges His accountability to God the Father, telling even His earthly parents that He had to give priority to His Fathers business. Authority is sustained through healthy relationship; raw power is sustained by intimidation, manipulation, condemnation and domination A priority of Jesus was to be with His disciples, building and leading them through relationship Authentic authority is in the style of servant leadership; raw power is in the style of tyrannical control The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life for many, said Jesus. All these reveal that true leadership that has the right of power must understand that it can do so only if it respects and yields to the authority granted to it. The leader, be it a president, CEO, senior pastor, head of household whatever must not take authority as his or her own possession, but as a trust. I have watched and been fascinated by the American presidency since 1952. Both national political conventions were televised for the first time that year. As an 11 year old, I sat transfixed for hours watching the drama on our 12-inch black-white TV screen. Within two decades, I would be standing in the Oval Office as a member of the presidents staff watching the president model the balance between authority and power. In 1969, new in office, Richard Nixon had to help school systems in 11 southern states desegregate. He brought together multi-racial citizen groups from each state and authorized them with the power to implement educational equality in their own states. In the fall of 1970, the most sweeping desegregation in history occurred peacefully. Nixon had the authority, and he shared the power. Many still hate Nixon and his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson. However, both men took actions based on the careful balance between authority and power that should earn them respect in history, balancing whatever misdeeds attributed to them. Lyndon Johnson, in 1968, was deep in the morass of the Vietnam war. Cities were burning, and destructive rioting would break out during the Democrats summer convention in Chicago. Johnson, regarded by his opponents as being a thug, nevertheless sacrificed himself for the good of the nation. On March 31, 1968, on national television, Johnson declared, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president. Six years later, mired in the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon told the world, I have never been a quitter. To leave the office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first. ... Therefore, I shall resign the presidency. Some still smirk at the very mention of Johnson or Nixon, but they were admirable in their actions. They remembered that constitutional authority is held by the people. When Johnson and Nixon faced the fact that they had lost the authorization of the people they realized they could no longer exert the powers of the Oval Office. These were insightful, gallant actions by two men many still hate. Is this in Americas future once more? Does the action of an international group like the OECD mean that authority and power are gravitating to the global scale? One hopes the Biden White House and his administration understand the nature of authentic authority and the threat of raw power. Georgia megachurch asks court to allow vote on leaving UMC after pastor was reassigned Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Georgia megachurch has requested an injunction against a regional body of the United Methodist Church, claiming that the denomination is unlawfully interfering with its plans to hold a vote on whether to disaffiliate with America's second-largest Protestant denomination. The Marietta-based Mt. Bethel Church, which boasts approximately 10,000 members, filed a motion for an interlocutory injunction in the Superior Court of Cobb County Monday against various UMC North Georgia Conference officials. The legal filing was a counterclaim in response to a lawsuit filed by the conference on Sept. 8. According to Mt. Bethel, the issue is the congregation's desire to move forward with a congregational vote to determine if the church will disaffiliate from the UMC and how, according to the motion, the regional church leadership is stopping them from doing so. "Mt. Bethel expects to prevail on the merits of Petitioner Trustees' claims," states the motion, a copy of which was emailed to The Christian Post on Tuesday. "However, interlocutory relief is necessary during the pendency of this litigation to prevent delay and irreparable harm caused by the Regional UMC Administrators' actions from depriving Mt. Bethel of the right to disaffiliate from the UMC and keep its property." Jeffrey A. Daxe, an attorney representing Mt. Bethel, told CP that the defendants are waiting for a hearing to be scheduled. Although both parties had previously agreed to engage in mediation in late July over the disputed process and property and asset ownership questions, Daxe said the effort failed to produce an agreement. "Despite Mt. Bethel's best efforts, we were not able to come to a mediated solution with Bishop Sue Haupert-Jonhson and the Trustees of the North Georgia Conference," he said. In a statement emailed to CP on Tuesday, the North Georgia Conference Communications Office stated that the conference believes Mt. Bethel's claims in the legal filings lack merit. "The responses offered by Mt Bethel's leadership team reveal their basic misunderstanding of the policies and procedures that govern United Methodist churches and of Georgia law," the conference's statement reads. "The path that Mt Bethel's leaders have chosen is both legally untenable and also very damaging to the mission and ministry of the church. We look forward to a swift resolution of these issues in the Cobb County Superior Court." The conference further stated that it has "adopted a disaffiliation process and other local churches are proceeding with that policy." "Mt. Bethel leaders believe that they are exempt from following the appropriate process. Mt. Bethel's request for disaffiliation does not exempt them from compliance with other provisions of the Book of Discipline," the statement continued. In April, Mt. Bethel's 50-member administrative council unanimously voted to begin a discernment process for leaving the UMC, citing the reassignment of lead pastor Jody Ray and the general direction of the denomination as reasons. Now, the church is asking the court to allow a vote before the full congregation. The UMC has experienced much internal debate over the church's official opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Many within the denomination expect a schism over the issue to come soon. Ray had served with Mt. Bethel for over five years. He was reassigned to another position within the conference dealing with racial reconciliation. The congregation argues that the conference didn't follow the expected process for new appointments. Over 4,800 supporters have signed an online petition against Ray's reassignment. On July 12, before an attempted mediation between the two parties, the conference announced that they had seized control of Mt. Bethel's assets, explaining that it was done "out of love for the church and its mission." The conference cited "exigent circumstances" for the decision. Mt. Bethel UMC denounced the decision and took issue with the claim by North Georgia Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the conference of "exigent circumstances." The church pointed to contrary examples, such as having a growing and vibrant congregation, financial stability and adhering to Book of Discipline rules regarding the appointment of clergy. "Mt. Bethel has not violated the Discipline by hiring its' preaching pastor,' nor has it allowed uncredentialed use of the Pulpit," stated Mt. Bethel at the time. "Moreover, any prior unauthorized or uncredentialed use of the Pulpit could not constitute future exigent circumstances now that Mt. Bethel has accepted the appointment of Senior Pastor Dr. Steven Usry." SBC legal team resigns after vote to waive attorney-client privilege in sex abuse investigation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The legal counsel for the Southern Baptist Convention has resigned less than a week after SBC Executive Committee members voted to waive attorney-client privilege during an investigation into the panel's handling of sexual abuse claims against churches. In an Oct. 11 letter sent to Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd, the SBC's general counsel, attorneys James Guenther and James Jordan of Guenther, Jordan & Price law firm of Nashville, Tennessee, cited the committee's decision to waive attorney-client privilege as a key reason for their departure from the denomination after over 60 years of service. "We simply do not know how to advise a client, and otherwise represent a client, with the quality of advice and representation the client must have, and in keeping with the standard of practice our firm tries to uphold, when the client has indicated a willingness to forego this universally accepted principle of confidentiality," the team wrote. After weeks of deliberations, the committee voted 44-31 on Oct. 5 to allow Guidepost Solutions, the firm investigating the committee's handling of sexual abuse claims within SBC churches, to review privileged communications between committee members, staff and their lawyers as requested by messengers and the Sexual Abuse Task Force. In response, at least 10 executive committee members resigned either before the vote or shortly after, The Tennessean reported. The investigation was prompted by a 2019 report from the Houston Chronicle that documented hundreds of abuse cases in Southern Baptist churches over decades. Some committee members had expressed concern over waiving privilege, citing risks to the convention's insurance. Some also warned doing so could jeopardize the financial stability of the SBC and make the denomination susceptible to lawsuits. In their letter, the attorneys stressed that maintaining local church autonomy helps protect the SBC legally. They said committee members voted to waive privilege without fully understanding the "effect" doing so will have on the convention. "The attorney-client privilege has been portrayed by some as an evil device by which misconduct is somehow allowed to be secreted so wrongdoers can escape justice and defeat the legal rights of others," Guenther and Jordan wrote. "That could not be further from the truth." "The concept is rooted in a principle of judicial fairness and the belief that our nation of laws is best served if persons or entities can communicate with their legal counsel freely and confidentially. There is nothing sinister about it. It does not corrupt justice; it creates a space for justice." The attorneys said that they do not want their decision to be harmful to the Executive Committee, adding that they would be willing "to continue providing legal counsel during a transition and in a limited and specifically defined role going forward." Guenther, 87, who has been general counsel for the SBC since 1966, told The Baptist and Reflector in August his firm has represented the SBC in approximately 50 cases where the denomination was being sued over alleged wrongs that occurred in local churches. The newspaper reports that Guenther's firm has never lost an ascending liability suit because SBC is not a hierarchical denomination and the convention has no control over churches. Guenther told the outlet in August that while there have always been controversies within the denomination, Southern Baptists have consistently "weathered those disputes." "I think that cooperation, which is entirely voluntary, depends on Baptists having trust in the institutions and the leadership of the convention. Controversies endanger that trust but Southern Baptists have historically gotten through those divisions and moved forward," he said. Floyd told Baptist Press the attorneys had "admirably served the legal needs of the Southern Baptist Convention and the SBC Executive Committee" for decades and had been a "pivotal guide through numerous changes" in SBC culture and polity. Floyd previously called for empathy as SBC leaders navigate how to best proceed with the investigation. "The loss of their institutional knowledge will be irreplaceable," Floyd said. "With deep regrets, we accept their decision and fully understand their reasoning behind it and their need to withdraw. We are extremely grateful for their 56 years of superior service to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Executive Committee." Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I refuse to accept that the Church as we know it in America and the West is the very best the Church will ever be. I refuse to accept that the anemic, divided, often powerless version of the Church that we are so accustomed to seeing here is the only version we will ever see in this world. Not if the Bible is true. Not if Jesus is Lord. Not if the Holy Spirit has been poured out. Not if Gods promises are real. To the contrary, because the Bible is true. And because Jesus is Lord. And because the Holy Spirit has been poured out. And because Gods promises are real. We will see a glorious Church, walking in grace and victory and purity and power. We will see a bride fit for her Groom. We will see the Messianic community that He Himself is building. And the very gates of Hades will not overcome that Church. That is Gods vision and that is Gods promise, because of which I will not accept the status quo of Church as usual today. I cannot accept it. And neither should you. It is an insult to the blood of Jesus and a slur on the power of God, and we should not accept it for a moment as a reflection of the best that the Father has to offer to this world. Not a chance. That version of the Church will not change the world. Or inspire sacrifice and dedication. Or transform sinners into saints. Or set captives free. Or bring glory to God. It will only bring reproach and breed compromise. That version of the Church is like the salt which has lost its saltiness. No wonder the world tramples it underfoot. But the Church that Jesus is building will ultimately be a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27). This is our destiny, our ultimate calling. This is how we will look when we reach our final destination. And thats why we should work towards this and believe for this every day of our lives. Even if that speaks of our eternal state once we are out of this fallen world, it is the direction in which we must be going. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. He continued, Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16) This is supposed to have in this world, in this age. Is the Lord unable to do it? Over one century ago, Catherine Booth (1829-1890), the fiery co-founder of the Salvation Army, knew that there was something very wrong with Church as usual. (For the record, the Salvation Army in its earlier history was much different than it is today.) She refused to accept the status quo, mincing no words in the process. She said, Here is the reason why we have such a host of stillborn, sinewless, ricketty, powerless spiritual children. They are bornof half-dead parents, a sort of sentimental religion which does not take hold of the soul, which has no depth of earth, no grasp, no power in it, and the result is a sickly crop of sentimental converts. Oh! the Lord give us a real, robust, living, hardy, Christianity, full of zeal and faith, which shall bring into the kingdom of God lively, well-developed children, full of life and energy, instead of these poor sentimental ghosts that are hopping around us. May the Lord do that again today, giving us that real, robust, living, hardy, Christianity, full of zeal and faith, which shall bring into the kingdom of God lively, well-developed children, full of life and energy. May it be so! The truth is that all over the world, Gods Spirit is on the move, and the Church is growing numerically like never before. Miracles of healing and deliverance are also increasingly common, especially when the Gospel message is heard for the first time. Perhaps God will deepen our unity too? Perhaps He increases our love for one another? Perhaps He will conform us even more to the character of His Son? Is God unable to do this? In 1990, I wrote, There were fewer than 10 million Christians in Africa in 1900, but the projection for 2000 is 324 million. It turns out that projection was way too conservative. There are roughly 685 million professing Christians in Africa today. I wrote in 1990 that, in Latin America, evangelical Christianity grew from a mere 50,000 in 1900 to a projected 137 million in 2000. . . Even in the extremist Hindu kingdom of Nepal, shrouded by the Himalayan mountains, the Lord has found for Himself a people: in 1960, there were only 25 baptized believers. By 1989, there were over 50,000 in spite of intense government opposition. And this is only the beginning. Today, there are over 661 million professing evangelicals in Latin America, shattering the predictions of growth. As for Nepal, there are close to one million Christians, according to Operation World. I ask again: if God is growing His Church numerically, why cant we expect growth in all other areas? And why cant He grow His Church again in the West, even dramatically? Where is it written that we should not believe for this and work towards this and expect this? Later this year, I will celebrate 50 years as a follower of Jesus, which means that I have seen a lot of bad with a lot of good. I am quite aware of our many warts and failings, both corporately and individually, starting with myself. But just as Jesus did radically change me from who I was into who I am and who I am becoming, so also He wants to do that for all of us. And since I know He is not finished with changing me, Im confident He is not finished with changing His Church. The opening chapter of my newest book Revival Or We Die: A Great Awakening Is Our Only Hope, is titled, There Is More. I am confident that the Lord Himself adds His amen to those three words. Be assured that, in Him, there is more much, much more. Let us, then, press on towards our high calling in Him, starting today, right here and now. Make us into something beautiful, Lord! Christians, anger will not accomplish our political goals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment People dont make great efforts unless they are motivated. And anger, being a powerful emotion, is by definition a motivator. But it is a mistake to think that displays of anger are likely to lead to anything productive. While it is true people need to be motivated, they also need to be strategic. Anger can motivate but it doesnt help you think clearly. So it easily propels you toward disaster. This is important for politics. There is a widespread idea that angry people are a threat to tyrannical government. The image of a tyrant being removed by a mob of angry subjects is embedded in our imaginations. Yet, often, some of our most popular myths try to tell us that the story is not that simple. Anger ends up working for the enemy. In Star Wars (the original trilogy, of course) Luke had to master his anger to prevent himself from becoming the enemy he despised. In Harry Potter, rejecting anger and hatred was key to Potter differentiating himself from Lord Voldemort. Whether one agrees with the internal logic of these stories or not, they are presenting a principle that seems similar to what we find in the Bible. When Jesus followers tried to fight for him, he told them that such behavior was a path to destruction. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Matthew 26:51-52 Proverbs repeatedly warns against being provoked to anger: "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly" Proverbs 14:29 "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention" Proverbs 15:18 "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense" Proverbs 19:11 For reasons to which I am often sympathetic, people are getting mad. Heres one example. There are many others. I have no doubt the media is exaggerating the prevalence of such anger. But the fact that they would want to exaggerate anger proves that public anger is not helping our cause. Such allegations are currently being used to justify the DOJ openly intimidating parents of public school children. This is enraging, but it is a big mistake to let yourself become enraged. If the government gains power by alleging that we are motivated to crimes by anger, imagine what they will do in response to real anger? As Jesus put it when he was being taken to the cross: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed! Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? Luke 23:28-31 In other words: If they will hang me as a rebel despite my innocence what will happen to your children when they really rebel? As I have argued elsewhere, Proverbs teaches that anger is addictive and irrational. It may be appropriate at times, but those times are never as common as we like to think (especially when we are angry). Thus, the book of James lays down the rule and the reason for it: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God James 1:19-20 The letter of James was written to people who were experiencing greater persecution than we are. One cannot dismiss the instruction as inapplicable. It has been said that resistance to tyranny is obedience to God. I agree. But anger can be a great tyrant. Resist it as well. 6K make professions of faith at Greg Laurie's 1st SoCal Harvest since COVID-19 Evangelist pays tribute to Marine killed in Afghanistan Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More than 6,000 people made professions of faith as evangelist and megachurch pastor Greg Laurie resumed his ministry's annual outreach event in Southern California, SoCal Harvest, Sunday after a gap of one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SoCal Harvest drew over 40,000 people to Angel Stadium in Anaheim and 200,000 online, according to a statement released by Harvest. The night featured performances from Christian artists for King & County and Phil Wickham and a Gospel message from Laurie, the senior pastor of the multi-campus Harvest Christian Fellowship. Preaching on the empty promises of fame, Laurie's sermon underlined that fulfillment could only come from being known by God. "The reason so many seek fame is because deep down inside, we have a desire to make our mark and distinguish ourselves," Laurie told the crowd. "We want our life to count for something. We are seeking significance. The answer is not in fame or more followers on your social media account. The answer is in knowing and following Jesus." The pastor paid tribute to Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of the 13 soldiers killed in a terror attack in Afghanistan on Aug. 26. Nikoui attended a Harvest Crusade in 2016, where he and his family gave their lives to Christ. Nikoui's funeral was held at Harvest's Riverside campus and officiated by Laurie. "Kareem went to Heaven because he put his faith in Christ," Laurie said during the evangelistic event. "And that's the hope that the Christian has." After his sermon, Laurie invited attendees to make a public profession of faith. "You're noticed by God. You're loved by God. And your life can have significance," said Laurie. "No matter what sin you have committed, God will forgive you tonight if you will ask for his forgiveness." Over 600 radio outlets nationwide broadcasted the event livestreamed on over 100 Facebook pages. The event was aided by volunteers from over 170 Southern California churches. Laurie, who came to faith as a teenager during the Jesus Movement of the '60s and '70s, founded the large outreach events called Harvest Crusades in the 1990s with Pastor Chuck Smith. Since then, Harvest has held crusades in large stadiums worldwide, seeking to bring people to Christ. It has become the longest-running crusade outreach in the U.S. According to the ministry, over 8 million have attended those crusades in person, while millions more have participated online. The ministry reports that over 700,000 people have made professions of faith in Christ through Harvest outreaches. After a long year filled with lockdowns and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Laurie told The Christian Post last month that resuming SoCal Harvest as an in-person event "means a lot to everybody." "With this pandemic, all the wrong things are up. Drug use is up, alcohol use is up, self-harm is up, suicides are up, divorce is up, and it's because people feel down," he said. "And Jesus said, 'Look up because your redemption is drawing near.' I think it's important for us to get together in person because we're better together." 42% of religious Americans report attending in-person worship at least once in the past month: Pew Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the pandemic continues, 42% of U.S. adults who identify as religious said they've attended worship at least once in the past month, according to the Pew Research Center. In a Pew report published Monday titled Life in U.S. Religious Congregations Slowly Edges Back Toward Normal, researchers found an increase in worship attendance compared to last year. Among all U.S. adults, Pew found a slight increase of those who reported attending at least one service in the past month, from 13% in July 2020 to 17% in early March 2021. A respondent was classified in the religious Americans category if they attended worship services at least once a month on a regular basis before the pandemic lockdowns last year. Among religious Americans surveyed, 42% said they had attended at least one worship service in the past month, which was higher than the 33% who said the same in July 2020. When analyzing the Christian subcategories, Pew found that evangelical respondents were the most likely to say they had attended in-person worship in the past month, at 53%. Catholics were the next largest Christian group to report attending in the past month with 34%, followed by mainline Protestants at 34% and historically black Protestants at 21%. There was also a racial gap in responses, as 50% of non-Hispanic whites reported attending worship in the past month while 34% of Hispanics and 25% of non-Hispanic blacks responded the same. The Pew report drew from a nationally representative sample that was surveyed March 1-7 of 12,055 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. The report also found increased confidence in the safety of attending in-person worship during the pandemic among those who were classified as religious Americans in the study. Seventy-six percent of religious Americans said they were very or somewhat confident that they could attend worship without getting COVID-19, an increase from 64% reported last July. Further, between July 2020 and March 2021, the percentage of religious Americans who believed their congregation should be closed for in-person services declined from 28% to 15%, while those who believed they should be open as normal increased from 13% to 26%. As coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline and vaccination rates rise across the United States, life in religious congregations is showing signs of slowly returning to normal, stated Pew. Still, the situation in U.S. congregations remains far from ordinary, and this promises to be the second consecutive highly atypical Easter season for Christians. Earlier this month, LifeWay Research released a study which found that around one in four people who attended church before the pandemic plan to attend more frequently when it ends. According to the LifeWay report on Protestant churchgoers, 91% said they plan to return to attending worship post-pandemic and 23% said they will attend worship more often. LifeWay also found that churchgoers aged 18-29 were the most likely to report planning to attend more, with 43% saying they will go to church more after the pandemic. After COVID-19 kills 60 members, church re-examines role in community Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment NEW YORK In 2020, COVID-19 moved through the congregation at Saint Peters Lutheran Church in Midtown Manhattan like an invisible tsunami, leaving a trail of victims in its wake. At the start of the pandemic last March, Saint Peters Lutheran Church was a thriving congregation of about 250. By May, at least 39 people connected to the progressive church had died from the virus, including about 5% of direct members. Scores more would get sick. In virtual masses, the congregations leader, Pastor Fabian Arias, would pray for the sick and the dead, calling their names while making supplications to God. Still, the church would lose some 24% of its members to the virus in the months that followed. There was a total loss of 60 members in that congregation to the virus, Paul Egensteiner, Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told The Christian Post in an interview. Now, as the nation re-emerges from the deadly pandemic that left hundreds of thousands dead and shuttered many churches across the country, Saint Peters Lutheran Church is trying to leave the burden of COVID-19 deaths behind and embrace the life left in its community again. To do their jobs, many pastors in the New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been flexible and have used online tools such as Zoom to connect with members remotely, Egensteiner said. At the same time, congregants at Saint Peters Lutheran Church and across the synod are eager to come together in person as a family again. Theres still what were experiencing a tremendous desire for people to be back in person, [to be] able to sing hymns. You cant really sing hymns on Zoom because you have everybody on different timing, so people want to be back, Egensteiner said. They want to hear their voices joined together in praise for God. They want to be able to see one anothers faces and be in community together. While they are eager to leave the challenges of the pandemic behind, many of the churches in the New York synod, like Saint Peters, plan to use the lessons they learned from the pandemic to inform their ministry more effectively. One of the reasons that Saint Peters lost so many members in the pandemic is that many of the members are immigrants, people of color and come from low-income households. Some parishioners are also undocumented. Many were unable to work or access government aid during the height of the pandemic. Whereas especially here in New York, we get a report from our governor very often about the decreasing [COVID-19 infection] rates, the increasing vaccinations. Everybody is excited about the possibilities that open up for interaction. But that is also balanced, especially in our church, and St. Peters is an example of this, of not wanting to lose the lessons that weve learned over the past year, Egensteiner explained. [Lessons] about reaching people through remote worship but also about how this pandemic has unevenly affected communities of color, our immigrant communities, our marginalized communities, and how we as a Church are called to address those needs and respond to the inequities and the injustice that has surfaced as a result of this pandemic. So theres that balance between wanting to be back and not wanting to get back to normal. What has God shown us through this experience that reminds us of how were called to be Church at this time and address those real human issues for Gods children? Egensteiner pointed to issues emerging as major flashpoints during the pandemic, such as food insecurity and systemic racial inequities, which his synod hopes to address in more tangible ways in the wake of 2020. Over the course of the past year-plus, many of our churches reached out with feeding ministries. And now, there is concern to address some of the systemic reasons that people go hungry," he explained. "So hand-in-hand with our direct aid, were looking to strengthen our advocacy work. In fact, as part of our vision plan, one of the focus areas of our vision plan is advocacy to change some of the systemic issues in our society. And the other thing that were really working on is to partner congregations that maybe dont have that direct access to some of these concerns with congregations that are in the middle of those communities and neighborhoods that experience that impact." One of the first steps to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color is vaccination. Egensteiner said his denomination supports congregants getting vaccinated. Our national bishop has been very clear on advocating for vaccinations because thats how we show love for others, and thats one of our central priorities is to love all people, he said. Despite his denominations policy, however, Egensteiner says they also respect congregants who choose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We dont out people who dont get the vaccine. This one congregation, in particular, has two sections in their Sunday morning in-person worship vaccinated people and unvaccinated people, he said. Were still welcoming unvaccinated people for whatever reason they dont want to get the vaccine but definitely encouraging people to get vaccinated to allow for more of the togetherness and activities that are important to us. Egensteiner also acknowledged that as congregants return to the pews, they will also be paying attention to the pandemic's mental health impact by making sure pastors are healthy enough to serve. Recently, the president of the Atlantic District of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church convened a gathering of all our institutional chaplains to talk to them about what their work is like and to provide support because theyre often on the frontlines [helping] people who are dealing with both physical and mental health issues," the bishop said. He said that the denomination is "providing direct support to our chaplains who then provide support to people struggling with those issues." Egensteiner said the plan is to convene meetings in the fall covering four areas of the synod. The meetings will bring pastors together to allow them to "share their stories and their struggles." "[I]n the Lutheran system, congregations are the most important places where direct impact on peoples lives take place," he said. "And if our pastors arent healthy, they cant provide adequate pastoral care to the people in their congregations and their communities. So were really focusing on the health and well-being of our pastors. The New York bishop says the most critical lesson he believes all churches can take away from the pandemic is the importance of providing people with community to provide for their spiritual needs. What we realize that were learning is we need community. We need in-person community, not just online community. And Im not diminishing the importance of online community because it has helped a lot of people. But we need that in-person community, he assured. We need that community in whatever form online or in-person to be as the Church, the community that provides us with identity and meaning. That centers us in a deeper identity than the realities or the partisanship thats so much part of our world." And that identity, he said, acknowledges that every single person, that all of creation is beloved of God. If we can appreciate that identity together, and congregations are really good at this, they have their differences, but theyll worship together. And we take that shared identity, and we use that as a launching point to bring that message up to the world to build bridges and relationships and larger community," Egensteiner said. "That can help us to tackle some of these systemic problems in more creative and united ways than we have been able to so far. I think that weve really learned that the Church which has this, to quote Saint Paul, the treasure of the Gospel in clay vessels, in breakable jars, must give itself away for the sake of the world because Christ has entrusted us with this message that is exactly what the world needs to hear. And we cant be shy about that because the message that we have is as critical as it always was. Airline accused of unlawfully firing employees who questioned company's support of Equality Act Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Alaska Airlines has been accused of religious discrimination over the firing of two Christian employees who questioned the companys endorsement of the controversial Equality Act. If enacted, the Equality Act, which is making its way through Congress, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights antidiscrimination laws. The First Liberty Institute filed two Charge of Discrimination complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month against Alaska Airlines on behalf of two flight attendants, Lacey Smith and another whose name has been kept private. In a statement released Friday, FLI denounced the firing of Smith as an example of corporate canceling, arguing that it violated federal protections for the religious beliefs of employees. The idea that an employer can fire an employee for expressing a religious belief is chilling especially when you consider the fact that the Equality Act is still a proposal, and it has not been signed into law, wrote Liberty McArtor of FLI. This makes Laceys termination even more shocking because our current state and federal civil rights laws prohibit discrimination against someone because of their religious beliefs and expression. According to the complaints, earlier this year, Alaska Airlines posted on an internal employee forum about the companys support for the Equality Act and welcomed comments from others. After Smith and a coworker asked questions expressing concern about the endorsement of the Equality Act, the company fired them both, claiming that their comments were hateful. The two former employees have accused the airline of engaging in retaliation, religious discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment. The Christian Post reached out to Alaska Airlines for a response to the complaints filed, however, the Washington-based company did not return comment by press time. Alaska Airlines is one of around 400 businesses that have declared their support for the passage of the legislation, being listed as part of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Supporters of the Equality Act have argued that it's necessary to protect LGBT individuals in the workplace, especially due to several states not explicitly offering such protections. The proposed legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February by a vote that was largely along party lines, however, it remains to be voted on by the Senate. The LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign celebrated the bill's passage in the House, with HRC President Alphonso David calling it a major milestone for equality. Now, we look forward to a hearing and vote in the Senate to finally allow LGBTQ Americans the ability to live their lives free from discrimination, stated David at the time. Critics of the legislation, among them Robert Netzly, the CEO of Inspire Investing, believe the Equality Act would marginalize religious groups and others who object to homosexuality, gay marriage, or transgender ideology. It cancels by name specific provisions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, putting religious employers such as churches and private religious schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, and others at severe risk of lawsuits, wrote Netzly in a column for CP back in June. Equality should be for all people, including female athletes who want an equal playing field when they compete, people of faith who have moral convictions about heterosexuality, and female prison inmates who should not be forced to share a cell with violent felons convicted for preying upon women. Amish survived COVID-19 better than most by not locking down, ceasing church gatherings: report Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has made it through the coronavirus pandemic without experiencing a catastrophic loss of life despite their refusal to adopt many of the safety precautions portrayed as necessary to prevent widespread loss of life, according to a new report. While officials in most U.S. cities ordered businesses and churches to close for several months in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Amish continued working and never stopped worshiping together at church. On her news magazine series Full Measure Sunday, investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson reported on the Amish communitys response to the coronavirus pandemic, which differed significantly from the approach taken by the rest of the country. She described the Amish as a Christian group that emphasizes the virtuous over the superficial. In an effort to live a virtuous life, many in the group refrain from driving and using electricity. Attkisson traveled to Lancaster County, well-known for its large Amish population, to talk to locals about how they handled the pandemic. One person she spoke to, an Amish Mennonite named Calvin Lapp, explained: There are three things the Amish dont like: And thats government; they wont get involved in government. They dont like the public education system; they wont send their children to education. And ... they also dont like the health system. Those three things are all part of what COVID is, he said. Attkisson noted that after a short shutdown last year, the Amish chose a unique path that led to COVID-19 tearing through at warp speed. The community gathered for a religious celebration in May 2020, where they all took communion. Lapp then described how the Amish take communion: They dunk their wine into a cup, and they take turns to drink out of the cup. So you go the whole way down the line and everybody drinks out of that cup, so if one person has coronavirus, the rest of the church is going to get coronavirus. While he acknowledged that everybody got coronavirus, Lapp defended the communitys approach: Its a worse thing to quit working than dying. But to shut down and say that we cant go to church, we cant get together with family, we cant see our old people in the hospital, we got to quit working its going completely against everything that we believe. About a year after the coronavirus pandemic first broke out in the U.S., national news outlets and The Associated Press wire service reported that the Lancaster County Amish community had reached herd immunity, meaning that a large part of the population had been infected with COVID-19 and became immune. However, precise data is difficult to come across because the Amish were hesitant to publicize coronavirus cases in their community. Steve Nolt, a scholar on Amish and Mennonite culture, told Attkisson that in some cases, Amish people ... refused to go to the hospital, even when they were very sick because if they went there, they wouldnt be able to have visitors, and it was more important to be sick, even very sick, at home and have the ability to have some people around you than to go to the hospital and be isolated. Nolt added that even those who ... believed that they had COVID tended not to get tested. Their approach tended to be Im sick, I know Im sick, I dont have to have someone else tell me Im sick, or a concern that if they got a positive test, they would then be asked to really dramatically limit what they were doing in a way that might be uncomfortable for them. Theres no evidence of any more deaths among the Amish than in places that shut down tight. Some claim there were fewer here, Attkisson maintained. Thats without masking, staying at home or taking the coronavirus vaccine. Lapp highlighted that the absence of a prolonged shutdown meant that the Amish made more money in the last year than we ever did as the rest of the country experienced economic hardships because of lockdowns. He described 2020 as our best year ever. Catholic soldiers can refuse COVID-19 vaccine on conscience grounds: archbishop Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Catholic members of the U.S. Armed Forces should be allowed to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine if it goes against the sanctity of his or her conscience, according to Timothy P. Broglio, a Roman Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services, USA. Broglio released a statement on Tuesday regarding concerns raised about COVID-19 vaccine mandates and soldiers' religious objections on the basis of conscience. The Pentagon recently issued a mandate stating that all U.S. service personnel must be fully vaccinated, setting different deadlines for each branch of the military. Exemptions for religious reasons were included. Despite the Pentagon mandate, The Washington Post reported that hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members have not been fully vaccinated yet. Broglio noted that some Catholic soldiers have expressed concerns over how the research used to develop the vaccines that combat COVID-19 are tied to the tissue cells of an aborted baby. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were tested using an abortion-derived cell line. That type of a link has been for centuries considered remote material cooperation with evil and is never sinful, Broglio wrote. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed, tested, and is produced, with abortion-derived cell lines. That vaccine is, therefore, more problematic. If it were the only vaccine available, it would be morally permissible, he added. While noting that high-ranking Catholic Church authorities have declared the vaccine morally acceptable, the archbishop added that the Church treasures her teaching on the sanctity of conscience. Accordingly, no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience, he wrote. The denial of religious accommodations, or punitive or adverse personnel actions taken against those who raise earnest, conscience-based objections, would be contrary to federal law and morally reprehensible. Broglio noted that those who refuse to get the vaccine should still act in charity for their neighbors by following public health guidelines like engaging in social distancing, wearing face coverings, getting tested on a regular basis, and remaining open to receiving a treatment should one become available that is not derived from, or tested with abortion-derived cell lines. Last December, the Catholic Churchs Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement saying it was morally acceptable for Catholics to take the COVID-19 vaccine, despite its ties to the cells of an aborted baby. In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed, stated the CDF. In January, both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received their first shots of the vaccine. In October, the Vatican enacted a mandate for visitors and employees of Vatican City to either be vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19. Big education has zero tolerance for informed and involved parents Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Our shocking slide into the surreal world of leftist leadership has led to this: American parents are now the enemy. Big Education and a weaponized Department of Justice are going after the very people who should have the most say in public education. School boards and public school administrators, like in Loudoun County, Virginia, where I live, have faced unprecedented informed dissent from parents of every background. Instead of acting like public servants, they act like the petty gods of Mount Olympus recklessly wielding their (unconstitutional) power as they try to strike down (e.g. silence, fire, dox and demonize) anyone who dares to challenge their rule. But like typical progressives, theyre the victims. Theyre more than deserving of the outrage and peaceful protests by American parents. Were fed up with the pollution of our childrens minds with LGBT pedophilia and porn, racism, colorism, anti-capitalism, religious bigotry, anti-free speech, and other anti-American propaganda. I dont advocate violence in any form. I fully advocate parent-led education and fully oppose government-led indoctrination. My wife and I withdrew our school-aged children from Loudoun County Public Schools. I wont be silenced by those who think parents have no right to help shape what our children learn in schools funded by our tax dollars. We now homeschool all of our children and are passionate about school choice. Sorry, Terry McAuliffe. Not sure why you dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. There are no schools without students. There are no students without parents. Parents are the primary educators, the primary influencers, and the primary individuals who have to deal with the emotional and psychological fall-out of public educations increasingly destructive liberal indoctrination. The National School Boards Association, bolstered by the leftist news establishments false narratives, has called for President Joe Biden (whose children didnt attend public schools) to sic the Department of Justice on dissenting parents, now grotesquely labeled as domestic terrorists. Let me introduce you to some of the parents leading this fight in my county. These are passionate individuals who never wouldve thought theyd be forced into such a battle. These are everyday moms and dads who defy the fake news caricatures. Ive shared the stage with each of these remarkable women and men. So, Ive asked them why theyve chosen to get involved. Meet Xi Van Fleet. Xi fled communist China. She knows, firsthand, about the suppression of basic human rights like life, free speech, and religious liberty. She knows what unlimited government control looks like. Many black/brown/Asian parents speak up against Critical Race Theory. The Left always uses the Trump card to divide Americans and to discredit those who dare to push back on their radical agenda, Xi explains. I asked her why it matters if you use someones preferred (and made up) pronouns. This is not about pronouns, she says. The radical Left is altering reality and forcing us to conform. The goal is not to help transgenders. The goal is to control everyone else. Meet Joe Mobley. Joe is another Loudoun county parent. Hes a podcaster and describes himself as an uncloseted conservative. One of the viral videos with his informed dissent focused on the insanely sexually explicit diversity books offered by the school district to young children (see it here.) I asked him about the most shocking thing he learned since getting involved in fighting LCPS [Loudon County Public Schools]. LCPS willingness to openly lie, even when the truth is a matter of public record. Like saying CRT isnt in our schools while CRT Develop Planning is a line item in the budget, Joe explains. Media Matters says were billionaire-backed professional activists. I can assure you I am struggling to stay in the fight for my family, community, and country. I have a real job that is extremely demanding and important, Im active in my church. We are about to have our fourth child under seven. The only support I have is emotional support from my family. Meet Patti Hidalgo Menders. Patti is the president of the Loudoun County Republican Womens Club (the largest in Virginia). For some reason, its only a problem when a conservative is involved politically. On the Left, it is a standard operating procedure. Her parents fled communist Cuba; they were branded enemies of the state. Now, Patti has become the enemy of Big Education as she was blacklisted by a private Facebook group made up of former and current LCPS teachers and board members who wanted to target her publicly. Shes also a mom of six boys, one of whom is still a student at LCPS. I asked her why shes involved. If parents dont get involved, then the school boards will continue to dictate what is best for their children. I do not coparent with the government. I do not coparent with the school board. This Loudoun County school board continues to listen to special interest groups and equity consultants instead of listening to the parents and the children/students. Parents need to take a stand! Meet Michael Rivera. Michael is yet another Loudoun County parent, with two children in LCPS. Hes a public safety professional who is deeply concerned about the safety of childrens minds in public education. Students may not have the intellectual wherewithal to fight per se but we can educate our children. As a result of the indoctrinating topics being proliferated, our job as parents got harder, he explains. We need to explain things to our children by stating and explaining reality and facts. That explanation includes ugly facts about the history of the United States. We need to give our children evidence and truth so they can debate and refute radical political ideologies. In the end, our children will be independent thinkers, but it is our job as parents to guide them down the right paths. Michael opposes the blatant CRT principles being pushed on students in government schools. Im not white, but I prefer not to lead with that fact. There is absolutely NO good that comes from reinforcing judgment of others solely by color. We know for a fact that it is illogical and was a false proposition during the awful years of slavery and oppression of blacks. I look to all of the successful minorities in America and only see progress for all. How ironic and ludicrous is it that wealthy, powerful, successful black Americans are trying to destroy the very [capitalist] system that allowed them to be who they are? Meet Shawntel Cooper. Shawntel is a working, fighting mom. She is a no-nonsense warrior for her children who doesnt mince words. Her speeches at school board meetings are straight fire! I asked her if shes the parent fake news keeps talking about that wants to oppress black and brown people (insert eye-rolling and laughter here). Im black, and Im very happy with my natural skin tone. I have noticed a lot of flip-flopping with the school system stating they are not teaching CRT. But then they changed the name to Culturally Responsive Framework anti-bias with the same curriculum they lied about. I was taught to never listen to rumors but check the facts before assuming. Ive seen so many people marching for BLM, and we all witnessed BLM didn't do a thing for those communities they encouraged [activists] to burn down. When I saw the shooting and looting, I knew then and there it was a political move to keep racism alive. Meet you. The great thing about these parents, who apparently threaten Big Education and the Biden administration, is that they not only peacefully oppose the destructive policies being passed, but they also offer detailed alternatives. There are lots of great teachers and administrators in the public education system. My wife was a private and public school teacher for thirteen years (and continues as a homeschool educator). But Critical Race Theory, Feminist Theory (FemCrit), Queer Theory and other radical ideologies have been supplanting actual education for years. And the National Education Association (here, here and here) and the American Federation of Teachers (here, here and here) insist on this radicalization. As a parent, are you willing to be silent while our childrens minds become experimental grounds for forced political activism? There are resources to help inform and equip you like Fight for Schools, Parents Defending Education, and Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). There is a battle going on for the very heart and soul of our youth who are daily bombarded with dangerous and divisive ideologies. We must have zero tolerance for schools marginalizing parents and pretending our voices dont matter. Its a struggle parents cannot lose. Its a struggle America must win. Cigna refuses to answer shareholder question about undermining religious liberty Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment We're currently in annual shareholder meeting season, which runs roughly April through June. Being part of a team which helps design, update and maintain Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and also being an investor in those funds personally, I set out to take responsibility for what is in the portfolios by attending the shareholder meetings of the companies I own. But the point was not just to show up, but also to speak up, so I researched ways in which these companies were taking positions on divisive political issues which were not necessary to serve shareholder interests, and which might even work against them. Case in point: the insurance company Cigna, which has been the subject of controversy lately due to press reports about diversity training which seemed to take some inflammatory positions on some contentious issues. For example: The Human Rights Campaign lists Cigna as a supporter of the Equality Act, which severely weakens the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. RFRA represents a broad political consensus, having been introduced in the Senate by Teddy Kennedy, in the house by Chuck Schumer, and having been signed into law by Bill Clinton. The Equality Act, on the other hand, does not enjoy broad appeal, having been supported in the House on an almost pure party-line vote. Moderates in both parties have made it clear that they have concerns, specifically about the weakening of conscience and religious liberty protections. According to conservative group 2ndVote, Cigna sponsored HRC dinners and received the highest possible score on the HRCs Corporate Equality Index. Furthermore, 2ndVote has assigned the company a score of only 1 out of 5 in the Life and First Amendment categories, reporting that the company donated to United Way chapters that fund Planned Parenthood in 2015-2016, and also donated to Susan G. Komen, which donates to Planned Parenthood (but insists that those contributions are not used for abortions). Recently, The Washington Examiner acquired leaked documents on Cignas diversity training. The training included an inclusive language presentation that implied it was exclusionary to say brown bag lunch, man-power, hey guys, long-time no-see, no can do, hip-hip hooray, and, I had a crazy day. Christians are likely to be particularly concerned about reports from The Examiner that, alongside the standard diversity training around white privilege, Cigna employees were taught about religious privilege, defined as a set of advantages that benefits believers of a certain religion but not people who practice other religions or no religions at all. There was also a slide in which one had to check off various identities to determine their privilege, including being a Christian. I decided to ask the CEO of Cigna, David Cordani, about these issues at the annual shareholders meeting. I followed the link as provided by Investor Relations, logged in using the proper "control number" which is given to shareholders so they can gain entry, and then posted a question in the Q&A tab. The system accepted the question. But the company ignored the question. Furthermore, meeting presenters implied that all relevant questions had been taken. In addition, the company failed to answer the question in both a follow-up email and a phone call. This is what I asked (with slight edits due for the sake of brevity and privacy): "Recent press reports reveal that you have subjected employees to 'diversity training' which accuses "a certain religion" of conferring "religious privilege". In addition you have endorsed the Equality Act which severely curtails religious freedom. The current proxy statement claims that "Cigna supports fundamental human rights for all." How do you square that statement with the endorsement of actions that sideline and unfavorably label, certain religious views?" Was this question relevant to the business of the meeting? Well, you be the judge. Here are some quotes from the Proxy Statement which was included in the materials for the meeting, and was linked to on the shareholder meeting portal: "Cigna supports fundamental human rights for all. Our support for human rights is buttressed by our Human Rights Statement and our Supplier Code of Ethics." 2021 Proxy Statement I specifically cited that quote in my question. Regarding the Equality Act, the same proxy statement includes this: "As a result of our efforts to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce, Cigna has been awarded multiple recognitions, including: Number 42 on Diversity, Incs Top 50 Diverse Companies list 2020 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations Corporate Equality Index Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality nine years in a row (2021)." 2021 Proxy Statement So the Proxy Statement for that meeting openly brags about the partnership with the Human Rights Campaign. How can a question about endorsing the Equality Act on HRCs website, which of course is relevant to the 100% HRC score, not be relevant to that same meeting? I've had some brief email correspondence, and traded phone messages, with the Investor Relations office of the company. As of now, the discussion is off-the-record. I am anxious for Cigna to go on the record and answer these questions so that I can report the company's side of the story. I like this company. I wouldn't be invested in it if I didn't think that the management of the company was excellent at running its core business. Cigna as a business has a lot going for it (of course, I'm not making any specific investment recommendations in saying this, and as I already disclosed, I work for a company which is invested in it, and in which I am personally invested). I'm not biased against this company; quite to the contrary, my interests are aligned with it. However, Cigna simply needs to either get out of extraneous political debates and leave the culture wars to the culture warriors, or to give an open, clear, and transparent accounting to its owners for such politicking. If Cigna decides to go on the record and address these questions, I will be happy to publish its side of the story. Hobby Lobby ordered to pay $220K for not allowing trans employee to use women's restroom Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A state court has ordered the Christian-owned craft store chain Hobby Lobby to pay over $200,000 in fines for refusing to allow one of its trans-identified employees to use the womens bathroom. A three-judge Illinois appellate court panel unanimously ruled Friday that Hobby Lobby violated the Illinois Human Rights Act by declining to allow one of its employees to use the bathroom that corresponds with the person's gender identity instead of biological sex. Fridays ruling reinforces an earlier conclusion of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. The company was ordered to pay its longtime employee $220,000 in attorneys fees for emotional distress. The company argued the fine was excessive. However, the court did not find Hobby Lobby's arguments persuasive. The retail chain, owned by the Green family, has become known for its adherence to Christian principles. As explained in the decision, the employee, a biological male who now identifies as Meggan Sommerville, began working for Hobby Lobby in 1998. In 2007, while working as an employee of the Hobby Lobby in East Aurora, Sommerville began to transition from male to female. The transition became official in 2010 when Sommerville formally informed Hobby Lobby of her transition and her intent to begin using the womens bathroom at the store. Sommerville presented the store with an updated drivers license, Social Security card and name change court order. Although Hobby Lobby changed Sommervilles personnel records and benefits information to reflect a "female identity, the store never allowed the employee to use the womens restroom over the past decade. Sommerville has faced disciplinary action for using the womens bathroom. The East Aurora store did install a unisex restroom in 2013, enabling store employees and customers to use either the bathroom corresponding to their [biological sex] or the unisex bathroom. Sommerville contended, however, that being forced to use the unisex bathroom made it seem as if they were segregating me, adding, I felt as though there were the guys, the gals, and then me. Hobby Lobbys provision of a unisex bathroom available to all employees and customers cannot cure its unequal treatment of Sommerville with respect to the womens bathroom," the court maintained. "If every employee and customer except Sommerville may use either the unisex bathroom or the bathroom corresponding to their sex, but Sommervilles choices are limited to the unisex bathroom or a bathroom that does not correspond to her sex, Hobby Lobby is still discriminating unlawfully." Sommerville alleged that the inability to use the womens restroom led to severe mental anguish, and the court agreed. It ruled that Hobby Lobbys actions violated a law barring discrimination against any individual because of his or her ... [sex], or sexual orientation ... in connection with employment ... and the ability of public accommodations. Additionally, the law makes it illegal for any employer to ... segregate, or act with respect to ... discipline ... or terms, privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of unlawful discrimination and for places of public accommodation to deny or refuse to another the full and equal enjoyment of the facilities. The court emphasized that discrimination against a person because of his or her actual perceived ... sex ... [or] sexual orientation constitutes unlawful discrimination. Hobby Lobbys conduct thus falls squarely within the definition of unlawful discrimination under the Act, as it treats Sommerville differently from all other women who work or shop at its store, solely on the basis that her gender identity is not traditionally associated with her designated sex at birth, the court argued. The Commission did not err in finding that Hobby Lobbys conduct of denying Sommerville access to its womens bathroom violated her civil rights under articles 2 and 5 of the Act. While the courts opinion never discussed Hobby Lobbys Christian faith or religious beliefs, it did mention that the arts-and-crafts chain sees an individuals sex the status of being male or female as an immutable condition. Hobby Lobby gained national recognition for citing its religious beliefs when objecting to the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The mandate forced employers to cover their employees birth control in employer-sponsored healthcare packages. Hobby Lobby asserted that providing its employees with contraception coverage, including abortion-inducing drugs, would violate the companys sincerely held religious beliefs. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell that companies could refuse to provide contraception for their employees if doing so violated their religious beliefs. The Illinois appellate courts ruling against Hobby Lobby comes as congressional Democrats are pushing for the passage of the Equality Act, which would enshrine nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community into federal law. The language of the Equality Act is similar to that of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Many conservatives have expressed concern about its implications for religious liberty. Va. school district claims it followed protocol amid reports 2 girls were sexually assaulted by trans student Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Virginia school district is defending its response to two sexual assault allegations after it was accused of covering up one of the assaults because it raised questions about the potential consequences of a policy passed in August allowing students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity. Loudoun County Public Schools released a statement Wednesday acknowledging that it is "aware of the media and social media reports concerning alleged sexual assaults at two of our high school campuses." The district maintained that the proper "process was followed with respect to these allegations." On Aug. 10, the Loudoun County School Board approved Policy 8040, allowing trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity instead of their biological sex. The Daily Wire reported the May 28 sexual assault of Scott Smith's 15-year-old daughter at Loudoun County's Stone Bridge High School Monday. The publication reported a biological boy who identifies as a girl alleged to have been wearing a skirt entered a girls' bathroom and sexually assaulted Smith's ninth-grade daughter. Although juvenile records are sealed, Smith's lawyer, Elizabeth Lancaster, told the news outlet that the student faces two counts of forcible sodomy, one count of anal sodomy and one count of forcible fellatio related to the incident at school. As Smith noted during an appearance on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" Tuesday night, a "concerned parent" contacted him and his wife Friday night to ask for the name of the boy who sexually assaulted his daughter. When Smith refused to divulge that information and asked for the reason behind the inquiry, the caller informed him that "there was another assault at Broad Run High School and the rumor is that it's the same boy." "Within a half an hour, it was confirmed that yes, this did happen," he added. From there, Smith decided to speak out publicly about what happened to his daughter. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office released a statement last week announcing that "a teenager from Ashburn has been charged with sexual battery and abduction of a fellow student at Broad Run High School." "The investigation determined on the afternoon of October 6, the 15-year-old suspect forced the victim into an empty classroom where he held her against her will and inappropriately touched her," the statement from the sheriff's office reads. The reaction to The Daily Wire reporting was swift and immediate. In video footage obtained by Fox News, outraged parents confronted the Loudoun County School Board and Superintendent of Schools Scott Ziegler at a school board meeting Tuesday night. "When is Dr. Ziegler and this board going to be held accountable?" one parent asked. "What did you think was going to happen when you pushed porn into the classrooms and into the libraries and let boys into girls' bathrooms?" Another parent maintained that "there is something seriously wrong with a system that prioritizes reporting a rape internally to the superintendent so that they can control the narrative instead of calling the police." A third parent accused the district of "hiding evidence from every parent in LCPS about a heinous sexual assault of a student that occurred in a bathroom so you could pass radical Policy 8040." In its statement Wednesday, Loudoun County Public Schools offered clarification of its responses in the cases of these two sexual assault allegations. The school district contends that police were contacted to investigate the claims of sexual assault. "Principals are legally required to report to the local law enforcement agency any act, including sexual assault, that may constitute a felony offense [under Virginia law]," the school district's statement reads. "That process was followed with respect to these allegations." The statement further adds that the Loudoun County Sherriff's Office was "contacted within minutes of receiving the initial report on May 28." "Once a matter has been reported to law enforcement, LCPS does not begin its investigation until law enforcement advises LCPS that it has completed the criminal investigation," the statement continued. "LCPS has cooperated and continues to cooperate with law enforcement." NEW: Statement from Loudoun County Public Schools on the two alleged assaults that it appears to have covered up. pic.twitter.com/sOb0OlIYVR Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) October 13, 2021 The school district stated that it is "prohibited from disciplining any student without following the Title IX grievance process, which includes investigating complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault." "LCPS does impose interim measures to protect the safety of students involved in the original incident, deter retaliation, and preserve the integrity of the investigation and resolution process. LCPS has complied and continues to comply with its obligations under Title IX." The school district also maintains that members of the school board "were not aware of the specific details of this incident until it was reported in media outlets earlier this week." The LCPS statement didn't address the fact that the perpetrator of the sexual assaults was a trans-identified male and that one of the incidents took place in a girls' bathroom. The district also declined to weigh in on parental concerns about Policy 8040. Concerns about Policy 8040 predate the reporting about the May 28 assault on Smith's daughter. On June 22, slightly more than three weeks after the sexual assault of Smith's daughter, a school board meeting in Loudoun County made national headlines as parents forcefully spoke out against a proposed school district policy that would allow trans-identified students to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity. At least two parents were arrested after the meeting was declared an "unlawful assembly." Smith was one of those parents. The Daily Wire noted that Smith became the "poster child" for the National School Boards Association's claims that parent protests of school board policies could be a form of "domestic terrorism" as a result of a viral video showing his arrest. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice directed law enforcement agencies to collaborate on "addressing threats" against school officials after the NSBA requested "federal assistance" to combat what the organization characterized as "domestic terrorism" and "hate crimes." In his Fox News appearance Tuesday, Smith accused the Biden of administration of using the video of his arrest at the school board meeting to "weaponize" the government against concerned parents. Smith also elaborated on the events that led to his arrest. As one of several parents hoping to address the Loudoun County School Board on June 22, Smith and his wife were confronted by a left-wing activist who berated them upon learning that they were there to speak out against the transgender policy. When Smith tried to tell the woman what happened to his daughter, she asserted, "that's not what happened." After she vowed to hurt his business by posting unfavorable reviews on social media, Smith called her a "b****." From there, law enforcement officials descended on Smith, wrestling him to the ground and causing his lip to bleed. Smith's wife shouted out, "My child was raped at school, and this is what happens!" The Daily Wire concluded that the passage of the policy would have been "politically impossible had Smith's story seen the light of day." Lancaster agreed, suggesting that "If someone would have sat and listened for 30 seconds to what Scott had to say, they would have been mortified and heartbroken." While the school district had knowledge of what happened to Smith's daughter, it assured the public that such incidents had not taken place in Loudoun County. At the June 22 meeting, Ziegler dismissed the idea of predators taking advantage of policies like Policy 8040 as a "red herring." He cited a Time Magazine article and asserted that "the predator transgender student or person simply does not exist." Smith told Fox News that in the weeks following his daughter's assault and his arrest, he wanted to keep a low profile because "we were under the impression from the prosecutor that this sexual predator was being held on in-house arrest with an ankle monitor and would not return to school until these court sessions were done." "I was told by everyone my attorneys, the prosecuting attorney, friends of the family, people that I don't even know that if I wanted justice for my daughter, that I needed to keep my mouth quiet and not speak out," he said. "Because in order to get justice for my daughter, which is the most important thing to me of course, was do not come out and let justice prevail." Elaborating on the harm that the incident at Stone Bridge High School caused his family, Smith told Ingraham that as "the school board and the school system just went on summer break and abandoned us, my wife and I had to spend the entire summer rebuilding our daughter." He indicated that while his daughter had a "couple ... rough nights" and the family endured "Hell," she is "doing very well." "She's a survivor," he said. "She's a winner." Smith's daughter is not the first to have been sexually assaulted in a girls' bathroom. Pascha Thomas alleged that in 2017, her 5-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted in a girls' bathroom at an elementary school in Decatur, Georgia. "One of her classmates came into her bathroom, a little boy," Thomas recalled. "She tried to leave the bathroom, [but] the little boy pushed her against the bathroom stall. Basically pinned her up against there. She asked him to stop. He wouldn't. He took his fingers and he was penetrating her through his pants. She asked him to stop, and stated several times that it hurt. He refused." Thomas worked with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom to file a lawsuit against the school district, contending that its bathroom policy enabled the assault on the then-5-year-old girl to take place. A poll from Rasmussen Reports released on Wednesday finds that Americans are split in their opinions of Attorney General Merrick Garland's order for law enforcement to address threats against school boards. While 44% of likely voters believe that the investigation into alleged threats against school officials is warranted, 47% disagree. Support for investigating threats against school officials stands at 64% among Democrats and 31% among Republicans. At the same time, 68% of respondents agreed with a statement from Republicans in the U.S. Senate asserting that "the reported heated encounters between concerned parents and school boards often involve speech that is clearly protected by the First Amendment." Seventy-eight percent of Republicans agreed with that statement, along with 57% of Democrats and 72% of unaffiliated voters. Seventh-day Adventist Church experiences lowest rate of growth in 16 years Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The number of people joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church dipped below 1 million in 2020 for the first time since 2004, according to a recent report by the denomination. The Seventh-day Adventist Church held its 2021 Annual Council on Sunday in Silver Spring, Maryland, with the gathering featuring a combination of in-person and virtual attendance. David Trim, director of the Churchs Archives, Statistics and Research Department, noted that people entering the denomination, known as accessions, went from approximately 1.3 million in 2019 to approximately 800,000 in 2020. This marks the first time the number of accessions has dipped below 1 million in a year since 2004, according to a report published on Sunday. Trim told those gathered that while COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns likely contributed to this decline, he believes that another potential factor is a decline in personal evangelism, which he labeled the crucial importance of interpersonal contact. Erton Kohler, who was elected secretary of the church earlier this year, gave his first report to the Executive Committee during the gathering. During the last 18 months, the church has suffered but faced it head-on, reinvented itself and, by the grace of God, overcame its challenges, stated Kohler. Its time to move forward, fully depending on prayer and on our biblical identity, accepting the commitment to be a positive influence in this world, and renewing our focus on virtual and in-person mission through Christs method. According to the Seventh-day Adventist World Church Statistics 2020 web page, despite the drop in accessions, other metrics on the denomination showed signs of improvement. From Dec. 31, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020, the number of churches in the denomination went from about 91,140 to around 92,186, while the total membership went from 21.556 million to about 21.760 million. Last October, at the 2020 Annual Council, which was held virtually due to ongoing pandemic gathering restrictions, it was reported that the denomination expected to experience a $26 million decline in tithes and mission offerings. Juan Prestol-Puesan, treasurer for the denomination, told the Executive Committee in a virtual presentation at the time that they were in survival mode as a result of the drop in donations. According to reports received from division treasurers, the decrease in tithe income could be estimated as low as 5 percent and as high as 25 percent in some places, and the decrease in mission offerings as low as 10 percent and as high as 40 percent, stated Prestol-Puesan, as reported by the Adventist Review. Texas abortion law temporarily reinstated by appeals court 2 days after being blocked Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge Friday temporarily reinstated a controversial Texas law that bans abortions as early as six weeks of gestation, striking down a lower federal court ruling that temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the legislation. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from the Texas Attorney General's Office to temporarily suspend a judge's order blocking the Texas Heartbeat Act. The two-page ruling gives the U.S. Department of Justice until Oct. 12 to reply. The Texas Heartbeat Act, which took effect on Sept. 1, bans most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. It also allows private citizens to take civil action against anyone who "performs and induces an abortion" or "knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for or reimbursing the costs of abortion through insurance or otherwise." "Tonight the Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay in the #SB8 case. I will continue to fight to keep #Texas free from federal overreach," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted Friday night. The progressive legal organization American Civil Liberties Union called the 5th Circuit's order "deeply alarming" because it allows the law to go back into effect when "abortion providers were quickly starting to resume abortion care for all patients." "Today's order means that the havoc that this law has created is allowed to restart," Deputy Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project Brigitte Amiri said in a statement. "Make no mistake: The devastating impacts of this ban will be just as bad this time around." Kimberlyn Schwartz, the director of media and communications for the pro-life advocacy group Texas Right to Life, said the 5th Circuit's order is an "answered prayer." "The Texas Heartbeat Act saves approximately 100 lives from abortion per day, and we're grateful that this tremendous impact will continue," she said. "We expect the Biden administration to appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S., and we are confident Texas will continue to defeat these attacks on our life-saving efforts." The ruling comes two days after a federal judge granted a request from the Justice Department for a temporary restraining order against Senate Bill 8, drawing swift praise from the Biden administration and abortion providers and criticism from pro-life advocates. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama based in Austin, had argued in Wednesday's ruling that the law "violates the Constitution and has a widespread effect." Chelsey Youman, Texas state director of the pro-life organization Human Coalition Action, called Pittman's ruling "a shameless example of unfettered judicial activism." "[Pittman's] historic injunction has no regard for the rule of law and is more about partisan politics than a fair judgment of the law," she said in a statement to The Christian Post. The DOJ has argued that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognizes the "constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy," which legalized abortion nationwide. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services introduced a "three-pronged Department-wide response" to the Texas Heartbeat Act aimed at protecting "reproductive health care for Texans" and improving "access to safe and legal abortions in Texas." HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that "every American deserves access to health care no matter where they live including access to safe and legal abortions." A Texas obstetrician and gynecologist who began his career before abortion became a constitutional right publicly stated last month that he violated the law by providing an abortion to a woman whose pregnancy was "beyond the state's new limit." "I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care," Dr. Alan Braid wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, told The Wall Street Journal at the time that his organization was looking into whether Braid's claims are anything more than a "legal stunt." He said that the new law provides a four-year statute of limitations for people to sue violators. "It definitely seems like a legal stunt and we are looking into whether it is more than that," Seago was quoted as saying. George Barna shares 4 ways Christian parents can combat medias influence in childrens lives Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A prominent Christian researcher is urging parents to take an active role in combating the influence of the media on their children, which he believes has led Americans to embrace teachings that run contrary to the biblical worldview. The third day of programming for the Family Research Council Action's Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, formerly known as the Values Voter Summit, was held on Friday. The annual gathering of social conservatives took place at the Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia, this year. The first panel of the day discussed the crisis in the church that has developed because Christians dont have a biblical worldview. Moderated by David Closson, the director of the Family Research Councils newly launched Center for Biblical Worldview, the panel included George Barna, director of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, Joseph Backholm of the Center for Biblical Worldview and Nancy Pearcey, professor and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. While much of the discussion focused on problems that've resulted from the decline in the number of Americans who hold a biblical worldview, the panelists also provided advice to parents and faith leaders about how to instill a biblical worldview in their children. The most significant influence on the development of a worldview in America today is what we absorb from the media," Barna contended. "And if thats the case, then that says to me as a parent or a grandparent or somebody who cares about the development of the worldview of children that Ive got to pay attention to what media is investing in those childrens minds and hearts. Barna then listed four Ms that parents should employ to combat the harmful influence of the media on their children. He first advised parents to monitor what these kids are being exposed to because our research shows that most parents are happy to buy their children every device the kids want, and then they leave the kids up to determine what theyre going to take in through all those devices. They dont even know what their kids are being exposed to. Barna also suggested that parents minimize it because our research also shows that in America, the biggest addiction in our country is media. We spend more time literally absorbing messages from media than anything else we do except for sleep. Illustrating the need to limit the enormous exposure that we have to that kind of information, Barna maintained that parents do not tell their children to eat everything in the house, but rather eat a certain amount of things three times a day. He told parents that we need to do the same kind of ingestion methods with media. Introducing mediate as the third M, Barna called on parents to serve as the mediator between what the media is trying to get you to believe and what we, as followers of Jesus, believe based on what the scriptures teach. He remarked that if parents are watching a show with their children that exposes them to an idea that runs contrary to the biblical worldview, they should tell them: We know thats a lie because the Scriptures teach us this. The final M Barna urged parents to rely on was moralize. In other words, helping them to understand the difference between right and wrong. He predicted that if parents simply did that in the lives of their kids, it would revolutionize America today. Setting the stage for the conversation, Barna pointed to research that found only 6% of adults have a biblical worldview, a number that rises to 9% among people who call themselves Christian. Another statistic that's particularly concerning is that only 19% of born-again Christians have a biblical worldview. Barna further noted that only 21% of those who attend evangelical churches have a biblical worldview. He implied that the small share of Americans who have a biblical worldview stems from the fact that a large proportion of our senior pastors dont have a biblical worldview. Describing worldview as a critical element, he explained that a persons worldview begins forming at 15 to 18 months of age and is almost fully formed by the age of 13. Acknowledging the important role that pastors have in shaping peoples worldview, Pearcey advised faith leaders to teach apologetics from the pulpit, specifically any time you introduce a biblical doctrine, you tell people how to defend it. Pearcey added: We need to be equipping people with the tools to face the attack that theyre going to face as soon as they go out of the sanctuary. She stressed that the exposure to the media and internet alone are not the only factors causing many children to develop a non-biblical worldview: What youre seeing now is a trend toward I got it at school. Pearcey also emphasized that young children are given the idea that gender is a social construct from schools as well as from childrens programming, saying, "Our kids are being exposed to secular worldviews from a very young age from the Saturday morning cartoons. Panelists also elaborated on what constitutes a worldview. Backholm defined a worldview as assumptions about origin, meaning, morality and destiny. He indicated that a persons worldview is formulated by answers to questions asking where did I come from, does my life have meaning, yes, no and why, who determines what is right and wrong and what happens when I die? Backholmattributed the lack of Americans who actually subscribe to a biblical worldview to the fact that we dont take those assumptions and then connect the dots to everything that we believe in public policy. He pointed to pressure to believe the correct things politically about gender, about human sexuality [and] about marriage as the reason why rather than making sure their worldview forms their politics, many people allow their politics to form their worldview. As Christians, were supposed to start with the foundation of this is what God said is true about the world. I know thats true, therefore Im going to make sure everything I think about X,Y and Z is actually based on these assumptions about what God said is true, but most of us arent doing that, he lamented. We have all this pressure to be good people and to prove were good people by thinking the correct things about X,Y and Z, and we know we have to think these things to prove that were good people, and so were going to form a worldview deductively after weve concluded, after weve formed our political opinions and made sure our worldview fits our political conclusions rather than make sure that our political conclusions are based on our worldview. Noting that there are 16,000 hours between kindergarten and 12th grade, Backholm proclaimed that you cannot overcome the impact of those 16,000 hours by taking them to church on Sunday and maybe taking them to youth group on Wednesday night. He also elaborated on the effects of what children learn at school on their worldview: Theyre cucumbers that are becoming pickles. And the brine that they soak in has a lot to say about what they become. Backholm warned that even if children are not introduced to pagan lies by their teachers, Theyre still soaking things in from the culture thats around them thats influencing what they love, which the research tells us, what they love determines what they ultimately believe is true. Barna added that children experience 32,000 hours during that same period of time of media exposure. He accused schools of laying a foundation that the media then supports, exposing children to 48,000 hours' worth of content that runs contrary to the biblical worldview. Concerned parents pose no threat to school boards, professor declares Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A professor of political science from Fordham University says the U.S. Department of Justice has no evidence to support its claim that parents who oppose the teaching of controversial curriculum in public schools are akin to domestic terrorists. Referring to a Sept. 29 letter from the National School Board Association to President Joe Biden documenting heinous actions that could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, Nicholas Tampio argues in a USA Today op-ed that There is no quantitative data in the letter; instead, there are a bunch of disparate stories strung together to make it look like there is a pattern. The professor noted that the letter cites incidents at two school board meetings: An individual yelled a Nazi salute in protest to masking requirements, and another individual prompted the board to call a recess because of opposition to critical race theory. These acts are disruptive and inappropriate, but democracy is not a graduate school seminar, and parents are allowed to express themselves to elected school board members, Tampio asserts. Schools should want parents invested in the well-being of their children. In response to the NSBA letter, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memorandum to federal law enforcement agencies directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with each United States Attorney, to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders ... within 30 days to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff. Garlands memo claims there has been a disturbing spike in the harassment of school staff and a rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel. Alas, there is no evidence of a rise in the memorandum or references to where one could find evidence of it, Tampio writes in the op-ed. Tampio contends that it's outrageous for the attorney general to meddle in situations that are local in nature and, so far, have led to incredibly few acts of overt violence, certainly not with the character of domestic terrorism. The threat, he writes, appears to be mostly a figment of Democratic imagination. Further, he argues that, as per the U.S. Constitution, education is not a federal matter. Therefore, states and local school districts are responsible for keeping students safe, not the federal government. Tampio adds that the use of the FBI to monitor school board meetings is an incredible expansion of the federal governments police power." Without more evidence of real threats," he concluded that "Bidens political appointee appears to be making a political decision rather than a prudent one. The NSBA letter and the Garland memo follow several publicized school board meetings where parents have voiced their concerns about the material their children have been exposed to in school. Last month, the parent of a high school student in Fairfax County, Virginia, read excerpts aloud to school board members of content within two books available in the districts high school libraries that promote pedophilia and have detailed illustrations of a man having sex with a boy. The outrage over sexually explicit material used in public schools extends beyond concerned parents. The mayor of Hudson, Ohio, called on members of the Hudson City School District Board of Education to resign or face criminal charges at a board meeting last month for allowing a book featuring what he likened to child pornography to be included in the curriculum of a college-level English class. Criticizing the DOJ, many have noted that concerned parents have often been harassed and intimidated. For example, Beth Barts, a member of the school board in Loudoun County, Virginia, was censured for attacking parents and was subsequently recalled. An investigation found that she plotted to go after outspoken parents she disagreed with by encouraging people in an anti-racist Facebook group to hack the parents, which led to her losing her committee duties, The Daily Wire reported. In July, a top official with the Virginia Parent Teacher Association resigned after seemingly wishing death to parents who oppose the teaching of critical race theory and other progressive ideas. Michelle Leete, the vice president of training for the Virginia PTA, had said let them die at a rally in Fairfax County in response to concerned parents protesting the teaching of controversial curriculum in public schools. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Which branch of the federal government do you trust the most? The President? Congress? The Supreme Court? Gallup reports that a vast majority of Americans an average of two-thirds or more say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the judicial branch. The same polling shows over the past 2 decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently ranked as the most trusted branch of the federal government. As recently as 2020, 67% of Americans stated having confidence in the judiciary, compared to only 43% and 33% for the executive and legislative branch, respectively. But is public confidence in Americas highest court waning? Some would suggest it is, at least when looking at a recent Gallup poll noting that 54% of Americans say they trust the Supreme Court, a sharp 13 point drop compared to 2020. Despite the decline, the Supreme Court remains the most trusted branch. But make no mistake. If Americans are to continue trusting the Court as a legitimate, impartial institution that administers justice, then we must denounce the most pressing threat to the integrity of the judiciary: Court-packing. From trust to tyranny? The dangers of politicizing the Supreme Court In his new book, The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics, Justice Stephen Breyer warns about the consequences of a politicized judiciary, where courts become extensions of the ruling elite. He writes: The [Supreme] Courts power, like that of any tribunal, must depend on the publics willingness to accept and follow its decisions. He adds that before jumping to implement so-called reforms and proposals to expand the size of the Court, Americans should: Take account of certain background considerations, such as the trust that the Court has gradually built, the long period of trust needed to build that trust, and the importance of that trust in a diverse nation that values, indeed depends upon, a rule of law. In other words, trust not power is what binds Americans to the judiciary as an institution. Stacking a slew of liberal judges on the nations highest court would destroy that trust. Though court-packing is presented as a benign reform, this scheme would do more to deform the Court. It would disfigure the original intent of the judiciary, reducing our nations most trusted institution into a hyper-partisan tool, a tribunal freighted with political hacks, politicians in robes waiting for instructions from party headquarters. A judicial system rigged to favor politics would create widespread skepticism, cynicism, and distrust of opinions issued by a Democratic or Republican court. Virtually no one would take the Courts decisions seriously. Once the judiciary becomes a rubber-stamp for the pleasure and policies of those in power, the rule of law would be all but extinct in our nation. It wouldnt be long before Americans lose confidence in the authority of the courts, knowing that politics trump the law. Ultimately, without the rule of law and an independent judiciary, the very foundation of our Republic is in peril. The Supreme Court operating as a political puppet would be a prelude to tyranny where our rights and liberties (including religious freedom) come not from God, but from the government. A priceless heritage that binds Americans together In todays divisive climate, its difficult to focus on the issues that bring Americans together. After all, the Lefts scheme to pack the Supreme Court isnt built on a foundation of unity, but of division. To justify their Supreme Court Coup, court-packing proponents have constantly painted a caricature of a Supreme Court thats broken and divided along party lines. Even still, a majority of Americans do appear to be on the same page about what court-packing really is: A brazen attempt to overthrow the Supreme Court and grab more political power. Polling reflects this, showing us that 68% of American voters oppose court-packing. Justice Breyer writes in his book, I routinely observe Americans willingness to respect the Courts authority, and how that willingness helps keep our nation together. Without trust in the Supreme Court, Americas unique and special constitutional system one thats historically shone as a beacon of freedom to the world cannot survive for very long. Originally published at First Liberty. 200 radicals attack church service in India; Christian leaders demand authorities take action Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian leaders in India are demanding action be taken against a mob of 200 radical Hindu nationalists who left a church damaged and at least three Christian women seriously injured in an attack in India's northern state of Uttarakhand. The attackers accused the church of "illegally" converting people to Christianity. The Union of Catholic Asian News reports that a police complaint indicates that the mob attacked the church on Oct. 3 in Roorkee city's Solanipuram Colony and comprised members of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party and radical Hindu nationalist groups associated with the party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. As the service was about to begin, the mob reportedly barged into the church, thrashed the congregants and vandalized church properties, injuring at least three Christian women who were taken to a hospital in Dehradun city. Video footage of the damage caused by the attack was posted on social media. The attackers claimed the church was engaged in illegal conversion activities. The police complaint acknowledges that 200 people attacked the church, but no one was initially reported to have been arrested. However, a case has been filed against the perpetrators. "We demand strict action against them and police protection for us," Prio Sadhana Lanse, a leader in the church and who filed the police complaint, was quoted as saying. Lanse said the church members recognized many individuals in the mob as they had previously threatened to shut down the church. "The church that was attacked has been active for the past 30 to 40 years," Rev. Titoo Peter, a Methodist pastor, told UCA News. "Christians in Roorkee enjoy good relations with people of other faiths, and this is the first incident of a church being attacked. It is the handiwork of some bad elements who do not want peace and harmony in the area." Uttarakhand is one of the several Indian states that have "anti-conversion" laws. While some of these laws existed for decades in some states, no Christian has been convicted of "forcibly" converting anyone to Christianity. These laws, however, enable Hindu nationalist groups to make false charges against Christians. Nationalists are emboldened to attack churches under the pretext of the alleged forced conversion. Hindu nationalists have accused Christians of giving financial benefits to Hindus to convert them to Christianity. Anti-conversion laws state that no one is allowed to use the "threat" of "divine displeasure." This means Christians can't talk about Heaven or Hell. Also, if snacks or meals are served to Hindus after an evangelistic meeting, that could be seen as an "inducement." Christians make up about 2.5% of India's population, while Hindus comprise 79.5%. India ranks as the 10th-worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's 2021 World Watch List. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the U.S. State Department to label India as a "country of particular concern" for engaging in or tolerating severe religious freedom violations. Open Doors USA warns that since the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014, persecution against Christians and other religious minorities has increased. The group reports that "Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences." 6 killed, 3 wounded in Fulani attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria: NGO Community in Plateau state attacked during church service Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Radical Fulani militants reportedly killed six and wounded three others in attacks on two predominantly Christian farming communities in Nigeria's Plateau state this week as violence and death continue to increase in the African country, according to a report. The deaths and injuries occurred between Oct. 1 and Oct. 5, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported, adding that herders also destroyed more than 13 hectares of farmland worth millions of naira. ICC said it had sponsored eight hectares of the farmland that was destroyed. "I received a distressed call from the local zone chairman that, while they were in their place of worship that morning, it came to their notice that Fulani pushed their herds on the farm and grazed eight hectares of soybean [sic] crop," an ICC farm manager identified only by the name Paul was quoted as saying. "I assessed what happened to be deliberate, because if it was not well planned it would have been impossible to destroy eight hectares of farmland within that short of a period." ICC hasn't disclosed the name of the exact area in Plateau State where the violence took place. ICC quoted the community leader of one of the attacked communities saying that "the attackers came during our church service." "They grazed their cattle inside our farms, including the community farm," the community leader added. "Three of our vigilantes went to stop them without knowing that the attackers came with sophisticated weapons. Sadly, three of the vigilantes who guard the farm paid the price of becoming Christians and were killed that day." About 11 miles from that village, Fulani militants also killed two Christian farmers on Oct. 1, ICC noted. On Oct. 2, two more Christians were ambushed. One sustained gunshot wounds and is in critical condition. The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the third country most affected by terrorism in the world. A new report by Anambra-based nongovernmental organization International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) estimates that 4,400 Christians have been killed in the first 270 days of 2021 in Nigeria. The report claims Fulani radicals were responsible for killing no less than 2,540 Christians in the first nine months of 2021. The organization also states that at least 20 religious leaders have been killed or abducted during that time frame. The organization, headed by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi, called the ongoing violence "untamed anti-Christian genocidal killings and property violence." Intersociety's estimates rely on what the organization deems to be credible local and foreign media reports, government accounts, reports from international rights groups and eyewitness accounts. Because of the lack of adequate government record keeping, death tolls reported by media outlets or government entities are estimates and can be skewed. Global human rights activists continue to raise the alarm about the troubling trend of deadly attacks on communities in the farming-rich Middle Belt of Nigeria by radicalized Fulani herders and in the country's northeast by Islamic extremists. "The Nigerian Government has continued to face sharp criticisms and strong accusations of culpability and complicity in the killings and supervision of same," a previous Intersociety report read. "The country's security forces have so fumbled and compromised that they hardly intervene when the vulnerable Christians are in danger of threats or attacks, but only emerge after such attacks to arrest and frame up the same population threatened or attacked." Advocates warn that insurgent groups often experience no accountability for their actions or receive ransoms for kidnappings, though the government denies paying ransom to terrorists. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is ranked No. 9 on Open Door's 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. Last December, Nigeria became the first secular democracy to be added to the U.S. State Department's list of countries of particular concern for engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom." The government has maintained that the violence in the Middle Belt is the result of decades-old clashes between farmers and herders. Activists contend that the government is overlooking the religious factors at play in the violence. The Nigerian government pushed back on claims that there is a "genocide" against Christians occurring in the country. Last June, the Nigerian presidency accused separatists of launching an international smear campaign through nongovernmental organizations and media outlets. U.S.-based advocacy groups refuted the government's claim. The Jubilee Campaign USA argued that the government is trying to distract "from their own incompetence or collusion with the perpetrators of genocide on the Christian communities in the North and Middlebelt parts of Nigeria." Spanning across more than a dozen countries in the Sahel and West Africa, the Fulani people are the largest nomadic ethnic group in the world and are predominantly Muslim. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported last year that in recent years, Fulani communities have faced recurrent cycles of resource conflict and intercommunal violence. That violence has "escalated religious tensions in a region home to many Muslim and Christian communities that have peacefully lived side-by-side for centuries." Taliban committing war crimes, kills 13 including 17-year-old girl: report Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Taliban executed 11 ex-defense personnel and two civilians, including a 17-year-old girl in Afghanistans Daykundi province, all of whom were from the ethnic Shia minority, according to an investigation by Amnesty International, which says the killings appear to be war crimes. The Taliban killed 11 former members of the Afghan National Defence Security Forces, nine of whom had surrendered, and two civilians in Kahor village of Khidir district on Aug. 30, about two weeks after taking control of Daykundi province, the human rights group says in the investigative report, which is based on eyewitness testimony and photographs and video evidence. All the victims were from the ethnic Hazara community, a Shia minority in the Sunni majority country. After the Taliban took control, about 34 ANDSF members, who had government military equipment and weaponry, sought safety in Khidir district and then agreed to surrender. On Aug. 29, the men negotiated to surrender fully to the Taliban. On Aug. 30, about 300 Taliban fighters arrived in a convoy close to Dahani Qul village, where the ANDSF members were staying, some with family members. As the ANDSF members attempted to leave the area with their families, one vehicle remained stuck close to Kahor village, the report says. When the Taliban fighters caught up with them, they opened fire on the crowd and killed the 17-year-old girl, named Masuma. One of the ANDSF members then fired back, killing one Taliban fighter and wounding another. The Taliban continued to shoot as the families fled, killing two ANDSF members caught in the crossfire as they were fleeing the scene. After nine more ANDSF members surrendered, the Taliban promptly took them to a nearby river basin and executed them, the report adds. The day after the killings, the Taliban told remaining family members that anyone who had fled should return and surrender within three days. One senior Taliban official warned, I have killed people for the past 20 years. Killing is easy for me. I can kill again. Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Agnes Callamard called the killings cold-blooded executions, and said they are further proof that the Taliban are committing the same horrific abuses they were notorious for during their previous rule of Afghanistan. They repeatedly violate the rights of those they perceive as their adversaries, even killing those who have already surrendered. The Taliban say they are not targeting former employees of the previous government, but these killings contradict such claims, Callamard added. Last month, the International Criminal Courts prosecutor asked the court to relaunch an inquiry to investigate not only past but also contemporary crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban and supporters of Islamic State in Afghanistan since 2003, The Guardian reported at the time. A previous ICC inquiry was deferred in April 2020 after the then Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani requested more time to gather evidence in cooperation with ICC lawyers. Odious and criminal acts should stop immediately and investigations commence to vindicate the principles that were established 75 years ago at Nuremberg and to honor humanitys basic responsibility to itself, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan was quoted as saying. The Taliban publicly declared last month that they would carry out executions and other brutal punishments, including amputations, under Islamic Sharia law as part of their rule in Afghanistan. Cutting off of hands is very necessary for security, Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, a member of the Talibans interim government and chief enforcer of the groups strict interpretation of Sharia law, told The Associated Press at the time. Everyone criticized us for the punishments in the stadium, but we have never said anything about their laws and their punishments, he continued. No one will tell us what our laws should be. We will follow Islam and we will make our laws on the Quran. Turabi, who is under U.N. sanctions, also said the new government is considering carrying out such punishments in public. Following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul in August and forcing the government to flee. In response to the unexpected speed at which they retook the nation, U.S., British and French troops evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans, Americans, British and Europeans out of the country. Its been reported that many U.S. and British citizens and U.S. green card holders are still waiting to be evacuated. The U.S. withdrawal marked the end of the war in Afghanistan, which spanned nearly two decades. Depositphotos.com The United States Government reported on Tuesday that it will open its land borders with Mexico and Canada on an unconfirmed date in November for trips considered "non-essential", such as tourism or visits, according to the BBC . The White House announced that it will require travelers to enter a proof of vaccination with a complete schedule. It will also request it for international travelers entering the country by air and will remove entry restrictions for the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Brazil and China. Brett Coomer, Staff / Houston Chronicle The Biden administration will reopen the countrys land borders with Mexico and Canada in November to travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19, lifting the pandemic restrictions for non-essential travel after 19 months. The travel restrictions began in March 2020 and cut off people who wanted to shop or visit family in the U.S., which hurt businesses in border cities that depend on Mexican shoppers. Click here to read the full article. Michigan is a pivotal swing state in any presidential election, but the results last year werent particularly close. President Biden defeated Trump by over 150,000 votes, good for a difference of nearly three percentage points. Still, the states election results have been challenged incessantly by a group of conservative grifters trying to ensure theyll never again have to stomach an election loss, democracy be damned. Trump loves them. The former president encouraged supporters to attend a rally the most prominent among them held outside the state Capitol in Lansing on Tuesday, and on Wednesday he released a statement attacking Republicans who have refused to support a forensic election audit like the one in Arizona which cost millions of dollars and, of course, turned up no evidence of significant fraud. Why wont they give respected professionals and representatives at yesterdays rally the right to do a Forensic Audit of Wayne County (Detroit) and Macomb County? Trump said through his Save America PAC on Wednesday. That includes the RINOs in the State Senate and House who for, whatever reason, do nothing but obstruct instead of seeking the truth. Hopefully, each one of these cowardly RINOs, whose names will be identified and forthcoming, will be primaried, with my Complete and Total Endorsement, in the upcoming election. Loyalty to Trump has meant a lot of different things since he rose to political power in 2016. Now that hes lost it, it means actively rejecting the system that resulted in his downfall. As he gears up for a prospective run at reclaiming his power in 2024, Trump is doing all he can to rid the Republican Party not only of anyone who might get in the way of him winning back the White House, but of those who dare acknowledge that he even lost it in the first place, and who dare remain uncommitted to doing whatever it takes to help him return to power. Michigan and its 16 electoral votes is one of his biggest targets. One Michigan Republican who has already received Trumps Complete and Total Endorsement is Matthew DePerno, who is running to unseat Democrat Dana Nessel as the states attorney general. DePerno was one of the speakers at the rally on Tuesday, which was held in service of gathering the over 340,000 petition signatures needed to put an audit initiative before the state legislature. DePerno has said that if elected in 2022, he would move to prosecute Nessel, whom he has called a lawless attorney general, and Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has received countless death threats and was even the target of a terrorist kidnapping scheme. As he spoke about defending America First values on Tuesday, the hundreds in attendance began changing Lock her up!, presumably referring to Nessel. DePerno has claimed since November that the 2020 election was illegitimate, and even filed the initial lawsuit claiming Dominion Voting Systems rigged voting machines in Bidens favor, an unfounded conspiracy theory that Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani pumped into the mainstream. DePerno proceeded to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars as he worked to uncover nonexistent election impropriety. In May, a Michigan judge threw out his lawsuit. In June, the states Republican-controlled Senate asked Nessel to investigate DePerno for profiteering off false election claims. In July, DePerno announced his campaign for Nessels seat, all the while continuing to raise money to support his sham crusade to overturn the election results. I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice, and morality in Michigan, DePerno said to cheers on Tuesday. DePerno was joined on Tuesday by several other audit-hungry Republicans, including current state Rep. Daire Rendon, who showed up sporting a Q button; Kristina Karamo, Trumps pick for secretary of State who has long claimed the election was stolen; Jon Rocha a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; and other former, current, and prospective elected officials. This isnt about overturning the election, Rocha said. This is about making sure were secure. Its very clearly not about that, though. Michigan has already conducted several audits of the 2020 election results (over 250, in fact, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson), and the states Republican-led Senate Oversight Committee conducted a months-long investigation that turned up absolutely no evidence of anything resembling significant fraud. I have faith that the people of Michigan will see through this charade and that voters on both sides of the aisle will continue to believe in their voices, their votes and their authority to hold their elected officials accountable, Benson said of the rally on Tuesday. The aim of these conservative con artists and conspiracy theorists is pretty clearly to sow doubt in the integrity of the states election systems so it will seem like there is a basis for outrage when they cry fraud if they lose in 2022 and 2024. Voter suppression measures like the ones implemented by the states establishment are helpful, but making it more difficult to vote is too passive. Trump wants Michigan to be governed by Republicans willing to go on the offensive, who will demand a forensic audit for an election that has already been exhaustively investigated, and who will replace county election officials with undemocratic loyalists to guard against another such loss ever taking place which is whats been happening recently across the state, a recent investigation by The Detroit News revealed. Republicans in 8 of 11 of Michigans largest counties have in recent weeks nominated new election officials, some of which have supported the idea that the 2020 election was stolen. In Gennesse County, for example, Michelle Voorheis had served on the board of canvassers for 13 years, and used to chair the countys Republican Party. She wasnt nominated to serve another four-year term, however, a snub she told The Detroit News she believes is a result of statements she made on social media defending the outcome of the 2020 election. In Wayne County, the largest in Michigan, Monica Palmer believes she wasnt renominated because she voted to certify the election results. One of the partys nominees to replace her, Hima Kolanagireddy, appeared alongside Rudy Giuliani to allege election fraud during a Michigan House hearing after the election. In Macomb County, the third-largest in the state, Republicans nominated a woman who tweeted that Trump should convene military tribunals to investigate election fraud claims. Trump is now pushing for the states legislature to be cleansed of Republicans who dont feel similarly, and for voters to give prominent election conspiracy theorists like Karamo, his pick for secretary of State, and DePerno, the super lawyer he endorsed for attorney general, the power to actually do something about it should Trump happen to lose Michigan three years from now. If people like Matthew DePerno end up winning in the swing states for attorney general and secretary of State, I think democracy as we know it will be completely gone by 2024, Nessel told MSNBC on Wednesday. Irrespective of who gets the most votes, the candidate of their choice, which is clearly Donald Trump, will become president, and we will be reduced to, I guess, an an oligarchy, much like Russia or other states of that nature, and will no longer be a democratic republic. - Info: Find the latest information on travel to the islands from Hawaii's COVID-19 travel site. - Testing: Get details on Hawaiis pre-travel testing program. - Form: Fill out the health form needed to visit Hawaii. Some good news for anyone planning a trip to Hawaii: The pandemic is showing signs of slowing in the state. In the next two weeks, Gov. David Ige is expected to make an official announcement encouraging tourists to return to the Aloha State. As of last week, Hawaii is the first state to have 90% of its eligible residents receive at least one dose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. New cases are now dropping dramatically statewide. Hawaii just reported a seven-day average of 167 new daily cases on Oct. 9, compared to 337 two weeks ago. With things moving in the right direction, some rules are being shifted. Other restrictions, including the indoor mask mandate and the requirement that unvaccinated visitors take a pre-travel COVID test to bypass the 10-day quarantine, remain in place. Ige said in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that more restrictions will be softened soon. The cautious governor had previously urged tourists to stay away from the Hawaiian islands in August, when cases surged and hospitals were filling up. He's now changing his tune. "We are working on the timing and the message right now, working with Hawaii Tourism Authority ... to think through that," Ige said of when he will make an official announcement. "Last week, they reminded me that it's not an instant on-and-off situation. It does take them time to rehire people back, and we do want to make sure when we invite people back, we have space and restaurants and other activities for them to do." He added, "So we will be working through this week to look at how and when to do that. As we see trends continue, and we are seeing lower and lower cases counts, we definitely will be inviting tourists back and its just a matter of how we would do that." If this all has you wanting to make travel plans, here are answers to questions you may have. Who can go to Hawaii? Any traveler who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States or its U.S. Territories can enter Hawaii without fulfilling the 10-day quarantine requirement. Upon arrival in Hawaii, proof of vaccination will be asked for at the airport. Travelers who were fully vaccinated in Hawaii and are returning from a trip will be expedited through processing after uploading their vaccination status digitally. Any traveler who is not fully vaccinated is required to take a pre-travel test to bypass the 10-day quarantine requirement. A 10-day quarantine is required and enforced for all visitors who do not meet these vaccination or testing requirements. Visit the Hawaii COVID-19 travel website for more information. What steps must I take to enter the state? There are a few important steps that are required to enter. 1. Travelers must fill out the Hawaii Safe Travel program application form. 2. A negative COVID-19 test result or a vaccination record document must be uploaded to the Safe Travel portal to obtain a QR code, a barcode that can be scanned and will significantly reduce processing time at the airport upon arrival. All travelers who wish to submit a negative test must take a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) that is certified from a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab. This type of test is done by swabbing the nose or mouth or collecting saliva. For travelers uploading their full vaccination status, the documentation must be validated by any of the three Digital Health Pass Partners: CommonPass, AZOVA or CLEAR. More information can be found on the State of Hawaii's COVID-19 portal. What are the rules once I get there? The rules that apply to travelers are similar to rules in other states. Masks are required indoors. When interacting with others outdoors, it is recommended you wear a mask. There are also limitations on the number of people who gather together. Across the state, no more than 10 people should gather indoors, and no more than 25 outdoors. What do I need to know about specific islands? Ige and Oahu Mayor Rick Blangiardi eased certain restrictions on Oahu last week, allowing larger-scale tourism activities, such as luaus and weddings, to return. Starting Wednesday, for example, outdoor seated entertainment events on Oahu including sporting arenas and concert venues are allowed at 50% capacity or a maximum of 1,000 attendees, whichever is less. Social gathering sizes for all other events on Oahu will follow the current guidelines of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. (See more on certain types of events that will be allowed on Ige's Twitter account.) Another restriction that may impact tourists on Oahu was also relaxed. Bars will be allowed to serve alcohol until midnight; previously, venues had to stop serving mai-tais at 10 p.m. However, they are still required to operate at 50% capacity. Oahu and Maui continue to require proof of vaccination for entry to restaurants, bars and other indoor activities. The order began on Sept. 13. Children under 12, who are ineligible for vaccines, are exempt. Other islands have yet to announce such a mandate. Each county has specific mask compliance orders. Read up on the county mandates for Kauai, Honolulu, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. What are the COVID numbers? The numbers show that the severity of the pandemic has decreased since Aug. 23, when Ige asked travelers to not visit. The statewide test positivity rate (the percentage of people who tested positive for the virus out of all tested individuals) was 2.8% on Oct. 9 compared to 9% on Aug. 23, according to state data. To stay up to date, Hawaii has a dashboard that shows numbers on the county level. What she may have lacked in stature, Mary-Lou Fitch made up for in heart, service to others and her love of The Woodlands. A pint-sized powerhouse at five foot, she was involved in many organizations across the county including Meals on Wheels, New Danville, Habitat for Humanity, The Woodlands Pavilion Partners Wine Dinner, Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum, National Charity League The Woodlands, CASA, Toys for Tots and Teens and The Montgomery County Republican Womens Club and more. Now those involved with these organization are celebrating the live of Fitch after her death on Oct. 2 in The Woodlands. She was 76. Throughout her life, she had a passion for helping others and she especially had a heart for children, according to her daughter Marlies Fitch Ledbetter. They family has been so touched by the many messages and calls theyve received from those who were impacted by their moms good works. On HoustonChronicle.com: Mary-Lou Fitch - The Woodlands 2019 Hometown Hero She always told her oldest daughter, Marlies, theres no reason why anyone should go without in this area. And since her arrival in The Woodlands in 1987 she made it her goal to make sure they didnt as she served on boards, volunteered and help chair fundraisers, helped form new groups and more. She wasnt just a leader but was in the nitty-gritty of everything, Ledbetter said, calling her mom a hustler who made sure every last detail was right in her volunteer work. Mary-Lou was always such a joy to be around and her selfless giving to all of the organizations in this area was so inspiring, said Lindsay Miller who worked with Fitch at CASA events. She was always willing to do anything to help me with the CASA gala, like taking a playhouse and making it feel like a home with tiny childrens furniture and flowers (that she donated), and even down to the small things like painting and glittering letters for decor. She will be greatly missed. Fitch was born Maria-Louisa Knapp Kohler (Marlies) Dec. 22, 1944 in Berne, Czechoslovakia. According to her daughter, her mothers family was pushed out of Czechoslovakia by a Russian invasion and her birth father was killed. In their fleeing, family heirlooms were sewn into the bedding of her mothers baby carriage and coats and jackets. She went on to be raised by her mother and Friedrich Baye of Germany before coming to the United States in 1958 following World War II. She became a citizen of the United States in 1962. As a girl, she had always wanted to play piano. But a piano did not fit in their apartment, so her father bought her an accordion. In a 2019 article in The Villager, Fitch said her parents were big on giving back to the community. One of her first acts of community service started at age 10 when she learned to play the accordion and would play at nursing homes and community centers. Several years later we moved to upstate New York. I continued with my volunteering, became a lifeguard and always helped. I always wanted to do something for other people. I graduated from college in upstate New York and met my husband, Gary, who was just getting ready to go to Vietnam, she said in the 2019 article. In 1986, the family moved to The Woodlands when Gary Fitchs aviation company was bought by Enron. They built a house in Grogans Point and her leadership continued with the creation of the Grogans Point Residents Association which she held the role as president several times and beautification of the neighborhood. They came to The Woodlands with their first two daughters Marlies and Melissa then she gave birth to identical twins at 44 years old Monica and Michelle. She began working with Interfaith of The Woodlands by chance, where her daughters attended day care, specifically with the food pantry. This lead to 33 years of giving to The Woodlands community needs including more than 30 years with Montgomery County Youth Services. She also helped form many organizations and events within The Woodlands including Class Act Productions, Montgomery County Womens Council of Organizations, The Woodlands Holiday Home Tour and The Woodlands Orchestra. Along the way she became friends with many of the original residents of The Woodlands including George and Cynthia Mitchell. Fitch was honored with the First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Award, Woman of Distinction multiple times, Houston Humanitarian Award, The Woodlands Hometown Hero Award in 2019 and many others. Ledbetter said when her mom was named a Hometown Hero she felt like that was the pinnacle of her career of volunteering. I always felt the need to give back. I can help other people. People dont see it, but theres a lot of need, she said in the 2019 article. (There is) a lot of children who are hurting, and theres poverty. You want to give as much as you can. My children also all do their volunteering now, and Im so proud of them. She lived life with a motto that she had for a long time Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid of standing still. When you have nothing to do, call some of these nonprofit organizations and give a hand. Theres always need. Always, Fitch said in 2019. She is survived by her husband, Gary, her daughters Marlies, Melissa, Monica and Michelle, and her grandchildren Sadie, 13, Mason, 11, Allison, 9, Mikayla, 6, Colton, 6, Haylen, 4 and Weston, 2. A celebration of life will be conducted at The Woodlands Methodist Church off Lake Woodlands at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 followed by a reception at The Butler House on Gosling Road. shernandez@hcnonline.com A Westchester County grand jury could interview witnesses in the nearly 40-year-old disappearance and presumed death of Kathleen Kathie Durst as early as next week, according to sources close to the investigation. Kathie Durst, who graduated from what was then called Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, disappeared on Jan. 31, 1982 from the couples home in South Salem, N.Y. The 30-year-old Durst vanished after attending a party in Newtown earlier that night. Her body has not been found. Her husband at the time, Robert Durst, has not been charged in her death and disappearance. But he was convicted in September of killing a close friend, Susan Berman, who prosecutors believed was about to come forward with information on Kathie Dursts death. Robert Durst, 78, is expected to be sentenced Thursday in a Los Angeles courtroom to life in prison. Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said during an unrelated press conference on Sept. 28 that her office had turned the case over to a newly formed cold case unit months before Robert Dursts California trial was completed. They have been working very hard, Rocah said. Im proud of everyone, were doing our job. But Rocah stopped short of confirming a grand jury would be convened to examine evidence in the case. She also declined to comment on whether Robert Durst was a suspect in his first wifes death. The Westchester District Attorneys Office commends all of those involved in persuading a California jury to hold Robert Durst accountable for the murder of Susan Berman, Rocah said in a statement issued after a jury found Robert Durst guilty on Sept. 17 of killing Berman. The statement went on to say that Rocah reopened the investigation into Kathie Dursts death shortly after she took office in January. The investigation remains ongoing, Rocah said. Kathie Dursts disappearance was central to the evidence presented in the months-long California trial. Berman had repeatedly spoken up for Robert Durst when allegations surfaced that he may have been involved in his wifes disappearance. Berman was found dead in her Los Angeles home in December 2000. Prosecutors in Robert Dursts trial claimed that Berman was about to come forward with information on Kathie Dursts disappearance when she died. The trial began in early 2020, but was halted for 14 months during the coronavirus pandemic. Durst testified in August that he has changed his mind many times about whether he actually saw his wife step onto a commuter train for Manhattan on the night she disappeared in 1982 and said he lied to police when he told them he later spoke to her on the phone. Everyone has asked me that question, and I have changed my mind maybe a dozen times, Durst said under questioning from his attorney Dick DeGuerin at his Los Angeles murder trial. Did I actually see Kathie walk through the doors and onto the train? The answer is no. But there is no place else to go. Robert Durst testified that he never saw or heard from his wife after watching her step onto the train platform in the New York hamlet of Katonah near their home on Jan. 31, 1982. But days later, he told a detective investigating her disappearance that he had called her and spoken to her at their apartment in Manhattan, where she had gone because she had medical school in the Bronx the following morning. That was a lie, Durst testified. I wanted to convince him that Kathie had gotten back. Durst was charged in Bermans homicide in March 2015 as the final episode was set to air for the HBO six-part series, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, which chronicled the millionaires life and connection to three peoples deaths over four decades. Durst, who was acquitted in the 2001 homicide and dismemberment of one of his neighbors in Texas, was alone in a bathroom in the HBO series when a live microphone caught him saying, What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course. Court documents filed by Kathie Dursts family seeking to have her declared dead allege that Robert Durst was abusive and she had been hospitalized after one of the incidents. The family claims the two had argued the night she disappeared. Kathie Durst was about to finish medical school to become a pediatrician, her family said. She was close to her mother and her siblings and would have no reason to suddenly break contact with them and never be seen again, the documents said. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Donald Trump pulled out all the stops attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, from bullying legislatures to filing bogus lawsuits to encouraging a violent insurrection on Jan. 6. In Trump's funhouse-mirror world, election tampering is permissible because the other side is doing it already, thus his actions, no matter how brazen or unethical, are justified. And loyalty to Trump's "Big Lie," the idea that Democrats stole the election, has become a central pillar of GOP politics. Why have so many conservatives stood by Trump over the past year as he has actively attempted to overturn an election? The answer is because engineering elections is part of their political heritage. Conservatives have spent generations attempting to exploit arcane and anti-democratic electoral structures to carve a pathway for minoritarian rule. This history can be traced back to voter disenfranchisement during the Reconstruction era, or even further, to the property-based requirements of the early republic. But we can find the roots of our bout with illiberalism, the one on display in the modern GOP, in the conservative backlash to the civil rights movement. After the Civil War and Reconstruction, White Southern Democrats violently manipulated the electoral process to suppress Black voting and gain control of state legislatures, courthouses and police forces to implement Jim Crow segregation. The mid-20th-century civil rights movement aimed, in part, to curb these anti-democratic legacies. In 1948, Democratic liberals championed a robust civil rights platform at their party's national convention. Then-Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey demanded that Democrats "get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights." White Southerners smoldered with rage and, after the Democratic Party adopted the plank over their protests, they responded by plotting to abuse the nation's political structure and engineer a conservative outcome. After storming out of the convention, Southern Democrats formed their own far-right splinter faction, the States' Rights Democratic Party, better known as the Dixiecrats, which became a third-party vehicle for opposing President Harry S. Truman, integration and modern liberalism in general. Exploiting the electoral college formed the crux of the Dixiecrats' strategy. The party created its own ticket, headlined by South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond, which supplanted Truman's national Democratic ticket on the ballot in four Southern states. In other states, Thurmond ran as a third-party candidate. Dixiecrats hoped to cause chaos by preventing any candidate from receiving a majority of electoral college votes, which would throw the election to the House of Representatives, where members would choose the next president. The Dixiecrats theorized that, if they could pilfer Truman votes in the South, win some critical states and exert enough pressure in the House, their electoral sleight of hand would produce a right-wing presidency. Thurmond fell short, however, winning only the four states where he was listed as the Democratic candidate. Nevertheless, the Dixiecrats created a legacy that future illiberal groups looking to implement minority rule would follow. In 1956, another states' rights party tapped T. Coleman Andrews, a former Democrat who had previously served as Dwight D. Eisenhower's IRS commissioner, to serve as its candidate against Eisenhower and Democrat Adlai Stevenson, both of whom conservatives found far too moderate. The new party implemented the Dixiecrat strategy with a few new wrinkles. Clarence Manion, a well-known right-wing broadcaster, proposed putting "independent electors" on individual state ballots - electors who could have voted for Andrews if no other candidate won a majority. And Andrews gave conservatives a reason to vote for him, telling his party's convention attendees, "Time's a wasting, and the enemies of the way of life that we cherish rejoice as we are obligingly led closer and closer to national suicide." The party hoped to sow uncertainty by siphoning conservative votes and leaving states with no clear majority winner, a scenario that would empower the "independent" electors to install a right-wing president by obviating democracy. William F. Buckley Jr., editor and founder of the National Review, supported this gambit, emphasizing that the independent elector strategy might enable conservatives to "defeat [the] international Socialism which has captured both political parties." However, the new party fared far worse than the Dixiecrats, winning only 100,000 votes across the nation. Yet this humbling defeat did not diminish right-wing ambitions. As Andrews defiantly proclaimed following the loss, "We are here to stay." One decade later, another Southern firebrand picked up the mantle of illiberalism. George Wallace, a lifelong Democrat, claimed he was tired of the perceived liberal stranglehold on national politics. In 1968, Wallace was the presidential nominee of the American Independent Party, a far-right vehicle intended to give people a choice between the two parties he derided as "Tweedledee and Tweedledum." Capitalizing on his outsider status and the racial strife dividing the nation, Wallace tapped into the familiar vein of White grievance and states' rights conservatism. Despite being an extreme long shot, Wallace believed he could throw the election to the House of Representatives by carrying the entire South and picking up a couple of industrial Midwestern states. To Wallace's mind, this scenario would empower his movement - either the House would elect him outright (a notion even Wallace knew was exceedingly unlikely), or other potential candidates would have to negotiate for his support, meaning a probable abandonment of civil rights platforms and a boost to states' rights philosophies. The ultimate goal: to sunder what the right wing saw as a liberal two-party duopoly, carve out a far-right party and end up with a truly conservative president. From the vantage point of Wallace supporters, it appeared their movement might finally bring the Dixiecrats' strategy to fruition. Polls showed Wallace cruising near 20 percent one month out from Election Day. Ultimately, 10 million Americans cast a ballot for the Alabamian and the American Independent Party. It was the strongest third-party result since Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party run in 1912, good enough to win five Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi), but not enough to kick the election to the House, much less topple the two-party system. These third-party schemes dissipated as conservatives gradually took over the Republican Party. Thurmond made the high-profile switch from Democrat to Republican in 1964, and by the 1980s, the GOP was firmly under the control of an ascendant conservatism. And yet, the roots of minoritarian politics remained. All of the attempts to game presidential elections, from the Dixiecrats through Wallace's American Independent Party, failed, but they solidified a right-wing culture that found undermining democracy through electoral subterfuge permissible if it meant conservative victories. The right's hostility to democracy is enabled not only by liberal apathy toward mass politics, but by the very structure of our political system. Historically, conservatives have seized upon America's arcane political structures in an effort to stymie progress and curtail voting power. In particular, the electoral college is a relic of a bygone era that hangs over every presidential election like the sword of Damocles. As Jamelle Bouie concluded, the electoral college is "the greatest threat to our democracy" because it creates a broad avenue for undermining the popular will. And indeed, this was the plan following Trump's defeat, when John Eastman, a lawyer working for his campaign, devised a method for reinstalling Trump despite his loss. He conjured the exact strategy used by his mid-century predecessors. On Jan. 6, Eastman proposed, Vice President Mike Pence should throw out electoral votes based on questionable technicalities and then, assuming Democratic caterwauling, punt the election to the House of Representatives, where Republicans, who controlled a majority of state delegations despite overall Democratic control of the chamber, would crown Trump the victor. Anti-democratic ideologies - previously the domain of Southern segregationists and dissident conservatives - now fuel the Republican machine. The party that once housed a sizable moderate wing, including figures like Eisenhower, is now dominated by a far-right faction, one composed of politicians who are willing to engineer elections to secure minoritarian outcomes. The fact that their attempts have failed should not blind us to the clear and present dangers of American illiberalism. - - - John S. Huntington is a professor of history at Houston Community College and is working on his first book, "Dissent from the Right: Ultraconservatism and Modern American Politics." Marion, IN (46952) Today Occasional snow showers. Low 24F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 24F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. A. A sales tax would have meant visitors contributed to repaving. B. We already are taxed too much. C. Money for repaving should be put into the county's annual operational budget. C. The road resurfacing program is behind schedule so the county needs to act ASAP. Vote View Results The minimum cut-off score for Alberta PNP draws has remained steady at 300 since the start of September. Alberta PNP invites 275 Express Entry candidates The minimum cut-off score for Alberta PNP draws has remained steady at 300 since the start of September. Alberta PNP invites 275 Express Entry candidates The minimum cut-off score for Alberta PNP draws has remained steady at 300 since the start of September. Alberta PNP invites 275 Express Entry candidates The minimum cut-off score for Alberta PNP draws has remained steady at 300 since the start of September. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Alberta has released the details of its September 30 immigration draw. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 275 Express Entry candidates with scores of at least 300 to apply for a provincial nomination. All in all, Alberta held four Alberta Express Entry stream draws in September, each with minimum score requirements of 300. A total of 1,610 invitations were issued last month alone. Alberta has now invited 5,617 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination since it resumed invitation rounds in January 2021. It had taken a temporary hiatus in the latter months of 2020. The draws send invitations to Express Entry candidates to apply for a nomination certificate, which will greatly support their permanent residency application. This year, Alberta is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration How does the Alberta Express Entry Stream work? The Alberta Express Entry stream is an enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It allows the provincial government to search the federal governments Express Entry pool of candidates for profiles of people who may be eligible for a provincial nomination. Express Entry is the application management system for the three Federal High Skilled programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. If you are eligible for Express Entry, you will get a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). You get points depending on your age, education, work experience, language ability in English or French, and other factors. Canadas immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly holds Express Entry draws, inviting the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence. It is possible to immigrate through the Express Entry system without a provincial nomination, however, people who have lower CRS scores may opt for a PNP. Provincial nominees automatically get 600 points added to their overall score. If the lowest-scoring candidates in the new Alberta draw receive the nomination, their new CRS scores will be 900, more than enough to be invited in a subsequent Express Entry draw. Alberta Express Entry Stream Eligibility In order to be eligible for the provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream, you need to have work experience in an eligible occupation. The AINP does not provide a list of eligible occupations, rather it offers a list of occupations that are not eligible for the stream. Many who apply under this stream work as food service supervisors, transport truck drivers, and cooks among others. Certain factors increase your likelihood of being nominated, like having work experience, a Canadian education, or a job offer in Alberta. It also helps to have a family member already living in Alberta, such as a parent, child, or sibling. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Gen Z is no different than any other generation in their youth. In the immortal words of Kiss, they want to rock and roll all night. But for this new wave of employees entering the workforce, its not so much about partying every day, its about doing meaningful work and building a meaningful career. In light of the pandemic, many people are thinking more deeply about what they want from their work experience. And as expectations evolve rapidly, research has found that Gen Z is putting a greater emphasis on workplace flexibility and work/life balance. Given this scenario, the ability to work easily and efficiently is critical to attracting, motivating, and retaining early-in-career workers. They dont want to use old-school technology that slows them down. They want new-school technology that keeps them as connected, efficient, and productive as possible. Enter low-code. Low-code platforms are empowering an entire generation of non-IT employees in ways never seen before. Low-code gives employees the ability to create their own apps to solve the everyday challenges they run into at work. And, as the most digitally savvy generation yet, the Zoomers are demanding it. A Low-code approach for a low-code generation In the midst of the Great Resignation, which saw four million Americans quit their jobs in July alone, keeping employees engagedand mitigating burn outis more critical than ever. What better way to address this than by giving employees the power to automate the most tedious parts of their day? Having grown up in the age of Google, YouTube how-to videos, and drag-and-drop website builders, Gen Z is used to solving their own problems with technology. Why should the workplace be any different? Low-code is the DIY tech this generation has been waiting for, not to mention a powerful tool in your recruiting and retention toolkit. Career kickstarter Low-code is becoming a game-changer for Gen Z in the workforce. Examples abound of younger employees using it to improve the workplace in ways never considered before. A large manufacturing company I worked with decided to give their early-career employees access to low-code tools as a trial. The company, rich with a history of seniority, embedded processes and reluctance to change, was seeking a way to jumpstart new ideas and introduce efficiencies to their business. A 23-year-old business analyst, with no prior coding experience but a propensity for using online tools for school projects, decided to give the low-code trial program a test run. In less than three weeks, with minimal training and guidance, he built a low-code app to manage maintenance of manufacturing equipment valued at $40 million. The impact and ROI were felt immediately. The analyst has since been promoted and his salary doubled. This company has since expanded their citizen developer program across the organization.Their director of IT and digital innovation candidly remarked, Low-code has now enabled the three most valuable employees of our entire company. Ironically, they are all under 25 years old and earning less than $80,000 a year. My guess is their salaries wont be under six figures for long. Competitive advantage Just about anyone can learn to use low code tools to gain a competitive advantage in the workplace or as a job seeker. I predict that as more companies build out their own citizen developer programs, having experience with low-code development on your resume will become increasingly valuable in almost every business discipline. As business leaders realize just how much value citizen developers bring to their teamsespecially to departments that dont historically receive a lot of technology funding and attention from traditional ITthe demand for low-code experience will grow. This opens the door for new employees to differentiate themselves with their current (as well as potential) employers, regardless of what field they work in. Take marketing, for example. There are tons of ways marketers could be made more efficient with business apps that automate processes usually handled via email and spreadsheets. At ServiceNow, one of our marketing managers took advantage of our Creator Workflows App Engine to build an app that helped the team handle a deluge of requests from different departments. In just 12 hours she created an app that increased productivity and saved the team 160 manual hours per month. She didnt stop there. created a second app and is now mentoring one of her marketing colleagues to join her in becoming a citizen developer. Its no surprise that our marketing team now bakes low-code into their standard operating business model and is seeking to hire more employees with citizen developer chops. The win-win-win workplace According to a survey of Gen Z employees by the Carson College of Business, 71% already consider themselves to have more developed STEM skills and 69% consider themselves more creative than previous generations. As Gen Z takes its rightful place in the workforce, smart managers will tap this generations creativity and technical prowess. Thats a win for Gen Z and their employers. Oh, and you know who else its good for? Literally anyone in the organization who uses these apps to save time and work smarter. I would call that a win-win-win workplace, one that transcends any generational divide. Explore the new world of work. Visit servicenow.com. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Last week, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before a Senate subcommittee about the companys propensity for disregarding its own research into the harms done by its content algorithms, particularly among young girls who use Instagram, its photo-sharing site. During her testimony, Haugen recommended regulatory oversight that would impose standards of behavior on the social network in an attempt to minimize their various harmssomething a number of other Facebook critics have also proposed over the past several years. Right now, the only people in the world who are trained to understand whats happening inside of Facebook, are people who grew up inside of Facebook or Pinterest or another social-media company, Haugen told the Senate subcommittee. She said Facebooks profit motive was so strong that the company would not change unless it was subjected to pressure from a government regulator. Until incentives change at Facebook, we should not expect Facebook to change, she said. We need action from Congress. The idea has plenty of critics, but theres also one somewhat surprising supporter: Facebook itself. In a March 2019 op-ed in the Washington Post, Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, argued that government regulation is necessary and that he welcomes it. Every day, we make decisions about what speech is harmful, what constitutes political advertising, and how to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks, he wrote. But if we were starting from scratch, we wouldnt ask companies to make these judgments alone. I believe we need a more active role for governments and regulators. Among other things, Zuckerberg said he agreed with the need for a personal-data protection law similar to Europes General Data Protection Regulation. I believe it would be good for the Internet if more countries adopted regulation such as GDPR as a common framework, he wrote. Nick Clegg, Facebooks vice president for global affairs, reiterated this to the press following Haugens 60 Minutes interview. The algorithms the company uses should be held to account, if necessary by regulation, so that people can match what our systems say theyre supposed to do from what actually happens, Clegg said on CNN. He also said the company is open to amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from liability for what their users post. Were not saying this is a substitution of our own responsibilities, Clegg told NBC, but there are a whole bunch of things that only regulators and lawmakers can do. I dont think anyone wants a private company to adjudicate on these difficult trade-offs between free expression on one hand and moderating or removing content on the other. Only lawmakers can create a digital regulator. The fact that Facebook itself wants regulatory oversight is a good reason to oppose it, some critics argue. Weve reached the stage in the battle over the power of Big Tech when even some of the most monopolistic of Silicon Valley companies are begging to be regulated, Jacob Silverman wrote in The New Republic in May. We shouldnt listen to them. Whatever sure-to-be-insufficient efforts are made to repair a broken internet cant involve tech giants as anything but subjects to be criticized, broken up, and, if necessary, prosecuted. Offers to partner in creating regulations, he added, should be treated with the withering skepticism they deserve. Even Tom Wheeler, the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, who supports the idea of a new digital regulatory agency, wrote that a tried-and-true lobbying strategy is to loudly proclaim support for lofty principles while quietly working to hollow out the implementation of such principles. Matt Stoller, a former fellow at the Open Markets Institute and a former policy advisor to the Senate budget committee, wrote in his subscription Substack newsletter that a digital regulator that legitimizes Facebooks power would be the worst possible outcome of Haugens whistleblowing. The concentration of power in the hands of a small group is the fundamental political and economic problem with Facebook, he wrote. We have to radically decentralize this power. But a regulatory overlay in some ways would worsen the problem. The bottom line, Stoller argued, is that we have to eliminate Facebooks toxic business model, not regulate it, because regulating something serves to legitimize it. Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia, also argues that we would be better to focus on reducing Facebooks ability to surveil and target us rather than relying on antitrust and other mechanisms to solve our problems. Heres more on Facebook and regulation: Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories: Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. Royal Philips NV will face more than 100 U.S. lawsuits gathered in a Pennsylvania court over its recall of more than 3 million devices used to treat sleep apnea that are linked to cancer concerns. Amsterdam-based Philips, maker of respiratory gear and body scanners, will defend claims its CPAP-breathing machines pose a cancer risk before U.S. District Judge Joy Conti in Pittsburgh, a federal panel said Oct 8. Philips main U.S. manufacturing plant is located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Philips announced in June it was recalling CPAP machines because polyester-based foam used inside the devices to cut noise can break down and be ingested by users. Researchers have linked the material to some cancers and other illnesses. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts, causing fatigue and longer-term health woes. Many Philips ventilator products designed to improve sleep patterns are sold under the DreamStation brand. Michael London, a New York-based plaintiffs lawyer representing device users, said he expects thousands of consumers to sue over the companys decision to use a potential carcinogen in the devices design and manufacture. There are layers and layers of potential claims, including class-action suits and those seeking medical monitoring for CPAP users, he told the panel. Such cases seek funds to monitor patients health. Silvie Casanova, a U.S.-based spokeswoman for Philips, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment after regular business hours Monday. This is going to be a massive, litigation, Kyle Wallace, an Atlanta-based plaintiffs lawyer told the panel of federal judges that decides where mass-tort cases will be consolidated earlier this month. Were dealing with a product people desperately need to deal with sleep apnea, he added. Beena McDonald, a plaintiffs lawyer representing CPAP users, urged the panel to send the cases to Conti because the strongest nexis to the evidence, design and manufacture of the devices is the Murrysville plant. The panel agreed, noting many of witnesses and much of the documentary evidence relevant to this litigation likely will be located near Pittsburgh, according to the ruling. The case is IN RE Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level PAP and Mechanical Ventilator Products Liability Litigation, 21-MD-3014, U.S District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh). About the photo: The Royal Philips NV logo sits on the companys headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Philips shares dropped after fourth-quarter profit missed estimates as a weaker dollar ate into earnings. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Avis "Darlene" Searan, age 75, formerly of California, passed away at Restwell Home Plus in Oskaloosa, KS, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. She was born the daughter of Leo Abraham and Avis Amelia (Gabbert) Searan in Claremore, OK, on June 25, 1946. Darlene loved watching baseball, especially, 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. Now that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been in office for several months, the time seems ripe to ask how hes doing. If you ask me, the answer is pretty well under the circumstances. Bennett has changed the tone in the country. He has a different, more conciliatory style than his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, who toward the end was doing everything he could to split the country. I acknowledge, however, that Netanyahu was a master communicator and had a beautiful command of English. Bennett does not, which is particularly surprising considering that hes the son of immigrants from San Francisco. Despite the belief of many Israeli commentators that his English is great, Bennett speaks an almost elementary-school playground style of English, with poor diction and grammar. It comes across as folksy when President Joe Biden speaks it, but it comes across as inarticulate when Bennett does, and it was painful listening to him when he spoke to the United Nations General Assembly last month. Bennett, who also happens to be Israels first Orthodox prime minister, is the unlikeliest of prime ministers. He also heads the unlikeliest of coalition governments and is the leader of one of the Knessets smallest parties, the right-wing Yamina faction. Hes in office thanks to the political wisdom and generosity of his foreign minister, Yair Lapid, a telegenic former television anchorman and newspaper columnist, whose Yesh Atid party controls 17 seats. Lapid agreed to split the prime ministers roughly four-year term with Bennett and to allow Bennett to go first. Their coalition government is the most diverse in the countrys history ranging from an Islamist Arab party to Bennetts own Yamina party. So what can Bennett accomplish in his roughly two years in office? Basically, he can tackle things on which there is a consensus. He can offer good governance, and for the most part, he is. He took the courageous step in late July to begin a massive COVID-19 booster shot campaign among the first if not the first in the world. So far, nearly 3.7 million of the countrys 9 million residents have gotten the third dose in the space of just over two months. And the number of serious COVID cases, which threatened to overwhelm the hospitals due to the more contagious delta variant, is dropping quickly. Israel under Netanyahu was a world leader in its vaccination campaign and that has continued under Bennett. Bennett hasnt gotten credit from the public for that, if the latest public opinion polls are accurate, but his standing with the public will improve if the fourth wave of the pandemic does subside as predicted. He has also made the shocking crime wave in Arab communities in the country a priority. Week after week, the news has been filled with stories about Arab citizens killing one another. And he has set a different tone in relations with the United States and reached out to Democrats as well as Republicans. Its a welcome shift from Netanyahus embrace of the Republican Party and the Christian Evangelical community. He has made a conscious decision to avoid the Palestinian issue due to the lack of consensus on the matter within his coalition and due to his own right-wing ideology and has also convinced the Biden administration to go easy on the issue so as not to undermine his government. Bennett may not go down in history as a great leader, but if he leaves office having managed the country well and having healed some of the rifts of the past, thats more than enough for me. Cliff Savren is a former Clevelander who covers the Middle East from Raanana, Israel. He is an editor at the English edition of Haaretz. Beachwood, OH (44122) Today Cloudy with snow. Low 31F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy with snow. Low 31F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) There is "insufficient" basis to declare confessed placeholders as nuisance candidates, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez said Wednesday after some parties admitted fielding proxy bets. "A mere declaration to the contrary [would not], in my opinion, be sufficient to overcome the intention to run, which is manifested in the verified COC (certificate of candidacy)," Jimenez told reporters. "The lack of a bona fide intention to run needs to be proven," he said. Earlier, former Comelec commissioner Luie Guia pointed this out in an interview with CNN Philippines. "There [have] to be proceedings that might, you know, consider an allegation that these candidates ay walang bona fide intention or ang purpose niya lang gawing mockery 'yung electoral process (has no bona fide intention or is purposely making a mockery of the electoral process)," he said. But Guia stressed if there's any proof a candidate has no "good faith intention" to run, they could be declared nuisance candidates. This is in light of calls for the removal of the substitution option for political parties. House Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez proposed that the Comelec prohibit the substitution of candidates, if not for death or disqualification. He also pushed for the restoration of the rule mandating aspirants to resign or be deemed automatically resigned from their current local or national posts upon the filing of their candidacies. READ: House leader bats for removal of substitution scheme Reacting to Rodriguez's appeal, Jimenez said: "The Comelec will give its official position on the proposed legislation when we are officially furnished with a copy of the said proposal." Lawmakers in the Senate have also joined the calls for the amendment of the Omnibus Election Code. Senate President Tito Sotto said the provision, which allows substitution upon the withdrawal of a candidate, is being "abused" and should be "removed completely." Senator Koko Pimentel made the same statement, stressing substitution should only be done for serious contingencies and not to field a "fake candidate" as part of political strategy. Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who is running for president under the Cusi wing of the PDP-Laban, has personally admitted he wants Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run and replace him. Speculations that he was just a "proxy" rose even more after he revealed he was only tapped by the ruling party at the last minute. READ: Asked to file candidacy 2 hours before deadline, Bato says substitution in back of mind Meanwhile, Lakas-CMD Secretary General Prospero Pichay denied describing the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates as placeholders. He, however, said they are still open to making Mayor Duterte their substitute standard bearer if she decides to seek the presidency before the November 15 substitution deadline. The Lakas-CMD has an "informal alliance" with the presidential daughter's Hugpong ng Pagbabago. CNN Philippines' Correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) COVID-19 deaths in the country breached 40,000 on Wednesday after 173 more people lost their lives to the disease, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. The DOH case bulletin counted 40,069 deaths in total or 1.49% of the nationwide tally, which rose to 2,690,455 with 7,181 new infections - the lowest daily count since July 29. "The relatively low cases today is due to lower laboratory output last Monday, October 11," the department said. Of the total cases, 3.1% or 82,411 are active or currently sick people - with 75.3% experiencing mild symptoms, 12.1% without symptoms, 7.25% in moderate condition, 3.7% with severe symptoms, and 1.6% in critical condition. Meanwhile, 6,889 others got better, raising the number of recoveries to 2,567,975 or 95.4% of the COVID-19 total. The DOH said it reclassified 101 survivors into fatalities after validation and deleted 98 duplicates, including 61 recoveries. Two laboratories failed to submit data and were excluded from the count. These laboratories contributed an average of 0.2% of tested samples and 0.2% of positive individuals.The positivity rate or percentage of tested people with positive results continues to drop, from 15.5% on Oct. 10 to 14.2% based on 40,323 tests reported on Oct. 11. The ideal rate is below 3%, which indicates adequate testing, according to US nonprofit Covid Act Now. For the World Health Organization the positivity rate should be below 5% to show that the virus spread has been controlled. The Inter-Agency Task Force also approved the recommendation for new quarantine classifications to place Metro Manila under a more eased Alert Level 3 from Oct. 16 to 31. The IATF also approved the recommendation to place Apayao, Kalinga, Batanes, Bulacan, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Naga City for Luzon; and Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte for Mindanao under modified enhanced community quarantine. EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the COVID-19 alert level system in NCR Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) A total of 12,686 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been wasted in the country since March, a Health official reported on Wednesday. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said this is due to a number of reasons, the most common of which are temperature excursions. "Ibig sabihin niyan, either na-frozen 'yung hindi dapat ma-freeze na vaccine, or 'yung frozen na vaccine 'yung mga Pfizer atsaka Moderna have gone past their required temperature," she explained during a Senate committee hearing on the Department of Health's proposed budget for 2022. [Translation: That means vaccines were frozen when they shouldn't have been, or frozen vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna have gone past their required temperature.] Cabotaje said other causes of wastage include incidents of fire in storage facilities, or vials were accidentally dropped. Some vaccines also had no label and therefore cannot be administered while others were considered spoiled after particulate matter was discovered, she added. Senator Risa Hontiveros said that based on the average amount of 544 per shot, the wastage is worth more than 6.9 million. The country has so far received over 87 million doses, of which around 50 million have been administered. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) The government is racing to vaccinate over 3.5 million children before the year ends after a glaring decline in the immunization rate this pandemic. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) shows only 30% of 1.1 million infants up to age 2, and four million aged 6 to 7 have been vaccinated against infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, and tetanus diphtheria. This means millions of children remain vulnerable to the infectious and deadly but vaccine-preventable diseases. Health officials say the disruptions caused by COVID-19 aggravated the already declining vaccination rate before the pandemic. In 2020, only 65.2% of the target young population got the vaccines. Routine immunizations are usually held in schools, but physical classes have been suspended for over a year due to the coronavirus threat. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday said many parents are also afraid to bring their child to health centers in fear of catching COVID-19. Dr. Gloria Balboa, director of the DOH National Capital Region-Center for Health Development, said the only way to prevent another outbreak on top of COVID-19 is to speed up routine immunizations. Catch-up immunization Vaccinators nationwide will spread out to communities to inoculate 95% of the target children by Dec. 22. Children will receive their missed doses, which means they could get at least two different vaccines in one day. In Metro Manila which was under tight restrictions during most of 2021 only 24.5% of 235,298 children aged 0 to 12 were covered by vaccines. Vaccinators will go house-to-house in the next 15 days, from Oct. 13 to 27, Balboa said. Dikit-dikit mga bahay dito so madali mahanap ang mga batakakayanin yan idiretso mo for 15 days. Kung gagawin lang natin yung every Wednesday, hindi namin maabot ang hahabulin ang bilang ng bata and we have to reach 95% hanggang December, Dr. Balboa said. [Translation: Houses here are close to each other, so its easy to find the children We can do this for 15 straight days. If we do the every Wednesday (schedule), we cannot reach our goal and we have to reach 95% until December.] She added that doing a house-to-house campaign will also help avoid confusion as the pediatric vaccination against COVID-19 begins in selected hospitals. The DOH, meanwhile, is leaving the strategy on delivering vaccines to the local health officials. Every region iba iba ang strategies nila. Ang iba papapuntahin sa covered courts some will do house to house, some will most likely transport patients to health center(or) pumupunta van sa isang lugar tapos dun babakunahan ang mga bata, DOH Disease Prevention and Contol bureau director Dr. Beverly Ho said. [Translation: There are different strategies for every region. Some would use the covered courts, some will do house to house, some will most likely transport patients to health center or there will be a van for the vaccination.] The World Health Organization also allayed parents fears of giving vaccines to children. Dont worry about the safetyThese childhood vaccines are not new vaccines, they have been used for many years. These vaccines are safe, WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinge said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Health Secretary Francisco Duque agrees that Cabinet officials should not be barred from participating in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's probe into the government's use of pandemic response funds. Duque made his position public on Wednesday after Senator Franklin Drilon asked if he supports the calls of hundreds of medical professionals for President Rodrigo Duterte to stop "obstructing" the ongoing investigation. "Yes, we are all one in the pursuit of truth and accountability," Duque said during the Senate Committee on Finance's deliberation on the Department of Health's proposed budget for 2022. Duque pointed out that his department had a perfect attendance in congressional hearings on the use of COVID-19 funds which had largely looked into the government's purchase of "overpriced" face masks and face shields from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation. But this was before the President signed a memorandum last week ordering Cabinet members to ignore the summons of the Senate panel headed by Senator Richard Gordon. Duque said he believes the probe could help "ferret out the truth" on pandemic spending. But he also suggested that certain adjustments be made to ensure officials summoned by lawmakers have time to address the health crisis. For instance, he said, the number of hearings held in a week's time could be reduced. "Maybe the frequency may be looked into," he told the Finance committee. "Like for example, in one week, how many times, maybe once? It's just a suggestion." Before this, Drilon was first to mention that the hearings could be subject to a "reasonable setup," particularly as regards the number of officials in attendance. "We note that it is upon your initiative that almost all the directors of the Department of Health would attend the hearings," the senator told Duque. "We do not require that many, but maybe as resource person, you ask them to be present... But we do not want to be pictured as paralyzing the COVID efforts of this government." Duque said he is willing to raise the issue with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea for a possible compromise with the Blue Ribbon Committee. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Presidential aspirant Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, criticized for being neutral on the dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos, said Wednesday that Filipinos are being dragged into "family feuds" in the lead up to the 2022 elections. As he enters the presidential race against former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo, and other aspirants, he said the public should be more discerning because there will be a smokescreen to confuse the voters as the May 2022 polls near. "Nakita ko kasi nagiging paulit-ulit iyong issue ng away ng pulitika ng mga pamilya tuwing may halalalan," he said in a media forum when asked for his response to appeals for him to work with Robredo to beat Marcos. "Para bang we are being dragged backwards by this situation again and again... We have to move forward. The real enemy is COVID-19, plus dadagdagan mo pa ng pulitika at away pamilya," he added. [Translation: I see the political feud between families repeatedly brought up every election. It's like we are being dragged backwards. We have to move forward. COVID-19 is the real enemy, then they're adding politics and family feud.] He was earlier quoted as saying he admired the ousted tyrant "at some point" as a visionary, but that he is against the abuses committed during Marcos' 20-year rule. Robredo earlier said Moreno's questionable stand on the Marcoses was a factor why she decided to run. She said talks with Moreno to unify the opposition bogged down because the Marcos issues is one she is not willing to go soft on. She also previously said one of her considerations for running is to block the return of a Marcos to Malacanang. Robredo earlier said the late dictator has not been held fully accountable for his crimes, and his clan continues to benefit from the money they stole from Filipinos. While Moreno believes the reign of the ousted strongman had some successes worth emulating, he said those who committed abuses and stole from the coffers of the nation will be dealt with by the law. "We don't forget what happened in the past. We will always remember their mistakes and successes. Their successes, we will duplicate and innovate. Papanagutin natin sila sa mata ng batas, hindi sa kapritso lamang ng pangulo," he said. [Translation: We will make them pay under the law, not just based on the whims of a president.] He said Filipinos should learn to forgive but not forget using the analogy that worse crimes were committed during the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, but Filipinos were able to get past it. "Let's heal. Ang dami nang umabuso sa bansa natin. Mas mabigat pa ang ginawa sa atin, pinatay ang mga lolo at lola natin ng mga Hapon pero nakuha natin silang patawarin. Nag-move on tayo, but we will not forget so we will not make the same mistakes later on," he said. [Translation: So many have abused us in the past. Worse crimes were committed by the Japanese against our grandparent, but we were able to forgive. We moved on but we will not forget about it so we don't make the same mistakes.] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Presidential aspirant Isko Moreno, who described himself as a "middle class" citizen on Wednesday, admitted his net worth is around 70 million. When asked if he is ready to present his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), the mayor replied, "Of course, it's public." Moreno stressed he has never faced any corruption charges in his two decades in public service. The 46-year-old presidential aspirant spent his younger years as a scavenger in Tondo, then entered show business in his teens. He also served in local politics and held non-elective government posts. President Rodrigo Duterte has been criticized for his refusal to release his annual SALNs since 2018 despite repeated requests from the media. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) Former vice president and veteran broadcaster Noli De Castro on Wednesday announced that he is withdrawing from the senatorial race in the 2022 general elections. In a statement, De Castro said he prayed to the Nazarene and realized he can help his countrymen better as a broadcaster. "Nais kong iparating sa lahat ng aking mga kaibigan at supporters na naghahanda na sanang tumulong sa akin, na nagpasiya akong hindi na ituloy ang aking kandidatura," the TV Patrol anchor said in a statement posted by his daughter, PTV-4 general manager Kat de Castro. [Translation: I want to let my friends and supporters know I will no longer push through with my candidacy.] A few hours later, the Commission on Elections confirmed it has received De Castro's Statement of Withdrawal. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez reminds aspirants that they may withdraw their candidacy at any time before election day, but the statements should comply with Comelec rules. They still have to be submitted to the Commission en banc for resolution, Jimenez added. De Castro filed his certificate of candidacy last week under Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. Moreno said he supports De Castro's decision since it was due to personal reasons. Aksyon Demokratiko chairperson Ernest Ramel said De Castro will remain a member of the party. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections Law Department cancelled the candidacy of a certain independent hopeful Arlene Josephine Butay, who filed COCs for vice president and senator. Under the law and Comelec regulations, a candidate who files a COC for two or more positions shall not be eligible for any of them. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 14) The single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine has demonstrated 70% efficacy against the Delta variant during the first three months after vaccination, according to Russias sovereign wealth fund. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said based on analysis conducted, the vaccine is 75% effective among subjects under the age of 60. The vaccine provides flexibility in immunizing the population, contributing to the formation of primary immunity and effective re-vaccination for recipients who originally received a different vaccine, said RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev. Sputnik Light also demonstrated superior efficacy compared with two-dose vaccines, which have shown waning efficacy against the Delta variant to less than 50% five months after administration, RDIF said. Standalone use of Sputnik Light also provides much higher efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, it added. The data collected in July 2021 in Moscow was based on 28,000 participants who received Sputnik Light and compared with a control group of 5.6 million unvaccinated individuals. Developer Gamaleya Institute submitted the findings to medRxiv for publication this week. Sputnik Light is based on the human adenovirus serotype 26, the first component of the two-dose Sputnik V. Citing real-world data, RDIF said the single-dose vaccine has been proven safe and effective after it demonstrated 78.6-83.7% efficacy among the elderly as reported health authorities from Argentina and 93.5% efficacy based on Paraguays ongoing vaccination program. There are also ongoing studies on to evaluate immune response and safety of combining Sputnik Light with the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Moderna. Initial results of the study confirm a high safety profile of combinations with no serious adverse events related to vaccination, RDIF noted. Efficacy of one-shot Sputnik Light as a booster against Delta variant for other vaccines will be close to the efficacy against the Delta variant of the Sputnik V vaccine: over 83% against infection and over 94% against hospitalization, it added. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration granted Gamaleya emergency use authorization for Sputnik Light on Aug. 23. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said last month that the government would try to renegotiate the purchase of 10 million doses of Sputnik V to shift to Sputnik Light since it is easier to deploy. So far, the country has received over 87 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while more than 23 million individuals have received full protection from the coronavirus. Click on the link "CLICK HERE" below. This will redirect you to a login page. If you have already registered please log in, otherwise you will need to create an online account to proceed. CLICK HERE! At Step 3: Login using your Name exactly as it appears on your mailing label and the account number needs to be input without the leading zeros. Using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Satellite Survey Mission, a Penn State graduate student and team of collaborators newly discovered a gas giant planet, with an elliptical, comet-like orbit, moving closer to its host star, according to a Monday release. The planet was discovered during the research teams observations through TESS of nearly 3 millions stars. Researchers said they believe the planet will eventually become a hot Jupiter," or Jupiter-sized planet, located extremely close to its host star, which will cause the planet to undergo "dramatic temperature changes and extreme weather events," the release said. Astronomers have several theories about how hot Jupiters have come to be located so close to their host stars, Jiayin Dong, the Penn State graduate student and lead author of the new study, said. One theory suggests that the exoplanet began with a much larger orbit that ended up shrinking over time. This newly discovered planet appears to be doing just that, which gives us the rare opportunity to study the planet in action as its orbit shrinks. According to the release, the new planet, TOI-3362 b, has an 18-day orbit that is "extremely eccentric" around the star named TOI-3362, which is 50% larger than the sun. The time that the planet spends passing in front of its host star is short compared to what we expected based on the planets orbital period, Dong said. This short duration implies that the planet has an elongated orbit unlike all the planets we have in the solar system. Dong confirmed the theory by turning the MINERVA-Australis exoplanet observatory in Australia and the CHIRON instrument at the Astronomical Observatory Cerro Tololo in Chile. According to the researchers, it is uncommon for a planet to have such an elliptical orbit. The extreme orbit suggests TOI-3362 b is migrating closer to its star and might provide an example of how and where large planets form, which is what the research team is especially interested in, the release said. In addition to Dong, the research team includes Jonathan Jackson, another graduate student at Penn State, and Rebekah Dawson, Shaffer Career Development Associate Professor in Science, associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State and an author of the study, as well as researchers from other universities across the country. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE The abundance of social media and ever-increasing apps and websites have made it easy to spread and digest information. Whether it be a mom with a dozen followers, a student with a thousand followers or a celebrity with over a million fans, sharing articles and posts has a massive influence on socialization. There are plenty of positives in sharing posts. Info regarding when concerts take place, when voting starts and new restaurants opening in the community are all helpful and beneficial. With the ability to share being so seamless and simple, misinformation can enter every type of conversation. While misinformation may have a different meaning for some, its defined as false or inaccurate information. Intent behind spreading misinformation is not usually on purpose to deceive but rather just from a lack of knowledge or understanding. Recently, it seems misinformation has been all over, whether it be about the coronavirus vaccine or election results. Its easy to identify misinformation that the crazy aunt and uncle at the family reunion or the man using a close-up selfie with sunglasses on as his Facebook profile photo spreads, but young people are just as susceptible to spreading misinformation as anyone else. In July 2020, amid the debate over schools reopening in the fall, a false quote was attributed to former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. It was claimed that DeVos said only .02% of kids are likely to die when they go back to school during the pandemic. Not only was the tweet retweeted nearly 70,000 times, but I saw multiple of my friends repost this quote on their stories on Instagram and Snapchat. The thing is, DeVos never said that quote. It was misinformation shared, which resulted in dozens of young people, who are statistically unlikely to support the former administration, to jump on and share without doing their own research. Was DeVos, who was not a former educator, qualified or fit to be the secretary of education? Not at all. Does it mean young people should falsely attribute and share quotes that arent true about her? No, they shouldnt. Another example of young people spreading fake news on social media has been the sharing of false statistics and misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic. Ive seen dozens of people I follow share tweets claiming 99.9% of all people with coronavirus survive or repost never published information purporting to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stating survival rates for the pandemic. Even more, Ive seen some posts claim only 6% of all coronavirus deaths were actually caused by the disease. This claim originated from a conspiracy theorist account and, former President Donald Trump retweeted it. Ive witnessed a fair amount of Penn State students, both friends and acquaintances, share these false and unbacked statistics. In reality, about 1.6% of Americans whove been infected with coronavirus have died, a much different statistic than 0.01% a statistic that represents so many lives, loved ones and family members. This 6% number shared around actually referred to 6% of coronavirus cases resulting in death only had coronavirus listed as cause of death, while the other 94% of deaths listed the disease and various conditions it can cause, such as respiratory failure. If you were to die of pneumonia that you developed while infected with the coronavirus and died from such, how should that not count as a coronavirus-related death? The pneumonia wouldnt have developed without the coronavirus present. Fighting off misinformation isnt easy. Sources previously thought of as reliable may not be considered reliable anymore by some. False posts are easy to share and prone to fool people. Whatever the case may be, its clear young people are just as capable and guilty of sharing and diffusing fake news throughout all mediums. Its everyone's responsibility to fact check anything they come across and commit to ensuring they share truthful information. The states Independent Ethics Commission has completed its investigation into a complaint lodged against Custer Countys public health director. The complaint against Dr. Clifford Brown was filed last December by Jordan Hedburg, the publisher and editor of the Wet Mountain Tribune. In his complaint, Hedburg said Brown, who holds a doctorate in optometry fraudulently claimed that he also held a masters degree in public health from Dartley University; that the MPH diploma is fake; and that Dartley is a criminal and illegal online diploma mill.' The issue? According to the complaint, Brown is not qualified under state law to serve as a county public health director. The complaint added that the purpose of Browns deception was for private financial gain of a government paycheck and other benefits of the job. State law and rules outlined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment state that a public health director can be a physician, public health nurse, or other qualified public health professional. Brown has never been licensed to practice optometry in Colorado, according to the state database maintained by the Department of Regulatory Agencies. And optometry is not a medical degree, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus. The CDPHE rules also apply to non-physician candidates. Under those rules, the candidate must have a masters degree in a public health discipline; and must have spent five years out of the past ten as a public health administrator or in a closely related field, which is to include at least two years experience in supervising public health professionals. Brown, in his response to the complaint, noted that a public health director can be an other qualified health professional. He said the statutory requirement does not mention the MPH, and that Brown did not rely on his MPH to qualify him for the position. But Brown also said, as reported by the investigation, that he could not vouch for Dartley University, where he alleged he got his public health degree. Brown said he took two years of online classes, including online tests, and received the MPH in 2008. He told the ethics commission investigator that the MPH program at Dartley did not include written academic materials; there were no written exams and there were no written substantive class materials. Rather, substantive activities at Dartley were all oral, including phone calls and exams. There were no class lectures. Exams were conducted by four examiners. Respondent does not remember examiners names or qualifications. The degree Brown submitted for the ethics investigation and as contained in the investigation report is faint and poorly copied. All of the signatures are illegible. The transcript is also poorly copied and barely legible, and is signed by a "Phillip Samuels, Registrar" but is undated and does not have a university seal that would verify its authenticity, which is standard industry practice. The National Student Clearinghouse has no record of Dartley University, and two books on bogus institutions said Dartley is either an online diploma mill or that it has no authority to grant degrees. Online diploma mills are not banned under federal law. However, an online diploma mill is defined as an entity that lacks accreditation from a state or professional accreditation organization, but that nonetheless sells college and graduate degrees that are fraudulent or worthless because of the lack of standards. In addition, the degree Brown submitted to the ethics investigator is not an MPH. Brown submitted a copy of a master of science in public health (MSPH), not an MPH, which is the terminal degree for professionals in public health. Brown claims he has an MPH degree on his curriculum vitae, which was included in the investigation report. The ethics investigation, despite having a copy of Browns degree, did not notice that Brown had an MSPH, and referred to his degree as an MPH throughout the report. The master of science degree is an intermediary research-based academic degree for those who intend to continue on to the doctorate in public health and want to become educators or researchers in public health. Out of the 318 accredited colleges and universities that offer online public health degrees, only two offer the MSPH. The MSPH also requires a thesis, but none is listed on Brown's alleged transcript. The investigation also noted what appeared to be a lack of concern by CDPHE about Browns qualifications. Michele Shimomura, director of the office of public health practice, planning and local partnerships, told the investigator that the county did not appear to submit, within 30 days of hire, a required minimum qualifications review form for local public health directors. Shimomura, who was hired in October 2020, said she could not confirm whether that form was ever submitted, citing email problems. Brown was hired in July 2020. The form showed up at CDPHE in April 2021, according to the report. Shimomura told the investigator that she knows the degree from Dartley is controversial. CDPHE approved the review form, although Shimomura admitted she never validated Browns educational qualifications, telling the investigator that if the information was inaccurate, thats the countys problem. The minimum review form submitted by Custer County also inaccurately says Brown has an MPH. The ethics commission is scheduled to meet on Oct. 19; the investigation report could be publicly released at that time. The next step is a formal hearing; according to Hedburg, that's set for Jan. 18, 2022. This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. Danville, IL (61832) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-283-2144 or email circ@oelweindailyregister.com. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com. Apple is fighting back against growing pressure to support sideloading on its App Stores with an extensive 28-page white paper in which it offers stark security and privacy warnings. The risks of sideloading The white paper, "Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps a Threat analysis of Sideloading" argues that because iPhones and other devices capture so much personal information about people, maintaining privacy and security is critical.Supporting sideloading through direct downloads and third-party app stores would cripple the privacy and security protections that have made iPhone so secure, and expose users to serious security risks, the company said. The European Commission, in addition to lawmakers in some European states, the US, and elsewhere seem at present inclined to make Apple support app sideloading. The ECs proposed Digital Markets App could force the company to do so. Apple rejects this on the grounds of the potential harm to its customers and its platform. Apple published a similar document explaining the benefits of its curated App Store in June, warning of significant dangers to the lack of curation. Critics of sideloading argue that while curation isnt perfect, it is far, far better than nothing. The paper cites a Nokia study that showed Android suffers up to 47 times more malware than iPhone. It also reprises a European regulatory agency that reported 230,000 new mobile malware infections per day. Threat of a new iCrime wave Android smartphones are the most common mobile malware targets and have recently had between 15 and 47 times more infections from malicious software than iPhone. A study found that 98 percent of mobile malware targets Android devices. "This is closely linked to sideloading: In 2018, for example, Android devices that installed apps outside Google Play, the official Android app store, were eight times more likely to be affected by potentially harmful applications than those that did not, the paper says. The paper discusses malware that posed as a security update for a spoof Android version of the Clubhouse app which asked users to turn off security settings that would prevent the malicious code being installed. The company also warns criminals may attempt to create fake app stores to trick consumers into sharing payment details, the company warns. Sideloading would make it easier and cheaper to execute many attacks that are currently difficult and costly to execute on iOS," it says. The risk to consumers is amplified, as in some cases App developers may force consumers to sideload their apps by refusing to offer them via that App Store. Users may not get accurate information about apps they sideload through third-party app stores or via direct downloads because these app stores would not be required to provide the information displayed on the App Store product pages and privacy labels. And features like App Tracking Transparency and parental controls, Apple rightly notes. Security experts seem to agree The report supports Apples arguments with statements from Europol, the European Agency for Cybersecurity, the US Department of Homeland Security, Norton, Interpol and NIST. The latter warns that Sideloading, if done incorrectly, could make a mobile device extremely vulnerable to attack. It also quotes security vendor Norton: One way to minimize danger from third-party stores is to avoid them. "If Apple were forced to support sideloading via direct downloads and through third-party app stores, iPhone users would have to constantly be on the lookout for scams, never sure whom or what to trust, and, as a result, users would download fewer apps from fewer developers," Apple said in its report. To sum up what it is trying to do, the Apple report repeats a 2007 statement by founder Steve Jobs: Were trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once: provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Real risks for real people (and businesses) Many iOS users use mobile banking and payment apps, and purchase goods and services on their devices. Employees also commonly connect to corporate networks on their mobile devices for work- related tasks. App Store users come from all walks of life and all age groups, speak different languages, and live all over the world. But one thing they have in common is that they are all protected by the App Store safeguards, the company says. While Apples arguments will almost certainly be rejected by rivals who want to force it to support sideloading, its possible they will be taken seriously enough by regulators that they will seek a more secure compromise for the platform. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. 10/13/2021 Photo (c) miodrag ignjatovic - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 44,590,780 (44,505,919) Total U.S. deaths: 717,158 (714,808) Total global cases: 238,947,617 (238,540,011) Total global deaths: 4,869,812 (4,862,317) FDA is withdrawing hand sanitizer guidelines Hand sanitizer was hard to find early in the pandemic, causing some alcohol distillers to shift into hand sanitizer production under guidelines issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With demand for these products now much lower, the FDA is withdrawing that authority effective Dec. 31. The guidance was issued in March 2020, to manufacturers that were not drug companies. The FDA said it was a temporary measure to meet a public health emergency. At the end of December, companies producing hand sanitizer under that guidance must stop making the products. Hand sanitizers manufactured before or on December 31, 2021, and produced under the temporary guidelines, must no longer be sold to wholesalers or retailers by March 31, 2022. Judge: United cant place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave A federal judge in Texas has placed limits on United Airlines enforcement of its vaccination mandate. The judge ruled the airline may not place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave. The judge also placed a temporary restraining order on the airline, barring it from rejecting late requests for religious or medical exemptions. United was the first U.S. airline to impose a COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Six employees filed suit in federal court, arguing unpaid leave is not a reasonable accommodation. Poll suggests Americans are not that divided on COVID-19 Despite headlines about emotional encounters at school board and town hall meetings, a new poll shows that Americans are not all that divided over COVID-19 and the response to the pandemic. Its true that conflict exists as the pandemic and the various remedies to combat it have become politicized, but a Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that just 15% of Americans say they will not get vaccinated, down from 19% in August. Just 17% said they never wore a mask during the previous week. And just 16% said they believed that face coverings are not effective at all in preventing the spread of the virus. Around the nation New York: A federal judge has ruled that New York must accept religious exemptions to its vaccination mandate for hospital employees. The ruling temporarily blocks the state and employers from enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate against medical workers who have a legitimate religious exemption. Massachusetts: Members of the National Guard have been enlisted to help schools across the state conduct COVID-19 tests. Gov. Charlie Baker has directed about 200 members of the guard to help schools and another 250 personnel to help correctional facilities deal with staff shortages. Florida: The state health department has fined Leon County $3.5 million, saying it violated the states ban on vaccination passports. Leon County reportedly fired 14 employees who did not provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 by the stated deadline. Ohio: A new state law took effect today limiting how schools can issue vaccination requirements. The new law prohibits public schools and colleges from requiring students and employees to get any COVID-19 vaccine that has not received full FDA approval. By some miraculous feat, it seems that somehow, more people than everyone and their mother is absolutely obsessed with the newly-minted official TV series of peer-pressure, Squid Game. Just hours after Netflix dubbed the show its biggest ever series at launch,' it seems the company and, well, the entire internet as a whole -- still evidently managed to underestimate the show's reach, with Kim Jong Un's propagandists taking time from their busy schedule of flexing the DPRK leader's impressive weight loss and their weapons to sound off on the show, per the Wall Street Journal. Earlier this week, North Korean state-run website Arirang Meari published an article claiming the show, which centers around several debtors including a defector from North Korea competing in various challenges for a billion-dollar prize with the hang-up that they die of they lose, is more than a work of fiction, highlighting the sad reality of a beastly South Korean society." Squid Game gained popularity because it exposes the reality of South Korean capitalist culture, reads the article, per the WSJ's translation, the piece noting that the show exemplifies a world where only money mattersa hell-like horror. Fairfield Glade has shown a population boom of 23% over the past 10 years. Two plans are on the table for the countys redistricting committee to ensure the community has equitable representation in county government for the next decade. Joyce Carol Brooks, 78, of Crossville, passed away on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at Cumberland Medical Center. Mrs. Brooks was born on July 12, 1943, in Charleston, WV, daughter of Owen Haynes and Margaret (Withrow) Haynes. She was self-employed in the health and body industry and of the Penteco The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has designated October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In honor of this event, I urge you to take the month of October to become more aware of your computer and network assets. Inventory and evaluate software for risks One way to become more aware of your cybersecurity risks is to evaluate and inventory the software your firm uses. We tend to focus on Microsoft patching, but often we overlook actions we can take with third-party that can easily make our systems more secure. Review weaknesses in software and configurations. For this you typically need some sort of inventorying software that can analyze your network. If your firm is in a traditional domain, you can use tools that rely on Active Directory to analyze what security weaknesses you have. If your firm has both cloud assets as well as traditional domain infrastructure and you have access to a Microsoft 365 E5 license, you can use tools such as Microsoft Defender Security Center to assess what software needs to be updated. If your budget doesnt allow for such licensing, alternatives such as SpiceWorks will allow you to inventory and analyze your network. For on-premises systems, you can use PowerShell to prepare an inventory report of the software on your network. It will review the installed software section on your computers and prepare a listing. PowerShell has long been a means to inventory systems, but it depends on Active Directory access. As we move to disconnected networks, especially during the pandemic, ways to inventory systems that are not joined to the domain is a key need. Unconnected, unmanaged computers are often behind in updating and maintaining of software. A tool that gives you an overview of the security of all software can help keep your network secure. I tend to forget lesser-known software such as 7-zip that has been installed, forgotten, and now no longer up to date. However, assign a realistic threat to any unpatched software situation. Are there active attacks using vulnerabilities in the software? The security recommendations dashboard in Microsoft Defender Security Center (exposed with an E5 license) suggests that the most pressing thing I should doing is updating 7-zip as it has the highest impact rating. Yet, when digging into the details it states that no exploit is available. Set attack surface reduction rules Look for tools that recommend what security settings to deploy. Office software has long been an entry point for ransomware, and you should enable attack surface reduction (ASR) rules to better protect systems. Rather than patch 7-zip, I should deploy, test, and enforce ASR rules instead. Microsoft Defender for Endpoints console suggested I use these five ASR rules: Block all Office applications from creating child processes Block JavaScript or VBScript from launching downloaded executable content Block executable files from running unless they meet a prevalence, age or trusted criterion Block untrusted and unsigned processes that run from a USB Block persistence through WMI event subscription Every firm should test and deploy the first ASR rule in this listing, Block all Office applications from creating child processes. Microsoft often gives the impression ASR rules require an Enterprise license. Anyone with a Windows 10 Professional license can take advantage of these settings. If you dont have Windows 10 Enterprise, you merely lose out on some of the reporting features. Microsoft Defender Security Center Security Centers threat insights showcase the risk of the vulnerability. Even a fully patched Office brings risk to your network. Attackers have used Office many times to deliver ransomware. For example, attacks that have used child processes in Office include Qakbot, which provided access to ransomware affiliates; CVE-2021-40444 MSHTML remote code execution; GravityRAT; CHIMBORAZO; ZLoader; IcedID; Sysrv botnet; and BISMUTH, which was used in mining for intelligence and coins, among others. Attackers have also recently used Excel 4.0 macros. You would think that we would no longer have a need for Excel 4.0, but some firms still rely on older macro processes to perform basic business functions. Often combined with phishing lures, Excel macros are used to gain a foothold into a workstation and from there launching larger attacks into the network. Once in the network, attackers can use LSASS memory dumps to harvest credentials from a workstation to gain more rights into a network. For those of us in security, every month is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Take this month of October to reflect on your network, both on-premises devices and those that you dont have direct connection to. Review your options to ensure that you can know, and therefore control, all your technology assets. Google has announced the formation of a cybersecurity action team to provide support to governments, critical infrastructure, enterprises, and small businesses. The Google Cybersecurity Action Team will consist of cybersecurity experts from across the organization and will guide customers through the cycle of security and digital transformation. The Google Cybersecurity Action Team is part of our ongoing commitment to be the best partner for our enterprise and government customers along their security transformation journey, said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. Cybersecurity is at the top of every C-level and board agenda, given the increasing prominence of software supply chain exploits, ransomware, and other attacks, he added. How Googles Cybersecurity Action Team will support customers Google says the effort will begin within Google Cloud, building on its partnerships with organizations of all sizes, and will evolve to bring Google security to more companies as it progresses. As part of its long-term mission, the cybersecurity team will provide a range of services to support customers including: Strategic advisory services for customers security strategies, including transformation workshops and educational content. This function will advise customers on the structure of their digital security transformation and provide program management and professional services support. Trust and compliance services that map Googles global compliance certifications to industry control frameworks, enabling customers to simplify compliance. Security customer and solutions engineering that deliver blueprints and architectures for deploying Google Cloud products and services securely and in accordance with regulatory requirements, as well as solutions for autonomic security operations and cyber resilience. Threat intelligence and incident response services, which include threat briefings, preparedness drills, incident support, and rapid response engagements to stay on top of the evolving security landscape. Benefits of Google's cybersecurity expertise Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director Jen Easterly champions Googles decision to form a team dedicated to offering its customers services and guidance around security transformation. Its great to see a large company like Google Cloud orient itself to support the cybersecurity of all organizations large and small through its Cybersecurity Action Team, and as part of the JCDC [Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative] and other initiatives, we look forward to partnering with them and other tech companies in this vital effort, she said in a press release. Forrester VP and principal analyst Jeff Pollard concurs, telling CSO that offering expertise at such scale is an intriguing and ambitious approach on Googles part. The incentives make sense for Google. The Security Action Team should facilitate and accelerate the adoption of Google Cloud Platform and Chronicle, and it puts Google at the forefront of security thought leadership for the clients that turn to it, says Pollard. Customers get access to Google caliber experts that understand cloud, software development, DevOps, and scale in ways that are hard to find when hiring on your own, he says. In addition, traditional consulting firms advisory offerings dont understand cloud or cloud security the way Google does. Those firms think about cloud and cloud security as a project to migrate and implement, not as a strategy. No company wants to see its crown jewels exposed to the elements, yet this is what happened to the Amazon-owned online streaming platform Twitch on October 6 when 125GB of its data was posted on 4Chan. Twitch, via a Tweet, acknowledged the breach, We can confirm a breach has taken place. Our teams are working with urgency to understand the extent of this. We will update the community as soon as additional information is available. Thank you for bearing with us. In an October 6 blog post, the company blamed an error in a Twitch server configuration change that was subsequently accessed by a malicious third party. Thus, Twitch pointed the finger for the posting of the 125GB of sensitive internal information to an external third party and not toward a malevolent insider. What exactly went out the door and onto 4Chan? According to Video Games Chronicle, which first reported on the breach, the following data sets were exposed: The entirety of Twitchs source code with commit history going back to its early beginnings Creator payout reports from 2019 Mobile, desktop, and console Twitch clients Proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services used by Twitch Every other property that Twitch owns including IGDB and CurseForge An unreleased Steam competitor, codenamed Vapor, from Amazon Game Studios Twitch internal red-teaming tools The service forced an update of all users stream keys on October 7. Since then, its been radio silence on the Twitch blog front. The importance of least-privilege access The misconfiguration of a server, leaving a direct pathway to the unprotected crown jewels of Twitch, raises questions surrounding the basic concepts of least-privilege access. Cymulates cyber evangelist David Klein observes how it is not a good idea for CISOs to have everything, including source code, accounting records to streamers, encrypted passwords, and unreleased projects to compete with Valve/Steam accessible. This is bad. Basic least privileges for administrators, internal segmentation, and understanding where your data is and who has access are of paramount importance. From the distant lens that we share from the outside looking in, questions CISOs should be asking themselves include: Are the crown jewels that I am tasked to protect adequately protected? Does Kleins observation on ease of access trumping security apply? Are our datasets encrypted, with the keys provided to those with demonstrated access and only when that access is necessary? Your currency (data) has a value in the market so protection against theft and misuse begins at the point of creation (currency) and travels with the currency, notes CEO of Active Cypher Michael Quinn. Companies risk the brand, clients and trust when the currency is devalued. A good example: Full disk encryption does not protect you when your data is done resting and is on the move again. We need to understand that data (currency) has many states in its lifecycle that require encryption (at rest, in transit, in storage, in use or being created). Quinn concludes with advice for CISOs, The architecture of end-to-end encryption is a moving target, the endpoint is the data not a location, device, or service. Can you go beyond the encryption of your currency/data and eliminate the risks of allowing your currency to travel even as cypher bits? The process exists and when applied ensures that the currency/data lifecycle is both secure and under the ownership, stewardship, and management of a secure data supply chain. The streaming service is now faced with the knowledge that any pending vulnerabilities in their source code that were on the proverbial to-do list are at risk of detection by any interested miscreant with an eye toward attacking the streaming service downstream and must be mitigated, posthaste. Twitchs misconfigured server speaks to the risk presented by the devices and machines in each companys ecosystem. The breadth of data exposed crosses many professional disciplines, software engineering, UX, production, accounting, and customer care, which suggests a modicum of knowledge of Twitch and its internal processes, procedures, and data segmentation rules. How the malicious third party (external or insider) who compromised Twitch was able to traverse the ecosystem of the service has not yet been made public. It is something, should it be made available, CISOs will be well served to take on board and assimilate the lessons into their instance. Klein says what many CISOs may be thinking, If this isnt an insider, then the situation is worse. The Australian government has signalled it is stepping up its efforts to counter ransomware, announcing its newRansomware Action Plan and comes as US President Joe Bidens administration hosts its virtual ransomware summit, encouraging international cooperation. This new national plan brings together legislative reforms through new, specific offences and by refreshing existing laws with a practical policy and operational response through task forces, business education, joining international joint policing operations, and even a provision to call out those who support or provide safe havens to cybercriminals. The minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, said the government intends to take action to disrupt, pursue, and prosecute cybercriminals across the board. The plan has been broadly welcomed by industry and academics speaking to CSO Australia, but they also point to some inconsistencies, more detail needed, and the real challenge of Australian law enforcement agencies unable to investigate outsider their jurisdictions. All agree that the potential harm from ransomware is significant and widespread. It goes much further than the targeted company and their customers. It has a knock-on effect, especially where there is a direct or indirect implication for critical infrastructure and public service. We have entered the digital age where any national defence strategy includes cyberattack and defence as a critical component, said Dan Halpin, managing director of cyber intelligence firm Cybertrace, who summed up the view of many. Countries are facing a global rise in ransomware attacks that has seen a 15% increase in incidents reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). Globally, ransomware payments reached more than US$400 million globally in 2020, and topped US$81 million in the first quarter of 2021, the US government has reported. The Ransomware Action Plan in detail The Ransomware Action Plan includes new criminal offences, tougher penalties, a mandatory reporting regime, and new laws to limit cybercriminals turning to cryptocurrency to use the proceeds of their crimes. New measures for a standalone aggravated offence for all forms of cyberextortion are set to come, and will include increased maximum penalties, giving policing agencies a stronger basis for investigations, and prosecution of ransomware criminals. Additionally, a new standalone aggravated offence for cybercriminals seeking to target critical infrastructure; they will face increased penalties, recognising the significant impact on assets that deliver essential services to Australians. Again, most cybersecurity experts agree that critical infrastructure needs special provisions, including a focus on more stringent privacy regulations, said Gergana Winzer, Unisyss industry director of cybersecurity for Asia-Pacific. There needs to be a yearly review of the controls currently in place within critical infrastructure providers and aim to achieve a higher maturity levels. Its a process, and we have to fall in love with the journey as there isnt a silver bullet. This plan is a step in the right direction, she said. While Winzer welcomed the new legislation and regulation as steps in the right direction, its still paying catchup to the bad actors and cybercriminals. We have to learn to move faster. There are provisions to criminalise the act of dealing with stolen data knowingly obtained in the course of committing a separate criminal offence, intended to ensure that cybercriminals who deprive a victim of their data, or publicly release a victims sensitive data, face increased penalties. The plan also brings in penalties that criminalise the buying or selling of malware for the purposes of undertaking computer crimes. Legislation will be updated to try to prevent cybercriminals from using the proceeds of their crimes and to help law enforcement better track and seize or freeze cybercriminals financial transactions in cryptocurrency. Questions on the mandatory ransomware reporting regime As part of this plan, the government will also develop a mandatory ransomware incident reporting regime to enhance its understanding of the threat and enable better support to victims of ransomware attacks. It will only apply businesses with a turnover of more than $10 million per year to avoid creating additional burdens on small businesses. The Australian government has been moving to a mandatory reporting scheme for much of 2021. While reporting ransomware attacks is an important first step in assessing the true extent of the problem and broadly welcomed by industry, CSO Australia has found that some people question if it goes far enough. How exactly the reporting system will work and whether the insurance industry will need to be consulted on what exactly will be covered are two open questions, said Nick Lennon, cloud cybersecurity provider Mimecasts country manager for ANZ. In particular, Lennon points out that, according to ABS data, the $10 million threshold only captures less than 2% of businesses. As such, how will this new plan capture ransomware attacks on every other business? In the current climate, its a bit like vaccinating only 2% of the population against the COVID-19 pandemic. Its a start, but we wouldnt feel very safe or protected against the ongoing threat, he told CSO Australia. The move to set the bar at $10 million rather than $3 million as it is with the Privacy Act has surprised some in the industry because it makes the regimes inconsistent and may not send a strong-enough signal to smaller enterprises to strengthen their defences. Keeping this level consistent would help provide clarity for Australian businesses and will also help encourage a far larger segment of the business community to prepare against the ransomware threat, said Darren Hopkins, a partner at advisory firm McGrathNicol. It is also unclear if the notifications will apply to government and not just businesses. Ultimately, Australian businesses need a clearer indication of what their obligations will be and what best practice looks like before they can get behind these efforts, he said. Hopkins said many people across the business landscape are looking for more clarity on what businesses obligations will be; for example, whether a report must be made if an attack occurs or whether a ransom is paid. It is also unclear whether notifications will be listed publicly and which government organisation will oversee this or have access to the information. Keeping notifications private, as in the OAIC notifiable breaches scheme, would be advisable, he said. The nature of public reporting may actually be seem by some as punishing the victim rather than the criminals, said Paul Haskell-Dowland, associate dean for Computing and Security at Edith Cowan University. Cybercrime is now high-profile and organisations are concerned over the impact on reputation, he said. Haskell-Dowland also sees gaps created in the system. It may be desirable to widen the scope and consider the impact as well as the turnovera small company impacted by ransomware can lead to knock-on consequences through supply-chain attacks, he said. Putting a stop to ransom payments In line with other governments like the US , this new plan makes clear the Australian government will not condone ransom payments to cybercriminals. The government has stressed that there is no guarantee hackers will restore information, stop their attacks, and not leak or sell stolen data when paid a ransom. It said those affected by ransomware attacks should visit cyber.gov.au for advice. However, while no business ever wants to pay a ransom, there are times when they will. Some people in the industry are concerned that the governments no-payments stance may leave victims with little room to move. Victims would only [pay] if they feel they have to so they can keep their business alive so we dont need the government to be heavy-handed, said Greg Clarkson, CEO of IT consultancy Network Overdrive, who works alongside in former US military chiefs in developing systems to combat ransomware. I understand the insurance providers are extremely worried about businesses paying ransomware, but there are other things governments can do to reduce the cost to insurance providers, Clarkson told CSO Australia. The government should be devising strategies to either prevent these attacks in the first place or assist victims through the process, he said. Cybertraces Halpin said ransomware payments are in cryptocurrencies, making ransomware extortion a crypto-enabled crime. Australia is severely lacking in a system to deal with this element of ransomware, he said. The Australian model for investigation and progression of cybercrime is broken, and it actively promotes the targeting of Australians by cybercriminals. This is especially the case for cryptocurrency-dependent and -enabled crime. National coordinated ransomware response needed The government said the ransomware issue warrants a national response. To achieve this, it will need to work closely with its state and territory counterparts, as well as with industry stakeholders, to put this plan into action and avoid duplicating existing cybersecurity initiatives across the economy. This latest plan comes after the recent establishment of an Australian Federal Police-led multi-agency group to target ransomware attacks linked to organised crime operating in Australia and overseas. This cross-agency ransomware task force also shares intelligence directly with the Australian Cyber Security Centre to use their disruptive capabilities offshore. These initiatives are part of the Australian governments 10-year $1.7 billion Cyber Security Strategy that started in 2020. The government will now also start further industry and stakeholder consultation on the mandatory reporting regime and new criminal offences. However, Edith Cowans Haskell-Dowland said that while introducing new offences will help the legal processes and courts by clearly defined certain crimes, it doesnt address the global nature of cybercrime. Stricter processes in Australia will not help when the criminals behind the incident are located outside of Australian jurisdiction, he said. Its the same with national penalties on misuse of data and dealing in malware that are global rather than national transactions. This may help deter home-grown criminals, but will do little for the global landscape, Haskell-Dowland said. Concerted, global cooperation is needed to address cybercrimein particular addressing the challenges of jurisdiction, he said. Thats something the US governments 30-country summit wants to kickstart, although with the notable absence of Russia. About 19 months into the pandemic, the pharmaceutical giant Merck has asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve an anti-viral drug the company says can help prevent serious illness from COVID for those at high risk. The drug, known as molnupiravir, was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 50 percent, according to Mercks interim analysis of its Phase 3 trial. The benefits of this that really strike me, in contrast to what our standard of care is, is first and foremost its an oral drug. Its a pill. When we think about our current COVID treatments, they require admission to a hospital or an infusion center [this drug] has the potential for being taken at home, said Dr. Scott Roberts, associate medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health. The request for emergency authorization comes on the tail end of a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly infectious delta variant. In Connecticut, the delta variant was found to have caused nearly all cases genetically sequenced by researchers, and spurred a spike in new infections and hospitalizations in the late summer. However, cases and hospitalizations have been declining in recent weeks. The extraordinary impact of this pandemic demands that we move with unprecedented urgency, and that is what our teams have done by submitting this application for molnupiravir to the FDA within 10 days of receiving the data, Robert M. Davis, chief executive officer and president of Merck, said in a statement. Roberts said data was limited on the drug, but said he was encouraged by the information Merck has released. All of this makes me really optimistic, I am really excited to see the full data release from Merck, Roberts said. With the virus still circulating, Dr. Asha Shah, director of infectious diseases at Stamford Health, said molnupiravir could be a game-changer. It was refreshing to see this because its tackling the pandemic from a different angle. Vaccines are for prevention, this is for treatment outpatient treatment, Shah said. Mercks request for emergency use of its COVID-19 anti-viral drug comes amid a continued push to increase vaccination rates locally and across the nation. In Connecticut, nearly 80 percent of all eligible residents have been fully vaccinated, a number that has been increasing modestly in the fall. Along with the effort to drive up rates, the states vaccine providers are in the early stages of administering booster shots to eligible individuals, including those working and living in high-risk settings, who have already finished their two-shot course of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It was unclear when the FDA would review data for molnupiravir. The federal regulator was expected this week to consider data from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson relating to associated booster shots for the companies vaccines. Despite no promise that it will receive federal approval, Merck said it has been manufacturing millions of doses of the drug in anticipation the company will get the necessary authorization. Merck, in announcing that it had made the request from regulators, said Monday that it has 1.7 million courses of the drug ready to give to the U.S. government. Roberts said it appears the drug would be offered as a five-day course of two pills a day. I think its really nice to have an additional tool to help those who are diagnosed with COVID to get better outcomes, Roberts said. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images President Joe Biden will visit the University of Connecticut and Hartford Friday, according to the White House. In Hartford, Biden will promote his Build Back Better Agenda and the importance of investing in child care to help working class families, the White House said. He will then travel to Storrs to dedicate the opening of the Dodd Center for Human Rights with former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. BRANFORD Multiple campaign lawn signs were splashed with red paint this weekend, and the vandals struck candidates in both local parties, officials said. The Branford Democratic Town Committee first called attention to the issue on Wednesday by issuing a press release that included photos of Tax Collector Roberta Gill-Brooks and town clerk candidate Eileen Poulton Ciminos signs that they say were defaced with red paint. One of Gill-Brooks signs has a red arrow drawn through the candidates head, they said. The vandalism was discovered Sunday in the Short Beach section of town, according to DTC Chairman Kevin Coughlin, who said he didnt see an indication that the vandalism was politically motivated. Ray Ingraham, chairman of the Branford Republican Town Committee, said that two GOP candidates, Peter Black and Ralph Murray, had also had their campaign signs vandalized with red paint in the same neighborhood. It wasnt a targeted thing on anyones signs, Ingraham said. We get kids doing this every year. Neither party leader contacted the authorities regarding the vandalism, and both said that to do so would be an unnecessary use of police resources. The signs cost only a few dollars to replace, they added. Coughlin said that a couple dozen signs for Democratic candidates were damaged. Ingraham said about five or six GOP signs were affected. Wednesdays press release included statements from Coughlin and the two Democratic candidates whose signs were defaced, calling for a stop to vandalism. This close to an election, peoples emotions can get the best of them, but I know Branford is better than this, Gill-Brooks said. Please, lets show each other the civility and kindness that makes Branford such a wonderful community to live in. This years municipal elections in Branford are headlined by the contest between incumbent First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, a Republican, and Democrat Tom Brockett. Neither party said those candidates signs were damaged. 99 cent introductory offer Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer. This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts. Rates are subject to change. After announcing plans to open in Fairfield in June, fried chicken restaurant Lovebird Fairfield officially opened its doors this week. This is Lovebird's first location outside of Pennsylvania. The chain currently boats three locations in Pennsylvania: Bryn Mawr, Doylestown and Newtown, Penn. BRIDGEPORT City officials are making the process of awarding $25 million in federal coronavirus relief more transparent. Warned that the current effort could be in violation of the state Freedom of Information Act, the ongoing deliberations of a dozen committees whose 79 members are reviewing roughly 700 applications will now be open to the public. The committees are gonna continue to review and deliberate, Thomas Gaudett, an aide to Mayor Joe Ganim, said Tuesday. The only difference is, when they meet, anyone will be able to join and just see what theyre doing. About half have been holding online teleconferences, and the balance gathering in person in the downtown government center. The decision comes just a few days after City Councilwoman Maria Pereira alleged, and Hearst Connecticut Media subsequently confirmed with the state, that the groups of administration officials, council and community members Ganim assembled to help divvy up the $25 million in federal aid to small businesses and nonprofits should not be doing so behind closed doors. That money is part of Bridgeports $110 million share of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package federal lawmakers approved earlier this year. The Ganim administration in June sought public input on how best to spend those funds. And in early August, the city announced that $25 million would be made available for small business expansion and storefront improvements, and for nearly a dozen categories of nonprofit work such as affordable housing, rental assistance, homelessness assistance, domestic violence services, mental health/addiction services, workforce development and re-entry programs for ex-offenders. Gaudett said the city received around 700 applications 500 from businesses, 200 from nonprofits by the Sept. 30 deadline. Earlier this month the city unveiled the members of non-conflicted city employees, city council representatives and community members tasked with reviewing those requests, prompting Pereira last week to question why their meetings were not public with agendas and minutes. Hearst reached out to Thomas Hennick, the state Freedom of Information Commissions public information officer, about the issue. My advice would be, yes, these committees have been formed by the mayor (and) they should be noticed as public meetings, Hennick said. However, he noted that the groups could discuss individual requests from applicants in private, then vote on them in public. So its sort of a half correction that needs to be made in how the committees conduct their work, Hennick said. Gaudett, however, said Tuesday he did not see a reason most of the effort cannot be done out in the open. We will try to keep as much of it, if not all of it, in public session as possible unless we get into really sensitive material, Gaudett said, such as applicants bank statements or tax records. He added a small number of committees have already concluded their reviews, and will now meet in the open to summarize where they are and then award the funding. Gaudett thanked Pereira for raising the issue, adding it actually makes the effort more organized. He said the city all along has sought to be as transparent as possible about the $25 million, noting there was some initial discomfort releasing the committee members identities because they could be lobbied by applicants. But, Gaudett said, he felt it important to put the names out there. Gaudett also said he does not believe having to abide by the Freedom of Information Act will impact the goal of wrapping up the committee reviews and decision-making this fall. Some organizations have asked us, Will we get our first check this year? The answer is absolutely, Gaudett said. Most will be approved this month into early November. ... Nothings going to linger into next year. The Ganim administration and council members have sought to expedite the release of the $25 million after efforts late last year to provide just $1 million in federal coronavirus aid to about 145 small businesses dragged on for months. BRIDGEPORT Councilwoman Eneida Martinez on Wednesday filed paperwork with the Secretary of the States office to formally launch a write-in campaign to win another two years in office. Martinez, who lost the Sept. 14 Democratic primary for the East End council seat she has held since 2013, floated the idea of becoming a write-in candidate in the Nov. 2 general election over the weekend on social media. The Secretary of the States office confirmed Martinezs write-in candidacy. And the Bridgeport town clerk said Martinez also completed the necessary candidate registration form. Following her primary loss to Wanda Simmons last month, Martinez claimed to be at peace with the outcome and called it an opportunity to get my life back. On Wednesday she said changed her mind after constituents contacted her upset with the primary winners public opposition to the three available coronavirus vaccines. Receiving so much from the community, I cant fail the community as a leader, Martinez said. Theyre reaching out to me. Simmons as of late September was being treated in Bridgeport Hospital for COVID-19, initially saying she was in the intensive care unit but later claiming to have been in error. She at the time declined to say whether she received one of the vaccines, but used the publicity to discourage residents from getting their shots. Do not allow my bout with COVID-19 (to) scare you into getting vaccinated!!!, Simmons had posted online on Facebook. Stop allowing people (to) push their agenda onto you. Martinez said she is vaccinated. She said Simmons has a right to refuse to be, but if you knew you were not vaccinated, you should not have been out in the public, door knocking, attending meetings, shaking hands. ... She really endangered a lot of people and the community is really upset. Martinez, however, has her own pandemic-related baggage. Her primary loss was blamed in part on her arrest last year on pending charges related to allegations she ran an illegal club Keystone in violation of then-COVID safety regulations where Nyair Nixon, 21, was fatally shot Sept. 27, 2020. Simmons and Nixons family argued during the primary campaign that Martinez, whose court arraignment date has been delayed until Nov. 15, should be disqualified from seeking/holding office over the incident. Simmons has recently argued she does not oppose vaccines but vaccine mandates and this week shared a news article from Minnesota likening public health measures aimed at stopping the coronavirus spread to Nazi policies in Germany. Simmons declined to comment for this story and her health status Wednesday was unclear. On Oct. 5 she wrote on Facebook that she was healed and thanked God, followed by, I have natural immunity. I dont need this vaccine. I will not be shamed, bullied, harassed and mandated!!! On Wednesday she said on Facebook that she is running for the council to stand up against corruption and policy failure in Bridgeport. There are clearly people that would do anything to keep the status quo, Simmons wrote. I wont be silenced by those people. Discrimination based on health history, or any kind of discrimination, should not be part of our public discourse. Martinez is now the sixth candidate competing for the two City Council seats representing the East Ends 139th District. Fellow incumbent Ernie Newton and Simmons won the most primary votes. The two are now at odds and Newton, who publicized his own vaccination in February, has criticized Simmons for her vaccine stance. As the primary winners, though, their names will be paired on the Democratic Partys ballot line Nov. 2. There are also two Republicans in the race, Jasmin Sanchez and Ann Marie Verrilli. And Simmons name will also appear on the Working Families third party ballot line alongside her running mate in the primary, Victoria Majewski. Martinez acknowledged Wednesday that her chances of success as a write-in contender are daunting and tough to explain to supporters. Plus, as a Democratic-majority city, that partys primary winners typically easily win their respective November races. We are going to do a mailer with a sample (ballot) to show the constituents how to write in, Martinez said. BRIDGEPORT A city police officer caught on video smacking a teenager in the back of the head with his service weapon in 2019 has been suspended without pay for 20 days. Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia suspended Officer Gianni Capozziello after an investigation by the citys Office of Internal Affairs found he violated the Police Departments regulation against excessive use of force. The Bridgeport Police Union believes the discipline handed out to Officer Capozziello was excessive. We will file a grievance on his behalf and follow the procedure accordingly, said Sgt. Brad Seely, president of the Bridgeport Police Union, AFSCME Local 1159. The mayors office and Garcia did not immediately return calls and emails for comment. This is the second time in a month that Capozziello has been suspended without pay for using excessive force. On Sept. 23, the citys Board of Police Commissioners voted to suspend Capozziello for one day for violating the excessive force use regulation in connection with the Tasering of a 17-year-old boy in June 2018. On June 27, 2018, Capozziello was involved in an incident with former City Councilwoman Karen Jacksons son in which a Taser was used on the teenage boy. Jackson later filed a complaint against the officers, claiming excessive force. More than a year later, on Aug. 16, 2019, video of Capozziello striking a teen suspect in the back of the head with his gun was posted by a Facebook user. Then-Police Chief Armando Perez told Hearst Connecticut Media he was notified the following morning of the video by Capt. Lonnie Blackwell. Mayor Joseph Ganim at the time called the Capozziellos actions outrageous. Capozziellos police report indicated that the incident happened around 9:45 p.m. In his police report, Capozziello said he was on routine patrol on Barnum Avenue when he saw a red Volkswagen matching the description of a stolen motor vehicle. He said in his report a license plate check confirmed the vehicle was stolen. Capozziello reported that he called dispatch and waited for backup, since he was alone in his vehicle, which is typically a two-person car. Capozziello said he had been following the vehicle without activating his emergency lights in an effort to prevent a possible pursuit. When the driver identified in the report as a 17-year-old Hanover Street resident turned onto Jane Street, Capozziello said, he activated his emergency lights and siren and began conducting a felony stop with my department issued pistol unholstered and at the ... ready. It is unclear when backup officers arrived, but the video shows at least one officer with Capozziello by the time he gets out of his cruiser and starts to approach the Volkswagen. I gave multiple verbal commands to the operator to stick his hands out the window, Capozziello wrote in his report. I observed the operator moving around and ducking under the seat in the vehicle and popping his head up while turning back to face me multiple times. On the video, the drivers window appears to be closed as he is ordered to put his hands out. When the driver got out of the vehicle, Capozziello said, he saw the 17-year-old drop both his hands to his waistline. Capozziello said he feared the teen was reaching for a weapon as he turned away from me in (a) quick manner with his right side facing away from me and (I was) no longer able to see his right hand. Capozziello said grabbed the teens wrist, and the boy immediately began pulling away from me. Fearing (he) was reaching for a weapon with his right hand and unable to holster my department issued pistol ... I utilized the magazine well area of my pistol as an emergency impact weapon, the officer wrote in his report. The teen was found in possession of five glassine wax paper folds containing an off-white powdery substance, Capozziellos report said, indicating that it was consistent with packaging for heroin. The teen was charged with possession with intent to sell, first-degree larceny, tampering with physical evidence and interfering with an officer. Since he is a juvenile, he was released into the custody of his mother, the report said. Tara O'Neill / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A fire at a Bridgeport power plant sent a firefighter to the hospital Tuesday afternoon, according to a city official. The Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received a call around 2:12 p.m. about a fire on the second floor of the Wheelabrator Bridgeport Resco Trash to Power plant on Howard Avenue, according to Scott Appleby, the director of emergency communications for Bridgeport. BRIDGEPORT A Superior Court judge, weighing the circumstances surrounding Rebeca Garcias claim to a top spot in the citys Police Department, is asking both sides to provide him with more information. Four months after evidence was closed in the case, Judge Barry Stevens ordered the citys lawyer and the lawyer representing three police captains and a deputy chief to address the applicability of a 2012 state law on the case challenging Garcias appointment. Three police captains Brian Fitzgerald, Steven Lougal and Roderick Porter and Deputy Chief Anthony Armeno claim in a lawsuit against the city that the appointment of Garcia to assistant chief was unlawful and invalid and in violation of the citys charter. In December 2019, Garcia, then a captain in charge of the police academy, was appointed assistant chief by then-Police Chief Armando Perez. Garcia was made acting police chief following the arrest of Perez by the FBI for rigging the search that made him chief. The 2012 law states: When any person or corporation usurps the exercise of any office, franchise or jurisdiction, the Superior Court may proceed, on a complaint in the nature of a quo warranto, to punish such person or corporation for such usurpation, according to the course of the common law and may proceed therein and render judgment according to the course of the common law. Deputy City Attorney John Bohannon had brought up the law in his final argument during the civil trial in the case before the judge. He declined comment Wednesday. Im looking forward to meeting with the judge, said Thomas Bucci, who represents the three captains and Armeno. During the trial before Stevens on the validity of Garcias selection as assistant chief, Perez testified he considered Fitzgerald, Lougal, Porter and Armeno for the position of assistant chief and submitted their resumes to a consultant hired by the city. However, the following day of the trial Perez admitted he had been confused during his first day of testimony and in fact had done none of that. He said he had only considered Garcia for the position and had submitted her name to the mayor. Bucci claims that under the city charter the city has to generate a list of candidates for the position and the selection of assistant chief has to be made following an exam. SHELTON A local developer has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Third Ward alderman candidate for comments made in a letter published in The Shelton Herald and on social media. Primrose Companies, owned by Shelton resident John Guedes, filed the suit against Matt McGee on Oct. 7, stating the alderman candidate made libelous comments about the developer in an opinion piece published in the weekly newspaper, one of more than a dozen Hearst Connecticut Media Group publications, including a false statement that (Primrose) had a property foreclosed on then bought it back from the city. According to the lawsuit, McGees statement erroneously suggested Primrose was engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with local politicians. McGees comments were then followed up with a Facebook post that reiterated his accusations, according to the lawsuit. McGee, who is running for election in the Third Ward and is endorsed by the Shelton Democratic Town Committee and Envision Shelton, declined to comment about the lawsuit. The suit states Primrose suffered damage to its reputation because of the statements, and McGee has failed to retract the comments. (Guedes) and other developers in Shelton were upset about the things (McGee) said, attorney Stephen Bellis, who represents Primrose, said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media. They all play by the rules they have put in a significant amount of money; theyve taken the risks and they get slandered. Bellis said McGee has suggested that developers were operating in an illegal fashion, none of which was done, he said. If (McGee) has any evidence, come forward with it, Bellis said. What he has stated has no basis in fact. Guedes, known for his redevelopments of the old factory buildings along Canal Street, has stated he has invested more than $33 million for just what is completed or in progress along Canal Street, starting with The Birmingham on the River condominium. In the years since, Guedes has completed the Canal Street Lofts, the former Spongex site with 47 units, and the Riverside Retail Center, formerly the Rolfite site, with a new restaurant and an optometrist moving into the first-floor commercial space. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Kankakee, IL (60901) Today Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Elizabeth City, NC (27909) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Reva Mae Love, age 75, of Dalton, Georgia passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2021. She was born on September 10, 1946. She is preceded in death by parents, Herbert and Lela "Grant" Lawson; brother, Charles Lawson. She is survived by her husband, Bubba (Harold) Love of Dalton; son, Brian F Britain has spent decades weaning business off the expectation that if something goes wrong the taxpayer will always be there to save the day. So it is deeply disconcerting that, at the first signs of trouble from rocketing energy prices post-pandemic, swathes of British manufacturing have turned up in Whitehall with their begging bowls out. No one wants a return to the pre-Thatcherite days of old Labour when failing firms, with poor management, were propped up indefinitely by subsidies which destroyed enterprise and drained the Exchequer dry. There is no doubt we face a difficult winter and that the worlds economic sages, who predicted a smooth transition from the Covid-induced recession of last year to a booming 2021, were too upbeat. Kinks and blockages in the supply of energy as well as basic raw materials and other components such as timber, steel, copper and semi-conductors have sent manufacturers costs sky-high. This is a critical time, warned Gareth Stace, the director general of UK Steel, one of many bosses of high-energy using companies including steel-makers, ceramics manufacturers, paper and glass producers who are demanding help. The Business Secretary has also said its a critical situation, he added, and therefore why is government just sitting on its hands and doing absolutely nothing at the moment? Britain has spent decades weaning business off the expectation that if something goes wrong the taxpayer will always be there to save the day (Left: Chancellor Rishi Sunak and right: Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng) We know there has been dissent in governnment over what to do. Not surprisingly, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who opened the nations coffers to business during the worst of the pandemic, is reluctant to entertain the idea of bailouts. In contrast, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is in favour, and despite an initial rebuff from the Chancellor, has now been backed by a Number 10 anxious to hose down a very public spat between two Cabinet ministers. As yet, details of the Governments plans are unclear although state loans are likely to be on offer. But surely Mr Sunak and his officials are right to be sceptical. They remain determined to make sure rescue hand-outs do not become a feature of commercial life as the country adjusts to a new normal. Pleading Businesses must be made to understand that the current administration is not some free-spending socialist regime but a Conservative government with what we hope is an instinctive aversion to state spending. As that great free-marketeer President Reagan used to say: Dont just do something, stand there! Whatever the special pleading from business, at a time when UK borrowing is forecast to be 234 billion in 2021-22 and the nation is seeking to pay down a national debt of 2.2 trillion, the Government must resist the urge to throw money at the problem. Harsh though it may seem, in a global capitalist economy, businesses have to be encouraged to stand on their own. The problem is that, thanks to the measures understandably taken to alleviate the impact of the pandemic, we have become addicted to the soft option of state aid. Billions have been spent on furlough and on bounce-back loans to help small businesses; millions more on encouraging people to eat out to help out and even on offering free travel on public transport. It is understandable that the Prime Minister doesnt want to put the UKs industrial base at risk But now we are coming out the other side of the Covid nightmare, the answer cannot be to spend yet more taxpayers money to shield business from yo-yoing costs. The priority must be to start rebalancing the economy and addressing our burgeoning deficit. It is understandable that the Prime Minister doesnt want to put the UKs industrial base at risk. Understandable, too, that politics is playing its part many of the companies most concerned are in the North where so-called Red Wall votes are considered paramount. And it has to be said that, in certain limited circumstances, temporary measures can help. Mr Kwarteng will no doubt have been swayed by Whitehalls intervention last month to help fertiliser producer CF Industries, which had stopped production after spiralling gas prices made its operation unprofitable. Without fertiliser being produced, there was none of its by-product, CO2, which is vital to the food and drink industries carbonating drinks, being used in the slaughter of animals and keeping produce fresh while in transit. And since CF industries produces 60 per cent of the countrys food-grade CO2, intervention was needed to avert serious shortages. Within weeks, the government brokered a deal under which the U.S.-owned companys customers agreed to pay a higher price for the carbon dioxide until next January. And this should avert a crisis in the food-processing industry in the run-up to Christmas. But such government interventions should be extremely sparing. The moral case for bailing out companies such as Sanjeev Guptas Liberty Steel, for example, which operates plants in Rotherham and Scunthorpe, is questionable at best. Gupta and his company GFG Global Alliance, are currently under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office following the collapse of its principal financier Greensill. Despite this, Gupta was pictured late last month hosting a luxury party for guests on the Greek island of Mykonos. Bailouts of poorly run businesses simply punish consumers and ordinary taxpayers and protect sometimes unscrupulous owners and their workforces. The great irony in all this, of course, is that, if this country had any semblance of a viable long-term energy plan, there would be no need even to consider government help for businesses. The moral case for bailing out companies such as Sanjeev Guptas (pictured) Liberty Steel, for example, which operates plants in Rotherham and Scunthorpe, is questionable at best Slavish It is true that the UK, like most of the developed world, remains in a terrible fix, with shortages of HGV drivers and skilled labour. But our situation is made worse by the Governments slavish devotion to the green agenda ahead of the landmark Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow in a fortnight. Instead of securing the nations energy future by exploiting untapped resources in the North Sea, for instance, it has delayed or turned down licence approvals. Fracking for shale gas, hailed by ministers just a few years ago as the answer to our future energy needs, has also been abandoned for the green cause, despite huge reserves under the North of England. Meanwhile, Number 10s conversion to the development of a new generation of small modular nuclear reactors, based on the sort of turbines used to drive submarines, has come far too late to help consumers and business weather the present energy storm. Spike So, yes, we face a tough winter but we do not face a cataclysm. Whitehall is confident that the UKs main sources of gas supply are secure. In normal times the North Sea provides 50 per cent of our gas needs, pipelines from Norway some 30 per cent and liquid national gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar and the U.S. most of the rest. If contracts are fulfilled, homes should be kept warm and the wheels of industry will keep turning. The prayer in Whitehall is that the spike in the price of gas is just that and, as global economies adjust to the post-Covid world, normality will return. Ministers also argue that the cap on the domestic gas price, first put in place by former premier Theresa May, will protect consumers from the worst this winter even if it has to be raised. There is certainly no sign of energy prices easing. The wholesale price of Brent crude oil has been rising exponentially and, as gas prices usually shadow oil, this is bad news. Meanwhile, the market cost of coal is also at record levels. The solution, however, is not to subsidise business and place further burdens on already hard-pressed taxpayers. For an economy built on bailouts is an economy built on sand. Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission. Leggings are a wardrobe essential. They're easy to pull on, comfortable and highly versatile - you can wear them anywhere, anytime, both in and out of the gym. If you're looking to purchase a new pair of leggings but don't want to break the bank, Amazon reviewers are obsessing over these GIMDUMASA Yoga Pants, hailing them 'the best leggings' they've ever bought. And they cost just 19.99. The GIMDUMASA Yoga Pants are Amazon's number one bestselling Women's Yoga Trousers. They have also topped the Women's Activewear Leggings chart overall, which is quite the accolade as the retailer stocks thousands of top-rated options. Amazon reviewers are obsessing over these GIMDUMASA Yoga Pants, hailing them 'the best leggings' they've ever bought. And they cost just 19.99 Designed with comfort in mind, the GIMDUMASA Yoga Pants are soft, stretchy and squat-proof, and they're available in sizes extra small through to XXL. They feature a high-rise waist, thick waistband for extra support and functional pockets. You'll find the leggings in an array of on-trend colours and prints, including black, navy, pink and leopard print. The affordable black leggings are a hit with shoppers, earning nearly 4,000 perfect five-star reviews from wearers who say they're so comfortable they don't want to take them off. Others who can't get enough of the 'buttery soft' leggings are adding more than one pair to their shopping baskets. 'Perfect,' wrote one Amazon shopper in their review. 'I bought these initially because of the pocket on the leg to keep my phone in as I walked. The affordable black leggings are a hit with shoppers, earning nearly 4,000 perfect five-star reviews from wearers who say they're so comfortable they don't want to take them off 'What I didn't expect was the quality. WOW. They are the same, if not better quality than leggings that have cost me as least twice as much! Love them so much I bought another two pairs!' 'These are the best yoga pants I have ever bought!' another customer added. 'They are soooo comfortable. They are not see-through at all and are perfect for working out. They added: 'The fit is great; get your normal size. I have bought another seven pairs for my lockdown wardrobe (who needs jeans anyway!) and will purchase again.' A third raved: 'I bought these for walking. They are so comfortable I don't want to take them off.' Australian artist Florence Broadhurst was a world-renowned wallpaper designer Big W has unveiled a stunning new range of homeware items inspired by iconic Australian artist Florence Broadhurst. The retailer has given new life to the masterpieces of the world-renowned wallpaper designer and Sydney socialite who tragically died in 1977 after she was murdered at her Paddington factory at the age of 78. The new collection features quality items at affordable prices across bed linen, towels and accessories, tabletop, furniture, home decor, bath and body, with prices starting from as little as $7. Set to hit shelves on Thursday, the range is 'vibrant, bold and fun', everything you would expect from a Broadhurst design, as it brings to life her incredible eye for detail and distinct style. 'We are so excited to collaborate with the team at Florence Broadhurst to create a beautiful range of homewares, inspired by the designs and patterns of the talented and iconic artist,' Mitchell Armitt, head of commercial - Everyday & Home, said. Big W has unveiled a stunning new range of homeware items inspired by iconic Australian artist Florence Broadhurst The new collection features quality items at affordable prices across bed linen, towels and accessories, tabletop, furniture, home decor, bath and body, with prices starting from $7 Who is Florence Broadhurst? Florence Broadhurst is a notable painter, wallpaper and fabric designers Australian artist Florence Broadhurst was a world-renowned wallpaper designer and Sydney socialite. Born in 1899 in rural Queensland, she decided to travel the world to live a glamorous life after she changed her name and claimed to be an English woman. She went to a performing arts academy in Shanghai and a fashion salon in London before returning to Australia to launch a luxury wallpaper business at age 60. The wealthy and successful businesswoman died in October 1977 after she was brutally murdered at her Paddington factory at the age of 78. Her killer has never been found. Advertisement 'With great quality pieces starting at just $7, we have all the essentials to add a pop of colour or bold pattern to your home this spring.' The new range gives Australian shoppers access to a stunning collection that refreshes the prints that still makes waves across the world. Shoppers looking to update their space on a budget can expect to find great deals homeware items, including quilt cover sets for $59 to 69, European pillowcases for $18, sheet sets for $59 to $69 and cushions from $29. For the bathroom, there's a stylish range of $7 soap dispenser, $15 toilet brush, $7 tumbler to store toothbrushes, $18 bath towels, $18 mats, and $12 hand towels. Other items on sale include $39 sewing baskets, $29 diffusers and candles, $8 ceramic mugs and a 12-piece dinner set for $79. The range is 'vibrant, bold and fun', everything you would expect from a Broadhurst design, as it brings to life her incredible eye for detail and distinct style The new range gives Australian shoppers access to a stunning collection that refreshes the prints that still makes waves across the world The new collection features the designer's world-famous abstract geometric designs Florence is one of the nation's most notable painters, wallpaper and fabric designers, famously known for her beautiful hand drawn floral and abstract geometric designs. Born in 1899 in rural Queensland, she decided to travel the world to live a glamorous life after she changed her name and claimed to be an English woman. She went to a performing arts academy in Shanghai and a fashion salon in London before returning to Australia to launch a luxury wallpaper business at age 60. The wealthy and successful businesswoman was found brutally bashed to death in October 1977. Her killer has never been found. An Australian fashion stylist has sparked a rush on a trendy Kmart dress that will set you back less than a glass of wine. Thrifty shoppers have been racing to buy the $9 Short Sleeve Relaxed T-shirt Dress ever since Lisa Galanopolous, 44, featured it on her Instagram story. The 44-year-old Adelaide blogger, who helps women dress stylishly on a shoestring budget, said she has never seen such a fashion-forward piece at such a low price. 'You can always count on Kmart!' she told Daily Mail Australia. Scroll down for video Australian fashion stylist Lisa Galanopolous (left) sparked a rush on a $9 Kmart day dress (right), which will set you back less than a pint of beer The dress, which comes in silver, black and two striped prints in sizes 6 to 20, is available to order online - but it won't be long before it's snapped up. Fans flooded Ms Galanopolous' direct messages after she posted about the frock, saying they couldn't believe how cheap it was. One woman said: 'This is fabulous for the price.' And it's not the first time the stylist has sparked interest in a Kmart design. Earlier this month, shoppers stripped the website of an ultra-flattering dress that makes you look taller and thinner after Ms Galanopolous featured it in an outfit video on social media. Shoppers have stripped Kmart's website of an ultra-flattering dress (pictured) that makes you look taller and thinner - but you can still get your hands on it in one major city store The $17 Sleeveless Knit Column Midi Dress has sold out online, but you can still get your hands on it in one major city store. There is limited stock available for click and collect from the Pagewood outlet, eight kilometres south of Sydney CBD. Ms Galanopolous said she did a 'double take' when she spotted the frock in her local Adelaide store, and knew she had to try it on. 'The verdict? I think it's a winner,' she wrote. She praised the quality of the material, saying she loves how the vertical ribbing elongates her body, making it look longer and slimmer. The 'correct way' to pronounce 'IKEA' has been revealed, sending customers into a spin. The surprising insight was shared on Twitter, informing users that the pronunciation 'eye-key-uh' commonly used by Australians and Americans is incorrect. Los Angeles YouTuber 'Mac Does It' sparked the conversation on Monday by tweeting: 'So IKEA is pronounced like (EE-key-uh) not (EYE-key-uh) and no one was gonna tell me?' Thousands of Twitter users were baffled after discovering the 'correct' way to pronounce 'IKEA' Poll How do you pronounce IKEA? EYE-key-uh EE-key-uh How do you pronounce IKEA? EYE-key-uh 2404 votes EE-key-uh 1543 votes Now share your opinion The news quickly caught the attention of close to 10,000 people who 'liked' the tweet and hundreds shared their disbelief. 'I refuse to believe this,' one person wrote, another said: 'Umm what?' 'I'm not gonna pronounce it that way even if that's true,' a third wrote. 'I mean it's a Swedish brand so it makes sense that it isn't pronounced like an English word,' another added and many agreed. Los Angeles YouTuber 'Mac Does It' sparked the conversation on Monday by tweeting: 'So IKEA is pronounced like (EE-key-uh) not (EYE-key-uh) and no one was gonna tell me?' According to YouTube tutorials, pronouncing the word with an 'e' instead of an 'I' is the correct way to say IKEA in Swedish. Some alternatives may also depend on different Swedish dialect. An IKEA spokesperson previously commented on the matter and confirmed the right way to say the word. 'The word 'IKEA' brings together the name of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad with the name of his family farm Elmtaryd and home village of Agunnaryd, Sweden (creating the acronym IKEA),' they told The West Australian. 'When Ingvar founded IKEA in 1943, he of course pronounced it with a typical Swedish accent: 'Eee-KEH-Yah'.' Aldi Australia has brought back its hugely popular cast iron cookware range that looks remarkably similar to luxury French brand Le Creuset. The budget supermarket chain has launched its stylish kitchenware as part of its Special Buys catalogue, with prices ranging between $17.99 and $26.99. One of the best deals is the $24.99 Dutch oven, which is lower in price than Le Creuset's casserole pot that's widely considered as the must-have cookware - and can cost upwards of $490. If you've had your eye on the cast iron pot but have been reluctant to spend hundreds of dollars, the cheaper version is the perfect alternative for those who are on a shoestring budget. Aldi Australia has brought back its hugely popular cast iron cookware range that looks remarkably similar to luxury French brand Le Creuset The budget version is lower in price than Le Creuset's casserole pot (pictured left and right) that's widely considered as the must-have cookware - and can cost upwards of $490 For a fraction of the price, shoppers can pick from a selection of cast iron pots, pans, griddle pans, saucepans, frypans and roasting trays. Customers can get a French pan with lid weighing 5.4kg for just $26.99. It features a three-layer enamel coating and stainless steel knob. For $17.99, there's a range of cast iron griddle pans and frypans to choose from. The $26.99 roaster is perfect for roast dinners or vegetable bakes while the $19.99 saucepan with lid, measuring 16cm, is great for cooking sauces. The budget supermarket chain has launched its stylish kitchenware as part of its Special Buys catalogue, with prices ranging between $17.99 and $26.99 Suitable for all stove tops, the range is available in assorted colours - including cream, sage, blue and red - and is oven and dishwasher safe. But the retailer recommended hand washing to 'preserve' the original appearance. The collection comes with a five-year warranty. Other items on sale include a $19.99 enamel stock pot, $7.99 coast iron trivets,$7.99 spoon rest or utensil holder, or $4.99 silicone and wood utensils. A young dad has been left furious after his girlfriend told him she was going to give their second child her last name because it's 'fair'. Jordan, from Sydney, was offered a chance to win $1,000 if she could get her unsuspecting boyfriend Jai riled up over her plans to tweak their son's birth certificate to include her surname instead of his. In a radio segment with KIISFM breakfast hosts Kyle and Jackie O, the mum-of-two said her partner - who's yet to propose to her - has an obsession with his last name so she was convinced he would have an epic meltdown on air. A young dad has been left furious after his girlfriend told him she was going to give their second child her last name because it's 'fair' (stock image) 'His last name means everything to him. He's on a footy team and they've all got the same last name... He also wants to get his name tattooed across his chest so it's a big thing,' Jordan told the radio duo. 'But he hasn't proposed to me - I've given him two boys so I think it's fair. I don't think he's fussed about [proposal] but I want to get married, I want the ring. I hope the [lying] helps a little.' Shortly after Jai answered his phone, Jordan told him she was in the middle of doing the paper work for their son Eden's birth certificate. 'I was thinking since you haven't proposed or you don't really want to get married, I think I'm going to put Eden's surname as my last name,' she said, to which Jai responded abruptly: 'Sorry? Come again?' Jordan then explained: 'I just think it makes a bit of sense because his middle name is dad's name and I just think he looks a lot like me.' Clearly fuming, Jai responded: 'No... you're kidding yourself right? So we're going to have two kids and they're going to have different last names? No, they are having my last name. I'm their dad.' Jordan replied, saying she didn't see what the problem. 'It's 2021, we are able to do this. I don't know why it's such a big deal. You're so dramatic about absolutely everything,' she said. Jai responded: 'Here we f***ing go. I wouldn't even care if it's 3031. I'm the dramatic one? You're the dramatic one, you carry on about s*** all the time. "Who drank all my Coke" or "why is there never any chocolate left in the fridge for me?".' Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O (pictured together), Jordan, from Sydney, was offered a chance to win $1,000 if she could get her unsuspecting boyfriend Jai riled up over her plans to tweak their son's birth certificate to include her surname instead of his Jordan then accused her boyfriend of 'acting like a girl' and his behaviour was 'kind of embarrassing'. Jai responded: 'If you don't want it the way we've always had it, we can go our separate ways, I'll come home right now and take all my s*** and I'll go elsewhere.' Refusing to back down, Jordan then said: 'This is why you're not mature enough to have another child with your last name. Listen to you.' Clearly lost for words, Jai said: 'Wow, I'll tell you what mate, I'll tell you what. I've heard some f***ed up things in my life and this is one of the worst.' Jordan then told him she submitted the paper work so they will receive their son's birth certificate within four weeks. 'It's submitted, we'll see the paper in four weeks. Jai, build a f***ing bridge and get over it. He got my last name,' she said. Jai then replied: 'Oh Jesus Christ. You get over it. We're done, I'm taking the kids and putting in my last name, I've had enough of your f***ing bull****. It's not conversation over, it's relationship over. We're done.' Kyle and Jackie O quickly interjected as they told Jai it was all just a joke. 'Hopefully I'll get a ring now, I don't think I will though,' Jordan said, laughing. Clearly relieved, Jai burst out laughing, saying: 'What is going on?' Women are raving about a 'fizzing' mask that's like a 'bubble bath for your face' which promises to leave skin glowing in a matter of minutes. 'Fizzy Lift' is the cult favourite from a collection of 19 home treatments developed by renowned Sydney cosmetic doctor, Dr Naomi McCullum. The $129 face mask has made waves in the Australian beauty industry since launching in May, winning widespread praise for its quirky champagne-like texture and its ability to leave skin 'instantly' radiant'. Packed with powerful ingredients including hyaluronic acid and champagne seed extract, the fizzing gel promises to leave you with a clearer, brighter complexion and visibly less pigmentation, allowing makeup to glide on seamlessly. Scroll down for video Women are raving about a 'fizzing' mask (pictured) that's like a 'bubble bath for your face' which promises to leave skin glowing in a matter of minutes 'Fizzy Lift' is the cult favourite from a collection of 19 home treatments developed by renowned Sydney cosmetician, Dr Naomi McCullum Packed with powerful ingredients including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and champagne seed extract, the fizzing gel promises to leave you with a clearer, brighter complexion The product description advises you to apply a generous layer to dry skin on the face, neck and decolletage, watch it fizz, then leave it to work its magic for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping away excess with a warm, damp cloth. The vegan-friendly mask is the breakout star from Dr Naomi's highly sought-after skincare line, which also includes best-sellers such as an $89 toner that smooths away bumps and a 'miracle' eye cream described as a filter for your face. The 'Instagram-famous' physician opened her first luxury clinic in Paddington in 2016, and quickly cemented herself as a leader in non-invasive treatments, chiefly injectables. Five years later she has expanded her expertise into a self-titled skincare range, made and packaged in Australia, which contains products that focus on fixing pigmentation and discolouration. The vegan-friendly mask (pictured) has a champagne colour and gel-like texture The quirky product was developed over the course of three years by Sydney cosmetician, Dr Naomi McCullum (pictured) In a nod to her sustainable ethos, each product comes in an airless bottle, with an outer shell that can be refilled whenever you need. All of the products have attracted attention online, but none is more visually appealing than the fizzing face mask, which is available to order online from the brand's website. Despite coming with a hefty price tag, it already boasts dozens of five-star reviews. Customers have left glowing testimonials on the brand's website, with many saying it left their skin smoother, brighter, and more 'glass like' than anything they've ever tried before. Customers have left glowing testimonials on the brand's website, with many saying it left their skin smoother, brighter, and more 'glass like' than anything they've ever tried before Dr Naomi's highly sought-after skincare collection (part of it is pictured) boasts 19 ingeniously designed products 'Such an exciting product! This is the first mask I've ever used that bubbles up and fizzes on your face. My skin looks fresher, less congested and my skin tone is more even,' one woman wrote. A second said: 'This is a one of a kind mask! It takes the dullness away, leaving my skin radiant and glass-like, not to mention it is just fun watching the bubbles go to work.' The buzz has swept across Instagram, with influencers and beauty bloggers heaping praise on the mask for giving them brighter skin after a single use. Canberra-based This Is Niss told her followers why she is so 'obsessed'. The buzz has swept across Instagram, with influencers including holistic Dr Prasanthi (pictured) heaping praise on the mask for giving them brighter skin after a single use 'Is it the premium packaging? The icy pole fresh scent? The microbubbles that give your face a tiny little bubble bath massage? Honestly, it's all those things,' she wrote. 'I've used a lot of masks that claim to brighten, but this ACTUALLY gives me an instant radiant glow, like I didn't just go to bed last night at 3am.' Her words sparked a flurry of interest. 'This product intrigues me!' one woman replied, while a second said: 'I feel some emotional awakenings for this mask!' A third added: 'Wow it's like an instant glow up. I've heard amazing things about this brand.' The Eiffel Tower has long captured the hearts of loved-up couples. Now a new film puts forth a fittingly romantic theory that the looming structure was built by its creator as a tribute to the woman he loved. Eiffel, which opens tomorrow in Paris, tells the story of engineer Gustave Eiffel (Romain Duris) and his journey to construct what would become one of the world's most recognisable landmarks. As in real life, the film depicts Eiffel as initially reluctant to build the 324m tower, originally intended as a temporary structure for the entrance to the 1889 Universal Exhibition. Yet, in a decision that baffles historians, he ultimately agreed. The film's explanation for this change of heart is a woman named Adrienne Bourges (Emma Mackey), whom Eiffel had loved as a young man but was refused permission to marry. A doomed love behind the tower: Eiffel stars Roman Duris as engineer Gustave Eiffel and Sex Education's Emma Mackey as Adrienne Bourges, the woman who it claims inspired the tower Change of heart: As in real life, the film depicts Eiffel (pictured) as initially reluctant to build the 324m tower, originally intended as a temporary structure for the entrance to the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Yet, in a decision that baffles historians, he ultimately agreed A token of his love: The plot claims a chance encounter between the pair later in life inspired Eiffel to create the tower, even drawing inspiration from Adrienne's initial for the 'A' frame The plot claims a chance encounter between the pair later in life inspired Eiffel to create the tower, even drawing inspiration from Adrienne's initial for the 'A' frame. After a decades-long journey from page to screen, Eiffel has been met with huge excitement by critics and is expected to turbocharge the flagging French cinema industry following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Its producer Vanessa van Zuylen, went so far as to compare the film to 'the French Titanic'. Eiffel is a mixture of a broadly historically accurate biopic and a fictional love story. Gustave Eiffel really did meet Bourges. The pair were introduced in her native Bordeaux, when she was 17 and he 27 and at the start of his career. He had come to the city to build an iron bridge across the Garonne river. Romance blossomed and the pair hoped to marry but Eiffel's request to propose was rejected by Bourges' father, who did not think he was good enough for his daughter. Family life: Gustave married family friend Marguerite Gaudelet (seated left), from his hometown of Dijon. The couple had five children (pictured) before her death in 1877, aged 32 'He was heartbroken but also seriously humiliated,' Bongrand told AirMail. 'Everything that happened afterwards flowed from that. It was not so much that he wanted revenge but wanted to prove to the world what he could do. 'After that, he wrote to his mother and said, "That's it for me. Just find me a nice girl with a good character, who is well-behaved and simple. I don't have to fall in love with her. I just want to get married".' That 'nice girl' was family friend Marguerite Gaudelet, from his hometown of Dijon. The couple had five children before her death in 1877, aged 32. Eiffel, who was 42, wealthy and successful when he lost his wife, never remarried. It is at this point in the story that the fictional meeting with Bourges takes place. Single life: Eiffel, who was 42, wealthy and successful when he lost his wife, never remarried. Pictured, Eiffel with four of his children in 1882, five years after the death of his wife Eiffel meets Bourges, by now married to one of his friends, and falls back in love with her. In Bongrand's telling of events, he builds the tower in a bid to impress her. The film does feature the contemporary objection to the design, which was branded an eyesore by the city's luminaries. However historians have spoken out against the historical accuracy of the film overall. Christine Kerdellant, author of a biography of the engineer, La Vraie Vie de Gustave Eiffel (The True Life of Gustave Eiffel), told The Times the theory is simply 'not true'. She said the tower was in fact designed by Eiffel's assistants, although the 'A' shape did reportedly remind the engineer of Adrienne and a beloved cousin, Alice. Cinema analysts are expecting big things for Eiffel despite the inaccuracies, with some reportedly predicting record monthly takings. Our Yorkshire Farm viewers were left sobbing last night after the Owen family said goodbye to their beloved pony Little Jo. Shepherdess and mother-of-nine Amanda Owen was praised as the 'perfect parent' by viewers of the Channel 5 show for showing her children the 'circle of life' after their 40-year-old pet passed away. The series, which has been airing since 2015, follows the life of shepherds Amanda, and Clive and their brood of nine on their farm in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Amanda, 47, gave up her modelling career to become a shepherdess and now runs a 2,000-acre tenant farm with her husband. Our Yorkshire Farm viewers were left sobbing last night after the Owen family said goodbye to their beloved horse Little Jo (pictured with Amanda Owen) Shepherdess and mother-of-nine Amanda Owen was praised as the 'perfect parent' by viewers of the Channel 5 show for showing her children the 'circle of life' after their 40-year-old pet (pictured) passed away. They manage their flock of around 1,000 sheep and run a B&B while raising their 'free-range' children - ranging from four-year-old Nancy, to Raven, 20, who has left to study at University. In last night's episode, Amanda had to tell her children that their beloved pet pony Little Joe had died suddenly over night. Amanda had headed to see the ponies in the morning to check on them but found the elderly horse hadn't woken up. Despite getting use to the circle of life while working on the farm, Amanda was visibly upset by the death of the beloved family pony Little Joe, 40, who all her children had grown up with.. The series, which has been airing since 2015, follows the life of shepherds Amanda, and Clive and their brood of nine on their farm in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Amanda is pictured with another Pony Pictured: Dad Clive, 67, Mum Amanda, 46, have nine children: - Raven, 20, Reuben, 17, Miles, 15, Edith, 12, Violet, ten, Sidney, nine, Annas, seven, Clementine (known as Clemmie or Tilly), five, and four-year-old Nancy Amanda sobbed as Clemmy, five, and Nancy, four, said goodbye to their pet. All the children pitch in with helping out on the farm, with Clemmy often taking care of the family's ponies. In the past, she said Tony the Pony was her best friend and Amanda's Instagram feed is full of pictures of her youngest children riding them. Who are the Owen family? Dad Clive, 67, Mum Amanda, 46, have nine children: - Raven, 20, Reuben, 17, Miles, 15, Edith, 12, Violet, ten, Sidney, nine, Annas, seven, Clementine (known as Clemmie or Tilly), five, and four-year-old Nancy Advertisement In heart-breaking scenes, youngest child Nancy asked: 'Is that pony going to die?' pointing towards Tony. But mother Amanda explained to her little ones that Tony was still very young and Joe had died of old age. The average lifespan of a pony is 25 to 30 - meaning Little Joe was exceptionally old. 'What happened? Did he get old to die?' Nancy asked. 'He did, But he didn't suffer, he just dropped' Amanda added, 'He just obviously had a heart attack.' 'Well one good thing, I've looked after him really well,' added Clemmie 'You did look after him really well,' Amanda said. 'He's been fed really good and he's grown a lot of wool that's really cosy,' Clemmie went on. 'I don't think there could be a better looked-after pony,' Amanda replied. 'Say night-night,' as Nancy stroked the pony a final time. Through tears she went on: 'He had a good life. We're really going to miss him. Viewers were moved to tears by the heartwrenching scenes with one writing: ' Tony the Pony looking for Joe or Clemmie is too much. Im a snotty mess'. Speaking to cameras, Amanda explained how the whole family was 'really upset by it' while oldest Raven returning from University to say goodbye. 'Raven's really upset about losing Little Joe, he's been a continuous presence in her life.' The family then decorated a tree in memory of Little Joe adding pictures in a sweet tribute. Viewers were moved to tears by the heartwrenching scenes with one writing: ' Tony the Pony looking for Joe or Clemmie is too much. Im a snotty mess'. Another added: 'RIP Little Joe' 'Rest in peace lil joe. were all out here crying. 'Well thats me crying then #OurYorkshireFarm' said a third. Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL about filming the new series, Amanda said: 'The filming of the series presented us with new challenges over and above the usual trials that we face on our remote and isolated farm. Amanda has often been praised for the way she's raised her children, but recently branded others of their generation 'snowflakes' saying they 'can't do anything for themselves'. 'The nature of the programme is that it is entirely without script or choreography and it is vitally important that as situations arise on the farm that the cameras keep rolling. 'Particularly with the first episode that was self-filmed, it is reliant on the children using the camera and sound equipment. 'There was one particular occasion whereby a camera was lost in deep snow and wasn't found until the thaw came a few weeks later. During the winter period it was incredibly difficult to operate the cameras as conditions were so dire and my hands so cold that I couldn't switch the cameras on and off! 'The triumph though is the end result which will take viewers to the most extreme, inaccessible and bleakest of places during the depths of winter. 'I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to make this programme and feel privileged to be able to showcase our beautiful British countryside and to take viewers alongside us as we navigate our way through the farming year'. Our Yorkshire Farm airs Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 5 Princess Eugenie's wedding photographers delighted royal fans after sharing an unseen snap from her glamorous wedding to mark her three year anniversary with husband Jack Brooksbank. The Queen's granddaughter, 31, who welcomed her first son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank earlier this year, married Jack in a lavish ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor in October 2018. Yesterday, Divine Day Photography took to Instagram to reveal the photograph as Eugenie arrived at the venue in the wedding car ahead of the big event. In the snap, Eugenie cut an elegant figure as she gazed down at her hands in her crisp white low-back dress by Peter Pilotto. Princess Eugenie's wedding photographers delighted royal fans after sharing an unseen snap from her glamorous wedding to mark her three year anniversary with husband Jack Brooksbank The wedding photographer captioned the post: 'One of my favourites of HRH Princess Eugenie on her way to make it official. 'What an honour. Three years ago today gorgeous oneHappy Anniversary to you both!' It comes hours after Eugenie shared a previously unseen snap from her wedding reception as she embraced her husband. Eugenie captioned the picture: 'Happy Anniversary my love.. 3 years today!!' Yesterday, Princess Eugenie shared a previously unseen snap from the couple's wedding reception as she cuddled up to her husband The Queen's granddaughter, 31, who shares son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, eight months, with Jack, took to Instagram (pictured) to reveal the photograph in which she can be seen embracing her husband In the snap, the royal could be seen wearing her classic peach-hued gown by Zac Posen, which she wore to her evening reception in October 2018. Jack, who is the European Brand Director for Casamigos tequila which was founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber, looked equally dazzling in a sharp suit. The royal recently followed in the footsteps of her cousins Prince Harry and Prince William, by launching an urgent plea for people to protect the Earth's oceans. Eugenie is an ambassador of the Blue Marine Foundation, hailed the ocean as 'the best natural solution we have to climate change on the planet'. In the snap, the royal cut an elegant figure in her classic peach-hued gown by Zac Posen, which she wore to her evening reception in October 2018, after opting for a white low-back dress by Peter Pilotto for her church wedding to Jack, pictured The royal co-wrote a piece for Spear's Magazine, which has been produced in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation, with Clare Brook, CEO of the foundation. It's been a rocky week for Eugenie, who's father Prince Andrew has been embroiled in a scandal over his friendship with paedophile financer Jeffrey Epstein. The 61-year-old Duke of York, who lives at Royal Lodge in Windsor, was photographed behind the wheel of his Range Rover yesterday morning as he broke cover following the latest dramatic development in the case on Sunday night. Scotland Yard has decided to take no further action over accuser Virginia Roberts's allegation that she was trafficked to London as a 17-year-old and forced to have sex with Andrew, after its officers reportedly spoke with her. Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony, in Windsor, on 12 October 2018 It will also take no further action over claims that financier Epstein groomed and abused other young women in Britain. And a source close to the Duke told MailOnline: 'It comes as no surprise that the Met Police have confirmed that, having reviewed the sex assault claims against The Duke for a third time, they are taking no further action. 'Despite pressure from the media and claims of new evidence, the Met have concluded that the claims are not sufficient to warrant any further investigation. The Duke has always vigorously maintained his innocence and continues to do so.' Jack and Eugenie tied the knot at St George's Chapel in the grounds of the Queen's Windsor Castle in 2018. There is speculation that Bloomsbury has 'settled' with Wee - both publisher and Elizabeth Haigh haven't commented publically Wee has gained thousands of followers and her book is now set to be re-printed A little known author who last weekend accused celebrated British Singapoean chef Elizabeth Haigh of plaigiarising her memoir cookbook has gained thousands of new fans - and is now set to re-publish her own out-of-print work. Sharon Wee, who lives in New York, published Growing up in a Nonya Kitchen in 2012, and has claimed many of the recipes and anecdotes in Michelin star chef Haigh's latest book, Makan: Recipes from the Heart of Singapore, are suspiciously similar to hers. The book was swiftly withdrawn from sale when the scandal broke but both Haigh and Bloomsbury, who published it, have remained silent on the matter. Singapore poet and critic Daryl Lim Wei Jie, who spotted Wee's original post and shared it, said he believed Bloomsbury had 'appeared to settle' with Wee for an undisclosed sum. Scroll down for video Sharon Wee accused British Singaporean chef Haigh, a rising star in British cookery, of copying her anecdotes and recipes almost word for word prompting Haigh's book, Makan, to be pulled from sale. Elizabeth Haigh, 33, won a Michelin star for her work at east London restaurant Pidgin. She released her book Makan which means 'to eat' in Malay earlier this year to high praise - but has been silent since the accusations of plagiarism were made by Sharon Wee Haigh's book Makan was pulled this week from stores following Wee's claims that it copied her work Right: Sharon Wee's 2012 book Growing up in a Nonya Kitchen Singapore poet and critic Daryl Lim Wei Jie shared some of the similarities between the books' content on Instagram - and speculated Bloomsbury had now 'agreed a settlement' with Ms Wee MailOnline has contacted Bloomsbury for comment. New fans of Ms Wee have called for her book to be re-published globally. On Instagram, cookthebooksnz wrote: 'Thank you for silently standing up for the countless writers around the world who have experienced what you did and were ignored. Please may there be a reprint' Another, loveleluu added: 'Thank you! Would love to buy your book! Weve all been rooting for you.' Haigh, who has won a Michelin star for her work at east London restaurant Pidgin, released Makan which means 'to eat' in Malay earlier this year. It was widely praised, with Nigella Lawson even proudly posting Mrs Haigh's recipe for the Chinese dish Mapo tofu on her website. Both books contain memories and recipes relating to the writers' Singaporean heritage. The word Nonya refers both to a woman of Chinese or mixed ancestry and to a spicy Singaporean cuisine combining Malay and Chinese ingredients. Miss Wee said there were striking resemblances between the two titles and Mrs Haigh was accused of lifting 15 recipes and reminiscences from her work. On Sunday, Miss Wee said Bloomsbury, the publisher of Makan, assured her that it is withdrawing Mrs Haigh's cookbook from sale. She said: 'I was distressed to discover certain recipes and other content from my book had been copied or paraphrased without my consent in Makan by Elizabeth Haigh and I immediately brought this to the attention of the book's publisher, Bloomsbury Absolute.' Mrs Haigh (pictured centre) has become a respected voice in the industry, recently hosting a BBC Radio 4 programme about the MeToo movement and bullying in the kitchen Miss Wee added: 'I am grateful that Bloomsbury has responded to my concerns by removing Makan from circulation.' Bloomsbury has removed all reference to Makan, pictured, from its websites. Online bookshop Cook the Books said it was asked by the publisher to 'quietly withdraw' the title from its site. Mrs Haigh, who now runs an award-winning Singaporean street food restaurant called Mei Mei in central London, has become a respected voice in the industry, recently hosting a BBC Radio 4 programme about the MeToo movement and bullying in the kitchen. The 2011 MasterChef contestant has also hit out at other chefs including Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White for their comments about female cooks. Miss Lawson previously wrote of Makan: 'I just threw myself into this engaging, welcoming and rewarding book.' The chef has not published a statement on Ms Wee's claims since the scandal broke on Sunday But many of the recipes and prefaces are claimed to be barely changed from Miss Wee's publication. For example, a recipe for sweet potatoes in ginger syrup seems to be directly lifted from the earlier cookbook. Miss Wee writes: 'Ginger is thought to 'pukol angin' (beat the toxic gases and dampness out of you to relieve aches and pains). Hence, post-natal mothers were given lots of ginger to 'beat the wind'.' Meanwhile, Mrs Haigh's entry reads: 'Ginger is thought to have healing properties 'pukol angin' (to beat the toxic gases and dampness out of you to relieve aches and pains). This is why postnatal mothers were given lots of ginger to 'beat the wind'.' The ingredients listed are also exactly the same. At no point is Miss Wee credited for her work. Asked if she felt pressure to be 'authentic', Mrs Haigh said in an interview earlier this year: 'There is a constant pressure... I am Singaporean-born, I am British, I live in the UK, I run a Singaporean restaurant. I use English chickens, I don't use kampung [Malaysian] chickens how can anything be authentic?' The chef added: 'At the same time, I do everything with respect, which is how I have approached the topic of authenticity. It is food from my heritage, and it has a story to tell.' Who Do You Think You Are? viewers were stunned to discover comedian Josh Widdicombe is a distant descendant of Henry VIII - but the truth is historical ties to royalty are more common than one might think. The comedian, 38, discovered he is an ancestor of the Tudor royal, famed for his six wives, in last night's episode of the BBC genealogy show, and was left speechless at every twist and turn. 'To say it's exceeded my expectations is the understatement of a lifetime,' he said. 'I was just expecting a couple of farmers. It's proper blue blood, isn't it?' The disbelief on Josh's face as each new revelation was revealed delighted viewers, who hailed it the 'best ever' episode of the long-running show. It has echoes of Danny Dyer's popular episode in which he also discovered a link to royalty. '#WhoDoYouThinkYouAre: spectacular start to new series with @joshwiddicombe ; no spoilers but would love to have been in office when researchers found out what they have,' tweeted one viewer. Another posted: 'The @joshwiddicombe #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre is one of the best ones there's ever been. Jaw dropping.' But in reality studies have found that if you're European or even descended from Europeans it's most likely you're somehow related to royalty, meaning millions of people could dig out their own connections to the kings and queens of old. Stunned: Who Do You Think You Are? viewers were amazed to discover comedian Josh Widdicombe is a distant descendant of Henry VIII. Pictured, the comedian learns of his connection to the Boleyn family. The reality is almost everyone is related to royalty Distant: Josh's connection to Henry VIII (left) is through 13x great-grandmother Lady Catherine Knollys. There is evidence to suggest Lady Catherine is the lovechild of Henry's relationship with Mary Boleyn (right), the sister of his second wife, Anne Astonishing: The disbelief on Josh's face as each new revelation was revealed delighted viewers, who hailed it the 'best ever' episode of the long-running show. It has echoes of Danny Dyer's popular episode in which he also discovered a link to royalty Josh's journey started with a family connection to the powerful banking dynasty the Barings, although he learned his 5x great-grandfather, Charles, was cut out of the business. Through this relative, Josh discovered his 10x great-grandfather was Henry Rich (1590-1649), the first Earl of Holland and a trusted adviser to King Charles I. Henry was a member of the powerful Privy Council, as well as 'the groom of the stool', whose responsibility it was to accompany the royal to the toilet. Professor Tracy Borman explained the role was one of the most sought after in the court, saying: 'In those days it's all about getting ahead as well as getting to be with the king... It carries enormous influence.' His life came to an end when he was eventually executed for high treason ordered by parliamentarian Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War. Widdicombe is then led to St Nicholas Church, outside Henley-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire, where he learns Rich was the great-grandson of Lady Catherine Knollys and her husband, Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Household to Queen Elizabeth I. Lady Catherine was Chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth I and, in a testament to their bond, the monarch paid for her funeral. Lady Catherine was buried in Westminster Abbey. Josh's connection to the infamous royal is through 13x great-grandmother Lady Catherine Knollys - as there is evidence to suggest she is the lovechild of Henry's relationship with Anne Boleyn's sister Mary Next game Josh's 12x great-grandmother, Lettice Knollys, Francis and Catherine's daughter, a Tudor lady-in-waiting who looked like a younger, prettier Elizabeth I. Josh studied the picture but didn't guess the significance. Lettice turned out to be the monarch's cousin. Much to the Virgin Queen's chagrin, she even married Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester once hotly tipped to marry Queen Elizabeth himself. When that was explained, Josh was reeling: 'My 12 times great-grandmother was in a love triangle with Elizabeth I?' On visiting Lady Catherine's grave in Westminster Abbey, Josh learned she was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, sister of Henry VIII's second wife Anne. Indeed some historians believe Lady Catherine was the product of Mary's affair with the king. 'So Catherine was the cousin of Queen Elizabeth I,' he said, laughing. The revelation left Josh speechless. Josh learned his 10x great-grandfather was Henry Rich (1590-1649), the first Earl of Holland and a trusted adviser to King Charles I. Pictured, Rich's name on a list of the Privy Council Rich, pictured, was also 'the groom of the stool', whose responsibility it was to accompany the royal to the toilet Widdicombe was taken to St Nicholas Church, outside Henley-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire, where he learns Rich was the great-grandson of Lady Catherine Knollys and her husband, Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Household to Queen Elizabeth I (pictured, their tomb) Lady Catherine, who lived from 1524-1569, is believed to be portrayed in this 1562 portrait by Steven van der Meulen. There is suggestion she was the illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII On a visit to Hever Castle family seat of the Boleyns Widdicombe was left open-mouthed as he learned his line went back to the 13th century's King Philippe of France . . . his 24 times great-grandfather. 'Proper blue blood,' whistled Josh. Studies have revealed how millions are related to royalty. In 1999, Joseph Chang - a Yale statistician - demonstrated that if you look back at least 32 generations, or 900 years, you'll find that every person alive today will share a common ancestor. Hundreds of studies which have been carried out in Europe suggests that ancestor was likely someone who lived just 600 years ago. Meanwhile, the fact you don't need to be royal to have royal blood makes the chances of anyone being descended from royalty even higher. For example, just like Prince William and Kate Middleton, it's not unusual to see a royal from across the globe tying the knot with someone of a lesser status - resulting in an increase in the number of people with a royal claim. Overseas: Not only is he related to the English upper classes, he also discovered that his 24x great-grandfather is the French King Phillip III (pictured) As reported by The Guardian, Kirill Chashchin, a Russian genealogical researcher, says that 'almost royals' illegitimate children and those (like Princess Diana) who show royal connections but not a clear lineage have 'muddied the waters.' Gregory Clarke, who is an economics professor at UC Davis, goes on to suggest if your ancestors came from a region where royals and commoners intermarried, it increases the chances you descended from royalty. He said: 'The noble classes have always been fairly open to incorporating wealthy commoners So a large share of the modern English will be related to someone in the past who was part of the nobility.' So it's unsurprising that a whole host of celebrities have claimed to be related to royalty through some far-distant relation - including Tom Hanks. The Hollywood actor is related to British royalty through his father's side of the family. Hanks is a descendent of King John of England, who reigned from 1199 to 1216 - and is also a 24th cousin to the current monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth II. Elsewhere, Hugh Grant is a descendant of Henry VII through his mother's side of the family, and he also has King James IV of Scotland as an ancestor. And according to Nick Barratt from the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? Johnny Depp is 20th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, sharing a great-grandfather with her that dates back 19 generations. Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres is 15th cousin to Kate Middleton and is related to the royal as a direct descendant of Edward III of England. She is also the 19th cousin, twice removed, of Queen Elizabeth II. One of the most popular episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? featured Danny Dyer, who discovered in 2015 he was a distant relative to Edward III and William the Conquerer. Dame Joan Collins has revealed she met Prince Andrew 'a few times' at dinner parties throughout the 1980s - including one hosted by AA Gill where the Duke of York brought a 'very pretty girl'. The actress, 88, spoke to Richard Madeley and Sussana Reid on Good Morning Britain today to discuss her upcoming memoir where she revealed the Queen's second son was 'jolly' 'very nice' and 'self-deprecating'. She revealed she dined with Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York a few times, and Andrew told her he had 'never been to a supermarket'. Describing Joan as a 'doyenne of dinner parties' , Richard asked 'Now, you've had dinner with Prince Andrew, obviously there's things we can't say about Andrew here but how did you find him?' Joan replied: 'I've met him a few times was with Sarah [Ferguson] with his wife, they came to dinner at my flat a few times in the 80s. Dame Joan Collins has revealed she met Prince Andrew 'a few times' at dinner parties throughout the 1980s - including one hosted by AA Gill where the Duke of York brought a 'very pretty girl' Joan, pictured this morning, revealed she dined with Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York a few times, and Andrew told her he had 'never been to a supermarket' 'And he came to this party dinner party a small dinner party that Adrian Gill [the writer AA Gill] had. 'And he came with a very pretty girl. And he was very nice'. Joan added that while meeting Andrew they played a game called 'What Have We Never Done' where the duke shared he'd never been to a supermarket. 'We played a game, he was jolly and self deprecating,. 'We played this game, What Have You Never Done. And I can't remember what I said, but he said, he said, "I've never been in the supermarket.' The Duke of York, 61, has been embroiled in scandal this year due to his friendship with paedophile financer Jeffrey Epstein. Joan revealed she dined with Andrew (pictured) and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York a few times, and Andrew told her he had 'never been to a supermarket'. The Duke of York, 61, has been embroiled in scandal this year due to his friendship with paedophile financer Jeffrey Epstein. He is pictured in 1986 It emerged this week the Metropolitan Police did not speak to Virginia Roberts before dropping its probe into claims she was flown to London by Jeffrey Epstein for sex with Prince Andrew,. Andrew, who lives at Royal Lodge in Windsor, was photographed behind the wheel of his Range Rover this week morning as he broke cover following the latest dramatic development in the case on Sunday night. Officers had looked at the case again after Ms Roberts lodged in a US lawsuit, including claims of 'rape in the first degree'. But while detectives spoke to Andrew's 1,000-an-hour team, they did not speak to Virginia, now known as Virginia Giuffre and living in Australia. It emerged this week the Metropolitan Police did not speak to Virginia Roberts before dropping its probe into claims she was flown to London by Jeffrey Epstein for sex with Prince Andrew, Andrew is pictured with Virginia and Ghislaine Maxwell Joan added that while meeting Andrew they played a game called 'What Have We Never Done' where the duke shared he'd never been to a supermarket. She is pictured today Andrew is facing a civil lawsuit in the US after Miss Roberts accused him of 'rape in the first degree', and said she was abused by him in London after a visit to Tramp nightclub in Mayfair. Andrew has always vehemently denied the claims and his legal team is seeking to get the US case thrown out. The Metropolitan Police had previously examined the allegations by Miss Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, against the Duke but did not open a full investigation, saying the case was a matter for the US authorities. After the civil lawsuit was filed in New York, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said she had asked her officers to review the claim, adding: 'No one is above the law.' But a Met spokesman said last night: 'As a matter of procedure, MPS officers reviewed a document released in August 2021 as part of a US civil action. This review has concluded and we are taking no further action.' Coles has previewed a daring but delicious December range, adding dishes rarely seen in an Australian Christmas spread with cashed-up shoppers tipped to spend billions. Among the 150 Christmas products about to hit the shelves include trendy cheeseburger spring rolls, sweet and sour lemongrass candy canes, and an Aussie twist on the cult American dish 'turducken', a three-bird combination of roasted chicken, duck and turkey. With Australians still unable to fly overseas and more than eight million people in Victoria and New South Wales stuck at home during long lockdowns, experts predict shoppers may be ready to blow plenty of their $140billion in household savings. Coles have put an Aussie spin on a cult American dish 'turducken' as the supermarket giant prepares to fill its shelves to meet anticipated record Christmas spending. It is a three-bird combination of chicken, duck and turkey Celebrity chefs Luke Mangan and Courtney Roulston launched Coles Christmas range which includes a favourites and a few weird and wonderful new options - including the 'turducken' Last Christmas Australians spent a record $55billion over a six week period from mid-November to the end of December. Early indications show Christmas 2021 could beat that record. The Australian Retailers Association reported total online sales for August were up 36.4 per cent on the same time last year, while online food sales were 29 per cent up. 'Most people are expecting this will be the biggest Christmas ever ... and we are expecting that they will start spending as soon as they are able to,' Coles chief executive Steven Cain told The Australian. Coles' smoked salmon can be bought hot and ready to eat this Christmas as part of its new range After a stressful year in lockdown Coles is preparing more food that is ready to reheat and eat this Christmas Celebrity chefs Luke Mangan and Courtney Roulston launched Coles' range, which includes a firm family favourite, the smoked crackling Christmas ham as a six-rib rack and made with Sow Stall Free pork. It also has a traditional roasting ham with a honey glaze, mustard and cloves. Coles' Aussie 'turducken' has RSPCA-approved Hunter Valley turkey stuffed with native plums, five spice and pistachios, topped with duck and wrapped with an RSPCA approved deboned chicken. Coles also has a Hunter Valley fresh turkey breast stuffed with truffled mushroom risotto. Seafood options include a 'ready-to-eat' hot beechwood-smoked salmon with maple glaze, and the popular salmon roast with herb, butter and lemon stuffing. The supermarket expects to sell thousands of fresh cooked tiger prawns too. Vegan and vegetarian shoppers will be happy to learn Coles again has a plant-based Christmas roast with sweet tomato chutney. Coles desserts look irresistible especially the fruit and chocolate trifles (pictured) paired with wine or gin Coles' mirror glaze mousse desserts, comes in available in Belgian chocolate and salted caramel, and raspberry, vanilla and Belgian white chocolate Major themes of the supermarket giant's range are convenience, with quickly re-heatable but tasty food, and sustainability, with '100% recyclable and plastic-free' decorations and wooden toys. Even its glitter will be plastic-free, Coles said. Mangan said much of the range was designed to be reheated quickly to save stress after a tough year of lockdown for many Aussies. Coles is matching drinks to menu choices These include: mac and cheese bites with BBQ pulled beef, prawn flavoured snacks 'in fun and festive shapes like star-shaped toasts, lattice baubles and candy canes' and 'pumpkin & cauliflower baubles'. Coles also has a 'curated' range of alcoholic drinks designed to match with its Christmas menu items, and increased choices for people wanting low or zero alcoholic options. 'Sales in low and no alcohol drinks have doubled across the market each year for the past three years,' Coles said in a statement. Coles christmas dessert menu includes two amazing sounding trifles, one fruit and one chocolate. The layered berry trifle includes mixed berry coulis, vanilla custard, sponge cake and vanilla mousse, topped with Belgian white chocolate and freeze-dried raspberry pieces. The triple chocolate version includes layers of vanilla and chocolate mousse, Belgian chocolate brownies and rich chocolate ganache, topped with Belgian chocolate flakes. Irish star Aisling Bea, who stars in the much-anticipated remake of cult holiday film Home Alone, has vented her frustration on social media after some fans didn't like her English accent. The 37-year-old plays Carol in Home Sweet Home Alone, mother to 10-year-old Max (Archie Yates), who, like Kevin McCallister in the original, gets left to his own devices when his parents forget to take him on holiday. However, when the film's trailer was released yesterday, Bea's attempt at an English accent sparked a flurry of tweets - with many apparently disconcerted that she'd ditched her usual Irish lilt in favour of a English accent. Scroll down for video The trailer for Home Sweet Home Alone, the remake of 1990 classic, was released yesterday and offered a first glimpse of Aisling Bea playing Carol, mother to 10-year-old Max, who gets left behind as his family head to Tokyo - but some were bemused by the Irish actor's accent @benallenwf snarked: 'Aisling Bea with an English accent... I'm reporting this for offensive content.' @Pesopesopeso4 added: 'Love Aisling but dear lord she should have passed on this one. I mean, did she get lessons from dick van dyke?!' @carrielamarr penned: 'For the love of Jesus, why couldn't they have Aisling Bea use her own accent, which is sublime?' @AaronFlattery added: 'Cant explain how uncomfortable Aisling Bea doing an English accent has made me.' Bea, clearly frustrated with the avalanche of tweets, took to social media last night to explain exactly why she couldn't use her own intonation - and showed off a few other accents while she was there too, dipping into Texan, Scottish and Australian. She said: 'To everybody who has been wondering online why I have an English accent in the new Home Alone movie, it's because... the character's English. Home Sweet Home Alone is out on November 12 and sees Archie Yates in a role made famous by Macaulay Culkin in 1990 The star took to Twitter last night to explain Carol's accent, saying: 'To everybody who has been wondering online why I have an English accent in the new Home Alone movie, it's because... the character's English.' She added: 'If she was Irish, she would speak very much like I do, because I am from Ireland. But, this character is not from Ireland, she's from England.' Later, Bea showed off an impressive Yorkshire accent suggesting that if people wanted to see her with her native intonation, they could watch her in This Way Up instead 'If she was from England and spoke with an Irish accent, then that would be quite strange. 'If she was Irish, she would speak very much like I do, because I am from Ireland. But, this character is not from Ireland, she's from England.' Later, Bea also showed off an impressive Yorkshire accent suggesting that if people wanted to see her with her native intonation, they could watch her in This Way Up instead. Archie Yates, pictured in Home Sweet Home Alone, is best known for playing Yorki in the 2019 comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit. The Home Alone reboot, out on November 12, sees Archie Yates in a role made famous by Macaulay Culkins in 1990. Archie is best known for playing Yorki in the 2019 comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit. Archie, 12, portrays Max Mercer in the reboot and his character gets left behind while his family is in Japan for the holidays. Max then protects the family home when a married couple attempt to break-in to retrieve a priceless heirloom. Ellie Kemper, 44, Kenan Thompson, 43, and Rob Delaney, 44, also star in the family comedy directed by Dan Mazer with a script by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell. Macaulay also will make a cameo appearance reprising his role as Kevin from the first two Home Alone movies. The Countess of Wessex has encouraged people to get their eyes checked this World Sight Day as she visited children with learning disabilities at a London school while they received a sight test. Sophie, 56, who lives with Prince Edward, 57, at their Surrey home, Bagshot Park, with their children Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and James Viscount Severn, 13, stepped out at Perseid School to see pupils having their eyes tested thanks to UK Charity SeeAbility. The school works with children and young people, aged 3-19, who have special educational needs and learning disabilities. Sophie, who is a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Patron of Vision Foundation, praised the vision sector for 'really coming together over the years' and 'easily' sharing the 'best practices'. World Sight Day is an international day of awareness held every October to focus attention on the global issue of eye health. The Countess of Wessex (pictured centre) has encouraged people to get their eyes checked this World Sight Day as she visited children with learning disabilities at a London school while they received a sight test Sophie (pictured right), 56, who lives with Prince Edward, 57, at their Surrey home, Bagshot Park, with their children Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and James Viscount Severn, 13 Sophie (pictured) stepped out at Perseid School to see pupils having their eyes tested thanks to UK Charity SeeAbility The royal shared her support for the #LoveYourEyes campaign, run by IAPB, this World Sight Day, which is encouraging people to book a sight test. She said last Thursday: 'The key thing I have learnt with all my work from Vision 2020 and IAPB is that the vision sector has really come together over the years, especially for World Sight Day. 'What is really inspiring to see, is that best practices are so easily shared through IAPB. These best practices can hopefully influence everything else and improve the lives of millions around the world who have poor vision.' A recent study found that in the UK almost 3,000 people are estimated to have lost vision due to delays in the identification and treatment of eye disease, and 4.3million fewer people received sight tests in 2020, compared to 2019. The tests witnessed by the Countess of Wessex were provided by SeeAbility, a UK based charity that specialises in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism, many of whom have sight loss. Children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have a sight problem than other children. The school works with children and young people, aged 3-19, who have special educational needs and learning disabilities. Pictured, Sophie speaking to the pupils Sophie, who is a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Patron of Vision Foundation, praised the vision sector for 'really coming together over the years' and 'easily' sharing the 'best practices' World Sight Day is an international day of awareness held every October to focus attention on the global issue of eye health. Pictured, Sophie at the school Its work has revealed half of children in special schools will have a problem with their vision, yet 44 per cent of them have no history of eye care. The tests carried out are part of the NHS England special schools eye care service. The ambition of NHS Englands Eye Care programme is to eventually improve access to eye care services for all people with a learning disability or who are autistic to enable them to live the lives they want to live. Tina Harvey, Executive Headteacher at Perseid School said: 'Perseid was the very first school to partner with SeeAbility back in 2013. 'It was ground-breaking at the time to bring full sight tests and glasses dispensing into special schools, now it is multi-award winning and the NHS is planning its own programme nationally in all special schools. 'The difference the project has made to our children is profound - especially for the children who had never had a sight test and were found to need glasses. Many were living their lives in a total blur before. 'Now those pupils are happier, more able to learn, feel less frustrated and have higher self-esteem. It was a pleasure to speak to Her Royal Highness about the benefits we have seen.' The royal (pictured left) shared her support for the #LoveYourEyes campaign, run by IAPB, this World Sight Day, which is encouraging people to book a sight test A recent study found that in the UK almost 3,000 people are estimated to have lost vision due to delays in the identification and treatment of eye disease, and 4.3million fewer people received sight tests in 2020, compared to 2019. Pictured, Sophie during the outing The tests witnessed by the Countess of Wessex (pictured right) were provided by SeeAbility, a UK based charity that specialises in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism, many of whom have sight loss Those involved in the #LoveYourEyes campaign say the need for people to get their sight checked is more apparent now than ever, with the pandemic and worldwide lockdowns leading to more time spent on screens, less time spent outdoors, and missed sight tests. IAPB warns half the worlds population will be short-sighted by 2050. Up to one fifth of those are at significant risk of blindness if current trends continue, according to IAPB. A study in China found the number of children being diagnosed with short-sightedness doubled in 2020 compared to 2019. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is backing the campaign encouraging people to get sight checked and offering advice on how to #LoveYourEyes. Alarcos Cieza, Unit Head for Vision, Disability and Rehabilitation at the WHO said: 'The last year has been incredibly tough on people, and it has been tough on their eyes too. 'We have found ourselves spending more time looking at screens, spending less time outside, and we have also had to miss sight check-ups. IAPB warns half the worlds population will be short-sighted by 2050. Pictured, Sophie at the event A study in China found the number of children being diagnosed with short-sightedness doubled in 2020 compared to 2019. Pictured, the Countess of Wessex, left The World Health Organisation (WHO) is backing the campaign encouraging people to get sight checked and offering advice on how to #LoveYourEyes. Pictured, Sophie talking to guests and experts 'However, there are a few easy things we can do to show our eyes and our loved ones' eyes, especially our childrens, some extra care. 'Firstly, book an eye test. Prevention really is better than cure and an eye test often helps detect issues (beyond just your eyesight) before you may notice them yourself. 'Secondly, follow the 20-20-20 rule. This means taking a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes when using devices. 'Thirdly, encourage your child (children) to play outside regularly and spend at least 90 minutes each day outside. This will give your child a screen break and allow them to focus on different distances and spend time in natural light which can help keep your childs eyes healthy. 'Finally, it is important to wear your glasses as instructed by your eye health professional. It isn't true that glasses make your vision worse. They will not only help to see clearly but help prevent eyes from straining to see things.' Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB said: 'The success of this years World Sight Day and our Love Your Eyes campaign has been unparalleled, and Ive been delighted and proud of what we have done together. 'Every test pledged, every screening held, and every social media message sent has meant that we were able to reach more people than ever before with over 3million pledging to love their eyes. 'But the scale of the challenge we face is immense. The pandemic struck a massive blow to global eye health, and we must continue to act to save millions from unnecessary blindness.' Jennette McCurdy has opened up about the 'intense' emotional and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her late mother, Debbie, who performed vaginal and breast exams on her and wouldn't let her shower alone. The former iCarly star, who lost her mother to cancer in 2013, detailed her childhood trauma and her path to healing in her one-woman dark comedy show 'I'm Glad My Mom Died' and her upcoming memoir of the same name. 'I did not know how to find my identity without my mom,' McCurdy, 29, told People. 'And I'm not going to lie. It was very hard to get here. But now, I'm at a place in my life that I never would have thought was possible. And I finally feel free.' Candid: Jennette McCurdy, 29, opened up about her late mother Debbie's physical and emotional abuse in a new interview with People magazine Honest: McCurdy (pictured with Debbie in 2009) lost her mother to cancer in 2013. She believes she would 'still have an eating disorder' if her mother was still alive Growing up in Southern California, she witnessed physical fights between her parents, Debbie and Mark. She recalled how her mother's outbursts would often turn violent. 'My earliest memories of childhood were of heaviness, and chaos,' she explained. 'My mom's emotions were so erratic that it was like walking a tightrope every day. The mood fluctuations were daily.' As the youngest of four children and her parents' only daughter, McCurdy said her mother fixated on her and pushed her into acting by the time she was six. 'My mom had always dreamt of being a famous actor and she became obsessed with making me a star,' she shared, admitting she was 'cripplingly shy' but felt pressured to go on auditions and book work. 'I felt like my job was to keep the peace,' said McCurdy, whose acting career financially supported her family. 'And I wanted to make my mom happy.' Trauma: McCurdy was the youngest of four children and her parents only daughter. She said her mom's outbursts would often turn violent, and she witnessed her parents physically fight Looking back: The former actress recalled how her mother became 'obsessed' with making her a star when she was a child, even though she was 'cripplingly shy' Changes: When McCurdy was 10, her mother started bleaching her hair and whitening her teeth to help her book roles Lessons learned: The child star was 11 when her mother introduced her to counting calories, which fueled her future eating disorders Debbie's focus included McCurdy's appearance, and she started bleaching her only daughter's hair and whitening her teeth when she was 10. A year later, she taught McCurdy how to restrict calories and aided her disordered eating. When she landed her big break as Sam Puckett on iCarly at the age of 14, she was already struggling with anorexia. While she was starring on the Nickelodeon show, her mother insisted on performing vaginal and breast exams on her and wouldn't let her shower alone. This went on until she was 17. McCurdy did not indicate why her mother performed the exams. Debbie battled breast cancer for 17 years after being diagnosed when her daughter was a young child. She went into remission, but the cancer returned and spread to her brain in 2010. McCurdy, who was 21 when Debbie died in 2013, said she was 'so repressed and delayed developmentally' because of her mother's control she rebelled after she passed away. She started having sex, experimenting with alcohol, and binge eating, after which she would make herself throw up. For years, she struggled with a dependency on alcohol and bulimia. McCurdy credits her recovery from her eating disorders in 2018 to therapy. Secret: When she landed her big break as Sam Puckett on iCarly at the age of 14, she was already struggling with anorexia Controlling: While she was starring on the Nickelodeon show, her mother insisted on performing vaginal and breast exams on her and wouldn't let her shower alone until she was 17 Healing: McCurdy, who has quit acting, detailed her traumatic childhood in her one-woman dark comedy show 'I'm Glad My Mom Died,' which recently wrapped 'I know if my mom were alive, I'd still have an eating disorder,' she said. 'It was only distance from her that allowed me to get healthy.' Earlier this year, she confirmed that she had quit acting was 'embarrassed' by her past sitcom work. 'It's a risk to change your life, but I made it my mission,' said McCurdy, who has shifted her focus to writing and directing. The former child star has been candidly sharing her story in her one-woman show 'I'm Glad My Mom Died,' which recently wrapped. 'It's thought-provoking,' she said of the show. 'But even though it may seem black and white, there's a fullness to my narrative. Life can be dark and messy. Nobody has a perfect life.' The wife of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen has spoken out for the first time since she was acquitted of aiding and abetting her husband in his horrific terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 49 people at the gay event space. Noor Salman, now 35, spent more than a year in jail after being accused of trying to cover for her husband in the wake of the attack. But while the mother-of-one maintains that she knew nothing about Mateen's plans, she now admits that she 'should have seen the red flags' in his behavior during their five-year marriage - when she was routinely beaten and raped by him, even when pregnant. In a wide-raging interview with Vice News, her first sit-down since she was released from jail in 2018, Salman also detailed the great lengths she has gone to cover up her connection to Mateen, who was shot dead by police at the scene of his attack, which left 49 dead and 53 injured. The mother-of-one, who has a nine-year-old son with Mateen, maintains that she had no prior knowledge that her husband was planning the horrific terrorist attack - but says the widely-publicized accusations that she aided his heinous crimes have forced her to become a virtual recluse and left her unable to go outside for more than five minutes at a time, because people 'assume she is a monster'. Noor Salman, the wife of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, has spoken out for the first time since she was acquitted of aiding and abetting her terrorist husband's heinous attack 'Its insurance that even if somebody were to recognize me, they would have doubt,' she told Vice from her childhood home in Rodeo, California, where she is now living with her son Zakaryah and her mother. '[And] I would be gone by the time they figure it out.' In order to protect herself and her son, Salman - who has changed her last name to conceal her true identity - also admits that she tells people her child was conceived during a one-night stand with a stranger, explaining: 'It's easier than to say... [his father] killed people and [I] became a single mom.' However, she revealed that her son knows everything about his father's terrorist attack, explaining that he watched news reports on the shooting and her trial while she was behind bars. Killer: Mateen killed 49 people and left 53 injured when he opened fire in the gay nightclub in June 2016. He was killed at the scene by officers Salman says both she and her son were subjected to abuse at the hands of Mateen, who she met on a website called Arab Lounge in 2011. 'He was the sweetest when we first met,' she recalled. 'After I got pregnant, the script flipped.' Salman says her husband's unpredictable behavior and furious temper left her feeling as though she was 'on eggshells every day', revealing that he regularly beat and raped her during their five-year marriage, including while she was pregnant with their son. Recalling one incident when her husband 'took a knife' out and cut up one of their son's toys - a pig - when the little boy was just two years old, she said that she tried to defend her child, only for Mateen to slap her for speaking up. Salman says her husband also threatened to kill her if she dared to leave him. According to a Danger Assessment that Salman filled out while in jail, she was deemed to be at the 'highest level of danger possible of being seriously injured or killed by her partner'. Her fear of his attacks, she says, ensured that she stayed silent - and not even her closest family members knew about the true nature of her marriage. Despite a jury finding her not guilty of helping her husband, Salman, now 35, says people still see her as a 'monster' and said the ordeal has turned her into a virtual recluse However the mother admits that she should have 'seen red flags' in her husband's behavior - revealing to Vice that he repeatedly beat and raped her during their five-year marriage Ahead of her trial, Salman also stated in court documents filed by her legal team that Mateen was a serial cheater who slept with prostitutes and women off dating sights like Plenty of Fish. Other court documents also revealed some of the abuse that Salman had faced at the hands of her husband - however her lead defense attorney Charles Swift told Vice that her legal team chose not to highlight it during the eight-day hearing because they wanted to 'keep [her case] simple' and feared it could ultimately do more harm than good. Salman, pictured in an old social media photo, admitted that she tells people her son was conceived in a one-night stand with a stranger in order to avoid having to tell them the real story about his father's identity Salman was taken in for questioning by the FBI shortly after her husband had been identified as the Pulse shooter, and during an 11-hour questioning, she gave a verbal statement in which she said: 'I'm sorry for what happened. I wish I would go back and tell police and his family what he was going to do. 'I'm sorry I lied to the FBI, these are my own words.' Police also said that Salman told them she saw Mateen researching Pulse on the internet two days before the attack and that when she asked him about it, he said it was a 'target'. One FBI agent then claimed that Salman told him she 'knew an attack was close' afterwards. She also allegedly admitted to driving past Pulse with her husband on a scouting mission in the days before the attack and said she heard Mateen say 'how upset people are going to be when it gets attacked.' However, despite FBI agents insisting that these claims proved her guilt as far as the charges that she aided and abetted Mateen's slaughter, Salman was not arrested at the time of her questioning - and she was not actually taken into custody until January 2017. At her trial, the mother-of-one's defense team claimed that she had only given these statements because she had been manipulated and mistreated during her interrogation. It was also revealed during the hearing that FBI agents had quickly determined that her claims about casing Pulse and seeing it on her husband's computer were likely false. Salman now admits that she gave her original statement out of desperation, telling Vice that she simply wanted to end the interrogation - during which she says she asked repeatedly to take a lie detector test. The mother-of-one gave a statement to the FBI in the hours after her husband's attack in June 2016, but she was not arrested until the following January She added that she was so stunned by the news of her husband's horrendous crime and his subsequent death that it didn't even occur to her that she would need a lawyer during the interrogation, admitting that it was in fact 'the last thing' she was thinking about at the time. Salman's trial ended on March 30, 2018, when a unanimous jury vote found her not guilty of all charges - however, more than three years later, she says many people still refuse to associate themselves with her and 'assume she didn't care or that she supported [Mateen]'. She has not had a job since she was freed from jail in Florida and relocated to her home state of California in the hopes of escaping her association with her late husband's massacre. Salman now lives in her childhood home with her nine-year-old son and her mother, and she survives on a $1,000-a-month check from Mateen's Social Security survivor benefits, which her son will continue to receive until he turns 18. Because her mother owns her home, Salman does not have to worry about paying rent - although she said that she has recently started looking for work for the first time since getting out of prison. She also admitted that she occasionally receives handouts from her friends, including one of her former defense attorneys, Fritz Scheller, who Vice reports has become 'a confidant of sorts' in the years since her trial. Although Salman did not go into great detail about her feelings towards her late husband, she briefly detailed the anger that she feels towards him for doing such an 'evil thing' and leaving her alone to raise their son as a single mother. 'You did something so selfish, so evil, and you stuck me with your child,' she said of Mateen. 'Now I have to figure out how we'll survive.' The mother-of-one also revealed to Vice that she is undergoing therapy, during which she is attempting to deal with her guilt at failing to see the 'red flags' in her marriage that might have helped to prevent Mateen's attack. Having spent years refusing to leave her home without a disguise, Salman is also now working up the courage to show her face in public - admitting that she knows she needs to overcome her fear before her son gets much older. Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has revealed how she begged her abductor to rape and kill her close to her house so that her parents would be able to find her body and know for sure that she didn't choose to run away from home. The 33-year-old, who was famously taken from her family's Salt Lake City home at knifepoint when she was just 14, has shared harrowing details of her experience in a candid new interview with Jada Pinkett Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris on Red Table Talk. 'My parents always said the worst part of having me gone was not knowing if I was alive and out there or if I was dead,' she told the women. 'And actually, when I was being taken up into the mountains, that first night that I was kidnapped, I asked him if he was gonna rape and kill me, and if he was gonna do that, could he please do it fairly close to my house, because it was important to me that my parents find my body and know that I hadn't run away.' Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has revealed how she begged her abductor to rape and kill her close to her house so that her parents would be able to find her body The 33-year-old shared harrowing details of her experience in a candid new interview with Jada Pinkett Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris on Red Table Talk 'My parents always said the worst part of having me gone was not knowing if I was alive and out there or if I was dead,' she said (pictured April 2003) Fortunately, abductor and self-proclaimed prophet Brian David Mitchell didn't kill her but he and his wife Wanda Barzee did take her away from home, chaining her down in a makeshift campsite nearby before moving her to Lakeside, California. She spent nine months, from June 2002 to March 2003, in captivity, with Mitchell performing a 'marriage' ceremony with her and raped her repeatedly. Smart was eventually found at age 15 after witnesses in Sandy, Utah called police. One said she recognized Smart, while another said she recognized the abductor. Smart said on Red Table Talk that while she spent those nine months wishing someone would find her, there were times she lost hope she'd ever make it home. 'I always wanted to be rescued. I don't know that I always had hope. There were some pretty dark times for sure,' she said. Listening to Smart, Banfield-Norris became momentarily overwhelmed and broke down in tears. 'It's just very, very powerful having you here,' she said. Smart also evealed today how she was turned off of therapy after a re-traumatizing experience immediately after she was rescued. She recalled how she was taken to a children's justice center the day after she got home and brought into a room with two psychiatrists, to whom she was told to speak openly about what had happened to her so she assumed they were there to help. Listening to Smart, Banfield-Norris became momentarily overwhelmed and broke down in tears. 'It's just very, very powerful having you here,' she said Pinkett Smith also became emotional, and pointed out that there are a lot of missing people whose cases don't get nearly as much coverage as Smart's did 'It was two men. Middle-aged. Older. On the way to the room, they open this closet and say, "You can choose any stuffed animal you want." And I just remember feeling condescended too, because I was like, I'm 15. I just survived nine months without a stuffed animal. I'm pretty sure I can survive whatever's gonna happen next.' She said she 'immediately shut down' because the men were about the same age as her captors. 'They were both clearly religious, which, bravo for them, but in that situation, where I had just come out of nine months of being abused and manipulated by someone who was trying to lose religion, that just made me feel uncomfortable.' It got worse as she was asked to describe, in detail, what had happened to her. Smart said she had a sheltered upbringing and was 'very innocent and naive' before her kidnapping. For example, in her home they didn't use words like 'penis' and 'vagina' they said 'privates.' But in the room with those two men, she was repeatedly pushed to explicitly describe what Mitchell had done to her. 'They're like, "OK, so what happened?" And I'd be like, "They hurt me." And they'd be like, "Well how'd they hurt you?" [And I said] "Well, they molested me." [And they said] "Well how'd they molest you?" [And I said] "Well, they raped me." [And they said] "Well, do you know what rape is?" And I was like, "Well, yeah, he forced himself on me." 'And they'd be like, "Could you use the correct body parts?" So I finally had to get it down to, "He physically forced his penis into my vagina repeatedly." That was terrible. By the time I left, I just knew that I never wanted to speak about it with anyone every again. I didn't want to speak of what happened.' Smart was famously taken from her family's Salt Lake City home at knifepoint when she was just 14 She spent nine months, from June 2002 to March 2003, in captivity, with Mitchell performing a 'marriage' ceremony with her and raped her repeatedly She said it was later explained to her that the psychiatrists were there to get her testimony so they could stand in proxy for her at trial but she didn't know that at the time, and assumed that it was what therapy was like. 'If this is what therapy is, I do not want it. And I refused. I refused to have therapy. Which, of course, panicked my parents. So they went and saw a therapist,' she said. Her parents' therapist told them that this was OK but they needed to be prepared 'because ultimately you both will be her biggest therapists, and you need to be in a place where you can handle that.' In retrospect, with a better understanding of therapy, she realizes that it could have been useful at the time but 'going back to every dark moment' was not what she wanted at the time. She went into some detail about those dark moments, looking back to what it was like for her to be stolen from her room in the middle of the night. 'Everyone teaches you what you should do if you catch on fire. To look both ways when you cross the street. And thinking back on my exact situation, nobody really tells you what you should do in that situation,' she said. 'When I woke up, there was a knife pressed against my throat. A little bit more pressure, and he could have just killed me. 'I don't regret not screaming, I don't regret doing what he told me, because I'm still alive. And I don't know that I would be had I not. Because I do believe that he absolutely was capable of killing me and then maybe taking my sister, or killing her too.' Smart was eventually found at age 15 fter witnesses in Sandy, Utah called police. One said she recognized Smart, while another said she recognized the abductor Smart is pictured with her parents in 2005. She said they got therapy so they could help her when she needed it After taking her out the window, Mitchell and Barzee took her into hiding. 'My captors had taken me to southern California for the winter. Their plan was to kidnap seven young girls. I was just the first. And they actually made several attemps while I was with them,' she said. After the last failed attempt to kidnap another girl, Smart convinced Mitchell and Barzee to return to Utah. That's when vigilant locals spotted her and Mitchell and made seperate reports to police. 'I don't think I'll ever lose my faith in humanity, because everyone kept their eyes open and just simple phone calls to the police ultimatley led to my rescue, my homecoming,' she said. She recalled the moment they were walking down the street when several police cars pulled up, with officers jumping out and asking them questions. 'Initially, I didn't respond and say yes, I'm Elizabeth Smart, please help me, please save me,' she said. 'So many people over the years have been like, "Well why didn't you?" she went on. 'I didn't immediately yell or scream or admit who I was because for nine months, no one could protect me from them. 'For nine months, he raped me, chained me up, did whatever he wanted to do to me, and there was never anyone there to protect me. Brian David Mitchell (pictured) was convicted in 2010 and is serving a life sentence Mitchell's wife Wanda Barzee (right) was sentenced to 15 years in prison and in the plea deal was given credit for the seven years she already served. She was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart's pleas to the parole board not to set her free 'I didn't know these police officers. I didn't know what they were capable of. I didn't know if they could protect me. But I did know that my captor was so close, he was right next to me. He was physically touching me. 'And I knew they were capable of killing me. And they threatened me with that every single day. 'My goal was to survive and I didn't know if I said something that I would. But I knew if I did what they told me to do, that there was a chance for me to survive. She said she couldn't admit to police who she was until she was finally separated from her captors. Smart is now a mother to three children of her own: six-year-old Chloe, four-year-old James, and two-year-old Olivia with her husband, Matthew Gilmour. She is already speaking to Chloe about what happened to her. 'They are young,' she said, 'but someone told me that as soon as your child starts asking questions, that's the right time to start talking to them. 'One of my captors was coming up for parole, and I was supposed to go down to the prison that day to go give a victim impact statement. My daughter, my oldest, didn't really want me to go and kept asking [questions]. 'I started talking to her, but it's not in graphic detail. "When mommy was younger, there was a man who broke into my home and hurt me. And now he and his wife are in jail and I'm going down there to make sure that they stay in jail,"' she said. Smart admitted that she is 'overprotective' as a mother, but that's where her husband comes in to 'pull her back down to earth.' Smart also spoke about she was turned off of therapy after a retraumitizing experience immediately after she was rescued Smart is now a mother to three children of her own with her husband, Matthew Gilmour Though Mitchell is serving life in prison, Barzee was sentenced to just 15 years in prison. In a plea deal. she was given credit for the seven years she had already served. She was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart's pleas to the parole board not to set her free. Smart admitted she was 'disappointed' in the outcome, but said it gives her a greater appreciation for those victims who never even have a 'smidgen of justice.' 'At least I got something. How many more haven't?' she said. Smart said that other victims like Gabby Petito, who was discovered to have died by strangulation after a high-profile search deserve to be found. 'In Gabby's case in particular, I was alive and I came home. Hers tragically has not ended that way,' she said. 'But knowing what it's like being on the other side, and potentially what may have happened, and what may have led up to her final moments, and understanding probably a lot of what she was feeling, it's heartbreaking.' Smart also said that having her family around her supporting her made a difference in her recovery. Her kids are six-year-old Chloe, four-year-old James, and two-year-old Olivia Smart is pictured with her children. Smart admitted that she is 'overprotective' as a mother, but that's where her husband comes in to 'pull her back down to earth' 'How many victims are there who are kidnapped or abused by their family members? The very ones that are supposed to protect them are the ones hurting them. And that sense of betrayal,' she said. 'We shouldn't compare what we go through, but it makes me feel that I am so blessed, and I am so lucky because I was kidnapped by a stranger.' She said that she was also fortunate to have the support of her community, because no one had ever questioned whether she was actually kidnapped or if she ran away. 'Everything that I have always said has been accepted. And how many victims, how many survivors are not believed?' She said this is what makes the difference between 'moving forward and having a healthy life or bottling it inside you and then being on a different trajectory.' Pinkett Smith points out that there are a lot of missing people whose cases don't get nearly as much coverage as Smart's did. She runs the names and photos of several of them on the screen, including Alexis Scott, Jonathan Bandabaila, Dashad Laquinn Smith, Sophie Reeder, Artreveon Brown, Osiel Rico, Kierra Coles, Akia Eggleston, Lashaya Stine, Tyarra Williams, Laquanta Riley, Kristen Galvan, Tiffany Foster, Keeshae Jacobs, Isabella Manson, Madyson Vitou, and Misty McGinn. 'When I think of all of the people I mean, so many. So many whose stories never even see the light of day,' Smart said. 'I live in this field every day, and all the time I hear stories I have never heard. And they're not just brand new stories of ten minutes ago. They're stories of five, ten, 20 years ago. And I've never heard of them. Someone is missing. Are they any less worthy? Has any less of a hole been left because they're gone?' The episode also delves into the disappearance of Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist who. has been missing for over three months in Arizona. 'I don't think there's anyone, in all the millions of times that your episodes get watched, that could say that any one of these families is any less worthy than any other family to have their case persued, and any less of worthy than anybody else, myself included, to come home,' said Smart. A few weeks ago, the midwife-led birth centre at one of Londons largest teaching hospitals declared a temporary closure to expectant mothers. St Georges Hospitals centre, in South London, shut for 16 days while its midwives were redeployed to the main labour ward to ensure safe one-to-one care during a period of severe staff shortages. Similar announcements have been made across the UK with growing frequency. The reason? There arent enough midwives. While St Georges re-opened their birth centre, not everyone is so lucky. In Essex, Oxfordshire and elsewhere, the closures persist. In the worst cases, entire wards have closed. And the closure of home birth services since the pandemic struck remains widespread. So why has Britains stock of midwives become so dangerously diminished? The last two years have pushed a crisis thats been a decade in the making to breaking point. The reasons are complex. Training funding for new midwives has been cut, leading to a shortage of recruits. Britain's stock of midwives has become dangerously diminished, as David Cameron's promise for 3,000 new midwives in 2010 failed to materialise (file image) Yet long-term issues with the structure of maternity provision, and ever-increasing red tape, mean the numbers of experienced midwives staying are dwindling. Add in increased absences due to Covid, and its no surprise the midwives still working are experiencing a barrage of stress, burnout and illness. There has been a shortage for more than ten years, after 3,000 new midwives promised by David Cameron in 2010 failed to materialise. But these essential health workers say its never been so perilously unsafe. Last week, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) warned that the UK is facing an exodus of midwives, stating that after an unrelenting 18 months, staff were at breaking point, with 57 per cent of maternity staff considering quitting. And fears are rife that should mandatory vaccination against Covid be expanded beyond care homes (government consultation closes later this month), it would herald more staffing woes, with unvaccinated midwives made to withdraw from clinical roles. While there is no official figure, it is estimated that in line with the population more than 80 per cent of midwives are vaccinated. Earlier this year, the Care Quality Commission warned two in five maternity services were not performing well enough, with 41 per cent rated as inadequate or requires improvement. The RCM have been calling this out for ten years. We have been clear that the number of student midwife places shouldnt have been reduced, that the bursaries for training shouldnt have been removed, that we should be offering decent salaries and flexible working to retain staff, says Dr Mary Ross-Davie, director of professional midwifery for the RMC. An anonymous midwife said tragedy isn't a daily occurrence - but there is a constant few that fewer staff means mistakes are more likely (file image) With the professionals worried, what does this crisis mean for the safety of mothers and babies? It feels dangerous to give birth, one midwife tells me, her passion for her profession drained by what she sees each day at her large hospital trust in the north-west of England. She says: As a student, I wanted to be a midwife who empowers women, gives them choice now I think if I finish work and havent lost a baby or a woman its a good day. Its not, she says, that tragedy is a daily occurrence but it is a constant fear as fewer staff means mistakes become more likely. She knows of at least one baby stillborn in circumstances where there was a heartbeat when labour started, but the mother was not examined within the first 15 minutes of arriving at triage, as she should have been. What if she had been examined within that window? If there was a heart rate, you wonder, she says. You wait for there to be no heart rate The women I worry about most are the ones on the induction list. If you are being induced you are high risk. We say we are going to give you tablets to start labour as we are worried about your baby, and then we will leave them [on the induction ward] for a week because there are no beds [in the labour ward]. The woman will say, You told me I needed to get induced five days ago because my baby is not growing, whats changed? But nothing has changed, we just dont have a bed. Every day you put someone on a monitor and are waiting for there to be no heart rate. It has become almost routine, she says, for babies to be screened for infection and treated with antibiotics as a womans waters have broken and labour has not been induced fast enough to minimise infection risk. Midwife Cheryl Samuels, who runs the social media account The Holistic Midwife, has set up a petition calling for urgent government investment (file image) Recently she was told to encourage a woman making slow progress after an induced labour to opt for a C-section, as they needed to free the bed. My job is to advocate for women, I should be saying absolutely not but I find myself saying, It could be over if you want it to. Then you feel awful, but there is someone else waiting. And then there is post-natal care, the first area staff are pulled from to fill gaps on the labour ward. Everywhere suffers since we prioritise one-to-one care in labour, explains the midwife. But it means staffing for post-natal care drops. If I have ten women and ten babies and answer a call bell because someone wants help changing a nappy as they have had major abdominal surgery for a C-section, I want to help them. But what do I then do about the septic patient who needs me? Obviously I prioritise the septic patient but the other woman then feels Ive ignored her. Ive become the sort of midwife I never wanted to be. Its become, How can I make things go quicker? rather than, How can I give the best experience? Working there is like looking at a war zone And thats apart from the personal toll of endless shifts without breaks. We get messages on days off asking us to come in, you dont get your breaks, I take antibiotics for UTIs [urinary tract infections] because I cant get to the toilet as I am so busy. I wouldnt trust me to deliver a parcel never mind a baby because Im so tired, hungry and thirsty. Midwife Cheryl Samuels runs the social media account The Holistic Midwife. She has been bombarded with reports from midwives illustrating how perilous things are. She has set up a petition calling for urgent government investment. Midwifery vacancies doubled from 2018 to 2019, with more than half of units understaffed (file image) Ive been a qualified midwife for five years and every year has got worse, the pandemic has taken its toll, says Cheryl. People postponed leaving and now everyone is very tired, the added pressure is the straw that broke the camels back. So bad is the situation that Clare, a former midwife, says: Ive got two children and I dont think Id feel safe going to have another baby. When she became a midwife, the 31-year-old thought it would be her career for life. Yet she quit earlier this year after just nine years. At the end of her tether, she had four shifts each 12-and-a-half hours long to complete before going on maternity leave, but made it through just one before she was overwhelmed. I went into a state of panic, I started crying She says: I was with a high-risk woman in labour thinking, If she delivers and I pull the bell how many people are free to help? I felt unsafe and I didnt want to do it any more. She is still haunted by the memory of nights struggling to manage the workload on the high-risk observation ward, alone because colleagues had been moved. I would text my partner at 1am, saying, Im going to die, I cant do this, and he would say, Come home. But I couldnt do that, you cant leave people who you are looking after. As another midwife tells me: Its like looking at a war zone. How do you keep fighting a fire that isnt being put out? In July, once the hours of all full-time and part-time midwives were combined, there were the equivalent of 21,942 full-time midwives in England, a dip by almost 300 in just two months, the fastest fall for that time period in 12 years of these changes being charted. Midwifery vacancies doubled from 2018 to 2019, with more than half of units understaffed. NHS maternity services received a 96 million boost this year, which included money for 1,000 more midwives (file image) NHS maternity services received a 96 million boost this year, which included money for 1,000 more midwives and 26 million for safety training but the RCM says there is a shortage of 2,000 midwives in England alone. MPs on the health committee called for an immediate investment of 200-350 million to ensure the safety of mothers and babies. Alarm bells are ringing among expectant mothers too, with women given reduced face-to-face care and, at some trusts, forced to give birth without their partners. But surely women can now expect to be allowed the birth plan they hoped for? Apparently not. As a clinical psychologist who is trained in perinatal mental health, Michaela Thomas knows how crucial it is pregnant women have both voice and choice. She also knows the impact when those are removed. It is no coincidence post-natal depression has gone up about 45 per cent since Covid, she says. Unfortunately her own experience has given her an insight into the impact that sudden changes in staffing availability can have. Two weeks ago, her plans for a home birth were thrown into disarray by staff shortages at Milton Keynes University Hospital. I planned to home birth, but didnt plan to free birth without medical assistance, says Michaela. The RCM claims there is a shortage of 2,000 midwives in England alone (file image) When she rang the hospital to report she was in labour at 9.30pm, so the home birthing midwifery team had good warning to come to her, she was told to call back when you need us. That she did, two hours later but by then, the response was very different. They said, There is no midwife, the home birthing team has been suspended and they have been brought to the labour ward so you have to get to hospital. I went into a state of panic, started crying and everything went quickly, the doula arrived 20 minutes later and an hour later my daughter was born at home. But none of my hypnobirthing or anything like that could make me feel less abandoned. While Michaela can help herself thanks to her profession, she considers it paramount that the crisis in midwifery does not put the mental and physical safety of parents and babies at risk. As a psychologist I know that if you are uncertain whether care is going to be provided it puts you in a state of anxiety and we know adrenaline is negative for birth, it can stall labour, or intensify it. And the risk of birth trauma goes up where women feel powerless, out of control and unsafe. A spokesman for Milton Keynes University Hospital said the unpredictable nature of demand for maternity services meant home birthing services could be temporarily stopped to concentrate on safe care on the labour ward. We say this to every woman who books a home birth, so they know their plans may need to change to ensure they receive safe care. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman claims there are more midwives working across the NHS now than at any other time in its history (file image) In this case the hospital did everything possible to support this family to have a home birth, including taking extensive steps on the night . . . The family were advised to come into the hospital immediately so labour and birth could be supported. We have spoken with the family about their experience and are sorry they did not get the home birth they had planned for and for the distress this caused them. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: Midwives do an important job, made more challenging by the pandemic, and this was recognised through a 3 per cent pay increase. There are more midwives working across the NHS now than at any other time in its history and we are increasing the maternity workforce further. Yet, sadly, women are increasingly feeling unsafe which is just as upsetting for their carers. There is no midwife that goes to work and wants to do a bad job but the only way we can improve maternity services is to increase staffing levels, insists Dr Ross-Davie of the RMC. But as these vital nurses leave in their droves, thats easier said than done. For now, the midwife we spoke to in the North-West has bucked the trend, saying she doesnt want to leave. Yet. I write down every baby I deliver, I know them all, it is a lovely job, she says. I would never want anyone to think I resent the job, I just hate that its got to the point where if someone wants help with a nappy change, I think, Oh my God, please do it yourself. It shouldnt be like that at all. Over more than 30 years as a television journalist, I have worked on countless controversial programmes; secretly filming MPs, going undercover to expose extremist preachers, examining Tony Blairs finances. But this week I caused controversy by saying something which many might imagine was not in the least contentious: that girls and young women should be given more information about fertility. In my new role as President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, I wanted to remind female students not to lose sight of their fertility. This has long been a taboo subject for some but the vitriolic response on Twitter and in the media took me by surprise. Some called my comments reductive, saying that educated women should not be browbeaten about fertility. Others said there are more important issues to tackle first maternity rights and childcare, for example. But I stand by my point that its perfectly reasonable to emphasise biological truths. Dorothy Byrne (pictured), who is the President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, has been blasted for reminding female students not to lose sight of their fertility Its my own experiences of very nearly missing out on motherhood that drive me to speak out. It was only when a relationship ended when I was 42 that I realised Id forgotten to have a baby. When I started to look into my fertility, I was surprised to discover that if I had embarked on the journey two or three years earlier, I would have had around double the statistical chances of falling pregnant. Many young women may think they can fall back on IVF, but its not the silver bullet everyone seems to think it is age very much determines success rate. In 2018, according to the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), birth rates for patients younger than 35 were 31 per cent per embryo transferred, compared to below 5 per cent for patients aged 43 and above when using their own eggs. I dont believe that children are essential for happiness and quite a number of my friends never wanted children. But I have several friends who always just assumed they would have children one day and never did for a variety of reasons. Some are fine about it and some are sad. They succeeded in their jobs but feel they missed the joys of parenthood and, as we get older, miss having grandchildren. All of us older adults should be encouraging young people we know to think not just about educational and professional success, but also about what they feel will make them happy in life. I wish someone had done that for me. I moved blithely through my 30s and through an exciting career, travelling widely on the investigative ITV programme World In Action, where I became a producer, before being appointed editor of ITVs The Big Story. I had relationships, but nothing that lasted. My job was all-consuming. By the time I realised I wanted a child, I had to do it on my own, using a sperm donor. If it didnt work, maybe I would adopt or foster, but I knew if I didnt try I would always regret it. Dorothy said she was lucky to have a baby at almost age 45. Pictured: Dorothy with her young daughter in 1999 I found out that I could have gone to my GP much earlier to have a basic test of my fertility, and that more complex tests were also available. Luckily, my fertility was pretty good for my age but it took two years to become pregnant. I didnt have to use IVF but I needed expensive drugs to boost my fertility. Aged nearly 45, I had a baby. And I was lucky really lucky. By her mid-40s, a womans chances of falling pregnant stand at a mere 3 per cent to 4 per cent. I tried briefly to have another child but it was clear I had left it too late. Of course, most people know the basic fact that fertility deteriorates with age and, indeed, some young women say they get annoyed by being bombarded with ominous warnings about their biological clocks. However, there is a big difference between general understanding and specific knowledge on which a person can act. Many dont realise there is a significant difference between trying to fall pregnant at 38 to 40 and between 41 and 42. I would never urge anyone to have a test or even suggest it to them. What each person does is up to them and I am not going to start setting myself up as an expert in reproductive health. But giving people the opportunity to have the facts is important. Young women have told me confidentially that they dont dare to let their line managers know they are even thinking of having a baby because they are worried they will not be promoted. This is scandalous. Ultimately, society has to change. Employers have to become less prejudiced towards those who leave the workplace for a time to have children and towards those who want to return part-time or work flexibly. Dorothy (pictured) said employers offering women free egg-freezing are implying that a woman is expected to put her work first And it should not be assumed that it will always be a woman who wants to do that. We need a complete overhaul of the laws on maternity and paternity rights. There are now more women undergraduates than men in this country. Lots of these young women are going on to have successful careers in all walks of life. Sexism still exists in the workplace, but women are succeeding in places where previously men dominated. For example, roughly half of those in charge of colleges at Cambridge University are now women. Although women in staff jobs have maternity rights, the promotional structure in lots of workplaces counts against those who do. In too many professions, people are expected to make the key advances in their careers in their late 30s and early 40s, the very time when women who want children are worrying that time really is running out. Some leading employers are offering women free egg-freezing. But this implies that a woman is expected to put her work first. Instead, a good employer should make clear that a woman will not be held back in her career if she takes time off to have children. And an increasing number of women are freelance. When I was considering having a baby, I was a freelance editor of a television current affairs programme. The amount of statutory maternity pay I would have received would not have covered my mortgage. I worked out that the only way I could have a baby was to go back to work after six weeks. The birth rate has fallen from 1.92 children per woman in England and Wales in 2011 to 1.53 this year (file image) I was lucky that the birth of my daughter was easy, so I was fit and well enough to do so. I could afford a live-in nanny. So, while leaving my daughter each day was a terrible wrench, I could manage physically and financially. Some days, I missed her so overwhelmingly that Id ask the nanny to bring her to the office. I wouldnt wish it on anyone. That said, plenty of women I knew in television with less well-paid positions gave up on motherhood entirely. Today, about 10 per cent of British people say they are remaining childless because of the costs and lifestyle changes which would be involved in parenthood. There is concern that the birth rate has fallen from 1.92 children per woman in England and Wales in 2011 to 1.53 this year. This is not the Soviet Union or communist Romania; it is not the personal duty of young women to populate our islands. But if the Government wants to encourage women to have children, it needs to do a lot more to help them. Its wrong that some women feel they have to choose between having children and a successful career. But its also important they understand the limits of their biology before they even reach that point. I would hate for my daughter or indeed any young woman to miss out on motherhood through lack of information. That is why I have always talked to her about fertility. Now 24, she works in television production and has a boyfriend. She is clear she doesnt want to follow my example and wait until shes 45 to have a baby. As a woman who has fought her way to the top of the male-dominated finance industry, including 15 years as a CEO alongside having nine children Im often asked how I combined a career with a family, how to strike the balance between fitting in and being authentic, and whether it was even possible to achieve a worklife balance in a senior role. To the latter, I say an emphatic yes. It is my view that we should not have to compromise anything neither ambition, nor, crucially, our own femininity in order to succeed. That does not mean we should do it all the trap that women often fall into and which leads, inevitably, to guilt, anxiety and burnout. I have fallen victim to this pernicious trap myself, striving so hard to stay on top of everything that I carried on working in the middle of a devastating miscarriage. So, please, do not think you have to be all things to all people all the time. But if you hope to thrive at work and raise a happy, healthy family, you will need to be able to prioritise and to be organised. Helena Morrisey (pictured), who spent three decades in the male-dominated finance industry, shares her advice for juggling ambition and personal life Successful careers dont just happen if you have a chaotic life. You need to manage your physical and mental health, your time, and your relationships at home and at work. You must also learn how to build your confidence, even if it doesnt come naturally. And there are stages of life specific to women the menopause, for example that must be honestly discussed and managed too. Again, this is something I stoically tried to soldier on through, before realising that its far more important to speak up and ask for the help that you need. When I started my career, workplace culture was stacked against women and femininity; the norm was command and control, hierarchical and macho. It was hardly surprising that women tended to adopt the male trappings of power to succeed often at high personal cost. This is slowly changing, thank goodness. Studies show that the traits considered desirable in leaders today are far more likely to exist in women than men. Indeed, women outperform men in 17 out of 19 of them. We dont need to pretend to be second-class men: we are first-class women. So here is my advice on how both to succeed and lead as a woman. Its time to take advantage of a changing world. REMEMBER: NO ONE CAN DO IT ALL My most traumatic experience in the office was suffering a painful miscarriage when I was 12 weeks pregnant. My goal that day (besides just keeping it together) was to make sure my colleagues were unaware of my physical and emotional turmoil. As the boss, I felt pressure to carry on as if nothing was happening, although I was in tears every time I could escape my desk and hide in the loo. Helena admits she felt pressure to carry on as if nothing was happening, when she suffered a miscarriage in the office. Pictured: Helena with husband Richard and their nine children I wish I hadnt been so stoical now. Were human beings, not machines. A stiff upper lip perpetuates the myth that strong, capable women simply keep calm and carry on. Im convinced that the need for pretence is one reason many brilliant women give up, feeling discouraged and isolated. Theyre not weak to pause or abandon their careers when dealing with infertility or a difficult pregnancy, or suffering sleepless nights, theyre rational and honest. Its heartbreaking we dont compare notes very often. Women have told me time and again they feel they are the only one who cant do it all. Thats an expression I have come to loathe. BE HONEST ABOUT THE MENOPAUSE At 55, Im going through the menopause and its coincided with the issue being more openly discussed, but also with the pandemic and a new phase in my career. At the start, it felt to me as though everything was changing and after many years of success, as if everything was going wrong. That might sound melodramatic but thats how I felt. Initially, I tried to soldier on, but found it hard to function properly after my sleep was frequently disturbed by night sweats and heightened anxiety. Id plenty of interrupted nights after so many babies so I thought Id manage. I was wrong. A quick Google search led me to a doctor specialising in bioidentical HRT: it helped enormously. Again, my philosophy is simple: dont suffer in silence and dont suffer unnecessarily. Helena (pictured) advises women to ignore imposter syndrome, while explaining that it's natural to be nervous in new situations There was and maybe still is an important psychological element too. As the mother of so many, you might think Id be relieved to have my childbearing years behind me. In fact, the opposite is true. Im not suggesting my loss is in any way comparable to a woman who desires children and reaches the end of her fertility without having them. But there is still a process of acceptance to go through. This phase often coincides with caring for ageing parents, teenage children going through their own hormonal changes and significant responsibilities at work. Not being open and honest and supportive of each other seems the more problematic route, for both employers and ourselves. WOMAN-SPREAD IN MEETINGS Men tend to expand into their space (man-spreading), while women do the opposite. If youre dubious, take a look at how men and women come into the room at your next in-person meeting and see how expansive or restrictive they are as they take their seats. There will be exceptions, but Id be surprised if you dont see a pattern. If your own tendency is to occupy as little space as possible, to cross your legs and stoop slightly, you need to work to expand your chest, gesticulate more, reach the crown of your head to the ceiling and plant your feet firmly on the floor. Come into the room as if you are proud of who you are. DONT FALL FOR IMPOSTER SYNDROME Were told that three-quarters of us suffer from imposter syndrome feeling like a fraud when we are promoted to higher positions. While a lack of self-belief is supposedly a problem for many of us, its apparently not great to be too confident either: assertive women are said to be less likeable, and less likely to be promoted or hired. It seems that we cant win. My advice is to ignore all these syndromes and rules. Its natural to be nervous in new situations, but that doesnt mean were not capable of being up to the task. And the more airtime we give to the imposter concept, the more real it becomes. Dont fall for it: you do deserve your success. Helena (pictured) said she follows the advice of clinical psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn, who says recognising youre near your limit means you can take action' KNOW WHAT BURNOUT LOOKS LIKE At the start of my career, in the early 1990s, I worked for a finance company in New York where, despite a two-and-a-half hour commute, my boss would arrive in the office at 7am sharp. His wife drove him to the train station every weekday at 4.30am (I still cant quite get my head around that). He would bound into the office and expect an immediate rundown of the Asian and European markets. I desperately wanted to please him and would be at my desk by 6am. He would leave for home about 8pm and I didnt feel I could leave before him. I would pack up soon after and walk home, stopping by the same shop every evening to pick up a sad little bagel for supper, which is almost all I ever ate. I was young with no family responsibilities and could devote myself to the job. But the workload took its toll on my physical and mental health and I descended back into the anorexia I had suffered as a teenager, when, at 5ft 7in, Id dwindled to little more than 5st. Today, Ive learned to spot the signs of overload well before reaching that sort of crisis. I follow the advice of clinical psychologist and author Dr Emma Hepburn, who says our capacity is limited and that we should think rather in terms of space in our capacity cup. The closer we get to the top, the more we risk overflowing with feelings of being overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and exhausted. Recognising youre near your limit means you can take action, she says. Many of us struggle to say no, especially if trying to please a boss or colleagues, but ultimately if we dont take care of ourselves, we wont be much good to anyone. The signs of being near my limit are physical and emotional. Helena said each day she takes a moment to reflect on whats been achieved and how much she has to be thankful for. Pictured: Helena with her family My eyes become twitchy and watery. My energy slumps. I feel overwhelmed and full of self-doubt. Minor anxieties become irrational fears. At night, I lie awake worrying. Know your symptoms of overload, and ensure theres someone wholl tell you to step back. In my case, thats my husband. USE A SPREADSHEET AT HOME TOO Over the years, my family became reliant on a large whiteboard setting out the days schedule. I would start writing it early in the morning, using a marker pen to jot down what everyone was doing and when, whether they needed any special kit and who was collecting whom. It was just a day at a time that was plenty. When we had a nanny, wonderful Paula who was with us for more than 20 years, she would arrive and glance first at the board then discuss anything unusual with me or my husband Richard, who left his job as a financial journalist to be a stay-at-home dad. Efficient time management also involves thinking ahead. When our children were young, I had Excel spreadsheets for the school holidays so I didnt get muddled and arrange two camps for the same child in the same week or leave one with no siblings to play with. A FAMILY IS GOOD FOR US IN THE END The good news is that we benefit from family life, once we make it through the childbearing and early years stage. Senior women leaders see it as a pit stop in a Grand Prix according to a study I commissioned for the 30% Club, that I set up to campaign for a better gender balance on the boards of companies. Nearly a quarter of interviewees said having a family led to a broader perspective, enhanced personal and organisational skills, being more empathetic and more determined to succeed. DONT BEAT YOURSELF UP LIFE CAN BE HARD There will be tough times. Combining a young family with a full-time career is likely to be one of them. The early 2000s were a blur for me. When I became a CEO in 2001, I had five children and the youngest three were born in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Im not looking for sympathy; my family was a choice, as was taking the promotion. I worked as hard as I could in my job and at home, yet often felt guilty about not giving either my absolute best something Ive come to appreciate is inevitable for mothers, whether working outside the home or not. But the children were happy and healthy, the firm was thriving and now I see I was too hard on myself. Women tend to be self-critical: we work incredibly hard and achieve a lot and yet beat ourselves up for the things that we cant do. Now, at the end of each day I try to take a moment to reflect on whats been achieved and how much I have to be thankful for. Adapted by ALISON ROBERTS from Style And Substance by Helena Morrissey (14.99, Piatkus) out today. Helena Morrissey 2021. To order a copy for 13.49 (offer valid to October 24, 2021; UK p&p free on orders over 20), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. The wittily named Ridiculous No 55 Lobster And Crab Butter recently won a coveted three stars at the annual Great Taste Awards. What made us all do a double-take, though, wasn't the mouth-watering blend of flavours but its eye-watering price of 95. Could a bit of posh butter really be that much better than its humble alternative? As it happens, yes it could. In spite of knowing it's insanely priced, when I tasted this pinkish, beautifully textured butter from Sublime, I had to honour it with a minute's silence. It looks like pate but tastes like nothing else on Earth. There's an undercurrent of lobster, the freshness of lemon and a light wave of fennel, along with the richness of crab meat. It's creamy, but not too rich. Extraordinary. Incredible. And each portion comes with a stunning wood and glass dish. ALICE SMELLIE tries the super-rich's store cupboard staples including a 95 butter - but does it really taste better? Steak dressed with Ridiculous Butter No 55 and caviar... so do which super expensive dishes are worth the price? Ridiculous Butter No 55 dressed with caviar (left) and with caviar on sourdough taste (right) 'Sublime Butter came about because of my love of steak,' says Chris Mair, who co-owns the company with his wife, Tillie. 'There wasn't much going in terms of condiment. The steak was always being drowned with rich, thick, creamy sauces.' So Chris collaborated with chef Tony Ho to devise their own accompaniments. Is the butter worth 95? If you've won the lottery, yes! If not, of course not. But tasting this whetted my appetite. What other wildly expensive accompaniments are out there? From 100 honey to extra-expensive olive oil, I assess some of the world's priciest condiments and kitchen staples to see if they can possibly be worth their exorbitant price tags. CHIPS ARE DOWN Alice Smellie put some of the world's priciest condiments to the test - including Belazu 25-Year-Old Extra Vecchio Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, 100ml, 109.95 left) Alice said Filippo Berio Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (right ) won on cost Expensive: Belazu 25-Year-Old 'Extra Vecchio' Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, 100ml, 109.95, belazu.com Cheap: Filippo Berio Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, 250ml, 3 Presented in a stunning gold box, the Belazu bottle is beautiful but quite petite. Belazu tells me there's a saying in Modena: 'He who starts the vinegar will not taste the vinegar, but his children and children's children will.' This is how long it can take to make traditional balsamic vinegar 25 years seems an awfully long time to wait. I try it with a mozzarella and tomato salad. It's incredibly rich and fruity and a little goes a long way it makes me think of old and expensive wine. My usual Filippo Berio vinegar, which I love, tastes far thinner and sharp in comparison, but it wins on cost. WINNER: CHEAP CREATING A BUZZ Alice said M&S Pure Honey (pictured right) felt too sweet when compared to The True Honey Co. 850+ MGO Manuka Honey (pictured left) Expensive: The True Honey Co. 850+ MGO Manuka Honey, 250g, 97.99, truehoneyco.co.uk Cheap: M&S Pure Honey, 340g, 1.55 You think almost 100 is a lot? There is a True Honey Co. Rare Harvest 1900+ honey which costs 2,595. Clearly, that isn't a bee by-product that you're going to be slathering liberally on your toast. Even 100 seems a monstrous amount for what is, to my mind, tasty liquid sugar. However, this honey is carefully made in remote locations across New Zealand, where the air is clear, the Manuka bushes bloom and the bees are lovingly nurtured. Manuka honey has antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, which you don't get from a supermarket squeezy bottle, but just like the basic stuff it can be added to tea, drizzled on porridge, or, as they suggest, spread on toast. I duly put a teaspoon (approximate cost, 5) on a slice of sourdough. It is darker than my usual honey and with a faintly gritty texture, but the taste is divine; both sweet and slightly bitter. My usual M&S one feels too sweet by comparison. As the children have been riddled with bugs since their return to school, I ought to share it with them. But I won't. WINNER: EXPENSIVE HARVEST GOLD Alice said Filippo Berio Olive Oil Virgin (pictured right) managed to sustain a strong taste, where as Picualia Monica Galetti Gold Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil (pictured) was more silky smooth Expensive: Picualia Monica Galetti Gold Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 500ml, 95, fortnumandmason.com Cheap: Filippo Berio Olive Oil Virgin, 1 litre, 5.50 The packaging of the Picualia bottle is beautiful but it's hard not to flinch at the cost the same as my weekly shop. This golden liquid is taken from the first day of harvest and made by sustainable and award-winning Spanish producers. It is a limited edition and, they say, has notes of tomato, almond and freshly cut lawns. I can smell all of this it's delicious but it's olive oil, not a Chanel perfume. While my usual oil seems somewhat bitter by comparison, it manages to sustain a lovely, strong taste, whereas the lighter, expensive version is more silky smooth. WINNER: CHEAP CUTTING THE MUSTARD Alice said she prefers Colman's Original English Mustard (pictured right), despite Pommery Royale Mustard With Cognac (pictured left) being seriously tasty Expensive: Pommery Royale Mustard With Cognac, 500g, 10.99, souschef.co.uk Cheap: Colman's Original English Mustard, 170g, 1 Pommery Royale's elegant black glass jar is a fair few cuts above the brash yellow Colman's look. The mustard is made to an ancient recipe and laced with cognac. On a ham salad, the pricey stuff is seriously tasty but, while the mustard seeds give it texture, I can't taste the cognac. I still prefer the strong and fiery Colman's. WINNER: CHEAP SALTY SHORE Alice said Square Himalayan Salt Block (pictured left) is delicious and a brilliant centrepiece, in comparison to her beloved Maldon Sea Salt Flakes (pictured right) Expensive: Square Himalayan Salt Block, 40, salthouseandpeppermongers.com Cheap: Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, 125g, 1.30 I thought I was being extravagant with my beloved Maldon but, apparently, it is no longer enough simply to sprinkle your salt. Instead, this large, beautiful, hand-crafted Himalayan salt block is to be heated and used for searing, serving or (after a stint in the freezer) as a chilled plate all while flavouring your food. The makers suggest placing the block over a low heat on a gas hob and slowly increasing the warmth. I throw on blanched vegetables. To clean it, you remove residue with a soft brush and damp cloth, then dry with a tea towel. This is delicious and a brilliant centrepiece for supper. Tastewise, my flakes of sea salt seem saltier, but for sheer excitement I prefer the block. WINNER: EXPENSIVE PLAYING KETCHUP Alice said Black Truffle Ketchup (pictured left) is not as good as Heinz Tomato Ketchup (pictured right) Expensive: Black Truffle Ketchup, 200g, 10.95, trufflehunter.co.uk Cheap: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 250g, 1.20 This is made from sun-ripened tomatoes, herbs and spices to which black truffles have been added, but chucking truffles into ketchup is messing with perfection. Though I do like the sharpness which sets off the earthiness of the little bits of truffle. It's not as good as Heinz, even though the cheap stuff tastes very sweet by comparison. WINNER: CHEAP PEP UP YOUR MEALS Alice said Terre Exotique Red Kampot Pepper (pictured left) is delicious, where as her usual pepper is less subtle in taste Expensive: Terre Exotique Red Kampot Pepper, 250g, 57.50, souschef.co.uk Cheap: Cook with M&S Black Peppercorns, 100g, 2.40 Kampot pepper is sometimes called the king of pepper. It looks like small, shrivelled raisins. Picked when very ripe, they have a thin, fermented layer on the skin, like grapes before they're made into wine. It's sweeter-smelling than normal varieties, and the fragrance translates into a soft peppery taste, with a delicate, sweet crunchiness and a sharp, hot after-taste. It is delicious on tomatoes with olive oil. My usual pepper is less subtle in taste. I am charmed by the Kampot ones, and the bag will last me at least a few years. WINNER: EXPENSIVE AVO MAYO Alice said Hunter & Gather 100 per cent Avocado Oil Mayonnaise (pictured left) is delicious and tastes a little like salad cream, but she will still buy Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise (pictured right) for her children Expensive: Hunter & Gather 100 per cent Avocado Oil Mayonnaise, 14.29 for 630g, hunterandgatherfoods.com Cheap: Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise, 600g, 2.50 It's hard to imagine anything beating our normal, creamy Hellmann's mayo, which I buy in bulk because we eat so much of it. This posh mayo contains only four ingredients: avocado oil, egg yolk, apple cider vinegar and pink salt. When I make a cheese and mayonnaise sandwich, I realise it also tastes a little like salad cream, and I think it's delicious. I am astonished to report that I prefer it to classic Hellmann's, though I'll still be buying that for the children. WINNER: EXPENSIVE Channel 4 viewers have been left shocked this evening after watching My First Threesome - which included a receptionist who felt 'completely liberated' after having her first group intercourse at a sex club. The documentary, dubbed the sauciest ever made by the broadcaster, follows three Britons and a couple on their journeys to having group sex for the first time. Laura, 24, from London, described her first threesome as 'amazing' after hooking up with a male friend with benefits and a woman at a sex club. In the days leading up to the event, she said she wanted a 'summer of sex' after not having any intimate contact throughout lockdown. But the daring documentary left some viewers questioning just what they were watching - with one switching off after just 'ten minutes' and others branding the show 'random'. Scroll down for video Laura (pictured before her first threesome, left, and after, right), 24, from London, described her first threesome as 'amazing' after hooking up with a male friend with benefits and a woman at a sex club In the days leading up to the event, Laura (pictured) said she wanted a 'summer of sex' after not having any intimate contact throughout lockdown Reaction: Channel 4 viewers were left shocked this evening after watching My First Threesome One Twitter user wrote: 'Channel 4 always has the most random shows,' while another said: 'Channel 4, why are you like this?' A second said: 'Don't really get this show, why have you got to go on TV and make a drama about it? Are they that unusual?# A third questioned: 'Where do Channel 4 find all these people who are so open about their sex lives?' A fourth wrote: 'I'm just trying to imagine this girl turning up at work the day after appearing on this programme.' The documentary also featured a pansexual podcast host who was hoping to have a threesome with two friends of any gender, a heterosexual couple looking for a woman to join them in the bedroom and a gay man who wanted to spice up his 'vanilla' sex life. The daring documentary left some viewers questioning just what they were watching - with one switching off after just 'ten minutes' and other branding the show 'random' Laura said she was '100 per cent straight' but revealed in the show she wanted to have sex with a man and a woman because she 'wouldn't know what to do with two men'. 'It's going to be an absolute summer of sex,' she told the cameras. 'Why not, people have had no action for a year. I just think it'll be such a wild experience'. 'I've been to one sex party before a few years ago. I had no confidence that night, I didn't even want my friends to see me in the outfit I was in. 'But when I left there, it was the start of a new me. I felt so liberated, having a threesome will liberate me even more. 'The ideal threesome for me would be a man and a woman. Two men would be too many c****, I don't know where it would all go. Laura (pictured) said she was '100 per cent straight' but revealed in the show she wanted to have sex with a man and a woman because she 'wouldn't know what to do with two men' Laura (pictured picking her outfit) decided to go to the party with her 'friend with benefits' Jack. He said that he wanted to be involved in her first time but the receptionist wanted to keep her options open 'I'd never have a sexual experience with a woman on her own, this is just a completely new dynamic. You gotta try everything once,' she explained. Laura decided to go to the party with her 'friend with benefits' Jack. He said that he wanted to be involved in her first time but the receptionist wanted to keep her options open. From Naked Attraction to My First Threesome: How Channel 4 has a record of saucy boundary-pushing shows Channel 4 has over recent years built up a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what it broadcasts. It's not the first time Channel 4 has put threesomes front and centre; it previously produced a mini series entitled Threesome Dating which set people up for 'unforgettable dates'. Each episode was between four and five minutes long and explored what it's like dating as a three. It featured a lesbian twosome who met up with a man, a pair of 'free-loving fiances', 'adventurous parents', polyamorous partners and a gay married couple. A spokeswoman for the channel said at the time that the inspiration behind the series was the increase of apps people are using to find a person willing to engage in a threesome. Another of Channel 4's flagship dating shows is Naked Attraction, where singletons choose a date based on how potential partners look without their clothes on It's run for eight series since it first aired in 2016. Each contestant appears in a booth of a certain colour, and every successive round reveals more of their naked body, to be judged by the person choosing a date. The programme, which is fronted by Anna Richardson (who previously presented the Sex Education Show), followed on from Sex Box. That show saw couples have sex in an opaque box in the studio before emerging to discuss their erotic experiences. Advertisement 'For me, it's either going to be with a couple or another woman,' she told Jack. 'How are we going to play this? I don't know what I'm doing in this situation, I don't know what I'm doing with a woman,' she added. Laura went on to say that she was going for herself, but Jack would be 'gutted' if he wasn't included in the threesome. Later getting ready for the party - run by sex club Killing Kittens - Laura told cameras '100 per cent, tonight will be the night I have my first threesome'. 'I'm quite nervous about getting with a woman for the first time. I can appreciate an attractive woman but I don't feel attracted to them. 'This could either be the first and the last, or the start of things to come.' She then put on a black leather corset and stockings, with 'no knickers for logistical reasons' adding a black lace mask around her eyes. 'The whole idea is you go in in lingerie or whatever you want to wear, and it's quite an intimate thing to be like that in front of so many people. 'I've been to other parties similar to this before, but it's been such a long time. 'It's trying to get yourself in that headspace. It's a lot to process. But that's why I'm going with a friend. 'I'm most nervous about something happening that I won't like. Something that's quite triggering for me - there was this one occasion where someone pulled my hair to the point it was going to come out my head. 'I told them to stop three times and they didn't listen, and I had such a meltdown. If someone was to do that it would ruin my night. 'That's a whole thing, talk about consent and your boundaries. It's gonna be such a good vibe,' she said. Describing her night, she went on: 'Walking in with no underwear is like saying, "ok I'm ready to go"' 'Everyone's eyes are on you, you can end up with anyone in that room, the tension just builds and builds and builds. 'Once someone starts, everyone follows suit, people were having sex everywhere.' After leaving the club, she told cameras through a beaming smile: 'I've had my first threesome. It was amazing. 'I didn't think it was gonna happen until I was actually in it. It ended up being with my friend and a woman who's part of a couple. 'It all spurned on from me and her and not a male influence, which isn't what I expected at all. It was more of an eye contact situation than a chatting situation. Laura (pictured video calling her friends with benefits) went on to say that she was going for herself, but Jack would be 'gutted' if he wasn't included in the threesome After leaving the club, Laura (pictured) told cameras through a beaming smile: 'I've had my first threesome. It was amazing' 'It was with my friend and another woman and I felt no concern, she was shocked it was my first time, which was great for my ego. My first threesome was really momentous in my life. It exceeded my fantasy just because of how spontaneous it was. 'In terms of my sexuality like it definitely did make me think, Okay, I've done this now, does that make me bi or whatever. So I googled it, and by definition, yes. But that's not how I feel. That's what happened in the heat of the moment and in that environment. 'Having the fantasy and filling it yourself. It's so empowering to be able to say, okay, yeah I know I want to go. 'Actually I feel more powerful. That's how I feel. That's definitely the right word to use. That's how I feel about after I had a great time I've zero regrets, and I'll do it again.'. Celebrity restaurant Nusr-Et Steakhouse has been accused of 'deleting negative reviews', after a customer's eye-watering bill went viral last month. The upscale eatery chain is owned by Turkish butcher-turned-chef Nusret Gokce, better known as Salt Bae, whose theatrical salt-sprinkling antics have earned him over 38million followers on Instagram since he went viral on social media in 2017 for his way of seasoning meat. Last month a customer's receipt from went viral after totalling a staggering 1,812.40 earning the restaurant an onslaught of backlash, however Google reviews currently show a 4.8 star rating - with the site stating it was 'updated by the business a week ago. According to My London News, 'a flurry of reviews appearing to criticise the restaurant when it first opened' have since 'disappeared. FEMAIL has contacted Nusr-et Steakhouse for comment. Celebrity restaurant Nusr-Et Steakhouse has been accused of 'deleting negative reviews', after a customer's eye-watering bill went viral last month Google reviews currently show a 4.8 star rating - with the site stating it was 'updated by the business a week ago. The restaurant now boasts 4.8 stars on Google and 4.7 stars on Facebook, where one client writes: 'What can I say apart from WOW! Yes the prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for in regards to service, ambience and quality of food and drinks. 'I was lucky enough to meet Nusret and hes a lovely, humble man. The theatre of performing the signature steak slicing by Nusret and then later the Baklava by another gentleman was absolutely fantastic.' Only one less flattering review remains, with a customer branding it 'too expensive' and 'not child friendly'. The upscale eatery chain is owned by Turkish butcher-turned-chef Nusret Gokce, whose theatrical salt-sprinkling antics have earned him a celebrity following including David Beckham The 38-year-old, who has been nicknamed Salt Bae by fans, currently has 17 restaurants in his successful chain and has a legion of celebrity devotees including DJ Khaled, Leonardo DiCaprio The restaurant now boasts 4.8 stars on Google and 4.7 stars on Facebook, where one client writes: 'What can I say apart from WOW! Yes the prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for in regards to service, ambience and quality of food and drinks.' Only one less flattering review remains, with a customer branding it 'too expensive' and 'not child friendly'. Last month a customer's receipt from Nusr-Et Steakhouses showed how a single steak cost 630, with four Red Bulls costing 44. The eye-watering bill from 'Salt Bae's' newly opened restaurant in London's Knightsbridge also shows the table of eight customers had a 236.40 service charge added to their spend. Elsewhere, the customers paid 9 per glass of coke, 12 on four pieces of sweetcorn and 200 on a rack of lamb. People have taken to Twitter to admit the prices on the viral receipt have discouraged them from visiting the restaurant, despite the opening having been highly anticipated since Nusret Gokce, also known as Salt Bae, went viral in 2017. Last month a customer's receipt (pictured) went viral on social media after Twitter users spotted the eye-watering cost of Red Bull in addition to the service charge Twitter user Jamil Amin shared a picture of the receipt with the caption: '44 great British pounds for four Red Bulls having a laugh.' The post racked up almost 10,000 likes with many people admitting they are shocked by the staggeringly high prices on the menu. One person wrote: 'What the f*** is a golden burger? 100 is it the best burger in the world? And 630 for a steak? Lol I would have refused to pay and walked out... That's absolutely ridiculous 44 for Red Bull is also a nonsense' Another said: 'I hope the rest of the cow was given to you in a goody bag! 630 for a steak' A third added: '9 for a coke. Bet the glass was short and thin and filled with ice to the brim. Lol' 'Why is baklava 22 lmao! I need to see that portion phew,' another wrote. Rumours of Salt Bae's London branch have been circulating since 2017. He wrote on Instagram this week: 'I was waiting very long time but finally dream come true' A flood of responses to the receipt questioned how the restaurant can justify charging 630 for a steak as well as 100 for a burger Others were quick to comment on the 236.40 service charge, with one saying: 'It's the fact they have the nerve to add service charge after serving food and drink at 3 x the average price' Another chimed in: 'Wow people are out here spending my entire bank balance in one night' A third said: 'The cheek to still charge service too! D*** that's a flight!' 'It's way cheaper to fly to Turkey and go to the original restaurant,' another joked. Salt Bae, real name Nusret Gokce, owns a chain of Nusr-Et restaurants and is known for his theatrical salt-sprinkling antics Twitter users have joked that it's cheaper to fly to Nusret's original restaurant in Turkey than to pay the 236.40 service charge The 38-year-old, who has been nicknamed Salt Bae by fans, currently has 17 restaurants in his successful chain and has a legion of celebrity devotees including DJ Khaled, Leonardo DiCaprio and David Beckham. Nusret has been spotted slicing meat for customers at his newly opened London restaurant, where specials include a Golden Giant Tomahwak steak for 1,450, Golden Giant Striplion for 1,350 and Golden Kafes for 500. The initial opening of Nusr-Et Steakhouse London was delayed due to Covid- 19, but has remained in demand with people eager to make reservations. Women who suffer longer periods than normal before hitting menopause could be more likely to get heart disease, research suggests. Experts found women whose cycles lasted longer than expected five years prior to going through 'the change' had unhealthier arteries, compared to women who saw their periods barely change. However, women who had unusually long periods for only two years before reaching the menopause had the heathiest arteries of all. Academics from the University of Pittsburgh made the claim after analysing data for 428 women between 45 and 52 in the US. Menopause, which can commonly symptoms such as hot flushes, usually hits women between 44 to 55-years-of-age in the UK. Now a new study suggests the length of the final periods before menopause could carry important clues to the future risk of heart disease the biggest killer of women in the UK (stock image) WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is defined as the changes a woman goes through just before and after she stops her periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Some women go through this time with few, if any, symptoms, around 60 percent experience symptoms resulting in behavioral changes and one in four will suffer severely. Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness leading to discomfort during sex, disrupted sleep, decreased sex drive, problems with memory and concentration and mood swings. Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, according to the NHS. Advertisement They looked at whether the women's periods leading up to the menopause were stable, or if they became longer five years prior to menopause, or two years prior. Heart disease is the biggest killer of women in the UK, with 24,000 women dying of condition every year. It is also the leading cause of death for women in the US, killing 300,000 women annually. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days but this can vary from woman to woman. Cycles as short as 21 days or as long 40 are not considered unusual, according to the NHS. As a woman approaches menopause, periods become less frequent before stopping altogether. But the exact timing of this transition could provide important clues to an individual woman's risk of heart disease, according to the research. The University of Pittsburgh study also measured the thickness and stiffness of the women's arteries with thicker and stiffer vessels being a tell-tale sign of poorer heart health. Of the women, 62 per cent had stable menstrual cycles that did not change in the years before menopause. Whereas 16 per cent had longer cycles for five years before their final period, and 22 per cent had longer cycles for only two years before their last period. Women who had an increase in cycle length two years before hitting the menopause had the best arterial health in the study, indicating the a lower risk of heart disease. Those who had longer cycles for five years had the unhealthiest arteries, according to the study published in the journal Menopause. They were both compared to women whose periods stayed stable before hitting the menopause. Researchers suggested hormone changes linked to cycle length could be behind the differing heart disease risks. But they admitted further research was needed into the topic. Lead author Professor Samar El Khoudary said menopause should not be considered a quick transition, with the body going through different experiences throughout the process. 'Menopause is not just a click of a button,' she said. 'Its a multistage transition where women experience many changes that could put them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. 'Change in cycle length, which is linked to hormone levels, is a simple metric that might tell us who is more at risk.' She added: 'These findings are important because they show that we cannot treat women as one group. 'Women have different menstrual cycle trajectories over the menopause transition, and this trajectory seems to be a marker of vascular health. Women going through the menopause suffer hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, as well as mood swings. While it normally occurs from the age of 45 onwards, some go through menopause before the age 40, a condition called premature menopause. The cause of early menopause is unknown but it can be triggered by some surgeries and treatments, such as chemotherapy. 'FemiLift' lasers are no better than a placebo for treating post-menopausal vaginal problems, a study has claimed. The trendy treatment can cost up to 1,500 per session and has been used by the Kardashians and is endorsed by other celebrities including model and former Miss England Danielle Lloyd. It is marketed as being able to help reduce incontinence, vaginal laxity and dryness three common side effects of going through 'the change'. But Australian researchers have now found the therapy, which uses carbon dioxide lasers to heat up vaginal tissue, has little benefit. The paper looked at 85 women with postmenopausal vaginal symptoms over a year living in Sydney. 'FemiLift' lasers are no better than a placebo for treating post-menopausal vaginal problems, a study has claimed The trendy treatment can cost up to 1,500 per session and has been used by the Kardashians and other celebrities including model Danielle Lloyd. Pictured: Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner WHAT IS FEMILIFT? FemiLift is a treatment made by Alma Lasers which claims to improve vaginal tightening after childbirth and reduce the effects of menopause including dryness and pain during sex. It uses a fractional carbon dioxide laser to create microdots of damaged tissue inside the vagina. This is supposed to stimulate the undamaged tissue around the dots to begin healing, strengthening the vaginal lining. The treatment costs between 1,000 and 1,500 per session and patients are recommended three sessions spread a month apart in most cases. Celebrities including the Kardashians are thought to swear by the treatment. Speaking in 2016, Khloe Kardashian said: 'My sisters, theyve had kids, and theres a vagina lasering thing to tighten. 'So in my household, all they do is talk about this vagina laser. Its like their discussion back and forth.' Advertisement Respondents had to be suffering at least one of vaginal burning, itching or dryness, or find intercourse painful known as dyspareunia. Half were given the fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment for the study, published in JAMA Network Open. The others were treated with a placebo laser running at a minimal energy setting to prevent any effect on their tissue. All of the women were given three courses of the treatment spread one month apart, as per the recommended practice. And their symptoms were assessed on a scale of zero to 100 before treatment and a year afterwards. Doctors assessed their vaginal elasticity, fluid amount, pH, and hydration on every visit. Patients were also surveyed to see how they felt the treatment was helping with their symptoms, emotions, life, and sexual lives. Scores were given on a 0-20 scale. Statistical analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the results of the real laser group or the placebo. The authors wrote: 'In this randomized clinical trial involving women with postmenopausal vaginal symptoms, treatment with fractional carbon dioxide laser vs sham treatment did not result in improvement in symptom severity, quality of life, or vaginal histology.' They did not specify what brand of fractional carbon dioxide laser was used. Alma Lasers, which manufactures FemiLift, has been approached for comment. Manufacturers claim that it works by gently heating the vaginal tissue to stimulate the formation of new collagen depleting levels can lead to dryness. Celebrities including the Kardashians are thought to have used similar treatments. Speaking in 2016, Khloe Kardashian said: 'My sisters, theyve had kids, and theres a vagina lasering thing to tighten. 'So in my household, all they do is talk about this vagina laser. Its like their discussion back and forth.' Former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd endorsed FemiLift on social media, claiming the treatment cured her incontinence after childbirth. She said: 'This is life changing for me and am sure like other moms especially out there will totally get why I did it. 'After giving birth to four babies even sneezing becomes a problem or when your kids ask you to come on the trampoline and you have to make your excuses. 'Not only does it tighten and help stress urinary incontinence its perfect for women who are going through menopause and struggling with vaginal dryness.' An Indian musician had a 22lb cancerous tumour removed from his stomach after doctors warned the growth could have killed him. Arnab Mukherjee, from Kolkata, battled severe abdominal pain for three months before seeking medical help. But local doctors failed to detect the 45-year-old's tumour when he first went for a check-up in August. His stomach later quadrupled in size and medics discovered the retroperitoneum sarcoma a cancer in the connective tissue deep in the abdomen, behind the kidneys. The massive tumour was pressed against his major organs and could have killed him if it was not removed, surgeons claimed. Dr Makhan Lal Saha, at Victoria Medical Center, performed the four-hour surgery on October 2 with his daughter Priyanka Saha. Arnab Mukherjee, 45, from Kolkata, had a 22lb cancerous tumour cut out of his stomach after doctors warned the growth could have killed him WHAT WAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST TUMOUR? Doctors removed the world's largest ever tumour from a woman in Stanford, California, in 1991. The 34-year-old's tumour grew to a huge 306lb (138.7kg). It developed on her right ovary and was a multicystic mass. Professor Katherine O'Hanlan of Stanford University Medical Center removed the tumour and the unnamed patient survived the surgery. She weighed 210lb (95kg) after the surgery and left the operating theatre in a stretcher. Advertisement He said: 'It was a very critical and rare case. 'The tumor wasn't detected in very first step. It took several tests to understand. 'The patient had life risk because tumor was so big in size.' Mr Mukherjee is now being given cancer treatment to cure the remaining cancerous tissue and prevent the tumour returning. Dr Makhan said: 'The patient is stable and is having liquid food every two to three days. 'It took almost four hours to remove it. It was a life-saving surgery. 'We successfully removed the tumour and no other organ was damaged or removed. 'As the tumour was malignant he will now go through chemo[therapy] and other cancer related medication.' Sarcomas are a rare type of cancer that develop in the connective tissues, including muscle, bone, nerves, cartilage, tendons, blood vessels and the fatty and fibrous tissues. Mr Mukherjee's tumour was growing on his retroperitoneum, which is based in the area where major blood vessels, the kidneys, pancreas and bladder are located. Retroperitoneal sarcomas often cause the abdomen to increase in size, although not usually to the extent of Mr Mukerjee's. Surgery is usually the main treatment for the cancer, which can involve taking part of the surrounding organs. Around 15 per cent of all soft tissue sarcomas are found in the retroperitoneum, data suggests. Around 3,000 patients are diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas every year in Britain, while the figure is thought to be three times higher in the US. A mother and daughter have told how they both received shock cancer diagnoses within the space of five weeks. Margaret Wallace, 55, and her only child Maria O'Neill were both dealt the harrowing news this summer. Ms O'Neill, a 28-year-old mother-of-one who works as a nurse, was scrubbing fake tan off in the shower when she found a lump in her breast. Doctors assumed it was harmless but tests carried out in July, weeks after she first felt the lump, revealed it was cancerous. And her mother Ms Wallace, who lives in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire the same town as her daughter, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August. But the hospital caterer thought her stomach pains and vomiting key signs of the disease were due to the stress of her daughter's illness. The double diagnosis has left the family reeling but they are putting on a brave face for Ms O'Neill's two-year-old daughter Mila. To add to the family's worries, Ms O'Neill's sick pay is being halved from November, causing her to stress about paying bills while battling cancer. Speaking about her diagnosis, Ms O'Neill said: 'I found it by accident in the shower. I'm guilty of not checking myself, thank God I did. 'Despite being a nurse and telling everyone else to look after themselves, it was something that I never did. 'It was my mum's birthday and I had put on fake tan the night before. I [was] scrubbing it off and that was the reason I found it. Thank God for fake tan.' Margaret Wallace, 55, and her only child, Maria O'Neill, 28, were diagnosed with cancer just five weeks apart Ms O'Neil (pictured with her daughter Mila and mother) was scrubbing fake tan off in the shower when she found a lump in her breast, which she was told was cancerous in July How to check your breasts and what to look out for By Liz O'Riordan Breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor The most obvious sign can be a lump, either in the breast or high up in the armpit. It might be visible, or only obvious when you feel it. But other signs include dimpling of the skin on the breast, an inverted nipple or bleeding from the nipple. A red rash can also be an indication of an underlying problem. HOW TO CHECK The best time is during your period when the balance of hormones means the tissue will naturally be less lumpy and sore. If you're post-menopausal, any time is fine, although most women find that checking on the first of the month is a good way to remember. Stand topless in front of a mirror and check your breasts face on, and then from each side. If your breasts are large, lift them up and check the skin underneath. Lift your hands above your head and look again do they look any different? Put your hands on your hips and tense your chest muscles and check again. Lie down to feel your breasts and, using the flat surface of your fingers, push down on to the breast tissue. Feel your whole breast, in a circular motion from your cleavage to your armpit. Also check in the armpit itself, pushing the skin and fat against your ribcage. If you find a lump anywhere, check the opposite breast or armpit chances are it will feel the same. If you're concerned about something you've found, check again in two weeks. If it's still there, get it checked out by a doctor. Advertisement Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, with around 55,000 women and 370 men receiving the diagnosis each year. The risk is higher for older women, with 80 per cent of cases spotted in over-50s. Nearly nine in 10 women survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed. Meanwhile, ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK, with 7,400 cases diagnosed each year. Most cases occur in women aged 75 to 79. More than nine in 10 women survive their cancer for five or more years after being diagnosed. Ms O'Neill was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid-July and subsequently underwent three rounds of chemotherapy. Her GP initially said the lump was probably non-cancerous and not to worry because she looked well and was young. She was put on a non-urgent waiting list to have her lump checked, which grew and 'began to hurt', she told the Mirror. She got an appointment on July 2 and was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer 12 days later. This type of breast cancer makes up 15 per cent of diagnoses and has a five-year survival rate of up to 91 per cent. Ms O'Neill said: 'It didn't feel like anything worrying. It was a complete shock, I didn't have any other symptoms.' She will undergo breast removal and reconstruction surgery in January before a having a course of radiotherapy. Her mother was diagnosed with stage-three cancer in early August after going to A&E due to stomach pains and vomiting. She initially believed the symptoms which also included struggling to eat due to feeling full were a result of the stress of her daughter's shock diagnosis. Ms Wallace said: 'I just couldn't believe it. I put it down to worrying about Maria. 'I couldn't believe I could go to A&E in the morning and come out with a cancer diagnosis at night.' She faces going under the knife after her course of chemotherapy is finished. Ms O'Neill said: 'Compared to other people, I have been quite fortunate with the side effects. 'I'm mainly just a bit tired but I can kind of keep up a normal life. I'm trying to keep life as normal as I can for my daughter. Ms Wallace (left) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August but thought the symptoms she suffered, including stomach pains and vomiting were due to the stress of her daughter's breast cancer diagnosis a few weeks earlier Ms O'Neill (right) said: 'Compared to other people, I have been quite fortunate with the side effects. 'I'm mainly just a bit tired but I can kind of keep up a normal life. I'm trying to keep life as normal as I can for my daughter' 'The main thing I was worried about was hair loss, because she is only two, although she's clever, she doesn't really understand. 'I was worried she would be scared of me without hair but she has been amazing. It's not bothered her at all. 'She just says "mummy needs a wee rest" and comes and lies on the couch with me. She takes my mind off it and keeps me going. 'If I put on a face for her, then it does make me feel a wee bit better.' She told the Mirror that she does 'everything' with her mother but 'never thought we would go through something like this at the same time'. Mrs O'Neill added: 'It is surreal as cancer doesn't even run through our family.' And the nurse faces her sick pay being halved from November until April 2022 and then no pay from then. She was told to stop working because chemotherapy suppresses her immune system, putting her at high risk of infection, especially from Covid. Her partner Joe Weatherall, 29, has launched a crowdfund to help them with their mortgage and bills. Virus tests should be analysed in batches at the start of future outbreaks because doing so can contain diseases quicker, experts say. When the coronavirus pandemic began last year, technicians laboriously checked swabs individually. But now scientists at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) in Illinois have found pooled saliva testing is just as effective. The method involves combining multiple samples together and analysing them for traces of a virus. If it is not detected in the sample, then all participants are presumed to be negative. But should it be picked up, then all the people involved in the sample need to be re-tested again individually. The UK was late to launch pooled testing to speed up its Covid diagnosis, lagging behind other countries including the US and Germany. Virus tests should be analysed in batches at the start of future outbreaks because it can contain emerging diseases like Covid quicker, experts say (stock). Pictured: A woman is tested for Covid at a testing centre A pilot scheme was only launched in November near the end of England's second lockdown before being rolled out more widely. In the study published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum the university's 3,500-odd students had saliva samples taken at least once a week throughout the spring term. Saliva swabs were analysed in groups of five or ten, with batches that tested positive seeing each sample individually checked for the virus. Positive cases were then asked to isolate, and their close contacts were traced by the university. It detected 83 per cent of the Covid cases similar to accuracy levels seen for the gold-standard nasal swabs. The academics said it cost the university just $0.43 (32p) to process each sample, which they claimed was one of the lowest prices ever for testing. The institution decided to bring in the measure after facing a disrupted autumn term where outbreaks led to classes being cancelled or postponed. Other measures in use at the time of the study included wearing face masks indoors, social distancing of two metres and limiting class sizes to 50 students. Attendees were also asked to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to the campus. Timeline of UK's pooled testing regime August 2020: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt call on the Government to start using pooled testing. The strategy is already being deployed in other countries at this point. September 2020: There are suggestions that up to 50 swabs could be tested at once under Boris Johnson's plan to process 10million swabs a day. October 2020: China, the US, Germany and Israel are all using pooled testing. In the UK it has been taken up by some NHS Trusts such as one in Devon. November 2020: Towards the end of the month the UK launches a pilot pooled testing scheme for students. It came amid revelations on 'Operation Moonshot' and plans to carry out 10million Covid tests a day. Advertisement ONU describes itself as a small Christian university in the midwestern United States. Study lead author associate professor Daniel Sharda said: 'Our study demonstrates a significant step forward for achieving rapid test results on a large scale, while preserving supplies and reducing costs. 'Future pandemic should use pooled strategies from the very beginning, when tests are otherwise limited.' Some NHS trusts including North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust started using pooled testing near the beginning of the pandemic. The Government faced significant pressure from scientists and politicians including former Prime Minister Tony Blair to deploy the method wider in the UK. But the first pilot was only launched on November 24, which explicitly aimed to use the method for student households. Concerns were sparked last September up to 50 swabs could be tested together at once as Boris Johnson tried to dish out millions of tests a day. Researchers say five to ten swabs should be pooled for each test, and only among asymptomatic individuals. The UK struggled to get its testing regime off the ground at the start of the pandemic, leaving ministers grappling in the dark to understand how far the virus at spread in the country. At one point the country almost ran out of a key ingredient for PCR tests, meaning fewer tests could be carried out. But in April last year former Health Secretary Matt Hancock set a target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month. Boris Johnson has poured more than 1billion into testing launching sites across the country and providing lateral flow tests for every household. Britain is currently carrying out almost a million PCR and lateral flow tests for Covid every day. The UK Health Security Agency which took over from Public Health England has been contacted for comment. More than half of COVID-19 survivors experience symptoms of the virus six months after recovery, a new study finds. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University, in Centre County, performed a meta-analysis of previous studies investigating patients who said they still had symptoms months after initially testing positive. Symptoms such as cognitive impairment, anxiety and chronic fatigue were the most commonly reported after recovering from the virus. The teams says the implications are large for the health care world going forward, because it suggests millions will be exhibiting serious symptoms, and potentially for years. More than half of patients experience COVID-19 symptoms six months after recovery (long-term, right), equaling the totals in the short-term and intermediate-term periods after recovery from the virus Cognitive impairment and difficulty concentrating are common neurological conditions faced by Covid patients after recovery. Many will also develop anxiety after recovering from the virus More than half people who recovered from COVID-19 were still showing chest abnormalities or required some additional help to breathe comfortably. Just under half of patients also reported some sort of functional impairments The researchers, who published their findings Wednesday in JAMA Network Open, used 57 studies from 19 countries that included more than 250,000 participants. Among the participants, nearly 200,000 had been hospitalized due to complications caused by the virus. Long Covid symptoms were split into short-term, within a month after recovery; intermediate-term, two to five months after recovery; and long-term, symptoms still being felt six months after recovery. The amount of patients reporting symptoms at each individual stage remained consistent. Researchers found that 54 percent of patients were experiencing long-term Covid symptoms, near equal to those felling symptoms in the short or intermediate terms. The amount of symptoms reported after recovery were wide ranging, though, as the virus proved to affect people's bodies differently. Just under 40% of people who recover from COVID-19 will experience fatigue even after the virus has left their body Because of this, the researchers split the symptoms into five different categories: general symptoms, mental health disorders, mobility impairments, neurological disorders and respiratory disorders. The most common neurological disorders were difficulty concentrating, memory deficits and cognitive impairment. One study included in the analysis found that more than 40 percent of patients were suffering cognitive impairment after recovery. Overall, researchers found that one in four patients who recovered from Covid would experience some sort of difficulty concentrating down the line. The meta analysis found a median of 30 percent of COVID-19 survivors will suffer anxiety after recovery, with one study reporting a figure of around 70 percent, the most common of any mental health disorders. The most common symptoms were respiratory disorders, in which a median of over 60 percent of patients being found to have chest imaging abnormalities or now required some assistance to breathe comfortably. Fatigue, categorized as a general symptom, was also common, with a median of just under 40 percent of patients reporting it months after recovery. All of these symptoms are a result of what medical professionals refer to as long Covid, a mysterious condition that has baffled some experts. How, or why exactly long Covid affects some is not yet known, though, which makes it tough to treat or cure the condition. A majority of survivors included in the study were hospitalized, most likely skewing the numbers in the analysis' findings higher. Pictured: A nurse treats a COVID-19 patient in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho The findings of the Penn State meta analysis show that the scope of long Covid is wider than many may think, with a total of 23 different symptoms tied to the virus whose treatments fall across many fields of medicine. The researchers believe doctors from disciplines must work together to treat patients and address all of their potential symptoms post-recovery. 'Our results indicate that clinical management of [long Covid symptoms] will require a whole-patient perspective, including management tools like virtual rehabilitation platforms and chronic care for postacute COVID-19 symptoms in conjunction with the management of preexisting or new comorbidities,' researchers wrote in the study. The study does have limitations, though. First, a vast majority of participants across all the studies were hospitalized with the virus, meaning the median participant likely suffered a more severe case than the average Covid survivor. Also, many studies included focused on a specific comorbidity that others did not include, skewing the figures higher since one study looking for that specific symptom could drive up numbers. This can especially be seen with the respiratory disease category, where an abnormally large amount of people are reporting serious issues. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a small percentage of health care workers have been fired or have resigned after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the state's mandate. During a news briefing on Wednesday, Hochul revealed between 94 percent and 97 percent of staff at hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and home health agencies have gotten at least one dose since she took office in late August. However, not all workers have been inclined to get vaccinated, leading to some being let go or walking out. 'We have numbers that show we are at a three percent total workforce reduction in these categories,' Hochul said during the briefing. 'It includes people who have been terminated, resignations, people who just decided to retire at the time, but also people who are on furlough who are waiting to see the outcome of the litigation.' That means about 25,000 people are no longer health care workers in New York state. The litigation Hochul spoke about is in reference to a federal judge ruling on Tuesday that New York must grant health care workers religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate, which the state is appealing. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a press briefing on Wednesday (above) that 3% of health care workers in the state - about 25,000 people - have been fired, resigned, retired or on furlough for not getting vaccinated against COVID-19 In hospitals, 96% of workers have received at least one dose of the vaccine and, in nursing homes, 97% have gotten at least one shot New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers was split in two parts. The first required the 450,000 employees at hospitals and 145,400 employees at nursing homes to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, September 27. The mandate was announced by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in August, and was upheld by Hochul when she succeeded him. It was one of the first - and one of the largest - such mandates to be announced in the U.S. Data, shared by Hochul during the press briefing, appeared to show that the mandate was successful. On August 24, when Hochul took office, 77 percent of hospital staff had been fully vaccinated. By the time the mandate went into effect, 87 percent were fully vaccinated. As of Wednesday, 96 percent have had at least one dose. Similar, 71 percent of nursing home staff members had received at least one dose on August 24. By September 27, that figure was raised to 92 percent. Currently, 97 percent of employees have been given an initial dose of the vaccine. 'When someone is sick and they go into an urgent care center, they go to a hospital, they are in need of help because they are in a vulnerable physical state,' Hochul said at the briefing. 'They need to know that the person taking care of them will not pass on this deadly virus to them or their family members - and that has been the whole objective behind this mandate. 'It's not something we wanted; it's something this pandemic has forced us to do.' Data also showed 96% of adult care facility workers and 94% of home health agency employees have gotten an initial dose of the vaccine It comes a day after a judge ruled that employers must grant religious exemptions to health care workers who apply for them. Pictured: Sandra Lindsay (left) a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine by D. Michelle Chester in Queens, New York, December 2020 The second part of the mandate looked at home health care workers at assisted living homes, hospice care, treatment centers, AIDS home care programs and more. These groups, made up of about 250,000 people, had until October 7 to prove they had received at least one dose of the vaccine or risk termination. Hochul shared more data showing the uptake in Covid vaccines occurred in these groups as well. Among adult care facilities workers, 77 percent had received at least one dose as of August 24, which increased to 95 percent on the day the mandate went into effect. In home heath care agencies, 83 percent had received at least one dose by October 6 and 86 percent by October 7. As of Wednesday, 96 percent of adult care facility workers and 94 percent of home health agency employees have gotten an initial shot. Additionally, Hochul said 0.5 percent of healthcare workers have currently made appointments to get vaccinated so they don't lose their jobs. 'The numbers speak for themselves. I think that the mandates have brought people to the right decisions,' she said. Hochul recently suffered a setback in her effort to uphold the vaccine mandate when a federal judge said on Tuesday employers must grant religious exemptions to New York health care workers who apply for them. The ruling from U.S. District Judge David Hurd came after 17 Catholic and Baptist workers sued last month. They said they objected to the use of fetal cell lines in the development of vaccines. Fetal cell lines, which are laboratory-grown cells based on aborted fetal cells that were collected in the 1970s and 1980s, were used for research and development of the shots, but no aborted tissue is an ingredient in the vaccines. Upon hearing the news of the ruling, Hochul vowed to fight the decision. 'My responsibility as Governor is to protect the people of this state, and requiring health care workers to get vaccinated accomplishes that. I stand behind this mandate, and I will fight this decision in court to keep New Yorkers safe,' she wrote in a statement Tens of thousands of COVID-19 deaths over the past four months could have been prevented had people gotten vaccinated, a new analysis finds. Researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that 90,000 virus-related deaths since June 2021 - while the vaccine was widely available - were avoidable. More than half, nearly 50,000, of these preventable deaths occurred in September, and 24,600 deaths occurring in August. Researchers want health officials to do more to help reach the remaining 70 million unvaccinated Americans, and convince them to get the shots to protect themselves. A KFF analysis finds that more than 90,000 deaths in the U.S. between June and September of 2021 - 80% of total deaths - could have been prevented by the COVID-19 vaccines The researchers, who published their findings Wednesday as part of the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, used official death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their analysis. Dr Krutika Amin, associate director of the tracker and one of the study's authors, told DailyMail.com that her team looked at the total number of reported Covid deaths in the four months from June to September 2021. They excluded deaths that resulted from so-called 'breakthrough' infections, which occur when fully vaccinated people contract the virus. Next, the team took the remaining deaths, and applied the reported 91 percent effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing death from the virus. In total, they found 91,100 deaths in the U.S. that could have been prevented if those people were fully vaccinated. Over that four-month time period, 102,469 Americans died from the virus, meaning that 89 percent of U.S. deaths over the period were preventable according to the KFF analysis. Another analysis by KFF finds that unvaccinated Americans also cost $5.7 billion in avoidable hospital bills from June to August. Amin believes health officials should try to relay these numbers to the remaining unvaccinated people, and let them know what kind of risk they may be taking by not getting jabbed. 'I think there are still ways for people to get out there and reach people who are still unvaccinated by continuing to inform them about how effective the vaccines are, [and that] the overwhelming majority of these deaths and also severe illnesses and hospitalizations, are among unvaccinated people,' she told DailyMail.com. Currently in the U.S., everyone aged 12 or older is eligible for at least one of the COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC reports that 76.6 percent of eligible Americans have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 66 percent are fully vaccinated. Cases and deaths are back on the way down in the U.S. at the moment, with cases cutting nearly in half from 175,000 new cases per day in mid-September to around 90,000 per day currently. Deaths have dropped by around 15 percent as well, from around 2,000 deaths per day in late September to 1,700 being recorded every day in early October. While things are trending the right way, due to the evolving nature of the virus, and the constant changing of local Covid regulations nationwide, KFF cannot make a prediction for what will happen going forward. 'Because things of Covid have changed over time with the different variants, how many people are vaccinated, and other factors like states and local governments opening things up...we do not have a projection on what will happen in the future,' Amin said. COVID-19 emerged as the second leading cause of death for Americans in September, killing nearly 1,700 people every day. Only heart disease killed more Americans Last year, cases were rising around this time of the year, setting the table for a massive post-holiday season COVID-19 outbreak that is still the largest surge of the pandemic. Cases are trending the other way this time, though, and with more than half of Americans vaccinated, there is a chance this holiday season will be safer. The KFF report also found that COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death for all Americans in the month of September - killing 1,693 people every day - and surpassing cancer. Only heart disease, which is consistently the leading cause of death for Americans, was a bigger killer than Covid last month with 2,000 people dying of the condition every day. The virus was among the top seven causes of death of every age group last month. The Biden administration has been quietly telling states to prepare to vaccinate younger children against COVID-19 next month. Recently, Pfizer-BioNTech submitted an application the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand emergency use of its Covid vaccine to include kids between ages five and 11. An unnamed White House official told NBC News that the federal government ahs been telling state governors that it anticipates the authorization will come in the next few weeks, as soon as early November. What's more, an official in the Department of Health and Human Services told the news outlet that Biden administration has already purchased 65 million pediatric doses of Pfizer's vaccine. That's more than the two doses needed to fully vaccinate the 29 million children in the U.S. who would now become eligible. The White House has been contacting state governors to tell them to prepare to start vaccinating children against COVID-19. Pictured: Marisol Gerardo, 9, is held by her mother as she gets a shot in the Pfizer Covid trial at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina, April 2021 The Biden administration believes an FDA decision on Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid vaccine in kids could come as soon as early November. Pictured: Biden speaks after signing three proclamations restoring protections for national monuments, October 2021 According to clinicaltrials.gov, Pfizer's study in younger children worked similarly to the way it did in older children and adults. A total of 4,500 younger kids aged six months and older were enrolled at nearly 100 clinical trial sites in 26 U.S. states, Finland, Poland and Spain. Of those children, 2,268 were between ages five and 11. About half of those in the five-to-11 group were given two doses 21 days apart and the other half were given placebo shots. The team then tested the safety, tolerability and immune response generated by the vaccine by measuring antibody levels in the young subjects. Pfizer said it had selected lower doses for COVID-19 vaccine trials in children than are given to teenagers and adults. Weekly child Covid cases reached more than 243,000 in early September, but have since fallen to 148,000 as of last week *above) Those aged 12 and older receive two 30 microgram (g) doses of the vaccine. However, children between ages five and 11 were given 10 g doses and kids from six months to four years old received three g doses. Unlike the larger clinical trial conducted in adults, the pediatric trial did not measure efficacy by comparing the number of COVID-19 cases among the vaccine group to the number in the placebo group. Instead, scientists looked at levels of neutralizing antibodies in young vaccine recipients and compared the levels to those seen in adults. The companies expect data on how well the vaccine works in children between ages two and five and between six months and two years of age by the end of the year. Recently, pediatric cases increased from 71,000 per week at the beginning of August to more than 243,000 in early September, fueled by the Delta variant. However, they now appear to be trending downward with about 148,000 reported last week, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. There have also been 520 pediatric deaths since the start of the pandemic, indicating children make up less than 0.1 percent of all deaths. Currently, no evidence suggests the Delta variant is more dangerous in kids than previous strains of the virus. Because of this low risk of severe illness, polls have shown that many parents are not inclined to vaccinate their children. A July 2021 survey, conducted by CS Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at Michigan Medicine last month, found that 39 percent of parents said their children already gotten a coronavirus shot. However, 40 percent of parents also said it was 'unlikely' that their children would be getting vaccinated.' Another poll from Axios/Ipsos in September found that 44 percent of parents of children aged five to 11 said their kids were likely to get a vaccine and 42 percent said it was unlikely their children would be immunized. A record number of Americans died from drug overdoses during the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, new figures from the federal government reveal. Between March 2020 - when most states started issuing lockdowns and stay-at-home orders - and March 2021, there were 96,779 overdose fatalities, according to data released on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This represents a 29.5 percent rise from the roughly 74,679 drug overdose deaths that were recorded over the previous 12 months ending in March 2020. The spike appears to be mainly driven by an increased use of opioids since last year, and specifically fentanyl, the synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine. The pandemic has created the perfect breeding ground for addiction with many turning to opioids to cope with job losses and the deaths of loved ones to the programs being canceled or replaced with telemedicine for those trying to maintain sobriety. Between March 2020 and March 2021, the U.S. recorded a record-high 96,779 drug overdose deaths, new CDC data show (above) It's a 30.8% increase from the 74,679 overdose fatalities reported over the 12-month period from March 2019 to March 2020. Pictured: Firefighters and paramedics with Anne Arundel County Fire Department transport a patient after responding to a call for a cardiac arrest as a result of a drug overdose in Brooklyn, Maryland, May 2020 The CDC looked at death records received and processed by the NCHS's National Vital Statistics System. After overdose deaths declined between November 2017 and March 2019, fatalities began rising again. Specifically drug overdose deaths seem to have accelerated during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increases first began from the 12-month period ending in March 2020 to the 12 months ending in April 2020, rising from 74,676 deaths to 77,017 deaths. By May 2020, the 12-month period recorded 80,577 deaths, with continued increases through March 2021. Just three states, New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota, saw their number of overdose deaths fall from March 2020 to March 2021. Three states saw decreases with South Dakota reporting the largest drop of 16.3% while Vermont saw the biggest increase of 85.1% Opioids (black line) were the primary driver of overdose deaths followed by synthetic opioids (brown line), excluding methadone The biggest drop was seen in South Dakota, with a decline of 16.3 percent. Meanwhile, every other state, and the District of Columbia, saw the number of deaths rise with Vermont reporting the biggest spike of 85.1 percent over the 12-month period. The report found that opioids were the primary driver of overdose deaths followed by synthetic opioids, excluding methadone. Synthetic opioid deaths, such as due to fentanyl, increased 53 percent from the 12-months ending in March 2020 compared with the 12-months ending in March 2021. Additionally, methadone, which treats opioid use disorder, saw the fewest number of overdose fatalities over this time period. Earlier this year, the CDC released a provisional report showing there were 93,331 U.S. drug overdose deaths recorded in 2020, a 29.4% jump from 72,151 deaths reported in 2019 'It is important to remember that behind these devastating numbers are families, friends, and community members who are grieving the loss of loved ones,' Regina LaBelle, acting director of the Executive Office of the President Office of National Drug Control Policy, told CNN. She encouraged Congress to pass President Joe Biden's budget request to help fund programs that treat and prevent substance abuse. The provisional data come just a few months after the CDC released another provisional report detailing how 93,300 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2020. That represents a 29.4 percent jump from 72,000 deaths reported in 2019 and is the biggest single-year increase ever. Dr Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, lamented the increased and encouraged efforts to drive overdose deaths down. 'This has been an incredibly uncertain and stressful time for many people and we are seeing an increase in drug consumption, difficulty in accessing life-saving treatments for substance use disorders, and a tragic rise in overdose deaths,' she said in a statement. 'As we continue to address both the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis, we must prioritize making treatment options more widely available to people with substance use disorders.' The Hut Group founder admitted 'it has not been a great day' after shares crashed another 35 per cent after a bungled presentation to investors. Matt Moulding and wife Jodie saw 278million wiped off the value of their stake in the online retailer as the stock sank to a record low of 285p. The brutal sell-off came in the final two hours of trading as Moulding delivered a 'capital markets day' briefing to analysts and investors. The Hut Group founder Matt Moulding and his wife Jodie (pictured together) saw 278m wiped off the value of their stake in the online retailer as the stock sank to a record low of 285p The meeting was widely seen as an attempt to rally support for the company following a wave of negative commentary and to explain the value of the group's online retail platform, THG Ingenuity. But one leading investor said Moulding, 49, who is executive chairman and chief executive, had 'failed to provide' the reassurances required. The subsequent fall in shares was the biggest since THG joined the stock market to great fanfare in September last year. Speaking to the Mail after the share price crash, Moulding said: 'It has not been a great day, that's for sure.' The latest rout took the share price fall to 58 per cent in just five weeks and leaves THG languishing well below its 500p float price in September last year. The Manchester-based group, which sells clothes, make-up and protein shakes online, is now valued at 3.5billion, having hit 9.8billion when shares peaked at close to 800p in January. Moulding, whose stake is still worth 493million, said it was unclear why the shares had fallen so sharply and so suddenly after what he described as a 'teach-in' on THG's technology platform Ingenuity. 'I don't know the full answers to that,' he told the Mail. 'I'll be on that with the banks very shortly.' THG followed up on Mouldings comments on Wednesday morning by telling investors it knows of no notifiable reason for the material share price movement. Stressing the strength of its performance since its September 2020 IPO, THG said it has a very strong liquidity position as it enters its peak trading season. THG is due to report its Q3 trading update on 26 October. The Hut Group: Rise and Fall The Hut Group was the darling of the stock market when it listed in September last year. It was the biggest debut in London since the Royal Mail in 2013 and rose 25 per cent from its 500p offer price in its first day. But shares started sliding five weeks ago amid rumours boss Matt Moulding wanted to split up the group. It was confirmed on September 16 when he outlined plans to list THG Beauty as a separate company and suggested THG Nutrition could follow suit. The shares took another lurch downwards when a research note published on October 1 by The Analyst told investors to short or bet against the stock. Predicting the price could fall to 260p, the note claimed THG's tech arm Ingenuity, which it said accounts for half the company's value, may not meet expectations. It left Moulding with a fight on his hands with all eyes on yesterday's 'capital markets day', when investors have the chance to discuss a company with its top management. But it ended with The Hut Group having its worst ever day on the stock market, and more questions hanging over the company. Moulding suggested the company had been targeted by 'short-sellers' betting against the shares. He also highlighted an 'attack on the business ten days ago' by research firm The Analyst that expressed doubts over Ingenuity as well as THG's culture and corporate governance. City sources suggested that while Moulding and other investors, including former Tesco chief Terry Leahy, have been left nursing heavy losses, hedge funds betting against the stock have cashed in. But analysts said shareholders may be selling out amid concerns about profit warnings in the retail sector and the planned spin-off of THG's beauty arm. 'There are reports that a number of different institutional investors have sold shares,' said Susannah Streeter at Hargreaves Lansdown. The slump has been painful for workers who were given shares when the firm floated. The float created 74 paper millionaires among the staff though it is unclear if anyone has sold up. Moulding said the fall in the share price was 'a value debate' rather than an existential crisis. 'Let's see where it lands, and wherever it lands let's build from there,' he said. But the entrepreneur, who founded THG in 2004, said he was 'proud' of what the company has achieved. Some UK trade groups and businesses cant help themselves. The willingness to trash Britain as it bounces back from the deepest recession since the 1930s is incredible. The very idea that somehow the UK is an exception and supply bottlenecks are causing more problems here than across the world is a gross distortion. Midlands-based transport firm Europa Worldwide Group is so outraged about the Road Haulage Associations panicky briefings on fuel supplies and Brexit that it has resigned from the trade body, crying foul. Twisting facts: The very idea that somehow the UK is an exception and supply bottlenecks are causing more problems here than across the world is a gross distortion Delivery firm Parcelhero is demonstrating it is anything but heroic by putting out a press release claiming we can forget Christmas because the build-up at Felixstowe means that containers are being diverted to EU ports instead. It is if it wants to encourage shortages rather than accept that there are other UK container ports such as Southampton. Clearly, with the right energy and willpower, supply shortages will dissipate. The notion that this is all some kind of strange British disease is a myth. We should be cheering from the rafters that output in Britain expanded by 0.4 per cent in August when the EU was stagnating. Industrial output dropped by 1.6 per cent across the Eurozone with manufacturing in Germany down by 4.1 per cent. The US is in a fix too with labour market data showing shortages are getting worse, driving up wages (a good thing) but holding back the pace of Covid recovery. Among the reasons why energy prices are elevated is because China is experiencing power shortage and therefore sucking in liquid natural gas and coal, driving up market prices. In Britain we are good at emphasising the negative. The rise in GDP lifted sterling higher on the foreign exchange markets and overseas sovereign wealth funds are queuing up to buy British government debt. Crisis, what crisis? Audit trail There can be few more devastating reports challenging the integrity of a major audit firm than the accounting watchdogs tribunal findings on KPMG and its work on the insolvency of Silentnight. The auditor is accused by the Financial Reporting Council of untruthful behaviour, conflicts of interest and hiding a treasure trove of 2,367 documents from investigators. Some business was conducted on private email out of the reach of regulators. Remarkably, KPMG was working for vendors Silentnight and buyers private equity outfit HIG Capital at the same time. This is beyond belief. It makes Philip Greens disputed sale of BHS, where there were advisers on both sides, look like a tea party. An appalling consequence of the crass and unethical behaviour of the partner concerned, David Costley-Wood, is that low-paid pensioners at Silentnight were deprived of their future income. The fund was closed and passed on to the Pension Protection Fund, leading to valuation cuts of up to 30 per cent. What really rankles is that before Costley-Wood stepped down from KPMGs Manchester practice he was paid 800,000 in each of the past two years. The case for legal action to recover gains is overwhelming. It is amazing given KPMGs terrible record as an auditor, ranging from foul-ups at the Co-op Bank to the Carillion collapse, that any clients are willing to let the firm anywhere near the books. Weak standards, ineffective compliance and cover-ups render it untrustworthy. Cumulatively, the mistakes are of Arthur Andersen proportions and that firm was forced to shut up shop. The FRC has smartened up its act and bringing its case against KPMG before the tribunal shows a determination to put an ineffectual past behind it. How much better it would be had the Tories moved to power up accounting regulation through the creation of a new Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority as proposed more than two years ago. The conflict of interest explains why separation of audit and consulting practices must happen. Cleaner capitalism requires immediate reform. Soft boiled Is The Hut Group becoming the new WeWork? A deal with Softbank to spin out tech offshoot Ingenuity was meant to add stardust. Instead the shares have plummeted 57 per cent since the start of the month. Founder Matt Moulding could start mending the roof by recruiting an independent chairman and a chief operating officer. That would give Moulding space to develop the enterprise. But he must act fast. Private equity groups are plotting a swoop on the consumer arm of Glaxosmithkline in what could be the biggest takeover by the buyout industry in history. The circling predators have valued the pharma giant's consumer business, which owns brands including Aquafresh toothpaste and Otrivin nasal spray and is being spun out of GSK by chief executive Emma Walmsley, at 40billion or more. Walmsley's plan is to list the consumer healthcare arm as a separate entity on the stock market in London with annual sales of more than 10billion. Glaxosmithkline's consumer business, which owns brands including Aquafresh toothpaste and Otrivin nasal spray, is being spun out by chief exec Emma Walmsley (pictured) But if a sale is agreed instead, it would be the biggest private equity takeover on record, surpassing the 33billion buyout of US energy giant TXU in 2007 by KKR and TPG. GSK is just the latest British firm to attract interest from private equity predators which have targeted several household names during the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies that have found themselves in the crosshairs include supermarkets Morrisons and Asda, and security firm G4S, as well as British defence industry stalwarts Ultra Electronics and Meggitt. The influx of private equity bargain hunters has sparked an outcry across the political spectrum amid worries the spate of takeovers is hollowing out British industry, loading firms up with debt, and leaving crucial technologies in foreign hands. News of the potential GSK swoop drew swift condemnation from Tory grandee Lord Heseltine last night, who said the ongoing ravaging of UK industry by private equity firms showed 'an opting out of British control in a way that is unlike international practice'. He said: 'Britain has become a job-lot economy, there is no strategic assessment like in America, Germany, France and other countries. 'There is a worrying aspect of this whole process that the people who make the recommendations are more incentivised to accept.' Lord Sikka, professor of accounting at the University of Essex, said private equity firms are 'not really interested in the long-term business', adding: 'It's all about increasing returns and one aspect of that is loading entities with debt and the second is you butcher them up.' Several private equity outfits including Advent International, CVC Capital Partners and KKR are said to be sniffing around for any deal that could see the GSK consumer business fall into their hands, according to Bloomberg. And activist investors ramped up the pressure on GSK's board this week. Bluebell Capital called on chairman Jonathan Symonds to quit, having previously joined US hedge fund Elliott in demanding Walmsley reapply for her own job. A recovery in the airline industry 'is under way' as winter sun-seekers book flights to the Canary Islands, Egypt and Turkey, Easyjet said. The no-frills airline said it expects to have lost between 1.135billion and 1.175billion in the 12 months to the end of September the second year in a row when losses topped 1billion. But in a sign business is picking up, it is planning to increase capacity to 70 per cent of pre-Covid levels over the coming three months as restrictions ease and holidaymakers book overseas travel. Hot spots: The recent simplification of the rules and reduction of the red list also led to a boom in demand that saw bookings to Egypt and Turkey soar 400 per cent That is up from 58 per cent in the past three months and just 17 per cent between April and June. Easyjet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: 'It is clear recovery is under way. 'We have seen city breaks beginning to return alongside growing demand for leisure travel from customers looking for flights and holidays to popular winter sun destinations including Egypt and Turkey. October half term bookings have been strong, particularly to the Canary Islands.' The company said flights to the Canaries are now running at 140 per cent of the 2019 levels. The recent simplification of the rules and reduction of the red list also led to a boom in demand that saw bookings to Egypt and Turkey soar 400 per cent. The 'no-go' red list was last week slashed from 54 countries to just seven and costly PCR tests are due to be replaced by cheaper lateral flow tests. But Lundgren said the rules were still 'onerous and expensive' and urged the Government to go further by dropping testing requirements altogether. He said: 'We had a 400 per cent increase to Egypt and Turkey, so customers are eager to go and the testing is a big obstacle for them to go. 'It's important to note that from July 1 the rest of Europe removed all restrictions for double-vaccinated passengers and clearly that's what we'd like to see happen in the UK. 'The new announcements are a good step in the right direction. In Europe, travel has been allowed to grow and there hasn't been any evidence that travel has [caused] any increase in the pandemic in those countries.' While intra-European flights were 83 per cent full over the summer international flights from the UK were only 63.2 per cent, Easyjet said. City breaks are also making a comeback and Easyjet has seen a release in pent up demand for ski trips in places like Geneva for February half-term. The airline expects the momentum to carry on and said overall bookings for the next six months are double those of the same period a year earlier. The firm said as well that losses in the last three months were half what they were a year earlier. But shares fell slightly by 3.5 per cent, from 22.6p, to 625.4p. The boss of the International Monetary Fund has clung onto her job despite claims of corruption. Kristalina Georgieva, who was appointed managing director of the IMF in 2019, allegedly manipulated data in her former role as boss of the World Bank to make China look like a more appealing place to do business. It came at a crucial time when the World Bank was trying to negotiate a funding package from Beijing. IMF boss Kristalina Georgieva allegedly manipulated data in her former role as boss of the World Bank to make China look like a more appealing place to do business Georgieva denied the allegations, and after eight meetings over the past several weeks, the IMF's 24-strong executive board said she had its 'full confidence'. The board said: 'Having looked at all the evidence presented, the executive board reaffirms its full confidence in the managing director's leadership and ability to continue to effectively carry out her duties.' The affair has opened up a rift between key members of the IMF. While the US was keen to investigate Georgieva further, European players including France threw their weight behind the Bulgarian economist. The probe into her conduct was an embarrassment for the IMF as it prepared to kick off its annual meetings yesterday. CNN journalist, Anderson Cooper, 54, spotlights his own family history in his latest book: Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty Advertisement CNN journalist, Anderson Cooper explores his Vanderbilt family history in a new book that details the epic rise and fall of the American dynasty In a new book titled, Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, turns a journalistic eye on his own family by raising the velvet curtain on the private lives, immense tragedies, and enormous glamour of the storied and scandalous American dynasty. Anderson Cooper is the great-great-great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a poor farmer from Staten Island who became the richest self-made man in America with a 'pathological obsession for money.' The magnate's vast shipping and railroad empire launched his family and multiple generations into stratospheric wealth, cementing their position as American royalty, 'with the titles and the palaces to prove it,' he writes. By the time he died in 1877, Cornelius had amassed a $100 million fortune - roughly $2.6 billion in today's money - and more than the entire US Treasury at the time. But within a few generations, the money was all but gone, depleted by heirs who only knew how to 'live well, marry well' and spend lavishly. 'This is the story of the greatest American fortune ever squandered,' writes Cooper. 'The story of the extraordinary rise and epic fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty.' It's like 'The Crown on steroids,' he told CNN in a later interview. Anderson Cooper, 54, is the great-great-great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad and shipping tycoon who was once the richest man in the world. Cooper's interest in his family history was piqued when he began sorting through his late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt's boxes. 'I was not really aware at all,' he says, of his family history Cornelius 'Commodore' Vanderbilt was an upstart from Staten Island who quit school at the age of 11 began working in his father's ferry business. Born into hardscrabble rural obscurity, Vanderbilt turned his small-scale ferry business into a massive transportation empire. 'He had a mania for making money,' said Cooper. By the time he died in 1877, Cornelius had amassed $100 million ($2.6b in today's money) - more than the entire US Treasury at the time 'As a kid, my mom didn't really talk about her childhood. It was very painful for her. So I grew up not really knowing much about the Vanderbilts, and the little I did know was that they were very wealthy and they had built enormous palaces, and some of those were museums' Cornelius Vanderbilt, the first tycoon: Anderson Cooper's earliest ancestor was an undistinguished indentured farmer named Jan Aertsen, who arrived in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (modern-day New York City) during the 1650s. Aertsen was from the village of Bilt in the Utrecht region of Holland and his name was recorded 'van der Bilt,' or 'from the Bilt' - which evolved later to 'Vanderbilt.' The family fortune wasn't made until the nineteenth century when Cornelius 'Commodore' Vanderbilt, an upstart from Staten Island who quit school at the age of 11 began working in his father's ferry business. He was born into poverty in 1794, and known as a headstrong, stubborn and manipulative child who was willing to risk almost anything to make money. When he was 15, Cornelius used a $100 loan from his mother to buy his own boat for piloting passengers through the rough currents between Staten Island and Manhattan. Within six months, he had run his own father out of the ferry business. 'The wharves were the crucible in which Cornelius Vanderbilt's acquisitive hunger was forged,' wrote Cooper. 'He drank and whored and didn't stand down from a fight.' Cornelius married his first cousin, Sophia Johnson Vanderbilt when he was 19 years old and together they had 13 children, 12 of which would survive into adulthood. He expanded into steamboats and made a fortune in shipping by monopolizing the waterways around New York during the 1830s. Then he shifted attention to trains when he bought up local railroads and merged them into a vast transportation network that stretched across the United States. 'His rise was dizzying,' said Cooper of his great-great-great grandfather. 'He possessed a genius and a mania for making money, but his obsession with material wealth would border on pathological, and the pathology born of that wealth would go on to infect each successive generation in different ways.' Despite his enormous wealth, money did not buy Cornelius respectability among the old guard in Washington Square Park. The Knickerbockers, Schermerhorns and Lorillards found the tobacco chewing, philandering, profanity-prone, illiterate as vulgar. 'Money was his sole concern: making it, spending it, and making more. New York society could ignore him, but in the end, they couldn't ignore his money. No one could,' wrote Cooper in his book. He was a notoriously terrible family man. He disregarded his nine daughters because they wouldn't be able to carry on the Vanderbilt name and had always wanted more than three sons. In 1846, he committed his long-suffering wife to an insane asylum by claiming that she was unstable during her 'change of life.' In truth, he was having an affair with his children's governess and wanted to enjoy her company freely. A month after Sophia's death, Cornelius carried out a complex and absurd relationship with two clairvoyant sisters that would last several years. They were famous for their beauty and 'magnetic healing' powers and Cornelius took particular interest in the nubile 22-year-old sister named Tennessee Claflin. By then he had already developed a serious interest in spiritualism and began attending regular seances. When Cornelius Vanderbilt died on January 4, 1877, he left his entire fortune estimated to be $100 million to his eldest son William 'Billy' Henry Vanderbilt. On his deathbed, Cornelius gave William one last haunting instruction: 'Keep the money together.' Nobody could have expected then, how far the Vanderbilt would collapse under its only pathology for greed. Vanderbilt's controversial decision to disinherit his nine daughters and other living son, Cornelius 'Cornie' Jeremiah, set the stage for one of the most salacious trials in the century. The backstabbing family drama resulted in a court case that played itself out in tawdry headlines that exposed the sordid happenings behind the curtains at 10 Washington Place. Cornie was a perpetual disappointment from the moment he was born. He suffered from epilepsy, which the Commodore took to be a sign of weakness from a young age. As an adult, Cornie proved to be just as much of a embarrassment when he didn't share his father's hunger for moneymaking, nor his talent for it. Always in financial straits, Cornie repeatedly leaned on his famous last name to procure loans which he squandered on his fondness for drinking, gambling and prostitutes. The Commodore had him institutionalized twice for 'weakness of character' at the same asylum he had also committed his wife years before. The jilted siblings charged their brother, William 'Billy' Henry Vanderbilt with fraud, claiming that he wrongly influenced their ailing father to his own advantage. One shocking eyewitness testimony claimed that William paid a phony clairvoyant to evoke his deceased mother during a trance session with the Commodore on his deathbed- and declare that he should be the sole inheritor of the estate. Another stunning allegation against William claimed that he attempted to soil Cornie's reputation by having him impersonated by a depraved lookalike and followed by detectives that reported his debauched habits at brothels to the Commodore. Meanwhile Cornie's vices and multiple stints in debtor's jail were laid bare for the public to see and feast upon. In the end, William Vanderbilt settled with his wayward brother for a pittance sum of $1 million. But the trial had all but broken Cornie. In April 1882, Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt took his own life at the Glenham Hotel on Fifth Avenue with his male 'companion' sat in the room next door. 'It was almost as though the Vanderbilt fortune itself was Cornie's afflictionthe access to it, the lack of access to it, the assumption of it, the theft of it, his father's affection for it,' writes Cooper. The money a 'contagion,' he says, 'preying upon Cornie's body and on his mind.' Cornelius left his entire fortune to his eldest son, Willian Henry Vanderbilt (above) - effectively disinheriting his ten other children. The controversial will led to a sensational trial that aired all the Vanderbilt's dirty laundry. William Henry was accused by his siblings of fraud and claimed that he wrongly manipulated their ailing father on his deathbed. As a result of the trial, William Henry's younger brother, Cornelius Jeremiah committed suicide As inheritor of Cornelius' $100 million estate, William Henry Vanderbilt assumed control of his father's shipping and railroad interests. He was the only family member to double the Vanderbilt fortune with his vast transportation monopoly. By the time he died in 1885, William amassed a staggering $200 million ($5.4 billion today) By 1873, Vanderbilt had taken control of what was then known as the Harlem railroad and merged it with the Hudson River and New York Central Railroad companies. This led him to commission a new station that would unite all three railroads under one roof. The Grand Central Depot, which would later be finished by his son, is the iconic Grand Central Terminal of today The Vanderbilt siege on New York society: William Henry would go on to double the Vanderbilt fortunethe only descendant to add to the wealth they'd been handed. By the time he died in 1885, William amassed a staggering fortune of $200 million, the rough equivalent $5.4 billion today. Though Cooper says: 'He also initiated its fall, by inaugurating the Vanderbilt siege on the gilded gates of New York society that ushered in the truly astonishing excess for which the Vanderbilts would become famous.' Starting in the 1870s, William Henry Vanderbilt leveraged his enormous wealth to land himself and his children on New York's social map. But first he had to go through the grand-dame of polite society, who kept him at arm's length. Society in the Gilded Age was itself, still a new invention presided over, primarily by Caroline Astor as its reigning queen and self-appointed gate keeper. Third generation Vanderbilts were keen to join Astor's renown 'Four Hundred' - New York's most exclusive and illustrious social circle that was nicknamed after the maximum number of people she could fit in her ballroom. Invitations were limited to only the most elite. Eventually the Four Hundred list was published in the form of a 'blue book,' which persists today as the Social Register. Caroline Astor recognized early on the importance of money in a country without landed aristocracy. She wielded her social influence as a kingmaker and arbiter of taste with liveried servants, French art, French chefs and imported china. The Vanderbilts had the money, but they didn't have the politesse. 'Willie' Kissam Vanderbilt (left) and his wife, Alva, would change the entire face and trajectory of New York society in one evening with an extravagant costume ball in 1883. Alva was brilliant and 'utterly ruthless' in her quest to challenge Caroline Astor's iron rule over New York's aristocracy. Her husband Willie was a known party boy who indulged in the finer pleasures that wealth afforded him. Dressed as a Venetian princess, Alva received her guests wearing a rope of pearls that belonged to Catherine the Great wrapped around her waist (right) The same year William Henry Vanderbilt died at the age of 64, his two eldest sons Willie Kissam and Cornelius II (left) each inherited $65 million ($1.7 billion today). While Willie was preoccupied with social pursuits, Cornelius II assumed control of the family's business interests. His wife, Alice Vanderbilt (right) reveled in her husband's wealth and wasted no time throwing it into the creation of enormous palaces on Fifth Avenue. In Newport, she became known as Alice of The Breakers. She made a dazzling entrance at her sister-in-law Alva's legendary costume ball dressed as a lightbulb (right). The dress was renown for its cutting-edge technology, using hidden batteries in the folds of her dress to lit the torch during a time when almost all houses were still illuminated by gas lamps and candles Alva and Willie Vanderbilt's daughter Consuelo, would captivate the public in 1895 with her much anticipated marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlborough (a first cousin of Winston Churchill). Consuelo said her wedding was 'the worst day of her life.' The unhappy marriage was arranged through her socially ambitious mother, Alva - who had long hoped to secure an aristocratic match for her daughter The social war between the houses of Vanderbilt and Astor played out in opulent mansions and lavish parties hosted at Delmonicos downtown (an important venue for the newly minted blue bloods of the Gilded Age). One such fete in 1883, hosted by the Commodore's grandson, William 'Willie' Kissam Vanderbilt and his wife, Alva, would 'change the entire face and trajectory of New York society in one evening.' Alva was brilliant but 'utterly ruthless' in her quest to challenge Caroline Astor's iron rule over New York society. She was the spoiled daughter of a rich Kentucky cotton family who moved into a Fifth Avenue mansion (with slaves in tow), just before the Civil War. Her family's fortune evaporated in the postbellum stock market, leaving the homely 17 year old with nothing but her unrelenting ambition. 'Her task was clear: get marriedand make sure he was rich.' Her husband Willie Vanderbilt was a known party boy who indulged in the finer pleasures that wealth afforded him. His primary purpose in life, Cooper says, 'was to consume.' Before he died in 1920, he told the New York Times, 'My life was never destined to be quite happy. . . . Inherited wealth is a real handicap to happiness. It is as certain a death to ambition as cocaine is to morality.' She and Willie were married in April 1875, and two years later, Alva had a daughter named Consuelo, who would later go on to captivate the public with her marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlborough (a first cousin of Winston Churchill). With Willie's wealth, Alva would lay siege to the cloistered world of New York society. Her opening gambit was a grandiose costume ball 'that would seize the imagination of the public, dominate talk of the social world, and most importantly, bring the queen of New York into her camp.' More than 1,300 invitations were hand delivered to the creme de la creme of American aristocracy. Revelers dressed in showstopping costumes were helped out of their carriages by footmen dressed in white powdered wigs and eighteenth-century-style maroon livery. They ascended the steps to the grand front doors of 'Petit Chateau' via a thick, gold-edged maroon carpet under an awning that crossed the sidewalk. The newly completed French gothic inspired house at 660 Fifth Avenue was set ablaze with music, tiny electric lights and paper lanterns. 'Every surface exploded with dangling orchids, palm fronds, and walls of roses,' that cost $11,000 (roughly $280,000 today). The party was entertained by two orchestras and four quadrille dances. At 2am, an eight-course dinner catered by the chefs from Delmonico's was served on the third floor gymnasium that had been festooned by a lush tropical forest. In all, the legendary Vanderbilt ball cost $250,000, equivalent to $6.4 million in today's money. By 11:30pm a bouillabaisse of kings, queens, fairies, toreadors, and gypsies bejeweled and bedecked in silks and furs and ropes of diamonds had descended upon Fifth Avenue. Only two men appeared not in costume: William Henry 'Billy' Vanderbilt and his friend Ulysses S. Grant, who opted for simple tuxedos. Others were costumed as Joan of Arc complete with solid silver chainmail, Christopher Columbus, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth I in a bright red wig, the goddess Diana, Daniel Boone. Alva received her guests dressed as a Venetian princess, most notable was the string of pearls that belonged to Catherine the Great wrapped around her waist. Alva's rival for reigning Vanderbilt hostess, was her sister-in-law, Alice, who came costumed as an electric light bulb during a time when all homes were still lit by gas lamps and candles. The ensemble was renown for its cutting-edge technology, using hidden batteries in the folds of her dress to lit a bulb when Alice held it in her hand like the Statue of Liberty. 'Wittingly or not,' said Cooper in the book, 'the Vanderbilts paid homage to the past while single-mindedly lighting the path of the future of societyher torch and tiara preceded the Statue of Liberty by three years.' The arrival of the Vanderbilts was complete. The Vanderbilt Palaces: By the 1870s, the beating heart of New York City society that was once Washington Square Park had decamped uptown. Fifth Avenue became the new vanguard for the same social elites that previously previously shunned the the Commodore downtown. 'The subsequent generations just went on this spending spree to break into society by building these enormous palaces, all which were built and torn down within a span of 60 years,' Anderson Cooper, 54, told CNN. The Commodore's son, William Henry Vanderbilt, was the first in the family to build a sumptuous mansion on Millionaire's Row. The famed 'Triple Palace' was made up of three sprawling houses connected by interiors so lavish, it took between 700 workmen to complete. The mansion was later inherited by his grandson, who auctioned off the 'outdated' priceless nineteenth century furniture in 1942 to Warner Brothers and other movie studios that used the pieces as set decorations for period films. William Henry doubled the family's wealth, and built their first mansion on Fifth Avenue. It was called the 'Triple Palace' and was comprised of three grand and sprawling connected houses with interiors so ornate, it took between 700 workmen to complete. The mansion was later inherited by his grandson, who auctioned off the 'outdated' priceless nineteenth century furniture in 1942 to Warner Brothers Studios and the home was demolished in 1945 The opulent homes continued with William Henry's son, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, who built a sumptuous palace on the corner of 58th Street and Fifth Avenue in 1883. The mansion had over 100 rooms and covered an entire city block. His wife Alice lived in the house alone, with only the thirty-seven servants needed to keep it running after Cornelius II's death in 1899. The home was demolished in 1926 to make way for the Bergdorf Goodman flagship store, but it still holds the record for the largest private residence ever built in New York City Next to the Triple Palace stood William 'Willie' Kissam and Alva's 'Petit Chateau' at 660 Fifth Avenue. Determined to upstage her sister-in-law Alice; Alva designed her grandiose mansion after the gothic castles she saw during her childhood in France. Upon its completion in 1883, Alva hosted a masquerade ball with 1,200 guests as a housewarming party. The house was razed in 1927. In its place today stands a 41-story office building that was owned by Jared Kushner until 2018 In 1895, Cornelius II and Alice spent $7 million ($220 million today's money) building The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. In its 77 years of existence, The Breakers saw the equivalent of nearly $218 million evaporate into thin air. Though small in comparison to their gargantuan NYC home, the sprawling summer retreat is three times as big as the White House and made up of 70 rooms with sumptuous interiors. The Breakers is the grandest and most opulent of Newport's Gilded Age mansions, and it remains the most popular tourist attraction in the state of Rhode Island Using the inheritance from his father, William Henry's youngest child, George, built a colossal 175,000 square foot retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. 'The Biltmore' remains America's largest home to this day. With 250 rooms, 35 bedrooms, and 43 bathrooms, the French Renaissance chateau and its 8,000 acre property is still family owned and operated by George's relatives Unlike the Commodore who despised ostentation, his grandchildren and subsequent generations squandered their fortune in an effort to break into society by building opulent homes, 'all which were built and torn down within a span of 60 years,' said Anderson Cooper. Alva Vanderbilt's 'Marble House' in Newport, Rhode Island (left) cost $11 million to build, which equates to an estimated $310 million in today's money. Frederick William Vanderbilt's mansion in Hyde Park, New York (right) served as a hunting lodge The opulent homes continued with William Henry Vanderbilt's son - Cornelius Vanderbilt II - who succeeded his father as president and chairman of the New York Central Railroad. His behemoth construction of 1 West 58th Street featured over 100 rooms and filled an entire city block. After his death in 1899, Alice lived in the house alone with the thirty-seven servants needed to keep it running. It was demolished in 1926 to make way for the Bergdorf Goodman flagship store, but the home still holds the record for the largest private residence ever built in New York City. Cornelius II and Alice had also commissioned a lavish summer retreat, The Breakers, in 1895. It is known today as 'one of the greatest representations of the Gilded Age,' but at the time, the resplendent Newport mansion was 'just a small summer cottage' in comparison to the New York City palace on 58th Street. 'The sheer size of The Breakers is hard to contemplate,' writes Cooper. The sprawling summer home is made up of 70 rooms and is three times as big as the White House. The morning room walls are paneled in platinum. The first corridor is built on a scale more suited to grand city hotel lobbies than to a weekend getaway house. The great hall displays sculptural personifications of Art, Science, and Industry with a painted trompe l'oeil ceiling. The music room features a dazzling gilded ceiling while the dining room is designed to seat thirty-four guests. Cooper says: 'There is something uniquely American about this faux palace, with its decor and fixtures ripped out of the ancient homes of European royalty.' He likens it to Versailles, 'The Breakers was the center of attention, the center of fame.' But unlike its French counterpart, The Breakers was 'the center of envy without being a center of power.' Next door to the Triple Palace stood William 'Willie' Kissam and Alva's 'Petit Chateau' at 660 Fifth Avenue. Determined to upstage her sister-in-law down the street, Alva designed her grandiose mansion after the gothic castles she saw during her childhood in France. The palatial residence made of limestone featured pointed turrets out of a fairy-tale castle. 'The Vanderbilts must have homes which represent originality, art, and beauty,' said Alva. Boasting about the Petit Chateau she said, 'My house was the death of brown stone fronts.' A developer bought the house in 1926 and bulldozed it within a year. In its place today stands a 41-story office building that was owned by Jared Kushner until 2018. Still in the grips of a society power struggle, Alva Vanderbilt endeavored to build a summer 'cottage' (as she called it), that would outshine Caroline Astor's Newport mansion with 500,000 square feet of imported Italian marble. The home would come to be known as The Marble House. Completed in 1888, the mock Petit Trianon cost $11 million to build, ($310million in today's money). Perhaps the greatest temple to Vanderbilt ambition and excess is the Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Using the inheritance from his father, the Commodore's youngest grandchild, George, built a colossal 175,000 square foot retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Biltmore remains America's largest home to this day. With 250 rooms, 35 bedrooms, and 43 bathrooms, the French Renaissance chateau and its 8,000 acre property is still family owned and operated by George's relatives. Gloria Vanderbilt, the 'end of a dynasty': By the time Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (Gloria's father and Anderson Cooper's grandfather) was born on January 14, 1880, the family's inheritance was spread thin among the many descendants. Meanwhile, the railroad empire built by Cornelius was changing, and the family's role would continue to dwindle until the 1970s when it would go bust. Reggie was the profligate son of Cornelius II and Alice Vanderbilt. Scandal defined Gloria's early life. Her father was a philandering drinker and gambler who frittered away his $7.3 million inheritance and died when Gloria was just 15 months old. He made the news not for what he built but rather what he spent. He had a daughter named Cathleen from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 1920. By then he had taken an interest young Cathleen's teenage friend from the debutante circuit. Her name was Gloria Morgan and they were married three years later. Reggie Vanderbilt was 24 years Morgan's senior, she was only 18 when they married. Scandal defined Gloria's early life. When she was just 10 years old, Gloria became the center of a sensational custody lawsuit that was heard and reported around the world. It was dubbed as 'The Trial of the Century.' Gloria's paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney sued for custody of little Gloria citing the neglect and immoral influence of her mother as cause Gloria Vanderbilt's parents pictured on their wedding day in 1923. Reggie Vanderbilt's first marriage was to Cathleen Neilson in 1903 and together they had a daughter, also named Cathleen, before they divorced in April 1920. By then he had taken an interest young Cathleen's teenage friend from the debutante circuit. Her name was Gloria Morgan and they were married three years later. Reggie Vanderbilt was 24 years Morgan's senior, she was only 18 when they married After Reggie's death, Gloria Morgan left little Gloria in the care of her governess and spirited off to Europe where she lived a lavish lifestyle. She ran with a fast-living, decadent circle of friends known as 'the Palace set,' while her sister Thelma had an affair with Edward, the Prince of Wales. Thelma is later credited for introducing Edward to Wallis Simpson The night before announcing their engagement, Reggie hosted a costume ball for Cathleen at which Gloria Morgan appeared as Marie Antoinette. Cathleen resented their nuptials and didn't meet her baby half-sister until Little Gloria was a 15-year-old teenager. Cathleen wasn't the only person who disagreed with the May-December romance. His mother Alice, 'always a walking contradiction with her extravagant consumption and her Puritanical comportment' worried that Gloria Morgan had 'been around.' Her fears were assuaged when Gloria agreed to be examined by Alice's physician who attested to her 'intact virginity.' On February 20, 1924, Gloria Morgan gave birth to Gloria Laura Morgan Vanderbilt. 'It is fantastic how Vanderbilt she looks,' beamed Reggie. 'See the corners of her eyes, how they turn up?' He would be dead within months from cirrhosis of the liver. Cooper writes: 'Reggie hemorrhaged blood so explosively out of his mouth at the moment of his death that when his wife arrived two minutes too late to see him, Alice wouldn't let her in the room. It was painted with Reggie's blood.' He was flat broke by the time he died and owed money all over town to lenders who had been all too willing to give him credit because of his famous name. In an age when a newspaper cost pennies, he owed $269 to his local newsstand. $4,000 to B. Altman booksellers, $712 to a laundress, $9,000 to Tiffany and Company. And thousands in back taxes. At the age of 20, Gloria Morgan was a widow and single-mother, she was legally (and emotionally) still a minor. To cover his debts, Gloria was forced to auction their plush New York City town house, his Sandy Point Farm, all his horses, all the cars, the furniture, linens, and even a stuffed elephant belonging to the baby. The only value left in his estate was the $5 million trust fund that Cornelius II, Reggie's father, had established for the benefit of Reggie's children. That sum would be split between Little Gloria and her half-sister Cathleen. Gloria Morgan filed a petition to be awarded an allowance from her daughter's trust. These expenses amounted to $4,160 per month (about $60,000 today). The included $925 for servants, plus an additional $250 for the servants' food. 'Baby Gloria was now the piggy bank for her entire household, and she couldn't even talk.' Leaving little Gloria in the care of her governess, Gloria Morgan spirited away to Europe and stayed up all hours of the night attending soigne dinner parties, nightclubs and glamorous cocktail events - pilfering her daughter's $2.5 million inheritance to fund her extravagant lifestyle. According to the book, Gloria's twin sister Thelma became the 'fast friend' and 'favorite dancing partner' of Edward, the Prince of Wales. His circle of friends known as 'the Palace set' were a cast of fast-living, decadent aristocrats. Thelma is also credited with, (or blamed for), introducing the prince to Wallis Simpson after asking her to 'take care of him' while she was away. 'My mom would see her as this very glamorous figure disappearing down the hallway,' Cooper says. 'It sounds very elegant now, on the outside, but she's an 8-year-old child being moved from hotel rooms, and her mother's going out to parties every night and having all sorts of people through the house. It really was not a stable upbringing.' In 1934, 10-year-old Gloria became the center of a sensational custody lawsuit that was heard and reported around the world, it was dubbed, 'The Trial of the Century.' Gloria's paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (founder of the Whitney Museum) disagreed with Morgan's carefree gallivanting lifestyle and conspired with little Gloria's beloved nanny and maternal grandmother to prove that Morgan was an unfit mother. She sued for custody of little Gloria citing 'neglect and immoral influence' of her mother as cause. Salacious details from behind the curtain of America's richest family captivated the poverty-stricken public during the Great Depression. Newspapers dubbed Gloria, 'the poor little rich girl.' Cooper, 54, who grew up not knowing much about his family history told People: 'In some ways I wanted this to be a letter to my son' Gloria Morgan's French maid testified that she saw 'Mrs. Vanderbilt was in bed reading a paper, and there was Lady Milford Haven beside the bed with her arm around Mrs. Vanderbilt's neck and kissing her just like a lover.' Lady Milford Haven was the daughter of a Russian grand duke and was married to a Mountbatten, cousin to the king of England. The nanny testified that she found graphic pornography books: 'Flogging, and nuns, and naked men with women's tonguesleft out where the child could easily see them.' Gossip columnists decried that Morgan was 'a cocktail-crazed dancing mother, a devotee of sex erotica, and the mistress of a German prince.' Meanwhile the defense argued that Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney's work as a celebrated sculptor featured nudes. It's true that aunt Gertrude wasn't so virtuous either. She had two lives: one as a respectable pearl-laden grand-dame of society and the other as a bohemian downtown artist, 'who took whatever lovers she wanted, men or women,' writes Cooper. Custody was eventually awarded to Gertrude Whitney, but Gloria was left traumatized and even more isolated from the event. The New York Journal American composed the ditty: 'Rockabye baby/Up on a writ/ Monday to Friday, Mother's unfit/As the week ends she rises in virtue/Saturdays, Sundays, Mother won't hurt you.' As an adult, Vanderbilt would have a string of epic romances with some of the 20th century's most celebrated men: Howard Hughes, Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn and Marlon Brando. Vanderbilt was married four times and had four children, most famously her son Anderson Cooper, 54, who has devoted his life to chronicling his mother and in his words, 'I always felt it was my job to try to protect her.' 'My mom had a very fractured relationship with the family she was born into,' said Cooper to CNN. 'She never really connected to any of them, so she never told me stories about her childhood growing up, she never really spoke about it.' Like her ancestors, Gloria spent lavishly, 'almost heedlessly, on anything that might bring pleasure: on houses and furnishings, gifts for friends, charities, and fine clothes.' 'I think of my mother as the last Vanderbilt,' writes Cooper. 'She was the last living Vanderbilt who'd slept at The Breakers when it was still a private home, owned by her grandmother Alice...She was the last child to ride in cars driven by liveried chauffeurs, guarded by private detectives in overcoats and fedoras.' 'She was the last to be born before the Depression, when the Vanderbilt riches seemed as limitless and eternal as the stars in the sky,' he says in the book. The dynasty ended with Gloria. Britain should brace for an early flu outbreak this winter because cases are already rising in other countries, a top expert has warned. The UK's flu season tends to last from September to March but the virus does not usually heap pressure on the NHS until January. Latest surveillance suggests cases have more than doubled in a fortnight but remain below levels seen from the same point of the 2019/2020 flu season. Health officials insist the virus is only circulating at 'very low' levels. Dr John McCauley, one of the world's most eminent flu scientists who is based at the Francis Crick Institute in London, warned surges in Croatia, India and China suggest there could be an earlier outbreak in the UK and other countries. The outbreak in Croatia may act as a 'canary in a coalmine' because it is proof flu is already present and ticking upwards in Europe. Outbreaks in India and China demonstrate that flu remains in circulation in large populations, and could quickly be exported to other countries by travellers. He told MailOnline: 'Its over the next few weeks that we will be able to tell if what we are seeing now is sustained. If it is, we might expect an early flu season.' The official surveillance scheme published by the UKHSA says flu cases remain at 'inter-seasonal' levels in Europe. Health chiefs are offering flu vaccines to 35million over-50s, healthcare workers and those in at risk groups. It is the biggest flu inoculation drive in the history of the NHS, and is happening alongside the Covid booster roll out. Experts fear flu could kill up to 60,000 Britons this year because of waning immunity from the virus, as many have not been exposed to it for at least 12 months. There are also mounting fears that the NHS will be struck down at the same time by Covid, with colder weather and darker evenings leading to increased social contact indoors where viruses find it easier to spread. Health Secretary Sajid Javid was yesterday pictured getting his flu jab, as he called on Britons to get their flu and Covid vaccines. Flu is a seasonal menace on the NHS, with outbreaks more likely at this time of year because colder weather forces more people indoors where the virus like Covid finds it easier to spread. But it virtually disappeared last winter amid lockdowns aiming to control the spread of Covid. The above graph shows how the rate of GP appointments for influenza-like illness, such as blocked noses and coughs, has risen recently. These are not confirmed cases of flu, but give an indication of the spread of the virus in the population The above graph shows the proportion of swabs for flu that have picked up the virus in Croatia, India, China and the UK. Scientists warn that if outbreaks are sustained then the UK could be heading for an early flu season The above graph shows flu vaccine uptake in each group since 2015. The dotted lines represent the aim for jab uptake during this year's flu season Asked about Britain's flu situation Dr McCauley, who heads up the WorldWide Influenza Centre, warned the UK may need to brace for an early surge in cases. He said: 'There is flu being picked up in some places, but whether it is spreading in some of these (e.g. Norway and the Netherlands) is not known for certain. 'On the other hand, Croatia has had flu activity over the last four weeks. I don't know if it will be sustained over the coming weeks. 'There has been flu in China from January but at somewhat lower levels than two years ago. Who is eligible for the flu jab this year? Britain has launched its biggest ever flu vaccination drive this year, aiming to get the jab to more than 35million people. The shot aims to spark protection against four strains of flu, following a recommendation from the World Health Organization. There are concerns that the country may face a bad flu season, however. Experts fear that flu's absence for more than a year has meant many people's immunity against the virus has waned. The following groups are being offered the flu jab: People aged 50 and over; Care home residents; Health and social care workers; Vulnerable people; Those who live with vulnerable people; Those who receive a carers allowance; Pregnant women; Advertisement 'India has had flu as well but it is difficult to know how widespread it is in such a large country.' Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, said that it was possible for flu to surge earlier this year than in previous seasons. 'One argument that this could happen is that so few people have been exposed to the flu over the last year, that they do not have enough protection,' he told MailOnline. 'But, looking at the figures, we are still at a very inter-seasonal level of flu. 'It could pick up, and maybe there are flickers of it starting to grow, but I would not expect it to take off just yet.' He said that restrictions on travel between countries may change the way flu circulates this season compared to previous years. But he added that an outbreak in a European country with open international travel with the UK could help fuel a spike in cases here. WHO data from its FluMart system which monitors outbreaks globally highlights a recent outbreak in Croatia, where 35 per cent of swabs tested positive in the third week of September (50 of 140 swabs picked up the virus). This has now dropped to 17 per cent in the latest week (14 of 79), up to October 3, but it is unclear whether the downturn will be sustained. India has seen around 10 per cent of its almost 3,000 flu tests pick up the virus every week since mid-August. And data submitted by China suggests cases of flu there have been rising steadily since the end of August. In Britain flu remains at very low levels with just 0.2 per cent of swabs for flu (14 of 9,052) detecting the virus in the week to October 3, the latest available. The latest report from the UK Health Security Agency which replaced Public Health England shows flu cases are ticking up but remain at very low levels. There were 10 flu infections detected in the last week of September, it said, compared to just three two weeks ago. But a different number of tests for the virus are carried out every week, skewing the statistics. The rate of GP appointments for ILI was 2.4 per 100,000 people in the latest week, compared to 1.2 a fortnight ago. Croatia has relatively few entry restrictions for UK travellers, only requiring them to be double-vaccinated and have tested negative 48 hours before arrival. India is currently only allowing a limited number of flights from the UK for nationals, and requires all British arrivals to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. They must also test negative for Covid up to 72 hours before travelling, and on day eight of their visit. The Indian Government plans to lift restrictions on tourists arriving from October 15, allowing visitors into the country for the first time in 19 months. China has suspended all flights from the UK, and is yet to recognise NHS Covid passes as proof of vaccination against the virus. It requires all arrivals from Britain to quarantine for 14 days in a facility, and to test negative for a type of Covid antibody that is made in the early stages of an infection. Britain requires arrivals from these three countries to complete a passenger locator form and test themselves for Covid on day-2 of their arrival. There are plans for the test to be dropped by the end of October. Experts normally monitor flu outbreaks in the US, Iran, Oman and Qatar from next month to guage what may happen in the UK. Data shows the proportion of swabs that have detected the virus in these countries have only ticked up in Oman and Qatar so far The above graph shows the number of flu cases detected by week this year (blue bars) and the proportion of swabs that have tested positive for the virus in previous years (dotted lines). Data shows flu cases in the UK are rising, but remain below the levels from 2019/2020 flu season The above graph shows the number of hospitalisations with different strains of flu by week up to the last week in September (week 39) for England. It shows a rise in hospitalisations, although these also remain at 'very low' levels The above graph shows the hospitalisation rate per 100,000 people for flu cases. It reveals that towards the end of September (week 39) there has been an uptick in parts of the country Flu jabs may be too weak to protect people this winter because labs have been focused on Covid The flu jab could be less effective than normal this winter because of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine makers warned in August. Every year a new influenza vaccine is developed to protect against several strains of the virus that have been circulating around the world. But over the past year, surveillance of flu strains dropped to a fraction of normal levels as medical resources were turned over to monitoring Covid. There has also been a lack of flu infections because of lockdowns worldwide, which has also reduced surveillance. The effectiveness of flu vaccines varies from one season to the next but it is estimated at between 30 and 60 per cent. It comes amid fears of a bad bout of influenza this year due to a lack of natural immunity caused by lockdowns. Last September five months before experts decide which strain to protect against global genetic sequencing of flu had dropped by 94 per cent, according to jab makers. And global shipments of influenza surveillance samples have dropped by 62 per cent compared to before the pandemic. Dr Beverly Taylor, head of influenza and scientific affairs at Seqirus, which provides Britain with seasonal flu jabs, said: 'We could have reduced the opportunity to identify viruses as they emerge. Advertisement Experts insist it is still too early to tell whether the UK will face a major flu season, despite widespread concern. But if there are outbreaks in the US, Qatar, Oman or Iran in early November this would be a tell-tale sign that the country can expect a major wave to kick in before the new year. This is because outbreaks in these countries can be seeded into the UK. Experts watch Qatar particularly closely because its cases are heavily influenced by international travel due to its position as a transport hub. This means it gives an indication of how much flu is being moved around by travel. Some 80 per cent of over-60s and 76.8 per cent of NHS workers were inoculated against flu last year, according to now the defunct Public Health England. Officials are aiming to jab every healthcare worker and 85 per cent of over-80s this year. Data from pharmacies helping to fuel the roll out show at least 1.8million Britons have been inoculated against the virus since August. Around 80,000 Britons are being inoculated against flu in pharmacies every day this month, figures suggest. The flu vaccine is offered every year to help protect people against the disease and reduce pressure on the NHS. It is based on which flu strains are circulating in the southern hemisphere, which give an indication of which types are likely to be prominent in the UK. But there was virtually no flu last year, making it difficult for vaccine makers to assess which strain is most likely to be prevalent in the coming months. Vaccine makers warned in August that their jabs may be too weak to protect people against the disease this winter. This year marks the first time that flu is likely to circulate alongside Covid, which could place an extra burden on the health service. Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the new UK Health Security Agency, said: 'We are facing a challenging winter but we can all help ourselves and those around us by taking up the Covid booster and flu vaccine, if eligible. 'Getting vaccinated against both viruses will not only help to protect us and our loved ones, but will also help protect the NHS from potential strain this winter.' She warned this weekend that people who catch flu and Covid at the same time are twice as likely to die as those who only have Covid. She told Sky's Trevor Philips on Sunday: 'I think the important thing about this winter is, we are likely to see flu, for the first time in any real numbers, co-circulating with Covid. So the risks of catching both together still remain. 'And if you do that, then early evidence suggests that you are twice as likely to die from having the two together than just having Covid alone.' She added: 'So I think it's an uncertain winter ahead that's not a prediction, it's an uncertain feature but we do know that flu cases have been lower in the previous years so immunity and the strain types are a little more uncertain.' Scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that Moderna had not met all of the agency's criteria to support the use of booster as the first two doses remain strong. FDA staff said in documents that data for Moderna's vaccine showed that a booster does increase protective antibodies, but the difference in antibody levels before and after the shot was not wide enough, particularly in those whose levels had remained high. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) last month endorsed third shots of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans 65 and older, along with tens of millions of younger people at higher risk of coronavirus because of their health or jobs. The latest documents were released ahead of a meeting later this week of the FDA's outside expert advisers to discuss booster doses of the Moderna vaccine. They are expected to make a decision regarding the Moderna booster after the expert meeting. The FDA did not take a stance on Moderna's booster approval application ahead of this week's expert meeting. They are expected to make a decision regarding the company's vaccine after the meeting. It did not give an opinion for Pfizer ahead of its approval either Moderna is proposing half the original dosage for their booster for patients 65 and up The FDA typically follows the advice of its experts, but is not bound to do so. A panel of advisers to the CDC will meet next week to discuss specific recommendations on who can receive the boosters, if the FDA authorizes them. 'There was boosting, sure. Was it enough boosting? Who knows? Theres no standard amount of boosting that is known to be needed, and nor is it clear how much boosting happened in the study,' John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said in an email. The Moderna vaccine is still 76 per cent effective against fighting all COVID-19 infections with the first two doses. The FDA questioned if adding a booster shot to an already effective In the document, the FDA wrote: 'If the primary series of Moderna COVID19 Vaccine is still effective in preventing important COVID-19-related outcomes, then the benefit of a booster vaccination is likely to be more limited than if effectiveness following the primary series has waned substantially.' Moderna is seeking authorization for a 50-microgram booster dose, half the strength of the original vaccine given in two shots about four weeks apart, for patients 65 and up. The FDA questioned if the booster would make a marginal difference and would be necessary considering the first two shots are still showing a 76 per cent efficiency rate against COVID-19 infections The company has asked regulators to clear a third round of shots for adults aged 65 and over, as well as for high-risk individuals, similar to the authorization gained by rivals Pfizer for their mRNA vaccine. The FDA did not have an opinion on Pfizer's booster shot before approving it either, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, Moderna's data regarding its booster did not match the FDA's research, the Wall Street Journal reported. Moderna's booster did not meet one of the two requirements set by the FDA for boosters - increasing the levels of neutralizing antibodies equal to above the first two shots and the percentage of patients whose antibodies increased at least four times. The FDA has two requirements for COVID-19 booster shots: increasing the levels of neutralizing antibodies equal to above the first two shots and the percentage of patients whose antibodies increased at least four times. Moderna marginally failed the latter Moderna failed to reach the latter, compared to the primary results of the first two shots. The results were marginal, according to the Wall Street Journal. President Joe Biden's administration announced plans earlier this year to roll out booster doses for most adults, but some FDA scientists later said in an article in the journal The Lancet that there was not enough evidence to support boosters for all. Earlier this year, the US rolled out Pfizer and Moderna boosters to those who are immunocompromised. Data on the need for boosters has largely come from Israel, which rolled out the additional shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to large swaths of its population, and has provided details on the effectiveness of that effort to U.S. advisers. No similar real-world study populations exist for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, as Finland, Sweden and Norway are restricting the number of Moderna vaccines, due to the rare heart condition that may occur after receiving the vaccine. The US currently has 65.3 per cent of its citizens vaccinated Moderna reported there no cases of the inflammatory disease was observed in the booster, according to the Wall Street Journal. The evidence for Moderna's booster appears to have 'a lot of holes,' said Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, noting that the data provided was limited and offers no insight into how the boosters actually perform in people. 'That is fairly short of what Pfizer had from Israel, where they had the full restoration of the vaccine effectiveness from the booster,' Topol said. The CDC has approved Pfizer boosters for people 65 and older and those in long-term care settings like nursing homes, which have proven to be hotbeds for the contagious virus. The third shots can be administered six months after a second dose. Pfizer boosters are also approved for people aged 18 to 64 who work in high-risk settings or who suffer from underlying conditions, a long list that includes obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and even current and former smoking. The FDA's advisers will also consider booster doses for J&J's single-dose vaccine on Friday. The FDA has not yet released its briefing documents on those shots. The country is experiencing a decline in cases as vaccinations rise J&J has asked the FDA to authorize a booster at least two months after the initial shot. It said data suggests high-risk adults should receive boosters earlier, but that lower-risk individuals could benefit from waiting at least six months for their second shot. The US currently has over 65 per cent of the population vaccinated with almost 190million citizens fully vaccinated. The US is currently on a decline of cases as vaccinations continue to rise with a seven-day average of 89,526 new cases. The House voted Tuesday to extend the debt ceiling until December 3, allowing the Treasury Department to borrow $480 billion to pay the nation's bills. The vote was 219-206, with only Democrats voting in the affirmative and Republicans voting against. Lawmakers passed the stopgap measure approved in the Senate last week, which will be promptly signed by President Joe Biden. The vote was structured in such a way that members voted on a rule governing floor debate on three separate measures, allowing politically vulnerable lawmakers some cover, as they didn't have to vote specifically on a debt ceiling hike. In the run-up to the vote, House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern hammered Republicans for resisting pushing up the debt limit. 'What we're doing here is paying for the bills that Donald Trump and the Republicans accumulated,' McGovern said on the House floor. 'It's like my Republican friends went to a fancy restaurant, drank champagne, ate caviar and ran out of the restaurant before paying the bill.' The House passed a bill that would increase the debt ceiling - by $480 billion until December 3 - along straight party lines Tuesday night House Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (left) went after Republicans for refusing to help Democrats lift the debt ceiling as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (right) suggested Congress get rid of the debt limit altogether 'My friends are really good at creating messes and piling up big bills,' the Massachusetts Democrat charged. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was more charitable, saying both parties have added to the debt. 'Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit. Let me repeat, it is our debt, America's debt,' Hoyer said in a floor speech. 'We both went into that restaurant. We both got a steak.' Hoyer, however, pushed for the debt limit to be abolished - and called the deal Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made with Democrats 'lousy.' 'All together it's a phony issue. It is a fraud. It is fake news,' the Maryland Democrat said. In her floor speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had asked for bipartisan support - something that didn't happen. Rep. Andy Biggs, an Arizona Republican, delayed the final vote for more than an hour by having members vote on a motion to adjourn for the day. Five Republicans voted with the Democratic majority against adjournment. The debt ceiling vote interrupted a planned recess, so hundreds of lawmakers voted by proxy. Tuesday's House vote simply moves the partisan drama over the debt ceiling several weeks down the road. For weeks, Republicans and Democrats have been squabbling over the debt ceiling, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warning that the U.S. wouldn't be able to pay its bills after October 18. McConnell wanted Senate Democrats to pass a debt ceiling hike alone - using the process of reconciliation to bypass the filibuster and get a bill through. Biden and other top Democrats wanted Republicans to simply not filibuster a Senate debt bill, allowing them to pass it using regular order. They complained that reconciliation would take too long, and jeopardize the U.S. economy. The House had previously passed a bill that would suspend the debt ceiling until December 2022, after next year's midterm elections. Republicans, however, wanted a bill that would include a specific dollar amount - likely as a way they can nail Democrats on increasing the debt in advance of the midterm elections. House Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern conducts a markup earlier Tuesday on amendmentes including raising the debt limit Members of the Rules Committee including Reps. Ed Perlmutter (left) and Jamie Raskin (right) prepare the final version of the bill to increase the debt limit On Wednesday, McConnell announced Republicans would allow Senate Democrats to vote on a stopgap debt ceiling measure that increases the ceiling by $480 billion, according to CNN, which is how much the Treasury Department told lawmakers it would need to pay bills through December 3. That measure passed the Senate on Thursday. Eleven Republicans voted alongside every Democrat to break the GOP's filibuster. The bill was then passed 50 to 48, with every Democrat voting in the affirmative and every Republican against it. Earlier this month, Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing a stopgap bill that would fund the government through December 3. Now Congress has set the same deadline to both fund the government - or risk a government shutdown - and push up the debt ceiling. Failure to do the latter would put the U.S. in default for the first time in history. A glamorous young traffic controller has sent a blunt message to her high school teachers who warned her she would be 'poor' if she didn't go to university. Alexandra Carnovalee, 18, uploaded a video to TikTok claiming she makes double the amount of money her teachers are currently earning. The Sydney woman is seen posing with a colleague in her high-vis uniform as captions on the screen read 'Teachers: 'go to uni or else you will be poor'. A young traffic controller has issued a brutal message to high school teachers who pushed her to attend university, claiming she now makes double what they earn The lollipop ladies begin to dance in a circle as another caption reads 'we just made double your pay check by standing outside your house'. The TikTok video has since received over one million views with dozens of young girls asking the glamorous graduate how she landed the job. However, some viewers took offence to the young traffic controller claiming all teachers pushed their students to attend university. 'I really don't encourage my students to go to uni unless they want to pursue a career that needs further education or experience,' one teacher commented. 'Not many teachers are like this but there's a few who push uni a lot,' she replied. Alexandra Carnovalee, 18, (pictured) works as a traffic controller in Sydney and regularly posts Tik Tok videos of her experiences onsite Ms Carnovalee was forced to defend her message in the comments of the video. 'To clarify, this video is just a trend. I'm not putting anyone down for going to uni!', she explained. The 18-year-old said working as a traffic controller was not her life-time career but was 'good money' for someone who had just graduated from high school. 'Don't drop out of school to do this please! Do whatever makes you happy!' she said. Other commenters asked Ms Carnovalee how she got the lollipop lady gig. Ms Carnovalee (pictured) said while working as a lollipop lady wasn't her life-time career it was still 'good money' for people who had just graduated high school She told viewers she had completed a three-day course and then a practical exam. 'After completing your TC courses just email a bunch of different companies, they are always looking to hire people,' the traffic controller encouraged. It comes after a high school dropout revealed she earns more than $1770 per week working as a lollipop lady - a job which can pay up to $130,000 per year. Belinha Ferreira uploaded a video to TikTok detailing how much she makes each day controlling traffic at constructions sites in Melbourne. In a series of text captions placed over clips of the 21-year-old dancing she outlined the number of hours she worked versus how much she was paid. Pictured: Belinha Ferreira, 21, working at a construction site where she is paid well above minimum wag Her largest pay packet of the week was $544 for 13 hours of work, while her smallest was for eight hours of work for $255 - which is about $12 higher than minimum wage at $32 per hour. She worked about 46 hours that week, which is eight hours longer than a regular desk job, but Ms Ferreira explained in the comments that she is often paid overtime. 'I make however much I can make when I can cop the hours,' she wrote. 'I do get overtime hours a lot which results in more money.' Ms Ferreira (pictured) said she dropped out of school in Year 10, but she now earns more than teachers Belinha Ferreira (pictured) said standing up for hour is tough, but she perseveres with pain killers The young woman also revealed she is given travel and meal allowances on top of her pay packet. HOW MUCH DOES A LOLLIPOP LADY MAKE? Traffic controller Belinha Ferreira outlined how many hours she worked versus how much she was paid: Monday: 10.5 hours, $407 Tuesday: 4 hours, $136 Wednesday: 13 hours, $544 Thursday: 10.7 hours, $432 Friday: 8 hours, $255 Advertisement One social media user was baffled as to how Ms Ferreira wound up controlling traffic. 'Tell me you didn't try in school,' they wrote. The young woman replied: 'True cos I dropped out in Year 10.' The user piped up again and asked if she had any regrets. 'Do you regret it? I don't know what I would do with my life if I did that,' they said. Again, the construction worker replied: 'Not at all, to be honest.' An ex traffic controller asked how she manages the long hours. 'How do you deal with standing for all those hours? I had to quit because it was so painful,' she asked. Ms Ferreira wrote: 'I honestly push through it after the eighth hour and if it's really bad I'll have Nurofen and I'm fine.' Last year it was revealed that traffic controllers in Melbourne make at least $105,000, depending on project costs. Unions say wages are just a fraction of those cost and they are deserved because workers do long hours in dangerous conditions. Belinha Ferreira (pictured) said she doesn't regret dropped out of school at all Others in Sydney said they earned $130,000 a year and some patrolling the lonely outback highways of the Northern Territory almost as much. One Sydney woman previously told Daily Mail Australia that she ditched her job as a teacher to become a traffic controller. 'I was looking for a change of lifestyle. I was working as a teacher but this pays a lot more.' One 'lollipop lady', Amy Dowsett, has raked in $130,000 a year since joining the trade. Unions say wages are just a fraction of the cost and they are deserved because workers do long hours in dangerous conditions The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union member earns over $40 an hour and also receives a $45 per day travel allowance and a $22 meal allowance. Depending on the size of the project, she is also paid a site allowance of between $2.10 and $3.95 per hour. Pay varies from state to state, but workers can pocket about $26 an hour to $55 an hour depending on the job, according to online job site Indeed. The jobs usually include penalty rates, allowances and superannuation. The salary is justified though, industry insiders say, as traffic controllers have to stand outside in all weather and they generally cop abuse from the public. Former NSW Premier Mike Baird has revealed how seeing his mother Judy die after a battle with a terminal illness has not changed his mind about euthanasia. NSW is the only state yet to pass a voluntary assisted dying bill but there will soon be a vote on the issue after Independent MP Alex Greenwich and 30 co-sponsors introduce a bill to the state parliament. Mr Baird said the debate around voluntary assisted dying is personal for him after his mother Judy died six months ago following a years-long battle with illness. Mike Baird greets his mother Judy as he arrives at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club to cast his vote in the 2015 NSW state election. Mrs Baird died from a terminal illness earlier this year Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Baird said there were days when he cried just wishing his mum could walk, talk or laugh again. 'When faced with the terminal suffering of someone you love, almost nothing else matters. I understand the pain,' he said. Mr Baird said in circumstances such as these many would find it easy to understand how people wish the pain would just go away, believing their quality of life is over, but he does not agree. As his mother faced her illness, Mr Baird's eldest daughter had her own difficulties - she was going through a marriage breakdown. He said when his daughter visited her grandmother, Judy had tears in her eyes that shared the pain. When his daughter came home, she said, 'I have never felt so loved.' 'It was as if my mum's eyes had given her the hug she needed, the tears, the comfort.' Mike Baird with his father Bruce and mother Judy on the day of the 2015 state election, when Mr Baird was the NSW premier Mrs Baird's funeral in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly last May was attended by former prime minister John Howard, current prime minister Scott Morrison, then state premier Gladys Berejiklian, current NSW premier Dominic Perrottet and author Thomas Keneally. Mr Baird's father Bruce is also a former Liberal politician, and his sister Julia is a TV presenter with ABC. Despite his views, Mr Baird admitted there were times he felt anguish at seeing his mum as she was in her years of illness. He says voluntary assisted dying can look 'neat and easy compared with the messiness and struggle of the natural journey' to what may be a difficult death. 'But there is nothing neat and easy about agreeing to end a life however well-motivated the choice seems,' he said. Mike Bair and his mother Judy. Mr Baird says his mother's battle with a terminal illness has made him oppose euthanasia Mr Baird, who runs the HammondCare charity, said palliative care is a better option than euthanasia. HammondCare has three palliative care units, supporting hundreds of inpatients and thousands more in the community or aged care. His staff has found that some people feel they need to end their life because 'they don't understand that palliative care will vastly reduce their symptoms without prolonging their life'. Mr Baird said palliative care does not promote pointless treatments, keeping someone from dying who is ready to die. Instead, he said, 'palliative care eases the way from life to death without influencing the timing, but uplifting the experience'. Palliative care teams can help patients maintain hope which otherwise may have been abandoned, he added. Mr Greenwich said the list of co-sponsors to his voluntary assisted dying bill included government and crossbench members. Former NSW premier Mike Baird opposes voluntary assisted dying - euthanasia 'It will have more co-sponsors than any other bill has had in any Australian parliament, which shows the strong and broad support the bill has,' he said. He welcomed endorsement of the bill by the Health Services Union NSW and the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association. 'The members of (these unions) are at the frontline of our health system and they approach this reform with care and compassion,' he said. 'So many healthcare workers have seen the cruel suffering that people with terminal illnesses can experience and know the importance of people with a terminal illness being able to consult with their doctor to discuss a range of options in end-of-life care.' But Mr Baird said society must become less afraid of dying and the challenges it brings. 'We might realise that these moments can be a gift: as I discovered in the dying days of my mother,' he said. 'I just don't think laws can replace human love, compassion and ingenuity,' he added. 'Because every life matters until the last breath.' Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An anti-vaxxer who filmed himself callously abusing a cafe barista over the store's vaccine policy is a Christian podcaster who previously berated another waitress as he compared mask mandates to 'rape'. Dominic Karnaby, who runs the Drayk Podcast Show, shared footage of himself hectoring staff at Bespoke and Grind, in Sydney's inner-west, during the city's Covid lockdown in July after he was politely asked why he was not wearing a mask. After his bizarre outburst made headlines, the religious blogger promptly shut down his social media accounts and went to ground. But just months later, he is back online again - and at the centre of another verbal tirade on hospitality workers at Tempe's Cafe Dzajko. Viral footage shows him storming into the store on Monday and scolding barista Andrassa Kest after he spotted a sign outside noting the business would be following the law by requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination before service. An anti-masker and serial cafe worker haranguer has been unmasked as Christian podcaster Dominic Karnaby (pictured) He claims the new jab regulation - which is a part of NSW's reopening rules for businesses after exiting lockdown on October 11 - is 'segregation' as he hurls abuse over the expresso machine. 'Excuse me, what makes you think that I'm going to hand over my medical, private information of whether I'm vaccinated or not vaccinated to buy a cup of coffee?' Karnaby shouts at Ms Kest. 'Do you see how insanely hypocritical that sounds? That you are actually going to be walking implicitly into segregation... I'm very powerful and I will come back!' 'Do you have anything to say to that? 'Cos I know I'm protected, under this discrimination and this putrid attempt to segregate, OK.' The video, which went viral after being posted by an anonymous Instagram account, sparked widespread outrage as the community rallied to show their support for the business, with locals flocking to the cafe to leave tips between $10 and $50. Speaking to Cafe Dzajko owner Sally Dzajko, Today reporter Gabrielle Boyle slammed Karnaby's actions as 'gutless'. 'This was a pretty gutless act,' she said on Wednesday. Cafe Dzajko in the Sydney suburb of Tempe was subjected to a tirade of abuse from Karnaby on Monday Andrassa Kest (pictured) said she was frightened by the irate man but appreciated the outpouring of support from the local community 'This man was happy to video the staff and post this video online, but he wasn't happy to show his own face or name himself. The staff say they felt pretty intimidated by what took place but they are doing okay today.' Supporters have since fired up their social media accounts urging Sydneysiders to head over to the cafe and buy a treat as a show of solidarity. 'That sort of disrespect is just plain wrong! I headed down there today to buy my lunch & leave a tip,' one man wrote on Facebook. 'They are great people who deserve our respect and support. They actually started the business during the pandemic. What could be more enterprising than that. 'Get down there as soon as you can for a coffee and a sandwich.' Another man said he walked four kilometres to visit the eatery and offer his support. 'When I got there, the owner said my coffee was free because someone else had seen this idiots video and decided to shout the next ten customers,' his Tweet read. 'Incredible scenes.' Ms Kest said she was frightened by Karnaby but appreciated the outpouring of support from the community. Karnaby filmed himself berating staff at Marrickville's Bespoke and Grind cafe in July (pictured) 'I am a little bit scared and frustrated because I was just following the rules,' told 9News. 'One bad thing brings a lot of nice and good things.' Ms Dzajko did not witness the encounter with the anti-vaxxer, but told Daily Mail Australia she was appalled at what happened. 'It is dreadful. I don't know why people have to be so mean. It's a shame, it's just heartbreaking.' Despite the public outcry, Karnaby seemed chuffed by his efforts - posting media articles about the incident on his Instagram. 'Nice story you ran with ABC News! One thing you got right was that I Am Powerful! [sic]', he wrote. 'Yes I roar Im a lion duuuur!!' another post read, 'You wanna play God with these passports and tell me what I can and cant do in society because Im not jabbed with your devil juice.' Karnaby declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia, saying he did not think he needed to comment on 'vaccine apartheid'. Members of the community flocked online to urge Sydneysiders to show their support for Cafe Dzajko after the video of Karnaby's anti-vax tirade began circulating online One man said he walked four kilometres to buy a coffee from the cafe in the wake of Monday's incident In July, Karnaby marched into the Marrickville cafe and launched a blistering attack accusing a waitress of 'intimidation' after he was asked why he was not masked before posting footage of the confrontation on Instagram. Before flying into an irrational rage and claimed he had a 'medical exemption', the clip begins standing inside the store filming a sign at the till specifically requesting customers do not enter without a mask. 'Who are you, sorry?' Are you the government? No. Are you the police? No,' he hounds. 'I have an exemption! So just know your rights, but also know that I have rights as well. I have asthma, I have a breathing complication so I can't wear a mask.' 'If someone is being raped do you go and tell them that they are not allowed to feel those feelings that they are being raped and abused by somebody?' Karnaby proudly shared articles about his antics on Monday on his social media page 'This should be a safe space for everybody and I am not going to stand for it. 'Some of these muppets over here might tolerate it, but not me, my friend.' A second video showed Karnaby continuing to berate the staff, accusing them of 'intimidation' and threatening to make them 'go viral' after the owner calmly explained his reaction was not warranted. 'Excuse me, all you needed to say was ''I have an exemption". That's all,' she explains. Karnaby said: 'You need to get that guy into line, it is disgusting how he just treated me. 'The intimidation needs to stop. Do you want to go viral? You are already going to.' The serial haranguer's social media accounts are filled with biblical commentary, anti-abortion sentiments, and views opposing Covid vaccines. Around 75 per cent of people in NSW are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 - but that has not stopped a small but vocal minority from lashing out against vaccine rules (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Sydney) One meme features a woman holding up a sign reading: 'The blood of Christ is my vaccine', while another shows a cross-shaped vaccine syringe. Covid vaccines are very effective at stopping deaths and hospitalisations, with a study of 3.4million Americans finding Pfizer is 95 per cent effective at preventing serious illness. A similar study of AstraZeneca in the UK found the Oxford vaccine is 80 per cent effective at preventing severe sickness in Covid-19 patients. While some Australians remain hesitant to get the jab, the majority of NSW residents are fully vaccinated. As of Wednesday, 75.2 per cent of over 16s across the state had received both doses, while 90.8 per cent have had one shot of a vaccine. A California mother of six who was awarded $4.9 million in damages after police shot and killed her unarmed 16-year-old son has been using the money to buy guns, prosecutors say - which her 14-year-old son then sold to gang members. Christina Lopez, 42, was arrested at her home in Madera, 20 miles north west of Fresno. Christina Lopez, a 42-year-old mother of six, has been arrested and accused of using a $4.9 million settlement for the killing of her son to buy guns for her 14-year-old She was one of 14 people detained following a three-month-long investigation into a July murder carried out by members of the Calwa gang. The 14 arrested were mainly teenagers - the youngest only 13. Lopez faces felony charges of conspiracy to provide firearms to a minor for the benefit of a street gang, child endangerment and conspiracy to provide a firearm to a gang member. Prosecutors said that Lopez used the cash from an April settlement with Fresno police - the largest in the city's history - to buy guns. 'As a mother and a prosecutor and a citizen of this county for my entire life, this is some of the most despicable behavior I've ever seen from a human being,' said Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno county district attorney, at a press conference on Friday announcing the arrests. Smittcamp said that Lopez's actions should make people 'sick to their stomach.' 'The behavior of this woman is some of the most egregious criminality that I have ever seen,' Smittcamp continued. 'It is just horrendous to me that she could do this.' Smittcamp accused Lopez of encouraging the gang activity 'by providing the financial means' to buy guns. She was awarded the money after Fresno police shot and killed her son Isiah Murrietta-Golding in April 2017. Lopez, of Madera, California, was accused by the Fresno district attorney of 'the most egregious criminality that I have ever seen' Fresno County sheriffs seized 12 firearms (pictured) and made 14 arrests to take down a criminal gang believed to be behind a July murder. The gang were believed to be controlled from prison by Jesse Aguilar, 47 He and his brother were being sought for the murder of 19-year-old Eugenio Ybarra the day before. His brother, who was a minor and never named, handed himself in the night Murrietta-Golding died, and pleaded guilty to the killing. Isiah Murrietta-Golding, 16, was shot and killed by police in Fresno in April 2017 Murrietta-Golding was stopped by police in his car at a shopping mall, and got out of the vehicle and ran. Murrietta-Golding is seen in surveillance camera footage jumping over a fence surrounding a day care facility. Sgt Ray Villalvazo - one of the two officers chasing the teen - then draws his gun and fires a single shot through the fence, shooting Murrietta-Golding in the head. Villalvazo's partner can be heard telling him in the background: 'Good shot.' An investigation conducted by the City of Fresno's Office of Independent Review later found that during the chase, the officers saw Murrietta-Golding repeatedly reach for his waistband while looking at them over his shoulder. According to the investigation, Villalvazo opened fire believing that Murrietta-Golding was reaching for a gun. He was in fact unarmed. This screenshot from a a surveillance video shows a Fresno, California, a police officer fatally shoot 16-year-old Isiah Murrietta-Golding in April 2017 Murrietta-Golding was a suspect in a homicide. He led police on a chase after a traffic stop, which ended in the yard of a day care center After taking just eight steps in the yard, Sgt Ray Villalvazo (pictured behind the fence on the left) drew his gun and opened fire Andrew Hall, chief of Fresno Police Department, defended his officers' actions, saying in a statement that Murrietta-Golding and his 17-year-old brother were suspects in the killing of Ybarra. 'The video represents a different vantage point and was not what the pursuing officers could see,' Hall said. 'The 16-year-old was also known to carry firearms and had jumped a fence into a child daycare center.' But in April, after a four-year battle, the city settled with Murrietta-Golding's mother. She used the money to buy a five-bedroom home on five acres of land in a western suburb of the Central Valley city, public records show. If found guilty of also purchasing the guns for her son, she faces 10 years in prison. Ybarra died when his car crashed into a tree after two men fired shots at his car Police allege Jesse Aguilar, a 47-year-old member of the Calwa street gang who is serving a life sentence in prison for a 2014 murder, 'was directing teenagers belonging to the gang to commit murders,' said Margaret A. Mims, Fresno County sheriff. Julia Sherwin, who represented Lopez in the civil rights lawsuit after her son's death, told The Washington Post that the charges against Lopez were payback for the settlement. 'The crimes alleged against her are completely contrary to everything we know about her,' she said. 'These criminal charges reek of retaliation for Christina winning the largest settlement against Fresno in its history.' Lopez is still being held in jail, with bail set at $1.67 million. Sherwin called the sum 'ridiculous.' 'Six of Christina's living children are under the age of 10, including a four-year-old, a two-year-old, and a 10-month-old,' the attorney said. 'She should be released so she can get back to raising her kids.' Helicopter wreckage and the bodies of five Navy sailors have been recovered six weeks after the aircraft crashed off the coast of San Diego on August 31. The sailors were conducting routine flight operations from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln when their MH-60S helicopter crashed. The Navy later confirmed their identities to be Lieutenant Bradley Foster, 29, from Oakhurst, California; Lieutenant Paul Fridley, 28, from Annadale, Virginia; Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class James Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland; and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri. The Navy formally announced their deaths last month after a three-day search and rescue mission failed to find the wreckage. The wreckage of the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter was finally recovered on Friday by salvage divers from the multi-purpose service vessel HOS Bayou. The helicopter was found 5300 feet, or roughly one mile, below sea level, around 60 miles southwest of San Diego on October 8. The Navy withheld the discovery from the public until today in order to tell the sailors' families. Pilot Lieutenant Paul R. Fridley, 28, (left) and Bailey J. Tucker, 21, (right) were among those who died on Seahawk helicopter on August 31 The second pilot Lieutenant Bradley A. Foster, 29, (left) and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, 31 (right) died during the crash. They were all a part of the 'Eightballers' of the HSC-8 team Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31, was on the flight while it crashed The Navy used deep-submersible drones with sonar and cameras to pinpoint the general location of the wreckage in September, before sending out the salvage team. But recovery efforts were delayed because heavier salvage equipment and more personnel were needed. HOS Bayou - an offshore tug that supports deep-water services - was deployed to help recover the helicopter and the remains onboard. The Bayou arrived at back at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego on Saturday with the bodies on October 10, according to the US Navy Institute. The remains were then transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for identification. The Navy is still investigating the cause of the deadly crash. The helicopter crashed after experiencing 'side-to-side vibrations' while landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln's flight deck at 4.30pm on August 31, during routine flight operations, according to CBS 8. The helicopter's rotor struck the flight deck and crashed over the side of the ship. One of the six crew members survived and was reported to be in stable conditions at the time of the crash, but remains unnamed. Five Abraham Lincoln crew members were also injured, the Navy reported. The wreckage was found roughly 60 miles southwest of San Diego and was located 5300 feet, or one mile, under the sea level They were landing an MH-60S, similar to this, when the helicopter experienced 'side-to-side vibration' before the rotor hit the flight deck, causing the it fall off the USS Abraham Lincoln Two were taken back to California for hospital treatment, with the other three were treated on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The crash caused Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8) to halt all flights for seven days to evaluate its aircrafts and personnel immediately following the crash. 'The safety of our sailors is always a top priority and the US Navy consistently integrates safety into all levels of operations and training,' Commander Zachary Harrell said. The helicopter was performing routine flight operation on the USS Abraham Lincoln (pictured) when it crashed on August 31. The helicopter and the bodies were found on October 8 by the US Navy and Coast Guard This is the second helicopter recovery performed by the Navy this year. In March, the Navy recovered another MH-60S Seahawk that sunk off the coast of Okinawa in 2020 at a depth of 19,075. The MH-60S helicopter, which is used for anti-surface warfare, combat support, and humanitarian efforts, and was first deployed in 2002. It has a length of nearly 65 feet with a height of 17 feet, and a weight of 14,430 pounds while empty, and 23,500 pounds max gross. The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is among the largest warships in the world. A Miami-Dade judge who resigned from his position amid misconduct allegations has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly pulling a gun on a neighbor during an argument at their apartment complex. Miguel Mirabal, 51, was elected to the 11th Circuit Court last fall, but stepped down in April, the Miami Herald reports. On Sunday, Mirabal was arrested after allegedly pointing a loaded weapon at a neighbor at his apartment complex in Coral Gables, near Miami. According to an arrest report, Mirabal was unloading groceries from his car when his neighbor's cousin asked the former judge to let him into the apartment complex. The man allegedly explained that he had been locked out, and was unable to call his cousin because he'd left his cellphone in his apartment, the Coral Gables Police Department said. Mirabal reportedly refused to let the man in through the complex's parking garage. Former Circuit Court Judge Miguel Mirabal, 51 (pictured) allegedly pointed a weapon at another resident in his apartment complex after he and the resident's cousin got into a heated argument on Sunday, police said 'The voters feel that I represent them, and that I have been an honest, fair and compassionate judge while following the law,' former judge Miguel Mirabal said in a previous interview with The Daily Business Review After the two argued, the man yelled for his cousin in the complex, who came downstairs to open the garage gate, police said. The resident told police that he approached Mirabal to speak with him, and the former judge pulled out a gun. According to the victim's statement to police, Mirabal 'pulled out a black gun with his right hand, point[ed] it at [the neighbor] and with his left hand pull[ed[ the slide of the weapon back twice.' The man and his cousin called police as they hurried back to their apartment. Coral Gables Police arrested Mirabal when his statement contradicted the neighbor's 911 call, according to the Miami Herald. Mirabal allegedly told officers that the neighbor's cousin 'threaten[ed] to fight' him. He told police that he held the weapon behind his back and 'advised the witness that he is armed, and the witness stepped back and leaves', the report said. Mirabal refused to elaborate further when contacted by Dailymail.com, and said that his attorney would be 'putting out a statement in the next couple weeks' regarding the incident. Mirabal allegedly told officers that the neighbor's cousin 'threaten[ed] to fight' him, forcing him to brandish the weapon. He told Dailymail.com that '[his] attorney would be putting out a statement in the next couple weeks' regarding the incident The Daily Business Review reported that Mirabal resigned from his judgeship 'amid allegations of misconduct stemming from the time before he became a judge.' 'The [Florida] Bar does have a file on Judge Mirabal, but it is on monitor status since The Florida Bar does not have jurisdiction over sitting judges,' Leslie Smith, staff liason for the organization, told the outlet in April. According to regulatory body's website, Mirabal is currently in good standing with the bar, and operates a private law practice. Mirabal was elected to the 11th Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County (pictured) last Fall before stepping down in April In his 16 years as an attorney before he was elected, Mirabal was the in-house legal counsel for the Global Legal corporation in Coral Gables and practiced civil litigation and real estate. Previously, he was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. 'The voters feel that I represent them, and that I have been an honest, fair and compassionate judge while following the law,' Mirabal said in a previous interview with the Business Review. Shannon De Waard, 39, kept his head down in court on Tuesday afternoon Furious vandals have spray-painted 'dog killer' on the home of a plumber accused of strapping a two-year-old German shepherd named Harry to a cement block with cable ties and drowning him in a river. Shannon De Waard, from Miranda in Sydney's south, kept his head down when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court via video link on Tuesday from a prison cell - lifting it only to adjust the band holding his man bun in place. The 39-year-old was charged with torturing or beating an animal to death, committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal after horrified swimmers found Harry's lifeless body in Port Hacking River on Saturday afternoon. De Waard was arrested at his home on Monday evening where police allegedly found cable ties that were the same length and colour as the ones used to tie the pet's head to the Besser block, and 117g of cannabis leaf. Pictured: Shannon De Waard, who is accused of strapping a German shepherd to a cement block and drowning him in a river De Waard was granted bail on Tuesday and returned home to find his home had been pray-painted with the words 'dog killer' His Legal Aid solicitor Natasha Rudduck said he plans to fight the charges, before Magistrate Phillip Stewart granted him conditional bail. The plumber returned home to find his neighbours were unable to contain their rage - taking to his garage with a can of pink spray paint and puncturing the tyres of his car with nails. Mr Stewart described the man's alleged actions as 'disturbing' and acknowledged the case would likely 'cause anger' in the community. 'There is clear evidence he had the dog in his possession at the relevant times,' Mr Stewart said. 'There's a suggested motive for him to get rid of the dog, due to its alleged aggression.' After shocked swimmers found Harry's (pictured) body, authorities scanned his microchip and traced him back to De Waard Mr Stewart said the prosecution's case was strong, but said bail should not be used as a punishment. 'As unpopular as this may be and strong as the prosecution case may seem, it does not cause any bail issues' he said. Troy Loftus was among the group of friends who found Harry's remains underwater. 'I wasn't sure what it was at first, it actually really shocked me,' he told 7News. The dog was traced back to De Waard after police scanned his microchip. Meanwhile, furious Australians flooded the plumber's Facebook profile with comments labelling him a 'putrid monster' and calling for him to be 'tied down on a cement block'. The comments are predominately on two photos he posted of another dog named Bronx that he adopted in 2019. 'He picked me,' De Waard wrote, with a smiley emoji. De Waard's social media has been flooded with comments from furious Australians who labelled him a 'putrid monster' One irate woman commented: 'I hope the same fate awaits you!' 'You deserve to be hanging from a cement block and fed to the sharks. Nothing will make the world happier than to see the same evil happen to you. You putrid vile scum of the earth. You don't deserve the oxygen on this earth.' Another said, 'you deserve to rot in hell you piece of s**t,' with a link to a change.org petition calling for the plumber to receive the maximum sentence of five years in jail. The petition garnered more than 6,000 signatures within the first two days. De Waard also made a bizarre social media post urging potential dog owners not to 'breed or buy while shelter animals die', originally shared by a Facebook group called 'like if you love animals'. He also expressed concern for the environment and a decline in the koala population amid Australia's catastrophic 2019/20 bushfire season with a meme featuring former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Until his case returns to Sutherland Local Court on November 23, he must report to police three times a week, abstain from drugs and alcohol and abide by a curfew between 8am and 8pm. Australians are urged to monitor for a new scan targeting thousands of residents, with thieves using your post to steal personal details. Scamwatch has received over 4,940 reports of the scam involving someone claiming to be an Australian Border Force (ABF) officer. This year alone, the scam has caused over $121,800 in financial losses. The scam initially involves an automated message suggesting a parcel addressed to the person has been seized because it contains illegal material. The message states an arrest warrant has been issued due to the parcel, with the recipient told to dial one to speak with an officer. Scamwatch, run by the ACCC, has issued a warning to Australians about a new scam where individuals over the phone claim to be an Australian Border Force officer A spokesperson from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, who run Scamwatch, said recipients of the call should 'hang up immediately' in a statement to 7 News. 'Once the individual dials "one" (the scammers) would ask the reporter (victim) to Google their local Australian Federal Police phone number and (they had) called the reporter from that number through spoofing,' the spokesperson explained. 'Scammers would then get the victim to share bank account details, driving licence, passport, and a photo of reporter holding the licence. With these details, scammers can compromise the victim's identity, with the photo being useful to pass a variety of institutions' Know Your Customer checks.' Scammers use fear tactics to get you to take action without thinking. If you receive a pre-recorded message from someone claiming to be from the Australian Border Force or Federal Police, stating that there is a warrant out for your arrest, its a #scam. Hang up immediately! pic.twitter.com/36zvFqGHhW Scamwatch_gov_au (@Scamwatch_gov) October 7, 2021 This terrifying scam is thought to be a variation of two other scams that have been reported to the ACCC before. They involved one impersonating an Australian Taxation Officer and the other the Australian Federal Police. Both reportedly threatened receivers of the call if they didn't immediately make payments. The ACCC spokesperson warned Australians to stay alert when receiving these calls, stating law enforcement agencies and government departments will never ask people to pay a fine with cash, cryptocurrencies or gift cards. They also said these agencies will not call and demand payments. '(And) no Australian government agency (law enforcement included), will demand payment for a fine over the phone.' Australians are being told law enforcement and government agencies such as the ABF will never ask for personal details or payments over the phone, especially bank or cryptocurrency transfers or gift vouchers In an alert released in September, Scamwatch also reported some people were being targeted via social media and email with similar scams about fake arrest warrants. The offenders reportedly message victims then call them, demanding payments into a nominated bank account, transfer of cryptocurrency, or purchase of online vouchers. Scamwatch has reported $211million has been lost to various scams in Australia this year, an increase of 89 per cent from the same period last year. A beloved nurse, who was killed in a crash while travelling in the back of an ambulance, has been remembered by his colleagues as a 'kind-hearted' and 'caring' man. Ray Wyeth, 65, and an elderly patient he was looking after were killed on the Capricornia Highway at Stanwell near Rockhampton in Central Queensland on Monday when a B-double truck slammed into the back of the ambulance they were in while it was stopped at roadworks. The impact forced the ambulance off the road before it rolled into a ditch. The ambulance was travelling from Biloela to Rockhampton Hospital. A truck slammed into a rear of a stationary ambulance, killing beloved nurse Ray Wyeth, 65, and an elderly patient in the ambulance. Pictured is the crash scene Tributes have begun to flow in for Mr Wyeth on social media, with many from the Fraser Coast community remembering the long-serving nurse's kind soul and devotion to his work. Catherine Siviour wrote: 'Ray will no doubt be missed by nursing staff at Maryborough Hospital and Hervey Bay Hospital, particularly ICY and maternity staff.' Ms Siviour mentioned that the beloved nurse loved to travel around Australia and had worked in various roles. 'Ray loved delivering babies, nothing was ever too much trouble for him, he just did what needed to be done wherever he worked.' Tributes have flown in for Ray Wyeth (pictured) online, with many from the Fraser Coast nursing community remembering the long-serving nurse's kind soul and devotion to his work Ms Siviour noted that the Scouting community on the Fraser Coast would also feel the loss of Mr Wyeth. 'Ray was a beautiful, kind-hearted, caring, happy, easy-going person - nothing was ever too much trouble for him,' Ms Siviour added. 'Ray was very much a professional and very committed to his work ethic.' Jacqui Peterson wrote on social media that Mr Wyeth was a 'wonderful' colleague. 'Such a tragedy, Ray you were a real gentleman and a wonderful nurse to work with.' While Rachel Beresford remembered Mr Wyeth as a caring nurse who was full of knowledge. 'Ray was a knowledgeable and caring nurse, excellent to work with and an all round good guy! What a loss! I'm so sorry he's gone,' she wrote. Seven people were involved in the crash on Monday afternoon, with reports that occupants in both vehicles were trapped inside and had to be freed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews. Seven people were involved in the crash that happened on the Capricornia Highway (pictured) west of Rockhampton The ambulance driver and three additional passengers were taken to hospital in a stable condition. The truck driver aged in his 40s was airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital in a serious condition. Forensic Crash Unit officers are investigating the fatal crash and are examining the vehicles involved to determine the cause of the incident. Maverick Nick Xenophon is eyeing a return to politics at the next election. The 62-year-old lawyer was a senator for South Australia from 2008 to 2017 before running for state parliament, a move which backfired when his SA Best party failed to win any seats. He now wants return to the senate and is tipped to win the fifth or sixth South Australia spot at next year's election. Political maverick Nick Xenophon (pictured in 2018) is eyeing a return to politics at the next election The former senate power broker is an ex-Liberal member but considers himself a centrist who can help counter the influence of Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Mr Xenophon will campaign on aged care, public health, drug rehabilitation and defence, having raised concerns that scrapping a submarine deal with France would cost jobs in Adelaide where the boats were meant to be built. 'Like Al Pacino in The Godfather, once I thought I was out, they try to drag me back in,' he told ABC radio Wednesday. 'I would run as an independent - it's where my natural habitat is as a pesky independent.' Last year Mr Xenophon was criticised by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for his work as 'strategic counsel' for Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, which had been banned from supplying 5G in Australia due to concerns about Chinese spying. Nick Xenophon outside Parliament House in Canberra with Jacqui Lambie in 2016 Mr Turnbull said Mr Xenophon's legal firm XenophonDavis should be placed on the foreign influence register. 'Given Nick's background, it's difficult to believe that the only reason that they've retained him for is his legal skills,' he said in July last year. 'Is he also seeking to influence governments and public opinion and is he doing more than just being the lawyer giving advice on technical legal matters?' XenophonDavis replied to Mr Turnbull on Twitter, saying: 'You know we don't need to be on the Foreign Influence Register.' Mr Xenophon's decision to throw his hat back into the ring follows a long-running legal battle with US footwear company Dekkers over use of the term 'ugg'. Sydney bootmaker Eddie Oygur was sued by Dekkers in 2016 for selling 13 pairs of ugg boots to US customers, after a US court found Dekkers had the sole rights to using the term 'ugg'. Former SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon is seen campaigning outside Newton Shopping Centre in Adelaide in 2018 While the federal government has contributed $200,000 to fight the case, Mr Xenophon said the commonwealth had fallen short of assisting Mr Oygur as a 'friend of the court', which means there's little chance an appeal would be heard by the US Supreme Court. 'The (Australian) government is being so out on touch on this,' Mr Xenophon, who returned to the legal profession after he left the Senate. 'I don't know why they won't do what's needed for every ugg boot maker in the country.' During his almost decade-long stint in federal parliament, Mr Xenophon acted as a critical vote on the Senate crossbench. Mr Xenophon resigned from politics in 2017 at the height of the dual citizenship scandal, after he announced he was unsure whether he was a dual citizen, which would have made him ineligible to run for parliament. However, the High Court later found Mr Xenophon was validly elected and able to run for office. He turned his attention to South Australian politics, running for a lower house in the 2018 state election under the SA Best party, but failed. Gladys Berejiklian's youngest sister Mary has cheered on a scathing opinion piece tearing into The Project host Lisa Wilkinson over her views on the former premier. A column written by Joe Aston for the Australian Financial Review last week said Ms Wilkinson 'owed Gladys Berejiklian an apology' after the Ten Network personality repeatedly criticised the previous NSW leader's handling of the recent Covid-19 outbreak. Mr Aston questioned why the television host was complaining about lockdown from her 'Sydney Harbour mansion'. Ms Berejiklian - who has otherwise kept mum on her sister's plight - 'celebrated' Mr Aston's criticism of Wilkinson after he posted it to LinkedIn last week. Gladys Berejiklian is pictured with her youngest sister Mary. The AFR recently published an opinion piece saying The Project host Lisa Wilkinson needed to 'apologise' to Gladys for her critique of her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic Mary Berejiklian 'celebrated' a post of columnist Joe Aston's opinion piece which tore into Lisa Wilkinson Mary famously revealed her sister was in a relationship with esteemed barrister Arthur Moses on Instagram Mr Aston's piece came about ahead of the release of Ms Wilkinson's new memoir It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This, which Mr Aston claimed would be missing an explanation for her 'gratuitous diatribes' against Ms Berejiklian. 'From her mansion on Sydney Harbour and while continuing her highly remunerated TV duties uninterrupted, Wilkinson berated Berejiklian for not more ruthlessly curtailing the liberties of the city's residents,' Mr Aston wrote. 'It remains unclear which 'people' Wilkinson purported to speak for, but it was certainly not the hundreds of thousands of low-income workers already suffocating in their tiny apartments with their children, five weeks into home schooling, climbing up the walls.' Ms Wilkinson had claimed Ms Berejiklian had been too 'soft' in her response and instead praised the hardline approach of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, despite cases numbers in the state now breaking daily records. Mr Aston noted Gladys had dragged NSW from 'hopeless imprisonment to semi-normal life' and added residents should be grateful. Mary's response to the piece wasn't the first time she stood up for her sister. The opinion piece came ahead of the release of Ms Wilkinson's (pictured) new memoir It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This, which Mr Aston said would be missing an explanation for her 'gratuitous diatribes' against Ms Berejiklian Two years ago when Ms Berejiklian was copping abuse on social media, Mary stepped in and fired off several responses to the trolls. She told one who was complaining the former premier was going to 'kill live music' to 'relax and go read something'. Another person who left their opinion under the premier's photo by saying she 'sucked' was told by her younger sister: 'Grow some pubes then we can talk'. Mary famously revealed her sister was in a relationship with esteemed barrister Arthur Moses on Instagram. As for Wilkinson, she has been a strident critic of Ms Berejiklian - demanding she step down in August and labelling her leadership a 'bin fire'. 'The whole state needs a complete reset and if Gladys Berejiklian isn't up to the job, then she needs to step aside and make room for somebody who is up to the job, because she's stuffed this up,' Ms Wilkinson said on The Project. Wilkinson urged the state pursue a tougher lockdown. Ms Wilkinson took aim at Ms Berejiklian's 'soft' handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. Gladys is pictured with sisters Rita (left) and Mary (right) During her scathing August segment, Wilkinson took aim at Ms Berejiklian's 'unwatchable' daily press conferences. 'On a day when NSW is recording its highest numbers of the pandemic, another family is grieving a loved one, Gladys Berejiklian makes no new restrictions,' Ms Wilkinson said. 'She's doing nothing, the soft lockdown continues and we're all scratching our heads trying to work out if she's not going to do anything more, why is she continuing with this same rhetoric? 'That light she can see at the end of the tunnel, we can all see it too - it's a complete bin fire. And somebody else needs to step in.' Wilkinson also said Sydney 'needs to apologise' for unleashing its Covid-19 outbreak on the nation and ultimately plunging Victoria into yet another lockdown. 'There's a lot of us in Sydney who feel like we need to apologise to you guys because all of this comes from what happened six weeks or so ago,' she said on The Project in early August. 'The problem was the messaging from the very beginning.' She claimed the key moment to get the outbreak under control was missed when Ms Berejiklian resisted going into lockdown until June 26, 10 days after the current outbreak began when an airline limo driver in Bondi tested positive. 'We've all become experts but just watching this unfold, it really does feel like the problem sheets back to the original mixed messaging with a lockdown that wasn't hard enough,' she said. 'People wanted the hard lockdown. We wanted to know what the rules were so we can follow them and get out of it quickly. 'But Victoria keeps proving every time that the minute you get an outbreak there, you stamp on it, and you get back to normal life again. 'It's just a pity it's happening for you guys for the sixth time now.' Suzy Lamplugh's suspected killer is launching a bid for freedom by appearing before a Parole Board. John Cannan, a convicted rapist and kidnapper, is the man who police believe murdered the estate agent following her disappearance in 1986. However, the 67-year-old has never been charged with the killing and could even be released back on the streets in the not too distant future. Cannan - who was jailed following the murder of Shirley Banks in Bristol in 1987, along with an attempted kidnapping and the rape of a woman in Reading the previous year - faces a panel hearing next year to try and move to an open prison. If that effort is successful, he could be allowed back into the community within as little as 18 months, according to the Sun. The move angered former Jim Dickie, a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Met Police, who led a fresh probe into Suzy's murder 20 years ago. 'Cannan should never be released, full stop,' he told the paper. 'He is a psychopath and serial sex offender who, in my opinion, has murdered at least three women. 'He will remain a danger to women until the day he dies and it would be a grave risk to ever release him.' John Cannan (left) is suspected by police of killing Suzy Lamplugh (right) but he has never been charged Suzy's brother Richard said 'it would be lovely to find her' and scatter her ashes (Pictured: Richard holding a framed photo of his missing sister) Suzy was last seen on July 28, 1986, when she left the Fulham office of the Sturgis estate agency in her company Ford Fiesta. Her diary said she had an appointment at 12.45pm to meet a prospective buyer called Mr Kipper. The car was later found abandoned outside another house on the Sturgis books. The ignition key was missing and her purse was in the glove box. Investigators most recently carried out searches at a property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, in 2018 and on land near Drakes Broughton in Worcestershire in 2019, but nothing was found. One of the most dangerous men in Britain, Cannan had been living at a West London bail hostel after serving five years of an eight-year sentence for rape at knifepoint. He has always denied any involvement in the case and the absence of a body or forensic evidence means there has been little chance of linking him to Suzy. But a Channel 5 documentary The Vanishing Of Suzy Lamplugh, screened at the end of last year - pointed to intriguing evidence that was originally ignored by police. A lorry driver called Dave had seen someone looking like Cannan on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, West London, carrying 'a very heavy bag on wheels'. Moments later, the witness who has since died heard a loud splash and saw the man running away empty-handed. 'Dave went to the police three times about what he saw back in 1986 but felt he was never listened to and no action was taken,' a friend told The Mail on Sunday. 'It troubled Dave for the rest of his life until he died six years ago. Why would someone be dumping a suitcase in the canal at that time of the morning?' Cannan is serving three life terms at HMP Full Sutton, a top security prison in East Yorkshire. In that time, however, he has suffered a stroke and serious subsequent health problems. His parole hearing will determine whether he is fit and able to be moved to open conditions, where he would then be allowed home leave and visits into the community. Police officers search an area near Pershore in Worcestershire in 2019 as part of further investigations into Suzy's disappearance A search of a wooded area by police in 2019 (pictured) is not believed to have found any significant new evidence in Suzy's case In August this year, Suzy's family told how they pleaded with police to question Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright over her suspected murder. The 25-year-old estate agent worked alongside the serial killer on the QE2 luxury cruise liner and he is even said to have chatted her up. But according to his ex-wife, when Suzy vanished and her disappearance hit the headlines, he denied ever knowing her. Wright, 63, is currently serving life for murdering five women in Ipswich within a fortnight in 2006 and was arrested in July this year on suspicion of killing Victoria Hall, 17, whose naked body was found in a ditch in 1999. Now Suzy's family are demanding he also be quizzed over her suspected murder. Suzy vanished after leaving her London office to meet a 'Mr Kipper' for a viewing at a Fulham flat. Killer Wright is coincidentally said to have used the word 'kipper' as slang for 'face'. Suzy's body was never found and she was declared dead presumed murdered five years later. But Wright was jailed for the Ipswich killings in 2008 and ruled out of Suzy's case by police in 2012. But Suzy's brother Richard, 61, told the Sunday Mirror: 'I don't see any reason why police couldn't speak to Wright about Suzy's murder. 'They are trying to solve another case and are probably concentrating on that one. 'But if Wright has been linked, if the police thought it was relevant, then it would be worthwhile.' Advertisement Jaggar Phillips is only 10, but he is going places in surfing - and fast. The talented grommet, from Maroubra in Sydney's east, is the envy of his schoolmates after securing a sponsorship with iconic Australian surfing brand Billabong. He is equally talented away from the beach, be it carving up at skate bowls or in Jiu-Jitsu classes. Maroubra grommet Jaggar Phillips was stoked after recently securing a sponsorship with Aussie surf brand Billabong The 10-year-old first began surfing at the age of two with his dad Matt - and is already well known in elite surfing circles Jaggar, who started surfing at the age of two with his dad Matt, caught the eye of staff at Billabong after recently completing the Surf 30 Days in September challenge, which raised money for remote surf communities overseas. Hosting the event alongside SurfAid, Billabong were impressed by the dynamic goofy-footer, who collected over $2000 himself for the charity. Following some social media exposure, the pint-sized youngster was on cloud nine when he was added to the Billabong surfing stable, which includes the likes of world number two Italo Ferreira, Joel Parkinson and big wave shredder Laura Enever. 'It was a great feeling, I was so happy,' Jaggar told Daily Mail Australia when reflecting on his big sponsorship news. 'I love surfing because I can do it and have fun with my friends.' Life in lockdown has also been in recent months - time away from the classroom allows Jaggar more time to hone his surf skills. 'I think homeschooling is great, in between Zoom chats I can meet my friends out in the surf,' he added. Jaggar also doesn't have to look far for advice - Bra Boy and renowned big wave surfer Koby Abberton is a family friend. Surfing NSW identity Ethan Smith wasn't surprised to hear Billabong have backed Jagger to be a future star in the ocean. 'We have been aware of his exploits for some time, his appetite for the sport is amazing,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'He loves the water, and with his father being a local lifeguard at Maroubra, surfing is in his blood. 'Jagger is a real talent, and I have no doubt he will be loving the fact Billabong have identified him as a rising star.. how far he goes in the sport is up to him.' The talented youngster (pictured right) is also showing promise in Jiu Jitsu and as a skater in Sydney's east in and around Maroubra A number of respected surfing judges believe the 10-year-old has a promising future in the sport, such is his appetite for the sport Baron Grade of Yarmouth (pictured) was chief executive of Channel 4 between 1988 and 1997. He told the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee the broadcaster needed to own its own intellectual property and 'gain scale' Channel 4's current remit is a 'straitjacket' that needs updating before the broadcaster 'succumbs to the inevitable decline', a former boss of the channel has said. Baron Grade of Yarmouth, who was Channel 4 chief executive between 1988 and 1997, told the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee the broadcaster needed to own its own intellectual property and 'gain scale'. The Government has been consulting on plans to privatise the channel, which could be sold off to a private buyer. Giving evidence to the Lords committee inquiry into the future of the broadcaster, Lord Grade described Channel 4 as a 'minnow'. He said his 'first observation' was that 'the status quo is not an option' and action was needed before it 'succumbs to the inevitable decline'. Lord Grade added: 'The world has changed. The arguments for the status quo are backwards-looking. They look back to an age of huge government intervention. Lord Grade said his 'first observation' was that 'the status quo is not an option' and action was needed before Channel 4 'succumbs to the inevitable decline' Channel 4 is currently funded by the taxpayer but the Conservatives have discussed selling it off for years 'Channel 4 started as the only buyer of independent production and it was the mother and father of the independent sector, which is one of the great success stories of the British creative industry.' Channel 4 is no longer the only buyer of independent productions and because of this Lord Grade said the broadcaster needed 'to do what every other free-to-air advertiser-supported business is doing, which is to own its own IP and to be able to gain scale'. He added: 'Everything in the Channel 4 constitution is against that and therefore it will, in my view, in a very short time really begin to struggle.' Lord Grade said he was proud of his role in Channel 4's history but its current remit was like a 'straitjacket' in today's media landscape. He said: 'The history is important - and it is a product of its history - but it is history, folks. 'We have got to look forward to the next 10 to 20 years and try and preserve as much British broadcasting as we possibly can and protect it as best we can. 'But that doesn't mean the same straitjacket remit - not programme remit but corporate remit - that Channel 4 has today, which is 30 years out of date now.' However the TV executive criticised the idea that a privately owned Channel 4 would lose its distinct identity. 'Anyone acquiring that business, if they destroy that brand they are doing nothing but destroying value for their own shareholders,' he said. 'I believe the best of Channel 4 in an acquisition, merger, consolidation move, will be preserved because the new owners would be mad to suddenly turn it into a sub-Channel 5 or aping ITV or whatever. It would be nonsense. It would be business insanity.' He said broadcasters and streaming services need 'a distinct appeal' and Channel 4 has that 'in abundance' due to its history. Channel 4's current chief executive Alex Mahon (pictured) said privatisation risked having a 'negative impact on the types of content' produced by the channel He added: 'I have some concerns about a publicly owned institution - owned by the taxpayer, owned by the Government - in making a case for the status quo. 'Is it appropriate for a state-owned broadcaster to be lobbying the Government against what the Government thinks it would like to do subject to consultation? I don't know. I would just raise the question.' Meanwhile, Channel 4's current chief executive Alex Mahon said privatisation risked having a 'negative impact on the types of content' produced by the channel. She said shows such It's A Sin, the TV film Help, the Paralympics and a Dispatches special about sexual abuse by serving police officers would not be aired by commercially minded streaming giants. She singled out South Korean Netflix drama Squid Game - in which cash-strapped contestants compete in deadly children's games for a prize - as the kind of content privately owned competitors were making. Alex Mahon said Netflix drama Squid Game was the kind of content privately owned competitors were making. South Korean drama Squid Game features cash-strapped contestants compete in deadly children's games for a prize Ms Mahon said shows such It's A Sin, the TV film Help, the Paralympics and a Dispatches special about sexual abuse by serving police officers would not be aired by commercially minded streaming giants Under a private owner Ms Mahon said she was worried coverage of the Paralympics might fall by the wayside Ms Mahon told the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee: 'There is a real risk that if a private owner came in they would be naturally minded to maximise profit and that would have a negative impact on the types of content. 'It would have a negative impact on the production sector, as we have talked about. 'We have got to be clear about that because it impacts [small companies] and it impacts out-of-London producers. 'We have been clear there will be a real risk of impacting our work in the regions, which we have only just started in - we have only just opened our big office in Leeds - and particularly on bringing young people into the sector.' Speaking about Channel 4's slate of programmes, she added: 'I don't believe that Netflix would be making those pieces. 'Squid Game is very good. It is very uplifting to see 250 people killed in the first episode. But they are not really focusing on the things that we are, like those kind of... documentaries about stop and search or things that are going on in our country. And that is important. 'We have in our response [to the consultation] tried to focus on what the risks are in the choice that was laid out, not other things. But we would always welcome those discussions.' The broadcasters chairman Charles Gurassa also dismissed the idea it was only surviving in the current media landscape. He said: 'I dont equate surviving with our best year ever in history. 'We will end the year with 280million of cash in the bank, balance sheet assets of more than 500million, no overdraft, growing audiences, growing digital. Its better than surviving.' The UK must adapt or die as flooding and droughts become more frequent due to climate change, the Environment Agency has warned. Deadly events such as this summers flooding in Germany will hit here if our country does not make itself resilient to the more violent weather the eco-emergency is bringing, said the organisations chairman Emma Howard Boyd. In her speech, made ahead of the UNs Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, she stated that flood barriers or reducing water use are just as important as lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. looding in Chigwell after thunderstorms struck London in July She also warned that adaptation to climate change was being neglected by most of the world, with the focus on reducing emissions. In a report to Parliament on how Britain will adapt to the problem, the EA said water supplies which are already challenged by pollution would come under greater pressure, and make it harder to ensure clean and plentiful water. Traditional flood defences will not be able to prevent all flooding and coastal erosion. The natural world cannot adapt as fast as the climate is changing, the EA said. Population growth, hotter drier summers and rising sea levels will also increase water demands. If no further action is taken between 2025 and 2050, more than 3.4billion extra litres of water a day will be needed for public supplies. With 2C global warming below the level for which the world is currently on track Englands winter rainfall will increase by 6 per cent by the 2050s, with summer rainfall down 15 per cent. Miss Howard Boyd said: The climate crisis is global, but its impacts are in your village, your shop, your home. It is adapt or die. With the right approach we can be safer and more prosperous. So lets prepare, act and survive. The warnings come in the EAs third adaptation report, submitted to the Government under the Climate Change Act. Australia has urged countries to continue international support to Afghanistan citizens living under Taliban rule, following an overnight meeting of G20 leaders. Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended the virtual summit hosted by the Italian prime minister. Mr Morrison urged leaders to maintain international diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to live up to commitments it had made following its takeover of Afghanistan earlier this year. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended the virtual summit hosted by the Italian prime minister. The leaders agreed to work together to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the country, with the European Union pledging more than one billion euros ($A1.57 billion) in aid packages. A readout of the meeting said leaders were deeply concerned about the crisis unfolding in the country and emphasised continued humanitarian support. 'They demand the Taliban allow unimpeded access for aid workers, uphold human rights especially for women and girls, that it allow those who want to leave to be able to do so,' the readout said. It was revealed earlier this week at a senate inquiry that 100,000 Afghan nationals have sought humanitarian visas from Australia, with 26,000 applications in just the last seven weeks. Australia evacuated 4100 people from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said leaders were deeply concerned about the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan The G20 meeting also called on the Taliban to not allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists. 'Several (leaders) called for a unified stance, especially on messages to the Taliban, and a number noted that to get things done they had to deal with the Taliban but that this did not constitute recognition,' the readout said. Mr Morrison said ahead of the meeting that a co-ordinated approach from leaders was needed for Afghanistan. 'I stand with G20 members in supporting international agencies delivering much needed humanitarian assistance on the ground,' he said. 'Australia is committed to helping Afghanistan build a stable and secure future.' Older people from deprived areas most likely to miss out, shows medical records Analysis indicates 7.4m fewer checks took place in GPs from March-Dec 2020 Assessments are essential to ensure that patients are controlling their disease Doctors conducted 7.4million fewer diabetes checks last year leaving patients at increased risk of heart attacks and amputations, a study suggests. Researchers warn the delays will continue, with potentially deadly consequences, if surgeries fail to improve access to face-to-face care. Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence state that type 2 diabetics should have tests yearly. These include blood pressure and weight, urine tests for protein, and blood tests for cholesterol, kidney function and sugar levels. The assessments are essential to ensure that patients are controlling their disease and do not risk long-term complications. But analysis by doctors at the University of Manchester indicates that 7.4million fewer checks than usual took place in general practices between March and December 2020. Older people from deprived areas were most likely to miss out, according to the review of the medical records of 618,161 type 2 diabetics. The researchers also estimate that 31,800 fewer people with type 2 were prescribed with a new type of diabetes medication and 14,600 fewer were given a new type of blood pressure drug. Doctors conducted 7.4million fewer diabetes checks last year leaving patients at increased risk of heart attacks and amputations, a study suggests (file photo) This almost certainly means that large numbers were left with poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure, the experts say. The Daily Mail is campaigning for more GP appointments to be carried out in person now that legal Covid restrictions have been scrapped. Before the pandemic, 80 per cent of consultations were face to face but now it is just 58 per cent. Study leader Dr Matthew Carr said: Health checks for people with type 2 diabetes are generally carried out in general practice and as face-to-face appointments arent yet back up to pre-Covid levels delays are likely to continue. Writing in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety, Dr Carr and colleagues said: The impact of the pandemic on the NHS, and in particular on diabetes services, has been enormous, with the suspension of much routine care. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, there is an urgent need to minimise the harm done through reduction of routine services and to prioritise care and resources to areas of greatest need. The Daily Mail is campaigning for more GP appointments to be carried out in person now legal Covid restrictions have been scrapped The management of type 2 diabetes occurs almost exclusively in primary care. Therefore, lower general practice attendance due to Covid-19 would likely restrict the ability to perform these essential health checks. In April 2020, diabetic checks fell between 76 and 88 per cent in England compared with the ten-year trend. These rates recovered from May to December 2020 but remained well below expected levels. Nikki Joule of Diabetes UK described the findings as incredibly concerning. Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: In line with government guidance, patients with type 2 diabetes were categorised according to their level of risk so those at higher risk, including those who were recently diagnosed and those whose glucose was poor, were prioritised over patients whose condition is being effectively controlled and managed. The professor said it was also likely the lockdown and virus fears had led to fewer patients with diabetes seeing their GP in person. Sign language interpreters will only appear at critical health press conferences as NSW moves out of Covid lockdown and towards a 'more normal setting'. Auslan Interpreters for residents who are hearing impaired have become a familiar feature at conferences nationwide throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. However in NSW, interpreters have been noticeably absent from the premier's last two Covid press conferences causing uproar among disability advocates. A group of lawyers presented Mr Perrottet with an open letter claiming the omission of interpreters at conferences was a violation of human rights. Australians have been left outraged by Dominic Perrottet's decision to ditch sign language interpreters from important press conferences (pictured, at Monday's press conference) The group said delivering crucial health advice to the Australian public without an interpreter was leaving those deaf or hard of hearing vulnerable. 'Failure (to have a Auslan translator) places people with disabilities at risk of not receiving the vital information shared and violates their human rights,' Australian Lawyers for Human Rights wrote in the open letter on Monday. While interpreters attended the Mr Perrottet's conferences held on Thursday and Saturday, they were noticeably absent on Sunday and Monday. The premier, standing inside a pub in Moore Park, announced the reopening of the state on Monday with no interpreter standing by his side. The office of the premier issued a statement to media on Tuesday that explained Auslan interpreters are organised by the Department of Health and would now only attend some media events as the state returns to 'a more normal setting'. 'NSW Health has worked closely throughout the pandemic with the Deaf Society, which has provided Auslan interpreters at health-content-led press conferences and at the live streaming of NSW Health social media messages,' the statement read. 'NSW Health will continue to book Auslan interpreters at press conferences coordinated by NSW Health relating to public health updates. 'NSW Health will also request an Auslan interpreter at any press conference where the chief medical officer or deputy is providing a health update.' Auslan interpreters were a familiar feature at ousted Premier Gladys Berejiklian's conferences (pictured) throughout the Covid-19 pandemic State politician Penny Sharpe, tweeted her disappointment at the omission of Auslan interpreters as Mr Perrottet proudly announced the end of lockdown (pictured) State politician Penny Sharpe, voiced her disappointment at the omission of Auslan interpreters as Mr Perrottet proudly announced the end of lockdown. The premier gave important information on the vaccination rollout across the state, Covid-19 case numbers and using vaccine passports. 'One of the biggest announcements today about reopening. No #auslan interpreter. The Deaf community have relied on this for the last 100 days... disappointing start,' Ms Sharpe tweeted. 'It's an absolute disgrace. Once again the vulnerable have been left behind,' a NSW woman replied to the politician. Deaf Australia, the national peak organisation for deaf Australians replied to the tweet: 'Deaf Australia agrees and have also called out the Prime Minister on not having interpreters at all Press Conferences on all topics. '6 out of the last 50 have been interpreted.' Deaf activist Sherrie Beaver raised the alarm on Twitter that Mr Perrottet did not have a Auslan interpreter by his side when he announced the state's exit from lockdown Deaf activist Sherrie Beaver explained that those hard of hearing could not understand the tone of the message by simply reading on-screen captions. She said deaf people were not familiar with the 'jargon and terminology' used in conferences and said captions could sometimes experience technical faults. 'The provision of Auslan interpreters for press conferences need to be consistent, not just a few pressers,' she tweeted on Monday. Are we not privy to information that could help us to make informed decisions as full citizens? Selective accessibility if I say so.' NSW recorded 444 new cases of Covid-19 and four deaths on Wednesday. A teenager has been stabbed to death on a football pitch by a knifeman carrying a blade in his sock, it has today been claimed. The 18-year-old victim was fatally wounded after a row broke out during a kick-around in south-west London, local residents say. Met Officers are now hunting for the killer following the incident at a playing field on Craneford Way in Twickenham yesterday. The victim was rushed to an outer London hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 5.54pm. One local said: 'He got into a row during the game and a bloke pulled out a knife and stabbed him.' Retired Met Police officer Norman Brennan, who lives in the area, added in a Twitter post that the suspect had a 'knife tucked in his sock while playing football'. 'If correct this is a new low in knife crime,' he added. Police are today appealing for information and believe witnesses may have filmed the shocking incident. They are urging people not to share the footage online. Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: 'The incident occurred in a playing field area and was witnessed by a number of people. A teenager has been stabbed to death on a football pitch by a knifeman carrying a blade in his sock, it has today been claimed. Pictured: A police forensic tent at the scene today The 18-year-old victim was fatally wounded after a row broke out during a kick-around in south-west London, local residents say. Pictured: Police at the scene today Metropolitan Police are investigating the death of a teenager after he was fatally stabbed on playing fields in southwest London. Pictured: Police at the scene last night 'Some of those people are believed to have filmed events as they unfolded; I ask that any videos are not shared via social media to avoid causing the young man's family any more distress at this already incredibly difficult time for them. 'Instead, please go to the police immediately. A number of people have spoken to us, but we need to hear from anyone who has information that could help. 'We're working to establish the motive behind this tragic incident and following a number of leads. If you believe you can help us, then please make contact.' The scene of the incident - near to the Harlequins Rugby Club - has been sealed off while forensic officers carry out an investigation. Detectives are working to inform the victim's next of kin. No arrests have yet been made, the force said. Officers were called to an incident on Craneford Way in Twickenham yesterday afternoon. They found a man, believed to be aged in his late teens, who was suffering from knife wounds The scene of the incident - near to the Harlequins Rugby Club - has been sealed off while forensic officers carry out an investigation. In a statement, the Met Police said: 'Police were called at 16:45hrs on Tuesday, 12 October to reports of a stabbing in Craneford Way, Twickenham. 'Officers and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended. 'At the scene a male, believed to be in his late teens, had sustained knife wounds. 'He was taken by LAS to an outer London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 17:54hrs. 'Enquiries are underway to notify his next of kin. 'A crime scene and cordons remain in place and at this early stage there have been no arrests. The victim was rushed to an outer London hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 5.54pm 'Anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5697/12OCT.' Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111. The incident is believed to be the 102 investigation launched by the Met Police homicide team in 2021. It comes after officers investigating the death of Nicole Hurley, 37, in Primrose Hill, west London, on Sunday. Ms Hurley's boyfriend Jason Bell, 40, was arrested later that day and was last night charged with her murder. He appeared in court yesterday. Meanwhile, police are also investigating the death of a 51-year-old man found dead after police were called to a home in Chelsfield Lane, Orpington, at around 11.46pm on October 9. A woman in her 40s, who was known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on police bail. Members of least five families linked to the US Embassy in Colombia have been stricken with suspected Havana Syndrome just days ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The incident - which includes a child victim - is just the latest example of the mysterious neurological illness, that causes headaches, nausea, dizziness and other issues. There have been 200 reported cases of the yet-unexplained illness at US embassies and government buildings around the globe. Numerous explanations have been put forward, from a sonic or microwave attack from an enemy, to mass hysteria. Blinken is slated to meet with Colombia Vice President Marta Lucia Ramirez on October 20 in Bogota. Concerns about the mystery illness amplified after a family was recently evacuated from Colombia for medical care, The Wall Street Journal reported. 'There was definitely a family, including a minor hit,' a source told the outlet. 'Adults sign up for what they sign up for and the risks that come with it Targeting or even incidentally hitting kids should be a hard line.' The latest Havana Syndrome scare mirrored an 'anomalous health incident' in Vietnam in August that delayed Vice President Kamala Harris' departure by more than three hours. Several Americans with ties the US Embassy in Colombia were affected by Havana Syndrome The cases were reported ahead of a scheduled visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken In that case, at least two U.S. personnel in Hanoi were reportedly airlifted out of the country after suffering from the Havana Syndrome. Hours before Harris arrived in Hanoi - her next stop on an Asia trip - American personnel in Vietnam were informed that the incidents involved odd noises, a trademark characteristic of Havana Syndrome. In Bogota, some of the effected families are staying in hotels while officials test their apartments, the Journal said. Those working at the embassy flagged an 'unexplained health incident' last month, and in an October email said security officials were investigating 'additional anomalous health incidents,' governmental jargon for the Havana Syndrome. Ambassador Philip Goldberg said in an email obtained by the Journal that the State Department would respond to the situation 'seriously, with objectivity, and with sensitivity.' Vice President Kamala Harris' departure from Singapore was delayed by nearly three hours because of an 'anomalous health incident in Hanoi,' which was the next stop in her Asia trip What is 'Havana Syndrome'? The mysterious illness that started in the US embassy in Cuba and causes memory and hearing loss The problem has been labeled the 'Havana Syndrome,' because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba. At least 130 cases across the government are now under investigation, up from several dozen last year, according to a U.S. defense official who was not authorized to discuss details publicly. The National Security Council is leading the investigation. A case was reported as recently as last week in Berlin. People who are believed to have been affected have reported headaches, dizziness and symptoms consistent with concussions, with some requiring months of medical treatment. Some have reported hearing a loud noise before the sudden onset of symptoms. Investigators believe there are at least four cases involving Trump White House officials. Advocates for those affected accuse the U.S. government of long failing to take the problem seriously or provide the necessary medical care and benefits. US senators said last month that the government is investigating an apparent increase in the mysterious directed-energy attacks. Advertisement Generally speaking, those affected by Havana Syndrome have reported symptoms consistent with concussions, with some requiring months of medical treatment. Some sufferers said they heard a loud noise before symptoms took hold. What's causing Havana Syndrome remains a mystery. Some theorize that the symptoms are caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment; while others believe incidents are caused by a mysterious sonic weapon. If it was a hostile attack, the chief suspects in the unsolved mystery are Russia and China, possibly employing microwave devices in an attempt to gather data from mobile devices remotely. Both countries deny involvement. Dr. James Giordano, a Georgetown University professor of neurology who is advising the U.S. government on the issue told The Wall Street Journal that cause could be some form of ultrasonic or acoustic device; a rapidly-pulsed microwave; or a laser-based system. He told the newspaper that the intent is unclear but it could be employing an electronic surveillance system with unusual side effects, or 'a discrete form of disruptive instrument,. 'Thats a nice way of saying this is a weapon,' he said. But Dr Robert Bartholomew, a medical sociology expert at the university of Auckland, claims that the syndrome is an example of mass hysteria - where any unexplained illness is blamed on Havana Syndrome rather than an accurate medical diagnosis. He said: 'The evidence overwhelmingly points to mass hysteria, or as it is commonly referred to by scientists - mass psychogenic illness.' Following the original cluster of cases in Cuba, US diplomats and spies around the world have been struck by the strange affliction, which is characterized by the sudden onset of headaches, nausea, and vertigo, sometimes followed by lingering symptoms and documented brain injury. A recent report commissioned by the State Department and published by a National Academies of Sciences found that microwaves were the 'most plausible' cause of the symptoms of Havana Syndrome. To date, there have been 200 reported cases of the yet-unexplained illness, which the State Department officials terms 'Anomalous Health Incidents'. Roughly half of the cases involved CIA officers or their relatives, nearly 60 have been linked to Department of Defense workers or relatives, and about 50 involved State Department personnel. As of August, the illness had reportedly affected American personnel stationed on every continent excluding Antarctica, including a baby in one case. There have been 200 reported cases of the yet-unexplained illness, which has been colloquially named for its first reported case in 2016 at the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba, and affected American personnel on nearly every continent except Antarctica On September 15, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a memo to DoD employees to report any symptoms of the so-called Havana Syndrome in an effort to get to the bottom of the mysterious illness. The White House recently issued a new warning regarding Havana Syndrome to policy staff at the Pentagon- immediately flee the area and report any experience of pressure, sound or heat in the head. And last Friday, President Joe Biden signed into law the Havana Act, a bill that would bolster support for US officials suffering from the mysterious neurological syndrome known as 'Havana Syndrome.' 'Civil servants, intelligence officers, diplomats, and military personnel all around the world have been affected by anomalous health incidents,' Biden said in a statement after signing the bill. 'Some are struggling with debilitating brain injuries that have curtailed their careers of service to our nation' Earlier this year, a CIA agent fell ill with suspected Havana syndrome while on a work trip to India with CIA Director William Burns, and another agent experienced the same symptoms about a month ago in Vietnam. In May reports emerged that some US officials suspect Russia's infamous foreign intelligence agency - the GRU - could be the culprit. A U.S. military officer based in a country with a large Russian presence also said he felt like his head was going to explode during one incident when he was near a GRU vehicle. And Politico reported that government investigators are examining a suspected attack on US personnel in Miami last year. Earlier in July, former CIA officer and Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Marc Polymeropolous claimed that he was zapped by one of the attacks while visiting a Moscow hotel room in 2017 and blamed it for destroying his career, as well as debilitating headaches that he continues to get. In October 2020, a story emerged of diplomat Mark Lenzi, 45, who was stationed in Guangzhou, China, in 2017, when he developed unexplained symptoms, including headaches, memory loss and trouble sleeping. His neighbor Catherine Werner also fell ill and fellow US official Robyn Garfield was evacuated from Shanghai with his family in June 2018. The incidents in China cast doubt on theories that Russia was behind the attacks, since it is a country where Russian intelligence would have trouble operating. However, some believed that the attack made China a less likely suspect, questioning whether Beijing's intelligence service would strike on its own turf. Former Facebook associate general counsel Jessica Hertz is resigning from her prestigious position as White House staff secretary. Hertz will leave her post 'in the coming days,' according to two anonymous sources speaking to Politico on Tuesday. Reasons for her departure and her replacement have yet to be unveiled. It came just days after Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before Congress on a broad range of issues, including the negative impact of social media on users' mental health. Whoever replaces Hertz as White House staff secretary will control most paperwork that reaches President Biden's office. The White House did not respond to Dailymail.com's request for comment. Hertz previously worked for two years and three months as Facebook's associate general counsel for regulatory issues. She left the social media giant in June 2020 to serve as general counsel of the Biden presidential transition team. Jessica Hertz will have served under the Biden administration as Staff Secretary for a little more than a year after her appointment in June 2020 She previously served as a Special Assistant Attorney in his vice presidential office from 2012-2014, according to her LinkedIn. Hertz started her career in politics while serving under the Obama administration, as counselor to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Cass Sunstein, before joining the Justice Department. The Staff Secretary in the White House Office is a high-profile role, responsible for managing paper flow to the President and circulating documents among senior staff for comment. Hertz is one of the first senior White House staffers to leave the Biden administration, which hasn't even hit its ten-month mark yet. The White House will be on a hunt to replace Hertz but has so far declined to comment on her resignation and her replacement However, Hertz has kept out of the public eye and was rarely spotted by reporters. She is one of the first senior White House staffers to leave the administration, which hasn't even hit its ten-month mark yet. Described by White House colleagues as 'easy to work with' and 'very talented at her job', Hertz studied art history and French literature at Harvard and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. Her resignation comes shortly after a self-professed Facebook whistleblower, former product manager Frances Haugen, testified in front of Congress last week, claiming that the company prioritizes profit over the mental health of users, including minors. Haugen spoke to a Senate subcommittee after leaking tens of thousands of internal documents. Following the testimony, there appeared to be bipartisan support for action to protect children online. In her testimony, Haugen said that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is only 'accountable to himself' and has even been directly involved in company decisions that saw Facebook putting profit over 'changes that would have significantly decreased misinformation, hate speech and other inciting content. Her claims were devastating for Facebook's public image and prompted multiple senators to attack Zuckerberg - who Haugen alleges knew of and encouraged his site's harmful practices. Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen testified before Senate Subcommittee last week on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security during a hearing about Facebook File: Protecting Kids Online She said that executives were aware that Facebook and Instagram were harmful for children, with a leaked internal study revealing that teenage girls had increased suicidal thoughts from using Instagram. She said that Facebook's algorithms, centered around 'likes' and 'shares', rewarded 'dangerous online talk has led to actual violence that harms and even kills people.' Haugen's accusations were supported by tens of thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in the company's civic integrity unit. The tech giant attempted to discredit Haugen after she testified, saying that the data scientist never attended meetings with top executives and that she was wildly misinformed about the company. Zuckerberg wrote in an open letter to his staff: 'I think most of us just don't recognize the false picture of the company that is being painted.' Facebook's director of policy communications, Lena Pietsch, responded to Haugen's testimony by pointing out she worked at the company for less than two years. Pietsch added that Haugen 'had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives - and testified more than six times to not working on the subject matter in question.' Republicans have backed legal reforms for social media, citing Facebook and Twitter covering up reports, including ones written by Dailymail.com, last year on Hunter Biden links with his presidential father's business relationships in China and Ukraine. Democrats, including Biden, have been pushing for reforms on laws that impact Big Tech, including Amazon and Apple. High-profile former White House staff secretaries include Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and failed Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, who both served under President George W. Bush. Another Facebook whistle blower who said she felt she had 'blood on her hands' after working as a data scientist for the tech giant is willing to testify before Congress A former Facebook employee who said she felt like she had 'blood on her hands' after working at the social media giant is willing to testify before Congress. Sophie Zhang, who last year accused Facebook of ignoring fake accounts used to undermine foreign elections, told CNN on Sunday that she passed documents onto a US law enforcement agency. 'I provided detailed documentation regarding potential criminal violations to a U.S. law enforcement agency. My understanding is that the investigation is still ongoing,' Zhang tweeted Sunday. She declined to reveal which agency she contacted, or describe the documents. Zhang told the outlet that she had been encouraged by the response to the testimony of fellow Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, who last week spoke to a Senate subcommittee after leaking tens of thousands of internal documents. Haugen's testimony, which covered a broad range of issues, in part described to the negative impact of social media on users' mental health. Following the testimony, there appeared to be bipartisan support for action to protect children online. Zhang's concern was that Facebook was not doing enough to combat misinformation on its platforms. After being fired from her role as a data scientist last year, she wrote a memo explaining her concerns and saying that she believed Facebook was particularly poor at policing misinformation and hate speech in smaller and developing countries. Zhang, who had worked for the tech giant for almost three years, was told that she was being let go because of issues with her performance. In the memo, she wrote that she had 'blood on her hands.' It was picked up by Buzzfeed and prompted The Guardian to launch an investigation into the allegations. Facebook has consistently denied that it is not doing enough to tackle misinformation and hate speech on its platforms. 'We have also taken down over 150 networks seeking to manipulate public debate since 2017, and they have originated in over 50 countries, with the majority coming from or focused outside of the US. Our track record shows that we crack down on abuse abroad with the same intensity that we apply in the US,' a spokesperson told CNN on Monday. Speaking to The Associated Press on Sunday regarding Haugen, Zhang said she was surprised the company had not caught her when she was going through company research. Zhang added that she believed Facebook's fierce denials encourage employees to speak out. 'I think they've [Facebook] fallen into a trap where they keep making denials and hunkering down and becoming more incendiary. 'And this causes more people to come forward.' On Sunday, Facebook announced three new controls it says will help keep children safe online. The move came just days after Haugen accused the company of putting profits over the wellbeing of its users. Speaking on NBC's State of the Union Sunday, Facebook's Vice President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg unveiled the new 'nudge' feature, which he claims will dramatically boost the wellbeing of young social media users. Clegg said: 'We're going to introduce something, which I think will make a considerable difference which is where our systems see that a teenager is looking at the same content over and over again. 'And it's content which may not be conducive to their wellbeing we will nudge them to look at other content.' Clegg, who is the former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, didn't say which platform the tool will be used on. But Facebook's Instagram photo sharing app is far more popular among youngsters than its flagship Facebook app itself, and allows users to search hashtags related to topics they are interested in - sometimes with dangerous effects. Clegg went on to highlight two other features, one of which will prompt users to take a break after too long on Instagram. And the other will see parents given as-yet-unspecified control over how their teenagers use the social media app. The social media giant also came under increased scrutiny over its role in the January 6th Capitol riot and for allegedly ignoring internal research that revealed the social media platform harmed the mental health of teenage girls. Following the backlash, Instagram revealed just last month that it would be halting its plans for Instagram Kids, a version of the app for those under 13 which would feature optional parental controls. Two US Postal Service workers were shot dead Tuesday by a co-worker at a sorting facility in Memphis, before the gunman killed themselves with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. US Postal Inspector Susan Link said the postal workers were found dead after the shooting at the East Lamar Carrier Annex, a facility only used by postal service employees, in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis. FBI spokesperson Lisa-Ann Culp said that the shooting was carried out by a third postal service worker, who then shot themselves dead. The identity of the shooter has yet to be released by authorities. The victims were named by Fox-affiliate WHBQ as 37-year-old Demetria Dortch, a mother of two, and USPS manager James Wilson. One of the victims was named as 37-year-old Demetria Dortch, a mother of two The street leading to the East Lamar Carrier Annex complex in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Tennessee was blocked off by police following the shooting as the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other federal authorities carried out an investigation Wilson's cousin, Roxanne Rogers, told the Commercial Appeal: 'He was a good man. An outstanding man. The best man you'd ever want to be around.' Dortch's father, Steven S. Dorch, Jr, told WHBQ: 'She was a good mother to all of her kids. 'She was a hardworking young lady, always has been. She was hardworking and determined.' Dortch had started as a temporary worker and worked her way up to supervisor. Laquita Benjamin, President of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, told WHBQ that the shooter did not work at the facility, but was there on assignment. The street leading to the complex was blocked off by police following the shooting as the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other federal authorities carried out an investigation. A family member of one of the two victims is pictured waiting with Memphis Police Department officers outside of the post office after the shooting The scene was blocked off with yellow crime scene tape and barricades - some cars slowed down as they drove past police and reporters. The Memphis Police Department reported the incident via Twitter at nearly 4 pm today Family members of one of the victims pray outside of the East Lamar Carrier Annex in Orange Mound, Memphis after the Tuesday shooting Family members of the two victims were seen waiting outside of the building with police. A white four-door car was towed away from the scene - it was unclear who the vehicle belonged to. 'The Postal Service is saddened at the event that took place today in Memphis,' USPS said in a statement. 'Our thoughts are with the family members, friends and coworkers of the individuals involved. The Postal Service will be providing resources to all employees at the East Lamar Carrier Annex in the coming days and weeks.' Family members of the two victims were photographed waiting outside of the building with police by the Star Tribune 'The Postal Service is saddened at the event that took place today in Memphis,' USPS said in a statement. Pictured is a police officer allowing a police vehicle to pass under yellow crime scene tape in front of the Orange Mound post office This is the third high-profile shooting to take place in or near Memphis within the last few weeks The franchise owner of a sushi counter inside a Kroger grocery store in the suburb of Colierville fatally shot dead Olivia King, and wounded 14 others before killing himself on September 23, investigators said. A week later, a teenage boy was shot and critically wounded inside a Memphis school, and police detained a second boy believed to be the shooter. Congressman Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, called the post office 'the latest site of gun violence' in the Memphis area. 'Today's shooting at the postal facility in Orange Mound is yet another example of why I am concerned that too many guns are out there and in possession of people who aren't able to control their anger,' he wrote. 'I express my profound condolences to all those affected by this terrible event. On October 8, 2010, two postal service employees were shot dead during a robbery at a post office in the rural town of Henning, located about 50 miles north of Memphis. That post office was named in honor of slain employees Paula Robinson and Judy Spray last week. Australian companies would be forced to report ransomware attacks and new cyber offences would be created under a federal government overhaul. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has flagged new stand alone offences including for cyber extortion and the targeting of critical infrastructure. Dealing with stolen data knowingly obtained in the course of a separate offence would also be criminalised as would the buying or selling of malware for criminal purposes. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has flagged new stand alone offences including for cyber extortion and the targeting of critical infrastructure. Businesses with an annual turnover of more than $10 million would be subject to a mandatory ransomware incident reporting regime. 'Ransomware gangs have attacked businesses, individuals and critical infrastructure right across the country,' Ms Andrews said. 'Stealing and holding private and personal information for ransom costs victims time and money, interrupting lives and the operations of small businesses.' Ransomware is a form of malicious software or malware used by cybercriminals to lock someone out of their files or computer. Hackers demand money in exchange for restoring access. Ms Andrews stressed the government did not condone ramson payments to hackers. The hairdresser husband of notorious Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick has revealed she is 'not the kind of person who is going to chop off her foot and go AWOL'. Notoriously private Anthony Koletti, whom the Daily Mail understands is still unemployed, made his first ever public remarks about one of the leading conspiracy theories about the swindler who vanished from her Dover Heights mansion hours before she was about to be exposed as having ripped off her 72 clients to the tune of $30million. Mr Koletti's remarks - broadcast in a promo for a Channel Seven documentary - came as Daily Mail Australia confronted him on the streets of Bondi in Sydney's eastern suburbs and demanded answers about whether he was paid for the tell-all. The encounter ended with Mr Koletti slamming his car door shut. Before being exclusively questioned by the Mail, Mr Koletti was seen speaking briefly with detectives from the local police station. The encounter with the officers appears to have been coincidental, but it is understood the detectives were known to Mr Koletti and have been involved in the investigation into his wife's disappearance. Anthony Koletti seen in Bondi days before a blockbuster TV interview is set to air The TV show has promised 'new evidence' about Caddick's disappearance will be revealed in an interview on Sunday. Mr Koletti looks straight into the camera in a promo for the show and says 'This is the real story about what happened to Melissa Caddick.' Part of that story is his response to the claim that she 'chopped off her foot'. Caddick, a 49-year-old financial advisor, vanished from her Sydney mansion almost a year ago after pocketing millions from investors over the course of about eight years. Mr Koletti was bombarded with questions on Wednesday when he left the home he used to share with Caddick to get a takeaway coffee at his regular haunt, Heart Cafe in nearby Bondi. With his interview set to air on Channel 7 at the weekend, Mr Koletti was repeatedly asked about what 'truth' is going to come out and if he was paid by the TV station. But the former DJ stayed quiet, despite earlier talking to the police detectives - slamming the door of his car in frustration. It is likely there is a clause in his contract with Channel 7 preventing him from talking to any other media before the interview is broadcast. Melissa Caddick's foot was found on a remote NSW beach (left, with husband Anthony Koletti at Randwick Racecourse) Melissa Caddick lived the high life before her disappearance almost a year ago - pictured with her husband on their wedding day Mr Koletti, who famously said last Christmas that he had just $1.95 in his bank account, still lives in his wife's $6.2million mansion almost a year after she vanished owing $30million to defrauded clients, including family and friends. He tells the Channel 7 program that his wife's disappearance on November 12 last year left him shocked to the core. 'I felt it like a lighting bolt through my heart,' he says. Caddick's foot was discovered in a running shoe on a remote beach on the NSW South Coast on February 21, but no other remains of the fugitive have been found. At the time, the NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said authorities were still unable to say whether she killed herself or if there was foul play involved. He also raised the outlandish possibility Caddick could have severed her own foot to throw police off the scent - and that she could still be alive. 'There's always a chance she cut her foot off and is still alive, though it's pretty fanciful,' he told Sydney radio station 2GB. Anthony Koletti provided this screenshot to the Federal Court Melissa Caddick (pictured right) and her husband Anthony Koletti Mr Fuller was satisfied, though, that the millionaire fraudster was dead. 'We're still trying to recover funds [for ripped off investors] and that investigation continues. But we haven't closed this case,' he said. One theory to explain her disappearance has been that Caddick jumped from the Dover Heights clifftops after making the 300m walk from her home. In his television interview, though, Mr Koletti dismisses the theory that his wife would have mutilated herself to escape justice. 'She was not the kind of person that's going to chop off her foot and go AWOL,' he says. Today, Mr Koletti slammed his door shut in apparent frustration as he slipped into his vehicle - an old model Audi A3, which is a downgrade from his $300,000 Audi R8 which was seized by receivers last January. His previous car had distinctive puppy-themed plates, '2 PAWS', which later went back on the market and were advertised for $479 on the NSW Government's MyPlates website. The plates were an apparent reference to Mr Koletti and his missing wife's two pet dogs as well as a nod to his DJ moniker, Paws Off Productions. Melissa Caddick and her husband Anthony Koletti flaunted her wealth, but it was gained by fraud Receivers want to sell off Ms Caddick's properties but until the court orders they be sold, Mr Koletti - who was stripped of his $1700 weekly allowance earlier this year - is free to live the life of a multi-millionaire in a lavish home with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour. Ms Caddick was declared dead by police in March after her foot drifted ashore on Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast, but the Federal Court heard arguments earlier this year that her assets should not be sold off by receivers until her death is confirmed by the Coroner. His dire financial situation has prompted speculation that Seven News may have paid him to appear in a tell-all interview and divulge 'the truth' about 'why she died' in a special set to air on Sunday night. 'I can't keep silent any longer,' he said in a preview for the show. 'It's time for the truth to come out.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven with questions about whether Mr Koletti was offered a financial incentive to break his silence. The former hairdresser has remained notoriously tight-lipped about Caddick throughout the past 11 months, only speaking out once to beg her to 'come home' and insist he knew nothing about his wife's business dealings. The PM's former aide 'prioritised whacking Corbyn' before making the changes Dominic Cummings has suggested it was not the government's intention to stick to its own Brexit deal. Instead, the Prime Minister's former advisor has claimed he planned to 'ditch bits we didn't like' from the agreement after winning the 2019 general election. In a series of tweets last night, Mr Cummings said that the UK should 'of course' be allowed to 'sometimes' break deals 'like every other state does'. This is believed to be a reference to the Northern Ireland Protocol section of the Brexit agreement that prevents a land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The protocol has caused havoc with border checks across the Irish Sea, and led to fears Northern Ireland could now be treated differently to the rest of the UK. Dominic Cummings has suggested it was not the government's intention to stick to its own Brexit deal But after the government played hardball by extending a grace period on the border checks last month, the EU now appears to be ready to offer a new Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. Since striking the final agreement on Christmas Eve last year, Britain has been accused of refusing to follow the agreement and is already pushing for reforms. Speaking of the pressure he felt to strike the Brexit deal, Mr Cummings wrote: 'We took over a party on ~10%, worst constitutional crisis in century, much of deep state angling for BINO or 2REF. 'So we wriggled thro(ugh) with best option we c(oul)d & intended to get the (trolley emoji - a reference to Boris Johnson) to ditch bits we didn't like after whacking Corbyn. We prioritised.' The former Downing Street chief then added 'Now time for IM2 #Frosty,' a reference to the Internal Markets Bill which works to prevent internal trade barriers coming into force between parts of the UK. It comes as the European Commission plans to propose a resolution to the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which clashes with the Internal Markets Bill. The Telegraph reports the EU will offer to remove up to 50% of customs checks on British goods entering Northern Ireland and that more than half the checks on meat and plants entering Northern Ireland would be ditched. An EU official told the Telegraph: 'Brussels is going to allow more goods to pass into Northern Ireland without checks in return for having more data to do proper market surveillance. 'The number of checks will go down massively. This is the best way to cut checks, short of a Swiss-style alignment agreement.' European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic has also pledged to offer more of a voice for politicians and civic society in Northern Ireland on how the contentious trading arrangements operate. While the measures may potentially go some way to reducing everyday friction on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, they are unlikely to satisfy a UK Government demand over the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). On Tuesday, UK Brexit negotiator Lord Frost made clear the removal of the ECJ's oversight function in relation to the protocol was a red line for the Government. Under the terms of the deal struck by the UK and EU in 2019, the ECJ would be the final arbitrator in any future trade dispute between the two parties on the operation of the protocol. The UK now wants to remove that provision and replace it with an independent arbitration process. Mr Sefcovic has insisted that the EU will not move on the ECJ issue. He has pointed out that Northern Ireland would be unable to retain single market access - a key provision of the protocol - if the arrangement was not subject to oversight by European judges. It is anticipated that the EU proposals, along with a wish list of reforms outlined by the Government in July, will form the basis of a new round of negotiations between Brussels and London in the weeks ahead. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as a way to sidestep the major obstacle in the Brexit divorce talks - the Irish land border. It achieved that by shifting regulatory and customs checks and processes to the Irish Sea. The arrangements have created new economic barriers on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This has caused disruption to many businesses in Northern Ireland and also created a major political headache for the Government, as unionists are furious at what they perceive as a weakening of the Union. However, other businesses have benefited from the terms of the protocol, which provides Northern Ireland traders unique unfettered access to sell within the UK internal market and EU single market. Ministers and Whitehall officials are to face a full judicial review over their use of WhatsApp to conduct official government business. A High Court judge yesterday gave the green light to transparency campaigners to prove the Cabinet Office had acted unlawfully in doing so. In the first case of its kind, they will argue that crucial policy decisions are being decided on the messaging service but are then deleted. Boris Johnson has previously been accused of overseeing Government by WhatsApp, with claims the entire pandemic response was conducted over the encrypted messaging service prompting the Information Commissioner to launch a probe into the use of private correspondence channels in Westminster. Boris Johnson has previously been accused of overseeing Government by WhatsApp, with claims the entire pandemic response was conducted over the encrypted messaging service Yesterday, The Citizens, and Foxglove, who brought the case, said they looked forward to proving the Governments use of the app for official business violates the Public Records Act of 1958. During yesterdays hearing it emerged that a confidential Cabinet Office policy stated ministers and officials were required to set internal chats to delete at the end of every conversation. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: Ministers will use a range of modern forms of communication for discussions, in line with legislative requirements, and taking into account government guidance. However, another previously secret Number 10 policy banned the use of personal phones, email, and WhatsApp for government business at all. The claimants - who are seeking to stop the wholesale destruction of the public record - branded the guidelines a confusing, contradictory mess. Transparency campaigners complained that messages sent over encrypted networks such as WhatsApp could be deleted instead of being stored for future research Following the ruling, Foxglove Director Cori Crider said: This is the first case of its kind, and it raises a critical issue in modern government. Were doing this to defend the integrity of our public debate. We cant learn from history if the evidence has vanished into thin air. Reports have continued to emerge over the past year as to how much communication among ministers and officials is carried out over WhatsApp. Earlier this year a whistleblower revealed the controversial debate between Public health England and Department for Health officials over whether patients should be discharged from hospital without a negative test early in the pandemic had been carried out over the messaging service. While in June, Dominic Cummings revealed explosive evidence of heated debates between him and the prime minister over what to do about the struggling test and trace system and ventilators. In the wake of the revelations, the Information Commissioner launched an investigation into the use of private correspondence channels at DHSC. Twitter says it did not find any signs that Rep. Maxine Waters Twitter account had been hacked, after a message from the California Democrat claimed that it had been broken into and erased. On Tuesday, the California Rep. tweeted out to her 1.6 million followers that her account was hacked and that she knew the perpetrator and would 'take care of it' 'I have been hacked and my Twitter account has been erased,' Waters tweeted from her verified account, which was still up and running. 'I know who has done this. I will take care of this. M Waters.' On Tuesday, Maxine Waters (pictured) tweeted out to her 1.6 million followers that her account was hacked and that she knew the perpetrator and would 'take care of it' While Waters did not elaborate further on her accusations, many noted it would be impossible to tweet from an erased Twitter account. A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment on Waters' tweet but told Reuters that they contacted Waters' office and concluded there was no hack. 'As is standard, we have open lines of communication with her office and have worked with them to ensure the account is secure,' the spokesperson told Reuters. 'At this time, we've identified no signs of account compromise.' Waters has not publicly commented on the alleged hacking since her tweet shortly before noon. A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment on Waters' tweet but said that they contacted Waters' office and concluded there was no hack Waters has not publicly commented on the alleged hacking since her tweet shortly before noon Waters has two verified accounts on the platform, her personal verified account and her re-election campaign account which has not tweeted since June. Neither account appeared to like or post anything out of the ordinary, a usual hallmark of a social media hacking. While this appears to be the first time she has claimed to be hacked, Waters, who has served California's 43rd district since 1991, has been the target of death threats for years now. In August a San Francisco man was hit with federal charges for allegedly sending Waters a death threat that contained a racial slur and was signed on behalf of the KKK. In March, Waters said she received threatening phone messages sent to her from a man in Kansas who told her 'I got an AK47 and I'll use it if I have to,' and another similar message from a man in Mississippi, spectrumnews.com reported. Waters said that Capitol Police were investigating the threats and other menacing calls that were made to her at the time. A journalist from Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda - one of Putin's preferred newspapers - has been abducted by Belarusian authorities. The newspaper alleged on Tuesday that reporter Gennady Mozheiko, a Belarusian citizen who had gone missing in Moscow earlier this month, was kidnapped and taken across the border to Minsk after he wrote an article about a controversial Belarusian KGB operation. A statement released by the newspaper said Belarusian authorities had charged Mozheiko with 'inciting racial, ethnic, religious or other social hostility' and 'insulting a representative of the authorities', for which he could face over a decade in prison. The charges come after Mozheiko wrote an article praising Belarusian opposition activist Andrei Zeltser, who was killed by a Belarusian KGB officer during a raid on his home in Minsk in September. Mozeiko's arrest sees him join a list of dozens of journalists either awaiting trial or already behind bars for criticising the regime of Belarusian president and autocrat Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Lukashenko's persecution of the pro-Kremlin journalist risks severing his ties with one of his only remaining allies in Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian leader's brutal crackdown on mass protests against his presidency has been condemned by heads of state internationally. Gennady Mozheiko, a Belarusian citizen who had gone missing in Moscow earlier this month, was allegedly kidnapped and taken across the border after he wrote an article about a controversial Belarusian KGB operation Belarusian President Lukashenko's persecution of the pro-Kremlin journalist risks severing his ties with one of his only remaining allies in Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian leader's brutal crackdown on mass protests against his presidency has been condemned by heads of state internationally Komsomolskaya Pravda came under pressure last week from Belarusian authorities after it ran a story about a shootout in an apartment in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, during which Andrei Zeltser and a KGB officer were killed. Belarusian authorities reported the shootout last Tuesday, describing Zeltser as 'an especially dangerous criminal' who opened fire on security officers after they showed up at his apartment looking for 'individuals involved in terrorist activities.' Meanwhile, Komsomolskaya Pravda, who shut down its branch in Belarus in response to its reporter's arrest after the Ministry of Information blocked access to its website, maintains Zeltser was simply an opposition activist and IT worker described by Mozheiko as 'a very good man'. Zeltser worked for Pennsylvania-based firm EPAM Systems. The newspaper's editor-in-chief Vladimir Sungorkin labelled his reporter's arrest as 'a big strategic mistake', while Artyom Shraibman, a Belarusian political analyst, said Lukashenko 'has harmed relations with one of Russia's most conservative parts of the media landscape and their Kremlin supervisors.' Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Mozheiko 'is not a citizen of Russia, therefore Moscow has no legal grounds to protect his interests', but added that the Kremlin hoped his detention 'isn't related to his work as a journalist.' Andrei Zeltser, who worked for US firm EPAM Systems, resisted arrest during a raid in Minsk and opened fire on the officers, killing one of them, according to the KGB Officers stand outside an apartment in Minsk in preparation for a raid amid a democracy crackdown Belarusian authorities claimed they only arrested Mozheiko, after he was 'expelled' from Russia and returned across the border, but the pro-Kremlin Komsomolskaya Pravda said their reporter disappeared in Moscow and was not formally expelled. Russian news agency Tass reported earlier this week that Mozheiko is being held at a detention centre in Zhodino awaiting trial. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Mozheiko 'is not a citizen of Russia, therefore Moscow has no legal grounds to protect his interests', but added that the Kremlin hoped his detention 'isn't related to his work as a journalist.' A spokesman from Russia's foreign ministry later commented that Moscow is operating under the assumption 'that the rights of journalists will be respected in accordance with generally accepted international norms.' The streets of Minsk saw huge protests last year after Lukashenko began a sixth term following the August 2020 presidential election that the opposition and the West have denounced as a sham. Lukashenkos government responded to the protests with a violent crackdown, arresting more than 35,000 people and badly beating thousands of them. Mass arrests also followed in the wake of Andrei Zeltser's death, when Belarusian authorities detained around 120 people who challenged the official narrative surrounding the incident, according to human rights group Viasna. After the disputed presidential election last year, authorities in Belarus shut down the biggest independent media outlets, blocked access to popular news sites and targeted journalists with raids and detentions. Vape vendors are sidestepping Australia's ban on Chinese-made disposable devices by selling them on the black market, an industry expert has revealed. The owner of one of Australia's biggest e-cigarette stores claims a recent crackdown aimed at curbing nicotine vaping while allowing smokers to access products to help them quit is actually backfiring and helping the black market 'thrive'. Nationwide changes to vaping laws came into effect on October 1, criminalising the importation of e-cigarettes, pods and liquids containing nicotine from overseas without a valid prescription. Possession of nicotine vaping products without a prescription was already illegal in all states except South Australia, creating a gap between domestic rules and import laws. Sweeping law changes making it illegal to import nicotine e-cigarettes from October 1 (stock image of a disposable vape) Max Fichkin, who runs The Steamery in Sydney, said the laws will not stop commercial suppliers from smuggling massive shipments into Australia. 'There has always been a black market, and the more the government tries to quash it with legislation, the more the black market will thrive,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Tobacconists, milk bars and corner stores are selling them under the counter - and there has been very little reinforcement. 'If you jump on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace and search key words there are black market sellers who will deliver nicotine vaping products to your house.' Before October, Australians were allowed to import up to three months' worth of nicotine vapes - even though it was illegal in most jurisdictions to possess the products once they arrived. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Border Force (ABF) now play a crucial role in monitoring the illegal importation of e-cigarettes and vaping liquid containing nicotine. Mr Fichkin said Chinese vape manufacturer HQD announced last year they had successfully imported around 250,000 units into the country - despite pre-existing laws barring commercial quantities. The new laws are set to curb the risk of nicotine vaping uptake in young adults, while also allowing current smokers to access the products for smoking cessation (pictured, stock image) Max Fichkin, who runs The Steamery, (pictured) said the new legislation would help the black market 'thrive' He questioned the Australian government agencies' ability to combat a surge of nicotine movers pushing products through busy ports. 'The TGA and ABF want to block these shipments, but one company alone has managed to ship 250,000 disposable vapes in a month,' he said. 'With unprecedented amounts of imports coming into the country, where are they going to get the resources to stop suppliers and ask for prescriptions?' he said. After penalties were boosted earlier this month, those caught selling e-cigarettes with nicotine can now be fined up to $1650 or jailed for six months - or both. Despite the risks, Mr Fichkin does not think black market sellers will be deterred. 'The fine increase is minor. The profits far exceed the costs. I don't see corner stores earning less than $1600 a day selling disposable vapes,' he said. 'It is a lucrative area to be in.' Mr Fichkin said disposable vapes (pictured) are being sold under the counter at tobacconists, corner stores, and through online market places While Mr Fichkin argued disposable vapes were a vital tool in helping smokers put down cigarettes, he said the new regulations have put legitimate vape stores - which are better placed to assist quitters - at a disadvantage. 'The legitimate industry is at the bottle of the barrel at the moment due to disposables,' he said. 'Many people start on disposables - which have a most common strength of 50mg of nicotine - before switching to legitimate vapes to gain flexibility in the amount of nicotine they vape - going down as they quit. '[But now] we are at a disadvantage because we can't import nicotine, which makes it difficult to achieve the goal of helping customers trying to get off cigarettes.' While nicotine-free flavoured liquids can still be sold, there are now only two ways prescription holders can obtain nicotine vaping products in Australia; from a pharmacy or importing from overseas websites. Prescriptions can only be written by one of 80 authorised prescribers, or by a doctor with approval under the TGA's Special Access Scheme B. Mr Fichkin said the laws were detrimental to legitimate businesses trying to help smokers quit. Customers at The Steamery are pictured sitting at a tasting bar to experiment with flavours to inhale from devices An authorised prescriber of nicotine vaping products must be a GP who is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Otherwise a prescription can be accessed from one of more than 30,000 general practitioners, and then ordered from an overseas website, under the Personal Importation Scheme. However, Mr Fichkin said the level of education given to GPs about the use of smoking cessation products was 'minimal', highlighting the importance of the enabling experts to offer nicotine through the legitimate industry. 'The increase of disposables is going to make the availability of nicotine a bigger conversation in Australia,' he said. 'The topic needs to be on how the Australian government are going to monitor its use - because that will help legitimise it and help reduce the harm for smokers.' Dominic Raab and Liz Truss have been told to share Chevening after they both put in a claim to use the grace-and-favour mansion. It is understood that Boris Johnson resolved the tussle by giving the Kent estate to the new foreign secretary and deputy PM, reports The Times. A source close to Ms Truss told the newspaper: 'Dom and Liz are good friends and will make it work.' It follows Ms Truss welcoming counterparts from Baltic states for talks at the opulent residence on Monday, posting tweets highlighting the location. The property had become a point of tension amid claims Mr Raab was trying to cling on to it despite being shifted to Justice Secretary in the reshuffle. Downing Street previously refused to be drawn on whether Mr Raab was being denied use of the estate, saying the arrangements will be set out 'in due course'. No10 had also insisted that Mr Raab - made deputy PM in the Cabinet overhaul as a consolation - is not in charge of the government while Boris Johnson is on holiday. Edgars Rinkvis (left), Gabrielius Landsbergis (centre) and Eva-Maria Liimets (right) - foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia respectively - were all at Chevening on Monday Ms Truss tweeted pictures of her gathering at Chevening. A source close to Ms Truss said: 'Dom and Liz are good friends and will make it work' Ms Truss welcomes Mr Landsbergis for talks at Chevening on Monday. The 115-room Chevening House is traditionally used by the Foreign Secretary The property had become a point of tension amid claims Mr Raab (pictured at Tory conference) was trying to cling on to it despite being shifted to Justice Secretary in the reshuffle The premier's spokesman earlier stressed he remains at the helm even though he is at a luxury resort with wife Carrie and their son Wilf in Spain. Edgars Rinkvis, Gabrielius Landsbergis and Eva-Maria Liimets - foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia respectively - were all at Chevening earlier this week. Ms Truss replaced Mr Raab in last month's Cabinet reshuffle after he was roundly criticised for being on holiday while Afghanistan tumbled to the Taliban. The 115-room Chevening House is traditionally used by the Foreign Secretary. However Mr Raab was said to believe that he should keep rights over the house for official visits. Lib Dem ex-leader Nick Clegg had used of the property as deputy PM during the coalition years. The wrangling prompted briefing from allies of Ms Truss that her predecessor was being 'ridiculous'. One senior source told MailOnline on Monday that Ms Truss's meeting was 'always supposed to be at Chevening' and using the property was 'business as usual'. 'Were focused on getting on with the job rather than debates about houses,' the source said. 'Liz inherited this meeting when she became foreign sec - it was always supposed to be at Chevening, so its very much business as usual.' No10 has insisted Mr Raab - made deputy PM in the Cabinet overhaul as a consolation - is not in charge of the government while Boris Johnson is on holiday with wife Carrie (pictured together last week) When Covid hit, Jasper was no longer able to visit patients as he had previously With staff at breaking point as the NHS faced the biggest crisis in its seven decade history, everyone working there had to do their duty to fight the pandemic. And alongside the doctors, nurses and support workers was a hero of the furry variety - Jasper the cockerpoo. Yesterday the cutest member of the army of health workers enlisted to tackle coronavirus was given an award to recognise the vital emotional support he provided to burnt-out staff. The six-year-old hospital dog has been recognised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) by being awarded the charitys prestigious Animal of the Year accolade in a ceremony at the House of Lords. Therapy dog Jasper, along with owner David Anderson, a hospital chaplain and counsellor, supports more than 9,000 staff at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust hospitals. Yesterday Jasper the cockerpoo (pictured with two clinical nurse specialists) was given an award to recognise the vital emotional support he provided to burnt-out staff Therapy dog Jasper, along with owner David Anderson (both above), a hospital chaplain and counsellor, supports more than 9,000 staff at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust hospitals When Covid-19 hit, the area was one of those worst-affected, so Jasper was no longer able to visit patients as he had previously. Instead, with the huge strain on staff working through the darkest days of the pandemic, Jasper instead provided support to nurses and other frontline medical staff. Jaspers role has always been to make people smile and feel better, and during the peak of the pandemic, when everyone was giving so much, sometimes staff just needed to have a cuddle with Jasper, have a cry and go back to the wards, said Mr Anderson, 46. We are thrilled that Jasper has been given this award from IFAW and will ensure he has a few extra treats on the day in recognition of all his hard work! Jasper is trained to go to people showing distress or crying and is very perceptive to the emotions around him. More than 1,000 hospital staff have taken part in Conversations with Jasper sessions enabling them to spend quiet time one on one with the dog or in small groups. Clinical nurse specialist Leanne Smith, 45, described Jasper as providing a beacon of light in all this darkness. Meanwhile her palliative care colleague Helen Kirkwood, 42, said: When you felt you were breaking, Jasper and David were there for you and kept you going. Jasper at work in Blackburn hospital where he helped NHS nurses through the pandemic. The six-year-old hospital dog has been recognised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare Jasper pictured with pharmacists Susan Holgate, 35, and Emma Coupe, 28. He is trained to go to people showing distress or crying and is very perceptive to the emotions around him When he is not at work, Jasper enjoys being a normal pet, going for walks with his owner at home in Preston and playing with the many toys he receives from NHS staff James Sawyer, UK Director of IFAW, said: Jasper is an amazing dog and his work with David and hospital staff is a fantastic example of the positive relationships between animals and humans. When we heard about the difference Jasper was making to the lives of our dedicated NHS staff working during such a challenging time, we knew he would be a very deserving winner of IFAWs Animal of the Year Award. Pre-pandemic, Jasper accompanied Mr Anderson to visit patients undergoing end of life care, as well as those suffering a mental health crisis or recovering from a stroke. With NHS staff still bearing the scars from an intense 18 months, Jaspers owner hopes the award will encourage other trusts to look into using therapy dogs. When he is not at work, Jasper enjoys being a normal pet, going for walks with his owner at home in Preston and playing with the many toys he receives from NHS staff. A mother-of-two and TV executive who worked on hit shows such as Married At First Sight has been identified as the woman who was fatally hit by a truck while crossing the road. Valentina Gioia, 43, a senior production executive at Endemol Shine Australia, was on her way to the shops in Leichhardt in Sydney's inner west when she was suddenly struck by the vehicle. The accident happened at the Marion Street and Flood Street intersection in Leichhardt at about 10.30am on Tuesday. About a dozen witnesses and shopkeepers frantically tried to give Ms Gioia first aid and CPR after she was struck by the truck reportedly driven by a young father. NSW Ambulance Service confirmed in a statement on Tuesday evening the woman died at the scene. 'She had a phone and just thought she could beat the red man light,' a witness told the Daily telegraph. 'The poor driver was in shock. It is just very sad and upsetting, she was a young woman, wearing activewear.' Valentina Gioia, 43, was on her way to the shops in Leichhardt in Sydney's inner west when she was suddenly struck by the vehicle Ms Gioia and her husband Anthony Tripodi were supposed to be celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary this year Paramedics rushed to the scene (pictured) after the young woman was struck by traffic in Leichhardt but tragically she could not be resuscitated Witnesses claimed the young woman had tragically been looking at her phone with her headphones in and was unaware she had walked into danger. The male driver was seen bent over in shock against a shop wall on the edge of the busy road while police spoke to him. The man, also aged 43, was not injured and was taken to hospital for mandatory alcohol and drug testing. Paramedics and police arrived quickly but the woman had suffered a head wound and sadly could not be resuscitated. In the wake of Ms Gioia's shocking death, her sister-in-law Lisa Tripodi said she has been supporting her two young sons Luca, 9, and Alessio, 7 and her heartbroken husband Anthony Tripodi. 'Anthony is just devastated. You never imagine that something like this could happen to you or your family, or someone you love,' Ms Tripodi told The Daily Telegraph. The 43-year-old was born in Italy and moved to Australia with her family where she later worked as a TV executive for Endemol Shine - working on popular programs such as MAFS and Lego Masters. A man was bent over in shock on the street and speaking to police, with the officers fetching the man a chair (pictured) Police officers gather at the scene about 10.30am on Tuesday (pictured) She married her husband in 2011 and the pair were due to celebrate a decade of marriage later this year. Childhood friend Debbie Colacicco paid tribute to Ms Gioia in a Facebook tribute, remembering her as 'a special human, a ray of sunshine, one of a kind'. Ms Colacicco - who runs the Ristretto & Co cafe - said her daily presence at the shop would be 'dearly missed' and prayed angels were looking over her boys. She told Daily Mail Australia Ms Gioia was a 'supermum' who she had grown up with. 'She was one of a kind and the most amazing human ever,' Ms Colacicco said. Her post was flooded with comments from others who knew Ms Gioia with many describing her as a 'wonderful woman'. 'Beautiful girl, gorgeous family, this is devastating,' one wrote. 'This is shocking, the world has lost a beautiful person way too soon,' said another. Some witnesses claimed Ms Gioai had walked across as the pedestrian signal was changing. 'It was a very sombre scene for our paramedics and bystanders here this morning,' NSW Ambulance Inspector Karl Cronan said. 'The bystanders who attempted to assist the patient before we arrived on scene are to be highly commended, it was a heartbreaking scene.' A report will be prepared for the coroner. Wannabe politicians with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew's government feared if they did not break the law, they would 'disappear'. In a third day of damning allegations put before the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, a taxpayer funded electoral officer has painted a disturbing image of how those within Mr Andrews' party operated. Adam Sullivan told the hearing he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his behaviour while working as an electoral officer for various Labor members of parliament, including former Labor minister Adem Somyurek. Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, gave evidence to corruption inquiry lifting the lid on rampant branch stacking. She is pictured with former PM Kevin Rudd Adam Sullivan worked for various ALP MPs. He said he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his time working within the party Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday. He has refused to comment on the IBAC investigation. Mr Sullivan claimed he had helped misappropriate between $11,000 and $14,000 in taxpayer money to fund a political campaign for Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson from the electorate office budget of Mr Somyurek. He did so by purchasing stamps that were then re-routed and redistributed to Mr Richardsons re-election campaign. The misuse of taxpayer funds was covered up by purchasing the stamps in small numbers so as not to alert anyone to the wrongdoing. That money was supposed to be used for 'constituent outreach' within Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. While Mr Sullivan said he had no direct approval for the scam by Mr Somyurek, he accepted it was the kind of activity that was not unusual under his leadership. 'You assumed there would be no problem,' he said. The young electoral officer had had dreams of one day 'making a difference' within the Australian Labor Party before being exposed to its grubby underbelly. Adem Somyurek (right) and Premier Daniel Andrews (centre) were once close allies Labor member for Holt Anthony Byrne (left) spent Monday exposing the dirty inner actions of the Australian Labor Party Victorian Labor minister Luke Donnellan has resigned from his position after day one of an the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission public inquiry He had worked for Mr Somyurek for nine months during 2018 when he was allegedly involved in rampant branch stacking. The IBAC probe is investigating Labor MPs misusing taxpayer-funded staff and grants for factional activities. Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne has already admitted before IBAC to 'branch stacking'. Mr Sullivan had worked for Mr Byrne before reluctantly agreeing to a transfer to Mr Somyurek's office. By August 2017, Mr Somyurek's office had become 'something of a liability for him' in wake of the notorious 'Red Shirts Scandal', Mr Sullivan said. The scandal involved Labor paying casual electorate officers to don red shirts and campaign for the party in marginal seats during that years state election with money out of the public purse. Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, gave evidence to corruption inquiry lifting the lid on rampant branch stacking. WHAT IS BRANCH STACKING? Branch stacking is a practice within political parties that sees people recruited into a branch of a political party to influence who is pre-selected as an election candidate. It comes with the problem of certain factions of political parties boosting membership with a view that pre-selection votes ensure its preferred candidate gets the job. It has also been banned by the ALP for decades. The IBAC hearings have been established to investigate 'premeditated systemic rorting of taxpayer resources', including allegations of branch-stacking, which in itself is not illegal. It will also look into 'allegations that public money intended to fund community associations was misused for partypolitical work or other improper purposes'. On Monday, just five hours into the inquiry, Victorian Minister for Child Protection and Disability, Ageing and Carers, Luke Donnellan, sensationally resigned from Cabinet. He had accused him of having paid for other people's party memberships. Advertisement Mr Sullivan claimed he was asked by Mr Somyurek to help 'clean up his office'. 'As we understood it at that time, his electoral office ... that there may be periods where there were no actual electoral officers in Mr Somyurek's electoral office,' he told IBAC. 'There might have been someone else in Mr Somyurek's office manning the fort if you will, but not actually someone that was an employed public officer by him and that considering the rogues gallery that Mr Somyurek was accumulating for himself internally ... it might be possible for his political office, like I said, to become a liability for him. 'It might be discovered that there was no-one at home there. It would become a problem for him.' Mr Sullivan said he had already been branch stacking for Mr Byrne before progressing to accepting full blown envelopes of cash to pay for ALP membership fees with Mr Somyurek. 'You don't get thrown into the deep end with this sort of thing. You go through I suppose a bit of initiation. They're not going to hand you out that sort of task on your first day at work,' Mr Sullivan said. Mr Sullivan said those that did not agree to perform the party's dirty deeds would ultimately be discarded. 'You're talking about someone's use value here. I'm not going to say that I didn't want advancement in the party, so that was certainly one reason for eventually taking the role (with Adem) even though I knew it was likely going to be a headache. 'The other thing there is as well, if you are not prepared to be used, to put it simply, in these situations ... then your use value declines and you become useless. And useless things have a way of disappearing.' Mr Somyurek had been acting as Mr Andrews' Minister for Local Government and Small Business while Mr Sullivan worked within his office. Commissioner Robert Redlich speaks during the Operation Watts public hearing Counsel Assisting Chris Carr grilled Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne on Tuesday at the IBAC hearing Adem Somyurek has been described as a bully who was hellbent on power Mr Sullivan described the then minister's office as something resembling a garbage dump, labelling it 'decrepit' and covered in cobwebs despite Mr Somyurek's father being paid to clean it. 'It wasn't a model of cleanliness,' he told the inquiry. Mr Sullivan claimed to work within the office with at least four other staffers - all of which practically did nothing. He told the hearing hardly anyone from the community ever attended the office and he only ever saw Mr Somyurek once over a nine month period. Mr Andrews on Wednesday again refused to answer questions about the corruption probe, which may yet see him be called to give evidence. On Tuesday, Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, told the inquiry Mr Somyurek had a furious temper and would 'hit the roof' when unhappy. Ms Schreiber, who would spend up to 80 per cent of her taxpayer-funded working day on factional activities, said she was reluctant to blow the whistle because she needed the job. 'It was a good paying job I was good at ... being a female for the Labor Party has an AA rule ... being a female you're promoted so quickly in the party. It doesn't matter. If you look at some of the MPs that have been promoted, they're there because they're female, not because they can do the job,' she said. 'And that's what was happening. Like I said, I didn't have a uni degree backing me, how could I be put on all these committees? I didn't have experience. It was purely because I was there for a female not because of who I am.' She claimed her sex had been the only reason she had been offered a job within the construction union alongside CFMEU boss John Setka. When she refused, Mr Somyurek went into another rage. ''I remember it quite clearly, he was mad like a cut snake. He spat venom at me,' Ms Schreiber told the inquiry. The 27-year old claimed Mr Somyurek brought her to tears in a barrage of vile abuse. Mr Somyurek has denied any wrongdoing. The hearing continues. More than 100,000 active duty members of the U.S. armed forces are yet to receive even their first COVID-19 vaccine - and with less than three weeks to go until the deadline for full vaccination in some branches concern is beginning to mount about possible mass firings. John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said on Tuesday that he did not know whether the Air Force - which has a November 2 deadline for full vaccination, the earliest of all branches - was now promoting the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab. The 10,000 members of the Air Force yet to receive their first shot will now not be able to complete the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna vaccination in time, because there must be three to six weeks between the first and second shot. Kirby said that the armed forces were 'making progress', noting that 96.7 per cent of active duty personnel have had at least one dose, and 83.7 per cent are fully vaccinated. 'Commanders will try to get these troops to make the right decision based on information and education,' Kirby said. The 103,000 service members who have not had their first shot include 48,600 soldiers; 7,000 sailors; 15,500 airmen and Space Force Guardians; and 26,800 Marines. The statistics above refer to regular troops, and not reservists John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said on Tuesday that they were hoping 'to get these troops to make the right decision' before the vaccine deadlines began to hit. The Air Force has set a November 2 deadline for its members to be fully vaccinated, yet 10,000 are still to have their first shot 'And for somebody that refuses, they'll be given a chance to get more context from medical service providers as well as their chain of command. 'It's a lawful order. 'So obviously, if after all that effort the lawful order is disobeyed, there could be disciplinary action. 'But the secretary believes that there's lots of tools available to leaders, short of using the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to get these troops to do the right thing for themselves and for their units.' Yet 103,000 service members have not had their first shot despite Lloyd Austin, the Defense Secretary, saying on August 9 that he intended to make the vaccine mandatory for all of its 1.4 million service members by mid-September. The order was actually issued on August 24 - the day after the FDA officially approved the vaccine, ending its 'emergency use' authorization. The 103,000 service members includes 48,600 Army soldiers; 7,000 Navy sailors; 15,500 Air Force airmen and Space Force Guardians; and 26,800 Marines, according to Military.com. The Navy and Marines have set a November 28 deadline for their active duty forces to be fully vaccinated. The Army have a December 15 deadline. Members of the reserve forces - which have by far the lowest rates of vaccination among the armed forces - have until June 2022. The Army National Guard and Army Reserve comprise approximately 522,000 soldiers - roughly a quarter of the entire U.S. military. Among the Army National Guard the vaccination rate is only 38.5 per cent, and among the Army Reserve it is 40 per cent, according to an analysis by The Washington Post - and they account for nearly 40 per cent of the 62 service-member deaths due to the virus. The Pentagon has left it up to individual commanders to encourage people to get the vaccine, and discipline those who refuse. Army Col. Aaron Bohrer, director of the Training Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, told KCUR last week that those still refusing to get the jab are receiving counseling from their commanders and must watch a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention video on the vaccines' development and safety. If they continue to refuse their commander's vaccine order, they must meet with a medical provider and again with their commanders. If they still refuse to comply, they will be told officially that they have disobeyed 'a lawful order ... and that's detrimental for good order and discipline of their unit.' Once the deadline passes, however, the procedure could change, Bohrer said. A soldier is seen being vaccinated on September 9 in Fort Knox, Kentucky A member of the United States military receives the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at Camp Foster on April 28 in Ginowan, Japan 'It will potentially change as we see what our numbers are of total refusals and as these religious exemption or medical exemption [applications] are processed,' said Bohrer. 'The phase II operation may start as soon as 16 December, and that may be a decision point for our senior leadership that says you will start administratively separating soldiers that refuse the vaccine or there may be other ways we go with that.' On September 23 a group including four Air Force officers and a Secret Service agent filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to block the Biden administration's coronavirus vaccination mandates. The lawsuit plaintiffs include a Border Patrol agent, three employees of federal contractors, and Daniel Jackson, a State Department Foreign Service officer. They said that 'Americans have remained idle for far too long as our nation's elected officials continue to satisfy their voracious appetites for power.' The case is pending. The Pentagon also has declined to comment on other lawsuits by service members, including a case filed in August in Colorado that demanded the Defense Department create vaccine requirement exemptions for troops who have antibodies from previous infections. The case fatality rate within the services remains low, at 0.025 per cent, compared with 1.6 per cent in the general U.S. population. Roughly one-third of the 62 members known to have died of COVID-19 were 40 years old or younger; the youngest was 23 while the oldest was 61. None of them was fully vaccinated. There have been more than 246,700 cases of COVID-19 among U.S. service members, and 2,000 hospitalizations. General practitioners will be posted to Queensland state schools in 2022 as part of a government plan to provide free health check-ups for students. The pilot program will begin midway through next year and GPs will be based at 50 schools throughout the state. Participating schools stretch from the southeast corner, as far west as Mount Isa and in Queensland's far north. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the health and wellbeing of the state is her greatest priority and the $10 million program will be expanded if successful. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said GPs will be based at 50 schools throughout the state from mid 2022 to give students free health checks 'For many young people, booking in to see a GP is difficult and expensive,' she said in parliament on Wednesday. 'That's why at the last election we announced a pilot program to base GPs at a number of state secondary schools throughout Qld. 'We'll continue to invest in programs like this to give all Queenslanders better access to quality health services. Two community hubs known as 'FamilyLinQ' will also be established at Kingston State School in Woodridge and the new Logan Reserve primary school in Logan, set to open in 2023 and 2024. The government is investing $19 million in these hubs to provide education, health and community services under one roof, Education Minister Grace Grace says. 'The hubs will also enable parents to engage in adult education and training programs to build their skills and qualifications,' Ms Grace said in parliament. 'FamilyLinQ supports the strong work we have been doing to give all children a great start by connecting school communities to services and programs enabling them to thrive.' A brave Melbourne teen who almost died with coronavirus has shared her harrowing ordeal and desperate fight for life as one of Australia's youngest cases in ICU on a ventilator. Saela, 17, and her whole family contracted Covid-19 from her baby sister's daycare in late August as Victoria's latest outbreak worsened. With more concern about her elderly grandparents, it was Saela who ended up in hospital for almost a month, including nine days in a coma. The Year 11 student was not eligible for the vaccine at the time. Saela delivered a powerful address about the grave fears for her life as her condition deteriorated. along with an impassioned plea to Covid deniers and those hesitant to roll up their sleeves. 'There are a lot of people my age who think they're invincible and don't need the vaccine,' she said. 'They think they are young, they don't have underlying conditions. They won't be affected but Covid almost killed me. Saela stole the show at the Victoria government's daily Covid briefing, where she was joined by her mum Michelle, who relived going through every parent's worst nightmare. She hailed Saela for her bravery in speaking out just weeks after being told by doctors her daughter was the sickest patient in the Eastern Health district. 'We're not actors. This is not a script, this is on paper so I can look at it because this is so nerve-racking,' Michelle said. 'She wanted to share her story. She wasn't forced. 'Maybe anonymous people online will try and make her feel bad for speaking out but they should know nothing will make her feel worse than Covid did.' Melbourne teen Saela (pictured left with her mother Michelle) left journalists and viewers in tears at Wednesday's daily Covid briefing as she shared her harrowing ordeal Michelle says anti-vaxxers are entitled to their opinion. 'It's not me to force them to do it,' she said. 'I'm just here to tell my story and this is what happened to me. 'And I just hope that that person doesn't experience what we did. It's up to them. The pair have since been inundated with an outpouring of support online from health officials, the media and general public. 'So impressed with Saela and Michelles eloquence and generosity in sharing what must have been a very harrowing experience,' one woman wrote. Another added: 'Any parent listening to Michelles devastating helpless experience watching family members disappear alone in ambulances or hearing Saela had to be put on a ventilator over the phone will be moved.' Saela recalled the day she was rushed to hospital in an ambulance as she struggled to breathe as her coughing fits worsened. Her condition became critical as her lungs filled with fluid. 'I was so scared, I was screaming and I thought I was going to die and then I felt nothing, they had put me to sleep. They woke me up nine days later,' Saela recalled. She woke up with a tube in her neck, unable to move or talk. 'I was scared to sleep again,' she said. 'I just stared at the ceiling and I was alone. There was so much machines around me, so many wires and needles, so much beeping and everything made me scared.' Doctors told Saela's family she was the sickest patient at Box Hill Hospital (pictured) Saela had to learn how to walk again before heading home in time to watch the AFL grand final on television. Three weeks on, she's still not 100 per cent and has just resumed online classes this week. She still has physical and emotional reminders of her life-threatening battle. 'I'll have this scar from the tracheotomy on my neck for the rest of my life,' she said. Saela and her family are from the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows, one the worst hotspots of the latest outbreak that plunged the city into its sixth lockdown. Eight members of the family ended up with Covid including her siblings, both parents and two grandparents. Michelle (pictured) will never forget the harrowing phone call she got from doctors informing her daughter Saela was being placed on a ventilator 'When I got the call from the doctor to say that Saela's health had deteriorated so rapidly and was getting transferred to ICU and put on a ventilator I was in shock. I thought how? Literally I just talked to her two hours ago,' her mother Michelle said. 'I remember speaking to the doctor and I said, 'Please. You need to save my baby.' And he said, 'Michelle, I promise you we are doing everything that we can.' He said, 'At this moment, she is the sickest person in this hospital.' Saela and her mum issued emotional pleas for everyone to get vaccinated as Victoria recorded 1,571 cases and 13 deaths, the deadliest day of the state's Delta outbreak. 'There's still COVID in our community,' Saela said. 'There are still so many families right now being affected and it makes me so sad. I'm blessed I'm home now with my family. I just want things back to the way it was and when we have that chance, please don't wait' Michelle said they may never know why Saela ended up so sick. 'But I do believe she wouldn't have been this sick if she'd been vaccinated in time,' Michelle said. 'Please. No family should have to go through what we did. No parent should see their child suffer and almost die. 'Don't leave it until it's too late.' A distressed kangaroo that was pulled to safety from a lake by two Good Samaritans has been put down after suffering extreme stress from the incident. The shivering native got stuck in the freezing shallows of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra last month but was dragged to shore by two men. While viral footage of the brave rescue warmed hearts around the world it has now been revealed the sick kangaroo had to be euthanised. David Boyd captured a frightened and tired kangaroo being pulled from the chilly Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra to safety by two men on Tuesday An ACT government spokesperson said a veterinarian from the department had examined the exhausted roo and found it was in 'poor physical condition'. 'Given significant concerns for the kangaroo's welfare, the animal was euthanised,' they said. 'Several factors contributed to the welfare concerns for this kangaroo, including the poor symptoms the animal was showing, the location where the animal was found, and the cold, windy weather.' The spokesperson said kangaroos can suffer capture myopathy or muscle damage from extreme exertion or stress. The risk of capture myopathy - a non-infectious disease found in wild and domestic animals - was a primary consideration in any rescue of a kangaroo, they said. The two men were able to carefully approach the shivering woo and grab ahold of it to lift it to safety The ACT Parks and Conservation Service reminded the community to always call for professional help if a native animal is in danger. 'Please give the animal space and keep an eye on them from a distance - maintain enough room for the animal to leave the area,' the spokesperson said. In viral footage of the gallant rescue, two men are seen slowly moving towards the animal with their arms out, calling for the waterlogged roo to come closer. The kangaroo can be seen shivering while looking at both men who continue to carefully approach the traumatised animal. A third man was waiting on the promenade to help lift the kangaroo out of the water As soon as the man on the left reached out to grab the kangaroo, it animal is seen throwing thrashing its arms around in fear. Luckily, the two men were able to grab a hold of the worried roo and lift it to safety onto the promenade, where a third man was waiting to assist. As many passers-by watched on, the third man tried to calm it down. The three men managed to calm the kangaroo as it extended its arm to one of them in what Mr Boyd thought was a way of showing appreciation. 'Aw, he's thanking ya,' Mr Boyd can be heard saying behind the camera. The three men managed to calm the kangaroo as it extended its arm to one of them in what Mr Boyd thought was a way of showing appreciation Mr Boyd wrote on the social media platform that the kangaroo was in a bit of shock, and it took about 30 minutes for the animal to perk up again. Many users have commended the men on jumping in and saving the roo. One user wrote: 'That has made my day.' While another said: 'Omg that's so amazing! Thank goodness people were around to see him in there or he would've frozen'. Kangaroos that are injured, sick, or in fear are known to become defensive if they are approached and may be dangerous and cause injuries. People are advised to call authorities such as WIRES wildlife rescue to assist instead of approaching the animal. Scheller Jr had to spend a week in solitary confinement in the brig and will appear in court on Thursday at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina His lawyer Tim Parlatore said that he is working on an agreement to obtain Scheller an honorable discharge or a discharge with honorable conditions He chose to plead guilty to the following six charges: contempt toward officials, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, failure to obey lawful general orders and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman Colonel Stuart Scheller Jr is expected to plead guilty to multiple charges on Thursday after criticizing the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller has been charged with six violations and will face a special court martial for publicly criticizing the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal A Marine officer who publicly criticized the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will plead guilty to multiple charges filed against him for his comments, his lawyer has said. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller Jr took to Facebook in August after 13 service members were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport to demand accountability from those occupying higher roles within the military branch. Scheller is seen in uniform in the viral video and says: 'Its time for a new generation to assume American power. We are ready, and we reject the current system... Follow me, and we will bring the whole f***ing system down in a constitutional manner with one loud voice.' He had to spend a week in solitary confinement and will appear in court on Thursday at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He faces a court-martial on six violations: contempt toward officials, disrespect toward the superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying superior commissioned officers, dereliction in the performance of duties, failure to obey order or regulation, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. But Tim Parlatore, one of Scheller's attorneys, told The Hill that Scheller has chosen to plead guilty in the case. 'This case began with a call for accountability and Lt. Col. Scheller will demonstrate to senior leadership how to accept accountability for his own actions,' Parlatore said. Parlatore said that he is working on an agreement to obtain Scheller an honorable discharge or a discharge with honorable conditions. He added that Scheller should only get a letter of reprimand and no additional punishments after the 'totally excessive and unnecessary' week in prison. Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was thrown in brig for breaking gag order after the soldier had panned the US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan Some US representatives have said Scheller Jr's imprisonment 'appears to be for messaging, retribution, and convenience.' The brig is pictured A source close to the case says Scheller stayed in an area of the brig normally for murderers Scheller was three days from retirement when he was stripped of his post and thrown in the grim confinement quarters to await military trial for contempt. THE MILITARY'S CHARGES AGAINST LIEUTENANT COLONEL STUART SCHELLER Co ntempt towards officials Disrespect toward the superior commissioned officers Willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer Dereliction in the performance of duties Failure to obey order or regulation Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman Advertisement He has also tried to resign, in a written request, and relinquish his $2million pension, but the military hasn't accepted it. After he was released on October 5th, Scheller's media team released an update saying: 'An IRO hearing was scheduled to review Lt Col Stuart Scheller's pre-trial detention at 1:30 pm today. 'The Marine Corps refused to provide an open hearing or to record the hearing. Media outlets objected and asked that the hearing be delayed to allow for action in federal court. 'Prior to the hearing, the Marine Corps agreed to release LtCol Scheller pending trial by court martial. 'Lt Col Scheller remains subject to the unlawful gag order previously issued by his commander Col David Emmel. 'Lt Col Scheller has submitted a request for redress regarding the unlawful order to his command. Lt Col Scheller has submitted a request for resignation of his commission in lieu of trial to the Secretary of the Navy. 'Numerous members of Congress have urged the Secretary to accept this request. 'Lt Col Scheller appreciates the support of the American people, his legal team, family and friends who have stood by him, Members of Congress, the Pipe Hitter Foundation and the Marines.' The update was posted on the Piper Hitter Foundation that has raised $2million for his defense Supporters have raised over $2 million for the marine who was jailed for defying orders to stop publicly criticizing the nation's Afghanistan withdrawal Scheller publicly shared his resignation letter, addressing it to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Torro and citing 'a lack of trust and confidence in your ability to lead' The Washington Times reports that Scheller's initial court appearance was quietly delayed after protests from the media that they would not be allowed to observe it. In a statement, they told DailyMail.com: 'Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. is being released from confinement today, Oct. 5, 2021, as a result of a mutual agreement between Lt. Col. Scheller, his Defense counsel, and the Commanding General, Training Command.' Scheller, based in North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, was three years from retirement when he posted a scathing video criticizing superiors on August 26, the same day that the 13 US troops were killed in Kabul. 'I'm not saying we need to be in Afghanistan forever, but I am saying, did any of you throw your rank on the table and say, 'Hey, it's a bad idea to evacuate Bagram Airfield, a strategic airbase, before we evacuate everyone'?' Scheller Jr said in the widely-shared clip. Scheller was removed from command of the advanced infantry training battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the day after he posted his first video 'due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,' according to Maj. Jim Stenger, a spokesman for the Marines. On October 2nd, his mother Cathy told how the family had been left 'heartbroken' by how the military had treated him. Stu and Cathy Scheller, parents of Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller US Marine Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller, pictured with mother Catherine and father Stuart Sr. 'He's in a cell with no books, no phone no nothing. We're heartbroken over this and so is he. 'We love America and we are so shocked at what we're learning about what the new military is like in this country,' she told The New York Post. On September 27, Scheller's father Stu Scheller Sr told Task & Purpose that his son had been taken into custody for violating a gag order imposed by his command. 'All our son did is ask the questions that everybody was asking themselves, but they were too scared to speak out loud,' Scheller Sr. said. 'He was asking for accountability. In fact, I think he even asked for an apology that we made mistakes, but they couldn't do that, which is mind-blowing.' The Pipe Hitter Foundation, founded by Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher - who was accused of murdering an ISIS prisoner of war in 2017 and then pardoned by Donald Trump - started the fundraiser, which has received more than 26,000 donations and raised a total of $2,081,913. It says that the donations will go towards funding mounting legal expenses, helping Scheller's wife and three kids financially and to aid Scheller's transition out of the military. A dog crate where a 13-year-old New Mexico boy was forced to sleep and where he died in 2017 has been put on display by prosecutors during a sentencing hearing for the victim's brother who they say tortured and killed the teen. Jeremiah Valencia was beaten within an inch of his life by his mother's boyfriend, Thomas Ferguson, on November 25, 2017 and then forced into the 26- by 39-inch dog crate at the family home in Nambe, north of Santa Fe in New Mexico. Valencia's brother, Jordan Nunez, now 23, then repeatedly flipped the crate - causing the final injuries that killed the boy, prosecutors said. The boy's body was then wrapped in plastic and buried in a plastic container along New Mexico State Road 503. Ferguson killed himself in Santa Fe County jail in 2018 while awaiting trial. Valencia's mother, Tracy Pena, pleaded guilty to child abuse and drug trafficking charges in 2018 as part of a plea agreement. Jordan Nunez, 23 (pictured) faces 14 to 24 years for his role in the 2017 killing after he pled guilty last March to recklessly permitting child abuse resulting in death and two counts of tampering with evidence Although 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia (pictured) was beaten within an inch of his life by his mother's boyfriend, Thomas Ferguson, who killed himself in Santa Fe County jail in 2018 while awaiting trial, prosecutors said on Tuesday that the boy's brother Jordan Nunez, 23, delivered the final blow that killed him The dog crate where 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia was forced to stay and where he died after being tortured. It is part of the exhibits being presented during the sentencing hearing of his brother, Jordan Nunez A photo is displayed in court showing the hole where the body of Jeremiah Valencia was discovered inside this blue plastic bin District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies on Tuesday argued for the maximum sentence of 24 years for Nunez Nunez is now facing 14 to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last March to recklessly permitting child abuse resulting in death, and two counts of tampering with evidence. A three-day sentencing hearing for Nunez got under way on Tuesday, with prosecutors arguing for the maximum sentence. First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies urged District Court Judge Matthew Wilson to deem Nunez's crimes serious violent offenses, which would require him to serve out at least 85 per cent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Carmack-Altwies said that Nunez 'knew that his little brother, who had just gotten a severe beatdown, was in this cage' when he flipped it. Prosecutors also showed a sledgehammer which was used to beat Valencia. 'Jeremiah became the target of those two men,' said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, according to the Albuquerque Journal. 'Basically, anything that could be used to hurt a 13-year-old boy was used on Jeremiah.' After weeks of beatings that left the boy hobbling with a cane from broken ribs and other injuries, Nunez flipped the 26x39 inch crate 'over and over and over again' while the boy was inside, according to witness account cited by prosecutors. Among torture methods devised by Ferguson to 'punish' the boy were shocking him with a shock collar, using him for target practice with a homemade spear and dropping the sledgehammer on his hands. Family members told deputies that Ferguson kept Valencia inside the crate as punishment, often making him sleep there and forcing him to wear adult diapers. Family members told deputies that Ferguson kept Valencia inside a dog crate, shown to jury members in court on Tuesday, as punishment - ultimately, prosecutors said, the boy died in that crate when Nunez flipped it 'over and over' while the badly-injured Valencia was inside Among torture methods devised by Ferguson to 'punish' the boy were: shocking the boy with a shock collar, using him for target practice with a homemade spear and dropping a sledge hammer, which was also shown to jury members by District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies (pictured), on his hands Valencia (pictured) was not enrolled in school, and Ferguson had beaten the boy for years, former District Attorney Marco Serna said in 2018 He was not enrolled in school, and Ferguson had beaten the boy for years, former District Attorney Marco Serna said in 2018. Roberto Montoya, a contractor who employed and befriended Nunez and Ferguson, said in court on Tuesday that Ferguson thought the 13-year-old was 'possessed' and had reached out to a pastor. The Office of Medical Investigator also found that the boys jaw was broken in two places, to the point where a bone poked through Valencia's gums, likely as a result of a 'final beat-down' on November 25, the day the boy died, prosecutors said. Lacerations consistent with sexual assault were also discovered in the boy's autopsy, and portions of his body 'had possibly been burned.' 'A perfectly healthy 13-year-old boy could barely walk, couldnt eat and needed a cane,' the District Attorney said, according to the Journal. 'Nunez was watching his little brother hobbling around on a cane, bleeding on it, and did nothing.' Evidence of Valencia's blood was found in his room and throughout the family's home, but wasn't 'visible to the naked eye,' prosecutors said. The largest amount of blood was found in the fireplace in Ferguson's bedroom, where Valencia was confined behind a specially-made door. Nunez's defense attorney Mark Earnest argued that the real 'monster' was Ferguson, who not only terrorized Jeremiah, but Nunez and other family members as well. Thomas Ferguson, 42 (pictured left) the boy's mother Tracy Pena, 35 (pictured right) and Ferguson's 19-year-old son Jordan Nunez (pictured center) were arrested in February of 2018 and charged with abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence Valencia's mother Tracy Pena, 39 (pictured right) told investigators she was forced to help Thomas Ferguson (pictured left) move the boy's remains but kept quiet about it because she was afraid of Ferguson. Pena was sentenced to 12 years for failing to prevent her son's abuse and killing in September Earnest said prosecutors 'immediately focused on [Nunez]' and were 'trying to make him monster 2.0' after his father's suicide. The prosecution shot back that Nunez was, in fact, 'monster 2.0,' citing his alleged role in the beatings and disposal of the boy's body. In seeking the minimum sentence of 14 years in prison for his client, Earnest asked the judge to take into consideration his client's age, his lack of criminal history and the remorse he says he feels for his brother's death. 'Theres more than meets the eye, and thats so true in this case,' Earnest said. 'My goal in the next three days is to show you the more than meets the eye.' Previously, Nunez's sister testified that her brother and Ferguson had washed the boy's battered corpse in the bathtub of their home before placing it in his bedroom, where his mother, 39-year-old Tracy Pena, alleges she found him. In September, Pena (pictured left) was sentenced to 12 years for failing to prevent the Valencia's (pictured right) abuse and death, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican In September, Pena was sentenced to 12 years for failing to prevent the boy's abuse and death, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Deputies discovered the boy's body in January of 2018, after an inmate at the Santa Fe County jail told them Pena had confided in her about her son's death. Pena, who was in jail at the time of the death, told investigators she was forced to help Ferguson move the boy's remains but kept quiet about it because she was afraid of Ferguson. Pena was investigated by the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department in 2011. Valencia and his sister were both placed in the care of their grandparents, but were eventually released back to their mother. The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders. The reopening of US borders with both of its neighboring countries comes nearly 20 months after they closed. An exact date for the reopening of US borders to international travelers has not yet been specified, with officials only teasing 'early November'. On September 20, the White House announced the United States would also lift travel restrictions in early November on air travelers from 33 countries including the UK, most of Europe, China, India and Brazil, who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 The US will open land and sea borders to vaccinated travelers coming from and going to Canada in 'early November', a senior White House official said on October 12 The southern border between the US and Mexico will also reopen early November, allowing more commercial exchanges and people to travel between both countries. Pictured: A Mexican soldier patrols the international border bridge that connects Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, after its partial reopening September 25 The move is similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters. Lawmakers from U.S. border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families. 'Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end,' Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. The southern U.S. border has been under the spotlight for weeks as a steady influx of migrants from Central America and Haiti seeking refuge from violence and poor conditions in their home countries have overwhelmed border patrol agencies. Officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the 'Title 42' order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico. The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced 'very soon,' one of the officials said, adding the that Biden administration was 'creating a consistent stringent protocol for all foreign nationals traveling into the United States.' Migrants, many from Haiti, are seen at an encampment along the Del Rio International Bridge near the Rio Grande in Del Rio, Texas. The U.S. is flying Haitians camped on the Texas-Mexico border back to their homeland and blocking others from crossing the border from Mexico Canada began allowing fully vaccinated U.S. visitors for non-essential travel on August 9. Once the U.S. curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing U.S. land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said. U.S. lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern U.S. border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions. Senator Maria Cantwell said the announcement 'will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada.' The U.S. also said it would extend the vaccine requirements to foreign air travelers from all countries around the world. Airline passengers who are fully vaccinated will also be allowed to travel between Mexico, US and Canada if they show are able to show proof of vaccination no more than 3 days before returning or coming to the US by air Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections. By contrast, all non-U.S. air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization. One question unanswered is whether the United States will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. land border restrictions have not barred U.S. citizens from returning home. Former premier Mike Baird will be a witness at the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian's dealings with her former boyfriend, disgraced MP Daryl Maguire. Ms Berejiklian has rarely been seen since resigning on October 1 after the ICAC announced it was investigating whether she breached the public trust during her five-year relationship with Mr Maguire. The watchdog is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian encouraged or allowed corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire and any role she had in multi-million dollar government grants to a gun club and conservatorium of music in his electorate. Ms Berejiklian is not on a witness list released by the ICAC on Wednesday afternoon for next week's hearing but her predecessor Mr Baird will appear. Former premier Mike Baird will be a witness at the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian's dealings with her former boyfriend, disgraced MP Daryl Maguire. Mr Baird and Ms Berejiklian are pictured Stuart Ayres, the Minister for Trade and Industry and deputy leader of the Liberals in the Premier Dominic Perrotett's new ministry is also listed to give evidence. Ms Berejiklian is pictured with her successor Mr Perrotett (left) and Mr Ayers Ms Berejiklian has rarely been seen since resigning on October 1 after the ICAC announced it was investigating whether she breached the public trust during her relationship with Maguire. She is pictured arriving back at her office last week Also listed is Stuart Ayres, the Minister for Trade and Industry and deputy leader of the Liberals in new Premier Dominic Perrotett's ministry. Mr Baird is set to give evidence next Wednesday before and after a number of public servants. His onetime chief of staff Nigel Blunden will be called to give evidence, as will Director at the Office of Sport, Michael Toohey, and Paul Doorn, the CEO of Venues NSW. Ms Berejiklian will not be represented at the hearing by the barrister who acted for her last year at the ICAC, Arthur Moses SC, after it was revealed they were now in a relationship. The former premier's office has previously confirmed Mr Moses would not act for his now partner, which legal sources said would be 'a bad look' as much as presenting any ethical problems. 'The fact is because of the relationship there is no way in the real world that he could ever act for her,' one Sydney lawyer said. 'Just because of the optics it would be a shocker. It would just be a bad look. 'There might be an ethical issue but it doesn't even matter. It wouldn't even get to first base. There's no way that he would ever do it.' Premier Gladys Berejiklian has admitted she shared a private relationship with disgraced former colleague Daryl Maguire while he was in office. Secretly recorded phone conversations the pair had have been played at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (pictured) Gladys Berejiklian departs after giving evidence at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption on October 12 last year The ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian engaged in a 'breach of public trust' or encouraged corrupt behaviour during her relationship with Mr Maguire. Witnesses will give evidence via audio-visual link wherever possible due to Covid-19. Ms Berejiklian had refused to resign after her secret relationship with Mr Maguire was first revealed at an earlier ICAC hearing in October last year. The then premier admitted she 'stuffed up' by secretly having a relationship with Mr Maguire from 2015 to August 2020. 'Whilst I have made this mistake in my personal life, I intend to serve the people of New South Wales to the best of my ability. That's what I've always done. I've sacrificed my life to public office, and I'm proud of that,' she said. Ms Berejiklian said then she was 'far from perfect' but insisted she has 'done nothing wrong' and has not been compromised by her relationship with Mr Maguire, a divorced father-of two. The former premier's secret relationship was revealed on October 12 last year when tapped phone calls between her Mr Maguire (pictured together) were played at a corruption inquiry Mr Maguire resigned in 2018 after a corruption inquiry heard evidence he sought payments to help broker deals for property developers. He is now facing a separate corruption inquiry, accused of using public office to improperly gain. Ms Berejiklian said last year she was not aware of his alleged misconduct when they were dating. 'I assumed he was doing the right thing. I had my trust in him, and obviously I know now that that trust was misplaced, and I accept that human failing on my part, and I accept it wholeheartedly,' she said. 'I had no reason at the time to imagine that he was doing anything wrong, because I trusted him, and I assumed that, if there was any interests to be declared, that he did that.' The premier said she effectively ended the romance when she sacked Mr Maguire from the Liberal Party before he resigned from parliament. 'The dynamics changed substantially and I was there to support him as a close friend,' she said. An emotional Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on October 12 last year) had refused to resign after her secret relationship with a disgraced former MP who is facing a corruption investigation shocked Australia Ms Berejiklian said she kept the relationship secret from all her family and friends because it was not 'of sufficient status' and she was not sure if it had a future. She has previously described herself as a 'very private' person and said the exposure of the relationship was a 'personal nightmare'. The premier's secret relationship was revealed a year ago when tapped phone calls between her Mr Maguire were played at a corruption inquiry. The calls featuredMr Maguire using colourful language including swear words. He called her 'babe' and she called him her 'numero uno' - Spanish for number one. Asked at the inquiry what she meant by 'numero uno', Ms Berejiklian said: 'I think what I would have meant there is that in my personal life I placed importance on how I felt about him.' During the calls, Mr Maguire made comments such as 'they are sucking people's d***s' and 'they can get f**ked', but the onetime Girl Guide often simply replied to his remarks with 'Mmm'. In other private correspondence the two called each other 'hawkiss', an Armenian term of endearment. Ms Berejiklian was the third Liberal premier in NSW to be brought down by the anti-corruption body her side of politics created. Nick Greiner became its first victim in 1992 - just four years after he established the ICAC in a bid to uncover Labor scandals during Neville Wran's decade in power. While the Supreme Court later cleared him of scandalously offering a government job to former education minister Terry Meterell, the damage was done and the late John Fahey replaced him as premier. Little more than two decades later, in 2014, Barry O'Farrell resigned over an undeclared $3,000 bottle of Grange Hermitage, bottled in the year of his birth - 1959. He had received the gift in March 2011 in the week he won a landslide election victory that ended 16 years of Labor rule, following a series of scandals in Kristina Keneally's government. A county in Florida has been slapped with a $3.5 million fine after county officials enforced a vaccine mandate for 714 employees, and then fired 14 employees who refused to get a shot. The Florida Department of Health said Leon County has until November 5 to pay a $3.57 million penalty. County administrator Vince Long had ordered all 714 of the county's employees to provide proof of vaccination, or apply for a few exemptions. In September Governor Ron DeSantis vowed to fine cities and counties $5,000 for each worker who is required to get a COVID vaccine. Leon County has now been fined $5,000 for each of the 714 workers. In September Governor Ron DeSantis (pictured) vowed to fine cities and counties $5,000 for each worker who is required to get a COVID vaccine Leon County Administrator Vincent Long (pictured) said the vaccine mandate was legal and criticized DeSantis putting politics over public health DeSantis said that vaccine mandates violate state law, pointing to a bill he signed in May that 'bans governmental entities in Florida from requiring proof of vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from their operations,' according to MSNBC. Division Director Douglas Woodlief said that Leon County had 30 days to pay the $3.57 million fine and in a statement on Tuesday DeSantis said that Leon County's vaccine mandate 'unacceptable.' 'It is unacceptable that Leon County violated Florida law, infringed on current and former employees' medical privacy, and fired loyal public servants because of their personal health decisions,' DeSantis said in a statement. 'We will continue fighting for Floridians' rights and the Florida Department of Health will continue to enforce the law. We're going to stand up for Floridians' jobs, stand up for Floridians' livelihoods, and stand up for freedom,' he added. But Leon County Administrator Vincent Long said the vaccine mandate was legal and criticized DeSantis putting politics over public health. 'The County strongly contends that our employee vaccination requirement was not only completely legally justifiable, but it was a necessary and responsible action to take to keep our employees safe, protect the public, and ensure our readiness as a frontline response organization,' Long told CNN in a statement. Long added that DeSantis' position 'unfortunately appears to be less of a public health strategy and more about political strategy' and the county 'fully intends to enforce its rights using any remedies available to settle all arguments about the applicability of the statute at issue.' Long's statement echoed White House press secretary Jen Psaki's accusation that DeSantis and Texas' Greg Abbott of 'putting politics over public health' by banning vaccine mandates. She called out the conservative governors after Abbott followed DeSantis' lead and banned all Covid-19 vaccine mandates through executive order on Monday after President Biden had issued his own executive order requiring employers with over 100 workers to mandate the jabs. 'Governor Abbott's executive order banning mandates and, I would also note announcement by Governor DeSantis this morning essentially banning implementation of mandates fit a familiar pattern that we've seen of putting politics ahead of public health.' In September, Florida reported its deadliest peak in daily death rates since the start of the pandemic after the state reported to the CDC more than 1,338 new deaths that occurred over several days or weeks. A snake catcher has shared a grim warning to Sydneysiders about a surge in giant snakes after he found an 'extra-large serpent with a body as thick as a beer bottle'. Sean Cade, who runs Australian Snake Catchers, was recently called to remove a six-foot Eastern Brown Snake from a West Hoxton property in western Sydney. He revealed he had been alerted to many more Eastern Brown Snakes around the city as well as Red Belly Snakes. During the Labour Day long weekend at the beginning of October, Mr Cade received 25 calls from concerned individuals about snakes on their property. 'A dozen of them were Eastern Browns, and they were all five-foot plus,' Mr Cade told Daily Mail Australia. The Snake catcher also noted the Red Belly Snakes he has found lately have also been a 'pretty decent size'. Sean Cade (pictured), who runs Australian Snake Catchers , was recently called to remove a six-foot Eastern Brown Snake from a West Hoxton property in western Sydney While the snake catcher explained that there are not necessarily more snakes being encountered, the snakes have been bigger than their average size lately. 'Your average black snake that people are going to see is like a metre long, like a ten-cent coin. An Eastern Brown snake is probably the same thickness but they 1.2 metres. 'But I'm finding five footers on a regular basis from an Eastern Brown snake - like a 20 cent coin - so they're quite thick,' Mr Cade said. Mr Cade added that the red belly snakes were like a 'mandarin size' in diameter. 'For some reason, this year, more so than the last few years, the snakes seem to be a lot bigger and a lot healthier,' Mr Cade said. CSIRO mouse expert Steve Henry said that the mouse plague, which was seen throughout central and western NSW during the beginning of the year, has contributed to the issue. Mr Cade revealed that he had been alerted to many more Eastern Brown Snakes around the city as well as Red Belly Snakes During the Labour Day long weekend at the beginning of October, Mr Cade received 25 calls from concerned individuals about snakes on their property Mr Henry told 9news.com.au: 'The mice are providing great food for snakes.' 'We will see lots of healthy snakes but not necessarily more of them.' However, Mr Henry said there is still uncertainty about whether another mouse plague will hit the state. 'We're seeing patchy reports of high mice numbers, but farmers are also being very proactive with baiting, which is helping to reduce numbers in some area.' The Snake catcher also noted that the Red Belly Snakes he has found lately have also been a 'pretty decent size and were like a 'mandarin size' in diameter Kamala Harris has vowed to address the 'shameful past' of America's European explorers, saying they 'ushered in a wave of devastation' for Native Americans when they arrived 500 years ago. The vice president was speaking at the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention, held this year in Portland, Oregon. She spoke the day after Columbus Day - which has also been formally recognized for the first time this year as 'Indigenous Peoples' Day' by President Joe Biden . Harris told the delegates: 'Since 1934, every October, the United States has recognized the voyage of the European explorers who first landed on the shores of the Americas. 'But that is not the whole story. That has never been the whole story. 'Those explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for Tribal nations perpetrating violence, stealing land, and spreading disease.' Kamala Harris on Tuesday addressed the National Congress of American Indians, and promised to work to right the historic wrongs committed by European explorers Harris said that the Biden administration would work to right the wrongs inflicted on Native American communities for generations. On Monday, Biden signed an executive order designed to help Native American communities with educational and economic opportunities. 'We must not shy away from this shameful past, and we must shed light on it and do everything we can to address the impact of the past on Native communities today,' said Harris. 'Native Americans are more likely to live in poverty, to be unemployed, and often struggle to get quality healthcare and to find affordable housing.' She pointed out that Native Americans make up a large proportion of the armed forces, yet their communities are severely deprived. Native American activists lead a march from Freedom Plaza to the White House against continued use of fossil fuels on Indigenous Peoples' Day, the first day of a week of action hosted by People vs. Fossil Fuels The message, 'Expect Us' written by Native American demonstrators, is seen on the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Park on the second day of protests at the White House against the continued use of fossil fuels 'This persistent inequity, this persistent injustice is not right. And the pandemic has only made it worse,' she added. She said that Biden's $3.5 trillion infrastructure will help Native American communities, highlighting improved internet access and better facilities. 'This bill represents the largest infrastructure investment our nation has made since before World War II and presents, right now, an important opportunity to strengthen Indian Country,' she said. 'It would set aside funding for tribal bridge projects and the Tribal Transportation Program. 'It would provide Native communities with funding to build out brand new water infrastructure, and connect Native communities with high speed internet. All while creating good union jobs, millions of good union jobs. 'And as Native communities have led for generations upon generation on protecting our environment, I should also mention that this bill would also put millions of dollars toward making sure our communities are resilient in the face of climate change.' Harris pointed out that Native women and girls are 'missing and murdered at alarming rates.' She also noted that Native American voters 'are being systematically denied access to the ballot box', and urged Congress to pass The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act - both of which are designed to reduce voter suppression. 'I believe strongly that we right now have a chance to change things, to improve things, to be better for this generation and for the seven generations to come,' she said, referencing a Native American belief that we should make decisions about how we live today based on how our decisions will impact the future seven generations. 'Because I believe that we are at the beginning of a new era and a moment of incredible transformation. 'As we work to rebuild our economy, as we work to restore our democracy, we have the opportunity to build a better future together.' Last year, as presidential candidate, Harris spoke at the conference and pledged to add 500,000 acres of land into trust for federally-recognized Indian tribes. She also promised to improve the Indian Health Service, which serves 2.2 million people. Harris' speech came days after it was revealed school-age children who joined her for a NASA YouTube video about space exploration were child actors. The 'Get Curious with Vice President Harris' video was filmed in August and tweeted out by the Vice President on October 7 to celebrate World Space Week. It appeared to viewers that the children she was with were all normal kids. However it has now been revealed that they are paid actors who auditioned by sending in a monologue and three questions they would ask a world leader. Critics of Harris have leapt on the video, with the mockery compounded by the revelation that it was produced by Canadian company 'Sinking Ship Entertainment'. A NASA video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris included child actors According to a White House official, the vice president's office did not select the children involved in the YouTube special Get Curious with Vice President Harris, a series focused on getting kids interested in space. Instead, the office directed DailyMail.com to YouTube's head of Entertainment Communications to discuss casting. When reaching out to NASA, they directed all questions related to the video and Harris' involvement in the council to the vice president's office. Harris was tasked in May with leading the Cabinet-level National Space Council. The same few days Harris was shooting the video at the Naval Observatory, the Taliban was beginning to take over Afghanistan and the southern border was being flooded with illegal immigrants. Questions have emerged over whether taxpayer dollars were used to fund the video and pay the children actors who appeared alongside the vice president. While YouTube did not acknowledge where the funding came from, a spokesperson for the video sharing site acknowledged the controversy over the video in a statement provided to DailyMail.com: 'Over the last 24 hours, we've noticed growing commentary and questions around our YouTube Originals special, 'Get Curious.' 'The casting process for this show was no different from typical unscripted kids shows across other networks and streaming platforms,' the spokesperson added. 'YouTube selected the kids that were featured,' the said. 'We reached out via not for profit organizations, social media and traditional casting websites, looking for kids who were interested in contributing positively to their communities.' 'YouTube is proud of 'Get Curious' and we look forward to the attention shifting back to encouraging families to get excited about space exploration.' On Tuesday the vice president made virtual remarks before the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention she addressed a few topics of the day but did not make mention of the controversy over her video on space exploration. The Get Curious video, which has received a slew of criticism ranging from the vice president's mannerisms to the fact the children were hired actors, was shot at Harris' residence from August 1113. Vice President Kamala Harris was filming a video about space with child actors on August 11-13, the same days the Taliban advanced their takeover of Afghanistan and as migrants continued to flood the southern border Harris' office passed the buck when asked about hiring child actors for the video, claiming YouTube was in charge of the special Get Curious with Vice President Harris During that time the Taliban were making rapid advances across Afghanistan and were closing in on Kabul during the chaotic and bungled U.S. troop withdrawal. The city of Herat, the Helmand province, and Afghanistan's second-largest city of Kandahar all fell to the Taliban on August 13. And by that time at least 14 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals had been taken over by the Islamic militant group. On August 15, two days after Harris wrapped filming, Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul was overrun by the Taliban. The month of August also saw a massive amount of encounters at the southern border with Customs and Border Protection agents coming in contact with 208,887 migrants crossing illegally from Mexico into the U.S. Harris was named 'border czar' earlier this year by President Joe Biden. Since taking on that role, the vice president's office has redirected that she is aimed at addressing root causes in migrants' home countries that cause them to flee and seek asylum in the U.S. in the first place. In June, Harris took her first and only trip to the U.S. side of the southern border as she visited El Paso, Texas, which is hundreds of miles away from ground zero of the border crisis in the Rio Grande Valley. On Friday, Harris skipped a high-level meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador which was intended to discuss the migrant crisis at the US's southern border - to visit a daycare center in New Jersey instead. Border czar Kamala Harris skipped a high-level meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Friday to discuss the migrant crisis at the US's southern border - to visit a daycare center in New Jersey instead (pictured Harris at the daycare) The vice president appeared to have worked up an appetite as she then stopped by cake shop Tonnie's Minis where she was joined by Senator Cory Booker The vice president, who was put in charge of tackling the border crisis by Joe Biden back in March, delegated the thorny meeting in Mexico's capital to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; Attorney General Merrick Garland; and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar in efforts to mend America's fractious ties with Mexico. As officials from the two nations worked hashed out a new security cooperation accord and deal with a surge in migration across the border, Harris was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Harris spent the day in New Jersey where she played bingo with children at a daycare center, stopped by a vaccination site and even had time to sample some cake at a Newark bakery. The vice president has repeatedly come under fire from Republicans over her handling of the migrant crisis, ever since she was tapped by Biden as America's border czar. Harris was especially slammed for her failure to visit the border to see the state of affairs for herself. She finally bowed to pressure and visited the border at El Paso, Texas, in June. It is the only time she's been to the border since taking office. Richard Marles has denied knowing a fundraiser he attended raised cash to pay for Labor memberships in a breach of party rules. The deputy Labor leader was dragged into an anti-corruption inquiry on Wednesday as lawyers quizzed federal MP Anthony Byrne. Mr Byrne has admitted paying for people's party membership fees to boost support for his moderate faction in a practice known as branch stacking. Richard Marles (pictured) has denied knowing a fundraiser he attended raised cash to pay for Labor memberships in a breach of party rules On Wednesday he said Labor would hold events to raise the cash, including one in 2016 which Mr Marles spoke at. 'There would generally be an event that was held normally in either April or May. Party members and others, unions et cetera, would be invited to attend these gatherings,' Mr Byrne said. The Holt MP was then shown a leaflet advertising a fundraiser at an Afghan restaurant in Dandenong, south-east Melbourne on Friday 29 April, 2016. The guest speaker was Mr Marles, who was then shadow minister for immigration. The leaflet shown at the IBAC hearing Asked who knew that the money raised would be used for branch stacking, Mr Byrne said: 'Most of the people that would have attended those functions had a pretty good idea that some of the money that was being raised would go to memberships.' But a spokeswoman for Mr Marles told Daily Mail Australia he had 'absolutely no knowledge of anything to do with the funds raised from that event.' In bombshell evidence before Victorian watchdog IBAC this week, Mr Byrne admitted branch stacking and said he worked alongside state MPs Adem Somyurek and Luke Donnellan, who resigned as Child Protection Minister on Monday. Mr Somyurek was sacked from state cabinet in June 2020 after 60 Minutes aired allegations that he was involved in branch stacking. He strongly denies the claims and has launched defamation proceedings against Nine Network, The Age and investigative reporter Nick McKenzie. Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has declined to sack Mr Byrne and said he was not aware the MP was involved in branch stacking. 'I'm not a member of the Victorian branch. Nor do I have a detailed knowledge of the whole electorate and you'd be surprised if I did,' he said on Tuesday. 'We will allow IBAC to take their course. It's not appropriate to pre-empt their findings and those processes.' Federal minister Alan Tudge said Mr Albanese 'needs to take strong action.' 'It is rotten to the core in the Labor Party here in Victoria,' he told Sky News on Tuesday. Lord Frost has issued a last minute warning to the EU that it must 'move significantly' to secure a Brexit breakthrough on Northern Ireland border rules as the bloc prepares to unveil its compromise plan this evening. The Government's Brexit chief said the UK will look at the European Commission's proposals 'positively' when they are published and then 'see what we can do'. He said the publication of the plan should be followed by a period of 'intensive talks' to find a solution to the rumbling row over the Northern Ireland Protocol 'that everybody can get behind'. Meanwhile, the peer reiterated the EU will have to give in to a UK demand to end the European Court of Justice's oversight of the border arrangements for progress to be made. His comments came after a fresh Brexit dispute erupted this morning as Leo Varadkar questioned if the UK can be trusted to stick to international treaties. The Irish deputy prime minister responded to comments made by Dominic Cummings who suggested the Government never intended to stick to every letter of the original Brexit deal. Mr Johnson's former top aide said the plan was to 'ditch bits we didn't like' in the deal after winning the 2019 general election as he argued 'sometimes' it is acceptable to break international commitments. Mr Varadkar said the remarks were 'very alarming' because they 'indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith'. The Tanaiste said the message that the UK 'doesn't necessarily keep its word' should be 'heard around the world' as he told other countries not to strike deals with Britain 'until such a time as you are confident that they keep their promises'. The EU is expected to offer this evening to 'massively' reduce the number of post-Brexit border checks in Northern Ireland in an attempt to reduce trade friction. The plan would see up to 50 per cent of customs checks on goods lifted with an even higher proportion of checks ditched when it comes to checking meat and plants, according to The Telegraph. However, while the EU is due to give ground on the issue of checks it is expected to dig in over the ECJ. Lord Frost wants European judges to be stripped of their role policing the protocol and for a system of international arbitration to be put in place instead. But EU sources have insisted ECJ oversight is a 'red line' while The Guardian reported that Lord Frost's counterpart in Brussels, Maros Sefcovic, has not included any proposal on the role of the court in his new offer to the UK. Mr Sefcovic is expected to say that the EU's proposals are not 'a take it or leave it' offer, opening the door to more discussions. It is unclear if the movement on checks will be enough for the UK to move forward. Lord Frost issued a last minute warning to the EU this afternoon that it must 'move significantly' in order to secure a Brexit breakthrough on Northern Ireland border rules Dominic Cummings suggested the UK never intended to stick to every letter of the Brexit deal it agreed with the EU, prompting a furious response from Irish deputy PM Leo Varadkar Maros Sefcovic, the EU's Brexit chief, will this afternoon publish the bloc's proposals on how to resolve post-Brexit border problems in Northern Ireland What is the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol about and what are the key issues? The row between Britain and Brussels over the Northern Ireland Protocol has been rumbling on ever since it was implemented at the start of this year. The protocol governs trade between GB and Northern Ireland and was designed to prevent a land border with the Republic, with checks carried out at ports instead. However, the rules have caused disruption to trade and inflamed community tensions. The UK wants the protocol to be completely overhauled while the EU has favoured only making tweaks. These are the main sticking points: Customs checks Businesses believe post-Brexit border red tape is too arduous and complicated and want it to be simplified. Products shipped from Northern Ireland to GB are largely unaffected by the protocol with the bureaucratic burden falling on goods heading in the other direction. Since December 31, a range of regulatory animal and plant safety checks have been in operation, including physical inspections for a proportion of freight arriving at Northern Ireland ports. Customs declarations are also required for incoming commercial goods. While the rest of the UK has left, Northern Ireland has remained in the EU single market for goods. The region also applies EU customs rules at its ports. What does the UK want: Many checks are yet to be implemented so there are fears disruption could get even worse without a major rethink. Britain believes the red tape must be slashed to make things run more smoothly. What has the EU proposed: Brussels argues the checks and paperwork are necessary because goods could end up in the Republic and therefore inside the EU. However, it now seems the bloc is willing to give ground. Reports suggest it is open to reducing checks by 50 per cent. A new system could see goods destined to stay in Northern Ireland going through a 'green lane' with only minimal checks carried out while items heading to the Republic would go through a 'red lane' of more stringent checks. Sausages and other chilled meats The problems with the protocol have been best illustrated by a row over the movement of chilled meats. Under EU rules, the import of such products from third countries like the UK is banned. That means Northern Ireland faces the prospect of being unable to import GB sausages and other chilled meats on the prohibition list. What does the UK want: Ministers are adamant there must be no ban on sending chilled meat from GB to Northern Ireland. They argue European leaders would never accept such arrangements for goods travelling inside the internal market of their own countries. The UK has unilaterally extended a grace period which means the ban is yet to come into effect. But a long term solution is being sought. What has the EU proposed: It is thought Brussels will propose a new 'national identity goods' clause which will allow the continued sale of British sausages and other relevant items in Northern Ireland. The European Court of Justice Under the terms of the protocol agreed by the UK and EU in 2019 the ECJ acts as the final arbiter on any disputes between the two sides on the operation of the protocol. What does the UK want: Britain has called for the ECJ to be stripped of this oversight role, arguing that there should be an international arbitration system put in place instead. The UK argues it is unacceptable to have EU judges ruling on potential disputes between the EU and the UK. The Government said it only agreed to an ECJ role in the protocol due to the 'very specific circumstances of that negotiation' as the UK pressed to get a Brexit deal done. What has the EU proposed: So far Brussels has signalled it intends to dig in on the issue. Brussels views the ECJ's role in the operation of the protocol as a 'red line'. Advertisement Mr Cummings said in a series of tweets last night that the UK had secured the 'best option' it could at the time and the intention was for Mr Johnson to 'ditch bits we didn't like after whacking Corbyn' at the general election. He added: 'Shd we generally stick to deals? Of course. Sometimes break them? Of course.' Responding to the remarks, Mr Varadkar told RTE Morning Ireland: 'I have seen those comments. I hope Dominic Cummings is speaking for himself and not for the British Government. 'But those comments are very alarming because that would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world because if the British Government doesn't honour its agreements, doesn't adhere to treaties it signs, that must apply to everyone else too. 'So at the moment they are going around the world, they are trying to negotiate new trade agreements. 'Surely the message must go out to all countries around the world that this is a British Government that doesn't necessarily keep its word, doesn't necessarily honour the agreements it makes and you shouldn't make any agreement with them until such a time as you are confident that they keep their promises and honour things, for example, like the protocol.' The UK has been pushing for a major overhaul of the protocol but the EU has been resisting, favouring tweaks over a significant shake-up. The Government has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol if the EU does not budge which would allow Britain to unilaterally ditch some of the rules. Unilaterally tearing up the arrangements would almost certainly result in a legal challenge from the EU. The protocol, agreed as part of the original Brexit deal, requires checks on goods travelling from GB to Northern Ireland to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic. But it has caused disruption to trade and angered unionists who have demanded the rules be scrapped, arguing they create a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. It is thought the EU's offer will include a new 'red lane' and 'green lane' system to smooth the passage of goods through Northern Ireland's ports. Items travelling from Great Britain which are destined to stay in Northern Ireland would go through the 'green lane' of minimal checks. Items which are due to head to the Republic would go through the 'red lane' of more stringent checks. The offer to reduce checks is expected to come with a demand from the bloc for access to real-time UK trade data so it can keep track of any items which could enter the Republic. An EU diplomat told The Telegraph: 'The number of checks will go down massively. This is the best way to cut checks, short of a Swiss-style alignment agreement.' Lord Frost and Mr Sefcovic are expected to meet for crunch talks in the coming weeks to try to thrash out a possible compromise. One senior EU source said last night that the proposals will move towards the 'light touch regime Britain had been seeking'. They added: 'There will always be a certain level of control and checks because that is demanded by the single market, but they will be reduced to a level, which is the absolute minimum, that the EU system can bear. 'I think for any reasonable person. They should be able to see that the remaining level of restrictions are extremely low, and shouldn't pose any difficulties for importers or consumers in Northern Ireland.' However, the stand-off over the issue of ECJ oversight risks scuppering the talks. Lord Frost said in a speech in Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday that the European Commission has been 'too quick to dismiss governance as a side issue' when 'the reality is the opposite'. EU figures have reportedly been surprised at the emergence of the issue as a major sticking point for the UK, with Brussels insistent that the ECJ must retain its oversight of the protocol. Lord Frost's demand to replace the role of the court with a system of international arbitration was last night dismissed by a senior EU diplomat who said it would be 'impossible' for the bloc to agree to. Lord Frost said this afternoon that the reach of the ECJ is a key issue that must be resolved. He told broadcasters: 'The problem with the protocol at the moment is that EU law, with the ECJ as the enforcer of it, is applied in Northern Ireland without any sort of democratic process. 'So that, I think, has to change if we're to find governance arrangements that people can live with.' He said the UK will examine the EU's proposals 'very carefully and positively', adding: 'We now need an intensive talks process and to try and find an agreement that everybody can get behind. That's what we want to happen.' But he warned: 'Obviously, we haven't seen what the (European) Commission have put forward, I hope they have moved significantly, and obviously we will look at it positively if they have, but we'll wait and see what they come forward with, and then we'll see what we can do.' The Northern Ireland Protocol requires checks on goods travelling from GB to Northern Ireland to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic but it has caused trade disruption and inflamed community tensions Lord Frost yesterday took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron and his EU allies, saying Britain has been 'constantly faced with generalised accusations that [we] can't be trusted and are not a reasonable international actor'. He claimed that alienation between the two sides would be a 'serious historical error'. He said: 'We just want friendly relations, free trade and the chance to do things our own way, all within the framework of a meaningful and robust Western alliance. 'With this in mind, I do urge you to look at the image you are presenting to us. If there is a trust problem, as we are constantly told there is, it is not the responsibility of only one party. 'At some point we must both try to raise our eyes to the horizon, look at the possibilities for better relations, and try to help each other solve problems, not create them.' Any agreement between the two sides would need to be signed off by the governments of the EU's 27 member states before becoming final. Two executives at one of Australia's top accounting firms have been dismissed after they performed 'racist' skits at a company trivia night. A PwC employee dressed up as a 'bat from Wuhan' while another mocked Chinese accents during the internal event held at the end of last month. One question in the trivia asked players to choose which company represented communism with one answer being the Chinese tech company Huawei. Findings from an internal investigation into two staff members from the human resources division has seen 'people leaving their roles'. Two PwC executives have been shown the door following internal investigations into a 'racist' skits at a company trivia night last month (PwC headquarters in London) The firm's People and Ethical Conduct Panel launched an internal investigation after two HR workers mocked Chinese accents and 'dressed up as a bat from Wuhan' during a trivia event (pictured email to staff from CEO Tom Seymour) Chief Executive Tom Seymour told The Australian the company's People and Ethical Conduct Panel will investigate handing out 'financial penalties' to partners who attended or organised the event but didn't come forward. The incidents prompted the chief executive to apologise to all staff as well as directly address those who attended the trivia night. A leaked email sent to staff after the incident has since been circulating online. 'Last Thursday there was behaviour at an internal team trivia event which did not reflect the values and culture of our firm and which has caused discomfort and offence,' Mr Seymour previously told Daily Mail Australia. 'The behaviour included two racist and offensive sketches which, whilst unintentional, were thoughtless and harmful. 'A number of people shared their disappointment, frustration and anger about this event. On behalf of all the team at PwC, I am extremely disappointed that this incident has occurred.' The online trivia had been held for the company's national infrastructure division and had been organised to boost morale within the workplace. The company became aware of the incident on Friday before Instagram page The Aussie Corporate shared messages from staff on the Saturday. The incidents prompted Chief Executive Tom Seymour (pictured) to apologise to all staff this week as well as directly addressing those who were on the trivia call The online trivia had been held for the company's national infrastructure division (pictured PwC offices in Sydney) One person wrote to the social media page: 'They dressed up as bats from Wuhan and mocked Chinese accents'. Mr Seymour said the behaviour was 'unacceptable' and 'shouldn't have happened', adding the event had sparked the need for 'deep reflections' for PwC as a firm. Following several webcasts with staff this week the chief executive has committed to a review of the company 'from inside and out' to begin next week. The 'program of work' will focus on the inclusion of people from a diverse cultural background via webcast to better understand their experiences. Mr Seymour said the review will determine how much work needs to be done to strengthen the company's culture of belonging and inclusion. 'Discriminatory or exclusionary behaviours of any kind are wholly inconsistent with our values at PwC Australia,' he said. Just under half of PwC's staff are from non-European backgrounds. News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt has used his Sky News show to slam his employer for its U-turn on global warming, calling it 'propaganda' and 'rubbish' and saying it will delight Scott Morrison. The controversial commentator's intervention was prompted by the Murdoch Australian tabloids' new campaign backing action to do more to tackle climate change. 'Millions of Australian readers would have got a shock this morning when they picked up their Murdoch newspapers around the country,' an angry Bolt told his TV audience after the company's metropolitan dailies published lengthy newspaper wraparounds. 'Sixteen pages of News Corp's global warming propaganda, telling them why Australia should cut its emissions now to net-zero, telling them it will be good for us. And that is a shock,' he said. Sky News presenter Andrew Bolt is outraged that the Murdoch newspapers have launched a climate action campaign Rupert Murdoch's Australian branch launched its new environmental project Mission Zero this week, saying it aims to 'inform Australians about the key environmental and climate issues of our time' in support of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The campaign is backed by business leaders and environmental campaigners but has come as a shock to many Australians - not least some of the company's in-house climate change sceptics. Bolt said the Murdoch papers' seeming change of heart on the need to do something to curb global warming is hypocritical given how they had previously relentlessly attacked the Labor Party and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for their stances on the issue. He said Prime Minister Scott Morrison will 'actually be delighted because he can now have the Malcolm Turnbull-type policy that he wants - net-zero emissions - and take it to the next big global warming conference in Glasgow in November, knowing that he has the backing of the Murdoch media.' Bolt - who seemed floored by News Corp's move - added that people 'should worry' when big business, big media and big government' all seem to agree with action on the climate. He said the tabloids' coverage urged readers to 'forget all that stuff we used to say' and that they were now expected to prepare for government action on the issue. Andrew Bolt's climate sceptic views have not been watered down by his employer suddenly backing action on global warming Bolt said he discussed the issue with his News Corp editors and was assured the company still believes in debate. 'I am still free to say exactly what I think and that is the only reason I'm still here,' he said, adding that 'It's rubbish. I don't buy it.' Not everyone was buying News Corp's supposed change of mind, though, with former prime minister Kevin Rudd tweeting 'Murdoch is today predicting an investment bonanza for agriculture under a decarbonised economy. 'I wonder what's changed since they joined with the Liberal (Party) to criticise climate action under Labor as a "lunchbox tax",' he wrote, going on to repeat his call for a Royal Commission into the power and influence of the Murdoch newspapers. When News Corp initially flagged its intent to embrace action on climate change last month, Bolt said he had lost the battle over global warming. 'My whole company's against me. I know that against these huge players, all the big political parties, my own employer, all the media and big media outlets, what am I? Just someone on the sidelines. Someone just howling on the sidelines, but telling you the truth,' Bolt said. Mr Turnbull said last year that News Corp's 'campaign on climate denial' had done 'enormous damage to the world' and had left a 'shocking legacy' of inaction. Michael Miller, the executive chairman of News Corp Australasia, said commentators such as Bolt would not be 'muzzled' on the issue of global warming. Clive Palmer has lost his High Court battle with the Western Australia government over legislation blocking him from suing the state for $30billion The Western Australian government has threatened to seize mining magnate Clive Palmer's plane if he flies into the state before footing a $2 million legal bill. WA Attorney-General John Quigley's warning came as Mr Palmer lost his High Court battle against legislation preventing him and his company Mineralogy from suing the state for billions of dollars. Mr Palmer was seeking up to $30billion from WA taxpayers claiming a law introduced by the McGowan Labor government was unconstitutional. The legislation blocked Mr Palmer from suing the former Liberal state government for not formally assessing a proposed iron ore project in the state's Pilbara region. But the High Court on Wednesday found the law was valid and ordered Mr Palmer and Mineralogy to pay the costs of the court action. Mr Quigley said the ruling brings the amount Mr Palmer owes the government to $2 million - for these proceedings and a challenge to Covid-19 border closures. 'If he doesn't properly pay this... the next time he flies to Western Australia as soon as we lift our border restriction I'm going to have the sheriff... seize his plane and sell it and he can catch the train home,' Mr Quigley told ABC News Perth. Mr Palmer had challenged the legitimacy of WA's Covid-19 border closures and a new law banning him from suing the ex-Liberal state government for not formally assessing a proposed iron ore project in the state's Pilbara region 'This is outrageous that this man keeps taking us to the High Court and then refusing to pay the Western Australian taxpayer's bill.' WA Premier Mark McGowan described the outcome as a 'monumental victory', terminating Mineralogy's claim for damages that would have left the state bankrupt. 'Time and time again, Clive Palmer has attempted to bring our state down first, by challenging the hard border that kept Western Australians safe through a pandemic, and then by launching an outrageous legal claim for damages,' he said in a social media post. 'Enough is enough. Today's win is proof that our government will never stop fighting for the people of Western Australia.' Mr Palmer was reviewing the judgment, his spokesman said. The bill to amend a 2002 state agreement with Mineralogy and terminate arbitration between the two parties was passed by WA's parliament in August last year. It followed a 2001 agreement between Mineralogy and the WA government that the company could submit proposals in relation to mining projects in the Pilbara. The relevant minister could respond in various ways, but not reject the proposals. Pictured: The Balmoral South mining project. Mr Palmer challenged a bill that prevented him suing the state government for not formally assessing the proposed mine Mr Palmer, who represented himself in the High Court proceedings, described the legislation as unconstitutional, 'repugnant to justice' and 'an abomination masquerading as a law'. He argued against it on several fronts, including that it discriminated against him as a Queensland resident. The High Court decision followed a four-day hearing in June. Stephen Free SC, representing the West Australian government, said the bill would have had the same effect on Mr Palmer if he lived in WA. 'It is perfectly clear that there is no disability or discrimination of the relevant kind imposed on Mr Palmer or anyone else,' he said. The state argued the legislation was passed 'in order to protect Western Australians from the crippling effects' of a $30 billion damages claim. The High Court last year struck out Mr Palmer's constitutional challenge to WA's hard border closures during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Palmer also has a defamation claim against Mr McGowan before the Federal Court. A man has fallen to his death while climbing a wall at an indoor recreational centre after suffering critical head and chest injuries. Paramedics were called to the indoor climbing centre on Unwins Bridge Road, St Peters, in Sydney's inner west just before 11.30am on Wednesday to reports a man had fallen while rock climbing. It's understood the man is aged in his 30s. A man has fallen to his death while climbing a wall at Sydney indoor recreational centre where he suffered critical head and chest injuries Police and paramedics were called to the scene on Wednesday morning over reports a man had fell while rock climbing He was treated at the scene but was unable to be saved with NSW Police also responding to the incident. Investigations are continuing while the gym posted on social media it would be closed for the rest of the day. More to come. A Facebook list of 'dangerous individuals and organizations' was leaked on Thursday, detailing who the social media giant has attempted to crack down on. The list contains names of thousands of people and groups who've been banned by the site under the title of Dangerous Individuals and Organizations (DIO). The list was first published by The Intercept and includes more than 4,000 people and organizations, put together into categories like hate, crime, terrorism and militarized social movements. The names and groups listed as terrorists are largely taken from a sanctions list that the United States Treasury Department controls. Many members of far right groups like the Proud Boys, the American Nazi Party, The Daily Stormer, the Ku Klux Klan and the English Defence League are listed, as well as groups tied to the QAnon conspiracy theory. Some factions of the left wing Antifa are also on the list. Some on the list are long dead historical figures like Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini or Joseph Goebbels, Joseph Mengele and even a medical university that's trying to manufacture a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine in Iran, as well over 200 musical acts. Others include contemporary people often associated with hate groups, including Klansman David Duke, Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church, Gavin McInnes of the Proud Boys, Tommy Robinson of the English Defence League. Over 4,000 persons and organizations are on the list, put together into categories like hate, crime, terrorism and militarized social movements The names on the list are put together under a system of three tiers according to rules that Facebook introduced in late June. Each tier corresponds to a more severe punishment in terms of restricting speech. Around 500 hate groups, including over 250 white supremacist organizations, make up Tier 1. That tier is made up of groups that incite terror, which Facebook defines as 'organizing or advocating for violence against civilians' and hate as 'repeatedly dehumanizing or advocating for harm against' people with protected characteristics. Among the criminals in Tier 1 are mostly black and Latino street gangs and drug cartels. The terrorists are predominantly Middle Eastern and South Asian groups and individuals. Facebook bans users from expressing anything it determines is praise or support of anyone or anything on Tier 1 restrictions, even nonviolent activities. Tier 2 is reserved for what Facebook calls 'Violent Non-State Actors,' often organizations like violent armed rebels who target governments. This includes many of the factions currently fighting a civil war in Syria. A Facebook list of 'dangerous individuals and organizations' was leaked on Thursday, detailing who the social media giant has attempted to crack down on Former leader of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke is one of the individuals on the list Facebook's rules make it legal to make supportive statements for the nonviolent actions of these groups and people but you cannot show any substantive support for the groups themselves. Tier 3 is for largely nonviolent groups that regularly use hate speech, as well as those that may become violent soon and people who violate Facebook's DIO policies. The infamous American Nazi Richard Spencer is in this tier. Users are allowed to discuss anyone or anything on Tier 3 -- largely right wing anti-government American militias -- as they please. Over 53 percent of those on the list are considered 'terrorism,' while 23 percent are in the category of 'militarized social movements,' with 17 percent representing hate groups. The Intercept claimed it published the list 'because of public concerns about the bias in Facebooks moderation, so that readers may draw their own conclusions about the quality of that moderation.' One of the points of contention for some was that more than half of the list consists of accused foreign terrorists who are predominately Middle Eastern, South Asian and Muslim. Experts told The Intercept that the list and the site's police suggest Facebook puts tougher rules on marginalized groups. 'The lists seem to create two disparate systems, with the heaviest penalties applied to heavily Muslim regions and communities,' said Faiza Patel, co-director of the Brennan Center for Justice's liberty and national security program. 'The differences in demographic composition between Tiers 1 and 3 'suggests that Facebook like the U.S. government considers Muslims to be the most dangerous.' 'Hate groups designated as Anti-Muslim hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center are overwhelmingly absent from Facebook's lists,' Patel added. However, Facebook categorically denied that extremist right-wing organizations were treated differently because of their association with American conservative politics. Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes was another prominent name to be on Facebook's list Infamous American Nazi Richard Spencer is one of the more prominent public names on the list 'Where American groups satisfy our definition of a terrorist group, they are designated as terrorist organizations (E.g. The Base, Atomwaffen Division, National Socialist Order). Where they satisfy our definition of hate groups, they are designated as hate organizations (For example, Proud Boys, Rise Above Movement, Patriot Front).' The spokesperson also claimed that focusing only on terrorist groups in Tier 1 was 'misleading' and so is looking on it as any sort of anti-Muslim bias. 'Unlike some other definitions of terrorism, our definition is agnostic to religion, region, political outlook, or ideology,' the spokesperson said. 'We have designated many organizations based outside the Middle Eastern and South Asian markets as terrorism, including orgs based in North America and Western Europe (including the National Socialist Order, the Feurerkrieg Division, the Irish Republican Army, and the National Action Group).' A group of social media researchers from the University of Utah told Facebook recently that including such figures was 'fraught with problems.' The restrictions seem to date back to 2012, when Congress and the United Nations began asking for answers from Facebook about possible online terrorist recruiting, according to The Intercept. As of 2021, there are over 2.89 billion active Facebook users, over a third of the world's population. The Treasury Secretary has defended plans to monitor bank accounts with more than $600, insisting that the scheme was designed to end 'tax fraud' by billionaires, and would not mean Americans are being spied on. The new proposal requires financial institutions to annually report the total amount that went in and out of the bank as well as loan and investment accounts if within that year the accounts hold a value of at least $600 or if the total transactions are $600 or more in a year. More simply, this means that if total funds flowing in and out of a credit or debit account equal at least $600, banks have to report those figures to the IRS. This includes paychecks or money transferred from apps like PayPal. Amid the backlash in Congress, some proposed raising the threshold from $600 to $10,000. But Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen insisted on Tuesday that there was a lot of unwarranted panic. 'Does this mean that the government is trying to peek into our pocket books?' CBS' Norah O'Donnell asked Yellen in an interview. 'You want to look at $600 transactions?' Yellen replied: 'Absolutely not. 'I think this proposal has been seriously mischaracterized. The proposal involves no reporting of individual transactions of any individual.' Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, said on Tuesday that there had been 'serious mischaracterization' of her plans to allow the IRS to know how much money is in people's bank accounts and monitor transactions above $600 Norah O'Donnell asked Yellen if the IRS would be looking at all transactions over $600. Yellen replied: 'Absolutely not,' emphasizing that it was only for people who were suspected of tax fraud Theres a lot of tax fraud and cheating thats going on. Treasury @SecYellen tells @NorahODonnell the proposed $600 IRS reporting requirement for banks is absolutely not a way for the government to peek into Americans pocketbooks but to hold billionaires accountable. pic.twitter.com/M3VKOhdtSu CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 12, 2021 Yellen insisted that the move was designed to reduce under-reporting of income by wealthy individuals, in a bid to avoid tax. 'The big picture is, look, we have a tax gap that over the next decade is estimated at $7 trillion,' she said. 'Namely, a shortfall in the amount the IRS is collecting due to a failure of individuals to report the income that they have earned.' The White House estimates that the plan would raise more than $460 billion over the next decade for the federal government. Yellen told O'Donnell the problem 'tends to be among high-income individuals whose income is opaque and the IRS doesn't receive information about it.' She said that most people would not be flagged under the new scheme. 'If you earn a paycheck, you get a W-2, the IRS knows about it,' she said. 'But high-income individuals with opaque sources of income that are not reported to the IRS, there's a lot of tax fraud and cheating that's going on, and all that's involved in this proposal is a few aggregate numbers about bank accounts the amount that was received in the course of the year, the amount that went out in the course of a year.' She added: 'If someone reports an income of $10,000, and they had $3 million go out of their checking account, that tells the IRS that's an individual that you might audit.' Yellen denied that the plan is designed for the IRS to spy on people, but it has been met with considerable skepticism by Republicans and banks Yellen has faced significant pushback against the proposal. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Republican representing Wyoming, pointed out during a September 28 Senate hearing that the '$600 threshold is not usually where you're going to find the massive amount of tax revenue you think Americans are cheating you out of.' Yellen replied: 'That's correct, but it's important to have comprehensive information so that individuals can't game the system and have multiple accounts.' Banks and their trade groups are lobbying against the proposal, saying it would give the IRS excessive control over an individual's finances. Banks already submit tax forms to the IRS about interest earned by their customers' accounts, but the new proposals would also provide information about account balances. Texas-based American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday they would order their staff to get the Covid vaccine - in defiance of Governor Gregg Abbott's ban on vaccine mandates. The airlines said they would comply with President Joe Biden's executive order which requires airline employees to be vaccinated by December 8. Also on Tuesday, Chicago-based Boeing said that its employees must be vaccinated against COVID or face being. The policy will apply to roughly 125,000 U.S.-based employees company-wide, about 5,000 of them based in Texas. The two Texas-based carriers, American and Southwest, said the federal mandate superseded an order issued on Monday by Republican Governor Greg Abbott barring COVID-19 vaccine mandates by any entity, including private employers. Southwest said it 'would be expected to comply with the President's Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.' American Airlines said while it was reviewing Abbott's executive order, 'this does not change anything' for the company. The airline said Tuesday that they would require their employees to be fully vaccinated by December 8 in compliance with the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for all federal contractors, which they said supersedes Abbott's order In his executive order, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (pictured) said the Biden administration was 'bullying' many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions American said while it was reviewing Abbott's executive order, 'this does not change anything' for the company. The two Texas-based carriers have asked US-based employees to submit proof of vaccination by November 24. 'Compliance with these requirements is a condition of employment,' states a Boeing internal presentation from Tuesday, according to the Seattle Times. 'Employees who are unable to meet these requirements ... may be released from the company,' although they can request exemptions 'due to a disability or sincerely held religious belief.' Any employee granted such an exemption will have to 'undergo frequent testing for COVID-19' and be ready to 'present a negative test result upon request.' Seattle-based Boeing said Tuesday that its employees must be vaccinated against COVID or possibly be fired. The policy will apply to roughly 125,000 U.S.-based employees company-wide, about 5,000 of them based in Texas Biden issued his mandate last month as his administration struggled to control the pandemic, which has killed more than 700,000 Americans. It covers all federal contractors. While supporters of vaccine mandates see them as necessary to pull the country out of the nearly two-year-old pandemic, critics are calling them unconstitutional and authoritarian. United Airlines in August became the first U.S. carrier to require vaccinations for all domestic employees. Six United employees have filed a class action in federal court in Texas claiming that workers who sought exemptions from the vaccine mandate were subjected to intrusive inquiries about their medical conditions or religious beliefs, including a requirement that they obtain letters from pastors. The court, which is due to hear the case on Wednesday, issued an order on Tuesday restraining the airline until October 26 from placing on unpaid leave any employee who receives religious or medical exemptions from the company for COVID-19 vaccinations. Six employees of United Airlines, which became the first U.S. carrier in August to require vaccinations for all domestic employees, have filed a class action in federal court in Texas claiming that workers who sought exemptions from the vaccine mandate were subjected to intrusive inquiries about their medical conditions or religious beliefs, including a requirement that they obtain letters from pastors The court also temporarily restrained United from denying any late requests for religious or medical accommodations. Jon Holden, president of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751, in his message to members in the October issue of the union paper, wrote that "the reality is our members are polarized on this issue." 'It is our responsibility to defend and advocate for all our members,' Holden added. And though he noted that he and his family are vaccinated, the union must also defend 'those who cant or wont accept the vaccine.' The white-collar union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), said in a statement Tuesday it is engaging with Boeing 'to ensure implementation gives proper consideration to members' concerns.' In his executive order, Abbott said the Biden administration was 'bullying' many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions. In its response, the White House said on Tuesday that Abbott's order was out of step with businesses in the state. Press secretary Jen Psaki said the governor's decision was motivated by politics, not science. Smith commented on Attorney General Merrick Garland issuing a DOJ order directing the FBI and local law enforcement to tackle teachers being threatened In October, the boy was arrested for allegedly assaulting a different girl, at a different school. He is now in a juvenile detention center Smith says the boy took advantage of the school's trans policies to get into the girls' bathrooms and assault her He told Host Laura Ingraham he was trying to stick up for his daughter, who was attacked at Stone Bridge High School by a boy 'wearing in a skirt.' Scott Smith, 48, appeared on The Ingraham Angle and spoke out after he was photographed being dragged out of a school board meeting this June The Virginia father who was arrested at a school board meeting while protesting its proposed transgender policies after claiming his daughter was raped in a girls' bathroom by 'skirt-wearing' male student has slammed Merrick Garland for threatening parents who protest school boards. Scott Smith, 48, appeared on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle and spoke out after he was photographed being dragged out of a school board in Leesburg, Virginia meeting this June and was painted by the left to be a deranged, right-wing bigot. Smith told host Laura Ingraham that his daughter was sexually attacked at Stone Bridge High School on May 28 by a boy 'wearing in a skirt' who took advantage of the school's trans policies to get into the girls' bathrooms and assault her. And he slammed Attorney General Merrick Garland for clamping down on protests at board meetings. The Justice Department announced last week that the FBI would now investigate and prosecute any parent who it deems to be 'threatening' towards school staff. The order from Garland was in response to a request from the National School Board Association to President Biden, asking him to protect them from angry parents. Garland said: 'Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation's core values. Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.' Smith told Ingraham: 'That's really scary that our government will weaponize themselves against parents and using my video across the nation to spread fear. 'That's wrong. I am not a bully. I am not a racist. I love everyone. I love this country. I want better stuff for it.' Scott Smith, 48, (pictured) appeared on The Ingraham Angle and spoke out after he was photographed being dragged out of a school board meeting this June On June 22, Scott Smith was dragged out of a Loudoun County school board meeting after listening to the woke school board justify its transgender bathroom policies. He says he was trying to tell the room that his daughter had been raped by a boy 'wearing a skirt' in the girls' bathroom just weeks earlier and that the school ignored it Smith was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He said he was trying to contain himself after listening to school board staff say they'd never had a report of a sexual assault in a bathroom, when that is what his daughter reported weeks earlier Smith told host Laura Ingraham that he was trying to stick up for his daughter when he was dragged from the meeting, and says his family was confronted by activists at the meeting when he spoke out against the trans policies. 'I am good with gay people and cross-gender people Anybody who wants to be a good American, I am good with I went there to find out why our children were not safe,' he said. 'The next thing I know, another parent-activist approached my wife and starting antagonizing her, and I turned around and said stop.' He said he tried to explain what happened to his daughter but the woman would not listen. 'She looked me dead in the face and said ''that's not what happened'' That struck me how do you know what happened, you don't even know me.' he told Ingraham. He said next thing he knew he was tackled by an officer and although he supports the police, he thinks things could have been dealt with better. 'This didn't have to happen. This could have been handled a lot differently,' he said. At the meeting on June 22, Loudoun County School Superintendent Scott Ziegler said the school had never had any form of incident inside a bathroom or locker room involving a transgender child. Smith commented on Attorney General Merrick Garland (pictured) issuing a DOJ order directing the FBI and local law enforcement to tackle teachers being threatened 'To my knowledge, we don't have any record of assaults occurring in our restrooms,' he said first. He went on to quote Time magazine research that he said disproved the notion transgender kids might sexually attack cisgender kids, and said: 'I think it's important to keep our perspective on this, we've heard it several times tonight from our public speakers but the predator transgender student or person simply does not exist.' Two months after the incident, the boy - who has not been named because he is a juvenile - was arrested for forced sodomy. And in October, he was arrested again on different charges for allegedly assaulting a different girl, at a different school. He is now in a juvenile detention center. Smith told Ingraham that after he found out about the arrest he decided it was time to speak out. 'Within half an hour, it was confirmed that yes, this did happen. I basically said that's it. I won't stay quiet anymore,' he said. Smith says he couldn't contain himself after watching Loudoun County staff lie about never receiving a report of an incident in a bathroom. Board chair Brenda Sheridan is pictured Smith was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest following the June incident. His family then retreated from the public eye but were working with Lancaster to resolve the criminal case against the boy who assaulted their daughter, they say. They were preparing for an October 14 court date, they say, but were stunned when the same boy was arrested again on October 6, at a different school in the same district. On this occasion, he was charged with 'with sexual battery and abduction'. In that case, he allegedly held a different girl in a classroom to attack her in Broad Run High School - 2.5miles from the high school where Smith's daughter was assaulted. Smith's attorney says prosecutors told her it was the same child as was involved in the case with Smith's daughter. 'If someone would have sat and listened for thirty seconds to what Scott had to say, they would have been mortified and heartbroken,' his attorney added. He said he does not know if the boy identifies as female, is bisexual, or was taking advantage of the system. 'I don't care if he's homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, transsexual. He's a sexual predator,' he said. Because the case involves two juveniles, there are few publicly available records and Loudoun County will not comment or give out any information. It remains unclear why the boy in question was in the different school, where the second assault allegedly took place on October 6, when he had apparently been in talks with prosecutors to agree to a deal for the May 28 assault against Smith's daughter. Loudoun County won't say whether or not he was ever suspended or excluded from the school system. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office did confirm the October 6 incident, saying in a press release on October 7: 'A teenager from Ashburn has been charged with sexual battery and abduction of a fellow student at Broad Run High School. 'The investigation determined on the afternoon of October 6, the 15-year-old suspect forced the victim into an empty classroom where he held her against her will and inappropriately touched her.' An industry-wide strike of delivery workers planned for next week may be avoided after one courier company reached an in-principle agreement with staff over conditions and job protection. The union hopes other companies will soon follow suit. Union members from Toll, Linfox, StarTrack, FedEx and BevChain voted last week for a day of national strike action, an escalation after six months of stalled negotiations. But workers at Toll have now reached an in-principle agreement with their bosses, which will go to union delegates for a vote on Friday. If the agreement is endorsed, they'll pull out of the planned strike. Transport Workers' Union i members from Toll, Linfox, StarTrack, FedEx and BevChain want outside workers paid the same as employees, outsourcing limited, and employees given first dibs on work before it's sent elsewhere The Transport Workers' Union is pushing for its members to get better job security, with limits on the use of outsourcing. Contract workers are paid less, which the TWU says makes them more attractive to employers, thereby creating job insecurity for permanent staff. The union says the Toll deal would mean outside workers are paid the same as employees, outsourcing is limited, and employees get first dibs on work before it's sent elsewhere. TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the Toll deal - a 'major victory' for Toll workers - would set an important precedent for other transport operators. 'We implore StarTrack, FedEx, Linfox and BevChain to follow Toll's lead and commit to the reasonable protections workers are seeking. 'As Christmas draws nearer and negotiations reach their sixth month, it's time to end the attack on jobs and prevent the need for further industrial action,' Mr Kaine said. The union plans to present similar proposals, providing guarantees for workers but allowing the companies some flexibility, to other employers in upcoming negotiation meetings. A company spokeswoman said Toll was pleased to reach the deal and was looking forward to presenting the offer to employees with the TWU's endorsement. But the spokeswoman said the union had mischaracterised some of the elements of the deal. In some cases, Toll agreed to maintain provisions relating to job security already in the enterprise bargaining agreement, the spokeswoman said. In other cases, such as in relation to outsourcing of work, the company agreed to further protection. A 'rogue' minister within Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' government was so involved with branch stacking he was concerned about dead members casting votes, an inquiry has heard. On Wednesday, taxpayer funded electoral officer Adam Sullivan told the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission that former Labor minister Adem Somyurek had a contact at the Australian Labor Party headquarters in Victoria whom he used to prepare pre-filled membership renewal forms. On a third day of damning allegations, the inquiry heard the process of Labor politicians paying for the memberships of bogus ALP members was so rampant that Mr Somyurek had become mindful to try and avoid the renewals of dead Victorians. Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, gave evidence to a corruption inquiry lifting the lid on rampant branch stacking. She is pictured with former PM Kevin Rudd Adam Sullivan worked for various ALP MPs. He said he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his time working within the party Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday. He has refused to comment on the IBAC investigation A message allegedly sent about a dead party member, with the inquiry hearing there were fears some names used in dodgy membership renewals were of deceased people WHAT IS BRANCH STACKING? Branch stacking is a practice within political parties that sees people recruited into a branch of a political party to influence who is pre-selected as an election candidate. It comes with the problem of certain factions of political parties boosting membership with a view that pre-selection votes ensure its preferred candidate gets the job. It has also been banned by the ALP for decades. The IBAC hearings have been established to investigate 'premeditated systemic rorting of taxpayer resources', including allegations of branch-stacking, which in itself is not illegal. It will also look into 'allegations that public money intended to fund community associations was misused for partypolitical work or other improper purposes'. On Monday, just five hours into the inquiry, Victorian Minister for Child Protection and Disability, Ageing and Carers, Luke Donnellan, sensationally resigned from Cabinet. He had accused him of having paid for other people's party memberships. Advertisement The inquiry has heard he and Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne had frequently paid out of their own pockets to fraudulently sign-up and renew members to help them maintain power with the party. 'There might an issue where some of those renewal forms weren't actually being signed by the people that were being renewed so we wanted to make sure that if that was occurring with people within the Moderate Labor Group they weren't signing off on forms, forging signatures or have you, for people that would be dead,' Mr Sullivan said. The once Labor party believer, who earlier told the inquiry he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his behaviour while working as an electoral officer for various Labor members of parliament, said there was sufficient concern about 'headquarters' finding out about forged memberships. 'If we came into that situation where someone were to somehow verify that this person was deceased, it would be a bit strange that they were somehow able to arise from the dead to sing-off on their renewal form and be a loyal party member from beyond the grave.' Mr Sullivan painted a disturbing image of how those within Mr Andrews' party operated. 'There was a process there where renewal forms were completed by people, signed off by people that weren't actually the members themselves,' he said. He told the inquiry an unknown ally of Mr Somyurek at Labor headquarters would routinely renew the memberships of people on the sly. 'I believe (Mr Somyurek) did have a contact there or may of had a contact in head office that would facilitate those pre-filled renewal forms,' he said. In a day of drama, Mr Sullivan claimed he had helped misappropriate between $11,000 and $14,000 in taxpayer money to fund a political campaign for Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson from the electorate office budget of Mr Somyurek. Adem Somyurek (right) and Premier Daniel Andrews (centre) were once close allies Labor member for Holt Anthony Byrne (left) spent Monday exposing the dirty inner actions of the Australian Labor Party Victorian Labor minister Luke Donnellan has resigned from his position after day one of an the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission public inquiry He did so by purchasing stamps that were then re-routed and redistributed to Mr Richardsons re-election campaign. The misuse of taxpayer funds was covered up by purchasing the stamps in small numbers so as not to alert anyone to the wrongdoing. That money was supposed to be used for 'constituent outreach' within Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. While Mr Sullivan said he had no direct approval for the scam by Mr Somyurek, he accepted it was the kind of activity that was not unusual under his leadership. 'You assumed there would be no problem,' he said. The young electoral officer had had dreams of one day 'making a difference' within the Australian Labor Party before being exposed to its grubby underbelly. He had worked for Mr Somyurek for nine months during 2018 when he was allegedly involved in rampant branch stacking. The IBAC probe is investigating Labor MPs misusing taxpayer-funded staff and grants for factional activities. Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne has already admitted before IBAC to 'branch stacking'. Mr Sullivan had worked for Mr Byrne before reluctantly agreeing to a transfer to Mr Somyurek's office. By August 2017, Mr Somyurek's office had become 'something of a liability for him' in wake of the notorious 'Red Shirts Scandal', Mr Sullivan said. The scandal involved Labor paying casual electorate officers to don red shirts and campaign for the party in marginal seats during that years state election with money out of the public purse. Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, gave evidence to corruption inquiry lifting the lid on rampant branch stacking. Mr Sullivan claimed he was asked by Mr Somyurek to help 'clean up his office'. 'As we understood it at that time, his electoral office ... that there may be periods where there were no actual electoral officers in Mr Somyurek's electoral office,' he told IBAC. 'There might have been someone else in Mr Somyurek's office manning the fort if you will, but not actually someone that was an employed public officer by him and that considering the rogues gallery that Mr Somyurek was accumulating for himself internally ... it might be possible for his political office, like I said, to become a liability for him. 'It might be discovered that there was no-one at home there. It would become a problem for him.' Mr Sullivan said he had already been branch stacking for Mr Byrne before progressing to accepting full blown envelopes of cash to pay for ALP membership fees with Mr Somyurek. 'You don't get thrown into the deep end with this sort of thing. You go through I suppose a bit of initiation. They're not going to hand you out that sort of task on your first day at work,' Mr Sullivan said. Mr Sullivan said those that did not agree to perform the party's dirty deeds would ultimately be discarded. 'You're talking about someone's use value here. I'm not going to say that I didn't want advancement in the party, so that was certainly one reason for eventually taking the role (with Adem) even though I knew it was likely going to be a headache. 'The other thing there is as well, if you are not prepared to be used, to put it simply, in these situations ... then your use value declines and you become useless. And useless things have a way of disappearing.' Mr Somyurek had been acting as Mr Andrews' Minister for Local Government and Small Business while Mr Sullivan worked within his office. Commissioner Robert Redlich speaks during the Operation Watts public hearing Counsel Assisting Chris Carr grilled Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne on Tuesday at the IBAC hearing Adem Somyurek has been described as a bully who was hellbent on power Mr Sullivan described the then minister's office as something resembling a garbage dump, labelling it 'decrepit' and covered in cobwebs despite Mr Somyurek's father being paid to clean it. 'It wasn't a model of cleanliness,' he told the inquiry. Mr Sullivan claimed to work within the office with at least four other staffers - all of which practically did nothing. He told the hearing hardly anyone from the community ever attended the office and he only ever saw Mr Somyurek once over a nine month period. Mr Andrews on Wednesday again refused to answer questions about the corruption probe, which may yet see him be called to give evidence. On Tuesday, Ellen Schreiber, a former electorate officer and ministerial office executive assistant, told the inquiry Mr Somyurek had a furious temper and would 'hit the roof' when unhappy. Ms Schreiber, who would spend up to 80 per cent of her taxpayer-funded working day on factional activities, said she was reluctant to blow the whistle because she needed the job. 'It was a good paying job I was good at ... being a female for the Labor Party has an AA rule ... being a female you're promoted so quickly in the party. It doesn't matter. If you look at some of the MPs that have been promoted, they're there because they're female, not because they can do the job,' she said. 'And that's what was happening. Like I said, I didn't have a uni degree backing me, how could I be put on all these committees? I didn't have experience. It was purely because I was there for a female not because of who I am.' She claimed her sex had been the only reason she had been offered a job within the construction union alongside CFMEU boss John Setka. When she refused, Mr Somyurek went into another rage. ''I remember it quite clearly, he was mad like a cut snake. He spat venom at me,' Ms Schreiber told the inquiry. The 27-year old claimed Mr Somyurek brought her to tears in a barrage of vile abuse. Mr Somyurek has denied any wrongdoing. The hearing will resume on Thursday. The slaughter of 15 dogs at a regional New South Wales animal shelter in a cruel interpretation of Covid rules has been slammed by state Parliament, which is now introducing legislation to prevent future atrocities. The Bourke Shire Council killed 15 dogs in August to prevent volunteers 'risking infection' by travelling from a shelter in Cobar, in central western NSW, to pick them up. At the time there were next to no Covid cases in the area, and the innocent animals including a mother and her puppies. The slaughter sparked international outrage, with comedian turned animal rights campaigner Ricky Gervais tweeting about the shootings. The Animal Justice Party successfully moved a motion on Wednesday banning pounds from 'convenience killing', where shelters exterminate animals despite there being willing local rescue groups. MP Emma Hurst told Daily Mail Australia there were two rescue shelters willing to take the dogs, and that members of her party had been rushing to save them. 'We were then told they had already been killed,' she said. The Bourke Shire Council in the north-west of NSW shot 15 dogs to prevent Cobar-based volunteers risking infection by travelling to the regional town to pick them up (pictured, a volunteer at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in 2018) MP Emma Hurst (pictured) said the party is now focusing on passing laws against the killing of animals in pounds and shelters where a rescue group is willing to take on their care 'It was in the middle of lockdown, we were all already struggling for many reasons, and then this came on top of all of that. We need to find ways to make sure it doesn't happen again.' The slaughter of the 15 dogs caused outrage across the world, with American broadcasters covering the story at length and celebrities including Gervais sharing the news through social media. The shootings prompted intervention from the council's watchdog, the NSW Office of Local Government, which is investigating whether the state's 'companion dog or cruelty prevention laws' were broken. Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, who has previously been peppered with questions in Parliament over the shooting of animals in shelters, did not comment. She said she was unaware of councils shooting dogs to euthanise them when asked in a budget estimates hearing in March. Vulnerable rescue dogs were shot dead by a regional NSW council in a shocking interpretation of Covid rules, despite volunteers offering to care for the animals (stock image) 'If it was a practice, I would be concerned about it if it was a cat or a dog,' she said. However, a later answer revealed councils are not required to tell the government how they kill shelter animals. Ms Hurst says her party believes there were breaches of those laws. 'To know there were people willing to take those dogs in,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'These dogs included a mother and their newborn puppies... we've heard during the pandemic the demand for pandemic puppies.' The slaughter sparked international outrage, with even comedian Ricky Gervais tweeting about the shootings (stock image) Ms Hurst (pictured) said on the whole 'Australians love animals and hate animal cruelty' but the system 'doesn't reflect' that sentiment Office of Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock (middle) has previously said she would be concerned if cats and dogs were being shot as a way to euthanise them She spoke of the 'worldwide condemnation' which helped rally support behind the motion, which was successfully passed in Parliament on Wednesday morning. PARLIAMENT'S CONDEMNATION AND MOTION AGAINST DOG SLAUGHTER (a) on 22 August 2021, it was reported that Bourke Shire Council had shot and killed 15 dogs in their care, including a mother and her newborn puppies, (b) these animal were killed despite the fact that at least two rescue groups were willing to take them and find them loving homes, and were able to do so under the COVID-19 Public Health Orders, and (c) Bourke Shire Councils actions have received worldwide condemnation, and appear to be in breach of the Companion Animals Act 1988. (2) That this House: (a) condemns the cruel actions of Bourke Shire Council, and (b) calls on the Minister for Local Government to prohibit the killing of animals in pounds and shelters where a rescue group is willing to take on their care. Advertisement Her party is now looking to have 'convenience killing' made illegal, with new legislation in place that sees shelters and pounds contacting at least two local rescue groups before slaughtering animals. 'It's a relief, it's good to know everyone's on the same side with this,' Ms Hurst said. 'It's very likely we get these laws changed.' Despite the public backlash, Australia remains under archaic animal cruelty laws, with the live export industry only increasing, puppy farms remaining legal throughout most of the country and a lack of punishment for people who abuse. Ms Hurst said on the whole 'Australians love animals and hate animal cruelty' but the system 'doesn't reflect' that sentiment. 'Our political system is set up to fail animals,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'vee tried to ban puppy farms in Australia and the government won't listen to us. 'The agriculture minister is also in charge of animal protection. It's like having the minister for mining also in charge of the environment. It's a hopeless conflict of interest.' The RSPCA estimates there to be more than 200 puppy farms still operational in NSW alone, a number Ms Hurst says is 'dramatically increasing'. Despite that, she says Australians have 'really opened their eyes' to the issues of 'systemic' animal abuse and they are looking to make real strides with normalising their protection. A notorious gang enforcer could be forced to wear make-up to cover his tattoos once a tough new law is passed banning the public display of gang insignia. The new bill, which is touted as Australia's 'toughest', targets 46 clubs including the Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos, Gypsy Jokers and Coffin Cheaters by banning all wording associated with them in public. Acting WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said people such as heavily-tattooed Hells Angel Dayne Brajkovich may need to start wearing make-up or 'band-aids'. Among Brajkovich's many tattoos are the word 'Hells Angels' on his forehead and '1%er' on his neck. The tattoo '1%er' is accepted as claiming ownership of an outlaw motorcyle gang and widely taken to mean the wearer has committed violent acts for their club. Acting WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said people such as heavily-tattooed Hells Angel Dayne Brajkovich (pictured) may need to start wearing make-up or 'band-aids' to avoid breaking a new law - or he could always leave the state The new bill, which is touted as Australia's 'toughest' targets 46 clubs including the Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos, Gypsy Jokers and Coffin Cheaters by banning all wording associated with them in public The law would make it illegal to 'display prohibited insignia', including the wearing of gang patches and even going out in public with visible tattoos referencing gangs. It will go before Western Australian parliament this week and will likely pass. Facial tattoos, clothing, or even stickers or painted insignia on a motorcycle or car will be included in the bill. 'I would start with things like Band-Aids or makeup certainly or have it removed or alternatively, people can choose the option not to live in Western Australia if this law passes,' Mr Blanch told 6PRs Mornings Program, referring to Brajkovich. In April, WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson slammed Brajkovich's attire at a Perth Magistrates Court sentencing hearing as 'unacceptable'. He wore a jersey emblazoned with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club initials HAMC and with 'HOF CITY' on it, believed to be a nod to a chapter the gang has in the German city of Hof. His jersey also bore the numbers 81 on the jersey, a not-so-subtle nod to Hells Angels, with H being the eighth letter in the alphabet and A the first. Hells Angels sergeant-at-arms Dayne Brajkovich is renowned for his distinctive tattoos covering much of his body. He's pictured at a previous court appearance Brajkovich bashed Rebels bikie kingpin Nick Martin during a brawl at a bar on November 24, 2020, two weeks before Martin was shot dead at the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana Beach. Mr Dawson said Brajkovich's tattoos and clothing are 'totally disrespectful to not only the court but to the community'. 'This is not us being hyper-sensitive about what people wear, this is absolute defiance in saying 'I'm outside the law and I'm going to remain outside the law'.' The maximum penalties for wearing prohibited insignia under the new law are 12 months in jail, a $12,000 fine for individuals or up to $60,000 for 'corporations'. Mr Blanch said the law was anti-bikie gangs, not anti-tattoos. 'Young men are attracted to biker clubs because of the display of being an outlaw motorcycle gang to have the insignia on display as power, the display of numbers.' Brajkovich's bizarre fashion statement leaving court came under fire for Western Australian Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured) Under the new law, gang members could also face a $12,000 fine and 12 months in jail for 'consorting' after being issued with a notice to disperse. Gang members can be ordered to stay away from each other for three years and after two or more breaches, the gang members could face up to five years in jail. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the new law was part of a plan to 'methodically dismantle bikie gangs in this State'. 'We are determined to make WA a safe place, without the fear of bikies pursuing their own vendettas at the expense of law-abiding citizens.' Brajkovic was charged over a brawl in November - two weeks before Martin's death - in which the pair fought in a busy bar in the Perth beachside suburb of Scarborough WA Attorney General John Quigley said the legislation deliberately names '46 organisations, including outlaw motorcycle gangs from right across Australia, their affiliate gangs or "feeder clubs" and street gangs'. 'These organisations and their patches are designed to show affiliation with criminality and intimidate others, including law-abiding citizens in our community. This will cease once these laws are in place.' 'These laws represent the toughest and most comprehensive reforms to fight organised crime of all Australian States and Territories.' Within hours of lockdown orders lifting, Gladys Berejiklian's elderly Armenian migrant parents Arsha and Krikor held an emotional reunion with their heartbroken, but still smiling, daughter. Her mother Arsha revealed that after 106 days apart due to her government's Covid restrictions, the ousted NSW Premier arrived on the doorstep of the red-brick North Ryde home in Sydney's north-west where she was raised 'as soon as she was allowed'. Arsha Berejiklian told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that while her daughter had initially been 'heartbroken' at having to step down while NSW was emerging from the Covid pandemic, she'd come to accept her decision. 'It was nice to see her,' a proud Arsha said. 'She's mature, she's okay, and she knows what she's doing. 'She's very happy and she feels very loved and supported.' While Gladys has sought comfort from her family in the 10 days since her resignation shocked Australia, the 51-year-old is also steeling herself for the fight to clear her name. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Berejiklian has assembled a Who's Who of top lawyers to defend herself against the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation which ended forced her to end her premiership - headed by Bret Walker, SC, who will be assisted by Sophie Callan, SC. Gladys Berejiklian's mother (pictured together) revealed the former premier rushed straight to their family home when lockdown lifted on Monday Ms Berejiklian had not seen her parents for 106 days in the flesh, and had spoken on occasion about how tough it was for her Ms Berejiklian will next week be represented by a dream team of legal heavy-hitters led by Bret Walker SC (pictured) - who famously represented Cardinal George Pell against child abuse charges and who costs an estimated $25,000 a day for his services Mr Walker, who charges an estimated $25,000 a day for his services, is considered to be one of the top barristers in Australia and is the 'go-to' silk for high-profile clients with deep pockets. He most recently represented Cardinal George Pell against child abuse charges. Meanwhile, Ms Callan is best known for prosecuting former Labor ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald over matters arising from ICAC investigations. But before she faces ICAC's public hearings next week - with high profile witnesses including Mike Baird - Ms Berejiklian needed to see her parents for the first time since resigning, which happened just days before NSW started to emerge from lockdown. Ms Berejiklian has previously revealed how tough the city-wide shutdown was for her personally, especially living along and apart from her tightknit family. 'FaceTime only works for a certain amount of months,' she said in September. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing my parents and hanging out with them. They're both in their 80s. 'It's been really hard. Everybody is in a similar situation.' So it's no surprise that her first stop - before popping in to her local nail salon or booking a hair appointment - was to see her parents. 'She is smiling and happy,' Arsha, who lost her parents in the Armenian genocide of 1915 and spoke only her native language to Gladys until she was five, said. 'She is very happy and we are proud of her of course. We all love her very much.' When asked if Gladys would consider a return to politics, Arsha laughed and shook her head: 'No more! It's time to relax. 'She knows what she's doing... but we don't like to ask what comes next.' There is no doubt among loved ones that she will clear her name. Pictured: Gladys with her father Her elderly Armenian parents, Arsha and Krikor, still live in the North Ryde red-brick home and had waited 106 days for the reunion - a byproduct of the lockdown that Ms Berejiklian has so stoically led her state out of Ms Berejiklian's barrister Bret Walker will be in her corner, assisted by Sophie Callan SC (pictured) And as Ms Berejiklian prepares to defend her name and reputation at the ICAC hearing beginning next week, her mother and neighbours simply hope she's getting some well deserved rest, with no doubt among loved ones that she will clear her name. 'She's the hardest working woman I know... and unfortunately she met the wrong man... but she will bounce back,' one neighbour said. 'She truly cared about this state and her job, and I think it's not even just the locals that love her. Victorians and Queenslanders and people from afar knew how great she was too.' Ms Berejiklian had initially sought Mr Walker's advice after being told by the ICAC she would be named as a person of interest in its Operation Keppel inquiry into her ex-boyfriend, 'dodgy' ex-Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. Mr Walker advised the then-premier she could legally stay in her job while the investigation continued, before she chose to resign on October 1. Ms Berejiklian's sister famously revealed she was in a relationship with esteemed barrister Arthur Moses on Instagram earlier this year Ms Berejiklian (pictured) resigned on October 1 just before the NSW capital was set to emerge from a gruelling four month lockdown Pictured: A closer look at some of the flowers and cards left for the former premier at her office. Neighbours said she was 'the hardest worker and kindest person' they knew A lot depends on the outcome of the inquiry - with several political allies hoping she will make a run for Federal politics. Former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance threw his support behind the potential career move after the idea was floated online. 'If Glad can get cleared up, whatever these issues are, you know, through the public hearing process, I think she'd be unreal,' he said last week. 'You couldn't have a more hard-working, deeply principled, you know, Australian female politician than Gladys Berejiklian.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison also indicated he'd support a shift into federal politics. No matter the outcome of the ICAC investigation, Ms Berejiklian's supporters say they'll back her as she makes her next move. There's a quiet confidence that this won't be the end of her professional career. Her hotshot lawyer Mr Walker appeared for former prime minister Kevin Rudd at the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program and the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang in a challenge to the validity of South Australia's anti-bikie laws. Gladys Berejiklian left this heartfelt note to her constituents in her office window after emerging for the first time since her shock resignation over a corruption investigation As an advocate Mr Walker is known for his meticulous preparation and as a brilliant strategist rather than for courtroom razzle-dazzle or overly flashy performances. ICAC will probe how millions of dollars worth of taxpayer funds ended up in her disgraced secret lover's electorate. Despite the controversy, those who worked with her say she is a 'genuinely decent person' who led the state through some of its 'darkest days'. News emerged of Ms Bereijiklian's secret relationship with former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire in March. The premier was called to answer questions by ICAC who were investigating the disgraced politicians' dodgy dealings Mr Maguire had previously been accused of abusing his public office before admitting to being involved in a cash-for-visa scheme and seeking secret commissions for brokering property deals. The ex-Premier appeared at her Willoughby office days after her resignation which was awash in a sea of flowers and cards voicing support for her In August it emerged that Ms Berejiklian showed 'interest' in a proposed $5.5million grant for a shooting association clubhouse and conference facility in his electorate, despite the proposal being repeatedly knocked back, documents show. The Australian Clay Target Association funds as well as another grant involving the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, also in Wagga Wagga, will be probed by ICAC when the hearing gets underway later this month. Ms Berejiklian has denied any wrongdoing and maintains no special treatment was given to the proposals. She was represented when she appeared before the ICAC last year by Arthur Moses SC; they are now in a relationship and he would therefore no longer act for her. They've managed to keep the budding romance relatively private after her younger sister Mary let the cat out of the bag back in June. 'She would thrive in any role, she just works that hard,' a neighbour said. 'But her life will never be the same again.' Gladys Berejiklian is pictured with her youngest sister Mary. The AFR recently published an opinion piece saying The Project host Lisa Wilkinson needed to 'apologise' to Gladys for her critique of her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic A man attempts to deliver flowers to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at Parliament House in Sydney. There has been an outpouring of grief since the popular premier stepped down A veteran doctor who groped a mother's breasts in front of her young son after she complained of a sore throat has been struck off. Dr Colin Wilson, a GP of 35 years and former RNLI medical adviser, put his hand under the woman's T-shirt and 'cupped' both of her breasts 'without warning' during an appointment at a medical practice in Oban, Scotland, a tribunal has found. The GP also grabbed his penis over his trousers and became 'sexually aroused' during the assessment in his consultation room. Wilson, who was a partner at the Lorn Medical Centre, has been struck off the medical register following a Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Colin Wilson has been struck off the medical register after being found to have abused his professional position as a GP for sexual gratification during an appointment at a medical practice in Lorn, Scotland, in December 2017 The hearing was told that, in December 2017, the woman attended the medical practice with her three-year-old son because he was showing symptoms of a chesty cough and shortness of breath. The mother, known only as 'Patient A' for legal reasons, was also assessed for a sore throat and swollen glands. However, she was left feeling 'vulnerable and confused' when the experienced doctor suddenly groped her, the tribunal heard. The patient told the hearing: 'His entire hand covered or cupped the whole of my left breast. His hand was over my bra. 'He completely cupped my [right] breast and his fingers were on top of the bra as I could feel his fingers on my skin. The Lorn Medical Centre in Scotland, where Wilson was found to have sexually assaulted a mother in front of her three-year-old son in his consultation room 'It was literally just a grab and then he then took his hand out of my clothes... the thing that had a lasting impression was that a mans hand was on me.' The hearing was also told that Wilson was 'jovial' before the incident, but then would 'not use eye contact' and spoke in broken sentences after groping the woman. She then witnessed Wilson 'adjust' his groin area over his trousers. Patient A left the medical practice feeling 'uncomfortable and anxious' and immediately reported the incident to police after informing her partner. Wilson claimed he was carrying out a chest examination, but a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing ruled that he was not as Patient A had not complained of a cough. Tribunal chair Nathan Moxon said: 'The tribunal was satisfied there was cogent and persuasive evidence that Dr Wilson, without consent, put his hand up Patient As top whilst there was no clinical reason to do so. 'He cupped both breasts during activity that could not be described as an adequate medical examination. Thereafter, he touched his penis briefly through his trousers and presented as flustered. 'The tribunal was therefore satisfied... that his actions in doing so, namely cupping her breasts and subsequently touching his own penis, were sexually motivated. 'Patient A gave clear and consistent evidence of Dr Wilson adjusting the front of his trousers immediately after having touched her. 'Whilst she stated that he did not have an erection, the tribunal was satisfied he had adjusted his groin as he was either becoming sexually aroused, albeit not necessarily erect, or for brief sexual gratification.' The University of Glasgow, where Dr Wilson qualified in 1978 before joining the Lorn Medical Centre seven years later. Colleagues said they were 'shocked and surprised' when notified of the allegations against the veteran GP The chair added that Wilson's actions were 'a significant breach of professional standards' and that he had 'abused' his professional position as a GP. A police investigation into the incident was dropped and Wilson returned to work, but subsequently retired in 2020. He also retired from the RNLI after 30 years of volunteering. Colleagues at the surgery said they were 'shocked and surprised' when the allegations first came to the fore. The tribunal heard: 'Female colleagues, staff and patients attested to his appropriate behaviour towards women. They stated that they had been alone with him and he had done nothing untoward. 'The witnesses stated that he did not display any sexist behaviour or attitudes and they were shocked and surprised by the allegation. 'The wide array of character evidence detailed a man of exemplary conduct, both within his medical career and beyond, for example within his role as medical adviser for the RNLI.' Dr Wilson qualified from the University of Glasgow in 1978 before joining the Lorn Medical Centre in 1985. The last member of an elite group of decorated French Resistance fighters who helped liberate France from Nazi control during the Second World War, has died aged 101. Born in Paris in 1920, Hubert Germain walked out of his entry exam for France's Naval Academy to join the resistance in June 1940, just after the French state surrendered to the Nazis. He turned in a blank exam so as not to have to serve in the army under the command of the enemy, telling the shocked examiner: 'I am going to war'. Days later, he and three friends were on a boat to London to join General Charles de Gaulle's Free France Force. 'I had rage in my stomach,' he recalled last year. The four were among some two thousand volunteers to enlist at Olympia Hall in Kensington. 'Rising from his examination table, he preferred to hand in a blank paper rather than give a blank cheque to the France that had gone to bed, that had given in to resignation and renunciation,' President Emmanuel Macron's office said, adding that Germain 'embodied a century of freedom.' Macron 'bows down in front of the life of this figurehead of Free France,' the Elysee Palace said. Germain, himself the son of a decorated general, in later life described his first meeting with de Gaulle, a moment he said he would never forget. 'He stopped for a second, looked at me and said: 'I am going to need you.'' Hubert Germain left France shortly after the country surrendered to the Nazis in June 1940. He fled to London where he joined General Charles de Gaulle's Free France Force Pictured: Germain (back, centre) with General Charles de Gaulle (left) in Tunisia in 1943 'When at the age of 18 you get that amid a general disaster, it is something that moves you deeply.' De Gaulle expressed his own admiration for Germain by awarding him the esteemed Order of the Liberation - an honour given to only 1,038 people celebrated as Companions of the Liberation, considered France's highest bravery honour. Last year, Germain also became an Honorary Member of the British Empire 'for services to the United Kingdom in the Second World War'. After training at Aldershot barracks, Germain fought as a member of the France Free Force and the Foreign Legion in key North African battles during the war, including Bir-Hakeim in Liby and El Alamein in Egypt. He was first assigned to the battleship Courbet where he attended naval cadet courses while participating in the anti-aircraft defense of the ship against German raids, according to the Museum of the Order of the Liberation. But he wanted to do more and persuaded higher ups to send him to the Middle East. His first posting, in 1941, was to British mandated Palestine, from where he went on to take part in the Syria campaign - an Allied invasion aimed at capturing the territory from Vichy control. 'It was not pleasant to shoot the French but they were on the other side. You don't have to quibble with feelings, when the house is on fire, you have to do something,' he told the museum last year, aged 100. In September of that year, after having undertaken officer training in Damascus, Germain joined the 1st Free French Brigade under General Pierre Koenig. February of the following year saw Germain lead the anti-tank section in the Battle of Bir-Hakeim, against the much larger Panzerarmee Afrika forces commanded by Erwin Rommel. In February 1942, Germain led the anti-tank section in the Battle of Bir-Hakeim, against the much larger Panzerarmee Afrika forces commanded by Erwin Rommel. Pictured: Legionnaires surge forward at the Battle of Bir-Hakeim Following the battle, Winston Churchill heralded the Free French as the 'Fighting French'. Pictured: Victorious French soldiers celebrate following the Battle of Bir-Hakeim The brigade defended the position from May 26 until June 11, creating a vital delay which influenced the cancellation of the Axis invasion of Malta. 'After Bir-Hakeim, we were swollen like bottles. After that, we fought the war as though we were freed,' Germain told the Museum of the Order of the Liberation. Following the battle, Winston Churchill heralded the Free French as the 'Fighting French', while German Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin recalled in his memoirs: 'In the whole course of the desert war, we never encountered a more heroic and well-sustained defence.' While serving in the same brigade, Germain took part in the Battle of El Alamein - the turning point which saw Allied forces gain the upper hand in the North Africa campaign. Germain also fought in the Tunisian campaign to take control of the territory from the Vichy regime. In May 1944, Germain was wounded in Pontecorvo near Monte Cassino, and evacuated to Naples. There, he was personally presented with the Liberation Cross by de Gaulle, before returning to his division in June. The following month, Germain took part in the so-called 'southern D-Day' Allied landings on the shores of Provence, setting foot on home soil for the first time in four years. He fell into the sand and 'cried like a baby', he later recalled. 'I had returned to my country.' Germain then helped liberate the key southern port of Toulon, the Rhone Valley and Lyon in central France, before slugging it out with the retreating Germans in the Vosges mountains and Alsace in the east. He was in the southern Alps when Germany surrendered. After the war, Germain was named aide de camp to General Koenig, under whom he had served, who was then commander of the French forces occupying Germany. Germain was demobilised in 1946 and was the last surviving member of the Order of the Liberation, according to the Museum of the Order of the Liberation. Of the Resistance heroes honoured by de Gaulle, a third died in combat, while 80 percent of the survivors were wounded in action. Germain took part in the Battle of El Alamein - the turning point which saw Allied forces gain the upper hand in the North Africa campaign. Pictured: Two Allied soldiers confront a German soldier surrendering during the Battle of El Alamein in 1942 In 1944, Germain was wounded at Pontecorvo, near Monte Cassino (pictured during an air raid that year) during a costly series of assaults for the Allies Germain (left) with Captain Paul Arnault, also a Companion of the Liberation, in South El Alamein in 1942 'With the departure of the last representative of this knighthood of the 20th century, a page of our history is turning,' defence minister Florence Parly said. 'The nation has lost one of its most illustrious servants to whom we are indebted for his honour and courage,' General Thierry Burkhard, chief of staff of the French armed forces said. Several members of the French Resistance still survive, though their numbers are dwindling. Germain died in Paris on Tuesday, the cause of his death has not been reported. After being demobilised, Germain worked from 1950 to 1952 as an executive for the chemical company Cinzano. He soon moved into politics and was the Gaullist mayor of Saint-Cheron, a town south of Paris, between 1953 and 1965. In 1962, he became an MP and served as deputy for Paris' 14th arrondissement from from then until 1967, then again from 1968 until 1972, and for a third time in 1973. Germain later became France's Minister for Post and Telecommunications then Minister of Parliamentary Relations under Pierre Messmer's governments from 1972 to 1974. A Freemason, Germain was a founding member of the Pierre Brossolette, Companion of the Liberation lodge and Grand Master of Honour of the Grand Lodge of France. It appeared he never married or had children and prior to his death, was a resident of The Hotel des Invalides, the famous hospital and hospice for French war veterans. Throughout his post-war life, Germain took part in war commemorations until he was at least 99, a towering figure standing at six foot three inches and decked out in his uniform weighed down with medals. He made his last public appearance in June in a wheelchair alongside Macron at a ceremony to mark the moment many consider the resistance to the Nazi occupation began - with de Gaulle's radio broadcast from London on June 18, 1940. After the war, Germain (pictured left in 1972) moved into politics and was the Gaullist mayor of Saint-Cheron, a town south of Paris, before becoming an MP in 1962 and serving as post and telecommunications minister from 1972 to 1974 French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured right with Germain in June 2020) said Germain 'embodied a century of freedom' Germain fought as a member of the France Free Force and the Foreign Legion in key north African battles at Bir-Hakeim in Libya, El Alamein in Egypt and in the fierce battles in Tunisia with the Afrika Korps led by German general Erwin Rommel Germain was born in Paris' 16th arrondissement on August 6 1920 and travelled the world as a boy following his father's military postings. His father, Maxime Germain, was a general in France's colonial army, who served in Syria and what was then Indochina. Germain was a student at the Franco-Arab secular mission in Damascus during the first years of the 1930s, then continued his education at the Lycee Albert-Sarraut in Hanoi before returning to France. There, he studied at the Lycee Saint-Louis in Paris the took preparatory classes at the Lycee Michel-Montaigne in Bordeaux. Germain's father became a Chevalier of France's Legion of Honour in 1921 and served under Philippe Petain during the latter's time as Minister of War. Petain became the head of the Vichy state which collaborated with the Nazis after France surrendered. During this period, Germain's father was sent to what was then French Somalia to prevent the colony from backing De Gaulle. He was suspected of having a lukewarm attitude to collaboration with the Nazis and was retired in 1942, just one year after being named inspector of colonial troops. In May 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo and deported to Germany, returning to France one year later. He died in 1953. A memorial ceremony for Germain will be held at the Invalides monument in Paris in the coming days, according to Macron's office. Germain will be buried alongside other members of the elite order at the Mont-Valerien memorial site west of Paris on November 11, when France celebrates Armistice Day. German forces executed more than 1,000 captured fighters and hostages at the hilltop fortress west of Paris during the war. 'Mont Valerien will welcome the body of a man who was a resistant from the very beginning, a hero of Bir-Hakeim and the Provence landings, who reconquered our freedom and rebuilt our homeland,' Macron wrote on Twitter. Police were forced to reassure drivers a new M4 sign will not lead to the Squid Games, because it features a square, circle and triangle. Thames Valley Police have had to deny the uncanny diversion directs people to the Netflix show. Motorists spotted the mysterious yellow signage on the M4, Junction 5 in Slough, Berkshire. The same three shapes (square, circle and triangle) are used by those who run the brutal games on the Netflix show on their masks and business cards. Squid Game is one of the most popular shows on TV, despite violent scenes where cash-strapped contestants are lured into playing life or death challenges to win money. However, on UK roads the shapes - square, triangle, circle and diamond - are commonly used to direct HGVs. Drivers spotted the sign on the M4 near Slough, Berkshire as police reassured motorists that there was nothing to worry about Thames Valley Police took to Twitter to explain to baffled drivers that a motorway sign was not linked to hit telly drama Squid Game Squid Game is one of the most popular shows on TV, despite violent scenes where cash-strapped contestants are lured into playing life or death challenges to win money Responding to the confusion Thames Valley Police tweeted: 'Evening all, 'So, we can confirm that by following this signage from the M4 Junction 5 in Slough will not lead you to the popular Netflix series Squid Game. 'It's just directions for diversion routes during the roadworks*phew.' Despite the clarification, a perplexed Louise Smee replied: 'But what do those shapes tell us?' Another - called Melissa - similarly added: 'So what do the shapes mean?' Michael Strubel said: 'What a relief,' whilst Jamie Hall applauded the cops, saying: 'Brilliant tweet.' South Korean survival drama Squid Game has had over 100million viewers worldwide since it launched a month ago. Jurors in the trial of a couple accused of murdering a six-year-old have today viewed footage appearing to show the boy's stepmother with a bottle of salt allegedly used to poison the youngster. Prosecutors allege the footage shows accused Emma Tustin, 32, holding the bottle on the evening before the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. A clip of 'unsteady' Arthur falling over on the living room carpet before being struck by Tustin was also shown to the court. It comes as prosecutors told the jury how Arthur's biological father - Ms Tustin's partner - sent messages talking about 'digging a grave' a day before his son's death. Thomas Hughes, 29, also told Ms Tustin to gag' Arthur Labinjo-Hughes after she moaned he was giving her 'attitude' during a beauty appointment, it was said. Coventry Crown Court heard how Tustin had taken the youngster to a house to get her hair and lashes done when she messaged her boyfriend: 'I had to tell Arthur off for messing'. Hughes replied on Whatsapp said: 'Just ask T to dig Arthur's grave for me please.' When Tustin replied: 'I'll say you'll pay double,' Hughes responded: 'F*** me, I'll pay quadruple'. Jurors at Coventry Crown Court were told that T was Tobias Jarman, boyfriend of Tustin's hairdresser Catherine Milhench. Tustin is alleged to have killed Arthur on June 16 last year after the boy endured a 'campaign of cruelty'. He died the following day at Birmingham Children's Hospital from 'unsurvivable brain injuries'. Prosecutors allege the youngster was forced to stand for hours on end in a hallway, deprived of food and drink and poisoned with salt. Jurors were told that the alleged abuse was 'deliberately designed to terrorise' Arthur. Coventry Crown Court heard how Tustin (pictured), 32, had taken the youngster to a house to get her hair and lashes done when she messaged her boyfriend: 'I had to tell Arthur off for messing' Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in hospital several hours after he was found unresponsive at a house on Cranmore Road in Shirley, near Birmingham Tustin and Hughes, of Shirley, near Solihull, West Mids, both deny murder and multiple counts of child cruelty. The court was told that on June 15, a day before Arthur was allegedly fatally assaulted, Hughes told Tustin to 'gag' the schoolboy after she complained about his 'backchatting'. Thomas Hughes (left), 29, also told his girlfriend Emma Tustin to 'gag' Arthur Labinjo-Hughes (right) after she moaned he was giving her 'attitude' during a beauty appointment, it was said. While at Ms Milhench's home in Solihull, Tustin sent a text: 'Backchatting. A joke. Threw himself on the floor and everything. Shouting abuse. Still screaming.' Hughes replied: 'Just gag him or something. Tie some rope around his mouth with a sock in it or something.' He continued: 'He wants to hope that by the time I get back he's thought about how much of a c*** he is and wants to think about apologising.' Hughes then added: 'Kid's getting ended when I get back'. Arthur, who collapsed at Miss Tustin's home on June 16 last year, died from 'unsurvivable brain injuries'. Prosecutors allege Tustin murdered the youngster and that Hughes 'intentionally encouraged' the killing. Tustin has pleaded guilty to one count of child cruelty but denies further charges of the same offence. 'I'll end him when I'm back': Chilling texts sent by Arthur's father Text messages exchanged between father Thomas Hughes and Tustin were also read to the court, with one from his Hughes reading: 'I'll deal with him when I'm home and it won't be pretty.' Tustin writes: 'I don't think I can do this any more. He shuts up as soon as you come through the door. He is malicious, cruel and just generally awful.' Hughes allegedly texted Tustin, telling her: 'Tell him not to move a muscle - put him by the fridge, put him outside or wherever, give him away. Put him out with the rubbish.' A video filmed by Tustin the following day was also played to the trial, lasting just over a minute and showing Arthur sitting on a tiled floor, wearing a Batman T-shirt, as he slapped himself in the face and raised his foot to his own head in a kicking motion. After being sent a photo of Arthur, Hughes then responded: 'He's an absolute disgrace. That's not my son.' Hearing a voice note of Arthur crying, he warned in further texts: 'I'll end him when I'm back.' In another message, Hughes compares his son to 'f****** Hitler' and threatened to 'take his jaw off his shoulders'. Advertisement Hughes denies all charges. On day five of the trial, prosecutors poured through CCTV from inside the house and listened to audio clips recorded by Tustin in the two days before Arthur's death. The court heard how Arthur was kept in the hallway for almost 11 of his 12 waking hours on June 14. Jurors were shown a clip of Hughes appearing to shout at Arthur from the sofa, before putting down his plate of beans and walking purposefully towards the hallway. Jonas Hankin, QC, prosecuting, said a clip 20 minutes later showed Hughes raise his left arm, appearing 'to threaten to smack or strike Arthur.' That night, Arthur was seen in the living room making his bed on the floor. Asked how long Arthur had been off-screen of his 12 hours awake, DC Christopher Herrick told jurors: 'It's approx 10 hours and 54 minutes. I believe he is in the hallway for that amount of time that day.' On June 15, the day before Arthur was allegedly murdered, Tustin returned with Arthur from Ms Milhench's home but continued to message Hughes. In one extract, she said: 'Kid whacks this wall one more time I'm going to lose my f*****g shit. A second message read: 'Whacked the wall 1000 times more. Threw himself on the floor. Im f*****g done. He's leaving. Ill f*****g let him. 'Screaming at me, little f***er.' Jurors were told that other children in the house were given chocolate and gifts but none appeared to be given to Arthur. The court heard that four days before his death Tustin ate McDonalds in front of the telly - while the youngster spent 14 hours in a hallway. Jurors watched CCTV clips of Tustin munching through two bags of McDonald's with another child. She was seen watching TV in her dressing gown and thumbing through her phone as he Arthur was outside. In response to one clip of Arthur crying sent by Tustin, Hughes replied: 'The kid is a selfish little c***. I'll bash my food off his head.' Tustin messaged back and complained about 'pausing Corrie'. Hughes (left) is accused of forcing his son to endure 'physical and psychological' abuse in the weeks before his death 'No-one is going to feed me today. I want to go to nanny': Jurors hear the harrowing last words of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes Jurors at Coventry Crown Court heard audio clips of the six-year-old sobbing and begging for mercy in the run up to his death. The prosecutor said Tustin recorded more than 200 audio files of Arthur in 'various stages of distress', took pictures and videos of him suffering and sent them to Hughes. In one recording, Arthur said, 'Please help me, help me uncle, they're not feeding me, I need some food and a drink'. The youngster was heard weeping in another recording for his uncle Blake, saying: 'Blake no-one loves me, Blake no-one loves me'. In another, Arthur can be heard crying: 'I want to go to nanny'. In others, he sobs: 'No-one loves me. No-one is going to feed me today.' Advertisement She added: 'I just want a cosy night on the sofa in my duvet, that's all.' The court was previously told how Tustin sent numerous texts claiming Arthur was 'screaming', refusing to eat his food, demanding to go to his grandmother as well as attacking her. The couple also spoke of separating and in one row the jury was told that Tustin sent a text saying: 'I want you but not him. I'm not being treated like that by him.' Hughes replied: 'It can't be one and not the other. Unfortunately, it's got to be both or none.' In response, the court was told, Tustin messaged: 'Cya.' Tustin has pleaded guilty to one count of child cruelty but denies further charges of the same offence. Mr Hughes, of Shirley, also denies child cruelty offences. On day three of the trial the jury was shown further text messages, audio and video clips exchanged between the defendants, who rowed multiple times over Arthur. Tustin made numerous references to being pregnant in the weeks leading up to June 16 and in one message she accused Mr Hughes of 'turning his back' on his unborn child, the jury was told. The court heard a further text to her boyfriend said: 'You stay with the devil child.' In the week before Arthur collapsed Tustin allegedly rowed about him with Mr Hughes, saying: 'There's one issue in this house. One person causing s**t.' In texts on June 11 she also made reference to Mr Hughes hitting Arthur as well as kicking a hole in the door, jurors heard. In one message read to the court Miss Tustin said: 'Take your precious child who can't do wrong and f**k off.' Arthur's natural mother Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow (left), 26, was previously caged for 18 years after she knifed boyfriend Gary Cunningham (right) 12 times in a drunken rage at their home The jury was also given a virtual tour of the house as the prosecution began playing CCTV from inside the property during the days immediately before Arthur's death. Arthur died at Birmingham Children's Hospital on June 17, 2020. Arthur had been in the full-time care of Mr Hughes after his mother, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, was accused of killing her new partner, Gary Cunningham, in February 2019. She was jailed for 11 years in July this year after being found guilty of manslaughter. Opening the case prosecutor Jonas Hankin stated Tustin was the 'only possible perpetrator' behind the alleged fatal assault on Arthur on June 16 because she was looking after him alone at the time. He argued Hughes 'shares culpability' because he 'intentionally encouraged' the killing. The trial continues. The Prime Minister appeared to be making the most of his holiday last night as he was seen painting on the terrace of his Spanish Costa getaway. Boris Johnson was seen at Zac Goldsmith's 25,000-a-week estate in the hills above Marbella wearing a crinkled white shirt with a carefree look on his face as he put paint to canvas in an easel set up on the sea-facing balcony. Social media users have now let their imaginations run wild over what exactly Mr Johnson was painting. Cinephile: One Twitter user imagined that the Prime Minister could be painting this avid Matrix fan wielding his katana and trenchcoat combo beside the film's poster Abstract: Another thought the PM could be creating a piece with a more modern twist, focusing more on emotional expression and less on real world objects I want to bee prime minister: Could Mr Johnson have been painting a version of this wasp-like creature on his Spanish holiday? The real me: One Twitter user thought the PM might have been creating a new werewolf-type persona which also appears to have vampire-style fangs Simple: Perhaps Mr Johnson stuck simply to one colour on a blank canvas for a more minimalistic approach Another social media user suggested that Mr Johnson could have been painting a bus One Twitter user imagined that the PM was painting American technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri Simple: Boris Johnson is seen in this post creating a bare bones sketch of a horse One Twitter user said that Mr Johnson was 'hoping' we would compare him to Winston Churchill, who was an avid painter Submissions for what the PM could have been painting include a werewolf persona, a wasp, random colours, and a bus. While Mr Johnson insists he remains working to solve Britain's growing problems, he has been seen lounging around on the terrace of the luxury property with his hands behind his head. He was also last night seen sketching an image of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea from the Andalusian hillside. Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings. His appreciation for such artwork may have also stemmed from his late mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who was a painter. Boris Johnson paints with children during a visit to The Discovery School in West Malling, Kent, in 2020 It was revealed ahead of Carrie's move into No10 that Mr and Mrs Johnson relax by spending their evenings painting together, with some of their pieces hanging on the walls of her flat in South London. The PM had sheltered from the 30 degree sunshine during the day but emerged as the temperature dropped. The premier has faced criticism over the timing of his trip abroad, amid Britain's continued fuel and energy crisis, along with the publication of a scathing report that laid bare a string of failures ministers made in handling the coronavirus pandemic. But No10 and Government figures have defended his right to take a holiday this week, with Security Minister Damian Hinds saying it was 'important for the whole country' that its political leader has time to switch off. He has also been spotted working at his laptop in between periods of relaxation and is being kept regularly updated on the ongoing work to address the current issues around fuel and supply chains, according to his spokesman. Mr Johnson's mother, who died last month following a long battle with Parkinson's, had been described as an 'astonishing self-taught artist'. Boris Johnson sits and paints Tulips with children from Colham Manor primary school during a constituency visit on March 18, 2021 in Uxbridge Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings Ms Johnson Wahl painted stars such as Joanna Lumley and was hailed as the 'supreme authority' in the PM's family. Art had been a love of hers since her childhood, revealing to Tatler that her parents gifted her a set of oil paints when she was five. 'I could handle them well and I immediately began to paint, without instruction. It was something I could make my own and be clever at. None of the others could paint', she said. She would go on to hold sell-out art shows in Brussels in the late 1970s, balancing her passion with home-schooling her four children. The mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1982, aged 40, but was still determined to continue her career as an artist. Speaking to the Telegraph in 2008, she said: 'I try to paint every day if I possibly can, though I have to go to the hospital a lot. 'I still manage to paint, though my arm will suddenly do a movement which is completely unintentional and that almost brings me to tears.' She is said to have completed more than 2,000 pieces in her career and was the subject of an exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in 2015. Meanwhile, Britain's wartime leader had an essay, 'Painting as a Pastime', published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921, highlighting how the hobby impacted on his career and life. Sir Winston used painting as a helpful tool for battling his bouts of depression triggered by the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in the First World War in 1915. He started off doing watercolours and then turned his attention to producing oil works, but was initially reluctant to part with them because he doubted their quality. Mr Johnson has frequently taken advantage of photo opportunities to show off his artistic skills, picking up paintbrushes on visits to at least three primary schools over the last 18 months. But while the PM took to his easel again this evening, pressure continued to grow on No10, with concerns remaining over the extent of the fuel and energy crisis which crippled the nation in recent weeks. Industry bosses insisted tonight that petrol shortages are still serious in London and the South East - with 10 per cent of forecourts remaining empty. A mother allegedly killed her newborn baby and toddler son after leaping almost 200ft from a tower block with the two children in her arms. Olga Zharkova, 34, and her two sons, aged three, and one month, died in the fall from a 19th floor flat in Moscow. Police have opened a murder probe into her death and the death of her two young children. She is suspected to have suffered from acute postnatal depression before taking her own life and killing her children in the 190ft fall, say investigators. The wife of a Russian military officer, Olga Zharkova, 34, fell to her death from a 19th floor flat in Moscow with her two sons, aged three and one month, in her arms Olga had reportedly written a note saying she did not want to leave her children in this 'hard, gloomy world'. 'She complained to her acquaintances that she had postnatal depression,' a law enforcement source told Komsomolskaya Pravda, 'She felt lonely and tired.' The mother-of-two, who is the wife of a Russian military officer, held the children in her arms as she fell. The mother held her newborn baby and toddler son in her arms as she leapt 190ft from the tower block (pictured, left, and right, view from above) She is suspected to have suffered from acute postnatal depression before taking her own life and killing her children had reportedly written a note saying she did not want to leave her children in 'hard, gloomy world' Her military officer husband was treated for shock when he arrived at the scene. Earlier she had complained that her husband Dmitry, 35, was away from home for long periods on his military duties, say reports citing law enforcement. The Russian Investigative Committee opened a murder probe into the deaths of the two children. A 'postmortem psychiatric analysis' will be conducted on the mother, said reports. A homeless man accused of attempting to abduct a three-year-old girl in the Bronx on Monday afternoon has appeared in court for the first time. Santiago Salcedo, 27, appeared for his arraignment at Bronx Criminal Court yesterday evening and was held on a $15,000 bail and was also ordered to stay away from the young victim. He attempted to kidnap the girl by wrapping in a blanket and trying to run off with her. After good Samaritans gave chase, Salcedo dropped the girl and ran off, before police officers found him sleeping in a doorway and arrested him. Santiago Salcedo, 27, (left) accused of attempting to abduct a three-year-old girl in the Bronx on Monday afternoon, appeared in court for the first time yesterday since his arrest He appeared for his arraignment at Bronx Criminal Court yesterday evening and was held on a $15,000 bail and was also ordered to stay away from the young victim It comes after the mother of the three-year-old girl who was almost abducted by a homeless man in the Bronx on Monday afternoon said she doesn't want the suspect to go to prison and that he is 'not mentally OK.' The mother, who didn't want to be identified, said in an interview with ABC7NY that she wanted Santiago 'to get help. I don't want him to go to jail because he's not mentally OK.' The incident was captured in shocking video from the front of a BP gas station and shows three children walking with their grandmother. Salcedo crosses the road and walks towards the group. In an instant, he suddenly wraps the girl in a blanket and runs off with her much to the horror of the other kids. The 65-year-old woman immediately chases him. 'She saw him coming closer and she thought that he would want to ask for money, so that's why she wasn't fully aware of what can happen,' the child's mom told CBS News on Tuesday. 'The kids are OK. Thank god they're still too young to fully understand or grasp what happened.' The three-year-old girl is OK because of brave good Samaritans, two men and two women. Fermin Bracero, 63, who works at the BP was chased down the suspect. He told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that he was sweeping the sidewalk when he saw Salcedo wrap a blanket around the young girl and take off. He thought it was a joke, but then realized it wasn't a family prank and chased the suspect. Another man and two women who were pumping gas joined the pursuit. Bracero told DailyMail.com that the suspect let the girl go, and didn't say anything to the four. He simply walked away and went across the street. 'He didn't say nothing. He just stood there looking at us. He stood there for a while. I was still thinking, "Is this real?"' Bracero told DailyMail.com. He said Salcedo finally took off on an electric scooter before it 'quit on him' and then he ran off. NYPD officers later found him asleep in a nearby doorway and arrested him. A homeless man tried to abduct a little girl walking with her grandmother in the Bronx in broad daylight on Monday The man wrapped the little girl in a comforter and snatched her from the sidewalk The mom of girl, 3, who was nearly abducted in the Bronx on Monday speaks to a reporter on Tuesday. She missed to remain anonymous Salcedo was charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. He was seen laughing and smiling as he was escorted out of the 45th Precinct in the Bronx and in the back of the police car The Bronx District Attorney's Office told DailyMail.com at 11am that Salcedo hadn't been arraigned, but was expected to be later Tuesday. After the three-year-old girl was saved, the Bracero turned his attention to the hysterical family. There were three children - including the young girl - their grandma. Their mom and dad also arrived. 'They were screaming and crying. I just told them there's a bench in the gas station and to sit down. I gave the kids lollipops,' Bracero said. He described the neighborhood where he lives and works as close-knit and quiet. He felt uncomfortable being called a hero and said it was a collaborative effort. Salcedo was charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. He was seen laughing and smiling as he was escorted out of the 45th Precinct in the Bronx and in the back of the police car Police caught Santiago Salcedo, 27, later in the day sleeping in the doorway of a nearby business and was seen grinning as he was charged on Monday night. He was charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and child endangerment Fermin Bracero, 63, who works at the BP gas station was one of the heroes who chased down the suspect. After the girl was safe, he told DailyMail.co, 'He didn't say nothing. He just stood there looking at us. He stood there for awhile. I was still thinking, "Is this real?"' Bracero has noticed more homeless people in the area who come into the store at the gas station, but he said they're not violent or erratic and haven't done anything violent. They beg or sell water bottles to drivers, but leave people alone. 'It's a quiet neighborhood. I've never experienced anything like that,' he said. 'You don't expect to see anything like that. It's something that only happens on TV. 'I just thank God that we were all there, and the girl is OK.' There are a few day cares within a couple-mile radius of the incident as well as a school. P.S. 14 at 3047 Bruckner Blvd. is less than a half a mile from the BP gas station, but it was closed on Monday for Columbus Day. A school official told DailyMail.com that it's believed to be a one-time incident and no extra security has been added. The attempted abduction comes amid a surge in violent crime committed by homeless suspects in New York City. The number of single adults sleeping in municipal shelters has spiked by 103 percent in the past decade and has continued to soar since coronavirus pandemic. A homeless man is pictured near Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Monday. The city's vagrant population has doubled to 50,000 in a decade The man was filmed wandering off in what appeared to be a pair of boxer shorts after his interaction with cops In the past few years, NYC homelessness has reached its highest levels since the Great Depression in the 1930s, according to the New York Coalition for the Homeless. There were 47,979 homeless people, including 14,881 homeless children, sleeping each night in the NYC municipal shelter system in August 2021, according to the agency. In the same month, there were 18,357 single adults in shelters. The coalition adds that thousands of homeless people sleep throughout the streets, subways and other public spaces throughout the Big Apple, but there is 'no accurate measure' of such data and city surveys 'significantly underestimate the number of unsheltered homeless New Yorkers.' Many have said that Mayor Bill de Blasio's attempts to handle the ongoing mental health crisis have only exacerbated it. A homeless man is pictured talking to cops while sat against a concrete barrier next to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan New York City is seeing a surge in violent crime committed by homeless suspects with untreated mental health issues. Above, a homeless woman pushes a cart through Times Square The Office of Community Mental Health, which was once known as first lady Chirlane McCray's $1.25 billion ThriveNYC initiative, has yet to reinstate two in-person training programs, Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Training due to COVID-19 safety precautions even though city workers have been back in their offices for months, according to the New York Post. The number of crime victims offered emotional support services also dropped from 49,000 in the 2020 fiscal year to 39,000 in 2021 fiscal year, the outlet reported. And mental health service in high-needs schools saw a change of guard this year. They are now run by the Department of Education and the Department of Health instead of the Office of Community Mental Health. There have been 16,899 felony assaults in NYC this year through October 3, with multiple terrifying examples carried out by homeless people, according to the the most recent data from the NYPD. That is up seven percent from the 15,787 committed in the same time period the previous year. Felony assaults are up almost 16 percent in the past 28 days, with 1,949 incidents through October 3 compared to 1,685 in the same duration last year. Robberies in the Big Apple are down just 0.4 percent with 9,647 through October 3 compared to 9,686 committed in the same period last year. Robberies are up nine percent in the past 28 days with 1,222 occurring in in 2021 as compared to 1,117 in 2020. A woman is pictured chatting with a group of homeless men in Harlem on Monday A homeless encampment is pictured on the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn on Monday The homeless crisis in New York appears to increase as more people are left without a place to stay A man on crutches sits on a Big Apple sidewalk, amid an explosion in the city's homeless population Transit crimes are down 13 percent this year through October 3, with 1,200 in 2021 and 1,384 in 2020. However, such crimes have soared in the past 28 days and are up about 66 percent with 169 in 2021 as opposed to 102 for the same period in 2020. Recent anecdotal evidence has shown instances of homeless attackers carrying out muggings, assaults and attacking people on the city's subway system. One of the main causes of homelessness is a lack of affordable housing. Surveys of families experiencing homelessness found that immediate triggers were eviction, domestic violence, job loss or hazardous housing conditions, cited the Coalition of the Homeless. In addition, the coalition states, homeless single adults have much higher rates of mental illness, addiction disorders and other health issues. Among the latest victims of homeless attackers are a 16-year-old girl who was choked from behind by a homeless woman while eating sushi in Queens and a cancer nurse who was killed when a homeless man slammed her headfirst into the pavement while fleeing a robbery. A woman police identified as Minerva Martinez, 36, is seen in surveillance footage marching up behind the unnamed 16-year-old girl as she ate outside Watawa Sushi in Astoria on October 4. She wraps her arm around her neck for a few seconds before releasing, but does not leave the scene, standing over and appearing to threaten the girl. Four days later, a mugger police say is Jermaine Foster, 26, was fleeing a robbery when he barreled into Maria Ambrocio in Times Square, knocking her to the ground. Yesterday, Foster's charges were upgraded from felony assault to murder after Ambrocio's family agreed to switch off her life support. A homeless person appears to have created a makeshift shelter using two umbrellas and garbage cans A homeless person sleeps in front of ABC studios in Times Square as people watch the taping of the show through the window in Manhattan Jermaine Foster (pictured) was arraigned on murder charges Sunday in Manhattan for the death of a New Jersey nurse who he allegedly slammed headfirst into the pavement while fleeing a robbery The 26-year-old was arraigned Sunday for the death of Maria Ambrocio, 58. Foster was fleeing the scene of a crime in October 2021 when he ran into her, knocking her over in Times Square Maria Ambrocio, 58, was walking through Times Square Friday afternoon when she was bowled over by Foster A 16-year-old girl was strangled from behind by a homeless woman while eating sushi in Queens on October 4, as seen in a security photo above The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Minerva Martinez, a homeless woman with a lengthy rap sheet - which includes six felony assaults - was arrested Saturday in connection with the incident and is currently incarcerated and charged with strangulation Foster had been freed on a groping charge just one month before he caused the death of Ambrocio, a 58-year-old oncology nurse from Bayonne in New Jersey. 'He's never gotten into trouble of this sort. I feel so bad for them I know, it's so heartbreaking,' Orette Montague, Foster's stepdad, told CBS2. Of the robbery, Mantague said, 'Stealing a phone? That's impossible. He has his phone. He's not that type of guy. Since he was a religious man.' Foster does not have a history of violence but was on medication for a mental illness, his mother who declined to be identified told the New York Post, adding that she doesn't know his diagnosis or what medication he was prescribed. His mother said he had been living with his father in Brooklyn but was left alone when his dad died from COVID. She added, 'He was on his medication and he drove here to New Jersey. He was here and he didn't want his shot to run out so he went back to New York He's not a violent person. He's not a thief. If someone said he was begging you for something, then yes. He would be begging.' Montague said that he must have not been on his medication anymore to behave in such a way, adding, 'Any time he's not on his medication he doesn't think right. When his dad died from COVID-19, he was left alone.' In another seemingly random act of violence, Anthonia Egegbara, 29, who has seven prior arrests, was charged with attempted murder over shocking footage of her appearing to shove an innocent commuter into the side of an oncoming NYC subway train. Lenny Javier, 42, of New Jersey, suffered a broken nose and chin after she was pushed towards the tracks, striking the side of the moving train at the Times Square subway station. Horrifying surveillance video shows the moment when Anthonia Egegbara allegedly pushed a fellow commuter into a train at the Times Square subway station on Monday morning Police arrested Egegbara on October 5 after footage showed her allegedly shove a bystander into the side of the moving train the day before New York City police have charged Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers with attempted murder and assault after he slashed a stranger with a hatchet in an unprovoked attack Miguel Solorzano, 50, was getting money out of the ATM at a Chase Bank in the Financial District on August 15, when Garcia slashed him with a hatchet three times in the head and once in the leg The Office of Community Mental Health, which was once known as the $1.25 billion ThriveNYC initiative spearheaded by first lady Chirlane McCray (second from right), has yet to reinstate mental health programs due to COVID-19 safety precautions. McCray is above with Mayor Bill de Blasio (center) and the couple's son Dante (right) when the family met the Sussexes Harry and Megan (second-from-left) The Big Apple has found itself rocked by a wave of violent crime over the past year, fueling fears it is returning to the dark days of the '70s and '80s when murders were rife and the city earned the unsettling nickname Fear City In 2021, nearly every type of violent crime has seen a stark increase in the city of New York And in another horrific attack in August, a New Yorker was ambushed by a hatchet-wielding stranger as he used an ATM inside a Manhattan bank, with the gruesome assault leaving the sidewalk sprayed with blood. According to authorities, Miguel Solorzano, 50, was getting money out of the ATM at a Chase Bank in the Financial District on August 15, when the male suspect slashed him with a hatchet three times in the head and once in the leg, according to the New York Daily News. New York City police have charged Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers with attempted murder and assault, but his lawyers have since claimed he is not fit to stand trial. A close relative, who asked not to be named, said Garcia had previously served in the Army, and was not the same after his return from deployment to Iraq, the New York Daily News reported. 'He was a little off-center. He was in combat. All he would say is 'I saw dead bodies,' ' the relative told the outlet. Following the attack on Ambrocio, New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa called for more mental health resources to prevent future unprovoked crimes. He said at a press conference Sunday, 'Why do we have emotionally disturbed persons roaming the streets, the subways, the parks? We cannot blame these men and women for their transgressions. We know that they have psychotic disorders. We know that they need mental health care.' Thousands of homeless people sleep throughout the streets, subways and other public spaces throughout the Big Apple The New York Coalition for the Homeless says there is 'no accurate measure' of such data, however, and city surveys 'significantly underestimate the number of unsheltered homeless New Yorkers' A homeless person is seen hiding from the public at 40th and Broadway around Times Square A homeless man appears to sleep on a bench in Manhattan, as crime continues to spike in NYC In the past few years, NYC homelessness has reached its highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s A homeless man is seen walking through Times Square Homeless person is seen supporting himself against a wall on 43rd street around Times Square in Manhattan A homeless person slept on 42nd street in Times Square Manhattan, one of an estimated 50,000 unhoused people living in NYC Last month, the MTA said its subway stations, a hot spot for vagrancy, saw a 45 percent spike in homeless people. Eight stations all but one in Manhattan were being used as homes by an average of 14.7 people in August, up from 10.2 homeless people in May, MTA chief safety officer Patrick Warren said. Incident reports from May reveal how out of control the situation has become as there 132 cases of subway cars being destroyed by trash and bodily fluids. This includes 27 reports of trains covered in feces, 26 trains covered in vomit, 21 drenched in urine and six cars stained with blood, according to MTA records. City Councilman Stephen Levin, a Democrat from Brooklyn and chairman of the city's General Welfare Committee, said at the time that the MTA's findings confirm 'the need for better and more accessible resources for people living on the street.' He said, 'There are common-sense solutions: We should be investing in more Safe Haven and Stabilization beds, increasing access to mobile mental health, health and addiction services and focusing on rapid rehousing.' Alternatively, Caitlin LaCroix, a co-founder of the nonprofit RxHOME advocacy group, told the New York Post that the issue should be approached from an affordable housing perspective. She said, 'The lack of effective outreach that connects people directly to permanent homes and a failure to hold our elected leaders accountable for providing housing has exacerbated New York City's homelessness crisis in the wake of the pandemic.' She added, 'The city needs to fully embrace using a housing-first strategy, which would move people out of subways and shelters and into permanent homes.' Australia is set to stop manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine onshore with the life-saving jab falling victim to 'negative press'. The federal government in November last year contracted Australia biomedical firm CSL to produce 50 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine at its manufacturing hub in Melbourne. At the time worldwide vaccine development for the coronavirus was in its fledgling stages and policymakers prioritised domestic production as a necessity during the crisis. Australia is set to stop manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine onshore with the life-saving jab falling victim to 'negative press'. Pictured: Prime Minister Scott Morrison touring the CSL vaccine manufacturing facility on February 12, 2021 The federal government in November last year had shelled out $1.7billion for Australia biomedical firm CSL to produce 50 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine (pictured, a woman being vaccinated in Melton, Victoria) But just one month after its launch in March 2021, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation pulled the pin on younger Australians receiving the dose due to the extremely rare risk of fatal blood clots - about one in 1.6 million. Out of the 12.5 million doses administered in Australia top date, eight patients have died of TTS (Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) after getting the shot. In comparison to contracting the virus, the chance of death is about 1.8 per cent with 1,450 fatalities in Australia from 130,000 cases. ATAGI flip-flopped on their health advice recommending the AstraZeneca jab only to over 50s, before ratcheting up the warning to over 60s - with the age bracket less susceptible to developing blood clots. Then as the Delta outbreak started ravaging NSW and Victorian in the winter months the medical body suggested it should be considered for over 18s living in a hot spot area. But by that stage the reputation of the safe and effective vaccine was tarnished and many Australians decided to wait for Pfizer and Moderna supplies to filter into the country from abroad. ATAGI flip-flopped on their health advice recommending the AstraZeneca jab only to over 50s, before ratcheting up the warning to over 60s and then telling those aged over 18 living in outbreak hot spots to consider it (pictured, a vaccination in Bankstown) 'Obviously we don't want to manufacture something that is not going to be utalised and we will have a number of other options moving into the future,' Associate Professor Paul Griffin from the University of Queensland told 9News. 'It obviously has received a lot of negative press although it's a vaccine that has proven highly effective and very safe.' Some of that 'bad press' came from a very unlucky source back in June with Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young adding to the disinformation and later being accused of 'fear mongering'. 'I don't want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got COVID, probably wouldn't die,' she said after the Prime Minister urged younger people to consider taking the AstraZeneca jab. It's understood that once CSL delivers the remainder of their AstraZeneca vaccine order with the federal government it will no longer be produced at their Melbourne hub (pictured, Scott Morrison at the CSL facility) 'We've had very few deaths due to Covid-19 in Australia in people under the age of 50. 'Wouldn't it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland who dies related to this pandemic died because of the vaccine?' It's understood that once CSL delivers the remainder of their AstraZeneca vaccine order with the federal government it will no longer be produced at their Melbourne hub. 'Not withstanding the perhaps disproportionate criticism that this vaccine's reputation has experienced, we couldn't be prouder that the AstraZeneca vaccine has given protection to many millions of Australians,' CSL chairman Brian McNamee told investors in a statement. A CSL spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday production will continue into early 2022. 'We are fully committed to our agreement to manufacture approximately 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine - with production expected be completed early next year,' the company said. Israeli officials have today accused acclaimed author Sally Rooney of 'impeding peace' in the Middle East by refusing a publisher's offer to have her latest book translated into Hebrew. The award-winning Irish writer yesterday defended her decision to refuse the translation of 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', by Israeli publisher Modan. The Normal People author, 30, who was accused of anti-Semitism over the decision, said she supported a cultural boycott of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. In a statement yesterday she said the decision to reject the publisher - who she claimed had 'not publicly distanced itself from apartheid' - was an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people 'in their struggle for freedom and equality'. But Israeli officials have hit back today, describing Miss Rooney's decision as 'narrow-minded' and impeding peace in the Holy Land. A spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry told the Telegraph: 'This is an unfortunate position that promotes narrow-mindedness and impedes peace, dialogue, or any meaningful change. 'Literature is a tool to promote dialogue and conversation. There is something inherently flawed with an intellectual who refuses to engage in conversation, and instead supports the silencing of opinion.' It comes after the award-winning author defended rejecting the publisher's offer to translate her new book - which topped UK and Irish charts since its release in September - saying she backed a cultural boycott of Israel. However the decision sparked a wave of criticism against the author and screenwriter - whose smash hit book Normal People was adapted into an acclaimed BBC TV drama. Some took to social media to label Miss Rooney's decision as 'anti-Semitic', while others questioned why her books were published for an audience in China - which has been accused of human rights abuses over its treatment of Uighur Muslims. But the author defended her decision - which she said was not to have the book published by an Israeli-based publishing house - and that the Hebrew language rights were 'still available'. Sally Rooney, 30, was asked by Israeli publisher Modan to translate her new book -Beautiful World, Where Are You - but the author allegedly rejected the request Nurit Tinari, director of the foreign ministrys culture division, said: 'The boycott movement is an illegitimate campaign that has been tainted with anti-Semitism since the day it was founded through to today. Beautiful World, Where Are You follows the life of novelist Alice after she asks a distribution warehouse worker to travel to Rome with her Today Ms Rooney defended her decision, saying in a statement: 'Earlier this year, the international campaign group Human Rights Watch published a report entitled A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution.' She also addressed criticism that her books were translated into other languages from countries which have come under scrutiny for human rights abuses She added that the Hebrew-language translation rights were 'still available' to those 'compliant' with the BDS movement - a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel The rise of millennial-favourite Sally Rooney: The self-confessed Irish Marxist who calls herself 'a borderline controversially strong advocate of free speech' and 'hates Yeats' In the world of fiction writing, Sally Rooney's rise to fame has been meteoric - but not one she always welcomes. The Irish author, 30, burst onto the scene in 2017 with her book Conversation with Friends - which earned her that year's Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Her next book, Normal People, not only accelerated her success, it propelled her into becoming one of the most prominent millennial writers, selling over a million copies. It was also adapted into an equally popular BBC drama, of the same name. Consequently, there has been much anticipation for her third book, Beautiful World, Where Are You. Announced in 2019 it was finally published last month. But with success has brought a certain degree of controversy for the Irish author. Born to a telecoms worker father and arts centre manager mother in County Mayo, Ireland, Rooney described herself as a 'loner' growing up. But she found a voice while at university at Trinity College Dublin, where she studied English. It was here she, in her third year, she was involved in a successful campaign to stop the BNP leader at the time, Nick Griffin, appearing at the debating society. Speaking to the The Times in 2019, she described herself as 'a borderline controversially strong advocate of free speech' - even on hate speech.' She said: 'I feel hesitant to allow the government power to legislate,' adding: 'I believe very strongly in the informal regulation of protests and no-platforming.' A self-confessed Marxist, she has also been vocal about her industry. In a Youtube interview, named 'Writing with Marxism', she addressed her own concerns, addressed by one of her own characters in her book, that the books were a 'commodity' and that people were 'essentially paying to belong to a class of people who read books'. Speaking about her own beliefs, she added: 'The way I see the world today is most through a Marxist framework. And I'm never quite sure how to make that way of thinking sit alongside the fiction that I write. I don't know what it means to write a Marxist role. 'Even though that's the analytical structure that helps me to make sense of the world around me, I can't necessarily can't always accommodate that structure in the form of a novel. 'The one way that influences my work is that I write a lot about social class, but I don't think there's a straightforward way of doing that.' Controversy for Rooney first struck in 2017 after an interview in the Irish Independent in which she criticised prominent Irish Poet William Butler Yeats - the 1923 Nobel Prize-winner. 'I hate Yeats,' she said. 'A lot of his poems are not very good but some are obviously okay. But how has he become this sort of emblem of literary Irishness when he was this horrible man? 'He was a huge fan of Mussolini, he was really into fascism, he believed deeply in the idea of a 'noble class' who are superior by birth to the plebs. And he was in the Senate. 'He wasn't just this harmless weirdo who wrote poetry. People misinterpret him in this country, and when we're taught about him in school, it's just hagiography.' She later described her comments, just before the release of Conversations With Friends, as 'ill-advised'. Along with addressing her Yeats 'controversy', Rooney has also in the past talked about her unhappy relationship with fame. In a Guardian article earlier this year she said the 'hell' of fame is that of a person 'enduring variably serious invasions of their privacy from the media, from obsessive fans, and from people motivated by obsessive hatred'. She also revealed she had quit Twitter, having been unable to see things about herself. She said: 'I don't read reviews or profiles, and back when I used social media, I actually 'muted' my own name to try and avoid seeing things accidentally.' Advertisement Writing in a statement, Rooney said: 'Earlier this year, the international campaign group Human Rights Watch published a report entitled A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution. 'That report, coming on the heels of a similarly damning report by Israel's most prominent human rights organization B'Tselem, confirmed what Palestinian human rights groups have long been saying: Israel's system of racial domination and segregation against Palestinians meets the definition of apartheid under international law. 'Of course, many states other than Israel are guilty of grievous human rights abuses. 'This was also true of South Africa during the campaign against apartheid there. 'In this particular case, I am responding to the call from Palestinian civil society, including all major Palestinian trade unions and writers' unions.' She added that the Hebrew-language translation rights were 'still available' to those 'compliant' with the BDS movement - a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. She added: 'I will be very pleased and proud to do so. In the meantime I would like to express once again my solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice and equality.' But Nurit Tinari, director of Israel's foreign ministrys culture division, today attacked Miss Rooney's support of the BDS campaign - a group she described as a 'tainted with anti-Semitism'. She told the Telegraph: 'If Ms Rooney had only visited Israel and studied the situation in depth, I believe that she would not have made such a discriminatory decision that excludes an entire group of people based on its place of residence and language.' The row comes after The New York Times published an interview with Miss Rooney in September. This was then translated into Hebrew and published with more details by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Haaretz reported: 'When Modan approached Rooney's agent in an attempt to sign another translation deal, the agent announced that Rooney supports the cultural boycott movement on Israel and therefore does not approve translation into Hebrew.' Miss Rooney's agent, Tracy Bohan, said the author had declined the translation when approached for comment, according to Haaretz. The two previous novels written by Miss Rooney, Conversations With Friends and Normal People, have both been published in Hebrew by Modan. Miss Rooney's support for a boycott of Israel has seen her sign an open letter which called for 'an end to the support provided by global powers to Israel and its military; especially the United States' and also urged governments to 'cut trade, economic and cultural relations'. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency also noted that in her second novel, Normal People, the main characters attend a protest against Israel's role in the 2014 Gaza war. Academic Gitit Levy-Paz highlighted the boycott revelation last night in a blog post on the website Forward. She wrote: 'Rooney's decision surprised and saddened me. I am a Jewish and Israeli woman, but I am also a literary scholar who believes in the universal power of art.' Meanwhile Ben Judah, a British author and journalist, wrote on Twitter: 'Depressing and unpleasant that Sally Rooney won't allow her new novel to be translated into Hebrew.' Another critic of the decision was Ruth Franklin, author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life. She said on Twitter: 'Sally Rooney's novels are available in Chinese and Russian. 'Doesn't she care about the Uighurs? Or Putin-defying journalists? To judge Israel by a different standard than the rest of the world is antisemitism.' Joel M Petlin, Superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District, in New York state, also criticised Miss Rooney's stance, saying on Twitter: 'When Sally Rooney books are translated into Yiddish then we can stop calling her an anti-Semite. Until then, the label is well deserved.' Meanwhile, Ron Kampeas, the Washington, D.C. bureau chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, urged Miss Rooney to distinguish between boycotting an Israeli publisher and the Hebrew language. He said: 'The Internet has been around for quite some time now. If you're Sally Rooney and you're boycotting Israeli publishers there are ways to make a text available in Hebrew to make clear you are not boycotting a culture, a people, an ethnicity. Asked if it was her responsibility to have the texts translated, he replied: 'It's not her responsibility, no. But unlike a boycott of, say, a book festival in Israel, or a university symposium, this involves keeping the book from appearing in a Jewish language. I think it behooves a writer to explain that they would not object to translation per se.' Miss Rooney's three novels are renowned for their minimalist writing style and melancholy depiction of life in post-financial crisis Ireland. Her work also addresses tensions between Ireland's working and middle classes. She won four book awards in the UK, including Young Writer of the Year by the Sunday Times in 2017 and the Costa Book award in 2018. Normal People, based on the on-off relationship between Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron during their youth, was adapted into an acclaimed BBC series in 2020. Following the show's success Miss Rooney described the downfalls of fame. She told The Guardian: 'Of course, that person could stop doing whatever it is they're good at, in order to be allowed to retire from public life, but that seems to me like a big sacrifice on their part and an exercise in cultural self-destruction for the rest of us, forcing talented people either to endure hell or keep their talents to themselves. 'I don't think it is graceless for people in those positions to speak out about how poisonous this system is. It doesn't seem to work in any real way for anyone, except presumably some shareholders somewhere.' Her latest novel Beautiful World, Where Are You follows the life of novelist Alice after she asks a distribution warehouse worker to travel to Rome with her. Miss Rooney's Normal People was later adapted into an acclaimed BBC series in 2020 In 2018, Miss Rooney told The Daily Telegraph that she struggled with socialising while growing up, despite her newfound status as the voice of the so-called 'millennial' generation. She said: 'I thought school was immensely boring and, as a teenager, I often found social life quite mystifyingI was not someone to whom it came easily to be charming.' A spokesman for Modan told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that it would not be publishing Rooney's third novel but declined to say whether this was due to a boycott. This is the moment a mother screamed in shock when her US serviceman son who she had not seen for more than three years - surprised her on her wedding day in Guyana. Heartwarming footage shows Raphael Holder, 23, shouting out I do as the minister asks 'Who here gives this woman's hand in marriage? as his mother Colice Paris sits in front of the altar with her husband-to-be Rolf Baird, 46. His mother, 45, screams in shock, her mouth wide open as Raphael strides forward after travelling more than 3,000 miles from his base in Fort Drum, New York. It was the first time Colice had seen her son since his passing out ceremony at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, more than three years earlier - in November 2017. Since then, Raphael has been based in the United States which meant being separated from his mother, who lives in their native Guyana. The footage, filmed on January 10 and recently shared, shows smiling guests looking on as Colice experiences a range of emotions as she cries tears of joy. Speaking afterwards, she said there wasn't a dry eye in the house. She said: 'Upon looking over my shoulder, in the direction from where the response came, I saw Raphael walking towards the altar. 'Everyone that was present at the time and all who viewed the videos and photos have all relayed that they were moved to tears.' Colice Parris, who lives in Guyana, lets out a howl of shock as her soldier son, based in Fort Drum, New York appears unannounced on her wedding day Raphael Holder, 23, hugs his mother as she sits at the altar next to her now-husband, Rolf Baird, 46 Raphael (pictured) beams with joy at the weddings guests, having arrived from the US to surprise his mother, who he hadn't seen in over three years Raphael's passing out ceremony, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in November 2017 was the last time Colice had seen her son But ahead of her wedding, Raphael wanted to do something special for his mother, and so he was granted time to head to Guyana. To help keep the surprise from Colice, Raphael also spoke to her the night before the big day, pretending he was devastated he could still not see his mother. 'I was in utter shock and speechless because I had spoken to him the night before - I really wasn't expecting to see him. 'Always have an open mind - I was closed because I truly didn't expect to see my son on my special day, but the video and pictures proved otherwise.' Son Raphael holds his mother's hand, as she sits next to groom Rolf Baird (pictured) Moments after the officiating minister asked, 'Who here gives this woman's hand in marriage?' Raphael swooped onto the scene, shocking his mother Australian children as young as five years old could soon be vaccinated against Covid as regulators take steps to seek approval from kids to get the Pfizer jab. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Wednesday announced it has given 'provisional determination' for children aged five and up to receive the vaccine. Currently the TGA had approved kids as young as 12 to receive the jab, but the new classification would now include the five to 11 age group. Australian children as young as five-years-old could soon be vaccinated after approval from officials (stock image) Pfizer said the company had provided trial data to the US regulator for initial review for use in young children (stock image) 'The granting of this determination means that Pfizer is now eligible to apply to vary the provisional approval for the vaccine to include children aged five to 11 years,' the TGA said in a statement. 'This provisional determination is the first step in the process and does not mean that an application for variation has been made by the sponsor or that any such variation will be provisionally approved by the TGA.' Pfizer will now need to submit comprehensive clinical data. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the assessment would be done 'very quickly', potentially in a matter of weeks. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Wednesday announced it has given 'provisional determination' for children aged five and up to receive the Pfzier vaccine (stock image) He said it would also need the green light from the technical advisory group ATAGI. 'It will be assessed very quickly,' he told 4BC radio. 'We are hoping they (Pfizer) bring it forward in the coming weeks. We've got the supply and we've got the distribution mechanisms.' Pfizer said the company had provided trial data to the US regulator for initial review. A trial of the two-dose vaccine involving 2,268 children had come back with favourable safety and antibody responses. The pharmaceutical giant is also running a study involving children aged six months up to five years, which should produce topline results by the end of this year. Celebrated chef Albert Roux has left nothing in his will to his son Michel Roux Jr, the star of many TV programmes including the BBC's MasterChef - but has instead given his high-flying wife almost 30 years his junior a third of his 652,000 estate. Roux, who founded London's legendary Le Gavroche restaurant which became the first in Britain to be awarded three Michelin stars, died in January aged 85, around two years after he married 57-year-old Maria Rodrigues. According to newly published probate documents, Roux's estate was worth 614,727 after his outstanding affairs were finalised. Of that, 224,727 will be served up to Maria, a high-flyer at City firm KPMG. She was also bequeathed all his personal items, except for his sapphire cufflinks, which go to his nephew, Alain Roux, and his ruby cufflinks to his stepson, Joshua Rodrigues, who is also left a legacy of 15,000. But perhaps surprisingly, Albert, who is credited with turning culinary superstars Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White into household names, left nothing in his will to his son Michel Roux Jr. Just a few years earlier, the pair had planned on going into business together by transforming Brentwood's iconic Post Office into their ' fine dining restaurant in Essex. Though applications to convert the building were approved by the council, the Roux camp went quiet on the project. Albert left 55,000 to his sister Martine; 250,000 to his daughter, Danielle; 20,000 to his granddaughter Rosie; and 5,000 to three grandchildren. A niece also received 5,000. The will, written last year, states that Roux had given Michel many gifts over the years. Celebrated chef Albert Roux, who turned Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White into culinary stars, left his wife Maria Rodrigues a large portion of his 652,000 estate Surprisingly, perhaps, Albert, who founded Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in Britain to be awarded three Michelin stars, left nothing in his will to his son Michel Roux Jr Albert Roux (left) pictured with his son, Michel Roux Jr (centre), and Michel's daughter, Emily, at a restaurant opening in Scotland in 2016 Le Gavroche: London's legendary restaurant which became the first in Britain to receive three Michelin stars The exterior of Le Gavroche restaurant Opened by Michel Roux Snr in Chelsea in 1967, the Le Gavroche restaurant became the first in Britain to win one, then two, then three Michelin stars. It lost its third star in 1993 but still has a waiting list of up to three months and, with a tasting menu costing 215, including wine, it has earned a formidable reputation on the London culinary circuit. Some of the most famous names in the industry have worked in its kitchens, including Pierre Koffmann, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White and it was reportedly the Queen Mother's favourite lunch spot. Advertisement Albert and Maria had wed after their first public outing, at a Restaurant Association dinner at the Savoy in London, where Roux used a walking cane. One guest said: 'Maria was very attentive to Albert all evening. She's clearly given him a whole new lease of life.' The wedding came four years after Roux divorced his second wife, Cheryl Smith, a statuesque Zimbabwean 21 years his junior. She had met Roux a few years after his divorce from his first wife, Monique. Cheryl, whose business success had earned her a 30million fortune of her own, later recalled how she had spurned his advances - initially, at least. 'When I met Albert, he had seven girlfriends,' she said. 'I told him I would not be part of his harem.' But Roux would not be rebuffed and they married in 2006. But in 2013 the French chef became distracted by Nataliya Lutsyshyna, a 40-year-old Ukrainian who worked as a cloakroom attendant at his restaurant in Westminster. Cheryl ordered Roux to leave their house in Belgravia and filed for divorce. Alongside his brother Michel, Roux founded Le Gavroche in London in 1967, followed by The Waterside Inn in Bray in 1972. Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to gain three Michelin stars. Known for its classic take on French cuisine, Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to gain one, then two, and then three Michelin stars. Albert's death came nine months after that of his brother, aged 78, following a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Born in the region of Saone et Loire in France on October 8, 1935, Roux began training as an apprentice patissier aged 14 before taking up a number of kitchen posts. After serving in the military in Algeria, Roux worked as sous chef at the British Embassy in Paris, where he spent two years before leaving for the UK. Roux married first wife Monique shortly after he turned 17. He had left school intending to become a priest, but quickly thought the better of it In April 1967, Albert (pictured) and Michel opened Le Gavroche in Chelsea with only 3,000 Albert Roux and son Michel planned to open fine-dining restaurant together in Essex seven years before his death Once tipped to be Albert Roux's fine dining restaurant in Essex, plans were submitted to councillors to turn Brentwood's iconic Post Office into a culinary extravaganza. In 2014, the Roux camp submitted a planning application to transform the High Street building into a diners lounge and cocktail bar. The application was even approved by the council - but the Roux camp never converted the Post Office and there was no further word on the project. Speaking to EssexLive at the time, Albert said: 'Brentwood is a beautiful town with a lot of extremely wealthy people who have an acquired taste for food over the years. 'It has beautiful countryside. You are in the country and the old Post Office property is absolutely superb. 'It's not going to be expensive - we are not going to be reproducing a Gavroche restaurant.' Advertisement In April 1967, Albert and Michel opened Le Gavroche in Chelsea with only 3,000, borrowing the rest of the funds. He was also known for the Roux Scholarship, an annual chef competition founded in 1982 with Michel, to enable a new generation of chefs in the UK to train in some of the greatest restaurants in the world. In 1988, Albert's son Michel Roux Jr joined Le Gavroche and over a period of years took over the day-to-day management of the restaurant. He is now the chef/patron. Writing about the events of the past year - including Covid lockdowns and the death of his father and uncle - in the Evening Standard, Michel said: I'm an optimist and I don't like to dwell on it, but this year I've watched an industry I've put my life into suffer, came close to closing a restaurant I've worked in on-and-off since I was a teenager, and borne the loss of my uncle and father. I might be confident for the future, but it's not been easy.' Ramsay was one of a number of future stars, including Marcus Wareing and Marco Pierre White, who trained at Roux's Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was later invited by Roux to join him at Hotel Diva, a ski resort in the French Alps, as his number two. The pair remained close friends and have operated out of the same office building for the last decade. Outside of the kitchen, Roux was a keen fisherman and enjoyed trips to the Scottish Highlands. The Rouxs continue to run a small group of Chez Roux restaurants in a number of hotels in the region. This is the mesmerising moment a group of humpback whales form a spiral to hunt for krill. The whales are using a technique called bubble-net feeding where the krill become trapped near the surface of the water in a net of air bubbles. The amazing aerial footage was captured by conservation and adventure filmmaker, Richard Sidey, of Wanaka, New Zealand, during a research project in Antarctica. This is the moment a group of humpback whales form a spiral to hunt for krill in Antarctica Three faint outlines begin to emerge in the blue seawater as birds circle and chirp overhead trying to catch any krill leftovers Three faint lines begin to emerge in the blue seawater before they come together to form a whirling spiral of white bubbles. Four humpback whales then surface, sending condensed water vapour out of their blowholes before the spiral pattern dissipates. The footage then cuts to another spiral formation, this time with only two whales using the same technique. Humpback whales round up krill or other fish inside the circular 'net' of bubbles which they blow from their blowholes. As the whales rise towards the surface, the fish become trapped in the bubble net, within which the huge humpbacks can then feast. Four humpback whales surface and we see their blowholes squirt out condensed water vapour before the spiral pattern dissipates The amazing aerial shots were captured by conservation and adventure filmmaker, Richard Sidey, of Wanaka, New Zealand, whilst documenting a research project in Antarctica Humpback whales grow up to 16 metres (52 feet) in length and they weigh approximately 36,000 kg (79,000 lbs). Despite their intimidating size, humpback whales are harmless to humans. During the winter months, they leave the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and migrate past the UK to warmer locations. There are one or two sightings in the Hebrides each year. The footage then cuts to another lighter-coloured spiral formation which appears to show only two whales using the same technique The whales were using a technique called bubble-net feeding where the krill become trapped near the surface of the water in a net of air bubbles Mr Sidey said: 'Watching the aerial perspective of these patterns appearing on the surface was both moving and exciting' Mr Sidey said: 'Watching the aerial perspective of these patterns appearing on the surface was both moving and exciting. 'I filmed the scenes from a small boat nearby with the researchers, who were scientists primarily looking at how humpback whales are adapting to a warmer ocean in Antarctica. 'This method of gathering the krill is actually a learned technique, and not all whales can do it, which makes it all the more incredible. 'This is one of the most memorable shots and experiences in my wildlife photography career to date without a doubt.' Kim Jong Un was seen smiling as he watched North Korean soldiers break bricks with their bare hands during a brutal training exercise in Pyongyang on Monday. The North Korean leader, 37, seemed to enjoy the extreme martial arts performance which saw soilders endure beatings from long poles, smash blocks and wooden planks over their heads, and lie on shards of broken glass. A video of the display shows one soldier lying on a bed of nails balancing a thick concrete block on his chest, before another soldier smashes it with a hammer. Kim Jong Un, 37, was seen smiling (pictured) as he watched North Korean soldiers endure beatings and lie on shards of broken glass in a brutal training exercise on Monday The clip shows the North Korean dictator clapping and grinning as he sat in the stands next to his sister Kim Yo Jong as well as rows of senior North Korean military officers. In a show of strength, the soldiers lined up to break concrete blocks with two leaping into the air to smash them with their feet. However, one ran straight into the blocks, breaking them with his face, to a loud applause. Another bizzare exercise saw one shirtless soldier brace himself as he was hit with multiple blows from other soldier's beating him with long poles. The extreme martial arts performance saw soldiers laying their bare arms on top of piles of bricks with other soldiers swinging hammers down on top to break them A video of the display shows one soldier lying on a bed of nails balancing a thick concrete block on his chest, before another soldier smashes it with a hammer (pictured) The clip shows the North Korean dictator clapping and grinning as he sat in the stands next to his sister Kim Yo Jong (centre, left) as well as rows of senior North Korean military officers The dangerous display continued to more extremes, with soldiers laying their bare arms on top of piles of bricks, with other soldiers swinging hammers down on top - smashing the bricks underneath but apparantly leaving their arms unscathed. For the grand finale, a soldier smashed two glass bottles together before lying down on top of the broken glass as two soilders place a concrete block on his chest and smash it with a hammer. In the footage aired by state broadcaster KCTV, newsreader Ri Chun-hee, said: 'These soldiers, embraced and raised by our party, have demonstrated to the whole world the strength, bravery and morale of the Korean People's Army.' In a show of strength, soldiers lined up to break concrete blocks with two leaping into the air to smash them with their feet - while one ran straight into the blocks, breaking them with his face For the grand finale, a soldier lay down on top of broken glass as two soilders placed a large concrete block on his chest and smashed it with a hammer The display was part of the opening ceremony for a defence exhibition this week which saw the dictator show off North Korea's latest weaponry including the Hwasong-8 hypersonic missile it allegedly tested last month which allegedly has nuclear capabilities. Photos from the exhibition show Kim walking on a red carpet lined with big missiles mounted on trucks. Also on display were an intercontinental ballistic missiles and a new long-range cruise missile, and US intelligence agencies said they are already analysing the equipment. The display was part of the opening ceremony for a defence exhibition this week which saw the dictator show off North Korea's latest weaponry In a speech at the exhibition, the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea blamed the United States for tensions on the peninsula saying it is the 'root cause' of instability The leader of nuclear-armed North Korea blamed the United States for tensions, calling it the 'root cause' of instability in a speech, as he stood in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile In a speech at the exhibition, the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea blamed the United States for tensions on the peninsula saying it is the 'root cause' of instability, state media Korean Central News Agency reported. Kim said his country's most important objective is possessing an 'invincible military capability' that no one can dare challenge. He also used his speech at a rare exhibition of weapons systems to stress that his military might isn't targeted at South Korea and that there shouldn't be another war pitting Korean people against each other. Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have made rapid progress under Kim. In 2017 it tested missiles that can reach the whole of the continental US and carried out by far its most powerful nuclear explosion to date, and Pyongyang says it needs its arsenal to protect itself against a US invasion. The Biden administration has repeatedly stated that it has no hostile intent towards the North, but Kim told the 'Self-Defence 2021' exhibition, but he said there was 'no basis' in their actions. In a speech at the exhibition in Pyongyang, Kim said his country's most important objective is possessing an 'invincible military capability' that no one can dare challenge A slimmed down North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) speaks with officials during a visit to the 'Self-Defence-2021' defense development exhibition, in Pyongyang on Monday Kim Jong Un (centre-right) presents a commendation award during the defence development exhibition 'Self-Defence-2021' at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House in Pyongyang The dictator was pictured observing some of the country's military weapons at the Defence Development Exhibition 'The US has frequently signaled it's not hostile to our state, but there is no action-based evidence to make us believe that they are not hostile,' Kim said. 'The US is continuing to create tensions in the region with its wrong judgments and actions.' Kim's address came after the North in recent weeks tested a long-range cruise missile and what it said was a hypersonic weapon. The exhibition was the first of its kind since Kim took power in late 2011, according to Seoul officials, and included a multiple rocket launch system on display as well as jets flying in a formation. It featured an array of newly developed weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) North Korea has already test-launched or displayed during military parades in recent years, experts say. Yang Wook, a military expert who teaches at South Korea's Hannam University, said the weapons in the photos include what appears to be a new ICBM that North Korea disclosed during a military parade last year but hasn't test-fired, Yang said. That missile mounted on an 11-axel launch vehicle during the parade is considered to be the North's biggest-yet ICBM. The exhibition featured an array of newly developed weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) North Korea has already test-launched or displayed during military parades in recent years, experts say Photos showed Kim walking on a red carpet lined with big missiles mounted on trucks, passing by a multiple rocket launch system and watching jets flying in a formation (pictured) Other weapons on display were another ICBM that North Korea tested in 2017; ballistic missiles that can be fired from submarines or a train; solid-fueled, short-range missiles; and a developmental hypersonic missile that had its first test-flight last month, said Lee Choon Geun, a missile expert at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute. Seoul's Defense Ministry said South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analyzing the North Korean weapons displayed but didn't elaborate. Ratepayers in an iconic Aussie town are confused and annoyed that their local elected officials are wasting time having debates about 'nuclear disarmament' rather than focusing on issues closer to home. In just the past year, Ballarat Local Council in regional Victoria, have debated two motions surrounding the complex geopolitical issue. Greens Cr Belinda Coates put forward the items in an effort to support 'world peace', but her frustrated colleagues and constituents say the Council should stick to fixing the roads and collecting the bins - not trying to influence Kim Jong-un. Local elected officials are wasting time having debates about 'nuclear disarmament' rather than focusing on issues closer to home (pictured, a missile is launched during a drill in North Korea in September 2021) 'Ballarat City Council shouldn't be wasting its time or the office's time or the councillors' time in dealing with items that are not relating to local government, ' Cr Ben Taylor told A Current Affair. 'And this is not what our ratepayers and residents want to talk about either. 'What is the influence local governments have in relation to this matter of nuclear weapons? We have no influence. 'We can't change North Korea's mind, we can't change Russia or America's mind in relation to nuclear weapons, so why is the local government and especially Ballarat dealing with these types of items?' At the online Council meeting last month, where the motion was discussed for 30 minutes, Deputy Mayor of the City of Ballarat Amy Johnson said it was delusional for the town to be discussing the issue. 'North Korea, China and Russia, some of the countries that do have nuclear weapons, if you think they are going to listen to the little old Ballarat Council on whether they should have nuclear weapons or not then you need a bit of a reality check,' she said. In just the past year, Ballarat Local Council in regional Victoria, have debated two motions surrounding the complex geopolitical issue - rather than local woes (pictured, Racers Cafe in Ballarat) Greens Cr Belinda Coates (right) put forward the nuclear items in an effort to support world peace, but Cr Ben Taylor (left) says it is not what the local council should be talking about Verity Webb from the lobby group Ratepayers Victoria told the program she's not surprised by the bizarre motion. 'To make themselves feel important they pass lots of useless, factitious, bombastic policies,' she said. 'These are the types of things we are forever seeing councillors do, they try to look important, look like they are doing important things in the non-local area because they are actually useless in the local community.' Out in the streets of the gold rush town, famous for its Victorian architecture, locals were baffled. 'I think they should focus on what the people need, I think nuclear weapons are probably going to be a bit far out for us,' one man said. 'I'd like to see them focus on local matters, before they look at nuclear stuff. When you look at the separation of government, it's not really in their portfolio,' another said. Harvard University wedged itself into the burgeoning China-Taiwan crisis after the Ivy League school said it would move its language program from Beijing to Taipei because the Communist country has created a hostile environment for its students. The Harvard Beijing Academy will leave the Beijing Language and Culture University - where it has been based since 2005 - to form a new partnership with the National Taiwan University in Taipei, the Harvard Crimson school newspaper reported. Every summer, according to the Crimson, the program 'would typically host a small party to celebrate the Fourth of July, during which students and faculty would eat pizza and sing the national anthem.' But in 2019, the host university, Beijing Language and Culture University, said it could no longer host the event, Harvard program director Jennifer L. Liu told the paper, with Harvard officials citing 'logistical concerns.' She also told the Crimson that 'BLCU did not provide a single dorm for all the students, instead requiring the program split the students into two different dorms of different quality, or to find a hotel that could keep their students together.' Liu said she suspected the changes were due to shifting attitudes towards the United States under Chinese President Xi Jinping. But Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said he did not know the particular issue with the program when asked about the move. 'China always welcomes international students to study in China, attaches great importance to protection of their legitimate rights and interests, and proactively responds to the students reasonable concerns and appeals,' Zhao said. A representative from BLCU told the Boston Globe that the university fully supported efforts by students to use its facilities and hold activities on school grounds, adding that administrators only decided not to hold the Fourth of July celebration in 2019 due to noise concerns. Harvard University (pictured) officials have decided to move its Chinese summer language from Beijing to Taiwan, claiming Beijing created a hostile environment for its students Starting in the summer of 2022, the nine-week intensive language program will leave the Beijing Language and Culture University (left) - where it has been based since 2005 - to form a new partnership with the National Taiwan University in Taipei (right) Many joint education programs already exist between the United States and Taiwan, the country's Affairs Office Spokesman Ma Xiaguang said at a news conference Wednesday, noting that one institution relocating was 'nothing to hype.' Still, Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou praised Harvard's decision, welcoming its 'best and brightest to study Mandarin' in Taipei. The universities had been discussing the decision to host the program since 2019, the National University confirmed on Tuesday, saying it was due to start in 2020 but was suspended because of the pandemic. The nine-week program is designed for intermediate and advanced Chinese language learners, and like many other study abroad programs, it features trips to local cultural and historical landmarks. In Beijing, students would visit the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and go on outings with local university students, according to the program's former website. Beyond memorizing vocabulary or grammar structures, students got a chance to interact with their Chinese counterparts. 'I learned what Chinese millennials do when they get ghosted on [dating app] Tantan, how Chinese media portrayed Americas 2016 election, and which Chinese popsicle flavors to stay away from,' one student said in March 2020 on a Harvard website describing his study abroad experience. In Taiwan, students will be able to visit places like the National Palace Museum, which houses many of the treasures once hosted in Beijing's Forbidden City, as well as Taiwan's famed night markets and Yangming mountain. 'We hope to lay a solid Chinese foundation for the outstanding Harvard students in NTU's free academic atmosphere,' the university said in a statement. On Monday, the official People's Liberation Army Daily newspaper said drills had been carried out 'in recent days' in the southern part of Fujian province, posting a video of soldiers carrying out training in the ocean and on a beach. Pictured: A still grab from the video Taiwan split from the communist country in a 1949 civil war The move comes amid worsening relationships between the United States and China, as the Communist country tries to gain control of Taiwan, which split from China in a 1949 civil war when the Nationalist Party fled to the island as Mao Zedong's Communists swept to power. The United States then recognized the government in Taiwan as the legitimate rulers of the whole of China until Jimmy Carter established formal relations with the Communists in 1979. That move was followed by a bill from Congress that granted Taiwan near-nation status and committed the US to selling the island weapons to defend itself. The two still maintain strong ties, as relations with Beijing worsen. At least 500 Chinese students have been denied visas to the US under a Trump-era policy that aims to block Beijing from obtaining United States technology with possible military uses, the Globe reports, and a US government-sponsored language program for university students relocated from Beijing to Taipei in 2019 over the political tensions. The United States has also formed fresh alliances in the Pacific to push back against Beijing, including the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia. Still, America has a long-standing policy of 'strategic ambiguity' towards Taiwan, refusing to say what it would do if the island is attacked. Joe Biden recently suggested that he would be willing to go to war in the event of an invasion, though aides insisted he had misspoke. Taiwan views itself as an independent country. Its military is pictured here during a celebration of the National Day in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei on Sunday On Sunday, Chinese state media warned that '[we] will have little choice but to take Taiwan to the battlefield' after the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen, vowed to resist 'threats' from Beijing - which announced a day later that it had carried out beach landing assault drills on the island. Quoting from 'experts' within China, the Global Times accused 'secessionist' Tsai of stirring up tensions while warning that 'resisting reunification by force will only bring doom more quickly.' Tsai's speech was 'filled with resentment against the Chinese mainland' because she suggested it is 'an enemy state', Zhang Wensheng of Xiamen University said. Presenting Taiwan as a bastion of democracy against authoritarian China is 'a complete provocation', Zhang added. 'If [Tsai] continues such provocative acts, the mainland will have no choice but take it to the battlefield,' he warned. The same editorial, one of two published after Tsai's speech, also quoted another anonymous 'military expert' who spoke of the 'obvious advantages' that Beijing's army has over the island's armed forces. 'Resisting reunification by force will only bring doom more quickly to Taiwan secessionists,' they added. It is just the latest threat that Beijing's media has made to Taiwan, after warning in recent weeks that World War Three could be sparked 'at any time'. On Monday, the official People's Liberation Army Daily newspaper, in a brief report on its Weibo microblogging account, said drills had been carried out 'in recent days' in the southern part of Fujian province. The action had involved 'shock' troops, sappers and boat specialists, the Chinese military newspaper added. The troops were 'divided into multiple waves to grab the beach and perform combat tasks at different stages', it added, without providing further details. It showed a video of soldiers in small boats storming a beach, throwing smoke grenades, breaking through barbed wire defenses and digging trenches in the sand. The drills appeared to involve a small number of troops. The warning came after President Xi of China (left) and President Tsai of Taiwan (right) both gave speeches at the weekend - Xi insisting that the island will be 'reunified' with the mainland while Tsai vowed not to 'bow' to threats from Beijing Amidst those rising tensions, Taiwan held its annual National Day celebrations on Sunday which feature a military parade. Included in the parade was a fly-past by Taiwanese jets, along with columns of armored vehicles and a display of missiles. Tsai also delivered an address at the event, vowing not to bow to pressure by Beijing and to defend the island's democratic way of life. 'The more we achieve, the greater the pressure we face from China,' Tsai said, adding that: 'Nobody can force Taiwan to take the path China has laid out for us.' The president added: 'We hope for an easing of... relations (with Beijing) and will not act rashly, but there should be absolutely no illusions that the Taiwanese people will bow to pressure.' State media accused Tsai of 'betraying' history in her speech, while 'colluding' with foreign forces to achieve 'succession'. 'No major power will dare openly recognize Taiwan as an independent sovereign state,' the Global Times wrote. 'The island of Taiwan will finally be reunified with the Chinese mainland. President Xi Jinping gave his own speech in advance of Tsai's address on Saturday, saying that reunification 'must be realized, and will definitely be realized.' He insisted that 'peaceful reunification' remains his aim, but in the past he has said that he reserves the right to use force. Xi was speaking at an official celebration in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that focused largely on the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to rule. This is the moment ingenious police officers used a drone to release a pigeon dangling from a power cable in Peru. Video footage shows the officers in the capital city Lima taping a knife to the drone and cutting the string binding the bird to the high-voltage line. Residents in the Barranca neighbourhood said the pigeon was stuck on the electric wire for more than 12 hours before it was freed on Monday. This is the moment police used a drone to release a pigeon dangling from a power cable wire in Peru on October 11 Video footage showed ingenious officers in the capital city Lima fixing a knife to the drone to cut the string trapping the bird to the high-voltage cable The footage initially shows the pigeon dangling upside down, flapping its wings frantically and struggling in vain to free itself from a line spanning the street. It then cuts to a close up drone shot that reveals the pigeon's talons are ensnared in string wrapped around the finger-width cable. Two of Barranca's finest officers fix a knife with a fluorescent handle to the top of a DJI Mini 2 drone using electrician's tape. The footage cuts to a close up drone shot that reveals the pigeon's talons and feet are ensnared in string wrapped around the finger-width cable The police officers then carefully pilot the drone towards the trapped bird using an onboard live stream. They slowly navigate the sharp blade towards the thread around the pigeon's feet while concerned locals stand underneath holding out a sheet to catch the bird. Two of Barranca's finest police officers devise an ingenious plan to free the fatigued bird They attach a knife with a fluorescent handle to the top of a DJI Mini 2 drone using electrician's tape The makeshift knife cuts through the string but rather than plummeting to the ground the pigeon gracefully swoops down to safety. Local residents eventually managed to catch the pigeon and cut away the remaining string with scissors. The rescued animal was taken to a local shelter for abandoned animals. The police officers slowly navigate the sharp blade towards the thread around the pigeon's feet while members of the neighbourhood hold a tightened sheet directly below Advertisement Boris Johnson was back at the easel in Spain today as he brushed off criticism that he has fled abroad while Britain faces crisis after crisis - with his wife Carrie and young son Wilf also seen admiring his painting skills in the hills above Marbella this morning. The Prime Minister is staying in fellow Tory Zac Goldsmith's 25,000-a-week estate on the Costa del Sol, but he has come under fire for timing his holiday amid the chaos back home of soaring gas prices, empty shelves and a plethora of other problems shaking the country. Mr Johnson was also criticised when he was photographed painting on the grand terrace yesterday. But in a show of defiance he was back out today drawing the stunning Spanish countryside. It came as Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden backed him up, insisting the PM 'is never truly away' from work on holiday, and claimed his boss remains fully 'engaged' with issues in the UK. He said: 'I hope your viewers will appreciate that the Prime Minister has been through a challenging time in a lot of different ways - he had Covid-19, he's got a new child on the way, and very sadly he lost his mother just a few weeks ago. So this is a just a short break and he will be returning to the UK and I am expecting to see him later this week.' After breakfast, the British leader popped up again on to the balcony of the grand estate where he is staying with wife Carrie and their young son Wilfred, who was being carried by a unknown man, who is likely member of the Downing Street team out in Spain acting as a 'manny' while Wilf's father put brush on canvas. Dressed in a navy blue sweater and baggy trousers Boris shock of white blonde hair could be seen from across the valley of the isolated farming estate. He was joined on balcony by wife Carrie and son Wilfred who admired his brushwork before the sun rose above began to blaze. Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings. His appreciation for such artwork may have also stemmed from his late mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who was a painter. Boris Johnson is back at his easel today after brushing off criticism that he is painting in Spain while Britain battles multiple crises Mr Johnson clutches his brush as his decision to keep painting was seen as an act of defiance after pictures of him made front page news in the UK overnight The PM appeared to be struggling with the right hand side of his painting, scratching his head and then stepping back to take a better look With that painting's subject yet to be revealed, dozens of Twitter users spent their time pondering what the Prime Minister's artwork could be, including this minimalist image Others wondered if the painting could be a horse in the Andalusian sunshine or a bus, the PM's favourite form of transport Boris Johnson's signed bus doodle for the Ann Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust raised 1,000 for the child cancer charity when he was Mayor of London Their arrival in Andalusia at the weekend has prompted comments in the Spanish media about his decision to go on holiday while Britain is in the grip of fuel and food shopping crises. Spain's Canal 3 TV station reported about the British prime minister's absence live from the country estate this morning. While Mr Johnson insists he remains working to solve Britain's growing problems, he has been seen lounging around on the terrace of the luxury property with his hands behind his head. And last night he was first seen sketching an image of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea from the Andalusian hillside. Wearing a crinkled white shirt and with a carefree look on his face, he daubed a canvas in an easel set up on the balcony that faces the sea. It was revealed ahead of Carrie's move into No10 that Mr and Mrs Johnson relax by spending their evenings painting together, with some of their pieces hanging on the walls of her flat in South London. The PM had sheltered from the 30 degree sunshine during the day but emerged as the temperature dropped. The premier has faced criticism over the timing of his trip abroad, amid Britain's continued fuel and energy crisis, along with the publication of a scathing report that laid bare a string of failures ministers made in handling the coronavirus pandemic. But No10 and Government figures have defended his right to take a holiday this week, with Security Minister Damian Hinds saying it was 'important for the whole country' that its political leader has time to switch off. He has also been spotted working at his laptop in between periods of relaxation and is being kept regularly updated on the ongoing work to address the current issues around fuel and supply chains, according to his spokesman. Artistry seems to run in the Johnson family blood, with his mother, who died last month following a long battle with Parkinson's, being described as an 'astonishing self-taught artist'. Ms Johnson Wahl painted stars such as Joanna Lumley and was hailed as the 'supreme authority' in the PM's family. Art had been a love of hers since her childhood, revealing to Tatler that her parents gifted her a set of oil paints when she was five. 'I could handle them well and I immediately began to paint, without instruction. It was something I could make my own and be clever at. None of the others could paint', she said. She would go on to hold sell-out art shows in Brussels in the late 1970s, balancing her passion with home-schooling her four children. Dressed in a navy blue sweater and baggy trousers, Boris was unmistakable with his shock of white blonde hair seen from across the valley of the isolated farming estate The PM has spent several hours painting, but staff and supporters say he is working from Spain Mr Johnson is channelling his hero Sir Winston Churchill, who loved painting, but critics have said that is where the comparisons between the two men end Boris Johnson was last night seen sketching an image of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea from the Andalusian hillside Boris Johnson and his pregnant wife Carrie are taking a foreign break at a 25,000-a-week Marbella hideaway owned by the Prime Minister's wife's close friend and Tory peer Zac Goldsmith The PM and his family headed to the villa (pictured) in Spain last Friday and are understood to be spending around a week there Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds up a painting he produced during a visit to The Discovery School in Kent last year His appreciation for such artwork may have also stemmed from his late mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who was a painter The estate, known as Torre Tramores, is a short drive from the picturesque village of Benahavis, and has its own helipad to make sure VIP holidaymakers can arrive and leave without being seen The mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1982, aged 40, but was still determined to continue her career as an artist. Speaking to the Telegraph in 2008, she said: 'I try to paint every day if I possibly can, though I have to go to the hospital a lot. 'I still manage to paint, though my arm will suddenly do a movement which is completely unintentional and that almost brings me to tears.' She is said to have completed more than 2,000 pieces in her career and was the subject of an exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in 2015. Meanwhile, Britain's wartime leader had an essay, 'Painting as a Pastime', published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921, highlighting how the hobby impacted on his career and life. Sir Winston used painting as a helpful tool for battling his bouts of depression triggered by the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in the First World War in 1915. He started off doing watercolours and then turned his attention to producing oil works, but was initially reluctant to part with them because he doubted their quality. Mr Johnson has frequently taken advantage of photo opportunities to show off his artistic skills, picking up paintbrushes on visits to at least three primary schools over the last 18 months. But while the PM took to his easel again this evening, pressure continued to grow on No10, with concerns remaining over the extent of the fuel and energy crisis which crippled the nation in recent weeks. Industry bosses insisted tonight that petrol shortages are still serious in London and the South East - with 10 per cent of forecourts remaining empty. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paints a picture of a face as he joins a reception class during their painting lesson during a visit to St Mary's CE Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this year Sir Winston Churchill used painting as a helpful tool for battling his bouts of depression triggered by the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in the First World War in 1915 Experts say a 'large majority' of retailers did not know when they would receive their next fuel delivery as the crisis continues to rumble on. Drivers who have been fortunate enough to find petrol and diesel in recent weeks have often had to endure long queues and increased prices when filling up. While bosses acknowledge the situation has improved in the last few days, shortages still remain in many areas. Meanwhile, producers of steel, glass, ceramics and paper and other sectors have said they may be forced to halt production unless the government does something about energy prices, which have rocketed due to a shortage of natural gas in Europe. Mr Johnson faces growing unrest from Tory MPs amid fears thousands of manufacturing jobs could go in crucial northern seats, with global demand and supply chain issues after the pandemic sending fuel costs spiralling. A further headache for the PM then presented itself after the first major probe into the Covid crisis concluded that thousands of care home residents died needlessly in the pandemic, and that ministers were blinded by 'groupthink' among scientific advisers who wrongly wanted to manage the spread of the virus, rather than suppress it. The dossier also claimed that No10's early decisions on lockdowns and social distancing rank as 'one of the most important public health failures the UK has ever experienced'. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer then called for an inquiry into the crisis to be brought forward. Speaking on a visit to a lorry driver training centre near Oldham, he said: 'I think the least the PM could do is address the families, apologise, and bring forward the public inquiry just as quickly as possible.' Sir Keir added: 'The PM should take responsibility because the responsibility is his, and he should apologise. 'But I'd like to just start by acknowledging just how difficult a day this will be for the bereaved families learning what they will learn in this report, which is a damning indictment of the Government and the flaws and errors and failures of the Government running down the NHS before the pandemic, being far too slow to respond, with the price being paid by those bereaved families, chaotic track and trace.' Meanwhile, one of the Government's own ministers today refused to apologise 11 times for the mistakes that had led to thousands of deaths in Britain. Stephen Barclay, who replaced Michael Gove as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in No10's reshuffle last month, was grilled about the report and repeatedly given the opportunity to say sorry by Sky News presenter Kay Burley, but he instead dodged the chance. He even admitted he had not yet read the 151-page report. Boris Johnson has promised a formal inquiry into the Government's response to the pandemic will start in Spring 2022 but an exact date has yet to be set. When he announced the probe, he insisted key players would be put 'under the microscope'. Labour had originally called for the inquiry to begin in June this year, in line with No10's lifting of virus restrictions. There are currently virtually no Covid curbs on daily life in England. Elsewhere, Dominic Cummings today slammed his old boss for his handling of the pandemic, branding the Prime Minister a 'joke'. Speaking to Sky News outside his home, Mr Johnson's ex chief adviser labelled No10's system for dealing with crises a 'disaster'. He said: 'The system was bad for many years before Covid. 'Me and others put into place work to try and improve the system in 2020 after the first wave, unfortunately the Prime Minister being the joke that he is has not pushed that work through.' Mr Cummings, who has been a vocal critic of Mr and Mrs Johnson since leaving Downing Street, added: 'Now we have a joke Prime Minister and a joke leader of the Labour party, and we obviously need a new political system.' The report, published today by the health and science committees at the House of Commons, is the first to shine a light on the catalogue of failures made at the top of Government. It castigated the 'chaotic' performance of the 37billion test and trace system. Families of coronavirus victims today called report 'laughable', with one campaigner pointing out that it 'barely mentions the over 150,000 bereaved families'. What's Boris painting? PM sparks hilarious social media reaction as he mimics Churchill and paints a picture during Marbella holiday The Prime Minister appeared to be making the most of his holiday as he was seen painting on the terrace of his Spanish Costa getaway. Boris Johnson was seen at Zac Goldsmith's 25,000-a-week estate in the hills above Marbella wearing a crinkled white shirt with a carefree look on his face as he put paint to canvas in an easel set up on the sea-facing balcony. Social media users have now let their imaginations run wild over what exactly Mr Johnson was painting. Cinephile: One Twitter user imagined that the Prime Minister could be painting this avid Matrix fan wielding his katana and trenchcoat combo beside the film's poster Abstract: Another thought the PM could be creating a piece with a more modern twist, focusing more on emotional expression and less on real world objects I want to bee prime minister: Could Mr Johnson have been painting a version of this wasp-like creature on his Spanish holiday? The real me: One Twitter user thought the PM might have been creating a new werewolf-type persona which also appears to have vampire-style fangs Simple: Perhaps Mr Johnson stuck simply to one colour on a blank canvas for a more minimalistic approach Another social media user suggested that Mr Johnson could have been painting a bus One Twitter user imagined that the PM was painting American technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri Simple: Boris Johnson is seen in this post creating a bare bones sketch of a horse One Twitter user said that Mr Johnson was 'hoping' we would compare him to Winston Churchill, who was an avid painter Submissions for what the PM could have been painting include a werewolf persona, a wasp, random colours, and a bus. While Mr Johnson insists he remains working to solve Britain's growing problems, he has been seen lounging around on the terrace of the luxury property with his hands behind his head. He was also last night seen sketching an image of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea from the Andalusian hillside. Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings. His appreciation for such artwork may have also stemmed from his late mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who was a painter. Boris Johnson paints with children during a visit to The Discovery School in West Malling, Kent, in 2020 It was revealed ahead of Carrie's move into No10 that Mr and Mrs Johnson relax by spending their evenings painting together, with some of their pieces hanging on the walls of her flat in South London. The PM had sheltered from the 30 degree sunshine during the day but emerged as the temperature dropped. The premier has faced criticism over the timing of his trip abroad, amid Britain's continued fuel and energy crisis, along with the publication of a scathing report that laid bare a string of failures ministers made in handling the coronavirus pandemic. But No10 and Government figures have defended his right to take a holiday this week, with Security Minister Damian Hinds saying it was 'important for the whole country' that its political leader has time to switch off. He has also been spotted working at his laptop in between periods of relaxation and is being kept regularly updated on the ongoing work to address the current issues around fuel and supply chains, according to his spokesman. Mr Johnson's mother, who died last month following a long battle with Parkinson's, had been described as an 'astonishing self-taught artist'. Boris Johnson sits and paints Tulips with children from Colham Manor primary school during a constituency visit on March 18, 2021 in Uxbridge Mr Johnson appears to share the hobby with his political hero, Sir Winston Churchill - a keen amateur artist himself, having created more than 500 paintings Ms Johnson Wahl painted stars such as Joanna Lumley and was hailed as the 'supreme authority' in the PM's family. Art had been a love of hers since her childhood, revealing to Tatler that her parents gifted her a set of oil paints when she was five. 'I could handle them well and I immediately began to paint, without instruction. It was something I could make my own and be clever at. None of the others could paint', she said. She would go on to hold sell-out art shows in Brussels in the late 1970s, balancing her passion with home-schooling her four children. The mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1982, aged 40, but was still determined to continue her career as an artist. Speaking to the Telegraph in 2008, she said: 'I try to paint every day if I possibly can, though I have to go to the hospital a lot. 'I still manage to paint, though my arm will suddenly do a movement which is completely unintentional and that almost brings me to tears.' She is said to have completed more than 2,000 pieces in her career and was the subject of an exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in 2015. Meanwhile, Britain's wartime leader had an essay, 'Painting as a Pastime', published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921, highlighting how the hobby impacted on his career and life. Sir Winston used painting as a helpful tool for battling his bouts of depression triggered by the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in the First World War in 1915. He started off doing watercolours and then turned his attention to producing oil works, but was initially reluctant to part with them because he doubted their quality. Mr Johnson has frequently taken advantage of photo opportunities to show off his artistic skills, picking up paintbrushes on visits to at least three primary schools over the last 18 months. But while the PM took to his easel again this evening, pressure continued to grow on No10, with concerns remaining over the extent of the fuel and energy crisis which crippled the nation in recent weeks. Industry bosses insisted tonight that petrol shortages are still serious in London and the South East - with 10 per cent of forecourts remaining empty. Advertisement Shoppers in Britain are already struggling to get their hands on the most sought-after Christmas presents, with the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and iPhone 13 all out of stock at most stores across the country. One of this year's biggest toys, the Cocomelon Bedtime JJ Doll, is also almost nowhere to be found in the UK amid the crisis in container shipping around the world, which is largely due to disruption caused by the pandemic. The problems, which have been going on for more than a year, have been exacerbated in many countries, including the UK, in recent months by the fact that there are not enough HGV drivers to collect the containers. And sellers on eBay are making the most of the low stock levels, with PS5 consoles going for up to 3,000, nearly seven times their RRP of 450; and the Xbox Series X for up to 2,000, more than four times above the same RRP. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, which costs between 1,049 and 1,549 via Apple depending on the model, is going for up to 3,000 on eBay as retailers such as Ebuyer take pre-orders on their next delivery due in three weeks' time. And the Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ, which has an RRP of 28, is going for up to 109 on eBay. The doll, based on the children's TV series featuring nursery rhymes, is one of this year's most hoped-for toys under the tree. The London-based website Stock Informer, which tracks which retailers have popular products available, states that there is no stock for any of these four products anywhere other than eBay or online marketplace StockX. Sellers on eBay are trying to sell a PlayStation 5 for up to 3,000, nearly seven times their RRP, because they are out of stock Adverts posted by EE and Game over the past few days show how much anticipation there is whenever a PS5 comes in stock The company, which earns money from qualifying purchases, checks retailers including Amazon, Very, Currys, John Lewis, Argos, AO, Asda, Smyths, Game and Ebuyer and sends email alerts when rare items come into stock. The PS5 stock issues have been hitting Sony since it launched the console in November last year, with the firm saying one of the main reasons was huge demand amid a shortage of semi-conductors and other components. Microsoft has also faced stock issues since launching Xbox X last November and said a fortnight ago that these are set to continue into 2022 amid the ongoing global chip shortages that are also impacting phone production. As for Apple, its shares fell yesterday after claims that it could cut its iPhone 13 production targets by up to 10million units because of the chip shortage. The tech firm only launched the new model last month. Mike Green, found of Stock Informer, told MailOnline today: 'We basically track online retailers for stock of certain high demand and low supply products, and notify our users once stock is located. 'Since Covid lockdowns started March 2020 we have seen very large spike in demand across many products but especially video game consoles. Late March 2020 to July 2020 saw a large spike and supply issues with the Nintendo Switch console. Inflatable hot tubs also proved very popular during the summer lockdown. The Xbox Series X console is being offered on eBay for up to 2,000, more than four times above the RRP of 450 The iPhone 13 Pro Max, which costs between 1,049 and 1,549 via Apple based on the model, is going for 3,000 on eBay The Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ doll is a hoped-for toy which has an RRP of 28, and is going for up to 109 on eBay 'New Playstation and Xbox console launches are always accompanied with high demand and stock shortages, however during the launches in November 2020, I have never seen such high demand like it. I have been in this business over 14 years. 'To date, Stock Informer has helped tens of thousands obtain their consoles since launch. With Christmas 2021 approaching, the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles will continue to prove very difficult for people to get their hands on and we expect this to continue well into 2022. 'With the current chip shortages and supply chain issues, we are also expecting many supply issues with many electronic toys and associated products.' The data from Stock Informer emerged as transport chiefs warned that a disastrous logjam at Britain's biggest container port will delay or block the delivery of millions of festive products and Christmas presents. The situation is so bad at Felixstowe in Suffolk that the world's largest shipping company, Maersk, has decided to stop some giant container ships from docking in the UK. Instead, it is sending the ships to Europe in the hope that the cargo will be transferred to the UK on smaller vessels to alternative ports or via road and ferry. Maersk is responsible for 36 per cent of all shipping containers delivered to the UK, which means its decision will have a huge effect across the economy. Each container ship can carry around 12,000 containers, but there are not enough drivers to take them on to UK destinations. The London-based website Stock Informer, which tracks which retailers have popular products available, states that there is no stock for any of these four products anywhere other than eBay or online marketplace StockX This means thousands are sitting empty on the dockside at Felixstowe and elsewhere, rather than being used to transport goods around the world. Flamin' eck! Stampede to stock up on festive puds Sales of Christmas puddings are up by 76 per cent compared to last year amid fears of gaps on shelves. Stores have also seen a surge in sales of frozen turkeys following warnings from industry leaders that there will be at least 20 per cent fewer fresh birds available. The HGV driver shortage has been blamed for gaps on shelves, which are expected to worsen in the run-up to the festive season. Most food is sold fresh in the week before Christmas but some people are stocking up on items with a long shelf life, such as puddings. Fraser McKevitt, of retail analysts Kantar, who provided the figures, said: 'A minority of very prepared shoppers took the chance to get ahead... 449,000 eager consumers bought their Christmas pudding in September, with sales 76 per cent higher than in the same month last year.' But he added: 'These are still relatively small numbers and anxiety around supply issues has not translated to panic buying festive or otherwise.' Advertisement The Road Haulage Association warned that the crisis poses a real threat to shipments of Christmas products. Rod McKenzie, its managing director of policy, said: 'Congestion at Felixstowe has a massive knock-on effect in terms of the goods being delivered and what happens afterwards. 'This is people's Christmas presents, factory parts or simply online shopping that won't be delivered on time as a result.' Delivery expert David Jinks, of ParcelHero, said: 'We are currently in the middle of peak period for retailers stocking their warehouses for Christmas, and it's vital this goes as smoothly as possible. 'This year the ongoing lorry driver shortage, coupled with new delays at ports, could bring us to tipping point.' He added: 'There are significant shipping delays across the world, caused largely by new outbreaks of Covid at ports in China. Now the UK has its own unique crisis to add to the global supply chain problems. Britain's acute truck driver shortage means containers are taking way too long to be loaded onto lorries and leave ports such as Felixstowe. 'That means companies such as Maersk have to avoid rapidly building bottlenecks by using EU ports to land goods destined for the UK. This will add new delays, especially with Brexit checks in place.' Lars Mikael Jensen, head of the global ocean network at Maersk, a Danish company, said the UK driver shortage means it is taking longer here to get fully loaded containers moved away from ports and to return the empty ones for pick-up. He said: 'We had to stop operations on a ship because there was nowhere to discharge the containers. Felixstowe is among the top two or three worst-hit terminals (globally). 'We are having to deviate some of the bigger ships away from Felixstowe and relay some of the smaller ships for the cargo.' Thousands of shipping containers at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk are pictured today as the shipping crisis continues Maersk has said it is diverting vessels away from UK ports to unload elsewhere in Europe. Felixstowe is pictured today Retailers, such as John Lewis, have invested millions of pounds buying extra shipping capacity, which has soared in price in the past 18 months, to bring in products from the Far East. But these efforts could now be scuppered. Now milk faces delivery plight, warns boss The boss of the UK's biggest dairy company has warned of rising prices and missed deliveries of milk to stores and customers. Ash Amirahmadi, managing director of Arla Foods, said that just getting milk to supermarkets is a 'real challenge'. By contrast, farmers around the country have been complaining about having to pour it away because there are not enough tanker drivers to make collections. Farmer-owned Arla supplies butter, spreads and cheese, as well as milk, to stores but like other industries has been hampered by a shortage of lorry drivers. Mr Amirahmadi told Sky News: 'We are very mechanised when it comes to our production of milk and dairy products... but we need drivers to take that to the shops.' He added: 'On average we're delivering to about 2,300 shops a day, and we're regularly not able to deliver to about 10 per cent of our shops.' Advertisement Ikea is among a number of major companies whose shipments are being disrupted. It said: 'We are experiencing low availability in some of our ranges. With Felixstowe nearing capacity, we have faced some challenges in returning containers to the port.' The port authorities in Felixstowe, which handles 40 per cent of container deliveries to the UK, said a shortage of drivers means it is taking about ten days before cargo can be taken inland to be unloaded, up from the usual four-and-a-half days. Last week, the port imposed restrictions on receiving empty containers from Maersk and Evergreen but it has now restarted accepting them. It said: 'The pre-Christmas peak, combined with haulage shortages, congested inland terminals, poor vessel schedule reliability and the pandemic, has resulted in a build-up of containers at the port. 'Empty container levels remain high as import containers are returned and we are asking shipping lines to remove them as quickly as possible.' Alex Veitch, deputy director of public policy at Logistics UK, which represents the freight industry, warned that the congested ports could become a 'serious issue for UK supply chains'. He said: 'The current issues being experienced at Felixstowe port are partly due to the HGV driver shortage. Our members are reporting that some are struggling to source drivers to pick up and deliver containers, which is causing a backlog in the port which prevents new loads from being landed. There are also issues with finding drivers to work in the port itself.' Tim Morris, chief executive of the UK Major Ports Group, said: 'What has exacerbated the situation are some of the well-known supply chain issues inland here in the UK the HGV driver shortage is the most prominent of them.' The UK is said to be short of some 100,000 HGV drivers. The Government has offered visas to bring in 5,000 drivers from overseas, however critics say this is woefully inadequate. A young dancer was stabbed to death by her boyfriend on the same night she wanted to break up with him, her devastated parents have said. Maddie Durdant-Hollamby, 22, was killed by Ben Green, 41, at his home in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on August 27. Green then stabbed himself to death, and police found their bodies alongside one another, each with stab wounds. Ms Durdant-Hollamby parents, speaking for the first time, have claimed that she wanted to end her relationship with Green on the night that he murdered her. Her mother Rachel, 46, said: 'We think she actually probably wanted to be able to come home later that evening and say ''I've ended my relationship with Ben and I'm going to go on holiday next week and have a great time''.' She added that the couple were arguing about Ms Durdant-Hollamby going on holiday without Green before their bodies were found at his home. Rachel told the BBC that she became concerned about her daughter on August 27 when one of her friends asked why she hadn't joined a group call the previous evening. They then learnt that Ms Durdant-Hollamby had missed a work meeting and one of her friends went to Green's house on the same day before calling the police when there was no answer. Maddie Durdant-Hollamby, 22, was killed by Ben Green, 41, at his home in August before he stabbed himself to death Rachel described her daughter, who lived with her parents in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, as the 'perfect daughter, perfect friend'. An inquest heard last month that she met killer Green, a marketing director, at a water management firm in Kettering before she got a job in marketing at a construction company. Ms Durdant-Hollamby's father Steve, 48, said that there were no signs of domestic violence between the couple. Pictured: Tributes left in Kettering where the couple were found dead The body of marketing executive Maddie Durdant-Hollamby, 22, was found by police at a property in Slate Drive, in Kettering, shortly after 1pm on August 27, following a report of concern for her welfare Marketing director Benjamin Green, 41, (pictured) died after suffering an incision to the neck, Northamptonshire Coroner's Court heard A family statement released via police after Maddie's death described her as a 'beautiful person both inside and out'. It added: 'Our hearts are broken and we cannot begin to imagine life without her. The shock and pain we are feeling is indescribable. 'Maddie was a kind, caring, thoughtful young woman, who touched the lives of everyone she met. 'A talented dancer, her creative talent continued through school and into her career in marketing. Her life has been sadly cut short just as her career was blossoming. 'Our thoughts are with everybody who knew and loved Maddie as much as we did.' Maddie's family held a 'party-themed' funeral for her in September, where guests were asked to avoid black clothing and instead 'dress to impress'. A full inquest into both deaths is scheduled in January. An independent bakery has been forced to stop using its popular American sprinkles on all of its cakes and cookies following a single complaint to trading standards officials. Bosses at Get Baked, which is based in Headingley, Leeds, were told to stop selling any products which used the imported US toppings because a law inherited from the EU after Brexit bans the additives used. One disgruntled customer is said to have scrutinised the sprinkles on their cookie and then went to West Yorkshire Trading Standards to complain the product contained E127. The additive is linked to hyperactivity in children. EU rules introduced in 2008 - which have been translated into UK law en masse after Brexit - banned the additive which contains coal tar dye and is used in the US as a cherry colouring in cake decorating and sprinkles. E127, or 'erythrosine', is banned for everything other than 'cocktail cherries and candied cherries' under a European law known as 'Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008', which is now a retained EU law in England and Wales. The product in question was 'CakeMate rainbow sprinkles', which Get Baked imports from a firm called Signature Brands in Ocala, Florida, in 737g tubs - and E127 was listed as an ingredient under its alternative name of 'Red 3'. Bakery owner Rich Myers from Leeds has had to stop pause production after Trading Standards said the American sprinkles it used contained a banned additive The product was CakeMate rainbow sprinkles, which Get Baked imports from Signature Brands based in Ocala, Florida The food additive E127 is listed as an ingredient on CakeMate rainbow sprinkles under its alternative name of 'Red 3' Bakery owner Rich Myers from Leeds has had to stop making one of its best-selling cookies because of the illegal sprinkles The Get Baked independent bakery in Leeds, pictured, has slammed the customer who reported them to Trading Standards E127, or 'erythrosine', is banned for everything other than 'cocktail cherries and candied cherries' under this European law Among the most popular options for rainbow sprinkles from British suppliers - which do not contain E127 - are the Dr Oetker Baking Rainbow Magic Sprinkles 115g (left, RRP 2.30) from the German company which has offices in Leeds, and are often found in supermarkets; and the Cake Angels Rainbow Sprinkles 75g (right, also RRP 2.30) from the Oxfordshire-based firm The bakery posted a riposte on Facebook slamming the 'Jane' who moaned about them. Its first post said: 'Just a quick heads up to let you all know that we're closed tomorrow for the following reasons: 1. Staff training. 2. Need to get some other important sh*t done. 3. Everyone's f****** knackered.' Why are some E-numbers banned from use in food in the UK EU rules which are still in force in the UK have banned the use of the colouring E127 from food. The additive contains coal tar dye and is used in America as a cherry colouring in cake decorating and sprinkles. The European Union has banned the use of E127 as an edible food colouring - other than in cocktail cherries. E127, or 'erythrosine', is banned for everything other than 'cocktail cherries and candied cherries' under a European law known as 'Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008'. The exception is because the European acceptable daily intake of E127 is reached by eating 30g of cocktail cherries, which the European Food Safety Authority says is 'unlikely to occur on a frequent basis'. Scientists have linked E127 to hyperactive children and behavioural problems. Tests on mice have also shown the chemical can cause thyroid complaints and possibly tumours. According to the NHS, parents should be careful with artificial colourings in their children's food as they can cause behavioural problems. Many colours which are legal in the United States are banned across Europe because of potential health threats. Advertisement It went on: 'This weekend has been utterly sensational, we've had customer visits from countless cities, sold f*** tonnes of Bruce in various forms, oh and not to mention a lovely visit from Trading Standards on Friday after someone reported us for using what are apparently illegal sprinkles. 'More on that one next week*' It appears that some of the toppings used on items including raspberry glazed cookies were not allowed. The store said it imported them from America because British sprinkles 'were s***.' A post several days later updated customers, saying: 'Still haven't heard from Trading Standards in regards to the Sprinklegate scandal. 'Therefore, for now, Raspberry Glazed Cookies are still available. 'I shall advise you all of the necessary update when it has been received. 'Until then, please forward any queries to your nearest pie dealership.' Customers of the shop in the suburb of Headingley were later informed: 'Sprinklegate Update: It's not good news. 'We have heard back from Trading Standards, and have been told that we must cease use of our sprinkles with immediate effect. 'Obviously, we will be following the rules, and removing them as of now. 'Whilst this might seem like it's not a big deal, it's actually very f******* annoying, as A LOT of people ask for Birthday Bruces and Rasperry Glazed Donut Cookies are not only our best selling cookie, but they're utterly sensational. 'It is HIGHLY unlikely that we will find any legal sprinkles that we will use as a replacement. 'British sprinkles just aren't the same, they're totally s*** and I hate them. I am extremely passionate about sprinkles. 'I need to think this one over, we will obviously need to make some adjustments to the menu in order to compensate for this truly horrendous ordeal. Get Baked produce this cake called Birthday Bruce which features sprinkles all over it The bakery used its Facebook page to highlight the plight they are facing having been reported to Trading Standards The bakery complained that UK sprinkles do not have the same taste as the US versions which they claim are far superior West Yorkshire Trading Standards investigated Get Baked after receiving reports the bakery were using additives which are banned from use in the UK 'One option is to glaze them as normal, but just not use sprinkles. It makes me sick just thinking about it. 'To whoever reported us to Trading Standards, (Dan?) all I have to say is, dear lord, what a sad little life Jane. 'My daughter, who is now seven months, has to live with the fact that daddy can't take her to Disneyland, because man can't sell any f****** cookies.' They later added: 'Sprinklegate has been an unpleasant journey. No one can deny the turmoil that has ensued ever since that fateful visit from the man in a boring tie.' Explaining in the comments section, the bakery expanded on what had happened, saying: 'The sprinkles are imported from the USA and may contain colourings that aren't allowed over here. 'I am only prepared to use them and no others. If I can't use them, I won't use any. I will be on sprinkle strike and won't budge for no man.' The bakery's owner said they would not be able to take their daughter to Disneyland The bakery added: 'It is highly unlikely that we will find any legal sprinkles that we will use as a replacement. British sprinkles just aren't the same, they're totally s*** and I hate them. I am extremely passionate about sprinkles' Customers rallied round the shop, which receives rave reviews for its astonishing range of unusual cakes and treats. One said: 'Who tf even buys a cake and inspects the sprinkles to check if they're legal?! 'I didn't even know this was a thing lmao. What an absolute sad act they must be!' Another said: 'If I want to eat E number and sort tobacco that is MY prerogative. Don't want no government taking my E numbers.' And another joked: 'Crack is illegal too but it doesn't appear to stop a large proportion of Leeds from buying it. (Not me. Say no to drugs kids.) The bakery said they will stop using sprinkles because the only versions acceptable in the UK are not good enough The bakery added: 'One option is to glaze them as normal, but just not use sprinkles. It makes me sick just thinking about it' 'Meanwhile you cannot buy sprinkles. But can get off your head on hardcore drugs without trading standards worrying. Makes sense.' Lastly another gutted customer said: 'But E-numbers are the backbone of this society..(Pre-Jamie Oliver era).. 'E numbers are the only reason to drink irnbru.' A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Trading Standards told MailOnline: 'West Yorkshire Trading Standards can confirm that we have advised the business concerned the use of E127 which is not permitted in this type of confectionery item. 'We stand by this advice and would urge all food business operators, when seeking to use imported foods containing additives, to check that they are permitted for use in the UK.' The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demanded to know why Tesla hasn't recalled cars with a suspected autopilot flaw that caused several crashes, including two that were fatal. The electric car company could face a penalty of $22,992 per violation per day or up to $114,954,525 if it doesn't respond by November 1, according to the NHTSA's October 12 letter. The letter comes a week after Tesla boss Elon Musk unveiled a 'Full Self-Driving' update. A September 21 update to certain models improved emergency vehicle detection. These are considered 'over-the-air' (or 'over-the-internet') updates that mitigate safety defects, the NHTSA said in its letter. They were made during the federal agency's probe, started in August. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles and includes almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Most of the dozen self-driving Tesla collisions involve slamming into emergency responder vehicles, which fueled speculation that flashing lights may confuse Tesla sensors that help operate self-driving software. The NHTSA said these updates were considered repairs and should have been conducted by recall. On May 29, 2018, a Tesla sedan driving outbound Laguna Canyon Road in 'autopilot' collides with a parked Laguna Beach police car A Tesla Model 3 on 'autopilot' hit a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser on August 28 on 1-4 near downtown Orlando. The trooper had stopped shortly after 5 am to help a disabled vehicle The 26-year-old Tesla driver and the driver of the disabled vehicle had minor injuries during the August 28 crash in Orlando, but the trooper was unhurt, a highway patrol spokeswoman said A 2018 Tesla Model 3 on Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut using the Autopilot driver assistance system rear-ended a parked police car, pictured A Tesla on autopilot crashed into a Michigan State Police car in March 2021. Troopers from the Lansing Post had been investigating a crash involving a car and a deer on I-96 near Waverly Rd in Eaton County 'As Tesla is aware, the Safety Act imposes an obligation on manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment to initiate a recall by notifying NHTSA when they determine vehicles or equipment they produced contain defects related to motor vehicle safety,' the agency said in its letter. The September and October updates were considered 'over-the-air updates' to the car's software system to prevent collisions with emergency vehicles and constituted repairs that should have been conducted by recall. The most recent update is intended to work in busy cities like New York City and help navigate narrow streets and allow drivers to drive from Point A to Point B, ideally with no driver interventions. Tesla's more basic autopilot feature, found on all its cars, enables the car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane, but the firm insists drivers keep their hands on the wheel at all times when using autopilot feature. The NHTSA addressed this new feature in Tuesday's letter and ordered the company to provide more information about the feature that's being tested on public roads with some owners. One of the select owners was YouTuber Jeremy Judkins, who shared a video of himself testing out Full Self-Driving on his car Monday. He was noticeably nervous as the car took its first corner in the new mode, and said afterwards: 'That was a little wild, the wheel was a little wild. It gave me a little bit of anxiety.' Tesla has previously rolled out 'Ludicrous' and 'Insane' modes on its cars, which let drivers accelerate extremely rapidly, and have been condemned for encouraging drag racing Regarding the September update, which was Tesla's 'Emergency Light Detection Update,' the NHTSA demanded Tesla provide more information about the update and a list of events that motivated the software update. In a separate special order sent to Tesla, NHTSA says that the company may be taking steps to hinder the agency's access to safety information by requiring drivers who are testing 'Full Self-Driving' software to sign non-disclosure agreements. The order demands that Tesla describe the non-disclosure agreements and how they are signed by Tesla drivers. The company also must say whether Tesla requires owners of vehicles equipped with Autopilot to agree 'to any terms that would prevent or discourage vehicle owners from sharing information about or discussing any aspect of Autopilot with any person other than Tesla.' Responses must be made by a Tesla officer under oath or face fines of more than $114million. The matter could also be referred to the Department of Justice. A message was left early Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department, so it's unclear how Tesla will respond. Full October 12 letter from NHTSA to Tesla In January, Tesla refused a request from NHTSA to recall about 135,000 vehicles because their touch screens could go dark. The agency said the screens were a safety defect because backup cameras and windshield defroster controls could be disabled. A month later, after the NHTSA started the process of holding a public hearing and taking Tesla to court, the company agreed to the recall. Tesla said it would replace computer processors for the screens, even though it maintained there was no safety threat. Musk fought with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a 2018 tweet claiming that he had financing to take Tesla private, when that funding was not secured. He and the company agreed to pay $20 million each to settle allegations that he misled investors. Later the SEC sought to hold Musk in contempt of court for tweeting a misleading projection of how many cars Tesla would manufacture. Musk branded the SEC the 'shortseller enrichment commission,' distorting its acronym. Market short-sellers bet that a stock price will fall. The new demands from NHTSA signal a tougher regulatory stance under President Joe Biden on automated vehicle safety compared with the previous administrations. The agency had appeared reluctant to regulate the new technology for fear of hampering adoption of the potentially life-saving systems. The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot's use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to have a better system to make sure drivers are paying attention. The NTSB has no enforcement powers and can only make recommendations to other federal agencies. A lorry driver missed a job interview because he was an hour late to the interview after 40 Insulate Britain eco-zealots blocked Dartford Crossing this morning. The father-of-two lost an opportunity to become skip driver during a period of HGV driver shortages in the UK after being held up at the road block. In frustration, he was also one of the motorists who dragged seated protesters away. Do you know the driver? E-mail Elmira.tanatarova@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement He said in an interview with LBC: 'I've lost my job interview because of these lot here. 'I'm an hour late because of this lot. 'I'm a HGV driver and there's a shortage of HGV drivers. None of them [the protesters] work, they've all retired. 'I had an interview this morning, but I've been told I've lost it because I'm too late. 'I've got two young children.' Tensions ran high at the blockade this morning and the driver was pictured gesturing and shouting at the eco-mobsters in frustration. The demonstrators ran out onto the road by traffic lights at junction 31 of the motorway near Thurrock on the north side of the Dartford Crossing which links Essex to Kent, and also close to a nearby industrial estate. But motorists got out of their cars and dragged the protesters off the road while they were still in seated positions, with one man seen ripping Insulate Britain banners out of their hands. Other motorists honked their horns, got out of their cars and confronted the seated demonstrators in the road. One man ripped Insulate Britain banners out of protesters' hands as Essex Police made a total of 35 arrests. The lorry driver joined in the mass frustration with other motorists as he dragged protesters off the road The man expressed his frustration that he missed a job opportunity during a period of HGV driver shortages in the country Another lorry driver drove right up to seated disruptors and then stepped out of the vehicle in frustration. Another lorry driver was filmed taking his vehicle right up to the protesters, another man dragged an activist onto the pavement by his backpack, and a mother taking her son to school said she would 'drive straight through you'. She said: 'Out of the way, move out of the way now. You're taking the f***ing p**s. My son needs to get to school, I don't care what the f***ing issue is. 'My son is 11, he needs to get to school today, so move out the way and let me get my son to school. Do you think I care? I'll drive through you. You f***ing... I'll drive straight through you.' A woman nearby was heard saying 'careful, careful, careful', another man was heard pleading with her 'don't, don't, don't' - and a protester said: 'Are you going to kill us, are you going to kill us to get your son to school?' The man was outraged at the road block, which made him an hour late to an interview for a skip driver job The HGV driver said the demonstrators don't need to worry about working as they are all retired Near the industrial estate in Thurrock, around 20 protesters blocked the junction to St Clements Way and London Road, forcing multiple vehicles including HGVs to stop and turn round as vehicles blasted their horns. United Road Transport Union (URTU) Communications Manager James Bower told MailOnline that there are difficulties with making HGVs more eco-friendly currently. He said: 'We are pro any advances in scientific technology but the technology isn't quite there - vehicles aren't ready for that yet. 'We've been doing research and what's going to be needed in the future is government investment that would allow those vehicles to run. 'We'd love to see all road haulage become electric in the future.' Mr Bower added that while the protests 'get the headlines' and back a cause URTU 'fully supports', the haulage industry isn't quite there yet. Map shows where protesters affected traffic this morning (delayed sections are shown on red) GB News reporter Alice Porter, who witnessed drivers pulling protesters off the road, said: 'I genuinely thought somebody was going to get run over, someone was going to be hurt. Whether that was one of the protesters, or whether that was one of the lorry drivers - it just got so aggressive between both sides. When you saw people literally sort of pulling people by the back of their sleeves and just dragging them across the road It was almost slightly frightening at times as a bystander watching the whole situation unfold. If someone hasnt been hurt this time its surprising. Moderate Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has told the White House what she wants in President Joe Biden's slimmed down spending package - and they're not happy about it. 'I have already told the White House what I am willing to do and what I'm not willing to do. I'm not mysterious. It's not that I can't make up my mind. I'm communicating it to them in detail. They just don't like that they're hearing,' she recently told a Senate Democratic colleague, who then told Politico's Playbook about the conversation. Now with a debt ceiling crisis waved off until early December, the White House and Congress' full attention can return to crafting what's in the reconciliation bill, which Biden has conceded will no longer have a pricetag of $3.5 trillion. Sinema and West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin remain the moderate hold-outs, but their priorities for what's in the bill aren't aligned. Sinema's comment to her colleague represents her beating back the perception that she's playing coy about what she supports. Moderate Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has told the White House what she wants in President Joe Biden's slimmed down spending package, but has otherwise kept what she wants tight-lipped, not sharing her demands with colleagues West Virginia moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (left) is a also negotiating with President Joe Biden (right) over what should be in the reconciliation package, though he's been more forthcoming about his demands The Saturday Night Live version of her played up this narrative, with Cecily Strong's character saying: 'What do I want from this bill? I'll never tell, because I didn't come to Congress to make friends. So far, mission accomplished.' But there's truth in that, according to the colleague, who says Sinema won't tell fellow lawmakers what she wants. 'I'm not going to share with you or with Schumer or with Pelosi,' Sinema told her Democratic colleague, according to Playbook. 'Manchin and Sinema want very different things, both in terms of revenue and programs,' a souce close to Biden told Playbook. 'If you just look at their currently presented red lines you wouldn't have enough left to get this past progressives in the House and Senate. It wouldn't raise enough money and it wouldn't do enough big programs.' Democratic sources said the biggest obstacle Sinema has created is over prescription drug pricing reform. The boldest version of the plan allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and brings in $800 billion from the pharmaceutical industry. However, Democratic sources told Playbook that the White House would be lucky if they can convince Sinema to support a program that brings in $200 billion from the industry. At that dollar amount, the expansion of Medicare that Sen. Bernie Sanders has called for, and the expansion of the Affordable Care Act that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports, wouldn't be paid for, Playbook noted. At the same time, Manchin will support a drug pricing plan, but he wants to see a tax on prescription opioids - which is not supported by Sinema's allies at PhRMA. On climate, Manchin is opposed to pricing carbon pollution, while Sinema favors it. Manchin also refuses to support subsidies for the West Virginia coal workers who will lose their incomes as the U.S. transitions to more green energy sources. Sources told Politico Manchin 'rejected it out of hand,' calling it 'welfare.' 'So, like where the hell is the overlap?' the source close to Biden told Playbook, describing the cap as 'maddening.' 'How do you land that?' Last week, video of Green New Deal Network Chief of Staff Kunoor Ojha following Sinema through the Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, asking her why she wouldn't support the Build Back Better Act as the representative tried to field a phone conversation Earlier last week, a group of immigration activists with the group LUCHA Arizona followed Sinema into the bathroom at Arizona State University, where she teachers, demanding again that she support a 'pathway to citizenship' A manhunt is underway for two burglars who escaped from an open prison in Derbyshire on Tuesday. Sam Hawkins, 34 and Darren McKay, 37, were caught on camera jumping over the fence at HMP Sudbury at around 10.15pm. Derbyshire Police have warned the public not to approach dangerous pair if they are spotted. One of the men was seen carrying two bags while the other held a single rucksack with a towel around his neck. Police said they were last seen on the A515 heading towards Ashbourne after they absconded from the Category D open prison. McKay is described as being around 6ft 2ins tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and is of stocky build with tattoos on his arms. He was convicted at St Alban's Crown Court for burglary and driving offences last year and has links to Luton, Bedfordshire, and Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Hawkins was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court in 2019 for burglary, theft and driving offences. Sam Hawkins (pictured), 34, was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court in 2019 for burglary, theft and driving offences Darren McKay (pictured), 37, was convicted at St Alban's Crown Court for burglary and driving offences last year and has links to Luton, Bedfordshire., and Harpenden, Hertfordshire The criminals were caught on camera jumping over the fence at HMP Sudbury (pictured) in Derbyshire at around 10.15pm He was part of a gang locked up for nearly 50 years for a series of ram raids across the capital and is described as being 5ft 7ins, with brown hair, brown eyes and of medium build. The criminal group was so prolific that when its members were jailed, residential burglaries in the area they targeted suddenly dropped by a quarter. Police said Hawkins has links to the Bexley Heath, Plumstead and Thamesmead areas of London. It is not known when they were placed into the Category D prison - which is the lowest of Britain's A to D security rankings. Prisoners who are transferred to such sites - which often allow for days out on licence - are considered to be at a very low risk of trying to escape. Anyone who has any information about their current whereabouts is asked to contact Derbyshire Police using crime reference number 1278-111021. The force can be contacted by calling 101 or by messaging them online. The new head of the Royal Marines has written to senior colleagues warning that the death of his predecessor is 'driving a wedge' between the Royal Navy and its fighting troops. Lieutenant General Rob Magowan (above) warned senior colleagues the death of his predecessor is 'driving a wedge' between the Royal Navy and its fighting troops An inquest heard yesterday that Major General Matthew Holmes was found hanged at his home in Winchester, Hampshire, on October 2 after having 'concerns' about his career and his marriage. Maj Gen Holmes, 54, who had served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, was Commandant General Royal Marines from 2019 until April this year. He commanded 42 Commando Royal Marines from 2006 to 2008 and was appointed as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on operations in Afghanistan in 2007. The father-of-two was also awarded a CBE in 2019 and has been described as 'one of our most senior and highly decorated Royal Marines'. It comes after a war of words raged over Navy top brass mudslinging surrounding his death, with relatives said to have been angered by naval officials who raced to 'settle scores and pass the buck' over his mental health. Major General Matthew Holmes was found hanged at his home in Winchester, Hampshire, on October 2 after having 'concerns' about his career and his marriage. He is pictured with his wife Lea and daughter Eleanor after receiving the award at Buckingham Palace in 2007 The funeral for the 54-year-old is being held today at Winchester Cathedral. It will be attended by his widow, Lea, and a gathering of 600 people, including senior naval officers The funeral for the 54-year-old is being held today at Winchester Cathedral. It will be attended by his widow, Lea, and a gathering of 600 people, including senior naval officers. In a letter first reported in the Daily Telegraph, Lieutenant General Rob Magowan, Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM), wrote that Maj Gen Holmes, who was a pall-bearer at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, was in a 'bad place' following the loss of his 'dream job'. Referring to the colours of the shirts worn by the Navy and the Marines, Lt Gen Magowan said: 'The "dispute" is serving to drive a wedge between white shirts and lovat, which helps nobody. 'It is making my job harder as CGRM. I'll manage that but it is also impacting the serving Corps, just as we mature an integrated relationship across the Navy in pursuit of the Future Commando Force.' He added: 'The focus this coming week is to celebrate Matt's amazing career, and to support his family. Anything else is a straight distraction. So I am asking all of us to work together, for Matt, his family and the Corps.' It is understood that disputes with the Senior Service occurred between October last year and February while the organisation went through a management restructure which lead to Maj Gen Holmes being superseded. Major General Matthew Holmes welcomes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the Royal Albert Hall in London in March 2020 A naval source said: 'The CGRM wrote to say that changes were made for the greater good of the naval service and we must all get behind them to ensure the naval service continues to provide a fantastic service to the country.' A Royal Navy spokesman said the service would not comment on the letter and said it was focusing on providing support to Maj Gen Holmes' family at the time of his funeral. Following his death, Maj Gen Holmes' widow released a statement paying tribute to him. She said: 'My husband Matt was a kind, generous man. He was courageous and had committed his life to serving in the Royal Marines; he was selfless to such an extent that this was more important than his own career progression. 'He was exceptionally proud to have served as Commandant General. His entire family and I have felt very privileged to play our part in supporting Matt and the Corps family throughout his career. 'Matt took the immense responsibility for the lives of those he served alongside very seriously; not a day would go by without him thinking of the men under his command who were lost or injured; and of course, their families. 'Matt was a proud and loving father to his two children: his son a former cathedral chorister and his daughter a talented violinist. 'Matt was a keen drummer and we had many happy times as a family enjoying the music and camaraderie of the Royal Marines Band Service. 'At the same time Matt recognised their vital role supporting operations within the Royal Navy. 'For me as Matt's wife, it has been a privilege over many years to receive the support, camaraderie and friendship from the Royal Marines and Royal Navy family. 'I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those friends and colleagues who have taken the time to pay tribute to Matt, it will bring comfort to all our family to know how respected he was.' Opening the inquest into Maj Gen Holmes' death, Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg said: 'It's suspected that Matthew Holmes had a number of concerns at the time of his death including matters relating to his marriage and his service career.' He added: 'I direct the Royal Navy provides a statement setting out very briefly Matthew Holmes' career and his career management post-supersession from his post as Commandant General Royal Marines and the known response to that from Maj Gen Matthew Holmes.' The inquest, which also heard that police were called to the family home before Maj Gen Holmes' death, was adjourned for a full hearing on February 10 2022. For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a Samaritans branch Cambridge Students' Union has published a pro-trans guide claiming that being a woman is not just down to 'biological sex'. 'How To Spot TERF Ideology' accuses feminists who question this mantra as being 'transphobic' and suggets they could even be linked to the 'far right'. Written by new women's officer Milo Eyre-Morgan, the guide accuses Terfs - short for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists - of having a 'narrow definition' of women. The 'Terf' term has in the past been levelled at JK Rowling over her criticism of an article about 'people who menstruate'. The new students' guide was rolled out at the prestigious institution's freshers fair this month, which the 25,000-strong new intake of undergraduates were invited to. Cambridge University and the Students' Union have been approached for comment but are yet to say whether they back the guide or not. It comes as gender rows erupt across universities, with activists berating students and lecturers who disagree with their views. In one chilling case, protesters are baying for feminist philosopher Kathleen Stock to be sacked from the Sussex University. She was yesterday thrown under the bus by her union, which she accused of 'effectively ending her career' by issuing a statement 'in solidarity' with 'trans and nonbinary communities'. 'How To Spot TERF Ideology' accuses feminists arguing against this as being 'transphobic' and linked to the 'far right' The guide, written by new women's officer Milo Eyre-Morgan (pictured), accuses Terfs - short for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists - as having a 'narrow definition' of women Cambridge SU's new guide says that 'TERF ideology is a specific form of transphobia'. It goes on: 'The primary TERF assertion is that trans women are not women, and accordingly have no place in women's spaces. 'TERFs define misogyny as sex-based oppression, which results from being 'biologically female'... 'This is reductive and works on a narrow definition of what constitutes 'biological' sex.' Cambridge SU's new guide says that 'TERF ideology is a specific form of transphobia' (file photo of the university) The pamphlet adds: 'If the person has strong feminist commitments, it may also be worth bringing up that TERFs (particularly the famous ones who figurehead the movement) spend a lot of time working with the far-right.' Eyre-Morgan, 21, who studied Natural Sciences at Newnham College and wrote the article, shared it on Twitter. Kathleen Stock, a Philosophy professor at the University of Sussex, was targeted by mob He wrote: 'I am fr so excited about getting the update of this amazing resource together.' His page on the student union's website adds: 'As student union Women's Officer I represent students of marginalized genders.' It comes after the trans row took another turn yesterday as a professor who wrote people cannot change their biological sex said her union had 'ended her career'. Kathleen Stock was warned by police to stay away from Sussex University and teach online amid a backlash from critics who accuse her of being 'transphobic'. Demonstrators held banners saying 'Stock Out' alongside burning flares and scores criticised her under the Twitter hashtag #ShameOnSussexUni. Prof Stock said on Twitter yesterday her former union branch Sussex UCU had 'effectively ended my career' at the university. In a statement 'in support of trans and nonbinary communities', sent to all members and posted online by Prof Stock, the union reps write: 'We extend our solidarity to all trans and nonbinary members of our community who, now more than ever, should receive the unequivocal support of the University and its management.' In a statement 'in support of trans and nonbinary communities', sent to all members and posted online by Prof Stock, the union reps write: 'We extend our solidarity to all trans and nonbinary members of our community who, now more than ever, should receive the unequivocal support of the University and its management' Online, she has been targeted with abuse from users who say she is 'on the wrong side of history' while posters are put up around campus campaigning for her dismissal The statement goes on: 'As a union, we strongly condemn all forms of transphobia, and call the University of Sussex leadership to heed its institution's values and commitments as set out in its Trans Equality Statement and its Dignity and Respect policy. 'We urge our management to take a clear and strong stance against transphobia at Sussex.' Prof Stock had last week been backed by head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Baroness Falkner of Margravine who called the attacks disgraceful. She received a further boost over the weekend courtesy of equalities minister Liz Truss, who added her approval to Baroness Falkner's thoughts. Cambridge University and Cambridge Students' Union have been approached for comment. Annastacia Palaszczuk has delivered her strongest hint yet that she will drop Queensland's hard border in time for Christmas, but issued a stern warning to those refusing to get a Covid vaccine. The premier posted a cryptic message to Twitter on Wednesday noting we are getting 'very close' to Christmas and urging residents to 'protect' themselves from the virus. 'It takes five weeks from the first dose to be completely vaccinated,' she wrote. 'Five weeks from today is the 17th of November, that's getting very close to Christmas.' Her hint comes as thousands of life-saving Pfizer vaccines risk going to waste in Brisbane due to waning demand, with expiry dates fast approaching. So far, 71 per cent of Queenslanders have had one jab and 55 per cent are fully-vaccinated - compared to 90.8 per cent and 75.2 per cent respectively in New South Wales. Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured on Wednesday) has delivered her strongest hint yet that she will drop Queensland's hard borders in time for Christmas - warning anti-vaxxers 'we can't protect you' The Queensland premier posted this message to Twitter on Wednesday evening (pictured) signally the borders may be open sooner than people have been led to believe Bookings at a vaccine clinic in Brisbane's north have also slashed in half, with around 200 appointments this week compared to nearly 500 last week. Queensland currently has its borders shut to all of NSW and Victoria, resulting in chaos for businesses desperate for tourism and heartbreak for separated families. The Northern Beaches outbreak last Christmas meant Sydneysiders were unable to travel to Queensland, with the same expected this year as Premier Palaszczuk continued to defy the national plan. Despite Australia's states and territories agreeing to a national plan that would see an end to border restrictions, Ms Palaszczuk instead said she would not allow people in from NSW or Victoria if cases were high. She also rejected the idea Queenslanders would want to travel overseas and said they would be happier checking out their own state. Her message on Wednesday night suggests that defiance may be waning. Australians dreaming of a hot summer holiday in Queensland (pictured, a boat in the Whitsundays) may be in luck Queensland currently has shut its borders to all of New South Wales and Victoria, resulting in chaos for businesses and heartbreak for separated families (pictured, families reunited last December after flying into Brisbane from Melbourne) 'We've done all we can to keep you safe - but this next step is up to you,' she wrote. 'We cannot protect you if you won't protect yourself.' Queensland currently has the second-lowest vaccination rate of any state at 54.1 per cent, marginally behind Western Australia's 53.2. They do however have the latest projected date for 80 per cent, currently on track to hit the magic number on December 11, two days after WA. Ms Palaszczuk issued a rallying call to Queenslanders, hinting the state may be ready to drop its hard borders. 'We're counting on Queenslanders to keep staying safe - let's get it done,' she said. Ms Palaszczuk has repeatedly refused to set a date for reopening Queensland's borders. The state's Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the state's 'target' was to avoid the 60,000 cases recorded in NSW during its latest Delta outbreak. 'If someone wants a target, the target is getting yourself protected in the next five to six weeks,' Ms D'Ath said. Ms Palaszczuk (pictured) has kept a tough border stance in the hope of keeping Covid cases out of Queensland - but has been urged to abide by the national reopening map and open up when they hit the 80 per cent fully-vaccinated milestone THE PARTS OF QUEENSLAND WITH LAGGING COVID VACCINATION RATES Double-dose vaccination rate among those over 15 as of October 10: Lockyer Valley - 43.7 per cent Western Downs - 43.4 per cent Logan - 42.4 per cent Banana - 41.7 per cent Charters Towers - 37.6 per cent Central Highlands - 37.1 per cent Isaac - 25.3 per cent Cherbourg - 19.4 per cent Yarrabah - 19 per cent Advertisement Last week Ms Palaszczuk named herself as the new Minister for the Olympics, to be supported by Deputy Premier Steven Miles as Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure. 'Hosting the 2032 Games will generate $8billion in economic and social benefits, in addition to 91,600 jobs,' Ms Palaszczuk tweeted on Thursday. 'It is the catalyst for the biggest infrastructure program our state has ever seen with all levels of government co-operating to deliver projects on time.' She previously angered Australians after flying to Japan to 'seal' the Olympics for Brisbane, with outcry over her taking a valuable hotel quarantine place despite repeatedly calling for fewer international travellers. Russia was not invited to attend a 30-country virtual meeting to discuss ransomware on Wednesday, according to a senior Biden administration official. The country hosts many of the hacker syndicates believed to be behind an epidemic of global attacks that cost $400 million in payments last year but will not be part of a White House-led effort to find new strategies to counter the threat. 'We are having active discussions with the Russians, but in this particular forum they were not invited to participate,' said a senior administration official. Also absent from the list of participants was the world's second biggest economy, China, which was accused of hacking Microsoft servers earlier this year. Nations were meeting to discuss ransomware attacks, which use a type of malware that criminals use to encrypt files on a victim's computer network before demanding a ransom to restore the data. President Biden's White House is hosting a virtual ransomware summit on Wednesday but Vladimir Putin's Russia was not invited to take part. U.S. officials say Russia hosts many of the cybercriminal gangs responsible for an epidemic of ransomware attacks A ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline triggered gas shortages and price hikes in the United States. It was traced back to a criminal gang in Russia GOVT AGENCIES KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN TARGETED IN THE SOLARWINDS ATTACK LINKED TO RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE Pentagon Treasury FBI Department of State Department of Homeland Security Commerce Department National Institutes of Health Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos National Laboratory Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Secure Transportation Advertisement Biden took power during the SolarWinds attack, a vast cyberespionage campaign, which U.S. officials say was traced to Russian intelligence operatives. An attack on Colonial Pipeline, which triggered panic buying and gas shortages, was also traced to Russia-based hacker group. Biden raised the impact of ransomware with Vladimir Putin during their summit in June, when he warned his Russian counterparts that critical infrastructure should be 'off limits.' Putin denied that Russia was responsible and instead claimed that most cyberattacks were launched from the U.S. But a recent report from Microsoft concluded that Russia was behind 58 percent of all state-sponsored hacking in the last year. It mostly targeted government agencies and think tanks in the U.S., followed by Ukraine, Britain and European NATO members, the company said. In his opening remarks Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, said a global effort was essential to cracking the problem. 'You know, we know very well all of us who have gathered here today that we cannot do this alone,' he said. 'No one country, no one group can solve this problem. 'Transnational criminals are most often the perpetrators of ransomware crimes, and they often leverage global infrastructure and money laundering networks across multiple countries, multiple jurisdictions to carry out their attacks.' Along with the United States, India, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom will lead discussions on disrupting ransomware attacks and addressing the abuse of virtual currency. The meeting opened with several dire warnings of the danger and impact of ransomware. Yigal Unna, director general of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, said his country was currently in the grip of a 'major ransomware attack' against a major hospital. 'It doesn't look pretty good for right now,' he said. Local media report that hospitals have been put on high alert across the country as a result of the attack against Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera. Ransomware payments totaled more than $400 million around the world last year, according to the White House. But Russia is not the only hotspot. Earlier this summer, the U.S. formally blamed China for the mass-hacking of Microsoft Exchange servers, as well as using ransomware to extort U.S. businesses. 'Their operations include criminal activities, such as cyber-enabled extortion, crypto-jacking and theft from victims around the world for financial gain,' said a senior administration official at the time. 'In some cases, we're aware of reports that [People's Republic of China] government-affiliated cyber operators have conducted ransomware operations against private companies that have included ransom demands of millions of dollars.' A 10-year-old Great Dane missing for two days was reunited with her owner after the injured dog was rescued from a 60-foot-deep embankment in the Oregon woods. The dog, named Presley, had sprinted off while going on a walk with her owner, Susan Clark, in Westport on Sunday. 'I turned around and said come on Presley and she was gone, vanished!' Clark told Fox 12 Oregon. 'I looked and looked and looked everywhere.' A sharp-eyed neighbor spotted the hobbled hound after a two-day search of the area, located about 70 miles northwest of Portland. 10-year-old Great Dane Presley was rescued on Tuesday after she fell in a 60-foot trench in Clatsop County, Oregon The rescue team arrived with equipment, including a rope and stretcher, to get Presley out of the trench Presley's owner Susan Clark said her neighbor had spotted her dog following a two-day search for her 'The neighbor came up and said is she wearing a coat? I said yeah, she said come with me I want to show you something,' Clark said. 'As soon as she heard my voice she started barking so I knew she was alive which was good.' Finding her was only half the battle, however, as Presley still remained trapped at the bottom of the trench. Clark called Westport Fire & Rescue, who initially told her they didn't save dogs. Clark called Westport Fire & Rescue who arrived to the scene after she had begged them to help her 'They said you know we dont rescue dogs and I begged him to please ask anybody he said okay, came back on the phone and he said whats the address theyre going to be on their way,' Clark said. The department arrived at the scene in a brush truck with four crew members, a chief officer and rescue equipment. They used a rope and stretcher to lift Presley out of the trench, which took approximately 45 minutes. She was eventually carried into the back of Clark's vehicle, where she was taken to a nearby veterinarian hospital. Presley was examined by the vet and found to be bruised but in good condition. She is now recovering back at home with Clark, who is relieved to be reunited with her pet and grateful that the rescue team had managed to save her. Presley was taken to the back of Clark's car where she was transported to a vet hospital She was found in good condition and is recovering back at home with her owner 'Oh my gosh they were amazing and I feel so lucky that they didnt turn me away and if anybody needed any type of rescue I definitely would call them theyre awesome,' Clark said. 'It was a lot of relief as soon as they got her into my rig and the one lady thats vet tech, she told me Sue, shes going to be okay, and that made me feel really good.' Westport Fire & Rescue released updates and a statement on Presley on their Facebook page. 'Westport Fire stands ready to help out our community, and hopes for a great outcome for Presley and her family,' the department said on their page. Walgreens is shuttering another five of its stores in crime-ridden San Francisco because of rampant shoplifting by thieves who waltz past security guards and sell the items outside the drugstore chain's doors. The national chain has closed 17 of its 70 San Francisco locations in the past two years because of the shelf raiders, who have swiped everything not behind lock and key. Thefts in the chain's 53 remaining stores are five times the average for their stores elsewhere in the country, according to company officials. San Francisco and Walgreens officials have cited 'organized retail crime' - in which the thieves sell the swiped merchandise outside the stores - as a main reason for the most recent closures. Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco, and we are not immune to that, Walgreens spokesperson Phil Caruso told the Daily Mail on Wednesday. 'Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average.' Walgreens is shuttering another five of its stores in San Francisco because of financial losses due to constant shoplifting. One of the stores closing, pictured above, was subject of a viral video showing a man filling a garbage bag full of goods as security guards watched and let him go The surge in shoplifting arose after a local law downgraded the theft of property less than $950 in value from a felony charge to a misdemeanor in 2014, meaning security guards don't risk trying to apprehend perpetrators Viral videos taken throughout the summer have shown shoplifters brazenly sauntering out of stores with armfuls of stolen goods as witnesses watch in shock. Shoplifting has been a problem in the Democrat-run state since 2014 - following the passage of Proposition 47, a ballot referendum known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act - that downgraded the theft of property worth less than $950 in value from a felony to a misdemeanor. Cases have jumped during the pandemic as store staff and security guards choose not to pursue the thieves. Larceny and theft remain the most common crimes committed in San Francisco, increasing by about 8 percent from last year. There were 21,842 cases reported through October 10 of this year, compared with 20,254 cases during the same time through 2020. City and Walgreens officials have cited a reason for the closures as a spike in organized retail crime, in which the thieves sell the stolen merchandise on the same streets as the stores from which they pilfered Walgreens has closed 17 San Francisco locations due to shoplifting cases, where theft in the pharmaceutical chain's 53 remaining stores is four times the average for stores elsewhere in the country, according to the San Francisco Chronicle The Walgreens at 3400 Cesar Chavez Street will be closing on November 17 Each of the five stores that are closing will transfer prescription information to another store in close proximity and the chain intends to relocate employees from closing stores to other nearby ones. The Walgreens locations that will be closing include: 2550 Ocean Avenue, on November 8, 4645 Mission Street, on November 11, 745 Clement Street, on November 15, 300 Gough Street on November 15, and 3400 Cesar Chavez Street on November 17. Ahsha Safai, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, posted a series of tweets following news of the upcoming closures, writing, @Walgreens will be closing 5 additional stores in San Francisco - including the one located at 4645 Mission St in the Excelsior. I am completely devastated by this news - this Walgreens is less than a mile from seven schools and has been a staple for seniors, families and children for decades. This closure will significantly impact this community. Safai told the SFGate that the Mission Street store recently added an off-duty police officer as a store security guard, but it was "too little, too late. 'This is a sad day for San Francisco,' Safai said. 'We can't continue to let these anchor institutions close that so many people rely on.' Ahsha Safai, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, recently introduced legislation aimed at curbing the shoplifting by allowing deputies to provide security services at retail stores and commercial districts Another closing location at 300 Gough Street was the subject of a viral video in June that showed a thief heaping armfuls of Walgreens products into a trash bag, then riding his bike through the store with the stolen goods while the security guard and bystanders looked on. The suspect, Jean Lugo-Romero, 40, was arrested shortly after and remains in jail. He had previously robbed the same store on May 29, 30, 31 and June 1 in addition to CVS stores throughout the city but the chains declined to prosecute. About two weeks ago, Safai introduced legislation allowing deputies to provide security services at retail stores and commercial districts. They would be off-duty and paid overtime by the retailers or business districts, without support from the city. San Francisco police officers already have the opportunity to earn additional income as private security guards while off duty, under whats called the 10B program in the citys code. Safais legislation would extend this to include sheriffs deputies, through a 10A administrative amendment to the city's code. Following news of the closures, Safai tweeted, This is exactly why we need more presence on our commercial corridors and an expansion of the "10A" program to reduce and deter commercial retail theft. He added, The City needs to act with a sense of urgency to reduce and deter the number of incidents of commercial retail theft. That is exactly what the "10A" legislation aims achieve as we approach the holiday season.' San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced last month that the city would be bolstering its organized retail crime unit and making it easier to report shoplifters Larceny and theft remain the most common crimes committed in San Francisco by a long shot, increasing by about 8 percent with 21,842 cases reported through October 10 of this year as compared to 20,254 cases in the same duration in 2020 There are already 2,000 police officers eligible to pick up the overtime and another 800 deputies would be added under Safais legislation. Deputies will be able to leave their posts to apprehend thieves and follow them out of the store. Walgreens closed a location at 790 Van Ness Avenue in October 2020 after losing up to $1,000 in stolen merchandise numerous days in a row, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. That same month, Inside Edition was reporting from the store on the increase in crime when camera crews caught a shoplifter in the act. A man in a balaclava was seen jumping over the seemingly unmanned cash register counter and stealing an inflatable airbed, Inside Edition said. A woman is then seen holding the store door open for the man who makes a leisurely getaway on an electric scooter. Walgreens also spends 35 times more on security guards in the city than elsewhere, Jason Cunningham, regional vice president for pharmacy and retail operations in California and Hawaii, said at a hearing on retail crimes held in May by District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Safai. Many have blamed the surge in crime on progressive criminal reform and what they call Boudins soft-on-crime approach. In July, Boudin defended the shoplifter from the viral video at the closing Walgreens on Gough Street and told the New Yorker, 'When I watch that video, I think about five questions that people are not asking that I think they should. Is he drug addicted, mentally ill, desperate? Is he part of a major retail fencing operation? What's driving this behavior and is it in any way representative, because it was presented as something symptomatic?' Walgreens closed a location at 790 Van Ness Avenue in October 2020 after losing up to $1,000 in stolen merchandise numerous days in a row, according to the San Francisco Chronicle Boudin was slammed by an Instagram user who posted another viral video of an incident in July when at least ten people stole armfuls of designer goods from luxury department store Neiman Marcus before fleeing without anyone trying to stop them. Everyone in the city is tired of this so please sign the recall petition to oust Chesa Boudin now! Crime is legal basically and allowed and tolerated due to policies put in place and supported by all our supervisors and mayor and DA,' Instagram user sfstreets415, whose bio reads, Asian photographer and crime reporter,' wrote. The petition was first launched in March to recall Boudin, who has come under fire in recent years, along with the citys leadership, for allegedly not doing enough to combat San Franciscos shoplifting problem. In addition to Safais legislation, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced last month that the city would be bolstering its organized retail crime unit and making it easier to report shoplifters. She said at a news conference, We care about criminal justice reform. We care about second chances. We care about making sure that people are not wrongly accused. But dont take our kindness for weakness, our compassion for weakness. The San Francisco Police Departments organized retail crime unit will increase from two to six investigators and an ambassador program of retired officers will increase from eight to 25 cops assigned to high-profile commercial areas. The department is also established a position for a dedicated retail theft coordinator to work on making it easier for witnesses to report shoplifting. A video posted to Instagram captures the moment at least 10 people stole loads of designer bags from Neiman Marcus in San Francisco and fled undeterred Witnesses told KTVU that the store was about to close when the suspects came in and smashed display cases before nabbing the goods and leaving 'Were not going to arrest everybody, although wed like to,' said San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott at the news conference last month. 'But just know that you dont get a free pass when you come to this city and commit those types of crimes.' San Franciscos public defender, Mano Raju, wrote in a statement to the Associated Press that bulking up on 'failed approaches' wont bring about meaningful change. He added, 'It may shift the target, but it will not impact financially motivated crime generally. We need to focus our resources to treat the source of the problem.' Critics also showed skepticism toward Safais plan to allow police to work as security guards for retailers. John Crew, a retired police practices expert, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the jobs of police officer and sheriffs deputy are not congruent and there are major training differences. 'Deputy sheriffs in this town play an entirely different role than SFPD,' he said. 'It is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Generally speaking, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department has no experience in street-level enforcement.' Lt. Tracy McCray, vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said the union is also opposed to the legislation and told the news outlet, 'Sheriffs deputies are experts at working in a controlled environment. Those stores are not controlled environments. We go through a lot of training that they dont go through and I dont think their standards are as rigorous as they are in our department.' The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot hasn't ruled out using US Marshals to force Trump aides to comply with the bipartisan panel's subpoenas, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida warned on Wednesday morning. 'We intend to enforce our subpoenas, and the first step will be for us to pursue criminal contempt,' Democrats' chief deputy whip said on MSNBC. The January 6 committee sent subpoenas last month to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, his former deputy Dan Scavino, and Trump Pentagon official Kash Patel. Bannon has already publicly declared he won't cooperate. It's not the first time a member of the January 6 panel has threatened criminal contempt charges against the Trump aides - but now Murphy said they might resort to using force. 'I know we have engaged with a wide variety of law enforcement offices, including the US Marshals, in order to issue the subpoenas,' Murphy said. 'We will use all of the agencies and all of the tools at our disposal to issue the subpoenas and enforce them.' Contempt of Congress charges carry penalties of one to 12 months in jail and fines of up to $100,000. The lawmaker called on the Justice Department to 'act on' those charges, adding that those who refuse to comply should be subjected to imprisonment. 'My hope is that this Department of Justice will act on that because we have to demonstrate that we are serious about these subpoenas, and that people who try to evade the subpoenas will face the full extent of consequences that is available by the law,' Murphy said. 'I would recommend the full extent of consequences - jail time, fines. We need to make sure that these people understand that this is not acceptable.' The January 6 committee has ordered the four Trump allies to hand over depositions and any documents related to the riot. Lawmakers are also demanding they testify before the panel. It's unknown if Patel, the former chief of staff to Trump's Acting Secretary of Defense, or Meadows will follow the committee's orders. Meadows, a former House Representative himself, appeared on Fox News Monday night where he responded to Democrats' threats of criminal prosecution by saying he'd 'let the attorneys handle all of that.' Steve Bannon (left) and Mark Meadows (right) were served subpoenas in connection to the January 6 riot Former chief of staff to the Acting Defense Secretary under Trump Kash Patel (left) and Trump's former social media adviser Dan Scavino (right) were also served He also dismissed the entire investigation as 'politics as usual' and Democrats' attempt to shift focus from the flailing economy. But Murphy, who was born in Vietnam, compared the January 6 insurrection to the Asian country where she said 'political violence was the method for political transitions.' Asked what she would grill Meadows on if he decided to show up before Congress, Murphy said she'd seek to 'lay out the full set of facts so the American people understand how perilous we were in that moment, how close our democracy was to going over the cliff.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Meadows for comment. Yesterday the panel's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, told reporters she expects Meadows and Patel's depositions this week. 'We'll see if they show up. If they show up, we'll be prepared,' Cheney said. 'In general, people are going to have to appear, or, you know, we will move contempt charges against them.' The bipartisan January 6 committee is gathering information on what led to the Capitol riot She and Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi released a joint statement earlier this week claiming Meadows and Patel were 'so far, engaging with the Select Committee.' They made no mention of Scavino, who was only served his late-September subpoena a few days ago when process servers handed it to an assistant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club while Scavino was in New York. In addition to the four men, the committee has also scheduled depositions for 11 people connected to rallies that took place on January 6 before the Capitol riot. Another member of the committee, Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, warned on Tuesday that organizers of those 'feeder rallies' could face more than just criminal prosecution if they don't play ball. 'Organizers of Jan. 6 feeder rallies have 1 day left to comply with House subpoenas and turn over relevant records to the [January 6 committee],' Raskin wrote on Twitter. 'Those who defy a lawful order of Congress to cover up insurrectionary violence will face referral for criminal prosecutionat the very least.' Rep. Jamie Raskin threatened consequences if the 11 people behind January 6 'feeder rallies' don't comply with their subpoenas Trump has told his four embattled former aides not to follow Congress' orders But despite their apparently imminent deadline for pursuing those charges, the committee's website shows no scheduled hearings or meetings. Donald Trump himself has attacked the committee's legitimacy on many occasions. He ordered his four embattled allies to not meet Congress' demands in a letter obtained by Politico last week. Trump instructed them to hold back any documents about his White House dealings and to invoke executive privilege whenever possible. 'President Trump is prepared to defend these fundamental privileges in court,' the letter read. But the Biden administration tried to block that move earlier this week. On Monday Biden said he wouldn't stand in the way of Congress seeking sensitive information on Trump and his aides during January 6. The Democrat's decision is a break from the tradition of allowing past presidents to exercise privacy over their in-office records and is likely among the first steps in a lengthy legal battle when Trump challenges his assertions in court. An Ethiopian orphan has been reunited with the first toy she ever owned a year after losing it during a hike thanks to a very lucky coincidence. Naomi Pascal, six, was adopted from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2016 and now lives in Jackson, Wyoming, with her parents Benjamin, 44, and Adeline Pascal, 40. The youngster lost her cuddly toy bear - named Teddy - while hiking Glacier National Park in Montana with her parents and two siblings on October last year. It held deep sentimental value, with Adeline, a nurse, issuing a plea for its return on Facebook. Amazingly, a local cop picked up the toy during a walk in the famed park, and put it on his cruiser dashboard - where friends of the Pascals spotted it last week, and alerted them to their discovery. When Naomi was just one year old, before the Pascals had ever met her in person, they gifted her a teddy bear as a way for them to connect with their soon-to-be daughter. Naomi Pascal (pictured with Teddy while at the Ethiopian orphanage), six, received a teddy bear from her soon-to-be parents in 2016 when she was just one year old living in an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Naomi brought the bear with her to her now-home in Wyoming where she lives with her parents Benjamin (pictured with Naomi and her two siblings), 44, and Adeline Pascal, 40 The bear came to be known as Teddy and traveled all over the world with the Pascal family but last year, on a family trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, Teddy went missing Glacier National Park Ranger Tom Mazzarisi (pictured) found the bear 'somewhat covered in snow and the rest of him was soaked from the melting snow'. He had a soft spot for the bear and placed him on the dashboard of his cruiser to become his unofficial partner Teddy (pictured on the dashboard) and Mazzarisi drove more than 5,000 miles since the park ranger found him that snowy day on October 9, 2020 The bear came to be known as Teddy and traveled all over the world with the Pascal family - from Ethiopia to the US, Rwanda, Croatia and Greece. Last year, on a family trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, Teddy went missing. On October 9, 2020, the Pascals were hiking on Hidden Lake Trail when Naomi noticed that Teddy was nowhere to be found. 'We finally realized that it was probably left at the spot where we took a break on the trial and were thinking that's where it would be but by the time we knew about it it was too late to go back and get it,' Benjamin told Yahoo News. The next day, a big snowstorm rolled through the park and Glacier National Park Ranger Tom Mazzarisi found the bear 'somewhat covered in snow and the rest of him was soaked from the melting snow'. Mazzarisi told Yahoo that 'the bear had character'. 'There was something about that little bear that said: "Yeah, he needs to go ride in my patrol car."' In a Facebook post Naomi's mom Adeline asked friends for help finding Teddy. 'Teddy is so special... He kept her company until she could come home for good. Since then he's gone everywhere with her,' the post read Naomi noticed Teddy went missing after the Pascals stopped to rest and take a family photo. 'By the time we knew about it it was too late to go back and get it,' her father said From that day Teddy sat on the park ranger's dashboard. He attributed the soft spot he had for the stuffed animal to his lifetime love of bears. He told Yahoo about the teddy bear he had as a kid, which he said 'looks almost identical to Teddy'. The duo drove more than 5,000 miles together over the course of the year. Mazzarisi even recalled of April 2, 2021: 'We're out patrolling Teddy and I and we saw wolves. And they don't see wolves very often in the park.' Meanwhile, Adeline posted on Facebook with a series of photos of her daughter holding the bear asking: 'Can anyone help us find Teddy?' 'Teddy is so special... He kept her company until she could come home for good. Since then he's gone everywhere with her... He's played in the desert sand and cuddled up on snowy days. He has snuggled her to sleep almost every night,' the post read. Naomi was reunited with Teddy after a family friend spotted the bear on the park ranger's dashboard Mazzarisi shipped Teddy home to Naomi complete with a star-shaped park ranger badge The Pascals were hiking on Hidden Lake Trail in Glacier National Park (pictured) when Naomi noticed that Teddy was nowhere to be found Naomi's mother posted to Facebook asking for help finding Teddy. 'There would be no greater joy than to reunite our daughter with her special furry friend,' she wrote It added: 'If you happen to hike Hidden Lake this summer, or know someone who does, please keep an eye out for Teddy. There would be no greater joy than to re-unite our daughter with her very special furry friend.' Months later a family friend of Naomi's spotted Teddy inside the ranger's cruiser and Mazzarisi sent Teddy to Naomi's home in Wyoming complete with a star-shaped park ranger badge. After a year without Teddy, Naomi was finally reunited with her favorite toy earlier this week, and hugged and kissed Teddy gratefully on being reunited. A bounty hunter shot and killed a 24-year-old man in Texas wanted for jumping bail in a domestic assault case as the fugitive tried to flee in his car with his fiancee and 3-month-old child inside. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the bounty hunter was looking for bail jumper Elmer Leija Monday at the Park Falls apartment complex on Park Row Drive in Houston, when the fugitive made a getaway. The bounty hunter blocked Leija's pick-up truck at the front gate of the development and approached him at gun point. Investigators said Leija then tried to run over the bounty hunter, who opened fire and killed him, The Houston Chronicle reports. Neither passenger was hurt. Investigators said the fugitive had an open warrant for an aggravated assault-family violence charge. Elmer Leija, 24, allegedly tried to run over a bounty hunter who cornered him at a Houston apartment complex on October 11. The bounty hunter shot and killed him Investigators arrived soon after the shooting at the parking lot outside the Park Falls apartments Police said Leija's fiancee and child were in the car with him during the incident The bounty hunter, whose name has not been released, tracked Leija down for forfeiting a bond, investigators said. Leija was arrested in 2019 on felony assault charges of a family member reported in September 2018. Leija was granted a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, which allowed him to leave Harris County jail without putting cash down with a bail agent. A bond forfeiture warrant was later put out for his arrest, and Montgomery County police officers took him into custody, and accused Leija of evading arrest and taking an officer's weapon. Despite the allegations, Leija was released in July on a $35,000 bond, according to The Houston Chronicle. The investigation is ongoing and the case has been referred to a Harris County grand jury Sgt. Dennis Wolford, with the sheriff's office's homicide unit, said police were investigating whether the bounty hunter acted in self-defense and if he had a license to carry a firearm, ABC 13 reports. Catherine Torrez, president of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators, told The Houston Chronicle that bounty hunters must be licensed with the state, and some require security training if they carry a weapon. The sheriff said the investigation is ongoing and that the case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury. A Navy nuclear submarine engineer smuggled secret documents out of work page-by-page to sell to foreign spies, invited them to meet him for a drink, and thanked them for offering to 'extract' him from the US, court papers claim. Jonathan Toebbe, 42, and his 'woke' wife, Diana Toebbe, 45, are accused of violating the Atomic Energy Act - which restricts the disclosure of information related to atomic weapons or nuclear materials. The couple, from Annapolis in Maryland, allegedly attempted to provide information relating to stealth technology for nuclear submarines to an unidentified foreign nation. They are said to have offered material on Virginia-class submarines to an unnamed foreign power in April 2020. That country's officials didn't reply, and instead turned over the evidence to the US in December 2020. Officials subsequently pursued the couple using undercover FBI agents posing as foreign spies from the nation they'd contacted, it is claimed. Despite her alleged anti-American spying, Dana has posted anti-Trump and pro-Black Lives Matter memes on social media. The Department of Justice revealed that Jonathan Toebbe (right), the Navy submarine engineer who faces 'espionage-related crimes' alongside his wife, Diana Toebbe (left), smuggled classified military secrets for years and became so comfortable with the 'foreign spies' that he wanted to meet them for drinks In a letter outlining what classified information he had obtained, Jonathan, who spent two years working on nuclear reactors in Arlington, Virginia, is said to have explained how he meticulously smuggled documents over the years. 'This information was slowly and carefully collected over several years in the normal course of my job to avoid attracting attention and smuggled past security checkpoints a few pages at a time,' he wrote. 'I no longer have access to classified data so unfortunately cannot help you obtain other files. But I can answer your experts questions using my own knowledge, if we can establish a secure and confidential means of communication.' He is also said to have suggested meeting his handler for a drink after their 'mission was complete. An email prosecutors say was sent by Jonathan Toebbe said: 'Thank you for your partnership as well my friend. One day, when it is safe, perhaps two old friends will have a chance to stumble into each other at a cafe, share a bottle of wine and laugh over stories of their shared exploits. 'A fine thought, but I agree that our mutual need for security may make that impossible. Whether we meet or no[sic], I will always remember your bravery in serving your country and your commitment to helping me.' And written communications - said to have been shared Jonathan and an undercover FBI agent posing as a foreign spy - show that the engineer and his wife were also prepared to be extracted to a safe country should their plot be exposed. 'I will be forever grateful for your help extracting me and my family,' Jonathan is said to have written in an encrypted email documented in the criminal complaint. 'I surmise the first step would be unannounced travel to a safe third country with plans to meet your colleagues. We have passports and cash set aside for this purpose. I pray such a drastic plan will never be needed, but you are right: it is a comfort to know you are ready and willing to aid us.' The complaint also revealed that Jonathan had a longstanding relationship with the foreign entity, although the name of the country whose spies Jonathan allegedly thought he was communicating with has not been shared. Written communications between Jonathan and an undercover FBI agent posing as a foreign spy show that the engineer had collected the classified military information over several years There is no suggestion that any of the material Toebbe is said to have stolen made its way into enemy hands. The Toebbes were arrested in West Virginia on Saturday, and both charged with spying on the U.S. for an unidentified foreign government were ordered held without bail during a court appearance Tuesday after it was determined that they pose a 'serious risk' of flight. They could face either life in prison or a fine of $100,000 and five years of supervised release. They are scheduled for a detention hearing on Friday at 11am and a preliminary examination into their case has been set for October 20, at 1pm. Their public defender has not commented on the case. Jonathan Toebbe (left) and Diana Toebbe (right) were both charged with spying on the U.S. for an unidentified foreign government were ordered held without bail during a court appearance Tuesday after it was determined that they pose a 'serious risk' of flight Diana, a humanities teacher at a private K-12 school in Annapolis, Maryland, has been placed on an indefinite suspension, a spokesperson confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday. Matthew Nespole, head of Key School where Diana worked for the last 10 years, said the academic institution was 'shocked and appalled' to learn of the charges against the Toebbes. 'Key School had no prior knowledge of their alleged criminal activities, nor is the School connected to the investigation in any way,' Nespole said. 'Key School supports the administration of justice by the FBI and NCIS, and will cooperate with the investigation if requested through our school's legal counsel to do so.' One of Diana's former students, Craig Martien, - who collaborated with her on a yearbook and an after-school anthropology club - echoed the school leader's claims, saying he too was shocked to learn of the news. 'She was someone who I really looked up to. I was totally blindsided,' he said in a Wednesday interview on Good Morning America. Key School is now focusing on 'minimizing disruptions for our students and supporting them emotionally'. Diana (right), a humanities teacher at a private K-12 school in Annapolis, Maryland, has been placed on an indefinite suspension. Her former student, Craig Martien (left), said he was 'totally blindsided' by the allegations against Diana Diana's social media accounts - which often featured pictures of her dogs, her family and selfies, a far cry from her alleged life as a spy - revealed that she was unhappy with the government and her country. A post on her on Facebook page indicated that she organized a babysitter while she and her husband made their last secret drop of stolen intelligence before they were caught by the FBI. Other posts reveal show that she was a staunch liberal who supported 'The Resistance,' once retweeting that 'America is Temporarily Out of Order' while Trump was president. She supported liberal ideologies, including the Black Lives Matter movement. Her profile picture reads 'Black Lives Matter,' and a post last year celebrating the social media protest against racism called '#blackouttuesday.' One post she shared in 2019 is a photo from an unidentified Women's March overlaid with the quote, 'Stay angry, little Meg. You will need all your anger now,' from Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. The social media posts on Diana Toebbe's Facebook account include one saying 'Women Can Stop Trump' One retweet from the her account in 2017, just days after Trump's inauguration, shows a photo saying, 'To the rest of the world, due to an insufficient amount of moral courage, America is temporarily out of order. We hope to restore service as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we in the resistance movement join hands with those around the world who realize we are one people. May the forces of good be with us. #TheResistance.' The accounts her Twitter profile follows are mostly 'resistance' accounts in protest of Trump, including the 'Rogue NASA' account described as 'the unofficial "Resistance" team of NASA' on its bio description. In 2016, she retweeted a post from liberal activist group MoveOn about former First Lady Michelle Obama's speech criticism of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for his treatment of women. One retweet in 2017, just days after Trump's inauguration, shows a picture caption:, 'To the rest of the world, due to an insufficient amount of moral courage, America is temporarily out of order. We hope to restore service as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we in the resistance movement join hands with those around the world who realize we are one people. May the forces of good be with us. #TheResistance.' Around the same time, she retweeted a post from self-proclaimed 'activist against Islamophobia' CJ Werleman which included a video of an Iranian-American discussing Trump's travel ban with the caption, 'Watch this video and then try to describe immigrants in dehumanizing terms such as "waves" or "floods." ' She followed up with another tweet from an account called ALT DOJ, which describes itself as the 'Resistance' Department of Justice, that included a photo of people protesting the travel ban outside then-Senator Orrin Hatch's office at the Capitol. It's caption read: 'Scene in front of Hatch's office right now. capitol police threatening arrests for seated protesters! #RESIST #TheResistance #MuslimBan' One Facebook post on Diana's account said 'Women Can Stop Trump;' while other profile pictures feature failed 2016 presidential candidate Hilary Clinton's campaign symbol; a photo of the transgender flag; and various profile photos supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Diana also retweeted an anti-trump tweet from TED Talk follower and cosmologist Katie Mack, saying the Trump administration suppressed LGBT right One post she shared in 2019 is a photo from an unidentified Women's March with the above quote about 'staying angry' Meanwhile, her husband appears to be a wannabe medieval swashbuckler who took sword-fighting classes and owned his own swords. About two months after Jonathan allegedly sent a package of secret Navy information to a foreign contact, he boasted about buying a new sword to members of the Mid-Atlantic Society for Historic Swordsmanship on Facebook. '[That feeling when] a box from Amazon and Purpleheart Armoury arrive on the same day,' Toebbe wrote on the society's Facebook page, while also posting a photo of a new sleek sword, medieval-style armor and a book titled 'The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship.' 'New sword day is always a good day,' he added in 2020. The group's founder, Larry Tom, told the New York Post that he knew Jonathan in the 'context' of historic swordplay. Jonathan also attended classes at the group's nearby center. He was listed as a student of longswords, bucklers and rapiers on the group's Facebook page, which seems to have been deleted or frozen as of Monday. Jonathan's Facebook account's most recent public post is from 2013. The posts included stories from satire site, The Onion, including one headline he posted in 2011, reading, 'New GOP Strategy Involves Reelecting Obama, Making His Life Even More Miserable.' Jonathan's social media indicates suggests he is wannabe medieval swashbuckler who took sword-fighting classes and owned his own swords According to the criminal complaint, Jonathan sent a package of classified Navy documents to a foreign government in April 2020 and wrote that he was interested in selling information on Virginia-class nuclear submarine reactors. The unidentified foreign government allegedly sat on the documents before turning them over to the US in December 2020, after the election. During a sting operation, an undercover FBI agent posing as a representative of the foreign government made contact with Jonathan and agreed to pay thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency for the information he was offering. Emails between the two show that at first Jonathan remained wary but that he came to trust the undercover agent due to the hefty amount he was going to be paid. It was agreed he would receive $100,000 in crypto and was paid $70,000 before he was caught. The FBI also arranged a 'signal' to Jonathan from the country's embassy in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend. The papers do not describe how the FBI was able to arrange such a signal. In June 2021, the FBI says, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan, describing it as a sign of good faith and trust. Weeks later, federal agents watched as the Toebbes arrived at an agreed-upon location in West Virginia for the exchange, with Diana appearing to serve as a lookout for her husband during a dead-drop operation for which the FBI paid $20,000, according to the complaint. The FBI recovered a blue memory card wrapped in plastic and placed between two slices of bread on a peanut butter sandwich, court documents said. Jonathan also hid encrypted memory cards in a chewing gum packet and Band-Aide wrapper at different drop-off locations. The FBI provided the contents of the memory card to a Navy subject matter expert who determined that the records included design elements and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarine reactors, the Justice Department said. The FBI conducted similar dead-drop exchanges over the next several months, including one in August in Virginia in which Jonathan was paid roughly $70,000 and concealed in a chewing gum package a memory card that contained schematic designs for the Virginia-class submarine, according to court documents. One memory card included a typed message that said, in part: 'I hope your experts are very happy with the sample provided and I understand the importance of a small exchange to grow our trust.' Many of the emails that were exchanged between Jonathan and the representative of the foreign country were transcribed in the court documents. He used two pseudonyms: Alice Hill and Bob Burns. The leaked secrets contained 'militarily sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarine reactors,' according to a federal court affidavit The messages suggest that Jonathan was offering the classified information to a power that already has nuclear submarines. Jonathan states in one message that the information 'reflects decades of U.S. Navy 'lessons learned' that will help keep your sailors safe.' Only six countries currently operate nuclear-powered submarines China, France, India, Russia, the UK and the US. The US and UK are set to provide Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, as part of the first initiative under the new trilateral security partnership AUKUS. Prior to the new deal, which ignited a diplomatic row between Washington and Paris, the US had only shared the technology of its submarines with Britain. Each of these underwater craft costs an estimated $3billion to build. The country the Toebbes were allegedly trying to sell the nuclear secrets to is not clear and neither are their motivations. However, court documents suggest that the country was most likely an ally or neutral government because it cooperated with the FBI during the sting operation to expose the Toebbes. Some experts suggested that the Toebbes were trying to sell the information to France, but French officials have said they were not involved in the incident, according to the New York Times. The Toebbes are scheduled for a detention hearing on Friday at 11am and a preliminary examination into their case has been set for October 20, at 1pm Jonathan has worked on naval nuclear propulsion since 2012, including secret technology devised to reduce the noise and vibration of submarines, factors that can give away their location. He first worked on naval reactors in Arlington, Virginia, from 2012 to 2014. He then was a student at naval reactor school in Pittsburgh before returning to Arlington to work on reactors again. According to public Navy records, he worked for 15 months in the office of the chief of naval operations, the top officer in the military's branch. He started working in the military as a civilian in 2017. He was commissioned in the Navy and rose to the rank of lieutenant before moving to the Navy Rescue, which he left in December 2020 the month the FBI established contact with him. The FBI also stated that Jonathan would only have had access to the documents that he allegedly shared with the undercover FBI agent while working at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, a government research facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. A Rhode Island babysitter told cops she found a toddler wandering near a highway - kicking off a frantic multi-state search for the little boy's parents - in a ruse to get rid of the 2-year-old because she got tired of watching him after a night of partying at his mother's house, officials said. Daniela Peraza Lemus, 22, was arrested after concocting an elaborate plot in which she said she found the boy near a highway exit in Pawtucket while riding an Uber home. The imaginary Uber driver didn't want to get involved, Lemus told cops, so she took the kid home to neighboring Central Falls and called police early Sunday morning. 'You put a child in a situation where the child did nothing wrong, and then you put a community in fear that this child was just wandering around and almost went onto the highway,' Central Falls Police Capt. Craig Viens told the Boston Globe. 'We were trying to locate the parents of a child wandering near 95. Now you're having the entire community in an uproar - did someone kidnap the kid and dump him? Did he almost wander onto the highway?' Daniela Peraza Lemus, 22, was charged with misdemeanor filing of a false police report The child was taken to Hasbro Childrens Hospital with dirty feet and a small scratch on his face. He couldn't tell anyone who he was or where he came from, according to the newspaper. Police alerted other law enforcement agencies across New England and released a photo of the child to local media, hoping his parents would see it. Later that day, his mother turned up at the Pawtucket police station, where cops discovered that the 'Good Samaritan' who called the police was actually the boy's babysitter and his mom's friend. Lemus told cops she agreed to take the kid to her house at around 1am after his mom got into an argument at her own house party. The boy's mom was expecting to pick up her son from Lemus apartment, when Lemus called to tell her the Pawtucket police had taken her son away 'for no reason,' Viens said. She called the police and told the 2-year-old boy she was babysitting (above) was someone she had just found by a highway exit while she was Ubering home early Sunday morning It turns out Lemus was just tired of watching him after a night of partying at his mom's house, police say. She offered to take the toddler home because his mom was fighting with someone Viens called the case 'the saddest thing I've seen in 21 years.' Central Falls police chief Anthony Roberson said Lemus couldn't come up with any reason for making up the story. Detectives determined the toddler was never at an exit near the highway and was probably home with Lemus until she called the police. 'There were so many bad outcomes, and all you had to do was just pick up the phone and call the grandmother or mother, and say, "Hey come get him,"' Viens said. 'She could have called police and said, "I can't watch the kid any more.''' Hasbro Childrens Hospital staff said the child had dirty feet and a small scratch The state Department of Child Youth and Families is now investigating the incident. 'She took the child from the home to get it out of a bad environment and didn't want the mother to have DCYF involvement,' Viens said. 'And then, she made the thing 10 times worse.' Lemus is facing a charge for filing a false police report, a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and up to one year in jail, according to state law. She was released without bail on Monday. Her next court hearing is on February 9, 2022. 'I'm glad that he is safe and sound,' chief Roberson said of the child on Tuesday. An Indian man who used a cobra and a viper to murder his wife in order to take control of her family's wealth has been given a double life sentence in the 'rarest of rare cases'. Sooraj Kumar set loose a highly venomous Russell's viper snake on his wife Uthra, 25, that left her in hospital for almost two months, prosecutors said. While she recovered at her parents' house, the 28-year-old husband obtained a cobra from a snake handler and threw it at his sleeping wife. Its poisonous bite killed Uthra and Sooraj was arrested last year. It is believed to be the first time someone has been convicted of murder by using a snake as a weapon in India. Sooraj has been jailed for murdering his wife Uthra by letting loose a cobra in her room after first failing with a viper He pleaded not guilty but police said his phone records showed he was in touch with snake handlers and had watched snake videos on the internet before the killing in March last year in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala. Sooraj stayed in the room with Uthra after the cobra bit her and went about his morning routine the next day when alerted by the woman's mother, said prosecutors. 'The mode of execution and the diabolic plan of the accused to murder Uthra, his wife who was bedridden, makes it (the case) fall into the category of rarest of rare,' said the public prosecutor, who had sought the death penalty. Snake handler Vava Suresh said it was possible that Sooraj had 'inflicted pain on the reptile to provoke it to bite', the Hindustan Times newspaper quoted him as saying. Sooraj had bought the deadly cobra (pictured) from a snake-catcher from Kalluvathukkal Uthra was from an affluent family but her husband, a bank worker, was not well off. The dead woman's parents became suspicious after Sooraj tried to take control of her property after the death. Their marriage involved a big dowry including a new car and 500,000 rupees (5,000). According to media reports, Sooraj's family was charged with conspiracy after some of Uthra's gold was found buried near Sooraj's home days after the murder. Two other Indians have been tried for murder by using a snake but both were found not guilty. The Department of Labor on Tuesday submitted to the White House the initial text of President Joe Biden's plan to require private-sector workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested regularly. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration submitted the proposed rule for review to the Office of Management and Budget. The mandate would apply to businesses with 100 or more employees and will be implemented under a federal rule-making mechanism known as an emergency temporary standard. President Joe Biden's plan to require companies that employ more than 100 people to compel COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration The rule will be implemented once OMB's review is complete and it's published in the Federal Register. Some details could change, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move indicates the proposed standard could be released soon. It would affect roughly 80 million workers nationwide. Along with Biden's order last month that requires all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated, the orders cover 100 million people, about two-thirds of the U.S. workforce. Biden's mandate announcement in September came at a breaking-point moment as the country struggled to control the pandemic and a large swath of the nation's population refused to accept free vaccinations that have been available for months. The coronavirus has killed more than 700,000 Americans. The plan has drawn mixed reactions from companies. Many support the government's goal of speeding the pace of vaccinations, but smaller employers and those with mostly hourly workers have expressed concern the policy could be difficult to implement. The workplace vaccine order has spurred pushback from many Republican governors. A man wears an anti-vaccine button at a protest Tuesday in New York City. Between Biden's federal workers mandate and the OSHA rule, 100 million American workers are covered by potential COVID-19 vaccine mandates On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued an executive order banning businesses and other private entities in his state from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. At Tuesday's press briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Abbott's order and a similar one from Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, banning the implementation of mandates, 'fit a familiar pattern that we've seen of putting politics ahead of public health.' 'Why would you be taking steps that prevent the saving of lives, that make it more difficult to save lives in - across the country or in any state?' Psaki asked. 'And I would also note that vaccine requirements have been standard in both the Lone Star State, Texas - in case you're not familiar - and the Sunshine State, Florida, in schools for decades,' she added. 'Whether polio, measles, mumps, rubella, the chickenpox, there are vaccine requirements that have been implemented for decades in these states.' Advertisement Top military officials have today gathered to pay their respects to a former head of the Royal Marines found dead, at 54, after losing his dream job leading elite British troops. Major General Matthew Holmes was found hanged at his Winchester home earlier this month after leaving his role as Commandant General Royal Marines, amid claims of a 'clash' with fellow military top brass. Before quitting his role in April, Major General Holmes, who had also recently split with his wife, Lea, told friends he felt 'constrained' in his role by head of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. Sir Tony is among those attending his funeral at Winchester Cathedral, where Major General Holmes will be laid to rest with full military honours. General Sir Nick Carter, the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mike Utley OBE, the Commander of the UK's Strike Force and Defence Minister Ben Wallace are also present. Marines from the commando training centre lined the walkway leading up to the Cathedral as Major General Holmes's coffin - draped in a Union Jack - was driven through, followed by his wife and two children William, 11 and Eleanor, 15. A decorated war hero, Major General Holmes commanded 42 Commando Royal Marines from 2006 to 2008. He was appointed as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on operations in Afghanistan in 2007. In 2019 he was appointed Commandant General Royal Marines in 2019. However he quit the three-year-role in April this year. A hearing to open the inquest into his death, held yesterday, heard that Major General Holmes died as a result of hanging after having 'concerns about his marriage and service career'. Top British military officials have today gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of the former head of the Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes. Pictured: Pallbearers carry the coffin of Major General Matthew Holmes into Winchester Cathedral Major General Matthew Holmes, who has died, won the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on the frontline in Afghanistan. He is pictured with his wife Lea and daughter Eleanor after receiving the award at Buckingham Palace in 2007 Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (pictured right in naval uniform) was among those attending his funeral at Winchester Cathedral, where Major General Holmes was laid to rest with full military honours. General Sir Nick Carter (to the left of Sir Tony), the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mike Utley OBE, the Commander of the UK's Strike Force and Defence Minister Ben Wallace (next to Sir Nick) were also present. They are seen here next to Major General Holmes' wife Lea and their two children William, 11 and Eleanor, 15 (pictured centre) Marines from the commando training centre lined the walkway leading up to the Cathedral as Major General Holmes's coffin - draped in a Union Jack - was driven through, followed by his wife and two children William (left), 11 and Eleanor (right with her mother Lea and brother William), 15. Former Royal Marines in their green berets attend the funeral of Major General Matthew Holmes at Winchester Cathedral. The former Commandant General of the Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes was found dead, aged 54, at his home on October 2 Veterans gather behind a detachment of Royal Marines outside Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire for the funeral of Major General Matthew Holmes Top British military officials have today gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of the former head of the Royal Marines. Pictured: A detachment of Royal Marines arrive for the funeral of Major General Matthew Holmes General Sir Nick Carter, the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, was among those attending the funeral of Major General Matthew Holmes this afternoon. Before quitting his role in April, Major General Holmes, who had also recently split with his wife, told friends he felt 'constrained' in his role by head of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (pictured right) Defence Minister Ben Wallace (pictured left) is also among those gathering at the ceremony at Winchester Cathedral today to honour the life of the father-of-two, who was found hanged at this home in the city earlier this month. Rear Admiral Mike Utley (pictured right), the Commander of the UK's Strike Force, is also attending The father of two was also awarded a CBE in 2019 - and was appointed as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on operations in Afghanistan in 2007 At his funeral today, the Royal Marines band played before the coffin was driven to the historic cathedral, awaited by the Dean of Winchester, Catherine Ogle, who led the service. Wife Lea wore a long black coat and held hands with William, wearing a black suit, and Eleanor, dressed in a black top and trousers as they got out of a car and walked into the Cathedral. The coffin was carried by pall bearers who all had a close connection to Major General Holmes, four of which accompanied him as pall bearers at Prince Phillip's funeral, helping to carry the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin at Windsor Castle. His coffin was draped with a Union Jack, his Royal Marines cap, his military medals and a reef of flowers. A squad of Royal Marines training commandos assembled to do a volley of three shots after the service. As previously reported, Major General Holmes was found in a bedroom at the home in Winchester, Hampshire, on October 2 - and his body was formally identified by his wife Lea, the inquest heard. It also emerged that police attended another incident at the home on September 22. The officer, who served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, was Commandant General from June 2019 until April 2021. He had told colleagues he was struggling to cope with Britain's withdrawal from Afghanistan, and said he felt 'beaten down' and 'constrained' in his role. His family feels the head of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, played 'a significant part in the turmoil' the veteran faced. But friends of Sir Tony, named Chief of the Defence Staff on Thursday, denied he undermined him. A source close to Sir Tony said he and his wife Louise had been friends with the Holmeses for more than 20 years and were devastated by his death and claims that conflict with Sir Tony contributed to the decline in his mental health. They said critics would be left with 'red faces' when the truth emerged, and blamed 'people with agendas' for the mudslinging. Major General Holmes had split from his wife Lea and lost his job as Commandant General. He and Sir Tony, 55, had been close friends, but fell out over changes to the Marines. It led to Major General Holmes leaving his post in April, halfway through his three-year role. A friend of the Holmes family said Sir Tony and his deputy, Vice Admiral Nicholas Hine, had played a role in Major General Holmes's decision to leave his job. The friend said: 'The poor family haven't even had time to bury him and certain naval factions are already trying to settle scores and pass the buck. It is so undignified, unfair. Ultimately... the truth will out. A hearse carrying the coffin of Major General Matthew Holmes, the former head of the Royal Marines, arrives at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire for his funeral The coffin of Major General Matthew Holmes, former head of the Royal Marines, is carried into Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire Royal Marines salute as the coffin of Major General Matthew Holmes, the former head of the Royal Marines, is carried into Winchester Cathedral Major General Matthew Holmes receives the Distinguished Service Order from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2007 'An inquest is the proper forum in which to consider all the pressures bearing down on Matt. Not the court of public opinion.' Relations between the two were said to have come to a head following arguments over Major General Holmes's post. The Daily Mail reported last week that Sir Tony undermined Major General Holmes, according to messages from the officer. Former First Sea Lord Sir Tony became the first naval officer for two decades to land the top job and will lead 159,000 soldiers, sailors and air personnel from next month. Sir Tony and Major General Holmes were previously close friends, but fell out bitterly over changes to the Marines this year. The dispute led to Major General Holmes leaving his post as Commandant General in April halfway through a three-year appointment. Last week a Daily Mail investigation found that he felt deeply let down by the admiral, who was his boss as the Marines are part of the Navy. A directive from Sir Tony's office included a gagging order banning the Marines officer from discussing key issues with colleagues, including the commander of the US Marine Corps (USMC), General David Berger. Major General Holmes was also warned to 'expect a more limited role' in the Marines. The order and the tone of Sir Tony's remarks left the father-of-two deeply upset. He wrote to a friend: 'I've had a very tough year. I feel beaten down. Not listened to, merely run over by someone with no military judgment: Too much is about appearance. 'I don't trust Radakin. It's been awful. Awful. You should see the tone of some of the emails I've had from Radakin. Basically imposing his authority and keeping me constrained. Major General Matthew Holmes was a pallbearer at Prince Philip's funeral during the procession to the steps of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April. He is pictured speaking to Sky News before the service 'Kept away from ministers. All about his narrative. He doesn't get the corps. But I know Gen Berger recognises my concerns (another one that Radakin ordered me not to engage with regarding my post). 'Radakin sees himself as owning the USMC relationship. Berger doesn't! At all. He wants to talk to me. How do you think I feel...' Sir Tony's efforts to bring the Commandant General into line came to a head late last year after a series of heated arguments between the two about the future of Major General Holmes' post. A document distributed to senior officers read: 'I [Sir Tony] will engage with ministers and our international partners. The debate has to be toned down and ideally stopped. This is about my authority. International engagement by CGRM [Major General Holmes] is to stop. The CGRM focus is to ensure the corps delivers on its tasks, seeking opportunities for increased integration with the Royal Navy and preparing for a more limited role as CGRM from April 2021.' The pair are also said to have disagreed about closer integration of the Marines within the Navy a move resisted by Major General Holmes. The complaint in Major General Holmes' text to a friend that 'too much is about appearance' was said to refer to jibes about his height he was 5ft 2in, according to media reports. But he was well-liked by Marines and enjoyed their company. He served in all Britain's recent conflicts and won a Distinguished Service Order for commanding troops under fire. Sir Tony will take over as Chief of Defence Staff from Army General Sir Nick Carter on November 30. The admiral was described last week as an 'outstanding military leader' and, as head of the Navy, has been credited with deploying more naval personnel on the frontline and more ships at sea. He is being replaced as First Sea Lord by Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key, who led the UK's airlift of British citizens and Afghans from Kabul after the Taliban takeover. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org Advertisement The head of Europe's top meat processer has said steak will become a luxury product like champagne as he warned the only way for the industry to reduce its CO2 emissions is to cut beef production. Jais Valeur, the CEO of Danish Crown in Denmark, spoke out after Denmark set binding targets for the agriculture sector to slash its emissions in half by 2030 to ward off global warming - a measure that could soon be copied the world over as all countries race to meet commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement. He predicted that pork and other meats can be made more environmentally sustainable without drastically cutting supplies by making more products from each animal - but that production of beef, by far the most-polluting meat to produce, will have to come down in order to hit the targets. At the same time, demand for beef is set to increase - meaning prices will inevitably rise and steaks will become a 'luxury item' that people will be able to afford only on special occasions or while they are celebrating. Speaking to Danish newspaper Berlingske, Mr Valeur said: 'Beef is not going to be super climate friendly. It will be like champagne, namely a luxury product.' Mr Valeur predicted that pork and other meats can be made more environmentally sustainable without drastically cutting supplies - but that production of beef, by far the most-polluting meat to produce, will have to come down in order to hit the targets World's top beef producers 1) United States, 20% of world total 2) Brazil, 17% of total 3) EU, 13% of total 4) China, 11% of total 5) India, 6% of total 6) Argentina, 5% of total 7) Australia, 3.5% of total 8) Mexico, 3.5% of total 9) Pakistan, 3% of total 10) Russia, 2% of total Advertisement Currently, meat production accounts for some 15 per cent of yearly greenhouse gas emissions, with beef alone accounting for 40 per cent of that total. Beef production has risen by 149% in the last 60 years, with the top-producing regions being the United States, Brazil, the EU, China and India. All have signed up to the Paris Agreement to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Without any action, scientists say meat production alone will consume half of the 'emission budget' that world leaders have limited themselves to using to keep temperature rises below 1.5C. In a letter to the Lancet Planetary Health journal, researchers have also warned that livestock production must reach its peak within the next decade in order to tackle the climate crisis. The scientists called on countries to 'declare a timeframe for peak livestock,' after which production would not increase. They also warned that land must be repurposed and natural vegetation like forests restored in order to remove Co2 from the atmosphere. But livestock currently occupy much of that land which needs to be restored. 'Countries should be looking for peak livestock within the next 10 years,' said Helen Harwatt, a fellow at Harvard Law School in the US and lead author of the letter. 'This is because we need steep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, as we are reaching dangerous temperature tipping points.' Mr Valeur explained that some emissions cuts can come from making the transport of meat more environmentally friendly, improvements on farms, and using more parts of the animals that are slaughtered. But to hit the most-ambitious targets, production - especially of very polluting meats like beef - will have to be reduced, causing prices to rise. While exact price rises are difficult to predict as demand changes over time, the hardest-hit countries are likely to be Argentina, US, Brazil and Australis which currently consume the most meat. Mr Valeur also pointed to a shift toward using retired dairy cows for meat production, which produces two thirds less greenhouse emissions than cattle. But dairy cows still emit more greenhouse gases than pigs of chicken. He said: 'We will still have a production, but it will be a production of beef and veal that comes from dairy cattle, calves and beef cattle that graze in the meadow and create biodiversity. 'The beef cattle will be a luxury product that we eat when we need to pamper ourselves.' About a third of Danish-produced beef comes from these dairy cows, another third from calves and the other third from beef cattle. Mr Valeur said there will also be a move towards more 'climate-friendly' meat like pork and the production of beef that comes from dairy cattle which are killed once they stop producing milk. Currently, meat production accounts for some 15 per cent of yearly greenhouse gas emissions, with beef alone accounting for 40 per cent of that total Mr Valeur said steak will become a luxury product like champagne He explained: 'I think the pig will be a good bet for a climate-friendly protein, which also happens to taste good. The different calculations that are of the climate footprint from pork show that they are approaching chicken in climate footprint.' The global demand for meat is growing due to a range of factors including people getting richer, urbanisation and population growth. In addition, experts believe global meat consumption will continue to increase by 12%. With global meat consumption and demand set to increase over the coming years, if beef farmers are forced to cut production in order to meet climate demands, prices could soar. And Mr Valeur said that in order for his company to meet their climate targets, they must work with the farmers who provide them with meat. He said: 'We can see that almost 90 percent of Danish Crown's emissions occur at the farmers' and in the logistics and transport links. So there is a lot of work to be done in the countryside and on the farms of our owners.' Michael Minter, a program manager at the green think tank CONCITO, agreed with Mr Valeur that beef will be a luxury product in the future. He said: 'I agree that beef will very much be a luxury product. Beef and dairy products are some of the most climate-damaging foods. But the alternatives are on the way. I think developing cell- or plant-based alternatives can go pretty fast. It will challenge cattle breeders and slaughterhouses.' Rishi Sunak wants to make the Government's electric car grants less generous under Treasury cost-saving plans, it was claimed today. The Chancellor is said to be pushing to reduce the value of the current 'plug-in' grant which is worth up to 2,500. The grant is designed to encourage people to make the switch to electric vehicles by making them more affordable as the Government looks ahead to its ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Mr Sunak is reportedly facing Cabinet opposition to the move, with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in favour of keeping the support as it is. There are concerns in Whitehall about the message reducing the value of the grant would send as the UK prepares to host the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow next month. The Chancellor is said to be pushing to reduce the value of the current 'plug-in' grant which is worth up to 2,500 The grant is designed to encourage people to make the switch to electric vehicles by making them more affordable The 'plug-in' grants have helped support the purchase of tens of thousands of low emission vehicles. The Treasury believes that the grant could be made less generous without harming the green vehicle market, according to The Telegraph. The department believes there should now be a greater focus on driving the uptake of electric vans and other vehicles as well as on improving electric charging infrastructure. Slashing the grants is said to be one of the measures being pursued by Mr Sunak as he tries to right the public finances in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The Chancellor will deliver his autumn budget in the House of Commons on October 27. Some in Whitehall are concerned that an assault on green grants could prove counterproductive ahead of the COP26 summit. World leaders will meet in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12 to try to hammer out climate change solutions. The Government is expected to publish its eagerly-awaited strategy for achieving net zero emissions in the UK by 2050 within weeks. A Whitehall source told The Telegraph that cutting the 'plug-in' grants during a fuel and gas crisis would be a 'most extraordinary move'. The source bemoaned slow progress on the publication of the net zero strategy, accusing the Government of 'nickel-and-diming' at a time when significant action is needed. A Sydney apartment building has been described as being 'highly vulnerable' to collapsing and a 'risk to occupants' with huge cracks appearing in its foundation. The 100-flat, ten-storey Vicinity complex in Canterbury in western Sydney was only built six years ago but an engineer said a collapse could cause 'catastrophic damage'. The developer, Toplace Group, has dismissed results of the report and fears of the building collapsing, after a structural engineer warned the heavy cracking 'gives rise to a risk of collapse without prior warning'. The report went on to say the building had a 'magnitude of support deficiencies' that put it at severe risk of collapse if there were an earthquake. 'The risk of collapse due to seismic action would be severe,' it said. The 100-flat, ten-storey Vicinity complex in Canterbury has been described by a structural engineer as being 'highly vulnerable' to collapsing in a report The engineer believes the heavy cracking in the building's foundations 'gives rise to a risk of collapse without prior warning' A structural engineer was hired to review the building after hearing from a number of concerned residents who had noticed the massive cracking on the complex's structure, according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald. An apartment owner, Corrie Ford, said her and her partner have packed up half of their belongings in expectation of being evacuated. She paid $738,000 for the flat in 2018. 'We don't feel safe and comfortable in our own home anymore,' she said. 'It's very stressful. It seems like everything that is wrong with the building has coalesced into this.' Another owner said they had 'saved up for quite awhile' to be able to purchase an apartment in the building and were still paying off their mortgage. They were among 50 owners who attended a meeting last week where they were informed of the report's findings. Despite fears over the cracks and foundations the hundreds of residents inside the Vicinity block have not been evacuated - with a recent emergency inspection finding there was 'no immediate safety risk A resident of the Vicinity apartment building speaks to reporters after an engineer deemed the building a 'risk' for its occupants Toplace, the developer of the Vicinity building, agreed to pay $11million to fix future defects at another apartment building in Castle Hill just three months ago, while also agreeing to guarantee its structural integrity for the next 20 years. A spokesperson for the company told Nine News the building had been inspected by the NSW Government and that 'no orders' had been made regarding it. After an emergency inspection there was found to be 'no immediate safety risk' to the occupants, saying the initial report from the structural engineer was 'incorrect'. 'Toplace has received technical advice that the report by Rothshires has been formulated using obviously incorrect assumptions resulting in incorrect conclusions on the stability of the building,' the spokesperson said. 'Toplace's expert technical advice is that the risk to the building in the Rothshires report does not exist the report is simply invalid. 'The building's structural integrity has been certified by engineers that have complete information on the building.' Videos from the basement of the complex however appear to show massive cracks forming, with residents deeply concerned. The report from the structural engineer also noted there are risks to two nearby apartment blocks that would in danger should the building collapse. The structural engineer said he 'lost confidence in the building structural safety' while assessing the building. Toplace, the developer of the Vicinity building, agreed to pay $11million to fix future defects at another apartment building in Castle Hill just three months ago It comes amid a damning report warning that more than 25 per cent of the apartment blocks built in the decade to 2017 likely are riddled with defects. A three-year report compiled by researchers at the University of New South Wales' City Futures Research Centre looked at 635 strata buildings in Sydney. The 'Cracks in the Compact City' report, released on Thursday, found the biggest issues with the blocks included water problems (42% of builds), cracking (26%) and fire safety issues (17%). The report found 26% of all the buildings examined had defects, although the figure was much higher (51%) with apartment blocks that had proper documentation. Were YOU affected by the glitch? Email: tips@mailonline.co.uk or joe.davies@mailonline.co.uk Ring: 020 361 50537 Advertisement The NHS app did not allow everyone to view their Covid vaccine passes for almost four hours today, leaving holidaymakers unable to board flights. In yet more travel chaos, the controversial software which allows people to prove their vaccination status was not displaying QR code passes because of 'high traffic volumes'. Users of the app started suffering issues at 11.45am because of a 'technical issue with a global service provider', NHS Digital said. The app started working again shortly after 3.15pm. Meanwhile, desperate people travelling abroad claim they have been forced to miss their flights. One person claimed he was 'stuck' in Greece because he wasn't allowed to board a journey back to England from Greece without the QR code. Another Brit currently in Naples said he wasn't even able to 'go for a p*** because the app is broken'. Others have been left fretting about their upcoming holiday plans, with them unable to fill out passenger locator forms for flights today and tomorrow. The app problems are the latest in a string of issues faced by travellers this summer, with queues of up to four hours building up at Heathrow's arrivals last week because of e-gates crashing at the airport. Ministers rolled out the UK's new simplified travel system out on Monday last week, replacing the traffic light rules with a single go/no go system. Fully-vaccinated travellers returning from a country that isn't on the red list do not have to take a pre-departure test and are exempt from quarantine but they do have to take a day two test. The NHS app is not allowing people to view their Covid vaccine passes as holidaymakers are left unable to board flights HOW CAN YOU PROVE YOUR VACCINATION STATUS IF THE NHS APP IS DOWN? The NHS app can hold your Covid vaccination record if you choose and will generate a pass for travel abroad with a QR code when requested. When the app experiences problems like this, it is not possible to download this QR code, which is needed to prove vaccination status on passenger locator forms and to board planes. Travellers can download a PDF version of the code before their flight and print it out or ask their GP for a letter that can be used in its place. But neither of these options were available to people stuck at airports today. The app also shows the date of when people received their vaccines even without the pass. But this cannot be used in place of the QR code on passenger locator forms. Advertisement Users trying to log on to the NHS app to download their vaccine pass today were met with a message telling them to 'try again later'. It says: 'The NHS Covid-19 Status service is experiencing very high traffic volumes. 'We are currently limit access to the service to prevent it from becoming overloaded. 'Please try again later.' Health bosses have not yet reported what caused the app to be unable to process traffic levels. NHS Digital said: 'The NHS Covid Pass service was temporarily unavailable between 11.45am and 3.15pm today as a result of a technical issue with a global service provider that affected many different organisations. 'Following an urgent investigation, this has been fixed and Covid Passes are available both via the NHS App and online.' Swarms of Brits trying to get abroad in the coming days spent hours trying to get on to the app to access their Covid pass. Mike Dalgetty told MailOnline: 'We are flying to Alicante next week. I've tried all day to use app. It won't allow us to register our identity. 'Says my driving licence isn't acceptable then it won't accept my face recognition. 'Luckily we have the older printed double vaccine letters. 'It's just a joke and not fit for purpose utter waste of time.' Chuck Adolphy said it was a 'shambles' as he tried to fly on a 'dream holiday' with his girlfriend on Wednesday morning, from Gatwick to Slovenias capital Ljubljana, before being turned away. 'Went to go on the app and my Covid Pass wasnt appearing,' he said. 'Didnt even realise at the time there was an outage was just turned away and told they couldnt do anything about it. 'Rang the number and they said the app and site are down and there is nothing they can do. EasyJet said nothing either. Showed them my vaccine card and nothing.' Britons took to social media to report the problem, with hundreds saying they were worried about being able to travel. Caroline Frost, a journalist, wrote : 'Waiting to fly at Heathrow and the NHS app has crashed with all the a Covid vaccination proof available. 'Currently not allowed to fly. Going to be an interesting afternoon at Heathrow.' Passengers queue for the Arrival Hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 last week, due to a problem with the self-service passport gates Passengers posted images of massive queues on Twitter on Wednesday last week, with one traveller estimated than more than a thousand people waited at immigration while another reported an expected waiting time of anywhere between two and four hours TRAVEL RULES MEAN UK IS ONE OF WORLD'S 'WORST-PERFORMING COUNTRIES' FOR TOURISM Coronavirus travel restrictions are affecting UK tourism more than most countries across the world, new figures show. Spending by international visitors to the UK is forecast to plunge by nearly 50 per cent this year compared with 2020, the London-based World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said. This is making the UK 'one of the worst performing countries in the world', according to the organisation. The WTTC noted that the travel and tourism sector's contribution to the UK's economy may rise year on year by about 32 per cent in 2021, which is broadly in line with the rest of the global average. But that partial recovery is being driven by the boom in domestic holidays, which is not enough to achieve a full economic recovery and save millions of jobs under threat, the WTTC said. An estimated 307,000 jobs in the sector were lost last year due to the pandemic. The WTTC said the UK's 'destructive' testing and quarantine policies mean it is lagging behind other countries such as the US and China, which are 'set to see a rise in inbound international travel spending this year'. Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, said: 'WTTC research shows that while the global travel and tourism sector is beginning to recover, the UK continues to suffer big losses due to continuing travel restrictions that are tougher than the rest of Europe. 'Despite government announcements, the UK still has a red list, costly PCR tests and a requirement for day-two tests which simply put people off travel. 'Just as the world opens up, the UK has more requirements for the double vaccinated than our neighbours.' Advertisement Others stuck abroad say they were also experiencing issues because of the glitch. Henry Martin said: 'This has been an absolute nightmare. Were stuck here in Greece as they wouldnt let us on plane without a pass are you going to reimburse us for the missed flights and hotel? 'Of course there was no one we could contact about this also.' Callum Mellia said: 'Cheers guys, can't do anything in Naples right now such as tours, museums, go for a p**s because the app is broken.' Guy Holloway, who is moving to Barcelona tomorrow, said: 'The NHS App won't give me my Covid pass and I can't therefore upload proof of vaccination to booking form. 'Keeps saying "unexpected error" both in app and online. What can I do? Am travelling on Friday!' And Simon Hutton wrote: 'Am I the only one having issues getting a Covid pass on the NHS app or website? 'Try to get one and it just says there are four ways to get a pass but no option to actually generate one.' Worried travellers have been reassured they can bring 'proof of vaccination status' to their flight even without the app. Tweeting to a customer, British Airways said: 'Please contact the NHS to see if they can remedy the issue with their app. If not be reassured you can bring proof of vaccination status when you check in.' Travellers can download their pass or ask for a physical copy from their GP before travel to prove their vaccination status. But it is not clear how travellers already at airports can continue with their plans until the app returns. Users can still access their Covid vaccine records through a sub-section of the app, proving they've had two jabs. But there is no guarantee airlines or other countries will accept it as proof. Critics have campaigned against the digital passes since before they were first introduced, arguing vaccine history should be kept private. It comes after Heathrow's e-gates crashed again last week leaving travellers stuck on planes for hours and waiting in long queues at arrivals. One traveller estimated that more than a thousand people were waiting at immigration while another reported an expected waiting time of anywhere between two and four hours. A Heathrow spokesman told MailOnline that the e-gates broke down due to a 'national systems-wide issue' but that they are all back up and running. The airport even appeared to be blaming Border Force, which manages e-gates at ports across the country, for the chaos. Self-service passport gates at several major UK airports including Heathrow, Manchester, Stansted and Edinburgh all failed just over a fortnight ago, causing delays of several hours at arrivals. At the time, officials said the outage was caused by a 'systems failure'. A Home Office spokesman refused to explain why the e-gates keep crashing when approached by MailOnline for further information, saying it does not comment on 'operational matters'. They said in a statement: 'This morning a technical issue affected e-gates at a number of ports. The issue was quickly identified and has now been resolved. 'We have been working hard to minimise disruption and continue to monitor the situation closely. We apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused.' Tory MPs have demanded answers from the head of Border Force over the Heathrow queuing scandal seen in recent months but Paul Lincoln, the agency's director general, has not commented publicly on the issue in recent weeks. Travel industry experts have repeatedly warned the chaotic scenes seen in the wake of the country reopening are blighting the UK's global reputation, while running the risk of a spike in Covid cases - further jeopardising the already crisis-hit tourism sector. Vladimir Putin has accused European leaders of being 'out of their minds' as he denied withholding gas from the continent as a geopolitical 'weapon'. The Russian president insisted his country has always kept the taps into Europe open, including during the Cold War, and dismissed any suggestion that he is throttling supplies as 'complete nonsense'. He also dismissed suggestions he is exploiting the crisis to get the Nord Steam 2 pipeline approved as 'politically motivated blather' - though added that opening the pipe will 'significantly decrease' gas prices. Putin then harangued European leaders over their failure to top up gas supplies during the summer, suggesting climate targets were to blame. 'Europe tells us: "We are cutting down moving away from hydrocarbons",' he told an energy forum in Moscow. 'Yet you will have to keep pumping (gas) through Ukraine for who knows how long, for another 100 years Are you out of your minds?' Vladimir Putin has accused European leaders of being 'out of their minds' as he denied withholding gas supplies Russia has linked easing Europe's gas crisis with approving the Nord Stream 2 pipeline (top), but experts say the Kremlin already has plenty of capacity to boost supplies without bringing the new route online (pictured) Putin insisted that Russia has already exceeded the contracts it holds with Europe, and stands ready to go further still. 'We will increase by as much as our partners ask us. There is no refusal, none,' he said. 'We are not using any weapons.' One of Russia's main routes for pumping gas into Europe currently runs through Ukraine, which makes about $1billion per year in fees for maintaining the line. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline would bypass that route by going direct to Germany, depriving Ukraine of the money. The move would also hurt Poland, which sits along another major gas route - a move observers say would punish the two countries for allying closely with Europe. In addition, it would make Europe more reliant on Russian gas - handing Putin power and leverage over the continent. The US has opposed the line for this reason. Russia only completed construction on the line last month, after Joe Biden lifted key sanctions which had halted construction. It now only needs the approval of European regulators to begin pumping gas. Critics say the recently constructed Nord Stream 2 pipeline would deprive Ukraine - a key EU ally - of transit fees. Pictured: an employee works at a gas compressor station near Uzhhorod, Ukraine Why is Nord Stream 2 such a big deal? Despite their talk of renewable energy and a greener planet, European leaders remain reliant on fossil fuels for around two thirds of their energy. Natural gas makes up the second-largest chunk of the EU's 'energy mix' - second only to oil - and was responsible for more than 20 per cent of power generation in 2020. Almost all of that gas - around 90 per cent - is imported from outside of the bloc, with 40 per coming from Russia, which is the single-largest contributor. Nord Stream 2 is an $11billion pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany underneath the Baltic Sea and promises to roughly double the capacity of the already-existing Nord Stream pipeline, one of four major routes through which Russian gas reaches Europe. Begun in 2011, the line was only completed earlier this year after getting caught up in a political tug-of-war between Washington and Moscow. The Kremlin is eager to open the line because it will allow it to sell more gas into Europe, a huge money-spinner for an economy which gets a third of all its revenue from the oil and gas sector. It would also be a major political victory for Putin, allowing him to bypass lines that run through Ukraine and Poland - depriving both countries of large sums of money they collect for maintaining those lines. This is seen as payback for the pair splitting from Russia's sphere of influence by joining the EU. Putin also hopes it will increase European reliance on Russian gas, giving him increased clout over the continent while limiting retaliatory actions - such as sanctions - that western leaders can take against him. Several European countries - most notably Germany, which gets 75 per cent of its energy from fossil fuels and would become a major gas distributor to its neighbours once the line is open - are in favour. But it is vehemently opposed by others, with Ukraine and Poland - perhaps unsurprisingly - being the most outspoken. The US has historically opposed the project, fearing it will make it harder to get European leaders to take a tough stance against Russia while handing more money and power to its long-time foe. But in a surprise move, Joe Biden effectively green-lit the completion of the project earlier this year by lifting sanctions on the company that was building it. The sanctions had stopped construction through all of 2020, and prompted the likes of Ted Cruz to brag that the line would never pump gas. Biden scrapped the measures in May, and the line was finished not long after. The move was seen as a sweetener to US ally Germany, but was blasted by Biden's critics as short-sighted. NS2 now only needs the approval of European leaders to start pumping gas, something Putin's energy minister suggested would end the current crisis - leading to accusations that Russia is holding Europe to ransom. Advertisement Putin insisted that Moscow had supplied gas to Europe through the Cold War and now wants Europe to accept gas piped through the new line which is more financially beneficial to Russia and bypasses Ukraine. He said it was 'very important' to 'suggest a long-term mechanism to stabilise the energy market' in what he called a 'difficult situation.' Europe is facing a gas crisis leading up to the coldest season of the year, with a surge in prices and depleting reserves caused by a cold end to last winter. Demand is rallying as economies ramp up after the end of pandemic lockdowns and there are dips in supplies from renewables like wind. Wholesale natural gas prices, the lead indicator for overall energy prices in Europe, have more than tripled this year. Oil and coal prices have also jumped. Those spikes are expected to feed through to bills for households and businesses in coming months. Some in Europe are blaming Russia for the increase in gas prices, saying Moscow is intentionally not boosting supplies to pressure Europe for more long-term contracts and for the certification of the Nord Stream 2. Experts say that Russia already has the means to pump more gas into Europe through four existing lines, and is withholding supplies for its own political ends Joe Biden effectively green-lit completion of the $11billion Nord Stream 2 pipe to Germany back in May when he lifted sanctions that had halted construction work through 2020. Before Biden's intervention, the US under Donald Trump had been bitterly opposed to the project - fearing it would hand influence and money to Putin, while hurting the West's ability to retaliate against him. Nord Stream 2 has been enthusiastically backed by Angela Merkel who wanted the pipeline to increase Germany's natural gas revenues - but it has been bitterly opposed by Eastern European nations who fear it will embolden Russia to act more aggressively on their borders and in Ukraine. Russian engineers finished work on Nord Stream 2 last month and now only need EU leaders to give final approval to start pumping gas - a bargaining chip that Moscow has wasted no time in using to threaten the continent. Aleksandr Novak, Russia's energy minister, has explicitly linked easing the gas crisis - caused when demand outstripped supply as economies reopened post-Covid - with the opening of the Nord Stream 2 pipe, saying it would send a 'positive signal' that would help 'cool' the market. And Putin today blamed 'systemic flaws' in the European energy market and brushed off criticism, saying that 'some try to pass their errors on to others'. Russian officials have repeatedly said over recent weeks that suppliers are fulfilling obligations under contracts with European buyers. Moscow is not upping supplies available on the short-term spot markets, which the EU prefers, arguing it is more competitive. Russia's energy minister said earlier Wednesday that new contracts would be needed for increased deliveries to Europe. 'If there are requests, that will only be via the establishment of new contractual obligations,' Nikolai Shulginov said, describing Russia as a 'reliable supplier'. Putin said that Russia was 'ready' to increase gas exports, claiming supplies were being increased by 'as much as our partners are asking us'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week called on Europe to develop a 'common long-term vision of Europe's energy security'. Russia, which supplies more than a third of European gas, has said a speedy launch of its Nord Stream 2 pipeline would help combat the surge in prices Putin blamed 'systemic flaws' in the European energy market and brushed off criticism Moscow has also not booked additional gas transit capacity via Ukraine to Europe for October, raising concerns. Russia denies it is pressuring customers, saying it needs to fill its own reserves for the winter before sending supplies on to Europe. But European and UK gas prices surged last week to record peaks, energised by fears of runaway demand in the upcoming northern hemisphere winter. The crisis has also been exacerbated by a lack of wind at turbine sites, coupled with ongoing nuclear outages - and the winding down of coal power by climate-conscious governments. The energy issue will headline an EU leaders' summit next week. The list of options the European Commission presented include emergency payments - perhaps in the form of energy vouchers - to poorer households. Consumers should also be allowed to defer paying bills, and taxes and levies that can account to more than a third of the cost of those bills could be reduced or suspended, the Commission said. It stressed, however, that these proposals must be 'temporary' and 'targeted'. Medium-term proposals also presented were vaguer. They focused on boosting investment in renewable energy sources and pan-European grids - measures already charted as the EU re-gears itself to become carbon-neutral by 2050. Surging wholesale gas prices have already caused issues in the UK, including bankrupting small suppliers and halting meat production - amid warnings of price hikes and potential blackouts this winter Speaking about the global energy crunch, the International Monetary Fund backed targeted measures for the vulnerable only, saying anything broader than that would be costly and lead to 'very negative incentives'. The European Commission is strongly pushing back at criticism by some in the EU - most notably Hungary - that Europe's energy price surge was from the cost of the green transition. 'Let's be clear. The current situation is due to our overdependence on fossil fuels,' Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. 'While gas prices have rocketed, renewable energy prices are stable. The green transition is leading the way to Europe's energy independence,' she said. Her EU executive is suggesting that member states can tap revenue from the bloc's carbon-trading scheme to help pay for some of the emergency measures. It also lent some support to a suggestion by Spain that gas be jointly purchased in the EU, but only insofar as 'the potential benefits and design' of the idea should be explored. Other countries - including Germany and the Netherlands - have warned against 'extreme measures' in the face of a situation they see as temporary. Analysts at the Bruegel think tank said that the EU cannot do much to boost supply in the short-term. 'The only thing Europe can quickly do to prevent a potentially difficult winter is to actively promote energy conservation in both the residential and industrial sectors,' said Bruegel senior fellows Simone Tagliapietra and Georg Zachmann in a post on the institution's site. For households, that would include 'switching off lights, closing curtains, and taking shorter hot showers' while manufacturers could pare back production or consider temporary closures, they said. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is going after the pharmaceutical industry and business giants for slowing the path of President Joe Biden's multi-trillion budget plans. With an infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill tied in knots as leaders try to win over two holdout Democratic centrists, Sanders turned his gaze outside the Capitol, with an op-ed Wednesday on the Fox News website. He began by touting public polls showing support for individual components of the bill although other surveys have revealed most Americans still don't know what's in it. 'So, given this overwhelming support, why is it taking so long for to pass this bill? The answer is simple. Follow the money,' wrote Sanders, who also railed against big drug companies and the fossil fuel industry during his presidential campaigns. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is blaming opposition from the pharmaceutical, health care, and fossil fuel industries for holding up President Biden's $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill 'As part of our corrupt, big-money dominated political system, the pharmaceutical industry is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying, campaign contributions and television ads to defeat this legislation because it does not want Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. In order to increase their profits they want American taxpayers to continue paying, by far, the highest prices in the world for our medicine sometimes ten times more than the people in other countries,' he writes. He also went after health insurance companies he said were 'strongly opposed' to the legislation. Sanders' op-ed comes as President Joe Biden continues to negotiate with lawmakers on a slimmed-down package amid opposition by two Senate Democrats Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, has spent weeks in talks with the White House Sanders blasted drug companies for lobbying against the package Sanders' pitch come as House progressives signaled a willingness to come down on the overall cost of the bill 'The fossil fuel industry is launching a major advertising campaign to defeat this legislation because it seems to be more concerned about protecting their short-term profits than addressing the existential threat of climate change,' he writes. Sanders endeavors call attention to the different parts of the bill, even as party leaders look for ways to scale it back. He mentions expanding Medicare to provide dental and hearing coverage, climate change provisions, authority to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, and a demand 'that the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes,' along with an extended $300 a month child tax credit. What Sanders doesn't do is point the finger at Senate holdouts, including Democratic Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, although he does call for party 'unity.' Under budget rules, Democrats can muscle the package through both chambers with a simple majority. 'So, in a tied Senate which has 50 members each of the Democratic and Republican caucuses and a House of Representatives which has a mere three-vote-majority for Democrats, the question of whether we finally deliver consequential legislation to improve the lives of working class families comes down to Democratic unity,' writes Sanders, who originally backed a larger $6 trillion bill. 'Will Democrats all stand together to protect the interests of the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor? Will all Democrats stand together to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry, the health insurance companies, the fossil fuel industry, and wealthy campaign contributors?' he asks. 'I certainly hope so,' he concludes. A debt-ridden man convicted of murdering the part-time personal assistant of a man described in court as a suspected Ukrainian organised crime boss has been jailed for life with a 33-year minimum term. Armen Aristakesyan, 43, had debts of more than 100,000 when he learned that Serafima Meshaka, known as Sima, kept large quantities of cash at her flat in Ealing, west London. In September 2019, he bludgeoned her to death, leaving the 58-year-old lying in a pool of blood in her shower. Armen Aristakesyan, 43, has been jailed for life with a 33-year minimum term Investigators recovered recorded calls from Aristakesyan's phone showing how he had plotted to get her cash to pay off his debts. He was caught on CCTV visiting her flat on the evening of September 17, 2019, and leaving carrying a bulging shopping bag. Aristakesyan, of West Ealing, was found guilty of murder by an Old Bailey jury today. The court heard how Ms Meshaka had amassed a large amount cash at her home said to be around 100,000. Serafima Meshaka, 58, was bludgeoned to death She was the unofficial personal assistant to an alleged crime boss, Aleksander Angert, from Knightsbridge, in west London, who paid her 2,000 a month, jurors were told. Mr Angert, also known as King or Angel, had been named in a Home Office report as an 'organised crime boss' and arms dealer from Odessa. A female relative of Aristakesyan sobbed in the public gallery as the judge jailed him for life with a minimum term of 33 years and told him he would probably die behind bars. 'You are a thoroughly callous person,' the judge said. 'You are greedy, selfish and arrogant and prepared to use extreme violence for your own ends. 'You had no regard for this poor woman. You used her and you killed her in the course of crime.' The judge said the victim was entitled to feel safe in her adopted country and her own home. But Ms Mashaka had a distrust of banks which meant she kept large sums of cash in her flat which was 'unwise and ultimately fatal for her,' the judge said. Armenian Aristakesyan had met Ms Mashaka through his girlfriend Kseniya and the pair had become very close. Ms Mashaka worked as a 'guide and guardian' for Russian child students in the UK and also worked part-time as a PA to a Russian/Israeli businessman. Alexandra Healy QC, prosecuting, had told the court: 'Whether the defendant killed Sima before stealing her money or whether she caught him stealing her money and then killed her may never be known. 'What is clear, however, is that he killed her and he left her flat with a substantial quantity of cash. Aristakesyan, of West Ealing, was found guilty of murder by an Old Bailey jury today 'Aristakesyan decided that Sima should pay the ultimate price so that he could save himself from the situation he had got himself into.' Ms Meshaka was discovered the following day lying face down in the shower, with injuries to the back of her head. Aristakesyan, who is originally from Armenia, admitted owing her thousands of pounds but denied killing her, saying he had visited that day to ask for a loan. He claimed he left her alive at the flat and the bag he was carrying contained old clothes for a charity shop. A Filofax found in Ms Meshaka's flat contained information relating to bank accounts belonging to the Angert family, copies of their visas and email addresses. The court was also read an extract from a report prepared for the Home Office giving guidance regarding organised crime in the Ukraine. It quoted a report from the 2015 Organised Crime Observatory dealing with weapons trading between 1992 and 1998. It stated: 'One major node along illicit weapons trafficking routes has traditionally been the port of Odessa, out of which notorious arms trader Leonid Minin operated in the 1990s, in concert with Odessa organised crime boss Aleksandr Angert (criminal nickname ''Angel'') to deliver weapons to Charles Taylor in Liberia, the RUF (Revolutionary United Front), and others.' The court heard how the victim was also paid in cash for her work as guardian to Russian children going to school and university in the UK. And she had a 'rich collection' of expensive jewellery inherited from her late sister, according to her friend Nina Koltashova. While supporting her parents in Russia, Ms Koltashova had told jurors that the victim's lifestyle was 'very frugal'. Her interests included watching films, reading and the ballet. Following her death, police found 30,000 euro and 10,000 at her flat. A Dutch monarch can marry someone of the same sex without giving up their claim to the throne, the country's prime minister said on Tuesday. The comment came in response to questions raised by recently published books on Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, which argued that the country's rules exclude the possibility of a same-sex royal couple. The Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage in 2001, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a letter to parliament that attitudes had changed since his predecessor had last addressed the issue in 2000. 'The government believes that the heir can also marry a person of the same sex,' Prime Minister Rutte wrote in a letter to parliament. 'The cabinet therefore does not see that an heir to the throne or the King should abdicate if he/she would like to marry a partner of the same sex.' Prime Minister Mark Rutte was responding to questions raised by recently published books on Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (pictured), which argued that the country's rules exclude the possibility of a same-sex royal couple [File photo] Prime Minister Mark Rutte (pictured) said in a letter to parliament that attitudes had changed since his predecessor had last addressed the issue in 2000 [File photo] Rutte said it was not clear how a same-sex marriage would affect later succession of the royal couple's children, but added that it didn't make sense to try and decide that now. 'It's just very dependent on the facts and circumstances of the specific case, as you can see by looking back at how family law can change over time,' he wrote. Amalia, 17, is the daughter of King Willem-Alexander and heir to the Dutch throne. She has not made any comments on the matter, and little is known of her personal life. Earlier this year, she announced that she would not accept the 1.6m (1.4m) annual allowance from the state when she turns 18, saying it would make her feel 'uncomfortable'. Unlike regular marriages, royal marriages need the approval of parliament in the Netherlands. Members of the Dutch royal house have on occasion given up their place in the line of succession to marry someone without permission. A friend of Grindr serial killer Stephen Port's first victim was convinced his death was suspicious and believed police assumed he had overdosed on drugs simply because he was a gay sex worker, an inquest has heard. China Dunning, a university friend of Anthony Walgate, 23, told the inquest into his death that they had discussed the drug GHB in the past and that he would never have risked taking it. Fashion student Mr Walgate, 23, was found dead in Barking, east London, on June 19 2014 after being given a fatal overdose of the drug by Port - who used the dating and hook-up Grindr to lure in his victims. Port went on to kill Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, and inquests are examining whether any of them could have been saved had police acted differently. Giving evidence via videolink from Hong Kong where she lives, Miss Dunning told the inquests: 'I was convinced that Anthony's death was suspicious. I... just knew that he hadn't taken drugs himself and overdosed. 'I was convinced that it was the actions of Stephen Port. I was convinced that he had his drink spiked or something, and that it was suspicious.' Mr Walgate would sporadically work as an escort and had arranged to meet Port, who was using the false name Joe Dean, on June 17 2014 at his flat in Barking. China Dunning, a university friend of Anthony Walgate (pictured together), told the inquest into his death that they had discussed the drug GHB in the past and would never have risked taking it Mr Walgate was the first of four drug-related murders of young gay men carried out by Port (pictured) over a 16-month period, who used the dating and hook-up app Grindr to lure in his victims Miss Dunning told police that if toxicology reports found GHB in Mr Walgate's body she did not believe he would have taken it of his own accord (pictured together) GHB is 'very easy' to overdose on and is often used by sexual predators to carry out assaults GHB or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (C4H8O3) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that is commonly referred to as a 'club drug' or 'date rape' drug. GHB is typically used by teens and young adults at bars, parties, clubs and 'raves' and is often placed in alcoholic beverages. Euphoria, increased sex drive, and tranquility are reported positive effects of GHB abuse. Negative effects may include sweating, loss of consciousness, nausea, hallucinations, amnesia, coma - and even death. GHB is available as an odorless, colorless drug that may be combined with alcohol and given to unsuspecting victims prior to sexual assaults. It may have a soapy or salty taste. It's very easy to overdose on GHB and because there's only a very small difference between the dose causing the desired effects and the dose leading to severe overdose. Experienced users measure the drug out very carefully using a pipette or a syringe, or by filling pre-measured vials (small bottles) to avoid taking too much. If you dont measure the dosage, youre likely to overdose and fall unconscious. Drinking GHB on its own would lead to chemical burns in your mouth and throat. Because of this, people take GHB orally by using a pipette, syringe or pre-measured vial to measure the dose and then mix it into a soft drink. Source: Drugs.com/talktofrank.com Advertisement Miss Dunning reported Mr Walgate missing two days later, along with the name, address and date of birth that Port had provided and a physical description of him. In September 2014, as the investigation into Mr Walgate's death continued, Miss Dunning told police that if toxicology reports found GHB in his body she did not believe he would have taken it of his own accord. Asked about how the police responded to her concerns that her friend's death may be suspicious, Miss Dunning said: 'They received the information professionally but I was also aware that maybe they might have come to the assumption that he was young, gay, a sex worker, and I just thought that they would instantly assume "yes, he does drugs as well", or he would be willing to, or he would take the risk. 'I wanted to convince them that they shouldn't have that stereotype.' Port initially pretended not to know Mr Walgate when questioned by police and was jailed for perverting the course of justice in 2015 for the lies he had told relating to his death. When Miss Dunning attended court for the hearing, she, another friend and Mr Walgate's stepfather Sammy Sak, urged an officer present to examine Port's laptop but were told that the procedure was expensive. Jurors were read a statement in which Miss Dunning recalled telling the detective: 'We said this guy is dodgy as f**k. He's done something to Anthony.' It was confirmed by Home Office pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki at the inquest on Tuesday that Mr Walgate died after being poisoned with excessive quantities of GHB. But he said bruising on his body suggested he may have still been alive when he was moved by Port and dragged outside and left propped up against a wall - even if he was unconscious or near-death. Dr Biedrzycki said: 'I don't think he was dead when those bruises occurred. 'But if he was quite unwell with low pulse, low blood pressure, if he was in the process of dying, it's possible they would have formed.' He ruled out death by 'natural causes' following his first post-mortem examination. A soldier has been found dead at Fort Hood over the weekend - adding yet another to the tally of lives lost in connection with the base. Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer Bocanegra confirmed that the soldier, who has not been identified, was found unresponsive behind his company barracks on Saturday. Shortly afterwards, the 1st Cavalry Division soldier was pronounced dead, KWTX reports. No additional information has been provided about the death, but Bocanegra said that investigation is now underway. The death is the latest in a string of incidents involving soldiers connected to Fort Hood, with 31 people having died in 2020 alone. A 1st Cavalry Division soldier was found dead behind his company barracks at Fort Hood (pictured) over the weekend, Army officials have confirmed MailOnline has approached the US Army for additional comment. Last year, 20-year-old Spc. Vanessa Guillen disappeared in April and was later found to have been bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory where she worked. The main suspect in her disappearance, Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, killed himself when investigators confronted him. The string of deaths led to an independent review of the climate and culture at Fort Hood and led to the punishment of 14 senior officers. The Army later released a report on their findings, which revealed Guillen was sexually harassed and reported it two times. Last year, 20-year-old Spc. Vanessa Guillen (pictured) disappeared from Fort Hood and was later found to have been bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory where she worked It said Guillens leaders didnt take appropriate action and the allegations were not moved up the chain of command. Her family has continued to push for change leading to federal lawmakers introducing legislation on how to handle sexual assaults outside of the chain of command and to give them to independent military prosecutors. Reports of toxic culture and abuse on the base have been under increased focus as a result of the 31 soldiers connected with the fort who lost their lives in 2020. In another incident, earlier this month, a female soldier based at Fort Hood Last week, Pfc. Jennifer Sewell (pictured) based at Fort Hood, disappeared on Thursday last week and was eventually found safe with relatives after going AWOL who disappeared on Thursday last week was eventually found safe with relatives after going AWOL. Officials had initially asked for help from the public in an effort to find Jennifer Sewell, who was last seen around 4pm on Thursday leaving her barracks according to the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services. She had not been seen since. Sewell, a private first class soldier at the base, was reported missing Friday after she failed to show up to work. Fort Hood put out a public alert asking for help finding the missing solider. On Sunday, by around 7pm, officials from Fort Hood confirmed that leadership from Sewells chain of command spoke to her family. Sewells family confirmed she was safe and with extended family after she did not respond to repeated calls by law enforcement or her superiors. Fort Hood officials said they continue to remain in communication with Sewells family and friends, 'to ensure she has access to resources she may need and to return her safely to Fort Hood,' Fort Hood Press Center said in a statement on Sunday. 'Pfc. Sewell is a valued member of our team, and our number one priority is ensuring her safe return. We are in regular contact with her family and will provide any assistance she and her family may need to return to Fort Hood,' said Ltc. Octavia Davis, commander of Regimental Support Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment. It is not clear if she will face disciplinary action for going AWOL. 'Initial investigation appears that Sewell left for unknown reasons on her own accord,' a statement explained prior to the news of her safe whereabouts, which noted she does not own a vehicle. At this stage, it is not known why she decided to leave the base. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123 or go to www.samaritans.org. A female architect has told how she 'lost her face' in the hours and days after undergoing beauty treatment because her then boyfriend told her she looked 'old'. Svetlana, 37, from Perm in Russia, claims it had the opposite intended effect and aged her 10 years overnight saying: 'My face shrank like in mummification.' She claims the cosmetic surgeon used a new drug recently approved for use in Britain and other Western countries, but that it destroyed her looks 'irreversibly ageing her ten years'. Before and After: Svetlana, 37, from Russia, (pictured before, left) revealed she 'lost her face' in the hours and days after beauty treatment that aged her 10 years overnight (right) She turned into a 'recluse', saying: 'My skin sagged like a rag, the face completely departed from the skull. 'The connection of the skin to the skull, the so-called ligaments of the face, disappeared.' A criminal case has now been launched into her case in Russia, but Svetlana says her love life and career has been ruined and she has spoken out to warn other women. 'It's very scary,' she said. 'As if you were killed, you decompose - and see it every day in the mirror. 'It's like your face is melting and you can't stop it. Doctors don't know how to treat it. 'If I had even had the slightest hint that this could happen, I would never have gone to a beautician at all.' She decided to undergo the cosmetic procedure because her then boyfriend told her she looked 'old' and joked he would 'find himself a younger model' (pictured, before the treatment) She claims the cosmetic surgeon used a new drug, Longidaza, to remove old gel implants but it 'destroyed the collagen' on her face and her 'skin became saggy' (pictured) Her problems started when she was advised by her cosmetologist to remove old lifting gel implants with injections of Longidaza, a Russian drug with multiple uses that has been approved this year for use in many Western countries, reported Russian channel NTV. She had sought treatment because 'my then boyfriend kept telling me - supposedly as a joke - "You're old - I'll find myself a younger model",' she said. Subconsciously, she believed him and tried to improve her face with cosmetic surgery, then he dumped her when her surgery went wrong, she said. Svetlana has been advised that the drug 'destroyed the collagen' on her face and her 'skin became saggy'. Svetlana says her love life and career has been ruined and she has spoken out to warn other women after she said her 'face shrank like during mummification' She said within three days of the treatmenr, the under-eye and the upper eyelid, was completely dry, her eyebrows had dropped down, and the outer corners of the eyes dropped She had gone to a surgeon in March 2020 who she had visited earlier in her home city Perm. The medic - a fully qualified doctor - assured her that the Longidaza would break down excess gel under the skin beneath her eyes, she said. She had other treatments, too, injecting gel into her cheeks and into her nasolabial fold. She received enzyme and hyaluronic filler in one procedure, she said. 'In the evening I went to the mirror and saw that my face had began to change,' she said. 'The skin under my eyes dried up and literally fell through. 'In the morning, the volume of dried tissue under the eyes increased even more. Rapid changes were taking place, every hour my face was altering. She said she turned into a 'recluse' after the treatment went wrong, and hid behind Covid face masks and also wore large dark glasses and a cap, to completely cover her face (pictured) 'Within three days, not only the under-eye, but also the upper eyelid, was completely dry. My eyebrows dropped down, the outer corners of the eyes dropped. I couldn't understand what was going on.' She has been told subsequently that the Longidaza, an allergenic anti-scar drug, was 'eating away at my tissues'. Svetlana said: 'I didn't realise at the time that it was irreversible.' Her beautician Dr Irina Freimanis then injected more gel but also used more of the new drug, this time giving her treatment for free, said the victim. The new fillers caused her pain but did not solve the worsening problem. 'After all these injections, I saw another person in the mirror every day,' said Svetlana. 'It was clear that some kind of chemical process was taking place and the face was changing. This was really scary.' Svetlana said two years ago she was successful and her career as an architect was going in an upward trajectory but the visit to the beautician 'broke her whole life' Surgeons and ophthalmologists warned her that due to damage to her eye area , her vision would be damaged. 'I stopped communicating with people, I shut myself away,' she said. Everyone asked what happened to me, why I didn't look like myself, what was wrong with my eyes. 'I continued to swell a lot, and stopped leaving the house so as not to scare anyone.' Covid face masks saved her embarrassment but she also wore large dark glasses and a cap, completely covering my face since in profile I had a very unnaturally flat forehead and temples. 'My face shrank like during mummification,' she said. On the web she realised that she was not alone in suffering such problems. She went to the Russian Investigative Committee which is now examining the case, and was medically checked as she sought a way out. 'Some doctors told me: "Yes, this drug has corroded your face, it is irreversible..".' Her cosmetologist - who is contesting the case - was caught on video saying: 'Go and prove I injected you with Longidaza.' Svetlana says she bitterly regrets undergoing the treatment saying: 'I now look at my photos and videos before this and I see that everything was good'. She said she 'found fault' with herself because of her boyfriend's words. 'In most cases, women do not need any procedures. You just need to drink vitamins, eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle. But society imposes its stereotypes on us, the cult of beauty is actively imposed on us.' A criminal case has now been launched against her beautician, Dr Irina Freimanis, a fully qualified doctor, (pictured) in Russia, who is contesting the case She said: 'I am telling my story here to warn other girls and women what might happen to them. 'You can't blindly trust doctors, even with many qualifications. You need to love yourself and watch Instagram less, and not listen to people who say: "You're getting old". 'Better to grow old with dignity and do nothing with your face. I am very sorry that I even applied for any procedure. I wish I hadn't. 'I just wanted to correct the minimal age-related changes, but I could not even think that my face would be ditched in such a way that it would cost me my whole life.' Svetlana said: 'Two years ago I was successful, everything worked out for me, my career was going in an upward trajectory, everything was fine. 'And this fatal mistake - my visit to a beautician - broke my whole life. It looks like appearance is not important. But appearance is very important, especially for a woman. 'Your face is your calling card. I would agree to anything to get my face back. But this is unreal. 'Even after (restorative) surgery, it will be a completely different face, and the skin will not be completely restored.' Longidaza has used widely in Russia and neighbouring countries for 15 years. It has applications in pulmonology, urology, and has been used to treat Covid-19 patients, assisting in overcoming breathing problems. Its makers say it has some uses in cosmetology. The committee is investigating the case, and assessing Svetlana's claims. When confronted with a claim from Svetlana, the doctor said on video: 'I don't care what you brought goodbye, go away.' A German girl who was lost for two days in a forest along the German-Czech border was found alive by rescuers on Tuesday. Eight-year-old Julia Sleegers, from Berlin, was separated from her family on Sunday and became lost in thick woodland near Mount Cerchov, spending around 45 hours by herself in freezing weather without food or water. A huge search was launched involving hundreds of rescue workers who found her on Tuesday, with officials saying she was suffering from hypothermia but that her life was not in danger, according to German news agency DPA. Eight-year-old Julia Sleegers (pictured in a handout from German police), from Berlin, was separated from her family and became lost in thick woodland near Mount Cerchov, spending around 45 hours by herself before she was found by a Czech forest worker and rescued Bavarian police said in a statement that she was discovered near the town of Ceska Kubice by rescue officials, with German outlet Bild reporting that she was found by Czech forest worker Martin Semecky near a hunter's perch on Tuesday. 'She must have been very skilled to do that,' Semecky, 31, told the German Press Agency, recalling how he found the girl. The forester, along with two friends, went out searching for Julia on Tuesday, and first checked the hunter's perch in morning, to no avail. Bavarian police said in a statement that she was discovered near the town of Ceska Kubice by rescue officials But later in the day - at around 1.40pm - they returned to the same site to find Julia sitting nearby in the long grass. Rescuer Semecky told Bild: 'When we saw her, we couldn't believe our own eyes. 'Suddenly little Julia was standing in front of us, she was sitting about ten meters away in the tall grass. It's a miracle she survived,' he said. 'She was shocked and asked about her parents. I have assured her that they are fine and that she would see them soon.' A huge search was launched involving hundreds of rescue workers who found her on Tuesday, with officials saying she was suffering from hypothermia but that her life was not in danger, according to German news agency DPA. Pictured: Police search for the missing girl Semecky believes that Julia must have used the hunter's perch for shelter. 'It was dry and very clean. Most likely she spent the night on the high seat.' He and his friends took Julia a short distance in their car to get some water and something to eat, before handing her off to German emergency services at the border. From there she was taken to a hospital in Bavaria. Semecky, saying he didn't want to be celebrated as a hero for finding Julia, said humbly: 'So many people in Germany and the Czech Republic were looking for Julia. Thanks to all of you now.' Police spokesman Florian Beck said of Julia's condition now: 'She is alive, she is hypothermic and has been taken to the hospital.' It is officially unknown how the girl was able to survive in the forest infamous for being nearly impenetrable, and with temperatures falling to near freezing at night. Julia went missing with her brother and cousin on Sunday as the family from Berlin took a break while hiking in the Bohemian Forest. Pictured: Intensive search for the missing eight-year-old German girl continued in the vicinity of the Cerchov mountain, in the Domazlice district, Czech Republic, on October 11, 2021 The two other children were located Sunday evening in the forest near the Bavarian town of Waldmuenchen, but the girl remained missing in a densely forested area with temperatures near freezing. Hundreds of German and Czech police officers, firefighters, 40 tracking dogs, helicopters and drones were involved in the search, German news agency DPA reported. The Bohemian Forest is known to be so impenetrable that authorities asked volunteers not to join the search, fearing that more people might go missing. Maria Svobodova, a spokeswoman for the rescue service, told Czech meda that Julia was 'conscious, cold and tired', but was not hurt. The girl's discovery was also confirmed by Czech police in a Twitter post. 'Excellent news, the little girl has been tracked down, she will now be handed over to the paramedics,' the post read. Josef Weindl, spokesman for the Upper Palatinate Police Headquarters, told Tagesspiegel that the little girl remains in hospital, but is otherwise doing well. Previously, he had said that 'For two days a child can survive without eating or drinking,' but it was the low temperatures that concerned him most. A woman who watched her granddaughter get snatched off a Bronx sidewalk by a deranged homeless man has sought medical care in effort to deal with the trauma of the attempted abduction. Gabriela Derevjanik was walking with her three grandchildren Monday afternoon when Santiago Salcedo, a 27-year-old homeless man, wrapped Lilianna Repka, 3, up in a comforter and tried to run away with her. Although Salcedo's attempts were unsuccessful, Lilianna's family is still dealing with the affects of his actions. 'I've just come from the doctor with my wife. She's shaken by the whole thing,' her husband, Jan Derevjanik, told the Daily News Tuesday. 'She can't speak about it. Who knows what would have happened if he'd taken our grandchild?' He added: 'I can't stand to look at it. This guy is not supposed to be on the street. He should be in jail or in a psychiatric hospital. If I had been there, he would have been killed.' The crime was committed amid a seven per cent spike in assaults in New York in September. Homelessness numbers have more than doubled to 50,000 in a decade, with nurse Maria Ambrocio, 58, the most high-profile recent victim of the spree. Gabriela Derevjanik (right, seen running as two toddlers watch) was walking with her three grandchildren Monday afternoon when Santiago Salcedo (left, carrying child in a blanket), wrapped Lilianna Repka, 3, up in a comforter and tried to run away with her She was knocked over and fatally-injured in Times Square last Friday by a man fleeing a mugging he'd just carried out, with cops naming their suspect as vagrant Jermaine Foster. Meanwhile, Salcedo who was charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child claims that a man, not seen in the surveillance footage of the incident, told him to take Lilianna. 'I was there. Someone told me to grab the girl. She was evil,' he stated during his deposition, court documents revealed. 'When the guy stopped me, I dropped her and walked away.' Jan Derevjanik (left) said his wife was traumatized by the encounter and that if he had been present Salcedo 'would have been killed' Lilianna's mother, Jana Repka (pictured), wants Salcedo to seek medical help Lilianna's mother, Jana Repka, wants Salcedo to seek medical help. 'I want to press charges but I don't want him to go to jail. I want him to get help. Jail is not going to help him,' she told the New York Post. Salcedo was arraigned at Bronx Criminal Court Tuesday night. His public defender, Angeline Andersen, allegedly quoted Jana when she asked the judge that her client receive 'medical treatment and mental health services'. 'I ask that your honor have that same compassion and understanding for Mr. Salcedo that the complainant's mother did,' Andersen said. Judge Seth Steed granted the request for medical attention, but did note that the case was 'very serious. 'The defendant faces up to 15 years in prison for the alleged kidnapping of the 3-year-old girl,' he stated. Salcedo was held on a $15,000 bail and a protection order was issued for Lilianna. The 27-year-old, who appeared in court looking unkept and in the same clothes he wore during the incident, remained mostly quiet during the arraignment. Neither he nor his family would comment on the hearing. Santiago Salcedo (pictured with public defender Angeline Andersen) appeared for his arraignment at Bronx Criminal Court Tuesday evening Andersen (right) asked the judge that Salcedo (left) receive 'medical treatment and mental health services'. The judge agreed, but noted that the case was 'very serious.' Salcedo was held on a $15,000 bail and a protection order was issued for the 3-year-old victim Surveillance footage paints a vivid picture of the attempted abduction. Gabriela, 65, who was babysitting Lilianna and her two toddler brothers, walking the children back from a nearby park on Monday afternoon when Salcedo walked towards them. He approached the group near BP gas station at the corner of E. Tremont and Baisley Avenues, wrapped Lilianna up in a blanket, and ran off with her. Gabriela chased after him as Lilianna's siblings watched in shock. 'Of course, she yelled at the guy to stop, and to give us my little daughter,' Jana told CBS New York. 'He dropped her after a couple of steps. Other people who were at the station were really responding.' She continued: 'There was literally a couple of people who chased the guy and helped us with police, so I'd like to thank them.' A homeless man tried to abduct a little girl walking with her grandmother in the Bronx in broad daylight on Monday The man wrapped the little girl in a comforter and snatched her from the sidewalk Fermin Bracero, 63, who works at the BP gas station was one of the heroes who chased down the suspect. After the girl was safe, he told DailyMail.com: 'He didn't say nothing. He just stood there looking at us. He stood there for awhile. I was still thinking, "Is this real?"' A group of Good Samaritans two men and two women helped bring Lilianna to safety. Fermin Bracero, 63, who works at the BP, chased down the suspect. He told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that he was sweeping the sidewalk when he saw Salcedo wrap a blanket around the young girl and take off. He thought it was a joke, but then realized it wasn't a family prank and chased the suspect. Another man and two women who were pumping gas joined the pursuit. Bracero told DailyMail.com that the suspect let the girl go, and didn't say anything to the four. He simply walked away and went across the street. 'He didn't say nothing. He just stood there looking at us. He stood there for a while. I was still thinking, 'Is this real?'' Bracero recalled. He said Salcedo finally took off on an electric scooter before it 'quit on him' and then he ran off. NYPD officers later found him asleep in a nearby doorway and arrested him. Police caught Salcedo later Monday sleeping in the doorway of a nearby business and was seen grinning as he was charged on Monday night. He was charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and child endangerment He was seen laughing and smiling as he was escorted out of the 45th Precinct in the Bronx and in the back of the police car The attempted abduction comes amid a surge in violent crime committed by homeless suspects in New York City. Last week, Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-old oncology nurse from New Jersey, was knocked to the ground by a man allegedly attempting to flee the scene with a 29-year-old woman's cellphone near Times Square. The charges against the suspect, Jermaine Foster, were later upgraded from a felony assault to murder after Ambrocio's family agreed to switch off her life support. The number of single adults sleeping in municipal shelters has spiked by 103 percent in the past decade and has continued to soar since coronavirus pandemic. In the past few years, NYC homelessness has reached its highest levels since the Great Depression in the 1930s, according to the New York Coalition for the Homeless. There were 47,979 homeless people, including 14,881 homeless children, sleeping each night in the NYC municipal shelter system in August 2021, according to the agency. In the same month, there were 18,357 single adults in shelters. The brutal beating comes just a few days after Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-old oncology nurse, was killed after a mugger shoved her to the ground in Times Square The suspect, Jermaine Foster, 26, is being charged with murder The coalition adds that thousands of homeless people sleep throughout the streets, subways and other public spaces throughout the Big Apple, but there is 'no accurate measure' of such data and city surveys 'significantly underestimate the number of unsheltered homeless New Yorkers.' Many have said that Mayor Bill de Blasio's attempts to handle the ongoing mental health crisis have only exacerbated it. The Office of Community Mental Health, which was once known as first lady Chirlane McCray's $1.25 billion ThriveNYC initiative, has yet to reinstate two in-person training programs, Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Training due to COVID-19 safety precautions even though city workers have been back in their offices for months, according to the New York Post. The number of crime victims offered emotional support services also dropped from 49,000 in the 2020 fiscal year to 39,000 in 2021 fiscal year, the outlet reported. And mental health service in high-needs schools saw a change of guard this year. They are now run by the Department of Education and the Department of Health instead of the Office of Community Mental Health. The attempted abduction comes amid a surge in violent crime committed by homeless suspects in New York City There have been 16,899 felony assaults in NYC this year through October 3, with multiple terrifying examples carried out by homeless people, according to the the most recent data from the NYPD. That is up seven percent from the 15,787 committed in the same time period the previous year. Felony assaults are up almost 16 percent in the past 28 days, with 1,949 incidents through October 3 compared to 1,685 in the same duration last year. Robberies in the Big Apple are down just 0.4 percent with 9,647 through October 3 compared to 9,686 committed in the same period last year. Robberies are up nine percent in the past 28 days with 1,222 occurring in in 2021 as compared to 1,117 in 2020. Transit crimes are down 13 percent this year through October 3, with 1,200 in 2021 and 1,384 in 2020. However, such crimes have soared in the past 28 days and are up about 66 percent with 169 in 2021 as opposed to 102 for the same period in 2020. Queensland Police have charged a woman who allegedly pretended to be a doctor and issued hundreds of fake 'exemption certificates' for COVID testing, vaccinations and mask wearing. Detectives on Wednesday executed a search warrant at an address in the Gold Coast suburb of Labrador where a 45-year-old Darling Heights woman was arrested. She has been charged under Health Practitioner Regulation National Law with five counts of taking a title indicating a person is a health practitioner. Australians must check-in with QR codes (pictured) and show proof of vaccination in NSW, and soon Victoria, to enter shops and restaurants - prompting some to find ways around the rules The woman is the first person in Queensland to be charged with this offence. 'It will be alleged that the woman told police she has issued approximately 600 false medical 'exemption certificates' in relation to COVID,' police said in a statement. The woman is scheduled to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on October 28. Two New York City officers are off the force after they were caught accepting thousands of dollars to drive 'high-end hookers' to and from hotel liaisons in an elaborate sting where fellow cops posed as prostitutes, NYPD officials said. Officers Thomas Diorio and Michael Sardone drove the undercover escorts around the city to meet 'johns' at hotels between April 9 and May 14, according to internal disciplinary records. The pair allegedly accepted $8,000 in total, $4,000 for the first round trip and $2,000 each for the next two. Diorio, a 21-year department veteran, was fired on August 21, while Sardone, who joined the force in 2011, retired amid the investigation. It is unclear if they will face criminal charges. The New York City Police Pension Fund did not immediately respond to questions from DailyMail.com about their pension status. Officer Michael Sardone filed for retirement in July as the NYPD investigated him for taking thousands of dollars in exchange for driving around undercover cops posing as hookers Sardone was a youth coordination officer supposed to 'act as a role model to our young people' The rogue cops - who worked at the 106th precinct in Queens, which serves the neighborhoods of Ozone Park, Lindenwood and Howard Beach - were snared by an 'extended integrity test,' a sting operation that featured fellow officers posting as prostitutes and clients. The sting began in February as part of an 'unrelated' investigation into Sardone, according to an order of dismissal signed by NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea in August. It's not clear what that investigation was about. Sardone texted and spoke with an undercover officer posing as a prostitute, who asked if he was interested in replacing her regular driver, who was sick, according to disciplinary records. On April 6, Sardone told her that he knew another officer who could help escort them to and from their encounters. 'We're not street girls, you know. We're like high-end,' the undercover officer assured Diorio. He and Sardone then discussed logistics and payment over the phone and during an in-person meeting with an undercover officer at a Starbucks, which was captured on video. The undercover officer said she'd be meeting a high-end client for an hour-and-a-half. On April 9, the officers met three female undercover cops at the parking lot of a diner in Queens and drove them to a Manhattan hotel, records show. Sardone and fellow officer Thomas Diorio worked at the 106th precinct in Queens, above, when they began driving the undercover sex workers around in April of this year In one encounter, the officers even went up to a Queens hotel room to help squash an argument between the undercover prostitutes and a 'client' who didn't want to pay 'Upon arrival, a male undercover officer, posing as the client, approached [Diorio] and Sardone outside the vehicle and gave each of them a one hundred dollar tip,' police said. 'When they were ready for pickup, [an undercover officer] texted Sardone, and they were all driven back to the diner parking lot, where the undercover officer handed the remaining two thousands dollars to Sardone and [Diorio].' The officers were paid $2,000 for another trip to Manhattan on April 23. The undercover officers tested out their acting chops on May 14 after Diorio and Sardone drove two undercover 'prostitutes' to a Queens hotel. 'She explained to them that this was a new client and asked them to be prepared to come up to the room, which they agreed to do,' police said. One of the undercover officers texted Sardone and urged him and Diorio to come upstairs, where the women 'pretended' to argue with a 'john,' another officer posing as a client, about payment. 'Can we square this up so we can get out of here? I mean it was talked about before so lets just pay them their money,' Diorio said during the filmed encounter, according to police. The phony john handed Diorio $1,000 and told him that he 'looks like a tough guy.' Diorio was found guilty of misconduct and making false statements in an internal trial. He was fired in August, and it's not clear whether he nor officer Sardone will face criminal charges One of the female officers then said she was taking back her 'coke,' and grabbed multiple baggies of white powder from the fake client. The next day, Sardone told her that they were still interested in the job, but they 'preferred for there not to be any narcotics brought into the vehicle in case they were pulled over,' police said. During the last trip, the pair even confronted an undercover cop who posed as a client who didn't want to pay for the services, with Diorio asking him: 'Can we square this up so we can get out of here?' Diorio made 'deliberately misleading' statements after the stings, which were all filmed, police said. He repeatedly answered, 'I don't remember,' to questions from investigators. Diorio was found guilty of advancing and profiting from prostitution on three separate occasions and of failing to perform his duty as a police officer. He had no disciplinary record before agreeing to escort the fake prostitutes to their jobs. In fact, he received ratings of 'exceeds expectations' in 2018 and 2019 and a rating of 'exceptional' in 2020. He had also been awarded two medals for excellent police duty and one for meritorious police duty. Before his retirement, Sardone was a youth coordination officer, who 'provide support and act as a role models to our young people,' according to a tweet from his precinct last year. An Oregon prison guard and his nephew were arrested for the 2020 murder of the guard's brother and his fiancee in a dispute over their late father's estate. Kenneth Atkinson, 54, of Bend, allegedly hired his nephew, Nathan Detroit, 31, to kill Ray Atkinson Jr., 34, and Natasha Newby, 29, while the Atkinson brothers were in a bitter legal dispute over their father's $400,000 estate, said Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel Friday. The couple died from blunt force trauma on August 15, 2020, which Hummel said Detroit, of Redmond, carried out in exchange for money. 'Ray and Natasha's families have been waiting 14 months for the arrest of the killers of their loved ones. I committed to working tirelessly on this case until we had sufficient evidence to move forward,' Hummel told Central Oregon Daily News. 'Thanks to the dogged work of Bend Police Detectives, the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, and the deputy district attorneys and trial assistants in my office, we secured sufficient evidence to prove who committed these crimes and how they committed these crimes.' Police said Kenneth Atkinson, left, hired his nephew, Nathan Detroit, right, to kill his brother Ray Atkinson Jr. and Ray's fiancee, Natasha Newby, on August 15, 2020 Police found Ray Atkinson Jr. and Natasha Newby, pictured, dead from blunt force trauma Investigators said they long suspected Atkinson, a former prison guard for the Nevada Department of Corrections, for the murders, but did not have enough evidence to connect him to the crime. Police found that the brothers had been in a legal battle over the estate of their father, who died in 2019 without leaving a will. They said Atkinson wanted to kill the couple out of a 'Cain and Abel'-style jealousy. Hummel added that police knew early on that there was more than one suspect involved in the murders, and said they did not want to make an arrest early in fear of giving the accomplice time to flee. Investigators did not discuss the new clues that led them to charge both Atkinson and Detroit. Bend Police Department Chief Mike Krantz said investigators had gathered nearly 500 pieces of evidence for the case. 'I am hopeful that this arrest will bring a small measure of closure and peace to the family and friends of Ray and Natasha,' Krantz said in a statement. Racheil Hoffman, Newby's sister, had been pushing for law enforcement to make an arrest during the long investigation period, and said she was finally felt at ease following Atkinson and Detroit's arrest. 'Just knowing that they're behind bars, and there's no bail, is a huge relief off of our backs,' Hoffman told KTVZ. She said the family was heartbroken following news of Ray and Newby's death, as the couple was preparing to get married in the spring of 2021. 'They're finally going to get their justice.' Hoffman said. Dave Newby, Natasha's father, told The Bulletin that he would be comfortable with the two suspects receiving a sentence of life in prison. 'Death is too easy,' he said. 'I want 'em to suffer.' Racheil Hoffman, pictured, is the sister of Natasha Newby. Hoffman and her family had been pressing law enforcement to make an arrest in the murder of Newby and her fiancee Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, left, said police were hard at work over the past year, building a case against Kenneth Atkinson and Nathan Detroit The couple was found dead inside their home in Bend, Oregon Atkinson and Detroit were each charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder. They are being held in Deschutes County Jail without bail. The men made their first court appearance on October 4, with the state calling in 26 witnesses to testify, the Associated Press reports. Atkinson appeared in court by video wearing a black face mask and an orange sweatshirt. The men's local public defenders declined to comment on the case. Brian Laundrie's father refused to answer questions as he mowed his lawn around a makeshift memorial for his fugitive son's late fiancee Wednesday morning - 19 hours after a coroner announced Gabby Petito was strangled. In a video posted to Twitter the morning after the coroner's announcement, Chris Laundrie, 62, was recorded with a grass cutter trimming blades close to the memorial for Petito set up in his front lawn while being questioned by a reporter. During Wednesday's gardening task, Chris Laundrie avoided caution tape, bouquets of flowers and photos of 22-year-old Petito while ignoring questions asked by a man off camera. 'Is there anything you want to say?' he asked. Chris didn't reply. 'Is there anything you want people to know? You and Roberta haven't said anything,' he added, which Chris also completely ignored. Chris Laundrie trims grass around Gabby Petito makeshift memorial set up on front lawnhttps://t.co/TEB2Z5fS3M pic.twitter.com/RrCJa6Q4sG Fox News (@FoxNews) October 13, 2021 Brian Laundrie's father Chris, 62, was filmed trimming the grass around a makeshift memorial for his fugitive son's late fiancee Wednesday morning - 19 hours after the coroner announced Gabby Petito was strangled Supposed protestors gathered outside the Laundrie's North Port, Florida, home and asked Chris: 'Is there anything you want people to know? You and Roberta haven't said anything,' to which he completely ignored Chris was seen avoiding the caution tape, bouquets of flowers and pictures of Petito as he cut the grass The video was filmed just 19 hours after the coroner ruled that Petito was strangled to death and exactly one month since Laundrie went on the run Supposed protesters were also at the Laundrie residence in North Port last night attempting to confront Chris and his wife Roberta as they banged on the door and demanded that the couple 'speak up soon'. The clip of Chris Laundrie emerged as Petito's grieving parents made their way to Wyoming to recover her remains, three weeks after her body was found near Grand Teton National Park. The Teton County coroner announced just yesterday that she died of manual strangulation. Petito's parents are expecting to return home to Long Island, New York, this weekend with her ashes, according to Fox. A pair of apparent protesters appeared to try to confront the Laundries at their home, banging on the door and shouting for them to speak up soon. https://t.co/DogJekB3nN pic.twitter.com/PX74xYxVp6 Fox News (@FoxNews) October 13, 2021 Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue released the cause of the 22-year-old van-life vlogger's death in a videoconference press briefing (above) Tuesday afternoon Petito's family is headed to Wyoming to reunite with her. They are set to return home to Long Island, New York, this weekend with Petito's ashes. Pictured L-R: stepmother Tara Petito, father Joe Petito, mother Nicole Schmidt, family attorney, stepfather Jim Schmidt Hours after Petito's cause of death was announced, a man was filmed outside their Florida home shouting: 'Come on dirty Laundries. Come on, you guys like to strangle people. You and your little b**** a** son. It's time to wake up and face the consequences.' The Laundries haven't been arrested or accused of any crime. After the protesters left Chris stepped into view of nearby camera lenses twice, including on one occasion when he appeared to lock the door, Fox reported. Police arrived at the home soon minutes later after a car passed the house honking its horn for several seconds. Laundrie, 23, has been on the run for exactly one month. His parents allege he was last seen on September 13. On September 1 he returned home early from the cross-country road trip he was on with Petito in the white camper van. Laundrie is considered a person of interest in Petito's disappearance and death, which was ruled a homicide. Last week Chris joined FBI agents in the search for his son at in the vast 24,565-acre Carlton Reserve where there a supposed 'fresh campsite' was found. But the discovery was denied by investigators and the joint search proved fruitless. On October 6 Chris joined FBI agents in their search for his son at the Carlton Reserve where he and police believed his son was located. The search was fruitless The Laundrie family did not join the FBI in the manhunt in any of their searches after the search with the fugitive's father came up short on October 7. North Port Police in Florida revealed the next day that the sole person of interest in Petito's homicide had been placed under surveillance in the days before he went on the run. Police spokesperson Josh Taylor told CNN Laundrie was being closely watched by authorities to the best of their abilities, at a time when Petito was still classed as missing and not dead and when a warrant had not yet been issued for Laundrie's arrest. Taylor provided no further details about the extent of this surveillance or how Laundrie was then able to slip through the net. It is not clear if investigators ever had proof of his presence at the Laundrie family home in North Port, from when Petito was reported missing on September 11 to when his family revealed Laundrie had vanished on September 17. Investigators have confirmed they never spoke to, or saw, Laundrie that day as his family lawyered-up and denied police entry to their home to speak with him. Instead, the timeline of his disappearance appears to largely rest on accounts given by Laundrie's parents Christopher and Roberta - accounts that have changed this week. Chris and Roberta Laundrie allege that their son (Laundrie pictured left with Petito) was last seen on September 13 Petito was reported missing on September 11 and her body was found on September 19 Petito's stepfather Jim Schmidt left a stone cross and flowers in the exact location where she was found (pictured) A terror suspect planned to livestream himself carrying out a terror attack on a mosque in Scotland and had pictures glorifying New Zealand mass shooter Brenton Tarrant on his phone, a court has heard. Sam Imrie, a 24-year-old said to have been infatuated by Adolf Hitler, is alleged to have been plotting an attack on the Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes. A trial at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday heard a phone recovered by police was found to contain a number of images glorifying the New Zealand shooter with the accompanying words 'Brenton Tarrant did nothing wrong', 'hail Tarrant' and 'Saint Tarrant'. The attack, carried out on a mosque in Christchurch, killed 51 people and injured 40 others. Sam Imrie, 24, is on trial for planning to carry out an attack on the Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes, Scotland Giving evidence, Detective Constable Murray Cairns described the footage as 'graphic' and 'horrific'. He said: '[Tarrant] carried out a filming session of the attack. He livestreamed it at first, which was copied and then went massive on the internet.' 'Its horrific. It starts with him driving, playing music before arriving at the Islamic centre. 'You see him getting the weapon from his car, going to the Islamic centre, you can see people walking towards him and he starts shooting, murdering them. 'You see him going from room to room, getting back into his vehicle. 'Its graphic, you see him deciding when to fire and when not to fire.' Giving evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh, Detective Constable Murray Cairns described video footage possessed by Sam Imrie as 'graphic' and 'horrific' Imrie is alleged to have posted on social media platform Telegram suggesting he was going to carry out an attack on the mosque. DC Cairns told the court that he retrieved files from Imrie's phone on July 31, 2019. The court was also shown pictures from his Facebook page, with his cover photo showing Adolf Hitler standing in front of a microphone addressing a crowd. Several symbols associated with 'far right Nazism' were also found on his social media account. DC Cairns said one post, which read '1488', could be explained in two parts. He told the court that the number 14 related to a sentence in Hitler's book Mein Kampf that said 'we must assure a future for our people and a future for white children'. The officer said it is associated with 'modern neo-Nazi movements'. The number 88, meanwhile, was said to be possibly read as 'HH' or 'Heil Hitler', with the numbers 'transposed to letters'. Among the terrorism offences Imrie faces, he is charged with being in possession of neo-Nazi, antisemitic and anti-Muslim material, extreme pornography, including indecent images of children, and an image involving a human corpse. He is also alleged to have driven while under the influence of drugs and alcohol in July 2019. Imrie denies all nine charges against him, three of which come under the Terrorism Act. The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues. Captain Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson was known for his commitment to the north Scottish community The longest-serving clan chief and decorated war veteran who was close friends with Prince Philip has died at 102-years-old. Captain Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson of Invercauld and Monaltrie was the 16th chief of Scottish Clan Farquharson. He was awarded the Military Cross for his role in the Battle of Normandy and worshipped at Crathie Kirk in a seat directly opposite the Queen, his Balmoral neighbour. He and the Duke of Edinburgh also had coffee together at Sandringham until both no longer could. The Captain, whose lands extended from Perthshire to Aberdeenshire, passed away at his Norfolk home but a memorial is planned in Crathie Kirk in November. Captain Alwyne's was born into a wealthy and influential family on May 1, 1919. He was the eldest of three children for Major Edward Compton of Newby Hall in Yorkshire and Sylvia Farquharson, along with sister Mary and younger brother Robert. The chieftain was taught at Eton College and went on to study land economy at Magdalen College, Oxford, before interrupting his studies to join the war effort in 1939, not long after his 20th birthday. Captain Alwyne joined the Royal Scots Greys, the last British Cavalry to give up its horses in 1941 for motorised units, where he climbed the ranks and earned his title. He fought at the Battle for Caen in 1944, earning him the Military Cross for singlehandedly determining the position of the enemy even though he was seriously injured in the foot. After the war the captain moved to Aberdeenshire. His aunt Myrtle's death in 1941 during the Blitz meant Captain Alwyne assumed the role of Chief and Laird of Invercauld. Queen Elizabeth II is the captain's next-door-neighbour in Scotland and the pair sat opposite each other at Crathie Kirk The chieftain with his first wife Frances Gordon, who was known to be fond of tartan The war hero's life was injected with glamour when he met British Vogue journalist Frances Gordon while recovering from war injuries. The pair met when the tartan-loving fashionista came to help take inventory of Braemar Castle, but fell in love the visiting Captain Alwyne. They married in 1949, and his wife was known for her quirky personality. The captain lived next to the Queen, in Braemar Castle (left) and attended Crathie Kirk with her (right) A known entertainer, Ms Gordon hosted Coco Chanel's rival Elsa Schiaparelli in their home, which she painted flamboyant colours like sugar pink. The Farquharson clan: first chief was killed by a cannonball The clan started with Findlay Mor Farquharson who was born around 1480. He died as a Royal Standard Bearer at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 when he was hit in the chest with a cannonball. He had many children who followed in his footsteps and many participated in historic Scottish battles. Clan Farquharson fought in the Royalst army of the Marquis of Montrose, in the Jacobite army of the Viscount of Dundee, and in the 'Fifteen and 'Forty Five rebellions. In 1715, they were part of the Clan Chattan regiment defeated at Preston, and at Culloden 300 Farquharsons under Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, known as the 'Baron Ban,' were placed in the centre of the front line. SOURCE: The Royal Celtic Society Advertisement Simon Blackett, who knew Captain Alwyne for more than 25 years and worked as his estate factor said: 'The Captain dedicated himself to being a responsible and benevolent landowner. 'He was known affectionately by tenants and staff as The Laird. 'And he took this incredibly seriously, because he knew the importance of what he presided over, given the scale of lands he inherited. 'The most humble of men, with a quick wit and a friendly word for everyone he met. 'He was held in such high regard by employees, tenants and neighbours because he considered himself merely the custodian of the land.' Along with lands across the mainland, the Captain's father also passed him down an estate on the Isle of Mull called Torloisk. Ms Gordon passed away in 1991 and the chieftain shortly married Patricia de Winton, Madame Farquharson. His commitment to the north Scottish community only grew. Captain Alwyne was a member of Aberdeenshire County Council from 1949 to 1975 and vice-patron of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering. He saw to it that Braemar Castle - the seat of the clan - become community owned and was vigilant in his duties as chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games. He never missed a march on to the field for 73 years, including the last of its kind in 2019 at the grand age of 100. Mr Blackett said the only reason Captain Alwyne resigned from chiefship a year before his death was because he worried about bringing down the 'tempo of the event' and didn't want to be 'wheeled onto the field'. He is survived by his wife Patricia, five step-children from his two marriages, his nephews and a niece. Jonathan Findlay, President of Clan Farquharson UK, expressed his 'deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences' to Madam Farquharson and the wider family. He told The Scotsman: 'The Chief played an important part in all of our lives and he will be dearly missed.' A longtime Tennessee juvenile judge used policies later deemed unconstitutional to falsely arrest and imprison 'thousands' of children as young as seven without due process, according to court documents. In March 2003, Rutherford County Juvenile Judge Donna Scott Davenport established the 'de facto policy', referred to later in 2013 as the 'filter system', according to court documents reviewed by DailyMail.com. The detention policy was designed to 'incarcerate children pretrial whenever (a) there was probable cause that the child had committed any delinquent offense, and (b) staff deemed incarceration to be in the childs best interests."' But the meaning of 'best interests' was never defined and was left up to the jail's discretion. The charges were as minute as truancy, and the ages of children arrested and jailed were as young as seven to nine years old. During a radio appearance in 2012, Davenport said, 'Ive locked up one 7-year-old in 13 years, and that was a heartbreak. But 8- and 9-year-olds, and older, are very common now,' according to a news report. Under Davenports watch, in 2014, 48 percent of cases resulted in kids being jailed. The statewide average at the time was 5 percent, the report found. The policy sparked a class action lawsuit filed in 2017, which was amended two years later, then ultimately settled for $11million in June 2020. Payouts for the settlement were divided into two classes - wrongfully arrested and wrongfully detained. Wrongfully arrested got about $1,000 each and wrongfully detained received about $5,000. In exchange, the policy was banned and the county 'denies any wrongdoing in any of the lawsuits filed against it.' Rutherford County Juvenile Judge Donna Scott Davenport (center) has been scrutinized for implementing a detention policy that imprisoned children that a federal judge deemed unconstitutional Davenport is pictured hearing delivering the 2015 commencement speech at her alma mater Middle Tennessee State University, which announced it cut ties with her on Wednesday But four months after the settlement, on Friday, WPLN and ProPublica published an in-depth, investigative report that has gained nationwide notoriety. The report renewed scrutiny on Davenport and the county's juvenile detention system, and spotlighted specific anecdotes of juveniles who were arrested and imprisoned on overzealous - and allegedly made-up - charges. In one case, children were arrested and thrown in jail on a little-known Tennessee law of 'criminal responsibility for conduct of another' because they didn't break up a fight between a five- and a six-year-old, WPLN and ProPublica reported. 'There has to be something done to everyone who was involved in this,' state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) told WSAV on Wednesday. 'Its my understanding that they created a law that wasnt even on the books in order to make that happen.' 'That is horrible abuse of power. We have the Administrative Office of the Courts, I believe they should take action and investigate.' Davenport has run the juvenile county justice system since its inception in 2000 Davenport, now 69, grew up in Mt. Juliet, a Nashville suburb and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro with a degree in criminal justice. She's run the juvenile county justice system since its inception in 2000, appointing its magistrates and setting its rules. While other elected officials have shuffled in and out of county office, Davenport has remained and is expected to run again after her eight-year term ends next year. It's unknown if the settlement and news reports have altered her plans. The investigative report showed how Davenport believes her calling is to instill moral values and restore family traditions. 'Im here on a mission. Its not a job. Its Gods mission,' she told a local newspaper, according to the news report. On Wednesday, Middle Tennessee State announced that it cut ties with Davenport, who delivered a commencement speech in 2015. The school said in a statement: 'To the university community, adjunct instructor Judge Donna Scott Davenport, whose actions overseeing Rutherford County Juvenile Court have recently drawn attention in national media reports, is no longer affiliated with the University.' Neither Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron nor Davenport have responded to DailyMail.com's request for comments. County officials and Davenport declined to speak to WPLN and ProPublica for their report. Davenport has referred to herself as 'The Mother of the County. 'The children in her courtroom arent hers, but she calls them hers', the report says. 'Im seeing a lot of aggression in my 9- and 10-year-olds,' she said in one radio segment, according to WPLN and ProPublica. James McCarroll Jr. is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Murfreesboro, which held the first community meeting on the subject, following the 2016 arrest that led to the 2017 lawsuit. 'You cant make up the law,' hetold WSAV. According to the most recent census data, Rutherford County, Tennessee has a population of about 332,00 and about 25 percent are under 18 years old. Nashville's red-hot housing market soared to another mind-numbing high after a mobile home sold for $1.5 million - for a property that fetched a little over $130,000 in 2007 - ahead of software giant Oracle's plans to build its second headquarters in Music City. The trailer, located on the East Bank of the Cumberland River, contains just 528 square feet of space, according to Zillow, but sits on a 1.23-acre lot that the buyer is expected to develop into multiple units in the gentrifying neighborhood. 'With that amount of acreage, they could build 40-50 townhomes and either sell them or rent them out as short-term rentals,' said real estate director Ryan Turbeville, who noted the property represents four parcels of land. The underdeveloped area is expecting a huge demand for space after software giant Oracle announced in July a $254 million River North project along the East Bank of the Cumberland River. An east Nashville mobile home and its surrounding 1.23-acres of land was sold for $1.5 million to owners '1110 Baptist Partners' Current residents in the area fear of being booted from their homes due to the increase in housing prices The $1.5 million mobile home is location a little more than half a mile away from the River North project by the software company Oracle who are redeveloping the area The recent gentrification of the area and high real estate demand has led to increasing housing prices The mixed-zone area will provide opportunities for modern homes, offices and shops on nearly 60 acres in Nashville. Oracle, which began in Silicon Valley, shifted it main headquarters to Austin, Texas, last year. The tech titan plans to spend $1.2 billion for a second U.S. headquarters in Nashville, according to the Tennessean. Tesla also fled the tax-heavy Golden State for Austin last week. 'With the River North development finally starting up and Oracle announcing itself as the main anchor tenant, all of the neighborhoods surrounding that are going to develop,' Turbeville told WKRN . 'How long that takes is anyones guess probably 5-10 years before it spreads out.' The buyers of the mobile home site have not revealed their plans but the closing price beat the real estate site's 'Zestimate' of $1,143,300 after it was scooped up by 1110 Baptist Partners last month. 'Im a big believer that the Trinity Lane, Baptist World Center, and Brick Church Pike areas are all going to benefit greatly from Oracle and River North,' Turbeville said said. 'With mixed-use zoning, there are many different ways [the new buyers] could approach redeveloping this property, and its possible they dont know what that plan is yet. 'Sometimes developers will buy a property keep the existing tenant and keep generating revenue for a short period of time while they develop their larger plan for the property.' Prices for the property have raised significantly over the years as the mobile sold in 2007 for $134,933 Caris Porter, who rents in the community of Cumberland Heights across from the sold mobile home, couldnt believe the sky-high sale. 'Its absolutely insane,' she told WKRN. However, gentrification efforts have left current tenants concerned that they will be pushed off their properties as prices skyrocket. 'I dont know where Im going to go if they do that,' Porter said. 'This is all I can afford right now.' In recent years, Nashville has become one of the most expensive US cities to live in. The current average price for a Nashville home is estimated at $362,443, according to Zillow, a 17.7% increase over last year. A Leicester East MP who threatened to throw acid over a suspected love rival and said she would send naked pictures of her to her family has today been found guilty of harassment. Claudia Webbe, 56, made a string of threatening calls to 59-year-old Michelle Merritt between September 1, 2018 and April 26 last year, a trial heard. She carried out the campaign of harassment after becoming suspicious of Ms Merritt's relationship with her partner Lester Thomas, a Chelsea FC scout. Convicting Webbe, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I do not find the defendant to be cogent, compelling and truthful in all aspects of her evidence. 'Some of the things she said I believe were made up on the spur of the moment.' He added: 'In short, I find Ms Webbe to be vague, incoherent and at times illogical... and ultimately I find her to be untruthful.' Mr Goldspring adjourned sentencing to November 4 and released Webbe on unconditional bail but warned her she could face prison. 'Threatening to throw acid at somebody and to send intimate photographs to family members crosses the custody threshold,' he told Westminster Magistrates' Court. A party spokesperson said Labour 'strongly condemns Webbe's actions and she should now resign'. Webbe said she was 'deeply shocked' at the outcome of the trial, adding: 'I am innocent and will appeal this verdict. 'As I said in court and repeat now, I have never threatened violence nor have I ever harassed anyone.' Her lawyer, Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at social justice law firm Hodge Jones & Allen, said: 'We will be appealing this unjust verdict. 'The recording of the call Ms Webbe made has been taken out of context. We are sure that Ms Webbe will be vindicated at an appeal.' Webbe is currently sitting as an independent MP for Leicester East after being suspended by the Labour Party. Following the guilty verdict, a Labour spokesman said: 'The Labour Party strongly condemns Claudia Webbe's actions and she should now resign.' Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe (pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court), 56, has been found guilty of harassment after threatening to throw acid over a suspected love rival Ex-party leader Jeremy Corbyn had described her as a 'warm-hearted person' who is particularly 'dedicated' to issues of social justice. He wrote: 'Claudia is a person who is very committed to ensuring justice is done, and is prepared to state uncomfortable truths when it matters. 'I have the outmost respect and confidence in her, and as someone who has known her well for many years, I have no hesitation in recommending her as a person of good character, that makes an important contribution to our world.' Meanwhile former shadow chancellor John McDonnell wrote: 'I know her to be an honest, responsible and extremely caring person. 'In all that she does, Claudia shows her empathy and emotional understanding. Claudia will always go the extra mile to help someone. 'She has demonstrated, both as a trade unionist representing her members and as a member of parliament representing her constituents that she has that human quality that enables her to relate to others, understanding their concerns and gaining their trust. 'She is meticulous in her behaviour, always polite and respectful and mature in her judgement. In the most challenging situations I have witnessed her respond with sincerity and calm.' Last month Ms Merritt told the court the MP's calls made her feel 'worried and unnerved'. She said: 'When you're being called and there's no one answering it unnerves you, especially as a woman who lives alone. 'We've all seen the films. You don't know who is calling you, who is watching you.' When Ms Merritt received a call on Mother's Day 2019, in which Ms Webbe identified herself, she decided to call the police. Ms Merritt told the call handler: 'I was with my daughter celebrating Mother's Day at the time but now that's gone and the reality has just hit me. 'She works for the Labour Party, she is in the public arena and she's accusing me of, in her words, 'slagging around with her boyfriend', which I'm not. 'She's threatened to throw acid over me, she knows where I live, she's going to send pictures of me and him to my daughters.' Ms Webbe (left) allegedly carried out the campaign of harassment after becoming suspicious of Michelle Merritt's relationship with her partner, Lester Thomas (right), a Chelsea FC scout Police officers spoke to Webbe and Ms Merritt hoping that would be the end of it, the court heard. But on April 25 last year, Ms Merritt received two calls, both eight seconds long and both from the same number. Ms Merritt told the court: 'I just hung up very quickly. I didn't want to speak to her. '[Having received those two calls] I had to somehow prove that she was calling me because until that date all the calls had been no caller ID and the first threat call wasn't recorded...so I called back the number that was on my phone.' In the recording, played to the court, Webbe answers the phone and immediately begins shouting at Ms Merritt. Webbe says: 'Why are you still butting in and getting with Lester? Why, why? 'He's not your friend, he's with me and I don't want you to be in touch with me, I don't want you to be in touch with him.' In the background Mr Thomas, Webbe's partner, can be heard shouting: 'Don't listen to her, send me a message whenever you like. 'Michelle, come off the phone and call the police.' Webbe screams: 'Lester why don't you go and live with her? Take everything and go and live with her!' Ms Merritt asks why Webbe keeps calling her but Webbe screams: 'Can you stop. Can you get out of my relationship, get out of my relationship! 'Get out of my relationship!' 'I've seen all of your posts, I've seen all of your naked pictures, I've seen all of your relationship with Lester. Get out of my relationship! 'Otherwise I will tell all of your family and I will show them all of your pictures.' Giving evidence last month Webbe admitted she rang Ms Merritt on April 25 because her and Mr Thomas had 'repeatedly breached lockdown' rules by meeting. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described Ms Webbe (both pictured above) as a 'warm-hearted person' who is particularly 'dedicated' to issues of social justice She said she was arguing with Mr Lester when Ms Merritt called her back. Asked whether she had ever made withheld calls to Ms Merritt, threatened to throw acid on her, called her a slag and threatened to send naked pictures of her to her family, Webbe told the court: 'I've spent my lifetime campaigning for the rights of women, challenging this kind of behaviour. 'This is not something that's in my character and it's not something I would ever do. Those terms, those words, are not my words. 'I would never use such expletives, such derogatory terms about another person let alone another woman.' She said: 'Lester said he had met up with Michelle and I had said 'you can't really do that, we're in a national lockdown'. MP Claudia Webbe 'threatens to send naked photos of woman to her family' in recording played to court In a recording played to Westminster Magistrates' Court, MP Claudia Webbe answers the phone and immediately begins shouting at Michelle Merritt. Webbe says: 'Why are you still butting in and getting with Lester? Why, why? 'He's not your friend, he's with me and I don't want you to be in touch with me, 'I don't want you to be in touch with him.' In the background Lester Thomas, Webbe's partner, can be heard shouting: 'Don't listen to her, send me a message whenever you like. 'Michelle, come off the phone and call the police.' Webbe screams: 'Lester why don't you go and live with her? TAKE EVERYTHING AND GO AND LIVE WITH HER!' Ms Merritt asks why Webbe keeps calling her but Webbe screams: 'Can you stop. Can you GET OUT OF MY RELATIONSHIP, GET OUT OF MY RELATIONSHIP. 'GET OUT OF MY RELATIONSHIP! 'I've seen all of your posts, I've seen all of your naked pictures, I've seen all of your relationship with Lester. 'GET OUT OF MY RELATIONSHIP! 'Otherwise I will tell all of your family and I will show them all of your pictures.' Ms Merritt then informs Webbe that she is recording the calls and will 'leak it to the press' before hanging up. Advertisement 'Lester doesn't really believe in cover and I felt I needed to tell Michelle that she shouldn't be breaking it. 'He believes it's a hoax, he doesn't want to get vaccinated. He doesn't believe it. 'I couldn't understand why she would breach lockdown with Lester and I couldn't understand why Lester would. 'He felt that he was an essential worker and he could continue with his everyday life. 'He saw nothing wrong with it and therefore meeting up with Michele was something that he did. 'I said 'well you actually can't do that' but he was not wanting to listen so I asked Michelle could she not breach lockdown with Lester.' Webbe said: 'On April 25, 2020 I confronted [Lester] as to why he went out. 'He told me Michelle needed him and so he had no choice. 'The conversation between Lester and I became hated. 'I attempted to call Michelle twice on this day to understand why she had repeatedly breached lockdown with Lester. 'Michelle then called me back in the middle of this. 'During the call I was having two conversations at once and I repeatedly told Michelle to get out of my relationship and by this I meant that she should not be relying upon Lester for support as they were not in a relationship. 'I did not threaten to disclose photos of her - this was a comment directed at Lester because he had been physically violent and I was trying to get him off me. 'Eventually he smashed my phone... I was so angry with Lester, he was not wanting to listen to me, he did not want to respect my role as an MP, he did not want to understand how serious Covid was. 'People were dying in my constituency. I lost constituents to Covid, I lost a good friend to Covid, I just could not understand why Lester could not understand how serious this pandemic was and how important it was to abide by the rules.' Her voice breaking, Webbe continued: 'He was constantly rebuking me, ridiculing me, goading me, as though this is not something that is as serious as people make out and that he can do what he wants. 'It was just a terrible situation and I wanted Michelle to understand and just try and help me. I just wanted her to stop engaging with him for the sake of the pandemic... I was just so angry with Lester.' On the 'naked photographs', Webbe said they were a reference to an argument over how her still current partner Mr Thomas had gone to St Lucia for a trip that would have included their engagement. She told the court: 'When I was running to be an MP for Leicester East, we were due to go to St Lucia. Ms Webbe (pictured with Mr Thomas) is currently sitting as an independent MP for Leicester East after being suspended by the Labour Party 'I couldn't go, and Lester carried on and went ahead to St Lucia and he had a picture of himself when I would say he was naked from the waist up. He or his family had taken that picture and therefore I wanted to know who had taken the picture. 'He wasn't forthcoming with who he had taken the picture. He was naked from the waist up.' She added: 'My partner was goading and gaslighting me. He knew that we were in a domestic. He knew what he was doing. He knew that he was grabbing my arm. He knew I was telling him to stop. 'This is about denial and goading and gaslighting and coercive control.' Webbe continued: 'I was angry with Lester. My anger was directed at Lester. She [Ms Merritt] called me in the middle of this argument that I was having with Lester. 'She called me and I was asking her to get out of my relationship as I was continuing an argument with Lester that had got out of control and is probably one of the worst arguments that I've had. 'I've never had a neighbour call in regards to a domestic abuse where I'm left screaming and my phone is broken at the end of it.' She added: 'I felt no anger toward Michelle and I'm sorry for what that tape portrays because it's not my finest moment but it wasn't intended to cause Michelle any harm and it just is to me very embarrassing. 'It's not something I ever want to repeat...I just would hope that we would never ever go there again.' Webbe entered the House of Commons in December 2019, winning the seat formerly held by Keith Vaz, the Labour veteran who retired from Parliament in the wake of a scandal. She was a councillor in Islington between 2010 and 2018 and was a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. Earlier in her career, she was a political adviser to then-London mayor Ken Livingstone. Former Rudy Giuliani ally Lev Parnas 'laughed' as he illegally 'shoveled thousands and thousands of dollars' of foreign cash into US political races across the country, prosecutors said at the outset of the Ukrainian-American businessman's trial on Wednesday. Much of that money went into Republican campaign coffers, including a $325,000 donation in 2018 to a super PAC supporting then-President Donald Trump. 'These men shoveled thousands and thousands of dollars of foreign money to US politicians, laughing about how they were breaking the law along the way,' Assistant US Attorney Aline Flodr said of Parnas and his co-defendant, Ukrainian-born investor Andrey Kukushkin. Flodr told the jury at a Manhattan court their crimes were 'blatant.' 'That is what secret foreign money infiltrating an American election looks like,' she said. 'That it why we are here. That is what this trial is all about.' Kukushkin and Parnas are accused of arranging donations on behalf of a Russian financier, Andrey Muraviev, as part of an effort to expand his legal marijuana businesses in the United States. Lev Parnas was seen smiling both heading into and leaving the first day of his trial at a Manhattan federal courthouse on Wednesday Parnas, 49, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he conspired to make the illegal campaign contributions. Prosecutors opened the Giuliani associate's trial by blaming him for planning to use up to $1 million of Muraviev's money to infiltrate US elections to further his own business interests. They have said Parnas bragged about his associations with Giuliani and Trump to help him in his business dealings. Flodr, however, did not describe this during her opening statement as prosecutors have sought to streamline 'certain factual allegations' within the case. Prosecutors allege Parnas was trying to win favor with influential Republicans through the hefty donations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was given a $50,000 contribution from Parnas and his associate Igor Fruman, which he later returned. Previous reports also claim the Florida-based businessman met with DeSantis at least six times and hosted two fundraisers for him. But the politicians and fundraisers involved with the Soviet-born businessmen didn't know they were handling foreign cash, prosecutors said. A courtroom sketch shows a masked and balding Parnas sitting as US Assistant Attorney Aline Flodr made her opening statement Flodr accused Parnas and his associates of knowingly obscuring the money's origin in some cases. 'The law requires that political contributions be made in the true donor's name,' she said. 'Here, the defendants hid where that money came from.' Parnas and Fruman were arrested in 2019 while trying to board a plane with one-way tickets to Europe. Fruman pled guilty to soliciting a contribution from a foreign national in September but doesn't have to cooperate with the government as part of his plea deal. Attorney Joseph Bondy, representing Parnas, began his opening statement by saying: 'Lev Parnas is not guilty. Thats what the evidence in this case will show you. He didnt knowingly, willfully violate any federal election laws. The government will be unable to bear their burden of proving Mr. Parnas guilty.' Bondy is a high-power New York attorney who advertises a specialization in 'cannabis business and advocacy.' He presented Parnas as an enthusiastic Trump fan who promised of dollars to get a front row seat to the 2018 election cycle, according to Politico's courtroom reporting. Parnas' interests lay mainly in the cannabis industry, Bondy argued. Parnas has been pictured at numerous GOP events during Trump's White House tenure Parnas, a close associate of Trump's ex-personal lawyer Giuliani, previously claimed Trump was directly involved in the effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden 'He brought the president a memorandum on marijuana - legalizing marijuana as a Republican midterm point,' he said. 'The courage you will see of a person going, talking to Donald Trump in a room full of older donors about legalizing cannabis.' He added, 'It never occurred, of course.' Bondy argued that Parnas didn't have a legal background and so couldn't understand the intricacies of campaign finance law. 'He's doesn't have a graduate degree. He's not a lawyer. He hasn't worked at the [Federal Election Commission],' he said. 'He hasn't worked for a political campaign.' But prosecutor Flodr doubted that claim, citing how fine-tuned he was to marijuana licensing laws. 'You will see this group paid careful attention to laws legalizing marijuana, but chose to break the simple law about foreigners not donating to American elections,' she said. Parnas became known publicly for aiding Giuliani's effort to convince the government of Ukraine to investigate the son of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Parnas and his lawyer Joseph Bondy (center) leave the courthouse. Bondy is a veteran attorney with a specialization in the cannabis industry That quest, though, is not expected to be part of a trial that is slated to last two weeks. Giuliani is not charged in the case and prosecutors havent alleged that he knew anything about illegal campaign contributions. Prosecutors have said names of famous politicians and others, including Giuliani and Trump, will mainly arise as evidence is introduced to show how Parnas tried to parlay his associations with prominent individuals to boost his own interests. Kukushkin's attorney, Gerald Lefcourt, has said his client, a San Francisco-based entrepreneur with longstanding ties to legal marijuana businesses in California, was 'duped' by Parnas and Fruman. An initial 2019 indictment against Parnas and three others detailed their efforts to oust former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch over her anti-corruption work. The allegation was removed from a revised version of the indictment with little explanation in 2020. Yovanovitch's recall in May 2019 and her subsequent testimony before Congress were main themes in Trump's first impeachment trial. While Giuliani hasn't been charged in this case, he's still in legal hot water with Dominion Voting Systems and a narrowing federal probe into his dealings in Ukraine. The federal investigation led to a raid of Giuliani's home and office in April. The archbishop assigned to the US military has said that Catholic troops should not be forced to take COVID-19 vaccines if they violate the individual's conscience, regardless of whether cells from aborted fetal tissue were used in their creation or testing. Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy P. Broglio issued his opinion in a statement on Tuesday, seeming at odds with Pope Francis' strong encouragement for all Catholics to get vaccinated. 'Notwithstanding the moral permissibility of these vaccines, the Church treasures her teaching on the sanctity of conscience,' Broglio wrote. 'Accordingly, no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience.' The latest DoD administrative data shows that about 20 percent of active duty troops are Catholic, a similar rate to the general US population. Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy P. Broglio has said that Catholic troops should not be forced to take COVID-19 vaccines if they violate the individual's conscience Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on August 24 issued an order for all military personnel to be vaccinated, even if they have already recovered from infection Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on August 24 issued an order for all military personnel to be vaccinated, though each service branch has set its own deadlines and will consider certain exemptions on medical, administrative, or religious grounds. A Pentagon source told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that the Navy and Marine Corps had not issued any religious exemptions as of last week, but was uncertain about the Army or Air Force. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that 96.7 percent of the nation's 1.4 million active duty personnel have received at least one vaccine dose, and 83.7 percent are fully vaccinated. That means that roughly 46,000 active duty troops have yet to receive at least one shot. Some Catholics who view abortion as a grave moral evil have expressed concerns about the use of cell lines from aborted fetal tissue in the development of COVID vaccines. Cells derived from aborted fetal tissue were used in testing of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and in production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. However, as Archbishop Broglio noted in his statement, the Catholic Church's highest authorities have confirmed that it is morally permissible to receive the vaccines, with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ruling that receiving the shots 'does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion.' Pope Francis has encouraged his Catholic flock to get vaccinated, calling it 'an act of love' Broglio issued his opinion in a statement on Tuesday, seeming at odds with Pope Francis' strong encouragement for all Catholics to get vaccinated Pope Francis himself has actively encouraged his Catholic flock to get vaccinated, calling it 'an act of love.' Vatican City now requires staff and visitors to show proof of vaccination, natural immunity, or a recent negative COVID test. But Broglio argued that an individual's conscience must take priority, even if the church has deemed vaccines permissible. 'Even if an individual's decision seems erroneous or inconsistent to others, conscience does not lose its dignity. This belief permeates Catholic moral theology as well as First Amendment jurisprudence,' Broglio wrote. 'The denial of religious accommodations, or punitive or adverse personnel actions taken against those who raise earnest, conscience-based objections, would be contrary to federal law and morally reprehensible,' he added. The Air Force has the earliest deadline for active duty service members to get vaccinated, and an estimated 10,000 airmen have yet to receive a shot, according to data published by the branch. Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said on Tuesday that he did not know whether the Air Force was now promoting the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine with the deadline now weeks away. A soldier is seen being vaccinated on September 9 in Fort Knox, Kentucky 'Commanders will try to get these troops to make the right decision based on information and education,' Kirby said. 'And for somebody that refuses, they'll be given a chance to get more context from medical service providers as well as their chain of command. It's a lawful order,' he said. 'So obviously, if after all that effort the lawful order is disobeyed, there could be disciplinary action,' Kirby said. 'But the secretary believes that there's lots of tools available to leaders, short of using the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to get these troops to do the right thing for themselves and for their units.' The Air Force and Space Force have set a November 2 deadline for active-duty airmen and guardians to be fully vaccinated, while the Navy's sailors and Marines have until November 28. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said on Tuesday that they were hoping 'to get these troops to make the right decision' before the vaccine deadlines began to hit The Army will require all active-duty soldiers to be vaccinated by December 15, and all National Guard soldiers will be required to be vaccinated by June 30 of next year. Overall military vaccination rates, which include reserve troops who do not face vaccine deadlines until next year, are lower than for active duty troops. The Pentagon says that 1.7 million of total service members have received at least one shot, or roughly 78 percent of the total force strength of 2.2 million. According to the DoD dashboard, 67 service members have died from COVID-19, and 2,197 have been hospitalized, out of the 2.2 million active duty, reserve and Nation Guard troops. The relatively low death rate likely reflects the low average age of service members. Parents in multiple Alabama school districts have been warned to give their children breakfast and sent them to school with snacks because supply chain shortages have badly-affected food deliveries. District leaders are asking parents to feed their own kids and pack snacks before sending them to class as employees work around-the-clock to keep pantries stocked. The situation is so dire in the states Dothan City Schools district that officials are mulling switching to virtual learning for part of the week to alleviate the stress of our food supplies. It's not a problem unique to Alabama as supply and labor shortages cripple cafeterias throughout the nation. A principal in Philadelphia ordered 400 pizzas for her elementary students who otherwise would have gone hungry when a scheduled food order went undelivered last month. In other states, school staffers have resorted to doing their own grocery shopping for students. 'Essentially what we have here is a perfect storm,' Stacy Koppen, nutrition services director for Minnesota's St. Paul Public Schools district, told KSTP.com. 'We have a shortage of raw gradients, we have a shortage of people in the workforce, at the same time everyone needs more of everything.' Preparing meals at Dothan City Schools (such as the one pictured) has been a challenge due to labor and supply shortages, the district's superintendent said Dothan superintendent Dennis Coe said labor and raw material shortages are to blame affecting the districts ability to feed our children each day. The shortage is causing menu shakeups as districts struggle to make meals with limited ingredients. As we prepare to do everything we can, your support would be greatly appreciated by being prepared to send your children to school with their packed lunch, Coe said in a letter to parents. As a last resort, we may also ask that you prepare to have virtual/remote school days a few days out of the week to alleviate the stress of our food supplies. Rest assured, breakfast and lunch at no charge will continue to be available to all students. Supply chain challenges left Decatur City Schools district without enough food in late August, forcing staffers to drive about 80 miles to Birmingham to buy three truckloads of groceries, the district said. Alexander City Schools is asking parents to help alleviate the strain by feeding kids breakfast and sending them to school with snacks. It is experiencing supply issues with food vendors Alexander City Schools is asking parents to feed their children breakfast and pack a snack before sending them to school. The district serves breakfast and lunch daily but said it hasnt received its food deliveries for weeks because of driver, supply, and warehouse employee shortages. When supplies do arrive, we do not always receive what we have requested; therefore altering the menus, the district said in an October 9 Facebook post. This is a situation that is frustrating for you as a parent, and for us as well as our ability to feed our students is being greatly impacted. A tortilla and worker shortage forced Scottsboro City Schools to scrap its popular crispito item Meantime, Scottsboro City Schools announced in August that it would stop offering its popular crispitos for lunch due to a shortage of tortillas and workers. It will be sad when we serve the last crispito that we have on inventory, the district said in a Facebook post. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in April that it would bankroll free lunches for school children across the nation through the current school year, regardless of parental income. The gesture increased the amount of lunch orders by about 20 percent in Elmore County Schools, according to child nutrition director Cayce Davis. The USDA is offering free lunches for schools across the nation throughout the curricular year She said shes been struggling to keep up with the demand while juggling increased responsibilities brought on by an employee shortage. Right now our goal is to not be the cause of shutting down school, Davis told AL.com in late September. I think were going to barely skate by offering our meals this week. Diced chicken is like gold right now,' she added. Satisfying picky eaters and allergy sufferers could be a challenge with schools' limited menu Up to 12 million children could lack an adequate supply of food during the pandemic, the department said in a news release. In Alabama, about 25percent of kids live lack food security, according to No Kid Hungry. Help could be on the way thanks to the USDA, which said it will spend up to $1.5billion to help schools fend off food disruptions. Numerous Alabama school districts, including Scottsboro, are being effected by the issue The Alabama State Department of Education said the local situation is improving. Theres not a school system in the state thats without food or in a situation where theyre worried that if a truck doesnt show up in the next day or two then they wont have food for their students, department of education spokesperson Michael Sibley told WSFA12 last week. No one is in that kind of dire situation right now. Alabama is not alone. In Missouri, where even acquiring paper plates has been a challenge, school staffers have resorted to buying their own groceries at stores such as Sams Club. Its just been kind of a nightmare, Shawndra Taylor said, Eldron School Districts food services director, told the Missouri Independent. Last month, some students went unfed at a Philadelphia elementary school after due to staff shortages within the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Mitchell elementary principal Stephanie Andrewlevich said she took matters into her own hands after learning no food would be served September 23. As soon as stores opened, I ordered pizza for 400 students to attempt lunch service, Andrewlevich said in a letter obtained by the Inquirer. Some of the pizzas arrived and were served to students, some have not arrived as of 2:15 p.m. and students were not served. The UK economy is still below pre-coronavirus levels while the number of firms desperate to hire staff has soared to a record high amid 'abject labour shortage', experts have warned. Numbers published this morning by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that UK gross domestic product grew by 0.4 per cent in August this year - remaining 0.8 per cent lower than it was before the coronavirus crisis. Economists said Britain's fuel crisis and widespread shortages may have contributed to growth 'coming to a near-standstill' since August. Meanwhile, industry leaders warned the labour market is flooded with a 'complete misalignment' between employees and professions which is driving up vacancies. Recruitment difficulties are expected to hamper the UK's recovery from the pandemic despite record numbers on company payrolls. Office For National Statistics' figures released yesterday showed another record leap in available jobs. The ONS estimated they shot up by nearly 1.2million in September, meaning as many jobs are on offer now as before Covid struck. The labour market is flooded with a 'complete misalignment' between employees and professions which is driving up vacancy figures, the industry leaders said (file photo) UK economy grew by 0.4 per cent in August but it is STILL below pre-coronavirus levels The UK economy grew by 0.4 per cent in August this year - but it is still below pre-pandemic levels. Numbers published this morning by the Office for National Statistics revealed that UK gross domestic product remains 0.8 per cent lower than it was before the coronavirus crisis. Meanwhile, the ONS said its figures for July have been revised downwards in a move likely to cause alarm in the Treasury. The ONS originally said the economy had grown by 0.1 per cent in July but it has now been changed to a 0.1 per cent contraction. It is the first time the economy has shrunk since January this year when the winter lockdown wreaked havoc. Business chiefs said the data 'paints a picture of a slow-down in the UK's economic recovery' and suggests 'economic headwinds caused by labour shortages and supply chain disruption are beginning to bite'. Advertisement Paul Dales, chief UK economist at research consultancy Capital Economics, warned the economy might flatline as a result of supply bottlenecks. He added: 'Shortages may bite harder in the coming months. 'The recent broadening in shortages and the fuel crisis may mean that growth has come to a near-standstill since August.' Director of Policy at the British Chamber of Commerce James Martin said: 'There remain very real difficulties under the overall numbers, with labour and skill gaps, rising cost pressures and an increasingly onerous tax burden showing that the Government needs to act now to improve business conditions.' '[The] figures show a second month with a record number of vacancies, now at more than a third above their pre-pandemic levels. 'With Brexit and the pandemic driving a more deep-seated decline in labour supply, businesses throughout the UK tell us they cannot access the skills they need even as their costs balloon. 'These recruitment difficulties are likely to dampen the recovery by limiting firms' abilities to fulfil orders and meet customer demand.' He added: 'Business investment will then suffer, curbing any chance of a prolonged recovery.' Chris Sanderson, CEO of the hospitality recruitment app Limber, said: 'One of the biggest problems with the jobs market right now isn't the lack of positions available, but finding the people to actually fill them. 'The pandemic has, in many sectors, created a mass disconnect between employers and employees, and it's holding the economy back. 'The jobs market could be a lot more robust if employers ditched their legacy mindsets when it comes to employment contracts and allowed people to work on their terms.' Matthew Percival, CBI Programme Director for Skills & Inclusion, said: 'Companies have found hiring difficult this autumn and the official data is beginning to tell the same story, with the number of people on payroll exceeding pre-Covid highs and record vacancies.' The ONS flagged the impact of the mounting recruitment crisis in the UK, with vacancies rising 318,000 above levels seen before Covid and recent analysis showing a raft of sectors struggling to fill posts. The hospitality sector is finding it the most difficult to recruit, according to the ONS, with nearly a third (30 per cent) saying it is harder than normal to fill vacancies. In another sign of the buoyant recruitment market, the ONS said the biggest rise in vacancies was seen in the administration and support sector, in particular temporary employment agencies, with a 165,000 increase. Hospitality firms were looking to fill 32,000 jobs in September. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'As we move to the next stage of our support, it's encouraging to see our Plan for Jobs working - the number of expected redundancies remained very low in September, there are more employees on payrolls than ever before and the unemployment rate has fallen for eight months in a row.' But recruitment experts remained uneasy and said the gap between talent among those unemployed and the jobs available was too wide. Julia Kermode, founder at Nantwich-based IWork, said: 'The jobs market is completely candidate-led in sectors where there are shortages of workers. Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) said: 'As we move to the next stage of our support, it's encouraging to see our Plan for Jobs working - the number of expected redundancies remained very low in September, there are more employees on payrolls than ever before and the unemployment rate has fallen for eight months in a row' Shoppers face 'great reset' with food prices soaring by 10 per cent Shoppers across the country could see food prices rise by 10 per cent as manufacturers grapple with soaring energy costs and a shortage of HGV drivers. Founder of 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Boparan, warned consumers could soon be hit with a 'great food reset' and said the days when a family could buy a whole chicken for 3 were 'coming to an end'. The poultry boss went on to say that the surge in gas prices, rising inflation and labour issues meant that shoppers were 'looking at a different world from now on' and rising food costs were now 'inevitable'. His comments come after a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found nearly two-thirds of UK manufacturers plan to raise their prices in the run-up to Christmas due to rising inflation. Mr Boparan told The Telegraph: 'In relative terms, a chicken today is cheaper to buy than it was 20 years ago. 'How can it be right that a whole chicken costs less than a pint of beer? 'You're looking at a different world from now on where the shopper pays more.' The businessman also claimed that his company's 600 firms and 16 factories had already seen power bills surge by 550 per cent. Advertisement 'We've all seen the headlines about HGV drivers but other sectors that are starved of people include health, social care, hospitality, agriculture, distribution centres and factories. 'Shortages are so bad that the UK's army of temporary workers, the traditional back-stop for businesses in need, cannot meet the demand. 'It's incredibly competitive, with some firms opting to increase pay rates, but many businesses simply don't have pots of money to throw at the problem.' Sandra Wilson, director of Ipswich-based recruitment and HR company, Cottrell Moore said: 'We have seen vacancies reach an astonishingly high level over the past few months. 'As positive as this sounds, all is not as it appears. There is a complete misalignment of skills available in the market and high demand in certain skill sets and sectors is creating a false economy.' Louise Burns, director of Tyne and Wear-based Nineteen Recruitment: 'As a supplier of staff to the social care and education sectors in the North East, we have seen a distinct decline in candidates looking for work. 'There is significant demand for support workers and care assistants at the moment and there simply aren't enough candidates to fill those jobs. 'Working in social care already demands flexibility and long working hours, and because of the climate, employers in social care are looking for candidates who already have experience and are able to hit the ground running.' She added: 'There simply aren't enough candidates able to do this to fulfil demand right now.' Cheney Hamilton, CEO at Darlington-based flexible working recruiter, Find Your Flex: 'In the current jobs market, one thing is certain: flexibility needs to be on the table if employers want to attract the best talent. 'Job vacancies are at an all-time high, and employers that increase their 'flex appeal' are offering training to those re-careering and homeworking and flexibility options to experienced hires who increasingly demand it. 'It's a great time to be a jobseeker right now, and we encourage women in particular to vocalise their worth and needs to potential employers.' The ONS figures showed unemployment fell 126,000 in the quarter to August to 1.5 million, while employment rose 235,000 to 32.4 million. Wages enjoyed another steep rise, with average weekly earnings up 7.2 per cent with bonuses or 6 per cent without bonuses, in the three months to August. But the ONS stressed that the earnings figures continue to be skewed by certain factors, with lower-paid jobs being hit hardest by the pandemic. Financial markets are now pricing in a rate rise by the end of the year, although many economists think 2022 will see the first move. Samuel Tombs at Pantheon Macroeconomics said the labour bounce-back was 'not strong enough for the Monetary Policy Committee to hike rates in November, before it has assessed the post-furlough landscape.' Air freight bookings soar 70% this month as firms bid to bypass ports chaos and get goods into UK in time for Christmas - as shoppers are told to 'order gifts early' or risk them being stranded at sea 'until 2022' By Tom Pyman and James Gant for MailOnline Air freight bookings have soared by 70 per cent in the UK this month, according to a cargo group, while firms bid to bypass ports chaos and get goods into the UK in time for Christmas amid the ongoing delivery crisis. Air Charter Service, which sees firms hire planes to move goods, said demand had skyrocketed this month having already surged during the pandemic. Group cargo director Dan Morgan-Evans predicted pre-bookings for October to be around double that of the same period last year, in addition to pre-bookings in the UK increasing by 20 per cent year on year in September. It comes as millions of Britons were today urged to order gifts for Christmas immediately to avoid disappointment because of delays at the UK's choked ports where containers are stacked high and ships are being diverted. Experts warn the crisis will not be solved until 'well into 2022' and will lead to gaps on the shelves throughout the festive period. The most popular toys, games consoles, smart phones, white goods as well as chocolate and even Christmas trees are predicted to be in short supply this December. Britain's busiest container port, Felixstowe, has become severely congested to the point Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, is diverting its big vessels away from the UK to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Containers at the Suffolk port are taking up to ten days to be put on to trucks instead of the usual three days while big ships are having to wait up to a week after arriving off the UK coast to dock and unload. Some customers are turning to the air to solve the backlog, with pre-bookings for air freight services in October soaring by 70 per cent. Meanwhile Co-chairman of the Conservative Party Oliver Dowden admitted just 20 out of 300 foreign lorry drivers who have applied for temporary visas are on the roads in another blow for delivery services. He said the number of workers from abroad Britain has been able to attract to drive trucks has been 'relatively limited' and said it would not solve the current crisis. Experts have said Britain's ports are exceptionally busy but a lack of staff and HGV drivers is causing delays. Ships are having to wait off Felixstowe (right) for up to a week, Maersk has said Containers are stacking up at Felixstowe, Britain's biggest container port, in yet another pre-Christmas crisis emerging as it is taking ten days instead of five for each one to be moved due to a lack of HGV drivers and port staff The backlog is affecting major retailers including IKEA and major food companies including Nestle, the world's largest food producer of coffee, baby food and chocolate, as well as tens of thousands of smaller UK businesses waiting for orders from all over the world Industry bosses are warning that empty shelves may have to be expected not only over Christmas but 'well into 2022' Desperate steel, chemicals and glass factories plead for tax breaks on soaring energy bills as Boris prepares to sign off hundreds of millions of pounds in LOANS Desperate steel, chemicals and glass factories today pleaded for tax breaks to help them cope with soaring energy bills - as Boris Johnson prepares to sign off hundreds of millions of pounds in loans to keep them afloat. Energy-intensive businesses insisted cutting taxes and levies was more important than a bailout, after an extraordinary bout of wrangling in Whitehall. Mr Johnson appears to have sided with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng following his spat with Chancellor Rishi Sunak over the need for government support. A package is now due within days, but rather than handouts or a price cap on industrial energy costs, it is expected to come in the form of loans. It is understood the support will also come with 'strings attached', ensuring companies cannot pay out big bonuses while they are benefiting. The move could raise concerns that the government is merely kicking the can down the road, as firms will have to repay the costs later when energy prices have settled down. The Treasury is said to have been alarmed at the prospect of doling out more cash, warning that 'demands simply increase' when sectors know the Chancellor is involved in the process. Advertisement Mr Morgan-Evans told the Guardian: 'Having so many flights pre-booked at the beginning of the month for cargo is completely out of the ordinary. 'It is impossible to say how many planeloads will be brought into the UK at this stage, as that partly depends on demand for aircraft elsewhere in the world. 'It is possible there simply won't be enough aircraft able to cope with the expected last-minute demand that has characterised [the final quarter of the year] in previous years, although we are confident that there are just about enough solutions out there.' Shipping experts have warned the crisis is hitting Britain particularly hard. Peter Wilson, managing director at Cory Brothers shipping agency, said problems affecting shipping and transport is a global issue but added the UK has a 'significant pinch point around HGV drivers and the demand on them to move goods from the ports'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'That's a really significant issue for us here in the UK.' Asked if it will affect Christmas, he said it has the 'potential' but stressed that the supply chain 'will not fail in the UK', adding that consumers should 'be sensible, think ahead, plan appropriately, and order your Christmas goods and the items that you need in a timely fashion to ensure that you have them.' Mr Wilson said there is a potential that some items may not be available nearer to Christmas, and when asked what items are most at risk of that, he said: 'It's a real mix. 'We import so much into the UK by container on these shipping lines, so it's from white goods to your Christmas toys, and we include food goods with this as well, so it could be a real mixed bag of all items. 'But I think you know, Christmas, the toys, the goods will be the significant big selling point as we build up to Christmas and I think that's where we're going to get pinch points.' Some customers are turning to the air for a way around the backlog, with air freight services rocketing this month by 70 per cent. Meanwhile Tory co-chairman Mr Dowden admitted just 20 out of 300 foreign lorry drivers who have applied for temporary visas are on the roads in another blow for delivery services. He told LBC the number of workers from abroad that Britain has been able to attract to drive trucks has been 'relatively limited'. Asked if it was going to solve the crisis, Mr Dowden said: 'No it's not, and that's why it is just one of a range of measures we are taking, because of course we can't just do what we have always done, which is when we have a shortage get more foreign labour in. 'We need to improve the skills in our country, and we need to get more people training to be HGV drivers. That's why we are streamlining the recruitment process.' Mr Dowden said there are two different elements to recruiting lorry drivers successfully - applications for visas from foreign drivers, and the streamlining of the testing process which happens for HGV drivers already in this country. He told Mr Ferrari: 'Over the longer term we need to get more people driving HGVs. That's why we are investing more and streamlining that process, in fact it's why we have got military testers also helping us with this. 'The best way to solve this is getting people in this country to train as HGV drivers.' Mr Ferrari asked the minister: 'I'm sorry, I must have misheard you. 'I thought you said this process had been streamlined. I don't see 20 out of 300 as particularly streamlined chairman?' He pushed the minister on whether or not he was pleased with a roughly 7 per cent success rate. Mr Dowden replied: 'That number is just a reflection of the number of applicants who have been processed and have actually got their visa.' 'So we have 300 on the road, I see...' Mr Ferrari replied. But Mr Dowden clarified: 'No, we have 300 who have applied for these visas. I believe the number is just over 20 who have actually received them and are on the road. I expect this number to increase over time.' Mr Ferrari branded the success rate 'hopeless', adding: 'You'd get booted out of school for that, minister!' Maersk, the world's largest shipping firm, says it is diverting bigger ships away from the UK due to the delays at the dockside because it is quicker to avoid Felixstowe and move goods via France to Dover or to smaller UK ports such as Hull Ikea and Nestle are among the huge businesses that say their products are being snarled up due to a lack of HGV drivers that is hitting all parts of British life Thousands of shipping containers at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, as shipping giant Maersk has said it is diverting vessels away from UK ports to unload elsewhere in Europe Shipping containers are unloaded at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk as the global supply chain continues to be disrupted on Wednesday The heads of several import firms are growing concerned as containers packed with food, furniture and electronics are backing up at Britain's busiest freight port predominantly due to the UK's dearth of drivers. However, the disruption is not limited to Felixstowe, with sources pointing to a bottleneck at distribution centres in the Midlands causing problems as well. The lack of drivers to move containers, along with a surge in imports and restrictions at ports due to Covid has created a 'perfect storm', according to the Times. Maersk boss Lars Mikael Jensen says its largest ships are being diverted from Felixstowe to Rotterdam because they were waiting for up to a week off the port. He has warned that retailers may need to prioritise what they ship to Britain in the coming months, with 10 to 15 large ships from Asia arriving in the UK every week. He added that he felt it would be 'well into 2022' before the situation began to resolve itself. He said: 'We've taken those measures because we saw, because of the big ships, there is a limit to how many berths they can call in Felixstowe, and because its slower, it took longer to handle every ship. Instead of wasting time waiting, we progressed to the next stop, and arranged that the boxes are relayed from that port rather than wait for a week and then discharge.' Adam Searle, of CP Transport, which operates 45 lorries out of Felixstowe, said the situation was a 'nightmare'. He told the Telegraph: 'My guys in the office are pulling their hair out every single day and are working extended hours just to try and deliver what our customers need. I'm scared for the final rush to Christmas.' Pictures from Felixstowe yesterday showed how it was rammed with containers piled up over the gigantic dockside, as the British International Freight Association said it understood average 'dwell times' for cargo at the port have nearly doubled in the last two weeks, from five to 9.7 days. The backlog is affecting major retailers including IKEA and major food companies including Nestle, the world's largest food producer of coffee, baby food and chocolate, as well as tens of thousands of smaller UK businesses waiting for orders from all over the world. Some cargo ships are now being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it is now quicker to avoid Felixstowe. Inside those containers are tens of thousands of tonnes of goods destined for shops, supermarkets and households for the busy festive period. Britons are already buying their turkeys, gammons and Christmas puddings due to shortage fears. Consumers are seeing products in some parts of supermarkets missing, due in large part to issues with deliveries and a shortage of C02 used in thousands of products More empty shelves are pictured in the meat aisle at Sainsbury's in Leeds - with fresh fruit supplies also down on the usual The Sainsbury's store in Leeds shows fridges left nearly empty as shoppers stock up on their favourite products and clear the shelves This Department for Transport map shows how much traffic is handled by ports dealing with more than two million tonnes The Department for Transport has also produced a graphic showing where goods come in from - split by region This map from the Department of Transport shows ports split by cargo group. Ro-Ro stands for Roll-on/Roll-off, as in lorries; while Lo-Lo stands for Lift-on/Lift-off, as in containers Britain's labour crisis is also being blamed for the logjam with one logistics company whistleblower telling ITV News anonymously: 'I'm fed up with this. Year on year this port never has enough staff to cope with high demand. 'Now we're hitting another peak period and all that people are talking about again is shutdowns and gridlock. These volumes were forecast, there have been many meetings about the run up to Christmas. Why are we on this position?' There are empty shelves in every major supermarket in the country due to shortages with store managers and staff also telling MailOnline that deliveries are regularly now 'just not turning up' due to a lack of drivers. One logistics industry source told MailOnline there had been much discussion that the peak season is going to be tough and some suspect the shipping lines will be making plans to spread the load between Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton and London Gateway. They added that decision to 'drop a port call is nothing new', and that there was anecdotal evidence that the dwell times at other major container ports is increasing. The source said: 'The increased pressure on inland depots and UK terminals in general is down to a number of factors including the ongoing HGV driver issue, equipment shortage, post Brexit stockpiling and an increase in domestic spending due to a lack of foreign travel, as well as other matters.' It came as Boris Johnson sealed a deal to reverse the shortage of CO2 for use in beer and food production but shoppers will be paying more for staples almost immediately after the US company producing 60% of the UK's supply allowed to up its prices from 200 to 1,000 per ton. The price of the gas, which is used to carbonate drinks, preserve food and stun animals for slaughter, is expected to rise five times after the country's biggest manufacturer threatened to shut its UK factories. The shortage of C02 is part of a storm of crises the Government is accused of failing to get a grip on, including a shortage of fuel and 100,000 HGV drivers, a lack of food processing workers and butchers due to the pandemic and Brexit, gaps in the global supply chain and the highest rise in energy prices for decades hitting households and businesses. This graphic from Danish logistics and shipping company DFDS shows its freight shipping routes in Europe and beyond Dr Jean-Paul Rodrigue from Hofstra University in New York put together this map showing the world's main shipping routes The PM has brought in the former boss of Tesco, Sir Dave Lewis, to unblock Britain's choked supply chains. Experts have warned that delays at Felixstowe are bound to cause more problems with the flow of goods into the UK, with just ten weeks to go until Christmas. The near-ten day wait for containers to clear is nearly double the average for 2020. It comes despite the port - which handles 40 per cent of Britain's container imports - only dealing with similar import volumes to 2019 with Brexit and the pandemic causing problems. Felixstowe is the route into Britain for much almost half of all of the UK's imports, especially containers carrying goods from Asia via the Suez Canal. In the past year problems caused by the pandemic led to the delay of goods such as Apple AirPods and Sony PS5s as well as a plethora of items ordered from China by UK businesses. The shortage of lorry drivers means it is having more containers arrive than are being collected, creating a backlog affecting major retailers including IKEA and major food companies including Nestle, the world's largest food producer of coffee, baby food and chocolate. An IKEA spokesman said: 'Like many retailers, we are experiencing ongoing challenges with our supply chains. Why is the price of coffee going up? How drought and frost in Brazil has hit Colombian farmers - forcing up the price of beans World coffee prices have soared by 55 per cent this year, which is mainly due to bad weather in top producer Brazil that has hit supplies. Drought and severe frost are estimated to have destroyed about 20 per cent of its coffee plants - and production of growers in Brazil has been reduced by around 25 per cent. This situation has prompted coffee farmers in Colombia, which is the world's number two producer, to default on sales clinched when prices were much lower in order to re-sell the coffee at higher rates. This has seen Colombia fail to deliver up to one million bags of beans this year or nearly 10 per cent of the country's crop - leaving exporters, traders and roasters facing steep losses. However it is hoped that a price spike would be temporary, because the defaulting in Colombia is on coffee which ultimately exists and will weigh on markets once it is re-sold. Colombian farmers say they will deliver the coffee later this year or next but buyers are unconvinced, with many opting to see losses now and write the purchases off rather than risk bigger loses. Several global trade houses are said to be looking at losses of up to $10 million each on undelivered coffee. Advertisement 'As a result, we are experiencing low availability in some of our ranges. With Felixstowe nearing capacity, we have faced some challenges in returning containers to the port.' Alex Veitch, of Logistics UK, said: 'The current issues being experienced at Felixstowe port are partly due to the HGV driver shortage.' Robert Keen, director general of The British International Freight Association, said: 'BIFA has anecdotal evidence that the import dwell time for containers at some of UK's main gateways for container shipping services has gone up from 5 to 9.7days over the past two weeks, but members are resigned to this being just part and parcel of the deep sea shipping world these days.' A Port of Felixstowe spokesman said: 'The pre-Christmas peak, combined with haulage shortages, congested inland terminals, poor vessel schedule reliability and the pandemic, has resulted in a build-up of containers at the port. The vast majority of import containers are cleared for collection within minutes of arriving.' The backlog at Felixstowe comes as the spectre of bare shelves continued to haunt supermarkets. Low stocks were in evidence at supermarkets including a Tesco in Chester, an Asda store in South East London and a Waitrose in Surrey. Workers at the supermarkets said deliveries had 'just not turned up'. Meanwhile, there were warnings of price rises affecting staple items including baked beans and coffee. Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio said yesterday the firm is 'raising prices, where necessary', blaming a lack of truck drivers in the UK and labour shortages and an increase in logistics costs in the US. He added: 'If costs keep going up we're going to struggle. We will simply have to increase the price for customers.' The price of Arabica coffee has jumped almost 73 per cent in the past year to levels not seen since 2014 after 20 per cent of coffee plants in Brazil - the world's biggest bean exporter - were killed by drought and severe frost in the past year. In Colombia, the third largest coffee-producing country in the world, farmers have refused to deliver bags of beans unless they receive higher prices. Shoppers face higher supermarket prices as part of a deal to protect vital supplies of carbon dioxide. The price of the gas, which is used to carbonate drinks, preserve food and stun animals for slaughter, is expected to rise fivefold after the Britain's biggest manufacturer threatened to shut its factories. Carbon dioxide is also used in surgical operations in hospitals, and as a coolant for nuclear power stations. Ministers stepped in with a subsidy worth tens of millions to keep the supply going for three weeks and allow space for CF Fertiliser, which makes three-fifths of the UK's supply, to negotiate with its customers. It has now agreed higher prices that will guarantee supply until at least January. But drinks companies and food producers may be forced to pass on the huge cost increase, thought to be from 200 to 1,000 per ton, to their consumers. Industry bosses warned yesterday that three in five retailers expect to increase prices before Christmas in the face of rising costs for energy, ingredients and wages. It comes after last month's warning from Tesco chairman John Allan that food inflation could hit 5 per cent this year after a long period of falling prices. Spiking energy prices forced a major CO2 producer, CF Fertilisers, to shut down its two UK plants last month as the Government stepped in for three weeks to prop up the firm in a move that was expected to cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the new deal between CF Fertiliser and its customers industrial gas companies was a 'more sustainable solution'. He added: 'Critical industries can have confidence in their supplies of CO2 over the coming months without further taxpayer support.' The deal reflected 'the vital importance of this material to everything from our nuclear industry to hospitals to the food and beverage industry'. Last week Mr Kwarteng temporarily exempted parts of the CO2 industry from competition law so the deal could go through. Previously, ministers had warned that companies would have to accept a large rise in CO2 rates, with a possible fivefold increase. Now CO2 customers will pay CF Fertilisers a set price until January, which will let the company continue to operate while global gas prices remain high. But with energy bills for its factories expected to rise further still, there is no guarantee that the firm can keep going beyond that date. And a CF spokesman said the company expected the UK government and industrial gas customers to develop 'robust alternative sources of CO2 as part of a long-term solution for meeting demand'. Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 'The Government has taken decisive action in these exceptional circumstances to allow a deal to be reached which will continue the supply of CO2.' Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: 'We welcome news of this arrangement, which provides some certainty of supply over the next few months. Although CO2 is a only a small percentage of total cost for most soft drinks producers, the significantly higher prices for supply only add to the economic pressures already facing manufacturers, including the shortage of HGV drivers.' Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, added: 'We welcome a deal to ensure that CO2 supplies are secure until after Christmas. 'However, this is yet another example of cost pressures in the supply chain, along with rising transport costs, higher energy and commodity prices, and ongoing labour shortages.' A Minnesota man has been charged with fatally shooting a woman in a resort cabin last week after allegedly mistaking her for his ex-girlfriend. Cameron Moser, 29, was booked into the Crow Wing County jail on Friday on a charge of second-degree intentional murder stemming from the killing of 46-year-old Bethany Bernatsky at the Cozy Bay Resort on Lake Edward. Moser is being held on $1million bond pending his next court appearance on October 20. Sheriff Scott Goddard said investigators are trying to determine whether the killing was a case of mistaken identity, in which Moser intended to kill his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, who is the daughter of the resort's former owner. Cameron Moser, 29 (left), has been charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Bethany Bernatsky, 46 (right) in Minnesota last week Bernatksy was found in a pool of blood after being shot multiple times in a cabin at Cozy Bay Resort on October 7 Investigators suspect that Moser shot Bernatsky after mistaking her for his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, the daughter of the resort's former owner Bret Jevning, who previously operated the Cozy Bay Resort, told Minneapolis Star Tribune that the week before the killing, Moser came by the RV park that Jevning owns across the street and was looking for his daughter. According to Jevning, Moser was angry that his daughter had overcome her drug addiction after entering rehab, and 'he was taunting her by using [drugs] himself,' Jevning told the paper. Photos of Jevning's daughter and Bernatsky available on social media reveal that despite their 20-year age difference, the two women shared similar features, including long blonde hair, similar height and build. According to a probable cause affidavit, just after 11pm on October 7, Crow Wing County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Cozy Bay Resort after receiving a 911 call about a shooting. Bernatsky, a former dressage horse trainer, was shot multiple times, including in the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene In recent years, she had relocated to Vermont to run a paving company with her boyfriend The person who made the initial call said they were staying in a cabin at the resort when gunfire erupted next door, prompting them to flee. Less than 20 minutes later, responding deputies spotted the gunman, later identified as Moser, carrying a AR-15-style rifle and a silver handgun across the street from the resort, at the Mollie Lake RV park. A 90-minute standoff between the suspect and the officers ensued, during which Moser was described as holding both firearms in his hands while talking to law enforcement. After Moser was finally taken into custody at around midnight, SWAT team members went to inspect the resort and discovered Bernatsky lying face down in a large pool of blood at the end of a hallway in one of the cabins. According to the affidavit, Investigator Phil Stanley, who found the victim's body, 'observed a large amount of apparent blood, tissue and bone matter surrounding the victim.' The 46-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. She was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office, where she was identified through a tattoo on her body that was known to be there by a family member. An autopsy determined that Bernatsky died after being shot multiple times, including once in the head. Shell casings collected at the scene were found to be of the same caliber and brand of ammunition as in Moser's rifle, according to the affidavit. About two weeks ago, Bernatsky checked into the Cozy Bay Resort with the intention of spending the winter there Bernatsky grew up in the Brainerd, Minnesota, area and was described by her brother as being a high-level dressage horse trainer and teacher until about 10 years ago. In recent years, she had relocated to Vermont to run a paving company with her boyfriend. About two weeks ago, she checked into the Cozy Bay Resort with the intention of spending the winter there. Family and friends have been posting tributes to Bernatsky and sharing their memories on Facebook. 'Bethany Bernatsky was loved by so many!!' wrote Michelle Berntasky, the victim's sister-in-law. 'She was a friend, sister, mother, aunt, daughter, trainer, mentor, a gypsy at heart, a horse whisperer, an incredibly fun and insightful friend!! Were devastated.' A Seattle elementary school has canceled its upcoming Halloween parade and will be banning students from dressing in costumes on October 31, claiming that the annual event marginalizes students of color who administrators claim do not celebrate the holiday. Officials at the Benjamin Franklin Day Elementary School have discussed axing the annual Pumpkin Parade for five years, but first notified parents about the unilateral decision to cancel it in an October 8 newsletter, according to The Jason Rantz Show on local news station KTTH Radio. As a school with foundational beliefs around equity for our students and families, we are moving away from our traditional Pumpkin Parade event and requesting that students do not come to school in costumes, reads the newsletter, seen by the radio host. The school in Seattles Fremont neighborhood annually invites students to dress in costume and march through the school with their peers as part of its Pumpkin Parade. However, it decided to cancel the event this year because it could be upsetting for children who cant afford a Halloween costume and that the loud noise levels and crowds are triggering to some kids, according to the newsletter. Benjamin Franklin Day Elementary School has canceled its upcoming Halloween parade because it marginalizes students of color, the district wrote in a newsletter to parents on October 8 B.F. Day Elementary School, in Seattles Fremont neighborhood, annually invites students to dress in costume and march through the school with their peers as part of its Pumpkin Parade But administrators claimed that a number of students, specially African American boys, do not celebrate Halloween and feel excluded by the annual event. Above, a photo from the school district's Instagram page shows students hosting an event supporting the Black Lives Matter movement About 15 percent of the school is considered low-income, according to nonprofit GreatSchools. Its not clear why the school didnt opt for alternatives to cancelling the parade, such as hosting a community costume drive or a DIY costume-making activity. The newsletter states that students will still recognize the fall season by participating in activities the school claims are more inclusive, like a thematic study of the fall season and a lesson on autumnal artwork. The newsletter concludes by thanking parents for their support, despite inviting no parental input in the decision. It explains that the decision was championed by the schools Racial Equity Committee and invites parents to join it. The school defended the decision, saying that a number of students of color opt out of the event each year and feel excluded because they dont celebrate Halloween. The school defended the decision, saying that a number of students of color opt out of the event each year and feel excluded because they dont celebrate Halloween The newsletter also claims that the event could be upsetting for children who cant afford a Halloween costume and that the loud noise levels and crowds are triggering to some kids Historically, the Pumpkin Parade marginalizes students of color who do not celebrate the holiday, a school spokesperson told Rantz. Specifically, these students have requested to be isolated on campus while the event took place. In alliance with SPSs unwavering commitment to students of color, specifically African American males, the staff is committed to supplanting the Pumpkin Parade with more inclusive and educational opportunities during the school day. School principal Stanley Jaskot also supported the Racial Equity Committee and confirmed that the parade was cancelled. Halloween is a very complex issue for schools, she told Fox News. Yes, I agree this event marginalized our students of color. Several of our students historically opted for an alternate activity in the library while the pumpkin parade took place. She added, This was an isolating situation and not consistent with our values of being an inclusive and safe place for all our students especially students of color and those with a sensitivity to all the noise and excitement of the parade. Students will still recognize the fall season by participating in activities the school claims are more inclusive, like a thematic study of the fall season and a lesson on autumnal artwork. Above, a photo from the school district's Instagram page shows students at what appears to be an LGBTQ Pride event But at least one parent of a student of color has taken issue with the schools decision, telling Rantz that parents should have been able to voice their opinions on the matter. I dont see any way in which this actually addresses any inequities to the extent that there are any inequities. You know, this just seems like grandstanding on behalf of the principal and the staff who are predominantly white, David Malkin, who is Asian, told Rantz. Malkin has a 7-year-old son enrolled at the school and said the boy's favorite holiday is Halloween. 'Im sure they dont want to hear from anyone of any race or ethnicity that doesnt really want to go along with them in lockstep,' he added. Malkin hasnt yet told his son about the parades cancellation and that he believes students wont even understand why the school cancelled it. 'I hate to see these kinds of things slowly be whittled away and destroyed or being done away with because someone has some, you know, theory in their head that somehow this is exclusionary when, again, its quite the opposite,' he said. A woman claims she was subjected to racial discrimination by the millionaire members of a casino where she worked as a croupier. Semhar Tesfagiorgis, 40, is bringing an employment action against private Mayfair casino Aspinalls, owned by Crown, Crown's managing director Michael Branson and the company's HR manager Laura Attrill. She claims she was subjected to direct race and sex discrimination, indirect sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation while working there. Semhar Tesfagiorgis, 40, arrives at the Central London Employment Tribunal The respondents deny the claims against them. Central London Employment Tribunal heard that Mrs Tesfagiorgis had initially complained to management in December 2019, about an alleged incident in which a patron at the casino asked for a 'fair-skinned dealer'. In her witness statement, Mrs Tesfagiorgis said that on December 4, the patron made the request to Aspinalls marketing team, who then asked front-of-house management to deal with it. The casino arranged for white, male dealers to attend to the patron instead of asking her. She said that she and another black female staff member were kept away from the patron and segregated. Mrs Tesfagiorgis said in her statement that on the following day, December 5, she was summoned to a private meeting with Mr Branson after she raised the issue. She said he asked her if she expected him to 'turn away a million-pound customer' and that the patron could not be racist due to a friendship that he had. On December 6, Mrs Tesfagiorgis said she was summoned to a meeting with Mr Branson and HR manager Laura Attrill about the incident. Ms Attrill told the tribunal in her evidence that she attended the meeting at the request of Mrs Tesfagiorgis, but did not take notes as she did not realise that was what she was there for. She said: 'I was just asked if I could attend a meeting and I listened as intently as I could.' Ms Attrill said she could not recall any complaints about racism prior to the December 2019 incident. She said: 'If it was raised, it would have raised some form of action.' However Elaine Banton, lawyer for Mrs Tesfagiorgis, said an email had been forwarded to Ms Attrill in 2017, after she had complained of a racist incident at the casino and had suggested staff and management join together to discuss how racist incidents were handled. She said a forum she suggested be set up for all incidents, but this did not materialise. The Crown London Aspinalls, where Semhar Tesfagiorgis used to work, in Mayfair, London It is claimed that at the time of the 2019 complaint, Aspinalls had just three black front-of-house staff members, who were all women Ms Banton said: 'That opportunity was missed and it was not addressed.' She told the tribunal that at the time of the 2019 complaint, Aspinalls had just three black front-of-house staff members, who were all women. Ms Attrill said there were black members of staff in other departments across the company and an unacceptable patron's behaviour policy is in place which outlines what staff members at the company should do if patrons break rules issued to them. Ms Banton said: 'I suggest that there was a systemic issue at the workplace that involved racial profiles that should have been addressed.' The tribunal also heard that Mrs Tesfagiorgis had emailed HR about issues she had had with development and training opportunities at the company, which Ms Attrill said she 'did not infer was due to her race and sex'. The tribunal was adjourned until Thursday. Furious parents are demanding the resignation of Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler who claimed on June 22 that the school had received no reports of sexual assaults by trans kids in bathrooms, four weeks after a girl told teachers she'd been raped in the bathrooms by a male 'in a skirt'. On June 22, Ziegler, who earns $295,000 as the school superintendent - a job he took over in January - told a crowded school board meeting: 'To my knowledge, we dont have any record of assaults occurring in our restrooms. He then went further, calling it a debunked theory that a transgender person is more likely to sexually assault a cisgender person, and that the 'predatory trans person does not exist'. 'I think its important to keep our perspective on this, weve heard it several times tonight from our public speakers but the predator transgender student or person simply does not exist,' he said. Four weeks earlier, Scott Smith's 15-year-old daughter told teachers she was raped in the girls' bathrooms at Stone Bridge High School in Leesburg, Virginia, by a male student who had been allowed into the bathroom because he told staff he identified as female. The boy was arrested in July - a month after the meeting - but he went on to allegedly sexually assault another girl, at a different school in the same district, in October. He is now in juvenile detention awaiting a court appearance on all charges, which include sexual battery and forcible sodomy. Furious parents are demanding the resignation of Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler, shown on June 22, telling a school board meeting that there had been no reports of sexual assaults involving transgender kids in bathrooms when one was reported on May 28 Parents on Tuesday called for Ziegler's resignation at a school board meeting. More than 60 irate parents and one student attended the meeting 14-year-old Katie Young also spoke at the meeting. She said: 'I am 14 years old, the fact that I have to be here defending my rights to not have your radical agenda shoved down my throat in school is not only concerning, it's upsetting.' On Tuesday, furious parents and one 14-year-old student attended a meeting where they called for Ziegler's resignation. 'This is not China, this is the United States of America, and we will not be silenced. 'Remove the superintendent immediately and then resign for your negligence and duplicity. End this nightmare!' one mother fumed, according to videos obtained by Fox News. 'Your moral compasses are busted! You, Dr. Ziegler, and our school board every one of you are complicit in these crimes against our children because you did nothing about it, nothing. 'What is worse than a child being raped at school? The coverup by those who are trusted with the safety and well-being of children. Ziegler took the job in Loudoun County in January after working in HR for years. He is paid $295,000 a year 'Today, Scott Ziegler must resign for the unconscionable act of allowing an alleged rapist back into school to rape again, and for that coverup,' said another. 'I am 14 years old, the fact that I have to be here defending my rights to not have your radical agenda shoved down my throat in school is not only concerning, it's upsetting. 'My peers and I are not tools to further your political agenda,' said Katie Young, the 14-year-old student. 'We warned you about policies that you were putting into place that would be a danger to our students, and we've seen that happen. 'When is enough enough? When are you going to change the policies to keep our children safe?' a father said. His alleged behavior is exactly the type that parents said they were worried about at the June 22 meeting. They argued against the proposed rule that all kids could choose what bathroom to use. 'Criminal investigations of Timothy Flynn, Scott Ziegler, and Brenda Sheridan seem warranted for covering up the anal rape of a 9th grader and intimidating the victims father,' tweeted one person. A spokesman for the school board told DailyMail.com on Wednesday morning that he was unaware of the allegations - even though the school reported them to police - because the police were still investigating. They would not comment on whether or not he plans to resign, nor would the school board comment on the incidents. 'Members of the Loudoun County School Board were not aware of the specific details of this incident until it was reported in media outlets earlier this week. 'We are unable to locate any records that indicate that Scott Smith had registered in advance to speak at the June 22, 2021 board meeting,' the spokesman said, citing privacy laws as reason for not giving more details. The rape allegations were first revealed on Tuesday by The Daily Wire. Loudoun County's Sheriff's Office later corroborated them with DailyMail.com. Scott and Jessica Smith's daughter told teachers on May 28 that she had been raped by a boy wearing a skirt who was allowed to use the girls' bathrooms. The boy, who has not been named, was arrested two months later on charges of forcible sodomy Smith was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after the June 22 meeting where Ziegler allegedly lied. He said he was trying to contain himself after listening to school board staff say they'd never had a report of a sexual assault in a bathroom, when that is what his daughter reported weeks earlier Smith told The Daily Wire that his daughter was raped on May 28 but that the school did nothing, choosing instead to handle it 'internally'. The woke school board has been pushing a liberal agenda throughout the year, to the horror of many of the parents and teachers in the community. The school didn't tell the police what had happened to the girl, but they reported Smith to the authorities for making a scene. He and his daughter then went to the cops themselves. At the June 22 meeting, Smith said he wanted to tell the room of angry parents and teachers that Ziegler was lying, and that the very type of assault they said they feared had happened to his daughter. Before he could, he was taken out of the room by sheriff's deputies. The 48-year-old plumber was ridiculed on social media afterwards and was painted by the left to be a deranged, right-wing bigot. 'It has been so hard to keep my mouth shut and wait this out. It has been the most powerless thing Ive ever been through,' he said in his interview with The Daily Wire. Smith says he couldn't contain himself after watching Loudoun County staff lie about never receiving a report of an incident in a bathroom. Board chair Brenda Sheridan is pictured He appeared on The Ingraham Angle on Fox News on Tuesday to explain that he spoke out after learning the same boy had been arrested again for allegedly assaulting a different girl. 'Within half an hour, it was confirmed that yes, this did happen. I basically said thats it. I wont stay quiet anymore.' A spokesman for Ziegler told Fox yesterday that 'as soon as' the incident happened in May, police were notified and the school is 'cooperating'. Smith says the school 'washed its hands of it'. The school board has not yet responded to the demands for Ziegler to resign, or for his deputies to resign. He assumed the role of superintendent in June this year after informally taking over in January following the resignation of Eric Williams. Williams left the area to go and work in Houston, Texas, as tensions in Loudoun County reached boiling point. The liberal school board embraced Ziegler, a former teacher and chaplain who only started working in the county in 2019. Williams never released an explanation for his departure. Smith and his wife say their legal costs are mounting with the combined cases. A GoFundMe page that was set up to help them has raised more than $17,000. Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters got the fire under control in around an hour A teenage boy suffered burns to his arms and stomach when his deodorant sprayed into a candle and exploded into a fire that destroyed his family's home. Atrin Behazadi, 13, was putting on deodorant in his bedroom when it hit a tea light candle and sparked a blast. Dozens of families fled after the blaze at the 20-storey block on Westbridge Road in Battersea, south London, yesterday at around 8pm. Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters tackled the blaze and got it under control in around an hour by 9.05pm. Atrin's mother, Sarah, 43, a dental technician, said: 'It was my flat that caught fire. 'Both windows exploded and the door was blown off its hinges. It was broken in half. Dozens of firefighters tackled a blaze that broke out on the 20th floor of a tower block on Westbridge Road in Battersea, southwest London. Atrin Behazadi, 13, was putting on deodorant when the spray hit a tea light candle and exploded The London Fire Brigade said a woman escaped from the property before rescuers arrived and is being treated for possible smoke inhalation. Atrin was rushed to hospital with burns on his stomach and arms and 50 other people living in the tower block were evacuated 'My daughter was the one who called 999 and told them about the fire. 'I went to do a quick shop when my daughter Atis called me and said, 'Mum, something exploded'. 'My son, Atrin, was spraying himself with deodorant in his room and it hit a tea light candle.' She added: 'I'm so proud she acted so quickly. She's saved so many lives. 'The paramedics told my son to wrap himself in a blanket so he wouldn't go into shock. 'They both went downstairs but I was already in the lift so when I got there, they weren't there. I thought that was it, it was done, something had happened. 'He's okay now, but the doctors have told me to keep an eye on him in case he gets a fever. 'The smoke alarm in the apartment didn't work and there aren't any in the corridors.' Her daughter Atis, 15, said: 'I was in my room and suddenly my door burst open. I saw a bright light from the flame and heard him scream. 'I was paralysed for a few seconds but then he burst into my room. He said his body was burning and that we needed to get out. 'The fire calmed down, but there was still a flame on the cabinet. I wanted to put it out but there was glass all over the floor. 'I called my mum and 999 immediately.' The windows of the flat on the 20th floor were ripped out by the fire, which burnt out 80 per cent of the three-bedroom property Station Commander Pete Johnson, who was at the scene, said: 'Crews were faced with a lot of smoke issuing from the top of a block of flats on arrival' The fire was declared to be under control at around 9.05pm, approximately an hour after the first 999 calls came in Firefighters tackling the blaze last night. Haji Safiya Mayow, 53, a housewife who lives on the 19th floor said she 'couldn't hear any alarms'. Her son Idris, 30, said there were 'no extinguishers, no alarms, no fire exits or signs anywhere' in the building Downstairs neighbour Diane Gray, 61, said she was the first to attend to the boy after the explosion. 'I could hear the boy going ah, ah, ah and running up and down in their lounge,' she told MyLondon. She said the skin on the side of Atrin's stomach had started to peel off. Paramedics rushed Atrin to hospital with burns on his stomach and arms and 50 other people living in the tower block were evacuated. Pictures taken from outside the block showed huge flames and clouds of smoke billowing out of the flat's windows. Crews said the fire, which has since been brought under control, had affected a three-bedroom flat, with almost 80 per cent of the property on fire. Those who fled the building said no alarms went off and there were not any extinguishers in the building. Wandsworth Council spokesman Charlie Masson-Smith told MailOnline this was because extinguishers could give the impression residents should fight a fire themselves and alarms were not needed in communal areas 'because that's not where fires happen.' He said none of the Council's buildings had fire alarms or extinguishers. He dismissed the need for more fire safety measures and added 'no one suffered any serious injury', even though 13-year-old Atrin suffered burns that left his skin peeling off. He said: 'Trained firefighters tackle fires, that's why there aren't alarms. 'All these buildings are designed to confine the fire to one single dwelling. The building's safety features did exactly what they were supposed to do.' He said it was best to stay put in the event of a fire to minimise the chance of colliding with a firefighter coming up the block's stairs. He said it was 'not a question of fire escapes', although he maintained the building did have fire exits and the Council supplied smoke detectors. He said five flats were affected by the fire and the Council had offered them alternative accommodation, although added 'it's up to them if they want to take advantage of that'. A statement from Wandsworth Council on general fire safety measures in the housing it provides said: 'Fire extinguishers are not provided in the communal areas of the building. We cannot, and would not, expect residents to fight fires.' Haji Safiya Mayow, 53, a housewife who lives on the 19th floor said: 'I was watching TV in bed when my son came and told me I needed to leave the building 'I just put a jacket over my pyjamas and went downstairs. There was smoke everywhere and it was difficult to breathe. 'I have asthma and I was running down the stairs, all 20 flights. I was shocked and scared and my legs were hurting. 'I just wanted to save my life. 'I couldn't hear any alarms and there were people everywhere running. When I came out there were hot ashes and bits of glass falling from the sky. 'I was crying because my son Idris stayed upstairs to help my neighbour. I told the firemen "my son is upstairs - you need to get him out"'. Fellow resident Claire Walsh, 33, said it was a 'pretty traumatic night'. She added: 'Everyone was screaming, kids were out here in pyjamas' Her son Idris, 30, said: 'They need to put a hose or something in the building because last night there was nothing. No extinguishers, no alarms, no fire exits or signs anywhere in this building and the other blocks. 'We've spoken to the council about the safety of the building before but nothing was done about it. 'We were told to put detectors in our flats but there aren't any in the corridor. I stayed with my neighbour who is 86 years old and in a wheelchair. 'The lifts were disabled because of the fire so she couldn't get out. Luckily they managed to contain the flames otherwise she would have died. 'Her daughter who's in her 40s or 50s also has mobility problems.' Claire Walsh, 33, also lives in the block where the fire happened. She said the initial blast 'sounded like glass being sent down the chute, just something being put in the bin. 'Obviously that was the windows being blown out. Then we heard fire engines. They came and could see them rushing around. 'Everyone was screaming, kids were out here in pyjamas. 'People [were] being escorted out, some of us being told to stay in. It was a pretty traumatic night.' Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters fought the blaze at a block of flats on Westbridge Road in Battersea Student Ishika Deb, 20, who lives in a neighbouring block of flats, said: 'I heard a bang and glass smashing. I went out and saw there was glass on the floor. Then I heard a bang and looked up and saw fire.' She said she heard a couple of bangs then noticed that 'ash was coming out'. Rangy Raphyugaz, who lives on the fourth floor of the building, said that as he went outside glass was falling from the 20th floor and cut his arm. 'I was sitting in my house listening to music and heard a lot of noise in the hallway,' he told MyLondon. 'I went out and people were saying there was a fire. I quickly went back and banged on all my neighbours' doors shouting "fire, fire, fire!"' The accident came as fire brigades across Britain warned about the dangers of lighted candles this week. Station Commander Pete Johnson, who was at the scene, said: 'Crews were faced with a lot of smoke issuing from the top of a block of flats on arrival. 'There was also lots of visible flame which has prompted a high number of calls to our Control Officers. 'Firefighters worked quickly to bring the fire under control.' The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took 18 calls to the blaze which was under control in less than an hour. Firefighters came from stations including Battersea, Fulham, north Kensington and Wandsworth. London Fire Brigade advise people in a block of flats 'to stay put' unless their flat is affected by smoke or fire. It said: 'This is based on the fire protection provided in the building and the walls and doors of each flat. 'This has been the case for many decades and although fires in flats happen every day they rarely spread beyond the flat on fire. 'When you stay put, you reduce the risk of entering a smoky corridor and being overcome by smoke. Staying put also means firefighters can tackle the fire safely and quickly without being delayed by many residents evacuating down the stairways.' The EU agreed to a major climbdown over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland tonight that will slash hated red tape in place since January. The European Commission measures unveiled tonight would see an 80 per cent reduction in checks envisaged for retail agri-food products arriving in the region from Great Britain. It would effectively end the so-called 'sausage war' that has seen goods crossing the Irish Sea subject to increased customs controls. But Brussels tonight set itself on a new collision course with Westminster by refusing to meet UK demands to remove the European Court of Justice from its role in overseeing the agreement. UK ministers including Lord Frost have made scrapping the EU court's role key to their arguments in recent days, leading to the EU accusing Britain of moving the goalposts. One EU official urged the UK to be 'realistic and pragmatic', warning if it sticks to its demand on the ECJ it would create a 'very big gap' between the two sides. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic told reporters today that the EU proposals would make a 'real, tangible difference on the ground' in Northern Ireland. But he hit out at the UK over its ECJ demands, saying that in many hours of meetings he was involved in, it had only been mentioned once. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic told reporters tonight the EU proposals would make a 'real, tangible difference on the ground' in Northern Ireland. Lord Frost issued a last minute warning to the EU this afternoon that it must 'move significantly' in order to secure a Brexit breakthrough on Northern Ireland border rules What is the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol about and what are the key issues? The row between Britain and Brussels over the Northern Ireland Protocol has been rumbling on ever since it was implemented at the start of this year. The protocol governs trade between GB and Northern Ireland and was designed to prevent a land border with the Republic, with checks carried out at ports instead. However, the rules have caused disruption to trade and inflamed community tensions. The UK wants the protocol to be completely overhauled while the EU has favoured only making tweaks. These are the main sticking points: Customs checks Businesses believe post-Brexit border red tape is too arduous and complicated and want it to be simplified. Products shipped from Northern Ireland to GB are largely unaffected by the protocol with the bureaucratic burden falling on goods heading in the other direction. Since December 31, a range of regulatory animal and plant safety checks have been in operation, including physical inspections for a proportion of freight arriving at Northern Ireland ports. Customs declarations are also required for incoming commercial goods. While the rest of the UK has left, Northern Ireland has remained in the EU single market for goods. The region also applies EU customs rules at its ports. What does the UK want: Many checks are yet to be implemented so there are fears disruption could get even worse without a major rethink. Britain believes the red tape must be slashed to make things run more smoothly. What has the EU proposed: Brussels argues the checks and paperwork are necessary because goods could end up in the Republic and therefore inside the EU. However, it now seems the bloc is willing to give ground. Reports suggest it is open to reducing checks by 50 per cent. A new system could see goods destined to stay in Northern Ireland going through a 'green lane' with only minimal checks carried out while items heading to the Republic would go through a 'red lane' of more stringent checks. Sausages and other chilled meats The problems with the protocol have been best illustrated by a row over the movement of chilled meats. Under EU rules, the import of such products from third countries like the UK is banned. That means Northern Ireland faces the prospect of being unable to import GB sausages and other chilled meats on the prohibition list. What does the UK want: Ministers are adamant there must be no ban on sending chilled meat from GB to Northern Ireland. They argue European leaders would never accept such arrangements for goods travelling inside the internal market of their own countries. The UK has unilaterally extended a grace period which means the ban is yet to come into effect. But a long term solution is being sought. What has the EU proposed: It is thought Brussels will propose a new 'national identity goods' clause which will allow the continued sale of British sausages and other relevant items in Northern Ireland. The European Court of Justice Under the terms of the protocol agreed by the UK and EU in 2019 the ECJ acts as the final arbiter on any disputes between the two sides on the operation of the protocol. What does the UK want: Britain has called for the ECJ to be stripped of this oversight role, arguing that there should be an international arbitration system put in place instead. The UK argues it is unacceptable to have EU judges ruling on potential disputes between the EU and the UK. The Government said it only agreed to an ECJ role in the protocol due to the 'very specific circumstances of that negotiation' as the UK pressed to get a Brexit deal done. What has the EU proposed: So far Brussels has signalled it intends to dig in on the issue. Brussels views the ECJ's role in the operation of the protocol as a 'red line'. Advertisement The plan also includes a 50 per cent reduction in customs paperwork required to move products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. More products and companies would be exempt from customs tariffs as a result of expanding trusted trader arrangements and a concept that differentiates between goods destined for Northern Ireland and those 'at risk' of onward transportation into the Irish Republic. The EU has also offered to legislate to ensure no disruption to the supply line of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. However, the proposals contained in four separate papers published by the bloc on Wednesday evening do not offer any concession on the ECJ. A UK Government spokesman said: 'The EU have now published their proposals in response to those in our Command Paper. We are studying the detail and will of course look at them seriously and constructively. 'The next step should be intensive talks on both our sets of proposals, rapidly conducted, to determine whether there is common ground to find a solution. 'Significant changes which tackle the fundamental issues at the heart of the Protocol, including governance, must be made if we are to agree a durable settlement which commands support in Northern Ireland. 'We need to find a solution which all sides can get behind for the future, which safeguards the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and which puts the UK-EU relationship on a stronger footing. We are ready to work hard with this in mind.' And shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh said: 'These proposals look to be a serious step in the right direction in addressing the practical concerns of businesses and communities on the ground. 'It is clear that with political will there is a landing ground - now is the time for the EU, UK and representatives from Northern Ireland to get around the table and reach the agreement communities need.' Lord Frost had earlier issued a last minute warning to the EU that it must 'move significantly' to secure a Brexit breakthrough on Northern Ireland border rules as the bloc prepared to unveil its compromise plan this evening. The Government's Brexit chief said the UK will look at the European Commission's proposals 'positively' when they are published and then 'see what we can do'. He said the publication of the plan should be followed by a period of 'intensive talks' to find a solution to the rumbling row over the Northern Ireland Protocol 'that everybody can get behind'. Meanwhile, the peer reiterated the EU will have to give in to a UK demand to end the European Court of Justice's oversight of the border arrangements for progress to be made. His comments came after a fresh Brexit dispute erupted this morning as Leo Varadkar questioned if the UK can be trusted to stick to international treaties. The Irish deputy prime minister responded to comments made by Dominic Cummings who suggested the Government never intended to stick to every letter of the original Brexit deal. Mr Johnson's former top aide said the plan was to 'ditch bits we didn't like' in the deal after winning the 2019 general election as he argued 'sometimes' it is acceptable to break international commitments. Mr Varadkar said the remarks were 'very alarming' because they 'indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith'. The Tanaiste said the message that the UK 'doesn't necessarily keep its word' should be 'heard around the world' as he told other countries not to strike deals with Britain 'until such a time as you are confident that they keep their promises'. The EU is expected to offer this evening to 'massively' reduce the number of post-Brexit border checks in Northern Ireland in an attempt to reduce trade friction. The plan would see up to 50 per cent of customs checks on goods lifted with an even higher proportion of checks ditched when it comes to checking meat and plants, according to The Telegraph. However, while the EU is due to give ground on the issue of checks it is expected to dig in over the ECJ. Lord Frost wants European judges to be stripped of their role policing the protocol and for a system of international arbitration to be put in place instead. But EU sources have insisted ECJ oversight is a 'red line' while The Guardian reported that Lord Frost's counterpart in Brussels, Maros Sefcovic, has not included any proposal on the role of the court in his new offer to the UK. Mr Sefcovic is expected to say that the EU's proposals are not 'a take it or leave it' offer, opening the door to more discussions. It is unclear if the movement on checks will be enough for the UK to move forward. Mr Cummings said in a series of tweets last night that the UK had secured the 'best option' it could at the time and the intention was for Mr Johnson to 'ditch bits we didn't like after whacking Corbyn' at the general election. He added: 'Shd we generally stick to deals? Of course. Sometimes break them? Of course.' Responding to the remarks, Mr Varadkar told RTE Morning Ireland: 'I have seen those comments. I hope Dominic Cummings is speaking for himself and not for the British Government. 'But those comments are very alarming because that would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world because if the British Government doesn't honour its agreements, doesn't adhere to treaties it signs, that must apply to everyone else too. 'So at the moment they are going around the world, they are trying to negotiate new trade agreements. 'Surely the message must go out to all countries around the world that this is a British Government that doesn't necessarily keep its word, doesn't necessarily honour the agreements it makes and you shouldn't make any agreement with them until such a time as you are confident that they keep their promises and honour things, for example, like the protocol.' The UK has been pushing for a major overhaul of the protocol but the EU has been resisting, favouring tweaks over a significant shake-up. Dominic Cummings suggested the UK never intended to stick to every letter of the Brexit deal it agreed with the EU, prompting a furious response from Irish deputy PM Leo Varadkar Maros Sefcovic, the EU's Brexit chief, will this afternoon publish the bloc's proposals on how to resolve post-Brexit border problems in Northern Ireland The Government has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol if the EU does not budge which would allow Britain to unilaterally ditch some of the rules. Unilaterally tearing up the arrangements would almost certainly result in a legal challenge from the EU. The protocol, agreed as part of the original Brexit deal, requires checks on goods travelling from GB to Northern Ireland to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic. But it has caused disruption to trade and angered unionists who have demanded the rules be scrapped, arguing they create a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. It is thought the EU's offer will include a new 'red lane' and 'green lane' system to smooth the passage of goods through Northern Ireland's ports. Items travelling from Great Britain which are destined to stay in Northern Ireland would go through the 'green lane' of minimal checks. Items which are due to head to the Republic would go through the 'red lane' of more stringent checks. The offer to reduce checks is expected to come with a demand from the bloc for access to real-time UK trade data so it can keep track of any items which could enter the Republic. An EU diplomat told The Telegraph: 'The number of checks will go down massively. This is the best way to cut checks, short of a Swiss-style alignment agreement.' Lord Frost and Mr Sefcovic are expected to meet for crunch talks in the coming weeks to try to thrash out a possible compromise. One senior EU source said last night that the proposals will move towards the 'light touch regime Britain had been seeking'. They added: 'There will always be a certain level of control and checks because that is demanded by the single market, but they will be reduced to a level, which is the absolute minimum, that the EU system can bear. 'I think for any reasonable person. They should be able to see that the remaining level of restrictions are extremely low, and shouldn't pose any difficulties for importers or consumers in Northern Ireland.' However, the stand-off over the issue of ECJ oversight risks scuppering the talks. Lord Frost said in a speech in Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday that the European Commission has been 'too quick to dismiss governance as a side issue' when 'the reality is the opposite'. EU figures have reportedly been surprised at the emergence of the issue as a major sticking point for the UK, with Brussels insistent that the ECJ must retain its oversight of the protocol. The Northern Ireland Protocol requires checks on goods travelling from GB to Northern Ireland to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic but it has caused trade disruption and inflamed community tensions Lord Frost's demand to replace the role of the court with a system of international arbitration was last night dismissed by a senior EU diplomat who said it would be 'impossible' for the bloc to agree to. Lord Frost said this afternoon that the reach of the ECJ is a key issue that must be resolved. He told broadcasters: 'The problem with the protocol at the moment is that EU law, with the ECJ as the enforcer of it, is applied in Northern Ireland without any sort of democratic process. 'So that, I think, has to change if we're to find governance arrangements that people can live with.' He said the UK will examine the EU's proposals 'very carefully and positively', adding: 'We now need an intensive talks process and to try and find an agreement that everybody can get behind. That's what we want to happen.' But he warned: 'Obviously, we haven't seen what the (European) Commission have put forward, I hope they have moved significantly, and obviously we will look at it positively if they have, but we'll wait and see what they come forward with, and then we'll see what we can do.' Lord Frost yesterday took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron and his EU allies, saying Britain has been 'constantly faced with generalised accusations that [we] can't be trusted and are not a reasonable international actor'. He claimed that alienation between the two sides would be a 'serious historical error'. He said: 'We just want friendly relations, free trade and the chance to do things our own way, all within the framework of a meaningful and robust Western alliance. 'With this in mind, I do urge you to look at the image you are presenting to us. If there is a trust problem, as we are constantly told there is, it is not the responsibility of only one party. 'At some point we must both try to raise our eyes to the horizon, look at the possibilities for better relations, and try to help each other solve problems, not create them.' Any agreement between the two sides would need to be signed off by the governments of the EU's 27 member states before becoming final. As the holiday season rapidly approaches in the US, travelers who have not seen their families in months - and in some cases, years - face pricey plane trips and unexpected cancellations as airlines demand their employees get vaccinated. What's more, in addition to the astronomical airfares, unexpected cancellations and shocking wait times, travelers who elect to cross the states by car will have to deal with far higher gas prices than usual. Both American Airlines and JetBlue issued mandates this month requiring their employees get the jab before the holidays. The airlines have demanded their staff get their second shot of the COVID vaccine by November 24 - the day before Thanksgiving. Any staff who've refused could walk out or face the ax on the busiest travel day in the American calendar, triggering a flood of flight cancelations due to a sudden shortage of staff. If a meltdown like that happens, flights that do end up taking off will see ticket prices soar even higher than normal for the pricey time of year as travelers whose planes have been canceled push up prices for other flights that remain scheduled. With Thanksgiving approaching and COVID restrictions relaxed from last year, experts say expect high airfares, long lines, and sudden cancellations With COVID-19 travel restrictions relaxed from last year, record numbers of people are expected to hit airports in the coming months to travel to visit family they likely have not seen since the start of the pandemic JetBlue have 22,000 staff, but have not said how many of their staff have had the shot. American - the world's biggest airline - has 133,000 staff, and has also yet to disclose figures on how many of its workers are still to be vaccinated. What's more, after nearly two years of reduced ridership, airlines have increased ticket prices to make up lost profits. The average price for a US Thanksgiving flight is up 13 percent from 2019 - and a shocking 37 percent from last year. U.S. carriers' 2020 net losses after the pandemic were in the billions, according to analyst estimates provided by the software company FactSet - and airlines are still projected to have lost more than $200 billion through next year. Anyone hoping to save money by traveling by car is also in for a nasty shock, with national average gas prices soaring by 50.75 per cent in a year. A gallon of gas now costs $3.288, up $1.107 from the same time last year. The rocketing price increase has been blamed on a spike in the cost of crude oil, as demand bounces back quickly as the world reopens post-COVID. Economists predict prices are set to rise for an extended period of time, meaning there's little hope of any respite for Thanksgiving. However, with COVID-19 travel restrictions relaxed from last year, record numbers of travelers are expected to traverse the country in the coming months to visit family they likely have not seen since the start of the pandemic. 'Expect airports and flights to be more packed than ever around Thanksgiving and Christmas,' Narendra Khatri, a travel insurance company executive, told The Washington Post last month. 'This means more flight delays, cancellations and long layovers.' Any airline staff who've refused airlines' forced mask mandates could end up walking out on the job or face the ax - on the busiest travel day in the American calendar - triggering a flood of flight cancelations due to a sudden shortage of staff This AAA chart shows how gas prices have rocketed this year, with holiday motorists set to face a hard time at the pumps 'We're seeing a lot of pent-up demand,' Ankit Gupta, vice president of network planning and scheduling for another major airline, United, said in a statement. The airline announced last month that holiday flight searches on their website are up 16 percent on their site compared to 2019. Meanwhile, interest in domestic flights for the Thanksgiving season is up a whopping 111 percent over last year, according to the travel site Trip Actions. 'Expect airports and flights to be more packed than ever around Thanksgiving and Christmas,' Narendra Khatri, a travel insurance company executive, told The Washington Post last month. 'This means more flight delays, cancellations and long layovers.' And prices are up too - across all of the major airlines. For domestic flights, the average fare is $377, up 13 percent from 2019 and 37 percent from 2020. International flights are flat compared with 2019, averaging about $968 this year, but up 18 percent from last year. American Airline execs told their workers that they must be fully vaccinated by November 24 - the day before Thanksgiving - or face termination The airlines' ultimatum comes after President Joe Biden's executive order last month requiring all airline employees be vaccinated by December 8 - and the two companies now join an assortment of other carriers who have complied with the White House's demand. Columbus Day weekend already saw an unprecedented stream of delays for another major airline, Southwest, when more than 2,300 flights were suddenly canceled over the course of the holiday weekend, amid rumors that hordes of pilots objecting to Biden's mandate called out sick in protest. Both the airline and its pilots union have denied those sick-out claims, although Southwest has suffered many times more cancelations in recent days than any other US airline. The head of Southwest's pilots union, Capt. Casey Murray, blamed the company's management for the snafu. Southwest has already been hampered by staffing shortages as demand for travel has shot up after travel laws lessened. JetBlue also issued mandates this month requiring employees get the jab before the holidays According to government statistics, the airline has lost more than 8,000 employees since the pandemic started in The States as of August 2021. There may also be unexpected COVID-related restrictions or outbreaks at travelers' destinations - especially for international travelers - that may cause last minute cancellations. An influx of reservations for vacation rentals also suggests holiday travel rates in the coming months will be at an all-time high. Domestic reservation volume for the months of November and December is up 377 percent from last year, in the thick of the pandemic, and 91 percent from 2019, according to short-term rental property management platform Guesty. For Thanksgiving, the average rental rate is $415 per night, a price hike of 19 percent from last year. Meanwhile, the nation's foremost infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci has reluctantly supported the prospect of Thanksgiving travel, but warned fliers not let their guard down over the holidays, saying infections 'can bounce back.' Americans traveling by land should expect similar pitfalls as well. Gas prices are higher than they've been in seven years - more than $1 a gallon more than last Thanksgiving. Moreover, drivers in some California counties are paying more than $5 a gallon. And while more people are anxious to travel, the nationwide COVID death toll has just surpassed 700,000 - with an additional 1,700 Americans dying every day from the virus, and thousands of vaccinated citizens succumbing to 'breakthrough infections' - a COVID case that occurs in someone who is fully vaccinated. A federal judge held Washington DC's top corrections officials in contempt of court after ruling that they violated the civil rights of a Capitol riot defendant by denying him access to medical care. US District Judge Royce Lamberth on Wednesday also asked the Justice Department to investigate whether inmates' civil rights were being abused. Lamberth has summoned the jail officials as part of the criminal case involving Christopher Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, who has been charged in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Worrell, 49, was accused of attacking police officers with a pepper spray gel and prosecutors have alleged he traveled to Washington and coordinated with Proud Boys leading up to the siege. Proud Boys member and Capitol riot suspect Christopher Worrell (right), 49, was found to have had his civil rights violated by DC jailers who allegedly denied him access to medical care Worrell is accused of attacking police officers with pepper spray jail during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, as seen in this photograph 'It's clear to me the civil rights of the defendant were violated by the DC Department of Corrections,' Lamberth said. 'I don't know if it's because he's a January 6 defendant or not.' The judge ordered Quincy Booth, the director of the city's Department of Corrections, and Wanda Patten, the warden of the DC Jail, to be held in contempt of court. While he did not impose any sanctions or penalties the judge said he was referring the matter to the Justice Department to investigate whether the civil rights of the inmates in the jail are being violated. The move is likely to add steam to claims by activists and supporters of former President Donald Trump who have argued that defendants are being treated unfairly while they're locked up. US District Judge Royce Lamberth on Wednesday held the director of DC's Department of Corrections and the warden of the DC Jail in contempt of court over Worrell's case Supporters of those jailed in Washington held a rally on September 18, where they sought to highlight what they said were the disturbing treatment of suspects behind bars there. A federal law known as the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act -- commonly called CRIPA -- allows prosecutors to review conditions of jails, prisons and other government-run facilities to identify if there is a systemic pattern of abuse or civil rights violations. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections did not respond to a message seeking comment on Wednesday. The judge's ruling in Worrell's case comes after he found there was more than an 'inexcusable' delay of jail officials turning over medical documents. Worrell, who suffers from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, broke his wrist in May and had been recommended for surgery in June but still hasn't undergone the procedure. After the judge learned last week that the surgery still hadn't happened, he ordered the jail system to turn over notes to the US Marshals Service - because Worrell is a federal inmate housed in the local jail - so the Marshals Service could move forward and approve the medical procedure. Worrell (circled in red outside the US Capitol), broke his wrist in May and had been recommended for surgery in June but still hasn't undergone the procedure But on Tuesday, the jail still hadn't sent the records and the judge ordered the city jail officials to appear in court for a contempt hearing. A lawyer for the jail had argued that they had been working to get the records together to comply with the court's order before the contempt hearing was set. 'He's needed an operation. He hasn't gotten it,' the judge said. 'It is more than just inept and bureaucratic shuffling of papers. The judge had separately chastised city officials for cutting down the number of rooms in the jail for virtual court visits and for sending an inmate to his court a few weeks ago when they did not have the results of a coronavirus test, saying the 'incompetence of jail officials' led to the prisoner being sent back and forth from court without appearing before the judge. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has set standards for judges to apply in deciding whether to jail a Capitol riot defendant. Worrell was arrested in March in connection with his actions in DC. The 49-year-old suffers from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma A three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled in March that rioters accused of assaulting officers, breaking through windows, doors and barricades, or playing leadership roles in the attack were in 'a different category of dangerousness' than those who merely cheered on the violence or entered the building after it was breached. Defendants ordered locked up while they await trial include a man accused of dragging a police officer down steps to be beaten by an American flag and another man accused of leading a group of rioters up the Capitol steps to confront officers. But there are more than 630 people people charged in the January 6 melee. Judges have released the vast majority of the defendants, including more than a dozen members and associates of the Oath Keepers, a far-right group, who are charged in perhaps the most serious case brought so far in the attack. Worrell's previous attorney had argued in court that he had not had adequate access to medical treatment for his cancer Worrell has been in custody since his arrest in Florida in March. As of October 4, he is one of 37 January 6 defendants detained in the DC jail. Before Worrell broke his wrist, his then-attorney argued in court that he had not had adequate access to medical treatment for his cancer. His new attorney, Alex Stavrou, told Reuters his client was found unconscious with the broken hand on May 16, after what appeared to be a fall possibly tied to his other medical conditions. 'We support the judge's position that the Office of the Attorney General investigate into potential civil rights violations,' he told Reuters in a statement, adding that Worrell and other January 6 defendants hope Attorney General Merrick Garland will "conduct this inquiry immediately and without prejudice. The top Pentagon official in charge of overseas arms sales announced on Wednesday she was leaving a day after warning that U.S. limits on sharing technology had allowed strategic rivals to corner the market in selling military hardware to the Middle East. Although Heidi Grant did not mention China by name in her remarks to the Association on Tuesday, she did not need to. Earlier this week, the Pentagon's first chief software officer said he resigned in protest because he could not bear to watch China overtake the U.S. The departures come with tensions high between Washington and Beijing, with both sides jockeying over the status of Taiwan. Grant's departure was announced with a notice on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency website, saying she 'had been considering this transition for some time.' But a day earlier she warned that the U.S. needed to consider whether blocking arms sales to allies would leave the market to 'strategic competitors.' 'We have to look at this and say, if we're not there, our strategic competition is going to fill the void, she said, according to Defense One. 'And is that riskier than transferring our high-end technologies?' Heidi Grant said she was stepping down as director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency a day after warning that U.S. arms sales policy had let China gain influence in the Middle East. It comes after Nicolas Chaillan said he resigned as the Pentagons first chief software officer because he could not stand watching China overtake the U.S. Before President Trump eased restrictions, the sale of large drones was generally limited to close NATO allies under the terms of the international Missile Technology Control Regime. Grant, the first civilian to lead the agency, referred specifically to controversy over arms sales to Jordan, Saudi Arabi and the United Arab Emirates. The incoming Biden administration ordered a review of sales authorized by the Trump administration amid concerns they might be used in Yemen, where air strikes have been blamed for civilian deaths. Before Trump, the sale of large drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, had generally been limited to close allies such as NATO members France and the U.K. under the terms of the international Missile Technology Control Regime. 'Our policies of the time were, we're not going to transfer that technology,' said Grant. 'So guess what? Our strategic competitor transferred that technology, and have a significant footprint of training bases for unmanned [drones] in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE. 'It could have been us, we could be there, we could be training and advising, have that access.' A Pentagon spokesperson told DailyMail.com her departure had been in the works before her remarks. 'Director Grants retirement announcement is in no way connected to her AUSA conference panel comments,' said Michael Howard. The rise of Chinese sales to the region was spelled out by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in a report earlier this year. Although global arms sales leveled off, transfers from China to to Saudi Arabia and the UAE more than doubled from 2011-2015 to 2015-2020. Grant's departure came days after it emerged that another senior official had quit over concerns that China was leapfrogging the U.S. in military technology. Nicolas Chaillan told the Financial Times he left because of the slow pace of technological transformation in the U.S. armed forces. '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,' said Chaillan, who spent three years on a Pentagon-wide effort to improve cyber security. He said Beijing was on its way to global dominance because of its advances in artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and machine learning. Those were more important, he added, than new hardware such as the F-35 warplane. In contrast, he described cyber defenses in some government department as 'kindergarten level.' Jill Biden's ex-husband Bill Stevenson has been approached to be a potential star witness over the 1982 disappearance of Robert Durst's wife Kathie, according to report. Sources close to the investigation told News 12 that New York investigators have reached out to Stevenson for questioning. It follows his bombshell revelation that he had been having an affair with Kathie and Durst found out about it just ten days before she went missing. Stevenson, who was married to Jill between 1970 and 1975 and claims she cheated on him with Joe Biden, claimed he slept with Kathie at her and Durst's New York City apartment back in January 1982. The morning after, Durst showed up at the apartment, threatening Kathie and slamming a wad of rolled up cash in her face, he claimed. Just 10 days later, Kathie vanished without a trace. Jill Biden's ex-husband Bill Stevenson (pictured) has been approached to be a potential star witness over the 1982 disappearance of Robert Durst's wife Kathie, according to report Kathie and Robert Durst together. Sources said that New York investigators have reached out to Stevenson for questioning following his bombshell revelation that he had been having an affair with Kathie and that Durst found out about it just ten days before she went missing Investigators are said to have been none the wiser until Stevenson spoke out to News 12 about the incident earlier this year - despite Stevenson saying he reported it to police when Kathie disappeared. His version of events could provide prosecutors with a potential motive for Durst killing his wife. Now, he is expected to be called as a star witness to testify in front of a grand jury in Westchester, as District Attorney Mimi Rocah pursues charges against convicted murderer Durst almost four decades on from when his wife was last seen alive. Several other witnesses have also been called to testify in the proceedings which are due to begin no later than Monday at the Westchester County Courthouse. This means it is likely that the grand jury panel will be selected by the end of this week. While these other witnesses have not been identified, they are expected to include several of Kathie's friends and relatives. It emerged earlier this month that Rocah was pursuing charges against Durst, now 78, over Kathie's disappearance after he was convicted in September of murdering his best friend Susan Berman in a gangland-execution style murder in her Los Angeles home in 2000. Durst, who allegedly killed Berman because she knew too much about what happened to Kathie, is due to be sentenced in that case Thursday. Kathie - previously known as Kathie McCormack - vanished in New York back on January 31 1982. Her body has never been found and no one has ever been charged in connection to her disappearance. Stevenson said he and Jill hosted the Dursts at their home in Delaware (above) one time in 1974 Stevenson claimed he slept with Kathie (pictured) at her NYC apartment back in January 1982. The morning after, Durst showed up at the apartment, threatening Kathie and slamming a wad of rolled up cash in her face, he claimed. Just 10 days later, Kathie vanished Kathie's family has long maintained that she was murdered by her husband - the rich heir of one of the most powerful real estate companies in the Big Apple. She and Durst were said to be having marital problems at the time and their relationship was marred by domestic violence. Durst's version of events repeatedly changed over the years about the last time he spoke to his wife. Stevenson told News 12 earlier this year that he and Kathie had been friends since they were children, and that he and Jill had hosted her and Durst at their home in Delaware in 1974. While Jill and Kathie 'hit it off' during the visit, Stevenson said he noticed Durst behaving oddly. 'I remember him talking to himself in my garage. To me it was like, 'oh my god',' he recalled. Stevenson said his friendship with Kathie only became intimate in January 1982 - when he was divorced from Jill but Kathie was still married to Durst. He said Kathie began confiding in him that she was scared of her husband and he visited her five times between 1981 and 1982. Real estate heir (pictured in August at his trial for Susan Berman's murder) Durst is the lead suspect in Kathie's 1982 disappearance 'She said I'm having a real problem with Robert and I'm scared to death,' he said. 'She said he was being violent with her. At that point, she couldn't trust anybody around her that knew Robert.' It was on one trip to visit Kathie at her Manhattan penthouse apartment that things became romantic, he said. 'She was in this silk nightie. Nothing was said. She grabbed my hand, led me back to the bedroom,' he said. 'We closed the door and life changed for both of us. Totally unexpected. Beautiful night. No regrets.' Stevenson recalled Durst turning up at the apartment the following morning and discovering him there - with Kathie telling her husband she was leaving him, 'The next thing I realize we hear pounding on the door, it's 7.30 in the morning, she runs out of the bedroom, runs back in and says it'd bob,' he said. 'I jumped up and ran out, he screams something and he had a wad of cash and he hit her right in the face with it. He started yelling: 'Kathleen, this isn't going to happen.' 'She starts yelling: 'I'm moving to Delaware! I'm done! We're done!' I'm like sitting there, I'm in shock. People have to understand, this guy is a monster. I saw it in his eyes.' When Kathie went missing days later, Stevenson said he went straight to the police but no one followed up on his report. Kathie's family want Durst's current wife Debrah Charatan (pictured with Durst) also charged, accusing her of helping him cover up Kathie's murder 'I got in my car, went to the 19th precinct - literally within 24 hours - and said: 'Nuh uh. He killed her.' '[The cop] wrote a couple things down, and said 'we'll get back to you.' I never heard a word back from them,' he said. Stevenson said he believes Durst killed her after discovering their affair and described himself as the 'missing link in this case.' He said he feels like he 'let her down' and often wonders 'what could I have done differently' - but insists he has no regrets about their affair. 'I don't feel guilty about that. He was abusing her and she wanted out. And I feel like if something happened wonderful at the end of her life, I hope this was it,' he said. 'I'm sorry. I just hope that you know she had the same thoughts at the end there.' The First Lady has never spoken publicly about the case or mentioned meeting the Dursts in the past. With testimony expected to begin next week, in a clear sign that charges may be imminent against Durst, Kathie's family have also asked for charges to be brought against Durst's current wife Debrah Charatan. The McCormack family's attorney Robert Abrams claimed last month that Charatan staged a fake marriage with Durst and helped him cover up Kathie's murder. Kathie and Robert Durst pictured together. She vanished in January 1982 and has never been seen alive since Kathie and Robert Durst on their wedding day. Her family are convinced he murdered her Charatan vehemently denies the allegations, saying: 'Ms. Charatan was never married to another person while married to Mr. Durst. 'It is sad that attorney Robert Abrams is misleading the McCormack family and the public. The McCormack family deserves better.' Kathie's family also requested to speak at Durst's sentencing for Berman's murder on Thursday - a request which was denied. Abrams told the Los Angeles Times he was surprised to hear her family 'wouldn't be allowed to give a victim impact statement' slamming the decision as 'appalling.' 'You have a duty to support and protect the rights of victims and their families, including by notifying them of their right to make a victim impact statement. Yet, rather than advocate for the McCormack family you have sought to silence them,' Abrams wrote in a letter to prosecutors on Monday. 'Your conduct is appalling and your motives are unethical.' During the trial, prosecutors said Durst had killed Kathie - despite him never facing charges and the trial being for the murder of Berman. The jury also upheld the special circumstances allegation that Berman was killed because of her knowledge about Kathie's disappearance, and the alibi she provided for Durst. Durst was accused of shooting Berman point-blank in the back of her head after New York authorities reopened the investigation into Kathie's disappearance in 2000 and wanted to speak to her as a long-time confidante of his. Prosecutors said Berman knew too much about what happened to Kathie and so she was silenced. Berman is thought to have helped Durst cover his tracks after his wife's disappearance, posing as Kathie to phone her medical school to say she was sick on the morning after she was last seen alive. Durst was convicted of murdering his best friend Susan Berman (pictured together) in a gangland-execution style murder in her Los Angeles home in 2000 This led investigators to believe Durst's version of events that he saw her board a train to New York City on the night of January 31 1982 after they spent the weekend at their home in South Salem, Westchester County. He claimed he spoke to his wife when she arrived at their Manhattan penthouse and had cocktails with his neighbor later that night. Investigators later found no evidence of Kathie ever boarding the train or arriving into New York and Durst later confessed to lying about their phone call and his drinks with a neighbor. Kathie was legally declared dead in 2017 with the date of her death put at January 31 1982. Her husband is the sole suspect in her disappearance. Durst was also charged - and acquitted in 2005 - of the 2001 murder of Morris Black (above) who he admitted dismembering Durst was also charged - and acquitted at a 2005 trial - of the 2001 murder of his neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas, despite admitting to chopping his body up into multiple pieces with an ax and a bow saw. Durst had claimed he accidentally shot Black in the head when they were both wrestling over Durst's firearm which Black had gotten hold of. He dismembered his body and dumped it in the sea in plastic bags which were discovered by authorities. The only body part never found was Black's head - making Durst's version of events difficult to disprove. The real estate scion had wound up being neighbors with Black when he was reportedly hiding from New York authorities in the small town in Texas. Prosecutors during his trial for Berman's murder argued Durst also murdered Black when he discovered his true identity as the man suspected of killing his wife in New York. DA Rocah reopened the investigation back in May into Kathie's disappearance - a case that has plagued the DA's office for decades. The original investigation was only ever launched as a missing persons case and no search of the Durst's home was carried out. In 2000, then-DA Jeanine Pirro reopened the case into Kathie's disappearance at a time when Berman's death was being investigated in LA and Durst was facing charges over Black's death in Texas. But, once again, no charges were brought. Rocah said authorities today have a different perspective of domestic violence to those who investigated back in 1982. Despite long being suspected of all three murders, Durst evaded prosecution and was only brought to justice for Berman's murder last month. The jury last month were shown a letter sent to the LAPD alerting them to Berman's dead body with Beverly Hills spelled incorrectly. Documentary makers found another letter from Durst to Berman which spelled Beverly Hills the same way Robert Durst is pictured in LA court last month during his trial for the murder of Susan Berman As the Durst Organization heir, his entanglement in the disappearance of his wife, death and dismemberment of his neighbor, and execution of his best friend has hit headlines for years. His downfall came about following his interview in the documentary The Jinx: The Life And Deaths Of Robert Durst. In the show, a hot mic picks up Durst saying he 'killed them all, of course.' Documentary makers also compared a letter sent by the killer to the LAPD alerting them to Berman's dead body in her Benedict Canyon home on Christmas Eve 2000. The letter told cops there was a 'cadaver' at the address and Beverly Hills was spelled incorrectly. Documentary makers found another letter from Durst to Berman which spelled Beverly Hills the same way. This comparison was presented at Durst's trial, with prosecutors crediting the documentary makers for unearthing it. Durst finally admitted at trial to sending the letter but claimed he did so when he found his friend's body - but that he wasn't the one who killed her. Durst pleaded not guilty to Berman's murder, where he appeared frail and in a wheelchair. He faces life in prison without parole at his sentencing tomorrow. Lawyers for jailed British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell won their first battle a month before Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam goes on trial for child sex-trafficking, convincing the judge presiding over the case to keep the proposed jury questionnaire under seal to avoid tainting the jury pool. In court documents filed Tuesday, Maxwell's defense team asked U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan to seal the proposed jury questionnaire and preliminary examination - known as a voir dire - under seal. Federal prosecutors agreed to the request, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe writing in a two-page memo: 'The defense respectfully requests that the joint proposed juror questionnaire and joint proposed voir dire be filed under seal to avoid media coverage that may prejudice the jury selection. 'The government consents to the defense's request.' Maxwell, 59, has been in jail since her arrest last July in Bradford, New Hampshire at her $1 million country home. Her trial is expected to begin on November 29. Ghislaine Maxwell (right with her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein in 2005) stands accused of facilitating and participating in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors by recruiting teenage girls as young as 14 to provide sexual massages for Epstein She pleaded not guilty to the charges in federal court in April Maxwell is accused of facilitating and participating in her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors by recruiting teenage girls as young as 14 to provide sexual massages for the convicted pedophile, who killed himself in a Manhattan federal lockup in 2019 while awaiting his own sex-trafficking trial. Judge Nathan previously denied claims that a non-prosecution agreement Epstein reached with federal prosecutors over a dozen years ago when he was convicted in Florida protects Maxwell from prosecution in the Southern District of New York. Nathan also disagreed that some or all charges should be tossed out for a variety of other perceived flaws. The allegations against her surfaced after the Miami Herald's 2019 three-part series Perversion of Justice revealed the actors behind Epstein's non-prosecution agreement after he pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges involving an underage girl in 2008. Former Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta resigned shortly thereafter as several prominent figures - including former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew - were caught up in the scandal. The Herald soon followed-up with an open-records battle, which persuaded the United States Court of Appeals to open up a largely-sealed docket in a civil lawsuit Maxwell's accuser Virginia Giuffre filed against her in 2015, and her depositions were released. Charges that she perjured herself in that case will be tried separately. Maxwell, a British socialite, has been in jail since her arrest last July in Bradford, New Hampshire at her $1 million country home Virginia Giuffre, center, previously filed a civil case against her, and her depositions were released after the Miami Herald published a series documenting how Epstein managed to get a non-prosecution agreement. Giuffre is seen here with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at her townhouse in London when she was 17 Maxwell's lawyers have previously said she was demanding to be arraigned on the allegations in person after the dial-in phone line on a previous hearing was hijacked by QAnon conspiracy theorists. Her lawyers failed three times to convince Nathan to release Maxwell on bail after they claimed their client is living in poor prison conditions and has lost weight. She had requested a week's delay to April 23 to formally plead to two additional charges at federal court in New York. A document filed by her lawyers states that this was to enable her 'family members to adjust their schedules and make travel arrangements to attend the court proceedings'. But Maxwell's alleged victims pleaded with a federal court not to delay her trial because they are suffering from an 'enormous amount of stress'. Prosecutors said that two women who will give evidence against Maxwell will not be able to rest until the case is heard. One is feeling 'significant stress' while the other is feeling an 'enormous amount of stress' and intends to give evidence in person despite her personal obligations at the time. They wrote: 'The longer this case remains pending, the longer the victims suffer the anxiety of anticipating their trial testimony and the uncertainty of awaiting a resolution.' Maxwell's lawyers are now asking for the jury questionnaire and voir dire to be sealed to avoid tainting a jury pool in her trial scheduled for November The trial is expected to last up to four weeks for the government to present its case, although federal prosecutors said they could 'rest as early as the third week of the trial, provided that the cross examinations of witnesses do not exceed the length of direct examinations,' according to court documents obtained by Law and Crime. Prosecutors are therefore requesting that the judge 'seat only jurors with availability beyond the Christmas holiday.' The defense, meanwhile, anticipates they could rest after two weeks, although 'that estimate may change after the defense has had an opportunity to review the government's witnesses and exhibit lists,' which were made available to the defense lawyers on Monday night, after Nathan forced prosecutors to provide the team with the 'identities of any unnamed co-conspirators whose names they plan to refer to at trial.' As of September, Law and Crime reported, prosecutors claimed they only planned to refer to two alleged co-conspirators, but noted that was subject to change. An antique gun dealer who shot his solicitor wife dead with a double-barrelled shotgun during the first national lockdown was obsessed he had Covid-19 and had contacted medics 26 times in 42 days, a court heard. Peter Hartshorne-Jones, 52, blasted his wife Silke, 42, twice at close range with a double-barrelled shotgun at their Suffolk home on May 3 last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard. Peter Gair, prosecuting, said Mrs Hartshorne-Jones told a neighbour in the days before her death that 'her husband was not good at all and she was finding it difficult'. Hartshorne-Jones had made contact with various care providers 26 times in the 42 days between March 16 and April 27, Mr Gair said. The 'extensive contact with various health professionals' included the ambulance service, accident and emergency departments and private GPs, but no cause for his symptoms was found, the prosecution counsel said. The defendant admitted at an earlier hearing to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, with the court told he was found to have been 'suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning'. His plea was accepted by the prosecution. Corporate lawyer Silke Hartshorne-Jones died after being shot twice by her husband Peter at their home in Barham After shooting his wife, the defendant made a 999 call from his landline at 4.44am 'asking for the police, not the ambulance service', Mr Gair said. 'During the course of that call he told the operator he had shot his wife, saying '10 minutes ago',' the prosecutor said. 'He added 'I think she's dying, actually. He went on to say he shot his wife twice in the chest, which is not far from the truth. 'He remained on the phone while armed officers were dispatched to his address.' Hartshorne-Jones was arrested on the driveway of his home in the village of Barham. Police at the scene after antique gun dealer Peter Hartshorne-Jones shot dead his wife on May 3 last year during the first national lockdown Mr Hartshorne-Jones became psychotic and shot her twice in their bedroom at Chestnut Farm The incident took place in the village of Barham, near to the A14 motorway by Ipswich in Suffolk His wife, who sustained wounds to her left upper arm and chest and was found on her bedroom floor, went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead in hospital at 6.42am. Mr Gair said: 'There's no evidence that I've seen from any source of any problems with the marriage until March 2020 when of course the Covid-19 pandemic reached its peak in the UK in the sense that the first lockdown was then imposed. 'It's then clear from the evidence that the defendant believed that he had been infected by the virus.' Hartshorne-Jones, who ran a recruitment business and also traded in shotguns, first got a shotgun certificate in 2000 and renewed it in 2015. He also obtained a firearms dealer registration in 2010, Mr Gair said. He said the defendant had answered 'no' to a question, on firearms certificate applications in 2000 and 2015, about whether he had ever received treatment for a mental health condition. Peter Hartshorne-Jones, 51, had been worried about catching Covid last year in lockdown Chestnut Farm, Barham, where corporate lawyer Silke Hartshorn-Jones was shot last year Mr Gair said it has since been found that 'there are episodes recorded in his medical notes of depression prior to the signing by him, certainly for renewal in 2015'. Police seized eight shotguns, two rifles, two air rifles and nine stocks and barrels from the home after the killing, all of which were held in accordance with licensing requirements, Mr Gair said. He said Hartshorne-Jones's firearms licences are being revoked by police. Mrs Hartshorne-Jones, a German national, qualified as a lawyer before moving to London in 2007. The couple married in 2010. Her brother, Jens Lutschewitz, told the court it 'nauseates' him that Hartshorne-Jones has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. 'It's incomprehensible and a real mockery of the real victims in the case,' he said. The sentencing hearing will continue on Thursday. Four security guards were charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly eight years after the death of a black man who was pinned to the floor by security guards at a Detroit-area shopping mall. In 2014, McKenzie Cochran, 25, was asked to leave the now-closed Northland Center Mall, in Southfield, then began struggling with four security guards, Lucius Hamilton, John Seiberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree. The guards pepper sprayed him and pinned Cochran, of Ferndale, to the floor. A video of the incident shows the four guards on top of Cochran for about seven minutes. One of them is kneeling on his back as he shouts, 'Im not resisting - I cant breathe.' One of the officers yells back, 'If you can talk, you can breathe.' Authorities said Cochran died of compression asphyxiation, a situation eerily similar to the death of George Floyd that would take place six years later. 'When my brother's case happened... I felt like it was kind of set aside,' Michael Cochran, Cochran's brother, told USA Today. 'I just hope that it goes down the road and goes through its process and that something good comes from it. Whether it's intense training, police reforms all that, so that this doesn't continue to happen every couple of years.' McKenzie Cochran, 25, died of compression asphyxiation when four security guards at the Northland Center Mall, in Southfield, pinned him to the ground in 2014 One of the guards kept his knee on Cochran's back during in the more than seven-minute ordeal, causing Cochran to pass out and die The Oakland County prosecutor at that time said the guards were poorly trained but had no intent to harm Cochran. Prosecutor Jessica Cooper said she had consulted experts, including the US Justice Department, and declined to file charges. Before the confrontation with the guards, Cochran allegedly was asked to leave the mall; an LA Diamonds employee had reported his 'suspicious activity'. The men claimed they feared Cochran was armed and dangerous, but it was later determined that he was not carrying a weapon, the Detroit Free Press reported. Cochran's death was ruled an accident, but Michael Cochran called the decision devastating. 'I was confused, I was upset, I was angry due to the lack of training and the security guards involved,' he told Fox 2. 'And even more so confused when they failed to bring charges.' 'I felt empty,' he added. 'And I felt like the judicial system had failed him.' Months after Cochran's death, the family filed an $800 million wrongful death lawsuit against the mall, two related firms and the security guards, which ended in a confidential settlement. McKenzie Cochran, left, pictured with his brother, Michael Cochran. Michael pressed for his brother's case to be reopen last year amid the Black Lives Matter movement Michael Cochran has longed advocated that his brother's death was a case of systematic racism, and the Michigan attorney generals office reopened the case in 2020 following nationwide protests over the death of Floyd and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. The family's lawyer, Gerald Thurswell, contends that if more attention was paid to Cochran's death, George Floyd could still be alive. 'Had this case been prosecuted six years ago, and it made national TV, and everyone saw that when somebody says they can't breathe and you hold them down and then they die, you're going to be charged,' Thurswell told USA Today. 'Maybe if the public knew that six years ago, maybe the Floyd case would have been avoided.' Cochran said his family was devastated when they learned about Floyd's death, as history repeated itself and reopened old wounds. 'I was almost confused. Like, "wait a minute, whats happening,'" Michael said. ' It made me feel like, "Wow, things haven't changed.'" Attorney General Dana Nessel, pictured, reopened the case in 2020 and will be discussion the latest charged placed on the security guards during a news conference on Thursday. Both the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and Southfield Police Department also made appeals to state Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. Nessel said she would discuss the case at a news conference on Thursday, in Detroit. Hamilton, Seiberling, King and Maree were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. A Native American law student at Yale says hes being pressured into apologizing by a former Obama aide turned diversity tsar for sending a party invite that described the location as a trap house.' The September 15 invite was deemed triggering by Yales director of diversity and inclusion Yaseen Eldik, who previously worked in the Obama administration's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership. The student who sent it has spoken to DailyMail.com about his ordeal, but did not wish to be identified over fears for his future career prospects. He said he is being further persecuted for being a member of the Federalist Society, a group of conservative and libertarian lawyers who advocate for an 'originalist' interpretation of the US Constitution, with the Society itself founded at Yale. His invitation to a September 18 party was sent to members of the elite schools Native American Law Students Association (NALSA). Sup NALSA, the note said. Hope youre feeling social! This Friday at 7:30, well be christening our very own (soon to be) world-renowned NALSA Trap House by throwing a Constitution Day bash in collaboration with FedSoc. Planned attractions include Popeyes chicken, basic-b**ch-American-themed snacks (like apple pie), a cocktail station, assorted hard and soft beverages, and (most importantly) the opportunity to attend the NALSA Trap Houses inaugural mixer! The above invite triggered some recipients, who said it contained racially insensitive language The note was sent to members of Yale Law School's Native American Law Students Association A trap house is a term used to describe a place in a sketchy part of town where illegal drugs are sold. The party host met on September 16 with Eldik, who pressured the student to apologize to facilitate community healing over the invite after it triggered nine complaints in a matter of hours. Yale Law School associate dean Ellen Cosgrove, who also attended the meeting, warned that the situation could escalate without reconciliation. The student told DailyMail.com that he didnt realize chicken would be considered an offensive dish nor did he realize the triggering effects of trap house- until hearing Eldiks explainer. Yales director of diversity and inclusion Yaseen Eldik encouraged the student to apologize During yesterdays meeting, which the student recorded, Eldik said the latter phrase resulted in complaints from several students. In one paradigm you would think about the word trap through the lens of a crack den or crack house, Eldik said during the recorded meeting. The racial association with that connotation would be bound up in some of the drug use that has been historically associated with poor black communities in this country. Eldik added that the offer to serve fried chicken was used to undermine arguments that structural or systemic racism have contributed to health disparities in the US. But the student who sent the invite insisted he had no such intentions, and merely wanted to highlight one of his favorite snacks, which he planned on serving. There have been offhanded comments about why black communities tend to be overweight, Eldik said. Theres a lot of racism tied into the using the words fried chicken with trap. Eldik encouraged the student to apologize for his use of language - and even offered to help draft a letter - but the student was reluctant to do so, saying he'd rather have face-to-face conversations. Yale Law School associate dean Ellen Cosgrove warned that the situation could 'escalate' But Eldik seemed keen to have the correspondence on the record, and warned that failing to address the issue could have consequences. I worry about this lingering over your own reputation as a person, not just here, but when you leave,' he said. 'The legal community is a small one.' Added Cosgrove: 'In a situation like this, people start to escalate and the more it escalates, the more rigid it might get in terms of what the expectations are. Defusing it is always the most effective way to go.' Classmates were also critical of the student's language. The Black Law Students Association's president said she objected to the event's association with the Federalist Society. 'I guess celebrating whiteness wasnt enough,' she wrote in a student forum. "Yall had to upgrade to cosplay/black face.' The student has not issued an apology, and said his critics are now trying to have him kicked off the school's NALSA board. He said he was surprised the party invitation snowballed into such a scandal. 'To me now, a trap house is a party house,' he said. 'The vibe was high school kids drinking in their mom's basement, or a frat house but without the frat.' A law school spokesperson said that while Yale respects free speech, its Dean of Students works to resolve conflicts within the student community. 'Yale University and Yale Law School have strong free speech protections, and no student is investigated or sanctioned for protected speech,' the spokesperson said in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'When the Law School receives complaints about offensive communications, the Dean of Students routinely tries to help students talk to one another and resolve their disagreements within the community. At no time was any disciplinary investigation launched or disciplinary action taken in this matter.' NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio 'waged war' on the nation's history by deciding to banish the statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson from City Hall - where it has presided over events for 187 years - after a request from his wife-led BLM committee. De Blasio, whose term ends at the end of the year, made the decision after the Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation led by his wife, Chirlane McCray, decided the statue should be removed because Jefferson had owned slaves. Republican politicians quickly railed against the latest move to rewrite history by booting the statue of the former president who wrote the Declaration of Independence. 'The de Blasio administration will continue the progressive war on history as he, himself, fades away into a portrait on a City Hall wall,' Councilman Joe Borelli told the New York Post. 'I hope he is at least gone a couple hundred years before someone cancels him.' The decision to remove the statue came after a suggestion from De Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray as the former President was revealed to have owned over 600 slaves Bill De Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray had suggested the removal of the statue in June 2020 following the BLM movement and death of George Floyd The statue had resided in the City Hall's Council chambers since 1834 after it was gifted by Uriah Phillips Levy, a naval officer and an admirer of Jefferson's. The decision to remove the statue will come without any public debate after the citys Public Design Commission, which is comprised of mayoral appointees, listed it as a 'long term loan' to the New-York Historical Society on its 'consent' agenda for Monday. The 11-member design commission will vote on de Blasio's decision to ship out Jefferson after reviewing public comments, a City Hall spokesman told the Post. 'The city would still own the plaster model, and the historical society would include it in educational exhibits and provide valuable historical context,' the spokesman said. The statue has resided in City Hall since 1834 and was given as a gift by naval officer Uriah Phillips Levy Councilman I. Daneek Miller, a Democrat, defended exiling the statue and said the loan is 'indefinite.' 'Theres so much about Thomas Jefferson and his own personal writings, memoirs about how he treated his slaves, his family members and things of that nature and how he perceived African Americans and slaves that they lacked intelligence, that they were not to assimilate into society,' Miller told The Post. 'For us to really highlight such an individual is really not who we are as a council.' Miller added that the statue is expected to be removed from City Hall by October 21. In a comment to DailyMail.com, the New York Historical Society said they have not made official arrangements for the statue as of yet. 'We are in ongoing discussions about the statue. While there are no specific plans for display at the moment, New-York Historical might in future years present an exhibition that may include it.' McCray, the head of the Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation, had made the decision to remove the statue following a meeting in June 2020. The RRC was organized to 'promote social learning, collective introspection, and policy action' as well as create a historical record of racial discrimination, with an emphasis on housing, criminal justice, environmental racism and public health' in the wake of protests over George Floyd's death. DailyMail.com reached out to De Blasio's press office for comment. De Blasio had previously written a letter to City Hall following his wife's suggestion. A replica of the statue will continue to be featured in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC 'The statue of Thomas Jefferson in the City Council Chambers is inappropriate and serves as a constant reminder of the injustices that have plagued communities of color since the inception of our country,' he wrote. 'Jefferson is Americas most noted slave holder ... and a scholar who maintained that Blacks were inferior to whites.' The letter dated June 18, 2020 was signed by de Blasio and fellow Council members. Other statues of Jefferson and fellow historical figures who had an alleged racist pasts were publicly seen being vandalized and taken down during the BLM movement. The statue of the Founding Father outside of Jefferson High School in Portland on June 14 2020 after it was removed by protesters A statue of the Founding Father was toppled on June 14, 2020 at Portland High School in Oregon by a group of protesters. Footage of the vandalism revealed protesters tying a rope around the neck of the statue to bring it down as well as using a hammer to loosen the base of the structure. The statue was also covered in graffiti reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'George Floyd 8:46' in reference to the amount of time former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin had knelt on his neck for. A replica of the statue in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C. will continue to be on display. Jefferson was considered the largest slaveholder during his day with over 600 slaves at this Virginia home. A paedophile blamed his teenage victims for being on Grindr after being caught trying to meet up with a '14-year-old boy' for sex. Marc Harmer, 55, was caught by a paedophile hunter group after arranging to meet with someone who he thought was a teenager in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. Police were called and officers cracked the PIN code to his mobile phone after he had refused to reveal it. Harmer, from Stalybridge, Tameside, also bragged about having sex with a teenage boy - a claim he later denied, with his barrister dismissing it as 'perverse bravado'. He has now been jailed for five years after analysis of his phone revealed he had chatted on Grindr with two real teenage boys. Marc Harmer (pictured), 55, was caught by a paedophile hunter group after arranging to meet with someone who he thought was a 14-year-old boy in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester Harmer's barrister Tony Williams said his best mitigation was his guilty plea to all 24 offences. Mr Williams said Harmer had claimed he had not actually had sex with a teenage boy and described it as 'perverse bravado'. He said the judge could 'take some solace' in the fact Harmer did not meet any real children. Harmer has shown 'some insight' into his behaviour, Mr Williams said. But the judge replied: 'It's difficult, because he goes on to actually blame them for going on Grindr.' In one chat, Harmer said he didn't consider himself a paedophile because he 'only does what the teenagers consent to' and 'doesn't harm them in any way'. He also messaged 16 profiles on the app, with users telling Harmer that they were aged from 11 to 15. Police weren't able to trace those using those profiles, so weren't able to prove they were actually children. But two of them were 'decoy' accounts being operated by a paedophile hunter group, Manchester Crown Court heard. Harmer arranged to meet with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy at a petrol station on August 8, 2019. In chats on Grindr, the 'boy' had told him that he was being thrown out of his home after telling his parents that he was bisexual. 'None of that bothered you,' a judge said, noting that if the child was real, he would have been vulnerable. Recorder Simon Killeen told Harmer: 'In my judgement, what your conduct demonstrates is an amount of predatory behaviour, using a social application site, putting children at risk for your own deviant sexual needs.' In online chats with different profiles that he believed were used by children, Harmer asked their age, enquired what kind of sexual activity they were interested in and often exchanged pictures, prosecutor Nicola Gatto said. Harmer arranged to meet with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy at a petrol station on August 8, 2019, Manchester Crown Court (file photo above) heard On four occasions he tried to meet up with users he had spoke with online for sex. The judge said: 'It is quite plain he was, if given the opportunity, prepared to go and actually meet these people, as he did on the occasion when he was arrested.' Harmer had previously been married but the relationship broke down. He was 'experiencing loneliness' at the time of the chats, in July and August 2019, the court heard. Harmer has since been diagnosed with bowel cancer and prison could have more of an impact on him than other inmates, Mr Williams said. The sentencing hearing came after Harmer pleaded guilty to 16 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child; four counts of attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence; two counts of sexual communication with a child; one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; and one count of possessing an indecent image of a child. He was ordered to sign the sex offender's register for 10 years. Detective Constable Mike Allen of GMP's Tameside district Complex Safeguarding Team said after the hearing: 'During Harmer's interactions with these two individuals, he very quickly turned the conversation sexual before asking to meet them. 'Thankfully, these individuals were not the young boys they were pretending to be and no further offences could be committed. 'Sexual offences often have a long lasting impact on victims and Greater Manchester Police is committed to preventing harm. 'I would, therefore, like to use this opportunity to encourage anyone who's aware of an adult inappropriately contacting a young person to report it to an appropriate adult or agency so the youngster can be safeguarded and supported and the suspect can be identified and located. 'I also hope this result warns offenders that this behaviour will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and that authorities here are committed to ensuring they face justice. 'As this case demonstrates, being convicted of child sex offences results in a prison sentence. There are a number of specialist services which work to help prevent offending.' Alex Murdaugh, 53, has been investigated by law enforcement officials from the get-go as part of the probe into the June 7 double-murder of wife Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, according to attorney Jim Griffin The South Carolina legal heir who hired a hit man to kill him in a botched suicide plot to secure a life insurance policy for his son, is a person of interest in the slayings of his wife and another son, his lawyer confirmed. Alex Murdaugh, 53, has been investigated by law enforcement officials from the get-go as part of the probe into the June 7 double-murder of wife Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22 according to Jim Griffin. Griffin, a lawyer representing Alex Murdaugh, made the revelation to The Daily Beast on Wednesday. But the attorney denies that his client had anything to do with the killings. He said Murdaugh was visiting his mother, who has dementia, at the time of the killings and had no motive to kill them. 'You would think that if Alex was the one who did it, that SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) would have been able to establish that pretty easily that night,' Griffin said. 'You would think they would have searched his house and found blood somewhere. 'You would think they would have found the murder weapons on the property. 'You would think they would come up with something to link Alex to the murders, forensically or independent evidence. 'To my knowledge, they have not done that.' DailyMail.com reported on Tuesday that the Murdaughs' marriage was in crisis as Maggie demanded answers about their dwindling funds, and they repeatedly argued over money and his drug use in the weeks before her shooting. According to a source who has known the family for more than three years and spoke on condition of anonymity: 'Their marriage was absolutely on the rocks.' 'Alex and Maggie didn't look at each other like they were married,' the source said. 'There was no love lost between them. I never saw them touch or be affectionate to each other.' Maggie, the source told DailyMail.com, had long dealt with her husband's now much reported abuse of prescription pills but, they said, 'I don't think she'd had to worry about money before. That was new for her.' The source explained, 'I remember one day, it must have been a few months before she was killed, she was crying because she had written a check at a charity luncheon, and it had bounced. 'She thought at first there must have been some mistake but when she found out there wasn't she was mortified and upset. Murdaugh's wife, Maggie (far right), and son Paul (left) were killed on June 7, shot multiple times at the familys sprawling estate in Islandton, South Carolina. No one's been arrested in their deaths, which brought scrutiny into every nook of Murdaughs life Murdaugh is seen above at a bond hearing in Varnville, South Carolina on September 16 'I think when Maggie married Alex she didn't have to think about money or where it was coming from and once she started asking questions she definitely picked her battles.' Murdaugh's response was always the same, they said, 'He'd always tell her not to worry about it, that he'd figure it out, he'd fix it. 'He was just so checked out of the family by the end. He never gave her any real answers that I heard.' Griffin acknowledged that investigators are not sharing information but I believe if they had that [information] they would have charged Alex and they have not charged him. DailyMail.com has reached out to SLED for comment. Alex Murdaugh is currently in out-of-state drug rehab after being charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy and filing a false police report. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years behind bars. Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed June 7, shot multiple times at the familys sprawling estate in Islandton, South Carolina. No one's been arrested in their deaths, which brought scrutiny into every nook of the family's life. A source who has known the family for years told DailyMail.com on Tuesday: 'Their marriage was absolutely on the rocks' In July, SLED released the 911 call where Murdaugh reported that he found his wife and son shot to death, but the seven-minute 911 call didn't include much new information. Alex Murdaugh immediately identified himself and told the operator his 'wife and child have been shot' near dog kennels on his property. 'I've been up to it now. It's bad,' Murdaugh said. During the 911 call, dogs could be heard barking in the background and Murdaugh sounded deeply upset and agitated. He told the operator several times that neither his son nor his wife was breathing. The operator asked Murdaugh if anything was out of place. There was a brief pause before he answered 'not particularly, really. No maam.' Murdaugh has said he found the bodies after returning home from visiting his ill father for several hours. Maggie was worried her son Paul (pictured in his mugshot) would start heavily partying and drinking during the summer months. When he died he was facing trial for the boating death of Mallory Beach Griffin said he reviewed his clients text messages with his wife and that there were no signs of a domestic dispute. He loved his wife. He loved his son. The murders were done in the most brutal fashion, Griffin told The Daily Beast. He added: 'He didn't do it. I feel strongly that he didnt do it. 'Nobody wants to solve these murders as much as Alex.' Griffin said that members of his legal team are working to peel back more layers of this onion to see if someone else may have had a motive to harm Murdaugh and his family. Just weeks after the murders, police say that Murdaugh was found wounded from a gunshot on the side of a road in a rural part of the state. Murdaugh's lawyers said that he was suffering from an addiction to drugs when he hired a former client, Curtis 'Eddie' Smith, to shoot him dead. The goal was to get his surviving son a $10 million life insurance benefit, state police said. But the shot from a .38 caliber revolver only grazed his head. At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Whether local law enforcement agencies tried to obstruct the investigation into the boating death is also being reviewed by state officials. Murdaugh is a member of a prominent legal family in the southern part of South Carolina. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected solicitors in the area but are no longer in office. The man charged with shooting Murdaugh is Smith, a former client from a workplace accident case. Smith said they became friends, and he was stunned to find himself dismissed as a callous drug dealer by Murdaugh's lawyers. The day before the botched murder-for-hire scheme, Murdaugh was fired by the PMPED law firm founded by his family after the firm determined he took money. Murdaugh's life has unraveled at a dizzying rate. He has been charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and filing a false police report following an incident September 4 when he claimed he was the victim of a drive-by shooting Crime scene tape is visible on the stretch of Old Salkehatchie Road where Alex Murdaugh reported having been the victim of a drive by shooting. He is accused of hiring a hitman to kill him Smith claimed he knew nothing about the plot to kill Murdaugh for a multi-million-dollar insurance windfall until he met him by the side of a road and was told 'I want you to shoot me in the head'. Smith told the The New York Times that Murdaugh - who is one of his distant cousins - was accidentally shot when he tried to wrestle the gun from him to stop the scandal-hit lawyer from killing himself. Smith denied conspiring with Murdaugh and has shared how bitter he feels after was slapped with charges for allegedly trying to save the man he 'loved like a brother.' 'I don't know if betrayed is even the word for it,' he said. 'I thought of him as a brother, you know, and loved him like a brother. And I would've done almost anything for him. Almost.' Curtis Edward Smith, 61, (in mug) claimed he knew nothing about the plot to kill Alex Murdaugh until he met him by the side of a road on September 4 The 61-year-old, who has been accused of being Murdaugh's opioid dealer, said he got a phone call from Murdaugh on the morning of September 4 asking him to drive in his work truck to meet him in Hampton. Murdaugh didn't tell Smith the reason for the meeting, Smith said, but he went anyway. Smith said he arrived at the location and Murdaugh drove past, honking his horn for him to follow in his vehicle. When they arrived along a rural road, Murdaugh pulled over at the side of the road so Smith did the same, he said. Smith claimed that it was only then that he learned about Murdaugh's reason for their meeting. Murdaugh allegedly got out a loaded gun and asked Smith to shoot him in the head with it, killing him. 'I want you to shoot me in the back of the head,' Murdaugh allegedly told him. Smith insisted he refused to do Murdaugh's bidding, allegedly telling him: 'It ain't going to happen.' When he refused, Smith said Murdaugh moved as though to shoot himself in the head. At this point, the alleged hitman said he grabbed Murdaugh's arm, twisting it behind his back to stop him shooting himself. The gun accidentally discharged, shooting Murdaugh in the head, he said. Smith said he saw Murdaugh sink to the ground holding his head and asked if he was okay. He said Murdaugh - who only suffered superficial injuries - confirmed he was fine so he swore at the legal scion and drove off in his truck with the gun, leaving Murdaugh by the side of the road. Murdaugh called 911 and was airlifted to hospital. Smith, 61, is seen at his bond hearing last month at Hampton County Detention Center Smith has denied being a co-conspirator and said Murdaugh - a distant cousin - was accidentally shot when he tried to wrestle the gun from him to stop him from killing himself At the time, Murdaugh claimed he had been the victim of a drive-by shooting as he changed a tire by the side of the road, fueling speculation he was targeted amid the ongoing investigation into the double murders of his wife and son. But his story quickly fell apart and he confessed to orchestrating the plot so that surviving son Buster would receive a $10 million life insurance payout. It is not clear what Murdaugh has told investigators about Smith's involvement in the botched assisted suicide plot. It emerged Murdaugh was in the grips of financial ruin due to a 20-year opioid addiction which he has been accused of funding by siphoning off money from both his law firm PMPED and from a settlement for the family of his housekeeper who died in a mystery 'trip and fall.' He checked himself into rehab days later for opioid addiction and resigned from PMPED in shame. Smith, according to Murdaugh's attorney, met 'many years ago'. Police said Smith was paid by the disgraced attorney to carry out the hit making it look like a random, drive-by attach. Murdaugh is said to have provided the gun for the shooting which Smith then drove off with and disposed in an unknown location. Smith confessed to disposing of the gun and being present at the shooting but told investigators he wasn't in on the plot. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh. Murdaugh's wife Maggie and son Paul were found shot dead at the family's hunting lodge in a horrific double murder Buster (center) is hugged at the funeral for his mom and brother back on June 11. No arrests have been made for their murders But, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed last month that Smith had allegedly been boasting about his involvement in the plot before his arrest. Henry Vandermark, who has known Smith for more than a decade, said he had boasted that cops 'wouldn't find anything' when they searched his home and told him he was a suspect in the shooting. Murdaugh represented Smith as his attorney in minor traffic matters as well as a 2015 lawsuit that Smith filed against a forest management company where he worked after he was left permanently disabled in a logging accident. Smith, from Walterboro, South Carolina, also reportedly had done many odd jobs as a handyman for the Murdaughs over the years. Smith was charged with multiple counts including assisted suicide and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. He was released on $55,000 bond. Police also reopened the investigation the 2015 death of gay teen Stephen Smith since the double murder. The teen's death was ruled a hit-and-run, though no suspects have ever been named or charged, and there was no evidence he was struck by a vehicle. Smith being escorted to jail last month over the alleged hitman plot involving the legal scion Stephen was a classmate of Buster Murdaugh's and there were rumors reported at the time that he was in a relationship with him. Law enforcement also reopened the investigation into the mystery trip-and-fall death of the family's housekeeper of 25 years Gloria Satterfield in 2018. Satterfield was found by Maggie on the front steps of the family home bleeding and the family said she had tripped over their dogs. She died weeks later. The 57-year-old's death was not reported to the coroner at the time and no autopsy was carried out. The death certificate cites the manner of death as 'natural' - something inconsistent with injuries sustained in an accident. This does not match the information documented in the wrongful death suit which said she died as a 'result of injuries sustained in a trip and fall accident, in Hampton County'. Murdaugh allegedly then defrauded the Satterfield family out of a $4.3 million wrongful death settlement - which they said they had not received a dime of. Last week, new legal documents claimed Murdaugh set up a fake firm called Forge to syphon off $3.5 million of the settlement money when it was paid out by his insurance firms. The civil suit brought by Satterfield's sons Tony Satterfield and Brian Harriott said the payouts were redirected to what was essentially a PO Box in Hampton instead of to them. Two other defendants were named in the civil suit - Murdaugh's old college roommate Cory Fleming, who acted as a lawyer on behalf of Satterfield's families, and Chad Westendorf, Vice President of Palmetto State Bank who took over the sons as personal representative of their mom's estate. Fleming has his law license suspended Friday but has insisted he was also a victim of Murdaugh's deceit. A Secret Service agent tackled an immigration protester who tried to run in front of First Lady Jill Biden's motorcade during a two-day swing through Chicago as part of her National Hispanic Heritage Month tour. The man, identified by Chicago's ABC7 as Jose Torres, yelled, 'we want immigration reform now,' before being pancaked by an officer and then arrested by Chicago police on Tuesday. Torres was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct. On Wednesday, Biden continued her tour of the city by visiting the Arturo Velasquez Institute, a community college located in Chicago's Mexican-American Little Village neighborhood, alongside Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. A Secret Service officer is seen tackling a man identified as Jose Torres who was demanding action on immigration and tried to run in front of First Lady Jill Biden's motorcade on Tuesday First Lady Jill Biden greets school officials at the Arturo Velasquez Institute in Chicago on Wednesday, as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month First Lady Jill Biden participated in a roundtable event - being called a 'charla' - at the Arturo Velasquez Institute Wednesday in Chicago, Illinois Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (right) accompanied First Lady Jill Biden (center) on Wednesday's tour Biden was also accompanied by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Biden has been hosting so-called 'charlas' or chats with members of the Latino community. She also held one in Kansas City, Kansas on Tuesday, and was heading to Allentown, Pennsylvania for one Wednesday afternoon. 'Our administration is really trying to wrap its arms around all Americans, all Americans,' Biden said, according to ABC7. 'Whether you supported my husband or you didn't, he's the president for all American. I think through the programs he is trying to pass now he is trying to be inclusive and embrace our diversity,' she continued. Biden marveled that she felt 'right at home' at the Arturo Velasquez Institute, which is a community college. Biden teaches at Northern Virginia Community College - and is the first, first lady to hold an outside job. 'As a community college educator for forever, I love this city, I ... just feel right at home,' she said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 'The bottom line for me, and I think for Miguel, too, is jobs - jobs. And that's what these schools are providing at very little cost,' she said. Her husband, President Joe Biden, wants to make community college free - one of the many social programs tucked into what was supposed to be a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, but is still being negotiated in Congress. Immigration reform was also supposed to be part of that package, but the Senate parliamentarian said what Democrats proposed couldn't be passed through the reconciliation process, which allows the Democrats to bypass a Republican-led filibuster. Transgender employees at Netflix are planning a walkout on Oct. 20 in response to the companys defense of Dave Chappelles standup special The Closer and the brief firing of a transgender employee, who attended an executive meeting without permission, before she was reinstated. Employees say they raised concerns to company executives about jokes Chappelle made in the special that they said were damaging to the LGBTQ+ community, but Ted Sarandos, the companys co-CEO, said that the show didnt cross any lines and urged those who opposed it to be comfortable living with titles you strongly believe have no place on Netflix. Members of the companys Trans Employee Resource Group are staging their protest to demand the company recognize the impact of potentially transphobic content and offer a platform for transgender comedians and others from marginalized groups. 'I encourage all [members of] Trans* and allies not to work for Netflix that day. ... As weve discussed through Slack, email, texts and everything in between, our leadership has shown us that they do not uphold the values for which we are held,' a Netflix employee posted Monday in a public, company Slack channel comprising more than 800 staffers representing 'gender minorities of all sorts and their allies,' in a message reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. Transgender employees at Netflix are planning a walkout on Oct. 20 in response to the companys defense of Comedian Dave Chappelles The Closer It comes after the brief firing of Terra Field, a transgender employee who was suspended, and then reinstated, after Netflix officials said she attended a meeting uninvited only to backtrack and say she meant no 'ill intent' by attending Field shared a screen shot of a company message confirming her reinstatement The 'day of rest' comes after transgender employee Terra Field publicly criticized the special in a viral Twitter thread and was later fired with two other employees for joining a quarterly business review that executives said they werent welcome to attend. Netflix investigated the matter after public outcry and have since reinstated Field and her colleagues, finding that they did not attend the meeting with ill intent. The company is also planning to issue guidance about meeting attendance policy to its staff. Field shared a screen shot of a company message confirming her reinstatement, which reads, Our investigation did not find that you joined the QBR meeting with any ill intent and that you genuinely didnt think there was anything wrong with seeking access to this meeting. Additionally, when a Director shared the link, it further supported that this was a meeting you could attend. Alongside the screen shot, Field tweeted, Netflix has reinstated me after finding that there was no ill-intent in my attending the QBR meeting. I've included the statement I requested below. I'm going to take a few days off to decompress and try to figure out where I'm at. At the very least, I feel vindicated. However, some employees said the incident exemplifies how the company overlooks their concerns. Trans Lives Matter. Trans Rights Matter. And as an organization, Netflix has continually failed to show deep care in our mission to Entertain the World by repeatedly releasing content that harms the Trans community and continually failing to create content that represents and uplifts Trans content. We can and must do better, reads an internal memo to Trans ERG members on Slack, which was obtained by The Verge. Ted Sarandos, the companys co-CEO, said that the show didnt cross any lines and urged those who opposed it to be comfortable living with titles you strongly believe have no place on Netflix' Members of the company's Trans ERG said that 'our leadership has shown us they do not uphold the values to which we are held.' Above is the company's co-CEO Reed Hastings During his sixth Netflix special, Chappelle said women view transwomen the way black people view white women wearing blackface. He said women are entitled to feel anger toward transwomen, since Caitlyn Jenner won Glamour magazine's 2015 Woman of the Year award. 'I'd be mad as sh*t if I was a woman,' Chappelle said. He also joked about the anatomy of transwomen, joking that they lacked real female reproductive organs and that they did not have blood but 'beet juice.' Chappelle also enthusiastically defended JK Rowling - who said transgender women were not actually women and were a threat to her identity. The Harry Potter author was labeled a TERF, a trans-exclusionary radical feminist, and Chappelle said he embraced the label. 'I'm Team TERF. I agree. I agree, man. Gender is a fact', Chappelle said. Sarandos wrote a memo to employees recognizing the opposition to the special, saying, Our hope is that you can be hugely inspired by entertaining the world, while also living with titles you strongly believe have no place on Netflix. This will not be the last title that causes some of you to wonder if you can still love Netflix. I sincerely hope that you can. While it is not clear how many of Netflixs current 12,135 employees identify as transgender or are members of the Trans ERG, the companys latest inclusion report breaks down the staff's gender identity in the graphs above Chappelle's sixth Netflix special has received a slew of criticism from members of the LGBTQ community with some demanding the platform pull the show This comes after he sent a first memo addressing pressure he received from employees who wanted the show taken off the platform. Sarandos said bosses did not believe that Chappelle's work amounted to 'hate,' and that the company would not be removing the show despite pressure from artists. 'Some talent may join third parties in asking us to remove the show in the coming days, which we are not going to do,' Sarandos wrote, adding Chappelle is one of the most popular performers working today. 'We don't allow titles (on) Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don't believe The Closer crosses that line. 'Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean-spirited but our members enjoy it, and its an important part of our content offering. 'I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries,' Sarandos wrote. Following Sarandoss reactions, Trans ERG members wrote internally, I encourage all [members of] Trans* and allies not to work for Netflix that day As weve discussed through Slack, email, text, and everything in between our leadership has shown us they do not uphold the values to which we are held. The message continued, Between the numerous emails and non-answers that have been given, we have been told explicitly that we somehow cannot understand the nuance of certain content. I dont know about you, but asking for us to show the whole story and not just the pieces that harm trans and [LGBTQ+] people is not an unreasonable ask. So, I encourage us all to state clearly that we, as Netflix employees are stunning not simply when we are doing the work that our roles demand of us but also when we challenge the very principles of our company. While it is not clear how many of Netflixs current 12,135 employees identify as transgender or are members of the Trans ERG, the companys latest inclusion report states that 47.9 percent of staff are women, 43.8 percent are men, seven percent listed themselves as not disclosed, and 1.3 percent are listed as additional gender identities. In addition to the transgender employees and allies staging a walkout, one transgender employee announced publicly that she was leaving the show entirely because of its response to Chappelle's special. Last week, Jaclyn Moore, pictured, a trans showrunner on another Netflix show said she will no longer work for the streaming service following Dave Chappelle's 'transphobic' remarks Dear White People showrunner Jaclyn Moore said shell boycott Netflix for airing the special Dear White People showrunner Jaclyn Moore, who is transgender, said shell boycott Netflix for continuing to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content. I love so many of the people I've worked with at Netflix, Moore tweeted. Brilliant people and executives who have been collaborative and fought for important art... But I've been thrown against walls because, I'm not a real woman. I've had beer bottles thrown at me. So, @Netflix, I'm done. Field, a senior software engineer at Netflix, tweeted her response to the special around the same time as Moore. 'I work at @netflix,' she wrote. 'Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness - all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. 'What we object to is the harm that content like this does to the trans community (especially trans people of color) and VERY specifically black trans women. 'Promoting TERF ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act. This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who don't want us to be,' Field tweeted. 'This all gets brushed off as offense though - because if we're just 'too sensitive' then it is easy to ignore us. I'm surprised I haven't had anyone call me (ironically) 'hysterical' yet today,' she continued. Over the course of more than 40 tweets Field explained the violence felt by transgender the gender non-conforming community Field then went on to include a list of 38 trans and nonbinary men and women of color who she said had been killed, adding in each case that the victim 'is not offended.' Field then went on to include a list of 38 trans and nonbinary men and women of color who she said had been killed, adding in each case that the victim 'is not offended.' According to a person familiar with the matter, the three employees, including Field, joined a quarterly meeting for company directors and vice presidents without gaining authorization. The person, who wasn't authorized to discuss the situation publicly, said the workers were suspended as a result of an investigation and not for speaking out, but for attending the virtual meeting uninvited. 'It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so,' Netflix said in a statement on Monday. Award-winning author and poet Saeed Jones, who is black and gay, became one of the latest critics to slam the Netflix special and said he used to value Chappelles comedy, but The Closer made him feel as though 'I'd just been stabbed by someone I once admired and now he was demanding that I stop bleeding,' he wrote in an opinion piece for GQ. At one point in the Netflix special Chappelle's sixth on the platform he joked that the gay community is leagues ahead of the black community in terms of civil rights. 'We blacks, we look at the gay community and we go Goddamn it! Look how well that movement is going,' Chappelle quipped. Jones, who won the Kirkus Prize for his 2019 memoir How We Fight For Our Lives, was not laughing. 'Never mind that, in addition to being both black and gay, I also happen to live in the state of Ohio, as does Chappelle himself, where our governor just signed a provision that will allow doctors and other medical professionals to deny healthcare to LGBTQ patients,' he wrote. Poet Saeed Jones slammed Dave Chappelle for his jokes about trans people in his latest Netflix special The Closer Other critics of Chappelles special included David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, who asked Netflix to apologize to the transgender community and pull The Closer from its streaming service. We do not condone violence against any members of our community and our feelings and existence as trans, queer, and non-binary/non-conforming people matter too, Johns said in a statement. Whats being missed at this moment is the extreme rate at which Black trans women are murdered, annually. All of this to say, we should think and engage more critically so we can all get free. His jokes also didnt sit well with America's leading LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, which issued a scathing statement about his standup routine. Dave Chappelle's brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities, GLAAD tweeted. Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don't support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. National Black Justice Coalition executive director David Johns wants the show cancelled His transgender jokes angered LGBQT advocates such as GLAAD, which blasted him on Twitter NPR TV critic Eric Deggan said Chappelle also ventured into anti-Semitism during his routine by kiddingly pitching a movie called Space Jews, about a diaspora of former Earthlings who return to the planet to take it over. I don't really care what point he's trying to make, Deggan wrote. A joke that sounds like anti-Semitism gets a hard pass from me. But not everyones a critic. The sisters of Daphne Dorman a transgender friend of Chappelles who died by suicide in 2019 said they were appalled at suggestions the comedian was transphobic. Daphne was in awe of Daves graciousness, her sister Becky told The Daily Beast. She did not find his jokes rude, crude, off-coloring, off-putting, anything. Daphne understood humor and comedy she was not offended. Why would her family be offended? Her younger sister Brandy told The Daily Beast that Chappelle is an ally to the LGBTQ community. She said: His entire set was begging to end this very situation. Chappelle's family said she also appreciated that humor was about the ability to offend everyone equally - and to be able to laugh at being mocked. A topless Extinction Rebellion protester has said she will go on hunger strike until Boris Johnson addresses the group's demands on climate change. Laura Amherst, 31, filmed herself demanding action from the Prime Minister, telling him that she does not believe the government is doing enough to stop the 'climate emergency'. The mum-of-one from Brighton said that she felt it was important to do more for her child's future, and that she was even 'prepared to die' for the cause. Taking the appeal a step further, Laura declared she wouldn't eat anything more until the government acts on a letter she had sent to Downing Street. Topless Extinction Rebellion protester Laura Amherst, 31, has said she will go on hunger strike until Boris Johnson addresses the group's demands on climate change 'I have been thinking about this for a couple of weeks,' said Laura. 'Basically I have made the decision to not eat anymore food until Boris Johnson actually addresses this letter and XR's demands. 'Now I known this is going to be extremely dangerous for me, I'm scared and nervous for myself but I have to do all that I can and I have been thinking about this for a couple of weeks. 'This is going to sound so dramatic but I'm prepared to die for this. 'It's really hard because I have a child but I have to do all I can and she has a good family around her, a good father and she'll be well protected, well loved and well looked after.' The mum-of-one from Brighton said that she felt it was important to do more for her child's future, and that she was even 'prepared to die' for the cause Laura, who has the nickname Climate Tits, has gained an online following for appearing topless at Extinction Rebellion marches Laura, who has the nickname Climate Tits, has gained an online following for appearing topless at Extinction Rebellion marches. She has also set up an OnlyFans page and pledge to donate 75 per cent of her earnings from the topless content to Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, and an animal rescue charity. She expected to make around 18,000 last month on the page. But the student has now called on her 18,000 Instagram followers to share her video and letter to draw attention to her hunger strike. She said: 'I need this to go viral because it is one of the most important videos of our time with the most important information in it. 'It affects all of us and if we don't do something, we are going to become extinct. 'We really need to do this. I'm risking my life to get this out there and get Boris to take it seriously.' Dr. Tyler Tait (pictured) was arrested on Monday in Lake Village, Arkansas in connection to the death of his colleague Moria Kinsey, 37, a married mother who worked as an emergency room nurse practitioner An Oklahoma doctor with a history of domestic violence allegations has been charged with murder after he allegedly killed a married nurse while the pair were on a road trip. Dr. Tyler Tait, 34, was arrested on Monday in Lake Village, Arkansas in connection to the death of Moria Kinsey, 37, a married mother of one who worked as an emergency room nurse practitioner. Kinsey's body was found Monday lying besides a parked vehicle on U.S. Highway 65, approximately two miles North of Lake Village, after Chicot County sheriff's deputies received reports of a woman in need of medical assistance. According to Arkansas Department of Public Safety, she was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead. The coroner is investigating cause of death, and no further information has been shared as to how exactly Kinsey died. Initial investigation revealed that Tait, 34, - who was found near the vehicle - and Kinsey had travelled in from Mississippi. The pair had endured some sort of physical altercation, but no more details of the fight has been shared. The doctor, an employee with Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS), was taken into custody and held at Chicot County Jail on a first-degree murder charge. A family friend of Kinsey's said that she had once worked with Tait at the CNHS. Kinsey is still listed as an employee of the system, although it is unclear if she was working directly with Tait at the time of her killing. The nature of their relationship has also not been disclosed, with Kinsey described as a 'wonderful wife and mom' to a 13 year-old son by her friend Sandy Mayfield. Court documents obtained by the Tahlequah Daily Press revealed that Tait had a history of domestic violence accusations. A woman identified as Shelby Nicole Burris filed a protective order against the doctor in 2017. It was ultimately dismissed after Tait allegedly violated the order. Burris filed another order against Tait in 2020, which is up for review in June 2022. Moria Kinsey's body was found Monday lying besides a parked vehicle on U.S. Highway 65, approximately two miles North of Lake Village, after Chicot County sheriff's deputies received reports of a woman in need of medical assistance Tait is pictured in the white t-shirt working on a patient This map shows where Kinsey's body was found, close to Lake Village in south east Arkansas Tait was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in May 2017. The case was dismissed without fine or cost. In January 2021, he was charged with domestic abuse, assault and battery. However, like his previous cases, the charges were dismissed 'for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.' Oklahoma-based journalist Lori Fullbright claims that one of Tait's misdemeanor domestic assault cases was dismissed in April 'because of McGirt,' referring to the 2020 landmark Supreme Court case ruling that a large portion of eastern Oklahoma remains an American Indian reservation. The dismissal documents reportedly state that Tait, as well as the alleged victim, 'has some degree of Indian blood and is recognized as an Indian by a tribe or federal government.' The McGirt ruling means that the State of Oklahoma has no jurisdiction over crimes which happen on tribal land where the defendant or victim was a member of a tribe. It is unclear if the case in question has been re-filed in a tribal court. Tait (pictured) has a history of domestic violence accusations, however all previous charges were dropped due to jurisdiction issues outlined by the McGirt ruling Meanwhile, in wake of the murder charge, Tait has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, the Cherokee Nation Communications team confirmed to the Tahlequah Daily Press. A source familiar the the case says Tait's medical license will likely be stripped. Kinsey was also employed with CNHS. David Walkingstick, one of Kinsey's colleagues at W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, Okla., posted a tribute to her on Facebook saying she was 'full of life, energy, and cared about our people'. 'I'm saddened to hear of the passing of one of our own nurse practitioners that worked in the ER at W.W. Hastings Hospital,' he wrote. 'Some may remember her from AutoZone working her way up into the medical field. Please keep her son, husband, family, and friends in your prayers.' A family friend told DailyMail.com 'the world is a little dimmer' now that Kinsey is gone. 'She was very genuine. Always positive and upbeat,' Sandy Mayfield said. 'She always wanted to help others, whether it be in auto parts where she started or nursing, which became her passion.' Mayfield also shared that Kinsey was a 'wonderful wife and mom,' noting that her 13-year-old son was the 'light of her life'. 'She loved him and life with a passion,' she stated. The community is invited to honor her at a candlelight vigil at Norris Park in Tahlequah on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 8.30pm. Community bankers are sounding the alarm on the tax proposal that would require banks to hand over transaction data on accounts with over $600 net inflow and outflow. In an effort to drum up cash to pay for a portion of the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan, Democrats proposed requiring banks to hand over the aggregate inflow and outflow of transactions on virtually all accounts - checking, savings, loans, investments - to the IRS, leading account owners to flood their local institutions with calls expressing privacy concerns. Paul Merski, executive vice president of congressional relations and strategy for the Independent Community Bankers Association, told DailyMail.com that the proposal could cause the amount of unbanked or underbanked in the US to take a nosedive. 'Many of the unbanked are recently from other countries where they may have escaped a dictatorship-type government and don't trust government for good reason and this would scare more people out of the banking system,' he said. 'We're afraid all that info going to IRS is an invasion of privacy,' Merski said. 'This is info that the IRS couldnt demand from individuals themselves so they're using third parties, using banks as kind of the police force for the IRS.' More than two-thirds of voters oppose the proposal and only 22% support it, according to an ICBA-Morning Consult poll. The banking industry has mounted a campaign against the proposal due to the immense cost burden it would impost on community banks. But Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen insisted on Tuesday that there was a lot of unwarranted panic. 'Does this mean that the government is trying to peek into our pocket books?' CBS' Norah O'Donnell asked Yellen in an interview. 'You want to look at $600 transactions?' Yellen replied: 'Absolutely not. 'I think this proposal has been seriously mischaracterized. The proposal involves no reporting of individual transactions of any individual.' Community bankers are sounding the alarm on the tax proposal that would require banks to hand over transaction data on accounts with over $600 net inflow and outflow The proposal, instead would allow the IRS to see how much money had flowed into an account and how much flowed out, and such info would trigger an audit if the IRS deemed it suspicious The proposal, instead would allow the IRS to see how much money had flowed into an account and how much flowed out, and such info would trigger an audit if the IRS deemed it suspicious. Yellen insisted that the move was designed to reduce under-reporting of income by wealthy individuals, in a bid to avoid tax. 'The big picture is, look, we have a tax gap that over the next decade is estimated at $7 trillion,' she said. 'Namely, a shortfall in the amount the IRS is collecting due to a failure of individuals to report the income that they have earned.' But Merski said the proposal would affect everyone. 'This is a broad dragnet profiling everyone's accounts not at all targeted to millionaires the wealthy,' he said. 'It's a blanket reporting requirement on virtually everyones account so its going to cause the IRS to have a lot of false positives and false audits of people just on their account flows. It's going to trip up more people with their taxes because of all this data being dumped into the IRS,' Merski said. Lawmakers are discussing required disclosure level to $10,000 rather than $600, but Merski said this amounts to little change since many accounts have that much flowing through them between mortgages, bills and paychecks. He argued that the IRS will not be able to process the data. 'They already have a hard time now processing tax returns,' Merski said, noting the 35 million backlog of unprocessed tax returns. 'This blanket profiling of individuals is not going to lead to any productive use at the IRS,' Merski added. 'The IRS already gets massive amounts of information. Banks already hand over information on transactions over $10,000 and any that they deem to be suspicious, to prevent money laundering. They also hand over data on interest that customer accounts accrue. 'If theyre not successfully catching the tax cheats with this, this is just assuming that everyone is a tax cheat,' Merski said. He said that the IRS already has a poor track record of keeping taxpayers' data private and safe. GOP states West Virginia, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri have already told DailyMail.com they will not defy the proposal. This crackdown on unreported income is expected to generate $463 billion over the next decade, according to the Office of Tax Analysis. The UK's cybersecurity laws must be urgently updated to protect the public from hackers, a poll has found. Two thirds of Britons back calls to redraft the 30-year-old Computer Misuse Act as it leaves people highly vulnerable to attack. The survey was carried out by the CyberUp campaign, which argues that 'outdated' legislation has failed to keep up with technology. The UK's cybersecurity laws must be urgently updated to protect the public from hackers, a poll has found. Two thirds of Britons back calls to redraft the 30-year-old Computer Misuse Act as it leaves people highly vulnerable to attack. The survey was carried out by the CyberUp campaign, which argues that 'outdated' legislation has failed to keep up with technology Currently, security experts must ask the permission of hacking and scamming gangs to interrogate their computers - or else face prosecution. They are calling on the government to allow them to do so without first having to ask, as long as it is in the public interest. It is supported by leaders of the UK's multibillion-pound tech industry, several politicians, and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Currently, security experts must ask the permission of hacking and scamming gangs to interrogate their computers - or else face prosecution. They are calling on the government to allow them to do so without first having to ask, as long as it is in the public interest. It is supported by leaders of the UK's multibillion-pound tech industry, several politicians, and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Kat Sommer, head of public affairs at NCC Group, a cyber security company supporting the CyberUp Campaign, said: 'The Act written in 1990 didn't foresee the birth of the cyber security profession, and therefore leaves ethical cyber security researchers in the lurch as to whether or not they will be prosecuted simply for doing their jobs. 'The result is a chilling effect on the cyber security industry, leaving the UK less safe from cyber criminals. It's good to see that the public's instincts confirm what we believe to be indisputable: the time has come for an update to our cyber laws.' Investigators say the current law makes it illegal for them to infiltrate cybercriminals' networks and then relay information back to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to take action. Investigators say the current law makes it illegal for them to infiltrate cybercriminals' networks and then relay information back to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to take action In its current form, the act blanket prohibits all unauthorised access to computer material, irrespective of intent or motive. This includes devices used by cybercriminals who are unlikely to permit access leaving security experts 'having to act with one hand tied behind their back', campaigners argue. CyberUp has been lobbying for the inclusion of a 'statutory defence' in the Act, so that researchers acting in the public interest can do so free from prosecution. A survey of 2,093 adults last month found 66 per cent of UK adults backed the change. CyberUp has been lobbying for the inclusion of a 'statutory defence' in the Act, so that researchers acting in the public interest can do so free from prosecution It comes after a security chief warned this week that ransomware had become the biggest threat to the UK. Lindy Cameron, chief executive of the NCSC, said hackers would continue to see ransomware as an 'attractive route' as long as organisations continued to remain unprotected. Research has found there are around 65,000 attempts to hack into small to medium sized businesses every day. The Home Secretary has previously said a review of computer misuse laws would help private investigators and police - and increase jail sentences. In May, Priti Patel promised to crack down on fake websites selling compromised details, networked cameras that spy on and harass individuals, and ransomware The Home Secretary has previously said a review of computer misuse laws would help private investigators and police - and increase jail sentences. In May, Priti Patel promised to crack down on fake websites selling compromised details, networked cameras that spy on and harass individuals, and ransomware. She said: 'It is critical that government has all the right levers to ensure that those who commit criminal acts in cyber space are effectively investigated by law enforcement, and prosecuted.' A Florida mom spent a day behind bars after she refused to leave her non-verbal daughter's bedside as she recovered from brain surgery. Lynn Savage, 70, was taken into custody on trespassing charges in Duvall County on October 4, after she refused to comply with UF Health North's visiting hours while her daughter, Amber, was in the intensive care unit recovering from brain surgery. Savage serves as Amber's caretaker and interpreter, as she is non-verbal and paralyzed on her left side from a stroke. 'I could not in good conscience and good heart leave her bedside not knowing how she was going to make it through the night voluntarily,' Savage told Action News Jax, noting that as a former sheriff's deputy she knew she would be arrested for her actions, but decided it was worth it to be there for her daughter. She is expected to appear before a judge on October 20. Lynn Savage, 70, was arrested for trespassing after refusing to leave her daughter, Amber's, bedside after she underwent brain surgery on October 4 Savage told Action News she could not 'in good conscience' leave her side not knowing whether Amber would make it through the night Savage said she had been at the hospital in Jacksonville since 6.30am acting as an interpreter for her daughter. At one point, she said, the doctor asked her to come into Amber's room in the ICU to help her calm down from the surgery. 'With all these people talking and all these things going on ... she doesn't understand it,' Savage said of her daughter, according to Fox 13, but noted: 'As soon as I approached the bedside, she was fine.' But when the hospital's visiting hours ended at 7pm, a nurse told Savage she had to leave. 'I said "I'm not going to leave. I want to stay here with my daughter,'" Savage recounted to Action News. She said she asked the nurse to call the doctor 'because the doctor is the one that wanted me here with her. 'And [the nurse] said no, that they couldn't do that. That COVID rules said that visiting hours were over at 7 and I had to leave.' At that point, she said, police officers came into her room and asked her to leave. 'They were also very polite,' she told Action News. 'They kept trying to get me to leave and I said "I'm not leaving."' She was arrested several hours later. An arrest report obtained by FOX 13 said Savage 'was cooperative,' and once she was escorted outside the hospital, the arresting officer 'pleaded for Ms. Savage to come to reason, leave and return in the morning when visitation opened at 0900 hours.' 'She refused for the principle that if something happens to her daughter Amber, she was forced to leave her side.' In the end, Savage stayed in the Duvall County prison for nearly 24 hours. 'It was just terrifying, but I would rather be there than know that I walked away from my daughter,' Savage said, adding: 'I stand by my actions 100 percent. I am not sorry that I made them take me out of there in handcuffs.' In a statement, UF Health said hospital officials were following protocols to ensure patients' safety. 'Like health care organizations throughout the country, we have put policies in place to protect everyone from the COVID-19 virus, including patients, visitors and staff,' it said. 'Information about visitation limitations are placed in areas visible to those entering our facilities.' Savage is a former sheriff's deputy, and said she knew what would happen if she refused to leave the hospital She said her daughter, Amber (pictured) is non-verbal and is partially paralyzed UF Health North's hospital closes to visitors at 7pm under COVID regulations Savage's arrest comes amid a nationwide push to get hospitals to loosen their visitation restrictions, even for COVID patients, with Darlene Guerra, of Jacksonville, starting an online petition asking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow more access. DeSantis was an early proponent of reopening nursing homes to visitors, saying he felt banning them contributed to families' suffering. Her petition now has over 1,500 signatures. 'It's heartbreaking for all these families,' Guerra said. 'We are going to work, we are going to church, we are going to the store, but we can't go to the hospital and be with our loved ones?' Justin Senior, head of the Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance, which represents some of the largest hospitals in the state, said that when establishing the rules for visits, hospitals take into consideration the rate of COVID spread, vaccine rates and the prevalence of heart and lung diseases in the community. Some doctors also say health care networks are worried about nursing shortages, and are keeping restrictions in place to avoid adding stress to already exhausted health care workers, while others say the process of screening visitors and instructing them how to wear protective equipment takes time from health care staff. But others argue it is better for a patient's mental and emotional health to be able to see their loved ones. Dr. Lauren Van-Scoy, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Penn State Health who has researched the effects of limited visits on the relatives of COVID patients, said the restrictions made sense at the beginning of the pandemic when COVID testing and personal protective equipment were in short supply and there weren't any vaccines. But now testing is widely available, and doctors say screening mechanisms can keep the virus at bay. As of October 12, new cases were down to 84,086 nationwide, with only 1,820 new deaths reported. Meanwhile, 65.6 percent of all eligible Americans have received at least one COVID shot and 56.6 percent are fully vaccinated. 'We need to get people thinking about that risk-benefit equation,' said Van-Scoy. 'The risk of getting COVID, versus the risk of what we know these families are going through, the psychological and emotional harm.' She said many of the family members she has interviewed showed signs of post traumatic stress disorder after they were not allowed to see their loved ones in their final moments, and in newspaper op-eds, doctors have shared conversations with patients who declined or postponed crucial treatments due to visiting restrictions. Studies conducted before the pandemic show that older patients in ICUS that restricted visits developed delirium at higher rates than patients in ICUS that did not restrict visits. Still, the Centers for Disease Control recommends against in-person visits for infected patients. 'We do not take lightly the sacrifices we are asking individuals and their loved ones to make,' said Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association. 'We would not do so unless it was absolutely necessary.' Justin Senior, head of the Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance, which represents some of the largest hospitals in the state, said that when establishing the rules for visits, hospitals take into consideration the rate of COVID spread, vaccine rates and the prevalence of heart and lung diseases in the community. But hospitals in at least half a dozen states have already loosened restrictions governing visits to COVID patients. Many have now made exceptions for COVID patients who are about to die, and others have begun to allow families to visit any COVID patients. Earlier this year, the University of Utah Health announced its hospitals would let up to two adult visitors per patient for their entire hospital stay, provided the visitors remained in the patient's room, wore protective equipment at all times, did not have COVID symptoms and were either vaccinated or recently had COVID-19. The Democrat-led January 6 committee on Wednesday issued a subpoena to ex-Department of Justice attorney Jeffrey Clark, a top Trump ally who pushed election fraud claims in the final days of the administration The Democrat-led January 6 committee on Wednesday issued a subpoena to ex-Department of Justice attorney Jeffrey Clark, a top Trump ally who pushed election fraud claims in the final days of the administration. The panel said it has demanded documents and testimony from Clark, a former assistant attorney general who lent a sympathetic ear to the president's claims that the election results were fraudulent. Clark is required to appear for testimony and produce records by October 29. Clark clashed with superiors during the tumultuous final weeks of the Trump administration, including during a dramatic White House meeting in December when other former top DOJ attorneys through threatened to resign if Trump pursued his claims and chose him as acting attorney general. Clark also drafted a letter for Georgia officials in December claiming the DOJ was investigating 'serious irregularities' in the presidential vote count and asked that they convene the legislature to examine 'new evidence' and 'deliberate matter consistent with its duties under the constitution.' In a letter to Clark, the committee said their investigation has unearthed 'credible evidence that (he) tried to involve the Department of Justice in efforts to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power'. The subpoena comes one week after the release of a Senate Judiciary Committee report that documented tensions within the senior ranks of the Justice Department in December and January as Trump and allies prodded the law enforcement agency to aid in efforts to undo the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has urged his allies, including ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows, not to comply with the subpoenas. Steve Bannon has refused and has been threatened with a criminal contempt charge. Committee Chairman, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson announced the subpoena and said: 'The Select Committee needs to understand all the details about efforts inside the previous administration to delay the certification of the 2020 election and amplify misinformation about the election results. 'We need to understand Mr. Clarks role in these efforts at the Justice Department and learn who was involved across the administration. The Select Committee expects Mr. Clark to cooperate fully with our investigation.' Trump's own attorney general William Barr had said the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have overturned the results. Claims of fraud have been repeatedly rejected by judge after judge, including by Trump appointees, and by election officials across the country. Meanwhile, at least three of the officials involved in organizing and running the rally that preceded the violent storming of the Capitol are handing over documents in response to subpoenas. The 11 organizers and staffers were given a Wednesday deadline to turn over documents and records as part of the committee's investigation into the deadly insurrection that marked the most serious breach of the Capitol building since the War of 1812. The organizers have also been asked to appear at separate depositions the committee has scheduled beginning later this month. Clark clashed with superiors during the tumultuous final weeks of the Trump administration, including during a dramatic White House meeting in December when other former top DOJ attorneys through threatened to resign if Trump pursued his claims In a letter to Clark, the committee said their investigation has unearthed 'credible evidence that (he) tried to involve the Department of Justice in efforts to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power' Other subpoenas have also been served to top White House officials and Trump advisers, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and adviser Steve Bannon, who has thus far refused to cooperate, putting him at risk of being charged with contempt. Among those responding to the Wednesday deadline were Lyndon Brentnall, whose firm was hired to provide event security that day. 'All the documents and communications requested by the subpoena were handed in,' he told The Associated Press. Two longtime Trump campaign and White House staffers, Megan Powers and Hannah Salem, who were listed on the Jan 6. rally permit as 'operations manager for scheduling and guidance' and 'operations manager for logistics and communications,' have also provided documents or are planning to do so. Powers, who also served as the Trump reelection campaigns director of operations, intends to provide the committee with the requested documentation and to meet with them - though it remains unclear what form such meetings will take, according to a person familiar with her response who spoke on condition of anonymity. Brentnall had previously said his firm had 'every intention' of complying with the select committee. 'As far as were concerned, we ran security at a legally permitted event run in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the Park Police,' he said. The committee has said the subpoenas are part of its effort to collect information 'on the planning, organization, and funding' of the Jan. 6 rally as well as other events planned to support Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in the weeks between his November election defeat and the January attack. A committee spokesperson declined to comment Wednesday on the responses it had received and how many of the 11 were complying. It remains unclear whether the others who were subpoenaed intend to cooperate. They include Amy Kremer, the founder and chair of Women for America First, a pro-Trump group that was the lead organizer of the event; Cynthia Chafian, an organizer who submitted the first permit for the rally; and Caroline Wren, a veteran GOP fundraiser who was listed on permit paperwork for the Jan. 6 rally as a 'VIP Advisor.' Also on the list are Maggie Mulvaney, a niece of former top Trump chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who worked as director of finance operations for the Trump campaign and is now a congressional staffer; former Trump campaign official Katrina Pierson, who the committee says was 'reportedly involved in the organization' of the rally on Jan. 6 and a smaller one the day before; and Justin Caporale and Tim Unes of Event Strategies Inc., who were listed on Jan. 6 permit paperwork as the rallys project manager and stage manager, per the committee. None have responded to multiple requests for comment. Two additional organizers, Ali Alexander and Nathan Martin, as well as their 'Stop the Steal' organization, were also subpoenaed for documents, which are due Oct. 21. Alexander wrote in a Telegram post Monday that the committee was 'subpoenaing people in bad faith.' 'So maybe this Select Commitee is bogus?' he added. 'Everyone is waiting to see what Ill do.' The committee has said two top Trump officials - Meadows and former Defense Department official Kashyap Patel - are 'engaging' with the committee, though it is unclear exactly what that entails. It is also unclear whether Dan Scavino, Trump's longtime social media director and one of his most loyal aides, will cooperate. Members of the committee have said they are prepared to fight for the testimony and will use the courts to do so if necessary. Many of the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, trying to halt the certification of President Joe Biden's victory, marched up the National Mall after attending at least part of Trump's rally, where he had repeated his baseless claims of election fraud and implored the crowd to 'fight like hell.' The results of the election were confirmed by state officials and upheld by the courts. At least nine people died during and after the attack, including a Trump supporter who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber. A little boy with with cerebral palsy caught up in a state border bungle has finally been granted an exemption to quarantine at home after life-saving brain surgery in the US. Sunshine Coast youngster Lenny Silveira remains holed up in hotel quarantine in Sydney with his dad Fabio after the pair returned to Australia last Friday. The six-year-old was denied numerous exemptions by Queensland Health to be reunited with his mum and two siblings by quarantining at home, which goes against doctor's orders for his recovery. Common sense has since prevailed from the Queensland government in the wake of widespread outrage that has since followed. Lenny Silveira (pictured) has finally been allowed to quarantine at home after major brain surgery Lenny and his dad could return home as early as Thursday. Mr Silveira, who left his wife and other children back home to travel to the US with Lenny welcomed the decision. 'We are feeling relieved that today probably, weather permitting, because the weather is not great in the south-east Australia, but it is hoped that we will fly home today and be reunited with the family that is waiting for us,' he told the Today show. 'We've overwhelmed by the support that we got for the last 24 hours and hopefully that will somehow change the situation for other people as well.' A day earlier, Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic 'blew his stack' after hearing about Lenny's ordeal during an interview with his dad, describing the situation as 'awful'. 'Just have a look at that child there with cerebral palsy, in a hotel quarantine,' Stefanovic fumed. 'That is disgusting. I mean, if we can't make allowances for that kind of thing in this country, I don't know what has happened to this country. 'The Queensland Government needs to look at that and fix it straightaway.' The young boy's father Fabio (above) said he was relieved the government had backed down Lenny and his dad returned home via Sydney because there are currently no direct flights between the US and Brisbane. The pair had numerous exemptions knocked back, despite giving plenty of notice. 'It's been super frustrating because we started the process for the exemption back at the end of the July,' Mr Silveira said. 'So we gave them plenty of time to look into them plenty of time to look into the papers, look into the documentations and make a right decision. 'But I had other things to worry about. I had to go and take Lenny to surgery, recover, and I was really trusting that somehow it would come around.' The exemptions were knocked back as the Queensland government spruiked its home quarantine trial. 'I understand the seriousness of this situation, the Covid pandemic and the consequences of any exemption given, but we are talking about a 6-year-old boy who needs extremely intensive rehabilitation,' Mr Silveira said on Wednesday. 'We left half of the family home- his mum and two other kids,' he said. 'Our tickets were cancelled. So for three weeks we were in a drama, not knowing if we will be able to make it back home for Christmas as thousands of Australians are stranded overseas.' 'We made it back last Friday, but then we hit a wall with Queensland Health exemption denying us entry in Queensland because we arrived in Sydney. 'So we got caught in the middle of the NSW-Queensland Health departments that have extremely difficult to talk to each other, leaving Lenny caught in the middle.' He added the pair were willing to fulfil any extra requirements to quarantine at home. 'I am fully vaccinated. Lenny and I have been tested three times in the last 10 days, so it is sad that Lenny cannot follow his doctor's prescription to follow the best therapy for achieving the best outcome of this surgery,' Mr Silveira said. Karl Stefanovic was outraged to hear about Lenny's situation, describing the situation as 'disgusting' Sunshine Coast youngster Lenny (pictured) had to travel to the other side of the world to have surgery not available in Australia It's hoped Lenny will eventually walk unassisted following his operation in the US. 'It's not offered (the life-saving surgery) to Lenny in Australia unfortunately,' Mr Silveira told Seven News. 'It's so time-sensitive. The longer we wait and the older he gets, the effects of the cerebral palsy get worse.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Health for comment. Families have been warned to start shopping for Christmas now amid fears that supplies of toys, electrical goods and other products will be disrupted by logjams at UK ports. Retail leaders say the shortage of HGV drivers to carry loads from docks around the coast is threatening festivities and the wider economy. Shipping giant Maersk has diverted some supersize vessels away from Felixstowe the countrys largest container port to alternatives on the Continent such as Antwerp and Rotterdam. It is hoped containers will then be transferred to smaller ships that should find it easier to get a berth at smaller UK docks. Meanwhile, supermarkets have been attempting to fill up empty shelves with products they do have in stock, with a Tesco Extra in Cardiff placing dozens of sunflower oil bottles near a frozen food section. It is reported that shoppers in Britain are already struggling to get their hands on presents PlayStation 5's that were on display but out of stock in Kingston, West London, on Wednesday Parents are urged to stock up on toys early amid fears that goods may be held up in ports Britains Christmas is relying on a Dunkirk-style removal of goods from Europe on to smaller ships bound for ports across the UK, said David Jinks, of the parcel delivery firm ParcelHero. That looks to be the only way to bring many Christmas gifts home. Some businesses are wary of leaving shelves stripped bare, filling fruit and vegetable aisles with festive items such as Quality Street and Celebrations. One industry source told The Sun: 'Retailers know there is some tension in the air and dont want to see panic buying.' Peter Wilson, of the shipping agency Cory Brothers, said the UK has a significant pinch point around HGV drivers and the demand on them to move goods from the ports. The problems are hitting deliveries of kitchen white goods, electrical appliances, toys, clothing and Christmas products, he added. He insisted the supply chain will not fail but told BBC Radio 4s Today programme consumers should be sensible, think ahead, plan appropriately and order your Christmas goods and the items that you need in a timely fashion to ensure you have them. The British Retail Consortiums Andrew Opie said: Congestion at Felixstowe is yet another unwanted side-effect of the HGV driver shortage. As cargo cannot be removed fast enough, there is a backlog of containers at the ports preventing new ships from docking and unloading. Retailers are working with suppliers to mitigate issues, including finding alternative routes to bring goods into the country, but further disruption may be unavoidable. Elf on the Shelf supplies may also be affected, with one million of the toys being held in China ahead of shipping (file photo) People shop for Toys in Kingston, London. Gary Grant, of the toy giant The Entertainer, said Barbie dolls and Paw Patrol toys are prime candidates for being short in the Christmas season Retail leaders say the shortage of HGV drivers to carry loads from docks around the coast is threatening festivities and the wider economy. Pictured: people shopping for toys in London The British Toy and Hobby Association said: We expect continued disruption to delivery schedules over the coming months. There are plenty of toys to choose from presently but, in common with other sectors advice, buying early especially if buying for a Christmas or a birthday present is prudent. Gary Grant, of the toy giant The Entertainer, said yesterday Barbie dolls and Paw Patrol toys are prime candidates for being short in the Christmas season. Elf on the Shelf supplies may also be affected, with one million of the toys being held in China ahead of shipping. Mr Grant told BBC News: Therell never be toy shops with no toys. There will be toy shops without all the toys that they would normally expect to have. 'That is largely down to transportation and warehouse issues, rather than there being a shortage of toys. Thousands of shipping containers at Felixstowe in Suffolk, as shipping giant Maersk is diverting vessels away to unload elsewhere in Europe Alex Hersham, of the freight forwarding company Zencargo, used by brands including Vivienne Westwood, Swoon Furniture and Soho Home, said: Some containers have been sitting at Felixstowe for double the usual length of time between ten and 20 days pushing the port towards capacity. With Felixstowe handling almost 40 per cent of all the containers coming to and from the UK, this adds yet more imbalance to Britains supply chain. But Tim Morris, of the UK Major Ports Group, said: Theres no need to panic. The global supply chains are very busy but theyre robust. Therell be some short-term fluctuations but retailers, their suppliers, all the logistics companies that work in between the manufacturing and the sales side will be working hard to keep supplies moving. Tory party co-chairman Oliver Dowden insisted the Government is working through these challenges, for example by boosting training places for HGV drivers. Asked about Christmas, he said: Im confident people will be able to get their toys for Christmas. Some people buy very early for Christmas others buy later. I would say just buy as you do normally. Armed police seized a shotgun from the family home of a Royal Marines general just days before he was found hanged. A response team recovered the weapon on September 22 after a relative raised concerns for Major General Matthew Holmes welfare. Tragically, officers returned to the property on October 2, hours after the 54-year-old former Commandant General was found dead. The recovery of the weapon so near to his death should have been a red flag and triggered an intervention by mental health experts, it was claimed last night. Armed police seized a shotgun from the family home of Major General Matthew Holmes in September - just days before he was found hanged Tragically, officers returned to the property on October 2, hours after the 54-year-old former Commandant General was found dead Veterans gather behind a detachment of Royal Marines outside Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire for the funeral of Major General Matthew Holmes In the last months of his life Maj Gen Holmes felt undermined by the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 55, who has been appointed to lead the UKs Armed Forces. Sir Tony joined mourners at his funeral in Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter also attended the service. Maj Gen Holmes widow Lea Holmes was accompanied by their children Eleanor, 15 and William, 11. They held hands as they walked into the cathedral. The funeral was attended by more than 700 mourners and members of the public gathered outside to pay their respects. Today leading members of the armed forces joined mourners at his funeral in Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. Pictured: Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace (2nd left), General Sir Nick Carter, the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff (centre) and First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (2nd right) Every unit of the Royal Marines was represented, as was the United States Marine Corps. The Royal Marines band played before the coffin was driven to the cathedral, awaited by Dean of Winchester Catherine Ogle, who led the service. The coffin was carried by pallbearers who all had a close connection to Maj Gen Holmes. He had the same duty at the funeral of Prince Philip, the Corps honorary Captain General for several decades, at Windsor Castle in April. Sir Tony had slapped a gagging order on Maj Gen Holmes when he challenged his plans to modernise the Royal Marines, it emerged last week. Maj Gen Holmes then told friends: I dont trust Radakin. He doesnt get the Corps. You should see the emails from Radakin, imposing his authority and keeping me constrained. I feel beaten down, not listened to, merely run over by someone with no military judgment. Its been awful. Awful. The coffin of Major General Matthew Holmes, former head of the Royal Marines, is carried out of Winchester Cathedral following his funeral service Major General Matthew Holmes receives the Distinguished Service Order from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2007 The seized shotgun is understood to have been licensed to the Major General. The police visit emerged at a pre-inquest hearing this week. The court heard he killed himself over concerns about his career and marriage. Hampshire Police confirmed the firearms recovery. No arrests were made and Maj Gen Holmes had not threatened anyone else. The highly decorated officer is also said to have behaved erratically at a formal dinner at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone, Devon. Philip Ingram, an intelligence specialist and defence welfare campaigner, said: While you cannot order someone to seek help you can put a protective bubble around them. He had been displaying cries for help for some time. The coming together of his professional and personal woes was a perfect storm and should have been obvious to his chain of command. But retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry last night insisted everything had been done to protect the officer. He said: My understanding is that the whole top echelon of the Royal Navy, especially the First Sea Lord [Sir Tony], the Commandant General [Lt Gen Rob Magowan] and [Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd] were in close and frequent personal contact with him during his final week to encourage and support him. Last night, the Royal Navy said: Our condolences, prayers and deepest sympathy are with Matts family. Their loss is the greatest and most painful: the entire naval service will be there for them now and always. A full hearing will take place on February 10. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123 or go to www.samaritans.org An 84-year-old man who became angry at the state of a sight-unseen property he had purchased shot his real estate agent dead before turning the gun on himself when police arrived in a murder-suicide in Virginia. Sren Arn-Oelschlegel, 41, was fatally shot by Albert Baglione, 84, on Friday. Police in the city of Portsmouth arrived at the home on Bolling Road and found Baglione, who said he was armed and had killed Arn-Oelschlegel. Baglione then went back inside the house, and officers heard a gunshot moments later. A SWAT team then entered the building to find that he had taken his own life, finding both Baglione and Arn-Oelschlegel dead. A neighbor told reporters that Baglione, an Alabama resident, had signed a contract to buy the home. He signed the deed without seeing it, and was then unhappy with his purchase. A Virginia real estate agent, 41-year-old Sren Arn-Oelschlegel was killed by one of his clients in what's being ruled a murder-suicide Police in the town of Portsmouth arrived at a home on Bolling Road and found Baglione, who said he was armed and had killed Arn-Oelschlegel Arn-Oelschlegel was going to the home because Baglione had called him, angry and wanted to return it. He was trying to reassure Baglione about the purchase. The real estate agent has been remembered by the local LGBTQ community as a dedicated friend and volunteer. 'We are heartbroken to announce to our Hampton Roads Pride family that yesterday, Friday, October 8, 2021, Sren Arn-Oelschlegel, our brother, friend, member and volunteer was fatally shot,' the local nonprofit Hampton Road Pride wrote on their Facebook page. 'Our love and support goes out to Soren's family and friends as we struggle to wrap our heads around this devastating loss. Soren's kind and generous spirit left us too soon.' The president of Hampton Roads Pride, Rudy Almanzor, said Arn-Oelschlegel was a huge part of the group. 'He always had tons of energy. I never saw him not smiling, laughing, and wanting to have fun. He worked hard, played hard,' Almanzor said of Arn-Oelschlegel. Hampton Roads Pride is holding a candlelight vigil for Arn-Oelschlegel Thursday night. 'I literally had to read it four to five times and was like, 'This does not make sense,'' Almanzor said. 'We are here to build up the community, and one of our building blocks is missing.' Portsmouth's Major Crimes Unit is still investigating the case. A neighbor told reporters that Baglione, an Alabama resident, signed a contract to purchase the home he was found. He signed the deed without seeing it and unhappy with himself Hampton Roads Pride is holding a candlelight vigil for Arn-Oelschlegel Thursday night. He was considered a dedicated member of the local LGBTQ family Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Republicans as he continued to repeat his allegations of voter 'fraud': back his ongoing efforts or Republicans 'will not be voting' in the off-year elections and beyond. Trump made the threat in one of a flurry of statements from his 'Save America' PAC Wednesday, after once again claiming he 'won' the election. If we dont solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in 22 or 24. It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do.' Trump's attack comes as GOP leaders are eyeing the 2022 elections as potential takeover opportunity, with Democrats holding just three-vote majority in the House. The Senate is split 50-50. Former President Donald Trump, who held a rally in Iowa Saturday, warned that Republicans won't vote if the party doesn't 'solve' what he called 'fraud' in the 2020 elections With covid still raging, built-in advantages, historical trends for off-year elections, the GOP stands a chance to stop or slow much of the Biden agenda with a strong performance in 2022. Trump's push comes days after he secured yet another example of his takeover of the GOP even after his election overturn effort which followed Joe Biden's electoral college and popular vote win. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Senate president pro tempore, stood on stage with Trump and accepted his endorsement at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in a state that launched Trump's improbable 2016 win. 'Trump won! Trump won! Trump won!,' his Iowa supporters cheered. Trump called it the 'single most important thing for Republicans to do' Contractors working for Cyber Ninjas, who was hired by the Arizona State Senate, examine and recount ballots from the 2020 general election at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 1, 2021, in Phoenix. The final result expanded Joe Biden's vote share 'He did. He did. Thank you,' said Trump. Grassley, 88, is seeking his eighth Senate term. Said Grassley: 'If I didn't accept the endorsement of a person that's got 91% of the Republican voters in Iowa I wouldn't be too smart. I'm smart enough to accept that endorsement.' Grassley had blasted Trump the day after the riot. 'Sadly, yesterday he displayed poor leadership in his words and actions, and he must take responsibility,' he said then. Donald Trump endorses the re-election bid of United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), 88 Trump has not yet said if he plans to run again in 2024, but he enjoys broad support within the GOP and has been flexing his muscles through other endorsements, going after 'never Trumpers' while GOP legislators seek to change state election laws. A group of anonymous GOP lawmakers said in a recent article in the Hill they hoped Trump would not win. But few are willing to confront him by name on the record. Trump blasted a House select committee probing the Jan. 6th Capitol riot earlier Wednesday. 'Why isnt the January 6th Unselect Committee of partisan hacks studying the massive Presidential Election Fraud, which took place on November 3rd and was the reason that hundreds of thousands of people went to Washington to protest on January 6th?' Trump said. 'Look at the numbers now being reported on the fraud, which we now call the Really Big Lie. You cannot study January 6th without studying the reason it happened, November 3rd,' he said, again suggesting he won. 'If we had an honest media this Election would have been overturned many months ago, but our media is almost as corrupt as our political system!' said Trump. Democrats pounced on Trump's statement within minutes. 'Like weve been telling everyone the Republican Party is Donald Trumps party, and this is what happens when Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy bend over backwards to indulge his dangerous lies, failed leadership, and complete incompetence,' said the DNC, mentioning the Senate and House minority leaders. 'Republicans cant have it both ways they cant kiss Donald Trumps ring and then also refuse to answer for his most egregious lies that led to the violent January 6 assault on the Capitol and continue to undermine our democracy. Donald Trumps stranglehold on the Republican Party speaks to their complete ideological bankruptcy and is the anvil around their necks going into 2022.' The huge disruptions to motorists continued this week in the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow However it is believed the group is planning to fill up Britain's jails in an attempt to create a 'political crisis' Government source said they had identified 'a considerable number of protesters' who had breached law National Highways named 113 eco-zealots in an injunction against blocking motorways and A roads in London Advertisement More than a dozen Insulate Britain activists will finally face court action - and possible jail - within days, the Mail understands. Just over a month after the first roadblocks brought chaos to the motorways, officials are set to ask judges to take action against the eco-zealots. There has been increasing dismay among ministers about the slow pace of action at National Highways, previously known as Highways England, and with police who have made arrests only to release protesters hours later. But final details are now being added to legal papers which could see Insulate Britain demonstrators taken out of action at last. The number of activists being targeted is understood to be between 12 and 15. The group are part of the 113 people named in a National Highways junctions which they will be accused of breaching. A government source said: 'We've identified a considerable number of protesters who have breached at least one of the injunctions we have in place. Final details are now being added to legal papers to take a dozen Insulate Britain protestors to court after they were caught breaching National Highways injunctions for blocking motorways and A roads in London. There is no suggestion those photographed are in breach of the injunctions or have committed imprisonable offences There has been increasing dismay among ministers about the slow pace of action at National Highways, previously known as Highways England, and with police who have made arrests only to release protesters hours later On Tuesday protesters showed their contempt for the law by setting alight copies of the injunction papers outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London Insulate Britain is run by ringleader Liam Norton, whose own home was found to have no cavity wall insulation. Other leaders in the secretive group include Extinction Rebellion veteran David McKenny and Cathy Eastburn, whose husband was revealed to be Ben Plowden, a Transport for London director. He has stepped down from his 170,000-a-year role. It is not known if any of them are being targeted as part of the injunction breach 'National Highways lawyers are now working with the police to put together evidence in order to take these people to court. 'We hope to get this in front of the court either later this week or early next.' The process is fraught with difficulties, however. National Highways will have to apply to the High Court for committal proceedings against the activists, paperwork will have to be issued to each activist and a date for a trial will then have to be set. If activists are found guilty of breaching an injunction they could face up to two years' imprisonment for contempt of court. On Tuesday protesters showed their contempt for the law by setting alight copies of the injunction papers outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Members of the group have vowed to continue their disruptive protests, in which they typically glue themselves to the road at busy motorway junctions - despite the risk of unlimited fines and up to two years in jail. Insulate Britain is run by ringleader Liam Norton, whose own home was found to have no cavity wall insulation. Other leaders in the secretive group include Extinction Rebellion veteran David McKenny and Cathy Eastburn, whose husband was revealed to be Ben Plowden, a Transport for London director. He has stepped down from his 170,000-a-year role. Police officers remove Insulate Britain activists as they block junction 31 of the M25 earlier today Angry motorists snatch banners from protestors as activists from Insulate Britain block parts of Thurrock this morning Angry motorists remonstrate with protestors as activists from Insulate Britain block a junction in Thurrock this morning Police arrest a protestor as activists from Insulate Britain block a junction near the Dartford Crossing on October 13 Ed Miliband slams climate group's tactics as 'counterproductive' and risks 'alienating' public Former Labour leader Ed Miliband last night hit out at Insulate Britain protesters for damaging support for their cause. He branded the group's tactics as 'counterproductive' and warned they risked 'alienating' the public. The Extinction Rebellion splinter has already outraged motorists across London by blockading several motorways and A roads, leaving ambulances stuck and children late for school. Speaking at a Green Alliance think-tank event, Mr Miliband told the Mirror: 'Part of the task of peaceful protest is to win people to your cause, not alienate them.' The Shadow Business Secretary compared Insulate Britain's tactics to school strikes in 2018 led by teenage activist Greta Thunberg. 'Some people will have said, "hould they really be off school?",' he added. 'But it pricked peoples consciences, it drew attention to the issue, it superpowered government action, but it didnt alienate huge swathes of people.' Mr Miliband added that home insulation is a 'very important agenda' and said Labour would help fund making houses more environmentally-friendly. Advertisement A High Court hearing was taking place to extend the series of injunctions barring them from the M25, the Port of Dover and major A roads around London. A further hearing is due to take place next week. A previously-announced plan to use a catch-all injunction against Insulate Britain is understood to have hit the legal buffers. Officials had said they planned to obtain a 'contra mundum injunction' with far more sweeping terms that would be easier to enforce. However, lawyers told ministers they would have to list the 'essential nature' of each separate motorway and A road in the country in order to secure such an injunction. In the face of such an administrative nightmare, the idea is now thought to have been ditched. The Mail reported last month how Insulate Britain is planning to fill Britain's jails with hundreds of eco-activists in an attempt to create a 'political crisis' for PM Boris Johnson. They believe that significant numbers of activists being jailed could light a powder keg on wider disorder, in the run-up to the Cop26 environment summit in Glasgow next month. In September, activist Shel MacDonagh said 300 individuals would need to get themselves jailed in order to force the Government to grant concessions to the group. 'We need this campaign to continue going, and we think we need in the ballpark of 300 people to be able to face prison for us to be able to get a chance for this [a government concession] to happen,' she said. Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has announced plans for a new type of Asbo to tackle the protests. Criminal Disruption Prevention Orders - dubbed 'Asbos for crusties' - are intended to be quicker to enforce than injunctions. A specific new offence will also be created to deal with protests by Insulate Britain and its parent group Extinction Rebellion. It will be made a crime to 'interfere with critical national infrastructure', including major roads, railways, seaports, power stations and newspaper printing presses. The new crime will carry up to six months' imprisonment. However, both new powers will have to pass through Parliament and are not expected to come into force until spring or summer next year. Two top members of the Taliban have been invited to address Australian Muslims in a live webinar, sparking widespread outrage. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has organised a line-up of keynote guests to speak at Saturday's online event, which aims to discuss 'the future of Afghanistan and our role, regardless of whether we are in favour or against recent developments'. Speakers include long-time Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen and senior figure Sayed Abdul Basir Sabiri. Two top members of the Taliban have been invited to address Australian Muslims (pictured Taliban members in Afghanistan News of the webinar has sparked public outrage. 'This is absolutely appalling and it shouldn't happen,' 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham fumed on his show on Thursday. 'The Taliban is being given the chance to brainwash young Muslims right here in Australia.' Afghani refugees from the Hazara minority forced to flee the nation in the 1990s described the event as 'completely inappropriate.' Long-time Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen (pictured) is among the speakers 'To see faces like these on a prominent event like this is really traumatising,' refugee advocate Sitarah Mohammadi told The Australian. 'Our people have suffered so horrifically at their hands, and continue to do so to this day.' Other speakers include AFIC president Rateb Jneid, National Grand Mufti of Australia Imam Abdul Quddoos Al Azhari will also be among the speakers and Islamic legal scholar Mohammad Naqib Jan. Mr Jneid defended the event, saying it was chance for participants to find out what was happening in Afghanistan. 'We have many families of Afghan background who are worried about their loved ones in Afghanistan and they want to hear about the intentions of the government there.' he told the publication. Promotion of this Saturday's live webinar (pictured) has sparked community outrage Taliban fighters reclaimed power of Afghanistan in August following the collapse of the government as President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, bringing an end to a two-decade campaign to transform the country by the US and its allies, including Australia. Afghans who have supported Australian Defence Force troops for many years as translators, security guards and assistants are still in the city and now face the possibility of imprisonment under Taliban rule. SUPERMARKET GOODS Proposals put forward by the European Commission would see 80 per cent of checks removed on goods moving from Great Britain to be sold on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland. Lorries transporting different food products would only need one certificate stating all the goods rather than a separate one for each type. VERDICT: Britain will welcome this. Proposals could see 80 per cent of checks removed on goods moving from Great Britain to be sold on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland SAUSAGES An EU ban on the import of chilled meats, which would have prevented sausages and burgers entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, will end thanks to a special exemption. Brussels is proposing a new category of national identity products to include British produce. VERDICT: Britain will welcome this. The EU ban on the import of chilled meats, which would have prevented sausages and burgers entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, will end CUSTOMS CHECKS Paperwork will be halved for goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Britain under the EUs offer. For example, a car dealer in Belfast buying parts from London will only need to provide basics such as the total value of the shipment rather than detailed information. VERDICT: Britain will welcome this. Paperwork will be halved for goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Britain under the EUs offer MEDICINES The EU will allow medicines licensed for sale in the UK to be prescribed in Northern Ireland without having to undergo further checks by European regulators. Brussels promised to change legislation to ensure no disruption to medical supplies. VERDICT: Britain will welcome this. EU will allow medicines licensed for sale in the UK to be prescribed in Northern Ireland EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE The proposals by the European Commission offered no progress on this issue. Brexit minister Lord Frost has made clear the removal of the oversight function of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in policing the protocol is a red line for the Government. The UK wants to remove a provision that gives the ECJ the final say in any future trade dispute and to replace it with an independent arbitration process. VERDICT: Failure to move forward on this key issue threatens to blow up the talks. The UK wants to remove a provision that gives the European Court of Justice the final say in any future trade dispute LABELLING AND SURVEILLANCE In return for removing checks and customs paperwork, Brussels is demanding extra safeguards to stop goods arriving into Northern Ireland being smuggled into the EU. They want real-time access to British government databases on products crossing from Great Britain and for products to be labelled as for sale only in the UK. VERDICT: Britain has until now resisted these but may agree if they unlock other compromises. Offenders have become skilled at hiding abuses from Home Office Multinational companies are abusing a scheme which allows them to bring foreign workers into Britain, an official report has found. The firms are sending lower-skilled employees to the UK under what is supposed to be a programme for the highly-qualified, such as IT workers. Officials said companies describe the positions inaccurately to obtain visas for workers who are brought to the UK under the Home Offices intra-company transfer scheme, or ICT. Firms were also found to artificially inflate the value of housing provided to employees, to bring their earnings up to the minimum threshold. Officials said companies describe the positions inaccurately to obtain visas for workers who are brought to the UK under the Home Offices intra-company transfer scheme (file photo) The offenders have become skilled at hiding abuses from the Home Office, the report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) went on. But despite its concerns, the MAC recommended significant expansion of the scheme. It said foreign workers on an ICT should be able to eventually settle here, and ultimately become British citizens, as with other visa routes. The ICT system enables international businesses to send employees to their UK branch on a temporary basis. Before the pandemic, more than 40,000 workers came here every year under the scheme. In most cases, the staff must have already worked for their overseas branch for at least 12 months and are supposed to be paid a minimum of 41,500, or an equivalent including allowances such as accommodation. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended the Home Office steps up checks to determine whether there is widespread abuse of the rules (file photo) Unlike other similar migration routes, such as the skilled worker visa, employees on an ICT are not required to speak English. The report said: It can be difficult to identify when abuses are occurring, as many of those carrying it out are large companies that are experienced at using the route and are able to hide it effectively. The MAC recommended the Home Office steps up checks to determine whether there is widespread abuse of the rules, focusing on reported salaries and accommodation allowances. Ministers were poised last night to agree a temporary visa scheme for foreign butchers, as a massive cull of pigs got underway. Multiple Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that ministers are finalising plans to allow about 1,000 skilled workers to arrive in the run-up to Christmas. The move is a significant government U-turn, coming less than a fortnight after Boris Johnson ruled out relaxing immigration rules to deal with the shortage of butchers. The gravity of the situation was underlined yesterday when a cull of about 4,500 pigs began (stock image) Farmers have been warning more than 100,000 pigs face destruction in the coming days because of a shortage of butchers to process their meat. The gravity of the situation was underlined yesterday when a cull of about 4,500 pigs began. The Prime Minister infuriated the farming industry earlier this month by brushing aside the crisis, saying the great hecatomb of pigs may not materialise. Mr Johnson said the industry needed to improve pay and conditions to attract skilled staff already in Britain. However, last night it appeared that visa rules will be relaxed as they already have been for poultry workers. One option being considered is for less stringent English language rules, which industry leaders claim are making it impossible to recruit butchers from abroad. The brutal cull of pigs involves using a so-called captive bolt gun, which fires a retractable bolt through the head of the animal. It is highly unusual to kill animals in this way on farms, let alone hundreds and a time, and it has provoked fears for the mental health and wellbeing of the teams involved. Duncan Berkshire, a vet who is involved in a steering group of experts working with pig farmers, said the grim process began yesterday on three farms, each holding about 1,500 adult pigs. He said the farmers involved are reluctant to go public, given the circumstances of the cull and fears they may be targeted by activists. He described the situation as the absolutely last resort, adding: UK farmers are proud to produce food they dont want to produce food that is going to go into the bin. Mr Berkshire said: It is distressing for everyone involved. These are big pigs and they need to be restrained and you need people who are trained to do it properly. 'Welfare is important and we dont want any suffering up to that point of death. My worry is the kind of mental impact this will have on both the producers and their vets. Farms have seen nothing like this since the foot and mouth crisis of 2001, when animals were killed to prevent the spread of the disease. Mr Berkshire said: This is being done purely because something has gone wrong with the food chain. It has been suggested that the adult pig farm cull could involve as many as 120,000 animals. The tipping point for a much larger cull will be at the end of this month. Dr Zoe Davies, chief executive of the National Pig Association, said farmers are distraught. As you can imagine this is hugely difficult for the farmers involved... Some are having to use knackermen as they just cant bear having to do it or ask their staff to do it, she said. Emma Slawinski, of the RSPCA, said: Ive heard people say, what does it matter where they are killed? They are going to die anyway. 'But on-farm culls will be traumatic for many animals and people alike. Slaughterhouses are specifically designed to kill animals. She added: None of this meat will enter the food chain, which is incredibly wasteful and disrespectful. There are reports that many thousands of chickens are also being slaughtered on farms because processing plants do not have the staff needed to handle them. Sajid Javid last night launched a revolution in GP access designed to ensure all patients can see a doctor face to face. Family doctors will be offered an extra 250 million to improve patient access but will be named and shamed in new league tables if they fail to deliver. The nine-point plan is a major victory for the Daily Mail's Let's See GPs Face to Face campaign. Health Secretary Mr Javid, Boris Johnson and new NHS chief Amanda Pritchard all paid tribute to the Mail for highlighting the devastating decline in the number of patients able to see their doctor in person. Under the new proposals, patients will be given the right to demand a face-to-face appointment with their family doctor. GPs will be told they should refuse a plea to have an in-person consultation only if there are good clinical reasons. The NHS England 'Plan for GPs and Patients' will give practices 250 million of extra cash to take on more staff, ensuring patients can have an appointment on the day they request one. This could include extending opening hours. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has launched a revolution in GP access designed to ensure all patients can see a doctor face to face. Pictured: Mr Javid at a Westminster pharmacy yesterday But they will not be able to access the extra money if too many of their consultations are carried out over the telephone or online. New 'transparency' rules will also publish data on the level of service offered by individual GP practices, including the level of access for patients seeking face-to-face appointments. Whitehall sources acknowledged the data would allow the creation of local and national league tables, with the worst performers named and shamed in the media. GP practices which fail to improve access for patients will face direct intervention from teams of NHS trouble-shooters. To help doctors improve their service, red tape will be slashed to give GPs more time to see patients in person and telephone systems will be upgraded to make it easier to book an appointment. Meanwhile, pharmacists will get enhanced powers to treat a wide range of minor complaints to ease the pressure. Mr Javid confirmed GPs will be offered 250million in funding to help improve patient access The Department of Health will reduce administrative burdens on GPs by reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates such as fit notes and DVLA checks freeing up time for more appointments. And officials will today confirm that GP surgeries can scrap the two-metre social distancing rule imposed during the pandemic, which has dramatically reduced numbers in waiting rooms. However, last night there were signs the plans would spark a row with doctors' unions and some frontline GPs. Dr Richard Vautrey, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said the proposals would make appointments harder to book and the Government was 'out of touch'. He said it was disappointing to see there was 'no end in sight to the preoccupation with face-to-face appointments' and demanded an end to 'target-driven, payment-by-results'. Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said there was 'nothing here to address the long-standing workforce pressures facing general practice'. But he cautiously welcomed plans to slash bureaucracy. 'GPs go into medicine to care for patients, yet they spend a significant amount of their time on box-ticking and filling forms,' he said. 'This bureaucracy has an impact on workload in general practice, which has become increasingly 'undoable' and is leading to many GPs, and other members of the team, burning out or leaving the profession. Last night the Prime Minister praised the Mail for highlighting the collapse in face-to-face appointments over the past two years. Mr Johnson said: 'The Mail's campaign on this issue has shown the importance of everyone having the choice and ability to see their GP face to face, and this plan will mean more appointments at more surgeries.' Writing for the Mail, Mr Javid said he was determined to get the NHS 'closer to pre-pandemic levels of face-to-face appointments'. Mrs Pritchard thanked the Mail for acting as 'a strong voice for patients', adding that there would also be a new effort to tackle abuse against GPs. The nine-point plan came as a YouGov poll found that two-thirds of people prefer a face-to-face appointment. The Nine Commandments...and what they really mean By Shaun Wooller for the Daily Mail The Daily Mail launched its campaign to improve access to GPs after being inundated with horrifying stories from readers who struggled to be seen in person. The revolution it has brought about is an extraordinary achievement that will undoubtedly benefit patients and the NHS. Today's new NHS England and Department of Health blueprint will help ensure all five points of the Mail's original manifesto for change are delivered. It will improve access to GPs, get patients and doctors back into face-to-face contact more often and boost safety. Here are the nine key points of today's announcement and what they mean: 1 Patients' right to face-to-face appointments What they're announcing: Health officials have made it clear that every GP practice must ask patients what form they would like their appointment to take. What it means: Doctors must respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary for example, if the patient has Covid. This means surgeries can no longer fob people off with a remote consultation if they want to be in the same room as their medic. People can still choose to have their appointment on the phone or by video if it is more convenient. Under the Government's new nine-point plan, family doctors must respect their patient's preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary Conducting appointments in-person will allow doctors to spot symptoms they could not have detected remotely and improve the patient-doctor relationship. Elderly and vulnerable patients who lacked the technology needed for remote consultations or struggled to use it will no longer feel excluded. 2 More money for more appointments What they're announcing: A 250million winter access fund will let practices offer more appointments so patients who need care can get it on the same day, if needed. What it means: The money will pay for locums and other health professionals, such as physiotherapists and podiatrists, with a focus on increasing capacity. Surgeries will be encouraged to extend opening hours or operate walk-in clinics, making it easier for patients to be seen quickly at a convenient time. A 250million winter access fund, announced by the Government today, will let practices offer more appointments so patients who need care can get it - on the same day if needed 3 'Hit squads' and cash penalties to keep GPs on track What they're announcing: GP practices that fail to improve access will face special measures and be denied a share of additional funding. What it means: Poor performers will see specialist 'hit squad' teams sent in to knock them into shape. This should ensure patients have access to good quality care. Denying surgeries that fail to improve access a share of the new pot of cash will act as an incentive. 4 Better phone systems What they're announcing: The NHS will help practices upgrade telephone systems to make it easier for patients to book appointments and cut waits to speak to a receptionist. The Government has also announced the NHS will help practices upgrade telephone systems to make it easier for patients to book appointments and cut waits to speak to a receptionist What it means: New technology will make it easier for staff to manage queues. This will reduce the frustration of trying to reach a surgery, with some people dialling hundreds of times. Patient groups report some elderly people have given up attempting to see their GP because of the stress of phoning. 5 Less paperwork and more help from pharmacists What they're announcing: The Government will free GPs from some red tape by reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates, such as fit notes and DVLA checks. Pharmacists will become the first port of call for most minor illnesses. What it means: Lessening the burden of paperwork will make the job more attractive and help bring in more trainees, in a boost to the commitment to recruit 6,000 more GPs. Less paperwork: The Government says it will free GPs from some red tape by reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates, such as fit notes and DVLA checks for example Getting highly-skilled nurses and pharmacists to perform some checks will free up GPs for more complex issues. Pharmacists will be given greater powers to write prescriptions and treat patients for routine conditions. 6 Relaxation of guidelines on social distancing What they're announcing: The two-metre social distancing rule, which applies in surgeries, will be axed. What it means: GPs have argued that strict Covid rules prevent them from seeing more patients in person because their waiting rooms are too small to accommodate them. No social distancing: The two-metre social distancing rule, which applies at GPs, will be axed 7 Performance league tables What they're announcing: GP appointment data will be published at practice level by spring next year to enhance transparency and accountability. What it means: Naming and shaming individual GP practices that fail to offer enough face-to-face appointments or that have long waits to be seen will incentivise doctors to improve. Producing league tables will allow patients to compare their practice with others in their town and increase competition. 8 Easier patient feedback via text message What they're announcing: Making it simpler for patients to rate their practice's performance. As part of the plans, a new campaign is being launched to reduce the abuse of NHS workers What it means: This will give doctors and NHS managers a clearer picture of what patients do and do not like about their surgery and make it easier to identify recurring problems, so they can be improved. 9 Zero tolerance campaign on abuse of NHS staff What they're announcing: A new campaign to reduce abuse and punish offenders. What it means: Unacceptable behaviour by frustrated patients drives much-needed doctors out of jobs and creates an environment that is not attractive to new recruits. Ministers and the NHS hope a new campaign will prevent a disastrous exodus of staff and ensure more medical trainees want to work in general practice. The Mail's right. Patients must be able to see their doctor the way they want and now they can By Sajid Javid for The Daily Mail Like many Asian parents, my mum always wanted me to be a GP. When I told her I'd been made Health and Social Care Secretary, she said: 'Well, you didn't quite make it to GP, but at least you're working in healthcare!' In truth, she was only half joking. There's a reason why people such as my mum have such high regard for GPs: their powerful blend of expertise and empathy has made generations of communities happier and healthier. So I want to say a huge thank you to GPs and their teams across the country for their commitment to patients during the most challenging of times. I may not have become a GP, but I do want to make it easier for them to do their vital work. Pictured: Health Secretary Sajid Javid is given his flu jab during a visit to Keencare Pharmacy Equally, I am committed to making sure patients can see their GP in the way they choose and have a better experience when they do. The Mail has run an important campaign on this issue. Working closely with the NHS, we've made a plan for GPs and patients to do just that: it will mean more appointments in the ways people want. While I'm determined to get us closer to pre-pandemic levels of face-to-face appointments, it is, of course, true that online and telephone consultations are more convenient for many people. There's no question that telephone and video calls will be a part of the future of general practice. But it cannot be the whole future. With winter just around the corner, I know GPs are under real pressure: the demand for appointments is high and so is their workload. So today, I'm announcing a fresh 250 million investment in general practice to boost capacity ahead of the winter, opening up more appointments. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid visits Keencare Pharmacy for his flu jab. Pictured: Andrew Lane, Chairman of the national Pharmacy association, with Mr Javid With this money, we will expect GPs to provide clear plans for how they will improve access and deliver more face-to-face appointments, such as offering appointments on evenings and weekends. By and large, people understand why it's been a difficult time for our GPs: Covid pressures, concerns about infection and reduced space in waiting rooms have often made the process of getting an appointment more difficult. While I understand the frustration, violence and abuse towards GPs and their teams will never be tolerated. GPs and their teams need to feel safe at work, and the NHS is making 5 million available for practices to improve their security measures as part of our plan. Another way we're going to ensure more time is spent with patients is by spreading the workload. I want every practice to use the NHS Community Pharmacy Consultation service, so our brilliant community pharmacists can do more in terms of prescribing. I'm asking my department to work with the NHS and look at a 'Pharmacy First' scheme for England, so pharmacists can provide treatment for specific conditions such as sore throats, without patients having to go to their GP building on pilot schemes in England and much as they already do in Scotland. We also need to measure GPs against clearer standards. The vast majority of GPs are doing brilliant work, but where GPs are not, we have to fix it: it's simply not fair for their patients to suffer in silence. The challenges in general practice are far from over, but I have every confidence we can meet the difficulties ahead by working together to achieve our common goal delivering for patients. Pharmacists to get more power: Chemists will prescribe extra drugs and treat wider range of illnesses under plan to free up GPs for face-to-face appointments Pharmacists will become the first port of call for most minor illnesses under plans being considered by Sajid Javid to free up GPs to deal with more serious cases. The Health Secretary's battle plan for improving access to family doctors includes options to give local chemists enhanced powers to treat a wide range of minor complaints. This is likely to include handing them the power to prescribe a number of medicines which are currently the sole preserve of doctors. A health source said Mr Javid wanted to see a 'substantially' increased role for pharmacists, adding: 'He is looking at expanding quickly the role that they play. 'He is interested in whether they can do more in terms of prescribing. 'It is all about sharing the workload and freeing up GPs to deal with more complex cases.' At the moment, pharmacists are able to issue advice and prescribe medicines, including antibiotics, if needed, but patients displaying unusual or serious symptoms will be referred to their GP or local hospital The source said the Health Secretary was examining the 'Pharmacy First' scheme in Scotland that allows pharmacies to treat a wide range of common conditions from earache and sore throats to hay fever and cystitis. Ministers hope the scheme will make it easier for patients with minor conditions to get treatment more quickly, as well as freeing up GPs. Writing in the Mail today, Mr Javid said: 'Another way we're going to ensure more time is spent with patients is by spreading the workload. 'I want every practice to use the NHS Community Pharmacy Consultation service, so our brilliant community pharmacists can do more in terms of prescribing. 'I'm asking my department to work with the NHS and look at a 'Pharmacy First' scheme for England, so pharmacists can provide treatment for specific conditions like sore throats, without patients having to go to their GP, building on pilot schemes in England and much as they already do in Scotland.' The move is likely to be welcomed by pharmacists, who have been pushing to play a bigger role in community healthcare. Around 800 GP practices are currently signed up to the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, which refers patients with a limited range of minor conditions to their local pharmacy. The new battle plan for improving access to GPs gives pharmacists the power to prescribe a number of medicines which are currently the sole preserve of doctors. Javid, pictured right, met community pharmacist Cynthia Langworth at Keencare Pharmacy in London The scheme, launched in 2019, has so far led to 64,000 referrals, freeing up valuable time for GPs. But Scotland's 'Pharmacy First' scheme goes much further. Patients living north of the border are advised to attend a local pharmacy for advice and treatment on all minor illnesses and health concerns, ranging from backache and verrucas to eczema and allergies. Patients can attend any pharmacy for advice, and in most cases they do not need to make an appointment. Those requiring privacy can seek advice in dedicated consultation rooms. Pharmacists have the power to issue advice and prescribe medicines, including antibiotics, if needed. However, patients displaying unusual or serious symptoms will be referred to their GP or local hospital. As with GPs, pharmacists will keep records of all treatments. A health source said Mr Javid would consider whether to replicate the Scottish scheme in England wholesale or adapt it. Eddie Jaku, a Holocaust survivor who became famous for his focus on peace, tolerance and hope, died this week aged 101, describing himself as the 'happiest man on Earth'. Though he was imprisoned in Auschwitz and his parents were killed, Jaku was determined not to let bitterness overshadow his life. In this extract from his recently published memoir, Jaku, who was married to Flore for 75 years and leaves two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, describes how he found the will to live again after being tortured and starved: 'I have seen the very worst in mankind, the horrors of the death camps, the Nazi efforts to exterminate my life and the lives of all my people. 'Through all of my years I have learned this: life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. 'My story is a sad one in part, with great darkness and great sorrow. But it is a happy story in the end because happiness is something we can choose. 'I will show you how...' Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku, who became famous for his focus on peace, tolerance and hope, died this week aged 101 It was February 1944, the worst of a bitter Polish winter, when the train crammed with my family and hundreds of other people arrived at Auschwitz and I saw the infamous sign looming over the barbed wire fences: Arbeit macht frei work sets you free. We did not know about Auschwitz then; how could any of us imagine such a thing was even possible? But at the age of 24, I had experienced enough of the Nazis to realise the inhumanity of which they were capable. The journey there was nine days and eight nights. There was no food and very little water, just one 44-gallon drum to last all 150 of us through the journey. A person can survive a few weeks without food, but not without water. My father took charge. From his pockets he produced a little collapsible cup and a Swiss army knife. Using the knife, he cut up a sheet of paper into 150 little squares. He explained that everyone in the car would have two cups of water one in the morning and one at night. Anyone who lost their paper would receive no more water. Soon the water in other carriages ran out. I could hear them crying out, one woman shouting, 'My children are thirsty! They need water! My gold ring for water!' After two more days, they fell silent. Eddie, who was married to Flore (couple pictured together in Sydney, Australia, in 1960) for 75 years, leaves two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren Pictured: A group of children stand behind barbed wire at Auschwitz in January 1945 In our car, only two died. Thanks to my father, the rest survived. At least, until Auschwitz. My father and I helped my mother and sister down, and while we were helping others, they disappeared into the crowd as the Nazis herded everyone like cattle, using batons, guns, and vicious attack dogs. Suddenly, it was just me and my father, being jostled towards a man in a clean white lab coat. This was Dr Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death, one of the most evil murderers in history. We didn't know it but he was conducting one of his 'selections' separating those still strong enough to work from those destined straight for the gas chambers. 'This way,' Mengele said, pointing at me. 'That way,' he said to my father, pointing towards a truck being loaded with prisoners. Later I dared ask an SS officer where my father had gone. 'You see the smoke over there?' he said. 'That's where your father went. And your mother. To the gas chambers and the crematorium.' This is how I found out I was an orphan. I was born in 1920, in the German city of Leipzig. Henni, my sister, arrived two years later. Our father Isidore owned a factory and worked hard to make us comfortable. On the afternoon of every Friday, the Jewish Sabbath, Mother baked three or four loaves of challah, the richly delicious bread that we ate on special occasions. When I asked why she made so many for our small family, my father explained that the extra loaves were to give to Jews in need. I spent the next six months in Buchenwald, the largest concentration camp in Germany. Pictured: Nazis Richard Baer, Dr Josef Mengele and Rudolf Hoess He told me there is more pleasure in giving than in taking, that the important things in life friends, family, kindness are far more precious than money. I thought he was crazy but now, after all I have seen in this life, I know he was right. On Friday evenings we sat down for a Sabbath dinner, lovingly prepared by my maternal grandmother. She lived with us and cooked on the huge wood stove that also heated the house. When we came in frozen from the outside, we sat on cushions next to that stove to warm up, me with my dachshund puppy Lulu on my lap. How I treasured such nights, not knowing then that poor little Lulu would be bayoneted to death by the Brownshirts, the Nazi paramilitary force responsible for the atrocities committed on the night of November 9, 1938. Known as Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, it was named for the shattered shards littering the streets after they looted and destroyed Jewish-owned stores, homes and synagogues among them the 200-year-old house in which generations of our family had been raised. I was then studying at an engineering college hundreds of miles from Leipzig, and had returned home to surprise my parents on their 20th wedding anniversary, unaware they had gone into hiding. I awoke at 5am to the sound of the door being kicked in. Ten Nazis dragged me from bed and beat me half to death. One took his bayonet and started to engrave a swastika in my arm, stabbing Lulu when she went to bite him. I spent the next six months in Buchenwald, the largest concentration camp in Germany. There, the daily ration was a bowl of rice and stewed meat we had to eat with our hands. One morning, I slept through the bell for headcount and was whipped. Another time, I was thrashed with a rubber baton for having my shirt untucked. But I at least had a way out of Buchenwald: my value to the Third Reich as a qualified engineer outweighed the insanity. Requisitioned to an aeronautical factory, I was allowed a brief visit to my family before I reported there. We seized the opportunity to flee over the border to Belgium. Then, the Nazis had no power to pursue us there but after the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, we were forced into hiding. There we remained until we were discovered by the Gestapo and put on that train to Auschwitz. At night in Auschwitz we were forced to sleep naked in our barracks, because if you were naked you couldn't escape. It was so cold, eight below zero, and with no sheets or blankets the only warmth came from other people. Lying ten to a row on the hard wooden planks of our crude bunks, you would go to sleep in the arms of the man next to you just to survive and wake to find him frozen solid, his dead eyes staring at you. Those who lasted the night rose to a cold shower, a cup of coffee, and one or two pieces of bread before walking to work in one of the German factories relying on slave labour from prisoners. One guard, a woman, once had me given seven lashes for laughing at one of the jokes we told in our desperation to keep our spirits up. Afterwards I had to stand for three hours in a cage, naked in front of everyone passing as blood seeped from the terrible wounds on my back. Every time I fell, weak with exhaustion and cold, the needle-lined walls of the cage stabbed me awake. If you had told me while I was being tortured and starved in the concentration camps that soon I would be so lucky, I would never have believed you. Pictured: The entrance to Auschwitz On three separate occasions, I was taken to the gas chambers but saved at the last minute when a guard saw my name, prisoner number and profession and shouted, 'Take out 172338!' Each time, I silently thanked my father for insisting I train as an engineer, making me what the Nazis called an 'Economically Indispensable Jew'. I was put to work at IG Farben, suppliers of Zyklon B, the poison used in the gas chambers. In that factory, I discovered that one of the machine operators was my sister Henni. She had always been very beautiful, with fair skin and lovely, shiny hair. Now she was a prisoner, her head shaved and her uniform hanging off a frame gaunt with starvation. I was filled with joy to know she'd survived but we could not let on that we were related because the Nazis might somehow use that knowledge against us. I couldn't hug her or comfort her about the murder of our parents, and we were separated again when in January 1945 the Russian advance saw the Nazis marching us to camps deeper into German territory. With no food and water, and temperatures falling to minus 20c, the Death March as it became known to the world, was the hardest time of my life. When we stopped to sleep in a field one night I hid in a drainage pipe next to the road. I spent hours submerged in freezing water which was running so quickly that I lost my shoes, but when I emerged in the morning there was no one around. I was free. For the next few days I lived in a cave in a nearby forest, surviving on raw snails and slugs, but eventually decided I couldn't go on. I was so sick, I couldn't walk. I said to myself, 'If they shoot me now, they will be doing me a favour.' I crawled on my hands and knees and made it to a highway. I looked up. Coming down the road, I saw a tank... an American tank! Those beautiful American soldiers. I'll never forget. They put me in a blanket, and I woke up one week later in a German hospital. I was sick with cholera and typhoid, and malnourished, weighing only 4st. I made a promise to God. If I survived, I would become a new person, dedicate the rest of my life to putting right the hurt done by the Nazis, and live every day to the fullest. And that is what I have done. It was not easy at first. Returning to the Belgian capital Brussels after the war, I discovered that Henni was living there in a boarding house. To know that one of the people dearest to me was still alive was incredible but I remained a miserable ghost of a man even after I met my beautiful wife Flore. We married in Brussels in 1946 and she had a challenging first couple of years with me. I was not sure if I wanted to live but that all changed when our eldest son Michael was born. What a miracle to be alive and to hold my beautiful baby, my beautiful wife. If you had told me while I was being tortured and starved in the concentration camps that soon I would be so lucky, I would never have believed you. Love saved me. My family saved me. Here is what I learned. Happiness does not fall from the sky; it is in your hands. Happiness comes from inside yourself and from the people you love. And if you are healthy and happy, you are a millionaire. Happiness is the only thing in the world that doubles each time you share it. Mine was doubled by meeting Flore. Each year we celebrate our wedding anniversary on April 20 Hitler's birthday. We are still here; Hitler is down there. Sometimes, when we are sitting in the evening in front of the television with a cup of tea and a biscuit, I think, aren't we lucky? In my mind, this is really the best revenge to be the happiest man on Earth. There are survivors who will tell you that this world is bad, that all people have evil inside them, who take no joy from life. These people have not been liberated. Their broken bodies may have walked from the camps 75 years ago, but their broken hearts stayed there. I do not ask my fellow survivors to forgive the German people. I could not do this myself. But I have been fortunate enough to have had enough love and friendship in my life that I have been able to release the anger I felt towards them. It does no good to hold on to anger. Seventy-five years ago, in the days after the war, I learned of a Nazi being held prisoner for his war crimes and I arranged to see him. I asked him: 'Why? Why could you do this?' He couldn't answer. He started shaking and crying. He was less than a man, just a shadow of one. He did not look evil. He looked pathetic. And my question remained unanswered. The older I get, the more I think, why? The only answer I can find is hate. Hate is the beginning of a disease, like cancer. It may kill your enemy, but it will destroy you in the process too. So I hate no one, not even Hitler. I do not forgive him. If I forgive, I am a traitor to the six million who died. But I also live for them, and live the best life I can. Life is not always happiness, there are many hard days. Don't blame others for your misfortunes. Remember you are lucky to be alive. Every breath is a gift. Life is beautiful if you let it be: please, every day, remember to be happy, and to make others happy, too. Adapted from The Happiest Man On Earth by Eddie Jaku, published by Macmillan at 14.99. Eddie Jaku 2020. To order a copy for 13.49 (offer valid until October 28, 2021; UK P&P free on orders over 20), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Pharmacists will become the first port of call for most minor illnesses under plans being considered by Sajid Javid to free up GPs to deal with more serious cases. The Health Secretarys battle plan for improving access to family doctors includes options to give local chemists enhanced powers to treat a wide range of minor complaints. This is likely to include handing them the power to prescribe a number of medicines which are currently the sole preserve of doctors. A health source said Mr Javid wanted to see a substantially increased role for pharmacists, adding: He is looking at expanding quickly the role that they play. 'He is interested in whether they can do more in terms of prescribing. It is all about sharing the workload and freeing up GPs to deal with more complex cases. Health Secretary Sajid Javid, pictured with Chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, Andrew Lane, left, at Keencare Pharmacy in south west London for his flu jab is considering pharmacists to be the first port of call for most minor illnesses The source said the Health Secretary was examining the Pharmacy First scheme in Scotland that allows pharmacies to treat a wide range of common conditions from earache and sore throats to hay fever and cystitis. Ministers hope the scheme will make it easier for patients with minor conditions to get treatment more quickly, as well as freeing up GPs. Writing in the Mail today, Mr Javid said: Another way were going to ensure more time is spent with patients is by spreading the workload. 'I want every practice to use the NHS Community Pharmacy Consultation service, so our brilliant community pharmacists can do more in terms of prescribing. Im asking my department to work with the NHS and look at a Pharmacy First scheme for England, so pharmacists can provide treatment for specific conditions like sore throats, without patients having to go to their GP, building on pilot schemes in England and much as they already do in Scotland. The move is likely to be welcomed by pharmacists, who have been pushing to play a bigger role in community healthcare. Around 800 GP practices are currently signed up to the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, which refers patients with a limited range of minor conditions to their local pharmacy. The new battle plan for improving access to GPs gives pharmacists the power to prescribe a number of medicines which are currently the sole preserve of doctors. Javid, pictured right, met community pharmacist Cynthia Langworth at Keencare Pharmacy in London The scheme, launched in 2019, has so far led to 64,000 referrals, freeing up valuable time for GPs. But Scotlands Pharmacy First scheme goes much further. Patients living north of the border are advised to attend a local pharmacy for advice and treatment on all minor illnesses and health concerns, ranging from backache and verrucas to eczema and allergies. Patients can attend any pharmacy for advice, and in most cases they do not need to make an appointment. Those requiring privacy can seek advice in dedicated consultation rooms. At the moment, pharmacists are able to issue advice and prescribe medicines, including antibiotics, if needed, but patients displaying unusual or serious symptoms will be referred to their GP or local hospital Pharmacists have the power to issue advice and prescribe medicines, including antibiotics, if needed. However, patients displaying unusual or serious symptoms will be referred to their GP or local hospital. As with GPs, pharmacists will keep records of all treatments. A health source said Mr Javid would consider whether to replicate the Scottish scheme in England wholesale or adapt it. Contrary to popular theory, the ancestors of Native Americans did not originate in Japan, a study of 15,000-year-old human teeth and genetics has concluded. Instead, the group were likely derived from populations in Siberia, a team of researchers led from the University of Nevada-Reno have announced. It was similarities in stone artefacts that led many archaeologists to the belief that the first peoples of America migrated from Japan some 15,000 years ago. Specifically, the tools used by the 'Jomon' hunter-gatherer-fisher people of Japan appear to match those found at ancient Native American archaeological sites. Given this, researchers have proposed that the Jomon spread along the northern rim of the Pacific and across the Bering Land Bridge to America's northwest coastline. An alternative theory published back in April suggested that the migration followed a route across the Bering Sea hopping across a series of now-sunken islands. From there, the theory goes, the First Peoples spread across the continent reaching the southernmost part of South America within some two thousand years. However, experts have now concluded that the genetic and skeletal evidence 'simply does not match-up' and that the similarity in tools was likely coincidental. Contrary to popular theory, the ancestors of Native Americans did not originate in Japan, a study of 15,000-year-old human teeth and genetics has concluded. Pictured: examples of teeth analysed in the study, which included specimens from the ancient 'Jomon' hunter-gatherer-fisher people of Japan (top) and Native Americans (bottom). The arrows highlight marginal ridges that distinguish the 'shovel-shaped incisors' that are more common in Native American populations It was similarities in stone artefacts that led many archaeologists to the belief that the first peoples of America migrated from Japan some 15,000 years ago. Specifically, the tools used by the 'Jomon' hunter-gatherer-fisher people of Japan (B, D, E, I, J & K) appear to match those found at ancient Native American archaeological sites (A, C, F, G & H) Researchers had proposed that the Jomon spread along the northern rim of the Pacific and across a land bridge over the Bering Strait (pictured) to America's northwest coastline a theory that the latest study refutes. Instead, it is proposed that they came from Siberia THE FIRST ARRIVAL IN NORTH AMERICA Back in September, archaeologists reported the discovery of footprints in New Mexico dating back to around 23,000 years ago. The team called the findings 'definitive evidence' of their being people in North America before the Last Glacial Maximum the time when glaciers likely cut off access between the Americas and what is now Russia via the Bering Land Bridge. However, it is unclear who exactly left the footprints and how they relate to living Native Americans. Advertisement 'We found that the human biology simply doesn't match up with the archaeological theory,' said paper author and anthropologist Richard Scott of the University of Nevada, Reno, who is an expert in the analysis of human teeth. 'We do not dispute the idea that ancient Native Americans arrived via the Northwest Pacific coastonly the theory that they originated with the Jomon people in Japan. 'These people, who lived in Japan 15,000 years ago, are an unlikely source for Indigenous Americans. Neither the skeletal biology or the genetics indicate a connection between Japan and the America. 'The most likely source of the Native American population appears to be Siberia.' In their study, Professor Scott and colleagues undertook a statistical analysis of date on thousands of ancient teeth from across the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The team found little of a relationship between the the Jomon people of Japan and Native Americans with only 7 per cent of the Jomon teeth samples able to be linked to the First Peoples. This conclusion was supported by genetic analysis which also indicated little in the way of a relationship between the Jomon and the earliest Native Americans. 'This is particularly clear in the distribution of maternal and paternal lineages, which do not overlap between the early Jomon and American populations,' said paper author and anthropologist Dennis ORourke of the University of Kansas. 'Plus, recent studies of ancient DNA from Asia reveal that the two peoples split from a common ancestor at a much earlier time,' he added. Professor Scott and colleagues undertook a statistical analysis of date on thousands of ancient teeth from across the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The team found little of a relationship between the the Jomon people of Japan (top and Native Americans (bottom) with only 7 per cent of the Jomon teeth samples able to be linked to the First Peoples The conclusion was supported by genetic analysis which also indicated little in the way of a relationship between the Jomon (IK002 in the above) and the earliest Native Americans 'The Incipient Jomon population represents one of the least likely sources for Native American peoples of any of the non-African populations,' concluded Professor Scott. The researchers cautioned that their study was limited in how the only available teeth and ancient DNA samples for the Jomon are less than 10,000 years ago and, therefore, do not precede the arrival of the First Peoples in America. However, the team added, 'we assume that they are valid proxies for the Incipient Jomon population or the people who made stemmed points [a type of stone weapon] in Japan 16,00015,000 years ago.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal PaleoAmerica. More than 200 species of wild animals sourced from the Amazon rainforest are being sold illegally at markets in Peru, an undercover investigation has revealed. Dolphins, sloths and manatees, along with jaguars, turtles and primates, have all been exposed to appalling conditions as a result of the trade. Shocking footage filmed by World Animal Protection at Peru's Belen market shows animals being peddled dead and alive, and even being slaughtered on site. Not only has it sparked outrage among animal rights campaigners, but experts have also expressed fears the markets could lead to another pandemic. Wild animals are known to transmit deadly diseases to humans, including Covid, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), and Ebola, and the report by World Animal Protection found little to no health and safety measures in place to prevent such an outbreak. Horrific practices: More than 200 species of wild animals sourced from the Amazon rainforest are being sold illegally at markets in Peru, an undercover investigation has revealed Dolphins, sloths and manatees, along with jaguars, turtles and primates, have all been exposed to appalling conditions as a result of the trade, which sees them peddled dead or alive and sometimes slaughtered on site The report looked urban markets such as Belen (pictured) considered to be the largest open-air market selling wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon Not only has it sparked outrage among animal rights campaigners, but health experts have also expressed fears the markets could lead to a repeat of the global pandemic WHO ARE WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION? World Animal Protection is a global organisation which aims to protect animals from needless suffering. It has been going for more than 50 years, having previously been known as The World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA) when it was first formed. It changes to its current name in 2014. The organisation says it is 'fighting to create better lives for all animals' by campaigning for change and stepping up when natural disasters occur such as earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. It published its new report, titled 'Risky business: How Peru's wildlife markets are putting animals and people at risk' today. Advertisement Titled 'Risky business: How Peru's wildlife markets are putting animals and people at risk', the report looked at urban markets such as Belen considered to be the largest open-air market selling wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon. Animals and birds at Belen are most commonly sold as wild meat, but also as luxury pets and for spiritual, medicinal and decorative use. Around one in 10 of the species being traded are threatened with extinction, the report revealed. Shocking images show dried monkeys with their innards cut out, severed sloth claws, the skins of ocelots hanging, and meat from various mammals piled high. A number of animals are being kept in dire conditions, with some crammed into tiny metal cages to be sold into the exotic pet trade. Among the horrific examples the report found were: Dolphin genitalia and eyes being sold as ingredients to create an aphrodisiacal perfume called 'pusanga', which is thought to bring luck or ensure seduction Sloth claws and the dried heads of yellow-footed tortoises to 'tame jealous men,' and to 'prevent a violent jealous reaction' Tapir nails to treat haemorrhages Armadillo tails being sold for inner ear pain Gilbert Sape, head of animals in the wild, at World Animal Protection, said: 'For many people in this community coming to markets such as these to do their daily business is an absolute necessity. Animals and birds at Belen are most commonly sold as wild meat, but also as luxury pets and for spiritual, medicinal and decorative use Shocking images show dried monkeys with their innards cut out, severed sloth claws (pictured), the skins of ocelots hanging, and meat from various mammals piled high Around one in 10 of the species being traded are threatened with extinction, the report found A number of animals are being kept in dire conditions, with some crammed in buckets or cages The vile practices of the illegal wildlife trade were exposed in a World Animal Protection report Animals and birds at Belen are most commonly sold as wild meat, but also as luxury pets 'They should be able to do it free from the danger of the diseases that could be harbouring here from vendors selling wildlife products in unhygienic conditions. 'This wildlife trade activity is largely driven by local urban demand for luxury products, but vendors are also feeding the overseas demand of the exotic pet, luxury goods and traditional medicine trade. 'This shows why governments have a responsibility to step up and stop the cross-border global trafficking of wildlife.' He added: 'This market is taking a deadly gamble with the people's heath. Live animals cramped in dirty cages where their immune systems are compromised, and untreated animal carcasses, pose a serious health risk. Although the sale of wild animals at urban markets is illegal in Peru, illegal wildlife trade is still an ongoing issue Police in Peru have attempted to clamp down on the activity, but officials interviewed as part of the investigation said it was difficult because wildlife vendors are constantly moving without fixed stalls, and operate on an opportunistic basis The report comes after the United Nations advised countries to 'move to prevent future pandemics by banning markets that sell live and dead animals for human consumption' The United Nations Development Programme has been working with local authorities to improve the safety of the Belen market since 2015 The Belen market has only recently reopened as the area comes out of lockdown Gilbert Sape, from World Animal Protection, said: 'This shows why governments have a responsibility to step up and stop the cross-border global trafficking of wildlife' 'Markets like these acts as a petri dish for diseases to develop. We must remember the lessons of the past and how many zoonotic diseases originated from this type of wild animal exploitation. Covid-19 is an obvious and present example, which continues to destroy lives each day. 'The wild animals found here would have suffered heart-wrenching cruelty from being snatched from the wild, to their brutal slaughter or lifetime imprisonment in a cage. 'For these wild animals, there are certainly no happy endings and this all goes against a backdrop of many of their populations rapidly plummeting in the wild. We must act now to save these incredible animals that belong in the Amazon rainforest.' Although the sale of wild animals at urban markets is illegal in Peru, the trade is still an ongoing issue. The images and video captured at the market have helped to shine a light on the illegal trade The report reveals how various animals and birds are kept in terrible conditions at the market Some animals are slaughtered at the market, with meat put up for sale for people to buy As well as being sold for meat, animals are bought for spiritual, medicinal and decorative use World Animal Protection said the findings in its report show that more work is needed to address the risks that zoonotic diseases pose to human health Both the United Nations and World Health Organization have issued warnings about the illegal wildlife trade Police in the country have attempted to clamp down on the activity, but officials interviewed as part of the investigation said it was difficult because wildlife vendors are constantly moving without fixed stalls, and operate on an opportunistic basis. The report comes after the United Nations advised countries to 'move to prevent future pandemics by banning markets that sell live and dead animals for human consumption'. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been working with local authorities to improve the safety of the Belen market since 2015, and the market has only recently reopened as the area comes out of lockdown. World Animal Protection said the findings in its report show that more work is needed to address the risks that zoonotic diseases pose to human health, and so far, little progress has been made despite the pandemic and warnings from both the United Nations and World Health Organization. The Covid virus is thought to have originated in bats before being transferred to humans. However, there is no definitive piece of evidence to show conclusively how it started a global pandemic which has gripped the world for almost two years. The World Animal Protection report has been published here. Venus has long been thought of as a 'dead' planet, but new missions to Earth's 'evil twin' could soon reveal whether it is very much alive and still geologically active. Not only that, but one of the key questions scientists hope to answer is if Venus ever harboured oceans shortly after its birth 4.5 billion years ago. Earth has had oceans for nearly four billion years and Mars had lakes and rivers 3.5 3.8 billion years ago. But it is still a mystery as to whether water has ever condensed on the surface of Venus because the planet which is now completely dry has undergone global resurfacing events that obscure most of its history. According to new research, however, it appears unlikely which would also cast doubt on whether Earth's nearest neighbour could ever have hosted life. A team of astrophysicists led by the University of Geneva and the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, Switzerland created a climate model to replicate what conditions would have been like on a young Venus. It suggests that the temperature of Venus' atmosphere never decreased enough for water to condense and, subsequently, for rain to fall and oceans to form. Scroll down for video Venus, seen here in an image taken by NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft, was never covered in oceans because clouds created a greenhouse effect that prevented rain, a model suggests VENUS: THE BASICS Venus, the second planet from the sun, is a rocky world about the same size and mass as the Earth. However, its atmosphere is radically different to ours - being 96 per cent carbon dioxide and having a surface temperature of 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of on the Earth. The inhospitable planet is swaddled in clouds of sulphuric acid that make the surface impossible to glimpse. In the past, it has been suggested that Venus likely had oceans similar to Earth's - but these would have vaporised as it underwent a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface of Venus is a dry desertscape, which is periodically changed by volcanic activity. Facts and Figures Orbital period: 225 days Surface area: 460.2 million km Distance from Sun: 108.2 million km Length of day: 116d 18h 0m Radius: 6,051.8 km Mass: 4.867 10^24 kg (0.815 M) Advertisement 'We simulated the climate of the Earth and Venus at the very beginning of their evolution, more than four billion years ago, when the surface of the planets was still molten,' said Martin Turbet, who was one of the researchers working on the model. 'The associated high temperatures meant that any water would have been present in the form of steam, as in a gigantic pressure cooker.' To form oceans, the researchers said, the temperature of the atmosphere would have had to decrease enough for water to condense and fall as rain over a period of several thousand years, as happened on Earth. But their model showed that temperatures never got low enough for this to happen, and the water instead remained as gas in the atmosphere. The astrophysicists said that although the Sun at that time was 30 per cent fainter than it is now, this would not have been sufficient to reduce Venus' temperature to a point where oceans could form. Such a fall in temperature would only have been possible if the surface of Venus had been shielded from solar radiation by clouds, but the model suggests the clouds formed on the night side of the planet, where they couldn't mask the sun. Instead, these clouds helped to maintain high temperatures by causing a greenhouse effect that trapped heat in the planet's dense atmosphere, the researchers said. 'Thanks to our simulations, we were able to show that the climatic conditions did not allow water vapour to condense in the atmosphere of Venus,' said Turbet. This means that the temperatures never got low enough for the water in its atmosphere to form raindrops that could fall on its surface. Instead, water remained as a gas in the atmosphere and oceans never formed. 'One of the main reasons for this is the clouds that form preferentially on the night side of the planet. These clouds cause a very powerful greenhouse effect that prevented Venus from cooling as quickly as previously thought.' If the authors are correct, Venus has always been a hellhole. However, data collected by future space missions to the planet should make it possible to test these results. In June, NASA announced that it was sending two new spacecraft to Venus in order to examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features. Image of Venus showing its acidic clouds, taken by the ultraviolet imager of the Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki on November 27, 2018 NEW MISSIONS TO VENUS NASA and the European Space Agency recently announced three missions to Venus in the coming years. NASA announced its two new $500 million missions at the start of June, which will launch in the next 10 years to understand how Venus 'became an inferno-like world'. Just over a week later, ESA said it will send a probe, known as EnVision, to study 'Earth's evil twin', targeting a launch in the early 2030s. Advertisement The missions, which have each been awarded $500m (352m) in funding, are due to launch between 2028 and 2030, almost 40 years after the last US probe the Magellan orbiter visited the planet in 1990. Just over a week after the NASA announcement, the European Space Agency said it would send a probe, known as EnVision, to study Venus, targeting a launch in the early 2030s. Not only did the University of Geneva modelling look at the birth of Venus, it also simulated the early Earth, throwing up surprising results in the process. If Earth had been just a little closer to the Sun, or if our young star had shone just a little brighter about 92 per cent of its luminosity today then things would look very different now. Our planet's steam atmosphere would never have condensed and Earth would instead have become similar to Venus, meaning we would not be around to tell the story. Fortunately, however, the relatively weak solar radiation allowed Earth to cool down enough to condense the water that forms our oceans. Emeline Bolmont, of PlanetS and a co-author of the study, said 'this is a complete reversal in the way we look at what has long been called the "Faint Young Sun paradox".' Citing the argument that if the Sun's radiation was much weaker than today, it would have turned the Earth into a ball of ice hostile to life, she added: 'It has always been considered as a major obstacle to the appearance of life on Earth! 'But it turns out that for the young, very hot Earth, this weak Sun may have in fact been an unhoped-for opportunity.' The study has been published in the journal Nature. Advertisement Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is sending several pieces of Star Trek artwork and 'home-made toys', that he created when he was nine, into space with actor William Shatner on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket. Bezos took to Instagram to announce the paper toys would be going up on the next rocket launch, adding he 'made these tricorders and communicator to play Star Trek with my friends.' His mother, Jacklyn Bezos, saved them for 48 years and dug them out a week before the launch, prompting Bezos to ask Shatner to take them with him into space, adding 'please don't judge me for the artwork. Thank you, Bill!'. Shatner, 90, shot to fame when he played the role of Captain James T Kirk in the original Star Trek series created by Gene Rodenberry, where they used tricorders for scanning alien worlds, and flip-phone like communicators. He will become the oldest person to ever go into space, and will be joined on his mission by paying passengers Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries and Blue Origin vice-president, Audrey Powers. Originally set to depart yesterday, but delayed due to windy weather, the blast off from Launch Site One in Texas is now scheduled for 3pm BST (10am ET) today. The NS18 rocket will be moved to the launch pad 7.5 hours before lift-off, will take on propellant fuel three hours before and its crew 35 minutes prior to ignition. Its trajectory will take it more than 62 miles above the Earth in three minutes passing the 'Karman line' that is the edge of space where the crew will experience three minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth. The rocket booster segment will separate from the crew capsule two minutes and 45 seconds into the flight, to touch down on a pad around two miles from the launch site some seven minutes after launch. Following the sub-orbital flight, the capsule will parachute to a landing in the Texas desert, some 1012 minutes after they first blasted off. Alongside Mr Bezos' childhood art, Mr Shatner will also carry a postcard to inspire 'the next generation'. Scroll down for videos William Shatner will boldly go into space today on Blue Origin 's New Shepard rocket taking with him artwork that Jeff Bezos made when he was nine to 'play Star Trek'. Pictured: Mr Bezos' art with a hand-hand 'tricorder' device (top and bottom) and a communicator (middle) His mother, Jacklyn Bezos (pictured right), saved the home-made toys for 48 years and dug them out a week before the launch, prompting Bezos (left) to ask Shatner to take them with him into space, adding 'please don't judge me for the artwork. Thank you, Bill!' The paper creations replicated the classic tricorder (left) and communicator (right) used by Shatner and others in the original Star Trek series Jeff Bezos was creating his own, home-made version of the Tricorder and communicator toys, such as the one held here by an action figure wearing Original Series uniforms Alongside Mr Bezos' childhood art, Mr Shatner will also carry a postcard (pictured) to inspire 'the next generation' as he blasts up to 62 miles (100 kilometres) above the Earth's surface The mission will take will take William Shatner (2nd from right), Chris Boshuizen (right), Glen de Vries (left) and Audrey Powers (2nd from left) 62 miles above Earth's surface The New Shephard will travel beyond the 100km (62 mile) Karman line, defined internationally as the 'edge of space', where the crew will experience weightless for a few minutes before parachuting in the capsule back to the Texas desert 'I'm going to see the vastness of space and the extraordinary miracle of our Earth and how fragile it is compared to the forces at work in the universe,' Mr Shatner told NBC's ' Today ' program. Pictured: William Shatner as Captain Kirk in 'Star Trek'. Leonard Nimoy's Mr Spock can be seen holding a communicator, like the one replicated in paper by a young Jeff Bezos that Mr Shatner will be taking into space with him today MEET THE CREW William Shatner The 90-year-old Canadian actor shot to fame in the 1960s when he took on the role of James T Kirk in Star Trek the original series. He will become the oldest person ever to travel to space when he launches. Chris Boshuizen Boshuizen is the co-founder of Planet Labs and partner at venture capital firm DCVC, and is a paying passenger. He has a net worth of $30 million, and was Space Mission Architect at NASA's Ames Research Center until 2012. Glen de Vries de Vries, who co-founded Medidata Solutions in 1999, said the spot on the New Shepard is a 'dream come true.' 'This is how innovation happens,' he said in an interview ahead of launch. Audrey Powers Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, she spent years watching missions soar into space. She joined Blue Origin in 2013 and oversees New Shepard flight operations, vehicle maintenance, and launch, landing and ground support infrastructure. Advertisement Earlier this week, lead flight director, Nick Patrick, said that the crew completed their first day of training on Sunday. They also spent yesterday doing launch training. 'The training itself was designed to do three things for our astronauts,' Patrick said during a video interview. 'The first thing is it's designed to train them on the safety systems that we have onboard the crew capsule and the expected responses from the crew if we were to have an emergency.' The second is to prepare the crew for the unexpected aspects of spaceflight such as strange noises, bumps and accelerations, Patrick explained. The third part of training teaches the crew how to behave in zero-gravity inside the cabin without colliding with their flight mates, he continued. 'I am very confident that we will learn tomorrow that this training has gone well for these four astronauts and we will be ready to launch them,' said Patrick. The four individuals are scheduled to pile inside a truck to the launch tower 45 minutes before lift-off. The crew will then climb the tower, ring a bell that hangs at one end of the crossing and strap into the fully autonomous 60-foot-tall New Shepard rocket. The will blast off from a base in the west Texas town of Van Horn on a journey to the edge of space. 'I'm going to see the vastness of space and the extraordinary miracle of our Earth and how fragile it is compared to the forces at work in the universe,' Mr Shatner told NBC's 'Today' program. 'I'm thrilled and anxious and a little nervous and a little frightened about this whole new adventure.' Shatner shot to fame when he took on the role of James T Kirk in the original Star Trek series in 1966. This was four years after Alan Shephard - who the rocket he'll travel in is named after - became the first American in space, and three years before Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon. 'I plan to be looking out the window with my nose pressed against the window. The only thing I don't want to see is a little gremlin looking back at me,' Shatner said referring to his role on Twilight Zone's 'Nightmare at 20,000 feet.' Along for the ride is Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, who spent years watching missions soar into space, longing to go up herself. 'It was a very generous offer for me to represent all of my colleagues at Blue that have been working on this program for a very long time,' Powers said in an interview with Good Morning America on Monday. 'They offered me the opportunity to represent all of those great people and sit in the seat. I could not be more overwhelmed by the opportunity.' Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket is a go for launch Wednesday, following a one day delay due to windy weather The NS-18 rocket is scheduled to rollout two and half hours before liftoff, followed by propellant load three hours before and then the astronauts will head inside the capsule 35 minutes prior to take off HOW JEFF BEZOS IS SPENDING BILLIONS OF HIS OWN MONEY TO BUILD BLUE ORIGIN AND WIN THE BILLIONAIRE SPACE RACE Amazon founder and outgoing CEO Jeff Bezos entered the space sector in 2000, two years before SpaceX was formed by Elon Musk. Based in Kent, Washington, it originally focused on sub-orbital spaceflight services, building cheaper, more reliable and reusable launch vehicles. They are gradually moving from suborbital to orbital flight in an incremental way and will launch humans to space on July 20. Bezos will be on that first crewed flight along with his brother Mark, the winner of the auction, and three members of Blue Origin staff. The firm currently has two launch vehicles, the suborbital New Shepherd, named for the first American in space, Alan Shepherd, and New Glenn, named for John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. Bezos has announced they are also working on New Armstrong, after the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, although no details have been revealed. Advertisement She joined Blue Origin in 2013 and oversees New Shepard flight operations, vehicle maintenance, and launch, landing and ground support infrastructure. The other two passengers are 'paying customers,' and while the actual cost of their tickets hasn't been revealed, it is thought to be at least $200,000 (147,000). The paying passengers are Boshuizen, co-founder of Planet Labs and partner at venture capital firm DCVC and de Vries, co-founder of Medidata. Boshuizen, who has an estimated net worth approaching $30 million, was also the Space Mission Architect at NASA's Ames Research Center between 2008 and 2012. During this time he invented the Phonesat, which is a satellite built from a smartphone. 'I've worked in space industry my entire life and I am excited the door is finally opening,' Boshuizen said during the interview with GMA. 'I think we will look back at this day 50 years from now and go this was the year the human race started going to space.' de Vries said the spot on the New Shepard is a 'dream come true.' 'This is how innovation happens,' he told Holmes. 'I lived in it healthcare and life sciences when you think about an industry being created and the opportunity for us to fuel that industry, as Chris was saying this is the beginning of a new time for space. 'We are on the beginning of a curve that is just going to blast off.' The mission follows Blue Origin's first crewed flight on July 20, which saw the firm's founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen and test pilot, Wally Funk, head into space. At the time, Funk was the oldest person to ever fly to space at 82 years old, but when Shatner goes up, he will beat that by eight years. The crew completed their first day of training Sunday, were off yesterday due to the slip in the original schedule and spent Tuesday completing launch training Pictured is William Shatner entering the capsule during training Blue Origin's New Shepard is made up of a rocket and nose cone with room for up to six passengers to travel up to 65 miles above the Earth WHAT IS THE BLUE ORIGIN ASTRONAUT EXPERIENCE? The four 'astronauts' will pile inside a truck to the launch tower 45 minutes before lift-off. The crew will then climb the tower, ring a bell that hangs at one end of the crossing and strap into the fully autonomous 60-foot-tall New Shepard rocket. They will blast off from a base in the west Texas town of Van Horn on a journey to the edge of space. The new Shepard will fire its engines and lift for a few minutes, with the capsule separating from the rocket, sending the crew into a weightless freefall. The rocket will return to the ground, landing on the launchpad in Van Horne to be used again. After three minutes of weightlessness, the crew capsule will gradually return to Earth, slowed down by parachutes and landing on cushioned air bags. Under Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) guidelines, they won't technically be astronauts, but the word isn't protected, so can call themselves Blue Origin astronauts, or tourist astronauts. Advertisement At 18 years old, Daemen became the youngest person, first teenager, and first person born in the 21st century to travel to space. Oliver's father, Joes Daemen, who founded private equity firm Somerset Capital Partners, bought the seat aboard the flight for over $20 million at auction. The New Shephard will travel beyond the 100km (62 mile) Karman line, defined internationally as the 'edge of space'. Once there, the crew will remain weightless for a few minutes before parachuting in the capsule back to the Texas desert. It is a reusable rocket, with the main engine returning to land at Launch Site One after getting the capsule to space. The launch represents another crucial test of Blue Origin as it competes against billionaire-backed rivals Elon Musk's SpaceX and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to attract those willing to pay large amounts of money to experience spaceflight. Branson beat Bezos to space by just 10 days, as he and an entourage soared 53 miles above Earth's surface in July, however Bezos climbed two miles higher when he took to the skies. Although Musk has yet to take the journey himself, his firm recently sent four civilians into orbit last moth for a three-day trip around Earth. Musk has, however, purchased a seat on Branson's space tourism rocket but has yet to reveal when he will take the epic journey. Blue Origin may be on top of the world this week, but the company was recently dragged through the mud by more than two dozen employees. They accused Bezos of creating a 'toxic' work environment where the company sacrificed safety to work at 'breakneck speed' in order to win the space race. In an essay published last month, Alexandra Abrams, the former head of Blue Origin Employee Communications, along with 20 employees said the priority was to 'make progress for Jeff' as he competed with Elon Musk and Richard Branson. Here is Chris Boshuizen and William Shatner training inside the Blue Origin capsule The New Shepard rocket is scheduled to rollout seven and half hours before lift-off, followed by propellant load three hours before and then the astronauts will load inside the capsule just 35 mins prior to take off Originally set to depart yesterday, but delayed due to windy weather, the blast off from Launch Site One in Texas (as shown above) is now scheduled for 3pm BST (10am ET) today Along for the ride is Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, who has spent years watching missions soar into space and now has the opportunity to take the journey herself According to GMA, there are only two paying customers on this journey: Chris Boshuizen (left) co-founder of Planet Labs and partner at venture capital firm DCVC and Glen de Vries (right), co-founder of Medidata They claimed the most common question was: 'When will Elon or Branson fly?' and safety concerns were ignored as they would have 'slowed progress'. More accusations surfaced Monday from a 2019 memo written by a mid-level employee, The Washington Post reported. 'Our current culture is toxic to our success and many can see it spreading throughout the company.' The problems at the spaceflight company were 'systemic,' according to the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post and verified by two former employees familiar with the matter, and 'the loss of trust in Blue's leadership is common.' Advertisement A mysterious 40ft-long shipwreck found on a Latvian beach dates back 200 years and could be the remains of a lost Royal Navy warship, according to experts. Locals in Latvia discovered the exposed beams of the wreck on Daugavgriva beach, which is only a few miles away from the capital city, Riga. However, the true scale of the discovery remained hidden until excavators arrived, when a section of wreckage was revealed measuring 39 feet long and 13 feet wide. While the ship's origins are yet to be discerned, there's evidence that its hull was once plated with copper a technology first pioneered by the Royal Navy. The age of the ship is also unknown, but it is made from oak, a popular shipbuilding material in Britain until he mid-1800s, leading Latvian heritage chiefs to suggest it could be between 150 and 200 years old. A mysterious 40ft-long shipwreck found on a Latvian beach dates back 200 years and could be the remains of a lost Royal Navy warship, according to experts To uncover the remarkable remains of the mystery oak and copper ship, excavators had to remove a massive 36ft by 13ft blanket of sand However, the true scale of the discovery remained hidden until excavators arrived, when a section of wreckage was revealed measuring 39 feet long and 13 feet wide WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MYSTERY SHIP? Very little is known about the origins of the ship found in Latvia. The timbers are made of oak, which was a popular shipbuilding material in the British-isles until the mid-1800s. It also had copper nails, used to secure copper plates on the underwater section to protect the timbers. This was also a common practice in the British ship-building industry, particularly for warships and long-distance merchant vessels. The timbers they found were 40ft long, but they can't say how long the boat itself was, or what type of vessel. With the available evidence, the team suspect it dates back between 150-200 years and was likely a Royal Navy Warship on patrol in the Baltics. Advertisement A spokesperson for Latvia's National Cultural Heritage Board said thousands of small copper nails remain on the outside of the timbers. This indicates that the ship was clad with copper plates, suggesting it was either a warship or a long-distance merchant ship that went on very long voyages. 'It has likely sailed not only through the Baltic and North Seas, but also on further voyages to the tropics,' the spokesperson elaborated. 'Copper plating of underwater parts of ships was started by the British in the late 18th century, so this wreck probably dates back to the 19th century.' In a statement, one of the excavators part of a team from the Freeport of Riga said that they had expected to find only a 'small wooden ship fragment'. 'But the further we dug,' they added, 'the clearer it became the find is significantly bigger than any of us could have predicted.' Oak was a common material used in British shipbuilding at the time, and a study by Western Oregon University in 2012, found that by the late eighteenth century, the Royal Navy demanded 50,000 loads of oak per year. This was a significant proportion of the total 218,000 loads used throughout the UK each year, with more than 1,000 'long, straight masts' imported from the Baltic, as domestic timber wasn't tall or straight enough for the job. At the same time, a single ship-of-the-line required the wood from roughly 4,000 mature oaks for construction. Locals in Latvia discovered the exposed beams of the wreck on Daugavgriva beach, which is only a few miles away from the capital city, Riga To uncover the remarkable remains of the mystery oak and copper ship, excavators had to remove a massive 36ft by 13ft blanket of sand. 'We realized that that wasn't everything either more probably sleeps under the sand, maybe even a whole ship,' the excavator said. The copper plates, which protected against shipworms and the corrosive effect of salt water, have long since been removed, but images of the remains show its wooden beams are 'remarkably well preserved'. A spokesperson for Latvia's National Cultural Heritage Board said thousands of small copper nails remain on the outside of the timbers This indicates that the ship was clad with copper plates, suggesting it was either a warship or a long-distance merchant ship that went on very long voyages In order to ensure the continued preservation of the wreck, it has now been reburied, pending a decision on its future. Archaeologist Janis Meinerts explained: 'Finding such a large fragment of shipwreck on the coast is a rare event and preserving it for future generations and exhibiting it is a difficult task. The worst thing would be to do it recklessly.' In the meantime, the wreck has been designated a newly-discovered cultural monument, which enables further research into its origins to be undertaken. It will also soon be explored with ground-penetrating radar, revealing its true scale. Microsoft has revealed that it thwarted one of the biggest cyberattacks in its history last month. The technology giant said it was able to fight off a massive Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) hack involving 70,000 computers, most of which were spread across Asia. The attack targeted one of its customers in Europe, via the firm's Azure cloud computing service, and was 140 per cent higher than the highest attack bandwidth volume Microsoft recorded in 2020. DDoS attacks work by flooding a victim's system with 'internet traffic' in an attempt to overload it and force it offline. They're usually carried out through a network of machines that have been compromised using malware or malicious software to control them remotely. Microsoft has revealed it thwarted one of the biggest cyberattacks in its history last month WHAT IS A DDOS ATTACK? DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. These attacks attempt to crash a website or online service by bombarding them with a torrent of superfluous requests at exactly the same time. The surge of simple requests overload the servers, causing them to become overwhelmed and shut down. In order to leverage the number of requests necessary to crash a popular website or online service, hackers will often resort to botnets networks of computers brought under their control with malware. Malware is distributed by tricking users into inadvertently downloading software, typically by tricking users into following a link in an email or agreeing to download a corrupted file. Advertisement Microsoft said this latest attack choked its system with 2.4 terabytes of data every second (Tbps) which is significantly bigger than the 1Tbps attack in late summer last year. It lasted for more than 10 minutes, with short-lived bursts of traffic that peaked at 2.4Tbps, 0.55Tbps, and finally 1.7Tbps. To put the figures into context, a single terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes, which amounts to the equivalent of hundreds of 4K films. It is very hard to flood a system with that amount of data every second, but Azure was able to stay online throughout because of its ability to absorb tens of terabits of DDoS attacks. 'Attacks of this size demonstrate the ability of bad actors to wreak havoc by flooding targets with gigantic traffic volumes trying to choke network capacity,' said Microsoft's Amir Dahan, a senior program manager for Azure Networking. 'The attack traffic originated from approximately 70,000 sources and from multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and China, as well as from the United States.' Microsoft did not name the Azure customer that was targeted, but said it was able to block the attack on them. Such hacks can also be used as cover for secondary attacks that attempt to spread malware and infiltrate company systems. 'Because of Azure's global absorption scale and advanced mitigation logic, the customer did not suffer any impact or downtime,' Dahan added. 'If the customer had been running in their own datacenter, they would most probably have incurred extensive financial damage, alongside any intangible costs.' The attack targeted one of Microsoft's customers in Europe, via its Azure cloud service, and was 140 per cent higher than the highest attack bandwidth volume the firm recorded in 2020 The technology giant said it was able to fight off a massive Distributed Denial-of-Service attack involving 70,000 computers, most of which were spread across Asia (stock image) Microsoft said it had also detected a 25 per cent increase in the number of DDoS attacks since the last quarter of 2020. Despite being one of the largest ever attacks on Microsoft, this was not the biggest DDoS attack of all time. In 2017, Google was able to block a huge 2.54Tbps that was part of a 'six-month campaign' utilising 'multiple methods of attack'. Microsoft also fell victim to the massive ransomware virus attack which spread to the computer systems of hundreds of private companies and public organisations across the globe in May 2017. Hospitals and doctors' surgeries in England were forced to turn away patients and cancel appointments after the attack crippled the NHS. The WannaCry virus targeted Microsoft's widely used Windows operating system. Some ancient meteorites, dating back billions of years, have grains of stardust that are actually older than the solar system itself, according to a new study. Researchers at Washington University in St Louis have found that these grains, which are from dying carbon stars, are minuscule, at just a few thousandths of a millimeter in diameter, but they date back more than 4.6 billion years. Using a plasma ion source, they found some evidence of carbon, nitrogen and magnesium-aluminum isotopes in the 'micron-sized presolar silicon carbide grains' from the CM2 Murchison meteorite, which fell to Australia in 1969. Some of them have even been coated with solar material on the surface, the study's lead author, Nan Liu, said. Some ancient meteorites have stardust grains that are more than 4.6 billion years old, older than the solar system itself Experts found evidence of carbon, nitrogen and magnesium-aluminum isotopes Carbon stars, which are bright red giants, have atmospheres that are made up of a higher percentage of carbon than oxygen. 'Presolar grains have been embedded in meteorites for 4.6 billion years and are sometimes coated with solar materials on the surface,' Liu said. 'Thanks to the improved spatial resolution, our team was able to see Al contamination attached on the surface of a grain and to obtain true stellar signatures by including signals only from the core of the grain during the data reduction.' Given the tiny size of the grains, the researchers (lead author Nan Liu, pictured) used a mass spectrometer to study them, giving them unprecedented resolution Given the tiny size of the grains, the researchers used a mass spectrometer to study them, giving them unprecedented resolution. In 2020, a separate group of researchers found that some of the grains in the CM2 Murchison meteorite were as old as 5.5 billion years. These 'presolar' grains came from the CM2 Murchison meteorite, which fell to Australia in 1969 The largest fragment of this meteorite, which fell on Victoria, Australia, is contained in the collections of Chicago's Field Museum. Researchers studied presolar grains from the Murchison meteorite that fell on Victoria, Australia, back in 1969 the largest fragment of which is held by the Field Museum in Chicago For context, the Earth is around 4.5 billion years old and the sun is approximately 4.6 billion years old. Of note are the carbon and nitrogen isotopes, because they are a direct link to different types of carbon stars, given their isotopic ratios. 'The new isotopic data obtained in this study are exciting for stellar physicists and nuclear astrophysicists like me,' study co-author Maurizio Busso, from the University of Perugia, added. 'Indeed, the 'strange' N isotopic ratios of presolar [silicon carbide] grains have been in the last two decades a remarkable source of concern. 'The new data explain the difference between what was originally present in the presolar stardust grains and what was attached later, thus solving a long-standing puzzle in the community.' One surprising discovery is that these carbon stars likely produce aluminum (and a surprising amount) in their cores, according to the model. 'As we learn more about the sources for dust, we can gain additional knowledge about the history of the universe and how various stellar objects within it evolve,' Liu said. The study was published in the scientific journal Astrophysical Journal Letters. Leprosy has been found in groups of wild chimpanzees for the first time. Researchers have shared shocking images of apes with the tell-tale lumps on their faces. Cases have been confirmed among two unconnected West African populations of chimpanzees, in Guinea-Bissau and the Ivory Coast. The leprosy strains are different and uncommon in humans, according to scientists from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter. While the origins of the infections are unclear, scientists say the disease is probably circulating in more wild animals than was previously suspected. This could either be as a result of exposure to humans or other unknown environmental sources, they added. Woodstock, a male chimpanzee at Tai National Park in Ivory Coast, has leprosy. The bacterial disease, an ancient scourge of humans, causes skin lesions Researchers have confirmed the presence of the disease in chimps in Guinea-Bissau's Cantanhez National Park and in Tai National Park in Ivory Coast, more than 600 miles (1000km) away WHAT IS LEPROSY? Humans are considered the main host for Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, which cause leprosy, but 'spill-over' to other mammals is occurring. It has been controlled in humans with antibiotics since the 1980s, and researchers once thought it had been wiped out in the animal kingdom. But in the last two decades scientists have found it spreading in red squirrels in the UK and armadillos in the Americas, and now, wild chimps. Leprosy is a long-term infectious disease which can result in the inflammation of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. If left untreated, it can lead to deformities and blindness The disease is initially symptom-less and can remain undetected for five to 20 years. Typically found among those living in poverty, leprosy was common during the Middle Ages and then again in nineteenth century but it can still be found in developed and developing countries today. Around 200,000 cases of leprosy are still diagnosed every year with half of them spotted in India, according to the World Health Organization. This is a fraction of the scale seen in the 1980s. Advertisement Humans are considered the main host for Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, which cause leprosy, but 'spill-over' to other mammals is occurring. It has been controlled in humans with antibiotics since the 1980s, and researchers once thought it had been wiped out in the animal kingdom. But in the last two decades scientists have found it spreading in red squirrels in the UK and armadillos in the Americas, and now, wild chimps. Leprosy is an infectious disease of the skin and nerves which, if left untreated, can lead to deformities and blindness. Lead author Dr Kimberley Hockings, said: 'This is the first confirmation of leprosy in non-human animals in Africa. 'It's amazing that it also happens to be in our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, especially considering how well studied chimpanzees are in the wild. 'We first noticed possible symptoms of leprosy in a population of chimpanzees in Guinea-Bissau. 'The symptoms appeared to be strikingly similar to those suffered by humans with advanced leprosy, including lesions and "claw" hand. 'We contacted Professor Fabian Leendertz from the Robert Koch Institute to confirm these cases genetically.' She said there are at least four chimpanzees in three different communities in the studied areas with severe leprosy. In humans, prevalence of leprosy depends on access to treatment, but no chimpanzees in the wild have ever received treatment for leprosy. 'Leprosy is very easy to treat in humans, but administering antibiotics to wild unhabituated chimpanzees would be a real challenge,' Hockings told MailOnline. Professor Leendertz and Dr Roman Wittig from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology identified further cases of leprosy at their study site, Tai National Park, Ivory Coast. Leprosy was also confirmed through a post-mortem examination of an older female, as well as faecal samples of an adult male which started showing symptoms. Although the study is the first to report the disease in wild chimpanzees, there have been cases in captive chimps, researchers say. A a small number of chimps were suffering from lesions across their faces, hands, and feet, much like the symptoms of leprosy CHIMPANZEE (PAN TROGLODYTES) The chimpanzee, as known as chimps, are a great ape species native to the savannah of tropical Africa. There are four confirmed subspecies and a potential fifth subspecies awaiting confirmation. It is closely related to the bonobo and part of the genus Pan, a distant relative to humans. They are covered in coarse black hair with a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of hands, and soles of the feet. On average an adult male weighs 88154 lb, and an female 60110 lb. They reach between three ft 11 in and four ft 11 inches in height. Gestation period is eight months and mothers will wean the infant for up to three years, keeping a close relationship for years after weaning. Almost all chimpanzee populations have been recorded using tools, modifying sticks, rocks, grass and leaves for hunting and foraging. Advertisement Dr Charlotte Avanzi, from Colorado State University, said this was a step in understanding the disease. It can help reveal details of 'transmission in endemic countries'. She said more investigations will eventually shed light on the dynamic of transmission between human, animal and environmental sources. Dr Hockings added: 'In Guinea-Bissau it is possible that chimpanzees somehow acquired leprosy from humans in this shared landscape, although people do not kill or eat chimpanzees. 'It is clear that leprosy is now being transmitted between separate chimpanzee communities.' In the Ivory Coast, chimpanzees are more distant from human settlements and it seems more likely that the chimpanzees acquired the infection from another animal species, Professor Leendertz explained. This includes environmental sources such as ticks or bacteria living in water. While leprosy in humans is easily treated with medication, the impact on chimpanzees is hard to predict, the researchers suggest. For the moment, the infected chimpanzees seem to be coping with their illness, although one is losing weight. Unfortunately, treating them is not really an option, according to Professor Leendertz, as they're wild animals and unused to humans. 'Humans have to take antibiotics for months to treat leprosy. You just can't do that with these wild animals,' said Professor Leendertz. For now, the disease does not appear to put the groups as a whole at risk but it's another risk to chimps, which also face the threats of poaching, habitat loss, and other diseases. 'Western chimpanzees are critically endangered, so even the loss of a few individuals could be significant,' said Dr Hockings. Clinical manifestations of leprosy in three chimpanzees at Cantanhez National Park (CNP), Guinea-Bissau, and the Tai National Park (TNP), Cote d'Ivoire A chimpanzee named Woodstock with leprosy in Ivory Coast. For the moment, the infected chimpanzees seem to be coping with their illness, although one is losing weight A leprosy patient holds out his hand at the leprosy hospital in downtown Srinagar in India 'Long-term health monitoring and research is needed to establish the scale and possible effects of leprosy among wild western chimpanzees,' said Dr Wittig. Professor Anne Stone, an evolutionary geneticist at Arizona State University who was not involved in the study, says leprosy dates back millions of years and may have inflicted beings long before humans evolved. 'The data increasingly points to the possibility that something else than humans is actually the main host,' she said. The findings are published in the journal Nature. Advertisement An enormous 600-pound leatherback turtle has safely returned to the ocean in Provincetown, Massachusetts after volunteers helped free it from a mudflat it was stuck in. The turtle, which is estimated to be roughly 5 feet long, was freed by three groups of volunteers on Tuesday after it became stuck on Sunday, according to a tweet from the New England Aquarium. The turtle initially became stuck in the Herring River in Wellfleet, according to Bob Prescott, director emeritus of the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Scroll down for video A 600 pound leatherback turtle was safely returned to the ocean on Tuesday after volunteers helped free it from a river mudflat The 5-foot long turtle became stuck in the Herring River in Wellfleet, Massachusetts on Sunday. It was returned to the Atlantic Ocean in Provincetown 'We wanted to keep it off the oysters and keep it from stranding somewhere we couldn't rescue it,' Prescott said in a statement, according to the Boston Globe. 'If it got away, there was no telling where it would strand next.' The sanctuary also worked with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the aforementioned New England Aquarium to relocate the turtle. Three groups of volunteers were needed to help relocate the turtle, including checking its health, before releasing it into sea After it was brought to Herring Cove in Provincetown, it was examined by the aquarium's staff. The staff determined the turtle was healthy and subsequently released into the Atlantic to a slew of onlookers. The turtle was tagged with identification trackers to monitor its health for the next month and an acoustic tag to track its migration pattern for years The turtle was tagged with identification trackers that will let researchers track its health progress for the next month. A separate acoustic tag will let the experts track its migration pattern for years. Another leatherback turtle also became entangled on Cape Cod recently, the aquarium said on its Twitter account. On October 7, the aquarium responded to calls for help to relieve a 5-foot, roughly 500 pound female leatherback that was trapped. Researchers evaluated its health and eventually freed the trapped turtle. A number of other leatherback turtles have been trapped in recent memory, though not all have happy endings. In 2015, a leatherback washed on the shores of a South Carolina beach and had to be rescued after it swallowed a plastic bag, which turtles can mistake for jellyfish. In 2017, this species of turtle had to be lifted by a digger into a truck after it washed up dead on a Spanish beach. Last October, a male leatherback - believed to be between 30 and 50 years old - washed up dead on an Australia beach, as it may have been caught up shark nets prior to dying. A new study out of Columbia University determined that summer sea ice in 'the Last Ice Area' now covers half the space it did 40 years ago. The 1,200-mile region north of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic archipelago has historically been covered in ice year-round, but rising temperatures fueled by climate change are causing even this remote region to melt during the summer. Researchers say summer sea ice will be 'dramatically thin' by 2050, endangering the polar bears, walruses, seals, and other arctic creatures who make it their habitat. If carbon emissions continue at their current rate, they add, summer sea ice will disappear completely by 2100. ''If the year-round ice goes away, entire ice-dependent ecosystems will collapse, and something new will begin.',' Robert Newton, a research scientist at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory said in a statement. Scroll down for video The Last Ice Area, where sea ice traditionally remains frozen year round, has lost 40 percent of its area since the early 1980s The surface of the Arctic Ocean still continues to freeze in winter 'and probably will for the foreseeable future, even as the climate warms,' according to a release from Columbia University. The ice in the region can grow up more than three feet thick in a single winter up to 10 or 12 feet if it survives multiple summers. In summer, some melting in parts of the Arctic is normal it creates open-water channels that allow ice to travel great distances and be expelled in the Last Ice Area. Here, at the Arctic's far northernmost coasts, the gathering ice can create layers 30 feet high that might sit unmolested for a decade or more before breaking off. A map of the Arctic with the Last Ice Area indicated in red. The Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area, which covers the center third of the region, is shown in purple That allows for a 'rich marine ecosystem,' the authors say, including photosynthetic plankton, eaten by arctic fish; these fish become prey for seals, which are hunted by polar bears. The unforgiving landscape keeps humans at bay and has historically prevented exploitation of natural resources. However, the Arctic Ocean is now forming progressively thinner ice, according to the report, appearing in the journal Earth's Future. Come the summertime, it's melting faster in increasingly open waters sending less and less frozen masses to the Last Ice Area. In August 2020, satellite imagery showed a record low of just 50 percent sea-ice concentration in the Wandel Sea, a portion of the Last Ice Area that stretches from northeast of Greenland to Svalbard Artic polar bears (pictured) are being forced to migrate due to less sea ice in the Last Ice Area Even if industrialized nations curb carbon emissions, the researchers said, ice that has years to freeze will become a thing of the past by the middle of this century. Locally formed summer ice will continue, they add, but it will only be a few feet thick. By 2100, even that will be gone as will the Last Ice Area's rich marine ecosystem. 'This is not to say it will be a barren, lifeless environment,' Newton said. 'New things will emerge, but it may take some time for new creatures to invade.' A chart indicating summer sea ice could disappear completely from the Last Ice Area by 2100 Two years ago, the Canadian government designated a 123,600-square mile area spanning the central third of the Last Ice Area a protected area prohibiting mining, transport, and other development for at least five years. 'The rest of the region lies within Canada's mining-friendly Northwest Territories, which so far has resisted declaring protection, and off Greenland, which has so far been noncommittal,' according to the release. Even if industrialized nations curb carbon emissions, researchers say, ice that has years to freeze will become a thing of the past by the middle of this century. Pictured: The research vessel Polarstern drifting in Arctic sea ice Preserving the Last Ice Area will require the creation of other protected areas across the Arctic, the researcher said, especially as open-sea areas attract companies looking to drill for oil and minerals. The new report follows another study, published in July in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, that also underscored the threat the Last Ice Area was under due to climate change. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle looked at sea-ice levels last summer in the Wandel Sea. On August 14, 2020, satellite images showed a record low of just 50 percent sea-ice concentration in the sea, a portion of the Last Ice Area that stretches from northeast of Greenland to Svalbard. The researchers used satellite data and sea-ice models to determine what caused last summer's record low, finding about 80 percent was due to weather-related factors, like winds breaking up and moving the ice around. But one-fifth was from the longer-term thinning of sea ice due to global warming. The models they developed simulated the period from June 1 to August 16, 2020, and found unusual winds that moved sea ice out of the area, but the multiyear thinning trend also contributed as it allowed more sunlight to warm the ocean. Then, when winds picked up, this warm water was able to melt the nearby ice. Dolphins swimming off the coast of Wales which have been found to have their own 'Welsh accent' speak faster than those anywhere else in the world, new research suggests. The whistles of pods around Cardigan Bay have a unique regional signature and were found to be at a higher frequency than others across the globe. Experts on the BBC nature series Wonders of the Celtic Deep, which explores the west Wales coastline, made the discovery after a study of 240 bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins swimming off the coast of Wales which have been found to have their own 'Welsh accent' speak faster than those anywhere else in the world, research suggests (stock image) How do dolphins use 'signature whistles'? Signature whistles are sounds made by dolphins, used to identify different individuals. Dolphin calves will eventually make their own individual whistle, but in the first stages of life, they use their mother's. In a previous study, researchers observed a dolphin mother at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California, who gave birth to a dolphin baby called Mira in 2014. They recorded 80 hours of sounds from the mother, baby, and other dolphins in the enclosure, during the two months before birth, and two months after birth. The recordings showed that the mother dolphin began increasing her signature whistle two weeks before birth, and continued to do so for two weeks after birth, before tapering off. In contrast, the other dolphins in the enclosure did not produce their own signature whistle at very high rates during this time. Advertisement The show's narrator Dame Sian Phillips, said: 'Bottlenose dolphins are highly sociable, the group are in constant communication. 'Each dolphin has its own unique signature whistle and the Cardigan Bay dolphins may have their very own dialect. 'Their whistles are at a higher frequency than those recorded anywhere else in the world.' Researchers have previously discovered the Cardigan Bay dolphins have different sounding whistles to other pods found around the UK. A 2007 study was made by marine scientist Ronan Hickey, of the University of Wales in Bangor, and experts from the Shannon Dolphin Foundation in Ireland. They digitised and analysed 1,882 whistles from 120 Irish Sea dolphins to find the Welsh dolphins had their own accent. Speaking at the time, project leader Dr Simon Berrow said: 'We're trying to associate whistle types with different forms of behaviour like foraging, resting, socialising and communicating with their young. 'One was distinctive and exclusive to the dolphins of Cardigan Bay. 'We're really building up a dictionary of a whole range of sounds. There are whistles, clicks, barks, groans and a gunshot sound which they might use to stun their prey.' The discovery followed studies showing that cows moo in regional accents and bird calls vary across the country. In 2007, cheesemakers in the West Country said that their cows had a distinct local accent, a claim backed up by experts who said the 'dialectical variations' would be influenced by peer groups. The whistles of pods around Cardigan Bay have a unique regional signature and were found to be at a higher frequency than others across the globe (stock image) The Welsh dolphins are a major attraction for tourists on boat trips from New Quay and Aberaeron and from vantage points on the coastline. More than 25,000 holidaymakers take sightseeing tours on boats every year to watch their antics. At the time of the 'Welsh accent' discovery, Cardigan Marine Wildlife Centre manager Steve Hartley said: 'It makes sense that different groups of dolphins separated by large distances have different accents. 'It's nice to know they have their own Welsh accent. 'Dolphins are very important to our tourist industry and I'm sure the fact that they whistle in Welsh will be an added attraction. Comedian Nikki Osborne has voiced her support for Sam Frost after the Home and Away actress shared a worrying video explaining why she didn't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Osborne, 40, called out her fellow comedians for allegedly 'trolling' Sam over her video on Saturday, only to promote World Mental Health Day the following day. The TV presenter wrote on Instagram Stories on Sunday: 'A lot of comedians banging on about World Mental Health Day after aggressively and openly trolling Sam Frost last night.' Support: Comedian Nikki Osborne (left) has voiced her support for Sam Frost (right) after the Home and Away actress shared a worrying video explaining why she didn't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine 'Quit virtue signalling. Show some class,' she added. Osborne chose not to name any comedians in her post, so it's unclear who exactly she was referring to. In her widely criticised video, a tearful Frost claimed her mental health had suffered as a result of the 'segregation' between vaccinated and unvaccinated Australians. She also revealed she was unvaccinated and hinted it was for medical reasons - but didn't provide details, leading many to conclude she did not have a valid exemption. Frustrated: Osborne, 40, called out her fellow comedians for allegedly 'trolling' Sam over her video on Saturday, only to promote World Mental Health Day the following day Controversy: In her widely criticised video, a tearful Frost claimed her mental health had suffered as a result of the 'segregation' between vaccinated and unvaccinated Australians. She also revealed she was unvaccinated and hinted it was for medical reasons - but didn't provide details, leading many to conclude she did not have a valid exemption Among the many Australians who spoke out against Frost's video was comedian Em Rusciano, who tweeted: 'Watching Sam Frost tearfully speak about "segregation" because she chooses not to get vaccinated and being called "brave" by her followers is taking me to a level of "what the f**k" I didn't know was possible.' Fellow comedian Nazeem Hussain also tweeted: 'You know what "segregates us from each other"? Dying from Covid. 'Making yourself a victim for being unvaccinated and a reason the virus keeps killing us, is the new making yourself a victim for being called out for your racism. It's peak Australia.' Her lips are sealed: Osborne chose not to name any comedians in her post It's unclear whether Rusciano or Hussain made subsequent posts promoting World Health Day, however, as Instagram Stories uploaded on Sunday have since expired. Daily Mail Australia is also not suggesting Rusciano or Hussain trolled Frost. Their criticism of her was valid and measured. Frost deactivated her Instagram account on Saturday afternoon, shortly after revealing in an emotional video that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result of other people 'judging' her. The actress, 32, who has played nurse Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away since 2017, called for less judgement towards unvaccinated Australians. Critics: Among the many Australians who spoke out against Frost's video were comedians Em Rusciano (left) and Nazeem Hussain (right) 'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation,' she said. 'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason. 'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.' Confession: Frost deactivated her Instagram account on Saturday afternoon, after revealing in an emotional video that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result Frost then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision. However, it's understood she does not have a valid medical exemption. She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you. Medical advice: Frost (pictured with Ada Nicodemou) said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision. However, it's understood she does not have a valid medical exemption 'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, "Well, it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me."' She explained it was important for the unvaccinated to look after their mental health, especially as freedoms return for fully vaccinated Australians. 'I'm struggling a lot with my mental health and I like to think that I'm pretty on to it. I see a psychologist regularly. So I can't imagine what it's like for people who don't have a support network around them,' she said. Words: She admitted that she could 'get in trouble' for coming out publicly as unvaccinated, before urging people to treat each other with more kindness and compassion She also said she could 'get in trouble' for coming out publicly as unvaccinated, before urging people to treat each other with more kindness and compassion. Her video caused a great deal of controversy, mainly because of her use of the word 'segregation' when referring to the way society 'judges' unvaccinated people. 'Segregation' is usually used to describe societies that are divided due to race, religion or sexual orientation. Backlash: Her video caused a great deal of controversy, mainly because of her use of the word 'segregation' when referring to the way society 'judges' unvaccinated people 'Sam Frost, if you want fewer people to judge you and more people to empathise with you - maybe, just maybe don't use the word "segregation" 30 seconds into your video. This isn't 1950s Alabama. You ain't Rosa Parks,' tweeted journalist Antoinette Lattouf. 'It's not segregation so I would suggest you change your terminology because that is so disrespectful to people who have been segregated because their race, religion, sexual orientation,' wrote another person on Twitter. Vaccinations are vital to reducing the spread of preventable diseases, and any suggestion otherwise flies in the face of science and the advice of medical experts around the globe. The coronavirus vaccine is a safe and vital measure being taken to protect the community from the spread of the virus. Love Island Australia isn't exactly family-friendly TV. But that doesn't seem to bother footy WAG Rebecca Judd, who allowed her children to watch the raunchy Channel Nine dating show on Tuesday night. She shared a video to Instagram of her twin sons Tom and Darcy, five, and daughter Billie, seven, cheering in front of the television while watching the program. That's one way to keep the kids entertained! Rebecca Judd has revealed she lets her children watch raunchy dating show Love Island Australia 'Anyone else loving Taku? We are!' the mother of four, 38, captioned the post, referring to one of the contestants. In the video, her young sons could be seen screaming Taku's name. The third season of Love Island Australia premiered on Nine and 9Now on Monday, and airs weeknights from 8:45pm. Big fans: She shared a video to Instagram of her twin sons Tom and Darcy, five, and daughter Billie, seven, cheering in front of the television while watching the program Support: 'Anyone else loving Taku? We are!' the mother of four, 38, captioned the post, referring to one of the contestants. Taku is pictured here with co-star Rachael Based on the British format, the show follows a bunch of sexy singles as they 'couple up' in a luxury villa in the hope of winning a major cash prize. Love Island Australia is hosted by Sophie Monk. While the program includes sexual content, it is also known for its feel-good humour, social commentary and genuine love stories. Racy: Love Island Australia is hosted by Sophie Monk. While the program includes sexual content, it is also known for its feel-good humour, social commentary and genuine love stories It comes after Bec, the wife of retired Carlton great Chris Judd, spoke to Now to Love last month about how her family had been coping during the lockdown. She said homeschooling had been particularly tough, but she was able to switch off after a busy day of remote learning by mixing a margarita and putting on her favourite music. 'I'm currently homeschooling four kids so every day is a little bit crazy,' she said. She's got her hands full! It comes after Bec spoke to Now to Love last month about how her family had been coping during Melbourne's extended Covid lockdown Tough: Bec said homeschooling had been particularly tough, but she was able to switch off after a busy day of remote learning by mixing a margarita and putting on her favourite music Bec, who co-owns activewear label Jaggad, focuses on her day job in the evenings before dinner and after her kids go to sleep, leaving the days free for schooling. 'It's pretty hard to get any work done with four kids home schooling, and keeping on top of the house,' she said. But once she's done working, she unwinds with cocktails and music. 'I love putting on one of my playlists! I also burn my favourite candle and make a margarita,' she said. The socialite added that while her packed daily routine isn't 'ideal', she remains positive because she 'won't be working like this forever'. The Judds are parents to son Oscar, 10, daughter Billie, seven, and twin boys Darcy and Tom, five. Omarosa Manigault Newman has made bombshell claims about former president Bill Clinton in the latest trailer for Australian reality show Big Brother VIP. The former political aide and TV personality, who was ousted from Trump's White House in late 2017, was questioned by her fellow housemates about her time working for the Clinton administration early in her career. Omarosa, 47, asserted that Clinton, 75, had slept with multiple women during his two terms as President of the United States - not just intern Monica Lewinsky. 'It wasn't just Monica': Former political aide Omarosa Manigault Newman has made bombshell claims about ex-president Bill Clinton in the latest trailer for reality show Big Brother VIP 'It wasnt just Monica,' she said, adding: 'There was a whole line of women.' Omarosa was referring to Ms Lewinsky, who infamously had a sexual relationship with Clinton between 1995 and 1997. The scandal led to Clinton's impeachment by the House of Representatives the following year. Claims: Omarosa asserts Clinton (pictured in 1999) had 'a whole line of women' in the White House during his two terms as President of the United States - not just intern Monica Lewinsky He was charged with lying under oath and obstruction of justice for the Lewinsky scandal and a separate sexual harassment case. Clinton was eventually acquitted on both counts after both charges failed to receive the necessary two thirds majority vote needed for conviction and removal from office. A young Omarosa worked in the office of Clinton's Vice President at the time, Al Gore, as a 'scheduling correspondent'. Affair: Clinton infamously had a sexual relationship with Ms Lewinsky (left) between 1995 and 1997. The scandal led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives the following year She was soon moved to the White House personal office and then the Commerce Department after that, where she held two different positions. She was reportedly regarded as 'disruptive' and was at one point asked to leave 'as quickly as possible'. Omarosa became a reality TV personality after her first stint in the White House, appearing on shows like The Apprentice and The Ultimate Merger, then returned to politics in late 2016 when she joined Donald Trump's presidential transition team. White House aide: Omarosa began her political career in the Clinton administration. She is better known, however, for working for Donald Trump's administration in 2017 She became an assistant to Trump during his term in office and was also the director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison. Omarosa - once arguably Trump's most prominent African-American supporter - was unceremoniously fired in December 2017 after reportedly being caught abusing the White House car service. She has since publicly criticised the Trump administration numerous times. Forced out: Omarosa, once arguably Trump's (left) most prominent African-American supporter, was fired in December 2017 after being caught abusing the White House car service Omarosa is not the only controversial U.S. political figure set to appear on Big Brother VIP. Caitlin Jenner, who ran as a Republican candidate in the 2021 California recall election, will also make an appearance. In the same trailer, Omarosa states that Jenner will 'win points with Donald Trump' if she takes her out of the competition because Trump will be watching the show. Big Brother VIP is set to air on Seven and 7Plus in November Netflix's Squid Game has become the biggest launch in the streaming service's history, with 111 million fans watching the show since its debut on September 17. The South Korean hit series has become quite the pop culture phenomenon upon launch, easily surpassing the 82 million accounts that watched Bridgerton in that show's first 28 days. The show is currently the #1 show on Netflix's Top 10 lists in 94 countries around the globe, also becoming the first South Korean show to become the #1 show in the United States, according to CNN. Biggest: Netflix's Squid Game has become the biggest launch in the streaming service's history, with 111 million fans watching the show since its debut on September 17. Phenomenon: The South Korean hit series has become quite the pop culture phenomenon upon launch, easily surpassing the 82 million accounts that watched Bridgerton in that show's first 28 days While the viewership data is certainly impressive, it doesn't necessarily mean that 111 million Netflix accounts have watched the show from start to finish. Netflix's viewership metrics count a 'viewer' as one who has watched at least two minutes of the show, though that same metric has been applied to all of its other shows. Regardless, the 111 million viewers represents more than half of Netflix's global subscriber base of 209 million, which is even more impressive considering the show doesn't feature any major stars. Viewership: While the viewership data is certainly impressive, it doesn't necessarily mean that 111 million Netflix accounts have watched the show from start to finish Minyoung Kim, Netflix's vice president of content for Korea, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand said the show, 'has broken through beyond our wildest dreams.' 'When we first started investing in Korean series and films in 2015, we knew we wanted to make world-class stories for the core K-content fans across Asia and the world,' Kim said. 'Squid Game' gave [Netflix] more confidence that our global strategy is going towards the right direction,' Kim added. Right direction: 'Squid Game' gave [Netflix] more confidence that our global strategy is going towards the right direction,' Kim added Wildest dreams: Minyoung Kim, Netflix's vice president of content for Korea, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand said the show, 'has broken through beyond our wildest dreams' Squid Game was first announced at Netflix back in September 2019, when it was titled Round Six. The series, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk (The Fortress) who wrote and directed each of the nine episodes, centers on a contest where 456 people are brought together from different walks of life. The primary thing they have in common is they're all riddled with massive debt, and offered a chance to win billions by playing a series of children's games... though with deadly consequences. Games: The primary thing they have in common is they're all riddled with massive debt, and offered a chance to win billions by playing a series of children's games... though with deadly consequences The series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Hoyeon, Oh Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae and Lee Byung-hun. Despite the show's astronomical success, Netflix has yet to reveal whether or not Squid Game will be renewed for a second season yet. If Netflix does pick it up for a second season, it may very well be one of the streaming services' most anticipated shows to date. Cast: The series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Hoyeon, Oh Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae and Lee Byung-hun She was the host of Sunrise for seven years, but Samantha Armytage's former colleagues don't seem too excited about the news she is set to guest star on Farmer Wants a Wife. Producers of the breakfast show appeared to bury Sam's TV comeback during Edwina Bartholomew's 6am news bulletin on Wednesday. Edwina, 38, fleetingly mentioned Sam's return to TV screens at the very end of her segment and simply called it a 'great idea'. Snubbed! Sunrise buried Samantha Armytage's Farmer Wants a Wife TV comeback in Edwina Bartholomew's news bulletin on Wednesday 'The network will be the official broadcaster of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham, not to mention a historic Ashes series,' Edwina began, as she spoke about Seven's line up next year. 'Your favourite hit shows will be back including The Voice and all the judges, and SAS Australia, Dancing with the Stars, fantastic, and My Kitchen Rules,' she continued. 'And Samantha Armytage will return to TV as a special guest on Farmer Wants a Wife with Sam's Choice, which is a great idea.' Edwina, 38, fleetingly mentioned Sam's return to TV screens at the very end of her segment and simply called it a 'great idea' She then crossed back to host David 'Kochie' Koch, saying: 'Here's Kochie with finance.' Kochie made no comment about Sam at the start of his own report. It has previously been reported that Sam and new host Natalie Barr were embroiled in a feud for months, after Sam left the show. Sam, 44, criticised Natalie on Twitter in June for continuing to speak about her in the press, three months after taking over as anchor of Seven's breakfast show. She was responding to an interview Natalie had done with The Australian Women's Weekly in which she claimed the pair weren't friends outside the workplace. Feud: It has previously been reported that Sam and new host Natalie Barr were embroiled in a feud for months, after Sam left the show. Sam, 44, criticised Natalie on Twitter in June for continuing to speak about her in the press, three months after taking over as anchor of Seven's breakfast show After brushing off a question about their rivalry on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Sam tweeted: 'Look, I'm out. Nat's wanted the job forever... and she's finally got it. She just needs to get on and enjoy it - and forget about me (even though I'm unforgettable).' Sam's tweet contradicted Natalie's own account of her promotion to co-anchor, as she has always said she didn't aspire to be host and was surprised when Seven offered her the job. On Tuesday meanwhile, it was announced that Sam would be joining Seven's Farmer Wants a Wife as a guest star after leaving Sunrise in March. Sam, who married wealthy farmer Richard Lavender late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski. New gig: On Tuesday, it was announced that Sam would be joining Seven's Farmer Wants a Wife as a guest star, after she left Sunrise in March 'I'm thrilled to be joining Farmer Wants a Wife in 2022,' she said. 'I've always been a huge fan of the show and of country people, and I know first-hand that falling in love with a farmer is just about the most wonderful thing you can do.' Her guest role will involve hosting a segment called Sam's Choice, in which she introduces the farmers to a 'new lady based on her own expertise and experience'. Helping others find love: Sam, who married wealthy farmer Richard Lavender late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski Seven's Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said the network was 'thrilled to welcome Sam back to our screens'. 'Farmer Wants a Wife has been such a hit with audiences because of its heart and Natalie's earnest mission to help farmers find the love of their lives,' Mr Ross said. 'Given Sam's new life on the farm, she's in the perfect position to share a snapshot of what farm life could look like for the ladies.' Sam quit Sunrise in March and has now moved away from Sydney to live with Richard at his 40-hectare rural property. The new season of Farmer Wants a Wife premieres next year on Seven Advertisement The cast of HBO's hit drama Succession turned out in style for the glittering premiere of the show's third season in New York City on Tuesday evening. The actors reunited ahead of the hotly-anticipated new season, which will see the fallout after Logan's son Kendall, (Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong) explosively outed his father for the dirty dealings within his company Waystar RoyCo. The third season has already received early rave reviews from critics, and begins with Logan in a perilous position, scrambling to secure familial, political, and financial alliances, while tensions rise and the bitter corporate battle threatens to turn into a family civil war. Yet there were no signs of drama when the show's stars hit the red carpet alongside a slew of other celebrities to celebrate the upcoming season - which will air on October 17 in the States and the following morning in the UK. The Roy family reunite! The cast of HBO's hit drama Succession turned out for the glittering premiere of the show's third season in New York City on Tuesday (L-R) Sarah Snook, Arian Moayed, Brian Cox, Jesse Armstrong, Kieran Culkin, J. Smith-Cameron and Alan Ruck On screen hubby: Sarah Snook, who plays Siobhan Roy, was joined by her onscreen husband Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Tom Wambsgans, as they cosied up for snaps on the red carpet Back together: Jeremy Strong (left) who plays Kendall Roy and Brian Cox who plays Roy Logan reunited for the glittering season three premiere in New York Leading the red carpet arrivals at the American Museum of Natural History was 33-year-old actress Sarah Snook, who looked incredible as she modeled a strapless wiggle dress with a sweetheart neckline. Snook, who plays the role of Siobhan Roy in the hit HBO series, elevated her understated look with a flaming red lip and matching manicure. The Australian actress' strawberry blonde tresses were parted down the middle and styled straight, while she accessorized with a pair of drop earrings and matching diamond choker necklace. One to watch: Snook is seen as Shiv Roy alongside Matthew Macfadyen as Tom, Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy, Alan Ruck as Connor Roy and J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman (seen left to right) Stunning: Leading the red carpet arrivals at the American Museum of Natural History was 33-year-old actress Sarah, who looked incredible as she modeled a strapless wiggle dress with a sweetheart neckline Pop of color: Snook, who plays the role of Siobhan Roy in the hit HBO series, elevated her understated look with a flaming red lip and matching manicure Back-and-forth: The 46-year-old actor looked spiffy in a blue suit and matching dress shirt, while giggling with Sarah on the red carpet Three's company: The on-screen couple were later joined by Nicholas Braun, who plays Greg Hirsch - a relative of the Roy family that is introduced to the family in the first season Cosy: Sarah looked delighted as she posed for pictures with Frank Rice while Nick and Matthew shared a warm embrace After getting in her solo glamour shots, Sarah was later joined by her onscreen husband Matthew Macfadyen. The 46-year-old actor, who plays Tom Wambsgans, looked dapper in a blue suit and matching dress shirt, while giggling with Sarah on the red carpet. Brian Cox, who plays patriarch Logan Roy, attended the event on the arm of his wife Nicole, and looked suave in a paisley print velvet suit. The 75-year-old actor and his 52-year-old spouse threw support behind his Succession character by rocking face masks with '#Team Logan Roy' printed on them, as well as Roy's go-to phrase, 'f**k off'. Speaking on the red carpet he said of season three: 'It's almost continuous from where we left off in season two. That means that the potential is enormous, but also at the same time that the road is precise.' Patriarch: Brian Cox, who plays patriarch Logan Roy, looked handsome in a patterned velvet suit jacket and matching trousers, while arriving with his wife Nicole by his side Elegant: Nicole looked elegant in a flowy green dress, glittery silver heels, and a pair of diamond chandelier earrings Man with the plan: Cox is seen as Logan Roy, the patriarch of the Roy family Chic: Cox later posed for a snapshot beside costar Annabelle Dexter-Jones, who plays Naomi Pierce, and donned an oversized burgundy suit and a black silk halter top Chatting away: Brian enjoyed a chat with Fisher Stevens as they were snapped enjoying one another's company Terrific trio: The pair were then joined by Juliana Canfield who looked radiant in a black dress On-screen brothers Kieran Culkin and Alan Ruck looked delighted to be as they shared some laughs in front of the Succession backdrop. Culkin, who plays rebellious Roman Roy, donned a stylish black velvet suit and a crisp white dress shirt, while Ruck, who stars as disinterested heir Connor Roy, wore his salt and pepper hair in a neat coif and modeled a charcoal grey suit. When asked about the show's appeal, Ruck said: 'It's fun to watch billionaires self-destruct! They are sort of the authors of their own demise. So let them go, let them do it.' Jeremy Strong (Kendall Roy) also walked the carpet and told reporters he felt lucky 'to be part of something that is such a sort of cultural lightning rod and part of people's lives and at the center of the culture in a meaningful way.' Stylish: Jeremy Strong (left) who plays Kendall Roy looked great in a jumper and blazer, while Kieran Culkin, who plays Roman Roy, donned a stylish black velvet suit and a crisp white dress shirt Big storyline: Jeremy is set for an explosive season three storyline after his character Kendall explosively outed Roy Beaming: Series stars Kieran Culkin and Alan Ruck looked chummy as they shared some laughs in front of the Succession backdrop Iconic: Kieran is seen in his role as Roman Roy while Alan is seen in character as Connor Roy Contrast: Ruck, who plays Connor Roy, wore his salt and pepper hair in a neat coif and modeled a charcoal grey suit and a contrasting navy blue dress shirt Injecting some glamour to the red carpet was Justine Lupe, who stars as Willa Ferreyra, a former escort and the girlfriend of Connor Roy. Justine had all eyes on her as she arrived in a bright scarlet gown with a matching micro cardigan. The 32-year-old actress' blonde hair was styled into an effortless updo and she added height to her 5foot6inch frame in some black platform heels. Orange you glad to see me: Injecting some glamour to the red carpet was Justine Lupe, who stars as Willa Ferreyra, a former escort and the girlfriend of Connor Roy Unusual couple: Justine stars as Willa in the HBO series alongside on-screen boyfriend Alan Ruck All together now: Juliana Canfield, Justine, Sarah , Harriet Walter and Natalie Gold cosied up together for snaps Dazzling: J. Smith-Cameron, who plays Gerri Kellman, dazzled in a royal blue sequin dress with a plunging neckline and a pair of satin pumps in another shade of blue She's got the power: J. Smith-Cameron plays Gerri Kellman, one of the unsung heroes of the show Leggy: Natalie Gold and Dagmara Dominczyk, who play Rava Roy and Karolina Novotney respectively, put on leggy displays in their knee-length dresses of choice Keeping it in the family! Sarah, Arian, Brian, Jesse, Kieran , J. Smith and Alan looked in high spirits as they posed together J. Smith-Cameron, who plays Gerri Kellman, dazzled in a royal blue sequin dress with a plunging neckline and a pair of satin pumps in another shade of blue. Meanwhile, Natalie Gold and Dagmara Dominczyk, who play Rava Roy and Karolina Novotney respectively, put on leggy displays in their knee-length dresses of choice. Gold stunned in a strapless red number with a modest slit up one leg, while Dominczyk modeled a black crochet bodycon dress with long sleeves. It wasn't just the show's stars who attended the glittering event, as actress Mariska Hargitay was also in attendance and showed off her edgy side in a black motorcycle jacket layered over a blue slip dress. Edgy: Mariska Hargitay showed off her edgy side in a black motorcycle jacket layered over a blue slip dress and later looked delighted as she reunited with pal Aidan Quinn Sitting pretty: Aidan larked around posing for photographs with statues at the glittering event Bonding time: Aidan, 62, brought along his 32-year-old daughter Ava Eileen, who he shares with wife Elizabeth Bracco, 63 Modern muse: Zoe Winters, rocking a brunette micro-fringe and sleek strands, looked effortlessly cool in a strapless wide-legged jumpsuit and black mules Loved up: Oscar Issac, who has been busy promoting his film The Card Counter, looked handsome beside his screenwriter wife Elvira Lind The Law And Order: SVU star's brunette hair was softly curled and she strolled into the star-studded event in a pair of lace-up heeled boots. While at the premiere, Mariska reunited with pal Aidan Quinn, who mixed casual and classy by pairing blue jeans with a blazer. The 62-year-old actor brought along his 32-year-old daughter Ava Eileen, who he shares with wife Elizabeth Bracco, 63. Chic: Actress Jihae, who is set to guest star this season as Berry Schneider, looked ultra chic in head-to-toe Saint Laurent Velvet: Actresses Harriet Walter and Talia Balsam kept the velvet trend going in rivaling suit jackets with black lapels Metallic moment: Joanna Coles looked marvelous in a metallic gold jacket styled with some skintight jeans and a plain white tee Go-to: Cherry Jones donned her classic silhouette, consisting of a button-up top, black trousers, and a pair of leather boots Beauty: I Am Not Okay With This actress Sophia Lillis showcased her beautiful makeup-free face on the red carpet, while donning a sparkly blue dress Stunning: Dasha Nekrasova looked stunning in a black floor-length semi-sheer gown Matching: Ben Stiller and Anne Hathaway's husband Adam Schulman proved their preference for navy blue in near identical suit jackets Terrific trio: Ben, Oscar Iaasc and Jeremy looked in great spirits as they posed for snaps together Say cheese! Gayle King flashed a huge smile as she cut a stylish figure in white jumpsuit and a brown leather jacket Cozy: Ned Benson and his date for the night Michelle Ouelle struck a cozy pose on the carpet, similar to that of Andrew Ross and his wife Pilar Queen Actress Jihae, who is set to guest star this season as Berry Schneider, looked ultra chic in head-to-toe Saint Laurent. Succession has been widely lauded, its second season winning Golden Globes last year for best drama series and best actor in a drama series for Cox, as well as seven Emmys, including for Strong's lead acting performance. The drama is said to have been inspired by the Murdoch family, who are international media proprietors. Last week, HBO unveiled a new teaser for the third season of Succession. The clip focuses on Kendall Roy as he leaves the explosive press conference from season two's jaw-dropping finale. Fresh from betraying his father, ailing media mogul Logan Roy ( Cox), Kendall marches out to face the music amid a barrage of reporters. Providing some comic relief, Cousin Greg ( Braun) begins to shout 'no comment!' at the press gang, but he's quickly told to shush by Waystar Royco head of PR Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk). Date night: James Cromwell was also in attendance with his stunning wife Anna Stuart, with the 81-year-old actor donning a pinstripe suit Low-key looks: Fran Lebowitz sported her signature style, while Samantha Berry appealed to recent trends by rocking a lacy bustier top layered beneath a fitted black blazer Hot couple: Don Lemon and his handsome partner Tim Malone beamed for the cameras. The famed journalist looked casual cool with a black sports jacket and bright white sneakers The drama begins as Karolina briefs Kendall saying he has opened up the family business to lawsuits and investigations, and questions why they are using a company car to exit the press conference, given he no longer works there. Coming soon: The highly anticipated third season of HBO's Succession premieres Sunday, October 17 'Are you with me, yes or no?' he asks Karolina, saying he needs a 'clean jar' given his explosive statement. 'Why did you do it like that Ken?' she asks, before turning to Gregg to ask if he was in on it too. 'This is a fork in your life Karolina,' Kendall offers, adding: 'This is your righteous vehicle.' The previously shared teaser has already shown Logan placed in a perilous position after being ambushed by his rebellious son during the shock live news conference at the end of season two. In that clip, viewers saw Kendall giving himself a much-needed pep talk in the mirror while as hell broke loose around him, following his tactical move against his father. Logan then went into a fiery rage as the bitter corporate battle appears to be ready to rage on in season three. Succession is created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, Scott Ferguson, Jon Brown and Will Ferrell. Jesse Armstrong serves as showrunner. The highly anticipated third season of HBO's Succession premieres Sunday, October 17 in the States and will be will be released the morning after on NOW TV in the UK. 'Bigger, badder and bloodthirstier than ever': Succession's third season wins rave reviews after lengthy wait for The Roys' return... with critics promising the show 'leaps to its own high bar' Succession is finally set to return to screens, following a slew of pandemic-based delays - and according to early reviews, Season Three is well worth the wait. In the wake of press previews of the show, which is set for release on October 18, four and five star accolades confirm the battle of the Roys, which left us on a chilling cliffhanger helmed by Kendall, will be as explosive as ever. In the UK, The Times dished out five stars and insisted the comeback is 'thrilling' following last season's 'electrifying climax', while in the US, Rolling Stone gave four stars and stated the show is 'bigger, badder and bloodthirstier than ever'. Terror: Succession is finally set to return to screens, following a slew of pandemic-based delays - and according to early reviews, Season Three is well worth the wait Succession is one of the most greatly-anticipated television shows to return to screens amid the pandemic, after several delays - including stars Brian Cox (Logan Roy) and Alan Ruck (Logan's eldest son Connor Roy) being stricken by covid. Season Two concluded in 2019 on a cliffhanger, first tying up the mystery surrounding who would be the 'blood sacrifice' offered to the shareholders. After being tipped to be the sacrifice, Logan's son Kendall, played by Jeremy Strong, was then seen explosively outing his father for the dirty dealings within his company Waystar RoyCo and fans have been waiting to see the subsequent fallout. Succession is BACK! In the wake of press previews of the show, which is set for release on October 18, four and five star accolades confirm the battle of the Roys, which left us on a chilling cliffhanger helmed by Kendall, will be as explosive as ever In the nail-biting episode, Kendall steps out to speak at a press conference, in which he spills the details of the cruise scandal among other Waystar Royco secrets. Writing for The Times, Carol Midgley penned: 'I can assure you that Succession easily leaps to its own very high bar. Successions biggest weapon has always been its whip-cracking dialogue and the writer Jesse Armstrong has raised his game... 'The show sets viewer expectations sky high and it meets them by trebling down on its strengths. Succession is back and it is thrilling.' Drama: In the UK, The Times dished out five stars and insisted the comeback is 'thrilling' following last season's 'electrifying climax', while in the US, Rolling Stone gave four stars and stated the show is 'bigger, badder and bloodthirstier than ever' The publication accompanied the dazzling review with a five star accolade. Alan Steppinwall for Rolling Stone meanwhile dished out four stars. He wrote: 'With Logan and Kendall going head to head in an all-out Roy family war, the show goes bigger, badder, and bloodthirstier than ever'. Also returning for series three are cast members Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, Peter Friedman, J. Smith Cameron, and James Cromwell. Additional cast this season include Alexander Skarsgard, Sanaa Lathan, Linda Emond, Jihae, Adrien Brody and Hope Davis. S Angry call: Matthew Macfadyen is back as the long-suffering and somewhat spineless Tom Wambsgans, as he is heard saying over the phone, 'You better find an animal's corpse to crawl into, and hide' Succession is created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, Scott Ferguson, Jon Brown and Will Ferrell. While some TV shows have referenced Covid-19 in storylines, creator Jesse wrote the latest season before lockdown, and has decided not to change the scripts to reflect the current climate. In a profile for Vulture, Sarah Snook - who plays Shiv Roy - gave context regarding the decision, saying: 'These are really wealthy people. And unfortunately, none of the world's really wealthy people were going to be affected by the pandemic.' However, the cast of the family drama certainly were affected by the pandemic. Actor Mark Blum, who played the cruise-division exec Bill Lockhart in the show, died of complications from Covid-19 in March last year. The feature notes how the pandemic shifted the production to having Zoom table reads and Zoom production meetings. Some shooting took place in Italy for the third season, and there were back-up locations in place if travelling wasn't allowed - including the U.K., Massachusetts, and Northern California. She gave birth to her second child - a baby boy called Bear - just five months ago. And Skye Wheatley showed off her phenomenal post-pregnancy figure in a bikini on Wednesday. The mother-of-two flaunted her ample cleavage, washboard abs and toned legs in a floral two-piece as she posed on a Gold Coast beach. Not an inch to pinch! Mother-of-two Skye Wheatley shows off her phenomenal post-pregnancy figure and washboard abs in a floral bikini after giving birth five months ago The former reality star-turned-social media influencer wore her blonde locks up in cute Princess Leia style buns and painted her plump pout with a terracotta hued lipstick. She also rocked some animal print nails and accessorised with huge gold hoop earrings. Skye recently battled backlash following a joke about demanding sex off her boyfriend, Lachlan. The blonde stunner joked during an Instagram Q&A with fans on September 15 that she demands sex from Lachlan even when he isn't in the mood. When asked who was more dominant in bed, she responded: 'Hahahahaha me... but only when he's mad and says he doesn't want to have sex.' Hot, hot, hot: The mother-of-two flaunted her ample cleavage, washboard abs and toned legs in a floral two-piece as she posed on a Gold Coast beach Pinging back into shape! Skye gave birth to her second child - a baby boy called Bear - just five months ago 'I am truly, deeply sorry': Skye was forced to apologise last month after posting an 'insensitive' joke on Instagram about her sex life with boyfriend Lachlan 'Hahahahaha ain't nobody telling me no... I won't take no for an answer if I want sexy time,' she added. Skye's comments clearly upset some of her fans, as she returned to the platform less than 24 hours later to issue a grovelling apology. She apologised for her 'insensitive, triggering' words and promised to think twice before making similar jokes in the future. Ruffling feathers: Skye's comments clearly upset some of her fans, as she returned to the platform less than 24 hours later to issue an apology 'Hi guys, just wanted to jump on and address one of my comments made on my Q&As last night and my poor choice of phrasing. Lachlan and I have a healthy, balanced sexual life,' she wrote on Instagram Stories on September 16. 'I have never been in a situation with Lachlan where he [has] done anything he hasn't wanted to do sexually or vice versa. At no point would I ever do anything to another human being that they don't consent to.' Skye expressed regret for her 'poor choice of wording' and clarified that neither she nor Lachlan had ever forced or manipulated each other into having sex. No laughing matter: The mother of two apologised for her 'insensitive, triggering' words and promised to think twice before making similar jokes in the future 'I understand my words were completely insensitive and triggering and I am truly, deeply sorry for that. I am ashamed to have posted that without even considering the effect it could have on my followers,' she said. The Gold Coast influencer concluded her post by promising not to be so 'impulsive' when communicating with her large audience. 'I take full responsibility and am 100 per cent committed to making sure I take steps forward to make better decisions of what I say in the future,' she wrote. 'Please stop harassing us': Lachlan also responded to the backlash by posting a blunt message on Instagram Stories Lachlan also responded to the backlash on the same day by posting a blunt message on Instagram Stories. 'I can't believe I have to come on here and address this on my behalf. Don't f**king message me asking if 'I'm okay',' the tradie raged. 'Come on guys honestly our sex is always consensual. What Skye posted was worded incorrectly. Please stop harassing us.' Advertisement The 1998 FBI sting operation codenamed 'Operation Prom Night,' that changed Monica Lewinsky's life forever, has been depicted in Tuesday's episode of 'Impeachment: American Crime Story'. Agents and prosecutors held the 24-year-old former White House intern in a Washington DC hotel room for 12 hours in an attempt to pressure her into cooperating with their investigation into then-U.S. president Bill Clinton. Earlier, Lewinsky arrived at the Pentagon City mall food court on January 16, 1998 to meet her colleague and confidant Linda Tripp for lunch, unaware that she was about to fall victim to the sting. After Tripp arrived, she was shortly followed by FBI agents, and Lewinsky realised that she had been betrayed. The agents took her upstairs to a room at the adjoining Ritz-Carlton hotel, where Lewinsky realised Tripp had not only disclosed details of her affair with Clinton, but she had secretly tape-recorded around 20 hours of phone conversations between herself and Tripp. As Lewinski was picked up from the food court, she was told by one of the agents - Mike Emmick - that she was facing 28 years in a federal prison for the crimes of perjury and perjury-related felonies. The FBI and prosecutor Ken Starr were under pressure to get Lewinsky to turn on Clinton, as the following day he was set to testify in the Paula Jones suit (who was suing him for sexual harassment), and after that Newsweek were set to run a story about the president and the intern. This betrayal by Lewinsky's confidant and the subsequent 12 hours inside the hotel room were the focus of Tuesday's American Crime Story episode, entitled 'Man Handled.' Unravel: Just as she's about to leave Washington D.C. for proverbially greener pastures in New York City, Monica Lewinsky's (Beanie Feldstein)'s life unravels in Tuesday's episode of Impeachment: American Crime Story Linda: Tuesday's episode, entitled Man Handled, picks up where the show's first-episode flash-forward left off, where FBI agents detain Lewinsky - with the help of Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) Pictured: The real Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky in an undated photo. Thinking should could trust Tripp, Lewinsky disclosed her affair with president Bill Clinton to her. However, Tripp secretly recorded the pair's phone conversations and handed them over to the authorities, who went on to held Lewinski in a hotel room for 12 hours Tuesday's episode picks up where the show's first-episode flash-forward left off, where FBI agents detain Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein), with the help of Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson). Just as she's about to leave Washington D.C. for proverbially greener pastures in New York City, Lewinsky is detained for a grueling 12 hours by the Office of the Independent Counsel, where she learns that Tripp had been recording their phone conversations. Tripp had handed the taped recordings of her phone calls with Lewinski to Starr in exchange for immunity from prosecution. In their conversations, Lewinski told Tripp about her affair with the president, even detailing the famous blue dress which would ultimately go on to be used in the impeachment of the president. The episode begins at 7 a.m. on January 16, 1998 with Linda Tripp getting ready for her day when the phone rings. She lets it go to voice mail, getting a message from Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks) saying they're all set, just to let them know when she gets a hold of Monica. Starr (Dan Bakkedahl) tells Emmick and Jackie Bennett (Darren Goldstein) that their jurisdiction has been broadened to include Monica Lewinsky. 7AM: The episode begins at 7 AM on January 16, 1998 when Linda Tripp getting ready for her day when the phone rings Call: She lets it go to voice mail, getting a message from Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks) saying they're all set, just to let them know when she gets a hold of Monica Starr: Kenneth Starr (Dan Bakkedahl) tells Emmick and Jackie Bennett (Darren Goldstein) that their jurisdiction has been broadened to include Monica Lewinsky Jackie says Emmick is leading the interrogation because Jackie was told he's too intimidating. They reveal they're calling it 'Operation Prom Night' because it will be, 'a half hour with a girl in a hotel room,' though they don't realize they'll spend 12 hours in that room with her. Monica finally calls her back and Linda asks her to do lunch in an hour, at the food court in Pentagon City. Finally: Monica finally calls her back and Linda asks her to do lunch in an hour, at the food court in Pentagon City Emmick gets back to the hotel where he's told they get a call from Linda who's running behind, as Emmick says, 'Who runs late to a sting operation?' Linda gets to the Ritz Carlton and says the Metro was an 'absolute catastrophe,' as she looks around at everyone in the room and says, 'It's the right thing to do.' She walks with the agents out of the Ritz Carlton and into the food court, as the agents tell her she doesn't have to say anything to Monica. Ritz Carlton: Linda gets to the Ritz Carlton and says the Metro was an 'absolute catastrophe' Right: She looks around at everyone in the room and says, 'It's the right thing to do' Agents: She walks with the agents out of the Ritz Carlton and into the food court, as the agents tell her she doesn't have to say anything to Monica She heads down the escalator with the federal agents behind her, as she waves to her from the table. The FBI agents walk up to Monica and identify themselves, as Monica just looks at her former friend and says, 'Linda.' A teary Monica is told she's being investigated for committing multiple crimes, as Emmick tells her she could be looking at 28 years in prison. Escalator: She heads down the escalator with the federal agents behind her, as she waves to her from the table Monica: The FBI agents walk up to Monica and identify themselves, as Monica just looks at her former friend and says, 'Linda' Teary: A teary Monica is told she's being investigated for committing multiple crimes, as Emmick tells her she could be looking at 28 years in prison She starts crying as Emmick tells the agents to close the doors so Monica can't see Linda, as Linda is told to stay in the room. Emmick asks if a document looks familiar, asking how he has this, as Emmick says the best thing for her is to cooperate. She asks for her lawyer but Emmick says it will be easier if she just cooperates, as Emmick says she will tell them everything and then she will make three phone calls, one to Betty Currie (Rae Dawn Chong), one to Vernon Jordan (Blair Underwood) and one to President Clinton (Clive Owen). Crying: She starts crying as Emmick tells the agents to close the doors so Monica can't see Linda, as Linda is told to stay in the room Cooperate: Emmick asks if a document looks familiar, asking how he has this, as Emmick says the best thing for her is to cooperate Cooperates: She asks for her lawyer but Emmick says it will be easier if she just cooperates, as Emmick says she will tell them everything and then she will make three phone calls, one to Betty Currie (Rae Dawn Chong), one to Vernon Jordan (Blair Underwood) and one to President Clinton (Clive Owen) She says she won't do it, but Emmick brings out pictures of her before they play some of the conversations Linda recorded. 'Linda what did you do?!' Monica screams, as she starts losing it, wondering what will happen to Betty and Vernon and saying her parents will find out. 'My life is over,' she says, but Mike disagrees as she walks out of the room and Mike tries to calm her down. Photos: She says she won't do it, but Emmick brings out pictures of her before they play some of the conversations Linda recorded Linda: 'Linda what did you do?!' Monica screams, as she starts losing it, wondering what will happen to Betty and Vernon and saying her parents will find out Life is over: 'My life is over,' she says, but Mike disagrees as she walks out of the room and Mike tries to calm her down 'I will get you through this, I will make sure you're OK,' Emmick says. 'I'll kill myself. If I kill myself, will this all go away? If I jump out of this window will this all go away?' Monica asks. She asks for her lawyer but Emmick says they need to know if she will cooperate because it's time sensitive. Kill myself: 'I'll kill myself. If I kill myself, will this all go away? If I jump out of this window will this all go away?' Monica asks. Time sensitive: She asks for her lawyer but Emmick says they need to know if she will cooperate because it's time sensitive Monica gets a page from her mother and they calm her down by saying they're going to go to her office. She asks to go to the bathroom and tries to look for a way out, but the agents take the phone and tell her to go ahead. At 2:27 PM they are still unsure what to do, as they cut Linda Tripp loose, saying she can leave now. Bathroom: She asks to go to the bathroom and tries to look for a way out, but the agents take the phone and tell her to go ahead Leave: At 2:27 PM they are still unsure what to do, as they cut Linda Tripp loose, saying she can leave now Monica splashes some water on her face as Linda leaves the hotel room. Emmick calls Kenneth Starr and tells her she won't come in, as Starr tells her to keep him apprised, before asking his secretary to call Jackie Bennett on his phone. Jackie comes in and says he's heard all the tapes, and Monica wants to know how many tapes there are, but he says, 'I talk, you listen.' Kenneth: Emmick calls Kenneth Starr and tells her she won't come in, as Starr tells her to keep him apprised, before asking his secretary to call Jackie Bennett on his phone Jackie: Jackie comes in and says he's heard all the tapes, and Monica wants to know how many tapes there are, but he says, 'I talk, you listen' She asks to call her lawyer but Jackie says they know her lawyer is part of the conspiracy. Instead, she asks to call her mother Marcia (Mira Sorvino), adding her mom will call the cops if she doesn't hear from her, so they let her call. She calls her mom in New York, as she says they try to figure out what show to see, but she tearfully hangs up. They know: She asks to call her lawyer but Jackie says they know her lawyer is part of the conspiracy Mother: Instead, she asks to call her mother Marcia (Mira Sorvino), adding her mom will call the cops if she doesn't hear from her, so they let her call Monica says she can't go to jail, but she also says she can't 'trap Betty and Vernon,' and Monica says she just wants to talk to her mom or her lawyer without them hovering over her. Jackie starts hounding her to cooperate and she says she wants to call her mother downstairs without being recorded and they agree. Before she leaves Emmick says her mother is not to share anything with anyone and if word gets out, she's on her own. Trap: Monica says she can't go to jail, but she also says she can't 'trap Betty and Vernon,' and Monica says she just wants to talk to her mom or her lawyer without them hovering over her Hounded: Jackie starts hounding her to cooperate and she says she wants to call her mother downstairs without being recorded and they agree When Monica leaves, Emmick turns to Jackie and says, 'Nice, we're never gonna see her again. Monica gets into the mall, followed by an agent, with feds seemingly everywhere she turns as she gets to a bank of payphones. She calls her mom back, saying she's in trouble and she doesn't know what do to. Phones: Monica gets into the mall, followed by an agent, with feds seemingly everywhere she turns as she gets to a bank of payphones Mom: She calls her mom back, saying she's in trouble and she doesn't know what do to 'It's Linda,' she tells her mom, adding they won't let her call her lawyer, which worries her mom. Her mom tells her to tell them that she is coming and to tell them to wait. When she's walking back up to the hotel, she runs into Linda, who has been doing some shopping while her life has been torn apart. Lawyer: 'It's Linda,' she tells her mom, adding they won't let her call her lawyer, which worries her mom Linda shops: When she's walking back up to the hotel, she runs into Linda, who has been doing some shopping while her life has been torn apart Monica just walks right past her without saying a word as Linda goes on her way. Linda is back home as she lights a cigarette as her daughter Allison (Emma Mausolf) comes down asking to take the van but she sees her mom is troubled. She says some attorneys are coming over to ask her questions and she can't explain it right now. Allison says she looks like she's about to cry as she yells at her to go back upstairs. Allison:Linda is back home as she lights a cigarette as her daughter Allison (Emma Mausolf) comes down asking to take the van but she sees her mom is troubled Can't explain: She says some attorneys are coming over to ask her questions and she can't explain it right now Back in Los Angeles, Monica's father Bernard gets a call from Monica's mother, as she frantically says 'The feds have Monica.' She tells them to wait for her mother as her father tries to come to grips with everything, as her father tells his friend William H. Ginsburg (Fred Melamed) about this as he swears he will fix it. Jackie and Emmick argue over how the whole scenario has unfolded as Emmick tells him they don't have a choice. Monica's father: Back in Los Angeles, Monica's father Bernard gets a call from Monica's mother, as she frantically says 'The feds have Monica' Ginsburg: She tells them to wait for her mother as her father tries to come to grips with everything, as her father tells his friend William H. Ginsburg (Fred Melamed) about this as he swears he will fix it Emmick goes in and tells Monica they will wait for her mother as she thanks him and calls up for a coffee for her. She tells Emmick that her mom was wondering why she couldn't call her lawyer, and Emmick says he told her it was her choice. She tries to call her lawyer but he's out of the office, though the secretary said she can page him if it's urgent, but the agent says it's not. Thanks: Emmick goes in and tells Monica they will wait for her mother as she thanks him and calls up for a coffee for her They ask if they should watch TV while they wait, as they watch an episode of NYPD Blue, as he flips past a news program about Clinton. She looks at one of the agents on the couch with his gun holster exposed, as Monica asks if they have to stay in there. She talks them to going to Crate and Barrell as Monica explains to them what a decanter is, adding her, 'grandma has crap like this all over the place.' Crate: She talks them to going to Crate and Barrell as Monica explains to them what a decanter is, adding her, 'grandma has crap like this all over the place' 'My grandma is gonna be so disappointed in me,' she says, as Emmick tells her to 'keep moving.' They walk up to Macy's and Monica says she has to go to the bathroom as Emmick tells teh other agent they shouldn't follow, and they have to be 'very careful about that.' She goes to a phone and calls Betty Currie at her office and home, but no one answers. She sees a breastfeeding mother and asks, 'Are you with them?' Bathroom: They walk up to Macy's and Monica says she has to go to the bathroom as Emmick tells teh other agent they shouldn't follow, and they have to be 'very careful about that. With them: She goes to a phone and calls Betty Currie at her office and home, but no one answers. She sees a breastfeeding mother and asks, 'Are you with them?' They go get some food at what appears to be a TGIFridays when Monica asks why it's 28 years. Emmick breaks down all of the charges for her, as she says, 'I'll never have kids. No one's ever gonna marry me.' Emmick says it's only 28 years if she serves it without them, making it clear that they are on her side, even though it might not look like it. Food: They go get some food at what appears to be a TGIFridays when Monica asks why it's 28 years Charges: Emmick breaks down all of the charges for her, as she says, 'I'll never have kids. No one's ever gonna marry me' George Conway (George Salazar) lets in Ann Coulter (Cobie Smulders), who brings in dubs of all the Linda Tripp tapes, saying they're listening to all of the tapes. 'George, we're celebrating. These tapes are gonna be in the Smithsonian,' Coulter says, as George says they should hold off celebrating until they find anything useful on the tapes. They all pour champagne and start listening to the tapes. Tapes: George Conway (George Salazar) lets in Ann Coulter (Cobie Smulders), who brings in dubs of all the Linda Tripp tapes, saying they're listening to all of the tapes Ann and George: George Conway (George Salazar) lets in Ann Coulter (Cobie Smulders), who brings in dubs of all the Linda Tripp tapes, saying they're listening to all of the tapes Tapes: They all pour champagne and start listening to the tapes Linda is visited by two attorneys for Paula Jones, as they ask about the gifts they exchanged as Linda says Monica would love seeing him to wear one of the ties she gave him. She says Monica was 'entitled' and it was 'how she was raised,' as she asks for specifics. She mentions the book that he gave her, and Linda goes off on a tangent about the White House being a 'special place.' Lawyers: Linda is visited by two attorneys for Paula Jones, as they ask about the gifts they exchanged as Linda says Monica would love seeing him to wear one of the ties she gave him Special: She mentions the book that he gave her, and Linda goes off on a tangent about the White House being a 'special place' 'Ronald Reagan became president and refused to set foot in the Oval without a full suit and tie. George Bush became president and handwrote letters to every family who lost a son in action. Bill Clinton became president and got the first vulnerable girl he saw in a hallway to suck his d**k. And then, boy, did he make her suffer,' Tripp says. 'The book was Leaves of Grass. See what he has to say about that,' she adds. Monica is back in the hotel room when there is a knock on the door and her mother arrives and they embrace. Mom arrives: Monica is back in the hotel room when there is a knock on the door and her mother arrives and they embrace She says she'd like to talk to her daughter alone, as they leave the hotel room and find agents lining the hallways. They open another room for her as her mother locks the door and Monica tries to call Betty but her mom won't let her. 'Listen to me sweetheart. This all ends right now,' she says. Alone: She says she'd like to talk to her daughter alone, as they leave the hotel room and find agents lining the hallways. No calls: They open another room for her as her mother locks the door and Monica tries to call Betty but her mom won't let her Her mother says it's his fault too as Monica says, 'I am not going to be the one who takes down the President.' George and Coulter are listening the the tapes, bored, as Coulter says she understands why some cultures they drown their female infants. George says there is no smoking gun on the tapes, saying, 'Having sex with an office girl is not a high crime or misdemeanor.' They're told that the FBI has Monica Lewinsky and they're going to flip her tonight, as Coulter says, 'F**k me.' Drown: George and Coulter are listening the the tapes, bored, as Coulter says she understands why some cultures they drown their female infants No smoking gun: George says there is no smoking gun on the tapes, saying, 'Having sex with an office girl is not a high crime or misdemeanor' Flip: They're told that the FBI has Monica Lewinsky and they're going to flip her tonight, as Coulter says, 'F**k me' Monica's mother speaks with Mike and James, as James wants to know if she will cooperate, and her mother says she will. Emmick says she will be immune from prosecution if she cooperates, including the monitored calls, but she wonders if she has immunity without the calls. She says she will try to explain to her daughter what is happening and Mike and James will work on it, and when she leaves Mike says Starr will give her immunity but they can't get it tonight. Cooperate: Monica's mother speaks with Mike and James, as James wants to know if she will cooperate, and her mother says she will Explain: She says she will try to explain to her daughter what is happening and Mike and James will work on it, and when she leaves Mike says Starr will give her immunity but they can't get it tonight Mike asks for a word with them both and says they don't have a typewriter or a computer, and there is no way to get it in writing. Emmick says she will have it in writing first thing tomorrow morning. He says they need these calls tonight because it is time sensitive. She reveals that she told his father, and they all freak out as Emmick calls the father. Writing: Mike asks for a word with them both and says they don't have a typewriter or a computer, and there is no way to get it in writing 'Sir, we have evidence to prosecute Monica for multiple felonies,' as he asks why her attorney isn't there. Bernard says he's there will Bill Ginsburg who's gonna be her lawyer, as he hands him the phone. He asks if they put her in bracelets and if she's in custody and she says they just keep asking her to make a decision. Lawyer: Bernard says he's there will Bill Ginsburg who's gonna be her lawyer, as he hands him the phone Custody: He asks if they put her in bracelets and if she's in custody and she says they just keep asking her to make a decision Emmick says they have been 'negotiating' with Lewinsky for the past 11 hours, as Ginsburg screams, 'Negotiating? Really? Is that the new term of art for Unlawful detention?' Emmick insists she could have left at any time, but Ginsburg says, 'Shut the f**k up, you motherf***ing c**ksucker.' He says he wants her full transactional immunity from prosecution in writing but Emmick says they can't do that right now. Negotiating: Emmick says they have been 'negotiating' with Lewinsky for the past 11 hours, as Ginsburg screams, 'Negotiating? Really? Is that the new term of art for Unlawful detention?' Shut up: Emmick insists she could have left at any time, but Ginsburg says, 'Shut the f**k up, you motherf***ing c**ksucker' Can't: He says he wants her full transactional immunity from prosecution in writing but Emmick says they can't do that right now Ginsburg says to write it up and fax it, but Emmick insists they aren't going to use a 'communal fax' for something so important. Ginsburg calls him, 'a lying sack of shit,' as Emmick says he doesn't see the need to use profanity, but Ginsburg responds, 'that makes one of us. Because the plain fact of the matter is you don't have the power to put a single goddamn thing in writing now, do you?' James tells Emmick to, 'f***ing hang up on this prick,' but Emmick tells him this is a 'real offer' and tomorrow they will fax it to him in writing. Fax: Ginsburg says to write it up and fax it, but Emmick insists they aren't going to use a 'communal fax' for something so important Ginsburg says to put Monica back on and tells her to not say a word and just walk out the door. He says he will hop on a red eye and be there in the morning, insisting that they cannot stop her. She hangs up the phone and tells her mother to get her coat, they're leaving, as they leave the hotel. Emmick asks if it's her final decision, and she says 'Yes. Thank you so much for everything.' Final: Emmick asks if it's her final decision, and she says 'Yes. Thank you so much for everything' Monica and her mother get back to their suite at the Watergate as the mother says she's going to make her some tea. Monica just sits in the chair in the corner, telling her mom they can go to Canada tonight, but she says they'd stop her at the border. Monica wants to call Betty, but she says she can't, and she has to look out for her own life now, her own future. She says she's going to take a shower as she takes out a few pill bottles and a small pair of scissors. Pills: She says she's going to take a shower as she takes out a few pill bottles and a small pair of scissors Monica's mother sneaks up and opens the door seeing her crying in the shower before walking back and slumping to the floor as the episode comes to an end. The preview for next week's episode reveals the President finding out about the tapes, before he makes his now-infamous statement, 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman.' Impeachment: American Crime Story returns with the seventh of 10 episodes, The Assassination of Monica Lewinsky, airing Tuesday, October 19 at 10 PM ET on FX. End: Monica's mother sneaks up and opens the door seeing her crying in the shower before walking back and slumping to the floor as the episode comes to an end Who Do You Think You Are? Rating: Question Team Rating: H-E-N-E-R-Y, he's Henery the Eighth, he is. Carrot-topped comedian Josh Widdicombe must realise now that the truth about his ancestry has been staring at him in the mirror all his life. A rollicking paper trail led him, as Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1) returned, to Hampton Court during the English Civil War and then to Westminster Abbey, where he discovered that one of his forebears was Mary Boleyn sister of the ill-fated Anne. Mary was one of Henry VIII's many mistresses, and historical rumour has it that he fathered her eldest daughter . . . Josh's 12 times great-grandmother. So that's where the hair came from. If the 38-year-old panel game regular piled on a few stone and grew a half-moon beard, the resemblance might be even stronger. No one could blame his missus for feeling nervous. The disbelief on Josh's face as each new revelation unfurled on scrolls of parchment was a delight to behold, writes CHRISTOPHER STEVENS The disbelief on Josh's face as each new revelation unfurled on scrolls of parchment was a delight to behold. His jaw was hanging open in Hever Castle family seat of the Boleyns as he learned his line went back to the 13th century's King Philippe of France . . . his 24 times great-grandfather. 'Proper blue blood,' whistled Josh. The producers, who knew the spectacular lineage long before Josh did, were having great fun too, throwing out hints. The most intriguing was a portrait of Josh's 12 times great-gran, Lettice Knollys, a Tudor lady-in-waiting who looked like a younger, prettier Elizabeth I. Josh studied the picture but didn't guess the significance. Lettice turned out to be the monarch's cousin. Much to the Virgin Queen's chagrin, she even married Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester once hotly tipped to marry Good Queen Bess himself. When that was explained, Josh was reeling: 'My 12 times great-grandmother was in a love triangle with Elizabeth I?' he exclaimed. For addicts of the era (and aren't we all, what with Wolf Hall, The Six Wives and all the rest?), the full truth is even juicier. Heartbreaker of the night Fans of Our Yorkshire Farm (C5) felt their eyes overflow as Tony the Pony stood forlorn at the back door of the family house. His friend Little Joe, a 40-year-old Shetland, was found dead in the stables. Animals grieve, too. Advertisement We weren't told, but one of Lettice's sons became the second Earl of Essex the Queen's toy-boy favourite. And though the show dwelt on the Civil War martyr Henry Rich, Earl of Holland (great-granddad times ten), there was no mention of the earlier Richard Rich (great-granddad times 13), a real Tudor villain whose perjury under oath led to the execution of Thomas More. When the show hits a vein as rich as this, the Beeb ought to consider stretching the format to 90 minutes, or even a two-parter. Quite by accident, Question Team (Dave) has hit upon a doozy of a format, thanks to Gone Fishing's Bob Mortimer. Host Richard Ayoade invited three comedians to come up with questions for a quiz and for his, Bob devised an entire game show, where players compare DIY tools. Which is heavier: a stepladder, a hose reel or a bucket of paint? And which tool has the longest flex: the pressure washer, vacuum cleaner or hedge trimmer? It's unexpectedly addictive. Bob's maniacal impression of a Saturday night gameshow presenter could make you laugh till you swallow your teeth. Richard had to cover his face to hide his hysterics. Guests Kerry Godliman and Thanyia Moore followed suit. Thanyia went skydiving and shouted her questions while free-falling. The show looked like a certain winner until Richard's round, where players had to guess the opening lines from novels: dull, uninspired and, after the preceding mayhem, very unfunny. But a whole series of comparing household objects could be a ratings smash with Bob in charge. Quite a few bright Hollywood stars in television and music, turned out to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of Teen Vogue on Tuesday evening. The famed publication threw a rocking party to celebrate its enduring success amongst teenagers and the young adult market, at The Standard hotel in New York City. Among the notable attendees was triple threat Chloe Bailey, 23, who turned heads in a slinky halter dress with cutouts on the side. On her A-game: Chloe Bailey, 23, was one of several bright stars who attended Teen Vogue's 18th anniversary party at The Standard East Village in New York City on Tuesday evening Bailey, whose talent spans across the music and acting landscape, put on a show stopping display in a figure hugging navy dress that exposed her midriff and a bit of her hip. Known musically as Chloe one half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle she was seen sans younger sister Halle Bailey at the event. The former Grown-ish star wore her long platinum braids down and added a touch of glitz to the outfit by way of sparkly platform shoes and silver eyeshadow. Other up and coming talents in attendance at the penthouse event, included Jagged Little Pill star Kathryn Gallagher, 28, (the daughter of OC's Peter Gallagher) and TikTok star Emma Norton. Wow: Bailey whose talent spans across the music and acting landscape put on a show stopping display in a figure hugging navy dress that exposed her midriff and a bit of her hip Flying solo: Though she is known musically as Chloe one half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle she was seen sans younger sister Halle Bailey at the event Hot Hollywood: The event included the likes of young talents in television, film, theatre and music and some fashion industry heavyweights; pictured Chloe (left) and Kathryn Gallagher (right) Edgy: TikTok star Emma Norton was pictured in a brown Gucci jacket dress with silky gloves fashioned by the brand On the map: K-Pop sensation P1Harmony was pictured in attendance; (left to right) Theo, Jongseob, Intak, Jiung, Soul, and Keeh Night on the town: Other actors in attendance included Halston's Krysta Rodriguez (left) and Atypical star Nik Dodani (right) Fashion powerhouses: (left to right) Anna Wintour, Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma, and Architectural Digest editor-in-chief Amy Astley City nights: Fashion designer Prabal Gurung was pictured Despite having a female swaying audience, the publication also invited some male stars including Atypical actor Nik Dodani, 27, and South Korean boy band P1Harmony. The K-Pop group recently exploded onto the American music scene and is set to make their US television debut on Good Day New York. Additional industry heavyweights included Anna Wintour, Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma, fashion designer Prabal Gurung and Architectural Digest editor-in-chief Amy Astley. Astley former editor of Teen Vogue helped launch the first issue of the Vogue sister publication in 2003 with Wintour, though Vogue had been in circulation since 1892. She's one of the most coveted queens of the catwalk. And Jasmine Tookes turned an ordinary city sidewalk into her own personal runway while shopping in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon. The 30-year-old supermodel looked impossibly chic wearing a nude bodysuit and jeans from Teyana Taylor's PrettyLittleThing collaboration as she picked up a few things on a sunny Southern California day. Out and about: Jasmine Tookes turned an ordinary city sidewalk into her own personal runway while shopping in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon Jasmine showed off her perfectly toned arms by wearing a tight beige top with a ribbed neckline. A pair of high-waisted jeans rested high atop her hips and featured denim patchwork fabric along the legs. She added inches to her statuesque frame with a pair of strappy brown leather heels and carried a slouchy purse by her side. Model moment: The 30-year-old supermodel looked impossibly chic wearing a nude bodysuit and jeans from Teyana Taylor's PrettyLittleThing collaboration as she picked up a few things on a sunny Southern California day She must work out: Jasmine showed off her perfectly toned arms by wearing a tight beige top with a ribbed neckline Her dark brown hair was expertly blown out into fresh curls and she wore natural makeup to let her flawless complexion shine. Jasmine recently returned from whirlwind trips to Paris, Milan and New York for Fashion Weeks. But prior to her big moments in the spotlight, Tookes took center stage as the star of the biggest event of her life - her wedding to Snapchat executive Juan David Borrero. Blessed: She added inches to her statuesque frame with a pair of strappy brown leather heels and carried a slouchy purse by her side Bold and beautiful: Her dark brown hair was expertly blown out into fresh curls and she wore natural makeup to let her flawless complexion shine Jasmine and Juan, the son of Ecuador's vice president, tied the knot at the church of San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador on Sept. 4, 2021. Tookes announced the marriage on her Instagram account, where she shared snaps from the nuptials and gushed over officially becoming 'Mrs. Borrero.' 'Still can't believe I'm living in a real life fairytale with you @juandavidborrero (heart emoji). 9.4.21. I'm officially Mrs. Borrero,' she captioned the post. Boosie Badazz was arrested Monday in Atlanta in connection with a fight that broke out at a show earlier this month. The rapper, 38, was charged with criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and inciting a riot in connection with the October 1 incident, TMZ reported Tuesday. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was in custody for a night prior to his release on Tuesday, when he was out on bond. The latest: Boosie Badazz, 38, was arrested Monday in Atlanta in connection with a fight that broke out at a show he was doing there. He was snapped in Georgia last month Police were called on the musical artist, whose real name is Torrence Ivy Hatch Jr., amid a concert earlier this month that saw a fight erupt on the stage, the outlet reported. Law enforcement was summoned to the scene following reports of vandalism, as police said Boosie Badazz and his associates had damaged property that had belonged to both a production company and the venue where they were playing at. The incident in question took place on the Legendz of the Streetz Tour stop, according to The Shade Room, as two men were seen arguing on the stage when the rapper got physically involved in the altercation. A security guard escorted Boosie off the stage amid the ruckus, in which speakers were tipped over. Following the incidents, the lights were brought up for the show, which was over. On stage: The rapper was seen onstage last year in College Park, Georgia Focused: The musical artist was snapped last year attending an Atlanta Hawks game Boosie tweeted a message on October 3 with a picture of a sign on a venue door at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, confirming his exit from the tour Other performers on the tour include 2 Chainz, Fabolous, Lil Kim, Rick Ross, Jeezy and Gucci Mane. Boosie subsequently confirmed he had been booted from the tour in the wake of the incident. He tweeted a message on October 3 with a picture of a sign on a venue door at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, confirming his exit from the tour. He wrote: 'THIS IS THE MOVE THEY PULLING OFF ON THE TOUR SO U CANT GET REFUNDS, READ IT CLEAR LOL LIKE PEOPLE GO READ A SIDE DOOR LOL S*** OUT TO ALL MY BALTIMORE FANS LOVE YALL.' It was not immediately clear when a court date would be set in the matter. Dan Ewing was torn to shreds by the directing staff during an interrogation on Tuesday's season finale of SAS Australia after giving them a bizarre 'cover story'. The brutal scene resulted in the 36-year-old actor being kicked out of the competition - ostensibly because he lied while the other recruits were truthful. But fellow contestant Jana Pittman has come to his defence, telling 2Day FM's The Morning Crew on Wednesday that all the recruits were instructed to fabricate stories for the instructors - but only Dan was punished for it. The truth comes out: An SAS Australia star has revealed the truth behind Dan Ewing's brutal interrogation sequence during Tuesday night's season finale 'Poor Dan We were given the exact same story and Dan and I did sit there for hours and hours and hours rehearsing it,' the former Olympian said. 'That story he said, he went into character straight away, whereas I think some of us went in and thought, "Oh gosh, these guys [the DS] are scary, they're the real deal, I think they're not wanting a story here,"' she added. Jana, 38, revealed that Dan had simply followed the initial instructions he'd been given, while the other recruits chose to ditch their cover stories and speak honestly. 'We were given the exact same story': Jana Pittman has come to the actor's defence and backed up his story that all of the recruits had to fabricate stories to the instructors 'Dan stayed in character which is, to be honest, what we were told to do initially,' she said. Jana added that Dan was 'pretty upset' over his portrayal on the show and the way his scenes had been edited to make him look like a self-absorbed brat. 'Ive spoken to him a lot, and in Dans situation I think he is such a strong guy who has come out as someone whos very into yoga and [is] holistic in his nature,' she said. The former athlete believes the producers 'missed [an] opportunity' to use Dan's journey to highlight the 'mental health and identity crisis' in young men. Unfavourable: The former Olympian said Dan was 'pretty upset' over his portrayal on the show and the way his scenes had been edited to make him look like a self-absorbed brat She said the editing on SAS Australia appeared to favour the 'dramatic sides' of Dan's personality rather than the important moments in his journey. Jana's defence of Dan comes after production sources corroborated her claims that the final five recruits were each given fictional 'cover stories' for the last episode to study and memorise. Even though these stories weren't true, they were to told to commit to them even under fierce interrogation - but Dan was the only one to actually do this, and he was ultimately punished for it. Targeted: Jana's defence of Dan comes after production sources corroborated her claims that the final five recruits were each given fictional 'cover stories' for the last episode - but Dan was the only one to stick to his under interrogation, and he was ultimately punished for it 'Dan recited the cover story perfectly, yet got ripped a new one. They were trying to suggest he made up this cover story when it was the cover story he'd been given as part of the challenge,' a source said. 'The stitch-up begins when they edit out all reference to the "cover story" the recruits are given and told to study, which of course feeds into what happens next when Dan is sent packing after another run with [Ant] Middleton.' This was allegedly another calculated move by producers to keep Dan from making it to the end of the competition - because he was a threat to the preferred winner Sam Burgess. Pick a winner: This was allegedly a calculated move by producers to keep Dan from making it to the end of the competition - because he was a threat to the preferred winner Sam Burgess 'Everyone loves a story of redemption,' one of the recruits said. 'Especially producers who are more interested in ratings than the integrity of the SAS course and the viewing public. 'This show is a charade. It's no different to Married At First Sight.' Retired NRL star Sam Burgess was the only celebrity to successfully pass the selection course during Tuesday's finale. The SAS Australia reunion airs Wednesday at 7.30pm on Seven and 7Plus Halle Berry is certainly fabulous in her fifties. The 55-year-old actress showcased her naturally gorgeous looks by going on a make-up free outing with son Maceo, eight, in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. Halle looked every bit the doting mom as she held hands with her youngest child whom she shares with ex-husband Olivier Martinez. Out and about: Halle Berry showcased her naturally gorgeous looks by going on a make-up free outing with son Maceo, eight, in Beverly Hills on Tuesday Not seen on the outing was Maceo's older sister Nahla, 13, from Halle's previous relationship with Gabriel Aubrey. Halle rocked an oversized, sleeveless top with baggy black trousers and black sandals. She donned a colorful bandana over her signature highlighted blonde locks as she showcased her stunning looks with zero make-up. Last week Halle - who rarely posts photos of her kids - took to Instagram to wish her younger child a happy eighth birthday as she shared the tribute with her 7 million followers. Gorgeous: The 55-year-old actress donned a colorful bandana over her signature highlighted blonde locks as she showcased her stunning looks with zero make-up 'This little dude is 8 today! Happy Birthday THUNDER!,' the Catwoman actress wrote, adding a red heart emoji. The photo sees the youngster holding up a gloved peace sign as he poses in camouflage shorts, striped socks, and a brown long-sleeve shirt with fringe at the cuffs. The movie star's son's eyes are obscured by an olive green hat, exposing the lower half of his face and a brunette crop of hair. The shot looks like it was snapped in a living room, as couches are seen within the frame, along with a textured white wall in the background. Birthday boy: Last week Halle - who rarely posts photos of her kids - took to Instagram to wish her younger child a happy eighth birthday as she shared the tribute with her 7 million followers Proud mom: Berry is seen in Los Angeles last month Halle shares Maceo Robert Martinez with her ex-husband Olivier Martinez, to whom she was married from 2013 to 2016. The Monster's Ball actress also has a 13-year-old daughter, Nahla Ariela Aubry, with former partner Gabriel Aubry. The Cleveland, Ohio native is currently dating 51-year-old musician Van Hunt. New beau: The Cleveland, Ohio native is currently dating 51-year-old musician Van Hunt Berry will make her directorial debut with Bruised, arriving on Netflix November 24. In the film she plays Jackie Justice, a former MMA fighter who fell from grace. The Oscar-winner reimagined the script after Blake Lively passed it up. Following that, Halle can be seen in 2022's Moonfall, slated for a February IMAX debut. Advertisement Jamie Lee Curtis dressed as her iconic mother Janet Leigh when she attended the costume party premiere of her new movie Halloween Kills in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The swank affair welcomed a slew of stars when it was held at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre, formerly known as Grauman's, in Hollywood. Specifically Jamie Lee was dressed as her mother's role of Marion Crane in the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho, in which she is murdered by Anthony Perkins' character Norman Bates. All in the family: Jamie Lee Curtis (left) dressed as her iconic mother Janet Leigh (right) when she attended the costume party premiere of her new movie Halloween Kills in Los Angeles on Tuesday Norman stabs Marion to death in the shower, and in a nod to that scene Jamie posed up a storm on the black carpet with a bloody shower curtain slung over one arm. Jamie Lee, whose father was Some Like It Hot heartthrob Tony Curtis, posed in pitch-perfect period attire including a wig unmistakably of the era. She has been the leading lady of the Halloween franchise since the original instalment in 1978 which was directed by John Carpenter who also composed the memorable score. Another guest at the premiere was Kyle Richards, who featured in the first Halloween as a child actress and is making her grand return to the franchise in the newest film. Place to be: The swank affair welcomed a slew of stars when it was held at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre, formerly known as Grauman's, in Hollywood Finishing touches: Norman stabs Marion to death in the shower, and in a nod to that scene Jamie posed up a storm on the black carpet with a bloody shower curtain slung over one arm Together again: Another guest at the premiere was Kyle Richards, who featured in the first Halloween as a child actress and is making her grand return to the franchise in the newest film Kyle made a splash at the costume premiere as a saucy circus ringmaster, complete with gold and scarlet epaulettes and a top hat with feathers. These days Kyle is starring on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills and for Tuesday night's black carpet she was joined by her co-stars Dorit Kemsley, Kathy Hilton and Lisa Rinna. Kathy, who happens to also be Kyle's sister, was dressed as a dentist who goes by Hunky Dory DDS and arrived in full uniform including a trayful of supplies. Meanwhile Lisa, who has been a showstopping presence on the program for years, pranced around the black carpet dressed as a large pink bunny rabbit. Smoldering: Kyle made a splash at the costume premiere as a saucy circus ringmaster, complete with gold and scarlet epaulettes and a top hat with feathers Terrific: These days Kyle is starring on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills and for Tuesday night's black carpet she was joined by her co-stars Dorit Kemsley, Kathy Hilton and Lisa Rinna Having a ball: Kathy, who happens to also be Kyle's sister, was dressed as a dentist who goes by Hunky Dory DDS and arrived in full uniform including a trayful of supplies Meanwhile: Lisa, who has been a showstopping presence on the program for years, pranced around the black carpet dressed as a large pink bunny rabbit True to form: Lisa's ensemble included makeup to give her a rodent nose and a set of whiskers, but her signature cropped hairdo from her days as a 1990s soap star was still visible under the bunny ears Lisa's ensemble included makeup to give her a rodent nose and a set of whiskers, but her signature cropped hairdo from her days as a 1990s soap star was still visible under the bunny ears. Meanwhile in a somewhat bizarre touch Dorit was dressed up as her co-star Kathy's daughter Paris Hilton - specifically wearing the outfit the hotel heiress modeled at her 21st birthday bash. Kyle also posed up on the carpet with former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Teddi Jo Mellencamp as well as Nicole Brown Simpson's old pal Faye Resnick, who occasionally guest stars on the show. Teddi Jo flaunted her legs and cleavage in a busty take on a gladiator outfit, balancing expertly on a sky-high pair of black thigh-high stiletto boots. In a somewhat bizarre touch: Dorit was dressed up as her co-star Kathy's daughter Paris Hilton - specifically wearing the outfit the hotel heiress modeled at her 21st birthday bash Trio: Kyle also posed up on the carpet with former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Teddi Jo Mellencamp as well as Nicole Brown Simpson's old pal Faye Resnick, who occasionally guest stars on the show She let her luxurious blonde hairdo tumble freely over her shoulders and accentuated her unmistakable features with makeup for her latest outing. The daughter of John Mellencamp brought a massive toy sword with her to complete the outfit, brandishing it as she mugged for the cameras at the big premiere. Judy Greer, who plays Jamie Lee's daughter in Halloween Kills and its immediate predecessor, arrived at the event in a costume reminiscent of Annie Hall. When you got it: Teddi Jo flaunted her legs and cleavage in a busty take on a gladiator outfit, balancing expertly on a sky-high pair of black thigh-high stiletto boots Showbiz legacy: The daughter of John Mellencamp brought a massive toy sword with her to complete the outfit, brandishing it as she mugged for the cameras at the big premiere Seems like old times: Judy Greer, who plays Jamie Lee's daughter in Halloween Kills and its immediate predecessor, arrived at the event in a costume reminiscent of Annie Hall A dream of a duo: Jamie Lee and Judy made as charismatic a pair on the black carpet as they do onscreen playing mother and daughter She could be seen gathering together with her co-stars Jamie Lee and Anthony Michael Hall as well as the movie's director and co-writer David Gordon Green for a snapshot. Another of the film's cast members Carmela McNeal arrived in what looked at first like a normal glamorous premiere look - until one saw the film's tagline: 'EVIL DIES TONIGHT' scrawled above her cleavage. Nick Castle, who played serial killer Michael Myers in the original Halloween, had a playful moment at the premiere with James Jude Courtney, who plays the role in Halloween Kills. James, who played Michael in the immediate predecessor of Halloween Kills and will reprise the role for the next movie as well, was just dressed as himself. Group shot: She could be seen gathering together with her co-stars Jamie Lee and Anthony Michael Hall as well as the movie's director and co-writer David Gordon Green for a snapshot Plugging away: Another of the film's cast members Carmela McNeal arrived in what looked at first like a normal glamorous premiere look - until one saw the film's tagline: 'EVIL DIES TONIGHT' scrawled above her cleavage Having a ball: Nick Castle (left), who played serial killer Michael Myers in the original Halloween, had a playful moment at the premiere with James Jude Courtney (right), who plays the role in Halloween Kills Meanwhile Nick was dressed as Michael Myers - and could be seen quailing in mock horror as James playfully raised a knife over him, as if bumping him off to replace him in the franchise. Another cast member of the film Nancy Stephens appeared not to be in costume but still clove to the Halloween theme by opting for an elegant orange jacket. Benito Skinner went for a classic suit as a red-clad vampire at the big event, whilst Dylan Arnold brought back memories of dashing Old Hollywood stars. Sleek and chic: Another cast member of the film Nancy Stephens appeared not to be in costume but still clove to the Halloween theme by opting for an elegant orange jacket Daniel Ricciardo will be staying in his majestic Los Angeles mansion ahead of his next US Formula One race in Austin, Texas on October 25. The 32-year-old Australian race car driver purchased the stunning home for a massive $18.6million dollars in October 2018, according to Realestate.com.au. The Beverly Hills mansion, which is an updated 1960s built home, adds to Daniel's already pricey international property portfolio. A racing dream: McLaren Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has showed off his stunning $18.6million LA mansion 'The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all,' Ricciardo told the West Australian about his decision to buy in the renowned city. The race car driver explained that Beverly Hills had 'resonated' with him when he first visited the United States back in 2014 to see a cousin who resided in the area. The Californian abode features five luxury bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, as well as a two-door garage. Majestic: The 32-year-old Australian race car driver purchased the stunning Beverly Hills home for a massive $18.6million dollars in October 2018 Inclusions: The Californian abode features five luxury bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, as well as a two-door garage It also includes a contemporary kitchen with Miele appliances, subzero fridge, a master bedroom with a fireplace and a big master bath with wood and stone accents, dual vanities, and a spacious soaking tub. The master suite takes up the majority of the second floor with an expansive outdoor deck connected. The outside has a vast terrace for guests, a sun deck, a giant pool and a jacuzzi. Exterior: The outside has a vast terrace for guests, a sun deck, a giant pool and a jacuzzi. It also features views of the Pacific Ocean and Coldwater Canyon Ricciardo's mansion features picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean and Coldwater Canyon. Once the racing season ends, the race car driver says he will spend the summer in his Californian mansion. Ricciardo already owns an apartment in Monte Carlo and a house in his native home of Perth in Western Australia. Nicky Whelan recently visited her beau Frank Grillo in Rome, Italy, where he was working on his upcoming Lamborghini film. And on Tuesday, the happy couple were back home in Los Angeles and out at their favourite restaurant - celebrity hot-spot Craig's. The former Neighbours actress, 40, looked ecstatic to be back and dining at the LA institution. Top of the crops! Former Neighbours star Nicky Whelan flashed a hint of her washboard abs as she and her boyfriend Frank Grillo enjoyed dinner at celebrity hot-spot Craig's on Tuesday She dressed for the night out in a beige cardigan over a teal turtleneck crop top that hinted at her washboard abs, teamed with houndstooth check trousers. The Australian beauty completed her ensemble with a pair of Isabel Marant wedge sneakers. Alongside her was Frank, who also looked happy to be back their favourite restaurant. The 56-year-old wore a navy coat over a white T-shirt teamed with black jeans and worn brown leather boots. Casual cool: She dressed for the night out in a beige cardigan over her teal turtleneck crop top that hinted at her washboard abs, teamed with houndstooth check trousers Girl's got the giggles: Nicky looked giddy as she giggled at something Frank said After dinner, they appeared to be enjoying a conversation with their friends as they waited for their ride home. Nicky looked giddy as she giggled at something Frank said. The couple's outing comes after Nicky's visit to Rome earlier this month where Frank was filming the upcoming Lamborghini film, a biopic about the late Italian car maker's life. Night out: At one point, The Purge star pulled out a $5 note to give to the valet Nicky confirmed her romance with Frank in August last year. She left Neighbours in 2007 after one year on the show, and has gone on to star in a number of successful Hollywood films such as Hall Pass and The Wedding Ringer. The actress was previously married to ex-NFL star Kerry Rhodes. In October 2017, they announced their separation just six months after saying 'I do'. Michael Meyers is making a bloody return to the big screen in the forthcoming feature Halloween Kills, which hits theaters October 15. And on Tuesday night, Kyle Richards and several of her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills castmates attended the film's costume party themed premiere in Hollywood. Richards, who famously starred alongside scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis in the original Halloween, showcased her incredible figure in a sexy ringmaster costume. Arrivals: Kyle Richards attended the premiere for Halloween Kills on Tuesday evening in Hollywood with several of her closest pals, including Teddi Mellencamp and Faye Resnick The 52-year-old reality star's getup consisted of a black high-legged leotard and a black, gold, and red jacket with fringed shoulder pads. Kyle also donned some fishnet tights and a pair of black patent leather platform boots. She accessorized with an elaborate top hat with black feathers sticking out of it and a black baton with a red tassel on the tip. Richards' long brunette hair flowed out from under her hat in gorgeous uniform curls. Ringmaster: Richards, who famously starred alongside scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis in the original Halloween, showcased her incredible figure in a sexy ringmaster costume Details: The 52-year-old reality star's getup consisted of a black high-legged leotard and a black, gold, and red jacket with fringed shoulder pads Coordinating: After getting in her solo glamour shots on the red carpet, the actress was joined by her husband Mauricio Umansky After getting in her solo glamour shots on the red carpet, the actress was joined by her husband Mauricio Umansky. The 51-year-old real estate agent appeared to coordinate with his longtime spouse by dressing as a deceased ringmaster, complete with all-black garb and a skeleton mask. Kyle was later captured catching up on the red carpet with her pals Teddi Mellencamp and Faye Resnick. Gladiator: Mellencamp sent temperatures soaring as she arrived dressed as a sexy gladiator Ready for battle: The 40-year-old fitness guru wielded a sword and wore her bright blonde strands in voluminous curls Bye bye: Teddi announced last year that she would not return to the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills after three seasons on the Bravo series Mellencamp sent temperatures soaring as she arrived dressed as a sexy gladiator. The 40-year-old fitness guru wielded a sword and strolled down the red carpet in a pair of black thigh-high boots. Resnick channeled Neo from The Matrix in a black floor-length leather coat. The 64-year-old author also donned a lacy bustier top and skintight leather pants. Costars: Kyle also happily struck poses beside her RHOBH costars Lisa Rinna, Dorit Kemsley, and Kathy Hilton at Tuesday's big premiere Scary: Rinna attended the star-studded event as a demented bunny rabbit, which consisted of a bright pink bunny suit, a menacing mask, and a pair of bunny ears Strike a pose: Lisa posed with her lips puckered for one red carpet shot Cute: The 58-year-old soap star still allowed her signature brunette shag to shine, but decked out her face in black and white face paint to mimic bunny features Kyle also happily struck poses beside her RHOBH costars Lisa Rinna, Dorit Kemsley, and Kathy Hilton at Tuesday's big premiere. Rinna attended the star-studded event as a demented bunny rabbit, which consisted of a bright pink bunny suit, a menacing mask, and a pair of bunny ears. The 58-year-old soap star still allowed her signature brunette shag to shine, but decked out her face in black and white face paint to mimic bunny features. Prom queen: Kemsley looked like a sexy prom queen in a silver sequin cowl neck dress and a dainty rhinestone tiara Glitz: The 45-year-old fashion designer also rocked a sequin choker necklace and a pair of strappy silver heels Kemsley looked like a sexy prom queen in a silver sequin cowl neck dress and a dainty rhinestone tiara. The 45-year-old fashion designer also rocked a sequin choker necklace and a pair of strappy silver heels. Her blonde hair was worn down and parted to one side and she was given a sultry gaze with a smokey black eyeshadow look. Kathy Hilton poked fun at her infamous 'Hunk Dory' incident on RHOBH by dressing up as a Dentist with the phrase printed on her pocket. Humorous: Kathy Hilton poked fun at her infamous 'Hunk Dory' incident on RHOBH by dressing up as a Dentist with the phrase printed on her pocket Details: The 62-year-old socialite carried a tray filled with dental molds, bandages, cotton swabs, and a bottle of Tylenol The 62-year-old socialite carried a tray filled with dental molds, bandages, cotton swabs, and a bottle of Tylenol. Halloween Kills also sees the return of Jamie Lee Curtis, who Kyle made sure to reunite with on the red carpet. Curtis, who was dressed up as her mother Janet Leigh's character from Psycho, posed for cameras with their lips puckered for one playful shot. In John Carpenter's flagship Halloween film, Curtis's character Laurie Strode played babysitter to Kyle's character Lindsey. Reunion: Halloween Kills also sees the return of Jamie Lee Curtis, who Kyle made sure to reunite with on the red carpet Daniel Craig after portraying James Bond for 15 years enjoyed a final martini in honor of Agent 007 on Tuesday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The 53-year-old English actor sipped on his character's signature drink as he wrapped his press tour for his final Bond film No Time To Die on the NBC talk show. 'I'd be honored to share a cheers of a martini with you Mr. Bond. Mr Craig. Thank you for everything,' said Jimmy, 47, at the end of their interview as he produced a pair of martinis. Shaken not stirred: Daniel Craig after portraying James Bond for 15 years enjoyed a final martini in honor of Agent 007 on Tuesday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon History: Jimmy earlier noted that Daniel was the only guest in the history of the show to come on three times for the same movie, which was delayed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic - pictured as Bond They stood up and clinked glasses as the studio audience applauded. 'Thank you,' Daniel said as he took a sip. 'Fifteen years,' Jimmy said. 'That's not bad,' Daniel said as he raised his stemmed glass to the audience marking his final talk show appearance as the sitting James Bond. Signature drink: The 53-year-old English actor sipped on his character's signature drink as he wrapped his press tour for his final Bond film No Time To Die on the NBC talk show Shaken not stirred: Pictured with a martini in hand from the Quantum Of Solace movie in 2008 Jimmy earlier noted that Daniel was the only guest in the history of the show to come on three times for the same movie, which was delayed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic. He congratulated Daniel for making his mark on the franchise and recently being named an honorary Commander in the British Royal Navy. 'It's really nice for me. My father was in the Navy. He sadly passed last year. And so it meant a lot. What an honor, an incredible thing,' Daniel said. Jimmy congratulated Daniel for making his mark on the franchise and recently being named an honorary Commander in the British Royal Navy Wow! There was a small ceremony but Daniel said he hoped they could do the whole bit soon. 'And I can put it on my passport, I think,' Daniel added - pictured in uniform on September 22 There was a small ceremony but Daniel said he hoped they could do the whole bit soon. 'And I can put it on my passport, I think,' Daniel added. Jimmy also asked Daniel if it was 'super emotional' filming his last Bond movie after becoming the star of the franchise in 2006 with Casino Royale. Last time: Jimmy also asked Daniel if it was 'super emotional' filming his last Bond movie after becoming the star of the franchise in 2006 with Casino Royale He said the last night of filming at 2 o'clock in the morning after shooting his last scene that everyone stayed late. 'Suddenly there's 200 people standing there and I had to make a speech, which is just lovely,' he laughed. Jimmy also asked Daniel to celebrate his 15 years as James Bond with a speed round of his Bond films by sharing the first memory that comes to mind. A card with Casino Royale was shown and Daniel said, 'Cranes'. Speed round: Jimmy also asked Daniel to celebrate his 15 years as James Bond with a speed round of his Bond films by sharing the first memory that comes to mind Daniel was referencing the rooftop chase scene and revealed that he had a 'genuine fear of heights' before becoming Bond. 'But I had to get up there, and sort of like incrementally go higher and higher and higher and higher and eventually I was sort of leaping out of windows onto moving busses it was quite an arc,' he said. Skyfall was next. Cranes memory: A card with Casino Royale was shown and Daniel said, 'Cranes' 'Judi Dench. That's easy,' Daniel said of his co-star. 'I mean, you know, the fact that I got to work with her on three movies and she's one of the most glorious, delicious human beings on planet Earth,' he added. Spectre was brought up next by Jimmy. Easy answer: 'Judi Dench. That's easy,' Daniel said of his co-star when asked about Skyfall 'We did the biggest explosion in movie history in the Moroccan desert. I don't know we told the Moroccan government that we were doing it,' Daniel said. He recalled telling his co-star Lea Seydoux to stay in frame as the blast exploded nearby and rocked them. 'I mean, it was terrifying. It was just like this thing rose up. It's percussion on your face and it was remarkable. And kind of incredibly moving in a weird way,' Daniel said. Biggest explosion: 'We did the biggest explosion in movie history in the Moroccan desert. I don't know we told the Moroccan government that we were doing it,' Daniel said of Spectre Drinking up: 'Can we have a drink now?,' Daniel said prompting Jimmy to produce the martinis When asked about No Time To Die, Daniel said, 'I don't know, it's like the culmination of all that. That's what I'd say. I mean, that just, this exists because of these four,' Daniel said. Jimmy then thanked Daniel for adding dimension to the Bond character and reinvigorating the franchise. 'Can we have a drink now?,' Daniel said prompting Jimmy to produce the martinis. After a nearly two-year hiatus from the big screen, Jennifer Lawrence has added yet another film project to her burgeoning slate, No Hard Feelings. The 31-year-old actress is slated to star in the R-rated comedy, which Sony acquired in a competitive bidding situation, via Deadline. Sony beat out a number of competitors for the project, said to be an R-rated comedy from writer-director Gene Stupnitsky (Bad Teacher, Good Boys). New project: After a nearly two-year hiatus from the big screen, Jennifer Lawrence has added yet another film project to her burgeoning slate, No Hard Feelings Writer-director: Sony beat out a number of competitors for the project, said to be an R-rated comedy from writer-director Gene Stupnitsky (Bad Teacher, Good Boys) The story is said to be set in Montauk, New York, and described as being in the same vein as Risky Business and 2013's Bad Teacher, which Stupnitsky co-wrote with longtime collaborator Lee Eisenberg. No details about Lawrence's character have been given at this time, though this project is said to be a 'big package' that had several streaming services interested. Stupnitsksy, who made his directing debut in the 2019 R-rated comedy Good Boys, will direct from a script he's co-writing with John Phillips. Same vein: The story is said to be set in Montauk, New York, and described as being in the same vein as Risky Business and 2013's Bad Teacher, which Stupnitsky co-wrote with longtime collaborator Lee Eisenberg No details: No details about Lawrence's character have been given at this time, though this project is said to be a 'big package' that had several streaming services interested Filmmaker: Stupnitsksy, who made his directing debut in the 2019 R-rated comedy Good Boys, will direct from a script he's co-writing with John Phillips Lawrence will also serve as a produce on the film alongside Alex Saks, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk and Justine Polsky. The project was said to have hit the market a few weeks ago, though some have balked at Lawrence's steep $25 million payday, with Stupnitsky's fees also in the seven-figure range. While several streaming services bowed out early, Sony sparked to the project and flew to New York to meet with Lawrence last week. Producer: Lawrence will also serve as a produce on the film alongside Alex Saks, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk and Justine Polsky Payday: The project was said to have hit the market a few weeks ago, though some have balked at Lawrence's steep $25 million payday, with Stupnitsky's fees also in the seven-figure range Production is expected to begin next summer in Montauk, though it's unclear if there are any release plans yet. The actress returns with her first movie in over two years, Netflix's Don't Look Up, starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. The new film from writer-director Adam McKay follows two astronomers who embark on a worldwide media tour warning of a comet that will destroy the Earth. Production: Production is expected to begin next summer in Montauk, though it's unclear if there are any release plans yet Lawrence and DiCaprio lead an all-star cast including Timothee Chalamet, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Gina Gershon, Meryl Streep and more, arriving December 24. She also has Red White and Water in post-production, which is expected in 2022, starring with Brian Tyree Henry and Samira Wiley. The actress is also attached to star in Mob Girl, based on the true story of a New York woman who became a mafia informant for the FBI. Dorit Kemsley went for an idiosyncratic outfit choice when she swung by the costume premiere of Halloween Kills in Hollywood on Tuesday. The 45-year-old Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills was dressed as Paris Hilton - specifically in the outfit the hotel heiress wore to her 21st birthday party in 2002. For Tuesday night's event Dorit was posing up alongside her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills co-star Kathy Hilton, who happens to be Paris' mother. Wow: Dorit Kemsley I(left) went for an idiosyncratic outfit choice when she swung by the costume premiere of Halloween Kills in Hollywood on Tuesday - Paris Hilton (right) At one point Kathy and Dorit as 'Paris' even leaned playfully toward one another other to give each other air kisses for the camera. Kathy arrived at Tuesday night's premiere dressed as a dentist who goes by Hunky Dory DDS, complete with a trayful of supplies. They were accompanied on the black carpet by a number of fellow Real Housewives including Kathy's sister Kyle Richards who is in fact in Halloween Kills. Long before her days as a reality star Kyle was a child actress, and her first major role was in the original Halloween film from 1978 directed by John Carpenter. A thousand words: For Tuesday night's event Dorit was posing up alongside her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills co-star Kathy Hilton - who happens to be Paris' mother Mwah: At one point Kathy and Dorit as 'Paris' even leaned playfully toward one another other to give each other air kisses for the camera Doing her bit: Dorit pulled her best smoldering supermodel stare as she stood for the shutterbugs at the TCL Chinese Theatre Kyle also got to stand for the cameras on Tuesday alongside the franchise's leading lady Jamie Lee Curtis who is back heading the cast of the new picture. Mothers and daughters were something of a theme that evening, as Jamie Lee was dressed as her own mother Janet Leigh's character from Psycho. In the 1960 Hitchcock movie Janet's character Marion Crane is stabbed to death in the shower by Anthony Perkins' character Norman Bates. By the way: Kathy arrived at the theme party dressed as a dentist who goes by Hunky Dory DDS, complete with a trayful of supplies Franchise mainstay: They were accompanied on the black carpet by a number of fellow Real Housewives including Kathy's sister Kyle Richards who is in fact in Halloween Kills As a nod to that iconic movie moment Jamie Lee's premiere costume included a bloodstained shower curtain slung over one arm. Other celebs who have recreated Paris' 21st birthday look include her own sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild as well as Kendall Jenner. Paris herself has come a long way from that 21st birthday party - she is now 40 years old and engaged to her latest fiance Carter Reum. She is still in the midst of planning her televised wedding to the sizzling businessman who founded the angel investment firm M13 Ventures. Side by side: Kyle also got to stand for the cameras on Tuesday alongside the franchise's leading lady Jamie Lee Curtis who is back heading the cast of the new picture All in the family: Mothers and daughters were something of a theme that evening as Jamie Lee (left) was dressed as her iconic mother Janet Leigh (right) The pair have been romantically involved since the end of 2019 and he finally popped the question the day before Valentine's Day this year. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the bride to be shared that she will have 'probably 10' wedding dresses as 'I love outfit changes.' She confessed with a giggle that Carter is 'not as high maintenance as I am' about the wedding which will be 'like a three-day affair.' Unmistakable Paris: Other celebs who have recreated Paris' 21st birthday look include her own sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild as well as Kendall Jenner Amanda Abbington has sparked engagement rumours with TV stuntman Jonathan Goodwin. The Sherlock star, 47, went Instagram official with her new man, 41, on Monday and also professed her love for him in a sweet comment on his page. Jonathan - who has performed on shows such as Jimmy Kimmel and The Jonathan Ross Show - then added an engagement ring to his bio, suggesting he has popped the question. Is Amanda Abbington engaged? The Sherlock star, 47, went Instagram official with her new man Jonathan Goodwin, 41, on Monday and also professed her love for him in a sweet post Could it be? Jonathan - who has performed on shows such as Jimmy Kimmel and The Jonathan Ross Show - then added an engagement ring to his bio, suggesting he has popped the question Amanda - who split from husband Martin Freeman five years ago - shared her first picture with Jonathan on Monday, posting a throwback from a recent romantic getaway that she captioned: 'When in Vienna, you hang out at the graveyards. What of it.' Her post came after Jonathan shared his first picture of the pair earlier in the month, penning: 'That was possibly the longest game of hide and seek ever.' Amanda then commented: 'I love you. ' The Safe actress also confirmed her romance to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden, gushing: 'Jonathan sets fire to himself and catches bullets for a living, but is also grown up, sensitive, and considerate. I'm completely besotted.' MailOnline has contacted Amanda and Jonathan's representatives for comment. Former flame: Amanda split from her husband and Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman in 2016 after 16 years together (pictured in 2014) The rumours come just nine months after Amanda revealed she had split from The Queen's Gambit actor Jonjo O'Neill after four years. The TV star started dating Irishman Jonjo, 42, after she split from actor Martin, 50, in 2016 after 16 years together. Amanda, known for playing Mary Morstan in Sherlock, and Jonjo took the step of moving in together in her Hertfordshire home during the pandemic last year. The actress announced the split to fans on her Instagram Live, saying: 'Sadly no Irishman anymore. He's gone... it's fine, it's just one of those things.' Cute couple: Amanda shared her first picture with Jonathan on Monday, posting a throwback that she captioned: 'When in Vienna, you hang out at the graveyards. What of it' Sweet: Her post came after Jonathan shared his first picture of the pair, penning: 'That was possibly the longest game of hide and seek ever.' Amanda then commented: 'I love you' The mother-of-two hinted at her heartbreak by saying she was, 'very sad for personal reasons' and admitting she was struggling with lockdown because she was 'on my own in the house', The Sun reports. She added: 'At the moment I'm quite fragile... I'm a fragile girl at the moment.' Amanda also joked that she had joined a dating app in a bid to combat her loneliness. She wrote: 'I go on Tinder. No, I've never been on Tinder, nor would I, that was a joke. Being on your own, certainly, you build your strength up and you get a sense of perspective.' Case of the ex: The rumours come just nine months after Amanda revealed she had split from The Queen's Gambit actor Jonjo O'Neill after four years (pictured in September 2019) Amanda and Jonjo first began dating in November 2016 - nine months after she secretly split from The Office star Martin. The actress recently discussed her break up from Martin as she expressed fears that they had given their two children 'irreparable damage' after their split. The couple share son Joe, 15, and daughter Grace, 12. Talking to fans in April during an Instagram live for the It's Ok mental health campaign, which she is an ambassador of, Amanda admitted it is 'unsettling' if she pretends to be a Stepford Wife parent and doesn't want to 'hide' anything from her children. Amanda said during the video, which was broadcast to 49.1K followers: 'I think it's unsettling if I pretend I'm this Stepford Wife parent. 'Nobody is. I'm sure I've given them irreparable damage and they will be going to therapy because of me and Martin at some point.' Candid: Amanda recently discussed her break up from Martin as she expressed fears that they had given their two children 'irreparable damage' after their split IN 2016 She continued: 'If I can teach them to talk about it, say there's nothing to be frightened of or ashamed of with whatever you're going through. 'Whether you get drunk or try drugs, whatever you do this place where we live is a safe place where you can say whatever you like. 'That's what I am striving for and what Martin strives for as well to create a place where they're not hiding anything.' Amanda added that it is important to discuss mental health with her children and for them to know that some days are 'hard' for her so it's not a 'dirty secret'. She said: 'To hide this from my children, that sometimes I get depressed or if I'm on antidepressants, what are you saying about all these mental health issues? Are you saying they're offensive and shouldn't happen? I don't want that.' She's the former Sunrise host who is set to join the cast of Farmer Wants a Wife in the New Year. And on Wednesday, Samantha Armytage revealed she has another exciting TV project on the horizon. The 45-year-old TV veteran will be joining the 'incredible' horse racing team at Channel Seven, where she will report from marquee events during racing season. New gig: On Wednesday, Samantha Armytage (pictured) revealed she will be joining the 'incredible' horse racing team at Channel Seven, where she will report from marquee events during racing season. Sharing the news to Instagram, Sam couldn't hide her glee as she threw in a spirited 'giddy-up.' 'Thrilled to be heading back to TV & back to @channel7 next year, helping out on @farmeraustralia (b/c I found my fabulous farmer!) & joining the incredible team @7horseracing for marquee events... giddy up & cant wait,' wrote the bubbly blonde. This comes after Channel Seven confirmed Sam - who stepped down as host of breakfast show Sunrise in March - will join the upcoming season of dating show Farmer Wants a Wife as a guest star. On Tuesday, the network announced Sam, who married wealthy farmer Richard Lavender late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski. Career move: Sam Armytage (right, with husband Richard Lavender) has announced her new role at Channel Seven after stepping down as host of breakfast show Sunrise in March. She will join dating show Farmer Wants a Wife as a guest star, the network announced on Tuesday 'I'm thrilled to be joining Farmer Wants a Wife in 2022,' she said at the time. 'I've always been a huge fan of the show and of country people, and I know first-hand that falling in love with a farmer is just about the most wonderful thing you can do.' Her guest role will involve hosting a segment called Sam's Choice, in which she introduces the farmers to a 'new lady based on her own expertise and experience'. Partnership: Sam, who married wealthy farmer Richard Lavender late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski (pictured) Seven's Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said the network was 'thrilled to welcome Sam back to our screens'. 'Farmer Wants a Wife has been such a hit with audiences because of its heart and Natalie's earnest mission to help farmers find the love of their lives,' Mr Ross said. 'Given Sam's new life on the farm, she's in the perfect position to share a snapshot of what farm life could look like for the ladies.' Expertise: A cringeworthy trailer for next year's season of FWAW introduces Sam as someone 'who knows a thing or two' about finding love with a farmer A cringeworthy trailer for next year's season of FWAW introduces Sam as someone 'who knows a thing or two' about finding love with a farmer. 'I really want to help find the right woman for each of our farmers,' she says, while standing in a paddock wearing a cowboy hat. 'I won't hold back because this is love. This is for the rest of their lives. I really want to help a farmer find a wife. Have you all met Rich?' Richard then walks on screen and says, 'Every farmer needs love,' to which Sam replies giddily: 'That's lovely, darling!' Fancy seeing you here! 'I really want to help a farmer find a wife. Have you all met Rich?' she says as her husband walks on screen Cringe: Richard says, 'Every farmer needs love,' to which Sam replies: 'That's lovely, darling!' Sam married the equestrian businessman, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands on New Year's Eve. They had announced their engagement in June last year. Sam went on to quit Sunrise in March and has now moved away from Sydney to live with Richard at his 40-hectare rural property. The new season of Farmer Wants a Wife premieres next year on Seven Their story: Sam married equestrian businessman Richard, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands on New Year's Eve Sam Burgess shared a photo flaunting his bulging muscles and rock-hard abs in grey jocks on Wednesday evening following his big win on SAS Australia. The retired South Sydney Rabbitohs star, 32, had taken the impressive photo one day after he was ruled the only recruit to have made it through selection, revealing in the caption he'd lost '8.5kgs' during his stint on the military-style series. But one eagle-eyed follower - NRL star Jack Gosiewski - was quick to admit his eyes were drawn to something else in the image, as he crudely commented: 'Forgot to shake aye,' followed by a crying with laughter emoji. Crikey! Sam Burgess shared a photo flaunting his bulging muscles and rock-hard abs in grey jocks on Wednesday evening, following his gruelling stint on SAS Australia - but one follower pointed out a detail they noticed in the comments section Gosiewski was referring to a small mark on the crotch of Sam's underwear, which could easily be a shadow from the dim lighting in the room. 'This was the night after SAS selection. Minus 8.5kgs down. Safe to say Ive managed to put a few kgs back on,' Sam captioned the photo. 'What a ride - thanks for your overwhelming support.' The image showed Sam stood proudly in front of a fridge, wearing nothing but a pair of grey Bonds jocks with a focused look on his face. Comment: NRL star Jack Gosiewski admitted his eyes were drawn to something else in the photo - quickly commenting: 'Forgot to shake aye' followed by a crying with laughter emoji Detail: The follower was referring to a small mark on the crotch of Sam's underwear, which could just be a shadow from the dim lighting in the room Other comments were full of praise for Sam, with one writing: 'Well done. Onwards and upwards.' 'You were amazing! This show changed my thoughts on quite a few of the SAS contestants. You have a new fan!,' another wrote. 'Legend,' another wrote, while a fourth chimed in: 'Well done Sam.' Support: Other comments were full of praise for Sam, with one writing: 'Well done. Onwards and upwards' Winner takes it all: Sam was elated after discovering he was the only recruit to pass selection on Tuesday night's finale Sam completed the gruelling SAS Australia course alongside John Steffensen and Mark Philippoussis during Tuesday night's finale, however neither of them made the cut. After taking some time to deliberate, the show's DS ultimately decided that only Sam had what it took to make it as an SAS soldier. Chief instructor Ant Middleton admitted it had been 'a hard decision to make', before the DS stepped before the recruits and delivered their final verdict. 'We're not looking for brawn, we're not looking for brain, we're looking for a combination of both,' Ant, 41, told the recruits. 'You can take in information, divulge it and execute what needs to be done. Teamwork, leadership, everything.' Celebrity line-up: Sam completed the course alongside John Steffensen (centre) and Mark Philippoussis (left), neither of who made the cut Pass: After taking some time to deliberate, the show's DS (directing staff) ultimately decided that only Sam had what it took to make it as an SAS soldier. Pictured, chief instructor Ant Middleton After revealing John, 39, and Mark hadn't passed, Ant turned to Sam and told him: 'You have successfully passed this course. Well done.' Ant then told John and Mark, 44, that they 'lacked' the additional 'one per cent' needed to pass selection, but praised their 'amazing effort'. 'I'm feeling a lot of things, really. Bit of emotion, joy, bit unbelievable. It was my goal. My goal was to get to the end and be selected, and it was great to achieve that goal,' said a jubilant Sam. Making the cut: After revealing John and Mark hadn't passed, Ant turned to Sam and told him: 'You have successfully passed this course. Well done' He went on describe it as 'a once in a lifetime experience', happily embracing his fellow recruits after getting the good news. 'What I'm taking from it is I'm going to pour all my time, my emotion, into the places that deserve it in my life,' added the father of daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two. 'It starts with my kids and just making sure I'm the best role model for them. It's just a great lesson in life.' 'What I'm taking from it is I'm going to pour all my time, my emotion, into the places that deserve it in my life,' said Sam Indeed, Sam has been quite the fan favourite after smashing through most of the challenges set for him and his fellow recruits. He also made headlines after confessing to cheating on his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess in a tense interrogation session during episode one. 'I don't think I was the greatest husband at times,' he said to the camera. 'I embarrassed my wife. I'd had an affair with a girl, a woman in Melbourne. That's true. 'I was away on tour, and regretfully that happened. Which would have been... it would have been a tough place for Phoebe to be.' News of the separation came just days after Sam - who shares daughter Poppy, four, and Billy, two, with Phoebe - announced his retirement from all sporting competitions with immediate effect on October 30, 2019, due to a shoulder injury. Sam said he 'couldn't accept' hearing the decision that he should quit from his surgeon, and so tried to go back and play. 'It was a bit of a knife to the heart,' he explained during the episode. 'I couldn't accept it. I knew two games in I couldn't do my job anymore, so I retired. It was s**t.' She is usually seen putting on a glamorous display for her stunning social media snaps. But Kate Beckinsale was showing off her more playful side on Tuesday as she posed with her pet cat named Clive on top of her head. The actress, 48, took to her Instagram feed to share the fun pictures with her fans as the friendly animal took a rest in the precarious position. On the wild side: Kate Beckinsale was showing off her more playful side on Tuesday as she posed with her pet cat on top of her head Despite the animal's presence, Kate managed to still rock a perfectly styled blow dry and opted for a glamorous makeup look. She captioned the series of snaps: 'If you are glad someone's home, let them know.' She beamed in the post as the cat put his paws over her face and eyes while wearing a skimpy white and black vest and posing in her bedroom. Can't see! The actress, 48, took to her Instagram feed to share the fun pictures with her fans as the friendly animal took a rest in the precarious position Looking good: Despite the animal's presence, Kate managed to still rock a perfectly styled blow dry and opted for a glamorous makeup look Playful: She captioned the series of snaps: 'If you are glad someone's home, let them know' It comes after last week fans accused Kate of photoshopping a recent Instagram post. In the snaps she posed with her Pomeranian pup. In the first snapshot the movie star looked younger than her years as she rocked two space buns on either side of her head. Some skeptical fans took the opportunity to criticize the entertainer. 'Why edit your jawline though? You're perfect. No need for photoshop.' Another dropped in to say, 'You look 12...how???' with shocked expression and heart eye emojis. Earlier this week Kate showed off a racy costume in her dressing room on set of the movie Prisoner's Daughter in Las Vegas. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the actress slipped into a ripped mini skirt with sheer underlay and patterned tights for her character Maxine - the daughter of an ex-conman named Max. Youthful: It comes after last week fans accused Kate of photoshopping a recent Instagram post Before that, the London native posted on the photo sharing app to say, 'October 14th you can start streaming our new show #guiltyparty on @paramountplus, birds included.' In the forthcoming dark comedy a disgraced journalist is in despair as she tries to save her career. As a result she attaches herself to a young mother who's serving a lifetime sentence for murdering her husband. Kate's character Beth Burgess seeks to exceed expectations as she embarks on a path to uncover the mom's crimes. Advertisement The BBC has shared new details about the eight 'genre-busting' new dramas the channel has lined up for the winter period in a bid to draw viewers in for the festive period. The likes of The Crown's Claire Foy, The Fall's Jamie Dornan and Sherlock's Martin Freeman have been brought on board to host a slew of new shows that will air later in the year. BBC bosses are no doubt hoping that the new shows will help boost the channel, which has been in crisis in recent months as they face a challenge persuading people to sign up to pay the license fee. In August it was revealed in the corporation's annual report that a million households had stopped paying the charge over the past two years. The pandemic led to a 700,000 decline in licenses purchased in the last financial year. A surge in popularity with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime has also contributed to the steady decline in viewers - as those watching on-demand shows do not need a TV licence. The BBC have also found themselves under fire amid concerns over the broadcaster's 'perceived bias'. The broadcaster received 462,255 complaints in the year 2020 to 2021 which it said 'was an increase of 93,878 on last year,' according to its own annual report. Now, the broadcaster will be hoping to win back viewers with the winter line-up, with Drama boss Piers Wenger announcing during a press event on Monday: 'These dramas don't sit comfortably within those genres we feel very familiar with. 'Distinctive British content is at the very heart of what we do. What we feel excited about is pushing against the conventions of genre. 'They may be the way the streaming platforms organise their menus but that doesn't mean we have to stick to them.' The BBC have had a stellar year producing drama thus far, with Vigil the UK televisions most watched new drama launch in three years; Line of Duty's finale getting 16.9 million and Time averaging 11.6 million viewers throughout the series. A VERY BRITISH SCANDAL - STARRING CLAIRE FOY Exciting: The BBC has shared new details about the eight 'genre-busting' new dramas the channel has lined up for the winter period with Claire Foy set to star (Foy pictured in new series A Very British Scandal) Written by Sarah Phelps (The Pale Horse; Dublin Murders), A Very British Scandal focuses on the divorce of the Duke (Paul Bettany) and Duchess of Argyll (Claire Foy), one of the most notorious, extraordinary and brutal legal cases of the 20th century. Famed for her charisma, beauty and style, Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, dominated the front pages as a divorce featuring accusations of forgery, theft, violence, drug-taking, secret recording, bribery and an explicit polaroid picture - all played out in the white-hot glare of the 1960s media. A Very British Scandal turns this scandal inside out in order to explore the social and political climate of post-war Britain, looking at attitudes towards women, and asking whether institutional misogyny was widespread at the time. As her contemporaries, the press, and the judiciary sought to vilify her, Margaret kept her head held high with bravery and resilience, refusing to go quietly as she was betrayed by her friends and publicly shamed by a society that revelled in her fall from grace. The drama consists of three hour-long episodes. THE TOURIST - STARRING JAMIE DORNAN New role: Jamie Dornan stars in thriller/comedy The Tourist, which sees the actor wake up in the Australian Outback with no recollection as to why he was chased into the desert Six-part thriller The Tourist comes from from Emmy-winning production company Two Brothers Pictures (Baptiste, The Missing, Fleabag), and was created and written by acclaimed writers Harry and Jack Williams. Jamie Dornan stars as a British man who finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat and mouse chase unfolds and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Mans search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback. THE RESPONDER - STARRING MARTIN FREEMAN Back on BBC: Viewers can see Martin Freeman in The Responder, in which the Sherlock star will play an urgent response police officer who is having a breakdown' (pictured on Sherlock) The Responder stars Martin Freeman (The Hobbit; Sherlock; Breeders; Fargo) as Chris, a crisis-stricken, morally compromised, unconventional urgent response officer tackling a series of night shifts on the beat in Liverpool. Whilst trying to keep his head above water both personally and professionally, Chris is forced to take on a new rookie partner Rachel (Adelayo Adedayo). Both soon discover that survival in this high pressure, relentless, night-time world will depend on them either helping or destroying each other. The Responder holds a mirror up to the emotional extremes of life on the front line of British policing - sometimes darkly funny, sometimes painfully tragic, always challenging. The five-part 60 minute dramas were written by Tony Schumacher, his first original series for television. THIS IS GOING TO HURT - STARRING BEN WHISHAW Based on a book: Bond's Ben Whishaw stars as doctor Adam Kay in This Is Going To Hurt. Actress Harriet Walker will portray Adam's mother and the seven-part show follows junior doctor Adam Finally, Bond's Ben Whishaw stars as doctor Adam Kay in This Is Going To Hurt. Actress Harriet Walker will portray Adam's mother and the seven-part show follows junior doctor Adam. Based on Adam Kays award-winning international multi-million selling memoir of the same name, it tells the unvarnished truth of life as a doctor working in obstetrics and gynaecology. The series sees Adam clinging to his personal life as he is increasingly overwhelmed by stresses at work: the 97-hour weeks, the life and death decisions, and all the while knowing the hospital parking meter is earning more than him. The series is hotly anticipated after the book sold 2.5 million copies. CHLOE - STARRING ERIN DOHERTY Another star from The Crown, Erin Doherty (centre) has been signed on for new drama Chloe, and stars alongside (L-R) Poppy Gilbert, Jack Farthing, Pippa Bennett-Warner and Billy Howle Another star from The Crown, Erin Doherty, has been signed on for new drama Chloe, and stars alongside Billy Howle (The Serpent), Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs of London) and Jack Farthing (Poldark) in the series, which explores obsession, deceit, identity and grief. Doherty leads the series as Becky, a young woman working as a temp and still living with her mum who develops an unhealthy obsession with the picture-perfect life Chloe (Poppy Gilbert) projects via her Instagram account. When Chloe dies unexpectedly, Becky assumes a new identity and engineers a chance meeting with Chloes best friend, Livia (Bennett-Warner) to discover what happened to her. Through her new alter-ego Sasha, Becky has the chance to transform herself into a popular somebody with a far more exciting and addictive life than the nobody she was before. As she infiltrates Chloes close-knit friends, her new life begins to obscure reality and threatens to trap Becky completely in the dangerous game she is playing. THE GIRL BEFORE - STARRING GUGU MBATHA-RAW One to watch: The Girl Before tells the story of Jane who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect (David Oyelowo - pictured above in the show with Jessica Plummer as Emma) Created, written and exec produced by JP Delaney, the limited four-part series The Girl Before is adapted from Delaney's own best-selling novel of the same title. The Girl Before tells the story of Jane (Gugu Mbatha Raw), who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect (David Oyelowo). Theres just one catch: occupants have to abide by his list of exacting rules. Jane starts to feel the house changing her in unexpected ways, but when she makes the shocking discovery about her predecessor, shes forced to confront unnerving similarities. As the two womens timelines interweave, Jane begins to question if her fate will be the same as the girl before Marissa Lestrade (White Stork; Deep State 2) co-wrote episodes of the series and Emmy nominated Lisa Bruhlmann (Killing Eve; Servant; Blue My Mind) directed. CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS - STARRING JOE ALWYN Back at work: Following the huge success of the Normal People, the BBC have adapted another one of Sally Rooney's novels, Conversations With Friends, starring Joe Alwyn and Alison Oliver (pictured together on set) Following the huge success of the Normal People, the drama series based on Sally Rooney's 2018 novel, Hulu and the BBC teamed up again to adapt the author's 2017 debut, Conversations With Friends. A 12-part series of half hour episodes has been helmed by Irish director Lenny Abrahamson, who also directed Normal People. Alison Oliver, an emerging talent from Lir Academy (whose graduates include Normal Peoples Paul Mescal) plays Frances, Sasha Lane (American Honey, The Miseducation Of Cameron Post) will star as Bobbi, Taylor Swift's boyfriend Joe Alwyn (The Favourite, A Christmas Carol) as Nick and Jemima Kirke (Sex Education, Girls) as Melissa, in this unique series that is both a complex coming of age drama and a very modern love story. SUPERHOE - STARRING NICOLE LECKY Stage to screen: Based on Nicole Leckys one woman Royal Court show, Superhoe follows 24 year old Sasha Clayton (Lecky) who dreams of being a singer and rapper, but spends most of her time in her bedroom smoking marijuana Based on Nicole Leckys one woman Royal Court show, Superhoe follows 24 year old Sasha Clayton (Lecky) who dreams of being a singer and rapper, but spends most of her time in her bedroom smoking marijuana and stalking her ex-boyfriend on Instagram. When she is kicked out of her family home, Sasha is forced to fend for herself by sofa surfing and eventually moves in with the enigmatic party-girl Carly. Carly introduces her to a glamorous world of social media influencing and partying, and what seems like an easy way to make money through cam work and sex work. But as the gap between her online presence and real life continues to grow, Sasha finds herself struggling to escape a world that is more complex and darker than she could have imagined. She's the Bondi Beach socialite who's a walking, talking billboard for her own brand, P.E Nation. But on Wednesday, Pip Edwards was finding it hard to put her best foot forward as she balanced on a steep driveway in towering heels. 'Going out bit of an uphill battle #outofpractice,' she cheekily captioned the picture while standing in - you guessed it - her own label. Model material: Pip Edwards (pictured) said 'going out' is a 'bit of an uphill battle' on Wednesday - as she posed in a driveway in her own activewear brand In the image, the 41-year-old was a vision in navy as she posed in a stylish, upmarket shell suit. Pip allowed her freshly washed flaxen locks to fall haphazardly over her face as she hiked up her zip-up top, desperately searching for the pockets in her pants. Pip's impromptu snap follows rumours she's back on with ex-boyfriend Michael Clarke. Although neither Pip nor Michael have confirmed the romance, the Daily Telegraph have claimed that the once PDA-loving couple have rekindled their romance after splitting in February, and are said to be 'very happy'. Do blondes have more fun? Pip's impromptu snap follows rumours she's back on with ex-boyfriend Michael Clarke (both pictured) The pair sent reunion rumours into overdrive last month, after being spotted together on numerous occasions. At the start of September, they were pictured buying acai bowls in Bondi Beach with Michael's daughter, Kelsey Lee. They had also been spotted spending time on Michael's boat. Cheque please: The pair sent reunion rumours into overdrive last month, after being spotted together on numerous occasions The reunion claims come after Pip called time on her relationship with Cameron Northway, the Bondi restaurateur she dated for four months after splitting with Michael. Pip and Cameron, the co-owner of Rocker restaurant, were first linked in April when he was spotted leaving the activewear designer's eastern suburbs home on two occasions. She said via a spokeswoman at the time they were just 'friends'. But she and Cameron eventually confirmed their romance in June after being spotted holding hands at the closing show of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney. Before dating Cameron, Pip had been in a high-profile relationship with Michael for about a year. Ex factor! The report comes after Pip called time on her relationship with Cameron Northway (left), the Bondi restaurateur she dated for four months after splitting with Michael They split amicably in February, according to sources close to the couple. When contacted about her split from the batsman, Pip told Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'I have no comment, no comment at all.' Pip and Michael's relationship began in June 2020, following his split from wife Kyly Clark (nee Boldy), which they had announced four months earlier. He and Pip had been friends for more than a decade before that, but grew close while working on a fashion project together. The Clarkes had kept their separation quiet for several months before they put out a statement on Instagram saying their priority was their daughter, Kelsey Lee. Earlier this month, 2GB's Ben Fordham was crowned the king of breakfast radio after beating The Kyle and Jackie O Show for the second time in a row. And on Wednesday, the 44-year-old gave Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson a wake up call when he announced his decision to quit his hosting duties on Australian Ninja Warrior. 'I am not going to be hosting Australian Ninja Warrior going forward, because I found that it placed so much pressure on my family and on the breakfast show,' he told The Daily Telegraph. Done: On Wednesday, Ben Fordham (pictured) announced he was sensationally quitting his hosting duties on Australian Ninja Warrior to focus on his 2GB radio show 'Ive decided that it would be better for me just to focus on the main game, which is breakfast radio,' he added. Ben went on to say that for the sake of his 'mental fitness' and 'family' it was time to call it a day. Ben has been hosting the obstacle course series alongside co-star Rebecca Maddern since it launched in 2017. The show will commence its sixth season in 2022. A replacement for Ben is yet to be announced, however Confidential claims AFL legend Shane Crawford could be in with a good shot. Bye bye: Ben has been hosting the obstacle course series alongside co-star Rebecca Maddern since it launched in 2017 A week ago, Fordham beat The Kyle and Jackie O Show in ratings for a second time after dethroning them the survey prior. He has maintained his leading share in Sydney's breakfast market with 18.9 per cent, growing his audience by an impressive 2 points. Coming in second was outgoing ABC duo Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck, who grew by 1.8 percent to earn a solid 15.7 per cent share. Still on top! A week ago, Fordham beat The Kyle and Jackie O Show in ratings for a second time after dethroning them the survey prior Kyle And Jackie O placed third overall with 10.8 per cent after tumbling by 1.3 points. The result is nothing short of a coup for Fordham, who replaced industry titan Alan Jones as host of 2GB's breakfast show a year ago. Despite the outcome, The Kyle and Jackie O Show still has plenty to celebrate. Winner: Fordham, who dethroned KIIS FM's Kyle And Jackie O in the last survey, maintained his leading share in Sydney's breakfast market with 18.9 per cent last week, growing his audience by an impressive 2 points Runner up: Coming in second was outgoing ABC duo Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck (both pictured) , who grew by 1.8 percent to earn a solid 15.7 per cent share The program continues to dominate the FM airwaves, earning more listeners than any other FM breakfast show in Australia. The outcome also marks Kyle and Jackie O's 22nd consecutive No. 1 spot on the FM bandwidth. Overall, 2GB also dominated Sydney's ratings, with listeners switching to AM during the recent Covid lockdown. Third: The Kyle And Jackie O Show placed third overall with 10.8 per cent after tumbling by 1.3 points. Pictured: Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands The station earned a whopping 16.4 per cent - the station's highest ever outcome - jumping from 1.2 points since the last survey. Nine Radio's head of content Greg Byrnes has meanwhile referred to 2GB's result as 'extraordinary'. 'It's been a tough few months for Sydney but the audience knows 2GB is the source of trusted news and opinion', he said. 'We're proudly live and local and that's seen a big jump in audience across the network.' Celeste Barber took aim at Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly in her latest post on Instagram on Wednesday. The 39-year-old comedian enlisted the help of her 'hot husband' Api Robin to poke fun at the attention-grabbing Hollywood couple. Recreating Megan and Machine Gun Kelly's recent cover photo shoot for GQ Style, Celeste aimed a gun at her husband's crotch. Send up: Celeste Barber (pictured with husband Api Robin) took aim at Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly in her latest post on Instagram on Wednesday 'He forgot to bring my pants so I shot him in the d**k,' she captioned the hilarious post. The black and white photo sees Celeste sitting on a bench wearing nothing but skimpy lingerie and using her right arm to strategically cover her bare breast. She glares at the camera as her husband stands alongside her wearing a trench coat, denim cut-offs and over-the-knee socks. Taking aim: Celeste recreated Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly's recent cover photo shoot for GQ Style Partners in crime: The 39-year-old comedian enlisted the help of her 'hot husband' to poke fun at the attention-grabbing Hollywood couple Actress Megan, 35, has been dating the 31-year-old rapper - real name Colson Baker - since May, with the couple regularly making headlines with their relationship. Celeste previously revealed that some celebrities have blocked her on social media during an interview with Jameela Jamil's iWeigh podcast in January. 'If Cindy Crawford and Gwyneth Paltrow are okay with it, you can all f**king be okay with it!' she joked at the time. Love and fame: Actress Megan, 35, has been dating the 31-year-old rapper since May, with the couple regularly making headlines with their relationship In an interview with The Guardian in June 2017, she admitted she gets annoyed with the fashion set thinking they're 'better than other people'. 'I get a little miffed with fashionista people thinking that they are much better than other people because they are very slim and have architect husbands and get to wear free stuff,' she said. 'It's a bit [like they are] rubbing your nose in, "This is how we live, sorry guys" - and that bums me hard.' She was said to have been scouted outside of McDonalds in her teens, before pursuing her first modelling job in Tokyo. And Tess Daly put her modelling skills to good use once again as she shared a string of stunning images for her newest collaboration with the fashion brand Biba. The television presenter, 52, looked typically stylish in a selection of items from her 31-piece collection, sporting a navy blue velvet suit in one image, and a leopard-print trench coat in another. Wow! Tess Daly put her modelling skills to good use once again as she shared a string of stunning images for her Biba X Tess Daly collaboration, sporting a navy blue velvet pantsuit Tess stood tall in the midnight blue ensemble, posing for the stylish image in a pair of purple heeled sandals. In another image, the Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter could be seen gazing towards the camera, clad in an electric blue faux fur jacket. The star tapped into her blonde ambition, styling her luscious tresses in glamorous waves which were swept up in the breeze. Stunning: The television presenter looked typically stylish in her AW21 pieces, sporting a leopard-print trench coat in another image Her stylish collaboration with the London fashion brand comes as Tess recently shared a throwback snap of herself and husband Vernon Kay, 47, from the early days of their marriage. The couple appeared loved-up and fresh faced in the picture as they posed alongside actor Antony Cotton, 46, with Tess writing she was expecting her eldest daughter Phoebe at the time. She captioned the image: 'Flashback to these young things! Who would have thought I was pregnant with my eldest who's 17 in a few weeks! Time flies.' Blonde ambition: In another picture, the Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter tucked her fingers into her belt loops while she gazed down, wearing an electric blue fluffy jacket A natural! She was said to have been scouted outside of McDonalds in her teens, before pursuing her first modelling job in Tokyo. Pictured in 1989 at age 20 Tess and Vernon married in 2003 and went on to have daughters Phoebe, 16, and Amber, 12. At the time, Vernon was a host on Channel 4's T4 and Tess presented SMTV on ITV on a Saturday morning. The couple began dating shortly after meeting on T4, with Tess previously telling Digital Spy of their relationship. 'It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together. 'I couldn't imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you.' Sweet: Her collaboration with the fashion brand comes as Tess recently shared a throwback snap of herself and husband Vernon Kay (right), from the early days of their marriage She split from billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes in 2018, after three years of dating and welcoming two children together. But Kate Fowler sparked rumours she may have found romance again on Wednesday, as she shared a string of cosy photos with a new man on Instagram. The New Zealand native looked elated as she cosied up to David Oettle, revealing the duo had spent lockdown in Sydney together before liking a number of comments that hinted they could be an item. New romance? Justin Hemmes' ex Kate Fowler sparked rumours she may have found romance again on Wednesday, as she shared a string of cosy photos with David Oettle on Instagram 'To the many swims of lockdown. Thanks for bearing with me and for the noms @davieo,' the fashionista wrote alongside a love-heart emoji. A number of her followers wrote love heart emojis on the post, with Kate hitting the like button on a few - including one comment which read: 'Hi lovers!' The first photo showed Kate and David cuddled up together while watching a sunset, while another showed them enjoying what appeared to be an indoor date night with candles, roses and wine. How lovely! One photo showed the pair enjoying what appeared to be an indoor date night with candles, roses and wine Cute: Another image showed Kate and David enjoying an afternoon hike by the sea Telling sign? A number of her followers wrote love heart emojis on the post, with Kate hitting the like button on a few - including one comment which read: 'Hi lovers!' A third image was a headshot of David, while one showed the pair enjoying an afternoon hike together by the sea. Not a lot is known about David, whose social media page is set to private. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kate for further comment and clarification. In July 2018, Justin, 49, announced his split from Kate - who is the older sister of model Georgia Fowler - after three years of dating. The pair share two children together; Alexa, five, and Saachi, four. The Merivale boss told The Sydney Morning Herald at the time: 'Kate and I have the utmost love and respect for each other. Past relationship: In July 2018, Justin, 49 (right) announced his split with Kate - who is the older sister of model Georgia Fowler - after three years of dating 'At the beginning of 2018, Kate and I decided our friendship and respect for family life would become the focus of our relationship. 'We love our children dearly and for now continue to live together happily in our family home. 'Kate is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman. As for what the future holds I am not sure.' It was reported in November 2020 that Justin had given Kate a $7.5 million Dover Heights cliffside mansion to live in - which is less than a 10-minute drive from his $60million Vaucluse residence. Private: Kate also shared this headshot of David. Not a lot is known about David, whose social media page is set to private Meanwhile, Justin is currently dating model Madeline Holtznagel, 25. While it's not known exactly how long Justin and Madeline have been dating, she hinted their relationship has carried on longer than many people expect. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in October, Madeline said they'd actually met two years before reports emerged of their relationship early last year. 'We have known each other for two years and met when I was modelling in Singapore,' she said at the time. Sweet: Meanwhile, Justin is currently dating model Madeline Holtznagel, 25 (left). In August this year, Madeline shared a string of rare photographs with Justin to celebrate his 49th birthday In August this year, Madeline shared a string of rare photographs with Justin to celebrate his 49th birthday. 'Happy birthday' the beauty captioned the sweet set of black and white images. One photo showed the couple embracing on a cliffside with an ocean view in the background. A second photo depicted the pair linking hands as they enjoyed a drink alongside a beach. Victoria Beckham stepped out in style in New York on Wednesday after sporting a noticeably fuller pout during an appearance on Good Morning America the day before. The fashion designer, 47, showed off her figure in an orange off-the-shoulder midi dress as she left her hotel and headed out into the Big Apple for a TV interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan. It comes after GMA viewers were shocked at her appearance on the show with one Twitter user wondering: 'What's happened to her face?' Another begged: 'Please no more lip fillers.' Confident: Victoria Beckham stepped out in style in New York on Wednesday after sporting a noticeably fuller pout during an appearance on Good Morning America the day before For her latest appearance Victoria teamed her bright dress - which was cinched in at the waist to show off her figure - with sky high heels of the same hue. She accessorized perfectly with a black chain bag and wore her trademark dark shades to shield her eyes despite the dreary weather. The beauty wore her dark tresses swept back and opted for a naturally pretty makeup look. Looking good: The fashion designer, 47, showed off her figure in an orange off-the-shoulder midi dress as she left her hotel and headed out into the Big Apple Fuller pout: It comes after Victoria made a typically glamorous appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday however viewers were taken aback by the former Spice Girl's fuller lips Reaction: It comes after GMA viewers were shocked at her appearance on the show with one Twitter user wondering: 'What's happened to her face?' On Tuesday Victoria made a typically glamorous appearance on Good Morning America where she was promoting her new cream cheek colour, Cheeky Posh. The star also spoke candidly about her marriage to her husband of 22 years, David Beckham, saying: 'We're very supportive of each other. He's an incredible dad and a wonderful husband.' However many viewers were taken aback by the former Spice Girl's appearance, noticing her fuller pout. Stylish: For her latest appearance Victoria teamed her bright dress - which was cinched in at the waist to show off her figure - with sky high heels of the same hue Details: She accessorized perfectly with a black chain bag and wore her trademark dark shades to shield her eyes despite the dreary weather Glowing: The beauty wore her dark tresses swept back and opted for a naturally pretty makeup look 'Love Victoria Beckham but whats been done to her lips is a shame,' one viewer tweeted. Another penned: 'Victoria Beckham on GMA is freaking me out. She only moves her eye lids and lips when speaking... it's so unnatural and distracting. The botox/filler game can work for pics, but wow it's not good for life things.' 'My gosh her lip injection looks terrible. Whyyyyy are women doing this to themselves??!!,' another asked, followed by someone else posting: 'Victoria beckham got the extra good lip filler i see!' Arrival: She turned heads in her daring ensemble Working it: She put on a confident display as she stepped out in the bright ensemble Bright: She brightened up the dreary New York day with her orange dress Shades: The mother-of-four is rarely seen without her sunglasses Another penned: 'Watching @GMA and asking myself whats wrong with @victoriabeckham lips. She seem that like she doesnt have an upper lip!' Someone else penned: 'Victoria Beckham looks freakish. Geez Ladies. What is the goal? What is the ultimate look. Face pulled back to behind the ears. Lips busted and glossed. Stretched out Cat eyes. Sorry, I just turned 47, maybe Im just getting too old for these older ladies.' Speaking about her and David's relationship, Victoria said: 'We have a lot of fun, we support each other with everything that we do.' NYC: She was stepping out in style Looking good: Her trim figure was on display in the figure-hugging dress She added: 'It's about having fun and enjoying that person's company. I genuinely love being with him.' She then joked: 'Which is good after all those years.' Making Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan laugh, Victoria quipped: 'It's a bonus!' The pair have been married for 22 years, and share four children - the eldest of whom, Brooklyn, made his own appearance on US TV last week - going viral for making a sandwich on the Today show. VB - who is also scheduled to appear on Jimmy Fallon in what appears to be a publicity blitz - didn't mention Brooklyn's questionable culinary skills, with co-host George Stephanopoulos asking the fashion designer what kind 'marriage wisdom' she hopes to pass on to her children. Off we go: She has been busy promoting her new cream cheek colour, Cheeky Posh Stunning look: She boosted her height with matching bright orange heels Show-stopping: The star cut a show-stopping silhouette Shades on: Victoria looked as though she meant business while rocking blacked-out shades Immaculate: The former Spice Girl sported an immaculate manicure 'Oh my goodness, marriage wisdom, you know, I don't know,' she said. 'Um, he's an incredible dad, um, and a wonderful husband, and we have a lot of fun.' Strahan then began to grill Beckham on whether she would ever return to the Spice Girls, but sadly, it was another no from the mom-of-four. 'I think you asked me this the last time!' Victoria said with a smile. 'You know I think the Spice Girls were such a big success... but I think my times of singing on stage are behind me.' Having a little joke with Strahan, she then talked about her new passion of making beauty products for 'her community' saying she ultimately wants to 'give them what they want, what they really, really want,' referencing their hit Wannabe. As one of Britain's biggest television stars she's often a vision of beauty on the nation's screens. And Amanda Holden, 50, gave fans a glimpse of her hair and make-up regime as she was primped and preened by a team of five helpers in a picture shared to Instagram on Wednesday. The actress, who is currently filming scenes in London for Australian soap Neighbours, but didn't say if this was to do with her role, could be seen having a mani-pedi as two assistants went to work on her nails. Luxe: Amanda Holden, 50, gave fans a glimpse of her hair and make-up regime as she was primped and preened by a team of five helpers in a picture shared to Instagram on Wednesday Amanda could be seen sitting in a blue dressing gown which she left open to the thigh to show off her long slender pins, writing: 'We will rebuild her'. The Britain's Got Talent judge could be seen having her make-up applied while a man in a red jumper styled her luscious blonde tresses. The Heart radio host ensured she was comfortable as she wore a single fluffy slipper on the foot that wasn't being tended to. Jet set: Amanda sported a healthy glow after topping up her tan while on holiday in Portugal earlier in the summer Amanda sported a healthy glow after topping up her tan while on holiday in Portugal earlier in the summer. Amanda recently landed a role on Neighbours playing the aunt of Jason Donovan's daughter, Jemma, 21. Channel 5 have released the first look images from set this week after the pair filmed in Waterloo, London, together ahead of the episodes airing in the spring. On location: Amanda Holden looked radiant as ever as she stepped onto the set of Neighbours in London alongside her co-star Jemma Donovan, who plays Harlow Robinson Scene: Amanda told how many passersby thought she and Jemma were actually related as they filmed in the capital On the show, Jemma's character Harlow will jet to the UK in the hope of figuring out a mystery about her late mother, Prue, who was played by Denise Van Outen. Between filming scenes, Amanda and Jemma posed for a snap together as they held up the Ramsay St street sign, where the soap is set. Amanda also revealed that many passersby thought the pair were related in real life. She said: 'My first day on set was such a fun and surreal experience. If I'd told my 12/13 year-old self I would one-day appear in Neighbours I'd have never believed it! 'So many people were beeping in their cars and passersby assumed that Jemma was my real daughter because we look quite similar! I can't wait to continue the journey of my character Harriet.' Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Amanda gave fans a glimpse at her posh character as she spoke on the phone. Role: Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Amanda gave fans a glimpse at her posh character as she spoke on the phone 'Oh hello operator, Ramsay St please,' she said in an upper crust accent. Amanda captioned the post: 'Everybody needs good @neighbours Back on set tomorrow with the gorgeous @jemma_donovan'. She previously said in a statement: 'Like most people in the UK who were around in the late Eighties and early Nineties, I grew up watching Neighbours every single day. 'I was glued to our TV for the wedding of Kylie [Minogue] and Jason [Donovan], while cursing Mrs Mangel [Vivean Gray] and praying that Mike and Jane [Guy Pearce and Jane Harris] would eventually get together! Not to mention all the other greats over the years. 'To now have the opportunity to be a part of such an iconic Australian show is simply fabulous. I can't wait to work with Jemma in London. This feels like a joyous occasion for everyone.' BBC drama boss Piers Wenger has defended the channel's controversial upcoming series The Reckoning, which will trace disgraced star Jimmy Savile's upbringing, career and prolific child sex offences. Speaking about the show during a press conference on Monday, Wenger sought to quell concerns that the Steve Coogan-fronted series had been commissioned too soon after Savile's crimes came to light. Wenger said: 'It's a decade since Jimmy Savile died [and] it will be a decade next year since his behaviours first came into the public eye. Our primary intention with the drama is to give voice to the victims.' Defending the show: BBC boss Piers Wenger defended the channel's upcoming series which will trace disgraced star Jimmy Savile's upbringing, career and prolific child sex offences Wenger continued: '[We want to tell] their stories sensitively and with the utmost respect. There are still many important questions that need to be answered about Savile, so I think it's incredibly important that the BBC tell that story.' Wenger was also asked how a dramatized show such as The Reckoning would be able to add anything yet to be addressed by the factual documentaries that have been made about Savile. He replied: 'The documentaries that have been on show you the heinous and nature of his crimes, but I've yet to see one that really answers the question, ''How did this happen?''' He added that The Reckoning has been 'extensively researched' and that 'many of the survivors' are involved in the drama's making. Lead role: Steve Coogan, 55, portrays Jimmy Savile in new BBC drama and has been seen filming for the show in Manchester this week On set: Steve was pictured wearing a jester outfit on Monday as he filmed scenes in character as Savile The decision to chronicle Savile's life has come under fire from many and this is not the first time the BBC has emphasized they worked with his victims and will portray the story 'with sensitivity and respect'. Steve, who famously portrays fictional comedic character Alan Partridge, previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one 'I took lightly'. He added: 'Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively a horrific story which, however harrowing, needs to be told.' Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television's biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011. In his final years, he fought to quell growing speculation about his illegal exploits throughout his illustrious career with the BBC - with victim testimony expected to be brought to life in the new drama. Shocking: Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television's biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011 A BBC-led inquiry into his actions found he had molested at least 72 children, some as young as eight, over a four decade campaign of sexual abuse with his first victim in 1959 and his last in 2006. His horrific reign of abuse could be charted 'in the corridors, canteens, staircases and dressing rooms of every BBC premises', their 2016 report found. A release date has yet to be announced with filming for the series expected to continue taking place in Manchester over the coming months. Eight-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper showed his hometown pride while running errands in Manhattan on Tuesday. The 46-year-old Philly native was sporting a black hoodie from Angelo's Pizzeria in South Philadelphia. Bradley paired his sweatshirt with a grey top, blue cargo skinny jeans, and grey p448 sneakers with red laces. Pennsylvania pride: Eight-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper showed his hometown pride while running errands in Manhattan on Tuesday Missing from Cooper's side on Tuesday was his four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine from his four-year relationship with ex-fiancee Irina Shayk, which ended in 2019. The two-time Grammy winner and the 35-year-old Lions Model are West Village neighbors, and share 50/50 joint legal and physical custody of their cherubic blonde. '[Bradley] is a full-on, hands-on dad - no nanny. Lea went on holiday with him for almost two weeks - I didn't call them once,' Shayk (born Shaykhlislamova) told Highsnobiety last month. 'Me and her father are very strict. When she finishes eating, she gets up from the table, takes her plate, says "thank you." Without "please" or "thank you" she's not getting anything. It's hard, because she has so many toys. Represent: The 46-year-old Philly native was sporting a black hoodie from Angelo's Pizzeria in South Philadelphia Casually clad: Bradley paired his sweatshirt with a grey top, blue cargo skinny jeans, and grey p448 sneakers with red laces '[Bradley] is a full-on, hands-on dad - no nanny': Missing from Cooper's side on Tuesday was his four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine (L, pictured Monday) from his four-year relationship with ex-fiancee Irina Shayk (R), which ended in 2019 Out and about: Bradley was later seen out in NYC on Tuesday wearing a 149 Grapite Twill Workshirt from Percival Menswear, a brand also favoured by Joe Jonas 'I had one doll, and I still have this doll. Blonde, blue eyes, big Russian doll. My grandma used to make clothes for her. And I always explain, "Look, this is my doll. I had only one." Or sometimes, "You have this candy. I used to have candy only for Christmas."' Cooper will next play hairdresser-turned-A Star Is Born producer Jon Peters in Paul Thomas Anderson's drama Licorice Pizza, which hits US theaters November 26. Coincidentally, the real Jon Peters - who dated Barbra Streisand for nine years - co-produced the eight-time Oscar nominee's directorial debut A Star Is Born in 2018. Hitting US theaters November 26! The two-time Grammy winner will next play hairdresser-turned-A Star Is Born producer Jon Peters in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1973-set drama Licorice Pizza Meta! Coincidentally, the real Jon Peters (L, pictured in 1975) - who dated Barbra Streisand (R) for nine years - co-produced Bradley's directorial debut A Star Is Born in 2018 The 1973 San Fernando Valley-set ensemble flick also features Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Maya Rudolph, Ben Stiller, and John C. Reilly. The Georgetown University grad will also play ambitious carny Stanton 'Stan' Carlisle in Guillermo del Toro's Nightmare Alley, which hits US theaters December 3. The psychological thriller reunites Carol love interests Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as well as Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, and David Strathairn. They have not officially collaborated with each other on a major project since they won Oscars for the screenplay to their hit 1997 drama Good Will Hunting. And Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reflected on how much has changed since then as they promote their new period film The Last Duel on Wednesday during Good Morning America. 'The process on The Last Duel was different because we're different people and we've grown a lot and have been through a lot,' said Ben. New people: They have not officially collaborated with each other on a major project since they won Oscars for the screenplay to their hit 1997 drama Good Will Hunting. And Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reflected on how much has changed since then as they promote their new period film The Last Duel on Wednesday during Good Morning America New experience: He said the process on The Last Duel was 'different because we're different people and we've grown a lot and have been through a lot' Since 1997 they have both gotten married and had children. Ben wed Jennifer Garner and had three kids - Violet, Seraphina and Samuel - but they divorced in 2018. He now dates his ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez. Matt married Luciana Barroso in 2005. Together they have daughters Isabella, Stella and Gia Zavala. He also helps raise her daughter Alexia, 22. acted as if their working relationship never really came to an end because of their enduring friendship during an appearance to talk about their new film The Last Duel with their co-screenwriter Nicole Holofcener Ben, 49, also said it felt as if the two had 'worked together a bunch' because they have kept up such a strong friendship in the decades since their most famous work together. His love life makes headlines: Ben wed Jennifer Garner and had three kids - Violet, Seraphina and Samuel - but they divorced in 2018. He now dates his ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez; seen on October 9 at The Last Duel premiere in NYC His love: Matt married Luciana Barroso in 2005. Together they have daughters Isabella, Stella and Gia Zavala. He also helps raise her daughter Alexia, 22 But the Argo director also felt as if the two never really stopped working together because they've remained such great friends. 'From the outside, it might look like, "Oh, they did this together then and now this is so much later." But staying friends and it feels like we've worked together a bunch, just because we consult one another and rely on one another and talk about stuff and look at one another's movies.' Matt, 51, described their collaboration on the Ridley Scott historical drama as 'more efficient.' 'We also had a deadline this time and people were actually waiting for the script and we had a real writer working with us,' he said, referring to Holofcener. She described the importance of having a 'female write a female character' and said she 'surprised' Ben and Matt with new ideas. Old friends: They credited their friendship with making it feel as if they 'worked together a bunch' despite taking two decades off during a GMA appearance Wednesday with Nicole Holofcener (L) Both men wrote the male vantage points of the French knight Jean de Carrouges (played by Damon) and his squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), while Holofcener wrote scenes from the viewpoint of de Carrouges wife Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) The film is about the last legally sanctioned duel to take place in France after Marguerite accuses Le Gris of raping her. Affleck plays the Count Pierre d'Alencon, who will initially weigh in on the matter, but Damon's character takes his dispute to the king, fearing that d'Alencon would favor the squire. Carrouges challenges Le Gris to a trial by combat. If he wins, he will be declared innocent, but his loss will label him guilty. Back together: Ben plays a major supporting role in The Last Duel with his longtime friend Matt . Damon stars with Jodie Comer as a knight who requests a trial by combat against his squire (Adam Driver) after his wife accuses him of raping her Elsewhere in the interview, Ben complained about the prep he had to go through to play a blond character, which required a skull cap to keep his hair from peeking through. When it came to his beard, his Italian makeup artists applied each hair to his face one at a time. 'At first I thought, God, the artistry of this. Then by the third day I was like, "Guys, can we just slap it on here,"' he joked. He stayed mum when asked about walking the red carpet with his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, though said the experience was 'a lot of fun.' 'I'm very proud of the movie. I'm very excited,' he gushed. 'It's a really rewarding time for me. Professionally, it's very exciting. It's really nice to go to a premiere of a movie you like.' Working fast: Matt, 51, described their collaboration on the Ridley Scott historical drama as 'more efficient' Having a laugh: Ben joked about how intensive his beard appliance was for The Last Duel: 'At first I thought, God, the artistry of this. Then by the third day I was like, "Guys, can we just slap it on here"' Back to normal: Matt added that he was looking forward to the pandemic lessening, as 'our whole business revolves around people feeling safe enough to go to the movies.' Matt added that he was looking forward to the pandemic lessening, as 'our whole business revolves around people feeling safe enough to go to the movies.' At The Last Duel's New York premiere, Matt previously told E! News that he and Ben hadn't worked together more often because writing was 'so time consuming' that they assumed they wouldn't have time for it again. The Bourne series star revealed the pair simply thought they'd 'never find the time' to write another script on the level of Good Will Hunting, which starred Robin Williams and earned nine Oscar nominations in total, including Best Picture and Best Director. However, Matt revealed that they realized: 'If we just work during hours that we could easily carve out, we could get a lot done.' He added: 'We wrote it faster than we thought we would.' The pair were delighted to be back together on set for their new film, and it made them wonder why they hadn't worked on more movies together. Finding the time: At The Last Duel's New York premiere, Matt previously told E! News that he and Ben hadn't worked together more often because writing was 'so time consuming' that they assumed they wouldn't have time for it again Ben said: 'We had such a great time doing this that it was like, why don't we do this more? What have we been doing?' And he feels incredibly grateful to have Matt in his life after so long. 'I grew up with this guy, I've known him forever. We're from same world and place, and stayed close and I often think about people who come into this business and there's some challenges that get thrown at you. 'And having somebody to go through it with me and bounce stuff off of has been really helpful. He added: 'You're lucky if you get to do the job you love and luckier if it's with people that you love.' The Last Duel will be released in theaters on Friday, October 15. Influencer Lori Harvey flaunted her cleavage and taut tummy after enjoying a seafood dinner at Crustacean in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old adopted daughter of Steve Harvey -who relies on stylist Monica Rose - was wearing a plaid bra-top beneath a matching blazer, pencil skirt, and translucent slingbacks. That same day, Lori - who just got back from Paris - took to Instastory to hype her skincare company SKN by LH, which is 'coming soon.' Werrrk! Influencer Lori Harvey flaunted her cleavage and taut tummy after enjoying a seafood dinner at Crustacean in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night Shoulder pad alert! The 24-year-old adopted daughter of Steve Harvey - who relies on stylist Monica Rose - was wearing a plaid bra-top beneath a matching blazer, pencil skirt, and translucent slingbacks Harvey was inspired to create her vegan, paraben-free brand back in July after bouts with acne and rosacea. 'As I got older, going into modeling, having make-up taken on and off, like wear and tear, my skin was going through it,' the Tennessee-born beauty said on The Real on September 20. 'So I was using 20 different products just to get my skin back healthy and get it glowing and I just feel like there has to be a simpler way. That is what inspired me to create my own skincare line and come up with an easy five-step skin routine.' Lori also gushed about her 'sweet and attentive' boyfriend Michael B. Jordan, whom she began dating in November. 'Coming soon!' That same day, Lori - who just got back from Paris - took to Instastory to hype her skincare company SKN by LH 'My skin was going through it': Harvey was inspired to create her vegan, paraben-free brand back in July after bouts with acne and rosacea The Tennessee-born beauty said on The Real on September 20: 'I was using 20 different products just to get my skin back healthy and get it glowing and I just feel like there has to be a simpler way. That is what inspired me to create my own skincare line and come up with an easy five-step skin routine' 'We just really balance each other,' Harvey said on her first-ever talk show appearance. 'I really do believe in the statement when they say, "When you know you know." And I think that really applies to our situation and we just have a really good time together.' The 34-year-old Emmy-nominated producer is great at celebrating Valentine's Day and birthdays, but it's the little things that affect her most. 'We just really balance each other': Lori also gushed about her 'sweet and attentive' boyfriend Michael B. Jordan (L, pictured September 27), whom she began dating in November Harvey said on her first-ever talk show appearance: 'I really do believe in the statement when they say, "When you know you know." And I think that really applies to our situation and we just have a really good time together' 'The other day, I just been saying I really just wanted to go to a farmer's market,' the Playboy Playmate of 2020 smiled. 'So he called me one Sunday morning and was like, "What are you doing, I'm going to come pick you up" and he took me an hour away to this really cute farmer's market and we had the best day. So, it's things like that.' Lori previously dated Grammy-winning rapper Future, three-time Grammy nominee Trey Songz, three-time Grammy winner Diddy as well as his 27-year-old son Justin Combs. Jodie Turner-Smith looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the cover of Vogue Brazil. The actress, 35, displayed her jaw-dropping figure as she posed topless on the latest issue of the fashion bible. The Queen & Slim star donned an eye-catching skirt with a multi-coloured sequinned detail which she paired with matching gloves. Wow: Jodie Turner-Smith looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the cover of Vogue Brazil Jodie fixed the camera with a sultry stare as she posed in front of a black background. The actress shared the cover to her Instagram account on Wednesday and revealed her outfit was from Gucci. Alongside the snap, she wrote: 'my first #vogue cover is here!!! thank you @voguebrasil! head to toe in glorious @gucci'. It comes after Jodie sizzled as she shared a topless mirror selfie on the picture-sharing social media late last month. Wow factor: Jodie sizzled as she shared a topless mirror selfie on the picture-sharing social media late last month The star strategically covered up her chest with her elbows in the stunning snap taken from her bathroom. Her actor husband Jackson recently opened up about the reaction she received when he revealed last month that she had proposed to him. The Affair star, 43, said he was shocked by the racist words left for the model-actress calling it 'a real education for [him] as a white man, truly. 'The way people get in her comments and the ignorance and ugliness that comes her way is truly shocking,' he said. Dynamic duo: The post comes just a month after her actor husband Joshua Jackson opened up about the reaction she received when he revealed last month that she had proposed to him (pictured in February 2020) 'And it has been a necessary, but an unpleasant education in just the way people relate to black bodies in general, but black female bodies in specific. It is not okay. We have a long way to go.' The Fringe star, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in July, said that Jodie had popped the question to him two amid a vacation two months after they first crossed paths in late 2018. 'She asked me on New Year's Eve,' he said on the NBC show. 'We were in Nicaragua - it was very beautiful, incredibly romantic, we were walking down the beach, and she asked me to marry her. 'There was a lead-up to it. I did not know, but she was quite adamant, and she was right. This is the best choice I ever made.' Backstory: The Fringe star appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and said that Jodie popped the question to him two amid a vacation two months after they first crossed paths in late 2018 Joshua opened up to Refinery29 of how he didn't give proper context to the proposal story, and the reaction it received. 'So I accidentally threw my wife under the bus because that story was told quickly and it didn't give the full context and holy Jesus, the internet is racist and misogynist,' Joshua said. 'So yes, we were in Nicaragua on a beautiful moonlit night, it could not possibly have been more romantic. 'And yes, my wife did propose to me and yes, I did say yes, but what I didn't say in that interview was there was a caveat, which is that I'm still old school enough that I said, "This is a yes, but you have to give me the opportunity" to propose as well. The Dr. Death actor said that he told Jodie he also wanted to ask her biological father and stepdad for their blessing for her hand in marriage. Joshua said: 'The way people get in her comments and the ignorance and ugliness that comes her way is truly shocking' 'And then, "I would like the opportunity to re-propose those to you and do it the old fashioned way down on bended knee" ... so, that's actually how the story ended up,' he told the publication, clarifying that there were 'two proposals.' Joshua, who was previously in a relationship with actress Diane Kruger from 2006 until 2016, didn't mince words with those who had critical words for his spouse on social media in the wake of the reveal. 'For anybody who is freaked out by a woman claiming her own space, shut the f*** up,' he said. 'Good God, you cannot believe the things people were leaving my wife on Instagram. She did it. I said "Yes." We're happy. That's it. That's all you need to know.' Joshua credited Jodie - who he wed in 2019 and welcomed a daughter with in April of 2020 - for her resilience 'with such amazing strength and grace, above the ugliness that people throw at her on a day to day' basis. 'I am impressed with her that she does it,' he said, 'but I would wish that that would not be the armor that she has to put on every morning to just navigate being alive.' Ioan Gruffudd's estranged wife Alice Evans has taken to Twitter to slam her husband for being 'devoid of any empathy' and 'disingenuous'. Alice, 50 - who split from and Ioan, 47, earlier this year - has not been shy about airing their marital breakdown on social media; and her latest Twitter rant was no different. She claimed that the Liar actor - whom she shares daughters, Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, with - has been 'ghosting' her for nearly a year. Rant! Ioan Gruffudd's estranged wife Alice Evans has taken to Twitter to slam her husband for being 'devoid of any empathy' and 'disingenuous' 'I haven't spoken to my husband in 9 months (his choice),' she penned. 'I did my fair share of crying, screaming, accusing. I begged and begged for at least some sort of running discussion. That's my way of reacting to such a life-changing event. 'So he ghosted me. I have been ghosted for almost 10 months now!' She went on: 'If you read this and feel anger or upset towards ME for sharing, that's ok. For me, as some of you will know, this was a case of the drop that overflowed the glass. 'For others it must have come as a bit of a shock, or a strange thing to do. I totally understand. Alice, 50 - who split from and Ioan, 47, earlier this year - has not been shy about airing their marital breakdown on social media; and her latest Twitter rant was no different. He is pictured last week in Cannes Claims: She claimed that the Liar actor - whom she shares daughters, Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, with - has been 'ghosting' her for nearly a year 'This is the real Ioan Gruffudd. I'm not bending over for this guy. This man is devoid of any empathy whatsoever!' She also claimed: 'He also wanted me to sign a legal document saying that it was MY FAULT that he couldn't get any work. (Hey - this is Hollywood). I don't care any more. I'm done!' MailOnline has approached reps for Ioan for comment. This comes after Ioan was in attendance earlier this week at the La jeune fille et la nuit red carpet as part of the Cannes International Series Festival in France. Alice completed her rant with: 'I don't care any more. I'm done' The actor looked cheerful as he posed in a tuxedo en route into the event. Prior to her most recent outburst, Alice playfully poked fun at her estranged husband's nose in a tongue-in-cheek post she shared to Instagram in September. She shared a black and white photo of Ioan cuddling one of the couple's daughters on the sofa and couldn't help but make a jibe at her ex. Ouch: Prior to her most recent outburst, Alice playfully poked fun at her estranged husband's nose in a tongue-in-cheek post she shared to Instagram in September The sweet snap captures the adorable moment between the father and daughter, with Ioan appearing in the photo shirtless and with a side profile. Alice captioned the post: 'A thing of beauty. I know. The only thing we all worry about secretly is: will she get his nose? Shhhh!' Alice took to Instagram once again to insist her comment was all in good humour and she had only been joking around. Split: The Vampire Diaries actress split from Liar star Ioan earlier this year, with Ioan filing for divorce in March and citing 'irreconcilable differences' 'Will she get his nose?' Alice was seen jokingly sharing her worries over her daughter inheriting estranged husband Ioan's nose 'I was joking about the husband, honest,' she said alongside a close-up shot of herself as she teased once more: 'I mean look [at] this - she would TERRIFY you!!!!' Alice was also seen light-hearted asking for applications for her 'second husband'. She said alongside another selfie: 'Mood? Black snd white and im doin alright. If you want to apply for the part if second husband please let me know below. (sic)' Alice continued: 'I just want a nice chap who is a raging democrat abs likes to talk and talk and talk about anything. ( interest in fashion, foreign languages and civil aviation would obviously help! )' She added: '(Im only half kidding..)' Only kidding: Alice then insisted she was joking in another post she shared online where she was then seen poking fun at a black and white snap of herself Poking fun: The mum-of-two told fans she was 'joking about the husband, honest' Moving on: Alice was then seen jokingly calling for applications for a 'second husband' Ioan filed for divorce from Alice in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split. The document, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, revealed the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status. At the time, they had shared a joint statement that read: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.' It's reported the divorce papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement'. Alice, meanwhile, had addressed the pair's split in a shock statement shared to Twitter in January in which she claimed Ioan had 'mentally tortured' her. The mum-of-two also accused her estranged husband of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks. She said: 'I have been served with a petition for divorce and it's came out of the blue and I won't cry. But we've been 20 years together, we have two amazing kids. I don't know why. 'At the moment we're doing something called collaborative divorce which is somewhere between a really kind way of doing divorce and a phenomenal scam. 'Because in one way it's "okay, let's hear what you would want and take it to the court afterwards" and in another way it's like, people in the acting business will know when an agent says to you "we just can't find you the roles." 'It's a bit like, I'd like my daughter to stay with me on Saturday nights, "it's just not within our possibilities."' TV and film star Alice then insisted Ioan had misled her with collaborative divorce, adding: 'And then I read nothing is binding in collaborative, absolutely nothing. 'So if I want my daughter to stay one more night in my house, the court hasn't said anything so I can do it. So my husband is winding the s**t up me, saying what he says is the law, well we haven't got to the law yet. Speaking out: Alice has been vocal about the divorce on social media and hit back at those criticising her for speaking out so publicly about the split Family: The family are pictured in happier times 'Lawyers aren't the law. Lawyers are there to f*** the law. That's what I always said. Anyway I may have some more thoughts later.' Alice was also seen hitting back at criticism over speaking about details of her divorce with Ioan so publicly and the impact it may have on their children. Alice hit back stating that the girls had no idea about the couple's public profile and 'probably never will'. Alice and Ioan met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier. She and Ioan became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007. Ioan hasn't publicly addressed the couple's divorce. He was mocked on social media last week for 'assembling' a breakfast sandwich in an awkward morning television segment on the Today show with Hoda Kotb. But Victoria Beckham praised her son Brooklyn Beckham on Wednesday, as well as her other three children, saying they all 'work hard' as she appeared on Live! with Kelly and Ryan. Host Kelly Ripa brought up the topic of Brooklyn, 22, as she asked how the family was doing and began to praise the budding chef. 'They work hard': Victoria Beckham praises her kids as Kelly Ripa gushes over 'lovely' son Brooklyn on Wednesday... following THAT sandwich segment backlash 'Behind your back, your son Brooklyn, is so lovely, unprovoked,' Kelly said, explaining that she had met him behind-the-scenes, and he behaved like a gentleman even when the cameras had stopped rolling. Kelly, 51, continued, gushing: 'He is just lovely and it's a sign that you and David put the work in, and I know that you have put the work in.' Victoria, 47, then replied: 'You know what, they're all good kids, they're happy, they work hard, you try to bring children up to be just really good, kind humans, and they're good boys and Harper is sweet and adorable and lovely.' High praise: Host Kelly Ripa brought up the topic of Brooklyn, 22, as she asked how the family was doing and began to praise the budding chef Mother-in-law-to-be: Victoria was also told by host Kelly Ripa that she would make an amazing mother-in-law because has the best fashion and marriage advice Humble: Victoria was grateful for the kind words as Kelly heaped praise on her Unbelievable: Host Ryan Seacrest commented on how he couldn't believe Victoria's children are now all grown up Giving thanks: Posh was appreciative of the effusive praise she received from Kelly Kelly also heaped praised on Victoria, saying she would love to have her as a mother-in-law, as she could give the best marriage and fashion advice, referencing Brooklyn's engagement to actress Nicola Peltz. But Victoria replied: 'They've got to figure it out for themselves. They're both very, very happy. They're working hard. We're there to support them.' The fashion designer - who was promoting her new beauty line Victoria Beckham Skincare - also gave a cheeky glimpse into her 22-year-marriage with husband David Beckham. When Ryan Seacrest brought up that Victoria had said they are 'competitive' she quickly pointed out that she only meant when they are in the gym together. 'In the gym, we're very competitive,' she said. 'We fight over the weight vest when we're planking. We're very competitive!' Awkward: Victoria's son Brooklyn's questionable culinary skills were not mentioned Viral: Brooklyn began trending last week when he made a breakfast sandwich on the Today show When asked what David's secret is to looking young at 46 - Victoria revealed that he is also a fan of her new skincare range, and plugged her favourite item from the range - called Cheeky Posh. Last week, Victoria's son Brooklyn set social media ablaze as he appeared as a guest chef of the Today show. At the start of the segment, Brooklyn was seen telling viewers about dad David's love of food, before waxing lyrical about his 'favourite' cast-iron skillet, which was already filled with pre-cooked sausages and bacon rashers. Ready for morning TV: Posh showed off one of her latest designs as arrived to discuss her beauty range on Live! With Kelly and Ryan Red alert: The fashion designer was hard to miss as she left her hotel in NYC on Wednesday He added that his love of cooking began to flourish during quarantine, when he began posting videos of himself making different dishes on his Instagram account. 'I've always loved food and obviously when quarantine hit I just really started to get into it,' he explained. 'My fiancee (Nicola Peltz) started filming me and I started posting it and it's just something I love doing.' Brooklyn then began preparing the sandwich ingredients - and it was here that viewers' online mockery really took off, with social media users blasting everything from his hatred of 'runny eggs' to the lack of butter on the bread. Praise: Posh praised her son Brooklyn Beckham on Wednesday, as well as her other three children, saying they all 'work hard' as she appeared on Live! with Kelly and Ryan . 'Brooklyn Beckham went on tv to show his culinary skills and cookeda breakfast sandwich! I am done!' one person wrote on Twitter, as another person added: 'Why in the f*** is Brooklyn Beckham on my TV cooking a basic a** breakfast sandwich?????' The photographer and model shared several 'tips' during the preparation of the sandwich, revealing that he likes to cut his sausages down the middle so he can cook the insides, and explaining that he uses his fingers to poke the egg yolks so that they cook up and don't stay runny. 'Brooklyn I can't believe you never left the egg runny!!! You just ruined a good sandwich,' one person tweeted in response to his egg-cooking technique. Shameless star Emma Kenney did not hold back when talking about her former costar Emmy Rossum. The actress, 22, said on the newest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast that Rossum, 35, made her 'anxious' when she was on set. She also told host Alex Cooper that Emmy could turn her 'bad day' into everyone's problem. The Conners star even said the two had not 'spoken in years' after Rossum left the show two seasons before its finale in 2019. Toxic set: Shameless star Emma Kenney, 22, claimed costar Emmy Rossum, 35, made her 'anxious' when she was on set because she could turn her 'bad day' into everyone's problem; seen in June in NYC Although Shameless, which is based on the British TV series of the same name, features an ensemble cast, Rossum and William H Macy had the lead roles. Rossum and Kenney were both with the series from the first season, but the Phantom Of The Opera star departed after season nine, while Kenney continued on for the show's final two seasons. Although Kenney said that the show's set was initially 'weird' once her costar had left, she thought it ultimately gained a more 'positive' vibe without her. According to her, Rossum's negative moods could infect the rest of the cast and crew. 'It was weird at first for sure but it also the set became more of a positive place, Im not gonna lie,' she said. 'I remember pre [Rossum] leaving, Id go to set some days and Id be very anxious about having a scene with her because if she had a bad day, she made it a bad day for everybody.' A representative for Rossum didn't respond to a request for comment. On-set drama: Kenney said the set became more 'positive' after Rossum left in 2019; Rossum seen with William H. Macy in a publicity still for Shameless Breakdown in communication: Later, the TV star said she and Rossum didn't have much in the way of relationship anymore and 'haven't spoken in years'; seen together in LA in 2013 Emma added that the two had what felt like a 'sister relationship,' though she said it was 'in good and bad ways.' She said Emmy would switch between acting like a 'good influence' and other times when she would give her 'not the best advice.' 'Growing up I definitely took a note from not just her in particular but people and things that I want to carry on in my life and things I do not want to carry on in my life,' she added. Later, the TV star said she and Rossum didn't have much in the way of relationship anymore. 'I have a lot of love for Emmy, Ive known her for so long we havent spoken in years, were not like ya know,' she explained. 'But thats okay. I have a lot of love for her, and I hope she finds her happiness,' she continued. 'I heard she had a baby and that's beautiful and Im sure shes going to be a lovely mother so yeah.' Mixed bag: Kenney said she hasn't spoken to Rossum in years and said the older star alternated between being a 'good influence' and giving 'not the best advice'; publicity still for Shameless from 2011 with Steve Howey, Shanola Hampton, Cameron Monaghan, Ethan Cutkosty, Rossum, Macy, Kenney, Jeremy Allen White and Laura Wiggins Emmy welcomed her daughter Samantha Esmail earlier this year with her husband Sam Esmail, the creator and director of USA's Mr. Robot. Elsewhere in the interview, Kenney complained that there was a sense of competition between her and Rossum, though she wasn't sure if Rossum contributed to it or if others fueled the rivalry. 'But I know I wasn't creating it,' she added. The actress also complimented her costar Shanola Hampton with being like a 'second mom' to her on set when she was younger. Kenney was open about her trip to rehab in 2018 for drug and alcohol abuse and said she was 'grateful' for the early wakeup call. 'I'm glad I got it out of my system,' she said. 'But now I'm an adult, and it's like I could do whatever I want theoretically, but I choose to not because I'm not interested in it.' Moving on: Kenney currently stars as the daughter of Sara Gilbert's character Darlene on the Roseanne continuation The Conners; seen in 2020 in Pasadena She clarified that she still drank in moderation, but drugs were the main motivation for her rehab stint. Even before the end of Shameless, Emma began starring on the Roseanne Revival, which was later retitled The Conners after star Roseanne Barr was fired for racist comments she made about former Obama administration senior advisor Valerie Jarrett. Kenney plays Harris Conner-Healy, the daughter of Darlene Conner-Healy, played by Sara Gilbert. Roseanne was killed off on the series while the remainder of the cast continued on. Her latest film The Starling has been getting less than stellar reviews. But Melissa McCarthy didn't seem worried about the criticism as she enjoyed lunch with friends on Tuesday. The Bridesmaids actress, 51, was dressed down in black layers for a stop by Escuela Taqueria near the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles. Let's do lunch: Melissa McCarthy did lunch with friends at an LA taco spot on Tuesday For her look she paired a face mask, with a breezy blouse, ripped jeans, and Adidas All Star sneakers. The Mike & Molly star added some glitz with earrings and a gold chain while twisting her hair into twin buns for a fun touch. And adding a splash of color, she toted along a turquoise bag. Simply chic: The Bridesmaids actress, 51, was dressed down in black layers for a stop by Escuela Taqueria near the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles In the bag: She added a splash of color with a turquoise bag Melissa didn't seem to be worrying about the lukewarm reviews for her latest film The Starling, which was released back on September 12th. The film currently holds a 22% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the aggregator accusing the film of 'Burying its talented cast and worthy themes under mounds of heavy-handed melodrama.' 'The Starling is a turkey,' they declared. Critical dud: Melissa didn't seem to be worrying about the lukewarm reviews for her latest film The Starling, which was released back on September 12th The film also features Chris O'Dowd, Timothy Olyphant, Veronica Falcon, Daveed Diggs and Loretta Devine. Hopefully McCarthy fares better with her next film, Thor: Love And Thunder with Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, and Christian Bale and directed by Taika Waititi. Fans can also catch her on the miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers, currently streaming on Hulu. And Melissa will appear as Ursula in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, which is set for a 2023 release. Gemma Collins looked incredible as she displayed her 3.5st weight loss in a slinky dress for her latest Instagram post on Wednesday. The former TOWIE star, 40, exuded confidence in the emerald green number, which boasted semi-sheer sleeves and a leg split. She paired this with leopard print heels and shimmering jewellery. Chic: Gemma Collins looked incredible as she displayed her 3.5st weight loss in a slinky dress for her latest Instagram post on Wednesday Her blonde tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a radiant palette of make-up. This comes as Gemma revealed she has donated bags of her bras to charity after feeling guilty about spending over 1,000 on a dinner at Salt Bae's Nusr-et restaurant in London. The former TOWIE sta took to Instagram last week to share clips of herself at the Knightsbridge eatery as she enjoyed a night out with boyfriend Rami Hawash, 45, and told of her shock at being charged 1,450. Gemma shared snaps and clips from the date which saw her and Rami and his son Tristan, three, being served by owner Nusret Gokce. Charity: This comes as Gemma revealed she has donated bags of her bras to charity after feeling guilty about spending over 1,000 on a dinner at Salt Bae's Nusr-et restaurant in London Speaking on The Gemma Collins Podcast, the reality star admitted she felt bad about how much money she spent afterward and wanted to give something back. She said: 'I felt a bit sick. It was an amazing experience, and to be honest I would have paid that to meet him anyway, because I love him. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. 'But I started to feel really bad the next day because I was like, "Oh my gosh, there's people starving in the world." 'I just started feeling really bad about it all, so I was like, "Right, what can I do?"' Expensive: The former TOWIE star took to Instagram last week to share clips of herself at the Knightsbridge eatery as she enjoyed a night out with boyfriend Rami Hawash, 45, and told of her shock at being charged 1,450 (pictured with Salt Bae) Gemma acknowledged she went a bit 'over the top' and noted she had never spent that much money on a meal before. After deciding she wanted to 'give some good back to the universe,' her friend came up with the idea of donating her old bras. Gemma explained: 'It really started playing on my mind, so I instantly went and I started to clear out every single bra that I owned 'Literally, I sent four bags of really nice bras to the charity. So I feel like I've done my thing.' Good cause: After deciding she wanted to 'give some good back to the universe,' her friend came up with the idea of donating her old bras Culinary whizz: In a video shared to Gemma's Instagram last week, Salt Bae could be seen slicing the meat, which was covered in gold leaf The media personality added that she 'wasn't planning to go out again anytime soon'. The venue is known for it's hefty prices and reportedly charges 9 for a coke, 30 for prawn tempura cocktails and 100 for a burger. A 15 per cent service charge is also added to the bill. Sharing clips of her visit to the restaurant on Instagram last week, Gemma wrote: 'When the GC meets . @nusr_et YEAH BABY bring me that salt action #nusret #saltbae ... 'This guy, the most amazing energy, his presence is electric and fun and defo one to go visit @nusr_et.' Howie Mandel has finally addressed fans after being rushed to the hospital after passing out and falling at a Starbucks in Woodland Hills on Wednesday. The America's Got Talent judge, 65, was fetching coffee with his wife Terry and friends when he suddenly fainted inside the store, prompting people to call an ambulance, according to TMZ. On Wednesday evening, Mandel gave an update on Twitter about his condition with fans and assured them that he was okay after being dehydrated and having low blood sugar. He wrote: 'I am home and doing better. I was dehydrated and had low blood sugar. I appreciate the great doctors and nurses that took such good care of me. Thank you to everyone who reached out but I am doing ok!' Scary! Howie Mandel has been rushed to the hospital after passing out and falling at a Starbucks in Woodland Hills on Wednesday. He's seen September 15th above 'I am home and doing better': On Wednesday evening, Mandel gave an update on Twitter about his condition with fans and assured them that he was okay after being dehydrated and having low blood sugar After falling Mandel was taken outside to lay down on a bench before paramedics arrived and rushed him to a hospital in nearby Tarzana, California. It appeared that the Canadian comic was able to sit up by the time help from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived. Howie is said to be a regular at the shop and other customers there were shocked by the situation. Insiders suspect the Deal Or No Deal star fainted from low blood sugar. Doctors are now said to be running tests at the hospital. Routine: Three days ago the star posted a TikTok video from the hospital, where he had undergone a routine colonoscopy and endoscopy Three days ago the star posted a TikTok video from the hospital, where he had undergone a routine colonoscopy and endoscopy. He tagged the video #Hospital and #recovery while seeming a bit woozy and admitting he was still under the influence of some heavy medication. Howie has been taking it easy after wrapping season 16 of America's Got Talent last month. In the past, the star has been open about his struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and an intense fear of germs. Germaphobe: In the past, the star has been open about his struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and an intense fear of germs. He's seen in full hazmat attire in March 2020 during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic above In June he told People he was 'living in a nightmare' because of the repetitive and intrusive thoughts that stem from his condition. 'I try to anchor myself. I have a beautiful family and I love what I do. But at the same time, I can fall into a dark depression I can't get out of,' he explained. He added how much comedy has helped him through the dark times, telling the magazine: 'Comedy saved me in a way. I'm most comfortable onstage. And when I don't have anything to do, I turn inward and that's not good.' Howie has been married to wife Terry since 1980. They share son Alex, 31, and daughters Riley, 28, and Jackie, 36. After recently lamenting that she was in the poor house, Erika Jayne could be positioned for a major payday if she signs on to do another season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. It was reported this week that Jayne took home a $600K salary for season 11 but sources say that since next season would focus on her current embezzlement scandal, she will score a hefty raise, according to Us Weekly. Meanwhile, it seems that producers are literally and figuratively banking on Jayne's pretty mess of a life for ratings and pushing production on season 12 ahead of schedule to hopefully have cameras rolling as she deals with her scandal. Making bank: It was reported this week that Jayne took home a $600K salary for season 11 but sources say that since next season would focus on her current embezzlement scandal, she will score a hefty raise, according to Us Weekly 'It's going to be much more next season,' an insider said, adding that there is 'no question' that Erika would use her situation to 'demand a higher paycheck' if she continues on the show. 'The ratings were off the charts because of her story line and what she's exposed,' the source revealed. 'What she's dealing with [regarding] Tom [Girardi] and the court is not over yet so you can only imagine what next season is going to bring.' While she hasn't officially signed on for another season, her payday could be getting close to 7 figures if she negotiates smartly. It was reported by The New York Times on Tuesday that the 50-year-old reality star is making $600,000 for season 11. 'It's going to be much more next season,' an insider said, adding that there is 'no question' that Erika would use her situation to 'demand a higher paycheck' if she continues on the show. The outlet added that it is typical for Housewives to get a raise each year to return so her base would already be going up before she added the ratings draw of her embezzlement scandal and divorce. Production on season 12 is reportedly being pushed ahead due to Erika's downfall which is ripe for reality TV drama. Typically the cast gets a longer break in between shooting seasons but TMZ reported that the gap has been shortened by months allegedly so producers can roll on as much as possible of Jayne's ongoing legal drama. Her estranged husband Tom Girardi, 82, has been accused of embezzling millions of dollars meant for the 2018 Boeing plane crash victims, and as a result, both have had to give up their lavish lifestyles. Jayne once famously employed $40K-a-month glam quad to keep her looking like a pop star, but that has all gone now that she's been asked to pay back an alleged $25million loan from her ex Girardi. Cameras rolling: Meanwhile, it seems that producers are literally and figuratively banking on Jayne's pretty mess of a life for ratings and pushing production on season 12 ahead of schedule to hopefully have cameras rolling as she deals with her scandal As well as saying she has 'zero dollars' to her name, Jayne, on a recent episode, branded broke life 'f***ing bulls***t' while guzzling champagne on a luxury vacation to a vineyard. Meanwhile, UsWeekly reported Tuesday that TV network Bravo has been subpoenaed for footage of Jayne amid her legal troubles. The network is said to have been asked to turn over unaired scenes from the reality show by October 26. Jayne's estranged husband Tom was once worth an estimated $264million, and the pair have since moved out of their luxury Pasadena mansion following the scandal. She announced in November last year that she and powerhouse attorney Tom had split after 21 years of marriage. Problems: Her estranged husband Tom Girardi, 82, has been accused of embezzling millions of dollars meant for the 2018 Boeing plane crash victims, and as a result, both have had to give up their lavish lifestyles Tonight, fans are set to see Jayne get grilled by Andy Cohen in a four-part explosive reunion show for RHOBH. In it, fans have already heard Jayne talking about Girardi from the teaser, where she appears to say: 'You know what, I can't control what Tom Girardi did.' 'We're going to put you on a skewer - and I'm going to fire up the barbecue,' Cohen tells Jayne unceremoniously, making it clear that he's going to ask her tough questions about the alleged scam. 'Why didn't you leave Tom sooner?' Cohen asks - referencing Girardi's woes, as he is accused of embezzling millions of dollars that were meant for plane crash victims. To that question, it appears Jayne simply fires back with: 'Where was I going?' While the clip is heavily edited down into a short teaser - it is clear that Cohen gets into Jayne's financial issues as he tells her 'I know what you make on this show.' Hot seat: Tonight, fans are set to see Jayne get grilled over Tom and the scandal by Andy Cohen in a four-part explosive reunion show for RHOBH Cohen also appeared to fact-check her financial claims in the snippet. The subject of money appears to get Jayne riled up as she responds, 'hold on!' when Cohen brings up her RHOBH salary. Cohen then says: 'He's having multiple affairs, yet as we know, he put $20million and more into your account.' At that point, Jayne is seen shaking her head as she tries to interject with a denial, saying: 'No.' This refers to claims by Jayne that Girardi was being unfaithful to her during their 21-year-marriage, which she has hinted is the reason for their split - rather than the embezzlement drama. Things really get tense when Cohen asks the group: 'Who believes that Erika did not know anything about what Tom was doing?' Things really get tense when Cohen asks the group: 'Who believes that Erika did not know anything about what Tom was doing?' An incensed Jayne then rages: 'Can someone please back me the f*** up on what I am saying?' However, Cohen goes further: 'You were manipulating the narrative by saying the cognitive decline started three years ago...,' but she cuts him off stating: 'That's not true... Again, here you are looking at me rolling your eyes.' Cohen then pointedly says: 'It lands differently when there are air crash victims.' In August this year, Girardi was federally disbarred as an attorney, according to documents filed under the Central District of California. Girardi who has been placed under a conservatorship on account of a Dementia diagnosis reportedly 'did not contest the decision.' While Jayne has claimed to have no involvement in the embezzlement scandal and 'kept away from the books' she has been implicated over an alleged $25million she was paid by Girardi's law firm. She is one of Britain's leading film stars. And Olivia Colman cut an elegant figure as she attended the premiere of The Lost Daughter at The Royal Festival Hall in London on Wednesday. The actress, 47, was joined on the red carpet by co-stars Dakota Johnson and Jessie Buckley and director Maggie Gyllenhaal. Wow: Olivia Colman cut an elegant figure as she attended the premiere of The Lost Daughter at The Royal Festival Hall in London on Wednesday The Crown star donned a dark green Emilia Wickstead dress for the event. The garment also featured long sleeves while Olivia paired it with black heels with a diamond embellishment. Styling her tresses into an updo, she completed her outfit for the star-studded premiere with silver earrings. The Lost Daughter is a psychological drama written and directed by Maggie, and based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante. Outfit: The Crown star donned a dark green Emilia Wickstead dress for the event Film: The actress was joined on the red carpet by co-stars Dakota Johnson and Jessie Buckley and director Maggie Gyllenhaal Fashion: The garment also featured long sleeves while Olivia paired it with black heels with a diamond embellishment The anticipated movie had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, where Maggie won the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay. The film also received a four-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Venice Film Festival. It tells the story of Olivia, as Leda, a college professor, who while on a summer holiday, finds herself becoming obsessed with another woman (Dakota) and her young daughter, prompting memories of her own early motherhood to come back and unravel her. The Lost Daughter also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Mescal, Ed Harris and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Glamour: Styling her tresses into an updo, she completed her outfit for the star-studded premiere with silver earrings Film: The Lost Daughter is a psychological drama written and directed by Maggie, and based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante Reception: The film also received a four-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Venice Film Festival Release: The film will be released on Netflix on New Year's Eve after a two-week limited release in US movie theatres Cast: The Lost Daughter also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Mescal, Ed Harris and Oliver Jackson-Cohen Plot: It tells the story of Olivia, as Leda, a college professor, who while on a summer holiday, finds herself becoming obsessed with another woman (Dakota) and her young daughter The film will be released on Netflix on New Year's Eve after a two-week limited release in US movie theatres. Olivia recently joined the cast of the upcoming Willy Wonka origin story along with Rowan Atkinson and Sally Hawkins. Timothee Chalamet is starring as the titular candy man in Wonka, which will pre-date the timeline in prior films about the Roald Dahl character. Meanwhile, Olivia recently took home yet another Emmy award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in the latest season of Netflix's The Crown. Story: This prompts memories of her own early motherhood to come back and unravel her Upcoming: Olivia recently joined the cast of the upcoming Willy Wonka origin story along with Rowan Atkinson and Sally Hawkins She's known to make a fashion statement. And Angelina Jolie went hunting for the perfect outfit during a stop by the upscale vintage clothing store Catwalk in LA's Fairfax district on Tuesday. The Eternals actress, 46, went with her usual greyscale look, teaming a long grey coat with black pants and shiny heeled boots. Vintage fan! Angelina Jolie was spotted shopping at the vintage clothing store Catwalk on Tuesday in LA's Fairfax district Angie accessorized with a beige handbag and a chic gold watch. The actress/filmmaker/philanthropist also kept on a mask to fend off the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. She was seen raking a hand through her brown locks as she emerged from the shop's back entrance holding a coffee. Then, she made her way to her car and headed off. Chic: The Eternals actress, 46, went with her usual greyscale look, teaming a long grey coat with black pants and shiny heeled boots Style star: Angie accessorized with a beige handbag and a chic gold watch The night prior Jolie was seen out with ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller, one of many reunions they've shared over the past few months. They were spotted enjoying a dinner date together on Monday night at Eoc restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. Jolie, 46, and Miller, 48, were married from 1996 to 1999 after first meeting onset of their nineties thriller Hackers in 1995. While she is sure to set tongues wagging about a possible reunion between the duo - she has also been repeatedly dining out with music superstar The Weeknd this year. The pair were recently linked in June this year, when Jolie was spotted arriving at Miller's apartment in NYC, while holding an expensive bottle of wine. She was seen leaving a few hours later. Old flame: The night prior Jolie was seen out with ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller, one of many reunions they've shared over the past few months. They're pictured in 1999 above It was claimed at that time, that Miller had met and bonded with her songs Pax, 17, and Knox, 12. The Oscar-winning beauty shares custody of both kids with ex-husband Pitt, in addition to Maddox, 19, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15 and and Vivienne, 12. Last month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed how Jolie was trying to sell her 50% stake in the vineyard that she shared with Pitt, held through her company, Nouvel. Her move to sell - which she did this month on October 6 - was branded 'vindictive and systematic obstruction' by the actor in bitter lawsuit. At odds: Jolie is currently embroiled in a tense divorce battle with ex Brad Pitt, over five years after originally filing for divorce. They're seen in 2009 above The estate - now valued at $164 million - is where the couple tied the knot in 2008. Jolie filed for divorce in August 2016 citing 'irreconcilable differences' and requesting primary custody of their six children. As of May, Pitt and Jolie share joint custody of their five underage children - Pax, 17; Zahara, 16; Shiloh, 15; as well as twins Vivienne and Knox, 13. However, Vietnamese-born Pax will become a legal adult when he turns 18 on November 29, and their eldest son Maddox is 20 and attending Yonsei University in Seoul. Prince Charles has received a royal roasting by Australian breakfast show Today over his bizarre confession about running his vintage car on 'cheese and wine'. The Prince of Wales spoke to the BBC about climate change on Monday, boasting how he'd converted his Aston Martin, which was gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II on his 21st birthday, to run on 'surplus English white wine' and whey from cheese production. The Today presenters couldn't help but mock the 72-year-old's seemingly out of touch sentiments on Tuesday, with co-host Allison Langdon sarcastically referring to Charles as 'a man of the people'. 'Pompous, privileged': The hosts of Australia's Today show (left, Karl Stefanovic) roasted Prince Charles (right) for saying his vintage Aston Martin runs on 'cheese and wine' 'He's giving back to the environment,' co-host Karl Stefanovic dryly added. Newsreader Alex Cullen, an outspoken republican, could barely hide his contempt for the royal environmentalist. 'He's relatable? Is that what you're going to try and tell me? With an Aston Martin that runs on wine and cheese? Pompous, privileged peanuts!' he said. Royal fuel: The Prince of Wales spoke to the BBC about climate change on Monday, boasting how he'd converted his Aston Martin, which was gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth II on his 21st birthday, to run on 'surplus English white wine' and whey from cheese production Stefanovic jokingly corrected him: 'No, its not peanuts, it's cheese!' Charles's car actually runs on a fuel called E85, which comprises 85 per cent bioethanol - a type of ethanol from plants or food products - and 15 per cent unleaded petrol. By blending petrol with ethanol, motorists don't need as much fossil fuel, which reduces carbon emissions and allows the vehicle to run 'cleaner'. Not impressed: The Today presenters couldn't help but mock the 72-year-old's seemingly out of touch sentiments on Tuesday, with co-host Allison Langdon (centre) sarcastically referring to Charles as 'a man of the people.' Right: newsreader Alex Cullen Charles, a longtime environmental campaigner, said in his BBC interview he was 'deeply worried' about the future of the planet, and accused humans of 'over exploiting' and damaging nature. Charles also said he understands the frustrations of young people and climate activists such as Greta Thunberg because they feel like 'nobody listens'. Elsewhere, he revealed he doesn't eat meat and fish on two days a week and dairy on one day, saying: 'If more people did that it would reduce a lot of the pressure on the environment.' Not convinced: Newsreader Alex Cullen, who is a republican, could barely hide his contempt for the royal environmentalist, saying: 'He's relatable? Is that what you're going to try and tell me? With an Aston Martin that runs on wine and cheese? Pompous, privileged, peanuts!' Garcelle Beauvais and Dorit Kemsley clash in a preview clip for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' 11th season reunion special Wednesday. In a preview, Kemsley, 45, accused Beauvais, 54, of being two-faced, saying, 'You dont say much when were together or to someones face, and then youll say it in the confessionals.' Beauvais said he was in a no-win situation with Kemsley, responding, 'First I say too much, and then I dont say enough - like, I cant win with you.' The latest: Garcelle Beauvais, 54, and Dorit Kemsley, 45, clash in a preview clip for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' 11th season reunion special Wednesday Host Andy Cohen told Kemsley, 'You said you want her to be direct, but then you accuse her of throwing darts.' Kemsley said she wanted Beauvais 'to be direct' and not 'to throw darts.' She added, 'Throwing darts is not being direct, Andy. When you have an issue with someone, you look at them and you tell them you have an issue. You dont throw a passive-aggressive jab with a smile.' Beauvais responded in telling Kemsley that she has taken nasty jabs at her, dubbing her a bully and inauthentic, and calling her integrity into question. Beauvais said he was in a no-win situation with Kemsley, responding, 'First I say too much, and then I dont say enough - like, I cant win with you' Kemsley said she wanted Beauvais 'to be direct' and not 'to throw darts' Beauvais told Kemsley that she has taken nasty jabs at her, dubbing her a bully and inauthentic and calling her integrity into question After Kemsley noted her past apology for the bully remark, Beauvais said she would forgive it, noting, 'Im not one to bring it back up again.' At that point, Rinna - who has also had past tension with Beauvais - told her, 'Thats nice.' Beauvais responded in saying, 'Rinna, stop ... we'll get to it. Like, hold on, girl, hold on.' Rinna shot back, 'Garcelle, Ill do whatever I want ... dont you tell me to do a thing.' After Kemsley noted her past apology for the bully remark, Beauvais said she would forgive it, noting, 'Im not one to bring it back up again' Lisa Rinna, who has also had past tension with Beauvais, was involved in the argument Rinna was seated next to Erika Jayne in the reunion special Beauvais on Tuesday revealed that she's releasing a memoir titled Love Me As I Am set to arrive April 12, 2022 Beauvais on Tuesday revealed that she's releasing a memoir titled Love Me As I Am set to arrive April 12, 2022. She told People of the project: 'When I started along the journey of penning my memoir I had no idea how much of an eye-opening experience it would be. I am deeply proud to share my journey as a woman, the struggles, and funny memories with those who have followed me throughout my career in Hollywood. 'I hope they come away knowing me a little bit better through the laughter and tears that life has brought my way. If nothing else, they will see that as with everyone, it takes resilience, fortitude and faith to survive and thrive - and I'm still standing!' The first installment in the four-part RHOBH reunion special is slated to air on Bravo Wednesday at 8/7c. Demi Moore admired a bit of male anatomy during an art tour of Paris. The Striptease actress, 58, has been in town for Paris Fashion Week and on Wednesday she shared a hilarious snap of herself posing next to a giant stone statue of a penis which appeared to be a museum piece - although she did not name which. The star, who stands around 5foot5, offered up a dramatic pose while captioning the shot with a cheeky caption that said: 'Admiring the art, part 2.' Private parts: Demi Moore struck a pose next to a giant penis statue while taking in some art in Paris Demi stunned wearing a red Fendi dress with a swirl of blue and yellow mixed into the marble pattern. Continuing the chic display, the mother-of-three slipped into a pair of mustard colored Giuseppe Zanotti boots with pointy heels. The snap was a saucy follow-up to an earlier post where she stood in front of a Monet with daughter Scout, 30. Art admirers: The snap was a saucy follow-up to an earlier post where she stood in front of a Monet with daughter Scout European vacation: The ladies were in town for Paris Fashion Week and the Versace/Fendi show in Italy During Paris Fashion Week the mother-daughter duo attended shows for AZ Factory, Chloe, and Stella McCartney. Then they jetted off to Italy to see the Fendi/Versace mashup collection. Scout is Demi's daughter with ex husband Bruce Willis. Fashionistas: During Paris Fashion Week the mother-daughter duo attended shows for AZ Factory, Chloe, and Stella McCartney. Above they're seen at an event in honor of late designer Albert Elbaz They also share daughters Rumer, 33, and Tallulah, 27. Demi and Bruce wed in 1987 after they meet at the premiere for the film Stakeout, which starred her then-fiance Emilio Estevez. The pair have managed to stay close after ending their marriage in 2000. In July, Scout shared photos of a reunion between Bruce and Demi as she celebrated her 30th birthday. News Ordaz named exhibition coordinator for Cole Art Center The School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University has announced that Erik Ordaz, Master of Fine Arts graduate and previous adjunct professor at SFA, is the new exhibition coordinator for The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches and a visiting lecturer in the School of Art. Ordaz will serve as a liaison between the School of Art and the East Texas community in planning and scheduling local, national and international exhibitions that will show in Cole Art Center as well as community events that will take place in SFAs historic downtown art center. The position was made possible through community-raised financial support with SFA covering the portion related to teaching courses. When word got out in the community last fall that the gallery staff would be part of the reduction-in-force, cost-saving measures at the university, the response from the community was overwhelming support for the gallery and for preserving the ability to enjoy and promote the visual arts in Nacogdoches, said Chris Talbot, director of the School of Art. I am so glad we have so many people here in the community that love the visual arts and are willing to give of their time and means to make sure that it is something that will continue to enrich our community. So many generous donors came forward to save the day; it really makes me proud of our community and thankful for our wonderful Friends of the Visual Arts organization that coordinated the fundraising efforts. In addition to teaching ceramics, Ordaz teaches professional practices to studio art students. In this course, students learn how to become professional exhibiting artists. They learn how to properly hang, ship and handle artwork, and they learn how to promote themselves and deal with professional galleries. Having Erik teach the course allows us to use the Cole Art Center as a learning laboratory for our students to observe professional artwork up close, Talbot said. Students are involved in hanging the work and preparing the exhibitions. We want the gallery program to be an integral part of preparing students to be successful artists, and Erik is helping us accomplish that goal. Prior to coming to SFA to pursue a masters degree in ceramics, Ordaz, who is originally from Mexico, was associated with the second-best ranked Mexican public university, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City, where he traveled to pottery communities throughout Mexico to help artisans incorporate design concepts that translated into better and safer production practices. In doing that, Ordaz visited the town of Casa Grandes in Chihuahua where he met SFA ceramics Professor Piero Fenci who suggested Ordaz apply to SFA to continue his ceramics studies. Coming to SFA was a bit of a coincidence, but as it turned out, a great and amazing coincidence, Ordaz said. Coming to Nacogdoches from Mexico four years ago to complete his masters degree, Ordaz said he looked forward to living in a different culture. My goal was to make the best of my time in grad school, he said. Little did I know then that I would find such a heartwarming community and a beautiful town and school in which to develop my work. Nacogdoches now feels like home, and to me thats a testament to the tight community we have here. Having that feeling of being in a place that has your back makes me happy, and thats one of the things I enjoy most about being here. Ordaz considers himself to be a multifaceted artist, and he plans to put that attribute to work while fulfilling his role as exhibition coordinator. I have nurtured my own connections while living in this country, plus the ones I have back home in Mexico, and I plan to put those to good use, he said. The Cole Art Center and the Nacogdoches community can be great recruiting tools for the School of Art, and we need to take advantage of that. I hope to bring more national and international recognition to the town and to SFA. His new job as exhibition coordinator takes Ordaz out of his comfort zone, but it also brings new and exciting challenges, he said. Having the ability to be a link between SFA, the School of Art, our faculty and students and the community is a privilege, Ordaz said. Planning for events and shows to bring to Nacogdoches is incredibly exciting. The possibility to showcase artists from my home country and even Latin America, alongside great local and national artists, as has been a tradition at Cole Art Center, can be enriching for all of us. Being in the position where I can send the message that everyone is welcome at the Cole, just as I have been, fills my heart with hope that art can be an epicenter and a spark that brings our community closer together, he added. The community will have an opportunity to meet Ordaz during the Friends of the Visual Arts Annual 12 X 12 Art Scholarship Fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Cole Art Center, 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-5500. Seattle, WA (98195) Today Periods of rain. Low 41F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 41F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Since its inception, no decade in Dancehall has received louder ovations or condemnation than the 90s. Filled with foundational anthems, aesthetics and archetypes, 90s dancehall music was as much about opulence as it was a clarion call and everything in between. Lining the back panels of these exchanges were the quintessential riddims, cutting-edge sonic mediums that cemented the new genres staying power. Everything from slang to choreography was driven by these entrancing arrangements, a testament to the dancehalls vision and verve. Widely sampled and revered, the sonic dominance of 90s dancehall is undeniable. The era is now being elevated with a scholarly spotlight from one London-based author. In his new book, Run The Riddim: The Untold Story Of 90s Dancehall To The World, writer Marvin Sparks takes an in-depth look at the origins, highs and lows of the genre through the decades most iconic Dancehall riddims and conversations with key figures. Essentially what Im trying to do is make sure people understand where 90s dancehall came from, what shaped it, what it means to the people, how successful it was and its lasting legacy, he tells DancehallMag from his London home. A member of the Jamaican Diaspora, and a lifelong dancehall student, Marvins childhood is chock-full of anecdotes that reveal a healthy obsession with what would become his lifes work. His father always kept going on about his 80s excursions to sessions at Prison Oval and the like, kindling his young sons fascination with the genre. By his teens, Sparks was already an avid consumer. The first dancehall album that I bought, well I begged my dad to buy it actually, was Red Rats album (Oh, No.. Its Red Rat), Sparks said proudly. Its no coincidence his career now entails translating this experience to wider audiences. To me, [the 90s] is easily one of the greatest eras of music, and Im not sure if its as widely acknowledged as it should be. We who experience it and know it, love it, but Im not sure if everybody understands it the way we do, Sparks said. Dancehalls Unspoken Heroes As much a curator as he is a journalist, Sparks desire to preserve history by getting it from the source inspired him to highlight dancehalls unspoken heroes, the producers. Generationally, especially within our cultures as black people, I dont think we dont study our history or our greats as much as we should. One of the reasons for this book is that the founders could tell their stories and people could understand where the music came from, Sparks said. He continued, The riddims ran the 90s and the producers who made the riddims and voiced the artists are the unspoken heroes. I wanted to put the producers at the forefront because we hardly hear from them. Over a decade in the making, he describes the passing of Bobby Digital, the instrumental yet enigmatic studio engineer hed hoped to interview, as a turning point in the books journey. The sudden deaths of many of Jamaicas musical titans Toots Hibberts, Bunny Wailer, U-Roy and Lee Scratch Perry within a short span added fuel to his efforts. Sparks noted that while thankfully, their journeys have all been well documented, the same cannot be said for the pillars of dancehalls heyday, hence the urgency in completing the definitive text. I broke it down into three sections; the Origins, the Identity and the Triumphs. The riddims are the inspirations for the chapters. I talk about the dubplate culture, the gun culture, the technological developments, [and] the rise of Rasta in the 90s. So you get the story behind the riddims, what the riddims represented at the time vs. now, how the culture informed the riddims and how the riddims exploded to the world and translated to people like me that live in London. When asked the most memorable of the 30+ interviews conducted with industry players, among the names that came to mind were Cleveland Clevie Browne of veteran producer duo Steely and Cleevie, his brother Danny Brownie of Main Street Studio fame, Danny Pepperseed and Claude Weak Hand Reynolds. Currently the tour engineer for reggae crooner Chronixx, Reynolds shared his rise from being an apprentice engineer on Tony Kellys Bookshelf Riddim to an in-demand producer working with the likes of Shaggy on his multi-platinum album, Hot Shot. For Sparks, his story was a remarkable illustration of how dancehall changes lives, and highlighted the importance of mentorship, one of Kellys strong points. Though entirely sentimental about the glory days, Sparks is no less appreciative of modern dancehall, with its grimy leanings and traphall sounds thats been shunned by some veterans. Where many see a movement too far removed from tradition, Sparks sees a full-circle moment. Even back in the 90s and as youll see through the book, you had people at the time that hated what was going on and the new technology of this new thing, he asserted. Culture has changed. At the end of the day, technology gives you what you put into it. Run Di Riddim is published through Sparks own NoLongStories, whose mandate includes documenting authentic stories and diversifying the narrative. Across 300 pages, he examines the genres triumphs & tragedies, dancehall as both a space and sound, and dedicates an entire chapter to the frank, fiery female acts of the day. What does Sparks hope readers glean about those booming blueprint years? That [90s dancehall] is up there with the greatest eras of music, he stated. Its as important as 70s reggae, 90s R&B, The British Invasion, Motown, all of them. Its not just something to make you dance and feel good, it has a culture behind it. If you dont know about dancehall youll learn a whole heap and if you think you know about dancehall, youll realise theres so much you didnt actually know. A family feud. That is how Buju Bantons son Jahazeil Myrie has described the situation which has left his sister Abihail and her father at odds, in what has been a dramatic last 12 hours which has seen Abihail accusing the Til Shiloh artist of trying to strangle her, and in turn, he filing a missing report for her with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Maurice McCurdythe Attorney-at-law for Abihails mother Lorna Strachanhas subsequently told the Jamaica Gleaner this afternoon that his client informed the Constant Spring Police that her daughter is safe. Strachan is the mother of five of Bujus children. Abihail, a 21-year-old model, has also confirmed that she is not missing and rebuked her Twitter followers who have been asking for evidence that she is alive and well. She also said that her sister Jodian had joined forces with Buju to report her missing, as they did not want her alive. Im not missing. They are lying. My sister Jodian and my dad are doing this because I proved that he abused me. and has been abusive- not only to me but everyone around him and them. They are doing this to trick you all because they are trying to kill me, she tweeted on Tuesday evening. How can I, my daddys princess be missing and he is sooo nonchalant about it. not one post. come on, she added. The Gleaner newspaper first reported this afternoon that Abihail was missing since Saturday, October 9, and that the Jamaican Constabulary was seeking the help of the public to find Abihail, who is of a West Meade, Belgrade Heights address in Kingston 19. The missing report had come several hours after a series of photographs were posted on her Instagram account accusing her father of physically abusing her. Jahaziel says its a family feud This morning Jahazeil had posted on Twitter that the situation was nothing more than a father-daughter squabble, with which he does not want to get involved. Hours later, after the missing persons report was made for Abihail, Jahazeil categorically denied that his little sister was missing. Jahaziel, in a series of tweets, which he began posting shortly before 10 oclock, also said he wanted nothing to do with the drama, and shortly after 5:00 pm noted that: My sister is not missing all of that is a lie. Please Im not apart of the family feud. I separate myself from everyone and everything because Im doing music and its going to affect me and my career I dont know what to say Im doing my music by my self if you notice please dnt get me involved, he wrote in one tweet. Rap superstar Cardi B couldnt hold back her excitement about Libra Season and her 29th birthday, which she celebrated with a Dancehall-themed Passa Passa party last night. Cardi, who is of Dominican descent, is an avid lover of Dancehall and is often loud and proud about her love for the music and culture. Passa Passa was a weekly Wednesday night party series in West Kingston, Jamaica that attracted locals from various communities and visitors alike. It was known to go into the wee hours of the morning. On Monday evening, Cardi took her love for Dancehall to the streets, putting together a star-studded birthday extravaganza at River Studios in Los Angeles, which was decorated with Caribbean flags. Here are the best moments from inside the event. This Is Not No Stush Party The resident DJs were Polish and Noah Powa, who started off the event by saying, Right now we are gonna get to the party and get crazy in this bitch, just remember this is not no stush party. By Cardis side, was husband Offset, 1/3 of the Migos rap group, whom she playfully encouraged to perfect his daggering moves before the party. ON GOD @OffsetYRN you better be practicing your daggering moves cause I want you to break my spine on the dancehall floor at my party, Cardi B tweeted ahead of the party. For someone who was born in Atlanta, Offset has definitely learned a thing or two from his wife. He previously laid down some pretty impressive moves at their daughter Kultures 3rd birthday party, which featured a dancehall segment laced with Vybz Kartel and more. Offset rocked his best don dada fita simple all Black tank, and at one point during the event, he surprised his wife with a house in the Dominican Republic. Shenseea and Cardi B Meet For The First Time. For her Birthday Passa Passa, Cardi pulled out all the stops with performances by the Queen of Dancehall Spice, Ding Dong, Kranium, Mr. Vegas, and Shenseea, who she met for the first time. Run dah one yah fi har nuh man, wah happen to unuh, bad gal Cardi, Shenseea said before her performance of the Shenyeng Anthem, which Cardi sang along with, word for word. Shenseeas friend and stablemate Ding Dong then took the stage with his signature Bad Man Forward Bad Man Pull Up energetic style. He slowed down to pay tribute to Cardi B. Big up to the wul a unuh me love you fi this, you bring dancehall to LA, Offset, Big up all a di Migos dem wah deh yah, he said before going into a Hip-Hop tribute performance. Spice Asserts Herself As The QOD! Not to be outdone Spice then took the stage to assert herself as the Queen of Dancehall. Happy Bloodclt Birthday.You have a Jamaican dancehall Queen party its only right you sent for the Bloodclt Queen, Spice said to Cardi who was standing stage-side. Spice performed her biggest hit, So Mi Like It. Spice has also thanked Cardi for hiring her to perform and flying in her entire crew. Yessss thats right you handled this very professional and spend up you good good lump sum a money to fly in my entire crew #Booked skin out mi Pum Pum, she wrote in the caption of an Instagram clip. Spice And Megan With The Good Knees Later on, Spice and Megan Thee Stallion thrilled attendees as they both twerked to her Shaggy and Sean Paul collab, Go Down Deh. Sean Paul could not attend the event, but his presence was still felt with a personalized dubplate of his mega-hit Temperature. Quavo Had The Full Dancehall Experience. Among the other celebrity guests in attendance were Rvssian, Normani, Winnie Harlow, Ella Mai, Oxlade, Snoop Dogg, Lizzo, Teyana Taylor, Ella Mai, Cardis beloved sister Hennessy and her Migos cousin-in-law Quavo. Quavo had yet another viral moment with an aggressive dancer in a green bob wig who put some authentic Dancehall moves on the Strub The Ground rapper, who seemed barely capable of handling the velocity. Megan and Normani looked on with polite yet visible concern as he did his best to handle the dancer. Quavos life just flashed before his eyes at Cardi Bs birthday party pic.twitter.com/Cc2ETl3KHO 2Cool2Blog (@2cooI2blog) October 12, 2021 Normani! Normani also had a viral moment of her own, showcasing her dancefloor skills with an impromptu routine that highlighted her mean wine with a trademark split. She definitely set the party off right inna dancehall style. The Darien Library and the Museum of Darien are welcoming historian Walt Woodward for a lecture at 7 p.m., on Tuesday about Connecticuts early witch hunts. Register on the librarys website for the event at darienlibrary.org/event/5194. Woodward will begin the lecture with a protestant reformation and trace its history through the Hartford Witch hunt of the 1660s. Those trials and executions preceded the ones in Salem, Mass. by a generation. Woordward will also show how Connecticuts govenor at the time, John Winthrop, Jr., and his friend, Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, intervened to transform Connecticut from New Englands most aggressive witch hunter to a colony that ended executions for witchcraft 30 years before they began at Salem. Along the way, he will answer questions about the early witch hunts, and explain why almost everyone in the 1600s believed that witchcraft was very real and dangerous. Darien Thrift Shop having designer boutique shopping night The Darien Community Association is having a designer sale from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., on Thursday at 274 Middlesex Road in Darien. The inventory will include a selection of premium designer and better brand clothing, bags and shoes at thrift shop prices. All profits will support the Darien Community Associations mission, and scholarships for Darien High School students. Visit dariendca.org, or call 203-655-4552 for more information about the Darien Thrift Shop. The Darien Thrift Shops normal hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. The thrift shop is located at 996 Post Road in downtown Darien. Carnival-themed book fair happening The Ox Ridge Elementary School in Darien is having a carnival-themed book fair event from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, at the school at 395 Mansfield Ave. There will be a special opening at 4:30 p.m., each day, for people who need a quieter shopping experience. The event will feature best selling books, classics, and new releases for children. The fair is one of Ox Ridge Elementary Schools largest fundraisers. It is used to supplement the schools curriculumn with field trips, and other enrichment programs. Event looks at impact pandemic lockdown had on children The Darien Library and the Darien Special Education Parent Advisory Committee are presenting a Moving Past COVID-19 Isolation virtual event at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday. It will help parents understand and navigate the impact that lockdown isolation during the coronavirus pandemic may have had on their children. Dr. Peter McAllister, who is a board-certified neurologist, will address best practices for evaluating and treating anxiety, depression and migraines in school-age children. He will also discuss the psychoeducational impact of isolation and insecurity during the pandemic from the virus, and available interventions, including medication. Register on the librarys website for the event at darienlibrary.org/event/5340. Registration for new visual arts classes open Registration is open for new visual arts classes, and workshops at the Darien Arts Center for both adults and children. Offerings include a mixed media and collage class for students, who are in first through fourth grade, and a calligraphy workshop for adults. Students practice in the Darien Arts Centers visual arts studio. Visit darienarts.org, or call 203-655-8683 to register for the classes. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Road in Darien, behind town hall. A class titled: Paint and Paste: Mixed Media and Collage, will meet from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. from Oct. 21, through Dec. 16. The cost will be $220. The students in the class will use a variety of materials including, paint, magazine clippings, fabric and imaginations to create personalized collages with Darien Arts Center instructor Erika Caputo. In a class titled: Introduction to Blackletter, (Gothic), Calligraphy Workshop, students are asked to bring some creativity and excitement to addressing their holiday cards for 2021, with Darien Arts Center instructor Moki Kokoris. Blackletter, which is often called Gothic, or Old English, is a letterform that has a lot of impact, and contrast artistically. The class will meet Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class will be $165. DAR chapter participating in day of service Dariens Good Wifes River DAR Chapter is collecting items for the Nicolas A. Madaras Home for Female Soldiers, Forgotten Heroes in Bridgeport this month. New items needed include pajamas, blow dryers, twin or full bed sheets, blankets, pillows, pillow cases, laundry detergent and storage bins. Any of these items can be dropped at 15 Chasmars Pond Road, or by calling 203-656-0857 for pick up by Oct. 23. All donations are greatly appreciated. The collection is part of the chapters way to honor the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Service to America, which coincides with the organizations founding on Oct. 11, 1890. Coincidentally, Oct. 21, marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nicolas A. Madaras Home for Female Soldiers, Forgotten Heroes, which offers specialized transition housing unique to homeless female veterans, as well as offering a sanctuary of peace and safety to these women and their children. DAR Regent, Nicole Gorman, Vice Regent, Tracy Root along with members Rebecca Siciliano and Karen Polett are spearheading this collection. remaining of SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Boston: Institutions such as United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund need to be urgently reformed as they no longer speak for countries whose issues have remained unattended to for decades, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. All these organizations will have to look at reforming themselves, she said here at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday. During the conversation with Professor at Harvard University Lawrence Summers at the talk organized by the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Sitharaman said while reforms in countries are happening in different stages, these global institutions have remained the way they have been for the last several decades. Many of them now no longer speak for countries whose issues have remained unattended to for decades together, whether it is on trade, security, monetary framework and on funding development, she stated. There is a desperate need for all these institutions to be more transparent, represent and speak for countries which don't get adequate representation; and therefore I would think that is something which has to happen immediately. When these institutions become more representative, she said there would be more equitable distribution of resources, more concern for equitable development for growth. This whole dialogue which used to happen - north-south - looked as if it's moving towards irrelevance. But the issues of north-south still remain. Development has not reached many parts of Africa, many parts of the small Pacific islands. Many parts of those countries, even within countries, where there is differentiated development. So I think that's what would have happened if only this reform agenda had been taken up by these institutions, she said. Sitharaman arrived in the US Monday for a week-long trip to attend the annual meet of the World Bank and IMF in Washingon as well as G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting. During the official visit to the US, Sitharaman is expected to meet US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. She said that participating in the G-20 now for India has got its own importance. India has joined the trio, which refers to the Chair of the G-20, and the one before and the Chair after the current President. India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, and Sitharaman said that whole year, India will work to take the G-20s agenda forward. She said the G20 meeting for her will be also a process of learning how the current presidency is taking the agenda forward. More importantly, the OECD has been working in the much discussed global tax or tax on these huge big multinationals so that this practice which is now prevalent that they end up paying tax nowhere. They're neither paying the country where they're doing business and earning the profit, nor are they paying tax in the country where they are located, she said, adding that the current each country for itself' taxation regime has given them an opportunity to end up paying nowhere, which is good for the company, but absolutely of no use for countries where the business is getting generated. Today, more than 134 countries have come together to have a global tax on all those companies which are operating across nations, making the profit across nations profits in so many geographical jurisdictions, but end up paying no tax in both jurisdictions. The panel then played the English version of the same press conference, during which it was noticed that he stated that the safety latches were off. (Facebook) HYDERABAD: The panel formed by the Supreme Court to probe the death of four accused in the Disha case found four 'erroneous replies' given by V.C. Sajjanar, then commissioner of Cyberabad police, during the press conference held at Chatanpally on December 6, 2019, at 3 pm. The panel on Tuesday played two clips of the press meet, both in Telugu and English, where Sajjanar was present, before cross-examining him on his replies to the commission. As many as four erroneous replies were noticed by the panel, including him stating to the media that the safety latch on the gun was turned off, whereas he told the commission that he did not mention the safety latch at all. Upon being asked about the same, the official said initially that he did not speak Telugu well and that some answers to the media might have been miscommunicated. The panel then played the English version of the same press conference, during which it was noticed that he stated that the safety latches were off. "There was a lot of rush and crowd during the press meet," was Sajjanars explanation for the errors in the English press briefing. The panel asked him what was the need to hold press meets in four languages (Hindi, English, Telugu and Kannada), while the teams were still inspecting the crime scene about 200-300 metres away. Sajjanar responded that the media had waited for a long time and that they requested him to brief them in other languages. As he mentioned to the panel that the whole press meet was an impromptu one, he was asked how they managed to get the chairs, tables and other things needed to hold a press meet at a village in a remote place away from the city. "The Shadnagar police, upon the request of Shamshabad DCP N. Prakash Reddy, provided the things needed to hold a press meet," he said. When the commission asked him though as an IPS official who had been in Telangana (and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) for 20 years, when did he pass a test in the regional language (Telugu), he said, "It was in 2000 I think. But as I have been speaking more in Hindi, my Telugu is not that good." President Ram Nath Kovind with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and A.K. Antony, during a meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (PTI) New Delhi: A delegation of Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind demanding the immediate dismissal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and an impartial judicial probe by two sitting judges of the Supreme Court. The delegation of senior Congress leaders also presented a memorandum of facts about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident to the President. Four farmers were among eight people killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Gandhi told reporters after the meeting that he conveyed to the President that the MoS Home should resign to ensure an impartial probe in the Lakhimpur violence as his son Ashish is an accused in the matter. Ashish Mishra, who has been named in the FIR and is accused of mowing down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, was arrested on Saturday by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Gandhi demanded that to ensure justice, two sitting Supreme Court judges should probe the incident and those who have committed the murders should be punished. "There cannot be an impartial inquiry and justice cannot be given till the time the MoS Home is sacked. This is the voice of not just the families of those killed but of all the farmers and this voice is being suppressed," he said. The Congress delegation included A K Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Asked whether they have received any assurances from the president, Priyanka Gandhi claimed, "he (President) has assured us that he will talk to to the government in this regard today itself". The Congress memorandum said the situation is unlikely to change without any intervention given that BJP leaders, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath, continue to make conciliatory statements towards Ajay Mishra. "Ajay Mishra's role is also yet to be investigated and the same is unlikely while he continues in office. Furthermore, which police official would dare to fairly investigate the son of Union MoS Home Affairs with the father occupying a position of such high influence and who enjoys continued endorsements from both the Central and the State governments. In these difficult circumstances, we call upon you as the custodian of our Constitution and the moral compass to this Government to immediately dismiss Union MoS Home Affairs and to direct an independent judicial investigation by a Commission comprising of two sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India or the high court," the Congress memorandum said. The party hoped that the President will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take appropriate action. The Congress memorandum also mentions that like crores of other Indians, the President is also "deeply affected" by the "unforgivable and merciless murder" of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. "The incident has scarred the soul of India. This deliberate act of murder, in broad daylight followed by the audacious reactions of the State and Central governments, has completely eroded the people's faith in those tasked with bringing these perpetrators to justice," the party said. When the Centre notified the Godavari and the Krishna river management boards in July, the Jal Shakti Ministry had said the notification (issued on July 15) is expected to reduce the friction in the area of water management between the two states. (PTI Photo) Hyderabad: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has decided to take over all direct outlets from the main reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects from October 14 and asked the respective state governments to prioritize it. The issue of implementation of the Gazette Notification (issued by the Centre) dated July 15 on jurisdiction of KRMB was discussed in the 15th (Special) Meeting of the Board held on Tuesday, the Board said in a press release. "All direct outlets (components) from the main reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar Projects, which are listed under Schedule-II of the Gazette Notification may be prioritized by respective State Governments for handing over to KRMB by October 14, 2021," it said. The Board's decision came in spite of Telangana's request to the Centre to postpone the implementation of the notification. The KRMB was constituted by Centre as per the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organization Act, 2014 for the administration, regulation, maintenance and operation of such projects, as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time. Telangana and AP have had differences over irrigation projects, generation of power and others. When the Centre notified the Godavari and the Krishna river management boards in July, the Jal Shakti Ministry had said the notification (issued on July 15) is expected to reduce the friction in the area of water management between the two states, "The decision of the Union government for notifying the jurisdiction of two boards would go a long way in enabling the rive boards to discharge their responsibilities to the fullest as mandated in theA (Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act) 2014 and ring about the much needed neutrality on water resources matters between the two states," the ministry had said. New Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here Wednesday evening after he complained of weakness following a fever, sources said. They said the 89-year-old Congress leader had a fever on Monday and had recovered, but he turned weak and was on fluids. The former prime minister was admitted to the cardioneuro unit of the AIIMS and is under the care of a team of cardiologists led by Dr Nitish Naik, Singh's personal physician for years. The Congress said the former prime minister is stable and is undergoing routine treatment. "There are some unsubstantiated rumours with regards to former PM, Dr Manmohan Singh ji's health. His condition is stable. He is undergoing routine treatment. We will share any updates as needed. We thank our friends in media for their concern," AICC secretary Pranav Jha tweeted after he was flooded with queries about Singh's health. In April this year, Singh was admitted to the hospital due to the coronavirus infection. Prayers for the early recovery of the former prime minister poured in from a host of leaders across party lines. "Praying for quick recovery and good health of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji who has been admitted to AIIMS," said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, former Union minister Ashwani Kumar, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also wished Singh a speedy recovery. Among others, former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi and NCP's Nawab Malik also prayed for the ex-prime minister's good health. Meanwhile, the total vaccinations in the state have been put at 2.82 cores as on Tuesday, on which day 2,41,325 doses were administered. (PTI file photo) HYDERABAD: There will be no Covid-19 vaccination from October 14-17, according to the director of public health. This will be in addition to the remaining Sundays in this month, taking the total number of holidays for vaccination in October to nine. Meanwhile, the total vaccinations in the state have been put at 2.82 cores as on Tuesday, on which day 2,41,325 doses were administered. The government is keen to vaccinate three lakh people everyday. To facilitate the same, centres have been set up across districts and the city. According to estimates, nearly five lakh people from the city are yet to take even one dose of the vaccine. Telangana state reports 184 new Covid cases There are 4,211 Covid-19 active cases in the state, according to the latest medical bulletin. With 184 new cases, the total number has risen to 6,68,450 cases. Following a death on Wednesday, the toll has touched 3,934. The recovery rate in the state is around 98.78 per cent. Due to the festive season and an increase in movement of people to different parts of the country, tests are being conducted on 38,834 samples. This figure is likely to slide further as there will be no vaccination from October 14-17. New cases continue to be the highest in GHMC limits at 55. Other districts with high numbers include Ranga Reddy (14), Karimnagar (11), Medchal Malkajgiri and Nalgonda with 10 each. The government has asked people to exercise caution during the festive season and follow safety protocols of masks, hand washing and social distancing. This includes even those who are vaccinated, officials said. The court ordered the high court registry to take the newspaper report on record and obtain instructions from the Chief Justice for registering a suo motu petition. (Photo: PTI/File) Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday took note of a news report about alleged harassment of a Delhi-origin couple, who migrated to Kochi 11 years ago, by police officials who allegedly demanded Rs five lakh from them for releasing their daughters who were traced from the national capital after they ran away from home. "If it (allegations) is true, it is a serious matter. This is a dangerous game," Justice Devan Ramachandran said after the newspaper report was mentioned before the court by a lawyer. The court ordered the high court registry to take the newspaper report on record and obtain instructions from the Chief Justice "for registering a suo motu petition." A suo motu petition is registered when the court decides to take up on its own any issue which has come to its attention or was brought to it notice by someone via a letter or news reports. The court directed that the petition be registered quickly as the family was not from Kerala originally and to ensure there is no travesty of justice in the instant matter. It also called for a report about the whole matter from the Commissioner of Police, Kochi and directed the officer to ensure the family was not subjected to any more harassment. According to the newspaper report, the eldest daughter of the couple, parents to five children, ran away from home to meet her online boyfriend whom she met after a smartphone was bought for her to attend online classes. The girl also took her younger sister and Rs 35,000 when she ran away and when the parents found the daughters missing, they lodged a complaint with Ernakulam North police station immediately, it has said. Kochi Police, thereafter, informed the couple that the girls left for Delhi via train and asked them to trace their children on their own, the news report has said and added that the parents visited many places with the help of Delhi and Haryana police in search of the girls. Kochi police assisted the inquiry by only giving the location of the mobile phone, the news report has said. Thereafter, Delhi Police asked Kochi Police to reach the national capital for investigation and the family had to pay for the air travel expenses and accommodation of the Kochi Police officers, the news report has said. Delhi police traced the girls along with two men -- named Faizan and Subair -- in the national capital and it was found that they had allegedly raped the elder girl, the news report said. After returning to Kerala, with the girls and one of the accused -- Subair -- the Kochi Police allegedly refused to release the children into the parents' custody and demanded Rs five lakh from them or that they marry the elder girl to the accused. When the alleged demands of the police were not met by the parents, the couple's elder sons were arrested for allegedly molesting the two girls and even their younger son -- a class 8 student -- was also called to the police station for questioning, the news report has stated. The ASI, who arrested the couple's sons, told the newspaper that the action was taken based on the elder daughter's statement that she fled home as her brothers abused her. The officer, according to the newspaper, also said that only one of the two men were arrested as only he had allegedly raped the girl. DMK MPs T.K.S. Elangovan and Kalanidhi Veeraswamy met K.T. Rama Rao and urged him to back DMKs stand over the issue. (Photo:Twitter) HYDERABAD: Two MPs of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) called on Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao here on Wednesday and handed over to him a letter written by DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrashekar Rao. Stalin sought Chandrashekar Rao's support to his demand to abolish National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), the national exam for admission to medical courses. Stalin wrote to non-BJP Chief Ministers and party chiefs over his demand to abolish (NEET). DMK MPs T.K.S. Elangovan and Kalanidhi Veeraswamy met Rama Rao and urged him to back DMKs stand over the issue. They said keeping in view the future of students, they were demanding the abolition of NEET. They claimed that Rama Rao responded positively to their request. Elangovan said the NEET exam was affecting the students of the states. "We built infrastructure for medical colleges and pay salaries to professors but NEET deprives our students of getting admissions in the same colleges," Elangovan said. Stating that NEET was against the federal setup, the MP demanded that education subject should be brought back to states' list instead of the existing concurrent list. "We are talking to Chief Ministers of all opposition parties in the country in this regard. The attempts by the Centre to take away rights of the states need to be stopped and we have to raise our voice strongly, he said. Stalin demanded NEET abolition after three NEET aspirants from Tamil Nadu died by suicide last month. He is reaching out to non-BJP Chief Ministers to mobilise support for his demand. HYDERABAD: French government has extended an invitation to IT minister K.T. Rama Rao for addressing the Ambition India Business Forum scheduled at the French Senate in Paris on October 29. According to a press release issued by the minister's office on Wednesday, ambassador of France Emmanuel Lenain, in a letter to Rama Rao, said: We believe it will create a great momentum between France and India, apart from providing an occasion to promote Telangana. I would hence like to invite you to participate in person in Ambition India 2021 as a keynote speaker at the roundtable Growth: Drafting future of Indo-French relations in post-Covid era. It would be an honour for us to welcome you at the French Senate and organise high-level meetings for you with French investors, Lenain underlined. Expressing happiness over the invitation, Rama Rao said it will be a great global platform to highlight investment opportunities in Telangana. Several roundtables on doing business in India, including healthcare, climate, digital transformation and agribusiness, will be held on October 29. The afternoon session will be devoted solely to B2B meetings between French and Indian companies. The event, organised under patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aims at fostering trade and investment relations between France and India. It will enable French companies to become aware of challenges of Indian market and get updates on Indian governments economic policies and regulatory specialties. The previous Ambition India edition hosted 700 participants virtually. In this file photo taken on August 9, 2021 a vehicle approaches the USA-Canada border to enter the USA, which is still closed to Canadians for non-essential travel. (Jason Redmond / AFP) Washington: The United States will open its land borders with Mexico and Canada in early November to non-essential travelers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a senior White House official announced Tuesday. The official said the administration would give the "precise date very soon" -- both for land crossings as well as international air travel, which would be timed to "go together." The United States had already announced in September that it would lift bans in November on all vaccinated air passengers who undergo testing and contact tracing. In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, US borders were closed in March 2020 to travelers coming from the European Union, Britain and China, with India and Brazil added to the list later. Overland visitors from Mexico and Canada were also banned. The nearly 19 months of restrictions led to both personal and economic suffering. The White House source said the land border re-opening would happen in two phases. Initially, vaccines will be required for "non-essential" trips -- such as visiting family or tourism -- though unvaccinated travelers will still be allowed into the country for "essential" trips as they have been for the last year and a half. A second phase beginning in "early January" 2022 will require all visitors to the United States to be fully vaccinated, no matter the reason for their trip. "This phased approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers or others to get vaccinated, enabling a smooth transition to the new system," the official said. The new schedule means the land border restrictions, which are currently set to expire on October 21, would have to be extended one more time before the new rules enter into force, the official indicated. Which vaccines? The senior official pointed to recent recommendations from US health authorities for guidance on which vaccines would allow travelers entry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week that all vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) would be accepted for entry by air, the official pointed out. "While the CDC hasn't made a final determination here, I anticipate that that would be the same for land travel as well," the official said, explaining that the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not administered in the United States, would be accepted. The rule change will only apply to legal land crossings into the country, the official said. "Title 42" -- the controversial Trump-era rule continued by the Biden administration which allows those crossing illegally to be deported for public health reasons -- will remain in place, the official said. The White House cited Title 42 when thousands of Haitians gathered along the US-Mexico border were deported last month, with critics saying the law unfairly restricts those seeking asylum. The White House official said Tuesday that details were still being sorted to allow vaccinated air travelers to enter the United States, including plans on how to undertake contact tracing on such visitors. Passengers will also be tested for the coronavirus, the official said. Amazon Inc has been repeatedly accused of knocking off products it sells on its website and of exploiting its vast trove of internal data to promote its own merchandise at the expense of other sellers. The company has denied the accusations. But thousands of pages of internal Amazon documents examined by Reuters including emails, strategy papers and business plans show the company ran a systematic campaign of creating knockoffs and manipulating search results to boost its own product lines in India, one of the company's largest growth markets. The documents reveal how Amazon's private-brands team in India secretly exploited internal data from Amazon.in to copy products sold by other companies, and then offered them on its platform. The employees also stoked sales of Amazon private-brand products by rigging Amazon's search results so that the company's products would appear, as one 2016 strategy report for India put it, "in the first 2 or three search results" when customers were shopping on Amazon.in. Among the victims of the strategy: a popular shirt brand in India, John Miller, which is owned by a company whose chief executive is Kishore Biyani, known as the country's "retail king." Amazon decided to "follow the measurements of" John Miller shirts down to the neck circumference and sleeve length, the document states. Read | Amazon to give digital devices to needy Indian students The internal documents also show that Amazon employees studied proprietary data about other brands on Amazon.in, including detailed information about customer returns. The aim: to identify and target goods - described as "reference" or "benchmark" products - and "replicate" them. As part of that effort, the 2016 internal report laid out Amazon's strategy for a brand the company originally created for the Indian market called "Solimo." The Solimo strategy, it said, was simple: "use information from Amazon.in to develop products and then leverage the Amazon.in platform to market these products to our customers." The Solimo project in India has had international impact: Scores of Solimo-branded health and household products are now offered for sale on Amazon's US website, Amazon.com. The 2016 document further shows that Amazon employees working on the company's own products, known as private brands or private labels, planned to partner with the manufacturers of the products targeted for copying. That's because they learned that these manufacturers employ "unique processes which impact the end quality of the product." The document, entitled "India Private Brands Program," states: "It is difficult to develop this expertise across products and hence, to ensure that we are able to fully match quality with our reference product, we decided to only partner with the manufacturers of our reference product." It termed such manufacturer expertise "Tribal Knowledge." This is the second in a series of stories based on internal Amazon documents that provide a rare, unvarnished look, in the company's own words, into business practices that it has denied for years. Amazon has been accused before by employees who worked on private-brand products of exploiting proprietary data from individual sellers to launch competing products and manipulating search results to increase sales of the company's own goods. In sworn testimony before the US Congress in 2020, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos explained that the ecommerce giant prohibits its employees from using the data on individual sellers to help its private-label business. And, in 2019, another Amazon executive testified that the company does not use such data to create its own private-label products or alter its search results to favor them. Read | Amazon clarifies to government on reported legal fee But the internal documents seen by Reuters show for the first time that, at least in India, manipulating search results to favor Amazon's own products, as well as copying other sellers' goods, were part of a formal, clandestine strategy at Amazon and that high-level executives were told about it. The documents show that two executives reviewed the India strategy senior vice presidents Diego Piacentini, who has since left the company, and Russell Grandinetti, who currently runs Amazon's international consumer business. In a written response to questions for this report, Amazon said: "As Reuters hasn't shared the documents or their provenance with us, we are unable to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the information and claims as stated. We believe these claims are factually incorrect and unsubstantiated." The company did not elaborate. The statement also did not address questions from Reuters about the evidence in the documents that Amazon employees copied other companies' products for its own brands. The company said the way it displays search results doesn't favor private-brand products. "We display search results based on relevance to the customer's search query, irrespective of whether such products have private brands offered by sellers or not," Amazon said. Amazon also said that it "strictly prohibits the use or sharing of non-public, seller-specific data for the benefit of any seller, including sellers of private brands," and that it investigates reports of its employees violating that policy. Piacentini and Grandinetti didn't respond to requests for comment. The unfiltered insight the documents offer into Amazon's aggressive use of its market power could intensify the legal and regulatory pressure the company is facing in many countries. Amazon is under investigation in the United States, Europe and India for alleged anti-competitive practices that hurt other businesses. In India, the allegations include unfairly favoring its own branded merchandise. Amazon declined to comment on the investigations. Jonas Koponen, an antitrust attorney with Linklaters LLP in Brussels, said the Reuters findings on Amazon's practices in India would likely interest the European Commission, which is probing whether the company has used non-public seller data to boost its own retail business. India has cooperation agreements with the United States and the European Commission to exchange information related to enforcement of antitrust laws. "When any one competition authority is looking into aspects of one of these globally present organizations' behavior, they will certainly be interested in understanding what evidence there is in other parts of the world and the extent to which that evidence relates to the practices that they themselves are investigating," Koponen said. The documents also support criticism of Amazon laid out by Lina Khan, the new chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or FTC. Khan published a paper in 2017 that argued that Amazon's private-brand business raised anti-competitive concerns. "It is third-party sellers who bear the initial costs and uncertainties when introducing new products; by merely spotting them, Amazon gets to sell products only once their success has been tested," she wrote. "The anticompetitive implications here seem clear." Amazon filed a petition in June with the FTC asking that Khan recuse herself from all matters related to the company because of "her repeated proclamations that Amazon has violated the antitrust laws." Khan and the FTC didn't respond to requests for comment. In the first article in this series, Reuters reported in February that Amazon had for years given preferential treatment to a few big sellers on its Indian platform, and used those sellers to circumvent regulations designed to protect the country's small retailers. That report triggered action by India's main financial crime-fighting agency, which sought information and documents from Amazon. In addition, the nation's antitrust watchdog submitted the story as an exhibit in a court battle with Amazon over its investigation into the company's alleged anti-competitive practices. The court rejected Amazon's request to halt the probe. "We are committed to extending cooperation to all authorities in India and are confident about our compliance," Amazon said in its statement to Reuters. Like many other retailers, Amazon views its own brands as a major driver of increased profitability. Private-brand products often have higher profit margins than normal retail brands because production and marketing costs can be lower. An internal email sent by Amazon executive Grandinetti to a group of company executives in December 2018 stated: "We believe that over the next several years, Private Brands will be one of the most important growth and profitability drivers in the Consumer business." Grandinetti added that company executives believed private brands "can achieve 10% penetration" of the company's consumer business worldwide over the next five years. Introducing Amazon's own brands was especially critical in India. The company began its ecommerce foray there in 2013, and soon recorded millions of dollars in losses, one internal document shows. To make the business "sustainable in the long run," the 2016 Private Brands document notes, Amazon embarked on a strategy centered on introducing its existing private brands, such as AmazonBasics, and new ones tailored to India. The 2016 document stated a goal: offer Amazon's own goods in 20% to 40% of all product categories on Amazon.in within two years. Amazon would achieve profitability in its private-brand business by "only launching products that will provide more margin than comparable reference brand products." Amazon predicted private-brand sales would reach nearly $600 million by 2020 in India, according to a 2017 internal business strategy document. "We will be amongst the Top 3 brands in each sub-category that we play in," the document stated. Whether it achieved that sales goal isn't clear; Amazon doesn't disclose its private-brand sales in India. The company didn't comment on the strategic goals and other details from the documents reported in this article. An Amazon press release in 2018 revealed just how successful its private-brand business was becoming in India. Celebrating "record sales" during an annual promotion, the release stated, "Amazon Brands saw its best performance ever with 11X jump over last Great Indian Festival." Today, Amazon.in lists thousands of Amazon-branded offerings from garbage bags, bed sheets and soap to air conditioners and televisions. According to the website, many are best-sellers. One key person involved in 2016 with Amazon's private-brand business in India was Amit Nanda, who later became a country director of the program, according to his LinkedIn profile. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, one of the nation's top business schools. Before joining Amazon in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile, he worked at Citibank and the Indian arm of consumer-goods giant Unilever. As Amazon was reviewing its private-brand strategy in India in 2016, Amazon India employees had a meeting with Grandinetti. A longtime Amazon manager, at the time he was in charge of content for Kindle, the company's popular reading device. But Amazon had announced that he would soon lead its international consumer business, including India. During the meeting, Nanda was assigned various tasks, according to one Amazon document. Among them: The India private brands "business should be large and profitable. Build for scale." Nanda declined to comment for this story. 'Glance views' With its population of 1.3 billion people and a growing middle class, India represents a huge and potentially lucrative market for Amazon. But it's also a country where foreign ecommerce players face a complex and protectionist regulatory regime. The country's brick-and-mortar retailers comprise an important political constituency for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Concerned that predatory pricing could hurt these merchants, India prohibits foreign ecommerce players from selling most goods directly to consumers, as they do in many other countries. Amazon and other foreign companies are restricted to operating an online marketplace of third-party sellers, with no one vendor allowed to hold an advantage over another. As a result, Amazon sells most of its private brands through other vendors. In launching its private-brand business, internal documents show how Amazon used its Indian website to gain a clear edge for its own products on the platform. The creation of its Solimo brand offers a case study. According to the internal documents, the word Solimo is derived from Solimoes - the name for the upper stretches of the Amazon River in Brazil. With the Solimo line, Amazon aimed to offer items that equaled or exceeded the quality of competing brands but were 10% to 15% cheaper, the 2016 Private Brands document shows. Amazon employees studied different product categories, and compared their overall market size with how well those segments were doing on Amazon.in. They then targeted categories such as home furnishings. Amazon found that furnishings was a $2 billion business in India - but its own website's three-month sales in mid-2014 totaled about $1 million. In its analysis, Amazon used a metric called "glance views" that quantified which products were being viewed by customers on its website. Explaining why it zeroed in on glance views, the 2016 Amazon document noted that monitoring its India website traffic provides "an opportunity to influence interested customers who are actively considering" a purchase in a product category. Amazon has said some of the data its private-brand teams use in launching products is public such as the website's rankings of best-selling merchandise. This is how Amazon described the system to a U.S. congressional subcommittee last year: "Like anyone else at Amazon or in the general public, members of these teams can also visit Amazon's product detail pages to learn a product's best seller ranking and read customer reviews and star ratings to assess whether a product is selling well in Amazon's store." But seven current and former Indian sellers on Amazon.in told Reuters they can't access internal sales data of rival brands offered on the website. Four of the sellers said they can access glance views, but only for their own products. Amazon has access to more data on sellers, including the number of product units shipped and details about customer returns, the 2016 document shows, giving it an advantage in market intelligence. Amazon's own use of the data to develop and promote its private-brand products "destroys the level playing field," said one current seller, who asked to remain anonymous. Amazon said in its statement that it "does not give preferential treatment to any seller on its marketplace." The company also said it "identifies selection gaps based on customer preferences at an aggregate level only and shares this information with all sellers." How to 'replicate' products Once Amazon's private-brand employees had decided which categories to enter, they reviewed sales and customer-review data on Amazon.in to identify "reference" or "benchmark" brands to "replicate," the 2016 private-brand document showed. In the case of Solimo, the 2016 document stated that to ensure the brand's goods meet "customer requirements in terms of performance we identify and replicate these reference products." Amazon had no comment on the Solimo project. Amazon's strategy also called for manufacturers of its private-brand products to use other companies' goods as models to develop samples for pre-production testing. Among the brands Amazon employees planned to "benchmark," the document states, were American ones "Old Navy/GAP" men's shirts. The document does not indicate whether the employees followed through. Gap Inc, which owns the Old Navy and Gap brands, declined to comment. The rival products Amazon targeted also included other brands popular in India. For pots and pans, a "reference brand" was Prestige, one of India's largest kitchen-equipment companies. For men's shirts, the benchmarks included Peter England and Louis Philippe, both made in India by conglomerate Aditya Birla Group. Amazon also targeted John Players, a menswear brand then owned by Indian conglomerate ITC Ltd. Chandru Kalro, managing director of TTK Prestige, which owns the Prestige brand in India, told Reuters, "We have no knowledge of us being a 'reference brand' for Amazon and we don't know what it means to be an Amazon reference brand." Aditya Birla Group declined to comment. ITC did not respond to a request for comment. In early 2016, Amazon private-brand employees were internally noting the success of Xessentia, a clothing brand they had launched on Amazon.in in partnership with a seller. The seller owned the brand; Amazon designed the products. Sales of Xessentia men's business shirts were surging, and in the first quarter of 2016 had become that category's second-most popular brand on the India site after the American brand Arrow, licensed to the Indian company Arvind Fashions. To create the Xessentia line, Amazon had used Louis Philippe as the benchmark brand, because it was "premium and popular," the 2016 document said. But something was amiss: About one in every 12 Xessentia shirts was being returned in the first quarter of 2016 for sizing issues. More than 350 were returned because customers complained they were too small. Amazon employees conducted a "deep dive," the 2016 document reports, by poring over a year's worth of data from Amazon.in, including customer complaints and return numbers for Xessentia, Arrow and seven other brands. They found that a brand of men's business shirts in India called John Miller had far outsold Xessentia shirts, despite carrying "a similar" average selling price. John Miller also had about half the rate of customer returns for "quality issues." The upshot: "Our learning is that our customer is different from the Louis Philippe customer and doesn't prefer this fit," the 2016 document stated. "We concluded to follow the measurements of Business Shirt of John Miller for Xessentia because of wide acceptance with our customer base." So Amazon revised the fit of Xessentia shirts to copy John Miller's sizing, matching it down to the neck, shoulder, armhole, sleeve and waist dimensions. Amazon didn't reply to questions about its Xessentia project. Arvind Fashions declined to comment. John Miller is a brand owned by retail mogul Kishore Biyani. Amazon and Biyani later became business partners in India, but had a falling out. Amazon is now embroiled in a legal battle with Biyani over the proposed sale of his retail assets to Reliance, which is run by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, considered India's wealthiest man. Ambani and Amazon are fierce rivals, with the Indian magnate in recent years launching his own ecommerce business. A spokesperson for Biyani's Future Group said the company was "shocked and surprised" to learn that Amazon was using Indian brands to build its own. "They are in a powerful position of being both an online marketplace operator and a seller and collector of data," the spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. "This is leading to misuse of consumer and seller data giving them the power to kill Indian entrepreneurs and their brands." After the launch of Xessentia, Amazon introduced a brand of U.S.-and-European-style clothes in India called Symbol. "For every product line identified for launch, we will identify an optimal reference brand based on customer reviews and size of business," state the plans for Symbol and another private brand. "The replication of the 'Fit' of this reference brand will be a crucial step in our product development process." The Symbol brand is still going strong. On Oct. 11, 11 of the top 25 best-selling men's formal shirts on Amazon.in carried the Symbol brand name. 'Systematic campaign of copying' Amazon has been repeatedly accused in the United States of copying product designs. In 2018, home-goods retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc filed a federal lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the ecommerce giant of copying its proprietary designs for chairs, lamps and other products for an Amazon private brand called Rivet. "Amazon has engaged in a systematic campaign of copying," the lawsuit alleged. The exhibits filed in the case included pictures of similar-looking products from Amazon and a Williams-Sonoma brand. In court filings, Amazon denied the copying allegations. Last year, the two parties reached a confidential settlement. Both didn't comment about the case for this story. Joey Zwillinger, co-founder of Allbirds Inc, a San Francisco-based maker of sustainable footwear and apparel, told Reuters that around 2016 or 2017, Amazon began inviting his company to sell its goods on the ecommerce giant's platform. Allbirds said no. Then, in 2019, Amazon introduced a wool-blend sneaker that closely resembled a popular Allbirds wool shoe and sold for much less. Zwillinger said the Amazon product used cheaper material but that the design was so similar, "it's hard to tell the difference in a silhouette." Allbirds didn't sue. There are always subtle differences in designs, and copycat cases can be time-consuming, Zwillinger said. But he and Allbirds' other co-founder posted online a letter to Bezos, noting that the Amazon product was "strikingly similar to our Wool Runner" sneaker. Writing that Allbirds was "flattered at the similarities," they offered to help Amazon use more sustainable materials in its product. Zwillinger told Reuters that they didn't receive a response. Amazon had no comment. In India, Amazon didn't just knock off products for itself. One of its employees suggested that another seller consider replicating a company's products. In 2020, Amazon India employee Aditi Singh advised Mohit Anand, who was then selling products on Amazon.in, on how he could succeed on the platform. She suggested that Anand "replicate" a furniture company's products, according to a recording of a phone call reviewed by Reuters. Noting that an Indian furniture brand called DeckUp was selling well on Amazon.in, Singh suggested that if Anand were to "replicate DeckUp's range" and charge lower prices, then the products "will sell very well" on Amazon.in. Anand told Reuters that he didn't take the advice. Utheja Pulluri, DeckUp's founder and a former Amazon India employee, said that as long as the ecommerce giant was "not sharing confidential data on us, I don't have a problem This appears to be business guidance, a generic insight." Singh referred a Reuters request for comment to Amazon's public relations team. The company didn't comment. 'Search seeding and sparkles' How high products rank when customers search the Amazon website is critical to online sellers' success. An internal document in 2017 noted that more than half of users' clicks on search results are for the products listed in the top eight. Amazon has said its search algorithms don't favor its private-brand products. Asked during the 2019 congressional hearing whether Amazon alters algorithms to direct consumers to its own goods, associate general counsel Nate Sutton replied: "The algorithms are optimized to predict what customers want to buy regardless of the seller." Yet the internal Amazon documents show that in India, Amazon manipulated search results to favor its own products. The company used a technique called "search seeding" to boost the rankings of its AmazonBasics and Solimo brand goods, according to the 2016 private-brand report. Referring to Amazon's product codes known as ASINs, or Amazon Standard Identification Numbers the report stated: "We used search seeding for newly launched ASINs to ensure that they feature in the first 2 or three ASINs in search results." The document also referred to another technique that gave Amazon an edge: "search sparkles." "We have aggressively used search sparkles on PC, Mobile and App to specifically promote Solimo products on relevant customer searches from 'All Product Search' and Category search," the 2016 private-brand report said. According to one current and two former Amazon employees, search seeding and search sparkles are digital techniques the company has used to direct customers to certain products. Two of the sources said Amazon has used seeding to alter search rankings to boost products, such as new ones, whose sales are so low that there's insufficient data for the company's technology to rank them. Sparkles are banners that Amazon has planted above search results to direct customers to certain products the company wants to promote. While such tools have legitimate uses to assist online shoppers find certain hot new products, using search seeding to boost the rankings of Amazon's own products hurts rival merchants' sales on the platform, one of the former employees said. Search seeding and sparkles were both used to promote AmazonBasics products on the company's India platform, the 2016 document reveals. Within months of the launch of AmazonBasics in India in 2015, four of its products were "#1 Bestsellers in their category week after week," the 2016 document said. It added that "promos" were placed on "detail pages of competitor products to direct traffic to AmazonBasics brands products." Piyush Tulsian, a New Delhi retailer of computer accessories, told Reuters he used to earn about $1,500 a month selling mouse pads on Amazon.in made by Logitech International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. Then, about two years ago, he said he started noticing that his sales were dropping. He said he discovered that customers who viewed details about the Logitech mouse pad he was selling for $21 were shown an advertisement for an AmazonBasics pad that was about 60% cheaper. The Logitech product also began appearing much lower in search results, he said. "It's very frustrating," said Tulsian, who is 36. "They are mistreating sellers." He said he stopped selling the Logitech mouse pad on Amazon.in and was stuck with 150 unsold ones. Amazon had no comment. Logitech declined to comment. Controversy over the business practices of foreign ecommerce companies in India has heated up in recent months. In June, the government proposed draft regulations that threaten to impose further restrictions on Amazon and other ecommerce companies, including local players, after receiving complaints by consumers and traders of unfair business practices. The proposed rules could restrict Amazon and others from selling their own private-brand products in India. Later that month, India's commerce minister accused large ecommerce companies of flouting local laws and said he had observed "a little bit of arrogance," particularly by American ones. The other big platform in India is Flipkart, owned by American retail giant Walmart Inc. Flipkart didn't comment. In early July, Amazon announced it would introduce to India a program it already offers businesses elsewhere. Called the "Intellectual Property Accelerator" program, it gives certain sellers on Amazon.in access to services provided by intellectual-property experts and law firms. One aim, Amazon said, is to help sellers "protect their brands." Watch latest videos by DH here: The Adani group will be formally taking over the operations, management and development of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport from Thursday. A formal handing over of charges of the nearly 90-year-old airport by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Adani Group will take place during the intervening time between Wednesday and Thursday. The Adani Group is expected to spruce up the facilities at the airport and improve connectivity. Steps were already being made to reopen the duty-free shop in the terminal that was remaining defunct over the last few years. The Adani Group is setting up the Vizhinjam seaport project as well, which is around 20 kilometres from the airport. Even as the Left government in Kerala, as well as the opposition Congress opposed the handing over of the airport to Adani Group, representatives of trade and commerce, including the IT sector, welcomed the decision, hoping the private group would improve the airport's connectivity. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also backed the airport's privatisation after considering its prospects. Adani Group won the bid for operation, management and development of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, which is the first airport in Kerala, for a 50-year lease period for a per passenger fee of Rs 168 to AAI. Airport sources said that the existing Airports Authority of India staff were being given a transfer option to other AAI-run airports or can join the Adani group. Check out latest DH videos here Jewellery start-up Melorra on Wednesday announced it has raised $24 million (around Rs 180.5 crore) to enhance technology capabilities, ramp up brand marketing and expand its experience centre footprints across the country. The fund was raised in a round led by 9Unicorns, Symphony International Holdings Ltd, Value Quest, Venture Catalysts, Param Capital and family offices, the company said in a statement. "...this funding comes as an affirmation that we continue to lead in the right path," Melorra founder and CEO Saroja Yeramilli said in a statement. The company said it aims for $1 billion (more than Rs 7500 cr) in revenue in the next five years. Melorra is also currently spearheading a campaign to educate consumers about the importance of buying BIS-hallmarked gold jewellery in India. Currently, the company delivers hallmarked gold to all districts in the country. Going forward, Melorra also has plans to launch its international website. Check out DH's latest videos: Indian American Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO, is among the corporate leaders to receive this years prestigious C K Prahlad award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership. Created in 2010 by the invitation-only Corporate Eco Forum to honour Indian American Prahlad, its founding advisory board member, the prestigious award recognises exceptional, globally significant private-sector action that exemplifies the fundamental connection between sustainability, innovation and long-term business success in a globalizing world, a media release said Tuesday. Four of Microsofts top leaders -- Nadella along with its president and vice chair Brad Smith, chief financial officer Amy Hood and chief environment officer Lucas Joppa -- received the prestigious honour for their collaborative leadership aimed at transforming Microsoft into a carbon negative company by 2030 and to remove all its historical emissions by 2050. Nadella, Hood, Smith and Joppa have exhibited a remarkable level of joint ownership of this moonshot initiative - this is the first time weve seen a CEO/President/CFO/Environmental Sustainability coalition like this, said CEF founder MR Rangaswami. Theyve defined a new model for what corporate-wide climate leadership looks like while sending a clear message that sustainability is core to Microsofts business strategy for the decades ahead, he added. Announced during the 2021 CEF Annual Leadership Retreat, that was attended by senior executives representing CEF member companies with combined revenues of USD4 trillion, other awardees include leadership by an individual executive to Ecolab Chairman and former CEO, Douglas M. Baker, Jr. Under Bakers leadership, Ecolab joined the Business Ambition for 1.5C, pledging to reduce its emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050, and led the way in the formation of the Water Resilience Coalition, an initiative of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. According to CEF, with this team at the helm, Microsoft is moving aggressively to advance its vision to make a positive impact globally on the climate, while proving that such steps can also be good for business. By 2025, the company will shift to 100 percent renewable energy for its data centres, buildings and campuses and it will protect more land than its operations use. By 2030, it will match 100 percent of its electricity consumption, 100 percent of the time, with zero-carbon energy purchases - and will push beyond that to actually become carbon negative: to remove more carbon from the environment than the company emits. Their approach is holistic, connecting the dots to other aspects of planetary health -- including a commitment to replenish more water than the company uses -- a goal known as water positive -- and a pledge to achieve zero waste for its direct operations, products and packaging, it said. The team has led Microsoft to look beyond the companys own walls to create the enabling environment for change. The company has set up a USD1 billion Climate Innovation Fund to help accelerate the global development of carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies, CEF said in a press note. Microsoft is also building a Planetary Computer platform to help monitor, model, and manage Earth's natural systems. Beyond that, Microsoft has co-founded a new Green Software Foundation to help reduce emissions within the software industry by 45 per cent by 2030, working with co-founders Accenture, GitHub, and ThoughtWorks to develop new standards, tools, and leading practices. CEF said winners are determined through private votes cast by its 24-member advisory board, which includes representatives from government, academia, nongovernmental organisations, and the private sector. The voters chose from a roster of finalists, selected following an open nominations process. Check out the latest videos from DH: Shares of Tata Motors on Wednesday jumped over 19 per cent after the company said it will raise $1 billion (Rs 7,500 crore) in its passenger electric vehicle (EV) business from TPG Rise Climate at a valuation of up to $9.1 billion. The stock zoomed 19.29 per cent to its 52-week high of Rs 502 on BSE. It jumped 19.49 per cent to its 52-week high of Rs 502.90 on NSE. The fund will be used to partly fund investment of $2 billion (over Rs 16,000 crore) in the next five years by a new subsidiary of the company for expanding its EV business, including launching of 10 EV models. Tata Motors Ltd (TML) and TPG Rise Climate, the dedicated climate investing strategy of private investment firm TPG, have entered into a binding agreement, under which the latter along with its co-investor ADQ, will invest in a subsidiary of Tata Motors that will be newly incorporated, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. TPG Rise Climate along with co-investors shall invest Rs 7,500 crore in compulsory convertible instruments to secure between 11-15 per cent stake in this company translating to an equity valuation of up to $9.1 billion, it added. ADQ is a strategic partner of Abu Dhabi's government and is one of the region's largest holding companies with direct and indirect investments in more than 90 companies locally and internationally. Check out latest videos from DH: Bengalurus once-profuse bird populations may have been decimated by urbanisation but scientists have found that resident waterbird populations are on the rise. Some scientists attributed this to lake rejuvenation activities. Not all is rosy, however, as nearly all migratory water birds which used to visit the city during winter have ceased coming. According to the study, published in the Journal of Urban Ecology, all but four of 24 migratory waterbird species, including several European-origin species such as northern shovelers, northern pintail and garganey, which traditionally migrated from the United Kingdom during the winter, have virtually disappeared from Bengaluru. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Azim Premji University and the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) made the findings after surveying some 56 lakes in a radius of 32 kilometres from Halasuru Lake. The study also utilised data uploaded online by citizens to Cornell Universitys eBird portal. The study largely tallied with the scientists hypothesis that lakes in the centre of the city will have less diversity as they are most likely to be disturbed and might be polluted. However, they found that lakes further from the city centre showed healthy populations of tree-canopy dwelling birds such as painted storks, pelicans, cormorants, Brahminy kites and egrets. While this indicates that urbanisation is the primary associate of the decline in lake size closer to the city centre, the findings also show that lake rejuvenation programmes could be working when it comes to restoring ecological balance. Bird populations are increasing because of the availability of nesting sites in islands enhanced by lake rejuvenation activities, said Dr Ravi Jambhekar, a visiting scientist at the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the IISc, who is corresponding author for the study. He added that the thriving populations suggested that the ecosystem of these rejuvenated lakes could be returning to normal, with an increase of fish. However, many ground-nesting birds continue to decline. The pied kingfisher is declining. They nest in holes excavated on vertical mud banks. These banks have disappeared as the edges of our lakes are covered in concrete or stones to make them into walking paths, noted scientist Kulbhushan Singh Suryawanshi of the Nature Conservation Foundation. Migratory birds decline In the case of migratory birds declines, scientists say this could be due to pressures at their home breeding sites in other regions or countries, possibly from feral dogs and cats. For example, nine of the ten migratory duck species previously found in the city were declining. None of the migratory birds breed in Bengaluru. This is all happening elsewhere, Dr Jambhekar said. Speaking as an independent expert, Vishwanth Srikantaiah of Biome said that the the fact that water bird populations are thriving are an indication that the lake rejuvenation projects are having a positive effect on the environment. Check out DH's latest videos here: Disasters seem to be never-ending for Bengaluru this rainy season. After witnessing the back-to-back collapse of buildings in a month, Bengaluru witnessed a similar incident on Tuesday late at night. A four-storey building was hanging by a thread at the NGO layout of Vrushabhavathi Nagar ward in Mahalakshmi Layout limits after its foundation was washed away due to incessant rains. About six families who were living in the building had a narrow escape and were immediately evacuated from the building. BBMP officials said that the building may collapse anytime or they will have to pull it down safely keeping in mind the safety of adjoining buildings. Excise minister Gopalaiah, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta and BBMP Special Commissioner (West) Dr Basavaraju visited the spot late at night and oversaw relief operations. #JustIn:Due to heavy rains, foundation of a 4 storied building washed away late night in NGO colony of Mahalakshmi Layout in #Bengaluru. Building may collapse anytime & six families escaped by a whisker. @DeccanHerald #Karnataka #buildingcollapses pic.twitter.com/8eLoPeIn4c Niranjan Kaggere (@nkaggere) October 13, 2021 Also Read BBMP misses second deadline to fill potholes, blames rains Officials revealed that the building was 15- to 20-years-old and built on a 15X40 dimension plot just behind the Shankar Nag bus stand in Kamala Nagar. There are no casualties in the incident. A total of six families were living in the building and all of them have been shifted and rehabilitate at a makeshift arrangement, the Excise minister and MLA of the area said. NDRF and Fire and Emergency services have been summoned and safety measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of the adjoining buildings. All the residents in the four to five adjoining buildings are being evacuated to safe places as a precautionary measure. Watch the latest DH Videos here: It is not available in China but Netflix's global sensation Squid Game has already built up a huge following in the country, with fans dodging strict internet controls to stream the show and snapping up merchandise such as its unique outfits. The dystopian South Korean thriller has become the most popular Netflix series launch ever, the streaming giant said Tuesday, but it is unlikely to pass China's censors because of its brutally violent content. Yet it is already a hit in cities such as Shanghai, where a crowd formed Tuesday at an eatery selling dalgona -- the crisp sugar candy featured in one episode -- with customers gathering at its Squid Game-themed sign to take photos. Read more: Sweet taste of Squid Game success for South Korean candy couple "People were sending jokes related to the show in group chats when I started watching," a customer surnamed Li told AFP. "It's rather fast-paced and therefore, quite thrilling," the video producer said of the series. After buying the candy, Li and his friend filmed their attempt at a challenge from the show, where contestants try to cut shapes from the snack without cracking it. Squid Game features a group of society's most marginalised and indebted people who are forced to compete in a series of children's games until all participants are dead except one. The "winner" gets $38 million. As the show became an international hit, China's ever-nimble manufacturers raced to tap into demand, with products -- including the bright pink uniforms and eerie masks worn by anonymous guards -- popping up across the giant online shopping platform Taobao. Vendor Peng Xiuyang told AFP his sales had spiked by around 30 per cent thanks to demand for Squid Game merchandise. He had never heard of the show when a customer asked last month if he sold the masks -- a plain black full-faced covering printed with squares, triangles or circles. But now vendors like him and plastics manufacturers in the eastern hub of Yiwu are all rushing to meet demand -- from both domestic and international buyers. "Our customers are those who have seen the series and want to join in the trend," he added. With Halloween coming up, the spine-chilling masks have become his most sought-after product. The lack of official availability has not stopped Chinese audiences from finding ways to watch the show -- including easily available unofficial streaming sites or file-sharing. The piracy problem is so widespread that South Korea's ambassador to China, Jang Ha-sung, recently told a parliamentary audit that he had asked Chinese authorities to take action. "Our assessment is that Squid Game, which is gaining global popularity, is being illegally distributed on around 60 sites in China," Jang said, testifying remotely from Beijing. As fascination with the show swirls among China's tech-savvy youth, the hashtag 'Squid Game' got nearly two billion views on social media, and related topics have been trending for weeks. Users discussed how they would pass the challenges featured in the show, and wondered what a Chinese version of Squid Game would be like. But one user said: "It's not like it would pass censors if we made such a show ourselves... if it were too violent, it would just get taken down." For now, fans just want to have fun. A customer in Shanghai surnamed Yang said: "I've seen (the snack) being sold online, but it's my first time finding it in real life." Check out the latest DH videos: World leaders met virtually Tuesday to discuss ways of preventing an economic and humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, but the Biden administration maintained a cautious stance toward providing more support to the Taliban-ruled country. The European Union pledged $1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) in aid to Afghanistan and to neighboring countries, as leading rich and developing nations separately affirmed their support for human rights and stability in the country. We must do all we can to avert a major humanitarian and socioeconomic collapse in Afghanistan, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a statement. We need to do it fast. After two meetings with Taliban officials over the past few days, however, the Biden administration did not announce any new US aid for the country as it navigates its approach to an Afghan government run by a group that battled the United States for nearly 20 years. Experts said the EU funding, some of which had already been pledged last month, was at best a temporary solution to the enormous need in Afghanistan, a nation of 30 million whose financial system is on the verge of collapse. Most international aid to the country has been cut off since mid-August, when the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took power. The Group of 20 meeting produced a declaration of mostly familiar principles, including the need to protect the rights of Afghan women and for the Taliban to allow humanitarian aid to flow unimpeded. President Joe Biden participated in the virtual gathering, but some key leaders, including President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China, did not. The Biden administration affirmed support for using diplomatic, humanitarian and economic means to help the Afghan people but only after it first stressed that leaders at the gathering discussed the need to maintain a laser focus on counterterrorism and the safe passage from the country of foreign nationals and Afghans eligible for asylum in the United States. Officials said that terrorism and safe passage were the main topics of discussion in a separate pair of meetings US officials held with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, over the past several days the first of their kind since the Taliban formed a government last month. Larger and far more fraught decisions, such as whether to grant the Taliban diplomatic recognition or unfreeze billions of dollars of Afghan assets, are not imminent, officials said. In a briefing for reporters Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that denying a haven to terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and ensuring a way out of the country for endangered people were core national interests, a label he did not apply to assistance for the Afghan people. Further social chaos could fuel radicalism within Afghanistans borders and set off refugee flows at a time when Europe is still grappling with a migrant surge over the past decade that has destabilized governments and fueled far-right nationalism. Price noted that the United States had approved nearly $64 million in humanitarian aid for the country in recent weeks and that a representative from the US Agency for International Development joined a weekend session that US officials held with the Taliban. Decisions with more sweeping implications including whether to officially recognize the new Afghan government and the critical question of whether to unfreeze $9.5 billion in Afghan national assets held by the Federal Reserve would depend on how the Taliban chooses to govern the country, Price said. Laurel Miller, director of the Asia Program for the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit organization focused on deadly conflicts, said the cold facts of Afghanistans needs were in direct conflict with the politics of the situation. How can the Biden administration release those assets without being accused of giving billions of dollars to the Taliban? she said. Miller said that humanitarian aid would help in the near term but could only do so much to prop up a country facing the prospect of economic collapse. A shattered banking and payment system could also severely complicate the distribution of foreign aid. In a statement, Necephor Mghendi, head of the Afghanistan delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warned of a dire shortfall of cash that could lead essential health care and other services to grind to a halt. A senior administration official said that the United States was in no rush to unfreeze the Afghan assets or to provide diplomatic recognition reiterating the US position that the Taliban must show they are governing inclusively, protecting human rights, preventing terrorist activity and ensuring freedom of movement from the country. The official also stressed that releasing the funds would not necessarily be the key to averting a humanitarian catastrophe, given that the Taliban had yet to prove to the international community they could responsibly distribute and manage the funds. Adela Raz, who was the previous Afghan governments ambassador to Washington before the Taliban took power and who continues to work from the countrys embassy without guidance from the Taliban, acknowledged that the United States and other governments faced very tough decisions about how to balance pressure on the Taliban with support for regular Afghans. The Afghan people should not be taken hostage, Raz said in an interview. But she said there is not much of a change so far from the Taliban government that ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s, when it denied basic rights and education to Afghan girls and women, and enforced the law with amputations and public executions. For the international community, she said, assisting the Afghan people without supporting the Taliban presented a unique challenge. We have never seen something like this before, she said. In addition to the G-20 meeting, officials from the United States and several European nations met with Taliban representatives in Doha in what the EU described as an informal exchange at a technical level that did not constitute recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate government. That position is similar to the one taken by the Biden administration, which refers to the all-male, generally hard-line Taliban leaders running the country as a caretaker government, a phrase that implies hope one many analysts call distant for a more inclusive government to come. The EU pledge includes 300 million euros (about $346 million) for humanitarian aid already announced, along with an additional 250 million euros (about $288 million) to provide more support to those in urgent need, notably in the field of health, von der Leyen said. The money will go to international organizations already working in Afghanistan, as has recent US aid. The new Taliban government has generally cooperated with UN aid agencies, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday, and has progressively granted access to the areas requested and provided security when needed. Although the Taliban kidnapped and murdered foreign aid workers during their two-decade insurgency, they have a keen interest in placating the international community now that they are in power, as they hope to win diplomatic recognition and direct economic support to rebuild an impoverished country gutted by decades of war. Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, who hosted the G-20 meeting, called it the first multilateral response to the Afghan crisis. Speaking at a news conference at the end of the meeting, he added, Multilateralism is returning. Draghi said the leaders discussions had moved beyond blame for the fall of Afghanistans capital, Kabul, an issue he said dominated last months UN General Assembly gathering, to the question of humanitarian relief. At least this one allows us to overcome the inevitable differences in points of view, he said. Draghi said that providing aid required talking to but not formally recognizing the Taliban. There is no alternative to having contacts with them, he said. They are essential for this response to be effective. Check out the latest videos from DH: Fed up with traffic jams? Imagine a world where your taxi takes to the skies and lands on top of your office building, recharges and sets off afresh. That's the vision of Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Britain's Vertical Aerospace, which is set to raise $394 million in a merger with a blank-cheque New York-listed company, and who says his aircraft will be flying by the mid-2020s. And he's not alone. Some of the world's most high-profile engineers and airlines believe Vertical is onto something with its plan for zero-emission mini-aircraft to almost silently take four passengers through the skies for up to 120 miles (193 kms). American Airlines, aircraft lessor Avolon, engineers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, as well as Microsofts M12 unit are investing in the merger, which is expected to complete by the end of the year. Fitzpatrick, who also set up OVO Energy, Britain's no. 3 energy retailer, said Vertical flights between London's Heathrow airport and its Canary Wharf financial district will take 15 minutes and cost 50 pounds ($68) per passenger. That potential is attracting airlines' attention. More than 1,000 VA-X4 aircraft have been pre-ordered by customers. Interest in the zero-emission aircraft comes at a time when aviation companies are under mounting pressure from investors to help decarbonize the sector and boost their environmental, social and governance scores. "We are going to sign deals. We're finding the appetite and the demand from airlines to be really strong," Fitzpatrick told Reuters. The biggest challenge for Vertical is certifying its aircraft, which Fitzpatrick said it is on track to do by the end of 2024, funded by new money from the merger. Test flights Fitzpatrick first had the idea back in 2015 when he sat for hours in 10 lanes of gridlocked traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Back then, there weren't many competitors, he said, but today analysts estimate there are more than 100 companies working on rival electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVOTL) aircraft. The VA-X4 is still in construction and will start test flights early next year. Fitzpatrick believes Vertical's partnerships will help it emerge as a winner. Using battery technology from the car industry, and tried and tested electrical propulsion units and motors, and backed by Honeywell's electronics, Fitzpatrick has "no doubt" that the VA-X4 will fly. Certification will depend on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). "The process of certifying the aircraft is known. The technologies are new, but the steps we need to go through are relatively similar to other aircraft," said Fitzpatrick, who has recruited senior engineers from both Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Developing a new mode of transport comes with other challenges such as the infrastructure, but Fitzpatrick is confident. "We're already in discussions with, for example, Heathrow Airport," he said, pointing out of his office window to potential skyport locations on rooftops. As for convincing passengers, that's where airlines come in. "I think the brand association with trusted airlines is really going to help passengers embrace the new technology," he said. Watch latest videos by DH here: The last surviving French Resistance fighter awarded the highest bravery order by Charles de Gaulle for his World War II exploits has died aged 101, France's defence minister said Tuesday. The death of Hubert Germain marks a sobering point in a chapter in French history that saw the country capitulate to Nazi forces in 1940, occupied but then liberated four years later with the help of resistance fighters inspired by de Gaulle. "I want to inform you that Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of the Order of the Liberation, has died," Defence Minister Florence Parly told French lawmakers. "It's an important moment in our history," she said. President Emmanuel Macron "bows down in front of the life of this figurehead of Free France," the Elysee Palace said in a statement. Germain was among 1,038 decorated with the Order of the Liberation for their heroism by de Gaulle, the Resistance leader and later president of France. Shocked by French collaborationist leader Philippe Petain's call to lay down arms against the Germans, Germain was inspired by de Gaulle's call for resistance on June 18, 1940, made from BBC studios in London. As a member of the French Free Forces and the Foreign Legion, Germain took part in key battles at Bir-Hakeim in Libya, at El Alamein in Egypt, and in Tunisia. He also took part in the decisive French-led assault on Mediterranean beaches in August 1944, setting foot on home soil for the first time in years. He fought for the liberation of the southern city of Toulon, the Rhone Valley and Lyon in central France, moving to the Vosges mountains and Alsace in the east, and ended the war in the southern Alps. Of the Resistance heroes honoured by de Gaulle, a third died in combat, while 80 percent of the survivors were wounded in action. Of the last three survivors, Edgard Tupet-Thome died aged 100 in September 2020 and Daniel Cordier died, also aged 100, in November the same year. In his last public appearance, Germain met Macron in June this year at Mont Valerien, the hilltop fortress west of Paris where German forces executed more than 1,000 captured fighters and hostages. Germain was helped from his wheelchair to accept a red sash from Macron, who kissed him on both cheeks. Germain then saluted the president before putting on his military cap. "Hubert Germain, the last of the 1,038 members of the Order of the Liberation, is dead," Macron wrote on Twitter. "Mont Valerien will welcome the body of a man who was a resistant from the very beginning, a hero of Bir-Hakeim and the Provence landings, who reconquered our freedom and rebuilt our homeland." Macron will preside over a ceremony for Germain on November 11 -- Remembrance Day marking the end of World War I and the victims of conflict -- at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and then his burial at Mont Valerien, his office said. A separate ceremony will take place at the Invalides memorial complex in Paris in the following days, it added. "The nation has lost one of its most illustrious servants to whom we are indebted for his honour and courage," said general Thierry Burkhard, chief of staff of the French armed forces. Check out DH's latest videos here: Three weeks back, Kamala Harris's social media team made a mess of her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They snoozed for nearly a day before making the first tweet. This time, it is poor due diligence and inadequate authenticity in a 9-minute-NASA-backed video, where a content shop called 'Sinking Ship' sneaked in paid actors to talk to Harris on STEM and space. "I love the idea of exploring the unknown. There's so much out there that we still have to learn. As the chair of the National Space Council, I'm eager to get our young people interested in STEM and space exploration. Watch "Get Curious", Harris tweeted to her followers for a YouTube series called Get Curious with Vice President Harris. Harris talked about her love of science, excitement over being able to see moon craters through a telescope and the importance of having big dreams. Her exaggerated animation and wide-eyed enthusiasm became a point of ridicule. Overacting just might have passed. But the identity of the kids came out too. Call it Harris' bad luck, a child actor in the video told the networks that he submitted a monologue and was interviewed for the role. The internet erupted, wondering if Harris knew how to talk to 'real' children. Parallels were drawn with the HBO show, Veep, on an incompetent vice president and the hapless political team. It didn't help to have Democratic infighting, the stalling of major pieces of legislation in Congress, low jobs numbers, a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, all bringing Biden-Harris approval ratings to an all-time low. A White House official argued that the VP's office hadn't selected the children. Others in the Harris camp said the fact the children were actors explained why they performed better than the VP. But critics have the upper hand. The video gave them a chance to say that Harris was "faker than Hillary Clinton". As of now, thumbs downs are nearly 4x of thumbs up. The SM-clumsy Donald Trump team has scented blood. "Just when you thought the most fake human being in the history of the world couldn't get any more phony there's this - Her commitment to cringe is truly impressive!" Donald Trump Jr, the son, has tweeted to his 7 million followers. Check out the latest DH videos: The position is unpaid. The worlds scientists and internet sleuths will scrutinize every move. Completing the first assignment with the available tools, and to everyones satisfaction, will be nearly impossible. Despite those considerable obstacles, more than 700 people have applied for spots on a new committee charged with breathing life into the World Health Organizations stalled inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. The committee, expected to be announced this week, represents an attempt by the embattled global health body to reset its approach to determining how the pandemic began. Nine months after sending a team of international experts to China, only for its findings to become entangled in geopolitics and trailed by concerns over Beijings influence, the WHO is trying to inoculate its latest efforts from the slightest hints of undue deference toward China. Its new advisory team will include specialists in fields like laboratory safety and biosecurity, a step that analysts say may help placate Western governments pressing for consideration of whether the virus emerged from a lab. And, crucially, the committee will have a mandate to weigh in on the emergence of any new pathogens beyond this novel coronavirus, giving it a permanence that could help insulate it from political squabbling and strengthen the WHO's hand for future outbreaks. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead, said the group comprising some two dozen virologists, geneticists, animal experts and safety and security specialists would help the organization return to its roots amid the rancor and partisanship of the coronavirus origins debate. Especially in light of the politicization of this particular aspect, she said, we want to take this back to the science, take this back to our mandate as an organization to bring together the worlds best minds to outline what needs to be done. What most needs doing in the hunt for Covid-19's origins, many scientists believe, is something that the new advisory group will be powerless to achieve: persuading China to release evidence about the first infections and to let researchers inspect virology labs, bat caves and wildlife farms within its borders. China has reacted angrily to the idea that the virus may have emerged from a lab, pushing instead for investigations into early cases in other countries, like Italy, or into U.S. research facilities. This new group can do all the fancy footwork it wants, but Chinas not going to cooperate, said David Fidler, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, a research institute. For them, all of this continues to look like an attack on Chinas response to the pandemic, and there its a zero-sum game. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the WHO has been caught in the middle of a tug of war between China and the United States first over Chinas response in the early days of the pandemic, and more recently over the question of how the virus emerged. Even as China has resisted deeper studies of the virus origins, the Biden administration has pressed the WHO for a renewed investigation. The Department of State pointedly questioned the results of a joint study by the WHO-chosen scientists and Chinese researchers from March that said a leak of the coronavirus from a lab, while possible, was extremely unlikely. That WHO team, too, struggled to coax the data it needed from Chinese scientists. Members of the team, which has been disbanded, warned in August that time was running out to recover crucial evidence about the beginning of the pandemic. But it is unclear whether China has taken up the teams recommendations for future studies, including analyzing blood banks for evidence of early coronavirus infections, testing workers on wildlife farms and assessing wild bats and farmed animals for signs of exposure. Some scientists have said that studies of Chinese animal markets, and of bats harboring close relatives of the virus behind Covid-19, have strengthened their belief that the coronavirus spilled naturally from animals into humans. The WHO has said that Chinese researchers were conducting new studies but that it had not been kept abreast of any findings. I dont have any detail on what was done, or is being done, Van Kerkhove said of the Chinese research. President Xi Jinping said last month that China would support science-based origins tracing, but would oppose political maneuvering in whatever form. The new committee, known as the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, will differ in several respects from the team that the WHO sent to China. Because that team visited Wuhan, China had considerable influence over its membership. That is not the case for the new committee, a permanent panel that Van Kerkhove said would begin with frequent, closed-door meetings on the coronavirus. In soliciting applications, the WHO asked potential committee members for a statement about any conflicts of interest, in addition to a cover letter and resume. That appeared to be an attempt to head off critics who complained that a member of the previous team, Peter Daszak, an animal disease specialist, was too closely tied to a Wuhan virology institute at the center of lab leak theories to offer a dispassionate assessment. Daszak has said that his expertise on China and coronaviruses made him well-suited to participate in the earlier trip. Conflicts of interest of members of the last group put a huge cloud over the head of the World Health Organization, said Lawrence Gostin, who directs the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Of the new advisory group, he added: Its a committee with a proper charge, and a proper global mandate none of that happened before. For the WHO, Gostin said, the new committee serves several purposes. In choosing a larger group reflecting a wider range of expertise and geographic regions, the organization can try to amass widespread international support for its work and underscore Chinas intransigence, he said. Crucially, forming the new group could also help shore up the WHO's standing with its key Western backers, none more important than the U.S. Despite the agencys attempt to act deferentially toward China during the pandemic, Gostin said, China had repeatedly stonewalled the organization and concealed crucial information. Now, he said, the organization needed to pay heed to the desires of Europe and the U.S. not least because Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, is counting on their support as he seeks reelection in May. It was one thing to lose America under Donald Trump, where there was a great deal of sympathy for the WHO, Gostin said. Its quite another thing to do it with President Biden, who is an internationalist and who does support the WHO. Despite the eventual avalanche of applications, recruiting for the new committee was no simple task. In some cases, scientists rebuffed the WHO's pleas to apply. We did have some people say to us, No, we really dont want to get engaged, because its just too politicized, Van Kerkhove said The composition of the committee remains under tight wraps. Members of the WHO team that traveled to Wuhan were allowed to apply. Van Kerkhove declined to say whether any Chinese scientists would be selected. She said that some countries had nominated participants, but that the internal WHO selection group had not taken countries backing into account. She said the new committee would meet for the first time roughly two weeks after it is named, following a public comment period that is standard for the global health bodys advisory groups. It will be a relief to have the first couple of meetings, Van Kerkhove said. But, you know, any time I feel like Ive reached some kind of finish line, its really just a start. Check out DH's latest videos here: India on Tuesday stressed on a unified international response to the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan, subtly conveying its unease over the meetings the officials of the United Kingdom and the United States recently had with the leaders of the militant organization. New Delhi also stuck to its stand and underlined the need for ensuring an inclusive dispensation in Kabul, in order to prevent export of terror from the territory of Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually participated in a G20 extraordinary summit on the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban on August 15 marched into the national capital after occupying many provinces in a swift blitz, taking advantage of the withdrawal of troops by the United States and its NATO allies. The summit was convened by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who holds the chair of the G20 this year. Also Read | PM Modi sends Pakistan veiled warning on terrorism A unified international response based on UNSC Resolution 2593 is necessary to improve the situation in Afghanistan. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2021 Modi stressed the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan, with adequate representation of women and minorities, in order to preserve the socio-economic gains the conflict-ravaged country made in the last 20 years and to check the spread of radical ideology. The Talibans near-medieval rule in Afghanistan had come to its end in November 2001, after the United States had launched a military offensive in the country to eliminate the Al Qaeda and avenge the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The militant organisation however not only survived, but also regrouped with the help of Pakistan, negotiated a deal with the US, but continued its offensives and finally returned to power two months ago. Notwithstanding calls from New Delhi and the majority of the international community, the Taliban - guided by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan on September 8 announced an interim government in Kabul, with hardly any representation of the ethnic communities other than the majority Pashtuns. The new dispensation also had no representation of women and the religious minorities of Afghanistan. Modi had on September 17 called out the Talibans government in Afghanistan for its lack of inclusivity and urged the world community to tread cautiously on legitimizing or recognizing it. The US officials recently had a meeting with the leaders of the Taliban in Doha, although President Joe Bidens administration had assured New Delhi that it was far away from legitimizing or recognizing the government announced by the militant organization in Kabul. The diplomats of the UK too had a meeting with the functionaries of the Talibans government in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister on Tuesday underlined that the international community would not be able to bring about the desired change in the situation in Afghanistan unless it forged a unified international response to the militant organizations return to power. Check out latest DH videos here An Indian drug regulatory panel on Tuesday recommended emergency use of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin on children and adolescents in the age group of 2-18 years, clearing the deck for large scale use of the home-grown Covid-19 vaccine on kids, who are not yet eligible for jabs. Bharat Biotech has submitted data from clinical trials in the 2-18 years age group for Covaxin (BBV152) to the CDSCO. The data has been thoroughly reviewed by the CDSCO and Subject Experts Committee (SEC), which provided its positive recommendations. This represents one of the first approvals worldwide for Covid-19 vaccines for the 2-18 age group, the Hyderabad-based company said in a brief statement. The International Monetary Fund was all praise for India's vaccination drive, with chief economist Gita Gopinath saying that India is doing well in terms of vaccinating its own people and this is certainly helping its economy. "We don't have a change to our growth forecast for this year for India. I mean, India came out of a very, very tough second wave and that led to a big downgrade in July but we have no change (in its growth rate projections) as of now, Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the IMF, told reporters during a virtual conference call on Tuesday. "The Indians are doing well in terms of vaccination rates and that's certainly helpful," Gopinath said in response to a question. With over 95 crore vaccine doses administered in India, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the country would soon touch the 100-crore vaccinations mark. Meanwhile, the government announced that airlines will be allowed to carry out all services they used to during pre-Covid-19 times effective October 18. "After review of the current status of scheduled domestic operations viz-a-viz passenger demand for air travel...it has been decided to restore the scheduled domestic air operations with effect from October 18, 2021, without any capacity restrictions," a Ministry of Civil Aviation order said. On September 18, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had allowed airlines to operate a maximum of 85 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights instead of the 72.5 per cent till then. All is not well, however, as the Mizoram government has asked all residents to wear face masks round-the-clock even inside homes and advised them not to dine together at the table ij the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases, even as the state's health infrastrucutre has been "stretched to its limits". "Wear a face mask so that you do not have to wear an Oxygen mask." With slogans like this, the Health Department launched a 10-day-long "All Mask" campaign to ensure that people wear masks all time as the state's Covid-19 positivity rate hovered between 15 and 30 per cent for more than a month. Under the campaign, citizens have been asked to wear masks indoors at all times except while eating meals. "Citizens are requested not to dine together on a table and have buffet meals instead. All citizens are requested and advised to be more mindful in hand washing and use of sanitisers," said a statement. Meanwhile, down south, prohibitory orders that are in place in the wake of Covid-19 in Bengaluru have been extended till 6:00 am of October 25. The night curfew will also be in place from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am on all days until then. Politics over the petrol and diesel prices in the country took a new turn as Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli claimed that the "free" Covid-19 vaccines provided to the citizens have resulted in a hike in fuel prices. "Fuel prices aren't high but include the tax levied. You must've taken a free vaccine, where will the money come from? You haven't paid the money, this is how it was collected," the minister said. Finally, on the global front, Moderna on Tuesday said the US Food and Drug Administration should authorise booster doses of its Covid-19 vaccine in fully-vaccinated older adults and high-risk individuals. The company said its data supports the public health benefit of a booster dose of its vaccine to restore immune response, while reducing the number of "breakthrough" infections in fully-vaccinated adults. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's vaccine advisers on Monday recommended people with weaker immune systems should be offered an additional dose of all authorised Covid-19 vaccines. Watch latest videos by DH here: Mumbai's commercial sex workers were left helpless during the lockdown. A recent documentary -- Mumbai 400008: A story of betrayal, pain and desperation -- by journalist and documentary filmmaker Santoshee Mishra, depicts how over 7,000 sex workers from Kamathipura, Falkland Road, Faras Road went penniless during the Covid-19-induced lockdown and struggled to exist. Sold by a father, brother, husband or boyfriend they have to get accustomed to a life of flesh trade in Kamathipura -- one of the oldest and biggest red-light areas in Asia -- to earn their daily bread. The trade of prostitution totally depends on physical intimacy," Mishra said adding that under the strict rules, any kind of contact or touch was prohibited in the city. Sex workers, most often, do not have a choice. The percentage of women falling into prostitution is more because of human trafficking than self-reasons. Also read: OPINION | Covid-19: Sex workers in acute crisis The documentary brings out never-ending betrayal, pain and desperation, sex workers go through till the end of their lives. It also showcases lacunae in the system as thousands of sex workers could not get any food-packets also. Burdened with room rents, medical expenses, electricity bills, cooking gas or kerosene along with childrens school fees and no income, thousands of sex workers did not receive any food-packets also, Mishra claimed. "The nights of Mumbai city have never ever faced shut down. The first of ever lockdown in Kamathipura forced commercial sex workers to even beg for food... When the food packets were distributed, the patrolling police had beaten up sex workers, Mishra said. Last year, the Supreme Court had ordered all states and Union Territories to provide dry ration to all sex workers without insisting on a ration card or any other identity proof. Check out latest videos from DH: India on Wednesday strongly rejected China's objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, asserting that the state is an "integral and inalienable" part of India. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India "does not stand to reason and understanding" of Indian people. "We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India," Bagchi said. He was responding to a question on comments by a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry objecting to Naidu's visit to Arunachal Pradesh over the weekend. "Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," Bagchi said. At a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, in response to a question about Naidu's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, said China has never recognised the state. Also Read | China objects to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Arunachal Pradesh "China's position on the China-India boundary issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side and firmly opposes the Indian leader's visit to this above-mentioned area," he said. "China urges the Indian side to earnestly respect China's major concerns, stop taking any action that would complicate and expand the boundary issue, and refrain from undermining mutual trust and bilateral relations. It should instead take real actions to maintain peace and stability in the China-India border area, and help to bring China-India relations back onto the track of sound and steady development," Zhao said. China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it is a part of South Tibet. The fresh war of words between the two sides came three days after the 13th round of military talks on the 17-month eastern Ladakh standoff ended in a stalemate. "Further, as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements," Bagchi said. The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as Western Sector. "Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues," Bagchi said. A day after the 13th round of military talks, Indian Army said the "constructive suggestions" made by it were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor it could provide any "forward-looking" proposals. On its part, the Chinese PLA's Western Theatre Command said India insisted on "unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations." Check out latest DH videos here Stressing on the need for enhanced connectivity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday proposed that the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran be included in the North-South Transport Corridor that has the potential to bridge connectivity barriers, as he reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan. Jaishankar was speaking at a joint press meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan following their meeting here. Jaishankar on Tuesday arrived in Armenia on the last leg of his three-nation tour to Central Asia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties and discuss key regional issues including the developments in Afghanistan. Also read: Jaishankar meets Russian counterpart; discusses Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific "Both India and Armenia are members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which has the potential to bridge the connectivity barrier. So Minister Mirzoyan and I discussed the interest which Armenia has shown to develop the Chabahar Port in Iran and being developed by India," Jaishankar said in his remarks. "We proposed the Chabahar Port be builded in the International North-South Transport Corridor; we welcome the use of the Chabahar Port and any other initiative that will encourage regional connectivity," he said. The Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich nations southern coast is easily accessible from Indias western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistans Gwadar Port located at a distance of around 80 km from Chabahar. The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is being considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries, besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. Jaishankar said that the two ministers also did a comprehensive review of the bilateral relations. "We discussed regional and multilateral issues and most importantly agreed on a road map for future course of cooperation and exchanges," he said. Noting that the bilateral relations have expanded in political and cultural fields, Jaishankar said that there is clearly scope for further strengthening of economic and commercial cooperation and tourism, hospitality, infrastructure and investment. He said that one important bridge between India and Armenia is the presence of a large number of Indian students. "There are almost, I think, 3,000 of them who are pursuing medical education in Armenia. We very greatly appreciate the efforts of the government of Armenia and people for the welfare of the Indian community, in particular the students during the pandemic," he said. He said that India and Armenia's progression in the UN and multilateral forums has been exclusive. "We share Armenia's support for our candidature of non-permanent membership of the UNSC for 2021-22 and also for the permanent membership at the UNSC. Our progression at multilateral forums reflects the strength of our relationship. We are very grateful to Armenia for supporting our candidature to other multilateral forums," he said. "I am very hopeful that my visit today has enabled us to further our cooperation in various stages. We stand ready to support Armenia for the spirit of our close and friendly traditions," he said. Check out latest DH videos here: In the first reaction from the top brass of the Narendra Modi government on Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the killing of four farmers as "absolutely condemnable" but sought to find fault with people raising such incidents happening in the country only "when it suits them". She was responding to a question on the Lakhimpur incident and subsequent arrest of a Minister's son during a conversation at Harvard Kennedy School in the United States where she is on an official visit. Read more: Lakhimpur Violence: Ashish Mishra's friend Ankit Das files surrender application in court Asked why the Prime Minister and senior ministers have not commented on the incident and why there is a "defensive reaction" when questioned about such things, she said, "no, absolutely not... It's nice of you to have picked up that one incident which is absolutely condemnable, every one of us say that. Equally there are instances happening elsewhere, is my concern." "India has issues of such nature happening in very many different parts of the country equally. I would like you, and many others, including Dr Amartya Sen, who all know India, to raise it at every time when it happens, not just raise it when it suits us because it's a state where BJP is in power, one of my cabinet colleague's son is probably in trouble, and also assume that it's actually them who did it and not anybody else. Due course of justice will also have a complete inquiry process to establish it," she said. Her comments came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to "selective outrage" over issues of human rights, saying some people define human rights from their own perspective and see violation of human rights in some incidents but do not find violation of human rights in similar cases elsewhere. Read more: Priyanka Gandhi attends final prayers of slain farmers in Lakhimpur violence Sitharaman said she was not being defensive about her party or the Prime Minister but it was being defensive about India. "I will talk for India, I will talk for justice for the poor. I will not be mocked at. And if it is mocking, I will be defensive to stand up and say 'sorry, let's talk on facts'. That's my answer for you," she said during the event held on Tuesday. Asked about farmers' protests, she said the laws were passed by the Parliament after being discussed by various parliamentary committees over a decade. These laws were discussed at state and central levels after the BJP came into power in 2014 and it has been in the making for a decade now and every stakeholder has been consulted. "When the farm laws were brought in the Lok Sabha, there was an elaborate discussion and the agriculture minister gave his reply as well. It was only when it came to the Rajya Sabha, there was a lot of noise and disturbance," she said. On the continuing protests against the laws, she said the protesters belong to "Punjab, Haryana and some parts of western Uttar Pradesh" and the Centre has been saying that it is willing to discuss the issues with them. "We are willing to talk about it, tell us about one particular aspect in any one of the three laws. Till date, we have not had even one particular aspect which is being questioned. And therefore, the protesters are not sure on what score they are protesting, what is it that they are objecting to," she said. Check out the latest DH videos: The Delhi High Court has said a man cannot get automatically absolved of his responsibility to provide sustenance to his children just because his wife has been earning sufficiently or the children have attained the age of majority. Dealing with a matter related to maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad said a father is bound to compensate the wife who, after spending on children, may hardly be left with anything to maintain herself. "The husband must also carry the financial burden of making certain that his children are capable of attaining a position in society wherein they can sufficiently maintain themselves," the bench said. "The mother cannot be burdened with the entire expenditure on the education of her son just because he has completed 18 years of age, and the father cannot be absolved of all responsibilities to meet the education expenses of his son because he may have attained the age of majority, but may not be financially independent and could be incapable of sustaining himself," the bench added. The man here filed a revision petition against the court's order to pay Rs 15,000 interim maintenance to his son till he completes his graduation or starts earning. He claimed his wife is employed with the central government and earns more than Rs 70,000 as monthly salary, besides she also claims education expenses for the children. Dismissing his plea, the court said, a father has an equal duty to provide for his children and there cannot be a situation wherein it is only the mother who has to bear the burden of expenses for raising and educating the children. "It is true that in majority of households, women are unable to work due to socio-cultural as well as structural impediments, and, thus, cannot financially support themselves. However, in households wherein the women are working and are earning sufficiently to maintain themselves, it does not automatically mean that the husband is absolved of his responsibility to provide sustenance for his children," the bench said. The court said it cannot countenance a situation which places the entire burden on the mother to bear the expenses of educating the children without any contribution from the father as simply attaining majority does not mean son would start earning sufficiently. The court said Section 125 CrPC is a tool for social justice enacted to ensure that women and children are protected from a life of potential vagrancy and destitution. The Supreme Court has consistently held that the conceptualisation of Section 125 was meant to ameliorate the financial suffering of a woman who had left her matrimonial home; it is a means to secure the womans sustenance, along with that of the children, if any, it pointed out. "The statutory provision entails that if the husband has sufficient means, he is obligated to maintain his wife and children, and not shirk away from his moral and familial responsibilities," the court said. Watch latest videos by DH here: A Congress delegation led by former party president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind demanding immediate dismissal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and a judicial probe by two sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India or the High Court in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that has "scarred the soul of India". Contending that the killing of farmers on October 3 was a "deliberate act of murder in broad daylight", the delegation told the President that the "audacious reactions" of the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government following the incident has "completely eroded the people's faith" in those tasked with bringing the perpetrators to justice. Arguing for his sacking, the leaders said the Minister's role in the murder is yet to be probed and no fair probe will happen when he is in office. Also, they said police would not dare to fairly investigate the son when the father is occupying a position of "such high influence and who enjoys continued endorsements" from both the central and state governments. Also Read | UP polls: BJP prepares national security pitch to bury Covid failures Rahul was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Working Committee members AK Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi. They also submitted a memorandum to the President. "We have told the President that there cannot be an impartial inquiry and justice cannot be given till the time the Minister is dismissed. This is the voice of not just the families of those killed but of all the farmers in the country and this voice is being suppressed," Rahul told reporters after the meeting. Priyanka said the President has assured them that he would talk to the government in this regard "today itself". In their memorandum, the leaders said the Narendra Modi government has "refused to relent or have a meaningful conversation" with the farmers who are protesting against three contentious farm laws and the government's policy appeared to be "tire and retire the Annadatas, a strategy doomed to failure". Providing the sequence of events, the memorandum said that Mishra had threatened the farmers during a public function on September 27 and had "even boasted about his dubious antecedents". Rahul said the Minister threatened and action on that threat was taken on October 3 when his son Ashish allegedly mowed down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. "How can justice be done when the original provocation came from the Minister of State for Home himself?... It was one of the most gruesome and premeditated acts of bone-chilling murder ever seen and caught on camera. Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed that the Ministers son, Ashish Misra was in the vehicle," memorandum said. The leaders claimed that the UP government "flatly refused" to register an FIR "as has become the norm". Ashish was taken into custody after Rahul and Priyanka visited the families. Also Read | Lakhimpur Violence: Ashish Mishra's friend Ankit Das files surrender application in court The memorandum also referred to a murder case against the minister in which the appeal has been pending in Allahabad High Court since 2004. "What is even more shocking and unbelievable is that the High Court had reserved judgement in the Criminal Appeal on March 12th, 2018 but hasnt delivered the verdict till date. Three years and seven months have passed since. Justice has been delayed to the point where it has effectively been denied," it said. "Despite this context of criminality and abuse of power, Ajay Mishra Teni continues in office... Given that BJP leaders, including UP Chief Minister Shri Adityanath, continue to make conciliatory statements towards him suggests this situation is unlikely to change without intervention. Mishras role is also yet to be investigated and the same is unlikely while he continues in office," it said. "Furthermore, which police official would dare to fairly investigate the son of Union MoS Home Affairs with the father occupying a position of such high influence and who enjoys continued endorsements from both the central and the state governments," it added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Did Veer Savarkar write mercy petitions to the British government at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi? Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks that Savarkar did so set off a war of words between the BJP and the Opposition parties. Lies are spread about Savarkar repeatedly. His detractors fail to realise that Savarkar had filed the mercy petitions at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. He did so as his right as a prisoner and not as a stooge of the British government as is made out to be, Singh had said at a book release function on Tuesday evening. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took exception to Singh's assertions and dug out a letter written by Gandhi to Savarkar's brother Narayanrao on January 25, 1920. Rajnath Singhji is amongst the few sober and dignified voices in Modi Sarkar. But he doesn't seem to be free of the RSS habit of rewriting history. He has given a twist to what Gandhi actually wrote on Jan 25 1920. Here is that letter to Savarkar's brother, Ramesh said on Twitter while sharing the letter. Rajnath Singh-ji is amongst the few sober & dignified voices in Modi Sarkar. But he doesnt seem to be free of RSS habit of rewriting history. He has given a twist to what Gandhi actually wrote on Jan 25 1920. Here is that letter to Savarkars brother. pic.twitter.com/E8Gxq59TxZ Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 13, 2021 AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said Savarkar had written the first petition in 1911, just six months after getting to prison, when Gandhi was in South Africa. Sir @rajnathsingh you said that Savarkars grovelling mercy petitions were on Gandhis advise. 1. Heres the letter to Savarkar from Gandhi. No mention of petition to British begging for leniency, mercy & promising to be a faithful servant of the crown. 1/n pic.twitter.com/5asdmBVqss Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 13, 2021 Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Savarkar's mercy petitions cannot be called an apology, but should be seen as a strategy by the freedom fighter to get out of jail after languishing there for 10 years. Savarkar never apologised to the British, Raut said. Historian Vikram Sampath, the author of a two-volume biography of Savarkar, dubbed the row over the mercy petitions as a needless brouhaha. In my Vol 1 and in countless interviews I had stated already that in 1920 Gandhiji advised Savarkar brothers to file a petition and even made a case for his release through an essay in Young India 26 May 1920. So what's noise about, Sampath said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed that Savarkar worked on the British agenda of divide and rule by suggesting the two-nation theory. In my view, Savarkar can't be understood unless you see him & his dramatic life in all its complexity. If you take one part of the puzzle & think of it as the whole, there's a problem. You have to put the parts together & it's only then you can make sense of the man & his life, said Vaibhav Purandare, author of a biography of Savarkar. Watch latest videos by DH here: The government has withdrawn a travel advisory that added Covid-19 related additional checks and restrictions on those arriving from the UK after the British government ordered discontinuation of mandatory testing and quarantine norms for those vaccinated with Covishield travelling from India. In an official memorandum issued on October 11, the health ministry said that based on the evolving scenario, it has been decided that the revised guidelines stand withdrawn and the earlier guidelines on international arrival issued on February 17 shall be applicable to all travellers arriving in India from the UK. Earlier this month, India had said that all British nationals arriving in India from the UK will have to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. India had made this announcement after the UK recognised Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India but retained the 10-day quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers from India. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Equating the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh with Naxals, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday said the way the outlaws active in his state were being dictated by their senior cadres sitting in other states, the local RSS workers were being controlled from Nagpur. The RSS headquarters is located in Nagpur city of neighbouring Maharashtra. Hitting back at Baghel, the BJP described his statement as "language of extremists", and said the Congress has deviated from the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi. Talking to reporters at the helipad, Baghel also slammed the Centre over its claim that there was no shortage of coal in the country, and added that it has failed to handle the issue. Also Read | Absolutely baseless: Nirmala Sitharaman on coal shortage reports "There will be an impartial investigation (into last week's Kawardha violence)...In Chhattisgarh, no work of RSS people got done during 15 years (of the BJP rule from 2003 to 2018) and they continued to work as bonded labourers," Baghel said. "Even now, they (RSS workers in the state) are not heard as everything is being controlled from Nagpur. Like the Naxal leaders are in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other states and their cadres (in Chhattisgarh) do the job of firing bullets and getting hit. The same is the situation in the RSS. The local RSS workers have no value...Everything is centred in Nagpur," he added. He was replying to a query on Governor Anusuiya Uikey's letter to the state government for an impartial enquiry into the violence occurred on October 5 in Kawardha, the headquarter of Kabirdham district, during a rally taken out by right wing outfits. Stepping up his attack on the opposition BJP and the RSS, the CM said, "They are left with no issues to raise. They have nothing to say over farmers, tribals, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and businesses and hence they have resorted to only two issues - conversion and communalism, in which they have mastery." "They make people fight. The business establishments which were shut due to the coronavirus crisis for a long time are now gradually opening up and they are trying to ruin it by instigating riots. It will not be allowed. We have to keep an eye on their attempts to give communal colour to fights over petty issues," he added. The ruling Congress has blamed the BJP for the violence in Kawardha. BJP MP Santosh Pandey and former parliamentarian Abhishek Singh were among some party leaders who were named in an FIR lodged in connection with the violence. Slamming the Centre over its claims of no shortage of coal in the country, he said, "The government of India had said there is no crisis of coal and power generation in the country, but dozens of power plants are shut in the country. If there is no lack of coal in the country, why has the coal minister reached Chhattisgarh?" The Centre should admit that there is a shortage of coal, he said. "Don't know what this Indian government is doing. There was a lack of oxygen (referring to the situation during the second wave of Covid-19), shortage of fertilizers and now lack of coal. The Centre has failed to handle these things. These small arrangements needed to be regularized only and kept in continuity. The Centre is not able to do just this. What will be more unfortunate than this," he added. Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi arrived in the state on Wednesday to visit mines of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in Korba district. Reacting to the chief minister's statement about the RSS, senior BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said, "The way CM has compared Sangh and Naxalism, in reality these are not Bhupesh Baghel's words, but are of his Leftist ideology. The Congress has lost its core ideology and deviated from the Gandhian ideology." Citing the ongoing turmoil within the ruling Congress in the state, he said, "The party has been battling infighting in the entire country. It is shrinking. Punjab and Rajasthan are in front of you. The root cause of its infighting in Chhattisgarh is because it has left its core ideology and is getting influenced by the Left. I advise Baghel that if he wants to speak about the Sangh, then he should read about it. One should see the work of the Sangh by going to the Sangh's place..." The way such language of extremists is being spoken, the decline of Congress is definite, Kaushik alleged. Check out Dh's latest videos: A top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Tral area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Wednesday. Reports said the gun battle erupted after a joint team of army's 42-Rashtriya Rifles, paramilitary CRPF and J&K police launched a cordon and search operation in Tilwani Mohalla, Wagad in Tral. As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight, reports added. J&K police in a tweet said that a commander of the JeM had been killed in the encounter so far. "Top JeM Commander Sham Sofi killed in Tral #Encounter: IGP Kashmir, Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. Sources said 45-year-old Sofi was active since 2019 and was instrumental in reviving the JeM in the area. Violence has witnessed a spurt in Jammu and Kashmir in recent days. On Tuesday five militants affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in two separate encounters in the neighboring Shopian district. Earlier, on Monday two militants were killed in separate encounters in Bandipora and Anantnag districts of Kashmir. As many as five army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed during a counter-terrorist operation in border Poonch district of Jammu region on Monday. Last week seven civilians, including four from minority community, were killed by militants in separate incidents in Kashmir. Check out latest videos from DH: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday slammed the critics of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, saying the freedom fighter was defamed as part of an organised campaign after Independence. Bhagwat said those critical of Savarkar will have Swami Vivekananda, Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Aurobindo as their next targets. The target of these critics is not the individual, but the ideology of 'dharma' that defines India's cultural history. Our definition of 'dharma' (religion) is a principle that unites, Bhagwat said. Read: Mohan Bhagwat praises PM Modi, says India's security policy got priority only after 2014 Our method of worship is different, but the ancestors are the same. They are very patriotic. Those who went to Pakistan during partition, did not get respect there, he said. He was speaking after releasing the book Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition authored by Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar and Chirayu Pandit. The RSS supremo said Savarkar had referred to the first war of Independence in 1857 and a united fight of the saffron flag of Hindus and the star crescent of Muslims against the British. Our two biggest setbacks in that period were the failure to maintain this Hindu-Muslim unity and joining the Khilafat movement, Bhagwat said. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Savarkar's detractors of spreading lies about the mercy petitions filed by him with the British government. His detractors fail to realise that Savarkar had filed the mercy petitions at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. He did so as his right as a prisoner and not as a stooge of the British government as is made out to be, Singh said. Check out DH's latest videos here: A court in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday rejected the discharge petitions of Kerala education minister V Sivankutty and five other left front leaders in connection with bedlam in the state Assembly in 2015. The opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front demanded the minister's resignation in view of the fresh development. Apart from Sivankutty, former ministers E P Jayarajan and K T Jaleel, former MLAs K Kunjahmed Master, C K Sadasivan and K Ajith are the others to face trial in the case under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. While Ajith is a CPI leader, all others belong to the CPM. Also Read | Kerala CM rejects demand for Education Minister's resignation, UDF boycotts Assembly The case pertained to a violent protest in the state Assembly on March 13, 2015. The LDF, which was the then opposition party, staged the protest to prevent then Finance Minister K M Mani in the Oommen Chandy government from presenting the state budget as he faced allegations of taking a bribe from bar owners for diluting the state's excise police. The Supreme Court in July dismissed a petition filed by the left-front government in Kerala seeking a nod to withdraw the case. Recently the accused also maintained that the video footage of the bedlam in the house was manipulated. The accused climbed the speaker's dais and damaged the chair and electronic systems causing damage to properties worth Rs 2.2 lakh. Check out latest DH videos here Small gold ornaments offered by devotees to various temples in Tamil Nadu will be monetised by melting and converting them into gold bars. The gold bars will then be deposited in nationalised banks, thereby generating revenue for the temple in the form of interest. The scheme, which is being opposed by many groups that claim to fight for freeing temples from government control, was relaunched by Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday. Stalin inaugurated the scheme to monetise small gold ornaments in three temples in Thiruverkadu in Chennai, Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli, and Irukankudi in Virudhunagar district via video conferencing. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department said the gold ornaments which are donated to temples by devotees in the last ten years have been lying idle. The government will monetise them by converting the gold ornaments into gold bars and depositing them in banks that would generate revenue for the temple which can be used for various development purposes. The government has divided the state into three zones Chennai, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli and has appointed retired judges for overseeing the process of monetisation. The entire proceedings of monetisation will be video graphed, the HR & CE department said in a statement. The statement added that while small ornaments are used for the gold monetisation scheme, the big ornaments will continue to be in the possession of the respective temples for use during festivals and other occasions. The move by the government, though not new, invited opposition from several groups, some of which went to the Madras High Court challenging the HR & CE departments notification on the gold monetisation scheme. In the court, the Tamil Nadu government strongly defended the scheme saying it has been in practice since 1977 where small gold ornaments were offered as gifts by devotees to the Lord Murugan Temple in Palani, Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, and Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram were converted into gold bars. The gold bars weighing more than 500 kg are under deposit in various nationalised banks, the government told the court on Tuesday. Watch latest videos by DH here: Expensive bridal dresses that remain unused after a wedding are now bringing cheer to the faces of brides coming from poor financial backgrounds in Kerala. In a new model for charity, Dress Bank offers expensive bridal dresses to women from poor families free of cost. Nasar Thootha, a native of Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district of Kerala, initiated the Dress Bank project in March 2020. In less than two years, around 200 brides from financially-weak families were able to dress up for their wedding in costly bridal dresses under the project, which now has many givers and takers from many parts of Kerala and even from other states and abroad. The Dress Bank has now a collection of around 1,000 costly bridal dresses. "At present, there is a collection of around 1,000 traditional bridal outfits that suits Muslim, Christian and Hindu brides. The market prices range between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000. Contributions are coming from other states as well as from NRIs. Some financially weak families from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had also approached the Dress Bank," Nasar told DH. The 44-year-old former NRI has been actively engaged in charity activities ever since he returned to Kerala from abroad eight years ago. Seeing the plight of many financially-weak families who were struggling to buy costly bridal dresses and bear other expenses of a wedding inspired Nasar to start the Dress Bank project. With the support of his family members and friends, Nasar initially pooled the once-used bridal dresses and started offering those to brides from poor families in the locality. His initiative garnered much appreciation and publicity through social media and word-of-mouth. Nasar then started receiving contributions from various parts of the state and outside. Nasar says that almost all dresses that he receives are used just for a few hours and are like new ones. But he dry-washes them before giving the dresses to others. Even though he does not ask the families to return the dresses after use, some families return them, he says. Nasar initially operated the Dress Bank from his home, but later on, one of his friends offered a one-room shop for the venture at his locality, Thootha, about ten kilometres from Perinthalmanna town. Nasar, who is a taxi driver, generally opens the shop on Tuesdays and Sundays. Nasar added that there are not many requests for bridegroom's outfits, hence, he does not have many attires for grooms. Taking a dig at senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who had said that he still feels as chief minister of Maharashtra, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he lacked this trait even though he had served as CM for four times. Fadnavis hit back saying some leaders are unhappy over his achievements as a former chief minister who completed his full five-year term, unlike Pawar. "It's good that the BJP leader still considers himself as the chief minister. I congratulate him. After being the chief minister for five years, Fadnavis still feels he is holding the post. I lacked this trait. I had served as chief minister (of Maharashtra) four times. But I don't even remember," Pawar told reporters in Mumbai. He also referred to Fadnavis' famous "Me Punha Yein" (I will return) slogan which had become popular before the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. The slogan had become a subject of ridicule and inspired many mock-filled messages and WhatsApp memes taking a dig at the BJP leader. Also Read | I still feel I am CM of Maharashtra, says Devendra Fadnavis Fadnavis, while speaking at an event in Navi Mumbai, had said that the people of Maharashtra never made me feel that I am not the chief minister. "I still feel that I am chief minister as I have been roaming in the state over the last two years. The love and affection of people have not receded, he had said. On Wednesday, he hit back at Pawar saying some leaders are unhappy over his achievements as a former chief minister. "Pawar never completed a full five-year term even though he had served as CM for four times," Fadnavis said in Panaji. People have not listened to my exact speech given in Navi Mumbai but are jumping on to react over the issue. The fact is that I am the only chief minister in the last 40 years who has completed his full five year term. Sharad Pawar also became chief minister of Maharashtra four times but he never completed a full five-year term. These party leaders are unhappy because of my achievements. I am also happy in my current posting as Leader of Opposition, he told reporters. Also Read | ED, CBI, NCB being misused; targeting family members of MVA government, alleges Sharad Pawar Fadnavis became the chief minister of Maharashtra after the 2014 elections and went on to complete a full term, something which no chief minister of the state had managed in the previous three decades. After the Shiv Sena walked out of the alliance with the BJP after the 2019 polls, he forged a tie-up with a breakaway group of NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar and was sworn in as chief minister with Pawar as his deputy. But this government lasted only for three days for want of the numbers and was replaced by an alliance of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, headed by Uddhav Thackeray. On a bandh observed in Maharashtra on Monday by the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Fadnavis said it was good that Pawar himself admitted how Shiv Sena succeeded in organising the shutdown by threatening the people. An incident happened in Uttar Pradesh but here Maharashtra government used its own state machinery to make the bandh successful. Shiv Sena workers were openly threatening shop owners. It was a state-sponsored suppression due to which people got scared and remained in their homes, he alleged. Fadnavis said he was happy that Pawar had admitted what happens when Shiv Sena gives a call for bandh and how it uses its force against the people to close down the business activities. Commenting on raids by CBI on the premises linked to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh who belongs to the NCP, he said, CBI officials could visit Deshmukh's home only because of the order issued by the Bombay High Court. The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its support to cooperate with the CBI when there are at least 80 different cases of corruption, bank frauds among others. Fadnavis said the way Central agencies are treated in Maharashtra is highly objectionable. Check out latest DH videos here Sitting independent MLA from Goa, Prasad Gaonkar, on Wednesday extended formal support to the Trinamool Congress party, even as his brother and some supporters officially joined the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit. Trinamool Congress sources said that Gaonkar would be formally joining the party soon after the culmination of the last session of the state legislative assembly which is scheduled to take place later this month. "The Congress should have capitalised on the anger against the BJP, but they have been unable to do so. So, I am supporting TMC," Gaonkar said. "Only Mamata didi can change the regime of Modi. The manner in which she handled the Bengal election and kept BJP at bay was phenomenal. She is the woman who carried out the miracle. She showed her worth," Gaonkar also said. Also Read | Goa regional parties could be erased by national outfits like Cola wars of 1990s: Ex-Deputy CM Sardesai Incidentally, Prasad's brother Sandesh had joined the Congress party in July this year, before the latter on Wednesday hopped over to join the TMC. Prasad Gaonkar was also tipped to join the Congress and contest the state assembly polls from the Sanguem assembly constituency in South Goa district on a Congress ticket. Gaonkar is the second legislator associated with the TMC, with the first being former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who joined the party last month immediately after resigning as MLA. A re-energised TMC is keen on making a splash in the upcoming state assembly polls after facing humiliating defeats in the 2012 assembly polls and the 2014 general elections in the coastal state. According to party sources, the TMC is expected to rope in yet another former Chief Minister into its ranks, even as a regional party is in talks with the West Bengal-based party leaders to discuss the possibility of a merger of the regional outfit into the TMC before the state goes to polls in early 2022. Check out latest DH videos here The Gujarat high court on Wednesday ordered the release of all accused persons languishing in jail in the state's first case under Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amended) Act, 2021, the controversial anti-conversion law also described as "anti-love jihad" law. The court's relief came while hearing the pleas of the interfaith couple who have together moved the court seeking closure of the case. Justice Ilesh J Vora passed an order giving interim relief to four accused, including the husband, priest and two witnesses, who are behind bars, and gave protection to another accused yet to be arrested, while three other accused are already out on bail. The court also said that the couple can stay together and their petition for quashing of the FIR will be decided in the next hearing. In June, barely days after the state government implemented the contentious anti-conversion law, the 25-year-old woman had filed an FIR in Vadodara against eight persons including her husband, parents-in-law, sister-in-law, husband's uncle, cousin, who were witnesses, and the maulavi or priest who performed the nikah, alleging forceful religious conversion, rape, among other charges. Nearly a month after registration of the FIR, the couple, and seven other accused jointly moved court for quashing it. The complainant told court that allegations against her husband and others were "twisted" by the local police which turned her complaint of domestic violence under section 498A of Indian Penal Code to a case under the Freedom of Religion (Amended) Act, rape, unnatural sex and sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989. She said she had no idea about the new anti-conversion law back then and neither did she level any of these allegations against her husband and the in-laws. Her petition stated, "certain religio-political groups intervened in the matter and communalised the said issue by bringing the angle of "love-jihad". It added, "Also, on account of overzealousness of the police officers involved, facts and offences which were never mentioned or alleged by the informant (the woman) came to be inserted in the FIR." The woman said that she had met her husband through social media in 2019 and in February 2021, she got married under the special marriage act with the consent of their respective parents since they both belong to different religions. Recently, the high court stayed several sections of the controversial law on the ground that these sections treat any interfaith marriage "a criminal" act. The state government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court's order. Since its implementation from June 15 this year, at least five FIRs have been registered in different parts of the state. Watch latest videos by DH here: Amid a heated political exchange over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks on mercy petitions of Veer Savarkar, the latter's grandson Ranjit Savarkar on Wednesday said the freedom fighter had sought a general amnesty for all the political prisoners. He also said that had the freedom fighter apologised to the British he would have been given some post. Ranjit Savarkar also said that only one person like Mahatma Gandhi cannot be called the Father of the Nation as thousands of people had contributed towards the creation of the country which has a history of over 5,000 years. "Thousands of people have contributed towards the creation of this nation which has a history of more than 5,000 years. I don't think Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of the Nation," he told reporters in Mumbai. Also Read | Rajnath Singh's remark on Savarkar's mercy petition to British triggers political row Responding to a query, Ranjit Savarkar said no one is demanding that Veer Savarkar be called the Father of the Nation because this concept itself was not acceptable to him. "My grandfather had sought a general amnesty for all the political prisoners. If he had really apologised to the British, he would have been given some post," he said. Speaking at a function in Delhi on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh said that it was on Mahatma Gandhi's request that Veer Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British and people from the Marxist and Leninist ideology wrongly accuse him as a fascist. On Wednesday, some opposition leaders attacked Rajnath Singh, alleging that he was "trying to rewrite history". Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi shared on Twitter a letter by Gandhi on Jan 25, 1920 to Savarkar's brother regarding a case, and accused the Union minister of giving a "twist" to what Gandhi wrote. Check out latest DH videos here The Taliban-scripted Afghanistan catastrophe is not a one-off tragedy. It is indicative of a larger trend at play: a meteoric rise of abject totalitarianism soaring high on the wings of regressive thought and inhuman atrocities. Taliban may be an extreme example of autocracy reminiscent of the dark ages, but the rapidly deteriorating fabric of democracy is a global phenomenon, as contagious as the pandemic, if not more. No wonder, we are already witnessing the tell-tale signs of impending mayhem. All around us, we see fake narratives based on flawed notions of nationalism and religious protectionism playing havoc, what with minorities labelled as a downright threat to the majority, secular principles mocked at with unfailing regularity, selfless activists unabashedly belittled, and public broadcast heavily censored and blatantly sponsored. Defamation laws and government machinery are being abused left, right and centre, and dissent is being nipped in the bud with sedition cases. Even the most serious eavesdropping accusations have been kept away from fair scrutiny. Theres no denying the fact that India has a very transparent electoral system, theoretically devoid of any voter suppression. The inexcusable stain, however, is the fact that votes are cast based on caste, creed, language, and religion. Given that this glaring socio-cultural bias happily meets political sanction, it is no surprise that corruption and favouritism loom large, evident in the disgraceful manner in which names are proposed, seconded, and nominated as electoral candidates or awarded ministerial berths. Vote banks continue to thrive on communal disharmony, largely the fallout of the ingenuous British move to form separate communal electorates in India. Having said that, we cant absolve ourselves of our role in depriving democracy of its vigour and vitality. Come what may, all we do is to look away, keep mum or worse, relish heated but impotent debates in the cosy comfort of our living rooms. The onus is on us, the citizens of India, to restore and revitalize our priceless democracy. We all know it is the most potent vehicle to ensure that our preferences and aspirations steer good governance and effective policymaking. But what are our preferences? Are there any in the first place? We must first cherish the value of our votes before we cast them, which calls for deep introspection into the very meaning and significance of democracy and the pillars that uphold it - freedom of speech and expression, individual dignity, and mindful protection of the marginalised sections. Casting our votes is not about typecasting them with insular preferences based on caste, creed and religion. The much-talked-about EVMs have only ensured quick electoral turnarounds, yet propaganda has made us believe as if they are harbingers of a new era in Indian democracy, which is yet neither in sight nor in mind. Lets take it on ourselves to bring it back in sight and mind. Changing the way people vote is a colossal and formidable challenge in India, a country where the majority of voters hail from rural and remote areas and hence are largely uneducated and ignorant. Hence, we need to organize a series of focused rural campaigns to sensitize rural voters on why caste, creed, religion, momentary gains and freebies should not be the basis of their invaluable votes. Persuasive and persistent effort is required to help them internalise the fact that citizen votes must be necessarily cast on the basis of key issues towards electing genuine candidates with clean records and a clear conscience, rather than placing faith in people with shady pasts and suspect motives, only to lament in hindsight. Lets rebuild our democracy from scratch. Lets join hands to try and steer a movement that alone will help us avert a despondent future led by despotism. (The writer is Executive Chairman, HCG Cancer Hospitals) Last Tuesday, militants killed Makhan Lal Bindroo, a popular chemist of the Valley. A little later, social media burst forth with the news of the killing of a non-resident Hindu street vendor and a Muslim man from north Kashmir's Bandipora. Forty hours later, a Sikh woman and her Hindu colleague were shot inside a school in Srinagar's Eidgah area on Thursday afternoon. In the evening, security forces killed a man in Anantnag district after he allegedly did not stop his car at a security checkpoint. Kashmir's tryst with killings is not new. During the Valley's long-drawn conflict, thousands lost their lives. However, there was almost a complete pause on the targeted killings of the Hindu minority community after most community members fled the Valley in 1990 when thousands of men took up arms against the Indian State. Many in the Valley, including the separatist leaders, blamed Jagmohan, the then governor of Jammu and Kashmir, for the displacement of the minority community, arguing that no one harmed those who had stayed put. Also Read | J&K has RTI, but Delhi wont let it work Bindroo was one among such non-migrant Kashmiri Hindus who chose to stay back and continued to run his pharmacy in the heart of the city. He lived through the much-troubled decade of the '90s. His killing followed by three other such attacks has laid bare the government's claims about normalcy. It raises questions on New Delhi's radical decision taken on August 5, 2019, which scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The absence of a popular government has pushed the people to the wall, and the government's strong-arm methods have failed to contain militancy or militant sentiment. The August 5 move alienated the people further, provoked militants, and gave rise to a new militant organization, The Resistance Front( TRF), which has owned the responsibility for the recent attacks. The group emerged after the abrogation of article 370 and is only second after JKLF (which shunned militant activities long ago) to choose a non-Islamic name for itself. The outfit also issues its statements in the English language, probably to appeal to a broader audience beyond the Urdu knowing people. The statements issued by the group said that the recent attacks on the minorities were not carried out because of their religious identity but for furthering the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda in the regiona hint at the August 5 move. Also Read | Unabated civilian killings belie govts normalcy narrative in Kashmir According to official data, during the first six months of 2021, 76 local boys signed up for different militant organizations. Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh said at a press conference in June that many foreign militants were present in the Valley. The recent targeted killings suggest that the action is now shifting from south to central and northern Kashmir. New Delhi's failure to make any serious political outreach in the aftermath of the August 5 move has contributed to the general sense of despair. The high-profile meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the political leaders from the region, which raised hopes among people, did not yield any result. The people are also fed up with the bureaucracy-run governance as they do not have easy access to the babus, mostly non-locals. There are also apprehensions that the recent attacks on minorities could undo the gains of the rehabilitation policy during the tenure of prime minister Manhoman Singh. The policy was rolled out in 2008 for displaced minorities with the sole idea of bringing them back by offering government jobs to their youth. More than 3000 people have been recruited under the policy, and they moved back to the Valley. However, the recent killings have forced many of them to leave the Valley, though temporarily. The government's efforts to move the community living in the Valley to "secured accommodations" will make a little difference and may put it on the line. The idea of setting up separate enclaves for the community has been rejected by the separatists and mainline political parties in the Valley. The segregation of minorities from the majority community will only contribute to the chasm between the two. While it is the responsibility of the majority community to help in containing the fresh wave of migration, the government must revisit its Kashmir policy. A few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of large denomination currency notes in November 2016, a Left party politician went to an industrial cluster in Uttar Pradesh where he had considerable support. He expected seething rage from people whose cash reserves had been compromised by the government's bizarre decision. To his utter bewilderment, he found admiration for the surgical strikes that the government had undertaken against Pakistan based terrorists in September 2016. Then the penny dropped on him. Contrary to his Marxist beliefs, the communist leader realised that the people of Uttar Pradesh give far greater precedence to nationalism than the economic distress caused by demonetisation and job losses. The question gnawing political strategists is what will work in the 2022 UP Assembly elections. Would the tumult of the last few years aggravated by Covid-19 mismanagement and deaths take a back seat against the looming national security issues like the violence in Kashmir or the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, or would that be the other way round? Also read: Lakhimpur Kheri violence 'absolutely condemnable', says Nirmala Sitharaman This understanding is critical to answering questions raging furiously on TV debates ever since Congress general secretary for UP Priyanka Gandhi went to the state to express solidarity with the grieving farming community after five protestors were brutally run over by the speeding motorcade of a central minister's son. It's a simple question that has been given excessive spin by the PR boys of the Congress party: "How will Priyanka Gandhi's arrest on the Lakhimpur Kheri issue and her aggressive campaign help the Congress in the Assembly elections a few months away?" Voters seldom make up their minds based on one campaign or even a successful roadshow that politicians are known to organise in crowded bazaars. Priyanka Gandhi's handlers did precisely this to create a chimera of hope for a party that is finding it difficult to retain middle-level leaders - tired as they are of sitting out as forgotten members of a diminished organisation. Politicians are quite hard-nosed on these matters. They are unlikely to be swayed by roadshows till the party shows big bucks or resolve to return to power, or contrarily has an alliance with one of the two parties that really matter in the populous state- Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) or Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In the 2017 Assembly elections, the Congress tied up with the SP but failed to make an impact as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to get about 40 per cent votes - far more than the combined votes of the alliance partners. The Congress got an embarrassing 6+ per cent votes and were responsible for sinking the ambitions of its alliance partner, the SP. The BSP's performance was decent without being spectacular, but it wasn't enough to challenge the juggernaut of the BJP. Psephologists believe that the Congress will need an exponential leap in its vote share if it wants to out-jump SP and BSP to effectively challenge the ruling BJP. Also read: Adityanath accuses Congress-led states of 'blackmailing' during Covid crisis Despite being in power since 2017, the BJP does not look very confident about being voted in based on its performance. There are more cutouts, TV ads and hoardings all over the state and in the national capital, Delhi, announcing what they have done for the people than actual work on the ground. Despite their loud proclamations, the UP government failed to provide medical care when the pandemic swept the state. Horrific images of people quarantined being served food like stray animals or dead bodies piling up at mortuaries went viral on social media. Besides, there was a bizarre undercounting of the dead and infected. According to a UP opposition leader, each of the 95,000 villages saw deaths ranging from five to 25. That's the reason the floating bodies in the Ganges and hastily buried bodies on the banks of the river captured the imagination of the masses. UP's opposition parties, like the SP and BSP, have made perfunctory noises about the poor quality of governance provided to the people of the state during the pandemic. Fearing retaliation, they have not attacked the government on its various acts of omissions and commissions. Despite that, the SP did remarkably well in the panchayat polls held in August 2021, nosing ahead of the BJP. Subsequently, BJP used strong-arm tricks to increase its numbers by weaning away independents. Still, the results were a firm indication that it could be a tough battle for the ruling party if people ended up voting on the Yogi Adityanath government's performance. Even the timetable of the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya failed to enthuse the party's supporters. Expectedly, the BJP will try to avoid the local concerns of the masses and play up national security issues. For that, it has many balls in the air. They might invoke the same imagery of Balkanisation as the late prime minister, Indira Gandhi, used. Hence, when the Taliban took over Kabul, how the issue was hyped up in UP and other parts of the country suggested as if the Afghan religious extremists had attacked India. The natural corollary to the fear of the Taliban was how it might deepen extremism in Kashmir with all the anti-Indian forces joining hands. This warped mindset was also visible at the Lakhimpur Kheri fracas, where the farmers killed by the murderous vehicles were dubbed Sikh separatists or Khalistanis. Estranged BJP leader Varun Gandhi derided attempts to create a Hindu-Sikh conflict in Kheri. This was a continuation of the insidious campaign the ruling dispensation has run against Punjab, Haryana and UP farmers that have agitated for almost a year against the farm laws. Voices from the ruling party have been calling the protestors Khalistani anti-national. Many faithful believe the farmers are agitating at the behest of some foreign powers and that the government is correct in standing up to the pressure. Routinely the tweets of Rihanna and Greta Thunberg are given as evidence of this foreign hand. Uttar Pradesh elections are still a few months away, but going by the bloody standoff in Lakhimpur Kheri and how the ruling party and the opposition have stepped out to campaign suggests that the polls will be an affair to remember. (The writer is Editor of the Delhi-based magazine, Hardnews) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the authors own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Star Trek's William Shatner, one of science-fiction's most recognisable characters, became a real life space traveler Wednesday on Blue Origin's second human mission. "It was unbelievable," said the 90-year-old Canadian, who was moved to tears after the 11-minute journey beyond the planet's atmosphere and back again to the Texas desert. The New Shepard rocket took off around 9:49 am (1449 GMT) after experiencing two brief delays. Shatner was joined by Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen, an Australian national, and Glen de Vries of clinical research platform Medidata Solutions. Company founder Jeff Bezos was on hand to greet the crew members as they climbed out of the capsule and were showered with applause and champagne. Like the 600 or so astronauts who have gone before him, Shatner marveled at the experience of weightlessness and the stunning view of Earth from space. "What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. I'm so filled with emotion about what just happened," he told Bezos. The mission was a replay of the company's maiden human flight in July, which included Bezos and was seen as a breakthrough moment for the nascent space tourism sector. This time around, all attention was focused on Shatner, who became the oldest-ever astronaut, despite an appearance suggesting a man decades younger. The voyages of the USS Enterprise, commanded by Shatner's character Captain James T. Kirk, helped turn American attention to the stars as the US space program was starting out. "Captain Kirk... represents 'the final frontier' perhaps more than anyone else for a couple different generations of people, in the US and worldwide," screenwriter and Trek historian Marc Cushman told AFP. Shatner, also known for his role as lawyer Denny Crane in "Boston Legal," among many others, has spoken in the past about an at-times difficult relationship with Star Trek and its fan culture. But in recent years, the actor has leaned into the fame brought about by his most famous role. "It looks like there's a great deal of curiosity in this fictional character, Captain Kirk," he said in a video released by Blue Origin. "Let's go along with it and enjoy the ride." For Blue Origin, meanwhile, a second mission in less than three months represents another step forward as it tries to establish itself as space tourism's leading player. Boshuizen and Vries brought the company's total number of paying customers to three, after Dutch teen Oliver Daemen who was on board the first flight. Competition in the sector is heating up. Virgin Galactic, which offers a similar experience of a few minutes' weightlessness and a view of the Earth's curvature from the cosmos, launched its founder Richard Branson in July, a few days before Bezos. And in September, SpaceX sent four private citizens on a three-day trip whizzing around the planet -- an altogether more ambitious, but also likely far more expensive endeavor. For many space enthusiasts, Shatner's voyage was a fitting coda for a pop culture phenomenon that inspired generations of astronauts, scientists and engineers. The show has had a long-running association with NASA, whose scientists were sent early scripts to vet their accuracy, according to Cushman, the writer. "Those scientists, as well as nearly everyone at those space agencies, were avid Star Trek watchers, and they well understood that the popularity of the series helped spark growing interest and funding for the space program," he said. Another mega-fan: Bezos himself. The Amazon founder shared an Instagram post of Star Trek artwork he made when he was nine years old, which included a communication device that influenced flip phone design decades later. Bezos has said Amazon's Alexa voice assistant was inspired by the conversational computer on the Enterprise, and he even made a cameo as an alien in the 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond," sporting an egg-shaped head. Check out DH's latest videos: 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 participants -- from Austria, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain -- all 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." 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". 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." By Jinshan Hong, Lisa Du and Yasufumi Saito Its one of the great puzzles of the pandemic. Most developed economies are now highly vaccinated with some of the most effective shots on offer, so why are the latest Covid-19 outbreaks more deadly in some places than in others? While its clear vaccines led to a drop in fatalities during the most recent delta variant-driven waves compared with earlier bouts with the virus, some countries saw deaths fall to a greater degree than others, an outcome scientists still dont have answers for. Read more: Covid-19 cut life expectancy by largest amount since World War II: Study Countries like Germany, Denmark and the UK have seen Covid deaths fall to roughly a tenth of previous peaks, according to Bloomberg calculations using data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In Israel, Greece and the US, fatalities fell but remained more than half of the previous peaks. Vaccine's impact varies A number of countries -- mostly developing economies with less capable healthcare systems -- relied on Chinese or Russian vaccines that have proven less effective than the mRNA shots used in the US and throughout Europe. Those places have experienced an increase in both cases and deaths since July, when delta started wreaking havoc globally, compared to outbreaks that occurred before widespread vaccination was an option. We lensed in on the economies that have vaccinated more than 55 per cent of their populations and relied on a mix of western shots from Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE to AstraZeneca Plc, which have effectiveness rates of about 60 to 90 per cent against symptomatic cases of the delta variant. One thing is clear: its not just the type of shots nor the extent of vaccination that counts in bringing down the death toll. There are a lot of factors beyond vaccinations that contribute to different outcomes across locations, said Natalie Dean, an assistant professor of biostatistics at Emory University. Even in places with high vaccinations, we see delta can cause a spike in cases. But do you see a strain on the health care system? And in the end I think we are seeing more variability in that outcome as well. Read more: Smoking may increase risk of Covid-19 severity, death, study finds To be sure, the data is a snapshot in time. Theres no guarantee that the countries where deaths have been low thus far can sustain that trend. But there are lessons to be drawn from what is the biggest and most ambitious global vaccination rollout in history. Weve learned more in the last year and a half about human immunology and human vaccine responses than we probably learned in the previous several decades, said John Wherry, director of the institute for immunology at the University of Pennsylvanias medical school. Methodology Explainer This analysis focuses on places that have over 55% vaccine coverage and a population of at least one million. The group is further filtered to include only those that faced two meaningful virus waves: One that peaked within six months before reaching 10% vaccine coverage, and then another over the northern-hemisphere summer when delta started to spread across the globe. The peak-on-peak comparison figures were derived by comparing the seven-day average peak for deaths and cases during a pre-vaccination wave to the seven-day average peak that occurred after widespread vaccination and the advent of delta. Dose Intervals Some of the places seeing lower death rates spaced their two shots further apart than the three-to-four week interval commonly used around the world. Controversial at the time, the UKs decision in December to allow as long as 12 weeks between doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford so more people could get their first shot is now been validated by scientific studies as providing stronger protection. Denmark and Germany also approved longer delays between vaccinations, allowing up to 12 weeks between AstraZeneca doses in Germany and six weeks on the Pfizer-BioNTech shot in Denmark. The combined effect of two shots appears to be more potent when the second is administered after the bodys immune system has fully responded to the first shot -- something that takes longer than a month. It was a natural experiment of immunology, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, on the decisions by the UK and Canada to extend dose intervals. They may have had a much more superior response because we know immunologically that peoples immune systems may be much better primed for that second dose if they wait until that whole maturation process is accomplished. Mixed wait times Slow and Steady Then theres the complex interplay of vaccination campaigns and the highly transmissible delta. First discovered last year in India, the variant ravaged the worlds second-most populous country through the northern-hemisphere spring before infiltrating developed economies around mid-year. The fastest vaccinating countries like Israel and the US -- once envied for their world-leading campaigns -- likely had a weaker inoculation shield by the time delta descended because of waning immunity, said experts like Hitoshi Oshitani, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tohoku University in Japan. Research has now confirmed that of two groups of people exposed to delta, the cohort that had been vaccinated five months earlier had a more than 50% higher rate of symptomatic breakthrough infections. With the waning of immunity, the earlier you started vaccination, the more breakthrough infections you have now, said Oshitani. This is probably why they are having high numbers of cases and deaths per population in Israel. In contrast, European nations that were slower to kick-start their vaccination campaigns delivered the bulk of doses only through the spring, just a few months before delta started spreading locally. Caption Age Profile Denmark hasnt seen a major new wave of cases or deaths since vaccinations were started earlier this year, and the country has lifted all domestic Covid restrictions. Officials say its focus on vaccinating the elderly first helped hold down the wider death toll. The peak seven-day rolling average of deaths, which never spiked above 36 in pre-vaccination waves, fell to 9 per cent of the previous peak after vaccination. We were able quite early in the pandemic to contain Covid-19 disease among the elderly, especially also in the old-age care homes and also elderly citizens residing in their own houses, said Soren Brostrom, the head of the Danish Health Authority. Caption Focusing on the elderly also helped Japan, though not to the same degree. The nation has now vaccinated around 90 per cent of residents over the age of 65 and the effect of that was already evident when delta drove a record wave of infections in August. During that wave, highest deaths dropped 43 per cent from the previous peak, though cases were 2.5 times higher. Given that Japan is home to the worlds oldest population, delta could have cut a deadlier swathe were it not for the prioritization of older people in its initially sluggish vaccine rollout. The age distribution of infections is really important to consider, said Spencer Fox, an associate director at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in infectious disease modeling. For example if children are primarily where infections are spreading in one country, but older individuals are where infections are spreading in a different country, those countries will have very different case-to-death ratios. Natural Immunity Japans summer delta surge also points to another complex, mystery factor: natural immunity in the population from previous waves. Thanks to effective containment measures, Asian countries largely avoided the worst of the pre-delta pandemic, which means they are likely more vulnerable to the highly-contagious variant -- a concern underpinning the reluctance of places like mainland China and Hong Kong to opening up their borders At the same time, deadly pre-delta waves may have helped some highly-vaccinated countries better weather the variant. South America, a region ravaged by the gamma and lambda variants earlier this year, has seen limited impact from delta potentially due to those earlier mutations creating a level of immunity, with the vaccines then acting as a booster, experts said. Another difference is the populations behavior, said Fox. If unvaccinated people in one country are acting like normal, but unvaccinated people in another country are still taking large precautions, you will see very different trends. The USs resistance to lockdown measures and the rapid recovery of movement and travel in the first half of 2021 may have contributed to its delta death toll peaking at a higher proportion of its pre-delta level compared to European countries. There are lots of moving parts in all these places, and things are moving in different directions, said David Fisman, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Toronto. I think well be able to understand in retrospect but its hard to figure out in real time. With assistance from Adrian Leung, Michelle Fay Cortez, Jason Gale and Jane Pong The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) distinguished alumni awards for 2021 have gone to five scientists working in the United States and in India. This years awardees are Dr Anuradha M Annaswamy, a senior research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Professor Sajal K Das of Missouri University of Science and Technology, Professor T Pradeep of IIT Madras, Professor C S Raghavendra of the University of Southern California and Dr Ritu Shrivastava, a former vice president of Technology Development at SanDisk Corporation. The annual awards recognise exceptional contributions made by IISc alumni/ae to their profession, society and the Institute. The nominations received are evaluated by a committee chaired by the Director, IISc, the institute said in a statement. Dr Annaswamy is a pioneer in control theory and technology, and has made many seminal contributions to adaptive control theory, control of neural networks, control architectures of adaptive control and machine learning; applications to aerospace and automotive systems; control of combustion systems, smart grids and urban mobility. She completed her BE from IIScs Department of Electrical Engineering in 1979. Professor Das has made award-winning contributions to mobile and pervasive computing, wireless and sensor networks, smart environments, and cyber-physical and IoT systems security. He completed his ME from IIScs Department of Computer Science and Automation in 1985. Meanwhile, Professor Pradeep has been recognised for his innovative contributions to metal nanoparticle-based drinking water purification methods and path-breaking work on the development of molecular and nanoscale materials. He also conceptualised and built the International Centre for Clean Water at IIT Madras. He completed his PhD from IIScs Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit in 1991. Professor C S Raghavendra is known for his significant contributions to the design and analysis of interconnection networks, reliability and fault-tolerant computing, parallel algorithms for enhanced meshes and hypercubes, power-aware protocols for wireless ad hoc networks, and applying machine learning algorithms to oil field problems. He completed his BE and ME from the IIScs Department of Electrical Communication Engineering in 1976 and 1978 respectively. Another alumnus from IIScs Department of Electrical Communication Engineering is Dr Shrivastava who went on to make seminal contributions to semiconductor device physics, and memory chip design and fabrication, which have stretched the limits of transistor density on chips, memory cell access speed, and led to lower power consumption. He completed his BE and ME from the Department in 1971 and 1973 respectively. Each one has made exceptional contributions to their respective fields and to society, and this award is a fitting recognition of their achievements, said Professor Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc. Check out latest videos from DH: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Staff & Workers Federation President H V Ananthsubburao demanded the merger of the four road transport corporation in the State for minimising the losses and better management. Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Ananthsubburao said the formation of four corporations -- NWKRTC, NEKRTC, BMTC and KSRTC -- have neither benefited the passengers nor the corporation workers. All the four corporations have an accumulative loss of Rs 4,000 crore, he said and added that the only thing we have achieved by bifurcation is an increase in the number of officials, while a reduction in the number of working staff. He claimed by merging of RTCs the State can on average save Rs 150 crore per year and also speed up the decision-making process. He also demanded the State government to immediately release the Rs 3,000 crore dues related to free student bus pass to the four corporations. Reinstate staff Federation General Secretary Vijay Bhaskar demanded the State to keep its words of reinstating the 4,000 odd staff who were dismissed from the service because of their participation in the strike. Transport Minister B Sriramulu on the floor of assembly had assured to reinstating these staff in a phased manner. However, during a recent meeting, the BMTC board has taken a decision not to hire them back. Who is right here? Does the board has the power to supersede the minister and cabinet, he asked. Bhaskar added that though the government has assured of providing half-salary of the employees, the majority of them are receiving only 35% of it due to various deductions and mismanagement of the Corporations. The corporations have not paid September month salary to its staff till today, he said. Ananthsubburao said they have placed six demands in front of the government and if it fails to resolve them within stipulated time they will be forced to intensify their demands. He charged that the present government does not even have the courtesy to reply to Federations on their demands. An entire family of BMTC bus driver died by suicide due to non-release of Covid compensation to them, while two other staff members ended their lives due to harassment by senior officials. Yet, the State government has not responded to these families on humanitarian grounds, he said. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's remarks that moral policing incidents are "actions and reactions" to "hurt sentiments" came under fire on social media where netizens started the #BommaiStopMoralPolicing campaign against his apparent justification of people taking law into their own hands. Congress and JD(S) members opined that such statements embolden anti-social elements involved in such incidents and warned that tacit support to such activities could turn Karnataka into another cow-belt state. Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Bommai said that "some youth should make sure that sentiments are not hurt" and added that it was a "societal issue". "There should be morality. We cant live without morality," he said. Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal attacked Bommai for issuing a statement in support of moral policing. "When the CM of the state supports moral policing what more can be expected from the minions? Citizens of Karnataka please stay safe, dont expect the government to keep you safe," she said in a tweet. JD(S) IT wing head Prathap Kanagal said that Bommai's remarks reflected a "sad state of affairs". "With this justification by our Karnataka CM Bommai, they are normalising mob attacks in the name of Moral policing in Karnataka," he said. Twitter user Glen D'Souza accused Bommai of turning Karnataka into another Uttar Pradesh. "Karnataka the land of Basava (is) known as 'Shantiya Thota'. Today under Bommai, Karnataka is rapidly is turning to be another Uttar Pradesh," he claimed. Activist Vinay Sreenivasa echoed a similar sentiment. "Moral Policing always destroys fundamental rights of an individual. It is an act by primitive minds and fascist forces to further divide society and destroy harmony. Give back our old Karnataka," wrote another user. Youth Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad said that such careless statements raised questions on the safety of people, who look up to the government to safeguard their interests. "This rudderless Govt is only busy fanning the fire of hate incidents in Karnataka," he alleged. Watch latest videos by DH here: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday allayed fears of a power cut, but conceded that the state desperately needs additional coal supplies to stay clear of drastic measures. "There won't be any power cuts. We will make sure of that," Bommai told reporters after chairing a meeting with senior officials to take stock of the power situation in the state. Power plants across India are reportedly grappling with a coal shortage, triggering fears of blackouts in the festival season. Besides Karnataka, states such as Delhi and Tamil Nadu have flagged the issue. "We're getting ten rakes (of coal) now. We have 98,863 MT in stock. If we get three more rakes, we will be comfortable," Bommai said. The state has been assured of two more rakes from the Singareni coal mine in Telangana. "There's some payment that's due. In a day or two, we will make the payment and then I will talk to the Telangana Chief Minister and the Union Coal Minister for two additional rakes. This is good quality coal that can be easily transported since it's closer," Bommai said. Also read: Power Ministry asks utilities to import 10% of their coal needs, warns states not to sell power on exchanges One rake amounts to around 4,000 tonnes. "In the last two days, coal production and rake movement have increased," Bommai said, rejecting allegations made by Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah that the coal shortage was artificial. "His allegations are baseless," he said. Bommai also reviewed the financial situation of Escoms. "There's a proposal to convert loans given to the Escoms into equity. We will act quickly on this," he said. "Also, the revenue collected by Escoms should be used to pay for coal, while capital investment should be done separately," he said. Rain damage Bommai said 21 people were killed due to heavy rains in October alone. "It's been raining consistently. We've seen 30-50% excess rainfall in all districts, except 2-3 of them," he said, after chairing a meeting on disaster management. "From June till now, crop loss has been reported on 4.71 lakh hectares. As many as 1.17 lakh farmers have been paid Rs 105 crore in compensation so far. Deputy commissioners have Rs 738 crore with them for this purpose," he said. Households affected by heavy rainfall will receive an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000, he said. "Some 2,000 homes have suffered partial damage. We will conduct an assessment and they will be compensated," he said. Check out DH's latest videos here: A County Derry electrical retailer has won a prestigious accolade at a leading awards ceremony held in London. Donaghy Bros were thrilled to scoop the Best Large Independent Retailer award in the category of Consumer Electronics usually referred to in layman's terms as brown goods - at the Innovative Electrical Retailing (IER) Awards. The awards, which have been running for the last 29 years, recognise excellence in the electrical sector. Donaghy Bros, which was established in 1964, has showrooms in Kilrea and Limavady and also operate online. Seamus Darragh who has been with the company for almost 30 years and who heads up the consumer electronics division of the business commented As stockists of all leading manufacturers including Sony, Samsung and LG we offer one of the best selection of Consumer Electronics in Northern Ireland so its great to have been chosen to win this award category. Whether the customer wants a smart 24" or a whopping 85" set we have a wide range of options to suit everyone including HD's, Smart TVs, LEDs, OLEDs, LCD, QLEDs or Neo QLEDs . Seamus added that the knowledgeable staff at Donaghy Brothers are on hand whether in store, over the phone or via email - to explain the key features of each item within their electronics division including accessories like soundbars and stands with the aim of helping the customer choose their ideal product. Donaghy Brothers can also arrange an installation and repair service for electronics customers. Donaghy Brothers were up against some very strong competition with entries for the awards coming in from Electrical retailers and Manufactures across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. James Donaghy, MD of Donaghy Bros, who attended the ceremony in person at The Park Plaza London Riverbank said: It was fantastic to hear our name read out as a winner again this year amongst some great companies. We work very hard to be innovative and industry leading, so its a great achievement to gain recognition for this. And it's brilliant to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our team here at Donaghy Bros. James went on to add that it was great to see Industry events such as the IER Awards make a comeback in person after they hosted a virtual event in 2020 in light of the Covid Pandemic. He said Events such as these are a great networking opportunity for the leading figures in the Electrical retailing industry and a great morale boost for staff. We are looking forward to entering and hopefully attending more awards events in the coming months, James concluded. A Limavady man has been selected for the British Councils prestigious global policy programme Future Leaders Connect. Stephen Jones, who works for Climate Northern Ireland, will be among 63 delegates from 13 countries taking part in a six-week online policy and leadership programme and will gain exclusive access to policy experts and training, discuss policy ideas with UK Parliamentarians and Government and be mentored by UK think tanks and other senior leaders. In partnership with the prestigious Mller Institute at Cambridge University, Future Leaders Connect aims to help delegates develop their skills, expand their networks and ultimately, make policy change. Stephen (30), who originally went to Limavady Grammar School, was selected from over 9,000 applicants worldwide and as part of the process, had to pitch his global policy vision choosing to focus on climate action. He has over seven years' experience co-ordinating climate change adaptation in Northern Ireland, holds an MSc from Queen's University Belfast and has experience as a Red Cross Volunteer on the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Speaking ahead of the programme, he said: I applied to Future Leaders Connect to educate myself on how to make the biggest impact with good policy. "This is especially important in the 2020s, at a time when the stakes of making good decisions are higher than ever before. I also wanted to bring my own experience of supporting organisations to plan for climate impacts, to work with folks from around the world, and to raise the profile of climate resilience. Following the programme, I plan to raise the issue of climate impacts up the agenda this year and I will be running a session at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November to do just that. "It is also important that we get good climate change legislation in Northern Ireland, as we are the last place in the UK and Ireland to get it, so I hope to be able to better engage with this process. Speaking further about his policy vision he said: Even if we stop all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, we have locked in changes to the climate system. "These changes mean that natural weather extremes like flooding, heat and storms are becoming more intense and frequent, and on a huge scale. "The means we require immediate action, so my policy vision is for resilience to climate change impacts to be given equal footing to cutting greenhouse gases. We have to do these two actions together. This is not currently the case in Northern Ireland, or anywhere else. I have been working on this professionally for more than seven years in Northern Ireland, but this is a global issue which is underdeveloped and needs support. It will be those least able to deal with the impacts who are at most risk. For this Centenary year, the programme has been expanded in Northern Ireland to ten places instead of the usual two, through the support of the Northern Ireland Office, with Stephen joined on the programme by nine other delegates from Northern Ireland. Stephen Jones Across the six weeks they will connect with emerging leaders from Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Ukraine, Vietnam and the rest of the UK. Congratulating Stephen and the nine other Northern Ireland participants, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, said: Im proud that the Northern Ireland Office is supporting the expansion of the programme this Centenary year, meaning more young people from Northern Ireland will be taking part. Its a fantastic opportunity for them to hear from leaders around the world and learn how governments can work together to tackle the great global issues of the day. Also speaking about the programme, Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland said: Were delighted to be able to announce the ten exceptional individuals from Northern Ireland taking part in this years global programme. "Future Leaders Connect is an opportunity for emerging leaders in Northern Ireland to collaborate with their counterparts from all over the world, and to benefit from the sharing of ideas and knowledge in tackling global issues and challenges. The application process was extremely competitive, and we are certain that our ten young leaders whose backgrounds range from law and politics to housing and the environment, will make positive changes in Northern Ireland. We wish them every success in the programme. This years Future Leaders Connect programme officially kicked off yesterday (October 11) and will run for six weeks online until November 19. The family of a Maghera woman who died suddenly last year have raised 12,000 in her memory in aid of British Heart Foundation Northern Irelands (BHF NI) life saving heart research. Monny McSorley was just 59 years old when she passed away in April 2020, after suffering a heart attack. The grandmother was just weeks away from her 60th birthday. Last month her four daughters Ciara, Carla, Aileen and Erin and husband Eamon organised a 24 hour walk at Watty Graham GAC. The walk, which saw each of the girls clock 95,000 steps each, raised 12,000 for BHF NI research. Monnys daughter Carla said: We have been blown away by peoples kindness. The people in Maghera and at Watty Grahams GAC really went above and beyond in supporting the event and supporting us. "We will be forever in each of your debt and you have our sincere thanks. Special thanks to Watty Grahams GAC for all their help in making the walk a possibility. "Thanks also to the support of local businesses Bitz and Pizza and Crawfords for providing refreshments and Tommie McGraths and Christie Print for their help with t-shirts and banners. Thank you so much to every single person who joined us on the walk. Any time we even thought about having a rest, more people would come along and walk with us sharing memories of mammy and taking our minds off our sore feet. . We each had different moments when it got really tough, but luckily we had each other to provide encouragement and see us through the challenging parts. There were definitely some blisters and sore feet the day after, but it was all worth it for mammy. Having lost their mum during the pandemic, this walk was very special for everyone who knew Monny. Carla said the walk provided them with a chance to connect with those who had been unable to attend her mother's funeral or wake due to the lockdown. Mammy died when we had just entered our first strict lockdown here, so we werent able to have a normal wake or funeral," she said. "The 24-hour walk gave us the chance to see those people who would have come along to the wake and funeral during normal times. "It was unbelievable the amount of people who showed up to walk with us and donate to BHF NI, she added. Monny was known and loved throughout her local community for her charity volunteering and fundraising work, as well as working closely with children with special educational needs. Monny McSorley Head of BHF NI, Fearghal McKinney said: The staggering amount raised is a testament to the woman who Monny was, so well respected and loved in her community. "With an initial target of just 1,500, they really outdid themselves, raising 10,500 more than what they had initially aimed for. We are extremely grateful for the support which the McSorley family and the Maghera community have given BHF NI. Choosing to support future heart research and indeed other people affected by heart disease through their event was an incredibly thoughtful thing for them to do, especially in the wake of losing someone so close to them. We couldnt fund our life-saving heart and circulatory disease research without the support of families like Monnys. When the BHF was formed seven out of 10 people died from a heart attack but thanks to the power of research now seven out of 10 people survive. "But sadly, like Monnys story shows, that is still too many people dying far too soon and leaving behind a devastated family. We urgently need to fund more research to save other families from this heartbreak. A County Derry councillor has described the housing situation on the north coast as 'dismal' as it was revealed some applicants have been offered accommodation as far away as Belfast. The comments came during a Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) deputation to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council last week, where a report on the situation was presented. The report revealed 5,600 homes were needed in the Borough by 2030, and that the average house price in the area had risen to 189,452. Social housing need in the area is projected at 1,010 by 2025. 98 homes were completed during 2020/21, with a further 154 currently under construction. A graph in the report showed a steady rise in the total number of housing applicants and a rise in the number of those in housing stress, accompanied by a decrease in allocations since 2017. 885 people were presenting as homeless in the Borough in March 2021, with the main reason given being that their suggested accommodation was 'not reasonable'. A total of 28.49 million was spent by the NIHE on housing within the Borough during 2020/21. Cllr Russell Watton PUP councillor for Coleraine, Russell Watton, said the gap between demand and supply for social housing was widening. The vast majority of my time as a councillor is spent on housing issues, he said. There is something not working. We had 1,000 needed over five years and 220 on board. The gap is widening constantly. I don't know where we're going from here. We have basically an outdated, archaic points system which seems to benefit those who are not working families. There is someone sitting with 168 points in Portstewart that can't get a house. It used to be you got a house with 110-120, but that's gone. All in all, I have to say, I can't see any movement. It's a dismal outlook for the next two or three years. Cllr Angela Mulholland Independent councillor Angela Mulholland told the meeting she had heard from a Portstewart resident who was feeling suicidal after being offered accommodation as far away as Belfast. One person in Portstewart told me they had felt they were on the brink of suicide because they couldn't afford to look after their families and keep a roof over their head, she said. They were told they could go to a hostel in Belfast if they couldn't find accommodation in Portstewart, but she has a daughter attending school in Portstewart. How could that be a serious option? There has been a steady increase in people having to leave their rented accommodation as more and more landlords sell up their property to cash in on growing house prices. Emergency planning is definitely needed. With reduced rental opportunities, the costs have increased significantly, and people who receive housing benefit support are now expected to pay top-up fees. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has accused the DUP of embarking on a destructive course of action designed to antagonise nationalists. The SDLP leader was speaking after the DUP were found guilty by the High Court in Belfast to have breached devolution legislation by unlawfully boycotting North-South talks with ministers from the Republic of Ireland. This follows in the row regarding the First Minister's position where talk of a unionist pact to exploit a loophole that could deny a nationalist from becoming the First Minister of the north of Ireland should either the SDLP or Sinn Fein become the largest party in Stormont. Mr Eastwood said the words and actions of senior unionist politicians in recent days have been designed to insult, offend and degrade people with a different view of the future. The Foyle MP also added that nationalists and others will not be treated as second class citizens ever again and called on the leaders of unionist parties to step back from campaigns designed to diminish parity of esteem for all people in the North. He said: Over recent weeks, the DUP has regrettably retreated to the politics of boycott, division and deadlock. They have set themselves on a destructive course of action designed to antagonise nationalists and those with a different view of the future. This weeks High Court ruling that their campaign to frustrate North-South cooperation is unlawful speaks to how far removed from acceptable political standards they have become. The manufactured crisis over the role of First Minister is now blatantly offensive to nationalists. Years ago, we were told that a nationalist couldnt become Justice Minister, now were being told that if the SDLP or Sinn Fein becomes the largest party in an election that unionists should club together to frustrate the nomination of a First Minister. It is insulting and it is pathetic. The truth of the matter is that the functions of the First and deputy First Minister are equal and interdependent. We have a unionist and nationalist First Minister in authority, power and responsibility. This sham fight about titles is designed to diminish the position of nationalists in our society and the SDLP will not accept it. The solution is clear they have a joint office, powers and authority. So they should be called the joint First Ministers and elected together. The SDLP tabled amendments to Westminster legislation that would have achieved that result. It is disappointing that the DUP opposed us then and will not clarify their position on this issue now. We need to get beyond these narrow, divisive and totally manufactured fights. People want political leaders to address the waiting list crisis, our crumbling schools estate, the Covid-19 emergency. Those are real priorities. Anyone who plays fast and loose with peoples lives based on the name plate at Stormont Castle is totally detached from reality. Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson has welcomed progress on legislation to establish safe access zones outside healthcare clinics to protect women. A debate in the Assembly at Stormont on a Private Member's Bill tabled by Green Party leader Clare Bailey, discussed how to implement safe access zones outside abortion clinics, where it would be illegal to approach or film people accessing the building, hand out leaflets or offer counselling. A vote in favour of moving the Bill to consideration stage was passed by MLAs by a margin of 58 to 29. Sinn Fein MLA Ms Ferguson said: There has been a concerted campaign of intimidation and harassment against patients accessing their right to healthcare over recent months. No one should be faced with the type of disturbing imagery which has been displayed at these protests patients and healthcare workers should be protected. Many countries already have safe access zones, including Australia and Canada. Its important that we have laws in place to protect women and ensure these protests do not take place outside hospitals. I welcome legislation discussed today in the Assembly which will support the introduction of safe access zones for people seeking health care. Derry's shoppers have been thanked for contributing towards the 1million raised for three life-saving charities as part of Tescos Helping you to live healthier initiative. Tesco customers reached the landmark total for Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK from 13-26 September by rounding up their shop in store to the nearest 1. The funds raised will now help the three charities continue their vital work to save and improve lives. In addition to the 1million donated, the campaign raised awareness in Derry about the importance of people making sustainable lifestyle changes that can help lower their risk of cancer, heart and circulatory diseases, and type two diabetes. This was done with the help of trusted health information and advice, which was shared to empower Tesco customers to take small steps to help improve their health. Oonagh Turnbull, Head of Health Campaigns at Tesco, thanked Tesco shoppers in Northern Ireland for their generosity, which will make a significant difference to many peoples lives. She said: It has been inspiring to see our customers really engage with the work we are doing together, and we hope that we have played a part in raising awareness for these conditions, as well as life-saving funds. The campaign was part of the Health Charity Partnership between Tesco, Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK, which aims to inspire and support Tesco colleagues, customers and their families to make healthier food choices and live healthier lives. Claire Sadler, Executive Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement at the British Heart Foundation, said: We have been amazed by the incredible generosity of Tesco customers and colleagues and would like to thank everyone who donated during September. Your donations will help to empower millions of people to make healthier choices that lower their risk of heart and circulatory diseases, cancer, and diabetes. It will also help our charities provide vital support to millions of people at a time its never been more needed, and it will fund research with the potential to save lives. Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood, has challenged the DUP to decide if theyre on the side of people and businesses here or in the pocket of Boris Johnson, following proposals made by the European Commission regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol. Commission Vice-President, Maros Sefcovic, outlined new proposals dealing with agri-food goods, customs, movement of medicines and engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders. The key points are as follows: Agri-foods there would be an 80 per cent reduction on spot-checks, one all-encompassing certificate for multiple goods being brought over from Britain instead of potentially up to 100 per lorry load. Chilled meat products from Britain would be downgraded from their current 'high-risk' status. Customs Volume of paperwork needed to move goods from Britain to Northern Ireland would be halved. No customs duty will be levied at products classed as 'not at risk'. Companies sending out products to Northern Ireland will only need to produce an invoice, rather than comprehensive EU customs code data sets. Medicines Trade of medicines between Britain and Northern Ireland to continue and ensure British pharmaceutical companies need not have to set up bases in the north of Ireland. Those companies can continue to act as a hub in the supply of generic medicines to the north. Stakeholders Communication exchange between Northern Irish politicians, businesses and other stakeholders with the EU to improve to ensure the Protocol is more transparent. Structured groups to be set up to provide a discussion forum on key issues of the Protocol. Stakeholders would be invited to some key EU/UK Protocol Committee meetings. SDLP leader Mr Eastwood said the Commission's proposals aimed at resolving the challenges associated with the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol represent a fair accommodation and has urged political leaders to embrace them. He also added that the package of measures delivers the changes that businesses in Northern Ireland have asked for and has called on political unionism to detach itself from unreachable demands set by Brexiteers in London. He said: The proposals presented by the European Commission today are significant, they go further than many expected and clearly demonstrate that European leaders are stretching themselves in the interests of people and businesses in Northern Ireland. I welcome the proposals made by Maros Sefcovic because they show that he has been listening to the concerns of people in the North, not the fantasy red lines drawn by the British Government. I would encourage political leaders, and particularly the leaders of unionism, to reflect on the very serious efforts made by the European Commission to ease the challenges with trade flows between Northern Ireland and Britain as well as addressing their concerns about democratic deficits. The DUP, in particular, need to decide if theyre on the side of people and businesses here or in the pocket of Boris Johnson. No one, save perhaps for Jim Allister, has raised the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice as an issue because its remit is so confined to the operation of European Internal Market law that it poses no threat to prosperity here. Jeopardising our access to the European Single Market on the basis of nativist-fuelled rhetoric about European courts would be a serious mistake. There is now a clear landing zone that will address the Protocol challenges, allow us to maximise the opportunities and, most importantly, expend political energy dealing with the crisis in our health service, our crumbling schools estate and managing the pandemic. We need to grasp that opportunity. Green Initiative 2021 News In September the Embassy was proud to join EU colleagues in Malta to profile initiatives on how we can attain the European Green Deal together and tackle climate change & environmental degradation. For this Facebook campaign we chose to talk about policies and practices Ireland has introduced to support and conserve pollinators such as the honeybee, and how this supports the sustainability of our food production. Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to address the impact of pollination on agriculture and the environment in 2015 with our first All-Ireland Pollination Plan. In April 2021 we released the second phase of this Plan, which aims to: Make farmland pollinator friendly by working with farming communities; Make public land pollinator friendly including school projects where students are encouraged to establish their own micro-pollinator plots and learn about nature; Make private land pollinator friendly by replanting previously bare grassy spaces with pollinator friendly plants; Create an All-Ireland Honeybee Strategy that balanced managed and wild pollinator populations; Conserve rare pollinators; Raise awareness and increase our evidence base. We all have a part to play in ensuring our pollinators survive and thrive, to ultimately ensure the sustainability of our food production. Find out more about what Ireland is doing here: About All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (pollinators.ie) Previous Item | Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced funds will be made available to promote racial and geographic equity in the COVID-19 response. DHS was awarded $27 million by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat inequities related to COVID-19 infection, illness, and death, including $9 million dedicated to rural communities. In a separate appropriation, an additional $13 million in funding has been set aside to continue the Vaccine Community Outreach grant program, which funds organizations across Wisconsin to increase vaccinations by serving as trusted messengers within their communities, build vaccine confidence, and reduce barriers that hinder vaccine access for marginalized or underserved populations. Communities of color are bearing the brunt of this pandemic, which has exacerbated existing health disparities in Wisconsin, said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. Racism and systemic barriers, including lack of access to quality health care, job opportunities, housing, and transportation, have made these Wisconsinites more vulnerable to COVID-19. With these investments in our communities, we can support a just recovery, and address the broader structures and conditions that promote health so that everyone in our state has an opportunity to thrive. As part of this initiative, DHS announces Mobilizing Communities for a Just Response a grant program that seeks to support Wisconsins local and tribal health departments and nonprofits in addressing health inequities and the broader consequences of the COVID-19-pandemic. Agencies and organizations located within rural areas or serving rural communities to advance equity and remove barriers to health are encouraged to apply. With $3 million to distribute to organizations, Mobilizing Communities for a Just Response seeks to decrease rates of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 among underserved communities in Wisconsin. The Request for Applications (RFA) is available. To learn more about this $27 million grant and for additional funding opportunities, visit our Health Disparities Grant webpage. Im proud of our vaccine program has been a national leader in getting available shots in arms and that weve now vaccinated more than 3 million Wisconsinites, said Governor Evers. Getting the vaccine is an essential part of our states economic recovery, and its also key to our efforts to make sure everyone in our communities bounce back, especially folks whove been disproportionately affected by this pandemic. Earlier this year, DHS awarded $6.2 million in Vaccine Community Outreach grants to one hundred organizations across Wisconsin. Organizations ranged from community-based organizations to local and tribal health departments, school districts, and health systems. The application period for new applicants is October 12 to November 14. Organizations that engage in work to reduce socioeconomic or health inequities across Wisconsin are encouraged to apply. Applicants that demonstrate a commitment to addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and minimizing accessibility issues will be prioritized. Current or previous grant recipients will have until October 25 to reapply. Both of these grants are funded through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. For up-to-date information about Wisconsins COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. You can also follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information on COVID-19. Sweet Maple expanding to Contra Costa County; Kokolo Donburi and Bar debuts in Walnut Creek; Big House Beans gives ex-cons a second chance in Temescal; tell us your restaurant-going dealbreaker; and more Dish. Next week is all set to be a busy one. Following announcements from both Apple and Google, Samsung has now announced that it too will be hosting its Galaxy Unpacked event next week. Specifically, on October 20. Due to the ongoing situation, the event will be held completely online. Apple and Google are scheduled to host their events on October 18 and October 19 respectively. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: How to watch As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will be streamed online on October 20. Those interested can head over to Samsungs official YouTube channel to watch the event. It is scheduled to kick off from 10:00 am ET, which is 7:30 pm here in India. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: What to expect In its press release, Samsung states, Our users are multifaceted and live life in so many colourful, interesting, and unique ways. As such, the technology they use every day should reflect their individuality. Join Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 on October 20 to see how Samsung is opening up new experiences for self-expression through technology. This seems to suggest that we might see more colour options for the companys current lineup of devices. In fact, the company may even allow for more customisation by allowing buyers to pick the colour they want, thereby expressing their individuality. Of course, nothing has been confirmed yet, so all this is mere speculation. While Samsung is pretty quiet about what it plans to showcase at the event, rumours circulate that it could be a new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. The FE version is usually a more affordable version of the years flagship S-series smartphone. It should be noted that last years Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (review) was also unveiled around this time. As mentioned earlier both Apple and Google plan to host events next week. Apple will be the first of the trio to hold its event on October 18. The Apple Unleashed event is expected to see the unveiling of new M1X-powered MacBooks. Googles event is set to happen a day later on October 19. During the event, the company will give more details about its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones. It should be noted that while Google has already announced the phones, it still hasnt given more information about the new Tensor cores that will power the new smartphones. Also read: Exclusive: Google Pixel 6 Pro renders with triple camera setup and curved display break cover Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the companys latest smartwatch with which it wants to redeem its smart wearables portfolio. Samsung is currently the second-largest smartwatch maker after Apple which shipped over 9.5 million units by June 2021. In retrospect, Samsung only managed to ship 2 million units in the same time which gives Apple a lead of more than 7 million shipments which more than proves its popularity. Samsung wants to change this with the Galaxy Watch 4 which is its first smartwatch to run WearOS Powered by Samsung, a new custom UI for smartwatch developed in close partnership with Google. Until the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung smartwatches used Tizen OS but earlier this year Samsung announced that it will take the best features from Tizen OS and merge it with the next version of Googles WearOS. Does that make the Watch 4 worth its asking price? Heres what we found out. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 pricing and availability The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 with Bluetooth is priced starting at Rs 23,999 in India for the 40mm band size and Rs 26,999 for the 44mm band size which is what Samsung sent us for this review. There are three colourways on offer: Black, Green and Silver and it is available to buy from the Samsung India store and Amazon India. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Build and Design The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a minimalist design and a solid build quality. The frame is made out of aluminium and is accompanied by a silicone sport band. This 44mm version has a thickness of 9.8mm and weighs 30.3 grams which is pretty sleek and does not weigh down on your hand. In comparison, it is thinner and lighter than the Apple Watch SE and Series 6. The design of the Watch 4 is reminiscent of the Galaxy Watch Active series and has modern looks with a flat display surrounded by chamfered edges. There is a home key with a red accent and a back key right below it. The top edge of the Watch 4 has the atmospheric pressure sensor and at the back, you will find a host of sensors including an optical heart rate sensor, electrical biosensors and a pressure vent. There is a speaker unit on the left side as well. The Watch 4 is also 5ATM and IP68 rated which makes it resistant to dust and water for upto 1.5 metres of freshwater for upto 30 minutes. Additionally, the Watch 4 is also resistant to water pressure at upto 50 meters depth. In my use, the Watch 4 was easily able to withstand splashes of water and though I did not take it along for a swim, Im confident that it will survive under freshwater for long periods of time. While the Watch 4 does not lend too much pressure to your hand and is comfortable to wear most of the time, there is a certain stiffness with the sport band where it bends along the lugs. This largely has to do with how Samsung has designed this watch where the strap is made to look like an extension to the lugs. However, this design choice does leave a little bit of space between the straps and your hand and at times it may feel that the watch has an irregular fit. If you are someone with slim wrists, you should go for the 40mm model but for everyone else, the 44mm works just fine. It may not be the snuggliest smartwatch around, especially at night but otherwise, there is very little to complain about the design of the Watch 4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Display The 44mm Watch 4 features a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with 450x450 pixels resolution and has a layer of Gorilla Glass with DX+ which offers scratch resistance and enhances visibility and contrast ratio. The bezel surrounding the screen is also touch-sensitive and acts as a virtual rotating bezel of sorts, where you can just swipe along the bezel to move along the home tiles. Its an intuitive feature and I'll give Samsung that, but the functionality isnt perfect because it's a flat display and a slightly curved screen would have been good here. Nevertheless, the physical rotating bezel that is on the Watch 4 Classic is the real deal. The display on the Watch 4 gets pretty bright at full brightness levels but you can also set it to adjust automatically depending on the ambient lighting. The sunlight legibility is great and you can easily see and interact with the watch in harsh sunlight without any issues. Some of the other features include an always-on display and increasing touch sensitivity for use while wearing gloves. There are tons of different watch faces that come pre-loaded and third-party apps can also be downloaded for more designs, thanks to Wear OS. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 performance Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is equipped with the Exynos W920 processor that has dual-core CPUs running at upto 1.18GHz. Since the Exynos chip is fabricated on a 5nm architecture and is paired with 1.5GB RAM, it is efficient and the One UI Watch 3 interface feels very smooth. The swipe animations feel snappy and I did not face any lag in my time with it. Theres 16GB storage which is decent for saving your playlist, apps, maps data and more. A swipe up from the home screen lets you into the app drawer where the icons are arranged in a honeycomb-like grid. You can check out all the installed apps from the drawer; its all very minimal and like clockwork. When paired with your phone, you will get notifications on the Watch 4 and you can even receive calls, reply to messages and more from it. There is a recent apps icon in the app drawer that feels out of place and would have been useful if integrated into one of the physical buttons. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 tracking features The Galaxy Watch 4 features a comprehensive set of sensors including the BioActive, accelerometer, Barometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic and light sensors. While it's a standard setup, the BioActive sensor is actually a combination of the optical heart rate sensor, ECG and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis which helps the watch measure blood pressure and body composition. However, you can only measure the blood pressure and ECG if you use a Samsung smartphone which is a bummer but is nothing that the company cannot solve via an OTA update. The Galaxy Watch 4 can track all your fitness activities very easily. It counts the number of steps you took in a day, the time you remained active and the calories burned during those activities. It supports over 90 exercise modes including swimming, running, circuit training, hiking, treadmill and bench press, to name a few. It also keeps a track of your sleep cycle, stress levels and blood oxygen saturation levels. Apart from this, the watch is also capable of detecting activities automatically. I used the Galaxy Watch 4 to track cycle rides and the Samsung Health app provided me with a holistic view of data points like a detailed GPS map of the stretch, speeds, elevation and heart rate. I also had the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Amazfit GTR 2 strapped to my wrists and all three watches recorded more or less similar distance, speeds, duration and heart rates which only lends credence to the tracking features of the Watch 4. It also offers a split-view of your lap performance at every kilometer that you can filter by average speed or how much time it takes for you to complete a kilometer. A similar analysis is available if you take up any other fitness activities like running, walking and hiking to name a few. In activities like running, the Watch 4 also offers advanced running metrics like analysing asymmetry, contact time, stiffness and more and gives you an overall score based on the run. One of the highlighting features of this years Watch 4 is the body composition or BMI (Body Mass Index) feature that measures your body fat, muscle mass, body water and more by sending an electric pulse that travels through your body. The home and back key should be in contact with the middle and the ring fingers for the entire duration the watch calculates the body composition. It takes just 15 seconds for the watch to capture 2,400 data points from your body to analyse fat mass, body fat percentage, body water, basal metabolic rate, weight, BMI and skeletal muscle. While we were not able to test the accuracy of the body composition feature, it should give you a baseline to start and examine the changes in your body fat over time. The Samsung Health app also plots a chart across all the BMI measurements and shows the changes in your skeletal muscle, body fat and more. The Galaxy Watch 4 also tracked my sleep accurately and to the minute. The Samsung Health app shows the duration of the sleep, followed by blood oxygen levels during sleep and snoring data. You can also find a detailed chart of the sleep divided across REM, light and deep sleep durations. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Health app Pairing the Watch 4 with your phone is a fairly easy task. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to your smartphone and synchronizes data in real time. The app is easy to use and many data points are thoroughly explained in the app itself so you can read and understand exactly what the numbers mean with respect to your vital levels. You can also connect the Samsung Health app with Strava and can also connect with your friends to share and accept workout challenges. The app is well designed and records all your exercise data that you can access by tapping a date on the calendar. In body composition measurement, the Health app provides a detailed overview of how to measure BMI and the data collected and analyzed during body composition measurements based on your weight. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Battery life The Galaxy Watch 4 is equipped with a 361mAh battery which Samsung claims can last for over 2 days. In our use, however, we managed to get a day and a half worth of use on regular use with notifications, always-on display, Bluetooth and WiFi enabled. If you use it to track workouts, sleep and more, expect the battery life to drop to around a day or so which is just fine as far as Android smartwatches go. Even the Apple Watch Series 6 lasts for around 18-20 hours on a single charge but it costs twice as much. When it comes to charging, the Watch 4 took over 2.5 hours to fully charge using the magnetic charger provided in the box which is a bummer because the watch is unusable for the duration it is plugged in, missing out on data points when youre resting or sleeping. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Verdict Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a versatile smartwatch that lets you keep a track of your vitals and activities throughout the day with very little effort from your side. Samsungs latest timepiece will appease those who love minimalist design. The display of the Watch 4 is sharp and vibrant but we would have liked a slightly curved screen instead. The Watch 4 is a no-brainer for those who already own a Samsung smartphone as it is the perfect companion for it. You can still buy it if you dont have a Samsung phone and if youre looking for a good smartwatch that can track your fitness levels. Just remember that some features like ECG and blood pressure only work on Samsung phones for now. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 4 is a solid step-up from previous generations and is almost like a spiritual successor to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Dont buy it if you have an iPhone as the Watch 4 is not compatible with Apple devices but we expect Samsung to support it soon. If youre looking for something more elegant, check out the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Event celebrates the life, work of Benjamin McAdoo Jr. McAdoo was the first Black architect in Washington state. Tomorrow, Docomomo US/WEWA is hosting a virtual presentation highlighting the life and work of the modernist architect Benjamin McAdoo Jr. (1920 1981). McAdoo Jr. was the first Black architect licensed in Washington state. Through his architectural practice, political aspirations, and social activism, McAdoo used his platform to advocate for Black liberation, promote housing equality, and challenge the institutional racism that surrounded mid-century life. Understanding his work helps expand the modernist narratives and context present in the Pacific Northwest. The presenter is Sierra Miles, a rising senior in the architectural design major at the University of Washington who is working with professor Tyler Sprague to document and celebrate the legacy of the architect's seminal career as part of The Benjamin McAdoo, Jr. Research Collective (a partnership between the UW, Docomomo US/WEWA, and BOLA Architecture + Planning). The talk is from 7 - 8p.m. Registration is required. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtdu6trT0oHtQiVI92fhECSOke-LVbhCmB Docomomo US/WEWA is a local community of individuals who share a passion for Northwest Modernism. Founded in Seattle in 1998 as a chapter of Docomomo US, the nonprofit is dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the modern movement in western Washington. Subscriber content preview The corner has split zoning that could potentially allow a tower up to 95 feet. Photo by JLL [enlarge] The seller is planning a new building at Yesler Terrace, which clears a path to future redevelopment of this old clinic at 700 Broadway. A small old medical office building at 700 Broadway has sold for $42.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was Northwest Kidney Centers, which had owned the property for decades. It's on the corner of Cherry Street, directly east of the Swedish First Hill campus. . . . Tatas reclaim Air India in Rs18,000-cr bid Tatas have won the bid to acquire debt-laden state-run Air India at an enterprise value of Rs18,000 crore, for 100 per cent shares of Air India along with AIs shareholding in AIXL and AISATS. The transaction does not include non-core assets, including land and building, valued at Rs14,718 crore, which are to be transferred to the governments Air India Asset Holding Limited (AIAHL). Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, submitted the winning bid for an enterprise value of Rs18,000 crore, which was Rs5,000 crore more than the reserve price of Rs12,906 crore set by the government. Rival bidder, a consortium led by SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh, submitted a lower bid of Rs15,100 crore, which was also above the reserve price of Rs12,906 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)-empowered Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) comprising union minister for home affairs and cooperation Amit Shah, union minister for finance and corporate affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal and union minister for civil Aaiation Jyotiraditya Scindia, gave the final seal of approval for the highest price bid of Talace Pvt Ltd. The process for disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries commenced in June 2017 with the in-principle approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The first round did not elicit any Expression of Interest. The process re-commenced on 27 January 2020 with issue of Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) and request for Expressions of Interest (EOI). The original construct as per the January 2020 PIM envisaged (i) pre-determined, fixed amount of debt to be retained in AI (with balance to be transferred to Air India Asset Holding Limited (AIAHL) and (ii) the sum of certain identified current and non-current liabilities (other than debt) to be retained in AI and AIXL would be equal to the sum of certain identified current and non-current assets of AI and AIXL (excess liabilities to be transferred to AIAHL). As per the Air India EoI, Tatas will get a 100 per cent stake in the airline and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express, and a 50 per cent stake in ground handling company Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd (AISATS). Other properties including the Air India building in Mumbai, Airlines House in Delhi will also be part of the deal. Four acres of land at Connaught Place in Delhi and various housing societies in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities for AI employees and others usage. Air India's subsidiaries such as Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AITSL) will also be part of AIAHL. At present, Air India has control over 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports as well as 900 slots abroad. As per both the original and revised construct, all non-core assets (land, buildings, etc) are to be transferred to AIAHL and are therefore not a part of the transaction. It has been ensured that the interest of the employees and retired employees would be taken care of. The DIPAM secretary said Tatas bid of Rs 18,000 crore comprises taking over 15,300 crore of debt and paying the rest in cash. The rest is being transferred to the government-owned SPV AIAHL, Pandey said. Air India's non-core assets worth over Rs14,000 crore will be transferred to AIAHL, which means a little over Rs36,000 crore will be left over for the government to finally pay, the DIPAM secretary said. The final SPA containing detailed terms and conditions and the respective responsibilities to meet the conditions precedent for closing the transaction, including release of government guarantees prior to closing, was agreed upon prior to bid submission. Two sealed bids were received on the due date along with non-financial bid documents and bid security from the two qualified bidders. The next step will be to issue the Letter of Intent (LoI) and then sign the Share Purchase Agreement following which, the conditions precedent would need to be satisfied by the successful bidder, the company and Government. It is expected that the transaction will be completed by December 2021. The timelines had to be extended on account of the situation arising from the SARS CoV-2 pandemic. In view of the excessive debt and other liabilities of Air India arising out of huge accumulated losses, the bidding construct was revised in October 2020 to Enterprise Value (EV) to allow prospective bidders an opportunity to resize the balance sheet and increase chances of receiving bids and competition. The EV construct allowed the bidders to bid on the total consideration for equity and debt instead of a pre-determined, fixed debt with minimum cash consideration of 15 per cent for equity. The transaction saw keen competition with seven EOIs being received in December 2020. Five of the bidders, however, had to be disqualified as they could not meet the requirements set out in the PIM/EOI, even after allowing them an opportunity for clarification. The Request for Proposal (RFP) and draft Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) was issued on 30 March 2021. Air India provided comprehensive information through the Virtual Data Room to the qualified bidders who were also provided access to inspect the assets and facilities being offered as a part of the transaction. A large number of queries from bidders were responded to. On request of bidders, the bid due date was extended to 15 September 2021 so that they could complete their due diligence before submission of bid. China's Xi vows 'reunification' with defiant Taiwan Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to realise peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan, even as Chinese air force planes continue to violate Taiwanese airspace in a show of force. Xi was speaking at a meeting to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Xinhai Revolution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen on Sunday vowed to defend the island and its democratic way of life from China and that the country will not bow to pressure from China, showing defiance amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Speaking at the island's National Day celebrations, a rare show of Taiwanese defence capabilities in the annual parade underlined Tsai Ing-wen's promise to resist Chinese military threats. "We will do our utmost to prevent the status quo from being unilaterally altered," President Tsai said. "We will continue to bolster our national defense and demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves in order to ensure that nobody can force Taiwan to take the path China has laid out for us," the Taiwanese leader added. China claims Taiwan as part of its national territory although the island has been self-ruled since it split from the communist-ruled mainland in 1949 after a long civil war. Tsai emphasized the island's vibrant democracy in contrast with Beijing's deeply authoritarian, single-party Communist state. "The path that China has laid out offers neither a free and democratic way of life for Taiwan, nor sovereignty for our 23 million people," Tsai said. Surveys show Taiwanese overwhelmingly favor their current de-facto independent state and strongly rejects unification with China, which has vowed to bring the island under its control, by military force if necessary. China, however, said that the remarks by Taiwanese President incite confrontation, distort facts and mislead the public in the name of so-called unity and consensus, say local media reports. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said: "Tsai's remarks "incite confrontation, distort facts, mislead the public in the name of so-called unity and consensus while colluding with external forces to seek independence," according to CGTN. Ma said, "these are the root cause of the tension in cross-Strait relations and the greatest threat to regional peace and stability". Reiterating that Taiwan is a part of China's territory, Ma said: "The fact has never changed and will never be changed. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity has never be partitioned and will never be partitioned," reported CGTN. Modi, Japan PM Fumio Kishida oppose 'unilateral coercion' in Indo-Pacific Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, their first conversation since the latter took charge this week, committing to strengthen bilateral relations and opposing the use of military and economic force in the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders discussed the increasing alignment of perspectives, and robust cooperation, between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region. They reviewed the progress of cooperation under the Quad framework in this regard, said a ministry of external affairs (MEA) statement, which gave details of the talks that lasted about 25 minutes. It stated that Modi invited Kishida, who has met him earlier in his role as foreign minister, to visit India for a summit. "Spoke with HE Fumio Kishida to congratulate him for assuming charge as the Prime Minister of Japan. I look forward to working with him to further strengthen India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and to enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region," Modi tweeted. Both leaders shared their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and to economic coercion, while confirming that the two countries would deepen cooperation on economic security such as through resilience of supply chains, according to a statement issued by the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs. The statements are significant as tensions have been rising in the South China Sea over a record number of Chinese jets being flown into Taiwans Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the past week, after recent military exercises involving the US, Japan, the UK and other allies in the region. On Tuesday, Kishida, who was earlier known for a moderate foreign policy line and now taken a tough posture on countering China, spoke to US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. His call to Modi also follows a day after his conversation with Russian President Putin. Modi and Kishida discussed plans for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations next year, and promote cooperation on green technology, digital, healthcare, enhancing connectivity. They discussed the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project. A Japan-India flagship project, the Bullet Train project, however, is marked by delays over land acquisition and pricing issues. Kishida, who won the leadership election for his party, the LDP, last week after interim prime minister Suga stepped down from the post, is expected to call for general elections to be held by the end of this year. Kishida won the governing party leadership election on Wednesday last, beating popular vaccinations minister Taro Kono by just one vote in the first round where none of the four candidates, including two women, was able to win a majority. Kishida also has more support from party heavyweights who apparently prefers stability over change advocated by Kono. The new leader also has to address popular concerns over the way the Suga government handled the coronavirus pandemic as also its insistence on holding the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The long-ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party desperately needs to quickly turn around plunging public support ahead of lower house elections coming within two months. Kishida called for growth and distribution under his new capitalism, saying that the economy under Japans longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had only benefited big companies. However, all of the candidates support close Japan-US security ties and partnerships with other like-minded democracies in Asia and Europe, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and a threat from nuclear-armed North Korea. India makes quarantine must for UK nationals in quid pro quo India has made a 10-day quarantine mandatory for all UK nationals, including fully vaccinated, arriving in the country. in response to similar measures imposed on Indian nationals by the UK. Starting on Monday, all British arrivals irrespective of their vaccination status will have to present a negative Covid-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure, and undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 10 days and a fresh test on the eighth day of arrival in India. The move comes after Indias foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Britains decision not to recognise the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, discriminatory. He had warned of reciprocal measures should London fail to reconsider. The British government last month announced that it would allow fully vaccinated travellers to skip quarantine and take fewer tests, but only after vaccination under the American, British or European programmes or those authorised by a UK-approved health body. The irony is the fact that the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, produced in India under the name Covishield, used be the UK health authorities in that country is recognised while the same vaccine used by Indian health authorites wont be recognised in the UK. The vast majority of Indians have been vaccinated with Indian-made AstraZeneca shots, which has been produced by Serum Institute of India. Others have received Covaxin, a vaccine produced indigenously by an Indian company India, the worlds largest vaccine producer, announced earlier this week that it would resume donations of surplus coronavirus vaccines after it froze exports due to a surge in domestic infections. The British High Commission in India said that it is still working with the Indian government to 'expand UK recognition of vaccination certification' issued in India. "We are continuing to engage with the Government of India on technical cooperation to expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India," ANI quoted a spokesperson of the British High Commission in India as saying. Commerce minister asks EPCs to aim at $450-$500 billion exports next year Union minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal has urged the countrys export promotion councils (EPCs) to target $450-$500 billion exports next year. Addressing a mid-term review meeting with heads of various export promotion councils, through video conferencing on Saturday, Goyal directed discussions with all stakeholders before the new Foreign Trade Policy is finalised. Expressing satisfaction that exports from the country have bounced back touching $197 billion in the first half of FY2021-22, Goyal said with 48 per cent targeted volumes achieved, we are on the right track. Our exporters have made all of us Indians proud today, said Goyal, setting the bar higher, if we can aim to scale $450-$500 billion exports next year. The minister said engineering goods have more potential and textile exports should aim for $100 billion. You must have seen we are coming out with schemes, Goyal said, referring to the various PLI schemes announced by the government recently. Goyal said the government is negotiating FTAs with various countries and blocs, including the UK, UAE, Oman, Australia, Canada, EU, Russia and Southern African Customs Union (SACU) comprising Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. Equitable, fair and balanced and to the benefit of the Indian exporters, you will have to raise whatever are your concerns, Goyal said, adding mostly issues are related to market access rather than tariffs. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil his most ambitions Infrastructure Development vision, Gati Shakti programme on Ashtami, the day of Goddess Durga representing Shakti, viz, 13 October, Goyal invited the heads of export councils to join the event by VC and participate with infrastructure issues of related export sectors. The National Logistics Policy has also been unveiled recently and exporters should flag their concerns, he added. On the issue of high global prices of polymers and uniform application of environment laws, the input for the plastics sector, Goyal assured that the commerce department will take it up with the environment ministry on allowing import of virgin plastics scrap and related issues. Urging export promotion councils to identify and name exporters whose products fail to meet international standards and are often rejected due to inferior quality, the minister said the EPCs have not identified specific exporters hurting the reputation of Made in India products in the world markets despite repeated reminders. Quality will define the future of our exports, he quipped. Speaking on the occasion, MoS for commerce and industry, Anupriya Patel, assured exporters of speedy redressal of their concerns with other ministries that were hampering exports growth. Secretary, Department of Commerce, BVR Subrahmanyam and other senior officials participated in the deliberations. David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian share 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021 has been awarded jointly to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian "for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch." Our ability to sense heat, cold and touch is essential for survival and underpins our interaction with the world around us. In our daily lives we take these sensations for granted, but how are nerve impulses initiated so that temperature and pressure can be perceived? This question has been solved by this years Nobel Prize laureates, the Nobel Prize Committee stated in its announcement. David Julius utilised capsaicin, a pungent compound from chili peppers that induces a burning sensation, to identify a sensor in the nerve endings of the skin that responds to heat. Ardem Patapoutian used pressure-sensitive cells to discover a novel class of sensors that respond to mechanical stimuli in the skin and internal organs. These breakthrough discoveries launched intense research activities leading to a rapid increase in our understanding of how our nervous system senses heat, cold, and mechanical stimuli. The laureates identified critical missing links in our understanding of the complex interplay between our senses and the environment, says the committee. The mechanisms underlying our senses like the eyed detecting light, the inner ears receive sound waves, the nose recognise the smell created by chemicals and the mouth tasting the food have all been raing human curiosity. Likewise the heat of the sun, the caress of the wind, and the individual blades of grass underneath the feet give us the impressions of temperature, touch and movement that are essential for our adaptation to the constantly changing surrounding. In the 17th century, the philosopher Rene Descartes envisioned threads connecting different parts of the skin with the brain. In this way, a foot touching an open flame would send a mechanical signal to the brain. Discoveries later revealed the existence of specialised sensory neurons that register changes in our environment. Joseph Erlanger and Herbert Gasser received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944 for their discovery of different types of sensory nerve fibres that react to distinct stimuli, for example, in the responses to painful and non-painful touch. Since then, it has been demonstrated that nerve cells are highly specialised for detecting and transducing differing types of stimuli, allowing a nuanced perception of our surroundings; for example, our capacity to feel differences in the texture of surfaces through our fingertips, or our ability to discern both pleasing warmth, and painful heat. Prior to the discoveries of David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, our understanding of how the nervous system senses and interprets our environment still contained a fundamental unsolved question: how are temperature and mechanical stimuli converted into electrical impulses in the nervous system? In the latter part of the 1990s, David Julius at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, saw the possibility for major advances by analysing how the chemical compound capsaicin causes the burning sensation we feel when we come into contact with chili peppers. Capsaicin was already known to activate nerve cells causing pain sensations, but how this chemical actually exerted this function was an unsolved riddle. Julius and his co-workers created a library of millions of DNA fragments corresponding to genes that are expressed in the sensory neurons which can react to pain, heat, and touch. Julius and colleagues hypothesized that the library would include a DNA fragment encoding the protein capable of reacting to capsaicin. They expressed individual genes from this collection in cultured cells that normally do not react to capsaicin. After a laborious search, a single gene was identified that was able to make cells capsaicin sensitive. The gene for capsaicin sensing had been found! Further experiments revealed that the identified gene encoded a novel ion channel protein and this newly discovered capsaicin receptor was later named TRPV1. When Julius investigated the proteins ability to respond to heat, he realised that he had discovered a heat-sensing receptor that is activated at temperatures perceived as painful. David Julius used capsaicin from chili peppers to identify TRPV1, an ion channel activated by painful heat. Additional related ion channels were identified and we now understand how different temperatures can induce electrical signals in the nervous system. The discovery of TRPV1 was a major breakthrough leading the way to the unravelling of additional temperature-sensing receptors. Independently of one another, both David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian used the chemical substance menthol to identify TRPM8, a receptor that was shown to be activated by cold. Additional ion channels related to TRPV1 and TRPM8 were identified and found to be activated by a range of different temperatures. Many laboratories pursued research programmes to investigate the roles of these channels in thermal sensation by using genetically manipulated mice that lacked these newly discovered genes. David Julius discovery of TRPV1 was the breakthrough that allowed us to understand how differences in temperature can induce electrical signals in the nervous system. While the mechanisms for temperature sensation were unfolding, it remained unclear how mechanical stimuli could be converted into our senses of touch and pressure. Researchers had previously found mechanical sensors in bacteria, but the mechanisms underlying touch in vertebrates remained unknown. Ardem Patapoutian, working at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, USA, wished to identify the elusive receptors that are activated by mechanical stimuli. Patapoutian and his collaborators first identified a cell line that gave off a measurable electric signal when individual cells were poked with a micropipette. It was assumed that the receptor activated by mechanical force is an ion channel and in a next step 72 candidate genes encoding possible receptors were identified. These genes were inactivated one by one to discover the gene responsible for mechanosensitivity in the studied cells. After an arduous search, Patapoutian and his co-workers succeeded in identifying a single gene whose silencing rendered the cells insensitive to poking with the micropipette. A new and entirely unknown mechanosensitive ion channel had been discovered and was given the name Piezo1, after the Greek word for pressure (i; piesi). Through its similarity to Piezo1, a second gene was discovered and named Piezo2. Sensory neurons were found to express high levels of Piezo2 and further studies firmly established that Piezo1 and Piezo2 are ion channels that are directly activated by the exertion of pressure on cell membranes. Patapoutian used cultured mechanosensitive cells to identify an ion channel activated by mechanical force. After painstaking work, Piezo1 was identified. Based on its similarity to Piezo1, a second ion channel was found (Piezo2). The breakthrough by Patapoutian led to a series of papers from his and other groups, demonstrating that the Piezo2 ion channel is essential for the sense of touch. Moreover, Piezo2 was shown to play a key role in the critically important sensing of body position and motion, known as proprioception. In further work, Piezo1 and Piezo2 channels have been shown to regulate additional important physiological processes, including blood pressure, respiration and urinary bladder control. The groundbreaking discoveries of the TRPV1, TRPM8 and Piezo channels by this years Nobel Prize laureates have allowed us to understand how heat, cold and mechanical force can initiate the nerve impulses that allow us to perceive and adapt to the world around us. The TRP channels are central for our ability to perceive temperature. The Piezo2 channel endows us with the sense of touch and the ability to feel the position and movement of our body parts. TRP and Piezo channels also contribute to numerous additional physiological functions that depend on sensing temperature or mechanical stimuli. Intensive ongoing research originating from this years Nobel Prize awarded discoveries focuses on elucidating their functions in a variety of physiological processes. This knowledge is being used to develop treatments for a wide range of disease conditions, including chronic pain. The seminal discoveries by this years Nobel Prize laureates have explained how heat, cold and touch can initiate signals in our nervous system. The identified ion channels are important for many physiological processes and disease conditions. Klaus Hasselmann and Niklas Elmehed share 2021 Physics Nobel with Giorgio Parisi The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems with one half jointly toSyukuro Manabe of Princeton University, USA and Klaus Hasselmann of Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany for the physical modelling of Earths climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming and the other half to Giorgio Parisi of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales. The three Laureates share this years Nobel Prize in Physics for their studies of chaotic and apparently random phenomena. Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann laid the foundation of human understanding of the Earths climate and how humanity influences it. Giorgio Parisi is rewarded for his revolutionary contributions to the theory of disordered materials and random processes. One half of the Prize amount of 10 million Swedish kronor will be shared equally by Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann with the other half going to Giorgio Parisi. Syukuro Manabe, born 1931 in Shingu, Japan, who holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo, Japan, is Senior Meteorologist at Princeton University, USA. Klaus Hasselmann, born 1931 in Hamburg, Germany, holds a PhD from the University of Gottingen, Germany and is Professor at Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany. Giorgio Parisi, born 1948 in Rome, Italy, holds a PhD from the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, and is currently Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. This years Prize recognises new methods for describing complex systems that are characterised by randomness and disorder and are difficult to understand, and predicting their long-term behaviour. Syukuro Manabe demonstrated how increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to increased temperatures at the surface of the Earth. In the 1960s, he led the development of physical models of the Earths climate and was the first person to explore the interaction between radiation balance and the vertical transport of air masses. His work laid the foundation for the development of current climate models. About ten years later, Klaus Hasselmann created a model that links together weather and climate, thus answering the question of why climate models can be reliable despite weather being changeable and chaotic. He also developed methods for identifying specific signals, fingerprints, that both natural phenomena and human activities imprint in he climate. His methods have been used to prove that the increased temperature in the atmosphere is due to human emissions of carbon dioxide. Around 1980, Giorgio Parisi discovered hidden patterns in disordered complex materials. His discoveries are among the most important contributions to the theory of complex systems. They make it possible to understand and describe many different and apparently entirely random materials and phenomena, not only in physics but also in other, very different areas, such as mathematics, biology, neuroscience and machine learning. The discoveries being recognised this year demonstrate that our knowledge about the climate rests on a solid scientific foundation, based on a rigorous analysis of observations. This years Laureates have all contributed to us gaining deeper insight into the properties and evolution of complex physical systems, says Thors Hans Hansson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics. Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov share Nobel Peace Prize 2021 The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information are crucial prerequisites for democracy and to protect against war and conflict. The 2021 peace prize laureates are representative of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions, the cpmmittee stated. According to a press release issued by the Nobel Prize Committee, Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. Dmitry Muratov has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. "I'm speechless!" was Maria Ressas reaction when she heard the news from Olav Njlstad, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, on being awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize just before the public announcement. The editors are known for hard-hitting investigations that have angered their countries' rulers, and both have faced significant threats. They were chosen out of 329 candidates. Ressa, who co-founded the news site Rappler, was commended for using freedom of expression to "expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines". The award-winning journalist was convicted last year of libel in a case seen as a test of the country's press freedom. In a live broadcast by Rappler, Ressa said her win showed that "nothing is possible without facts... a world without facts means a world without truth and trust". In a statement, Rappler said it was "honoured and astounded" that its chief executive had been given the prize. "It could not have come at a better time - a time when journalists and the truth are being attacked and undermined," it said. The Nobel committee said Mr Muratov, the co-founder and editor of independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, had for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. Several Novaya Gazeta reporters have been murdered because of their work, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In an interview with the popular Telegram channel Podyom, Muratov said: "I'm laughing. I didn't expect this at all. It's madness here." He called the prize "retribution for Russian journalism which is being repressed now". Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov congratulated the editor, aying, "He persistently works in accordance with his own ideals, he is devoted to them, he is talented, he is brave." The winners of the prestigious prize, worth 10m Swedish krona (836,000; $1.1m) will share the prize money equally. Alliance Air now connects Sindhudurg with Mumbai under Udan scheme Union minister of civil aviation, Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Saturday virtually inaugurated the greenfield Sindhudurg airport in Maharashtra and also flagged off the first flight from Sindhudurg to Mumbai under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme of the Government of India. Alliance Air has been awarded the Sindhudurg-Mumbai route under the UDAN 3.1. This is the 75th UDAN route operationalised by the airline. Alliance Air will deploy its 70-seater ATR 72-600 aircraft on the route. The inauguration of the Sindhudurg airport pins the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra on the national air map. These new flights will further add convenience and comfort to travellers creating a gateway for the people to easily access the Konkan region noted for its pristine beaches, temples, and forts. These new flights will facilitate people of Sindhudurg not only in their travel to Mumbai but also open the horizon of additional connectivity with other metro cities directly connected with Mumbai such as Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad. Moreover, the Sindhudurg airport is a good option for people travelling to North-Goa. The inauguration of the Sindhudurg airport and start of flight to Mumbai marks a new chapter in the glorious history of the Konkan region. This development will open new avenues of growth of local trade and tourism. I am sure, with huge potential of the region, number of daily flights will increase to 20-25 within next 5 years, the civil aviation minister said in his address. Sindhudurg Airport, also known as Chipi Airport, is spread over 275 hectares. The runway has a length of 2,500 mtr (8,202 ft), which is enough for the operation of narrow body aircraft like Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-737. The airport Terminal Building has the capacity to handle 200 departing and 200 arriving passengers during peak hours. The inauguration marked the commencement of the 61st airport under the UDAN scheme and successful operationalisation of the 381st route under UDAN. Now people can fly at ease by opting for a flight of 85 mins from Sindhudurg to Mumbai while earlier they were forced to opt for a road or train travel of more than 10 hours between these two cities. The financial incentives in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is being provided by the central and state governments and airport operators to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports under the scheme. To date, 381 routes and 61 airports, including 5 heliports and 2 Water Aerodromes, have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme. DCGI panel clears Covaxin for emergency use in 2-year-olds as well The subject expert committee of the Drug Controller Genera of India (DCGI) on Tuesday cleared Covaxin for emergency use in children aged two to 18 years giving India the first approved SARS-CoV2 vaccine for use in kids as small as two years old. Previously, the DCGI had approved Zydus Cadilas ZyCoV-D for emergency use in children aged 12 and above as well. The clearance to Covaxin for protection of children between two and 18 comes at a time when schools are reopening after the second wave of the pandemic that affected more people and claimed more lives than during the first wave. Although there is no clear evidence of children being more vulnerable to a potential third wave of the virus, countries across the globe have been expanding vaccination drives to cover children as well. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is currently working on the guidance for Covid vaccination in children especially on which segments among children should be prioritised for vaccination. The NTAGI will now take a combined call on the use of Covaxin for vaccination of younger children, along with the earlier cleared ZyCoV-D vaccine use among 12 to 18 year olds. The World Health Organisation, however, has given no guidance on Covid vaccine use among children, with larger evidence suggesting a natural immunity among children to viruses. Countries are taking individual calls on the matter with the US and UK having taken the lead in inoculating children against Covid. It, however, remains to be seen how Covid shots for children will be rolled out. The adult vaccine drive is being managed by the government, with the centre procuring 75 per cent of the vaccines from manufacturers for free distribution to states. Bharat Biotech, a global leader in vaccine development and innovation, had, in July, announced safety and efficacy analysis data from Phase III clinical trials of Covaxin, a whole virion inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV2, developed in partnership with ICMR and NIV Pune. Efficacy analysis demonstrated Covaxin to be 77.8 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid-19, through evaluation of 130 confirmed cases, with 24 observed in the vaccine group versus 106 in the placebo group Efficacy analysis demonstrated Covaxin to be 93.4 per cent effective against severe symptomatic Covid-19 Safety analysis demonstrated adverse events reported were similar to placebo, with 12 per cent of subjects experiencing commonly known side effects and less than 0.5 per cent of subjects feeling serious adverse events Efficacy data also demonstrated 63.6 per cent protection against asymptomatic Covid-19 and 65.2 per cent protection against the SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2 Delta variant. China's Zijin Mining to acquire Canada's Neo Lithium in $737m all-cash deal Chinas Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd will acquire Canadas Neo Lithium Corp for C$918.7 million ($737.14 million) in an all-cash deal, the companies said on Friday. Zijin has agreed to pay C$6.50 per share in cash for the Argentina-focused lithium company, Neo Lithium, the companies stated in a joint release. Neo Lithium Corp got listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange of Canada on 8 October 2021. Zijin Mining, through a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Canada, has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Neo Lithium for consideration of C6.5 per share in cash. The consideration for the transaction is approximately C$960 million (equivalent to approximately RMB4.939 billion). The share price represents a premium of approximately 18 per cent over the closing price of C$5.49 per share of Neo Lithium on 8 October 2021 as quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange, and a premium of approximately 36 per cent over Neo Lithiums 20-day volume-weighted average price per share. The consideration payable for the transaction is based on the companys adequate due diligence of the assets held by Neo Lithium from a technical, financial, legal and other perspective, and was determined based on the companys careful assessment on its value, taking into account Neo Lithiums stock price, and the offer prices in comparable transactions and customary commercial terms, the companies stated. The core asset of Neo Lithium is the Tres Quebradas Salar lithium brine lake project located in Catamarca Province in the northwestern part of Argentina. The project is rich in resources, high-grade, low-impurity, and has favourable development conditions and relatively large potential for production expansion. Neo Lithium holds all interest in the 3Q project through Liex SA, its wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Argentina. As at 30 June 2021, Neo Lithium had 141,344,654 common shares issued and outstanding and 8,855,000 stock options outstanding in total. According to public information, the top five shareholders of the company are: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited, Orn & Cie SA, Waldo Perez, Gabriel Pindar and BlackRock Inc, which parties hold approximately 8 per cent, 5 per cent, 4 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent of the shares, respectively. The core asset of Neo Lithium is its 100 per cent interest in the 3Q lithium brine lake project in Argentina. The project is located in the southern end of the renowned Lithium Triangle in the Puna Plateau, which is in the southwestern region of Catamarca Province, the largest lithium production area in Argentina. The transaction does not constitute a connected transaction or a material asset restructuring of the company. The board of directors of the company has considered and approved the transaction, and does not require the approval of the companys shareholders at a shareholders general meeting the release stated. The acquisition is subject to approval at a special meeting of shareholders of Neo Lithium as well as effective approvals, notices or waivers from the government of the Peoples Republic of China or its authorised departments, and the relevant regulatory authorities and courts in Canada. The transaction will be completed pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The transaction will be subject to the approval of 66? per cent of the votes cast by Neo Lithium shareholders that are present and vote at the special meeting of shareholders. In addition to the shareholder approval at the special meeting of shareholders, the transaction is subject to, but not limited to, the receipt of effective approvals, notices or waivers from the government of the PRC or its authorised departments, and the relevant regulatory authorities and courts in Canada, and the satisfaction of other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. In August, Chinese gold and copper miner Zijin said its plan on lithium and other new energy minerals were in a preliminary strategic planning stage with no detailed time frame or specific projects yet. The deal comes after Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL) last month agreed to acquire Canadas Millennial Lithium Corp in an all-stock cash deal worth C$376.8 million ($302.33 million). Last year, CATL also purchased more than 10 million shares of Neo Lithium Corp and became the companys third-largest shareholder. Recently celebrating their fourth birthday, Charis continues to offer a plethora of services to the community, such as pregnancy confirmation, ultrasound, pregnancy options and education, empowered parenting classes, a baby boutique, adoption referrals, 24-hour hotline and abortion recovery. The Charis Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and is located at 1700 W. Jones Avenue. Leo Varadkar has said claims by a former senior aide to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that the UK never intended to stick with the Brexit deal it agreed, are very alarming, and indicates it is a government and administration that operated in bad faith. The Tanaiste was speaking after Dominic Cummings indicated the British Government never planned to stick to the Brexit deal. Former advisor to Boris Johnson, Cummings said in a series of tweets that he had planned to get Mr Johnson to "ditch the bits we didn't like" after beating Labour in the 2019 general election. Mr. Varadkar told RTE Morning Ireland: I saw those comments; I hope Dominic Cummings is speaking for himself and not for the British Government. "But those comments are very alarming because that would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world. "If the British government doesn't honour its agreements, it doesn't adhere to treaties it signs, that must apply to everyone else too. "At the moment they're going around the world, they're trying to negotiate new trade agreements...Surely the message must go out to all countries around the world that this is a British government that doesn't necessarily keep its word and doesn't necessarily honour the agreements it makes. "And you shouldn't make any agreements with them until such time as you're confident that they keep their promises, and honour things, for example, like the protocol." It comes as the EU is set to outline a range of proposals aimed at resolving the political stand-off over the protocol. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said claims by Dominic Cummings that the UK never intended to stick with the Brexit deal it agreed are very alarming because it indicates it is a government and administration that operated in bad faith https://t.co/qFAcoh5fMF RTE News (@rtenews) October 13, 2021 European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic has promised the measures will be "very far-reaching" and address issues over the movement of agri-food goods and medicines across the Irish Sea. The proposals are expected to significantly reduce the number of checks required on goods being shipped into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the EU has listened to Northern Ireland and will announce far-reaching proposals to respond to very real concerns about the protocol. Speaking on RTE's News at One, Mr. Coveney said today is about solving problems not creating more problems. "If the UK decides that they want to collapse the protocol, I think then heading into very a difficult space in terms of retaliatory measures," he said. He said there is "a very genuine and serious effort" by the EU to respond to issues that have been raised on the ground by the unionist community, by business interests and by others in Northern Ireland and it should be taken in that spirit. "There's been a lot of rancour, a been a lot of standoffs, a lot of red lines, a lot of cliff edges in relation to the negotiations around Brexit and the protocol," he said. "We need to try to move away from that type of negotiation now towards trying to find an agreement that can work for Northern Ireland and people there," Mr Coveney added. Claremont, NH (03743) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 36F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 36F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. For more than 90 years, The Eagle-Tribune Santa Fund has assisted those in need in the Merrimack Valley through generous contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals. This year the need is as great as ever. Contribute CLOVIS The Curry County Commission has received a warning from the New Mexico Department of Health for repeatedly failing to follow public health guidance on face masks at its meetings. The Sept. 30 letter from Deputy Secretary and General Counsel Billy Jimenez notes that video of recent commission meetings shows county commissioners, other county employees and citizens attending the meetings are frequently not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly. The state has required face coverings in indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, since Aug. 17. The letter, which includes a copy of the health order, notes Curry County has a vaccination rate below 50% and upon information and belief, a member of the Curry County Board of Commissioners recently died from COVID-19 (a reference to James Ridling, who died Sept. 18). The effects of COVID-19's spread have been devastating, for Curry County and for the state as a whole, and the dangers of the disease are readily apparent. The letter continues, Continued violation of public health orders may subject the commission, its members individually, other county employees and individuals attending the board meetings, to civil monetary fines of up to $5,000 per violation. The commission did not address the letter during its Tuesday meeting. When asked about the letter prior to the meeting by The News, Chairman Robert Thornton declined comment, while Commissioner Chet Spear responded, It is what it is. Both were wearing masks during Tuesday's meeting. Commissioner Seth Martin, who did not wear a mask during the meeting, said he was probably better off not commenting. Commissioner Robert Sandoval has attended recent meetings virtually since mid-September because of other commissioners' reluctance to wear masks. He spoke with The News prior to the meeting by telephone. I took an oath when I got on the county commission that I was going to support the laws of our country and our state, Sandoval said. It is a law. The mandate to wear masks is a law. Unfortunately, some of our commissioners are not (following the mandate). County Manager Lance Pyle provided a statement to The News that the county has provided a copy of the letter to elected officials, department heads and presenters at the Tuesday meeting. We have signage on mask wearing and will continue to encourage COVID-safe practices and provide information to the employees and public, Pyle said. Pyle referred all other questions to the commission and the county attorney. In other business at Tuesday's meeting: A 30-minute conversation about redistricting efforts ended with no action taken. Commissioners discussed the redrawing of district lines, as required every decade following the Census process. Michael Sharp of Research and Polling reminded commissioners the goal was to have as equal population as possible within the county's five districts, while keeping districts compact and contiguous. The commission has until the end of the year to approve new district lines, but hopes to finish up in its Nov. 9 meeting. Commissioners want to give each district at least some portion of unincorporated land in the county and prevent the creation of districts that are Clovis-only in population. Commissioners asked if they could receive a list of the precincts and their representative population to do their own homework, while noting they would do what they could to avoid giving him dozens of variations. Sharp said he appreciated the help, since commissioners know the county better than he does. The commission unanimously approved a resolution in opposition to President Joe Biden's 30 by 30 executive order to federally protect 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030. Martin said the trouble he had was the executive order didn't give any information on implementation or potential impacts. Martin said a resolution sent to the governor and members of Congress probably wouldn't do much, but that the county should take a stand. The commission agreed with him for the most part, though Sandoval said the resolution seemed like something the county was doing jst to feel good about itself. Events Center and Fairgrounds Manager K.C. Messick gave a budget update and noted the events center was working on a pouring rights deal with PepsiCo that would mean a $3,000 annual payment and around $7,400 each year in rebates on purchased products. Messick said the events center has lined up nine sponsors so far this year and is hoping to finalize agreements with six more soon. The commission tabled an agreement with the state's Children, Youth and Families Department for $174,000, based on staff concerns about reporting requirements. Shelley Meeks, a county community programs manager, said the county would not have applied for the grant had it known about the state requirements. The commission voted 3-1 for the tabling. Martin, who wanted to simply turn down the agreement, voted in dissent. The commission voted 4-0 in support of reclassifying portions of Curry Road G and Curry Road 6 from local roads to minor arterials. Gordon Beevers of the county road department said traffic numbers more than justify the change. Thornton asked the department to also submit a reclassification request for portions of Curry Road 3, provided it met proper criteria. Thornton was confident a traffic study would justify such a move, and Beevers anticipated he'd need one or two weeks to collect that data. The next commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 9. AMARILLO Texas Game Wardens are asking for help identifying those responsible for killing five pronghorn between Sept. 24 and Sept. 26. The bodies were discovered one mile north of Interstate Highway 40, just east of Adrian. The carcasses were dumped on private land with the skull and horns missing, according to a news release from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This is a considerably egregious crime, not just in the manner in which it was committed but also due to the significance of the animal that was harmed, said Oldham County Game Warden Wesley Driskill, who is overseeing the investigation. The pronghorn is one of the few big game species native to our state. Its habitat is limited to west Texas and the Panhandle which is why their hunting season is shorter than most and hunting permits are highly regulated. A crime of this magnitude impacts everyone working to conserve pronghorn for future generations. Texas Game Wardens believe this was an act of irresponsible trophy hunting, the release said. They encourage anyone with information about the individuals responsible to call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). Information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible will be eligible for a $1,000 reward. Just after his first week of official practice, new transfer Jesse Miritello persuaded sever Cork-based business owners have described Budget 2022 as one with no surprises to the business community. The Vice President of the Cork Business Association (CBA) Kevin Herlihy said that overall Budget 2022 is not disappointing, but its not exciting either. What we were looking for in terms of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) going out until the end of June, theyve given us until the end of April. Id be disappointed certainly with that, I thought they would have kept it going out to the end of June with all the businesses that are still struggling. In relation to the 9% VAT, they have pulled that on September 1 by the looks of it and we were hoping they would keep that for the whole of 2022 so thats another thing that was disappointing for us. The carbon tax, we all knew that was coming. But its really disappointing that there was nothing else announced today but wed just be hoping that the climate action plan theyre going to announce at the end of the month will be pro-business. We all want to change to a more carbon-free environment but its got to be worthwhile, its got to be feasible from a business perspective. The minimum wage is gone to 10.50, we were expecting that as well. Its probably needed with the cost of living rocketing, he said. He said that overall, the Budget was not harsh but also wasnt a very beneficial budget towards the business community. Eddie Mullins of Fitzgerald Menswear in the city centre said that there were no shocks which is what was wanted now that business has come back very strongly. Whats happened here in Cork over the last while, the investments, the Docklands development, the hotels that are coming on stream, the young population we have here, the cosmopolitan atmosphere, I think Cork is on the cusp of real greatness over the next few years. We can feel it here, you can feel the atmosphere. New retail is opening, theres a lot of new restaurants. I think what the Government has done is theyve safeguarded all these things. "Theres no shocks, theres good welfare support and support they put in place for businesses and for people to bring us to this point where next year I think and even Christmas will be very buoyant, he said. Eddie Mullins, managing director, Fitzgerald Menswear, St. Patrick's St. Picture Denis Minihane. Mr Mullins said that Budget 2022 is a broadly neutral one with something across the board for most people and that he thinks it will cement the speed at which the economy will come back following the pandemic. Cork Chamber President, Paula Cogan, said that the Budget has the potential to provide a stable segue between the pandemic and an unsuppressed economy. It must guide us through to 2023 without either underestimating current challenges or overheating the economy and the finer sectoral details are critical to ensure it delivers on this intent, she said. While Managing Director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham, said that this years Budget is not a Budget for business and warned that more needs to be done to assist small retailers as we emerge from the pandemic. Those employed within the motor industry in Cork have described Budget 2022 as "an attack on consumers and motorists" as fuel prices and the price of new cars increase. The measures specific to motoring announced in Budget 2022 included the introduction of a revised vehicle registration tax table from January next year, the extension of the 5,000 relief for Battery Electric vehicles to the end of 2023 and the extension of BIK exemption for battery electric vehicles out to 2025. AA Ireland Head of Communications Paddy Comyn said that while an increase in the price of petrol and diesel was expected, it is on the back of what is a 25% increase in prices of petrol and diesel over the past 12 months. Echoing Mr Comyns comments, Marketing Manager of Johnson & Perrott, Jerry Crowley said that while the price increase was not unexpected, that it all adds up and puts a little bit of a stumbling block in front of people who are trying to drive in a more greener and sustainable way. He said that the fact that the VRT has gone up pretty much across the board has meant theres an additional burden on motorists when buying a new car which typically are far less polluting than for instance the used vehicles that theyre currently driving. Mr Crowley said that newer cars dont necessarily have to be battery-powered or hybrid-powered because the standard combustion engines that are being sold new currently are in a lot of cases quite green themselves. Meanwhile, Denis Murphy of Blackwater Motors described the measures announced for the industry as very disappointing. Private cars, which is what they are attacking, and you can only call it an attack, are 10% of overall emissions in Ireland, thats all they account for and theyre getting 100% of taxation. We believe at this stage that this is anti-car and anti-driver and its wrapped up in a false emissions narrative because what theyre doing will not reduce emissions. New car prices are going up now again and were talking about a car around the 40,000 bracket, which is close enough to being the average price of a car now, its going to go up by about 1,700 again now. You're talking about these cars with a tax on them of about 16,000 between that and VRT and youd wonder how much more tax they want to get out of these things. There is a shortage of used cars already in the market and prices of used cars are going through the roof and the reason for that is that weve never sold enough new cars in this country to satisfy the used car demand. He said that the increase in prices will make it worse because people will hang onto their existing car for longer and theyre going to buy an older used car that they can afford which is going to do nothing for emissions. He said that the lack of public transport, as well as the increase in the price of fuel through the carbon tax measure is a real attack on consumers and motorists. He said that it is a slap in the face to every consumer in the country and that Fine Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens are beyond redemption. A CHARITY revealed that Cork men are travelling three hours to access safe beds after falling victim to coercive control. Chief executive at Mens Aid, Kathrina Bentley, made the startling comments to emphasise the need for safe beds for male domestic violence victims. Kathrina fears this is making men less likely to speak up about their terrifying situations. We have had men from the Cork area ring us from their cars, tractors, with one even ringing from a tent, after having to leave the house, she said. We do get men sitting in front of us with stitches and scars from stab wounds, but they seem to be mostly from the east coast. The men from the Cork area are largely affected by coercive control. A three-hour trip from Cork isnt a long-distance when your life is falling apart and you are suffering as a result of coercive control. When you are experiencing such a catastrophic event you will drive anywhere because the supports locally dont exist. People will go where the help is. She said that violence against males in the community needs to be taken more seriously. Ireland is not responding to the demand and the needs of the vulnerable male victim. Knowing that this service is available locally will at least give men the confidence to reach out and ask for help. Our fear is that there is so much more of this going on behind closed doors that we dont even know about yet. She added that domestic abuse affects people across the board. We get calls from people from all walks of life from travellers to isolated farmers because domestic violence doesnt discriminate. Support for male domestic abuse victims is also available in Cork through OSS Cork which supports both genders affected by the issue. To find out more about the charity or access their contact details visit https://www.osscork.com/ DO you ever get tired of Cork people banging on about the city by the Lee being the real capital? Even though Im a Corkonian (note: I didnt put the word proud in front of my breed), happy enough to live in the second city, I dont really buy into the self-importance of some of my fellow Cork dwellers. They say self-praise is no praise so maybe we should just quit the Cork mythologising when broadcasters come calling, looking for the Cork angle. What theyre really looking for are gas characters speaking in the native sing song accent with a tendency towards pumped up bluster about the importance of their city. At least, thats what came across on radio recently when Newstalk sent one of its reporters to Cork to do a vox pop on whether Garth Brooks should come to Cork. The consensus was that the country rocker should grace us with his presence because why should we have to go up to Dublin every time theres a big act in Ireland. In fact, you almost got the impression that Brooks should side step the capital because Cork would give him a hell of a welcome. Ive been to concerts in Cork over the decades, including Michael Jackson and U2. My memory is of the city and its environs being completely taken over by these major acts. You saw people in sleeping bags inside cars in the vicinity of Pairc Ui Chaoimh after the gigs. There would have been a rush on taxis in the days when they were in short supply. Some folk would have heroically walked miles through the city and its environs to reach the concerts. The city could barely contain the excitement what with coups like Michael Jackson deigning to come to the regions. Which is why its interesting to see how rural communities entertain themselves. We think we have it bad in Cork, having to trot up to the big smoke to catch once-in-a-lifetime major events. But try living in the sticks. If youre a spoilt city-dweller, you might be prone to boredom if you have to travel outside the city bounds. But for people who live in rural Ireland, all year round, its important to be resourceful and to draw on the community spirit that exists in every small town and village in the country. In Kerry for the weekend recently, I was mightily impressed when I went to see the Blackwater Womens Group Photography Exhibition that had just been opened by Joe Magill of Radio Kerry. Held in a community hall, a white washed building with a corrugated iron roof onto which the sun shone, it was one of the most enjoyable openings Ive been to. Usually at these events, there is wine, canapes and loads of pretension, not to mention the annoying tendency of people to look over your shoulder, mid conversation, in search of someone more important to talk to. The crowd that go to openings generally treat them as networking events. Nothing terribly wrong with that but I preferred the vibe in Kerry. Instead of vino, there was tea, coffee and tins of biscuits on offer as well as Cadburys Roses. In other words, honest-to-goodness fare. Thankfully, my slightly upset stomach meant that I didnt do the dog on the sweet stuff which would have involved hovering around the table bearing the goodies, guzzling the purple-wrapped caramel and nut delights. This exhibition consisted of 49 large framed photographs of everything from a cow wearing a small red top hat to more traditional seascapes. They are the fruit of a series of photography classes supported by Kerry Education & Training Board that took place during 2019/2021. The classes were facilitated by award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer, Patrick Kavanagh. Many classes took place outdoors in scenic locations. Over the years, the Blackwater Womens Group has put on photographic exhibitions with the help of documentary photographer Eileen OLeary. The group subsequently published two books featuring images of the area. The skills learned by the photographers have enabled life in the Blackwater/Templenoe area to be documented to a high standard. Some 13 photographers, five of whom are named Mary, showed their work at the recent exhibition. We got to vote for our favourite photograph in a draw. The prize was an image of the winners choice. I havent heard back so didnt win the John Hinde postcard-style photo of an elderly woman peering out through her red half-door with a bicycle parked nearby. Earlier, in lovely Kenmare town, I was brought by the friend I was staying with to Kenmare Butter Market, a contemporary art space. There was an exhibition by Pigsy (aka Ciaran McCoy) of art that is reminiscent of Basquiat, the famous street artist. Who says nothing happens in rural Ireland? According to the Indiana State Department of Death, 500 Elkhart County residents have now died from COVID-19. Deaths became less frequent after vaccines became available, but there has been an uptick in recent weeks following the surge in infections. Growing up, Bob Knoernschild "wasn't particularly interested" in the family's grain and livestock farm, which has been owned by his family sin Funding boost for Groudle Glen Railway A local Island attraction has received a timely boost from Manx Lottery Trust. Groudle Glen Railway is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The charity is rebuilding and improving its main station at Lhen Coan. The project will not only facilitate much-needed station maintenance, but also enhance safety, increase the longevity of the railway, improve flow of passengers and help support future income and fundraising efforts. The venture comprises four main phases which includes repaving the platform area, installing new trackwork throughout the station, constructing a new shop and ticket office and paving between the tracks under the station canopy. Manx Lottery Trust has awarded 16,450 towards the project which will be used to fund sleepers, base plates and clips. Sandra Ellen Dunn Locke of Elkmont, Alabama, passed away at Cape Canaveral Hospital on October 31, 2021. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Sandra is survived by her husband, Anthony Locke and their daughter, Ashley Norman; her son, Andrew Tybergh Amazon allegedly "ran a systematic campaign" of copying other companies' products in India and gamed search results to promote its own versions. Reuters obtained thousands of pages of internal documents including emails and business plans that detail the practices. A private brands team in India (which works on the company's own products ) used data from Amazon's marketplace in the country to find and target goods and create knockoff versions, the agency reported. The goal was to find reference or benchmark wares and copy them. A document from 2016 detailed a plan for an Amazon brand called Solimo, which is tailored toward the Indian market. The aim was to use information from Amazon.in to develop products and then leverage the Amazon.in platform to market these products to our customers. The document indicated that the private brands group aimed to form partnerships with the manufacturers of the benchmark items, because those companies use unique processes which impact the end quality of the product. The team sought to gain insights from the manufacturers and use the so-called "Tribal Knowledge" in its own versions to "fully match quality with our reference product." After it made the knockoffs, the company manipulated search results with a method called search seeding so that AmazonBasics and Solimo items would pop up near the top of the page, according to the document. The company also "aggressively" used a technique called search sparkles on PC, Mobile and App to specifically promote Solimo products on relevant customer searches from All Product Search and Category search, per the document. Sparkles are the banners placed above search results. "As Reuters hasn't shared the documents or their provenance with us, we are unable to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the information and claims as stated," an Amazon spokesperson told Engadget in a statement. "We believe these claims are factually incorrect and unsubstantiated." "Amazon identifies selection gaps based on customer preferences at an aggregate level only and shares this information with all sellers," the spokesperson added. "Amazons policy strictly prohibits the use or sharing of non-public, seller-specific data for the benefit of any seller, including sellers of private brands. This policy applies uniformly across our company to all employees our internal teams receive regular trainings on its application and we thoroughly investigate any reports of employees acting contrary to this policy." This is far from the first time we've heard reports of Amazon allegedly copying other companies' products. Over the years, the company has been accused of cloning the Instant Pot, Allbirds sneakers and a camera bag from Peak Design to name a few. A 2020 Wall Street Journal investigation also indicated that Amazon studied sales data of third-party products on its platform to inform the design and pricing of its own goods. If you live in a city where rideshare scooters are available, chances are youve had someone zip by on one while you were walking on the sidewalk. Its an issue that local governments around the world have pushed mobility companies to address since day one. And after working on the problem since 2019, Bird thinks it has a solution. Collaborating with a firm called U-blox , the company has developed a custom multi-sensor and GPS module it says is far more accurate than other solutions at detecting when someone drives a scooter onto a sidewalk. When you drive a Bird scooter thats equipped with the module onto a sidewalk, it will produce an audible sound and send a notification to your smartphone. The vehicle will also slowly and smoothly come to a stop. Bird is testing the technology in Milwaukee and San Diego and plans to bring it to Madrid and other cities in the future. Over the next year, DoorDash has earmarked $1,000,000 to support local restaurants affected by state or federally declared natural disasters. With help from Hello Alice , it will distribute $10,000 grants to businesses that can use the funds to pay for essential expenses like rent, supplies and payroll in times of need. Starting on November 1st , the companies will process applications every three months, with funding to follow shortly thereafter. Currently, the program is only available to restaurants in the US. Other eligibility requirements include that a business owner operate three restaurants or less. None of those locations may have generated more than $3 million in revenue over the last 12 months. Notably, a partnership with DoorDash or Caviar isnt required to apply for the program. Years ago, I wrote this piece about how I really wanted the iPhone to adopt USB-C and retire its Lightning connector. This was just after the advent of the companys first iPhone Pro models with pro level features, like surgical-grade stainless steel and, er, three cameras. Fast-forward to now, just after the launch of the iPhone 13 series, and I still dont have my USB-C iPhone. Fortunately, there are engineers that like a challenge. On his YouTube channel, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology student Ken Pillonel teased an iPhone X with a USB-C port, promising a full video later on how it was done. In an earlier video, he also explained how he reverse-engineered the Lightning connector, pulling out an integrated circuit from a third-party cable and hooking it all up to a USB-C connector. Yes, this is not something most of us should attempt. Its certainly possible for Apple to do the same, given the iPad Pro and new mini have USB-C ports. Europe recently proposed USB-C charging as standard for all phones and electronic devices which may speed up Apples adoption. Mat Smith It said the company willfully breached its Play Store developer agreement. Google has countersued Epic Games over in-app purchases on Fortnite, saying it "willfully breached" its Play Store developer agreement. Epic originally sued Google in August, shortly after it filed a complaint against, and was countersued by, Apple. "Epic has alternatively been unjustly enriched at Google's expense," the company said in its complaint. In case you forgot, Epic sued Google when it removed Fortnite from its Play Store after a Mega Drop update gave players a way to bypass Play and get discounted items. Continue reading. Didnt we just have an Apple event? Apple Apple will hold a second fall product event on October 18th at 1 PM ET. The invitation for the virtual Unleashed presentation doesn't provide many clues, but were expecting to see 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, powered by souped-up M1X processors. Apple might also introduce third-generation 'basic' AirPods headphones we thought wed see at the iPhone just months ago. Continue reading. Motorola Edge (2021) review Improvements where they were needed most. Engadget Motorolas Edge, updated for 2021, still makes compromises but in adding a fast 144Hz display, a more consistent fingerprint sensor and better software support, it addresses many of the shortcomings of its predecessor. If you can forgive the middling camera and its missing wireless charging, theres a lot to like about this phone. For now, the unlocked 256GB model is $600, but it will eventually cost $700. Another strong midrange phone is here. Continue reading. The company has also upgraded its existing lineup. Tile is making a tracker that uses both ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth and will work across both Android and iOS. UWB devices can transmit directional and spatial data to narrow down their location more accurately than over Bluetooth alone. The Tile Ultra tracker's Point and Locate feature lets you use augmented reality to find the item with turn-by-turn directions and a visual indicator of where the tracker is. Tile's working with Google to refine the feature for Android 12 and UWB-capable phones. Its set to arrive in early 2022. Until then, the company has announced the new Tile Pro, as well as revamped versions of Sticker, Slim and Mate trackers. The Pro is the company's most powerful tag to date, with a finding range of 400 feet. Continue reading. For that premium router feel. Netgear How much would you pay for the fastest home wireless networks possible? At least its a three-pack. Continue reading. The company plans to start shipping its first hyperbike in late 2022. VanMoof E-bike maker VanMoof wants to get riders from A to B more swiftly with its first high-speed model. The VanMoof V is the companys first hyperbike, which will be able to hit a top speed of 31MPH (50KMH). VanMoof is pitching this as a car replacement for city life and longer commutes, but as speed limits for e-bikes vary across cities and counties, the e-bike will have matching integrated speed settings. As it develops the VanMoof V, the company plans to work with lawmakers and governments on e-bike rules, including geofencing and speed regulations. Continue reading. The biggest news stories you might have missed Withings' ScanWatch is finally coming to the US after FDA clearance LG will cover nearly the entire cost of GM's Chevy Bolt EV recall 1Password's new feature lets you safely share passwords using just a link Google will stop trying to make its iOS apps look like Android apps Lucid details the Air's semi-autonomous driving features As Tim Burton's weirdly whimsical Disney movie The Nightmare Before Christmas celebrates its 28th anniversary today, it's a great time to take a look back at the spooky stop-motion film and the lessons it teaches - lessons about the importance of love and friendship, about being yourself, and about...cultural appropriation? Yes, while it was likely not Burton's intention to create a basic do's and don'ts guide for enjoying a culture that is not your own, he actually did a great job with it, especially considering he didn't use any actual races. Trying to parse out what does and does not constitute inappropriate adoption of another culture - or even what constitutes another culture - has led to a lot of arguments, especially in the past decade or so. Was it wrong for Justin Bieber to start sporting dreadlocks? Is it wrong for Urban Outfitters to sell dreamcatchers? Are white comedy rappers making a mockery of historically black music? Trying to explain the concept of cultural appropriation to someone using real life situations is confusing, because they're so dependent on context - and no matter what, being born into pretty much any culture means you come into the argument pre-downloaded with context the other person does not have.The Nightmare Before Christmas, however, provides great examples, while removing the charge that comes with using more specific, more real situations. At the outset of the movie, we see the citizens of Halloween Town parading into their home, celebrating a successful visit to the mortal realm. This opening sequence introduces the most important characters in the story, as well as the town itself: It's a spooky, gothic looking place, populated by monsters whose favorite activities include scaring, tricking, disgusting, and generally making scenes - all Halloween things, and all reliant on the base emotion of surprise. This is the basis of their whole culture. They value the shocking, scary, and dark, so that is what they think the pinnacle of quality is. Their cries of "Wasn't it terrifying?" and "Our most horrible yet!" would certainly be considered bad things in any other culture, but here in Halloween Town, they're goals to strive for. If you look at the town while immersed in their perspective, it's more or less achieved perfection - something their King, Jack Skellington, seems immensely bored of by the end of the parade. He blows off compliments on its splendor, saying, "just like last year...and the year before that...and the year before that." It's clear that the high-achieving King wants more - so he goes for a long walk in the forest to think, and ends up in Christmas Town. While it's evident that Jack didn't go to Christmas Town with any intent whatsoever, he can't help but immediately compare its culture to Halloween Town's - it's so strikingly different. He notes, "there's color everywhere...everybody seems so happy." Jack is overwhelmed by the culture of love, warmth, and family that exists in Christmas Town - something he is, it's worth noting, lacking in his single, very public life - and immediately knows it's something he needs. However, instead of going back home to Halloween Town and trying to find that feeling in something there, he tries to take a shortcut, and just port Christmas directly into Halloween Town. However, as the King returns back home to talk about vacation in a foreign land (with souvenirs he must have stolen, as he did not speak to anyone while he was there), he runs into a problem: Nobody knows what the heck he's talking about. He tries to give him his best approximation of the experience, but the citizens don't quite get it. How can you imagine something you've never seen? Since they haven't actually been to Christmas Town to experience the culture for themselves, all the citizens of Halloween Town can do is try to guess how it might look based on the only experience they have. So when Jack tries to explain that a present is a surprise in a box, they think it means some kind of jump scare trick; when he says you hang a large sock on the wall, they think that comes with a severed foot included. They can't imagine a world in which people would want a PLEASANT surprise; it's not because they're mean, it's just because, in their experience, that's what people want. Jack understands, at the very least, that the citizens aren't quite getting it in the Town Hall meeting, and is reasonably disappointed. Instead of simply letting it be, however, he leans into their confusion, saying "I may as well give them what they want," before showing that even he did not fully understand what he saw in Christmas Town. Jack then describes Santa as "a fearsome king with a deep mighty voice," with a suspenseful tone, creating imagery of a large, scary man who sets out under cover of moonlight, riding through the sky like a vulture. He also fully believes this "Sandy Claws" would have claws - because why wouldn't he? Jack himself is clearly confusing his own culture with Christmas Town's, and in a deeply revealing way: As he describes his own counterpart to his people, it becomes clear what kind of King he believes he needs to be. There are societal pressures in place to make him feel he must always act scary - despite the fact that he himself is clearly a kind, whimsical, friendly guy. To escape these pressures, he wants to dive into Christmas culture, to see what makes it tick so that he can adopt it and become the jolly ruler he wants to be: gleefully delivering holiday tricks and treats (instead of menacingly). "He has become, essentially, a colonizer of Christmas." With this goal in mind, a discouraged-but-not-defeated Jack retreats to his home to try and crack that code, performing scientific experiments on the toys and knicknacks he brought back. He believes that, much like with their own simple holiday pranks, that the secret to many of the Christmas surprises are physical ones. If there were some secret to the magical, warm feeling you get when opening a Christmas present, then, shouldn't it work the same way as the scared, surprised feeling you get when you open a candy wrapper and a spider crawls out? Jack does not seem to understand that there are some things in life that logic just can't explain, though he gets closer to finding the answer by burying himself in classic carols and stories, because those are the elements of Christmas that hit closest at the themes of warmth, love, and togetherness that accompany the holiday. He almost gets it; he has the realization that it might not be as complicated as he's making it - that it might simply be a feeling, "like music drifting in the air, invisible but everywhere." It seems as though he's about to have a breakthrough when he manages to hit on the old Christmas adage, "Just because I cannot see it doesn't mean I can't believe it," and just for a moment, it looks like he might finally be on his way... And then the music changes to a minor key as he swings very far in the other direction. He gets to, 'oh, it's just a feeling,' but makes no effort to understand what that feeling is; he simply assumes that by using the Christmas objects, he can create it - in his arrogance, likely wrought from being such a successful king all these years, he says: You know, I think this Christmas thing Is not as tricky as it seems And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone. Not anyone, in fact, but me! Why, I could make a Christmas tree, And there's no reason I can find I couldn't handle Christmastime. I bet I could improve it too! And that's exactly what I'll do! As the song ends with the image of Jack taking the Christmas lights off the tree and wrapping them around an electric chair before turning it on, popping the bulbs, you get the distinctive sense that Jack has fully lost the plot when it comes to getting across the meaning of Christmas. Jack becomes the distinctive villain of the story here. (Ever notice that Oogie Boogie's part is sort of tangential to the plot? He is, at best, a side villain.) It's important to make it clear that despite being a villain, Jack has no ill intent - because that's frequently what's happening when cultural appropriation happens in real life, too. He has become, essentially, a colonizer of Christmas. "It's a movie about what happens when you try to remove a culture's traditions from their original context and paste them onto your own." Jack is really trying his best to make the holiday nice for everyone. In his planning meetings, he is organized and polite, and does his best to offer constructive criticisms when it comes to their more macabre ideas. He commands Oogie's Boys to apologize when they kidnap the Easter Bunny instead of Santa, and instructs them to see that Santa is comfortable - he just wants to offer the old man a day off. His efforts to be polite, however, don't excuse his actions. A comfortable kidnapping is still a kidnapping, and a day off against your will is either a suspension or...still kidnapping. As you see Jack's Christmas finally start to come together, it's clear that the execution is all wrong. Everything is shaped like Christmas - the reindeer, the sleigh, the Sandy Claws outfit, the sack of gifts - but it still feels like Halloween. The reindeer are skeletons, the sleigh is a coffin, the hat was stolen, and the sack of gifts is full of shrunken heads and evil wreaths. It makes sense, therefore, that Jack finally gets shot out of the sky at the end of the night. He doesn't expect this reaction at all - and why would he? He brought these people a similar Halloween show just two months ago, and everybody loved it. Only as he lies among the smoldering remains of his sleigh does he realize his mistake. He's despondent over how blind he was, thinking he, the Pumpkin King, could simply take over - but he bounces back quickly when he remembers, "That's right - I AM the Pumpkin King!" He then learns his lesson so quickly you almost miss it - you can take the Skeleton out of Halloween, but you can't take the Halloween out of the Skeleton. This endeavor with Christmas has shown him what the inalienable core of his culture really is - and now he can't wait to use that to get creative next year. (A skeleton reindeer and coffin sleigh is bleak for Christmas, but it'll be great for a haunted house.) After Jack comes to the rescue and sets everything right, Santa delivers him and the citizens of Halloweentown a gift - and the way he does it is an excellent example of how two cultures can share their traditions without appropriating them. As he flies overhead in his sleigh, he shouts "Happy Halloween!" and Jack yells back, "Merry Christmas!" - sort of like when one person says "Merry Christmas" and the other says "Happy Holidays." It's the same sentiment, but the personal meaning is a little different. Then he makes it snow, quickly blanketing Halloween Town and its citizens in sparkly white frost. And finally, there, with one of the simplest joys of Christmas laid out in front of them by somebody who knew what they were doing, they understand what Jack had been trying to explain. They 'get' the Christmas feeling. The Nightmare Before Christmas isn't just a Halloween movie, or a Christmas movie - it's a movie about what happens when you try to remove a culture's traditions from their original context and paste them onto your own. You lose what makes them special when you do that, because you're losing the most important part - the people who made it a tradition. Like it or not, the culture we are born into is a huge part of what shapes you as a person, and you, as a citizen, shape it right back. It's impossible to separate culture from people because culture IS people - and like it or not, the culture you're born into is a part of you that you can never fully erase. It will inform the way you do everything in ways you can't expect - so when it comes to celebrating another culture, it's better to just follow their lead. It's actually the best way to learn how they see the world. Howie Mandel went to his favorite Starbucks to get a coffee, but passed out in front of the store and had to be taken away in an ambulance. People who were in the premises told TMZ that on Wednesday nigh, he was in Woodland Hills supposedly to have coffee with his wife and friends when he passed out, fell down, and was later found unconscious on a cement bench. The "America's Got Talent" judge had to be taken to Tarzana hospital after paramedics called to scene. When the Los Angeles Fire Department came, it appears like Howie was able to sit up, although it was a terrifying scenario. Customers who were present claim to have known him and were startled by what transpired. According to those close to Howie, he's a regular at this Starbucks. They believe he collapsed due to low blood sugar, and doctors are currently checking him out at the hospital. it was only this year that he also opened about his mental health battles. In a recent People interview, Howie Mandel discussed his battles with OCD and anxiety. ALSO READ: Erika Jayne Looks Haggard Shopping at Target Ahead of RHOBH Special Detailing Embezzlement Scandal? "I'm living in a nightmare," he said, "I try to anchor myself. I have a beautiful family and I love what I do. But at the same time, I can fall into a dark depression I can't get out of." For Mandel, who has struggled with mental illness since childhood, the pandemic has been particularly trying. "There isn't a waking moment of my life when 'we could die' doesn't come into my psyche," he said. Mandel said that before the pandemic, he was anxious, he would think on the fact that everybody around him was doing okay, just so he could cope. The pandemic, on the other hand, altered that and made it harder to cope. "The whole world was not okay. And it was absolute hell," Mandel explained. According to the 'St. Elsewhere' actor, he was concerned about his choice to go public with his mental health issues for the first time in 2006, and he still is. "People see inconsistencies, especially in the media. 'Oh he hugged someone' or 'he shook someone's hand. ' I can shake your hand. But then I'd think I didn't wash it well enough," Mandel said. "And I'd go back and forth in a loop washing my hands for hours. I understand the funny in that. But it doesn't mean it isn't incredibly painful." ALSO READ: Tyga Turns Himself Him and Was Charged With 'Felony Domestic Abuse,' Complainant Heartbroken Cine Spider-Man No Way Home: Las pruebas de que Marvel y Sony han borrado a Andrew Garfield y Tobey Maguire del trailer San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg shook his head about Gov. Greg Abbotts new executive order that bars employers from requiring workers be vaccinated against COVID-19, which goes against federal workforce rules. Gov. Abbott has clearly jumped the shark on COVID-19. This is absurd, Nirenberg said Tuesday night during a televised coronavirus briefing with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Anita Kurian, assistant director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. They reported that the numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Bexar County continue to decline. The positivity rate has also dropped to 3 percent from a peak of 21.4 percent on Aug. 8. We are definitely moving in the right direction, and we dont want to slip now, Nirenberg said. Still, 438 people are currently hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 14 children a more than 58 percent decline from Sept. 12 when more than 1,000 patients were being treated for COVID-19 in area hospitals. Hospitals report that 83 percent of these patients are not vaccinated; 151 are in intensive care units; and 65 are on ventilators. Metro Health reported Tuesday that two more people in Bexar County have died within the past two weeks, which brings the local COVID-19 death toll to 4,644. On ExpressNews.com: COVID-19 hospitalizations fall below 500 for first time since July 25 Wolff attributes the improvements in that regard to the number of infected people undergoing monoclonal antibody therapy at the Freeman Coliseum. He said that 6,500 people so far have gone to the regional infusion center for the pricey treatment and that nearly all of them were unvaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to reduce a persons risk of severe illness and death. Kurian said that in order to avoid a spike in cases this winter, San Antonio will need to have somewhere between 75 and 90 percent of the entire population fully vaccinated not just those eligible for the shot. She said that while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not stated a threshold to meet, she believes we have a long way to go. Currently, about 63 percent of the countys population is fully vaccinated. Kurian said that if all goes well with federal regulators, the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 will be rolled out the first week of November. Pressed about the governors order, Wolff called it a political circus that confuses everybody, tramples on the rights of free enterprise and jeopardizes the lives of people throughout the state. He has made the pandemic worse in Texas than it really needed to be, he said, adding that Abbotts emergency powers granted during the crisis should be taken away. Nirenberg said the governors latest executive order will almost certainly be decided in the courts. But in the meantime, he said, its awfully embarrassing when some of the largest companies in Texas are very quickly declaring that they are going to ignore the governor. laura.garcia@express-news.net Jo Longs resume said her goal was to help an organization thrive, and in her 71 years, she more than fulfilled that objective. For two decades, Long shook up San Antonios arts scene as executive director of the Carver Community Cultural Center on the East Side, which she transformed into a showcase for multicultural performances and visual arts. She died Tuesday at her home in San Antonio. She was the one who really set the framework for creating spaces for communities of color and other traditionally marginalized communities, whose stories were not told or whose stories were silenced, said Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, the Carvers current executive director. She created space for them to tell their stories here at The Carver and she was doing that when there werent a lot of people doing that, certainly not here in San Antonio, Parker-Nowicki said. Longs influence makes San Antonio stand out as a place where culture is valued and treasured, said Catherine Cisneros, a co-founder and artistic director of the arts organization URBAN-15. I dont know if she knew how much we loved her, said Cisneros, a dancer, musician and visual artist. Were all standing on her shoulders. Every artist in this community is standing on her shoulders, and they may not even know it. Courtesy photo via Sammye Shelvin / The Carver was built in 1918 as a community center for African Americans. Later, it became the Carver Library and Auditorium. Beginning in the 1940s, it was a performance venue for leading African American entertainers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong. The building was set to be demolished in the 1970s when community members rallied to save it. Under city ownership, the Carver was renovated and reopened in 1977 as the Carver Community Cultural Center. As executive director, Long presided over its rebirth. Turning the Carver into a multicultural performing and visual arts center a rarity at the time was wholly her vision, Parker-Nowicki said. She paved the way for so much not just who we are as an organization, but also for a number of other arts organizations that now exist in San Antonio, and certainly other organizations and artists and artist companies around the country, she said. Longs sister, Sammye Shelvin, 70, of Houston, called Long a remarkable person a patient and persuasive woman who read from the Bible every day before work. She loved people, Shelvin said. She loved helping people. She was just passionate about helping people. Long was born in Lubbock on July 27, 1950. Growing up there, she learned to play clarinet, oboe, piano and tenor saxophone. She left home to pursue a college education at age 16, according to another sister, June Long, 69. Jo Long earned a degree in music from Bishop College, an historically black school in Dallas that closed in 1988. She went on to obtain a masters degree in music history from Southern Methodist University. Soon after, Long served as director of SMUs Community Center for the Arts and as an administrative advisor for a Christian organization on campus. When she was tapped to lead the Carver, Longs original assignment was to develop a nice little arts and crafts program, she told Texas Monthly in 1997. Instead, she created what the magazine called a cultural powerhouse that drew international stars. Longs presence was one reason URBAN-15 settled in San Antonio in 1980 rather than in New York, according to co-founder George Cisneros. He is a composer and multimedia artist who is Catherine Cisneros husband and URBAN-15s music and media director. The group, a nonprofit that specializes in original performances and innovative arts education programs, was founded in Austin. When Long brought the likes of dancer Merce Cunningham and New York-based company DanceBrazil to the Carver, she often included in their contracts a requirement to hold free workshops for the community, George Cisneros said. Long also brought in representatives from the National Endowment for the Arts to help local artists create their own organizations, he said. In return for resources and support, Long expected something in return, he said: She was adamant about excellence. Long retired from the Carver in 2000. In 2004, the centers 650-seat theatre was renamed the Jo Long Theatre for the Performing Arts. By 2008, Long was back at work, this time as an administrator at Church of Christ Bible Chair and Student Center at San Antonio College, better known as the Christian Student Center. The centers director, Mark Forster, said Long was hired to oversee the budget and handle other administrative tasks. But she also shared wisdom with female students and spearheaded efforts to bring in a food pantry that still operates at the center, Forster said. Kevin Ball, 60, worked with Long at the Carver in the early 1990s. Ball, now a management consultant in Massachusetts, said Long exposed San Antonio to the world by bringing in artists from all over. She left a huge footprint, he said. They dont make those people anymore. Thats done. God broke the mold on her. She was super-special, super-impactful. She touched a lot of lives from kids to adults, not just in San Antonio but across the country and across the globe. Long is survived by her husband Woodrow Williams; stepson Ryan; siblings Sammye Shelvin (Charles), June and Michael Long; niece Adrienne Scales (Brandon); and nephew Samuel Shelvin (Amber). A memorial service will be held at the Carver Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. Arrangements for a memorial service in Lubbock are pending. Whataburger and Torchys Tacos are loud and proud about being Texas grown. But there are so many other popular restaurant chains that arent as vocal about getting their start in the Lone Star State. Below are eight restaurant chains you may not know originated in Texas: Schlotzskys: Schlotzsky's opened as a small sandwich shop in Austin in 1971. JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Chilis: Larry Lavine opened the first Chilis Grill & Bar in Dallas in 1975. Situated on the corner of Greenville Avenue and Meadow Road, Chilis was the first of its kind, pioneering the world of casual dining, with a full-service restaurant boasting a fun, funky and laid back atmosphere, according to Brinker International Restaurants, the company that now owns Chilis. On ExpressNews.com: Here's why the San Antonio River smells like it does Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise Jasons Deli: Joe Tortorice Jr opened the first Jasons Deli in Beaumont in 1976. The company now boasts locations in 28 states. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Fuddruckers Freddie Fuddruckers was founded in 1979 by Philip Romano in San Antonio. Romano once told the New York Times that he started the chain because the world needed a better hamburger. AP The chain underwent multiple ownership changes in the decades since its founding. Austin-based Magic Brands LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. The company was eventually sold to Lubys Inc., which announced this year that it would sell the Fuddruckers to North Carolina franchisee Black Titan Franchise Systems. La Madeleine: Louis le Duff opened Brioche Doree in northwestern France in 1976. The first la Madeleine opened 13 years later in Dallas across from Southern Methodist University. The brand now serves up French cuisine in over 80 sites throughout the U.S. Perrys Steakhouse: Perry's Steakhouse first opened in 1979 as a small meat market in the Houston area. Over the last 35 years, Perry's has grown to nine locations across Texas. Last year, the franchise opened its first restaurant outside of Texas in Chicago. DEANNE FITZMAURICE Macaroni Grill: Romano, the same San Antonian who started Fuddrackers, also had a hand starting the Macaroni Grill. Romano opened the first restaurant in Leon Springs in 1988. Romano also went on to found Spageddies, Cozymels, Rudys Country Store and BBQ and eatZis Market & Bakery. Wingstop: Antonio Swad opened the first Wingstop in Garland in 1994. The first franchised Wingstop opened three years later and is now an international company. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net A week after San Antonio College students broke the news that their student publication might soon shut down, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores said he planned to reenvision student journalism at the school and called for a community conversation on the subject. The Ranger, produced by SACs journalism and photography students, could shut down in December after 95 years. The publication has launched the careers of professional journalists across the nation. But it has faced headwinds in recent years, and budget cuts forced the weekly newspaper to go fully online in 2019. Program Coordinator Marianne Odom and the schools only two full-time journalism faculty, Irene Abrego and Edmund Lo, will retire at the end of the fall semester. No replacements have been named. Flores said Tuesday the newspaper and the journalism program are ripe for rethinking as a result of low student enrollment and engagement. The plan is to reenvision what student journalism looks like after December, Flores said during a livestreamed conversation with the Express-News Editorial Board. Two things: One is to continue to offer courses in student journalism at San Antonio College The other is then to look at what are other modes of media and how can that be collectively fashioned with the student newspaper at San Antonio College. The chancellor sketched what he called an Alamo Colleges District student media lab, where students could explore careers in print, broadcast, radio and digital journalism. The program could be offered to students at all five of the districts colleges SAC, Northeast Lakeview, Northwest Vista, Palo Alto and St. Philips, Flores said. He invited community stakeholders including professional journalists, faculty, students and staff to take part in conversations starting in November about how the program should evolve. The publications name also is up for discussion. It once reflected the colleges mascot, but this year the Ranger was dropped in favor of an armadillo because of the negative historic associations of the word Ranger in Texas. The program will continue. Then I think we need to look at what does a student newspaper look like as it transitions from perhaps its current name what will that look like? Flores said. I think students need to be queried on that, and then we need to listen to student voices on what that should be called. The overall idea, he said, is to build on the legacy of The Ranger and find new ways to expand student involvement and the reach of the journalism program. Laura Garcia, a health care reporter at the San Antonio Express-News and president of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists, said Flores has been in touch with her about taking part in discussions about The Rangers future. Garcia, who studied at SAC and was an editor at The Ranger before transferring to Texas State University, said experienced faculty members are key to preserving the journalistic values she learned firsthand at the paper. The Ranger is something special. It is a student-run, independent newspaper on the SAC campus, with real faculty advisors that work hand-in-hand with you to learn these skills needed to write and edit and publish stories and to take these photos, Garcia said. Theres no Ranger if you dont have the faculty there to really help them. Two of the three soon-to-be vacant positions that have supported The Ranger will be filled, Flores said. The third will be held open as the journalism program is reconceived, he said. Sergio Medina, editor-in-chief of The Ranger, said he spoke with the chancellor last week and saw grounds for optimism in the planned discussions about how to save the publication and the program. Its encouraging, because it means that they are really set on continuing the journalism program, Medina said. I do want to know about the process of hiring these faculty. Because as you know, the faculty here had been journalists themselves, and I think having that field experience really helps recreate that feeling of a newsroom. danya.perez@express-news.net | Twitter: @DanyaPH State Rep. Lyle Larson, a Bexar County Republican who has been critical of his partys rightward shift in recent years, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election to another term in the Texas House. Larson has represented District 122 in north Bexar County since 2011, after serving as a county commissioner and San Antonio city councilman. In a newsletter emailed to constituents, Larson said he is adhering to the 12-year term limits he has sought to impose for Texas legislators and statewide elected officials. As a strong proponent of term limits, Larson wrote that he chose to follow the limits we previously proposed in this legislation Thank you for your support and confidence over the years. Hope to see you around northern Bexar County. Larson has opposed his party on a number of high-profile issues this year, most notably as the only Republican to oppose the GOPs priority elections bill that passed during the summer. He has frequently criticized fellow Republicans on Twitter, and publicly urged former speaker Joe Straus, a moderate and longtime ally of Larson, to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott or Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick next year. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Texas leadership has taken us back 100 years in just 8 months, Larson tweeted in September. Trying to make it harder to vote, censorship of social media and burning books they dont agree with. No telling how much more damage they will do if they are left in charge. In 2018, Larson defeated a primary opponent endorsed by Abbott, who traveled to the district to campaign against Larson, calling him Liberal Lyle. Larson is the 15th member of the Texas House to opt against re-election, a wave of retirements that is coming as lawmakers redraw the boundaries of all 150 state House districts to account for population changes over the last decade. With Larsons announcement widely expected, his seat has already drawn interest from multiple candidates, including former Bexar County district attorney Nico LaHood, who held office as a Democrat but announced last month he would run for District 122 as a Republican. Former San Antonio city councilwoman Elisa Chan, a Republican, has also formed an exploratory committee to consider running for the seat. jasper.scherer@chron.com The Texas House on Wednesday morning approved new political boundaries that would further entrench the GOP majority over the next decade, over Democrats accusations that the plan unlawfully diminishes minority voting power. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats in the chamber 83-67. The chambers seats are almost evenly split between districts that favored Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. The current map includes 76 Trump-led districts and 74 Biden-led districts, but the Houses proposed changes shift that support to 85 in favor of Trump and 65 in support of Biden. The map will still need approval from the Senate before it makes it to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas House proposes new political map crafted to protect GOP majority Members debated the proposal starting on Tuesday for more than 17 hours and discussed more than 50 amendments, of which about 40 were accepted, and took a final vote in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Democrats have condemned the map, as well as those the Republicans drafted for the Texas Senate and U.S. House, for not reflecting the explosive growth in communities of color. In the last 10 years, the states population grew by 4 million people, overwhelmingly driven by increases in Black, Latino and Asian residents. Yet under the proposed House map, fewer districts are majority-minority, with the number of districts with a majority Black voting-age population dropping from seven to six and majority Hispanic from 33 to 30. The number of white-majority districts, meanwhile, would jump from 83 to 89. The proposed Texas House plan repeats the infirmities described by federal courts during the last decade by diluting the voting power of Texans of diverse population, said state Rep. Rafael Anchia. This process is out of step not only with the desires of members but also the Texas Constitution and the desires of the people of Texas. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox House redistricting chair state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, vigorously defended the maps and disagreed with that assertion. He said Republicans were cognizant of the Voting Rights Act and other legal requirements when drafting the maps. In some of these instances, the reductions were unavoidable, and most importantly, in none of these instances was the minorities ability to elect their preferred candidate of choice affected materially, he said. In almost all instances, these districts will continue to overwhelmingly elect the minority-preferred candidate. When you consider the population increases in Texas and where they took place, we believe this is a good plan, he added. The maps will almost certainly be challenged in court, as Democrats and voting rights advocates have done in the past. The litigation often lasts for years. The proposed districts in the San Antonio area would leave the partisan makeup mostly unchanged. The newly vacant District 118, last represented by Democratic state Rep. Leo Pacheco who resigned, would become slightly redder. The left-leaning district, which sits in south and east Bexar County, went for Biden by about 14 percentage points in 2020. Under the proposed map, that margin would dip to just 3 percentage points. Republicans are trying to score an upset in a special election for that district this November by running a candidate, John Lujan, who previously held the seat. District 121, which stretches from Alamo Heights to north Bexar County and is represented by Republican Rep. Steve Allison, has been targeted by Democrats in recent elections. The district elected Allison but also went for Biden in 2020; under the House proposal, it would have favored Trump by more than 2 percentage points. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com jasper.scherer@chron.com The Bexar County Sheriffs Office has identified the deputy who last month fatally shot a man reported to be driving erratically and who family members said was experiencing a mental health crisis. Deputy Joseph Trevino, 33, reportedly fired the shot during a struggle to arrest Nicholas Norris on Sept. 30, according to the sheriffs office. Trevino, who has been with the department since April 2012, was assigned to a patrol covering the West Side. He has been on administrative leave since the day of the incident, the sheriffs office said. Sheriff Javier Salazar previously said the incident began when a convenience store clerk told a deputy that Norris, 38, was scaring customers at the store near Potranco Road and Arcadia Path. When the deputy approached Norris, he got in a Nissan Xterra and drove down Potranco, the sheriffs office said. Authorities initially chose not to pursue Norris, but they resumed their chase after he began driving in circles at the Potranco and Sundance Crest intersection during rush hour. On ExpressNews.com: Family members ID man shot and killed by a Bexar County Sheriff's deputy on the far West Side The deadly struggle ensued when deputies caught up to Norris. It was not clear when the shot was fired, and Salazar said Norris continued struggling after he was shot. He died en route to a local hospital, authorities said. Norris family has since said in a statement issued by their attorney that he had a history of mental health problems and needed intervention and medical support. The tragedy of this situation is that Nick Norris was in need of help, and an officer who is sworn to help citizens ended up taking his life, attorney Nicolette Ward said. We see this irony play out over and over with people who have mental health challenges. Police departments clearly need to improve how they train for and engage when someone is in an emotional crisis. Attorneys said Norriss mental challenges were exacerbated that morning by the loss of his mother, Stephanie Norris, who died in early May. Norris father, Thomas Norris, said his son was a beautiful and gentle soul who abhorred violence. His brothers and I always did our best to protect him as much as possible his whole life and cant believe we were not there to help him at that moment when he needed it, his father said. He did not deserve to die, and our family is devastated by this tragic end to his life. At one point, a witness captured video of a deputy hanging out the window of a vehicle as Norris kept driving. It was not clear whether that was before or after the shot was fired. During a briefing Tuesday, Salazar said a deputy suffered injuries as a result. Investigators also found a weapon in the passenger side of the Xterra, but it was not known whether it was used during the incident, the sheriff said. Salazar said that law enforcement officers did what they could during previous encounters with Norris. He cited interventions in at least two incidents by the countys SMART team, which offers a form of mental health support. Another agency had placed him in emergency detention weeks before the fatal shooting. Why was this man in that position where we had to encounter him yet again? Salazar asked. jbeltran@express-news.net Six-year-old Zoe Zavala was in bad shape. Doctors had to reconstruct her left leg. They had to replace a piece of her artery. They had to surgically repair her abdomen. The Sutherland Springs Church massacre was nearly four years ago, and to this day, she bears the physical scars. Her grandfather was shot to death next to her that day at Sunday service when a man walked into her familys church with an assault-style rifle and killed 26 people. Zoe was among the 22 wounded. And she remembers everything. Mom Zoeys mother, Elizabeth Braden, spoke of the horrors their family endured Nov. 5, 2017, on Wednesday during testimony at federal trial in San Antonio. The proceedings are to determine how much the Air Force should pay victims and their loved ones for its failure to potentially prevent the gunman from obtaining the murder weapon. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ruled in July that had the Air Force reported his name to an FBI database after booting the airman over a domestic violence conviction, he couldve been prevented from legally buying the gun. Elizabeth had been at the church that morning for Sunday school, but she left Zoe there with the girls grandparents so she could feed her bosss animals. But as Elizabeth drove toward her bosss house a few miles away, a police car passed her heading back toward Sutherland Springs, lights flashing and siren blaring. Then she got a call and learned there was a shooter at the church. She rushed back toward Sutherland Springs, getting another call along the way. My mom said, Zoe, Elizabeth testified. I couldnt keep back the overwhelming urge to scream. Arriving at First Baptist Church, she pulled over, jumped out of her car and ran toward the chaos. Elizabeth looked for her family and found her mother, shirtless and wounded, outside. Deborah Bradens clothing was all shed had to treat Zoes wounds. Deborah, panicked, told Elizabeth to find their little girl. An in-law drove Elizabeth toward University Hospital. They arrived to find confusion and delays in getting information about Zoe. While waiting at the surgical floor, the ... doctors kept coming out and said, Do you have pictures of Zoe? Elizabeth testified. I would show them pictures of Zoe and then a different picture of Zoe. They wouldnt say anything or give me information. There was another girl who looked similar to Zoe who passed away on the operating table. It would take several hours before Elizabeth learned her daughter was alive. It was terrifying, and just, extremely, I mean, it was awful, she said. But Zoe survived. Grandma The girls grandmother, Deborah, and grandfather, Keith, took separate cars to church that day. The Army veteran was going to leave for his job at H-E-B after the service. But moments after they took their seats in the back with their granddaughter, shots rang out. Bullets came through the walls, zipping over their heads at first. Keith and others yelled to get down and take cover. Deborah grabbed Zoe, she testified, and got under a pew. The bullets were then hitting the floor of the church, Deborah said. He was going low. ... It sounded like thousands of bullets. People were screaming and crying. Deborah said she was focused on her granddaughter there on the floor next to Keith. Zoe was saying, I want to scream. It hurts, Deborah said. I had my face close to her, and (whispered), Dont say anything. Be very quiet. Then the shots appeared to stop, but someone would scream out. He was shooting each one, Deborah said, sighing and fighting back tears. If you moved, you got shot. If you screamed, you got shot. The bullets stopped, and Braden could hear tires screeching. That would turn out to be the shooter. Two locals would chase him out of town, where he would take his own life. Deborah took off her shirt, using it to try to stop Zoes bleeding. The girl had been shot three times in the stomach and leg. Her femur was shattered. I was singing Jesus Loves Me with Zoe, Deborah said. I was trying to calm her. Deborah had been shot three times as well in the arm and hip but she scanned the church. It was just a mess and there was smoke everywhere and the debris, she said. The pew behind us was just chunks. Many of her fellow faithful were dead. Zoe told Deborah, I want to close my eyes, but Deborah told her, No you keep your eyes open. You have to stay with me. Zoe was taken by ambulance as Deborah waited to be transported. During the shooting, Deborah recalled, she communicated with her husband by touching her feet to his. Im good; Im here, Deborah recalled. We were speaking with our feet. The couples son, Robert Bob Braden, was shot as well, but he was able to talk to his father in his final moments. Keith wanted to make sure his wife and Zoe were OK, Deborah said. I felt his foot kick when he died, Deborah said, crying. I knew he was dead. I didnt want to accept it. It was just too hard. Deborah said her husband was buried with military honors, though the family opted to have bagpipes played instead of a 21-gun salute. A whole section of H-E-B employees attended his funeral. My husband was a sweet loving man, she said. He was a family man. He was my world. The shooting left Zoe with a colostomy bag for months. And she has a condition called foot drop, which impairs her movement. She falls a couple of times a week. Then there are the emotional wounds. Theres a lot that shes processing, and working on, said her mother, Elizabeth. She misses out on opportunities that she should be having for kids her age because shes scared of what occurred. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland The city of San Antonio is preparing for a $1.2 billion bond. Heres how that could affect you: Some appointed city residents will soon get to weigh what infrastructure and housing needs San Antonio should fund through the citys upcoming $1.2 billion bond. Citizens will have input partly via five committees, which will be based on categories of bond funding. Before those committees begin meeting, City Council members gave their own feedback on proposed projects Wednesday. Several were concerned that not enough of the funding is going to district-specific, essential infrastructure upgrades. Streets, sidewalks and bridges Whether you use a car to get around San Antonio or walk, this funding could affect your everyday life. It could be used to fix bad streets in your neighborhood or construct sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety. The city proposed about half of the total $1.2 billion in bond funding go toward basic infrastructure like streets and drainage, including $450 million for streets, sidewalks and bridges the largest of the categories. The funding should cover 58 proposed projects, most of which are defined as specific to districts rather than citywide. For example, one proposed project would improve Culebra Road from Interstate 10 to Callaghan Road with $18 million in bond funding. The project crosses three districts one, five and seven and potentially could include curbs, sidewalks, driveway approaches, bicycle amenities, drainage and traffic improvements. You can view a list of proposed projects online by downloading a PDF from the citys Wednesday City Council session. Drainage Does your yard or home flood when it rains? As San Antonio continues to experience unprecedented weather conditions, flooding has become a concern in some neighborhoods. The city proposed putting $150 million toward 18 drainage and flood control projects. Councilwoman Teri Castillo, who represents District 5, said theres a longstanding need for better drainage on the West Side. She expressed disappointment that there is only one drainage project proposed for the district in the upcoming bond program. I cannot support this when all I hear from constituents is how drainage and flooding hurt their homes or rental properties, Castillo said. When we say were using the equity lens, and the most economically poor district has one drainage project, that is a shame, Castillo continued. Its a slap in the face for my constituents to say we will fund $10 million for an athletic facility, but not in drainage. Parks and recreation Parks and recreation could receive $300 million in bond funding for 67 projects. City staff are proposing at least $126 million of that go toward linear greenway trail expansions. San Antonios greenway trail system is hugely popular and used heavily, said City Manager Erik Walsh, and its expansion should continue in parts of the city that arent yet connected. Not all council members agreed on putting so much bond funding toward the trails and citywide projects, though. Instead, many wanted to see more funding go toward deteriorating streets, sidewalks and drainage issues. Phyllis Viagran, who represents District 3, was concerned that Sunken Garden Theater, near Brackenridge Park, is slated for $20 million in the proposed bond budget, among other projects. Its a beautiful project, dont get me wrong, but this is not the time, Viagran said. We are coming from a pandemic. I am trying to get people to get back to work. But Mayor Ron Nirenberg described the trail expansions as catalytic and supported other citywide improvements. Projects like that are going to have an impact beyond simple infrastructure investment are ones I think were going to see great benefit from and significant public support for, he said. The greenway trails werent the only proposed park funding. San Pedro Springs Park in District 1 could see $1 million in improvements. The District 3 aquatics facility could get $5 million, and Pearsall Park could receive $1.5 million from the bond program. Housing About $150 million in bond funding could go toward housing. The citys target is to have about 28,000 new or preserved units over the next decade for both rentals and ownership, said Lori Houston, assistant city attorney. The city has identified about $1.6 billion from various sources over the next five years to help it reach that housing target. Officials also expect to budget another $150 million for housing in the 2027 bond cycle. The bond program could increase rental housing for households that make less than 30% of the average median income, which is less than $22,000. Another goal is to preserve single-family housing for those making less than 50% of the average median income, or between $22,000 and $37,000 annually. The funding should also support construction for single-family housing for those making $44,000 to $74,000 annually. Facilities, both municipal and public safety The city needs buildings to do its work, and residents need a place to go with their concerns and city business. Public facilities also include basics like libraries, police and fire stations. The bond program proposal includes $150 million for 18 facilities projects. Renovations are budgeted at $81 million, while $67 million is reserved for new facilities. The Ella Austin Community Center in District 2 could get $11.5 million for upgrades. The Tower of the Americas could see $10 million in rehabilitation. The Central Library could be renovated with $6 million in bond funding. Anything else? City staff are also recommending an increase in public art funding from previous bonds. In the past, 1% of the bond was reserved for public art. In the upcoming cycle, 1.5% could go toward public art. The 1.5% would not affect the housing portion of the bond funding. Work begins soon Each citizen bond committee will be made up of 32 members: three appointed per council member and two appointed by the mayor, who will co-chair the committee. Residents on the committees will work this fall to finalize what projects should be included and how much funding each should receive. Those recommendations will come back to City Council in January for review and approval. The committee meetings will be open to the public. Walsh said todays workshop with City Council was the right time to hear feedback from council members who werent fully supportive of how some of the funding was budgeted. Moving forward, discussions will go to the committees, but City Council will have final say in how much funding each category receives in the bond program. New this year, the city will propose taking $77 million in improvements out of the bond and fund them instead through tax increment reinvestment zones. Using tax increment financing to fund some projects is meant to free up money for other uses. $1.2 billion is a lot of money, Walsh said. But when you take it into perspective with all the needs, it goes quick. The last city bond in 2017 totaled $850 million. megan.stringer@express-news.net In October 2014, Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, the two major-party candidates for Texas governor that year, wrote dueling newspaper op-eds that served as final arguments for their candidacies. Abbott, the Republican nominee, offered a simple argument. Less government, low taxes, smarter regulations and right-to-work laws not government mandates these are the pro-growth economic policies that help free enterprise flourish and attract more families and major employers to Texas every day, he said. It was a familiar GOP message: Allow private businesses the freedom to make their own moves without government interference and the result will be an unending economic miracle. On Monday, Abbott, the self-proclaimed champion of free enterprise and less government issued an executive order dictating to the private businesses of Texas how theyre allowed to handle the issue of COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees. The order states that no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer. So, if youre a small-business owner and want to take steps to control the spread of COVID-19 at your workplace, Abbott says you cant do it. For Abbott, the sanctity of free markets and entrepreneurship cant compete with the fear of alienating COVID deniers and vaccination conspiracy theorists in the GOP base. As recently as Aug. 25, Abbott tried to maintain his old less government stance when it came to how Texas businesses craft their vaccination policies for employees. His spokesperson, Renae Eze, said at the time, Private businesses dont need government running their business. Of course, Abbott would argue that the whole ballgame changed on Sept. 9, when President Joe Biden mandated that businesses with 100 or more employees either require those employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or provide weekly COVID testing for them. Sure enough, Abbotts executive order included a preamble blasting Biden for federal overreach and bullying many private entities. Lets put that argument under a microscope. For one thing, Bidens order did not mandate companywide vaccinations for private businesses: It gave them the option of weekly employee testing as an alternative approach. For another, it did not apply to roughly 98 percent of U.S. businesses and 33 percent of U.S. workers. Also, Bidens order has not yet gone into effect, pending new regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Its also worth considering that many businesses independently issued vaccination mandates for their employees well before Biden acted. United Airlines imposed a vaccination requirement in August. On Aug. 2, Genesis Healthcare, which operates more than 350 nursing homes in 25 states, announced that it was mandating COVID vaccination for its staffers, contractors and volunteers. Keep in mind that Abbott, with his new executive order, isnt merely trying to free Texas businesses from a vaccination mandate. He is preventing them from making that call for themselves. When he says no entity can require employees to get vaccinated, hes not protecting you from a federal mandate. Hes forcing a state mandate on you. And its not the first time. On June 7, Abbott signed into law a bill threatening to shut down any businesses that required proof of vaccination from their customers. He signed the bill on the same day that Carnival Cruise Line announced it would resume operations out of Galveston for passengers who were fully vaccinated. When Abbott revoked his eight-month mask mandate in March, you could argue that it was a premature move rooted in partisan politics rather than science. But at least it was consistent with Abbotts oft-stated belief in the exercise of personal freedom. Dictating practices to Texas businesses doesnt mesh with anything Abbott claims to believe in. It only makes sense as a way to defuse attacks from former state Sen. Don Huffines, his most vitriolic primary opponent. It never ceases to be absurd that were fighting about vaccination requirements for the biggest pandemic of the past 100 years in a state that has long required our kids to get a series of vaccinations in order to enroll in school. The Texas Department of State Health Services mandates that K-12 students get immunized for polio, tetanus, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In October 2009, when the Fort Worth school district informed the parents of 2,300 students that they were barred from classes until they got their required vaccines, it was standard procedure: a school system carrying out public-health policies for the good of the community. We used to grasp these basic concepts. We also used to have elected officials who understood that you dont play political games with public health. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 The COVID-19 misinformation emanating from a Texas hospital this week was coming from one of its high-profile patients: Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen West. West announced Oct. 9 that his wife Angela West tested positive for COVID-19 and that he was experiencing symptoms. West said chest X-rays showed COVID pneumonia and he was later admitted to the hospital. West said he had not been vaccinated, and as a patient, he stepped up his critique of vaccination campaigns and mandates. When West was released from the hospital days later, he continued to emphasize the benefits of treatment rather than vaccination. "There are so many other protocols out there that we should be recommending to people," he said in a Facebook video. "This should not be about forcing people to take a certain shot." West served one term in Congress representing South Florida. He later moved to Texas where he served as the head of the Texas Republican Party before stepping down to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott. If he were elected, West would be in charge of setting Texas policies for responding to COVID-19 or other future health crises. So we took a closer look at his views downplaying the benefits of vaccination in favor of various treatment options. We found that his claims ignore the added costs and health dangers of getting infected with COVID-19, misrepresent the science showing that the vaccines are safe and effective, and contradict basic principles of health care. We asked a spokesperson for West to provide evidence to support his statements and did not hear back. Here's a closer look at his claims: "I can attest that, after this experience, I am even more dedicated to fighting against vaccine mandates. Instead of enriching the pockets of Big Pharma and corrupt bureaucrats and politicians, we should be advocating the monoclonal antibody infusion therapy." Texas doesnt have any state vaccine mandates. Abbott on Oct. 11 ordered a tighter ban on vaccine mandates for any individuals, including employees and consumers. So on this issue, West is in line with Abbott. But his claim about Big Pharma is misleading, because both the vaccines and the antibody infusion therapy come from major pharmaceutical companies. The monoclonal antibody treatment comes from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded biotechnology company that had 2020 revenues of $8.5 billion. Vaccine maker Moderna, by comparison, took in $803 million in 2020, or about one-tenth as much. The Regeneron treatment consists of two monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune systems ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. The FDA gave Regeneron emergency use authorization in November 2020 and revised the authorization in August 2021 to include preventive treatment. Monoclonal antibody treatments have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for unvaccinated people, but the FDA has said that Regeneron is not a substitute for vaccination. The federal government reached agreements with Regeneron to supply doses in 2020 and 2021. Under the most recent agreement, Regeneron will supply 1.4 million doses to the U.S. government by Jan. 31, 2022, at a cost of $2,100 per dose. To receive the Regeneron treatment, patients must find a site administering it by intravenous infusion or through multiple injections. By contrast, the federal government pays around $20 per Pfizer vaccine dose. The injections are free to consumers and available at local pharmacies. "Instead of jabbing Americans ... with a dangerous shot which injects them with these spike proteins . . . guess what? I now have natural immunity and double the antibodies, and that's science." The shots may hurt a little, but they are not dangerous. The COVID-19 vaccines were proven to be safe and effective through a rigorous testing process, and through ongoing monitoring of people who have received the vaccine. More than 187 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated. Except in very rare cases, the side effects are mild and temporary. The research shows that they, in fact, help prevent danger: The CDC released data in September showing that unvaccinated people were more than 10 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who were not vaccinated, and 11 times more likely to die from the disease. West is also wrong about the vaccines injecting spike proteins. The vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. contain genetic materials that help the body to produce the spike protein, which then triggers the production of protective antibodies. Spike proteins produced as a result of the vaccine are harmless. Judging by his tweet, West considers himself fortunate to have natural immunity, and indeed, evidence is growing that contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is generally as effective as vaccination at stimulating our immune system to prevent the disease. But experts arent sure how long that protection lasts. And West ignores a critical point: Natural immunity is available only to people who survive a COVID-19 infection. More than 700,000 in the U.S. people did not. And many of those who did survive are dealing with long-term health effects, meaning that their natural immunity to COVID-19 comes at a high personal cost. "The whole point of vaccination against any infectious disease (measles, etc) is to provide immunity without the risks attendant to infection with the virus itself," said Dr. Arthur Reingold, an epidemiologist at University of California-Berkeley. West is also ignoring the costs of a hospital stay for a person who contracts COVID-19 and needs to be treated for it. We previously found that the average hospital stay is around $17,000, although individual factors can cause the cost to swing widely. "Why not promote protocols such as Regeneron monoclonal antibody infusion therapy? Why not promote Budesonide nebulizer treatments? Why not promote healthy over the counter therapies such as zinc which I take D3, vitamin C, Hydroxychloroquine, and yes, Ivermectin?" West uses the "why not" rhetorical construction to suggest that theres no legitimate reason for public health officials not to promote these alternatives over vaccination. But there is a clear reason: None of these other protocols and drugs have been proven more effective than vaccines at preventing or treating COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is a prescription-only drug used to prevent and treat malaria. The FDA in 2020 revoked an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine as a remedy for COVID-19, finding that it was not effective in countering the coronavirus. The National Institutes of Health concluded that data is insufficient to recommend using vitamins to treat COVID-19. In the United States, ivermectin is approved for some uses in humans, but not over the counter, and not to prevent or treat COVID-19. (The Food and Drug Administration has warned against self-medicating with an over-the-counter version of ivermectin intended for horses.) The injected Regeneron antibodies can help prevent infection before it starts essentially acting as a very short-term surrogate for vaccination, said Benjamin Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M University. But the other treatments West suggests amount to "superstitious home remedies," Neuman said. "There is nothing the average person would find in a pet store or mall vitamin shop that would be effective at preventing hospitalization or death from COVID-19," he said. Besides, Wests prescription contradicts a basic tenet of health care: Prevention is better than a cure. "Those of us in medicine and public health always think it is better to prevent life-threatening illnesses and injuries than to have to treat them," Reingold said. Greeces Aegean Airlines is continuing to look into opportunities of aligning itself closer with Croatia Airlines, which could potentially lead to a strategic partnership between the two Star Alliance members. Just prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, Aegean confirmed it had submitted a non-binding bid for the acquisition of Croatias national carrier. The next phase was to include direct talks between the Greek airline and the Croatian government. However, the process was halted in March as the global health emergency hit the aviation and tourism sectors. This September, the Croatian Prime Minister noted that negotiations between the two carriers over a strategic partnership agreement would be renewed in the coming months. Greeces Aegean Airlines is continuing to look into opportunities of aligning itself closer with Croatia Airlines, which could potentially lead to a strategic partnership between the two Star Alliance members. Just prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, Aegean confirmed it had submitted a non-binding bid for the acquisition of Croatias national carrier. The next phase was to include direct talks between the Greek airline and the Croatian government. However, the process was halted in March as the global health emergency hit the aviation and tourism sectors. This September, the Croatian Prime Minister noted that negotiations between the two carriers over a strategic partnership agreement would be renewed in the coming months. Aegean Airlines participated in the previous attempt to privatise Croatia Airlines as well, back in 2015. It entered into the second round of talks with then privatisation advisor International Finance Corporation, however, a change in government in Croatia put an end to the companys privatisation drive. As an airline registered in the European Union, Aegean can purchase a majority stake in its Croatian counterpart. The two carriers share a similar fleet structure, with both operating Airbus A320-family jets and Dash 8 turboprops. Furthermore, both navigate in similar and competitive seasonal environments. The similarities between the two mostly end there. Aegean has been continuously profitable since 2013 up until the Covid crisis, registering a record 79.5-million-euro profit in 2019. It employed some 2.900 people that year, carried fifteen million passengers and registered an average cabin load factor of 84.8% across a fleet of 64 aircraft. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines registered a loss of over ten million euros in 2019, had 1.000 employees on the books, carried 2.1 million passengers on twelve aircraft with an average annual cabin load factor of 73.6%. Aegean has been exemplified as an airline that makes effective use of tourism growth in its home country, which the Croatian carrier is perceived to be missing. Croatias Minister for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, noted, I am certain we will find the best possible solution to stabilise Croatia Airlines and enable it to grow. Croatia, as a country dependent on tourism, needs a national carrier. We dont want a strategic partnership where state interests and services of importance to Croatia would not be safeguarded. Through a communitywide effort, a refugee family in January may be calling New Milford home. The Washington Council of Congregations will host a community conversation at 3 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, 1 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot to gather feedback on interest in resettling a refugee family in New Milford. Ways to volunteer and what services will be needed will be discussed at length. Attendees will learn about Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services and its role in co-sponsorship of refugee resettlement in Connecticut. Geoffrey Hahneman of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Washington is spearheading the initiative with the Rev. Lisa DiNunno Hahneman of St. Johns Episcopal Church in New Milford. Supporting the Washington Council of Congregations will be New Milford Refugee Resettlement, a group that has settled two refugee families in New Milford. Before deciding to resettle a refugee, the Hahnemans met with the leadership of the New Milford resettlement group to learn about its experience. They were so excited and we got so much of their excitement that we decided we wanted to go at least to the next stage, Geoffrey Hahneman said. We see it as not just settling this refugee family but building up the community and working together. Resettling a refugee: What it takes Connecticut has about 40 IRIS co-sponsorship groups, according to irisct.org. The organizational process and the resources that IRIS provides in helping communities is absolutely phenomenal, Lisa Hahneman said. She said IRIS has created a model that gathers a team who can help in multiple ways. This team helps with finding housing, getting children registered for school, finding a translator, transportation, and medical and mental health services. There are about eight teams altogether, Lisa Hahneman said. We are looking at the assets within our community and bringing them all together. When the refugee family moves into an apartment, the community coalition group would sign their lease, put down the security deposit, and cover the first couple of months rent. The entire process in resettling a family is designed to help them become self-sufficient. Within six months to a year of their arrival, they should have found employment and started paying rent. As they get settled, they qualify for federal and state subsidies, and they all have green cards so they can find work. So hopefully, within a few months, theyve got work and they are now paying a portion of their income toward housing and by six months, its hope that theres enough work that they are paying for their housing, he said. They would then take over the lease. A refugee family is usually a core family and housing generally consists of two to three bedrooms, Lisa Hahnamen said. The refugee family would most likely live in New Milford. When we resettle families, we have to look at communities that have public transportation, job availability, grocery stores that you can walk to there are more of those in New Milford than in Washington, Geoffrey Hahneman said. Additionally, refugees can take advantage of New Milfords Social Services Department and Literacy Volunteers on the Green. Housing costs in New Milford for the first several months to establish the refugee family would be $7,000 to 10,000, Lisa Hahneman said. As of this time, the Hahnemans dont know where the refugees would be settling. They will find out that information about two weeks before the refugee arrives. About 30 volunteers have already agreed to help resettle a refugee, said Lisa Hahneman, adding many have contributed funding while others have pledged to give once the green light is given. Geoffrey Hahneman said the volunteers learn as much from the experience as the refugees. You begin to look at your community with different eyes thinking of the answers so such questions as: Is there public transportation? How accommodating are the schools? How easy is it to get health insurance? he said. Lisa Hahnneman added while some refugees may get homesick when they come to the area, theyre committed to making it work. They didnt want to have to leave and yet they had no choice, she said. So, the longing is always going to be there to go home but home doesnt exist in the same way anymore. Geoffrey Hahneman said it will take a joint effort in ensuring the refugee family has a positive experience in their new environment. Were not adopting a family. We are helping resettle a family the whole process is to help them find a sustainable way of life and get them plugged into a new community. Those unable to attend but would like to get involved can email info@wrrp.net. sfox@milfordmirror.com A prominent shepherd and author has praised Jeremy Clarkson for doing more for farming in one TV series than the BBC's Countryfile programme has in 30 years. James Rebanks, a sheep farmer from Penrith, Cumbria and award-winning author, made the comments at the Cheltenham Literary Festival. He was asked what effect the hugely popular Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm had had on British agriculture's reputation. I can report back from within the farming community: they all loved that programme. They loved it, Mr Rebanks said, reported in The Telegraph. Ok, hes clowning around and he plays to that audience, and a lot of farmers are lads that like machines and they would have watched Top Gear and all the rest of it. But what they really liked is [that] they have been frankly p---d off with Countryfile for about 30 years because the whole logic of Countryfile is that you cant make a mainstream, prime-time TV programme about farming because farming is for a niche group of idiots. "And what Clarkson has come along and done is gone, Actually, no, everybody will watch a programme about farming, you just need to do it in a certain way. "He sends himself up and in a funny way makes the two working-class rural men the heroes of the programme and that goes down very well in the farming community. The comments come as Clarkson was recently named NFU's Farming Champion of the Year for his 'work which has seen him champion British farming'. NFU President Minette Batters said The Grand Tour presenter had 'done his best' to showcase British food and farming over the past 12 months. "His show has really resonated with the public, brought alive the ups and downs of our industry to a huge new audience, and transported British farming into the living rooms of families across the country, she said. The eight-part series followed Clarkson through his first year as he contends with the day to day challenges of running his own farm, amid the backdrop of an unexpected pandemic and some of the worst farming weather in decades. Speaking about his own series to FarmingUK, the former Top Gear presenter said he wanted to present British farming in a different light. I think some of the farmers around here were concerned that the show would ridicule agriculture, which it absolutely does not do it is a love letter to British farming, he said. I was fed-up with television only showing farming as either someone bottle feeding a lamb in a cosy barn or as massive intensive setups on the other side of the world. "What we wanted to do was to show what farming is actually like on an average farm. Amazon announced in summer that Clarksons Farm will return for a second series following the programme's huge success. Fan Grabiner, head of UK originals at Amazon Studios, said Clarksons Farm was Jeremys 'unfiltered love letter to farming'. It is that authenticity, charm and humour, combined with the farms fantastic characters, which have made the series such a remarkable hit with audiences," he added. We are delighted to be joining the team for another year-in-the-life of Diddly Squat, and wish Kaleb and farmers across the country luck as Mother Nature continues to take revenge on Jeremy. Sales of red meat and dairy continue to rise amid heightened public support for local and sustainable produce, figures show. Sales of red meat were up 7% in the 12 weeks ending 3 July 2021 compared to the same period pre-Covid in 2019. This increase was largely driven by sales of beef, according to figures published by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Figures looking at the month August showed significant growth for meat, particularly sausages and fresh beef, up 5m and 1.7m respectively. This comes alongside news that sales of dairy in the UK have also increased for the second year in a row. According to figures by the AHDB, sales of cows milk increased by 4.2% while cheese is up 4.5% on the previous year. Responding to the figures, NFU Scotland said demand for quality British produce remained high, and farmers were working hard to supply it. President Martin Kennedy said: In these well documented, challenging times for all, it is extremely encouraging and appreciated that there is a demand. "We as an industry have much to be proud of, with our high environmental and animal welfare standards, and I want to thank the public for their support. Consumers making informed choices to ask for and buy Scottish produce in restaurants, shops, or direct from source is hugely appreciated. "It is important that supermarkets also play their part in ensuring that British and Scottish produce is readily available on shelves. A growing interest in food provenance can also be seen in the sign-up figures for the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotlands (IAAS) Lamb Bank initiative for St Andrews Day. The campaign seeks to give more schoolchildren the opportunity to taste and cook with Scotch Lamb on the patron saints day, on 30 November. Already this year, over 175 schools totalling 25,000 pupils have signed up - more than double last year's total. Ricci Wins South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award Peter Ricci accepts the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year award from (left) Julissa Kepner, general manager of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, and Wendy Kallergis, CEO of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. (Photo by Shoot My Travel Photographer Nathalie in Miami) Peter Ricci, Ed.D., director of Florida Atlantic Universitys hospitality and tourism management program, was named the 30th annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year by the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT). Judges were asked to consider the seven finalists responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, an area where Ricci shined. In March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, he organized a free online certificate offered by FAUs College of Business that allowed industry professionals who were furloughed, terminated or had hours reduced to continue their education during the down time and position themselves for new opportunities. Ricci thought a few hundred people may sign up for the certificate, which normally costs $899, but it attracted 77,000 people in 165 countries and territories. More than 61,000 registrants fully completed the certificate -- more than double FAUs full-time enrollment of 30,000 students. We were delighted to reach so many people affected by this worldwide crisis, Ricci said. Many workers said how grateful they were that the certificate was free at a time when their personal finances were so uncertain, and it helped boost their resumes so they could stand out to employers once the job market opened back up. AOHT is a partnership between the local travel, tourism and hospitality industry and the nonprofit NAF program through Miami-Dade County Public Schools. A three-person panel of judges not associated with AOHT rated the finalists and selected the winner. Previous winners include William Talbert III, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Wendy Kallergis, CEO of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. This award is not really about professional accomplishments, said Julie Kennedy, NAF director and liaison to AOHT. Its more about what people are doing to give back to the community. In 1991, Ricci taught in the NAF program at Miami Springs Senior High School. Many of those students now are tourism industry leaders across the globe. Before entering academia, Ricci was a hospitality industry executive and also had roles in the airline, destination marketing, meeting planning and restaurant industries. He started at FAU in 2005 as a visiting associate professor. The FAU program is ranked among the nations Top 30, and the university also has one of the nations top MBA programs for hospitality and tourism. This honor is particularly meaningful to me, considering its the 30year of the award and 30 years since I taught in one of the earliest NAF programs, Ricci said. Since that time, I've seen tourism become a revenue force for the state, and Ive had the pleasure of leading large hospitality businesses in the region and also grooming future leaders. Im honored and grateful for this recognition. -FAU- Before Sunny Reynolds led her final coterie of tourists for 2021 off to Sicily last week, she sat down briefly to talk about the last year and a half. Reynolds operates BioTrek Adventure Travels, with an office at 81 Main St. in Warrenton. She arranges and leads small groups of travelers to different countries for 10 days to three weeks at a time, depending on the destination. Its been a horrific year for me, she said, but added that the understanding and support of her clients has carried her through. A trip to Argentina in January of 2020 went fine, Reynolds said, but while trying to get herself and her group home from a trip in March, she hit her first COVID snag. We were in India when they announced that [because of the COVID-19 pandemic] U.S. citizens could not enter the country [from abroad]. Two days later, they admitted that was a mistake, and that Europeans could not come to the U.S., but citizens could come home. In 2020, six trips to Moracco, Tanzania, Portugal, Chile, Guatemala and the Galapagos Islands all had to be postponed. Reynolds said that her clients, who had already paid for the tours, said, Dont worry. Keep the money and well do it next year. We trust you. They were all willing to get new dates. While grounded, Reynolds applied for and received two PPP loans. I dont know what I would have done without them, she said. BioTrek has only one other fulltime employee but uses contract workers for marketing and other tasks. Finally, in June of this year, Reynolds was able to take a fully vaccinated group to Morocco. It wasnt easy. She said, The logistics were worse than they would have been last year. Very little has improved. She said We had scheduled it for March, but it got postponed again. In June, Morocco opened to visitors. I scheduled a non-stop flight through Royal Air Morac. The BioTrek itinerary included a trip to the second-largest mosque in the world, but when we got there, it was closed. Reynolds said when she talked to the guards, they were so happy to see tourists again that they let them hop over the barriers. This was a place that could accommodate 25,000 visitors, but there were no tourists anywhere. Everywhere we went, we were the only visitors. She took a group to Tanzania in July. There were Europeans, but no Americans. She said shes been going to Tanzania for 11 or 12 years and has never seen so few people. Travel arrangements, always complicated, have gotten much more so. Reynolds said it is her responsibility to get her group to their destination, fulfil their itinerary and get everyone home safely. Clients dont see any of the behind-the-scenes machinations, but there are hundreds of details to manage. Each country has its own COVID protocols, including mandatory PCR testing. Reynolds found a lab in Centreville that guarantees a 24-hour COVID results turnaround, a must since airlines require a test within 72 hours of takeoff, and the timing for getting results can vary. And tests have to be taken before flying home, too. She said, I had to find a lab in CasaBlanca [in Morocco] and one near the Serengeti [in Tanzania]. Reynolds makes sure that the staff in hotels they stay at have been vaccinated, as well as the guides and drivers. In situations when her clients are around other people, masks go on and distances between people are increased whenever possible. The BioTrek contract includes a place for clients to check that theyve been vaccinated. Im not going to let anyone who is unvaccinated on a trip. Its not safe. We all travel in the same vehicles. The trip to the Galapagos is on a boat. Its a big boat, but its close quarters. No one has tested positive yet. With the surge of COVID cases caused by the Delta variant, arrangements could get even more difficult. Reynolds said that before finalizing plans for the Sicily trip, she had to get in writing that if Italy shut down and her group couldnt get in, that theyd get a refund. Italy currently has a Level 3 (high) rating from the Centers for Disease Control. Reynolds has canceled an October trip to Portugal; the country has been labeled a level 4 country by the CDC because of a very high incidence of the virus. The CDC says: Because of the current situation in Portugal, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants. Reynolds recommends to all her clients that they obtain travel insurance. She said that she has only had one couple cancel because of a non-COVID related health issue but having travel insurance provides peace of mind, just in case. Reynolds admitted she was relieved when she had to postpone the Portugal trip. Im worn out, she said. Everything is 100% more difficult than before. Its a good thing I love what I do! Namibia is the first of eight trips planned for 2022 and is already full. Reynolds and her group leave Jan. 2, if all goes well. Reynolds said, There was a great moment of optimism. But now, because of whats happening in the U.S., the numbers are going back up. Some countries could ban U.S. citizens. Other destinations planned for 2022: Morocco (March), Argentina (April), the Galapagos Islands (June), Tanzania (July), Guatemala (August), Portugal (September) and Chile (November/December). Looking further ahead, Reynolds is planning trips to India and to the Arctic in 2023. She said, I want to see a polar bear. Reach Robin Earl at rearl@fauquier.com Warrenton businessman Tony Tedeschi traveled with Sunny Reynolds on BioTrek Adventures first trip to Costa Rica 25 years ago. When a small group of travelers left for Sicily last week, Tedeschi and his wife were on board. Hes one of many repeat customers. Reynolds said that Tedeschi wanted to visit a small town where his grandfather was from. Were going to make that happen, she said. Its one of the advantages of traveling with small groups (usually 10 to 12 people). We can tweak the itinerary. If someone is interested in weaving, Ill see if I can find a weaving demonstration. Food and wine are integral to any trip, said Reynolds. Well search out fusion restaurants; well find a cooking class. Susan Payne of Casanova wanted to take her 9-year-old son Brandon to Costa Rica, but BioTrek Adventures does not usually include children. Reynolds said, I asked her to come by and she brought Brandon. He knew all the Latin names of the animals of the rainforest, so Brandon came with us. Hes 34 now. Payne said the trip was the beginning of a love affair with travel for her son. Hes since been all over the world, including a working trip to Guatemala with Reynolds. Martha and David Marshall of Haymarket were seasoned travelers, but their trip to Tanzania with BioTrek in 2019 was unique. Martha Marshall said, If you want to do something different, to have a sequence of incredible, curated experiences, thats what Sunny is best at. Your travel time is precious. Shes already maximized how you are going to get to particular places that offer the best experience. She added of their safari, We were in the vans by 7 a.m. and the whole day was choreographed. David Marshall agreed, We were hopping the whole time. The Marshalls described watching the great migration -- a herd of wildebeests crossing a river, zebras accompanying them, watching for crocodiles. Martha Marshall remembered, There were thousands of them, its something you cant imagine the scale of it. And youre so close, you are right there seeing it all. David Marshall said he was amazed at how close they were able to get to wild animals. We saw a pair of lions from about 100 yards away and the guides asked if we wanted to get closer. We drove right up beside the two lions, within 5 feet of them. It was quite a thrill for us. David Marshall said it happened repeatedly; they saw elephants, cheetahs, baboons traveling with their babies on their backs. The group visited the Hadzabe tribe, a nomadic tribe in northern Tanzania. They were very hospitable to us; they communicate through a series of clicking noises, so we needed a special translator, said David Marshall. The guides were amazing, he said. They were very well-schooled in the environment; they knew where the animals like to hang out and where all the best watering holes are. Martha Marshall said that even though they were out in the middle of nowhere, their camp met all their requirements a shower, cozy bed, our own toilet and a restaurant in the next tent. When it was time to go to the restaurant tent, wed have to call a guard over because they didnt want you walking on your own at night. Reynolds said a slightly greater proportion of her clients are women, but she has lots of couples too. Women who travel on their own want to do it safely. BioTrek Adventures provides a good option. Tours range from $3,500 per person for some destinations, to $8,800 for the safari trip to Tanzania. As a professional photographer, Reynolds can help clients who want to capture their trips digitally. She has thousands of photographs from her travels, some taken with her Nikon, others with her always-handy iPhone. The Marshalls and Susan Payne agreed that one of the best parts of their trips was the people they met and the friendships they formed. Martha Marshall said she and her husband have had Zoom calls during the pandemic with people they traveled to Tanzania with. And sometimes, magic happens. On one trip to Chile, the travelers bonded so completely that they wanted to travel together again. The group filled up Reynolds January 2022 trip to Namibia. Reach Robin Earl at rearl@fauquier.com Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have all launched caravan tourism policies to fuel your wanderlust Always known for its excellent promotion of Gods Own Country, Kerala Tourism has now launched a new policy for caravan tourism in the state. This policy aims to attract visitors who look forward to a new experience of exploring Keralas many destinations in their caravans. The announcement of the Keravan Kerala policy was made by the State Tourism Minister PA Mohamad Riyas in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this month. He said that the state tourism board hasnt been able to introduce new products to the market after backwater houseboats were introduced and became a rage in the 1990s. He believes that caravan tourism will attract a new set of tourists and allow people to access unexplored destinations in the state with their caravans. The minister added that the new policy is aimed at opening up opportunities for new investments into the tourism sector and providing employment opportunities at the local level by unlocking the potential of responsible tourism. In the past, Madhya Pradesh (a few years ago), Karnataka (last year) and Maharashtra, earlier this year, have introduced the idea of caravan tourism. In 2020, the Karnataka government launched a scheme under which you could hire a fully-equipped vehicle that sleeps four, with a modern toilet and shower, smart TV and music system, kitchenette, refrigerator, freezer and microwave. Importantly, the caravan can be parked at facilities provided by the Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation (KSTDC) hotels, and the organisers - Luxe Campers - also have tie-ups with highway restaurants. The state has arrangements for caravan tourism in Hampi, Gokarna, Badami, Kudremukh, Sakaleshpura, Beluru, Halebidu, Sakrebailu, and Coorg. Earlier this year, the Maharashtra government has offered operators of caravan tourism incentives in terms of state GST, electricity duty, stamp duty and commercial water charges. Operators of caravans used for tourism will also get exemptions from vehicle tax by the transport department. The Maharashtra tourism department has also committed to providing training and help in terms of the publicity and promotion of caravan tourism. The state government has also allowed for caravans to be parked in forest buffer zones, near the foothills of forts and at hill stations. Three types of operators have been identified - caravan operators, caravan park operators and aggregators - as well as five sets of caravans single axle conventional caravan, twin axle caravan, tent trailer, folding caravan and camper trailer, depending on the size of the travelling group. Each caravan will be equipped with a kitchen, toilet, bed, sofa and a table among other amenities, and could be self driven or come with a driver. Images: Shutterstock Images: Shutterstock If youre inspired and want to travel by caravan, read this Femina I was thrilled when I thought about the life of commandos. I started learning martial arts and got trained in military martial arts, Israeli krav maga and MMA. No one can stop a woman from excelling and reaching the heights in her field. For generations now, women have been working towards (read: fighting for) freedoms that have been the privilege of men in patriarchal societies. Some have faced flak, others have inched forward, but they have all persevered and, through their efforts, these freedoms become less elusive to so many Indian women.celebrates these new freedom fighters and their ongoing trysts with destinyDr Seema Rao, Indias first and only woman commando trainer, is the epitome of strength and convictionDr Seema Rao has spent 25 years of her life training 20,000 soldiers from the Indian armed forces, paramilitary and police without any compensation. She has trained commandos from every elite force including the army special forces, NSG Black Cats, IAFs Garud Commando Force, Navy Marine Commandos, among many others. She and her husband Dr Deepak Rao together received three Army Chief citations for their work in close-quarters battle (CQB). She was inspired by her father, Prof Ramakant Sinari, who was a freedom fighter who fought the Portuguese regime. My dad was an underground rebel, she reveals. I was certainly inspired by his stories of rebellion and strength. His stories on how he was imprisoned, escaped from a Portuguese prison with a fellow inmate, and swam the Mandovi River to safety give Dr Rao goosebumps to this date. Her prized possession is a sword that her father inherited from his own father.Dr Rao has authored the Encyclopedia of Close Combat Ops, which is the worlds first of its kind and which has found a place in the FBI, Interpol and Buckingham Palace libraries.She never imagined that she would be training commandos; she was supposed to become a doctor. I was thrilled when I thought about the life of commandos. I started learning martial arts and got trained in military martial arts, Israeli krav maga and MMA, says Dr Rao. Because one needs to be exposed to challenges of different terrain, environment and climatic conditions, she went many extra miles to equip herself with skills. I did a professional course in sailing and yachting as well as in scuba diving to understand the problems faced in deep waters, a course in mountain climbing to understand the challenges posed in high altitude and extreme cold, and a jungle survival course to survive on land. To understand altitude, I also did a skydiving course.Even after having encountered two near-death experiences, Dr Rao never shied away from challenges. She strongly feels that gender does not have a say in ones career choices. Women are assuming positions of power in various fields, she points out. No one can stop a woman from excelling and reaching the heights in her field. More and more young girls and women are keen on joining the forces. Many seek to assume combat roles and that might become a possibility very soon.At 52 today, the Nari Shakti Puraskar Awardee is out of active field training and devotes her time to women empowerment. Physical injuries, diseases of the body and similar ailments are easily diagnosed. This is a simple task due to their symptoms, and visible signs. But on the other hand, mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are far more complex to diagnose or understand unless the individual voluntarily seeks out help. There are millions all over the world suffering silently from anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Fortunately, growing awareness on this subject is being seen thanks to the media focus showing up for mental health and highlighting the importance of this issue. Through all the various social media forums, public health platforms and other counselling agencies, there is now a more sincere effort to address the issue of mental health issues. Yoga is strongly recommended to offset the illnesses that plague both mind and body. Yoga is like the strong foundation that a building needs to withstand all kinds of weather. Yoga is that anchor which keeps us connected to the present moment through greater awareness of our own breath. Practice the following asanas holding each pose for 15-20 seconds. Breathe slowly and navigate safely into and out of the pose. Himalayan Siddha, Grand Master Akshar, shares nine yoga asanas that will help you calm your mind, anxiety and stress. Balasana Childs Pose Formation of the posture: 1. Gently drop your knees down. 2. Bring your pelvis to rest on heels. 3. Do not place the toes on top of the other, instead right and left must be next to each other. 4. Stretch your arms forward and rest your forehead down. Sukhasana Happy Pose Formation of the posture: 1. Sit in an upright position 2. Stretch legs out 3. Cross your legs one atop the other 4. Place your palms on the knees Vrikshasana Formation of the posture: 1. Begin in Samasthithi. 2. Place your right foot on your lift inner thigh. 3. Find your balance; join your palms in Pranam Mudra at your heart chakra. Paschimottanasana - Seated Forward Bend Formation of the posture: 1. Begin by stretching your legs forward 2. Exhale, bend forward and place your upper body on your lower body. 3. Try to touch your knees with your nose. Dhanurasana Formation of the posture: 1. Begin by lying down on your stomach 2. Bend your knees and hold your ankles with your palms 3. Lift your legs and arms as high as you can Halasana Formation of the posture: 1. Lie on your back with palms beside your body 2. Press your palms into the floor to lift your legs up and drop them behind your head 3. Use your palms to support the back if needed Ardha Pincha Mayurasana - Dolphin Pose Formation of the posture: 1. Begin by placing your elbows and palms on the ground 2. Spread them shoulder-width apart and point your fingers forward 3. Walk your toes towards your elbows while keeping your legs straight 4. Point your pelvis up and focus at a point ahead 5. Raise one leg as high as possible 6. Shift your bodyweight entirely to your arms and raise the other leg 7. Join your legs and point your toes upward 8. Align your feet, pelvis and your waist 9. Use your core, shoulder and arm muscle strength to maintain balance and remain in the posture Sarvangasana Formation of the posture: 1. Lie on your back 2. Lift your legs off the floor and then lift your pelvis slowly 3. Support your back with your palms. 4. Align the shoulder, torso, pelvis, legs and feet. 5. Focus your gaze towards your feet. 6. Word of Advice If you have lumbago, neck pain, spondylitis and high blood pressure, please do not practice these postures. Anandasana Formation of the posture: 1. Lie down on your back. Stretch out your arms. 2. Close eyes 3. Keep your palms facing up. 4. Inhale deeply and fill your lungs with air, exhale and relax the body Yoga is a powerful tool for transformation that rewires how our brain responds to situations. Rather than accumulate stress, yoga teaches us acceptance and how to let go. This allows us to live in a state of lasting contentment through mental well-being, happiness, joy and fulfilment. Also Read: The Focus On Womens UT Care Is Shifting From Cure To Prevention A lot of us keep ourselves hustling excessively to not confront oneself. People who might be at unrest mentally occupy themselves with chores/socializing and neglect these issues. But this does little to help actually alleviate the issue and restore our mental harmony which evolved into feelings of loneliness, depression, confinement. Its thus important to understand that most people who attempt suicide or die by suicide dont want to die they just want their pain to end or cant see another way out of their situation. On a global level, More than 700,000 people kill themselves every year which estimated to around one person commiting suicide every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Suicide has been tagged as the 17th leading cause of deaths worldwide in 2019. Here we have answered some of the most-common questions about mental health and suicide prevention. Read on. Is death by suicide a cause of concern in India? The government of India has defined suicide as it is an unnatural death, the intent to die originated within the person, there is a reason for the person to end his or her life. The trend in suicidal tendencies has increased over the past years. In 2019, 1,39,123 Indians died by suicide. The pandemic hitting the population in 2020, made the statistics even worse. A study conducted by the International Journal of Mental Health Systems examined the suicidal behaviour during Indias COVID-19 lockdown and found a 67.7% increase in online news media reports of suicidal behaviour. How to identify Suicidal tendency? The thoughts pertaining to suicidal behaviour dont emerge overnight; they are a culmination of continuous struggle in ones mind and may have various individualized manifestations. Here are some of the most common presentations observed in people with suicidal tendencies. Experiencing mood swings - depressed, angry or enraged Feeling hopelessness, helplessness, worthless, guilty, or ashamed or read or write about dying Suddenly seem calm after they have been depressed or suicidal Access to harmful things like rope, gun Turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings or thoughts Lose or gain a lot of weight and unusual eating patterns Uncertain and unusual sleep cycles, unusual eating patterns How To Help Someone Who Is Having Suicidal Thoughts? Being at the receiving end of an emotionally loaded conversation especially with someone who is majorly depressed or might have suicidal thoughts could be challenging and overwhelming. Ask them if they would like to talk about whats going on with them. They might not want to open up straight away, but letting them know you are there for them is a big help. If they dont feel comfortable opening up to you ask them if you could help them connect with someone they would feel more comfortable with. Accept their feelings and acknowledge that their feelings is real and possible. Listen and dont judge. Take them seriously. Let them know you care. Offer to help them make an appointment, and go with them if you can. Don't leave them alone make sure someone stays till they are better. Seek support from professionals, and from other people, they trust including family or friends. How To Help Yourself If You're Having Suicidal Thoughts? When life doesn't seem worth living anymore, it may seem that the only way to find relief is through suicide. When you're feeling this way, it may be hard to believe, but you do have other options. Take a step back and separate your emotions from your actions for the moment. Recognise that depression and hopelessness can distort your perceptions and reduce your ability to make good decisions. Realize that suicidal feelings are the result of treatable problems. Act as if there are other options instead of suicide, even if you may not see them right now. Dont hold yourself back and share your concerns with your loved ones. Get immediate help if you feel youre having troubles coping with these thoughts. It may not be easy, and you might not feel better overnight. But slowly and steady, these clouds of despair shall part. What Are The Most Common Cause Of Attempting Suicide? Most people who have the thoughts around suiciding seem to be battling chronic loneliness, isolation, various illnesses and the constant mounting pressure around them with a concomitant feeling that their loved ones would be better off without them/ ending their lives would end the struggles they face. The pandemic added extra burden and strained ones financial issues and relationship status as well which lead to a sharp increase in the number of cases being reported. What Is The Gender Predilection For Suicide? Studies have shown that women have a tendency towards having comparatively more suicidal thoughts but suicide attempts by men are of more severe nature with more chances of resulting in death. It needs to be emphasized however, that failed suicide attempts can lead to subsequent attempts or even development of self-harm behavioural patterns to escape from adversities. Thus, all suicide attempts need to be taken seriously. Does Intoxication Influence Risk Of Suicides? Alcohol and substance abuse problems are problems in itself, however they contribute to suicidal behaviour in several ways. Being dependent on substances increases risk factor like depression, anxiety, social isolation which are potential causes for suicide. In addition to being depressed, there is a tendency for them to face several social and financial problems. Substance use and abuse can be common among persons prone to be impulsive, and among persons who engage in many types of high risk behaviours that result in self-harm. How Does 'Suicide Contagion' Impact Someone? Suicide contagion is the exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviours within one's family, one's peer group, or through media reports of suicide and can result in an increase in suicide and suicidal behaviours. Direct and indirect exposure to suicidal behaviour has been shown to lead to an increased risk for suicide, especially in adolescents and young adults. Following exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviours within one's family or peer group, suicide risk can be minimized by having family members, friends, peers, and colleagues of the victim evaluated by a mental health professional. What Are The Available Resources For Suicide Prevention? Various preventive helplines and care setups have been set up by governmental and private organizations in order to establish communicative channels for those who need help. The social media has also increased the availability of people to contact for those battling suicidal tendencies by spreading awareness and letting them know they are not alone. After all, the entire world is a big family and we all need to take care of each other. The article is authored by Arouba Kabir, Mental Health Counselor and Founder for Enso Wellness. Also Read: The Connection Between Cleanliness And Mental Health Turkey Homes have moved to brand new premises. Location is a prime consideration when buying property and equally as important when choosing the location for a real estate office. Our spacious new office is located on Mustafa Kemal Bulvar in Fethiye, allowing us to continue to give great service to our customers with the added benefit of a much more convenient location, central to many areas where we have properties listed. Light and airy office space Interior design is very important to us and our offices are light, airy and clutter free as it is where important client meetings take place and final decisions are made. An outdoor seating area completes the space Its also the place our staff have to come every day. We look forward to welcoming you to our new premises. Come and visit us soon. How to Contact Us If you are interested in knowing more about the properties we have for sale in Fethiye and surrounding areas, please follow the link below. Property for sale in Fethiye Alternatively, you can click on the advertisement in the sidebar at the right of this page. London head office +44 (0) 207 272 0002 Fethiye Office: +90 (0) 252 614 3738 WhatsApp +44 (0) 7957 663727 This is a sponsored advertorial brought to you in association with Turkey Homes. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2021) - Western Exploration LLC ("Western") and Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPM.H) (OTC: CPMMF) ("Crystal") (together, the "Parties") are pleased to provide an update, further to their joint news release dated February 19, 2021, on their previously-announced transaction that would result in Western completing a "reverse take-over" (under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) (the "RTO") of Crystal by way of a plan of arrangement under Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Subscription Receipt Financing Crystal is pleased to announce that it anticipates closing, on October 13, 2021, a brokered private placement of 2,248,936 subscription receipts of Crystal ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of $2.65 per Subscription Receipt, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6 million (the "Offering"). The Offering is being led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord") and Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., as co-lead agents, and Cormark Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Agents"). The Subscription Receipts will be governed by the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") to be entered into among Crystal, Canaccord (on behalf of the Agents), and TSX Trust Company (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), as subscription receipt agent. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below) and without the payment of any additional consideration, one unit of Crystal (each, a "Unit"), with each Unit comprised of one (1) Post-Consolidation Crystal Share (as defined below), and one (1) share purchase warrant of Crystal (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Post-Consolidation Crystal Share (each, a "Warrant Share"), at an exercise price of $3.975 per Warrant Share at any time during the period ending 24 months following the closing of the Offering. As used herein, "Post-Consolidation Crystal Share" means a common share of Crystal (each, a "Crystal Share"), as constituted following the completion of a consolidation of the Crystal Shares to be undertaken in connection with the RTO, on the basis of a ratio of one (1) post-consolidation Crystal Share for each 363.30 pre-consolidation Crystal Shares. In connection with the Offering, Crystal is expected to pay the Agents a cash commission of approximately $265,145 (the "Commission"), representing the aggregate of (i) a cash commission of 6% on proceeds of the Offering raised from purchasers not on a president's list of Western (the "President's List"), and (ii) a cash commission of 3% on proceeds of the Offering raised from purchasers on the President's List. In addition, Crystal is expected to issue to the Agents an aggregate of 89,957 broker warrants of Crystal (the "Broker Warrants"), with each Broker Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire, following the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, one common share (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") in the capital of the issuer resulting from the completion of the RTO (the "Resulting Issuer") at an exercise price of $3.05 per share, at any time prior to the date that is 12 months following the closing of the RTO. The gross proceeds of the Offering less 25% of the Commission and certain expenses of the Agents (such net amount, the "Escrowed Proceeds") will be deposited with the Subscription Receipt Agent on closing of the Offering, to be held in escrow pending satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions (collectively, the "Escrow Release Conditions") specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement, including, without limitation, the completion or satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the RTO, substantially in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement (as defined herein, and as may be further amended from time to time), to the satisfaction of Canaccord, acting reasonably. Provided that the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied or waived (where permitted) prior to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on January 11, 2022 (the "Escrow Release Deadline"), the remaining 75% of the Commission (and any interest earned thereon) and certain expenses of the Agents will be released to the Agents from the Escrowed Proceeds, and the balance of the Escrowed Proceeds (together with interest earned thereon) will be released to Crystal. However, in the event that the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied by the Escrow Release Deadline, the proceeds of the Offering will be returned to the holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled. The Parties have obtained the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") for completing the Offering for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $11.5 million, and may close one or more additional tranches of the Offering, depending on market demand. The net proceeds from the Offering, together with any cash on hand of Western, is expected to be available to the Resulting Issuer following the completion of the RTO for (i) the recommended Phase 1 exploration program for both Wood Gulch-Gravel Creek and Doby George budgeted at US$2.84 million, as described in the updated technical report for the Aura Project, (ii) other exploration and development work planned at the Aura Project (as defined below), and (iii) general working capital purposes. The issue price of $2.65 per Subscription Receipt pursuant to the Offering remains subject to the approval of the disinterested shareholders of Crystal at the meeting of shareholders expected to be held by Crystal in connection with the RTO, in December 2021. Amendment to Arrangement Agreement On February 19, 2021, the Parties entered into an arrangement agreement in respect of the RTO (the "Arrangement Agreement"), as amended on July 12, 2021 to (i) extend the completion deadline of the RTO to October 29, 2021, and (ii) amend the basis of consolidation of the Crystal Shares to a ratio of one (1) post-consolidation Crystal Share for each 363.30 pre-consolidation Crystal Shares. Earlier today, the Parties entered into a second amending agreement to the Arrangement Agreement to, among other things, further extend the completion deadline of the RTO to January 31, 2022. The extension provides the Parties with additional time to obtain the various court, shareholder and regulatory approvals required to complete the RTO, including the approval of the TSXV, and complete any required pre-closing reorganizations and transaction structuring matters. Subject to the receipt of all required approvals, and the timely satisfaction (or waiver, where permitted) of all closing conditions for the RTO, the Parties anticipate that the RTO will close in late December 2021. Please see the joint news release of the Parties dated February 19, 2021 for additional information about the RTO. Full particulars of the RTO will be described in a Form 3D1 (Information Required in an Information Circular for a Reverse Takeover or Change of Business)(the "Information Circular") to be filed, in due course, on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Crystal's issuer profile. Selected Financial Information The following table sets out certain selected financial information regarding Western. The selected information was prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. (as at December 31, 2018) (as at December 31, 2019) (as at December 31, 2020) (as at June 30, 2021) (unaudited) Current Assets $ 126,735 $ 538,974 $ 1,096,982 $ 267,028 Total Assets $ 8,664,434 $ 9.000,629 $ 9,862,134 $ 11,270,426 Current Liabilities $ 1,038,646 $ 1,528,478 $ 1,568,242 $ 2,191,313 Total Liabilities $ 1,283,508 $ 1,887,911 $ 1,969,782 $ 2,693,238 Shareholders' Equity (Deficiency) $ (42,552,345 ) $ (44,188,994 ) $ (51,409,367 ) $ (63,487,460 ) About Western Exploration LLC Western is a private company organized under the laws of the State of Nevada. Western has been engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metals mineral properties in Nevada since its inception in 1997. Its principal asset is the Aura gold silver project (the "Aura Project") located in Elko County, Nevada approximately 120 kilometers north of the city of Elko, Nevada. No work has been done on the Aura Project subsequent to the joint news release of the Parties dated February 19, 2021 in respect of the RTO. Western's head office is located at 121 Woodland Avenue, Suite 140, Reno, NV 89523. For further information, please contact Western Exploration LLC: Darcy Marud President Tel. 775-329-8119 dmarud@westernexploration.com About Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. Crystal is a public company organized under the laws of the Yukon Territory, whose shares are listed for trading on the NEX board of the TSXV. Crystal was previously engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of a sulfate of potash project in the United States, but currently does not have an active business, and is investigating new business opportunities. Crystal's head office is located at 10808 South River Front Parkway, Suite 343, South Jordan, Utah, 84095. For further information, please contact Crystal Peak Minerals Inc.: Woods Silleroy Vice President Operations & Corporate Secretary Tel. (801) 984-3350 info@crystalpeakminerals.com Cautionary Statements Completion of the RTO is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the acceptance of the TSXV and the receipt of the various court, shareholder, and regulatory approvals, and the RTO cannot close until such approvals have been obtained. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the RTO will be completed as proposed, or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Information Circular to be prepared and filed in connection with the RTO, any information released or received with respect to the RTO may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed RTO. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). All statements contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to, statements related to the RTO and the Offering (including, without limitation, (i) the timing of the completion of the Offering and the RTO, (ii) the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the Offering, (iii) the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions and the payment of the Commission, and (iv) the conversion of the Subscription Receipts). Forward-looking statements reflect the current views and intentions of the management of the Parties with respect to future events based on current information available to management of the Parties, and are necessarily subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, (i) general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, (ii) delay or failure to receive any necessary board, shareholder or regulatory approvals (including, the approval of the TSXV), for the completion of the RTO, (iii) the risk that an applicable regulatory authority may not approve the RTO on the terms proposed, or at all, (iv) the risk that the Escrow Release Conditions may not be satisfied prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, (v) the occurrence of unanticipated events and factors which impede or prevent the Parties' respective future business plans, and (vi) such other factors beyond the control of the Parties (including, such those set out in Crystal's public disclosure documents available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Crystal's issuer profile). Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements (including, but not limited to, the assumption that (i) the Escrow Release Conditions will be satisfied in accordance with its terms and on or prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, (ii) all applicable board, shareholder and regulatory approvals for the RTO will be secured in a timely manner, (iii) the RTO will be completed on the terms agreed upon by the parties in the Arrangement Agreement, within the timeframe anticipated by the Parties, (iv) the terms and conditions of the RTO will not change substantially, based on the receipt of further tax, corporate and securities law advice for each of the Parties, and (v) there will not be any unanticipated changes in laws or delays), although considered reasonable by management of the Parties at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and result in actual results differing materially from those anticipated, and as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Should any such risk factor affect any of the Parties in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and neither Crystal nor Western undertakes any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Not for Distribution to United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99466 HondaJet 2600 Concept *Image for illustration purposes only LAS VEGAS, NV, Oct 13, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Aircraft Company today unveiled the "HondaJet 2600 Concept", at a special event hosted by Honda Aircraft Company at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). Presented as the next generation of business jet, Honda Aircraft displayed a mockup of the HondaJet 2600 Concept to collect customer feedback and validate market demand.The HondaJet 2600 Concept inherits Honda Aircraft's aeronautical breakthroughs, including the Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) technology on wings and fuselage nose, and carbon composite fuselage. Through the further refinement of these foundational HondaJet technologies, the HondaJet 2600 Concept will be the world's first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States. The aircraft has a quiet and spacious cabin suited for long range travel, can seat for up to 11 occupants, and aims to deliver unparalleled fuel efficiency.SpecificationsA range of 2,625 nautical miles, being the world's first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States, and also features a high speed cruise of 450 knots and a class-leading ceiling of 47,000 feet.Significantly more passenger space as well as a class-leading cabin tranquility with greatly reduced vibration compared to conventional light jets, due to the OTWEM configuration. The aircraft also has the tallest cabin height, and offers class-leading pressurization with a cabin altitude of 6,363 feet at its max operating altitude of 47,000 feet. Finally, the aircraft will also offer 3 types of modular and highly customizable cabin configurations.Advanced TechnologyThe first transcontinental jet designed for single-pilot operation, with an advanced cockpit incorporating innovative technologies such as electrification and automated systems, including autothrottle and autobrake, among others. It will offer the utmost operational safety by reducing pilot workload through an intuitive, high-tech interface.Fuel efficiencyDramatically reduces carbon emissions with up to 20% better fuel efficiency than typical light jets, and is over 40% more fuel efficient than a mid-size jet during a typical mission.When introducing the HondaJet 2600 Concept mock-up at the 2021 NBAA, Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino stated, "Over the past five years, we introduced the HondaJet Elite, then the Elite S, to further enhance the original HondaJet design. Now, we are validating market demand as we unveil a new aircraft concept in a different segment from the original HondaJet. With the HondaJet 2600 Concept, which enables efficient transcontinental flight, offers new level of cabin comfort and capacity, and dramatically reduces CO2 emssions, we are introducing a new generation of business jets."For more information, visit www.hondajet.com.Source: HondaCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. TOKYO, Oct 13, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, and Fujitsu Limited agreed to collaborate with automotive-related manufacturers to strengthen connected car security measures.With this collaboration, Fujitsu will provide a security countermeasure solution for connected cars, the V-SOC (Vehicle-Security Operation Center) service, and Trend Micro Cloud One will protect the backend cloud infrastructure. These solutions will work in tandem to detect vehicle abnormalities such as gas pedal and brake malfunctions, and add detection capabilities for unauthorized communications and attempts to tamper with telematics servers, as well as security data on the cloud infrastructure. All these elements are detected and analyzed in an integrated manner.The two companies aim to provide new security services to be verified globally, including in Japan, Europe, the United States, and the APAC region starting in January 2022. The new services will make it possible to visualize the overall picture of potential cyberattacks by detecting threats originating from cloud infrastructure, representing an easy target for the attackers, and linking these detection capabilities with alerts in the vehicle. The new services will additionally make it possible to identify the location of the threat and the extent of the impact of cyberattacks and take measures at appropriate points that need to be dealt with, offering robust support for security measures for connected cars from automotive-related manufacturers.From 2022, the two companies will work to strengthen security measures for vehicles themselves in addition to cloud infrastructure.Currently, cybersecurity regulations in the automotive industry are based on the regulations defined by one of the subcommittees of the World Forum for Harmonization of Automotive Standards (WP.29) (1). The WP.29 regulations are required to be applied to CSMS (Cyber Security Management Systems). These regulations describe the need for a system to collect, monitor, and analyze threat information both inside and outside the vehicle to realize autonomous driving. Automotive manufacturers around the world are taking countermeasures based on this guidance.By linking Fujitsu's V-SOC and Trend Micro Cloud One, it is possible to get insights into cloud infrastructure security logs in addition to vehicle data, enabling more threat information to be detected and collected. By correlating the collected data with SIEM (2), when an incident occurs, users can promptly determine the origin of the attack and the extent of its impact and provide the customer with information for a prompt response. This solution is a one-stop service that strongly supports customers' security measures for connected cars.The new security solution developed through this collaboration will be rolled out globally, including in Japan, Europe, the United States, and the APAC region to automotive manufacturers, automotive suppliers, automotive leasing, and car rental companies developing businesses in fields such as connected cars, electric vehicles, and autonomous driving.In the future, Fujitsu will promote efforts toward realizing smart cities with mobility as a point of departure, leveraging a variety of vehicular and traffic data collected in areas such as autonomous driving and logistics. Trend Micro will continue to provide security solutions for the new society of connected cars and mobility.(1) WP.29:The UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)(2) SIEM: Security Information and Event ManagementAbout Trend MicroTrend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro's cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Graphano Energy Ltd. (TSXV: GEL) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of Phase-1 exploration work at its 100% owned Lac Aux Bouleaux Graphite (LAB) Property. The work was carried out during July-September 2021 and included prospecting, mapping, trenching, ground geophysical surveying and sampling. Exploration Work Highlights Large flake graphite showings located on the property were confirmed with flake size in the range of 0.5 to 5 millimeters, typically present in shear zones at the contact of gneisses and marbles where the graphite content usually ranges from 2% to 20%, based on historical information. Graphite mineralization and rock outcrops were also exposed by digging trenches over geophysical survey conductor identified during airborne and ground geophysical surveys conducted 2015-19 by previous operators. 83 grab and channel samples were collected during the program which identified three target areas in the eastern part of the Property. Target area LAB-1 has graphite mineralization associated with quartz feldspar gneisses with carbonaceous bands. Target area LAB-2 has association of extra-large flake up to 0.5 cm in marble; and LAB-3 has graphite mineralization associated with gneissic banding and folds. Some of the samples were taken from the country rock to see the background concentration of graphitic carbon (Cg). The sample assays are in the range of less than 0.05% to 23.2% graphitic carbon (Cg) with 12 samples over 10% Cg, three samples between 5% and 10% Cg, and the remaining samples with lower values. Each channel sample from this work was 15cm to 100cm long, 5 cm wide and 3-5 cm deep cut in bedrock. The samples were bagged and tagged using best practices and were delivered to Activation Laboratories ("ACTLABS"), Ancaster, Ontario for sample preparation and analyses using laboratory test codes 4F-C Graphitic[1] to measure graphitic carbon, and 4F-C Total[2] to measure total carbon. All sampling was completed by and under the supervision of Mr. Martin Ethier, Geo (#1520) who is a Member of the Order of Geologists of Quebec and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, and Afzaal Pirzada, who is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia with license No. 28657. Senior management also attended the site visit. The Phase-2 Exploration program started October 12, 2021 and will last for about 10 weeks. The new program will concentrate on the promising targets worked on Phase-1 and expand prospecting work towards the west of the property to explore new areas identified by the geophysics survey. The LAB Graphite Property lies adjacent to the south of TIMCAL's Lac des Iles graphite mine in Quebec which is a world class deposit. There are also several graphite showings and past producing mines in its vicinity. Graphite is commonly found in the Grenville Province rocks throughout this region and has been commercially mined from a number of deposits located between Mount Laurier in the north and the Ottawa River in the south. Luisa Moreno, CEO, commented, "We are pleased with the initial results of our exploration. It provides a good foundation for more targeted activity. Our LAB property is located in an area where graphite is prolific. We will update the market on our Phase-2 Exploration Program results." Cautionary Statement: Investors are cautioned that the immediately above information has been taken from the following websites: https://www.mern.gouv.qc.ca and http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/. The information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Lac Aux Bouleaux Graphite property. The preparation of this news release was supervised by and approved by Mr. Afzaal Pirzada. Market update Natural graphite is one of the key materials for electric vehicle batteries and demand is expected to increase significantly in the near term. In fact, according to a Benchmark analyst, there will be a "monumental" demand for natural graphite. A discussion on graphite prices, volumes and substitution, among other topics can be found here. About Graphano Energy Graphano Energy Ltd. is an exploration and development company that is focused on evaluating, acquiring and developing energy metals resources from exploration to production. Graphite is one of the most in-demand technology minerals that is required for a green and sustainable world. Our property, located in Quebec, Canada, has historically been an active area for natural graphite. With the demand for graphite growing in some of the most prominent and cutting-edge industries, such as lithium batteries in electric cars and other energy storage technologies, we are developing our project to meet the demands of the future. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Luisa Moreno CEO and Director info@graphano.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. [1] Samples are subjected to a multistage furnace treatment to remove all forms of carbon with the exception of graphitic carbon, and infrared absorption is used to measure Cg. [2] Using an induction furnace and infrared absorption To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99476 13 October 2021 ALTONA RARE EARTHS PLC ("Altona" or "the Company") COMMENCEMENT OF DRILLING PROGRAMME AT MONTE MUAMBE PROJECT Altona (AQSE: ANR), a Rare Earths mining company focused on the evaluation and development of projects in Africa, is pleased to announce that exploration drilling has commenced at its Monte Muambe Project in Northwest Mozambique, in the Tete Province, to evaluate the asset's value and potential. Phase 1 drilling will entail 39 holes drilled for a total meterage of 3,000m, across six carefully selected Rare Earths targets. The programme is being divided as follows: Diamond Drilling - 4 holes (one inclined and three vertical) for a total meterage of 550m, producing solid cores at 1m intervals Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling - 35 holes (six vertical and 29 inclined) for a total meterage of 2,450m. The objectives of the drilling programme are: To improve the understanding of the geological model through repeating selected historic RC holes in Diamond Drilling. To check the lateral extension of REE mineralisation encountered in historic RC holes. To test four new targets selected by our geologist team based on available data and with a focus on areas with potential for deep weathering of carbonatites, which is known as an enrichment factor in carbonatite-hosted REE deposits. Christian Taylor-Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Altona, commented, "Within three months of acquiring Monte Muambe, we have obtained all the necessary permits, assembled a world class team and now commenced a drilling programme at our first rare earths mining project. The first cores from the diamond drilling have been recovered and we will be posting updates on the Altona website over the coming weeks." -ends- For further information, please visit www.altonaRE.com or contact: Altona Rare Earths Plc Christian Taylor-Wilkinson, Chief Executive +44 (0) 7795 168 157 Martin Wood, Non-Executive Chairman +44 (0) 7880 787 080 Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Ltd (AQSE Corporate Adviser ) Jon Isaacs / Nick Michaels +44 (0) 20 3772 0021 Optiva Securities (Broker) Hal Norwood +44 (0) 20 3411 1882 Company Information Altona Rare Earths Plc is a mining exploration company focused on the evaluation, development and extraction of Rare Earth Element (REE) metals in Africa. It acquired its first rare earths mining asset, the Monte Muambe Project in Northwest Mozambique, in June 2021 and commenced its exploration drilling programme on 2 October 2021. The Company was admitted to trading on AIM on 10 March 2005 and was subsequently admitted to Aquis Stock Exchange on 1 February 2019. A copy of its Admission documents dated 4 March 2005 can be accessed on its website, www.altonaenergy.com. This website is where items can be inspected under Rule 75 of the Aquis Rules for Issuers. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 2.00 am ET Wednesday, the Office for National Statistics releases UK GDP, industrial and construction output and foreign trade figures. The economy is forecast to grow 0.5 percent on month in August, following a 0.1 percent rise in July. Ahead of the data, the pound traded mixed against its major counterparts. While it rose against the yen, it held steady against the rest of major rivals. The pound was worth 1.3612 against the greenback, 154.47 against the yen, 1.2651 against the franc and 0.8486 against the euro as of 1:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. In its Eighth Year, the Global Campaign Aims to Increase Public Awareness of Blood Clots that Result from Hospitalization and COVID-19 CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the World Thrombosis Day campaign encourages the public, healthcare professionals and policy makers to keep their "Eyes Open to Thrombosis" and join together to place a spotlight on thrombosis as an urgent and growing global health problem. A campaign of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), World Thrombosis Day connects and empowers more than 3,000 partner organizations and individuals from over 120 countries to join forces in the awareness, treatment and prevention of blood clots. Thrombosis, commonly known as blood clots, can trigger a host of life-threatening medical conditions, including heart attack, thromboembolic stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE occurs when one or more blood clots form in a deep vein, most often in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), and can travel in the circulation and lodge in the lungs (a condition known as pulmonary embolism, PE). "Despite the fact that one in four people worldwide are dying from conditions caused by blood clots, it is not widely known, and is an urgent public health issue," said Prof. Beverley Hunt, OBE, chair of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee. This year, blood clots took to the global stage as research showed an increased risk of blood clots in hospitalized patients with COVID pneumonia. Additionally, blood clots were found as a very rare, but serious side effect to certain COVID-19 vaccines. "In a turbulent year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have unfortunately seen an increased rate of hospital-associated clots due to sick patients with COVID-19," noted Prof. Hunt. "The risk of clots in COVID-19, along with the other causes of hospital-associated clots, can be reduced if thromboprophylaxis is used (blood thinners)." Prof. Hunt as well as all members of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee including Alex Spyropoulos, M.D., FACP, FCCP, FRCPC, System Director, Anticoagulation and Clinical Thrombosis Services, at Northwell Health in New York, USA, have been on the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and have led the way in research around clotting, COVID-19, and treatment to ensure patients receive the best care possible globally. "Our clinic, which was once in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., experienced firsthand the severity of increased thrombotic events in severe COVID-19 patients," said Dr. Spyropoulos. "I am passionate about finding new treatments for these severely ill patients and I am currently involved in several research studies. We are optimistic about the progress that has been made for patients." The World Thrombosis Day campaign aims its focus on the following areas this year: Hospital-associated thrombosis : Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of blood clots due to immobility, their illness and/or surgery. Hospital-associated clots can occur in the hospital or within 90 days of discharge, and account for 60 percent of all VTE and well as being the leading cause of preventable death due to hospital admission. : Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of blood clots due to immobility, their illness and/or surgery. Hospital-associated clots can occur in the hospital or within 90 days of discharge, and account for 60 percent of all VTE and well as being the leading cause of preventable death due to hospital admission. COVID-19-related thrombosis : Research shows that COVID-19 increases the risk of clots by making the blood very "sticky". : Research shows that COVID-19 increases the risk of clots by making the blood very "sticky". Cancer-related thrombosis: Patients with cancer are four times more likely to develop a serious blood clot compared to the general population. This increased risk is driven by factors such as surgery, hospitalization, infection, and genetic coagulation disorders by cancer-specific factors including type, histology, stage of the malignancy, cancer treatment and certain biomarkers. Patients with cancer are four times more likely to develop a serious blood clot compared to the general population. This increased risk is driven by factors such as surgery, hospitalization, infection, and genetic coagulation disorders by cancer-specific factors including type, histology, stage of the malignancy, cancer treatment and certain biomarkers. Gender-specific thrombosis: Estrogen-based oral contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy pills, as well as pregnancy are all blood clot risk factors for women. Women are five times more likely to develop a blood clot during pregnancy and about one in every 1,000 pregnant women can develop a blood clot. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020, and Cardinal Health, 2019) Approximately 10 million cases of hospital associated VTE occur annually across the world, yet the condition can often be prevented with early detection and preventative blood thinners. The World Thrombosis Day campaign calls upon healthcare professionals to provide VTE risk assessments to all hospitalized patients. In addition, the campaign encourages the public, including patients, to ask for a VTE risk assessment on admission to hospital. World Thrombosis Day shares these key tips to help prevent blood clots: Know the signs and symptoms of a blood clot. Red flags to look for are unexplained leg pain, sometimes associated with tenderness, redness and swelling. Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Red flags to look for are unexplained leg pain, sometimes associated with tenderness, redness and swelling. Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Ask for a VTE risk assessment . All individuals, especially those who are hospitalized, should ask their healthcare professional for a VTE risk assessment, a questionnaire that gathers medical information to discern a patient's potential risk factors for developing blood clots. . All individuals, especially those who are hospitalized, should ask their healthcare professional for a VTE risk assessment, a questionnaire that gathers medical information to discern a patient's potential risk factors for developing blood clots. Stay active and hydrated. If you plan to sit still for a long period of time, set an alarm for five minutes before every hour, and use that time to get up, walk around and stretch. Staying immobile for long periods of time can increase the risk of blood clots. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can cause blood to thicken, resulting in blood clots. To learn more about blood clots, visit www.worldthrombosisday.org. About World Thrombosis Day Launched in 2014 and held annually on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day aims to increase public, healthcare professional and health care systems' awareness of thrombosis and, ultimately, reduce unnecessary deaths and disabilities from thromboembolic disease through a greater awareness of its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. The mission of World Thrombosis Day supports the World Health Assembly's global target of reducing premature deaths by non-communicable disease by 25 percent by 2025, as well as the World Health Organization's Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019-2023, the Montevideo Roadmap 2018-2030 on NCDs and the Political Declaration of UNGA' Third High-level Meeting on NCDs. The ISTH and WTD participating organizations are grateful for the support of the corporate supporters, including the Trailblazers: Bayer; Bristol Myers Squibb; Pfizer; and Johnson & Johnson, the Champions: Daiichi-Sankyo; Sanofi; and Viatris, the Contributors: Inari Medical; and Leo, and the Impact Partners: Aspen; Cardinal Health; Roche; Stago; Sysmex; and Total CME. Visit www.worldthrombosisday.org for more information and to get involved. About the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,500 clinicians, researchers, and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees, and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at www.isth.org. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1657523/Animated_VTE.mp4 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/454627/ISTH_Logo.jpg LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Halfords Group plc (HFD.L) said that it appointed Jo Hartley as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. Jo will join the company in mid-April 2022, replacing Loraine Woodhouse, who has announced her intention to retire from a full-time plc role. Loraine will remain with the business and in post until the fiscal year 2022 Preliminary Results in June 2022, at which point she will step down from her role and pass her responsibilities to Jo. Jo Hartley joins Halfords from Virgin Active, where she has been Group CFO since 2015. Jo began her career at Deloitte UK, before moving to Tesco in 1999. At Tesco, Jo performed a number of roles, including Finance Director for convenience stores, operations and then property for Tesco UK, before spending time as CFO of Tesco Poland and latterly leading the finance function for Tesco UK as Interim Finance Director. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTCQB: PLRTF) (Frankfurt: 4XA) (WKN: A2N8RH) ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", or the "Company"), a leader in developing detection apparatus and unmanned technologies, is pleased to announce that Aardvark LLP ("Aardvark") have issued a purchase order for a PRT XV-L Fixed-wing Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to perform long-range security and environmental operations in remote locations. "This latest order for our new XV-L system takes our revenue to Aardvark close to a quarter of a million USD for 2021 and further cements them as a significant client," stated Carl Cagliarini, Chief Strategy Officer at PRT. "Our XV-L UAS delivers up to 55lb payload capacity and up to 7 hours flight time with both satcom and military-grade radio communications. These capabilities make the XV-L a versatile platform, able to address other major applications, such as the ability to transport significant payloads over land, ships, oil rigs, offshore platforms and other remote locations," concluded Cagliarini. "After the clear capability and advantages of the X1-H UAS delivered into our operation earlier this year, we have now ordered a new platform that can deliver greater distance and enhanced capabilities in adverse weather conditions," stated Paul Reynolds of Aardvark LLP. "This initial XV-L delivery to us in Kazakhstan will enable long range autonomous missions of thousands of square kilometers, day or night, enforcing our leading position in UAV operations in Kazakhstan," concluded Reynolds. The Company also announces today that it has begun a digital and marketing awareness campaign with Capital Analytica of Vancouver BC, Media Relations Inc of Burnsville MN and Think Inc Marketing of Huntington Beach CA. The campaign includes press initiatives, advertising, publicity services and social media. These marketing and awareness programs include engagements with arm's length parties for an aggregate gross expenditure of CDN$120,000 over a 6 month period and US $100,000 over a 3 month period. No stock based compensation has been provided. About Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. We are on a mission to bring engineering-driven answers to the most critical problems that threaten our safety. We work with government, law enforcement and military to innovate solutions for national security, defense and space systems. The Company is developing the next generation of threat detection solutions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The PRT X1 is a purpose-built multirotor UAS, utilizing Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge sensors and the latest FLIR dual-camera module as standard, offering thermal capabilities alongside 1080p HD real-time air-to-ground streaming and 4K video recording, with the ability to mount multiple, various sensors, modules, and payloads. Our advanced threat detection methods fuse artificial intelligence with augmented reality interfaces to eliminate human operating error. Plymouth Rock products, both airborne and land-based, will scan for threat items at greater 'stand-off' distances than current existing technologies. Our unique radar imaging and signal processing technology creates new opportunities for remotely operated, non-intrusive screening of crowds in real time. Plymouth Rock's core technologies include: (1) UAS platforms engineered to conform to H.R.4753 - Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act ("X1") ("XV"); (2) Millimeter Remote Imaging from Airborne Drone ("MIRIAD"); (3) A compact microwave radar system for scanning shoe's ("Shoe Scanner"); (4) A compact modular radar utilized for a variety of applications, from aircraft to weapon detection ("CODA"). www.plyrotech.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dana Wheeler President and CEO +1-774-404-7685 info@plyrotech.com Investor Information: Tasso Baras +1-778-477-6990 tasso@plyrotech.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99370 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (FSE: DTC) (OTC Pink: DTCFF ("Defence" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company working on cancer therapeutics and infectious disease vaccines is pleased to announce strong in vitro results of its AccumTM variants on the recent Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) ADC owned by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. Defence has successfully selected and tested 5 AccumTM variants to the T-deruxtecan ADC Therapeutic. The 5 selected Accum-T-deruxtecan increases the potency of T-deruxtecan ADC Therapeutic by approximatively 5-fold on the HER2 positive breast cancer Trastuzumab and T-DM1 resistant cell line model named JIMT-1. At concentration of 0.001 ug/ml, T-deruxtecan only induce approximatively 13% of cytotoxicity comparatively to the 5 Accum-T-deruxtecan variants that increase the cytotoxicity by 21-37%. The 5 selected AccumTM variants will be sent to our collaborator at the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center in Helsinki, Finland for the optimization of Defence's Accum-T-deruxtecan ADC Therapeutic. Defence's AccumTM platform has been developed and tested in vitro to enhance the intracellular drug delivery on multiple ADCs that are FDA approved or under development. The AccumTM technology platform is very efficient at enhancing intracellular delivery of proteins of pharmacological interests such as ADCs or vaccine antigens. "The strong results confirmed the expectation of our scientific team that the AccumTM can increase the routing and delivery of the T-deruxtecan to the nucleus and consequently increased more significantly the potency of the ADC. That confirms also and again the strength and optimization of our AccumTM platform in the ADC field of therapeutics against cancer and the solid competitive advantage we have with our AccumTM variants derived from our AccumTM technology platform," says Mr. Sebastien Plouffe, CEO of Defence Therapeutics. According to Facts and Factors market research report, the Global Breast Cancer Treatment Market size & share revenue is expected to grow from USD 19.24 Billion in 2019 to reach USD 34.06 Billion by 2026, at 8.5% annual CAGR growth during forecast period of 2021-2026. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. For further information: Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director P: (514) 947-2272 Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com www.defencetherapeutics.com Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99452 HELSINKI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion Corporation's Interim Report for January-September 2021 will be published on Thursday, 4 November 2021, at approximately 8:00 a.m. (Finnish Time, EET). The stock exchange release and presentation materials in Finnish and in English will be published at that time on the company's website at www.caverion.com/investors. News conference for investors and media Caverion will hold a news conference on the Interim Report on Thursday, 4 November 2021, at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time (EET) at Hotel Kamp, Kluuvikatu 2, 2nd floor, Helsinki, Finland. The presenters at the event are President and CEO Jacob Gotzsche and Chief Financial Officer Martti Ala-Harkonen. The event is in English and targeted for investment analysts, portfolio managers and the media. Webcast The news conference and the presentations by the management can be viewed live at www.caverion.com/investors. The live webcast will start at 10.00 a.m. (EET). A recording of the webcast will be available at the same address at approximately 12.00 noon (EET). Conference call It is also possible to participate in the event through a conference call. Participants are requested to call one of the assigned numbers at least five minutes before the conference call begins, at 9.55 a.m. (EET) at the latest: +44 (0)330 336 9105 +46 (0)8 5033 6574 Participant code for the conference call is "4793956 / Caverion". During the webcast and conference call, all questions should be presented in English. Schedule in different time zones Interim Report published The news conference, conference call and live webcast Recorded webcast available EET (Helsinki) 08.00 10.00 12.00 CET (Paris, Stockholm) 07.00 09.00 11.00 GMT (London) 06.00 08.00 10.00 EDT (New York) 02.00 04.00 06.00 CONTACT: For additional information, please contact: Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations and External Communications, tel. +358 40 5581 328, milena.haeggstrom@caverion.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/publishing-of-caverion-corporation-s-interim-report-for-january-september-2021-on-4-november-2021,c3430930 The following files are available for download: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ 046890), a leading global innovator of LED technology, announced that its SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs, which implement light that closely matches the spectrum of sunlight, has been adopted by Global lighting brand LEDVANCE for its new family of products Sun@Home. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005089/en/ LEDVANCE Sun@Home family designed with SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs (Graphic: Business Wire) Sun@Home is a premium product line that delivers residential lighting with the best quality of the light. After more than a year of Covid workers and employees are spending much more time in home office work and light is key for having the right environment to be comfortable, concentrated and relax at the same time. SunLike technology is proven to deliver the best light quality for humans. Sun@Home products are all equipped with a smart controller that allows the light to adapt the spectrum to the required needs of the user. SunLike is the only LED that is capable to simulate the Sunlight spectrum from the early morning to sunset when the Sun goes down. The state-of-the-art automated wireless system from LEDVANCE makes it easy to control and adjust the different working modes and light spectrums to stimulate the user in the right way depending on the tasks to do. With SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs, the fixtures and bulbs are designed to bring out the natural color tones of objects achieving a lower blue light peak, similar to the sunlight spectral curve, which enables the reduction of scattered reflection and glare. It also provides healthy and comfortable light, improving the environment for living, reducing eye fatigue, and displaying colors and textures more accurately with CRI 97 and TM30 100 for any CCT from 2200K to 5000K range. There has been a significant increase in research activity on the relationship between light and human bio-functions, including a recent scientific study focused on the effects of light spectrum on sleep quality, visual comfort, overall well-being, and daytime alertness; encompassing the interaction of both visual and non-visual light on humans. Based on the results of a comprehensive sleep study conducted by Professor Christian Cajochen and his colleagues at the University of Basel in Switzerland, SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs have been identified as a key light source for promoting human well-being. The study, published in the Journal of Lighting Research Technology on March 24, 2019, found "evidence that a daylight [natural spectrum] LED solution has beneficial effects on visual comfort, daytime alertness, mood, and sleep intensity in healthy volunteers." "Seoul Semiconductor's SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs have three beneficial effects in contrast to conventional LEDs: Better Sleep improvement in sleep quality, Better Eye Health protection from myopia in children; and Better Study support for students' learning and concentration," said Oliver Schafer, Executive Vice President Europe of Seoul Semiconductor. "Together with LEDVANCE we are starting a new revolution in the consumer market as we are bringing the best available professional light until now reserved to Museums and Premium products to the mass market. Thanks to LEDVANCE and his vision for the future for human centric lighting for indoor design the spectrum of natural sunlight will provide beneficial effects for all humans improving their health and well-being" added him. SunLike Series LEDs are an advanced technology that has achieved the highest level of eye safety certification from the International Commission on Illumination as a safe light source with no photo-biological risks and is the only LED certified as Diamond Color Rendering Class by the UL laboratories. https://verify.ul.com/verifications/520 Introduced in June 2017, the SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs are an advanced light source that combines the latest optical and compound semiconductor technology of Seoul Semiconductor with Toshiba Materials' TRI-R technology. TRI-R, supported by Toshiba Materials, finds in the definition "The light closest to the sun for human well-being" its original concept. The sun light spectrum is developed by the same company and can be reproduced by a white LED light source technology. About Seoul Semiconductor Seoul Semiconductor develops and commercializes LEDs for automotive, general illumination, specialty lighting, and backlighting markets. As the second-largest LED manufacturer globally excluding the captive market, Seoul Semiconductor holds more than 14,000 patents, offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products such as SunLike delivering the world's best light quality in a next-generation LED enabling human-centric lighting optimized for circadian rhythms; WICOP a simpler structured package-free LED which provides market leading color uniformity and cost savings at the fixture level, providing high lumen density and design flexibility; NanoDriver Series the world's smallest 24W DC LED drivers; Acrich, the world's first high-voltage AC-driven LED technology developed in 2005, including all AC LED-related technologies from chip to module and circuit fabrication, and nPola, a new LED product based on GaN-substrate technology that achieves more than ten times the output of conventional LEDs. UCD constitutes a high color gamut display which delivers more than 90% NTSC. For more information, please visit www.seoulsemicon.com/en. About LEDVANCE LEDVANCE is one of the world's leaders in general lighting for lighting professionals as well as end users, offering a broad variety of LED luminaires, advanced LED lamps, intelligent Smart Home Smart Building solutions as well as traditional light sources. Emerged from the general lighting business of OSRAM, the company is now owned by Chinese lighting company MLS Co., LTD. With offices in more than 50 countries and business activities in more than 140 countries, LEDVANCE possesses an outstanding global market access built on trusted, long-standing customer relationships and a powerful distribution network. Based on our in-depth understanding of the general lighting market, trending technologies and changing needs, we support the specific and individual demands of both direct and indirect customers. www.ledvance.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005089/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Tel: +49 89 450 36 90 Email: info.europe@seoulsemicon.com Deal Brings Unified Intelligence to Mobile Marketing and Deeper Understanding of Marketing Effectiveness; Improves Business Performance for Global Advertisers InMobi, a leading provider of content, monetization and marketing technologies that help businesses fuel growth, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Appsumer, a performance insights platform for mobile app advertisers that provides a 360-degree view of marketing spend across channels, allowing advertisers to turn complex data into rich insights. Based in London, Appsumer has been the intelligence platform of choice for performance marketing teams at consumer brands, including Miniclip, Picsart, Viber and more. The company was funded by Galvanise Capital and named a Top 100 UK start-up. Appsumer's self-serve technology platform, intellectual property and team will support InMobi's end-to-end content, monetization and marketing stack and empower marketers to assess their performance marketing spend all in one place. With third-party identifiers losing their dominance, which complicates the measurement and attribution process, it's more important than ever that marketers have a clean, crisp view of how their marketing channels are performing. Appsumer's workspace allows customers a single source of truth to track performance, analyze results and use that data to plan more effective campaigns. Together, InMobi and Appsumer intend to build an operating system that makes understanding user acquisition funnels easier by using artificial intelligence (AI) to build predictive capabilities into the platform to help growth marketers more quickly experiment and iterate to optimize results from their user acquisition strategies. Shumel Lais, CEO and Founder of Appsumer, joins InMobi and will continue to lead the division, charting its future growth path and product roadmap. The full Appsumer team will join InMobi to ensure client service continuity and further develop and support the analytics and automation offering under the InMobi umbrella. Appsumer will continue operating independently as a subsidiary within the global InMobi organizational structure. "Appsumer brings a next-generation approach for advertisers to better understand the efficacy of their marketing efforts across multiple channels that growth marketing teams employ daily," said Abhay Singhal, Co-Founder of InMobi Group and CEO of InMobi Marketing Solutions. "The solution makes it easy to map all mobile performance media investment to business outcomes; Shumel and his team are well-known industry leaders and visionaries in their field and will play an instrumental role in driving InMobi's next wave of growth and innovation." "Joining forces with InMobi potentially represents an exponential growth path for our pioneering technology," said Lais. "I'm excited that Appsumer has the opportunity to get into the hands of even more developers and marketing teams worldwide to leverage our best of breed offering, making it the default home for growth marketing." Appsumer's platform offers marketers no-code integrations with more than 100 marketing channels, customizable dashboards for clients to build and track goals and KPIs, and daily processing of marketing data for more accurate measurement and informed decision making. On average, Appsumer customers access the platform more than five times each week, making it a central part of their performance marketing operations. The acquisition of Appsumer extends InMobi's recent enterprise expansions. Last month, InMobi launched InMobi Telco to help mobile carriers and handset manufacturers optimize their customer experiences and diversify their revenue streams. About InMobi InMobiis the leading provider of content, monetization, and marketing technologies that help fuel growth for industries around the world. The company's end-to-end advertising software platform, connected content and commerce experiences activate audiences, drive real connections, and diversify revenue for businesses everywhere. With deep expertise and unique reach in mobile, InMobi is a trusted and transparent technology partner for marketers, content creators and businesses of all kinds. Incorporated in Singapore, InMobi maintains a large presence in San Francisco, London, and Bangalore and has operations in New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne, Seoul, Tokyo, and Dubai. To learn more, visit inmobi.com. About Appsumer Appsumer is built for performance marketing teams at consumer mobile apps who want to accelerate user acquisition more effectively. The platform aggregates and normalizes cross-channel cost, attribution, revenue, and predictive data and visualizes it in an easy-to-use business intelligence (BI) tool for user acquisition (UA) teams. This gives marketers a single tool where they can make more effective optimization decisions and improve performance. Appsumer has been recognized as one of the top 100 UK-based startups and won industry awards including Digiday's Best Mobile Marketing Platform. Its platform powers user acquisition teams at top-grossing consumer mobile apps worldwide including Lovoo, Miniclip, Trainline, Huuuge Games, and Picsart. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005394/en/ Contacts: Nick Lashinsky pr@inmobi.com 703 635 5409 LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HR Path is pleased to announce its merger with PlusHR Group, a leading HR and Recruitment company in the United Kingdom that specialises in the recruitment of HR professional through its Consult business and outsourced HR and provides HR consultancy for small and large UK companies with offices in Southampton, Hampshire. HR Path, a global leader and expert in the Human Resources sector founded in 2001 by Cyril Courtin and Francois Boulet. We offer comprehensive HR services ranging from strategic thinking to the deployment of integrated solutions, support and managed payroll services. PlusHR has an established team of CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) qualified HR professionals trusted by the UK'S biggest brands and ambitious growing businesses. PlusHR's diverse client portfolio covers small, medium, and large businesses across various sectors. Some of their key specialties include HR legal compliance audit, template/bespoke HR polices, employee handbooks and contracts of employment, HR management of employees, and affordable qualified HR advice and guidance for SME's. Consult Recruitment is a division of PlusHR that is a boutique HR recruitment partner that specializes in mid-senior HR placements across the UK. The Consult business is one of the UK's leading recruitment firms that specialises in the recruitment of HR professionals for Corporates across the UK. "HR Path continues its business development. It is with pleasure that we welcome our newest partner, Marc Bishop to HR Path. This merger will help us develop all HR activities in their markets and will allow our current customers to benefit from new services such as HR and Recruitment outsourcing." said Francois Boulet, Co-Chief Executive Officer of HR Path. "With Plus HR onboard, we will add to HR Path's global footprint with extended coverage across Europe and welcome the addition of global references." said, Thomas Ortega, Partner, HR Path. "Joining forces with HR Path will allow us to expand our portfolio of services. By leveraging HR Path's global footprint, this furthers our offerings to existing and new clients. Our employees will benefit from a broader set of career paths, a wider range of projects and being part of a larger global team to deliver for our customers." said, Marc Bishop, Owner and Managing Director, PlusHR. About HR Path HR Path, an expert, and a major player in Human Resources, helps companies for who the human experience is essential to their digital transformation. Advise, Implement & Run are the 3 business lines of HR Path which contribute our customers corporate HR performance. Created in 2001 in Paris, France and with its 1,250 talents, HR Path advises, integrates, and operates for more than 1,500 clients in 18 countries. Its turnover to date amounts to 110 million euros. About PlusHR PlusHR was founded in 2006 working with the world's biggest brand names from EMI Music to Hitachi to provide leading HR Consulting services for a range of complex and strategic HR projects. Following this the PlusHR team noticed a gap in the market for innovative HR outsourcing and HR Management Support in London, as well as HR Advisory and recruitment services that offered real commercial value to exciting growing startups and ambitious SME's. More than a decade later PlusHR are one of the UK's leading HR Consultancy and HR Outsourcing providers with offices in Southampton, Hampshire. About Consult Founded in 1989, Consult is a group of like-minded consultants who take HR recruitment very seriously. Our consultants are focused but friendly, consultative, collaborative and incredibly committed. With 30 years experience of finding business savvy HR professionals for organisations who understand the commercial value that HR can have on driving a high-performance culture. Contact Details: Fabienne Latour fabienne.latour@hr-path.com LONDON and BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybereason, the leader in operation centric attack protection, and Aon, a leading global professional services firm, today announced an alliance to help protect clients from sophisticated cyber attacks. The Cybereason Defence Platform, together with Aon's Cyber Solutions, will enable clients to better prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats utilising a combination of services and solutions. This alliance will help to improve the overall security resilience of clients of both firms, to prevent cyber risks from materialising into consequential breaches while managing the impact of cyber incidents through enhanced incident response capabilities. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the nature of business and launched many organisations into an accelerated digital evolution, consequently extending their attack surface and intensifying cyber risk. Through this alliance, organisations will benefit from Cybereason early attack detection and response capabilities to improve client security and maximise return on investment, together with Aon's experience in cyber risk management, technical proficiency and cyber incident response, helping clients assess, define and improve security capabilities to navigate this long-tail risk. "Clients are making critical business decisions daily and rely on Aon's Cyber Solutions for insights that align security, risk and insurance. Their Security Advisory services assist in enhancing existing cyber security strategies, the development of security and threat management capabilities, as well as incident response plans, which we then deliver through our advanced EDR capabilities," said Tristian Elder, Vice President of EMEA Partnerships, Cybereason. "We are honoured to work with Aon and we look forward to seeing our clients draw a wealth of benefits from our offerings." Aon's Cyber Solutions offers holistic cyber security, risk and insurance management, investigative skills, and proprietary technologies to help clients uncover and quantify cyber risks, protect critical assets, and recover from cyber incidents. "As a trusted advisor, we strongly believe in providing organisations with the critical insights they need to make better-informed, risk-based decisions relating to cyber security, especially during an incident or potential breach. We want to help our clients remain resilient when preparing for evolving threats such as ransomware in today's dynamic threat landscape," said Kraig Rutland, Vice President, Cyber Security EMEA at Aon. "The alliance with Cybereason will provide clients with world-class threat analysis, investigation and response at scale." About Aon Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better - to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Our colleagues provide our clients in over 120 countries with advice and solutions that give them the clarity and confidence to make better decisions to protect and grow their business. Follow Aon on Twitter and LinkedIn . Stay up-to-date by visiting the Aon Newsroom and sign up for News Alerts here . About Cybereason Cybereason is the champion for today's cyber defenders, providing operation-centric attack protection that unifies security from the endpoint, to the enterprise, to everywhere the battle moves. The Cybereason Defense Platform combines the industry's top-rated AI-powered detection and response (EDR and XDR), next-gen antivirus (NGAV), Anti-Ransomware Protection and Proactive Threat Hunting to deliver context-rich analysis of every stage of a MalOp (malicious operation). Cybereason is a privately held, international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 50 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook Media Contacts Aon Iona Biggart +44 7971 989065 (mobile) Iona.Biggart@fticonsulting.com Colette La Pointe +44 (0)7976 713 690 (mobile) colette.lapointe@fticonsulting.com Cybereason Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason (929) 259-3261 bill.keeler@cybereason.com JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has brought drastic changes in all areas of our daily life, including the world of education. Schools, universities and educational institutions are urged to make adjustments in carrying out teaching methods and learning activities. However, as we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, half of the student population at the global level is still affected by school went remote which have the potential to cause the loss of student learning processes. Not only students, parents and families also face a number of challenges. In addition, the development of the digital world and the rapid flow of information add to the rapid pace of disruption in the world of education, which gradually makes the world become more and more borderless. Then the question arises: Are we really ready for it? Launched in September 2021, the EdHeroes Movement aims to create a global network of individuals, non-profit organizations, businesses, and government organizations, bringing together their diverse set of resources in order to explore and actualize fundamentally new solutions to the challenges education is facing worldwide. Its Advisory Board includes Cecilia Vaca Jones from Bernard van Leer Foundation (Netherlands), Suchetha Bhat from Dream a Dream (India), Boris Bulayev from Educate (USA), Conrad Wolfram from Wolfram Research (UK), Peter Vesterbacka from Fun Academy (Finland), Francisco J. Marmolejo from Qatar Foundation (Mexico), Karen Giles from Varkey Foundation (UK), Shaun Conway from ixo Foundation (Switzerland), Mary Falk de Losada from World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (Colombia), and other leading figures in education. Suchetha Bhat said, "Children today are facing an unprecedented crisis across the world and our education systems are not equipping them to tackle the challenges that society is encountering. It is time to reimagine the purpose of education towards thriving, so that children - especially from marginalized backgrounds - can flourish in this fast-changing and unpredictable world. This can only be possible when people and communities from across the world come together to collaborate and commit to a new paradigm in education that benefits all students, irrespective of their backgrounds and social identities. This is the potential of the EdHeroes Movement." Boris Bulyaev added: "Educate! believes in the power of collaboration: from our own teams co-designing and delivering solutions for youth with governments, schools, and young people themselves to the innovations made possible as we partner with other nonprofits, businesses, researchers, and thought leaders in education. The EdHeroes Movement is an incredibly important approach to addressing the complex challenges of our sector. Only together can we meet the needs of today and drive the most impact for children, youth, and families." Moreover, according to Cecilia Vaca Jones, "The pandemic has showcased how quickly a range of stakeholders can adapt, with empathy, agility and creativity. EdHeroes Movement will support ensure continuous action to promote access to all opportunities that can help young children thrive. We look forward with hope to working together for healthier and fairer future specially for babies, toddlers and caregivers." Conrad Wolfram said: "Computers have revolutionised the functioning of our societies, except in education. I'm pleased to be part of EdHeroes' drive to change this - not only to improve how but reset what students learn for the AI age." As a global movement, EdHeroes is expanding to Asia with Indonesia as the first host country to open the EdHeroes series in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Japan, India, Taiwan, and Turkey. EdHeroes Forum Asia: Indonesia Chapter will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 16, 2021, which will present speakers from various parts of the world, such as Osama Obeidat, QRTA (Jordan), Harry Patrinos, World Bank Education (USA), Fabien Roudier, IGSC (Japan), Angkie Yudistia, Special Advisor to The President of Indonesia, and more. Combining the fundamental values of families, discussion and dissemination of policies and regulations, to the thoughts of education activists and youth icons who are always active in promoting literacy, the Forum is expected to become a forum for parents, students, educators, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs engaged in the field of education, philanthropy, and governments in various countries to jointly create a better global education ecosystem. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659242/EdHeroes_Foundation.jpg Two plant-based pork alternatives OmniPork Mince and OmniPork Strips have hit supermarket shelves across the UK. OmniFoods announced that its 100% plant-based pork-style proteins are now on store shelves in the chilled aisles at Sainsbury's Stores. Great Taste Award-winning OmniPork Mince and newly available OmniPork Strips are now available at 119 Sainsbury's stores nationwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005521/en/ OmniPork series' incredible popularity is a credit to its tender and juicy texture, as well as its culinary potential, it can be seasoned, steamed, pan- or deep-fried, stuffed, or crumbled to create delicious dishes. (Photo: Business Wire) OmniPork Mince is made using a proprietary blend of plant-based protein from non-GMO soy, peas, shiitake mushrooms, and rice, OmniPork's products contain less saturated fat, less calories, and zero cholesterol compared to animal-based pork products. The innovative OmniFoods has brought its highly versatile 100% plant-based pork alternative across the UK, continuing its momentous global expansion. The all-purpose OmniPork series'incredible popularity is a credit to its tender and juicy texture, as well as its culinary potential, it can be seasoned, steamed, pan- or deep-fried, stuffed, or crumbled to create delicious additions to sandwiches, burgers, pasta sauce, banh mi, sushi, dumplings, spring rolls, fried rice, noodle bowls, and more. "After the successful launch in the U.S. and Australia, we are thrilled to announce that OmniFoods is officially arriving in Sainsbury's in the UK. Together with our many restaurant partners, we believe we are bringing a whole new dimension of plant-based offerings that will accelerate the movement." said David Yeung, founder and CEO of Green Monday Holdings and OmniFoods. After a recent launch with a series of popular restaurant partnerships across the UK, as well as available through Ocado and selected supermarkets, OmniFoods has attracted wide attention on social media @omnifoods.uk from people who appreciate the impact that food has on health, animals and the world. Download high resolution photos: https://bit.ly/UKRetailLaunch About OmniFoods Owned by Green Monday Holdings. OmniFoods' range of alternative protein products includes the OmniPork series, OmniSeafood series, and OmniEat series. With R&D in Canada and distribution network in over 20 markets, OmniFoods is partner to many of the world's top restaurants and retail chains including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Woolworth, Sainsbury's, Starbucks, McDonald's Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Disneyland Hotel, Four Seasons Hotels, Conrad Hotels, Grand Hyatt Hotels, and Pizza Express. For more information, please visit https://omnifoods.co/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005521/en/ Contacts: Dorothy Ma +852 9099 7997 dorothy.ma@greenmonday.org Stephanie Fong +852 6159 8805 stephanie.fong@greenmonday.org Partnership Supports Egypt's Transformational Education 2.0 Curriculum BOSTON and CAIRO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Group brand, today announced they have entered a long-term partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Education, providing grade 4-6 curriculum to nearly seven million students in Egypt. This partnership, which will deliver print and digital classroom materials, is part of Education Minister Dr. Tarek Shawki's Education 2.0 vision - a full-scale transformation of Egypt's education system by 2030 - underpinned by a focus on life skills, creativity, critical thinking and Egyptian pride. With more than 20 million students enrolled in K-12, Egypt has the largest education system in the Middle East and Africa. However, education in Egypt has not historically been aligned with preparing students with the 21st century problem-solving skills needed to build meaningful careers. "We want students to learn for life, not for an exam," said Dr. Tarek Shawki, Egypt's Minister of Education and Technical Education. "We needed a partner that could help us equip students with skills for future work and life success, starting at an early age. We chose National Geographic Learning because the content, design, and pedagogy truly bring learning to life for students." To support Egypt's educational transformation, National Geographic Learning is delivering curriculum for English, Social Studies, Career Skills and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Career Skills and ICT are particularly critical to the Education 2.0 vision in Egypt, as they introduce 10-12-year-olds to a broad range of jobs they may not know much about, and the skills they would need for future success in those fields. "Egypt's Ministry of Education has taken a cutting-edge approach to creating compelling curriculum, ensuring the next generation develops the knowledge, life skills, and values for future success," said Alexander Broich, President of Cengage Global Businesses and General Manager for English Language Teaching. "At Cengage Group, we strongly believe in the need to prepare students for life and employment. Our goal is to ensure students aren't just degree ready, but job ready. Egypt's Ministry of Education is strongly aligned with this mission, and we are proud to help bring learning to life, in service to Dr. Shawki's inspirational Education 2.0 transformation." In addition to providing English curriculum as part of the partnership, the ICT content will be provided in English and Arabic to help further students' English language learning as part of their primary school education. "Proficiency in the English language also plays an important role in helping prepare learners across the globe for the job market," Broich continued. "We believe half of the world will speak or learn English by 2030 because proficient English is the gateway to a promising career for millions across the globe." The curriculum features inspirational Egyptians and National Geographic Explorers to help engage, motivate and instill pride in Egyptian learners. "National Geographic has a long history of illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world," said Fred Hiebert, Archaeologist in Residence for the National Geographic Society, and a member of National Geographic Learning's Advisory Council for the Egypt Ministry partnership. "Stories about the impact of human history and culture on our planet are part of National Geographic's unique legacy. There is no better example of this than National Geographic's coverage of Egypt, one of the oldest continuous cultures known." Hiebert continued to say, "This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for National Geographic to elevate local voices and scientists in Egypt." All primary schools across Egypt began using National Geographic Learning curriculum on October 9, starting with fourth grade for the current academic year, and expanding to fifth and sixth grade over the next two years. About National Geographic Learning National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Group brand, is a leading educational publisher for the English Language Teaching and secondary education markets worldwide. At National Geographic Learning, we believe that an engaged and motivated learner will be a successful one, and we design our materials with a highly interactive storytelling approach which is a great way to invoke these connections. To learn more, visit: eltngl.com. About Cengage Group Cengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Visit us at www.cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Media Contact: Emily Featherston, Cengage Group 617.757.8035, Emily.featherston@cengage.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656324/CG_NGL.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1601265/NationalGeographicLearningELT_Logo_Logo.jpg LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, compilers of the world's most consulted university rankings, have today released their annual list of the Arab Region's best higher education institutions. The regional leader remains Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz University, which retains the number-one spot for third second consecutive year. The 2022 QS World University Rankings: Arab Region features 181 universities, 13% more than in the previous iterations of the exercise and is QS's largest comparative evaluation of the region's higher education system. QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2022 - Highlights For the fifth consecutive year that a Saudi Arabian university takes the regional number-one position; Qatar University rises one spot. University rises one spot. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (3rd), also rises one place; QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2022 - Top 10 2022 2021 1 1 KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY (KAU) SA 2 3 QATAR UNIVERSITY QA 3 4 KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS SA 4 2 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT (AUB) LB 5 5 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY AE 6 6 KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SA 7 8 SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY OM 8 7 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH AE 9 9 KHALIFA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AE 10 10 UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN JO The most-represented countries are Saudi Arabia and Egypt with 31 ranked universities apiece. They are followed by Iraq (22), Jordan (20), the United Arab Emirates (15), and Lebanon (12). Ben Sowter, Director of Research at QS, said: "The Arab region is home to a high number of young universities, with 80% of the universities in this year's ranking under 50 years of age. Most featured universities now provide programs in all faculty areas and more than half of now have an incorporated medical school. The institutions featured in this ranking are therefore, despite their young age, striving to ensure that their provision is extensive and that they are offering comprehensive curricula." Sowter continued: "A key strength of the region remains its ability to attract international faculty and students. On average, they record 31 international faculty per 100 faculty members, and 12 international students per 100 students, which exceeds the global averages from the latest QS World University Rankings. This internationalization is testament to their desire to capture the best talent from across the region, to forge a global presence, and join a highly-connected higher education ecosystem." The full rankings can be found at www.TopUniversities.com from Wednesday 13th October, 11:00 BST. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503777/QS_World_University_Rankings_Logo.jpg WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA), The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce and Ratchaphruek Hospital, have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to support local businesses in the province of Khon Kaen, Thailand with best practices regarding safety, health, and well-being. Through this innovative partnership, GHA will collaborate with the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce (KKCC) and Ratchaphruek Hospital (RPH) to assist organizations and businesses throughout the province in the development, planning and execution of policies and procedures for transitioning to and maintaining a safe, healthy work environment that fosters the well-being of employees, clients and guests. Additionally, the partnership will facilitate the development of best practices regarding medical and wellness travel. Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) recently launched GHA For Business, which provides an external validation of an organization's commitment to the safety, health, and well-being of its employees, customers, and visitors. It is designed for any organization focused on return-to-work strategies, sustaining a culture of resiliency, and developing a more purposeful vision, mission, and values around safety, health and well-being. The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce is the main private-sector entity in the Khon Kaen region that supports businesses and the economy with an environment that is safe. The partnership will build trust and confidence on the part of employees, clients and guests to feel safe and recognize that businesses in Khon Kaen province have prioritized safety as well as a high-quality and caring customer experience. With the collaboration of Ratchaphruek Hospital, a GHA certified hospital which has achieved Certification of Conformance with best practices for Covid -19, businesses will learn directly from Rachaphriueks' expertise and knowledge about the mitigation of infection risk and how best to prevent infection and protect their employees, clients and guests. Global Healthcare Accreditation, Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce and Ratchaphruek Hospital will collaborate on the following initiatives: Training of personnel on GHA For Business; Exchange of information and data on GHA For Business; Implementation of education and training programs in member organizations on GHA For Business with Ratchaphruek Hospital providing specific expertise on safety protocols and mitigation of infection risk; Organization of workshops, seminars, and working groups on GHA For Business; Development of joint research or projects; Promoting GHA For Business accreditation as a tool for safety, health and well-being; Ms. Karen Timmons, GHA's Chief Executive Officer stated, "These unprecedented times have changed the landscape of the workplace and priorities of employers. It's more essential than ever that employers prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees while still meeting the demand of their clients, customers and communities. It is for this reason that GHA has determined to leverage its expertise on accreditation to assist individual businesses - as well as destinations, in the development, planning and execution of policies and procedures for transitioning to and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. We commend Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce for promoting GHA For Business as a tool for safety, health and well-being of businesses, thereby providing them with a competitive edge, and we also salute Ratchaphruek Hospital for its desire and willingness to train businesses in the region on how best to mitigate the risk of infection, again building trust and confidence on the part of employees, clients and visitors to Khon Kaen region. I am confident that this is an example of a partnership that can be modeled in other regions around the globe to help destinations build resilience during this challenging time and achieve a competitive advantage." According to Mr.Channarong Buritrakul, President of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, "The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce is made up of a wide range of organizations looking to the Chamber to safeguard their interests and seek out new business opportunities. As a province, it is our goal is to demonstrate to the world that we are a destination that prioritizes the well-being of employees while also meeting the needs of customers and guests. We are pleased to partner with Global Healthcare Accreditation on the GHA For Business program as it assures that all our members have the opportunity to incorporate international best practices that focus on safety, health and well-being of employees, clients and guests." Dr. Teerawat Srinakarin, Chief Executive Officer of Ratchaphruek Hospital said, "As a vice president of the Khon Kean Chamber of Commerce and a premier hospital in the region, Ratchaphruek Hospital is pleased to partner with Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) to lend our expertise and knowledge respecting the mitigation of infection risk and how best to prevent infection and protect employees, guests and clients." Education and training on the GHA For Business Program Elements are being conducted in Thailand by GHA's representative and partner Dr. Somporn Kumphong, President of Healthcare Expert Group and his team. For organizations or destinations in or outside Thailand interested in learning about GHA For Business, visit: https://www.globalhealthcareaccreditation.com/gha-for-business About Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA): GHA is a dynamic and innovative accreditation body with a specialized focus in medical and wellness travel, safety, and well-being. Founded in September of 2016, GHA's initial purpose as an independent accrediting body centered on improving the patient experience for medical travelers and supporting healthcare providers in validating quality, increasing visibility, and implementing a sustainable business model for medical travel. Since then, GHA pioneers a variety of programs covering the entire spectrum of the care continuum and offers certification and accreditation for stakeholders in all aspects of health and well-being. Visit: https://globalhealthcareaccreditation.com/ About the The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce (KKCC): "It is the main mechanism of the private sector in driving business and economy in Khon Kaen Province. To make Khon Kaen a city with an environment that is conducive to trade and investment through cultivating and developing the potential of good entrepreneurs and promote doing business on social and environmental responsibility It is an important force in reducing inequality and leading the economy of Khon Kaen to grow sustainably." Visit: https://www.chamber-commerce.net/dir/4110/Khon-Kaen-Chamber-of-Commerce-in-Khon-Kaen About Ratchaphruek Hospital: Ratchaphruek Hospital is located at Khon Kean in the Northeast part of Thailand. The hospital was established in 1994 as a 50-bed private general hospital with a projection of a 200 bed "Healing Environment Hospital" in 2018. Our vision is to provide international standards and humanized health care. In this way, we visualize the patient as a patient, not as a customer and the doctor as a doctor, not just as a medical serviceman. All of the staff are 'Care Givers' who have the same purpose and alignment with the organization's core value, "Happiness by Giving." Visit: https://rph.co.th/en/ VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSX:MAW)(FRA:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) is pleased to announce the results of its inaugural Environmental and Social Governance "ESG" assessment, undertaken independently through the Digbee ESG reporting and assessment framework. The Digbee framework provides an ESG assessment for junior mining companies across 22 global ESG standards, including SASB, GRI, International Finance Corporation, Equator Principles Association and World Gold Council. Mawson is the first company using the Digbee platform to publish its inaugural score, which is not mandatory in its inaugural year under the platform. In addition to what Mawson has accomplished to date, the report provides for how Mawson will continue to improve its performance moving forward. Highlights: Overarching Mawson Gold score of 'BB' , noting the Company has "strong ESG leadership and demonstrates a clear desire to operate in a sustainable manner both now and in the long term". , noting the Company has "strong ESG leadership and demonstrates a clear desire to operate in a sustainable manner both now and in the long term". Rajapalot with the most positive score of 'BBB', referencing the contribution of Mawson's "well respected Environmental Director [Ms Noora Ahola] who is not only helping to improve the project from an already good base, but also taking part in industry and national level forums". referencing the contribution of Mawson's "well respected Environmental Director [Ms Noora Ahola] who is not only helping to improve the project from an already good base, but also taking part in industry and national level forums". Sunday Creek and Redcastle + Whroo both scoring 'BB' . . Every aspect of the business has the potential to reach 'AAA' through risk mitigation , as demonstrated in the confidence bands applied by the assessors. , as demonstrated in the confidence bands applied by the assessors. Scoring is undertaken by an independent team of accredited ESG experts who have deep experience in mining projects similar to those being scored. who have deep experience in mining projects similar to those being scored. Mawson is the first Digbee participant to publish its inaugural ESG score. Publishing is not mandatory at this time, and underlines Mawson's commitment to transparency and disclosure to ESG matters. Ivan Fairhall, CEO Mawson Gold, states: "We are incredibly proud to be a leader and first to publish our inaugural ESG score in the true ESG spirit of transparency and disclosure. This score independently endorses what I quickly understood about Mawson before joining - that ESG stewardship is deeply embedded in everything that Mawson does. Rajapalot is one of the most broadly supported projects in Finland with demonstrative support from local communities, municipalities, reindeer herders, and Lapland's political and administrative leadership, amongst others. I sincerely thank our Environmental Director Noora Ahola for leading these efforts over the last 7 years, and look forward to working alongside her and Mawson's team in continuing to demonstrate our commitment to local stakeholders, as well as our investors who expect the highest standards of governance and accountability." Jamie Strauss, CEO Digbee, states: "We commend Mawson's initiative in self-reporting their inaugural Digbee ESG Score. ESG is all about transparency and continuous improvement, and we are proud that Digbee's ESG platform is recognized as an enabler of this within the mining industry. There are billions of dollars of investment capital looking for companies who wholly embrace ESG and can demonstrate real action on the ground to improve conditions across the ESG spectrum. Mawson have demonstrated this today, and as more companies step forward in this way, it will create the transparency and culture of improvement necessary to drive real change." A Digbee ESG submission comprises two types of questionnaires: (1) a single corporate-level questionnaire, and (2) one or more project-level questionnaires. The questionnaires are tailored to the stage of the mining company and its projects (i.e., exploration, development and/or producing). Each question is scored in accordance with Digbee's scoring criteria and averaged to provide an overall output score along with a confidence banding. A confidence banding illustrates the potential range with which the awarded score can move should any of the risks be realized or mitigated. Scoring is undertaken by a team of accredited ESG experts who have deep experience in mining projects similar to those being scored. Each scoring team consists of two scorers and a team lead. This team of three ensures consistent scoring through robust peer review and quality control. Figure 1 depicts Mawson's scores graphically. Figure 1: Digbee ESG scores for Mawson Gold, and its constituent business units A comprehensive qualitative analysis by Digbee is available through the Mawson Gold website here In summary: Mawson Gold Ltd - The Company has strong ESG leadership and demonstrates a clear desire to operate in a sustainable manner both now and in the long term. The Board consists of a diverse range of skills and individuals, which enhances the professional approach to business practices and governance regarding decision making. The Mawson Gold team are encouraged to actively participate in industry interest groups as well as the development of new technology that will help to make the sector more sustainable. Rajapalot (Finland) - A very promising gold and cobalt exploration project in Finland with more than 10 years of exploration activity to date. The team is enhanced by a well-respected Environmental Director who is not only helping to improve the project from an already good base, but also taking part in industry and national level forums and communities. While a small portion (18%) of the total permit area lies within biodiversity conservation areas (Natura 2000), it should be noted that Mawson is permitted to complete all exploration for its priority target areas. Sunday Creek (Australia) - An early-stage gold exploration project located in an area which has been an active mining prospect since the 19th Century. Located 65km north of Melbourne, the project's workforce is drawn almost entirely from the local population. Infrastructure required for more advanced exploration and development is already in place. Redcastle and Whroo (Australia) - Two separate projects, at similar stages of exploration, located in the same local government area within 100km of one another, and therefore assessed in the same Digbee ESG review. As with Sunday Creek, these projects are located within historic mining areas and are approximately 120km north of Melbourne. Redcastle is located immediately adjacent to an active mining operation and large national defence training facility. Part of the lease for the projects is located in a state forest, in which the government is supportive of mining activities. These land uses are therefore positive regarding the potential for a new mining operation About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW)(FRA:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland. Mawson also owns or is joint venturing into three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 square kilometres in Victoria, Australia and is well placed to add to its already significant gold-cobalt resource in Finland. About Digbee ESG Digbee has partnered with leaders in the ESG world to develop a right-sized, future-looking and industry endorsed set of frameworks for all stages of mining companies to assess and disclose their ESG metrics while ensuring best practice. This impact-based approach has recognized over 25 initiatives and reporting frameworks, is practical and addresses real risk. The questionnaire is accompanied with clear rationale and guidance. Submitted annually, through a Board Approval process, Digbee ESG allows comparison to peers, helps management and the Board to integrate ESG within the company strategy while improving risk management, and will become the benchmark for engagement with capital providers and other stakeholders. On behalf of the Board, "Ivan Fairhall" Ivan Fairhall, CEO Further Information www.mawsongold.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@mawsongold.com Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labor. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; changes in world metal markets; changes in equity markets; ability to achieve goals; that the political environment in which the Company operates will continue to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the novel COVID-19 virus; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; reliance on a single asset; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations; unexpected geological conditions; local community relations; dealings with non-governmental organizations; delays in operations due to permit grants; environmental and safety risks; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Mawson, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Mawson can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667818/Mawson-Publishes-Inaugural-Digbee-ESG-Score-Underlining-Commitment-to-Transparency-and-Disclosure-Through-Independent-Assessment MultiChoice prepares to put Mzansi on show at Expo 2020 Dubai Dubai, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MultiChoice is excited to announce the opening of its highly-anticipated premiere week at the Expo 2020 Dubai with headliner events, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase. Known for its incredible talent, South African shores are laden with authentic culture and creative prowess that make the country unlike any other in the world. One Night with Mzansi, taking place at the Dubai Opera House on 17 October, will be a celebration of South Africa and its talent, showcasing our uniqueness through storytelling, performance, and music that takes our artists to the world. The live show which will be hosted by South African born and internationally recognised talent, Nomzamo Mbatha, will be broadcast live by MultiChoice, the official broadcast partner of Team SA, on 1Magic (DStv channel 103) and Mzansi Magic Music (DStv channel 321) at 21:00 on the 17th of October. The event will feature performances by local favourites - Mi Casa, Blaq Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, Daliwonga and Ami Faku with addresses by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa and the South African Business Council. In attendance will be production companies, Tshedza Pictures and The Bomb Shelter, who have worked closely with MultiChoice over the years to not only produce some of South Africa's brightest talent but to entertain millions daily. Artists include; Sho Madjozi, Pabi Moloi, Thando Thabethe, Coenie de Villiers, Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane, Khuzani Mpungose along with Mzansi Youth and Drakensberg Boys Choirs. 18 and 19 October will see Content Showcase, where cast and production teams of M-Net's gripping international co-production Reyka and the upcoming international co-production and Showmax Original, Bloods Psalms, will be in attendance along with invited guests for the viewings. Throughout the duration of the Expo, Team South Africa's events will be carefully curated to expose the calibre of talent South Africa has, in addition to highlighting the country's beautiful natural assets and being open for business. MultiChoice's Group Non-Executive Chair, Imtiaz Patel explains that, "MultiChoice has chosen this strategic direction as its contribution to national efforts to kick start the South African economy and contribute to job creation interventions." "South Africa's attractiveness in the creative and cultural sector has, over the past few years, emerged as a key growth opportunity for the country, and as a platform on which to position and showcase its natural beauty and diversity using the international film and multimedia stage." "The World Expo 2020, is therefore a platform to showcase the country's assets, both natural and people to, amongst others, the international business, investor, creative and tourism sectors. Both the creative and cultural, as well as the tourism sectors, have been hardest hit by the pandemic and the exposure at the World Expo 2020 can give these sectors a much needed boost." Lights, camera, investment Both events, at their core, are to encourage global investment in the post-pandemic economic recovery of South Africa. By showcasing the talent, culture and potential of the country, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase act as open-calls to international guests to visit, explore and experience the gateway to Africa. South Africa, which accounts for a large portion of the African GDP, is an emerging market powerhouse rich with resources, which enable fruitful collaboration with other global countries. MultiChoice is Team South Africa's official broadcast partner during the Expo 2020 Dubai, at which it will bring the message, Think South Africa, Think Opportunity. The Group will leverage its more than 20 million subscribers and 100 million viewers across the continent to bring the South African story of resilience and constant re-invention, to global audiences until the end of March 2022. WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / TDG Gold Corp. (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG")announces that the office of the Provincial Chief Inspector of Mines has given its approval for the safe resumption of drilling activities at the Shasta gold-silver project located in the Toodoggone District of north-central BC. Senior management of both TDG and the drilling contractor, New Age Drilling Solutions, whose employee was tragically involved in a fatal off-road vehicle accident at Shasta on October 05, 2021, have worked together to implement retraining of all personnel. All personnel have also received trauma counselling and have access to ongoing support as they continue to come to terms with the loss of a valued team member. Non-drilling activities recommenced on October 07, 2021, and the intention is to resume drilling activities in a phased, gradual approach, starting October 13, 2021. "On behalf of the management, directors and all team members of TDG, we again extend our sincerest condolences to NewAge's employee's family and loved ones for their tragic loss," stated TDG CEO Fletcher Morgan. About TDG Gold Corp. TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high-grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. In 2021, TDG proposes to advance the projects through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their extensions. On June 29, 2021, TDG announced that it had entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire the Nueva Esperanza silver-gold advanced exploration and development project located in the Maricunga Belt of northern Chile. TDG currently has 70,867,903 common shares issued and outstanding. Media Contact: Tamara Little Coast Communications and Public Affairs Telephone: +1.604.767.0207 Email: tamara@coastcomms.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667862/TDG-Gold-Corp-Receives-Approval-To-Resume-Drilling-Activities-at-Its-Shasta-Gold-silver-Project-Toodoggone-District-BC TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Talisker Resources Ltd. ("Talisker" or the "Company") (TSX:TSK)(OTCQX:TSKFF) is pleased to announce high grade results from drill hole SB-2021-058 at its 100% owned flagship Bralorne Gold Project. Five diamond drill rigs are currently drilling at Bralorne. A total of 65,254 metres consisting of 116 holes of the planned and fully funded 100,000 metre drill program has been drilled at the project this year with a total of 87,425 metres (152 holes) having been drilled since Talisker initiated drilling at the project in February 2020. There are currently 22 holes consisting of 6,951 samples at the assay laboratory that are expected to be received by the Company shortly. Talisker is concurrently drilling a high-grade narrow vein resource within 700 metres from surface at the Bralorne Gold Project and a close to surface (<350m) bulk tonnage resource at Pioneer. Key Points: Successful intercept targeting the 55HW Vein, 55 Vein and 55FW vein returning 96.9 g/t gold over 0.5m within 34.58 g/t gold over 1.5m (55HW), 8.0 g/t over 1.0m (55 Vein) and 8.53 g/t over 1.0m (55FW). Previous intercepts in the 55HW Vein are highlighted by hole SB-2020-012 (15.11 g/t over 1.0m), SB-2021-020 (14.66 g/t over 1.5m) and SB-2021-043 (19.76 g/t over 1.0m). Previous intercepts in the 55 Vein are highlighted by Hole SB-2020-015 (43.64 g/t over 1.20m) and SB-2021-011 (13.05 g/t over 1.05m). This hole increases the number of intercepts for the 55HW vein to 31 with three holes remaining to be drilled. On the 55 Vein, 30 intercepts and three holes remain to be drilled. The remaining holes on the 55HW and 55 veins will be completed by the end of the 2021 initial resource drill out program. Hole SB-2021-023, SB-2021-046 also intersected the 55HW vein and results are expected shortly. SB-2021-058 Hole Description: Complete preliminary results have been received for this hole. Located in the Bralorne West block on the northwest margin of the granitic intrusive. Intersected multiple plugs of granitic intrusive hosted within diorite to 460m followed by diorite to completion at 746.2m. 55HW Vein intersected from 603.7m to 605.2m 55 Vein intersected from 676.1m to 676.95m with visible gold. 55FW Vein intersected as a void (historical drift) from 724.55m to 725.85m. Mineralized portion of the 55FW vein intersected adjacent to the void from 725.85m to 726.85m. Both veins considered classic Bralorne crack-seal quartz-carbonate veins with densely banded sulphide septae, brecciated sections and hosting strong fine-grained arsenopyrite and pyrite mineralization with strong silica-sericite-mariposite alteration. Table 1: Bralorne Gold Project - Drill Hole SB-2021-058 Diamond Drill Hole Name From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Zone Method Reported SB-2021-058 15.5 16 0.5 1.10 Unknown Bulk Zone Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 16 17.5 1.5 0.46 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 17.5 18 0.5 0.34 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 18 18.85 0.85 1.33 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 18.85 19.35 0.5 0.55 Unknown Bulk Zone Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 19.35 19.85 0.5 0.46 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 19.85 21 1.15 2.68 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 21 21.5 0.5 1.79 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 21.5 22 0.5 1.04 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 22 23 1 2.35 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 23 24 1 6.84 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 24 25 1 5.46 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 25 25.5 0.5 2.34 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 25.5 26.3 0.8 3.07 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 26.3 26.8 0.5 0.64 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 26.8 27.3 0.5 0.08 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 27.3 27.8 0.5 0.70 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 27.8 28.5 0.7 1.62 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 28.5 29 0.5 0.40 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 29 30 1 1.54 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 30 30.75 0.75 2.01 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 30.75 31.25 0.5 30.00 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 31.25 32 0.75 0.75 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 32 33 1 0.31 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 33 34 1 0.11 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 34 35 1 0.12 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 35 35.85 0.85 1.82 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 35.85 37 1.15 0.78 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 37 38 1 0.06 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 38 39 1 0.10 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 39 40.5 1.5 0.35 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 40.5 41.2 0.7 0.37 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 359.2 360.45 1.25 0.14 Unknown Vein Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 360.45 360.95 0.5 3.14 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 360.95 361.6 0.65 1.66 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 361.6 362.1 0.5 11.00 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 362.1 362.7 0.6 0.16 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 603.7 604.2 0.5 4.69 55HW Vein Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 604.2 604.7 0.5 96.90 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 604.7 605.2 0.5 2.14 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 605.2 605.7 0.5 0.11 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 673.55 674.65 1.1 0.15 55 Vein Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 674.65 675.5 0.85 1.74 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 675.5 676 0.5 1.25 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 676 676.5 0.5 3.25 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 676.5 677 0.5 12.75 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 723.2 723.9 0.7 5.39 55FW Vein Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 723.9 724.55 0.65 1.59 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 724.55 725.85 1.3 0.00 VOID Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 725.85 726.35 0.5 9.61 55FW Vein Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 726.35 726.85 0.5 7.45 Au-AA26 SB-2021-058 726.85 727.4 0.55 0.29 Au-AA26 Notes: Diamond drill hole SB-2021-058 has collar orientation of Azimuth 171; Dip -54. True widths are estimated at 40 - 90% of intercept lengths and are based on oriented core measurements where available. Method Reported includes the most up to date information as of the date of this press release. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release relating to the drill results at the Bralorne Gold Project has been approved by Leonardo de Souza (BSc, AusIMM (CP) Membership 224827), Talisker's Vice President, Exploration and Resource Development, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Talisker Resources Ltd. Talisker (taliskerresources.com ) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Talisker's projects include two advanced stage projects, the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt and several other early-stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 296,983 hectares over 346 claims, three leases and 198 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in the south-central British Columbia. The Company is well funded to advance its aggressive systematic exploration program at its projects. For further information, please contact: Terry Harbort President & CEO Terry.harbort@talliskerresources.com +1 416 361 2808 Related Links https://taliskerresources.com/ Sample Preparation and QAQC Drill core at the Bralorne project is drilled in HQ to NQ size ranges (63.5mm and 47.6mm respectively). Drill core samples are minimum 50 cm and maximum 160 cm long along the core axis. Samples are focused on an interval of interest such as a vein or zone of mineralization. Shoulder samples bracket the interval of interest such that a total sampled core length of not less than 3m both above and below the interval of interest must be assigned. Sample QAQC measures of unmarked certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, and duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up 9% of the samples submitted to the lab for holes reported in this release. Sample preparation and analyses is carried out by ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and SGS Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (ALS code PREP-31 / SGS code PRP89). Gold in diamond drill core is analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of a 50g sample (ALS code Au-AA26 / SGS code GO_FAA50V10), while multi-element chemistry is analysed by 4- Acid digestion of a 0.25 g sample split with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for 48 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Gold assay technique (ALS code Au-AA26 / SGS code FAA50V10) has an upper detection limit of 100 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the gold assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish (ALS method Au-GRA22 / SGS method GO_FAG50V) which has an upper detection limit of 1,000 ppm Au. Samples where visible gold was observed are sent directly to screen metallics analysis and all samples that fire assay above 1 ppm Au are re-analysed with method (ALS code Au-SCR24 / SGS code - 6 - GO_FAS50M) which employs a 1kg pulp screened to 100 microns with assay of the entire oversize fraction and duplicate 50g assays on the undersize fraction. Where possible all samples initially sent to screen metallics processing will also be re-run through the fire assay with gravimetric finish provided there is enough material left for further processing. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Talisker's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, effective time of the rights provided to New Gold under the Investor Rights Agreement, the completion of New Gold's strategic investment; the completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds, the operations of the Company and the timing which could be affected by the current global COVID-19 pandemic. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Talisker's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While Talisker considers these statements to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include market risks and the demand for securities of the Company, risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Figure 1: SB-2021-058 hole location within the Bralorne West Block. Figure 2: SB-2021-058 cross section intersecting the 55HW vein hosted within Diorite. SOURCE: Talisker Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667845/Talisker-Intersects-969-gt-Au-over-05-metres-within-3458-gt-Au-over-15-metres-at-Bralorne Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure Supports 5G-ready Public Cloud and Digital Solutions Portfolio Virtuozzo, a global leader in high-efficiency virtualization and hyperconverged software solutions, today announced its collaboration with DT Technology Group has accelerated DT's transition from a leading telco to a leading digital platform enabler. Through the use of Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure, DT has deployed a Public Cloud as well as new revenue streams via DevOps services-all while reducing its total cost of ownership by 30 percent. Increasingly, companies seek to leverage digital solutions to transform their businesses. Simultaneously, SmartCity projects show no signs of slowing down. However, the continued growth of 5G connectivity and IoT applications brings with it new infrastructure design challenges-integration of AI computing, Cloud Native applications, GPU computing, application modernization, and DevOps resources. The supporting network infrastructure must be robust enough to scale with the demand while the software development ecosystem around it must be mature enough to enable enterprises as well as small- to medium-sized companies to leverage the technology trends for business gain. Drawing on its ICT system integration and telecom roots, DT sought to address both needs by building an enterprise-grade and 5G-ready infrastructure as well as establishing a team of skilled digital software developers. In the late 2010's, the company launched its Cloud platform and digital software solutions suite via partnerships with a hyperscaler and proprietary virtualization solutions provider, though quickly sought to replace them and did with a single partner: Virtuozzo. "We have a unique market opportunity. We understand the infrastructure requirements behind carrier grade platforms and are leveraging this expertise to build seamless, elastic enterprise-grade digital platforms," said Tolga Dincer, CEO, DT Technology Group. "Our initial partner choices, however, limited what we could deliver to customers as they were complicated to use, inflexible, and quite expensive. Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure solved all of those problems out of the box." A Public Cloud for Modern Times DT uses the OpenStack-based Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure to host a robust 5G-enabled infrastructure supporting Public Cloud, Edge data centers, and OnPrem needs. The Cloud infrastructure scales easily and notably taps into local data centers to satisfy data sovereignty requirements. Further, its inherent capabilities driven by Virtuozzo's hyperconverged system include support for various advanced solutions-from graphics-rich VDI services to compute-heavy, AI-dependent big data analytics. A Digital Platform Partner for the DevOps Community To help businesses capitalize on its robust infrastructure, DT also uses Virtuozzo's software to deliver digital solutions. This offering includes consultative services as well as digital platform development-such as microservices architecture design-for cross-industry customers, and depends heavily on Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure's core features: Security and business continuity Production-ready Kubernetes environment and tools Flexible licensing models (PAYG pricing) Immediate scalability, up or down Storge-as-a-Service Hardware vendor agnostic "Virtuozzo is purpose-built to help companies like DT shift their and their customers' business models from capex to opex, helping reduce costs while gaining the benefits of hyperconverged, Cloud-driven digital transformation," said Alex Fine, Virtuozzo CEO. "We're seeing increased adoption of our technology by savvy service providers striving to deliver alternative Cloud services: services that compete with those of hyperscalers in diversity, performance and capabilities, but are simpler, more flexible, and far more cost-efficient to use. To that end, DT is optimizing Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure to an incredible extent. We're excited to see what they've accomplished to date and are proud to be a part of their continued journey." About DT Technology Group Headquartered in Istanbul, DT Technology Group (www.dt.net.tr) is an international digital platform enabler servicing Turkey and other locations worldwide. Since its 2006 inception, DT has evolved from being an ICT systems integrator to a telco responsible for thousands of installations of carrier network infrastructure for 2G through to 5G networks. In 2018, the company packaged its experience to create an enterprise-grade, 5G-ready multiregional Public Cloud offering. About Virtuozzo Virtuozzo (www.virtuozzo.com) is a leading, global provider of hybrid virtualization, storage, and cloud enablement software solutions. The Company's software-defined, hyperconverged self-service platform and resource management capabilities enable hosting and service providers to provide end-customers with public and private cloud services. Virtuozzo is an industry pioneer who developed the first commercially available container technology 21 years ago. The Company provides software solutions and services to over 750 service providers, ISVs, and enterprises worldwide to enable hundreds of thousands of virtual environments, running mission-critical cloud workloads. A significant force in the open-source community, Virtuozzo sponsors and/or is a contributor to numerous open-source projects including KVM, Docker, OpenStack, OpenVZ, CRIU, and the Linux kernel. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005219/en/ Contacts: Heather Ailara/Deb Brown 211 Communications +1.973.567.6040 heather@211comms.comdeb@211comms.com Christine Brunelli Virtuozzo +1 215-847-7842 christine.brunelli@virtuozzo.com INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) said the FDA has approved its Verzenio, in combination with endocrine therapy, for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence and a Ki-67 score of at or above 20%. Verzenio is already approved for the treatment of certain types of HR+ HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The FDA has expanded the use of Verzenio in all indications, when given in combination with endocrine therapy, to include men. Jacob Van Naarden, CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly and president, Lilly Oncology, said: 'We are pleased with this initial approval in the adjuvant setting and as these data continue to mature, we look forward to further opportunities to work with health authorities to expand the use of Verzenio in this setting.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Dankran Project A maiden RC exploration drilling program consisting of 2,491 meters drilled in 36 RC holes was completed on the Dankran Project in June with the results reported by Pelangio on July 21, 2021. Sampling was conducted at 1 meter drill intervals and were composited to 2 meters for analysis by Fire Assay. The 1-meter samples from all significant drill intercepts plus "shoulder' samples were recently submitted to the Intertek Minerals Limited laboratory in Tarkwa Ghana for 50g Fire Assay for a check of the results and in order to provide a more accurate measure of gold mineralized widths. Results returned varied considerably from the initial 2-meter composited results with several mineralized intervals being diminished while several others were significantly improved in the 1-meter analyses. For example, hole DKRC036, which reported 4.30 g/t Au over 2 meters from the 2-meter composite samples returned a significantly higher grade 14.17 g/t Au over 3 meters (uncut) including 39.20 g/t Au over 1 meter from the recent 1-meter assay exercise. This suggests the possibility of a nugget component to the gold mineralization at Dankran, not unusual for high-grade vein-hosted gold mineralization, and also indicates the potential for higher grades than was returned from the initial 2-meter analyses of the Dankran drilling. Future drilling will consider 2 kg bottle roll (BLEG) analysis and/or screened metallics fire assay to check for and counter a gold nugget issue. Refer to Figure 2. The Dankran RC drilling program has returned significant results over 2.7 kilometers of strike along a regional metavolcanic-metasedimentary contact 28 kilometers northeast of AngloGold Ashanti's giant Obuasi gold mine, with minimal and shallow drill testing performed to date. Further drilling will be planned to infill the limited drilling conducted as well as to investigate the potential at depth with several deeper core holes. Figure 2: Dankran RC Drilling Results and Soil Geochemistry CANADA Dome West Project The Dome West Property is located in main portion of the Timmins mining camp, more specifically the property is comprised of 10 mining cells or 56 hectares of mineral rights located approximately 800 meters west of Newmont's Dome Mine and 450 meters northwest of the former Paymaster Mine (see Figure 3). A recent review compiled from historical level plan data from government reports and limited underground drill hole data from the adjoining former Paymaster Mine has allowed for the planning of the final proposed program. The following salient points from this review are as follows: Underground Paymaster Mine drill holes collared at the 1000-foot level (304.8 m) of the mine to the east of the Dome West property boundary (see Figures 3 and 4) demonstrated the existence of a series of gold bearing felsic porphyritic (FP) intrusive bodies and sills. The better gold values from these FP intrusives returned 21.6 g/t gold over 1.82 meter and 59.6 g/t gold over 1.98 meters. The FP intrusives also contained numerous anomalous intercepts ranging from 0.342 to 1.03 g/t gold. Due to the proximity of these intrusives to the Dome West property boundary, interpretation suggests that the strike and dip projections of the FP intrusives will cross the Dome West boundary. These FP intrusives are representative of very high-quality targets which are untested on the Dome West Property. It can be noted that substantial amounts of gold and copper ore have been mined from FP intrusives in the various mines in Timmins such as the former McIntyre Mine and Preston East Dome. (References: Historical Paymaster Drill Holes PM10155 & PM10156; and Gold 86 International Symposium Proceedings, A.J. Macdonald,1986) The FP intrusives also contained numerous anomalous intercepts ranging from Due to the proximity of these intrusives to the Dome West property boundary, interpretation suggests that the strike and dip projections of the FP intrusives will cross the Dome West boundary. These FP intrusives are representative of very high-quality targets which are untested on the Dome West Property. It can be noted that substantial amounts of gold and copper ore have been mined from FP intrusives in the various mines in Timmins such as the former McIntyre Mine and Preston East Dome. (References: Historical Paymaster Drill Holes PM10155 & PM10156; and Gold 86 International Symposium Proceedings, A.J. Macdonald,1986) The review of composite level plan data from OGS Report 58 (Furguson, S.1968) and a recent Pelangio drill hole DW1901 demonstrated that the prospective Vipond stratigraphy which hosts a substantial portion of the ore at the Dome and Paymaster mines crosses the Dome West boundary from the Paymaster Mine at the 1000-foot level (304.8 m). (See Figure 4) This significant target horizon is virtually untested on the Dome West Property for 400 meters of strike length and no drilling below 300 meters, the depth at which the Vipond stratigraphy crosses the Dome West boundary line. Figure 3: Area Location Map with Proposed Hole Locations Pelangio has signed a drill contract and anticipates commencing a first phase drill program of 1200 meters in late October. This is the first test of both the feldspar porphyry target extension and the prospective Vipond stratigraphy in the history of the property. Figure 4: Composite Level Plan Gowan Property The Gowan polymetallic property is a 4.3 square kilometer property located in Gowan Township, 27 kilometers ("km") northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario and approximately 16 km due east of Glencore's Kidd Mine Site. The property is prospective for both copper-zinc-VMS deposits with associated precious metals, and nickel-copper-sulphide deposits. The northeastern portion of the Gowan property is underlain by a prospective felsic volcanic package of rocks. Limited exploration efforts in the early to mid 1970's focused on evaluating the northern portion of the property for a Kidd style copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposit. These early exploration programs were successful in demonstrating the potential for this type of mineralization. The highlight of these early exploration efforts was a broad semi-massive sulphide intercept grading 0.32% Cu and 0.35 oz/ton Ag over 36 feet. A shorter interval within this broad section returned 0.66% Cu and 0.31 oz/ton Ag over 12.5 feet including an interval of 0.95% Cu and 0.20 oz/ton Ag across 3 feet. Also of note is a bedrock sample from the bottom of a reverse circulation (RC) drill hole returned 2.26% Cu and 0.11 oz/ton Au . Very limited follow up was conducted on the massive sulphide intercepts and no drill follow up was completed on the copper gold occurrence detected in the bottom of the RC hole. The southern portion of the property is interpreted to be underlain by ultramafic volcanics from limited drilling and magnetic data; this area of the property is thought to be a prospective for nickel-copper sulphides. (Reference: Alamo Petroleum Assessment File, R.S. Middleton P.Eng. 1975) In late March of 2021, Pelangio received preliminary results from an airborne VTEM Plus electromagnetic survey and magnetic survey. The survey outlined a large (1 km by 1.5 km) moderate VTEM response on the flank of a large magnetic anomaly (see Figure 5). In October of 2021, Pelangio completed an induced polarization survey over the central portion of anomaly to define priority drill targets within the broad anomaly. The field data has just been received and processing of the data and interpretation is under way. A drill program for this project is fully funded and will be initiated after a review of the data. Figure 5: Gowan VTEM Response and Compilation Map Qualified Persons Mr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in the Ghana section of this release. Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0221), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in the Canada section of this release. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km 2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km 2 Obuasi property, located four km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario on its Grenfell property, located 10 km from Kirkland Lake, at its Dome West property, situated some 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins and is advancing its Hailstone property in Saskatchewan. See www.pelangio.com for further detail. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, delays due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, above & beyond, the world's pioneering DirectToCommunity beauty brand, announces the launch of an industry leading NFT collection, the first ever linked to a physical consumer goods product, its reusable lip balm. In line with this progressive NFT collection, renowned Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn has collaborated with above & beyond to design a unique physical performance artwork to celebrate the launch of the Green Gobs NFT collection which will be exclusively revealed at Frieze, London. WHAT ARE GREEN GOBS NFTs AND WHY ARE THEY RELEVANT? A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a digital ledger. NFTs can be used to represent easily-reproducible items such as photos, videos, audio, and other types of digital files as unique items, and use blockchain technology to establish a verified and public proof of ownership. Green Gobs is a 5,000 piece NFT collection designed by British brand anarchists and creative activists, Zed Trafficker and Tiger Savage; each one individually linked to a laser engraved QR coded lip balm and minted on the Ethereum blockchain at opensea.io. Yes, there are rare ones. Yes, the distribution is randomised. The GreenGobs NFTs can only be bought by buying a lip balm and 3 refills for 30 at www.nft.unscrewtheplanet.com Entering a 7 digit code and scanning the unique QR code on the lip balm container moves the GreenGobs' NFT piece from the private to public collection on the above & beyond Opensea page. Entering a 7 digit code and scanning the unique QR code on the lip balm container moves the GreenGobs' NFT piece from the private to public collection on the above & beyond Opensea page. The piece is then free to be resold by the owner, with 15% of the resale price donated to earth focused charities chosen by the GreenGob community to be hosted on Discord. We intend to give NFTs a meaning by linking the emotional ownership of art with consumer products designed to be used for a lifetime. Art is not disposed of - nor should products be. above & beyond launched in response to the fact that 91% of plastic ever made has never been recycled, ending up in landfill, and ultimately damaging our oceans with microplastics. 120Bn units of single-use plastic beauty & toiletries packaging are manufactured every year. The world embraces a buy, use, bin culture. We are addicted to the use of single use plastic for wildly inappropriate applications. WE MUST GO ABOVE & BEYOND above & beyond is a brand for good - determined to unscrew the planet, designing and manufacturing products that don't cost the earth. Our first product is a lifetime-use refillable lip balm with microplastic free, biodegradable and compostable refills. It's a world first. A lip balm may seem small and insignificant, but 91% of plastic packaged lip balms are landfilled or incinerated each year. We must move from FMCG to FMReCG* Frieze London runs from 13th-17th October in London. above & beyond website: aandb.world | NFT micro-site: www.nft.unscrewtheplanet.com About above & beyond Owned by Integro Innovations Ltd., above & beyond is a new skincare & beauty brand, designed and manufactured in the UK with a 'reduce, refill' approach to packaging and responsible use of materials and manufacturing. It is wholly owned by The King of Shaves Company Ltd. About Nathan Wyburn Nathan Wyburn is a Welsh artist, who specialises mostly in creating iconic celebrity portraits and 'Pop culture' imagery with non-traditional mediums such as Food (Marmite on Toast, Chocolate, Beans, Pizza, Sweets etc), along with other everyday items (Newspaper cut outs, Soil, glitter, Toothpaste, Motor Oil etc). He has also branched out into making art using his lips, tongue, feet and fingerprints! Taking inspiration from current affairs and media topics, he's never short of ideas and produces work on a weekly basis. About Tiger Savage Born in Manchester, Tiger Savage is regarded as one of the UK's leading female advertising creative directors, with an award winning career spanning three decades. From designing the single cover for the pop group Black, she has worked on a variety of global advertising briefs, projects and causes world-wide. Tiger is a co-founder and creative director of above & beyond. About Zed Anwar An award winning creative; a procurement professional for the NHS, known as Zed Trafficker. *FMReCG; An acronym for Fast Moving (Responsible, Refillable, Reusable, Reimagined) Consumer Goods. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Quantum eMotion Inc. (OTCQB: QNCCF) ("the Company") a company with a mission to address the growing demand for affordable hardware security for connected devices. CEO of the Company, Francis Bellido, joined Stock Day host, Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "Quantum eMotion was formerly called Quantum Numbers Corp.," shared Bellido. "We are developing what we call the next generation of cryptographic solutions," said Bellido. "These cryptographic solutions are based on a quantum random number generator," he continued. "We are trying to bring quantum level security to users." "What does Quantum eMotions do and what kind of commercial applications do you want to bring forward?" asked Jolly. "The strength of encryption algorithms is going to depend on the quality of the random numbers that are used to generate the encryption keys," explained Bellido, adding that currently the process behind encryptions keys is insecure. "The solution to make these encryption keys uncrackable is to use pure random numbers," he said. "The only way in nature that you can rely on pure random phenomena is with quantum mechanics," said Bellido. "That is what our technology does." Bellido then elaborated on the potential and importance of quantum random number generators. "Cyber security is becoming such a huge problem, and it is not getting better," said Bellido. "The quantum revolution is looming; it is coming," shared Bellido, noting the emergence of quantum computers, which will increase the current cyber security problem. "For quantum threats, you need quantum solutions." "What is the status of your technology and when do you think you'll bring a commercial application to fruition?" asked Jolly. "Right now, we have an operational prototype, and we know that the technology works," said Bellido. "What we are doing now is finalizing the manufacturing process of our first product, which would be a portable hardware solution," he explained. "It would enable anyone using the internet to communicate uncrackable information over any device." To hear Frank Bellido's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7959504-quantum-emotion-inc-discusses-commercial-applications-of-quantum-random-number-generator-technol Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the Company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About QeM The Company's mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware security for connected devices. The patented solution for a Quantum Random Number Generator exploits the built-in unpredictability of quantum mechanics and promises to provide enhanced security for protecting high value assets and critical systems. The Company intends to target the highly valued Financial Services, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Networks and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography. For further information, please contact: Francis Bellido, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 514.887.5469 Email: info@quantumemotion.com Website: www.quantumemotion.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in the Corporation's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Quantum from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99495 The Seventh Generation of Zonin Celebrates the First 200 Years of the Company's History GAMBELLARA, Italy, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1821 - 2021: Zonin1821 celebrates 200 years of history and seven generations that have shared the culture of wine throughout the world. The path the company has embarked upon is marked by important milestones that have served to position it among the top five wine producers in Italy[1]. Since its inception, the goal of the Zonin family has been to produce excellent wines and actively contribute to creating a new contemporary wine culture, where Italian DNA blends with multiple international traditions. There are three guiding principles that have enabled the company to attain prestige and recognition on the international stage: tradition, meticulous attention to wine-growing areas, and a strong entrepreneurial dynamism, enhanced by a series of acquisitions made since the 1970s. "As a representative of the seventh generation, together with my brothers, Francesco and Michele, we strongly believe in the value of traditions and continued growth through thoughtful evolution in Italy and abroad. We are committed to the enhancement of our outstanding wines", says Domenico Zonin - President of the company, adding: "This moment of celebration is indeed a source of pride, looking back at the road travelled, but above all, it spurs us on to look to the next 200 years with the same spirit of entrepreneurship, determination and passion that has always distinguished us. Let us raise a glass, therefore, to all the people in the world who work alongside us every day and who enable us to share positive moments and enjoyable get-togethers with an optimistic look to the future, accompanied by the quality and authenticity of our brands". The long-term vision for Zonin1821 is optimistic and will be driven by Family continuity and competence combined with a steadfast passion for winemaking and a rejuvenated management team. Still based at the historic Gambellara headquarters, the three Zonin brothers, Domenico, the President, and Francesco and Michele, Vice Presidents, have decided to entrust the running of the company to a management team, headed since November 2020 by CEO Pietro Mattioni, a veteran of the alcoholic beverage industry, and flanked by a front-line of international professionals. "It is with a significant sense of pride and responsibility that I am leading Zonin1821 through one of the most globally complex and uncertain periods. We know we can count on an exemplary mix of winemaking excellence and strategic expertise. In a category that is both fragmented, but also full of opportunities, the challenge is to reinforce the international expansion and seize opportunities by enhancing the Zonin1821 portfolio. All this, with an eye to the next 200 years", explains Pietro Mattioni, CEO of Zonin1821. With a total turnover of 190 million in 2020[2], amounting to a substantial doubling in the last 10 years, and the value of exports reaching 85%, the company is now an international player, active in over 140 countries and employing some 500 people in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Sweden. Over the years, production and distribution have not been limited to the still and sparkling wines sold under the Zonin brand but since the 1970s also reinforced via the acquisition of important estates located in the most representative terroirs in Italian winemaking history, enabling the company to establish itself in the production of the best Italian DOC and DOCG wines. Ca' Bolani in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Castello del Poggio in Piedmont, Tenuta Il Bosco in Lombardy, Rocca di Montemassi and Castello di Albola in Tuscany, Masseria Altemura in Puglia and Principi di Butera in Sicily are the seven estates that extend across the Italian peninsular and, together with the wines produced in Barboursville, Virginia (United States), and in Chile under the Dos Almas brand, complete the picture of a company and a family in constant evolution. Link to the Zonin1821 Media Room: https://www.zonin1821.com/en/media-room-en/zonin200years-en www.zonin1821.com Founded in 1821, Zonin1821 is one of the most important family-owned wineries in Italy and the world. A historic family of winemakers, now in its seventh generation, it produces Prosecco and still wines under the Zonin brand, high-quality wines from its seven estates located in the Italian regions with the greatest vocation for wine production, as well as wines from the Barboursville Vineyards estate in Virginia Ph +39 0444 640288 [1] Annual ranking by turnover by Anna di Martino, Corriere Economia [2] Value of production (Financial Statement 2020). Related Files Zonin1821_MediaKit ENG_200 years.pdf Related Images Image 1: 200th Anniversary Celebration: 1821-2021 Zonin brothers celebrating 200th Anniversary This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE:TN)(OTC PINK:TTSRF)(FSE:A2D) ("Tartisan", or the "Company") is pleased to provide an additional update for the ongoing 10,000 metre diamond drilling program at the 100% owned Kenbridge Nickel Project located in the Kenora Mining District, Ontario. Highlights include KB21-202 which intersected two nickel-copper zones at a drill depth of 663.0 metres and 693.7 metres. The two zones are interpreted to represent the downdip extension of the two horizons known as "Zone A and Zone B", the zones intersected in holes KB21-198 and KB21-200. In KB21-202 Zone A returned 25.5 metres of 1.13% Ni and 0.61% Cu including higher grade intersections of 4.5 metres of 2.96% Ni and 1.66% Cu and 1.5 metres of 4.17% Ni and 2.14% Cu. This hole was targeted approximately 200 metres down dip of previously released hole KB21-198 which returned 25.6 metres of 1.03% Ni and 0.41% Cu (see press release October 7, 2021). In KB21-202, Zone B returned 13.5 metres of 0.25% Ni and 0.13% Cu. Assay results for drill holes KB21-201 and 202 of the current drilling program are provided in the table below. Holes KB21-198 through KB21-200 have been previously reported. Hole KB21-201 intersected one zone at a drill depth of 762.0 metres. Zone A returned 1.5 metres of 0.52% Ni and 0.22% Cu. This hole was targeted north of holes KB21-202 and KB21-198. Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) surveys have been completed on drill holes KB21-198 and KB21-200. Interpretation suggests that two parallel, steeply dipping, strongly conductive zones extend below the intersections from those holes. Hole KB21-202 appears to confirm this interpretation. Hole KB21-204 was targeted to test these same interpreted conductors approximately 200 metres down dip of KB21-202. The hole has been completed with assays pending. Hole KB21-203 has been suspended due to drill hole conditions. A geophysical crew has been mobilized to the site to survey holes KB21-199, 201, 202, and 204. The TDEM surveys will aid in guiding additional diamond drilling. Table 1. Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) %Ni %Cu %Co KB21-202 A-Zone 663.0 688.5 25.5 1.13 0.61 0.030 including 672.0 676.5 4.5 2.96 1.61 0.066 including 673.5 675.0 1.5 4.17 2.14 0.082 B-Zone 697.5 711.0 13.5 0.25 0.13 0.010 KB21-201 762.0 763.5 1.5 0.52 0.22 0.015 The current drill program is designed to target the down dip and along strike extension of the Kenbridge Ni-Cu Deposit. The Company additionally plans to test the Kenbridge North target with diamond drilling during the current drill campaign. The Kenbridge North target is located approximately 2.5 kilometres north of the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit and was identified from a ground based Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) survey completed in early 2021. The Kenbridge North target is interpreted to represent similar rock types that host the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit. This combined with the EM signature, Kenbridge North is a high priority drill target similar to the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit model (SEDAR, May 5, 2021). Figure 1. Section looking south. Green outline is the current Mineral Resource. Blue and purple are associated gabbro pyroxenite favorable host rocks. Hole 204 is located approximately 150m below the deepest drill hole intersection completed in the 1950's (Drill hole K2011- 4.25% Ni over 3m) The Company previously released an Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of the Kenbridge Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project, Atikwa Lake Area, Northwestern Ontario (SEDAR June 1, 2021). About Tartisan Nickel Corp. Tartisan Nickel Corp. is a Canadian based mineral exploration and development company whose flag ship asset is the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit located in the Kenora Mining District, Ontario. Tartisan also owns; the Sill Lake Silver Property in Sault St. Marie, Ontario as well as the Don Pancho Manganese-Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in Peru. Tartisan Nickel Corp. owns an equity stake in; Eloro Resources Limited, Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited, Peruvian Metals Corp. and Silver Bullet Mines Inc. Tartisan Nickel Corp. common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:TN; OTC:TTSRF; FSE:A2D). Currently, there are 110,817,303 shares outstanding (122,113,344 fully diluted). Dean MacEachern P.Geo. is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and has read and approved the technical content of this News Release. For further information, please contact Mark Appleby, President & CEO and a Director of the Company, at 416-804-0280 (info@tartisannickel.com). Additional information about Tartisan Nickel Corp. can be found at the Company's website at www.tartisannickel.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. SOURCE: Tartisan Nickel Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667852/Tartisan-Nickel-Corp-Intersects-255-metres-of-113-Ni-061-Cu-Including-45-metres-of-296-Ni-166-Cu-and-15-metres-of-417-Ni-214-Cu-at-the-Kenbridge-Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Project-NW-Ontario VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(FSE:TX0)(OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for two holes, GTCM21-015 and 16, drilled as part of the current 10,000 metre Phase 2 drilling program at the Company's optioned property from Newmont Ventures Limited and Miramar Northern Mining Limited (the "Newmont Option") adjacent to its Yellowknife City Gold Project ("YCG"), NWT. Drill hole GTCM21 -16 intersected 5.07 g/t over 8.35 metres including 11.87 g/t gold over 3.08 metres in a strongly strained and sericitized portion of the Campbell Shear. Drill hole GTCM21-015 which was drilled to target the Campbell Shear mineralized zone around 300 metres vertical depth and test the northern extent of the zone did intersect visible gold at 351.60 to 352.60 metres within a zone of intense white quartz and ankerite veining, followed by a weaker mineralized 13.0 metre zone. President and CEO, David Suda, commented, "Our drilling results continue to confirm and extend the potential of the Yellorex zone to add to our current resource of 1.2 million inferred ounces. Both holes released today continue to confirm the continuity of the Yellorex zone within the Campbell Shear. Our current drilling is progressing to extend the zone at depth, currently around 500 metres below surface with hole GTCM21-25 and will continue to test the extension of the zone further as our fully funded program continues. We look forward to providing investors with a steady news flow as we continue to test the strike length and depth potential of the Campbell Shear. " The Phase 2 drilling program started on July 16th and ten (10) holes have been drilled to date totaling approximately 4,430 metres. The drilling is testing the Campbell Shear at the Yellorex zone immediately south of the Con Mine, over a strike length of 1 kilometre and to a depth of 1000 metres. Significant high-grade gold zones were intersected during the Phase 1 drilling program at Yellorex (14.09 g/t Au over 4.65 metres, see April 6, 2021 press release) and in the first hole of the current Phase 2 program with Hole GTCM21-014 (4.22 g/t Au over 17.86 metres, see September 7, 2021 press release). The objective of the drilling is to delineate a high-grade gold mineral resource to add to the Company's current 1.2 million inferred ounces (See the technical report, titled "Technical Report on the 2021 Updated Mineral Resource Estimates, Northbelt Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of March 14, 2021, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and ultimately bring the mineral resources toward economic assessment, and feasibility. Drilling Results A table of drill intersections for holes GTCM21-015 and 16 is shown in Table 1: Table 1: GTCM21-015 and 16 intersections DDH # Easting Northing Azimuth Dip From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) GTCM21-015 635690.7 6922694 107.8 -56.5 351.6 352.6 1.00 3.86 GTCM21-015 357.95 371.63 13.68 1.10 including 365.11 368.19 3.08 2.98 GTCM21-015 386.51 389.60 3.09 2.11 including 386.51 388.26 1.75 3.42 GTCM21-015 401.00 409.77 8.77 1.62 including 403.50 406.93 3.43 3.55 including 403.5 405.43 1.93 5.38 GTCM21-016 635928 6922563.9 117 -53 150.58 158.93 8.35 5.07 including 150.58 153.66 3.08 11.87 Hole GTCM21-015: The drill hole was designed to intersect the mineralized zone within the Campbell Shear below the depth of 300 metres vertical. The Campbell Shear structure was intersected from 349.81 to 448.85 metres down the hole. Three distinct zones were intersected, suggesting that the mineralized system is horse-tailing at that depth and further north (compared to shallower holes where the mineralization is concentrated in a single intersection). The mineralized zones consist of strong sericite alteration with stringers of arsenopyrite and pyrite. Smoky quartz veins with arsenopyrite, stibnite and sphalerite are associated with a higher-grade assay (11.55g/t Au) between 404.87 and 405.43 metres. Between the mineralized zones, the alteration is weaker with low anomalous gold values indicating a continuous halo of mineralization over more than 50 metres. At 351.60 to 352.60 metres, visible gold occurs within a zone with intense white quartz and ankerite veining. Despite several high-grade assays from Gold Terra's drilling on the Campbell Shear, this is the first indication of visible gold, which is encouraging since this hole was drilled deeper than previous holes in this area (GTCM21-003, GTCM21-005 and GTCM21-014). Hole GTCM21-016: The drill hole is a shallow hole drilled to test for the potential continuity of mineralization near surface. The Campbell Shear structure was intersected from 108.65 to 184.25 metres. The sericite alteration is strong, and the mineralization style is similar to previous high-grade holes, consisting of dense arsenopyrite and pyrite stringers and smoky quartz veins which returned high-grade values up to 28.2 g/t Au. Hole GTCM21-016 is an excellent confirmatory hole of the Yellorex zone extending near surface which may potentially contribute to an additional future resources release in 2022. The Phase 2 drilling program is concentrating on the Yellorex one and South Con Mine area with a 50 to 100 metre drill spacing along strike and down dip. Compilation work has shown that the strong sericite alteration and quartz veined gold system is dipping to the west and steeply plunging to the south with an interpreted plunge length of more than 1.5 kilometres. Drill hole locations are shown in Figure 1. A cross-section view with drill hole GTCM21-16 is shown in Figure 2. Figure 1: Location of holes GTCM21 -15 and 16 on Yellorex Zone Figure 2 - Cross section showing the Campbell Shear and drill hole GTCM21-016. Figure 3- Yellorex Zone longitudinal section Technical Appendix This news release reports the assay results from two (2) drill hole of 683.79metres from which 135 core samples were assays. Assays results range from non-detectable gold to a highest assay of 28.2 g/t Au. The Company inserts certified standards and blanks into the sample stream as a check on laboratory Quality Control (QC). Drill core samples are cut by diamond saw at Gold Terra's core facilities in Yellowknife. A halved core sample is left in the core box. The other half core is sampled and transported by Gold Terra personnel in securely sealed bags to ALS (ALS) preparation laboratory in Yellowknife. After sample preparation, samples are shipped to ALS's Vancouver facility for gold analysis. Gold assays of >3 g/t are re-assayed on a 30 g split by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Samples with visible gold are additionally assayed using a screen metallic method. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service. ALS routinely inserts certified gold standards, blanks and pulp duplicates, and results of all QC samples are reported. Drill holes were drilled at right angles to the structure hosting the mineralization and dip angles of holes were designed to intersect the zones as close to normal as possible. Zones reported here are interpreted to be Approximately 90 percent true thickness. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Gold Terra's Yellowknife City Gold Project The YCG project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: David Suda, President and CEO Phone: 604-928-3101 | Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684 dsuda@goldterracorp.com Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 Strazdins@goldterracorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear on the Newmont Option potentially adding high grade ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, future planned drilling on the Newmont Option area and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667816/Gold-Terra-Intersects-507-gt-Over-835-Metres-Including-1187-gt-Gold-Over-308-Metres-at-High-Grade-Yellorex-Gold-Zone-Along-Campbell-Shear-Structure-South-of-Con-Mine-NWT VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / FinCanna Capital Corp. ("FinCanna") (CSE:CALI)(OTCQB:FNNZF), is pleased to announce its ezGreen proprietary software previously approved by the City of Adelanto, CA as an official Point of Sale (POS) vendor is kicking off its first city sanctioned cannabis event later this month with five more scheduled events to follow. The City of Adelanto selected ezGreen POS as it enforces vendors' compliant operations by delivering real time data related to inventory movement and cannabis sales connected with all municipal and California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) approved events. The ezGreen POS platform delivers the dynamic reporting systems needed to accurately identify, in real time, taxes owed for cannabis products sold in any compliant environment. This endorsement provides multiple benefits to ezGreen: an immediate source of revenue generation from on-site dispensary sales an excellent opportunity to showcase the advantages of its POS solution including, fully customizable compliance reporting, workflow management, business analytics and more to dispensary owners participating in these events and importantly, is free to the dispensary license holder highlights the efficacy of its software with respect to real time, compliant tax reporting by dispensaries, an important source of revenue for any municipality in the country that may host or plan to host a publicly sanctioned cannabis related event The upcoming City of Adelanto officially approved festival schedule, with each event expecting to draw thousands of attendees is as follows; October 23, 2021- ComedyChella November 6, 2021 - Kushstock Festival November 26/27, 2021 - Roll Up Festival February 12, 2022- Kushstock Festival April 16/17, 2022-Kushstock Festival July 2, 2022- Kushstock Festival Mike Coner, President of ezGreen stated, "Our ezGreen POS software solves an important and costly problem experienced by the City of Adelanto, as it generates in real time the analytics and inventory reports that will allow city officials to rectify taxes at the conclusion of each event and get paid before the vendors leave the property. This is a common pain point for regulators working with vendors that join sanctioned events in any legal jurisdiction nationally. Additionally, this endorsement positions us to truly showcase our software with participating dispensaries, and we are confident they will be more than pleasantly surprised." Andriyko Herchak, CEO of FinCanna Capital said, "Legal jurisdictions across the US are keenly aware of the potential tax revenue to be derived from legal cannabis sales and accurate real time tracking and reporting of sales is essential to the collection of those tax revenues. Mike has done a great job in gaining endorsement from the City of Adelanto and it is a testament to the strengths of the ezGreen POS system both from a compliance reporting perspective and as a powerful business tool for dispensary operators." About ezGreen The ezGreen POS softwareis the only HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) certified point-of-sale software in the market. It was developed with Automated Healthcare Solutions ("AHCS"), one of the largest point-of-care software solution providers, with an 18-year operational history in the medical sector and was created to provide similar compliance guidelines, standards, and disciplines to the US licensed cannabis industry. The ezGreen business model is a function of its rapidly scalable Software as a Service (SaaS), point-of-sale product that also offers a free solution, generating revenue on a per transaction basis allowing dispensary owners to maintain compliance without another COGS cost that cannot be written off on taxes due to regulation 280e requirements. About FinCanna Capital Corp. FinCanna is an investment company that provides growth capital to rapidly emerging private companies operating in the licensed U.S cannabis industry. FinCanna is focused on delivering high impact returns to its shareholders by way of a strategically diversified investment portfolio. For additional information visit www.fincannacapital.com and FinCanna's profile at www.sedar.com FinCanna Capital Corp. Andriyko Herchak, CEO & Director Investor Relations: Kin Communications 1-866-684-6730 CALI@kincommunications.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All forward looking statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein , without limitation, statements relating the market for, and effectiveness of, ezGreen software, the ability of ezGreen to expand operations and generate sales and revenues, FinCanna's ability to fund and source future projects, and FinCanna's ability to earn and realize revenues and profits from ezGreen. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the CSE listing statement available at www.SEDAR.com and other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the respective companies undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. SOURCE: FinCanna Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667838/FinCanna-Capitals-100-Owned-ezGreen-Announces-Licensed-Cannabis-Events-Schedule-in-City-of-Adelanto-California VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / (TSXV:AUC)(OTCQB:AUCCF)(FRA:9FY), (the "Company" or "Goldplay"), is pleased to announce that it has completed an initial field program on its two properties (together, the "Properties") known as "Big Frank" and "Goldstorm South" (formerly referred to as Niut Mountain"). The properties are located in the western Chilcotin District of southwestern British Columbia (see Figure 1) and have district scale potential for both high-grade epithermal and orogenic gold and copper-gold porphyry deposits (see previous News Release dated August 31, 2021). The Big Frank Project lies 30 km north of the head of Knight Inlet with logging road access to the Hoodoo South showing in the western Project area and is 70 km southwest of a year-round helicopter base at Bluff Lake (Figure 1). The Goldstorm South Project is situated within 4 km from road access and 20 km southeast of the helicopter base. The combined 6-day field program consisted of the collection of 442 rock and soil samples by 4 geologists across the 20 km long Big Frank and 8 km long Goldstorm South Projects. Sample locations are shown on Figures 2 and 3, respectively. Results are pending, but will be released when received. Catalin Kilofliski, Goldplay Mining President & CEO stated: "We quickly and effectively moved from signing a deal on these district scale properties on August 30, 2021, to a one-week due diligence, exploration and sampling program between September 1 and 7th. This work included the collection of 442 samples and the confirmation of district scale potential with large alteration systems. We have posted several short videos on our website taken during the property exams which help to demonstrate this potential. We eagerly await the assay results, are continuing the compilation of the districts and are preparing for next year's field programs." At the Big Frank Property (9,470.8 hectares) , which covers a 15 kilometre long favourable geological trend , a total of 165 soil samples and 114 rock samples were taken over a 4 day period (Figure 2). Field crews completed initial investigations over the Hoodoo North, Confederation Glacier (Southeast Lancers Mountain area) and Hannah/Big Frank mineral occurrences. Sampling programs not only focussed on the confirmation of historical results, such as historical channel samples averaging 85 g/t gold, 51 g/t Ag and >1% copper over 2.0 metres at Hannah, talus fine samples with 1,550 ppb gold at Confederation and a combined approximate 1 km 2 open ended soil anomaly (incorporates >100 ppb Au, >500 ppm Cu, >4 ppm Ag and >25 ppm Mo) at Hoodoo North, but also around the margins of the occurrences (in areas exposed by recent glacial retreat) to potentially expand the target areas. At the Goldstorm South Property (2,379 hectares) , which covers an 8 kilometre long alteration trend , a total of 100 soil samples and 63 rock samples were taken over a 2 day period with field crews conducting initial investigations over the Niut Mountain, Fly and Harvey Gold occurrences (Figure 3). Similar to the work at Big Frank, sampling was conducted to not only confirm previous historical showing areas but also to potentially expand them. Copper occurrences were visually confirmed in the Fly Showing area over a 200 metre area and quartz vein float and subcrop up to 2 metres in size were newly located (Travler zone) as much as 1.5 kilometers northwest along trend of the Harvey Gold area (Photo 1). The new quartz vein showings have not been documented previously in the public records and reports and attest to the underexplored nature of the project, especially for orogenic gold associated with large scale regional faults. The gold zones (Harvey Gold, Fly Creek and the newly discovered Travler, appear to be related to the Niut Mountain fault, a subsidiary of the Tchaikazan fault, which represents the northwesterly extension of the fault system associated with mineralization within the economically important, orogenic type Bralorne gold camp. Figure 1: Regional Geology, Mineral Claims and Properties, West Chilcotin, Southwest BC. Figure 2: Big Frank Property 2021 Sample Locations and Historical Highlights over Geology Figure 3: Goldstorm South Property 2021 Sample Locations and Historical Highlights Qualified Person Jean Pautler, P.Geo., a qualified person with respect to NI 43-101, examined the Big Frank and Goldstorm South properties during the September, 2021 exploration program and reviewed the technical information in this news release. About Goldplay Mining Goldplay Mining is a Canadian public company listed on TSXV and in US on OTCQB. Goldplay holds large district scale gold, and copper-gold projects located in BC's Golden Triangle and southwestern BC with potential for world class mineral discoveries. The Company also holds several brownfield gold, and copper-gold projects located in Portugal with near term mining potential. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Catalin Kilofliski" Catalin Kilofliski President, CEO & Director For further information please contact: Goldplay Mining Inc. Mr. Catalin Kilofliski, President & CEO Suite 650 - 1021 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 0C3 T: (604) 655-1420 E: catalin@goldplaymining.ca www.goldplaymining.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release . Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the exploration potential of the Properties. Generally forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, the lack of recent exploration work on the Properties, results of future exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals, changes in commodity prices and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Although the Company believes current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered are appropriate and that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct or enduring. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements that are contained or incorporated in this press release. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Goldplay Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667856/Goldplay-Completes-Initial-Sampling-at-Big-Frank-and-Goldstorm-South-Projects-and-Confirms-District-Scale-Potential-Resulting-in-New-Discoveries Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) ("Sun Summit" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update from its fall 2021 phase of drilling at its 100% controlled Buck Property, central British Columbia. Two drill rigs are currently operating on site. Highlights Build on high-grade gold discovery: One drill rig is focused on high-grade gold mineralization in the Trench Zone (e.g., 31.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 4.0 metres including 246 g/t gold over 0.5 metres; BK21-020, see SMN news release dated May 11 th , 2021). Nine holes have been completed so far, testing the target area by systematically stepping-out from previously reported significant intervals. One drill rig is focused on high-grade gold mineralization in the Trench Zone (e.g., 31.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 4.0 metres including 246 g/t gold over 0.5 metres; BK21-020, see SMN news release dated May 11 , 2021). Nine holes have been completed so far, testing the target area by systematically stepping-out from previously reported significant intervals. Expand footprint of near-surface, bulk tonnage-style gold mineralization in the Horseshoe Zone and parts of the Trench Zone: One rig is stepping-out from known zones of near-surface, bulk tonnage-style gold mineralization (e.g., 1.07 g/t gold over 109 metres including 7.17 g/t gold over 5.2 metres; BK21-017, see SMN news release dated May 11 th , 2021 ) and investigating lithological and structural controls on mineralization. Four holes have been completed so far in this area. One rig is stepping-out from known zones of near-surface, bulk tonnage-style gold mineralization (e.g., 1.07 g/t gold over 109 metres including 7.17 g/t gold over 5.2 metres; BK21-017, see SMN news release dated May 11 , 2021 and investigating lithological and structural controls on mineralization. Four holes have been completed so far in this area. Additional holes planned: Based on encouraging visual observations from numerous drill holes, together with updated modelling of new lithological and structural data, additional drill holes are planned. Based on encouraging visual observations from numerous drill holes, together with updated modelling of new lithological and structural data, additional drill holes are planned. Assay and geochemical analyses underway: Core samples from two holes have been sent to the lab for assay with additional core shipments anticipated to be submitted on a weekly basis. Bob Willis, Sun Summit's CEO, stated, "We are very pleased with our drill progress so far. The program is moving along as planned and we are hitting encouraging mineralization in all holes. Our geological team has been amending the drill plan based on new information from current drilling and has been updating the exploration model daily. New drill holes based on the refined model are planned. We eagerly await assay results and plan to update shareholders on a regular basis." Drill Program The current drill program has three primary objectives, 1) investigate the extent and continuity of high-grade gold mineralization characteristic of the Trench Zone, 2) investigate the strike-extent of near surface, bulk-tonnage gold mineralization characteristic of the Horseshoe Zone, and 3) investigate the limits of the mineralized hydrothermal footprint. Over 30 drill holes are planned within a footprint of approximately 600 metres by 300 metres (see SMN news release dated September 28th, 2021). Thirteen drill holes totalling over 3,200 metres have so far been completed, all with northeast oriented azimuths. Intervals of pervasive silica and sericite alteration peripheral to quartz-feldspar porphyritic dykes with associated quartz-sulfide veinlets and stockworks have been observed in multiple holes in the Trench Zone. These prospective zones are hosted in fine grained sedimentary and intermediate volcaniclastic rocks. The contact of these bedded rocks with thick sequences of poorly-sorted and chaotic dacitic lapilli tuffs is interpreted to be a partial control on the distribution of gold-bearing, sphalerite-rich sulfide-cemented breccias of the Horseshoe Zone. This interpreted structural contact has been modelled to be northwest trending. Additional drilling is planned to test along this trend between the Trench and Horseshoe zones with the aim of expanding zones of near-surface mineralization while investigating the relationships between the two mineralization styles. Core samples are being dispatched from the Company's core logging facility in Houston, B.C. to the ALS Global preparation facility in Kamloops, B.C. Samples from the first two holes are in the lab and more are anticipated to arrive in the coming days. Buck Property The ~33,000 hectare property is located approximately 12 kilometres south of Houston, British Columbia, has excellent nearby infrastructure and allows for year-round road-accessible exploration. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure This news release has been approved by Sun Summit's CEO, Robert D. Willis, P. Eng. a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has also verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data, underlying the technical information in this news release. Community Engagement Sun Summit is engaging with First Nations on whose territory the Buck Property is located and is discussing their interests and identifying contract and work opportunities, as well as opportunities to support community initiatives. The Company looks forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations as the project continues. Health and Safety The Company's exploration programs are being carried out in full compliance with federal, provincial, and municipal guidelines established in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Sun Summit has a rigorous infection prevention and control protocol in place to protect the health of employees and contractors, as well as surrounding communities in which the Company works. About Sun Summit Sun Summit Minerals is an exploration company focused on expanding its epithermal gold discovery at its flagship Buck Project located in north-central British Columbia. The Company is exploring multiple high priority gold and silver targets through methodical, well-funded exploration campaigns with year round drilling access. The Project has high-grade and bulk-tonnage gold and silver potential and is located in a mining-established region that includes many former operating mines and current exploration projects. Sun Summit is committed to environmental and social responsibility with a focus on responsible development to generate positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Further details are available at www.sunsummitminerals.com For further information, contact: Sharyn Alexander, M.Sc. VP Technical Services Nancy Curry Corporate Communications info@sunsummitminerals.com Tel. 778-588-9606 Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the impact of exploration competition; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (SMN) disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99404 DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 12th Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF), Huawei Executive Director of the Board and Chairman of ICT Infrastructure Managing Board David Wang, delivered a keynote speech titled Roads to Mobile 2030: 10 Wireless Industry Trends, saying "Huawei has identified 10 wireless industry trends to define future-oriented wireless networks and prepare the industry for the Intelligent World 2030." As he explained, by 2030, the digital and physical worlds will become deeply integrated, creating a near-real-life experience. The digital economy will also become a primary driver of the real economy, and industry will shift focus from device efficiency to decision-making efficiency. But these advances will also need us to achieve intrinsic network security and to improve energy efficiency to protect the environment through green growth. Mobile networks will be an important part of Huawei's Intelligent World 2030 concept, and so Wang summarized the 10 trends we will see in the mobile industry over the next decade. Trend 1: 10 Gbps for Physical-Digital Integration In the future, digital communications will be used to expand and deepen exchanges of information between people, delivering multi-sensory experiences including hearing, sight, touch, and smell. To enable these features, mobile networks will need to support 10 Gbps at millisecond latency everywhere and transmit information in ways that are more semantically organized. Trend 2: One Network for 100-Billion All-Scenario IoT Connections Digital society will be reshaped by the 100 billion thing-to-thing connections cellular networks will have to support by 2030. Driven mainly by all-scenario IoT, networks will have to begin offering different types of connections services, differentiated by speed and priority requirements. This means a deterministic experience with lower latency and higher reliability must be delivered and a new form of wireless IoT that features ultra-low power consumption and passive connections must be created. Trend 3: Satellite-Ground Collaboration for 3D Coverage Satellite-ground collaboration will plug the gaps in wireless ground coverage and achieve three-dimensional airspace coverage, enabling communications and control for future drones and aircrafts. Mobile networks, with their exiting advanced communications technologies and multi-trillion dollar market, will also likely be used to nurture the new satellite communications technologies. Trend 4: Integrated Sensing & Communications for True Digital Replicas Sensing and communications will be further integrated, enabling real-time digital replication of the physical world and facilitating high-level autonomous driving and drone management. Both radio interfaces and network architectures will need to be similarly integrated and sensing resolution technology will need to advance to the centimeter level using ultra-wideband with Massive MIMO to achieve these functions. Trend 5: Intelligence in Every Industry and Connection Wireless networks will become fully integrated with AI technologies to enable level-5 fully autonomous driving networks, which will further support automated O&M, deliver premium experiences, and minimize carbon footprints. Future radios will also be designed with native intelligence, and smart radio algorithms will further optimize the management of channel coding and radio resource. Trend 6: Full-Link and Full-Lifecycle Green Networks As network traffic grows 100 times over in the next few years, there will be an equal spike in demand for solutions that reduce network energy consumption. Per-bit energy efficiency will also need to improve at a similar rate. Energy efficiency must be considered in every aspect of network design, including radio interfaces, devices, and sites. This will enable the construction of these full-link and full-lifecycle green and sustainable networks. Trend 7: Flexible Full-Band Sub-100 GHz By 2030, nations will need an average of 2 GHz mid-band bandwidth and over 20 GHz of bandwidths on millimeter wave to accommodate growing traffic. The industry will need to facilitate the evolution of sub-100 GHz spectrum to NR and redefine spectrum utilization using multi-band integration and other innovative technologies to achieve 10-fold spectral efficiency improvement. Trend 8: Generalized Multi-Antenna for Reduced Per-Bit Cost Per-bit data transmission costs will be reduced as multi-antenna technologies begin to be applied to every spectrum band and every scenario. Ultra-wideband modular antennas will support flexible combinations of multiple bands and intelligent reflecting surfaces will apply multi-antenna technologies in more scenarios to enable cloud-based, higher-performance deployment. Trend 9: Security as the Cornerstone for a Digital Future Intrinsic device security and intelligent and simplified security at the network layer will become increasingly important as network security and resilience come more into the global spotlight. Operators will need to provide these kinds of simplified security services via cloud-network synergy for their industry customers to promote digital transformation. Trend 10: Mobile Computing Network for Device-Pipe-Cloud Collaboration Future mobile networks will support more diverse services, such as the Metaverse, industrial field networks, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. This means that computing will need to be integrated with mobile networks to provide uninterrupted, high-quality services on demand as a single service model will be insufficient for building new digital platforms. Wang rounded out his presentation by reiterating how these 10 industry trends are a bright sign that the wireless industry is moving quickly in the direction of a fully intelligent world. He closed out promising Huawei will continue to work with industry partners to define these networks of the future and make their vision of the Intelligent World 2030 a reality. For more information, see the White Paper: 10 Wireless Industry Trends. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659364/David_Wang_delivering_a_keynote_speech_MBBF_2021.jpg Three drill holes fanned from the "discovery" hole J-21-011 returned similar high gold grades, highlighted by 13.9 g/t Au over 6 m and broader intervals of gold mineralization Values of 45.0 g/t (1.59 oz/ton) Au over 1.5 m and 31.1 g/t Au (1.1 oz/ton) over 1.5 m associated with apparently "barren" quartz and in host mudstones show variable styles of gold deposition Multiple mineralized structures observed, system open in all directions Assays pending for nine additional holes at Jupiter across 1.1 km on surface, including J-21-020 which carried visible gold. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. (CSE:SGD) (OTCQB:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is pleased to announce additional assay results from Phase I drilling at the Jupiter zone on its district-scale Einarson gold project in the Yukon Territory, Canada. A set of three holes drilled radially from the same pad as J-21-011 (see Snowline's August 25, 2021 news release) all hit significant gold mineralization, indicating a broad zone comprising multiple gold-bearing structures and rock units. Drillhole From To Width (m) Au (g/t) J-21-010 57.0 62.5 5.5 5.15 108.5 121.5 13.0 3.45 including 112.5 115.0 2.5 9.57 166.6 176.1 9.5 5.01 including 170.1 171.6 1.5 17.67 179.0 185.0 6.0 10.64 including 183.5 185.0 1.5 31.10 J-21-012 50.0 56.0 6.0 13.90 including 54.5 56.0 1.5 45.00 J-21-013 80.5 107.5 27.0 2.59 including 85.0 86.0 1.0 11.10 and 94.0 96.0 2.0 11.20 123.4 134.0 10.6 4.02 including 128.5 131.0 2.5 13.78 "These results build on our discovery hole, demonstrating the presence of a robust gold system at Jupiter," said Scott Berdahl, CEO and director of Snowline. "We were excited this summer to get the excellent results from J-21-011. To follow that up with multiple broad gold intercepts with high grades across multiple holes indicates the significance of this mineralizing system. Combined with our observation of gold in various forms-including native gold-this suggests a large, fertile fluid system that readily precipitated gold in the Jupiter area. We look forward to seeing more drillhole assay results from encouraging intersections observed in broad step-outs as the Jupiter discovery continues to take shape." Figure 1 - Drill section showing holes J-21-010 to J-21-013, with gold assays represented as yellow bar plots downhole. A preliminary schematic interpretation suggests mineralized zones (red) dip roughly east-northeast, though this basic interpretation is unlikely to capture structural complexity suggested by fold and fault structures observed in drill core, and the continuity between holes remains to be seen. Hole J-21-012 was drilled towards the viewer and is truncated where it pierces 50 m in front of section. It was only assayed in a few select intervals below this point. Hole J-21-013 projects slightly backwards from the section. True widths of reported intersections are not yet known but are expected to be between 50 to >90% of reported intervals. Hole J-21-010 intersected extensive gold mineralization, including five distinct gold zones with grades above 8.9 g/t Au, to a maximum of 31.1 g/t Au over 1.5 m in quartz at the base of an interval of mineralized mudstone (Figure 3). Averaging all gold values from surface to the base observed mineralization, including unmineralized intervals and assuming no gold content in the top 6.5 m of overburden and unsampled material, yields 1.17 g/t Au over 185 m. Hole J-21-012 was thought to be mostly barren due to a paucity of gold-associated minerals and was only partially sampled. Limited sampling, however, returned a zone of 13.9 g/t Au over 6.0 m, including 45.0 g/t Au over 1.5 m of altered mudstones cut by quartz-carbonate veins (Figure 4). Hole J-21-013 was drilled towards the east, away from the target area and surface geochemical anomaly. However, it too hit extensive gold mineralization, including a 27.0 m interval averaging 2.59 g/t Au and a separate interval of 13.8 g/t Au over 2.5 m (Figure 5). Figure 2 - Plan map of the Jupiter zone with newly received assays in the context of the broader soil and rock geochemical anomaly. Holes are labelled with significant assay results received to date. Results for nine holes are still pending. Collar sites are shown as circles with drill traces shown as solid black lines. Snowline's 2021 drill campaign is the first ever drill testing of the recently identified Jupiter zone on the district-scale Einarson gold project. Figure 3 - Visually unimpressive core from J-21-010 returned impressive grades. The 6 m interval shown from 179 m to 185 m downhole averaged 10.6 g/t Au in altered Narchilla formation siltstones with disseminated arsenopyrite. The final 1.5 m from 183.5 m to 185 m downhole, which has a larger quartz component and likely pierces a fold hinge, returned 31.1 g/t Au. True widths are not known but based on core angles are estimated at 70-90% of downhole intervals for this section. Figure 4 - Hole J-21-012 lacked the gold-associated mineral arsenopyrite but did not lack gold. The 6-metre interval from 50 to 56 m downhole averaged 13.9 g/t Au, including 1.5 metres of 45.0 g/t Au from 54.5 m hosted largely in altered siltstones. The lack of arsenopyrite is an encouraging sign from a metallurgical standpoint. True width of this interval is not known but is estimated at 70 to 90% or more of the downhole interval. Figure 5 - Gold bearing fold hinges in J-21-013. The 2.5 m interval from 128.5 m to 131.0 m downhole averaged 13.8 g/t Au, near the base of a 10.6 m interval averaging 4.02 g/t Au. The true width and the overall geometry of this intercept is not known, but it is estimated to be between 50-70% of the downhole interval. This image was shown in a previous Snowline release (August 25, 2021) as evidence of promising mineralization observed visually in forthcoming holes. The company eagerly awaits results from additional promising holes that have assays pending. At Jupiter, anomalous gold concentrations are found in and around fault zones, in local fold hinges, in quartz veins and disseminated within sulphide-bearing mudstones of the Narchilla Formation. Gold is commonly associated with acicular to fine grained "sooty" arsenopyrite and varying amounts of pyrite, though it is also observed in quartz carbonate veins with low sulphide content and as rare instances of native gold. Multiple vein generations demonstrate that multiple fluid events affected the rocks. Gold mineralization usually occurs within larger zones of clay alteration that partially bleach the colours of the host mudstones. A distinct olive-green coloured clay alteration is associated with many mineralized zones. The diversity in styles and settings of gold mineralization along with host-rock alteration observed over more than a kilometer are evidence of a large, fertile hydrothermal fluid system that readily deposited gold. Drillhole ID Coordinates (NAD83 Zn9) Orientation (True) Interval* (metres) Grade (Au g/t) Easting Northing Azimuth Dip From To Width J-21-005 381494 7089921 250 -50 44.0 45.0 1.0 0.98 J-21-010 381905 7089136 300 -50 57.0 62.5 5.5 5.15 69.0 73.5 4.5 1.31 97.0 101.0 4.0 1.26 108.5 121.5 13.0 3.45 including 112.5 115.0 2.5 9.57 remainder 10.5 2.00 136.0 137.5 1.5 6.96 166.6 176.1 9.5 5.01 including 170.1 171.6 1.5 17.67 remainder 8.0 2.64 179.0 185.0 6.0 10.64 including 183.5 185.0 1.5 31.10 remainder 4.5 3.82 From surface: 0.0 185.0 185.0 1.17 J-21-012 381906 7089138 230 -50 21.0 24.0 3.0 1.16 50.0 56.0 6.0 13.90 including 54.5 56.0 1.5 45.00 remainder 4.5 3.53 J-21-013 381908 7089135 90 -70 80.5 107.5 27.0 2.59 including 85.0 86.0 1.0 11.10 and 94.0 96.0 2.0 11.20 remainder 24.0 1.52 123.4 134.0 10.6 4.02 including 128.5 131.0 2.5 13.78 From surface: 0.0 134.0 134.0 0.86 Jupiter likely represents an epizonal orogenic gold system. It is one of ten target zones prospective for orogenic and/or Carlin-style gold mineralization currently recognized on Snowline Gold's 70%-owned, district-scale Einarson project. Adjacent projects Rogue and Ursa are prospective for intrusion-related gold, and sediment-hosted gold and base metal deposits. No resources nor reserves have been estimated for any of these targets, and while current results are encouraging, they do not guarantee that economically viable ore bodies will be encountered at Jupiter or elsewhere. Readers are cautioned that without assay results, the true significance of the intersections reported herein is uncertain. FORTHCOMING RESULTS The Company awaits assay information on an additional nine holes from Jupiter, including J-21-020 which contained visible gold, and other holes with encouraging zones of alteration, quartz-carbonate veins and/or sulphide mineralization. In addition to the remaining drillhole results from the Jupiter zone, the company also awaits assay information for its four holes drilled at the Valley zone on the nearby Rogue project. All four holes at Valley intersected trace amounts of visible gold in drill core. Valley is a reduced-intrusion related gold target following a bulk-tonnage exploration model. Gold is hosted in large networks of centimetre-scale sheeted quartz veins within and around a felsic intrusion. In hole V-21-001, sheeted quartz veins were observed across its 161 m length. Thirty-one of the many veins observed in this hole contained trace amounts of visible gold, with up to five gold grains in a given vein. Visible-gold bearing veins were distributed roughly evenly across the length of the hole. QA/QC AND QUALIFIED PERSON On receipt from the drill site, drill core was systematically logged for geological attributes, photographed and sampled. Smaller sample lengths were used to isolate zones of interest, otherwise a default 1.5 m downhole sample length was used. The holes in this release were not sampled top to bottom. Core was cut in half lengthwise, with one half collected for analysis and one half stored as a record. Standard reference materials, blanks and duplicate samples were inserted by Snowline personnel at regular intervals into the sample stream. Bagged samples were sealed with security tags to ensure integrity during transport. They were delivered by expeditor and by Snowline personnel to ALS Laboratories' preparatory facility in Whitehorse, Yukon, with analysis completed in Vancouver. ALS is accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref 4028 for its laboratory analysis. Samples were crushed by ALS to >70% passing below 2 mm and split using a riffle splitter. 250 g splits were pulverized to >85% passing below 75 microns. An aqua regia digest with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) finish was used for 51-element analysis on 50 g samples (ALS code: Au-ME-TL44). Any sample returning >50 ppb Au was re-analysed for gold content by fire assay with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish on 30 g samples (ALS code: Au-ICP21). Over-limit samples of >10 g/t Au were analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish again on a 30 g sample (ALS code: Au-GRA21). Where more than one gold assay exists for a sample, assays reported herein prioritize these methods in reverse order. Information in this release has been prepared and approved by Scott Berdahl, P. Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Snowline and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration company with a seven-project portfolio covering >106,000 ha. The Company is exploring its flagship 72,000 ha Einarson and Rogue gold projects in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin. Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits including Kinross' Fort Knox mine, Newmont's Coffee deposit, and Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine. Snowline's first-mover land position provides a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the creation of a new gold district. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Scott Berdahl, MSc, MBA, PGeo CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Snowline Gold Corp. +1 778 650 5485 info@snowlinegold.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company reviewing its newly acquired project portfolio to maximize value, reviewing options for its non-core assets, including targeted exploration and joint venture arrangements, conducting follow-up prospecting and mapping this summer and plans for exploring and expanding a new greenfield, district-scale gold system. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667877/Snowline-Gold-Intersects-139-Grams-Per-Tonne-Gold-Over-60-M-Including-450-Grams-Per-Tonne-Gold-Over-15-Metres-Among-Widespread-Gold-Hits-at-Its-Jupiter-Zone-Einarson SACRAMENTO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Demand Brands, Inc. (OTC PINK:DMAN), ("Company" or "DMAN"), which markets products via its Lucky Chief brand http://www.luckychief.com announced today that it has entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "CSPA") with an Institutional Investment Fund ("Fund ") for a $5 million equity investment into the Company. The CSPA with the Fund, which is one of the largest student and alumni venture funds in the US, requires DMAN to audit its Financial Statements, become a fully reporting SEC company and up list. The Company has also granted the Fund an opportunity to purchase an additional $5 million of the Company stock via warrant agreements. The Company is in the process of engaging an auditor and expects to make an application to up list prior to the end of the year. The Fund is primarily focused on investments that will have a lasting positive impact on the Millennial generation and maintains a diverse portfolio of investments in both private and public companies. Alan Ochoa, Senior Analyst of the Fund, commented, "After speaking with management, running due diligence on Mr. Dixon's business model, and visiting their corporate office in Sacramento, we feel confident that Demand Brands Inc. and Lucky Chief are merely at the ground level with vast potential for growth over the next couple of years. It's not often when you see a vertically integrated cannabis company with all the verticals including genetics ready to scale in two states. This is one of the most exciting investments for our Fund this year and we are happy to be one of the company's financial and strategic partners." Ian Dixon, Chairman & CEO of Demand Brands Inc. added, "Having a strong Institutional Investment Fund on board and a new, valuable source of capital is not only a validation of the Lucky Chief and DMAN vision, but will accelerate and drive growth and development of our vertically integrated cannabis business model and expand our genetic and retail footprint throughout California and Oklahoma. We look forward to showing that the Fund's confidence in us is well deserved." About the Institutional Investment Fund The Institutional Investment Fund focuses on investments that will have a lasting positive impact on the Millennial generation with a portfolio of both private and public companies. The aim of their Fund is to create a learning platform supported by alumni that will provide real-world experience and help bridge the gap between a STEM dominated university and Wall Street, helping students jumpstart their careers in finance, while providing strategic capitalization, business development support, and engineered exits to organizations with a viable future in the modern economy. About Lucky Chief - Lucky Chief is a lifestyle brand which pioneers the avenues of research, cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis and cannabinoids. Lucky Chief was one of the first licensed producers of cannabis concentrates in California out of their Type 7 Lab in Oakland CA and has their own in-house catalog of THC genetics. The vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" operation has been on dispensary shelves since 2016. The brand is also building out an in-house cannabis dispensary named the Cannabis Outlet with the flagship location under construction in Atwater, CA. This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes", "belief", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "projects" "will", or "plans" to be uncertain and forward looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Press Contact: connect@pacifictechnologiesgroup.com 323-967-7900 SOURCE: Demand Brands, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667835/Institutional-Investment-Fund-to-Invest-5M-in-Demand-Brands-DMAN Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTCQB: DAUGF) (the "Company") is pleased to provide initial results from its recently completed 257 hole, 18,161 metre drill program. As of October 7, results for approximately 2,700 samples or 14% of the 19,861 drill samples, are pending. Based on the lab's schedule, the Company anticipates receiving results for most samples by mid October. The 440 km2 SMSZ Project is both named after and overlies a 43 km section of the Senegal Mali Shear Zone (the "SMSZ"). The SMSZ is related to 5 large mines located both to the north and south, along strike, including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine, Barrick's Gounkoto and Loulo Mines and Allied Gold's Sadiola and Yatela Mines[1]. To the Company's knowledge, the SMSZ Project is the largest, contiguous, non-producer land package over this highly prospective structural feature (see Figure 1.). The Company's goal is to discover a tier 1 gold deposit associated with the regional-scale, gold-bearing fault and shear zones that pass through the SMSZ Project. Exploration at the SMSZ Project has discovered in excess of 22 gold zones with 2021 exploration data strongly suggesting that more will be discovered. A complete set of results have been received for drilling in two areas including the Manakoto and Barani East/Barani Gap areas. Drilling at Manakoto returned anomalous to strong gold values across eight, partially to well-defined structures, in the first pass drill program, with intercepts of up to 1.65 g/t gold over 21 meters (see Figure 2) and five wide, 10 metres or greater (to 45 metres) zones of gold bearing alteration (0.1 to 0.5 g/t gold). The Manakoto area is highlighted by a historic drill intercept to 1.84 g/t gold over 30 metres and numerous, anomalous Au-in-auger defined trends. This structurally complex area, which lies where the Senegal Mali Shear Zone makes a sharp northwest directional change, remains a high priority exploration target. Good grade, but, narrow gold zones were intersected at the north end and to depth near the southern extent of the Barani East zone. As well, 2021 drilling to follow-up drill step outs from 2019 holes that returned to 3.03 g/t gold over 10 metres, demonstrated good continuity of the gold mineralization with the Barani East Zone supporting an inferred strike length for the Barani East Zone, of approximately 2.5 kilometres (see Figures 3 and 4). Drilling in this area, also intersected 2 new gold zones. Desert Gold's President & CEO, Jared Scharf commented, "Initial exploration results at Manakoto show multiple wide zones of gold enrichment which illustrate potential to host a large gold deposit with more work. Gold mineralization at the Barani East zone has now been traced for over 2.5 kilometres. More drilling will be required to truly understand the exploration potential of these vast areas." A summary of the Manakoto, Barani East and Barani Gap results are as follows (see Figures 2 and 3). True widths are estimated at 70 to 90% of drilled length. Manakoto 1.68 g/t gold over 6.0 metres in hole DJ-21-AC-042 - Zone MZ1 1.65 g/t gold over 21 metres in hole DJ-21-AC-058 - Zone MZ2 0.91 g/t gold over 11 metres in hole DJ-21-AC-059 - Zone MZ2 1.98 and 1.72 g/t gold over 5 and 3 metres respectively, in hole DJ-21-RC-005 - Zone MZ3 5.68 g/t gold over 2 metres in hole DJ-21-AC-051 - Zone MZ4 2.12 g/t gold over 2 metres in hole DJ-21-RC-006 - Zone MZ5 0.45 g/t gold over 20 metres (including 0.8 g/t over 6 metres) in hole DJ-21-AC-054 - New Zone MZ5 0.5 g/t gold over 11 metres in hole DJ-21-AC - Zone MZ-1 - New Zone MZ6 0.34 g/t gold over 45 metres in hole DJ-21-AC-043 - Zone MZ7 Barani East 12.1 g/t gold over 1.0 metre in hole BERCD0017 0.82 g/t gold over 2.5 metres in hole BERCD008 10.5 g/t gold over 1.4 metres in hole BERCD009 Barani Gap 0.54 g/t gold over 6 metres in hole FA-21-RC-002 - Barani East Zone extension 0.62 g/t gold over 6 metres in hole FA-21-RC-003 - Barani East Zone extension 0.86 g/t gold over 4 metres in hole FA-21-RC-004 - Barani East Zone extension 0.93 g/t gold over 5 metres in hole FA-21-RC-013 - Barani East Zone extension 0.55 g/t gold over 5 metres in hole FA-21-AC-020 - Barani East Zone extension Barani West 1.51 g/t gold over 5 metres in hole FA-21-AC-031 - New Zone Includes 7 g/t Au over 1 metre Keniegoulou South 1.05 g/t gold over 7 metres in hole FA-21-RC-012 - New Zone Technical Details Data for 94 holes totaling 7,073 metres is presented in this news release. These comprise 69 air core (AC) holes totaling 3,581 metres, 23 RC holes totaling 3,007 metres and 2 RCD holes totaling 486 metres. The Manakoto area returned strong results with drilling intersecting at least eight, well altered shear zones that returned strong to highly anomalous gold values along mineralized trends that can be traced for up to 1,700 metres. Combined, these anomalous structures comprise 6,650 metres of gold bearing exploration targets. The bulk of the Barani area holes were designed to test geochemical and geophysical IP chargeability anomalies. This work led to the discovery of new mineralization at Barani West, where a hole testing a 204 ppb gold soil anomaly returned 1.51g/t gold over 5 metres and at Keniegoulou South where an 820 metre step-out, to test a 5,610 ppb gold-in-auger anomaly, returned 1.05 g/t gold over 7 metres. More drilling is required in both of these areas. Manakoto Details The Manakoto area lies at the northern end of the property package proximal to where the Senegal Mali Shear Zone turns sharply to the northwest. In this area gold-in soil, gold-in-auger and historic drilling show at least eight north- to northwest-trending shear zones and fault structures that splay off of the Senegal Mali Shear Zone, within a 1 km wide by 2 km long area (see Figure 2). More, untested gold-in auger anomalies at the southern end of the area, remain to be tested, suggesting potential for additional mineralized zones. Previous drilling returned intercepts to 1.84 g/t gold over 30 metres with a 2021 best hole returning 1.65 g/t gold over 21 metres. 2021 drill holes comprising 2,196 metres in 42 shallow holes (most 50 metres long) were designed to both validate historic gold-bearing trends and to complete first pass drilling over new targets. This work resulted in the discovery of two new gold-bearing structures and the validation of six other trends. Mapping and modelling suggest that the gold bearing zones are near flat plunging with limited, 50 to 100 metres, of down-dip extent and an expectation that more flat plunging lenses will be discovered with continued exploration. Historic drilling in this area totals 7,106 metres in 155 holes. The MZ1 Zone returned the best results with an historic intercept of 1.84 g/t gold over 30 metres (Figure 2). 2021 drilling extended the zone for an additional 100 metres to the north with intercepts of 1.68 g/t gold over 6 metres and nearby intercept of 0.47 g/t gold over 16 metres. This zone has been tested by drilling along a strike length of approximately 700 metres with geochemical data suggesting the Zone could be 1,000 metres long. The MZ2 Zone lies approximately 150 metres west of the MZ1 Zone and returned the strongest intercept in the Manakoto area at 1.65 g/t over 21 metres (Figure 2). This structure has been traced for approximately 1,100 metres along strike with geochemical data suggesting a potential strike extent of 1,700 metres. A large, artisanal excavator open pit (150 by 25 by 15 metres) marks the location of the MZ3 zone. Previous trenching returned 1.16 g/t gold over 8.3 metres, 2.71 g/t gold over 5 metres and 13.29 g/t gold over 2 metres. The first hole into this structure returned 2 closely spaced intercepts of 1.98 g/t gold over 5 metres and 1.72 g/t gold over 3 metres. These intercepts represent a 50 metre vertical step out. Prospecting, trench and artisanal mining activity, indicates that this zone can be traced for 400 metres along strike and is open in all directions. Note that there is no anomalous soil data in this area and auger drilling has not been carried out over this target. Auger and drill data indicates that the MZ4 zone, which appears to lie immediately west of the Senegal Mali Shear Zone, can be traced for approximately 450 metres along strike. The recent program returned an intercept of 5.68 g/t gold over 2 metres from a single drill AC fence across the target. The MZ5 target is approximately 500 metres long. Previous drilling returned an intercept of 2.79 g/t gold over 8 metres. A follow-up RC hole returned an intercept of 2.12 g/t gold over 2 metres. A couple fences across this target, to test gold-in-auger values, in general returned anomalous, but, low grade intercepts. MZ6 is a new zone, drilled to test a gold-in-auger anomaly. One hole drilled to test the target returned 0.50 g/t gold over 11 metres. Gold-in-auger data suggest that this target could extend to the south for 800 metres. The MZ7 trend returned the widest width of mineralization with an intercept of 0.34 g/t gold over 45 metres including 0.55 g/t gold over 6 metres and 0.60 g/t gold over 9 metres. A historic intercept, 200 metres to the south, returned 3.32 g/t gold over 6 metres. The MZ7 trend can be traced for approximately 800 metres. A drill hole across the MZ8 trend returned an intercept of 0.44 g/t gold over 12 metres. This hole is located approximately 100 metres north of historic intercepts of 2.79 g/t gold over 8 metres and 6.08 g/t gold over 1.5 metres. Drill, auger and soil results suggest that this trend is approximately 500 metres long with weak gold mineralization at the northern end. Barani East Details Eight holes were drilled to further test the Barani East Zone, with 6 holes drilled along strike and two holes to depth to test the down-plunge of the higher-grade lens (see Figure 3). The northern edge of the modeled zone was enhanced by an intercept of 12.1 g/t gold over 1 metre. Two holes to test the down plunge of the main lens of gold mineralization intersected a series of narrow, lower grade mineralization with a best of 1.37 g/t gold over 3 metres. However, both of these holes appeared to intersect en-echelon higher grade zones that returned 10.5 g/t gold over 1.4 metres and 0.82 g/t gold over 2.5 metres. Both of these intercepts appear to be open down dip with the latter open up dip as well. Based on the results of these two holes, it appears that the lens of higher grade Barani East mineralization may be steeper than originally modelled (see Figure 4). In addition, holes drilled within the Barani Gap continued to intersect gold bearing zones which support extending the Barani East zone to the southeast into the Keniegoulou Zone. Additional drilling will be required along the strike of this mineralized trend. Two additional holes were drilled to test a parallel lens of gold mineralization, with intercepts to 2.22 g/t gold over 17 metres (RCSP123) located approximately 650 metres to the southeast. One hole, BERC0018 returned several wide (up to 13 metres) zones of gold-bearing alteration (containing from 0.1 to 0.4 g/t gold) and a seven-metre-wide zone that returned 0.45 g/t gold. The second hole, drilled 45 metres to the south of RCSP123, returned low gold values. Barani Gap Details The Barani Gap area, located south of the Barani East Zone, is interpreted to cover the southern strike extension of the Barani East Zone. Six holes were drilled, as 50 to 100 metre step-outs to previous intercepts of 3.03 g/t gold over 10 metres, 1.32 g/t gold over 8 metres and 0.72 g/t gold over 7 metres with all holes intersecting modest grade gold mineralization over 4 to 7 metres, where expected (see Figure 3). Further review indicates that the Barani East/Barani Gap mineralization likely extends south into the Keniegoulou Zone with a combined strike the gold-bearing trend of in excess of 2.5 kilometres. This mineralization will be modelled and, if appropriate, combined with the Barani East resource model as part of an updated resource estimate (see long section, Figure 4) scheduled for later Q4, 2021. Barani West and Keniegoulou South These two new gold zones, represent new gold zones discovered as a follow-up of geochemical anomalies. The new Barani West zone, 1.51 g/t gold over 5 metres was discovered by testing 204 and 271 ppb gold-in-soil anomalies. This intercept may correlate to intercepts of 0.63 g/t gold over 16 metres located 760 metres to the north and 1.15 g/t gold over 6 metres, located 960 metres to the north. Combining these intercepts with anomalous untested gold-in soil values, suggest that this mineralized zone could have a strike length of in excess of 1,500 metres. The new Keniegoulou South Zone, 1.05 g/t over 7 metres, was discovered by testing a 5,610 ppb gold-in-auger anomaly. This hole represents an 850 metre step-out from the nearest hole and represents a target area that lies immediate east of the interpreted location of a shear zone that lies parallel to the Senegal Mali Shear Zone. Pending Results Partial results have been received at the Gourbassi East and West Zones and gold-in-auger targets to the north of the Barani Zone. Drilling was not completed over the Soa, Dambamba and Frikidi areas due to the onset of the rainy season. 152 holes totalling 8,000 metres of planned holes have not been drilled. Drill assay results will be released as a group for the different target areas after complete sets of assays have been received, validated and interpreted. QAQC All auger and drill samples are delivered to SGS in Bamako, Mali where they are prepped. The prepped samples, are both shipped by truck to SGS's facility in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, or remain at SGS's laboratory in Bamako, for Au determination by fire assay. Standards, assay blanks and sample duplicates, are inserted into the assay stream every 22 to 30 samples, respectively equaling one control sample for every approximately every 8 assay samples. All assay batches are reviewed for quality with re-assays requested 20 samples on either side of standards that assay more than 2 to 3 SD from an excepted value and for blanks that contain more than 10 ppb gold. There is no QAQC record for the historic fire assays for the Barani East, Barani, Keniegoulou, Keniegoulou South and KE zones and as such, until validated, may not be relied on with 100% certainty. However, from follow-up exploration carried out to date, the correlation between historic gold values and subsequent validation work, have generally been withing acceptable parameters. This press release contains certain scientific and technical information. The Company is solely responsible for the contents and accuracy of any scientific and technical information related to it. Don Dudek, P.Geo. a director of Desert Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release. 1 True width unknown On Behalf of the Board "Jared Scharf" ___________________________ Jared Scharf President & CEO About Desert Gold Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is a gold exploration and development company which holds 2 gold exploration permits in Western Mali (SMSZ Project and Djimbala)and its Rutare gold project in central Rwanda. For further information please visit www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile. Website: www.desertgold.ca Contact Jared Scharf, President and CEO Email: jared.scharf@desertgold.ca Tel. No.: +1 (858) 247-8195 Figure 1 - SMSZ Project Location, Regional Geology and Major Deposits in Western Mali and Eastern Senegal To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/99366_cbb2ff5604e2aa79_001full.jpg Figure 2. Summarized results for the Manakoto Target area To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/99366_cbb2ff5604e2aa79_002full.jpg Figure 3. Summarized results for the Barani East Area including Keniegoulou, Barani, KE and Keniegoulou South Zone To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/99366_cbb2ff5604e2aa79_003full.jpg Figure 4 - Keniegoulou to Barani East Long Section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/99366_cbb2ff5604e2aa79_004full.jpg This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations, are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such statements. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the capital markets, the price of gold; operational, funding, liquidity risks, the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources, the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable, and the risks and hazards associated with mining operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com and readers are urged to read these materials. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements unless required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the united states securities act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such act. Table 1 - Drill Result Summary BHID FROM TO LENGTH Au_ppm Target BERC0016 NSV Barani East BERC0017 40 42 2 0.7 Barani East BERC0017 122 123 1 12.23 Barani East BERC0018 95 102 7 0.45 Barani East BERC0019 45 48 3 0.6 Barani East BERC0020 120 121 1 2.95 Barani East BERC0021 95 96 1 1.02 Barani East BERCD0008 171 173.85 2.85 0.61 Barani East BERCD0008 212 214.5 2.5 0.82 Barani East BERCD0009 20 21 1 1.46 Barani East BERCD0009 183.55 184.9 1.35 10.5 Barani East BERCD0009 199.2 202.85 3.65 1.57 Barani East BERCD0009 228 228.45 0.45 0.77 Barani East BERCD0009 231.5 233 1.5 0.81 Barani East DJ-21-AC-028 42 53 11 0.5 Manakoto - MZ6 DJ-21-AC-029 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-030 6 17 11 0.46 Manakoto - MZ1 Incl. 10 17 7 0.63 Manakoto - MZ1 DJ-21-AC-031 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-032 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-033 21 22 1 0.62 Manakoto DJ-21-AC-033 48 49 1 1.13 Manakoto DJ-21-AC-034 11 20 9 0.45 Manakoto - MZ2 Incl. 16 19 3 0.9 Manakoto DJ-21-AC-035 10 55 45 0.34 Manakoto - MZ7 Incl. 19 25 6 0.55 Manakoto - MZ7 Incl. 37 46 9 0.6 Manakoto - MZ7 DJ-21-AC-036 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-037 NSV DJ-21-AC-038 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-039 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-040 9 10 1 1.87 Manakoto DJ-21-AC-041 40 47 7 0.72 Manakoto - MZ1 DJ-21-AC-042 5 11 6 1.68 Manakoto - MZ1 DJ-21-AC-042 14 30 16 0.47 Manakoto - MZ1 DJ-21-AC-043 48 54 6 0.34 Manakoto - MZ6 DJ-21-AC-044 39 50 11 0.41 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-044 53 57 4 0.5 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-045 3 14 11 0.3 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-045 27 28 1 0.72 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-046 37 49 12 0.44 Manakoto - MZ8 DJ-21-AC-047 NSR Manakoto DJ-21-AC-048 NSR Manakoto DJ-21-AC-049 NSR Manakoto DJ-21-AC-050 26 27 1 1.65 Manakoto - MZ4 DJ-21-AC-051 12 14 2 5.68 Manakoto - MZ4 DJ-21-AC-052 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-053 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-054 22 42 20 0.45 Manakoto - MZ5 Incl. 29 35 6 0.8 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-055 44 54 10 0.42 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-055 46 48 2 1.17 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-056 47 60 13 0.39 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-056 48 50 2 0.83 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-057 10 20 10 0.34 Manakoto - MZ5 DJ-21-AC-058 11 32 21 1.65 Manakoto - MZ2 DJ-21-AC-059 0 11 11 0.91 Manakoto - MZ2 DJ-21-AC-060 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-062 20 21 1 0.68 Manakoto DJ-21-AC-064 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-065 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-066 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-AC-067 NSV Manakoto DJ-21-RC-005 61 66 5 1.98 Manakoto - MZ3 DJ-21-RC-005 73 73 3 1.72 Manakoto - MZ3 DJ-21-RC-006 6 8 2 2.08 Manakoto FA-21-AC-018 28 30 2 0.93 Barani Area FA-21-AC-018 46 53 7 0.48 Barani Area FA-21-AC-019 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-020 37 48 11 0.36 Barani East ext. Incl. 38 43 5 0.55 Barani East ext. FA-21-AC-021 30 46 16 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-022 NSV FA-21-AC-023 NSV FA-21-AC-024 NSV FA-21-AC-025 NSV FA-21-AC-026 30 31 1 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-027 24 25 1 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-028 26 27 1 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-029 34 52 18 0.22 Barani Area FA-21-AC-029 71 76 5 0.31 Barani Area FA-21-AC-030 37 38 1 2.61 Barani Area FA-21-AC-030 44 45 1 0.63 Barani Area FA-21-AC-031 16 17 1 0.58 Barani Area FA-21-AC-031 31 36 5 1.51 Barani Area Incl. 32 33 1 7 Barani Area FA-21-AC-032 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-033 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-034 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-035 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-036 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-037 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-038 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-039 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-040 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-041 22 23 1 0.61 Barani Area FA-21-AC-042 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-043 NSV Barani Area FA-21-AC-044 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-001 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-002 101 107 6 0.54 Barani East ext. Incl. 102 103 1 2.43 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-003 4 5 1 0.95 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-003 85 91 6 0.62 Barani East ext. Incl. 85 89 4 0.75 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-003 103 108 5 0.63 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-004 47 49 2 0.86 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-004 73 98 25 0.3 Barani East ext. Incl. 83 87 4 0.86 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-005 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-006 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-007 134 135 1 0.74 Barani Area FA-21-RC-008 115 118 3 0.47 Barani Area FA-21-RC-009 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-010 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-011 NSV Barani Area FA-21-RC-012 33 40 7 1.05 Keniegoulou South FA-21-RC-013 53 58 5 0.93 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-013 68 82 14 0.39 Barani East ext. Incl. 73 80 6 0.61 Barani East ext. FA-21-RC-014 NSV Barani Gap FA-21-RC-015 35 37 2 1.2 Barani Gap KE-21-AC-001 NSV KE Zone area KE-21-AC-001 NSV KE Zone area KE-21-AC-003 NSV KE Zone area KE-21-AC-004 NSV KE Zone area KE-21-AC-005 NSV KE Zone area [1] Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the Company's SMSZ Property. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99366 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Anacortes Mining Corp. (TSXV: XYZ) ("Anacortes" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Investor Relations Agreement with Kin Communications Inc. ("Kin") and engaged Independent Trading Group ("ITG") as market-maker. Under the terms of the Investor Relations Agreement with Kin, which is dated October 12, 2021, Kin has agreed to assist Anacortes with investor relations, including communicating with and marketing to potential investors, shareholders and media contacts for a period of twelve months and on a month-to-month basis thereafter. In consideration for the services, the Company has agreed to pay Kin $12,500 per month. In addition, the Company has granted Kin stock options entitling it to purchase 150,000 of the Company's common shares at a price of $2.40 per share with a five-year term, vesting in four equal instalments of 37,500 options over a period of 18 months, with the first instalment vesting on the date of grant (October 12, 2021), and three additional instalments, each for 37,500 options, on the six, 12 and 18 month anniversaries of the date of grant. The Company has been advised that Kin and its principals own 366,666 shares of the Company. Kin is owned by President & CEO Arlen Hansen and has no direct relationship with the Company, other than as described in this news release. Anacortes has also engaged the services of Independent Trading Group Inc. ("ITG") as market-maker for its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange. Under the terms of the agreement, Anacortes has engaged ITG for an initial term of three-months, and thereafter on a month-to-month basis. Anacortes has agreed to pay ITG a monthly fee of $5,000 for market making services. The Company is advised that, at the date of this agreement, neither ITG nor its principals had any direct or indirect interest in any of the Company's securities. The engagement of ITG remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. ITG is Canada's only brokerage firm dedicated specifically to professional trading. ITG provides market making and liquidity provider services. ITG was established by a group of Toronto Floor Traders in 1992 with the intent of developing a business where market makers could conduct business in a professional manner without conflict or compromise. In addition, effective October 12, 2021, Anacortes has granted options to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 common shares in its capital to three of its independent directors, 300,000 options to its Chief Executive Officer, 250,000 options to its Chief Financial Officer, 250,000 options to the President of its Peruvian subsidiary, and 250,000 to a consultant advisor to the Board. All of these options vest immediately and entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$2.40 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. For more information visit: www.anacortesmining.com Twitter: @anacortesmining LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anacortes-mining/ On Behalf of the Board: Jim Currie President & CEO Investor Relations Contact: Kin Communications Inc. Victor Ostlund 604-684-6730 XYZ@kincommunications.com About Anacortes Anacortes is a new growth-oriented gold company in the Americas, which owns a 100-per-cent interest in the Tres Cruces gold project located in Peru. Tres Cruces is one of the highest-grade oxide deposits globally and hosts oxide plus sulphide indicated resources of 2,474,000 oz at 1.65 g/t gold and inferred resources of 104,000 oz at 1.26 g/t gold, inclusive of 630,000 oz of high-grade leachable gold at 1.28 g/t gold. Anacortes is well capitalized and intends to aggressively advance Tres Cruces through feasibility and to production under a heap leach open-pit scenario. Additionally, Anacortes will continue to seek further growth opportunities in the Americas, with the goal of creating the next mid-tier multi asset gold producer. About Independent Trading Group ITG is Canada's only brokerage firm dedicated specifically to professional trading. As Canada's foremost Market Making Firm, ITG provides Market Making and Liquidity Provider services that are objective and focused. With its head office in Toronto, ITG employs real traders and provides real liquidity, with an underlying emphasis on integrity and success. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("Forward-looking Statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the the services to be provided to the Company by Kin and ITG and the Company's plans to aggressively advance Tres Cruces through feasibility and to production. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipated", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "planned", "reflecting", "will", "anticipated", "estimated" "containing", "remaining", "to be", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. These risks include changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; political risks; risks relating to the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, financial markets and the Company's operations; and risks inherent in mineral exploration. Although Forward-looking Statements contained in this news release are based upon what each of the parties believe are reasonable assumptions at the time they were made, such statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that these Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements. The TSXV has in no way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99480 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Telo Genomics Corp. (TSXV: TELO) (the "Company" or "TELO") is pleased to announce updates related to its recent participation in the International Multiple Myeloma Workshop in Vienna, Austria, and progress of the ongoing clinical studies in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. TELO has recently participated in the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW 2021) that took place in Vienna, Austria. During the IMW 2021 TELO held important meetings with influential Lead Investigators of multiple myeloma Clinician groups from the USA, France, Spain and Portugal. These meetings were highly productive focused on the development of new collaborations to advance the clinical studies that the Company is currently conducting and in turn accelerate the commercialization of the Company's prognostic tests in-development. TELO also advanced the discussions with potential collaborators addressing additional specific clinical unmet needs in the management of multiple myeloma. The International Myeloma Society (IMS) is a professional, scientific, and medical society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of myeloma. IMS promotes the advancement in multiple myeloma disease management through its International Myeloma Workshop (IMW). The IMW is held on an annual basis and includes the meetings of the myeloma guidelines committees. These committees develop, review and revise the guidelines used internationally for multiple myeloma diagnostics and treatments. The Company also announces that it has successfully completed the processing of the first batch of myeloma samples, which was received from the Mayo Clinic earlier in the year. This batch of patient samples represents the overall feasibility assessment of the ongoing clinical studies included in TELO's collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. During the IMW 2021 TELO held an important meeting with the study's Lead Clinical Investigator from the Mayo Clinic to discuss the results of the Feasibility Assessment samples. TELO is expecting to receive the following batch of samples from the Mayo Clinic within Q4 of the current year. TELO's collaboration with the Mayo Clinic includes two retrospective clinical studies targeting the development of improved MM prognostic tests: 1) To identify high risk smoldering myeloma patients who will benefit from immediate treatment, and 2) To predict MM patient response to first-line therapy at the point of diagnosis. Each of the 2 studies will be completed in two phases retrospectively with the potential of a third prospective phase. "Identifying high risk smoldering myeloma patients was the key clinical unmet need highlighted in the IMW 2021," said Sherif Louis, TELO's CEO. "TELO's ongoing clinical studies in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic is focused on addressing this unmet need. The participation in the IMW 2021 was pivotal to introduce the potential of TELO's technology as a disruptive prognostic tool for multiple myeloma to the international myeloma medical community." About Telo Genomics Telo Genomics is a biotech company pioneering the most comprehensive telomere platform in the industry with powerful applications and prognostic solutions. These include liquid biopsies and related technologies in oncology and neurological diseases. Liquid biopsy is a rapidly growing field of significant interest to the medical community for being less invasive and more easily replicated than traditional diagnostic approaches. By combining our team's considerable expertise in quantitative analysis of 3D telomeres with molecular biology and artificial intelligence to recognize disease associated genetic instability, Telo Genomics is developing simple and accurate products that improve day-to-day care for patients by serving the needs of pathologists, clinicians, academic researchers and drug developers. The benefits of our proprietary technology have been substantiated in over 150 peer reviewed publications and in 25 clinical studies involving more than 3,000 patients with multiple cancers and Alzheimer's disease. Our lead application, TELO-MM is being developed to provide important, actionable information to medical professionals in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma, a deadly form of blood cancer. For more information, please visit www.telodx.com. For further information, please contact: Hugh Rogers, Director 416-673-8487 info@telodx.com MaRS Centre, South Tower, 101 College Street, Suite 200, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7 www.telodx.com Tina Byers Investor Relations Adelaide Capital Phone: 905.330.3275 E-mail: tina@adcap.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "will", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the clinical efficacy of products, commercial viability of products, use of proceeds, and the ability of the TeloView platform to deliver personalized medicine resulting in better treatments and outcomes are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99483 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - LeanLife Health Inc. (CSE: LLP) (FSE: LL1) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that starting October 16th, 2021 the Company's Iron Energy beverage product line will now be available at all Speedee Mart locations across the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area. The Henderson, Nevada based convenience store chain currently operates across 23 separate locations in and around Las Vegas, Nevada offering retail, grocery, and food and beverage services. Each Speedee Mart location also offers seven multi-game machines including poker, keno and various slot machines. Speedee Mart additionally provides a wide-variety of craft beers, car washes and their "76" branded fuel at select locations amongst other facilities. This announcement complements LeanLife's press release on October 7th, 2021 when the Company revealed their distribution partnership with Prime Global Ventures Inc. targeting markets in the Central Florida region for up to 400 convenience store locations. When asked for comment on the expansive growth strategy, LeanLife's CEO Anis Barakat stated "We're very excited for our products to be available in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. We believe that our Tyson Iron Energy beverage line embodies the energetic atmosphere that is Las Vegas. LeanLife is thrilled to be tapping into these new markets and is looking forward to expanding to all corners throughout the United States". About LeanLife Health Inc. LeanLife Health Inc. was born from a desire to offer high-quality Omega-3 plant-based oils to the world. Evidence of over 50 years supports the numerous health benefits of flaxseed Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid. LeanLife Health recognized that over 50% of North Americans do not consume enough Omega-3 fats and eat far too many Omega-6 fats. Our Omega-3 flaxseed formulation is stable for 2 years which will allow more food companies to add the oil to their products and more consumers to meet their nutritional needs. Proprietary methods initially developed at a Polish University in 2007 have been continuously improved upon to result in the most nutritionally stable plant-based Omega-3 oils that are on the market today. New initiatives have driven our team to incorporate more products to diversify our offerings and enrich shareholder value. We are excited to be rolling out the Mike Tyson endorsed Iron Energy Drinks into the soft drink market across the United States in 2021. LeanLife Health Inc. is confident this strategy will propel us forward with positive gains in the foreseeable future. The Company has engaged a team with global expertise in Omega-3 science and production, energy drink sales, and direct-to-consumer marketing. Our professionals are working to ensure our Omega-3 flaxseed oil is the healthiest, most stable, and the most convenient available today. In addition, our team is working diligently to launch Amazon and convenience store sales of Iron Energy Drinks (endorsed by Mike Tyson) across the United States. For more information, please contact: Anis Barakat, CEO (416) 669-4303 anis@leanlifehealth.com Neither the Canadian Securities Purchase nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Purchase) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. THE CSE HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99484 WPP (NYSE: WPP) today announces that its majority-owned subsidiary, Finsbury Glover Hering Corporation ("Finsbury Glover Hering"), and Sard Verbinnen Co ("SVC") have reached agreement on the terms of a merger to create the world's leading strategic communications firm advising clients in navigating critical opportunities and challenges (the"Transaction"). The new firm will help clients achieve their missions and realise their business goals, with approximately 1,000 professionals operating from 25 offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, including its global headquarters in New York. Pro forma combined 2020 revenue was more than $330 million. Over the past three decades, both Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC have built impressive reputations advising clients during their most significant transformational events. The firm will be a leader in all aspects of strategic communications, including government affairs, corporate reputation, crisis management, and transformation and change, as well as the leading force in financial communications worldwide, with strong experience and expertise in M&A, private equity, IPOs, SPAC transactions, shareholder activism and restructurings. The new firm's professionals have deep sector knowledge within rapidly growing industries such as Health, Food and Agriculture, and Renewable Energy, as well as expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), litigation and regulatory communications, and cybersecurity. Senior professionals from Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC will lead the new company. SVC's George Sard will join Finsbury Glover Hering's Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew as Co-Chairmen. Alexander Geiser will serve as Global CEO, Ajay Junnakar will serve as Global CFO, Sydney Neuhaus will serve as Global COO and Andrew Cole as Deputy Global CEO. Completion of the Transaction is conditional on the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. The Transaction is expected to complete in Q4 2021 and the combined company will operate under a new name starting in 2022, to be announced in due course. Finsbury Glover Hering Co-Chairmen Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew said: "Our clients operate in an increasingly complex world with diverse stakeholder interests. To generate growth, open markets, shape policy and attract capital, companies need to seamlessly communicate to more audiences and across more markets than ever before. This merger brings together the most accomplished communications professionals, operating within a global firm that will have the expertise and experience to deliver reputation advisory services to address critical c-suite concerns." SVC Co-Founders George Sard and Paul Verbinnen added: "This is a combination of two successful, growing firms with strong track records, complementary leadership positions, deep entrepreneurial spirits, cultures of collaboration and integrity, and a heritage of delivering for our clients at their most high-pressure moments. Our success has been driven by our teams' tireless commitment to supporting our clients and one another, and upholding high standards of excellence in all that we do. We are particularly excited that the combination will enable us to provide additional professional development opportunities and establish a new generation of employee owners in the combined company." Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "The demand for Board-level strategic advice on a growing range of financial, reputational and social issues has never been greater. As the reputations of companies and their brands become ever more closely linked, our leadership in this area is a core part of our offer as we support our clients' continued transformation. WPP is delighted to support the ambitions of the leadership teams of Finsbury Glover Hering and SVC in creating a powerhouse in strategic communications, with the expertise, scale and footprint to provide unparalleled service to global clients." Transaction Structure The Transaction values the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group at an equity value of $917m, and SVC at $303m. The Transaction will be effected by a new company ("Newco") which will become the holding company for the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group. WPP will convert its existing loan note in Finsbury Glover Hering into shares in Finsbury Glover Hering, and all shares in Finsbury Glover Hering held by WPP and by employee shareholders (the "Finsbury Glover Hering Managers") will then be exchanged for new shares in Newco. WPP will subscribe in cash for further new shares in Newco for $150m. Newco will then acquire SVC from Golden Gate Capital and SVC employee shareholders (the "SVC Managers") in consideration for the $150m in cash (net of customary adjustments) and the issue of new shares in Newco, representing 16.6% of the total issued share capital of Newco. Following completion of the Transaction, WPP will remain as the majority shareholder of the combined Finsbury Glover Hering-SVC group, holding 57.4% of the total issued share capital of Newco, with FGH Managers holding 25.9%. The terms of the Transaction also provide for Golden Gate Capital and the SVC Managers to have the option to require that WPP purchases their shares in Newco in the event that an IPO or sale of Newco has not taken place by 1 January 2024 or later (the "Put Option"). The Put Option is exercisable on a staged basis over a minimum period of 4 years from 2024 to 2028 at the earliest and is at multiples of profit that are at a material discount to the Transaction multiple. Existing put options, based on comparable terms, held by the Finsbury Glover Hering Managers will be rolled over into the new structure. The Transaction is a Smaller Related Party Transaction under the UK Listing Rules as certain Finsbury Glover Hering Managers are directors of Finsbury Glover Hering and some of its subsidiaries and therefore are related parties of WPP. As such, the Transaction is subject to the requirements of the Listing Rule 11.1.10R. The current directors of Finsbury Glover Hering, who are deemed to be related parties of WPP, will together own 9.5% of Newco. No Finsbury Glover Hering Manager (including the directors) will realise the value of their shareholding at completion of the Transaction nor are they expected to do so ahead of an IPO or sale of Newco. As at 31 December 2020, Finsbury Glover Hering had gross assets of $426.8m and profit before tax of $53.5m, and SVC had gross assets of $52.2m and profit before tax of $36.4m. About WPP WPP is a creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com. About Finsbury Glover Hering Finsbury Glover Hering is a global strategic communications advisory firm, headquartered in New York with over 800 multidisciplinary experts across the world's major financial, government, business and cultural centers. Finsbury Glover Hering is a leader in crisis, corporate reputation, public affairs and capital markets and M&A advisory, as well as an acknowledged leader in boardroom communication counsel. The company was formed through the merger of leading strategic communications consultancies Finsbury, The Glover Park Group and Hering Schuppener in January 2021. Finsbury Glover Hering serves its global client base from offices in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Dubai, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, Riyadh, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington D.C. and Zurich. About SVC SVC has for many years been the top global transaction communications advisor on M&A, IPOs and SPACs consistently ranked as a leader in the North America and global M&A league tables. SVC is also a leader in advising companies facing shareholder activist campaigns, the preeminent firm in litigation and crisis communications, and has advised on many high-stakes situations around the world with particular areas of strength in the US and Asia. Headquartered in New York, SVC has broad capabilities across the U.S., with strong teams in offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington, DC, and Boston, as well as in London and Hong Kong. A South Florida office will open shortly. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005662/en/ Contacts: Investors and analysts Peregrine Riviere +44 7909 907193 Caitlin Holt +44 7392 280178 Fran Butera (US) +1 914 484 1198 Media Chris Wade +44 20 7282 4600 Richard Oldworth, +44 7710 130 634 Buchanan Communications +44 20 7466 5000 wpp.com/investors Martin Miller's Gin commissions experiential artwork, set to be a highlight of The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's most awarded gin brand since 2004 Martin Miller's Gin has announced that as part of its sponsorship of October's Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, UK it has commissioned two young artists to create an experiential art installation, set to be a fair highlight. The Art Out of Isolation commission - Fluid Form - will go on display from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 October 2021. The commission is one of a number of experiences that Martin Miller's Gin will offer as Partner. Representing the first in a series of global initiatives to support the arts and young artists, Martin Miller's Gin commissioned artists Violeta Maya and Persiis Hajiyanni during lockdown to create an art installation that invites us to reflect on the pandemic isolation - whether positive or negative - addressing issues of isolation, change, tranquility and creativity. The consequent "walk-through" artwork encourages visitors to slow down, reflect and appreciate stillness within themselves, similar to what was experienced during a year of lockdowns. Within this, the installation explores themes of purity and transformation, which are central to the history and quality of Martin Miller's Gin - it blends its English-distilled gin with the purest Icelandic spring water, with each element transforming the other to produce its world-renowned smooth taste. Transformative water plays a central role in the installation, along with ice, light and water. Further Martin Miller's Gin experiences will also be taking place at the Affordable Art Fair, including masterclasses with brand ambassador, Rory O'Sullivan, which will offer an introduction to the history of Martin Miller's Gin and guided tasting of the full range, brought to life with the assistance of magician Jake Banfield. Martin Miller's Gin will also take over two stand-out bar spaces offering a signature serve that has been developed especially for the fair - the Bubble Bramble, which was inspired by artist Katharina Jung's artwork, I'll only fly away. Global Sales and Marketing Director Robert Eastham comments: "We are proud to be proposing these experiences which are to be unveiled at the Affordable Art Fair and anticipate visitors being inspired - indeed transformed - by them. The fair and the 'walk-through experience' provide the perfect springboard for our future work with the art world eco-system. Watch this space for more initiatives to come." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659348/Martin_Millers_Gin.jpg To set up International Backbone And Supernodes To The Xinghuo BIF, China's National Blockchain Infrastructure KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MY E.G. Services Berhad (MYEG) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Institute of Industrial Internet & IoT, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) of China for the international extension of China's national blockchain network, Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility ("Xinghuo BIF"), by introducing backbone and supernodes outside China to be known as Zetrix. Countries and corporations especially in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) regions can utilise Zetrix as a gateway to China's Xinghuo BIF network to maximise the potential of the free trade agreement by leveraging on blockchain technologies. Pilot applications in blockchain will power trade traceability, digital identity, supply chain management, smart financing and digital trade will enable a new wave of innovation and talent development towards a borderless future. RCEP is the world's largest free trade agreement, covering 30% of global GDP and 30% of the world population, with intra-regional trade among member countries amounting to some US$2.5 trillion annually. The event was held in conjunction with the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, at the Malaysia Pavilion, with the signing ceremony witnessed by YB Dato' Sri Dr. Adham Bin Baba, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation of Malaysia. Present in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were Datuk Zainal Abidin Bin Abu Hassan, Secretary General of Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, Malaysia, Dato' Dr. Norraesah Binti Haji Mohamad, Executive Chairman of MYEG and Mr. Wong Thean Soon, Group Managing Director of MYEG, while in China, participants included Ms. Wang Zhiqin, Deputy Director of CAICT, and Ms. Li Haihua, Deputy Director of Institute of Industrial Internet & Internet of Things (IoT), CAICT. MYEG will work together with CAICT to establish Xinghuo BIF's international extension platform, Zetrix and construct backbone and supernodes around the world. Zetrix will also enable a gateway for public blockchains to integrate into Zetrix and Xinghuo BIF's permissioned blockchain environments, making the network compatible for smart contract developers and enterprises. The strong collaboration between MYEG and CAICT will allow global enterprises an accelerated opportunity for direct entry into Xinghuo BIF, allowing them to leverage China's new digital & blockchain infrastructure. Xinghuo BIF is China's national scale blockchain infrastructure, and it aims to promote digital transformation in the country and add value to digital assets in the future by integrating blockchain, industrial internet and IOT, and building backbone and supernodes across the nation for safe, secure, and efficient data transfer and integration. During his keynote address, YB Dato' Sri Dr. Adham Bin Baba welcomed the collaboration between CAICT and MYEG in constructing blockchain-based supernodes outside of China, which will promote technology innovation creation of high value jobs and increasing cross border commerce. It is a major step for Malaysia towards a digital future, in line with the agenda of Twelfth (12th) Malaysia Plan to digitalise the Malaysian economy. He further described Zetrix as a catalyst for blockchain technology adoption and innovation across all business sectors, which will allow and accelerate the adoption of 4IR technologies - Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), advanced materials and technologies as well as cloud computing and big data analytics. On the other hand, CAICT Deputy Director, Ms. Wang Zhiqin has reiterated that China is attaching great importance to blockchain technology and industrial development. In the "14th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Outline of Long-term Objectives for 2035", blockchain is listed as one of the seven key industries of the digital economy. CAICT has officially launched Xinghuo BIF on August 30, 2020, taking the industrial internet as the main application scenario, taking the key digital resource of network identifier as the breakthrough, and promoting the innovative application development of blockchain by building a distributed, multi-party participated, common consensus trusted and interactive system. Zetrix backbone and supernodes will be fully compatible with the Xinghuo BIF infrastructure, providing a competitive edge for local and regional companies trading with their Chinese counterparts and each other, to integrate smoothly and seamlessly with China's supply chain network on Xinghuo BIF. It increases administrative efficiency and at the same time enhances transparency and product traceability, which are key to provide added value for ever-increasing consumer awareness. CAICT is a scientific research institute directly under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China, while the Institute of Industrial Internet and Internet of Things in CAICT is responsible for the development, execution and implementation of Xinghuo BIF throughout the nation. Countries around the world are continuously making breakthroughs in technologies. With this partnership, MYEG aims to be at the forefront of blockchain technology for a borderless future. About MY E.G. Services Bhd ("MYEG") MYEG is Malaysia's premier digital services company. Having commenced operations in 2000 as the flagship e-government services provider, MYEG continues to play a leading role in driving technological change in Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, bringing a diverse and complete range of innovations spanning the online delivery of major government services to a variety of commercial offerings in the areas of immigration, automotive, healthcare and financial services, among others. Committed to staying firmly at the forefront of the region's digital revolution, MYEG has embraced the potential of blockchain technology to enhance all aspects of life and is actively pioneering its adoption across its main markets. Beyond Malaysia, MYEG has operations in other key regional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659187/Zetrix_2.jpg Vancouver, Canada, and Rehovot, Israel--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - BioHarvest Sciences Inc. (CSE: BHSC) (FSE: 8MV) ("BioHarvest" or the "Company") today announces an update to its forecast of 2021 annual sales orders for VINIA in Israel. The Company has increased its 2021 sales orders forecast for Israel to US$ 1.6M - US$ 1.7M from the previous forecast of US$ 1.3M - US$ 1.5M announced in March 2021. The continued adoption of VINIA in Israel demonstrates the health benefits and efficacy of the product. The high percentage of revenue from returning customers validate their loyalty to the product. The combination of increased transactions and the increased value of each order is fueling revenue growth. Next January, the company will provide a sales orders forecast calendar for the year 2022. Ilan Sobel, the CEO, said: "The 15% increase in the Company's forecast is a testimonial to the quality and efficacy of VINIA and to its ability to reach customers. We are constantly improving our methods to reach out to customers and build a strong base of loyal consumers. I look forward to the continued growth in sales orders and to bringing new products to the market in 2022." Q3 Shareholder Update We invite all interested investors and media to our next Shareholder Update, to be held at 11am PST, October 14, 2021. The online meeting will be hosted by the CEO, Ilan Sobel, and will feature a live Question and Answer session. If you are not available to attend live, please register and we can send you the session recording after the event. Register at: https://app.livestorm.co/st-financial/october-2021-bhsc-shareholder-update?type=detailed Register Now To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6168/99472_13c5b964c438780c_007full.jpg About BioHarvest Sciences Inc. BioHarvest Sciences Inc. (CSE: BHSC) is a fast-growing Biotech firm listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. BioHarvest has developed a patented bio-cell growth platform technology capable of growing the active and beneficial ingredients in fruit and plants, at industrial scale, without the need to grow the plant itself. This technology is economical, ensures consistency, and avoids the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional agriculture. BioHarvest is currently focused on nutraceuticals and the medicinal cannabis markets. Visit: www.bioharvest.com. BioHarvest Sciences Inc. Ilan Sobel, Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Dave Ryan, VP Investor Relations & Director Phone: 1 (604) 622-1186 Email: dave@bioharvest.com Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release includes forward-looking statements that are based on management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. There is no assurance that the Israeli market results will translate directly into the U.S. markets which may depend on different consumer preferences and more substantial marketing expenditures and resources. There is no assurance that strong sales metrics experienced to date will result in future demand or that the 15% increase for VINIA sales orders forecast in Israel will be achieved by end of 2021. Markets for nutraceuticals are unpredictable and subject to changes in consumer tastes and trends as well as economic factors beyond our control. Delays and cost overruns may result in delays achieving our objectives obtaining market acceptance, and regulatory approvals for geographic expansion is subject to risk and cannot be guaranteed. Projected sales of Cannabis will require the Company to obtain production and/or export licensing which cannot be assured. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and actual results may be affected by a number of material factors beyond our control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. BHSC does not intend to update forward-looking statement disclosures other than through our regular management discussion and analysis disclosures. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99472 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Hill Street Beverage Company Inc. (TSXV: BEER) ("Hill Street" or the "Company"): This press release is being disseminated by HoldCo (St. Catharines) Ltd. (the "Acquiror") as required by National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issues, in connection with its acquisition of securities of Hill Street. Pursuant to a private contract, the Acquiror acquired 7,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company at a deemed purchase price of $0.05 per Common Share. Prior to the acquisition, controlled 41,797,855 Common Shares, representing 19.69% of the 212,294,453 issued and outstanding Common Shares. After the acquisition the Acquiror controlled 48,797,855 Common Shares, representing 22.99% of the 212,294,453 issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Acquiror is relying on the exemption set forth in Section 4.2 of National Instrument 62-104 - Take Over Bids and Issuer Bids, of the formal bid rules, on the basis that this transaction is being made pursuant to a private agreement between the Acquiror and the vendor. The Acquiror acquired the Common Shares for investment purposes. The Acquiror intends to review its investment in Company on a continuing basis and may, from time to time and at any time, acquire or cause to be acquired additional equity or debt securities or other instruments of Company, or dispose or cause to be disposed such equity or debt securities or instruments, through open market transactions, private placements by Company and other privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, in each case in accordance with applicable securities laws. An early warning report will be filed by the Acquiror under applicable securities laws and will be available on Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. A copy of the early warning report may also be obtained from James Leech, Corporate Secretary, jleech@torkinmanes.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for dissemination in the United States of America. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99501 Collectively, soil geochemistry programs at the Albert Lake project cover an area measuring approximately 20km in strike and approximately 4 - 8km perpendicular to strike. See attached figure. Fathom is incorporating historical B-horizon soil samples collected in 2018 and 2002 (by a previous operator) along with the 2021 samples. The interpretive, favourable soil geochemistry outlined in the attached figure is defined by above background to anomalous Ni in soils that is supported by above background to anomalous values of associated and pathfinder elements, notably Cu, Co, Cr and Mg - all very important elements associated with magmatic nickel deposits. Significant clusters of anomalous to highly anomalous Ni values (>90 th percentile) define individual zones within the interpreted favourable soil geochemistry. percentile) define individual zones within the interpreted favourable soil geochemistry. In all, (2002, 2018 & 2021) 6,379 B-horizon soil samples have been collected at the Albert Lake project. In 2021, 3,552 samples were collected. Results are pending for 1,654 samples. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTC Pink: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce preliminary interpretation of 2021 soil geochemistry results which indicate multiple favourable and highly anomalous zones of Ni-Cu-Co and Pd-Pt mineralization within soils at its wholly owned Albert Lake Property, host to the historic Rottenstone mine, a previous producer of high grade nickel, copper and platinum group metals. Drilling continues on the 6,000m program which was initiated on September 5, 2021. Assay results from the drilling program are pending, however the industry in general is experiencing longer than normal delays for the receipt of analytical results. Drill assay results on the Albert Lake Property are not expected to begin arriving until late November. Soil Geochemistry B-horizon soil geochemistry - historic and present - is an important component of Fathom's exploration approach and strategy at the Albert Lake Property. This soil data set, along with the gradient mag data collected earlier in 2021, surface prospecting and geological mapping, historic and ongoing geophysical surveys, and ongoing structural interpretation from all available data sets are integral to the drill targeting process. The following are key highlights based on all soil sample assay results received to date (2002, 2018 and 2021): Highest Ni value 393 ppm (2021 result), Highest Cu value 324.16 ppm (2018 result), Highest Co value 63.9 ppm (2018 result), Highest Pd value 187 ppb (2018 result) and highest Pt value 411 ppb (2002 result), Preliminary statistical analyses of available assays and assuming >90 th percentile is above background (anomalous), presents the following highlights: 90 th percentile Ni >14.25 ppm (354 samples) 90 th percentile Cu >19.19 ppm (364 samples) 90 th percentile Co >5.84 ppm (357 samples) 90 th percentile Cr >35.2 ppm (363 samples) 90 th percentile Mg >0.45 % (361 samples) percentile is above background (anomalous), presents the following highlights: Further refinement of the anomalous Ni values and specifically the Ni >=98th percentile (>=27.5 ppm Ni, 73 samples) demonstrates good correlation with 98th percentile values for Cr and Mg - suggesting these anomalies are potentially derived from an ultramafic source. Furthermore, the associated Cu, Co values (98th percentile) and, where available, assays for Pd-Pt and Au (>90th percentile) also illustrate very good correlation. This geochemical signature (Ni-Cu-Co + PGE-Au) matches the geochemical signature of the historic Rottenstone Mine and is a typical signature of a magmatic Nickel deposit. This geochemical signature in soils can be derived from a number of possible sources: soils occurring in close proximity to mineralized ultramafic float; boulders occurring within the overburden; or the geochemical signature is representative of a proximal bedrock source or a down ice expression of a bedrock source occurring in an up-ice direction. Ian Fraser, Fathom's VP Exploration stated, "The distribution of highly anomalous Ni values and the associated elements over such a large area and the confinement of these highly anomalous zones within what appear to be well-defined lineaments, is very encouraging and suggestive of other magmatic nickel sources occurring at the Albert Lake Project. Management is confident that integrating the soil geochemistry with all other data sets the Company has created will be very instrumental in the drill targeting process as we seek to discover other nickel deposits similar to the historic Rottenstone Mine elsewhere on the Albert Lake Property. Also of note, the soil geochemistry data base has only covered a portion of the property area. We look forward to the remaining 2021 results and expanding this soil geochemistry database." Fall Drill Program The Fall Drill Program, which is now nearing completion, has targeted Ni-Cu-Co trends and anomalies identified and supported by the 2021 B-horizon soil geochemical program. At this time Fathom can report that ultramafic rock along with favourable stratigraphy was intersected by drilling within a soil geochemical anomaly. Assay results for this drillhole and all drillholes are pending and will be released upon receipt and interpretation. Drillholes have also been designed and drilled to test geophysical anomalies from the historical database that had never been drill tested. Furthermore, the Company's aggressive BHEM surveys of historic along with current drillholes continues to define off-hole anomalies that the Company is drilling and will be drilling in the winter phase of the drill program. The winter phase of the program is expected to commence in late-January 2022, after freeze-up. Quality Assurance / Quality Control In 2021 Fathom Nickel Inc. contracted the services of TerraLogic Exploration Services to conduct its soil geochemistry programs on the Albert Lake Property. Soil samples were collected at pre-determined sites utilizing a 100m x 100m sample spacing configuration. Soils are placed in kraft soil sample bags and all metadata associated with a sample location was recorded. Once sorted and logged, samples were shipped to ALS Canada in North Vancouver British Columbia. At ALS individual samples were dried and sieved to -180 micron (80 mesh). Both fractions were retained. A 0.5g split of the sieved portion was partially digested (Aqua Regia) and analysis of 53 elements, inclusive of Au, Pd and Pt was performed by ICP-MS. This Super Trace Analysis technique provides extremely low detection limits. An additional very low detection Au analyses was performed by AR digestion ICP-MS on a 25g split. ALS is an ISO / IEC 17025 certified laboratory and independent of Fathom Nickel Inc. During the 2021 soil geochemistry program TerraLogic crews took a field duplicate from every 25th sample and these field duplicates were inserted into the sample stream to monitor the quality of analyses for the soil sampling program. TerraLogic also used a similar approach during the 2018 program. QC samples were inserted at regular intervals during the 2002 soil geochemistry program. Note: three separate, certified laboratories have been used to assay the all-inclusive soil data base discussed in this press release. DTC Eligibility Approved Fathom is also pleased to report that on October 8, 2021 it received notification that its shares have been approved as freely tradable pursuant to US securities laws by the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). DTC eligibility is expected to greatly broaden Fathom's ability to market to and attract US-based potential shareholders who would otherwise be unable to invest in the Company because of limitations imposed by US securities laws. "We are very pleased to have completed the DTC eligibility process. We now expect to aggressively increase our investor relations and marketing efforts in the US to increase our exposure to potential investors looking for exposure to the green energy and EV battery space," reported Brad Van Den Bussche, President & CEO. With this news the Company's shares are now freely tradeable on the CSE in Canada (FNI), the Frankfurt Exchange (6Q5) and the OTC (FNICF). Qualified Person and Data Verification Ian Fraser, PGeo., VP Exploration and a Director of the Company and the "qualified person" as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of the Company. About Fathom Nickel Inc. Fathom Nickel is a resource exploration and development company that is targeting high-grade nickel sulphide discoveries for use in the rapidly growing global electric vehicle market. The Company is accelerating exploration on its flagship Albert Lake Project, host to the historic Rottenstone mine, which is recognized as one of the highest-grade (Nickel, Copper, Platinum group metals) deposits of its type ever mined in Canada. The Albert Lake Project consists of over 90,000 ha of mineral claims located in the Trans-Hudson Corridor of Saskatchewan, which is home to numerous world-class mining camps. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Brad Van Den Bussche" President and CEO, Director For Further Information Please Contact: Brad Van Den Bussche, President and CEO or Manish Grigo, Director of Corporate Development +1-416-569-3292 Email: ir@fathomnickel.com Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the enhancement of the Company's geologic model and extending the areas of known mineralization and the Company's work towards defining a resource base. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Albert Lake - Preliminary Soil Geochemistry - Ni in Soils To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7843/99494_ab5fa8ee347be9b9_001full.jpg NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99494 Amazon Store and Prime Strategy Maximized with Orca Pacific Partnership Rritual Brand Being Scaled Aggressively Deploying Unmatched Expertise and Technology with Orca and Amazon Implementing Leading Edge "Black Friday, Holiday Season" and "New Year, New You" Campaigns Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Rritual Superfoods Inc. (CSE: RSF) (FSE: 0RW) (OTCQB: RRSFF) ("Rritual" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the full line of Rritual products are now available for sale on the Company's Amazon Store for all customers including Amazon Prime in the USA. Rritual's Amazon Store launch is a significant milestone for the Company as there are more people searching for products on Amazon than anywhere else on the planet. Rritual's multi-stage targeted launch is focused primarily on 'being where the customers are,' and no storefront in our world can help more than Amazon to achieve that objective.1 The Company has partnered with Orca Pacific ("Orca"), a full-service Amazon agency, to optimize the Rritual Amazon store and to execute the Company's digital marketing strategy within the Amazon platform. Rritual and Orca are strongly aligned with a shared mindset built upon the understanding that Amazon is the one of the most important retailers in the world, with an exceptionally broad audience for brand exposure, education and sales. "Orca understands how to win on Amazon, maximizing every dollar invested, using industry shaping analytics designed to connect the right consumers with our brand and drive substantial volume, all of which adds up to making Amazon the focal point for our digital strategy," said Peter Palarchio, Rritual Director of Marketing. "We are working closely with both Orca and Amazon to implement a highly sophisticated growth strategy - one that will not only maximize our sales through Amazon channels but will inform our overall digital sales efforts." Building upon daily sales growth and positive customer response, Rritual is working aggressively to scale its presence and sales growth in the Amazon universe. In preparation for the crucial retail window from US Thanksgiving to New Years, the Company is in the final stages of development for the implementation of sales campaigns for "Black Friday, Holiday Season" and "New Year's, New You." In accordance with the agreement Orca is compensated $5,500 USD per month plus two percent (2%) commission on net remittance from Amazon 'Based on a survey done by Feedvisor on 2000+ customers in the U.S., 89% of the buyers are more likely to purchase from Amazon than any other eCommerce website.'1 Rritual product offerings are all USDA-certified organic and are a caffeine-free option that can be mixed with other beverages or enjoyed by itself. Rritual's proprietary Immune-Synergy Six Mushroom Blend is the only functional health product on the market that contains a daily prebiotic blend which nourishes a healthy gut microbiome and facilitates balanced digestive function. 1 https://www.sellerapp.com/blog/amazon-seller-statistics/ About Orca Pacific Orca Pacific help brands achieve success by optimizing every stage of the customer journey on Amazon & eCommerce marketplaces. From advertising & content optimization to account management & strategic consulting, Orca Pacific is a full-service Amazon agency and eCommerce partner. https://www.orcapac.com/ About Rritual Rritual Superfoods is the first award winning, premium brand in the emerging functional mushroom & adaptogenic superfood market. More than a functional mushroom company, Rritual is a Superfood Platform. At the forefront of innovation in the space, Rritual has entered the market with plant-based elixirs, and continues to consistently expand its offering to meet and exceed its customer's needs. As a company, Rritual believes in the power of plant-based nourishment and the vital life force that adaptogens, superfoods, and mushrooms can offer our bodies. Rritual's products are made with mindfully-selected, organic functional mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs, traditionally consumed for their ability to support a healthy response to stress and help optimize mental, cognitive, digestive, and immune health. For more information, visit www.rritual.com. Follow Rritual on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. For further information please contact: Warren Spence - Director Investor Relations: E-mail: investors@wearerritual.com Telephone: 778-400-1242 Functional Foods Market According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness. *https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99371 Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) (WKN: A2JNFG) ("Altiplano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that 8 drill holes from Phase 1 of its ongoing 6,200 m underground exploration drilling program have been completed at the Farellon copper-gold (Cu-Au) mine located near La Serena, Chile. Highlights Eight underground drill holes from Drill Pad 1 (Figure 1) have been completed for a total of 1,857 metres. Continuity of the Farellon Vein System at depth has been confirmed with all holes intersecting the Farellon Vein System up to 28 metres below the current 360 m development level (198 m below surface). Drilling has confirmed the strike extent of the vein system over 230 metres where mineralized sections vary in (true) width from 2.5 m to 5 m and averaging 3.68 m. Logging of the drill core has confirmed the presence of copper sulphide and magnetite mineralization typical of the upper parts of the working developments. The drill has been moved to the second location at Drill Pad 2 (on surface) to begin the next planned series of holes. CEO Alastair McIntyre comments, "We are pleased with the initial results from the first eight holes in the ongoing drill program. Visual inspection of the core has confirmed copper sulphide and magnetite mineralization in the Farellon vein at depth and we look forward to the completion of the program and releasing assay results in the coming weeks." The intent of the 6,200 m drilling program is to further delineate the iron oxide copper gold vein system at depth and to outline additional tonnage available to support the planned 5,000 tonnes/month extraction rate at Farellon. In addition, the drilling is expected to aid in grade control and optimize development. Figure 1: Plan map of Farellon underground development and drill plan To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4303/99377_c8324de304431872_001full.jpg Altiplano has generated over US$6,600,000 from the recovery and sale of approximately 3.375 million pounds of copper with an average grade of 1.77% Cu (2018 Q1-2021 Q2). Cash flow has been re-invested into equipment, underground drilling, expanding underground development, enhancing ventilation to increase productivity and capacity, and the commencement of the permitted El Penon fit-for-purpose mill and flotation plant located 15 km from the Farellon site. About Altiplano Altiplano Metals is a growing gold, silver, and copper company focused on the Americas. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets that include an operating copper/gold/iron mine, development near term producing gold/copper projects, and exploration land packages with district-scale potential. Altiplano is focused on creating long-term stakeholder value through developing safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration, and pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing on opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value. Altiplano trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange trading under the symbol APN and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol A2JNFG. John Williamson, B.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this document. Altiplano is part of the Metals Group of companies, managed by an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking project selection and uncompromising corporate governance, with a proven ability to capitalize on investment opportunities and deliver shareholder returns. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD /s/ "John Williamson" Chairman For further information, please contact: Alastair McIntyre, President and CEO alastairm@apnmetals.com Tel: (416) 434-3799 For further information, please contact: Jeremy Yaseniuk, Director jeremyy@apnmetals.com Tel: (604) 773-1467 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the (TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Farellon mine was previously in production dating back to the 1970's with a reported historical production (to a depth of 70 m) yielding approximately 300,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.5% copper and 0.5g/t gold. This material was processed locally and sold to ENAMI. Altiplano is relying upon past production records, underground sampling and related activities and current diamond drilling to estimate grade and widths of the mineralization to reactivate production. The decision to commence production on the Farellon deposit is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with any production decision. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99377 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - District Copper Corp. (TSXV: DCOP) ("District Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce plans for a Fall field program on the Company's Copper Keg project, located in the Kamloops Mining District, central BC. The program will consist of an Induced Polarization survey over the main Cu-porphyry target area on the property. The Induced Polarization (IP) Survey will include approximately 23 line-kilometres. The survey is designed to provide coverage to depths in the order of 600-800 metres, which interpretation of historic data has indicated to be the primary exploration target. Quantec Geoscience Ltd of Toronto, ON has been contracted to carry out the survey, using its Titan 130 DCIP system. Work is expected to commence in the first week of October 2021. In addition, the Company is pleased to report that a one-week mapping program was completed on the property during the Summer of 2021. The objectives were to develop baseline whole rock geochemistry of the lithologies present on the property, and to determine whether any significant trends in alteration and/or geochemistry exist on the property. Within the Nicola Group volcanics, five distinct units were identified during the mapping program. This is consistent with earlier regional mapping by Government geologists. The Guichon Batholith, which intrudes the Nicola volcanics, was observed to outcrop along the northeastern part of the claims in typically large, blocky, high-relief cliff faces. Tertiary Kamloops group basalts occupy the high relief plateaus in the southern portion of the claims. The Barnes Creek fault was observed to generally follow the trend of the intrusive contact between the Nicola Group volcanics and the Guichon Creek batholith. Ten grab samples were collected for whole rock analysis at ALS in North Vancouver, BC, using their ICP-AES whole rock package. In addition, the samples were analyzed by ALS's 48 element four acid ICP-MS package. The samples were selected to characterize the whole rock geochemistry of the lithologies present on the property, and to determine any notable trends in alteration and/or geochemistry. Although the samples were not selected as potentially mineralized sites, the copper values ranged from 4.9 to 124.5 ppm and zinc values from 8.0 to 235 ppm. District Copper President & CEO, Jevin Werbes comments, "We are pleased to finally be getting work underway at the Copper Keg project. Having used Quantec in the past and being very familiar with the top-quality work they perform, we are very confident this will take us to the next steps of exploration and will outline some compelling drill targets." About the Copper Keg Property: District Copper can acquire a 100% right, title and interest in and to the Property for an aggregate payment of $105,000, the issuance of 7,500,000 fully paid and non-assessable shares and expenditures of no less than $200,000 on the property (see Company release dated February 9, 2021 for details). The agreement has been accepted for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange. The property is underlain by Kamloops sediments, Nicola Group volcanics and intrusive phases of the Guichon Creek Batholith. These rocks have been intruded by several phases of late-stage quartz feldspar porphyry and mafic dikes. The Nicola Group volcanics are reported to be in fault contact with the Guichon Creek batholith, although there are indications from historic assessment reports that an intrusive contact is also a possibility. The central portion of the Guichon Creek Batholith hosts the large porphyry copper deposit located in the Highland Valley currently being mined by Teck Resources Limited. This property is located at the northern boundary of the Guichon Creek batholith, and District intends to explore the property using the porphyry style copper deposits in the Highland Valley as its exploration model. The property was explored intermittently between 1970 and 2012. The exploration work was mostly repetitive and sporadic in nature restricted to limited outcrop sampling, small scale soil sampling and geophysical surveys, mapping and prospecting focused mainly on two large zones of clay alteration. Several short diamond drill holes are reported to have been completed for which results are not available. A preliminary interpretation of historic assessment data is indicative of the surface footprint of a buried porphyry copper system. The combination of Nicola Group volcanics and intrusive phases of the Guichon Creek Batholith intruded by late multi-phase dikes along with sporadic geochemical anomalies, hydrothermal clay alteration and primary and secondary copper mineralogy supports the interpretation of a leach cap resulting from the weathering/oxidization supergene enrichment process of primary copper sulphides. Limited rock and soil sampling has returned copper concentrations within the interpreted leach cap that range from 0.025 to 0.76%. The copper mineralogy, weakly anomalous copper-silver-molybdenum soil anomalies, alteration assemblage (ranges from argillic to potassic) and intense post intrusive hydrothermal clay alteration suggest a buried porphyry copper system at depth. The Nicola Group and Guichon Creek rocks exhibit intense hydrothermal clay alteration whereas the late-stage dikes appear to be relatively fresh; not affected by the hydrothermal clay alteration. Chris Healey, P. Geo., a Director of District Copper, is the Company's non-independent, nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release. About District Copper: District Copper is a Canadian company engaged in the exploration for porphyry-style copper deposits in British Columbia. The acquisition of the Copper Keg project allows the Company exposure to an early-stage copper exploration project with excellent infrastructure in central British Columbia. For further information, please visit www.districtcoppercorp.com to view the Company's profile or contact Jevin Werbes at 604-620-7737. "Jevin Werbes" Jevin Werbes, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release is not for distribution in the United States or over United States newswires. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statement Certain information contained in this news release, including information as to our strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements". Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such statements. All statements, other than historical fact, included herein, including, without limitations statements regarding future production, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding gold mineralization being traced in outcrop over a horizontal distance of 6,000m, the areas of anomalous to low grade gold mineralization being outlined; comments related to sediment hosted intrusion related orogenic gold deposits and the approximate dimensions of the mineralized zones. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, District Copper has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the geological advice that District Copper has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards and the reliability of historical reports. While District Copper considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause District Copper's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the dimensions and shape of the mineralized areas may not be as estimated; the mineralization may not represent sediment hosted intrusion related style gold mineralization; uncertainties relating to interpretation of the outcrop sampling results; the geology, continuity and concentration of the mineralization; the financial markets and the overall economy may deteriorate; the need to obtain additional financing and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing District Copper is disclosed in District Copper's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and District Copper disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99432 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Peekaboo Beans Inc. (CSE: BEAN) (OTC Pink: PBBSF) ("PK Beans" or the "Company") is pleased to share consistent and strong growth in sales of PK Replay, the company's ESG minded business model. Since launching this additional business model and revenue stream in the spring of 2020, PK Beans has seen 60% growth year over year for their sustainability initiative. The program consists of selling their own branded styles from previous seasons secondhand, as well as repurposed products such as doll clothing, pet toys, and eco-conscious art kits from unsellable clothing. The growth and success of this sustainability initiative is continuing to keep textile waste out of landfills (17 million tons reported by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2018), while making their product more accessible to a broader audience and customer base. PK Beans is a first mover in this circular economy space in Canada, and with secondhand retail expected to continue to grow to reach $77B by 2025 1, PK Beans is looking forward to taking its piece of the market share. The Company is proud to be a leader in the children's secondhand clothing market; continuing to make high quality and durable children's apparel, contributing to a booming secondhand supply and market, while preserving and reducing the environmental impacts the apparel industry has on our planet. "With the high quality and longevity of PK Beans clothing, being able to offer a resell service to our customers is a beneficial revenue stream, as well as having a positive impact on our environment," says CEO, Traci Costa. "It's a win-win situation; it's like seeing your purchase of our kids clothing, as a savings account for the future." Sources 1. https://www.thredup.com/resale/size-and-impact About Peekaboo Beans Inc. PK Beans is an integrated and innovative children's wellness brand. From sustainable clothing options that kids love to wear, to healthy foods that fuel children's play, our mission is to provide the ingredients for a playful life. Together with our monthly adventure subscription box, consisting of interactive and engaging activities that educate and entertain, developed by an Emmy award-winning child psychologist and devoted kid-experts, our goal is to enrich, empower and nourish children through quality nutrition, clothing and play - every day. The company maximizes revenue by reaching sellers and online retailers through an omnichannel approach. To learn more about PK Beans, visit: www.pkbeans.com On behalf of the Board of Directors, Peekaboo Beans Inc. Ms. Traci Costa, President and CEO (604) 279-2326 For more information, please contact the Company at: IR@pkbeans.com 1-604-279-2326 Reader Advisory This news release may include forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99470 NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UL, the global safety science leader?and one of the world's top testing, inspection and certification providers for renewable energy projects, has been awarded certification contracts by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) for the company's most advanced turbine designs. Part of SGRE's new 5.X onshore platform, the SG5.8-170 and SG5.8-155 wind turbines have a capacity of 5.8MW and rotor diameters of 170 and 155 meters - representing some of the largest turbines in the global onshore wind industry. An accredited party must certify the electrical characteristics of wind turbines to help ensure reliable and safe power generation. By providing type characteristics certification and grid code compliance certification for markets including Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom, UL will help enable SGRE to deploy reliable, innovative turbine technologies across Europe. "Confirming that new turbine technologies can support the power grid while optimizing energy production is crucial to accelerating the development of wind farms and Europe's green energy transition," said Kai Grigutsch, head of wind certification for UL. "We're proud to be collaborating with Siemens Gamesa to help advance the adoption of safe and reliable wind energy." To help support the launch of the 5.X onshore platform worldwide, SGRE chose UL as a strategic procurement supplier to capitalize on UL's deep experience in international grid code compliance and help SGRE navigate safety, reliability and performance risks for their turbines. "We needed a trustworthy strategic supplier that could help us efficiently certify our latest turbine design platform for international deployment and to support our customers," Irene Alli Onos, head of SG5.X Certification at SGRE, said. "Our collaboration with UL will enable us to swiftly meet market-specific certification requirements. We look forward to working with them as we continue to develop industry-leading turbine designs." About UL UL is the global safety science leader. We deliver testing, inspection and certification (TIC), training and advisory services, risk management solutions and essential business insights to help our customers, based in more than 100 countries, achieve their safety, security and sustainability goals. Our deep knowledge of products and intelligence across supply chains make us the partner of choice for customers with complex challenges. Discover more at UL.com. For information about Standards development and other nonprofit activities, visit UL.org. Press contact: Steven Brewster UL ULNews@UL.com +1.847.664.8425 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/325015/ul_enterprise_logo.jpg LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandessence Market Research has published a new report title on "Africa Vaccine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Recombinant & Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, Other), By Indication (Influenza, Polio, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Disease, Human Papilloma Virus, Meningococcal Disease, Hepatitis, Varicella, Measles, Mumps, & Rubella, Diphtheria, Pertussis, & Tetanus (DPT), Other), By End-User (Pediatric, Adults, Travelers) Based On Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027." Africa shows significant growth in vaccine market during the forecast period due to the rising COVID-19 cases and growing advancement in technology. For instance; in November 2020, Aspen's South African auxiliary Aspen Pharmacare has signed a fundamental deal with two Johnson and Johnson (J&J) auxiliaries for the technical exchange and proposed business manufacture of their COVID-19 vaccine applicant. Some of the key players for Africa vaccine market are Institut Pasteur Dakar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Moderna Inc., Vacsera, Biovac, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Biovaccines Nigeria Limited (BVNL), Innovative Biotech, and others. Get Sample of Report@ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1707 News: Moderna Plans to Spend $500 Million on Vaccine Plant in Africa October 7th, 2021; Moderna wanted to build a vaccine producing facility in Africa. It would spend as much as $500 million to construct a plant in Africa that could create a large portion of a billion messenger RNA vaccine dosages a year. They incorporate its Covid-19 vaccine and shots for different diseases, and possibly likewise have vial-filling abilities. The other primary producers of mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, Pfizer Inc. also, accomplice BioNTech SE, declared an arrangement in July to begin creating shots at an office in Cape Town, South Africa. The new "cutting edge" office would ultimately deliver up to 500 million portions per year of Moderna's mRNA vaccine, which has shown a efficacy rate of in excess of 90% in avoiding Covid-19. New consortium working to boost vaccine production in South Africa On July 30th, 2021; The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Afrigen Biologics (PTY) Limited, the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa (Biovac), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have signed a letter of intent to address the global imbalance of manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines. This letter of intent brings together partners to establish the South African mRNA technology transfer hub that will allow for greater and more diversified vaccines manufacturing capability, strengthen African regional health security and respond more equitably to the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics. Further to WHO's announcement in June of the first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, this letter of intent sets out the terms of the collaboration and responsibilities between our organizations. The new collaboration brings together key actors from COVAX partners, industry, government, academia, funding agencies, WHO AFRO, which was represented by Regional Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti and the Africa CDC to collectively provide an enabling environment for the development of the first regional mRNA vaccine manufacturing production facility in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the growth of Africa vaccine market. During COVID-19 pandemic, the South African Medical Research Council has been enthusiastically subsidizing, leading and working on research and development activities to develop vaccine. Increasing investment by government and private organizations for the development of COVID-19 vaccines has further accelerated the market in the Africa. However, during COVID-19 pandemic, because of transportation restrictions and lockdown conditions there is supply chain disruption of raw material. Get Methodology @https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1707 Africa vaccine market expected to show a significant growth in the coming few years. The prevalence of infectious diseases keeps on being excessively high in some African nations, with major effects on health and socio-economic. In 2014, Ebola flare-up in Western Africa has brought about strong proposals from the African Union and others with respect to help for the increase in speed of local vaccine development and manufacturing. Moreover, further developing reactions to emergency circumstances, African vaccine manufacturing could further develop security and supportability of vaccine supply, and react to neglect the health requirements of a developing populace and fast financial improvement in Africa. Efficient and secure vaccines against HIV and malaria can probably address approximately 13% of Africa's absolute infection trouble, and could on a very basic level shift Africa's vaccine market financially available. During the International Vaccine Technology Workshop in India, in September 2010, a group of intrigued Africans dispatched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI). Looking past, the arrangement of vaccines in emergency circumstances, the AVMI expects to organize efforts of African vaccine makers and other invested individuals, who have a dream to see Africa produce its own vaccines and biologicals for both daily schedule and emergency circumstances. Increasing Feasibility of Establishing Sustainable Vaccine Manufacturing, Rising Government Funding & Support for New Vaccine Development and Growing Prevalence of Infectious Diseases Such as COVID-19, Malaria & Lassa Fever are Some of the major factors Driving the Market Growth One of the major factors driving the growth of Africa vaccine market is increasing feasibility of establishing sustainable vaccine manufacturing. Vaccination addresses one of the most cost-effective general health mediations. The requests for next-generation and new vaccines are consistently developing. Vaccination stays the most cost-effective general health intercession after clean water, and the advantages impressively offset the expenses. The efforts expected to satisfy the consistently developing demands for future and novel vaccines intended for arising microorganisms and new signs are just feasible in a sustainable business model. For instance; in November 2020, FCDO created far reaching reality base on vaccine manufacturing in Africa. Also, in April 2021, the African Union proclaimed its aim to speed up nearby vaccine production to meet 60% of Africa's normal immunization needs by 2040. In addition, increasing government funding & support for new vaccine development is also supplementing the market growth in Africa. Vaccination is one of the main medical practices at any point presented, it has been fundamental to diminish mortality, further develop future and financial development. Government in Africa, have shown interest in vaccine production foundations however just with outer help for investment. For instance; Ethiopia spends USD 150 Million yearly on immunization obtainment of which USD 100 Million presently come from contributors. Eventually, upon graduation, the Ethiopian government is relied upon to significantly increase its financial plan distributed to vaccine importation to support its vaccination program. By Technology: Recombinant & Conjugate Vaccines Inactivated Vaccines Live Attenuated Vaccines Toxoid Vaccines Other By Indication: Influenza Polio Rotavirus Pneumococcal Disease Human Papilloma Virus Meningococcal Disease Hepatitis Varicella, Measles, Mumps, & Rubella Diphtheria, Pertussis, & Tetanus (DPT) Other By End-User: Pediatric Adults Travelers Get Detailed Analysis: https://brandessenceresearch.com/healthcare/africa-vaccine-market Other Trending Reports during Covid-19 Pandemic. Vaccines Market Size: By Technology (Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, Recombinant Vaccines), By Indication (Influenza, Pneumococcal Disease, Meningococcal Disease, Human Papilloma Virus, Rotavirus, Hepatitis), By End User (Pediatric Vaccines, Adult Vaccines, Traveller Vaccines), Industry Analysis, Trends, And Forecast 2020-2025 Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market 2021 By Type Of Vaccine (Pandemic Vaccines, Preventative Vaccines, Seasonal Vaccines, Adjuvant Vaccines, Others), By Basis Scale Of Operation (Preclinical Clinical Commercial) By Types Of Expression Systems (Mammalian, Microbial, Others) Forecast To 2027 MRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market size is Projected to reach USD 2911.9 million 2026 Epigenetics Market By Product (Reagents, Kits & Assays, Instruments, Enzymes, Protein Modifying Enzyme RNA Modifying Enzyme, Services, Bioinformatics Tools), By Technology (DNA Methylation, Histone Methylation, Histone Acetylation, Large Non-Coding RNA, MicroRNA Modification, Chromatin Structures), By Application (Oncology, Non-Oncology, Developmental Biology, Drug Discovery, Others), By End-Users (Academic & Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, Contract Research Organizations (CROs)) Forecast To 2025 Global Vaccine Raw Material Market: Global Size, Trends, Competitive, Historical & Forecast Analysis, 2021-2027. Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence market research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London. Website: https://brandessenceresearch.com Blog: Single-Use Bioreactor Manufacturers Contacts: Public Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: vishal@brandessenceresearch.com Email: Sales@brandessenceresearch.com Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/BEMR_Logo.jpg BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 11, the first phase of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on biological diversity (COP15) was opened in Kunming, Yunnan, China. Short film "Elephants' Journey in Yunnan" was premiered at the opening ceremony. "Elephants' Journey in Yunnan" records the story of 16 wild Asian elephants which left their habitat in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, last spring and finally returned home after 17 months of trek of 1,300 kilometers. Tens of thousands of people guarded their journey and gained mutual trust with the elephant herd. Beginning last year, a herd of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan roamed all the way north. Netizens joked that the elephants would go to Kunming to participate in COP15 conference. On September 11, "Elephants' Journey in Yunnan" was released, showing the guests the Yunnan wisdom and Yunnan solutions of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The Asian elephant is the largest and most representative terrestrial vertebrate in Asia. The species mainly inhabits Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Pu'er City and Lincang City, Yunnan Province. In order to protect them, Yunnan has taken a series of measures, such as establishing Asian elephants food source base, strengthening Asian elephants field monitoring and patrol, and constantly improving the insurance and claim settlement mechanism for wildlife accidents, so as to gradually realize both "human elephant separation" and "human elephant harmony." After more than 30 years of rescue and protection, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has developed from more than 190 in the early 1980s to about 300 at present. The population of wild Asian elephants has entered a stage of stable recovery and gradual increase. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659400/Peoples_Daily_Online_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659401/Peoples_Daily_Online_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659402/Peoples_Daily_Online_Logo.jpg Contact: Li Faxing Telephone: +86- 18206795864 E-mail: 236556362@qq.com Company also signs term sheet to fund Berkeley Terrace 70-unit townhome project FORKED RIVER, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Dream Homes & Development Corporation (OTC PINK:DREM) (also known as "DHDC"), announces that it has retained the #1 Century 21 firm in New Jersey, Action Plus Realty, to consult, market and sell its townhomes and single family homes. Additionally, DHDC signed a term sheet with Ocean First Bank for its planned 70-unit townhome project named Berkeley Terrace. Tom Hogan, President of Action Plus, was responsible for introducing Ocean First Bank. Action Plus (www.actionplusrealty.com) has eight office locations and over 275 sales professionals equipped with the best resources, mass and local advertising, and on-going training programs to enhance their knowledge of the latest real estate, industry and financial services available. The office locations include Freehold, Monroe, Cream Ridge, Jackson, Toms River, Forked River, and Manahawkin. Action Plus notes that its unique and innovative customer service center allows it to provide outstanding customer service and value to both sellers and purchasers alike. The closing to acquire the Berkeley Terrace property occurred on June 29, 2021. Dream Homes & Development now has a term sheet with a permanent lender for development and construction financing. DHDC will soon begin infrastructure work on the property, and start a pre-sales program. The first closings are scheduled to occur in late spring of 2022. DHDC President and CEO Vince Simonelli stated, "Tom Hogan has been instrumental in our general strategy, funding resources, and will be very helpful in pricing our properties. I'm pleased to call Tom a valuable business partner as we navigate the wonderful challeges of real estate development and sales." Tom Hogan, President of Action Plus stated, "I find Vince Simonelli of DHDC to be among the most knowledgable and capable people I have ever met in this industry. We look forward to a long and profitable business relationship. For those that want to read more about our assessment of the planned 70-unit market-rate single-family townhome development in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, NJ, see our comments included under Broker Letter below." Broker Letter and Overview of Berkeley Terrace (70 units) Ocean County has been, and continues to be, the beneficiary of a mass migration south out of New York City as well as northern NJ urban, suburban and exurban centers. This migration began in 2020 as people fled densely populated areas based upon concerns surrounding the Covid-19 virus and, subsequently, safety concerns after the civil unrest experienced in the summer of 2020. Increasingly the overhaul to corporate work structures, and how and where people work and commute, has continued to drive this southern shift as people seek "more house" for lower investment, and more beneficial property taxes. Based upon this shift, Ocean County experienced a 23% increase in townhome / condominium sales in 2020 over 2019. Increase in demand matched with an unheard of low average inventory of 2 month's supply in the Ocean County market for this housing type pushed prices up 12.6% in 2020 over 2019, with the median sales price in the townhome/condominium sector landing at $224,000. So far in 2021, Ocean County continues to outperform Monmouth County. Also positive for the subject development is the lack of new housing stock in the market. The nearest meaningful competitor is well north of the subject, in Brick Township. Given continued inventory pressure, the desirability of new construction homes and townhomes in particular as a purchase type, it is my opinion that the homes at Berkeley Terrace will sell initially in the price range between $300,000 and $315,000. Through a series of modest price increases throughout the sales cycle of the community, I anticipate a final average base sales price of $330,000 across the life of the development with an additional 4% to 6% in Option Sales. We anticipate a sales absorption of 4 units/month for a sales period of 18 months. About Dream Homes & Development Corp. Dream Homes & Development Corp. (OTC Pink: DREM)(also "DHDC") is a full-service construction company based in Forked River, New Jersey equipped to complete all aspects of a building project including design, architectural, engineering, and construction. DHDC wholly owned subsidiaries are licensed new home builders and general contractors; actively building, raising, renovating and reconstructing homes up and down the New Jersey shore area. Please visit our website at www.dreamhomesltd.com and blog at http://blog.dreamhomesltd.com for more information. Please email vince@dreamhomesltd.com to be alerted in the future when the Company announces news. Twitter at https://twitter.com/foxbuilder. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks are detailed in the Company's respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Company Contacts: Dream Homes & Development Corp. Vincent Simonelli, President & CEO Office: (609) 693-8881 Email: vince@dreamhomesltd.com Investor Relations: Green Chip Investor Relations President: Matt Chipman Office: (818)923-5302 Email: matt@greenchipir.com SOURCE: Dream Homes & Development Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667815/Dream-Homes-Development-Corp-OTCPK-DREM-retains-Century-21-Action-Plus-Realty-as-Preferred-Real-Estate-Agent-for-Marketing-and-Sales LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / MJ Harvest, Inc. ("MJHI") (OTCQB:MJHI) announced today that MJHI and its portfolio company PPK Investment Group, Inc. ("PPK") executed a final binding agreement to acquire 10% of WDSY, LLC ("Weedsy"), a cannabis brand in California currently sold in over 50 dispensaries. As part of the agreement, MJHI and PPK have also signed a brand development agreement with Weedsy. The initial term of the brand development agreement is 5 years and is automatically renewable for additional five-year terms unless terminated by us or unless terminated by Weedsy if we fail to meet certain performance objectives. Weedsy sells pre-rolled branded cannabis products packed with organic cannabis flower, kief and THC distillate throughout California. Pursuant to the binding agreement and effective as of the date of this press release, MJ Harvest has acquired 10% of Weedsy. The price for the first tranche is $200,000 payable in shares valued at the closing price of the shares on the OTCQB on October 8, 2021. The second tranche, which is an earnout amount pursuant to the expected growth of Weedsy, will be paid in shares no later than the two-year anniversary of the execution of the agreement. The amount of the second tranche will be calculated as 10% of 1X (one times) Weedsy 12-month trailing broad channel product sales generated by licensed distributors in all states, less the initial payment of $200,000. The second tranche's terms reflect the expected growth of Weedsy products over the next 2 years. MJHI and PPK will work in conjunction with Weedsy to develop Weedsy product lines on an exclusive basis in Oklahoma and South Dakota. Under the terms of the signed agreement, Weedsy will provide PPK and MJHI with product formulations, manufacturing specifications, promotion, advertising methods and package design. Both sides agree that PPK has certain expertise in manufacturing and production. MJHI/PPK have agreed to fully cooperate with WEEDSY to allow access for WEEDSY personnel to its facilities and personnel from time to time for training purposes and shall reasonably assist WEEDSY in its facilities in Oklahoma and South Dakota for the purposes of training Weedsy's personnel. Development of new Weedsy products will be the responsibility of Weedsy and both parties will work together to maintain best manufacturing processes. The territory of the agreement may be expanded from time to time beyond the States of Oklahoma and South Dakota pursuant to mutual agreement by the parties. MJHI and PPK will pay Weedsy a royalty of 10% of all net sales of Weedsy products sold by MJHI and PPK. MJHI and PPK will also apply 5% of all net revenues to marketing of the Weedsy products sold by MJHI and PPK in Oklahoma and South Dakota to accelerate the growth of Weedsy branded products in Oklahoma and South Dakota. Patrick Bilton, Chief Executive Officer of MJ Harvest commented, "We are thrilled that we have executed this agreement with WDSY, LLC. The equity investment in Weedsy is an excellent opportunity for our company to not only partner with Weedsy but to benefit from their success and ours and PPK's manufacturing expertise and sales channels. We fully anticipate the relationship between our company, PPK and Weedsy will provide significant value for all parties. We will continue to focus on manufacturing, marketing, and selling quality products." "A key element of Weedsy's growth strategy is to partner with proven operators in legal states through licensing deals that allow rapid expansion of our brand and its products," stated Raymond Yang, Weedsy's CEO. "We've already built a strong connection to MJHI/PPK's operations in multiple states and look forward to rapid deployment of the brand across all their distribution channels." PPK is currently operating in Oklahoma and South Dakota, is in the process of expanding into Arizona and California and is exploring several other expansion opportunities in various other markets. About Weedsy: Weedsy is a growing California cannabis brand, focused on exemplifying the cannabis lifestyle with single-use, mini pre-rolls for a one-and-done elevated experience. The brand's rapid success has been driven by potent product at an accessible price, as well as a unique, consumer-friendly, fruit-flavor line-up. Based in Los Angeles, Weedsy intends to soon expand from Southern California into a Northern California distribution hub, as well as into other states through partnered licensing deals. For more information about Weedsy, please visit the Weedsy website at http://www.weedsy.com About MJ Harvest Inc. MJ Harvest Inc. (a/k/a MJHI) cultivates, harvests, manufactures and sells cannabis products through its growing relationship with PPK Investment Group Inc. ("PPK"). PPK sells and markets cannabis flower and edibles throughout Oklahoma. PPK is also participating in a comprehensive cannabis joint venture agreement with FSST Pharms LLC which is wholly owned by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of Flandreau, South Dakota. MJHI currently owns 25% of PPK with options to acquire 100% of PPK Investment Group at any time prior to March 31, 2023, provided any increase can then be accomplished in accordance with Oklahoma law. MJHI also acquires and markets products and technologies that are designed to benefit growers and processors in the horticultural and agricultural industries. MJHI launched www.procannagro.com to provide a professionally designed and maintained web-based marketing outlet for the company's brands and technologies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and information. Although the forward- looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward- looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. No assurances are, or can be given, that the above-described agreement will result in successful product sales. Certain conditions to such success, such as government regulations, increased competition, product supplies, and others are outside of the parties' control and the parties cannot provide any assurance that the relationship will be successful. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. CONTACT: MJ Harvest, Inc. 9205 West Russell Rd., Ste. 240 Las Vegas, NV 89148 Telephone: 954.519.3115 Tcktsllc@earthlink.net @HARVESTMJ SOURCE: MJ Harvest, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667892/PPK-Investment-Group-Inc-and-MJ-Harvest-Inc-Execute-Final-Agreement-to-Acquire-a-Minority-Ownership-Interest-in-WDSY-LLC-Weedsy-and-a-Brand-Development-Agreement-for-Weedsy-Branded-Products Clarifies That The Company Will Be Issuing Additional Restricted Shares To Holders Of Common Stock As Of December 10, 2021. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK:GSFI) ("the Company") (https://greensolarutility.com), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, recently announced that its Board of Directors has approved a special stock dividend (the "Distribution") to Green Stream Holdings Inc. stockholders of one share of restricted common stock for every 100 shares of common stock presently owned. The initial announcement was released on October4, 2021 and was updated on October 6, 2021. This release is a reminder that in order to receive the share issuance, the shareholder will have to hold shares as of the Record Date, December 10, 2021. The Company restated that, On October 1, 2021, the Board of Directors of Green Stream Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") authorized a stock dividend of one (1) share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock"), for each one hundred (100) shares of Common Stock held on December 10, 2021 (the "Record Date"). In response to shareholder reaction, the Company reiterates that this transaction is an issuance of additional shares from the company to each shareholder who holds a minimum of 100 shares on the Record Date. Those shareholders will receive: " one (1) share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock"), for each one hundred (100) shares of Common Stock held on December 10, 2021..." The Distribution will take place in the form of a pro rata common stock dividend to each Green Stream stockholder of record on the Distribution Date. No action is required by the applicable shareholders. No fractional shares of common stock will be distributed. Instead, Green Stream stockholders will receive a number rounded to the next highest number. The Distribution is intended to qualify as tax free to Green Stream stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No vote or action is required by Green Stream's stockholders in order to receive the Distribution, which is subject to certain customary conditions, which conditions are expected to be satisfied on or prior to the distribution date. About Green Stream Finance, Inc. Green Stream Finance, Inc., a solar utility and finance company with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups, brokers, and private investors in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For All Inquiries Contact: +1 (424) 280-4096 president@greenstreamfinance.com Website: greensolarutility.com Phone number: (646) 669-7007 SOURCE: Green Stream Holdings Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667905/Green-Stream-Holdings-Inc-GSFI-Reminds-Shareholders-of-Cut-Off-date-to-be-Eligible-for-Upcoming-Issuance-of-a-Special-Common-Stock-Dividend-to-Shareholders-of-Record-on-Record-Date Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Appia Energy Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I.F) (FSE: A0I.MU) (FSE: A0I.BE) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce that the current drilling program has discovered new and previously unknown occurrences of massive and semi-massive monazite in the Wilson North area of Alces Lake. The Company's exploration program is continuing with two drills aimed at expanding and confirming the extent of the estimated high-grade mineralization of rare earth elements ("REE") and gallium in the 100%-owned Alces Lake project, Athabasca Basin area, northern Saskatchewan. ALCES LAKE HIGH-GRADE REE PROJECT Diamond drilling continues with two drills active on the property. One drill is testing the continuity and depth extent of the Wilson-Richard-Charles-Bell zones (WRCB), while the other moves across the property, exploring new drill targets. Highlights include: Massive to semi-massive monazite intersected at the previously undrilled Wilson North target with in newly-discovered multiple sub-parallel zones. Completion of 61 drill holes (4,575 m) out of an expected total of 103 drill holes (7,580 m estimated total). Continued drilling at WRCB, Diablo and Oldman River. Phase One drilling at Biotite Lake, Danny and Sweet Chili Heat with monazite occurrences identified in each area. 1,091 samples are currently being analyzed at the Saskatchewan Research Council's Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon. WRCB - Wilson North Discovery A total of 27 drill holes (2,460 m) have been completed at WRCB, with at least 27 holes (2,360 m) remaining. The program is focussed on previously undrilled high-grade trends and defining lower-grade zones, as well as determining the orientation of mineralized structures and infilling areas of presumed continuity. Promising observations of massive to semi-massive monazite (Figure 1) have been discovered in the recently drilled 21-WRC-015 hole in the Wilson North Area. Previously undrilled due to logistical challenges, Wilson North 21-WRC-015 has returned multiple occurrences of massive to semi-massive monazite to a vertical depth of 30 m, across multiple zones. Figure 1 - Wilson North 21-WRC-015 monazite mineralization observed over 8.85 m from 15.74 - 24.59 m (red arrows). Massive and semi-massive monazite highlighted. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/99503_figure1enhanced.jpg Nicolas Guest, Vice President, Exploration notes "Our modelling had predicted that Wilson and Richard were essentially the same zone, but it now appears there are multiple sub-parallel zones. The discovery of new massive and semi-massive monazite at Wilson North in-between these two areas show how our model is evolving with each new hole, and our eyes have been opened to what is possible in this high-grade mineral system. With one of the largest true-width intercepts encountered to date at Alces Lake (up to 8.85 m of monazite mineralization), we are very excited to release our upcoming assay results and continue exploring these trends." Figure 2 - Map of the WRCB area showing drilling progress to date. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/99503_c143e5b4842b2bd5_013full.jpg Regional Targets Regional drilling at Alces Lake has been prioritized for several promising targets across the property (Figure 3) and 34 holes (2,110 m) have been completed. Monazite mineralization was encountered in each area, with assays pending. Biotite Lake - 13 holes (685 m) Danny - 7 holes (430 m) Sweet Chili Heat - 14 holes (995 m) A total of 15 holes (910 m) remain for the regional drill program, with time allotted for additional follow-up holes: Diablo - 4 holes (235 m) Oldman River - 11 holes (675 m) Nicolas Guest comments "We have expanded our regional drill coverage to build an inventory of more advanced targets. REE mineralization at Alces Lake has been observed in all major rock types and is of a similar style across the property. We feel this bodes well for the potential of a new significant discovery." Figure 3 - 2021 Drilling and drill targets on the Alces Lake property. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/99503_c143e5b4842b2bd5_014full.jpg The Company is fully-funded for the 2021 program and all required permits for the exploration activities are in-hand. With the largest exploration and diamond drilling program in the Company's history underway, exploration results will be released as received and analyzed by the Company. Analysis of the summer exploration and drilling program will follow and may lead to the preparation of an NI 43-101 Technical Report with 3D Geophysical-geological Models, expected near the end of 2021 or early 2022. The Alces Lake project encompasses some of the highest-grade total and critical* REEs and gallium mineralization in the world, hosted within a number of surface and near surface monazite occurrences that remain open at depth and along strike. The Alces Lake project is located in northern Saskatchewan, the same provincial jurisdiction that is developing a "first-of-its-kind" rare earth processing facility in Canada (currently under construction by the Saskatchewan Research Council, it is scheduled to become partially operational in early 2023). The Alces Lake project area is 35,682.2 hectares (88,172.7 acres) in size and is 100% owned by Appia. To ensure safe work conditions are met for the workforce, the Company has developed exploration guidelines that comply with the Saskatchewan Public Health Orders and the Public Health Order Respecting the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, in order to maintain social distancing and help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. * Critical rare earth elements are defined here as those that are in short-supply and high-demand for use in permanent magnets and modern electronic applications such as electric vehicles and wind turbines (i.e: neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb)). The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, P.Geo, Advisor to Appia's Board of Directors, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Appia Appia is a Canadian publicly-listed company in the uranium and rare earth element sectors. The Company is currently focussing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements, gallium and uranium on the Alces Lake property, as well as exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 83,706 hectares (206,842 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 108.1 million common shares outstanding, 128.4 million shares fully diluted. For more information, visit Appia's website at www.appiaenergy.ca. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Tom Drivas, CEO and Director: (cell) 416-876-3957, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) appia@appiaenergy.ca Frederick Kozak, President: (cell) 403-606-3165 or (email) fkozak@appiaenergy.ca Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director: (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) fvandewater@rogers.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99503 Rise in urbanization & industrialization in developing nations, surge in spending on home remodeling, and recovery in the construction sector drive the growth of the global ceramic tiles market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Ceramic Tiles Market by Type (Glazed Tiles, and Unglazed Tiles), Application (Floor Tiles, and Wall Tiles), Construction Type (New Construction, and Renovation & Replacement), and End User (Residential, and Non-residential): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report, the global ceramic tiles industry generated $343.9 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $633.5 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2030. Prime determinants of growth Rise in urbanization & industrialization in developing nations, surge in spending on home remodeling, and recovery in the construction sector drive the growth of the global ceramic tiles market. However, variations in raw material prices and prominence of natural stones for flooring hinder the market growth. On the other hand, implementation of advanced digital printing presents new opportunities in the coming years. Download Sample PDF: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1989 Covid-19 Scenario Manufacturing activities of ceramic tiles have been hampered due to lockdown measures and unavailability of workforce. In addition, shortage of raw materials occurred due to disruptions in supply chain. Construction activities have been halted due to lockdown measures implemented by governments of many countries. The halt in activities in the construction sector led to reduced demand for ceramic tiles. Owing to economic uncertainties, home owners and commercial space owners postponed the plans to renovate and installation new ceramic tiles. This also hampered the overall demand. The glazed segment to continue its lead in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period Based on type, the glazed segment contributed to the highest share in 2020, accounting for more than 90% of the global ceramic tiles market, and is estimated to continue its lead in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to wide usage for wall and floor covering applications for its high stain resistance features and surge in adoption in luxury commercial, residential, and hospitality projects to enhance the aesthetics of internal spaces. The report also analyzes the unglazed segment. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the ceramic tiles market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/1989 The residential segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period Based on end user, the residential segment held the highest share in 2020, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global ceramic tiles market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is projected to portray the fastest CAGR of 6.4% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to its cost efficiency of ceramic tiles as compared to the marble, natural wood, and granite and ease in durability, installation, and affordability for the residential sector. The research also discusses the non-residential segment. Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, to offer lucrative opportunities Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. Moreover, this region accounted for the highest market share in 2020, holding more than half of the global ceramic tiles market, and is projected to continue its dominant share by 2030. This is due to rapid industrial development and urbanization, availability in a wide range of colors and patterns, and demand for residential spaces. Leading market players Ceramica Saloni China Ceramics Crossville Inc. Kajaria Ceramics Lamsoa Group Mohawk Industries R.A.K. Ceramics Siam Cement Group Ceramica Carmelo Fior STN Ceramica Interested in Procure Data? Visit: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1989 Access AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Similar Reports We Have: India Ceramic Tiles Market: The India ceramic tiles market size was valued at $3,720.2 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $7,144.7 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2020 to 2027. Industrial Floor Coating Market: The global industrial floor coating market size was valued at $5,899.2 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $9,485.8 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2030. Aluminum Cladding Panels Market: The global aluminum cladding panels market size was valued at $5,847.0 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $9,707.1 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.2% from 2021 to 2030. Industrial Flooring Market: The global industrial flooring market size was valued at $6,299.4 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $8,303.1 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027. Plumbing Components Market: The global plumbing components market size is expected to reach $78,218.9million in 2027, from $58,516.6 million in 2019, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 to 2027. Pre-Book Now with 10% Discount: Concrete Curing Equipment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Masonry White Cement Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2028 About us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free (USA/Canada): +1-800-792-5285, UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Regulatory News: TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE), a global multi-energy company, and Simply Blue Group, a pioneer in floating offshore wind, launched a joint venture, TotalEnergies SBE US, to unlock the vast potential for floating offshore wind projects in the United States. TotalEnergies SBE US will combine TotalEnergies' expertise in large-scale offshore projects, Simply Blue Group's floating know-how, and a team of pioneers of the U.S. offshore wind industry, to unlock untapped deep-water opportunities that will provide renewable electricity to millions of U.S. homes. "Our ambition is to install 100 gigawatts of global renewable power generation by 2030, part of which will come from floating offshore wind projects. We are eager to see this partnership with Simply Blue help our Company meet this goal," said Stephane Michel, President, Gas, Renewables Power at TotalEnergies. "We are convinced of the large potential of floating offshore wind to provide U.S. coasts with renewable electricity, and are committed to contribute our extensive expertise in offshore projects to make it happen. "The future and next frontier of U.S. offshore wind is floating. This joint venture with TotalEnergies has everything we need to deliver floating offshore wind on America's coasts," said Sam Roch-Perks, CEO, Simply Blue. "Almost two-thirds of U.S. offshore wind resources are found in deeper waters that require floating wind platforms. TotalEnergies SBE US brings together the scale, expertise, and international track record to responsibly develop floating offshore wind power on all of America's coasts." "Offshore wind has arrived. To bring its full benefits to market, we need to go big and go deep," said Stephanie McClellan, Ph.D., Chief of Strategy Policy, TotalEnergies SBE US and founder, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind. "TotalEnergies SBE US will accelerate development of U.S. floating wind, and help states and the federal government meet their clean power goals. Today, TotalEnergies has over 6 GW of offshore wind in development around the globe, of which over 40% is comprised of floating offshore wind including over 2 GW of floating wind projects in South Korea. Simply Blue Group has more than 3.2 GW of offshore wind in development off Ireland and the UK. About the U.S. offshore wind market In March 2021, the Biden Administration set a 30 GW goal for U.S. offshore wind by 2030. Deep waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, Hawaii, Gulf Coast, and the East Coast hold as much as 35 GW of development potential by 2040. Along with enabling access to deep-water sites, floating wind offers additional advantages: the winds are stronger and more stable away from the coast, which allows for higher yields, and the wind turbines are out of view from the coast. The global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects more than tripled in 2020 alone to exceed 25 GW, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, with floating wind costs decreasing rapidly. For the United States, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports some 60% of viable offshore wind resources can only be tapped using floating technologies. TotalEnergies, renewables and electricity As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a portfolio of activities in renewables and electricity that should account for up to 40% of its sales by 2050. At the end of 2020, TotalEnergies' gross power generation capacity worldwide was around 12 GW, including 7 GW of renewable energy. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW of gross production capacity from renewable sources by 2025, and then 100 GW by 2030 with the objective of being among the world's top 5 in renewable energies. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people. Twitter: @TotalEnergiesLinkedIn:TotalEnergiesFacebook: TotalEnergiesInstagram: TotalEnergies About TotalEnergies SBE US TotalEnergies SBE US is a joint venture of TotalEnergies and Simply Blue Group dedicated to developing and delivering floating offshore wind power to U.S. coasts. TotalEnergies SBE US is a team of experienced American developers directly connected to states and local communities, who are committed to grow floating offshore wind across the United States with the support of TotalEnergies, a global multi-energy company with a diverse portfolio of renewable assets. About Simply Blue Group Simply Blue Group, headquartered in Cork, Ireland, is a leading blue economy developer focused on replacing fossil fuels with clean ocean energy. It develops pioneering blue economy projects floating offshore wind, wave energy and low-impact aquaculture all in harmony with the oceans. The company has a pipeline of over 9 GW of floating offshore wind projects, primarily in the waters off Ireland and the UK. Simply Blue is committed to creating new economic opportunities for coastal communities, and developing projects that co-exist with sustainable fisheries and marine conservation. For more, go to: https://simplybluegroup.com and http://www.simplybluegroup.com/USA. On Twitter @SimplyBlueUS. Cautionary Note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for their acts or omissions. The terms "Company" or "TotalEnergies company" refer collectively to the company TotalEnergies SE and the companies it controls directly or indirectly. Such terms are used solely for the sake of convenience for purposes of the present communication. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005716/en/ Contacts: Simply Blue Contacts Garth Neuffer, gneuffer@hotmail.com, 215-840-3692 Stephanie McClellan, steph.mcclellan@simplybluegroup.com, 302-943-8264 TotalEnergies Contacts Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR Investor Relations: +44 (0) 207 719 7962 l ir@totalenergies.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSXV: NBM) (OTCQB: NBMFF) ("NEO" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has secured material transfer agreements ("MTA") with working parties for the purpose of upscaled evaluations of NEO's silicon anode active materials applied towards high-power lithium-ion batteries and efficient electrode manufacturing processes. The MTA constitutes the transfer of materials between the parties and provides stringent clauses for the protection of NEO's proprietary technology. Mr. Spencer Huh, President and CEO of NEO, commented, "The material transfer agreements that NEO has secured signifies a runway into large-scale testing of our silicon anode materials that are applicable to various battery materials and cell systems, including high-power and performance batteries and distinct manufacturing processes for electrode fabrication. The MTAs form a baseline agreement for both NEO and its counterparties to develop opportunities for joint development agreements and strategic partnerships." In South Korea, NEO's management and engineers are in the stage of scaling the production capacity of our proprietary silicon anode active materials through required capital purchases and process optimization. These technical advancements are directed towards achieving the semi-commercial level output rate of 120 tons per year and the mass shipment of customized prototypes to the Company's working partners. Refining the characteristics of the material and manufacturing method has allowed the Company to undergo increased iterations of product testing and modifications to generate these positive internal developments. NDA Updates In the past two weeks, the Company has signed three non-disclosure agreements ("NDAs") with an additional European battery cell manufacturer, material developer, and a research institution. All the works are associated with further evaluation and optimization of NEO's silicon anode active materials and the accelerated commercialization timeline of implementing the Company's materials into electric vehicles and energy storage solution applications. About NEO Battery Materials Ltd. NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is a Vancouver-based company focused on lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicle and energy storage applications. NEO has a focus on producing silicon anodes materials through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process, which provides improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries using graphite in their anode materials. The Company intends to become a silicon anode active materials supplier to the electric vehicle industry. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/. On behalf of the Board of Directors Spencer Huh President and CEO 604-697-2408 shuh@neobatterymaterials.com This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99477 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Nuinsco Resources Limited ("Nuinsco" or the "Company") (CSE:NWI) today announced that a tenth consecutive drill hole has produced an intersection of 100m or more of Critical Elements and phosphate mineralization at its 100%-owned Prairie Lake project near Terrace Bay, Ontario with the receipt of analyses producing a 183.1m (starting from 3.4m downhole) intersection in DDH NP0803. "This is the tenth consecutive drill hole from our Prairie Lake project sampling program that has produced a continuous intersection, of rare earth elements, niobium, tantalum and phosphate mineralization of 100m or more - all of the reported intersections have commenced at or near surface, and none are closed off at depth," said Paul Jones, Nuinsco's CEO. "These first ten drill holes are in the southern half of the Southwest ("SW") Area of the Prairie Lake project - additional sample results are now awaited from drill holes in the northern half of this domain. The SW Area has an Exploration Target of 435-530 Mt (see "Prairie Lake ET" table below) of rock endowed with Critical Elements of economic interest that are central to the electrification of the global vehicle fleet and expansion of the capacity for renewable electric-power generation worldwide - initiatives that are forecast to increase demand and prices for these Critical Elements. For example, according to kitco.com, between August 2020 and the present the price of neodymium (neodymium oxide 99.0% purity) alone increased from circa US$60/kg to circa $140/kg ." Analytical results from the 183.1 metres of continuous mineralization (from 3.4-186.5) of niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), phosphate (P2O5), and rare earth elements (REE) including lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd) and yttrium (Y) - analytical results are tabulated below. Eighteen drill-holes have been sampled to date as part of the program, focussing on drill-holes collared to intercept the SW area which measures 1km in length and is between 150m and 750m wide at surface. The SW area alone hosts 435-530 million tonnes of the total 515-630 million tonne ET, with grades as tabulated in the "Prairie Lake ET" table below. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Rock Type* P2O5 (%) Nb2O5 (%) Ta2O5 (%) Y (g/t) La (g/t) Ce (g/t) Nd (g/t) Sm (g/t) REE (g/t) New intersections: NP0803 3.4 17 13.6 CRBT,PYX 2.62 0.133 0.0049 58 265 590 273 46 1231 22.72 43.25 20.53 CRBT,PYX 2.48 0.188 0.0022 58 260 583 277 47 1225 47.75 58.5 10.75 CRBT,PYX 2.33 0.117 0.0016 64 230 467 211 36 1009 64 74 10 CRBT 3.22 0.103 0.0010 67 250 500 226 38 1081 97 161 64 CRBT,SILCARB 3.23 0.128 0.0030 63 278 597 277 47 1261 Combined extended intersection: NP0803 3.4 186.5 183.1 -- 3.08 0.113 0.0022 68 274 596 264 46 1248 Principal rock type: CRBT=carbonatite; IJ-PYX BX = breccia with crbt matrix & ijolite or pyroxenite clasts; MEL-IJ = melano-ijolite. REE = Sum of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm; Y - yttrium, La - lanthanum, Ce - cerium, Nd - neodymium, Sm - samarium. P2O5 - phosphate, Nb2O5 - niobium oxide, Ta2O5 - tantalum oxide, 1g/t = 1 ppm The mineralization of economic interest contained within the Prairie Lake intrusion occurs at surface and extends to unknown depths below the deepest drilling yet conducted (circa 500m vertically). There is no indication that mineralization diminishes with depth and the ten intersections from the program reported to date occur in a domain that presently extends 530m, oriented southeast-northwest, in the SW Area (see map below). The Prairie Lake complex hosts a suite of elements of economic interest identified as Critical Elements defined under the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan ("CMMP") contained within the very large domain of mineralized rock that is extremely favourably located from a logistical perspective with rail, road, shipping, and power infrastructure already established. Prairie Lake hosts a number of elements and compounds of economic interest including those for which demand is projected to substantially increase and for which secure supply chains are sought. The Prairie Lake project consists of 46 mineral claims covering an area of ~630 ha. Prairie Lake is superbly located, easily accessed by an all-weather road from the TransCanada Highway located 28 kilometres to the south. The ET is defined by 59 diamond drill holes. All samples were analysed by Activation Laboratories (ActLabs) in Ancaster, Ontario. Samples were analysed for a whole rock and trace element ICP analytical package as well as for niobium, tantalum, and zirconium oxides using a fusion XRF method. An internal Quality Control Quality Assurance (QAQC) program was implemented with four QAQC samples (blanks and reference standards) added into the sampling stream. Prairie Lake Drilling & Trenching by Target Area1: SW Jim's Showing East NE Other Areas Total Historic Drill Holes (1969-1983) Drill Holes 16 11 1 0 17 45 Metres 1351.7 938.4 34.1 0 1528.5 3852.7 Drill Holes (2007-2010) Drill Holes 21 10 0 0 1 32 Metres 6632 1692.4 0 0 101 8425.4 Trenches (2010) Trenching 1 0 2 2 0 5 Metres 377.7 0 433.0 754.55 0 1562.2 1 Trench lengths are calculated as cumulative length of samples along trench. Prairie Lake ET2: SW Jim's Showing East NE Total REEs La (ppm) Lanthanum 275 - 340 295 - 360 305 - 370 200 - 250 280 - 340 Ce (ppm) Cerium 650 - 790 670 - 820 670 - 820 450 - 550 650 - 790 Sm (ppm) Samarium 55 - 70 55 - 70 55 - 70 50 - 60 55 - 70 Nd (ppm) Neodymium 295 - 360 290 - 360 320 - 390 235 - 290 300 - 360 Y (ppm) Yttrium 85 - 100 90 - 110 80 - 100 135 - 170 85 - 100 La+Ce+Sm+Nd+Y (ppm) 1360 - 1660 1400 - 1720 1430 - 1750 1070 - 1320 1370 - 1660 Additional Elements (as oxides) P2O5 (%) Phosphate 3.0 - 4.0 3.5 - 4.5 2.5 - 3.0 2.5 - 3.5 3.0 - 4.0 Nb2O5 (%) Niobium 0.095 - 0.115 0.100 - 0.120 0.040 - 0.050 0.085 - 0.105 0.090 - 0.110 Ta2O5 (ppm) Tantalum 18 - 25 25 - 30 5 - 7 10 - 12 18 - 21 Volume - m3 (million) 140 - 175 12 - 14 13 - 16 2 - 3 170 - 210 Tonnes (million) 435 - 530 35 - 45 40 - 50 7 - 8 515 - 630 2 A full description of methodology used to estimate the Prairie Lake Project Exploration Target is contained in the Technical Report dated 30 November 2018 prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. that is filed on SEDAR. The potential quantity and grade of the ET is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the discovery of a mineral resource. There is no National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects preliminary economic assessment in respect of the Prairie Lake ET. Laura Giroux, P.Geo, Chief Geologist, acts as Nuinsco's Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Giroux has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. About Nuinsco Resources Limited Nuinsco Resources has over 50 years of exploration success and is a growth-oriented, multi-commodity mineral exploration and development company focused on prospective opportunities in Canada and internationally. Currently the Company has four properties in Ontario - the high-grade Sunbeam gold property near Atikokan, the Dash Lake gold property near Terrace Bay, the large multi-commodity (rare-earths, niobium, tantalum, phosphate) Prairie Lake project near Terrace Bay, and the Zig Zag Lake property (lithium, tantalum) near Armstrong. In addition, Nuinsco has an agreement for gold exploitation at the El Sid project in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historic fact, that address activities, events or developments that Nuinsco believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate, "expect," and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "can," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Nuinsco based on information currently available to Nuinsco. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of Nuinsco to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on Nuinsco. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to successfully complete financings, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world copper and/or gold markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance of facilities, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain tenure to properties and/or necessary permits and approvals, and other development and operating risks. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Nuinsco disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Nuinsco believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. To learn more, please visit www.nuinsco.ca or contact: Paul Jones, CEO Sean Stokes, Executive VP Cathy Hume, Consultant Instagram: @nuinscoresources paul.jones@nuinsco.ca sean.stokes@nuinsco.ca cathy@chfir.com Twitter: @NWIResources SOURCE: Nuinsco Resources Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667916/Nuinsco-Announces-Tenth-Consecutive-Intersection-of-100m-or-More-of-Continuous-Critical-Elements-Phosphate-Mineralization-at-Prairie-Lake Judith Hurwitz, Daniel Kirsch and company bring extensive experience in technology and market research, management and strategy consulting, business and go-to-market planning to Techstrong Group business unit BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Techstrong Group, the power source for people and technology, announced today that Hurwitz & Associates will join Techstrong Research. The Hurwitz & Associates team, led by Judith Hurwitz and Daniel Kirsch, will join Mitchell Ashley in leading the firm. Hurwitz will serve as president and Kirsch will serve as managing director of Techstrong Research. Ashley will continue as a principal of Techstrong Research, as well as CTO of Techstrong Group. The combined team brings deep technical and business expertise to guide business leaders, technology providers, entrepreneurs and investors on the business value of emerging technologies. Techstrong Research is the go-to source for unbiased information, insights and connections that help IT professionals understand new technologies. The Techstrong Research team brings deep knowledge about today's leading technologies with insights and actionable strategies for DevOps, cloud, IT management, security/governance, AI and data initiatives. It offers a holistic business perspective essential for IT leaders and practitioners to adapt and thrive in the digital economy. "I have worked with Judith and the Hurwitz & Associates team for decades with tremendous success," said Andy Palmer, co-founder, chairman and CEO at Tamr Inc. and co-founder, Koa Labs. "I am looking forward to the potential of this important next-generation research and analyst firm created by the combination of Hurwitz & Associates and Techstrong Research." Founded in 1996, Hurwitz & Associates brings industry longevity, experience and credibility earned by working with hundreds of enterprise customers and publishing numerous books and research reports. Prior to joining Techstrong Research, Hurwitz was president and CEO of Hurwitz & Associates. A pioneer in anticipating technology innovation and adoption, she served as a trusted advisor to many industry leaders. Hurwitz has helped clients transition to business models focused on the business value of emerging technologies. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and is the co-author of 10 books, including Augmented Intelligence: The Business Power of Human-Machine Collaboration,Cognitive Computing and Big Data Analytics and Smart or Lucky: How Technology Leaders Turn Chance into Success. She serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Board at Boston University. She also serves on several technology advisory boards, was a recipient of the 2005 Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council award and was named a distinguished alumnus by Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2005. "I am very excited to join Techstrong Research and to collaborate with Dan and Mitchell to create a bold, next-generation research and analyst firm," said Hurwitz. "Our ability to couple research and analysis with the reach of Techstrong Group platforms, audiences, events and membership will give us significant differentiation in the market." Kirsch will serve as managing director and co-founder of Techstrong Research, working with clients on their strategy to develop, market and partner in disruptive technologies, including AI, cloud and security. At Hurwitz & Associates, Dan was managing director. He was a trusted advisor to large and mid-size IT vendors, providing them with market perspective and aligning strategy with customer requirements. His research focused on how compliance, governance, security and privacy are impacting the software industry and customer requirements. Kirsch is also co-author of Augmented Intelligence: The Business Power of Human-Machine Collaboration, Big Data for Dummies, Cloud Computing for Dummies and Hybrid Cloud for Dummies. Kirsch has a JD from Boston College Law School where he focused on corporate law, emerging corporations and intellectual property. As an attorney, Dan represented startups, cloud computing ventures and companies going through second-round financing. "In addition to our unique differentiators, Techstrong Group amplifies our clients' messages and our research to help reach a curated audience," added Kirsch. "I am thrilled to have Judith and Dan join Techstrong Research," said Ashley. "Their deep experience and skill in helping clients focus on the business outcome potential of emerging and disruptive technologies will help our clients accelerate value from their technology investments." "In my time as CMO for IBM's software, cloud and AI businesses, I worked closely with the Hurwitz & Associates team. They provided our organization with clear customer-focused positioning, collateral and insight for our go to market strategy," said Buell Duncan, technology and marketing executive/senior advisory board member. "Their knowledge of the market, including competitors' strengths and weaknesses, is invaluable. Hurwitz & Associates analysts are natural storytellers who understand the world from the customer's perspective and the problems they are trying to solve. This team helped translate the value of IBM solutions into impactful business outcomes for our clients." Techstrong Research is an integrated Techstrong Group business along with Techstrong Media, Techstrong Associations, Techstrong Learning and Techstrong Live!. This gives Techstrong Research a unique advantage over other analyst firms as Techstrong Group is the go-to resource for millions of software development, delivery and security professionals to inform research, validate messages and customize research engagements. "The market moves fast and keeping up requires data. I've worked with Techstrong Research analysts for years, and the only thing I value more than the quality of their research and deliverables is their partnership in helping us identify the right questions to ask," said Sam Fell, vice-president, product marketing, Sumo Logic. "This new combination of the former Accelerated Strategies Group and Hurwitz & Associates brings together powerful resources and very experienced, senior analysts." Additional Resources Visit the Techstrong Research website Read the blog from Judith Hurwitz , president, Techstrong Research Read the blog from Dan Kirsch , managing director, Techstrong Research Read the blog from Mitchell Ashley , principal, Techstrong Research Follow Techstrong on social media: LinkedIn Twitter About Techstrong Research Techstrong Research accelerates the adoption of disruptive technologies that drive business outcomes and provide actionable strategies in rapidly changing markets. We are the only organization serving the needs of IT leaders, practitioners and the industry ecosystem with research, analysis, content, events and education. We bring deep knowledge about today's leading technologies such as DevOps, cloud, data and AI/ML, security/governance initiatives and supporting infrastructure. We offer our customers a holistic business perspective essential to adapt and thrive in the digital economy. The Techstrong Research team has the knowledge, experience and credibility earned by working with hundreds of businesses across many industries to provide consulting, thought leadership and research. Media Contact Jeremy Douglas Catapult j douglas@catapultpr-ir.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1653612/Techstrong_Logo.jpg Westlake, Ohio--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Today, ECHO Health Inc. and KyckGlobal, Inc. announced a partnership to expand ECHO's digital disbursement capabilities. This partnership will further empower claimants to select their preferred digital payment method for the disbursement of claims. To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here. Click image above to view full announcement. About KyckGlobal, Inc. KyckGlobal delivers streamlined outbound B:C payments to help accelerate business, featuring a cloud-based platform with a growing array of today's most popular payment types from a single point of reconciliation. The KyckGlobal solution improves the customer experience with more inclusive payment types and various options for faster payments. By allowing payers to issue one-time and recurring payments from one integrated platform, KyckGlobal transforms how business gets done in the key verticals of specialty consumer finance, marketplaces, claims and appeasements, and multi-level marketing, among others. Visit www.kyckglobal.com and @KyckGlobal. About ECHO Health, Inc. ECHO is a leading provider of electronic payment solutions, connecting payers, vendors, providers, and plan members. ECHO's patented, ERISA, HIPAA and CORE compliant solution addresses the hurdles payers face: connection, compliance, efficiency, and ease of use. ECHO now processes 300+ million claims and over $60 billion in payments annually. Founded in 1997, ECHO is a privately held company located in Westlake, Ohio. For more information, please visit www.echohealthinc.com or call 440.835.3511 ext. 118. Contacts: Brian Young +1 (404) 432 - 9419 byoung@echohealthinc.com Mark Brodbeck (678) 640-9979 mbrodbeck@kyckglobal.com Source: ECHO Health, Inc. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99505 CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this South Korea data center market report. South Korea data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7.72% during the period 2020-2026. South Korea data center market research report includes market size in terms of area, investment, power capacity, and colocation revenues. Get insights on 33 existing and 5 upcoming facilities spread across 12 cities, including Seoul and Other Cities (Anyang, Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Gimhae, Gimpo, Goyang, Guro, Gwangju, Incheon, and Seongnam). Key Highlights Offered in the Report: 1.South Korea is an emerging data center market in APAC. South Korea has a geographical advantage due to its proximity to China and lower occurrence of natural disasters than Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2. According to Korea Data Center Council (KDCC) there are over 150 data center sites in the country. Seoul is a major market in the country, with 12 third-party colocation facilities contributing to over 80% of the existing power capacity. Seoul is followed by Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon in terms of data center development. 3. Digital Realty, Equinix, KT, Telehouse, and LG Uplus are a few prominent colocation operators in South Korea. The market is witnessing upcoming investments from Digital Realty, Naver, SOLIS IDC, NHN, and Kakao Corp, among others, that will contribute to market growth. 4. Data localization laws mandate local companies only to operate data centers and provide services to public institutions. This factor expects to boost the increase the demand for local data center facilities in South Korea. 5. South Korean ICT companies are consistency investing in AI-based technology in the country. Technology giants such as Samsung and LG Electronics are a few companies that are leading the race. SK Telecom and KT, which are telecommunications companies are not far behind. 6. In 2020, the overall power mix in South Korea consisted majorly of fossil fuels, contributing around 60% to the electricity generated, with coal, and nuclear power contributing over 35%. In 2020, the South Korean government announced its energy plan that aims to generate 40% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2034. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Area, Power Capacity, Investment, and Colocation Revenue | 2020-2026 Impact of COVID-19 on Data Center Market Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party facilities in South Korea Facilities Covered (Existing): 33 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 5 Coverage: 12 cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in South Korea Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2026) Retail Colocation Pricing Wholesale Colocation Pricing Market Dynamics - Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation - A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standard Key Market Participants - List of 10 IT infrastructure providers, 7 construction service providers, 13 support infrastructure providers, and 4 data center investors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-korea-data-center-market-investment-analysis South Korea Data Center Market - Segmentation The server Infrastructure market in South Korea expects to grow with increased data center investments. The server market in South Korea is estimated to receive an investment of USD 1.8 billion by the end of 2021. Hyperscale data center expansions are likely to increase the demand for servers and promote the procurement of high-performance infrastructure solutions. expects to grow with increased data center investments. The server market in is estimated to receive an investment of by the end of 2021. Hyperscale data center expansions are likely to increase the demand for servers and promote the procurement of high-performance infrastructure solutions. Lead acid battery is widely adopted by data center operators in the country. According to Korea Data Center Council (KDCC), over 65% of data centers on South Korea adopt lead acid battery, followed by over 20% of data center operators installing lithium-ion batteries. adopt lead acid battery, followed by over 20% of data center operators installing lithium-ion batteries. South Korea data center providers support free cooling techniques for majority of the time in a year. According to the Korea Data Center Council (KDCC), air-based cooling is adopted by over 40% of the data center operators in the country. Market Segmentation by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer, Switches & Switchgears Rack PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by General Construction Building Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building Design Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Market Segmentation by Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV South Korea Data Center Market - Dynamics The cloud computing market in South Korea is growing rapidly and expects to generate revenue of over USD 2.5 billion by 2021. South Korea ranked fifth in the 2020 Cloud Readiness Index released by the Asia Cloud Computing Association. South Korea has the presence of both local and global cloud services providers, including Amazon Web Service (AWS), Oracle, Microsoft, Google, KT, LG CNS, SK C&C among others. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted cloud adoption in the country, with public and private enterprises and educational institutions adopting cloud platforms. In 2020, the South Korean government announced to shift entire systems used by government agencies to the cloud by 2025. Around 77% of government agencies expect to choose public cloud services and the remaining opting for private cloud services. By 2023, Software as a Service (SaaS) expect to lead the cloud market, accounting over 40% of the market, followed by Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) segment. In 2021, SK C&C agreed to merge digital platform and solutions for industries based on Multiverse (Korea's leading SaaS model by SK C&C) with the Google cloud to enhance the software as a service (SaaS) model. In 2020, Google launched its first cloud region in the country, and Oracle launched its second cloud region in Chuncheon, South Korea. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Increasing Internet and Social Media Users impacting Data Center Investments Implementation of Big Data Services and IoT driving Data Center Investments COVID-19 Pandemic Impacting on Data Center Investments 5G and Smart Cities Initiatives Leading Data Center Deployment South Korea Data Center Market - Existing Vs. Upcoming Data Centers Existing Facilities in the region (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) Seoul Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-korea-data-center-market-investment-analysis Key Market Participants IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) IBM Inspur Lenovo NetApp Construction Constructors & Sub-Contractors BEHIVE Architects DPR Construction GS E&C HanmiGlobal ISG Posco ICT Samoo Architects & Engineers Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton Fuji Electric Legrand Rittal Mitsubishi Electric Piller Power Systems Rolls-Royce Power Systems Schneider Electric Vertiv Group Data Center Investors Digital Realty KT LG Uplus Lotte Data Communication Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: Singapore Data Center Market - Investment Analysis and Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 India Data Center Market - Investment Analysis and Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 Hong Kong Data Center Market - Investment Analysis and Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 Thailand Data Center Market - Investment Analysis and Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - The US Government will lift next month a 19-month ban imposed on foreign nationals at its land borders with Canada and Mexico on condition that travelers are fully vaccinated. Tuesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas made an announcement to this effect following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts. 'In alignment with the new international air travel system that will be implemented in November, we will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings,' said Mayorkas. 'Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner,' he added. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will amend Title 19 regulations in two phases over the next few months. In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin allowing fully vaccinated travelers from Mexico or Canada to enter the United States at land and ferry points of entry for non-essential reasons. Travelers will be required to possess document that provides proof of vaccination. Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will not be allowed to travel for non-essential purposes from Canada and Mexico into the United States via land and ferry POEs. Beginning in early January, DHS will require that all inbound foreign national travelers crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs - whether for essential or non-essential reasons - be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination. This approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers, students, and healthcare workers to get vaccinated. 'This new travel system will create consistent, stringent protocols for all foreign nationals traveling to the United States - whether by air, land, or ferry - and accounts for the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccinations,' DHS said in a press release. Restrictions on non-essential travelers had come into effect in March last year to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer welcomed the move. 'Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end,' he said in a statement. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Komasinski succeeds Craig Dempster who has announced his retirement after 15 years with Merkle and four years with dentsu Michael Komasinski's appointment comes at a pivotal time for dentsu as the business moves closer to its ambition of becoming the most integrated agency network. Komasinski will lead Merkle, one of dentsu's six leadership brands, reporting to Wendy Clark and will join dentsu international's executive team. Komasinski commencing his new role on 1 January with a thoughtful and planned succession through the end of the year when Dempster retires. Dentsu International today announced that Michael Komasinski is to be promoted to the role of Global Chief Executive Officer, Merkle and a member of the dentsu international executive team. He replaces Craig Dempster who has been a member of the Merkle executive leadership team for nearly 15 years and joined dentsu during Merkle's acquisition in 2016. Craig will retire from the business at the end of the year. Michael Komasinski's appointment comes at a pivotal time for dentsu as the business moves closer to its ambition of becoming the most integrated agency network in the world, that's data-driven, tech-enabled and ideas led. Powered by Merkle, dentsu is focused on delivering growth for clients through its integrated human-centric solutions. Merkle is one of dentsu's six leadership brands, and was a game-changing acquisition, that's proved a worthy investment as it remains the market leader in people-based customer experience and a strong growth engine for dentsu. Earlier this year, the brand's industry leadership was further reinforced with the acquisition of LiveArea, bolstering Merkle's global experience and commerce capabilities, and further positioning the business as a go-to experience partner for businesses around the world. As Global CEO, Craig Dempster has played an integral role in driving Merkle's culture, growth and profitability, and in building Merkle's relationships with flagship brands such as AT&T, GEICO, Citizens, and AARP. He has also been a key leader on the dentsu international executive team. Michael is a natural successor to the role and brings a wealth of experience having led Merkle across two of dentsu's three regions. Joining Merkle 7 years ago as Chief Operating Officer of Agency Services, he went on to become President of Merkle's Europe, Middle East, and Africa region (EMEA), leading a business of $400M+ in net revenue. During his four years within the EMEA business, it experienced 5x growth. He currently serves as President of Merkle/CXM, Americas, and leader of the dentsu Customer Experience Management (CXM) Service Line in the Americas, overseeing all aspects of Merkle's Americas regional operation. Wendy Clark, Global CEO dentsu international said "Michael's track record speaks for itself. He inspires and leads teams in developing impactful, data-driven and tech-enabled customer experiences while building lasting and values-based relationships with clients. And he shares our collective ambition to become the most integrated agency network, delivering integrated solutions to drive growth for our clients across creative, media and CXM. I know Michael is ready to progress this agenda at the helm of Merkle and will be a key leader for dentsu as we further accelerate our growth and momentum." "Craig has been instrumental in growing the Merkle business over the past 15 years. He leaves the brand in great shape with a strong client portfolio, a solid leadership team and a business that is much more integrated into dentsu. It has been a privilege to work with Craig as part of my Executive team." On his appointment, Michael Komasinski said "I am excited for the opportunity to lead such a brilliant and successful brand into its next phase of growth. Bringing together our combined strengths with dentsu makes us truly market leading, demonstrating to our clients the breadth of capability we offer to deliver integrated marketing solutions and business outcomes. Talent is the lifeblood of brands like Merkle and it is a key focus in the pandemic era as the labor market tightens and we pivot to hybrid ways of working. As in the past, we are focused on making Merkle and dentsu the employer of choice where the best talent in the industry wants to come develop and thrive." Craig Dempster said "I am immensely proud of what we as a brand have achieved over these past 15 years. Merkle's growth and offering under dentsu is world class. Putting data at the heart of everything we do at dentsu is transforming our offer and ultimately providing our clients with a seamless and integrated experience to deliver outstanding growth. I celebrate and thank our people in helping to build one of the most innovative businesses in the world." Michael will commence his role as Global CEO Merkle on 1 January and will join the dentsu international executive team, reporting to Wendy Clark. The new President, Merkle Americas will be announced in due course. For more information contact Fi Magill, Interim Head of PR, dentsu international Fiona.magill@dentsu.com Editors Notes About Merkle Merkle is a leading data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The company's heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive hyper-personalized marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in performance media, customer experience, customer relationship management, loyalty, and enterprise marketing technology drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With 12,000 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 50+ additional offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Merkle is a dentsu company. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkleinc.com. Michael Komasinski Biography Michael Komasinski is President of Merkle/CXM, Americas, and leader of the dentsu Customer Experience Management (CXM) Service Line in the Americas. He oversees all aspects of Merkle's Americas regional operation, including sales, account management, solutions, services, and marketing. He is responsible for driving the P&L for Merkle Americas, representing more than 80% of the company's global revenue and employee base. His team of more than 7,000 is charged with the core goal of delivering exceptional value for clients across the full spectrum of CXM competencies, including performance media, enterprise technology, CRM, data analytics, digital user experience, performance creative, loyalty promotion, and customer strategy. Previously, Michael served as President of Merkle's Europe, Middle East, and Africa region (EMEA), leading a business of $400M+ in net revenue with 3,500 employees across 30 offices in fifteen markets. During his four years leading the EMEA business, it experienced 5x growth and is now considered an industry leader in the core offerings of performance media, CRM, analytics, customer experience, and marketing technology. Merkle is currently eConsultancy's fifth-largest full-service and marketing services provider and ninth-largest digital agency and was a finalist in Campaign's Agency of the Year standings. Merkle EMEA has been recognized by The Drum, Forrester, and partners such as Adobe, Google, Salesforce, and Amazon Web Services. Michael led the acquisition of several industry leading businesses, including Aquila Insight, Divisadero, Oxyma, and Namics. He was recognized as one of Data IQ's top 100 most influential people in data and is a regular panellist and speaker at industry and client events. Michael joined Merkle in 2015 as the Chief Operating Officer of Agency Services and moved to London in late 2016 to begin his transition into the regional leadership role. Prior to Merkle, Michael held leadership roles at Razorfish, Schawk Retail Marketing, The Nielsen Company, and A.T. Kearney. He holds a bachelor of science from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. About dentsu international Part of dentsu, dentsu international is made up of six leadership brands Carat, dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, dentsumcgarrybowen, Merkle, and supported by its specialist brands. Dentsu International helps clients to win, keep and grow their best customers and achieve meaningful progress for their businesses. With best-in-class services and solutions in media, CXM and creative, dentsu international operates in over 145 markets worldwide with more than 45,000 dedicated specialists. www.dentsu.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005856/en/ Contacts: Fi Magill Interim Head of PR dentsu international Fiona.magill@dentsu.com Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c. Publication of Circular and General Meeting Since its approval at the annual general meeting in 2015, the Company has successfully operated a discount and premium control policy (the "DCP"). This has kept the Company's share price close to the prevailing net asset value and has allowed the Company to issue new ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") to meet demand from existing and new investors in the Company and to buy back Ordinary Shares for re-issuance from treasury where the circumstances have required it. The recent issuance levels mean that the Company's existing authorities to issue shares on a non pre-emptive basis, granted at the annual general meeting held on 6 July 2021, are likely to be exhausted prior to being refreshed at the next annual general meeting which is expected to be held in July 2022. As a result, in order to continue to operate the DCP and to meet the continuing demand for the Ordinary Shares, the Board is seeking the early renewal of its shareholder authorities to issue Ordinary Shares on a non pre-emptive basis. Accordingly, the Company has today published a circular convening a general meeting to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 4 November 2021 at the offices of Juniper Partners Limited, 28 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HR (the "General Meeting"). At the General Meeting, resolutions will be proposed to give the Board authority to issue up to 3,476,880 Ordinary Shares (being 20 per cent. of the Company's current issued share capital) on a non pre-emptive basis. A copy of the circular will shortly be available for inspection on the Company's website at www.capitalgearingtrust.co.uk and on the National Storage Mechanism which is located at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. All enquiries: Juniper Partners Limited Company Secretary Tel: 0131 378 0500 Email: company.secretary@capitalgearingtrust.com Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - According to the new market research report "Telehealth Market by Component (Software & Services, RPM, Real-Time), Application (Teleradiology, Telestroke, TeleICU), Hardware (Glucose Meters), End-User (Provider, Payer, patient), Delivery (On-Premise, Cloud) Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the telehealth market is projected to reach USD 191.7 billion by 2025 from USD 38.7 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 37.7% during the forecast period. Browse and in-depth TOC on "Telehealth Market" 182 - Tables 34 - Figures 225 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=201868927 The growth of this market is majorly attributed to the shortage of physicians, rise in population & need to expand healthcare access, rising prevalence of chronic conditions & cost benefits of telehealth and telemedicine, advancements in telecommunications, and government support and raising awareness. By component, the software and services segment took the largest share of the telehealth market in 2019 Based on component, the telehealth market is parted into software & services, and hardware segments. In 2019, the software & services segment accounted for the largest share of the telehealth market. The large share of this segment is attributed to the increasing adoption of telehealth and telemedicine across the globe. Telehealth software and services have experienced significant growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to hospitals facing an acute shortage of beds and resources, as well as social distancing norms. However, the hardware segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 18.6% in the forecast period. Teleradiology segment commanded the largest share of the telehealth market, by application, in 2019. Based on application, the telehealth market has been segmented into teleradiology, teleconsultation, teleICU, telestroke, telepsychiatry, teledermatology, and other applications. By application, the teleradiology segment accounted for the largest share of the telehealth market in 2019. The factors such as - the increase in imaging practices, increase in teleradiology workflow adoption by healthcare providers, and the streamlining and regulation of teleradiology practices are some of the major factors driving the growth of this segment. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has supported the use of teleradiology, as radiologists seek to reduce patient exposure while still ensuring sufficient output. Providers segment accounted for the largest end-user segment of the telehealth market. Based on end-users, the telehealth market is segmented into providers, payers, patients and the other end users. The provider's segment accounted for the largest share of the global telehealth and telemedicine market, by end-user, in 2019. Factors contributing to the large share of this segment include the increase in adoption of remote monitoring in chronically ill and old aged patients, advancements in telehealth monitoring devices, the increased number of tele-specialty services offered by the providers, and the significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to hospitals facing an acute shortage of beds and resources. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=201868927 North America dominates the telehealth market during the forecast period. In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the telehealth market, followed by Europe. This large share can be attributed to factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic conditions in the region, the need to reduce healthcare expenditure, increasing overall and geriatric population. Additionally, the growing need to curtail COVID-19 cases, federal mandates to increase healthcare facilities, and a growing focus on improving the quality of care delivered to COVID-19 patients are some key factors driving the growth of the telehealth market in the US in the wake of COVID-19. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. The key players operating in the telehealth market are Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Medtronic (Ireland), GE Healthcare (US), Cerner Corporation (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Cisco Systems, Inc. (US), Teladoc Health Inc. (US), American Well (US), AMC Health (US), MDLive (US), Doctor on Demand (US), Medvivo Group Ltd (UK), Asahi Kasie Corporation (Japan), Iron Bow Technologies (US), Telespecialists Llc (US), GlobalMed (US), MedWeb (US), IMediplus Inc. (China), Vsee (US), Chiron Health (US), Zipnosis (US). Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=201868927 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/telehealth.asp To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99486 Regulatory News: Spartoo (ISIN: FR00140043Y1 ticker: ALSPT), one of the leading online retailers for fashion items in Europe, announces today its support for Amref Health Africa for the seventh consecutive year. Amref Health Africa1 is a leading African public health NGO whose mission is to strengthen health systems in Africa through the training of dedicated professionals. For more than 15 years, Amref has been working to ensure equitable access to health care on the continent, particularly for women and children, through distance learning for medical professionals, telemedicine and computerized patient monitoring. Its Cellal e Kisal program aims to reduce the pre- and post-natal risks for mothers and children, as 80% of maternal deaths worldwide occur in sub-Saharan Africa2. For the past 7 years, Spartoo has been supporting this initiative through the sale of solidarity products (this year, a baby bib with an illustration of an elephant and its calf), the profits from which are donated to the NGO, and by calling for donations directly on its e-commerce site (https://www.spartoo.com/operation-amref.php). To date, this commitment has enabled the launch of training program in Senegal and Ivory Coast that have directly benefited more than 4,400 midwives and nurses. Boris Saragaglia, co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spartoo, stated: "We are particularly proud to renew our support for the Amref initiative, which has become a key pillar of Spartoo's SRI strategy over the years. We invite you to take part in this operation by following this link: https://www.spartoo.com/operation-amref.php. Since the beginning of our commitment, thousands of midwives and nurses have been trained to care for women and children, enabling them to live in good conditions. Sub-Saharan Africa still has the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world, deaths that could be prevented if more staff were trained locally. It is the responsibility of companies like ours to commit to the development of concrete solutions in the most disadvantaged countries. To receive next press releases from SPARTOO, just click here! Subscribe to our mailing list newcap@spartoo.com. Next financial event 2021 Full-year GMV, on Monday February 7, 2021, after market close About Spartoo With 8,000 brands and more than 1 million items, Spartoo offers one of the widest selections of fashion items (shoes, ready-to-wear, bags) in more than 30 countries in Europe, thanks to its team of more than 400 employees of nearly 30 different nationalities. In 2020, the Group generated sales of 134 million, corresponding to a GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) of 194 million, 39% of which was generated internationally. With an integrated logistics platform and after-sales service, Spartoo stands out for its customer-centric approach, as evidenced by a very high customer satisfaction rate. The strategy is based on the strong synergies between the online sales model and the advantages of physical stores, which support loyalty and brand awareness. Capitalizing on its e-commerce know-how, Spartoo has also developed a complete range of services for professionals. Visit the Group's websites: www.spartoo.com www.spartoo-finance.com 1 https://amref.org/ 2 Source: UN, 2017 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005833/en/ Contacts: Spartoo 04 58 00 16 84 investors@spartoo.com NewCap Louis-Victor Delouvrier Nicolas Fossiez Investor Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 94 94 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 94 98 Regulatory News: Today AKKA (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) reveals Green&Fly, its fully electric, hydrogen-powered concept aircraft, featuring a disruptive design based around a rhombohedral wing shape. Designed to carry up to 30 passengers for a range of 500km, it is a zero-emission concept for flights at a regional scale. Green&Fly is a regional transport alternative, which aims to enhance mobility in mid-sized cities where there are no large hubs. Able to cope with runways of any length (Short Take Off Landing- STOL), it can operate on existing networks of aerodromes, thus leveraging underused infrastructures. This concept combines the latest technologies and explores various configurations to optimize the aerodynamic performance and energy consumption of the aircraft, thus optimizing its electrification potential. Green&Fly is a light and small aircraft (classification CS25) with a futuristic design and a sophisticated mechanism powered by hydrogen fuel cell batteries and supercapacitors. The rhombohedral wing shape, compared to a classic wing shape, generates less turbulence at wing extremity allowing a significant reduction in drag, opening up new possibilities for a highly efficient propulsion system. The stiffening of its structures is inspired by biomimicry based on the growth process of a leaf's veins to improve stiffening efficiency, reducing the mass of the aircraft. To maximise the utilization rate, the cabin design is flexible allowing the aircraft to be easily converted from Passenger to Freighter. The cockpit integrates digital applications and AI to facilitate single-pilot operations. The aircraft design also incorporates energy recovery landing gear, with electric extension/retraction, with the aim of steadily replacing all hydraulic components with electric ones to reduce emissions This project has mobilised AKKA's most experienced aeronautical engineers in France, Germany and Romania and illustrates the Group's commitment to scaling-up renewable energy and contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry, through technology and innovation. Mauro Ricci, Chairman of the board Group CEO of AKKA Technologies declares: " I am extremely proud of our engineers who have come up with this aircraft concept we are unveiling today. Green&Fly showcases AKKA's significant expertise in emerging and clean technologies, solidifying our position as partner of choice for our customers as they transition towards more sustainable products and solutions. I am convinced that hydrogen is one of the most promising technologies, paving the way for a new era in the aviation industry, amongst others. Green&Fly is building on our legacy expertise in aeronautics, laying the groundwork for zero-emission aviation of the future.". ABOUT AKKA AKKA is a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services. Our comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions combined with our expertise in engineering, uniquely positions us to support our clients by leveraging the power of connected data to accelerate innovation and drive the future of smart industry. AKKA accompanies leading industry players across a wide range of sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.) to help them rethink their products and business processes. Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a wide global footprint. Our 20,000 employees around the world are all passionate about technology and share the AKKA values of respect, courage and ambition. The Group recorded revenues of 1.5 billion in 2020. AKKA Technologies (AKA) is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels segment B ISIN code: FR0004180537. For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com/ Follow us on: https://twitter.com/AKKA_Tech View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005888/en/ Contacts: Stephanie Bia Group Communications Investor Relations Director Tel: +33(0)6 47 85 98 78 stephanie.bia@akka.eu Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 13 October 2021 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 50,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 872.82p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 February 2021. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 150,000; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 224,841,303. The figure of 224,841,303 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 2021 Design Intelligence Award, supported by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, hosted by China Academy of Art, co-organized by Higher Education Teaching Steering Branch in Industrial Design of the Ministry of Education, was held its awards ceremony in Oriental Milan International Fashion Center, Keqiao, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province on the evening of October 12. Awarded entries from 4 major categories were announced, including 2 Chinese works of Movable "Huo-Yan" Product Series and Centralized Fume Exhaust System, standing out from 7815 entries and winning the Gold Award and 1 million bonus (around 145,000 dollars). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005958/en/ 2021 Design Intelligence Awards Ceremony Announced the Gold Award, Two Chinese Designs Won One Million Bonus (Photo: Business Wire) The Gold Award entry Movable "Huo-Yan" Product Series is constitute of nucleic acid detection laboratory and quarantine ward. It can be stored and folded easily to quickly respond to the needs of epidemic outbreak. The judges commented that it can unfold vehicle-box laboratory automatically in 1 minute and build nucleic acid detection laboratory and quarantine ward in 20 minutes, which supports the needs of covid testing for millions of people. It's designed for the epidemic, but it rather providing a fast, accurate and comprehensive medical solution for a wider social public health safety and treatment. Gold Award work Centralized Fume Exhaust System is an urban fume solution based on intelligent cloud platform 3.0, AI algorithm, which links central fume machine and terminal a achieve centralized emission. According to the judges, the work has renovated the traditional fume exhaust system from the fume exhaust of individual kitchen to the air purification of community system. The central intelligent cloud platform reaches 99.5% of purification efficiency through real-time supervision and centralized treatment. The design comes from but beyond daily life. It is a green technology innovation in the kitchen electricity industry, and also an intelligent life system innovation based on smart city. After the comprehensive consideration of online preliminary evaluation and onsite final evaluation by 49 domestic and foreign judges, a total of 327 works were successfully shortlisted, including 30 qualified entries as top award candidates, which will also be exhibited in Zhejiang Exhibition Hall from Sept. 22nd to Oct. 14th. and some will be exhibited in Special Exhibition from Oct. 1st to Oct. 21st in Keqiao, Shaoxing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005958/en/ Contacts: Design Intelligence Award Committee Enjoy Yao yaoyunzhui@di-award.org To attract data center operators, the Turkey government provides several investment and sales tax incentives. Most of tax incentives are based on economic development, where incentives are focused on effective data center operations and investments, thereby driving the demand during the forecast period. Free Zones (FZ) are designed to attract investments with several tax incentives. For instance, there are over 20 FZ across the country that offer 100% exemption from the real estate tax, 100% exemption from customs duties and other assorted duties, import permit for second-hand, used machinery, among others. Technology Development Zones (TDZ) are designed to attract investments in high-technology fields. There are over 80 TDZ across the country. Some tax incentives for TDZs include profits derived from software development, R&D, and design activities exempted from income and corporate taxes until December 31, 2023. Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ) are designed to allow companies to operate within an investor-friendly environment with ready-to-use infrastructure and social facilities. There are over 320 OIZ across the country and some incentives include no VAT for land acquisitions, exemption from real estate duty for five years, starting from the date of completion of the plant construction and so on. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. 13 October 2021, Road Town, Tortola, BVI I Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR EPH European Property Holdings Ltd. ("EPH" or the "Company") has significantly increased the total value of its investment properties in recent years, with about two-thirds now located in Europe. The renaming of the Company in June 2020 was not only a major symbolic step but also a commitment to further expand the European asset portfolio. Hence, moving EPH's registered seat to a European country is only a natural progression. Today, the board of directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") decided to initiate re-domiciliation only (without being liquidated and newly established) of EPH to Cyprus where due to its organisational structure - its sub-holdings for most of its geographically dispersed assets - EPH already since many years has an operational presence. The Company will continue to operate as a public company limited by shares in the Republic of Cyprus and as such shall cease to act as company in the British Virgin Islands. The shares of the Company remain listed on the SIX Swiss Stock Exchange. Since the Company will not be liquidated and newly established, the Company's liabilities to third parties remain unaffected and the Company continues to properly fulfil its obligations. Based on the decision of the Board of Directors, the Company will apply for residency in Cyprus. Subject to approval and discretion of the Cypriot authorities, re-domiciliation is expected to take place early next year. Upon receipt of the temporary certificate (the "Temporary Certificate") which is the date of continuation in Cyprus we will inform you upon effectiveness of the taken decisions. With the upcoming change in jurisdiction, the Board of Directors shall adopt new articles of association of the Company and recomposed its management committee (the "New Management Committee") both becoming effective with receipt of the Temporary Certificate. The New Management Committee will continue with three members of the current management committee - Olga Melnikova, Annamaria Vassiliades and Vera Christodoulou - but the Board of Directors approved resignation of Hans Messmer and Alexander Nikolaev and approved appointment of Marios Phedonos and Christina Spyrou-Katras. Christina Spyrou-Katras today is the managing director of Redhill Investment Ltd., a subsidiary of EPH, and since a long- time trusted representative of the Company in Cyprus. In addition, she is director at Valartis International Ltd., the external asset manager of the Company. She has over 20 years of professional experience in client relations and administrations, worked in various management positions for Anglo Irish Bank and Pennone & Partners. She holds a Computer Programming Degree from Centennial College in Toronto, Canada. Marios Phedonos is an Audit Director managing all stages of financial audits for Intertaxaudit in Cyprus. He has more than 14 years of professional experience in audit services, continuously developed his academic and professional qualifications. He holds a degree in Accounting from the European University Cyprus as well as an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification and admitted as a Fellow of the Association (FCCA). The Board of Directors would like to thank Hans Messmer and Alexander Nikolaev for their services and welcome Christina Spyrou-Katras and Marios Phedonos on the New Management Committee. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EPH European Property Holdings Ltd. is an investment company listed on SIX Swiss Stock Exchange which holds an extensive property portfolio with a total value of around EUR 1.5 billion. As part of its geographical diversification and strategic intentions to stablise values and cash flows, the company currently invests exclusively in Central Europe. EPH is managed by Valartis Group AG and its subsidiaries. Additional information on EPH European Property Holdings Ltd. is available by contacting Anna Bernhart Tel: +41 44 503 5400 or at contact@europeanpropertyholdings.com. Attachment Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Western Exploration LLC ("Western") and Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPM.H) (OTC: CPMMF) ("Crystal") (together, the "Parties") are pleased to announce, further to their joint news releases dated February 19, 2021 and October 12, 2021, the closing of the private placement of 2,248,936 subscription receipts of Crystal (the "Subscription Receipts") at a subscription price of $2.65 per Subscription Receipt (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6 million (the "Offering"). The Offering was completed in connection with the proposed "reverse take-over" of Crystal (under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) ("TSXV") (the "RTO). In this news release, references to the "Resulting Issuer" are to Crystal after the closing of the RTO. Each Subscription Receipt issued pursuant to the Offering entitles the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below) and without the payment of any additional consideration, one unit of Crystal (each, a "Unit"), with each Unit comprised of one (1) Post-Consolidation Crystal Share (as defined below), and one (1) common share purchase warrant of Crystal (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Post-Consolidation Crystal Share (each, a "Warrant Share"), at an exercise price of $3.975 per Warrant Share at any time during the period ending 24 months following the closing of the Offering. As used herein, "Post-Consolidation Crystal Share" means a common share of Crystal (each, a "Crystal Share"), as constituted following the completion of a consolidation of the Crystal Shares to be undertaken in connection with the RTO, on the basis of a ratio of one (1) post-consolidation Crystal Share for each 363.30 pre-consolidation Crystal Shares. In the event that the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to January 11, 2022, being the deadline to satisfy the Escrow Release Conditions, then, subject to any extensions, the Escrowed Proceeds (as defined herein) will be returned to the holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts shall be cancelled. The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord") and Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., as co-lead agents, and Cormark Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Agents"). In consideration for their services in connection with the Offering, the Agents received a cash commission (the "Commission") of (i) 6% on proceeds of the Offering raised from purchasers not on a president's list of Western (the "President's List"), and (ii) 3% on proceeds of the Offering raised from purchasers on the President's List. In addition, Crystal issued to the Agents an aggregate of 89,957 broker warrants of Crystal (the "Broker Warrants"), with each Broker Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire, following the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, one common share (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") in the capital of the Resulting Issuer") at an exercise price of $3.05 per share, at any time prior to the date that is 12 months following the closing of the RTO. The gross proceeds of the Offering less 25% of the Commission and certain expenses of the Agents (such net amount, the "Escrowed Proceeds") was deposited with the subscription receipt agent on closing of the Offering, to be held in escrow pending satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions (collectively, the "Escrow Release Conditions") specified in the subscription receipt agreement entered into on the date hereof between Crystal, Canaccord and TSX Trust Company, as subscription receipt agent, including, without limitation, the completion or satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the RTO, substantially in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement (as defined herein, and as may be further amended from time to time), to the satisfaction of Canaccord (on behalf of the Agents), acting reasonably. Provided that the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied or waived (where permitted) prior to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on January 11, 2022 (the "Escrow Release Deadline"), the remaining 75% of the Commission (and any interest earned thereon) and certain expenses of the Agents will be released to the Agents from the Escrowed Proceeds, and the balance of the Escrowed Proceeds (together with interest earned thereon) will be released to Crystal. However, in the event that the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied by the Escrow Release Deadline, the Escrowed Proceeds of the Offering will be returned to the holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled. The net proceeds from the Offering, together with any cash on hand of Western, are expected to be available to the Resulting Issuer following the completion of the RTO for (i) the recommended Phase 1 exploration program for both Wood Gulch-Gravel Creek and Doby George budgeted at US$2.84 million, as described in the updated technical report for the Aura Project, (ii) other exploration and development work planned at the Aura Project (as defined below), and (iii) general working capital purposes. The issue price of $2.65 per Subscription Receipt pursuant to the Offering remains subject to the approval of the disinterested shareholders of Crystal at the meeting of shareholders expected to be held by Crystal in connection with the RTO, in December 2021. Darcy Marud, CEO of Western, commented: "The completion of the Offering is a significant milestone in furtherance of the go-public transaction. We look forward to working with Crystal in the months ahead to complete the RTO, and create a new public company with industry expertise and a strong financial profile to advance our exploration work on the Aura Project." About Western Exploration LLC Western is a private company organized under the laws of the State of Nevada. Western has been engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metals mineral properties in Nevada since its inception in 1997. Its principal asset is the Aura gold silver project (the "Aura Project") located in Elko County, Nevada approximately 120 kilometers north of the city of Elko, Nevada. No work has been done on the Aura Project subsequent to the joint news release of the Parties dated February 19, 2021 in respect of the RTO. Western's head office is located at 121 Woodland Avenue, Suite 140, Reno, NV 89523. For further information, please contact Western Exploration LLC: Darcy Marud President Tel. 775-329-8119 dmarud@westernexploration.com About Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. Crystal is a public company organized under the laws of the Yukon Territory, whose shares are listed for trading on the NEX board of the TSXV. Crystal was previously engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of a sulfate of potash project in the United States, but currently does not have an active business, and is investigating new business opportunities. Crystal's head office is located at 10808 South River Front Parkway, Suite 343, South Jordan, Utah, 84095. For further information, please contact Crystal Peak Minerals Inc.: Woods Silleroy Vice President Operations & Corporate Secretary Tel. (801) 984-3350 info@crystalpeakminerals.com Cautionary Statements Completion of the RTO is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the acceptance of the TSXV and the receipt of the various court, shareholder, and regulatory approvals, and the RTO cannot close until such approvals have been obtained. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the RTO will be completed as proposed, or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular of Crystal to be prepared and filed in connection with the RTO, any information released or received with respect to the RTO may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed RTO. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). All statements contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to, statements related to the RTO and the Offering (including, without limitation, (i) the timing of the completion of the RTO, (ii) the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the Offering, (iii) the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions and the payment of the remaining 75% of the Commission, and (iv) the conversion of the Subscription Receipts). Forward-looking statements reflect the current views and intentions of the management of the Parties with respect to future events based on current information available to management of the Parties, and are necessarily subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, (i) general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, (ii) delay or failure to receive any necessary board, shareholder or regulatory approvals (including, the approval of the TSXV), for the completion of the RTO, (iii) the risk that an applicable regulatory authority may not approve the RTO on the terms proposed, or at all, (iv) the risk that the Escrow Release Conditions may not be satisfied prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, (v) the occurrence of unanticipated events and factors which impede or prevent the Parties' respective future business plans, and (vi) such other factors beyond the control of the Parties (including, such those set out in Crystal's public disclosure documents available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Crystal's issuer profile). Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements (including, but not limited to, the assumption that (i) the Escrow Release Conditions will be satisfied in accordance with its terms and on or prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, (ii) all applicable board, shareholder and regulatory approvals for the RTO will be secured in a timely manner, (iii) the RTO will be completed on the terms agreed upon by the parties in the Arrangement Agreement, within the timeframe anticipated by the Parties, (iv) the terms and conditions of the RTO will not change substantially, based on the receipt of further tax, corporate and securities law advice for each of the Parties, and (v) there will not be any unanticipated changes in laws or delays), although considered reasonable by management of the Parties at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and result in actual results differing materially from those anticipated, and as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Should any such risk factor affect any of the Parties in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and neither Crystal nor Western undertakes any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Not for Distribution to United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99517 In this report, KBRA discusses the changes in the political landscape across the euro area, where support for Eurosceptic parties has ebbed as the economic environment changed. The pandemic triggered a momentous response from the EU and European Central Bank. Their coordinated approach towards economic recovery, mainly through monetary and fiscal easing, helped to dispel the bloc's painful memories of austerity. The report examines how this new political landscape has helped to reinforce the greater cohesiveness of the bloc, a dynamic that builds on KBRA's increasingly constructive view of euro area credit risk. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Non-Profit assembling world's greatest strategic minds in collaboration with Holy See (Vatican) based impact initiatives VATICAN CITY / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Humanity 2.0 a Non-Profit (Non-Government Organization) focused on identifying and removing the most significant impediments to human flourishing in collaboration with the Holy See (Vatican), is proud to announce it has appointed Bill Hilf to its advisory board which oversees the strategic and ethical direction of Humanity 2.0's impact initiatives. Matthew Sanders, CEO of Humanity 2.0 commented; "Bill has been a steady hand guiding technology companies for years and his leadership at Vulcan has been exemplary. We need principled and visionary leadership at Humanity 2.0 if we are to succeed in accelerating human flourishing. We are honored Bill accepted a position on our Advisory Board and I look forward to our collaboration in the years ahead." Humanity 2.0 Advisory Committee consists of 10 members: Maurice Levy ; Chairman of the Supervisory Board; Publicis Groupe Carlo D'Asaro Biondo ; President - EMEA Partnerships; Google Jean Oelwang ; President & Trustee Virgin Unite & B Team; Senior Partner; Virgin Jim Pitofsky ; Managing Director, Strategic Alliances; John Templeton Foundation Hilary Pennington ; Executive Vice President for Program; Ford Foundation Dinah McLeod ; Director and Cause Lead, Equality in the Workplace; The B Team Bill Hilf ; Chief Executive Officer; Vulcan Matt Bird ; Chief Executive Officer, CommPro Worldwide Tae Yoo ; Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility; Cisco Fr. Philip Larrey ; Chairman; Humanity 2.0 About Bill Hilf Advisor Committee Member Bill Hilf serves as Vulcan's Chief Executive Officer, guiding its philanthropic, research, arts and culture, community, investments, policy, and technology innovation programs and helping fulfill Paul Allen's vision for the future. Tapping his experience as an executive and technologist, Bill leads Vulcan's work to galvanize and enable smart people to tackle ambitious challenges head-on and guide its growth as it invests in its local communities, explores new frontiers in space, science, and technology, and impacts change around important issues like public health, the environment, conservation, and philanthropy. Most recently, Bill served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise's Cloud business unit. Prior to joining Hewlett-Packard, Bill was the General Manager of Product Management for Microsoft Azure, and previously led Microsoft's Technical Computing Group. In that role, he helped develop solutions for a wide range of scientific and engineering challenges, including high-performance computing, parallel languages and runtimes, and mathematical modeling tools. In the roaring 90s, he built his tech chops as a software developer and engineering leader through a variety of software start-ups in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Bill completed his undergraduate studies at California State University-Fullerton and received his M.A. from Chapman University. About Humanity 2.0 Humanity 2.0 a Non-Profit (Non-Government Organization) focused on identifying and removing the most significant impediments to human flourishing in collaboration with the Holy See (Vatican). A vehicle for facilitating collaborative ventures between the traditionally siloed public, private and faith-based sectors. Its mission is to identify impediments to human flourishing and then work collaboratively across sectors to remove them by sourcing and scaling bold and innovative solutions. Developed in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Holy See and a consortium of leaders and luminaries, Humanity 2.0 seeks to unite humanity in the common cause of realizing a better world for our children For more information visit: www.humanity2-0.org | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn CONTACT: Humanity 2.0 Communications: Matt Bird Advisory Council Member P: +1 646.401.4499 E: matt.bird@1800pr.com PR & Media Contact: Nicole Liddy Project Manager CommPro Worldwide E: Nicole.liddy@commpro.com C: 848-702-4173 SOURCE: Humanity 2.0 View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/665514/Humanity-20-Appoints-Bill-Hilf-to-Advisory-Board--Rome-Italy Nicole Sahin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Among 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs at 2021 Builders + Innovators Summit BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldman Sachs is recognizing Globalization Partners' Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Nicole Sahin, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Sahin as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Sahin invented the trillion dollar-plus Employer of Record (EOR) industry in 2012 when she founded Globalization Partners to enable companies to hire the best talent anywhere in the world without having to figure out all the complex legal, HR and tax issues typically associated with hiring global remote team members. Sahin's mission is to democratize access to opportunity for everyone, everywhere, which Globalization Partners is achieving with its global employment platform that provides unmatched technology and support that enables customers to hire talent anywhere they find it, quickly, securely, and easily. As the world's largest and most established fully compliant platform, Globalization Partners has seen the demand for its solution skyrocket. The company will reach $1 billion in annualized recurring revenue by the end of this year. Sahin also works with several charitable organizations to bring education, basic income, job opportunities and clean water to people in underserved communities in the US, Latin America, in Africa, India, which supports people who don't already have access to the digital economy. "I am honored to receive this award on behalf of Globalization Partners as we further our vision for a more inclusive and ethical global economy, where anyone, anywhere, can achieve their full potential - and companies also have the ability to reach their full potential, by hiring the best talent wherever they can find it," said Nicole Sahin, CEO and Founder of Globalization Partners. "This recognition is a testament toward the progress our team has made in strengthening the global workforce and unlocking new markets and talent pools for our customers. It also demonstrates Globalization Partners' commitment to changing the way the world works via global compliance, intuitive technology, tailored expertise and ethical management principles." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Nicole Sahin as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics, and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About Globalization Partners Hire anyone, anywhere, quickly, and easily. Use our AI-driven, automated, fully compliant global employment platform powered by our in-house worldwide HR experts. Trust the named industry leader that consistently attains 98 percent customer satisfaction ratings. Globalization Partners: Succeed Faster To learn more, please visit: globalization-partners.com or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or check out our Blog. Media Contact: Karen Pantinas Globalization Partners kpantinas@globalization-partners.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659518/Sahin300dpi_078.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/723356/Globalization_Partners_Logo.jpg DGAP-News: Fyber N.V. / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Miscellaneous Fyber N.V.: Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Fyber N.V. to be held on 28 October 2021 13.10.2021 / 20:19 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Fyber N.V. to be held on 28 October 2021 Fyber N.V. (the Company) invites its shareholders to its Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders (EGM) to be held at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Leidseplein 29 1017 PS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 28 October 2021, at 4pm CEST. The language of the meeting shall be English. The agenda items of the EGM will be as follows: Agenda 1) Opening and announcements 2) Conversion (a) Proposal to convert Fyber N.V. from a public limited liability company (in Dutch: naamloze vennootschap) into a private limited liability company (in Dutch: besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), amend the articles of association of Fyber N.V. accordingly and authorize each member of the management board and also each lawyer, deputy civil law notary and employee of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (Amsterdam office) severally, to have the deed of conversion and amendment to the articles of association of Fyber N.V. executed (vote) (b) Proposal to accept the resignation of all supervisory board members (being Mr. T. Malak, Mr. A.A. Metre, Mr. F.J. Rios, Mr. K. Sehnaoui and Mr. Y. Safrai) of the Company (vote) (c) Proposal to grant discharge to all supervisory board members as mentioned above under 2b) (vote) (d) Proposal to appoint Mr. J.B. Garrison as management board member with the title CEO (vote) (e) Proposal to accept the resignation of Mr. Z. Elul and Mr. Y. Zaltsman as management board members of the Company (vote) (f) Proposal to grant discharge to the management board members as mentioned above under 2e) (vote) 3) Any other business and close of the meeting *** Meeting documents The agenda above and the explanatory notes thereto are available free of charge on the Company's website: https://investors.fyber.com/ Voting by Proxy Notwithstanding the obligation to register for admission to the meeting, the right to attend and to vote at the meeting may be exercised by a holder of a written proxy. A form of a written proxy is available on the Company's website. The written proxy must be received by the Company no later than on on 21 October 2021, 5pm CEST. The proxy to represent a shareholder may be granted to Mr. R. van Bork, civil law notary with Greenberg Traurig, LLP or any of his substitutes, by sending an email with proxy and voting instructions to agm@fyber.com no later than on 21 October 2021, 5pm CEST. Please send the original proxy to the Company's address listed below. A copy of the written proxy must be shown at the registration prior to the start of the meeting. Registration and identification at the meeting Registration for admission to the meeting will take place from 3:30pm CEST until the commencement of the meeting at 4pm CEST on 28 October 2021. After this time registration is no longer possible. Persons entitled to attend the meeting may be asked for identification prior to being admitted by means of a valid official identity document, such as a passport. As of 30 September 2021, the issued share capital of the Company amounts to EUR 55,218,928.60 divided into 552,189,286 ordinary shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.10 each. A total of 1,325,844 shares is held by the Company itself. For further information, please see the Company's website https://investors.fyber.com/. All communications to the Company or the management board in connection with the foregoing must be addressed to the Company as follows: Fyber N.V. attn.: Governance Department Wallstrae 9-13, 10179 Berlin, Germany Email: agm@fyber.com The Management Board of Fyber N.V. Berlin, Germany on 13 October 2021 13.10.2021 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market shrugged off a weak start and gained in strength gradually as the session progressed on Wednesday to sign off on a firm note. The market tracked a largely positive trend across Europe, even as the undertone remained a bit cautious with investors looking ahead to quarterly earnings updates. The benchmark SMI, which tumbled to a low of 11,677.87 early on in the session, ended with a gain of 57.83 points or 0.49% at 11,814.59. Richemont and Lonza Group both gained nearly 3%. Partners Group climbed 2.4% and Sika gained 2.3%. ABB gained 1.8%, Logitech advanced 1.6% and Givaudan ended 1.4% up, while SGS and Geberit ended higher by 1.1% and 0.98%, respectively. Credit Suisse declined 1.7%, while Swiss Re, Swiss Life Holding, UBS Group, Zurich Insurance Group and Roche Holding shed 0.4% to 0.7%. In the Mid Price Index, VAT Group climbed nearly 5%, Temenos Group gained 4.25%, Tecan Group advanced 3.8% and Straumann Holding moved up 3.7%, while SIG Combibloc gained nearly 3%. Sonova, Lindt & Spruengli, Logitech and Georg Fischer also posted strong gains. Flughafen Zurich, Dufry and Helvetia ended lower by 1.95%, 1.56% and 1.25%, respectively. Baloise Holding and Cembra Money Bank also closed weak. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TUCSON, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / WEED, Inc. (OTCQB:BUDZ) ("WEED" or the "Company"), a cannabis and hemp bioresearch company based in the USA, announced today that WEED's CEO, Glenn E. Martin has completed the formation of HEMP BioSciences Inc., as an Arizona corporation wholly owned by its parent WEED, Inc. "Thanks to the Company's extensive R&D history in cannabis and hemp markets globally, we believe WEED is on the verge of another explosive expansion", stated Mr. Martin. The Company is pleased to announce its new Division, which was created to expand its global research & development programs to include hemp, and in particular the cannabinoids, to develop pharma, non-pharma OTC and their derivative product for worldwide distribution in our networks. Currently, WEED Inc. subsidiaries are in Australia, Israel, Hong Kong, and the USA. At the same time, the Company plans to launch an aggressive Arizona hemp program to identify, acquire, cultivate and develop new more powerful CBD, CBN, & CBG strains. Initial grows have exceeded 20% CBD within the THC limits allowed by law. "As WEED expands horizons, WEED is in the process of forming the WEED 'Social Equity Advisory Council'. WEED looks to create and instill the rights of Equality for ALL: Diversity = Equality / Equality = Diversity. All indications are that there may never be a better time to go 'all-in' on the future of Cannabis and Hemp markets, globally," said Glenn E. Martin, CEO of WEED, Inc. More to come WEED, Inc.'s Subsidiaries WEED Israel (Cannabis) Ltd. "After over 2 years of putting human clinical trials and product development on hold due to COVID, WEED Israel is poised and anxious to build out our global brands in both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical categories, starting with women's health and veterans' ailments (PTSD) to healthy green alternative medicines" stated Elliot Kwestel, Managing Director of WEED Israel (Cannabis) Ltd. based outside Jerusalem. Kwestel further commented, "WEED Israel looks to enrich and expand our clinical trials with both THC and Cannabinoid studies to promote healthy living for generations to come." WEED Australia Ltd. and The Cannabis Institute of Australia (C.I.A.), our Australian non-profit arm, based in Queensland on the Gold Coast. Managing Director Patrick Brodnik stated, "With the new rules out governing cannabis & hemp in Australia and the announcement on 1st of February 2021 to allow over-the-counter CBD medicines in pharmacies, timing is perfect to begin our clinical trials in Israel and bring new curative products to market as we close out COVID mandates this year. Managing Director Brodnik continues, "Next year 2022, the future of decriminalizing cannabis and hemp globally will prove to be a giant leap forward for worldwide cannabis legalization." WEED Hong Kong Ltd . Director Nicole Breen agrees, "The pandemic has affected all of us on a worldwide basis. Healing our planet with natural therapies, treatments and eventual "cures" utilizing natures' own Cannabaceae plant with its many properties, both with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) compounds, I believe will change the force of medicine forever in the years to come. We look forward to an exciting year end and a Prosperous 2022." Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. While legal in certain states, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. Investors should carefully read the risk factors and disclosures contained in our offering circular before making any decision to invest in our company. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to future revenue and profits. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Legal Notice The information is provided for convenience only, is not investment advice and may not be relied upon in considering an investment in WEED, Inc. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein, and any investment decision should be based solely on the information contained in the offering circular and related materials, and the investors independent research. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the future performance of any investment in WEED, Inc. or that investors will or are likely to achieve favorable results, will make any profit at all or will be able to avoid incurring a loss on their investment. In addition, prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their financial, tax, accounting or other advisors to determine whether an investment in WEED, Inc. is suitable for them. Media Contact: Glenn E. Martin, CEO 1-520-818-8582 Glenn@WEEDincUSA.com SOURCE: WEED, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667944/WEED-Inc-OTCBUDZ-Creates-HEMP-BioSciences-Inc-to-Invest-Research-Cultivate-and-Develop-New-Strains-Commercial-Products-in-the-Cannabinoids-Sector The Joint Venture Agreement with Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited of India, With Gross annual Revenues of $150 Million, Covers Investment, Business Development, Designing, Developing, Manufacturing And Operating Global Projects Primarily Across Aerospace, Space Satellite Systems, Telecommunications and Smart City Projects Across Global Markets Including The United States SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. ("TPTW" or "TPT Global Tech") (OTCQB:TPTW) www.tptglobaltech.com headquartered in San Diego, California, a technology-based company with divisions providing telecommunications, medical technology, media content for domestic and international syndication, today announced that it has signed a joint venture agreement with Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited https://www.adtl.co.in/ of India to create TPT Alpha Design in the US. The JV Agreement covers Alpha's interests in business development, designing, developing, manufacturing and operating global projects primarily across aerospace, space satellite systems, telecommunications and smart city projects across global markets with a focus on the United States. Under the Agreement, TPT Global Tech, Inc. will set up a group subsidiary in collaboration with Alpha Design Technologies. TPT Global Tech and its group subsidiary will be involved with the manufacture, design, and management of space satellite systems capabilities giving TPT Global Tech a highly sought after ability to participate in such projects in the US and across global markets. Additionally, under the JV agreement, TPT Global Tech's new business entity will focus on facilitating end-to-end new business opportunities in the US$ 366 billion satellite systems industry. Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited (ADTL) is a USD $150 million in revenues per year company that was established to put into action the 'Made in India' policy of the Government of India. ADTL specializes in R&D, manufacture, assembly, testing, qualification, integration & installation of defence electronics, avionics & space satellite systems. ADTL was established in Bangalore in 2004. The Company is structured to offer a wide range of products to the Indian and International Satellite, Aerospace and Defence Markets. ADTL's management, operations and production executives are skilled technicians that combine a wealth of experience in all facets of defence technology including R&D, manufacture, quality assurance, evaluation and system integration. Adani Group, which is a USD $99 billion diversified organization based in India, owns a majority stake in the company after it acquired Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited in 2019. Corporate Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WZ1NTOueOA&t=2s "TPT Global Tech and Alpha Design Technologies have come together to incorporate a JV company called 'TPT Alpha Design, Inc.' which combines the abilities of both companies in sectors including Telecommunications & 5G Ecosystem Industry, Aerospace & Defence Industry, Electronics & Information Technology Industries," said TPT CEO Stephen Thomas. "Additionally, TPT Global Tech now has the ability to provide end-to-end manufacturing and services for space satellite systems, Telecommunications, 5G Base stations, Antennas and Broadcast Radios and defence projects. We now qualify for multiple minority set aside programs and projects in the US while at the same time we are in discussions with various countries in the Middle East and African markets for developing and running their space satellite programs. This will be a new and substantial revenue pool for TPT Global Tech through its new subsidiary, TPT Alpha Design." Mr. Thomas further stated, "This JV company is a true example that the TPT Global Tech team is focused on keeping innovation flowing. We are always on the lookout for new business opportunities. With the additions of Retired General John Wharton and retired Colonel Ernest "Lee" Dunlop, we believe we are positioned to take advantage of an entirely news sector of business opportunities. In the case of Alpha Design Technologies, they will be an ideal partner allowing us to provide A-Z results in terms of manufacturing and services for sectors such as telecommunications, aerospace & defence. We welcome Alpha Design Technologies to the TPT Global Tech family and are anxious to get started." Alpha Design Technologies' Chairman & Managing Director, Colonel H. S. Shankar, VSM said, "We are looking forward to collaborating through the US-based JV company as it allows us to support TPT Global Tech in its various projects across the US and other global markets. Our ability to ideate, design, mass manufacture and provide unparalleled service in the space satellite industry along with aerospace and defence happens to be the pivot for this JV company's existence. We are proud to present our services and solutions through TPT Alpha Design as Alpha Design Technologies who is owned by a multi-billion dollar corporation group in India without jeopardizing the flexibility to respond to market requirements in the shortest period. We will now focus on providing all our abilities and services as TPT Alpha Design which makes us a proud partner in this JV." Harnish Gajjar, Chief Strategy Officer & Country Director (India) for TPT Global Tech, Inc. said, "This is yet another huge milestone for TPT Global Tech in setting its footprints across global markets including India. There is a lot of business that we are identifying and creating a strong pipeline of new opportunities that will be serviced by TPT Alpha Design, the JV company. We have initiated discussions to create a long-term business plan for TPT Alpha Design and we anticipate in the very near future, you will see various projects and opportunities that TPT Alpha Design will start showcasing as a part of this plan." About TPT Global Tech, Inc. TPT Global Tech, Inc. based in San Diego, California, is a technology-based company with divisions providing telecommunications, medical technology and product distribution, media content for domestic and international syndication as well as technology solutions. TPT Global Tech offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PAAS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS). It offers carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media, and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT Global Tech also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cell phone services, Mobile phones Cell phone Accessories and Global Roaming Cell phones. For more information about how TPT Global Tech's technologies and to schedule a call with CEO Stephen Thomas, please contact Shep Doniger at 561-637-5750 and sdoniger@bdcginc.com. For IR questions, please contact Frank Benedetto at 619-915-9422 fb@miradorconsulting.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667963/TPT-Global-Tech-Inc-Signs-Joint-Venture-Agreement-with-Indias-Alpha-Design-Technologies-To-Launch-Subsidiary-TPT-Alpha-Design-Establishing-Combined-Operations-In-the-United-States JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / LFTD Partners Inc. (OTCQB:LSFP) (www.LFTDPartners.com) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Lifted Made, Kenosha, WI (www.LiftedMade.com), owner of the award-winning Urb Finest Flowers brand of hemp and hemp-derived products, is expanding its operations for the third time during the last 18 months, leasing an additional 5,000 sq. ft. in a second building in Kenosha, WI, for use as additional sales offices and raw materials storage. The new three-year lease which started October 1, 2021, represents a 44% increase in the aggregate office and operational space being used by the rapidly growing hemp-derived cannabinoid products company. Under the terms of the lease, Lifted Made will pay a base square foot charge of $5.75 per square foot per annum, with a 3% increase in rent each year during the term. Lifted Made will also be responsible for paying its proportionate share of real estate taxes and other operating costs. Nicholas S. Warrender, LSFP's Vice Chairman and COO, and the CEO of Lifted Made, said, "Lifted Made has continued to grow rapidly and we are taking every measure to support this growth. The additional space will be used for incoming raw goods shipments and storage, allowing us to expand our packaging lines and finished product inventory storage at our main facility. We will also use the additional space for our growing internal sales team, as we continue to bring on more people. Fortunately we found a workable space located in a building just a few blocks away from our existing facility in Kenosha. We are very excited about Lifted Made's prospects, with a talented and dedicated team, our pending acquisitions of Savage Enterprises and Fresh Farms the closings of which are subject to a number of contingencies, and cash on hand that currently exceeds $4.5 million." About LFTD Partners Inc. LFTD Partners Inc., formerly known as Acquired Sales Corp. (OTCQB ticker symbol LSFP), is focused upon acquiring rapidly growing companies that manufacture and sell branded products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids (e.g. delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, delta-10-THC, THCV, THCO, CBDA, CBC, CBG, CBN, CBD), e-liquid, disposable nicotine vapes, kratom and kava products. In February 2020, LSFP acquired 100% of Warrender Enterprise Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made (formerly d/b/a Lifted Liquids) (www.LiftedMade.com), Kenosha, Wisconsin. Lifted Made has a 50% membership interest in SmplyLifted LLC, which sells tobacco-free nicotine pouches under the brand name FR3SH (www.GETFR3SH.com). LSFP also owns 4.99% of CBD-infused beverage and products maker Ablis Holding Company (www.AblisBev.com), and of craft distillers Bendistillery Inc. d/b/a Crater Lake Spirits (www.CraterLakeSpirits.com) and Bend Spirits, Inc. (www.Bendistillery.com), all located in Bend, Oregon. LSFP has also signed a letter of intent to acquire Savage Enterprises, owner of award-winning hemp-derived products brand Delta Extrax (www.DeltaExtrax.com) and CBD brand Savage CBD (www.SavageCBD.com), and to enter the California marijuana industry by purchasing Premier Greens LLC and MKRC Holdings, LLC, the closing of which transactions are subject to a number of contingencies. LSFP has also signed a letter of intent to acquire Fresh Farms E-Liquid, LLC (www.FreshFarmsELiquid.com), whose portfolio includes the premium vapor products Fresh Farms and Fruitia, JUS tobacco-free nicotine vapor products, and HAPPI premium delta-8-THC and delta-10-THC products (www.HappiHemp.com), the closing of which transaction is subject to a number of contingencies. Please read LSFP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which fully describe our business and the Risk Factors associated therewith. Learn more by subscribing to our newsletters at www.LiftedMade.com and www.LFTDPartners.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-LookingStatements Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the acquisition, financing, revenue growth, profitability, and product strategies, plans and expectations of: LFTD Partners Inc. and related entities including Lifted Made; Savage Enterprises, Premier Greens LLC and MKRC Holdings, LLC and related entities; and Fresh Farms E-Liquid, LLC and related entities. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contribute to the actual results of these companies' merger plans, financing plans, operations, or the performance or achievements of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These companies undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors, including the risk factors set forth in LFTD Partners Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell common stock or any other securities of LFTD Partners Inc. CONTACTS: Lifted Made Attn: Nicholas S. Warrender, CEO Phone: 224-577-8148 Email: CEO@LiftedMade.com Website: www.LiftedMade.com LFTD Partners Inc. Attn: William C. "Jake" Jacobs, President and CFO Phone: 847-400-7660 Email: JakeJacobs@LFTDPartners.com Website: www.LFTDPartners.com SOURCE: LFTD Partners Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667958/Lifted-Made-Expands-Space-by-44-Leasing-an-Additional-5000-Sq-Ft-in-a-Second-Building-in-Kenosha-WI DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Nissan Middle East have been charged to pay in excess of AED 1.3 billion (including interest) to the Partner "Al Dahana FZCO" in a landmark ruling in the case filed by the latter. The case, first filed in 4th July, 2019, sought compensation for damages suffered due to breach of contract committed by Nissan, its subsidiary Nissan Middle East and two appointed Directors. The Dubai Court of First Instance initially issued its judgement ordering Nissan to jointly pay Al Dahana over AED 1.3 billion, inclusive of interest, on 29th September, 2021. Following the review of presented evidence and provisions of the law, on 4th October, 2021, the Dubai Court of Urgent Matters issued a precautionary attachment order over goods and moveables, bank accounts and balances of the two companies and valued the debt owed by them to be approx AED 1.3 Billion including interest. Speaking about the landmark ruling, Mr. Nasser Watar - CEO for Al Dahana Group said, "Al Dahana is extremely happy with the court's verdict and would like to thank Dubai Courts for their impartial and just ruling. We feel heard, and believe this will pave the way for other regional companies to seek justice as well." THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Wolfden Resources Corporation (TSXV:WLF) ("Wolfden" or the "Company") announces that it has withdrawn its application to rezone a 646 acre portion of its 7,145 acre Pickett Mt. Project in Northern Maine at an online meeting today of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC). The withdrawal will allow the Company the time required to amend its application for an approval by the LUPC. "Although this is a temporary setback and will draw some negative criticism on the future of mining in Maine, the Company is confident it has an approach and path forward for submitting a new application," stated Ron Little, President and CEO for Wolfden. "The project represents one of the greenest mine designs in the world, will generate 303 jobs per year, generate over $697M in economic output to the State, and continues to receive tremendous support from local and regional communities." The Company is the first to test the rezoning process for mining, in an unorganized territory (remote area) where current legislation sets up a structure that contemplates a rezoning approval by the LUPC based on preliminary designs and preliminary studies (similar to a Preliminary Economic Assessment). Wolfden has completed this and submitted additional technical information in response to requests by the LUPC. The additional information related mostly to mineral processing, tailings designs, and water management, project components that will be informed by the full feasibility and baseline studies required as part of the permitting process before the Department of Environmental Protection. The experience gained to date, and the challenge of having to work with two independent agencies, in a two stage mine permitting process, better positions the Company to revise its rezoning application. About Wolfden Wolfden is an exploration and development company focused on high-margin metallic mineral deposits including base, precious and strategic metals in North America. Its wholly owned Pickett Mountain Project is one of the highest-grade polymetallic projects in North America (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au) as detailed in a Preliminary Economic Assessment date September 14, 2020. In addition, the company is expanding its advance stage nickel sulphide projects in Manitoba (Rice Island and Nickel Island) where NI43-101 compliant reports are being completed, and silver projects in New Brunswick. For further information please contact Ron Little, President & CEO, at (807) 624-1136 or Rahim Lakha, Corporate Development at (416) 414-9954. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, and include, without limitation, metal price assumptions, cash flow forecasts, projected capital and operating costs, metal or mineral recoveries, mine life and production rates, and other assumptions used in Preliminary Economic Assessment dated September 14, 2020, information about future activities at the Pickett Mountain Project that include plans to complete additional drilling and pre-permitting (rezoning petition), the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment dated September 14, 2020, the potential upside of the Pickett Mt. Project, and the timing and completion of drill programs in Maine, Manitoba and New Brunswick and the respective drill results, and the timing of a resource update for Pickett Mt. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, the following risks and uncertainties: (i) risks inherent in the mining industry; (ii) regulatory and environmental risks; (iii) results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; (iv) risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; (v) stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations; and (vi) general market and industry conditions. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Wolfden Resources Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/668024/Wolfden-Update-on-Pickett-Mt-Rezoning BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Jack Ma, the founder of electronic e-retail giant Alibaba Inc. (BABA), was seen for the first time in Hong Kong in almost a year on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The billionaire went completely missing from the public eye after his scathing criticism of the Chinese financial regulators in October 2020. Alibaba was under investigation for monopolizing the industry. Ma's company was soon to float a digital payment company named Ant Group which was ready to get listed in the Chinese exchange. In his address to the audience, Ma criticized the Chinese authorities for operating with a 'pawn shop mentality.' He went so far as to compare the governance of the country with operating an airport with the skills of handling a railway station. Unsurprisingly, this did not sit well with authorities. The government cracked down on the company and Ant Group's hopes of getting a blockbuster $37 billion public offering to go public was shelved. The company was fined a humongous $2.75 billion by the Chinese financial authority on April 10 for employing monopolistic practices. He did appear in multiple conventions in mainland China but never in Hong Kong. In January, almost after three months after his complete disappearance, he appeared in a video interview with some teachers. Ma also visited Alibaba's HQ at Hangzhou in May on Ali Day. The outspoken billionaire was also spotted in eastern Zhejiang province, the HQ of Ant Group. On Wednesday, he met some of his business partners, according to reports. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ALIBABA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2021) - Hank Payments Corp. (TSXV: NBL.P) (formerly, Nobelium Tech Corp.) (TSXV: NBL.H) ("Nobelium" or "Corporation"), a capital pool company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, is pleased to announce that it has completed its qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") with Hank Payments Corp. ("Hank"), a Florida-based financial technology company. Leadership of the resulting issuer is concentrated in both Canada and the United States. The resulting issuer, Hank Payments Corp. (the "Resulting Issuer") and its shares are anticipated to start trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on or about October 20, 2021 under the stock symbol "HANK." As part of the Qualifying Transaction, the subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") issued by Hank Payments Canada Finco, Corp. ("Finco"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hank, on August 13, 2021 and September 10, 2021 pursuant to a brokered private placement (the "Financing"), were automatically converted, into shares and warrants of the Resulting Issuer. The Financing, which was completed through a syndicate of agents led by Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation and Gravitas Securities Inc. (the "Co-Lead Agents") and including Cormark Securities Inc. and Research Capital Corporation (together with the Co-Lead Agents, the "Agents"), consisted of 3,142,500 Subscription Receipts issued at $1.00 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $3,142,500. The proceeds will enable the Resulting Issuer to execute on near-term growth programs and to continue to build out the Hank Platform to create consumer and shareholder value. In connection with the Financing, Finco paid $219,975 to the agents and issued 219,975 compensation warrants (the "Agents' Warrants"). Each Agents' Warrant is exercisable to acquire one (1) unit (each a "Broker Unit") at $1.00 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Transaction. Each Broker Units consists of one share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $1.00 for 36 months. Hank also paid a corporate finance fee in the amount of $355,000 to the Agents. "Completing the Qualifying Transaction marks a pivotal milestone for the Hank team," said Michael Hilmer, Chairperson and CEO of the Resulting Issuer. "We are now well positioned to execute on our growth strategy and bring the power of our platform to many more Americans. We want to thank our team, our shareholders, advisors and partners who helped us on this journey and we are excited for what the future holds for Hank Payment Corp. and its stakeholders." Prior to the completion of the Qualifying Transaction, Nobelium effected a consolidation of its outstanding common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for every 4 pre-consolidation common shares. The Qualifying Transaction was completed through the exchange of all of the outstanding shares of Hank into common shares of the Resulting Issuer on a one for one basis (the "Resulting Issuer Shares"). In addition, the Qualifying Transaction was completed through the conversion all of Hank's and Finco's securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, or other rights to acquire Hank or Finco securities outstanding, including those acquired by way of the private placement. The Qualifying Transaction was done by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Business Combination") pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Hank amalgamated with a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Nobelium, incorporated for the purposes of the Business Combination; and (ii) Finco amalgamated with a wholly owned subsidiary of Nobelium, incorporated for the purposes of the Business Combination. Following completion of the Qualifying Transaction, the officers and directors of the Resulting Issuer are as follows: Michael Hilmer, Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer; Ashish Kapoor, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; Christopher Cicolini, Chief Operating Officer; Jason Ewart, Director and EVP Capital Markets; Tamara Paton, Director; and Timothy Farley, Director. As a result of the Qualifying Transaction, the security holders of Hank hold 62,606,293 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 89.41% of the Resulting Issuer Shares, the holders of converted convertible notes will hold approximately 850,000 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 1.21% of the Resulting Issuer Shares, whereas the shareholders of Nobelium Tech Corp. hold 2,121,875 Resulting Issuer Shares representing approximately 3.03% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares. Investors in the Private Placement will hold 3,142,500 Resulting Issuer Shares representing approximately 4.49% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares. William Car (the "Finder") will hold 1,298,900 Resulting Issuer Shares as payment of a one-time finder's fee immediately following the completion of the Qualifying Transaction, representing approximately 1.86% of the Resulting Issuer Shares. The Finder is an arm's length party to the Resulting Issuer and Hank. A total of 70,019,568 Resulting Issuer Shares are issued and outstanding. In accordance with TSXV policies, the final approval was granted conditional on a total of 31,366,700 Resulting Issuer Shares, 2,000,000 Resulting Issuer options and 3,500,000 Resulting Issuer RSUs to be held under escrow as "Surplus Shares." Further, a total of 15,340,284 Resulting Issuer Shares will be held under escrow as "Value Shares." Consistent with TSXV escrow policies, in addition to Surplus and Value shares released for trading on closing further releases will occur every six months. Should the company qualify for up-listing to Tier 1 in the future, the escrow conditions are expected to be updated to reflect the up-listing whereas all escrowed securities will be released over an eighteen-month period following the Final Exchange Bulletin Date. There will also be a total of 9,050,958 Resulting Issuer Shares that will be subject to a four-month hold, with 20% released each month with the first release on the Final Exchange Bulletin Date. In connection with the Transaction, the auditor of Hank, McGovern Hurley LLP, has been appointed the auditor of the Resulting Issuer. As a result of the Qualifying Transaction, the Resulting Issuer's financial year-end will now be June 30, which is the current financial year-end of Hank. The Resulting Issuer also announces that, subject to the approval by the TSXV, it has retained the services of Boom Capital Markets Inc. ("Boom") to provide market making services in accordance with TSXV policies. Boom will provide investor relations services to the Resulting Issuer, as well as capital markets services. In consideration of the services provided by Boom, the Resulting Issuer will pay Boom a monthly fee of $5,000 and issued 100,000 options exercisable at $1.00 per share, with vesting every 3-months from the date of issuance. The Resulting Issuer and Boom are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. Additional information in respect of the Qualifying Transaction can be found in the Filing Statement filed on SEDAR. Advisors WeirFoulds LLP acted as Canadian legal counsel and Shutts & Bowen LLP as U.S. legal counsel to Hank. Jessome Law acted as legal counsel to Nobelium. Bennett Jones LLP acted as Canadian counsel to the Co-Lead Agents in the private placement. About Hank Payments Corp. Hank is a financial technology company. The Hank software platform (the "Hank Platform") acts as a consumer's personal, financial concierge using a powerful technology to automate the complexities of personal cash flow management. Through its FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) insured bank partners in the United States, Hank helps consumers, in every state, find funds in their existing cash flow and speed up the retirement of liabilities. The Hank Platform debits consumers when they have cash, stores the cash with partner banks, then automatically instructs partner banks to pay bills and loans as they come due, and often sooner than required. Approximately half of Hank's customers are financially sound and use the Hank Platform for convenience, while the other half improve their payment performance through use of the Hank Platform. One hundred percent of Hank's customers are in the USA and pay setup and ongoing monthly processing fees while remaining on the Hank Platform for an average of three years. Hank continues to innovate and anticipates launching more expansive features to its expected growing customer base that will provide greater visibility into their cash flow, credit performance, and viability to borrow or refinance at lower rates, including introducing Hank customers to interested lenders. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) which reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "project", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate" and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Corporation's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, statements regarding the future success of the Corporation's business. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions, including without limitation the Shares beginning trading on the TSXV. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Corporation assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: For more information regarding Hank Payments Corp., please contact: Jason Ewart, Investor Relations, jewwart@hankpayments.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99568 Canon's Zoemini S2 instant camera printer combines innovative in-app editing and on-the-go printing with fun shooting options for the ultimate 2-in-1 instant camera printer. DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon today introduces the Canon Zoemini S2, the latest addition to the instant camera printing sector for those wanting to snap, customise, and print on the go. An evolution from its predecessor the Canon Zoemini S, this innovative 2-in-1 design allows users to add borders and filters, choose between shooting modes and save favourite snaps to print later - all on one device. Available in Dark Teal, Pearl White and Rose Gold, the Canon Zoemini S2 remains light and compact, making it easy to carry around day-to-day. Power your creativity using the Canon Mini Print App Ideal for creative minds, content creators and craft lovers alike, the Canon Zoemini S2 connects to the Canon Mini Print App via Bluetooth to produce fun creations, from collages and circular printouts, to adding text and printing pre-made or custom stickers. Hand-drawn signatures and symbols can be snapped on a mobile device, edited in-app and printed using the Canon Zoemini S2, perfect for scrapbooking or zines. Perfectionists can tweak poses and ensure friends and family are all in shot before printing by checking out the live view through the Canon Mini Print app. Shoot, print, peel and stick with 2-in-1 functionality The creative functions of the Canon Zoemini S2 are enhanced by its 2-in-1 functionality, allowing users to shoot, customise and print on the go. Stylish selfies can be snapped with the in-built mirror and ring-light, while the new Effects and Frames buttons add vintage style filters and borders. For optimal shooting, users can flick between portrait, outdoor or selfie mode using the top slider button, and then print in different formats on up to 10 sheets of sticky-backed Zink Photo Paper to personalise everything from laptops to bedroom walls or journals. Carry it with you anywhere thanks to its compact design With a compact design and weight of just 188g, the Canon Zoemini S2 is the perfect pocket-camera and chic holiday companion. If users forget to refill the paper tray before setting out on an adventure, they can still snap away and save images onto the MicroSD card for printing later, with time information automatically added once synchronised with a smartphone. The print queue has now also been extended from its predecessor, reducing the wait between taking photos and the need for frequent paper refills, while the battery life lasts for up to 25 photo prints - ideal for making memories on the go. The Canon Zoeminin S2 will be available in the Middle East region beginning December 2021. Find out more information about the Canon Zoemini S2 here: https://en.canon-me.com/cameras/zoemini-s2 Canon Zoemini S2 key features: Vivid and vintage colour filter options supported as well as black and white Automatic white balance and exposure adjustment Borderless and white border printing both supported Circular printing supported in addition to rectangular, with the use of Zink ZP-Circle Photo Paper Bluetooth 5.0 compatible Product specifications: Power Source - Rechargeable lithium polymer (700mAh) Display Window Size - N/A Body Colours - Rose Gold / Pearl White / Dark Teal / / Dark Teal Body Size (W x H x D) - 121 x 80.3 x 22.4 mm Weight - 188g About the Canon Mini Print App: Requires mobile device to be connected to the Canon Instant Camera Printer via Bluetooth and the Canon Mini Print App, available for free on the App Store and at Google Play Compatible OS: iOS 9.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later Supported languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Turkish, Slovenian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Russian, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Armenian, Ukrainian About Canon Middle East Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE. Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation. Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei - 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at www.canon-me.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1652862/Canon_Zoemini_S2.jpg CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Tech giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) has submitted a report claiming that android devices are 15 to 47 times more vulnerable to malware attacks due to its sideloading feature. The report came in defiance of the European Commission's proposed Digital Market's Act which would've made it mandatory for Apple devices to support sideloading apps. The company submitted a report named Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps to drive their argument home. The document said, 'Android smartphones are the most common mobile malware targets and have recently had between 15 and 47 times more infections from malicious software than iPhone. A study found that 98 percent of mobile malware targets Android devices. This is closely linked to sideloading: In 2018, for example, Android devices that installed apps outside Google Play, the official Android app store, were eight times more likely to be affected by potentially harmful applications than those that did not.' The California-based phone maker also added that the iPhones are seldom targeted by malware if they are not specifically hacked by the nation-state, shadowing to the Pegasus hack. 'experts generally agree that iOS is safer compared to Android, in part because Apple does not support sideloading,' added the company. Apple argued that, if sideloading is made mandatory, the miscreants may take advantage of it by tricking people, who don't want to sideload, into sideloading and thus making their hardware and personal information vulnerable. CEO Tim Cook had previously said that sideloading will not only destroy the security of iPhones but also take away the measures Apple has taken for years to make its App Store platform secure and trustworthy for the users. The entire fiasco started with Apple not agreeing to accept third-party apps on its phones which made Fortnite creators miss out on access to all the iPhone and iPad users after it was banned from the App store. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australia will on Thursday release September figures for unemployment, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The jobless rate is expected to climb to 4.8 percent from 4.5 percent in August, while the Australian economy is tipped to shed 137,500 jobs after losing 146,300 jobs in the previous month. The participation rate is expected to fall to 64.7 percent from 65.2 percent. Singapore will see an advance estimate for Q3 gross domestic product; in the previous three months, GDP was down 1.8 percent on quarter and up 14.7 percent on year. China will see September numbers for consumer and producer prices. CPI is expected to rise 0.3 percent on month and 0.9 percent on year, up from 0.1 percent on month and 0.8 percent on year in August. PPI is called higher by an annual 10.5 percent, accelerating from 9.5 percent a month earlier. Japan will provide final August figures for industrial production; the previous reading suggested a decline of 1.5 percent on month and an increase of 11.6 percent on year. Finally, the markets in Hong Kong are closed on Thursday for the Chung Yeung Festival and will re-open on Friday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 13, 2021 / Fury Gold Mines Limited (TSX:FURY)(NYSE American: FURY) ("Fury" or the "Company") announces that the Company has closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement announced on September 22, 2021 (the "Placement"). The Company issued an additional 2,375,780 units at a price of CAD$0.75 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD$1,781,835. Each unit consists of one common share of Fury (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share ("Warrant Share") at a price of CAD$1.20 for a period of three (3) years from today. The expiry date of the Warrants can be accelerated to 30 days with notice from the Company should the Common Shares trade after the expiry of the four-month hold period at a price equal to or greater than CAD$1.50 for 20 consecutive trading days. All Common Shares issued and Warrant Shares are subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months from today in accordance with Canadian securities laws. In aggregate, the Company has issued a total of 7,461,450 Units, inclusive of the 5,085,670 Units issued on October 6, 2021 and 2,375,780 Units issued today and has raised gross proceeds of CAD$5,596,088. Total expenses, including finders' fees, were under 1.5% of the gross proceeds raised. Net proceeds from the Placement will be used to fund continued exploration at the Company's Eau Claire project in Quebec and for working capital. None of the Common Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and will not be offered or sold in the United States other than pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. Any securities sold to investors in the United States will be "restricted securities" and subject to restrictions on resale under the U.S. Securities Act. This news appears as a matter of record only, these securities have been sold. About Fury Gold Mines Limited Fury Gold Mines Limited is a Canadian-focused gold exploration company positioned in three prolific mining regions across the country. Led by a management team and board of directors with proven success in financing exploration mining assets, Fury intends to grow and advance its multi-million-ounce gold platform through project evaluation and exploration excellence. Fury is committed to upholding the highest industry standards for corporate governance, environmental stewardship, community engagement and sustainable mining. For more information on Fury Gold Mines Limited, visit www.furygoldmines.com . For further information on Fury Gold Mines Limited, please contact: Salisha Ilyas Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: (437) 500-2529 Email: info@furygoldmines.com Website: www.furygoldmines.com Forward-Looking Statements and Additional Cautionary Language This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which relate to the completion of the Placement, the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this release reflect management's current estimates, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and so have inherent uncertainty and risk. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this release includes information relating to completion of additional tranches of the Placement. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Base Shelf Prospectus and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place heavy reliance on forward-looking statements, which can speak only as of the date made. SOURCE: Fury Gold Mines Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667955/Fury-Completes-CAD5596088-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Auto giant General Motors (GM) has decided to keep manufacturing sidelined of its flagship electric vehicle Bolt and prioritize the building of battery modules that are used for the car. To date, at least 13 Chevy Bolts have caught fire resulting in the company having to roll back all units to inspect and improve the battery modules. The Michigan plant of the company has been left idle since August 23 to fix the issue and the company announced on Wednesday that its Detroit plant is going to focus on building battery modules for the recalled vehicles for another two weeks, till November 1. According to the experts from GM and LG, the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell is the root cause of battery fires in certain Chevrolet Bolt EVs. The company plans to replace battery modules or the entire battery pack to fix the issue. In July, General Motors recalled nearly 70,000 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles for the second time because of a risk that the battery could catch fire. 'In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects - a torn anode tab and folded separator - present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire,' the company specified in its report. After the third recall in August, GM reportedly sought nearly $1 billion in damages from LG Chem, the auto giant's battery cell partner, to cover losses from the recall of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles. General Motors plans to replace all the defective battery modules with new ones in the Chevy Bolt EVs and EUVs. This amount totals to $1 billion in losses, in addition to the $800 million the company is already spending for the first Bolt recall in November 2020. Earlier in October, LG Chem supplied battery modules for more than 140,000 Bolt Evs. Apart from the battery issues, GM is also facing downtime on other plants due to the global semiconductor shortage. Last month, the company had said that its Arlington Assembly in Texas, where it makes its full-size SUVs, will run regular production next week, along with Flint Assembly, Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky, and a portion of Lansing Grand River Assembly. But all other assembly plants in North America will sit idle for two weeks. To add to the list, the company reported that its Ramos assembly plant in Mexico will not be able to start making Chevrolet Equinox till November 15. The facility had stopped producing its small SUV back is August 16 due to the chip shortage. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX GENERAL MOTORS-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de AceCann, a Lisbon, Portugal based medical cannabis company, closed a $15M (USD) Seed financing. The round was led by venture firm Casa Verde with participation from Lince Capital, Chris Mayle and Marc Gare, co-founders of Advanced Grow Labs (acquired by GTI); Frank Cid, CEO of Royal Life Centers; and angel investor Sebastian de la Rosa of Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation (acquired by Aurora), along with public funding and debt capital. The company will use the proceeds to develop a production facility located in Vendas Novas, Portugal dedicated to the organic cultivation, processing and extraction of premium medical cannabis products. Construction started in September. Led by CEO Pedro Gomes, AceCann is a medical cannabis company focused on the cultivation, processing, extraction and R&D of organic medical cannabis. Through its focus on smaller, scalable, indoor farming methods, the company will be able to precisely manage temperature, humidity and other variables to ensure each plant receives daily care while meeting the quality standards associated with premium medical cannabis products. AceCann is the first company in Portugal to be awarded an R&D certificate of suitability by the National Innovation Agency. FinSMEs 13/10/2021 Airtame, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based solution provider for screen sharing and digital signage, secured funding from Vkstfonden, the Danish states investment fund. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations across North America and develop new products. Led by Martin Wagner, CEO, Airtame offers a wireless screen sharing and collaboration platform that allows users to instantly display content from any personal device to any shared screen. The platform is used to promote interactivity and collaboration in meetings, presentations and classroom settings, as well as for digital signage in retail stores, corporate environments, conference facilities, hotels, and other venues. Airtame has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, and Budapest. FinSMEs 13/10/2021 Grin, a Sacramento, Calif.-based creator management platform for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, closed a $110m Series B funding. The round was led by Lone Pine Capital with participation from BOND, a host of top content creators like Danielle Bernstein (of WeWoreWhat), Devon Levesque, The Chainsmokers, and others in addition to existing investors like Imaginary Ventures. Grin has added Jay Simons of BOND as a Board observer. The company, which is now valued at $910m, intends to use the funds to continue growing its executive leadership team, expand into international markets and continue working toward its vision of building the infrastructure for the creator economy. Led by Brandon Brown, CEO, Grin provides a Creator Management platform that enables brands to form close relationships with every creator they work with, including influencers, affiliates, athletes, celebrities, traditional content creators and customers. In addition to empower DTC brands, Grin is also working to solve problems for creators with a suite of tools covering finance, communications, and more. Thousands of the worlds fastest-growing brands including SKIMS, Warby Parker, Allbirds, Mejuri, and MVMT use it. FinSMEs 13/10/2021 Invaio Sciences, Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based Flagship Pioneering company unlocking the potential of natural systems to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture to address climate change, entered into a $50m loan and security agreement with K2 HealthVentures (K2HV). The funds will be used to accelerate the research, development and commercialization of the companys platforms. Led by Ignacio Martinez, CEO, Invaio focuses on unlocking the potential of natural systems to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture to urgently address climate change challenges. Founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2018, the company leverages discoveries from diverse fields including human therapeutics, agriculture, environmental science, and advanced manufacturing. FinSMEs 13/10/2021 Stage11, a Paris, France and Los Angeles, CA-based immersive music experience startup, raised 5m in seed funding. The round was led by Otium Capital. The company intends to use the funds to onboard strategic hires, sign key artist and brand partnerships and build its technology platform. Founded by CEO Jonathan Belolo, Jean-Philippe Braud, Gregory Dhonner, and Mani Nordine, Stage11 is a startup reimagining music for the metaverse. Its interactive music experiences invite fans to live inside the performances and musical worlds of their favorite artists. This forms the core of a new music metaverse that will give artists, brands, creators, and fans tools to co-create and share unique digital experiences & content. These worlds combine immersive gameplay sequences, lifelike performances, cinematic narratives and exclusive digital collectibles. Fans can not only discover and collect but actually use these interactive NFTs to create and share unique personalized content and even perform with their favorite artists. Stage11 can be accessed on desktop and mobile, playing to the strengths of both platforms. While desktop offers a more interactive high-definition experience, mobile focuses on mixed reality experiences and content creation as well as social interaction. Both platforms merge into one seamless user experience. The company, which has a distributed team of 34 designers, engineers, artists and business leads spread across 10 countries on 3 continents, has signed key partnerships with Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, Ne-Yo, Akon, Salif Gueye and the Institut Francais de la Mode. Stage11s first music experience is set to debut in 2022. FinSMEs 13/10/2021 Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. At the realme GT Neo2 launch, realme also launched its 4K Smart Google TV Stick in India and 20W Brick Bluetooth Speaker, as it had announced. The realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick is the first device to run on the latest Google TV platform. It also has HDR10+ support and 4Kp60 AV1 encoding. The realme Brick Bluetooth has 20W output, 2 piece full-range speaker and two dedicated extra bass radiators. realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick features and specifications 4K p60, HDR 10+ Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A35 processor with dual-core GPU 2GB RAM, 8GB storage Google TV platform with support for range of apps via Google Play Store, Google Assistant, Built-in Chromecast Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI 2.1 Bluetooth voice remote control with shortcuts for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and YouTube Music realme Brick Bluetooth Speaker features and specifications 20W (2 x 10W) Dynamic Bass Boost Drivers with two passive radiators Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to devices realme Link app lets you personalise settings 3 equalizers Bass, Dynamic and Bright Super-low latency game mode Pair two realme Brick speakers for a stereo effect Microphone for taking calls Water resistant (IPX4) 5200mAh battery offers up to 14h of playback, Type-C charging port realme also launched Green colour variant of Buds Air 2 that joins theCloser Black, Closer White and Gold colours. Pricing and availability The realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick is priced at Rs. 3999, but it will be available at an offer price of Rs. 2999 when it goes on sale on Flipkart and realme.com starting from October 16th 12 noon. The realme Brick Bluetooth Speaker is priced at Rs. 2999,but it will be available at an offer price of Rs. 2499 when it goes on sale on Flipkart and realme.com starting from October 18th 12 noon. The realme Buds Air 2 will be available from Flipkart and realme.com from October 18th 12 noon priced at Rs. 3299. Friends and family members Living in the United States The reduction of new coronavirus cases All of the above and more Vote View Results SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX CAROLINA) - Two brothers were involved in a crash that left one dead and the other arrested on I-26 in Spartanburg County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. We welcome your letters and columns! Use the button below to send us your thoughts. Remember: Letters must include your real name, town of residence and daytime phone number, which we use for verification. We do not accept anonymous letters or letters written under a pseudonym. Letters should be no more than about 400 words. Those of no more than 200 to 300 words are more likely to be published. Submit Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. It was just a couple weeks ago that new Albany business owner Josh Slamp was hanging out at the Albany Skate Park with his 11-year-old son, Rocco. Slamp was taking a break from skating when another kid came up to him and said Slamp, 47, had to be the oldest skater the boy had ever seen at the Albany park. Slamp took it as a compliment, and its this legacy of skating that he hopes to bring to life with his new downtown storefront, Stoked 2 Sk8, located inside the Two Rivers Market business complex on Broadalbin Street. The temporary sign for Slamps business is made out of an old board he skated on for years. While he plans to have a larger sign for his front window at some point, he said this is a good way to celebrate where he came from and how hes rekindled his passion for skating. He has his son, in part, to thank for that. As his boy got into skating, Slamp himself started to get back onto a board and realize just how rusty hes gotten but also how much he missed skating in the last 20 years hes spent working in the window drapery business and raising a family. Its that rekindled passion that helped him realize how much Albany is thirsty for a skate shop. Theres nothing really youth-centric in downtown Albany and kind of Albany as a whole certainly nothing skate oriented. Thankfully its more accepted than it was when I was younger, Slamp said. Theres less of a stigma which is good. (Skating) is exercise, and it can be an art form. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. Stoked 2 Sk8 primarily sells boards and hardware, though Slamp is also a big advocate for skating safely, so he sells protective pads too. I always tell kids that if you really like to skate, you shouldnt care about not looking cool" by wearing pads and a helmet, Slamp said. If you get hurt, you can be out for a week, a month, even years. While there are some branded T-shirts and hoodies, Slamp said more apparel will likely be added to the inventory in the future. The main attraction is the dozens of boards that line the walls, varying in size, shape and design. There are the classic popsicle stick ones that you probably picture when you think of a skateboard, but there are also boards with pointed tips, wheel wells cut into the wood that reduce wheel bite and many other specialty shapes. Theres even an old school" boards section, with re-releases of the same kinds of Hosoi and Lucero branded boards that Slamp used in his youth. I try to accommodate a little bit of everything for all different kinds of skaters, he said. Some of the most iconic art that goes into making boards is the design thats found on their undersides. For his inventory, Slamp has partnered with local board makers in Oregon and the rest of the Pacific Northwest, something that was difficult to do until he secured his storefront. When Slamp first started skating during the 1980s and '90s, designer boards were few and far between. But skate culture has since gone mainstream with televised X Games popularizing the sport and the Summer Olympics adopting skating events leading to a boom in skateboard production, even locally. The store also has an old PlayStation 2 loaded up with the old Tony Hawk Underground and Pro Skater games that inspired many teenagers, part of a way to draw people in and make the space into a hangout spot for local skaters. Slamp points to that commercialization as a big reason opening a skate shop is so needed for Albany, which has been without one since another downtown skate shop, On Deck, closed down, he estimated in 2003. To have something to bring more of us together is crucial. Were too reliant on online and big corporations, he said. So its nice to have something smaller, more community-based. The store will host its grand opening noon Saturday, Oct. 16. Troy Shinn covers healthcare, natural resources and Linn County government. He can be reached at 541-812-6114 or troy.shinn@lee.net. He can be found on Twitter at @troydshinn. 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. NEWBERG, Ore. (Oct. 13, 2021) Prominent Christian political commentator and attorney David French will issue a call for robust civility in politics at a free presentation in George Fox Universitys Bauman Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1. The talk, entitled Jesus Loves Your Political Enemies, and America Needs You to Love Them Too, is open to the public. A Zoom stream is available, and those who attend in person are required to wear masks. The combination of malice and misinformation is driving American polarization to a fever pitch, French wrote this month. While there are real differences between the political parties, a fundamental reality of American politics is that voters hate or fear the opposing side. Malice and disdain makes a person vulnerable to misinformation. Misinformation then builds more malice and disdain and enhances the commercial demand for, you guessed it, more misinformation. Rinse and repeat until entire media empires exist to supply that demand. French is a senior editor at The Dispatch and a columnist for Time magazine. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he served as a lecturer at Cornell Law School. After law school, he practiced law with a focus on religious liberty issues. During the second Gulf War, he volunteered for service in Iraq in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps. He was touted as a possible third-party candidate for president in 2016 by nationally prominent people dissatisfied with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but after briefly considering it, he declined to run. French advises Christians not to wait for our political leaders to fix Americas drift toward bitter division. There is no policy fix for malice and misinformation French says. There is no five-point plan for national harmony. Instead, French says it is up to the church to build a healthier political culture, embracing people across the political spectrum, keeping the Ninth Commandment (against bearing false witness), and demonstrating love for our political enemies. He speaks to Christians concerned about the polarization and alienation metastasizing in our communities, and in politics at every level, both nationally and locally. Frenchs most recent book is Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. The event is being hosted by the George Fox Civility Project, an initiative launched during the 2020-21 academic year out of concern about the polarization and alienation in political culture at every level (national, state and local). It sponsors events, publishes a newsletter, and maintains a website with information about civility. For more information, contact Civility Project director Ron Mock at civility@georgefox.edu. George Fox University is classified by U.S. News & World Report as a Best National University. More than 4,200 students attend classes on the universitys campus in Newberg, Ore., and at teaching centers in Portland, Salem and Redmond, Ore. George Fox offers 60 undergraduate academic programs, degree-completion programs for working adults, and 19 masters and doctoral degrees. -30- Contact: Ron Mock Director, George Fox Civility Project civility@georgefox.edu WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Gillette, WY (82718) Today Mainly clear. Low 29F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 29F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. (Azincourt or the Company) (TSX.V: AAZ, OTCQB: AZURF, FSE: A0U2) is pleased to announce that it has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement. In connection with closing of the final tranche, the Company has issued 17,071,428 non-flow-through units (each, an NFT Unit) and 6,666,667 flow-through units (each, an FT Unit). Each NFT Unit was offered at a price of $0.07 and each FT Unit was offered at a price of $0.075. Each NFT Unit and FT Unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.10 until October 12, 2024. When combined with the earlier tranche of the placement, the Company has raised gross proceeds of $8,100,000 through the issuance of 77,877,416 NFT Units, 17,600,126 FT Units and 14,285,714 charity flow-through units. Closing of the final tranche of the placement represents an increase of 6,666,667 FT Units, for gross proceeds of an additional $500,000, from the amount originally announced by the Company on September 22, 2021. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)), which will be renounced with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2021, to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Units. If the qualifying expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the qualifying expenditures. It is expected that expenditures will largely be focused on the upcoming 30-to-35-hole, 7,000-metre drill program at the East Preston uranium project, located in the western Athabasca basin, Saskatchewan, Canada. The net proceeds from the sale of NFT Units will be used primarily for the continued development of the Company's East Preston uranium project; working capital; and general corporate purposes. All securities issuable in connection with the placement are subject to a statutory hold period, in accordance with applicable securities laws, until January 30, 2022, in the case of the first tranche of the placement, and February 13, 2022, in the case of the final tranche. In connection with closing of the final tranche of the placement, the Company paid finders fees totaling $135,600 and issued a total of 1,899,047 finders warrants. Each finders warrant is exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.07 until October 12, 2024. The placement included participation by insiders of the Company in the aggregate amount of 28,714,285 NFT Units and 266,666 FT Units. The participation in the placement by these insiders constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). In connection with the participation by the insiders, the Company relied upon the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the participation did not exceed twenty-five percent of the market capitalization of the Company (as determined under MI 61-101). About Azincourt Energy Corp. Azincourt Energy is a Canadian-based resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration, and development of alternative energy/fuel projects, including uranium, lithium, and other critical clean energy elements. The Company is currently active at its majority controlled joint venture East Preston uranium project in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the Escalera Group uranium-lithium project located on the Picotani Plateau in southeastern Peru. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. Alex Klenman Alex Klenman, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes forward-looking statements, including forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Azincourt. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. For further information please contact: Alex Klenman, President & CEO Tel: 604-638-8063 info@azincourtenergy.com Azincourt Energy Corp. 1430 800 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6 www.azincourtenergy.com TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northland Power Inc. (Northland) (TSX: NPI) announces it will release its 2021 third quarter financial results after market close on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Northland's management will hold an investor conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Thursday, November 11, 2021, followed by a question and answer period with analysts. Conference call details: Date: Thursday, November 11, 2021 Start Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Phone Number: Toll free (North America): (833) 693-0550 Toll free (International): (661) 407-1589 Conference ID: 7569409 The call will also be broadcast live on the internet, in listen-only mode and may be accessed on northlandpower.com . For those unable to attend the live call, an audio recording will be available on Northlands website at northlandpower.com on November 12, 2021. ABOUT NORTHLAND POWER Northland Power is a global power producer dedicated to helping the clean energy transition by producing electricity from clean renewable resources. Founded in 1987, Northland has a long history of developing, building, owning and operating clean and green power infrastructure assets and is a global leader in offshore wind. In addition, Northland owns and manages a diversified generation mix including onshore renewables, solar and efficient natural gas energy, as well as supplying energy through a regulated utility. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with global offices in eight countries, Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3.2 GW (net 2.8 GW) of operating generating capacity and a significant inventory of early to mid-stage development opportunities encompassing approximately 4 to 5 GW of potential capacity. Publicly traded since 1997, Northland's common shares, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 preferred shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, NPI.PR.A, NPI.PR.B and NPI.PR.C, respectively. For further information contact: Wassem Khalil, Senior Director, Investor Relations, (647) 288-1019 investorrelations@northlandpower.com northlandpower.com HOCHIMINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- on October 8, 2021 An annual educational conference called "SYMPHONY OF THE MIND", with the theme "Creativity is the next era of intelligence", was the opening program for a series of annual conferences on the future of education conducted by Embassy Education. This took place over two days, between October the 8th and 9th with the participation of various leaders and experts. Global multidisciplinary experts such as: Professor Howard Gardner: founder of the theory regarding multiple intelligences; Senior Director of the Harvard Project Zero; Professor Ngo Bao Chau: winner of the 2010 Fields Medal, Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Mathematics, in Vietnam; Professor Tran Thanh Van: President of the Science Association Meet Vietnam. Like many professionals, artists have also been very successful over time in conquering creativity during their career such as: International Artist & Educator Mr. Thanh Bui; Educator & Diplomat: Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh; Former Facebook Vietnam Director: Ms Le Diep Kieu Trang; Marketer & Educator: Mr Hung Vo; International Artist, Doctor & Educator: Dr. Alexander Tu; Educator: Mr. Tony Diep; Director & Educator: Ms Kathy Uyen. After many discussions, four topics were formulated: Creativity improves academic performance; Creativity improves Love Quotient; Creativity is a future currency; Creativity and the Symphony of the mind are integrated; with a spirit of openness, everyone agreed on the following point of view: Creative education is the essential of the present and future of education In Vietnam, the Embassy Education educational organisation is the first and largest of its generation, with 17 brands serving as members, all helping the young generation access a rapidly changing world, and inspire each student to discover their unique voice, potential, future path, and to be the best version of themselves. Contact Info: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a656c8a-b20c-467c-8d67-ec03350cd0bc Boston, United States, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The President and founder of business management consulting firm Haffey&Co., Bernie Haffey released his new book titled Cutting Through: Your Companys High Performance Management System. The book is a comprehensive exploration into the nuances of the key high-performance management systems that turn good companies into great ones. Before founding Haffey & Co., Bernie served as EVP and CCO in two public companies and CEO of two VC-backed companies. He currently enjoys the intellectual challenge and diversity of consulting. His book, Cutting Through, provides much of the same information usually gained through consultation services specifically designed to guide CEOs, especially to newly appointed CEOs, to lead their companies to success. If you want to personally perform at a higher level, or lead your team to do the same, read Cutting Through! Whether to refresh your own performance, or to instill HPMS in your business, Cutting Through is a practical, relevant and action packed read that inspires ideas with every chapter and example stated Stacy Enxing Seng | President of ev3, President of Covidien, Venture Partner of Lightstone Ventures. By following the pillars in Cutting Through, companies can orchestrate company culture within the framework of the larger high-performance management system and understand the significance of the first follower. Readers will discover the power of subtraction, elimination and simplification when building the foundation and system to succeed. Some of the worlds leading companies like Ford, Medtronic, Ritz Carlton, IBM and Amazon have implemented high-performance management systems. Cutting Through helps readers understand how these top companies have achieved success and use this knowledge to apply to their own companies. Underperforming businesses, new CEOs and even seasoned professionals will discover how to achieve world-class customer, employee and financial results with Cutting Through. Cutting Through: Your Companys High Performance Management System is available on Amazon. To learn more about Haffey & Co.s proven management system, visit haffeyco.com/contact-us/ Website: https://www.haffeyco.com/ Video URL: https://www.haffeyco.com/cutting-through/ Pune, India, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global IV Fluid Bags Market size is set to gain traction due to increased prevalence of disease and rising geriatric population around the world, observes Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled IV Fluid Bags Market-2021-2028. The IV is given to patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes or a person going through any surgical procedure. Thus due to increased demand investors are investing in IV therapy. For instance, in May 2019, Braun Melsungen AG invested USD 1 billion for advanced IV therapy in the U.S. health infrastructure. These aforementioned factors are thus expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Get Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/intravenous-iv-fluid-bags-market-102036 List of Key Players in IV Fluid Bags Market: Braun Melsungen AG Baxter ICU Medical Inc. Sippex IV bag Fosmo Med Fresenius Kabi AG Polifarma COVID-19 Pandemic: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for IV therapies, as serious patients were given medications through IVs. In addition, increased plasma donation also increased its demand. However, the market suffered a moderate disruption, as non-emergency surgeries were at a halt. The market is expected to flourish in the upcoming years. Segments- By fluid type, the market is segmented into normal saline, dextrose, ringers lactate, vitamins, and others. Based on application, it is segmented into clinical and wellness. By end-user, it is divided into hospital, hydration clinics, home care settings, and others. Lastly, in terms of geography, the market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa. To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/intravenous-iv-fluid-bags-market-102036 Report Coverage- The report aims to analyze the industry by considering contributions, prospects, and growth trends. It presents detailed profiles of every key player operating in the market to analyze their core competencies in each segment. Apart from that, it ensures to help our clients better understand the competitive developments, such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, joint ventures, and collaborations. Drivers & Restraints Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases to Drive the Market The rising prevalence of diseases is anticipated to drive the IV Fluid Bags Market growth. For instance, according to a report by the American Diabetes Association in the year 2015, around 30.3 million people in the U.S were suffering from diabetes. Additionally, the technological advancements and innovation done in the IV are also contributing to the market, as now PVC-free bags are used. The new IV bags are made of non-latex materials, and these are safe and are more accurate as compared to the PVC ones. On the other hand, the risk of several other infectious diseases associated with IV is the major market constraint. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/intravenous-iv-fluid-bags-market-102036 Regional Insights North America to Dominate Backed by Rising Number of Population North America is expected to hold the highest IV Fluid Bags Market share due to the large population in the region suffering from chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease. For instance, as per the CDC report, nearly 4.9 million adults in the U.S are diagnosed with kidney stones. Europe is also expected to dominate the market due to favorable reimbursement policies launched by the government and the presence of prime healthcare infrastructure in the region. Competitive Landscape Key Players to Focus on New Launches to Intensify Competition The market is consolidated by the presence of major companies that are striving to maintain their position by focusing on new launches. For instance, in July 2019, Baxter launched Myxredlin. It is U.S FDA approved and first and only ready to use insulin IV infusion. Moreover, other key players are adopting proactive strategies such as mergers, and facility expansion to favor the market's growth in the forthcoming years. Industry Development June 2019:Eurolife Healthcare based in India launched high quality Intravenous IV products - Discport and Lifeport. These are smart intravenous infusion made with the best of the latest technology. These reduces the chances of any infections apart from ease of use. Ask for Customization of this Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/intravenous-iv-fluid-bags-market-102036 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 Pune, India, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global nasal sprays market is slated to witness accelerated growth with increasing regulatory approvals for newer products. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled Nasal Spray Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Type (Salt Water Solutions, Decongestants, Steroid, Antihistamine), By Application (Asthma, Cold, Nasal Allergies), By Patient Type Infant, Paediatric, Adults), By End User (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centres, Home Care Settings) Geography Forecast till 2026, the market is likely to surge in the coming years with encouragement from increasing FDA approval of newer products. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/nasal-spray-market-100273 FDA Approves Janssens nasal spray Spravato In March 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration passed a usage approval for Spravato. Janssens Spravato was a fast processing antidepressant drug. The approval has encouraged Janssens counterparts and many have been encouraged to introduce newer products. Spravato was a product with high efficacy and much reduced side effects. The approval for Spravato will have a positive impact on the global market and is likely to favor the growth of the market in the coming years. An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/nasal-spray-market-100273 Increasing Incidence of Allergic Rhinitis to Lead to Increased Demand According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2014, around 4.5 million people suffered from allergic rhinitis in Australia. Certain indications of allergic rhinitis such as fever, cold and bad breath can be overcome using nasal sprays. A high prevalence of nasal disorders and allergies is likely to cause an increased adoption of nasal sprays, globally. The increased adoption may have a positive impact on the global market and are likely to favor growth of the market in the coming years. As per a study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2018, around 7.4 million adults in the U.S suffer from treatment-resistant depression. Increasing prevalence of this disorder may lead to increased chances of suicidal tendencies and hospitalization. Increasing hospitalization may lead to further demand for nasal sprays and thereby, enable growth of the global nasal sprays market in the forthcoming years. Painless drug delivery modes are a major factor that may favor the growth of the global nasal sprays market. Additionally, ease of availability and improved patient convenience are other factors that may boost the market in coming years. Having said that, certain adverse reactions of nasal spray and side effects such as nasal dryness, congestion and inflammation may hamper the growth of the global nasal sprays market in the coming years. Ask For Customization https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/nasal-spray-market-100273 Some of the leading companies that are present in the global nasal spray market are ADAPT Pharma, Inc. Egalet Corporation GlaxoSmithKline plc. ARIUS FORMULATIONS PVT LTD. Renatus, Bayer AG J Pharmaceuticals Aurena, Cipla Inc. INNOVUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Sandoz International GmbH Leeford Healthcare Limited ALLERGAN Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation Mylan N.V. and others. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/nasal-spray-market-100273 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Dubai, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MultiChoice is excited to announce the opening of its highly-anticipated premiere week at the Expo 2020 Dubai with headliner events, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase. Known for its incredible talent, South African shores are laden with authentic culture and creative prowess that make the country unlike any other in the world. One Night with Mzansi, taking place at the Dubai Opera House on 17 October, will be a celebration of South Africa and its talent, showcasing our uniqueness through storytelling, performance, and music that takes our artists to the world. The live show which will be hosted by South African born and internationally recognised talent, Nomzamo Mbatha, will be broadcast live by MultiChoice, the official broadcast partner of Team SA, on 1Magic (DStv channel 103) and Mzansi Magic Music (DStv channel 321) at 21:00 on the 17th of October. The event will feature performances by local favourites - Mi Casa, Blaq Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, Daliwonga and Ami Faku with addresses by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa and the South African Business Council. In attendance will be production companies, Tshedza Pictures and The Bomb Shelter, who have worked closely with MultiChoice over the years to not only produce some of South Africas brightest talent but to entertain millions daily. Artists include; Sho Madjozi, Pabi Moloi, Thando Thabethe, Coenie de Villiers, Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane, Khuzani Mpungose along with Mzansi Youth and Drakensberg Boys Choirs. 18 and 19 October will see Content Showcase, where cast and production teams of M-Nets gripping international co-production Reyka and the upcoming international co-production and Showmax Original, Bloods Psalms, will be in attendance along with invited guests for the viewings. Throughout the duration of the Expo, Team South Africas events will be carefully curated to expose the calibre of talent South Africa has, in addition to highlighting the countrys beautiful natural assets and being open for business. MultiChoices Group Non-Executive Chair, Imtiaz Patel explains that, MultiChoice has chosen this strategic direction as its contribution to national efforts to kick start the South African economy and contribute to job creation interventions. South Africas attractiveness in the creative and cultural sector has, over the past few years, emerged as a key growth opportunity for the country, and as a platform on which to position and showcase its natural beauty and diversity using the international film and multimedia stage. The World Expo 2020, is therefore a platform to showcase the countrys assets, both natural and people to, amongst others, the international business, investor, creative and tourism sectors. Both the creative and cultural, as well as the tourism sectors, have been hardest hit by the pandemic and the exposure at the World Expo 2020 can give these sectors a much needed boost. Lights, camera, investment Both events, at their core, are to encourage global investment in the post-pandemic economic recovery of South Africa. By showcasing the talent, culture and potential of the country, One Night with Mzansi and Content Showcase act as open-calls to international guests to visit, explore and experience the gateway to Africa. South Africa, which accounts for a large portion of the African GDP, is an emerging market powerhouse rich with resources, which enable fruitful collaboration with other global countries. MultiChoice is Team South Africas official broadcast partner during the Expo 2020 Dubai, at which it will bring the message, Think South Africa, Think Opportunity. The Group will leverage its more than 20 million subscribers and 100 million viewers across the continent to bring the South African story of resilience and constant re-invention, to global audiences until the end of March 2022. TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nobel Resources Corp. (TSX V: NBLC) (the Company or Nobel) is pleased to announce that the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mantos Grandes Resources Chile SpA (Mantos), has entered into a definitive option agreement (the Option Agreement) to acquire 100% of the La Salvadora project (La Salvadora or the Project). La Salvadora Project La Salvadora is an iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) project located approximately 2 hours drive from Nobels flagship Algarrobo project where diamond drilling has recently commenced (Figure 1). La Salvadora occurs in the vicinity of the large Manto Verde (Anglo American) and Santo Domingo (Capstone Mining) IOCG deposits (Figure 2). The area is well serviced by all weather roads and can be worked year-round. The region is well established as a mining area where community support is known to be strong and there is good access to infrastructure, including electricity, water and ports or mining infrastructure in country. The La Salvadora project is located in a very prolific mineralized belt within Chile and has highly prospective targets and copper mineralization ready to drill with a minimal amount of geophysics and geochemical work to refine the drill targets. IOCG deposits are attractive targets due to the strong copper and gold association, as well as the fact that they can extend to significant depths (more than 1 kilometer at Manto Verde for example which provides for significant tonnage seen at deposits in the area). Figure 1: Location map showing the La Salvadora Project as well as Nobels flagship project at Algarobbo https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6183e5b-828d-429c-b3b4-6a398d1078a3 Figure 2: Location map showing the La Salvadora Project as well as major projects and operations in the region https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8051ba1d-cb88-480e-b97b-bf264d378b86 The Project hosts numerous copper mineralized zones and occurs in a highly mineralized district. A copper oxide zone extending 750 meters along strike and approximately 40 meters wide trending in a northwesterly direction was identified during previous work on the Project. This mineralized zone occurs on the edge of a magnetic anomaly where the only hole drilled down dip was SLVA-RC-0002 which intersected 72 meters grading 1.21% copper and 0.21 g/t gold. This is one of the very attractive targets on the property. A second distinct buried magnetic anomaly approximately 1 kilometer to the south has only a single drill hole in it (SLVA-RC-0010) which intersected 20 meters grading 0.6% copper and 0.15g/t gold at shallow depths. Both target areas are wide open for expansion. The Project is immediately adjacent to a mining operation owned by a private Peruvian mining company that is reportedly mining grades of 2% copper and toll milling at a local facility. Figure 3: Cross section showing drill hole SLVA-RC-0002 down dip from where the copper oxide mineralization is exposed in trenches and intercepted in shallow drill holes https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5adb38e0-25ea-45a0-b900-faabfecfa23a Figure 4: Magnetic map of a portion of La Salvadora showing SLVA-RC-0010 on the southern magnetic anomaly. The series of white drill holes show the distribution of near-surface copper oxide mineralizaton https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d6c79d5-b09d-4209-b6b1-b60aed15a674 Option Agreement Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company must make the following payments to the optionor to acquire a 100% interest in the Project: USD$70,000 in cash on the date the Option Agreement is registered with the Chilean mining authority (the Registration Date). This step has been completed and the funds have been paid; USD$80,000 in cash 6 months from the Registration Date; USD$120,000 in cash 12 months from the Registration Date; USD$130,000 in cash 18 months from the Registration Date; USD$200,000 in cash 24 months from the Registration Date; USD$300,000 in cash 30 months from the Registration Date; USD$300,000 in cash 36 months from the Registration Date; and USD$3,300,000 in cash 42 months from the Registration Date. Upon the completion of the payments above, the Company will own 100% of the Project and must grant to the optionor a 2.0% NSR royalty on future mineral production on the Project. The Company has a right to repurchase a 1.5% NSR on the Project from the optionor for USD$2 million in cash. The Company can, at its sole discretion, decide not to exercise the option and terminate the Option agreement and not make any of the remaining payments. Nobel will be the operator of the Project during the term of the Option Agreement. This transaction is arms length and remains subject to regulatory approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vernon Arseneau, P.Geo, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. About Nobel Nobel Resources has the right to acquire 100% interest in the Algarrobo Iron Oxide Copper Gold Ore (IOCG), a potential IOCG style high grade copper property in Chile. The country is a top mining jurisdiction as it is strategically located within 25 km from port and has world-class IOCG deposits within the Major Candelaria belt. Chiles mining capabilities benefit from close to surface, high grade mineralization within the mining face and has the necessary permitting in place. For further information, please contact: David Gower Chief Executive Officer dgower@nobel-resources.com www.nobel-resources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, regarding the prospectivity of the Project, the mineralization of the Project, the terms of the Option Agreement and the Companys ability to exercise the option, the Companys ability to explore and develop the Project and the Companys future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Nobel, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Nobel has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nobel does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. OWATONNA, Minn., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Manufacturing made quite the impression at the Technology & Maintenance Councils annual meeting and exhibition. The High Bar Brands company unveiled its new corporate booth to positive feedback from those in attendance. The customers were impressed with how open, welcoming, and modern the booth was, HBB Director of Sales - LATAM Manuel Rodriguez said. Our trade show booth represents our brand and its important that were showing our customers that were organized, tech-savvy, and professional, HBB Director of Marketing Steve Hansen said. Specifically, this new booth allows us to demonstrate our products in-person while showing the technical data on 55-inch touchscreen monitors that are flipped vertically to replicate the feel of a cell phone. Premier Manufacturings large corporate booth will be on display for distributors at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) and for end-users at TMC. Hansen says networking plays a key role in their success, which is why Premier Manufacturing will attend more than 20 trade shows in 2022. Face-to-face interaction is very important during the sales process, Hansen said. This new booth includes an area specifically for networking with customers in a semi-private setting. For a look at Premier Manufacturings upcoming trade show schedule, visit www.premier-mfg.com. About High Bar Brands High Bar Brands, LLC, is the preferred solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry with our family of iconic brands. Driven by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, we strive for total customer satisfaction through our passionate team and superior products. Our company was born from the partnership between two solution-based brands Minimizer and Premier Manufacturing. These iconic suppliers have proven processes and a customer-centric approach that has forged a special connection with drivers, fleet owners, and maintenance managers across North America. Their feedback is crucial to R&D and has helped our team design and develop numerous patented technologies. High Bar Brands is renowned for our go-to-market strategies that are catapulted by an incredibly strong distribution network. We pride ourselves on being able to deliver our message of quality and service throughout our distribution network all the way to the end-user. Employees are afforded best-in-class operations equipment, creating a powerful production facility and efficient office environment. High Bar Brands is proud to be a member of the toughest industry. Driven by customer needs, their success is what drives our business. Attachments GAMBELLARA, Italy, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1821 - 2021: Zonin1821 celebrates 200 years of history and seven generations that have shared the culture of wine throughout the world. The path the company has embarked upon is marked by important milestones that have served to position it among the top five wine producers in Italy[1]. Since its inception, the goal of the Zonin family has been to produce excellent wines and actively contribute to creating a new contemporary wine culture, where Italian DNA blends with multiple international traditions. There are three guiding principles that have enabled the company to attain prestige and recognition on the international stage: tradition, meticulous attention to wine-growing areas, and a strong entrepreneurial dynamism, enhanced by a series of acquisitions made since the 1970s. "As a representative of the seventh generation, together with my brothers, Francesco and Michele, we strongly believe in the value of traditions and continued growth through thoughtful evolution in Italy and abroad. We are committed to the enhancement of our outstanding wines", says Domenico Zonin - President of the company, adding: "This moment of celebration is indeed a source of pride, looking back at the road travelled, but above all, it spurs us on to look to the next 200 years with the same spirit of entrepreneurship, determination and passion that has always distinguished us. Let us raise a glass, therefore, to all the people in the world who work alongside us every day and who enable us to share positive moments and enjoyable get-togethers with an optimistic look to the future, accompanied by the quality and authenticity of our brands". The long-term vision for Zonin1821 is optimistic and will be driven by Family continuity and competence combined with a steadfast passion for winemaking and a rejuvenated management team. Still based at the historic Gambellara headquarters, the three Zonin brothers, Domenico, the President, and Francesco and Michele, Vice Presidents, have decided to entrust the running of the company to a management team, headed since November 2020 by CEO Pietro Mattioni, a veteran of the alcoholic beverage industry, and flanked by a front-line of international professionals. "It is with a significant sense of pride and responsibility that I am leading Zonin1821 through one of the most globally complex and uncertain periods. We know we can count on an exemplary mix of winemaking excellence and strategic expertise. In a category that is both fragmented, but also full of opportunities, the challenge is to reinforce the international expansion and seize opportunities by enhancing the Zonin1821 portfolio. All this, with an eye to the next 200 years", explains Pietro Mattioni, CEO of Zonin1821. With a total turnover of 190 million in 2020[2], amounting to a substantial doubling in the last 10 years, and the value of exports reaching 85%, the company is now an international player, active in over 140 countries and employing some 500 people in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Sweden. Over the years, production and distribution have not been limited to the still and sparkling wines sold under the Zonin brand but since the 1970s also reinforced via the acquisition of important estates located in the most representative terroirs in Italian winemaking history, enabling the company to establish itself in the production of the best Italian DOC and DOCG wines. Ca' Bolani in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Castello del Poggio in Piedmont, Tenuta Il Bosco in Lombardy, Rocca di Montemassi and Castello di Albola in Tuscany, Masseria Altemura in Puglia and Principi di Butera in Sicily are the seven estates that extend across the Italian peninsular and, together with the wines produced in Barboursville, Virginia (United States), and in Chile under the Dos Almas brand, complete the picture of a company and a family in constant evolution. Link to the Zonin1821 Media Room: https://www.zonin1821.com/en/media-room-en/zonin200years-en www.zonin1821.com Founded in 1821, Zonin1821 is one of the most important family-owned wineries in Italy and the world. A historic family of winemakers, now in its seventh generation, it produces Prosecco and still wines under the Zonin brand, high-quality wines from its seven estates located in the Italian regions with the greatest vocation for wine production, as well as wines from the Barboursville Vineyards estate in Virginia (USA) and wines from Dos Almas in Chile. The company is based in Gambellara, Veneto, and employs over 500 people. Alessandra Zorzo Alessandra.zorzo@zonin1821.it Ph +39 0444 640288 [1] Annual ranking by turnover by Anna di Martino, Corriere Economia [2] Value of production (Financial Statement 2020). Related Files Zonin1821_MediaKit ENG_200 years.pdf Related Images Image 1: 200th Anniversary Celebration: 1821-2021 Zonin brothers celebrating 200th Anniversary This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Dallas, Texas, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Committed to bringing Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to markets around the globe, Dickeys Barbecue Pit's fast-paced growth momentum has driven the worlds largest barbecue concept to expand its global footprint in the third quarter. In Q3 alone, Dickeys opened 16 locations, 14 of which were domestic and two were international. The Texas-style barbecue brand made its Sao Paulo debut, marking Dickeys first South American restaurant with 110 total planned for Brazil in the coming years. Dickeys also opened its second Tokyo location in Yoyogi. Along with Dickeys Barbecue Pits openings, Dickeys Restaurant Brands increased its virtual footprint across the country with the addition of 23 locations implementing Wing Boss and 11 locations adding Big Deal Burger for delivery only. Additionally, Wing Boss opened its first-ever brick-and-mortar restaurant in Addison, Texas in Q3. Sales were also a highlight with same store sales increasing 5.5% from 2020 and Total Store Sales increasing 7.9% Barbecue fans across the globe are taking note of how delicious Dickeys slow-smoked meats and savory sides are, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Weve been driving incredible growth both in the States and overseas in 2021, and we look forward to finishing this year off just as strong as we started it. To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why they never say bbq. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys has over 550 locations across the United States and five other countries. In 2016, Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, was named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur in 2018 and was named to Hospitality Technology Industry Heroes in 2021. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in 2020 by Nations Restaurant News and was recognized as one of the top 25 industry leaders on Fast Casuals 2020 Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal and QSR Magazine. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. Attachment PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monsoon Blockchain Corporation, an innovative blockchain development company, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Cloud and Autonomic Computing (CAC) to help the CAC in the research work geared towards the economic development of the nation, as well as, to secure the national defense. Monsoon Blockchain provides a comprehensive suite of blockchain development solutions, including the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, NFTs, Crypto currency, AI/ML-based platforms. With over a decade of experience in the blockchain field, the team has the right skill-set and understanding of applying the technology to different industries. This partnership also aims at leveraging the knowledge of Monsoon Blockchain Corporation in researching and developing solutions that can address specific underdeveloped areas in the United States of America. Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Donald G. Basile, Monsoon Blockchain's CEO stated, "The alignment of our company's vision with this scientific institution will further allow us to contribute to the creation and acceleration of technology in the areas of security, cryptography, currency, and related fields. Doing so will greatly accelerate the value for our world, our country, and our shareholders." NSF's Center for Cloud and Autonomic Computing is created to advance industry-driven research and development in the cloud, distributed, and autonomic computing methods and their application to a broad range of needs for industry and government partners. The technical scope of the Center's activities includes design and evaluation methods, algorithms, architectures, software, and mathematical foundations for advanced distributed and automated computing systems. Besides, with the ongoing global pandemic, Blockchain seems to be an ideal option as there is a massive need for distributed, decentralized workforces and businesses that can be trusted without an intermediary. The partnership with Monsoon Blockchain will help the center explore and find new opportunities in the field of blockchain and build solutions that can work for the betterment of the US. "The CAC is a perfect fit for the goals and research we pursue at the Center," said Salim Hariri, Center Director. He added, "We are excited to find an area of collaboration that is so far-reaching and worthy of a partnership between Academic, Government, and Industry funding. We are extremely happy to attract a partner of the caliber of the Monsoon Blockchain Corporation We expect this research to provide the seeds for many research projects that will have a major impact on our national and global economy." Monsoon Blockchain Corporation is the brains behind many existing and emerging market-leading products, including Bitcoin Latinum - which is revolutionizing the crypto industry. Bitcoin Latinum is the next generation, fully insured asset-backed cryptocurrency. Based on the Bitcoin ecosystem, Bitcoin Latinum is greener, faster, more secure, and has the lowest transaction fees, poised to revolutionize digital transactions. Dr. Donald Basile, Monsoon Blockchain Corporation's CEO and founder, is the former CEO of Fusion-IO, a company known for playing a major role in implementing the cloud systems at major financial institutions, and global IT giants. Dr. Basile is also the Co-CEO and Chairman of Roman DBDR, a special purpose acquisition company, which raised $236 million in its initial public offering in November 2020. Roman DBDR announced a merger with CompoSecure, a pioneer in premium payment cards whose clients include some of the world's largest financial institutions. The merger of the two companies will create a combined enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. CompoSecure will soon be releasing its new cryptocurrency cold-storage solution, Arculus, allowing users to safely and securely store and manage their digital assets on a state-of-the-art metal payment card. With the collaboration, NFC's CAC can design and develop innovative solutions to improve different sectors responsible for the growth of the nation's economy. Furthermore, the creation and exploitation of new concepts in engineering will make the country a global leader in research and education. About Monsoon Blockchain Corporation Monsoon Blockchain Corporation is focused on innovative cloud solutions in the blockchain ecosystem. Dr. Donald Basile, its CEO and founder, is the former CEO of Fusion IO, a company known for playing a major role in implementing the cloud systems at Apple and Facebook as well as partnerships with HP, IBM, and Dell. Recently, Monsoon Blockchain added advisory board members Ken Goldman, President of Hillspire (Eric Schmidt's family office), and former CFO of Yahoo and Fortinet and Xiaoma Lu, former Dalian Wanda Investments CEO and former board member of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to their team. For more information on Monsoon Blockchain Corporation, please visit https://monsoonblockchaincorporation.com . For more information about Bitcoin Latinum, please visit https://bitcoinlatinum.com . About National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Cloud and Autonomic Computing The Cloud and Autonomic Computing Center is supported through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) program. The main purpose of the program is to support and develop long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and government. The IUCRC Centers are catalyzed by an investment from the National Science Foundation and their growth and impact are primarily realized through partnerships from industry members including national laboratories and other federal agencies, with NSF taking the supporting role in the development and evolution of the Center. Each Center is established to conduct pre-competitive industry relevant R&D in unique expertise areas for increased industry engagement and support, new business development opportunities, and research capabilities of the Center faculty. Overall, the IUCRC program contributes to the nation's research infrastructure base and enhances the intellectual capacity of the engineering and science workforce through the integration of research and education. As appropriate, an IUCRC uses international collaborations to advance these goals within the global context. For more information about National Science Foundation (NSF)'s CAC, please visit https://iucrc.nsf.gov/centers/cloud-and-autonomic-computing/ . Media contact Company: Monsoon Blockchain Corporation E-mail: wei.ming@monsoonblockchaincorporation.com Website: https://monsoonblockchaincorporation.com/ Address: 2100 Geng Road, Palo Alto, California 94303, USA Telephone: +1 800-528-0985 SOURCE: Monsoon Blockchain Corporation STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rollease Acmeda, a global leader in the window covering industry, has released two new roller shade fabrics, Kleenscreen featuring Sanitized and X-Weave 10% through auxiliary fabric brand Texstyle. The Kleenscreen fabric collection features eight modern colors (Pure White, Barely, Alloy, Canyon, Ash, Raven, Graphite, Black) with three openness factors (1%, 3%, and 5%) in two widths (98" and 118"). Kleenscreen features Sanitized. Sanitized is a unique antimicrobial hygiene function that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew on fabrics. This enhances the performance and life span of your shades. The X-Weave 10% addition is an expansion of the existing X-Weave collection and is available in the same eight colors as the 5% collection. The new collection provides another view through option for greater visiblity (or view through) while still maintaining the same great features the X-Weave has to offer. These solar screen fabrics support a reduction in solar transmission and glare while preserving view through and providing privacy. Both fabrics have NFPA-701 classification, are fragrance-free and have supporting Health Product Declarations and Greenguard and Greenguard Gold certifications. Both fabrics are in stock and available now. Learn more at Texstyle.com. PRESS IMAGE KIT About Rollease Acmeda - Rollease Acmeda innovates, designs and manufactures window covering hardware components and systems, manual and automated, as well as specialty fabrics for use in both commercial and residential applications. Rollease Acmeda is the largest independent engineered component and systems manufacturer and distributor in the window covering industry. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Rollease Acmeda has a global team of over 250 employees and distribution facilities spanning the USA, Australia and Europe, serving thousands of customers in over 40 countries around the world. To learn more about the company, visit rolleaseacmeda.com Media Contact Ciara Sachkowsky Content Marketing Specialist 203-490-6791 ciara.sachkowsky@rolleaseacmeda.com Related Images Image 1: Texstyle Kleenscreen This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Beverly Hills, CA, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landon Eckles and his wife and co-founder, Kat, founded Clean Juice in 2014. Since then, the couple have launched additional brands, from a series of freecoat non-toxic beauty bars to their Be Organic podcast with 130k+ downloads in just over a year. Listen to the complete interview of Landon Eckles with Adam Torres of Mission Matters Business Podcast What mission matters to you? "Our mission is pretty simple," Eckles says. We want to help you discover a healthy lifestyle. We provide a healthy product in a fantastic environment of love, kindness, and friendship for our guests, employees, and vendors across their brands. "Entrepreneurship is essentially risk management, he continues. Take advice from your loved ones and go with your gut. At some point, it's going to work." Clean Juice Clean Juice certified organic restaurants offer a selection of fresh and bottled certified-organic juices and smoothies, as well as a menu of certified-organic salads, wraps, acai bowls, toasts, and sandwiches. Their cold-pressed juice cleanses are hugely popular. Launched in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2015 and initially expanding to three more locations, Clean Juice eventually grew into an award-winning nationwide franchise opportunity. Today, the home office has 30+ people supporting Franchise Partner growth and guiding them through the process of setting up their franchises. The brand currently has 180 stores open and in development in 28 states across the US. My wife and I do it differently, Eckles says. We spend a lot of time getting to know our franchisees to hear their hearts for the business. We decide on who the franchisee is and where their location is going to be. The process is about three to four months. How is Tim Tebow involved? "Tim is a healthy guy, Eckles notes, and as we started to know him more, we thought more of what a business partnership can be. We were blessed to sign a national brand ambassador deal with him over the summer." Tebow, Eckles explains, is an integral part of their brand, from social media posting to a national television commercial featuring him, which ran in August. Now a partner, hes helping them open more stores together, beginning with a location in Jacksonville, Florida. We couldn't have carved a better ambassador for the brand from the faith, philanthropic, health, and wellness perspective, he says. freecoat nails freecoat, a non-toxic beauty bar, was launched by the couple in 2020. Specializing in toxic-free, fume-free, jet-free manicures and pedicures, it also offers a non-toxic waxing service and an infrared sauna. "Our salons are absolutely beautiful. It's a younger concept for us," Eckles says. With five locations already open and more in development, he says theyre excited about the brands future. Be Organic Podcast Eckles launched "Be Organic" about 18 months ago. Recalling its initial stages, he shares, We connected with amazing people in the health and wellness category and there was a lot to talk about. With Be Organic, I want to be looked at as someone whom people can trust when thinking about health and wellness. Be Organic features people who are passionate about health and wellness, and Eckles says his favorite episode so far has been with Tebow. It's been amazing because we dive into him, what he's all about, why he chose to partner with Clean Juice, he says. What's next? Our goal is to keep bringing in excellent partners, finding great real estate, and perfecting the business model, Eckles says. We've got a fantastic home office team, highly sophisticated individuals who are good at knowing how to run clean juices. We want to develop and support them from a marketing perspective. To learn more, get in touch with Landon Eckles on LinkedIn or visit Clean Juices franchising website, visit cleanjuicefranchising.com. Media Communications Inquiries: adamtorres@missionmatters.com Publicist for Adam Torres and Mission Matters Media KISS PR Brand Story PressWire Adam Torres Brand Publicity Partners KissPR.com For more details, visit Kisspr.com. KISS PR Digital PR & Marketing powers the Mission Matters Business podcast with brand storytelling. T: 972.437.8942 Attachment MONTREAL, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has approved Paper as a full-service member of the state's new Vetted Texas Tutoring Corps (VTTC) aimed at accelerating student learning through high-impact tutoring. Paper is TEA-approved to support the implementation of high-impact tutoring and assist districts in meeting the statutory requirements for supplemental accelerated instruction as outlined in House Bill (HB) 4545. "We are honored to support the TEA and Texas legislature's commitment to providing scaled high-impact tutoring to the state," said Philip Cutler, co-founder and CEO of Paper. "Our mission is to help every student reach their potential. With TEAs backing, we can truly deliver on this commitment for K-12 students across Texas. HB 4545, passed in June, mandates that schools give individualized support to students who have failed the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness. For most Texas districts, staffing, cost, and logistical hurdles stand in the way of meeting these statutory requirements. Paper is an equitable solution that allows school districts to swiftly scale 1:1 personalized support to all studentsnot only as a remediation tactic, but as part of a holistic educational program. At a predictable, fixed cost, districts can provide unlimited, 24/7 high-impact tutoring unconstrained by unpredictable demand, time of day, unmanageable costs, or availability of teachers, tutors, or parents. With writing feedback, study support, and homework help in four languages across 200+ subject areas, students always have access to help when, where, and how they need it. The TEA confirmed that Paper meets the research-based criteria for high-impact tutoring. Local education agencies can use local ESSER funding to provide Paper to their students. Paper is available to all school districts in Texas to deliver the high-impact tutoring the state seeks. For more information, visit: paper.co/texas . About Paper: Paper is on a mission to help every student reach their potential by partnering with school districts to provide unlimited, 24/7 high-impact tutoringat no cost to families. By delivering learning help thats accessible regardless of socioeconomic status, scheduling challenges, or extra help stigma, Paper helps level the playing field for all students to excel academically. Tutors deliver on-demand, multilingual academic support across 200+ subjects, so students can always access expert help when, where, & how they need it. Coast to Coast, Paper supports districts such as Orange USD (CA), Highline Public Schools (WA), Hillsborough Schools (FL), Columbus City Schools (OH), Atlanta Public Schools (GA), and Boston Public Schools (MA.) CONTACT: Tony Keller tkeller@outvox.com English French Dutch Rudi Taelemans, Operational CEO of Vastned Belgium, has informed the Board of Directors of the Company that he will resign as operational CEO and member of the Executive Committee at the next General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on 27 April 2022. Full press release: Attachment Santa Cruz, CA, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- F2 Strategy, a WealthTech management consulting firm, today announced the appointment of Andrea Bornstein-Bayer as chief operations officer. A sought-after consultant in the WealthTech and banking sectors for over 25 years, Bornstein-Bayer is F2 Strategys first C-Suite hire and will lead operations to support the firms experienced WealthTech experts in implementing high-tech, research-based solutions for RIA, wealth, bank/trust and family office firms. In her role as COO, Bornstein-Bayer will lead all internal systems, consulting operations, and oversight of the management team through the development of tools and processes that will help optimize and automate the firms efficiency, team cohesion, firm performance, and client wellbeing. She will also lead ongoing recruitment efforts as F2 Strategy expands to meet the industrys growing need for firms to improve their technical capabilities in order to stay commercially relevant and deliver exceptional client and advisor experiences. We are delighted to welcome Andrea to the F2 Team, said Doug Fritz, co-founder and CEO. Our primary difference in the management consulting market is the deep experience of our fast-growing team. We bring unique and valuable perspectives that move our clients forward quickly while lowering the risk of failure Andrea is another example of this. She is the gold standard for WealthTech excellence and we can't wait for our team, and our clients teams, to reap the benefits of her talent. As a sought-after WealthTech strategy consultant, Bornstein-Bayer has led technology and executive teams at some of the worlds leading financial institutions including First Republic Bank and Wells Fargo through the strategy and implementation of advisor- and client-centric technology platforms. She has designed and implemented wealth management technology products for companies such as NorthStar Systems and a private venture, and started her career in WealthTech helping launch pioneering data and analytics solutions at Advent and Wilshire. In addition to her seasoned experience as a technology expert, Bornstein-Bayer has worked as a private wealth advisor for Merrill Lynch and MyCFO. When youre introduced to F2, the first thing that you notice is the people, said Bornstein-Bayer. Each member of the team, from the co-founders to our most recent new hires, is passionate about what they do and excited at the prospect of helping our clients reach their full potential. The future is bright for F2 and I am excited to show the industry what we have in store. The addition of Bornstein-Bayer as COO comes in the midst of significant company-wide growth. Through the recent innovation of F2 Strategys proprietary all-in-one platform, Outsourced CTO (OCTO) a flexible and fully customizable technology implementation solution that provides C-level oversight and management for small- to mid-sized firms the firm recently announced they have doubled their client base to include 53 firms and more than tripled their team of WealthTech experts over the last 12 months. After recently opening their first physical office location in New York City, F2 Strategy has 20 total team members and is actively growing. Not only is Andrea our first C-Suite hire since launching F2 Strategy, she is also a testament to the brilliant talent pool of women in WealthTech today, said Liz Fritz, co-founder and chief commercial officer. With Andreas leadership, our goal is to build teams and processes that enable us to further extend our reach to attract top talent, build a wellness-forward company culture, and streamline our processes to efficiently scale our services to serve more tech-focused clients. We welcome Andrea and are excited for this next chapter. More information about F2s team and core services can be found at www.f2strategy.com. For media inquiries, contact media@f2strategy.com. About F2 Strategy F2 Strategy, creator of Outsourced CTO (OCTO), is a WealthTech management consulting firm helping complex RIA, wealth, bank/trust and family office firms improve their technical capabilities to build exceptional client and advisor experiences. Led by former executives of a wide range of top-rated wealth firms and family offices, F2 Strategy combines their results-driven management strategy with industry-leading, proprietary research to create customized high-tech solutions. A diverse, creative, and people-centric company, F2 Strategy believes the right technology has the power to support, elevate, and empower us all to reach the highest level of fulfillment. F2 Strategy was founded in 2016 in San Francisco, currently has 20 full-time employees, and works with firms representing $1.6 trillion in AUM. ### Attachment PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The administrators of online stores across the country are faced with a unique challenge: building growth sustainably and following a cost-effective strategy. Some of the most effective online marketing strategies, such as pay-per-click advertising, social media management, and content marketing, are either cost-inhibitive or too resource-intensive to properly implement and manage. For businesses facing issues with human capital, resource allocation or budgeting, eCommerce SEO may be the solution. SEO, or search engine optimization, is a collection of initiatives that can be implemented, both on a website and off it, in order to make it more appealing to search engines and users. Search engines rank websites according to a series of criteria known as ranking signals. Many of these ranking signals are features of the actual website itself and are tied to its data and website design. Others have to do with the number, type, and quality of links on the website and pointing to it from other websites. Together, these ranking signals converge to create what some industry professionals call an "SEO score" that helps a website rank more effectively for keywords and search terms its customers are searching. Two of the biggest reasons that eCommerce SEO is so effective for online growth are that SEO efforts compound on themselves as they build slowly over time and that SEO attracts organic traffic. This means that SEO results in more customers finding an eCommerce business naturally, as opposed to through sponsored or paid advertising. Because SEO strategies can be so effective at generating greater organic traffic for eCommerce sites, it's highly valuable to work with the best eCommerce SEO expert in your industry. For many eCommerce businesses, the best SEO expert that money can buy is 1Digital Agency. Since 2012, 1Digital Agency has been one of the top SEO agencies serving eCommerce merchants across the United States and the world. The company's unique, customized strategies have been instrumental in generating stellar gains in brand awareness and organic growth for clients in a wide range of industries. Another unique feature that distinguishes 1Digital Agency as one of the best eCommerce SEO experts in the field is the fact that it offers so many services in addition to eCommerce SEO services. In addition to serving as a search engine optimization company, 1Digital Agency has perfected a wide range of other eCommerce marketing strategies, including but not limited to social media management, PPC management services, and email marketing. As a full-service eCommerce agency , 1Digital Agency also provides migration, website design and development, and support services to eCommerce websites as well. Online merchants looking to choose this top SEO agency should reach out to 1Digital Agency directly. Visit 1DigitalAgency.com, call 888-982-8269 or email info@1DigitalAgency.com . Related Images Image 1: Partner with the top SEO agency for long-term success Choosing the best eCommerce SEO experts in the field is tantamount to sustained organic growth in your industry. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment AMSTERDAM and NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TomTom ( TOM2 ), the mapmaker and location technology specialist, and Precisely, the global leader in data integrity, today announced an extension of their long-term partnership. TomTom will continue to provide highly-reliable map and traffic data for location intelligence solutions to empower Preciselys clients to make better informed and strategic business decisions. Precisely incorporates TomToms data into its full suite of location and enrichment products including global geocoding, address fabric and a vast array of property enrichment data. These products are used by top insurance, telecommunications, retail and financial companies that rely on highly accurate data to make critical business decisions. For example, the data enables customers in the retail industry to analyze site locations, build location-based customer profiles and evaluate competitor locations. Likewise, Precisely clients in the insurance space benefit from TomToms integrated data by improving underwriting accuracy, managing claims more efficiently and developing highly accurate risk models. Weve entrusted TomTom for over 20 years and their data and coverage continue to grow and so do the possibilities for us to innovate our products, says Dan Adams, VP of Data at Precisely. The evolution in the way that TomTom collects and validates its data is great for us. Fresh, trusted data is core to Preciselys data integrity suite, and were delighted to see TomToms data continue to improve in quality, content and coverage, he adds. The partnership has proven to be mutually beneficial as the two companies offer each other insightful data that ultimately results in better products. Precisely provides valuable feedback to TomTom regarding its map data. These insights, such as road changes, are advantageous for all of TomToms customers. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Precisely for many years to come. They are a global leader in data integrity and were proud that they continue to trust TomToms fresh map and traffic information to keep their own products extremely accurate, said Andrea Stucchi, VP of Sales at TomTom Enterprise. The two companies will continue to explore new initiatives that capitalize on each companys core competencies to bring enhanced existing and new products to market. About TomTom: At TomTom were mapmakers, providing geolocation technology for drivers, carmakers, enterprises and developers. Our highly accurate maps, navigation software, real-time traffic information and APIs enable smart mobility on a global scale, making the roads safer, the drive easier and the air cleaner. Headquartered in Amsterdam with offices in 30 countries, TomToms technologies are trusted by hundreds of millions of drivers, businesses and governments worldwide. www.tomtom.com About Precisely: Precisely is the global leader in data integrity, providing accuracy and consistency in data for 12,000 customers in more than 100 countries, including 97 of the Fortune 100. Preciselys data integration, data quality, data governance, location intelligence, and data enrichment products power better business decisions to create better outcomes. Learn more at www.precisely.com. For further Information: TomTom PR: tomtom.pr@tomtom.com TomTom Investor Relations: ir@tomtom.com Precisely PR: press@precisely.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2868a012-1cd1-4446-b4e9-8ac5affa2aab The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress. ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Petrolern LLC announces that it has been chosen by Ecopetrol for consultancy services to identify targets for utilization of geothermal power in selected basins in Colombia. Ecopetrol will receive from Petrolern extensive technical support for resource assessment and identification of areas with greater geothermal potential in addition to training/mentorship to their personnel, and appropriate methodology to apply, such as geophysical methods, subsurface data integration and modeling, geothermal resource evaluation, geomechanics, energy generation estimation, and selecting drill sites. Ecopetrol has also engaged with Petrolern for a peer review of earlier work. This announcement represents the culmination of months of discussion on the unique capabilities of Petrolern, based on 150 years of cumulative geothermal expertise globally, and on the desire of Ecopetrol to build a true partnership and process that will bring their staff and leaders efficiently and effectively up the geothermal learning curve. Petrolern CEO, Hamed Soroush, remarks, "We are tremendously proud that Ecopetrol has selected our company to assist them with their geothermal resource assessment, maturation and power generation. Our goal is to enable the oil company to make optimal resource decisions and to ensure that we work together with them as a true team, imparting our knowledge to their staff. At Petrolern, knowledge transfer to clients is an essential part of our technical services." Geothermal energy has the potential to supply more energy than the global total of oil and natural gas combined. It is renewable, stable, and has a minimal carbon footprint. Geothermal power plants can produce electricity consistently, constantly, and without regard to weather conditions. The power output of a geothermal power plant can be accurately predicted, and the actual power output is very close to total installed capacity. Yet, current global geothermal energy use comprises only 1% of energy production. Petrolern is working to provide cost-effective solutions, including repurposing aging oil wells to geothermal, and designing hybrid solar-geothermal and wind-geothermal "synthetic geothermal reservoirs" to significantly increase geothermal electricity and heat usage worldwide. Further information is available at info@petrolern.com About Petrolern: Petrolern LLC is a leading-edge technology company working on subsurface solutions for carbon storage, geothermal energy and cleaner oil and gas. Petrolern conducts cutting-edge R&D to improve safety and reduce the environmental footprint of subsurface operations. Our green energy initiative begins with making the oil and gas industry greener by providing energy transition solutions. Petrolern's core competencies include advanced geomechanics, fluid mechanics, subsurface engineering, applied artificial intelligence, visualization, edge computing, and software development. The company applies these skills to optimize drilling, completions, stimulation, and production plus providing high-resolution subsurface monitoring. www.petrolern.com Related Images Image 1: Geothermal in Colombia This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE: SLQT) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. Class Period: May 20, 2020 Aug. 25, 2021 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 15, 2021 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SLQT Contact An Attorney Now: SLQT@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 SelectQuote, Inc. (SLQT) Securities Fraud Class Action: SelectQuote is a direct-to-consumer distribution platform that offers complex senior health, life, and auto & home insurance policies from a curated panel of insurance carriers. A significant majority of the policies SelectQuote sells are Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement policies, which are grouped by their effective date into yearly cohorts. The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the rapid policy disenrollment it had been experiencing, and as a result the Company's reported revenues, earnings, accounts receivable, and lifetime value of commissions per approved policy were improperly inflated. The truth emerged through a series of partial disclosures beginning on May 11, 2021, when SelectQuote disclosed its Q4 2020 financial reports would be impacted by a negative cohort and tail adjustments, which management attributed to the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) and increased switching activity. Then, on Aug. 25, 2021, SelectQuote revealed that lack of policy renewals affected both the 2019 and 2020 cohorts, and it would include a $65 million placeholder for the risk of additional cohort tail adjustment for the following year. These events sent the price of SelectQuote shares crashing lower. If you invested in SelectQuote and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding SelectQuote should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SLQT@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw . TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Toronto Feral Cat Coalition is celebrating this years Feral Cat Awareness Day with an event at the Feral Cat Recovery Centre to highlight the services Coalition members offer to the public to assist with sterilization and care of homeless cats. Toronto has garnered much attention over the last 10 years for its exemplary model of a community coalition working together with a strategic approach to reduce homeless cat populations and prevent overcrowding in shelters. Toronto residents concerned about homeless cats in their neighbourhood are empowered with the tools to help improve the lives of these cats with the training and services the Coalition offers including free sterilization and vaccinations. In celebration of this years Feral Cat Awareness Day Volunteers with Annex Cat Rescue will be doing a mass trapping and community awareness event in a targeted neighbourhood in West Toronto. Volunteers with Toronto Cat Rescue will be assisting with the pre-op and post-op care for the cats at the Feral Cat Recovery Centre Staff with Toronto Animal Services will be sterilizing these colony cats on site at the recovery center in their mobile SNYP truck. The Ontario SPCA will be onsite demonstrating how to build feral cat shelters to keep colony cats warm throughout the winter. Toronto Street Cats and Toronto Humane Society will be holding a food distribution event for colony caretakers Community Cats Toronto will talk about key issues with feral cat management and demonstrate trapping The event will be held at the Feral Cat Recovery Centre, 705 Progress Ave, from 10am-2pm. Site visits will allow the media to see us in action: sterilizing a colony of cats on our mobile spay/neuter truck, touring the Feral Cat Recovery Centre, viewing demonstrations on trapping and shelter building. This is a great opportunity to see Torontos animal welfare organizations working together to save and improve the lives of homeless cats in our city. Our aim is to promote awareness of these services to the public. We would be grateful for media coverage to spread the word. For more information contact: Dr. Esther Attard, Director, Toronto Animal Services eattard@toronto.ca Dr. Johanna Booth, Veterinarian, Toronto Animal Services jbooth@toronto.ca 647.462.1791 FARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris, Corizon Healths Western Region Medical Director, has been recognized as a distinguished leader by Miss Porters School, a prestigious New England boarding school. The school will name its new student center, opening early 2022, as the Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris Student Center. Dr. Newell Harris, of Oakland, California, is a 1971 graduate of Miss Porters School in Farmington, Connecticut and was the first Black student to attend the school. Dr. Newell-Harris is an internal medicine physician who is also an author, speaker and health care consultant in addition to her leadership position at Corizon Health. She is the recipient of numerous personal and professional accolades, including the National Medical Associations highest honor, the Scroll of Merit, in 2014. In 2019, Newell-Harris was named a Bay Area Champion of Health by National Medical Fellowships. Its a most incredible honor, Dr. Newell-Harris said of the naming. To have this happen while I have children who can appreciate this, Im not even sure that words can adequately express the emotion thats attached to this honor. Corizon CEO, James Hyman, said, Were so proud that our Corizon team-members demonstrate sustained leadership across their communities and are publicly recognized for their commitment and impact. Miss Porters School is a college preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9 through 12. It offers a dynamic, rigorous approach to education that prepares young women to become informed, bold, resourceful and ethical global citizens. Other notable graduates of Miss Porters School are Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Gloria Vanderbilt and Lilly Pulitzer. About Corizon Health Corizon Health, based in Brentwood, TN, is a leading provider of correctional healthcare services in the United States, providing quality healthcare services to states, counties and municipalities across the country for more than 40 years. Corizon offers comprehensive solutions for medical care, behavioral care, pharmaceutical and re-entry services. For more information, please visit www.corizonhealth.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Corporate Communications media@corizonhealth.com 858-729-3303 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ee6c630-0ea2-4aeb-91ea-3793548f878f NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, has provided a total of $57,341,000 in Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS) loans to refinance two affordable housing properties in New York Citys Bronx and Brooklyn boroughs. The financing was originated by Eric Rosenstock and Jeff Englund of Greystone on behalf of Metropolitan Realty Group, LLC. The first loan, a $45 million fixed-rate, multifamily affordable housing (MAH) loan, carries a 10-year term and 30-year amortization, with two years of interest-only payments. Loan proceeds are being used to refinance the existing debt on a 330-unit Section 8 property in The Bronx. Constructed in 1931, West Farms Estates is a gated property, consisting of three mid-rise elevator buildings with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as on-site security, leasing office, courtyard area and an on-site grocery store. The second fixed-rate Fannie Mae MAH loan, $12,341,000 for a 65-unit property in Brooklyn, carries a 12-year term with a 30-year amortization and two years of interest-only payments. Fulton Street South is a single seven-story Section 8 property constructed in 1985 with one- and two-bedroom units. Greystone is passionate about financing transactions that enable our clients to preserve and enhance quality affordable housing in New York City and across the nation, said Mr. Rosenstock. Access to affordable housing is critical for so many, and Greystone remains unequivocally committed to facilitating transactions that support this vitally important housing over the long-term. Greystones expertise across a range of affordable housing finance options has been essential to our business, said property owner Mr. Scott Jaffee of Metropolitan Realty Group, LLC. Their knowledge in the market is unparalleled, and we are thrilled with the outcome of these deal in order to preserve affordable housing in NYC. About Greystone Greystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Company LLC, Greystone Funding Company LLC and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greystone.com. PRESS CONTACT: Karen Marotta Greystone 212-896-9149 Karen.Marotta@greyco.com SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PAC Machinery, a leader in the flexible packaging industry reports that it had one of its most highly attended exhibits at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the largest show for the packaging industry, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. This was the first industry show since the outbreak of Covid-19 halted in-person expos. PMMI says over 23,000 attendees, eager to find solutions to current challenges, engaged with over 1,500 exhibitors across four expansive halls in over 740,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center September 27-29th. PAC Machinery ranked in the top 10 most visited exhibitor profiles pre-show on the EXPO website and spoke with hundreds of people throughout the three-day show. PAC Machinery showcased one of the most comprehensive ranges of equipment, including shrink and flow wrappers, vacuum sealers, automatic baggers, bag sealers and medical sealers, as well as debuting new sustainable packaging solutions. Our team met in person with hundreds of packaging automation prospects as well as quite a few existing customers from North America and abroad, including smaller owner/operator businesses as well as large Fortune 100 companies, said Greg Berguig, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at PAC Machinery. We also met quite a few new distributors on the hunt for different types of packaging automation as well as our current distributors looking to expand opportunities with us, Berguig said. PAC Machinery customer, Paul Webb of Total Comm Inc. was looking for additional packaging machines at the show. With PAC Machinery, we drastically increased our capability and output and are able to keep up with sales demand for our products while we grow, Webb said. We have immediate needs for additional packaging equipment and love all the options PAC Machinery offers with a diverse product portfolio. It has been great working with them and we look forward to buying more machines, Webb said. Other expo goers stopping at the PAC Machinery booth included a number of companies from the food industry looking for shrink wrapping bottles of olive oil, wrapping boxes of chocolate, flow wrapping produce, modified atmosphere packaging bags of dehydrated fruits and vegetables, and nitrogen flushing bags of coffee. Industrial customers looking for poly bagging fasteners at high speed. Office supply companies looking to shrink wrap packs of paper and pens. Many from the logistics & fulfillment industry looking to speed up the process of labeling and packing items into poly mailers. Visitors with a desire to make a switch to recycled material as well as curbside recyclable paper, poly bagging and labeling items for spill containment in suffocation warning bags. One of the largest groups was looking for high speed wrapping and labeling of apparel for shipment in e-commerce and repackaging solutions. Other big markets included aerospace, medical packaging, firearms and ammunition, and vacuum sealers for the Cannabis industry. A huge draw for the booth was the exciting in-person debut of the 6800CS-XL Fulfillment Wrapper paired with an industrial automation robot from the OSARO robotics company. The piece-picking solution seamlessly integrates with the 6800CS-XL Fulfillment Wrapper, from picking to packing. The 6800CS-XL Fulfillment Wrapper was also entered for a 2021 Pack Expo Technology Award as it is now the fastest all-electric poly mailer bagging system on the market, with high speed bag forming, labeling, and sealing in poly mailers up to 24 wide, for outbound shipping. The 6800CS-XL Fulfillment Wrapper is up to 10x faster than hand packing in poly mailers and 3x faster than automatic bagging systems that use pre-opened bags. Booth visitors were excited to be the first to get a sneak peak at a curbside recyclable paper mailer packaging system. This system, which will be officially released in 2022, allows shippers to automate their packaging process with a curbside recyclable bag material. PAC Machinery also introduced its Recylene 9020 blend of poly mailers, made with over 90% recycled content (20% ocean-bound plastic, 20% consumer, 50% industrial). PAC also participated in the PACK TO THE FUTURE exhibit, a historical look at packaging technological advancements throughout the years. PAC Machinery displayed the Audion Sealmaster, one of the first impulse heat sealers developed in Europe by Berguigs grandfather in the 1950s. For a full review of machines that were on display click here: About PAC Machinery As a leader in the flexible packaging industry for over 50 years, PAC Machinery is a trusted partner for businesses desiring more from their packaging capabilities. From global companies, pharmaceutical and medical industry manufacturers to online retailers, PAC Machinery can transform packaging operations with customized systems that immediately improve ROI with versatile poly bagging, shrink wrapping, bag sealing and flow wrapping systems. PACs solutions increase productivity through automation, reduce failure rates with superior package integrity, minimize package volume to save shipping costs, and extend product shelf life for maximum freshness. With better choices and more experience, PAC Machinery creates the ideal solution for any packaging equipment need. PAC Machinerys globally recognized brands known for long-lasting, flexible packaging equipment include: Packaging Aids, Vertrod, Clamco, Rollbag, and Converting Technology. Headquartered in San Rafael, California with additional manufacturing facilities in Berea, OH. and Milwaukee, WI. Contact PAC Machinery at 25 Tiburon Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. 1 (800) 985-9570. http://www.pacmachinery.com Media contact: Shannon Winans Marketing Director PAC Machinery 1 (800) 985-9570 x261 Shannonw@pacmachinery.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fc31be8-9ba0-4db9-8ea6-9f62f7d28af1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d68d4b42-b685-468f-9cfa-34799abaf9ae https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a577ba7a-6278-4506-a61a-315d1ec21380 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48e52065-c98e-4ac9-8ada-b771c128c8ee A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca7ac27d-0325-4913-a914-3f8e2e58ebfb Taipei City, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Maxpro Capital Acquisition Corp. (the Company), a Taiwan based SPAC, today announced the closing of its initial public offering (the Offering) of 9,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant. The underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full for an additional 1,350,000 units at the time of the closing of the Offering. As a result, the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering, including the over-allotment, is approximately $103.5 million, prior to deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and other Offering expenses. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While the Company may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry, it intends to focus on industries that complement its management teams background and to capitalize on the ability of the management team to identify and acquire a business where the management team has extensive experience. Sectors the Company plans on exploring include, but are not limited to, the healthcare and technology industries, specifically within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. The Company is sponsored by an affiliate of Maxpro Ventures Ltd., a respected Taiwan based venture capital firm specialized in the healthcare industry. EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, acted as sole book running manager for the offering. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments LLC, Attn: Syndicate Department, 590 Madison Ave., 39th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by telephone at (212) 404-7002, by fax at (646) 861-4697, or by email at syndicate@efhuttongroup.com. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Contact Maxpro Capital Acquisition Corp. 5/F-4, No. 89 Songren Road, Xinyi District Taipei City 11073 Attn: Moses Chen Chief Executive Officer m.chen@maxproventures.com +886 2 7713 7952 Washington, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today the launch of a new Womens Business Center (WBC) in Tulsa, OK that will be operated by the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., in partnership with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce the oldest economic chamber serving the African American community in the country. Based in historic Greenwood, the new center will help increase opportunities and recovery solutions for women entrepreneurs, especially Black women small business owners, throughout the Metro-Tulsa area. "Each new Womens Business Center that we open holds the promise of the many rising entrepreneurs who will use its services to start their businesses, build their networks and find the tools and resources they need to grow and thrive," said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. This year, as we mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre and recognize the powerful role that Tulsas Greenwood District plays in our nations reckoning with racism, Im proud that the SBAs Office of Womens Business Ownership is planting this seed of entrepreneurial opportunity so that a new generation of women business owners can build back better. Our dedicated SBA team stands ready to help women entrepreneurs across the region build equity and prosperity for themselves, their families, their communities, and our nation. The opening of a Womens Business Center in Tulsas Greenwood neighborhood will be historic for Oklahoma and for our nation, and we look forward to supporting the local small business ecosystem by providing the resources needed for women entrepreneurs in Greenwood to grow and expand, said Natalie Madeira Cofield, Assistant Administrator, SBA Office of Womens Business Ownership . The new WBC also builds on the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to increase equity for all Americans through access to the SBAs vast network of resources and opportunities. In 1921, a thriving Black community in Tulsas Greenwood district, referred to as Black Wall Street, was decimated in a violent, racist attack -- approximately 300 Black Americans were killed, and thousands of homes and businesses destroyed. In June, President Biden visited Tulsa to visit communities that have been left behind by failed policies and announce new steps to help narrow the racial wealth gap -- including a commitment to use the federal governments purchasing power to grow federal contracting with small disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent, translating to an additional $100 billion over five years. This will help more Americans, including those in the Greenwood district, achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. The new Tulsa WBC will become the SBAs 138th Womens Small Business Center to offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startup, financial management, marketing, and procurement. ### About the SBA Office of Womens Business Ownership Since it was established in response to an Executive Order in 1979, the Office of Womens Business Ownerships (OWBO) mission is to empower women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and support. To learn more about SBAs programs and services for women entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/women. To find other WBC locations and additional SBA resources, visit www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance. About the U.S. Small Business Administration Palm City - Margaret Jan Crandall passed away at home on November 14. Her daughter Martha and her husband Robert were at her side. Jan Crandall, nee Schmults, was born on June 2, 1935, in Barrington, Rhode Island. During WWII, the family lived in Newport where her father, Ernest, worked at t Waukesha, WI (53187) Today Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 19F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 19F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Goshen, IN (46526) Today Snow showers will become more widely scattered overnight. Low 29F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%.. Tonight Snow showers will become more widely scattered overnight. Low 29F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Turkey has shown two years in a row that it is capable of organising a great Grand Prix, but does the Intercity Istanbul Park deserve a permanent place on the Formula 1 calendar? Racing in Turkey The circuit in Istanbul has been loved by teams, drivers and fans for years. The circuit designed by Hermann Tilke has fast corners, slow corners and long straights, but it has some unique features. The long straights are of course the highlight of the track. In 2005 the Formula 1 came here for the first time and from 2005 till 2011 seven races were organised at the unique circuit. Especially the drivers and fans were happy here, because the races were always fun to watch and the track itself is great to race on. We hear that again now since the GP returned as an alternate in 2020 and 2021. The Intercity Istanbul Park is a real circuit with gravel traps and not the long runoffs. The height differences also make the circuit a challenge for the drivers. Where the drivers and fans love the circuit, this is not always the case for the top of Formula 1. Financial problems In 2012 Bernie Ecclestone pulled the plug on the Turkish Grand Prix. He said that the organisation was not able to generate enough revenue from the event. The Turkish organization in turn said that Ecclestone simply asked for too much money. The question is if Turkey has solved these problems in the meantime. As an interim solution, the Turkish Grand Prix was now used in 2020 and 2021, but it is uncertain if the race will also be on the calendar in 2022. Despite Liberty Media looking at history a little more than Ecclestone did in the past, the American management will also have to plug financial holes left by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more Masi explains why Perez received no penalty for his fight with Hamilton F1 calendar of 2022 Yet in recent years we have seen Liberty take a different approach than Ecclestone. Where the Brit chose for huge entry fees for the organisers, Liberty chooses for more races. This way they try to get more money, but there is also room for historical races like the ones in the Netherlands to exist. The Formula 1 calendar will be presented in the near future and So far Turkey doesn't seem to be a candidate to host a race. In 2022 Miami is the extra race that will appear on the calendar and otherwise, no races will disappear compared to 2021. So Turkey only seems to have a chance if another race disappears. Let us know in the poll and comments if you think Turkey should be on the calendar in 2022. Valtteri Bottas put himself back on the map with a win in Turkey, but Peter Windsor argues that the Finn has little reason to celebrate. Bottas has himself to blame for losing his seat. Bottas wins another race With his first victory in his pocket during the 2021 season, Bottas will end his period with Mercedes with at least one victory. The Finn will draw a lot of confidence from this, but in a NEW VIDEO Windsor explains what he believes is the reason for Bottas losing his seat. ''When he was in his Williams days and early Mercedes days, he was very self-critical and learning and improving on areas that weren't working as well as the other driver in the other car. Over the last five years, he hasn't been doing that. He works on many other things. In the simulator, fitness and that, but he hasn't been doing is working on things like the rate of which he comes out of the brake pedal for example," Peter Windsor lists a number of examples. Read more De Vries and colleagues heard: Formula E changes qualifying format On to Alfa Romeo ''All those things that Lewis (Hamilton) does so well and that you can't learn on a simulator. He hasn't been doing that. I think that's also another reason Bottas has struggled against Lewis and as a result, has lost his drive. ''He will now think 'I've shown them I'm as good as anyone in difficult conditions, but he will also think 'I've lost the seat'. Not a great feeling. Of course, he will be positive to work for Alfa Romeo, but it is a shame when you see how well he drove for Mercedes this weekend, that he isn't staying with Mercedes," Windsor concludes. Yes, I rarely travel over the bridge anyway Yes, I've sought an alternative route Yes, it hasn't been bad whenever I travel over the bridge No, I've been stuck in traffic way too much No, it's sometimes OK and sometimes not I use Harbor Transit I never leave my home Vote View Results Amprius Technologies, a producer of 100% silicon anodes for Li-ion batteries (earlier post), announced a contract award with the US Armys Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The contract, an 18-month rapid prototyping effort, includes the design, development, and validation of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries to be used in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) applications such as drone systems used by the US Army. With the surge of increasingly hostile and lethal battlefields, new technologiesincluding reconnaissance dronesare being deployed on a regular basis to help ensure safety. To be effective, the drones must be lightweight enough to be easily carried onto the field and provide enough flight time to complete mission objectives. This is nearly impossible with conventional batteries that are both heavy and offer limited flight time capabilities. Amprius proven superiority in specific energy and energy density with Si-Nanowire allows us to enable unprecedented performance in drones, effectively doubling the operational endurance of UAS. Ionel Stefan, Chief Technology Officer of Amprius Technologies Using Amprius Silicon Nanowire technology, US military forces will be enabled with nearly 100% increased battery performance, doubling the run-time for all mobile-powered devices. The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Offices mission is to rapidly and efficiently research, develop, prototype, test, evaluate, procure, transition, and/or field critical enabling technologies and capabilities that address near-term and mid-term threats. The Office will produce or acquire materiel solutions consistent with the Armys modernization priorities that maximize soldiers capabilities to deploy, fight, and win on future battlefields. Amprius is the only company to offer a 100% silicon anode Li-Ion battery commercially. Providing the highest energy density and specific energy in commercially available cells, Amprius Si-Nanowire platform will be used in UAS, UAM, and eVTOL applications globally. Based on an Armstrong & Associates market study, Amprius estimates the total battery market for UAS to be more than $10 billion and increasing to more than $30 billion by 2024. In 2007, Stanford University researchers discovered that silicon nanowires tolerated swelling and resisted crackingwell known problems with silicon anode materials. Amprius perfected this technology; its 100% silicon nanowire anode is a direct replacement for graphite anodes. The rest of the battery components and manufacturing methods leverage the established global supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. The silicon nanowires are connected directly to the substrate with no binders, meaning that there is nothing to block the flow of current. Ballard Power Systems will supply eight of its 70 kW FCmove-HD fuel cell modules to Talgo S.A.a leader in the design, manufacture, and maintenance of high-speed light-rail trains, headquartered in Madrid, Spainfor trials of its Talgo Vittal-One commuter and regional passenger train. Talgo plans to conduct its demonstration in early 2022 in Spain, with expected commercialization in 2023. Green hydrogen is no longer the future, it is a reality. The implementation of hydrogen trains, such as the one Talgo is developing, will improve mobility and have a positive impact on the environment by replacing diesel technology. It will allow us to make the most of the non-electrified railways in many countries, while reducing the carbon footprint. The announcement earlier this year of EU policies to accelerate decarbonization further validate this key step in early adoption of hydrogen trains in order to achieve these greenhouse gas reduction goals. Emilio Garcia, Talgo Innovation Director The modular system being designed by Talgo is intended for installation on all types of passenger trains, as well as in upgrades or retrofits from diesel to hydrogen power. The system utilizes hydrogen and fuel cells for propulsion, complemented by batteries that assist the train from a standing start and take advantage of the braking system for recharging. Unlike the extended battery systems in the automotive industry, hydrogen technology is the logical answer to the needs of heavy transport and, in particular, of those railway lines that do not have catenary electrification systems, and which today depend on trains powered by diesel engines, Talgo says. The hydrogen system designed by Talgo enables conventional network lines to be electrified without the need for costly and lengthy adaptation operations, and without the use of fossil fuels. Talgos Vittal train is designed to provide medium-speed and high-frequency services on Suburban and Regional lines. The Vittal-One is the hydrogen version (so named in reference to the place of hydrogen in the periodic table). In July 2021, Talgo and Repsol announced they would promote renewable hydrogen-powered trains; Repsol, currently the leading hydrogen producer in Spain, will use its logistics infrastructure to supply renewable hydrogen to the railway network. Janet Medcalf is a former president of the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society and is currently manager of the Greeneville-Greene County Animal Shelter. The writer is editor of National Review and a political commentator. Copyright 2021, by King Features Syndicate. Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. Do you still feel the thorn of wanting to celebrate that you are already vaccinated? You better think about it. Read on and weigh what is most important so as not to affect the effectiveness of your vaccine. Drinking alcohol after applying your dose can enhance its side effects, for example, dizziness, fever, nausea and headaches . Therefore, the intake of alcoholic beverages is not recommended, according to Dr. Rosa Maria Wong , specialist at the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory of the UNAM Faculty of Medicine. The doctor commented to UNAM Global that "it is recommended not to take in 72 hours, which is the period in which immunizations cause some side effect and alcohol can enhance them ." However, the scientific community extends this period to 21 days or three weeks after its application. In studies prior to other vaccines, excessive alcohol consumption was found to impair the immune response and increase susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections. Split stances Even so, opinions are divided regarding its consumption and its relation to the effectiveness with the vaccine. Even the doctor herself, Rosa Maria Wong, points out that one or two drinks is okay. At the beginning of the application of the biological Sputnik V In Russia, a warning was issued not to consume alcohol, this because the population of that country is one of the most ingesting this type of drink in the world and in excess it can interfere with the immune response. Similarly, Angela Hewlett , associate professor of infectious diseases, who leads the team for infectious disease Covid-19 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, supports this hypothesis and says that moderate consumption has no impact on cells. immune. "I think having a celebratory drink in moderation is fine," he explained to The New York Times . On the other hand, Dr. Ronx Ikharia, specialist in emergency medicine, explains in the BBC documentary ' The truth about strengthening your immune system' , it is not advisable to drink alcohol before or after receiving a vaccine. She did an experiment on herself. He took a blood sample before and after drinking three glasses of wine, to see how alcohol affected his immune system. The result? After analyzing both samples, he was able to verify that the alcohol he had consumed was enough to halve his levels of white lymphocytes in the blood, those responsible for defending the body from external pathogens. What do the Mexican authorities say? When the young people of northern Mexico began to receive their vaccine, Alonso Perez Rico, Baja California Secretary of Health, asked the population not to go to be immunized with a hangover. "If they are 'raw' do not get vaccinated, because they will have greater side effects," said the official. In addition, he explained that it is possible to drink after the application but that it is not recommended either because side effects may appear that are going to be confused with the effects of alcohol. Also, those who had already received their vaccine in the Mexican Republic were advised that they could not take it for a week. This time varied depending on the health professional who applied it and gave the explanation. So can I drink alcohol or not? In summary, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol before or after receiving your COVID-19 dose as it can reduce its effectiveness. Sheena Cruishank , professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Manchester, advises avoiding drinking as the immune system needs to work at its best to have a good response to the vaccine, so it is not recommended to drink alcohol the night before or after , He comments to the British newspaper The Mirror . It is a personal decision, but better to abstain from drinking for a while than to compromise your immunization. It may interest you: How effective are the Sputnik and Sinovac vaccines? Recommendations for the application of your vaccine Go to the appointment for breakfast If you feel a headache or fever, take only paracetamol Rest and hydrate properly. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved I saw her last week; it was so sad. She was trying to arrange an autumnal display in front of her house, hefting her anomalous girth amid potted mums and dwarf fothergilla. And as Lululemon-clad, cheerfully chatting, impossibly thin women passed by, there seemed to be a thick tire-like layer of flesh that prevented her from bending over, such that she had to adjust her lower midriff manually by sort of pushing it aside. The saddest part was this woman seemed completely unaware of her weight gain. She was blithely clad in yoga pants at least two sizes too small that showed off every bulge, along with one of those kaftans that is supposed to hide upper body weight only this one was skintight and with buttons popping at the chest. She looked Gwyneth Paltrow in Shallow Hal, (a wonderful film until you realize Gwyneth is in a fat suit). This woman was me. And while I have all the sympathy in the world for us bigger-boned ladies, I just found out that I somehow gained eight pounds while on a recent five-day trip to England. Eight pounds. I didnt know that was possible. And lest anyone think I am being fatist, I challenge anyone to do the same. You cant be fatist if you are fat, my husband, Ian, pointed out helpfully. I had been in England for a memorial, and so clearly my weight gain was an expression of grief. Plus my love for clotted cream. And English Lager. And bangers and mash. To make matters worse, the memorial was a joyous occasion, celebrating a life well-lived. So although we will miss our dearly departed, it was actually a whole lot of fun. Which means I was fun eating, something they incarcerate you for in these parts. But why the fattest woman in Greenwich? Ian asked. Thats kind of obnoxious. Allow me to explain. BC (Before COVID, keep up people) a well-known producer contacted me about making this weekly column into a TV series. Dont get your hopes up, he told me. Its Hollywood. Following his advice, I immediately rearranged our mantel to best display an Emmy as well as a spot for an eventual Oscar, both of which need to be placed strategically for the maximum affect. (Emma Thompson once said that she planned to nail her Oscar to the front step on her entryway so she could say mind the Oscar anytime someone entered her home. That was far too obvious a solution for me, however.) Several excruciating weeks later, this producer called to let me know that they couldnt take this home, that there was a comp that had been syndicated and was lining up several seasons. What? I said, looking at my mantel. Yeah, he said sadly. Its called The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport. But I can be the FIRST FATTEST, I blurted out. Plus its Greenwich, not Westport. The producer asked me if I was kidding, at which point I knew it was over. The Second Fattest Woman in Westport premiered in the fall of 2016, and my column started in spring of 2017. The logline for the show was A family comedy narrated by Katie, a strong-willed mother, raising her flawed family in a wealthy town. The logline for my column was A random woman came into The Greenwich Time offices and said she could write, lets see if this works. She got there first, Claire, the producer said, flatly. Its just that simple. By 2021, the show was in its fifth season and set to syndicate in 85 percent of the country. It was also renamed The American Housewife, because The Second Fattest Woman in Westport proved problematic. Un-HUN, Ian quipped. Considering my current conundrum, this columns title should be Greenwich woman gains eight pounds in less than a week, according to him. But the truth is, ever since the pandemic, our entire family has put on a significant amount of weight. Actually, thats not entirely true; the first few months we were taking family walks, exercising at our leisure and eating healthy homemade meals. But as the months wore on, we started drinking heavily and eating industrial-size cartons of Fruit Roll-Ups and Go-Gurts with wild abandon. Like everyone else, I started making bread, the kids got in on the action and now my 10-year-old is openly referred to as the linebacker and I have a tire permanently attached to my midriff. The only one in our family who hasnt gained weight is our 13-year-old Louie, who has grown several feet, eats nonstop and takes pleasure in laughing at us. My daughter attends Greenwich Academy, where there are events such as The Father Daughter Dinner Dance, and Mother Daughter Tea, so Louie suggested we start Mother Daughter Sumo, which didnt go over well. (Although I kinda love it, I have to admit.) Look, my doctor told me, its calories in, calories out. Just keep away from carbs and watch what you eat. You do not want to know how many calories are in an oat milk caramel macchiato, trust me. Add to that the fact that after 50, your metabolism adjusts to that of a sloth, and you get the full picture. Its basically you and three heads of lettuce a day. Think of it this way, Ian said, now Greenwich stands a chance against Westport. Keep pitching! And eating. Claire Tisne Haft is a former publishing and film executive, raising her family in Greenwich while working on a freelance basis on books and films. She can be reached through her website at clairetisnehaft.com. For much of his life, Randy Halprin struggled with his Jewish identity. Throughout childhood, the 44-year-old death-row inmate strove to please his Jewish father and prove he was worthy of becoming a bar mitzvah - the Jewish rite of passage that signifies a boy becoming a man. But as he stood trial on capital murder charges before Dallas County District Judge Vickers "Vic" Cunningham in 2003, his religion became the very reason he now faces execution, a Texas judge has determined. On Monday, Judge Lela Lawrence Mays found that Cunningham's "unmistakable bias against Jewish people" was "too much to ignore" and ultimately cost Halprin his right to a fair trial. Mays recommended that Halprin be granted a new one. "The [witness] statements evince a specific animus against Halprin because of his Jewish identity and indicate that Judge Cunningham took satisfaction from his role in Halprin's death sentence," Mays wrote in a 58-page document. The case will now go back to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Cunningham's seemingly clean public persona as a respected judge began to unravel in 2018, when the Dallas Morning News questioned him on video about allegations that he had made racist remarks and created a living trust that would financially reward his children if they married someone of the same race, religion and of the opposite sex. "I strongly support traditional family values," Cunningham told reporters questioning him in the video. "If you marry a person of the opposite sex, that's Caucasian, that's Christian, they will get a distribution." Cunningham added that he considers it a "traditional family value" to marry within one's race. The Morning News story influenced Halprin's attorneys to look back into the case, said Stuart Blaugrund, a Dallas lawyer who advocated for a new trial. "Now there's evidence the judge may be a bigot," Blaugrund told The Washington Post. "A lot of bigots tend to be equal opportunity bigots." After interviewing witnesses in 2019, Halprin's lawyers petitioned the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a new trial. They claimed the death row inmate's right to due process was violated because of Cunningham's alleged antisemitic views. On Aug. 22, 2019, they requested a stay of execution. In the weeks leading up to Halprin's Oct. 10, 2019, execution date, several groups submitted amicus briefs in support of a new trial - including one signed by more than 100 Jewish attorneys in Texas. "One hundred Jewish lawyers speaking out had a profound effect and helped channel the court's attention on a serious problem," Dallas attorney Marc Stanley, who co-led the initiative, told The Post. The court agreed to the delay just six days before his scheduled death date. The appeals court sent the case back to the Dallas County District Court. Mays heard oral arguments this June. The judge's conclusion, filed on Monday, excoriated Cunningham for his "inbred bias" and "reprehensible" use of religious and ethnic slurs. The judge called the evidence "chilling" and said Cunningham's "deep-seated animosity and prejudice toward Jewish people" affected Halprin's case. Mays concluded that Cunningham's biases were consistent before, during and after the trial, making it impossible for the former judge to rule fairly. The judge added that Cunningham's "bias toward Halprin not only harmed him, but it undermined the public's confidence that criminal justice has been - and will be - dispensed impartially." Cunningham denied privately making racist and antisemitic comments, according to court documents. He did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment late Tuesday. Mays's decision was viewed as a victory by Halprin's attorneys and those who advocated for his right to a new trial. In a statement to the Morning News, Tivon Schardl, one of Halprin's lawyers, said they are confident the appeals judges will grant their client a new trial. "The facts were never in dispute," Schardl said. "Contrary to what the state said, the Constitution protects Texans from religious bigotry in the criminal justice system." Since he was a child, Cunningham said he felt it was his "destiny" to be a judge, according to court documents. A Dallas native, he worked his way up the ranks and served as Dallas County prosecutor for five years until he was elected to the county criminal court in 1995. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) appointed him to the district court in 2001. Cunningham's name later became closely linked to the notorious "Texas 7" - a moniker for the seven inmates who escaped a maximum-security prison in 2000 and carried out a string of crimes that resulted in the murder of a police officer. Cunningham presided over all seven cases and sentenced each man to death. Halprin, who was serving a 30-year sentence for injury to a child when he escaped with the Texas 7, was arrested and charged in the officer's murder. He maintained he did not "intend the death of that officer. I didn't shoot him. I didn't pull my gun," Halprin said during the trial. But Texas's "law of parties" allowed for an indictment and conviction because, under that law, prosecutors did not have to prove he actually killed or intended to kill the victim. Halprin pleaded not guilty and was convicted of capital murder on June 9, 2003. Cunningham sentenced him to death three days later. Cunningham saw his role in the cases as a personal achievement, witnesses testified before Mays. The former judge boasted publicly about the Texas 7 during his campaign for Dallas County district attorney in 2005 and again in 2018 when he ran for Dallas County commissioner. He also privately told friends "he believed God had chosen him to preside over" the trials. A childhood friend said Cunningham "took special pride" in the Texas 7 death sentences "because they included Latinos and Jews," according to court documents. Other comments Cunningham made behind closed doors proved vulgar and hateful, court documents show. Several witnesses attested to the former judge frequently using the n-word and other derogatory epithets for Jewish people and Latinos. Family members and former colleagues said he frequently used phrases like "f------ Jew," and referred to Jews as "dirty" and "Jew banker," court documents show. One witness testified that Cunningham said Jewish people "needed to be shut down because they controlled all the money and all the power." Blaugrund, who co-wrote the brief from the 100 Jewish attorneys, said he was "overcome with emotion" when he read Mays's findings that Halprin did not receive a fair trial. "The facts were so outrageous and morally repugnant that it compelled only one result, which was what judge Mays found and concluded," Blaugrund said. Cunningham has not presided over a court since he left his seat to run for district attorney in 2005. Four of the Texas 7 have been executed, and one died by suicide. Only Halprin and 60-year-old Patrick Murphy remain. Blaugrund said it's possible that Halprin's case could prompt additional appeals, though he added that it's probably unlikely. "Some of the defendants who were convicted in this courtroom no longer have any avenues of relief - because they've been executed," he said. The ongoing chip crisis is apparently now big enough to even reach Apple - and this time we're not talking about smartwatches, but the company's main cash cow, the iPhone. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is likely to slash its projected production targets for the iPhone 13 family for 2021 by as many as 10 million units. This is happening because of prolonged chip shortages, which are now impacting the company's most recent flagship smartphone line, according to "people with knowledge of the matter". Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Apple initially expected to make 90 million units of the various iPhone 13 family models by the end of the year, but now it will have to cut that projection back to around 80 million. That number is lower in part because Broadcom and Texas Instruments (TI) apparently can't deliver enough components in time. Apple buys some display chip parts from TI, while Broadcom is a longtime supplier of various wireless components. The main issue with TI has to do with a chip that powers the OLED display, but Apple is also facing component shortages from other suppliers. So far Apple's strong buying power in the industry has managed to keep it pretty well insulated from the ongoing chip shortage in the electronics industry, but no more. Major chip makers have warned that demand will continue to outpace supply throughout next year, and potentially even beyond that, so this is not a situation that will remedy itself anytime soon. Source Realme GT Neo2 goes global with 120Hz display and Snapdragon 870, joined by AIoT lifestyle products Realmes latest product launch brought us the global release of the GT Neo2 alongside several AIoT accessories including a 4K Smart Google TV Stick, a new Bluetooth speaker and a fresh new Closer Green color for the Buds Air 2. Realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 was also unveiled on stage too. GT Neo2 which was originally unveiled in China last month offers a compelling spec list headlined by Qualcomms Snapdragon 870 chipset, a 6.6-inch 120Hz Samsung E4 AMOLED screen and a 5,000 mAh battery with 65W charging. The phone also packs a 64MP main camera alongside an 8MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP macro module. Realme GT Neo2 comes in Neo Black, Neo Blue and Neo Green colors. The 8GB RAM and 128GB storage version will sell for INR 31,999 ($425) though a special festive offer gets it down to INR 24,999 ($332). The 12/256GB trim will go for INR 35,999 ($478) while its early bird price is set at INR 28,999 ($385). First sales of the GT Neo2 are scheduled for midnight October 17. Realmes new 4K Smart Google TV stick offers all the benefits of the new Google TV platform alongside HDR10+ support and 4K streaming over HDMI 2.1. Its powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 processor and dual-core GPU with 2GB RAM and 8GB storage. Theres Google Chromecast capabilities as well as Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity.Realme 4K Smart Google TV stick retails for INR 2,999 ($40) and goes on sale from October 17. Realme Brick Bluetooth speaker offers 20W dynamic bass drivers, IPX5 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and 14-hour battery life. Its also priced at INR 2,999 ($40) and will be available from October 18. The new Closer Green Realme Buds Air 2 will be available for INR 3,299 ($44) from October 18. You can check out our review of Buds Air 2 here. PDN reporter Madison Scott shares another simple, affordable way to avoid plastic in your personal care routine by making hair gel at home, rather than buying it in plastic bottles. GAIN seeking volunteers, sponsors On Oct. 16 Guam Animals In Need will host a supply drive at the Harmon Cost-U-Less from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Organizers are seeking volunteers to run the donation table, hand out the GAIN wishlist, greet customers, and ask for donations. E-mail foster coordinator Frannie Santos at frannie@guamanimals.org for more information, or visit guamanimals.org. GAIN is also seeking businesses, organizations, or individuals interested in sponsoring a kennel. Sponsors will receive a plaque in recognition of their support. For more information, email liana@guamanimals.org or visit guamanimals.org. HEART Guam seeking donations Happily Ever After Rescue Team, known as HEART Guam, is also seeking donations for their mobile food pantry for pets. They accept dry and canned food as well as new and gently used supplies. For more info on how to donate or volunteer, visit heartguam.com Be Heartfelt seeking donations to feed kids Be Heartfelt is partnering with Calvary Baptist Church for their Snackpack Program. The program aims to collect food donations for children who rely on public school food provisions during the week, but suffer from hunger on the weekends. For a full list of the items they are seeking and information on how to donate or volunteer, visit beheartfelt.com or @beheartfelt on Instagram. Donate to VFW for wreaths Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Outpost 1509 is seeking donations for wreaths to honor veterans on Dec. 18. The group will be laying the wreaths on that day at noon at the Guam Veterans Cemetery to remember and honor our veterans. To donate, go to https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/167595 Guam recorded two more COVID-19-related fatalities, bringing the islands COVID-related deaths to 219, according to the Joint Information Center. Both patients were unvaccinated and had underlying health conditions. The 218th COVID-19-related fatality occurred Oct. 12 at Guam Regional Medical City. The patient was a 52-year-old man who was known to be positive. The 219th COVID-19-related fatality occurred Oct. 13 at U.S. Naval Hospital. The patient was a 64-year-old who tested positive on the same day. It is with great sadness that we announce the losses of life again today to this deadly virus, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. Our condolences to the families of our deceased, and offer them prayers for the ones they have lost. New syndrome The Department of Public Health and Social Services notified all license physicians about the first reported physician-diagnosed case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. The disease is said to be associated with COVID-19, according to the Joint Information Center. A patient, under age 21, with MIS-C would feel symptoms of persistent fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash, bloodshot eyes, dizziness or lightheadedness, fatigue and a variety of signs and symptoms, including multiorgan (cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal, hematologic, dermatologic, neurologic) involvement and elevated inflammatory markers, the Joint Information Center reported. Not all children will have the same signs and symptoms, and some may have symptoms not listed. MIS-C may begin weeks after a child is infected with SARS-CoV-2. The individual may get infected from an asymptomatic contact and, in some cases, the child and their caregivers may not even know theyre infected, according to the Joint Information Center. All health care providers on Guam are urged to be on alert for possible cases. Hospitalization There were 61 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 34 who werent vaccinated and one ineligible. Guam Memorial Hospital: 33 hospitalized, one pediatric admission, seven in ICU, six on ventilators. Guam Regional Medical City: 27 hospitalized, four in ICU, four on ventilators. Naval Hospital Guam: One hospitalized The CAR Score is 23.5. Cases Public Health recorded 134 new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,348 tests performed Oct. 12. Of those, 74 were identified through contact tracing. There have been officially 16,595 reported cases of COVID-19 on Guam; 2,947 cases are in active isolation. Testing, boosters Free community testing will be available from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 16 at the old carnival grounds in Tiyan. Rapid antigen testing will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Four people are allowed in each vehicle, and no symptoms are needed for testing. Please bring identification. Village-based COVID-19 booster shot clinics are being offered by the Department of Public Health and Social Services in partnership with the Mayors Council of Guam for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial two-dose series at least six months ago and are 65 years and older. For appointments, register at tinyurl.com/covidstopswithme or call your village mayor. The Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities will be taking on more responsibility in the upcoming fiscal year, but wont get the extra $4 million it requested in June. DISID took responsibility in July for the Karidat Homes Programs, Community Habilitation Program and Respite Care Program, previously under the purview of Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, DISID Director Phyliss Leon Guerrero said in June. Many of the intellectually disabled and developmentally delayed clients really fell under DISIDs guidelines, she said. While Catholic Social Service is contracted to handle the three programs, DISID has to send out staff to ensure services are being delivered. It has just three social workers on staff, Deputy Director Michelle Perez said during an oversight hearing Wednesday. One of those will soon be going on extended medical leave. Each social worker handles a caseload of about 150 clients, she said. Behavioral Health would assist with clients, though it wouldnt be transferring over any staff, Perez said. Funding request The requested funding increase was meant for new hires, to help handle the contracts and expand gaps in services in other programs, such as the Adult Day Care Program. The agency saw an increase in new clients applying during the pandemic, about 20 a month, Perez said. Theres guidelines to follow, and it does say to work with warm bodies ... to fund the current staffing, no additional staff. So what we did was we just included the positions in the staffing pattern, but zeroed out the funding, Perez said. According to Speaker Therese Terlaje, the Legislature gave the agency the amount requested by the Office of the Governor. You might be saying that you made this request of the governor, but the governors request to the Legislature is exactly what we gave, Terlaje said. DISID asked for $3 million in American Rescue Plan money from the governors office, and Adelup was aware of challenges the agency faced, Perez said. Lawmakers cautioned agencies about using ARP funding, which will only be available for four years, for hiring staff. Mayors will receive money from the American Rescue Plan, but a pot of about $33 million isnt intended to go directly to them, according to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. On Tuesday, Del. Mike San Nicolas and Sen. Jim Moylan spoke with Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, the president of the Mayors Council of Guam. San Nicolas said Congress provided American Rescue Plan money to go to smaller units of local government, non-entitlement units. Guam got roughly $33 million for that purpose, San Nicolas said. Leon Guerrero went on K-57 Wednesday morning and said there were two separate sources of money involved. Its $17 million for non-entitled units, she said, while the $33 million was in county funding. The village mayors dont qualify as a county. Because they dont qualify for counties, then the $33 million is given to the government of Guam, the governor said. The $33 million will be disbursed to Guam in two payments, this year and next year. Guam has only received half of it. Leon Guerrero said Adelup was working with the U.S. Treasury to determine whether villages qualify as non-entitlement units, which would allow mayors to receive the $17 million directly. Adelup was already working to provide American Rescue Plan money to village mayors, she said. It was just a question of how it would be disbursed. Department of Administration Director Ed Birn spoke on the need to get verification before moving forward. These funds, as with all federal grants, come with restrictions, he said. Failing to abide by those restrictions will only result in Guam having to repay the funds. Sacrificial lamb An explanation of the funding was available on the Treasury website, Leon Guerrero said. She said Moylan and San Nicolas didnt do their research and tried to get people upset. Alig also spoke on K-57 Wednesday morning and said that he thought his conversation with Moylan and San Nicolas was just a meeting. Moylan hosted a press conference, which was live streamed and had members of the media present. I think that I was the sacrificial lamb, Alig said, adding that he better understood the funding after a meeting with Adelup. Moylan said Wednesday that he appreciated the Leon Guerrero administration finally decided to support local villages with federal funding, less than 24 hours after the virtual conference. He accused the administration of playing political games and said the lack of transparency around American Rescue Plan funds was a disservice to the community. For months my colleagues and I have asked for a spending plan of the federal relief funds, of which we have received nothing. Literally zero, taya, nothing, Moylan stated. Ironically the governor not only withheld ARP money from our villages, she is saying she did it because of what she researched in guidelines, and in the same breath says she needs guidance, San Nicolas said in a later statement. In every facet of this pandemic, the governor has been consistently inconsistent, which is at least predictable, so as long as the villages get the money owed to them, he said. The Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association led several initiatives during the course of the pandemic to ensure the health and safety of indus Have an idea? Want to praise or comment on something? Submit your letter to the editor. Haiti - Diplomacy : American Ambassador Kenneth Merten back in Haiti Following the departure from Haiti of American Ambassador Michele Jeanne Sison at the end of her mission, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday, October 12 that she was replaced by Ambassador Kenneth Merten "I am proud to announce that Ambassador Kenneth Merten will return to the United States Embassy in Haiti to serve as Charge dAffaires," adding "The United States is a steadfast partner to Haiti, and we remain committed to supporting the Haitian people." Merten is returning as Charge d'Affaires, and not officially as Ambassador, as Senate Republicans are blocking President Bidens nominations for the moment. Let's recall that Kenneth H. Merten was Ambassador in Port-au-Prince between 2009 and 2012, United States Special Coordinator for Haiti during the 2015-2016 election period and left only good memories... What is his mission ? His roadmap ? No one knows it yet, but one just have to wait for his first intervention to find out more. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Security, increases the number of meetings in Haiti Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Uzra Zeya, the US Under Secretary of State for Emergency Preparedness arrived in Haiti to meet with several senior officials including Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry Without wasting time, she spoke to Liszt Quitel, the a.i. Minister of Justice and Public Security. The discussions, which took place at the Minister's office in an atmosphere of reciprocal cordiality, focused on cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of Justice and Security. At the end of this meeting she declared on the official twitter account "Pleased to meet Haiti's new Acting Minister of Justice Liszt Quitel. Department of State looks forward to working to support rights-respecting Haitian law enforcement & we were pleased to recently commit another $15 million to help reduce gang violence & improve corrections infrastructure." The same day, Uzra Zeya, visited the Police Academy in Freres, where she reiterated the determination of the United States to strengthen the institutional capacities of the National Police of Haiti (PNH). Director General Ad Interim Leon Charles to reaffirm the State Department's continued support for strengthening police, public confidence, intelligence, and law enforcement capacity. Dismantling gangs that exercise violence is vital for Haitis stability and citizen security." Tuesday afternoon, the Undersecretary met Prime Minister Ariel a.i. Henry at his official residence. The Head of Government reiterated his appeal for emergency aid from the US Government for the National Police in the fight against insecurity, banditry and crime. The reintegration program for our migrants, as well as the reintegration of young people from working-class neighborhoods, plagued by gangsterism, were also on the menu of discussions. The Prime Minister renewed his commitment to "the organization of free, honest, democratic, transparent and non-partisan elections in 2022", while reiterating his request for mutual legal assistance, as part of the investigation into the assassination by President Jovenel Moise. The Under-Secretary of State, Uzra Zeya, wished to convey to the Prime Minister the appreciations of the American Government regarding the efforts made by his Administration with a view to the continuation of the inclusive political dialogue in the perspective of a negotiated exit from the crisis. At the end of the meeting Uzra Zeya thanked Prime Minister Ariel Henry for "for this vital discussion on the safe and humane repatriation of Haitians, inclusive dialogue with civil society and political actors that leads to free and fair elections, COVID-19 prevention, and accountability for President Moises assassination." SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - MHAVE : Partnership with the Coalition of Haitian Diaspora Organizations Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Ms. Judith Nazareth Auguste, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), in her desire to give legal recognition to Diaspora organizations in their actions in Haiti, signed a framework partnership agreement between her Ministry and the Coalition of Haitian Diaspora Organizations (COODAH). This partnership agreement aims to allow the Ministry to identify the Haitian skills of the Diaspora through organizations established outside the country. This agreement will also facilitate the integration of the Diaspora in all activities of the country. Diaspora organizations signatories to this agreement will soon be able to intervene in Haiti in various fields with the support of the Ministry. With the signing of this partnership agreement, the two institutions have agreed to work together on sustainable development projects for the country. The Minister took the opportunity to encourage other organizations in the Diaspora to follow suit in order to better defend the interests of the 11th department. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2021/10/13 | Source Korean movies opening today 2021/10/13 in Korea: "Moebius - 2021", "Blacklisted" and "Take Care of My Cat" (re-release) Advertisement "Moebius - 2021" (2020) Directed by Choi Young-joo-I, Hillfinger Hwang, Kim Young-I, Lee So-yeon-II With Gong Soo-ho, Byun Ji-hyun, Hong Yoo-ra, Jung Hyun-ji, Ahn Ji-hye-III, Han Yoo-kyung,... Synopsis 1. "An Usual Unusual Day" ( , sul-gwa jok-bal-gwa ke-i-keu) by Kim Young-I New students from the Department of Theater and Film are gathering in the dormitory and having fun. While drinking alcohol and being noisy, Yu-mi, Ye-ri, Soo-jeong, and Seol secretly move to hold a surprise birthday party for Eun-chae. Then someone knocks on the door. For the unexpected guests, the birthday party plans flow through an unexpected direction. 2. "Hotel Future" (, mi-rae-jang) by Choi Young-joo-I Hyeon-jae (Present) lost his way while traveling and visited Hotel Future where he met a guest named Jason. In Hotel Future where memories are sold instead of money, Hyeon-jae sells his memories that he wanted to erase. As Hyeon-jae sells his memories one by one, he senses something weird from the people working at Hotel Future. He tries to run away. 3. "Dasoni" (, da-so-ni) Seol, who graduated from the Department of Fashion Design started working here and there after graduating. Then, she worked for her aunt who works in fashion in the United States for a year. A day before leaving the country, she fixed her luggage with her boyfriend Ki-woo who she haven't met for seven years. 4. "Christmas Present" ( , keu-ri-seu-ma-seu seon-mul) His celebrity girlfriend who received malicious comments commits suicide, and after trying various ways to get her back, he finally found a way to try and live happily again. "Blacklisted" (2021) Directed by Kim Sung-han With Oh Dal-soo, Akira Kim, Kim Jung-wook, Kim Seung-hwan-I, Choi Chang-gyun, Kang Kyung-mo,... Synopsis A satire comedy movie set in the background of a prison cell where people gather together to talk about their lives and the world. "Take Care of My Cat" (2001) Directed by Jeong Jae-eun With Bae Doona, Lee Yo-won, Ok Ji-young, Lee Eun-joo-III, Lee Eun-sil, Oh Tae-kyung,... Original release date: 2001/10/13 Synopsis Set in Incheon, the nearest port from Seoul and a city of migrants, this is a story of five girls who have just turned twenty and who have been best friends since high school. With their graduation, each of them begin to go their own separate ways and render secrets they dont wish to share even with their longtime friends. Hye-joo who dreams of being a successful career woman, is trying to break away from her inferior situation which includes family and friends. Her best friend Ji-yeong is disappointed with Hye-joos drastic change and become closer to Tae-hee, who has always been the most caring of the girls. She is a dreamer, wishing to lie on a floating boat and watch the stars in the sky. One day she packs a bag to search for a way to find her own world, and asks Ji-yeong to come along. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Thank you for reading! You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 574-583-5121 or email cgrace@thehj.com. CALUMET CITY A day after the abrupt resignation of Calumet City Library Director Jennifer Hovanec, the facility was shut down indefinitely and city police were on hand to prevent the unauthorized removal of equipment and records, Mayor Thaddeus Jones said Friday. "The library board members have discovered that there is a lot of malfeasance going on with the library," Jones said. Among the discoveries, according to Jones, were the purchase of unneeded computers by employees for personal use and stockpiling more supplies than were needed. "They have enough supplies there to stock a Walmart," Jones said. He said police took possession of $10,000 in cash as well as two checks for $10,000 each. The library board has completely turned over since Jones was elected earlier this year to replace 18-year incumbent Michelle Markiewicz-Qualkinbush. Hovanec emailed a four-sentence letter of resignation to Board President Scott Nnamah on Thursday afternoon. She wrote: "I am writing to submit my notice of resignation. My last day at the Calumet City Public Library will be Friday, October 15, 2021. I am grateful for the experience I've gained over the last 10 months. I wish the Calumet City Public Library and their Board of Trustees the best as they begin working together." Hovanec took over as Calumet City library director last December after a stint at Indian Trails Public Library in north suburban Wheeling. She replaced Jane Rowland, who retired in August of 2020. Amanda Lopez, who has worked as a youth services librarian since 2019, said employees were told to leave the library Friday and to take their personal belongings with them. Jones said an emergency meeting of the current board would be called soon, though a date has not been set. He said the library is expected to be closed for about a week while the investigation continues. The mayor said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's office has been contacted because another allegation involves the submission of false data to obtain state grants. Voicemails left for Hovanec were not immediately returned. NWI Business Ins and Outs: Basecamp Fitness and Mexican restaurants opening; Albano's Pasta Shop and Ringo's Golf Center close We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Dont horde money, buy gold, is what friends of mine have been saying for years. FWP asks for help seeing severity of outbreak From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks GLASGOW Over the last several weeks, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has received reports of dead or dying white-tailed deer in the major river drainages in eastern Montana. Early indications showed patterns and symptoms similar to epizootic hemorrhagic disease EHD and several dead deer had samples submitted for testing. Early results indicate that at least some of the sampled deer tested positive for EHD. In northeast Montana, the furthest western extent of the disease appears to be along the Milk River near Saco, then east along the Milk and Missouri Rivers to North Dakota, with varying degrees of whitetail mortality in between. In southeast Montana, the most severe areas have been reported on the Yellowstone River between Glendive and Sidney as well as many areas throughout Carter County. Impacts to local populations can be highly variable, with some areas seeing high mortality rates and others seeing minimal impacts. Hunters should plan accordingly if they plan to hunt in one of the affected areas. Furthermore, surplus whitetail B-licenses 699-00 in Region 6 were decreased by 2,000 in response to the disease. FWP staff will continue to monitor the situation and keep the public updated on the extent of the outbreak. How people can help FWP would like to get an idea of the distribution and severity of this disease. People who find dead or dying white-tailed deer are asked to contact their area biologist or FWP office. If possible, they should provide information on the species, number of individuals, behaviors and symptoms observed, and a general location. What is EHD? EHD is an infectious, sometimes fatal virus that is usually spread by a virus-carrying gnat or midge. Many animals affected with EHD lose their appetite, often are drawn to water, lose their fear of people, grow weak, and typically die. This disease is often confused with blue tongue, which is a separate, but similar, disease. EHD is not transmissible to humans. EHD is not uncommon in central and eastern Montana in late summer or early fall. The disease mostly impacts white-tailed deer, but also shows up occasionally in mule deer and antelope. EHD outbreaks typically occur in river bottoms and large creek bottoms, likely due to higher concentrations of white-tailed deer and the insects that transmit EHD. These outbreaks often end when a hard frost kills the insect vectors that carry the disease. With cooler temperatures forecasted across the state, biologists are hoping the weather will slow down the insect vectors. However, there may be more transmission of the disease until a hard frost eliminates the adult insects, and FWP will not know the full extent of the outbreak until then. Can hunters harvest deer with EHD? Hunters usually do not harvest animals infected with EHD because animals typically die within 8 to 36 hours from the onset of disease. In most years, the majority of deer are harvested during the Montana general rifle hunting season, which is long after a killing frost marks the end of EHD for the year. If a hunter does harvest an animal that is symptomatic with EHD, it may not be fit for consumption due to the hemorrhages within in the body. People should contact their local FWP office if they are concerned about the consumption of a harvested animal. More information on EHD can be found on the FWP website at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/diseases/ehd-blue-tongue . At its meeting Tuesday, the Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees discussed enrollment numbers and received an update on the number of students with special education considerations as well as the schools policies for classifying such students. Superintendent Craig Miller said the official count is about the same as the preliminary count, 1,729 students district wide, slightly higher than last year. Havre Public Schools Director of Special Education and Federal Projects Karla Geda said the system has just more than 200 disabled students this year. Geda provided trustees with a breakdown of the demographics of those students and explained an important recent change to how students are evaluated. She said students identified as developmentally delayed used to be worked with and evaluated until they turned 6, after which it is determined whether they are to be put into a certain category of people with disabities. She said Montana was among the only states to do this to students that young and it was recently determined by the state that the age at which students are reevaluated should be raised to 9. Geda said the change helps schools by giving them more time to work with students and collect data on their performance so they can make more informed determinations about how best to handle their education. Mueller also presented the second reading of a policy change recommended by the Montana School Boards Association that further explains how to handle off-site learning, proficiency-based learning and aggregate hours. Mueller said the change allows greater flexibility to administrative teams to handle alternative learning methods and recommended the board grant its approval, which was given unanimously. He also talked about a recent appearance he made at Montana Actors Theatres Death by Chocolate fundraiser this past weekend. He said hes happy to announce that MAT is partnering with Havre Public Schools to put on the musical play Anastasia this spring at Havre High School, and arrangements are being made to make that happen. Mueller thanked Northern Montana Health Care for stepping up and sponsoring that play and MAT Executive Artistic Director Jay Pyette for all his work putting this together. The next regular meeting of the HPS Board of Trustees will be Nov. 9. at 6:30 p.m. Will require in January vaccination for essential workers crossing border The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry sits at the Wild Horse Port of Entry on the U.S.-Canadian Border north of Havre. After keeping the U.S. borders between Canada and Mexico closed to nonessential travel for 20 months, U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it will begin allowing vaccinated travelers into the United States across those borders starting in November. After 20 months of closure to nonessential travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the northern and southern borders of the United States will open to vaccinated people in November. That follows Canada opening its border to vaccinated travelers in early August and intense pressure from Montana leaders for the U.S. to reciprocate. Montana Sens. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, and Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale as well as Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte had been calling on the Biden administration long before Canada's July announcement to open the border. "Montanans depend on cross-border trade and travel to support our businesses and keep our communities connected, and the Biden administration's decision to keep the northern border closed has unnecessarily hurt our economy," Tester said in a statement this morning. "I'm glad that the Biden administration listened to me and the thousands of Montanans who fought back against this shortsighted policy, and I will continue pushing to make sure that the northern border re-opens as quickly and as safely as possible so that families and businesses on both sides of the border can continue to fully rebound from this crisis." Daines, who tried unsuccessfully Thursday to get the Senate to approve a bill he has sponsored to fully open the U.S.-Canada border, praised the action but asked for all restrictions to end. "Montana families, small businesses and communities will finally be able to feel some of the relief they've been seeking for months now that the northern border is partially reopened," he said in a statement today. "While I'm glad to see President Biden take this initial step to reopen the U.S-Canada border for vaccinated Canadians, I urge him to end all restrictions and fully reopen the northern border. Montanans are depending on it." His bill, which was blocked Thursday by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., also would have lifted all restrictions on border travel within 20 days of passage. Rosendale also praised easing border restrictions but also raised concerns. "Since February of this year, I have been calling for the northern border to be open. The closure of the northern border has been devastating to our small northern communities that depend upon international trade and travel," he said in a statement this morning. "While I am happy the Biden administration is going to allow land travel to resume, I am very concerned that President Biden is using this as a tool to advance his COVID-19 vaccine mandates for those to participate in essential trade, especially as our supply chain continues to have dire consequences for American consumers." A release from Homeland Security Monday said that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts, the restrictions would be amended to allow non-essential travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation to enter the United States via land and ferry ports of entry. "In alignment with the new international air travel system that will be implemented in November, we will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings," Mayorkas said in the release. "Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner." The first phase will allow travelers who are fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination allowed entry for non-essential reasons, the release said. Beginning in early January, Homeland Security will require all foreign national travelers attempting to enter the country via land or ferry port of entries to have proof of vaccination for both non-essential and essential reasons, the release said. "This approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers, students, and health care workers to get vaccinated," the release said. "This new travel system will create consistent, stringent protocols for all foreign nationals traveling to the United States - whether by air, land, or ferry - and accounts for the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccinations," the release added. (The Center Square) U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentuckys lone Democratic lawmaker on Capitol Hill, announced Tuesday he would not seek re-election next year. The three-minute video statement, posted on Twitter, stunned many, both in his Louisville district and nationally, as the House budget chairman and architect of the American Rescue Plan Act became the first chair not to run in 2022. While he said he looks forward to spending more time with his family after he leaves Washington, Yarmuth added he intends to finish out the term in a strong fashion. We can still do much more for the American people, and since that progress will unfortunately not be done on a bipartisan basis, my chairmanship of the house budget committee puts me in a pivotal position to help build an even better future for our citizens, he said. Currently, Democrats hold a slim 220-212 majority over Republicans in the House. However, at least five incumbent Democrats have announced their decision not to run next year. Because of that, some see Yarmuths retirement announcement as a sign that Democrats will face significant challenges in maintaining the majority in next years midterm elections. Chairman Yarmuths announcement shows Democrats realize their chances of maintaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives are slim to none, Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Mac Brown said in a statement. We look forward to doing our part to helping retire Nancy Pelosi as speaker in 2022. Yarmuth was already facing a primary challenger next spring in state Rep. Attica Scott, D-Louisville. Yet, less than 10 minutes after Yarmuths posted the video on his congressional Twitter page, Kentucky Senate Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, announced his bid to replace the eight-term congressman on his Twitter account. Both candidates represent key Democratic strongholds in the city. Scott, a former Metro Council member, represents part of Louisvilles West End. She also has been active in social justice issues, including the Breonna Taylor case, for years. McGarveys district includes the Highlands, a strong liberal neighborhood in the city. Hes also been unopposed in two of his three races for the state Senate. Another potential candidate is Aaron Yarmuth, the congressmans son. The younger Yarmuth told The Louisville Courier-Journal that hes considering the race because hes concerned about a GOP takeover next year. Besides the national implications, his departure may create ripples in Kentuckys largest city as well. Yarmuth is highly popular in Louisville, hes topped 62% in each of his races dating back to 2012, but now Democrats there will be looking to replace both him and three-term Mayor Greg Fischer, who is term-limited, next year. Robert Kahne, a co-host on My Old Kentucky Podcast which focuses on Bluegrass State politics who also tracks Kentucky political data, told The Center Square on Tuesday it will be interesting to see how those races evolve with new candidates especially in a changing political climate. I think you kind of see Louisville is going to have the opportunity to make choices in both of these races regarding which direction they want to go, he said. If they want, maybe a younger, but similar version of what they had before or if they want to go in a totally different direction. Or maybe just change it up a little bit. There are lots of different ways it could go. The congressional race will also hinge on whether state lawmakers can approve new maps for next year's election based on the 2020 Census. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, told The Center Square the legislature hopes to accomplish that in time for next years general election. Still, he added its too soon to determine how those districts will look. If lawmakers cannot make changes in time, or if most of Louisville remains within the same district, then Kahne said that should bode well for Democrats. Kahne, who also serves on the Kentucky Democratic Party Executive Committee but said he was offering just his own opinion, noted that Democrats have picked up seats on the Louisville Metro Council and within the citys state legislative districts in recent years. The same way that the rural areas that used to vote Democratic in large members are now voting for Republicans, the suburban Democrats within the Louisville city limits within Jefferson County have really, really trended Democratically, he said. Yarmuth, who turns 74 on Nov. 4, is a Louisville native who started in politics more than 50 years ago as a Republican. He worked on a U.S. Senate campaign for Marlow Cook in 1968 and served as an aide to him during the moderate Republicans only term. In 1981, he ran unsuccessfully for a commissioner's seat on the Jefferson County Fiscal Court then the countys main legislative body. During the 1980s, Yarmuth changed parties, telling The Courier-Journal earlier this year that the Reagan Administration and its policies played a big factor in that decision. He would then go on to create the Louisville Eccentric Observer, an alt-weekly newspaper. Henderson, NC (27536) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 37F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 37F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. News featured popular urgent Henry County distributes $6.5 million in CARES funding Special Photo The Henry County Emergency Rental Assistance Program has awarded $6.35 million in Cares Funding to Henry residents in danger of eviction or utility shutoffs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. McDONOUGH The Henry County Emergency Rental Assistance Program has awarded $6.35 million in Cares Funding to Henry residents in danger of eviction or utility shutoffs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the Georgia Micro Enterprise Network as the third-party project administrator and Curry Davis Consulting Group, a contractor with GMEN, to assist with management of the countys ERAP in order to administer the funds to Henry County citizens who met the eligibility requirements, as well as work with landlords and utility companies. The consultants gave an update to the BOC at the Oct. 5 meeting With this program, we are excited that we were able to meet the needs for Henry County residents, pretty much in record time, said Elizabeth Wilson with GMEN. Karen Curry Davis, from Curry Davis Consulting Group, gave the update and said the program, which began five months ago, has received 1,638 applications, made payments on behalf of 803 residents, with 362 applications still pending and 473 applications deemed ineligible. She said the ERAP team provided online applications as well as in-person events and phone applications, to assist those who wanted to apply. We have expended all $6.35 million of the funds allocated for this program and have expended all the funds in five and a half months. We are excited we were able to get the funds with an average payment of $7,804 per participant to those who needed it, said Davis. Davis said they also served several residents who were in arrears in excess of 10 months rent and they paid up to as much as to $40,000 in arrears to landlords. Davis said she was truly proud of the partnership with the Magistrate Court. In response to the Eviction Moratorium that ended in July, Henry County leadership coordinated efforts with Chief Magistrate Judge Martin Jones to connect tenants actively in eviction hearings with the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. We applaud Chief Magistrate Judge Martin Jones. The leadership at Henry County connected with Judge Jones and we met and had a conversation about working inside the eviction hearings once the eviction moratorium ended, Davis said. Judge Jones in a very phenomenal way, stepped up and worked with us and basically brought the program into the eviction court system. We prioritized this group and turned the payments around in seven to 10 days, she said. Since Aug. 2 we engaged 249 tenants on site and 108 of them received a total of $934,323.89 in ERAP funds to prevent eviction, Davis said. The ERAP provides financial assistance for rent and utilities which include gas, water/sewer, electricity and internet, and also security deposits to individuals who have lost income or were adversely affected due to COVID-19. There is expected to be a second round of ERAP funds and more information on that phase will be released in the near future, county officials said. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. Companies doing business in Texas now face new and complicated challenges after Gov. Greg Abbott this week banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates for all entities in the state including private businesses for employees or customers. (BPT) - Harold L. was raised in a Kansas farming family as one of fourteen siblings. Unfortunately, throughout his active life and unbeknownst to him, he had been exposed to asbestos; first, as a young man growing up on the family farm and then while on active duty in the military. But his g Lima, OH (45805) Today Sunshine gives way to increasing clouds toward sunset. High 43F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight A few flurries possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Now Open 13 October 2021 Simon and Concord Hospitality Enterprises, in collaboration with Marriott International are pleased to announce the debut of AC Hotel Miami Dadeland on October 13, 2001 at Dadeland Mall, Miami's renowned shopping destination. Managed by Concord Hospitality, the 170-room property will offer guests a modern space with European air that has the exibility to host meetings and events of all kinds. "We are thrilled to introduce this elevated property to guests and locals alike in the heart of South Miami," said Adriana Vellojin, General Manager at AC Hotel Miami Dadeland. "With direct access to Dadeland Mall, our guests can expect a fashionable stay complemented by our top-tier European inspired hospitality and engaging guest experiences." "The hotel is a perfect complement to Dadeland Mall's outstanding retail and dining offerings" said Dailen Rodriguez, Dadeland Mall's General Manager. "With millions of domestic and international visitors coming to the property annually, adding a hotel with global appeal is the perfect next step in the evolution of this iconic property." The hotel's European sensibility will touch every aspect of the guest experience, including onsite dining. Breakfast at the AC Kitchen will feature signature touches such as croissants own in from France and fresh prosciutto sliced with the restaurant's Berkel Machine, while the AC Lounge on the second oor will feature specialty cocktails including the famed AC Gin and Tonic and Spanish tapas every evening. Those looking for an outdoor experience can enjoy the AC rooftop and pool with elevated pool-side amenities such as cabanas and a full-service bar. Additional amenities include a state-of-the-art tness facility complete with Peloton equipment, and the AC Store curated with sweet treats, delectable snacks, and local products. Located on the second oor, AC Hotel Miami Dadeland will feature a 3,600 sq. foot exible meeting space across five event rooms. From weddings and social events to intimate spaces for business meetings, the cutting-edge meeting facilities feature the latest high-tech equipment for up to 255 people, along with smaller boardrooms. Each AC guestroom is designed with a purpose to submerge guests in a harmonious space with clean and expansive feel, designed with warm materials and sleek furnishings. The guest rooms offer a modern oasis with rustic, yet sleek accents. For more information, follow the hotel online or on Instagram and Facebook Appointment 13 October 2021 After graduating from University of Richmond's Robins School of Business with a degree in marketing, de Tessan launched her hospitality career at Hyatt Regency New Brunswick in events. She quickly moved up the ranks, relocating to New York and assuming her role as event sales manager at Grand Hyatt New York in 2007. That role culminated in her 2011 move to Denver where she worked for Hyatt Regency Denver as associate director of events before her most recent role, director of events for Grand Hyatt Denver. Following a successful year at Grand Hyatt Denver, de Tessan was honored as Hyatt Hotels 2019 Director of the Year after achieving 109% of the event sales yearly quota and exceeding customer service goals. de Tessan believes in authenticity, approaching each day with curiosity, and embracing innovative ideas. She leads a thriving sales team and creates a culture that fosters honest connections, a winning spirit, and a core value of fun. Appointment 13 October 2021 Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC) announces the promotion of Anthony "Tony" Terry to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer effective October 16. Mr. Terry is a 25-year veteran of the company with deep experience across financial accounting, financial analysis, organizational optimization, and strategic planning and analysis. This appointment demonstrates a continued commitment to leadership development and thoughtful succession planning. As part of this appointment, Mr. Terry will report to John E. Geller, Jr. who will remain President, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, enabling Mr. Geller to fully shift his focus toward long-term growth and business transformation as well as continue his oversight of the Vacation Ownership, Finance & Accounting, Human Resources and Information Technology organizations. Mr. Terry joined Marriott Vacation Club International, a division of Marriott International, in 1996 as Manager, Financial Accounting and was quickly promoted to roles of increasing responsibility. He had oversight of various financial and business planning functions and then rotated into executive roles covering new product development, brand management and product supply management. Most notably, Mr. Terry led work associated with significant milestones in the company's growth, including the spin-off of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from Marriott International in 2011. He also supported the $4 billion acquisition of ILG in 2018 through due diligence efforts as well as by leading integration efforts within the Finance & Accounting organizations across the two companies. Mr. Terry most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global Operational Finance, where he led a global team responsible for all aspects of Finance and Accounting in support of the company's Sales and Marketing, Operations, Development, and Rentals organizations within the Company's Vacation Ownership segment. He partnered with business leaders, providing financial support and a strategic perspective designed to drive the overall financial results of the Company that maximized profitability and growth. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Terry worked at The Walt Disney Company and at Arthur Andersen LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida State University and has attended various executive leadership programs, including the Wharton School of Business Executive Development Program and Marriott International's Lodging Leadership Program. Press Release 13 October 2021 SEATTLE New research from Expedia Group and the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) revealed a positive outlook for the U.S. airline industry, with travelers leaning towards domestic travel in the short-term while considering trips abroad for further out on the horizon. Advertisements The data, which pulled unique statistics from both Expedia Groups air travel search data and ARCs global airline sales data, revealed key insights into travelers plans for the holidays and beyond, top search destinations, search volume, search timeframes and ticket price trends. Prices Still Down as Business Picks Up While airlines incurred net industry losses in 2020, the latest data reveals improving financial performance. A recent study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) found that total passenger numbers are expected to reach 2.3B in 2021 and grow to 3.4B in 2022, which is similar to 2014 levels. As the industry continues its steady recovery, the data shows a great opportunity for travelers to get a deal, and in many cases, on better seats. US ticket prices for economy and premium airline ticket prices are still lower now than they were prior to the pandemic: The average cost to fly roundtrip within the U.S. in 2021 is $371 lower than the pre-pandemic averages of $459 (2018) and $467 (2019).i The gap between premium and economy tickets has reduced: Overall in 2021, premium tickets were 288% more expensive than economy tickets, whereas in 2020 and 2019, premium tickets were 365% and 430% more expensive than economy tickets, respectively. ii Travelers who have more disposable income than normal from saving during the pandemic can hunt down good bargains. The US airline industry was not immune to the devastating impacts of the pandemic on travel, said Julie Kyse, VP, Global Air Partnerships with Expedia Group. But due to the markets resiliency, airlines investment into safety protocols and the widespread availability of vaccines, it looks like the turnaround will be swift, based on recent data. This bodes well for our airline partners and others operating in the wider ecosystem, particularly as the holiday travel season approaches. Travelers are Staying Local for Now, But Ready to See the World Later Expedia Groups search data shows that travelers are planning domestic trips for the near future but are feeling more ready to travel abroad in 2022. This readiness to travel and for new adventures aligns with Expedia Groups recent Traveler Value Index Report, which found that more than half of travelers felt new experiences were a top benefit of travel and more than three-quarters of travelers were more likely to select a new destination for their next trip. The recent research shows: Las Vegas (15%) was the most sought-after destination in the summer of 2021, followed by New York and Orlandoiii U.S. searches during summer 2021 (June, July, August) were primarily for domestic destinations with a booking window of between 1 60 days. Cancun is the first international destination to appear in the search ranking for the same period, but only for trips that are over 60 days outiv Looking into 2022 (searches with +180 days search window from September this year), London, Rome and Paris are in the top 10 most searched destinations by US travelers, suggesting Americans are gearing up for long-haul trips again next year.v Its no secret that people are ready to travel again after more than a year of limitations, restrictions and isolation, said Kyse. As the airline industry continues its recovery, Expedia Group is committed to connecting our airline partners to primary areas of consumer demand so they are best positioned to provide the memorable experiences that travelers want. To glean further insight into traveler behaviors, read the Expedia Groups recently launched Traveler Value Index report here and the specific air-related findings here. About Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) An industry leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing flexible settlement solutions, innovative technology and access to the worlds most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than $97.4 billion in transactions between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 302 million passenger trips. For more information, please visit www.arccorp.com. Press Release 13 October 2021 Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts today announced that after two decades of service to Four Seasons, President and CEO John Davison, 63, informed the Board of Directors that he intends to retire as President and CEO in 2022. Davison will continue to lead the company until the selection and onboarding of a new CEO is completed next year. The company also announced today that Davison has accepted an appointment to Four Seasons Board of Directors. Advertisements Ive been tremendously honoured and grateful to work alongside our Board, executive leadership team, and more than 40,000 talented, dedicated employees worldwide as we continue to navigate the historic challenges brought about by the pandemic, says John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. With our long-term strategic planning process well underway, now is an ideal time to begin the process of handing over the reins to a new CEO who will have the duration and runway to shape and implement execution of our plans in the years ahead. Davison continues: As we look forward to the future, I am more confident than ever that Four Seasons is well positioned to capitalise on the many growing opportunities within the luxury market globally. I am incredibly grateful to my colleagues worldwide for their unwavering dedication and commitment and look forward to continuing to do all I can to support Four Seasons in the next chapter of its remarkable history. Four Seasons shareholders Cascade Investment, Kingdom Holding, and Isadore Sharps Triples Holdings strongly support Davison in his decision and are grateful for his inspired leadership and steady hand during a time when the company faced and overcame the most difficult challenges in its history amid the global pandemic. John has been an incredible partner since he joined Four Seasons two decades ago. A steadfast and strategic business leader, he has led significant growth of the organisation for the benefit of all stakeholders. With his deep financial and operational insight, John has guided the company through some of its biggest challenges, always championing the people and culture of Four Seasons and leading with empathy and integrity. In particular, Johns leadership as CEO guiding the company throughout the pandemic was exceptional, reaffirming the values and commitment to excellence that define Four Seasons. We are grateful for his service and look forward to his continued commitment to Four Seasons in his capacity as a Cascade appointed Board Director, said Michael Larson, Chief Investment Officer, Cascade Investment L.C.C. Davison joined Four Seasons in 2002 and, after successive leadership roles in the company, was appointed CFO in 2005. In 2018, Davison was appointed interim-CEO and was permanently appointed to this position in 2019. Before joining Four Seasons, Davison spent 14 years at Imax Corp., rising to president, COO and CFO. Davison currently serves on the board of directors for Canada Goose Holdings and Imax China Holding. The CEO search process will focus on identifying a leader who shares the vision and values of Four Seasons; someone with a passion for and commitment to excellence and to the people and culture that make Four Seasons so unique, combined with the leadership and experience to accelerate development of the organisation and execution of its growth strategy. For years, Bobby Bryant and his team at Doss had been using Googles web platforms and applications to build a beta version of their virtual real estate and home services assistant. He applied for a spot with Googles Accelerator for Black Founders but ended up with an unexpected offer instead to be part of the tech giants second class of recipients of assistance and financing through its Black Founders Fund. The partnership will give him and his 57-person company access to the companys software engineers, networking opportunities, professional development and $100,000. Its almost a kid in a candy store moment. To have direct access to their developers and engineers to ask questions so we dont spend too much time trying to solve problems is huge, Bryant said. Truth be told, in some ways, that is worth more than the money. Bryant and Doss were among 50 Black founders and companies to receive the funding and resources in this years class after Google created the program with 75 founders last year. Two of this years recipients are based in Houston Doss and energy-analytics platform SOTAOG, founded by industry veteran Robert Estill. Insight: Innovation economy taking shape in Houston Estill and his partner, Sarah Tamilarasan, have developed software that allows upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas companies, as well as heavy industrial companies, to track in real time how much material is being moved through pipes and provides more precise data on product loss and emissions. It can detect issues within seconds, and Estill said his software can solve in seconds problems that usually take engineers hours to reconcile. Already, the 4-year-old company is in talks with the nationalized oil companies in Mexico and Colombia, as well a Canadian company that oversees some of the largest holdings in Latin America. But that success has created a strain on the companys nine employees, a strain Estill hopes can be alleviated by hiring a couple of folks with the $100,000 Google grant. The grant also gives SOTAOG access to their search-engine optimization, helping to boost its online presence without a marketing team. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Even for us to say, Google is supporting us, were already getting calls from a lot of other folks for outside opportunities only a few weeks in, Estill said. This program lasts about a calendar year, but these relationships last forever. At Doss, Bryant said that affiliation will help the company reach new heights when it begins to roll out services more broadly in 2022. Not only will Doss platform allow users to search for homes based on neighborhood characteristics like proximity to shops and cafes, it will allow users to book plumbers and roofers and find flood and disaster insurance in one place. He said Googles vote of confidence means it may be adopted faster than he had originally hoped. Even with the recognition, Bryant said he doesnt want to be pigeon-holed as a Black start-up founder. I dont want to be looked at as a Black founder I want to be looked at as a founder with a killer idea, because it defies race, Bryant said. We want to make homeownership in America more affordable. Not make homeownership more affordable for just for white people or Black people or Asian people or Latinos we want to make it affordable for everyone. shelby.webb@chron.com Bloomberg photo by Alex Flynn. ARK Investment Managements Cathie Wood is betting that St. Petersburg, Florida, can become the next buzzy destination for technology firms. Woods touted the low cost of living in the Sunshine State, which has no income tax, and pushed back on the notion that its just a place for retirees. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has proven he is not some Ironman-esque techno-savior, but just another crony-capitalist robber baron trying to hoard as much wealth as possible. Musk legally moved to Texas a year ago, and last week announced his electric vehicle company is following suit. His exit from California is a betrayal of Teslas home state where grants, tax breaks and EV incentives financed the company. His arrival in Texas is a betrayal of his employees and customers. The move will, though, make the worlds wealthiest man even richer. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Texas property tax breaks for businesses are only the tip of a troubling iceberg Musk is from South Africa, but Tesla was born in Silicon Valley. Almost from the beginning, California nursed the fledging company while it lost billions over more than a decade. Calculating exactly how much the state spent helping Tesla is difficult, but the company would not have survived without government incentives. Lawmakers provided tax breaks up to $621 million in 2006 when Tesla took over an old Toyota factory in Fremont, Calif. They provided another $34.7 million when it expanded production in 2013. The federal government loaned Tesla $465 million when it nearly collapsed in 2010, which the company repaid. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority provided $90 million to develop Tesla vehicles and another $126 million to design better batteries. Then in 2015, Tesla qualified for a $15 million job creation state tax credit, which worked out to $3,300 for each employee. State tax credits for purchasing a Tesla, though, were critical to attracting consumers. In addition to a $7,500 federal tax credit, California offered a $2,500 rebate to EV buyers. When the federal tax credit for Tesla ended, California upped their incentive to $5,000. Tesla buyers received $334.7 million in state rebates between March 2010 and Jan. 31 this year, according to state statistics reported by the LA Times. Musk and his companies investors enjoy most of the financial upside of the government support, while taxpayers shoulder the cost, an investigative reporting team for the Los Angeles Times concluded in 2015. Today, Tesla is making profits, and Musk is not as popular in California as he once was. To avoid paying taxes, he is moving Teslas headquarters to Texas, which does not have a corporate or personal income tax. Instead of credits against taxes owed, state and local officials gave Tesla $65.4 million in tax breaks to build a Cybertruck factory near Austin. What we dont know is what they will give Tesla for moving the headquarters to Austin as well. He definitely goes where there is government money, Dan Dolev, an analyst at Jefferies Equity Research, told the Los Angeles Times way back in 2015. Musk has told reporters that he is not entirely abandoning California. Tesla will expand its workforce in the state, he promised. But he wont talk about how he will avoid paying a 13.3 percent state income tax on the billions of dollars in stock awards he just received. Neither will Musk talk about conditions in the state he expects his management team to live in so that he and shareholders can reap greater rewards. Musk initially pledged to move Teslas headquarters after Alameda County public health officials ordered him to shut down the Fremont factory to slow the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. That wont happen in Texas, which has the sixth-worst COVID infection rate in the country. Instead, Gov. Greg Abbott just forbade private companies from requiring employees to get vaccinated. Politically, Tesla employees will have a harder time casting a ballot. Nor will they get to elect public officials who reflect their perspectives under recently-passed redistricting maps. The GOP drew them to make sure votes from Austin communities are severely diluted by rural populations. Female employees will not have access to the reproductive health care they can access in California. While other major companies offered women a chance to relocate out of Texas, Musk is ordering them to move here. Abbott told CNBC that Musk likes Texass social policies. The underfunded schools, the lack of health care for the working poor, the marginalization and humiliation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Texans aren't dumb but our leaders are cynical, so we'll pay high COVID price Musk released an ambiguous tweet claiming falsely that he would prefer to stay out of politics. I ridiculed him for focusing instead on getting permission to sell his cars in Texas, which currently requires automakers to use dealers as intermediaries. I was wrong. Musk was finalizing his deal to move Tesla to Texas. Musks willingness to turn his back on California and subject his employees to Texas political madness reveals a lot about his character. For someone who wants to change the world, he is awfully determined to line his pockets. Chris Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Rick Bowmer Nordstrom is hiring in Houston as the Seattle-based fashion retailer gears up for the holiday gift giving season. The positions include both seasonal and regular jobs at its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in Houston, along with remote customer care positions. The company will host hiring events at its local stores on October 22 and October 29 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Nordstrom has stores in The Galleria and The Woodlands and six Nordstrom Rack discount stores across the Houston market. When 96-year-old Tennie Ivy was first diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer last November, her initial inclination was to allow the disease to take its course. After all, she had lived a long and happy life, and she feared suffering from the well-known negative effects from chemotherapy and radiation. But one unfilled life goal helped convince her to take the life-extending treatments her doctors had planned out for her: She wanted to see the youngest of her four grandchildren get married, an event that had been scheduled to take place last June 2020, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic had been postponed until July of this year. Tennie, now 97, has survived chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and was able to travel by car from Houston to Greenville, South Carolina to attend the wedding of her grandson Andrew Haag. It was just wonderful, Tennie said of the joyful event. It was more than wonderful, because I had lived. Born in the small town of Bassfield, Mississippi, Tennie was raised on a farm. She lived most of her life in Jackson, Mississippi, with her late husband, Allen Wilson Ivy, a long-haul transport truck driver. Because his job took him away from home, Tennie was often left alone for long periods of time to raise the couples two children, Elaine and Allen Wayne Ivy. Following the death of her husband in the late 1990s, she remained in Jackson for another 18 years before moving in 2015 to the East Montgomery County area, to live with daughter Elaine and Elaines husband, Dale. Elaine said hearing of her mothers initial diagnosis was a jarring emotional experience for her. Everything was going fine, she was feeling great, Elaine recalled. But then her mother found a knot on her breast. When I first saw it, I kind of had an idea of what it was. Shes always been very strong, the rock of our family, she said. The thought of losing her that quickly was quite emotional. I just wasnt ready for that. Following the diagnosis, Tennie faced an agonizing decision: to do nothing, which would inevitably lead to her death, or to undergo a difficult and potentially painful treatment regimen. We had a lot to talk about, because she had said that if she was diagnosed, we werent going to do anything, Elaine remembers. It was ultimately her decision. It was her life, but we of course wanted her to fight and be here with us longer. Tennie recounted her thought process leading up to her life-affirming decision. I was never going to take chemo. I had heard how terrible it was and how terrible radiation was, that it burns you, and all of that. Thats all I ever heard about it, she said. In the end, she decided to accept the doctors recommendation for an aggressive course of treatment, using chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the large tumor to the point where it could be removed through surgery. They gave me the option of what could happen if I didnt do anything, and that wasnt a very pleasant thought, she said. So, I said, OK. Her first round of chemo took place on December 3, 2020. Ultimately, the brave patient underwent seven chemo treatments, 30 radiation treatments, one blood transfusion and a left mastectomy. Everything went beautifully. I was never sick but one time, Tennie said. I was able to eat, and went on about my life. She praised the level of care she received from the doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital, where she received her treatment. I cannot say more about all of them. No one ever gave me the impression that Shes old. Whats the use? and that was a lot of help. She also credited her family for providing her with the support she needed to get through a very difficult time. My daughter was very good. She took care of all this, Tennie said. Dale, her son-in-law, helped keep her spirits up by teasing her about the relatively easy time she had undergoing the treatment process. He laughed and said that all I lost through all of this was my hair, she said. Elaine said she was amazed at how hard her mother had fought to beat her disease. Whenever her doctors would suggest making changes to her course of treatment Tennie would think about it, and then agree to follow their recommendations. She went into it saying, Ill try. Because the hospitals COVID protocols only permitted one family member at a time to visit a patient undergoing treatment, Elaine assumed that role, while Dale, who had retired as a systems analyst with the Federal Aviation Administration in 2019, provided moral and logistical support at home. With the chemo, we had to have certain things. I would call and say were going to need this or that at home, Elaine said. Dale would also accompany Tennie on walks as she tried to build up her strength while undergoing treatment. Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Tennie had walked a mile every day and she said she is determined to continue that exercise regimen post-treatment. In February, Tennie underwent the surgery in which the doctors removed her left breast and three lymph nodes. I was a little uncomfortable right after that, but as far as severe pain, no. I had no severe pain at any time, she said. In fact, Tennie said the only pain medications she took were those they administered to her in the hospital. She took none at home. Her last radiation treatment was in May, which gave her enough time to recover to be able to attend her grandsons wedding in July. The family decided to make a road trip out of the event. With COVID we just didnt want her flying. She had already been through so much, so we just put her in the car to take her there, Elaine said. It took three days to get there and three days to get back, so it was not too bad. The groom said he was very happy that his grandmother was well enough to be able to attend the wedding. It honestly meant the world to me, Andrew said. Its hard to put into words, he said. It was the happiest day of my life, obviously because I was getting married, but even more so because I knew what she went through to be there. Elaine said shes extremely grateful that Tennie decided to undergo treatment and was able to attend Andrews wedding, and hopefully many future family events. We were just amazed, thankful and blessed that she did as well as she did and of course that shes still here with us, she said. Im just amazed at her strength and how hard she fought. Shes just a great example for me and our family and all our friends. 2 1 of 2 Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 courtesy of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less A 74-year-old Spring man received an eight-year prison sentence stemming from a 2019 incident where he reportedly admitted to viewing child pornography at a Starbucks in The Woodlands. On Oct. 6, a Montgomery County jury in presiding Judge Lisa Michalks 221st District Court found Lloyd Morgans guilty on four third-degree felony counts of possession or promotion of child pornography. The jury sentenced Morgans to two four-year sentences to be served consecutively, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office and district clerk records. When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in August banned any government entity namely school districts and local governments from issuing vaccine mandates, he faced some backlash from anti-vaxxers who felt that he hadnt gone far enough. But his office was clear at the time that the government shouldnt meddle with the rights of Texans, in this context at least. Private businesses don't need government running their business, said his spokesperson, Renae Eze. That was August. Now its October, and Abbott apparently thinks private businesses will welcome the heavy hand of government. Abbott on Monday issued a new executive order seeking to ban any entity in Texas from mandating that its employees, or customers, be vaccinated against COVID-19. He also asked legislators to pass a law to the same effect during this years third special session, which began September 20 and ends next week. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced, he said in a statement, announcing the new policy. So there you have it: Abbotts plan for eliminating COVID-19 as a public health threat is to expand the list of places where life-saving vaccines cannot be required, even as the states death toll exceeds 68,000. Heck of a job, governor. But lets face it, Abbott threw in the towel a while ago on stamping out COVID-19. Today, his priority seems to be taking on President Joe Biden, a Democrat. On HoustonChronicle.com: Fall is here, but Greg Abbott is still sporting his flip-flops Biden last month issued an executive order stipulating that employers with 100 or more employees institute vaccine mandates or regular testing requirements. Many large employers have opted for the former in order to avoid the administrative overhead that would necessarily accompany a weekly testing program. Abbott is therefore arguing that Biden issued a de facto vaccine mandate for large private employers, even though he didnt. The Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texass continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster, he argues, in the executive order itself. But you would have to be naive to believe that Bidens order led to Abbotts latest flip-flop. The presidents order was issued over a month ago on Sept. 9, to be exact. The governor could have issued this executive order then. And if he wanted legislators to take action, he could have added it to the call at the beginning of the third special session rather than in its final days. Furthermore, if Abbotts shift was inspired by economic realities, he should explain why hes focused on Bidens executive order, which affects every state, not just Texas. The states unemployment rate stood at 5.9 percent in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats significantly higher than the national rate of 5.2 percent that month, the most recent for which data is available. No, its pretty clear that Abbott is more focused on winning a GOP primary next year than doing everything in his power to defeat COVID-19. As he seeks a third term amid sagging job approval ratings, Abbott has decided the best course is to run right to stave off two very conservative challengers, former Florida congressman Allen West and former state Sen. Don Huffines. West, who is unvaccinated himself, recently spent a few days in the hospital receiving monoclonal antibodies after contracting COVID-19. West dealt with the experience by vowing to fight even harder against vaccine mandates (and the vaccines themselves, which he described as a dangerous shot). As Governor of Texas, I will vehemently crush anyone forcing vaccine mandates in the Lone Star State, West tweeted on Sunday, hours before Abbotts about-face. Huffines, for his part, claimed credit for Abbotts change of heart. I am very pleased to see that our campaign has forced Greg Abbott to reverse his position on this important issue, Huffines said, in a statement. The good news is that employers are likely to ignore Abbotts new order, just as many school districts ignored his previous order banning mask mandates. Many cite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. Besides, employers arguably have no choice: a governors executive order doesnt supercede that of a U.S. president. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told CNBC on Tuesday that hes never been in favor of corporations imposing that kind of mandate, but he added that Southwest will nevertheless proceed with the mandate it announced last week in response to the federal directive. Of course, Abbotts order is a mandate too one that seeks to usurp the authority of men and women who want to make their own decisions about how to run their businesses. It seems that Abbott is opposed to the government telling folks what to do, unless hes the one issuing the orders. erica.grieder@chron.com Christopher Ramirez is only three years old and he's already got his first badge of honor in law enforcement. Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell honored the young toddler with a junior deputy badge and patch for his bravery after learning he aspires to be a police officer when he grows up. Ramirez had been missing since Wednesday after chasing a neighbors dog into the woods as his mother unloaded groceries at their Plantersville home about 60 miles northwest of downtown Houston, authorities previously stated, and never came back. He was found alive and safe Saturday by a good Samaritan after an extensive, all-hands-on-deck search. He can be a Navy Seal if he wanted to," Sowell said at a press conference KHOU11 reported. "He has already passed survival training." The sheriff said he hopes Christopher can look back at his badge one day "with pride" and remember the many people who searched for him with compassion and love after vanished. That honor was matched with a special escort home from police and firefighters after his release from the Texas Children's Hospital Monday. The sheriff's office celebrated the occasion and showed appreciation on Facebook to the officers, community and everyone who had a hand in locating Ramirez. "It was a true pleasure to watch the numerous law enforcement, first responders , fire departments along with the many others that participated in the search for Christopher Ramirez as they escorted Sgt. Martha Smith and Christopher and his Mom from the Texas Children's Hospital to his home," the post read. "Thanks again to everyone that helped and for the many that expressed their prayers for his safe rescue!" Many Grimes County residents joined in on the celebration and commended the agency for its persistent efforts to safely rescue the toddler. "The citizens of Grimes County are lucky to have a Sheriffs Department that never stopped looking until the call came he was found," wrote Facebook user Steve Lowery Sr. "Great Job to all the volunteers and assisting agencies and especially GCSO." One man was killed Tuesday morning after he and a group of auto parts thieves he was with were shot at during an attempted theft, according to Houston Police. The incident happened around 6:30 a.m. at the 9600 block of Long Point Drive where authorities say a group of men trying to steal something from a truck were shot at by someone in the neighborhood. As the suspects attempted to leave he crashed into another car and then into a nearby daycare. Google Maps Barbers Hill ISD says it took appropriate action after an incident involving some of its students using a racial slur and laughing about it on social media. A TikTok user shared a video condemning three teens who used the N-word and laughed afterwards, with the caption: "Y'all think this is funny?" One of the teens identified on social media as a student of Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, located about 40 miles east of downtown Houston. Some Texas colleges are seeing increases in enrollment, particularly among underrepresented groups, despite the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas A&M, Rice University, Houston Baptist universities, and the University of Texas at Austin all welcomed more students than last year, according to the colleges preliminary reports. UT-Austin boasted its largest incoming class, with 9,060 first-time freshmen a 7 percent increase from last year. Overall enrollment at UT also increased by 3 percent with 51,992 students close to its all-time high of 52,261 in 2002, according to a news release. Texas A&Ms enrollment increased by about 2.6 percent with 72,982 students on its first day of classes. Rice saw an 8 percent increase in its overall enrollment and nearly a 5 percent increase in undergraduate students. St. Thomas also welcomed its largest freshman cohort, with more than 380 students and, like other colleges, emphasized its diversity and inclusion within the student base. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Of St. Thomas incoming students, 64 percent are Hispanic or Latino, further cementing the private Catholic school as a Hispanic Serving Institution. Around 11 percent are Asian American or Pacific Islander, 17 percent Caucasian, and nearly 10 percent Black, university officials said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Enrollment at Houston-area colleges isnt what experts predicted UT noted an increase of first-generation students by roughly 3 percent, which makes this population around 23 percent of all undergraduates. The university also enrolled more Hispanic students than last year, reaching 27.1 percent Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and increased its international population by 13 percent, university data shows. And while diversity has seemingly been at the forefront, the number of white students attending Texas colleges has decreased. At UT, the number of white undergraduates dropped by 2 percentage points from 37.3 percent to 35.1 percent this year. Rice saw its white graduate student population decrease by around 3 percent, while nearly every other population saw more students. At Houston Community College, where Black and Hispanic or Latinx students enrolled at consistent rates, the white student population decreased around 8 percent. And at Prairie View A&M University, where enrollment grew by 1.5 percent, its white population decreased by 8 percent. Daniel Villanueva, a higher ed scholar and practitioner, said the decline in white students at Texas institutions could be because many come from socioeconomic backgrounds that allow them to be more mobile and flexible in their college choices, whereas students from underrepresented communities might be more committed to familial responsibilities and jobs where they live and thus, choose to stay closer to home. Fall 2021 preliminary enrollment growth Rice University: 8 percent University of St. Thomas: 7 percent Houston Baptist University: 4 percent UT-Austin: 3 percent San Jacinto College: 2 percent Texas A&M: 2.6 percent Prairie View A&M: 1.5 percent Lone Star College: decreased by less than 1 percent University of Houston: decreased by less than 1 percent Houston Community College: -2 percent See More Collapse Villanueva is vice president of enrollment and management at the University of Houston-Downtown, and said UHDs population is also slowly but surely becoming more Hispanic and less white. At UHD, the Hispanic and Latinx population grew 1 percent over the past year and 7 percent since 2019, while the white population decreased by 9 percent since last fall alone. Similarly, Houston Baptist University, which had its highest record of overall and freshman enrollment, saw a surge in Hispanic and Black students this fall, but a decrease in white students. We see that more white students have options to go out-of-state and that more out-of-state institutions that are right around Texas offer in-state tuition waivers for students, Villanueva said. And so as white students navigate higher ed, theyre not only looking at the landscape exclusive to Texas but nationwide. While this trend is more specific to Texas, the trend of increasing diversity particularly among Hispanic and female students is happening nationwide, Villanueva said. Prairie View A&M data also showed that students are pursuing post-baccalaureate certificates and doctoral degrees at higher percentages this year, but that the number of sophomore students enrolled declined by about 90 people or 5 percent. The number of applicants and those admitted also decreased by more than 13 percent compared to last fall. For other colleges, enrollment stayed flat or decreased only slightly. Preliminary numbers at the University of Houston showed that its student population largely stayed the same, decreasing by just 70 students. Lone Star Colleges student population decreased by less than 1 percent. HCC experienced a 2 percent decrease in overall enrollment a positive sign considering enrollment dropped a whopping 17 percent last fall, said Shantay Grays, vice chancellor for student services. The community college system has seen increases in other areas, including a 6 percent increase in new students and a 3 percent rise in enrollment in it its continuing education program, which hosts short-term training. We attribute that the anticipation of reopening and allowing students to access those skilled labs that they need, she said. And returning students, who might have stopped during a previous semester, have also enrolled at a higher rate, she said. But HCC is not letting its guard up. The colleges dual credit enrollment program decreased 10 percent since last fall, a dip officials attribute to learning loss and some of the difficulties the Houston Independent School District has had engaging and accounting for its students. Though its difficult to pinpoint all of the challenges that students might face, HCC has hired 45 admissions advisers as staff who will be embedded in high schools in areas HCC services, Grays said. Staff will help facilitate enrollment for dual-credit programs and engage previous students they might have lost during the pandemic. brittany.britto@chron.com Houston hospitals and healthcare institutions that require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are still reviewing the implications of Gov. Greg Abbotts recent executive order, stating that no entity can mandate vaccines in the state. Houston Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, the first two Houston-area medical institutions to implement such requirements, say the order will have no immediate effect because their workforce is fully vaccinated. However, it remains an open question whether new hires will need to be comply with the vaccine requirement and whether hospital systems that have yet to reach their final vaccination deadlines, such as Texas Childrens Hospital and St. Lukes Health, can preserve their COVID vaccine policy. Lawyers also are sorting out whether the state order will supersede federal rules announced last month by President Joe Biden. As part of a sweeping action, Biden moved to require vaccines for 17 million healthcare workers at hospitals and institutions that accept Medicare and Medicaid funding. On HoustonChronicle.com: Vaccine mandate drama fades among Houston-area providers as deadlines pass for Baylor, Texas Children's A number of Houston-area hospitals including MD Anderson and HCA Houston Healthcare have been waiting for those rules to be published to make a decision on mandates. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have yet to release the final rules as of Tuesday. In a statement, Texas Hospital Association president and CEO Ted Shaw said Abbotts order undercuts the central mission of hospitals, and patients and staff cannot be put at unnecessary risk. Hospitals have soldiered on for months at ground zero of this pandemic, he said. As experts in healing and saving lives, hospitals must have the trust, respect and flexibility to mandate vaccines in their own facilities to protect the people of Texas. In an email to its membership, the hospital association said it does not believe the order will affect hospitals that have already implemented vaccine mandates, citing Chapter 224 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, which addresses mandatory vaccines in hospitals. The chapter requires healthcare providers to develop a vaccine policy to protect their patients from vaccine preventable diseases. The association is reviewing whether the order will affect Chapter 224 going forward. Abbotts order fueled the efforts of Jared Woodfill, a prominent Houston attorney and former Harris County GOP chairman, who has multiple active lawsuits against Houston Methodist on behalf of dozens of employees who refused the vaccine. The hospital system in June fired or accepted the resignation of 153 employees who did not comply with the requirement. Woodfill sent the hospital a letter on Tuesday asking that his clients be immediately reinstated to their former positions. I think this is extremely good for our case from a legal perspective, Woodfill said in a phone interview. U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes dismissed Woodfills initial wrongful termination lawsuit in federal court, but the attorney has since filed an appeal. Woodfill also filed two other wrongful termination lawsuits in Montgomery County against the hospital system. In a statement, Methodist said it has no intention of reinstating any former employees who do not wish to receive the vaccine. Mr. Woodfill and his clients had their day in court, according to the statement. As Judge Lynn Hughes stated, Houston Methodist did not coerce his clients to get the COVID-19 vaccine. His clients were free to decline the COVID-19 vaccine and work somewhere else. At Houston Methodist, the safety of our patients and employees is paramount. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston pediatric hospitals see record high in rare COVID-related illness MIS-C In a separate comment, Houston Methodist president and CEO Dr. Marc Boom said the organization is deeply disappointed in Abbotts order and expressed concern for other Texas hospitals that may not be able to continue their mandates now with this executive order. We are reviewing the order now and its possible implications, he said. As health care workers weve taken a sacred oath to do no harm. Part of that oath means doing everything possible to prevent the spread of disease - something we know these vaccines are very good at doing. The Memorial Hermann Health System, which reached its vaccine mandate deadline last Saturday, expressed similar disappointment. At this time, the requirements of Memorial Hermanns policy remain in effect, the hospital system said in a statement. It is important to note that the systems Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy was announced and went into effect on Aug. 2, 2021, more than two months before the Governors most recent executive order was issued. Texas Childrens Hospital, which passed its first-dose vaccine deadline last month, has yet to make any final assessment of the order. We support the ability of private employers to determine the best vaccine policy for their operations and employee safety, according to a statement from Texas Childrens. julian.gill@chron.com To his mother, 9-year-old Jacen Thornton looked like a little marshmallow in his bed at Texas Childrens Hospital. He was a bloated version of Juliet Thorntons healthy, active boy. His stomach and legs had swelled, making it painful for him to walk. Terrible headaches ailed him. Doctors discovered his heart and liver were inflamed, a key sign of what was determined to be multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C. While rare, the conditions is showing up in more patients at Texas Childrens than ever before, with a record 30 admissions in the month of September. Parents should be aware of it, Thornton said. MIS-C causes inflammation in a variety of organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors have been unraveling its characteristics since the start of the pandemic. The cause remains unknown, but it has been linked to the virus that causes COVID-19. Most children experience MIS-C symptoms three to six weeks after COVID exposure. Many do not show symptoms from the virus and do not even know they became infected. Thats what happened to Jacen, Thornton said. When Juliet Thornton tested positive for COVID in December, Jacen and her older son tested negative. Then, a few weeks later on New Years Day, Jacen started complaining of stomach aches. He felt lethargic and blew off video games usually his go-to hobby. He ran a fever that would not let up with Tylenol. At one point, Thornton noticed his fingernails were turning blue, a sign of low oxygen levels. His condition worsened the next day. Thornton took him to the emergency room at Texas Childrens, where a series of tests ruled out COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu and appendicitis. They were sent home under advice to treat him with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. When those medications did not work, the Thorntons returned to the ER. It was a whirlwind of information, because (doctors) were still saying Maybe its this, maybe its not, Thornton said, referring to MIS-C. Im so glad for them trying to pinpoint exactly what it was, asking all kinds of questions. During Jacens second hospital visit, he took anti-inflammatory medications, such as baby aspirin, while doctors monitored his heart with an electrocardiogram and drew blood. Jacen was released after nine days but needed to keep a heart monitor on his chest for a month at Patterson Elementary School. You figure as a mother, theres only so many things you can do, Thornton said. But then they say this is affecting your childs heart that was scary in itself. Now, Jacen must watch what he eats, she said. His liver is still inflamed. A recent doctors visit revealed high blood pressure. The familys health struggles did not stop at Jacen. Thorntons older son, Jacob, 11, showed the exact same symptoms a few months after his brother. He endured a 10-day hospital stay at Texas Childrens over the Easter holiday with inflammation in his brain and right eye. His condition also improved enough to return to school, but doctors continue to evaluate his eye, which caused blurry vision. While Jacob was not officially diagnosed with MIS-C, Thornton said, the family still stresses over the unusual nature of the boys condition. Its definitely something were struggling with, Thornton said. julian.gill@chron.com Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to establish best practices that will guide local law enforcement on how to certify that an immigrant victim of a crime is helpful to an investigation. An official certification by officers is an essential step in a survivors application process for a U-visa, a special visa designed to protect crime victims from deportation. The countys model policy was approved unanimously and provides guidance to law enforcement agencies on this sometimes misunderstood aspect of the crime victims visa process, which requires a formal verification by law enforcement that the applicant cooperated with the investigation. A victim, witness or bystander of a serious crime like rape, domestic violence, kidnapping among other crimes who is undocumented, can be eligible for a U-visa, which is a critical tool that protects migrants from deportation while law enforcement investigate a crime. It should come as a surprise to no one that many undocumented residents who live in Harris County live in the shadows, and that makes them unlikely to report incidents of crime said Judge Lina Hidalgo in a written statement. We must do what we can to help ensure no victim of crime in our community is afraid to speak up and seek redress, irrespective of immigration status. While the model policy doesnt require any law enforcement agencies to adopt the best practices, local immigration attorneys are supportive of the move. Precinct 2 Constable Jerry Garcia told Commissioners Court said hell be adopting the recommendations, according to the Harris County Justice Administration Department. I want to support survivors of crime and help advocates assist them and navigate the complex immigration process, Garcia said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County OKs $2.5 M to help poor immigrants Zenobia Lai, executive director of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, said if the model policy is adopted by local law enforcement agencies, it could remove some barriers crime victims face in the region when theyre trying to get their U-visa certification. This is a really important first step to create written policy that people can refer to if they have never heard about U-visas, Lai said. The best practices eliminate a time limit for when a crime victim can ask for their U-visa certification paperwork from law enforcement. The best practices also encourage officers to recertify an application, if necessary, as U-visa certifications are only valid for six months. Under the new norms, U-visa certification requests should be completed within 30 days, or a shorter timeline if the person is in deportation proceedings or is detained. The model policy also encourages law enforcement to presume that a crime survivor is being helpful in an investigation and it says law enforcement shouldnt take into consideration criminal or immigration history, as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will be looking at an individuals background to determine the outcome of their case. Establishing best practices could help streamline the lengthy and often misunderstood U-visa process in the region. However, due to the large backlog of U-visas applications, it can take up to 10 years for a person applying today to receive a visa, as only 10,000 U-visas are issued each year. Democratic Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has advocated for the model policy since 2020, when Commissioners Court approved a $2 million deportation defense legal fund as well as $500,000 to support immigrant victims of crime. On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County creates immigrants legal defense fund He said crime victims must be allowed to remain in the country long enough for law enforcement to have a chance at prosecuting the criminals who harmed them. If you are assaulted, robbed, the statute of limitations of your evil-doer, your offender, is five or 10 years, Garcia said. But (the limit) to apply for the relief of the U-visa, so you can continue to cooperate with law enforcement and get that person arrested, in some cases is two years. Harris Countys Justice Administration Department wrote the U-visa best practices, along with a report about the use of crime victims visas in the region. In the report, the Justice Administration Department found that in 2020 the Harris County Sheriffs Office received 335 requests for U-visa certifications and approved 103 certifications. Sixty-five applications were denied that year by the sheriffs office, which effectively blocked their opportunity for a U-visa. In 2020, the Houston Police Department received 1301 U-Visa requests and approved 809 of them, or 62%. Harris County District Attorneys Office received 557 requests in the same year and denied 97 of them. elizabeth.trovall@chron.com Houston ISD on Tuesday took responsibility for failing to include the nickname of a trustee candidate when it entered his name in a county elections office portal. Lee Mac Walker, vying for district 7, said last week he learned of the issue when a voter asked whether he was on the ballot. On his application to run, he listed his preferred name Mac as the name he wanted identified on the ballot. He has been campaigning under the nickname. He is listed on the ballot, however, simply as Lee Walker. HISD acknowledges and takes responsibility for the error in inputting Mr. Walkers name into the Harris County Elections Administrators Office Entity Portal, district officials said in a statement Tuesday. Corrective actions and systems in the Office of Board Services have been put into place to ensure that this does not happen again. County elections officials said last week the name cannot be changed on the ballot, citing the resources and time required to perform a logic and accuracy test for the entire election before voting begins. HISD said it will use both Walkers legal and preferred name in election notices it is required to publish in a newspaper, on the bulletin board used for posting board meeting notices and on its website. The district said it additionally will publish election notices in the Forward Times, La Voz and Vietnam Post and mail notices of the Nov. 2 election to registered voters in all five of the single-member districts having an election. The other candidates running for the district 7 seat are Bridget Wade, Dwight Jefferson and incumbent Trustee Anne Sung. Walker commended HISD Superintendent Millard House II for the statement and for trying to address an awkward situation. He said he was pleasantly surprised although still concerned the error could affect the election. I have to stay positive and keep moving forward, Walker said Tuesday. That is all you can do. alejandro.serrano@chron.com Port commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract with a locally based dredging company to begin work on an extensive, multi-phase project to expand the Houston Ship Channel, delaying the start by three months so the company can bring in a less-polluting dredge and retrofit other equipment to reduce harmful air emissions. The agreements in the $95.4 million contract with Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company come after environmental advocates called on port officials to consider how the pollution from dredges used in the project could harm those living along the ship channel. On HoustonChronicle.com: As Houston Ship Channel expands, a historic community prepares to fight yet another health hazard Emissions from dirty diesel-burning dredges and other machinery could release as much air pollution as an industrial refinery, environmental advocates found. The concerning pollutants include nitrogen oxides, which can combine with other compounds in the air to form ozone, a source of potential health problems. But port commissioners said Tuesday they wouldnt be using the dirtiest equipment for the first portion of work on whats known as Project 11. They instead plan to wait for the Houston-based company to finish up another project in Charleston, S.C., with one of its cleaner dredges, then bring it here. And Great Lakes Dredge and Dock will retrofit a second, older dredge so that nitrogen oxide emissions are significantly reduced. The Port took an important first step in reducing the environmental impact of Project 11, said Stephanie Thomas, a Houston-based organizer for Public Citizen. The ports action today demonstrates a necessary commitment to community health and the environment that wed like to see going forward through the rest of the project. Project 11 is an ambitious plan to deepen and widen the roughly 52-mile-long Houston Ship Channel, which winds from the Gulf of Mexico through shallow Galveston Bay and up through the port. A bigger channel will allow for bigger ships that use the Panama Canal. Officials argue it will also make the notoriously complex channel more efficient and safe to navigate. The proposed work for the expansion has been broken into multiple segments, beginning with what Great Lakes Dredge and Dock will undertake over an about 11.5-mile stretch from around the tip of Bolivar Peninsula to near San Leon, by whats known as Red Fish Island. The channel will be widened from 530 to 700 feet, and the dug-up material will be used to build an island for bird habitat. On HoustonChronicle.com: Big ships navigating the narrow Houston Ship Channel have little room for error Officials first hoped work could begin in December, but now its expected to start in March. It will take that long for the older dredge and other equipment to be retrofitted with a technology known as selective catalytic reduction, at a cost of $4.5 million. This puts a liquid such as urea into the exhaust system to remove the nitrogen oxides, as port official Charlie Jenkins explained can be done with a pick-up truck. We want to go above and beyond what we have to do, which we did, Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo said during the meeting. And we know it costs additional funds and were fine with that. At the end of the day, were all in this together. We want to be transparent and we want to work with communities to make sure that, fundamentally, we improve the economy at the same time as we balance environmental and health issues as well. emily.foxhall@chron.com In a class of around 300 Texas A&M College of Architecture students, construction industry giant Stan Marek issued a warning to the future project managers, landscape architects and urban planners of Texas. If we lost our undocumented construction workers in Texas, we would be shut down. We would not build a house, Marek said. We would be all out of work. Marek, CEO of Marek Brothers, a commercial general contractor, is a longtime advocate of immigration reform. His blunt message to a captive audience of mostly freshmen and sophomores students on Texas A&Ms campus Tuesday evening was that their job security is dependent on finding solutions to one of the most divisive political issues of the day: immigration. He asked the crowd of students if any of them plan to hang sheetrock in their careers. Not a single persons hand shot up in the crowd of mostly young white men. Most of the students will take on managerial roles in the industry. Mareks point? Immigrants especially undocumented immigrants are more often than not doing the actual building. An estimated 24 percent of all Texas construction workers are undocumented, according to data from the New American Economy think tank thats about 305,000 workers. Of the states drywall, ceiling tile installers and tapers, 76 percent are immigrants. On HoustonChronicle.com: As Texas struggles to fill construction jobs, leaders call immigration proposal 'needed relief' Marek laid out more uncomfortable truths in his talk to the in-person students, and others teleconferencing in from the Rio Grande Valley: builders rely on undocumented workers to deliver cheaper projects and stay competitive. By hiring immigrants as independent subcontractors, builders can get away with offering low wages and avoid paying workers compensation (a program for injured workers) and payroll taxes. The home building industry has had this model for 35 years, said Marek, Ive talked to some home builders and theyre really proud of the fact that they can deliver a house much cheaper than somebody who pays payroll taxes, provides workers comp. And he says this underground system is growing. The commercial industry today is going more the model of the independent subcontractors, said Marek. The underground labor economy also leaves workers vulnerable to wage theft, unsafe working conditions and other abuse, which has been documented by groups like Workers Defense and the Fe y Justicia Worker Center. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston construction industry leads nation in job loss For companies that dont rely on the undocumented labor, the shortage in the industry has created a high demand for authorized workers. We've watched as the job costs just goes up year to year, said A&M senior construction science student David Roy. In the few years hes worked at a commercial paint contractor in San Antonio hes seen salaries quadruple for painters just to keep them on payroll since theres such a demand for their work. Its been hitting us hard, said Roy, whose company opted not to use independent subcontractors. Hes in favor of a policy Stan Marek advocated for during the lecture: ID and Tax. The proposal would create a system allowing millions of the undocumented people living in the United States to be hired legally while employers would be required to pay taxes. They would have to pass background checks and be issued government IDs. That would alleviate a lot of the pressure that we're feeling, said Roy. I'd be able to get more guys in the office and more guys working out on job sites. Right now, that's not an option that we have and that really does hurt us, either on the bottom line, or just as far as keeping employees inside our company. More from Elizabeth Trovall: Report: US immigration agencies are siloed, lack coordination Thursdays talk came as the Biden administration pledged not to carry out worksite raids to round up undocumented workers and instead crack down on the employers that hire from the underground economy and use exploitative tactics. We will not tolerate unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers, conduct illegal activities, or impose unsafe working conditions, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. But in his speech, Marek said for now he doesnt see anything radically changing that would discourage the use of independent subcontractors. He said by convincing students that what happens in Congress with immigration impacts their livelihoods directly, maybe theyll get closer to some sort of reform. If we're going to build our jobs with integrity and do the right thing, we have to have a legal workforce, said Marek. elizabeth.trovall@chron.com About a week after 3-year old Christopher Ramirez went missing in Grimes County and was later returned home, law enforcement officials are encouraging people to stay away from scammers who are attempting to capitalize on the situation. There have been attempts to use Ramirez and his family to get people to donate to a GoFundMe or other fundraiser accounts, the Grimes County Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook earlier this week. The Ramirez family is not seeking any financial help at this time, the sheriff's office said in the message. Trustee Elizabeth Santos, 39, is asking voters to keep her on the board representing Houston ISD District I. They shouldnt. Santos connection to the district is deep. She grew up attending its schools and taught English there. Her dedication to students shines through when she speaks. As a board member, she helped get raises for teachers and staff as a vocal champion for better pay in the district, whose teachers remain among the regions lowest paid. That record speaks in her favor, but it does not overcome her weaknesses as a board member. An early strike against Santos came in late 2018, when she joined four other trustees to oust Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan in a surprise vote that came after the five had met with a former superintendent whom they then named to replace Lathan. The Texas Education Agency cited that apparent violation of the states open meetings law as partial grounds for replacing the whole board. Santos defends her actions, and claimed in our meeting with her she hadnt known in advance that Lathan would be fired. But the episode was deeply disruptive and showed poor judgment. That was an early mistake, but unfortunately Santos has not provided the steady influence and smooth leadership that the school board, with all its recent acrimony, so badly needs. In interviews with us and other outlets recently, she has also struggled to share a cogent vision for how shell use a second term to steer the district to further success. On the other hand, Janette Garza Lindner, 45, is a strong candidate. The mother of two HISD students, she grew up in Brownsville, bilingual in Spanish and English, as an adopted daughter of a widow who left school in the second grade and never learned to read. She graduated from the University of Texas and is an energy industry consultant and project manager. In 2019, she received training as a board fellow of Latinos for Education and serves on the leadership committee of Arts Connect Houston. Her story lends itself well to representing District I, which stretches from the Near Northside to the northwest across much of the Heights. Matias Kopinsky, 25, is also running in this race and shows promise as a committed Houstonian. We hope he finds other ways to serve our community. I know firsthand how much schools matter, Garza Lindner told the editorial board. We believe she can channel her fierce inner drive into good governance that makes a difference for the next generation of children whose parents may not be able to read to them at night but who still dream that their futures are filled with open doors. Regarding Opinion: Gerrymandering violates the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, yet it continues, (Oct. 9): The bleating of a few souls in Saturdays Opinion page regarding gerrymandering borders on the pathetic. It is matched only by the blatant hypocrisy of Republican spokespersons flimsy statements that there was no racial intent in drawing the maps. The ugly truth is the Republicans did what the Democrats wouldnt do. They plotted. They organized and they cooperated with one another. They turned out their voters in local elections while Democrats basically stood by and observed. For their part, the Democrats did, well, nothing. Other than pontificate, release high-sounding moral edicts and otherwise stand by with their own bleating while the Republicans moved forward with implementing their plans. The outcome was inevitable ten years ago. To borrow an old expression, the Democrats continue to show up at the gunfight armed with knives and high-minded platitudes. Behold your future, Democrats. You have handed the government of the state of Texas to the Republican Party, and the party of Donald Trump at that. Now go back and do what you do best: rend your clothes while issuing more high-sounding statements. Im sure they cut Republicans to the core. Michael Martin, Houston Regarding Texas Senate rejects Democratic amendments, advances new congressional district maps, (Oct. 8): The article neglected to note that if the shoe were on the other foot, the Democrats would have done the same, if not more. It is a shame that the Democrats are crying racism once again. Every time things dont go their way, they play the race card and try to buy votes through legislative entitlements. Maybe they should think about doing something else, like putting forth legislation that encourages personal growth rather than a reliance on government handouts. Brian Binash, Houston Facing history Regarding Renaming bases, (Oct. 9): In her letter to the Chronicle, Patti Miller says, Rewriting history is what Russia and China have done. It is our history and it lets us understand our evolving country. There are several things wrong with this statement that I dont know where to begin, but Ill try. No one is rewriting history. Traitors to our country do not need to be honored by having an Army base named after them (especially when men and women of color who serve our country are housed on these bases) or statues in our cities. Their names will still be in our history books. Michael Jones, Pasadena As this country takes a necessary, analytical look at our past, we are not rewriting history. We are facing up to all aspects of our history. The history books will still report the various movements, leaders, successes and errors that past generations have experienced. The generations to follow need and deserve these truths, so they can move forward and, as the letter writer states, understand our evolving country. What they do not need are glossy fables of so-called heroes and statues to traitors. Carol Godell, Spring The letter writerconfuses the writing, and inevitable rewriting, of history with the celebration of cherished people and values. Historians write history, and later historians add what was left out by previous ones. For example, few people know about the 1898 coup d'etat in which a well-armed group of white supremacists overturned the racially mixed "Fusionist" city government of Wilmington, N.C., . At the time, that city was the largest in North Carolina and had a majority Black population. This bloody event is often called the only successful coup in the United States. The Wilmington white press referred to it, falsely, as a riot started by Black people. Neither state nor federal authorities responded to this seizure of power. Only in the last few decades have historians begun to dig into the details and facts of the matter. I discovered this event only as an English teacher who ran into a novel written a hundred years ago, based on those events. I researched further and discovered the facts. History thus gets filled in. Social values also change, and this is reflected in the monuments we want to remind us of those values. The naming of bases and other landmarks follows suit. It has nothing to do with "communism." Paul L. Rowe, Houston According to an Oct. 9 letter, Rewriting history is the first step towards communism. It appears we have been doing this for a long time. Who knew that when history was being written to make the Civil War about states rights, rather than about preserving slavery, we were already taking those steps onto the slippery slope. Craig Lamison, Houston I wonder if the letter writer supports ongoing attempts by Republicans to rewrite the Jan. 6 insurrection as just a normal day of tourism at the Capitol? If so, she is also supporting the first step toward communism in our country. Phyllis Howell, Humble Gov. Greg Abbott is setting the stage for yet another legal battle with the Biden administration over COVID-19 rules. By rolling out an executive order barring vaccine mandates in direct conflict with President Joe Bidens proposed order requiring such mandates for major employers, legal experts say Abbott is putting the White House in a position to have to tussle with Texas again. Its paving the way for legal action, said Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. The state is already fighting in court with the federal government over border security, the new Texas abortion law that effectively bans the procedure, and Bidens cancellation of a $30 billion Medicaid waiver granted to Texas in the final days of the Trump administration. On Monday Abbott announced he was putting in place an executive order that bars employers from requiring their employees to be vaccinated. That comes a month after Biden announced a mandate requiring companies with 100 or more employees to ensure that their workforces are vaccinated or regularly tested for the virus. IN-DEPTH: What Gov. Abbotts ban on vaccine requirements means for Texas workers While federal law would normally supersede state law, Blackman said Biden technically doesnt have one. There is no federal statute that Biden is trying to enforce. Instead, the Biden administration is still trying to have the U.S. Labor Department craft a rule to require the vaccine. That has essentially allowed Abbott to get ahead of the Biden administration, Blackman said. Its all creating confusion in the business community, where major employers are trying to gauge whether to require vaccines as Biden wants, or comply with Abbotts new rule. Southwest Airlines is already indicating it will not follow Abbotts latest executive order barring them from mandating vaccines of their employees. Officials with Southwest Airlines, which is based in Dallas, said Tuesday that they are aware of the recent order by Governor Abbott, but believe Bidens order s requiring federal contractors and employers with more than 100 workers supersedes it. According to the presidents executive order, federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and we would be expected to comply with the presidents order to remain compliant as a federal contractor, Southwest Airlines spokesperson Brandy King said in a statement. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox For dozens of other companies with Texas employees like Goldman Sachs, Walmart and Houston Methodist Hospital, Abbotts order comes after deadlines that already required employees to get vaccinated. We are grateful we mandated the vaccine early so the order will not have an immediate impact on us, said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist. Boom said Houston Methodist is still reviewing the order for possible implications. Abbotts office on Tuesday insisted the governor is trying to make life easier for employees in Texas who dont want to be forced to get a vaccine. The Biden administration has left Texans in the impossible position of having to choose between providing for their families or being fired for not getting the COVID vaccine because of their religious belief, medical condition, or personal conscience, said Abbotts spokeswoman Renae Eze. Some Democrats say Abbott is going too far in trying to prevent private businesses from doing what they can to help prevent the spread of COVID. It is reckless for Gov. Abbott to interfere with the liberty of business owners and school leaders to run their organizations in the way they feel is the safest and in the best interest of their associates and the people they serve, said state Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio. Even some Republicans are questioning how Abbott is making his stand, even if they agree with the concept in his executive order. State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, said it is the role of the Texas Legislature to pass laws, not the executive branch. COVID vaccine mandates can, and should, be addressed by the Legislature, Schaefer said. On social media. As part of his executive order announced on Monday, Abbott also issued a new legislative priority for the Texas Legislature to address vaccine mandates as part of the current special session. The special session ends in a week. The Texas Senate took its first step to address Abbotts request. State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, filed SB 51 that would address COVID vaccine mandates. That bill has a hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday. The Legislature is sure to get push back from the Texas Hospital Association, which issued a statement on Tuesday in opposition to moves to stop them from requiring vaccines. Texas hospitals strongly oppose efforts underway to hamstring them from being able to require vaccination of their own staff, many of whom are at the bedside every day with children and adults who are vulnerable to COVID-19, said Ted Shaw, the associations president and CEO. Abbott on Monday made clear on social media that he supports people getting vaccinated, but said the vaccine should be optional. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, & our best defense against the virus, but should always remain voluntary & never forced, he said. Texas lags behind the rest of the nation when it comes to COVID vaccinations. The state is reporting 63 percent of Texans 12 years and older have been fully vaccinated. Nationally, 66 percent of people 12 and up are fully vaccinated. jeremy.wallace@chron.com WASHINGTON The Biden administration will begin reopening the southern border next month, allowing families some of whom have been separated since March 2020 to reunite for the first time, as long as they can show proof of vaccination. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday rolled out the plan, which would allow vaccinated foreign nationals to cross into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada for non-essential travel to visit family and friends or shop for the first time since the border was closed when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. The plan will also require proof of vaccination for essential travel into the U.S. beginning in January, meaning thousands of truck drivers, students, workers and others who cross the border every day have about two months to get vaccinated, if they havent already. The decision was hailed by lawmakers from both parties, who said it will be a major boon for the economy and a big relief to families just in time for the holidays. Some havent seen their relatives since March 2020. RELATED: What Gov. Abbotts ban on vaccine requirements means for Texas workers Before the pandemic, we were getting 18 million Mexicans that would come in and spend $19 billion, said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who has been pushing the Biden administration to reopen the border for months. The downtown whether it was downtown Laredo or any part of the border this basically means that they will get their shoppers back. This will be a very good Christmas. Cuellar said it isnt just those border towns that stand to gain, either. I was in San Antonio this weekend and I can tell you, the malls down there in San Antonio are not the same without the Mexican shoppers, he said. The plan will also require essential travelers, who have been allowed to cross for work, school, trade and other reasons, to be vaccinated to cross beginning in January. Cuellar said dates have not yet been set for either change and the details are still being hashed out. The reopening of the land ports of entry is welcomed and long overdue news, said U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican whose district stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, covering much of the border. Our southern border communities rely on travel between our sister cities in Mexico for so much, and keeping our borders closed to legal travel has hurt our border communities economically and barred many from seeing loved ones. Reopening our borders to legal travel is a critical step in returning to normalcy. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The administration said the phased approach is meant to give ample time for essential travelers, such as truckers and others, to get vaccinated. More than 360,000 trucks crossed the border into Texas in June alone, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner. The move marks a significant shift in policy on the border for the Biden administration, but Cuellar said based on conversations with administration officials, he doesnt anticipate the president will move to end another controversial Trump-era public health order, known as Title 42, which the administration has used to immediately expel many migrants crossing the border. Democrats have called on Biden to end the policy, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last month called hateful and xenophobic Trump policies that disregard our refugee laws. But the Biden administration has kept it in place and is defending it in court. My understanding is that Title 42 will be kept, Cuellar said. ben.wermund@chron.com The Texas House on Wednesday morning approved new political boundaries that would further entrench the GOP majority over the next decade, over Democrats accusations that the plan unlawfully diminishes minority voting power. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats in the chamber 83-67. The chambers seats are almost evenly split between districts that favored Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. The current map includes 76 Trump-led districts and 74 Biden-led districts, but the Houses proposed changes shift that support to 85 in favor of Trump and 65 in support of Biden. The map will still need approval from the Senate before it makes it to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas House proposes new political map crafted to protect GOP majority Members debated the proposal starting on Tuesday for more than 17 hours and discussed more than 50 amendments, of which about 40 were accepted, and took a final vote in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Democrats have condemned the map, as well as those the Republicans drafted for the Texas Senate and U.S. House, for not reflecting the explosive growth in communities of color. In the last 10 years, the states population grew by 4 million people, overwhelmingly driven by increases in Black, Latino and Asian residents. Yet under the proposed House map, fewer districts are majority-minority, with the number of districts with a majority Black voting-age population dropping from seven to six and majority Hispanic from 33 to 30. The number of white-majority districts, meanwhile, would jump from 83 to 89. The proposed Texas House plan repeats the infirmities described by federal courts during the last decade by diluting the voting power of Texans of diverse population, said state Rep. Rafael Anchia. This process is out of step not only with the desires of members but also the Texas Constitution and the desires of the people of Texas. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox House redistricting chair state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, vigorously defended the maps and disagreed with that assertion. He said Republicans were cognizant of the Voting Rights Act and other legal requirements when drafting the maps. In some of these instances, the reductions were unavoidable, and most importantly, in none of these instances was the minorities ability to elect their preferred candidate of choice affected materially, he said. In almost all instances, these districts will continue to overwhelmingly elect the minority-preferred candidate. When you consider the population increases in Texas and where they took place, we believe this is a good plan, he added. The maps will almost certainly be challenged in court, as Democrats and voting rights advocates have done in the past. The litigation often lasts for years. Democratic district moved 600 miles The proposed changes to the Houston area would help Republicans retain their hold on power by moving Democratic voters in competitive areas to districts that already lean blue. For example, in west Harris County, two red-leaning suburban seats represented by Republican state Reps. Mike Schofield of Katy and Lacey Hull of Houston are strengthened by adding some red-leaning precincts from Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthals neighboring district. The two GOP districts would also offload blue-leaning precincts to Rosenthals district, making his more solidly Democratic. As in other metro areas around the state, however, Republicans did not have enough voters to shore up every GOP-controlled district in Houston. The Energy Corridor district represented by state Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican who is not seeking re-election, would cede some GOP precincts to Hull. While Trump won Murphys district by 4 percentage points in 2020, he would have carried it by about 2 percentage points under the new map. In nearby Fort Bend County, an area with rapid minority population growth that has become increasingly blue in recent elections, Republicans shored up the battleground district represented by freshman GOP Rep. Jacey Jetton of Richmond by adding part of Katy and the red-leaning suburbs south of the city. Jettons district would also offload Democratic voters to a new district anchored in Sugar Land. Under the new map, Trump would have carried Jettons district by about 11 points in 2020, instead of losing it by about 3. The new Sugar Land seat, District 76, would have favored Biden by a 23-point margin, likely putting it out of reach for Republicans. Democrats criticized the decision to draw the new seat as a replacement for the current District 76 in El Paso represented by Democratic state Rep. Lina Ortega. With her district set to be lifted more than 600 miles away to Sugar Land, Ortega would be placed in the district of a fellow El Paso Democrat, state Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez. Ortega previously expressed frustration with the change, calling it a direct attack on our border community that weakens the representation of minorities in the Texas Legislature, noting that she was now paired in the same district with a fellow Latina. State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, D-Houston, also opposed changes to her new district that she said leaves her with just a third of her current constituency. Under the proposed map, Morales Shaws district would be shifted completely outside Loop 610, losing the Heights and Near Northside, most of which would be moved into state Rep. Christina Morales district. Morales Shaw's District 148 would be expanded past Beltway 8 into northwest Harris County, taking in parts of Jersey Village and nearby suburbs, while cutting into area now represented by at least five other members. The districts Hispanic citizen voting-age population would decrease from 46 percent to 37 percent, and Morales Shaw said the residents that would be moved to other districts are from high-turnout communities. Chairman, from your knowledge, would you agree this dismantling and remaking of 148 is one of the most egregious examples that youve seen of retrogression in the Texas redistricting map? Morales Shaw asked Anchia during a round of questioning that seemed aimed at creating a record for a future lawsuit. Anchia said District 148 is protected under Section II of the Voting Rights Act, which prevents discrimination against minorities during the political mapmaking process, and to dismantle a protected district like that is one of the more problematic data points in the underlying map. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com jasper.scherer@chron.com Mayor Bernard Feels 'Positive Momentum' on Decrepit Public Safety Building Mayor Thomas Bernard updates the council on possible assistance with the public safety building. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The mayor is feeling optimistic about the future of the deteriorating public safety building. Mayor Thomas Bernard on Tuesday night acknowledged that the 1955 structure is "at the endpoint of a deferred maintenance challenge that has been decades in the making," despite a number of "expensive Band-Aids over the years." The city has been pushing for the release of $1.2 million earmarked three years ago in a state bond bill by state Sen. Adam Hinds for design and engineering for a new public safety building. A District Local Technical Assistance through the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission was used for a local working group to narrow down a possible nine to 10 sites to three or four suitable for a new public safety building. "We're still reviewing the information and the next steps, based on the conversation we had last week, I look forward to bringing forward some of that information to you at an upcoming meeting," he told the City Council during mayor's concerns at the regular council meeting. "There's a good sense that we may be able to do a preliminary feasibility analysis with some additional funds that could become available." Bernard said he was updating the council because he was "feeling a sense of positive momentum around the building and around the project." Last month, he said, there was a legislative hearing to promote a shared investment in public safety facilities locally at the state level and, last week, State Auditor Suzanne Bump released a study on how Western Massachusetts' small communities have been shortchanged in terms of state funding for infrastructure. The capital funding the former Great Barrington resident was championing were what she called "the lifeblood of community life." In addition to roads, bridges and internet, Bernard has been insisting that public safety also plays a role in the healthy economic life of a community a belief he made sure to articulate to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito when she visited the city a few weeks ago. "The auditor's report says the message is clear; investment in infrastructure is an important and necessary step to allow Western Massachusetts to fully become part of the growth and prosperity experienced by the commonwealth" since the end of the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor said. He invited the auditor to tour the police station if she needed an example of capital projects (she had actually used the Pittsfield police station, another structure failing to meet modern policing needs) and state Rep. Paul Mark visited it last week the lastest of a long line of public officials to walk through the public safety structure. There was also a legislative hearing last week focusing on shared investment in public safety buildings at the state level. The deficiencies of the 66-year-old public safety building are well documented. Tours of the building over the years by the public safety commissioner and later the police and fire chiefs have pointed out the urgent need for a new building. The city has been under a consent decree from the U.S. Department of Justice for more than a decade to make the building handicapped accessible. The building also suffers from leaks, mildew and mold, lack of space, nonfunctional cells and bathrooms and locker rooms built before female police officers were common. The local police union has said it's lost faith that the depressing and dangerous conditions will be fixed. Bernard, however, thought there could be a light at the end of the tunnel with the major federal "Build Back Better" bill offering $3.2 billion for modifying and modernizing facilities including public safety. "We have been doing our part to unlock the the bond funding that is available, as well as to be, if not shovel ready when federal money starts to flow to be shovel suitable or shovel appropriate," he said. "In addition to what we've already done through DLTA, a there's a good sense that we may be able to do a preliminary feasibility analysis with some additional funds that could become available." The departing mayor also had news on some "cleanup" work before he leaves office. In this case, it was a breach of contract suit filed against Spectrum for failing to abide by its contract with the city by moving channels around without proper notification and the cost of fiber lines. The settlement was $23,000, all of which went to Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. as the injured party in the case. Bernard said the key provisions were that the funds were not to be treated as in-kind donations, considered part of the franchise fee or passed on to the consumers. "This is a this is a small win but it is a win," he said. "It doesn't address issues of quality of service, responsiveness or cost, however, the payment addressed and corrected those areas where clear violations of contract have occurred." In other business during the brief council meeting, the council declined to exercise its right of first refusal for a former Crane Stationery building in Hardman Industrial Park. The vote related to 1526 Curran Highway which is being purchased by John Duquette for use as a lumberyard . The right of first refusal for the sale of any property in the Hardman Industrial Park is part of a long list of restrictive covenants dating to 1980 when the park was conveyed to the city by the Northern Berkshire Industrial Development Commission. Councilor Wayne Wilkinson noted that the city would have to match whatever Duquette was offering if it wanted the building. "I don't know what they're paying for the property," he said. "I'm sure they city doesn't want to buy it for that price ... It's on the market for over a million. We don't have a million." The council also waived the right of first refusal on a neighboring structure, also a Crane building, being purchased by Temescal Wellness for $3.1 million for use as a cannabis cultivation space. Sandra Thomas was appointed to the Board of Registrar of Voters for a term to expire April 1, 2023, to fill the unexpired term of Mary Beth Kennedy. The general election was set for Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 9 to 7 p.m. with all wards voting at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. Resident Robert Cardimino expressed his concerns of the proliferation of rats in the city from trash left at roadsides and residences. He asked that the problem be referred to committee for discussion on how to solve the problem, suggesting temporary or permanent help in cracking down on scofflaws. State Sen. Adam Hinds will run for statewide office after three terms in the Senate. Hinds Says State Needs Visionary Leadership in Bid for Higher Office PITTSFIELD, Mass. State Sen. Adam Hinds believes that the commonwealth needs visionary leadership to take on some of its biggest issues and bring the state together. On a sunny Wednesday morning, he confirmed his candidacy for lieutenant governor on the steps of City Hall with supporters and his wife, Amherst College professor Alicia Mireles Christoff, and their infant son, Rafael Fernando Hinds. He then headed to Latino's Kitchen in Springfield and on to Beacon Hill for two more media stops. "It's increasingly felt like this is a really unique moment in our history, that the pandemic exposed so much about some of our greatest weaknesses. It's also highlighted our greatest strengths as a commonwealth and reveals so much about what needs to be fixed," he told iBerkshires. "It's a rare moment when there's a will to take on big issues and it overlaps with the resources and to do it, and so this moment does not call for more of the same, it's going to take visionary leadership to take on the incredible challenges we face and people who can actively bring the commonwealth together, and that's what my background has been about." Hinds believes that the office of the lieutenant governor should play an essential role in making sure the commonwealth is moving into the future in an equitable and strategic manner. This is a critical moment, he said, and the state is not even getting its fundamentals right in terms of public transportation, child care, and affordable housing. "I hear from folks in the region and beyond who are deeply concerned about transportation options that are not getting them what they need, and child care access, and affordability and housing costs that are going up," Hinds said. "So it's clear that there is a need for a new approach. I think the lieutenant governor's office has always been about being a strong link to towns and cities and I will certainly continue that." The three-term senator also believes that it is time to have a representative from Western Mass in some of the highest offices to make sure that the government is working for every corner of the commonwealth. Hinds grew up in Buckland and attended Mohawk Trail Regional High School. After graduating from Wesleyan University and earning a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, he spent more than a decade as a United Nations negotiator in the Middle East before returning to Pittsfield. He was a founding director of the youth violence prevention program Pittsfield Community Connection and later led the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition in North Adams. "Being from here, I get it, far too many people feel like the government in Boston doesn't know where we are on a map, or that their voices are not being heard and that government doesn't work for them," he said. "So I think it would be powerful not just to Western Mass, but to communities throughout the commonwealth, to have somebody who is from Western Mass, and to just send that signal that I'll wake up every day wondering about what we're going to do for every region in the commonwealth." Hinds is somewhat following in the steps of his predecessor, Benjamin Downing, who held the Berkshire seat for a decade and is now running for the Democratic nomination for governor. Hinds won election to replace Downing in 2016 and had no general election challengers in his last two elections. Lieutenant governor candidates run independently for the nomination in their parties and then as a team with the gubernatorial candidate. Three other Democratic candidates have so far declared a run for the office in 2022: Bret Bero, a businessman and Babson College lecturer, state Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton, and Scott Donohue of Melrose, who had initially filed for governor. Hinds' focus in particular has been on climate change and resiliency, transportation needs in Western Mass, aid to rural schools, and economic development for small towns. Currently, he is still leading the Senate effort to reimagine Massachusetts in the post-pandemic world, serving as the chair of a new Senate Committee on "Reimagining MA: Post-Pandemic Resiliency" and as Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue. He said a report released last week by the committee on post-pandemic resiliency put a sharp point on the need to make sure the state is developing the workforce for the future. Hinds said training and investments need to be connected to that need. "It's also been clear that things like child care we need to be essentially restructuring accessibility and affordability, bridging the digital divide has been an issue that has risen to the top because it's not just a rural issue," he added. "It's also our downtown and urban areas that are experiencing a big gap at a time when the economy and health care and entertainment and purchasing are moving online, so that is another big area of investment." Write-thru at 4:10 p.m. with more information and comments from the candidate. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Burglars who thought they hatched the perfect heist at Thurston County home get surprise visit from deputies It's cheesy, but it works. So says Frank B. Mengert, founder and CEO of ebm, a North Haven, Connecticut-based benefits and HR tech company, about his company's weekly video call, known as "Friday Vibes." The one rule: You can talk about anything but work. These unconventional meetings--ebm's sometimes involve games like Two Truths and a Lie--have helped reduce turnover in the company since they started them in May 2020. At a time when employees are quitting in record numbers and rotating through workplaces without ever meeting co-workers in-person, such bonding activities can potentially improve team dynamics, says Timothy Golden, professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lally School of Management and a longtime researcher of remote work. From Inc. 5000 CEOs, here are three ways to forge bonds between team members in your still-virtual workplace. 1. "Anything but work" check-ins Consistency is crucial to Friday Vibes, Mengert says. Every Friday at 4 p.m., anywhere from half to all of ebm's 47 employees hang out on one Zoom call and chat about non-work topics or play games, especially with new hires. Most Friday Vibes go over the allotted time, he adds. Serious topics like mental health come up sometimes, or the team might spend the whole hour discussing types of cars they've driven before. A couple of months into the pandemic, the team at Burlingame, California-based gaming and strategy research firm IDG Consulting started to look a little haggard, says CEO and president Yoshio Osaki. The 11-person company went remote in 2018 but over time, IDG employees lost an element of interpersonal connection. "We were our own little islands," he says. When the pandemic hit and people started going through lockdowns and additional childcare stress, Osaki finally realized that since the company went remote he had been checking in on what people were doing, not how they were doing. And morale seemed to be taking a hit as a result. That's actually pretty common in a remote environment, Golden says. People tend to be more task-oriented than relationship-oriented, so managers have to find ways to rebuild interpersonal trust and rapport virtually. Osaki's solution was to implement a 30-minute mandatory non-work chat every other week (it's since expanded to 60 minutes). The calls provided fun bonding time, but some turned less lighthearted. Osaki realized that some employees needed additional help and added an annual $1,000 self-care stipend to make it easier to pay for things like therapy. He learned an employee had back pain and bought them an ergonomic chair. Another had gotten into building computers, so they bought him some tools, and he ended up building one for their data scientist. And beyond the insight on employees' needs, Osaki says, "We saw an increase in productivity as well as creativity." In sum, starting the chat has been an important factor in making 2021 a record year for IDG's revenue. 2. Gratitude sharing Telling your employees you appreciate them seems like obvious advice--but helping them do it in structured ways helps you keep from losing them, according to Keegan Caldwell, founder and managing partner of Boston-based Caldwell Intellectual Property Law. Every Friday at noon, employees share whom they've been grateful for over the last week. "What we found was this was the most important meeting for us to have," Caldwell says. He started it three years ago, inspired by his 12-step recovery process and his ability to make it through the associated challenges. Since then, he estimates, it has improved retention by 10 percent. For Boston-based Winthrop Wealth and CEO Max Winthrop, it's about the "small wins." On their morning call, the team has the option to share their tiny victories, like putting in extra effort to help a client's family after their spouse died. The company started it after doing a workshop in the fall of 2020 with self-actualization and sharing activities--and Winthrop hasn't lost an employee since. It also helps him keep perspective as a leader, he says: "The small contributions add up to the greater success." 3. Games and experiences Every month or so, employees at government IT contractor Kech play bingo and Pictionary, compete for who has the cutest pet photo, or speculate about how they would survive a zombie apocalypse. Chris Carpenter, the Williamsburg, Kentucky-based company's CEO and co-founder, likes to mix it up. Her company, which operates call centers for government services, had high turnover before the pandemic. But she says she's managed to keep a core group of employees by adding fun and human connection into their workdays. Most events come with prizes, and Carpenter estimates she spends $2,000 on gift cards a year for the winners. She organizes them herself and regularly gets messages from employees asking when the next game will be. When it comes to games, pick something that is collaborative rather than competitive to boost organizational cohesion, says Sean Newman, a visiting professor at Rollins College and senior vice president of operations at London-based financial services firm Aon. And try to use bonding activities or games to build up relationships between specific employees. "To the extent that your games can show the manager really cares and establish that relationship... it can be a real positive outcome for retention," he says. Games and more elaborate, planned events can help avoid the dreaded Zoom happy hour, says Jonathan Conelias, CEO of Boston-based ReElivate, which provides virtual experiences for clients, including Amazon and Google. His advice: Try to plan something special and interesting that gives employees a shared experience to refer to, like an escape room. 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The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Indiana, PA (15701) Today Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%. In the last decade, India's coal consumption has nearly doubled. The country continues to import massive quantities of coal and is planning to open several mines in the next few years. Though an average Indian consumes far less power than a Brit or an American, India is making rapid strides to shift to cleaner energy with an ambitious target to draw 40 per cent of its installed electric power from non-fossil fuels by 2030. For example, the Delhi metro system now runs on more than 60 per cent solar power for its daily power needs. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, India's energy needs are set to rise more than any other nation in the next twenty years, according to the International Energy Agency. However, the recent coal crisis in the country, and its implications on power supply, have raised some serious concerns around India's coal dependency. India's coal dependency There is increasing pressure on India to decrease its coal dependency. India is also responsible for 40 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. A study found that close to 40 per cent of districts in India have some form of coal dependency as they are either home to coal workers or pensioners, collect funds under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), or are benefitting from coal mining companies spending billions of rupees under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Reuters/Representational Image The study was published by Sandeep Pai, a researcher, as part of his doctoral dissertation at the University of British Columbia. His study was based on data collected from coal-mining company Coal India Limited (CIL), power utility company NTPC, Coal Controllers Organisation, and Indias Ministry of Coal, among others. Can India meet its climate agreement targets? Coal dependency is also seen as a hindrance to achieving India's ambitious targets under the Paris Climate Agreement. Tackling climate change is impossible without reducing dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal. India wants to increase its installed renewable energy capacity from 78 GW to 175 GW (1 GW = 1,000 MW) by March 2022. Of that 175 GW, 100 GW is supposed to be solar power. The problem, however, is that coal is cheap, and developing economies, such as India, rely heavily on it for energy. Coal is the largest source of electricity in the world. Coal-fired plants generate 72 per cent of Indias electricity. According to BP Energy Outlook 2019, coals share in Indias primary energy consumption will decline from 56 per cent in 2017 to 48 per cent in 2040. But that is still nearly half of the total energy mix and way ahead of any other source of energy. Reuters So, while renewable energy capacity is dramatically increasing, coal still provides nearly 70 per cent of the countrys electricity. Still, India is on track to retire coal-based plants, and replace them with renewable energy capacity. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has identified 34 coal-based power stations with a combined capacity of 5.14GW that can be retired, according to its latest assessment. A total of 164 coal-based units with a combined capacity of 14.12GW have been made redundant in the last 18 years, Union Minister for Power told the parliament in September 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that India is well on track to achieving its climate goals well before the target date as it switches over to energy-efficient mediums and uses waste to generate energy. While the target of mixing 20 per cent ethanol has been advanced to 2025, 5,000 compressed biogas plants will be set up to turn municipal and agriculture waste into energy, he said. The share of non-fossil sources in India's installed capacity of electricity has grown to 38 per cent and the nation adopted Bharat-VI emission norms in April last year to cut vehicular pollution. India, he said, is working to increase the share of natural gas, which is environment friendly and less polluting, in the energy basket from the current 6 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030. "India is well on track to achieve its Paris agreement targets well before the target date of 2030," he said. India has maintained that it is not a polluter and cause of climate change and has voluntarily committed to reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. A woman in UK was cleared of drunk driving charges after she was able to prove that she had two bottles of neat vodka to 'calm herself down'. Kelsey Ridings, 26, was arrested in May after crashing her Mercedes into a Peugeot 308 in a head-on collision, Manchester Evening News reported. Ridings had her four young children in the car at the time and was reportedly returning home from a beauty salon. Cavendish Press Ridings offered the driver of the Peugeot, Carl Kidd, 1,000 (Rs 1 lakh) to forget the incident, but then drove away before local police reached the scene. When the authorities tracked her to her home at Mottram near Hyde, Greater Manchester, the police found her to be more than four times over the legal drink-driving limit. "She was well over on my side of the road and she was coming at speed. I steered away to avoid a head on collision but she caught the back end of my car," Kidd told the court. Representational Image/Alamy However, following a hearing, Ridings has been cleared of the drink driving charge after a justice of the peace ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove she had been drunk at the time of the crash. Ridings stated that she had drunk the two bottles of vodka in a matter of minutes at her friend Paige Azad's house, and had not been drinking while driving. She said she left the scene after Kidd became aggressive and demanded money and insurance information. Cavendish Press In the court, Miss Azad claimed she had poured the drinks for Ridings and it had 'a lot of vodka and a bit of coke'. She added that Ridings was given a lift home after the drinking session. While delivering the verdict, the court said Ridings' account was 'often confused and misleading' but Miss Azad's evidence was 'totally incredible'. As no one was injured in the crash, Ridings was cleared of any wrongdoing and let go. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. A construction worker was critically injured in a three-story fall down an elevator shaft at a New Jersey construction site, authorities said. Chief Michael Foligno of the Elmwood Park, New Jersey, police department said the 23-year-old man was working at the top of the elevator shaft being built in a new apartment building at about 11 a.m. Saturday when he fell to the bottom, NJ.com reported. The victim was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center with internal injuries and bleeding from the head as well as internal pain, Foligno said. He was listed in critical but stable condition and was to undergo additional medical tests, he said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was summoned and the job site has been shut down pending their investigation, Foligno said. Police are also investigating. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Construction New Jersey NFP Hires Terracciano to Risk Management and Complex Risk Practice NFP, an insurance broker and consultant that provides property/casualty, corporate benefits, retirement and individual solutions, hired Robert Terracciano as a senior vice president in its risk management and complex risk practice. Terracciano joins NFP from Willis of New York Inc., where he served as executive vice president for mergers and acquisitions in its national casualty practice. Prior to that, he worked in complex casualty and risk analysis roles at Marsh and Aon and as a managing principal at Integro Insurance Brokers. In total, he brings more than 30 years of experience helping clients across industries to identify and mitigate complex risks. Terracciano will report to Sean Hickey, senior vice president for risk management and complex risk at NFP. Source: NFP Alliant Insurance Services Hires Ballan in New York Alliant Insurance Services hired veteran tax lawyer Harry Ballan, former partner at Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP, as senior transaction risk consultant for mergers and acquisitions. He is based in New York. Ballan will specialize in providing transactional risk solutions to private equity firms, corporate clients and alternative asset investors and will help clients around the globe insure their most challenging transactional risks. Prior to joining Alliant, Ballan served as a tax partner and senior counsel at Davis Polk, where he advised clients on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions, private fund formation and transactions and tax controversy. In addition, he has been a professor in NYUs LL.M. program, a law school dean and a senior director of a private foundation. Alliant Insurance Services is a distributor of diversified insurance products and services. It operates through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices. Source: Alliant Insurance Services RT Specialty Hires Quinn to Environmental and Construction Professional Practice Evan Quinn joined the environmental and construction professional (ECP) practice of RT Specialty as an account administrator. He is responsible for aiding the account management and policy servicing activities performed by the teams senior management. Prior to RT ECP, Quinn supported the underwriting efforts of EMC Insurance in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. RT Environmental and Construction Professional (RT ECP) is a part of the RT Specialty division of RSG Specialty LLC, a Delaware limited liability company based in Illinois. RSG Specialty LLC is a subsidiary of Ryan Specialty Group LLC. RT ECP provides wholesale insurance brokerage and other services to agents and brokers. Source: RT Specialty Federal judges issued three different decisions on New York state and city requirements for Covid-19 vaccinations, upholding the status quo as the contentious issue winds it way through the court system. New York Citys program requiring proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and clubs can continue, a judge in Brooklyn ruled Tuesday, rejecting a claim of racial bias. A judge in Manhattan once again rejected the argument by a group of New York City teachers and other staff who are seeking exemptions for vaccination requirements for school staff on religious or medical grounds. A third judge reiterated that state health authorities cant enforce a mandate on health care workers without a religious exception. The rulings come as the governor of Texas said companies shouldnt be mandating vaccination for workers, an order that appears to conflict with President Joe Bidens national orders on vaccine mandates. The issues ultimately may have to be resolved by the federal appeals court in Manhattan, which on Thursday will consider separate challenges to vaccine mandates that apply to New York City teachers and to health care workers statewide. Meanwhile, businesses, employees and consumers are subject to a shifting legal landscape. Mandates and Race The ruling in Brooklyn followed a lawsuit filed last month by a group of city residents, including business owners, seeking to block Mayor Bill de Blasios program, Key to NYC. They claim it illegally discriminates on the basis of race because Black and Hispanic New Yorkers have vaccination rates below the city average and are therefore disproportionately barred from indoor commercial spaces. U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan rejected that argument. Any African American or Hispanic individual has a right to access a covered premise, if that individual has documents showing they are vaccinated, Cogan wrote in denying a preliminary injunction to halt the program. The same is true for any other individual in New York City. QuickTake: Can I Be Required to Get Vaccinated Against Covid-19? He also rejected arguments that the program infringes on freedom of religion, freedom of association and the right to bodily integrity, and ruled that requiring businesses to check vaccine status doesnt constitute involuntary servitude in violation of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, among other arguments made in the lawsuit. The Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue vowed to appeal the ruling. While we are disappointed in todays ruling, we will shortly file a notice of appeal, and we intend to fight on all the way to the United States Supreme Court, the group said in a statement. A spokesman for the citys Law Department said the city was pleased with the decision and that the program is an integral tool to get more people vaccinated and for the citys recovery. About 72% of New Yorkers have had at least one vaccine dose, compared with 48% of Black residents, while the total among Hispanics jumped to 63% after government outreach to the community, city health department data show. No Anti-Religious Animus In the Manhattan ruling against the school employees, U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said theyd failed to show evidence of even a whiff of anti-religious animus in statements by de Blasio encouraging vaccination. Caproni delivered her ruling from the bench after hearing legal arguments from both sides. She said the teachers had failed to show a likelihood they will succeed on their claims, a requirement for an injunction. Upstate in Utica, U.S. District Judge David Hurd agreed to extend a temporary order he issued Sept. 14 freezing a state order that applies to health care workers throughout New York. Because the issues in dispute are of exceptional importance to the health and the religious freedoms of our citizens, an appeal may very well be appropriate, he wrote. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement that her responsibility is to protect the people of this state, and requiring health care workers to get vaccinated accomplishes that. She added: I stand behind this mandate, and I will fight this decision in court to keep New Yorkers safe. Thursdays hearing before the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Manhattan, will include oral argument in the two separate cases: a challenge by health care workers statewide and one by New York City teachers who say a vaccine requirement for schools must include a religious exemption. Disputes have arisen across the country, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday extending a ban on mandatory Covid vaccination in the state from municipalities and schools to private employers. The Brooklyn case is Dixon v. de Blasio, 21-cv-05090, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. The Manhattan case is Kane v. de Blasio, 21-cv-07863, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. The upstate case is Dr. A. v. Hochul, 21-cv-01009, U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York. Photo: Customers sit at the bar at the Chelsea Bell restaurant in New York. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Legislation New York Munich Re Ventures, the venture capital arm of Munich Re Group, has closed its new $500 million investment fund, with plans to focus, in part, on insurtech and cybersecurity. The new financing arm, dubbed Munich Re Fund II, will also focus on privacy, commercial and industrial equipment technologies, and future of transportation. Munich Re Ventures now has more than $1 billion in assets under management across four funds, each with a 10-year duration. Out of the existing funds, MRV has invested over $280 million in 36 companies, the company noted in its announcement. The portfolio includes a number of first-generation insurtechs. Among them are: At-Bay, Next Insurance, Slice Labs, and Trov. In addition, MRV has invested in companies that hold novel risk-related applications in areas as diverse as fintech, climate transition, space economy, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Doubling our venture capital activities is a result of the Munich Re Group having already seen outstanding financial results and strategic value from the portfolio to us and the insurance industry, Thomas Blunck, member of the Board of Management at Munich Re, said in prepared remarks. The Munich Re Ventures investment team will focus on funding innovative startups that have benefits for the strategic interests of Munich Re and also the broader insurance industry, according to the company. Along with the new fund, Munich Re Ventures will also expand its Portfolio Development platform, which is designed to accelerate portfolio company success. The platform connects entrepreneurs directly to Munich Re Group business leaders, ecosystem partners, and other industry executives across the globe to identify engagement opportunities and assist with partnership structuring and ongoing relationship coordination. With the expanded platform and a team of seasoned, industry-expert investors, Munich Re Ventures said it is uniquely positioned to help portfolio companies navigate the world of risk by providing capital, board leadership, industry and investor connections, operational support, and technical expertise. Source: Munich Re This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. Topics Cyber InsurTech Tech Funding Howden, the London-based insurance broking group, announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Aston Lark from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bowmark Capital. Aston Lark is one of the UKs leading, independent, specialist complex commercial and private client brokers. Financial terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed. However, according to a Reuters report, the purchase price is 1.1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion). MGAs Can Build Broker Relationships Even in a Hard Market: Aston Larks CEO The transaction marks Howdens largest acquisition to date and creates a UK business managing over 6 billion ($8.2 billion) of gross written premium for more than 1.7 million policyholders who are served by over 5,000 employees from 160 locations in the UK and Ireland. Aston Lark is one of the UKs largest independent insurance brokers specializing in complex commercial and private client insurance and employee benefit advice, placing over 1 billion ($1.4 billion) of gross written premiums for 200,000 clients, on behalf of the UKs leading insurers. The partnership will enable Howden to build on its 27-year history of building leading positions across markets by partnering with independent, high-quality, high-growth businesses with a large employee shareholder base, a shared entrepreneurial culture and an ambitious but long-term and sustainable approach to growth. Clients will benefit from a breadth of product unmatched in the UK market, with the combined business covering specialist personal lines, commercial, schemes and affinity, health and benefits, corporate, and specialty, all powered by data, analytics and technology. The highly complementary union completes Howdens UK broking business, with Aston Lark joining A-Plan Group (which was purchased by Howden in September 2020) and Howden UK to create a full-service broker unrivaled in its quality, scale and reach in the UK, the company said in a statement. The business will be led by a combined management team to optimize client solutions and service. Upon completion, Aston Lark Chief Executive Peter Blanc will become executive chairman of Howdens UK retail broking operations while current A-Plan Chief Executive Officer Carl Shuker will be appointed CEO of the new platform. Andy Bragoli, CEO of Howden UK, will lead Howdens International Specialty business. The management team will report into Jose Manuel Gonzalez, chief executive officer, Howden Broking Group. The completion of our UK Broking platform is a deal a decade in the making and Im thrilled that Aston Larks highly respected and experienced management team has chosen Howden as its final home, commented David Howden, chief executive officer, Howden Group. In a rapidly consolidating and technology-driven sector our commitment to employee ownership, unique structure, scale, distribution breadth and data-led approach stand out, and todays announcement further enhances our position as the credible alternative of scale for clients and a magnet for the very best talent in the industry, he added. Not only is Aston Lark the missing piece of our UK broking strategy but our new strengthened platform signals a new beginning for the group, accelerating our significant international ambitions by bringing a fresh and energetic dynamic to all our markets and even greater value to our clients, Howden said. Ive always been determined to make sure that the business we have been building in Aston Lark finds its forever home, and Im absolutely delighted to have done that through Howden. My thanks go to Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bowmark Capital for allowing me and my management team to choose the right home for us, said Peter Blanc, Group CEO of Aston Lark. Together we will be the major force in the UK broking market, and Im extremely excited about what we can achieve over the coming years. Our combined products, services and footprint will enable us to capture every customer in the market. Michele Titi-Cappelli, managing director in the Private Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said: The new partnership with Howden positions Aston Lark to continue building upon their strategy of becoming a leading client-centric UK insurance broker. We wish Peter, the broader management team and Howden Group Holdings the very best for the continuation of the journey. It has been a privilege to work with Peter and the team since Bowmark first invested in the business in 2015, helping to create one of the top five UK independent commercial lines brokers, commented Julian Masters, managing partner at Bowmark Capital. Over the past six years, we have supported a successful buy-and-build strategy, with 50 acquisitions, and employee numbers having grown eight-fold to 1,600 today. We are incredibly proud of the business that we have collectively built and see Howden as the natural partner for Aston Lark in the future, continued Masters. Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division and Macquarie Capital served as financial advisers, and Latham & Watkins, LLP served as legal counsel to Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Bowmark Capital and Aston Lark. The management team of Aston Lark were advised (on the sell side) by Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and PwC and (on the reinvestment side) by Jamieson Corporate Finance, DLA Piper and PwC. Howden was supported by Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, and PwC. About Howden Broking Group Established in 1994, Howden Broking comprises owned businesses across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. A leading independent provider of re/insurance brokerage, risk consulting and employee benefits advice, Howden employs more than 6,500 people worldwide and operates with aligned partners in more than 90 territories. About Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bowmark Capital Goldman Sachs Asset Management invests in the full spectrum of alternatives, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure. Established in 1986, the private equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management has invested over $75 billion since inception. Bowmark Capital is a leading private equity firm that invests in UK services and technology companies valued at up to 250 million. Established in 1997, it manages and advises funds of more than 1.5 billion and has made more than 50 investments. Source: Howden Broking Topics Mergers Agencies ATHENS, Greece (AP) A strong earthquake jolted the Greek island of Crete on Tuesday, three weeks after another temblor killed a man and damaged hundreds of buildings. The Geodynamic Institute in Athens said the undersea earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at 12:24 p.m. local time (9:24 a.m. GMT) off the islands eastern coast. Magnitude 4.1 and 4.6 quakes that are believed to be aftershocks took place minutes later, the institute said. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries. Authorities said police and fire crews were checking buildings in eastern Crete for damage and trying to reach several remote villages closer to the quakes epicenter. The quake was felt all over the island, and it did cause concern because we are still feeling the aftershocks from the previous quake, Cretes deputy regional governor, Yiannis Leondarakis, told Greeces state-run radio. Hundreds of people from villages south of the islands largest city, Heraklion, remain homeless following a 5.8-magnitude quake that struck on Sept. 27. A man was killed while carrying out restoration work at a church that was damaged in the area. Residents whose homes were damaged were moved to hotels and tents set up by the army. Leondarakis said of Tuesdays earthquake: Fortunately, there does not appear to be any serious damage despite the fact that it was a strong event and occurred at a shallow depth. The quake also was felt on Greek islands to the east of Crete, including Karpathos, Kassos and Rhodes. Officials on Karpathos told The Associated Press they had received no reports of serious damage. Photograph: A damaged house is seen after an earthquake in Sampas village on the southern island of Crete, Greece, on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Photo credit: AP Photo/Harry Nakos. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Earthquake The U.S. insurance industrys top compliance shortcomings relate to claims handling noncompliance, including timeliness, required disclosures, payments and grievance and appeal processesas well as underwriting, rating and insurance producer and sales issues. Thats according to a review by Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions of U.S. insurers market conduct actions. The annual review uses public data from 2020 and examines U.S. property and casualty, life, and health insurers market conduct actions, including exams and other enforcement actions. Now in its 17th year, the Top 10 market conduct actions review offers a compliance checklist of operational areas for insurers. While technology has helped to streamline and automate some processes, our annual Top 10 market conduct action findings continue to show the ongoing challenges that insurers face in managing their regulatory requirements, said Steven Meirink, executive vice president and general manager for the Compliance Solutions business. However, a robust compliance program management approach that includes a strong risk and controls framework can be key to helping improve insurer success rates in market conduct compliance. The following are listings of the top compliance issues determined in market conduct actions across the U.S. by state insurance regulators. These issues are primarily found in insurers claims, underwriting, and sales processes. Top 10 Market Conduct Criticisms for Property and Casualty Insurers Failure to acknowledge, pay, investigate or deny claims within specified timeframes Failure to issue correct payments and/or compliant denial notices Using unapproved/unfiled rates and rules or misapplying rating factors Failure to process total loss claims properly Failure to cancel, non-renew, or decline policies in accordance with requirements Failure to adhere to producer appointment, termination, records, reporting and/or licensing requirements Failure to provide required compliant notices and disclosures in claims processing Improper/incomplete documentation of claim files Improper/incomplete documentation of underwriting files Failure to provide required compliant notices and disclosures in underwriting processes While the Top 10 lists provide insight into insurers ongoing compliance risk challenges, Wolters Kluwer says other findings regularly surface as well. Routine determinations by examiners include the failure to consistently identify the legal name of the insurer, as well as failures to adhere to certain state-specific mandates that range from the annual claims training requirement in California to the approval process required to use a different fraud warning statement in New York. Wolters Kluwer helps financial institutions manage regulatory and risk obligations. Related: Topics Trends Property Casualty Market Texas Governor Greg Abbotts ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates will likely be superseded by the Biden administration plan to require shots for workers, but the dueling rules could take months to sort out in court, creating uncertainty for employers with business in the state. The Republican governor signed an executive order on Monday banning private employers and other entities from imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which he said threatened an economic recovery by disrupting the workforce. Some large employers are betting that federal law and President Joe Bidens vaccine mandates will trump Abbotts executive order. Southwest Airlines Co. and American Airlines, both based in Texas, said on Tuesday they would move ahead with plans to meet a Dec. 8 deadline for federal contractors to have their employees vaccinated. Companies recognize they have to comply with one or the other but not both, and the Texas order is more likely to be struck down than the federal order, said Steve Cave, a King & Spalding attorney who specializes in government contracts. The supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from interfering with valid federal laws. Abbotts order states that no entity in Texas can compel proof of vaccination by any individual, including employees or customers. Failure to comply could result in a fine of $1,000, although Abbott did not say how the order would be enforced. Bidens administration announced on Sept. 9 a plan that will require about 100 million American workers to get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. Many of the plans have yet to be detailed and do not yet have the force of law. Biden, a Democrat, issued the mandate as his administration struggled to control the pandemic, which has killed more than 700,000 Americans. Critics of mandates view them as unconstitutional and authoritarian, but proponents see them as necessary to pull the country out of the nearly two-year pandemic and return to normalcy. Businesses could choose to test Abbotts order by imposing mandates and then, if fined, challenging the fine in court. Companies would likely argue they were complying with Bidens mandate, and legal precedents support federal law taking precedence over state law when they conflict, experts aid. This is going to turn into a fight about who has supremacy over the other and theres a game of chicken between Governor Abbott and the Biden administration, Cave said. HAVING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE Florida offers an example of how it might play out. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. in August won a court battle over a Florida law forbidding it from requiring customers to show proof of vaccination, which the cruise line said it had to do to comply with federal health regulations. The judge called the companys argument compelling. Employers could face hurdles, however, in the Texas case. The biggest part of Bidens vaccination plan relies on emergency workplace safety rules that will soon be issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Once those rules are written, 24 state attorneys general have pledged to fight them. Some legal experts suggested the OSHA rule could be blocked if challengers can show the government cannot prove there is a national grave danger as required by law. If OSHAs rule is tied up in court or determined to be invalid, it could make it harder to claim federal law should pre-empt Abbotts order. Given the uncertainty, businesses could try to comply with both orders. Kevin Troutman, an attorney in the Houston office of Fisher Phillips, which represents employers, said businesses could allow employees to opt out of vaccines if they submit to weekly testing, which the Biden administration has said could be an alternative to vaccination. It could make the option of testing something more employers want to consider and implement more widely, he said. It requires more planning and attention and it creates more headaches. Brian Dean Abramson, a specialist and author on vaccine law, questioned if Texas would actually enforce the mandate ban by going after employers. But he said the threat was probably enough for most businesses to take action. The employer will be in a position of having to thread the needle of establishing a vaccine policy that doesnt run afoul of what Abbott requires and run afoul of what the Biden administration is requiring, he said. But ultimately federal law will be supreme. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Peter Cooney) Topics Texas Companies doing business in Texas now face new and complicated challenges after Gov. Greg Abbott this week banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates for all entities in the state including private businesses for employees or customers. The ramifications for businesses could begin as soon as Oct. 15, when companies that enter into contract work with the federal government will be required to have all employees vaccinated under orders from the White House. This conflicts with Abbotts ban on vaccine mandates, putting the many Texas businesses that receive federal contracts in a tough position: Comply with federal law and violate Abbotts ban, or comply with Abbott and turn down business from the federal government. In addition to federal contractors, President Biden has also announced that businesses with more than 100 employees must mandate vaccination against COVID-19 or require regular testing. For Texas nursing homes, which have struggled during a pandemic that has ravaged their residents and decimated their workforce, a federal rule announced in August requires all nursing home employees to be vaccinated in order for their facilities to continue participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. If nursing homes instead comply with Abbotts new rule, they could lose critical federal money. More than 66,000 Texans have died from COVID-19, including 10% of nursing home residents during the first year of the virus. This harms Texans directly, Karen Vladeck, an employment lawyer in Austin, said of the new order from Abbott. I just think it wasnt well thought out. Gov. Abbott Bars All COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Texas, Rips Biden for Bullying Abbotts office did not reply to a request for comment. On top of prohibiting any entity in Texas from requiring vaccinations, Abbotts order also lists several expanded exemptions. Vladeck and other employment lawyers said that this adds to the vaccine dilemma facing businesses in Texas. Under Abbotts new rule, people may opt out of a vaccine requirement for medical reasons, including if they prove they have had COVID-19 in the past, despite scientists widely agreeing that this does not protect people against contracting the virus. The executive orders medical reason language is a bit strange because usually you exempt people for medical reasons if they have a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, said Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Abbotts order is meant to cover people who dont want to get the vaccine because they believe, quite wrongly, that theyre completely protected by already having COVID. Abbotts rule also allows people to opt out of a vaccine requirement if they prove they hold a deep personal belief against getting jabbed. Any entity that fails to comply with Abbotts rule could receive up to a $1,000 fine. Abbotts Monday order is a reversal from his position in August, when the Pfizer vaccine received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At the time, Abbotts spokesperson said that businesses had the option of mandating vaccination for employees and private businesses dont need government running their business. Its all about company choice in Texas, except now its come to something that they dont like what the companies are choosing, Vladeck said. It puts a big burden on employers. Ted Shaw, president of the Texas Hospital Association, said Abbotts move was political. Texas hospitals strongly oppose efforts underway to hamstring them from being able to require vaccination of their own staff, many of whom are at the bedside every day with children and adults who are vulnerable to COVID-19, Shaw said in a statement. This political action undercuts the central mission of hospitals, and patients and staff cannot be put at unnecessary risk. Hospitals have soldiered on for months at ground zero of this pandemic. As experts in healing and saving lives, hospitals must have the trust, respect and flexibility to mandate vaccines in their own facilities to protect the people of Texas. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also condemned Abbotts action. I think its pretty clear when you make a choice thats against all public health information and data out there, that its not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing, its perhaps in the interest of your own politics, Psaki said. Ray Perryman, an economist based in Waco, said Abbotts decision is unhelpful for the state economy as it recovers from the economic impacts of the pandemic. This order will almost certainly cause confusion with conflicting requirements for many businesses, Perryman said in an email to the Tribune. From an economic perspective, it is not necessary and likely counterproductive. From an economic perspective, it is not necessary and likely counterproductive. Two prominent Texas-based companies, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, already require employees to be vaccinated. Spokespeople for the two airlines told the Tribune that requirement wont change despite Abbotts new order. One of the hallmarks of capitalist economy is the ability of the private sector to make decisions without government intervention unless there is a legitimate public concern that needs to be addressed, Perryman said. It is difficult to see how forcing companies to expose their employees, vendors, and customers to greater risk of a deadly disease and fostering the spread and mutation of that disease brings a compelling public benefit. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee encouraged Texans to sue Abbott over the move. The Governors latest executive order banning private businesses from keeping their employees and customers safe is shameful, Menefee said in a statement. And we know that this is mostly a political bluster designed to create confusion and subject businesses to burdensome lawsuits, which can only slow down our economic recovery. The Greater Houston Partnership, a leading business group in Harris County, also denounced Abbotts action. The governors executive order does not support Texas businesses ability and duty to create a safe workplace, Bob Harvey, the groups president, said in a written statement. While the courts will likely decide the validity of this order, we encourage all employers to continue to promote the importance of vaccinations with their employees. Vaccinations are our path out of the pandemic, and the Partnership remains focused on supporting steps that lead to improving the rate of vaccination in our community. Abby Livingston and Karen Brooks Harper contributed reporting. Disclosure: Greater Houston Partnership, the Texas Hospital Association and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/12/texas-businesses-vaccine-requirements-greg-abbott/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Topics Texas Commercial Lines Business Insurance Georgia-based Strickland General Agency announced that it had selected Input 1 Payments platform for accepting payments via automated clearing house transactions and debit and credit cards. Strickland, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is a wholesale insurance broker that writes in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Company officials said in a news release that they selected Input 1 because it is purpose-built for the insurance industry. Input 1 also provides billing and payment systems for banks and finance companies. The former CEO of a South Carolina energy company is on his way to prison, after a judge sentenced him to two years behind bars. Kevin Marsh, the ex-CEO of SCANA Energy, pleaded guilty to lying about the sad state of two nuclear reactors that were hopelessly behind schedule, a saga that became known as Nukegate. He is the first executive to go to prison over the project, which lasted nine years and never generated a watt of power. Marsh has cooperated with investigators. He pleaded guilty in federal court in February to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and in state court to obtaining property by false pretenses. Under a plea agreement, Marsh is to report in early December to a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, which includes a large hospital. A CEO for a Fortune 500 company is going to prison and is paying $5 million to the people of South Carolina, state Attorney General Alan Wilson said outside the Spartanburg County courtroom. South Carolina Circuit Judge Mark Hayes suspended a 10-year state sentence, but told Marsh he will have to serve it if he does not keep cooperating or fails to successfully serve three years of probation. Marsh isnt the only executive facing legal problems. A second former SCANA executive and an official at Westinghouse Electric Co., the lead contractor to build two new reactors at the V.C. Summer plant north of Columbia, have also pleaded guilty. A second Westinghouse executive has been indicted and is awaiting trial. Prosecutors now are expected to turn their attention to Westinghouse. While Marsh lied about the lack of progress in the final years of construction of the reactors, Westinghouse knew of the problem long before and did not tell Marsh or other SCANA executives, U.S. Assistant Attorney Brook Andrews said at Marshs sentencing in federal court. Marshs lawyer asked the judge to remember that this should not be the end. A project like this doesnt go down the tubes because one person was involved, said defense attorney Robert Bolchoz, who compared Marsh to a captain of a ship who trusted a crew working against him. The nuclear debacle was set up by a law passed in 2007 that allowed utilities to charge ratepayers to build power plants before they started generating power. It divorced the risk from the people who were spending the money, state Assistant Attorney General Creighton Waters said. You won if you won and you won if you lost. If the project was a failure and you abandoned it, you still got to recoup that cost from customers. That put a lot of responsibility on Marsh as the leader of SCANA and he failed by keeping his mouth shut when problems mounted and collecting bonuses instead of risking his job, Waters said. Marsh was paid $5 million in 2017, the year the utility abandoned the hopelessly behind-schedule project. His plea agreement requires $5 million in restitution, which has already been paid to a fund that provides help to pay electric bills of low income people. The actions by Marsh and other executives took more than $1 billion from the pockets of ratepayers and investors, authorities said in an 87-page Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit filed against him and a second executive in 2020. SCANA and its subsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas, were destroyed by the debt and poor management and were bought out by Dominion Energy of Virginia in 2019. State-owned utility Santee Cooper, which had a 45% stake in the project, ended up saddled with $4 billion in debt even though SCANA controlled management of the project. Marsh read a brief statement in court Monday. He said not a day has gone by in the past four years where he did not regret that failure of the project. I accept full responsibility, Marsh said. I feel sorry for everything that occurred. Marshs original plea deal said sentencing would wait until the investigation was over to assure his full cooperation. But prosecutors relented after Marshs wife of 46 years was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. Marsh never wavered from saying the two reactors being built at the V.C. Summer site north of Columbia would be finished by the end of 2020 a deadline that had to be met to receive the $1.4 billion in federal tax credits needed to keep the $10 billion project from overwhelming the utility. Prosecutors said Marsh lied and presented rosy projections on the progress of the reactors that he knew were false in earning calls, presentations and news releases to keep investors happy and pump up the companys stock price. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis reluctantly accepted the deal even though she felt prosecutors and Marshs lawyers made it sound like the executive made mistakes instead of intentionally misleading people for well over a year. Your crime was committed with a little more elegance and sophistication than many I see, Geiger told Marsh on Thursday. But you dont get credit for that. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Just as new research shows that a fourth of the critical infrastructure in the U.S. along with an increasing number of homes and businesses are at risk of flooding in the next 30 years, FEMA is seeking public input on floodplain standards and regulations. And U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, has joined other lawmakers in introducing legislation that would overhaul the broken flood insurance program and private markets. Its time to make common-sense reforms that better serve Florida families, Scott said in a statement. While more communities around the country have faced flooding in areas outside the Federal Emergency Management Agencys 100-year flood zone, a new report warns that flooding will only get worse in coming years. Yet, outside the designated flood zone, only about 2% of U.S. properties have purchased flood insurance, research has found. Low-lying coastal areas, particularly those in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and New Jersey, are most vulnerable to the rising waters, said the report by First Street Foundation, a non-profit group that studies flood risk. The group said it has taken a new approach to examining flood potential in the U.S., using a wide range of data to better predict flooding that is driven by climate change, more rainfall in some parts of the country, and other factors. Data showing flood risk at the street level is now available on the First Street website and has been linked to Realtor.com, something flood insurance advocates have applauded. Users can put in an address and seek the risk level. First Streets latest research report, Infrastructure on the Brink, released this week, shows that about 25% percent of U.S. critical infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, police stations, ports, power stations and roads, are at risk. The takeaway is that even if a home escapes water damage, public services, utilities or health systems may be shut down or become inaccessible after a flood event. The United States is ill-prepared for the extreme weather now becoming common due to our changing environment, evident by the flood cataclysms that wrought destruction to much of the country in the past decade, the report said. Impacts of extreme flooding exceed the speed American communities can fortify themselves. Identifying vulnerabilities at a local level is required to brace for climate extremes, preventing further destruction. The flooding in the next three decades is predicted to inundate some well-known coastal areas, including parts of Miami and Tampa. But other areas not historically associated with high risk levels are also vulnerable, the report said. Wakulla County, south of Floridas capital city, for example, will see the greatest increase in risk in the state, with 17% more residential property likely to be flooded. Thats another 2,067 homes that are vulnerable. Nationwide, Washington County in coastal North Carolina, ranked as having most significant increase in flood risk, First Street calculated. The county will see a 100% increase in critical infrastructure flooding, a 51% increase in residential flooding and a 32% increase in road flooding. Meanwhile, FEMA has issued a request for comment on the NFIPs proposed changes to floodplain management standards and regulations the first major update since 1976. New regulations are aimed at making communities safer and more resilient and would become part of the standards that communities must meet as a condition of federal flood insurance, FEMA noted. The agency also is seeking input on how the NFIP can minimize adverse impact to threatened and endangered species and their habitats. The request for information came in response to a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Comments can be submitted through the Federal rulemaking portal, found here. The docket ID is FEMA-2021-0024. Comments will be accepted through Dec. 13. As the country wakes up to the new reality of more-frequent extreme weather events, the whole issue of flood insurance is in flux. FEMA has unveiled a new Risk Rating 2.0, which utilizes much more data to determine a propertys flood risk, well beyond the flood-zone-only approach. Some properties are expected to see a decrease in premiums, while others should see an increase, analysts have noted. New National Flood insurance policies sold after Oct. 1 are now subject to the new methodology. Policies that renew after April 1 will be governed by the new approach. But a number of Congressmen from vulnerable states are urging that the rating system be put on hold, noting that many homeowners will see much higher premiums. The NFIP is not only buried in debt, its now pushing huge rate increases through FEMAs new Risk Rating 2.0 that is unsustainable and unaffordable for Florida families, Sen. Scott said last week. Floridas other U.S. senator, Marco Rubio, along with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, also have called for a delay in implementing 2.0. Whether the new rating system is too painful has been hotly debated. Some analyses have said it will be more equitable and will discourage building in low-lying areas. Without this change, all NFIP policyholders would have seen increases to their premiums next year, wrote Laura Lightbody, the Pew Charitable Trusts project director for flood-prepared communities. But with Risk Rating 2.0, rates will drop for almost 1.2 million policyholders, providing relief for many who have been overpaying; in many areas, more than half of NFIP policyholders will see their rates decrease. Federal law limits most NFIP premium increases to no more than 18% per year. Scott isnt buying the changes. The former Florida governor has introduced three bills that he said would help fix the flood insurance picture, kick-start more private flood insurance policies, and encourage more property owners to purchase flood policies. Theyre good bills. We support these, said Jay Neal, chairman of the Federal Association for Insurance Reform and CEO of the FAIR Foundation, based in Florida. Scotts proposals: The Removing Barriers to Private Flood Insurance Act would eliminate NFIPs long-standing non-compete clause. The clause prohibits write your own companies from selling private flood policies that compete with NFIP products. Some insurers, under contract with FEMA, have been barred from offering surplus private flood insurance. FEMA changed that rule, and Scott now wants to codify it, Neal said. The number of private flood policies in Florida has, in fact, grown rapidly in recent years, but state regulators hope more will follow. An estimated five million properties in Florida are vulnerable but still have no flood insurance, private or NFIP, Floridas insurance commissioner said earlier this year. would eliminate NFIPs long-standing non-compete clause. The clause prohibits write your own companies from selling private flood policies that compete with NFIP products. Some insurers, under contract with FEMA, have been barred from offering surplus private flood insurance. FEMA changed that rule, and Scott now wants to codify it, Neal said. The number of private flood policies in Florida has, in fact, grown rapidly in recent years, but state regulators hope more will follow. An estimated five million properties in Florida are vulnerable but still have no flood insurance, private or NFIP, Floridas insurance commissioner said earlier this year. The Flood Insurance Consumer Choice Act would remove what Scott and others have said is a major stumbling block. Because NFIP insurance covers only up to $250,000 in damages, some homeowners have switched to private carriers. If they switch back to NFIP at some point, they usually have to pay significantly higher premiums. Scotts bill would force the NFIP to treat those homeowners as if they had continuous coverage, without adding the re-entry surcharge. would remove what Scott and others have said is a major stumbling block. Because NFIP insurance covers only up to $250,000 in damages, some homeowners have switched to private carriers. If they switch back to NFIP at some point, they usually have to pay significantly higher premiums. Scotts bill would force the NFIP to treat those homeowners as if they had continuous coverage, without adding the re-entry surcharge. The Flood Insurance Transparency Act. Under current rules, the loss history of many properties is not accessible. Computer models show projected flooding areas, yes, but previous, actual losses are often hard to find. Scotts bill would require FEMA to make detailed historic claims, along with policy and flood risk data, readily available to the public, while protecting personal information. That could encourage more prospective homebuyers to steer clear of soggy property or to buy more flood coverage. Scott and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, have introduced other bills they say would improve the flood insurance marketplace. It will take more than legislation to convince more people to sign up for flood insurance, though, advocates say. For starters, many property owners and prospective buyers simply arent aware that a home is in a vulnerable area. Realtors are afraid of telling people that, Neal said. And insurance agents tell them they dont need flood insurance. Weve got to get them to understand that its in everyones interest to know flood risks, he added. A peer-reviewed research paper published this month found that inconsistent information about flood insurance exists in parts of the country, and some communities have higher take-up rates on policies than others. In some areas where flood insurance acceptance is particularly low, targeted efforts may be needed to raise awareness and purchases, said the paper in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. Topics Flood FEMA Blustery winds still surged through California on Tuesday after downing trees, fanning wildfires and shutting off power to about 21,000 customers in northern and central regions. Red flag warnings of dangerous fire conditions continued in mountains, valleys, canyons and deserts because of dry, windy weather. Winds of 25 mph with gusts up to 70 mph into early Tuesday evening. Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power to about 21,000 customers in 20 central and northern California counties to reduce the risk that power lines could be toppled, sparking wildfires. PG&E equipment was blamed for a 2018 fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise in Butte County. The company filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter. PG&E also faces numerous criminal charges for fires caused by its fraying equipment, including involuntary manslaughter charges filed last month in connection to a wildfire near the city of Redding last year that killed four people. At least a half-dozen fires erupted around the state Monday. Most remained small, but a blaze west of Santa Barbara, up the coast from Los Angeles, quickly spread to thousands of acres. The fire burned in dense chaparral through an area of ranches, canyons and parks. The flames prompted the mandatory evacuation of El Capitan State Park along with campsites, cattle and horse ranches near Refugio State Beach, and U.S. 101 the only highway along the coast was shut down as the blaze moved south towards the ocean, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said. On the Central Coast, a tree fell onto power lines at Hearst San Simeon State Park, sparking a small fire in the brush, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection tweeted. And strong winds knocked down a tree, destroying three parked cars and damaging a home in the coastal town of El Granada, in San Mateo County, CalFire said. However, no injuries were reported. Windy weather is a nightmare for firefighters in a state where heat waves and historic drought tied to climate change have left forests and brush tinder-dry. Fires that began in late summer are still burning after destroying hundreds of homes. In the Sierra Nevada, the so-called KNP Complex fires may have burned hundreds of giant sequoias in groves in Sequoia National Park and was only 30% contained. On Monday, a firefighter with a hand crew working on the blaze was struck by a rolling rock. The firefighter was airlifted to a hospital and is in stable condition, fire officials said. The National Weather Service said blowing dust was widespread from the Sacramento Valley, across the San Joaquin Valley and into the high desert Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles. Caltrans said sections of State Route 138 near the Antelope Valley city of Lancaster and State Route 14 were shut down because of the dust storm and several overturned trucks blocking the roadway. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Some workers at Voodoo Doughnuts who were fired during a deadly Pacific Northwest heat wave in June after going on strike are set to get their jobs back. KOIN-TV reports the National Labor Relations Board ruled the workers at the Portland Old Town location should be re-instated because the firings were unjust. The Board also ordered that the reinstated workers should get back pay. Eleven employees at that Voodoo Doughnuts went on strike after facing heat exhaustion during the record-breaking heat wave. Seven of the 11 were fired. Max Fleisher told KOIN at that time he was fired from Voodoo Doughnuts days after the strike. He said the extreme heat created an unsafe work environment and took pictures of thermometers from inside the business that showed a temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). Portland set an all-time record high temperature during that heat wave when the mercury reached 116 F. He said he and the other co-workers brought up concerns about the heat to management. But when nothing changed as temperatures kept climbing, Fleisher said he and the others went on strike. KOIN 6 News has reached out to Voodoo Doughnuts for comment. Voodoo Doughnuts, known for its extravagant doughnuts with unusual toppings, is a popular tourist draw. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Talent Oregon Annmarie Bulter, associate professor in philosophy and religious studies, addressed the Faculty Senate about her concerns with only expecting students to meet three out of the four U.S. diversity requirements constructed by the Senate. The Faculty Senate met to discuss U.S. diversity requirements Oct. 12 in the Sun Room at the Memorial Union. A doctor employed as a senior house officer at University Maternity Hospital Limerick knew near nothing, was unable to take blood samples and insert intravenous drips and had to ask what an obstetrician was, a medical inquiry heard yesterday. A sitting of the Irish Medical Councils fitness to practise (FTP) committee was told that Dr Francis Megwa had failed to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and competence expected of a non-consultant hospital doctor working in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology. Evidence was heard that his skills were assessed as being equivalent to those of a final-year medical student. Dr Megwa is accused of two counts of poor professional performance over a period spent working in UMHL between July 9, 2018, and August 14, 2018. Counsel for the IMC, Neasa Bird BL, said Dr Megwa had failed to show his basic competency in taking a patients clinical history, in diagnosing symptoms, inserting cannulas and in prescribing common medication. Read More West Cork parents 'frustrated' by delayed access to disability services He was also charged with being unable to give a clear history about a pregnant woman who had presented at the hospital with vaginal bleeding or estimate her level of blood loss as well as failing to recommend appropriate treatment for her. The inquiry heard Dr Megwa, a Nigerian national, had very limited experience working in hospitals and only as an unpaid intern, observer and volunteer since qualifying as a doctor in Romania in 2015. Dr Megwa had described himself as a senior house officer in his job application to the HSE because he felt it was the most appropriate term. However, the IMC stressed that it was making no allegation that Dr Megwa had attempted to mislead anyone about his qualifications or experience. Former chief clinical director of UL Hospitals Group, Dr Gerard Burke, said he had issued Dr Megwa with an oral warning and confined him to an observer role after receiving complaints about his competence after just one week of working in the hospital. Dr Burke said he felt obliged to refer the matter to the Irish Medical Council over concerns that he would end up working in another hospital in Ireland. The retired obstetrician and gynaecologist said he was very surprised to find out that Dr Megwa appeared to have almost no medical knowledge for someone who had spent five years in a medical school. He told the inquiry that the doctor did not seem to know much about drugs and summed up Dr Megwa as seeming to know near nothing. I never came across the like of it before, Dr Burke observed. I never encountered this situation where you have to explore someones basic medical knowledge. One member of the FTP committee, Dr Maire Milner, said Dr Megwa was completely honest in his CV about his experience and the fact that he had written shadowing about his previous hospital roles should have rung a giant alarm bell. Dr Burke, who did not interview Dr Megwa for his role as SHO, accepted that the interview process was flawed. The inquiry heard Dr Megwa was hired by UMHL because of a shortage of applicants who had completed their intern year. A clinical midwife manager at UMHL, Valerie McInerney, said other staff had expressed concerns to her about Dr Megwas ability and level of skills in assessing patients. When prescribing paracetamol for a patient, Ms McInerney said Dr Megwa was unaware of the correct dosage and frequency of the medication. She recalled he had also asked what an obstetrician was when one had been sought by a GP in a referral letter to the hospital. A specialist registrar, Dr Laura Linehan, said Dr Megwa had incorrectly diagnosed a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant with a condition associated with the first weeks of pregnancy when she was actually suffering from a potential emergency complication, while he had also struggled to write a prescription for a woman with a urinary tract infection. Dr Linehan said she had reported her concerns because she did not believe Dr Megwa should be allowed to work on his own in the hospitals maternity emergency unit because of the risk of harm to patients. In a statement to the IMC, Dr Megwa said he had made progress during his time in UMHL and he was heartbroken and felt betrayed after being placed on paid leave and subsequently having his employment terminated. The hearing continues today. The crisis in Ethiopia is a stain on our conscience, the United Nations humanitarian chief said, as children and others starve to death in the Tigray region under what the UN has called a de facto government blockade of food, medical supplies and fuel. Martin Griffiths issued one of the most sharply worded criticisms yet of the worlds worst hunger crisis in a decade after nearly a year of war. Memories of the 1980s famine in Ethiopia, which killed some one million people and whose images shocked the world, are vivid in his mind, and we fervently hope is not happening at present, he said. Thats what keeps people awake at night, Mr Griffiths said, is worrying about whether thats what is in prospect, and in prospect soon. He described a landscape of deprivation inside Tigray, where the malnutrition rate is now over 22%, roughly the same as we saw in Somalia in 2011 at the start of the Somali famine, which killed more than a quarter-million people. An Ethiopian woman argues with others over the allocation of yellow split peas after it was distributed by the Relief Society of Tigray in the town of Agula (Ben Curtis/PA) The war in Ethiopia began last November on the brink of harvest in Tigray, and the UN has said at least half of the coming harvest will fail. Witnesses have said Ethiopian and allied forces destroyed or looted food sources. Meanwhile just 10% of needed humanitarian supplies have been reaching Tigray in recent weeks, Mr Griffiths said. So people have been eating roots and flowers and plants instead of a normal steady meal, he said. The lack of food will mean that people will start to die. Last week the Associated Press, citing witness accounts and internal documents, reported the first starvation deaths since Ethiopias government imposed the blockade on the region of six million people in an attempt to keep support from reaching Tigray forces. But the problem is not hunger alone. The UN humanitarian chief, who recently visited Tigray, cited the lack of medical supplies and noted that vulnerable children and pregnant or lactating mothers are often the first to die of disease. Some 200,000 children throughout the region have missed vaccinations since the war began. And the lack of fuel, pretty well down to zero now, Mr Griffiths said, means the UN and other humanitarian groups are finding it all but impossible to reach people throughout Tigray or even to know the true scale of need. Phone, internet and banking services have also been cut off. Billene Seyoum, the spokeswoman for Ethiopias Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister Abiy Ahmed, did not respond to questions. Ethiopian government soldiers (Ben Curtis/PA) The government has blamed problems with humanitarian aid delivery on the Tigray forces, who long dominated the national government before Mr Abiy sidelined them. Mr Abiys government also has alarmed UN officials and others by accusing humanitarian workers of supporting the Tigray fighters. Mr Griffiths called such allegations unacceptable and unfair. He said he has told the government to share any evidence of misconduct by humanitarian workers so the UN can investigate, but so far as Im aware, we havent had such cases put to us. Humanitarian workers boarding flights to Tigray are told not to bring items including multivitamins, can openers and medicines, even personal ones. The UN humanitarian chief said he too was searched when he visited Tigray, with authorities examining everything in his bag and even questioning why he was carrying earphones. Ethiopias crisis has led the UN, the United States and others to urge the warring sides to stop the fighting and take steps toward peace, but Mr Griffiths warned that the war doesnt look as if its finishing any time soon. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief (Mary Altaffer/AP) On the contrary, in recent weeks it spread into the neighbouring Amhara region. Mr Griffiths said the active battle lines are making it challenging to get aid to hundreds of thousands more people. Ethiopia will see the formation of a new government next week with another five years in office for the prime minister. Mr Griffiths, who said he last spoke with Mr Abiy three or four weeks ago, expressed hope for a change of direction. Wed all like to see is with that election inauguration, that we would see new leadership leading Ethiopia away from the abyss that its peering into at the moment, that the national dialogue process which he discussed with me in the past, and his deputy discussed with me last week, that needs to happen, Mr Griffiths said. It needs to be coherent, it needs to be inclusive and it needs to be soon. A woman and a child have been taken to hospital after a fire at a block of flats in south-west London. The blaze took hold in a flat on the 20th floor of a high-rise on Westbridge Road in Battersea. Three people left the affected flat while another 50 people left the building before fire crews arrived, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. The fire at the tower block in Battersea (@AkashDe69028264/Twitter/PA) Flames could be seen from the top of the block as dark plumes of smoke drifted into the sky. LFB sent 70 firefighters to the scene after the blaze was reported at 8.02pm on Tuesday. It had received 18 calls about the blaze. Police and emergency service at the scene in Battersea, south-west London (Aaron Chown/PA) Station commander Pete Johnson, who is at the scene, said: Crews were faced with a lot of smoke issuing from the top of a block of flats on arrival. There was also lots of visible flame which has prompted a high number of calls to our control officers. There are a number of road closures in place. The scene of a fire at a tower block on Westbridge Road in Battersea (Aaron Chown/PA) Fire crews from Battersea, Fulham, Wandsworth, North Kensington and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. Student Ishika Deb, 20, who lives in a neighbouring block of flats, said: I heard a bang and glass smashing. I went out and saw there was glass on the floor. Then I heard a bang and looked up and saw fire. She said she heard a couple of bangs then noticed that ash was coming out. An LFB spokesman said the cause of the fire is not currently known but it had been brought under control at 8.53pm. Burma International Cigarette Firm Ditches Military-Ruled Myanmar British American Tobacco Myanmar. / IngersollRandMM British American Tobacco (BAT), the London-based multinational that manufactured and sold London and Lucky Strike cigarettes in Myanmar, has ceased operations, becoming the latest international company to leave since the February coup. In its letter to merchants and partners, BAT Myanmar Co said it has ceased production, sale and distribution without giving a reason. It said it will fully withdraw by the end of the year. It is a shame that BAT is leaving Myanmar. Large firms that have demonstrated corporate responsibility and accountability are leaving Myanmar. Myanmars economic downturn has severely affected poorer and middle-class citizens, said a businessman who asked for anonymity. The sustainable agriculture development program supported by BAT for farmers in Kayah State will also cease, said the businessman. International companies are finding it difficult to sustain operations in the chaos caused by the military takeover, said traders. After eight months, international companies find the business environment no longer matches their ethics and regulations. They are considering the long-term commercial viability of their operations in Myanmar, said an economist in Myanmar. BAT set up in Myanmar in 1999 in partnership with military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) to manufacture and sell cigarettes. It was forced to leave Myanmar in 2003 by campaigners and an exceptional request from the British government to abandon its operation in Myanmar. It returned in 2013 as the country opened up and initiated reforms. According to the Institute for Strategy and Policy in Myanmar, businesses from Australia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the US, Germany, Hong Kong, Norway and Taiwan have ceased operations. These include Woodside, KOI Bubble Tea Shop, Auntie Annes, Bridgestone, Metro and Petronas. AEON, Amata Corporation, EDF (Electricite de France), Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Sembcorp and Toyota have suspended operations. Norwegian telecoms company Telenor and Australias Myanmar Metals have sold their operations in Myanmar and Japans Kirin Holdings Co and Singapores Virginia Tobacco Co Ltd have terminated partnerships with MEHL. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Criticized Over Mandalay Palace Park Plan Two Power Plants in Myanmars Biggest City Shut Amid Coups Financial Fallout Low-Profile Arms Dealer Continues to Supply Myanmar Militarys Weapons Burma Myanmar Junta Criticized Over Mandalay Palace Park Plan An excavator digs near Mandalay Palace Wall as part of the juntas recreation park project. / CJ Conservationists have criticized the military regimes plan to create a public recreation area alongside the walls of Mandalay Palace in Myanmars former royal capital, saying the scheme will do more harm than good to the countrys cultural heritage. Work on the park began earlier this month, despite the fact that the palace is Mandalays landmark building. The project reportedly includes playgrounds, a car park and landscaping with non-indigenous plants, all to be built alongside the palaces walls and moat. Local conservationists have objected to the new construction in Mandalays cultural zone, saying that the project will obstruct views of the palace walls and moat, as well as having a negative impact on the structure itself. Parking facilities, lamp-posts and plants will hide the palace walls from sight. This will be the major impact of the project, said a conservationist who wished to remain anonymous. There will be increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic because of the project, and so there will be increased vibration. Under successive governments, heritage conservation was subjugated to other necessities. The palace walls have not been properly maintained either. So the project will only do more harm, he added. The park is also a blatant violation of the 2015 Law on the Preservation and Protection of Ancient Buildings, which requires a minimum distance of 120 feet between new and ancient buildings and specifies that any new building close to a heritage structure should not exceed 30 feet in height. The recreation park project is unacceptable. Mandalay is the only place in Myanmar where the moat and the city walls are in relatively good condition. Although there are remains of palace walls and moats in other ancient cities, they are not in as good a condition as the ones in Mandalay. They need to be conserved, said heritage management specialist Daw Ohmar Myo. There have been criticisms that the junta failed to conduct a heritage impact assessment, which is necessary for projects being implemented in ancient heritage zones. The regime also failed to consult with experts prior to the start of construction of the park. Cultural assets should be a top priority for those managing Mandalay, which is a showcase for Myanmars cultural heritage, said Daw Ohmar Myo. Successive military regimes were known for their poor management of ancient heritage sites including Bagan, a temple city which is over 1,100 years old and was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019. Myanmar had sought to get Bagan on the UNESCO list since 1994. However, it was rejected for not meeting World Heritage Site standards, allegedly because of mismanaged development plans and sub-standard, inauthentic restoration efforts carried out under previous governments, especially in the 1990s. Established between 1857 and 1859, Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar and home to the countrys last two monarchs, King Mindon and his son King Thibaw. After the British annexed Upper Myanmar in 1885, British troops were stationed in Mandalay Palace and knew it as the Glass Palace. The palace and sections of its walls were badly damaged in bombing raids by the British and their allies in 1945 as they attempted to retake Mandalay from the Japanese army, which occupied Myanmar for around three years during World War II. The palace walls were repaired under the Revolutionary Council government led by General Ne Win. The palace complex was reconstructed in the late 1990s by the then military regime. Today, the palace is partially open to the public, while Myanmar military units are also stationed inside the compound. You may also like these stories: Two Power Plants in Myanmars Biggest City Shut Amid Coups Financial Fallout Low-Profile Arms Dealer Continues to Supply Myanmar Militarys Weapons Myanmar Military Evacuates Officers Families From Conflict-Hit Northern Township Burma Myanmars Detained President Exposes Illegality of Coup in Court Testimony President U Win Myint, left, and commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing. / Facebook Court testimony from Myanmars ousted civilian President U Win Myint on Tuesday showed that commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing breached the militarys own 2008 Constitution when he seized power on Feb. 1. On multiple occasions over the past eight months, whether in meetings with members of the State Administration Council (SAC) he chairs, or at gatherings with his subordinates, the commander-in-chief has repeatedly claimed that there was no coup on Feb. 1 and that the military takeover was carried out constitutionally. However, on Tuesday, the 70-year-old detained President, testifying in his own defense, told a court in Naypyitaw that early on the morning of the takeover, two military generals entered his room at the Presidential Residence in Naypyitaw and tried to force him to resign from his post on the grounds of ill health. According to his lawyer, the President told the court that the officers threatened him, saying that if he did not do as they instructed he would come to harm. U Win Myint told the generals that he would rather die than consent to their proposal, the lawyer added. The President said he told the generals that he was not concerned about being harmed, and that things should be handled as per the law and not by staging a coup, his lawyer said. The first public revelation of the circumstances of President U Win Myints detention came as he personally defends himself against an incitement charge brought by the regime over statements released by his National League for Democracy (NLD) urging the public to resist the coup. The same charge has also been brought against detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD chairwoman, and detained Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung. A lawyer told The Irrawaddy that Tuesdays court testimony from the President has emerged as the strongest confirmation yet of assertions made by both local and international legal experts that the military takeover was unconstitutional. According to Article 417 and Article 418 of the 2008 Constitution, in the event that a state of emergency is to be declared in the country, the President must announce the order in coordination with the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC). The President then transfers the governments executive, legislative and judicial powers to the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces. However, a few hours after the countrys civilian leaders including President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested on Feb. 1, the military convened an NDSC meeting. Former general U Myint Swe, the military-appointed vice president, attended the meeting as acting president and declared the country to be under a nationwide state of emergency for one year. Then, he immediately transferred the countrys legislative, administrative and judicial powers to the commander-in-chief. Trying to force the sitting president to resign by using threats could be seen as coup maker Min Aung Hlaings desperate attempt to make his takeover constitutional. The charters Article 73 (a) states that one of the two vice presidentsthe one who won the second-highest number of votes in the presidential electionshall serve as Acting President if the office of the President falls vacant due to his resignation, death, permanent disability or any other reason. In other words, the two senior military officers suggestion that U Win Myint quit his position for health reasons was nothing more than a pretext to make the coup legal. However, given the then presidents refusal to resign, its hard to say that Article 73 provides valid support for U Myint Swes acting presidency, let alone the coup. The President has notified the entire nation as well as the world, through the court, that the takeover violates the Constitution, the lawyer said. The Presidents words clearly reveal the commander-in-chief and his fellow generals to be criminals who have committed high treason, he said. It is the strongest evidence that they committed high treason as [it comes from] the head of state himself, the lawyer said. Lawyers in Myanmar have called for the prosecution of the coup leaders for high treason, which carries the death sentence. Amid these calls, the SAC led by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing has amended the countrys high treason law in an attempt to guarantee impunity for the military leaders who seized power in February. While the original Article 121 of the Penal Code says anyone who attempts or otherwise prepares by force of arms or other violent means to overthrow the organs of the Union or of its constituent units established by the Constitution is guilty of high treason, the coup leader has amended it so that only unconstitutional use of force of arms constitutes high treason, meaning it is acceptable to use force of arms as long as it is done in line with the Constitution. However, lawyers said that because the takeover was carried out in breach of the Constitution, every order, every appointment and removal of an official, and all changes to the law made by the junta are illegal. Myanmar has been in political and social turmoil since the military overthrew the civilian government and seized control. Since the coup, the junta has killed at least 1,167 people including protesters, politicians, activists, bystanders and children, and arrested more than 8,890 in an effort to suppress opposition to the regime. You may also like these stories: International Cigarette Firm Ditches Military-Ruled Myanmar Myanmar Junta Criticized Over Mandalay Palace Park Plan Two Power Plants in Myanmars Biggest City Shut Amid Coups Financial Fallout Guest Column Regional Leaders Face Dual Task: Save ASEAN, Save Myanmar An anti-regime protester in Mandalay in February / The Irrawaddy Never before in the 54-year history of ASEAN had its members encountered such a bitter debate about the situation in Myanmar as they did last Monday when they unknowingly nearly tore down the founding fathers commitment to keep the ASEAN roof over all countries in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, deemed the most powerful member of ASEAN, viewed Myanmars growing intransigence as unacceptable and threatened Myanmar with expulsion. Meanwhile, Malaysia, which recently appointed a new cabinet, wanted the ASEAN chair to bar Myanmar from attending the upcoming ASEAN-related summits due to the juntas non-cooperative attitude. Their foreign ministers told the whole world about the unyielding nature of Naypyitaw but have not offered better ideas or ways out of the impasse. The deep discussion, as Erywan Yusof put it, ended without any consensus on ASEANs next step. ASEANs special envoy, Erywan has been preparing to visit Myanmar for the past month, ever since he took up the post. But his terms of reference for visiting the country are problematic and unacceptable for Naypyitaw. He has requested to meet with the jailed National League of Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Ki, who is facing multiple charges including corruption, and other key stakeholders. In addition, he also must be free to travel inside the country and set up centers as he sees fit. As of last week, the interim government in Naypyitaw was resistant to his demands. In the next two weeks before the four-day ASEAN-related summits, there must be some progress regarding the special envoys visit as well as the juntas response to avoid mutual political backlashes. Otherwise, ASEAN will suffer a big blow, as it has yet to begin substantial work inside Myanmar on the much needed humanitarian side. Both ASEAN and Myanmar still have a small window to work out a compromise on ways that would ensure that the five-point consensus would be carried out in phases at a pace acceptable to all the concerned parties. At the moment, progress towards the implementation of the agreed plan has been slow. One major reason is the continued sporadic fighting between the regime and the Peoples Defense Forces and some resistance groups. In the northeastern and northern regions of Myanmar, nearly 200,000 displaced persons are in dire need of humanitarian aid including medicines and shelter. Those who have followed the evolution of ASEANs way of handling regional crises, especially from the time Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997 until 2010 before the democratization period until 2021, would quickly recall that Malaysia has been the most vocal critic of Myanmar. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad repeatedly chided Myanmar and urged the bloc to expel the rogue member given its record of brutality against its own people. Obviously, his threat was never carried out because there is no provision in the ASEAN Charter for either expulsion or suspension. His comments therefore increased peer pressure on Myanmar to comply with ASEAN norms and practices. In the ASEAN family, certain rules are not written. If push comes to shove over the lack of progress, the ASEAN chair might decide instead to invite a senior representative of Myanmars leader to attend. He or she would be a senior official working in the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another option is Myanmars own initiative to voluntarily skip the attendance of its leaders and send in a senior replacement. The latter option would be better because ASEAN would not have to hold another senior official meeting to discuss the issue again. Back in 2006, the U Thein Sein administration asked the ASEAN chair, which was Laos at the time, for a further delay in assuming the blocs chairmanship. Naypyitaw cited the uncertainties inside the country and the unpreparedness of its own officials. In fact, this same situation is currently prevailing inside Myanmar given the breakdown of the bureaucracy. Since there will be more than a dozen summits, some leaders of dialogue partners might not want to take part if Senior Gen Ming Aung Hlaing is attending. Less senior levels could be tolerated. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be. Members of dialogue partners are watching closely as there could be some last-minute changes due to the increasingly volatile situation. The current situation places Thailand in a difficult position. With or without Myanmar at the summits, the situation on the ground inside Thailand and the lengthy porous border with Myanmar will not change. Bangkok still has to deal with Myanmar workers and displaced persons, both old and freshly arrived. Through the Thai Red Cross Society, humanitarian assistance from Thailand as well as from the ASEAN Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management has been sent to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. More substantial humanitarian assistance would come soon after the special envoys visit to Myanmar. According to the Secretary General of ASEAN, Dato Pahin Lim Jock Hoi, ASEAN has obtained a total of US$10 million in humanitarian funding for Myanmar. Thailand hosted the international forum to raise extra funds for this purpose back in July. Since April, the Thai government has provided funding and humanitarian assistance to the Thai Red Cross. Thailand needs more help, especially in terms of vaccines for migrant workers from Myanmar and displaced persons in the border areas. There are at least 920,000 Myanmar displaced persons who have been living in the nine border camps since 1990. Less than one thousand had been repatriated before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Myanmar has told the ASEAN family that it will implement its five-point road map to democracy and that it will take about two years before democracy returns. ASEAN has to work together with Myanmar and help its weakest member stand up tall and correctly. If ASEAN shuts out Myanmar, in the long run, the bloc will be on the receiving end because it would further isolate Myanmar and turn the helpless nation into an auxiliary state for outside powers. If this situation prevails, peace and stability and ASEAN relevancy would disappear. ASEAN must remain open and inclusive. The Myanmar crisis, as in the 13-year Cambodian conflict, can positively influence and strengthen ASEAN as a whole. Already, some members are now able to openly discuss their views which, in the past, would have been kept under wraps. But after all the rhetoric, decisions have to be made. Rightly so, the ASEAN way prevails. Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs. This article first appeared in The Bangkok Post. You may also like these stories: Neither Sanctions Nor Engagement Will Influence Myanmars Military Myanmar Militarys Superior Size Means Less When the People Are United Against it Myanmar Junta Continues to Detain Journalists Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%.. Tonight Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Equinix a digital infrastructure company, has been chosen by application hosting and infrastructure service provider i3D.net to support its global gaming platform. Acquired by one of the worlds largest game publishers, Ubisoft, i3D.net provides a global low-latency network and has partnered with Equinix to gain proximity to its end users following an uptick in activity. The gaming market is experiencing solid growth and is forecast to increase from US$42.2b in 2020 to US$46.7b in 2025. In addition to organic worldwide expansion, i3D.net has seen its gaming business grow significantly, with capacity needs doubling. With an uptick in usage and global demand for a highly immersive and consistent end-user experience, as well as new game launches, e-sports events and popularity spikes of a particular game, the need for high-speed connectivity to sync games and perform deployment tests increased. i3D.net moved its gaming platform to Platform Equinix, integrating into 38 Equinix International Business Exchange(IBX) data centres across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europeto provide the low-latency connectivity necessary to ensure a seamless gaming experience. Widespread cloud adoption and access have changed the way video and mobile games are developed, delivered and played. By rearchitecting its supporting digital infrastructure accordingly, i3D.net can offer scalability and an instant immersive gaming experience, regardless of location, Equinix says. With online gaming undergoing an unprecedented surge in popularity, Equinix can strategically support i3D.net in delivering the best possible user experience to gamers around the world, said Equinix director of segment marketing EMEA Matt George. Gamers are always striving to level-up, pushing themselves to better their skills and expanding their game-base; they expect nothing less from developers and providers. With new levels of demand, gaming platforms must be supported by robust digital infrastructure to enable the transfer of information at high speeds to ensure smooth game playing, while also offering the utmost security to protect sensitive player details. Equinix said it will provide i3D.net with a dependable and highly connected global infrastructure that offers the requisite processing power and network speed to perform game development builds quickly, using a point-to-point approach. Equinix is the foundation behind the single portal that i3D.net offers its customers where they can easily scale highly customised gaming environments and traffic for the best customer experience. It allocates gaming traffic to burst into multiple cloud accounts that gamers need from AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, through the interconnection of 40 exchanges. i3D.net chief operating officer Rick Sloot commented: We are committed to providing the best experience for our users gaming platforms, no matter where they are, so our network is one of the most important pillars of our company. Having healthy interconnection services that connect the i3D.net network with Platform Equinix means we can deliver the lowest latency to our end users, removing the frustration of in-game lag. Equinixs interconnection services are extremely reliable and powerful, allowing us to grow anywhere in the world. Equinix and i3D.net (along with Ubisoft) have a shared outlook on sustainability with both companies announcing their ambition to reduce their carbon footprint. Equinix is the first data centre operator to commit to reaching climate-neutral by 2030 globally, backed by science-based targets and a sustainability innovation agenda. Ubisoft is also working on a carbon footprint reduction plan with a short-term goal to decarbonise its direct operations to reduce emissions by 8.8% per employee (based on 2019 levels) by 2023, and a plan for 2030 which will be submitted to the Science-Based Targets initiative for validation, in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C, Equinix stated. i3D.net has deployed at Equinix locations in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Sweden, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Warsaw and Washington, D.C., Equinix said. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 5 October 2021. Dominic Perottet: Australia has an opportunity to be an energy superpower, New South Wales will lead the country with this hydrogen strategy." Australia's biggest state, New South Wales, has outlined its strategy to support the development of a commercial hydrogen industry. The state has already pledged $70 million to develop hydrogen hubs in the state. Additionally, on Wednesday, the government announced the following incentives: Exemptions for green hydrogen production from government charges; A 90% exemption from electricity network charges for green hydrogen producers who connect to parts of the network with spare capacity; Incentives for green hydrogen production; and A hydrogen refuelling station network to be rolled out across the state. NSW Premier Dominic Perottet, who has ascended to the top job recently after Gladys Berejiklian resigned following the news that the Independent Commission against Corruption was investigating her, said the Hydrogen Strategy would help to attract investment and create more jobs even as the state slowly emerges from a lockdown. At first blush, it looks like the NSW Hydrogen Strategy was well worth the wait. Real $ that recognise the scale of the opportunity, and substantial and tangible medium term targets. Congratulations @Matt_KeanMP & DPIE team. pic.twitter.com/mqUsJc4T6h Anna Freeman (@FreeAnna1) October 13, 2021 On Monday, 70% of the NSW population over the age of 16 hadagainst COVID-19, and some of the restrictions, in place since June, were relaxed. Australia has an opportunity to be an energy superpower, New South Wales will lead the country with this hydrogen strategy, Perrottet said in a statement. Our major trading partners see hydrogen as part of their energy future, this state has the skills, infrastructure and renewable energy resources to compete globally in this new industry. Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean, a pivotal figure in the state's climate initiatives under Berejiklian, said the strategy, which would provide up to $3 billion in incentives, was forecast to boost the NSW economy by more than $600 million by 2030. Hydrogen will not only help the state halve our emissions by 2030 and get to net zero by 2050, it will create new opportunities for our heavy industry, and an economic bonanza of investment and jobs, he said. This strategy is forecast to more than halve the cost of green hydrogen production in NSW and will make NSW the best place to invest in hydrogen in the world. The statement said businesses which wished to participate in the hydrogen hubs could submit an expression of interest by the end of the month. Nintex Workflow Cloud has several new features including workflow tracking, easier connection to external data sources, and an on-premises SQL connector. My Nintex now provides process owners and workflow participants with enhanced insights and visibility into in-process workflows, allowing progress tracking of outstanding approvals and decisions. Data from external systems of record can be used in Nintex Workflow Cloud forms to improve the information available to end-users. The Nintex Gateway SQL Connector brings additional support for Microsoft SQL Server. It allows the adding, viewing or updating data; querying a table or view; and executing a stored procedure from any on-premises SQL database. The AI-powered PDF form converter turns static PDFs into interactive digital forms. Fillable and non-fillable PDFs are supported, and the generated forms can be customised using Nintex Form Designer. On the security side, Nintex has received an independent, exception-free SOC 2 Type 2 report on security controls for its cloud automation platform Nintex Workflow Cloud, and exception-free SOC 2 Type 2 reports on security controls for Nintex Promapp and Nintex Drawloop DocGen. In addition, Nintex Workflow Cloud is now available from a Canadian data centre, and Nintex Workflow Cloud for Government has achieved FedRAMP In Process designation. "Public and private sector organisations are looking to drive further efficiencies across their operations with automation software," said Nintex chief product officer Neal Gottsacker. "With the ease and power of Nintex Workflow Cloud, information technology and ops professionals as well as business analysts, across departments like HR, sales, marketing, finance and legal, are empowered to improve simple to sophisticated business processes with the platform's visual drag-and-drop workflow and forms designer making the process of automating work fast and secure." GUEST OPINION: As we have seen with the recent increase in headline-making cyber-attacks, a lack of awareness around cyber security best practice is putting the Australian public sector at high risk of ransomware attacks that could result in disruption of operation or loss of sensitive information. The promise of the Security Legislation Amendment (critical infrastructure) Bill 2020Recently, the government drew up an updated legislation to protect Australias critical infrastructure, the Security Legislation Amendment (critical infrastructure) Bill 2020. It extends the scope of what is considered critical infrastructure, including organisations responsible for communications, data storage and processing, financial services and markets, water and sewerage, energy, health care and medical, higher education and research, food and grocery, transport, space technology, and the defence industry. The bill will significantly impact Australias 537 local councils, many of which provide critical and essential services like water and sewage. The legislation will require them to adopt and comply with a risk management program that ensures critical infrastructure assets are protected from cyber-attacks. The growing state of risk for todays local councilsMaintaining adequate protection against cyber-attacks will present a considerable challenge for councils, many of whom are suffering budget constraints. Back in 2018, the Australian Local Government Association advised that local councils required an investment of $30 billion to renew and replace ageing infrastructure, a figure which greatly exceeds the funding capacity of the local government sector under current revenue arrangements. They also advised that this figure will likely to grow in the coming years to meet evolving productivity and safety requirements. Budgetary constraints aside, smaller councils are also likely to struggle to gain access to the high-level expertise needed to achieve and maintain robust protections against cyber threats, especially those in rural and remote areas. The NSW Auditor Generals Report on Local Government 2020 stated 58 councils in the state had yet to implement basic governance and internal controls to manage cybersecurity. It listed these controls as: a cybersecurity framework, policy and procedure, a register for cyber incidents, penetration testing, and staff training. Other states are unlikely to fare much better. The WA Auditor Generals May 2021 Report on Local Government General Computer Controls found 328 control weaknesses in 50 local government entities, all of which could significantly compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IT systems. The increasing digitalisation of council services and operations poses another challenge. Every initiative to improve services for citizens, or to digitise internal council operations, potentially increases the attack surface and the volume of data at risk of a breach. A particular risk is the digitisation of infrastructure, the implementation of IoT, and the integration of operational technology and information technology. Cyber risk has risen rapidly in the ranking of issues facing local councils. Some recent cases of councils who have been victims of cyber-attacks demonstrate how challenging achieving and maintaining robust cyber security will be. In August, Stonnington Council in Victoria was hit by a cyber-attack. Following the attack, Stonnington CEO Jacqui Weatherill told 7 News that the council was trying to ascertain if sensitive data had been exfiltrated, and that some council staff working from home had been forced to take annual leave as a result of the incident. Stonnington was not the first council in Australia to have suffered a significant cyber-attack, and certainly will not be the last. In December 2020, the City of Onkaparinga council in Adelaide was hit by the Ryuk ransomware (which first emerged in 2018), forcing staff to start their holidays early. Mayor Erin Thompson told the ABC IT staff had to restore every server and every different device manually across the council network. In October 2020, insurer LGIS reported a large metropolitan local government in WA was infiltrated by a high impact ransomware attack in which hackers had gained admin privileges causing days of near total shutdown. Demonstrating the challenge councils face to counter ransomware, the report said the council had invested in data-protection, firewalls, anti-malware, anti-spam, and anti-virus products, but none-of these had been able to protect it from the highly-disruptive sophisticated attacks. Attackers were able to easily bypass these traditional endpoint detection security tools. Countering ransomware requires a new approach to security Local councils need to take a new approach to securing their critical applications as ransomware attacks continue to proliferate and become more sophisticated. Applications require advanced security tools, which offer deeper layers of protection. One of the best ways to achieve this advanced level of security is through deterministic protection that fully protects the software workload in runtime, wherever it is running. Within milliseconds of being installed, this technology establishes a map of normal behaviour within each application, by monitoring and mapping all activity including files, processes, libraries, memory usage, and web inputs. Any deviation from the norm is instantly detected, treated as a threat, and blocked in real-time, reducing the likelihood of damage ever occurring, reducing attacker dwell time and reducing operational costs. Adversaries will continue to wreak havoc on local councils who remain a key target due to limited awareness of cyber security threats and budgetary constraints. But with the right security tools deployed, councils can have peace of mind knowing their critical services will remain operational should they ever be targeted. Nokia announced it has launched what it calls the industrys first cloud-native, mission-critical industrial edge solution to allow enterprises to accelerate their operational technology (OT) digitalisation initiatives and advance their journey to Industry 4.0. The new Nokia MX Industrial Edge is a scalable application and compute solution designed to meet the mission-critical digital transformation needs of asset-intensive industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation, Nokia said. It combines compute, storage, wired/wireless networking, one-click industrial applications and automated management onto a unified, on-premise OT digital transformation platform. Industry 4.0 requires widespread digitalisation and connectivity of equipment, machines and other assets in industrial environments. Due to the volume and velocity of data generated, and the need for real-time automation, increasingly data needs to be processed at the edge close to where it is generated. By 2025, Gartner predicts that 75% of industrial data will be processed at the edge, the company stated. Nokia says that by adopting its MX Industrial Edge, enterprises will benefit from an on-premise cloud architecture that unifies edge requirements in an easy-to-use, deploy everywhere, as-a-service package. The company states that it removes the complexity, knowledge, and economic hurdles typically associated with deployment, integration and life cycle management of high-performance compute applications and mission-critical networking. The platforms extreme scalability enables multi-facility enterprises, such as logistics companies, to deploy the same technology in all their locations, whether large or small, making the benefits of develop-once, deploy-everywhere a reality. The Nokia MX Industrial Edge is powered by the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (Nokia DAC), providing the enterprise a single pane of glass user experience to manage everything from applications to private wireless networking, Nokia continued. Nokia head of enterprise solutions Stephan Litjens said, "Industry 4.0 is transforming asset-intensive industries by integrating and digitalising all processes and systems across the industrial value chain. This will result in an explosion of data and taking the right actions based on that data in near real-time will be critical to the success of digital transformation initiatives. "Ensuring performance, along with aspects like keeping data local and secure while being resilient against internet connectivity failures, are not possible with a centralised cloud, making the on-prem edge the architecture of choice for this new breed of OT applications. "The Nokia MX Industrial Edge is built from the ground up to deliver the guaranteed performance, security and reliability that OT digitalisation use cases require," Litjens said. Analysys Mason research director Caroline Chappell https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-chappell-89898a11/ said: Enterprises are increasingly focusing their digital transformation efforts on the application of software and cloud capabilities to operational technologies (OT) to reap the benefits of agility and cost-efficiency in asset-intensive industrial environments. "Enterprises need on-premise edge clouds, like the Nokia MX Industrial Edge, to provide secure, resilient, and high-performance execution environments for mission-critical OT applications. "Enterprises will be looking for an edge cloud solution partner that can tap into a broad ecosystem of cloud stack and industrial application vendors, understand their stringent operational needs, data sovereignty requirements, and which can bring a deep knowledge of the network to an increasingly complex, connected industrial landscape," Chappell concluded. Nokia said its edge solution is also available for enterprises in combination with Nokia Digital Automation Cloud applications, such as High Accuracy Indoor Positioning, Plug and Play private wireless, or with Nokia's alternative private wireless solution, Nokia Modular Private Wireless (MPW). Flexible consumption-based pricing models provide 'pay as you grow' subscription flexibility while minimising upfront investments. Nokia MX Industrial Edge comes in a variety of configurations to support small, medium, and large-scale industrial deployments. Based on the Nokia AirFrame Open Edge server, leveraging Intels latest innovations and CPU for high-capacity processing, the Nokia edge solution is designed for compute-intensive tasks and advanced AI/Machine Learning (ML) workloads optionally supported through graphic processing unit (GPU) support. In addition, high-performance network interface cards (NICs) and packet processing systems scale to support very large 5G standalone (SA) private wireless traffic flows. It offers extreme resilience and reliability through an end-to-end, high availability (HA) architecture, supports geographical redundancy (GR) for business continuity, and the guaranteed performance is assured via integrated orchestration features for service performance management. Intel vice president network platforms group and GM network business incubation division Caroline Chan said, Nokia and Intel have a long-standing partnership to provide innovative solutions from the core to the edge of the intelligent network, which Nokia is expanding to accelerate Industry 4.0 adoption. The combination of Intels innovations and CPUs alongside Nokias MX Industrial Edge Platform and 5G technology will offer enterprise customers the ability to connect, deploy and manage their environments. Across different verticals, enterprises will benefit from the scalable performance and high-speed, low-latency reliable communications, Chan concluded. Nokia says enterprise customers can accelerate their OT digitalisation initiatives with the one-click deployment of industrial applications on the MX Industrial Edge. The catalog contains Nokia applications for a variety of common digitalisation use cases and is complemented by applications from independent software vendors (ISV) which undergo an onboarding process testing reliability, performance, and security. In addition, Nokia's ecosystem-neutral approach also enables industrial customers to take advantage of edge cloud compatible applications present in hyper-scale clouds, as well as industrial partner clouds, the company stated. The MX Industrial Edge also simplifies southbound IIoT system integration complexity with its Industrial connectors providing industrial data protocols translation, and with the Nokia Integrated Operations Center that provides a single pane of glass view from all systems as well as helping create industrial automation workflows, the company concluded. Litjens added: All industrial and enterprise campuses, such as factories, logistics hubs, ports, etc. are multi-solution and multi-partner environments. By adopting an ecosystem-neutral approach and integration plug-ins, our customers get unparalleled flexibility and benefit from the widest array of applications and use cases to adopt innovations to advance their digital transformation. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 7 October 2021. Debit card operator eftpos says several big name banks, retailers and fintechs are supporting the rollout of the eQR QR payments platform. eQR will be available before Christmas, according to eftpos, and will support online, mobile and in-store payments. Companies participating in the launch include Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, retailers Coles and Woolworths, and fintechs Merchant Warrior, Azupay and Beem. "We expect eQR will quickly become the QR equivalent of eftpos tap and pay on debit cards. COVID has changed customer behaviour and Australians are now ready for the enhanced payment experience offered by eQR," said eftpos CEO Stephen Benton. "It is great to have the support of iconic brands like Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Coles, Woolworths, Azupay , Beem It and Merchant Warrior as we roll this out across the country. "The eQR platform aims to provide better experiences for consumers and merchants through added security, loyalty, offers and digital receipts, no matter where they choose to shop online, on their mobile or at the checkout." The first stage of the eQR build was completed in July 2021, and is currently being trialled by several merchants. Commonwealth Bank general manager of merchant solutions Karen Last said "We've seen our business customers become increasingly familiar using QR codes and we're working with eftpos to support the roll out of eQR. We're looking forward to working together to bring this capability to our merchants in the future." NAB merchant services executive Mark Raymer said "Our customers are increasingly choosing faster and digital ways to buy, sell and make payments. We are delighted to be working with eftpos to provide our customers with another innovative payment option." A potentially significant feature of eQR is that it has been designed to integrate with functions such as loyalty schemes. Coles general manager of financial services Paul Askew said: "Coles is looking forward to working with eftpos to improve the customer experience when using eQR to make a payment in our stores and linking this to other functions such as loyalty." Woolworths Group's Wpay managing director Paul Monnington pointed to the way eQR will provide a way to combine payments and rewards in one transaction. "We know speed and ease through the checkout are increasingly important to our customers amid their busy lives. Now is the perfect time to introduce QR and we look forward to building the next generation of seamless payment experiences with eftpos in the months ahead," he said. Azupay CEO John Murphy said "Azupay has been an early force in the FinTech space supporting QR codes for payments. It's great to see them become widely available as an option for Australians to pay through eQR. We're excited to be applying our deep experience to support the adoption of eQR by more merchants across Australia." Beem It CEO Mark Britt said "Beem It is using assets like eQR to create compelling innovations within a local ecosystem for consumers, Fintechs, merchants to enhance digital commerce, and make Beem It available to more people with more services and features." Merchant Warrior founder and CEO Raky Pathak said "Merchant Warrior is always looking to enhance our holistic suite of payment solutions for our users to stay at the forefront of innovation, which is why we are excited to partner with eftpos to deliver eQR to our merchants. eQR is an excellent addition as besides payments, it also enables intuitive digital features like split payments and loyalty redemptions." Disclosure: The writer holds NAB shares. The CIA has invested US$1.6 million (A$2.2 million) in the company behind the secure messaging app Wickr, through its investment arm In-Q-Tel, the American website Motherboard reports , citing public disclosure records as a source. A white-labelled port of the app is believed to have been used in the An0m devices which intelligence agencies employed in a sting operation that targeted criminal gangs and finally took some of them down, with the Australian Federal Police also playing a role. The Motherboard report said the CIA investment had been made before Amazon acquired Wickr in July this year. Interesting to note that the CIA had invested $1.6million into Wickr, the encrypted messaging software that organized crime groups used white labelled in Anom phone devices, later discovered to be a sting operation run with US Law Enforcement agencies. Hacker Fantastic (@hackerfantastic) October 12, 2021 Apart from the CIA investment, Wickr has a separate product developed for the US Department of Defence and a US$900,000 contract with the US Customs and Border Protection. Australians would recall that back in 2015, when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister, he wasto use Wickr. A report said this came shortly after he admitted to using a private email server for communications, including messages related to government business. Turnbull had also pushed for his cabinet to use the Slack messaging app, a report said in October 2015. No, I don't use Wickr. The point is that in 2021, you can't credibly purport to provide a secure app when you a) take money from the CIA and b) literally give the CIA a seat on your board of directors. ayfkm? Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 13, 2021 Messages sent on Wickr self-destruct after a specified period of time. Downloads of the app increased markedly after the news that Turnbull uses it was made public. Turnbull has shown an interest in putting money into similar projects, having invested in Kasada, a company in which the CIA has an investment. He has also invested in the industrial control systems security specialist Dragos, which is run by ex-NSA alumnus Robert Lee. In-Q-Tel operates largely in the shadows, according to an article about the organisation in The Wall Street Journal. More recently, an organisation called Recorded Future, backed by CIA funds, has set up a tech news site called The Record. Recorded Future has a US$20 million fund "to invest in organisations who share our vision for a world secured by intelligence". Karen Andrews: Ransomware gangs have attacked businesses, individuals and critical infrastructure right across the country." The Federal Government will make it compulsory for businesses that have an annual turnover of $10 million or more to report ransomware attacks, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says. In a statement on Wednesday, Andrews said the reporting regime was part of a plan called the Ransomware Action Plan to protect Australians against ransomware. The government will also introduce new criminal offences and tougher penalties as part of the plan. However, there is no date given for the Plan to take effect. She said the government did not condone the payment of ransoms. Attackers who use ransomware to attack companies or individuals generally exfiltrate some data before they encrypt files on the system. A ransom note is then generated and appears on the victim's desktop. All ransomware attacks so far have affected systems running Microsoft's Windows operating system. Andrews said the government's opposition to payment of ransoms was tied to the fact that "there is no guarantee hackers will restore information, stop their attacks, and not leak or sell stolen data". But by waiting 9 months before acting theyve now left themselves so little time to actually act that its unlikely that any of the governments Ransomware Action Plan (which is totally different from a National Ransomware Strategy) will be legislated before the election Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) October 12, 2021 She claimed Australians would be better protected once the plan took effect. Ransomware gangs have attacked businesses, individuals and critical infrastructure right across the country, Andrews said. Stealing and holding private and personal information for ransom costs victims time and money, interrupting lives and the operations of small businesses. Thats why the Morrison Government is taking action to disrupt, pursue and prosecute cyber criminals. Our tough new laws will target this online criminality, and hit cyber crooks where it hurts most their bank balances. The Plan envisages the following: "Introduce a new stand-alone aggravated offence for all forms of cyber extortion to ensure that cyber criminals who use ransomware face increased maximum penalties, giving law enforcement a stronger basis for investigations and prosecution of ransomware criminals; "Introduce a new stand-alone aggravated offence for cybercriminals seeking to target critical infrastructure. This will ensure cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure face increased penalties, recognising the significant impact on assets that deliver essential services to Australians; "Criminalise the act of dealing with stolen data knowingly obtained in the course of committing a separate criminal offence, so that cyber criminals who deprive a victim of their data, or publicly release a victims sensitive data, face increased penalties; "Criminalise the buying or selling of malware for the purposes of undertaking computer crimes; and "Modernise legislation to ensure that cyber criminals wont be able to realise and benefit from their ill-gotten gains, and law enforcement can better track and seize or freeze cyber criminals financial transactions in cryptocurrency." Andrews said the government would consult the community, industry and interested stakeholders on the reporting regime and the new offences. One of Australia's big four banks, National Australia Bank, has welcomed the Plan. Patrick Wright, NAB Group executive Technology and Enterprise Operations, said in a statement: "NAB continues to play an active part in supporting the Federal Government in its efforts to protect Australians from cyber threats. We know the cyber threat landscape is ever evolving and the volume of threats, including ransomware attacks, particularly on our business customers, continues to increase year on year. Were pleased to see the measures introduced in the action plan for tougher penalties, in an effort to deter bad actors. Mandatory reporting of ransomware attacks will provide a more fulsome picture of the impact cyber crime is having. Business and government co-operation is crucial to expand our knowledge and understanding of the threat landscape. Were committed to help our business customers of all sizes combat ransomware and its effects. Seventy-one flaws have been patched in Microsoft's products, the company announced on Tuesday, the monthly Patch Tuesday. One vulnerability CVE-2021-40449 for which a patch was issued was being exploited in the wild, the Russian security firm Kaspersky reported in a separate blog post. However, Microsoft marked this issue as Important, the second level on its scale. A total of four zero-days were patched, three of which had been made public earlier. The NSA reported one of the vulnerabilities, CVE-2021-26427, but Microsoft said it was less likely to be exploited, despite being a remote code execution flaw in Microsoft Exchange Server. At NSA, vulnerability research is a key part of our cybersecurity mission. Hear Morgan Adamski talk about a vulnerability we discovered as part of our routine vulnerability analysis and why you should apply Microsoft's patch! https://t.co/dEh2xBLsNZ pic.twitter.com/OfL48LjTW7 NSA Cyber (@NSACyber) October 12, 2021 Kaspersky researchers Boris Lanin and Costin Raiu said they had detected multiple attacks making use of the elevation of privileges flaw on multiple Windows servers. "The exploit had numerous debug strings from an older, publicly known exploit for vulnerability CVE-2016-3309, but closer analysis revealed that it was a zero-day," the pair said. "We discovered that it was using a previously unknown vulnerability in the Win32k driver and exploitation relies heavily on a technique to leak the base addresses of kernel modules. "We promptly reported these findings to Microsoft. The information disclosure portion of the exploit chain was identified as not bypassing a security boundary, and was therefore not fixed. "Microsoft assigned CVE-2021-40449 to the use-after-free vulnerability in the Win32k kernel driver and it was patched on 12 October as a part of the October Patch Tuesday." Of the 71 vulnerabilities patched, two had Microsoft's highest rating of critical. Apart from Windows, bugs were fixed in Edge, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office Services and SharePoint Server. Ryan Naraine, a veteran security journalist, said in his report that thus far there had been 73 zero-day attacks in the wild. Most took advantage of vulnerable code in products sold by Microsoft, Apple and Google. Raiu and Lanin said the exploit they had found for CVE-2021-40449 could attack the following Microsoft products: Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows 10 (build 14393) Windows Server 2016 (build 14393) Windows 10 (build 17763) Windows Server 2019 (build 17763) "CVE-2021-40449 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Win32ks NtGdiResetDC function," the pair said. "As with many other Win32k vulnerabilities, the root cause of this vulnerability lies in the ability to set user-mode callbacks and execute unexpected API functions during execution of those callbacks. "The CVE-2021-40449 is triggered when the function ResetDC is executed a second time for the same handle during execution of its own callback." Raiu and Lanin said they had analysed the malware payload used along with the zero-day exploit, and found that variants were detected in widespread espionage campaigns against IT companies, military/defence contractors, and diplomatic entities. "We are calling this cluster of activity MysterySnail. Code similarity and re-use of C2 infrastructure we discovered allowed us to connect these attacks with the actor known as IronHusky and Chinese-speaking APT activity dating back to 2012," the pair said. Satnam Narang, a regular commentator on vulnerabilities for iTWire, said a total of 74 CVEs had been patched. "This month's Patch Tuesday release includes fixes for 74 CVEs, three of which are rated critical, including one vulnerability that was exploited in the wild as a zero-day," said Narang, a staff research engineer with security outfit Tenable. "This month's release includes a fix for CVE-2021-36970, a spoofing vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows Print Spooler. The vulnerability was discovered by researchers XueFeng Li and Zhiniang Peng of Sangfor. They were also credited with the discovery of CVE-2021-1675, one of two vulnerabilities known as PrintNightmare. "While no details have been shared publicly about the flaw, this is definitely one to watch for, as we saw a constant stream of Print Spooler-related vulnerabilities patched over the summer while ransomware groups began incorporating PrintNightmare into their affiliate playbook. "We strongly encourage organisations to apply these patches as soon as possible. Microsoft also patched CVE-2021-40449, an elevation of privilege vulnerability in Win32k. "According to reports, this flaw was exploited in the wild as a zero-day. It is not uncommon to see zero-day elevation of privilege flaws patched during Patch Tuesday. "These flaws are most valuable in post-compromise scenarios once an attacker has gained access to a target system through other means, in order to execute code with elevated privileges." The Federal Government today announced a major multi-agency operation to combat cyber attacks on Australian entities. Palo Alto networks says this is welcomed and focuses on important key themes. The new multi-agency operation is led by the Australian Federal Police. In 2020 Australia saw a 60% rise in cyber attacks, with an economic cost of $1.4 billion. The government-wide push aims to curb cyber crime from online hackers who encrypt and steal sensitive data and demand a ransom for its return. Sarah Sloan, head of government affairs and public policy ANZ, Palo Alto Networks said, "Palo Alto Networks supports the Australian Governments efforts to combat the threat of ransomware which has grown from a cyber crime nuisance to a critical risk to national and global security, economic stability, and public safety." "We welcome the Ransomware Action Plans focus on measures across key themes of Prepare and Prevent; Respond and Recover; Disrupt and Deter," Sloan said. "It is important that national policies pursue a multi-pronged approach to combat ransomware, which is focused on helping organisations not just respond to ransomware attacks but also help them better prepare for and prevent these attacks. We look forward to working with the Australian Government on implementing some of the measures outlined in the Ransomware Action Plan." Security system supplier Ipsotek, a subsidiary of Atos, has inked a contract with Sydney Trains, an operator of rail services across the metropolitan Sydney area to increase security capabilities at 13 stations. Following a competitive bidding, Ipsotek was selected by Sydney Trains to deliver an AI-based video analytics solution. The collaboration will see the train operator integrate Ipsoteks security cameras to identify tunnel and track intrusion at 13 stations in the metropolitan Sydney area. Ipsoteks AI solutions are at the core of Atos Computer Vision Platform, which provides pre-trained and customisable AI models powered by the BullSequana server range enabled by Nvidia GPUs and enriched by labs. Sydney Trains chose Ipsotek after an extensive comparison of a number of products, explains Sydney Trains security capability for transport manager Mark Edmonds. Ipsoteks proven track record in the AI video analytics space, its partnership with Genetec, and its work with Innovate UKs Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) for railway focused AI applications, made it a well-deserved choice. Being chosen is a welcome validation of our expertise within transportation, and more specifically the rail sector, and we are proud to have supported Sydney Trains with its commitment to delivering enhanced security practices across its network, says Ipsotek sales and marketing director APAC Chris Bishop. As an Nvidia Metropolis partner, Ipsotek delivers incredibly valuable capabilities, solving deeply challenging video-analytics problems using AI and the Nvidia GPU accelerated computing stack, concludes Nvidia country manager enterprise ANZ Sudarshan Ramachandran. You know that big man on campus who flopped as an adult? It happens to college football stars, too. Here, BestOdds ranks the 15 biggest Heisman Trophy flops. Click for more. Virginia Beth Bounds Gray passed away Saturday, November 6, 2021 in Flint. She was born April 14, 1938 in Sacul, Texas to James and Callie Bounds. Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, November 12, 2021 to begin at 1:00pm at Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Jacksonville. A visitation will b Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support. ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU), one of Virginia's largest Credit Unions, officially opens its brand-new Braddock Station retail branch and corporate headquarters. On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, USSFCU held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new building and honoring Capitol Hill icon and the building's namesake Bertie H. Bowman. Algerians protested in Paris 60 years ago against a curfew affecting only them, but the demonstration ended in a massacre with police dumping scores of bodies into the River Seine. The killings, which the French historian Emmanuel Blanchard called the most deadly repression in Western Europe since World War II, took place as Algeria was in the seventh and penultimate year of its fight for independence from colonial master France. The peaceful demonstration of some 30,000 Algerians mostly living in shanty towns around the French capital was called by Algerias National Liberation Front (FLN). The official death toll that night was given as three, including two Algerians. But historians say between 50 and 200 people were killed. Curfew Algerian men, women and children dressed in their best clothes had come in from poor suburbs like Nanterre and Aubervilliers to the Champs-Elysees and the capitals big glitzy boulevards to demonstrate. They were protesting against a strict curfew imposed on them since October 5 to prevent the FLN which had killed at least five police officers in France in the previous six weeks from collecting funds. Algerians in France had become used to regular police round-ups and harassment that sometimes prevented them from working. They were also the target of deadly racist attacks by a terror group which wanted to keep Algeria French. But that evening the violence was of a different order, with 10,000 police charging into the crowd, hurling some into the river. Bodies in the Seine The man who gave the command was Maurice Papon, who despite having collaborated with the Nazis during World War II had risen to become head of the Paris police. Papon was later convicted of war crimes for deporting 1,600 Jews to the death camps. At his 1997 trial, historian Jean-Luc Einaudi said Papons men had opened fire on the Algerians. Police officers could be seen throwing those killed into the Seine, he said. Few beyond those who had witnessed the atrocity were aware of the scale of the killing as news was covered up. But word spread and a famous graffiti, Here we drown Algerians, was scrawled across one of the bridges across the Seine near the Louvre. Beaten, drowned, suffocated Many victims died under the blows of the police, dozens of others were thrown into the Seine and several died of suffocation after being thrown to the ground and covered by heaps of bodies, according to the Immigration Museum in Paris, which has helped catalogue the little-known event. It later emerged that some police had been influenced by erroneous reports that their colleagues had been shot dead during the demonstration. But many Algerians were grabbed by police long before the protest began, rounded up as they got off the metro. Some 12,000 were arrested and bused to internment camps, prepared in advance, where they were beaten or expelled to Algeria, with the lucky ones eventually allowed to go home. Jacques Simonnet, a psychiatrist who was a student at the time, witnessed the treatment of those held in one camp. He said those arrested suffered kicks, thumps and were battered with sticks. The violence got to an unimaginable point. French acknowledgement In 2012 then French president Francois Hollande recognised the massacre. Algerians protesting for their right to independence were killed during a bloody repression, Hollande said. The republic clearly recognises these facts, he added, saying I pay tribute to the memories of the victims. The Socialist mayor of Paris had earlier put a plaque on the bridge close to the police headquarters near Notre Dame cathedral marking the massacre. Thompson Hollywood/Michael Mundy Thompson Groups California debut opened in August and already cemented its spot as the hot new place for discerning Angelenos and travelers to gather. Contemporary art many pieces by local artists adorn the walls while a star chef is readying to open an eagerly anticipated French restaurant concept this fall. Then, of course, youve got the rooftop pool deck and buzzy bar for cocktails. Theres really nothing not to like about this handsome new addition to Los Angeles luxury hotel scene. Thompson Hollywood With its sophisticated mid-century styling (think wood paneled walls, pendant lights and potted palms), Don Draper himself wouldnt look out of place at the lobby lounge bar sipping an Old Fashioned or two. Located one block north of Sunset Boulevard, Thompson Hollywood also features a scene-stealing rooftop pool along with an adjacent French Riviera-inspired bar, which on one side affords a fabulous view of the Hollywood Sign. London-based designer Tara Bernard & Partners weaved their magic across each of the 11 floors, creating a luxe residential feel that celebrates Los Angeles' sense of place from music and movies to modern Hollywood glamour. Design-Driven Luxury Guestrooms and suites are elegant affairs, too, with luxurious details from eye-catching contemporary artwork to leather magazine racks and elegant yet slightly industrial glass wardrobes. Terrazzo elements feature across the bathrooms, which come stocked with D.S & DURGA products. There are 190 rooms, many with a view of the Hollywood Hills, plus a swanky king room with a private sun terrace. From the sixteen suites, theres an extravagant Studio View King Suite and showstopping wraparound Thompson Suite. French Cafe Culture With Thompson Hollywoods signature restaurant, Mes Amis by chef Lincoln Carson coming soon (look forward to a California reinterpretation of Gallic cafe and brasserie classics like salad Nicoise and coq au vin). But, for now, rooftop Bar Lis is serving a petite menu of cocktails, canapes and light bites frites, oysters and caviar to keep guests and visitors satiated. As with the rest of the hotel, the decor and design details here are gorgeous. The vibe is Cote DAzur in the late 1960s, as referenced in the gallery walls of vintage photos depicting stars like Jane Birkin, Bridgette Bardot and other beautiful people on holiday in the South of France. There are blue velvet banquettes, an antique fountain in the bar and plenty of potted palms. Thursday through Saturday, a DJ spins records from 9 pm until midnight. When in Los Angeles Nearby cultural landmarks include the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Welton Beckett-designed Capitol Records Building, while Hollywoods oldest restaurant Frank and Musso (as seen in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) is an easy walk a few blocks over. Griffith Park and Hollywood Bowl are each a 10-minute drive or rideshare away. With the Thompson Hollywood so centrally located, its just as easy to pop over to the West Side (Beverly Hills, Century City), south to La Brea and LACMA, east to neighborhoods Los Feliz and Silverlake, or further still to Downtown. The Takeaway With its West Coast modern meets mid-century design vibe, stunning lobby and rooftop pool, this new see-and-be-seen spot near Hollywood and Vine (made famous in the 1920s for its concentration of movie and radio-related businesses) is best suited to style-minded travelers and staycationing Angelenos looking to sip cocktails, listen to music and stay up late dancing into the night on weekends. 1541 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles. Visit hyatt.com for more information. Photos: Trevor Tondro (Thompson Hollywood), Michael Mundy (Bar Lis). LAFAYETTE, La. - The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a Lafayette district court judge was wrong in finding that Lafayette Consolidated Government's ordinance making panhandling a crime is unconstitutional. The case centers around Anthony Willis, a homeless man who was repeatedly arrested by Lafayette Police officers over the spring and summer for begging for money from the public. Willis was charged with criminal mischief, but Judge Michele Billeaud ruled the ordinance unconstitutional.Today's ruling by the state's high court throws out Billeaud's finding and opens the door for LCG and Lafayette Police to again aggressively enforce the ordinance and jail people caught panhandling. News15 reported over the summer about a directive issued by now-former LPD Chief Thomas Glover warning officers they would face discipline if they didn't enforce the ordinance or report the presence of panhandlers when responding to more urgent calls. The state high court's ruling runs afoul of a previous ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court finding that panhandling is protected speech under the First Amendment. Lake Charles La. 45-year-old Patrick Bell of Merryville was arrested for his involvement in a fatal crash in Jasper County, Texas on October 13, 2021. At the time of the crash, Bell was off-duty having been on workers compensation leave since 2017 with all law enforcement property already recovered by the department. Prior to the workers compensation leave, Bell had been assigned to patrol at Troop D since 2001. The crash investigation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) revealed that on August 29, 2021 Bell was driving a 2018 GMC Sierra west on Texas State Highway 63. As Bell continued west, the vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a pedestrian on the shoulder. The pedestrian was killed as a result of the crash. A toxicology sample was obtained from Bell shortly after the crash. Texas authorities recently received the results of the toxicology sample, which indicated Bell was over the legal limit for intoxication. On October 13, 2021, TxDPS obtained an arrest warrant for Bell charging him with Intoxication Manslaughter. Through a coordinated effort between Louisiana State Police and Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, Bell was taken into custody without incident this afternoon and booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail awaiting extradition to Texas. Further inquiries on the fatal crash and criminal charges should be referred to the Texas Department of Public Safety. University of Kansas freshmen have faced difficulties in adjusting from high school life to college, students said. Whether it be adjusting to life on their own, managing a college workload or learning how to schedule free time, freshmen have addressed a number of issues. Freshman Hannah Smuckler has experienced some difficulty in the transition to college, she said. The undecided major from Overland Park is now on her own, with no one to remind her of what she needs to get done or help build her schedule, she said. Its just her, solely responsible for herself. The first few days I was like What am I supposed to be doing? Smuckler said. You have to schedule your own everything and thats kind of hard. Keeping up with her classes hasnt been too difficult, Smuckler said. In high school, she took challenging classes to prepare her for the workload, however, adjusting to life without her parents has been hard for her. This summer I would have to ask for permission to go anywhere or do anything, Smuckler said. Now, it's just like Im running on my own schedule. Its just weird being solely responsible for myself and trying to figure stuff out. There are several common struggles that freshmen students face, said Paige Freeman, who previously served as the KU associate director of orientation programs in the Office of First Year Experience. These struggles include adjusting to the overall college environment, finding a sense of community, adapting to academic work at the college level and managing financial challenges, Freeman said. Andres Montero, an international student from Costa Rica studying business, said besides the language barrier he has faced, being independent has been a big step for him. Back home you depend a lot on your parents, Montero said. If you have to go out, you ask them first. If you need something, you ask them. Independence is a big part of what Im still adapting to. Tana Cooney, an anthropology major from Omaha, Nebraska, also said leaving her parents has been a big adjustment. Im really used to my parents making me dinner and helping me with just basic things, Cooney said. Im all on my own now with that it's been different. Besides life without parents, several freshmen said time management has been a big adjustment. Hank Buckley, a marketing major from Overland Park, pointed out that high school schedules are much different than college schedules, especially with some of the gaps in time college has. Theres a lot more freedom with your time, Buckley said. So the adjustment is kind of just learning how to use the free time you have to do productive things because theres so much more to do. Brody Gable, a music therapy major from Roca, Nebraska, said hes still figuring out exactly when to study and when to enjoy some free time. In high school, I never really had to do as much, Gable said. I had more of a set time frame for studying and now I dont. Time management and the college level workload are not the only things freshmen have struggled to adjust to. Greta Kulevsky, an undecided major from Minneapolis, said purchasing her own food and watching her eating habits has been a big change. Ive never had to do that before, Kulevsky said. It stresses me out. Freeman, who now works as KUs director of student programs, said new students often need time to understand what resources are available to them on campus. Available resources can differ based on the student and their needs, but key resources include student housing, the Involvement and Leadership Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the University Academic Success Center, Freeman said. There are very real challenges in making that transition from high school to college, Freeman said. Students are learning more about themselves in a new environment and these resources can be helpful. The Overland Park Police Department offense report just came to light, but was filed by Principal David Ewers on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m., a couple of hours after hundreds of students walked out while holding signs saying things like, "Protect the victims, not the assailants," "It's not a joke," and While some actors need to lose or gain weight for a particular character, others wowed the viewers with their surprising disguise, dressing from male to female and vice versa. With that, here's a rundown of iconic and newest gender-bender K-drama series that will surely give the audience a mood for some major laughs. 'The King's Affection' Starting from the most recent Korean drama is "The King's Affection," starring Park Eun Bin, SF9 Rowoon, Nam Yoon Su, and more. In the KBS historical drama, the "Hot Stove League" actress took on the role of crown prince Lee Hwi, who was disguised as her twin brother. To conceal her true identity, she distances herself from others and even hides her emotions despite harboring a hidden affection towards her teacher Jung Ji Woon, who also comes from an aristocratic family. "The King's Affection" premiered on October 11 and airs every Monday and Tuesday via KBS and Netflix. 'Yumi's Cells' The webtoon-based Kdrama "Yumi's Cells," which stars Kim Go Eun and Ahn Bo Byun, recently welcomed the character of GOT7's Jinyoung as Yoo Bobby. In episode 8, the new character plays an interesting yet intriguing connection towards Yumi. In one scene, the cells at Sepho village debate whether a man and a woman should be friends. As one of Yumi's cells explained the pros and cons, she used Yoo Bobby to illustrate that the scenario would be different if he were a girl. GOT7's Jinyoung looked unrecognizable yet stunningly gorgeous wearing a shoulder-length wig as he transformed himself into a girl. 'Coffee Prince' One of the iconic gender bender Kdrama is "Coffee Prince," with lead stars Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye. The duo portrayed coffee owner Choi Han Gyul, while Go Eun Chan, played by the "Princess Hours" actress, disguised herself as a man to be able to work at the coffee shop. 'Eulachacha Waikiki 2' JTBC's rom-com "Eulachacha Waikiki 2" featured Lee Yi Kyung's versatility as an actor while entertaining the viewers with his hilarious character. In some of the episodes, he transformed himself as a court lady. 'The Tale of Nokdu' The 2019 Kdrama, "The Tale of Nokdu," illustrates a new twist on the gender-bender-themed series. The historical rom-com featured the character of Jeon Nok Du a.k.a "Lady Kim," played by the South Korean heartthrob Jang Dong Yoon. He transforms and cross-dresses to infiltrate a mysterious, windows-only village to find out his assassin. 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' To make ends meet, Kim Yun Hee, played by Park Min Young, pretends to be his brother and enters a men's only national exam for her to support her family after her father and younger brother died. At the Sungkyunkwan University, she meets Lee Seon Joon, played by Park Yoo Chun who came from a wealthy family. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills SBS new Kdrama Now, We're Breaking Up, starring Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong, is slated to premiere this November, and fans of the two A-listers are on the edge of their seats. A month before release, Kdrama Now, We're Breaking Up increased the excitement level with stills unveiled, showing a closer look at Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong's characters as professionals within the fashion industry. Given the massive anticipation of fans, the upcoming Kdrama is already predicted to be a megahit. With this, we're spoiling you with some of the things that you should know before watching the much-awaited Kdrama Now, We're Breaking Up! Certified Fashionista Cast The lead and supporting cast Song Hye Kyo, Jang Ki Yong and EXO's Sehun are, in reality, brand ambassadors of various luxury brands, and have decorated the cover of many fashion magazines. Their key roles in the fashion world outside the Kdrama Now, We're Breaking Up prove that they are perfect for their characters. Song Hye Kyo will give life to Ha Young Eun, a trendy, brilliant and realistic head of a fashion company design team. Joining her in the company is EXO's Sehun,who is expected to show his charisma on the small screen again after a long time. Jang Ki Yong, on the other hand, will immerse himself in the character of Yoon Jae Guk, a young, handsome and rich freelance photographer. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The 'Now, We Are Breaking Up' Production Team to Make Adjustments Before Jang Ki Yong Enlist in the Military Brilliant and A-list Production Team Having big names in the cast lineup also means the production costs more. Song Hye Kyo herself is known for being one of the A-list South Korean stars. Most of her projects before cost millions and so did her talent fee. Aside from the star-studded cast, the production staff also has impressive portfolios. One of them is Lee Gil Bok, the director of the series. He worked with Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun in 2013 for the Kdrama My Love from the Star, Lee Seung Gi and Bae Suzy for Vagabond in 2019, and Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Sung Kyung for Dr. Romantic 2 in 2020. Joining him in the circle is writer Je In, the creator behind the script of Misty. Jang Ki Yong and Song Hye Kyo's Tandem They may have years of age gap but seeing them in one frame for the first time when the stills were released captivated the public. Aside from their overflowing visuals and brilliant acting, Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong already established a strong chemistry onscreen. SBS melodrama #NowWeAreBreakingUp starring #SongHyeKyo and #JangKiyong releases first still cuts! Another visual couple The drama is set to air on November 12. pic.twitter.com/b7g4stphqU (@kdramatreats) October 5, 2021 Local and international fans are now looking forward to seeing more of Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong's teamwork. What are you most excited about Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong's Kdrama Now, We're Breaking Up? Share your thoughts with us! For more K-Drama updates, keep your tabs open at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Vogue Korea shared throwback photos of "Squid Game" star Lee Jung Jae to celebrate the massive achievement of the Netflix series. The award-winning actor took on the role of player number 456 Seong Gi Hun, who is among the debt-ridden participants who joined the deadly survival game. Lee Jung Jae Looked Dapper in His Old Vogue Korea Cover In a series of black and white shots, the "Chief of Staff" star showed off his jaw-dropping features like his intense charisma and charming smiles that will definitely set millions of hearts racing. The actor also gives off that bad boy vibe with his fierce looks. Interestingly, his celebrity best friend and "Hunt" co-star Jung Woo Sung also appeared on one cover. 'Squid Game' is Officially Netflix's Biggest Show The post comes after the nine-episode thriller series was officially named as Netflix's number one show in the world. It came after the Hwang Dong Hyuk-directed Kdrama achieved over 111 million subscriptions views in less than a month after it aired. This success makes it the streaming giant's "biggest series launch ever." The K-series' new milestone was announced over Netflix's official Twitter account alongside a special video containing a montage of the show to celebrate their latest achievement. Interestingly, the 55-minute clip also illustrates the show's heartfelt gratitude to its worldwide viewers and fans who showed nothing but love to "Squid Game." Park Hae Soo and Lee Jung Jae's Kdrama eclipses "Bridgerton" as Netflix's top show while "Lupin" slides to the third spot, followed by "The Witcher" Season 1 and "Sex/Life" Season 1. Meanwhile, the U.S science fiction horror series "Stranger Things" Season 3 (67 dips to fifth place. Is Lee Jung Jae Ready for the Hollywood Fame? Following the "Squid Game" craze worldwide, Lee Jung Jae was asked regarding his thoughts on accepting possible projects overseas. In his interview with Variety, the South Korean star gets honest and says that as of the moment, there are "no proposals or requests" that have come his way. However, he added that "if the right one came along, I'd be happy to be in overseas production. It could be fun." There's no denying that several Korean stars have appeared in various Hollywood films. For starters, his "Squid Game" co-star Lee Byung Hun, who played the role of Front Man, appeared in a slew of notable movies including "The Magnificent Seven," "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobram," "Terminator Genisys" and more. From Award-Winning Actor to Instagram Star The "Squid Game" mania also goes hand in hand with the individual success of the cast and one of which is their growing number of followers on social media. Initially, the "Deliver Us From Evil" usually updates his fans through his agency's official Instagram, but due to the continued success of the thriller series, it seems that it pushed the actor to create his own account. Only a week after it was launched, Lee Jung Jae Instagram surpassed 3 million followers and is currently at 3.5 million and counting. He often posts the never before seen behind-the-scenes of "Squid Game" and updates with his upcoming movie "Hunt." KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills For the past two months, Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho's top rating and highly loved romantic comedy drama "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" has been lighting up the viewers' weekends with beautiful stories and romance. "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is now finally down to its last two episodes, and the tension that envelops Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah), Hong Doo Sik (Kim Seon Ho), and all the Gongjin residents just gets more and more intense. 'Hometown Cha-cha-cha' Episode 14 Recap In the 14th episode of the drama, Yoon Hye Jin, who has been nothing but very understanding of her boyfriend who refuses to open his feelings to her, gives Hong Doo Sik an ultimatum. Because Hye Jin is originally from Seoul and Doo Sik spent all his life in the comforts of the peaceful village of Gongjin, the two have different views and opinions on things and perspective in life. However, this didn't stop them from falling in love with each other. Over the course of their relationship, the two felt nothing but bliss. Hye Jin and Doo Sik even created bucket lists of things to do, making the most out of their relationship. But as Hye Jin bares her soul in front of Doo Sik, she feels like she only knows Doo Sik on a surface level, barely scratching his outer shell. When Hye Jin opened up about her thoughts about their relationship and her worry about Doo Sik's aloofness, Doo Sik could only say sorry. This pushed Hye Jin to put some distance between them, making Doo Sik realize how important it is to be open to their significant others about their pasts despite how awful it is. Fortunately, her message was successfully delivered across Doo Sik who realized some things. On the day of Director Ji's (Lee Sang Yi) afterparty, Doo Sik asked Hye Jin for her time to talk, which she gladly agreed. However, unexpected things happened and the real truth behind Doo Sik's distant heart comes unraveled one by one. What to Expect in 'Hometown Cha-cha-cha' Episode 15 In the upcoming episode, Doo Sik is expected to finally open more about his past with Hye Jin, who is more than willing to understand and be his crying shoulder. Questions about his whereabouts for the past five years will finally be answered. In addition to that, his association with writer Kim's, a subordinate of Director Ji, father who works as a watchman at the company he was working for. Unfortunately, the watchman then gets sick and paralyzed. Besides this, Hye Jin consoles him with the mishaps he has experienced. In the latest episode, Doo Sik will finally become an open book, and hopefully, get together with Hye Jin once again. Apart from the on-screen drama, the production team of the top rating series shares various photos from the filming set with the crew and cast, as they wrap up the shoot, signaling the nearing end for the drama. 'Hometown Cha-cha-cha' Episode 15 Release Time and Date The much awaited episode of "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is slated to air on Saturday, October 16 at 9:00 p.m. KST on tvN, it will mark the second last episode of the drama before its big finale. "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is also available on Netflix at 10:00 p.m. KST. ICYMI, watch the 15th episode preview here: Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Exclusive by Nick Paton Walsh, International Security Editor (CNN) -- China is preparing to test tens of thousands of blood bank samples from the city of Wuhan as part of a probe into the origins of Covid-19, according to a Chinese official. The move comes amid increasing calls for transparency over the emergence of the virus. The store of up to 200,000 samples, including those from the closing months of 2019 were pinpointed in February this year by the World Health Organization's panel of investigators as a possible source of key information that could help determine when and where the virus first crossed into humans. The samples are kept in the Wuhan Blood Center, and are thought to span 2019, providing real-time tissue samples from a wide swathe of the population in the Chinese city where SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have first infected humans. The blood bank samples have been retained for two years, Chinese officials have said, in case they are needed as evidence in any lawsuits related to the blood donations they are from. That two-year waiting period will soon expire for the key months of October and November 2019, when most experts think the virus could first have infected humans. An official from China's National Health Commission, told CNN preparation for testing is currently underway, and confirmed testing would happen once the two-year limit was reached. "This provides the closest in the world we've seen of real time samples to help us understand the timing of the outbreak event," said Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. They "absolutely will contain vital clues," said Maureen Miller, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University. She urged China to permit foreign experts to observe the process. "No one will believe any results that China reports unless there are qualified observers at the very least," she said. The head of the Chinese team working on the WHO investigation, Liang Wannian, first said in a July news conference that China would test the samples, adding once the Chinese experts "have the results, they will deliver them to both the Chinese and foreign expert teams." Liang said the samples came from the opening tube of a donor blood pouch, sealed shut and then stored, and Chinese experts had "made several assessments and evaluations on the testing methods and action plan, which will be implemented after the expiry" of the two-year limit. The samples, if stored correctly, could contain crucial signs of the first antibodies made by humans against the disease, experts said. Liang said in July that while the first reported case was in Wuhan on December 8, "our research and the previous related research papers of Chinese scientists fully suggest ... December 8 is probably not the primary case. There might be other cases that occurred before." Dr. William Schaffner, from the Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine's infectious disease division, said the samples presented a "fascinating opportunity. You would like to go back to find out exactly during which months this this virus started to leave fingerprints in the human population in China." The samples might even indicate who was first infected, where, and their age and occupation, Miller added. "It is common practice to de-identify the samples," she said. "So you could strip it down to basic demographics, age, gender neighborhood where they lived. All of those data will be available." Schaffner suggested the samples could be brought to Geneva, or another neutral destination, to permit WHO experts to take part in the testing. He said two possible issues with the samples could be "the integrity of the blood samples -- ensuring they had not been recently created," but also how representative of the population as a whole the blood donors were. Miller said many samples would most likely have been taken from healthy individuals "so they'll represent asymptomatic cases. And as we've learned over the course of the pandemic, asymptomatic cases fuel the pandemic." Huang said it was unclear to "what extent the outside world would trust the findings as credible or convincing," and the testing marked an opportunity for China to "tell the world that they are serious about depoliticizing the origins probe." The Biden administration conducted a 90-day review of the intelligence over how the virus originated, yet an unclassified report had officials still considering both natural transmission from animal to humans and a lab leak as plausible theories, yet unable to determine which was the more likely. President Joe Biden, on receiving a classified version of the report, said: "Critical information about the origins of this pandemic exists in the People's Republic of China, yet from the beginning, government officials in China have worked to prevent international investigators and members of the global public health community from accessing it." China has insisted it has been transparent and helpful to the WHO probe, and in its most recent statement about the theory the virus leaked from a laboratory, pointed toward unproven claims about Fort Detrick, US laboratory in Maryland, and the need to examine its recent past. MEDFORD, Ore. The City of Medford on Wednesday revealed who will be the next person to lead the city's police department when Chief Scott Clauson retires. City manager Brian Sjothun named Justin Ivens, one of the Medford Police Department's deputy chiefs and a 26-year member of the agency. I am confident that Chief Ivens is the right leader for Medford, said Sjothun. Ivens has developed lasting relationships in our community and holds vast institutional knowledge of the department which will be valuable for its continued success. Current MPD Chief Scott Clauson revealed in mid-September that he would be retiring at the end of 2021. Clauson replaced now-Mayor Randy Sparacino as police chief in 2019. Ivens started with the Medford Police Department in 1995 as a community service officer. He rose through the ranks to patrol officer, then major crimes detective. The City said that he was instrumental in helping to form the Oregon Homicide Investigators Association (OHIA). After working for 14 years as a detective, Ivens was promoted to sergeant, then lieutenant, and most recently to deputy chief. The City said that Ivens has played an "active role" in training and mentoring future leaders within the Medford Police Department. Two internal candidates were interviewed by the city department directors, the city manager, and the two deputy city managers. I am honored to have been chosen as the next Chief of Police for the Medford Police Department, Ivens said. I am committed to working collaboratively with the Citys management team, fellow members of MPD, and the entire Medford community to build upon established successes and identify innovative strategies to strengthen the department and our officers. Ivens will be sworn in as police chief at the December 2 meeting of the Medford City Council. MEDFORD, Ore. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for the proliferation of unlicensed marijuana operations throughout the county, calling for state and federal help in cracking down on the grows. In a brief vote Wednesday morning, the commissioners approved Order No. 186-21, "Declaring a Local State of Emergency Within Jackson County Relating to Unlawful Cannabis Activities and Other Matters Related Thereto." The declaration has been weeks in the making, and county officials scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Wednesday morning to cover the specifics of "requests for immediate assistance to the Oregon Governor, House of Representatives, and Senate." Commissioner Dyer, Sheriff Nathan Sickler, and County Watermaster Shavon Haynes were on hand. With the state of emergency, Jackson County is specifically asking the state for funding that can be used to field more personnel: code enforcement officers, hearing officers, water resources staff, detectives, patrol deputies, law enforcement support staff, and the assignment of additional state water officials. Like a number of neighboring counties, Jackson County has seen more and more unlicensed grows connected to a considerable black market for marijuana, with the majority of the product believed to be bound for other states in the US where marijuana has not been recreationally legalized. Jackson County law enforcement raided a pair of large grows at the beginning of September, but the grows dismantled thus far are just the tip of the iceberg. Officials have said that many of the illegal grows attempt to pass themselves off as legal hemp farms, though the numbers are uncertain. Sheriff Sickler estimated that there are roughly 1,000 marijuana and hemp grows in Jackson County, between the legal and illegal operations. In an overview during Wednesday's press conference, Commissioner Dyer said that Jackson County's ability to enforce laws covering marijuana have been overwhelmed, with officials noting a 59% increase in calls for service related to marijuana, particularly the black market trade. The County's code enforcement division in particular has been swamped. In the days before the marijuana boom, the time required to investigate complaints was about three weeks. Now the process takes closer to four months More than half of Jackson County's citations for code violations are currently marijuana-related. Dyer said that the illegal grows bring a host of problems environmental damage, fire hazards, "narco-slavery" or forced labor, and water theft. Like code violations, water-related complaints have spiked dramatically in recent years, ballooning 700% during a period of widespread and worsening drought. State aid in combating illegal grows has started to ramp up in recent months. The passage of House Bill 3000 in June was heralded as a big step in helping local law enforcement crack down. Sheriff Sickler said that HB 3000 did law enforcement a favor by requiring state licensure to grow either marijuana or hemp. Unlicensed "hemp" growers were not previously violating the law, making it incredibly difficult to determine if they were growing hemp or marijuana. Soon after, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission started a campaign to test hemp plants in southern Oregon for THC content, with the intention of sussing out which hemp farms are legitimate. According to the OLCC's report, more than half of the tested hemp grows visited in September proved to have marijuana on-site, with 5% THC or more. In all, staff from the OLCC and Oregon Department of Agriculture visited 316 registered hemp grow sites in Jackson and Josephine County during the month of September. Of those grows, 114 were positive for high THC content, 98 were negative, and 104 produced no test results because the operators either denied entry, were not at the site, or had previously harvested the plants. Dyer estimated that while there were upwards of 300 licensed grows within the purview of the OLCC investigation, there are just as many "off the grid" with no licensing whatsoever. SALEM, Ore. Several Oregon lawmakers are putting pressure on the state to address recent claims that National Guard members activated to help with the COVID-19 response are being mistreated. A letter to Gov. Kate Brown and Major General Michael E. Stencel alleges mismanagement, delay of benefits and pay, and more. Such treatment of our service members should be unacceptable, the letter reads. It was signed by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and by Congress members Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader, and Suzanne Bonamici. In August, Brown announced up to 1,500 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) members would be brought in to help with the states most recent surge of cases. What allegedly ensued was a chaotic and disorganized activation. The letter claims that once members had completed the normal administrative tasks, the state was not prepared to quickly place members in areas of need and provided contradictory information about where they would serve. RELATED: Kingsley Field airmen rerouted to help Sky Lakes in Klamath Falls Some were left hanging up to mid-September, according to the lawmakers, some had to reserve hotels or other accommodations with their own money and others reportedly found that their travel vouchers werent recognized. Through this all, the lawmakers allege the members were stuck in limbo, unable to go back to their civilian jobs. ORNG Members are fellow Oregonians who give their time and sacrifice to serve our communities in times of need. Many ORNG Members have full-time jobs, families, and other responsibilities that they willingly pause in order to serve their fellow Oregonians. ORNG Members heroic efforts are bolstering hospitals and helping our communities and loved ones during a deadly pandemic. ORNG members deserve effective and efficient leadership, support, and management, and they deserve to receive the full pay and benefits they have earned, the letter reads. The letter also reports that when the initial 30-day activation was coming to a close, the state allegedly intentionally allowed these orders to lapse and issued new orders instead of extending the current one. This prevents members from qualifying for benefit increases and pay that would come from an extension. Similar concerns have reportedly been shared with lawmakers about previous Oregon National Guard deployments. The lawmakers are calling on the state to address the issues set forth in the letter, calling it a systemic problem. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has restored power to essentially all 25,000 customers in small portions of about 20 counties affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that started Monday evening (Oct. 11). In addition, PG&E is continuing to monitor another weather system expected to bring dry offshore winds to Northern and Central California. Given this latest wind event, PG&E may need to call a second PSPS this week to reduce wildfire risk. Earlier today, PG&E sent two-day advance notifications to approximately 29,000 customers in small, targeted portions of 19 counties and four tribes who could be affected by this next PSPS, which could begin early Thursday. For Mondays PSPS event, PG&E safely restored power after patrolling all 2,549 miles of lines that were de-energized for safety which is equivalent to the driving distance from San Francisco to Detroit. The patrol and inspection efforts included nearly 1,494 on-the-ground personnel and 43 helicopters. Wind gusts in PSPS de-energized areas with some of the largest customer impacts were observed as follows: 55 mph in Butte County; 52 mph in Shasta County; and 47 mph in Tehama County. In areas where PG&E crews found equipment that was damaged by the offshore wind event, crews worked safely and as quickly as possible to make the repairs and restore those customers. Preliminary data shows at least four instances of weather-related damage and hazards in the PSPS-affected areas, including vegetation on lines. If PG&E had not de-energized powerlines, these types of damages could have caused wildfire ignitions. To support its customers during the shutoff, PG&E opened 24 Community Resource Centers in affected areasoffering snacks, water, and other essential items. PG&E also partnered with community-based organizations to assist customers with medical and independent living needs. Details about customer support programs are available at www.pge.com/pspsupdates. MEDFORD, Ore. The Medford Police Department says that a White City woman who went missing at the end of August has been found safe in California. Last week the agency had posted on Facebook, saying that it was still trying to find a local woman who had been missing since she left the hospital in late August. "Many have seen this circulating on the news and social media, but we are still looking for Marlen Sandoval. Any information would be appreciated," the agency said on October 6. 31-year-old Marlen Sandoval was last seen on August 26 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. She had not been in contact with family or friends since her release from the hospital. Sandoval's family and friends had expressed that they were extremely concerned about her well-being. Medford Police said at the time that she may have been going by the name "Josephina." Without much fanfare, the agency added a brief update to their post on Monday afternoon, saying that Sandoval had been found safe in California. It was not immediately clear how she got there or how she was found. This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge. Phil Reed, who taught at Westside TaeKwonDo for seven years, is ready to go after opening Reeds Taekwondo in Glenrosa following his return home from Japan. Protesters to old-growth logging used a 1200-year-old slice of a tree to block an entrance in the west wing where British Columbia Premier John Horgan's office is located in the legislature in Victoria on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito Registration is underway for the 2021 Holiday House Winter Wraps coat giveaway. Holiday House comprises two major events that provide assistance to Kenosha County children in need and their families during the holiday season. The events include the Winter Wraps Childrens Coat Distribution and the Christmas Toy and Food Distribution, both coordinated by Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., with major funding from Kenosha Christmas Charities, Inc. (also known as the Goodfellows). The Winter Wraps coat giveaway is quickly approaching. Registrations for the 2021 Holiday House events are currently being accepted. Families still must pre-register as they have in the past, however, because of the continued precautions due to COVID 19, they are again accepting registrations online and via the telephone. To register go online to: https://qrco.de/HHregistration To register via telephone call: 262-605-6600 Information participants may need to complete the online or telephone application will be: Social Security cards or ITIN numbers for everyone in their home. Quantities are limited to those who pre-register. Appointments will be assigned after registration is complete. Families will be asked to strictly follow the appointment schedule given so organizers can social distance and serve families as safely as possible. Event dates Winter wraps event: Oct. 25-29. Christmas food and toy event: Dec. 13-17 and Dec. 20-22. Holiday House serves area children in need through a coordinated community effort. The Holiday House participating agencies are: Kenosha Christmas Charities (Goodfellows), Kenosha County Department of Human Services, Women and Childrens Horizons, Southern Lakes Credit Union, Community Action Agency, ELCA Outreach Center, the Kenosha News, R.S.V.P., UMOS and Goodwill Industries, Inc. For more information, contact Holiday House at (262) 697-4500. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ketchikan, AK (99901) Today A few showers early with precipitation turning to a mixture of rain and snow overnight. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 50%.. Tonight A few showers early with precipitation turning to a mixture of rain and snow overnight. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 50%. 36 Shares Share The current COVID pandemic has brought into stark contrast the woeful state of medical data collection and data sharing in the United States. It has been a central goal of Health and Human Services (HHS) to at first encourage and later mandate sharing clinical data across multiple electronic health records. Unfortunately, progress has been slow and actual clinically useful widespread adoption of shared medical data remains an aspiration. Here, we discuss the pros and cons of 4 different approaches to sharing clinical data across various EHRs. The solution mandated by HHS envisions a common set of software tools that will allow different EHRs to query and import data from any certified EHR. This is the so-called Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) initiative and despite large expenditures of both time and money spent implementing this approach; it has not gained widespread use. The original intent of FHIR was to share data in real-time from multiple incompatible electronic health records (EHRs), and incorporate data into each. FHIR is based on a series of complex pre-formed templates which currently limits the amount and type of data that can be extracted, but the basic and insurmountable impediment to this approach is that FHIR assumes that all records are complete, consistent, current, and accurate. For any clinician who reviews multiple clinical notes, these assumptions are both naive and wrong. Even a cursory sampling of the variability and inaccuracy of something as simple as a patients drug list from different sources is sobering. Does anyone believe that a problem list generated by a cardiologist, an orthopedic surgeon, and a psychiatrist will be either consistent or complete? Allowing every EHR to query the other and merging disparate records of variable quality and content into multiple different electronic health records and expecting these records to be reliable and consistent is simply unrealistic. A simple mind experiment is to wonder if it makes sense to maintain 5 different patient drug lists from 5 different EHRs used by multiple providers and ask the question: Are they all likely to be up to date and accurate? An obvious solution to this problem is to have all EHRs upload medical information to a single master patient record. Both Microsoft (HealthVault) and Google (Google Health) tried and failed to gain traction with this approach. With its Apple Health app, Apple has taken the concept of a master patient record and added some appealing improvements. First, the data is designed to be kept on the patients phone which solves the silo problem since the record literally follows the patient. In addition, content and privacy are controlled by the patient. Apple has also used its considerable marketing power and programming resources to encourage multiple large EHRs and medical groups to support interacting with the app. which by all accounts is fairly straightforward. The strength of this approach is also its main weakness, managing and importing records is controlled by the patient. Early adopters and tech-savvy users love this approach, and it is a very useful way to incorporate personal health information, for example, from an Apple Watch, but it is unlikely to be suitable for a very large subset of patients. Fundamentally it was this same problem of patient-initiated data acquisition that caused the demise of HealthVault and Google Health. Google has taken this problem and turned it upside down. Rather than have various sources of medical data sent to a central record, Googles Care Studio offers a single consolidated view of multiple different encounters and actively extracts data from multiple sources for clinicians to see. By its very design, it solves the problem of keeping data current and trying to share data across platforms. It is not dependent upon patients actively maintaining their own medical record. Google, like Apple, uses FHIR not to distribute data to multiple EHRs but as a tool to extract and normalize health care data from multiple EHRs and then display the results in a single easily searchable format. Care Studio offers the practicing clinician a powerful tool to examine key parts of a patients record. However, the obvious limiting factor to Googles approach is that it requires access to medical data from multiple sources. This explains Googles collaboration with Ascension Health which has allowed access to multiple sources of data within the larger hospital enterprise. Although the early results are impressive, this fails to solve the silo problem where patient data is limited to a particular enterprise system. There is a fourth largely unexplored solution to data sharing which is to provide a Common Clinical User Interface across multiple platforms. At first glance, this approach seems unlikely to succeed since it suggests the need to completely revamp every EHRs user interface, something which clearly will not happen. However, tools exist which would allow a common clinical user interface to function as a simple plug-in feeding clinical findings to the main EHR software which often was originally designed and substantially functions to run the business side of medicine. Such a solution could solve a number of problems. First, at the moment every EHR has its own nonstandard way of entering clinical data. The learning curve for many systems is quite steep and requires days, if not weeks, of training. Not surprisingly, this is both frustrating and confusing to the clinical provider. Current clinical user interfaces are reminiscent of the early days of word processing. Initially, there were a large number of different systems, each with its own rules and workflows. This made no practical or economic sense, and the industry rapidly coalesced around one solution (MS-Word). It seems inevitable that a similar consolidation will eventually come to the medical arena. Besides democratizing and normalizing the user experience, a standardized user interface would allow dramatic enhancements to clinical workflow. Users would have access to optimized standard workflows across various EHR platforms. Should there be 20 different ways to enter a patients vital signs? Is there a rapid and optimized workflow to evaluate COVID? Does it make sense to constantly re-invent the clinical workflow wheel and end up with multiple duplicative and often complicated solutions? In the same way that a master patient record is only part of the solution, a standardized user interface by itself does not solve the problem of data sharing. However, it would dramatically simplify aggregating data either into a patient-centric master record like Apples approach or into a Google-like solution such as Care Studio. Andy Muchmore is an internal medicine physician and health care executive. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Local featured Second tourist to file suit against resort for Legionnaires A second woman who says she contracted Legionnaires disease after staying at Hawks Cay Resort is planning to file a lawsuit against the company after a fountain on its property was found to contain the bacteria that causes the infection. Patrick Kelleher, a personal injury lawyer based in Naples, Florida, said his client stayed at the resort from June 30 to July 6 after which she nearly died from the disease and while she was in the hospital she contracted COVID, Kelleher said in an email. Needless to say she is currently in poor health still recovering from everything. Kelleher said the woman, a resident of Naples, asked to remain anonymous at this time. The attorney said the suit was being drafted last Thursday, adding that they were doing preliminary research. He planned to seek the maximum allowable sum in the court system. Civil cases must be seeking at least $30,000 to make it into circuit court. Kellehers client stayed at Hawks Cay on the same dates as another woman, Marcia Blanar, of Maryland, who contracted Legionnaires as well. Blanars suit was filed in Monroe County Oct. 1, and asserts that the resort was negligible in its maintenance of the fountain, leading to Legionella bacteria developing in the water system. Blanars suit is for more than $30,000. A spokesperson for Hawks Cay said of the Blanar suit that the incident was immediately rectified and that she could not comment on matters in litigation. Legionella is a bacteria that grows in water and spreads through mist, causing a severe form of pneumonia in some cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 out of every 100 people who contract the disease die. The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County performed tests on the fountain subsequently and found the presence of Legionella. As a result, the fountain is now turned off and will be filled with rocks and sand. The fountain is located in an area of frequent gathering at the resort and had chairs around it where people sat. The Blanar suit said she also became extremely ill as a result of the infection. James Rachal, environmental manager for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, said the department does not have any requirements that businesses test for Legionella on their premises, but that the health department does recommend all facilities consider implementing a water management program in accordance with CDC guidelines. Asked if he had the number of known Legionnaires cases that have stemmed from the fountain at Hawks Cay, Rachal said the investigation is covered by confidentiality provisions under the law, and he could not discuss it. eweld@keysnews.com SALEM, Ore. Several Oregon lawmakers are putting pressure on the state to address recent claims that National Guard members activated to help with the COVID-19 response are being mistreated. A letter to Gov. Kate Brown and Major General Michael E. Stencel alleges mismanagement, delay of benefits and pay, and more. Such treatment of our service members should be unacceptable, the letter reads. It was signed by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and by U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader, and Suzanne Bonamici. RELATED: NATIONAL GUARD ARRIVES IN ROSEBURG AS HOSPITALS FACE PATIENT SURGE In August, Brown announced up to 1,500 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) members would be brought in to help with the states most recent surge of cases. What allegedly ensued was a chaotic and disorganized activation. The letter claims that once members had completed the normal administrative tasks, the state was not prepared to quickly place members in areas of need and provided contradictory information about where they would serve. Some were left hanging up to mid-September, according to the lawmakers. Some reportedly had to reserve hotels or other accommodations with their own money and others reportedly found that their travel vouchers werent recognized. Through this all, the lawmakers allege the members were stuck in limbo, unable to go back to their civilian jobs. ORNG Members are fellow Oregonians who give their time and sacrifice to serve our communities in times of need. Many ORNG Members have full-time jobs, families, and other responsibilities that they willingly pause in order to serve their fellow Oregonians. ORNG Members heroic efforts are bolstering hospitals and helping our communities and loved ones during a deadly pandemic. ORNG members deserve effective and efficient leadership, support, and management, and they deserve to receive the full pay and benefits they have earned, the letter reads. MORE: NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYS TO RIVERBEND HOSPITAL The letter also reports that when the initial 30-day activation was coming to a close, the state allegedly intentionally allowed these orders to lapse and issued new orders instead of extending the current one. This prevents members from qualifying for benefit increases and pay that would come from an extension. Similar concerns have reportedly been shared with lawmakers about previous Oregon National Guard deployments. The lawmakers called on the state to address the issues set forth in the letter, calling it a systemic problem. Stephen Bomar, the director of the Oregon Military Department, told KEZI he blames some of these issues on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Orders were cut for service members through Sep. 30, then once funding was procured by FEMA to go past Sep. 30, what we ended up doing was having to amend those orders," Bomar said. "So, what that did was it stopped basic allowance for housing to be done correctly. It also created a circumstance where soldiers weren't paid in a timely manner; certainly not the way to do business for sure." Bomar said the complaints are coming in from all over the state from more than 50 service members. He said he never thought this would happen. He said they are currently working directly with the National Guard Bureau to solve these issues. He hopes they will be fully resolved within the next few weeks. He shared a message with KEZI for ORNG Members: "I just want to say thank you to our service members that are out there. Hang in there, we've got your back," Bomar said. "The general is looking into it personally on an individual basis. Again thanks to the employers for their support and thanks again to the hospitals that we have been able to be a part of." Right now, there are about 1,400 members still on this mission. Bomar said they hope to have everyone out by December. As far as their normal pay goes, he said it varies based on rank and years of service. A specialist with more than three years of service makes $2,583 a month. With more than eight years of service, they have a base pay of $3,763. The full letter is included below and can also be read here. CORVALIS, Ore. A faculty researcher at Oregon State University accused of sexually abusing a child in Virginia is resigning. Brett Tyler, 66, is out on bail and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. According to court documents, Tyler is considered to be a fugitive from justice out of Virginia. He was booked into the Benton County Jail last Thursday. Tyler faces charges of forcible sodomy, taking indecent liberties with children and aggravated sexual battery. OSU spokesman Steve Clark said Tyler has worked at the university since 2012. Tyler resigned as director of the Center for Quantitative Life Sciences on Tuesday. He also resigned from the university, effective Nov. 30, and will work remotely until then. Weather Alert ...FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON EXPECTED FOR MANY TOWNS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY MORNING... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations 1 to 4 inches with highest amounts above 2000 feet. Local accumulation up to 5 inches possible on the West Plains between Airway Heights and Davenport. Snow may mix with rain at times below 2000 feet. * WHERE...Rockford, Spokane Valley, Worley, Coeur d'Alene, Cheney, Fairfield, Hayden, Post Falls, Airway Heights, Downtown Spokane, and Davenport. * WHEN...Until 10 AM PST Friday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said the Government remains on track to move ahead with the removal of Covid-19 restrictions on 22 October unless "compelling evidence" on rising infection rates suggests that approach should change. Speaking on RTE's News at One, Mr. Coveney said the Government will listen to the advice of medical and scientific experts in finalising any decision. He said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan, senior NPHET members and civil servants, are currently assessing the situation in hospitals, ICUs and in the community. It comes as Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said he is self-isolating after experiencing mild Covid-19 symptoms. A test returned a non-detected result. Mr. Coveney said the pandemic is not over and "we still have lot of Covid in the community' and that despite the high level of vaccinations "it does not mean we can let our guard down". Leo Varadkar 'can't rule out' some restrictions may remain beyond October 22nd@PatKennyNT pic.twitter.com/UvIM0WxMaQ October 13, 2021 Concern has been expressed at a meeting this morning of the Senior Officials Group on Covid-19, about whether latest figures on Covid-19 represent a blip or a trend. Today's meeting included the Secretaries General of government departments, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and Chair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan. While no discussion was held about the plan to lift most remaining restrictions from October 22, the National Public Health Emergency Team is to meet next Monday to review the trends and advise Government on how it should best proceed. A number of officials expressed concern that it appeared that complacency has risen and there may be a perception among some members of the public that the pandemic is over. NPHET is to examine the data in detail, including any indications that the protection from full vaccination may be trailing down for some people who were vaccinated earlier in the national campaign. Today's meeting heard that Ireland has just enough vaccine protection to allow it to be as open as it currently is. Speaking on Newstalk's The Pat Kenny Show, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: "The plan is to go ahead and ease most of the remaining restrictions on 22nd October, but that will depend on the numbers over the next couple of days. It will depend on the advice from NPHET". He said the plan is to lift the remaining restrictions, to remove the vaccine pass from restaurants for example, but that is something they will have to consider depending on where they stand with the numbers and depending on NPHET's advice. Mr. Varadkar said he "can't rule out the possibility that we may reopen but still retain some restrictions" later this month. An unmissable weekend of music will take place in St Canice's Cathedral with two incredible concerts. Mairead Hickey & Agnes Clement (Harp & Violin) will perform in a programme of French music this Friday at 7pm while on Sunday at 6pm the Resurgam Choir AD SANCTI CANNICI 'Music in honour of St Canice' Mark Duley, of Resurgam explained that the choir was performing in honour of the cathedrals patron saint. "Resurgam is presenting excerpts from the plainsong office for St Canice, a collection of beautiful plainchant found in a large fifteenth-century volume held in Trinity College Dublin. Although it is not known if this music was actually sung in Kilkenny at the time, it is not too fanciful to assume that Resurgam will be bringing back to the cathedral music that would have been heard there over 600 years ago," he said. "The programme will not be all chant! The plainsong antiphons and hymns are interspersed with later music ranging from sonorous five-voice motets to virtuosic solo vocal pieces. These have been chosen from the early to mid-baroque, featuring the composers Schein, Schutz, Monterverdi and Bach. The poetically-inspired figurative language of these works forms a rich foil to the monody of the chant. The programme concludes with JS Bachs famous motet Jesu meine Freude," he added. The ensemble will consist of five voices (singing one to a part in the polyphonic pieces), with instrumental accompaniment in the colourful form of chamber organ and harp. These seven musicians will be deployed in a variety of groupings throughout the programme, bringing a variety of colour and texture to the plainsong as well as the later pieces. Tickets available via https://www.musicinkilkenny. org/ Saturday evening last saw Mooncoin GAA Club unveiling a statue to one of their own home-grown heroes - Richard Drug Walsh. GAA President Larry McCarthy did the honours, revealing a beautiful and stunning piece art, created by Clare sculptor, Seamus Connolly. CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE UNVEILING Richard Drug Walsh, born in the parish in 1877, was one of the members of Kilkennys first golden era team. Along with Sim Walton (Tullaroan), Eddie Doyle (Mooncoin) and Jack Rochford (Threecastles), he was winner of seven All-Ireland hurling medals, all won between 1904 and 1913. Their record of most All-Ireland medals stood until Christy Ring came along in the 1950s. Drug Walsh also has another claim to fame, a record that is still not broken all these years later. He is still the only man to captain Kilkenny to All-Ireland victory on three occasions (in 1907, 1909 and 1913). He also won three senior county champions with Mooncoin two as captain. He is also reputed to have been the first person to call publicly for the hurling ball to be coloured white for the convenience of spectators. Nickname He is said to have picked up his famous nickname in primary school when the class were singing the song 'Clares Dragoons' - also known as 'the Bould Dragoons' - which was a popular marching song at the time. His friends nicknamed him 'Droog', because of his mispronunciation of the word 'Dragoons'. Obviously they thought it was hilarious the way he was pronouncing it! Like all good nicknames, it stuck for life. As he got older, his Droog nickname morphed into Drug. He would become known far and wide as simply; The Drug. If his four letter name was mentioned throughout Ireland in the early part of the 20th century, people would know instantly who was being talked about. It is worth noting however, that on a few occasions, Drug said he had always hated his nickname, but he could do nothing about it now! CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE UNVEILING Balmy And so this brings us to Mooncoin village on Saturday, 9 October 2021, where hundreds of people gathered to witness the unveiling of the Drug Walsh statue at the GAA clubs new entrance on Main Street. It was an unseasonably balmy October afternoon in Mooncoin, with temperatures nearly hitting 20 degrees. Chairman of Mooncoin GAA club, Tom Murphy, kicked off proceedings at 5pm, welcoming the huge attendance, relatives of Drug Walsh, and the GAA officials present. A special word of thanks was firstly given to the Mooncoin juvenile U8s, U7s and U6s boys and girls, who so brilliantly displayed their skills for everyone as a curtain raiser to the main proceedings. Australian Supporters club None of the days events would have been possible however, without the Mooncoin GAA Supporters Club of Australia, led by Larry Delahunty, Seamus Delahunty and Bill Kinsella. The club Down-Under generously funded the project in its entirety. The Chairman also thanked the Drug Walsh Monument Committee in Mooncoin who had so diligently worked the previous three years to get the project to where it is today. The social committee of the club were thanked for the amazing spread that was provided in the GAA Complex. A special word of gratitude was given to Clare sculptor, Seamus Connolly, who lived and breathed Drug Walsh over the previous six months. His attention to detail in producing such an exemplary piece of art is to his credit and will be there for generations of people to see. GAA President The GAA President, Larry McCarthy, spoke of how this statue would now inspire generations of children as they come through the gates of Mooncoin GAA club to play games. He thanked the Australian members of the club, noting how, no matter how far one travels, even to the other side of the world, your home club is always your home club. He was impressed by the records Drug achieved over his career, especially his seven All-Irelands, although he jokingly noted that beating his native Cork in four of the finals did give him a heavy-heart! New York President McCarthy, being so closely associated with New York GAA, told the story about how Drug Walsh became the first Weekender to travel to the Big Apple, just to play one game of hurling. Around 1910, the Kilkenny Club in New York were in the county final there. To give them a better chance of victory, Mooncoin native Dick Quinn, who trained the team, sent for Drug to come over and play in the final. Due to bad weather the ship was late arriving and Drug missed the match. He had to turn straight around and go back to Mooncoin on the same ship! Next to address the crowd was Leinster Chairman, Pat Teehan. Highlighting that the GAA, and indeed Ireland in general, is such a connected family, Pat had his own personal connection to Drug Walsh. Pats grandad, Jack Teehan, was the first Offaly man to play on a Leinster hurling team. That team was captained by Drug Walsh and they won the 1908 Railway shield playing side by side. The shield they won is now displayed in Mooncoin GAA club. The statue was then formally unveiled by Larry McCarthy. Parish priest of Mooncoin, Fr Martin Tobin, then blessed the statue and all who were present, praying; 'may the beautiful scene in this village warm the hearts of all who will look on it'. He also prayed for the 'GAA family' in the village, the family of Drug Walsh, and most poignantly, the man himself; Richard Drug Walsh, who passed away in 1958 at the age of 80. In attendance were Drugs relatives, including his grand-nieces and great-grand nieces and nephews. Rose of Mooncoin There followed a beautiful rendition of the Rose of Mooncoin by local camogie player, Brid Hennigan, who was stylishly dressed in black in amber for the day that was in it. The crowd sang along. Finally, the GAA President and Leinster chairman, were presented with crystal and hampers donated by Blanchfields Centra. All of the products included were either grown or made within the four corners of Mooncoin, including eggs, honey, potatoes, beetroot and some baking. The GAA President quipped that it would come in very useful, as he is currently living the bachelor life in Dublin as his family are still in America. Nothing would go astray! And on that note, the gathering retired to the GAA complex where they were looked after by the social committee, who created a stunning selection of sandwiches and desserts for the occasion. CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE UNVEILING Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations are expected to decline over the next four weeks, according to ensemble forecasts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Wednesday. The latest forecast predicts 740,000 to 762,000 reported deaths by November 6. It's third consecutive week of a projected decrease in newly reported deaths. There have been more than 717,000 Covid-19 deaths in the US, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The latest CDC forecast predicts 500 to 10,100 new confirmed Covid-19 hospitalizations likely to be reported by November 5 -- a fifth straight week of projected declines. As of October 12, there were 64,332 people hospitalized with Covid-19, according to US Health and Human Services data. In terms of cases, there was no predicted increase or decrease. The latest forecasts come as Covid-19 cases are declining in the US -- an optimistic outlook that needs to be tempered by the still-high rate of infections, especially in children. The number of new cases in children remains "exceptionally high," with 148,222 cases reported in the week ending October 7, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics published Monday. Children represented nearly a quarter of weekly reported Covid-19 cases, the AAP said. Nationally, Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have been decreasing, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over the last week, an average of 87,676 people reported infections and 1,559 people died of Covid-19 a day, according to JHU data. The infection rate still remains well above what's needed -- which Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday should be below 10,000. And with winter threatening to send people indoors and increase spread, experts worry cases could go back up again. The risk is higher for children, many of whom are still not yet eligible for vaccination. Currently, vaccines are only available for children as young as 12, although Pfizer and BioNTech have requested an emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for younger children. In the meantime, some schools have leaned on preventative measures to protect students, like masking, distancing and testing. In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker is planning to deploy 200 members of the National Guard to assist in school testing for Covid-19. But vaccination remains the best tool to fight the pandemic, experts say. And some regions are doing better than others. Thirty-five states have fully vaccinated more than half of their residents while five more -- Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts -- have fully vaccinated more than two-thirds, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, the numbers aren't as promising. As of Tuesday night, only 56.5% of the US population was fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. "We need the overwhelming proportion of those unvaccinated people to be vaccinated and then we can be quite confident that if we can do that, you will not see a resurgence," said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In fact, vaccines could have prevented more than 90,000 deaths over the past three months, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. More than 104,000 people in the US died of Covid-19 between June and September 2021, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Vaccines were widely available to all US adults at the time, but an "overwhelming majority" of those who died were unvaccinated, according to the KFF analysis. If all adults age 18 or older were vaccinated, more than 90,000 additional lives could have been saved between June and September. About half of those preventable deaths -- about 49,000 -- occurred in September alone, according to the foundation's analysis. Hospital system 'deeply disappointed' by Texas vaccine mandate ban While many experts and officials are encouraging institutions to enact vaccine mandates to protect employees, students and customers, some are fighting their efforts. On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting any entities from requiring individuals to get vaccinated. "The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," said Abbott. "This flies in the face of public health guidance and is really not the right thing to be doing in the middle of a pandemic," CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen told CNN's John King on Tuesday. Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist said the hospital system is reviewing Abbott's executive order and its possible implications while still expecting employees and physicians to be vaccinated. "As the first hospital system in the country to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for employees and physicians, we are deeply disappointed in the governor's order that tries to prohibit such mandates," Boom said in a statement, noting that the system's employees and physicians are 100% compliant. "We have fulfilled our sacred obligation to keep our patients safe, putting them first. Not only are our patients safe as a result, but we are able to remain healthy at work and be there for our community when it needs us the most." More than 150 Houston Methodist employees either resigned during a two-week suspension period in June or were terminated for not complying with a mandatory vaccination policy. Mandate bans have been especially relevant to health care systems, where some professionals have resigned over such measures and others have advocated for them to protect their colleagues and their vulnerable patients. According to a new poll from Axios-Ipsos, a majority of Americans, 65%, support requiring vaccines for everyone working in a health care setting. It also found that more Americans, 30%, expect it to take more than a year to get back to normal pre-Covid life, up from 9% who thought this in early June. Fewer people are also saying they've returned to their normal life -- 22% now compared with 28% in June -- or saying it will happen in the next six months -- 13% compared with 36% in June -- according to the poll. In one sign of normalcy, senior administration officials told CNN that the US plans to ease restrictions on travel for fully vaccinated visitors from Canada and Mexico starting in early November, relaxing bans that have been in place for more than 18 months. Moderna proposes a smaller vaccine dose Since the US has approved booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for some vulnerable Americans -- and officials are weighing approval for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters -- Moderna on Tuesday urged the FDA to authorize a 50-microgram dose, according to documents released ahead of a key meeting. The company said this dose increases protection against the coronavirus while helping to keep the worldwide vaccine supply higher. That dose is half the size of the 100-microgram doses used in the primary series of the two-dose vaccine. Moderna is requesting authorization for the smaller dose at least six months after the second dose for certain groups: people age 65 and older; people ages 18 to 64 who are at high risk of severe Covid-19; and people ages 18 to 64 whose exposure to the coronavirus in their settings or jobs put them at risk for Covid-19 complications or severe illness. On Thursday, the FDA's independent vaccine advisers are expected to discuss and vote on whether to recommend authorization of boosters for the Moderna vaccine. On Friday, the advisers are scheduled to discuss and vote on whether to recommend authorization of boosters for Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. Both vaccines are already authorized for use in people age 18 and older. VRBPAC members will also hear a presentation on Friday on "mix and match" booster doses. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Gourmet soups and hand-painted bowls are all part of the annual fundraising event put on by Channel One Regional Food Bank. The 17th annual Empty Bowls campaign is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the non-profit. Director of Development and Communications Jessica Sund explained, This is our one signature event for the year so it's so important that it's successful and it has been. We're so grateful for the community and all of our sponsors. Rochester restaurants like Canadian Honker and Forager Brewery teamed up to donate a variety of soups that community members could prepay and pick-up for the second year in a row. It's been very successful, said Sund. We're able to get people their soups and their bowls but also keep everybody safe and it really has been a great turnout. The community really stepped up and they're ready to take their soups home with them. With each purchase of a $15 bowl or $20 pint of soup participants are able to select a handmade bowl with contributions from students at RCTC, local artisans and other community members. Each bowl of soup they purchase provides about 60 meals for people in need so it really is nice for them to see that impact that they're personally making while also enjoying a cup of soup, said Sund. The nonprofit says its already exceeded its $70,000 goal this year with all the funds raised going to support the 14 counties in southeastern Minnesota. Sund added, We have close to 200 shelves and food programs that get their food from us in those counties so this money goes directly to those people and make sure we get quality, healthy food out to those communities. The event runs through Wednesday however online ordering is closed. You can still support the campaign by purchasing one of the handmade bowls for sale on 2nd Street SW or by giving a donation to Channel One. MANKATO, Minn.- Congressman Jim Hagedorn led a telephone veteran town hall event with Olmsted County's Veteran Service Officer Ashley Laganiere at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Almost a dozen or more callers from southern Minnesota called into the event, with questions about Veteran Affairs. Laganiere said there is roughly a nine-month wait for specialty medical service. "Now, the VA is now showing not quite a nine-month likely wait in order to get into specialty care," Laganiere said. However, Laganiere said she recommends veterans reach out to their community veteran service officer to speed up the process. "I would advise in the future working with your county veteran service officer so we can get you through the proper channels in order to, kind of, expedite you through that process," Laganiere said. Hagedorn said he is pushing a policy to make healthcare, regardless of the provider, free for all veterans. "Let our veterans go out and choose doctors and hospitals. Let them choose mental health providers and have the government pay for it I am just honest about it, I think they need to do that and I think they need to have access to it when they need it," Hagedorn said. Hagedorn said veterans with concerns can call his Mankato or Rochester office. MASON CITY, Iowa A woman accused of leading law enforcement on a drunken car chase is pleading not guilty. Laura Ann Lukes, 36 of Mason City, is charged with OWI-3rd or subsequent offense and eluding. Authorities say she refused to pull over for law enforcement on August 30 and had to be stopped by officers using their vehicles to box her in on Highway 122 W. Her trial is scheduled to start on December 14. NASHUA, Iowa - A bill honoring a so-called secret deception unit during World War II has some Iowa ties. Nashua-Plainfield freshman Caleb Sinnwell spent a year researching, documenting and interviewing those who were a part of the Ghost Army during the last year of World War II. The unit impersonated other Allied Army units through tactics like inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects, even phony generals to fool the enemy. He submitted the project as part of National History Day, which includes participants from all across the U.S. and the world. He was inspired to pursue the topic by his family's military background, and a suggestion by his teacher. "She told me about the Ghost Army, I watched a few news clips about it and a documentary about it, and I fell in love with it right away." The project not only landed him first place in the 'Junior Individual Website' category, but also caught the attention of Congress. "It's very amazing to have this kind of honor like this. Not too many kids get to have this...this is amazing." Speaking at Tuesday's assembly, Iowa's senior U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley praised Caleb's work in researching and telling the Ghost Army's story. A student of history, Grassley loves the tale of the Ghost Army. "It brings attention to the propaganda and psychological aspects of war that doesn't necessarily mean you're shooting a gun, but you play a very important role." Senator Chuck Grassley is one of the co-sponsors of the Gold Medical Congressional Act to recognize the Ghost Army's WWII exploits. This experience has made Caleb all the more passionate about embracing history. "Without our past, we do not have a future. It is very important to learn our past so we know how to correct things or adjust things in the future." Currently, 56 Senators have signed on to be co-sponsors; 11 more are needed in order for the act to be passed. "I feel very encouraged to continue what I'm doing. I feel honored, I feel very happy, and I can't wait to write the next email or call the next Senator." Noting Caleb's dedication, Senator Grassley encourages students to get active and participate in the civic process. "If they get involved at the age he is, they'll be involved the rest of his life, I'm convinced of that." Sinnwell says he's already working on his next National History Day project. Like the Ghost Army, though, that topic is top secret. ROCHESTER, Minn. - College enrollment has been on a decline both in Minnesota and on a national scale over the last decade. Rochester Community and Technical College is down nine percent in enrollment compared to a year ago. RCTC is in the range of many other institutions. The school has around 4,800 students currently enrolled, which should be around 5,100 students compared to this time last year. RCTC is offering virtual, in-person, and hybrid options of learning to cater to what the students are comfortable with and what their programs require. RCTC's Vice President of Affairs Dr. Terea Brown said they are doing all they can to combat this decline - which involves understanding that the pandemic has had an individualized impact on each of their students. "Our mindset has always been: we are here to serve our community and we're here to serve our students," said Dr. Brown. "Our faculty and staff have been so flexible. We use the word 'grace' a lot. We've had to use a lot of grace with one another and with our students. To give the flexibility and just meet the needs of where someone might be at the moment. It has been a period of transition, it really has. But, if you walk around campus there is a lot of joy in the hallways." RCTC is offering more accelerated programs for students who still want a college education, but are ready to be in the workforce. ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is hiring peace officers during a time where law enforcement agencies nationwide are seeing a decrease in the interest of people to take the oath to protect and serve. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson said the number of peace officer applicants is "not sustainable." The sheriff's office is looking for people who possess high character, are active in both the mind and body, and are interested in a fast-paced environment. Sheriff Torgerson said their motto is "protect and serve," but he believes their main duty is serving the community and hopefully making peoples' daily lives better. "We want people to be part of the community, not just in the community," said Sheriff Torgerson. "You know we can be in it, we can drive our squad cars around and maybe wave at a few people - but, we really want our deputies to be getting out and being involved. And not only when they're working but even when they're not working - volunteer for different activities and events." The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office holds testing four times a year, every three months. All peace officers go through college and the Peace Officers Standards and Training before they find themselves going through the Olmsted County interview process. Applicants will first meet with community members, line deputies, and superiors before sitting with Sheriff Torgerson and the chief deputy. For more information on the application process and job openings, visit the Olmsted County Human Resources webpage. MANKATO, Minn. The Blue Earth County Attorneys Office is launching a new effort to help people have their criminal records sealed or expunged. A new county webpage has been created explaining what criminal records may be sealed, addressing waiting periods, and has a link to apply to have a record sealed. In announcing the new webpage, the Blue Earth County Attorneys Office said: According to the FBI, nearly one in three adults in America has a criminal record. Long after people have fulfilled their obligations to the justice system, criminal records and the collateral consequences that follow serve as barriers to jobs, housing, education and more, preventing people from serving as productive members in our community. Studies have shown very few people who are eligible to seal their records successfully apply, but among those whose records are sealed, very few commit new crimes and, on average, they experience a significant increase in wages and employment within the next two years. If your criminal record is a barrier in your life, we may be able to help you get it sealed. If you have a criminal record for an offense that was prosecuted by the Blue Earth County Attorneys Office, we can help you determine if you qualify for expungement. If you qualify, we can help you get your record sealed by the Court at no cost to you. To learn more, click here. UNION, Iowa - An Arkansas man is now facing a murder charge in Hardin County. Osborn Eugene Gavel, 22 of Baxter, AR, has been booked into the Hardin County Jail for first-degree murder. Ther Sheriff's Office says Gavel struck and killed Steve Reece, 74 of Union. Investigators say Gavel and others had stayed with Reece on Monday evening at his home in the 300 block of Commercial Street and Reece's body was found Tuesday morning. Deputies responded to a 911 call around 5:33 am about an unresponsive male and say they found Reece's body in the bedroom. His death was classified as suspicious. The Hardin County Sheriffs Office says it requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and all results will be forwarded to the County Attorneys Office for review. Two Easy Ways To Subscribe! The Kodiak Daily Mirror offers full-service, five-day a week subscriptions with home delivery in addition to unlimited access to our online services (including our e-Edition). Online-access-only subscriptions include unlimited access to the Mirror's online services without delivery of the printed newspaper. (Note: New users: You must register and login before purchasing a subscription. Kokomo, IN (46901) Today Snow showers this evening becoming more scattered later. Low 24F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Snow showers this evening becoming more scattered later. Low 24F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. David M. SHRIBMAN is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. His email is dshribman@post-gazette.com. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Angola, IN (46703) Today Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. BEAVERTON, Ore. (KPTV) - It's October, but should you already be thinking about holiday gifts? In a global shipping crisis, local companies say they're facing inventory shortages and shipping issues. "Normally I have about 95% of my holiday merchandise by now and normally that is shipped by August," A Flair for Gifts & Home Owner, Michelle Bottaro said. "We are still receiving boxes every day and it's just trickling in very slow. I've had to cancel a lot of things because it's just not going to be here in time." Bottaro says it's been a challenge through the global shipping crisis and she's had to get creative in how she searches for and buys merchandise. "Instead of focusing so much on holiday decor focusing more on things that can be giftables so and with that I've gotten very creative looking at really small companies that might have one or two items I can work with and maybe I order ten small little orders instead of two really big orders," Bottaro said. Snow tires could be harder to find this winter due to worldwide supply chain issues VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - Supply chain issues and labor shortages could impact your driving this winter. Thats because snow tires are now bec Bottaro says there's some companies she couldn't get merchandise from at all and that couldn't even provide a ship date. Her best advice is to shop early. "Last week I had a customer come in three times and she got almost her whole Christmas list done," Bottaro said. What about sending those gifts? Lake Oswego PostalAnnex Owner Mike Hoffner says with certain countries he's just telling customers not to ship there as packages are extremely backlogged and he says there are issues with regulations. "Shipping to the EU, to Australia, to New Zealand, a lot of complications and getting them international's taking a week or two extra weeks to get there," Hoffner said. "We just are warning customers ship at your own peril because we're not offering refunds because it's just a complete nightmare." Hoffner says if you're shipping within the United States he's not as concerned, but he says give yourself a few extra days for your package to get to its location on time. PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - Time is ticking for health care workers in Oregon to choose the vaccine or get fired, under orders from Governor Kate Brown. Its a smaller, but still significant, population of the states health care industry in question. As of last week, 18% of health care workers had yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 shot, according to data provided by the Oregon Health Authority. Meanwhile, 82% of health care workers are vaccinated, compared to 75% of the general population. About 1% more health care workers are now vaccinated, compared to last month. Vaccination rates vary by medical industry. Oregon dentists are the most likely to be vaccinated, with a whopping 98% of them inoculated against the virus. The least likely health care workers to be vaccinated? Chiropractic assistants only 58% have received at least one shot. When it comes to hospitals, vaccination rates hover in the low to mid-90s. OHA reported on Tuesday that the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 585, which is 59 fewer than Monday. There are 149 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is 21 fewer than the previous day. There are 56 available adult ICU beds out of 682 total (8% availability) and 298 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,117 (7% availability). Survey shows most Washington health care workers are fully vaccinated OLYMPIA, Wash. (KPTV) - As the deadline for Washington state employees to be fully vaccinated approaches an early survey shows that most the s Across the river in Washington, vaccination rates among healthcare workers are not, so far, made available publicly by the state, but the Washington Hospital Association on Monday announced an overall staff vaccination rate of nearly 90% across its members statewide. Its extra peace of mind for Russell Brent and his dad Bruce. His father is 93 years old and more at risk of developing complications from a breakthrough infection. I just cant imagine or understand why a health care worker would not get vaccinated, Bruce said Tuesday. Russell hopes that more corporations will soon be required to mandate vaccinations for employees. I think in the next three to four months its going to be very difficult for the unvaccinated to be part of community and Im just praying theres going to be a higher vaccination rate so we can all get through this and take the masks off, Russell said. Soaring energy prices are a stark reminder of how dependent Europe is on fossil fuels and should serve to accelerate the shift towards renewable forms of energy. "This experience today of the rising energy prices is a clear wake up call... that we should accelerate the transition to clean energy, wean ourselves off the fossil fuel dependency," a senior EU official told reporters as the European Commission unveiled a series of measures aimed at tackling the crisis. The European Union is facing a sharp spike in energy prices, driven by increased global demand as the world recovers from the pandemic and lower-than-expected natural gas deliveries from Russia. Wholesale electricity prices have increased by 200% compared to the 2019 average, according to the European Commission. "Winter is coming and for many electricity costs are larger than they have been for a decade," Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told reporters on Wednesday. Wholesale gas prices which have surged to record highs in France, Spain, Germany and Italy are expected to remain high through the winter. Prices are expected to fall in the spring, but remain higher than the average of past years, according to the Commission. Most EU countries rely on gas-fired power stations to meet electricity demand, and about 40% of that gas comes from Russia, according to Eurostat. Simson said that the Commission's initial assessment indicates that Russia's Gazprom has been fulfilling its long-term contracts "while providing little or no additional supply." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday that Russia has increased gas supplies to Europe to the maximum possible level under existing contracts, but could not exceed those thresholds. "We can say that Russia is flawlessly fulfilling all contractual obligations," he said. Measures EU states can take to help consumers and businesses cope with soaring electricity costs include emergency income support to households to help them pay their energy bills, state aid for companies, and targeted tax reductions. Member states can also temporarily delay bill payments and put in place processes to ensure that no one is disconnected from the grid. Green energy the solution The Commission also published a series of longer term measures the bloc should consider to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and tackle energy price volatility. "Our immediate priority is to protect Europe's consumers, especially the most vulnerable," Simson said. "Second, we want to make our energy system better prepared and more resilient, so we don't have to face a similar situation in the future," she added. This would require speeding up the green energy transition rather than slowing it down, Simson said. "We are not facing an energy price surge because of our climate policy or because renewable energy is expensive. We are facing it because the fossil fuel prices are spiking," she continued. "The only long term remedy against demand shocks and price volatility is a transition to a green energy system." Simson said she will propose to EU leaders a package of measures to decarbonize Europe's gas and hydrogen markets by 2050. Other measures to improve energy market stability could include increasing gas storage capacity and buying gas jointly at an EU level. Katharina Krebs contributed reporting. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Anne LaPorte, a registered nurse, was fatigued and had some back pain. She just moved from Hawaii to California, and it was around the same time as the beginning of the pandemic -- in early 2020 -- when most people were feeling uneasy. "I thought it was the stress of the move," said LaPorte, 55. But then by March of last year, the fatigue and pain heightened. She made a doctor's appointment for answers. "My symptoms were getting worse. Covid was just hitting our hospital at that time so things were quite stressful. I had difficulty accessing just routine care at this time and our facility was -- as most facilities were -- completely unprepared for the Covid epidemic," LaPorte said. "So, I saw probably three other primary care doctors and went to the ER three times before I was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer," she said. "I would say it took -- March, April, May, June, July, August -- six months before I had a diagnosis." LaPorte never smoked, stays active as a triathlon athlete and had been in good health. "The day before I was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer, I had cycled 50 miles," LaPorte said. "I was having difficulty running but I could still get on my bike. So you wouldn't look at me and really know that I was in advanced terminal lung cancer. My prognosis was three to six months when I was diagnosed." She said that physicians found the cancer had spread throughout her spine, liver and left eye. Now retired from nursing, LaPorte has been in treatment for 13 months. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, LaPorte's experience of having trouble accessing routine care has become commonplace. Nationwide, there have been declines in cancer screenings as well as barriers to accessing treatment -- and physicians now worry that delays have led to patients arriving at their offices with advanced cancer. 'We're concerned that disparities are growing' Dr. Randy Hicks, co-owner and CEO of Regional Medical Imaging in Michigan, has seen declines in cancer screening and treatments in the communities that his facilities serve. There are nine facilities across the Detroit and Flint, Michigan metropolitan areas. "Michigan was severely impacted by the pandemic in 2020, and unfortunately all of my nine centers were impacted for a total of 9.5 weeks last year, which resulted in a significant backlog of patients who either delayed or skipped mammograms entirely last year," Hicks wrote in an email to CNN. This year, his facilities have seen an uptick in advanced cancer cases. "Now, as mammography rates are beginning to increase, many women are playing catch-up to get these vital health screenings done, which leads to another potential issue -- a drastic increase in workload for radiologists," Hicks wrote. "No doubt about it, we have unfortunately seen some advanced cases this year in the communities that we serve, likely due to women postponing screening." Doctors also worry that these delays in screening and care can have larger impacts on communities of color, exacerbating troubling disparities in health care that have long existed before the pandemic. "Underrepresented communities of color at a baseline may have limited access to health care at a baseline," Dr. Leonard Gomella, professor and chairman of urology at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, wrote in an email to CNN. Therefore, any "negative impact like the pandemic is going to be most easily felt in these communities." A study that published in this month's issue of the journal Preventive Medicine finds that in April 2020, the total number of breast and cervical cancer screening tests funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program declined by 87% and 84%, respectively, compared with the previous five-year averages for that month. The researchers noted that the greatest declines were seen among women of color. In April 2020, declines in breast cancer screening varied from 84% among Hispanic women to 98% among American Indian/Alaskan Native women. White, Black and Asian women saw declines of 87%, 90% and 97%, respectively. Screening began to recover in May 2020. By June 2020, the volume of breast and cervical cancer screening tests was 39% and 40% below the five-year average for that month, respectively. "We're concerned that disparities are growing, but we definitely still need time to understand the full impact of the pandemic since we're still living through it. It just takes time to get all the data, but I think what we can say is that the impact is two-fold," Dr. Laura Makaroff, the senior vice president for prevention and early detection at the American Cancer Society, told CNN on Tuesday. "Number one, we definitely saw a steep decline in cancer screening at the beginning of the pandemic -- way back in Spring 2020, as health systems needed to adjust and not do elective procedures, including cancer screening, to attend to the acute needs of patients with Covid. Now, there's a backlog that created," Makaroff said. "The second part of it is that, in addition to access to care in terms of where our health systems are and how cancer screening can be accomplished, is the impact of health insurance and employment," she said. "Communities and populations that face additional barriers to cancer screening, which includes health insurance and financial means to pay for screening, have also been impacted by unemployment and loss of employer-sponsored insurance due to the pandemic." Makaroff said that she and her colleagues at the American Cancer Society are waiting for data to come in on the specific impacts that the pandemic has had on screening rates, accessing treatments and other aspects of cancer care -- but they have seen some early data so far. In August, they published a study in the journal Cancer that found breast cancer screening rates declined by 8% from July 2019 to 2020 among 32 community health centers in the United States. A survey released last year by the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that two-thirds of Americans, nearly 64%, delayed or skipped scheduled cancer screenings -- such as mammogram, colonoscopy, skin check, or Pap/HPV test -- because of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, "while there are multiple prediction models published in peer-reviewed journals to estimate the effects of delayed or missed screenings, it will take time for real-world data to accumulate and clarify the true impact overall and on specific populations or geographic regions," a spokesperson at MD Anderson Cancer Center wrote in an email to CNN on Tuesday. Gomella, of Jefferson Health, said that his facility saw a drop in prostate cancer screening during the height of the pandemic, but screening numbers were back to baseline by late 2020. "Only time will tell if this temporary decline in screening efforts will impact long-term cancer control rates," he wrote to CNN. 'The inequity is appalling' As a former nurse, LaPorte has seen inequities in health care first hand. "The inequity is appalling in health care. Not just for cancer but for all diseases. As a nurse, I've worked in big city hospitals with high rates of lower-income patients and there are multiple reasons why there are disparities," LaPorte said. "So, accessing care is a challenge in the best of times, and you throw on a global pandemic that this country was not ready for, you're seeing that resources are just being completely eaten up by the pandemic," she said. "Everyone is affected, but in lower-income places where we know that accessing health care alone is a challenge and taking that next step to getting screening tests -- it just doesn't happen." There are some disturbing similarities in how both diseases -- Covid-19 and cancer -- disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Black and Hispanic people are at least twice as likely to die of Covid-19 as non-Hispanic White people and nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized. Both Black and Hispanic people are more likely than White people to be infected with Covid-19, too. Similar disparities exist for some types of cancer too -- as well as their risk factors. For instance, people of color are more than three times more likely to be breathing the most polluted air in the United States than White people, according to the American Lung Association. Air pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer. Black men face a 9% higher incidence of cancer and 22% higher death rate compared with White men for all cancers combined, according to the American Cancer Society. In contrast, Black women have a 7% lower risk of a cancer diagnosis than White women, but a 13% higher risk of cancer death. There are efforts across the United States, from California to New York, to promote early cancer screenings and minimize such racial disparities in health care. The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in California announced last week plans to roll out a "mammovan," mobile van will provide free mammograms to women in underserved communities in Northern California and the Central Valley. In New York, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato has announced that she will be hosting a free mammogram screening event next month to promote early detection of breast cancer. LaPorte is a champion for testing early. When she thinks about being diagnosed with cancer, she thinks of her father. When he died in 2008, eight weeks after his lung cancer diagnosis, she scoured old X-ray images of his chest for any clue to help her understand. She saw markings in the images that were oddly similar to markings in X-ray images taken of her own chest. When Anne showed this to her primary care doctor, she underwent another CT scan and it turned out she had a nodule in her lungs. Since LaPorte was in good her health, she was told to watch the nodule and wait. Physicians hadn't looked at the nodule again until LaPorte experienced worsening symptoms last year. LaPorte now spends her time raising awareness around the importance of screening early for lung cancer, working with the organizations "Be Bold Be Bald!" and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. "We're hoping to make some noise and make some changes for women in lung cancer -- all women, whether you smoke or not, we don't care," LaPorte said. "We're one community." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. (KANSAS CITY, Ks.) First lady Jill Biden visited Kansas City Tuesday in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The event was billed as a conversation and listening session with the Hispanic community, where the first lady sought to learn about what Hispanic families are facing in their lives as well as their challenges and their concerns. "Just to help Americans get back on their feet, after this terrible, horrible pandemic. And how really it has set people back. But now I hope that people of Kansas see that government can be good and can do good things, Dr. Jill Biden said. This stop is the latest in a series of meetings the first lady is holding with Hispanic communities across the country this year. GARDINER, Mont. - On Oct. 3, a group of hunters shot and killed a grizzly bear that reportedly charged them in the backcountry east of Gardiner. The hunters were processing a harvested elk near Bull Mountain during an early-season rifle hunt when the bear appeared and charged at them, FWP wrote in a release. The bear was shot and killed by the hunters during its charge. The hunters were reportedly not injured. FWP said the bear was a 3- to 5-year-old female without cubs. Wildlife and enforcement staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Custer Gallatin National Forests Gardiner Ranger District met with the hunters and confirmed the bear's death. The incident is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Recreationists, residents and people who work outdoors can be prepared for a surprise bear encounter. Activities that are deliberately quiet or fast moving, such as hunting, mountain biking or trail running, put people at greater risk for surprising a bear. FWP asks everyone to keep these precautions in mind when youre spending time in Montanas outdoors: Be aware of your surroundings and look for bear sign. Read signs at trailheads and stay on trails. Be especially careful around creeks and in areas with dense brush. Carry bear spray. Know how to use it and be prepared to deploy it immediately. Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert bears to your presence. Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears. Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency. If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. For more information on bear safety, visit go.usa.gov/xFmsQ. UPDATE: OCT. 13 AT 10:27 P.M. The Powder River County Sheriff's Office reports, Highway 212 East and 59 South are open to all traffic. UPDATE: OCT. 13 AT 10:43 A.M. Sections of highways 212 and and 59 S are shut down due to dangerous driving conditions Wednesday. According to a Facebook post from the Powder River County Sheriff's Office, Highway 212 is closed from Broadus to the Wyoming border, and Highway 59 S is closed from Broadus to Gillette, Wyoming. The estimated time of these highways reopening is unknown at this time. The Montana Department of Transportation reported a crash with unknown blockage on Highway 212 at mile-marker 120 to 133. They said there is no passing until further notice and there have been multiple slide offs. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: BROADUS, Mont. - Authorities are urging the public to not drive on Highway 212 and 59 S due to snow covered roads Wednesday. The Poweder River County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook road crews are working to clear the roads. PRCSO recommends drivers to not travel on these roads if the reason is not urgent. CHEYENNE, Wyo. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, a Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) official says the need for flu shots remains important to help protect Wyoming residents from influenza. As the next flu season begins, we know flu shots remain the first and most important step in influenza protection, Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said. Flu vaccines are safe and reduce illness, hospitalizations and deaths. Everyone six months of age and older should receive a flu shot. The department reports they have started to receive sporadic reports of flu from across the state in recent weeks. Reported flu activity was unusually low over the past flu season. Looking back, it appears the precautions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 also likely reduced the impact of influenza significantly, Dr. Harrist said. People were not traveling as much, they werent socializing as frequently, they were often wearing masks and they were taking extra care with measures such as handwashing and cleaning. As we begin a new flu season, we expect influenza will circulate while COVID-19 remains a threat, Dr. Harrist continued. Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to put a strain on our healthcare system. While we are unable to predict how much flu well see in Wyoming this season, we are concerned about the combined impact of both influenza and COVID-19 on our hospitals and on our states residents. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms, which come on suddenly, include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, extreme tiredness and muscle or body aches. Although most healthy people recover from the flu, they can spread the virus to those who are at high risk for serious complications. Both flu and COVID-19 can result in serious illness and thats one reason testing is helpful. Testing can help guide treatment and care, Dr. Harrist said. Many testing options, including tests run through the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, can detect influenza or COVID-19 from the same sample. Dr. Harrist noted that receiving a flu shot at the same time as receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, including recently authorized booster doses, is considered safe. Flu vaccines are important for vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older. Healthcare workers and people who may live with, care for, or are in contact with high risk individuals or infants six months of age and under, should also get the flu vaccine. Dr. Harrist explained that it takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccine for it to offer protection. The best strategy is to get your flu shot before people around you are ill, she said. Influenza vaccines are available at most local public health nursing offices, workplaces, doctors offices, pharmacies and retail stores and are covered by most insurance plans. In addition, Wyomings public vaccine programs, which are available at participating providers, help protect some adults and children from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influenza, at little to no cost for eligible patients. Littleton, NC (27850) Today Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Two weeks ago in the Sept. 23 Regional News, there was a story about speed bumps on the Center Street hill going up to the new Stone Ridge subdivision, which is in the Town of Geneva. Originally it was our anticipation that it would be a little community story. The reaction blew us away as comments poured in on Facebook with people expressing their anger about the speed bumps. Upon checking them out, we understand why people are so annoyed. They are not just little rumble strips. They really have a jolt to them. At a City Council meeting in September aldermen discussed the issue after getting so many complaints and decided to petition the Town of Geneva to remove the speed bumps. Joseph Kopecky, chairperson for the Town of Geneva Board, said the town board members approved to install the speed bumps to help reduce traffic concerns in that area. Kopecky said the speed bumps will be removed during the winter, but whether they are re-installed in the spring would depend on whether the Lake Geneva Police Department would be willing to enforce that area more often. Between now and spring, we would hope that the City of Lake Geneva and Town of Geneva can establish some sort of agreement on traffic enforcement that does not involve the speed bumps. Speed bumps alone are not the problem. There can be a time and place for them and due to the number of speeders they should be an option. But it doesnt seem its the right answer for the Center Street hill. In addition, when the new subdivision on the hill was starting to be built, there was a plan to build another outlet that would help alleviate traffic on the Center Street hill. That should also be revisited and shouldnt go to the wayside. As the subdivision on top of the hill continues to grow, naturally traffic on the Center Street hill is also increasing. Speed in that area shouldnt be ignored. But adding jolting speed bumps that are reportedly even causing some damage to cars is not the right answer. The Regional News editorial board consists of General Manager Robert Ireland, Editor Stephanie Jones, Advertising Assistant Steve Romani and community members Patrick Quinn and Elizabeth Lupo DiVito. Culver's CurderBurger, a novelty burger the Prairie du Sac-based chain is selling Friday, for one day only, tastes not too different from the company's ButterBurger Deluxe with cheese, but with one meat patty instead of two. The fried cheese curd "crown" is made with white and yellow curds and "a touch of American cheese to impart that creaminess and melt-ability," said its creator, Quinn Adkins, Culvers director of menu development. The curd patty tastes most strongly of American cheese and Culver's trademark cheese curd breading. Thick at first, it quickly compresses as you grip the burger. The Curdburger comes with lettuce, red onion, tomato and pickles, and it's the flavor of the pickles that dominates. A friend who shared the burger with me observed the mayo inside, and questioned why the company didn't go with ranch dressing instead since it's what people expect with their cheese curds. "We purposely used our mayonnaise because it is a crucial part of our signature ButterBurger Deluxe," Adkins said. "When creating the CurderBurger, we combined two guest favorites, our Wisconsin cheese curds and the ButterBurger Deluxe, to create a flavor that would resonate with our guests." Susan Bulgrin, who co-owns three area Culver's franchises, warns that the restaurants will have a limited supply of the CurderBurger Friday on National Cheese Curd Day. Bulgrin also said she's not planning to have extra staff on hand to accommodate potentially large crowds. She let a Wisconsin State Journal reporter try a CurderBurger ($5.79) Wednesday to see what all the excitement is about. A giant fried cheese curd in a bun gained a lot of attention after Culver's social media team dreamed it up as an April Fools Day gimmick and put it out on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Adkins said the team called it a "CurderBurger" instead of a "CurdBurger" "probably because it rolls off the tongue a little better." The CurderBurger as it will be served Friday, puts the cheese crown atop a Culver's hamburger patty instead of the way it was originally introduced on April 1. Culver's has been selling fried cheese curds since 1997, said Adkins, who has been with the company since June 2015. They're sold not just in Wisconsin, but across Culver's 820 restaurants in 25 states. How popular are they? "Well, put it this way: Last year, we sold more than 40 million orders of cheese curds," he said. Adkins said there are lots of logistical constraints in offering the CurderBurger as a permanent menu item. He said when the company comes out with a new limited-time-offer item, it takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months to "develop and watch." "I can see why they would do this only on one day of the year," my friend said about the CurderBurger. "There's nothing special about it. Culver's has five other burgers that are better." Read more restaurant news at: go.madison.com/restaurants Shes back again. An angel statue that usually sits atop the Driehaus Family Fountain in front of the Riviera in downtown Lake Geneva has been returned to its rightful spot after being vandalized for a second year in a row. City crews re-installed the statue back onto the fountain during the morning hours of Wednesday, Oct. 13. The statue was damaged about 12 a.m., June 5 by two out-of-state suspects. Police have said an officer noticed a suspect hanging from the statue, while another suspect was in the fountain with him. The statue was damaged and broken off the fountain. Public Works Director Tom Earle said he is pleased that the statue is back on the fountain now that it has been repaired from the damage it sustained back in June. We are happy to have her back, Earle said. Police said Todd Stewart, 20, of Fort Wayne, Indiana has been charged with criminal damage to property over $2,500, resisting and obstructing a police officer and disorderly conduct as a result of the incident. Stewart plead not guilty to the charges Sept. 23 and is scheduled to appear for in court for a status conference Dec. 7, according to court records. Evan Waller, 20, of Palantine, Illinois has been cited with damage to property and underage consumption of alcohol, according to police. The statue was damaged in similar fashion in July 2020. A 21-year-old man from Spring Grove, Illinois was the suspect in that case. The statue has been repaired by VanGuard Sculpture Services in Milwaukee both times. Earle said security cameras have been installed around the Riviera to help discourage vandalism in that area. Yes, there have been several cameras installed and up and running around the entire Riviera, Earle said. The fountain was donated to the city by the late Richard Driehaus in 2004 and is a replica of the Angels of the Waters fountain located in Central Park in New York city. 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. Visiting Rivera Beach could be slightly more expensive for adults and teenagers but less expensive for children next year. Lake Geneva aldermen are considering increasing the beach rate to $10 for people 13 years and older and decreasing the rate to $5 for people between the ages of 6 and 12. Children 5 years and younger would be able to attend for free. The current rate is $8 for both children and adults. Members of the city councils piers, harbors & lakefront committee unanimously approved the proposed rate changes, Oct. 12. The rate changes still have to be approved by the finance, licensing & regulation committee and the full city council. Harbormaster Steve Russell initially proposed increasing the rate to $10 for both children and adults. He said the $10 rate would make it easier for beach attendants to handle change, but also acknowledged that increasing the rate to that amount could discourage people from attending the beach. It puts an extra burden down at the beach house when youre handing out $2, $6 and $8 worth of change, Russell said. Ten dollars simplifies it. Worse case scenario, youre handing them $10 in change. Alderman Tim Dunn said changing the rate to $10 for adults and $5 for children also would make it easier for beach attendants to handle change, and it would make it more affordable for families to visit the beach. Dunn also said this would match Fontana Beach. The Village of Fontana currently charges $10 for anyone 12 and over, $5 for children ages 6-11, and free for age 5 and under. At the Williams Bay beach its $5 for children 6-11 and $8 for ages 12 and up. Its nice if youre a parent and you get a break for your kids, especially if you have a lot of them, Dunn said. Alderman Ken Howell said he also is in favor of changing the rate to $10 for adults and $5 for children. I think with $10 and $5, you would go up a little bit for adults, and we would give kids a break with $5, Howell said. Russell told the aldermen that if they do not agree with the $10 rate, then he would prefer that the rate remain at $8, and people pay for their beach passes with a credit card or through an app and for cash to not be accepted. If youre asking for my recommendation cashless, Russell said. Howell said if cash is not accepted, then it could make it more difficult for children to pay for their beach passes. I agree the less cash we have to handle is better for you, but I cant see taking that away, Howell told Russell said. Thats why I would say go $10 and $5. Increase the one and decrease the other. Russell said people could purchase their beach passes ahead of time through an app. So if youre sitting at home with your 10 year old and you want them to have a pass, you can advance purchase, Russell said. 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. Wisconsin residents could be paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes this winter because of a global energy crunch that has sent natural gas prices to the highest level in a decade. The federal Energy Information Administration last week forecast steeply higher heating bills for all U.S. households, regardless of the weather. The Midwest is expected to be hardest hit, with some households spending up to 69% more. We Energies, the states largest utility, says the average household could be paying an extra $25 a month for gas this winter. Sister company Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, which is served by a different pipeline, warned of a $40 monthly hike for customers in the colder northeast region. Xcel Energy says its customers in northwest Wisconsin could be paying $45 to $65 more per month between November and March, which includes additional costs resulting from winter storm Uri. Madison Gas and Electric says its customers will likely see additional costs of $25 to $30 a month. Alliant Energy has not calculated the bill impacts, though both utilities recommend cost-saving measures such as turning down the thermostat, changing furnace filters and sealing window and door openings. Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, says the price surge comes on top of bill increases tied to winter storm Uri, which froze wellheads and pipelines across Texas and Oklahoma last February and caused prices to jump nearly 10,000%. Unlike the equipment monopoly utilities use to deliver energy, fuel is an unregulated pass-through charge. Utilities dont earn a profit on the gas they sell or burn to generate electricity, but when the price goes up, those costs are passed on to customers. For now, the added costs will affect gas bills, but customers could also see an impact on their electricity bills starting early next year as regulators adjust rates to account for higher fuel costs. Since 2019, about a third of Wisconsins electricity has been generated with natural gas. Prices on the rise The Energy Information Administration expects it will cost about 30% more this year to heat with natural gas, the most common heating fuel in Wisconsin. Costs for heating oil are expected to be about 43% more than last winter, while propane customers in the Midwest will spend an extra 69%. Whats more, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this winter will be slightly colder than average, which could increase costs even more. The Public Service Commission is recommending propane and heating oil customers fill up their tanks soon as prices are expected to rise throughout the winter. The reason for the price hikes is a worldwide increase in demand coupled with supply constraints that has pushed the price of gas for delivery in September to over $5 per million BTU for the first time since January 2010, according to Energy Information Administration data. Prices have nearly doubled since the start of the year. Emily McClain, a senior gas analyst with Rystad Energy, said multiple factors have created a perfect storm scenario: colder temperatures coupled with a global economic recovery fueled strong demand, but shale producers have been slow to ramp up production, and pipeline and storage constraints will limit their ability to meet demands. McClain said prices should moderate, though Rystad expects prices to remain in the $3 to $4 range through 2023. Help available CUB encourages residents who are struggling financially to apply for energy assistance grants and those who can afford it to consider replacing old furnaces or adding insulation to their homes with the help of Focus on Energy incentives. Weve been fortunate that natural gas prices were as low as theyve been for the last few years, Content said. This is kind of a wakeup call. Kendall Richards, president of All Comfort Services, says hes heard some rumbling from customers looking to get ahead of the price increases, but most customers dont think about their furnace until it breaks down. But with his suppliers sitting on smaller inventories and facing difficulties getting computer chips and other parts, Richards warns this is not a good year to wait. It may be better to do it on your timetable, Richards says. Richards says a furnace tuneup may only improve performance by a couple of percent, but it does add up. He adds that many Madison homes still have chimney-venting furnaces, which waste much of the heat generated and pull cold air into the home; upgrading to a high-efficiency model can result in savings of 30% to 40%. Financial help is available from the states Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) for households earning less than 60% of the state median, which works out to about $50,000 for a family of three. Help is also available from the nonprofit Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund. The state estimates some 205,000 households will receive an average of $388 to offset heating costs this winter and about $195 for electricity. We try to estimate the need so we can serve everybody, said Barb Klug, director of the states Home Energy Plus bureau. Lets hope for a warm winter. JACKSON, Miss. The Mississippi auditor said Tuesday that he is demanding repayment of $77 million in misspent welfare money in one of the poorest states in the nation. This includes $828,000 the auditor is seeking from former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and an employee of his business, Favre Enterprises. The initial allegations of misspending came to light in early 2020 when former Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director John Davis and five other people were indicted in one of the state's largest public corruption cases, which the auditor characterized then as "a sprawling conspiracy." Favre is not facing any criminal charges, but Auditor Shad White said in May 2020 that Favre, who lives in Mississippi, had repaid $500,000 of the $1.1 million in welfare money he received for multiple speeches for which he did not show up. The demand Tuesday is for the $600,000 balance, plus $228,000 in interest. Favre has pushed back on White's characterization of the situation. Its just ridiculous, he said in May. I in no way did anything wrong and wouldnt do anything wrong or would take any money (this way). Ive never no-showed anyone as far as speaking engagements or commercials or anything of that nature. Thats ridiculous. And what I would have liked for the tax auditor to do I dont know him would have been for him to contact us and talk about it and express what he had (in terms of) the documents from his investigation. This is what we have. Rather than broadcast it everywhere. For him to say I took $1.1 million and didnt show up for speaking engagements is absolutely, 100 percent not true. But yes, we are paying it back. White issued the demands about two weeks after a Maryland-based CPA firm issued an independent report about how the Mississippi Department of Human Services spent federal money from 2016 through 2019 through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The report found nearly $41 million in "questioned costs" for items including travel and programs to support college athletes. The Mississippi auditor is demanding that interest be paid on the $77 million, bringing the total sought to more than $96 million. White is demanding that whole amount from Davis and most of it from two nonprofit organizations, Mississippi Community Education Center and the Family Resource Center. On Monday, an accountant pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit embezzlement for her role in the case. Hinds County Circuit Court records show that as part of her guilty plea, Anne McGrew, 65, of Jackson, agreed to testify against others indicted, including her one-time employers, Nancy New and Zach New, a mother and son who ran nonprofit and for-profit organizations that received money from the state Department of Human Services. McGrew said in court records that she assisted Nancy New, Zach New and others in moving money received by Mississippi Community Education Center to bank accounts owned by New Learning Inc. a for-profit company owned by Nancy New and Zach New. McGrew, who could face up to five years in prison, signed a court document that said prosecutors will make a recommendation about her sentence based on her cooperation in the prosecution of co-defendants and her "willingness to provide truthful testimony" at any trials. Those indicted were the department's former director, John Davis; former professional wrestler Brett DiBiase; former Department of Human Services employee Latimer Smith; Nancy New, who has been the director of Mississippi Community Education Center and New Learning Resources; Zach New, who has been assistant executive director of the education center; and McGrew, an accountant for the education center. Davis left the Department of Human Services in July 2019. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is set for Nov. 1. However, his attorneys are seeking a delay because they said in a Sept. 29 court document that prosecutors have produced "voluminous" information about the case. Smith has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 8. Nancy New and Zach New also have been indicted on federal charges. They have pleaded not guilty in federal court and state court, and they await trial in both places. Mississippi Community Education Center, operating as Families First for Mississippi, received more than $44 million in government grants from mid-2014 to mid-2018, according to nonprofit tax filings. Amounts spiked to $12.9 million and $26.7 million in the final two years, as Davis outsourced a large portion of Mississippi's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families spending to the group. DiBiase, now 33, pleaded guilty in December to one count of making a false statement. He said in court documents that he had submitted documents and received full payment for work he did not complete. He agreed to pay $48,000 in restitution, and his sentencing was deferred. Indictments allege Davis conspired with Nancy New to send $48,000 in block grant money to pay for DiBiase's drug rehabilitation in Malibu, California, in early 2019. Payments were made to a company owned by DiBiase supposedly for his teaching classes about drug abuse, with Davis and Smith falsifying invoices and other records, prosecutors said. In November 2020, Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson issued a gag order to prevent prosecutors, defense attorneys and others from publicly discussing the case against Nancy New. Another Hinds County circuit judge, Adrienne Wooten, issued the same order in February in McGrew's case. Noida, Oct 13 (PTI) Police in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Wednesday said they have arrested the key accused in a case of gangrape of a 55-year-old Dalit woman in Jewar three days ago. The woman was allegedly raped by four men, who dragged her to the open fields near her village at gunpoint and took turns to force themselves on her on Sunday morning. Also Read | ICSI CS Foundation Result 2021 Declared; Candidates Can Check The Result At icsi.edu. One of the accused was arrested on Monday. The incident has snowballed into a political controversy with opposition parties such as the BSP and the Congress hitting out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the issue of women safety. Also Read | India Withdraws COVID-19 Restrictions Imposed on UK Nationals Travelling to the Country. "Accused Mahendra was arrested on Wednesday from a spot near his village in Jewar. He was picked up by a joint team of the Jewar police, the Special Operations Group and the SWAT," a police spokesperson said. "A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced on information leading to the arrest of Mahendra in the wake of the incident in which another person has already been arrested and sent to jail," he added. An FIR in connection with the incident has been lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 376D (gangrape), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 506 (criminal intimidation), police said. Sections under the stringent Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 have also been invoked in the case, they added. Mahendra, according to the police, was also booked for house trespassing and theft in the past. He is the only named accused in the FIR. Of the three other accused, one was arrested on Monday after the rape survivor identified him from a picture shown to her by the police. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) #Ukraine and the #EuropeanUnion signed an open-skies agreement that will establish a joint aviation space, the Ukrainian presidential press service said. pic.twitter.com/q9CeOg2Opf IANS Tweets (@ians_india) October 13, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) A Wyoming medical examiner had announced on Tuesday that 22-year-old Gabby Petito had died by strangulation. Petito's remains were discovered in September in a national park. Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said that Petito's manner of death was a homicide, according to an ABC News Go report. Blue noted they had been conducting a "detailed investigation" in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that included a full-body computed tomography scan, as well as examinations done by a forensic pathologist and a forensic anthropologist. The medical examiner added that Petito was not pregnant at the time of her death, but did not say whether he suspects Laundrie is responsible for Petito's homicide. He said that Wyoming statutes set how much information he is allowed to release about the result of the autopsy. Blue said that Laundrie being a suspect will be up to law enforcement to determine. READ NEXT: Gabby Petito, Brian Laundrie Supposed Beach Wedding in Florida Cancelled Due to COVID Pandemic Gabby Petito's Autopsy Blue said before she was found that their initial determination is the body was in the wilderness for three to four weeks. It would place her time of death in mid to late August, according to an NBC News report. Blue said that death for people in the domestic violence is rampant and Petito's case was among those. He added that it's unfortunate that these other deaths do not get as much coverage as Petito's case. Meanwhile, the Laundrie family's attorney, Steven Bertolino, repeated that Laundrie is not a suspect for Petito's death or disappearance. Bertolino said that Petito's death at such a young age is a tragedy. He added that Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Petito. Bertolino said that Laundrie is still missing and they will address the pending fraud charge against him when he is located. Gabby Petito's Death and Disappearance Petito's body was discovered in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area, which was near the Grand Teton National Park. She was found on September 19, just eight days after her family reported her missing, according to a Yahoo News report. Laundrie was identified as a person of interest by police in North Port, Florida, where he and Petito lived with Laundrie's parents before going on their trip. Laundrie was reported missing on September 17, which was four days after they told police he told them that he was going for a hike in a nearby nature reserve. Authorities have been searching the 24,565-acre Carlton Reserve for any sightings of Laundrie. There have been reported sightings of Laundrie along the Appalachian trail in Canada and in Mexico. However, those were still unconfirmed. The FBI had served a search warrant at Laundrie's home a day after the discovery of Petito's body. A federal arrest warrant was also released on September 22 for Laundrie on grounds of alleged unauthorized use of a Capital One debit card owned by Petito. Meanwhile, Petito's family has issued public pleas for Laundrie's parents to cooperate with authorities. Police noted that the Laundries did not share any helpful information in the search for Petito. READ MORE: Brian Laundrie Manhunt: Parents of Gabby Petito's Fiance Change the Date of Florida Fugitive's Disappearance This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Gabby Petito's cause of death was strangulation: Coroner's full press conference - from Fox 13 Tampa Bay President Joe Biden could possibly get implicated in the investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on his son Hunter Biden's prostitution and drug involvement in 2018 after emails connecting the president to his son's finances surfaced. According to reports, emails recovered from Hunter's laptop included exchanges with Eric Schwerin show that he and the president actually shared accounts and even paid each other's bills. Schwerin, who is allegedly a business partner of Hunter, was reportedly working on the president's taxes based on the emails that were discovered. In a report by Radar Online, it was also stated that the emails also discussed how Hunter and then-Vice President Biden paid each other's household dues. There were also discussions of requests for Joe's potential book deal. However, it remains unclear why Schwerin could have been involved in Joe Biden's resources back then instead of officials from the Vice President's office if the emails are real. In addition, claims by Hunter that he and the president used to share a bank account adds to questions whether the said joint accounts were utilized during Hunter's week-long prostitution bender in a hotel in Hollywood back in May of 2018. READ MORE: Hunter Biden Emails Expose Ex-FBI Director Giving $100K to Joe Biden Grandkid's Trust as He Sought Future Work President Biden Could Be Investigated Alongside Hunter Daily Mail stated that they reached out to a former federal prosecutor, money laundering, and criminal tax law expert after finding the alleged emails in Hunter's abandoned laptop. In a statement by the federal prosecutor, who wished to maintain anonymity, if the money was flowing between Hunter and his father, the investigation could shift targets to President Biden. The prosecutor also stated that there is a huge chance that President Biden could be questioned and investigated along with Hunter due to their financial connections. "Obviously, if you're talking about the President of the United States, you'd better have a pretty damn good reason to talk to that person," he added. On top of this, the investigations of the IRS and the FBI are also reportedly probing into the foreign business dealings of Hunter and possible charges for money laundering. In a statement by former U.S. Intelligence Officer and money laundering expert, John Cassara, he believes that if President Biden is not seated in the White House, he will be part of the investigation alongside Hunter, Fox News reported. "The information available publicly is very worrisome, particularly in the areas of corruption," Cassara stated. Moreover, more evidence of the alleged commercial relationship of the Vice President's Office during Joe's tenure and Hunter's firm surfaced. It was stated that Rosemont Seneca was given special favors back then including tickets to exclusive events and private tours for their associates and clientele. President Joe Biden and Hunter are yet to make statements regarding the new evidence that surfaced. The White House has also remained silent regarding the possibility of a probe to the president. READ NEXT:Pres. Joe Biden Welcomed by Boos During Congressional Ballgame; Members of His Own Party Send Warnings to Strikeout His Domestic Agenda This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH:How Biden's Justice Department could respond to Hunter Biden probe - CBS News The Biden administration, through the Department of Homeland and Security (DHS), on Tuesday instructed to stop the workplace raids that arrest undocumented immigrants while at work. The announcement was made by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas through a memo addressed to the officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Our worksite enforcement efforts can have a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and the fairness of the labor market," Mayorkas said in the memo. The DHS secretary also added that the worksite raids or operations also go against the "Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law" as well as the individual assessment. READ NEXT: Border Materials Worth $100M Left to Waste in Texas Following Biden Administration's Cancellation of Remaining Wall Contracts DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas: Efforts Must Focus on "Unscrupulous Employers" The new guidelines announced by the DHS secretary will now focus on employers that exploit unauthorized immigrants, CNBC reported. Mayorkas pointed out that the workplace arrests that result in hundreds of undocumented immigrants being arrested are not focused on exploitative employers. "Our accomplishments in this area make clear that we can maximize the impact of our efforts by focusing on unscrupulous employers who exploit the vulnerability of undocumented workers," Mayorkas emphasized. The DHS secretary alleged that the said employers are involved in illegal acts such as payment of substandard wages, imposing unsafe working conditions, as well as trafficking and child exploitation. To become successful in targeting the employers, Mayorkas directed the immigration agency officials to enforce policy change within 60 days, such as delivering "more severe consequences" to exploitative employers and encourage the workers to report the violations of law by the said employers. By targeting the exploitative employers, Mayorkas noted that they can protect the American labor market, the condition of the American workplace, as well as the dignity of every individual. Aside from ceasing the workplace raids and operations, Mayorkas also mentioned that undocumented immigrants may request prosecutorial discretion. However, the DHS secretary highlighted that individual requests will be on a case-by-case basis, arguing that requests will be weighed against any "derogatory information." Number of Workers Who Are Undocumented Immigrants According to a 2020 report from the Center of American Progress, more than seven million undocumented immigrants are working in the United States. Furthermore, 13 percent of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. work in construction, 10 percent in administrative and support and waste management, 8.4 percent in accommodations and food services industry, and 25 percent work for fishing, farming, and forestry occupations. When it comes to workplace raids, the National Immigration Law Center noted that worksite raids increased during the Trump administration. In April 2018, a workplace raid at Southeastern Provision, a meat processing facility in Tennessee, led to the arrest of approximately 100 undocumented immigrants. That record was succeeded by another workplace raid in Mississippi, as the ICE arrested nearly 700 undocumented workers at a food processing plant in 2019. The said raid marked the largest single-state operation in the history of the United States. READ NEXT: Texas Governor Greg Abbott Appeals on FEMA's Denial of Emergency Declaration Amid Border Crisis This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: The Families Torn Apart by the Largest ICE Raid in American History - From VICE News Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday announced a state of exception on two southern regions of the country, as they continue to face the conflict with the country's indigenous tribe, Mapuche. President Pinera announced the move, as he deployed troops in the regions of Biobio and Araucania, Al Jazeera reported. READ NEXT: Argentina President Alberto Fernandez Apologizes for Brazil Comments: 'Brazilians Came From the Jungle' In a speech, Pinera pointed out that the state of exception he issued will affect four provinces located in the two regions of Chile, France 24 reported. The president then furthered that the troops he deployed in the southern regions will "help control the serious disturbance of public order" in the said areas. Aside from the Mapuche conflict, Pinera noted that the provinces affected by his move have also reported "repeated acts of violence" related to drug trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism. The president then noted that innocent civilians and law enforcement officers lost their lives due to the violence. Political Analyst Rips Chile President's Decision Over Mapuche Conflict Pinera's decision to issue a state of exception in the southern regions of Chile was quick to garner opposition, as a political analyst pointed out that his move might "intensify" the conflict of the government and the Mapuche tribe. Political analyst Lucia Dammert refuted the president's move, saying that sending army troops in the region could lead to an "escalation of violence." Dammert added that the Chilean government failed to establish an "effective and fair policy" that will solve the problems that are present in Araucania. The conflict between Chile and Mapuche tribe stemmed out as the leaders of the indigenous group demand that the land currently owned by farms and logging companies, be restored in their possession. "We want the logging companies to leave because they've caused a lot of ecological, environmental, cultural, and philosophical damage and the dispossession of our people," said Arauco Malleco Coordination's leader, Juan Pichun. Aside from the restoration of the land, the Mapuche also complain about the pine and eucalyptus trees planted by the corporations cause grave damage to the native vegetation and also consume water resources that are needed by the communities. As the group fight for the said lands, radical groups were reported to attack trucks and properties in the region over the last decade. Recent Clash Between Chile Cops and Mapuche Tribe Pinera's decision to declare a state of exception came days after a clash happened between the Mapuche indigenous tribe and Chilean police officers, that killed at least one and injured 17 others. The said clash happened on Sunday, as thousands of activists marched near Plaza Italia in Santiago, AFP reported. Metropolitan Area police chief Enrique Monras Alvarez said that a hooded group attacked the police with fireworks. The attack on the authorities left 17 cops injured. The clash also caused a 43-year-old woman to be rushed to a hospital and die during the intervention. Authorities confirmed that at least 10 individuals were arrested in connection to the incident. Meanwhile, Chile's Minister of the Interior Rodrigo Delgado noted that the Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation on the recent incident, which he called "disproportionate violence." READ NEXT: Ex-Military Walter Klug Rivera, a Chilean Fugitive, Arrested in Argentina This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Chile's Mapuche People vs the State: A Battle for Ancestral Lands - From Al Jazeera English Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly has blamed President Joe Biden for the COVID vaccine mandate for its employees that put them in a bind. Gary Kelly was referring to being torn between the federal contractor rule dates back to September 9 and the recent order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banning COVID vaccine mandates by employers in the state, The Daily Wire reported. Southwest Airlines is both a federal contractor and based in Dallas, Texas. Kelly said he has never been in favor of corporations imposing a vaccine mandate. However, he noted that the executive order from Joe Biden mandates that all federal employees and federal contractors, which covers all major airlines, should have a vaccine mandate in place by December 8. "So we're working through that," he told CNBC on Tuesday. Southwest Airlines was filled with cancellations in recent days. The airline company canceled more than 1,800 flights over the weekend, with the service interruptions continuing. On Monday, more than 350 flights were also canceled. Southwest Airlines has blamed the weather and air traffic control issues in Florida dating back to Friday as it denied that the problems were attributable to vaccines mandates. The Daily Wire reported that no other major airlines had such issues. READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden Says He Personally Phoned Emergency Room for a Good Friend During a COVID Vaccine Mandate Talk COVID Vaccine Mandate on Airlines Some airline companies had already established a COVID vaccine requirement for their respective staff. In August, United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines had imposed a vaccine requirement for their workforce. United Airlines reported that more than 96 percent of its 67,000 U.S. employees had shared proof of vaccination after its late September deadline. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines has started to offer incentives such as extra pay to encourage its employees to get the vaccine, following Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Gary Kelly said individuals could also apply for religious and medical exemptions. He noted that his goal is no one loses their job. He added that the objective is to improve health and safety while allowing people to keep their jobs. Kelly repeatedly called on his staff to get vaccinated. However, he noted that he does not believe it is up to him to mandate people to get a vaccine. Texas Ban on Vaccine Mandate Greg Abbott has issued an executive order on Monday banning any "entity" in the state from implementing a vaccine mandate. Abbott's order reads that "no entity" in the state can ask for a receipt of a COVID vaccine by any individual, including any employee or a consumer. CBS News reported that people who will be discovered to violate the order will be subjected to a fine. Abbott also announced that he has added the issue of banning vaccine mandates to the agenda of the next special session of Texas' legislature. Greg Abbott noted that the COVID vaccine is "safe, effective, and the best defense" against the virus. However, the Republican governor said that it should remain voluntary and never forced. Abbott's order comes after Joe Biden announced a vaccine measure in September, requiring all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated. READ MORE: Brazil Hospital Chain Allegedly Tested Unproven Drugs on Elderly COVID Patients: Whistleblowers This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Texas Governor Greg Abbott Bans COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates - From TODAY The United States has decided to reopen its land borders with Mexico and Canada to non-essential travel next month, but only fully vaccinated travelers can enter. The new decision will put an end to a 19-month freeze due to the COVID pandemic, the Associated Press reported. In a statement released on Tuesday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the new rules will allow fully vaccinated foreign travelers to enter the U.S. regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November. "We will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings," said Mayorkas. A similar easing of restrictions will also be imposed for air travel into the country next month. Even essential travelers seeking to enter the United States, such as truck drivers and healthcare workers, will need to be fully vaccinated by mid-January. "Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner," Mayorkas noted. READ NEXT: Dr. Anthony Fauci Says Migrants Are Not a Driving Force in COVID Rates; Recent Poll Shows More Than Half of Republicans Think So Lifting Border Restrictions U.S. lawmakers praised the move to lift the restrictions, which had impacted the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families, Reuters reported. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said "members of our shared cross-border community" had felt the pain and burden of economic hardship due to the border closures since the pandemic started. However, officials from President Joe Biden's administration noted that the White House would not remove the "Title 42" order, which was put in place by the administration of former President Donald Trump. The Title 42 order has essentially broken off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. from Mexico. One of the officials said the Biden administration was creating a consistent series of protocols for all foreign nationals eyeing to travel into the U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell noted that the announcement would be a great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said agents at the border would accept the use by international travelers of COVID vaccines authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization. However, it is not yet known whether the U.S. will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID vaccines. According to USA Today, vaccines that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and WHO include Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sinovac. Canada has about 73 percent of its population fully vaccinated, while Mexico has managed to fully vaccinate 38 percent of its population. The U.S. has vaccinated 57 percent of its population. USA Today reported that the U.S. upholding its border restrictions on Canada had drawn backlash after Canada has presented high vaccination rates. Foreign travelers will have to show their vaccination status in either a paper or digital format. The CDC is expected to announce soon what sort of paperwork will be accepted at the border. Agents of Customs and Border Protection will be responsible for the enforcement of the vaccine requirement, The Hill reported. The border restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and people traveling for medical purposes, attending school, among other reasons. READ MORE: Brazil Hospital Chain Allegedly Tested Unproven Drugs on Elderly COVID Patients: Whistleblowers This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: U.S. To Reopen Land Border to Vaccinated Canadians in November: Lawmaker - From CBC News: The National Duane Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, on Tuesday said the best option left for Brian Laundrie is to turn himself in to authorities, following the revelation that Gabby Petito was strangled to death by "human force." "His best decision now would be to turn himself in," Duane Chapman told The Sun. The 68-year-old reality star also urged the parents of the Florida fugitive to do more to stop Gabby Petito's fiance from running away. "I can't fathom how Brian's parents can live with themselves after how they've stonewalled the Petito family... They need to be doing more to signal Brian to stop running," Duane Chapman noted. In a statement, Dog the Bounty Hunter said that Laundrie's "continued evasion of law enforcement makes him look guilty." He noted that the Wyoming coroner's statement has established a timeline that "looks worse" for Brian Laundrie. Dog The Bounty Hunter has told Newsweek that authorities need to check Laundrie's record to determine his background "as far as domestic violence or anything else." He noted that it's possible that Laundrie was just in his "hometown" since he's not an experienced runner or criminal. He added that suicide is also a "very likely possibility." Dog the Bounty Hunter got injured while searching for Gabby Petito's fiance in remote areas of southern Florida. Reports said he injured his ankle, prompting him to return to Colorado to meet with his doctor. Dog the Bounty Hunter told WFLA on Monday that he will continue to process leads in Colorado while he's there. Aside from meeting his doctor, the reality star said he would also raise funds to continue what he called an "expensive search." Dog the Bounty Hunter has been searching for Gabby Petito's fiance since late last month. Authorities are still trying to locate Brian Laundrie after he was reported missing on September 17. His parents said they last saw him on September 13. READ NEXT: Dog the Bounty Hunter Believes Brian Laundrie Called His Parents After Killing Gabby Petito Gabby Petito Autopsy Reveals She Was Strangled by 'Human Force' Teton County, Wyoming coroner Brent Blue said on Tuesday that Gabby Petito was strangled to death by "human force." The cause of death is officially listed as "manual strangulation/throttling." During an appearance on CNN, Blue said that throttling means that "someone was strangled by human force" and "no mechanical force" was involved. He noted that people could be strangled by other means, like individuals on snowmobiles who run into a wire. "That would be strangling by a mechanical event. But this was, we believe was strangling by a human being," he added. When host Anderson Cooper asked how they knew it was a human responsible for Petito's killing, Blue answered, "because only humans have opposable thumbs." He added that there's no evidence it was "done by any animal as far as the cause of death." In a press briefing just hours before the CNN interview, Blue said they conducted a "detailed investigation" in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that included a full-body computed tomography scan and examinations by a forensic pathologist and a forensic anthropologist. The coroner also revealed that Gabby Petito was not pregnant at the time of her death, and her body was left in the wilderness for three to four weeks. The Wyoming coroner has declined to answer if he suspects that Laundrie was responsible for his fiancee's homicide, saying it will be up to law enforcement to determine that. Brian Laundrie's Attorney Reiterates That Brian Laundrie is Not a Suspect Brian Laundrie's attorney, Steve Bertolino, told Fox News that Gabby Petito's death "at such a young age is a tragedy." As he gave his thoughts about the YouTuber's autopsy results, Bertolino maintained that his client has not been charged and was not even a suspect in Petito's homicide. The FBI has issued a federal arrest warrant for Laundrie but over debit card fraud. "Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito's demise... At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him," Bertolino said. Meanwhile, Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, said Bertolino's words "are garbage." Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19. An autopsy was performed on the body, and the coroner's "initial determination for the manner of death" was a homicide. Petito's body is yet to be released. The Petito family attorney said the YouTuber's family would make no other statements until they bring her remains home. Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August. Brian Laundrie remains on the loose. READ MORE: Dog the Bounty Hunter Forced to Return to Colorado After Getting Injured in Brian Laundrie Search, but Daughter Says He's Not Giving Up This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Question looms - Who strangled Gabby Petito? - From FOX 13 Tampa Bay A new police chief in Tijuana, Mexico has allegedly received a death threat from a rival of the Sinaloa Cartel in the form of a severed head on his first day in office. Vice reported that police chief Rafael Vazquez Hernandez's alleged connection with the Sinaloa Cartel had prompted the death threat. City officials said the human head was found decomposing inside a black plastic bag left in the street on October 5. Besides the plastic bag was a message accusing the police chief of being a "kidnapper" taking orders from the Sinaloa Cartel, adding that "Tijuana will bleed" because of him. Authorities reportedly found two more messages in different areas of the city the next day. It repeated the same threat, but this time it was accompanied by what was believed to be animal meat. Local reports noted that the messages came from a rival of the Sinaloa Cartel formerly run by notorious drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Hernandez has yet to comment on the threat, but Tijuana Mayor Monserrat Caballero Ramirez reaffirmed her support for police chief. As she confirmed that it was a drug cartel who put the head inside a plastic bag, Ramirez said the threats in relation to the police chief's job were an indication that "these thugs feel threatened," 8 News Now reported. The mayor noted that she will continue to support Hernandez as long as there's no formal accusation against him from the prosecutors. READ NEXT: Mexican Drug Cartel Los Tlacos Leaks Disturbing Video of Mass Execution of Rival Gang Members Tijuana's New Police Chief Rafael Vazquez Hernandez Rafael Vazquez Hernandez has been a police officer for 19 years. He previously served as the head of investigations for Baja California's State Police Department. He also held other high-ranking posts in cities like Mexicali and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. Hernandez became the center of controversy in April 2017, when a banner was hung from a bridge, which accused him and another cop of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel. He was also accused of selling positions inside the police force in 2019 and committing torture and theft. However, he was never formally charged for any of the allegations. The Sinaloa Cartel The Sinaloa Cartel is among the most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. The cartel is an alliance of some of Mexico's top capos, InsightCrime reported. The state of Sinaloa in Mexico has long been a center for contraband in the country. It is also a home for marijuana and poppy cultivation. Pedro Aviles was one of those first to traffic marijuana in bulk. He brought his friend's son into the business. The son was known to be El Chapo. Battles between Mexican drug cartels escalated between the '80s and 90s. In November 1992, El Chapo deployed 40 gunmen to raid a party of Tijuana Cartel in Puerto Vallarta. The Sinaloa Cartel has managed to kill nine people. The Tijuana Cartel responded by trying to assassinate El Chapo at the Guadalajara airport. However, they killed a Mexican cardinal. El Chapo then fled to Guatemala and was arrested two weeks later. He has managed to control the cartel from prison through his lawyers. El Chapo has escaped prison in 2001 and has assumed the cartel's leadership role once again. He was recaptured in 2016 and was extradited to the U.S. in January 2017. His re-arrest and extradition have sparked a wave of violence as internal power struggles occurred within Sinaloa Cartel. There were also efforts from other Mexican drug cartels to expand their operations following El Chapo's absence. READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the Drug Lord's Absence: Report This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: The Sinaloa Cartel Is Alive And Thriving Without El Chapo - From Vice News The traditional Dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City is returning this year as the country continues to experience improvement in its COVID cases. The colorful parade was canceled or made virtual last year due to the pandemic, Mexico News Daily reported. The government of Mexico City said this year's Day of the Dead parade will commence on October 31 and will showcase a longer route. The parade will reportedly start in the Zocalo, then travel through Reforma, and end at the Campo Marte facilities. More than a thousand volunteers will participate in the Dia de Muertos parade. Among the volunteers were 150 musicians and 350 acrobats and dancers. The Day of the Dead parade will be divided into four themes: Mexico City today, Tenochtitlan, Magic and Tradition, and Celebrating Life. READ NEXT: 'Dia De Muertos' or Day of the Dead Exhibit at National Museum of Mexican Art to Honor Vanessa Guillen, Adam Toledo, COVID Victims Day of the Dead Parade Dedicated to COVID Victims The celebration of the Day of the Dead this year will be more special. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said it would be dedicated to the victims of COVID-19. "This holiday is dedicated to all those thousands of people who lost their lives due to COVID-19. Tell them that the city is on its feet and begins to recover economic activity," Sheinbaum said. The mayor noted that vaccination paved the way for the return of the Day of the Dead parade this year. According to Sheinbaum, 98 percent of the city's adult population had already received at least a single dose of vaccine. However, she noted that the parade will still be held "with sanitary protections," adding that the event would provide a significant economic boost. As part of the health measures, Mexico City Tourism Minister Paola Felix said the participants have rehearsed in groups composed of not more than 40 people. Felix added that there would be sanitary checkpoints and random COVID tests for participants during the Dia de Muertos event. In 2019, the festive celebration attracted around 2.6 million people. The Day of the Dead is a holiday in Mexico where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion. It includes food and celebration. Dia de Muertos is celebrated each year from October 31 to November 2. The said celebration is rooted 3,000 years ago with rituals to honor the dead during the pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Aztecs and other Nahua people living in central Mexico believe that death is an "integral" part of their lives. Upon dying, they believe that a person will embark on a journey to reach Mictlan, the final resting place. Mexicans typically celebrate the Day of the Dead by leaving food or other offerings on their loved ones' graves or on makeshift altars called "ofrendas" in their homes. COVID-19 Cases in Mexico Mexico continues to see improvement in its COVID-19 cases. In the first 10 days of October, the country recorded a 43 percent drop in cases compared to September. Deaths related to COVID were also down 24 percent. The said improvement followed a 38 percent decline in their September cases and a 1.3 percent decrease in the death related to COVID. As of Sunday, there were over 40,000 active COVID cases in Mexico, a significantly lower figure since cases peaked at more than 100,000 in August. In terms of vaccinations, Mexico has already administered over 107.1 million doses since vaccinations started in December. READ MORE: Bank of Mexico Releases New 20-Peso Bill, Coins to Commemorate 200 Years of Country's Independence This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: This is Day of The Dead Parade in Mexico City (Dia De Los Muertos) - From Frederik Trovatten A Florida man, who owns the gun used by a two-year-old toddler who accidentally shot and killed his mom while she was on a Zoom call, was arrested on Tuesday, officials said. According to NBC News, the state attorney's office said the child's father, Veondre Avery, is facing charges of manslaughter and failure to securely store a firearm in the killing of Shamaya Lynn on August 11. Florida Toddler Accidentally Shot Mom on Zoom Call Altamonte Springs police said the 21-year-old Florida mom was accidentally shot and killed by her toddler while on a work-related Zoom video call. Police noted that the toddler found a loaded and unsecured gun inside their home at Altamonte Springs on the outskirts of Orlando and accidentally shot his mom in the head. A co-worker, who was on the Zoom call with Lynn, saw the Florida mom fell backward after hearing a loud bang. Lynn's colleague, who called 911, told police that the Florida mom failed to return on the screen after that and only saw the toddler in the background. Police rushed to the scene after receiving the call from Lynn's colleague, who said that she believed that the Florida mom has been shot. Prosecutors said when police arrived, they found Avery performing CPR on Lynn. Cops and paramedics also found Lynn with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. According to authorities, another toddler was also inside the house. And both children, including the one who fired the handgun, were not harmed. Police said they are now in the care of relatives. RELATED ARTICLE: Florida Mom on Zoom Call Accidentally Shot in the Head by Her Toddler The Zoom Shooting Incident The state attorney's office said an investigation conducted by the police determined that the gun was in a "Paw Patrol" backpack in the couple's bedroom. The prosecutor's office confirmed that a single shot was fired. It added that "forensic evidence clearly established that the child possessed and independently fired the weapon." Avery was heard in partly redacted audio of the 911 call pleading with emergency medical staff to hurry. The Florida dad told the dispatcher that he had just got home and found his girlfriend on the floor bleeding. He said he had no idea what happened. In the recording, the 22-year-old father of the toddler can be heard counting as he does CPR before the authorities arrive. Avery is being held at the Seminole County jail without bond. Police department spokesperson Master Police Officer Rob Ruiz said the incident was tragic. "I know it may not have been something that person wanted to do, but now you have consequences," said Ruiz, adding that gun owners have a responsibility to secure their firearms. Police urged everyone who owns a gun to always keep it locked and secured to avoid this kind of incident. READ MORE: Florida Man Sues Authorities Over Wrongful Conviction; Exonerated 37 Years Later After Forensic Dentist Shares Testimony About Faulty Beeswax Mold This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Toddler Fatally Shoots Mother On Zoom Call After Finding Unsecured Gun - From NBC News A Columbian DJ currently accused of rape charges has been denied bail. The music artist, who is said to be rising in Paceville, is not named due to a court ban. READ NEXT: Dog the Bounty Hunter Says Brian Laundrie Should Turn Himself in After Gabby Petito Autopsy Shows She Was Strangled by 'Human Force' The 32-year-old musician is believed to have been meeting a woman at a nightclub before he continued his criminal act. John Spiteri, a police inspector, shared the details of the crime to Magistrate Nadine Lia, who is currently seeing the court proceedings. According to Independent.com latest report, Spiteri explained that the victim asked the anonymous DJ to play a song. After that, he said that the criminal baited the woman and asked her to stay at his house in Paceville. After raping her, the police officer claimed that the musician messaged the woman on Instagram to apologize about what happened. The Alleged DJ Rapist Now Denied of Bail MaltaToday reported that the prosecution did not allow the accused individual to be bailed out because he had no ties to Malta. On the other hand, the court also stated that the woman hadn't testified yet. READ MORE: Paul McCartney Blames John Lennon for Beatles Breakup: 'I'm Not the Person Who Instigated the Split' Although this is the case, the defense stated that he should not be discriminated against because of his different nationality. As of the moment, rape is a serious crime in the United States. Criminal Defense reported that the lack of consent during intercourse is already considered a crime. This means that if one of the individuals did not allow the other person to touch them or have sex with them, it would fall under rape or sexual harassment. Other Details of Rape Aside from lack of consent, people would also face rape charges if they have sexual intercourse with other individuals who cannot provide their consent. These include the following: A person who is incapacitated (drugged, drunk, unconscious, or physically helpless) Developmentally disabled person Someone who is mentally ill When it comes to penalties, the accused individual will face imprisonment. However, there are some instances when the criminal is required to undergo treatment as a condition of probation. Aside from these, convicted individuals would also need to pay fines, especially if the victim requested it in his or her filings. If you want to know more details about rape, all you need to do is click this link. A man attempted to tailgate behind a lorry to get through the toll on the M7 after he was unable to pay with Google Pay on his phone, the recent sitting of Portlaoise District Court heard. Ray Keller (39) with an address at 44 Lisheen Fields, Ovens, Co Cork was convicted in court of careless driving at the M7 Toll Plaza, Fatharnagh, Co Laois on December 23 last. Sgt JJ Kirby outlined to the court that the defendant was unable to use his Google Pay, so reversed his car about 75 metres and waited there for a time. He then drove at speed behind another vehicle and collided with the barrier, but no damage was caused. Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client did not carry cash and had used his Google Pay to pay a toll in Fermoy earlier that day. Had he known he wouldnt have been able to pay that way, he could have gone off the motorway for Borris-in-Ossory and avoided the toll, Ms Fitzpatrick said. Had he known he wouldnt have been able to pay that way, he could have gone off the motorway for Borris-in-Ossory and avoided the toll, Ms Fitzpatrick said. He reversed back, to get out of the way of traffic but then had nowhere to go. He saw a small rigid lorry driving through and thought he would have time to go through as well, Ms Fitzpatrick explained. As matters stood, he had nowhere else to go, Ms Fitzpatrick said. Agreeing to reduce the original charge of dangerous driving down to one of carless driving, Judge Catherine Staines warned the defendant: Dont do something as stupid as this again and please have cash with you so you dont leave yourself in this position again. The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP) recently launched the updated Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS) V2. The INEWS V2 is a decision tool used by clinical staff in hospitals to guide them to anticipate, recognise, escalate, respond and evaluate a patients condition effectively. Ms. Avilene Casey (National Lead - The National Deteriorating Patient Recognition & Response Improvement Programme (DPIP) attended the event and thanked all staff at Portlaoise hospital for their continued engagement and early adoption of the updated guideline. She provided an overview of the evidence and learnings informing the Irish National Early Warning System. Fiona Moore, ADON Nurse Practice Development Department thanked all staff for their work to support the delivery of this updated guideline. In preparation for the launch, the MRHP Adult Patient Observation Chart, INEWS Escalation & Response Protocol and INEWS PPPG have been revised and updated to include the key change elements as outlined in the Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS) V2. The implementation of this guideline is more than a score, its a whole system approach to continuing learning and adapting our observation tools and metrics to managing the care of our patients, she said. Dr John Connaughton, Clinical Director, thanked all staff for their commitment to continuously working to enhance service provision for high quality and safe services for our patients. Ms Sandra McCarthy, Director of Nursing, was also grateful for the efforts made. Thank you to the practice development team who are supporting the ongoing education and audit and have been an integral champion of patient safety and quality improvement. We are delighted to be one of the first hospitals in the region to launch the updated guidelines and have Ms Avilene Casey, the national programme lead, visit Portlaoise and support our efforts to drive quality and patient safety initiatives which enhance the multidisciplinary team and ultimately patient experience, she said. Pictured below L-R Ms Avilene Casey National Lead DPIP HSE, Ms Fiona Moore, Nurse Practice Development MRHP, Ms Serena Brophy, Project Lead DPIP HSE. Irish Rail Short Hop Zones should be extended to Portarlington, Portlaoise, Newbridge, Kildare town and Monasterevin, according to Independent TD Cathal Berry. Speaking in the Dail following Budget 2022, he said the short hop zone from Heuston Station in Dublin finishes at Sallins. There is no reason it cannot continue through Newbridge, Kildare town, Monasterevin, Portarlington, Portlaoise and beyond if necessary. If we want to incentivise people to get out of their cars and use public transport, price is a very good motivator, he said. Ive been calling for this for the last two years and will continue to work on this issue," he said. The Leap Card can be used for rail travel between stations within the 'Short Hop Zone'. This Zone includes all stations in the Dublin area from Kilcoole to Balbriggan and Commuter Stations from Dublin City Centre to Kilcock and from Dublin Heuston to Sallins and Naas. The TD welcomed the 50% decrease in public transport costs for young people aged 19 to 23. The youth travel card proposal is not ideal, but it is a significant start and demonstrates the acceptance of the principle that public transport costs are too high and the Government should, at least, look after those under the age of 23 in that regard. In 12 months time I believe that number should be pushed up from 23 to 25 and beyond, up towards 30, until every citizen in the country has access to reasonably priced public transport, he said. The TD for Kildare South which takes in Portarlington and nearby areas of Laois and Offaly welcomed the increase in the SUSI grant for students. "We know that people in the extremes of age - the elderly and the young - were disproportionately affected during the pandemic. The increase in the grant is the least the student population deserves, particularly when students cannot afford accommodation in Dublin city. "If they are going to be commuting, at least their commuting costs are down, and their grant is up. Is it ideal? Absolutely not, but it is better than nothing. It is a small step and at least half a step in the right direction," he said. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A Kildare Senator has said that the recently unveiled Budget 2022 fails to address pay and conditions in the Irish Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). Labour Senator Mark Wall said in a statement: "The three lines of thanks from Minister McGrath will mean nothing to the PDF families who continue to seek proper pay and conditions." "The indication that the Minister will address these issues after the publication of the Commission of Defence force report at the end of the year is just another can kicking exercise: the recruitment and retention crisis in our PDF has been ongoing for some time, with plummeting numbers, and questions have even been asked about the future viability of the armed forces. There is no sense of urgency to address this crisis." Senator Wall continued: "PDF families should not be forced to rely on social welfare to make ends meet and people wearing the uniform of the State should not live in poverty. "Core pay is a primary cause of the recruitment and retention crisis in the PDF." Naas hypnotherapist explains the magic of hypnosis Florence Bray, clinical hypnotherapist at Irish Hypnosis, Naas, answers the most commonly-asked questions about hypnosis He added that while he welcomes the additional 35 million in the budget this year, he said that there is no specific reference to the post 94 contracts. Senator Wall claimed that this could see hundreds of experienced personnel leave the PDF by the end of next year. "There is no specific mention in the Ministers speech about the investment programme outside of the proposed development of a Cadet School, that he mentioned in a recent Seanad debate with me for the Curragh as he described the flag ship of the PDF: it is old wine in new bottles." He concluded: "The Budget has completely failed to address the issue of core pay which is at the heart of the crisis that is threatening the viability of the forces." In related news, Senator Wall is among the Kildare representatives who have welcomed the news of a contract that will lead to the construction o a ring road in the town of Athy. An Independent TD has joined a Kildare Senator in questioning the latest Budget's commitment to the country's Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). Deputy Cathal Berry TD, who is also a former soldier, echoed sentiments detailed earlier today by Labour Senator Mark Wall, who said that Budget 2022 fails to address pay and conditions in the PDF. Speaking to the Dail, Deputy Berry said: "There is not enough money in the Defence Vote that was announced in the Budget. Even in a normal year it would not be enough, but particularly this year its certainly not enough with the Commission on the Defence Forces publishing its report in just seven weeks' time." "There will be a requirement for a Supplementary Defence Budget Estimate in January if there is any hope of implementing the recommendations of the Commission; it is an absolute must." He continued: "The overseas development aid budget is almost as big as the defence budget currently. Its highly unusual that we actually give more to international charities than we do to our own PDF. "Its ironic that we then rely on the charity of other nation states to fly our troops around the world and look after and sustain them in theatre, which is certainly not a good look and is very demoralising from a morale perspective." Deputy Berry also highlighted issues in relation to the Irish Naval Service: "The budget provides for an extra 800 Gardai and additional civilian support staff, which is a good thing, but there is no mention of the guards of the sea, the members of our Naval Service." He explained: "I visited the Naval Service only last Friday: there are absolutely no improvements planned in that area. "The service is unable to patrol our home waters and the high seas, however there is no financial package available to improve its lot. "It is in desperate need of assistance to address the crewing crisis and get our ships back to sea." Deputy Berry concluded: "Minister Michael McGrath has said he is looking forward to receiving the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces so that he can engage with the process." "We have had enough process at this stage. We have had five years of process; we need product, delivery and outcome." Deputy Cathal Berry TD also made headlines recently when he told the Leinster Leader that the Curragh should be national park status following damage to the Gibbet Rath. A TD in Kildare has said that Budget 2022 shows "a welcome increase" in supports for family carers. Fianna Fail Deputy James Lawless said in a statement: "Budget 2022 shows that Government values and recognises the vital role family carers play in providing care provision as well as the additional strain many have been under during the pandemic." "The increase in weekly payments and widening of access to supports for more family carers is welcome progress." The Kildare-North TD added that the significant increase in the capital disregard for Carers Allowance was "very encouraging". "This will make a huge difference to the lives of many people providing the backbone of care in the country," he added. "Fianna Fail has been central to the development of carers supports down the years. "During our previous terms of office, the Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit and the Respite Grant - now the Carers Support Grant - were introduced by Fianna Fail." He concluded: "Im delighted to see that this continues to be central to our mission in government." Another Fianna Fail politician from Kildare, Senator Fiona O' Loughlin, recently also praised government's work on Budget 2022 for funding more regional menopause clinics. Not all Kildare politicians have praised the recent Budget, however: Labour Senator Mark Wall and Independent Deputy TD Cathal Berry both criticised Budget 2022 for matters relating to the Permanent Defence Forces. As gardai continue to search a remote wood in the Deirdre Jacob murder inquiry, a local Senator revealed the missing woman's 42nd birthday is tomorrow. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin told the Seanad today that the family suffered "years of awful torture" since the Kildare student disappeared aged 18 in July 1998. Gardai began the search on the Kildare/Wicklow border on Monday and said it was prompted by suspicious activity seen there on the day Deirdre disappeared just metres from her Newbridge home. Senator O'Loughlin said: " All our thoughts and prayers are with the Jacob family in the hope that they will find some form of resolution for their beautiful daughter Deirdre who disappeared when she was 18. "If she was alive, she would be 42 on Thursday and that puts it into context in terms of the years of awful torture that the family has suffered." Senator O'Loughlin - who described the family as "much loved members of the community" - said her grandfather and Deirdre's grandfather were friends. Speaking in the Seanad chamber: she added: "It's important to show solidarity with Deirdre's parents and let's hope that there is some form of closure and that they will be able to find their beloved daughter and to bring her home." Up to 15 gardai are involved in a painstaking examination of the three-acre wood which could last three weeks. Significantly, the search site is about 15km from the last-known sighting of another missing woman Jo Jo Dollard - in Moone village in 1995. The search is being carried out by a Divisional Search team which is drawn from garda stations within the Kildare Garda Division. The operation is being managed by a Crime Scene Manager from the Garda Technical Bureau and a forensic archaeologist is on site each day. A mobile incident room has been set up in an adjacent field for the duration of the search and hi-tech drones are also being used by gardai. The area is 15km from where convicted rapist Larry Murphy lived at the time of Deirdre's disappearance and also close to where he was caught with a woman whom he had abducted and raped. Murphy has always denied any involvement in the disappearance of any of the missing women in the Leinster area. A long-awaited Distributor Road Main Works Contract has been awarded to the ring road in the town of Athy. The news was confirmed by BAM Civil, who has been successful with their tender for the project. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon is among a number of politicians who have welcomed the news of the ring road. Last month, Minister Heydon had said that work on the Athy ring road would start soon' He said that the awarding of the contract for the Athy Southern Distributor Route is a very positive development for Athy and South Kildare. Minister Heydon elaborated: "Kildare County Council are currently preparing contract papers for signing in the coming weeks. Upon completion of these contracts BAM will take possession of the land and commence works, most likely in November." "This project has been a priority for me and my colleague Cllr Ivan Keatley throughout our time as public representatives for the area and it is crucial for South Kildare to now see it being delivered." He concluded: "The people of Athy have waited decades for this road to go to construction, but now the wait is only weeks away and this much anticipated road cant come quick enough for the people and businesses of Athy." Labour Senator Mark Wall also weighed in on the news, saying that he will continue to work with Cllrs Aoife Breslin and Mark Leigh on the project. "Work is due to commence in the coming weeks; this is another positive step forward on a much needed road that will shape the future of Athy," he said. "Athy is fighting back to make itself the jewel in the Crown of Kildare towns once again, and this project is so important in that fight." Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O' Loughlin also commented on the news on her official Facebook page, where she said: "This project is vital for Athy and the surrounding areas, and providing adequate traffic management and infrastructure is something I have continuously championed and I am glad to be see this project moving forward." Work on the ring road is set to commence in a number of weeks. It is understood that the route is being designed to funnel chronic traffic congestion out of the town centre, was first pitched in the 1970s, but it was mooted. The total cost of the ring road is estimated to be around 30 million. BAM Civil Ltd (formerly known as Ascon) was established in 1958 and is based in Kill, Co. Kildare, is the largest civil engineering and public works contractor in Ireland. Recent projects delivered by the company include the N25 New Ross Bypass and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge. Tax incentives for working from home are not to entice people to work from home, but just to make it more affordable Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said. It was put to the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on RTE Radio news this morning that the tax breaks weren't very ambitious and could be worth just 50 per year for remote workers, when rising energy costs are factored in. "It is an existing tax break. And we are maintaining it and we are trebling it, which isn't a small thing," Minister Varadkar said. "It's not designed to make working from home financially attractive. It's just designed to help you meet the cost and defray the cost of doing so. "During the pandemic, people had to work from home. We're moving into a new phase, post pandemic, where it's going to be a choice. And we want it to be a choice for as many people as possible, and this a little way of helping," Minister Varadkar said. 'It's not designed necessarily to make working from home financially attractive, it's just designed to help you meet the cost of doing so,' Tanaiste @LeoVaradkar has said about tax breaks for remote working contained in #Budget2022 | Read more coverage: https://t.co/wfIP6voBnI pic.twitter.com/Z6xzCYWMhx RTE News (@rtenews) October 13, 2021 In yesterday's budget, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced an income tax deduction amounting to 30 per cent of the cost of vouched expenses for heat, electricity and broadband in respect of those incurred while working from home, which will be formalised in legislation through the Finance Bill. However, with rising energy costs and increased carbon taxes increasing fuel costs, energy costs are set to increase in the coming months. AN investigation is underway as to how and why a mast was erected overnight in Fantstown, outside Kilmallock, to the great surprise of local residents. According to one local who contacted the Limerick Leader on behalf of his concerned neighbours, locals were shocked and dismayed to wake up on Saturday morning last to find a mast, approximately 100 feet high, on the site of Fantstown Level Crossing, a few miles from Kilmallock. He claimed that the mast was erected under darkness between the hours of 10pm last Friday night and 2am on Saturday morning. It is a major feature and eyesore on the scenic landscape of the area, the man declared. Local Fianna Fail councillor Mike Donegan said that a foundation had been put in and equipment had arrived to the location prior to last weekend. However, he continued, it was not acceptable that lorries with floodlights would turn up in the middle of the night to do work. This is a rural area, he said, adding that many of the local residents were elderly. If they had to do it in the middle of the night, they should have contacted the residents, he said. But he added: We dont have the full story. It was possible that the mast was exempted development, he said, and as yet, it was not known who owned and/or erected it. The Enforcement Section of Limerick City and County Council was informed about the mast on Monday and is now investigating the matter. Normally, masts of 30metres or more require planning permission, the Limerick Leader was told but for masts up to 15 metres a license can be obtained. Enforcement Officer Sean Moran explained that on foot of the complaint, they would inspect the site, find out the purpose of the mast and carry out an investigation. In a statement issued this Wednesday, a council spokesman said: As of now, we would be of the opinion that the development is exempted. Citing Planning and Development Regulations relating to 'statutory undertakers, the spokesperson added: We are currently seeking clarification from Irish Rail in this regard. The response of Irish Rail will inform the progression of the enforcement case." AHEAD of the deadline for entries to the Limerick's Next Superstar competition, the line up of judges has been revealed. While contestants from across the city and county will compete in a series of online polls, the overall winner will be decided by a combination of votes from the public and our judging panel. The judges, who will have their work cut out for them, include Limerick fashion queen and model agent, Celia Holman Lee; All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler Aaron Gillane and social media influencer Keely McGrath. Whether youre 5 or 105, we want to hear from you by this Sunday, October 17. Can you sing, dance, play an instrument, tell a joke or maybe even juggle while standing on your head? Whatever your talent, this is the competition for you. You could win a stunning prize package to the value of 2,500 including a full day at a local recording studio. To enter, simply send a video clip, no longer than 60 seconds, of yourself performing your talent via WhatsApp to 0858859042. Best of luck! Honda Motor Co. is doubling down on the worlds biggest car market, pledging that all models it introduces in China after 2030 will be electric as Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe pushes ahead with the Japanese automakers aim of ditching combustion engine cars globally by 2040. Honda on Wednesday said it will introduce 10 electric vehicles under its e:N Series" range within five years, with two models, the e:NS1 and e:NP1, set to go on sale next year from Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda, the automakers joint-venture companies in China, respectively. New, dedicated EV production plants will also be built at GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda, starting in 2024, and Honda eventually expects to export its e:N Series models from the nation, according to Wednesdays statement. In addition, a strategic partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., now the worlds largest maker of EV batteries, will be strengthened, Honda said. The two companies signed an agreement to cooperate on R&D in July last year when Honda bought a stake of around 1% in CATL. Honda will face stiff competition, however. Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are also in China with Toyota planning 15 battery models by 2025 and Nissan already saying it will only sell electric and hybrid models by that date. Tesla Inc.s Shanghai factory, meanwhile, now produces more EVs than its one in Fremont, California. Tesla also reported record China shipments this week, delivering 56,006 cars in September for domestic purchase and export. And Chinas EV sector is increasingly dominated by homegrown brands like Nio Inc. and Xpeng Inc., with European brands such as BMW AG and Volkswagen AG struggling to win over local consumers. Still, EVs in China are on a steep growth trajectory. Figures from the nations Passenger Car Association showed deliveries of new-energy vehicles, which includes EVs and plug-in hybrids, soared 202% from a year earlier to 334,000 units last month. We see strong sales momentum for new-energy vehicles going forward," PCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu said on Tuesday. McKinsey & Co. predicts the share of EVs in China will climb above 70% of new car sales by 2030, underscored by robust customer demand and a charging network thats much more advanced than many Western nations. Globally, Honda has said it wants to have EVs or fuel-cell vehicles comprise 40% of overall sales by 2030, 80% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. To achieve these targets speedily and steadily, in China, after 2030, Honda will no longer introduce any new gasoline-powered models and will electrify all new models coming to market," it said on Wednesday. The carmakers China push will also involve creating sales areas dedicated to the e:N Series at around 1,200 Honda dealerships around the country. Honda is also planning to launch e:N dealerships in major cities that will only sell the electric models. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. MUMBAI : India on Wednesday slashed various import taxes on palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil ahead of key festivals as the world's biggest vegetable oil buyer tries to cool near-record price rises. The tax cuts could bring down local edible oil prices and spur demand and imports, potentially supporting global palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil prices. The south Asian country slashed its base import tax on crude palm oil, crude soyoil and crude sunflower oil to zero from 2.5%, the government said in a notification. New Delhi also cut the basic import tax on refined palm oil, refined soyoil and refined sunflower oil to 17.5% from 32.5% earlier, it said. India also reduced Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) - another tax - on crude palm oil imports to 7.5% from 20%, while AIDC on crude soyoil and crude sunflower oil was reduced to 5% from 20%, the government said in a separate notification. After the cuts, crude palm oil will be subject to a 8.25% tax in total compared to 24.75% earlier, B.V. Mehta, executive director of Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said. "Import duty on CPO has gone down by 16.5% but Indian consumers won't get the entire benefit of the duty reduction. Indonesian and Malaysian supplier are likely to raise prices responding to the duty cut," he said. Effective duty on crude soyoil and crude sunflower oil has fallen to 5.5% from 24.75%, while refined palm oil, refined soyoil and refined sunflower oil face a 19.25% import tax against 35.75% earlier, the SEA said in a statement. India fulfils more than two-thirds of its edible oil demand through imports and has been struggling to contain a rally in local oil prices for the last few months. The country imports palm oil mainly from top producers Indonesia and Malaysia, while other oils, such as soy and sunflower, come from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia. "Duty cut would bring down local edible oil prices but could hurt local oilseed farmers since harvesting of soybean and groundnut has started," Mehta said. Local soyoil, soybean and palm oil futures fell by as much as 6% after the duty cut announcement. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. India is building up a stockpile of Covid vaccine doses with 250 million shots prepared and three more vaccines under development, a government official said on Wednesday, which will go some way to help the country meet its export commitments. Most of these doses will be given to neighboring countries and will also meet Indias commitments to the World Health Organizations Covax initiative for poorer nations, said V. K. Paul, a member of a government think-tank that advises Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Covishield makes up the bulk of 250 million doses, while the rest are Covaxin, Paul said. Several more vaccines are under development and are likely to get statutory clearances by the end of the year, he said. India will play a significant role in providing vaccines to the world by 2022," he told reporters. The news comes as India is set to achieve its own milestone of one billion first vaccination doses next week, a government official told reporters earlier. About a fifth of the 1.49 billion population are fully inoculated, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. India last month said it would restart vaccine shipments in October, some six months after the government halted exports due to a second wave of infections. Local media reported that exports have already begun to Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, which received one million doses each. Iran had also obtained one million doses of Covaxin, the Indian Embassy in Tehran tweeted last week, signaling that Modis vaccine diplomacy is in full swing. India agreed in September to restart exports just before Modi embarked a visit to the U.S., which included a face-to-face meeting with the Quad group that is also made up of Australia, U.S. and Japan. Modi told his counterparts that eight million doses of Johnson & Johnsons vaccine would available by end-October under the partnership. The Quad countries will pay for the vaccine and India would bear a certain part of the cost, Modi said during that meeting in Washington. Here are some other details from Pauls briefing with reporters in New Delhi: Third wave of infections unlikely in India, according to three studies. Government is keep a close watch on any new wave of cases and has ramped up facilities, including paediatrics. The science behind booster shots is imperfect and there is no clear picture yet. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. India on Wednesday strongly rejected China's objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, asserting that the state is an "integral and inalienable" part of India. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India "does not stand to reason and understanding" of Indian people. "We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India," Bagchi said. He was responding to a question on comments by a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry objecting to Naidu's visit to Arunachal Pradesh over the weekend. "Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," Bagchi said. China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it is a part of South Tibet. The fresh war of words between the two sides came three days after the 13th round of military talks on the 17-month eastern Ladakh standoff ended in a stalemate. "Further, as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements," Bagchi said. The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as Western Sector. "Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues," Bagchi said. A day after the 13th round of military talks, Indian Army said the "constructive suggestions" made by it were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor it could provide any "forward-looking" proposals. On its part, the Chinese PLA's Western Theatre Command said India insisted on "unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Alarmed by the number of Covid cases being reported daily in the state, the Mizoram government has launched a statewide campaign to re-sensitise citizens on the importance of wearing masks to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection. The 10-day All Mask campaign was launched by State Health Minister R. Lalthangliana at Aizawl on Tuesday. During the campaign, people should were masks even at home all the time except during meals and family members should not dine together. Launching the campaign at a function in Zoram Medical College (ZMC) central library, Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said Covid-19 cases in the state continue to rise and the fatality rate is also growing up fast. He said the daily Covid-19 cases of Mizoram have outnumbered the total number of the seven other Northeastern states taken together several times. Meanwhile, India added 15,823 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,40,01,743 on Wednesday, while the national Covid recovery rate increased to 98.06 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry's data. The death toll reached 4,51,189 with 226 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 19 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 108 consecutive days now. The active cases have declined to 2,07,653, the lowest in 214 days On Monday, Mizoram reported 307 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest in over a month since August 24, and four more fatalities. The tally now stands at 1,06,136, of which 13,408 are active, according to a government bulletin. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Lobotomy, also known as leucotomy, is a neurosurgical operation that involves permanently damaging parts of the brain's prefrontal lobe, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Introduced in the mid-20th century, lobotomies have always been controversial, but were widely performed for more than two decades as treatment for schizophrenia, manic depression and bipolar disorder, among other mental illnesses. Lobotomy was an umbrella term for a series of different operations that purposely damaged brain tissue in order to treat mental illness, said Dr. Barron Lerner, a medical historian and professor at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. "The behaviors [doctors] were trying to fix, they thought, were set down in neurological connections," Lerner told Live Science. "The idea was, if you could damage those connections, you could stop the bad behaviors." When lobotomy was invented, there were no good ways to treat mental illness, and people were "pretty desperate" for any kind of intervention, Lerner said. Even so, there were always critics of the procedure, he added. When was the first lobotomy? Even before the first lobotomy, doctors were manipulating the brain to change behavior. Beginning in the late 1880s, the Swiss physician Gottlieb Burkhardt removed parts of the cortex of the brains of patients with manic agitation, auditory hallucinations and symptoms of schizophrenia. Burkhardt noted in an 1891 paper that the surgery calmed his patients, though some suffered complications such as motor weakness, sensory aphasia (inability to understand speech, writing or tactile symbols) and epilepsy, and one patient died five days after the procedure, researchers reported in 2008 in the Journal of Neurosurgery . Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz is credited with officially inventing the lobotomy in 1935, for which he shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1949 (later, a movement was started to revoke the prize, unsuccessfully). Moniz's breakthrough was inspired by lobotomy-like procedures that Yale neuroscientist John Fulton and his colleague Carlyle Jacobsen performed on chimpanzees. They removed both frontal lobes in a female chimpanzee who had previously displayed anger and frustration if she made a mistake while performing tasks in experiments; after the surgery, the chimp became more cooperative and did not show signs of frustration, scientists wrote in 2014 in the Singapore Medical Journal . Later that year, Moniz and his colleague Almeida Lima performed the first human lobotomy experiments, operating on 20 people. The doctors targeted the patients' frontal lobes because that brain region is associated with behavior and personality. Moniz reported the surgeries as a success in treating patients with conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, panic disorder and mania, according to an article published in 2011 in the Journal of Neurosurgery . But the operations had severe side effects, including increased body temperature, vomiting, bladder and bowel incontinence and eye problems, as well as apathy, lethargy and abnormal sensations of hunger, among others. The medical community was initially critical of the procedure, but nevertheless, physicians started using it in countries around the world. A surgeon using a brace and bit to drill into a patient's skull before performing a lobotomy, at a mental hospital in England, November 1946. (Image credit: Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) How is a lobotomy performed? Moniz's first lobotomy procedures involved cutting a hole in the skull and injecting ethanol into the brain to destroy the fibers that connected the frontal lobe to other parts of the brain. Later, Moniz developed a surgical instrument called a leucotome, which contains a retractable loop of wire that, when rotated, cuts a circular lesion in brain tissue. Italian and American doctors were early adopters of the lobotomy. American neurosurgeons Walter Freeman and James Watts were the first to perform the procedure in the United States in 1937, making "nine cores in the white matter of each frontal lobe" of a 59-year-old patient, according to a 2015 report in the journal The Lancet . They adapted Moniz's technique to create the "Freeman-Watts technique" or the "Freeman-Watts standard prefrontal lobotomy," in which a surgeon drilled holes in the patient's skull, then inserted and rotated a knife to destroy brain cells, targeting connections between part of the prefrontal lobes and a region in the thalamus, which is a grey-matter structure toward the center of the brain, The New York Times wrote in 1994 in Dr. Watts' obituary. "Freeman thought psychosis was the result of excessive self-reflection thoughts that circled back on themselves over and over again," Miriam Posner, assistant professor in the information studies department at UCLA, said in 2019 in the National Library of Medicine's History of Medicine Lecture Series at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. "He was being literal when he said lobotomy was a way of cutting those endlessly circling thoughts off within the brain," Posner said. This skull shows the characteristic marks of transorbital lobotomy, also called, in its time, icepick lobotomy. The small, symmetrical holes in the eye sockets are where a surgical tool perforated the skull. (Image credit: Mutter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia) The Italian psychiatrist Amarro Fiamberti developed a procedure that involved accessing the frontal lobes through the eye sockets; that procedure would inspire Freeman to develop the transorbital lobotomy in 1945, a method that would not require a traditional surgeon or operating room, researchers reported in 2019 in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience . The technique involved using an instrument called an orbitoclast a long, slender instrument modeled after an ice pick which the physician would insert through the patient's eye socket using a hammer. They would then move the instrument side-to-side to separate the frontal lobes from the thalamus, the part of the brain that receives and relays sensory input. Transorbital lobotomies did not require anesthesia and were quicker to perform than standard lobotomies; consequently, surgeons across Europe and America performed tens of thousands of these procedures over the next two decades, according to the 2019 study. Freeman himself performed at least 3,000, and possibly as many as 5,000 lobotomies, according to the obituary in the Times. "He traveled around the country, doing multiple lobotomies in a day," Lerner said. "He absolutely did this for way too long." Freeman performed his last lobotomy in 1967; it was his third such procedure on the patient, a woman named Helen Mortensen, NPR reported . She died of a brain hemorrhage soon after, and Freeman was banned from performing surgery, according to NPR. Dr. Walter Freeman performs a lobotomy using an instrument like an ice pick which he invented for the procedure. Inserting the instrument under the upper eyelid of the patient, Dr. Freeman cuts nerve connections in the front part of the brain. (Image credit: Bettmann/Getty Images) What happens after a lobotomy? While a small percentage of people supposedly showed improved mental conditions or no change at all, for many patients, lobotomy had negative effects on their personality , initiative, inhibitions, empathy and ability to function on their own, according to Lerner. "The main long-term side effect was mental dullness," Lerner said. People could no longer live independently, and they lost their personalities, he added. Mental institutions played a critical role in the prevalence of lobotomy. At the time, there were hundreds of thousands of mental institutions, which were overcrowded and chaotic. By giving unruly patients lobotomies, doctors could maintain control over the institution, Lerner said. That's exactly what unfolds in the 1962 novel and 1975 film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," in which Randle Patrick McMurphy, a violent but sane man who declares himself insane to avoid a prison sentence, is sent to mental hospital and given a lobotomy that leaves him mute, unresponsive and vacant-eyed. "Usually things in movies are exaggerated," Lerner said. But in this case, it was "disturbingly real," he said. Photos show a female lobotomy patient before the procedure and one year later, in 1942. (Image credit: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia) Are lobotomies performed today? Lobotomies declined in popularity in the 1950s, as their undesirable side effects became more well-known. Criticism of the procedures also grew among medical professionals who said the doctors who performed lobotomies were not neurosurgeons, neglected to report negative outcomes for many of their patients, and overall had "a lack of scientific rigor," according to the Frontiers in Neuroscience study. "It also became apparent that some institutionalized or incapacitated patients were lobotomized without informed consent, and procedures may have been performed on prisoners to address dysfunctional behavior as opposed to mental illness," the study authors reported. By the mid-1950s, scientists had developed psychotherapeutic medications such as the antipsychotic chlorpromazine, which was much more effective and safer for treating mental disorders than lobotomy. Nowadays, mental illness is primarily treated with drugs and psychotherapies. In cases where drugs or talk therapy are not effective, people may be treated with electroconvulsive therapy, a procedure that involves passing electrical currents through the brain to trigger a brief seizure, according to the Mayo Clinic . Lobotomy is rarely, if ever, performed today, and if it is, "it's a much more elegant procedure," Lerner said. "You're not going in with an ice pick and monkeying around." The removal of specific brain areas (psychosurgery) is reserved for treating patients for whom all other treatments have failed. Additional lobotomy resources This article was updated on Oct. 13, 2021 by Live Science senior writer Mindy Weisberger. Click here to read the full article. Greg Abbott has worked hard to establish himself as one of the most MAGA-friendly governors in the United States, but, as he gears up for reelection next year, hes learning that the well of right-wing depravity hath no bottom. Still, he seems determined to try to find it. The Houston Chronicle reported on Tuesday that the Texas governors administration took down a state-maintained website that committed the mortal sin of directing at-risk teens to a suicide prevention hotline, all because one of his challengers criticized how the site empowered LGBTQ+ youth. In a video posted to Twitter in late August, former state Senator and current Abbott opponent Don Huffines railed against the Texas Youth Connection, a website he described as disturbing because of the resources it offered LGBTQ+ teens. The states Department of Family and Protective Services, Huffines argued, was promoting transgender sexual policies to Texas youth. This is Texas, Huffines went on. These are not Texas values, these are not Republican Party values, but these are obviously Greg Abbotts values. According to the Chronicle, the site was taken down just hours after Huffines posted his rant. The Texas Youth Connection website has been temporarily disabled for a comprehensive review of its content, the site now reads. This is being done to ensure that its information, resources, and referrals are current. The Chronicle obtained communications making it clear this was no coincidence. Less than 15 minutes after Huffines posted his video, the FPS started discussing it, with media relations director Marissa Gonzalez noting that it was blowing up on Twitter. Please note we may need to take that page down, or somehow revise content, Patrick Crimmins, the departments communications director, then wrote to Darrell Azar, its web and creative services director. Crimmins declined to answer questions from the Chronicle about the departments motivation for removing the site. Huffines is one of a handful of Republicans trying to primary Abbott from the right ahead of the 2022 election. They include Chat Prather, a cowboy-hat-wearing conservative comedian; Paul Belew, an attorney running with a Better Call Paul slogan; and Allen West, a former congressman who spent the weekend spouting anti-vaccine rhetoric on Twitter despite being hospitalized with Covid-19. West has been fiercely critical of vaccine mandates, and Abbotts decision on Monday to ban private businesses from imposing them despite saying in August that private businesses dont need government running their business may have had something to do with the heat hes feeling from his right-wing challengers. Huffines, too, has bashed vaccines mandates. Hes also been gloating incessantly since the Chronicle reported on how the Abbott administration panicked when they realized one of his challengers might be more homophobic than he is. Greg Abbott was using taxpayer dollars to advocate for transgender ideology and the Human Rights Campaign, Huffines tweeted on Tuesday. Our campaign made him stop. I will never back down in the fight for Texas. Were just getting started, Huffines added. Abbott has made clear hes willing to do whatever it takes to keep up. Click here to read the full article. An official with IATSE told members on Tuesday that the studios are refusing to make the necessary concessions to avoid a strike, although negotiations are still underway. Cathy Repola, the national executive director of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, told members in an email on Tuesday that the pace of the talks is quickening, and that the timetable continues to be days, not weeks. In the wake of the overwhelming strike authorization vote, the employers repeatedly refuse to do what it will take to achieve a fair deal, Repola wrote. Either they dont recognize what has changed in our industry and among our members or they dont care. Or both. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has threatened to strike if the studios are unwilling to make significant improvements on a set of issues, including long hours and streaming residuals. A strike would send 60,000 film and TV workers to the picket lines, and bring nearly all production across the country to a standstill. The union has been in bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for seven of the last eight days, ever since nearly 99% of the union voted to support a strike authorization. The AMPTP presented a new proposal on Oct. 5, and IATSE offered its own counteroffer on Saturday, according to those familiar with the talks. IATSE officials have acknowledged that many of the members are growing frustrated with the drawn-out negotiations. Despite our best efforts at the table, the pace of negotiations does not reflect the urgency of the situation, Repola told the membership on Tuesday. Repola also noted that IATSE is fighting for many of the same issues confronting other unions across the country: decent wages, health and safety and humane working conditions. Dignity for workers is at the core of what we are all fighting for, she wrote. On Friday night we told you Days not weeks and that is still the case. It is more important than ever to stay in touch and stay connected with each other in IASolidarity as the pace quickens and we move forward. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. UPDATE 10/12: Mere days after three Netflix employees were suspended including a trans senior software engineer who criticized Dave Chappelles Netflix stand-up special The Closer all three have been reinstated, as Variety reports. According to Netflix, they had been suspended and investigated for attempting to attend a meeting of top executives. Netflix has reinstated me after finding there was no ill-intent in my attending the QBR meeting, formerly suspended employee Terra Field wrote on Twitter. *** Netflix has suspended three employees including a trans person who criticized Dave Chappelles recent special, The Closer for allegedly trying to attend a meeting of top executives. It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show, a Netflix representative tells Rolling Stone. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so. The suspensions came after the three employees reportedly tried to attend Netflixs quarterly business review which is meant for the companys top employees without having been invited or notifying the people who run the meeting. All three incidents involving the meeting are being investigated. The suspension of Terra Field a queer and trans senior software engineer who spoke out against The Closer was reportedly tied to that investigation, not her tweets. Last week, Field shared a Twitter thread that criticized Chappelle for attacking the trans community, and the very validity of transness all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. Chappelle has come under fire for jokes about trans people in previous Netflix specials; his material about trans people in The Closer included an ostensible joke comparing trans peoples genitals to plant-based meat substitutes, and another where he proclaimed himself a TERF (a trans-exclusionary radical feminist). In her thread, Field specifically pushed back on the notion that any objection to jokes like Chappelles were just people being offended or having thin skin. The problem is that people are responding to something we never said, Field said. We arent complaining about being offended and we dont have thin skin. You try going to a pharmacy and having them call you sir in front of everyone while you pick up your estradiol. Thin skin. A Flash Flood Watch went into effect midnight Tuesday night for Live Oak, McMullen, La Salle and Webb counties, the National Weather Service reported. The watch is expected to last through Thursday morning. Forecasters predict areas could see two to four inches of rain, with higher totals possible locally. National Weather Service "Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop tonight over South Texas. Heavy rainfall is expected over portions of the Rio Grande Plains and Brush Country.," the National Weather Service says. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through Friday night ahead in the area, according to the service. Cooler and drier conditions are then in store for the weekend with highs in the 70s and 80s and lows dipping into the 50s and 60s. National Weather Service "It should be stressed that this is a fluid forecast and adjustments are still possible on where the axis of higher rainfall amounts occur," the NWS says. The storms are a result of the remnants of Hurricane Pamela absorbing into an upper level storm system across South Central Texas and combining with Gulf moisture. Pamela is expected to reach near major hurricane strength before making landfall in Mexico Wednesday morning. According to the National Hurricane Center, heavy rains associated with Pamela are expected across Texas late Wednesday and Thursday. 3 1 of 3 National Weather Service Show More Show Less 2 of 3 National Weather Service Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Fully vaccinated individuals will soon be able to cross the United States and Canadian borders for nonessential reasons sometime in November. Reports late Tuesday night emerged nationally that suggested the Biden Administration would be taking such a step on Wednesday. And Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) confirmed the report to the Laredo Morning Times soon after. The details that we have right now are basically, both the southern and the northern border, what they call Title 19 will be amended to allow people to come in if they have a vaccine, Cuellar said. Logistically all that stuff has to be worked out but basically anybody thats vaccinated by a vaccine thats been approved by the U.S. or by the WHO, the World Health Organization, they can come in. Cuellar said the news comes at the right time for many in South Texas. October, November, December, January are the key months for downtown business, so I think this is going to be a very happy Christmas for a lot of business people downtown, he said. Its not only the economics, but its also families that havent seen each other since March 2020. I was in Nuevo Leon last week for the governors inauguration, and I was talking to a family there from the Monterrey area whose daughter lives in McAllen. They said, We havent seen her since March 2020, so you multiply that by so many families that have not seen each other. So its important for families, and I think its important also for the economics. Local politicians have been speaking to the Biden administration about opening up the borders to vaccinated individuals for a while now, so to finally get the news it would be allowed came with a sense of relief for the congressman. I think this is going to be good news, not only for border communities but I think different cities that do get Mexican tourists, he said. As you know, they go to San Antonio, they go to the San Marcos outlets there, and its going to be felt. Good news for a lot of people across the state of Texas. Borders will not simply be opened to everyone though. Cuellar wants everyone to understand this will be a well-monitored situation, one that will take cooperation from local leaders. If people expect a flood of people to rush across, I dont think there will be a flood of people because you still have to get a lot of people vaccinated, Cuellar said. But there will be a good number of people that have been vaccinated and would want to come across, so the more people we get vaccinated on the other side (the better). The congressman will be holding a press conference Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. to expand further on the news. Check back with the Laredo Morning Times on Thursday morning for more information. thomas.lott@lmtonline.com During the Veterans Affairs Committee meeting on Tuesday, a resolution on honoring and memorializing Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza was read and passed to councilmember Vanessa Perezs requested agenda item for the upcoming city council meeting. Additionally, the committee discussed the servicemembers of the U.S. Armed Forces who are undocumented and were deported after their service for the country. Espinoza was born in Laredo and attended Lyndon B. Johnson High School before moving forward to realize his dream and become a part of the U.S. Marine Corps. But on Aug. 26, he was one of the 13 servicemembers killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan at the end of the longest war the U.S. has been a part of. Thus moving forward, the further honoring of Espinoza is a clear message to the community to emphasize the bravery and sacrifice of men and women like him. The resolution states that the Commander of the Laredo Veterans Service Organization expressed their condolences to the family of Espinoza, and the organization will work in conjunction with the city, county and various public and private entities to honor Espinoza and his service. It will be sent to the family of Espinoza, his high school and the city of Rio Bravo. All members of the Veterans Affair Committee signed the resolution, and it will be discussed in the upcoming city council meeting. As for those service members who were deported after their service, the committee has another resolution recognizing their efforts and their part in preserving the American way of life in spite of their legal status. The resolution quoted John F. Kennedys famous, Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. These non-U.S. citizen veterans placed their lives on the line for the freedom of the United States without access to citizenship, it stated. It continued stating that while some veterans did receive a green card, others were deported for non-citizen status or minor infractions. The LULAC Veterans Council 777 wrote in the resolution that it urges the U.S. to establish a system offering and facilitating citizenship for all non-U.S. citizen servicemembers before they are discharged. The members of the committee discussed the qualifications of citizenship, including the cases where the servicemember violates the law. Julie Bazan, LULAC Veterans Council 777 representative, said that the resolution has also been pushed along the national LULAC office to work within their committee and congress to move forward with the process. In the case of veterans deported for minor infractions, she said that some have never been to Mexico before and have left their families behind. The return process continues to be difficult, and despite the promise of automatic citizenship for service, there was not a system in place to facilitate that process, Bazan said. LULAC is pushing the Department of Defense to develop a system in which veterans returning to citizen life can check off the necessary information and sign the forms for a quick and easy citizenship process. This would result in a citizen life without worry over losing a life due to unsigned documents, Bazan said. Unfortunately, those who have been deported due to minor infractions have fallen through the cracks, and LULAC is unable to help them, Bazan added. However, the new system would expedite the process of citizenship for returning veterans that would prevent the deportation of veterans who were undocumented prior to returning. To review the cases of those already deported, Congress would have to add that amendment on their own. David Garza, Webb County Veterans Office, said he would want to ensure that when dealing with infractions, the wording is clear so that it does not mean a felony. It was made clear that regardless of veteran-status, those who were deported with felony offenses like murder, rape and assault are criminals. Overall, the resolution hopes to ease the process of citizenship for returning veterans, while also bringing back veterans with minor infractions, not criminals. The resolution was passed with Garza abstaining from the vote due to his concerns regarding the idea of bringing back deported veterans. cocampo@lmtonline.com U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered more than 20 migrants inside a west Laredo home, authorities said. Laredo North Station agents responded to a report of possible undocumented people hiding behind a church in northeast Laredo. Then, two vehicles transported the individuals to a residence in west Laredo. Agents along with other federal and local counterparts responded to the residence where they encountered 25 people. Immigration inspections revealed they were all in the country illegally. It is with the continuous support of the community that (Border Patrol) agents were successful in the interception of this human smuggling event, Border Patrol said in a statement. Julia Wallace/Laredo Morning Times A woman was arrested after she tried smuggling her stepdaughter via the International Bridge 2, according to an arrest affidavit. Edmee Mabel Dark along with a minor female arrived in a private vehicle at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge at about 6:07 p.m. Oct. 8. Dark told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers that the child was her goddaughter and presented a U.S. birth certificate on her behalf. Gina Sanders - Fotolia BALTIMORE (AP) A Texas man will have to appear in Baltimore to answer a charge of threatening a Maryland doctor who has been a prominent advocate for COVID-19 vaccines, federal prosecutors said. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Baltimore announced that Scott Eli Harris, 51, of Aubrey, Texas, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of sending a threat across state lines. He was expected in court in Plano, Texas, on Wednesday ahead of an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore at a later date, according to the news release. Elizabeth E. "Betty" Fry, of Newfane, NY, entered into rest on November 14, 2021. She was born in Philipsburg, PA, on October 9, 1930, the daughter of the late William and Edith Fry Askey. Betty enjoyed playing Bingo, dominos, coloring and her stuffed animals. She was always smiling and happ OVER 2,000 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been revealed across Ireland today, as a fresh appeal is made for people to get the vaccine. Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reveal there are 2,066 instances of coronavirus across Ireland. There has been a total of 5,306 deaths related to Covid-19 notified in Ireland since the onset of the pandemic - including 26 deaths newly notified since last Wednesday. As of 8am today, 408 Covid-19 patients are in hospital, of which 69 are in intensive care Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: "There has been fantastic uptake of Covid-19 vaccination over recent months. Unfortunately, there are still just under 300,000 adults who have not come forward for vaccination and a further 70,000 people have received just one dose of a two-dose schedule. "The spread of disease in these 370,000 people is having a disproportionate impact on the profile of Covid-19 in our hospitals and intensive care units, with two out of every three people in intensive care not vaccinated," he added. The @hpscireland has today been notified of 2,066* confirmed cases of #COVID19. As of 8am today, 408 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 69 are in ICU. Department of Health (@roinnslainte) October 13, 2021 "Incidence of COVID-19 in Ireland is high and rising. Those who are not vaccinated are at high risk of contracting this virus and becoming severely unwell. The single most important thing you can do to protect yourself from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated," Dr Glynn said, "Choosing to get vaccinated is an act of protection for yourself it may save your life - but it is also an act of solidarity with others; the more of us that get vaccinated, the safer we all are." Senior management at a Longford nursing home were summoned to a cautionary meeting with the head of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) team in the wake of concerns at the facility, it has emerged. Laurel Lodge Nursing Home in Longford was discovered to have breached condition 5 of its registration when Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) officials carried out an unannounced inspection in June. Inspectors identified the nursing home, which caters for 114 residents, had carried out a "number of structural changes" to the facility without any application being made to vary its registration conditions to the office of chief inspector. These included changes being made to re-purposed rooms and newly constructed rooms that were in use prior to being inspected and registered, Hiqa inspectors found. Management were called to a "cautionary meeting" nine days later in which assurances were given in addressing its regulatory non compliance. The authority also uncovered inadequate fire safety precautions and infection control, highlighting "the inappropriate storage of linen and other items in the sluice rooms". The facility was also deemed to be non compliant in terms of fire precaution regulations. On the day of inspection, inspectors observed fire doors being wedged open with chairs which prevented their closure when a fire alarm activated. "This compromised the purpose and function of the fire door in protecting residents, visitors and staff in the event of a fire," the report found. The report, did, nonetheless contain a number of positive elements, most notably the availability and choice of food and snacks with staff being singled out for working especially diligently. Residents in Laurel Lodge Nursing Home told inspectors that they were well looked after, received a good standard of care and felt safe, the report detailed. In a statement, management pointed to ongoing difficulties the facility had experienced recruiting new staff during the pandemic, having lost a number of personnel to the HSE and retirement. "We have been extremely active advertising locally, with little success and hence have had to recruit additional staff from countries such as Portugal, India, the Philippines and Romania," read a statement. "While this remains an on-going challenge and we continue to seek to recruit as many staff as possible from the locality we have now filled the majority of our vacant positions." The facility said its non compliance with its conditions of registration was due to an unintentional error in its attempts to carry out further expansion in its attempts to provide the best possible care to residents throughout the pandemic. "As part of our focus to protect our residents through the pandemic we have invested significantly to enhance our facilities by, for example, creating eight additional en-suite bathrooms to existing bedrooms as well as a larger snooze room area which will ensure social distancing between residents. "At the time of our inspection we had inadvertently submitted the incorrect documentation to HIQA regarding these enhancements," said management, adding the error had been corrected "immediately" as soon as it was highlighted by inspectors. Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has been accused of being 'asleep at the wheel' when it comes to tackling Longford's affordable housing problems. Local politicians took aim at the Dublin-Fingal TD at a meeting of Longford County Council this afternoon in the midst of ongoing fears the county is set to be excluded from a State backed affordable housing rollout. Independent Cllr Gerry Warnock led the protestations, accusing Department of Housing officials of discriminating against smaller, predominantly rural based counties like Longford. BREAKING: Renowned Longford journalist to be given freedom of county Award winning Longford journalist Shaunagh Connaire is to be given the county's top honour. He said fears Longford would be one of 12 locations likely to miss out from a scheme set out in the Government's multi-billion euro Housing For All strategy, required urgent and decisive action. "This (strategy) can be changed," he said, as he called on the council to seek the support of those 12 other local authorities facing similar dilemmas. "It can be changed if enough people stand up and say it is wrong. It is as clear as the nose on my face that it is wrong." Fine Gael's Colm Murray backed those urgings as he questioned the department's use of Ireland's 2016 census in determining which counties would be best suited for affordable housing schemes. "It's time we called a stop to this nonsense," he said. "Three or four years ago, there was talk with the department about affordable housing schemes and of wanting proposals, but they don't seem to want to listen to anything. "It's not right counties like Longford and the people of this county who are in desperate need of affordable housing are being left high and dry." His party colleague, Cllr Ger Farrell, however, was even more scathing as he launched a withering attack on Mr O'Brien amid growing concern Longford could be overlooked by government bosses for affordable housing. "We have a fantastic housing department in the council with John Brannigan (Director of Services) who not only adopt a common sense approach, but can see what is needed on the ground and what the people of this county need," he said, adding, "Darragh O'Brien is absolutely asleep at the wheel." Food, Wine, & Dining By Ls Cohen Published: October 13 2021 Lawyer turned bar owner tries his luck with an Irish pub. When Terence Scheurer was a lawyer in New York City, he would meet clients at some of the Irish Pubs he represented for his firm, becoming a casual extension of his office and, of course, a place to meet socially for a drink or a meal. Scheurer started toying with the idea of opening his own bar and grill but it never came to fruition, until now. During Covid, I watched numerous businesses shutter its doors, especially local bars and restaurants, he wrote on his website. A good friend and client, Francesco (of Francescos famous bakery), informed me that one of his tenants decided not to return; that tenant was a restaurant and bar and was a staple in the Hicksville community. He took the opportunity to sign a lease in the beginning of the year and in September, The Rabbit's Foot Bar and Grill opened in Hicksville. The name was derived from a late friend of Scheurer who he initially wanted to partner up with in the venture. Michael Glynn was one of the owners of Kennedys Irish Pub in Manhattan, a place Scheurer would frequent. Michael would often say, Terence, we need good food, a good location and a little bit of luck! Lucky became the theme, said Scheurer of the name. From Luck of the Irish to the Lucky Rabbits Foot. The menu includes typical bar pub fare like burgers and wings. Some of the items have a fun twist on the names like their lucky wabbit wings appetizer ($16) and the holy mac & cheese nuggets ($12). They also have a surf and turf entree ($35), seared tuna ($24), and a tequila steak ($30) on the entree menu. On Yelp, Cristina-Marie C gave the bar and grill five stars. This new spot is one to check out, she wrote. It has a nice variety on the menu with a lot of options. Susan K, from Jericho also gave it five stars. Decided to give it a try after a friend recommended it, she wrote. The food was excellent. Location: 645 South Broadway Hicksville, (516) 605-0015. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) 13th October 2021 Runtime 19:47 London South East spoke to newly listed GreenRoc Mining CEO Kirk Adams who put both the company and the scale of GreenRocs 4 high quality Greenland assets in context for us. The focus today is on graphite and titanium, both listed as critical minerals by the EU and the US. GreenRoc Mining, ticker GROC listed on LON:AIM last week and raised 5.1M which is available to spend on drilling programmes to expand the resource, pre-feasibility studies environmental studies etc. Kirk explained that all four assets are wholly owned after the spin-out from Alba Mineral Resources last week, with Alba owning 54% of GreenRoc. Kirk is just back from Greenland where he was looking at the Amitsoq Graphite Project which he sees as a very exciting commercial asset, with some of the highest quality graphite in the world recovered from the sampling programme. We are anticipating our next drill results from Amitsoq in a couple of months or so, we are planning our next drilling campaign for next Spring and Summer, approximate cost 600,000, and this will we hope lead to a large enough resource to do a Feasibility Study. Amitsoq and Black Thule Sands are flagship projects and we are going to push these towards becoming producing mines as quickly as feasibly possible said Kirk. For example, we are looking to see how we can fast track the Amitsoq Graphite Project from where it is today, an exploration target of between 1.7 and 4 million tonnes, to an area where we can build a plant and start producing from that. You may have heard Elon Musk say that the Lithium-Ion battery is misnamed because theres actually ten times more graphite in a lithium-Ion car battery than there is Lithium he said, And it should actually be called a Nickel-Graphite battery. When you look at the demand for electric vehicles which is projected this is 25 times more than the worlds current production capacity. (Alliance News) - BP PLC on Wednesday said a joint-venture has launched a solar project in Colorado, alongside steel producer Evraz PLC and utility firm Xcel Energy Inc. The 300 megawatt Bighorn project will ensure the Pueblo steel mill will be the first in the world to run on solar power, BP explained. The project was launched by Lightsource bp, a joint-venture which the oil major has a 50% stake in. "The Bighorn solar project is currently generating electricity into the grid and is expected to come fully online in November 2021," BP said. "Lightsource bp financed, owns and operates Bighorn Solar and sells the electricity it generates to Xcel Energy under a 20-year power purchase agreement. As part of that arrangement, Evraz will receive clean, renewable power and price certainty from Xcel Energy through 2041." The project brings with it USD285 million private investment in new energy infrastructure for Colorado, as well as supporting 1,000 jobs at the Pueblo steel mill. Elsewhere on Wednesday, chemicals firm Lanxess AG said it is partnering with BP for the use of sustainable raw materials in high-tech plastics production. BP will supply sustainably-produced cyclohexane for a Lanxess facility in Antwerp, Belgium. In London, BP shares were 1.7% lower at 352.25 pence each on Wednesday afternoon, while Evraz shares were up 0.2% at 585.60p. Lanxess shares were up 1.4% at EUR57.14 each in Frankfurt. In New York, Xcel's stock was up 0.9% at USD63.55. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. European Metals Holdings Ltd - mineral exploration and development company focused on Cinovec lithium-tin project in Czech Republic - Says resource at Cinovec upgraded. Total resource stands at 708.2 million tonnes, including inferred resource of 294.7 million tonnes. "The primary stated aim of this drilling program was to convert a larger portion of the resource to the measured category to provide greater certainty of the financial model and security to financiers. The results clearly indicate that the program has been successful and the robustness and consistency of the Cinovec resource further demonstrated. As we move closer to ultimate financing and offtake discussions, this higher degree of certainty provides more funding options for the project. Results from the final drill holes of the program have been in line with or better than expected," Executive Chair Keith Coughlan says. Cadence Minerals PLC, which has 9.7% European Metals, notes announcement. Current stock price: 70.00 pence Year-to-date change: up 9.4% By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - North Sea Brent and Forties differentials fell on Wednesday as Vitol and Glencore sold cheaper cargoes to Total, but Total is still bidding higher for more cargoes of the two grades. PLATTS WINDOW Indications are on a free-on-board (FOB) basis unless marked as cargo, insurance and freight (CIF). * Brent: Vitol sold to Total CIF Rotterdam at dated Brent plus $1.25 loading Oct. 30-Nov. 3. On a FOB basis, according to Reuters calculations, this equates to plus 13 cents. * Forties: Glencore sold to Total CIF Rotterdam at dated Brent plus 90 cents loading Oct. 25-29. On a FOB basis, according to Reuters calculations, this equates to plus 14 cents. * Forties: Glencore sold to Litasco at dated Brent plus 45 cents loading Oct. 31-Nov. 2. OUTSTANDING BIDS AND OFFERS * Brent: Total bids at dated Brent plus 55 cents loading Oct. 29-Nov. 10. * Forties: Total bids at dated Brent plus 45 cents loading Oct. 31-Nov. 4. * Forties: Total bids at dated Brent plus 55 cents loading Oct. 23-30. * Ekofisk: Litasco bids at dated Brent plus 85 cents loading Oct. 30-Nov. 3. * Ekofisk: Litasco bids at dated Brent plus 55 cents loading Nov. 11-15. * Ekofisk: BP offers at dated Brent plus 85 cents loading Nov. 2-6. * Ekofisk: Glencore offers at dated Brent plus 80 cents loading Nov. 5-7. * Ekofisk: Alta offers Ekofisk at dated Brent plus 80 cents loading Nov. 11-13. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla Editing by Chris Reese) By Amanda Ferguson BELFAST, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Northern Irish business groups welcomed "signs of movement from both sides" after the European Commission on Wednesday put a package of measures to Britain that could ease the transit of goods to Northern Ireland. The measures are designed to ease customs controls, such as the clearance of meat, dairy and other food products and the flow of medicines to the British province from the British mainland that have been hindered by barriers introduced under the Northern Ireland protocol. The protocol - agreed as part of the Brexit divorce accord to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland - keeps the British-run region, in effect, in the EU's customs union and single market for goods. "If these proposals are to work then they must meet the tests that have been set out by the NI business community, namely that they must provide stability, certainty, simplicity and affordability," the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group said in a statement. "Some of the solutions being mooted go some way towards meeting those tests, however, we will reserve judgement until we have seen both legal and technical texts. "As an umbrella group for business, we will have meetings with both the UK Government and the European Commission to discuss these proposals in full and we look forward to understanding how they would keep NI business competitive and ensure choice and affordability for consumers." The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group (NIBBWG) was formed in December, 2019 when Britain and the EU agreed the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement to highlight the concerns of the more than 85% of Northern Ireland business that it represents. (Writing by Graham Fahy, editing by Ed Osmond) (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Victoria PLC - Worcestershire-headquartered flooring firm - Says underlying pretax profit for year ending April 2 will top consensus expectations. "Group revenue continues to increase, driven by strong consumer demand for flooring products," Victoria says. Italian arm has all output sold until second quarter of 2022, "an unprecedented situation". While in Australia, lockdown measures are drawing to close, so Victoria expects a "strong contribution" from unit there in second half of financial year. "The UK logistics operation, which is going from strength to strength, continues to provide a compelling service proposition to Victoria's customers, flooring retailers, driving market outperformance in Victoria's UK soft-flooring business," Victoria says. Brickability Group PLC - Bracknell, Berkshire-based construction materials distributor - Expects revenue of GBP223 million for six months to September 30, up around three-fold year-on-year. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of at least GBP17 million expected, more than doubled from GBP8 million a year earlier. "The UK housebuilding sector remains in good health following a strong post pandemic recovery, driven by changing demographics, significant pent up demand and assisted by government incentives. Brickability was initially well positioned to benefit from these structural tailwinds and remains in a position to continue profiting from these prevailing themes," Brickability says. Avingtrans PLC - Cambridgeshire, England-based provider of systems and services for energy, medical and industrial sectors - Participates in GBP12.9 million fundraise by medtech firm Adaptix Ltd, with GBP2.5 million investment in Oxford-based firm. "In return for the investment, Avingtrans will own approximately 5.9% of the total issued share capital of Adaptix, post the closing of the fund raise," Avingtrans says. Audioboom Group PLC - London-based podcast platform - Third quarter revenue amounts to USD16.9 million, more than doubled yearly and a new record for a quarter. "September outpaced the annual predicted wider industry average by 95%," Audioboom says. Swings to quarterly adjusted Ebitda of USD1.0 million, from USD300,000 loss a year prior. Company adds: "The board now expects that Audioboom will generate revenues in excess of current market expectations for the 2021 financial year and a significantly increased adjusted EBITDA relative to these market expectations." Mobile Streams PLC - London-based mobile content provider - Says LiveScores service in Mexico acquires over 10,000 subscribers, roughly two and a half months since launch. Passes milestone six months earlier than planned. Mobile Streams expects service to top financial forecasts. Company explains: "The fast pace of growth along with constantly exceeding subscriber targets indicates that the company is likely to exceed its initial published forecast of the service delivering at least USD1.5 million in revenue over 3 years which was based on approximately 3,000 subscribers in October rising to 95,000 over 3 years. The company will update its forecasts based on the greater than expected number of subscribers in due course." 1Spatial PLC - Cambridge, England-based IT service management company - Inks new multi-year framework agreement by Land & Property Services in Northern Ireland. Will support "Department of Finance's ongoing programme of digital transformation," 1Spatial says. Made Tech Group PLC - London-based provider of services that enable central government, healthcare and local government organisations to modernise technology - Awarded GBP7 million contract, largest to date. Contract has two-year length and is with UK Driver & Vehicle Licencing Agency. Concerns "the provision of design, development, and application support services", Made Tech says. Inland Homes PLC - Beaconsfield, England-based housebuilder - Recipient of resolution to grant planning permission for a residentially led, mixed-use scheme in Dagenham. Approval subject to signing of a Section 106 agreement. Scheme will include 380 homes and commercial space. "A Section 106 planning agreement will be signed by the parties as soon as possible, and construction is anticipated to commence on site in 2022. This is an attractive location for build to rent operators and housing associations, and a decision on whether the project will be delivered by Inland Homes directly or via a partnership contract will be announced in due course," Inland Homes says. Real Estate Investors PLC - Midlands, UK-focused real estate investor - Sells assets in Bearwood and Pontypool worth GBP5.5 million in total. "The proceeds generated from these transactions will be used to repay debt with a view to reducing net gearing levels and securing value-add acquisitions to enhance portfolio capital and income growth, which will in turn support the company's ongoing progressive dividend policy," Real Estate Investors adds. Luceco PLC - LED lighting manufacturer and distributor - Buys exterior lighting and networking firm DW Windsor Group Ltd for GBP16.9 million. The Hertfordshire-based firm "is a leader" in the design and UK-based manufacture of outdoor and street lighting equipment for the specification market. Consideration has been paid in cash, and the acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing from 2022. Eqtec PLC - Cork, Ireland-based gasification company focused on turning waste into sustainable energy - Signs deal for proposed acquisition of five megawatt waste-to-energy project in Drama, Greece. Deal struck through joint-venture alongside German EPC firm ewerGy GmbH. "Once acquired, the JV will lead the development of a new biomass-to-energy plant , generating 5MW green electricity from locally and sustainably sourced forestry waste. Due diligence, including financial and technical feasibility, has been completed," Eqtec says. Anglo Asian Mining PLC - gold, copper and silver producer operating in Azerbaijan - Says third quarter totals 16,316 gold equivalent ounces, down 10% annually from 18,190. Annual guidance of production guidance of 64,000 to 72,000 ounces maintained. Caledonia Mining Corp PLC - gold miner in Zimbabwe - Says third quarter output totals 18,965 ounces of gold, a record for Caledonia Mining and up 25% yearly from 15,155 ounces. Guidance for 2021 narrowed to 65,000 and 67,000 ounces and company on target to achieve 80,000 ounces in 2022. Capital Ltd - mining services company focused on African markets - Lifts revenue guidance after record quarter. Revenue for third quarter of 2021 USD61.6 million, up 75% from USD35.3 million a year ago. Says this is a new quarterly revenue record for the company, with mine-site services continuing to underpin revenue streams. On the back of this, now expects full-year revenue in range of USD220 million to USD225 million, compared to USD200 million to USD210 million expected previously. "Looking ahead we continue to see strong demand across all our business areas with the tender pipeline looking very encouraging," says Executive Chair Jamie Boyton. Alien Metals Ltd - London-based exploration and development company - Engages Mining Plus to carry out follow-up scoping study at Hancock iron ore project in Australia. "After the rapid progress since acquiring the Hancock iron ore project, including the recent initial mineral resource estimate, we have continued to advance the project through engaging Mining Plus to complete the scoping study, which provides an initial economic assessment of the MRE," Chief Executive Bill Good says. Atalaya Mining PLC - Cyprus-based copper ores company - Third quarter copper output rises 5.2% yearly to 13,933 tonnes from 14,695 tonnes. "Despite COVID-19 restrictions during the period, mining operations have continued normally with mining rates consistent with plant performance," Atalaya says. Ups 2021 guidance to 54,000-56,000 tonnes, from 52,000-54,000 tonnes previously. Bradda Head Lithium Ltd - lithium explorer with assets in Nevada and Arizona - Says metallurgical testwork programme has commenced with SGS Canada at Burro Creek East asset. "The programme will also focus on identifying an appropriate path to produce a low-carbon footprint battery-grade lithium product," Bradda says. Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd - rare earth metals projects in South Africa and Burundi - Raises GBP6.4 million in placing of 42.9 million shares at 15 pence each. Cash to go towards work at Phalaborwa and Gakara projects, as well as repaying balance of an unsecured loan. Arc Minerals Ltd - copper and cobalt explorer in Zambia - Notes media article in Zambian newspaper in relation to debt claim made against investee Zamsort Ltd. Claim in connection to USD5.8 million debt raise by Zamsort in 2015, prior to Arc becoming a shareholder in unit. Debt claim is being made by Terra Metals and others, including former Zamsort shareholder Mumena Mushinge. Arc affirms claim is without merit. In addition, Arc says further media speculation in Zambia in relation to Zamsort and Handa Resources, another Arc unit, being placed in receivership. Arc says this is incorrect. "Arc maintains full control of its subsidiaries and assets in Zambia and the drilling campaign continues," company says. PetroTal Corp - Texas, US-based oil & gas development and production company - Third quarter output averages 9,508 barrels of oil per day, within 2% of revised 9,697 guidance and up 8% from 8,839 bopd in second quarter. Xtract Resources PLC - copper-gold projects in Australia, Mozambique and Zambia - Approval received from resources watchdog in New South Wales, Australia for further 13 drill holes for phase two project at Racecourse prospect of Bushranger project. Xtract adds: "The 13 approved drill holes will allow Xtract to continue to extend the known copper mineralisation at the Racecourse prospect to the northwest and southeast, and to test several large induced polarisation resistivity anomalies outside of the currently estimated Racecourse inferred mineral resource." SolGold PLC - Brisbane, Australia-based company which develops copper-gold deposits in Ecuador - Responds to letter from Berry Street Capital Management LLP which related to timing of pre-feasibility study at Cascabel asset. SolGold says work in relation to PFS is ongoing and company will receive briefing from project committee later this month. In addition, SolGold says it is "actively engaging with shareholders and other stakeholders as part of a corporate governance road show". SolGold adds: "Over the course of the past year, the company has significantly strengthened its corporate governance practices including the addition of four independent non-executive directors joining the board as well as the appointment of an independent chair. The company has also restructured its board committees and considers that each of the audit and risk, remuneration and nominations committees fully comply with the requirements of the UK corporate governance code." Metal Tiger PLC - investor in natural resources - Says follow-up 2,400 metres drill programme at Kalahari Metals Ltd's Kitlanya East project has been approved and will begin shortly. Metal Tiger, which has just over a 50% stake in Kalahari, says this is due to encouraging drill results to date. Altona Rare Earths PLC - mining exploration company - Begins drill programme at Monte Muambe project, Mozambique. "Phase 1 drilling will entail 39 holes drilled for a total meterage of 3,000m, across six carefully selected rare earths targets," Altona adds. Adriatic Metals PLC - precious and base metals explorer and developer - Raises USD102.0 million from placing as part of Vares funding package. Says 25.2 million at GBP1.5174 each. Trident Royalties PLC - London-based mining royalty and streaming company - Following work with Calidus Resources, companu confirms "significant increase in the size of the tenure" of royalty zone at Warrawoona, Australia. Trident holds 1.5% net smelter royalty. Ncondezi Energy Ltd - Maputo, Mozambique-based power development company - Says maiden commercial and industrial project commissioned, after installation handover to power offtaker at project. In addition, Ncondezi is exploring refinancing options for USD500,000 bridge loan. Company adds: "The board is focused on finding a refinancing solution which is non-dilutive to shareholders of Ncondezi in-line with previous commitments. Further updates will be provided in due course." Anglo African Agriculture PLC - agriculture investment company - Updates on potential takeover of Comarco. Offers to allow dissenting shareholder to retain minority stake in company. "Should the business then require funding in future the minority shareholder will either have to match the funding up to the relevant percentage or be diluted down. This proposal has a verbal acceptance subject to it being in accordance with the articles of the relevant Comarco companies," Anglo African says. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC - London-based blood disease drug developer - Signs licence deal with Eli Lilly & Co. Hemogenyx to be granted exclusive worldwide licence to certain intellectual property, related to a CDX antibody. The antibody treats acute myeloid leukemia. Hemogenyx makes USD250,000 upfront payment and agreement includes milestone payments of up to USD1 million. "In addition, the company will pay Lilly a percentage of any cash payments received in respect of any sub-licence of the licensed IP," company adds. RTW Venture Fund Ltd - New York-based investor in life sciences, biopharmaceutical, and medical technology companies - Participates in USD143 million series B funding round in CinCor Pharma. "The proceeds from the Series B financing round are intended to advance the development of CIN-107, oral small molecule inhibitor of aldosterone synthase, for the treatment of hypertension, primary aldosteronism and chronic kidney disease," RTW says. Tintra PLC - Windsor, Berkshire-based investment and advisor company formerly known as St James House - Updates on artificial intelligence joint-venture. Signs memorandum of understanding with London-based Time Machine Capital 2 Ltd, whic specialises in AI investment and research in financial markets, and Finsenr Ltd, Time Machine's affiliate. "Tintra is building banking and infrastructure technology systems that are focused on frontier and emerging markets, which it believes are underserved by today's environment," company says. Watchstone Group PLC - cash shell with remaining assets comprising litigation assets, contingent liabilities and cash - Says historic UK Serious Fraud Office investigation in Quindell PLC, which Watchstone was formerly known as, discontinues. No further action to be taken. In April 2020, Watchstone said SFO "determined that the company will not be prosecuted for criminal offences in respect of those matters which were the subject of the SFO's investigation". The SFO opened its criminal investigation into accounting and business practices at Quindell back in August 2015. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Every week Frank Leavers our man with the dirty Mac and half empty glass of inexpensive vino is looking at what lies just below the sophisticated gloss of island life. Come on folks; tell our Frank whats really happening in Mallorca. As Ive tootled about middle England over the past weeks I have noticed a number of things that intrigue me. For instance, I dont know if I am becoming slightly paranoid, but - everywhere I choose to drive to - appears to be chock-a-bloc full of traffic. From motorways, dual carriageways, town centres and supposedly quiet suburbs, the roads are always busy as.! Take the other day, I thought that Id take a drive to the lovely historic town of Stratford Upon Avon, however when I got within about twenty miles of the place of Shakespeares birth I found myself gridlocked in traffic. As this was late-morning on a Monday I was more than a little surprised at the density of the traffic. I have family in Devon and so in talking to my brother, he told me that this summer the traffic in the West country has been horrific with locals becoming very cross with visitors and tourists alike as they try to get to and from work and those on holiday becoming totally frustrated at the time it takes to get anywhere. Doubtless the present situation will ease in time as autumn turns into winter, but it seems to me that British people are so frustrated by lockdown after lockdown and (up until now) finding it both difficult and frustrating to holiday abroad are taking any advantage to get away for even a few days closer to home. Indeed, I have read a number of reports that suggest that short breaks in all parts of the UK are becoming the - must do for those seeking to escape from enforced limited lockdowns and generally staring at the same four walls. Older members of my own extended family seem to be regularly disappearing for a few days mid-week to fill the gaps laid vacant by no summer holiday in the sun for two years running. Naturally enough perhaps, accommodation prices have been spiralling and the cost of a modest beer and sandwich would make even the most generous of us wince. It was noticeable that in the three Sunday newspapers that I bought, each of them ran pull-out features about holidaying in the United Kingdom and one title even had a county by county breakdown of what it regarded as the best buys. It is also plain that the television schedules are being taken over by programme after programme praising the beauty and diversity of this country. From the perhaps expected visual treats of Devon and Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales, to The Cotswolds, The New Forest and beyond. Then we have the Hairy Bikers investigating the cooking of Northern England whilst riding around some spectacular countryside - it is almost as if we Brits are being encouraged to re-visit our own country and remember what it has to offer. It will be interesting to find out if this rediscovery of what is on our own doorstep will reduce the numbers of those of us who wish to holiday abroad on a regular basis. It could be that in future British holidaymakers could become a little more open to holidays that dont include laying on a beach for ten days - as tourism, along with every other industry, may see some profound changes since the beginning of the pandemic. This is not to say that those who have an interest in sustaining and growing tourism in the Balearics have a problem, just the fact that the last eighteen months have seen the forced reshaping of a number of industries and tourism cannot escape that fact. Interestingly, I have noticed that there has been a sudden burst of interest in what I believe is known as short sharp breaks of between three and four days (i.e. a long weekend or a short week) this is proving particularly popular with empty nesters and retirees, who it seems, can get away at irregular intervals on a regular basis. However, as I have mentioned before, where places such as Mallorca have a distinct advantage, is in the cost of a holiday (or a short break) here in the United Kingdom. Indeed, it could be that once life finally returns to (almost) normal and the various Covid protocols now in force have slowly disappeared that tourism life will return to what we had before. In fact, there is also a theory that folk that have been so starved of their holidays abroad, the whole industry will be flooded by desperate tourists once this present situation stabilises. Personally, I think that scenario a little simplistic, as I suspect that it will be a little while before any regular pattern emerges, post pandemic, and that could take perhaps five years to make itself plain enough to be properly examined. I'm not sat-nav savvy! I have to say that I am having a bit of a problem with a personal relationship that I have with a woman whist Im driving my car. To be blunt, the lady who does all the talking on my Satellite Navigation system is driving me mad. Ms SatNav (for it is she!) likes to take me to places that I dont want to go to - which if you think about it, that rather compromises her role in my life. Julie says that Im just being sexist, but - I contend that a chap would not continually take me down country lanes into farmers fields and suchlike. Nor, would he treat me as if I were a hubcap short of a wheel when trying to find some godforsaken place in rural England. Next week I intend to change the sex of my SatNav to a bloke who might just know where Im supposed to be going. Mankato, MN (56001) Today Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 20F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 20F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph. Upon arriving to Hawaii, its pretty common to receive a plumeria lei. And many (myself included) expect to see niu, the bright green Geico geckos, and other tropical wildlife. This narrative of what Hawaii and other tropical islands look like is common, and continually reinforced by TV, Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Peated whisky is incredibly popular. And for good reason. But were aware that newcomers to the good stuff might not know that much about the star of the show: peat. Heres a handy little beginners guide to the smoky and sublime. Distinctive. Divisive. Delicious. Peated whisky is all of these things. For those of us who know and love it, just reading the word peat can make you think of the smell and flavour. But were sure there are lots of you out there who dont really understand what whisky folk mean when they talk about peat. Its not exactly something everyone comes across naturally. And its not much to look at. Lets face it, it looks like a lump of black mud. But its much more complex than that. This is why weve decided to break down the beauty behind natures greatest flavour brick and explain how it became such a fixture in the world of whisky. Defining peat Peat is an organic fuel consisting of partly decomposed plant material that youll find in bogs. Its formed over thousands of years from the slow accumulation of this organic matter (think wood, seaweed, plants or flowers) being squished down and compacted in wet conditions, where a lack of oxygen means the deposits cant fully break down. That means that todays peat will have begun life as a plant around the time aliens first put together Stonehenge for a laugh. When peat is harvested its still wet, so it needs to be dug out, cut into bricks and dried before it can be used as fuel. In whisky terms, peat is most associated with Scotland, but its commonly found in Ireland too (we tend to call it turf), as well as the US, Canada, Scandinavia, Siberia and even Indonesia. What does this all have to do with booze? Well, the process of peating spirits truly began with Scotch, although as Annie wonderfully demonstrated here, its not the only alcohol to carry the classic smoky profile. A happy accident Peat was originally used in relation to alcohol as a fuel source to dry barley for whisky. For those who dont know, during the whisky production process, you need to allow your grain to germinate in water to boost the natural sugar content, which is vital for fermentation as its these sugars the yeast eats and converts to alcohol. However, the grain needs to be dried with heat or wed have a fully-fledged seedling on our hands. That heat needs a fuel source. Most of the whisky industry uses coal, electricity, or gas and oil. This is where the history of peat becomes one of necessity. For distilleries in places like Islay, getting your hands on fuel sources wasnt easy. Trees to cut down were sparse and raw materials like coal needed transportation. The journey to Islay is not exactly a picnic at the best of times. Never mind with great big bloody lumps of coal to haul over. What these places did have and still do is peat. And, while the process began really out of convenience, what whisky makers quickly realised was their unique fuel source was aromatically influencing the resulting spirit. This is all thanks to a family of compounds called phenols. Understanding the taste As peat is derived from all kinds of plant matter, any number of flavours can form over the years, giving each brick of peat its own profile. As such, peat can also exhibit a kind of terroir, making each whisky even more unique. Lets use Scotland as an example. In northern Scotland and Orkney, there tends to be a higher proportion of heather in peat, creating a lighter, sweeter character compared to peat on Islay, which has more coastal and iodine notes typically because here peat is partially formed by coastal minerals and plants (like seaweed, driftwood, Poseidons trident, etc.). This singular character is why, despite peat being by no means unique to Islay, it has become intrinsically linked with the Queen of the Hebrides. Depending on how you process your peat, you can attain different levels of intensity, from full-on dragons breath to delicate whispers of smoke. A scale called PPM, which stands for Parts Per Million of phenols, measures this. In theory, the higher the PPM, the smokier the booze will be. What kind of peat is used doesnt determine the PPM, but how long its burnt for does. The longer its burnt, the smokier the grain will become, with an average drying time of around 30 hours. Measuring peat To give you an idea of how this translates to taste, most Laphroaig releases have a phenol level of 45 PPM, while Ardbeg uses malt thats been peated to 50 to 55 PPM, generally the highest on Islay. Thats until Bruichladdich rolls out its occasional Octomore releases, however, which really are an exercise in making massively peaty malts. It holds the PPM record, with the 08.3 edition containing barley peated to a gasp-inducing 309 PPM. It is worth pointing out that other factors will determine how peaty a whisky tastes, with the way its fermented, distilled, and matured all playing a role. Comparing Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Caol Ila 12 Year Old is a good illustration that phenol levels arent everything, because both are peated to a phenol level of 35 PPM, but the latter tastes noticeably less smoky than its neighbour. PPM is more of a guide than an exact rule of thumb, so if youre new to peat then you might want to play it safe and stick to the lower PPMs, or even whiskies that were just matured in ex-peaty whisky casks (of which there are plenty). Theres room on that scale for everyone, so be sure to play around and see what you like. Much in the same way that some people will order a Korma, while others prefer a Vindaloo. There are no wrong answers, its all about taste and preference. Embracing the world of peated spirits We do heartily recommend you give peated whisky a few tries, if you havent already. We know that its a distinctive flavour that can be abrasive and challenging at first, and we dont want to give anyone peaty-SD (like, PTSD, only for peat. Oh, forget it). But its a category full of culture, heritage, and nature. Its also one hell of a taste once you acquire it. Now, if only we had some peated whisky for you to sample Julia A. Johnston, 68, of Wilburton, OK passed away at her home in Wilburton on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Services will be on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Waldrop Funeral Home Chapel in Wilburton, OK with the burial to follow in the Peachland Cemetery in Bengal, Oklahoma. O Meadville, PA (16335) Today Snow during the morning will yield to a mostly cloudy sky during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Advertisement Gamaleya Center has published the study on the preprint server medRxiv, meaning not peer-reviewed yet.The analysis was conducted based on data from 28,000 participants who had received a single dose of Sputnik Light, compared with a control group of 5.6 million individuals who were not vaccinated. The data used in the study was collected in July 2021 in Moscow.The study also showed that Sputnik Light has demonstrated superior efficacy compared with some two-shot vaccines, which have shown a major decline in efficacy against the Delta variant to less than 50 per cent five months after injection. Standalone use of Sputnik Light also provides much higher efficacy against severe disease and hospitalisations."The efficacy results of the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine against the Delta variant of coronavirus significantly outperform those of a number of two-shot vaccines," Dmitriev said.The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on the human adenovirus serotype 26, the first component of Sputnik V - the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. It has been authorised in more than 15 countries with the registration process ongoing in a further 30 countries.In India, Sputnik Light will be produced by Pune-based Serum Institute of India. RDIF has partnered with more than 10 countries (China, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, Argentina, Serbia, Turkey, etc.) for the Sputnik Light jab.Source: IANS Karan Johar and Netflix have collaborated for a love story, the teaser for which dropped yesterday. Set in Tamil Nadus Madurai, the romantic-comedy starring Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani focuses on trials and tribulations of a young couple Meenakshi and Sundareshwar. According to the official synopsis, 'the film encapsulates the various interlinked aspects of relationships, joint families, the awkwardness in a new marriage and everything in between.' Heres the teaser: Meenakshi Sundareshwar is directed by Vivek Soni and co-written by him and Aarsh Vora. The film will arrive on Netflix on November 5. The teaser shows that the movie explores Tamil culture but on social media, people are saying that it has stereotyped Tamilians in the most cliched manner. In the teaser, you can see the causal representation of the Tamil songs that has resulted in people getting pissed. One of the Twitter users wrote, Stereotyping at its best (worst)! Another bollywood film to stereotype south indians as vegetarian, folk song listening, Rajinikanth loving, pretentious English speaking people. Grow up guys. Another wrote, It ain't south Indian, it's totally wrong, it's bullshit. I don't know why Bollywood is doing this without any knowledge of South India and still portraying wrong about South. If you don't know pls don't. This is not a joke. Heres how people reacted on social media: Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter While Sanya Malhotra recently made her digital debut with Anurag Basus Ludo, Abhimanyu Dassani is venturing into the web space with Meenakshi Sundareshwar. What do you think of the trailer? Do let us know in the comments section below. One of the most iconic superheroes in the DC universe is now officially a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Present-day Superman, Jon Kent, will be seen embracing his bisexuality in Superman: Son of Kal-EL #5. DC Comics If you havent kept up with recent developments in the DC Universe, then let us update you. The Superman we grew up with, Kal-el urf Clark Kent had passed on the famous mantle to his son during the Future State events. With the OG blue-caped crusader out of the picture, the Superman: Son Of Kal-El run focuses on the young Jonathan Samuel Kent. In an interview with IGN, writer Tom Taylor revealed, "I think Clark said it best when he left Earth in Jons hands. Clark was the Superman of tomorrow. Jon is the Superman for the days after." DC Comics Jon is exactly how youd expect Clark Kent and Lois Lanes offspring to be. Still only 17-years old, the current Man of Steel bears a teenage resemblance to his father but possesses the firebrand grit that his journalist mother stood for. The new Superman understands that the world he has inherited is different from the one Clark Kent guarded. While Kal-El as Superman had his rogues gallery of villains to battle, Jon takes on more serious and realistic threats to our world in 2021. DC Comics Taylor says, "The question for Jon (and for our creative team) is, what should a new Superman fight for today? Can a seventeen-year-old Superman battle giant robots while ignoring the climate crisis? Of course not. Can someone with super sight and super hearing ignore injustices beyond his borders? Can he ignore the plight of asylum seekers?" Tom Taylor The decision to unveil Superman as bisexual wasnt done lightly either. In fact, it has been a long time in the making according to Taylor, "Over the years in this industry, it probably wont surprise you to hear Ive had queer characters and storylines rejected. I felt like I was letting down people I loved every time this happened" Thankfully, times are different now. Diversity of identity is accepted and appreciated, and Taylor believes that time was ripe for a major comic book superhero to represent the LGBTQ+ community, "We are in a very different and much more welcome place today than we were ten, or even five years ago. When I was asked if I wanted to write a new Superman with a new #1 for the DC Universe, I knew replacing Clark with another straight white savior could be a real opportunity missed. Ive always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes. Today, Superman, the strongest superhero on the planet, is coming out." Just like his father before him, Jon Kent has fallen for a reporter Learn more about the story to come in SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL #5: https://t.co/bUQAsos68o #DCPride pic.twitter.com/wfQPc3CEVD Superman (@DCSuperman) October 11, 2021 Jons love interest is Jay Nakamura, a hacktivist from the future, and a nifty journalist as well. He is a Gammoran refugee who Superman rescues from a school shooter. According to BBCs reports, Jon and Jay get together after the 'Man Of Steel' faces serious physical and mental burnout from trying to rescue everyone that he can. Jay Nakamura made his first appearance in the series second issue, handing Kent back a blonde wig after the superhero fails to establish a secret identity to attend school like a normal kid. pic.twitter.com/J6vXCeti9n The Wednesday Pull List! (@WednesdayPull) October 11, 2021 Jay Nakamura isnt expected to be just another damsel in distress though. He comes with his own superpowers, as per Taylor, What was most important was making Jay Nakamura formidable in his own right. Finding the balance in their relationship so they could be equals rather than having Jay be too reliant on Jon. This is why Jays own powers are revealed in issue #4, and we learn he cant be harmed. That means, of everyone in Jons life, Jay is the only person Jon doesnt need to protect. It means their relationship is an equal one built on mutual support." "Absolutely everything that a Superman comic should be, even if the Superman at the center of it isn't Clark Kent/Kal-El."@ComicBook rates Superman: Son of Kal-El #3 (out now!) a 5 out of 5: https://t.co/0T8SBTXJ7U pic.twitter.com/o5Q0ord4pv DC Nation (@thedcnation) September 29, 2021 Artist John Timms is hopeful for Jon Kents future as Superman, "It is a pretty big deal doing it with Jon Kent as Superman. As we have seen Jon grow up in front of our eyes, it will be interesting to see him not only trying to find himself as a person but a global superhero in the complex atmosphere of modern life. On the other hand, I hope this kind of thing will not be seen as a big deal in the future. You could visualize how it could pan in the future when the most powerful man in the world is part of the LGBT community. So many things are on the horizon and beyond." Difficult times demand a new breed of heroes, and Jonathan Samuel Kent is a Superman who could be just that. The new Man of Steel may even overshadow the legacy of his famous father. Are you excited about this development? How do you feel this would impact the larger DC universe? Do let us know in the comments below! The Italy tours were going to be a one-time thing, but word spread, and the tours kept us busy for a few years. Arrangements are currently incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for Mr. William "Sonny" McGruder, 71, of Enterprise, who passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at his residence. Click here to log in and see all of our other subscription options for the Mesabi Tribune, including online only & auto-renewal subscriptions. In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full The 2021 forecast for refined zinc takes into account Chinas National Food and Strategic Reserves Administrations release of 180,000 tonnes of the metal. The group anticipates a smaller zinc surplus of 44,000 tonnes in 2022.As for refined lead, the ILZSG expects supply to exceed demand by modest amounts of 27,000 tonnes and 24,000 tonnes respectively for 2021 and 2022. The group predicts global demand for refined lead to rise by 5.5% to 12.39 million tonnes this year and by 1.7% to 12.61 million tonnes next year, after falling by 3.9% in 2020. It expects this growth to come from Brazil, India, Japan, South Korea... Ambassador of Belarus P.Utyupin meets the First Vice-minister of Industry and Infrastructural Development of Kazakhstan On October 13, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kazakhstan Pavel Utyupin met with First Vice-minister of Industry and Infrastructural Development of Kazakhstan Kairbek Uskenbayev. The parties discussed the current state of cooperation between the two countries in the construction sector, including the implementation of the Belarusian Quarter project in Kazakhstan, the organization of a joint venture for the production of ceramic tiles, as well as the creation of the Belarusian Building Materials Trading House. print version Miami, FL (33127) Today Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 79F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification (CFME) released its second report to recap the progress the State has made in its inaugural report in February 2021, and the next steps needed to ensure Michigan continues to be the epicenter of future transportation solutions around mobility and electrification. The CFME divided into four workgroups to develop policy recommendations that will address challenges and further Michigan's mobility and electrification leadership. The Council's collaboration led to proposals for new, robust economic development tools to improve Michigan's competitiveness for mobility and electrification sector jobs, as well as increasing access to advanced mobility solutions, such as streamlining shared transportation systems and adapting antiquated policies that will become better suited for the future of automated vehicles. "Gov. Whitmer and I want to develop and attract the skills and talent necessary to meet the changing demands of the mobility sector," Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said. "This is a challenge that Michiganders are ready to meet. After all, Detroit put the world on wheels and now it's time for us to be the leader in clean transportation, and we are ready. The Council on Future Mobility and Electrification is another example of how we're fighting to build a stronger, more sustainable future for our kids and for future generations of Michiganders to come." Since the first Model T rolled off the assembly line, Michigan has been the global leader in the mobility sector. Maintaining this leadership is imperative to the continued prosperity of the state and its residents. Recognizing the importance of the future of mobility, Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-02 creating the CFME to develop public policy recommendations that will maintain Michigan's leadership in advanced mobility and electrification. The report's primary findings include: Michigan must continue its leadership in automated vehicle policies and smart infrastructure deployment, while investing in the mobility sector and economic and talent development. It is also imperative for Michigan to become more EV-friendly and better prepared for electric vehicles, while implementing policies to ensure the future of transportation is safe and enhances mobility solutions for Michiganders. Government encouragement of the adoption of electric vehicles and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure is also a must in the Council's view. While more research is required to develop efficient, targeted consumer incentive for electric vehicles themselves, the merits of incentives for charging infrastructure are well documented and easily replicated, and ready to be implemented with funding. The need to establish clear guardrails around the cybersecurity of intelligent transportation systems. Doing so will protect the safety Michigan residents and visitors. The CFME's industry experts and public leaders stated Michigan will take a bold step forward and continue embracing the mobility and electrification sector, if the findings in the report are acted upon. Ignoring these recommendations, however, will leave Michigan behind the competition and unlikely to catch up given the one-time nature of so many of the resources available to states today. The council also noted that if Michigan is to remain the mobility and electrification leader amongst its peers, it should be an advocate on federal policies. In particular, state perspectives are needed for federal lawmakers to make informed decisions on issues related to connected vehicle communications, transportation standards and mobility incentives. "We fully support the Council's findings and are prepared to do what it takes to ensure Michigan stays ahead of the curve in the mobility sector," said Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director and CFME Chairwoman Susan Corbin. "The CFME has already made great strides since its inception, and I'm confident it will continue to excel with the appropriate support." Some of the significant progress and notable highlights surrounding Michigan's mobility industry include: The CFME reported in February that Michigan was home to 24 automotive original equipment manufacturers but has now seen that number grow to 26, with 96 of the top 100 automotive suppliers having a presence in Michigan and 60 being headquartered here. In July 2021, Ford announced it will locate its global battery center in Romulus, investing $100 million in developing, testing and building vehicle battery cells. GM recently launched the redesigned Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV this summer, investing $402 million in Orion Township and subsequently bringing 400 new jobs to Michigan. The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) and CFME will use the report's findings and recommendations to help determine the actions required to enable Michigan to retain its global leadership position in mobility. OFME will coordinate the initiatives in cooperation with the Departments of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and all of state government. "The mobility industry is constantly evolving, and Michigan fully intends to evolve with it to retain its position as a leader in the field," Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Trevor Pawl said. "I'm excited to see what's in store for our great state during these everchanging times. Seismic shifts are happening in the mobility industry, but they're changes that will impact Michiganders' lives for the better." In addition to the state's progress in the mobility industry noted in the report , General Motors last week announced an all-new Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center. Governor Whitmer also recently announced several innovative mobility initiatives and programs. This includes the Michigan Revolution for Electrification of Vehicles Academy to proactively prepare the talent needed for automotive mobility and electrification current, emerging, and future jobs and career pathways. The Governor also announced the: Lake Michigan EV Circuit to create a tourism focused electric vehicle route with reliable charging options along Lake Michigan, REV-Midwest compact with four bipartisan governors to futureproof interstate commerce in the region, and Initiative to develop the nation's first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in the U.S. right here in Michigan. To learn more about the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, visit Michiganbusiness.org/ofme. Tugboat will reduce exhaust emissions with new engines, with help from EGLE grant Tugboat will reduce exhaust emissions with new engines, with help from EGLE grant The black exhaust spewing from a Great Lakes tugboat was so thick, the U.S. Coast Guard thought it was a vessel in distress. That's how Jack Smith, yard foreman, described the condition of the Kurt R. Luedtke tugboat, operated by Luedtke Engineering Company. That exhaust will no longer draw attention because the dredging and marine construction business recently became a recipient of grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Clean Diesel Program. Under the program, applicant proposals were rated on criteria that included reductions in nitrous oxides and fine particulate matter, both of which contribute to unhealthy air, greenhouse gases; also rated were the expected lifetime emissions reductions and lowest lifetime costs of emissions reductions. The four projects chosen total $366,150 and will replace older, highly polluting diesel vehicles with new, more efficient, and cleaner operating diesel and propane vehicles and engines. "Health, environment, climate, and environmental justice are all affected by diesel emissions," said Elizabeth M. Browne, director of EGLE's Materials Management Division. The projects will "reduce exposure to harmful exhaust fumes and airborne particles at Michigan ports, near wellknown recreation areas, as well as at schools and municipalities." "Our current engines were originally designed in the 1930s, and although they have been upgraded, they still function nearly identically to the original engine design," added Smith. "Having come from that era, they are not a very clean or efficient engine. Most of our work is done along more densely populated shoreline areas, so there is a greater direct effect on the local population with exhaust emissions. With a cleaner, more efficient engines we will make a positive impact on those local communities." The other Clean Diesel program grant recipients are a forklift that operates adjacent to the Hiawatha National Forest, near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Seney Wildlife Refuge, and older school buses. Photo caption: Kurt R. Luedtke tugboat Credit: Luedtke Engineering Company Like this content? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Take a short survey and let us know what you think about MI Environment. 'Homicide School' Trains New Detectives 'Homicide School' Trains New Detectives October 6, 2021 One victim, three crime scenes to investigate and if the scenarios are pieced together correctly, the detectives get their arrest warrant and a better understanding of what they will experience in the field. "Death investigations are much more complex than what you see portrayed on TV," said D/F/Lt. Chuck Christensen, commander of the MSP Fifth District Special Investigation Section. "Every investigator leaves here with fundamentals to build upon and an understanding of what and who is available to them to ensure they're successful solving crimes." Thirty-seven officers from agencies across Michigan participated in the one-week training led by Christensen in conjunction with the Michigan State Police (MSP) Organizational Development Division and Michigan State University (MSU) School of Criminal Justice. "With investigators from Menominee in the Upper Peninsula and, on the flip side, women and men from the State Police's Metro South Post in the Detroit-area, we have an excellent mix of experience," said Christensen. "Some officers haven't investigated a homicide yet, which is good. Others are much more familiar." The culmination of the course is mock crime scene scenarios that allow students to practice skills in hands-on crime scene preservation, evidence collection, homicide investigation and media relations during a press conference. "Training together is great for networking and sharing what works best for each of us, our individual skills," said D/Sgt. Brian Buege, assigned to the MSP Lansing Post. "We're forming partnerships with officers from other agencies we may work with during an investigation." The course is in high demand with 90 officers signing up for this session and only 37 able to be accommodated. It wasn't held during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. "Unfortunately, crime continues," said Christensen. "We prepare new investigators the best we can. The goal being to hold the suspect accountable. Real people are involved, and they deserve that respect." Related Images MPSC report marks 2 years of progress on MI Power Grid efforts to guide Michigan's clean energy transition MPSC report marks 2 years of progress on MI Power Grid efforts to guide Michigan's clean energy transition FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 13, 2021 Media Contact: Matt Helms 517-284-8300 Customer Assistance: 800-292-9555 Michigan.gov/MPSC Twitter The Michigan Public Service Commission has released a status report on the second year of its MI Power Grid initiative the Commission launched in 2019 in partnership with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to help guide Michigan residents and businesses through fast-paced changes in the energy industry and better enable a transition to clean, distributed sources of electricity. MI Power Grid (Case No. U-20645) is a multiyear effort designed to help maximize the benefits to Michiganders as electricity providers transition away from large, centrally located power plants to smaller clean, distributed energy resources including solar, battery storage and energy efficiency. MI Power Grid's three areas of emphasis are customer engagement, integrating emerging technologies, and optimizing the performance of, and investment in, the state's power grid. To date, MPSC Staff and more than 350 stakeholders representing nearly 250 organizations - from consumer advocates, utilities, other state agencies, local governments, state lawmakers to universities, environmental groups, business customers and national laboratories - in 10 MI Power Grid workgroups have conducted 57 stakeholder meetings and issued five reports. Commissioners, meanwhile, have issued 17 orders in 10 dockets related to MI Power Grid. "MI Power Grid is even more important as Michigan grapples with issues of reliability, affordability and impact on low-income and marginalized communities, now and into the future," MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said. "We are grateful to stakeholders for sticking with this effort throughout the pandemic. They understand, as we do, that a stronger, more resilient grid powered by cleaner sources of energy requires a tremendous amount of foresight and commitment to getting it right." Among the highlights of MI Power Grid's Phase II: The Integration of Resource/Distribution/Transmission Planning Workgroup issued its Staff report with recommendations to help shape planning efforts, focused on resilience, forecasting, transmission planning, value of generation diversity, emissions recommendations and environmental justice recommendations, and alignment of distribution/resource/transmission planning. The Commission directed Staff to create a redline version updating the Michigan Integrated Resource Planning Parameters that reflects Staff recommendations, feedback from stakeholders, and Governor Whitmer's MI Healthy Climate Plan directives by Dec. 22, 2021, and to work with stakeholders in Phase III to finalize updates to the MIRPP and IRP filing requirements in 2022. The Competitive Procurement Workgroup, with input from utilities and other stakeholders, issued a Competitive Procurement Report with draft guidelines; the Commission later sought formal feedback on the report. The Commission in September 2021 issued an order adopting amended guidelines and directing Staff to survey stakeholders within five years to assess whether the guidance is working and whether updates are necessary. The New Technologies and Business Models Workgroup has focused on creating a shared understanding of different technologies and their potential applications, including microgrids, electric vehicles, energy storage, and distributed energy generation, with the goal to identify barriers and potential solutions. The workgroup filed a draft report in September that was distributed to stakeholders for comment. The final report is to be filed by Dec. 1, 2021. The Distributed Energy Resources Rate Design Workgroup is exploring how customer-owned generation and energy storage are changing the way energy customers use the grid, cost allocation and possible customer charges, and proposing rate design options, with guidance from Michigan Senate Resolution 142 of 2020. The workgroup commissioned the Regulatory Assistance Project for assistance, and a draft study was presented to stakeholders in September. After stakeholder feedback is considered, a final study will be presented to the Michigan Legislature on Nov. 1, 2021. The Customer Education and Participation Workgroup has been convening stakeholders to examine issues around customer data access; data privacy, sharing and customer consent; opportunities and barriers to customer engagement in MPSC-related activities; and equitable outreach and access to utility programs and offerings. As customers are increasingly relied upon to be active, engaged and dependable participants in Michigan's energy transition, the workgroup is examining the ways in which the Commission can improve customer access to and participation in energy waste reduction and demand response programs, time of use rates, distributed energy and other demand-side resources. The Commission directed Staff to consider how the MPSC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MPSC's 2021-2025 strategic plan; the MPSC's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and the MPSC's outreach to Michigan's tribal communities can inform the workgroup's recommendations. MPSC Staff will make a draft report available for stakeholder comment and issue a final report by Feb. 25, 2022. MI Power Grid's remaining focus areas will include financial incentives and disincentives for utility performance, distribution system data access, updating the Michigan Integrated Resource Planning Parameters and IRP filing requirements, time-based pricing, and voluntary green pricing. MPSC APPROVES POWER SUPPLY COST RECOVERY FOR CONSUMERS ENERGY AND OTHER COSTS FOR BIOMASS PLANTS SUPPLYING THE UTILITY The MPSC approved Consumers Energy Co.'s power supply cost recovery (PSCR) expenses and revenues for calendar year 2019, setting an over-recovery balance of $18,196,314 as the company's PSCR beginning balance for 2020 (Case No. U-20220). The Commission approved $14.3 million in cost recovery for biomass merchant plants Cadillac Renewable Energy LLC; Genesee Power Station LP; Grayling Generating Station LP; Hillman Power Co. LLC; TES Filer City Station LLP, and National Energy of McBain Inc., as well as $1,923,236 in uncapped environmental costs for TES Filer City, while rejecting Consumers' request to be reimbursed for approximately $150,000 related to replacement energy costs connected with three unplanned outages at the company's Karn generating plants and the Ludington pumped hydroelectric facility. To look up cases from today's meeting, access the MPSC's E-Dockets filing system. Watch recordings of the MPSC's meetings on the MPSC's YouTube channel. For information about the MPSC, visit www.Michigan.gov/MPSC, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs, or follow the Commission on Twitter or LinkedIn. DISCLAIMER: This document was prepared to aid the public's understanding of certain matters before the Commission and is not intended to modify, supplement, or be a substitute for the Commission's orders. The Commission's orders are the official action of the Commission. # # # $173.2M investment helps lift Michigan children and families out of poverty $173.2M investment helps lift Michigan children and families out of poverty Michigan Poverty Task Force applauds funding for recommendations to help parents afford child care, invest in their future FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 Media Contact: Ebony Stith, 517-285-5549 LANSING, Mich. - With nearly 40% of working Michigan households struggling to afford necessities like child care, housing, food, technology, health care and transportation, the Michigan Poverty Task Force recommendations included in Gov. Whitmer's FY 2022 budget make a significant investment to help lift 1.4 million Michiganders out of poverty. "With recommendations and guidance from the Poverty Task Force, we invested $173.2 million in the state budget to deliver on the kitchen-table issues faced by families," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "We made the largest education investment in K-12 history without raising taxes to close the funding gap between schools and improve the classroom experience for every kid, ensured the Poverty Task Force could continue its work, expanded affordable childcare, and set up Children's Savings Accounts to help build wealth. Together, we will stay laser-focused on the fundamental issues and work to uplift the 1.4 million Michiganders facing poverty." The Governor's FY 2022 budget allocations include: $2 million for Children's Savings Accounts program allowing Michiganders to save money and build wealth. Children's Savings Accounts offer an exciting platform to help low-income families build wealth and pay for educational expenses. $2.2 million pilot funding to create affordable child care for low-income families. This funding expands the MI Tri-Share Child Care pilot program that splits the cost of child care by the employer, the employee and the State of Michigan. $1 million for Michigan Poverty Task Force's research and planning. This funding is for recommendations made by the Michigan Poverty Task Force to conduct research and planning on the effectiveness of TANF distribution and an evaluation of barriers to state assistance programs. In addition, the school aid budget includes a nearly $168 million investment for the Great Start Readiness Program that helps fund pre-school for all eligible children whose families are at or below 250% of the federal poverty limit. "The school aid budget provides more funding than ever before for our public schools. The budget is particularly noteworthy in its support of the expansion of Great Start Readiness Program to all eligible four-year-old children over the next three years, the first goal of the State Board of Education's Top 10 state strategic education plan," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "The budget also allocates $1.5 billion to strengthen and expand child care in the state, an effort that permits children at or below 185% of the federal poverty limit to have access to child care." While many state government efforts are already in place to help Michigan's poor, the Michigan Poverty Task Force will keep working hard to champion policies that lift Michigan families out of poverty and put them on a path to prosperity. "We are making strides in our goal of helping Michigan families transcend poverty. We will continue to recommend resources and programs that will give families what they need to move forward," said Kim Trent, Deputy Director of Prosperity, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. "Our goal is to close the gap for Michigan residents who are facing poverty, and we are making progress." The Task Force, led by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), consists of leaders from 14 state departments, with input from the Legislature, philanthropy and community organizations who worked together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to develop a comprehensive anti-poverty agenda for Michigan. More information on the Poverty Task Force is available at Michigan.gov/LEO. Governor Whitmer on Passing of Former Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee Governor Whitmer on Passing of Former Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2021 Contact: press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer on Passing of Former Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee LANSING, Mich.-Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the passing of Dale Kildee, a former Michigan congressman and state legislator. "Congressman Dale Kildee was a tireless public servant and proud Michigander. He served his community in the state legislature for over a decade and in the U.S. House of Representatives for 35 years, where he advocated fiercely for the automotive industry and workers, led successful efforts to reform education, and expanded access to financial aid for college. Dale started the Native American Caucus in Congress and admirably represented Mid-Michigan during his time in office, uplifting local families, communities, and small businesses. He served students in the classroom, his community in the state capitol, and constituents in DC-where he rarely missed a vote in 35 years. A lifelong Michigander, his passion for working people was clear in the work he did every day. He made our state and country a better place. My thoughts are with his family, including his nephew, Congressman Dan Kildee who succeeded his uncle in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dale, we miss you." ### PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Tours Businesses in Branch, Hillsdale Counties PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Tours Businesses in Branch, Hillsdale Counties FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2021 Contact: Press@Michigan.gov PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Tours Businesses in Branch, Hillsdale Counties Visits include the Keefer Hotel, a project supported by grants that Governor Whitmer announced earlier this year, which will create 50 jobs and generate $12.3 million in investments LANSING, Mich. - Governor Whitmer today visited Mastronardi Produce in Coldwater and Keefer Hotel in Hillsdale, highlighting her MI New Economy plan to grow the middle class, support small businesses and invest in our communities. The governor was joined by MDARD Director Gary McDowell in Coldwater. "From agriculture to tourism, today's visits in Branch and Hillsdale Counties highlighted the strength and diversity of Michigan's economy," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "I am laser-focused on tackling the big, structural challenges we face to grow Michigan's economy, create good-paying jobs, and build industries of the future. I look forward to working with key partners, the legislature and anyone who wants to put Michigan's families, communities and small businesses first as we bolster our state's economy." Mastronardi is a fourth-generation family-owned produce company that first brought commercial greenhouse growing to North America. Mastronardi Produce operates as one of the Midwest's largest glass greenhouses producing fresh vegetables even through the winter months. "Michigan is known for our work in food and agriculture, but we are also on the forefront of how agriculture is advancing because of brand new technology," said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. "Mastronardi is a great example of how we can make sure quality products are readily available across our state and how innovation and sustainability is key to growing Michigan's agriculture economy." "It's an absolute honor to have Governor Gretchen Whitmer join us at our Michigan Maroa Farms facility," said Paul Mastronardi, CEO and fourth-generation family member to lead Mastronardi Produce. "It's a pleasure to showcase our flavorful, locally-grown produce, our sustainable growing methods and the socio-economic impact our greenhouses have on Michigan's agricultural sector." The Keefer House Hotel project will locate a 34-room boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Hillsdale. This historical renovation project includes commercial space on the ground floor as well as hotel space with modern amenities, a welcoming lobby and an upscale restaurant to be enjoyed by guests as well as members of the community. The long-vacant Keefer House is a contributing building to the city of Hillsdale's National Register of Historic Places commercial district and the development is expected to transform downtown Hillsdale and spur economic development by generating new tourist stays and bringing additional revenue to the area. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $12.3 million, create 50 full-time equivalent jobs, receiving Michigan Strategic Fund support through a $2 million MCRP equity investment. Local support for the project includes an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) tax abatement for 12 years valued at approximately $577,000. In addition, the city will partially forgive the loan for the building upon Certificate of Occupancy in the amount of $265,000. The city of Hillsdale is also certified with MEDC's RRC program. "It's very exciting to see the Keefer Hotel project under construction. This project will not only bring much needed revitalization to Downtown Hillsdale, but it will address one of our community's biggest barriers to tourism, the need for additional hotel rooms," said Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie. "Only through collaboration with the MEDC, CL Real Estate Development LLC, Hillsdale's Tax Increment Finance Authority and the City was this project possible. We appreciate these entities making this historic investment in the City of Hillsdale." "The Keefer Hotel project will transform the historic Keefer House into a unique and attractive place in downtown Hillsdale that will once again be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike," said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. "We are committed to supporting innovative placemaking projects that create vibrant, resilient communities and drive strong economic recovery statewide. We are pleased to collaborate with our local partners on this project, which will help make Hillsdale an even more attractive place to live, work, visit, and play." https://twitter.com/GovWhitmer/status/1448316603293179910 https://twitter.com/GovWhitmer/status/1448370662591057924 ### BIG RAPIDS Two Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital care givers were recognized with DAISY and BEE Awards for their nursing excellence and compassionate care during ceremonies. Surgical nurse Dawn Morningstar, RN, was given the DAISY Award after being nominated by a patient. She talked to myself and my mom about my addiction problems, the nomination read. I was honest with her and my doctor and had to postpone my knee surgery. She never once judged me. She made me feel like a human being. She was so compassionate and sweet. She made me glad I was honest. Im going to go to rehab because of her. Im going to get clean so I can get my knee surgery. If all the nurses were as great as her, the world would be a better place. Mammographer Meghan Thompson was given the BEE Award. Thompson was also nominated by a patient. Today was my very first mammogram, the nomination read. At 30 years old its quite frightening. This technologist came to check on us women, brought warm blankets, and smoothed over the wait. Next, I was just so scared to do the mammogram. I was ready to walk out! Her kind words and encouragement got me back into the room. Still scared, she encouraged me, walked me through the steps and process and made the procedure not hurt. Without her specifically and the way she cared for me, I would not have gone through with the mammogram. I would have left. Thank you for everything. You put me and my health first, possibly saving my life today. I had already cancelled this appointment before so again thank you for being there for me. I really appreciate you helping me be healthy and happy. Morningstar and Thompson received flowers, commemorative pins and plaques during the ceremonies. The DAISY award program was adopted from The DAISY Award, an international program established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. The Barnes family was deeply appreciative of the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created an award to say thank you to nurses everywhere. Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals have expanded the recognition program to include the BEE award, open to all clinical and non-clinical employees, in addition to nurses. Nominations are open for any Spectrum Health employee who regularly goes above and beyond in creating a meaningful experience for patients. The awards are given based on nominations from patients, community members and colleagues. Nomination forms can be found at any Spectrum Health facility or submitted online at: https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/brrcdaisybee. BIG RAPIDS Charlotte Tetsworth, the associate director of Processes in Ferris State Universitys Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, recently received the Patriot Award from Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. A U.S. Defense Department staff member visited campus to honor Tetsworth. Tetsworth, nearing her 25th anniversary as a Ferris employee, had other presumptions about that gathering as fellow staff members saw their opportunity to build on the moment. BIG RAPIDS As part of the National Faith and Blue Weekend, an initiative to build more engaged communities, the Mecosta County Sheriffs Department, the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety and the Ferris State University Department of Public Safety collaborated with the First United Methodist Church for a food drive to support Manna Pantry this weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 9, Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller, along with Wesley House volunteer Jordan Brinker, collected canned and dry goods outside of Meijer; BRPD officer Thomas Tanner and Rev. Jeremy Wicks collected goods outside of Aldi; and FSU PD director John Allen, along with Sgt. Tim Jacobs, collected goods outside Walmart. The three groups competed to see who could collect the most donations. MIDDLETOWN Preparation work for Saturdays rededication of the 1850 chapel at Indian Hill Cemetery was put on hold Monday when caretakers discovered the property had been defaced on Columbus Day. Superintendent Norm Emond learned Monday morning about the graffiti, written in large block letters with purple spray paint on the side facing busy Vine Street, when he got an unexpected call from police. A postal worker first noticed the damage, he said Tuesday. Now covered in a large tarp, vandals sprayed Land Back and an anarchist symbol on the granite sign, and [expletive] Columbus on the brownstone wall. Im really heartbroken, he said. It made us very mad. Monday was also Indigenous Peoples Day, a national holiday in observation of Indigenous Peoples, who had populated the Western Hemisphere an estimated 22,000 years ago. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation Monday in honor of the day. Since time immemorial, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have built vibrant and diverse cultures safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across the generations, the proclamation read in part. Many early settlers of Middletown and important Civil War and political figures are among those interred there. They include Civil War Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield, writer William Manchester, Gov. Raymond Earl Baldwin, Edith Rockefeller McCormick, the granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller. A plaque at the Cross Street entrance to Indian Hill Cemetery is a tribute to the last Wagunk-owned land held by the tribe in Middletown until the mid-1700s, according to Middlesex County Historical Society Executive Director Jesse Nasta. It is a symbol of the Wagunks presence here for thousands of years, Nasta said. There are Wagunk graves in Portland and on Liberty and Newfield streets in Middletown, he said. There is also a statue of a Wagunk at Harbor Park facing the Connecticut River. Grounds crews and volunteers were trying several methods of removal Tuesday, including chemical power washing. We have to be very careful, because it could chew a hole right through that, Emond said. Also, since brownstone, a sandstone, is very porous, it sucked into it. Middletown Common Councilwoman Linda Salafia called the act despicable. She pointed out how the cemeterys Russell Chapel, erected in 1867, was vandalized last year. This isnt the first time that the city has seen vandalism on Columbus Day. After years of graffiti being spray-painted in red on the Columbus statue at Harbor Park, overlooking the Connecticut River, the city removed it from Harbor Park in 2020. The legacy of Columbus Day is contested every year, Nasta said. The statue, a donation to the city by local Italian families, is now in storage, Salafia said. These incidents need to stop. They need to be treated as hate crimes; they should be acknowledged as such and investigated as such with the perpetrators prosecuted as such, the councilwoman said. Emond, who called the incident outrageous, believes those responsible were looking for high visibility, since the wall faces a well-traveled intersection. They wanted to get their message out very clearly, he said. If you want to put up a message, go buy plywood and put it up in your yard, the superintendent said. Its the peoples property. We have people buried there. Its ludicrous. Several people have come into his office since they learned of the defacement, Emond said, offering their support. Already one individual made a donation to support the removal and two others pledge their assistance. Salafia said her mother-in-law looked at Christoper Columbus as a folk hero similar to say Cinderella or Paul Bunyan a myth to explain to children why they were fleeing for their lives across an ocean, she said. Its a somewhat common misconception that there are Native Americans buried in Indian Hill, because of the name, Nasta said. The fact is, all of this area was Wagunk land. They could have just as easily spray painted the sidewalk on Main Street, Nasta added. There was a well-known tree on Newfield Street near the Cromwell line where some Wagunks are buried. It is now lost, according to city historian Debby Shapiro. It was memorialized in an 1844 pencil drawing called Mamoosans Tree by Frances E. Oliver. The huge sycamore tree served as a shelter for the Wangunk Mamoosan, known as Son of the Moose, during the mid-1700s, according to the Middlesex County Historical Society. It was located off Newfield Street in Middletown. After the Wagunks left the area, some went to upstate New York and joined the tribe there, she said. Mamoosan returned every year in the fall, starting in 1750, to venerate his ancestors. At night, Mamoosan slept inside its hollow trunk, Shapiro said. Meanwhile, Salafia and others across the city are hoping arrests are made for the vandalism. This was not a rally or protest; this was vandalism, deliberate damage to someone elses property. I am at a total loss as to what the person/persons doing this hoped to achieve, Salafia said. Until or unless someone is made responsible for their actions, this incident will only further whatever divide there is in the city, she added. Police are still investigating the case, Emond said. The Russell Chapel groundbreaking will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the cemetery. The cemetery is seeking volunteers to donate their time to help the cleanup effort, as well as accepting donations for repairs. For information, call 860-346-0452, email superindianhill@att.net or visit indian-hill.org. Marty Podskoch / Contributed photo EAST HAMPTON The East Hampton Parks and Recreation walking tour of Lake View Cemetery off Route 66 will take place Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. Participants will hear about the people who lived in the area and their many achievements. The walk will be led by Kevin J. Tulimieri, a historian and researcher at Nathan Liverant and Son Antiques in Colchester, according to a press release. MIDDLETOWN The vast majority of Middlesex Health employees have received their COVID-19 vaccination, while the remainder have until Nov. 1 to get the shot as other hospitals in the state begin terminating employees who do not comply. Middlesex Health issued a company statement Aug. 5, announcing that all health system workers, as well as all members of the medical staff, volunteers, students, vendors and contractors, must be fully vaccinated by the first of November, unless they are granted an exemption or deferral. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and the decision to mandate vaccinations was made with the health and safety of our patients, staff and visitors in mind, Middlesex Health President and CEO Vincent G. Capece Jr. said at the time. Exemption and deferral requests are being accepted for medical or religious reasons. According to Director of Communications Amanda Falcone, about 80 employees and members of the medical staff have been granted exemptions or deferrals. So far, 95 percent of employees are fully vaccinated. Falcone said she anticipates the number will continue to change as the deadline approaches. If employees are not fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, they will not face immediate termination. The policy provides an opportunity for employees to return to work after being inoculated. If an employee does not get fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, and they have not received an exemption or deferral, they will be suspended and placed on administrative leave until their status is adjudicated, Falcone said. The network operates several hospitals, cancer treatment centers, rehab clinics, and other health facilities throughout the state, including Middlesex Hospital at 28 Crescent St. in Middletown. Falcone said that there is no concern the mandate will cause a staffing issue for the network. Throughout the health-care industry, and in other industries, businesses are already experiencing a staffing shortage for various reasons, Falcone said. At Middlesex Health, we dont believe the COVID-19 vaccination mandate will significantly exacerbate this situation. Other medical organizations in the state have already reached the deadline for their vaccine mandates. Yale New Haven announced its vaccination mandate June 30, with a deadline of Sept. 28. Employees who did comply have been given until Oct. 18 to get the shot before being terminated. As of Monday, 225 employees in the Yale New Haven Health System were facing termination for vaccine noncompliance. Nuvance Health, which operates Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford and Sharon hospitals, announced Aug. 17 that all employees and volunteers had until Oct. 1 to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. As of Monday, about 2 percent of Nuvance employees across the companys system did not comply with the vaccine requirement, and were therefore placed on an unpaid suspension. adam.hushin@hearstmediact.com The Navy recovered the remains of five sailors and their MH-60S Seahawk off the southern California coast on Tuesday after the helicopter crashed off the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln on Aug. 31. In a statement released Tuesday, the service said it recovered the lost aircraft Oct. 8 from a depth of about 5,300 feet with the help of a salvage and dive team from Naval Sea Systems Command. The helicopter had just landed on the carrier when it "experienced side-to-side vibrations" that caused the "main rotor to strike [the] flight deck." The aircraft then "fell over" the side of the ship, according to the Naval Safety Center. The incident claimed the lives of five sailors aboard the helicopter and injured five more aboard the carrier. One helicopter crew member was rescued at the time of the incident. Along with the wreckage, the Navy said it recovered five sets of human remains that were transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for identification. The service previously identified the five sailors who died as Lt. Bradley A. Foster, 29, a pilot from Oakhurst, California; Lt. Paul R. Fridley, 28, a pilot from Annandale, Virginia; Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland; and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey J. Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri. Read Next: 'Right Ship at the Right Time': Customizable Command-and-Control Vessel Arrives on Okinawa Both the wreckage and remains arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, California, on Sunday aboard the salvage ship HOS Bayou, according to the statement. The incident is one of 12 "class-A mishaps'' this year, Naval Safety Center data show. Class A denotes the most severe kind of incident, one that causes a fatality or permanent total disability, more than $2.5 million in damages, or destroys an aircraft. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Navy Helicopter Rotor Struck Carrier Deck, Causing Crash That Killed Five Government contracting, human resources and manufacturing are among the top 10 best career fields for military spouses, according to a new list released Wednesday. The list, released by Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) and Hire Heroes USA, was compiled through interviews in July 2021 with more than 2,000 military spouses, some of whom are also members of NFCU. The company typically puts out annual best of lists, including a best cities after service in 2018. To select the industries or jobs included in the new career rankings list, NFCU officials and experts with Hire Heroes USA combined information gathered through the interviews with information on which industries allow flexible hours, consistent location, flexible child care, competitive pay, a clear career path and a team-oriented environment, they said in a press release. This best careers list offers deeply-researched insights that this community can turn to for advice and direction as they take the next step in their employment journey, Matt Vean, who leads commercial banking at NFCU, said in the release. The study found that 13% of those interviewed are unemployed, while 43% said they are underemployed, a term typically used to describe holding a job that doesnt require the experience or education a worker holds or, in many cases, the pay they feel they should receive based on work background. Here are the top 10 career industries, according to the study. 1. Government and public administration. NFCU found this career field is a favorite based on its stability. About 46% of those interviewed who currently hold jobs in this field said they plan to stay until they retire. Top career paths in government and public administration include analyst, manager or supervisor, support worker or lawyer. 2. Business support and human resources. As a relatively new industry of interest for military spouses, these positions provide flexibility for military spouses when moving. This career path includes positions such as administrative assistant, analyst and recruiter. Additionally, 66% of spouses with careers in this field report that they've been in their position for two years. 3. Health care and social assistance. Military spouses are employed in the health-care field in positions such as nurse, therapist, dental hygienist and pharmacy technician. NFCU says this field is popular because it offers stability and competitive pay. 4. Educational services. NFCU lists educational services as a top career path for military spouses, because it offers work-life balance and stability. Teachers and instructors are two options in this career field, as well as education counselor and administrator. 5. Information technology. Spouses seeking stability and flexibility may find positions in the information technology field are for them. These career paths are increasing in popularity and include jobs like programmer, network analyst, database administrator or web developer. 6. Financial services. A career in financial services is popular among military spouses in urban areas and offers a stable career with competitive pay. More than half of the spouses employed in this industry agree that there is a clear path for advancement. If spouses work for a financial institution that understands the military lifestyle, they also may find it easier to keep their job as they move. 7. Defense contracting. Defense contracting gives military spouses a wide range of opportunities, including architect, project manager and engineer. The field also offers flexible hours and schedules as well as support for military families. 8. Community-based services. NFCU says this is the most popular field for spouses who are at least 55 years old. These jobs include general management, administrative support services and religious services -- all of which allow military spouses to achieve a work-life balance. 9. Retail and customer service. Retail offers spouses flexibility, something 34% of spouses said was the most important thing in a job. Additionally, careers in retail and customer service give military spouses flexible hours and schedules. 10. Manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs, such as welder, quality control inspector and production manager, offer competitive pay, flexibility and the opportunity to be creative. -- Rebecca Alwine can be reached at rebecca.alwine@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebecca_alwine. In a hearing rife with partisan bickering, House lawmakers battled over how to help veterans being targeted for recruitment by domestic extremist groups, an issue that got a surge of attention after dozens of veterans were arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. At least 66 veterans have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, in which supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol while lawmakers were meeting to certify President Joe Bidens electoral victory. We are not here to condemn or vilify any veterans engaged with these groups, but rather to draw attention to what these groups actually represent and to highlight the lurking threat posed by these groups, House Veterans Affairs committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., said. While the insurrection has been the most immediate impetus for lawmakers concerns about extremist groups recruiting veterans, witnesses Wednesday said the issue is longstanding, highlighting extremist acts ranging from Marine veteran Lee Harvey Oswalds assassination of President John F. Kennedy to Army veteran Timothy McVeighs Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Read next: US Troops Have Hundreds of Relatives Still Stuck in Afghanistan, and Congress Is Trying to Help The percentage of veterans involved in domestic extremist groups is small, and there is no evidence extremism is more prevalent among veterans than the wider population, but the experts testifying before the committee argued veterans make attractive recruits because of their military training and because they can be vulnerable if they are struggling to adjust to civilian life. They provide them with a tribe, a simplistic view of the world and its problems, actionable solutions and a sense of purpose, and then they feed these vulnerable individuals a concoction of lies and an unrelenting narrative of political and social grievance, retired Marine Lt. Col. Joe Plenzler said. While veterans who participate in domestic terrorism may be few, they can be extremely dangerous, added Plenzler, pointing to shocking data that veterans have been connected to 10% of domestic terrorist attacks since 2015 despite making up just 6% of the population. According to data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 6.4% of all domestic terrorist attacks and plots in 2020 were committed by one or more active-duty or reserve members, compared with 1.5% in 2019. Hearing testimony from veterans advocates and academics, members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee sought answers on how best to protect veterans from falling victim to recruitment from white supremist and anti-government groups such as the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters. Takano argued for alerting veterans to ongoing targeting by extremist groups. This effort could include helping them to recognize that they are being recruited, aiding them in exiting these groups and addressing the pervasive underlying factors that contribute to such recruitment, including critical issues such as mental health, underemployment and social isolation, Takano said. The hearing frequently devolved into partisanship, as Republicans accused Democrats of vilifying veterans and ignoring property damage by left-wing groups such as Black Lives Matter and anti-fascists that the GOP characterized as extremist. Mr. Chairman, I think this hearing is offensive and the fact that youre going to save our veterans from becoming political terrorists is offensive to every veteran in America, said Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., a Navy reservist who chairs a conservative House bloc called the Republican Study Committee. Jeremy Butler, who leads Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and was testifying Wednesday, shot back at Banks, arguing he was contributing to the problem by trying to score political points rather than engaging with the substance of the issue. I think the type of questions that youre asking are what are part of the problem here, Butler told Banks in response to a question about vilifying red meat eaters and parents who oppose critical race theory. Were using lies, were using obfuscation, misinformation to avoid addressing the real issues that this country is facing. In an ongoing member survey that has so far elicited about 3,500 responses, IAVA has found that a third of respondents believe theres a serious problem with extremism in the military and the post-9/11 veterans community, and have personally witnessed extremism, Butler said. Among the solutions witnesses offered up is to include training in the Transition Assistance Program to educate service members moving to civilian life on how to identify extremist recruiting and propaganda. Wednesdays hearing was the first in what Takano has promised will be a series of three hearings. The other two, which have yet to be scheduled, will focus on specific recruiting methods used on veterans and resources available to at-risk veterans. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Why Veterans Are Targeted by Radicals Online There are many things exceptional about John Wild Bill Crumps service in World War II. He graduated from high school early so he could enlist in the Army Air Forces, he was sent right from gunnery school to become an aviation cadet and flew three different planes during his time in the war, from 1944 through the end. He also smuggled a live coyote pup aboard his troopship when he departed for England. While Crump was still in pilot training in Texas, the Great Depression was in full swing. Crump was hired by local farmers to help with the live coyotes that were running rampant on their farms. One day, a farmer gave the young man a two-week-old coyote pup to dispose of, but Crump didnt kill the pup. He adopted it instead. Once in the U.S. Army and bound for England, the newly minted fighter pilot smuggled his pet aboard the Queen Elizabeth, a luxury liner converted into a troopship. By this time, the coyote had a name: Jeep, after Popeye the Sailors pet, Eugene the Jeep. After the pair arrived in the United Kingdom, Jeep was fully embraced by the members of the 356th Fighter Group at RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield. Like any other soldier, Jeep had his own dog tags, log book and immunization record. The young coyote even flew on at least five missions in Crumps Republic P-47 Thunderbolt named Jackie. (8th Air Force Museum) Aside from downing Nazi aircraft, Jeep and Crump did everything together, posing for photos and practicing their coyote howls. Sadly, Jeep was run over by a military vehicle in Ipswich, England, after flying his fifth mission in October 1944. Jeep was given a burial with full military honors at the barracks where Crump was billeted. A memorial plaque for Jeep and his wartime service can still be found at Playford Hall to this day. When Lt. Crump began flying the new P-51 Mustang fighter, he transferred the name Jackie to the new plane. But his new Mustang also featured the profile of a howling coyote, an homage to his departed coyote pal. Crump would go on to survive the war, even rescuing a fellow pilot whose plane lost control over the North Sea. Lt. Huie Lamb was flying an escort mission for his wingman whose radio suddenly stopped working when he plummeted into the water. Wild Bill saw Lambs plane go down and radioed the mayday. Back on the ground, Crump helped Lamb from the amphibious plane that rescued him into a waiting ambulance. Crump died in 2008, but not before returning to Ipswich in 1992 to visit the grave of his old friend, Jeep. (BillCrump.com) -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill. [October 13, 2021] Parallel Wireless Expands Israel Research and Development Center to Extend 4G and 5G Open RAN Development and Testing Actively hiring to support 4G and 5G Open RAN development NASHUA, N.H., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parallel Wireless, Inc., the U.S.-based Open RAN company delivering the world's leading All G, cloud-native, Open RAN solution, is expanding our Open RAN Research and Development Center in Israel to support 4G and 5G software development and testing. Mobile Network Operators across the globe are quickly adopting Open RAN networks to deliver cost-effective, easily scalable, wireless broadband connectivity. Parallel Wireless is at the forefront of the telecom revolution driving All G - 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G Open RAN wireless networks into the future. In fact, Parallel Wireless recently joined the Israeli 5G WIN Technology consortium, leading important advancements in telecommunications. Headquartered in Nashua, NH, Parallel Wireless was formed in 2012, is growing fast, and has had many Open RAN mobile wireless network successes throughout the world such as Hotspot, Vodafone in Asia and Africa, MTN, Orange and more. The Israel Parallel Wireless team recently expanded their presence, moving to a state-of-the-at 5G lab and testing facility in Atir Yeda in Kfar Saba in Israel. The Research and Development Center is expanding in Israel to develop and test 4G and 5G DU and CU software and 2x2 and 4x4 O-RAN Alliance compliant radios. The team in Israel, which was formed in 2018, will grow by over 25% by the end of the year 2021. Developments are underway to add 4G and 5G senior software product managers, system architects, cloud-native platform software technical leads, and more. Invest in and grow your skill set and career, drive the business, the projects, and the products, that will lead to the disruption in wireless networks. Check out Parallel Wireless career opportunities to learn more. The team in Israel is proud to announce that Paula Netzer of the Parallel Wireless Israel R&D center recently won the Fierce Wireless Rising Star Award for her contributions to hiring and onboarding in a very short time frame. Baruch Navon, SVP Head of Global R&D said, "Reimaginers at Parallel Wireless in Israel are working on leading edge wireless networks, enabling cost-effective broadband communications for people across the globe. At Parallel Wireless Reimaginers have a voice and influence, tremendous career growth opportunities, and they are shaping the future of telecommunications. In addition, I am extremely proud and thrilled to have Paula Netzer, a Fierce Wireless rising star, on the Parallel Wireless team in Israel." About Parallel Wireless At Parallel Wireless, we believe that software has the power to unleash amazing opportunities for the world. We disrupt the ways wireless networks are built and operated. We are reimagining how hardware, software, and the cloud work together to change deployment economics for our customers. Our ALL G (2G 3G 4G 5G) O-RAN compliant software platform forms an open, secure, and intelligent RAN architecture to deliver wireless connectivity, so all people can be connected whenever, wherever, and however they choose. We are deploying with leading global MNOs and have been recognized with over 80 industry awards. At the core of what we do is our team of Reimaginers who value innovation, collaboration, openness, and customer success. For more information, visit: www.parallelwireless.com . Connect with Parallel Wireless on LinkedIn and Twitter . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1630286/Parallel_Wireless_Baruch_Navon.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1004727/PW_FullColor_CMYK_Logo.jpg [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] FinancialForce Fall 2021 Release Makes it Easier for Customers to Run Their Business Digitally and Adapt to Change FinancialForce, the leading provider of customer-centric business applications across finance, services, and customer success teams, today announced the general availability of its Fall 2021 Release. New capabilities include Advanced Resource Management for the Professional Services Cloud which creates a more efficient staffing process and results in higher margins and greater employee satisfaction, as well as new ERP enhancements that make it easier for customers to run their business digitally. "The pace of change has never been faster. Organizations need to be more agile and customer-centric than ever to meet the evolving demands of the market," said Dan Brown, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at FinancialForce. "Our Fall 2021 Release enables organizations to get the very most out of their ERP and PSA solutions. It gives them everything they need to run their operations digitally so they can adapt to change and truly put customers at the center of everything they do." Stronger Project Teams The Fall 2021 Release introduces a robust set of enhancements to FinancialForce's Advanced Resource Management capabilities within PS Cloud. By deploying modern technologies, Advanced Resource Management optimizes the staffing process for resource managers and provides an innovative experience for employees. Resource managers can now access a richer set of information across skills, experiences, and certifications to inform staffing decisions. They are also able to leverage an automated approach to searching for resources and ranking them across multiple requests. This allows resource managers to optimize staffing plans and build stronger project teams. Employees and team members can now take a more central role in the staffing process by identifying skill aspirations and expressing interest in work most interesting to them. They can also receive prompts, through Next Best Action, to update their skills based on previous assignments. This gives employees more influence over the scheduling process and helps them chart the advancement of their own careers. The cumulative impact of Advanced Resource Management is a more efficient staffing process, stronger project teams, maximized margins, and higher employee satisfaction. Multi-everything ERP The Fall 2021 Release also introduces powerful nw ERP features, including multi-x enhancements, additional localizations, improved customer engagement, and globalization enhancements to our next-generation financial report builder. On the multi-x front, the release includes support for multi-company journals, which allows for the ability to post journal entries regardless of the current organization. With this capability, information can be easily shared and unified across the entire enterprise. The release also provides support for advanced consolidations, which speeds up period-end-close for multi-tiered organizations by simplifying the consolidation process across entities, reducing manual efforts, and minimizing errors. Customers can improve efficiency of cash matching through automatic write-offs based on threshold rules for companies and currencies. This allows customers with a high volume of invoices to speed up the cash matching process in a multi-company environment, eliminating the need to manually write-off remaining invoice amounts one by one. Additionally, the revenue contract true up capability in Revenue Management will help customers account for currency rate fluctuations, ensuring accurate month-end reporting. The Fall 2021 release includes expanded localization support for Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium as well as additional withholding tax support. These enhancements allow customers to meet the regulatory accounting requirements in the countries in which they operate and quickly adapt to the unique needs of different locations. Fall 2021 further extends the power of FinancialForce's Customer Engagement offering through the addition of Inventory Sales Orders. Sales Orders can be analyzed across multiple customer projects or accounts, and Revenue Contracts and performance obligations for Revenue Recognition can be generated. Consolidated invoices across subscriptions, drop shipments, sales orders and services provide a more complete and accurate picture of customer engagement and behavior, providing a single view of all related customer activity through the Customer Engagement functionality. The new release delivers further innovation around Financial Report Builder (FRB), FinancialForce's next generation financial reporting technology. Now in its third version, FRB has added "out of the box" financial statements for the French and Spanish markets to the rich existing repository of financial statements and reports. With support for the new Reporting currency, FRB leverages the multi-x capabilities of FinancialForce Accounting, enabling even more complex financial report creation without the need for post-installation efforts or report rebuild. Modern UX FinancialForce continues our commitment to delivering a world class, modern User Experience (UX) with our ongoing investment in the Salesforce Lightning Experience (LEX) across all our solutions. The latest LEX updates in the Fall 2021 Release include improved efficiency and accuracy across transaction & bank reconciliations, automatic write-offs, services billing, as well as put away & shipping queues. Consultants are able to easily enter expenses through the new LEX enabled interface either directly in a workspace or project, or remotely using the new mobile expense entry in the Salesforce mobile app. The Fall 2021 Release provides an optimized design across all workspaces to increase efficiencies with collapsible left and right regions and a new Percentage KPI card that highlights performance. Related Lists can also be accessed on KPI cards to quickly drill down to the level of detail needed to make informed business decisions. About FinancialForce FinancialForce accelerates business growth with customer-centric ERP, Professional Services Automation (PSA), and Customer Success solutions. Run on the leading cloud platform, Salesforce, FinancialForce enables organizations to see their customers in full color to unlock customer insights, deliver innovative experiences, run a digital business, and achieve agility and resilience. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, FinancialForce is backed by Advent International, Salesforce Ventures, and Technology Crossover Ventures. For more information, visit www.financialforce.com. Most adopted PSA solution in SPI Research's 2021 PS Maturity Benchmark; most adopted PSA solution by Technology Services Industry Association in 2020; leader in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Midmarket Finance and Accounting Applications, 2020; #1 PSA by G2 (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005444/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Chinese hackers and fraudsters have found a new way to steal banking credentials of Indians and dupe them in the name of investing money in an angel fund scheme of the World Bank. The World Bank has issued an advisory cautioning people about the use of its name in this fraudulent scheme. In an advisory, the World Bank says, "...a website https://www.angel-fund.in/#/ is claiming a fraudulent connection to the World Bank to solicit funds. This is to caution the public that the World Bank group has no involvement with the individuals or groups who run this website, and that the content displayed there has been taken illegally from the World Banks official website." This website is now inaccessible with the page showing an error 504 or gateway time out. It says, "The gateway did not receive a timely response from the upstream server or application." World Bank is a multilateral development organisation that provides finance for government entities and does not finance angel funds or investment schemes for individuals. Hyderabad-based technology expert Srikanth (@logic) says local operators behind all such schemes are Indian but the entire technology and sometimes bank credentials are with the Chinese. After a search, he found that the domain name angel-fund.in is registered in China. The local operations is always Indian. Paper work jobs. But entire tech, even bank credentials are always with Chinese All .in domains registered from CN will be an interesting case study. cc @captn3m0 pic.twitter.com/bzZYLzUsNg Srikanth ??????????? (@logic) October 13, 2021 10k subscribers on 2 groups. The scale of MLM and number of victims. Remember -- All these frauds count towards #DigitalPayments / #UPI statistics pic.twitter.com/1VDQ6UFWtD Srikanth ??????????? (@logic) October 13, 2021 According to Srikanth, these fraudsters want people to become angel investors by watching a video on YouTube and then downloading an app. The beauty is - this is an actual @WorldBank project - except WB never raises funds from individuals to fund loans it gives. pic.twitter.com/kB0QlTqFla Srikanth ??????????? (@logic) October 13, 2021 The video on YouTube is uploaded by one SumiTech from Munger, Bihar. In this video, he shows earnings from investment as well as from referrals. He also shows the World Bank project for angel fund in the video. However, there is a disclaimer at the end of the detailed information. It says, "I made this video only for educational purposes, I never advice for invest your money here, if you'll invest than invest on your own risk, so be clear yourself before investment." From the video description, the angel fund investment scheme appears to be mostly oriented to collect banking details of investors. This scheme also comes out as a money-circulation scheme or multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme, where commission is paid for referring or bringing new people into the scheme. Readers are advised to stay away from any such angel fund investment scheme in the name of the World Bank. We had mentioned in Tuesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex may move sideways. On Friday, the indices opened higher and ended with major gains. On the NSE, there were 1,035 advances, 952 declines and 78 remained unchanged. The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading are given in the table below: TPG Rise Climate and Abu Dhabis ADQ will invest Rs 7,500 crore (around $1 billion) in Tata Motors new subsidiary which will make electric vehicles (EV). The investment values TML EV Co close to $ 9.1 billion. The investment will be done through a compulsory convertible instrument to secure 11-15% stake. Wipro, announced its Q2FY22 results after market hours. It has reported consolidated profit of Rs 2,930 crore as compared to Rs 3,242.6 crore in the Q1FY22. The decline in profits is due to wage hike Capco acquisition. Mindtree reported its Q2FY22 earnings, its net profit was at Rs 399 crore up 16.2% as compared to Q1FY22 and revenue was at Rs 2,586.2 crore up 12.8% from previous quarter. Its margin improved by 40 bps from 17.7% to 18.1% Q-o-Q. Infosys Q2FY22 revenue stood at Rs 29,602 crore compared with Rs 27,896 crore in previous quarter and its net profit was at Rs 5,421 crore as compared to Rs 5,195 crore in Q1FY22 up by around 11.9%. Its margin decreased by 10 bps to 23.6%. Approves dividend of Rs 15 per share. Bhansali Engineering Polymers reported revenue at Rs 374.84 crore in Q2FY22 up 21.76% from Rs. 307.85 crore in same quarter last year. Its EBITDA is at Rs. 167.09 crore in Q2FY22 as compared to Rs. 48.02 crore QFY21. International Monetary Fund (IMF), projects Indian economy to grow by 9.5% this year and 8.5% in 2022. NexWafe GmbH (NexWafe) announced the induction of Reliance New Energy Solar Limited (RNESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance) as a strategic lead investor in its EUR 39 million ($45 million) Series C financing round with an investment of EUR 25 million ($29 million) in phase one. Government has cut customs duty and agriculture cess on the edible oils; crude sunflower oil to nil, on refined sunflower oil to 17.5 percent and on crude palm oil to nil. RBI has authorized Karur Vysya Bank to collect direct taxes on behalf of CBDT, the Bank has initiated the integration process. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: "We need to keep on with jan andolans, dharnas and morchas, but politicians in the government are scared of only losing their power. In a democracy, citizens have this power. They can strip any government of its power. For better governance, we need to work towards empowering citizens," says noted social activist Anna Hazare. He was speaking at a webinar organised by Moneylife Foundation on the 16th anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act coming into existence, also known as RTI Diwas. It was part of an RTI series called "Conversations on RTI with Shailesh Gandhi," organised by Moneylife Foundation. It has been 16 years since the RTI Act came into existence. Calling it one of the best transparency laws in the world, Mr Gandhi started by asking Anna his views and thoughts on 16 years of the Act and where we are today. Anna says, "In the 16 years of RTI, we have achieved a lot regarding transparency and corruption, but there is still more to be done. I have heard complaints from many public information officers (PIOs) that RTI is giving them trouble. But this can all be solved if they rigorously follow section 4 of the Act about suo motu sharing of information in the public domain." "Agar har ek karyalay ne is pe amal kiya, toh aap ke pass koi jaankari lene aayega hi nahi aur RTI ka asar bohot accha dikhane lagega (If every public authority uses Section 4 of the RTI Act in true spirit, then no one would need to file an RTI and its impact can be huge). Keep using section 4 and sharing information in the public domain and citizens will come to your office seeking information. They do not follow Section 4 of the RTI Act and then blame citizens for seeking information through RTI." The RTI Act has been around for more than 15 years, has gone through many rounds of unsuccessful amendments, with the Union government finally making some amendments in 2019. Mr Gandhi shared his apprehensions and asked, "Since the RTI act was implemented 16 years ago, many people feel it is becoming less efficient. The initial few years were fine, but since then, it is being misused and misrepresented." Anna says, "I have been experiencing that after RTI came into existence, Maharashtra has become the leader to have the best implementation of RTI. I have been working on that since 1997 and have printed over five lakh copies of books to explain to people the effects of RTI. People started understanding the power of RTI, and this happened after 33 districts used it oppose corruption." "Unfortunately, not a single political party wants the RTI Act. Today Delhi has a lot of pressure, but they do not want this Act in place. I have always said, whether it is the state government or the union government, citizen empowerment is more important. We have to keep empowering people and the government will ultimately bow down. After opposition from the government for nearly 10-11 years, finally, we got the RTI Act passed by the Parliament. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, headed by Dr Manmohan Singh, tried to change the Act in 2006. However, after increased pressure and criticism from citizens, it eventually gave up the idea. "Then the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Narendra Modi came to power. The NDA government tried changing the law at least on three occasions before amending the Act in 2019. So, whether UPA or NDA, nobody wants the RTI Act to remain in its original and powerful format. It is such a beautiful act and so important for changing the country and governance. Unfortunately, those in power only think about their party and not about the common people," Anna says. "The RTI Act is such an important law, which empower citizens with the right information. However, the government still doubts whether citizens should be given the right information or need the right to information. Today is RTI Diwas and it is important to know that citizens still have the power in their hands to force a change. Do you feel RTI is poorly implemented? Take action! The government of the day has to react to the democratic power of the country's citizens. It is an uphill battle, but people need to come together and take action to force a change," the veteran activist concluded. In 2006, the Maharashtra legislature passed the Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act. The law was passed as Act 21 of 2006 and is also known as the Transfers and Delays Act. The Act was passed in 2006 but its rules were framed only in 2013. It was Anna Hazare's effort to get the legislation enacted. Section 10 of the Act mandates that the decision and necessary action on any file must be taken within 45 days if a matter has to be decided within a department. If more departments are involved, the limit is 90 days. Most decisions must be taken within three levels, and no officer can keep a file on his table for more than seven working days. According to Anna, citizens are made to go round and round for their work in a government office. "If the file is not moved within seven days, then that should lead to punishment," he says. Unfortunately, the Act has not been as successful as RTI. Anna says, "The movement we were able to build for RTI, unfortunately, we were unable to do the same for the Transfers and Delays Act. However, we will work to make it a successful Act like the RTI Act." Asking ordinary people to unite, he says, "while coming together, and to get better results, everyone needs to join hands and keep their differences aside. People who join organisations need to have clear thoughts. If you have stains in your public life, nobody will listen to you. Plus, this cannot happen without sacrifices. People who walk the path of truth face difficulties, but it is important to remember that while the ship of truth sways in corrupted waters, it will still never sink. Persist with a just cause and you shall be rewarded." The conversation was followed by a discussion with the audience that saw attendance from senior RTI activists like Vinita Deshmukh, Commodore Lokesh Batra, Anil Galgali, and Girish Mittal. A member from the audience asked Anna his thoughts on the subject of RTI activists being murdered. In response, he says, "I was saying this from the beginning, but it never got incorporated into the RTI Act. I still feel the government needs to take care of the security of RTI activists. It is their responsibility." Another member of the audience wanted to know Anna's thoughts and ideas on how to combat corruption. In response, he says, "The larger a group you present to the government, the more likely your issue will be noticed and the government will be pressurised to take action. This is true for all issues other than RTI. We must present a united front to counteract corruption." You can watch the full video here: TPG Rise Climate and Abu Dhabis ADQ will invest Rs 7,500 crore (around US$1 billion) in Tata Motors' new subsidiary which will make electric vehicles (EV). The investment values 'TML EV Co' close to US$9.1 billion. The investment will be done through a compulsory convertible instrument to secure a 11%-15% stake. The subsidiary will work in synergy with Tata Motors benefiting from its existing infrastructure. The subsidiary will create a portfolio of 10 EVs over the course of next five years as per Tata Motors' statement. The capital infusion will be done in phases; the first round will be completed by March 2022 and the entire fund will be infused by the end of next year. Jim Coulter, the managing partner of TPG Rise Climate, said that The investment aligns with TPG Rise Climates focus on decarbonized transport and builds on TPGs long history in India. N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Motors Ltd, said: I am delighted to have TPG rise climate join us in our journey to create a market-shaping electric passenger mobility business in India." "We will continue to proactively invest in exciting products that delight customers while meticulously creating a synergistic ecosystem. We are excited and committed to play a leading role in the government's vision to have 30% electric vehicles penetration by 2030. TPG Rise Climate was launched in early 2021 and raised close to US$5.4 billion in July 2021 from some of the largest institutional investors and more than 20 global companies. TPG Rise Climate is the dedicated investing strategy of TPGs global impact investing platform TPG Rise. It pursues climate-related investments that benefit from the diverse skill of TPGs investing professionals and global network of advisers and executives. This investment will give a boost to the Indian EV industry and help to achieve the target of having EV penetration at 30%. Spooky woods, movie history and the possibility of being eaten by murderous cannibals? Exactly what I want from a weekend away. The gas station where parts of the 1974 cult horror classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" is just two hours away in Bastrop and has become a Halloween pilgrimage for fans. But for those unafraid of a cannibal family wielding power tools, it's also a motel and camping destination fittingly named The Gas Station. "Chain Saw" fanatics Roy and Lisa Rose from Ohio purchased the building in 2014 and opened the motel in 2016, raising it from the dead to its former, spooky glory. They installed four cabins on the property with beds, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a TV (for on-site viewing of "Texas Chain Saw Massacre," of course). There are also around four tent spots the Gas Station rents out for brave campers who don't need the security of four walls and a lock. Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images Horror fans will also find horror movie merchandise for sale; photo ops, including the van from the movie and a memorial bench with a chainsaw; and the replica Coca-Cola sign that proclaims "WE SLAUGHTER BARBECUE." It's true; the Gas Station is also a barbecue joint serving up brisket and sausage (presumably not made with human meat) by the pound or plate to anyone who'd prefer to keep their visit short and before dark. No head cheese on the menu, though. While the campsites and cabins are booked through October, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you can't make it out to Bastrop to see where a tragedy befell five youths, The Gas Station sells collectibles and merchandise on its website, including autographs, action figures and "face skin" earrings no actual butchering required. The Gas Station is located at 1073 SH 304 in Bastrop, Texas. Midlander Jenny Cudd has pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge related to her participation in riots at the U.S. Capitol building as part of a plea deal with the federal government. Cudd pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds during a hearing with Washington, D.C. Judge Trevor McFadden on Wednesday. In exchange for the guilty plea, the U.S. Attorneys Office agreed to drop four other charges against her, including a felony obstruction charge. Pioneer Natural Resources and the West Texas Food Bank celebrated a new partnership to fund nine school food pantries in five counties Tuesday. WTFB and Pioneer employees visited South Elementarys food pantry to see how students help distribute food to their families and classmates' families. South parent liaison Barbara B. Yarbrough said the students get a sense of ownership in the pantry as well. She said she doesnt hold the students' hands while they work in the pantry. Yarbrough said the students participate in the shelving and restocking as well as getting bags of food together for their classmates. Theyre going to pack Friday bags and they had asked me what we were going to put in them, she said. You guys make the decisions of what they will be putting into the Friday bags. Yarbrough said she is teaching them to shop for themselves while still making sure nutritional options are taken care of, because otherwise the students might pack only the sweet things. Yarbrough said the biggest need for the pantry is food that students can eat when they get home, such as ravioli and Vienna sausages. Multiple students who work in the pantry said they felt proud of themselves while helping in the pantry. It is interesting to see them here and theyre so excited about it, she said. They really recognize it as being their store with organizing items and showcasing them. South Elementary School Principal Leticia Camarillo said the partnership between The West Texas Food Bank, Pioneer and the students is amazing to see. Our students work and understand how a grocery store functions, she said. They get the sense of purchasing items (the food is free at the pantry), restocking food and looking at expiration dates to make sure food is cycled in a timely manner. Pioneer Community Affairs and Communications Director Anna Leigh Navarro said the partnership came about thanks to the employee resource group, which is a grassroots effort that volunteers and coordinates donation collections. As the years have progressed, we wanted to grow our relationship with the West Texas Food Bank and make a bigger difference to partner in our community, where it really does make a difference for these families, she said. WTFB Executive Director Libby Campbell said Pioneer has always been an amazing corporate sponsor. We have seen a huge increase over the last year with upwards of a 32 percent need. Even the backpack program has continued to grow and the school pantries are continuing to need more resources, Campbell said. Having such a strong corporate partner -- Pioneer -- to come in and fund these pantries makes sure we can keep these shelves stocked so families can get the food they need. Pioneer Vice President of Operations and Accounting Dee Ann Key said she was impressed by the students during the visit because of their leadership. The students who help in the pantry impressed me with how they are responsible for making this be a store and the connection between that sense of ownership and feeding the hungry which isnt a usual connection, she said. Other school pantries benefiting from the partnership include Forsan, Lamesa ISD food pantry, San Jacinto Middle School, IDEA Travis Elementary, ECISD Community Outreach Center, Bowie Middle School Horned Frog Pantry, Odessa High School and Rankin. Those pantries are not open to the public. The glass shortage impacting Topo Chico is leading to purchasing limits at H-E-B. Albeit pretty generous (we feel) for the casual sparkling mineral water drinker, customers are seeing limits in H-E-B aisles and in the online store. The rationing isn't as the stringent water and toilet paper limits as customers experienced in the early days of the pandemic. A representative for the San Antonio-based grocery company says purchases of single bottles are limited to 24 and multipacks are limited to four per customer so, we think you'll survive. "Topo Chico supply issues are due to a glass shortage, which is impacting the entire industry," the spokeswoman says. The Topo Chico shortages were first reported in late July. It's unclear how long the H-E-B restrictions have been in place. However social media users, including the Facebook-powered StreetNews SA, which launched as sort of grocery phone tree at the start of the pandemic, is currently keeping the community abreast of restocks where they see them. The sparkling mineral water brand has been a Texas favorite long before fizzing into the mainstream. Production of the Coca-Cola-owned brand remains in Monterrey, Mexico. In September, a Coca-Cola spokeswoman told the New York Times the company is working on plans to keep seltzer savants satiated. Due to a deficiency in raw materials and the continued high consumer demand for Topo Chico, product availability has been impacted, the spokeswoman told NYT in an email. Were working hard and implementing contingency plans to keep the products on shelves. The kind of "raw materials" were not specified, but the glass issue is also hitting the liquor industry, Reuters reports. If the limits are too tight for you, H-E-B also sells its branded 1877 mineral water product. The Midland County Commissioners Court should not fund a mailer about their proposed sales tax initiative that is on the Nov. 2 ballot. It was a mistake when the previous Midland ISD administration spent tens of thousands of dollars to do it (and probably was a big reason the bond failed), and it was mistake for four county commissioners to vote to do the same. Heres why. If the residents of Midland County thought this was worthy, they would have come together, created a political action committee and funded this initiative. Second, the commissioners who voted for this obviously believe this mailer will help passage of a sales tax increase. If they didnt, taxpayer funding of this mailer would have never come before the court. Third, this mailer contains language that could be seen as political, including the first sentence, Many Texas counties have found it challenging to fund public services, projects and programs. Really? Who stated this as fact? It is worth stating that Scott Ramsey was the only county commissioner that voted against the mailer. All that should be done by a PAC (political action committee), Ramsey said. Thats the job of the people who are out there advocating for it, not the county. Using county dollars, to me, is advocacy. There was conversation that took place that at this point there wasnt a PAC and early voting starts on Oct. 18. Luis Sanchez, for instance, stated Whether we agree with it or not, its just information that needs to go out. And if that means using county funds, so be it. Let it be said that in the past week the Reporter-Telegram offered space in this newspaper to provide the same type of awareness efforts that we provided the school district prior to its bond election. My expectation is that TV and radio media would have done the same thing had county leaders called. Questions: What does it say that supporters of this tax increase could not find people to create a PAC to make this happen? Commissioners hired a lawyer to navigate through the election-related items associated with this ballot initiative in April. Why does this seem like a last-minute effort to generate awareness/support? We are talking about potentially $80 million in additional annual revenue for county leaders. That is a number that came from County Judge Terry Johnson. Combine that with money the county will collect from its current sales tax haul and that is between $120 million and $160 million a year. What will that buy county residents? No one can say for sure. Sun Valley, ID (83353) Today Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. The Italians consider that Columbus was born in Genoa. Because of this New York is decorated with Italian flags to celebrate the discovery. The fact that the crown of Castile, Spain, undertook the feat and the expense of the discovery is unknown to most North Americans. Today in many American cities Columbus Day has been renamed and is now called "the Indigenous People Day" Curiously enough, Christopher Columbus did not set foot in North American soil on any of his 4 trips to America. The one who did so was the Spaniard Ponce de Leon in 1513. He was the first European to set foot in Florida. Later from the north came the French, Dutch and English colonizers. Last Friday President Joe Biden acknowledged " the painful history of grievances and atrocities committed by many European explorers against North American tribal nations". A curious way to put it by the President. While the French and the Dutch engaged in trade in the north, Spain integrated the Indians into the missions (except for one episode with the Pueblo Indians) down south and all the way over to California. Meanwhile, William Bradford, an Englishman of the so-called Pilgrim Fathers, described the enthusiasm of the extermination of the Indians who had helped them survive upon their arrival in North America: - It was a terrible sight to see how the Indians roasted 0n the stake, the rivers of blood, the smell of burning, frying, but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice and God was thanked for having acted in their favor, giving them a victory over an insolent people -. England carried out a violent policy of Christianization and education by eliminating indigenous names, prohibiting speaking the native languages and practicing other tribal customs. The Indians were expelled from their lands. 15 million inhabitants in their day are today reduced to 574 known tribes after the massacre and theft of land by the English and later by their descendants. They overlooked all the treaties between the Indian tribes and the government in Washington. - "Beware of the English" - still say the Amish descendants of the Dutch and Germans today. We must remember the massacres, the wars, and the displacements to other territories of the Indian tribes by the North American army during the 19th and 20th centuries, paying no attention at all to the treaties between the tribes and the government with expropriations and relocations or separating 150,000 children from their parents in schools where 40,000 children died. However, the tribes, called the First Nation in the US, represent the current 5 million Native Americans who continue to claim their lands and historic rights. @mundiario age 95, a long time resident of Beggs, OK, transitioned in her grandsons home in Tulsa, OK with family at bedside. Arrangements are pending with House of Winn Funeral Home-Okmulgee. A proposed change to the way Horry County Council members are elected could lead to a court challenge and appears to have no legal authority supporting it, according to an opinion issued by the state Attorney Generals Office. Horry County Councilman Harold Worley sought guidance from the office of the states top prosecutor because Worley wants the county to hold a referendum asking voters about changing the method of electing council members. Currently the council consists of 12 seats: 11 members elected by voters in specific districts and a council chairman who is elected countywide. Worley has proposed keeping the districts but requiring that their representatives be elected at-large, meaning all the countys voters would decide who holds each seat. "It hasnt been done," Worley said. "But why cant it be done?" Worley asked state Rep. William Bailey, R-Little River, to send the AGs office a letter outlining his proposal. In his letter, Bailey noted that some of his constituents want to develop a petition for a countywide referendum that would ask this yes-or-no question: Should the current single-member district method of electing members of the Horry County Council be changed to require that each of the eleven (11) members thereof be elected on an at-large basis and that each of those members be required to establish and maintain a legal residence in one of those eleven (11) single-member districts? Bailey also inquired about the proper method for preparing such a petition, if the document needed to be in a specific form to be valid, where it should be filed and if the proposed question was in the proper form to be included on a ballot. When asked about the letter, Bailey told myhorrynews.com that he doesnt have any position on whether the method of election changes; he was simply seeking the AGs opinion at Worleys request. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been working to change the Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which some have invoked in the fight against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The 1998 Health Right of Conscience Act bans discrimination because of such persons' refusal to receive or participate in any way in any particular form of healthcare services contrary to his or her conscience. Some have said the law allows people to avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine and evade Pritzker's executive order mandating vaccination or regularly testing for health care workers, educators and other state employees. Ameri Klafeta of the ACLU of Illinois said people are abusing the 1998 law and using it in a way that was not intended. "The cases that have been brought under this law have always involved health care professionals," Klafeta said. "This was never a law for individual citizens." The Health Right of Conscience Act was intended to help healthcare workers who had religious beliefs regarding certain procedures, Klafeta said. "Where you would see this law invoked is a situation where a doctor or a nurse has a religious exemption to providing abortion care or birth control or something of that nature," Klafeta said. Emily Bittner, deputy chief of staff for the governor, told ABC 7 that the administration wants to clarify the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. "The Health Care Right of Conscience Act was never intended to allow people to avoid public health guidance during a global pandemic. The administration supports efforts to clarify the law, so it cannot be misinterpreted by fringe elements," Bittner said in a statement to the station. Some say the state law allows a people to claim religious reasons to avoid the governor's vaccine mandate. Attorneys have also filed lawsuits citing the 1998 law. Arguments are being made that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act protects Illinoisans from being discriminated against in their job for not complying with a medical procedure. In Adams County, health care workers are suing their employers under the act. Some schools are excluding staff with some saying the act protects them. Some school officials say possible lawsuits using the act are why theyre not excluding school staff for not complying. A teachers union told members to expect the issue to surface during the upcoming veto session. It is possible that the General Assembly may amend the HRCA to make it clear that requiring a test for COVID is not a violation of the act, a letter sent to teachers covered by the Springfield Education Association. Expect to hear more about this during the fall veto session. State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said last month that addressing the act through legislation would be the first major action Democrats have taken on policies concerning COVID-19. I dont think they want to be put in that vice-like position, but the governor's pushing it, Rose said. Pritzker addressed some of the lawsuits on Tuesday at an unrelated news conference. "We need to remember that we have to fight, not only for keeping our kids safe from the virus, but also our entire community," the governor said. Pritzker said bad actors have been trying to make schools "less safe." "There are people that are extraordinarily irresponsible who are going around the state suing because they basically want to make our schools less safe," Pritzker said. "That is not right, we are not at a moment where this pandemic is over we have to stand up for the safety of all the people in this state." According to the Illinois Department of Health, 63% of those 12 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Lawmakers are set to return to Springfield on Oct. 19. A measure that prohibits Illinois schools from issuing policies on hairstyles associated with race or ethnicity will soon be state law. Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week signed Senate Bill 817, also known as the Jett Hawkins Act. Nobody should be made to feel less than for how they express themselves," Pritzker said. "In Illinois, were making it so school uniform and dress code policies in Illinois cannot prohibit or restrict hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture. The measure is in response to a 4-year-old boy in Chicago, Gus Jett Hawkins, who was told his braids violated his school's dress code. The new legislation prohibits school district dress code policies from applying to hairstyles, including "hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists," according to the text of the measure. State Sen. Mike Simmons brought the bill forward in hopes of helping kids like Jett, who have been affected by school dress code policies in the past. "There have been too many children across the state of Illinois and this country that have been traumatized by school districts that are trying to police their hairstyles," Simmons said. No child should ever have to experience being singled out by their school for sporting a hairstyle that remains true to their heritage, culture or ancestry. The original amendment was met with some opposition. Some opposed to the penalties school districts could face if they violate the law. Simmons said that while there can be consequences for schools that do not comply, he said most schools will make the right decision. "We should have a strong enforcement mechanism in place for schools that don't comply," Simmons said. "It is also my feeling that many school districts want to be on the right side of history where we will not need to contribute those opponents." The legislation will go into effect on Jan. 1. A new state task force is continuing discussions as to what changes could be made to the way state law approaches qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Qualified immunity is a court doctrine granting protection for law enforcement officers and other government officials from certain civil lawsuits seeking money damages for civil rights violations that occurred during the course of their regular duties. Courts have ruled that unless a plaintiff can prove the officer has violated a clearly established right meaning a court has ruled on a case thats almost exactly similar to the one it is considering qualified immunity can be used as a defense to shield the officer from civil liability. The Illinois Constitutional Rights and Remedies Task Force was created under the SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice reform omnibus bill that became law earlier this year. Scholars seeking to end qualified immunity told the task force reforms are necessary to ensure that all individuals who believe theyve had their rights violated by police officers have the opportunity to seek justice in court. But police group representatives painted qualified immunity as a little-used defense thats been blown out of proportion and manipulated in the press. Ending qualified immunity, the law enforcement-affiliated panelists said, would make it more difficult to retain police officers by making them live in fear of frivolous civil lawsuits. It could also increase financial pressures on municipal budgets by increasing litigation and insurance rates. Both sides agreed that cases dismissed on qualified immunity grounds are a relatively small fraction of the overall cases focusing on rights violations by officers. Larry James, a partner at the Crabbe, Brown & James law firm in Columbus, Ohio, and general counsel for the National Fraternal Order of Police, noted qualified immunity doesnt protect against termination or discipline for officers, but protects against only civil suits. It protects officers who had to make split-second discretionary decisions based on training they received and the limited information available. He also said the Supreme Court, which has largely affirmed qualified immunity as a defense, denied two cases of qualified immunity in recent months. They said where it is so egregious, that it is obvious that these officers have violated someone's civil rights, they're not going to grant qualified immunity, James said. What you're seeing around the country in these egregious cases, the officer is terminated, the officers indicted, and, of late, you're seeing convictions and you're seeing officers do time. If an officer is fired by a department and criminally indicted, he said, the government is not going to afford him or her any defense whatsoever. So qualified immunity is not going to even come into play, he said. John Murphey, with the firm Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier, McGrath, Ltd., frequently represents cities and police departments. He said one of the most important components of the SAFE-T Act is the accelerated requirement of adoption of body cameras, which will resolve a great deal of the litigation. But qualified immunity in the excessive force context is important too, because officers typically are reacting, he said. They don't know for the most part what is behind that door, they don't know what's in the front seat of that car, or what's in that glovebox. So these are truly split-second decisions that police officers have to make. Larry Rogers, a Cook County Board of Review commissioner and attorney at Power Rogers LLP, said, the real issue is protecting individual civil rights, and qualified immunity creates circumstances where officers dont feel theyre going to be held accountable. Joanna Schwartz, a UCLA law professor who has published reports on the subject, said the main problem with qualified immunity is that cases dismissed on the precedent are cases that could not be dismissed on any other grounds. They are cases where there has already been proof of a constitutional violation. And the reason that they've been dismissed is because there happens to not be a prior similar enough incident of unconstitutional plaintiffs, she said. She said arguments that municipalities will be bankrupted and officers will leave the field if qualified immunity is repealed are overstated. Thats because in the vast majority of cases officers are indemnified by state law, meaning municipalities pay civil penalties, and her research showed lawsuits in police misconduct cases amount to well less than 1 percent of most cities and counties budgets. It would mean that for the relatively small percentage of cases where people have shown constitutional violations, but there happens to not be a prior case on point, those people would be able to get justice through the courts, she said of ending qualified immunity. William Baude, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, said he was previously a clerk with Chief Justice John Roberts, and he views qualified immunity as problematic based on constitutional concerns. He said one of the countrys fundamental principles of the rule of law is that a person whose rights have been violated should have the opportunity to remedy the situation. One of the most important remedies is being able to bring the issue before a judge and jury. Fred Smith, a professor at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, said qualified immunity creates distrust in the rule of law. When people don't view the law as fair, they're less likely to comply with the law, he said. So that is to say that it actually kind of it creates its own public safety problem. Baude said while qualified immunity is a federal court doctrine, the Supreme Court has, to some extent, left it in place because it is counting on the democratic deliberations to investigate what the doctrine should be. The scholars agreed that any changes at the state level would largely affect state courts as opposed to federal precedent. When asked for potential changes to the states approach to qualified immunity, Schwartz said it should either be eliminated or made an affirmative defense for the officer, and Smith and Baude agreed. If there is concern about eliminating qualified immunity entirely, then make it an affirmative defense where the defendant really has to come forward and show the policy, the training or the law that they relied upon, that they were trained about, that they received, that made them think that what they were doing was constitutional, she said. Lance LoRusso, a lawyer and law enforcement officer who has trained officers in more than 30 states, for federal agencies and in nine countries, suggested task force members take part in use-of-force decision-making and scenario-based trainings that law enforcement officers must take. If you could see the absolute decision making that has to take place in a compressed time space, he said, you would understand why the courts created a concept of qualified immunity for discretionary acts. The task force will next meet on Oct. 21, and task force members requested staff prepare a review of how many cases have been dismissed under qualified immunity in Illinois in recent years and how many misconduct cases have been filed. A storm that passed through west-central Illinois on Monday had National Weather Service offices in Lincoln and St. Louis continuing to collect data Tuesday from tornadoes and straight-line winds that caused damage across the area. Theyre still out there in the field, said meteorologist Melissa Byrd of the National Weather Service in St. Louis. As of Tuesday afternoon, data had not been reported on the tornado that touched down in the Greene County community of Wrights, destroying a silo, two buildings and farm equipment. No other tornadoes were reported in Greene County or the St. Louis weather region. That tornado was the only one we know of that caused damage, Byrd said, adding that it would be late Tuesday before they had hard data that would help determine the tornados estimated speed. A tornado in Morgan County didnt destroy any property but did cause a semi-trailer to overturn on Interstate 72. Morgan County was fairly brief as far as the tornado, said Alex Erwin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Lincoln. Its speed was undetermined because there was no major damage off of which to base information, Erwin said. Its hard to determine because it was in a rural area and there was minimal damage, he said. The storm cell that passed through west-central Illinois was traveling northeast and also brought straight-line winds upward of 53 mph, though no hail was reported, Erwin said. Woodford County, just east of Peoria, had two tornadoes reported. They caused some damage to barns and farm property, Erwin said. More storms are expected today, possibility replicating Mondays weather, Erwin said. There is a chance for storms and isolated storms, he said, adding that Jacksonville and Springfield will be on the southern side of the front expected to come through. There also will be thunderstorms Thursday and rain Friday ushering in cooler temperatures this weekend. Thursday will be your general storms, Erwin said. American families have struggled for decades to make ends meet with stagnant wages and a devastated social safety net. The U.S. now spends less on children than nearly any other wealthy nation. But this year, theres a glimmer of hope that this trend might be halted and even reversed. Democrats, using their razor-thin majorities in Congress, passed an expanded Child Tax Credit in March that not only increased the tax refund for families with young children but also began sending them a monthly advance. These payments benefit roughly 39 million American families who now receive monthly checks of up to $300 per child per month. Thats not nearly enough to cover the exploding cost of child care, but even these comparatively modest payments could be transformative. The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University documented a notable drop in child poverty after just the first month of credit payments. The U.S. Census Bureau also found that after just one month, food insecurity among vulnerable families dropped significantly, and families receiving checks also had less difficulty paying for weekly expenses. So convincing are the expanded the credits proven benefits that nearly 450 economists wrote an open letter to Congress urging them to extend the program beyond this year, when its scheduled to expire. Many policymakers agree. President Joe Biden wants them extended for at least four years as part of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill called the Build Back Better Act. Other Democrats are pushing to make them permanent. If you just want to look at the impact of a childs life, this is the biggest thing that were doing, said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., one of the the credits biggest proponents. Indeed, its hard to argue against helping vulnerable American children. But in spite of its clear benefits, the tax credit is in very real political danger of being rolled back. Accountable US identifies nine House Democrats and two Senate Democrats senators Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. who oppose the extension of an expanded tax credit. Of these 11 naysayers, eight are millionaires. Manchin in particular has adopted a posture closer to the Republican way of thinking: that benefits aimed at wealthy interests are good for the nation, while benefits to vulnerable individuals are effectively entitlements. Using Republican-favored buzzwords, Manchin recently said that while he supports the credit in theory, anything that can be added should be means tested, and that it is important that the U.S. not turn into an entitlement society. One critic explained, Means testing is just a nicer way to say, We want people to jump through more hoops, so fewer people can get help. With friends like Manchin, Republicans can sit out the discussion and have no clear policy position on the matter. But some tax credit supporters are going on the offensive to get money into the hands of low-income and middle-income Americans by other means. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, in July introduced a guaranteed income bill that would ensure individuals making up to $75,000 a year receive $1,200 monthly checks. The SUPPORT Act, backed by progressive stalwarts such as Cori Bush, D-Missouri, and Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, includes running a pilot program initially to prove that monthly payments would have a positive impact on families. Putting cash into the hands of ordinary Americans is a win-win proposition the economy as a whole is buoyed when people have more money in their pockets to spend on basic necessities. Rather than infusing the top tiers of society with money and hoping it trickles down, more policy makers are getting on board with direct benefits to vulnerable Americans. The tax credit is one of these, and its working. Lets not blow it. Sonali Kolhatkar is the host of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. This commentary was produced by the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and adapted by OtherWords.org. Watertown, SD (57201) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 19F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 19F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Calaveras, CA Calaveras County Sheriff Office Majurna Enforcement Unit is staying busy with search warrants leading to plenty of illegal marijuana grows. The first took place on September 23rd with a search warrant issued for illegal marijuana cultivation in the 5000 block of Blue Mountain Road in Wilseyville. Deputies seized 63 growing plants, 238 pounds of processed product with 52.8 grams of concentrated honey oil. The estimated value of everything seized exceeds $327.000. Evidence of Butane Honey Oil(BHO) extraction operation was discovered on the site. Daniel Elliot Jacob, age 39 of Wilseyville was issued a citation on charges of 1358 H&S Illegal Marijuana, 11359 H&S Possession of Marijuana For Sale, 11379.6 H&S Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, and 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime. The investigation is ongoing. On September 29th a search warrant was served in the 4000 block of Hillvale Drive in Valley Springs. Deputies seized 419 growing plants with an estimated total value of over a quarter of a million dollars. Deputies also seized 2.7 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, 14 firearms were seized, one of which had been stolen. No suspects were at the location. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing. On September 30th, a combined force of Marijuana Enforcement Units and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Officers served a search warrant in the 1500 block of Highway 12 in San Andreas. Officers seized 62 growing plants and 45 pounds of processed product with a value exceeding $75,000. Officer seized 10 firearms at the scene. Several environmental violations were documented by the onsite CDFW scientist to include removing the river bedrock and water diversion. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing. At the start of October on the first, a search warrant was served in the 7000 block of Highway 12 in Wallace. Deputies seized 1,287 growing plants with an estimated value of $858,000. The residence had been converted to facilitate indoor cultivation. Calaveras County Code Enforcement responded to the scene to address violations. Junyun Ouyang, age 26 of Wallace, was placed under arrest and booked into the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office on charges of 11366 H&S Maintaining a Place for Sells of a Controlled Substance and 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime. The investigation is ongoing. The Calaveras Sheriffs Office encourages anyone with knowledge of illegal marijuana operations to call the Sheriffs Office Anonymous Marijuana Tip Line at (209) 754-6870. District Attorney Tuolumne County Seal View Photo Sonora, CA At the urging of the Tuolumne County District Attorneys Office, a man convicted of both second-degree murder and second-degree robbery in 1991 was denied parole. The DAs Office reports that Victor Munoz, along with his brother Butch, killed and robbed a family acquaintance, Manuel Gonzales, in March of 1990. His brother repeatedly struck the victim in the head with a wooden board, and Munoz cheered him on. They dragged the body into a nearby bush and stole a wallet, cash and jewelry. Munoz was eventually sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. He was released in July of 2011. One year later he was sent back to prison after leading a Calaveras Sheriffs Deputy on a high-speed motorcycle chase that ended when he crashed the bike. He was again released on parole in 2015. Four years later, in 2019, he returned to prison because of an incident related to using methamphetamine and trying to manipulate a drug test. The Tuolumne County District Attorneys Office was represented by Deputy DA Norma De Santiago at a recent state parole hearing. Deputy DA De Santiago argued that Munoz still poses a great risk to the community because of his past offenses and inability to remain crime-free once granted parole. The Board of Parole Hearings agreed, so Munoz will remain in prison. He will again be eligible for another hearing in 12 months. October 7 Theft from a yard/land was reported on the 600 block of W. 18th on Oct. 7. A bicycle was taken from the front yard. No there is no suspect or information at this time. A minor traffic crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 300 block of W. 5th on Oct. 7. A 56-year-old man was arrested for assault causing bodily injury/family violence on the corner of W 24th & Yonkers on Oct. 7. Assault causing bodily injury/dating violence was reported on the 900 block of W. 28th on Oct. 7. According to the police report, a male assaulted a female in a parking lot. Minor injuries were reported. October 8 A minor traffic crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 1000 block of Ennis on Oct. 8. A minor traffic crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 1100 block of Fresno on Oct. 8. According to the police report, a vehicle failed to maintain a single lane and crashed into a parked vehicle. Burglary by forced entry into a residence was reported on the 2300 block of Independence on Oct. 8. A 55 flat screen television was taken. October 9 Two individuals were arrested in connection to damage to private property on the 700 block of W. 10th. A 40-year-old male was charged with criminal mischief resulting in more than $100 but less than $750 of damage. A 34-year-old male was charged with criminal trespass. A minor traffic crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 600 block of E. 5th on Oct. 9. A minor traffic crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 1500 block of Ennis. A 38-year-old male was arrested on during a traffic stop on a warrant for a local misdemeanor on the 900 block of Joliet on Oct. 9. A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 700 block of Denver on Oct. 9. October 10 A 25-year-old female was arrested on a warrant for a local misdemeanor on the 700 block of Portland on Oct. 10. The individual was arrested after police responded to a disturbance call. Violation of a court order was reported on the 500 block of W. 22nd on Oct. 10. According to the police report, a known person refused to give their child back to the custodial parent. Burglary by forced entry into a residence was reported on the 1000 block of W. 10th on Oct. 10. According to the police report, the burglary was reported at the residence where a male entered with the intent to commit an assault. A 34-year-old male was arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle on the 1500 block of Yonkers. A known person got into a vehicle and stole it without the owners consent on the 1300 block of W. 24th on Oct. 10. October 11 Burglary of a building was reported on the 600 block of North I-27 WFR on Oct. 11. Terroristic threats were reported on the 501 E. 6th on Oct. 11. Statutory rape was reported on the 100 block of Pecos Place on Oct. 11. Violation of a court order was reported on the 1500 block of North I-27 on Oct. 11. Burglary of a tablet by forced entry into a non-residence was reported on the 300 block of S. Columbia on Oct. 11. A 29-year-old female was arrested for assault causing bodily injury/family violence on the 300 block of SE 7th. According to the police report, witnesses stated a male and female were physically fighting in the street in front of the residence. The female was said to have been assaulting the male. When contacted by police, the two were found in the front yard and the male had injuries supporting the witness account. She was arrested and transported to the Hale County Sheriffs Office. Theft from a vehicle was reported on the 100 block of W. 9th. According to the police report, an unknown person entered an unsecured vehicle at a park and took belongings from the vehicle. Plainview ISD will be hosting a dyslexia parent meeting on Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the PISD Education Complexs cafeteria. The cafeteria is located at 2417 Yonkers and is north of the Board Room. Vendor booths will be open from 5-6 p.m. Vendors include Texas Workforce Solutions, PISD Family Engagement, AHEC of the Plains, Texas WIC, SMILE Zone and Central Plains Center. A presentation on the dyslexia program will begin at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. San Antonio's big outdoor, dreamy showcase of all things art announced its lineup on Tuesday. Luminaria is back after canceling last year, and its bringing a lineup of over 45 artists highlighting everything from fine arts, film, digital art, dance, theatre, fashion and poetry, according to a news release. Here's what you need to know about the art festival that returns on November 13. Art gallery among the streets BILLY CALZADA /SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Luminaria is popular because it turns the streets of downtown San Antonio into a gallery. It will take place in areas surrounding Hemisfair, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the San Antonio River Walk. And it's all free to the public. This year's honored guest Express-News file photo The organization announced this year's Honorary Curatorial Committee Chair is none other than San Antonio native and actor Jesse Borrego. "Luminaria is the brilliance of possibilities," Borrego says in the news release. "It is an inclusive festival celebrating our roots, which captures a spiritual energy from our indigenous ancestors. Many cultured visions bring San Antonio life." A lineup of sound and light Photo by Christian Moller, courtesy of Luminaria More than 45 Texas artists and groups will showcase a vibrant, creative mix of artistic expression ranging from poetry and music to video, lights and much more. Among the list of artists, Luminaria will feature a poetry showcase led by Eddie Vega; a dance and drum performance by Urban-15; an art gallery with a tribute to late Chicano artist Adan Hernandez who passed away earlier this May; and a special appearance by living legend Flaco Jimenez. The night will also include performances from American Indians in Texas, Alyson Alonzo, Ballet Folklorico Sol de San Antonio, Bombasta, Heartless The Monster, Hotel Diplomats, Ila Minori, Jeremy Kingg, Los Texmaniacs feat. Flaco Jimenez, Mariachi Las Altenas, Patricia Vonne, Paula Cortez, Pop Pistol, and Satara. Art installations will feature San Antonio favorites including dadaLab, David D. Pena, Gabi Magaly, Gabriel Garcia, Jillian Sortore and Carlos Perez, Jonathan Lenhardt, Jonathan Sims, Justin Parr and Adam Smolensky, Rob the Original, Nain Leon, and Of the Serpent. Film projects will include artists Anna De Luna, Guillermina Zabala, Ryan Takaba, Susi Lopera, and Violeta De Leon Davila. A separate category for music/sound/video projections will feature work by BRAINWAVE, Breathe Collective, Deanna Arriaga, Jesus Toro Martinez, and Yuliya Lanina. Luminaria kicks off at 6 p.m. and continues until midnight. See the full list below. It's not every day you see someone directly express their displeasure to Gov. Greg Abbott's face. A TikTok video posted over the weekend shows the governor greeting and then being castigated by a man outside Harper's Restaurant in Dallas, Texas. The footage shows a grinning Abbott stopping outside the restaurant to shake hands with a man. The San Antonio Express reports that the man behind the camera is named Eric Katzenberger, who deployed a bit of charm before flipping the encounter on its ear. "Oh my God, are you the governor?" Katzenberger asks. Abbott replies in the affirmative, and the situation quickly changes tenor. "Why would you sign a law telling women whether they can have an abortion or not? That makes you a d*******g." The video cuts Abbott's response short, and the clip ends with the politician still smiling WARNING: Video contains NSFW language The video has accumulated nearly 7 million views on TikTok since being posted Saturday. Katzenberger told the San Antonio Express News on Monday he was working at his business across the street when he saw the governor and decided to make his anger known. He first shared the video with his friends, and after receiving positive feedback, decided to create an account on TikTok just for sharing the moment. Katzenberger's encounter with the governor has also garnered attention on Twitter, where one user wrote "Seeing other people live out my dreams." His face-to-face berating has also drawn criticism from some TikTok users, leading Katzenberger to make another video addressing his detractors in plain, unapologetic terms. "Nobody is sitting around on a Monday morning thinking wow' an abortion sounds like fun," he said in response to one comment praising the governor. "If someone is considering an abortion they're in a difficult situation. Passing a bunch of laws to make that situation more difficult makes you a d*******g." Satellite images courtesy of NESDIS Satellite Services Division (NOAA) As Mexico's Pacific coast readies for Hurricane Pamela, parts of Texas are predicted to see rain and potentially severe weather as the storm moves inland. It's expected to make landfall on the central west coast of Mexico as a major hurricane early Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. After landfall, the storm will quickly devolve and turn into a depression by Wednesday evening before it reaches the Rio Grande. As the storm weakens and moves north, the majority of Central Texas will remain under threat of flash and urban flooding. The city of Rocksprings, roughly 100 miles west of San Antonio, could see up to six inches of rain between Tuesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service outpost in Austin. My position with Nashville Post has evolved since 2000 when I began work with the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister pub in 2008 (when I began some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have worked mainly with the Post since late 2011. Follow William Williams 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 (Natural News) It is now prohibited for any entity in Texas to impose a Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine mandate, thanks to a new executive order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. On October 11, Abbott issued EU No. GA-40 related to prohibiting vaccine mandates, subject to legislative action. That EO delineates that no entity in the Lone Star State: can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19. The EO goes on to explain that violators will be subject to the maximum fine allowed under Section 418.173 of the Texas Government Code. The states emergency management plan will also apply to any failure to comply with Abbotts EO. In essence there will never be any scenario in which anyone in Texas can force someone else to show proof of injection as a prerequisite to doing something or being somewhere. Since this is just an EO, Abbott is also calling on the Texas legislature to move quickly to pass a law with the same effect. That way, even if Abbott were to be voted out of office, the ruling would still stand. Once a law is passed, Abbott says he will rescind the executive order. In the meantime, unvaccinated Texans will have the protection they need to continue living their lives without oppression and tyranny from the Branch Covidians. Abbott still calling covid jabs safe and effective The Texas legislature is currently in its third special legislative sessions, which ends on October 19. This means that there are just a few days remaining to pass a bill as Abbott is urging. At the same time, Abbott continues to tow the Republican line that claims Chinese Flu shot are safe, effective, & our best defense against the virus, but that they should always remain voluntary & never forced. This disclaimer is tiresome and misleading, just to be clear, as the only thing the jabs are effective at is ending lives. The Republican Party is trying really hard to remain politically correct, though, which is unfortunate when dealing with something as serious as these deadly injections. Even so, Abbotts EO is a welcome change from his earlier position, which supported private employers who persecute their employees by forcing them to get injected. Now, nobody in Texas will be allowed to do this. For weeks, Abbott has faced pressure from health freedom advocates who were urging him to do something to stop the Branch Covidians from imposing fascism in the state of Texas. He finally complied, prompting Don Huffines, one of his primary challengers, to celebrate the move. The Texas legislature has already passed a law to ban so-called vaccine passports, so Abbotts EO is something of an extension to that. However, the latest EO goes a step further to completely stamp out any and all covid vaccine tyranny before it has the chance to fester. In yet another instance of federal government overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texass continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster, Abbott stated, responding to Bidens attempt at forcing all employers with 100 employees or more to require covid vaccination or weekly testing. Roughly half of Texas is said to be vaccinated for the Fauci Flu. After all this time, those who wanted the shots have likely already gotten them, and everybody else is unlikely to ever get them, no matter what the government says or does. The latest news about Chinese Virus tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: Texas.gov TexasTribune.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) With skyrocketing murder rates in major cities and mayhem at the southern border, the countrys alleged top cop, Attorney General Merrick Garland, is focused on going after parents for voicing legitimate concerns at local school board meetings. (Article by Mark Pellin republished from HeadlineUSA.com) And law-abiding citizens have every right to be concerned, according to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who warned that Americans should be afraid of your government. Moms at school boards are being told that theyre criminals, potential domestic terrorists, for the crime of dissent, and I think criminalizing dissent is something that we should all be appalled with, Paul said Thursday, in response to Garlands recent pronouncement that the FBI could be used to target parents who speak out at school board meetings. Garland, who has family ties with a company that profits from promoting Critical Race Theory, went into hysterics after the National School Board Association complained to the Biden administration. But Paul noted that the parents protected speech was a fundamental part of the democratic process, and that the Justice Departments tactics amounted to intimidation. If you go to a school board meeting and youre disruptive and you dont obey the rules of the school board meeting, then there will be local punishment, Paul said. But that has nothing to do with the federal law, it has nothing to do with the Department of Justice. The Biden administrations attempts to force conservatives into submission with the threat of weaponizing federal law enforcement if parents decide to exercise their rights to peaceful protest and dissent effectively put the DOJ on a mission to quash opinions that run counter to Bidens and the Lefts agenda. I think the problem is, its become so normalized to use government to search out and seek out your opponents, Paul said. Read more at: HeadlineUSA.com (Natural News) The September story over at The Mirror said it all for those who have politely and with great wisdom declined to take the mRNA injection the globalists have for months now been pushing in our faces. (Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) While Mahatma Gandhi, once revered by the left, once said Vaccination is a barbarous practice and one of the most fatal of all the delusions current in our time. Conscientious objectors to vaccination should stand alone, if need be, against the whole world, in defense of their conviction, the new left in 2021 says of those who refuse the still-experimental injection.: Anti-vaxxers want to kill your babies, stage a coup and cause another lockdown. These people are terrorists whod happily kill us all for a false ideology, says Fleet Street Fox. Anyone who objects to vaccines, folic acid in bread, or democracy should be jailed and deradicalized. With that story at The Mirror immediately comparing those who trust the human immune system over the big pharma mafia to terrorists from the Taliban who want to target the NHS for destruction, it insanely claimed anti-vaxxers want to kill your babies at a time when liberals are murdering babies across America, with full government approval, by the hundreds of thousands each year. Talk about lunacy. With Dr. Anthony Fauci recently claiming its way too early to ditch masks for people indoors while even babbling on recently about the fully vaccinated needing to wear masks outdoors, too, when was the last time that you wore a mask outdoors, vaccinated or not? Yeah, we dont either but the looks that well sometimes get from the fully masked, both indoors and outdoors, while not wearing masks help to explain to us what were now reading in the media. So before we continue, lets take a look at this story over at The Mirror to see what they really think about anti-vaxxers. Claiming that anti-vaxxers are a threat to their right to vote, their unborn children and we threaten to drag them back to the 14th century, how can anyone believe a word they say when theyre writing utter BS like this? Imagine if the Taliban was targeting the NHS for destruction. Picture someone determined to live in the 14th century and drag you, your family, and your democracy back there too. What wonders thatll do for infectious disease, maternal mortality rates, and your right to vote. Its what youd expect from the Taliban, isnt it? And it is reasonable to say promoting those ideas, forcing them on others, or joining such a group of fatally-thick knuckledraggers is so likely to kill people that it should be a crime. Only this isnt the Taliban. Its your mate on Facebook, or Nicki Minaj. Or Piers Corbyn, whose unrestrained Messiah Complex is all the proof we need that Britains mental health services are seriously under-resourced. Over the past year, these people have somehow convinced 5 million reasonably-educated British adults, including 40,000 whose actual job it is to care for the vulnerable, not to protect each other from a super-infectious strain of a deadly new disease. They have promoted the collapse of the NHS more effectively than the most-rabid, table-chewing backbench Tory. If ISIS was using Facebook to spread lies that killed people as surely as that, theyd not only massively increase their body count but Zuckerberg would have been forced to boot them off. They have called for a US Capitol-style insurrection, and the brother of the ex-Labour leader has suggested they need to take down the vaccination centres, take down the town halls. If the IRA was marching around London shouting that through a megaphone, thered be troops back in the Bogside by teatime. And today the same sort of idiot has greeted the news that folic acid will be added to flour to protect against baby abnormalities by saying the nation was being dosed with poison. Someone calling themselves a kind, decent family man wrote about medication of the masses and jabbing poison in the body and poison in the bread. A naturopathic doctor claimed folic acid is poison. And many repeated conspiracy theories about how man-made folic acid is toxic to 50% of people with a particular gene, when the evidence is that it makes just about everyone healthier. If these people were wearing swastikas and throwing Nazi salutes, the head of MI5 would be giving interviews about how the biggest threat to British lives was baby-killing fascists. Instead, well, its just nutters innit. And no-one stops to think about how the Taliban, the IRA, Al Qaeda, neo-Nazis and ISIS were all just nutters, once, and mostly still are. So in the globalists eyes, those who have decided theyd rather wait to find out what the real long term effects of the shot before taking it should be considered equal with the Taliban, the Irish Republican Army, Al Qaeda, ISIS and neo-Nazis. Meanwhile, Joe Biden and the left have heavily armed that same Taliban with American taxpayer funded weapons in Afghanistan to the tune of billions. Talk about insanity. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) The ongoing congestion at ports in the U.S. West Coast has contributed to delivery delays and product shortages ahead of the holiday season. Labor shortages also contribute to the problem, with not enough port workers available to help unload goods from containers. As such, two shipping experts have sat down to talk more about the impact of labor shortages at cargo vessels on the bigger supply chain disruption. FreightWaves Director of Market Experts Anthony Smith sits down with Campbell University professor and shipping expert Salvatore Mercogliano to talk about the supply chain disruption originating at California ports during a fireside chat. Mercogliano has shared his thoughts on the ongoing issue and how labor shortages among vessels made things worse for all stakeholders during the chat. The entire world distribution network relies on about 1.3 million seafarers to move the worlds goods. Typically, foreign mariners employed on these vessels sail for anywhere from two to six months. You saw mariners out there for over a year on a vessel, and understand a lot of these massive vessels have very small crews of 20 to 25 crew members on board that work every day, Mercogliano says. He adds that foreign mariners on these vessels have no reliefs when they are on board. Mercogliano mentions that the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic also adds to mariners woes. One of the things were seeing is potential for that system to have a breakdown. Were seeing issues right now with the fact that back in 2020, there were about 400,000 mariners that were sailing long over their relief days. He explains that COVID-19 outbreaks in ports, travel restrictions and inability to get vaccines mean that mariners simply cannot get off their vessels. Because of that predicament, mariners are tempted to find another job. What that means is if you lose the employees to man those vessels like we see in trucking and rail right now, that can have a catastrophic effect on the movement of goods, Mercogliano warns. (Related: Shipping workers warn of imminent global transport systems collapse.) Vessels are not the only ones impacted by labor shortages The negative effects of labor shortages are not only limited to foreign mariners aboard cargo vessels. Their land-based counterparts are also feeling the heat of insufficient labor to keep up with the demand. (Related: Second wave of a global shipping nightmare now taking shape expect SHORTAGES of everything.) The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California are currently experiencing record congestion, with many ships off the coast of San Pedro Bay waiting to dock and unload their containers. Unfortunately, a dearth of available hands to help in unloading only worsens things. Two truck drivers have reached out to CBS Los Angeles to share their predicament. Walter Martinez tells the local L.A. channel: Ive got friends right now that are in line from [9 a.m.] and they cant pull the load yet. He adds: The people inside, they get paid by the hour but not the drivers. Another driver, Oscar Ovalle, slams the ports refusal to mobilize other workers to help unload cargo. He says: Theres one crane for 60 trucks and its ridiculous. They have two other cranes sitting. Delivery company FedEx is now bearing the brunt of labor shortages coupled with increased demand. It has resorted to rerouting more than 600,000 packages daily to avoid overwhelming its major shipping hubs. FedEx COO Raj Subramaniam points his finger at under-staffing problems for the widespread inefficiencies at the shipping company. Due to the labor shortages, FedEx hubs are then forced to divert 25 percent of packages that normally arrive. He cites the Portland hub as an example, which now currently operates at 65 percent of the staffing needed to handle its normal volume. Subramaniam explains that the diverted packages must then undergo rerouting and processing, which drives inefficiencies in our operations and in turn higher costs. He adds: These inefficiencies included adding incremental linehaul and delivery routes, meaning more miles driven and higher use of third-party transportation to enable us to bypass Portland entirely. Collapse.news has more articles about how labor shortages play a role in the disruption of supply chains worldwide. Sources include: FreightWaves.com LosAngeles.CBSLocal.com FoxBusiness.com (Natural News) Unvaccinated students who attend Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins are now being threatened with arrest if they so much as even set foot on campus without having had a Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) needle jammed in their arms. Michael Katz, Director at CSUs Student Resolution Center, wrote a letter to unvaccinated students telling them that because they did not provide proof of injection or an exemption to the schools Pandemic Preparedness Team, they are now prohibited from existing on campus property. Since your non-compliance with this requirement poses a threat to the safety and well-being of the University community, the following interim measure applies to you, Katz wrote in the threatening letter. Effective immediately, you are trespassed from all University property until May 16, 2022. This means you are not permitted to be on any University property or in any University buildings; this includes but is not limited to, residence halls, university apartments, dining halls, in-person classes, the Morgan library, the rec center, and the Lory student center. Unvaccinated students at CSU who are caught anywhere on campus, either indoors or outdoors, may be cited or arrested for trespassing and face further disciplinary action. Mind you, all of the unvaccinated students in question have already paid their tuition, meaning the school took their money and is now threatening them with prosecution and imprisonment if they attempt to participate in any on-campus activities, including going to class. Katz says CSU will not make any alternative arrangements for unvaccinated students Later in the same letter, Katz revealed that faculty at CSU are not required to make alternative arrangements for the students to complete their course work away from campus while they are trespassed from campus. This means that until next May, every unvaccinated student who already paid full tuition will be denied the services they paid for because they refused to take one of Donald father of the vaccine Trumps Operation Warp Speed injections Trump called himself the father of the vaccine, just to be clear in obedience to the school and the governments demands. What CSU is afraid of remains unclear, seeing as how 87.5 percent of its student body and 84.9 percent of faculty members are already fully vaccinated. If Tony Fauci and the other Branch Covidians are to be believed, then the school has already reached herd immunity and does not need to worry about unvaccinated students. The fact that CSU has adopted full-fledged fascism as the new campus policy, likely in violation of the law, speaks volumes about how this was never about protecting public health, but rather about imposing police state control. If unvaccinated CSU students are smart, they will mount a massive lawsuit against the school for depriving them of their right to exist with natural immunity and for stealing their tuition money only to change the rules after that money was paid. They have totally lost the plot, wrote one Natural News commenter, agreeing with the fact that todays college campuses have become incubators and breeding grounds for tyranny and authoritarianism. They have become useless and should be defunded and shut down, then reopened after a year with new charters and new administrators after everybody has had a chance to rethink the Branch Covidian cult. As it is, the destruction of the education system seems to be the likely result. Once upon a time, college was a place where you went to become educated and enhance your intelligence, wrote another. Today its now just the opposite; its a place where young people go to become dumbed-down and indoctrinated. The latest news about Chinese Virus injection tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Americas Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) Chief Science Officer Dr. Michael Yeadon yesterday said there is clear evidence of fraud in the Pfizer study that purports to claim 95% efficacy in their COVID-19 vaccine. (Article by Mordechai Sones republished from AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org) Yeadon was commenting on an article appearing in The Lancet and critiquing a documentary that scrutinized a Pfizer efficacy study, calling the distinction raised therein between relative risk reduction and absolute risk reduction accurate. The Lancet article, entitled COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and effectivenessthe elephant (not) in the room, says that although attention has focused on vaccine efficacy and comparing the reduction of the number of symptomatic cases, fully understanding the efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines is less straightforward than it might seem. Depending on how the effect size is expressed, a quite different picture might emerge. The article continues: Vaccine efficacy is generally reported as a relative risk reduction (RRR). It uses the relative risk (RR)ie, the ratio of attack rates with and without a vaccinewhich is expressed as 1RR. Ranking by reported efficacy gives relative risk reductions of 95% for the PfizerBioNTech, 94% for the ModernaNIH, 91% for the Gamaleya, 67% for the J&J, and 67% for the AstraZenecaOxford vaccines. However, RRR should be seen against the background risk of being infected and becoming ill with COVID-19, which varies between populations and over time. Although the RRR considers only participants who could benefit from the vaccine, the absolute risk reduction (ARR), which is the difference between attack rates with and without a vaccine, considers the whole population. ARRs tend to be ignored because they give a much less impressive effect size than RRRs: 13% for the AstraZenecaOxford, 12% for the ModernaNIH, 12% for the J&J, 093% for the Gamaleya, and 084% for the PfizerBioNTech vaccines. Pfizer reported that its vaccine showed a 95% efficacy, explained the documentary, entitled COVID Shot or Not? That sounds like it protects you 95% of the time. But thats not actually what that number means. That 95% refers to the relative risk reduction (RRR), but it doesnt tell you how much your overall risk is reduced by vaccination. For that, we need absolute risk reduction (ARR). In the Pfizer trial, 8 out of 18,198 people who were given the vaccine developed COVID-19. In the unvaccinated placebo group, 162 people out of 18,325 got it, which means that even without the vaccine, the risk of contracting COVID-19 was extremely low, at 0.88%, which the vaccine then reduced to 0.04%. So the net benefit, the absolute risk reduction, that you are being offered in the Pfizer vaccine in 0.84% That 95% number? That refers to the relative difference between the 0.88% and 0.04%. Thats what they call 95% relative risk reduction. And relative risk reduction is well-known to be a misleading number, which is why the FDA recommends using absolute risk reduction instead. Which begs the question: How many people would have chosen to take the COVID-19 vaccines, had they understood that they offered less than 1% benefit? In response, Dr. Yeadon said: Its worse, actually. In the Pfizer study from which the 95% claim comes, theres clear evidence of fraud. Why do I say that? Well, a study which is properly blinded means neither the subject, the study director, nor any other actor knows what each patient has received. Patients in clinical trials are obligated to follow the protocol, which specifies must-dos & prohibitions. If its blind to the end, how could one group end up with five times as many subjects having their data pulled prior to statistical analysis in the test group compared with the control group? Yeadon expanded: The story of how a large state within India solved its COVID-19 crisis is no surprise to those of us whove known since spring 2020 that our governments, media, and tech titans have been acting against our interests, both health as well as democratic. Weve known, for example, that highly qualified physicians and scientists are well able to treat and save most people infected by SARS-CoV-2. The methodology is simple: Attack the virus and the inflammatory and ultimately thrombotic disease phases rationally by administering targeted, multi drug treatments. These include Vitamin C and Vitamin D but in particular, Ivermectin, zinc and a zinc ionophore such as one of several old antibiotics like azithromycin. Used in sequence depending on the presentation, in excess of 80% of patients avoid hospitalization anddeath, including in cohorts we regard as at high risk. Peter McCullough and colleagues have put themselves in harms way professionally in pressing home these simple messages. Two remarkable meta-analyses (the highest level of medical evidence, a review of randomized, controlled clinical trials), authored by Tess Laurie and Pierre Kory, show conclusively that if you could choose only one medical treatment, it would be ivermectin. Its safe, well-tolerated, off patent and cheap to make, yet HIGHLY effective as a treatment for COVID-19. Reviews by Tess Lawrie and Pierre Kory are in the most read papers this year. Yet not one major media channel has bothered to tell us this. Instead, theyve lied about horse deworming drugs and made false claims about safety. This is what Uttar Pradesh used in a few short weeks to crush soaring COVID-19 deaths in this large Indian state. They didnt do much vaccination. Vaccination has, separately, been shown by Steve Kirschs team, to have resulted in a median estimate of 150,000 deaths shortly after vaccination in the U.S.A. alone. They made these calculations solely based on the publicly accessible database which collects adverse event reports, VAERS. Additionally, they used mechanistically plausible assessments of the most common, serious adverse events, finding for example that pulmonary embolism occurs at over 400 TIMES the rate observed after any other vaccine types since the database began operations a few decades ago. These novel technology gene-based agents cause our bodies to manufacture coronavirus spike proteins, and these alone are responsible for a substantial proportion of the adverse effects of being infected by the virus. What have our governments, media, and technology titans been doing in the meantime? Rubbishing the experts, attacking the publications, suppressing information everywhere, and banning accounts that persist in telling the truth. Echoing remarks by Zelenko Protocol discoverer Dr. Vladimir Zeev Zelenko, Yeadon continued: Having done this for well over a year, Im confident that their actions comprise deliberate mass murder. Their objective appears to be to keep people as fearful as possible and receptive to vaccination. All of these claims are supported by plentiful public sources. But the scandal of depriving people of effective treatments while coercing them into submission to dangerous vaccination is the worst thing thats happened in the world for decades, arguably forever. Dr. Yeadon concluded, urging people to see the true scale of the lie before injecting their children. Chart: Doctors for COVID Ethics Read more at: AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org (Natural News) According to a report by drug pricing experts at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Kings College Hospital in London, a five-day course of molnupiravir only costs $17.74 to produce. So why is Merck charging the U.S. government $712, or over 40 times the production price of the drug? Is molnupiravir key to treating coronavirus? Molnupiravir is making waves because the new drug is allegedly a huge advance in the treatment of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and it was developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DoD). On Oct. 8, it was announced that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization among clinical trial volunteers with moderate or mild illness by 50 percent, suggesting that it may be key to ending the coronavirus pandemic. Monoclonal antibodies are an antiviral treatment that is administered intravenously. But as a pill, molnupiravir is more accessible. Health experts hope that the drug can help reduce the coronavirus death rate. According to the statement from Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the two companies that jointly launched molnupiravir, there were no deaths reported among the 385 patients who received the drug in the first 29 days of the trial. Unfortunately, eight of the people who received a placebo died. It comes as no surprise that molnupiravir could rake in the profits for both Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Ridgeback is a small company based in Miami and it licensed the medicine from Emory University in 2020. Two months later, Ridgeback sold the worldwide rights of the molnupiravir drug to Merck for a confidential amount. Molnupiravir, originally considered as a possible treatment for Venezuelan equine encephalitis, was developed using government funds. According to research from the nonprofit Knowledge Ecology International, a division of the DoD called the Defense Threat Reduction Agency shelled out over $10 million of funding in 2013 and 2015 to Emory. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, has also provided Emory over $19 million in additional grants. (Related: Doctor says US wasting money on coronavirus drug from Merck.) Merck cashing in on molnupiravir Only Merck and Ridgeback will enjoy profits from the new antiviral, which is slated to bring in as much as $7 billion by the end of 2021. Merck says it has agreements with other governments. While the details on those agreements remain unknown, it is believed that the drug will be priced differently per country depending on their income levels. Additionally, Merck has plans to license the drug to some Indian manufacturers to produce a generic version for low-income markets. Following the announcement of the promising molnupiravir clinical trial results, Mercks stock price climbed as stock prices of some vaccine makers went down. Even with its initial investment, the U.S. government may be facing a steep increase in drug prices. Back in June, the government signed a $1.2 billion contract with Merck for 1.7 million courses of the medication for $712. The transaction will take place after molnupiravir receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Luis Gil Abinader, senior researcher at Knowledge Ecology International, says that since federal agencies spent at least $29 million on the drugs development, the U.S. government should make sure that the medicine is affordable. Merck claims to be committed to providing timely access to molnupiravir globally Merck has promised to make molnupiravir accessible around the world, with licensing agreements with five Indian companies that manufacture generic drugs already underway. The company may implement a tiered pricing approach to help other countries finance their health response to the coronavirus pandemic without worrying too much about the price. Reports say that Indian companies will offer the drug at less than $12 for a five-day course. Pricing molnupiravir at $19.99 would allow Merck a 10 percent profit margin. Melissa Barber, a doctoral candidate at HSPH and co-author of the report on molnupiravir, says molnupiravir would be accessible to people who need it most because pricing is not as extreme compared to other drugs. Dzintars Gotham, a physician at Kings College Hospital and a co-author of the report on molnupiravir, notes that the $17.74 cost of producing a five-day course of the antiviral pills is an estimate. However, the algorithm used by Big Pharma often results in overestimates. The prices that private companies charge for drugs often increase instead of decrease. Abinader has explained that the pricing differential should be grounds to demand a better price under the Bayh-Dole Act. Passed in 1980, Bayh-Dole regulates the transfer of federally funded inventions into commercial property and allows the government to step in and suspend the use of patents that were developed with government funding if there is proof that the products are high-priced. Gotham concludes that molnupiravir highlights the good and the bad of the U.S. pharmaceutical system. While the U.S. government funded some scientists to develop antivirals to fight coronavirus, those scientists just gave them away to private industry with apparently no strings attached. Potential side effects of molnupiravir Merck did not report any serious side effects among participants in the clinical trial, aside from minor symptoms like headaches. Antiviral pills help block the virus from replicating. Molnupiravir tricks the coronavirus into using the drug to try to replicate the viruss genetic material. But once that process is underway, the drug inserts errors into the genetic code of the virus. Daria Hazuda, vice president of infectious disease and vaccine research at Merck, explains that creating enough errors or creating errors in parts of the virus that are important makes it impossible for the virus to replicate. Its too early to tell if molnupiravir is a safer alternative to coronavirus vaccines. Go to BigPharmanews.com for more updates on molnupiravir and other coronavirus treatments. Sources include: TheIntercept.com QZ.com NYTimes.com (Natural News) Multiple videos have surfaced in Australia showing people being interrogated by police officers over posts on social media expressing support for protests against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. In one video from the southeastern state of Victoria, two officers of the Victoria Police can be seen showing up to a mans house in the dead of night to ask him about Facebook posts he made six months ago in support of anti-lockdown protests. The two police officers pull out a file and show the man printed screenshots of what are apparently some of his posts on social media supporting the anti-lockdown movement. (Related: COVID-19 cases in Victoria keep rising at record-breaking levels despite nearly two months of lockdown.) Do you agree that you put some posts on Facebook? asks one of the police officers. Does this look familiar? The man the officers have visited is incredulous at the sheer absurdity of police officers showing up at his doorstep in the middle of the night to ask about posts he made on Facebook over six months ago. He expresses his outrage at the fact that his rights as an Australian to protest and free expression are being questioned. You got the cops coming around here to tell me that Ive been in a protest six months ago? asks the man. Well, who gives a f? How illegal is that? Going to a protest? One of the police officers then claims that the anti-lockdown protest the man supposedly went to was illegal. Black Lives Matter protests were f two weeks before that, was that illegal? You knocking on their doors? asks the man, pointing out the hypocrisy in how Victoria Police are enforcing rules against anti-lockdown protesters but not against other protests. Armed police show up at a mans house, in the dead of night, to ask him about his anti-lockdown Facebook posts six months ago. pic.twitter.com/BW8jIWqU5w Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) October 10, 2021 In another incident in a different Australian state that was also filmed and went viral on social media, three police officers tricked a man into talking to them by claiming that they were doing welfare checks. Instead of doing their purported jobs, the officers started asking the man and his neighbors if they plan on participating in any of the ongoing protests against the COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria. The man was also asked by police officers if he was planning to go to any anti-lockdown protests and if he knew anybody who participated in past protests. No, Im not going to answer that, you guys wouldnt be here otherwise, says the man. Id like to know how you got this address, actually. Instead of answering, the officer asks a barrage of questions about the mans supposed plans to join future anti-lockdown protests and demonstrations. Anything else you might want to tell us to help ensure the public safety? asks the officer by the end of the interrogation. No, as long as you arent going around shooting people with rubber bullets like in Victoria, the man answers. How is this real? pic.twitter.com/5G9ElM1uPU Echo Chamber (@echo_chamberz) September 23, 2021 Australian police target health freedom protesters Police all over Australia have also been targeting groups and individuals protesting against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. During the latest protests in Melbourne, Victoria Police have arrested multiple people for peacefully demonstrating against lockdowns and vaccine mandates. The protests have been held within the vicinity of multiple shopping centers in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverly. The Oct. 9 demonstrations were organized in a Telegram group that had over 8,000 subscribers. Many protesters around the country have been using Telegram for months to organize major protests. Despite careful planning, Victoria Police have managed to quell the rallies by checking peoples identification around the planned protest sites, leaving organizers no choice but to move their demonstrations to another location. Learn more about how Australia terrorizes its citizens protesting peacefully against lockdowns and vaccine mandates by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com RealClearPolitics.com SkyNews.com.au (Natural News) Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of mRNA (messenger RNA) technology, claims that physicians like himself who speak out against the dangers of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination are being hunted via medical boards and the press. The media in Italy, for instance, has reportedly branded Malone a terrorist for not going along with the doctrines of the plandemic. Malone is a strong advocate for early treatment for the Chinese Virus, which is a major no-no to the Branch Covidians. I am going to speak bluntly, Malone wrote on Twitter. Physicians who speak out are being actively hunted via medical boards and the press. They are trying to delegitimize and pick us off one by one. This is not a conspiracy theory this is a fact. Please wake up. This is happening globally. In another tweet, Malone explained that after advocating for early covid treatment at the International COVID Summit in Rome, he was dubbed a terrorist by the Italian press all for simply wanting to save lives. I suggest that merits a bit of mediation, Malone says about how he and others have been treated. In the land of Big Tech, Malone has basically been erased from existence as Wikipedia has decided to simply remove him from the history books entirely. The medical establishment wants Robert Malone silenced for trying to protect children against covid injections One of the big objections that Big Pharma and the media have against Malone is that he does not believe that children should be getting injected with Operation Warp Speed shots. Myocarditis is one of many possible and likely side effects that can occur in children, and especially in boys. And yet nobody in the medical establishment save for a few whistleblowers like Malone is speaking out about it. The amazing thing about this focus on the myocarditis is that it is not the only major adverse event associated with these Spike genetic vaccines, Malone says. We already know about the clotting issues. Never discussed is [sic] the viral reactivation adverse events. And there are many others for instance, have you noticed that that big study that clearly demonstrated the dysmenorrhea has been completely overlooked in the legacy media. This is not a coincidence. Malone has also brought up the fact that pretty much the entirety of Scandinavia, including Finland, Denmark and Sweden, have halted all further administration of the Moderna spike-vax in young people because of the heart risks involved. Instead of listening to his concerns and looking into them, the Federation of State Medical Boards has threatened to revoke the medical licenses of any doctors who talk about this stuff publicly, as it is deemed to be misinformation. Malone himself has been personally targeted with an IP address ban at the website of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which is no longer allowing him to visit and read the journal online because of the information he has revealed to the world. Just to say of course I understand about VPN, bouncing, and shifting IP addresses, Malone tweeted. I was a computer science student for my first two years of undergraduate back 1980-1982. But what is fascinating is that the NEJM would even take the trouble to do this petty act. All this to say, there is an obvious agenda at play that has nothing to do with protecting public health and saving lives. This is a complete fascist takeover of medicine and society by the Branch Covidian cult, which demands full obedience to its doctrines and dogmas. Anyone who refuses will be burned at the stake. The latest news about Chinese Virus persecution and tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: Summit.news NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Freedom Force Battalion host Melissa Red Pill cites the efforts of Project Veritas and its founder James OKeefe in exposing the truth during her program on Brighteon.TV. Red Pill says OKeefes name is quickly becoming synonymous to truth. OKeefe has forged a reputation for exposing corruption in both private and public entities. I dont know if youve heard some of the slang, but the urban talk is that OKeefe means on truth,' Red Pill says. She continues: Thats a perfect name for James OKeefe. Hes constantly spreading truth. The Freedom Force Battalion host cites an Urban Dictionary entry for the term OKeefed to defend this claim. The entry published on Sept. 27, 2020 defined OKeefed as being exposed by Project Veritas through a secret recording uploaded to its YouTube channel. It added that the term was first used in a Kansas City Star editorial published in the same month. The Sept. 22, 2020 editorial said that former Democratic senatorial nominee Barbara Bollier made volunteers sign non-disclosure agreements for fear of her campaign being OKeefed. Red Pill shows a video of OKeefe calling out Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg following the Big Tech executives threat to ban him from the social media platform. That strong message is for Zuckerberg and the threats of an account ban, she says. The footage of OKeefe challenging Zuckerberg comes from his appearance in Steve Bannons War Room podcast. Please do ban me. Please do play right into my strategy this week, Mark Zuckerberg, and remove me from Facebook because I know you just struck my account here under whats called an account warning. Please do, OKeefe says. (Related: BOOM! James OKeefes undercover Project Veritas PROVES that Facebook is censoring, targeting conservative publishers.) Red Pill says: Facebook isnt the end-all, Twitter is not the end-all of everything. Were giving information in these free speech platforms and millions of people are sharing this information. Thats why were fighting, because someones [got to] be left standing and its not them. Were [going to] be left standing and were [going to] be victorious. Project Veritas unpacks the truth about vaccines and vaccine mandates OKeefe and his group have exposed the truth about the dangers of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines straight from scientists themselves. Undercover journalists at Project Veritas have brought these truth bombs to the people by means of articles at the groups website. Two of these exposes have revealed the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines. A Sept. 27, 2021 article by the group touched on the remarks of two Johnson & Johnson employees about the COVID-19 vaccine. J&J Regional Business Lead Brandon Schadt tells the undercover journalist that he advises against injecting the COVID-19 vaccine on children. Its a kid, you just dont do that [injecting] something thats so unknown in terms of repercussions down the road, he says. J&J scientist Justin Durrant also advises the undercover journalist not to take the single-dose J&J vaccine and expresses a similar sentiment with regard to childrens vaccination. It wouldnt make that much of a difference if children do not get the COVID-19 vaccine, Durrant says. An Oct. 4 article by Project Veritas featured comments by Pfizer scientists. The experts tell the undercover journalist that despite the narrative of COVID-19 vaccines being effective, natural immunity is still far superior than the shots. (Related: Study: Pfizer coronavirus vaccine immunity WANES after just 2 months.) When somebody is naturally immune they probably have more antibodies against the virus. When you actually get the virus, youre going to start producing antibodies against multiple pieces of the virus. [Your] antibodies are probably better at that point than the [COVID-19] vaccination, Pfizer scientist Nick Karl says. The companys senior associate scientist Chris Croce agrees with Karl and adds that natural immunity following a bout of COVID-19 offers far longer protection than the vaccines. Youre protected most likely for longer since there was a natural response, he says. Red Pill lauds the efforts of Project Veritas and OKeefe in exposing the truth about vaccines. She compares people who awaken to the truth to the great army mentioned in the second book of Joel: Like dawn spreading across the mountains, a large and mighty army comes. The Freedom Force Battalion host continues: That is us and we dont have to fight with literal guns. We fight with truth bullets and thats what were doing in this day. She also mentions Joel 3:11: Come quickly, all you nations everywhere, gather together in the valley. And now, Lord, call out Your warriors. According to Red Pill, the verse serves as an invitation for everyone to see the truth and fight back against the deceptions and lies exactly what Project Veritas is doing. Were awake now and were fighting back, Red Pill adds. Watch the full Oct. 6 episode of Freedom Force Battalion here. Freedom Force Battalion with Melissa Red Pill airs every Wednesday at 11-12 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. Truth.news has more articles about the ongoing fight for truth. Sources include: Brighteon.com UrbanDictionary.com KansasCity.com NOQReport.com ProjectVeritas.com 1 ProjectVeritas.com 2 BibleGateway.com 1 BibleGateway.com 2 (Natural News) Former Valley Health System nurse Brad McDowell discusses in an interview the contrasts between whats really happening in healthcare systems and the stories that the mainstream media has been telling the public about the pandemic. The narrative that were being told didnt really line up with reality. Most people of working age arent of a risk [for contracting COVID], he says. McDowell is wary of the vaccines, which have been touted by the media and public health officials as safe and effective. He has been fired for not taking a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine after his religious exemption was denied. COVID-19 vaccines have been linked to millions of injuries and tens of thousands of deaths worldwide. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) database for logging adverse effects of vaccines, the vaccine have been linked to over 2 million adverse effects in 2021 alone. The WHO data has shown that people aged 18 to 44 are the group with the highest reported injuries related to COVID-19 vaccine, whereas the risk of them dying from the disease itself is close to zero. European Union data has also shown that the abortion-tainted vaccines have been linked to over 20,000 deaths in Europe, with over 1 million serious injuries reported since the beginning of the vaccine rollout as well. The Pfizer vaccine has caused nearly 23,000 blood disorders and over 148,000 nervous system disorders. There are also more than 900 adverse events related to pregnancy and other perinatal conditions. The effectivity of the vaccine is not the only thing that healthcare systems have been lying about. Jim Hale from Life Site says that the health worker shortages, which officials claimed were due to the stress on the system created by the virus, is really just a symptom of strict vaccine mandates. Many of them have tendered their resignations and even more have been fired for not getting vaccinated. Worker shortage, not bed shortage There have been reports about overwhelmed hospitals that no longer have beds to offer, putting critically ill COVID-19 patients on planes, helicopters and ambulances to send them to far-flung states for treatment. The surge of the delta variant earlier this year have pushed hospitals to the brink as they struggle to find beds for patients. However, this narrative may not necessarily be true. McDowell says that there is actually no shortage of beds at Valley Health, but they cant open a bed if they dont have a nurse and a tech to staff. There are beds closed, and theyre saying theyre at capacity, but its not because theres not enough beds, he says. (Related: Australian nurse says country on the brink of collapse due to understaffed and overworked healthcare workers.) McDowells request for religious exemption has been denied despite the hospitals worker shortage. He has also said that he cannot reconcile the claims made by the health system about the vaccine mandates being for the health and safety of patients, when it is their mandate that caused inability to care for those who needed treatment in the first place. McDowell says that the ones pushing the vaccines are the ones who benefit most from it, such as the political and media elite, the CDC and the pharmaceutical industries. The same bed shortage is happening all over the U.S., with the husband of a former nurse in upstate New York saying that shortage of employees led to the closure of the entire maternity ward at the hospital. There are over 94,000 healthcare workers facing termination in New York as a result of the statewide vaccination mandate, leaving many to question whether or not the mandates are really put in place for health reasons. Get more updates about what is actually happening during the time of COVID-19 at Pandemic.news. Sources include LifeSiteNews.com 1 LifeSiteNews.com 2 NPR.org (Natural News) There is nothing the executive producers in Hollywood hate more than an actress or actor stepping up to the plate and challenging a false-narrative about health and safety. We see shows, series (think Netflix) and movies all the time that promote Leftist ideologies and advertise processed food and toxic medicine as if they were key to enjoying the ultimate lifestyle that leads to an early, miserable death smoking cigarettes, drinking liquor, eating junk food and taking lots of prescription medications all day, every day. Now Hollywood is pushing mandatory Covid vaccinations (clot shots) as hard as they can, but Candace Cameron Bure (the oldest sister from the Full House sitcom) is using her brain, voice and popularity to bring the walls down and expose the truth about vaccine misinformation thats coming from the CDC and the Biden Regime. Christmas movie star intelligently rips apart the illegal and immoral push for Covid vaccine mandates By the way, Candace also has over 5 million Instagram followers, and thats where shes speaking her mind, independently from Hollywoods vaccine shills, and intelligently defending all Americans rights to informed consent, plus the way to naturally build your immune system. This is epic. The Queen of family Christmas movies wants everyone to choose natural immunity over Covid vaccines. Shes pro-medical freedom. She wants everyone to be pro-sunlight, exercise, real food, & vitamins. Whats even better is that Candace declares that shes not anti-vaccine, because she already knows that once she exposes vaccines as the big fraud they are, all of mainstream media will immediately label her as anti-vaccine and anti-science and anti-vaxxer in their vain efforts to discredit her intelligent approach. Heres the Queen of Christmas movies ripping into the whole plandemic and further denying that anyone should ever be force-vaccinated with gene therapy jabs quarterly by the US government and told its your only choice by the Hollywood vax-shills. Candace clarifies that this is not about what I am against but rather what she is FOR, as she lets her fans know they should read about it and understand and appreciate the distinction shes making. How many more Hollywood stars will blow the whistle on toxic vaccines and tell the world to choose the safe and effective defense of natural immunity? This is becoming a trend. Recently, Hollywood and the VIC (Vaccine Industrial Complex) went absolutely insane because Joe Rogan caught Covid and beat it down fast with vitamins and Ivermectin. The former host and star of the Fear Factor show, and now top MMA/UFC commentator, never even mentioned vaccines, and now all of Hollywood is having a bash contest to see who can discredit Joe Rogan the most, before too many of his millions of followers (hes got the most popular podcast in the world) choose natural immunity forever. When Candace posted her medical freedom declarations on Instagram, she almost instantly received over 400,000 likes. Regarding choosing natural immunity over Covid spike protein jabs: We can have different opinions and still respect and love one another. Be bigger than that! Full House actress Candace Cameron Bure. Natural health advocates invite all independent thinkers in Hollywood to follow this trend of blowing the whistle on toxic vaccines and choosing natural health, natural immunity and therefore long-lasting, effective immunity to Covid, the flu, head colds, other viruses, bacteria, pathogens and parasites. Nature has an answer for everything, so do a little research and choose wisely. It doesnt even take a scientist or doctor to see that Covid vaccines, Remdesivir and ventilators are compounding the problems of the pandemic, creating a pandemic of their own, thanks to Western Medicine and the scam artists who are perpetrating the entire nightmare of bad medical care. Tune your truth news dial to Pandemic.news to stay informed of the engineered pitfalls of the Covid scamdemic. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news TruthWiki.org NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com (Natural News) After announcing that nearly all of its 18,000 employees will need to be fully vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) by November 22, Amtrak incurred a sickout much like the one that Southwest Airlines currently faces. Amtrak employees who do not want to permanently alter their DNA with experimental gene therapy walked off the job, reports indicate, leaving nobody to man the trains and get them from point A to point B. In a tweet, Amtrak explained that at least two trains scheduled to leave on October 10 had to be canceled due to unforeseen crew issues. The company promised that alternate transportation would be provided to stranded passengers. It is rumored that this latest sickout is part of a larger nationwide protest started by Air Traffic Controllers and Southwest Airlines. The next company expected to join them is American Airlines. Let the statists run their own country, tweeted author Jim Hanson, along with the hashtag #GoingGalt, which is a reference to Ayn Rand and the idea that one does not need to justify his life or wealth to his neighbors, society, bureaucrats or politicians. Oh thats right They cant, Hanson added about how the Branch Covidians staging all this tyrannical nonsense will soon have nobody left to run the things that generate their ill-gotten profit. Airlines and Amtrak pushing back against unconstitutional and unethical mandates, tweeted entrepreneur Oliver Cantin. YOU LOVE TO SEE IT! Brave Americans are joining forces to dismantle systemic covid fascism In case you missed the Southwest story, which is still ongoing, the company has had to cancel nearly 2,000 flights and counting over the past several days because pilots and other crew members refuse to be forcibly injected for the Fauci Flu. The mainstream media is largely obfuscating the truth about the situation, blaming bad weather and fog, but most people who are paying attention know the truth. There are still some Americans out there with self-respect and dignity who are not about to be injected against their will just to receive a paycheck. This kind of bravery is rare, to be fair, but it is being demonstrated on a large scale and is rapidly picking up steam. Others are being inspired to do the same, and the goal is to dismantle the systemic fascism that has embedded itself in American society under the guise of fighting a pandemic. In the case of Southwest, the companys CEO, Gary Kelly, is full-on lying about why he is trying to force his employees to take the shots. Kelly claims that a federal government COVID-19 vaccination directive is forcing him to mandate the injections, even though such a directive does not actually exist. Even if it did exist, it would not be constitutionally valid or enforceable. But the fact of the matter is that it does not exist, and Kelly is simply lying, as are many others who seem to get a thrill out of tyrannizing others with pharmaceutical bioweapons. If this continues to catch on, the expectation is that truck drivers, port workers, and others who keep this country and its economy going will also walk off the job. That is when things will really start hitting the fan as suddenly there is no more food at the grocery store and no beer at the local pub. We need a nationwide labor strike, wrote one commenter at Citizen Free Press. Every employee in every industry needs to walk out until we say otherwise. Stopping the economy is how its done, emphasized another. The latest news about the breakdown of society due to Branch Covidian fascism can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: CitizenFreePress.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Stop us if youre heard this narrative before: The mainstream media in America is completely compromised, completely worthless, and all-in with the deep state to keep people in the dark and misinformed with wave after wave of propaganda. That was proven again this week when the media reported on the alleged reasoning behind the cancellation of more than 1,900 flights by Southwest Airlines. The official reason was this: The airline blamed air traffic control issues and weather in Florida on Friday, saying the ripple effects put planes and employees out of place, and it had too few reserves to pick up the slack. Southwest caters to vacationers, and Florida is a key cog in its operation, USA Today reported, which was typical of all other outlets. It was a very difficult weekend for many of you, and Ive seen speculation on the reasoning, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told employees in his first public comments on the widespread cancellations Monday. The fact is the Florida weather on Friday and unexpected ATC [air traffic control] issues on Friday night resulted in delays and cancellations across our network, and it just got us behind. Really? In a word, no. According to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who reported on the incident during his Monday program, the reason why so many flights were canceled so suddenly had nothing to do with the weather, and some to do with ATC issues: In fact, hundreds of pilots and scores more air traffic controllers simply called in sick in protest over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for airlines and federal employees. Southwest Airlines cancels 1,000 flights and blames it on air traffic control issues and the weather: Passengers are left stranded for a second day in a row after pilots' union sued over vaccine mandate https://t.co/7X0YFP0lXO Andrew Bostom, MD, MS (@andrewbostom) October 10, 2021 BREAKING: Air Traffic Controllers In Jacksonville, FL Staged A Walkout Yesterday In Response To The Vaccine Mandate Its Being Reported That All Flights In & Out Of FL Were Cancelled As A Result Mainstream Media Chose Not To Report On This As Of Yet pic.twitter.com/DCSqh8M1eq HeadlineHunter! Alerts (@freehumanity911) October 9, 2021 Airline sources: mass sickout @FAANews center in Jacksonville caused ripple effect and 1000+ flight cancellations mostly effecting @SouthwestAir report sickout protesting #VaccineMandate Leland Vittert (@LelandVittert) October 10, 2021 Is there a media blackout on last nights air traffic controller walkout in Jacksonville, FL? Hundreds of flights canceled. Walkout due to vax mandate From a trusted source: pic.twitter.com/kCseQMZlal Tom Sauer (@thomasbsauer) October 9, 2021 Southwest Airlines, you may have read this, one of our biggest carriers all but shut down on Saturday and Sunday, the airline canceled thousands of flights. It threw the nations famously efficient system of air travel into total chaos. Its stranded countless travelers in airports. Again, you saw it on the news, Carlson noted during his monologue. The question is how did this happen? Well, the official explanation came right away. It was bad weather on the eastern seaboard. There were thunderstorms. There were also unspecified issues with air traffic control and all of that together forced Southwest Airlines, alone among airlines, to cancel its flights, he added. Thats what the company Southwest Airlines claimed. They claim that in a statement to us today, a long statement. Its what many media outlets have repeated uncritically for the past two days, the Fox News host continued. And yet we can tell you it is untrue. All of that is a lie. Its not what happened. Weve spoken to several people with direct knowledge of what actually did happen. We can tell you that the shutdown of Southwest Airlines over the weekend was a direct consequence it was a reaction to Joe Bidens vaccine mandates, he said. It began last week when Gary Kelly who is a CEO of Southwest, sent an internal memo to his employees declaring that, per Joe Bidens directive, any Southwest employee who was not fully vaccinated by the 8th of December will be fired. Canned. Done, right before Christmas, he went on. Now, this would include not simply pilots on Southwest and flight attendants, of course, but ramp workers, mechanics, dispatchers, schedulers, ticket agents, people from the top to the very bottom. Many thousands of people, said the host. He went on to explain that the reasoning behind the mandate makes no sense especially for Americans who have had the virus and there are tens of millions who have and have built up natural immunity, which is far better and stronger than what theyd get from a vaccine. Others have sincere religious objections. They object to the use of aborted fetal tissue in the development of pharmaceuticals, Carlson explained. And yet others are taking a stand purely on principle. They believe that in a free country, politicians should never be allowed to force citizens to submit to medical treatment they dont want. But whatever their various reasons, the unvaccinated employees of Southwest Airlines, the many of them, are decent, high functioning Americans, and they have watched as their own government has dismissed them out of hand as criminals for reasons that dont even make sense, he said. Later in the show, Carlson interviewed an airline pilot who warned that if even one-third of them are forced out of the industry due to the mandate, the American economy will cease to function properly and the global economy will take a huge hit because of the widespread dependence on air travel. He then suggested that pilots use that as leverage to push back, which is a great idea. Sources include: RealClearPolitics.com WorldMeters.info News.Yahoo.com (Natural News) The extreme temperatures on planet Venus are not suitable for supporting life. But a new study found that sunlight on Venuss clouds could enable microorganisms to thrive by means of photosynthesis. Researchers at California State Polytechnic University Pomona report this in a Sept. 27 study published in Astrobiology. They note that photosynthesis occurs all day on Venus even at night because of the thermal energy levels on the planets surface and in its atmosphere. The presence of light energy above and below the clouds allow microorganisms to live in different cloud layers. Lead study author Rakesh Mogul says: Our study provides tangible support for the potential for phototropy and/or chemotrophy by microorganisms in Venuss clouds. The acidity and water activity levels potentially fall within an acceptable range for microbial growth on Earth, while the constant illumination with limited UV [ultraviolet light] suggests that Venuss clouds could be hospitable for life. We believe that Venuss clouds would make a great target for habitability or life detection missions. Mogul and his fellow researchers write in the study that Venuss clouds could be partially made from neutralized forms of sulfuric acid, such as ammonium bisulfate. This results in the clouds having higher water levels and a more suitable environment for life to develop. The aerosols in Venuss middle clouds could harbor water activities that are tantalizingly closer to the limits of oxygenic photosynthesis, the researchers write. (Related: NASA says that aliens live on Venus, but theyre only microbes.) [Microbial] survival in an aerosolized and water-restricted environment could include bio/chemical strategies to reduce vapor pressure and loss of solution-phase water, similar to microbial strategies associated with freezing point and temperature depression, inhibition of ice formation and cloud condensation, they continue. The study also finds that Venuss atmosphere blocks most of the harmful UV radiation from the sun similar to how the ozone layer functions on Earth. According to study co-author Yeon Joo Lee of Germanys Technical University of Berlin, Venuss surface receives 80 to 90 percent less UV-A levels compared to that of Earths. The planets clouds also completely block UV-B and UV-C rays, the most harmful components of UV radiation. New study contradicts claims that Venus does not have sufficient water The Sept. 27 study by Mogul and his team contradicts a June 28 study that said Venus doesnt have sufficient water to sustain life. A research team led by John Hallsworth of Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland has claimed that the planets clouds have insufficient water levels to sustain even microorganisms that are able to live in extreme environments on Earth. Hallsworth and his team have based their findings on various scientific probes such as the Galileo probe sent to different planets in the solar system. They have found that the amount of water in Venuss atmosphere is way smaller than the amount organisms need to survive. We find water-activity values of sulfuric acid droplets, which constitute the bulk of Venuss clouds, of less than 0.004 percent two orders of magnitude below the 0.585 limit for known extremophiles, Hallsworth and his team explained. They compare Venuss water activity with those of other planets. Ice forming on Mars has a water activity value of less than or equal to 0.537, slightly below the habitable range. Jupiters clouds, on the other hand, have a water activity value of greater than 0.585 allowing life to thrive. However, Hallsworth and his team note that factors such as cloud composition may play a role in how habitable Jupiters atmosphere is. In our study, we looked at the effective concentration of water molecules which we scientifically called water activity. We found that the effective concentration of water molecules [in Venus] is slightly below what is needed for the most resilient microorganism on Earth its more than 100 times too low. It is almost at the bottom of the scale and an unbridgeable distance from what life requires to be active, Hallsworth says. Study co-author and National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist Christopher McKay calls the findings for Venus unfortunate, given that he himself is very interested in searching for life on other worlds. (Related: Could Venus have harbored life eons ago?) We derive water activity of atmospheres without a model of any sort, based only in direct observations of pressure, temperature and water concentration. Its also unfortunate that our conclusions are based directly on measurements. It is not a model with assumptions, so it is hard to imagine that the results will change as we do further exploration, McKay says. Space.news has more articles about planets capabilities to sustain life. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk 1 LiebertPub.com DailyMail.co.uk 2 Nature.com (Natural News) Most of the chronic, degenerative diseases so popular in America today barely existed just four generations ago. Then came commercial cigarettes promoted by doctors, processed food promoted on television, and pharmaceutical concoctions to alleviate symptoms of blood diseases and cell disorders that are all preventable. No other nation on earth consumes as much dairy as the United States. Nearly all preventable diseases and disorders are caused by decreased oxygen and nutrients in the blood, day after day, month after month, year after year. The United States spends more on prescription drugs, per capita, than any other country, and those who are prescribed those quack medications remain the sickest people. This is no coincidence, because their doctors will NOT tell them to cut out processed food, coagulating oils, meat, milk, gluten and other processed food stuff that causes blood clots, obesity, heart strain, organ dysfunction and eventually, strokes, heart attacks and dementia. Covid clot shots are creating and exacerbating clogged blood with billions of microscopic nanoparticles that decrease blood flow and build up blood vessel plaque Got atherosclerosis? That means you have decreased blood flow to your heart. Did you get Covid jabbed yet? That means you could be experiencing a severe decrease in the flow of nutrients and oxygen in your blood due to tiny spike proteins clotting and clogging the arteries, veins and capillaries of your entire vascular system. A recent autopsy of a China Flu vaccine-injected man revealed he had spike proteins in every cleansing organ, in his brain, and his heart. Who else knows this? Got chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, painful veins, rashes and constant itching? If you got clot shots for Covid, you may be experiencing prion diseases, also known as Spike Protein Syndrome, along with about 150 million other Americans. Complete blockage can cause a stroke or heart attack. The most obvious early sign is myocarditis, which seems to be a pandemic of its own right now, thanks to the Fauci Flu gene therapy injections. Could margarine and canola oil make people MORE susceptible to spike protein damage? Did you know that every third American is overweight, and half of those heavier folks are obese? Their blood vessels are already clogged with animal fat and canola oil, and now most of them are getting stabbed with spike protein injections every 4 to 6 months. The CDC has failed to even prove with science that the shots help with immunity at all. What a shame. Chronic inflammation drives more disease and disorder. It worsens it. Order food from almost any chain store or franchise (corporate) restaurant and the menu is overloaded with items that contain cheese, canola oil, processed meat, sugar and gluten. Most grocery stores and supermarkets are chock full of these blood-clogging, cell-mutating choices (about 85 percent of all products). All of these blood-clogging foods, combined with spike protein injections, are compounding the blood flow problems for over 100 million Americans. Theres no time to waste. Start filtering these most common toxins out of your life. Do not BE the filter, because that choice could lead you down a dark path of misery that ends life slowly and early, without a decent quality of life. Heres what to avoid, first and foremost the big six: #1. Canola oil (and most other oils you find in fried foods, baked goods, prepped food bars, salad dressings, etc.) #2. Covid vaccines (billions of sticky spike proteins) #3. Whole milk #4. High fat meats (deli meats, sausage, chicken and turkey skin) #5. Ice cream #6. Margarine Now, you may be asking, if some of this damage is already done, how can you unclog your blood vessels? Switch as often as possible to whole, raw, unprocessed, organic food. Cut sources of unsaturated fat and trans-fat out, and eat more plant-based meals. Also, incorporate some form of exercise daily that you can enjoy. If you already got a clot shot or two for Covid, dont get any more. Avoid the boosters like the plague. Tune your truth news dial to Pandemic.news to stay informed of the engineered pitfalls of the Covid scamdemic. It doesnt take a scientist or doctor to see that Covid vaccines, Remdesivir and ventilators are compounding the problems of the pandemic, creating a pandemic of their own, thanks to Western Medicine and the scam artists who are perpetrating the entire nightmare of bad medical care. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news TruthWiki.org NaturalNews.com HealingtheBody.ca Following the arrival of winter in the United States, there has been concern that a wave of illnesses and flus are on the way. As a result of these conditions, authorities and citizens have been considering ways to combat flus and the COVID virus. How many medical facilities are ready, and is the government capable of treating tens of thousands, to hundreds of thousands of patients at once? The researchers with experience in vaccination policy and mathematical modeling of infectious illness are Mark S. Roberts and Richard K. Zimmerman. For more than a decade, the University of Pittsburgh's Public Health Dynamics Laboratory has been simulating influenza. Mark Roberts has served on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the CDC's Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network. Covid-19: Tips to Prevent Corona Transmission; Similar Precautions as With Flu Due to the coronavirus's global spread, many individuals will be required to take certain actions to assist minimize its transmission. To minimize contact rates among individuals, states across the US have advised and enforced social separation and shelter in place to various degrees. Despite these efforts, following the official standards might be difficult, especially if you live in a heavily populated region. Even with shelter in place, individuals must leave their houses for a variety of reasons, including the need to shop for food and other necessities at grocery shops. Infected persons can help reduce the risk of infecting others by following stringent quarantine measures that segregate the virus from the rest of the population. There is currently no vaccination available to protect against infection. In addition, there is no antiviral medication that may be used to prevent or treat infection. Some people claim that taking zinc and/or vitamin C supplements can assist, however there is no evidence that this is effective in avoiding COVID-19. Other measures used by the US government include the cancellation of classes to avoid peer interaction. Students can also study through various methods such as online classes and modular learning. In addition, the number of children who died from the flu decreased from over 200 in the 2019-2020 season to one in the 2020-2021 season following precautionary strategies like with the Covid-19. Overall, the flu season of 2020-2021 saw one of the lowest numbers of cases in recent US history. Also read: 'Historic Day': WHO Initiates Widespread Rollout of First-Ever Malaria Vaccine in Africa Flu Season: How Serious Could it be? Considering last year's limited transmission of influenza among the broader US population, these findings imply that the US might face a significant flu outbreak this season. When combined with the current threat of the extremely infectious delta form, a deadly combination of infectious illnesses known as a 'twindemic' might emerge. COVID-19 and other infectious disease models have been at the vanguard of COVID-19 pandemic forecasts, and have been proven to be accurate predictors of cases, hospitalizations, and mortality. As Flu Season enters the United States, it will highlight the preventive measures given by the government in fighting covid and flu at once. The Medical Facilities will be expected to be full and the medicines' prices will be at higher rates. Vaccination rates, adherence to social distancing advice, and mask-wearing vary widely across the United States. As a result, much as we have seen with COVID-19 infection patterns, the flu season is expected to vary significantly from state to state. Also read: Study: 6 Million Americans Felt no Significant Side Effects From mRNA Vaccines GLASTONBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 27: The supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor on September 27, 2015 in Glastonbury, England. Tonight's supermoon, so called because it is the closest full moon to the Earth this year, is particularly rare as it coincides with a lunar eclipse, a combination that has not happened since 1982 and won't happen again until 2033. (Photo : Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Moon rock, also known as lunar rock, is a kind of rock discovered on the Moon. Lunar material recovered during human exploration of the Moon, as well as rock ejected naturally from the Moon's surface and landed on Earth as meteorites, are included. In 2020, China's Chang'e-5 mission () returned to Earth with the youngest Moon samples ever collected. Oceanus Procella rum, or the Ocean of Storms, is a dark-grey region in the Moon's northwest quarter that may be viewed without a telescope from Earth. The landing site, which is near Mons Rumker, a 70-kilometer-wide mound, may contain rocks and soil that are just 1.2 billion years old, because of a huge volcanic eruption that buried the underlying surface. That is a lot less than the 3.1- to 4.4-billion-year-old samples returned by NASA's Apollo astronauts. China's Moon Rocks: Huge Discovery By examining the age and chemistry of various lunar areas, scientists can put together the Moon's history. Scientists will be able to better comprehend what was going on the Moon at a period when multicellular creatures may have already existed on Earth by examining samples from rocks generated late in the Moon's history. Understanding the history of the Moon also aids our understanding of the evolution of Earth and the other planets in our solar system. The method for establishing the age of the rocks is complicated, but researchers utilized a concentrated beam of charged particles to expel material from distinct mineral stages in the rocks, which they then examined. The researchers were rewarded for their efforts when they were able to estimate an eruption age of 1.97 billion years for these moon rocks from Chang'e-5 mission, which is a billion years younger than any previously reported basaltic lava from the Moon. Between 3 and 4 billion years ago, most of the volcanic activity occurred. Basalts from the Apollo and Luna rock collections, as well as meteorites from the Moon, have all been dated by planetary scientists. Younger volcanic materials, as anticipated by crater counting research, had remained elusive until now. Also read: Antarctic Ice Reveals Earth's Atmosphere in the 14th Century Full of Black Carbon Volcanic Eruptions Volcanic eruptions require heat on the interior of a planet to create the molten material needed for the process to take place. For a planet the size of the Moon, this heat is assumed to have been lost long before the 2-billion-year-old outbursts. While scientists had previously speculated that prominent levels of radioactive elements in the lunar core may have disintegrated rocky material within the Moon. It is unclear if tidal heating, in which heat is created in the Moon's interior by the stretching and squeezing caused by gravity between the Moon, Earth, and Sun, had a role. It is also possible that a unique feature of the Moon's mantle structure led to a lower melting temperature, which would explain how it developed. In the early 1970s, analysis of materials from the Apollo missions changed our understanding of how dynamic our Solar System is and how planets originate and evolve. This new study once again demonstrates the immense scientific importance of returning samples from other planetary bodies to Earth to decipher their secrets in laboratories. Validating the crater counting method using lunar materials has significant implications for determining the surfaces of other planets from which we have not yet obtained samples (such as Mars, Venus, and Mercury). This will also improve our overall understanding of the Solar System. Also read: Lava Flows from Spanish Volcano After Crater Collapse People inhabiting several Oklahoma communities are trying to manage the damage a severe storm that generated several potential tornadoes Sunday night left behind. Suspected Tornado Around 10:45 p.m. CDT, one of the expected tornadoes touched down Coweta, about 23 miles southeast of Tulsa. The storm impacted the high school, a number of homes nearby, and a gas station, as per KJRH. Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell revealed to KTUL that the tornado also damaged a nursing home, but no injury was recorded. Bell said later Monday he was sending a drone up so that a better sense of the general damage will be gotten. It was reported that lightning struck a house and firefighters were making effort to control the fire, KOTV reported. There were no in-person and virtual classes Monday in Coweta Public Schools, KJRH reported. In a Facebook post, the city of Coweta said that the event affected power lines in several regions. The Tulsa State Fair closed on time on its final day of operation because of the storms, KOTV reported. Also Read: 17,000 Affected by Power Outage as Tornado-Generating Storm Passed Over Texas Impacts of Tornadoes Potent winds were responsible for the falling of a large tree on two cars that blocked a road in Tulsa, as per KOTV. Following the removal of the tree, the road reopened. In the Oklahoma City region, possible tornadoes were reported. At 7:48 p.m. CDT, the city made a tweet that tornado sirens were going off in the southern part of Oklahoma City. The storms prompted disastrous hail to Norman, about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. About a dozen vehicles at a mechanic's shop were destroyed, even one which the uncommon window was shattered, KOCO reported. A worker at R&J Complete Auto Care, Jeff Nicks, told the station one of the vehicles resembled a "cannonball shot through" its window, saying the hail "sounded like a war going off." Footage from Anadarko which is about 46 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, displayed a building that had fallen in a possible tornado. City crews were busy throughout the night clearing debris from streets, KFOR reported. The Unpredictable Event As of 10 p.m. Sunday, over 11,000 customers were living with no electricity across the state, KFOR reported. There were no recorded deaths or injuries. The system that generated the storms in Oklahoma also brought torrential rain, wind, and lightning to portions of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. The term "tornadoes" has been used in the media for many years. Even though it is not a new word, it has found its way into common usage. Tornadoes are dangerous because they generate winds strong enough to advance trees and other structures. Tornadoes are unpredictable events. This is because they are made up of the interaction of many different types of atmospheric phenomena, such as storms, hail and tornadoes. Related Article: In a Rare Occurence, Tornado Wrecks Havoc in Victoria, Australia For more news, updates about tornadoes and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! On Tuesday, local officials said not less than 15 people have lost their lives during unseasonably torrential rain and flooding in Shanxi province of north China at the beginning of this month, after the region which is usually dry witnessed the rain of three months in only a week. Flooding The flooding impacted the coal-rich landlocked area during a national energy crunch, and after record floods in July caused the death of over 300 people in central Henan province. Not less than 60 coal mines in the province which is one of the top coal-producing regions in China had closed for some time as a result of the floods. But presently, all except four have gone back to their usual operation, Wang Qirui , local emergency management official revealed at a press conference. The extreme weather destroyed about 19,000 buildings, seriously damaging 18,000 others, Wang said He added: "Fifteen people died due to the disaster, and three people remain missing." The floods have affected not less than 1.75 million residents across the province and about 120,000 have been safely evacuated, as per Wang. Also Read: New Report: Flooding Puts 25% of All Critical Structure in US at Risk of Failure Torrential Rainfall Local state newspaper Shanxi Evening News released some pictures Tuesday, showing traffic police with schoolchildren on their backs as they wade through water getting to their waist following the trapping of multiple vehicles. Shanxi witnessed over three times the normal monthly rainfall for October in only five days the previous week and in numerous regions, precipitation had broken records, the provincial government said. This year, a number of regions across China have witnessed unprecedented flooding. This summer, thousands were relocated in the Hubei and Sichuan provinces due to heavy rain. And over 300 people lost their lives in Henan province of central China the previous month following record rainfall - rain that can fall all through a year fell in three days. Freak weather events including severe floods and extreme droughts are turning into something increasingly common due to climate change, experts say. Flooding Issues The issue of flooding has been around for many centuries. This is because it is an ever-growing problem that seems to lead to the disappearance of the land. The countries that are most affected by floods are those that border oceans. No one knows exactly why flooding occurs, nor how it will affect people's lives in the future. Due to the unpredictability of the weather conditions, it is quite hard for people to plan ahead and take precautions. When floods occur, it may disrupt daily routines of people like getting out of their house, getting to work by public transport or even buying essential groceries. With the onset of climate change, some areas are more prone to flooding. This is due to more frequent rains. To prevent this, some governments are coming up with flood control measures which include building temporary dikes or installing flood warning systems. Flooding may result in major infrastructure damage like roads, buildings and bridges too. Therefore, flood management is crucial for nations that are prone to flooding. Related Article: China Flooding Season: Flash-Flood Warning Raised as 4 Rivers Exceed Dangerous Levels For more news, updates about floods and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Lightning strikes are loud and can easily be spotted. They are violent to the extent of shaking your bones and lighting up the sky. Lightning-induced Electron Precipitation (LEP) Led by the University of Colorado Boulder, a new study proposes that these potent events can change the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere. And this could even affect Earth's crucial ozone layer. Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, the outcomes reveals some information about what it means to inhabit 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 the coauthor of the new study and also Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences assistant professor, Robert Marshall. He said all that flashing could possibly have a great impact on the atmosphere than scientists believed before. The research depends on a complicated phenomenon referred to as lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP). Also Read: It's Alive!: Lightning Played an Important Role in Creating Life on Earth Shrinking of the Ozone Layer Anytime lightning strikes, Marshall explained, the bolt shoots off electromagnetic energy's pulse that has the ability to spread all the way around the Earth, into space where that energy forms an interaction with the radiation belts all over our planet, clattering loose some of the trapped electrons. And then it rains downward toward Earth. He and his team in their new study tracked the three thunderstorms' fallout over the last decade that extends from Nebraska to the Caribbean. According to their estimations, there is a chance these individual storms have started a chemical chain reaction in the atmosphere, prompting the shrinking of the ozone layer in certain regions by as much as 5%. Humans have existed with lightning for a long time, so there is a possibility that those fluctuations in ozone doesn't put the safety of people at risk. But, Marshall said, the findings made by the team signal that - when spread over dozens of storms all taking place at the same time - lightning could have an unexpected great influence on what takes place in the air above our heads. Lightning Strike Marshall said: "A single lightning strike has a minor impact on the atmosphere. But over thousands of lightning strikes, it may be much more significant. We don't know yet." In their new research, Marshall and his team made use of comprehensive computer simulations to follow things happening in the atmosphere following that wild occurrence. What happened is that as the storms were progressing, the electron energy coming down to Earth started reacting with gasses up in Earth's atmosphere, approximately 30 to 70 miles above the surface. Concentrations of some molecules in the air - hydrogen oxides and nitrogen oxides - shot up nearly at the same time. Lightning is one of the most important natural phenomena that occur during thunderstorms. Lightening can cause huge changes in its surroundings; it can be observed anywhere in the world, at any time of day or night. Related Article: Lightning Strike Kills 76 People in India, Including Victims Who Were Taking Selfies For more news, updates about lightning strikes and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Marine researchers are mystified by a weird and enormous squid-like organism discovered in the Northern Red Sea. In October, scientists from the OceanX team were examining a shipwreck when they discovered the marine monster, which seemed to be larger than a person, swimming 2,800 feet beneath the surface of the Red Sea. Examining the Pella OceanX research program leads Mattie Rodrigue said the crew was examining the "Pella," the ship that sank in November 2011, when they came across the monster that was "bigger than a human" in a video posted to YouTube on Thursday. "For the rest of my life, I'll never forget what occurred next. As we're gazing at the shipwreck's bow, this giant mystery monster appears out of nowhere, takes a look at the ROV [remotely operated vehicle], and wraps its entire body around the wreck's bow "Mattie Rodrigue, the director of the OceanX scientific program, says in the video. Related Article: Lone Beluga Whale Discovered More than a Thousand Miles Away From Home in Seattle Finding the Purpleback Squid Dr. Michael Vecchione, a biologist, assisted her and identified the creature as a purpleback flying squid. "I can tell you what I believe and why I believe it. I believe it is a purpleback flying quid species. And there's a well-known population of them in the area where you're operating, the Red Sea. They grow to enormous proportions. So what you're witnessing, I believe, is the gigantic form of Sthenoteuthis. "In the video, Vecchione adds. "They'll approach a bait in the same manner that the other one did, and they'll swim in the same way that the animal did in the additional footage. The fin size and the proportions of the fin to the body indicate that it is not a gigantic squid. If you stop it just there, you'll notice that it has short, wide fins that thicken together. They have the appearance of an arrowhead. I know you probably wanted to believe you had footage of enormous squids, but I can assure you that it is not an Architeuthis dux. "He keeps going. The video has subsequently gone popular on YouTube, with over 455,000 views in only five days. Deep-Sea Discoveries Humans have been exploring the seas since the dawn of time. The Bible mentions sailors and sea merchants, and marine travel and business were widespread during the ancient period when both the Romans and the Greeks explored the oceans. We are still committed to maritime travel today. Hundreds of thousands of nautical miles are traversed every day throughout the world, from the global shipping sector to luxury yacht rentals. Yet, although our seas are busier than ever, they remain mostly unknown. So, what percentage of the ocean has been explored? It's a startlingly tiny proportion, according to the National Ocean Service. Only 5% of the world's seas have been studied and mapped, particularly the water beneath the surface. The rest has remained mostly unknown and unobserved by humanity. Also Read: Dead Dolphins, Turtles Are Washing Ashore in Sri Lanka: Could the Cargo Ship Fire be Blamed? For more animal, don't forget to follow Nature World News! On September 19, 2021, a volcano on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma erupted, causing the evacuation of 5,000 people from their houses in nearby communities. La Palma Eruption It was the volcano's first eruption since 1971, and it raised worries of a mega-tsunami throughout the east coast of North America. As of October 10, 2021, molten lava chunks, the size of three-story houses, are pouring down the Spanish island's slopes. Yet, more than three weeks after the volcano's initial eruption, the island is still trembling. Related Article: Experts Warn of 'Explosions and Toxic Gases' if Lava From Volcanic Eruption in Canary Islands Reach Atlantic Ocean Possible Tsunami Is the eruption of the La Palma volcano likely to create a tsunami on America's east coast? Because of the volcanic explosion in Europe, a tsunami is unlikely to impact the east coast. However, this hasn't stopped the propagation of dread. These concerns and assumptions are based on research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in 2001. According to writers Steven N. Ward and Simon Day, "geological data shows that during a future eruption, Cumbre Vieja Volcano on the Island of La Palma may undergo a catastrophic failure of its west side, sending 150 to 500 km3 of rock into the sea." Tsunami-sized waves would "cross the whole Atlantic Basin" and smash the east coast of the United States, with waves reaching 100 feet or higher. Even if a major portion of the mountain were to collapse, the concept that the impact's waves would spread across the Atlantic basin seems improbable. "The potential of mega-tsunami production from catastrophic flank collapses of island stratovolcanoes has been considerably exaggerated," says George Pararas-Carayannis, editor of the journal Science of Tsunami Hazards. Dissecting a Study In 2002, Pararas-Carayannis published his analysis, pointing out the flaws in the 2001 report and assuaging everyone's worries. "Massive flank collapses of island stratovolcanoes are exceedingly unusual events," adds Pararas-Carayannis. "None have happened in recorded history." "Recent numerical modeling studies... were based on erroneous assumptions about volcanic island slope instability, source size, failure speed, and tsunami coupling mechanisms," according to the report. All of this indicates that the figures Ward and Day used were erroneous inputs based on assumptions they made for a never-before-seen event and "led to overestimations of tsunami far-field impacts." Public Worry According to Janine Krippner, a volcanologist with the Global Volcanism Program, the public's dread of a potential mega-tsunami speaks to a far broader concern. "Researchers have disproved this hypothesis, yet it is now popular. Why? "We are drawn to what terrifies us, even if it isn't genuine," she said to Newsweek. "Headlines convert even the tiniest sliver of truth into an enticing boogeyman, inflicting real tension and suffering all across the world." Fortunately, the National Tsunami Warning Center has determined that the East Coast is not at risk of a tsunami based on all available data, including sea levels. The most notable recent tsunami to impact the east coast occurred in 1929, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Newfoundland, Canada. A subsurface landslide may have generated most, if not all, of the tsunami's energy, yielding 2-7 meter run-ups around the coast of Newfoundland. However, it was recorded as far south as South Carolina. Lisbon Earthquake The Lisbon earthquake of 1755, which had a magnitude of 8.4 on the Moment Magnitude Scale, produced waves that extended across the Atlantic Ocean but didn't exceed 1 meter in length. A few instances of minor tsunamis have reached the east coast following Caribbean earthquakes, all less than 1 meter in size, similar to the Gulf Coast. There's little need to be concerned about a mega-tsunami hitting the east coast due to this volcanic eruption, although it is possible. Also Read: Satellite Images Show Europe's Most Active Volcano Mt. Etna as it Erupts for 50th Time This Year For more news updates about what's happening to our environment, don't forget to follow Nature World News! "The Lizard King" - a Florida reptile dealer - faces federal charges because of his illegal activities which are collecting turtles from the wild and smuggling them out of the United States so they can be sold overseas. Illegal Turtle Harvest Michael Van Nostrand, 54, is the owner of the reptile wholesale company Strictly Reptiles, Inc. based in Hollywood, Florida. As per the store website, it sells different kinds of reptiles, including snakes, turtles, lizards, juvenile alligators, and also different species of amphibians, scorpions large spiders, and non-native mammals. Van Nostrand got his royal title after penning his account "The Lizard King" in the year 2008, the Associated Press (AP) reported. In Miami federal district court, the documents filed reveal that Van Nostrand and Strictly Reptiles started a network of so-called collectors so they can get safeguarded freshwater turtles from the wild, the U.S. Attorney's Office representatives in the Southern District of Florida said in a statement on the 5th of October. As per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Van Nostrand untruly tag the turtles as the ones raised while in captivity, so that people coming to buy the animals would not know they had been collected against the law. ABC News reported that since 2009, gathering wild turtles for commercial sale has been prohibited in Florida. Also Read: Flights Delayed in Tokyo After a Turtle Was Spotted Casually Strolling in Airport Runway Freshwater American Turtles As per the statement: "Van Nostrand's co-conspirators - the 'collectors' - represented in federal export disclosure documents that the turtles were captive-bred, rather than wild-caught, which was a lie." Van Nostrand and his company smuggled hundreds of turtles which were sold in Japan, China, and elsewhere. In some Asian countries, freshwater American turtles are well-known as pets and food. And some valued turtles are sold for as much as $10,000 in auctions close to Shanghai, Radio Free Asia reported last year. One of the turtle species which Van Nostrand wanted to harvest was the three-striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) which is an aquatic turtle that has an oval-shaped shell with a body that is about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long, as per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). These tiny reptiles possess large heads that usually have two yellow stripes on every side. Their brown shells also have stripes, though they are not always pronounced, as per FWC. Consequences of Illegal Turtle Harvest Striped mud turtles inhabit natural freshwater ponds and ditches that has low salinity; if the water turns very salty, the turtles won't be able to survive there, FWC says. When the climate is warm, they can be found in the shallow water of marshes and ponds, but when it is cold they will often use trees as their homes. If the so-called Lizard King is convicted, he could be asked to pay a fine of not less than $250,000 and he could face up to five years in prison, while the company could be told to pay criminal fines of up to $500,000, as per the statement. Related Article: Human and Turtle Skin: Similar Proteins Evolved From Common Ancestor To Toughen Skin For more news, updates about turtles and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! "There are a lot of strong Latin American artists in Connecticut and they need representation," Yolanda Vasquez Petrocelli, a Bridgeport artist from Mexico City said in Spanish. Vasquez Petrocelli curated "Latinisiimo," a biennial exhibit in Bridgeport's City Lights Gallery that opened a few days after the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and runs until Nov. 3. It showcases 12 artists from Latin American countries or with Latino heritage. "I think Latino artists have to work twice as hard, so we should promote it as much as possible," said Vasquez Petrocelli in Spanish. This year's Latinisiimo is a tribute to the Indigenous people of Latin America, in part inspired by Vasquez Petrocelli's own Purepecha and Tarasca roots. Adriana Morga/ Hearst Connecticut Media Born and raised in Mexico City, Vasquez Petrocelli attended the University of Texas at Austin. Her art has been showcased all around Connecticut, including the Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport and the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury. Petrocelli's art focuses on photography that encompasses "maps of experiences and feelings," according to her website. She is also one of the only Latinas living in Bridgeport's Artspace, a housing space dedicated to artists located in the old Read's department store building, where she has been a resident for more than 15 years. From acrylic on canvas to digital print, the Latinisiimo showcases the work of Hispanic artists such as Carlos Bautista Biernay, Maria Lino, Blanka Ameskua, Diane Barcelo and Juliana Chavarria. Adriana Morga/ Hearst Connecticut Media However, the presence of Hispanic artists in galleries might still not reflect the number of artists in the region. "There's a fear; I think it's a reflection of what happens in the country. Like 'these immigrants are going to take our jobs,' and I think that mentality in some ways extends to the cultural organizations and the art world in general," said Carlos Hernandez Chavez, Mexican artist and longtime Hartford resident. His mural about migrant workers is displayed on the walls of Hartford City Hall. Hernandez Chavez said in his experience, artists from Latin American countries are mostly found in "niche galleries," and he says large institutions still need to seek artists of Hispanic Heritage actively. "We don't see other major galleries going out there pretty much scouting for the talent of Latinos," he said. Hernandez Chavez has two pieces showcased in "Latinisiimo," a self-portrait and a drawing of two hands, symbolizing his gratefulness for his life. Adriana Morga/ Hearst Connecticut Media City Lights' Executive Director, Suzanne Kachmar said having Vasquez Petrocelli as the exhibit's curator exposed her to artists she otherwise wouldn't have known. "It's so wonderful to be around but to recognize also the challenges that people in the Latin community are still contending with," said Kachmar. While Hernandez Chavez's work has been shown in several local galleries and venues such as the Old State House, Hartford Public Library and the Windsor Art Center, he attributes his opportunities to his colleague Benjamin Ortiz, a Bridgeport-born Latino art curator. And contacts like these are essential in the art scene, artists say. "I sometimes don't have enough contacts, since [Stamford] is not a city I grew up in and everything is different. Your longtime friends and artists that know your work, career and process and [that] respect you are not here," said Juan Sierra, an artist originally from Medellin. Late last year, Sierra painted a mural located in 23 Isaacs St., Norwalk, commemorating Colombian regional dancers. Sierra found the call for artists through a friend. Additionally, Sierra says that not being fully fluent in English has limited him when searching for open calls from museums, galleries, and exhibits looking to show local artists' work. Since both of their arrivals in the United States, Vasquez Petrocelli and Hernandez Chavez, they have adapted to the challenges that being an immigrant artist means, and that has inspired them to continue uplifting other Hispanic artists. "There is a lot of talent in the Latino community, but we need to support it," said Vasquez Petrocelli. As for what can be done to show Hispanic representation in Connecticut's art scene, Hernandez Chavez recommends to art institutions to "just open the doors." +2 Popovich, Miller plead guilty, sentenced in teen homicides The image of a smiling Caden Popovich was aired on Pittsburgh television news and online after his preliminary hearing in the shooting deaths A deputy state attorney general who prosecuted Caden Popovich and Dohnavin Miller in the 2018 shooting deaths of two 19-year-olds has labeled both suspects as dangerous individuals. Patrick Schulte, the prosecuting attorney who presented the plea agreements of Popovich and Miller in court, commented afterward, The people of New Castle can rest easy that they will be protected from them. Schulte said that throughout the process, I never got a sense that the defendants in this case were truly remorseful. Popovich and Miller, now both 21, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts each of voluntary manslaughter in the Feb. 25, 2018, shootings of Cameron Martwinski and Justin Luca, both 19, inside an apartment house at 844 Franklin Ave. Martwinski died just before midnight and Luca died after midnight, the morning of Feb. 26 at the hospital, before he could be flown to Pittsburgh. Popovich is sentenced to a total of 16 to 35 years in a state correctional institution, and Miller faces 14 to 28 years. Popovich was represented in court by Pittsburgh defense attorney Thomas N. Farrell, and Millers defense attorney is Steven Townsend of Pittsburgh. Story continues below video Both attorneys expressed their regrets at the tragedy of the case. Farrell said that this was a terrible senseless crime involving four young males. Four families have been devastated, he said. Ive had the unfortunate experience of having this case a long time, Townsend commented before his clients sentencing. I realize the tragedy and how it has affected everyone. Schulte advised the victims families that he will register them so they are notified years from now when each of the defendants comes up for parole consideration. Schulte explained that Millers sentence is for less time because he was slightly less culpable than Caden Popovich. He had a stronger self-defense claim. Popovich also had charges of illegal firearms possession pending because of a stolen gun, which also figured into the weight of his sentence, he said. He said he is hopeful that their taking responsibility for the killings is, in a way, a part of the remorse process, he said. Its step 1, admitting that you did something. New Castle, PA (16103) Today Mostly cloudy with snow showers around before midnight. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with snow showers around before midnight. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Norwich Christian charity appeals for housing Norwich Christian charity appeals for housing Hebron Trust, a local charity that supports women through addiction, is looking for a move-on property to house their clients as they move on ready for a new start. Hebron helps women to rehabilitate from drug and alcohol dependency and the life-dominating problems that serious substance misuse can cause. Suitable move on accommodation is a vital stage of a person's recovery as it provides a bridge to 'normal' living in the community. Hebron is appealing to any churches or individuals who have a 2 or 3 bed property they could rent to the charity as an official move-on property so they can continue to provide aftercare to the women once they leave Hebron House. This arrangement is already working well at Chapel House, a property owned by Norwich Central Baptist Church which is leased to Hebron Trust. Women who graduate from Hebron and want to relocate can live for up to two years at Chapel House. Aftercare Support Worker Lou Henman said, "Accommodation at Chapel House is ideal because it is a safe environment to move into and we can continue providing support as the women gain more independence and learn to live in the community. This house is currently full, and will be for the foreseeable future. We currently have two women who will graduate in December, who want to remain in Norwich, but we cannot find them any supported living in the area. We are looking at them privately renting, however this is not easy or ideal." Lou describes A's experience at Hebron and subsequently Chapel House as an illustration of how important the move-on stage is. "A spent nine months in rehab at Hebron House. Before this she had spent years in addiction to drugs and alcohol and suffered with severe mental health issues and trauma. As she neared the completion of her programme, we considered her options together with A. It was important to A to be in shared accommodation with females only due to past trauma. We secured additional support for A through Norfolk County Council of 3 hours per week to support her mental health. This extra support, plus a commitment from A to work with her support worker and take responsibility for her mental health meant that we agreed she would start a phased move to Chapel House. "The last two weeks of rehab A would spend two nights at Chapel House the first week and three nights the second week, returning to Hebron for groups and counselling as normal before she finally moved out. Prior to moving on from Hebron we helped her access voluntary work, she was so nervous about the interview she asked me to go with her. She has thrived in her voluntary work and loves it so much she has increased her days to three a week. A has been at Chapel House for two years and has managed her mental health well with the wrap around support provided. She has recently been discharged from the Community Mental Health Team. She feels ready to move onto independent living in her own tenancy. We have registered her with Norwich City Council Home Options, she is bidding on properties now and we hope she will be housed within the next few months. She is two years clean and much stronger in her recovery and with her mental health and, although apprehensive, is looking forward to having her own home." If anybody in the Christian community in Norwich have 2-3 bed properties which they would be willing to either rent out to the women, or rent out to Hebron Trust to use as another move on house please contact Emma Pawsey on emma.pawsey@hebrontrust.org.uk or 01603 439905 VMware is in the process of spinning out from Dell Technologies, but the working relationship remains as strong as ever with a bunch of announcements from VMworld. All told, the pair made four significant announcements at the show, the first being that VMware Cloud will be sold on systems acquired through Dell's Apex pay-as-you-go program. The new Apex offering gives customers the ability to move workloads across multiple cloud environments and scale resources quickly with predictable pricing and costs. The new offering combines Dells hyperconverged infrastructure VxRail with VMware Cloud, VMware Tanzu for building cloud-native applications, and VMware HCX for application migration. Businesses can deploy the offering in their data center, at an edge location or a colocation facility with partners like Equinix. Dell is promising organizations it will help them meet local regulatory requirements and help protect them from malicious attacks with built-in cyber resiliency. Dell says the initial deployment can be up and running in as few as 14 days. The second announcement could be considered part of the previous announcement, depending on how you look at it. Dells Apex Cloud Services with VMware Cloud now support VMware Tanzu, the companys containers and Kubernetes offering. The VMware Tanzu integration enables building, testing, and running cloud-native applications alongside traditional applications. It also supports migrating workloads across multiple clouds with VMware HCX without having to rearchitect applications for different cloud environments. Third is the launch of Dell EMC ObjectScale software with Tanzu. ObjectScale allows organizations to run Amazon S3-compatible object storage alongside virtual machines. This gives developers a self-service storage instance in a private cloud that they can then deploy in a public cloud. ObjectScale brings Kubernetes-native, software-defined object storage to vSphere with Tanzu and the vSAN Data Persistence Platform. ObjectScale also extends the reach of Dell EMC VxRail to workloads such as AI, analytics, and cloud-native applications that require S3. Finally, Dell announced a reference design for the development of AI-based applications to run on Nvidia GPUs. The design was jointly developed by VMware and Nvidia. The reference design uses the Nvidia AI Enterprise software suite running on Nvidia-certified hardware, which includes VxRail, PowerScale and PowerEdge servers. Dell says the designs can speed development by as much as 20%. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. STAMFORD Halloween haunts in Stamford are back: officially. After explicitly discouraging traditional holiday festivities in 2020, Mayor David Martin is throwing his support behind trick-or-treating, as long as people are mindful and safe while hunting for candy. Under the advisement of Stamfords acting director of health, Jody-Bishop Pullan, Stamford residents are encouraged to safely participate in trick-or-treating this year, Martin said in a statement. In accordance with guidelines set by the CDC, trick-or-treating in small groups while practicing reasonable safety precautions are believed to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. Although the use of masks or face coverings outdoors during these activities will not be enforced, it is recommended, the mayor said. In early October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people host celebrations virtually or outdoors with everyone at least 6 feet apart. The CDC maintained masks were not necessary for people at outdoor events. However, for areas with high transmission rates, the CDC recommended wearing masks outdoors among vaccinated people or in crowded areas. A week after the CDC provided holiday guidance, Dr. Anthony Fauci the countys foremost expert on infectious diseases endorsed trick-or-treating for children on CNNs Sunday show State of the Union. Go out there and enjoy Halloween, as well as the other holidays that will be coming up, Fauci said, though he also urged caution among unvaccinated people. Martin and former Health Director Jennifer Calder in 2020 followed guidance from state officials and discouraged traditional Halloween festivities. The two maintained that it was unsafe to trick or treat given the autumnal spike in infections across the state since trick-or-treating involved close contact with individuals from outside a persons household. We have seen an increase in cases since September, and we must renew our vigilance to keep our community safe and healthy, Martin told The Stamford Advocate in 2020. We are potentially at the beginning of a second wave across Connecticut and in our community. We must take this threat seriously to keep this virus under control and save lives. This year, the picture looks vastly different, Martin said. Halloween of last, we were running a little over 30 cases a day and the line was going up," he said at his weekly COVID-19 update last year at this time. The actual numbers on those days were much higher, but basically this was looking like a bad time to come and indeed it was. A year later, the outlook is brighter. The latest data from Oct. 10 shows that Stamford is reporting about 10 new coronavirus cases a day, as per the 14-day average of cases. But the trend lines direction may be more important than the number of cases in the mayors eyes. The trends line is moving down which is very good, he added, paving the way for the holiday celebration to come. veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com Sherry Waldrep, right, the new director at the Allerton Public Library, meets with past Director Lisa Winters, left, and a patron at the library in Monticello. Rietz said the teens who allegedly fired at each other near Centennial High School two weeks ago were apparently having a disagreement regarding a Rantoul teen who was fatally shot in Oakwood in January during a drug deal gone bad. Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Combining data on antibody prevalence, PCR test results, genomic surveillance and population mobility from smartphones has allowed infectious disease modelers to explain the evolution of the first three Covid-19 waves that have affected Kenya since the start of the pandemic. Modelling jointly undertaken by the University of Warwick and KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya explains the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya as sequential waves of transmission through different socio-economic groups, followed by infection boosted by the introduction of new variants. The study has been published in the journal Science and received funding through the Joint Initiative on Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response, a collaboration between Wellcome and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as well as funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Forecasting the future spread of COVID-19 requires an understanding of past patterns. The team used a mathematical model to test explanations for the first three COVID-19 epidemic waves in Kenya. The work, undertaken jointly by scientists at the University of Warwick and the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya, for the first time brought together COVID-19 antibody survey data, PCR case data, genomic variant data and Google mobility data, seeking to find an explanation to the waves of COVID-19 in Kenya. The aim was to then provide policy-based forecasts on future waves in the country based on the model findings. Lower socio-economic groups have been identified as vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 in the global South due to residence in informal settlements at high population density, reduced access to sanitation, and dependence on informal employment that requires daily mobility. In contrast, those from higher socio-economic groups with job security can work from home, physically distance and readily access water and sanitation, thereby decreasing transmission. The results from the modeling show that the first and second waves of infections are explained by differences in mobility and contact rates between high and low socio-economic groups within Kenya. In the initial phase of the epidemic (from March 2020), individuals in high socio-economic groups were able to reduce their mobility and contact rates, but individuals in lower socio-economic groups were not. This resulted in transmission among individuals in lower socio-economic groups that was observed as the first wave in urban centers. As these individuals recovered from infection and became immune, at least temporarily, the first wave ended. By the time of the second wave (from October 2020), individuals in high socio-economic groups had increased their contact rates and mobility. This led to transmission among individuals in the high socio-economic groups that was observed as the second wave, and in addition the second wave involved rural as well as urban areas. It appears that the second wave then ended as individuals cleared the virus and became, at least temporarily, immune. However, the new Beta and Alpha variants introduced into Kenya were more infectious and led to a third wave among both high and low socio-economic groups (from March 2021). Multiple waves have been observed in many other African countries that do not appear to be completely explained by the timing of restrictions, and since they also have in common similar socio-economic groupings in urban centers, the scientists speculate that these explanations may apply more widely. Understanding the causation of such multiple waves is critical for forecasting hospitalization demand and the likely effectiveness of interventions including vaccination strategy. Dr Samuel Brand from the University of Warwick's Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiological Research (SBIDER), and School of Life Sciences said: "This is one of the first studies to consider detailed predictions of the dynamics of Covid-19 across multiple waves in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. We believe this sets a new standard for the type of public health modeling work that can be conducted in real-time in developing countries." Dr John Ojal of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme said: "There are highly detailed modeling studies of this nature in High Income Countries, but there have been none previously in tropical sub-Saharan Africa." Studies in High Income Countries find the assumption of even mixing of the population works well in explaining the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in those countries. Clearly, this is not always the case as shown in our study of Kenya, and variation in spread by socio-economic group might prevail in other low income settings." Professor Matt Keeling, Director, Zeeman Institute, University of Warwick Professor Edwine Barasa, Director of the Nairobi hub, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme said: "I am not surprised by the findings of marked disparity of transmission by socio-economic group in Kenya where there is a very high proportion of the urban population working in the informal sector that do not have the luxury of reducing contacts but need to find work on a day-to-day basis." Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys have discovered a new source of stem cells just outside the liver that could help treat people living with Alagille syndrome, a rare, incurable genetic disorder in which the bile ducts of the liver are absent, leading to severe liver damage and death. The findings, published recently in the journal Hepatology, have extensive biomedical implications for Alagille syndrome and for liver disease in general, including cancer. "We've been aware of the regenerative power of the liver for a long time, possibly even going back to the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus," says lead author Duc Dong, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Human Genetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. "But the existence and nature of liver stem cells remains an intensely debated topic." The new study suggests that the reason these cells have been so hard to find may be that researchers have been looking in the wrong place. The stem cells that we found are actually outside the liver, not within it, which may have made their discovery difficult. We think these 'outside the box' liver stem cells act more like reserves, only traveling into the liver when all other options are exhausted. It only requires a few of these cells to enter the liver and multiply to repopulate all of the cells lost to the disease." Duc Dong, Ph.D., Lead Author Over 4 thousand babies each year are born with Alagille syndrome, which is caused by a mutation that prevents duct cells from forming in the liver. And while the syndrome can occasionally resolve naturally, and there are treatments available to manage the symptoms, the disease is incurable, carrying a 75% mortality rate by late adolescence for those without a liver transplant. "We have known and supported Dr. Dong for years and we feel the work he and his team have done on this disease to date is extraordinary," says Cher Bork, Executive Director of the Alagille Syndrome Alliance. "Hope can be difficult to come by for families dealing with any incurable disease, and discoveries like this help give that hope back to families living with this life-dominating condition." Using zebrafish, which have many of the same genes and cellular pathways as humans, Dong's research team were able to create a model of Alagille syndrome by selectively deactivating genes associated with Alagille syndrome. These genes encode for chemical messengers from the Notch pathway, a signaling system found in most animals that is involved in embryonic development and adult cell maintenance. "Our work suggests that there is potential for liver regeneration in Alagille patients, but because this signaling pathway is mutated, the regenerative cells fail to fully mature into functioning liver duct cells," says Dong. In further animal studies, the team showed that by genetically restoring this signaling pathway, the regenerative cells could remobilize to form liver ducts, restoring the function of the liver and improving survival. The researchers are now leveraging their discovery to develop new therapies for Alagille syndrome. "We've shown not just that regeneration is possible in models of Alagille syndrome, but, importantly, how it can be enhanced," says Dong. "These missing duct cells can regenerate if Jagged/Notch is restored, and our lab has developed the first drug that can boost this pathway." While the new drug requires further studies to advance into clinical trials, the team has already found that it could enhance regeneration and survival in animal models and can trigger the Notch pathway in cells from Alagille patients. These results will be published in separate studies. "We're hopeful that this drug will restore the regenerative potential of the liver in Alagille patients, to be more like the liver of Prometheus," adds Dong. A team of South Dakota State University chemistry researchers uncovered how cancer cells utilize a simple sugar residue to disguise themselves from the immune system. What they learned will help scientists develop more effective cancer therapeutics. "We utilized the lens of organic chemistry to understand how cancer cells evade the immune system," explained assistant chemistry and biochemistry professor Dr. Rachel Willand-Charnley. The project is part of her chemical biology research program, which uses various fields of chemistry to solve biological problems. Willand-Charnley's research has applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. Willand-Charnley, doctoral students Mathias Anim and Albert Armoo and Susan Grabenstein Roh, a biochemistry major who received her bachelor's degree in May, analyzed what is known as the Sialic acid-Siglec receptor pathway. They examined the pathway in colon and lung cancer cells using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited cell lines to determine how the cancer cells evade detection using sugars on their cell surface. The results are published in the June issue of Glycobiology, a peer-reviewed Oxford Academic research journal. Roh, who at the time was a biochemistry major, is a shared first author on the article. The project was supported by the Willand-Charnley laboratory's startup funding for new faculty members. Willand-Charnley came to SDSU in 2018 after completing postdoctoral research under the tutelage of renowned chemistry professor Carolyn Bertozzi at the University of California, Berkeley, and then at Stanford University. Her research combines expertise in organic chemistry, glycobiology and cancer immunology. Using sugar coating Cells are literally decorated with sugar residues, known as glycans. Cancers also have a sugar coat. How do sugars, like Sialic acid, allow cancers to participate in 'immune evasion'? The immune system is programmed to identify cellular abnormalities, including deviations in the sugar coat, and mark them for degradation, but the question is why are certain cancer cells not being killed by the immune system?" Dr. Rachel Willand-Charnley, assistant chemistry and biochemistry professor The paper focuses on how cancers use simple sugar residues, which she described as a sugary costume, to mimic healthy cells, thereby evading the immune system. "This research will allow scientists to build better therapeutics that cleave off the sugars, essentially removing the cancer cells' sugary costume," Willand-Charnley said. "It will open avenues for more targeted, effective cancer therapeutics related to glycans." Both doctoral students see the benefits of this unique approach to improving cancer therapeutics. "It was really intriguing to realize that a single genetic modification could actually make cancers resistant to immunotherapy, make them invisible to the immune system," said Anim, who is from Ashiaman, Ghana. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi Ashanti, Ghana. Armoo, who is from Tema, Ghana, said, "For me, it was interesting finding out that a coat of sugar plays a role in resistance to chemotherapeutics. It's not always a drug metabolite, but also the patients' own immune system being able to identify the cancer cells." He began doctoral work at SDSU after earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom and a master's degree from the University of Bradford's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. Inspiring future scientists Roh, a Mitchell, South Dakota, native, began working on the project as a sophomore. "I wanted to work with genetics, so when Dr. Willand-Charnley talked about cell lines with gene knockouts the first day in my organic chemistry class, that piqued my interest in doing research with her group," Roh said. "I was the first person to sign on (to the project)." Willand-Charnley said, "Undergraduates (in my lab) are treated like graduate students. My expectation is that they will run their research like a graduate student." Roh continued, "I found my own papers relating to the topic, read through them and explained why I felt they were relevant and what I learned from them (during the weekly group meetings)." Every three weeks, it was her turn to present her findings to the group-;in a professional fashion. In 2019, Roh received the American Chemical Society award for best undergraduate research poster. Even though Roh was the only undergraduate student working on the project, she said, "I had a lot of responsibility. I was able to be shared first author on the paper because I put in equal amount of the work-;that's what it took." In addition to doing research part time during the school year, she also spent two summers working full time on the project. Roh, who is now a graduate research assistant in the Department of Biology and Microbiology, feels prepared for graduate school, thanks to her experiences in Willand-Charnley's lab. In addition to running successful research programs, Willand-Charnley also focuses on diversity and outreach. "One of my goals as a scientist is to increase diversity in the STEM sciences," Willand-Charnley said. However, "as students traverse academia and get older, we tend to have less diversity, why? One school of thought is that the STEM sciences are seen as intimidating. Thus, how do we fix this?" Willand-Charley is working on launching an outreach program for kindergarten through fifth graders. "I want to elicit interest in the STEM sciences from a very young age. What better way to garner interest and show that science is fun than hands-on demonstrations with scientists in the classroom?" Scientists have identified a new detrimental effect of genes that cause inherited diseases, publishing their results today in eLife. Their study suggests that these genes prevent adaptation (or the evolution of beneficial genes) from happening around them in the genome, allowing them to persist longer in human populations by preventing their own removal by selective sweeps. The findings provide new insights on evolutionary processes in the last 50,000 years that have allowed some disease-causing genes to persist in human populations, despite their harmful effects. Advanced genome sequencing is allowing scientists to learn more about the evolution of diseases and more beneficial traits in humans. But limited research on disease genes focuses on evolutionary processes occurring in the last 50,000 years. Our understanding of the relationship between disease and adaptation in the human genome has been hampered by this gap in more recent information." Chenlu Di, first author, PhD student at the Enard Lab, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, US To fill this gap, Di and colleagues compared the rates of recent genetic adaptation in disease-linked genes and non-disease genes in 26 distinct human populations around the world that were included in the 1000 Genomes Project. They only included inherited diseases that are caused by mutations in a single gene, which are called Mendelian diseases. These have a simple pattern of inheritance in which a child may inherit a disease if they get one copy of a dominant disease-causing gene from one their parents, or if they get two copies of a recessive disease-causing gene one from each parent. The team set out to learn whether genes that cause human Mendelian diseases have undergone more or less positive selection than non-disease-causing genes in the human genome. They found that recessive Mendelian disease-causing genes were far less likely to be swept out of a population. The patterns suggest that a process called genetic interference may have prevented these genes from adapting to changing environments. "Recessive disease-causing gene variants that prevent adaptation from occurring in the genome can dodge gene sweeps that would normally wipe them out in a population," Di explains. The team also identified some regional variations in patterns of gene adaptation when they compared different parts of the genome of the same population. African populations had a stronger deficit of gene sweeps at disease genes compared to the rest of their genome. In East Asian and European populations, there was a weaker sweep deficit at disease genes relative to other parts of the genome. The authors say this is likely due to severe population bottlenecks that occurred in human populations that migrated out of Africa and later settled in Asia and Europe. Even a small number of people migrating would have been enough to cause the loss of a significant amount of recessive gene variants that were at low frequencies in the genome. "We also see a clearer sweep deficit at disease genes in African populations because they have overall clearer genome-wide sweep signals," says senior author David Enard, Assistant Professor at the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Arizona. "This provides a better contrast for us to distinguish between disease genes and the rest of the genome." While the study provides some interesting new information, Enard cautions that more research is needed to confirm these results and to ensure that biases in the data they used did not skew the results. For example, he notes that many of the Mendelian diseases in the study were identified in Europe. "Our work improves on previous studies trying to address this important question by using larger gene datasets and carefully controlling for confounding factors that could result in disease-causing genes and non-disease genes showing different patterns," Enard concludes. "But there is more work to do to better understand recent genetic adaptation in humans." Hospital doctors and pharmacists should stop risky medicines before patients leave hospital - according to researchers at the University of East Anglia. One in two older people are prescribed a medicine which over time has become inappropriate or unnecessary. In a recent National Overprescribing Review titled Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, the government called on doctors and pharmacists working in GP surgeries to tackle the problem of overprescribing. But research from UEAs School of Pharmacy has found that nine out of 10 older hospital patients and their family believe that inappropriate or unnecessary medicines should also be spotted and stopped whilst they are in hospital. And the team say that by the time people are back under their GP care, a major opportunity has been missed. Prof Debi Bhattacharya, from UEAs School of Pharmacy, said: We know that half of older people admitted to hospital arrive having been prescribed a medicine that over time has become inappropriate for them. These medicines will have more risks than benefits. And their side effects cause problems, like making them feel drowsy, nauseous or have trouble getting to sleep. These problems impact a persons quality of life to the extent that they can cause re-hospitalization. Our research has shown that very few patients have one of these risky medicines stopped whilst in hospital. Continuing medicines when they are not needed unnecessarily harms people and wastes NHS money. The time is right to undertake research into ways of safely increasing the number of inappropriate and unnecessary medicines that are stopped, she added. To tackle the problem, Prof Bhattacharya is leading a 2.4 million trial to stop risky medicines in hospital - in collaboration with researchers at the Universities of York, Newcastle, Leeds and Leicester, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. We are working with hospitals and GP organizations across England to see whether the new strategy works, helps people, causes no harm, and is good value for the NHS. And for this trial to be meaningful to people, we need to make sure that we look at the things that matter to them when testing whether stopping a medicine has had a positive outcome. Katherine Murphy, Patient and Public Engagement Lead for CHARMER The research team recently surveyed 200 people including patients, informal carers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and researchers to find out what they should look at in the trial. On reviewing the results Katherine Murphy said: It was good to see that what people really want us to look at is whether patients can do the things that they want to do, not how much patients can do. Being able to walk up a flight of stairs, for example, may be important to some patients but not to others. We need to make sure that medicines are prescribed that support people to get the best quality of life. In the trial, we also need to make sure that the way that we stop risky medicines causes no harm and is good value for the NHS. Shirley Temple Smith, 82, passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Columbia, Kentucky, and was a loving wife and mother. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon Russel Smith. Survivors include her sons, David Smith (Jennifer) of (Newser) Update: The abandoned bus made famous in Into the Wild can now safely be viewed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while it undergoes preservation work. The bus was moved to the universitys engineering facility last week while it's being prepared for outdoor display at the Museum of the North. That's an extensive process: All the interior and exterior graffiti will be "really systematically" documented; holes cut in the roof and floor of the bus to allow a helicopter to ferry it out of the woods will be repaired; and its many bullet holes will need to be fixed, reports the AP. The bus is expected to remain in the heated, secure space through the end of the academic year. Our original story from July 2020 follows: story continues below It was immortalized in a book and movieand now maybe in a museum, too. The abandoned bus made famous in Into the Wild appears headed to a museum in Fairbanks, Alaska, reports the AP. Too many people were hiking into the wilderness to find the spot where Christopher McCandless perished from starvation in 1992, prompting the state to pluck the bus out of the state's backcountry. Officials are now negotiating with the University of Alaska's Museum of the North to house it permanently. "Of the many expressions of interest in the bus," the museum's proposal best met conditions "to ensure this historical and cultural object will be preserved in a safe location where the public could experience it fully, yet safely and respectfully, and without the specter of profiteering," Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige said in a statement. At least two people drowned trying to reach the bus in its original spot, and five Italian tourists required rescue last winter. (Read more Into the Wild stories.) (Newser) Update: A 22-year-old Florida man has been arrested in the case of a toddler who shot and killed his mother while she was on a Zoom call in August. Veondre Avery, 22, allegedly left a loaded gun in his 2-year-old son's Paw Patrol backpack, which was on the floor of the bedroom Avery shared with Shamaya Lynn. The child found the gun and ended up shooting Lynn in the head. In a 911 call, Avery said, "I literally just got home and ... my girlfriend who was working on the computer, shes just laid back and theres blood everywhere." He was arrested Tuesday on a negligent manslaughter charge and is being held without bond, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Our original story from Aug. 13 follows: story continues below A young mother was fatally shot in the head by her toddler during a Zoom call on Wednesday, according to police in Florida. A person who was on the work-related conference call dialled 911 saying they heard a loud noise, then saw 21-year-old Shamaya Lynn fall backward, reports WESH and NBC News. She wasn't seen again on camera, per the AP. The camera reportedly captured Lynn's toddler in the background. Authorities rushed to the scene at the Oaks of Spring Valley apartments in Altamonte Springs, just north of Orlando, but were unable to save the young mother of two, who'd been shot in the head. Investigators said one of Lynn's two children had found the loaded gun, which belonged to the children's father, unsecured in the apartment. The Seminole County State Attorney's Office will determine whether the father should face charges. "If you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured. Incidents like this could be avoided," said officer Roberto Ruiz Jr. The police department is offering free gun locks to gun owners who don't have one, per WESH. There have been at least 220 unintentional shootings by children in the US so far this year, resulting in 83 deaths and 149 injuries, according to the Everytown for Gun Safety advocacy group. (Read more shooting death stories.) (Newser) A parade last month marking North Korea's 73rd anniversary was seen as unusually subdued, with a focus on civil defense units instead of military might. But Kim Jong Un more than made up for it at an event Monday, where he spoke after reviewing a variety of large missiles, including some designed to hit the US mainland, the AP reports. The North Korean leader accused the US of destabilizing the Korean Peninsula and vowed to build an "invincible military" as a deterrent. "The US has frequently signaled its not hostile to our state, but there is no action-based evidence to make us believe that they are not hostile, Kim said, per the state-run Korean Central News Agency. story continues below Military expert Yang Wook from South Korea's Hannam University says the missiles on display at Monday's exhibition of weapons systems appear to include a new ICBM that hasn't been test-fired yet and a hypersonic missile that was tested last month. Yang tells the AP that Pyongyang wants to send the message, "Well continue to develop new weapons and arm ourselves with nuclear force, so dont slap sanctions with these as we cant agree on the double standards." Kim "didn't just talk about his new military mighthe showed it to us," says Laura Bicker at the BBC. "This was the equivalent of a military parade. We have not seen this kind of defense exhibition since Mr Kim took power." She notes that just days before the exhibition, he urged officials to improve the lives of ordinary North Koreans in grim economic circumstances, which raises the question: "With limited funds and under strict economic sanctions, can he really build an 'invincible' force and help his people?" s (Newser) The House has approved a short-term extension of the nation's debt limit, postponing the danger of an unprecedented debt default until early December. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation, which was approved by the Senate in a party-line vote last week, Politico reports. The $480 billion measure, expected to avert a default until around Dec. 3, passed the House in a procedural party-line vote of 219-206. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer slammed Republicans for allowing only a brief extension of the debt ceiling, calling it a "lousy deal" and an "irresponsible and despicable act for adults who know better." story continues below Hoyer said that he had voted for raising the debt limit 50 times, going back to the Reagan administration, and "nobody has clean hands" on the issue. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that she hopes Congress will pass a longer-term measure in December in a bipartisan waythough she also said that a bill from Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle to transfer dealing with issue to the Treasury secretary "has merit," the AP reports. The federal government is now expected to run out of cash on Dec. 3 instead of Oct. 18, per CNN. Pelosi also warned Democrats that they should prepare for major cuts to the spending package at the heart of Biden's domestic agenda. "I'm very disappointed that we're not going with the original $3.5 trillion, which was very transformative," she said Tuesday, per the Washington Post. Biden has said a figure closer to $2 trillion is likely to emerge from talks with centrists including Sen. Joe Manchin. Liberal Democrats said Tuesday that they would not accept cuts to measures including fighting climate change and expanding Medicare. (Read more debt limit stories.) (Newser) A gunman fatally shot two people and himself Tuesday afternoon at a United States Postal Service facility in Memphis, authorities say. Postal carriers typically depart the East Lamar Carrier Annex in the morning, while other staff members remain to sort mail and perform other tasks. No retail customers are typically present. Because the office is a federal building, the FBI is involved in the investigation, the Commercial Appeal reports. The suspect as well as both victims were USPS employees, CNN reports. story continues below A family member says manager James Wilson, a longtime USPS employee, was one of the victims. "He was a humble soul, one of the nicest supervising managers you could ever wish there was," his cousin says. "He didnt mind going the extra mile for his job or the workers there. He wasnt just a manager, he was a friend to all." Fox 13 spoke to the family of the other victim, a 37-year-old mother of two. "She was a hardworking young lady, always has been," her father says. "She was hardworking and determined." The president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors says the suspect did not normally work at the facility in the Orange Mound neighborhood, but was on assignment there. (Read more Tennessee stories.) (Newser) The latest company to announce a vaccine mandate: Boeing. The aerospace company told employees Tuesday they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8, the Seattle Times reports. "Compliance with these requirements is a condition of employment," reads the internal message, and any unvaccinated workers without an "approved accommodation" will face termination. Exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons, but those employees will be subject to frequent COVID testing. The company says the mandate is necessary to comply with President Biden's September executive order requiring government contractors and subcontractors to mandate vaccination. story continues below The Times notes that "a number" of Boeing's 125,000 US workers, 57,000 of whom live in Washington state, are opposed to the mandate, and opposition was also clear on Twitter, where some were comparing the safety of the vaccine to Boeing's safety problems related to the 737 MAX. Per KOMO News, the president of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751 has said members are "polarized" on the issue. Also a potential concern: 5,000 employees live in Texas, which just barred vaccine mandates. In order to be considered fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, the company says, employees must get their first dose of Moderna by Oct. 27, Pfizer by Nov. 3, or their single dose of Johnson & Johnson by Nov. 24. (Read more Boeing stories.) (Newser) The lead character of television's most popular drama exited the show Monday without a fuss, and without the immediate ratings bump that would be expected if there had been, the AP reports. NCIS star Mark Harmon, who has played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs since the CBS drama began in 2003, had his final night as a regular character on Monday's show. Gibbs informed his partner after working on a case in Alaska that he was going to stay there. At Harmon's request, CBS made no special promotion of the occasion, a muted departure for an industry that has never been shy about hawking the movements of big stars. That may partly be because Harmon, 70, hasn't ruled out the possibility of an occasional return. story continues below Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go, said Steve Binder, NCIS executive producer, in a statement. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years ... never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out. Deadline notes fans have been speculating Harmon's departure was near, as he hasn't had as much screen time lately and Gary Cole was added as a series regular. Monday's show was seen by an estimated 7.37 million viewers, the Nielsen company said. That number is expected to increase substantially once streaming and delayed viewing is taken into account, particularly as word of Harmon's exit spreads. NCIS has been television's most popular drama for 11 of the past 12 seasons. (Read more Mark Harmon stories.) (Newser) "How does this man still have a job?" That was just one of Marvel writer Steven DeKnight's tweets upon hearing some news over the weekend about Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, and before announcing he's cutting ties with Marvel until the matter is addressed. That revelation, at least to DeKnight: that CB Cebulski, who's white, once assumed a Japanese name to get further ahead in the comics world. NBC News notes that Cebulski owned up to the appropriation back in 2017, admitting he'd published multiple comics under the name Akira Yoshida in the early 2000s. story continues below In fact, Marvel still has a link up to the comics of "Yoshida," many of which centered on Asian themes and characters. Four years ago, as Cebulski took over as EIC of Marvel, the comics news site Bleeding Cool got him to admit he was Yoshida, who up till then was said to be a Japanese translator with experience in manga. "I stopped writing under the pseudonym Akira Yoshida after about a year," Cebulski told the site in late 2017, claiming he'd been "young and naive." He also said in a statement that he was "truly sorry for the pain, anger, and disappointment I caused over my poor choice of pseudonym." Marvel also confirmed at the time that Cebulski was actually Yoshida. Per io9, the ruse was more than just Cebulski assuming a name: He gave in-character interviews, in which "Yoshida" talked about learning English as a kid in Japan by watching TV and movies and reading comic books. Rich Johnston, who'd written the 2017 Bleeding Cool article, noted he'd even spoken with Marvel execs who called Yoshida a "rarity" and claimed they'd met with him at Marvel offices. All of this was apparently news to DeKnight, a screenwriter and director who served as the showrunner for Netflix's Daredevil and who's lent his pen to several Marvel comics. DeKnight, who says Cebulski's actions "go far beyond adopting a Japanese pseudonym [and] illustrate a deep lack of ethics," notes he doesn't want the man's life destroyed, but he also doesn't think he deserves the honor of being Marvel's editor. As for himself, DeKnight says that "I love writing for Marvel comics, but this changes the equation," adding he "will not pursue or accept future work until this is resolved." (Read more Marvel Comics stories.) (Newser) You might think Native American people are in some way involved in Minnetonka moccasins, but you'd be wrong. And on Indigenous People's Day, the CEO of the Minneapolis-based company formally apologized for its cultural appropriation, NPR reports. "We recognize that our original products, some of which are still sold today, have been appropriated from Native American culture," David Miller said in a statement issued Monday. "We deeply and meaningfully apologize for having benefited from selling Native-inspired designs without directly honoring Native culture or communities." The company first apologized for cultural appropriation last year. In 2008, it removed the word "moccasins" from its logo, though it still sells the Native American-inspired shoe; it's now officially going by just Minnetonka in all communications, the Star-Tribune reports. story continues below Back in 1946, when it was launched by a white family, Minnetonka was "one of many companies who sold handcrafted moccasins and Native-inspired accessories to roadside gift shops," Miller said, noting that "moccasin" is an anglicization of the Ojibwe word "makizinan." He said the appropriation was due to "ignorance" rather than "maliciousness," but still must be rectified. While the company has privately supported indigenous causes in Minnesota, Miller acknowledged that's not enough, and said Minnetonka is implementing a plan, developed last year, to more actively and publicly support Native American causes. As part of that, it is working with indigenous people, including its new reconciliation advisor. "Real change and effort undoubtedly starts with the redistribution and sharing of resources," she writes in a blog post for the company. "Since much of this company's wealth came from appropriation, it would only be right for this company to truly invest back into those communities from which it stole." Specifically, Minnetonka will recruit more employees from underrepresented groups including Native Americans, be more transparent in how it describes its background, collaborate with indigenous designers, look to partner with businesses owned by Native Americans, and give money to Native American organizations. Even so, some on Twitter were not impressed: "Minnesota shoe company Minnetonka apologizes, keeps money from appropriating First Nations moccasins," reads one response to the news. (Read more cultural appropriation stories.) (Newser) The US will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Vehicle, rail, and ferry travel between the US and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The new rules, to be announced Wednesday, will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the US regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel into the country. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the US, like truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated, the AP reports. story continues below Senior administration officials previewed the new policy late Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to speak ahead of the formal announcement. Both Mexico and Canada have pressed the US for months to ease restrictions on travel that have separated families and curtailed leisure trips since the onset of the pandemic. The latest move follows last month's announcement that the US will end country-based travel bans for air travel, and instead require vaccination for foreign nationals seeking to enter by plane. Both policies will take effect in early November, the officials said. They did not specify a particular date. According to the officials, travelers entering the US by vehicle, rail, and ferry will be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard US Customs and Border Protection admissions process. At officers' discretion, travelers will have their proof of vaccination verified in a secondary screening process. Unlike air travel, for which proof of a negative COVID-19 test is required before boarding a flight to enter the US, no testing will be required to enter the US by land or sea, provided the travelers meet the vaccination requirement. Also Tuesday, the US Department of Labor completed the initial draft of an emergency regulation that will require US employers of 100 workers or more to demand their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) (Newser) More troubles have emerged for Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong, who admitted in court this week he's used a controlled substance illegallyand quite a bit of it. Reuters reports that in Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, Lee copped to partaking in the sedative propofol more than three dozen times from 2015 to 2020, saying he was "deeply regretful" for using it. "I will ... make sure that this does not happen again," he said, swearing that he hadn't used the drug since his early release from prison in August. story continues below Lee's legal team says he'd used the drugthe one that ended up killing Michael Jackson, and one that's typically only administered during anesthesiadue to medical reasons, including psychological issues tied to his father being in the hospital and due to his own scandal and conviction on embezzlement and bribery charges. Lee, who said he'd obtained the prescriptions from a hospital in the wealthy Seoul neighborhood of Gangnam, also told the court that the propofol had been part of a skin treatment, per the New York Times. The staff at the clinic where Lee was given the drug are headed to trial as well, as under South Korean law, both those administering the controlled substance and those receiving it are liable to be prosecuted. Lee, 53, pleaded guilty to charges of using a narcotic for nonmedical purposes, with prosecutors seeking to have him pay a $72,000 fine. A final court ruling is due Oct. 26. Other charges coming down the pike for Lee include ones on stock manipulation and unfair trading, which he has denied. (Read more Lee Jae-yong stories.) (Newser) US officials are investigating suspected cases of Havana syndrome at the US embassy in Colombia, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to travel next week, days after similar reports surfaced at the US embassy in Germany. Emails from US Ambassador to Colombia Philip Goldberg describe a number of "unexplained health incidents" at the embassy in Bogota since mid-September, the Wall Street Journal reports, noting a minor is among those affected. More than a dozen embassy employees and their family members have reported symptomswhich can range from headache to brain injuryincluding some who had to be flown out of Colombia, CNN reports. A source tells the outlet that a few of those officials previously suffered symptoms while working in other countries. story continues below "Some of the families are living in hotels as the embassy runs tests on their apartments," per the Journal. Colombian President Ivan Duque tells the New York Times that the country is investigating alongside the US. An investigation is also underway in Berlin, where reports of Havana syndrome cases surfaced Friday, per the BBC. President Biden vowed to find "the cause and who is responsible" hours after signing the HAVANA Act, which will provide financial compensation and other support for US victims around the world. More than 200 have been affected since the first known cases surfaced at the US embassy in Cuba in 2016. Biden said Friday that addressing the incidents is "a top priority for my administration," per CNN. The Times reports Blinken's trip will go ahead as planned. (Read more Havana syndrome stories.) (Newser) Randy Halprin was six days from execution when an appeals court granted a stay in 2019. Two years later, the 44-year-old is destined for a new trial after a Texas judge determined his 2003 death sentence for capital murder, delivered by former Dallas County District Judge Vickers Cunningham, was the result of Cunningham's "deep-seated animosity and prejudice toward Jewish people." Lawyers for Halprin, who is Jewish, began looking more closely at the judge's actions following a 2018 interview with the Dallas Morning News, in which the judge confirmed he'd created a living trust that would financially reward his children if they married a person of the opposite sex who was white and Christian. story continues below Cunningham claimed it was a "traditional family value" to marry within one's own race. Halprin's lawyers then began collecting witness statements to back up their argument that their client's right to due process was violated because of Cunningham's antisemitic views. Halprin was serving a 30-year sentence for injury to a child when he escaped a maximum-security prison in 2000 along with six others. One took his own life. Cunningham oversaw the trials of five of the remaining six, sentencing each to death under the state's "law of parties," as a police officer was fatally shot during a robbery attributed to the group, per NBC News. Four of the six have been executed. Halprin maintained he didn't "intend the death of that officer" and "didn't shoot him." More than 100 Jewish attorneys in Texas came out in support of a new trial before a stay of execution was granted. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals then sent the case to back to the Dallas County District Court, where Judge Lela Lawrence Mays heard oral arguments in June. A childhood friend of Cunningham told the court that the judge, who last served on the bench in 2005, "took special pride" in the sentencing of the so-called Texas 7 "because they included Latinos and Jews," according to court documents. Others said the judge frequently used derogatory slurs for Black, Hispanic, and Jewish people. On Monday, Mays recommended Halprin receive a new trial, determining Cunningham's "inbred bias" was "too much to ignore." (Read more anti-Semitism stories.) (Newser) John Paul I, the shortest-reigning pope in almost 400 years, has taken a big step down the road to sainthood. The Vatican says Pope Francis has approved a decree attributing a miracle to his predecessor, who was found dead in his bed from an apparent heart attack just 33 days after he became head of the Catholic church in 1978, reports Reuters. John Paul I will now be beatified, a key step in the sainthood process, but it will take one more miracle before he can become a saint, the AP reports. The pope, who was born Albino Luciani, was 65 years old when he died unexpectedly. He was the last in an unbroken 455-year line of Italian-born popes, having been succeeded by the Polish John Paul II. story continues below The Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which oversees the process, said Francis had acknowledged "a causal link" between prayers to John Paul I and the mysterious recovery of an extremely sick 11-year-old girl in Argentina in 2011, the New York Times reports. The Vatican says the girl was thought to be on the verge of death from acute brain inflammation and other issues when the Buenos Aires hospital's priest "took the initiative to invoke Pope Luciani." Prayers from the girl's mother and ICU nurses "were exclusively addressed to Pope Luciani," the congregation said in a statement. It said that within a few days, the girl's condition began to improve and she eventually returned to full fitness. The congregation said Vatican doctors certified in 2019 that there was no medical explanation for her recovery. (In 2014, Francis confirmed the sainthood of two other popes, including John Paul II.) (Newser) It's not clear yet whether people who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will be cleared to get a booster shot or will be told to switch brands. A Food and Drug Administration staff report released Wednesday said that there's evidence the J&J booster strengthened the immune system's response in study participants, but that the company didn't provide enough of the evidence. In addition, the Wall Street Journal reports, the agency partly had to accept the company's analysis instead of doing its own. The report did not offer a recommendation on whether the J&J booster should be approved. story continues below The FDA's committee of outside experts is to meet on Friday about the company's request for approval of its booster shot for the 15 million people in the US who have had the single-shot vaccination, per the New York Times. The company had said Tuesday that the booster should be administered, at six months or more past the initial shot, "based on the strength of the immune responses." Part of the problem is that the FDA had already scheduled the outside advisers' meeting and didn't have time to verify Johnson & Johnson's data. That was unusual scheduling, experts said. There also wasn't much information provided about the booster's effectiveness against the delta variant, Wednesday's report said, adding that no conclusion could be reached about its usefulness. The advisory committee also is to consider Moderna's booster shot this week, per the AP. For consistency across products, Moderna had proposed a booster at six months. But J&J also tested its booster at two months and provided those results, complicating the issue. The FDA report said the company's data appear to show the one-shot vaccine is less effective than the Pfizer and Moderna two-shot regimens. The advisers' recommendation would precede the FDA's decision. (Read more Johnson & Johnson stories.) Please purchase a subscription read this premium content. If you have a subscription, please sign up for a digital website account or log in. Bahrain calls for dialogue with regional friends and partners for peace, security and prosperity Bahrain calls for dialogue with regional friends and partners for peace, security and prosperity Nur-Sultan | Kazakhstan The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain has stressed the importance of collective regional action to overcome challenges and achieve genuine security and development. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said that this can be done through constant dialogue with regional friends and partners. The past 18 months have once again highlighted the vital role of regional and internation[1]al cooperation, and the critical importance of working together to address common challenges, said Dr Al Zayani. He was speaking in the sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Ministerial Meeting, which started yesterday in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event is being held under the patronage of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Ka[1]zakhstan, chaired by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin, and in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CICA member states, and the participation of CICA Executive Director, Kairat Sarybay. At the opening session of the meeting, Al Zayani said: Indeed, recent years have demonstrated beyond any doubt that, in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, genuine and sustainable security and development is only possible by working together with regional friends and partners. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has also reaffirmed Bahrains longstanding principles and values which guide its policies, values which have always been part of our Bahraini culture, and which have been given renewed momentum by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Foremost among these values, the minister pointed out, are the importance of coexistence, dialogue and mutual respect as the essential foundations of relations between states and peoples, and the bedrock of enduring peace, security and prosperity. That is why Bahrain believes in the importance of regional forums such as CICA, because we are convinced that they are ideal venues to put these principles into practice, and to demonstrate the value of genuine regional cooperation in bringing real, practical benefits to Asias countries and peoples, said Dr Al Zayani. It is why, for example, Bahrain will shortly assume the Chair of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, providing further opportunities to bring our region closer together, while recognising the unique strengths of each of these forums. Al Zayani lauded Asias potential, diverse and abundant resources, dynamic and resourceful peoples, technical expertise combined with its rich heritage and culture. We are convinced, also, that by harnessing this potential through greater contacts and cooperation, we can enhance all our lives bringing genuine security, lasting prosperity, and real opportunity for all our peoples, he noted. Thank you for trusting us for your local news coverage. You have reached the maximum number of free articles per month. Subscribe today for unlimited access to News-Press NOW. It's a fast and easy way to support local journalism. NEWTOWN The energy that a top-of-the-ticket race can generate for the November elections fizzled out two months ago when two-term First Selectman Dan Rosenthal decided to forego partisan politics and run on a little-known third-party line. But with three weeks left before Newtown voters go to the polls to decide races lower on the ballot, there is no shortage of political adrenaline for Democrats and Republicans, leaders said. Weve been working the phones like mad, said Eric Paradis, the leader of Newtowns Democratic Party. We are hoping for a strong Democratic turnout. Newtown Republicans are no less energized, having drawn GOP VIPs to a galvanizing event on Sunday including Ben Proto, chair of the state GOP, state Rep. Vincent Candelora, the House Republican Minority Leader, and Bob Stefanowsi the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2018. We have an impressive slate of candidates and you can feel the enthusiasm leading up to November 2nd, said Ryan Knapp, a member of the Legislative Council who is running for re-election, in a prepared statement. It was great meeting so many new people interested in getting more involved locally. With no drama surrounding an unopposed third term for Rosenthal on the Save America Movement line, and unopposed terms for incumbent Democrat Maureen Crick Owen and GOP newcomer Ed Schierloh on the three-member Board of Selectmen, party leaders are focusing their attention on down-ballot races, such as Legislative Council. The 12-member council, which is the law-making body of town, has a 7-to-5 Democratic majority. A shift in the power balance could affect what laws are passed in town. For example, in 2020, the Legislative Council blocked by a 6-to-6 vote a proposed ban on carrying guns in Newtown. The same Legislative Council then voted 7-to-5 to refer a simplified version of the ban to a subcommittee for review and a recommendation, where the issue was recently debated at a public hearing. The subcommittee, headed by Knapp, has not finished its review. Democrats are trying to hold onto their majority by running three incumbents and six challengers. Among the challengers are Keith Alexander, the current chair of the Board of Finance, and Michelle Embree Ku, the current chair of the Newtown Board or Education. Republicans are trying to get control of the council by running three incumbents and six challengers. Among the challengers are Jeffrey Capeci, a current member of the Board of Selectmen, and William DeRosa, vice chair of the Newtown Republican Town Committee. The Legislative Council race is the highlight of a ballot that contains contests for the Board of Education, the Board of Finance, the Police Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and other races. Longtime Town Clerk incumbent Debbie Halstead, a Republican, is being challenged by Democratic Legislative Council member Jordana Bloom. Voters will also choose whether to approve an $8 million spending proposition to upgrade the heating, cooling, and ventilation system at the 100-year-old Hawley Elementary School. Should voters approve the proposition, Rosenthal and the Board of Selectmen have recommended allotting $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan money to reduce the amount Newtown would have to borrow. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 BROOKFIELD Brookfields three candidates for first selectman looked out into a mostly empty room Tuesday night as they debated everything from downtown revitalization efforts to tax rates. Online, more than 240 residents tuned in to watch the debate and hear what the candidates had to say. Despite high public interest, the debate was not open to the public due limited room capacity. The Chamber of Commerce, which was sponsoring the event, said it did not think it was fair to allow some people to attend but not others, so it decided the event would be virtual. The vast majority of the questions posed to Republican candidate Tara Carr, petitioning candidate Austin Monteiro and incumbent Democrat Steve Dunn, by moderator Scott Benjamin focused on local infrastructure and finances, with one question geared towards the ongoing pandemic. No one issue drove the debate. Questions hit on hyperlocal projects: the Town Center District, the Still River Greenway and a new skate park. Yet candidate responses often dipped away from the topic. Despite being asked questions about repaving roads, Still River Greenway plans, and improving library and police services, the candidates mentioned spotty cell service, a left turn signal by the Chick-Fil-A on Federal Road, affordable housing, and questions about support for defunding the police, which no candidate supported. At one point, Monteiro discussed using American Rescue Plan Act funds to build a new public health center that would include a sauna. When asked about their response to the ongoing pandemic, Carr and Monteiro said they disapproved of Dunns townwide masking mandate. Dunn, who answered first, spoke about the towns success in vaccinating a large number of residents and obtaining pandemic-related grants. Carr and Monteiro have spoken at Board of Education meetings about masking for children, which is mandated by the state. During public comment at a recent meeting, Monteiro called mask-wearing in schools cosmetic theater or a school experiment. I think there's a much bigger health-related problem in this country that is not being addressed, Monteiro said Tuesday night. The government has spent $10 trillion and not spent one penny on the real problem, which is obesity and mental health, anxiety, when it comes to COVID and when it comes to our lifestyle. Carr asked Dunn about the town mask mandate and about ARPA fund release dates. Throughout the debate, Carr was quick to use her response time to address Mr. Dunn personally and discuss perceived shortcomings of his administration. She frequently posed questions to the first selectman, who sat on the farthest side of the table from her, divided by two layers of plexiglass. Dunn gave general responses to Carrs queries geared towards his administrations plans and goals during the rebuttal period but did not address Carr directly during his time. Monteiro, on the other hand, played off the tension along partisan lines to emphasize his recent unaffiliated status and a centrist focus. Do we want to move left? Do we want to move right? Or do we want to move forward together? Monteiro asked the camera in his closing statement. Monteiro asked whether a first selectman should be part of a political party at all. Dunn reiterated the work he and running mate Sue Slater have done for the town over their six years in office. We need to be civil, we need to work together. [The Board of Finance will] do what's best for this town. And so do Sue and I and Harry Shaker, he said in closing. More tensions arose in Carrs closing statements when Carr brought up Monteiros recent departure from the Republican party before reiterating her stance against what she called town overdevelopment. Is this the Brookfield we want? Do we want a mini Waterbury right here in our own backyard? Carr said. Monteiro, who had donned his campaign mask before heading out, said he wished the public had been allowed to attend, which was an issue he brought up in his opening statement and several other times during the debate, as well. Outside of Town Hall, Carr gathered with her husband and a few others who hadnt been able to attend in person. Carr said she definitely came prepared and felt she had done her research. I think open debate is a good thing, Dunn said after the debate ended. These debates show that there is a lively discussion in town, which we welcome. DANBURY Some local families are struggling to enroll their children in schools because they cant find or afford appointments for the required physicals and immunizations. Providers say they cant keep up with the high demand for appointments, which in some cases lagged during the coronavirus crisis. Clinics are unable to add appointments due to lack of staffing or COVID-19 challenges. One clinic, Samaritan Health Center in Danbury, has seen a 200 percent spike in the number of calls and appointments. Its just been really, really crazy to the point we have a waiting list until about January now, said Donna Shaw, the administrative director who manages the health center. Samaritan is part of the nonprofit Jericho Partnership and serves patients without insurance. Many patients are undocumented. The clinic has referred patients to other local health centers that serve uninsured patients, but those clinics are booked, too, Shaw said. There are about 200 students waiting in Danbury schools registration queue, although its unclear how many are held up by the need for vaccines and physicals. We have a lot of families who are trying to get their vaccines, Superintendent Kevin Walston told school board members last week. They cant afford vaccines to actually get access to our schools. Were learning that the vaccinations themselves are very costly at urgent care. The problem doesnt appear to be widespread. We have not heard from any regions of the state that parents are having a hard time getting an appointment to receive required vaccines, state Department of Health spokesman Christopher Boyle said in an email. The state requires students to receive physical examinations and various vaccines, not including the COVID-19 shots, which are optional for eligible students. Children must have required vaccines for school entry for when they start school, Boyle said. If a child is behind on the requirements, they must receive all vaccines they can or have an appointment to receive them and be on a catch up schedule for any subsequent needed doses. Officials from the schools, city health department and the school-based health centers are meeting on Wednesday to discuss how to address the problem, said Melanie Bonjour, the school health services program manager for the Connecticut Institute for Communities. Some families fell behind on visits to the doctors office or their vaccine schedules at the beginning of COVID, she said. Providers have been unable to manage the demand, on top of telehealth, well visits and other appointments. A lot of the clinics that serve the underserved are finding it challenging to get the kids in, Bonjour said. But we want to make sure they get enrolled in school and in in-person learning as soon as possible. One option could be offering drive-thru vaccine clinics, she said. These clinics were held in the summer 2019 and in the spring 2020, when officials were worried children werent getting their vaccines during lockdown. Its harder to offer physicals in this manner because they take more time, Bonjour said. Danburys health department has provided vaccines to many families in need and is in regular contact with Danbury Public Schools to refer students to the health department for their shots, said Kara Prunty, health director. My team has been in contact with community partners to discuss a solution that would provide more children access to physicals, she said in an email. Challenges facing providers Demand increases for childrens physicals and vaccinations every year around this time, said Leslie Gianelli, spokeswoman for Community Health Center, which has clinics in Danbury and across the state. Some folks are inclined to schedule at the last minute, which makes it hard to get an appointment right away, she said in an email. Currently, across our system were scheduling out about two weeks for well child visits. The Center for Pediatric Medicine is slammed at its offices in Danbury and New Fairfield, said Matt Carreira, chief operating officer. The three offices see an upward of 200 patients a day, he estimated. Same-day appointments are available, but prime slots such as Saturday afternoons may be filled up for a month, he said. In 2020, fewer people came to the doctors office because they stayed home due to COVID, but now patients are rushing to return, Carreira said. The number of sick visits have increased too because more patients are worried they have COVID, he said. Samaritan saw the number of patients drop in 2020 because families stayed home and fewer people were immigrating due to COVID, Shaw said. Thats changed. We just cant serve everybody as quickly as they would like, Shaw said. I know they want to get their kids into school and make sure theyre in good health and [have] the necessary vaccines, but we definitely dont have enough hands in the mix here. The health center charges patients a nominal one-time fee, but Shaw said some families have gone elsewhere and are willing to pay whatever so their children can go to school. The clinic has a part-time medical director, part-time nurse manager and very part-time staff nurse, Shaw said. In its volunteer base are six doctors, physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses, with one volunteer nurse. Samaritan is privately funded and doesnt have the budget for full-time staff, she said. She urged those in the medical field to volunteer, so the health center could potentially extend its hours. If we just had more bodies in the mix, that would definitely help alleviate some of our backlog, Shaw said. The Center for Pediatric Medicine is down staff members, so employees are getting burnt out and working extra, Carreira said. The center is hiring three more providers, but training them takes time, he said. Even with more staff, space is a challenge, he said. Three exam rooms are out of commission because theyre needed for COVID protocols, including testing and space for staff to change in and out of gowns. Danburys school-based health centers work daily with the schools to identify students who are not compliant with the requirements and to vaccinate them, Bonjour said. Thats been the primary reason students have gone to the school-based health centers this academic year. The vaccine issue is a priority because it could end up in a different public health crisis and we want to make sure the students are all protected, Bonjour said. BRIDGEWATER First Selectman Curtis Read is displeased over a pending proposal by the Connecticut Department of Transportation to designate part of Route 133 as a scenic road. This designation may happen by early November. Reads concerns include lack of public input, loss of local control and increased tourist traffic through town. A meeting was scheduled to be held Tuesday evening over Zoom in an effort to address those concerns. David Elder, a transportation planner for the state Department of Transportation and chairperson of Bridgewaters Scenic Roads Advisory Committee, was expected to present. The meeting was meant to be recorded and sent to the CT DOT commissioner. At the meeting, Elder was expected to provide a definition of a scenic road, explain the designation in question and collect written comments from the public. Route 133 Scenic Road designation At the September Board of Selectmen meeting, Elder provided background on the scenic road designation proposal. He said what initiated the conversation is a lengthy letter received in February by Brookfield resident Alex Lopes to CT DOT. Whenever I go to New Milford or farther north I often take CT-133 and CT-67 to get there, Lopes wrote. Every time I pass through this route I notice the hills, the river, and all the historic buildings along the way. One of his favorite parts is the Bridgewater Center Historic District, which has historic buildings, such as the village store and post office, and has been the center of Bridgewater since it was incorporated, he writes. He describes stopping at Lover's Leap Lookout to observe the beautiful mountains. The proposed scenic road designation would extend from Brookfield on Route 133 northeast across the Lake Lillinonah bridge, past the boat launch, north through Bridgewater on Route 133, past the fairgrounds and downtown of the Village Center, north on 133 and the intersection of Route 67, and then west or north on Route 67 to downtown New Milford. It would go all the way across the Veterans Bridge on Route 202. In his letter, Lopes wrote listing the route as a scenic byway would help preserve the surrounding areas from future development that may ruin the scenic, historic and rural charm. In Elders presentation to the Board of Selectmen, he explained the Scenic Roads Advisory Committee as a statutory entity whose charge is two-fold. We review proposals to establish new scenic roads on state highways or state roads and we also review projects that are going to be undertaken on those roads once theyve been established, Elder said. The criteria CT DOT looks for when determining whether a road is scenic includes highways that are on the National or State Register of Historic Places, as well as if the road has special features such as scenic vistas, stone walls, marshes or any scenery that has unique character, Elder said. It must have natural, cultural features along its borders such as agricultural land, historic borders, shorelines, and forests with mature trees, he said. After studying the proposed roads, Elder said some segments qualify as a scenic road, while others dont. After review, the committee recommended splitting up that corridor into two segments one would be from Obtuse Road on the southerly side of the Lake Lillinonah bridge, north through Bridgewater, and then ending at Morrissey Lane, just below the intersection with Route 67 and 133, he said. The other section would be from Lovers Leap lookout traveling west or north on Route 67 into New Milford town center and then west on Route 202, ending by the historic train station. Elder added once a road is established as a scenic road, the Scenic Roads Advisory Committee would make sure it stays that way. When theres a project thats undertaken by the Department of Transportation thats going to occur on that scenic road, the Scenic Road Advisory Committee reviews the proposal and we see if there are going to be any activities that are going to negatively impact that scenic road designation. If so, they would recommend mitigation strategies, Elder said. Not a very inclusive process Read said residents should have more of a say in the decision that directly affects the town. He said it sounds that the proposal for a scenic road is a done deal, and that just seems to me not a very inclusive process for the town thats going to be the most affected by this designation. He added the tradition of the New England towns is that you have some control over your own property in town that at least is respected or given a nod to. In response, Elder said for state roads, the state maintains jurisdiction, oversight and decision-making authority on that facility. Read said, however, while the roads in question are state roads, it happens to mostly be citizens properties and town properties that make it scenic. The CT DOT plans to present the proposal in November to the DOT commissioner. In a telephone call prior to Tuesdays meeting, Read said he plans to send residents comments on the scenic road to the DOT commissioner and state representatives. I will tell them that I think this process of trying to make a scenic road somewhere without the permission of the town is inconsiderate of our wishes, Read said. We dont want tour buses, we dont people in New York to look up scenic roads in Connecticut and come for drives through Bridgewater. Were already getting swamped with a lot of traffic post COVID. We want to be off the grid, he added. sfox@milfordmirror.com "With Halo's new Oregon flower sales force led by Jessie Garner, the Company's top performing salesperson, we are targeting approximately $1.9 million of monthly net revenue in Oregon flower sales from November 2021 onward which is nearly a four times increase from the equivalent 2020 harvest," commented Halo's CEO, Kiran Sidhu. "We have been steadily increasing our genetic library with unique strains to meet the sophisticated consumer demands in the Oregon market. We currently offer 70 strains, including select strains from Williams Wonder, DNA Genetics, and TerpHogz. Flower is the largest cannabis category in the Oregon market representing over 45% of dispensary sales in 2021 3 . According to BDSA, retail flower sales in August in Oregon totaled $42.1 million. Starting this outdoor season, we aim to be the largest wholesaler of flower in Oregon with close to 9.5% share 4 of the market in the state." Expected highlights from Company's sungrown harvest include: A Record Harvest Expected over this season of an estimated 31,000 pounds (14,100 kilos) of dried cannabis, including A buds, smalls, and trim with a wholesale value expected of $ 7.5 million 5 . In addition, the Company expects to harvest 1,600 pounds of fresh frozen cannabis with an expected wholesale value of $1.3 million 6 . This estimates the expected total wholesale value of this year's sungrown harvest including flower, trim and fresh frozen to be approximately $8.8 million . over this season of an estimated 31,000 pounds (14,100 kilos) of dried cannabis, including A buds, smalls, and trim with a wholesale value expected of . In addition, the Company expects to harvest 1,600 pounds of fresh frozen cannabis with an expected wholesale value of . This estimates the expected total wholesale value of this year's sungrown harvest including flower, trim and fresh frozen to be approximately . Significant Cultivation Expansion through 2022. The Company's Oregon operations include East Evans Creek, Winberry Farms, William's Wonder Farms, and the recently acquired Food Concepts located at the Pistil Point facility in Portland . This gives Halo over 12 acres of outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor canopy in 2021 compared to six acres of only outdoor in 2020. Over the next six months, Halo plans to add 40,000 square feet of greenhouses and 10,000 square feet of indoor within Oregon to keep the sales pipeline continually supplied. The Company's operations include East Evans Creek, Winberry Farms, William's Wonder Farms, and the recently acquired Food Concepts located at the Pistil Point facility in . This gives Halo over 12 acres of outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor canopy in 2021 compared to six acres of only outdoor in 2020. Over the next six months, Halo plans to add 40,000 square feet of greenhouses and 10,000 square feet of indoor within to keep the sales pipeline continually supplied. More and Better Genetics. Halo built a large and more modern nursery at East Evans Creek, allowing the Company to increase its genetic library to 70 different strains that management has selected based on Oregon's test results and market demand, including those under license from DNA Genetics and TerpHogz and the Williams Wonder. Halo built a large and more modern nursery at East Evans Creek, allowing the Company to increase its genetic library to 70 different strains that management has selected based on test results and market demand, including those under license from DNA Genetics and TerpHogz and the Williams Wonder. Expected Incremental Net Revenue and Pre-Tax Cash Flow (not previously guided). The fall harvest, the largest of three expected each year, should cover the raw material needs for Halo in Oregon for up to nine months. Also, the harvest should add up to $7.3 million of incremental net revenue and up to $5.1 million of incremental pre-tax cash flow during the 7-Month Period, which has not previously been included in the Company's financial outlook. The fall harvest, the largest of three expected each year, should cover the raw material needs for Halo in for up to nine months. Also, the harvest should add up to of incremental net revenue and up to of incremental pre-tax cash flow during the 7-Month Period, which has not previously been included in the Company's financial outlook. A New Dedicated Sale Force for Oregon Flower Sales. Under the stewardship of Dustin Jessup , the Company's Chief Revenue Officer, Jesse Garner , Halo's top-performing salesperson, is leading a new sales division focused exclusively on flower sales given the substantial increase in supply both from Halo's farms and the Company's over one hundred farm partners. ________________________ 1 Harvest on all Oregon farms has started, the 25,000 pound yield is based on a plant by plant analysis for each canopy owned or managed by the Company. The price per pound assumes a 35% reduction in average sale price compared to last haverst season to be conservative. Net incremental cash flow deducts trimming, bagging, tagging, testing, sales commissions and delivery costs is based on contracted rates and actual current costs. 2 These preliminary and unaudited financial results are subject to customary financial statement procedures by the Company and its auditors. Actual results could be affected by subsequent events or determinations. While the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for these preliminary financial results, the results involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These preliminary results represent forward-looking information. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements" and "Financial Outlook". 3 Based on August BDSA Green Edge Data 4 Company estiamtes that wholesale is 50% of retail hence $20.05 million in August using BDSA data. 5 $7.3 million of flower sales and $250,000 of trim for shatter and distillate, 6,000 pounds at a $40 per pound average market rate. 6 $1.3 million of fresh frozen material is based on 1,600 lbs across 40 strains at a $81.25 per pound average market rate. About Halo Collective Inc. Halo is a leading, vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, extracts, manufactures, and distributes quality cannabis flower, oils, and concentrates and has sold approximately eleven million grams of oils and concentrates since inception. The Company continues to expand its business and scale efficiently, partnering with trustworthy leaders in the industry who value Halo's operational expertise in bringing top-tier products to market. Halo currently operates in the United States in Oregon and California, Canada, Southern Africa in the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the United Kingdom. The Company sells cannabis products principally to dispensaries in the U.S. under its brands Hush, Mojave, and Exhale, and under license agreements with Papa's Herb, DNA Genetics, Terphogz, and FlowerShop*, a cannabis lifestyle and conceptual wellness brand that includes G-Eazy as a partner and key member. As part of continued expansion and vertical integration in the U.S., Halo boasts several grow operations throughout Oregon and two planned in California. In Oregon, the Company has a combined 12 acres of owned or contracted outdoor, green house and indoor cultivation, including East Evans Creek, a six-acre grow site in Jackson County with four licenses owned and operated by Halo and two third-party licenses under contract to sell all of their product to Halo; Winberry Farms, a one-acre grow site located 30 miles outside of Eugene in Lane County with a license owned and operated by Halo; and William's Wonder Farms, a three-acre grow site in Applegate Valley, under contract to sell all of its product to Halo pending the closing of Halo's acquisition of its licenses and business assets. Halo has recently acquired Food Concepts LLC, a master tenant of a 55,000 sq.ft. indoor cannabis cultivation, processing, and wholesaling facility in Portland, Oregon operated by the Pistil Point entities (the "Pistil Point Acquistion"). In California, the Company is building out Ukiah Ventures, a planned 30,000 sq. ft. indoor cannabis grow and processing facility, which will include up to an additional five acres of industrial land to expand the site. Recently, Halo partnered with Green Matter Holding in California to purchase a property in Lake County, developing up to 63 acres of cultivation, comprising one of the largest licensed single site grows in California. Halo also plans to expand its operations in California by opening three dispensaries in North Hollywood, Hollywood, and Westwood. In Canada, Halo acquired three KushBar retail cannabis stores located in Alberta as a first in its planned entry into the Canadian market, leveraging its Oregon and California brands. With the KushBar retail stores as a foundation, the Company plans to expand its foothold in Canada. Halo has also acquired a range of software development assets, including CannPOS, Cannalift, and, more recently, CannaFeels. In addition, Halo owns the discrete sublingual dosing technology, Accudab. The Company intends to spin-off these assets and its intellectual property and patent applications into its subsidiary Halo Tek Inc. and expects to complete a distribution to shareholders on a record date to be determined by Halo. Halo has recently announced its intention to reorganize its non-U.S. operations into a newly formed entity called Akanda Corp., whose mission is to provide high-quality and ethically sourced medical cannabis products to patients worldwide. Akanda will seek to deliver on this promise while driving positive change in wellness, empowering individuals in Lesotho, and uplifting the quality of the lives of employees and the local communities where it operates, all while limiting its carbon footprint. Akanda will combine the scaled production capabilities of Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness Pty. Ltd., Halo's Lesotho-based cultivation and processing campus located in the world's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) containing a cannabis cultivation operation, with distribution and route-to-market efficiency of Canmart Ltd., Halo's UK-based fully approved pharmaceutical importer, and distributor that supplies pharmacies and clinics within the U.K. With a potential maximum licensed canopy area of 200 hectares (495 acres), Bophelo has scalability that is arguably unmatched in the world today. For further information regarding Halo, see Halo's disclosure documents on SEDAR at www.sedar.com Connect with Halo Collective: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram Non-IFRS Financial Measures Pre-tax cash flow is a non-IFRS measure defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") after working capital. Non-IFRS pre-tax cash flow is EBITDA adjusted for gains or losses on the value of biological assets and after working capital not including the change in the value of biological assets. This data is furnished to provide additional information and is a non-IFRS measure and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company uses this non-IFRS measure to provide shareholders and others with supplemental measures of its operating performance. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, may use this non-IFRS measure in the evaluation of companies, many of which present similar metrics when reporting their results. As other companies calculate this non-IFRS measure differently than the Company, this metrics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Financial Outlook This press release contains a financial outlook within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The financial outlook has been prepared by management of the Company to provide an outlook for the sales of the Company's sungrown flower in the state of Oregon during the 7-Month Period and sales of the Company's flower in the state of Oregon during the period from November, 2021 to May, 2022 and may not be appropriate for any other purpose. The financial outlook has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed in this press release and under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements" below and assumptions with respect to market conditions, pricing, and demand. The actual results of the Company's operations for any period will likely vary from the amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. The Company and its management believe that the financial outlook has been prepared on a reasonable basis. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements" below, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halo's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halo's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to the Company's Sungrown Flower Projections, the Company's plans to expand in Canada and California, the expected size and capabilities of the final facility planned at Ukiah Ventures, the size of Halo's planned cultivation facility in Northern California, the ability of Bophelo and Canmart to serve the U.K. market, the proposed spin-off with Halo Tek Inc. and Halo's proposed plans to reorganize its non-U.S. operations via Akanda Corp. By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: delays in obtaining any required regulatory approvals in connection with the Transaction, the inability of Akanda to raise capital on the terms currently expected by management of Akanda, changes in the consumer market for cannabis products, changes in the expected outcomes of the proposed changes to Halo's operations, delays in obtaining required licenses or approvals necessary for the build-out of Oregon operations, the proposed spin-out with Halo Tek Inc. or the proposed reorganization with Akanda Corp., delays or unforeseen costs incurred in connection with construction, the ability of competitors to scale operations in Northern California, delays or unforeseen difficulties in connection with the cultivation and harvest of Halo's raw material, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; and the other risks disclosed in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. Third Party Information This press release includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third party sources, including industry publications. The Company believes that the industry data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this press release or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources Non-Solicitation This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. SOURCE Halo Collective Inc. For further information: Halo Collective, Investor Relations, [email protected], www.haloco.com/investors Related Links https://haloco.com/ New survey from Staples Canada finds that 82 per cent of Canadian small businesses are optimistic about the future RICHMOND HILL, ON, Oct. 12, 2021 /CNW/ - October marks Small Business Month in Canada. With vaccination rates continuing to increase and as employees gradually settle into new routines, many businesses are looking for opportunities to get back to growth. As the Working and Learning Company, Staples Canada supports businesses of all sizes across Canada, fueling this passion for growth, equipping businesses to deliver for their own customers and get back to business. "We know that COVID-19 has posed a real challenge for Canadian businesses and we see ourselves as an integral partner to businesses of all sizes," said David Boone, Chief Executive Officer, Staples Canada. "While many small businesses acknowledge that there are still challenges around doing business in today's environment, we're heartened to hear about how they've pivoted to fuel their growth, and that they remain optimistic about the future as do we." Staples Canada commissioned a survey of 624 small business owners across Canada to better understand the impact the pandemic had on their businesses, the concerns they continue to face, and to gauge overall sentiment among this group. Key insights include: Looking forward with optimism: The majority (82 per cent) of respondents (small business owners) are optimistic about their future prospects. The majority (82 per cent) of respondents (small business owners) are optimistic about their future prospects. Reduced in-person interactions: COVID-19 has caused nearly half (46 per cent) of respondents to reduce in-person appointments to limit interactions within their places of work. COVID-19 has caused nearly half (46 per cent) of respondents to reduce in-person appointments to limit interactions within their places of work. Adapting to remote and hybrid work: Nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents have transitioned their full workforce to remote working and a quarter (26 per cent) have reduced work hours due to COVID-19. Among respondents whose workforces are completely remote, more than half (54 per cent) believe small businesses will adopt hybrid work schedules in the future. Nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents have transitioned their full workforce to remote working and a quarter (26 per cent) have reduced work hours due to COVID-19. Among respondents whose workforces are completely remote, more than half (54 per cent) believe small businesses will adopt hybrid work schedules in the future. Further apart physically, but closer through virtual means: While half (52 per cent) of survey respondents felt integrating new hires into the culture has been more challenging, three quarters of respondents (74 per cent) felt they have found innovative ways to maintain the company culture, and 58 per cent of respondents said their employees felt closer now than before the pandemic. While half (52 per cent) of survey respondents felt integrating new hires into the culture has been more challenging, three quarters of respondents (74 per cent) felt they have found innovative ways to maintain the company culture, and 58 per cent of respondents said their employees felt closer now than before the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination continues to be a hot topic: Two-thirds (67 per cent) of respondents plan to require full vaccination of employees to return to their places of work. This number drops to 55 per cent in Quebec . 66 per cent of respondents said they would enforce this policy; this number drops to 50 per cent in Quebec . As the Working and Learning Company, Staples Canada has continued to expand its support of small businesses in a number of ways through Solutionshop and its business membership programs, including: Solutionshop continues to provide printing, digital marketing, shipping, and tech services. Its experts are on-hand to assist small businesses every step of the way, including new partnerships with Canva and Shopify. An expanded partnership with design powerhouse Canva, offering customers Canva Pro to help boost their productivity and creativity. Packed with high-quality time-saving tools, teams can collaborate on designs in real time, keep everyone on-brand with Brand Kit, and streamline design time with tools like Magic Resize, Background Remover, and Version History. Partnering with Shopify to offer Staples customers a 60-day free trial, helping them create an ecommerce website backed by powerful tools from Shopify that provide everything needed to run a business online. customers a 60-day free trial, helping them create an ecommerce website backed by powerful tools from Shopify that provide everything needed to run a business online. The recent re-launch of Staples Professional, Canada's leading business supplier, which includes a new brand and online customer experience, an expanded delivery fleet, track-and-trace capabilities for orders, and member pricing available for business customers at Staples Canada stores. These are just a few of the ways Staples Professional has renewed its commitment to Canadian business customers. leading business supplier, which includes a new brand and online customer experience, an expanded delivery fleet, track-and-trace capabilities for orders, and member pricing available for business customers at stores. These are just a few of the ways Staples Professional has renewed its commitment to Canadian business customers. Expansion of Staples Preferred; a unique membership program that offers tailored solutions for small to medium-sized Canadian businesses, offering exclusive pricing and benefits, with no annual fee. Staples Small Business HQ (staples.ca/smallbusinessHQ) has been refreshed for 2021, offering additional resources for small businesses to save time, energy and money with information on health and safety, external business funding and loans, tax relief programs, and more. A partnership with TreviPay to offer a Commercial Credit Account with a seamless check-out experience, both in-store and online. TreviPay's cardless mobile app solution in Canada allows business customers to purchase on account, making it easy for any buyer to pay on their terms, in the channel they prefer, whether in a Staples store, Staples Preferred or on staples.ca. allows business customers to purchase on account, making it easy for any buyer to pay on their terms, in the channel they prefer, whether in a store, Staples Preferred or on staples.ca. Expanded partnership with Flexiti; business customers are now offered up to 60-day terms with 0% interest1 in-store and online with the Staples Business Credit Account. Staples Canada has also recently partnered with Howie Mandel and Pierre-Yves Lord to bring its new brand campaign, Let's Find Out, to life through a series of advertising spots, the first of which focuses on business customers thinking about different ways they can adapt to a changing workplace and marketplace. Mandel and Lord assume the voice of a customer's curiosity, encouraging them to seek solutions available through Staples Canada and Bureau en Gros. About Staples Canada Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. With a focus on community, inspiration and services, the privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands that support business customers, Staples Preferred for small businesses and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as five co-working facilities in Toronto, Kelowna, Oakville and Ottawa under the banner Staples Studio. Staples Canada is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information or get social with @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. About the survey The survey released by Maru Public Opinion was conducted by the online panel experts at Maru/Blue of 624 representative Canadian small business owners who have between 2 and 99 employees and focused on office and service-related businesses. The survey was conducted September 17 - 22, 2021 among English and French speakers, a comparable probability sample has an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.9%, 19 times out of 20. SOURCE Staples Canada ULC For further information: Media Information: Kathleen Stelmach, Staples Canada, 905-737-1147 Ext. 578, [email protected]; Noah Gomberg, Golin, 437-246-3975, [email protected] Related Links http://www.staples.ca Amit Srivastava, Chief Catalyst, Nutrify Today is committed to building a responsible nutrition ecosystem. He is tapping into the vastly potent nutraceutical industry and helping businesses and individuals grow in the field. NewsX recently hosted Amit for an interview for our special series, NewsX India A-List. Below are the excerpts from the interview: We began the interview by asking Amit about his journey with Nutrify Today, to which he replied, In the last 25 years, I have built a substantial network with nutraceutical leaders in the US, India, and key Asian countries. He continued, I have always been connecting nutraceutical industry stakeholders to catalyse the speed of commercialisation in responsible nutrition innovation. Amit said that he realised the gaping need to connect the dots for companies to commercialise their innovations in the shortest span of time possible. While crediting his wife for the idea behind Nutrify Today, Mr Srivastava added that the idea was to create a platform that connects food tech, nutratech, pharmaceutical professionals, based on their need and enable the business. Amit told us that the Nutrify Today network now, just after a year of commencing operations, stretches across India, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the US. Our next question to Amit was about the role that Nutrify Today plays in the nutraceutical industry. He said, Nutrifytoday.com enables two very important things in the nutraceutical industry- First, business networking amongst nutra, pharma, and food tech professionals by ways of connecting, chatting, blogging, attending webinars, workshops, e-learning courses. Second, connecting curated buyers and sellers in nutraceuticals. Explaining further, Mr Srivastava said, By curated connect, I mean that we assist buyers in designing new product development and connecting them to ingredient suppliers, contractual manufacturers, medical trial agencies, and regulatory agencies to cut down the go-to-market time by 40-50%. He describes his business as the one-stop access to commercial, technical, and regulatory resources. Amit narrated how the Nutrify Today platform helped Nanoveda, an Ayurveda based nano-particle research enterprise, gain a global presence by helping them connect with an international buyer based out of Switzerland. Giving us more insight into the working of Nutrify Today, Amit revealed how the entity is involved in aiding the Indian government in policymaking, he said, Since Nutrify Today brings stakeholders together, it has also become a very influential platform engaging with the government in evolving policies for the nutraceutical industry. He further stated, Nutrify Today enabled recent meetings with top officials from the government with the proposal for India to achieve $100Bn in revenue by 2030, in the field of nutraceuticals. He lauded the governments willingness to act on the proposal and firmly believes that the Indian nutraceutical market will be worth $40Bn by 2025, up from the current annual worth of $8Bn. We expressed our curiosity to hear about the success stories of Nutrify Todays clientele. Amit was glad to inform us that the platform has positively impacted more than 500 businesses, and helped commercialise various Indian startups. Amit also claimed that his platform has helped hundreds of professionals in their job hunt in the industry worldwide. Check out the entire interview on NewsX YouTube: Nitya Singh Garha, Founder, Manikarnika, recently joined NewsX for an exclusive interview as part of NewsX Influencer A-List. As part of the interview, the entrepreneur spoke in detail about her brand Manikarnika, the objective behind it, what sets the brand apart from others and much more. Read excerpts: Talking about the journey of the brand so far and the objective behind it, Nitya said, Actually, being married this side of the world and living in Guna, especially. One, being a housewife, you dont have much to do. I, having very natural artistic streak, since school days. I used to keep designing on and off and on but then later I thought let me give it a try. One day, my husband took me for shopping to chanderi and we were buying something for ourselves. I saw this beautiful collection and I met some weavers. When I was looking at it, it just striked me that I should do something for them. I picked up the things and I just started Manikarnika. It just came to my mind. Everything was just really spontaneous. It was nothing like I had very big plans or anything. I said lets see how it goes off. I had the first exhibition with Royal Fables. Anshu is very kind and very gracious to to invite me with the royal fables she gave me the platform. The first exhibition was at Baroda, and then I had two three exhibitions of my own. It did very well but then I wanted to do something very different, which was not available. I wanted to show my side with creativity and my contribution towards chanderi, she added. On giving her own twist to the chanderi sarees, Nitya expressed, The first time when I had it, it was just all handwoven stuff. However, you get handwoven stuff everywhere you go. I just want it to be a little different. More than being competitive or anything, I wanted to discover my own self, my own ability towards creating. I found these bunch of artists, who were willing to work with me. It takes a very very long time. It just struck me that I should do handpainted sarees that would be something very different and women feel it is very suave and chique. I found these two three bunch of youngsters and great artists, who were willing to work with me and with my palette. It is very difficult when you have to read somebodys mind and put it onto the canvas. This was in the sarees. It takes a very long time to make finish one in a month. You can only make 5 pieces because it is a whole thing. These are all watercolours. I thought lets see how it goes because theres a first time going to showcase these. There are ducks, there are flamingos, there are lotuss. Its very English. The art is very very English. It is not very Indian. Check out the entire interview on NewsX YouTube: A Mumbai Magistrate court had on October 7 sent Aryan, son of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and seven others to judicial custody for 14 days. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday told the Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) court that it would file a reply on the bail plea of Aryan Khan and others, accused in the Mumbai cruise drug raid case, in some time. The court will resume the hearing at 2:45 PM today and the Additional Solicitor General Anil C Singh is likely to appear in the court. Earlier on Monday, an NDPS court in Mumbai said that it would hear the bail plea of Aryan Khan and other accused in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case on Wednesday. The court asked the NCB to file its reply on Wednesday morning and argue in the same matter in the second half of the same day. A Mumbai Magistrate court had on October 7 sent Aryan, son of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and seven others to judicial custody for 14 days. On Friday, the Esplanade court rejected the bail plea of Aryan Khan, Arbaz Seth Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, in the case related to the seizure of drugs following a raid at a party on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. A total of 20 people, including two Nigerian nationals, have been arrested so far in the case related to the seizure of drugs following a raid at a party on the Cordelia cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2. As per Government sources, there is no shortage in the daily supply of coal to states and power companies and it is maintaining 5 days' stock. In a month's time, situation will be back to normal. Centre is all geared up to meet the demand of coal by states and power companies and railways. The government is ramping up its per day coal production from 1.94 million to 2 million tonnes within a week. Government sources told ANI that there is no shortage in the daily supply of coal to states and power companies and it is maintaining 5 days stock. In a months time situation will be back to normal. There are multiple reasons for the current scenario. Government source told ANI, Since January coal ministry has been writing to various states to pick up and stock coal in their respective states but no one paid heed. Coal India can stock up to a limit. If we stock more coal than the limit there is a risk of fire. Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand have their own mines but they did little to extract coal. It is learnt that despite clearances some of the state governments sat on decisions and gave COVID and rains as a reason for not doing enough mining. Prolonged monsoon affected the mining and the shooting prices of imported coal also contributed to the current situation. There is a 12 per cent fall in imports of foreign coal which power companies blend, to cut losses due to high prices they also shifted to domestic coal. States have huge pending dues of Coal India on them. It is learnt from sources that Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are big defaulters. All States have to dues of Rs 20,000 crores to be paid to Coal India. Government sources said despite large sums of dues, supply continues and it will continue to provide power and coal supplies. Electrification of villages and industrialisation has also shot up the demand. Government source told ANI that Delhi and Punjab shut coal plants like in Ropar and Bhatinda. CT Horse Rescue / Contributed photo EAST HAMPTON The Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue Autumn Ridge farm at 113 Chestnut Hill Road will be the site of the nonprofit organizations Oktoberfest/Family Fun Day Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At this 10th anniversary celebration, visitors can meet the horses and enjoy vendor wares, raffles, games, a kids zone, face painting and more. Admission is free. NEW HAVEN City police seized six guns in the last week, one of which was a ghost gun, according to the chief. Interim Chief Renee Dominguez said Wednesday the department has seized 157 guns so far this year, with 153 associated arrests, as compared to 109 guns seized and 123 arrests at this point last year. The guns were seized mostly by patrol officers, Dominguez said. One was a ghost gun, she noted a firearm considered untraceable. Five of the incidents prompted arrests, she said. The work is being done, Dominguez said. Our patrol officers are out there being proactive and getting guns off the street. There also were 11 incidents of shots fired since last Monday, the day the previous briefing on city efforts to combat gun violence and other policing issues was held, Dominguez said. There also were two non-fatal shootings since last Monday, she said. The briefing this week also focused on traffic safety, police hiring and an alleged carjacking. Mayor Justin Elicker this summer had called for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to approve proposed regulations on ghost guns, saying that the untraceable firearms make it more difficult to safeguard residents from gun violence. New Haven police had at that point seized six such firearms: two in 2020 and four by that time in 2021, officials said. As New Haven like many other cities across the United States faces a recent, dramatic rise in gun violence, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to protect the safety and wellbeing of our residents, Elicker said in the summer letter to the ATF. Seizures; arrests The first gun seizure in the past week was Oct. 5, after police were called just before 10 a.m. to the intersection of Columbus Avenue and West Street, Dominguez said. A city man with an outstanding warrant fled from police, then was caught, Dominguez said. Officers allegedly found a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver. The second, a Ruger .40-caliber handgun, allegedly was seized after a car crash on Oct. 7 near the intersection of Ellsworth Avenue and Goffe Street, Dominguez said. Two more were seized on Oct. 8, Dominguez said. Soon after 1 a.m., three officers responded to a report of shots fired on State Street, Dominguez said. After finding an individual matching a description given to police, police stopped him, allegedly finding a Beretta stolen from Virginia. Later on Oct. 8, soon after 10 p.m., police found a 19-year-old man who allegedly was carrying a loaded 9 mm gun at a Fair Haven bar, Dominguez said. Then, soon after 1 a.m. on Oct. 9, a man was stopped after a trespassing complaint and allegedly was found with a firearm. Officials had sought his presence at the most recent call-in by Project Longevity, Dominguez noted, but he had not shown up. The sixth, a firearm reported stolen out of West Haven, allegedly was found in an open garage on Clinton Avenue Oct. 10 after a report of gunfire in the area, Dominguez said. That matter remains under investigation. Dominguez said Wednesday that two men were arrested in the past week in accordance with past incidents of shots fired, one on Sept. 3 in the Dixwell Plaza, the other from Sept. 6, 2020, on Bassett Street. Traffic safety Eight pedestrians have been killed in crashes to date this year and city officials said they also are working on steps to improve traffic safety. Dominguez said there have been 15 fatalities so far this year in crashes, and that includes eight pedestrians. In the most recent incident, a man was killed in a crash involving a motorcycle near Norton and Stanley streets Friday. Elicker underscored the weight of the loss of life Wednesday, as he and Dominguez held their weekly briefing. This is a loss of life, just like a homicide is, in our community. And I believe both homicides and pedestrian and other vehicle-related fatalities due to crashes can be prevented, said Elicker. I called the family of the individual that was lost, similar to homicides, and its devastating for that family. The city is working toward infrastructure improvements on problem streets, including Whalley Avenue, Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Foxon Boulevard, he said. Elicker said he and Dominguez had also discussed increasing traffic enforcement beyond special details, ensuring officers are engaged in the practice while not responding to other calls. Dominguez noted that, as of Oct. 1, motorists were required under state law to yield to pedestrians who signal to traffic and cross the road, even if they are not yet walking in a crosswalk. We have done a lot of work in New Haven to be able to try to reduce the number of crashes, said Dominguez. Recruitment drive As of the end of the day Tuesday, the department had received 330 applications to join the force, Dominguez said. The deadline to submit an application has been extended until Oct. 22, she said, as the department strives to bring in more than 500 potential candidates. Last year it garnered 489, she said. Thats an attainable goal. A lot of people wait to the end you need to get your birth certificate, you need to get some documents you cant find, said Dominguez. That last week, we usually do get a push. Dominguez previously said the department has 319 officers on staff, but is budgeted for 406 positions. Those interested in applying can do so by visiting the department or through PoliceApp.com. Carjacking Dominguez and Jacobson said an individual carjacked a vehicle in New Haven Tuesday, then, after crashing near Sargent Drive, walked onto Interstate 95 and carjacked an 18-wheeler soon after 5 p.m., closing the highway for a time. The individual was arrested by state police after a retired New Haven police officer, stuck in traffic, got out of his vehicle to provide assistance, Jacobson said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com WEST HAVEN Where is the fraud department? Thats the question for Diana McManus, a fraud specialist and city resident, who formally requested information about the citys spending of federal coronavirus relief CARES Act money over the summer but has not yet received a response. On Tuesday, with many eyes on city officials following revelations that reviews of CARES Act expenditures found potentially fraudulent activity, McManus asked the City Council that question. Im frustrated because I feel that my questions dont really get answered, she said. I hate when money goes missing, so where is the citys fraud department? Several City Council members expressed concerns about those allegations, but the council took no action at its Tuesday meeting. Members said they want more information about ongoing investigations into expenditures from other entities before authorizing their own, potentially costly, investigation. Mayor Nancy Rossi has cited an investigation, without specifying who is investigating or what they are investigating, as the reason she could not be more forthcoming with information beyond an announcement made last week. She declined to comment on who advised her to decline to comment regarding the ongoing investigation or investigations. On Friday, Rossi released a YouTube video expressing her concerns that both she and an independent auditing firm retained by the City Council since July found potentially fraudulent uses of the pandemic relief funds. Two days prior to Rossis announcement, state Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw said her office would hire outside investigators to conduct an audit of the spending. City Council members expressed a willingness to conduct their own audit, but did not take any action pending more information about what OPM will authorize. Council Chairman Ron Quagliani, D-At Large, said the council does not want to duplicate costs. If OPM is requesting a forensic audit, the council would be spending local taxpayer money on conducting a review that the state may have already initiated, he reasoned. Its very difficult to sit here and not be able to say what you want to say, but when youre told theres investigations going on and you cant comment on that, Quagliani said. You cant disparage people because you dont know the facts. Rossi said the city has already responded to the revelation announced Friday by correcting internal controls, which she also referred to as checks and balances. (We are) putting things in place that I will not discuss here to further protect our finance department and our assets, she said. Quagliani said that the city has, in the last 25 years, never had more oversight over its finances, given its relationship with OPM after the city came under the control of the Municipal Accountability Review Board in 2017. Although an FBI New Haven spokesman confirmed to Hearst Connecticut Media that agents visited City Hall on Friday, Rossi declined to comment on the departments claim, one way or the other. She suggested that everyone at Tuesdays meeting has a camera on their cellphone, yet she said there is no visual evidence of an FBI visit that has been made public. Councilman Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, who is challenging Rossi for her job in Novembers election, called into question some of her statements and her refusals to comment. He challenged her to acknowledge that the FBI visited City Hall and to explain how an outside legal firm was hired to process Freedom of Information requests. At one point during the back-and-forth between the rivals, Quagliani wrested back control of the meeting to prevent an argument. Im hoping we dont have to, meaning the city, pay for a forensic audit, but if we do we should be getting back every penny, Cohen said, arguing that restitution for the audit should be paid by anyone found to have improperly diverted funds. Rossi agreed with Cohens statement. I want all of the money back, but I also want them to go to jail, whoever the people are, she said. They took money from one of the poorer cities in Connecticut. Rossi, a certified public accountant, had said Friday it was she who identified the possible issues during a two-week review of the pandemic relief fund expenditures. She said an independent auditing firm contracted by the city shared her concerns. Rossi on Monday, while confirming there was at least one investigation ongoing, would not say what the probe is targeting. Rossi said she did not have any role in initiating any possible investigation by an outside agency. Quagliani said the City Council must approve grant applications prior to the city requesting and receiving a grant, and therefore approved the CARES Act grant in December. In July of this year, the council authorized the hiring of the independent auditing firm that reached the same conclusions as Rossi following a review. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 43F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 32F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Ken Nnamani, former senate president, says the defeat of former President Olusegun Obasanjos third term bid in 2006 hindered the creation o... Ken Nnamani, former senate president, says the defeat of former President Olusegun Obasanjos third term bid in 2006 hindered the creation of a sixth state in the south-east. Out of the six geopolitical zones that make up Nigeria, the south-east is the only zone that has five states: Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi. North-west consists of seven states while north-east, north-central, south-west and south-south have six states each. In his newly released book, Standing Strong: Legislative Reforms, Third Term and Other Issues of the 5th Senate, Nnamani said the proposal to create the sixth state in the south-east was thrown out along with the third term proposal. He said if not for the need to truncate Obasanjos bid, the proposal would have fostered a better geopolitical balance. Nnamani was the president of the Nigerian senate from April 2005 to May 2007. The former senate president said the institutionalisation of rotational presidency was among the other casualties of the failed third term bid. The defeat of the third term project left several casualties in its wake. Among these were many of the people who stuck out their neck for and against the proposal, he wrote. The excellent proposals in the amendment bill that were thrown out along with the third term proposal and the very important issue of trust in government. There were several proposed amendments in the third term bill that would have been of great benefit to Nigeria that became casualties of third term. Among these were the proposed amendments to the administration of local governments, the removal of immunity clause from criminal prosecution for political office holders, the insitutionalisation of rotational presidency, provision for independent candidacy and fostering a better geopolitical balance by enabling the creation of a sixth state for south-east. In the end, it would seem that the baby was thrown away with the bathwater. Nnamani had earlier said that many lawmakers sacrificed their legislative careers after seeing to the truncation of the controversial third term bid. The Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, has said the commission had been executing polici... The Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, has said the commission had been executing policies, measures and programmes in the last four years which would improve lottery business in the country. He said the industry would soon begin to witness a boom, which would translate to significant rise in the countrys Internally Generated Revenue. Gbajabiamila disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday by the commissions Head, Public Affairs, Magnus Ekechukwu. The statement was titled, Nigeria to witness boom in lottery industry soon, Gbajabiamila. It read, The Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila, says the country would soon witness a boom in lottery business as the transformation process of the industry commenced in 2017 has started yielding positive results. The commission had been executing resourceful policies, measures and programmes in the last four years, all aimed at improving lottery business in all aspects with great emphasis on the welfare of its workers, betterment of the stakeholders and higher revenues for the country. The policies and measures are steadily being nurtured to fruition, following which the nation would witness the big boom in the gaming industry. Our revenue profile has been on a steady increase, regardless of the challenges faced by the Commission while trying to perform our regulatory functions. Also, the process for the acquisition of the much-needed Central Monitoring System for our operations is on course and the amendment of the National Lottery Act is in progress at the National Assembly where the proposal has scaled first readings at the upper and lower chambers. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, on Tuesday shedded tears over the destruction of lives and properties in Izombe community of Oguta Lo... Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, on Tuesday shedded tears over the destruction of lives and properties in Izombe community of Oguta Local Government Area of the State. Uzodinma said he could not hold back his tears on seeing the dead bodies and properties destroyed in the community. A clash between the military and a group led by a suspected Owerri prison escapee, Obele led to the loss of lives and properties in the community. Obele was said to have died during the clash, while two other soldiers also lost their lives. However, Uzodinma, who visited the community to see the damages, said God would punish those responsible for the incident. According to Uzodinma: I am shedding tears. I am shedding tears because the properties of my brothers and sisters suffered to built were burnt. I would not have been a Senator without the kind of support I got from Izombe. I take Izombe as Omuma, my home town. It is painful that after all our sufferings, struggle and God answered our prayer, this happened. Instead of us continuing to see blessings, we are seeing obstacles. God will punish those behind all these things happening. Governor Kayode Fayemi has come under attack for urging President Muhammadu Buhari to turn National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps into ... Governor Kayode Fayemi has come under attack for urging President Muhammadu Buhari to turn National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps into security training grounds and recruit willing and able graduates to join the military and the police. Fayemi pointed out that one of the cheapest and fastest ways to handle this was to amend the law setting up the scheme. According to him, if NYSC corpers are converted into soldiers, they could be deployed to fight against Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, separatists and so on. He added that corps members, who cannot join the military services, can serve in their communities without pay. But reacting, some Nigerians on social media urged him to lead by example by bringing his children abroad to join the military. Here are some comments gathered from Twitter and Instagram: @abeesoyeh, I just hope all your Children would also be among the troop to fight the bandits. Wicked souls after siphoning all the funds meant for the masses, your next agenda is to start your suicide mission. @opeyemibanzini, When will these folks stop treating NYSC as the panacea to all Nigerias problems. Cant they just leave these graduates to face real-world post-graduation uncertainty in peace! @holluwaphemmy88, Dear@kfayemi one of the qualities of a good leader is leading by example. Will you be kind enough to bring one of your children just one, not two to join in beefing up security? @dbassboi, After all the sufferings in school, when its now time for parents to reap their labour, they should lose their sons and daughters to the hand of Bokoharam and bandits. You have children also, Mr. Fayemi, Please recruit your children to fight them. @Dot_E_Fresh, Insane. Fayemi is better than this. Sensible people like him and Fashola seem to lose their marbles when they get near the levers of power. @adresbello, This is pure madness. Why dont you lead by example by bringing your kids to join this security training grounds. @DopplerFilmz, Looking for peoples sons and daughters to kill in an avoidable war fuelled by Islamists expansionist agenda and corruption. @magnus_coker, Some suggestions to Gov. Fayemi of Ekiti State: 1. His children should be at the forefront of this security campaign. 2. He and other governors should reduce the number of DSS operatives, Police personnel, and Civil Defense personnel on their security detail. @O_basslet, APC is a curse. Fayemi wants the FG to recruit Corps Members as security personnel. Tinubu wants to recruit 50M youths into the army. Are you people okay? @SodiqTade, Osinbajo is their best choice in that party for the sake of the country if at all APC get to rig the 2023 election successfully. I cant have Tinubu who believed in 50m battalion or Fayemi that believed Corp members should be used to beef up the country security. I went on down to the Audubon Zoo, and they all vaxxed for you. They all vaxxed for you. They even inquired about you OK, fine, not all of them. But The Meters wouldn't be too far off by saying the monkey's vaxxed and the tiger's vaxxed. The Audubon Zoo announced Tuesday it has started inoculating some of its animals against the novel coronavirus with a vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The first to receive the vaccine were the gorillas and orangutans. Next up are the cats and mustelids, a category of carnivorous mammals such as otters. Zoo officials said the animals typically receive other vaccines. This video shows how that process works: Although the origin of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is still unknown, a prominent hypothesis is that it originated in a mammalian species such as bats or pangolins before spreading to human beings. The zoo said it is using a vaccine developed by Zoetis Inc., which has spent decades developing other coronavirus vaccines for cats, dogs, poultry and cattle. Although there are no long-term studies since the virus emerged less than two years ago," Audubons senior veterinarian Bob MacLean said, "development studies by Zoetis demonstrated the vaccine to be safe and have a reasonable expectation of efficacy in mounting an immune response in animals. The vaccine was developed for domestic animals last year after a dog was infected with COVID in Hong Kong, according to Zoetis's website. The company said it donated 11,000 doses to almost 70 zoos in 27 states. "It's very important to us to protect our animals against COVID-19 and the delta variant," MacLean said. "We have been evaluating the scientific literature on animal susceptibility throughout the pandemic, and we are eager to protect our animals. When the doors first opened at Longway Tavern a few years back, they revealed an evocative French Quarter cottage recast with modern flavors and style, an old space synced to a new generation. Now the same doors are opening to a new bar thats pursuing a similar goal on different terms. The Will & The Way opens at 719 Toulouse St. this Friday (Oct. 15), taking over the address that had been home to Longway Tavern until that earlier spot closed in February. Its the latest from Robert LeBlanc, founder of the LeBlanc + Smith hospitality group, and local bartender Liam Deegan. The two were partners in Longway. The new bar is just that a bar, and thats the biggest distinction from its predecessor. Just steps off Bourbon Street, Longway Tavern was part of a small, promising wave of restaurants and bars emerging around the citys historic hub, geared more toward contemporary tastes than tourist cliches. Longway Tavern aimed to split the difference between bar and restaurant, but the characteristics of each playing through the small space were sometimes at odds. When it closed, its operators said they planned to return with a different concept. At The Will & The Way, the same footprint of the old building has been redesigned for a more open flow. Order at the bar, and staff bring the dishes to you as theyre ready. The aim, LeBlanc said, is to more intuitively welcome the ways people use bars, whether thats on a date, a solo hang or in a group that changes in number through their stay. We didnt think the French Quarter needed another restaurant right now, but we wanted to create another bar, a true lobby of the French Quarter, LeBlanc said. We want it to be a place where people can get lost or find themselves, and just convene as the community comes together again. Wine is a big focus, with a list chosen for variety and accessibility. It runs alongside a cocktail menu that mixes classics with its own twists. The food menu is primarily built around small plates with subtle Asian and Spanish elements, plus a few bigger plates, like a burger topped with red wine foie gras and a flat iron steak. While LeBlanc and Deegan are partners in The Will & The Way, to bring it to life the brought in a team of young talent, led by general manager Bar Amar, formerly of Vessel, and chef Josh Williams and bar director Thomas Linville, who both came over from The Chloe, another LeBlanc + Smith property. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The new configuration more than doubles the number of seats. One clever addition: a row of short Murphy tables along the counter which fold down when not in use, but can be clicked into place quickly as a perch for plates, glasses and elbows. The textured old walls are now a deep, dark blue, set off by the green curls of hanging plants. From the street, you can look through and catch a glimpse of the courtyard in back, hemmed between the rooftops of adjoining old town houses. For all the changes to the property and concept, the overall intent remains the same, and it starts with the space. LeBlanc wants to bring more modern style and expressions of the citys evolving hospitality community into these resonant historic buildings, places with stories written into the very contours. The Will & The Way opens with an acknowledgment that times have been hard for hospitality people in New Orleans, and thats been especially so in the French Quarter during the stretch when tourism essentially vanished. Since the pandemic, LeBlanc has closed two other restaurants in addition to Longway: Meauxbar in the French Quarter last year and Cavan on Magazine Street, after the added hit of Hurricane Ida. LeBlanc believes that if more places in the French Quarter are enticing and relevant to New Orleans people, not just New Orleans visitors, then more locals will return to the city's historic core. The new bars name is a play on the expression where theres a will theres a way. Its a message of uplift and building back. Its also one of the Easter egg-style references to the old Longway built into the new place. More may reveal themselves after lingering here for a bit, which, after all, is the very pursuit this was place was designed around. The Will & The Way 719 Toulouse St. Initial hours: daily from 4 p.m. +11 'A game changer.' Pandemic propelled outdoor dining, New Orleans restaurants want to keep it Along the run of small strip mall storefronts on busy Earhart Boulevard, Nice Guys Bar & Grill has added something different: an outdoor o +13 Saturn Bar reopens, new owners bring back a nearly lost New Orleans legend The ancient neon fixtures have shimmered back to life over the bar. Space is cleared in the back room for bands to set up. And the first few p +5 New Orleans restaurants helped neighbors post-Ida. Could solar extend that help next time? Immediately after Hurricane Ida, some of the first grassroots disaster response in New Orleans came through small independent restaurants. New Orleans journalist, author and documentarian Jason Berry spent much of his recent trip to the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis commiserating. For years, he labored to bring City of a Million Dreams, his lyrical study of New Orleans jazz funeral traditions, to life, struggling with funding challenges, a disastrous hurricane and the death of a main character. Swapping similar stories with other indie filmmakers at Heartland cushioned the bruises a bit, Berry said this week. This has been an epic in my life. That epic, the 89-minute City of a Million Dreams, will have its hometown premiere Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Broadside, the outdoor venue near the Broad Theater, as a prelude to the New Orleans Film Festivals November opening. Berry and other principals will conduct a post-screening question-and-answer session. Admission is free for New Orleans Film Society members and festival passholders; tickets are also available for purchase. City of a Million Dreams shares a title and some material with Berrys 2018 book, which examined 300 years of New Orleans history through the lens of music, culture and race. Traditional jazz clarinetist Dr. Michael White bridges the book and the film. He and the late Deborah Big Red Cotton, a tireless advocate for and chronicler of second-line culture, are the documentary's dual protagonists; their stories frame the narrative. Fred Johnson, of the Black Men of Labor Social Aid and Pleasure Club, and trumpeter Gregg Stafford are also prominently featured. For Berry, City of a Million Dreams is in keeping with his lifelong fascination with matters of religion, music and New Orleans. He first stepped onto the national stage with his 1992 book Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children, which largely exposed the extent of the churchs cover-up. By the late 1990s, hed started researching and filming New Orleans jazz funerals. He interviewed White, Stafford and Olympia Brass Band leaders Milton Batiste and Harold Dejan. Batiste and Dejan spoke of how the beauty and spirituality of the tradition were threatened by the crack epidemic, the related surge of drug-related killings and a trend toward less structured funeral processions. He received a grant from the Ford Foundation to film an oral history about jazz funerals and second-lines, followed by a Guggenheim grant for additional research. Other projects then intervened. The explosive 2001 Boston Globe series about abusive Catholic clergy and cover-ups pulled Berry back into that world. He wrote a second book on the subject, 2004s Vows of Silence, which he adapted into a film. All along he kept the embers of his "parading for the dead" project burning. If he was in New Orleans during a jazz funeral, he filmed it. +8 "Irma: My Life in Music," first of two Irma Thomas documentaries, to premiere on WYES-TV Irma Thomas is so familiar to fellow New Orleanians, her music is so much a part of the local lexicon, that she has achieved single-name statu Hurricane Katrina steered the jazz funeral documentary in a different direction, as Berry and cameraman Philip Braun documented Whites first visit to his ruined Gentilly house. By 2015, with the reform-minded Pope Francis leading the Catholic Church, Berry was ready to move on from the Vatican stuff and focus on jazz funerals. I didnt think I had any more insights to make unless I figured out a way to live in Rome full time, he said. But I felt a gravitational pull back to New Orleans. He explored how the evolution of funeral traditions mirrored the broader history of New Orleans in City of a Million Dreams: A History of New Orleans at Year 300, the book he released in conjunction with New Orleans 2018 tricentennial. Berry writes in the book that City of a Million Dreams" is also the title of a song by Irish Channel jazz musician Raymond Burke that is a favorite of White's. The books themes and research carried over to the film. Berry slogged through the arduous process of fundraising for the film's nearly $1 million budget. Former Jesuit High School classmates, including Bernard Pettingill Jr., and various foundations came through with timely contributions. Harry Shearer, the veteran actor, satirist and part-time New Orleanian, offered guidance on the films structure. Tim Watson, who has edited numerous locally shot documentaries, signed on as co-writer and co-producer. Tims fingerprints are on every frame, Berry said. Berrys daughter Simonette, who works as a set artist in the film industry she built the time machine that transports Arnold Schwarzeneggers character in a latter-day Terminator film is also a co-writer and co-producer. It really is a homegrown film, Berry said. +11 New Orleans' Terence Blanchard makes his Metropolitan Opera debut: 'It feels otherworldly' New Yorks famed Metropolitan Opera, dark since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, reopens Monday with a work by New Orleans jazz trumpete The Archdiocese of New Orleans granted permission to film in church-owned cemeteries. Berry leaned heavily on local archives, including the Historic New Orleans Collection, which provided historic footage by photographer and New Orleans jazz aficionado Jules Cahn. Jules told me that funerals in the '60s were more like urban ballets, Berry said. When we started looking at his footage, there were so many moments of poetry in motion. He really had an eye. Berry also used his own footage of White and Stafford going back 25 years: You see them change on screen from young men to older men. The documentarys most ambitious shoot was an elaborate re-enactment of the drum and dance rituals enslaved Africans performed at Congo Square. Monique Moss, an adjunct professor of dance at Tulane University, choreographed dozens of dancers and drummers for the three-day shoot in 2018. Those drummers included Congolese master Titos Sompa and Seguenon Kone, an Ivory Coast native now based in New Orleans. Monique orchestrated all that in a way that was breathtaking, Berry said. For aesthetic reasons, they filmed not at the actual Congo Square in Armstrong Park, but in an empty field in Belle Chase near the Plaquemines Parish government building. Congo Square today is too urban a setting, Berry said. Theres no way we would have captured what it was like in the late 1700s and early 1800s as these dance rituals evolved. Deborah Cotton, who blogged about second-lines for Gambit Weekly, was one of 20 people wounded during a mass shooting at a second-line parade on Mothers Day 2013. Cotton would later ask for leniency for the young shooters, even as she underwent dozens of surgeries to repair the damage they caused. To me, she was voicing the message of Pope Francis of radical mercy, Berry said. That really moved me. Berry hired Cotton as an advising producer on the film. She provided parade footage and also appeared onscreen. Deb was a star in the firmament, Berry said. So much color, so much zest. She was a life force, she really was. Then came the day in 2017 that Berry went to Cottons house for a meeting, and she wasnt there. Shed been hospitalized for lingering complications from the shooting. Weeks later, she died. I did not realize the seriousness of her condition, Berry said. He and his co-writers considered how to treat Cottons death in the documentary. Filming her funeral was really tough for all of us. We were all so crazy about her. Her death jolted me. From his early jazz funeral research 25 years ago, through numerous career detours, to the film's release, City of a Million Dreams has been Berrys odyssey. The definition of an odyssey in the classical sense is that it ends where it began. Five and a half years later, here I am. A man was working on a cargo ship at the Poland Avenue Wharf when he fell 60 feet into the hull Tuesday afternoon, officials said, and needed to be rescued, officials said. The longshoreman fell around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the New Orleans Fire Department, which responded with New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. They were called to do a high-angle technical rescue, which required rescuers to repel down the hull of the ship with rescue equipment in tow. The man was conscious and alert during the entire rescue, officials said. He was pulled up onto the ship's deck. The man broke his arm and was taken to a hospital for observation, according to a statement from NOFD. Officials said 23 NOFD personnel responded to the rescue. Carnival Cruise Line said Tuesday that Carnival Glory will sail from Port of New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 19 on a seven-day cruise to The Bahamas, the first cruise ship sailing from the port since the COVID-19 pandemic began in spring 2020. The week-long voyage will visit Bimini, Freeport and Nassau and it is expected to be at about 70% of normal capacity in compliance with the cruise industry's agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that allowed resumption of sailing in the U.S. earlier this year. The ship's normal capacity is around 3,000 passengers, with 2,000 staff. To mark the resumption of sailing, Carnivals Vice President of Guest Operations, Sarah Beth Reno, and Carnival Glory Captain, Nicola Iaccarino, will host a "BackToFun event" in the Erato Street terminal on Sunday, cutting a ceremonial ribbon and officially welcoming the first guests onboard, Carnival said. For the past week, Glory has been used as temporary housing for first responders and other workers dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The ship's resumption of sailing was delayed from an originally intended date of Sept. 5 because of the hurricane, when it sailed west into Mexican waters for several days to wait out the storm. Carnival Cruise Line's Valor, which also can accommodate about 3,000 passengers in normal times, is expected to resume sailing in November. Carnival's two ships accounted for about 80% of the 1.2 million cruise ship visits to New Orleans in 2019. Before sailing to Miami last month, the Glory was in Marseilles to make physical preparations for CDC protocol requirements, such as distance barriers and sanitization arrangements, as well as to screen crew members, many of whom are foreign nationals from countries with lower rates of vaccination than the U.S. Carnival has resumed some U.S. sailings under restrictions, even while the COVID-19 pandemic surges again, including most recently sailings from the Baltimore port. Last month, a group of 24 neighbors boarded the American Queen in New Orleans. The six-deck Mississippi River steamboat would carry the group, most of them members of an adult-living community in Delaware, all the way to Memphis with around 200 other passengers. It was a way for us to finally feel like we were normal, said Geri Stagg, who saw the long-awaited trip as a way to spend some quality time with friends and celebrate 20 years of marriage with her husband George. The first night, dinner was like a beautiful ballet, Stagg said, with impeccable service, delicious food and flowing drinks. But by the next morning, there were fewer workers, food was served cold and shore excursions were rushed. A five-stop itinerary was cut to three. The worst part for the Staggs came later. Shortly after getting back home to Delaware, 11 of the 24 friends tested positive for COVID-19. George Stagg and another neighbor were admitted to the hospital. One remains in the ICU. The cruise operator, American Queen Voyages, required all passengers to be vaccinated and provide a negative test result prior to leaving port, but the virus made it onboard anyway. "This has been very difficult for me to be sitting here and having my husband a half an hour away being cared for, because he has no clue for medical terminology," said Geri Stagg, a former emergency-medical technician. "This has been a horrible experience. I just don't even have words." At the beginning of the pandemic, cruise ships were the sites of some of the largest coronavirus outbreaks. As travel returns and cruise ships fill long-empty cabins, the companies are following strict requirements: nearly all passengers must be vaccinated, except for children and those with medical exemptions. But health experts say vaccinations and a single test before boarding are not enough to keep ships from being sites of future outbreaks. And as one of the biggest port cities in the U.S., residents in New Orleans and the small Louisiana towns where river cruises stop could have a greater risk of exposure. Carnival Glory to resume sailing on September 19 after housing emergency workers Carnival Cruise Line said Tuesday that Carnival Glory will sail from Port of New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 19 on a seven-day cruise to The Baha Theyre big floating incubators, said Tulane University epidemiologist Susan Hassig. If anything is going to go wrong, its going to go wrong on a cruise ship. Its all basically indoor space, and youre on top of each other quite literally the entire time youre on the ship. In a statement from American Queen Voyages chief operating officer Shawn Bierdz, the company said it requires all passengers and crew on their ships to be fully vaccinated and also requires a negative PCR test before boarding. These protocols have been reviewed and approved by the CDC, meet or exceed cruise industry standards and provide meaningful measures to help ensure a safe travel experience, said Bierdz. Those protocols align with CDC guidance. But Hassig said that they still provide opportunities for a highly infectious virus to sneak past. That can be especially dangerous considering many cruise passengers fall into high-risk age groups. A better system would be testing crew daily and passengers every other day, Hassig said, as unpleasant as that might seem. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In 2019, 1.18 million people took cruises through New Orleans, according to a report from the Port of New Orleans. That made it the nations sixth-largest cruise port and generated $125 million in local spending. Three of six large passenger cruises out of New Orleans have made plans to return after repeated delays, including American Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Line and American Queen Voyages. Royal Caribbean International and Disney Cruise Line haven't yet resumed ocean cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line has plans to resume in November. Passengers and crew aboard American Queen Voyages vessels are not required to wear masks. On Carnival cruises, passengers must wear masks for getting on and off the ship and crew are required to wear them indoors. Ralph Peluso, a 71-year-old passenger on the American Queen noticed staff began masking about halfway through the trip, but no one in authority mentioned COVID-19 cases until the second-to-last day. He and his wife tested positive when they returned home. They told us late Sunday afternoon that they had COVID cases onboard, they were handled and they did contact tracing, said Peluso. Most of our crowd are social butterflies, added Peluso, who noted his group represented about 12% of the total passengers on board. None of us to a person was questioned on the ship about who wed been in contact with. While Stagg said 11 members of her group eventually came down with COVID, the company said six passengers and four crew members tested positive and were taken off the ship. The company said it was informed of one additional case by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other cruises have also put COVID protocols to the test. One passenger died after 27 tested positive on a Carnival cruise out of Galveston in mid-August. Passenger dies of COVID after 27 sick from outbreak on Carnival cruise out of Galveston After having respiratory complications, the woman was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator in Belize before being evacuated to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she died on August 14. George Stagg, 78, left the hospital last week. Hes still on oxygen, with a long tube trailing him around the house. He and his wife havent heard any good news yet about the other hospitalized member of their group, who was also in the ICU. Geri Stagg and Peluso said no one from Louisiana or the river cruise contacted them about COVID. The cruise made stops in one other Louisiana town after New Orleans before continuing to Mississippi. My biggest concern is, they unleashed all these people on the town of St. Francisville and the town of Natchez, said Stagg, 66. A representative from the Louisiana Department of Health said it could not comment on a specific outbreak, as contact tracing is confidential. The CDC did not respond to questions about contact tracing or whether officials were aware of COVID cases stemming from the cruise. The CDC website shows that the American Queen has been investigated and is now under observation. A Carnival cruise ship that sailed out of Galveston, Texas reported the first death since United States cruise lines reopened for business in June, according to NBC News and The New York Times. Marilyn Tackett, 77-year-old great-grandmother, was with her family on a trip to Belize that set sail on July 31, per a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs. After having respiratory complications, Tackett was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator in Belize before being evacuated to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she died on August 14. Tackett was among an outbreak of 27 people on the ship who tested positive over two weeks in late July and early August. The other 26 people were crew members who were mostly asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In a statement, Carnival refuted the likelihood that Tackett contracted COVID on the cruise. "The guest almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship, and she was assisted with expert medical care on board and was ultimately evacuated from Belize after we provided a resource to her family," the company said in a statement. "We have continued to provide support to her family and are not going to add to their sadness by commenting further." Texas -- where the ship sailed out -- bans businesses from requiring vaccinations, but the Belize tourism board claimed that 96 percent of the passengers on the cruise and 99 percent of the crew were fully vaccinated. On August 4, Carnival put new mask guidelines into effect that requested guests to wear masks in certain indoor areas of their ships. They also required a pre-cruise COVID-19 test for all vaccinated guests, taken within three days of departure. A structural engineer who helped demolish the partially collapsed Hard Rock Hotel last year says video of the deadly disaster shows the buildings steel failed at the 16th floor of the 18-story structure, something he believes will be crucial evidence for holding someone accountable for the collapse. You can see where the two upper floors are moving kind of together rather than individually, Walter Zehner said. And that indicates that the 16th floor failed and the other floors just came down with it. Zehner was hired last week by the owner of the ill-fated Hard Rock project, 1031 Canal Development, to serve as a technical spokesman. His analysis of the way the building collapsed supports what WWL-TV reported last week from an unreleased report by an engineer with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Sources with knowledge of that investigation told WWL-TV that the engineer found 81 beams supporting the 16th floor were not up to code and dozens of them were grossly undersized. The engineer reported connections of beams to columns were also grossly undersized, and thats what Zehner said he found when he reviewed the structural plans and calculated what loads the beams listed in the blueprints could handle. And I calculated them to be almost 300% overstressed. So, that means the connection is 300% overstressed, Zehner said. And I was up in the building in a basket looking at where the collapse occurred, and you could see where the connection plate to the column had just sheared off. Before being hired by the owner, Zehner advised St. Louis-based SID Engineering on how to safely bring down the pancaked steel and concrete high-rise. He echoed the findings of the OSHA engineer, who, according to sources, said the collapse was waiting to happen because of the structural steel designed by the projects lead engineer, Heaslip Engineering. I saw it right away when I looked at the plans, and I know other engineers I've talked to said the same thing, so I don't know how that got missed. I really don't, Zehner said. James Heaslip, the engineer of record who stamped the Hard Rock structural plans, said his company is not to blame. +3 Grand jury to consider charges in 'really technical' Hard Rock Hotel collapse case, DA says Exactly two years after the Hard Rock Hotel collapsed and killed three construction workers, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams s We have denied and are contesting all allegations of fault and negligence asserted in the legal proceedings related to the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, and we stand behind our companys track record of designing projects that meet applicable engineering standards, Heaslip said in a statement. WWL-TV asked Zehner about aesthetic changes sought by lead developer Mohan Kailas -- his client. Kailas wanted to raise the ceilings of penthouse apartments on the top two floors, which led to the use of thinner beams under the 17th and 18th floors. Zehner said the video proves the smaller beams and columns under the 17th and 18th floors didnt cause the collapse, because the beams under the 16th floor were always too small to support all three top floors. He said Heaslip Engineering is ultimately responsible for that. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Zehner said it was surprising that other contractors working on the project didnt raise alarms about the design. But Brad Morrow, a supervisor who worked on the project for Hub Steel, the steel fabricator and installer, said he did voice concerns. Morrow left the project after the 10th floor was built, so he wasnt there when the 16th floor beams were installed. But he took hundreds of photos of things that didnt look right to him, including connections between beams and columns where metal clips and bolts appeared missing. Now those photos are potential evidence in a criminal investigation and in civil lawsuits. None of us had seen a lot of the things done before, but we put our trust in the engineers, thinking, OK, well, it's got to be structurally sound, even though we didn't think it was correct, Morrow said. Morrow said he saw many beams and columns connected by one L-shaped metal clip on one side of the column but not on the other. Normally, you would have two clips on each end, he said. So, you're losing basically half the bolts and half the structural integrity of the beam and the connection. He said he questioned other construction supervisors, but always got the same answer: That's what the print said. That's what the spec said. So, that's what we had to go with. +6 Steel beams near top of doomed Hard Rock hotel project were 'underdesigned,' report says Steel beams supporting the 16th floor of the ill-fated Hard Rock Hotel project in downtown New Orleans were so grossly underdesigned that th Terry Knister, an attorney for Hub Steel, said the company couldnt comment on Morrows photographs and statements without reviewing them. But he noted Morrow left the job site well below where the collapse originated. Any concerns voiced by any Hub Steel employee were addressed by Hub Steel through the appropriate jobsite chain of command, which included other companies either working at the site and/or on the overall project, Knister said. Hub Steel has denied all allegations of fault made against it in the pending legal proceedings. Zehner and others said the best way to protect against a recurrence is to require a peer review of the structural drawings by an independent engineer. Because there's nobody at the city to review the structural aspects of a drawing. If it's got an engineers stamp on it, they accept it, Zehner said. But I think that if any engineer would have done a peer review of this building, this would have never happened. It took two years, but the City Council finally voted this month to require engineering peer reviews on all high-rise building projects. A former Louisiana State Police trooper accused of brutally beating a defenseless Black suspect 18 times with a flashlight two years ago pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Jacob Brown, 31, entered his plea by videoconference to a federal civil rights charge over the May 2019 arrest and beating of Aaron Bowman. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kayla McClusky of the Western District of Louisiana set a $50,000 unsecured bond for Brown, who has remained free since his indictment last month. Prosecutors did not object to Brown staying free while he awaits trial. The federal charge against Brown, who is accused of depriving Bowman of his rights under color of law, may not be his last. Brown the son of a former high-ranking State Police officer Bob Brown was booked over the past year on state charges in Bowman's arrest and two other use-of-force incidents involving Black motorists. "Each step toward justice and accountability for one is also a step in the right direction for us all," attorneys for Bowman said in a statement preceding the arraignment. "We stand together in solidarity with a focus on even greater victories to come. We are just getting started." An ongoing federal investigation is probing possible civil rights charges against troopers in those other incidents, as well as in the brutal May 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene that ended with his death in Union Parish. Jacob Brown was not involved in the Greene case. Just a few weeks after Greene's beating, Bowman, 46, received stitches on his head, a broken jaw and broken ribs after Brown assaulted him with a tactical flashlight designed for breaking glass. Police reports show he struck Bowman 18 times. The incident was among at least four that federal investigators are reviewing related to Monroe-based Troop F, the overwhelmingly White unit at the center of a scandal that has engulfed State Police. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Bowman watched remotely with his attorney on Wednesday as Brown entered his not guilty plea. McClusky set the next court date for Nov. 15. If convicted, Brown could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Brown resigned from State Police early this year while facing state criminal charges. His attorney, Scott Wolleson, argued against any bond for Brown, saying he was not a flight risk. Wolleson also noted that Brown has posted bond on state charges that are on hold pending the federal investigation. "He's been here. He's working. He's got family here," Wolleson said. Bowman and a group of supporters, including Greene's mother, were at the courthouse Wednesday. Im praying that we all get justice, said a subdued Bowman after the hearing. We are very disappointed in the fact that he was not detained this morning, said Donecia Banks-Miley, an attorney for Bowman. -The Associated Press contributed to this story. It appears that Carl Cavaliers days as a Louisiana State trooper are numbered. After going public with allegations of brutality and racism against fellow troopers amid a federal investigation into a series of violent arrests, the self-styled whistleblower received notice this week that he is being fired. Cavalier, 33, received a letter from State Police Superintendent Lamar Davis that he was found in violation of department policy for speaking out about the death of Ronald Greene during a brutal arrest by troopers. Cavalier had given interviews to WWL-TV, as well as WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge and WBOK-AM in New Orleans, expressing disappointment that it took body camera video leaked to the media before any disciplinary action was taken against troopers involved in Greenes death and other violent arrests. The notice of termination comes as Cavalier serves a five-week unpaid suspension for publishing a book under a pseudonym that details misgivings of being an African-American officer in a sometimes hostile racial environment. Cavaliers firing is expected to become effective in 45 days. +2 U.S. Rep. Troy Carter pushes for federal 'pattern-or-practice' probe into Louisiana State Police Freshman Congressman Troy Carter is now among those calling for a top-down federal civil rights probe into the embattled Louisiana State Polic Cavaliers claims of racism are also outlined in a lawsuit he filed Sept. 30 against the State Police alleging discrimination at the hands of superior officers. In the suit, Cavalier claims the unfair treatment began in 2018 after he issued a traffic ticket to a Houma police officer. After issuing a ticket to a narcotics officer with the Houma Police Department, Petitioners supervisors began subjecting all tickets and reports to additional scrutiny, Cavalier wrote in his petition. Including, but not limited to, watching body-worn camera video not related to use of force, requesting that incident reports be edited and/or rewritten, receiving harsh criticism over minor issues where other LSP commissioned officers were not reprimanded. Cavalier said he filed an internal grievance alleging discrimination, but claimed he was then subjected to a series of transfers and demotions. The seven-year LSP veteran said he even took his issues to Superintendent Davis, who is also African-American. Critics bemoan discipline for Black trooper who leaked Ronald Greene files, ripped State Police When protests erupted following the 2016 fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana State Police Trooper Carl Cavalier In his lawsuit, Cavalier states that Davis suggested that Petitioner read the book Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great. Cavalier went public with complaints about brutality cases being covered up after media reports showed graphic video of the 2019 arrest of Greene in North Louisiana. Troopers initially reported that Greene died of injuries suffered in a car accident after a high-speed chase, but the long-suppressed body cam video captured Greene practically begging for his life as he was shocked with a stun gun, beaten and dragged while in handcuffs and shackles. +3 Violent, buried videos from Louisiana State Police show pattern of beatings targeting Black people LSP says 67% of its uses of force in recent years have targeted Black people double the percentage of the state's Black population. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up An autopsy later showed that Greene, 49, died due to cocaine induced agitated delirium complicated by motor vehicle collision, physical struggle, inflicted head injury, and restraint. The report states that lacerations on Greene's head were inconsistent with motor vehicle collision injury. These injuries are most consistent with multiple impact sites from a blunt object. Published while the country was still reeling from images of George Floyd being murdered under the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, the video of Greenes death made national news overnight. But the initial State Police response was to blast the leak as unauthorized amid ongoing federal and state investigations. Days after Greene story broke in a story by the Associated Press, the State Police reversed their position and released additional video. But to Cavalier, that only raised more questions about why it took 474 days for the agency to launch an investigation into an incident that he had heard about much earlier. There are killers, Cavalier said in his WWL-TV interview, and there are people who are OK with the killers being on the job. And that's the people who are a part of the cover up. I considered it a murder, Cavalier said. Because why else would we hesitate to be transparent about it? Why else would we not do our jobs and hold these guys accountable? Why else? What other reason? Federal and internal scrutiny that started with the Greene case has expanded to include other allegations of excessive force. Some of the troopers involved in Greene's death have been fired and criminally charged in that case and others. +3 Ranking Louisiana trooper at scene of Ronald Greene's violent death cleared of misconduct A Louisiana State Police internal investigation into alleged misconduct by the ranking trooper at the scene of Ronald Greene's beating and dea At the same time, scrutiny of Cavalier also ratcheted up, including a demotion from his post in the Bureau of Investigations to the Gaming Division. On Aug. 2, shortly after his radio appearance, Cavalier was placed on paid administrative leave. This disciplinary letter he received outlines that the trooper was flagged for potential violations of loyalty, making public statements and not following orders. During Cavaliers suspension, he received support for his outspoken views from a range of voices, including the Urban League of Louisiana, NAACP and State Sen. Cleo Fields. In his lawsuit, Cavalier is seeking unspecified damages. He said he is in the process of amending his petition to request reinstatement. A State Police spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Sir Richard Branson, youre no St. Aug Marching 100 drum major. I know. Im not either. Long ago, in my younger, leaner and more nimble years, I was a proud member of that band. I was a clarinetist, happy to be selected to join the historic group. I tried out for the one drum major spot and lost out to Chavez Caruso, a more talented musician and a respected leader. I did make line captain, though, and I proudly barked and cajoled to keep my good friend Al Steele on the other end and those in between us on beat, in rhythm and in step as band director Edwin Hampton and our drum major directed. We were given a plan and time to practice, but sometimes I needed some extra, er, guidance. Sir Richard, we couldnt just show up at showtime. This is St. Aug. The crowds expected a performance that met Hamps expectations. There were hours and hours of band room and outdoor practice. Hamp smiled a wry smile when we got it right. Then there were those special Hamp faces, frowns and baton direction or a toss of his keys when we got it wrong. Outside, often on the scorching parking lot and street asphalt, we learned to march, high step and move as directed by the drum major. It was exhausting. Hamp and his assistants were the directors, our commanders, our choreographers. Drum majors were the field generals. Marching 100 alums know what I mean, and many were disappointed and upset, accusing Branson of being an impostor who didnt do the work to wear the respected uniform. At a festive grand opening of the $80 million Virgin Hotel New Orleans, Virgin founder and master brand marketer Sir Richard stood in a St. Augustine High School Marching 100 drum major uniform. The full-bearded author and investor had the famous purple and gold colors, boots and a tall busby atop his locks. As the music from the 114-member band started, senior drum majors Warren Stevens, Jaedon Simmons and Raheim Mitchell high stepped with junior drum major Joshua Mirabin. Sir Richard started ... er, moving. He dropped the baton. He wasnt in sync. He performed an awkward solo. He. Looked. Foolish. St. Aug President Aulston Taylor acknowledged it was a bit weird. But the man didnt make a mockery of our brand, he told me. He and Branson were aware of how it might look. Local and national radio, television and digital media covered the event. Branson brought the attention and the eyeballs. St. Aug brought the funk, and added value. The world saw the Branson drum major uniform, tailored at Tailor's International on St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District of New Orleans. The one with a big A on the chest. The one that caused people to ask What school is that? St. Aug has a $7.5 million endowment. For substantial sustainability, the school needs more. Like most fundraising, St. Augs sizable gifts take a minimum of many months, often years. The 2020 $1.5 million gift from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was unusual; it took about six months. Sir Richard didnt provide a direct gift, but the hotel gave an undisclosed amount. Taylor met Branson an hour before the event. An exceptional gent with great presence, he said. Branson enjoyed his time with St. Aug. Ive had quite a few exciting experiences in my time, but Ive never got (a) chance to lead a marching band before let alone the best marching band in the world, the mega marketer wrote on his blog after the event. Bransons reach is worldwide. He has about 12.6 million Twitter followers and about 4.6 million followers on Instagram and 4.5 million Facebook followers. Name a high school with that social media impression recently. No, he cant dance. No, he cant step. No, he didnt EARN the right to wear my schools band uniform, yet alone a drum major uniform. But this really isnt unusual. Actors and celebrities regularly wear brand outfits with organizations with which they arent affiliated. Organizations cherish the additional publicity. Bransons no Justin Vanilla Funk Heideman, the White drum major sensation whose moves at a predominantly Black Montgomery high school went viral, leading to a bunch of band offers from historically Black universities. But he is his own brand. The St. Aug brand was boosted by a CBS 60 Minutes segment last year. Now even more people around the world know about St. Aug. Gifts from outside of New Orleans and Louisiana are coming in to help the school. Branson benefitted from the St. Aug shine. St. Aug is benefiting, too. Arthur "Gene" Dewey, a Mansfield area native, contributed more than 50 years of his life to public service. Dewey was a distinguished graduate of the 1951 class of Mansfield High School and West Point Military Academy before serving in Vietnam and in various diplomatic positions in the U.S. and abroad. The Mayor of Mansfield, Kathy Barrett, and the Mansfield Borough Council will honor Dewey -- who will attend in person -- with a proclamation ceremony at the History Center Museum on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend the naming of Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 as Arthur Gene Dewey Day in Mansfield. The ceremony will begin in the main exhibition area of the History Center. A meet and greet will be held immediately following the ceremony. The event will also include a special display of memorabilia from Deweys remarkable career as a soldier, statesman, and humanitarian. Dewey maintains his family homestead outside Mainesburg. Upon high school graduation, he matriculated to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a commission in the Corps of Engineers in 1956. After military service, he earned a master's in Engineering from Princeton in 1963. During a tour of duty to Thailand and Vietnam starting in 1963, Dewey flew more than 1,000 combat hours, piloting a C7A Caribou into virtually all the short, unimproved strips in support of American advisors working with the South Vietnam military. His unit was among the first to receive enemy fire in the Vietnam War. In 1968, Dewey was selected as a White House Fellow in the President Richard Nixon administration where he was instrumental in improving civilian relief efforts for victims of the Nigerian Civil War. Dewey did a second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1970 as the Commander of the 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion comprised of 500 men and 72 helicopters. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for the effectiveness of his command. Upon his return to the United States, he was appointed director of the Presidents Commission of White House Fellowships and later served in the Pentagon as the Chief of the Political-Military Division in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations. International Assignments Deweys later assignments included leadership positions with NATO. His final three years of military service were back in the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense. In 1986, U.N. Secretary General Perez de Cuellar appointed Dewey an Assistant Secretary General with assignment as U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1991 was asked by US Secretary of State Eagleburger to head the newly created Office of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for the former Soviet Union. He later served as the director of the Congressional Hunger Center. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Dewey Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration where he helped shape the return of over four million refugees to Afghanistan. Dewey served under President Ronald Reagan as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and under President George W. Bush as the Assistant Secretary of State. Dewey is known for decades long humanitarian efforts on the behalf of displaced refugees in Biafra, Rwanda, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and other war-torn areas around the globe. In 2006, Dewey was presented the Distinguished Graduate Award by the United State Military Academy at West Point. Join in celebration on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at the History Center. Penn College considers its Plastics Innovation and Resource Center to be one of international recognition. A summer plastics workshop confirmed a national appeal, drawing industry professionals from seven companies across three states - Massachusetts, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Penn College is one of six institutions nationwide offering plastics degrees that are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. The 11 registrants from seven companies attended a three-day Plastics Materials, Processing, and Testing workshop through the Innovation Center. During the workshop, participants explored polymer science by learning about the science behind polymers and the five major industrial processes used in plastics and manufacturing: extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, and rotational molding. The well-received mix of classroom lectures and interactive lab sessions was taught by alumnus/instructor Joshua J. Rice. Hands-on instruction showed how to determine properties such as melt index, tensile strength, and impact resistance. I learned more about different types of materials and their principles and how they work. Also, injection molding troubleshooting with fill/pack and hold, commented Tracy E. Weidner, injection mold mechanic for B. Braun Medical, Allentown. "It was great coming back to my alma mater to further develop my knowledge and skills in my career," adds Catherine Weatherman, Penn College alumna and product and process engineer/quality assurance for Cardinal Systems Inc., Schuylkill Haven. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. Harrisburg, Pa. Pennsylvania has spent nearly half a million dollars over the past six years to find and remove outdated registrations from its voter database, a process Senate Republicans now want to take up in a partisan-driven review at added expense to taxpayers. In the weeks since approving a far-reaching subpoena seeking access to sensitive voter information, GOP lawmakers in favor of the effort have claimed the vast troves of data are necessary to identify voters who shouldnt have cast a ballot in either the November 2020 or May 2021 elections. The senators in charge of the investigation have not defined how they will prove a voter is illegal if they suspect fraud, nor have they acknowledged that Pennsylvania has already spent $403,904 for access to a sophisticated voter list maintenance program that regularly performs the analysis Republicans say they are seeking. Senate Republicans, in justifying the investigation, have claimed there is a need to investigate the validity of ballots cast during the previous elections, despite several court cases that found no evidence of widespread fraud. They have often pointed to a 2019 auditor general report identifying potential birthdate inaccuracies and duplicate information in fewer than 1% of voter registrations. The Department of State at the time pushed back on the auditor generals analysis, saying it had incorrectly flagged thousands of records as potential concerns. That same auditor general report recommended, as one of the potential solutions to catching and rectifying inaccurate voter registrations, that Pennsylvania take greater advantage of its membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, a consortium of states that created and manages the list maintenance program. The state department has, in the years since, made nearly full use of the voter list maintenance features offered to members of ERIC except for one. Because of a provision in the states Election Code, Pennsylvania cannot use the death record matching service that would automatically identify active voter registrations for likely dead Pennsylvania residents. We need a legislative fix to use the ERIC death file, said Department of State spokesperson Wanda Murren. Pennsylvania law is very specific about what sources can provide proper proof that a voter has died. Under the law, the state department can only remove a voter registration for a dead person through a manual process such as verifying the death with records from the Department of Health, newspaper obituaries, or letters issued by the local register of wills. The state has only used ERICs death records once, to settle a lawsuit. The Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative-aligned nonprofit that regularly sues states over alleged voter registration inaccuracies, sued Pennsylvania in October 2020 claiming 21,000 dead Pennsylvanians remained on voter rolls. To settle the suit, the Department of State agreed to use ERICs death records to identify voter registrations for Pennsylvanians who have likely died. Using the tool, Pennsylvania found 5,095 registrations for likely dead voters and sent those to counties to follow up on, Murren said. Such a settlement, which uses a method otherwise prohibited by state law, is legal, said Michael Dimino, an election law professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, because the two parties disagreed on whether the state law was consistent with federal voter maintenance statutes, creating an ambiguity. Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson), who took over and renewed the election investigation in August after it was inactive for months, said any legislative fixes to the voter registration system will come after the inquiry ends. It makes sense to address as many issues as possible after the investigation concludes so we can fix any other weaknesses in the system that we uncover in the course of our review, he wrote in an email to Spotlight PA. When asked how the Republican-led investigation would differ from the voter list maintenance the state already pays for, Dush did not answer and pointed to the findings in the 2019 auditor general report. We do not know why these discrepancies exist. As we move forward with the investigation, we hope to determine the weakness in the system that allow these anomalies to persist in the system, Dush wrote. How ERIC works A group of seven states with the help of the Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonpartisan public policy nonprofit created ERIC in 2012 to address the daily changes in voter registrations as people move, die, and change their names. The patchwork of federal and state retention laws that govern how and when voter registrations can be removed from the rolls, along with the maintenance workload that election administrators must handle, presents a real challenge, said Shane Hamlin, executive director of ERIC. 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. Pennsylvania joined the consortium in 2015 and is now one of 30 member states plus Washington, D.C. that contributes data to ERIC to improve the quality of their voter rolls. Using ERICs tools, states such as Pennsylvania regularly receive reports when a voter moves to a different city or state, changes their name, or dies. States can then use these reports to either notify the voters and update their registrations, or confirm a death and remove the person altogether. In 2020, the state department and county election officials used ERIC reports to contact more than 90,000 voters who had potentially moved within the state, moved to a different state, or registered more than once in Pennsylvania. ERIC compares its members collective records against other databases such as Social Security numbers, Department of Motor Vehicles records, and address changes to identify whether a voter registration needs to be updated or removed. Members anonymize sensitive data such as dates of birth, drivers license numbers, and Social Security numbers before submitting them to the ERIC system, so the software never has access to the information itself. This makes stealing and exploiting the data almost impossible, said David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Research & Innovation, which studies election administration. Becker helped the seven founding states create ERIC when he worked for Pew. You would need two separate code keys stored in two separate places to decipher that information, Becker said. Its much easier just to break into the DMV database. In response to outcry from Democrats and election security experts, Republicans have said any personal data the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee obtain in response to the subpoena will be stored safely, and any vendor contracted to analyze private voter information will sign nondisclosure agreements. The committee will do everything in its power to ensure the vendor that handles this information will keep private information just that private, Dush recently wrote. For the time being, Republicans have agreed to hold off on hiring a vendor to analyze the voter data until after Commonwealth Court weighs in on challenges to the Senate committees authority to enforce the subpoena. Senate Democrats, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and state Sen. Art Haywood (D., Montgomery) filed separate lawsuits, which have since been consolidated into one case. All parties filed an application for an expedited review Wednesday and are awaiting a ruling. This article was produced in collaboration with Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization focused on election administration and voting access. Athens Township, Pa. Athens Township Police Department officers said a woman had red marks on her neck and there were clumps of hair in her car when they responded to a call about an alleged domestic dispute. The woman told Officer Thomas Vanfleet that she was choked and dragged from her bed by her hair when an argument with a man turned physical. Justin Stevens, 35, of Sayre was charged with simple assault and strangulation after officers were able to locate him near the 200 block of Blue Spruce Lane in Athens Township. Both charges are second-degree misdemeanors. Stevens allegedly denied the attack and accused the accuser of being the aggressor. Officers said no signs of being attacked were observed on Stevens, who became upset and verbally loud with officers during transport to the station. Stevens is being held at the Bradford County Prison in lieu of $20,000 monetary bail as he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 12. Docket report Pennsylvania's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, is set to announce his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. His announcement is expected to come on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. If Shapiro wins the nomination, he would succeed outgoing Gov. Tom Wolf, who is term-limited. Shapiro, 48, has been Attorney General since 2017. He was a Montgomery county commissioner from 2012-2017, having been instrumental in flipping Montgomery county from Republican to Democrat. Shapiro also was a state representative from 2005-2012. KDKA2/CBS Pittsburgh has reported that Shapiro will be making his announcement in the opposite part of the state where he is from. "Josh Shapiro has run very well here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Last years election he actually ran ahead of everybody on the ballot, including President Biden," said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, as reported by KDKA2. Ever since World War Two, the governor's office in Pennsylvania has switched political hands every eight years. While the Republican field for governor is crowded, Shapiro is expected to be the only Democrat to announce for governor, which has been common insider political knowledge for quite sometime. This would leave a very clear path for Shapiro. Currently there are 3,622,410 registered Democrats in Pa. versus 3,179,303 Republicans. While urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been progressively becoming more Democrat, area's like rural Pa. have been seeing slow decreases in Republican voter registration. Voters go to the voting booth to choose their nominees on May 17, 2022, some seven months from now. Related reading: Democratic frontrunner for lieutenant governor, Brian Sims visits northcentral Pa. in a unique way Shapiro is expected to head the gubernatorial ticket with likely Democratic frontrunner Brian Sims as lieutenant governor, a state representative from center city Philadelphia, close to Shapiro's neighboring Montgomery County. If elected, it would be the first time since the second world war that any political party has maintained control of the governor's office for more than eight years. Local Committee approves $1M ask for ARPA funds by Land Bank Authority, eyes North Rome for assistance program For areas already struggling in Rome that have been economically hard hit by the pandemic, the Rome Floyd County Land Bank Authority is viewing an infusion of federal funds as a once in a lifetime opportunity. A letter to City Manager Sammy Rich from LBA Chair Roger Smith seeks an allocation of $1 million of the citys $11.5 million American Rescue Plan Act funds. Theyll use it, he said, to support economic development, blight removal and community stabilization and housing security that will generate returns on investment for decades to come. Meredith Ulmer After Assistant City Manager Meredith Ulmer said Rich, who was not in attendance, supports the idea, the Community Development Committee unanimously recommended approval Tuesday of the request to allocate those funds to the land bank. The proposal must be approved by the Rome City Commission. The land bank has an identical ask in to the County Commission. Floyd County has been allocated $19.1 million from ARPA. Theyve not talked about that particular ask yet, County Manager Jamie McCord said, but the county is looking at matching grant programs through the state that could compliment the federal funds. The land banks idea is to obtain blighted or run down properties. Those properties would then be either rehabbed or used to construct new single family, duplex or triplex housing similar to what the authority has done in areas in South Rome. The ARPA funds can be used in low-income Census tracts or, in the case of portions of North Rome, locally designated areas. The Community Development Committee also voted to include much of North Rome as a locally designated area. City Commissioner Sundai Stevenson suggested the land bank consider not only specific properties but also taking entire blocks of blighted land in the area of Stevens Street and King Bee Circle. Jake F. Hager The committee also sent a recommendation to allow as much as $300,000 in APRA funds to be used for the Covington Park proposal at the corner of Cave Spring Street and East Main Street. The park, as proposed by South Rome Alliance Executive Director Jake Hager, would be a community park as well as veterans memorial on 5 acres. They intend to build a pavilion as well have walking trails and a veterans plaza on the site. The park, Hager said, will promote healthier living in outdoor spaces. This is part of the true spirit of the (ARPA) legislation, Hager said. The committee approved the proposal but it also must go before the full City Commission for ultimate approval. Anything we can do like this, Im all about it, City Commissioner Jim Bojo said. Country Roads, Take Me Homein an Electric Car Demonstration Projects Bring New Transportation Options to Small Towns Oct. 13, 2021 In the 1930s and 1940s, the Rural Electrification Act wired farms to the grid, turning on lights across the American countryside. Parallel efforts added phone service in these sprawling, sparsely populated areas. At long last, farm families and small-town residents could call a faraway relative without driving to find a phone and study at night without using a generator. Now, rural areas are working to connect in new ways, through improved digital and cellphone networks, as well as alternative forms of transportation. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are joining small towns across America to expand affordable, convenient, and energy-efficient transportation choices. Cities are huge population centers, but about 60 million Americans live in small towns and farm country, NREL Rural Mobility Project Lead and Transportation Behavior Analyst Andy Duvall said. Just like people in New York, Chicago, or Dallas, they need to get to the doctors office, school, and grocery storebut there arent any subways, transit buses, or taxis, and critical destinations can sometimes be a days travel away. Members of these communities without cars of their own or the ability to drive can be largely cut off from the world. An array of DOE-funded projects is creating mobility options for rural populations, most importantly for low-income, aging, and disabled individuals who miss out on jobs and medical appointments unless family and friends can drive them places. Researchers are collaborating with five small communities on demonstration projects, building knowledge of regional travel patterns and priorities, gathering and analyzing transportation data, and exploring the effectiveness of new transportation options. Projects are underway in Bastrop, Texas; Greene County, Pennsylvania; Hood River, Oregon; the Appalachian region of Ohio; and Californias Kern and Tulare counties. Learning From Urban Research NREL, DOE, and other project partners are taking lessons learned in urban areas and applying them to these smaller towns and rural communities. In support of the U.S. Department of Transportations (DOTs) Smart City Challenge, NREL Mobility Systems Project Leader Stan Young was embedded in Columbus, Ohio, for four years. Young shared the laboratorys expertise and resources with municipal staff and consultants, while observing firsthand the citys mobility challenges. The goal was to spur economic growth, improve citizens quality of life, and decrease the citys carbon footprint through more energy-efficient, convenient, and affordable ways to move people and goods. In the end, the city arrived at a range of solutions that combine on-demand, automated, connected, electrified, and shared mobility options. Data collected by the project team show that access to on-demand transportation services led to more consistent visits to doctors for preventive healthcare, self-driving shuttles made it possible to deliver more than 130,000 meals during the COVID lockdown, and new transit hubs gave workers access to a pool of more than 20,000 additional jobs. Until now, the emerging mobility focus has mostly been on big cities. Small towns and rural communities deserve to benefit from breakthroughs in transportation technology, too, Young said. Building a better understanding of travel patterns and needs in these areas is the first step. Discovering Smart Citys Country Cousin NREL and its partners are discovering the transportation issues unique to rural areas as they work with the five communities involved in the initiative. They already knew that low population density, lack of centralized services, and long stretches of road would require a different approach. The rural mobility initiative in Bastrop, Texas, offers free eCab electric vehicle service as part of the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) on-demand "CARTS NOW" program. Photo courtesy of eCab NA As the initiative progressed, it became clearer that a number of other factors compound those challenges. Researchers observations in Bastrop, Texas, reflect patterns among its 52,000 residents that are emerging in all the communities involved in the project. Rural areas and those outside cities typically have fewer employment opportunities in the immediate vicinity, meaning workers need to commute farther or move out of the community to find viable jobs. At the same time, the lack of transportation infrastructure can prevent companies from choosing to relocate to these communities. More than one in five Americans aged 65 and up live in rural areas. As people get older and lose the ability to drive, limited transportation options present barriers to vital medical and social services. Other issues in small towns and rural areas include the long distances that sometimes must be traveled to reach schools, hospitals, libraries, and grocery stores. In addition, these communities rarely have the funds and volume of demand needed to support a traditional public transportation system. Lack of transportation options can be compounded by a shortage of reliable broadband internet and wireless services. These conditions can force younger residents to move to cities to find work or skip college because of difficulties accessing online educational resources. All of these stumbling blocks can be overcome, but it will demand a different set of solutions for small communities than what we came up with in Columbus and other larger cities, Duvall said. Hailing a New Transportation Option In Bastrop, just an hour southeast of Austin, the team has launched an on-demand ride service using electric vehicles. Trips on the ride service are currently free of charge, enabling passengers to meet practical mobility needs such as getting to medical appointments, grocery stores, and jobs. Frequently taking the place of larger conventional vehicles, the systems electric vehicles translate into lower per-trip fuel consumption and emissions. National commercial ride hailing services such as Uber and Lyft can be tough to find in small town settings. This can be attributed in large part to spotty network coverage and other technology shortcomings in these areas, lower population density, and less frequent cellphone ownership and credit card use. The Bastrop system has adopted an alternative model that allows riders to request electric cab or van service with a phone call, as well as via a mobile app. Because the rides are free, passengers do not need to worry about paying by credit card or other means. Now that the system has operated for six months, the NREL team is examining data on length, number, frequency, and purpose of trips, in addition to displacement of trips using single-occupancy vehicles. Initial results reflect a high demand for the new service. Electric taxis bring new mobility options to rural communities. Photo courtesy of eCab NA While this might seem like old news to someone in a big city, it really is revolutionary for a person in a small town to have a vehicle available to take them from point A to point B in a matter of minutes, Duvall said. Duvall noted that riders also seem to like the electric vehicles, and that increased comfort and familiarity with the technology in the community could lead to greater interest in electric vehicle ownership, too. Until now, adoption of electric vehicles has lagged in rural areas when compared to urban markets. The Bastrop systems electric vehicles are charged using electricity from the Texas grid, which relies on one of the countrys highest proportions of renewable energy sources. The electric vehicle rides replace transportation in conventional gas-fueled vehicles, resulting in reductions in petroleum use and life cycle emissions. Driving Change Past the County Line The rural mobility team is exploring additional mobility options in other towns. While work continues in Bastrop and the four communities in the original demonstration projects, researchers are discussing partnerships with more communities in new locations. NREL completed a related project in Innisfill, a Canadian town north of Toronto of approximately 40,000 people. Comparable in size and use patterns to some of the U.S. communities being studied, the town focused on improving transportation to serve its growing population more effectively, particularly those without automobile access. After actively pursuing a partnership with Uber to provide a subsidized on-demand mobility service, the community found it significantly increased access to essential transportation with a much lower investment than required for more traditional fixed-route transit systems. The laboratory is analyzing data on the U.S. projects to better assess energy-efficiency, emissions, and mobility benefits. Eventually, recommendations will be detailed in a guidebook that can be used by other communities to replicate winning strategies. The team is also seeking partners in new areas with communities that present unique mobility challenges. Researchers are exploring a possible series of projects in collaboration with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as part of its Clean Transportation Prizes. NREL continues to coordinate efforts of the collaborative multi-region team. Quarterly forums bring together the five rural mobility initiatives, along with several other aligned rural mobility groups, to compare notes. Pooling our resources will not only help increase mobility options for this handful of communities, Young said. It will make it possible to level the mobility playing field for smaller rural communities across the United States, giving them access to services previously only found in urban areas. Learn more about NRELs transportation and mobility research, DOEs Energy Efficient Mobility System program, and the NYSERDA Clean Transportation Prizes. Anya Breitenbach Muse Vineyards, shown here, will host an event on two Sundays in October that will explore the history of its first wine, Clio. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan and U.S. Sen. Todd Young, along with an architect and a think tank director, will speak at the upcoming One Region annual luncheon. The speakers will address the future of Northwest Indiana and the Great Lakes region at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Avalon Manor, 3550 Lincoln Highway, Hobart. Mrvan will deliver remarks to One Region, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the population and household income in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Then there will be a moderated panel discussion featuring Young; Gordon Gill, founder of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects; and Cordell Carter II, executive director of the Aspen Institute Socrates Program. They will discuss the Greater South Shore Initiative to create a "hyper-connected 90-mile advanced technology and research corridor from Chicago to South Bend, producing an emerging innovation ecosystem connected by rail and data." We are excited to host this powerful lineup of world-renowned leaders at our luncheon, said Marie Foster-Bruns, president and CEO of One Region. In previous years, One Region has brought influential voices to the event, and this year, we have assembled a truly unique panel to share a bold vision for our area. Hullett said Judah was placed with her family after DCS intervened because of allegations Morgan had abused one of Judah's older siblings. Department employees visited Hullett's Starke County home once a month to check on Judah's welfare and told her several times during the nearly four years she cared for the boy that she would eventually be granted custody, she said. She attempted to warn the department that Judah told her Morgan hurt him during visits and that the boy was afraid of his father, she said. She alleged a DCS manager apologized to her in June 2020, because the department had planned to file a termination of parental rights against Morgan and Judah's mother but someone "dropped the ball." "He said all he could do was say he was sorry," Hullett said. Hullett said DCS told her Judah would be placed with his parents for a "six-month trial visit" and that the department would regularly check on the child. "If anything happened, if they messed up, I was supposed to get Judah back," she said. Morgan was arrested in August on a felony charge of resisting arrest and misdemeanor operating while intoxicated and possession of marijuana charges, records show. LAPORTE The death of a 4-year-old boy was ruled as a homicide and several charges have been pressed against the child's father. The child has been identified as Judah Morgan, who was pronounced dead Monday in the 3100 East block of County Road 875 South. The father, Alan D. Morgan, 28, of LaPorte, faces several felony charges, including murder, cruelty to an animal and five counts of neglect of a dependent, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department. Police took Morgan into custody Monday following the discovery of a dead child at a home in Union Township, LaPorte County Sheriff's Capt. Derek Allen said. "Since then, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division have tirelessly investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of Judah," Allen said. On Tuesday an autopsy was conducted at Franciscan Health Michigan City, and Judah Morgan's death was ruled a homicide, police said. Later Tuesday, charging information was presented to LaPorte County courts officials. Police did not release the circumstances around the animal cruelty charge. Snyder, who thanked the residents of Portage, his legal team and family, said he would not be facing prison time if only he had kept better campaign, tax and business records. Those failures have placed a great burden on his family members, who have been humiliated, but made stronger, he said. "The Snyders will always hold their heads up high," he said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu, who sought a steeper sentence within the recommended guideline range, said the bribery count in particular undermines the public trust in government. He then cited Snyder's background of opportunity to say, "He knew better." Yet he said Snyder continues to behave as though he did nothing wrong, despite being convicted twice on the bribery charge and once on the tax offense. "Instead of taking care of the city, at the end of the day, he betrayed the city," Bhachu said. Defense attorney Andrea Gambino argued against prison time, saying there is a debate over its value as a deterrent and that Snyder has already paid a big price living under the investigation and criminal case for seven years. "Everybody in life makes mistakes," she said. CROWN POINT A 35-year-old man was wanted Wednesday on charges linked to the disappearance Monday of a 7-month-old Merrillville girl who later was returned unharmed to an Illinois police department. Leandre Nutull, of Robbins, Illinois, is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home early Monday through a living room window, confronting her as she lay in bed and leaving with her 7-month-old daughter, who is not Nutull's child. Nutull was charged Tuesday with felony burglary, two counts of kidnapping and residential entry. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest. The woman told police she and Nutull dated for four or five years, and they continued to talk after she broke up with him about three months ago, Lake Criminal Court records state. While police were taking a missing persons report at the woman's home, Nutull called her phone several times, documents state. When the woman answered and asked where her child was, Nutull told her, "It don't matter, (expletive)," and, "You not getting her. Your baby is going to be with me," records allege. Nutull also threatened to "bust out all the windows" at the woman's Merrillville home, documents state. A pouch of .40 caliber ammunition and crystal methamphetamine were found after a vehicle search, the police report said. As Portage police pursued the driver on foot into a wooded area, additional officers were called to the scene, including the Lake County Aviation Unit and Porter County Sheriffs police. As officers pursued the man, they saw rustling in the woods and a gunshot was heard from the brush. As he took cover, an officer called out for the man to surrender himself with his hands above his head. After five minutes of silence, officers heard rustling again in the woods. The suspect then told officers he planned to come out of the woods, where he surrendered to police and was placed under arrest. Police said the man stated he needed an ambulance, and when asked why, he said he had swallowed a bunch of drugs, the report said. He also told police that he had tripped and dropped the gun earlier, causing it to fire, and that he thought he had accidentally shot himself. A gun magazine was found in the woods after a search. Upon searching a hotel room associated with the group, police found phones and several purses and wallets. CRETE TOWNSHIP A Crown Point man died Monday from injuries he suffered in a crash Sunday in Illinois, officials said. Christopher Gerstner, 47, was airlifted to a Chicago hospital after he rear-ended a pickup truck about 11:30 a.m. Sunday at a curve where East Exchange Street meets East Burville Road in Crete Township, the Will County Sheriff's Office said. A preliminary investigation showed Gerstner was speeding when he came upon traffic stopped for a vehicle waiting to turn and was unable to stop before hitting the back of a Toyota Tundra, police said. The impact pushed the Tundra into a guardrail. A Kia that was turning east on Exchange Street struck the side of the Tundra, police said. Sheriff's deputies arrived and found first responders had removed Gerstner from his Jeep Compass, which was in a ditch at the curve. The drivers of the Tundra and Kia refused medical attention at the scene, police said. Gerstner was initially taken to a Franciscan Health hospital, but he was later flown to University of Chicago Medical Center because of the severity of his injuries, police said. At one of the bridges the county is working on, the soil at the foundation turned out to be peat thats basically muck 20 feet deep, which will cost an additional $750,000 just to dig out the peat and replace it with better soil, Thompson said. The bridge by Brummitt Elementary School in Chesterton is estimated at more than $2 million, with the federal government paying $800,000 of the cost. Only now is our fund getting to where we can take care of these bridges, Novotney said. I think that is in fact the good news, that were addressing these long-neglected infrastructure needs, council Vice President Mike Jessen, R-4th, said. All of these infrastructure needs should be, I think, the highest priority to us. Novotney noted the impact of public infrastructure investments. In South Haven, where the county has pumped millions into drainage and road work, homeowners are replacing roofs and siding and doing landscaping to fix up homes. CHICAGO The head of the Chicago police officers union has called on its members to defy the city's requirement to report their COVID-19 vaccination status by Friday or be placed on unpaid leave. In the video posted online Tuesday and first reported on by the Chicago Sun-Times, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration to court if it tries to enforce the mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week. After Friday, unvaccinated workers who won't submit to semiweekly coronavirus testing will be placed on unpaid leave. Catanzara suggested that if the city does enforce its requirement and many union members refuse to comply with it, "it's safe to say that the city of Chicago will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend coming up." A spokesperson for the mayor said her office would not issue a statement in response to Catanzara's remarks. Neither the mayor's office nor the police department immediately responded to Wednesday requests for comment. The mayor had a press briefing scheduled for later in the day. In the video, Catanzara instructs officers to file for exemptions to receiving the vaccine but to not enter that information into the city's vaccine portal. The many journalists who knew Spavor were delighted and relieved when he and Kovrig, the two Michaels, were freed. But the case raises troubling questions. In the future, when prosecutors in foreign countries go after officials with Chinese companies or agencies for any of the many offenses of which they are suspected, ranging from economic crimes to espionage, will Chinese authorities then arrest citizens of those countries and hold them as pawns? The Chinese claim there was no connection between the return home of Meng, whod been free in Vancouver on $8 million bail while having to wear an ankle bracelet and return to her luxury home every night, and the release of Spavor and Kovrig, who suffered far worse in a Chinese prison. They were, of course, pawns in a much larger game. As the economic war between the U.S. and China intensifies, we may well see more such cases in which the Chinese hold hostages. Thats not to suggest that U.S. and Canadian authorities should not have negotiated for the exchange, but Chinas success in springing Meng sets a precedent. Tai undoubtedly could name other Chinese companies that are just as culpable as Huawei. Now the Chinese are all the more likely to hold innocent people for ransom. Anyone could be seized while the Chinese brandish weapons against Taiwan in a war of nerves in which foreigners in China, doing business with Chinese companies, are at risk. Donald Kirk is the author of 10 books on Korea, Okinawa, the Philippines and the Vietnam War. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. The opinions are the writer's. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie recently finished days of testimony in front of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and the American people. Congressmen and senators alike followed a familiar pattern of demanding answers to curated questions. Despite these maneuvers, it was clear to everyone we lost in Afghanistan and the people in that room were responsible. After 20 years, it was obvious that elected officials and military officers were consumed with process over results. Questions ranged from Can we still utilize over-the-horizon capability to kill Al-Qaeda? to How many troops did you recommend we keep in Afghanistan? The question not asked was how the Taliban were able to not only survive, but grow in influence over the past two decades. American leaders, both civilian and military, endlessly boast about our extensive toolbox. Unfortunately, they seldom choose any solution that is not simply weapons, troops or money. Digging into this so-called toolbox is not something careerists are likely to do. If they did, they would discover a shiny, never-before-used tool good local governance. How could I deny her a social outlet in a time when companionship had been taken from her? It would have felt monstrous. But lets not sit here and pretend I let her do it just for her sake. I let her do it for mine, too. Roblox had become a babysitter, a youth group and a camp all in one. I have come to think of it as a place she goes rather than a thing she does. She can happily spend hours there and I hear nothing but screeches of Teleport! Teleport to me!! I wouldnt say I get great work done while she plays, but I get *some* work done. Or some housework. Or some dispirited doomscrolling. I knew, abstractly, that there would come a time when I lost the child I knew. That my baby would become an adolescent, a gawky thing full of spite she could use as rocket fuel to blast out of my orbit. But my daughter is on the cusp of turning 8. I thought I had more time, and I never thought the fuel she burned would be supplied by me. Because I see her stepping into a new world, trying on new personae, different avatars. I see her deftly navigating a space in which I am all thumbs. When I tried to play, she typed in the chat bar: Mom. Mom! Follow me, Mom! My mom is so bad at this and Im trying to teach her but she is an amazing mom. I appreciated the softening of the blow, but the truth is I am not an amazing mom. I let her move to a two-dimensional arcade because, in the depths of my torpor and sorrow this summer, I could barely string two words together, let alone get it up for a fun mother-daughter project Generally speaking, it sets my teeth on edge when parents (ugh, mothers, I mean mothers, it is always mothers) describe themselves as failing as parents, as though this were a competition or a job for which we might be awarded a gold star. But I found myself truly understanding that I wasnt so much failing at the task of parenting as I was failing her. As we move forward into school time (a fraught and indefinite phrase), things are going to have to change around here. I have felt, this summer, like a woman drowning in Karo syrup. Sure, Im depressed, arent we all? But I cant pull her back into the real world if I cant even get there myself. MEXICO CITY A New York Times journalist was denied entry into Nicaragua on Thursday amid a nationwide crackdown against the media and civil society in the Central American nation. Anatoly Kurmanaev, who recently joined the Timess Mexico City bureau after years covering Venezuela, had his ticket to Managua canceled by the airline he was traveling on hours before the flight was set to take off, after Nicaraguan authorities refused to grant him entry. Mr. Kurmanaev had met all of Nicaraguas legal and health requirements for entry. This is an example of increasingly common challenges journalists are facing around the globe for the role they play in ensuring a free and informed society, said Michael Slackman, the Timess assistant managing editor for international. Efforts to silence journalists should be of concern to everyone. The denial of Mr. Kurmanaevs entry to Nicaragua appears to be an escalation of government attacks on independent media amid a crackdown by President Daniel Ortega, who returned to power in 2007 after leading Nicaraguas revolutionary government from 1979 to 1990. South Korean health authorities urged caution on Wednesday as they reported more than 2,000 new Covid-19 cases in one day, nearing last months record. Were taking this as a very dangerous sign, said Park Hyang, a senior health official, at a news conference in the capital, Seoul. We urge residents of the Seoul metropolitan area to be especially careful. The virus is spreading on a large scale and infections are appearing anytime and anywhere. Cases have remained stubbornly high even as the pace of vaccinations has quickened. While social distancing restrictions have remained in place, the government has eased some rules on private gatherings. The health officials also said that people arent adhering to them as much as pandemic fatigue accumulates. Thats a concern ahead of Chuseok, a three-day national holiday later this month when families will be able to travel to see one another. As of Tuesday, about 61 percent of South Koreans had received at least one vaccine dose and more than 36 percent were fully vaccinated, the health authorities said. Two weeks ago, Ankur and Priyanka Bordia unpacked their familys eight suitcases for the fourth time in 40 days. Are we in Hong Kong yet? asked their children, ages 1 and 3. No, were in Qatar, Mr. Bordia replied. For almost a year, the Bordias have been trying to return to Hong Kong, their home of 13 years, from India, where they traveled early in the pandemic. As the Chinese territory has continually changed which countries visitors can arrive from, the familys journey has become a game of transoceanic Whac-A-Mole, a vivid example of how ever-shifting international travel rules have upended lives worldwide. When The New York Times spoke with the family last month, they were stranded in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which Hong Kong had moved into a high-risk category days before their flight home, citing a rise in coronavirus cases there. WASHINGTON The Biden administration took a major step on Wednesday in challenging Chinas broad territorial claims in the Pacific, announcing that the United States and Britain would help Australia to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, adding to the Western presence in the region. If the plan comes to fruition, Australia may begin conducting routine patrols that could move through areas of the South China Sea that Beijing claims as its exclusive zone and range as far north as Taiwan. The announcement, made by President Biden, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, is a major step for Australia, which until recent years has been hesitant to push back directly at core Chinese interests. Australia has felt increasingly threatened, however, and three years ago was among the first nations to ban Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, from its networks. Now, with the prospect of deploying a new submarine fleet, Australia would become a far more muscular player in the American-led alliance in the Pacific. The vessels are equipped with nuclear propulsion systems that offer limitless range and run so quietly that they are hard to detect. For Mr. Johnson, the new defense arrangement would bolster his effort to develop a Global Britain strategy that focuses on the Pacific, the next step after Brexit took the country out of the European Union. This is about investing in our greatest source of strength, our alliances, and updating them to better meet the threats of today and tomorrow, Mr. Biden said in the East Room, flanked by two televisions showing the British and Australian leaders at their remote press briefings. Its about connecting Americas existing allies and partners in new ways. The countrys prime minister was linked to the presidents assassination. A senator tried taking power. A shooting meant to stop the takeover paralyzed the center of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The dramatic sequence of events unfolded over a single day, Tuesday. But most Haitians carried on with a shrug, seeing the struggle if they noticed it at all as another chapter in the infighting of political elites whose machinations have little bearing on their lives. There is nothing that has ever worked well under any president I have known, said Luckner Augustin, a 27-year-old handyman in Port-au-Prince. They only care about stuffing their pockets with money. Long accustomed to turmoil, the Haitian population has found its resilience pushed to the limit by a cascade of overlapping crises in the past few months. The Biden administration, bent on containing the growing power of China, sees the nuclear submarine deal as a way to cement ties with a Pacific ally that is increasingly at odds with Beijing, while also making that ally more powerful. Emily Horne, the spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said: We have been in close touch with our French partners on their decision to recall Ambassador Etienne to Paris for consultations. We understand their position and will continue to be engaged in the coming days to resolve our differences, as we have done at other points over the course of our long alliance. She was referring to Philippe Etienne, the veteran diplomat who is the French ambassador in Washington. The United States appears determined to play down the rift with France, portraying the conflict as just another disagreement among friends. France, however, appears to view the American decision as not only offensive in its secretive preparation but also indicative of a fundamental strategic shift that calls into question the very nature of the Atlantic alliance. Mr. Le Drians statement said the very conception we have of our alliances, our partnerships and the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe would be affected. Where before France believed it could work hand-in-hand with the United States in confronting China, despite French reservations over perceived American aggressiveness, it now appears to be reconsidering that view. Mr. Macron had made the growing French relationship with Australia a cornerstone of a strategy to expand Europes role in meeting the challenge of Chinas rise. Because an American company, Lockheed Martin, was a partner in the French submarine deal with Australia, reached in 2016, the contract was viewed in Paris as an example of how France and the United States could work together in Asia. That belief has now been shredded, replaced by bitterness, suspicion and a measure of incredulity that the Biden Administration would treat France this way. I often call it the octopus, he said, and so, I mean, thats something that gets every part of you moving. The Chieftains performed at the Great Wall of China, in Nashville and in Berlin to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, joining with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd to play The Wall. Their best-known recordings included Cotton Eyed Joe, OSullivans March, Bonapartes Retreat and Long Black Veil (with Mr. Jagger). Their 1992 album Another Country, a collaboration with country artists like Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and Chet Atkins, won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album. Their other Grammys included one for best pop collaboration with vocals for Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?, a collaboration with Mr. Morrison from their album The Long Black Veil, released in 1995, and one for best world album, for Santiago (1996), which consisted of Spanish and Latin American music. Mr. Moloney had an affinity for country music. I always considered Nashville like another part of Ireland, down to the south or something, he said on the website of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in 2020. When Ive come over there and played with musical geniuses like Sam Bush or Jerry Douglas or Earl Scruggs, they pick everything up so easily. You dont have to duck and dash. The last track on Another Country Finale: Did You Ever Go A-Courtin, Uncle Joe/Will the Circle Be Unbroken features Ms. Harris, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Rambles, a cultural arts magazine, described it as the closest you will come to an Irish hooley on record, a reference to an Irish party with music. The track, the magazine said, sounded like a few pints were quaffed and the boxty bread was passed around before the assembled greats of music decided to have a musical free-for-all. And, perhaps most serious of all, an unmistakable pulse of dogmatism has surfaced on campus. Though Daniels doesnt think theres a full-blown speech crisis on campus, he recognizes that something is badly amiss when, according to a 2020 Knight Foundation survey, 63 percent of college students feel the climate on their campus prevents some people from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive. Its hard to argue with Danielss solutions. End, once and for all, legacy admissions. Institute a democracy requirement in school curriculums. Enhance openness in science and reform the peer-review process. Curb self-segregation in university housing. Create spaces for engagement and foster the practices of reasoned disagreement and energetic debate. All essential proposals and all the more necessary in an era of right-wing populism and left-wing illiberalism. Still, Id add two items to Danielss list of what universities owe democracy. The first is an undiluted and unapologetic commitment to intellectual excellence. What spurred Dorian Abbot to action was a comment from a colleague that if you are just hiring the best people, you are part of the problem. But if universities arent putting excellence above every other consideration, they arent helping democracy. They are weakening it by contributing to the democratic tendency toward groupthink and the mediocrity that can come from trying to please the majority. The second is courage. Most university administrators, I suspect, would happily subscribe on paper to principles like free expression. Their problem, as in Abraham Lincolns parable of a runaway soldier, isnt with their intentions. I have as brave a heart as Julius Caesar ever had, says the soldier of Lincolns telling, but, somehow or other, whenever danger approaches, my cowardly legs will run away with it. Right now, we have an epidemic of cowardly legs. Courage isnt a virtue thats easily taught, especially in universities, but sometimes it can be modeled. After Abbots talk was canceled at M.I.T., the conservative Princeton professor Robert George offered to host the lecture instead; it is scheduled for Oct. 21 on Zoom. Courage begins with de-cancellation. Wisdom, thanks to books like Danielss, can then take wing. We live in the age of the reboot: an era of reimaginings, spinoffs and sequels upon sequels upon sequels. Theater, with its dependence on adaptation and revival, got there first. But this impulse now extends to new plays, too A Dolls House, Part 2, Zoom installments of the Apple Family Plays, the way that Pass Over riffs on Waiting for Godot. So its surprising, yet not surprising at all, to sit down at Rajiv Josephs Letters of Suresh, which opened Tuesday night at Second Stage Theater, and discover a follow-up to Animals Out of Paper, his petite and practically perfect dramedy from 2008. A three-character play originally produced as part of Second Stages uptown series, Animals Out of Paper traced the relationships among Suresh, a teenage origami prodigy who is mentored by Andy, his calculus teacher, and Ilana, the professional origamist that both men fall for. It ended in an unresolved fashion. Joseph (Guards at the Taj, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), a playwright who specializes in putting big ideas into small and sparsely populated spaces, isnt big on resolution. Yet Animals had seemed complete enough. I have rarely wondered how Sureshs life forgive me, I cant resist unfolded. Joseph must have felt differently. Directed by May Adrales, Letters of Suresh is, as the title suggests, an epistolary play, with a script composed entirely of letters. Well, letters and one FaceTime conversation. It opens with a letter from Melody (Ali Ahn, frenetic and endearing), a 40-year-old writing teacher. Melody has inherited the worldly effects of her great-uncle, Father Hashimoto: a Bible, an origami bird, a box of letters from Suresh. She writes to him, asking if he wants them returned, narrating the text as she scribbles. Despite receiving no response, she keeps writing and narrating, marveling at the way she can reveal herself to a blank page. Experts said the E.U. funding, some of which had already been pledged last month, was at best a temporary solution to the enormous need in Afghanistan, a nation of 30 million whose financial system is on the verge of collapse. Most international aid to the country has been cut off since mid-August, when the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took power. The Group of 20 meeting produced a declaration of mostly familiar principles, including the need to protect the rights of Afghan women and for the Taliban to allow humanitarian aid to flow unimpeded. President Biden participated in the virtual gathering, but some key leaders, including President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China, did not. The Biden administration affirmed support for using diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic means to help the Afghan people but only after it first stressed that leaders at the gathering discussed the need to maintain a laser focus on counterterrorism and the safe passage from the country of foreign nationals and Afghans eligible for asylum in the United States. Officials said that terrorism and safe passage were the main topics of discussion in a separate pair of meetings U.S. officials held with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, over the past several days the first of their kind since the Taliban formed a government last month. Larger and far more fraught decisions, such as whether to grant the Taliban diplomatic recognition, or unfreeze billions of dollars of Afghan assets, are not imminent, officials said. In a briefing for reporters on Tuesday, the State Departments spokesman, Ned Price, said that denying a haven to terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ensuring a way out of the country for endangered people were core national interests, a label he did not apply to assistance for the Afghan people. WASHINGTON The Biden administration will lift travel restrictions at the borders with Canada and Mexico starting in November for fully vaccinated travelers, reopening the doors of the United States to tourists and separated family members who have been sealed out of the country during the pandemic. Foreign travelers who provide proof of vaccination and are looking to visit families or friends or shop in the United States will be allowed to enter, senior administration officials said on Tuesday, weeks after the administration said it would soon lift a similar sweeping restriction on foreigners traveling to the country from overseas. The lifting of the bans will effectively mark the reopening of the United States to travelers and tourism, signaling a new phase in the recovery from the pandemic after the country closed its borders for nearly 19 months. But the new requirements also indicate that the United States will welcome only visitors who are vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers will continue to be banned from crossing the borders with Mexico or Canada, officials said. Those who were never banned from traveling across the land borders, including commercial drivers and students, will also need to show proof of vaccination when crossing starting in January, giving them some time to adjust to the new rules, officials said. LONDON Be like a jellyfish, Wayne McGregor said, undulating his upper body expressively. The dancers on the darkened stage of the Royal Opera House on a recent afternoon looked at him for a moment. Then as one, they practiced being like jellyfish. McGregor, the resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet, laughed. Gorgeous! he said, moving off to talk to a stagehand who was adjusting the artist Tacita Deans huge monochrome backdrop, used in the first part of McGregors new and long-awaited Dante Project. The dancers were incarnating the tormented souls of Inferno, the opening section of the full-length Dante Project, which had its premiere on Thursday. With a new score by Thomas Ades and design by Dean two of the most important artists of their generation it is among the Royal Ballets most significant commissions in recent years, as well as its first coproduction with the Paris Opera Ballet. Expectations, already high, have been amplified by the multiple cancellations and reschedulings since its May 2020 premiere was swept aside by the pandemic. McGregor began to work on the ballet well before the pandemic arrived. (Inferno, was performed in Los Angeles at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in July 2019, with the L.A. Philharmonic, a co-commissioner of Adess score.) But he was struck, he said, by the relevance of its themes for right now. This piece is about death, and choice, and pain, Imhof said in an interview before the rehearsal, but its something open enough that people can have their own feelings about it. With live performance, with people and bodies, Im trying to find an abstract language that functions like poetry, she added. Spectators are allowed to move freely during Imhofs performances, sometimes making them as much a part of the experience as the work itself. Because the pieces often involve multiple sequences happening simultaneously, the viewers inevitably wielding smartphones must make decisions on how to behave and where to move. Much of her work, Imhof said, was about the idea of the single individual, who can make all these connections through digitalization, but is being controlled by being tracked, and who will always be seen wherever they are. For decades customers interested in all manner of rarities ancient coins, sarcophagus masks, prehistoric fossils went to Mehrdad Sadighs gallery near the Empire State Building in Manhattan. The items came with certificates of authenticity, and the gallerys website was filled with accolades from customers who appreciated the gracious touch he brought to his business. Everything I have acquired from you over the years has more than exceeded my expectations, one testimonial read. But Mr. Sadigh acknowledged Tuesday during a plea hearing that much about his antiquities business was an elaborate scam. Over the course of three decades I have sold thousands of fraudulent antiquities to countless unsuspecting collectors, he said, according to the statement he read in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, adding, I can only say that I was driven by financial greed. Sitting on your couch, remote in hand, you could select a drama about a bullying, obscenely affluent family that is riven by internal strife but revels in asserting its wealth and power, even if people die. Or you can watch Succession. Unlike that HBO show, Hulus new eight-part series Dopesick doesnt offer laughs at the outlandish behavior of its titans of industry. But the bigger distinction is that Dopesick, while a scripted drama, is about a real-life familys alleged role in creating one of the biggest public health catastrophes in American history: the opioid crisis. Based largely on the 2018 book by Beth Macy, the show seeks to dramatize how members of the Sackler family and their company Purdue Pharma, aided by lax regulations, pushed OxyContin onto the public starting in the 1990s. OxyContins introduction is now viewed as the start of the opioid epidemic, which has killed more than 500,000 people nationwide and addicted millions more. The Sacklers say they bear no responsibility for the crisis and are likely never to face trial, owing to the sweeping protections built into a bankruptcy settlement that dissolved Purdue Pharma last month. That settlement made the timing of the new series all the more important to its producers. Albert J. Raboteau, whose work on the history of Christianity among enslaved Black people transformed the study of both Black culture and American religion, helping to cement African-American studies as a rigorous academic discipline, died on Sept. 18 at his home in Princeton, N.J. He was 78. His daughter, Emily Raboteau, said the cause was Lewy body dementia. Dr. Raboteau, who spent 30 years teaching at Princeton, was among the first historians to demonstrate that enslaved Black people did not simply adopt the Christian faith of their white oppressors. Beginning with his first book, Slave Religion (1978), he documented how they blended elements of African religious traditions with a sui generis theology that saw in the story of Christ a reflection of their own suffering. Divine election brings not pre-eminence, elevation, and glory, but as Black Christians know all too well humiliation, suffering, and rejection, he wrote in The Boston Review in 2005. Chosenness, as reflected in the life of Jesus, led to a cross. In that faith he found a way of talking about the Black experience in America writ large the legacy of Africa and the oppression of slavery, as well as the joy that came from the rich culture that enslaved and freed people created for themselves. In his long and varied career, the Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has flown fighter jets, walked in space and orbited the earth for months while commanding the International Space Station. But until earlier this year, he never had to face the stomach-churning professional challenge of turning in a novel and learning that your editors think it is 35,000 words too long. They sent me back the first 30 pages, and I thought, You have removed a whole bunch of words and ideas that, Im pretty sure, are germane to whats happening, Hadfield said in a video interview at the end of August. He sounded cheerful about it, considering. Eventually, he began to trust the process, he said, to internalize the notion that writers and editors have different skill sets and you need them both, and even to understand that less can sometimes be more. What emerged was The Apollo Murders, slimmed down by a third and now 480 pages long. The novel, which Mulholland Books released this week, is set in the American space program in the late 1960s and early 70s, a time of swaggering ambition and Cold War anxiety. Featuring undercover spies, scheming Russians and psychopathic murderers, sometimes all at once, it teems with authoritative details about what it might be like, for instance, to throw up in space or to grapple with a deadly Soviet astronaut who assaults you during a spacewalk. Early buzz is good. Publishers Weekly described it as a spectacular alternate-history thriller, an intelligent and surprising nail-biter. Virginia has become a blue state, with a Democrat having won every top-of-the-ticket race for president, senator or governor over the past decade. But elections there are often close, especially when the national political climate is favorable to Republicans. Right now, the political climate again looks promising for Republicans. Congressional Democrats are squabbling over legislative process, rather than passing broadly popular policies that President Biden has proposed. Biden has also looked less than masterly on several other issues, including Afghanistan, the economy and the pandemic. His approval rating has fallen to about 45 percent. Against this backdrop, it makes sense that the Virginia governors race one of two this November, along with New Jerseys is so close. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who previously held the job, leads Glenn Youngkin, a Republican and former business executive, by only a few points in the polls. Enough voters seem undecided that either could win. The race obviously matters for Virginia. It will influence state policy on Covid-19, taxes, education, renewable energy and more. The campaign also offers a preview of some of the main themes that Democrats and Republicans are likely to emphasize in next years midterm elections. One of the challenges in mandating vaccinations is that it would require proof of a jab, and medical records have special protection under British data privacy laws, which means there needs to be a good legal reason to hold this information. A related concern is that if workers who arent vaccinated for medical or religious reasons are then treated differently from other staff because they are not in the office, the company could be accused of discrimination. But if companies can show they have a justifiable reason for collecting this data and the request is a proportionate measure to achieve a legitimate aim, the legal risks are diminished, said Lucy Lewis, an employment lawyer and partner at Lewis Silkin. The challenge for employers is, is it justifiable if youre taking other Covid-secure measures within the business? Ms. Lewis said. For example, if youre continuing to retain social distancing, if theres an element of mask wearing, can you satisfy that test that requiring vaccination is reasonable within an organization? Its more common for companies to ask people to be double-vaccinated or show evidence of a negative Covid test, currently freely available in Britain, to go into the office, she said. She doesnt expect requiring vaccines to work in the office to become the norm in Britain. Whether its possible comes down to you being able to essentially demonstrate to a court that doing it was necessary within your business, Ms. Lewis said. In types of businesses where youve got a lot of very vulnerable people, its much more likely to be reasonable because the risk to those people is that much greater. The furthest Britain has gone in making vaccines compulsory for work is in nursing homes. The government has said anyone working or volunteering in nursing homes, unless medically exempt, must be vaccinated beginning Nov. 11. Even to take this step, Parliament had to pass a new piece of legislation, which is now the subject of legal challenges. In Britain, vaccine uptake is high, with 78 percent of the population over the age of 12 vaccinated. But there are disparities across age groups, with younger cohorts less likely to be vaccinated. In the United States, there is some evidence that vaccine mandates have increased rates above 90 percent within companies. The pipeline has been contentious in U.S. politics, too. Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, has blocked confirmation of dozens of Mr. Bidens diplomatic appointments, including more than 50 would-be ambassadors, to insist that the president do more to halt European approval for Nord Stream 2. Runaway gas prices in Europe this fall have played into Mr. Putins hands. Russia, the worlds largest natural gas exporter, provides about 40 percent of the gas imported to Europe, which has increasingly turned to natural gas to generate power as coal-burning plants have been shut down. As European consumers pay ever more for electricity, their patience with the intricacies of Eastern European security politics may wane. At the conference, called Russian Energy Week, Mr. Putin noted that utility bills and frustration were rising in Europe. Natural gas is crucial for generating electric power, and he said electricity costs about 10 times more in European Union countries than in Russia. Energy analysts and company executives say a variety of factors have driven up costs, including the weather, the abrupt acceleration of national economies after pandemic restrictions, and high prices in China that prompted U.S. liquefied natural gas producers to send tankers to Asia rather than Europe. Responding to criticism that Russia is trying to manipulate the natural gas markets to win approval for Nord Stream 2, Mr. Putin denied any Russian role in driving up prices. He blamed European Union policies encouraging alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar farms. Mr. Putin also pointed out that American liquefied natural gas exporters had increased shipments to China rather than bolster supplies in Europe. Mr. Putin said Russia had fulfilled all its contracts to send gas to Europe and had supplied more natural gas this year than last year. Russia, he said, is ready to send more if companies negotiate new deals with Gazprom. We are increasing gas supplies to Europe, he said. And if you ask us to increase more, we will. We will increase as much as our partners ask. WASHINGTON The Biden administration announced on Wednesday a plan to develop large-scale wind farms along nearly the entire coastline of the United States, the first long-term strategy from the government to produce electricity from offshore turbines. Speaking at a wind power industry conference in Boston, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said that her agency will begin to identify, demarcate and hope to eventually lease federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Maine and off the coasts of the Mid-Atlantic States, North Carolina and South Carolina, California and Oregon, to wind power developers by 2025. The announcement came months after the Biden administration approved the nations first major commercial offshore wind farm off the coast of Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts and began reviewing a dozen other potential offshore wind projects along the East Coast. On the West Coast, the administration has approved opening up two areas off the shores of Central and Northern California for commercial wind power development. Taken together, the actions represent the most forceful push ever by federal government to promote offshore wind development. The energy industry is under increasing pressure from environmental groups, the courts and even its own shareholders to start shifting away from fossil fuels. As it sheds some of its dirtiest assets, theyre ending up in the hands of private equity firms. New research shows the scale of those investments. Since 2010, the private equity industry has invested at least $1.1 trillion into the energy sector double the combined market value of three of the worlds largest energy companies, Exxon, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell. Only about 12 percent of investment in the energy sector by private equity firms went into renewable power, like solar or wind, since 2010, though those investments have grown at a faster rate. You can read the details in my story today. Why it matters: One effect of sales to private equity investors is to transfer those assets, and their emissions and other environmental hazards, away from the public eye. Once the agency authorized a booster from Pfizer-BioNTech last month, the die was cast, said John Moore, a virologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are by far the most used in the United States, with more than 170 million people in the United States fully immunized with either one or the other vaccine. When Johnson & Johnsons was authorized in February, public health experts were eager to deploy the one-and-done option, particularly in communities with poor access to health care. But the shots popularity plummeted when the F.D.A. later paused its use to investigate rare blood clotting cases. For those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the timing of a booster authorization of any brand is still uncertain. The F.D.A. panel is set to vote Friday only on whether the agency should permit a second dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a scenario the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions own vaccine advisory committee will discuss next week. If both agencies believe an additional dose should be offered, people could seek them out as early as next week. Whether the F.D.A. might authorize the mix-and-match approach, and how, is unclear. The strategy will be discussed at the agency panels meeting on Friday, but no vote will be taken. If regulators eventually believe there is enough scientific support for the approach, they would likely need to update the authorization language of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to allow for their use in people who initially received Johnson & Johnsons. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, researchers organized nine groups of roughly 50 people each. Each group received one of the three authorized vaccines, followed by a booster. In three groups, volunteers received the same vaccine for a boost. In the other six, they switched to a different brand. Mendel (a phenomenal Tenoch Huerta) is a Mexican biologist studying the monarchs genetic sequencing. He recently left his home in Michoacan, the animals winter refuge, for New York City. The narrative structure is a collage, with radiant scenes from Mendels wide-eyed youth and icy images of his austere life in the United States. Before long, the scientists psyche unravels as he grapples with leaving home, reconciling spirituality with science and piecing together the fragments of childhood trauma and subsequent estrangement from his brother. Son of Monarchs is ambitious and meditative, thick with philosophical musings from its characters about the environment, life cycles and identity. In its attempt to cover so much, it stumbles at times. While the slow pace demands patience, the cinematographer Alejandro Mejias gorgeous visual universe possesses immense gifts that are well worth the wait. Mejias camera is gracious, reverent of the bucolic green hills of Michoacan and the microscopic, irregular surface of a chrysalis. Its a larger statement about the planets disappearing treasures under catastrophic climate change. The films rich imagery will be imprinted in your memory, returning to you in dreams. Son of Monarchs Rated R for disturbing imagery and explicit language. In English and Spanish, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes. In theaters. Its no surprise that Ridley Scott, whos made his share of swaggering manly epics, has directed what may be the big screens first medieval feminist revenge saga. In addition to his love for men with mighty swords, Scott has an affinity for tough women, women who are prickly and difficult and thinking, not bodacious cartoons. Theyre invariably lovely, of course, but then everything in Ridley Scotts dream world has an exalted shimmer. Even the mud and blood gleam in The Last Duel, an old-style spectacle with a #MeToo twist. Based on the fascinating true story of a lady, a knight and a squire in 14th-century France, the story was big news back in the day and has been retrofitted to contemporary sensibilities by Scott and an unusual troika of screenwriters: Nicole Holofcener and two of the movies stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Together, they tear the moldy fig leaf off a Hollywood staple, the Arthurian-style romance with its chivalric code, knightly virtues and courtly manners to reveal a mercenary, transactional world of men, women and power. The result is righteously anti-romantic. Damon, uglied up with slashing facial scars and a comically abject mullet, plays Jean de Carrouges, a nobleman down on his luck who makes ends meet by fighting on behalf of the king. The machinations start early and soon go into overdrive after he marries a younger woman, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), who brightens his life but doesnt do much for his sour disposition or unfortunate grooming. Vainglorious and petty, his lips screwed into a pucker, Jean settles down with Marguerite but seethes over his friend turned antagonist, Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver, a juiced-up Basil Rathbone), a social climber aligned with Count Pierre, a licentious power player (Affleck, in debauched glory). Its a juicy lineup of familiar characters who are greedier and pettier than those that usually populate historical epics. But there is no noblesse oblige or courtly love, no dragons, witchy women or aggrandizing British accents. Instead, there are debts, grudges, fights, liaisons, an occasional naked nymph and men endlessly jockeying for position. Jean marries Marguerite to boost his prestige and wealth; Jacques enriches himself by currying favor with Pierre. For her part, Marguerite is passed from father to husband, who later, in a startling moment, commands her to kiss Jacques in public as evidence of Jeans resumed good will toward his frenemy. Its a catastrophic gesture. For years, the U.S. government described Lev Parnas as a corrupt businessman who had violated campaign finance laws and tried to influence political candidates, all as part of a scheme to benefit an energy company and a cannabis venture. But as Mr. Parnass trial began on Wednesday, his lawyer described his client as an altruist who wanted to help wean European countries from dependence on Russian energy and hoped to convince Republican leaders that marijuana should be legalized. Mr. Parnas did not willfully violate election laws, the lawyer, Joseph A. Bondy, said during opening arguments. Hes cloaked right now in his mantle of innocence, he added. Mr. Parnas, a Ukrainian American entrepreneur from Florida, and Igor Fruman, a business partner, were arrested in 2019 at Dulles International Airport, holding one-way tickets for a flight to Frankfurt. Margaret Garnett, the commissioner of the New York City agency that roots out corruption in local government, will leave her post and become the No. 2 official in the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York, that office said on Wednesday. Ms. Garnett, who earlier spent 12 years as a Southern District prosecutor, has been the citys investigation commissioner since late 2018, when she was nominated for the post by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Last week, in perhaps her final report as commissioner, her office, the Department of Investigation, criticized Mr. de Blasios use of his security detail for political and personal reasons, including for trips taken during his presidential campaign findings the mayor sharply criticized. At her confirmation hearing for the city position, Ms. Garnett told council members that she would hang up if someone called her and tried to pressure her to stop a city investigation. Access to mifepristone, one of the drugs taken for a medication abortion, has been politically fraught since the drug was approved more than 20 years ago. Mifepristone is regulated under whats called a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS a designation generally reserved for drugs that carry a high risk to patient safety. As such, it can be dispensed only in clinics, medical offices and hospitals; only by, or under the supervision of, a specially certified doctor or other medical provider; and only to patients who have signed an F.D.A.-approved patient agreement. For years, reproductive health experts have urged that the access requirements for mifepristone be permanently lifted, arguing that there are no significant safety reasons for a patient to get the pills in person from a doctors office when she is likely to take them, and experience the abortion, after she gets home. The rule places an especially great burden on low-income women, who may struggle to get to an abortion clinic, and those in areas with limited access to abortion providers. In April, the F.D.A. said that for the duration of the pandemic, it would stop enforcing the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in a medical clinic. That paved the way for telemedicine start-ups like Hey Jane in New York, California and Washington; Choix in California and Illinois; Just the Pill in Minnesota and Montana; and Abortion on Demand in many other states to mail abortion drugs to patients after a consultation via telemedicine. Yet in the 19 states that require a clinician to be physically present with the patient when administering mifepristone, Aid Access is still the only option for physician-supervised medication abortion by mail. Dr. Gomperts consults with patients online from her office in Austria, writes a prescription and provides instructions on how to request the pills from a pharmacy in India a process that generally takes up to three weeks. The cost, including shipping, comes to $110. Patients who cannot afford that amount are asked to pay what they can. While importing drugs from abroad is illegal in most cases, the F.D.A. typically does not go after individuals who purchase medicines online for their personal use. And though a few states South Carolina, Oklahoma, Idaho and Nevada explicitly criminalize self-managed abortion, Texas does not outlaw terminating ones own pregnancy, and S.B. 8 exempts abortion patients in the state from being sued. (People in any state seeking legal advice on these matters can consult the hotline run by the group If/When/How.) Yet even more important than the access to medication abortion afforded by Aid Access may be what Dr. Gompertss move signals to health care providers in America. Indeed, some reproductive rights experts argue that not only can American health care providers follow her lead and prescribe abortion pills in advance they have a responsibility to do so. Doing so would be just one way of helping patients access care, but it could be significant. What Im saying to clinicians is, if you believe people should be able to have an abortion when they want one and that early abortions can be safely self-managed with pills, then understand that its in your hands to make that happen, said Francine Coeytaux, a co-founder of the advocacy group Plan C, which has worked to raise awareness about the safety of self-managed abortion and to educate the public about how to acquire abortion pills online. I think many of them are now realizing they can do this that its legal and within their scope of practice. Why do unified majorities in Washington struggle and often fail to enact their agendas? In our research, we tracked the successes and failures of majority parties in Congress on their policy goals from 1985 through 2018 (265 agenda items in total). The study covers the last several periods of unified party government in Washington those that occurred during the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Tory Gavito and Adam Jentleson write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Ross Douthat writes that the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race shows Democrats need a new way to talk about progressive ideology and education. We find that parties with unified control in Washington since the Clinton years have struggled for two reasons. The filibuster explains some of the majority parties struggles. Senate rules require most legislation to obtain 60 votes to advance to passage. As a result, minority parties have a chance to either veto or reshape most legislation. Still, even though its a constant source of discussion and debate in todays Washington, we find the filibuster was the cause of only one-third of failed attempts by majority parties to enact their priorities during unified government since 1993. The second reason is less well appreciated but accounts for the other two-thirds a large majority of failures. Both parties have been, and remain, internally divided on many issues. Parties are often able to hide their disagreements by simply not taking up legislation on issues that evoke significant fissures. But when those issues reflect their campaign promises, majority parties will often forge ahead even in the absence of internal consensus on a plan. Whether Democratic or Republican, the party with unified control in Washington in recent years has failed on one or more of its highest-priority agenda items because of insufficient unity within its own ranks. In 2017, Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act because of the opposition of three Senate Republicans (Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mr. McCain). In 2009-10, Democrats failed to enact a cap-and-trade policy because of spats between coastal Democrats and those representing the interior of the country. In 2005, Republicans failed to reform Social Security despite President Bush making it his top domestic legislative priority because of a lack of consensus in the party about how to proceed. In Mr. Clintons first term, Democrats were never able to unify behind a single plan to enact comprehensive health care reform despite relatively large majorities in both chambers. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a Black mother of five who was dying of cervical cancer, went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatment. Without her knowledge or consent, doctors removed a sample of cells from the tumor in her cervix. They gave the sample to a researcher at Johns Hopkins University who was trying to find cells that would survive indefinitely so researchers could experiment on them. The invasive procedure led to a world-changing discovery: The cells thrived and multiplied in the laboratory, something no human cells had done before. They were reproduced billions of times, contributed to nearly 75,000 studies and helped pave the way for the HPV vaccine, medications used to help patients with H.I.V. and AIDS and, recently, the development of Covid-19 vaccines. On Wednesday, 70 years after Ms. Lacks died in the colored ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital and was buried in an unmarked grave, the World Health Organization honored the contribution she unknowingly made to science and medicine. Myriam P. Sarachik, a scientist whose groundbreaking experiments illuminated subtle but fundamental physics in the electronic and magnetic behavior of materials, died on Oct. 7 in Manhattan. She was 88. The death, at Mount Sinai West hospital, was caused by a stroke, her daughter, Karen, said. In the 1960s, Dr. Sarachik (pronounced SAHR-ah-chick) entered and succeeded in a field, experimental physics, where women were a rarity. Even her mentors insisted that she might really have preferred being a housewife or a part-time teacher. But she persisted, becoming a professor in 1964 at the City College of New York. Six years later, her career was interrupted by tragedy. Dr. Sarachik came home to find her younger daughter, Leah, 5, the nanny and the family car missing. The nanny had abducted the girl, driven to Vermont and killed her before committing suicide. An intensive search that included Dr. Sarachiks colleagues led to the discovery of Leahs body in a trash can behind a summer house. Dr. Sarachik began her recovery, filling her days with needlework that she displayed on the walls of her apartment. She helped her graduate students finish their degrees. She taught some classes. But she largely withdrew from physics research for more than a decade. Three other passengers will join Mr. Shatner on Wednesdays flight: Audrey Powers, a Blue Origin vice president who oversees New Shepard flight operations; like Mr. Shatner, she did not have to pay for her seat. Chris Boshuizen, a co-founder of Planet Labs, a company that builds small satellites, also known as CubeSats, that are used by assorted clients for monitoring Earth from orbit. Glen de Vries, a chief executive and co-founder of Medidata Solutions, a company that built software for clinical trials. Fortunately for all three, none will be wearing a red Starfleet uniform during the flight. Dr. Boshuizen or Mr. de Vries are the second and third paying passengers to fly on a Blue Origin flight. The first was Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old man from the Netherlands. The company has not said how much any of these customers paid for their seats on the flights. As ticket-purchasing customers, they are something like early investors in an industry executives hope will one day be cheap enough for a broader swath of the public to take advantage of. Ms. Powers all but flew to space on New Shepard in April, when she and three other company executives were stand-in astronauts for Blue Origins 15th flight of the New Shepard rocket. She and her colleagues essentially performed a dress rehearsal for the missions with astronauts aboard. The executives went through all the motions of getting ready for a launch climbing up the rocket tower, boarding the capsule, closing its hatch and testing out its communications system until about 15 minutes before liftoff when they exited the capsule and left the pad. If I had to guess, I would say that theirs is a much more common population because it just has to stay there and have nothing happen to it, Dr. Vanderburg said. That feels to me like the most likely outcome, at least at this point in the universes history. The new discoveries can yield insights about the search for extraterrestrial life and the potential habitability of white dwarf systems. Lisa Kaltenegger, the director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, has suggested that some life-bearing star systems might even experience what she calls a second genesis in which new organisms emerge in the reconfigured fallout of a white dwarf system. I find the study exciting because it adds to the growing evidence that planets can survive the death of their star, which leads to intriguing questions about the future of the cosmos, said Dr. Kaltenegger, who was part of the team that discovered WD 1856 b, in an email. If planets can survive the death of their stars, can life as well? Dying stars spew out harmful radiation as they grow into a phase called red giants, and introduce turbulence in their systems that could obliterate life. But there are some speculative scenarios that might preserve the habitability of white dwarf systems. There are a lot of things that have to go right, Dr. Vanderburg said. He imagines a planet distant from a red giant star that then moves inward after the star becomes a white dwarf and retains enough water to potentially be a nice place to live when the star turns into a white dwarf. Because white dwarfs are small and dim, such a planet would have to be in a very close orbit for liquid water to exist. However, if life were to emerge on a world like Jupiters moon Europa, which might contain a subsurface ocean warmed by Jupiters tidal forces, it could potentially survive at a greater distance from the star. If humanity is somehow still around in five billion years, we would probably have a better chance of surviving the suns red giant phase on a moon of Jupiter than on Earth, Dr. Blackman said. At 90 years old, the actor William Shatner became the oldest person to travel to space and cross the Karman line. The Star Trek star traveled to space with three other passengers on a mission that lasted about 10 minutes. T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 command engines start 2, 1. The rocket is climbing towards an altitude, were aiming just over the Karman line, the internationally recognized line of space of 100 kilometers that is about 328,000 feet, and a gorgeous view down the rocket. And there they are, over 328,000 feet, over 100 kilometers. Welcome to space, the newest astronauts on board our crew capsule. And here come the mains. Oh, what a flight. Stand by touchdown. Stand by touchdown. Stand by touchdown. And the capsule touched down. Welcome back. The newest astronauts, Audrey Powers, William Shatner; our customers, Glen de Vries and Chris Boshuizen. What a day for you. Welcome back. [cheering] The 90-year-old actor who played Captain Kirk and three others went to the edge of space in a tourist spacecraft built by Jeff Bezos company. It was so moving to me, Mr. Shatner said. Oct. 13, 2021, 2:26 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 2:26 p.m. ET Bezos has ambitious plans for Blue Origin beyond tourism. Image An artists concept of the New Glenn orbiter spacecraft. Credit... Blue Origin Blue Origin wants to go to the moon, build larger rockets and, according to Mr. Bezos, eventually move all polluting industries off Earth and into space. The company is developing New Glenn, a reusable rocket that will be able to send nearly 100,000 pounds of satellites and other spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. The rockets debut launch, planned for late next year, has been delayed for roughly two years. It is producing engines, known as BE-4, that will power New Glenn. And as another line of revenue, the company is selling those engines to its potential rival, United Launch Alliance, a rocket company co-owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin that has contracts to launch many NASA and Pentagon spacecraft to orbit and beyond. Blue Origin is also developing a moon lander in a partnership with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper, a company that worked on flight software for the Apollo missions. The lander, called Blue Moon, is designed to ferry astronauts to and from the lunar surface. Blue Origin pitched Blue Moon to NASA for a $6 billion contract, but the agency, facing a funding shortfall, decided it could only afford to select a lower bid pitched by Elon Musks SpaceX instead. Blue Origin is suing NASA to overturn the decision. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 1:44 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 1:44 p.m. ET Back on Earth, Shatner and Bezos have a Kirk-Spock moment. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:43 - 0:00 transcript William Shatner Is Brought to Tears Describing His Trip to Space The actor who played Captain Kirk in Star Trek told Jeff Bezos his visit to the edge of space in the Blue Origin rocket was the most profound experience he could imagine. Just unbelievable, unbelievable. I mean, you know, the little things but to see the blue color whip by, and now youre staring into blackness, thats the thing. The covering of blue is this sheet, this blanket, this comforter, this comforter of blue that we have around, we think, Oh, its blue sky. And then suddenly, you shoot through it all of the sudden as though youre whipping a sheet off you when youre asleep. And youre looking into blackness, into black ugliness and you look down, theres the blue down there and the black up there. And its just there is Mother Earth, comfort. And there is is there, death? I dont know was that death, is that the way death is? Whoop, and its gone. Jesus. It was so moving to me. What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. Im so filled with emotion about what just happened. I just its extraordinary, extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I dont want to lose it. Its so so much larger than me and life. And this is now the commercial, everybody it would be so important for everybody to have that experience. The actor who played Captain Kirk in Star Trek told Jeff Bezos his visit to the edge of space in the Blue Origin rocket was the most profound experience he could imagine. Credit Credit... Blue Origin, via EPA, via Shutterstock A half-century ago, a television show told young people that space travel would be the coolest thing ever. Some of them were even inspired to work toward that goal. Science fiction met reality on Wednesday as one of those fans, now one of the richest people in the world, gave the shows leading actor a brief ride up into the ether. The mission went according to plan. The aftermath appeared unscripted, and all the better for it. William Shatner, eternally famous as Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek, returned to Earth apparently moved by the experience beyond measure. His trip aboard Jeff Bezos rocket might have been conceived as a publicity stunt, but brushing the edge of the sky left the actor full of wonder mixed with unease: It was unbelievable To see the blue cover go whoop by. And now youre staring into blackness. Thats the thing. The covering of blue, this sheet, this blanket, this comforter of blue that we have around us. We say, Oh thats blue sky. And then suddenly you shoot through it and all of a sudden, like you whip the sheet off you when youre asleep, youre looking into blackness. Mr. Shatner was talking to Mr. Bezos immediately after exiting the capsule with the three other passengers. The others greeted their family and friends. Champagne corks popped. There was lots of laughter, high-spirited relief. But Mr. Shatner, a hale 90 standing in the West Texas dust, talked about space as the final frontier: You look down, theres the blue down there, and the black up there. There is Mother and Earth and comfort and there is Is there death? I dont know. Was that death? Is that the way death is? Whoop and its gone. Jesus. It was so moving to me. Mr. Bezos listened, still as a statue. Maybe he was just giving Mr. Shatner some space, but it was a sharp contrast to his appearance after his own brief spaceflight in July when he flew the same spacecraft as Mr. Shatner. Then, he held forth from a stage, rousing condemnation from critics of the vast company he founded as he thanked Amazons employees and customers for making it possible for him to finance his private space venture. Or maybe Mr. Bezos was just acting naturally. His role model has always been the cool, passionless Mr. Spock rather than the emotional, impulsive Captain Kirk. Amazon, which prizes efficiency above all, was conceived and runs on this notion. When he played at Star Trek as a boy, Mr. Bezos has said, he would sometimes take the role of the ships computer. Amazons voice-activated speaker Alexa was designed as a household version of the Star Trek computer, which always had the answer to every question. The word death, repeatedly mentioned by Mr. Shatner in his post-flight monologue, is rarely thought of as a selling word for space tourism, which is after all what Blue Origin is promoting. But the actor did supply a positive endorsement. Everybody in the world needs to do this, he said. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 12:00 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 12:00 p.m. ET How many tourists have made it to space? Image The most recent space tourists, the SpaceX Inspiration4 crew, from left, Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski and Sian Proctor, last month. Credit... Spacex, via Reuters Almost 600 people have been in space, and before Wednesday, 48 of them were private individuals who were not government employees, according to data compiled by Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer and spaceflight data tracker. A little over a dozen of those 48 were tourists, while the rest included researchers or employees of space companies, like Ms. Powers, the Blue Origin executive flying with Mr. Shatner on behalf of the company. The NS-18 crew has increased the number of private spacefarers to 52. The first space tourist was Toyohiro Akiyama, a Japanese television journalist who launched to Mir, the Russian space station, in 1990. He spent seven days aboard. Picked among 163 candidates, the Tokyo Broadcasting Service paid for Mr. Akiyamas seat aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, which until this year was the only vehicle that carried tourists to space. Dennis Tito, an American engineer and businessman, became the first person to fund their own trip to space in 2001, launching to the International Space Station for an eight-day stay. Other private individuals have gone to space, but they generally wouldnt be construed as tourists because they were traveling on something like an official business trip. That includes the Russian film crew that launched to the space station last week. Yulia Peresild, a Russian actress, and Klim Shipenko, a film director and producer, are shooting scenes on the orbital laboratory as part of the first full-length feature film made in space. The crew is backed by Channel One Russia and Roscosmos, Russias space agency. Read more Oct. 13, 2021, 11:28 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 11:28 a.m. ET Blue Origin says its passengers are astronauts. The F.A.A. is not sure. Image Spectators near Van Horn, Texas, watched the New Shepard rocket carrying Mr. Shatner to the edge of space on Wednesday. Credit... Mario Tama/Getty Images Blue Origin considers the customers who fly aboard the New Shepard spacecraft to be astronauts, but the Federal Aviation Administration, which formally grants governmental recognition to astronauts, has yet to say it agrees. Since 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates how space companies run their launch sites, has awarded private crews aboard private spacecraft Commercial Space Astronaut Wings small gold pins that officially designate a passenger as a commercial astronaut. The pins are akin to the badges awarded to military pilots who reached space in the 1960s, and only a handful of private citizens have received the wings. Beth Moses, Virgin Galactics chief astronaut instructor, was the most recent recipient after her SpaceShipTwo flight to space in 2019. But all the private activity in space lately has spurred adjustments to the F.A.A.s pinning process. On the day Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin and Amazon, launched to space in July, the agency revised its criteria for awarding the wings, requiring individuals who go to space to be classified as a crew member, rather than just a spaceflight participant. To be a crew member, the person must have completed training before their mission on how to carry out his or her role on board or on the ground so that the vehicle will not harm the public, the rules state. Crew members also must have demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety. Still, the head of the F.A.A.'s commercial space office also has discretion to grant an honorary astronaut status to anyone who flies to space and demonstrates extraordinary contribution or beneficial service to commercial spaceflight. Blue Origin calls its New Shepard passengers astronauts and awarded its first crew Mr. Bezos, his brother Mark, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen its own company-branded pins in a ceremony hours after their flight. The crews of Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic flight in July and SpaceXs Inspiration4 orbital mission in September received similar pins from those companies. Blue Origin has submitted applications to the F.A.A. for a formal designation of the passengers as commercial astronauts, but it has yet to receive a determination, a company spokeswoman said. The F.A.A. declined to say whether Mr. Shatner or any of his fellow passengers could be classified as commercial astronauts. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 11:12 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 11:12 a.m. ET How much does a ticket to space on New Shepard cost? Blue Origin isnt saying. Image Oliver Daemen occupied a seat on the New Shepard that Blue Origin auctioned off for $28 million. Credit... Blue Origin Blue Origin has declined to publicly state a price for a ticket to fly on New Shepard. The company is nearing $100 million in sales so far, Mr. Bezos has said. But its unclear how many ticket holders that includes. We dont know quite yet when Blue Origin will publicly announce a price, Mr. Bezos told reporters in July after his flight to space. Right now were doing really well with private sales. Oliver Daemen, the Dutch teenager aboard Blue Origins first crewed flight in July, was occupying a seat that the company auctioned off for $28 million, a steep number that even shocked some company executives. Of that total, $19 million was donated equally to 19 space organizations. Mr. Daemen, 18, wasnt the winning bidder. His father, a private equity executive, was the runner-up in the auction and was next in line after the actual winner. That individual, who has not been named, plunked down $28 million before postponing their trip over a scheduling conflict, Blue Origin said at the time. Tickets to the edge of space on Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo were hiked to $450,000 in August, from $250,000, when the company reopened ticket sales after a yearslong hiatus. Flights to orbit a much higher altitude than Blue Origin or Virgin Galactics trips go are far more expensive. Three passengers to the International Space Station next year are paying $55 million each for their seats on a SpaceX rocket, bought through the company Axiom Space. Many wealthy customers and space company executives see the steep ticket prices as early investments into the nascent space tourism industry, hoping the money they put down can help lower the cost of launching rockets. Read more Oct. 13, 2021, 11:00 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 11:00 a.m. ET At 90, William Shatner becomes the oldest person to reach the final frontier. Image Mr. Shatner in 2018. Credit... Steven Senne/Associated Press When William Shatner, 90, traveled to the edge of space aboard Blue Origins New Shepard on Wednesday he became the oldest person ever to reach such heights. Mr. Shatner, whose name has been synonymous with space exploration since he played Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series more than half a century ago, became the first nonagenarian to cross the Karman line, the widely recognized boundary between the atmosphere and space about 63 miles above the Earth. Mr. Shatner became emotional when he emerged with three other passengers from the spacecrafts capsule after it set down in West Texas and was met by the Blue Origins owner, Jeff Bezos. The actor spoke of how the experience of seeing the blue earth from space and the immense blackness of outer space had profoundly moved him, demonstrating what he called the vulnerability of everything. The atmosphere keeping humanity alive is thinner that your skin, he said. Im so filled with emotion with what just happened, Mr. Shatner said to Mr. Bezos, breaking into tears. I hope I never recover from this, he added. Mr. Shatners voyage came hot on the heels of one by Wally Funk, who at 82 was the oldest person to travel to space when she took part in a Blue Origin flight in July with Jeff Bezos, the companys owner. Ms. Funk excelled at tests for astronauts in the space program in the 1960s, before Mr. Shatner played Captain Kirk, but NASA did not allow women to become astronauts at the time. John Glenn, who was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, also became the oldest person to reach space when he flew aboard a space shuttle mission more than 35 years later at the age of 77. Unlike Mr. Shatner or Ms. Funk, Mr. Glenns trip went to orbit, which requires a much more powerful rocket than the one powering Blue Origins New Shepard spacecraft. The youngest person ever to travel to space also flew on Blue Origins July flight. He was Oliver Daemen, 18, of the Netherlands. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 10:40 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 10:40 a.m. ET Blue Origin faces competition for space tourism flights. Image Virgin Galactics passenger rocket plane VSS Unity, carrying Richard Branson and crew, beginning its ascent to the edge of space above New Mexico in July. Credit... Virgin Galactic, via Reuters Mr. Shatner probably wont be the only celebrity flying to the edge of space on a privately built spacecraft. Virgin Galactic, the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur behind the Virgin Group, has a waiting list of hundreds of wealthy customers who want a trip on the companys SpaceShipTwo space-plane. Like New Shepard, Virgin Galactics suborbital ship flies to the edge of space. But it begins its trek attached to a larger carrier plane that takes off from a runway like a commercial airliner. Once it reaches the right altitude, SpaceShipTwo drops from the carrier plane and fires its rocket engine, launching the rest of the way toward the brim of Earths outer atmosphere, giving tourists a few minutes of weightlessness in space before free-gliding back to land. Mr. Branson flew to space aboard SpaceShipTwo in July, earlier than originally planned and nine days before Mr. Bezos flew New Shepard. His SpaceShipTwo flight, with two pilots and three company employees also on board, was seen as a move to beat his rival billionaire entrepreneur to space. While Blue Origins commercial tourism business is underway, Virgin Galactic is largely pausing flights with paying customers until late next year. It may complete one more flight this month carrying passengers from the Italian air force. The two companies also face competition, at least for the most well-heeled passengers, from Elon Musks SpaceX. For a much higher price, around $55 million in some cases, customers can launch to low-Earth orbit for a few days inside SpaceXs Crew Dragon capsule, an acorn-shaped pod that is also being used to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. SpaceX launched its first fully private mission to space in September, sending four citizens on a three-day trip orbiting Earth. One of the passengers, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, bought the seats for his three crewmates. Read more Oct. 13, 2021, 10:01 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 10:01 a.m. ET How safe is the New Shepard spacecraft? Image The New Shepard crew floating in near-zero gravity on Blue Origins sub-orbital first human flight this summer. Credit... Blue Origin, via Reuters Blue Origin has test launched New Shepard 15 times without anyone on board. During each flight, the capsule, where passengers sit, has landed safely. The booster, which carries the astronauts to space, crashed on its first launch. The crash occurred during its attempt to land, but the booster rockets stuck clean landings on every flight that followed. In case things go awry during New Shepards ascent to space, the capsule is equipped with thrusters capable of jetting itself away from the booster rocket should a disaster like an explosion occur. Blue Origin tested this system in 2016, launching New Shepard to demonstrate the capsules abort system. Solid-fueled thrusters exerted 70,000 pounds of force for less than two seconds, swiftly distancing the capsule from its booster. The capsule then deployed a set of parachutes and landed softly. For the companys first crewed flight in July, the rocket carried Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Blue Origin and Amazon, to the edge of space along with his brother Mark, a Dutch teenager, Oliver Daemen, and Wally Funk, an 82-year-old pilot who was denied entry to NASAs astronaut corps in the 1960s because of her sex. That four-person mission was a crucial marketing opportunity for Blue Origins space tourism business and a display of Mr. Bezos confidence in the rockets safety record if it can fly the worlds richest man, as well as the youngest and oldest people to go to space and back, Mr. Bezos has indicated, the rocket is ready to fly anyone. While Blue Origin says its equipment is safe, the federal government doesnt regulate the safety of rocket and capsule systems like New Shepard. The Federal Aviation Administration signs off that a rocket launch site is safe to the surrounding public, but the government agency does not have a say in how safe space vehicles have to be for their passengers. Passengers like Mr. Shatner must sign agreements before their flights acknowledging the risks associated with launching on top of a rocket to the edge of space. In 2004, Congress put a moratorium on federal safety regulations for space tourists, giving the space industry a learning period in which companies can innovate without worrying about regulatory hurdles. That period is set to expire in 2023. Though New Shepard and its capsule have a clean safety record, its safety culture has come under criticism. Earlier this month, 21 current and former Blue Origin employees said in an essay that the companys work culture was rife with sexism and that safety concerns about New Shepard were often dismissed by management. Working quickly amid a race to launch Mr. Bezos on New Shepard took priority over focusing on safety matters, the employees said. Blue Origin disputed those allegations, saying the company had an internal hotline for sexual harassment complaints and that New Shepard was the safest space vehicle ever designed or built. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 8:54 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 8:54 a.m. ET Many Star Trek fans are eager to see William Shatner boldly go to space. Image In the Star Trek" episode, A Piece of the Action, with DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy, center, and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, right, in 1968. Credit... CBS via Getty Images The voyages of Captain James T. Kirk and the starship Enterprise in the 1960s created a fandom that has expanded exponentially over the decades, much like the cute but deadly tribbles of the original Star Trek television series. Now many Trek fans are excited as William Shatner, the man who embodies that role, readies himself to venture into space for real. I think this is fantastic for the Star Trek mythos, to have the guy who really started it all to go into space, said Russ Haslage, who co-founded the fan organization The Federation, also known as the International Federation of Trekkers, with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, in the 1980s. Through the lens of Star Trek, human space travel has typically had a rosy tint. Much of the shows universe takes place hundreds of years in the future, with humanity venturing into the Milky Way after surviving a brutal 21st century. Homo sapiens expand from our solar system under the flag of United Earth, a founding member of the United Federation of Planets, an egalitarian alliance of intelligent species. That vision, started in Mr. Roddenberrys original TV series, is a culmination of the events set in motion by Yuri Gagarin in 1961, when he became the first human to travel to space. Captain Kirk is arguably the most extreme incarnation of the shows high-minded, moralistic vision. Hes the guy whos at the center of all of this, said Mr. Haslage, whos planning to offer live commentary on the launchs livestream via The Federations YouTube and Facebook pages. There wouldnt be any of this without Captain Kirk. Carly Creer, a moderator for a Star Trek Facebook group with over 150,000 members, grew up watching the original series with her father. Mr. Shatner is a regular at an annual Star Trek convention in Las Vegas that she often attends. If we didnt have Captain Kirk and that awesome force that he created, we wouldnt have the amazing fandom that weve got, Ms. Creer said. The involvement of billionaires like Jeff Bezos selling private spaceflight experiences to wealthy customers has generated considerable criticism. But among fans like Ms. Creer there is a fascination with what both NASA and private companies are working to accomplish. Ive really appreciated how SpaceX and Blue Origin have stepped in, she said. I really think its just amazing. Its been so wonderful to watch, because as a fan of Star Trek all you want is to see that future that Gene Roddenberry created so well. Read more Oct. 13, 2021, 8:05 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 8:05 a.m. ET A backdrop of turmoil at Blue Origin. Image The Blue Origin rocket facility near the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Earlier this month, a whistleblower alleged the companys work culture was rife with sexism and that internal safety concerns were dismissed by management. Credit... Mike Blake/Reuters The New Shepard tourist rocket has been a bright spot for Blue Origin, but other areas of the company have recently faced turmoil and difficulties. In September, Alexandra Abrams, the former head of employee communications at Blue Origin, published an essay with 20 unnamed current and former employees of Blue Origin saying the companys work culture was rife with sexism and that internal safety concerns were often dismissed by management. Working quickly to launch the company owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos into space on the New Shepard took priority over focusing on safety matters, the employees said. Since publishing the essay, Ms. Abrams said in an interview that she had received supportive messages from current Blue Origin employees and engineers. She said she also had heard from employees at other companies describing their workplace difficulties. That response surprised her, as she had expected an onslaught of attacks from others in the small aerospace industry. I personally was very heartened to see the responses, from everyone but Blue Origin, Ms. Abrams said. Blue Origin disputed the allegations in the essay, saying in a statement that the company has an internal hotline for sexual harassment complaints and that New Shepard was the safest space vehicle ever designed or built. The company also said Ms. Abrams was fired over repeated warnings for issues involving federal export control regulations. Ms. Abrams said that was false, and that she was fired in 2019 over her disagreement with a new policy that she was asked to help rollout to prohibit workers from banding together to take legal action over workplace issues and force them to settle disputes in private arbitration with the company. Her decision to speak out about Blue Origins work culture, she said, came after hearing complaints and troubling stories from friends still at Blue Origin. The essays release made the current and former employees nervous, and resurfaced trauma from the sexual harassment some had experienced, Ms. Abrams said, but they knew it was the right thing to do. Even if there are absolutely zero issues with all of Blues programs, which is absolutely not the case, a toxic culture bursting with schedule pressure and untrustworthy leaders breeds and encourages failures and mistakes each and every day, she added. One immediate challenge Blue Origin is facing concerns its bigger, more powerful rocket, New Glenn, whose debut launch has been delayed by about two years. And development of the engines that power New Glenn, called BE-4, has been marred by technical hurdles. The company is selling those engines to another company, United Launch Alliance, which needs them to power its next-generation Vulcan rocket. The Pentagon picked Vulcan last year to launch the majority of its satellites to space through 2027, and a forthcoming NASA mission will use it to send a robotic lander to the moon. Delivery of Blue Origins BE-4 engines to U.L.A., though, is months behind schedule, worrying Pentagon officials who fear the Vulcan rocket might not be ready in time to launch its first national security satellites in 2022. Blue Origin had pitched its New Glenn rocket to the Air Force for that contract but lost to U.L.A. and SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk and whose Falcon rockets will also launch some Pentagon satellites. Blue Origin was hit with another loss in April on a lucrative NASA program to send the first American astronauts to the moon since 1972. The company partnered with three seasoned aerospace companies Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper to develop and pitch its Blue Moon lunar lander to NASA. But the agency, facing a funding shortfall, decided it could only afford to select a cheaper bid pitched by SpaceX. Blue Origin protested NASAs decision to pick SpaceX with the Government Accountability Office, which adjudicates contract disputes, but lost. The company then sued NASA to overturn SpaceXs award in federal court, where litigation is expected to wrap up sometime in November. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Oct. 13, 2021, 7:01 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 7:01 a.m. ET What is New Shepard and where will it fly? Image The Blue Origin launch site near Van Horn, Texas, on Tuesday morning. Credit... LM Otero/Associated Press New Shepard is the centerpiece rocket of Blue Origins space tourism business. A booster rocket at the bottom stands six stories tall, with a capsule sitting on top that can seat up to six crew. The suborbital rocket is named after Alan Shepard, the first American to reach space in 1961 and one of the astronauts who walked on the moon. It takes off from Blue Origins Launch Site One, a launchpad in rural West Texas about 100 miles from of El Paso. The full mission lasts about 10 minutes. New Shepard launches to an altitude of roughly 63 miles, a widely recognized marker of where space begins and known as the Karman line. At peak altitude, the booster rocket releases its crewed capsule. The booster then begins a descent back toward the ground, reigniting its single engine to land vertically on a slab of concrete five miles from where it launched. Back in space at the same time, the crew capsule is suspended in a free fall some 63 miles high. The passengers experience roughly four minutes of weightlessness in microgravity as well as views of Earths slightly curved horizon where its atmosphere meets space. Each seat has its own window of 3.5 feet by 2.3 feet. Im thrilled and anxious, and a little nervous and a little frightened, about this whole new adventure, Mr. Shatner said during an interview on NBCs Today show on Monday. During Blue Origins first crewed flight in July, passengers unbuckled and floated throughout the 530-cubic-foot capsule, amused by the weightlessness. They tossed candies to one another and did somersaults before getting back in their seats. During the capsules free fall toward land, it deploys an initial set of parachutes to brake its speed, then another set of three bigger parachutes to carry the capsule softly to land at about 15 miles per hour. Milliseconds before landing in the desert also not far from the launchpad the capsule releases a burst of air from its underside to cushion the touchdown. The seats inside are supported by a scissor-like mechanism that further limits the impact. Blue Origin had boasted that the windows on New Shepards crew capsule are the biggest to fly in space, but Elon Musks SpaceX snatched that superlative in September when it launched its Crew Dragon capsule to low-Earth orbit with a new glass dome that stretches 46 inches wide and 18 inches deep, covering 2,000 square inches in all. Read more Oct. 13, 2021, 6:01 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2021, 6:01 a.m. ET William Shatner adds space tourist to his long and varied career. Image Mr. Shatner speaking at the William Shatner Spotlight panel during the first day of New York Comic Con 2021 at the Jacob Javits Center earlier this month. Credit... Bennett Raglin/Getty Images The star name in the four-person crew that Blue Origin will launch to the edge of space on Wednesday is William Shatner. For those who havent been paying attention since these voyages of the star ship Enterprise began more than 50 years ago: Mr. Shatner, now 90, played the indomitable Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek television series that debuted in 1966. The show aired for three seasons, and Mr. Shatner returned as Kirk with members of the original cast for six films from 1979 to 1991. Captain Kirk perished in 1994s Star Trek: Generations. As the Trek media empire expanded since the original series (it now encompasses a growing multiverse of films and shows, as well as video games, merchandise, conventions and more), Mr. Shatners place as a bona fide science-fiction celebrity has only strengthened. It looks like theres a great deal of curiosity in this fictional character, Captain Kirk, going into space, Mr. Shatner said in a promotional video posted on Twitter by Blue Origin. So lets go along with it. Enjoy the ride. But his life in the public eye is far from limited to Star Trek. For years, Mr. Shatner played a hyperbolized version of himself as The Negotiator in commercials (some with a Trek twist) for the travel agency Priceline. He won two Emmy Awards and snagged nominations for his roles in the interconnected legal dramas The Practice and Boston Legal in the 1990s and 2000s (his Star Trek work never received Emmy or Oscar nods). He also received an outstanding guest actor nomination for a series of cameos as The Big Giant Head in 3rd Rock From the Sun. His age has not halted his work. Earlier this year, he was the lead actor in the romantic comedy Senior Moment alongside Jean Smart, 20 years his junior at 70. Offscreen, Shatner has released several albums that straddle the line between music and spoken word poetry (a style that produced a particularly memorable performance of Elton Johns Rocket Man at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards). In 2012, he came to Broadway with a one-man show that traversed his life and career. And even as a nonagenarian, hes kept up with the kids and brought his distinct personality to Twitter, which has served as an ideal platform to hype his latest adventure. So now I can say something. Yes, its true; Im going to be a rocket man! https://t.co/B2jFeXrr6L William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 4, 2021 Mr. Shatner, in an interview with CNN last week, said hes bringing along on his jaunt to space a little blue satchel of mementos that includes three or four little trinkets from family and friends. But during the flight, he intends to stay focused on looking back at planet Earth. I plan to be looking out the window with my nose pressed against the window, he said during a chat last week with Blue Origin employees, clips of which the company posted on Twitter. He then added, The only thing I dont want to see is a little gremlin looking back at me. Are you sure thats not going to happen? Joey Roulette contributed reporting. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story When William Shatner, 90, traveled to the edge of space aboard Blue Origins New Shepard on Wednesday he became the oldest person ever to reach such heights. Mr. Shatner, whose name has been synonymous with space exploration since he played Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series more than half a century ago, became the first nonagenarian to cross the Karman line, the widely recognized boundary between the atmosphere and space about 63 miles above the Earth. Mr. Shatner became emotional when he emerged with three other passengers from the spacecrafts capsule after it set down in West Texas and was met by the Blue Origins owner, Jeff Bezos. The actor spoke of how the experience of seeing the blue earth from space and the immense blackness of outer space had profoundly moved him, demonstrating what he called the vulnerability of everything. The atmosphere keeping humanity alive is thinner that your skin, he said. The father of a slain journalist urged federal regulators in a complaint filed Tuesday to make Facebook change how it polices content, accusing it of failing to remove footage of his daughters killing from its platforms. Andy Parker, the father of the journalist, Alison Parker, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the social media company was violating its own terms of service by hosting videos on Facebook and Instagram that showed the attack on his daughter. Ms. Parker, a TV news reporter for WDBJ in Roanoke, Va., and a cameraman, Adam Ward, were killed in August 2015 by a former co-worker, who attacked them during a broadcast. Ms. Parker, 24, and Mr. Ward, 27, were pronounced dead at the scene. The former co-worker later died by suicide. A former Hamilton cast member filed a federal workplace complaint against the show on Wednesday, alleging that the show had retaliated and refused to renew a contract after the actor had requested a gender-neutral dressing room. In the complaint, filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, lawyers for the former cast member, Suni Reid (who prefers the pronouns they/them), said they were sidelined and eventually let go in September after requesting a gender-neutral space at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles where Hamilton was playing. In the 28-page complaint, Reid, a Black, nonbinary performer who has performed with the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles productions of Hamilton since 2017, outlined several other instances of discrimination and harassment by cast members and management over the years, including episodes in which Reid said they were physically threatened or intentionally and repeatedly misgendered. The complaint said Reid eventually intends to pursue legal claims in federal court. Filing a charge of discrimination and retaliation with the E.E.O.C. is a precursor to filing such a lawsuit. The safety net spending bill proposed by Democrats in Congress includes major benefits for families: paid leave, child care, pre-K and child allowances. But as they negotiate over the size of the bill, they may need to choose. Senator Joe Manchin, one of the two centrists whom Democrats must persuade to vote with them, has suggested that they pick just one, Axios reported. In a letter to colleagues Monday night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote, Overwhelmingly, the guidance I am receiving from members is to do fewer things well. We asked 18 academics who study family policy scholars of sociology, economics, public policy, social work and law what they would choose if they could have only one, based on evidence from research in the United States and other countries. All said it was a choice they would not want to make proponents of more generous family policies say they all work together. People need resources for coordinating family and employment across the life span, said Joanna Pepin, a sociologist at the University at Buffalo. Picking just one policy is akin to putting a fire out in one room of a house engulfed in flames and stopping. Democrats are considering other ways to spend less but keep all four programs, like giving child benefits only to low earners, offering fewer than 12 weeks of paid leave, or making the policies expire after several years. But the exercise of choosing one forces a closer look beyond the politics and at the policies themselves who would be helped by each program, and where there is greatest need. To My Dear Son, Well Son of my heart, here is dear father, who loves you with all my heart and proud to have a son, as smart as you are, Mr. Capone wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 5, 1939. Give Mother a nice big kiss for me and God bless you both. Your dear Father Alphonse Capone. It sold for $56,700, including the buyers premium. Fifty-six people attended the auction in person, which was accessible only by lottery or invitation. Nearly 1,500 bidders registered, and more than 200 bidders followed the auction online or over the phone. A surviving granddaughter of Mr. Capone, Diane Capone, said in August that she and her two surviving sisters, who all live in and around Auburn, Calif., had decided to sell the possessions because they were growing older and worried what might happen to the items if Northern California wildfires forced them to flee quickly. We decided that it was time to part with these family heirlooms and to reveal a very different side of Al Capone that most people would never imagine, she said in a statement. To us, he was Papa. He was a very loving and doting husband, father and grandfather who would run around the house playing with us as small children. He was clearly a complex man, and thats evident if you examine the years after his imprisonment at Alcatraz. Mr. Capone is believed to have been behind the deaths of more than 200 people, including a prosecutor. Although he was never convicted of murder, he was sentenced in 1931 for tax evasion and served seven and a half years in federal prison. He was released from prison in 1939 as his health deteriorated because of paresis, a partial paralysis resulting from syphilis. He died at 48 of complications from a stroke and pneumonia in January 1947 in his villa in Palm Island, Fla. Separate from the California auction, the Palm Island property was also recently put up for sale. The mobsters mansion in the exclusive neighborhood on Palm Island, in Biscayne Bay just west of Miami Beach, sold for $10.75 million in August to Todd Glaser, a real estate developer, and Nelson Gonzalez, an investor, who had planned to raze the residence and build a modern one. The J.&J. booster debate Two reports released today on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could lead to a heated debate about whether and how to offer additional shots to Americans who received the companys shot. Preliminary data from a federal clinical trial suggests that the 15 million Americans who received a J.&J. vaccine may be better off with a Moderna or a Pfizer booster shot. Adding to the matter, an F.D.A. analysis published earlier in the day questioned whether Johnson & Johnson had robust enough evidence in its application for booster shots. Now, the question about whether to authorize J.&J. boosters heads to the F.D.A.s advisory panel, which will meet on Friday to vote on whether to authorize the companys application. In the federal clinical trial, National Institutes of Health researchers mixed and matched vaccine doses to test their effectiveness. They found that: People who got a J.&J. shot and a Moderna booster saw their antibody levels rise 76-fold within 15 days. People who got a J.&J. shot and a Pfizer booster saw a 35-fold rise. People who got two J.&J. shots saw only a fourfold rise. The authors cautioned about the studys small size and noted that they did not follow the volunteers long enough to identify rare side effects. WASHINGTON President Bidens efforts to finally make progress on a comprehensive overhaul of the nations immigration system have been stalled by Republicans, blocked by courts and rejected for violating arcane Senate rules. Now, Democratic leaders are seriously considering a long-shot proposal intended to get around the political and procedural roadblocks by including language in the presidents sweeping social safety net package to provide temporary legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants, according to three congressional officials and several others familiar with the plans. They asked for anonymity to discuss the details of private negotiations. The proposal which drops one of the presidents key demands to create a direct path to citizenship for the immigrants faces a string of challenges before it could even be formally considered for inclusion in Mr. Bidens bill. But the fact that Democrats are still trying to wrestle it into the legislation is a sign of how desperate they are to fulfill promises they made to a critical segment of the partys electoral coalition. This is a solution that gets us closer to our North Star of citizenship for 11 million, said Kerri Talbot, the deputy director of the Immigration Hub, a pro-immigration group. Lasting protections for 8 million people is nothing short of a breakthrough. WASHINGTON Right-wing extremist groups in the United States have been influencing French groups, spreading antigovernment conspiracy theories in Europe, the top French intelligence official said on Wednesday. The official, Laurent Nunez, Frances national intelligence and counterterrorism coordinator, has been in Washington this week for meetings with American officials such as his U.S. counterpart, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence. Relations between Paris and Washington have been strained after a U.S. deal last month to sell Australia nuclear submarines, which put an end to a French contract. Mr. Nunez did not mince words, saying the serious bilateral crisis remained. Still, President Emmanuel Macron of France authorized Mr. Nunezs visit as part of efforts to ease the diplomatic feud and restore high-level communications between the two governments. Two men who have been held for years without charges at Guantanamo Bay a Yemeni and an Afghan whose repatriation would most likely require reaching an agreement with the Taliban have been approved for transfer, according to documents released on Wednesday. The interagency Periodic Review Board endorsed the transfers of Sanad Yislam al-Kazimi and Assadullah Haroon Gul with security arrangements, but did not suggest where Mr. Gul, an Afghan citizen who has been held by the U.S. military since 2007, might be sent. The board said that Mr. al-Kazimi should be resettled in Oman, a Persian Gulf country abutting his native Yemen whose rehabilitation program received 30 detainees during the Obama administration. Yemen is considered too unstable to monitor and help rehabilitate returnees. The board approved Mr. al-Kazimis transfer on Oct. 7, less than two weeks after the State Department official responsible for overseeing detainee transfer arrangements, John T. Godfrey, visited Oman, the United Arab Emirates and London in his capacity as acting coordinator for counterterrorism. When I say Black Lives Matter, it is not meant to disparage any other race, Andrea Kane wrote to parents of 7,700 students in Queen Annes County, Md. It is an acknowledgment of the disparate brutality and overt racism that is only experienced by Black people in America, including me. Kane, the districts first Black superintendent, knew the movement was divisive. But she felt she would have been negligent had she not addressed the images her students saw on television and on social media. And over nearly three years on the job, she had collected evidence of systemic and overt racism, and worked to build racial equity. Initially, messages of gratitude filled her inbox. People had been suffering for years, Tory Brown, a Black Queen Annes County native, who is an instructional assistant in the school system, told my colleague Erica Green. We just never had anyone to speak up. Then, Kane said, everything just imploded. In the past year, parents and elected officials have fought over critical race theory, an academic framework that views racism as ingrained in law and other modern institutions. For the roughly 2 percent of superintendents who are Black, the debates have felt personal and poignant. And for those in majority-white, conservative communities, like Queen Annes County, the debate can be incendiary. After Kanes email, parents quickly organized against her. Our children will not be indoctrinated by anyones political opinion in the school and our children must NEVER feel that their white skin color make them guilty of slavery or racism! read one post in a Facebook group of parents calling themselves the Kent Island Patriots. A security guard and a television reporter were recording him, but the thief was undeterred, raiding a Walgreens store in San Francisco on a bicycle, a garbage bag in hand filled with stolen merchandise. Millions watched a video of the brazen shoplifting in June, which critics said illustrated the epidemic of store thefts that had bedeviled retailers across the city. It was at least the fifth time that the man, who was later arrested on a raft of burglary and theft charges, had targeted that particular Walgreens store, on Gough Street in the Hayes Valley neighborhood, the authorities said. Now, four months later, Walgreens says it will close that store and four others in San Francisco next month, citing what it described as a continuing problem of organized shoplifting in the city. Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco, Phil Caruso, a spokesman for Walgreens, said in an email on Wednesday. Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average. In Guatemala, shortages of syringes have slowed vaccination efforts. In Haiti, logistical and security challenges after the devastating Aug. 14 earthquake have contributed to making it the country with the lowest vaccination coverage in the world. And across the Caribbean, countries are grappling with unequal distribution of doses and vaccine hesitancy, World Health Organization officials warned today in an online news conference. An important challenge that the Caribbean is facing English-speaking countries and French- speaking countries and territories is vaccine hesitancy, said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, the Covid-19 incident manager at the Pan American Health Organization, which is part of the W.H.O. Even if some territories of the Caribbean are leading the regional effort in terms of vaccination coverage, we can say that the vaccine uptick is suboptimal in most of the Caribbean countries, he said. TAIPEI, Taiwan Harvard University will move a popular Chinese-language program to Taipei from Beijing amid a broad chill in academic and cultural exchanges between the United States and China. The programs director, Jennifer L. Liu, told The Harvard Crimson that the move had been driven by a perceived lack of friendliness on the part of the Chinese host institution, the Beijing Language and Culture University. Harry J. Pierre, a Harvard spokesman, said, The planned move of this program from Beijing to Taiwan has been considered for some time and reflects a wide array of operational factors. The programs new location presents a different opportunity for our instructors and learners to broaden their educational experiences, Mr. Pierre, associate director of communications of Harvards division of continuing education, said in an emailed statement. Harvard, like many American universities, has a number of programs in China, including executive education courses and a training program led by its medical school for Chinese doctors and hospital leaders. The summer language program known as the Harvard Beijing Academy allowed students not just to immerse themselves in advanced language studies, but also to travel across China and learn about its history and culture. It is natural to consider if it is a terror event, Chief Aas said at a news conference, adding that it was too soon to say for sure what the mans motivation is. The assailant ranged over a broad swath of the city, leaving investigators with an extensive crime scene to scour. One witness, Kjetil Stormark, who is editor of a national security news site, said the police had secured a supermarket where part of the attack was said to have taken place and a section of a street. The authorities said they were looking into whether another weapon, a knife, may also have been used in the attacks. An off-duty police officer who was not in uniform was among those injured in the attack, the authorities said. Murder is rare in Norway. In a country with a population of a bit more than five million, there were 31 murders in 2020, most involving people who knew one another. But the attack Wednesday came just months after Norwegians marked a somber anniversary: One decade ago, the country suffered its deadliest attack since World War II. In July 2011, a right-wing extremist detonated a bomb in Oslo and then went on a shooting rampage at a political summer camp for young people on the small island of Utoya. In all, 77 were killed. In the years since the massacre, Norway has struggled to reckon with the trauma and been forced to grapple with painful questions of what could cause an individual to veer so far from the democratic principles that, along with revenue from fossil fuel, have given Norwegians one of the worlds highest standards of living. While that was the worst recent episode in the largely peaceful country, a little over two years ago, a young man entered a mosque near Oslo armed and wearing body armor and a helmet before being overpowered by a worshiper. The man had first killed his sister, the police said, and he was sentenced for that murder. The Vatican announced on Wednesday that Pope John Paul I, the Italian pontiff who reigned for only 33 days before his death in 1978, will be beatified after a miracle was attributed to him, bringing him one step closer to sainthood. Pope Francis authorized a decree that recognized a first miracle attributed to John Paul I, the mysterious healing of a sick young girl in Buenos Aires in 2011, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which oversees the canonization process, said in a statement. A causal link between the invocation of the Venerable John Paul I and the young girls healing was acknowledged, it said. The 11-year-old girl had contracted a serious form of inflammatory encephalopathy that led her to be intubated, and later came down with bronchial pneumonia, the congregation said, adding that the hospitals priest proposed to her mother that they seek the intercession of John Paul I. LONDON For months, a battle over the status of Northern Ireland has been the thorniest legacy of Brexit, even sparking a conflict known as the sausage wars. Now, Britain has upped the ante by demanding that post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland that it agreed to two years ago be scrapped and replaced. The European Union responded to that call Wednesday with a far-reaching plan to resolve practical problems raised by that Brexit treaty the Northern Ireland protocol that has provoked a full-scale confrontation between Britain and the bloc. It is a spat that could upset the United States. The protocol aims to resolve one of the most complex issues created by Brexit: what to do about the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, which remains part of the European Union. According to the new proposal from Brussels, checks on food and animal products going from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland would be reduced by 80 percent, customs paperwork for shipments of many goods would be slashed and the flow of medicines would be ensured. The New York Times is tracking mask policies at the state level, including current federal guidance by county and where leaders are rejecting such guidance or mandates. Read more here Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, U.S. Census Bureau. The all ages group is based on all residents including children under 12. About this data Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, U.S. Census Bureau. The all ages group is based on all residents including children under 12. The hot spots map shows the share of population with a new reported case over the last week. Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (daily confirmed and suspected Covid-19 hospital admissions); Census Bureau (population data). Data prior to October 2020 was unreliable. Data reported in the most recent seven days may be incomplete. This chart shows for each age group the number of people per 100,000 that were newly admitted to a hospital with Covid-19 each day, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dips and spikes could be due to inconsistent reporting by hospitals. Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (tests, hospitalizations). Tests, hospitalizations and deaths show seven-day averages. Hospitalization data may not yet be available for yesterday. Figures shown are the most recent data available. These are days with a reporting anomaly . Read more here . The New York Times is tracking mask policies at the state level, including current federal guidance by county and where leaders are rejecting such guidance or mandates. Read more here Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, U.S. Census Bureau. The all ages group is based on all residents including children under 12. About this data Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, U.S. Census Bureau. The all ages group is based on all residents including children under 12. Information on cases linked to these places comes from official releases by governments, companies and institutions directly. The Times is publishing lists of groupings of 50 or more cases related to a specific site, workplace or event. In the first year of the pandemic, The Times tracked cases in the types of places with some of the worst outbreaks, like nursing homes , food processing plants and correctional facilities . Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (tests, hospitalizations). The seven-day average is the average of a day and the previous six days of data. Currently hospitalized is the most recent number of patients with Covid-19 reported by hospitals in the state for the four days prior. Dips and spikes could be due to inconsistent reporting by hospitals. Hospitalization numbers early in the pandemic are undercounts due to incomplete reporting by hospitals to the federal government. Tests represent the number of individual P.C.R. viral test specimens tested by laboratories and state health departments and reported to the federal government. Hospitalizations and tests are counted based on dates assigned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are subject to historical revisions. Cases and deaths data are assigned to dates based on when figures are publicly reported. These are days with a reporting anomaly . Read more here . These are days with a reporting anomaly . Read more here . Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hospitalizations); Centers for Disease Control and state governments (vaccinations); Census Bureau (population and demographic data). The daily average is calculated with data that was reported in the last seven days. Hospitalized for each county shows the average number of Covid-19 patients hospitalized per 100,000 residents within any hospital service areas that intersect with the county. Vaccination data is not available for some counties. All-time charts show data from Jan. 21, 2020 to present. This table is sorted by places with the most cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days. Charts show change in daily averages and are each on their own scale. Select a table header to sort by another metric. About the data In data for Minnesota, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state does not update its data on weekends. Prior to July 2021, it released new data daily. The state reports cases and deaths based on a persons permanent or usual residence. The Times has identified reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data. More about reporting anomalies or changes Nov. 1, 2021: Minnesota added 8,184 cases representing people who were infected twice. Minnesota added 8,184 cases representing people who were infected twice. Sept. 15, 2021: Minnesota added deaths from previous months associated with long-term care facilities after a review of records. Minnesota added deaths from previous months associated with long-term care facilities after a review of records. Sept. 6, 2021: The daily count could be artificially low because many jurisdictions did not announce new data on Labor Day. The daily count could be artificially low because many jurisdictions did not announce new data on Labor Day. April 6, 2021: Minnesota reported data for two days after reporting no data on Easter. Minnesota reported data for two days after reporting no data on Easter. March 9, 2021: Minnesota announced many cases and deaths from the past year that had been previously unreported. Minnesota announced many cases and deaths from the past year that had been previously unreported. Nov. 28, 2020: Minnesota reported data for two days after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Minnesota reported data for two days after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Oct. 14, 2020: Minnesota began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. Minnesota began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. July 4, 2020: Minnesota did not report new cases or deaths on the Fourth of July holiday. The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths. Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments. Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible. The caterpillar of the Uraba lugens moth is deserving of the nickname Mad Hatterpillar, as it stacks the heads of its molted exoskeletons into an intriguing headpiece. The Uraba lugens caterpillar molds up to 13 times while in its caterpillar phase, but it doesnt shed all of its previous body parts. It uses some of the empty shells that once housed its head to create a rather impressive tower-shaped headpiece. As the caterpillar grows, so does its head, so each of the empty shells on top of its head is bigger than the next. Every time it molds, the head portion of its exoskeleton stays attached to its body, giving the critter a unique look as well as a handy decoy in the case of an attack. Photo: Donald Hobern/Flickr Native to Australia and New Zealand, the Uraba lugens caterpillar stacks its molted heads into a towering structure that can reach 12mm tall, about half of its body length. In most cases, some of the smaller heads get dislodged from the caterpillars body over time, but its not uncommon to see caterpillars with at least five old heads stacked on top of each other. Scientists believe that the main purpose of this bizarre stacked-head hat is to protect the caterpillars actual body against predators. One theory suggests that it makes the creature look more threatening than it actually is, while another is that the former heads merely provide a false target in case of an attack. They look bigger, so theyre more threatening and look more formidable to a potential predator, Alan Henderson, wildlife manager of Minibeast Wildlife, told CNN. Another theory is that it may provide a false target, so a predator such as a jumping spider or something thats targeting a part of the animal might go for the wrong part. It gives the caterpillar a chance to get away. The Uraba lugens caterpillar is sometimes called the gum-leaf skeletoniser, because of its insatiable appetite. Armies of caterpillars will descend on eucalyptus trees, devouring the tender parts of leaves and leaving behind only the scavenged skeleton of veins and stems that are too hard for them to bite and chew. In New Zealand U. lugens caterpillars have become such a plague that foresters have begun breeding wasps that infest themselves as parasites in the caterpillars, to keep their numbers in check. Viral photos of a leopard and a cow cuddling somewhere in rural India tell the unique love story between two very unlikely friends. Cows and leopards are usually not the best of friends, with the latter sometimes preying on bovines to survive. However, you wouldnt even be tempted to think that looking at a set of viral photos that have been doing the rounds on social media for nearly two decades now. They show an adult leopard cuddling and playing with a cow, which, if the accompanying caption is to be believed, adopted and breastfed the feline as a cub. The story behind the photos has been exaggerated over the years to attract even more attention, but the photos are real and the relationship between the two animals is a testament to the fact that miracles can happen. Although the photos in question have been doing the rounds online for 19 years now, they are still sometimes posted as news by pages and websites hoping to make them go viral for the billionth time. The story is most often associated with an unnamed village in Assam, when in reality it occurred in the village of Antoli, Indias Gujarat state. Tracking a decades-old news story back to its original source is a daunting task, but according to hoax-debunking website Social Media Hoax Slayer, the earliest source appears to be a 2002 article posted on the Times of India website. The original story isnt as bombastic as the one usually found on Facebook, but its still an impressive and rather unusual one. In October of 2002, the peaceful lives of Antolis inhabitants were disturbed by the constant nightly visits of a young leopard that behaved odd, to say the least. Instead of looking for food or simply attacking domesticated animals, it seemed particularly interested in a certain cow there The leopard comes closerthere is anxiety in the air, the Times of India described the heartwarming encounter. The big cat slowly rolls over and raises one paw and puts it gently on the cows head, and makes purring sounds. The cow lets out a soft moo in response and licks the leopard. The leopard, obviously in a playful mood, sits there waiting to be cuddled. Soon after the unexpected nightly meetings between the cow and the leopard were observed by human villagers, small crowds started gathering on rooftops to see the magic for themselves. And sure enough, on most nights, between 10 pm and midnight, the two animals did not disappoint. However, as the human presence around the village during the visits intensified, the leopard started acting more warily. We have been keeping watch, but unfortunately the frequency of the leopards visits has decreased,Rohit Vyas, honorary wildlife warden of Vadodara, said at the time. Although most of the posts going around social media suggest that the two animals somehow knew each other, or even that the cow had taken in the abandoned leopard cub, the original source doesnt mention anything related to that, simply because no one knew how or even if the animals were in fact familiar with one another. A forest conservationist merely suggested that the leopard may have grown up around humans and was familiar with domestic animals. Sometimes animal behaviour can get modified, conservationist H.S. Singh told the Times of India. In this case, probably because the leopard which has passed the sub-adult stage, lives in a rural area and not strictly a wild environment. But even if the above is true, what about the cow? Why is it so comfortable around a big cat that it should instinctively fear and run away from? Well probably never know the whole story, or how this unlikely romance ended, but one thing is for sure, nearly two decades after it was originally reported, this story still fascinates millions of people. Rocket Road is a unique clothing brand aimed not at humans, but at robots of all shapes and sizes. It aims to offer customization options and seamlessly bridge the gap between humans and machines. Last month, Japanese company Rocket Road announced the launch of its first lineup of functional protective cover wear for robotic arms. These decorative and functional covers are available in over 40 different colors, can be made out of dustproof, anti-bacterial, water repellent or heat-resistant material, and are meant to brighten up the otherwise bland working environment and provide the robotic arms with a bit of personality. But this is only the companys latest project. Rocket Road has been creating robot clothing for a long time now and has quite an impressive portfolio. Photo: Rocket Road/Facebook Before you start rolling your eyes at the idea of robot apparel, its worth considering that robots are very popular in Japan, from the adorable canine aibo bots to more advanced humanoid robots capable of mimicking complex human movements and actions. And they all need fly clothes It has become natural for robots to wear clothes, Rocket Road CEO, Yukinori Izumi, said. It would be great if we could bring people closer to each other through robot apparel, and many people, including children, women, and the elderly, would be close to and utilize the robots to enrich their lives and social lives. And I would be honored if robot wear could create a new category in the apparel industry and become a new culture in Japan. Yukinori has quite the colorful life experience, having studied Zen Buddhism in college, then going to work in space design at a space display company, before fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a professional wrestler. He also worked in Silicone Valley before returning to his home country and founding his unique robot apparel company, Rocket Road. Ever since 2016, Rocket Road has been dedicated to creating specialized, high-quality clothing for a variety of robots, working with some of the biggest robotics corporations in Japan, including SoftBank Robotics, Sony, and Sharp. While robot clothing may sound like a joke, according to the Rocket Road website, its serious business that requires the utmost care and dedication. Not only does the apparel need to fit each robot perfectly while looking fashionable, but there are other factors to consider as well. For example, the weight of the clothes can have an impact on the robots balance sensor, the clothes can catch on fire because of the heat generated by the electric components of the robot, and last but not least, the robot needs to function just as well with or without its clothing. These are all things that Rocket Road needs to consider when designing its robot apparel. A Chinese mother recently walked into a police station asking for help to remove a bicycle from around her neck after her 4-year-old boy put it on her and forgot the unlock code. On October 7th, a young mother walked into a police station in Huaian, Chinas Jiangsu Province, with a bizarre choker around her neck a grey and yellow bicycle locking device similar to a U-lock. She told the staff there that her son was playing with the lock next to her as she was cleaning the bathroom when he suddenly put it around her neck and locked it. She thought it funny at first, as it was her lock and she knew the unlock code, but it turned out that the boy had somehow changed it and now neither of them knew the combination to unlock it. I was cleaning the toilet, and my son was playing with the bicycle lock next to me, the unnamed woman told police. He suddenly put it around my neck and locked it. I couldnt unlock it with the code I had set and I had no idea know how many times he changed it, so I panicked. Police examined the lock and determined that they couldnt do much to help the woman, so they called a team of local firefighters. They took a small towel and placed it between the womans neck and the bicycle lock, as they struggled to cut it with two pairs of wire cutters. As the lock came off and the woman sighed in relief, one of the firefighters told her You should bring your son here, well help educate him, to which she answered that she had already spanked him for his naughty behavior and that he was at home sleeping. The womans story and the video footage of the lock removal went viral on Chinese social media, with most people commenting about the need for boundaries to be set by parents in order to avoid situations like this. A typical example of failure to teach children about boundaries, I did not laugh at all after watching this, one person commented. Even if its between parent and child, boundaries have to be set for all actions and words, children cannot cross these boundaries, someone else wrote. Moderna is fed up with sensational headlines that are at odds with the facts, complained chairman Noubar Afeyan Venice in a letter to the New York Times that ran in its Oct. 13 print edition. He was referring to the Times article of Oct. 9 that carried the headline Moderna, Racing for Profits, Keeps COVID Vaccine Out of Reach of Poor. Ouch. Venice railed against such a headline because it undermines public trust and demoralizes scientists and others working around the clock for nearly two years to deliver vaccinesboth to Americans and to citizens around the globe. Moderna sees the writing on the wall and has been busy of late with some reputation protection work. It issued an empty Oct. 7 press release announcing a plan to invest $500M to build a state-of-the-art facility somewhere on the continent of Africa. It expects to begin a process for country and site selection soon. Africa is a pretty big place. Moderna may need a lot of time to figure out where to put its plant, assuming one gets built some day. On Oct. 12, the company published another release, touting the sale of 176.5M doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, at its lowest-tiered price. The doses are bound for low-income countries. Modernas PR misfires are puzzling. The company has gone on a PR hiring spree since it broke into the COVID-19 vaccine business with the help of a $1B investment from US taxpayers via the Operation Warp Speed program. Ray Jordan, a veteran of Amgen, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, joined Moderna on June 15, 2020 as chief corporate affairs officer. John Lepore, who was in charge of policy and advocacy at MasterCard, was hired Aug. 12, 2020 as senior VP-government engagement. Ogilvy Health chief Kate Cronin became chief brand officer on July 12, 2021. They should be a crackerjack team. Moderna earned $4B on $6.3B sales during the first-half of this year. That outsized profit is sure to trigger more PR backlash about the sketchy distribution of its COVID-19 vaccine. Biding away too much time... Joe Biden better find his PR pulse because his approval rating is sinking into TrumpLand territory as the days of Democratic control of the Congress dwindle away. Right or wrong, it was Bidens decision to pack his economic agenda into two humongous packages, rather than carve it up into smaller pieces as his hero FDR did during the New Deal era. Its incumbent upon Biden to break through the political logjam presented by Senator Joe Manchin and the Enigma who represents Arizona, along with noisy opposition from progressives. Though Pew Research shows that Bidens $1.2T infrastructure bill and $3.5T economic package enjoy 2-to-1 national support, the presidents approval rating has dropped from 52.7 percent in June to 44.5 percent according to FiveThirtyEight. The public watches as Biden suffers potshots from the progressive wing of the Democratic party who view any reduction in the size of the Build Back Better plan as a defeat. That all-or-nothing mentality may result in zilch. People yearn for a leadership transformation from Sleepy Joe to Scrappy Joe from Scranton. Wall Street Journal columnist Gerry Steib notes that Biden is on the cusp of achieving perhaps the most significant one-year increase in spending on domestic programs since the Great Depression. That significant spending hike depends on his willingness to scale back the Build Back Better plan to spending of about $1.9T and infrastructure to $1T in order to win a thumbs-up from Manchin and the Enigma. Those numbers combined with the $1.9T COVID-19 relief and stimulus plan approved in March, would drive total spending near the $5T mark. Thats five times the funding that Barack Obama gained during the 2008 financial crisis. Biden needs to play up the historic nature of his downsized spending plan to counter the negative spin by progressives. He should give his messaging guru Anita Dunn of SKDKnickerbocker a call and then get to work snatching a victory from the jaws of political embarrassment and possible defeat. An incredible array of items were removed from the Tullamore River during a clean up over the weekend. CLICK ON NEXT> ABOVE TO GO THROUGH THE GALLERY OF PICTURES Photos by Loughnan Hooper The Tullamore community came out in force over the weekend in the effort to get to grips with the challenge that affects many towns - river dumping. Volunteers from a number of local community groups including Tullamore Tidy Towns and Shannonside Sub Aqua Club supported by a team from Offaly County Council retrieved over 1.5 tonnes of dumped waste in an area of Tullamore River from Kilcruttin to Millennium Square at Main Street. Over 20 shopping trolleys along with bikes, beds, mattresses and a 60 inch flat screen TV were mindlessly dumped by individuals with zero respect for the environment and the people of Tullamore. Thank you to everyone who supported the Tullamore River Clean up on Saturday, particularly to Shannonside Sub Aqua for volunteering to help us with this project, without their support this event could not have happened. The removal of waste from the Tullamore River will help improve water quality and the adjacent natural environment' commented Ide OConnell, Assistant Scientist, Offaly County Council Project Manager The Tullamore Living River. "As Tullamore Tidy Towns tries to focus its efforts on further improving on its repeated Gold Medal status over the last 7 years, the dedicated community group is firmly focused on achieving top spot in the National Tidy Towns competition. "We have been working with various local groups for the last number of years to highlight the importance of wildlife habitats and biodiversity for the environment and this is reflected as a main judging criteria in the National Tidy Towns competition' commented Ray Carroll, chairperson of Tullamore Tidy Towns." The Tullamore Living River project spearheaded by Offaly County Council and supported by the Offaly Local Development Company has seen the creation of a wetland area at Kilcruttin which will significantly add to the natural habitat area for wildlife and alleviate the flow of flood water sediments. As part of this project support has been given for a major clear out of dumped debris which has accumulated over many years. The project will also include selective management of vegetation along the river to open up views which have been blocked for at least a generation. Water quality has improved throughout the Tullamore River water course in recent years but there is little room for complacency as we were starting from a very low base. Research has shown the importance of Tullamore River as an important nursery ground for trout which feed into and populate the Clodiagh, Brosna and Shannon rivers. A recent Otter survey conducted by Tullamore Tidy Towns supported by Local Authority Waters Programme indicates Tullamore has the highest density of otter signs found in a national survey anywhere in Ireland. It is no coincidence that Tullamore River is home to the Otter. With improved water quality has come increased numbers of small fish and native white tailed crayfish which provides the otter with a steady food supply. A PAKISTANI national who admitted working illegally in an Offaly takeaway restaurant was not fined when a judge said a penalty could not be imposed because the State was not permitting him to get employment. Masood Ahmed, 50, with an address at Woodview Heights, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare was arrested during a joint operation carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Department of Social Protection, Tullamore District Court was told today (Wednesday, October 13). Detective Garda Cliff Quinn said he saw Mr Ahmed working behind the counter in food preparation at the Alkababish takeaway, 6 Colmcille Street, Tullamore at 6.15pm on October 7 last. Detective Garda Quinn said inquiries were carried out in the immigration database and while previously the accused had an immigration permission which permitted him to work, it had been revoked on July 31, 2019. As a result no work permit was in place at the time and Mr Ahmed would be facing deportation. Detective Garda Quinn told Judge Catherine Staines that there was no deportation order in place for the man. Judge Staines said: The State chooses not to deport him and yet he has no way of earning any money or a living. Patrick Martin, defending solicitor, said the revocation of Mr Ahmed's immigration permission was under appeal but the process was very slow. He had not told his employer about the revocation. The accused denied a separate charge of failing to provide proper identification but the prosecution accepted that he had handed in a passport afterwards. The maximum fine for the offence under the Employment Permits Act is 3,000, Judge Staines was told, or 12 months in prison. Judge Staines applied the Probation Act. I can't impose a fine if he can't work, she said. Four other men were also prosecuted in relation to similar alleged offences but charges against one man were struck out, the cases against two others were adjourned and a bench warrant was issued when another accused man failed to appear in court. The prosecutions followed unannounced inspections of premises in Tullamore and Clara, Co Offaly during a multi-agency operation led by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Gardai said 22 separate business premises were searched on the same date. There will be no shortage of Christmas presents despite shipping containers carrying toys and electrical goods being diverted from the UK's biggest port because it was full. The world's largest container shipping company, Maersk, has diverted some ships away from Felixstowe port because there is nowhere left to stack containers at the port. There is currently an acute shortage of truck drivers. "I'm confident that people will be able to get their toys for Christmas," Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden said when asked about the problems at Felixstowe port. "We are working through these challenges, to address them," he said. He said they were providing 5,000 training spaces to train HGV drivers. "I am confident that people will be able to get their toys for Christmas, this year," he told Sky News. Dowden, who is a cabinet minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, said the situation was improving at the port. When asked whether or not people should start to buy now for Christmas, he said: "I would say just buy as you do normally." What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Tech investor Francisco Partners has closed its second credit fund on $2.2 billion. The Fund's total capital commitments reached its hard cap and exceeded its original $1.25 billion target. The fund is roughly triple the size of its debut credit fund which closed on $750 million just last year. Francisco said that all institutional investors from the first credit fund participated in FP Credit Partners II. Known investors include the New Jersey Division of Investment and the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. The fund has a relatively broad...................... 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Right now, Sangh and Savarkar are being targeted, said RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat at the launch of Veer Savarkar: The man who could have prevented Partition, authored by veteran journalist Uday Mahurkar and Chirarayu Pandit on October 12. Dr Bhagwat said Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar had differences in their opinions, but Savarkar was always concerned about Gandhijis health. Those who don't understand this are still running the campaign to malign Savarkar. Gandhi and Savarkar were totally opposite in their approaches but both shared one quality they were committed to Bharat. While praising Narendra Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre, RSS Sarsanghchalak said it was only after 2014 that Indias security policy started getting priority in the Governments agenda. Seeking to clear confusion about Hindutva, Dr Bhagwat said, Savarkar did not use the term Hindutva for any religion, but it represented the cultural and civilisational identity of Bharat. Even today, there is a lack of awareness about Veer Savarkar and people harbour misconceptions about him. Savarkars Hindutva, Vivekanandas Hindutva... it has become a fashion to say so. Hindutva is one i.e., Sanatan, which is eternal. RSS Sarsanghchalak said that Savarkar was misunderstood because he spoke sternly but argued that the country would not have faced partition had all of India spoken like him. Veer Savarkar always emphasised the need for a strong military. Savarkars Hindutva, Vivekanandas Hindutva... it has become a fashion to say so. Hindutva is one i.e Sanatan, which is eternal.-RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat Talking about Akhand Bharat, Dr Bhagwat said Akhand Bharat is the need of the world. It is our responsibility to keep our motherland united. Yogi Aurobindo had said that eventually, Akhand Bharat will come into being. Ram Manohar Lohia, too, had dreamt of Akhand Bharat. He also agreed that roads should not be named after cruel Mughal emperors like Aurangzeb and praised the Jammu & Kashmir Governments for naming schools in the name of martyrs. Dr Bhagwat also recounted the names of influential Muslim leaders like Dara Shikoh and Hasan Khan Mewati and said that their memories should be celebrated. "Ashfaqulla Khan had said that after death, I will take rebirth in India. The names of such nationalists should be celebrated," he added. Describing Savarkar as a true nationalist, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said people of a particular ideology have been spreading falsehoods about Savarkar who was a great hero of the Indian freedom struggle. Commenting on the lie spread about Savarkar that he had apologised to the British, Defence Minister said, A lot of falsehoods were spread against Savarkar. It was repeatedly claimed that he filed multiple mercy petitions before the British Government. The truth is he did not file these petitions for his release. A petition was filed as a legal right at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi so that he could come out of jail and join the freedom movement. It was on Gandhis suggestion that he filed the mercy petition. Shri Singh also said, Terming Veer Savarkar as a Nazi or Fascist was also not right. The truth is he believed in Hindutva. He was a realist. He believed in Hindus and Muslims in India shared common culture and this was important for unity. The Opposition parties hated Savarkar to such an extent that in February 2003 they boycotted an event in which the then President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam had unveiled a portrait of Veer Savarkar. Only former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar had participated. The Opposition parties did not even respect the office of the President," the Defence Minister said. A plaque in memory of Veer Savarkar installed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 at Cellular Jail at Andaman Nicobar was also removed after the UPA Government assumed the office, he added. A lot of falsehoods were spread against Savarkar. It was repeatedly caimed that he filed multiple mercy petitions before the British Government. The truth is he did not file these petitions for his release. The petition was filed as a legal right at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi so that he could come out of jail and join the freedom movement. -Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh said that Veer Savarkar was not a person but an idea and his followers were increasing by the day. At the event, the author Uday Mahurkar said that the Partition of India happened because of the politics of appeasement of the Congress, despite repeated warnings by freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. Muhammad Iqbal was the propounder of the two-nation theory. In 1930 at the Allahabad Session, he issued a statement saying that Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and North-West Frontier Province must form the future Islamic country. After the Sindh province was separated in 1936, Savarkar understood that the nation was heading towards partition. He constantly warned Congress that if it does not quit appeasement politics, the country and its Hindu population would have to bear the brunt. The party however refused to listen, Uday Mahurkar said. Uday Mahurkar also said that after Savarkar's release from the prison, he was invited to join the Congress by SM Joshi and Achyut Patwardhan. But he declined the offer saying that the Congress has gone so far in appeasing Muslims and Christians, that he cannot support the party. The book, Veer Savarkar-The man who could have prevented Partition, exposes defaming charges against Veer Savarkar and reveals the motives behind them. Uday Mahurkar, in his book, has called Savarkar as the father of India's national security. Arrested Mohhamed Ali and Hanif Ali collected the used munitions from the Army firing range, Darrang. Police are investigating why and for whom they had collected the huge ammunition and its terrorist angle. Tamulpur: In a successful operation against terror activists, a team led by the In Charge of Kumarikata Out Post in Baksa district of Assam seized huge amounts of explosives and ammunition and arrested two persons in connection with that on Monday (October 11) night. The arrested persons are Mohammed Ali and Hanif Ali. The police team searched two locations in the Darrangamela area under the Tamulpur subdivision and seized used explosives, shells, munitions, and ammunition. Miscreants collected these from the Darranga Field Firing Range of the Indian Army. The police search team recovered 151 rocket launcher shells, five numbers of 84mm shells, three big shells, used heads of ammunition and munitions weighing around 200 kilograms. Police sources in Baksa said that some miscreants collected these used shells from the Tamulpur firing range of the Indian Army. A good amount of explosives remains in these used shells. The arrested persons collected those explosives and ammunition for what purpose is a big question. Police are investigating the motive behind it. The matter has been taken up with the Army too. Meanwhile, the court has sent the arrested Mohamed Ali and Hanif Ali to police custody. Police are investigating the terrorist angle of the matter. Who instructed the arrested duo to collect the used ammunition and munitions of India Army is the investigating point of the police. Assam police intelligence sources said that whether the ammunition and munitions were collected for local groups or it was meant for some notorious external group is a subject of investigation. The arrested duo was not trying to sell the collected materials in scrap, so surely there was somebody who instructed them to collect the ammunition from the Army firing range, intelligence sources said. Kamdhenu Deepawali 2021 campaign was launched to manufacture and market more than 100 crore cow-dung based Deepak lamps and Laxmi-Ganesh idols. Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria, former Cabinet Minister and former Chairman of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, organised a national webinar with his team launching Kamdhenu Deepawali. Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Purushottam Rupala participated in the event that was joined by cow Entrepreneurs and cow lovers across India. Kamdhenu Deepawali seeks to make cows to be economically useful by proper economic use of cow dung and cow urine too along with its milks, curd and ghee. More than 300 items are being made now by panchgavya from cow. This includes Laxmi-Ganesh idols, Deepawali items like Deepak, lamps, candles, sambrani cup, havan samagri, incense sticks, hard board and wall pieces made of cow dung. The Gomaya lamps made by cow entrepreneurs and cow owners will save the environment by providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical based Chinese lights. Last year, crores of cow dung Deepak lamps were manufactured across the country. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog provided training along with many volunteer organisations across India. This gave rise to a large number of cow dung based start ups. This time the campaign is committed to take the initiative to higher levels. Cow entrepreneurs across India will benefit from this campaign. This eco-friendly campaign will also help Gaushalas to become self sustainable. Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria said that we have generated interest of farmers, unemployed, self-help groups, youth and women entrepreneurs in cow dung based startups through various national campaigns. The result is visible through so many start ups of Panchgavya products. Neeraj Chowdhary, young entrepreneur from Uttarakhand demonstrated in webinar how to make cow-dung based lamps and Laxmi Ganesh idols within minute. He also exhibited wide range of cow-dung based products. He presented nameplate of Cabinet Minister Purushottam Rupala Ji which was made up of cow dung. He also talked about the training program that his organization is providing for cow-dung based products. Purushottam Rupala motivated all the cow entrepreneurs and Gaushala owners present in the webinar. Ajit Prasad Mahapatra, Akhil Bharatiya Gau Seva Gatividhi Sanyojak, encouraged everyone to start using Panchgavya products made up of cow in some form in our daily life and in every moments of celebration. He suggested opening of Gaushalas in Jails where products should be made using Panchgavya from cows. Guwahati: To deal with the impending electricity crisis due to the shortage of coal supply to various power plants in the coming days, the Union government has taken prompt and effective steps. Union coal, mines, etc minister Pralhad Joshi informed that the cumulative coal supplies recorded more than two million ton on Tuesday and he assured that coal dispatch would be increased to ensure sufficient stock with power plants. Mentionable is that expressing concern over the situation, All Assam Engineers Association (AAEA) advocated for a long-term strategy to overcome the crisis focusing on non-fossil fuel power (renewable energy) projects. The northeast Bharat-based graduate engineers forum also emphasized on the household solar power generation (for own consumption) initiative across the country. The BJP led Union government continued serious discussions on the situation as the festive season has started in the populous country. Some higher energy consumed States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, etc were identified as to be affected by the crisis, where the concerned authority have already urged the consumers to use the electricity judiciously. According to the central electricity authority of India, around 75% of the countrys 135 coal-fired power plants are in serious trouble because of the lesser supply of coal from the mines for a number of reasons. The countrys government-run coal producer, Coal India Limited, assumes that the demand for electricity is rapidly increasing with near normal household and other economic activities after the corona-lockdown. Thermal coal is accountable for nearly 70% of Bharats electricity generation. The country has to import a large volume of black gold from Indonesia, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, etc. Though India has a large coal reserve, its heating quality is relatively low and hence the country emerges as the worlds third-largest coal importer. However, the government now seeks to cut the coal imports. The coal generated electricity is always expensive and it will increase further. Hence the government should consider gradually decreasing the use of coal & gas for turbines and starts activating the other means of power generation, said AAEA president Er Kailash Sarma and secretary Er Inamul Hye, adding that the price of renewable energy like solar or wind power is going to be cheaper in the coming days. The forum specially urged Prime Minister Modi to take personal interest in encouraging the Indian scientists to develop more efficient energy store-houses (read batteries) as a mission to overcome the crisis forever. As the electricity cannot be warehoused after production for the future use like other objects, it added, a scientific arrangement for preserving the energy for a longer period should be developed that would finally solve the power crisis for the one billion-plus nation. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) will not be represented in either house of the Czech parliament for the first time since the formation of the Czech Republic in 1993. The party failed to get the five percent threshold needed to retain seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The SPOLU alliance won the highest vote in the election, topping ANO and incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Babis. They have already signed an agreement with the Pirates/STAN coalition, third in the election, on forming a new government. For the Communist Party, the results are bitter if not unexpected. Voter interest in the party has been on a sharp decline over the past decade, and the KSCM failed to gain seats in the country's upper house, the Senate, in 2018 or 2020. In 2017, the Communist Party won 7.8 percent of the vote in the Czech legislative election, the first time it had fallen below 10 percent. But the party gained relevance after forming a controversial coalition with winning party ANO, which was enough to give ANO a ruling majority in forming the Czech government. For some, the alliance with center-right populist party ANO may have been a final straw. The Communist Party took just 3.6 percent of the vote in this weekend's election, and have now lost their seats in the Czech Chamber of Deputies, the country's lower house. It will be the first time since 1925 that a communist political party is not represented in the Czech parliament from the overall history of the former Czechoslovakia. The targeted killings carried out by the terrorist outfits in the valley prove the ethnic cleansing of minorities living in Kashmir. In the light of the recent killing spree of the civilians unleashed by the terrorists in the Union Territory, the following note examines the background of the victims. The civilian killings in the Valley instill panic and apprehensions of ethnic cleansing among the minorities living in Kashmir. The background details of the victims prove that this is one of the staunchest plausible reasons for carrying out terrorist operations. Virender Paswan hailed from Bhagalpur, Bihar and was a street vendor (Golgappa seller) putting up in Alamgiri Bazar, PS Zadibal. He and his family members have been living in Srinagar for the past 12-15 years. Unknown terrorists shot him dead at Madin Sahib, Hawal, PS Lal Bazar on October 5th, 2021, when he was returning home. He was rushed to SKIMS, Soura, where doctors declared him brought dead. Terrorist outfits claimed responsibility for the attack, namely The Resistance front (TRF) and the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK). Supinder Kour, the wife of Ramresh Pal Singh, was earlier a senior lecturer at Government Higher Secondary School, Chanpora, Srinagar. She was later posted as the principal at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Sangam, Eidgah, PS Safakadal, Srinagar in 2019. Her husband, Ramresh Pal Singh, is an employee of J&K Bank, posted at the Corporate office of J&K Bank near TRC, Srinagar. She had two children, a son and a daughter. The Resistance Force terrorists killed her on October 7th, 2021, amidst the targeted killing. Deepak Chand Mehra, son of Lal Chand, had an apartment at Indra Nagar (rented accommodation), PS RM Bagh, Srinagar and was posted as a teacher on his first appointment since September 12th, 2018, under PM Package at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Sangam, Eidgah, PS Safakadal, Srinagar. His family comprised his wife, Sangeeta, a daughter aged about three years and a mother who stays at their native place in Jammu. He was killed inside the school amidst the TRF's targeted killing on October 7th, 2021. Makhan Lal Bindroo, son of Rakeshwar Nath Bindroo, was a 70-year-old Kashmiri Pandit living in Kashmir valley for ages. He was a famous pharmacist and used to have his medicine shop at Hari Singh High Street earlier. Later, he expanded his business and opened Bindroo Brother Health zone Opposite Iqbal Park, PS Shergarhi. He was one of the Kashmiri Pandit family, which didn't migrate even at the peak of militancy in the '90s and continued their business/medical shop. Makhan Lal Bindroo's two children, Dr Sidharath Bindroo (Diabetologist), practising at the Iqbal Park, Jawahar Nagar, Shergarhi and Dr Smriddhi Bindroo. Dr Smriddhi Bindroo is an Associate Professor of Medicine at PGI Chandigarh. The terrorists of TRF killed him on October 5th, 2021. New Delhi: India on Wednesday, October 13, flayed China for making comments on "unrelated issues vis-a-vis visit of Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu, to Arunachal Pradesh. "We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," MEA spokesman. Arindam Bagchi said in response to a media query about the Chinese foreign ministry spokespersons comments on the recent visit of Vice President Mr Nadu to Arunachal Pradesh. "Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," he said. Further, he said: "....as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements". Therefore, he said, India expects the Chinese side to work towards "early resolution" of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols "rather than trying to link unrelated issues. At the recent military levels on border issues on October 10, the Indian side maintained a clear and assertive posture telling China that "the situation along the LAC had been caused by unilateral" attempts by Beijing to alter the status quo. During the meeting, the Indian side also "made constructive suggestions" for resolving the pending issues 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 MEA statement had said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said with regard to Mr Venkaihah Naidu's visit: "The Chinese government never recognises the so-called Arunachal Pradesh established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side, and is firmly opposed to the Indian leaders visits to the area concerned. We urge the Indian side to earnestly respect Chinas major concerns, stop taking any action that would complicate and expand the boundary issue, and refrain from undermining mutual trust and bilateral relations". China's foreign policy is generally guided by its policy towards India and Pakistan. Beijing does not regard Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and in 2017 had objected to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's visit to the northeastern state. The Dalai Lama was on a 12-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2017 amid objections from China. China had also objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in February 2019. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has slammed former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her comments concerning the drugs-on-cruise case and alleged that she had been silent on targeted killings of civilians by terrorists in the Valley. Mishra, who paid tributes to Vijaya Raje Scindia at her memorial on her birth anniversary on Tuesday, told reporters that the people were taking note of remarks of Mehbooba Mufti. "You are silent on deaths, but chose to speak on drug cases, this shows your intentions. In Jammu and Kashmir, people are being killed after seeing their identity but she does not say anything. She has spoken about the drugs case. The country is seeing everything. All the people with disruptive mentality are indirectly supporting the tukde-tukde gang. We will crush this mentality," Mishra said. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti had referred to the drugs-on-cruise case in which Aryan Khan is in judicial custody and said in a tweet that members of Muslim community were being targeted for vote bank politics. Answering another query, Mishra said fears of power being disrupted due to coal shortage were unfounded and both the Centre and state governments have said that reserve coal stock is maintained. (ANI) Mahagauri is considered the eighth incarnation of Goddess Durga, which means the one extremely bright. New Delhi: Goddess Mahagauri will be worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri (Ashtami) on Wednesday (October 13). Mahagauri is considered the eighth incarnation of Goddess Durga. The name 'Mahagauri' means the one extremely bright. She mounts on the ox. Mahagauri appears in many forms. A Minto Road Puja Committee member in Delhi said, "We make special bhog for Ashtami. We also offer Halua Puri after special Puja. Devotees are allowed in limited numbers as we are following COVID-19 guidelines issued by DDMA." The celebrations of Sharad (autumn) Navratri involve worshipping Goddess Durga and her nine forms Shardiya Navratri begins from the first date of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month, in which the divine forms of Maa Durga are worshipped for nine days. However, this year Navratri will last only for eight days, which have started on October 7 and end on October 14. Courtesy: ANI The basic assumption behind the recent Doha dialogue Washington and Brussels had with the representatives of current Afghan regime seems to be that the Taliban , now in power in Kabul , can be relied upon in negotiations. One finds any such assumption is absolutely fallacious . Impartial observers say the United States and the European Union need to bear in mind the ideological radical Islamist nature of the Taliban and its pattern of functioning. Contrary to the promises it held out recently, the Taliban has not cared to form an inclusive government. It has also not kept its promise not to let any groups use the Central Asian state for any terror attack. The recent series of terror attacks, including the ones on Kabuls international airport and a Shiite mosque in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz , claimed to have been masterminded by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), suffice to substantiate the Talibans approach in this regard. It would be naive to expect that the Taliban could be different from al-Qaeda and the Islamic State or the IS-K. The Taliban continues to share with these violent Islamist groups a common ideologyeliminate whoever does not believe in their fanatical version of Islam and establish Islamic rule based on Sharia law. History bears out the Taliban had been aligned with al-Qaeda. The Islamic State came to be established in 2014, when some of the Taliban commanders defected to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The IS-K is a self-proclaimed branch of the Islamic State . The 'K' in its name stands for Khorasan to represent the affiliate of IS in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ISIS is a mere by-product of al-Qaeda. After the US-led intervention in Afghanistan and until their exit in August this year, Western counterterrorism agencies were being successful , to a great extent, in reducing al-Qaedas ability to attack the West. This forced al-Qaeda to shift its external operations to supporting local jihadist groups. Given its ideology and past behaviour , the Taliban is likely to attempt realising its jihadist- expansionist ambition in the region. Today, some Taliban leaders , such as co-founder of the Taliban, Abdul Ghani Baradar, who recently reportedly met CIA Director William J. Burns, may talk of acting tough on the ISIS. But they cannot dare to antagonise them . Too many Afghan Talibans are close to ISIS. The Afghan Talibans are close also to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a coalition of Pakistan-based Pashtun Islamist groups. Like the Afghan Taliban, the TTP shares the ideology of the ISIS for an Islamic state. The observers suggest the morality of the contemporary civilization demands the United States, the European Union and other major world powers to devise an appropriate mechanism to deal with the present Taliban misrule in Kabul. The Taliban regime constitutes a serious threat to peace and humanity in Afghanistan and the world. This threat must be eliminated at the earliest. The observers add the international community would do well to heed the advice Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave at the Italy-hosted G-20 summit on Afghanistan ( October 12). Modi observed at the summit Afghanistan today required unhindered humanitarian assistance. His advice needs urgent consideration. Authentic reports have it that the situation in Afghanistan is grim . Under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, sufferings of the masses have increased. There is a huge shortage of food and medicines in the country. The international community must reach out to the people of Afghanistan and save them from the Taliban. (The author is a Delhi-based journalist ) Muslim students attacked Bharat Singh and his friend after leaving the school and threatened to kill him. Agar Malwa: An FIR has been registered against a group of Muslim students for assaulting their schoolmates over chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' at a prayer meeting in Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday (October 13). As per information shared by police, in a private school here, some boys did not chant the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' after the national anthem, following which there was a ruckus among the students for not raising the slogans. "After leaving school, some Muslim students along with other people attacked a student named Bharat Singh Rajput and his friends and beat them up with sticks near Kasai Mohalla after school. Also, they said that what is Mother India, who are you to tell us to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai and they also threatened to kill them," said the police. Badod station in-charge Vivek Kanodia informed that nine known and nine unknown people were booked on charges of rioting and assault. Kanodia added that the police have registered a case under different sections against Tahir, Azhar, Shakeel, Pintu, Shofi, Raja and others based on the complaint lodged by Bharat Singh. FIR has been registered in the case. Further investigation into the matter is underway. Courtesy: ANI Sarsanghchalak was speaking on Tuesday (October 12) in Delhi at the launch of the book "Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition by Uday Mahurkar and Chirayu Pandit". Veer Savarkar was a nationalist and rationalist to the core, but a section has made a concerted effort since Independence to defame him, said Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday (October 12) in Delhi. Since his school days, Veer Savarkar had decided to devote his life to the service of the motherland, and he never looked back, he added. Sarsanghchalak was speaking in Delhi at the launch of the book "Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition by Uday Mahurkar and Chirayu Pandit", published by Rupa Publications. Speaking about the ideas of Veer Savarkar, Sarsanghchalak said Veer Savarkar did not use the term "Hindutva" for any religion, but it represented the cultural and civilisational identity of India. He added, "It is fashionable to talk about Swami Vivekananda's Hindutva, Swami Dayanand Saraswati's Hindutva etc but there is just one Hindutva and that is Sanatan." Speaking at the same event, the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said people of a particular ideology have had made multiple attempts to defame Veer Savarkar, and many lies were spread about him, but the truth about Veer Savarkar is emerging. Rajnath Singh said Veer Savarkar's views about government were there should be no discrimination based on religious or cultural identity. Sarsanghchalak said Veer Savarkar believed in the wellbeing of all and the appeasement of none. Veer Savarkar was a very practical person and advocated that the wellbeing of the country should be the foundation of our foreign policy. Rajnath Singh said, "Veer Savarkar advocated that our national interest should be the core of our foreign policy. Any country should be considered friend only if it was helping in achieving our national goals." He also said that after the country got Independence, intellectuals of a certain ideology spread canards about him, saying he was a weak person and begged for mercy from Britishers. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Veer Savarkar was sentenced to life imprisonment twice. And he filed for a routine mercy petition on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. But, some people never stopped spreading canards about him." He added, Veer Savarkar was a Mahanayak, is a Mahanayak and will always remain a Mahanayak. Talking about Akhand Bharat, Sarsanghchalak said Akhand Bharat is the need of the world. Veer Savarkar emphasised the country's military strength and advocated policies strengthening the country's military might. He was a social reformer, too, as he strongly advocated for women's empowerment and opposed discrimination based on caste and gender. He campaigned for entry of all in the temples. Sarsanghchalak also said that those defaming Veer Savarkar wouldn't stop at him, and their next target would be Swami Vivekanand, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Yogi Arvind, as Veer Savarkar drew his ideological inspiration from them. The word puja is Sanskrit, and means reverence, honour, homage, adoration and worship. Due to the intellectual depravity of artists and puja committees in Kolkata, West Bengal, we get to watch in horror that reverence, honour and worship seem to have become synonymous with shoes and Chappals. Dumdum Park Bharat Chakra puja dares to use shoes and Chappals to decorate the Durga devi pandals of homage and reverence. Should we hope the artist Anirban Das of Dumdum Park Bharat Chakra puja pandal and of course the puja committee that includes Joyjit Das, Prasanta Sirkar, Arjun Goon, Pratik Chaudhuri, Gourab Ghosh, amongst them, probably would not mind accepting a single chaapal as acknowledgement for endeavours in office or otherwise. They have not only shamed the puja committee but every organization they work for. Some of these qualified but ill educated members of Dumdum Park Bharat Chakra puja committee would benefit if they read Sri Sri Chandi which specifies the exact form of Devi Durga in Murti Rahasyam. The liberty of Hindus has been taken for granted for so long that today we see a whole lot of puppetry with the excuse of theme pujas. The Shastras do not give the leeway that some puja committees end up with, in effect hurting Hindu sentiments in the name of artistic license which works as a proxy for political beliefs. West Bengal after almost half a century of Communist and Anti-Hindu rule does not fear to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu community, given that there is no punishment meted out by Indian judiciary or any other hindu aggressive body, like the death fatwas that would ensue if anyone draws the picture of prophet Muhammad. Due to this inherent weakness called toleration,Hindu reverence has been brought down to the knees by political and jihadi activists in guise of artistry. If Hindus do not allow shoes in temples, it is simply understood that any temporary place of worship, like the pandals, must follow the same rule. Surprisingly all artistic licence must be applied to Hindu worship and never on Muslim or other communities. Have you ever seen picture of Prophet Muhammad in Puja Pandals that play Muslim azaan or are decorated with Muslim symbols? If disrespect of Hindu faith and belief becomes a continuous affair, it is very simple to understand the jihadi support of some political opportunists who disguise as Hindus but will not take time to become a turn coat. High time the Hindu Asmita reasserts itself and force the Parliament to pass strict laws against such crimes and ensure every thana take immediate cognizance to stop such nuisances and seal these areas so that Hindu sentiments do not get further pained by such inappropriate displays. Political mileage cannot be achieved in any country by hurting the religious sentiments of another, especially so must be in secular India. Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a 43-year-old nonprofit education and advocacy organization that works for improved government transparency and citizen accountability. He can be reached at IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com. Do you appreciate the work we do as the only independent media outlet dedicated to serving OU students, faculty, staff and alumni on campus and around the world for more than 100 years? Then consider helping fund our endeavors. Around the world, communities are grappling with what journalism is worth and how to fund the civic good that robust news organizations can generate. We believe The OU Daily and Crimson Quarterly magazine provide real value to this community both now by covering OU, and tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. If youre able, please SUPPORT US TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1. You can make a one-time donation or a recurring pledge. The Village of Sanfords rebuilding process quickly transformed on presentation screens displayed in a conference room on Saginaw Valley State Universitys campus. The Great Lakes Bay region had an opportunity to take a closer look at local business efforts over the last 17 months made in response to the May 2020 dam failures. Midland area business representatives were in attendance to share how companies and organizations contributed to the overall effort to restore mid Michigan communities after the dam failures. The Four Lakes Disaster: Celebrating the Heroic Response of Business event was held on Tuesday at Saginaw Valley State University and broadcasted online through Zoom. Emcee Mark Sauter said half of the attendees were in Curtiss (sic) Hall on SVSUs campus and the other half of attendees were on Zoom. The event encouraged attendees to pause, reflect and celebrate the recent efforts made by businesses to restore communities in Midland and Gladwin counties. One of the speakers, Village of Sanfords President Dolores Porte spoke at the event and in a video presentation displayed on screens in the conference room. I was amazed at all of the local companies that came with all of their equipment and the retirees that came to run the equipment, said Porte in the video presentation. Everyone came to the rescue. People from out-of-state (and) people from downstate they spent weeks here in hotels ... their personal time with their personal equipment. It was pretty amazing, showing the love to our community when we were facing devastation. Saginaw Valley State Universitys College of Business welcomed its regional neighbors to discuss how conscious capitalism played a role in the crisis response. According to its Great Lakes Bay Region Chapter, conscious capitalism focuses on elevating society through business-related efforts. Other speakers shared local stories of conscious capitalism. The other speakers included the President of Three Rivers Corp. Jon Lynch, Business Development Manager Chris Moultrup with Three Rivers Corp. and Vice President John Waskevich at Fisher Contracting Co. Porte said Michigan businesses from "every sector" came out to support communities in Midland and Gladwin counties, including a Detroit food company and Deja Vu coalitions. She also included local groups, such as Dows Pulling Your Weight initiative and Delta Colleges role in painting the Sanford Mural, in her remarks. There's still a lot of rebuilding going on not just physical but emotional rebuilding, said Porte. A lot of camaraderie has come from this event, its been almost a year and people are still going strong. One example of camaraderie has been the different Sanford-based groups to come from the dam failure crisis. For example, the Sanford Strong Facebook group, which is now a non-profit organization as well, was created by Sanford residents. And one of the businesses that was early to Sanfords response was Three Rivers Corp., said Porte. Lynch said Three Rivers Corp. used its relationships to contribute to the local response. The credo of conscious capitalism is that we believe in business, he said. (Business is) good because it creates value, it's ethical because it's based on a voluntary exchange, it's noble because it can elevate our existence and it's heroic because it lifts people out of poverty and creates prosperity. When Moultrup initially went to Sanford to help with the rebuilding process, he recalled a honeymoon effect. He said most of the rebuilding efforts taking place appeared complete, just one month after the dam failures. During the event, Moultrup said Porte brought Three Rivers Corp. representatives to portions of Downtown Sanford which needed help in June 2020. From there, he said they were brought to the South Cedar neighborhood in Sanford. On the screen during the event, images of a five-acre plot were shown to illustrate the need in this neighborhood. Moultrup said this area was a catch all for debris and water that came from the Sanford dam failure. He said at the time, he called multiple organizations and people to help fit the equipment needs. People are still working nonstop to try and recover this community, said Moultrup toward the end of his remarks. The event spotlighted other Michigan businesses and their efforts toward rebuilding Midland and Gladwin communities after the dam failures. Some of the businesses included Tri-Star Trust, Frankenmuth Credit Union, Covenant Healthcare and more. Porte also highlighted the following Sanford initiatives, including: Sanford Shines, Sanford Grows, Sanford Builds and Sanford Rising. J.W. Fisher was a planned speaker on behalf of Fisher Contracting Co., event organizers said he could not attend. Waskevich replaced Fisher for the Tuesday presentation. Lynch is also the former city of Midland manager. Moultrup is also a member of the city of Midlands Downtown Development Authority board. The event honored other businesses and organizations, which were not mentioned in the program, by asking representatives from each to stand after the presentations. By the end, all in-person attendees were standing. This was not a celebration of just these stories, it was a celebration of this room and everybody virtually in this and beyond, said Sauter, who is also the president of GTP Associates, Inc. based in Midland. If youre interested in learning more about conscious capitalism, visit consciouscapitalism.org/chapter/glbr. The GLBR chapter will hold a virtual team workshop from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 26. Midland County had 104 new COVID-19 cases reported from Oct. 12-13. COVID-19 numbers reported from Oct. 12-13: Midland County: 104 cases were added; pandemic total is 8,941 cases, 815 probable cases, 120 deaths and six probable deaths. Bay County: 142 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 13,050 cases, 965 probable cases, 362 deaths and 15 probable deaths. Gladwin County: 32 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 2,565 cases, 520 probable cases, 64 deaths and four probable deaths. Isabella County: 93 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 7,135 cases, 1,314 probable cases, 103 deaths and six probable deaths. Saginaw County: 235 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 24,203 cases, 1,846 probable cases, 637 deaths and 21 probable deaths. The state added 8,671 cases and 110 deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday. Overall, Michigan is at 1,073,228 cases and 21,459 deaths. Recovered According to the Midland County Health Department website, which was updated Oct. 11, 8,402 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. The state reported that as of Oct. 8, a total of 945,175 persons have recovered. Testing Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Oct. 11 was listed at 15%, and Gladwin County's was listed at 19%. Our 12-county region was listed at 18% and Michigan was at 11%. MidMichigan Health statistics As of Oct. 11, MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having an 83% bed occupancy, with 39 COVID patients and seven in the ICU. MidMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 25% bed occupancy, with three COVID patients and none in the ICU. Both medical centers reported having at least 15-30 days worth of personal protection equipment (N95, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection) on hand. Schools As of Tuesday, Midland Public Schools reported 151 staff/students were in close contact to an individual who was confirmed COVID-19 positive, and 34 staff/students currently tested positive for the virus. Schools with one or more staff/students confirmed positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday include Dow High (2), Midland High (2), Jefferson Middle (1), Northeast Middle (9), Adams Elementary (2), Central Park Elementary (4), Chestnut Hill Elementary (3), Plymouth Elementary (4), Siebert Elementary (3) and Woodcrest Elementary (4). Bullock Creek reported on Wednesday that there are two staff members and 25 students who are active confirmed cases. There are also 71 students (but no staff members) currently in quarantine. Schools with one or more confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday include Bullock Creek Elementary (2), Floyd Elementary (3), Pine River Elementary (4), Bullock Creek Middle School (4) and Bullock Creek High School (15). Midland County vaccinations The Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard lists Midland's completed vaccine rate is 66.6%. Currently, the vaccines are not authorized to be given to those under age 12. Midland County Health Department is hosting a weekly walk-in COVID vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland. Future COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Midland County are listed at www.co.midland.mi.us/HealthDepartment/COVIDVaccineInformation.aspx. Those with questions may call 989-832-6380 or email MCDPH@co.midland.mi.us. A new car wash and a Master Plan review was on the docket of discussion for the Midland Planning Commission this week. The commission met on Tuesday at Midland City Hall to review the results of the first phase on the master planning process, along with a car wash site plan that needed more changes to be accepted by the commission. Commissioners also voted on previously introduced site plans. Master plan Director of Planning & Community Development Grant Murschel presented an overview City staff has done with the master plan. The master plan is meant to guild the city for future city design and community development. Currently, the City is in the Imagine It phase of the process, or when the City collects broad data from residents to form a broad vision. Murschel said the City has conducted six surveys relating to either the City Modern plan or the Parks and Recreation Departments master planning process. These reached a total of 2,553 respondents. With the city modern plan, the City conducted surveys on neighborhoods and livability, transportation and mobility, and sustainability and resiliency. Some key takeaways on what residents wanted included: Building and repairing sidewalks. Improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on main roads. Providing a balanced transportation system for driving, biking, walking and public transit. Park maintenance. Equitable developments. Economic and business development. Sewer improvements and flood mitigation. Commissioners had some questions regarding this plan and suggested other topics they would like explored. Commissioner James Bain wanted to inquire about neighborhood preservation, with commissioner Aerial Fields adding that the City should avoid any future potential gentrification issues. Bain also expressed interest for exploring electric vehicle chargers in the city. The commissioners decided they would like a summary of the areas the commission wants to focus on and how else the City can get public engagement. This will be discussed at the commissions next regular meeting on Oct. 26. Tommys Car Wash The site plan for Tommys Car Wash is being planned for 1303 and 1405 S. Saginaw Road, and the building will take up 4,500 square feet. The lot is currently vacant and the applicant is Holland Engineering. However, Murschel said there were several outstanding items in the plan. One of them is the driveway, with the spacing being non-compliant with the Citys commercial driveway standards. Murschel said City staff would also like the petitioner to complete a traffic impact analysis for the area. Other outstanding items include an additional fire hydrant to comply with the fire code, a photometric plan, a bike rack and a pedestrian connection from the public sidewalk along South Saginaw Road. The petitioner asked for 30 days to re-work the plan before presenting it to the commission. Other planning commission business: This article has been updated to reflect that one of the proposed State House maps would group all of Midland County, including the Midland city limits, and the lower portion of Gladwin county together in one district. Despite the intent of a partisan-free process, newly proposed maps have Midland political leaders divided over party lines, not just district lines. Michigan's redistricting panel released the proposed maps Monday for public comment, offering various maps for U.S. Congressional, state Senate and state House maps. These maps have left some political leaders here satisfied, but have left others concerned about the city of Midland being separated from the rest of the county. While the state Senate/House and U.S. Congressional districts each have multiple proposed maps, the districts for Midland County remain the same for all the proposed maps in each category, apart from the stat house maps. For instance, the U.S. Congressional district that includes the city of Midland also includes Bay City, Saginaw, Frankenmuth, a portion of the Thumb, and Flint, according to the Detroit News. The rest of Midland County would be in a district that would include Ionia, Houghton Lake, and Ludington, among other areas. The state Senate map groups the Tri-Cities area together, including portions of Bay and Midland counties. The rest of Midland County would be included in a mid-Michigan district that includes Mount Pleasant, Big Rapids, Evart, Gladwin, and Baldwin, according to the Detroit News. Finally, the state House district would be a small sliver that groups the city of Midland with Bay City in two of the proposed maps, with a portion of U.S.-10 in between. The rest of Midland County would be grouped with the northern part of Bay County. However, one of the maps would group all of Midland County, including the Midland city limits, and the lower portion of Gladwin county together in one district. Jennifer Austin, the chairperson of the Midland County Democratic Party, said she is overall satisfied with how the maps turned out, calling them a vast improvement over the current districts. Overall, she thinks the maps will make elections fairer. For instance, she said the state Senate district currently is ridiculously gerrymandered, stretching all the way to the northern coast of the Lower Peninsula, close to the Mackinac Bridge. Grouping the Tri-Cities area is a good thing, she said. Under the proposed map, the state House district for the City of Midland would become a competitive district between Democrats and Republicans, Austin said. However, Cathy Leikhim, chairperson of the Midland County Republican Party, is not happy with how the process has been or the results of the maps. She is concerned about the city of Midland being separated from the rest of Midland County, saying that the district panel has put partisan fairness over community interests. She is not happy about the state House district, for instance, calling the shape of it a robot arm. She said districts should be drawn based on communities, not party lines. The district in the Midland area only needed to be tweaked to reflect the new census data, Leikhim said. She is concerned that separating Midland from other mid-Michigan communities will dilute Midlands voice in politics. Separating the city of Midland from the rest of the county makes absolutely no sense, Leikhim said. One need only watch the nightly news to see that our community has a different set of issues than do Flint, Saginaw and Bay City. One issue Leikhim is worried about with Midland representation is flooding, a concern shared by Midland Mayor Maureen Donker. Donker said she is concerned about the city of Midland being split away from the rest of Midland County and from Gratiot County, with whom the city shares a watershed. Donker is concerned since she said Midland has different needs than other communities. For the next 10 years, our major focus is flooding and how we respond to that, and it's going to take us 10 years, Donker said. That is our community interest, and to be put with Bay City, Saginaw, or Flint is not helpful to us. However, Austin said the talk of separating the city limits from the rest of the county is a GOP talking point. While she understands the concerns over the flooding, she said the watershed affects other communities in the proposed districts as well. She added that these districts should not only consider what is best for communities, but what is best for the state as a whole as well. The community is not just the city of Midland, or just just the county of Midland, Austin said. It is the entire state of Michigan. You really need to take a step back and look at not only our concerns on a personal level, our concerns on a city level, or our concerns on a county level, but our concerns as citizens of Michigan. The maps will move to public hearings starting Oct. 20 and running through late October, according to the Detroit News. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin. Thursday, Oct. 7 9:17 p.m. Deputies conducted a traffic stop in a Lincoln Township location that resulted in the 46-year-old Larkin township male driver being arrested for operating while intoxicated. The male was transported to the Midland County Jail where he was lodged without incident. A report was turned over to the Midland Couonty Prosecutors Office for review. 7:55 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Hope township residence for a report of a domestic dispute between a 59-year-old Hope Township male and a 57-year-old Hope Township female. Both parties were separated, and a report was completed and sent to the prosecutor's office for review. 7:33 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to speak with a 38-year-old female in reference to her 51-year-old ex-husband leaving her vulgar voicemails. The female was advised to block his number, and to obtain a personal protection order through the civil courts. 5:43 p.m. Officers responded to a death investigation on Townsend Street. 3:15 p.m. Deputy dispatched to a Larkin Township roadway for a lost and confused 75-year-old Midland male. EMS was requested and it was determined the male was having a diabetic issue. EMS was able to get his sugar level up and his wife arrived and drove him home. 2:42 p.m. Officers responded to a driver operating without a license in the area of Wheeler Street and Trotters Pointe. 1:48 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to the area of West Pine River Road near W. Bradford Road for the report of a verbal argument. The deputy spoke with a 23-year-old male after he and his 23-year-old wife got into a verbal argument while driving down the road. He said that he pulled the car over and called the police No assault occurred. 12:28 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to the area of South Grey Road near East Stewart Road for the report of a two-vehicle traffic crash. 12:17 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Hope Township residence in reference to a breaking and entering complaint. Deputies spoke to the complainant, a 60-year-old Hope Township female, who advised someone had broken into her pole barn. The female said approximately $1,150 worth of property was taken from the pole barn. No suspects were identified. 11:42 a.m. A 44-year-old Edenville Township male reported his wife entered their home today and took property. They are in the process of divorce. The female has moved out, but there is still property there. There is no court order preventing her from coming or going, and the male was advised of this fact. 11:30 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence to serve a 39-year-old Lee Township male personal protection order paperwork. Deputies contacted the male, and he was served his copy of the personal protection order without incident. Isabella County was notified that the personal protection order was served. 9:07 a.m. Deputies received several calls regarding two subjects walking in the roadway. The subjects were flipping off drivers, yelling at them, and standing in the middle of the roadway causing a hazard. The subjects were located and given a ride. The male was a 23-year-old from Farwell and the female was a 27-year-old from Homer Township. 7:17 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township roadway reference a traffic hazard. The complaint said two juveniles were walking near the roadway while wearing dark clothing. Deputies checked the area, and the juveniles were not located. 6:49 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence reference a suspicious situation. Prior to deputys arrival, the complainant, a 49-year-old Mills Township male, advised Central Dispatch that his neighbors are possibly hacking into his phone and sending him messages for help. Upon arrival, deputies learned that none of this was true and the male was possibly experiencing mental health issues. The male refused EMS and said he was fine. 4:28 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township location reference a 23-year-old male reporting a larceny in progress. Deputies arrived on the scene, but the unknown suspect was already gone from the scene. The suspect attempted to steal a cold air intake, and a car battery that were both returned to the owner. This case is still an open investigation. 2:39 a.m. Officers responded to a driver operating without a license in the area of East Ellsworth and Ashman streets. 12:49 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence in reference to a 30-year-old female reporting her 31-year-old ex-boyfriend was driving by her house and calling her. The female wished for the deputies not to contact the male. The female was referred to the civil courts for a personal protection order. 12:01 a.m. A deputy responded to a Mills Township residence for a 55-year-old Mills Township male who reported an unknown male was knocking on his door. The deputy checked the area, and the unknown male was unable to be located. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Although coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths continue to decline, vaccine inequity persists, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, calling for greater support for developing countries La Paz County lost a deputy in the early morning hours Monday the first in the line of duty since the office was founded in 1983 but coworkers and friends say the community also lost a dedicated family man with a wife and six kids, a man of faith, a military veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, an avid outdoorsman, and a moonshine aficionado. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions (Click on image above to Enlarge) China's Shanxi Province has been hit by heavy rains in recent days, causing more than 1.75 million people to be affected. After Chinese Internet giants such as Tencent and Ant have recently announced donations to help Shanxi, Apple CEO Tim Cook also posted on Sina Weibo today to announce his follow-up. A Taiwanese report this morning notes that earlier today, Apple's CEO Tim Cook posted a bilingual article in Chinese and English on his Weibo: "As the Shanxi region gradually recovers, we want to do our part to support disaster relief and help reconstruction. Apple will donate money to help affected communities." According to official statistics from Shanxi Province, a total of 1,757,100 people were affected by heavy rains, 120,100 people were urgently transferred and resettled, another 2,849,600 mu of crops were damaged, and more than 17,000 houses collapsed. Chinese Internet leader Tencent Technology took the lead in the 10th micro-channel public number announced, the Group's charity foundation will donate 50 million yuan (about NT $ 215 million yuan) assistance Shanxi. Subsequently, Internet companies such as Bytedance, Baidu, Pinduoduo, Alibaba, and Ant Group also announced donations. The High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom (UK), Papa Owusu-Ankomah has said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement was shifting the narrative of African from a continent of challenges and gaps to one of opportunities and prospects. He said Africa now has counties with the fastest growing economies in the world, the most youthful population globally and a very fast-growing middle class. These facts, he said together with the AfCFTA which gives African firms free access to the one of the largest markets in the world make the continent an attractive investment destination on many fronts. Mr Owusu-Ankomah who said this at the maiden Ghana Diaspora Investment Meeting held in London, therefore, urged Ghanaian diasporans to take advantage of the opportunities and the platform AfCFTA agreement presents and play an important role in trade and foreign direct investment in Ghana. He said diasporans all over the world and in the UK in particular were welcome to join and contribute to this historic endeavour of fostering a strong and sustainable African integration by creating entrepreneurships as well as transferring new knowledge and skills within the African Market with Ghana as the gateway. He said African diaspora with its globalised exposure, outlook, skills and network has a key contribution to make to the continents present endeavour to speed up economic development. As diasporans it is now our turn to pay back and demonstrate to the world that our commitment to our country is only by word of mouth and rectorate but it is backed by action by putting our money where our mouth is, he said. Diasporans should serve as market entry facilitators, importers, distributors and co-investors for the African initiatives while targeting global markets, he added According to the High Commissioner, Ghanas strategic location being located at the centre of the World and she being the host of the AfCFTA Secretariat makes her a more competitive destination for diaspora investment. He said two credit rating agencies, Modes Investment Services and Standard and Poors, confirmed that Ghana was a good investment destination with credit ratings as B3 and B- respectively, in mid-September. He said the two agencies, in making their decision, noted the efforts of the government of Ghana to build back better for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the initiatives including Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support. He added that Ghana was noted by the two credit rating agencies to be recovering from the pandemic faster than its peers in Africa because the measure the government had put in place were working which further strengths Ghanas credentials as an attractive and preferred destination to invest. Mr Owusu-Ankomah, however noted that there also risk and challenges involved in investing in Ghana. He said over the years some investors who did not adhere to the rather comprehensive investment process and legal framework which can be access on the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) but have rather tried to cut corners sadly ended up been spoliated. He added some potential investors rather fail to undertake adequate research in the sector they desire to invest in while others because of their excessive high expectations run out of patients too quickly when they face the least heddle. In a remark the UK Trade envoy to Ghana, Baroness Kate Hoey said the British Ghanaian Diaspora had an important role to play in Ghanas development and the importance of the diaspora in mobilising investment to accelerate Ghanas economic transformation can could not be over emphasis. This is highlighted by the Year of Return activities which according to reports injected about $1.5 billion into Ghanas Economy, she added She further stated that notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, remittances to Ghana increased by five percent to $3.6 billion in 2020, accounting for five percent of Ghanas GDP which demonstrates very clearly how much an important role the diaspora lend investment can play. According to Madam Hoey the UK being one of the green financial centres of the world reminded committed to collaborating with Ghana on low carbon development opportunities to bring green financial opportunities to Ghana. The maiden Ghana Diaspora Investment Meeting was organised by the GIPC and the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) to deepened the awareness and potential of the diaspora direct investment in Ghana. Source: B&FT 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 STC Boss, Nana Akomea, has made a shocking revelation of the company's expenses on fuel. The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) recently called for the government to remove the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL) to curb the persistent petroleum products' price hikes. The two key indicators, that is international market prices and foreign exchange differentials, are all likely to affect average pump prices of petroleum products by between 2% to 3% or (10p/Litre for both products) in this second pricing window of September 2021. This would likely translate to reviewed figures by the various Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) as those selling at current prices for gasoline and gasoil at GH6.38 could be reviewed upwards to between GH6.45/-GH6.52/L for both Gasoline and Gasoil, a COPEC statement read. Nana Akomea, like COPEC, is equally worried about the petrol price increases. According to him, the State Transport Corporation (STC) spends millions of cedis on fueling its buses and what is more shocking is that these millions are expended in two weeks. "We pay GHc 2 million to Goil every two weeks," he disclosed on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''. Nana Akomea also expressed worry over the company's losses as a result of the border closure arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated; ''In the last 17 months, from March last year, we've lost over 42 million cedis because of the border closure''. This, he said, indicating that STC incurs a huge cost in running its business. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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 Opportunity International Savings and Loans (OISL) as part of its corporate mission to transform the lives of smallholder farmers through its Agriculture finance programme has organized a farmers forum for cocoa farmers. The Agricultural programme which started in 2010 has disbursed a cumulative loans amounting to GHS190 million to 161,000 smallholder farmers and SMEs businesses in the various Agriculture value chains. During this years crop season, OISL disbursed a total of GHS 42 million to farmers with GHS 24 million going to cocoa farmers alone. The rationale behind the farmers forum was to engage with farmers to solicit their feedback on OISLs partnership and support for them and also to train them on the use of the digital mobile banking as an alternative means for their financial services. A total of 830 cocoa farmers from Bogoso, Mankessim, Akim Oda, Nkawkaw, Koforidua and Bekwai benefited from the forum. The training program included taking farmers through the use of the Opportunity mobile platform (a USSD mobile platform that allows financial transactions on mobile phones) on how to make loan repayments, savings, check account balances, transfer money from their accounts to wallet with the benefit of saving the farmer the risk, time and money of having to travel for long distances to perform basic financial transactions at a branch. Women farmers who participated actively during the sessions were presented with free mobile phones as a way to encourage women participation and adoption on the digital services. The institution has given out over 700 phones to farmers as part of its campaign to promote the use of Digital financial services. Mr. Ebenezer Laryea, the Head of the Agricultural Finance for Opportunity International Savings and Loans, in his remarks edged farmers to inculcate the habit of repaying their loans on time so that the Institution can sustain its lending programs to them. Mrs. Sakina Mandanda, the Africa Regional AgFinance Risk Advisor of Opportunity International, also encouraged the farmers to see farming as a business so that they can plough back the income into the business for further growth. The clients on their part were full of gratitude to OISL for the immense contribution towards the growth of the business through the provision of loans and financial services supported by training in financial literacy and good agricultural practices. Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd (OISL) is a leading savings and loans company in Ghana. OISL is at the forefront of delivering transformational nancial services to help transform the lives of clients. It was licensed by the Bank of Ghana in June 2004. Over the last three years, the institution scooped 27 prestigious awards including The Savings and Loans Company of the Year from the Chartered Institute Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and Ghana Business Awards. Source: 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 The legal proposal, dispatched on the eve of the European Union setting out its own plans, comes amid vehement opposition to the so-called Northern Ireland protocol from some in the British province. It follows months of demands by London for the pact to be revised to change the rules around internal UK trade and the arbitration mechanisms governing it. In a speech in Lisbon, Brexit minister David Frost argued the new text worked "with the grain" of the existing deal, but would "deliver significant change" and put it on a "durable footing". "Without new arrangements in this area, no protocol will ever have the support across Northern Ireland it needs to survive," he said, reiterating warnings London could trigger a clause scrapping the agreement. "We would not go down this road gratuitously or with any particular pleasure," he said. "It is our fundamental responsibility to safeguard peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and that is why we cannot rest until the situation has been addressed." Britain voted to leave the EU in a landmark referendum in 2016. When it eventually departed from its rules and regulations at the start of 2021, the Northern Ireland protocol came into effect. It has kept the British-ruled province inside elements of the EU customs union and single market in order to prevent a hard border with EU member Ireland. The border was a former flashpoint in the sectarian conflict over British rule between pro-UK unionists and pro-Ireland nationalists, which wound down in 1998. 'No appetite' However, the protocol has required new checkpoints at ports in the region to stop the risk of goods from England, Scotland and Wales getting into the EU by the back door. Pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland say it has created a border in the Irish Sea that undermines the province's place in the wider UK, and strengthens pro-Irish republicans' case for a united Ireland. Frost denied Britain had agreed the protocol in December 2019 in bad faith without intending to implement it, insisting that it took "a risk" and blamed Brussels for its implementation. His proposed changes include allowing goods to circulate virtually freely between Northern Ireland and the rest of mainland Britain and removing the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as the scheme's ultimate arbiter. "For the EU now to say that the protocol -- drawn up in extreme haste in a time of great uncertainty -- can never be improved upon, when it is so self-evidently causing such significant problems, would be a historic misjudgement," he warned. His remarks came as the European Commission was poised to unveil its own plans Wednesday to accommodate British misgivings, with the mood in Brussels increasingly frustrated. "There is no appetite among the member states to be strung along by Britain," an EU diplomat told AFP on Monday. "The window for dialogue is closing and it's not good that even before the EU makes its proposal it is refused. "This proposal will be as far as the EU can take it." Source: AFP 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has in the past two months commissioned some factories under his governments flagship programme, 1 District 1 factory initiative. Some of the factories were built from scratch while others were revived from their almost dead state. GhanaWeb in this article outlines the 7 factories President Akufo-Addo commissioned during his regional tour of the nation beginning September to now. Rubber factory President Akufo-Addo on September 3, 2021, commissioned a $2.1 million rubber processing plant at Wassa Dompim in the Western region. The Ghanaian owned rubber company, Narubiz Rubber Factory has the capacity to process 20 tonnes of rubber a day and 6240 tonnes a year. The rubber can be exported to foreign countries like Malaysia, Turkey and Hong Kong. The income generated from this export amounts to $9.6 million. Phase 3 KEDA Ceramics Factory During the president's tour of the Western region four months ago, he opened Phase 3 of KEDA ceramics factory. The factory has employed 7,000 people both directly and indirectly, according to reports. The ceramics factory currently exports 60% of the tiles produced on the West African market. Rice Factory A 6.7 million rice processing factory was commissioned at Sefwi Akontombra in the Western region on September 5, 2021. It produces between 1.5 to 2.8 tonnes of processed rice in one hour. Reports say 118 people have been employed so far and over 600 farmers from the Akontombra district have been engaged to supply paddy rice for processing. Cassava factory CH Global Limited, a cassava and yam processing factory was commissioned by the President on September 9, 2021, at Addo Nkwanta in the Krachi East District of the Oti region. The facility is expected to process yams into frozen chips and yam balls. The first phase of the project aims at processing 120 yams per hour. This means that 216,000 tubers of yam will be processed for yam chips and yam balls in a year. Phase 2 of the project is expected to commence in 2022. Darko Farms During President Akufo-Addos tour of the Ashanti region, he visited the oldest and largest private poultry farm in Ghana, Darko farms. The government pumped GH18 million into the poultry farm to revamp the almost dead company. The financial support, which was channelled through the Ghana EXIM Bank, followed the inclusion of the company in the 1 District 1 Factory (1D1F) programme. The company, which faced operational challenges due to financial constraints prior to the capital injection was due for an additional GH4 million, to enable it expand and produce at maximum capacity. Garment factory A garment factory located in Koforidua was revamped on October 5, 2021. Maa Grace Company Limited specializes in the production of utility clothing, uniforms for security forces, hospital scrubs, uniforms for hotels, schools and the production of standardized uniforms. Shoe Factory President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, commissioned Shoe Fabriek Ltd. The GH6.2 million shoe manufacturing company operating under Governments 1D 1F initiative. It is producing 800 pairs of high-quality shoes, including security boots, school shoes and casual shoes for men, women, and children, per day. According to the promoters of the project, the siting of the factory in the Akuapem North District is going to create jobs for the residents, which will help reduce rural-urban migration. Shoe Fabriek, according to reports, has, so far, created jobs for one hundred and forty-four (144) people in the district. 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 Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has waded into the controversy surrounding the anti-LGBTQI+ bill laid before parliament. In his view, the bill in its current form is disturbing and too North Korean. In a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb, Manasseh Azure said, "Even if you don't support LGBTQ+, you should find the bill in its current form disturbing. It's too North Korean." Some people, including the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has noted that the bill needs some modifications as it is defective in its current state. He said the shortcomings ought to be fine-tuned before the bill is approved. The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 was presented to the Speaker on June 29, 2021, and got laid on Monday, August 2, 2021, for its first reading. The bill being sponsored by the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, wants the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalized in the country. Meanwhile, 18 prominent people have rejected the proposed anti-gay bill in parliament. Read Manasseh's post below. 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 Broadcaster and host of Ghana's number 1 morning show ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM, Kwami Sefa Kayi has advised the youth not to abuse and be abused by social media. Affectionately called 'Chairman General', Kwami Sefa Kayi educated the youth on the impact of social media during a graduation ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). Delivering a speech as the Guest Speaker at the UPSA 13th congregation ceremony, the celebrated journalist urged the graduates to use social media wisely as a tool to open better opportunities for themselves. ''What do you use your internet for? What do you use social media for? Is social media a tool for sensationalism for you? Is it a tool for excitement for you? Is it a tool that you're going to do to research, to build yourself, to improve yourself, to acquire more knowledge than what you have today?'', he asked. He cautioned them against using the internet to do things that will put them into disrepute and jeopardize their future. ''As the saying, the internet never forgets. The internet is good but it also has its dangerous sides. I entreat all of you today to begin to look or to rethink your relationship with social media, with the internet...it will always serve as a ready tool or a ready source of information. Becareful what you put there; becareful what you look out for there. Becareful what you find there!'' Mr. Sefa Kayi also presented the realities of life to the graduates as some may find jobs and others won't, challenging them to be resolute and persevere to become successful leaders. He charged them to work hard saying ''I still remember what my salary was 25 years ago. It's equivalent of 20 cedis today. At the time, it wasn't much. It still is not much but we began from somewhere. So, do not despise small beginnings. Challenge yourself; accept whatever situation you find yourself in but don't accept to remain there. Improve upon it, move beyond it and once you're at it, remember, things don't happen overnight''. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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 The leader of a group of professionals fighting against the passage of an anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Ghana, lawyer Akoto Ampaw, has stated that the populist approach being used in pursuit of LGBTQ+ criminalisation is a dangerous path for Ghana. According to lawyer Ampaw, the basis of the bill which he and his group argue threatens the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons. He, however, holds the view that such a justification for passing the bill into law sets the country on a dangerous path of precedent as it could prove fatal to the rights of any other minority group in the country going forward. "The case is being made that the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians do not like gays and therefore there should be a law against them. But we are saying that look, we are treading a very slippery road because if the view of Ghanaians is that anything that the overwhelming majority do not like should be criminalized, it means that the constitution has no place. And it means that today, a small minority group like the LGBTQ have been targeted and their very existence criminalized. Tomorrow, God forbid it could be some small religious group that people dont like, they will criminalise them contrary to the constitution. The next day it will be other minorities in the society, he stated on GTVs Breakfast Show monitored by GhanaWeb. Background Parliament is expected to discuss a Private Member's bill submitted by some eight MPs. The 38-page bill before parliament, among other things, stipulates that, people of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are liable on summary conviction, to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both. The Bill targets persons who hold out as a lesbian, a gay, a transgender, a transsexual, a queer, a pansexual, an ally, a non-binary or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female. The Bill also targets promoters and advocates of LGBTQ+ rights including a person who, by use of media, technological platform, technological account or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes or distributes a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, or a person uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage or transmission to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publishes or distribute a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill as well as a person who promotes, supports sympathy for or a change of public opinion towards an act prohibited under the Bill. As part of its provisions, the Bill outlines that a flouter can be sentenced to a jail term of not less than six years or not more than ten years imprisonment. At the back of the public support the Bill has received, a group of academicians and other professionals have expressed their opposition to the bill. According to the group of 18, the bill, Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, when passed into law, would erode a raft of fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. Members of the group opposing the anti-gay bill include Mr Akoto Ampaw; author, scholar and former Director of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Prof. Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh; a communications and media expert, Prof. Kwame Karikari; the Dean of the University of Ghana (Legon) School of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, and the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Information and Communication Studies, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo. The Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Professor Dzodzi Tsikata; the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, and a former Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, Prof. Kofi Gyimah-Boadi, are also members of the group. Others are Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, Dr Yao Graham, Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwah, Dr Kojo Asante, Mr Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, Mr Akunu Dake, Mr Tetteh Hormeku-Ajie, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Dr Joseph Asunka and Nana Ama Agyemang Asante. Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill: "Ghana is treading a very slippery road. " #GTVBreakfast Akoto Ampaw, Lawyer. pic.twitter.com/deWr9a72bJ Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (@thegbcghana) October 13, 2021 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 42-year-old man who was busted with 656 ATM cards connected to nine banks operating in Ghana and Nigeria has been remanded again by an Accra Circuit Court. Bachir Musa Aminou, who is facing two counts of electronic trafficking and stealing at the court, presided over by Ms. Evelyn Asamoah, was remanded to allow the banks involved to respond to the prosecutions claim against the accused person as part of ongoing investigations. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fuseini Yakubu, prayed the court to adjourn the case to give the banks more time to respond. The accused person is expected to reappear on October 28, this year. The facts, as presented by ASP Yakubu were that Aminou, who is a Nigerian, was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for possessing 656 ATM cards in different names. He said during interrogation, Aminou said the ATM cards were given to him by one Rabiu Suleman based in the Kano State, Nigeria, to be given to one Baffa Bawarije, a Nigerian based at the Daira Night City Hotel in Dubai. On September 12, this year, Aminou was arrested while boarding an Ethiopian Airline en-route to Dubai. Search A search conducted on the accused disclosed 656 ATM cards bearing 656 different names issued by eight Nigerian banks and one Ghanaian bank, he said. Also found on the accused was $12,000. ASP Yakubu told the court that investigations further disclosed that the accused person had first visited Ghana on April 29, 2021 through the Aflao border and left for Dubai on May 26, 2021. He said the accused persons second visit to Ghana was on August 20, 2021 and was arrested on the day of his departure to Dubai. ASP Yakubu told the court that the case was still under investigations. 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 The government has put on hold the intended demolition of the Gomoa Buduburam Refugee Camp to give the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB) some time to evacuate about 400 Liberian refugees from the place. The Executive Secretary of the GRB, Mr. Tetteh Padi, said the refugees would be evacuated to a refugees camp in the Western Region once the shelters being renovated for occupation were ready. It is not clear at the moment, however, when the renovation works would be completed or how soon the camp in the Western Region would be ready for occupation. The grace period, Mr. Padi said, was also to give residents of the area some time to relocate. He, however, confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the demolition had only been put on hold and that it would be carried out eventually. Eviction notice At a meeting at Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region on August 3, 2021, the Gomoa East District Security Council (DISEC) resolved and further directed that individuals and groups living in the defunct Liberia Camp at Buduburam should vacate the area, latest Thursday, September 30, 2021, to pave the way for the demolition of the area. An eviction notice dated August 3, 2021 was issued by the assembly to that effect. Government is sensitive Mr. Padi said the government was, however, sensitive to the fact that the people, who were all not necessarily refugees, had lived at the camp for years and needed to be given some time to pack out. He said the actual refugees were being engaged and registered since not all of them might want to move. At the end of 2012, Mr. Padi explained, the refugee status of nearly all the Liberians came to an end with two options either they returned home with assistance or stayed in Ghana and lived with some little bits of assistance in the beginning after which they would be able to work and take care of themselves. We call them local integration, so they were given Liberian passport and residence permit to stay here, but they were told to leave the camp because that land did not belong to government, he said. Harbouring criminals The camp has become a settlement and now bears the infamous credential as a hideout for social deviants, including alleged robbery gangs. The Chief Executive of the Gomoa East District Assembly, Mr. Solomon Darko-Quarm, had earlier told the Daily Graphic that the demolition of the camp was in response to a request by Gomoa Fetteh chiefs over the alleged increasing criminal acts in the Gomoa area, with the camp supposedly turned into an abode for suspected criminals. Some residents of the camp began leaving the place following the expiration of the September 30, 2021, deadline to evacuate from the area. However, others were adamant, saying they should be given enough time to leave since they did not have anywhere to go. Some persons, mostly Liberians, protested the decision of the assembly to evict them. 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 The government has adopted an innovative sensor bin built by the all-girls robotic club of the Methodist Girls High School (SHS), Mamfe in the Eastern Region, to improve sanitation management in the country. The caretaker Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms. Cecilia Dapaah, who announced this at the commemoration of this year's International Day of the Girl Child in Accra yesterday, said the government would scale up the production of the bins to encourage more innovations. The girls demonstrated how they built the smart bins and the way they operate. The bins have sensors that enable them to open automatically to protect users from contracting germs. Ms. Dapaah, who is also the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, said she was impressed by the innovation, which demonstrated girls potential towards national development. She, therefore, called for the replication of robotic and coding clubs in all schools to encourage more innovations for accelerated growth. Event The World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but also girls. On December 19, 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170, which declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, in recognition of girls rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The day focuses attention on the need to address challenges girls face, the promotion of girls empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. The global theme for the commemoration of the day was: Digital generation, our generation, while the national theme was: The digital generation: Promoting citizenship for girls without discrimination. Technology We recognise the profound transformation that has taken place where many countries turned to high-tech education to ensure continuity of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and what this means for girls who, due to gender digital divide, are more likely than boys to be missing out on precious learning opportunities, Ms. Dapaah said. She said this years commemoration sought to leverage the power of technology to advance education, adolescent girls and womens leadership and gender equality and also empower them to maximise their potential, both online and offline. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Afisa Zachariah, said although inclusive development was critical to a well-developed nation, discriminatory social norms, traditional barriers and gender stereotyping continuously affected women and girls economic empowerment and social well-being. Pledge The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Charles Prosper Abani, pledged the UNs support for the governments agenda to scale up innovations in the country. He observed that increased access to the digital space presents new threats to adolescents, especially girls. Online child sexual exploitation and abuse is on the rise in Ghana. Overall, around 40 per cent of children in Ghana do not feel safe online, while 30 per cent had experienced something that bothered or upset them while online because of the lack of awareness and limited skills, Mr. Abani said. According to him, a study conducted in 2016/2017 found that two in five children had seen indecent images at least once during the past year that made them uncomfortable, while nearly a quarter of all surveyed children received such messages on their phones. And one in five children had met someone face-to-face whom they first got to know on the Internet, with 25 per cent of them being upset about the meeting, he added. 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 Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the former Deputy Minister of Information has issued a clap-back to a post by leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko demanding clarity from former President John Dramani Mahama on his stance on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Gabby in a tweet sought to find out if the bill which is being championed by Sam George and seven other MPs has the backing of John Dramani Mahama. His tweet of Monday, October 12, 2021; read: Is former President and presidential aspirant John Mahama for or against the Boy George Bill? Kwakye Ofosu in his response urged Gabby Otchere Darko to table the same question to the president with who he shares blood relations. Ofosu Kwakye tasked Gabby Otchere Darko to enquire from President Akufo-Addo if he would assent the bill when passed. Charity begins at home so how about telling us if your cousin, President Akufo-Addo, supports the bill and will assent to it once it is passed by Parliament he said, quoting Gabby's tweet. Kwakye Ofosu becomes the second NDC top official to demand President Akufo-Addo declares his position on the matter. Last week, the National Communication Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi tasked President Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to address Ghanaians on the issues. My only disappointment is the lawyer of President Akufo-Addo organizing some persons to oppose this bill. The people of this country deserve to know the position of our president on this bill. More importantly, they deserve to know the position of his heir apparent who is a Muslim. Im sad that till date the two leaders have not commented on this bill. President Mahama has commented. President Mills also commented, he said. About the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Sam Nartey George led an eight-member legislative group that drafted a Private Members Bill titled: The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021," which seeks to comprehensively outlaw activities of the LGBTQ+ community. Currently, the bill has been laid before the house and referred to the appropriate committee for consideration. The Ningo Prampram MP has strongly defended the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general. Sam George insists that LGBTQ+ tendencies are not human rights but preferences that need to be regulated within the context of what Ghanaian society and culture accepts. The bill has the full blessing of Speaker Alban Bagbin who is on record to have said he is pro-life and will ensure that the bill is passed into law as soon as possible. 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 Paramount Chief and Overload of Weta Traditional Area in the Ketu North Municipality, Torgbuiga Akpo Ashiakpor VI, has called for wider support for the passage of the Anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer and its related activities (LGBTQI+) Bill currently before Parliament into law. He asserted that traditional leaders are the custodians of customs and traditions hence the need to get them protected at all cost. "Every nation is built on traditions and customs and we are the custodians of these customs and traditions of the people," he said. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema on the position of the traditional leaders on the debate on passage of the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values Bill, 2021 and the opposition against it, Torgbuiga emphasised the urgent need to protect the family system hence the need to pass the Anti-LGBTQI+ bill. Torgbuiga Ashiakpor VI, who is also the Ashaiman Area Chairman for the Church of Pentecost Royals Ministry, said the activities of the LGBTQI+ was devious, unbiblical and unclean and urged Ghanaians to avoid such practices. He stressed that traditional leaders were strongly behind the passage of the bill and would resist any attempt to push the practice into the Ghanaian system. He said the practice conflicted with the traditions and customs of Ghanaians. On Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 Apostle Eric Nyamekye, who is the chairman of The Church of Pentecost and Apostle Dr. Aaron Ami-Narh, President of the Apostolic Church, Ghana, led a delegation which presented a memorandum of 15,000 signatures to Parliaments Committee for Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to express strong support for the bill dubbed The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021. Meanwhile, the group of 18 high profile professionals in various fields including law and academia have submitted a memo to Parliament to kick against the anti-LGBTQI+ bill. To them, the proponents of the bill had not provided any data or evidence to suggest that there is such a threat, beyond a resort to some dogmatic religious tenets and so-called Ghanaian family values hence want the bill rejected. Source: GNA 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 Percival Kofi Akpaloo, Election 2020 Presidential Candidate of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) said unemployment fuels crime and could be a cause of insecurity, following a surge in violent crimes. He said: the government is responsible for providing adequate jobs for the teeming unemployed youth of the country, so when there are no jobs, there is the tendency of increased crimes. As a remedy, he said, his party would give unemployment benefits to persons who may have lost their jobs through no fault of theirs and unemployed persons above 18 years would receive monthly stipends to grow their businesses to stimulate the economy. Mr Akpaloo who was speaking during an engagement with Ghana News Agency at Tema said unemployment was a major trigger of insecurity in the country and had resulted in the increasingly spate of day and highway robberies in some parts of the country. He asserted that, the joblessness among youth and the desperation that accompanied it was a major problem that must be resolved as it undermined the security of the country and its progress generally. He said: most unemployed persons, especially the youth are desperate to make a living and as a result of their hardship, they go out of their way and get into criminal activities. He explained that his party hoped to create a four-billion-dollar job fund to provide over four million jobs to Ghanaians especially the youth. Mr Akpaloo said the collective security of the country was of concern to him, and that one of the ways to nipping the phenomenon in the bud was having a proper identification system and database of Ghanaians to track persons who perpetrate crime. He, therefore, commended the National Identification Authority for the implementation of the Ghana Card, adding that it will, among other things, help to reduce crime. Mr Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager explained that the stakeholder engagement seeks to strengthen the media relations with state and non-state actors. He said in view of emerging journalistic developmental challenges especially the issue of fake news and social media trending, where ministers of state and government officials resort to communicate officially through social media platforms; there is the need to hold the pillars of professional journalism through the dissemination of unbiased news to the world. He described as an anomaly the practice where public officials disseminated formal information through private social media portals, saying as much as it is wrong, it is also a dangerous development, which has contributed to the circulation of fake news. Now the world especially media practitioners are confused whether to hold on to the traditional media professionalism or get onboard the fast track social media train with its landmines. Mr Ameyibor said the fact remains that the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability, cannot be sacrificed on the altar of speed or speculative journalism. We cannot deny the fact that the old analog way of news gathering has long passed; news gathering and dissemination cannot wait for two seconds, we are in the fast lane, what then can media practitioners do to catch up with the fast moving new media news train? He said the gathering of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public have change, hence the need for the Ghanaian media landscape to wake up to the global wind of change. We need news on the hour mark, in between the hours to the citizen need news, if the traditional media fail to provide it, the social media will fill the vacuum. Our news packaging must also change from the mediocre long sermons news to fast, accurate, objective and straightforward news, Mr Ameyibor noted. Source: GNA 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama will take his Thank You tour to the Eastern Region, the backyard of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, 12 October 2021. The 2020 flag bearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will interact with the support base of the party during his tour. Mr Mahama is expected to highlight the achievements of the NDC in the region. He will be welcomed at the Koforidua-Galloway area in the regional capital. Mr Hackman Kobore, the Eastern Regional Organiser of the party, made this disclosure on Accra-based Happy FMs socio-political programme Epa Hoa Daben. The former president, upon touching base in the region, will grant some media interviews. Mr Kabore said the programme for welcoming the former president to the region will be in three folds: meeting with the traditional rulers, meeting with the zongo chiefs and imams, and meeting with the leadership of the local council of churches. He said the visit to the region will afford the former president the opportunity to interact with the supporters of the party in the region. He said this is the first phase of the former presidents tour to the region. Mr Kabore explained that the second phase of the former presidents tour to the region will be in 2022, where he will be expected to interact with regional and constituency executives of the NDC. He further commended the regional executives and former appointees in the region for their roles in organising the visit. 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 Majority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said Parliament will not disappoint the people with regard to the anti-LGBTQI+ bill which is currently before the House. He emphasized that no Member of Parliament will be against the principle of the bill. The Majority Leader gave the assurance this morning at a press conference held by the Majority caucus of Parliament. He expressed delight over the high public interest generated in the bill and pleaded with the public to demonstrate the same high interest in other bills which will appear before the House such as the Property rights of spouses bill. Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the bill will be considered in line with provisions of the Constitution and made particular reference to article 125 of the 1992 Constitution which states that justice emanates from the people. Calls for Live Telecast On the issue of live telecast of debate on the bill, he said proceedings of Parliament on the floor has always been done in the full glare of the media and added that discussion on the bill in Parliament will be done in the same manner. The Majority Leader urged the public to be dispassionate when discussing the LGBTQI+ issue. Speaker cannot determine passage On a comment reported to have been made by the Speaker, Rt Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin that Parliament will pass the anti-LGBTQI+ bill, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the Speaker cannot decide for the House, as he is not a Member of Parliament. Adding his voice to comments made by the Majority Leader, Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Whip said the Majority caucus fully supports the anti-LGBTQI+ bill which is currently before the House. Anti-LGBTQI+ bill The proponents of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 bill are seeking to criminalise the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana. Should it be passed, persons who identify as LGBTQ and or engage in said practice could face up to five years imprisonment. LGBT activists could also face up to 10-year-jail time. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace FM 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 Election 2024 may be three years away, but former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has initiated a campaign, canvassing for more supporters for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). In a one-minute 21 seconds video making the rounds on some TV stations and online platforms, the question is posed, What does the NDC mean to you? Respondents to the question in Hausa, English, Ga, Twi, pidgin, Ewe then talk about how their children would grow to become whatever they want to be in life no matter where they came from, after university, they would have a job; that their family would have safe and affordable healthcare; a new Ghana that respects ancient traditions; justice; a stable economy that benefits all. Presiderntial ambition? It is unclear whether Dr Duffuor, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, is nursing presidential ambitions or he is simply wooing more Ghanaians to join the NDC to enable the party recapture power in the 2024 election. The video ends with Dr Duffuor walking from the Independence Arch assuring that "What the NDC means to me is that everyone in this country will have an opportunity to achieve the Ghanaian dream." It ends with a rallying call for people to join the NDC to achieve the Ghanaian dream and for them to contact branch executive members at their polling stations to register. Eyebrows Although he has not confirmed nor denied any presidential ambitions, the latest video is raising eyebrows that he might contest for the 2024 presidential flagbearership of the NDC. If he does, he will be coming up against former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also on a nationwide `Thank You Tour'. Others also believe Dr Duffuor wants to shore up the numbers for the NDC to win the 2024 election with ease. In a similar video released in September, Dr Duffuor spoke about the opportunity he got as a young person and justified why the same opportunities should be made available for the youth. Dr Duffuor indicated that he was lucky to have been allowed to dream of a better life and made it happen and I want every young person in Ghana to have a chance to achieve the Ghanaian dream. According to him, he wants a real opportunity for everyone to make something of themselves, stressing that so that they can help build, run and better this great country of ours. We owe this to our children and indeed, we owe it to ourselves too." In the run-up to the 2020 elections, Dr Duffuor led a major campaign in the Ashanti Region especially his native town of Kumawu to woo votes for the NDC Who is Dr Duffuor Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, served as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning under the NDC government of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills and former President John Mahama. Prior to becoming Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, he served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana from July 1997 to 2001 and was named as one of the four best Central Bank Governors in the World at an IMF/World Bank meeting in 1999 (Euromoney Publication). He retired voluntarily from Bank of Ghana in September 2001, with high commendation from the sitting President for his contribution towards the stabilisation of the Ghanaian economy during his term in office. Dr. Duffuor is the Founder and Senior Advisor to HODA Holdings an entity with over 15) business enterprises in Insurance, Banking, Real Estates, Farming and Media Conglomerate. He also the founder of Institute of Fiscal Studies, an economic policy think-tank. 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 Ghanaian gospel musician, Jayana, has been unveiled as brand ambassador for Amanex Company Limited, a manufacturing and export company of household maintenance products. This was at a short ceremony in Accra on Thursday, October 7, 2021. Speaking at the ceremony, CEO of Amanex Company Limited, Mr. Eric Amanquanor said Jayana was picked for the deal due to her outstanding personality. Amanex Company Limited is determined to dominate the Ghanaian market and also the other West African countries, and we believe Jayana is the right person to spearhead this campaign, he indicated. Jayana is expected to market and promote the products of Amanex Company Limited across Ghana and other West African states. The award-winning gospel artiste in a statement expressed her excitement to represent the Amanex brand and promised to use her influence to promote Amanex Company Limiteds household maintenance products. Born Jemima Annor-Yeboah, Jayana is a Ghanaian contemporary gospel artiste and songwriter. She is noted for her soul-touching ministrations, energetic performance, and making an immense impact on followers of gospel music with her mesmerising and captivating vocal. Jayanas formative years were spent soaking up the contemporary gospel, praise and worship. Source: Daily Guide 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 Ghanaian actor, Prince David Osei, lost his cool after a fan reminded him of the consequence he is likely to face should he continue demonstrating against homosexuality in Ghana. Prince David Osei who has been very vociferous in the campaign against the LGBT+ community in the country vehemently supported the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin who assured Ghanaians that same sx marriage will not be accepted in Ghana. He wrote: Proud of this Ghana .. 1 Voice In the beginning God created Adam and Eve not Steve and Steve!! No one is denying ones humanity if you Gay. But we are not supposed to pretend that men are women and women are men. We wont modify basic biology because it threatens ones subjective sense of being Gay. For all of human history boy met girl, girl met boy! You cant magically change your gender, you cant magically change your age, you cant magically change your sex Ben Shapiro. Against this background, a fan notified him that his counterpart and filmmaker, Leila Djansi is one of the few Ghanaians who has been championing the rights of the LGBTQ+ in Ghana hence its likely she will stop casting him in her movies. Prince angrily shot back saying Leila is no God so literally, he doesnt give a fuck about her. Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/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 Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.25 per week for 13 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Dylan Linde Wins His First WSOP Bracelet in Event #21: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo ($170,269) October 13, 2021 Matt Hansen Dylan Linde defeated Hernan Salazar heads-up to win Event #21: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2021 World Series of Poker. The popular three-game format attracted 641 entries and generated a prize pool of $855,735. Linde takes home the $170,269 top prize and his first WSOP gold bracelet after 85 cashes at the WSOP. Six-time WSOP champion Daniel Negreanu found a bag on Day 2 but never got the momentum he needed on Day 3 to make a run at his seventh WSOP title. Negreanu ran into trouble in a pot with Salazar early in Day 3 and never recovered to make his run. Other notable Day 3 finishers include Ryan Laplante (27th - $5,627), Ari Engel (23rd - $5,627), Kosei Ichinose (19th - $6,846), and Patrick Tardif (16th - $6,846). This is Lindes first gold bracelet in 85 cashes at the WSOP. He is a mixed game specialist and author of the book Mastering Mixed Games: Winning Strategies of Draw, Stud, and Flop Games. Final Table Results Place Name Country Prize 1 Dylan Linde United States $170,269 2 Hernan Salazar United States $105,235 3 Scott Abrams United States $71,651 4 David Matsumoto United States $49,733 5 Damjan Radanov United States $35,204 6 Ryan Roeder United States $25,424 7 Lance Sobelman United States $18,740 8 Michael Lim United States $14,104 2021 WSOP Live Reporting Hub Follow all the live-action as it happens from the 2021 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas! Click Here Winners Reaction It feels fantastic, Linde said in a post-win interview with PokerNews. Finally winning a bracelet feels good but doing it in mixed games is great. Linde has a well-rounded background in no-limit holdem, and he finds that the fundamental concepts can be applied to poker games of all varieties. His no-limit background played no small part in adjusting to short-handed play near the end of the tournament. Ive played a lot of mixed games over time, but Ive never really played that much heads-up or short-handed. I was a little worried about my performance so it felt good to not only play and win but to feel confident with my play while doing so. Linde credits his experience and his preparation for his success on the felt. A lot of the studying Ive done in no-limit helped me a lot with the way that I played with respect to ICM. I used pot control with certain opponents that had me covered and tried to play pots with opponents that I could pressure. Linde has an intense schedule planned for the rest of the WSOP and finally breaking through to win his first bracelet wont slow down his desire to play in tournaments and build his legacy. Im an addict of tournaments for life. Theyve got me forever and Ill just try to win more. Final Table Recap Final table action kicked off eight-handed after Robert Redman was eliminated in ninth place by a set of queens from David Matsumoto. Salazar was active early and playing in a lot of pots as he stretched the early final table chip lead. The first elimination came after well over an hour when Michael Lim flopped a full house but ran into Salazars four queens. Salazar went into the dinner break with twice as many chips as his nearest competitor, Matsumoto, who also made moves shortly after dinner break when he took out Lance Sobelman in seventh place, also with four queens. The action picked up after Sobelmans elimination and Ryan Roeder was not far behind in sixth place after Salazar made a wheel when an ace fell on the river. Scott Abrams, the chip leader from each of the first two days of the tournament, eliminated Damjan Radanov in fifth place with a flush. Lindes turning point came in the final four when he forced Salazar to fold on the river to win a pot of over 2 million. He then eliminated Matsumoto in fourth place and he was the chip leader going into three-handed play. Salazar clashed with Abrams early in three-handed play, leaving the Day 2 chip leader on fumes. Linde soon eliminated the Henderson, Nevada-based mixed games specialist in third place with a flush. The impressive run for Abrams ended with an eighth career top-ten WSOP finish, all of which have come in mixed game varieties. Scott Abrams Linde entered heads-up play with a lead over Salazar and extended it further when Salazar shoved and Linde took three-quarters of the pot. Salazar fought back and made several attempts to double through, but Linde finished the job when he scooped the final pot with a flush for the high half and an ace-three for the low half. Download the ultimate Las Vegas guide right here! New Las Vegas Strip Hotel 'Dream Las Vegas' In The Works October 13, 2021 Calum Grant There are already plenty of fabulous hotel & casino's in Las Vegas, with some of the world's best poker rooms among them, but a new addition is coming to Las Vegas as plans to build a new 20 story hotel & casino with 527 rooms has been given the green light. The $500 million project will be erected next to McCarran International Airport and has had to jump over a series of hurdles after worries regarding illegal drone flying, laser lights, and domestic and terror attacks. The Clark County Commission passed the plans for Dream Las Vegas in a 6-1 vote that took place on Wednesday, October 6. The new building will be constructed on top of a five-acre plot of land on the south edge of Las Vegas Boulevard, next to the airport and the Harley-Davidson dealership. Construction to Begin in Mid-2022 The faces behind the 500 million dollar venture are David Daneshforooz and Bill Shopoff, who announced their project plans in February 2020. The former is the chief executive of Contour, a real estate company, and Shopoff is the founder of Shopoff Realty Investments. The pair hope to have construction for their Las Vegas boutique hotel begin midway through 2022, with the first clientele making their way through the doors in 2024. With rooms only in the hundreds, Dream Las Vegas will be one of the smaller resorts on the Strip but that's where developer Shopoff believes they'll "find their following." The unique selling point is that it will offer boutique stays for visitors who do not want to spend their entire vacations in hotel-casinos that stretch further than the eye can see. What are the best hotels in Las Vegas? Fears Over Dream Las Vegas A host of fears and concerns have plagued Dream developer plans for years, to the point where project plans had to be reviewed by the FBI, United States Homeland Security, and the Secret Service. Various major airlines also queried the plans as hotel laser lights and other illuminations could be a cause of concern for "flash blindness", a condition that could cause pilots to have their vision temporarily impaired. The United States Transportation Security Administration carried out their own assessment which stated that the resort would "increase the risk to both the aircraft and the passengers due to active shooters and the ability throw things over the fence intended to cause harm". In turn, the TSA worried that the airport would also be "more susceptible to Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive device attacks" and that areas that would be on the third and ninth floor of the hotel would "provide a direct line of sight for laser flashing and long gun attacks," according to county documents. Resorts World has been the latest Las Vegas Casino to open their doors to the public. Related: Resorts World Las Vegas: Everything You Need to Know Dream Las Vegas to Make Design Alterations Not to be dismissed that easily, law firm Kaempfer Crowell's Tony Celeste, the project representative, explained several changes to design plans to the commission before the vote was taken. The porte-cochere (doorway to a building) will be moved so that the tower is further away from the airport property line and that it will be separated from the airport by a "nine-foot-tall, double-reinforced security wall". There will also be "dramatically reduced" sightlines to McCarran, Celeste further went on to say. Rounding off the design changes, the parking garage will now be enclosed and another security wall will be added onto the proposed pool deck. Plans for rooms with balconies have been scrapped, and all rooms feature a "glass-break detector system" to alert security teams to anyone trying to compromise the windows. Related: Caesars Palace Set for Multimillion-Dollar Makeover Lead photo: hospitalitynet Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. Itemizer-Observer report MONMOUTH Regional members to the Monmouth Bi-Mart will not experience a disruption in prescription services as the member-owned store transitions its pharmacy operations to Walgreens. According to a press release, Bi-Mart and Walgreens recently entered into a definitive agreement, in which Walgreens is acquiring Bi-Marts pharmacy business. This includes pharmacy patient prescription files and related pharmacy inventory of 56 Bi-Mart pharmacies located across Oregon, Idaho and Washington, including the store in Monmouth. Bi-Marts retail stores will remain open to serve its members across the Pacific Northwest. Prescription files from most Bi-Mart pharmacies will transfer to nearby Walgreens pharmacy locations. However, in 10 areas where Walgreens does not have nearby stores, Walgreens will operate pharmacies within existing Bi-Mart locations under the Walgreens brand, primarily located in rural areas in Oregon. This includes Monmouth. Previously, Bi-Mart closed pharmacies in the Portland metro area and in several other markets and transitioned prescription files to Walgreens. A Monmouth pharmacy spokesperson said the transition will take place later this month with no disruption in service when Walgreens takes over. However, they are expecting a one-week closure likely at the beginning of 2022 to finalize file transfers. This decision, while difficult, is strategically important as we move to strengthen our solid financial position and expand our plans for future growth in the Northwest, Rich Truett, president and CEO, Bi-Mart, said in a press release. Bi-Marts core business is healthy and strong, however over the years factors such as increasing costs and ongoing reimbursement pressure has led in part to our decision. We look forward to partnering with Walgreens to transition our pharmacy staff and members as seamless as possible. Walgreens is pleased to introduce more patients to our trusted pharmacy services, that we currently provide in over 9,000 locations in communities across the country including more than 70 across Oregon, said Rob Ewing, regional vice president, Walgreens. We look forward to welcoming Bi-Mart patients to Walgreens pharmacy services, as well as providing employment opportunities to Bi-Mart pharmacy associates in available positions throughout our stores where they can continue to meet the needs of their patients. Subject to customary closing conditions, the companies expect the prescription file transfers to begin in October and be complete by January 2022. Bi-Mart pharmacists and pharmacy staff will have an opportunity to apply for available positions at Walgreens. Patients whose prescriptions are being transferred will be notified by mail, and both companies will work together to help ensure a smooth transition for pharmacy patients. Once patient prescriptions are transferred from Bi-Mart to Walgreens, patients will have access to Walgreens pharmacy services across a network of more than 9,000 pharmacies nationwide. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DALLAS -- Conservation efforts by Dallas water customers and the beginning of the fall rains has brought an end to the city's stage one drought conditions measures. "This year our watershed experienced severe drought conditions, including lower than average precipitation in the spring and summer, coupled with higher than average temperatures," read an announcement of the end of the measured issued on Tuesday, Oct. 12. Those conditions resulted in the city drawing water from the reservoir earlier than normal, and asking customers, including the Dallas School District and Polk County, to voluntarily conserve water. Our water customers did a great job reducing their water consumption this year, City Manager Brian Latta said. The water level at Mercer Reservoir, the citys sole water supply, is around 50% full and slowly rising with the recent rains. Mayor Brian Dalton thanked the community for their water curtailment efforts. Thanks to all who pitched in to get us through these last dry months, Dalton said. Though the problem never became a crisis, it has served as a stark reminder of the need to develop major new storage capabilities as we prosper as a community. Rest assured, were on it. Information for the report comes from law enforcement agencies. Not all calls for service are included. The status of arrests reported may change after further investigation. Individuals arrested or suspected of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty. Dallas Police Report Tuesday, Oct. 5 At 5:31 a.m., a male was trespassed from McDonalds because he was smoking a cigarette in the bathroom. At 7:07 a.m., a motor home that was being towed in an alley crashed into a fence on Southeast Lyle Street. At 7:15 a.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported on Southeast Barberry Avenue. The person was playing Pokemon and was thought to be suspicious for having three cell phones. No crimes. At 8:28 a.m., a down utility wire was reported on Southwest Washington Street. The wire was pulled out of the street so traffic wouldnt run over it. At 10:07 a.m., a person was issued a citation for speeding 40 mph in a 20 mph school zone, on Southeast Miller Avenue. At 1 p.m., a two-vehicle accident was reported on Northeast Kings Valley Highway. Both vehicles were towed. At 5:10 p.m., a sex offense was reported in the 100 block of Southwest Court Street. At 7:54 p.m., a person reported a theft on East Ellendale Avenue. The person reported that her prescription for Suboxone and some inexpensive jewelry had been stolen on Saturday. Wednesday, Oct. 6 At 11:46 a.m., a rifle was recovered after it was reported stolen from Gresham in 2002, in the 800 block of Main Street. Under investigation. At 12:33 p.m., a report of a mattress being tossed in a dumpster on East Ellendale Avenue. At 4:02 p.m., a fraud case was reported on Southwest Cherry Street. A person reported being scammed out of $1,000. No suspects. At 9:51 p.m., a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles was reported on Northwest Reed Lane. No injuries. At 11:37 p.m., a criminal mischief case was reported on Southwest River Drive. A house was egged with about a dozen eggs. The subjects were apparently high school aged. The complainant chased them down the street and the subjects threw eggs at him but missed him. Thursday, Oct. 7 At 6:13 a.m., two individuals were formally trespassed from the post office after they were seen camping in the post office box lobby. At 9:42 a.m., report of a possible theft of a wallet from a Cherriots bus on Southeast Uglow Avenue. Under investigation pending video from bus. At 12:53 p.m., a person reported that she had lost her cell phone after going to the hospital. Police used the Find My Phone app and found it on the side of Monmouth Cutoff Road. The phone was damaged but usable. Polk County Sheriffs Office Monday, Oct. 4 At 2:42 a.m., a deputy moved a faux leather love seat to the curb in the 400 block of North Main Street in Falls City. There were beer cans around it. There was no answer at the nearby residence. At 5:21 a.m., a deputy made contact with a motorist who ran out of gas in the 8900 block of Perrydale Road. The driver had an outstanding warrant for parole violation on an Assault IV charge. The driver was cited and released. At 6:59 a.m., a motorist crashed into an elk on Highway 99 at milepost 56. The driver sustained a head injury and was transported to the hospital. The elk was dispatched at the scene. At 11:15 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Lombard Street reported sometime between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4 someone stole his black Springfield Armory XD-9x19 pistol. At 1:37 p.m., deputies responded to a single vehicle crash at 53rd Avenue and Aster Street. The driver was covered in paint when Salem Fire personnel pulled her from the vehicle which had ended up on its side. The driver couldnt recalled what happened that led to the crash as she was on her way to a painting job. At 5:26 p.m., a report of a two-vehicle crash with no injuries at Helmick and Elkins Roads. One of the drivers was cited for failure to yield when entering a highway. At 6:18 p.m., a report of 30 cloned hemp plants, valued at $10,000, stolen from the 12000 block of Corvallis Road. Tuesday, Oct. 5 At 3:03 p.m., a Toyota Tacoma from the Ritner Creek Bridge was reported stolen on Kerber Road near Kings Valley Highway. The truck was later recovered off of Hopskins Road. About $1,000 worth of items were taken, including hunting gear, subwoofer, amplifier, and many other things. At 4:07 p.m., a resident in the 4700 block of Wallace Road reported someone stole a birthday card from their mailbox. Another resident at the location suspects the neighbor across the road. At 6:38 p.m., a stolen vehicle was located in the 4100 block of Salem Dallas Highway. The vehicle had three occupants. One was arrested. At 7:01 p.m., a report of a catalytic converter stolen from a motor home in the 8300 block of A R Ford Road sometime within the last month. At 9:49 p.m., a report of a bicyclist riding a bike with no lights was struck and killed by a motorist on Highway 51 at milepost 4. At 10:13 p.m., an Amazon driver missed a driveway in the 11500 block of Buena Vista Road and drove into a ditch. A co-worker pulled the driver out of the ditch. Wednesday, Oct. 6 At 2:21 a.m., a motorist was stopped for expired registration at Wallace and Zena roads. The driver was cited for driving uninsured. At 1:38 p.m., a resident in the 6400 block of Wallace Road reported one of his neighbors Tibetan Mastiffs got out of its yard, went after him, took him to the ground and bit him. The resident got medical attention at SHED. The dogs owner was cited for potentially dangerous dogs and no license. At 6:47 p.m., a report of the theft of two Raleigh bicycles (one blue, one orange) from RV park in the 4700 block of Dallas Highway. At 10:59 p.m., a motorist was stopped for failing to drive within lane on South Kings Valley Highway near Guthrie Road. The driver appeared intoxicated, performed poorly on a field sobriety test, and was arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant controlled substance. He was also cited for driving while suspended. At 9:04 p.m., a female subject in the 9700 block of Rickreall Road was cited for harassment after slapping her husband for communicating with another woman. Thursday, Oct. 7 At 8 a.m., a report of tall trees on fire in the 3500 block of River Bend Road. The responding deputy observed a large debris pile on fire but the flames were not touching the trees. Spring Valley fire took over the scene. At 12:46 p.m., in the 300 block of 7th Street in Falls City, a deputy came across a mini Aussie dog with a collar and microchip that was never activated. The dog was left in the custody of the staff at Willamette Humane Society. At 4:01 p.m., a motorist blew out the rear passenger tire on Highway 194 at milepost 5. A passerby let the deputy use his floor jack and got the driver with the flat on her way. At 8:43 p.m., a deputy came across a single-vehicle crash on Cooper Hollow Road and McCaleb Road. The registered owner was not present and could not be contacted. The vehicle was towed. At 9:57 p.m., a motorist on Stapleton Road, pulling a small single-axled homebuilt utility trailer hauling lumber, pulled in front of another motorist on Pacific Highway. The other motorist collided with the passenger side of the trailer, slinging lumber into a field and totaling her vehicle. The first motorist was cited for not obeying traffic control device. Friday, Oct. 8 At 7:03 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 56 mph in a 40-mph zone on Wallace Road at milepost 19. At 7:13 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 60 mph in a 40 mph-zone on Wallace Road near Doaks Ferry Road. At 7:47 a.m., a motorist was cited for failure to drive within the lane on Independence Highway near South Oak Grove Road. At 7:49 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 79 mph in a 55-mph zone in the 8000 block of Red Prairie Road. At 8:20 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 75 mph in a 55-mph zone on Highway 99W at milepost 55. At 8:46 a.m., a resident in the 12000 block of Corvallis Road reported 10 cloned cannabis plants had been stolen sometime between Oct. 7 and 8, valued at $9,000. At 9:51 a.m., a motorist ran out of gas in the middle of the road at Clow Corner and Riddell roads. A deputy helped push the vehicle off the road and the driver called his insurance company for gas. At 12:28 p.m., a business in the 4400 block of Salem-Dallas Highway reported the theft of $83 in merchandise from the store. The stores video surveillance caught the theft on tape, a female subject and her 12-year-old daughter. Saturday, Oct. 9 At 1:27 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 85 mph in a 55-mph zone on Highway 99 at milepost 49 and was warned for failing to stop at a stop sign. At 3:35 a.m., a motorist was cited for driving under the influence of a intoxicant at Eola Drive and 55th Avenue. The driver later registered a BAC of .16%. At 7:19 a.m., business in the 12000 block of Corvallis Road reported the theft of hemp plants valued at over $10,000. At 3:14 p.m., a report of an aggressive dog that is coming on the property in the 8900 block of Dejong Road. A responding deputy found Daisy back in the yard but the owner not present. The owners father two houses down took custody of the dog until the owner could get home. At 4:47 p.m., a convicted felon was cited for having possession of several rifles way out in the timber in the Green Mountain Road and School Marm Road area. At 4:51 p.m., a deputy assisted Yamhill County Fire by setting up a landing zone for them for Lifeflight in the 200 block of Southeast Washington Street in Willamina. At 8:21 p.m., a t-bone style crash at Falls City Road and Kings Valley Highway with minor injuries. At 11:44 p.m., a motorist with a broken taillight stopped at Clow Corner and Ballard roads was eventually cited for failure to carry proof of insurance. Independence Police Department Arrests for Oct. 4-11 Jesus Trujillo, 46, a transient, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Michelle Renee Ray, 44, a transient, was arrested on an outstanding warrant, second-degree burglary, giving false information to a police officer, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Kenneth Marvin Belden, 61, of Salem, was arrested on an outstanding warrant, second-degree burglary, giving false information to a police officer and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Jason Jamieson Brown, 35, of Independence, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Sergio Jimenez, 26, a transient, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Joshua Lee Williams, 39, of Monmouth, was arrested for driving while suspended. Dakota William Winkler, 20, a transient, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and on an outstanding warrant. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. A state lawmaker representing a portion of Aiken County on Wednesday asked S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster to fight COVID-19 vaccine requirements and to take a hint from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who recently barred such mandates in his state. No vaccine should be forced upon grown adults who can make decisions for themselves, Rep. Melissa Oremus, a Republican, wrote in a letter shared on social media. I implore you to stop this madness of a forced vaccine mandate and the liberty loving citizens of South Carolina beg you to stop this craziness. Vaccine requirements, Oremus continued, are jeopardizing many jobs, including at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the contractor that manages the Savannah River Site. The Fluor-led team unveiled vaccine rules in early September; other federal contractors like Triad National Security LLC, which operates Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have enacted similar regulations. Many of my constituents have spoken and they do not want to be forced into anything, Oremus wrote to McMaster. It is my job to stand with them and protect their freedoms. The Republican governor on Tuesday said he would not interfere with the decisions of private companies effectively spiking Oremuss entreaty. I think Gov. Abbott is a very experienced leader in Texas, he told reporters at the Statehouse, but in our state, we didnt tell our businesses what to do, and we are not going to tell them what not to do. A spokesperson for McMaster on Wednesday emphasized that the governor couldnt disagree more with the federal government mandating that anybody get vaccinated. He has always maintained that he believes whether to get vaccinated or not should remain a personal choice. That said, a private employer making this decision is different. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions began the process of requiring vaccination well before President Joe Bidens fiat. Grassroots groups like the Aiken Citizens for Freedom have protested vaccine requirements at the Savannah River Site, where radioactive wastes are stored and processed, arguing that rights and livelihoods are under attack. I have a lot of personal friends, close friends, whose jobs are being threatened right now, who dont want to be vaccinated, Karen Collins, whose husband is a Savannah River Site retiree, said in an interview last month. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions is expecting some unvaccinated workers to retire or quit in the near future, the Aiken Standard has learned. The company maintains that inoculation is the most effective tool to help ensure a safe work environment and better protect us from serious illness due to the virus. A vast majority of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths statewide in June, July, August and September were among those not fully vaccinated, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control data show. Fifty Savannah River Site employees were quarantined with COVID-19 as of Oct. 8. In early September, SRNS President and CEO Stuart MacVean said 11 of our team members here at the site have been hospitalized in the last two months and four of them have passed because of this terrible disease. The average age of the deceased employees was 48 and we understand that they were unvaccinated. The first case of COVID-19 at the Savannah River Site was logged in March 2020. Boeing Co. is requiring all U.S. employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including its 5,700 workers in South Carolina. Workers will need proof of inoculation or an approved exemption for medical or religious reasons by Dec. 8, the company said Oct. 12. The planemaker, which is one of largest U.S. defense contractors and a major employer in the Charleston region, said it's mandating the shots to comply with the White House's order that requires vaccines for federal employees and contractors. Exemptions must be "based on a disability or sincerely held religious belief," Boeing said in a statement Oct. 12. Employees who don't get vaccinated or don't have an approved exemption could lose their jobs. "Boeing will continue to carefully monitor guidance from public health agencies, and requirements from federal, state and local governments to inform our COVID-19 policies," the company said. As of January, Boeing had 5,706 employees based in South Carolina, where it builds the 787 Dreamliner and supports other commercial aircraft programs. Its St. Louis-based defense business has no major presence in the Palmetto State. Boeing employs about 125,000 workers nationwide. In Washington state, where Boeing has about 57,000 employees, a union representing Seattle-area machinists said it has "demanded to bargain the effects" of the new vaccine policy. John Holden, president of the International International Association of Machinists District 751, wrote in the October issue of the union's monthly newspaper that members "are polarized on this issue." "Everyone, no matter what side of the issue you are on, is concerned about the vaccine mandate," Holden wrote. The IAM has tried but failed gain a foothold at Boeing's North Charleston site. None of Boeing's South Carolina workers are unionized. Most major airlines, which are considered government contractors, have said they will comply with the White House's vaccine policy. United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are requiring the shots for their workers. Prior to Boeing's Oct. 12 statement, the planemaker was encouraging workers to get their coronavirus shots but hadn't required them. The company's statement specified the new policy was being implemented "to ensure compliance with President Biden's executive order." Boeing's vaccine policy could hit a snag in Texas, where Boeing has around 5,000 employees. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday that bars private employers from requiring vaccines. So far, Texas-based Southwest and American Airlines have said they still plan to require the shots despite Abbott's order. In addition to rules for federal contractors, the Biden administration also plans to require employers with 100 or more workers to mandate coronavirus vaccines or implement weekly testing for workers who don't have their shots. Some South Carolina employers mandating COVID-19 vaccines include companies like West Columbia-based Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp., hospital systems like the Medical University of South Carolina and local municipalities including Charleston and North Charleston. In a recent survey of about 440 businesses, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce found that about half of respondents require COVID-19 vaccines for workers or are considering a mandate. The other half don't plan to mandate the shots. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. IRMO Irmo's mayor and two Town Council members who sit on a nonprofit that got $250,000 from the town to help small businesses during the pandemic are feuding over the refusal to disclose how much each business received. Mayor Barry Walker said he is willing to call for a State Law Enforcement Division investigation to get a full accounting of the money. We don't know what happened to a quarter of a million dollars of our town money, Walker told The Post and Courier. I need to know where it went." Councilmen Bill Danielson and Erik Sickinger, who sit on the board overseeing the payments, said they have shared a list of recipients, but the businesses have a right to privacy on the amounts they received. They said Walker is playing politics just ahead of local council elections in November. Irmo grant recipients Here is a list of the businesses that have received grants from the Irmo Future Growth Corporation as of Oct. 7. 3 P Studio, a photography studio After School Zone Academy Anchor Lanes, a bowling alley Anna Cline Catering Bistro on the Boulevard Classic Barber Shop Elite Personal Training Golden Wings by Friarsgate Kitchen, a restaurant The Hair Co. of Irmo Hemingway's, a pub Jackies Hair Design Leigh Essig Photography Linc Inc., owner of The New Irmo News Mathias Sandwich Shop Micean, owner of Irmo's Anytime Fitness club Treasures of the Heart Boutique & Gifts The Velvet Edge Salon He wants his minions to be elected to the Town Council, and hell do anything to damage my credibility, said Danielson, who is in the midst of a reelection fight. Town Council voted in May 2020 to create a nonprofit, the Irmo Future Growth Corp., that would provide loans to small businesses hurt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two council members sit on the corporation board so policymakers have a say in where public funds are directed. The rest of the board includes representatives from the business community, including Kerry Powers, president and CEO of the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce. As some recipients have been publicized in the last three months, Walker said he's grown concerned about the lack of information on the nonprofit's spending and the shift to offering grants instead of loans without a vote of the council. The nonprofit made the switch over the summer after hearing from businesses owners who weren't interested in taking on more loans after several rounds of federal loan assistance programs during the pandemic. A vote was not required because grants were always possible, Danielson said. Walker voted to create the nonprofit and approved a $250,000 payout without any disclosure requirements. Still, Walker, who was elected in 2019, said he should be able to explain to Irmo residents exactly where their tax dollars went. Danielson, who serves as chairman of the nonprofit, provided The Post and Courier with a list of 17 grant recipients and the most recent transaction history for the Irmo Future Growth Corp.s bank account. The checking statement shows $192,000 in disbursements. Danielson declined to detail which business received each grant amount. The nonprofit is accepting grant applications for the remaining $58,000 until funds are depleted. Danielson plans to ask the town for more funding in the future. Businesses received between $1,000 and $25,000. Among the recipients are three hair salons, a bowling alley and the publisher of The New Irmo News, a local paper. The spat between Walker and Danielson spilled into public view after the mayor confronted Danielson during a Sept. 21 council meeting. Walker requested the town administrator compile a report on how the funds were spent. Danielson replied, Respectfully, Mr. Mayor, that's not going to happen, before the two went back and forth on the issue. One of Danielsons opponents in the upcoming election, Jenne Bennett, has capitalized on Danielsons refusal to provide more details on grant recipients by turning a recording of the council meeting into a campaign video. The video displays a caption that reads, "Councilman Danielson doesn't want you to know how the money is spent," before calling for more transparency. Walker said he supports Danielson for reelection. But the mayor said he plans to bring up his concerns again at the next council meeting on Oct. 19. Danielson said he is willing to share more information with the rest of the council but not with Walker because the mayor could use it for political purposes. Scott Slatton, director of advocacy and communications at the Municipal Association of South Carolina, said towns should require specific disclosures on how any entity spends public funds. A nonprofit that receives public funds should provide the information even if the town didn't make such a requirement, Slatton said. I don't know why they wouldn't be willing to provide that to (a mayor) or anybody else who asked for it for that matter, because the town's responsible for accounting for those funds under the law, he said. One reason why the town decided to disperse the $250,000 through the nonprofit is because municipalities are barred from combining private investment with public funds to offer loans, Walker and Danielson said. But so far, no private investment is involved in the grant program, Danielson said. Sickinger, the other council member on the nonprofits board, said that he didnt see what purpose announcing the exact amount each business received would serve. "It feels like a trumped-up controversy," Sickinger said. "But, at the end of the day, is that money being spent for grants for Irmo businesses? 100 percent." LEXINGTON Lexington County is directing $7.3 million in federal aid toward a one-time bonuses for essential county employees, county officials announced Oct. 13. The funding comes from a $58 million sum in federal aid to help the county recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential employees, which includes the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, are being defined as county workers whose jobs involve regular in-person interactions or handling of items touched by others. Lexington County was allocated the aid as part of the the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion stimulus billed Congress passed in March 2021. South Carolina is getting about $8.8 billion of those funds, with $1.6 billion directed to local governments, including counties, cities and other municipalities. Amounts of bonuses for county employees will vary from about $1,600 to $5,700. The county will determine payouts in a tiered system based on risk of exposure to COVID-19, duties and number of pay periods between January 2020 and March 2021. "I would like to thank all county employees for their extraordinary efforts to provide daily service to the people of Lexington County through the uncertainty of the Coronavirus pandemic, Lexington County Council Chairman Todd Cullum said in a statement. Lexington County has created a survey to gather residents' thoughts on how the federal aid should be spent. Cities and towns across the county are just beginning to have discussions about where to allocate the aid. The town of Lexington will likely receive about $11 million in funds, according to estimates from the U.S. Treasury Department compiled by the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Cayce is estimated to receive about $7 million in funds, while neighboring West Columbia's allocation is estimated at $9 million. The Town of Irmo recently received notice of an initial $2.5 million disbursement in federal aid that will follow another $2.5 million next year, said Town Councilman Bill Danielson. That $5 million total is more than half's the town's entire annual budget. Batesburg-Leesville can expect around $2.7 million, and Springdale about $1.4 million. Chapin will receive an estimated $813,000. FOREST ACRES Masks will be required in businesses, restaurants and other public buildings in the city of Forest Acres into November. Council members for the city of about 10,000 residents northeast of Columbia approved extending the emergency rules Oct. 12 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 as cases persist. Mayor Frank Brunson said he still favored masks from a healthcare standpoint and to avoid confusion between government jurisdiction and not drive away shoppers who visit the city. The city is home to shopping destinations such as retail centers Cardinal Crossing and Trenholm Plaza and trendy grocer Trader Joe's. "I hate the fact that we have to impose one," Brunson said. "I wish we would be talking about vaccines rather than face masks." The city of Columbia on Oct. 5 extended its mask requirement until Dec. 5. Columbia's rule includes schools and day cares, while Forest Acres' requirement doesn't include schools. Richland School Districts One and Two both have mask requirements in place. Richland County requires masks for those 10 and older in unincorporated areas of the county until Nov. 14. In Forest Acres, people age 5 and older are required to wear a mask into restaurants, gyms, retail stores and other buildings open to the public. Businesses must require employees to wear masks when interacting with the public or provide a suitable barrier. An individual who violates the mask ordinance could face a $25 fine, while a business owner could be fined $100 for employees who don't wear masks. The rule is in place until Nov. 10 unless City Council repeals it sooner. The council next meets on Nov. 9. Sullivans Island Town Council just reaffirmed something that became abundantly clear to residents this time last year. Elections have consequences. On Tuesday, council voted to seek a new legal opinion on last Octobers scorched-earth agreement to chop down much of the islands maritime forest. Which the vast majority of islanders dont want to happen. See: Sullivans most recent municipal elections. The settlement of that long-standing lawsuit was controversial on so many levels its hard to count: It called for substantial obliteration of the forest and said the terms could never be changed. And it popped up, with little public notice, at the height of the pandemic. Folks werent happy, to say the least. Heres proof: In Mays election, pro-forest incumbent Mayor Pat ONeil won another term over challenger and Councilman Chauncey Clark, an architect of the settlement. ONeil got 62% of the vote in a record turnout for a municipal election. Pro-forest council candidates swept every available seat. The voters have been eager for action ever since, and with a deadline for reviewing that settlement approaching, council took it. But theres still some consternation. Local attorney (and Charleston City Councilman) Ross Appel, who represents the pro-forest group Sullivans Island For All, worries the town isnt going far enough quickly enough. Theres been a lot of people whove chimed in, Appel says. Our thought is this needs to get in front of a judge. Thats not what has happened ... yet. Council hired Nexsen Pruet attorney William Wilkins to review the settlement, a good choice. Wilkins, a former chief judge of the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, has a history with cases in which one local government attempts to bind a future one. An idea that, by the way, the South Carolina Supreme Court recently shot down concerning the state Legislatures Heritage Act to protect Confederate monuments. Now, this is slightly different. Sullivans Island settled an ongoing legal dispute; the Legislature passed a law requiring a two-thirds vote to change its statute. Still, the principle is the same. Can a 2020 Town Council tell a 2021 council what it can or cant do? Well see. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Some forest supporters are understandably nervous, and on Tuesday they feared this was merely political foot-dragging. But have some faith: Several town officials were honestly livid about the settlement. This may only be legal base-covering. The people expected us to take a somewhat different approach, and take a closer look at this, Mayor ONeil says. Were not going rogue; were doing this methodically. Of course, now the other side is incensed. Councilman Greg Hammond, who supported the settlement, complained about the lack of public comment at Tuesdays meeting. He said there wasnt enough public notice sound familiar? and suggested the town use the same attorneys who negotiated the settlement to review it. That didnt fly. I have a tremendous amount of respect for (those attorneys), ONeil says. At the same time, if youre dealing with health care, for instance, do you want a second opinion from the same doctor? Good point. The Sullivans Island maritime forest, now a public park, is a marvel of nature. Most East Coast barrier islands are eroding; Sullivans is growing. In the past 30 years, the forest has become popular with residents across Charleston County. Cutting it down would be devastating, because you cant undo that. So, forest proponents are correct; time is of the essence. The problem here has always been that the forest blocks the ocean views from some island homes. The owners are understandably upset about this, hence the original lawsuit. The plaintiffs talk about critters attracted to the forest, a fair concern, and the threat of criminals hiding out there, which isnt really. Its actually almost wholly about views and property values. Wilkins may determine theres nothing to be done about the settlement. If thats the case, council must decide whether to go to court anyway and quickly, before state and federal agencies decide how and when cutting can begin. Until then, forest lovers will remain nervous. Also understandable. Its worth noting that all the candidates in Mays election made their positions clear; some candidates in the previous election, the ones who agreed to the settlement, didnt. Which is how we got here. The lesson from the last election, and the reaction to Tuesdays vote, is that the maritime forest is important to a large majority of islanders except, of course, those who cant see the ocean for the trees. So, council should take note, and take every possible legal step to do what the people want. Because the people have shown no qualms about finding folks who will. Maura Hogan is the arts critic at The Post and Courier. She has previously written about arts, culture and lifestyle for The New York Times, Gourmet, Garden & Gun, among other publications. Almost every theater student at the University of South Carolina must pass through professor David Britts introductory acting classes. As a result, he feels great responsibility to prepare them appropriately through his play selections for a professional career. That means guiding them through prestigious Shakespearian drama and progressive, social-issue confronting plays one might find at regional theaters, but it also means farce, in all its crowd-pleasing glory. Britts production of Neil Simons 1988 comedy Rumors, which opens at the universitys Drayton Hall Theatre on Oct. 15, is an example of just that. "We wanted to do a comedy," Britt said. "It's important to learn how to deliver a comedic monologue, how to set up a joke, and how to do farce." Luckily, Rumors and other farces which can be broadly described as a subgenre of comedy distinguished by improbable situations, physical comedy, and exaggerated action, often as a satire of society are often crowd pleasers as well. The premise of Rumors involves four affluent couples arriving for a party at the posh home of an influential politician. Shots are fired, hosts go missing, a coverup is hatched, the police arrive, and, well, farce ensues. Britt, who is directing the play, knows his way around Simon. He has directed a number of the acclaimed author's works locally over the past decade, including a trilogy of autobiographical Simon plays and The Odd Couple. Simon, who died at 91 in 2018, still holds the record for the most combined Tony and Oscar nominations. Having hit a creative peak in the 1980s with a trilogy of increasingly introspective and autobiographical plays, the author took a sharp turn towards farce with Rumors. Britt has always held the playwright in high regard. Beginning as a sketch comedy writer for television in the 1950s, Simon developed a character-centric, literate style of domestic comedy in his stage plays. "(It) has influenced almost everything we've seen on TV since," Britt said. "Sitcoms from 'Frasier' to 'Designing Women,' that style that's so familiar. It's not just being funny - it's how the actor approaches (the material) in a serious way. Comedy comes out of circumstance, and reactions to actions." With his cast, Britt stressed to his cast they needed to be invested. If you really do believe (the action on stage) then we are able to laugh, he explained. Though, there were more practical things he had to work on as well like the generational jargon gap between todays college students and the 80s. Britt shared that he had to explain yuppie to his cast, the trend of young urban professionals and their conspicuous consumption that was both idolized and vilified. Rumors characters fit neatly into that mold. One couple has a brand new BMW, for example, Britt explained. They come in and they want to brag to their friends, and compare their status. They are ready to impress - but they're humbled. Theyre shaken down to where they are little scaredy-cats they find out what pride is, and what bragging is. They hold on to that as long as possible. The comedy comes when we start to see the cracks (in the facade.) The plays cast includes Brandon Badinski, John Boulay, Jesse Breazeale, Zoe Chan, Billy Cheek, Koby Hall, Andie Lowe, Caroline McGee, Jordan Pontelandolfo and Isabella Stenz, five of whom are making their mainstage debut. "(Spectators are) going to laugh, and they're going to enjoy seeing these young people taking on these characters, and enjoying being comedians. It's just a good time, and everyone will leave quoting something that someone said, the director shared. Design students in the graduate Master of Fine Arts program have significant roles in the production as well, including Kyla Little as costume designer and Lawrence Ware as lighting designer. Britt promised a stylistic look that channels the excesses of the 80s, between distinctive hairstyles for each character, shoulder pads and flashy jewelry. He compared it to the 80s soap opera Dynasty. Everything is big. Excessive. Lavish. There's a lot of big hair, he said. Shigeharu Kobayashi received a text a few days ago after announcing his upcoming departure from Columbia to help open a restaurant in Oakland, Calif. Youre the most Columbia, South Carolina guy I know, the text read from a friend in Minnesota. That might be accurate. Kobayashi is known for numerous efforts in the city. Among the notable is helping operate Camon Sushi Restaurant, the venerable sushi joint off of downtown, with his family; being the first Richland County voter in the 2020 election in a popular social media/voter advocacy campaign; and founding the Columbi-Yeah! moniker, among numerous others. Ive always been excited about our city, and Ive always enjoyed supporting it, he said. I found a lot of joy living in Columbia. . Most of the things that Ive done were just attempts by me to point at the people who were doing excellent work in our city. About three months ago, Kobayashi and his family completed a sale of their beloved restaurant Camon to the Bowen family, who had been helping run it since December 2020 and formerly worked for them. The sale marked the end of a 35-year run for the Kobayashis. Though, in the months between the sale closing, the family acted like consultants for the Bowens as they progressed toward running the shop. His two parents, who both worked at the restaurant, are now retired. In the time leading up to the sale, Kobayashi had previously described it as the closure of a 35-year chapter for the restaurant, with the next 35-year chapter beginning. Were customers now and its very nice. Weve gotten the chance to dine there a couple of times and it's been really great to watch them carry it on, he said. Kobayashi leaves the city hes become a de facto cheerleader for this month to start restaurant JooDooBoo with chef and college best friend Steve Joo. Kobayashi and Joos relationship goes back to the early aughts, where they went to school at Oberlin College together in Ohio. During that time, Joo got his first restaurant work at Camon for college credit and, after graduating, moved to Columbia and began working there full time. That was my first real introduction to what it was like to work in a restaurant, Joo said. Joo would work at Camon for a few years before he moved to culinary school. During that time, he worked at the famed California restaurant Chez Panisse, known for launching the farm-to-table movement in restaurants, and would later garner experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Before this new venture, JooDooBoo, he had a well-received popup he co-ran in Oakland. His new restaurant could be best described as a Korean deli, a restaurant that will also offer up the Korean side dishes called banchan as a subscription for home cooks and house-made tofu. JooDooBoo will utilize California ingredients in traditional Korean cooking methods. Kobayashi considered the restaurant, which should open before the end of the year, as among a new wave of Asian American restaurants that are finding ways to bring very traditional, as opposed to American-focused Asian food, Asian food to American diners. He posited that Camon, bringing a Japanese restaurant that one might find on a street corner in Japan, as an early example of that. Theres a lot of ways to express Asian American cooking, he said. I do see that wave and I am excited to take part in it and play my role. Joos hope is for Kobayashi to help manage the JooDooBoo front of house and do what hes done well in Columbia foster community connections and build the businesss sales. Already the conversations have already been enlivening Ive had with Shige, sort of developing what those sales channels are going to be, and having meaningful engagement and conversation with the community, Joo explained. Kobayashi expects his time in Oakland to be a medium-length plan and he intends to return to Columbia at some point. In preparation for that move (he's never been to Oakland), hes had close friends assemble cards that detail why people should get to know him or, perhaps, buy him a drink in his new home. Kobayashi described it as the most weirdo Shige way of doing that. I have had to think about whats going to be my identity in California when I move there. Am I just going to be out there talking about SC too much? he concluded. The answer is probably yes. GREENVILLE A new engineering education initiative expects to impact 3,500 young people in Greenville in the next five years and increase diversity in the industry. In April, the General Electric Foundation launched a $100 million decade-long global initiative called Next Engineers to diversify the engineering workforce. The program aims to reach 85,000 students ages 13 to 18 in 25 cities worldwide by 2030. On Oct. 13, Greenville was named one of four inaugural locations selected to launch the program, along with Cincinnati, Ohio; Stafford, U.K.; and Johannesburg, South Africa. GE Gas Power in Greenville will invest $5 million in a partnership with Clemson University's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences to implement the Next Engineers program in the Upstate. Across the four locations, the GE Foundation is investing $16 million total, providing funding for 3,200 camp participants and 600 scholarships for academy participants. Each section of the program engineering discovery, engineering camp and engineering academy is geared towards a different age group. Engineering discovery, for ages 13 and 14, will increase awareness of the various engineering careers. Engineering camp, for ages 14 and 15, is a week-long camp during which students will interact with engineers and business leaders, and complete design challenges. Engineering academy is a three-year college readiness program for ages 15 to 18. Students spend 80 hours completing challenges and capstone projects and receiving mentorship from industry professionals. Those completing the program are eligible for scholarships from the GE Foundation. Applications are currently being accepted for Engineering Academy. Only 50 applicants will be selected annually at each program location. Tushar Desai, general manager of combined cycle plant engineering for GE Gas Power, has been involved in the preliminary stages of the Next Engineers program for the past six months, providing insight on what diversity means and the best plan moving forward. Desai said 54 percent of companies globally are reporting talent shortages. Of the skilled engineering workforce right now, only 13 percent are Black or Hispanic. Desai said that GE managers and executives will spend thousands of hours to make this program successful in Greenville. Clemsons Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention (PEER) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) have a 30-year-old diversity and inclusion mission. Serita Acker, executive director of PEER and WISE, has hired graduate student Brittany Sanders to act as the project manager for Next Engineers in Greenville. Acker and Sanders have identified Upstate schools with high populations of underrepresented students and are reaching out about the potential benefits of the program. So far, Clemson has recruited nine middle and high schools to participate in the program. When I think about the holding of hands of industry, community and the university in an initiative like this, to me it's my dream, and it's really what's going to be a game-changer, Acker said. GE and Clemson are longstanding strategic corporate partners. Nearly 400 Clemson alumni work for GE across its divisions. GE also hires Clemson students and graduates as interns and for co-op positions. In March, GE Gas Power invested about $1 million into the university with the GE John Lammas Annual Scholarship program. The program will award 40 $8,000 scholarships annually for three years. GE also sponsors the universitys annual Men of Color National Summit and is the lead sponsor for the inaugural womens roundtable program Nov. 3 at the Greenville Convention Center. The roundtable will provide seminars and other activities for middle and high school girls. GREENVILLE Only a small percentage of Greenville County students who were quarantined due to being in close contact at school with a COVID-19 positive person subsequently contracted the virus. From the start of this school year on Aug. 17, 6.1 percent (1,113) of students quarantined by Greenville County School District have tested positive during the 10-day period. Of those, at least 359 were found to have been exposed at school. The school district "can't say with absolute certainty" if more students contracted the virus at school after testing positive in quarantine, Superintendent Burke Royster told the Board of Trustees during a meeting on Oct. 12. Through Sept. 30, 16,585 students were required to quarantine. Once quarantined, students must remain out of the classroom for 10 days, or seven if able to obtain a negative test five days after exposure. Almost 4,000 of the district's roughly 76,000 students tested positive for COVID-19 between the beginning of the school year and the end of September. Royster said the district has the data on the number of students in isolation and quarantine to date but presented numbers through the end of September to compare the district to the state, which does not have updated data available. GCSD accounts for almost 10 percent of South Carolina's 770,000 K-12 students. Through Sept. 30, Greenville County students made up 8.46 percent of the state's student isolations and 8.05 percent of its quarantines. For employees, 580 have isolated and 384 quarantined through Sept. 30. Through Oct. 8, more than 140 employees have tested positive during quarantine. While the hour-plus-long COVID-19 update workshop was happening, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) updated its guidelines for what is considered close contact, changing how quarantines are determined. Greenville County uses DHEC close contact recommendations and definitions. Students exposed to someone who is COVID-positive are no longer considered in close contact if they are wearing a mask greater than three feet away. Before, both the infected student and the student exposed had to be wearing masks within three to six feet of one another to avoid quarantine. Royster outlined nine factors the school district would consider before issuing a mask mandate at a single school, including tracking the percentage of students positive for COVID-19 and the pediatric rate at local hospitals. All factors would be considered together and equally. There are three factors the district would consider before recommending a district-wide mask mandate: A variant of COVID-19 emerges that is significantly more contagious and harmful or less inhibited by existing vaccines; The GCS internal spread rate tops 4,500 cases per 100,000 over a two-week period; The trending pattern of COVID cases within GCS and the community is increasing. The board was not asked to take a position on the mask mandate guidelines outlined by the school district at the meeting. Royster said that the district could handle the individual school mandates if necessary but would present the board with a "finalized recommendation that you all would support [that] this is the structure under which we would put in place a universal masking requirement throughout the district." Brandon Alter covers the town of Kingstree and Williamsburg County for The Kingstree News. He is from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of South Carolina's school of Journalism and Mass Communications in May 2021. Katie Arrington, a former South Carolina congressional candidate and state lawmaker who went on to work for the Pentagon, is suing the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency, citing what she says are the agencies' delays in investigating allegations she disclosed classified information. Arrington, who is currently on suspension from the Pentagon, is the chief information security officer for the Pentagons Acquisition and Sustainment Office where she has a high-profile role spearheading a new cybersecurity initiative for defense contractors. In May, she was placed on administrative leave amid the investigation; she has not been fired. Arrington's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12, says she has yet to be informed about the allegations which led to her suspension. "Despite repeated requests to DoD, NSA and DCSA for any information pertaining to NSAs actions and the reasoning for the clearance access suspension, no substantive information has been provided," the lawsuit said. DCSA is the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Washington-based attorney Mark Zaid is representing Arrington. In a statement posted to Twitter, he said Department of Defense officials are ignoring due process by not responding in a timely matter. "We take it very seriously when any administration fails to provide timely procedural or substantive due process in security clearance matters," he said. The Pentagon does not comment on pending litigation. On May 11, Arrington was informed her security clearance for access to classified information was being suspended as a result of a reported Unauthorized Disclosure of Classified Information and subsequent removal of access by the National Security Agency, according to a memo shared with Bloomberg News. Sign up for our SC Military Digest newsletter Get exclusive military reporting, updates from Palmetto State bases, headlines from around the globe and more delivered to your inbox each Tuesday. Email Sign up! The memo, from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, also asserts, If this preliminary decision becomes final, you will not be eligible for access to classified information or assignments to duties that have been designated national security sensitive, the Bloomberg report said. Jessica Maxwell, a Defense Department spokeswoman, at the time told The Post and Courier only that Arrington had been placed on leave and gave no other information except to say out of respect for her privacy, we cannot discuss the details of timeline. The DoD does not comment on personnel issues. Arrington is a former Republican lawmaker who represented the Summerville area in the state House of Representatives. She ran for Congress in 2018 but ultimately lost her bid to Democrat Joe Cunningham in that year's midterm elections. Shortly after her election loss, she took on her job with the Department of Defense in January 2019 under then-President Donald Trump's administration. Her appointment came from Ellen Lord, who at the time was the Pentagons undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment the departments top weapons buyer. During her 2018 congressional campaign, Arrington frequently cited her cybersecurity and defense industry background. She has previously worked as a director of technology at a firm called Centuria. Also, she was an account manager at Benefitfocus and was vice president of sales at Dispersive Technologies, a cybersecurity solutions provider. She also served on both the executive board of the states chapter of Women in Defense, a networking group for women who work in national defense and security, as well as the Charleston Defense Contractors Association, a business association focused on raising the profile of the regions defense industry. CONWAY While some might not be happy about all the new people moving to the Pee Dee, the added population comes with some benefits, more money. Horry County will gain an additional $2.1 million in state funding, the largest increase across the state, with the county's significant population growth in the past decade, according to numbers released by the S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. In the last decade Horry County, South Carolina's fastest-growing county, added nearly 82,000 people. The county has a population of 351,029. While Horry County is getting the state's largest boost in funding, it's less than 1 percent of the county's yearly budget which amounted to $572 million this year. With the increase, Horry County is only behind Greenville, Charleston and Richland in state funding. It is not clear how Horry County will spend the additionally money. A county spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Oct. 13. But County Councilman Bill Howard, a long-time advocate for public safety, said he would like to see the $2 million go toward helping the county's understaffed and underfunded police, fire and 911 offices. "I'm ready to start and do something about this, for the future, because if we don't start today, we're not going to get there tomorrow," Howard said about committing more funding to Horry County's public safety needs. In June, Horry County Council made the largest push in years to hire more public safety officials, adding over 100 new positions from police, fire, emergency management and 911 responders. The county has made progress in filling the positions, but as new recruits go through the training process Horry County's immense growth is putting a strain on response times and delays among 911 responders. NORTH MYRTLE BEACH North Myrtle Beach voters will have competitive races for mayor and three council seats this November. The city will get at least one new council member after Terry White, who represents Ocean Drive, announced he would not seek reelection after 29 years at city hall. Here is a look at who is running and what they said when asked why they were running. Mayor Marilyn Hatley Hatley, a former hairdresser, is in her fifth term as mayor. I am proud of how our city has stayed focused and forged ahead over the past four years," she said. "Through our collective efforts, we have not only emerged as a local leader in terms of how a progressive city should handle adversity and growth, but we have also captured the attention of other municipalities well beyond the borders of Horry County. We have emerged from a sleepy bedroom community of Myrtle Beach to a thriving tourist destination as well as a wonderful community to call home. I know our citys future is bright, but we cant take it for granted. It will take leadership, commitment, vision and hard work to keep us moving in the right direction. I have proven I have these qualifications and will work diligently to meet our common goals." Wayne Troutman Wayne Troutman is a native of Concord, N.C. He is a retired businessman and a Vietnam War veteran. Ive been involved in politics for years in different levels, local and state in North Carolina, Troutman said. I can see the growth in North Myrtle Beach and what we have accomplished here but I think there are some changes that need to be made if we are going to take it to the next level. The growth pattern that we are seeing here, being one of the fastest-growing cities on the East Coast, it is going to take a change in the way we approach things. We are going to have to go up a level, and I think I have the ability to do that from my time in the government, more so in serving at the pleasure of the governor doing things to help the communities throughout North Carolina. City Council Ocean Drive Ward Bubba Collins Collins is the owner of Bubba Collins Insurance Agency. He moved to North Myrtle Beach in 1980. Collins has served on Blue Cross/Blue Shield of SC Small Group and Individual Council since 2003. He sat the city's planning and zoning board and parks and recreation commission. He was appointed to the McLeod Seacoast Foundation Board and was chairman for the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. My wife Darlene and I have raised our four sons here and built a business here," he said. "I want to help ensure we keep the great quality of life we enjoy. That includes maintaining our beaches, managing future growth and keeping our first responders well equipped to do their job. Norfleet Jones Originally from Raleigh, Jones has lived in North Myrtle Beach for the past 32 years. He is a retired captain from the Raleigh Fire Department and a Coast Guard veteran. Jones has served on the Horry County Solid Waste Authority Board for the past 16 years and has served on various committees and boards for the city of North Myrtle Beach. I believe North Myrtle Beach is the best place on Earth to live, he said. I want to work to preserve and protect our beautiful beach community. I believe that good government requires communication and transparency as we continue to maintain and diversify growth while protecting our infrastructure. City Council Windy Hill Ward Nicole Fontana Fontana has been on council since 2013. She is a native of Horry County and serves on the North Myrtle Beach Crime Watch. Fontana said her goals for the city are, keeping taxes low, keeping the city budget lean and efficient, funding for beach renourishment, ensuring first responders have the necessary tools and training, greater investment in ocean outfalls and stormwater drainage, focusing on her constituents, working on beach parking issues and keeping the city safe. Jolene Puffer Puffer is a real estate broker who has lived in North Myrtle Beach for the last three years after coming from the Asheville, N.C. area. I just felt like there was a lack of leadership and perhaps for me an opportunity in Windy Hill to be more prevalent, more present, to be more in communication with the constituents, Puffer said. People feel apathetic these days towards local government, and I really wanted to start the conservation among people in my peer group to say that you can be involved, and this isnt a tough gauntlet. I love North Myrtle Beach and Im going to spend the rest of my life here. City Council At-Large Bill Davis Bill Davis is an Army veteran who moved to North Myrtle Beach in 2007 from Maryland. He is retired from the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., working in the federal government for 18 years and as a project manager overseeing a $5 million installation of 11 training centers. Once elected, I propose a committee or equivalent, to investigate attracting a manufacturer or an industry, to locate here, bringing full times jobs not related to tourism, Davis said. There is a lot of property along the waterway that can be annexed for this purpose. If we havent learned anything from the pandemic, this should be a wakeup call. We need a backup plan not to totally rely on tourism. I would also address the building explosion in our city and county. ... I propose impact fees on any new residential housing within city limits, including annexed properties. These fees would help offset some of the eventual infrastructure costs. Trey Skidmore Trey Skidmore is a native of North Myrtle Beach and a self-employed businessman who won a special election in March. I think we live in the best town in America, that's why my wife and I are raising our children here and we hope when they grow up and have families of their own, they'll want to stay right here in North Myrtle Beach," Skidmore said. "That's why I am working hard every day to keep this such a great place to live, work and retire. We have our challenges, mostly because it is such a great place, we are growing faster than almost anywhere else in the country. So, we have to work on that, we need to make sure our roads and infrastructure keep up with the growth. There are things we can do to help, like add more access roads and sidewalks to reduce traffic. As a businessman, I also know how important it is to keep taxes low on our residents and our local businesses. COLUMBIA In a rare television interview, an attorney for Alex Murdaugh insisted his client didn't kill his wife and son, shared new details about the disgraced lawyer's opioid addiction and shed more light on the botched assisted suicide scheme that got Murdaugh arrested last month. Speaking with Fox Carolina anchor Cody Alcorn, Columbia-based defense attorney Jim Griffin said Murdaugh had no reason to kill his wife, Maggie, and son Paul, whose unsolved slayings on June 7 have drawn international attention. Griffin said he has reviewed years' worth of text messages between Alex and Maggie Murdaugh that show the two had a loving relationship, despite a report that Maggie had met with a divorce attorney in the weeks before her death. Maggie Murdaugh was spending time in the family's Edisto home that spring, Griffin said, but only because she was working on renovations there. Griffin said the pair would text each other affectionate messages each night before going to bed. Besides, Griffin said, Alex Murdaugh had a rock-solid alibi in the hours before he returned to the family's Moselle hunting lodge in Colleton County to find Maggie and Paul shot to death near the property's dog kennels. Murdaugh was visiting with his mother, who has dementia, and watching a game show with her and a caregiver, Griffin said. You would think that if Alex was the one who did it, (the State Law Enforcement Division) would have been able to establish that pretty easily that night," Griffin said. "You would think they would have searched his house and found blood somewhere. You would think they would have found the murder weapons on the property. You would think they would come up with something to link Alex to the murders, forensically or independent evidence. To my knowledge, they have not done that." The case has been the constant talk of South Carolina since the summer, spawning all manner of speculation and discussion over dinner tables and online message boards. But SLED investigators have made no arrests, and the agency has urged patience as it chases leads. The unraveling of Murdaugh, the scion of a powerful and wealthy legal family in Hampton County, has only heaped more fuel onto the fire. Last month, he admitted to a 20-year opioid addiction, checked himself into rehab and left his law office after his partners accused him of stealing firm and client money. He was arrested after confessing to trying to orchestrate his own murder in order to leave a $10 million life insurance payout for his remaining son, Buster. He was sued by the sons of his late housekeeper, who have presented evidence that allege Murdaugh swindled them out of a $4.3 million wrongful death settlement they were owed. And his law license was suspended by the state Supreme Court, which was compelled to act by the avalanche of allegations. In this week's interview with Alcorn, Griffin made clear he still doesn't have all the answers in this still-unfolding story. He said, Murdaugh remains in an out-of-state rehabilitation center for his addiction. Griffin said he looks forward to speaking with Murdaugh to "peel back more layers of this onion" and determine if Murdaugh's addiction or financial schemes could have given someone a motive to harm his family. "We're going to explore that with Alex as soon as he is able to," Griffin said. Griffin disclosed that Murdaugh had sought medical treatment for his addiction in the past, spending a week in detox while telling his friends and co-workers he was on vacation. But Murdaugh had never stuck with the program and stayed for rehab, his attorney said. It was a surprise to a lot of people in how he was able to mask it," Griffin said. "I didnt know. It was a real surprise to me. I know that it has been a struggle of his." Griffin also shared that he met with his client over Labor Day weekend, on the morning before Murdaugh staged his own shooting. During that conversation, Griffin said, Murdaugh explained that he had been accused of stealing money and ejected from the Hampton County law office of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick which his great-grandfather had founded in 1910. Murdaugh also admitted to Griffin he was addicted to opioids and said he planned to check himself into rehab. Griffin said he has represented clients before who were contemplating suicide. "I was concerned," Griffin told Alcorn. "Was this something that would cause him to try to kill himself? And I had that conversation with him. I felt reasonably confident after I left him that he was not in that frame of mind." Griffin said, Murdaugh tried to meet with close friends that day to come clean. One of those friends refused to see him. At some point that day, Murdaugh "lost his will to live," Griffin said. Griffin recounted that Murdaugh called a longtime acquaintance, Curtis Edward Smith, and asked him to meet. Griffin has described Smith as Murdaugh's opioid dealer, a characterization Smith and his lawyer have contested. When the two met on the side of a rural Hampton County road, Murdaugh asked Smith to shoot him with a .38-caliber revolver, Griffin said. Smith obliged, according to Griffin, hitting Murdaugh in the head from within 5 feet. Griffin's account is one of several stories that have come out of the shooting, but it's the one SLED accepted in arresting both Smith and Murdaugh in the scheme. Murdaugh and his lawyers originally told investigators and the public that Murdaugh was shot by an unknown assailant as he stopped to inspect a flat tire. Smith and his lawyer have told news outlets Smith refused to kill Murdaugh that day. The gun went off as Smith tried to stop Murdaugh from shooting himself, they have said. The inconsistencies have sparked questions about the shooting, including speculation that Murdaugh's wounds were not as serious as his attorneys have claimed. Griffin and his partner on the case, Columbia lawyer Dick Harpootlian, have said Murdaugh suffered entry and exit wounds from the bullet, along with a possible skull fracture and significant bleeding. Some skeptics have wondered whether Murdaugh was shot at all. They note Murdaugh was released from the hospital after two days and appeared in court less than two weeks later without any bandages or visible head wounds. Murdaugh's lawyers have said those wounds are visible when pulling back the attorney's close-cropped hair. Speaking to Alcorn, Griffin said he has received medical records documenting Murdaugh's condition as he was airlifted to a Savannah hospital after the shooting. They clearly document massive head bleeding," Griffin said of the records, which Alcorn also reviewed. "There is blood through the bandage. There is blood around the neck brace. There is blood on the stomach. And they open up the headwrap to try to evaluate the extent of the trauma and they cant see it because there is so much blood matted in his hair. Griffin said he is still working to obtain Murdaugh's records from the Savannah hospital. He pledged to release those documents, along with the airlift records, once he gets them and obtains permission from Murdaugh. MOUNT PLEASANT The president and CEO of a Mount Pleasant company faces federal charges he trafficked a minor for sex. Earl Dawson Caldwell IV, president and CEO of AP Recovery, was arrested Oct. 11 and is accused in a criminal complaint of trafficking a minor for sex between December and May in Jasper and Beaufort counties. The complaint was filed Oct. 11 in U.S. District Court for South Carolina. An agent for Homeland Security Investigations is listed as the complainant. An accompanying affidavit detailing the allegations was sealed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker at the request of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoemake said he could not comment beyond what information was publicly available through court records. Caldwell, 52, was being held at the Charleston County jail. He was scheduled to appear Oct. 15 at a bond hearing in the U.S. District Court in Charleston. It was not clear from court records whether Caldwell has legal representation. AP Recovery is a global company founded some 25 years ago by Caldwell's father. The auditing firm specializes in accounts payable assets for businesses that include "60 of the Fortune 500, a multitude of the Global 2000 and so many more names you see and hear everyday," according to the company's website. The company's main headquarters is in Mount Pleasant, but also has a European headquarters in London. The company did not respond to requests for comment Oct. 13. The city of Charleston has enacted a broad plan that discourages new development in flood-prone areas. City Council members voted unanimously Oct. 12 on final approval of the citys new Comprehensive Plan. It is the first in South Carolina that not only limits new development in flood-prone areas but also encourages development in areas with higher elevation and less flood risk. Cities in South Carolina are required to adopt one every 10 years to use as a guide for decisions such as land purchases, development regulations and budget priorities. Although much of the plan is nonbinding, it does serve as a guide for the city to rewrite its land-use code. Its fascinating to think we may be on the cutting edge of implementing this, said Charleston Chief Resilience Officer Dale Morris. Preliminary land-use maps included in the comprehensive plan serve as a guide for changes to the city's zoning ordinance. Everything has in it this component of resiliency and a more comprehensive view of resiliency, Planning Director Robert Summerfield said. Zoning changes could help the city avoid costly home buyouts and expensive infrastructure improvements in the coming decades. The city already spent millions of dollars to buy flood-prone homes along Church Creek in West Ashley, and city officials dont want to repeat those types of purchases. "Let's be proactive for these changes in climate that we see coming and stop putting the risk on the people who are just trying to find a place to live," Morris said. Neighborhoods have different suggested areas for dense development. On the Charleston peninsula, the plan chose upper King and Meeting streets. In West Ashley, the city selected land along Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Bees Ferry Road. On James and Johns islands, dense development is suggested for the areas directly next to Maybank Highway. On Daniel Island and the Cainhoy Peninsula, the city identified properties next to Interstate 526 and along Clements Ferry Road. The plan also assesses Charlestons affordable housing needs. It found that the cost of living in the Charleston area is now more expensive than Atlanta; Charlotte and Asheville, N.C.; Virginia Beach and Richmond, Va.; and Jacksonville Fla., according to additional data presented in the citys comprehensive plan. The only large metro area in the region that is more expensive is Washington, D.C Over the past 20 years, public and nonprofit efforts have created or preserved an average of 94 affordable housing units per year, the plan states. Summerfield said many Charleston residents could benefit from a greater variety of housing types. "Youre not just looking at ultra low-income people potentially on public assistance. You're looking at them up through the people who have good jobs but arent paid enough," he said. "Were talking firefighters, nurses and city employees." Based on population projections, the city will need about 16,000 new units at a range of affordable rates by 2030 to meet demand. Also at the Oct. 12 meeting, council members approved the creation of a Municipal Improvement District for Johns Island. The district, which will exist for 30 years, will require new developments to pay a new tax to the city for use on infrastructure projects in the area. It does not apply to existing developments. JAMES ISLAND Authorities have arrested a man who barricaded himself inside a Briarfield Avenue home, accusing him of attacking his wife and then detonating a Molotov cocktail near her and sheriffs deputies. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office arrested Jonathan Andrew Hill, 36, on Oct. 8 and charged him with four felonies. Hill was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive device and one count of intentionally causing an explosion in an attempt to injure people or a building. He was also charged with first-degree domestic violence. Hill was acting manic and throwing items in his house at 4 a.m. Oct. 8 and subsequently got into a verbal dispute with his spouse, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Hill pushed his spouse and stomped on her face and chest. He then hit her several times with a belt, ultimately strangling her with it, the affidavit said. The victim was able to run outside the house and seek help, it said. If convicted of first-degree domestic violence, Hill could face up to 10 years in prison, according to the S.C. Code of Laws. Deputies went to the James Island home at about 7 a.m. in response to reports Hill was violent toward his spouse. Deputies met the spouse outside the home when they arrived. Hill had barricaded himself in the house, according to another arrest warrant affidavit. Moments after their arrival, Hill opened the front door and threw a flaming incendiary device, often referred to as a Molotov cocktail, in the direction of the spouse and deputies, the affidavit said. The device exploded on the driveway near the deputies, the affidavit said. No one was injured, said Capt. Roger Antonio, sheriffs spokesman. Hill then escaped through the houses back door. Deputies later searched the home and found two additional cocktails manufactured inside the residence, the affidavit said. If convicted of intentionally causing the explosion to cause injury, Hill could face up to 25 years in prison. Hill appeared for a bond hearing Oct. 9. He was denied bail on all charges. He is currently being held at the Charleston County jail. Charleston and North Charleston were among the top 10 cities in the state with the highest number of people contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline during 2020, according to the S.C. Attorney General's Office. Steve Garrison covers breaking news and public safety. He's a native of Chicago who previously covered courts and crime in Wisconsin, New Mexico and Indiana. He studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Missouri. A Beaufort County woman was charged with operating a massage parlor which solicited sex and was across the street from a West Ashley child care center. Lina Tan Driggers, 58, was cited with prostitution and charged with committing the offense within 100 yards of a child care facility. If convicted, the citation carries a penalty of no more than 30 days in jail. The felony charge carries up to 10 years in prison. Driggers owned and operated several massage parlors, including Oriental Massage, on Ashley River Road south of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, police said. Oriental Massage is in full view of all the facilities, play areas, and grounds of West Ashley Head Start, which is operated by the Charleston County School District. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division began investigating the business along with the Charleston Police Department after authorities received a tip in February 2020 from someone whose family member was working at Oriental Massage, according to a warrant affidavit. They were recruited to be a masseuse through a Chinese newspaper, the person said. But when the employee began working at the business, their passport was taken and they were forced to have sex with clients, according to the complaint. Charleston police investigated the parlor from March 2020 through June 2021. All the clients appeared to be adult men, visited alone and frequently stayed inside longer than a massage service at a reputable location would last, according to the affidavit. On June 28, 2021, one customer told a Charleston detective he visited the parlor because it was known for the solicitation of prostitution, according to the affidavit. Authorities conducted an undercover operation days later. An agent requested a 30-minute massage for $105, including a $50 tip. The agent had audio and video recording devices, according to the affidavit. Near the end of the massage, the agent negotiated a sex act with an employee for the tip amount. After the employee agreed, the agent told them he changed his mind and left. The investigation was enough for a judge to authorize a search warrant, which SLED agents executed at the parlor Oct. 6. One customer told agents he paid for a sexual act from two employees. The tip he provided after the massage served as payment for the sex act, the man said. It was unclear if the man was arrested. Handwritten ledgers and credit card receipts from the business showed customers would sometimes tip amounts disproportionate to the services they received, the affidavit asserts. SLED agents also interviewed three workers, who revealed employees spoke exclusively in mandarin. One said she had been working at Oriental Massage for only a short time after Driggers recruited her. The woman told authorities Driggers instructed her to make the clients happy, including sexual acts if a customer requested one. The employee told SLED agents she would touch customers genitals in exchange for payment. If she refused, Driggers would be upset and the employee could be fired or have her pay docked as punishment. The woman needed the job and money, she told authorities. It was unclear if any of the employees faced charges. SLED agents took Driggers into custody early Oct. 13, according to a copy of her arrest warrant. She was booked into the Charleston County jail, but left a few hours later after posting a bail of $10,465, arrest records show. The 9th Circuit Solicitors Office in Charleston County will prosecute the case. St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church of North Augusta is hosting its 25th annual pumpkin patch, complete with 4,000 pumpkins from the Southeast. The pumpkin patch was closed during the fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joey Zeller, who organizes the event at St. Bartholomews, said that he is happy to host the event again this year. (Im) happy to tell [people] that we decided we would have it, we would have it in a safe manner, and help contribute to the community, Zeller said. Zeller said the pumpkin patch has become a tradition to many North Augusta families, from proposals to numerous fall and Halloween-themed pictures. He said that many people come back each year to recreate family portraits, reminiscing the fall season of years past. The pumpkin patch partners with local and international organizations to help those in need. Locally, St. Bartholomews has built a great working relationship with Community Ministries of North Augusta, as well as the Brown Bag ministries, according to Zeller. St. Bartholomews proceeds also help individuals in Haiti and Ecuador. When you come to the pumpkin patch, youre not just supporting North Augusta and being part of our community, but youre being part of the world community as well, said Zeller. Volunteers from North Augusta High School spent their afternoon transporting pumpkins from the semi-truck to the grass. Its been really fun because my whole family comes here, and we all pick out one big pumpkin, North Augusta high school senior Sean Fowley said. Its fun to set it all up and see all of the hard work that goes into that. The pumpkin patch will close on Oct. 29. The pumpkin patch is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Preschools will attend story time field trips during the day where children can receive small pumpkins. St. Bartholomew's church is looking for pumpkin patch photos from years past. Zeller encourages people to come out and buy pumpkins whenever they can. St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church is located at 471 W. Martintown Road. People are really excited, Zeller said. [Theyre] already buying pumpkins, and we havent even put them all down yet. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. It was announced recently that Dominion Energy plans to cut down 550 palmetto trees on Folly Beach. Palmetto trees are relatively easy to dig up and relocate. Why not move the palmettos rather than cut them down? Palmettos are among the trees more resistant to hurricane winds. Preserving them would help preserve the character of the island. An even more significant reason to move them rather than cut them down would be the beneficial effect on Dominions image. The companys current reputation is one of a chop-and-slash organization. Moving the trees rather than cutting them would be a win for everyone. Anticipating the argument that moving them would cost too much, I would argue otherwise. Ask adjacent landowners if they would like to have the trees on their property. Consider the cost savings of not having to cut up and haul away 550 trees and dig up the stumps. The same tree spade that would likely be used to remove the stump could be used to relocate the tree nearby for little more than the cost of removing the stump. It might even be cheaper to move them. Folly Beach authorities should pressure Dominion to consider this alternative. DAN KNAPP Farmfield Avenue Charleston Support eye exams If the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association doctors were as concerned about protecting our children enrolled in Title 1 elementary schools as they say they are, perhaps they will offer free follow-up eye exams for every child screened by the nonprofit program Vision to Learn. The South Carolina General Assembly should back retired Charleston banker Henry Blackford and the Medical University of South Carolinas Storm Eye Institute by passing a permanent law that would allow Vision to Learn to continue to offer students these free eye exams during the school day through its mobile clinic. BYRON WHITE Patterson Avenue Charleston Conquer COVID As I read the Sunday Post and Courier article on the COVID-19 crisis and its impact in schools, I was struck by one parent stating she believes vaccinations and masks are not necessary because this is all part of Gods plan and in his hands. As I pondered that point of view, I recalled a conversation I had many years ago with my sister, who follows the Bible and has a strong faith in God. I was in college in a heavy science and biology curriculum when she asked me if I was losing my belief in God because of my studies. My answer was simple: no. In fact, my studies reinforce my belief in God because of the beauty and perfection of how the natural world works. God gave us the ability to study and understand the world through science, and he would only do that if he meant for us to use this ability to solve problems and better the world through science. It can be hard to flip the paradigm you have lived with and believe, but I ask that people consider Gods plan from another vantage point. Genesis 1:28 gives man dominion over the earth. We should honor God by using his gifts to understand and to conquer COVID with science and tools designed by man with Gods help. My belief is a different take on Gods plan. ELIZABETH LAMKIN CEO and partner PACE Healthcare Consulting Arundel Place Mount Pleasant Decorate King St. My wife and I moved to the Charleston area a year ago. We were excited to experience the holidays by strolling and shopping on King Street after Thanksgiving. When we got there, we were disappointed to barely see any holiday decorations. As our business and community leaders continue to discuss the future of this fine city, why not consider investing in some beautiful holiday decorations and lights? This would attract more dollars from locals and tourists who desire to experience the vibrant downtown while adding to the positive image of Charleston. If in need of some inspiration, an online image search of holiday lights on Oxford Street London could offer some great ideas. Weve been to London during the holidays and the excitement and crowds are something to behold. With the pandemic going on for almost two years and having hurt so many local businesses, a more festive downtown environment could help them to recover, bring more tax dollars to the city and foster more happiness, joy and pride in the people of our community. That would be a win-win-win. PATRICK MCCLEARY Sewee Fort Road Mount Pleasant Goose Creek, SC (29445) Today Sun and a few passing clouds. High around 60F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 38F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Editors note The Index-Journal is one of 17 news organizations collaborating with The Post and Courier on its Uncovered investigative project. GREENWOOD The embattled South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe has been accused of defamation in a lawsuit by a current employee, and documents uncovered by the Index-Journal raised other questions about the boarding school's leadership. Tim Keown, then director of the education center at John de la Howe, allegedly sent comments in a "vitriolic" email to Frank Dorn, director of agriculture at the time, that accused him of creating "a hostile work environment and one of paranoia," according to a lawsuit alleging Keown defamed Dorn. Some of the comments included: "Might better mind your own tailgate." "Careful who you downgrade me to, I might just know them." "Tend to the skeletons in your own closet before telling blatant lies about me." Keown was months from starting his current post as president when he sent the email to Dorn, the agriculture director. Keown moved Dorn to assistant director of facilities earlier this year. The civil complaint, filed Oct. 8 in McCormick County court, also alleges Keown worked with Libby Templeton, a teacher who started in fall 2020, to "interfere with Plaintiff's job, undermine Plaintiff's professional credibility, and diminish his reputation in the agriculture community" ahead of stripping Dorn of his position overseeing the fledgling school's farm. "Damages include reputational losses, diminished earning capacity, embarrassment, lost goodwill, shock, humiliation, and emotional pain and suffering," Dorn's attorney, J. Paul Porter, writes in the filing. Keown and Templeton did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing the allegations. We do not comment on pending litigation and look forward to providing our response in court at the appropriate time," Hayley Belton, the school's director of public relations and marketing, said in an emailed statement. The lawsuit comes as the school has come under sustained scrutiny for allegedly violating ethics and purchasing laws, with reports from the state Office of Inspector General and Division of Procurement Services detailing a laundry list of violations. Those probes came in response to reporting as part of Uncovered, an investigative project led by The Post and Courier to ferret out questionable behavior among elected officials and public employees across South Carolina. The Index-Journal is one of 17 newspapers partnering with The Post and Courier for the project. In April, The Post and Courier revealed numerous cases of questionable spending, especially payments to contractors from Edgefield. The following month, the Index-Journal exposed how school leaders funneled hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to their contractors of choice. After reviewing thousands of pages released through a public-records request this summer, the Index-Journal unearthed emails that show: Keown distrusts employees who were hired before Sharon Wall's tenure as interim school head. Even as he dismissed claims of wrongdoing, Keown privately worried he would lose his job. John de la Howe's board discussed public-records requests behind closed doors in possible violation of state law. Keown only sought to investigate claims about his staff after newspapers exposed concerns. These latest Uncovered findings add to a portrait of an administration that is suspicious of anyone who raises concerns and had only reluctantly allowed others to review questionable practices at the school discoveries that Dorn's lawsuit underscore. Falling out During the 2016-17 fiscal year, John de la Howe was a boarding school for troubled youths with falling enrollment and a campus in disrepair. Dorn said he pitched the idea to lawmakers and co-workers that the school could become a school for agriculture. In the summer of 2018, the plan that would turn the agency in rural McCormick County into a school for agriculture was put in motion, and Keown joined the school the following year. Dorn and Keown "got along fine" at the beginning, the filing said, but Dorn grew concerned that Keown "was promoting himself more than the school" during recruiting trips and was often absent. When the school looked for Wall's replacement, the job posting required applicants to be certified as a superintendent, or be within one course of having certification. "The latter caveat was tailored to allow Defendant Keown to be hired to that role," Porter wrote. When a board member asked Dorn whether Keown was up to the task of leading the fledgling agriculture school, Porter wrote that Dorn "honestly replied that he had concerns about Keowns ability to handle personnel matters and be a supervisor in the educational setting based on a lack of experience and the schools current capabilities." In December 2019, de la Howe announced Keown would start as president on July 1, 2020. On Feb. 26, 2020, the complaint says, Keown sent out a series of emails about Dorn. The first was at 9:42 a.m. and landed in the inbox of a number of Dorn's co-workers alleging he didn't manage the grounds properly. Thirteen minutes later, Keown emailed Dorn to criticize him for "professionally and briefly interjecting into a meeting to greet an old friend who was visiting the School," the filing said. "Focus on the farm and grounds (your lane), and not everyone elses business, Keown wrote in the email, which was copied to Wall. Then, at 2:27 p.m., he sent a longer missive to Dorn, also copied to Wall, that began: "Im confronting all of these issues now before July and notating them for the record. I will not meet with you one on one to discuss any of this, only with a witness." He accused Dorn of focusing too much on Keown's job and not enough on his own, and he alleged Dorn was the reason the school struggled to recruit students in Edgefield and Saluda counties. 'Disgruntled' The comment: "Probably lose my job over this," topped a message Keown forwarded in April to two subordinates. Below was an emailed response to The Post and Courier that downplayed concerns of favoritism and ethics violations, blaming allegations on "disgruntled maintenance employees" and accusing the newspaper of trying to sell papers. Ken Durham, his head of facilities, responded: "Perfect and to the point!! We have nothing to hide." Attributing allegations to angry current and former employees became a common refrain from Keown's administration, even as he worried those criticisms could endanger his job he makes $111,000 a year. Responding to a lawmaker who reported hearing concerns from an anonymous caller about John de la Howe's facilities department in February, Keown referenced "disgruntled" former employees, then said the complaints could have come from a current employee. He wrote: "There are also some other disgruntled older employees in the business office. ... I will not put into email about that group, but we can talk later. It's basically the older employees before Dr. Wall came versus the new employees who are absolutely rocking and rolling!" After lauding the success of de la Howe's students, Keown added: "The older employees hate to see success and this school idea is actually working! They want to go back DOING NOTHING like they did for the last 26 years. That's all that phone call was about." He also offered to listen to the message from the anonymous caller to see if he could identify the voice. Keown forwarded the initial email and his response to Durham, one of a number of emails sent to Durham with outside concerns or questions from journalists. Some were also sent to Wall and to Durham's second-in-command, Scott Mims. In an email to board members after the first Post and Courier story published, Keown wrote: "The old disgruntled employees were the ones feeding the paper which we knew." While dismissing concerns about the relationship between facilities employees and contractors, as well as Wall joining a consulting firm that worked with John de la Howe after she negotiated the agency's new contract with the company, Keown was clearly nervous about questions from The Post and Courier. He voiced these concerns in emails to Durham and Wall. Keown, who was recently named the 2021 Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education, did not respond to questions sent more than a month ago about these emails. Questions about purchases Months before The Post and Courier and Index-Journal's reporting as part of Uncovered raised concerns about the facilities department dealings with contractors and the procurement audit that followed, Dorn's lawsuit said he flagged a requested purchase in a different department. "Plaintiff learned at a department head meeting in August that Templeton without consulting him, had a representative from a third-party company where her husband worked set to come to quote selling $45,000.00 of livestock handling equipment," the lawsuit said. "The design and plans at the third-party company were drawn up by Templetons husband indicating he was directly involved in the sell." Purchases of more than $10,000 require at least three quotes, a concern the lawsuit said Dorn raised with Templeton, the teacher, and others. That purchase did not go forward, but the filing alleged three orders totaling more than $24,000 were made, all below the $10,000 threshold "to end-run the procurement code." Getting around the procurement code by splitting purchases violates South Carolina law, and a state procurement audit found nearly $1 million in artificially divided purchases meant to stay below the $10,000 threshold as part of its litany of violations. The lawsuit did not name the company, but her husband, Wayne, worked for Crouch Hardware & Farm Supply LLC at the time. The store is in Saluda, a nearly 50-minute drive. Payments to Crouch Hardware totaling $24,647.76 cleared on Nov. 3, according to information from the comptroller general's website. The online records do not spell out when purchases were requested or approved, only when the payments cleared the bank. In total, de la Howe paid the store $34,915.14 during the 2020-21 fiscal year. No purchases from the store were recorded before that year. On Oct. 12, the Index-Journal filed a public records request seeking documents pertaining to those purchases and any investigation into whether something was improper about them. No answers After The Post and Courier exposed questionable behavior at the school in a story published April 24, Keown told his board in an email that "it's not that bad" and that it was "just a light knock to the chin." Yet, the board was concerned. Owen Smith wrote the "article is embarrassing even if it is not true" the inspector general and procurement auditors have verified much of the story's findings and the board decided that weekend to meet on Tuesday to discuss the piece. "This is a reminder about what the Freedom of Information Acts (FOIA) request is about. At our last board meeting, I informed you all about the FOIA requests submitted by the Post and Courier and Index Journal. We talked extensively about this in executive session," Keown responded as the board planned its meeting. Boards may meet behind closed doors to discuss personnel matters, contractual matters, discussion of security personnel or devices, investigative proceedings or economic development matters. Missing from that list, which is enshrined in law, is discussing public-records requests. And when the board met April 27, it went behind closed doors to discuss the news coverage, which also is not covered by statute. Board Chair Hugh Bland, who pledged the school was "above board" after that executive session, did not respond to a request emailed more than a month ago asking him to explain how these executive sessions complied with the law. The same question was posed to Keown, who also has not responded. After the meeting, Keown emailed the board to let members know he asked the inspector general to investigate. As the State Inspector General review unfolded, Keown told the Index-Journal that Inspector General Brian Lamkin "hasnt found anything of concern but has offered some procedural advice which I have already implemented." The review and resulting report had five findings, highlighted a need for training in ethics and state purchasing policy, and led to the scathing procurement audit. Many of Lamkin's findings appeared to have been shared with the administration before Keown's email to the Index-Journal. He did not respond to a request for clarification on his earlier comment. 'Not a demotion'? After Dorn spoke up about Templeton's requisition request, his attorney says, Templeton had it out for him. On Feb. 3, Keown met with Dorn and "lobbed several false and exaggerated complaints," which the lawsuit says could mostly be traced to Templeton. Keown told Dorn he was being put on a performance improvement plan, but as of the time the lawsuit was filed, no plan had been provided. Dorn disciplined subordinates on March 19 for not working the lawsuit says Keown supported the action at the time and was told three days later that three of his workers reported being afraid of Dorn so he was being removed from his post. Now he was assistant director of facilities, a newly crafted position with no job description. "Keown was careful to emphasize that this was not a demotion such that Plaintiff could not file a grievance over it," the complaint said. With Dorn in another post, the lawsuit alleges Templeton effectively became the new farm boss, and "after four months, the farm and grounds deteriorated to the point that a new farm manager position was created." The complaint also alleges, the "school recently promulgated a code of ethics that, among other things, prohibited communication between employees and Board Members in a further effort by Defendant Keown to secure his power over the school without oversight from the Board." Back in 2009-10, when the Democrats controlled 59-60 Senate seats, they were pleased as punch to pass a $1 trillion stimulus package and the camel known as Obamacare. Sure, some Dems wished for even more stimulus money and the horse of single-payer health insurance. But there was no serious resistance to settling for less and few public complaints about not getting more. Twelve years later, with the Dems controllingly only 50 Senate seats, they cant seem to coalesce around $2.5 to $3 trillion in new spending. Not long ago, this development would have seemed almost inconceivable. But it would also have seemed inconceivable that Bernie Sanders would nearly win the Democratic presidential nomination and be calling plays in Congress for a big faction of the party, that the left would foist Critical Race Theory on so many public schools, that a campaign to defund the police would gain major traction, and so on. Today, Sanders announced that Medicare expansion must be a part of the reconciliation bill the Democrats hope to force through the Senate on a strictly partisan vote. Sanders insists on expanding Medicare to encompass dental and vision insurance, and says this demand is not negotiable. But Joe Manchin has said that Medicare needs to be stabilized before it is expanded, because by 2026. . .the trust fund is going to be insolvent. Perhaps Manchin also has constituents who are having trouble finding doctors who will accept Medicare. We are. The positions of Sanders and Manchin are incompatible. Thus, while it still seems less than likely, its easy to conceive that the Democrats will leave $2.5 to $3 trillion on the table or perhaps settle for only the $1 million in infrastructure money. Maybe the whole boondoggle will die on a hill of eye glasses and dentures. The Sanders wing of the party argues that instead of stripping programs and benefits like dental and vision coverage out of the reconciliation package, the bill should reduce the number of years in which the benefits will accrue. The theory is that voters will like the programs and benefits so much they will have to be renewed. But voters wont like it if Medicare collapses under its present burdens plus those imposed by new benefits. It might also be worth recalling that the Democrats passed Obamacare believing it would be too popular to repeal. They were more right than wrong in this assessment. However, Obamacare was sufficiently unpopular to contribute to the Democrats losing the House in 2010, the Senate in 2014, and arguably the presidency in 2016. But neither the merits nor the politics of expanding Medicare really matters. All that matters is how Joe Manchin views the situation. He has made his view clear. If anyone gives significant ground in this dispute, its at least as likely to be Sanders and his camp as Manchins one-man (or one-man, one-woman) band. Or so it seems to me. Kevin Roche, the Healthy Skeptic, has compiled the most recent Minnesota data on covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths. First the chart, then some comments: Breakthrough Cases 10-11-2021 The numbers jump around wildly from week to week, and the Minnesota Department of Health deliberately makes them, to some degree, opaque. But during the last week, covid deaths among the non-vaccinated were down 7.6%, while deaths among the vaccinated were up 96%. Smoothing out the data a bit, over the last three weeks there have been 305 covid deaths, of which 38% of decedents were fully vaccinated and 62% were not. The percentage of vaccinated deaths undoubtedly will continue to rise over time. Does that mean that the vaccines dont work very well? I think part of the explanation is that covid deaths dont necessarily have much to do with covid. Hospitals get paid extra if the word covid appears on a death certificate, and you get what you pay for. However, Kevin thinks the more important factor is that covid deaths continue to be overwhelmingly among the elderly. One thing that happens when you get old is that your immune system doesnt work as well as it once did. Thus, the vaccines dont stimulate immune responses among old people as effectively, or for as long, as one might hope. While numbers like these dont necessarily discredit the vaccinesI was among the first to be vaccinated, and I encourage others to do likewise, as Kevin Roche doesthey certainly do cast doubt on the appropriateness of forcing others who would prefer not to be vaccinated to get the shots. People like the Southwest Airlines employees and Kyrie Irving have a defensible point of view, I think. Finally, if you dont read Healthy Skeptic daily, you should. This commentary is from yesterday: [T]he Minnesota [Department of Health] had another briefing last week and it really is torture to listen to this one. The focus was terrorization around cases in children and hospitals being overrun with CV-19. Neither is true, but the DOH intentionally does not release the data which would show just how misleading their terror campaign is. CV-19 patients are cases at the margin, most of the patients in hospitals are not CV-19 patients, they are just a modest percent. We as a nation chose to reduce hospital beds over the last several decades, due to their expense. Hospitals, and ICUs in particular, typically run as full as they can. So a few extra CV-19 patients can seem like it is the source of the problem but why not blame the heart attack patients or the cancer patients? Here is why I am so cynical about the DOHs messaging. They never, ever tell you the full truth. They dont tell you how many hospitalizations are really for CV-19 treatment. They let slip in one briefing that half of breakthrough hospitalizations were not for treatment of CV-19. They never give information about observation stays or admissions for remdesivir or length of stay trends. They make it sound like the hospitals are overwhelmed by seriously ill CV-19 patients. They arent. They have a lot of patients with typical needs; in fact even more than usual due to the terror campaign causing delays in care; leading to more serious heart disease, cancer cases, and other conditions. The hospitals get paid a lot of extra money to treat CV-19 patients, so they want to find as many as possible with positive tests to generate revenue. Love to see the cycle number thresholds hospitals are using and the distribution of tests. So I dont accept the bullshit they are spinning about hospitals being overwhelmed and why. And when it comes to children, it is even worse, because, as one speaker today acknowledged, we had a horrendous, out of season RSV wave (which incidentally was caused by masking, closing schools and other nonsense we did to children, weakening their immune systems and making them more vulnerable). That disease does cause serious illness and many hospitalizations in children and I am certain that most pediatric hospitalizations being attributed to CV-19 are only incidental positive tests. By the way 21 pediatric beds are being used. And again, pay attention to every word. Used means something different than being treated for CV-19. So dont expect me to buy that bag of crap about children and hospitals either. 3000 cases a week in children under 12 they sayhow many were even symptomatic and what are the cycle numbers. Think it is an accident that age limit was usedno, they are setting up for a school vaccine mandate. Keep testing like crazy among asymptomatic children and I am sure you can find even more false and low positives. Bracing stuff that I am sure applies equally in most states. What do voters consider the most important issues in the Virginia gubernatorial race? As usual, the economy ranks #1. Right behind it, though, is crime. So finds a CBS/YouGov poll of likely Virginia voters. The pollsters asked voters to rate the importance of seven issues. Here are the results in order of importance (the percentages are of those who consider the issue a major factor in the governors race): Economy: 71 percent Crime: 67 percent Vaccine mandate: 66 percent Teaching re history and race: 62 percent Taxes: 60 percent Abortion: 58 percent Mask policy: 54 percent Here are the splits for various demographics on whether crime is a major factor in the race or a minor one (the small residual number reflects the percentage of people who consider it unimportant). Age 45 and over: 70-25 Women: 71-25 Blacks: 76-21 Liberals: 48-40 Moderates: 67-29 Democrats: 59-33 Independents: 62-29 Biden voters in 2020: 53-37 I infer that non-Black Biden voters and non-black liberals dont consider crime a major issue in the gubernatorial race. All other groups do, if the poll accurately reflects public opinion. The same poll finds Terry McAuliffe leading Glenn Youngkin 50-47. However, the results relating to crime are good news for Youngkin. So is the number of voters who think the way history and race relations are taught is important, although I gather from the racial breakdown on this issue that the group that considers the issue a major one includes a significant cohort that favors indoctrinating students in Critical Race Theory. I suspect that crime is considered a major issue throughout most of America. Even in the ultra-liberal Maryland neighborhood where I live, folks are starting to worry about crime. Auto thefts and break-ins within a few blocks of where one lives can have that effect. I figure the issue of crime, which weve been highlighting for years on Power Line, will become even more important to voters as long as the current crime wave continues. And it seems destined to persist until the electorates view that this is a major issue translates into policies that address the problem and Im not talking about hiring violence interrupters. I have written that it is time for Anthony Fauci to go, while he has vowed never to quit no matter his standing with the public. It looks as though Faucis vow may be tested, as his reputation continues to decline. Rasmussen reports: Most Americans Agree Dr. Fauci Has Lost Credibility. More than 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. governments leading expect on the virus has lost credibility and a plurality of Americans now have a negative opinion of Dr. Anthony Fauci. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 41% of American Adults now have a favorable impression of Dr. Fauci, down from 44% in August. Forty-five percent (45%) now have an unfavorable impression of Fauci, up from 42% who had a negative view of him in August. Other findings are hard to reconcile. No one I know takes seriously Faucis assertion that we may not be able to get together with our families for Christmas, but some peopleamazinglydo: Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in an October 3 interview on CBS that it was too soon to tell whether families could get together to celebrate Christmas. Forty-eight percent (48%) of Americans disagree, including 35% who Strongly Disagree. Forty-two percent (42%) agree with Fauci that that its too soon to tell if Americans will be able to gather for Christmas, including 20% who Strongly Agree. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. On the other hand, we have this: Reacting to Faucis comment, New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said on Twitter: Fauci has lost all credibility with the American people. We arent waiting on his permission to celebrate Christmas together. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Americans agree with the quote from Stefanik, including 38% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree with Stefaniks quote about Fauci losing credibility, including 23% who Strongly Disagree. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. This is a good instance of how poll responses can vary weirdly, depending on how questions are phrased. But it is good to see that 54% think Fauci has lost all credibility. Having been on the taxpayers dime since the Lyndon Johnson administration, it is long past time for Fauci to go. Every day brings fresh news of the how the edifice of green energy has hit the wall. It turns out that when nations recognize they need more energy, they are all turning to . . . energy that actually works at scale. And yet the Al Gores of the world persist: Al Gores $36 Billion Fund Sees New Urgency to Cut Off Oil Money Five years. Thats roughly how much time the investment universe has left to stop feeding capital to greenhouse-gas emitters before its too late, according to the co-founder of Generation Investment Management LLP. David Blood, a long-time top executive at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s asset-management unit before starting an investment fund with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore more than 15 years ago, says that efforts over the past two decades to fight climate change are not going to be enough. Five years. Good to know. Except Im so old that I can remember when Al Gore said the Arctic Ocean would be ice free by 2013. That was back in 2009.* Meanwhile, back in the real world, governments everywhere are facing shortages and soaring costs for electricity and are turning rapidly to . . . fossil fuels! California and other jurisdictions here and abroad are waiving conventional air pollution regulations so that power companies can use diesel generators to fill the gap. Somehow all those solar panels and windmills just arent cutting it. Slowly you can see the entire climate edifice melting away: Gripped by Energy Crisis, Europe Considers Breaking Climate Promises and Turning to Coal Europe is in the grip of an energy crisis amid rising prices for natural gas, increased demand for fossil fuels and the approach of the winter that will make access to fuel even more urgent. The price of natural gas on the continent has risen sharply over the past year with the European benchmark up nearly 600 percent as of Thursday and the European Union(EU) seeking more gas supply from Russian energy firm Gazprom, which is already Europes largest supplier, providing 35 percent of the continents needs. . . Rising costs have been driven by increased demand in Asia and other parts of the world as economies reopen after shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing difficulties with gas supply and costs have reopened questions about the use of coal. Here at home, where the Biden Administration is doing its best to suppress oil and natural gas production while asking OPEC to pump more oil, were starting to see headlines like this: Sharp surge in energy prices threatens economic recovery and is already slowing growth Energy prices are surging, and the economy is already feeling the pinch of higher fuel costs though it is far from stalling out. There is an unusual coincidence of much higher oil, natural gas and coal prices, combined with other rising commodities and supply chain disruptions. That perfect storm of shortages and higher prices begs the question of whether the economy could go into a serious tailspin or even a recession. (This is as good a time as any to remind readers of the work of James Hamilton, who persuasively argues that energy price shocks often trigger recessions in the U.S.) The whole scene is so absurd we get headlines like these: North Korean Companies Smuggle Coal To China Amid Growing Electricity Crisis Amid Chinas chronic power crisis, North Korean companies are breaking UN nuclear sanctions by allegedly smuggling coal to Beijing. According to Radio Free Asia, Chinas coal shortfall is the result of lower imports and lower local output as Beijing strives to balance rising energy demand with a goal to minimise pollution and carbon emissions. The smuggling companies are controlled by powerful government organisations, reported Radio Free Asia cited a trade official from North Pyongan province in North Korea. The news smuggling comes as the United Nations banned coal exports in 2017. Meanwhile, according to media reports, China is experiencing an electricity crisis, which is pushing factories to curtail operations and power use, as well as resulting in outright blackouts in several areas. You know things are crazy when North Korea is exporting something (aside from terrorism and counterfeit dollars). And speaking of China: Chinas plan to build more coal-fired plants deals blow to UKs Cop26 ambitions China plans to build more coal-fired power plants and has hinted that it will rethink its timetable to slash emissions, in a significant blow to the UKs ambitions for securing a global agreement on phasing out coal at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow. In a statement after a meeting of Beijings National Energy Commission, the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, stressed the importance of regular energy supply, after swathes of the country were plunged into darkness by rolling blackouts that hit factories and homes. While China has published plans to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030, the statement hinted that the energy crisis had led the Communist party to rethink the timing of this ambition, with a new phased timetable and roadmap for peaking carbon emissions. And its not just China! Donald Trump vowed to revive the coal industry, but its President Joe Biden whos seeing a big comeback of the dirtiest fossil fuel. U.S. power plants are on track to burn 23% more coal this year, the first increase since 2013, despite Bidens ambitious plan to eliminate carbon emissions from the power grid. The rebound comes after consumption by utilities plunged 36% under Trump, who slashed environmental regulations in an unsuccessful effort to boost the fuel. Thats going to increase emissions at a time when Biden and other world leaders prepare to gather in Scotland in a few weeks, hoping to reach a deal on curbing fossil fuels in a last-ditch effort to save the world from climate change. The boom is being driven by surging natural gas prices and a global energy crisis thats forcing countries to burn dirtier fuels to keep up with demand. Its also a stark reminder that government policy can steer energy markets, but it cant control them. Way to go, Brandon! Over in Norway (which has just elected a left-leaning government that says it aims to end Norways North Sea oil and gas production that pays for most of Norways welfare stateyeah, lets see how this goes): Norway Reindeer Herders May Force Dismantling of 151 Wind Plants Statkraft AS may have to tear down as many as 151 turbines at one of Europes biggest wind farms following a supreme court ruling in favor of Sami reindeer owners. The ruling covers two wind farms built on traditional reindeer pastures in central Norway that the Sami people claim violates their indigenous rights. They have now won a key decision in the supreme court that leaves the operator Statkraft AS in limbo about the future of one of its biggest onshore wind power facilities. Count me on Team Reindeer. * Just how is Arctic ice looking these days? Turns out the latest data show this years ice cover coming in somewhere around the middle of the data runs from the last 40 years, but in the upper bound of the last 10 yearsalmost as if a declining trend has reversed. Im sure this is a huge disappointment to the climatistas, who need unrelenting bad news to be happy. UPDATE: So the Biden Administration is now trying comedy: White House asking companies for help lowering gas prices: report White House officials have reportedly been in touch with representatives from major U.S. oil and gas companies about how to bring down prices in the U.S., Reuters reported Wednesday. The Biden administration has been in touch with industry representatives after crude oil hit a seven-year high of $80 this week, according to Reuters, citing two sources with knowledge of the conversations. The reported conversations occurred days after oil prices in the U.S. hit $81.50 a barrel, the first time since October 2014 that U.S. crude closed at more than $80. Heres an idea for Brandon: Take your boot of the neck of the hydrocarbon industry. Its so crazy it just might work! The Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation malaria eradication project is to join other partners in the nationwide promotion and roll out of RTSS, the new malaria vaccine which the World Health Organization (WHO) recently approved for wide-use in countries. The Federal Ministry of Health gave the approval following the Foundations earlier offer to avail its malaria eradication platform for coordination of the national response to implement the RTSS vaccine in Nigeria. In a statement on Tuesday, Ned Nwoko, the chairman of Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, expressed excitement with the WHOs approval of the widespread use in countries of RTSS, the worlds first malaria vaccine. He expressed the readiness of his foundation to join hands with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders through strategic partnerships to promote and implement the RTSS malaria vaccine in Nigeria. Earlier this year, the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation malaria eradication project submitted a proposal to the Minister of Health, offering its support and requesting the Federal Ministrys green light to lead the proposed roll out of RTS,S Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) in Nigeria. The minister approved the proposal by the Foundation. The Foundation thanked the Federal Ministry of Health for the anticipatory approval of its lead role in the malaria vaccine roll out months before the vaccines recommendation by the WHO for large-scale implementation in countries. It lauded the efforts of government and donors in achieving the continued decline in malaria prevalence in the last decade while noting that Nigeria has achieved progressive reductions in malaria prevalence from 42 per cent to 27 per cent and then 23 per cent in three distinct population surveys conducted in children less than 5 years in 2010, 2015 and 2018 respectively with temporal and geographic variation in the geopolitical zones and states. The statement assured that the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, through its Malaria Eradication Project, would continue to support a strong national response to mobilise strategic partnerships and resources towards the RTS,S malaria vaccine programme implementation in Nigeria by effecting appropriate infrastructure upgrade to execute the project. While urging support of the efforts of government through collaboration for the MVIP following the vaccines approval by the WHO, the Foundation called on the public and private sector partners to come on board. It said efforts are currently being made to establish a strong multi-sector partnership to drive the process that also requires the optimal use of existing interventions, in addition to the vaccines, to deploy a comprehensive package for effective malaria control and eradication. The Foundation said with Nigeria as the country with the highest malaria burden globally, a strong local response is urgently required. It said such a response would help to achieve the targets set in the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) spanning 2021 to 2025. Last month, the Foundation collaborated with the WHO to co-host a virtual sideline event tagged Global Action for a Malaria Free Africa (GAMFA) during this years United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States (USA). The aim was to discuss the critical need of accelerating not just the control and elimination but eradication of malaria in Nigeria and Africa. The Foundation, along with the relevant stakeholders with her technical team, shall establish the RTSS MVIP Action Committee (RMAC) to lead the implementation process in Nigeria. The Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation (PNNF) is a Non-governmental Organisation with headquarters in Abuja. The federal government has earmarked N134 billion for the National Assembly in the 2022 budget. This is contained in the 2022 budget of N16.3 billion presented to the National Assembly President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday. Although details of the 2022 Appropriation bill were not immediately made public, a copy of the budget later released by the Ministry of Finance revealed the breakdown of the budget for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The total amount budgeted for the legislature for the coming year is the highest ever. For 2021, the president increased the National Assemblys budget from N125 billion in previous years, to N128 billion for 2021. And during the approval, the lawmakers upped the budget by N6 billion, bringing their total budget for 2021 to N134 billion. With the president proposing N134 billion for the lawmakers for the coming year, there are concerns that the amount will grow higher. Breakdown withheld Another concern, however, is the fact that details of the N134 billion budgetary allocation for the National Assembly were not made public. This is despite calls made by individuals and civic groups to the lawmakers for transparency in their annual budget. The allocation is also in disregard of the nations dwindling economy which informed calls by some concerned Nigerians for cut in the cost of governance. Many Nigerians have berated both past and present assemblies for always shrouding their budgetary allocations in secrecy. Others have also said the budgets for the legislature increase annually with zero accountability. The Bukola Saraki-led eight assembly only published a breakdown of its budget in 2017 after an #OpenNASS campaign was done across social media platforms to mount pressure on the lawmakers. Similarly, the current assembly only released details of its budget in 2021. It was an attempt at transparency, Kano senator, Barau Jibril, had told journalists. Of the N134 billion budgeted for 2021, the House of Representatives got the biggest share of about N52 billion while the Senate will get N33.2 billion. A total of N9.6 billion was budgeted for legislative aides, N15.9 billion for National Assembly Management while N5.7 billion was given to the National Assembly Service Commission. The sum of N275.2 million was budgeted for the Office of retired clerks and permanent secretaries while N389.3 million was appropriated for service-wide vote of the legislature. And another N9.1 billion was appropriated for general service. Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru, could not give any reason when asked by journalists on Tuesday why details of the National Assemblys 2022 budget were not made public. He merely said such inquiries should be directed to the clerk of the National Assembly. Unlike the MDAs before the National Assembly, the legislature does not defend its budget before any government body. Sometime in 2013, Nigerian multi-billionaire businessman, Leno Adesanya, approached a secrecy seller in the British Virgin Islands, Trident Trust Company Limited, to help family members of Sambo Dasuki, the National Security Adviser at the time, to register a shell company, Hydropower Investments Limited. In the documentation submitted for the companys incorporation, Mr Adesanya indicated that Hydropower Investment was set up to own real estate and investment portfolios. The businessman also indicated that the company would, on behalf of the Dasuki family, hold 1.5 million shares in Sino Africa (Nigeria) Limited, a 19-year old company that has him (Adesanya) and a certain Uche Nwokedi as directors. Hydropower Investments, company documents also showed, will also hold for the Dasukis 10 million shares in Sunrise Power & Transmission (Nigeria) Co. Limited, a company that is locked in a long-drawn dispute with the Nigerian government over the Mambilla power project. The legal dispute is stalling the key funding from the Chinese EXIM Bank to execute the Mambilla project, an ambitious electricity generation infrastructure considered key to tackling Nigerias long-standing power sector crisis. The shell company, Hydropower Investments, was registered on November 14, 2013, with Mr Adesanya and Abubakar Atiku Dasuki, a son of a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, as directors. But while Mr Adesanya serves as the face of the company and uses his Lagos home as the contact address for the offshore firm, he holds no single share. The shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners of the company are Abubakar Atiku Dasuki, (17,000 shares), Hassan Sultan Dasuki (16,500 shares) and Asmau Iman Dasuki (16,500 shares). Abubakar was 31 years old at the time the company was established while Hassan and Asmau were 18. The three shareholders are children of former NSA Dasuki, one of the most powerful figures in Nigeria at the time the company was incorporated, and awarded a combined 11.5million shares in Mr Adesanyas companies Sunrise and Sino Africa. There is no evidence that Mr Dasuki or his children paid for the shares. When the registration agent, Trident Trust Company, sought to know how the shareholders sourced the funds with which they planned to acquire the assets, Mr Adesanya simply provided a vague response, telling them the assets would be carried interest through a loan to be arranged by the sponsor (Leno Adesanya) of the project. The uncovering of Mr Adesanyas offshore link with the Dasuki family came from Pandora Papers, a trove of 11.9 million leaked confidential records obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, ICIJ. The ICIJ coordinated a team of 617 journalists from 150 news outlets, including PREMIUM TIMES, who spent two years poring through the leaked records, tracking down sources, and digging into court files and other public records from dozens of countries. It is the biggest collaboration of investigative journalists from 117 countries and territories in history. The leaked records came from 14 offshore services firms from around the world that set up shell companies and other offshore nooks for clients like the Adesanyas and Dasukis, who seek to shroud their financial activities, often suspicious, in secrecy. It remains unclear why Mr Adesanya would provide a loan to buy several million shares from his own companies in favour of the children of one of the countrys most powerful political personalities at the time. Mr Adesanya. speaking through his representative, said he derived no favours from Mr Dasuki and added that the children wanted to start doing business and they were advised by me to set up an offshore company for discretionary purposes. Illicit finance experts said roundabout schemes like that are sometimes designed to funnel bribes to compromised officials or to return favours already received or expected to come. PREMIUM TIMES has no evidence that that was the case here, although Mr Dasuki was a key political officeholder in Nigeria at a time two of Mr Adesanyas companies were seeking major favours from the Nigerian government. Responding to an inquiry from PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Dasuki said, through a representative, he did not ask Mr Adesanya to register the company for his children. He said business people sometimes render unsolicited favours to government officials even without their knowledge. He added that, moreover, his children were adults, who could make business decisions on their own. Businessman Adesanya and a top Secret However, Mr Adesanya appeared to have strategised hard to keep his business relationship with the Dasukis a top secret. For one, although the share transfer transaction was done about eight years ago, the businessman is yet to file documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission reflecting the new ownership structures of both Sunrise Power and Sino Africa. That has left the CAC in the dark about the changes. Mr Adesanya has also continued to be the face of Hydropower Investments, remaining the main liaison between the registration agent and the company, and effectively shielding the Dasukis from being apparent in the running of the firm. His Lagos home is the main contact address of the company and his email contact is the official email address listed for the company. The businessman left instructions with Trident Trust to hold on to all documents related to the company and that on no condition should the firms documents or correspondences be couriered to Nigeria, ostensibly so they are not intercepted by authorities. In what also appeared a strategy to conceal the identity of the Dasuki kids, Mr Adesanya, in correspondences with Trident Trust, kept referring to them as his cousins. When he was asked to provide proof of address for the three shareholders, the businessman falsely claimed the Dasukis lived with him in his Lagos address and then provided a notarized document to back the claim. Adesanya, Dasuki and multi-billion issues with government Sambo Dasuki, a retired army colonel and father of the three Hydropower Investments shareholders, was appointed national security adviser on June 22, 2012, by then-President Goodluck Jonathan. He remained in that influential position until July 2015, months after Mr Jonathan lost reelection when he was removed by President Muhammadu Buhari. While in office, Mr. Dasuki was immensely powerful, enjoyed unrestricted access to the presidential villa, and consistently had the presidents ears. Those who related with Mr Dasuki during his term in office said he was mostly genial and approachable with a consistent desire to solve the problems, official and unofficial, of anyone able to reach him. During the 37 months that Mr Dasuki lasted as NSA, Mr Adesanya had at least two knotty multibillion-dollar issues to resolve with the Nigerian government. For about 20 years before the Jonathan government took charge, a business dispute had arisen between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Lutin Investments Limited, a BVI company owned by Mr Adesanya and his family, over a contract for the supply of ocean vessels with equipment for the storage of petroleum products and related activities. A Lutin Resolution In 1993, Lutin and the NNPC submitted the dispute to international arbitration, which, in May 2007, ruled in favour of Lutin. The arbitrator ordered the NNPC to pay Lutin damages in the amount of $55,281,109, plus 10 percent compound interest; 20,480, plus 10 percent compound interest, and N4,692,930, plus 21 percent compound interest. The arbitrator added that all interest obligations must begin to accrue from July 7, 1993. Mr Adesanya then approached the French Tribunal de Grande Instance on July 6, 2007, for recognition of the arbitration award. He succeeded. The NNPC then appealed to the Paris Court of Appeal. But on December 2, 2014, the court affirmed the decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance. However, even before the Paris Court of Appeal gave its verdict, Mr Adesanya had begun to negotiate with the Jonathan-led government (in which Mr Dasuki was a key player) for the payment of the arbitral award which had then accrued to $477 million. In the end, the administration paid him about $55.3 million as full and final settlement, although he later protested, saying he did not obtain the consent of his board before signing the agreement with the NNPC. A chunk of Sunrise Power The second business logjam that Mr Adesanya battled to resolve during the Jonathan administration concerned the $6billion Mambilla power project which was awarded to his company, Sunrise Powers and Transmission Company Limited, but which later became the subject of an intense business dispute and power play. The Mambilla power project, first conceived in the 1970s and expected to produce 3,050 megawatts of electricity, has stalled owing to controversies surrounding the award of the contract to Sunrise Power. The award was sequel to a 2003 agreement under the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration to construct the 3,050MW plant in Mambilla, Taraba State, on a build, operate and transfer basis. The Jonathan government, in which Mr Dasuki played a prominent role, worked very hard to resolve the logjam. For instance, in 2012, the then president directed the Ministry of Power to fast-track amicable resolution of the dispute arising from multiple lawsuits. The ministry then initiated discussions with the contending contracting partners. The discussions and negotiations culminated in the execution of a General Project Execution Agreement between the government, Mr Adesanyas Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) and Sinohydro Corporation of China on November 23, 2012. In fact, things moved so fast that in January 2015, the federal ministry of power issued an award letter to Sinohydro Corporation, CGGC of China and Sunrise Power, for the execution of the project, with Sunrise as the local content partner for the project. It is unclear if Mr Dasuki offered Mr Adesanya and his company help in any way. But it was within that period November 2013 that Mr Adesanya discreetly incorporated Hydropower Investments for the Dasukis and then awarded them 10 million shares in Sunrise Power and another 1.5 million shares in another of his companies Sino Africa. However, after the Jonathan government left office, the legal tussle returned and has remained unresolved, again stalling the execution of the Mambilla project. Dasuki, Adesanya and EFCC Soon after the end of the Jonathan administration, the anti-graft agency, EFCC, launched an investigation into a bribery scheme, involving indicted former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, some bank chiefs, and oil tycoons. Those investigated included Mr Adesanya and Benedict Peters, managing director of Aiteo Group, were accused of bribing officials of the electoral body INEC with an estimated $115 (23 billion naira at the prevailing rate) to influence the 2015 elections. In addition to the cash brought by Ms Madueke, companies belonging to Mr Adesanya and Mr Peters were said to have contributed to the slush fund. Some INEC officials were charged and a number of them have been convicted and jailed. Ms Madueke was also charged but she shunned her trial. Mr Dasuki, too, was arrested in December 2015 by the State Security Service over allegations he diverted 2.1 billion dollars security funds. The Buhari government repeatedly cited national security concerns for Mr Dasukis continued detention despite courts ordering his release. The SSS eventually released Mr Dasuki in December 2019. Nigerias Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has accused six ministries and an agency of sabotaging the federal governments effort to secure loans. The ministries are power, water resources, health and women affairs. Others are ministries of environment, petroleum resources and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). Mr Lawan said the affected MDAs failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Loan and Foreign Debts to defend the loan request by the executive arm of government. Although he said the loan in question has already been approved by the Senate, the MDAs are still to appear before the panel for clarification. These MDAs failed to appear. The Senate considers this attitude as a sabotage to the effort of the federal government to secure the loans and fund the infrastructure development that this country desperately needs. Because already, the National Assembly has approved the loan requests but there is need for clarification. We are giving them just one week to appear before the committee on loan and foreign debts and if they fail to appear, well take appropriate and prompt action because this Senate will not condone any sabotage to the effort of this administration, he said. Buharis loan requests It is not clear the exact loan request the Senate President was referring to as the Senate had in the past three months approved three external loan requests from the president. The Senate had on July 7, approved a $6.1 billion loan request by President Muhammadu Buhari, an amount equivalent to N2.343 trillion. Another loan request of $8.3 billion (N8,325,536,537) and 490 million was approved by the upper chamber in the same month. The president, in his request, had said the total amount is part of the 2018 2020 external borrowing (rolling) plan of the federal government. In September, the president sent another request 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 presidency had said a total of 15 projects, spread across the six geo-political zones of the country, are to be financed with more than $4 billion from multilateral institutions, under the external borrowing plan. The presidents last request to the Senate listed 15 proposed pipeline projects, the objectives, the implementation period, benefiting states, as well as the implementing MDAs. He had said the sovereign loans will be sourced from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), China-Exim Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chartered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE). Mr Buhari has been criticised for plunging the country into more debts through these loans but his handlers have argued that the loans are needed for developmental projects. Previous threats This is not the first time Mr Lawan would summon or issue threats against MDAs. In the past, he had threatened to name (and demand punishment for) MDAs that fail to appear before different Senate committees for one issue or the other. His recent threat was in June when he faulted MDAs for failing to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee for an audit of their accounts and to defend their expenditures. The Nigerian government has directed all its employees to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus as this will soon become a prerequisite for gaining access into their various offices. The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced the new directive at its briefing on Wednesday. Mr Mustapha said beginning December 1, 2021 all federal government employees will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative PCR result to gain access to their offices. With effect from 1st December, 2021, Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, to gain access to their offices, in all locations within Nigeria and our Missions, he said. He noted that appropriate service wide circular will be issued to guide the process. Mr Mustapha had on September 2, 2021, said the COVID-19 vaccination will be compulsory for federal civil servants once vaccines are available for everyone. At the time, he said one of the reasons for compulsory vaccination of civil servants is because they will be travelling on behalf of the nation. International affairs Mr Mustapha said the government of the United Kingdom (UK) has eased restrictions on fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria to the UK with effect from 11th October, 2021. He said Nigeria welcomes this development and assured that the PSC shall continue to review the countrys protocols based on global developments, science and national experience. He said a revised protocol will be issued in the next 24 hours. The chairman also said the aviation authorities in collaboration with the diplomatic sector have made reasonable progress in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said the Minister of Aviation on Wednesday presented the position of African countries on Vaccine Passport which some economic blocks and countries wish to impose, for travel purposes. This is because African countries have found it difficult to access the vaccines for their citizens in sufficient numbers, he said. He also said the PSC has decided to remove South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil from the list of countries where travellers were restricted from arriving. The Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, who has been in detention for nearly one week, for allegedly wearing Biafran outfit and inciting members of the public, has been released by the State Security Service (SSS). Mr Agu was first arrested at Upper- Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday, for adorning an outfit which the army said reflected the colours of the Biafran flag. The actor had argued then that he had committed no offence. He said he was merely wearing an attire with the rising sun and distributing N10,000 worth of bread he had bought, to feed the poor and hungry. Agu was later handed over to the SSS by the army, who immediately whisked him to Abuja. Freedom He was released Tuesday evening after an intervention by Mike Ozekhomes chambers which had been briefed by the Nigerian Guild of Actors to take up Agu s defence pro bono. A statement by the chambers revealed that Mr Ozekhome had been briefed by the AGN and its officials to step into the matter and effect Agus release. Agu was released Tuesday evening to actors Steve Eboh and Monolisa Chinda (Director of Media, AGN), by the SSS at their headquarters in Abuja, after a reported search on his phones showed nothing incriminating. An ecstatic Agu in company of Eboh, later paid a courtesy call on Mr Ozekhome and his team of lawyers at his Abuja chambers, to thank them. Agus usage of specific language slang, phrases, or cliches in films made him a household name in Nigeria and among Nollywood admirers abroad. The 65-year-old actor has enjoyed a flourishing acting career spanning three decades. Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has frowned at what he called the indiscriminate release of suspected bandits, rapists and other criminals on bail by the courts. Mr Masari made this assertion shortly after the swearing in of three newly appointed high court judges in Katsina. The governor called on the Nigerian Bar Association to implore its members that are in the habit of supporting criminals to secure bail through the instrument of fundamental right enforcement to be ethical and avoid compromise under cover. We are in an unusual time of serious security challenges and must, therefore, put heads together to address these unusual challenges. We have had incidents where suspected bandits, terrorists, armed robbers and rapists were released on bail only for them to commit the same offence. Such ugly incidents could have been averted if bail was not granted at all, the governor said. The overriding objective of every legal system is to deliver justice which is the best pivot and pillar that uphold the very best of decency and the best guarantee for peace, prosperity and good governance. The age long adage that justice delayed is justice denied, has been a thing of concern to the government. Thus, there is the need to address the speed of justice among all stakeholders in the justice sector. It was in response to the Justice Sector Reform in the state that the state Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019 and the state Penal Code Law, 2019 were repealed and replaced with the new laws of 2021, he said. The governor said the new laws addressed the shortcomings observed in the 2019 law. He further stressed that, with this development, all actors and stakeholders in the Justice sector will now work towards a coordinated approach to ensure speedy disposition of criminal cases which involves arrest, investigation and prosecution. Mr Masari said the state government is seriously disturbed over the trend of blame-shifting by the justice sector actors. Mr Masari, therefore, directed the states monitoring and coordination committee to discharge its statutory mandate by ensuring that all criminal cases are handled with deserved dispatch. He urged the committee to check the ugly trend of releasing suspects with prima-facie records of crimes on bail. Mr Masari further urged the new judges to consider their appointment as a call to duty that requires more dedication, professionalism and above all the fear of God. Those sworn judges are Justice Ibrahim Shuaibu, Ibrahim Mashi and Abubakar Maude as the newly appointed judges of the states high court. The Kano State Government has directed party members seeking executive positions in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to undergo a mandatory drug test. This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, on Wednesday in Kano. Mr Garba said interested persons should report to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state for the screening before 7 a.m. The directive is part of governments policy to rid Kano of illicit substances, he said. He warned that no contestant would be screened without undergoing the mandatory drug test ahead of the October 16 state Congress of the ruling party. Similar tests were carried out for contestants into local government election, as well as political appointees, including members of the state executive council before offering them portfolio, Mr Garba said. The commissioner said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has already mandated the state office of the NDLEA to conduct the tests. The commissioner reaffirmed Mr Gandujes commitment to stopping drug abuse among political leaders. Government will not hesitate to issue necessary disciplinary measures against anyone found with the trace of illicit substances, including a compulsory recommendation for rehabilitation, the commissioner said. READ ALSO: APC inaugurates National Reconcilation Committee The News News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on January 8, 13 councillorship aspirants in Kano State tested positive for hard drugs. According to APC Secretary in Kano, Ibrahim Sarina, the ruling party had, through the NDLEA conducted tests on the candidates. Mr Sarina said the 13 councillorship candidates who tested positive for drug abuse were replaced. (NAN) The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has scheduled the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) for between November 5 and 14 at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). The LCCI Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Gabriel Idahosa, disclosed at a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LITF organised by the LCCI is the biggest trade fair in Nigeria and in the West and Central Africa sub-regions. This years fair, which is the 35th edition since inception, has the theme Connecting Businesses, Creating Value. According to LCCI, over 200,000 visitors are expected at the fair while about 1,500 exhibitors from 16 countries with an exhibition space of 28,000 square metres will be at the TBS over the 10-day period. He said that African businessmen and women would be hosted at the Africa Hall of the TBS to promote intra-African trade. The objective of the hall is to bring exhibitors from all African countries under the same umbrella to showcase their goods, services, arts, crafts, regulatory services and particularly to promote Intra-Africa trade. We believe that Africans must grow trade and investment among themselves to give full activation to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). In further pursuit of this objective, we will have the Africa Special Day at the Fair this year and investment and trade promotion agencies of some African countries have shown interest in this, he said. Mr Idahosa said the LCCIs marketing and customer care officials would be mobilised to the TBS to start attending to exhibitors and partners who may wish to start preparations at the venue. This does not stop them from attending to exhibitors in the Commerce House in Victoria Island or visiting the exhibitors in their offices as they may desire, he said. He listed some of the premium partners at the 2021 LITF to include the Bank of Industry (BoI), TGI DISTRI; a health and safety partner, FEDAN Investment Limited, Lifemate furniture, among others. MrbIdahosa assured exhibitors of maximum security, uninterrupted power supply, sustained automation of bookings, the availability of the LITF radio, improved exhibition service centre and properly managed traffic management and related logistics. (NAN) The debate on the general principles of the 2022 Appropriation Bill commenced on Wednesday in the House of Representatives with special focus on the budget deficit, health, education and infrastructure. Members of the lower legislative chamber took turns to contribute to the debate on the N16.34 trillion budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday. House Leader, Ado Dogwa (APC, Kano), led the debate on the bill, urging members of the House to give the bill their supports. In his contribution, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa-Ibom), made a case for increment in the N50 billion set aside for doctors hazard allowance and commended the government for the N10 billion added to the judiciary budget. Mr Onofiok said doctors are being exposed to the COVID-19 virus, but are paid a meagre N5,000 allowance. There is a need for us to up that hazard allowance from N5,000 which has been for over 20 years to something that will boost the morale of those medical personnel, he said. The lawmaker also touched on the growing deficit and the governments use of borrowing to offset the deficit. He instead called for an upward review of the oil price benchmark from the current $57 per barrel. Another source of concern is that the proposal before us has a deficit of N6.2 trillion and the government is proposing new borrowings to finance this deficit. What this implies is that the total public debt of Nigeria is expected to rise to N5 trillion in the 2022 fiscal year. This is worrisome not only for today but for generations unborn and the future of Nigeria. The pegging of oil price at $57 per barrel is totally quite very low. It is not sustainable. Permit me to add that in the last three years since 2018, we have had a year high at an average of about $60 per barrel. So we should be advocating that there should be the upping of the pegging of $57 per barrel to $60 per barrel, he said. Speaking on the bill, Kabir Abubakar (APC, Kano) who is the Chairman of Committee on Works, lamented the total amount allocated to the roads. According to the lawmaker, the federal ministry of works has an outstanding liability of N640 billion, against the less than N300 billion proposed in the budget. He called for an additional N500 billion to fund repairs and construction of roads across the country. Mr Speaker, over 800 contracts for roads and bridges are currently being executed across the nation by this government, covering over 13,000 kllometres of the 35,000 plus kilometres of federal highways and bridges. Every state in the federation has either a road or bridge project going on. To complete these projects, the federal government will need over N7 trillion. But the 2022 budget provision for the works sector in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing from my sources at the ministry is less than N300 billion for capital allocation. He cited numerous roads across the country that are going at slow pace because of inadequate funding. Some of the roads include Lagos-Badagry expressway and Enugu Onitsha Road. The lawmaker submitted that Nigeria will need N7 trillion to fix all the roads. Also speaking on the budget, Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), said the budget has not increased in real terms because of the weakened Naira. According to him, the proposed 2022 budget is the same as the 2014 budget when the exchange rate is factored in. He called for urgent steps to address the growing deficit. We have over N3 trillion for debt servicing and more than N6 trillion for recurrent expenditure, this means that whatever that is going to capital expenditure if you take TETFUND and these agencies away, it is about N2.8 trillion. There is no way we can continue to commit that level of fund to recurrent expenditure and debt servicing, Mr Okechuckwu said. The Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), faulted the spate of loans by the federal government. Haruna Mshellia (APC, Borno), decried the allocations to both education and healthcare sectors. According to the lawmaker, the 2.7% allocation to Healthcare and the less than 4% allocation to education are not sufficient to address the challenges in the two sectors. When we had the pandemic last year, we discovered that the health system was very weak. I thought we would have learnt our lesson. Look at the budget before us, you will discover that health has only 2.7%. The lawmaker called for allocation to healthcare to be increased to 10% of the budget. Other lawmakers who spoke were Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo), the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia), Manu Soro (APC, Bauchi), John Dyegh (APC, Benue). The debate will continue on Thursday. The 2021 bill has scaled second reading in the Senate. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has presented a N233 billion budget proposal for 2022 to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The governor presented the proposal to the lawmakers on Tuesday. He was accompanied to the Assembly by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mohammed Abdullahi, and members of his cabinet. In his over one-hour presentation, Mr El-Rufai said the state expects an internally generated revenue of N67.26 billion and N24.9 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) to partly finance the budget. The budget has a capital expenditure of N146 billion and recurrent spending of N87.6 billion. He also said the state expects N54.19 billion from the Federation Account and N500 million for COVID-19 response. He added that the government would borrow N19.8 billion from local and external sources, raise N34.08 billion from grants and N500 million from the sale of government assets, among others. Giving a sectoral breakdown of the budget, Mr El-Rufai said: Agriculture was allocated N1.79 billion; Business, Innovation and Technology, N3.72 billion; Housing and Urban Development, N9.34 billion; Public Works and Infrastructure, N36.97 billion. Education was allocated the highest vote of N44.68 billion; Health, N22.76 billion and Social Development, N690.52 million. He said the government earmarked N2.98 billion for Environment and Natural Resources; N4.99 billion for Water, and N18.13 billion for general administration. This government has recorded the highest levels of budget performance in the history of the state, injecting the largest ever capital investment in the history of the state. In 2019, Kaduna State achieved 97.5 per cent budget performance for capital expenditure, spending N148.57 billion of the N152.33 billion budgeted. This is more than twice the erstwhile record of capital spending of over N62 billion in 2016. We have paid almost the entire N14 billion arrears of gratuity and death benefit we inherited from 2010. We are faithfully implementing the contributory pension scheme and paying retirees on defined benefits even as we raised the minimum monthly pension to N30,000. Our investment in Social Welfare continues with funding of initiatives to support various demographics. We are funding several skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes for youths and women, including the Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Programme (KADSWEP) with N200 million low-interest microcredits targeting women entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups. 5000 young graduates have been trained in entrepreneurship through the Kaduna Startup and Entrepreneurship Programme, KADSTEP. With our partners in the Bank of Industry and the Kaduna Business School, we have unveiled KADSTEP 2.0 which will focus on training in ICT skills. This reinforces initiatives like Click-On Kaduna which has enabled thousands of young people to learn to code and acquire other digital skills at our Kaduna ICT hub. While implementing governance reforms, we have also focused on maintaining our credentials as one of the foremost investment destinations in Nigeria, attracting $2.8bn in investments and pledges. We recently hosted the sixth edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit, KADInvest. This concluded with the commissioning of the tomato processing plant of Tomato Jos, one of the investors in the agriculture sector in our state. We are looking forward to the commissioning early in 2022 of the Gujeni iron and steel plant of the African Natural Resources and Mines in Kagarko LGA. We also expect the Dangote-Peugeot vehicle assembly project and the OCP fertiliser plant located along the Kaduna-Abuja Road to come on stream, Mr El-Rufai said. One of the two lawmakers suspended on Tuesday by the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad, has denied the allegation that he celebrated the abduction of the Speakers father and that he was abetting banditry in the state. Mr Muhammad and Ibrahim Tukur, who represents Bukura constituency, were suspended for three months for allegedly celebrating the kidnapping of the father of the Speaker of the Assembly by bandits. They were further referred to the ethics and privileges committee of the Assembly for probe of their alleged infractions. The Speakers father, Abubakar Magarya, is believed to have died in captivity, but those abducted alongside him have been released. But Mr Muhammad, who represents Anka constituency, told Thunder Blowers, a Zamfara-based online news medium, that the Speaker, Nasiru Magarya, orchestrated his suspension to scupper a plan to impeach the Speaker for alleged incompetence. Mr Muhammad said he was threatened by high-profile politicians in the state over the impeachment plan. He said that did not deter him, however, from informing Governor Bello Matatwalle of the conditions of members of the Assembly under Mr Magarya. Mr Muhammad said following his complaint, the governor sent a former Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda, to broker peace after which those involved agreed to drop the impeachment plan. The lawmaker said he was surprised on Tuesday when he received calls in Kano where he was attending a UNICEF programme, informing him of his suspension over an alleged connection with armed bandits. Mr Muhammad challenged the mover of the motion, Yusuf Kanoma, to appear at a public forum for the two of them to swear with the Holy Quran if what both had said were true. The lawmaker, however, said he is optimistic that the committee of ethics and privileges would do justice to him and his colleague. He, nevertheless, vowed to sue the state House of Assembly for damaging his name and reputation. Mr Muhammad said when the Speakers father was abducted, he had called the Speaker from Kaduna where he was attending lectures, to condole with him over the incident. Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-central zone have adopted a former President of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu, as their consensus candidate for the partys national chairman. Benue Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this while speaking with journalists after the stakeholders meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja. Mr Ortom said the party leaders unanimously endorsed Mr Ayu as the consensus out of five people from the region aspiring for the position. This stakeholders meeting of North Central PDP was in continuation of finding consensus candidates for the national chairmanship of our party. Looking for someone with the capacity, with the commitment, love and passion for our party, we met here for several hours. Among the five persons that were contesting, the leadership of our party from North Central unanimously agreed to sponsor former Senate President Ayu to be the national chairman of our party from the North Central. There was no voting, we all agreed that he is the right person for this job at this time. Tomorrow (Wednesday), the northern stakeholders of our party are going to meet. So, he will be presented to the northern caucus of the party. I think that by the grace of God they will also accept him, Mr Ortom said. Asked if other regions in the North would also be presenting candidates, Mr Ortom said that they were free to present their candidates, adding that, we will discuss and agree. At the meeting were two former senate presidents, David Mark and Bukola Saraki; former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris and the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan. Also at the meeting were former Governor of Niger, Babangida Aliyu; former Kwara Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Walid Jubrin and a former minister of information, Jerry Gana. Others were House of Representatives member representing Kabba Bunu, Ijumu Federal Constituency, Tajudeen Yusuf; and his counterpart representing Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Francis Agbo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday approved the recommendations of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu-led National Convention Zoning Committee that the national chairman of the PDP be zoned to the North. The NEC also approved that the positions currently in the South should be swapped with the North and vise versa. The positions of national chairman and other positions are expected to be micro-zoned to geo-political zones. (NAN) French President Emmanuel Macron held a new kind of France-Africa summit in Montpellier on October 8. He invited no African heads of state. Instead he met with non-institutional delegates, including civil society, entrepreneurs and intellectuals. This welcome change from previous approaches is among the new steps taken by the French president to renew his countrys relations with Africa. Many African observers criticised the summit and its format as a new version of Francafrique. Senegalese president and poet Leopold Sedar Senghor used the term to describe the shared history of France and Africa. The idea later acquired a negative connotation, leaving little room for fact-based analysis that provides a nuanced understanding of the complex links between France and African countries. The term Francafrique is based on deeply rooted preconceived ideas about Frances relations with Africa: financial servitude, military interventionism, corruption of African leaders, and an over-estimation of Frances economic interest in the continent. At the heart of all this lies a profound ignorance of bilateral and contextual dynamics in favour of outdated generalisations. One example of the gap between perception and reality is that none of Frances former sub-Saharan colonies is among its top five trading partners in Africa. The same goes for foreign direct investments. The notion of Francafrique doesnt acknowledge the agency of African actors except when they oppose the colonial power. In this sense, the continents post-colonial history is often reduced to a string of martyrs whose fate is attributed more to neo-colonialism than their own flawed political strategies. There is no denying the role played by France in the post-independence authoritarianism that gripped French-speaking Africa after the 1950s. But why are leaders of former English colonies Tanzanias Julius Nyerere and Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe acclaimed as pan-African heroes while Cote dIvoires Felix Houphouet-Boigny and Gabons Omar Bongo are vilified, even though they were no less democratic or economically efficient? Africa needs more robust political analysis of countries internal dynamics and their relations with world powers. This approach is more empirically sound than resorting to Francafrique which adopts a moralising and infantilising approach to African actors. And the notion is misleading for four reasons. First, the Francafrique concept is hardly a true reflection of contemporary French-African relations. France no longer plays the central role it once did in most Francophone African political systems. This is largely due to the youthfulness of the continents people and generational changes among political and administrative personnel. Africas economic importance for France already dwindling at the time of colonisation has been steadily decreasing due to the French economys orientation towards services rather than the production of low-cost secondary products. The latter constitute the bulk of African imports from China, for example. Second, the neo-Marxist influence of the 1970s continues to shape the thinking of many African intellectuals. Rooted in the concept of dependence, this world view sees African countries as dominated by world powers like France, who support their alleged puppet governments. In reality, the vision is becoming obsolete. Over the years, Francophone political systems have acquired their own logic and historicity, and some heads of state have distanced themselves from France. Third, the term Francafrique glosses over individual African states characteristics and dynamics, reducing their relations with the former colonial power to a common denominator of paternalism and domination. After all, what similarities are there between Congo-Brazzaville, whose political scene was dominated by trade unions and a Marxist party led by the military, and Chad, whose North-South geographical and cultural divide continues to shape political competition and relations with France? The diverse bilateral relations between specific countries and France are often reduced to a dominant-dominated configuration unsupported by facts. Finally, France has recently made efforts to address various dimensions of its colonial past. The opening of selected historical archives, the numerous testimonies and other investigative work are helping uncover previously concealed information about the nature of relations between France and its former colonies. Several African states are currently showing the same logic of dependence with countries like China that they did with France. Its therefore time to declare the death of Francafrique as a relevant framework for analysing the internal and external dynamics of French-speaking African countries. More than ever, empirical studies based on knowledge of local contexts as advocated by the Cameroonian sociologist Jean-Marc Ela must become the norm. Information is needed about what guides states interests and the dynamics between different groups within society. The continued use of the notion of Francafrique shows a poor understanding of African countries foreign policies. The starting point in analysing nations trajectories must be that African societies and their leaders have agency in the choices they make. Paul-Simon Handy, Acting Regional Director, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Addis Ababa and Felicte Djilo, Independent Analyst (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). The direct primaries clause adopted by the Senate in the proposed Electoral Amendment Bill is not a revolt against state governors but an opportunity to protect legislators from the governors, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabir Gaya (APC, Kano), has said. The senator stated this when he appeared on Politics Today a programme on Channels TV on Tuesday. Mr Gaya appeared alongside the member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos). The Senate had, on Tuesday, reviewed its earlier decision on the controversial section 52 (3), and also adopted the position of the House on Section 87 on mandatory direct primaries for all parties. 87(1) of the bill now reads, A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission. While direct primaries involves the participation of all party members in the selection of party candidates, the indirect primaries involves the use of delegates who are usually leaders and members of the executives at the ward, local government and state levels, to elect the partys candidate(s) at a congress or convention. Back in July, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila had moved the amendment to allow direct primaries, which was adopted by the House during the clause by clause consideration. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), kicked against the proposal, describing it as undemocratic. Mr Gaya, a former governor of Kano State in the Second Republic, said the decision to include the direct primaries is not to revolt against the governors but to protect the federal lawmakers from their interference. Sometimes, governors have delegates, and they decide who will be the next House of Representatives member, the next senator. The best legislators are those who come back often, because of experience, but these days, because of what is happening, because of interference of indirect primaries, you find out that only 30% will come back to the National Assembly. Of course, you are losing 70%. You are losing experienced people. In the National Assembly, the more you come, the more experienced you become. This is a means of empowering the legislators, he said. Reacting to concerns about the cost of running direct primaries by political parties, Mr Gaya said it is the only means to get credible candidates into elective positions. Direct primary is the easiest form of democracy anyone can subscribe to. In every localityfor example, I have 172 wards in my constituency, if we are going to do direct primaries, all those 172 wards will have people, when you set up to buy votes, it will be difficult to buy votes in 172 locations. You have got to be a popular candidate or aspirant so that you can be voted for. I was a product of this primary in 1991. We did direct primary when I was running for governor, and I won. As a young man, people felt I am not that strong enough, but I went round every constituency in my state, that time it was Kano and Jigawa before Jigawa was created. I went around and I became popular. People came out to defend their candidate, which was me. They were there, people line up behind their candidates. And then we were voted into office. I believe that direct form is the most credible. In the case of delegates, someone can put them in one hole, and the highest bidder can take over the party. Someone with money, who is not even a member of the party, can say, I want to run for this office because he has money, he can buy delegate. Unfortunately, if as a candidate, I have paid money, I will see it as an investment. Because I wont see it as a political appointment, rather as a business. The officer will be corrupt when you do a direct primary. Mr Gaya also said the lawmakers deleted section 52(3) in response to the outcry by Nigerians. He said that the conference committee will meet in the next couple of days to harmonise the two bills. Mr Benson, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, said the indirect primaries will end money bags in political parties. The lawmaker stressed that popular aspirants will not need to go to small parties to participate, rather, try their popularity in the big parties. Although both chambers have set up the conference committee, concerns remain on the composition of the committees. The 2022 budget of the Federal Government has passed the second reading at the Senate. The passage of the Appropriation bill comes after a lengthy debate which lasted two days. President Muhammadu Buhari presented a total budget of N16.34 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly last Thursday. More than half of the senators made their contributions on the floor of the Senate during the debate. Some lawmakers commended the federal government for 100 per cent implementation of the 2020 budget and about 60 per cent implementation of the 2021 budget. Others also used the opportunity to call for infrastructural developments in their constituencies. A few senators faulted the projections of the budget, especially the federal governments plans to borrow to fund the budget while others commended the executive for its plan on economic recovery. At the end of the debate, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for submitting the budget on time. The National Assembly, he said, is ready to work and pass the budget before the end of December. He agreed with senators who spoke on the need for more revenue generation and remittance from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He said the books of the MDAs will be monitored closely to ensure more revenue generation and remittance from them. Borrowing, Mr Lawan said, is not bad as long as we ensure that what is borrowed is used capitally for infrastructural development. He also urged the petroleum committees to be alert to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and to ensure that government funds are appropriately applied. After the second reading, the budget referred to the committee on appropriations, which will distribute it across the standing committees of the upper legislative chamber after which the MDAs will appear before them and defend their 2021 budget performance and 2022 allocations. The committee was given four weeks to report back to the whole house. The Senate suspended its plenary till 9 November to allow for budget defence sessions. Budget details The budget contains a crude oil benchmark price of $57 per barrel and daily oil production estimate of 1.88 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day). This includes Grants and Aid of N63.38 billion, as well as the revenues of 63 Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs). The budget also contains a non-debt recurrent expenditure of N6.83 trillion, personnel cost of N4.11 trillion and debt service of N3.61 trillion. Statutory transfers, the category to which the National Assembly falls, have been put at N768.28 billion while Pension, Gratuities & Retirees Benefits was put at N577 billion and Overhead cost at N792.39 billion. The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, has dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), according to a report by Channels Television, Wednesday. The deputy governors defection may be seen as a huge political blow against APGA which is the ruling party in Anambra State, considering the fact that the governorship election in the state is scheduled to take place on November 6. Mr Okeke was received on Wednesday at the Presidential villa, Abuja, by President Muhammadu Buhari, the outlet reported. He was led to the Presidential Villa by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni, and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, according to the Channels Televisions report. Mr Uzodinma is the chairman of the APC campaign council for the Anambra election. A photo of the meeting at the villa showed Mr Buhari, Governor Uzodinma, and Mr Okeke jointly holding a large-size flag of the APC. Before now, there was a rumour about Mr Okekes defection to the APC, but the deputy governor did not publicly react to the rumour then. The APC in Anambra seems to be doing pretty well since Andy Uba, a former senator, became its governorship candidate, although under controversial circumstances. Six state lawmakers defected from APGA to the APC. A senator from the state, Stella Oduah, also defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. Mr Uba recently said President Buharis achievements in the South-east would inspire victory for APC in the Anambra election. Some gunmen on Wednesday abducted a Catholic priest in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigerias South-east, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). NAN reported that an unidentified woman was also abducted the same day in Umuahia. The abducted priest has been identified as Godfrey Chimezie, serving at St. Theresa Parish, Umuahia. Mr Chimezie was said to have been abducted along the road, near the church, while the woman was abducted at a petrol station. He was returning to his parish after attending morning Mass at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Okpururie Afaraukwu, when his abductors swooped on him, witnesses said. The kidnappers forced him out of his Toyota Corolla car and bundled him into their SUV and escaped, a resident said. A senior priest in the Umuahia Catholic Diocese, who confirmed the abduction of Mr Chimezie, described him as a young priest who was ordained early in the year. The police spokesperson in Abia State, Godfrey Ogbonna, said the command was yet to get a formal report on the incident from the Catholic Church. Mr Ogbonna, a superintendent of police, confirmed the abduction of the woman. The woman, he said, was double-crossed as she was driving out of the filling station. He said it was not clear yet if the two incidents were carried out by the same gang. Mr Ogbonna, who said the police were investigating the womans abduction, advised the Catholic authorities to make a formal report at any police station around the scene of the incident, on the abduction of the priest. This is to enable the command to commence investigation with a view to rescuing the victim, he said. NAN reported that the two incidents created panic among residents who expressed fear that such crime could degenerate in the city if not tackled immediately. A resident, Kingsley Onyemuche, said: We have never recorded such dastardly acts in one day in Umuahia. This place has been quiet and devoid of violent crime for some time now, but these two cases in one day have put so much fear in every resident. The Abia State Government and security agencies in the state should take urgent steps to tackle this ugly development. (NAN) The three Catholic seminarians kidnapped on Monday have been freed by their abductors. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the three men were kidnapped during an attack on Monday at the Christ the King Major Seminary in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. A statement from the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Emmanuel Okolo, said they were released on Wednesday, about 48 hours after their abduction. The statement also urged Catholic churches to organise Thanksgiving masses for the successful release of the abducted people. It, however, did not say whether any ransom was paid for their release. Below is the full statement from the diocese. From: The Curia, Catholic Diocese Of Kafanchan To: CBCN, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaduna Province, Vicar Foranes, Priests, Religious, People Of God, All Men and Women Of Goodwill Subject: Three Seminarians of Christ the King Major Seminary Released Date: 13/10/2021, Optional Memorials of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Edward With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our Three Major Seminarians, who were abducted by armed persons from the Chapel of the Seminary at Christ the King Major Seminary, Fayit Fadan Kagoma in Jemaa Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Monday 11 October, 2021. Barely 48 hours after their kidnap, our beloved brothers were released by their abductors. We want to thank all those that have offered prayers and entreaties for the quick release of our Seminarians and Others who are still in the dens of their kidnappers. We pray God to hasten the release of those who are still in the hands of their Captors. All our Priests are directed to kindly celebrate Mass of THANKSGIVING to God tomorrow, Thursday 14th October 2021, for the quick and safe release of our Seminarians. May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for us and all those that are still in captivity! Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, Chancellor, Catholic Diocese Of Kafanchan There is no greater evidence of the monstrous and audacious activities of internet fraudsters, a.k.a yahoo boys, than a trending video where some of these fraudsters are seen, standing on the roof of exotic cars at a popular plaza in Benin City, Edo State and, throwing wads of naira notes into the air. The online comments on this show of shame provide a window into the minds of some young Nigerians who see nothing wrong with such reckless display of wealth, though a few were equally aghast at the obscene spectacle. Indeed, activities of internet fraudsters have assumed a frightening dimension as they now more daring. Not too long ago, it was a shameful to be identified as a yahoo boy and those involved carried out their nefarious activities surreptitiously. But all that has changed as internet fraudsters now operate with impunity and flaunt their ill-gotten wealth and outlandish lifestyles. Even more worrisome is the support and collaboration some parents provide for their wards and children who are involved in this despicable trade by procuring for them instruments of fraud such as mobile phones, iPads, and laptops. Some parents go as far as sending their teenage children for apprenticeship, to learn the art of trickery in cyberspace. Recently, a heartbreaking video of an association of yahoo boys mothers, wearing asoebi attending an event in a grandiose fashion emerged on the internet, an epitaph of how far we have sunk in values and morals. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as an agency of government, saddled with the responsibility of curbing economic and financial crimes has been relentless in its drive to stamp out cybercrimes from Nigeria. Under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa, it has upped the ante. This year alone, the Commission has arrested over 1500 internet fraudsters and have so far secured over 900 convictions. Victims of internet fraud have also been restituted through the efforts of the Commission. Ordinarily, such success should draw commendation and accolades. However, that is not the case as social media influencers and celebrities would rather condemn and castigate the EFCC. They condemn the Commissions style which they tagged Gestapo-like. Sadly, most of the accusations hurled at the Commission are grossly exaggerated and sometimes, outright lies contrived to impugn its reputation for reasons that are unclear. Except in the observation of the Covid-19 protocols, officers of the Commission do not mask themselves during operations neither are they hooded in black attires as alleged by one of its accusers. EFCC operatives are noted for their red jackets with EFCC NIGERIA boldly emblazoned at the back. Even more shocking is the allegation that the Commission break into homes, shot sporadically and manhandles suspects during operations. Though operatives of the agency are often accompanied by armed mobile police officers during operations as security back-up, there has never been a single shooting incident involving the Commissions operatives. Significantly, critics of the EFCC may need to be a little circumspect about atrocities ascribed to so-call EFCC operatives. Sadly not all those who parade themselves as operatives of the Commission are truly bonafide detectives of the EFCC. The Commission has severally arrested fraudsters who impersonated its officials in their attempt to give legitimacy to their illicit activities. A few months ago, some daring fraudsters parading themselves as EFCC operatives, went on a raid in Lagos, brandishing a fake Court Order to confiscate the property of an innocent Nigerian whom they claimed was involved in fraudulent activities. The operatives came with a truck meant to convey the properties of the supposed fraudster to EFCC office. What saved the day, was that the Commission received credible intelligence and swung into action, arresting the fraudsters in the process. If this fraudsters had succeeded, the victim would have been on the social media, condemning the EFCC. Accusation that the EFCC regularly manhandles suspects is not supported by facts as those who have been arrested by the Commission, whether politically exposed persons or internet fraudsters, can attest to EFCCs civility. This explains why suspects/defendants and their lawyers often plead with judges to remand them in the Commissions custody. From the recent attack on EFCC, it is clear that critics would rather EFCC handle yahoo boys with kid-gloves. It is now common to hear some people calling on the Commission to desist from arresting yahoo boys, claiming that they are not the problem of Nigeria but young men struggling to make a living in a difficult economy. How absurd! Acts of criminality cannot be legitimate or justifiable by whatever reason. Whichever prism we look at it, EFCC determination to rid the nation of economic and financial crimes is a patriotic duty. And all well-meaning Nigerians must collaborate with the Commission by raising their voices against this malaise. Celebrities and social media influencers should take up the gauntlet to salvage our country from economic and financial crimes rather than deploy their popularity to support the activities of fraudsters. Castigating the EFCC is an unnecessary distraction. Williams Oseghale is Head, Public Affairs, Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC. The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, has said there is a need for more federal tertiary hospitals across the country to adopt at least two state government-owned comprehensive health centres or Primary Health Care Centres. This, he said, is in accordance with the existing policy that mandates the federal hospitals to do so. He made the call on Tuesday during a public hearing on the bill seeking to establish Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Deba, Gombe State. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the proposed FMC will require over N1 billion to set up, if passed and assented to. The Centre, according to the sponsor, Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central), will provide facilities for diagnosis, preventive, curative and rehabilitative service in medical treatment as well as provide medical training. He said the legislation is informed by the need to bridge the existing gap between primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare delivery in Gombe State and Nigeria as a whole, he said. At the hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health, Mr Mamora told the panel that while the quest to improve access to quality healthcare services is a good idea, Federal Medical Centres do not have an Act guiding its establishment and regulations for now. The Teaching Hospitals Act is being adopted for this purpose. He also explained that the policy for establishing Federal Medical Centres is for it to be established in states where there are no federal teaching hospitals. Mr Mamora said the policy is already accomplished and it is inadvisable for the federal government to engage in the proliferation of tertiary health facilities establishments because it will put further pressure on the scarce resources for funding and strengthening the existing facilities. Gombe State already has a Federal Tertiary Hospital named Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe (FTHG). Besides, there is an existing policy for Federal Tertiary Hospitals to adopt at least two state government-owned Comprehensive Health Centres or Primary Health Care Centres in the Senatorial Zones to improve healthcare delivery and capacity building. FTH, Gombe should be strengthened and mandated to adopt Comprehensive Health Centres in each Senatorial Zone in Gombe State, he added. On his part, a community leader in the state, Daniel Maddo, informed the panel of a similar bill recently passed in the House of Representatives for the establishment of Federal Medical Centre, Billiri. The legislation, he said, was passed in July and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence on September 16. While he wondered why the Senate committee was not aware, he said the legislation deserves serious consideration because it represents an attempt to improve access to tertiary health care to residents of the local government. A few other attendees who made presentations said the state has only one tertiary institution and the population has outgrown the facility due to high influx of people from the neighbouring states as a result of insurgency in the region. The Katsina State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Malaysia-based firm, Bionas, under which 199 million dollars would be spent to battle desertification in the state. Speaking at the signing of the MoU on Tuesday in Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari said the money would be used to fight desert encroachment in 11 frontline Local Government Areas (LGAs) and mitigate the negative effects of climate change. According to him, the project is focused on the implementation of Jatropha Agropolitan clean energy business clusters in the Nigeria Great Wall Africa project in the state. He said that the project was the first of its kind in Nigeria and would help greatly in actualising the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 13. According to Mr Masari, SDG Number 13 is climate action to mitigate the impact of climate change, especially areas with drought, erratic rainfall and desert encroachment. The main benefit of planting and investing in the project is to ensure there is a secure society to mitigate the effect of climate change. The result of the successful implementation of the project will launch the state into an enviable height among states in the country. Katsina State will also be the pride of the nation since it is the first time such a project is happening on the African soil, he said. According to the governor, the plant is usually used for demarcation of cattle routes in the past, adding that the plant will help in tackling climate change. He said with the use of technology, planting and harvesting would take up to six months and the plant could survive for 35 years. Signing the documents on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Abba Abdullahi, said the project would be implemented in 11 desertification-prone LGAs. He listed the LGAs to include Batsari, Baure, Daura, Dutsinma, Jibiya, Kaita, Katsina, Maiadua, Mashi, Zango and Sandamu. He added that the project has two components, pointing out that the state government would only provide the land for the project. Mr Abdullahi expressed the hope that the project, which was initiated four years ago, would be replicated in other parts of the country after its successful implementation in the Katsina State. Signing on behalf of his company, Cherry Mohammed, commended the state government for going for the project. He assured the government that Bionas would execute the project, as agreed. (NAN) Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has sought the approval of the State House of Assembly on the states 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the request is contained in a letter addressed to the Speaker, Aminu Achida, and presented at the House plenary on Tuesday in Sokoto. Mr Tambuwal said that the gesture was in line with the extant provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Law of Sokoto State, 2019. He said that it required an outlined MTEF for the next three financial years be laid down as a guide for the coming years budget estimate. The framework provides macro-economic projections and analysis to guide aggregate revenue and expenditure for the years under reference for ease of implementation. In this regard, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, had worked out the framework. This is covering the years 2022 to 2024, aggregating all the underlined assumptions in the projections, he said. He added that the fiscal strategy had set out all the revenue and expenditure projections for each year. This, Mr Tambuwal noted, is to guide the effective implementation based on defined objectives and developmental priorities. The speaker, thereafter, referred the request to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for scrutiny. The committee is expected to report to the Assembly on October 20, for further legislative action. In a related development, the governor had requested the consideration of the Assembly on the proposed 2021 Supplementary Budget of N2.5 billion. Mr Tambuwal said that the amount is an intervention grant from Abdussamad Isiyaka Rabiu initiative (ASRA Africa) for the development of the health sector in the state. The fund and identified areas of intervention in the health sector were not provided for in the approved 2021 budget. Hence, the need to carry out certain modifications in the budgetary provisions to accommodate the earning and projected expenditure in the state budget profile, he said. Meanwhile, the governor had forwarded the names of Aminu Abubakar-Illela, Shuaibu Gwanda-Gobir and Hassan Maccido, as nominees for appointment into the State Executive Council. The Assembly also fixed October 20 for the screening of the three nominees and subsequent recommendations on their nominations to the governor. (NAN) The U.S. Embassy Charge dAffaires (CDA), Kathleen FitzGibbon, has said that Abia has the sixth highest HIV prevalence rate in the country with an estimated 58,341 cases. Ms FitzGibbon said this in Umuahia on Tuesday, at a stakeholder meeting organised by CDA, in collaboration with Catholic Caritas Foundation and the Abia State Government. The CDA, who led a Mission Nigeria inter-agency team to Abia, said the meeting also marked the re-engagement of U.S. assistance to the state, through its Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief adding that the U.S. government will support renewed efforts towards HIV epidemic control in Abia. The U.S. will work with the state government and other stakeholders to close the HIV treatment gap. We shall identify and initiate treatment for additional 37,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Abia within the next two years. The U.S. is looking to Abia to lead and demonstrate a model of sustainable state ownership of the HIV response. This will help to strengthen the partnership between the U.S and Abia, Ms FitzGibbon said. She further spoke about the new U.S. approach to supporting the states expanded HIV programme, urging stakeholders to play an active role that would help to ensure that all PLHIV are identified and placed on life-saving treatment. Ms FitzGibbon expressed her delight that HIV was no longer a death sentence as was the case 20 years ago. She said that no fewer than 1.6 million Nigerians were placed on treatment, adding: If you start getting treatment, you will not die. The U.S official decried the stigmatisation of PLHIV, describing it as a major challenge to the battle against HIV in the country, especially given the fact that stigmatisation was preventing many PLHIV from making themselves available for treatment. Also speaking, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu attributed the high prevalence of HIV in Abia to the fact that the state shared boundaries with seven states that reportedly had high prevalence rates. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Oko Chukwu, the governor said his administration had initiated proactive measures to check cross border transmission of the disease. The Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Aliyu Gambo, called on Aba entrepreneurs to prove their mettle by venturing into the manufacture of HIV vaccines. Aba is known all over the world for its ingenuity in the production of locally made goods. I, therefore, charge the people to use their entrepreneurial spirit to produce HIV vaccines for Nigeria, Mr Gambo said. Also, Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Lucius Ugorji, represented by the Auxilliary Bishop, Michael Ukpong, on behalf of Catholic Caritas Foundation, thanked the U.S. for choosing the organisation to implement its HIV programme in the country. The Catholic Diocese of Umuahia is promising to do more in educating and conscientising the public to see PLHIV as people who need help and support, not to be stigmatised, avoided or abandoned, Mr Ugorji said. The U.S. delegation comprised PEPFAR Coordinator, Mark Giambrone, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Country Director, Mary Boyd, U.S. Agency for International Development, HIV/TB Office Director, Rachel Goldstein, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Country Director, Laura Chittenden. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the meeting was attended by representatives of some health professionals, religious and traditional rulers, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations. (NAN) Top chiefs in Ikere-Ekiti community under the auspices of Ogoga-In-Council have rejected the recent recognition of Olukere, Ganiyu Obasoyin, as an autonomous traditional ruler in the same community. This is contained in statement signed by 16 members of the council and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday. The Council chaired by the Sapetu of Oke-Ikere, Olufemi Babatola, said the actions of government on the matter were unacceptable. They opposed the autonomy granted to Odo-Oja, a section of Ikere-Ekiti, in Ikere Local Government Area as delineated territory to be presided over by the newly recognised traditional ruler. The chiefs described the development as a deliberate balkanisation of the town, saying the actions of the state government were sacrilegious and wicked. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Justice Jide Aladejana-led Chieftaincy Review Commission instituted by Governor Kayode Fayemi had, few days ago, recognised Mr Obasoyin as a king and designated Odo-Oja axis of the town as his territory. The chiefs further claimed that the governor was allegedly vindictive for losing the 2018 governorship election in Ikere area, being the second largest town in the state to an indigene of the town and the PDP candidate, Kolapo Eleka. We know that Governor Fayemi has been viciously vindictive against the unity of our kingdom as a reprisal for the defeat he suffered in Ikere to our son, Prof. Kolapo Eleka, the immediate past Deputy Governor, in the said 2018 governorship election. It has been an open secret that Governor Fayemi nurses the perception that the over 11,000 votes garnered by him from Ikere in that election were made possible by the Olukere, hence his sense of obligation to pay back his electoral benefactor, they said. The council also alleged that Mr Fayemis action was contemptuous, saying we have long instituted a case at the Ekiti State High Court to challenge the legitimacy of the claim of the Olukere of being made a king. The Governor and the Attorney-General (AG) were made defendants in the suit for purposes of making them bound by the decision of the court on the subject matter. As a matter of respect to a court of law, once a subject matter is brought before the court, no party is expected to do anything that could have the effect of rendering the decision of the court on the subject matter, they said. They stated that the alleged machinations by the governor to ruin Ikeres traditions, culture and customs, as bequeathed to them by their fore fathers would not endure. They argued that the Odo-Oja, where Fayemi granted autonomy to be presided over by Olukere, had been headed by Chief Ologotun for ages, saying it was a sacrilege, aberration and absurdity for that axis to be constituted into a town within a town. It was in 1987, before the Augustus Adebayo Chieftaincy Commission, set up by the then Ondo State Government while Ekiti was still part of Ondo State, that the family of Olukere first made a case for Obaship recognition. The verdict of the commission was that Olukere is just a priest of Olosunta, and that he was not the founder of Ikere, the authentic founder and first settler at Odo Oja being Aladeselu, the state added. The chiefs said the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers Council had allegedly rejected similar request in 2014, saying Olukeres position was that of a priest. (NAN) A traditional (pre-COVID-19) dinner Having a small dinner with only people who live in our household An outdoor dinner with family and friends Preparing and delivering traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness Travelling Other Vote View Results Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Prince William community has proven resilient. The Prince William Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Prince William Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Copper Association (ICA) announced the addition of Vale International S.A. (Vale) as its newest member. Vale was elected to membership today at ICA's Annual Meeting of Members in London. Vale, headquartered in Brazil, is among the world's largest miners, with operations covering approximately 30 countries. Vale is committed to becoming one of the safest and most reliable global mining companies. Vale joins the ICA at a critical juncture for the copper industry as it strives to support global goals rooted in the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Mark Travers, Executive Vice President, Vale Base Metals, stated, "Vale is committed to integrating sustainability into its business by building a strong and positive economic, social and environmental legacy and mitigating the impacts of its operations. Copper mining is a crucial part of our business, and we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. ICA is guiding its industry-leading members toward collective carbon neutrality, and Vale believes it is important to collaborate with our peers in this transformation." ICA's President Anthony Lea added, "We are excited to have Vale join us at this pivotal point when ESG issues and climate change mitigation are driving the industry to positive change. We are working closely with our members to define the ways in which the copper industry can decarbonize its own processes, and we are aiming for the delivery of a roadmap to achieve this by early next year. It is critical to have Vale's voice heard in the process." "Speaking as ICA Chair and a longtime member of ICA, I am delighted to have Vale on board to strengthen the voice of the copper industry," noted ICA Chairman of the Board, Steve Higgins (Freeport McMoRan), "The value proposition ICA delivers for the industry is strong, and we are happy to have other industry actors unite with us in advocating for our shared interests." ICA has 31 members operating on six continents. About Vale Originally established in 1942 as the state-owned Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, today Vale is a listed company ranking among the largest miners in the world. With operations covering approximately 30 countries, Vale works to transform natural resources into prosperity and sustainable development. About the International Copper Association The International Copper Association (ICA) brings together the global copper industry to develop and defend markets for copper and make a positive contribution to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ICA has offices in three primary regions: Asia, Europe and North America. ICA and its Copper Alliance partners are active in more than 60 countries worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.copperalliance.org. Media contact: Nicole Witoslawski, +1 646 350 9968 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/755242/International_Copper_Association_Logo.jpg Related Links https://www.copperalliance.org SOURCE International Copper Association - Prestigious annual award and $100,000 prize is given to outstanding researchers developing global solutions for society's greatest challenges - Dr. Nkengasong is named as 2021 Prize Laureate, in recognition of his work leading an effective and evidence-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa - Previous winners have included Nobel Prize winners and leading academics addressing global issues including poverty and access to vital resources, sustainable development, and global access to vaccines: https://www.bmiglobalsolutions.org/the-bmi-prize TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 Boris Mints Institute Prize for Global Challenges the academic award for global solutions addressing society's greatest challenges has been awarded to Dr. John N. Nkengasong. As 2021 Prize Laureate, Dr. Nkengasong has been recognized for his vital contribution to developing an effective and evidence-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa. Prize to be awarded at a virtual ceremony, hosted by the Boris Mints Institute Dr. Nkengasong will formally receive the 2021 Award in a virtual ceremony live from the Boris Mints Institute at Tel Aviv University on Sunday October 17 (9am Eastern Time, 2pm British Summer Time, 4pm Israel Daylight Time). At the virtual ceremony, leading academics in public health and development will pay tribute to Dr. Nkengasong's work developing practical and applicable solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Nkengasong will present on the current prevalence of COVID-19 in Africa and the urgent need to increase access to vaccines and diagnostics. Registration to attend the 2021 Prize Ceremony is open now at: https://www.bmiglobalsolutions.org/registration. Recognition of a vital contribution to the fight against COVID-19 As Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Nkengasong has been a leading scientific voice in Africa's fight against COVID-19. He successfully convened an emergency meeting of all 55 Ministers of Health of the African Union, creating a vital forum for leaders across the continent to cooperate, collaborate, coordinate and communicate, leading to the adoption of a Joint Continental Strategy for the COVID-19 Outbreak. Dr. Nkengasong also led the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT), under the auspices of the African Union and the Africa CDC, accelerating testing capacity and enabling more than 90 million COVID-19 tests. Under his leadership, the Africa CDC established the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative and, in partnership with the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa, established a network for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance to identify COVID-19 variants circulating in Africa. In a public health career spanning over 30 years, Dr. Nkengasong has published over 250 peer reviewed articles and has received acclaimed international awards and recognitions, including ground-breaking research into HIV and its characteristics in Africa. The Prize Laureate is a powerful exponent of a sustainable, long-term public health vision for Africa, built on increased access to vital medications, vaccines, and diagnostics. About the Boris Mints Institute Prize for Global Challenges The Boris Mints Institute was founded in 2015 by Dr. Boris Mints, the businessman and philanthropist who sits on Tel Aviv University's Board of Governors. Based at The Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences in Tel Aviv University, the Institute exists to encourage research, planning and innovative thinking to promote significant positive change in the world. Subsequently, the Boris Mints Institute Prize was launched in 2017 to reward and recognize an exceptional individual who has devoted his or her research to solving a strategic global challenge, and whose public action and ideas have contributed to the welfare of a significant number of communities worldwide. Speaking ahead of the Award ceremony, Dr. Nkengasong said, "I am truly honored to have been selected as 2021 Prize Laureate of the Boris Mints Institute Prize for Global Challenges. The spread of the COVID-19 virus remains a profound and international public health emergency, and the Institute's recognition highlights the vital importance of a unified global approach to the pandemic, not least the acceleration of vaccination programmes globally." Dr. Boris Mints, Founder and President of the Boris Mints Institute, added, "Dr. Nkengasong's strategic leadership has informed a co-ordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa. This vital contribution has saved, and will continue to save, thousands of lives. It is a privilege to award Dr. Nkengasong the 2021 Boris Mints Institute Prize for Global Challenges, in recognition of a remarkable career dedicated to evidence-based public health initiatives and his tireless efforts to enable greater access to vaccinations and diagnostics across the African continent." About Boris Mints Institute The Boris Mints Institute was founded, in 2015, at Tel Aviv University with the intention to encourage research, planning and innovative thinking in order to promote a significant positive change in the world. The Institute is focusing on designing strategic innovative plans to enhance the welfare of communities around the globe and supports highly applied, practical and solutions-driven research, which is conducted by bright M.A and PhD students under the supervision of internationally renowned senior scientists. SOURCE Boris Mints Institute Related Links https://www.bmiglobalsolutions.org CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BirdLife International, (BLI) along with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership Secretariat (EAAFP), today launched a new Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI), a large-scale joint program to scale up the protection, restoration and sustainable management of 50+ key wetland sites in the East Asian Australasian Flyway stretching from Siberia and Alaska to New Zealand and Australia. The most threatened of the planet's eight important bird migratory superhighways, the flyway is critical for the livelihoods and well-being of hundreds of millions of people, as well as the annual migration of well over 50 million birds and 200 bird species in Asia and the Pacific. The initiative was launched at the Biodiversity COP in Kunming, PRC. BirdLife International, ADB and the EAAFP will join forces together to raise and mobilize finance of $3 billion plus over the next 10-20 years to help protect, restore, and manage priority wetlands along the East Asian-Australian Flyway (EAAF). The flyway's wetlands play a critical role in climate mitigation through carbon sequestration and climate adaptation by protecting the 200 million people who live and work along them from storm surges, sea-level rise and flooding. These wetlands serve as important re-fueling and resting sites for millions of migratory birds and provide sustainable economic livelihoods for thousands of communities including through agriculture, fisheries, eco-tourism and recreation. Patricia Zurita, BirdLife's CEO, said "BirdLife is proud to join the ADB and the EAAFP in this truly important effort to save and restore such critical habitats for birds and people. With the planet at a tipping point from the biodiversity and climate emergencies, this type of innovative, integrated, large-scale and broad approach is commensurate to the challenges." "As we rebuild from the pandemic, we must seize the opportunity to secure a green, resilient, and inclusive future," ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said at the launch. "Our Flyway-wide approach is a great example of how we can do this through strong international cooperation. ADB is proud to lead on efforts like this, with a blended approach that brings together effective public and private finance." Robb Kaler, Chair of EAAFP said in his closing remarks " The restoration and maintenance of ecological connectivity in the Flyway are essential for migratory waterbirds as they play a functional role in the completion of their migratory cycles and ultimately in their survival. The Initiative will support the scaling up of conservation efforts by our Partners for the conservation of wetlands by mainstreaming the Flyway approach in regional and national agendas". BirdLife will serve as a key delivery partner through its diverse set of national partners present in most of the countries along the flyway. BirdLife International is the planet's oldest and largest conservation partnership - present in over 115 countries. Known for its unique local to global partnership structure and seminal bird and habitat science, it works to protect and restore nature and birds for people. www.birdlife.org SOURCE BirdLife International Related Links www.birdlife.org LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandessence Market Research has published a new report title on "Africa Vaccine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Recombinant & Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, Other), By Indication (Influenza, Polio, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Disease, Human Papilloma Virus, Meningococcal Disease, Hepatitis, Varicella, Measles, Mumps, & Rubella, Diphtheria, Pertussis, & Tetanus (DPT), Other), By End-User (Pediatric, Adults, Travelers) Based On Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 2027." Africa shows significant growth in vaccine market during the forecast period due to the rising COVID-19 cases and growing advancement in technology. For instance; in November 2020, Aspen's South African auxiliary Aspen Pharmacare has signed a fundamental deal with two Johnson and Johnson (J&J) auxiliaries for the technical exchange and proposed business manufacture of their COVID-19 vaccine applicant. Some of the key players for Africa vaccine market are Institut Pasteur Dakar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Moderna Inc., Vacsera, Biovac, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Biovaccines Nigeria Limited (BVNL), Innovative Biotech, and others. Get Sample of [email protected] https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1707 News: Moderna Plans to Spend $500 Million on Vaccine Plant in Africa October 7th, 2021; Moderna wanted to build a vaccine producing facility in Africa. It would spend as much as $500 million to construct a plant in Africa that could create a large portion of a billion messenger RNA vaccine dosages a year. They incorporate its Covid-19 vaccine and shots for different diseases, and possibly likewise have vial-filling abilities. The other primary producers of mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, Pfizer Inc. also, accomplice BioNTech SE, declared an arrangement in July to begin creating shots at an office in Cape Town, South Africa. The new "cutting edge" office would ultimately deliver up to 500 million portions per year of Moderna's mRNA vaccine, which has shown a efficacy rate of in excess of 90% in avoiding Covid-19. New consortium working to boost vaccine production in South Africa On July 30th, 2021; The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Afrigen Biologics (PTY) Limited, the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa (Biovac), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have signed a letter of intent to address the global imbalance of manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines. This letter of intent brings together partners to establish the South African mRNA technology transfer hub that will allow for greater and more diversified vaccines manufacturing capability, strengthen African regional health security and respond more equitably to the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics. Further to WHO's announcement in June of the first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, this letter of intent sets out the terms of the collaboration and responsibilities between our organizations. The new collaboration brings together key actors from COVAX partners, industry, government, academia, funding agencies, WHO AFRO, which was represented by Regional Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti and the Africa CDC to collectively provide an enabling environment for the development of the first regional mRNA vaccine manufacturing production facility in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the growth of Africa vaccine market. During COVID-19 pandemic, the South African Medical Research Council has been enthusiastically subsidizing, leading and working on research and development activities to develop vaccine. Increasing investment by government and private organizations for the development of COVID-19 vaccines has further accelerated the market in the Africa. However, during COVID-19 pandemic, because of transportation restrictions and lockdown conditions there is supply chain disruption of raw material. Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1707 Africa vaccine market expected to show a significant growth in the coming few years. The prevalence of infectious diseases keeps on being excessively high in some African nations, with major effects on health and socio-economic. In 2014, Ebola flare-up in Western Africa has brought about strong proposals from the African Union and others with respect to help for the increase in speed of local vaccine development and manufacturing. Moreover, further developing reactions to emergency circumstances, African vaccine manufacturing could further develop security and supportability of vaccine supply, and react to neglect the health requirements of a developing populace and fast financial improvement in Africa. Efficient and secure vaccines against HIV and malaria can probably address approximately 13% of Africa's absolute infection trouble, and could on a very basic level shift Africa's vaccine market financially available. During the International Vaccine Technology Workshop in India, in September 2010, a group of intrigued Africans dispatched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI). Looking past, the arrangement of vaccines in emergency circumstances, the AVMI expects to organize efforts of African vaccine makers and other invested individuals, who have a dream to see Africa produce its own vaccines and biologicals for both daily schedule and emergency circumstances. Increasing Feasibility of Establishing Sustainable Vaccine Manufacturing, Rising Government Funding & Support for New Vaccine Development and Growing Prevalence of Infectious Diseases Such as COVID-19, Malaria & Lassa Fever are Some of the major factors Driving the Market Growth One of the major factors driving the growth of Africa vaccine market is increasing feasibility of establishing sustainable vaccine manufacturing. Vaccination addresses one of the most cost-effective general health mediations. The requests for next-generation and new vaccines are consistently developing. Vaccination stays the most cost-effective general health intercession after clean water, and the advantages impressively offset the expenses. The efforts expected to satisfy the consistently developing demands for future and novel vaccines intended for arising microorganisms and new signs are just feasible in a sustainable business model. For instance; in November 2020, FCDO created far reaching reality base on vaccine manufacturing in Africa. Also, in April 2021, the African Union proclaimed its aim to speed up nearby vaccine production to meet 60% of Africa's normal immunization needs by 2040. In addition, increasing government funding & support for new vaccine development is also supplementing the market growth in Africa. Vaccination is one of the main medical practices at any point presented, it has been fundamental to diminish mortality, further develop future and financial development. Government in Africa, have shown interest in vaccine production foundations however just with outer help for investment. For instance; Ethiopia spends USD 150 Million yearly on immunization obtainment of which USD 100 Million presently come from contributors. Eventually, upon graduation, the Ethiopian government is relied upon to significantly increase its financial plan distributed to vaccine importation to support its vaccination program. By Technology: Recombinant & Conjugate Vaccines Inactivated Vaccines Live Attenuated Vaccines Toxoid Vaccines Other By Indication: Influenza Polio Rotavirus Pneumococcal Disease Human Papilloma Virus Meningococcal Disease Hepatitis Varicella, Measles, Mumps, & Rubella Diphtheria, Pertussis, & Tetanus (DPT) Other By End-User: Pediatric Adults Travelers Get Detailed Analysis: https://brandessenceresearch.com/healthcare/africa-vaccine-market Other Trending Reports during Covid-19 Pandemic. Vaccines Market Size: By Technology (Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, Recombinant Vaccines), By Indication (Influenza, Pneumococcal Disease, Meningococcal Disease, Human Papilloma Virus, Rotavirus, Hepatitis), By End User (Pediatric Vaccines, Adult Vaccines, Traveller Vaccines), Industry Analysis, Trends, And Forecast 2020-2025 Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market 2021 By Type Of Vaccine (Pandemic Vaccines, Preventative Vaccines, Seasonal Vaccines, Adjuvant Vaccines, Others), By Basis Scale Of Operation (Preclinical Clinical Commercial) By Types Of Expression Systems (Mammalian, Microbial, Others) Forecast To 2027 MRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market size is Projected to reach USD 2911.9 million 2026 Epigenetics Market By Product (Reagents, Kits & Assays, Instruments, Enzymes, Protein Modifying Enzyme RNA Modifying Enzyme, Services, Bioinformatics Tools), By Technology (DNA Methylation, Histone Methylation, Histone Acetylation, Large Non-Coding RNA, MicroRNA Modification, Chromatin Structures), By Application (Oncology, Non-Oncology, Developmental Biology, Drug Discovery, Others), By End-Users (Academic & Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, Contract Research Organizations (CROs)) Forecast To 2025 Global Vaccine Raw Material Market: Global Size, Trends, Competitive, Historical & Forecast Analysis, 2021-2027. Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence market research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London. Website: https://brandessenceresearch.com Blog: Single-Use Bioreactor Manufacturers Contacts: Public Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 SOURCE Brandessence Market Research And Consulting Private Limited MALMO, Sweden, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) President Harriet Schleifer today addressed the Malmo International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. "I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors," said Schleifer, recalling how she grew up with the testimonies of survivors. "They are the stories of my extended family, of those who perished in the Holocaust and of those who were fortunate enough to survive and rebuild their lives in America and in Israel and elsewhere." "Their message of remembrance always had a dual purpose," she emphasized. "We must be vigilant to the presence of antisemitism however innocuous it may seem and in whatever form it may take. As Holocaust historians remind us, the Holocaust did not begin with death camps; it began with words." Schleifer delivered her remarks virtually to the one-day conference. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders addressing the conference, hosted by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Managing Director of AJC Europe, and Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs, are in Malmo participating in the forum. Schleifer praised Prime Minster Lofven for convening the forum, and Sweden for its pathbreaking initiatives since the 2000 Stockholm Conference on Holocaust Education and Remembrance. "Two decades ago, Prime Minister Persson recognized that knowledge of the Holocaust in Sweden and in much of the world was woefully inadequate, and significant measures were required to reverse this trend," Schleifer stated. "The results of those initial efforts were considerable. For Sweden it meant the publication of a brief history of the Holocaust and its distribution to every household in the country, as well as establishing a center for Holocaust education and research, the Living History Forum." Schleifer noted these initiatives "led to the creation of a new international governmental organization, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)," which now brings together over thirty countries, and the establishment or expansion of Holocaust museums around the world. "We commend the Swedish Government for pledging today to build a Holocaust Museum in Stockholm," she declared. But Schleifer also cautioned that European nations "face strong headwinds" in the efforts to preserve Holocaust memory and effectively fight antisemitism. "While recent surveys conducted in Europe and in the United States show considerable support for teaching the Holocaust and its lessons, they also reveal a lack of knowledge about the Holocaust among large percentages of the population. Most distressing is that today's younger generation is ignorant about its most basic facts," she said. Further, there has been "a resurgence of antisemitism, first in Europe and now in the United States, since the first Stockholm Forum 21 years ago," Schleifer pointed out. "At the UN Conference in Durban in 2001, we saw the revival of the Zionism is racism canard. Shortly thereafter, Jews in Western Europe were under siege. Jewish communities suffered lethal attacks from Islamist terrorists and rightwing extremists," she continued. "Antisemitism crosses the political spectrum. It encompasses Holocaust deniers, conspiracy theorists, and those who promote a boycott of the State of Israel." Schleifer stressed that "any genuine effort to remember the Holocaust and its victims must be coupled with the present-day fight against antisemitism." Praising the growing number of countries, including Sweden, that have endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, she encouraged others to follow. "Only by defining antisemitism can we fully combat it," she declared. "American Jewish Committee will continue its century-old mission to combat antisemitism and to protect and promote the security and well-being of Jewish life in Europe, in the United States, and around the world," concluded Schleifer. "We welcome the pledges brought today by all the governments participating in this forum on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. AJC is committed to working closely with you and support you in these common efforts." SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Alex brings immense knowledge and expertise in partnerships, sales enablement, and growth marketing with him. He has held various leadership positions across Dynamic Yield, Taboola, Vimeo, and Web.com. Using his experience over the years, Alex will be identifying mutually beneficial alliances and partnership opportunities across the length and breadth of the North American market. "Since our venture into the North American market, we have witnessed tremendous growth in a brief span. Owing to the immense pool of opportunity in this region, there was a strong need for us to bring dedicated focus on partnerships. We are delighted to have Alexander Renner join our North America team. With Alex's rich expertise in leading organizations across roles and his in-depth region-specific knowledge, I feel confident that he is well-equipped to lead our business expansion aspirations successfully in the North American region," said Abithab Bhaskar, CEO International Business at Netcore Cloud Inc. "Netcore Cloud is a widely renowned, full-stack marketing technology SaaS company that has successfully demonstrated the use of advanced technology since the last two decades and with a greater focus on AI since the last few years. Alexander's extensive industry knowledge will be critical for us towards furthering our influence in North America. He is a great addition to strengthen our leadership team, and we look forward to chasing heights with him. His appointment is one of the key investments we have lined up towards our expansion aspirations in international markets," said Kalpit Jain, Group CEO at Netcore Cloud Inc. Commenting on his appointment, Alex said, "I am excited to be joining Netcore Cloud at such a pivotal time where AI has been transforming consumer experience with personalization in more ways than one can imagine. Netcore Cloud has a well-defined vision, compelling the industry to make different choices about implementing and utilizing marketing technologies. I look forward to collaborating with Netcorians around the world to further the organization's vision to improve execution and engagement." The company's North American offices are based in New York and Toronto, Canada. Several reputable industry bodies have recognized it, including Gartner Peer Insights "Voice of the Customer" Report 2020 and G2 Winter 2021 Reports, for its top-notch email-marketing capabilities and unique marketing automation suite. About Netcore Cloud: Netcore Cloud Inc. is a globally recognized marketing technology SaaS company. It offers full-stack Martech products that help product and growth marketers deliver AI-powered intelligent customer experiences across all touchpoints of the user journey. The platform is an all-in-one solution for building unified customer views, orchestrating omnichannel communication journeys, personalizing the apps and websites, optimizing user experience, real-time reporting, and actionable analytics. All the products are designed to scale, with a focus on ROI. Netcore Cloud delivers 12+ billion emails and tracks 100+ billion marketing events every month for the world's top marketers. Netcore Cloud serves over 5000 clients spread across 18 countries. Industry-leading brands like Canon, Flipkart (a Walmart company), Disney+ Hotstar, Jockey, Puma, The Body Shop, Jack & Jones, Tommy Hilfiger, Gas Jeans, Tobi, Standard Chartered, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's trust Netcore Cloud to power their customer acquisition, engagement, and retention goals. Netcore Cloud has been in business for 20+ years and operates out of India, the USA, Germany, UK, Spain, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and UAE. SOURCE Netcore Cloud Private Limited "Acquiring a company or opening a division in the State of Washington has been on our radar for the past year. We believe that Thermatech Northwest Inc. is the correct strategic alignment for our latest acquisition, allowing us to further expand across the West Coast" said, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Environmental Group Jeff McLean. Therma Tech Northwest Inc. provides similar services to Alliance Environmental, and thus we are excited to add them to our ever-growing portfolio of brands and companies. "Alliance environmental Group has grown exponentially, especially with a few strategic acquisitions in recent years. Thermatech Northwest Inc. was the right choice for our Group, we look forward to a continued working relationship with a company that has similar values and goals," said co-founder Joe McLean. "Our company is excited to join the ranks of Alliance Environmental Group," said Bob Guiley, co-founder of Thermatech Northwest Inc. We believe that a group such as Alliance Environmental understands our services and has the necessary experience and track record in environmental remediation and abatement that makes them the natural choice for our company's evolution." About Alliance Environmental Group, LLC: Alliance Environmental Group has more than 100 years of experience as an environmental remediation and indoor air quality (IAQ) services contractor across California, Nevada, and Arizona. The company has completed more than 200,000 remediation projects, including asbestos abatement, mold remediation, lead paint removal, bed bug eradication, attic insulation removal and replacement, trauma/biohazard cleanup, demolition and Indoor Air Quality services. Learn more about Alliance Environmental Group at https://www.alliance-enviro.com/ About Thermatech Northwest Inc. Sandra Guiley, her husband Bob and brother-in-law James incorporated Thermatech Northwest Inc. in 1996, intending to become a leader in the hazardous waste removal industry. The company's family values, and guiding principles have never wavered as Therma Tech's projects grew to include greater Seattle and the Tacoma region. Therma Tech's commitment to customer service, outstanding safety record, regulatory compliance, and technical expertise ensure this company sets the standard in its territory. Learn more about Therma Tech Northwest at http://www.thermatechnorthwest.com/ . Contact Details: Vinay Panday Director of Marketing Alliance Environmental Group 626-633-3514 [email protected] SOURCE Alliance Environmental Group LLC Related Links https://www.alliance-enviro.com "America250 is thrilled to welcome Matt and Kyle as we undertake the ambitious goal of inspiring the American spirit and engaging with all Americans through our programming," said President and CEO Joseph C. Daniels. "Both have demonstrated outstanding leadership within their respective fields and foster a deep connection to America250's mission. We are confident they will be tremendous additions to our leadership team in the lead up to 2026." "America250 presents an incredible chance to deepen our connection to our history and each other in ways that will positively impact generations to come," said Anderson. "I'm thrilled to join this talented and inspired team and look forward to helping shape this effort as we bring on national partners, programs and initiatives designed to engage and unite all Americans." "I'm honored and humbled to play a role in this momentous, once-in-a-lifetime occasion for our country," said Schatzle. "My career has been dedicated to helping organizations support impactful, life changing work. I'm excited to begin working with America250 as we boldly engage more than 350 million Americans through unique programs and initiatives at the local, state, national and international level." Kyle Anderson, Senior Vice President With more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill and time spent in leadership roles in the corporate and non-profit sectors, Anderson will support the organization's goals to develop programming and initiatives that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy. Prior to his appointment with America250, Anderson served as Executive Director of the U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Black Caucus and director of communications and marketing with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Throughout his nearly 10 years working with the U.S. House of Representatives, Anderson notably managed messaging and guidance to Congressional Offices on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the 2013 governmental shutdown. "I have had the opportunity to work with Kyle during his time as a senior Hill staffer and I believe his insight and experience will be valuable assets for America250," said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) who serves as a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. "His focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and the respect he has earned from Members of Congress and his colleagues on and off the Hill, will be critical in the success of America250." Anderson also held several senior leadership positions, including with the Delaware River Port Authority and the 2016 Democratic National Convention Committee. Throughout his tenure, he managed communications around the 2015 Philadelphia Papal Visit and oversaw press relations for one of the most successful and diverse Democratic Conventions in history. Anderson earned his B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Matt Schatzle, Chief Development Officer In his new role, Schatzle will serve as a key member of the senior management team and lead America250's five-year major fundraising campaign that is going to call on and inspire Americans from all walks of life to help the organization honor our nation's first 250 years and to imagine the incredible potential of the next 250. With over 20 years' experience leading national non-profits, associations and foundations, Schatzle is a recognized expert in strategic planning, program development and fundraising. During his career, Schatzle has successfully conducted major multi-million dollar campaigns, including the Naval Academy's $275 million Leaders to Serve a Nation campaign, the Ocean Conservancy's $35 million Campaign for the Oceans, and the United Services Organization's (USO) $100 million campaign in response to 9/11. Prior to America250, he served as a managing director of The Zodiac Group, and previously was the Executive Director of the ASME Foundation, where he helped create Future Engineers, a K-12, 3D printing competition on the International Space Station and the solutions library platform Engineering for Change (E4C). Schatzle serves as Chairman of the Board of the Downtown Annapolis Partnership. Schatzle received his B.S. from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. About America250 America250 is a multiyear effort to commemorate the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the United States. The purpose of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, created by Congress, and the corresponding America250 Foundation, is to catalyze a more perfect union by designing and leading the most comprehensive and inclusive celebration in our country's history. America250 represents a coalition of public and private partners all working to create initiatives and programs that honor our first 250 years and inspire Americans to imagine our next 250. The commemoration period began in 2020, culminates on July 4, 2026, and officially concludes in 2027. For more information, visit www.america250.org and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and TikTok . SOURCE America250 OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and The American Cancer Society (ACS), the nation's largest nonprofit source of cancer research funding, has teamed up with local leaders in Oakland County for the Real Men Wear Pink (RMWP) campaign. Real Men Wear Pink was designed to engage more male community leaders and influencers in the Society's mission to eliminate breast cancer. Throughout the month, male ambassadors will wear pink every day and commit to fundraising at least $2,500 each. The Oakland County campaign is currently the top Real Men Wear Pink fundraising campaign in the nation with Oakland County's top fundraiser, Jeffrey Sheehan, already raising more than $173,000. Oakland County's Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors include: Jeffrey Sheehan , Johnstone Supply , Johnstone Supply Michael Pesendorfer , M3 Investment Services , M3 Investment Services Gary Wall , Waterford Township , Joseph Gacioch , City of Ferndale , Ken Gutman , Walled Lake Consolidated School District , Walled Lake Consolidated School District Don Mclean , MMS Holdings , MMS Holdings Dan Richmond , Northwestern Mutual , Northwestern Mutual Suresh Done , SNA Technologies , SNA Technologies Desi Johnson , Des2Fit , Des2Fit Mark Hagerty , Michigan Solar Solutions , Michigan Solar Solutions Mark Manning , Wayne State University , Neil King , Neil King Physical Therapy , Neil King Physical Therapy Quinn Wright , Edward Jones , William Dobberstein , Michigan State Police , State Police Real Men of Lake Orion AIP Team Team Oxford, Carter Quality Hardwood Flooring Since its inception, Real Men Wear Pink has raised more than $40 million towards the fight against breast cancer. Funds raised support innovative breast cancer research, patient services, health equity initiatives, and education around screenings and risk reduction. "This year's class of Oakland County Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors are an impressive, highly dedicated group of community leaders. We are thrilled that so many influential men are willing to stand with us in the fight against breast cancer. This cause has touched each one of them and we appreciate everything they are doing to raise awareness and fund groundbreaking research," shared Senior Executive Director of the American Cancer Society in Michigan, Chad Creekmore. To make a donation or to learn more about the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in Oakland County, visit www.realmenwearpinkacs.org/oaklandmi. About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. We invest in lifesaving research, provide 24/7 information and support, and work to ensure that individuals in every community have access to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. For more information, visit cancer.org. Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE American Cancer Society Michigan DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the news? AT&T* is bringing to market a solution that can accelerate and streamline massive deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications globally for enterprise and government customers through cellular connectivity. Notecard, by Blues Wireless, allows just about any asset to be connected to the cloud with carrier-grade security. The solution takes away significant complexity and cost through pre-paid connectivity and allows solution integrators and product builders to accelerate time to market and scale. Why is this important? The global market intelligence firm IDC estimates that by 2025, the overall number of connected Internet of Things devices worldwide will reach almost 40 billion, an increase from 31.1 billion in 2020.1 The need is clear for businesses to take full advantage of the potential of IoT innovation, become more efficient, reduce their environmental impact, and scale their operations. Commercial appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and beverage dispensers, as well as construction rigs, refrigeration equipment, and containers are all envisioned to be coming off the assembly lines fully equipped for connectivity. To date, the development, scaling and adoption has been low due to the complexity of scaled operations due to management and operational constraints when relying on Wi-Fi for connectivity. Cellular connectivity overcomes these challenges, making it the best option available for remote monitoring, control, and tracking use cases. What's the solution? Notecard was developed by Blues Wireless, founded in 2019 by Ray Ozzie, former CTO and Chief Software Architect at Microsoft. Notecard is a System-on-Module (SOM) that enables connections using just two lines of code. The solution enables developers of a broad range of commercial and industrial products to embed highly secure prepaid global connectivity through AT&T's LTE-M and NB-IoT Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) networks designed for IoT applications, without the complexity of Wi-Fi connections. Data is routed to cloud providers or application end points of customers choosing. Notecard makes it easy to manage devices, connectivity, and data remotely, empowering the manufacturer to better understand how their assets are used in the field, and open new revenue streams for services like proactive maintenance and usage-based pricing models. The simplicity of Notecard enables rapid scaling for businesses to move from prototypes to full deployments. Notecard just works right out of the box. Who can use this? The automotive, healthcare, industrial, manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, or just about any industry. Notecard enables cellular connections for applications requiring longer battery life, improved coverage and lower costs that are enabled by AT&T's Low-Power Wide-Area networks, in addition to traditional 4G LTE networks. These include wearables, asset tracking, home appliances and utility meters. Notecard is suited for low, to medium data rate transmissions. Where is this available? Notecard is available in the AT&T IoT Marketplace here. What are people saying? "AT&T is a recognized leader in the IoT solutions space with significant and growing deployments with customers in many verticals. They have been a great collaborator with our innovative business model of cost-effective embedded cellular solutions for mass developer adoption," said Mobeen Khan, Chief Operating Officer of Blues Wireless. "We are working with them to bring this game-changing solution to AT&T enterprise and government customers and accelerate adoption of IoT network services with thousands of customers across the globe." "Businesses increasingly recognize the potential for IoT technology to materially improve their operations, create entirely new revenue streams, reduce their environmental footprint and realize the efficiencies of scale," said William Stovall, vice president, Mobility, IoT and 5G, AT&T. "Notecard, as an all-in-one solution, will help unlock the potential of IoT and accelerate customer adoption." "Internet of Things deployments require hardware, software, and wired or wireless connectivity, and most require some level of services to implement," said Sandra Wendelken, senior research analyst, mobile services and software at IDC. "The reality is that IoT at the enterprise scale is still complex. Notecard, with embedded AT&T cellular connectivity, can help companies manage expenses by including data costs in up-front device pricing and simplifying the connection process." Safecast recently released Airnote, an air quality sensor using the Notecard for cellular data transmission. "At Safecast.org we are dedicated to providing open data about our environment to the global community. Collecting air quality data has been costly and cumbersome through dedicated cabling and internet access. Notecard, with embedded AT&T's connectivity, has changed all that. It makes our Airnote affordable, takes just a few minutes to install and will help us measure our environment through our global network of volunteers," said Pieter Franken, Co-founder and Japan Director of Safecast. *About AT&T Communications We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com. About Blues Wireless Founded in 2019 by Ray Ozzie, former CTO and Chief Software Architect at Microsoft, Blues Wireless is the creator of Notecard, the fastest and most cost-effective way to add wireless connectivity to any product. Blues is headquartered in Boston, MA. Please connect with us at [email protected] or visit blues.io for more information. Read here about IoT innovators and champions' journey working with the Notecard. 1 IDC, Worldwide Global DataSphere IoT Device and Data Forecast, 20212025, Doc # US48087621, July 2021 SOURCE AT&T Communications Related Links https://www.att.com NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, artist-first music streaming and discovery platform Audiomack has announced a partnership with Amusethe independent record label and music distributorto offer artists an easier way to get their music to the ears of eager fans and Audiomack's suite of hungry tastemakers. The partnership will allow creators to connect their Audiomack and Amuse profiles to easily distribute their music to the platform via account linking. "Amuse and Audiomack are highly aligned partners with a focus on empowering rising artists and innovating the traditional tools offered by distributors and streaming platforms," says Vanessa Wilkins, Audiomack's VP, Head of Music & Data Partnerships. "Audiomack has worked with Amuse to circumvent issues inherent to other DSPs by offering our shared creator clientele a streamlined way to ensure their content is delivered to the correct artist profile, seamlessly and automatically." The integration facilitates Amuse users to link to their Audiomack account and have their music distributed directly and automatically to their artist profile on Audiomack. This functionality will remove the complexities from the traditional music distribution process and help to clarify the relationship between distribution companies and digital streaming platforms. "Audiomack is undeniably one of the most influential and powerful platforms for artists and creators today," says Diego Farias, CEO & Co-Founder of Amuse. "We are super excited for this partnership that will allow all Amuse users to not only upload directly to Audiomack through the Amuse app but also connect their artist profiles to better ensure a seamless connection between the two services." With more and more artists taking the independent route, it's increasingly important to provide creators with the necessary, easy-to-use tools needed to advance their careers. Both Audiomack and Amuse share a foundation of artist empowerment and education, and with this new partnership, the process of directly delivering music to a global streaming platform just got easier. About Audiomack Audiomack, which launched in 2012, is playing an integral role in breaking new acts, such as Roddy Ricch and Kaash Paige; serving as a trusted partner to Eminem and Nicki Minaj, among other notable artists, to debut exclusive releases; and helping rising African stars, such as Omah Lay, reach an international audience. As of January 2021, Audiomack has been the No. 1 iOS app in the Music category in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, and Kenya. The company is ramping up production in 2021 of their popular video series Trap Symphony, Fine Tuned, and Bless The Booth. In addition, the company's editorial arm, Audiomack World, is expanding its written content, with a focus on sharing the stories behind our favorite artists. About Amuse Changing the game since 2017, Amuse gives free music distribution and empowering tools to artists and their teams across the globe. By using music consumption data, Amuse finds, licenses and builds cutting-edge services for tomorrow's platinum-selling independent talent. SOURCE Audiomack Future Market Insights' detailed assessment of banking-as-a-service platform market covers value chain analysis, business execution, and supply chain analysis across seven key regions. The report also provides compelling insights into opportunity, and trends shaping the market. DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The demand outlook for global banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform market remains impressive as Future Market Insights (FMI) forecasts sales to surpass US$ 12.2 Bn by the end of 2031. The market is expected to register impressive growth as the adoption of BaaS platform surges within fintech corporations. As per the study, the global BaaS platform market is poised to expand at 15.7% CAGR between 2021 and 2031. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-13992 With increasing adoption of digital banking services across several domains, demand for BaaS platform has surged in medium and small sized organizations. Integration of artificial intelligence, block-chain technology, and API services within internet banking also will boost the demand. Several banks and financial institutions are investing in digital transformation to offer tech savvy banking operations. Large organizations are increasing the adoption of BaaS platform to enhance their customer base. Driven by the outbreak of COVID-19, various organizations are revamping their businesses by implementing digital banking services. Hence, adoption of BaaS platforms witnessed a sudden spike as organizations raced to deliver outstanding digital experience to their customers. Adoption of BaaS platform within fintech corporations increased at a remarkable pace. Increasing reliance on mobile banking, digital payments, and net-banking among consumers also has aided the market growth. "Rapid proliferation of work-from-home and increasing reliance on digital payments and online banking is encouraging key players to implement block-chain and artificial intelligence technology to deliver secure services to the customers. This is amplifying sales in the market," says the FMI analyst. Key Takeaways from FMI's Banking-as-a-Service Platform Market Survey In terms of solution, BaaS APIs segment will witness growth at a robust 17% CAGR during the forecast period Banking as service platform will account for the leading market share and continue to retain its dominance through 2031 Large organizations will account for half of global banking-as-a-service market sales In terms of enterprise size, mid and small-sized organizations segment will register remarkable growth at 16.6% CAGR Fintech corporations are expected to be the leading end-users of BaaS platforms, accounting for a share of nearly 26% The U.K. market will register highest sales across Europe , accounting for nearly 29% of market share , accounting for nearly 29% of market share Demand for banking-as-a-service platform across the U.S. is set to rise at an impressive 15% CAGR India banking-as-a-service platform market will register staggering growth at 26% CAGR owing to the flourishing fintech companies in the country View Full Report at: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/banking-as-a-service-baas-platform-market Key Drivers Adoption of BaaS platform among diverse end users such as clothing industry, online retailers, and others will increase as they aim for expanding their customer base Surging collaboration between incumbents and fintech innovators to distribute financial products and gain remunerative opportunities will boost the market As BaaS platform reduces digitization costs for incumbents, more fintech companies are adopting these services to gain edge in the industry Key Restraints: Lack of protection of secure data and flexibility will act as challenge for banking-as-a-service providers Unavailability of secure platforms to deploy targeted solutions might hamper the market growth Competitive Landscape Leading players in the market are focusing on acquiring fintech start-ups to develop their own net-banking and digital banking products to reduce their churn rates. Also, the players are coming up innovative solutions to serve their customers. Rapidly changing demand from various organizations for advanced banking products and digitalization is encouraging leading players to rely on third parties and develop new APIs services. For instance, In September 2021 , Monese, the leading European fintech announced the launch of banking-as-a-service platform and new partnership with Investec Bank Plc. , Monese, the leading European fintech announced the launch of banking-as-a-service platform and new partnership with Investec Bank Plc. Temenos, the banking software company, on September 26, 2021 , announced its strategic collaboration with Vodeno, a fully cloud-native BaaS provider and Aion Bank, a European licensed digital bank to accelerate banking as a service deployment in Europe . , announced its strategic collaboration with Vodeno, a fully cloud-native BaaS provider and Aion Bank, a European licensed digital bank to accelerate banking as a service deployment in . In July 2021 , Cermati Fintech Group launched its BaaS technology platform product in Indonesia through a strategic partnership with BCA Digital, a leading bank in Indonesia and Blibli. Some of the key players operating in the banking-as-a-service platform industry market profiled by FMI are: Sopra Banking Software Solarisbank AG Bankable Treezor 11:FS Foundry Clearbank Ltd. Q2 Software, Inc. Green Dot Corporation Sterling National Bank Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), S.A Unit Finance Inc. Starling Bank Treasury Prime ADVAPAY OU Technisys. Others Buy The Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/13992 More Valuable Insights on Banking-as-a-Service Platform Market Future Market Insights, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the banking-as-a-service market. The study delivers essential insights on the banking-as-a-service market on the basis of: By Solution: Banking as a Service Platform Banking as a Service APIs Services Payment Processing Services Digital Banking Services KYC Services Customer Support Services Others By Enterprise Size: Small & Mid-Sized Organizations Large Organizations By End User: Banks FinTech Corporations Investment Firms Others By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Pacific & Pacific Middle East and Africa Key Questions Covered in the Report The report offers insight into banking-as-a-service platform market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031 The market study also highlights projected sales growth for banking-as-a-service platform market between 2021 and 2031 Banking-as-a-service platform market survey identifies key growth drivers, restraints, and other forces impacting prevailing trends and evaluation of current market size and forecast and technological advancements within the industry Banking-as-a-service market platform share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others FMI is hosting a talk show in collaboration with SPRING to uncover the paths of latest innovations in packaging. Join our Talk show "The Rise of Intelligent Packaging' by registering here: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/event/the-rise-of-intelligent-packaging Top Reports Related To Technology Market SOC-as-a-Service Market : As per a recent analysis by Future Market Insights (FMI), the global SOC-as-a-Service market is projected to total US$ 1.08 Bn in 2021. Expanding at 24.3% CAGR, total revenue is anticipated to reach US$ 9.5 Bn by 2031. FIDO Authentication Market : The FIDO authentication solutions revenue totalled ~US$ 849.6 Mn in 2020, according to Future Market Insights (FMI). The overall market is expected to reach ~US$ 8.0 Bn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 22.8% for 2021 31. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact: Future Market Insights, 1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower, Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] For Media Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/banking-as-a-service-baas-platform-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/banking-as-a-service-baas-platform-market SOURCE Future Market Insights TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spurred by the buoyant housing market and Canadians increasingly realizing the health benefits of a good night's rest, Simba Sleep Canada [ https://simbasleep.ca ] (or "Simba Canada"), an innovative sleep technology business, cheered a leap in sales, recording its highest ever half year trading. Simba's ethos from day one has been to innovate rather than replicate, and Simba Canada saw its first half sales in 2021 increase significantly compared to the same period in 2020, showing Simba's innovative product range is gaining popularity in Canada. The fast-growing sleep innovator also contributes its accelerating growth to nationwide roll out of its products across 287 Sleep Country Canada and Dormez-vous stores and expanding its product range. Annual performance was also significantly buoyed by thinking local - a key factor in core operations for Simba Canada. Using cutting-edge materials and technology to reinvent the tired sleep sector, Simba was founded by British entrepreneur Steve Reid in February 2016, and unveiled its operations in Canada in 2019, headed up by Simba Canada President, Kym Bramm. In May 2021 the sleep technology firm, Simba Sleep, announced a 265 per cent YOY leap in global sales. Similarly, its UK arm generated more sales in the first half of 2021 than the entirety of 2019, recording its highest ever Q2 sales and profits in Simba Sleep's history. "Thanks to the continued hard work and support of the team and our partners, the business continues to go from strength to strength in Canada," said Chief Executive, Steve Reid. "Akin to our approach in the UK, we believe it's extremely important to invest in the local economy - especially manufacturing talent." "The strategy is to make local and produce local, for sustainability and to fulfill orders quickly." continued, Ms. Bramm. "The quality is superb and is gaining recognition in the market. So much so - we're on course for Q3 and Q4 to be our strongest trading months yet across all channels. At the moment we produce in two factories in Ontario and are really excited about a new Calgary one by the end of the year - which will help us slash delivery and lead times for our West Coast distribution from five to seven days to one to two days." Former CEO of Dormeo International , Ms. Bramm's solid track record in the sleep category identified slumber superpower Sleep Country Canada as its partner in the Canadian market, with Simba mattresses now sold through its 287 stores. Sleep Country Canada, the leading omnichannel speciality sleep retailer, enjoyed bumper results for 2021; revenues increased $77.3 million or 67.3% from $114.9 million in Q2 2020 to $192.2 million in Q2 2021. Online sales represented 29.6% of revenues with mattresses and accessories growing by 66.6% and 69.8% respectively - both healthy trends for Simba Canada. "Distance was always going to be a barrier to entry to the Canadian market, the sheer size of the territory presents a logistical challenge for emerging brands." says Ms. Bramm. "Simba has always recognized the importance of the bricks and mortar retailer, and since inception, Sleep Country Canada was the obvious partner of choice and we are proud to have this partnership with them." "In the UK, our exclusive partnership with Britain's best-loved retailer, John Lewis, at launch was very successful. A rich learning that we have applied in Canada." "Sleep Country Canada is an institution and a formidable retailer that I've known for many years. Having nearly 300 stores in Canada is equivalent to 3,000 stores in the US, and with Dormez-Vous, they cover the French speaking market so it makes them, without doubt, the leading, largest sleep retailer in Canada. They have a great ethos." The combination of traditional retail and direct-to-consumer allows "the Canadian consumer to buy at whatever touch point they want; whether that be phone or screen, or an in-store experience." "Understanding the subtle differences between markets and consumers is integral to any global business. Compared with the UK, Canadian consumers prefer a thicker, plusher style of mattress, for larger King and Queen sizes." continued Ms. Bramm. Simba's product range, with its Queen-size priced from $1349 to $1,999, features between 1500 and 5000 patented miQro springs - a unique system that allows air to circulate - with medium plush striking the optimum firmness for Canadian taste. In 2019, the global sleep economy was valued at about 432 billion U.S. dollars ( Statista 2021 ). This industry was forecast to be worth 585 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. Striking a chord with existing and new customers alike, Simba continues to outperform the category in consumer sentiment; reaching over 150,000 5-star reviews, achieving over 90% of both 4 and 5-star reviews on Trustpilot and a consistently high Net Promoter Score (Index measuring the willingness of customers to recommend a company's products or services to others) of 65%+. Mr. Reid added: "When we launched Simba it was very clear to us that no one had really integrated any technology into the design process of mattresses. "We spent over a year in R&D working with cutting edge body profiling data from the world's largest sleep databases in a bid to create an ultra-premium, yet affordable, Simba Hybrid." Rather than a traditional spring or memory foam, each Simba Hybrid is a complex layer cake of unique sleep surfaces, engineered support bases and tiers of patented micro springs. All with your best sleep in mind. "Simba's success has been driven by a formula of genuine product innovation, delivering quality, consistently evaluating and sharpening up business practices as well as never resting on our laurels." Mr. Reid continued. "The overwhelmingly positive reception to the Simba 5000 Pro Flex mattress further confirms quality is a greater purchase driver than price, suggesting that good sleep and a quality mattress is not something to make concessions on." "Sustained sales growth throughout 2020 has crucially been underpinned with continued and record profitability in 2021, validating that the model is not only robust, but sustainable." "We look forward to continuing our momentum and accelerating our position and market share in Canada this year." says Mr. Reid. About Simba Sleep Canada Led by President Kym Bramm, Simba Sleep Canada is a sleep technology brand that sells sleep products online and in-store in Canada. Born in London, UK. Simba mattresses are designed in Britain and manufactured in Canada. Generating over 150,000 five-star customer reviews, Simba has sold over 1,000,000 high performance sleep products worldwide, including mattresses, duvets, pillows, weighted blankets and sleep travel accessories. Simba first developed its flagship Simba Hybrid mattress using the body profiling data from over 10 million people globally, making it the first dual spring and memory foam mattress of its kind in the UK market. simbasleep.ca facebook.com/SimbasleepCA instagram.com/simbasleepca SOURCE Simba Canada Related Links https://simbasleep.ca WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, Oct. 16, the #BoycottHilton Coalition* of more than 40 American and international organizations, plans to hold a nationwide educational leafleting campaign outside Hilton Worldwide hotels nationwide over that corporation's licensed construction of a Hampton Hotel on the site of a bulldozed mosque in the Uyghur region of China. Local groups are being encouraged to join the campaign. Contact: [email protected] and [email protected] VIDEO: How to Hold a #BoycottHilton Educational Leafleting https://youtu.be/ouX424MjI2E DOWNLOAD EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET: https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/HiltonFlyer.jpg At the events, educational materials about the construction of the hotel on the site of a bulldozed mosque and about China's acts of torture, rape, forced abortions and sterilizations, mass detention, denial of religious rights, and cultural erasure targeting Uyghur Muslims will be handed to Hilton guests and staff. WHAT: #BoycottHilton Coalition Leafleting Campaign Outside Hilton Hotels Nationwide WHEN: Saturday, October 16, Various Times WHERE: Outside Hilton Hotels in Cities Nationwide CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; UHRP Executive Director Omer Kanat, [email protected], 202-819-0598, Free Uyghur Now Advocacy Director Husam Kaid, 929-434-7323, [email protected] "Free Uyghur Now is taking part in the #BoycottHilton campaign to urge Hilton not to prioritize their profit over human life. We are boycotting Hilton because our dollars are a daily ballot of conscience that we constantly choose where to place it," said Free Uyghur Now Advocacy Director Husam Kaid. "Now is the time that Muslims, allies, and people of justice around the world call on Hilton to end their complicity in the Uyghur genocide." "A Hampton Inn logo on that spot would be a giant seal of approval on the genocide," said Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) Executive Director Omer Kanat. "There is simply no justification for Hilton to benefit from the destruction of Uyghur mosques across our homeland." "Evidence of the Uyghur Genocide can be seen everywhere on the streets of East Turkistan, but nowhere is it more apparent than at the sites where our mosques once stood. These buildings are places of peace, places of worship, and places of gathering for the Uyghur people," said Campaign for Uyghurs Executive Director Rushan Abbas. "Hilton's decision to allow this is complicity in the Uyghur genocide. It must not go unanswered." SOURCE #BoycottHilton Coalition Identified as the main drivers guiding innovation in this sector, these developments are having a major impact on social, political and economic systems. This change must be observed and understood in order to promote the development of emerging economies and the evolution of those already established towards more sustainable models. BRIDGES is aimed at citizens, students, workers, decision-makers in the public and private fields, the media and institutions through a series of engagements that will feature, as guests, nationally and internationally renowned personalities who stand out for their active commitment in promoting and encouraging the understanding of all those phenomena that impact our society. Opportunity, Innovation, Revolution The meetings will cover three subject areas - Opportunity, Innovation, Revolution - curated by three outstanding personalities from the academic and business world, celebrated internationally for their independence and the richness of their contributions. These exceptional curators will be: Ernesto Sirolli (economist, entrepreneur and lecturer) for the Opportunity section, exploring the issue of digital technology as a valuable tool not only to encourage the evolution of western economies towards more sustainable models but also to sustain the development of emerging economies; Fabio Fracas (lecturer and researcher who has collaborated with the CERN openlab in Geneva) for the Innovation section, illustrating the benefits of digital finance in everyday life and the need to develop tools and regulations for a correct and concrete adoption of Blockchain and Bitcoin technologies; Sara Roversi (entrepreneur and founder of the Future Food Institute) for the Revolution section, stressing the value of research and knowledge as effective tools to ensure the evolution of the new digital phenomena as a lever to attain the goals of Agenda 2030. These are the three guiding principles identified, ranging from technology to the economy, from politics to sociology, from physics to sustainability, through which BRIDGES will make possible the creation of a pathway of personalised knowledge. Twenty-three encounters, with vertical webinars and events open to the public to foster the creation of communities with shared interests and passions, accommodating different points of view in order to enrich the scenario of opportunity and change. Combining history and innovation This event could only be held in Venice which, with more than 400 bridges and 1,600 years of entrepreneurial and commercial history, is one of the best known, open and inclusive cities in the world, the ideal setting for an event of international importance like BRIDGES. It will be held over two days at the University Ca' Foscari on the campus of the faculty of Economics. BRIDGES arose from the multifaceted potential of two driving forces that have operated for some time in the panorama of Bitcoin and blockchain-based technologies. Satoshi Design, the event's organiser, is the leading Italian company specialising in strategic marketing, design and creation for innovation in the ecosystem generated by Bitcoin and Blockchain technologies, with the aim of creating relationships and supporting connections between different groups and communities. The project is supported by Bcademy, an international network formed in 2018 with the mission of teaching and consultancy in across-the-board expertise of relevance to the economic and technological world generated by the digital revolution. The festival is supported by Knowledge Partners of international importance, including the Sirolli Institute, Future Food Institute and Coinlex. For more information about the festival programme and to find out how to take part, visit the site: https://bridgesevent.com/ Information on Satoshi Design Satoshi Design is the leading company in strategic marketing, communication and design, operating in the panorama of the Bitcoin and blockchain-based technologies ecosystem. Specialising in the interaction between different groups and communities, it stands out for its knowledge of the crypto world and the effectiveness of its action. Information on Bcademy Established in 2018, incorporating a range of pioneering experience in the sector, Bcademy focuses on the creation of products and services dedicated both to B2B and B2C in the field of blockchain-based technologies. Bcademy offers consultancy and support services, training and specialisation, the transfer and creation of software, access to financial products. SOURCE Satoshi Design SRL NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Burford Capital, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announces the launch of phase two of The Equity Project, its groundbreaking initiative designed to increase diversity in the business of law. As part of this expansion, Burford is earmarking a further $100 million to The Equity Project and broadening its mission to address both female and racially diverse lawyers who have been historically underrepresented in the business of law, especially in leadership and partnership positions. In earmarking capital through The Equity Project, Burford provides these lawyers an edge as they pursue leadership positions in significant commercial litigations and arbitrations and eases pathways towards origination and client relationship credit. Legal departments committed to diversity can use Equity Project funding to further incentivize their firms to appoint diverse teams to represent them, and law firms and companies alike can use The Equity Project as part of their ongoing ESG efforts. In a further expansion of its commitment to providing an economic incentive for change, when Equity Project-funded matters resolve and generate their expected returns, Burford will contribute on its client's behalf a portion of its profits to organizations that promote lawyer development for female and racially diverse lawyers. Burford first launched The Equity Project in October 2018 with $50 million in legal finance capital earmarked for matters led by women. Having committed well in excess of that amount to Equity Project matters as of December 31, 2020, Burford has now broadened the initiative to include racial diversity and thus address a deficit in representation that is even more acute than the gender gap. Burford has already made a multi-million commitment under the newly expanded Equity Project to a matter led by a female in-house lawyer and a racially diverse outside litigation team for a Fortune 100 company. In the last few years, many general counsel have publicly called on their law firms to appoint more diverse teams to represent them, including 170 GCs who in 2019 signed an open letter advising law firms that diversity will influence which firms they hire. According to independent research commissioned by Burford in 2020: 52% of GCs say they are entirely unaware of how origination credit is awarded when they hire a law firm 48% of GCs and senior in-house lawyers say their companies have asked a firm to put a woman on a litigation or arbitration team 55% of GCs say knowing about The Equity Project will change how they think about future affirmative litigation The Equity Project is a global initiative led by Burford's Aviva Will, co-COO and formerly a senior litigation manager and Assistant General Counsel at Time Warner Inc. and a senior litigator at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Ms. Will states: "We review thousands of commercial disputes annually and vanishingly few are led by female and racially diverse lawyers. We at Burford are providing tangible means to change this so that these groups can have easier pathways to generate additional business. There is no question that diversity is good for business. The question is, how can we promote and incentivize faster change in commercial litigation and arbitration, both of which have been particularly resistant to it? Our goal is not just to work to bridge these gaps but to do so quickly. To achieve this, we must change the economics." Christopher Bogart, CEO of Burford, states: "The diversity problem in law desperately needs innovative economic levers to solve the problem and The Equity Project is an example of Burford Capital putting this plan into action. Burford's work will not only help to increase diversity at law firms but will also augment companies' and law firms' existing ESG initiatives. We are eager to continue our work with our law firm and corporate clients to bolster their progress in their own diversity initiatives." The earmarked pool of capital will be reserved for commercial litigation and arbitration in which female or racially diverse lawyers are first or second chair; a female or racially diverse lawyer earns origination credit or is the client relationship manager; clients are represented by firms that are owned by women or racially diverse lawyers; or a female or racially diverse lawyer serves as plaintiffs' lead counsel or chairs the plaintiffs' steering committee. Burford has also expanded its cadre of Equity Project Champions, corporate and law firm leaders who will support and spread awareness of the initiative. The expanded list, which is currently in formation, includes the following returning and new* Champions: Alexandra Rose , Partner, Clayton Utz , Partner, Amy Frey , Partner, King & Spalding , Partner, King & Spalding Brenda Horrigan , International Arbitrator , International Arbitrator Caren Ulrich Stacy , Founder & CEO, Diversity Lab , Founder & CEO, Diversity Lab Carolyn Lamm , Partner, White & Case , Partner, White & Case *Daniel Winterfeldt MBE QC (Hon), Founder & Chair Interlaw Diversity Forum, Managing Director & General Counsel EMEA And Asia, Jefferies Faith Gay , Founding Partner, Selendy & Gay , Founding Partner, Selendy & Gay Jonathan E. Goldin , Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Teneo Capital , Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Teneo Capital The Honorable Katherine B. Forrest, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore * Keith J. Harrison , Partner and Co-Chair, Litigation, Crowell & Moring , Partner and Co-Chair, Litigation, Crowell & Moring Maria Ginzburg , Partner, Selendy & Gay , Partner, Selendy & Gay * Maria Eugenia Ramirez , Partner, Hogan Lovells , Partner, Hogan Lovells Megan E. Jones , Partner, Hausfeld , Partner, Hausfeld Mylan Denerstein , Co-Chair, Public Policy Practice Group, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher , Co-Chair, Public Policy Practice Group, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher Dr. Nadine Herrmann , Managing Partner and Chair, EU and German Competition Law Practice, Quinn Emanuel , Managing Partner and Chair, EU and German Competition Law Practice, Nicole D. Galli , Founder, Women Owned Law; Managing Member, ND Galli Law LLC , Founder, Women Owned Law; Managing Member, ND Galli Law LLC Noradele Radjai, Partner, Lalive Roberta D. Liebenberg , Senior Partner, Fine, Kaplan & Black , Senior Partner, Fine, Kaplan & Black * Rufus Caine III , Co-Founder & Partner, DEI Strategic Advisory Firm , Co-Founder & Partner, DEI Strategic Advisory Firm Sophie Nappert , International Arbitrator; Co-Founder, ArbTech , International Arbitrator; Co-Founder, ArbTech Stephanie l. Carman, Shareholder, GrayRobinson Sue Prevezer QC, International Arbitrator, Mediator and Consultant, Brick Court Chambers Tara Lee , Partner, White & Case , Partner, White & Case * Veta T. Richardson , President & CEO, Association of Corporate Counsel , President & CEO, Association of Corporate Counsel Wendy J. Miles QC , Barrister, Twenty Essex In addition to committing capital, The Equity Project will continue to organize events and generate thought leadership that draw attention to diversity in law. Since first announced, Burford has organized 16 events, ranging from business development bootcamps for emerging female litigators to panels with leading in-house lawyers. Burford has also partnered with organizations such as the InterLaw Diversity Forum and Equal Representation in Arbitration, and sponsored events devoted to changing outcomes for female and racially diverse lawyers. Burford will continue this work, aimed at bringing together in-house lawyers, law firm leaders, rainmakers and emerging legal industry leaders in furtherance of this cause. Burford will also continue to study outcomes and efficiencies in matters financed through The Equity Project. About Burford Capital Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its principal offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford. SOURCE Burford Capital Related Links http://www.burfordcapital.com SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cognitive Medical Systems and Thornhill Medical announced today that the two healthcare innovation companies have been selected by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command to receive $853,668 from the U.S. Department of Defense awarded through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium to advance medical device interoperability and remote control to address pandemic conditions and a growing need to support military prolonged emergency field care. The award is part of USAMRDC's efforts to improve military field care, keep personnel healthy and combat ready. The treatment of mass casualties, whether on the battlefield or at home has historically been predicated on the availability of well-equipped specially trained medical staff and the ability to rapidly evacuate patients. However, with global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and expected challenges in future near-peer multi-domain conflicts, emergency response planners must now prepare for "prolonged field care" where the sick and injured may be required to remain at the point of injury many days. A flexible, dynamic capacity to safely meet local critical care demand using remotely controlled and eventually autonomous medical devices has emerged as an opportunity for innovation which this award will support. Enabling remote providers to safely control local medical devices has the promise to augment the bedside team with expertise and experience that they might not otherwise have and will significantly impact workforce requirements. The remote control of bedside medical devices to be used in this project include Thornhill Medical's FDA-approved MOVES SLC portable integrated life support system, which offers a computer-controlled portable ventilator with oxygen generation capability, vital signs monitoring and suction, and the developmental NeuroWave Systems AccuPump, a novel 2-channel infusion system under development. MOVES SLC has been in use globally for years and was also deployed in the fight against COVID-19 in civilian and remote settings. Additionally, the DocBox medical IoT platform will be utilized along with expertise and resources from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital. "Addressing the resource demands of modern mass casualty care requires innovation," says Derek Watt, Director of Commercial Products and Thornhill Medical's project team lead. "We have the opportunity to build healthcare workforce capacity through remote control of medical devices which will ultimately improve patient field care." Lesley Gouldie, President and CEO of Thornhill Medical, adds "We are extremely pleased to receive this research and development award from USAMRDC and believe that the project outcome will support the advancement of the acute critical care our MOVES SLC device provides to our military healthcare partners." While the project is designed to advance the technical ability to remotely control a medical device, doing so safely and reliably is a significant challenge. "Operators of devices such as ventilators and IV pumps make clinical decisions based on their understanding of the bedside context of care," says Dr. Emory Fry, CEO at Cognitive Medical Systems, adding "when the care team is geographically distributed, remote operators may not share the same context as the local team this creates significant challenges for care coordination, medical decision making, risk management, and resource allocation that the healthcare community is only beginning to appreciate. The concerns our research is beginning to address extend well beyond simply changing a ventilator setting from afar." The views expressed in this news release/article are those of the authors and may not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. About the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command is the Army's medical materiel developer, with responsibility for medical research, development, and acquisition. USAMRDC produces medical solutions for the battlefield with a focus on various areas of biomedical research, including military infectious diseases, combat casualty care, military operational medicine, medical chemical and biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine. https://mrdc.amedd.army.mil/ About MTEC MTEC is a biomedical technology consortium collaborating with multiple government agencies under a 10-year renewable Other Transactional Agreement with USAMRDC. MTEC is managed by Advanced Technology International. To find out more about MTEC, visit mtec-sc.org. About Cognitive Medical Systems Cognitive Medical Systems helps public and private organizations make the most of their healthcare and other IT investments. The company draws from decades of operational experience in clinical healthcare delivery, informatics, UI/UX, human factors engineering and enterprise software development, specializing in complex infrastructure, workflows, decision support and systems integration. Since its founding in 2010, Cognitive Medical Systems' consistent focus on innovative and solutions-based IT applications drives our progress forward. Our rapid expansion is driven by our continued improvement and innovative approach to solving IT-related challenges. Major contract wins prove our results-driven approach to make our customers successful works. To learn more about Cognitive, please visit www.cognitivemedicine.com. About Thornhill Medical Founded in 2004 as a spin-off of Toronto's University Health Network, Toronto-based Thornhill Medical is a leading developer of innovative medical technologies, including amongst others, its proprietary MOVES SLC integrated life-support technology and MADM the first portable in-line vapor anesthesia delivery device that turns any ventilator into an anesthesia workstation. Thornhill Medical's ground-breaking products are produced to be used around the world by emergency health care providers, military medical teams and disaster relief responders. Thornhill Medical has a wide range of expertise from basic science such as physiology, critical care medicine and electrical and mechanical engineering. Thornhill Medical headquarters are in Toronto, Canada. Please visit, www.thornhillmedical.com SOURCE Thornhill Medical "Elephants' Journey in Yunnan" records the story of 16 wild Asian elephants which left their habitat in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, last spring and finally returned home after 17 months of trek of 1,300 kilometers. Tens of thousands of people guarded their journey and gained mutual trust with the elephant herd. Beginning last year, a herd of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan roamed all the way north. Netizens joked that the elephants would go to Kunming to participate in COP15 conference. On September 11, "Elephants' Journey in Yunnan" was released, showing the guests the Yunnan wisdom and Yunnan solutions of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The Asian elephant is the largest and most representative terrestrial vertebrate in Asia. The species mainly inhabits Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Pu'er City and Lincang City, Yunnan Province. In order to protect them, Yunnan has taken a series of measures, such as establishing Asian elephants food source base, strengthening Asian elephants field monitoring and patrol, and constantly improving the insurance and claim settlement mechanism for wildlife accidents, so as to gradually realize both "human elephant separation" and "human elephant harmony." After more than 30 years of rescue and protection, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has developed from more than 190 in the early 1980s to about 300 at present. The population of wild Asian elephants has entered a stage of stable recovery and gradual increase. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659400/Peoples_Daily_Online_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659401/Peoples_Daily_Online_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1659402/Peoples_Daily_Online_Logo.jpg Contact: Li Faxing Telephone: +86- 18206795864 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE People's Daily Online SEONGNAM, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CRNK will soon launch a campaign through Kickstarter. CRNK makes various bike helmets that excel in crucial categories for helmets such as safety, air circulation, weight, fitness, cost efficiency and design. CRNK has 5 key features. Air ventilation maximizes the heat release and comfortability for regular road riding environment. CRNK minimizes weight and uses the best amount of EPS for safety and lightness at the same time. CRNK's fit provides comfort when worn and the size can be controlled between various sizes with the strap. Slim fit design reduces air resistance and give a sharp and speedy look. Finally, CRNK provides optimal safety using EPS, the best material for the helmet, for the inner foam and PC for the outside hard shell. Three Designs of CRNK Helmet Arc peaks in great outer design, fit, safety, and even ventilation. This design takes pride in optimal balance and operates well with people who think importantly of the appearance when riding. Aero-line design and elegant ventilation system embedded. Gives you the clean look with excellent heat release. Artica prides in comfort and weightless fit. With only 23% of the inner surface touching your head, it will make you feel like you are not wearing a helmet. It is designed to make your head feel free and protected at the same time. Only 23% of the inner surface touching your head minimizes the pressure and discomfort and maximizes the heat release. Total of 11 ventilation to allow smooth air flow and prevent sweat and humidity from gathering inside. Genetic helmet is fit for long distance riding and exercising. It has excellent air resistance and heat release due to the hidden-vent on the front and top of the helmet and the wide ventilation in the back. Designed skull fit, it maximizes the fitness to any head shape making the wearer feel safe and comfortable. The hidden-vent on the front and top decreases the air resistance. Hawkeye, for More Enjoyable Riding Hawkeye goggle has 4 types of wide full cover lenses including yellow, photochromic, clear and revo. You can choose the goggle fit for the purpose and environment of your riding. To allow all the riders mor comfortability, Hawkeye provides two types of silicon pad and optical clips for the lenses. SOURCE CRNK MONROVIA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in automated software testing for over 30 years, today announced Parasoft C/C++test, the static application security testing (SAST) tool, has been containerized and pre-approved for use by the Department of Defense (DoD) and other key federal agencies. The Parasoft SAST container is available for download from the Iron Bank repository. Iron Bank is a U.S. Air Force project designed to formalize DevSecOps across DoD software programs. It's a repository of hardened containers that are digitally signed and available through U.S. Air Force Platform One to deliver secure software development. Read the Parasoft blog to learn more. Formalizing DevSecOps will help bring DoD software programs a step closer to building a robust continuous ATO process for deploying software confidently that meets DoD security and compliance standards. This breakthrough will allow DoD to keep pace with the modern battlefield that's increasingly becoming powered by software. Accelerating software delivery with a more streamlined approach to the ATO process is invaluable in helping DoD deliver assured software security at speed. Parasoft C/C++test solution is positioned to help DoD meet the growing need to deliver software without sacrificing speed or security. The formalization of DevSecOps in DoD enables innovation and faster deployment times to keep pace with the growing demands of the modern battlefield without sacrificing quality and security. Protecting mission-critical software applications is a priority and it starts with software security. Parasoft realizes the importance of protecting DoD's mission-critical systems and has invested significant resources to ensure its containerized solutions meet DoD security standards and best practices. Notably, Lockheed Martin, in addition to the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), has formalized the Parasoft SAST solution as part of its software testing process for quality and security. "The DoD Enterprise DevSecOps Initiative with Platform One and Iron Bank is innovating and modernizing software development for the Department of Defense software programs. Lowering the bar for software programs to formalize automated security testing in development workflows is a great way to accelerate software deployment without sacrificing security and compliance," said Kevin E. Greene, director of security solutions at Parasoft. "We're thrilled to be a key enabler in helping DoD deploy software more confidently to meet their mission needs." With recent attacks targeting the software supply chain, Parasoft realizes the importance of hardening and securing the toolchain to mitigate software integrity issues. To provide full support to DoD's DevSecOps mission-critical pipelines, Parasoft will push into Iron Bank its entire automated testing solution suite, which focuses on early coding and testing along with system functional testing, including API testing, load/performance testing, and system end-to-end testing. About Parasoft Parasoft helps organizations continuously deliver quality software with its market-proven, integrated suite of automated software testing tools. Supporting the embedded, enterprise, and IoT markets, Parasoft's technologies reduce the time, effort, and cost of delivering secure, reliable, and compliant software by integrating everything from deep code analysis and unit testing to web UI and API testing, plus service virtualization and complete code coverage, into the delivery pipeline. Bringing all this together, Parasoft's award-winning reporting and analytics dashboard delivers a centralized view of quality enabling organizations to deliver with confidence and succeed in today's most strategic ecosystems and development initiativessecurity, safety-critical, Agile, DevOps, and continuous testing. SOURCE Parasoft Related Links http://www.parasoft.com According to data compiled by the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), the airport welcomed more than 453,000 air travelers last month, more than double the September 2020 total of 195,000. Last month's totals were just 3% behind the pre-pandemic levels September 2019, when 469,000 passengers flew into or out of ONT. Domestic and international traffic increased 130% and 242%, respectively, in September. When compared with September 2019, domestic travel was down just 1%, while international passenger volume was 47% lower. Over the first nine months of 2021, total passenger volume exceeded 3 million, 59% higher than the same period last year and 24% lower than 2019. Domestic travel was 62% higher on a year-to-date basis while international volume was up 3%. "Ontario International continues to be a bright spot in the aviation industry's ongoing pandemic recovery," said Curt Hagman, an OIAA commissioner and chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. "Having watched the transfer of ONT from the City of Los Angeles five years ago, I believed then just as I do now that we have the benefit of a broad and loyal customer base along with the ability to provide a hassle-free customer service experience in a vital gateway airport that is safe and secure." Passenger Totals Sept. 2021 Sept. 2020 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2020 Change Domestic 440,947 191,467 130.3% 2,980,026 1,840,964 61.9% International 12,227 3,570 242.49% 79,186 76,336 3.7% Total 453,174 195,037 132.35% 3,059,212 1,917,300 59.6% Passenger Totals Sept. 2021 Sept. 2019 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2019 Change Domestic 440,947 446,169 -1.17% 2,980,026 3,838,865 -22.4% International 12,227 23,155 -47.19 79,186 223,889 -64.6% Total 453,174 469,324 -3.44 3,059,212 4,062,754 -24.7% Shipments of air freight and mail in September totaled more than 70,000 tons, 9.4% lower than September last year, but 15.4% higher than 2019. For the first nine months of the year, total cargo volume was more than 644,000 tons, a 3.5% decline compared with 2020, but 15.6% higher than 2019. "In addition to creating an airport which is attractive to our partner airlines and their passengers, we've made dramatic improvements on the cargo side with expanded and modern facilities which appeal to shippers," Hagman said. Air cargo (tonnage) Sept. 2021 Sept. 2020 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2020 Change Freight 66,380 75,862 -12.5% 609,952 651,809 -6.4% Mail 4,269 2,174 96.41% 34,426 15,780 118.2% Total 70,649 78,035 -9.46% 644,378 667,589 -3.5% Air cargo (tonnage) Sept. 2021 Sept. 2019 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2019 Change Freight 66,380 59,918 10.79% 609,952 539,062 13.2% Mail 4,269 1,271 235.87% 34,426 18,221 88.9% Total 70,649 61,189 15.46% 644,378 557,283 15.6% About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport Related Links www.flyontario.com Schabacker took important steps in early 2020 to prepare the healthcare community for what would become a global pandemic. He established the ECRI COVID-19 Resource Center with free and shareable information on emergency preparedness, infection prevention, and medical treatments, processes, and practices. Leading healthcare authorities endorsed the site spurring nearly half a million page views by people worldwide seeking emergency preparedness checklists, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier lists, infection control best practices, and clinical evidence assessments. The award recognizes Schabacker for making an indelible impact in ensuring patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. ECRI's COVID-19 Resource Center currently includes more than 350 publicly available resources, lab webcast recordings, and clinical guidelines. The most recent guidance addresses vaccine safety and global health equity and an evidence review supporting the effectiveness of masks, as part of an infection control bundle, for children in schools. "As we learned more about the virus, the treatments, protocol, and processes changed. ECRI monitored and communicated these developments, debunking myths and providing evidence-based strategies for managing equipment shortages, medication safety issues, and mental health concerns," says Schabacker. Throughout the pandemic, Schabacker has been interviewed extensively by national news outlets. His leadership enabled ECRI, a respected patient safety organization, to step to the forefront in developing evidence-based guidance that empowered providers with the information they required to meet worker and patient needs during unprecedented challenges. "I am proud of how ECRI came together to create the COVID-19 Resource Center which became a 'go-to' source of trustworthy guidance worldwide. Beyond that, I am incredibly proud of how our employees quickly transitioned to an all-virtual work environment, and seamlessly provided trusted evidence-based assurance to our members and the public during a time of fear and uncertainty," adds Schabacker. Schabacker joined ECRI in January 2018, as the nonprofit organization's third CEO in its 53-year history. ECRI is headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, PA, with international offices in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. Schabacker is a board-certified anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist with more than 35 years of healthcare experience in complex global environments, and more than 20 years of senior leadership responsibilities serving the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. For more information about Marcus Schabacker and ECRI's role in guiding the healthcare community and the public with evidence-based guidance, download the ECRI COVID-19 Journey. The Philadelphia Business Journal is hosting the Healthcare Leaders for 2021 Awards Ceremony virtually on October 14; all honorees will be featured Special Section in the Philadelphia Business Journal on October 15. For more information, visit www.ecri.org, e-mail [email protected], or call (610) 825-6000, ext. 5891. Social Sharing Philadelphia Business Journal honors @SchabackerECRI, CEO of @ECRI_Org with Leaders in Healthcare 2021 Award About ECRI ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings. With a focus on patient safety, evidence-based medicine, and health technology decision solutions, ECRI is respected and trusted by healthcare leaders and agencies worldwide. Over the past fifty years, ECRI has built its reputation on integrity and disciplined rigor, with an unwavering commitment to independence and strict conflict-of-interest rules. ECRI is the only organization worldwide to conduct independent medical device evaluations, with labs located in North America and Asia Pacific. ECRI is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices PSO is a federally certified Patient Safety Organization as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) formally became an ECRI Affiliate in 2020. Visit www.ecri.org and follow @ECRI_Org SOURCE ECRI Related Links www.ecri.org MALIBU, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Embedded Ventures , a new venture capital firm investing in dual-use space startups beyond launch, today announced an unprecedented multi-year agreement with United States Space Force (USSF)'s SpaceWERX office. SpaceWERX is expanding the space industrial base by forming collaborative research agreements between the military's operational experts and the top innovators in industry and academia, leveraging commercial investment, and rapidly pursuing new space technologies, while setting ambitious goals since its creation. The arrangement, established via a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) through the Air Force Research Lab's Technology Transfer Office in New Mexico, enables the two entities to collaborate on research and development opportunities promoting U.S. space industry growth to prepare for the future of an expanded space economy and for the defense of U.S. interests. This agreement marks the first time in history that the USSF has signed a CRADA with a VC firm. "As the skunkworks of venture capital firms, we knew we wanted to do things differently from the start. We are honored to partake in the first formal VC partnership with USSF," said Jenna Bryant, Co-Founder, CEO and General Partner of Embedded Ventures. "We've been in communication for months, but with this CRADA now in place, we're thrilled to formally work together to drive success at both organizations. This agreement also impacts me on a personal level, as my brother is a Marine Corps V-22 Pilot, and I want to see our soldiers have access to the best private innovation we can find." "Jenna first envisioned the potential for this type of collaboration when she brought senior Department of Defense leaders and I together a few years ago, even before Embedded Ventures existed," said Jordan Noone, Co-Founder, CTO, and General Partner of Embedded Ventures. "We're thrilled to be the first VC firm to have such an agreement with USSF, guiding progress for years to come." The parties will collaboratively investigate the potential benefits of leveraging VC investment practices to accelerate the pace of change and innovation. They will also examine the USSF industry business relationships to define future methods for investment into the VC ecosystem. Embedded Ventures and USSF will be meeting regularly to discuss progress related to tangible milestones set forth. There were additional key personnel who helped to orchestrate this alliance, including Mandy Vaughn, Operating Partner at Embedded Ventures, Col. Nathan Diller, Director of AFWERX, Col. Eric Felt, Director of AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate, Gabe Mounce, Deputy Director at SpaceWERX, and Melissa Ortiz, Agreements Specialist for AFRL's Tech Transfer Office in New Mexico. "SpaceWERX is excited to formalize this agreement with Embedded Ventures, creating a highly collaborative and efficient workflow between our two groups, while keeping us all accountable,'' said Lt. Col. Walter "Rock" McMillan, Director of SpaceWERX. "From the moment I met Jenna, Jordan and Mandy, I knew they were the right team to launch this unique cooperative research and development agreement. They possess the talent, insight and all the necessary ingredients to be leading the next generation of space investment." "Space is inherently different in that it leverages commercial industry as an integral part of every space capability," said Mandy Vaughn, Operating Partner at Embedded Ventures. "This relationship is a tangible first step for us. I think that it shows that a key element of their own success is to tap into the emerging companies and sectors that firms, like Embedded Ventures, were established to foster." ABOUT EMBEDDED VENTURES Launched in 2020, Embedded Ventures is a next generation venture capital firm investing in dual-use space startups beyond launch, best described as "the skunkworks of Venture Capital," named both for their unique investment approach and backgrounds. Co-Founders Jenna Bryant and Jordan Noone both have atypical industry experiences and strong passions for the communities they represent. The firm prefers to invest in the pre-seed and seed stage startups focused in the advanced/edge computing, quantum systems, defense and security, communication infrastructure, logistics and supply chain, mining, battery/power systems, material science, advanced peripherals, aerial mobility, dual-use technology, drone technology, U.S. manufacturing, biotech/biochem and sustainability sectors. To learn more about Embedded Ventures, please visit its website , Medium , Twitter , Twitch and YouTube pages. Jenna Bryant moved to Los Angeles from Alabama to complete her BS degree in Apparel Design. Post-graduation, she took a job that was originally meant to be temporary, specializing in recruiting "hard to fill" engineering roles for early-stage startups in L.A. This led to an unexpected permanent shift for Jenna, who has now spent the last decade as a tech recruiter turned Venture Capitalist, Bryant has invested in and helped build some of the most notable early-stage startups in the country from the ground up. Jordan Noone has had a lifelong interest in aerospace and began designing and building spaceflight hardware at the University of Southern California. Noone led USC's Rocket Propulsion Lab and became the first student and youngest individual in the world to receive Federal Aviation Administration clearance to fly a rocket into space. After graduating, Noone worked at SpaceX and later co-founded and was the CTO of 3D-printing rocket startup Relativity Space, most recently valued at $4.2B. Mandy Vaughn is a long-time advocate for the acceleration of the integration of commercial space technology into National Security systems and missions. After receiving a bachelor's and master's degree from MIT, she was an astronautical engineer and program manager in the U.S. Air Force and later with General Dynamics, working a variety of Space Superiority and other key national security mission areas. She was the first President of VOX Space at Virgin Orbit, offering their small launch vehicle system to the national security sector. She is also the Founder & CEO of GXO, Inc. where she helps mature companies move into the national security market, and is an Operating Partner at Embedded Ventures, supporting their growing portfolio of space startups beyond launch. ABOUT SpaceWERX Headquartered at the Los Angeles AFWERX hub, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Major technology trends that affect our national security continue to emerge from private industry, academia, and the government. The U.S. Space Force's competitive advantage is our ability to identify, validate, acquire, and integrate those technologies quickly. Accordingly, SpaceWERX seeks to form collaborative partnerships between the military's operational experts and the top problem solvers in industry, academia, and the government. For more information: Ian Guss, High10 Media for Embedded Ventures, [email protected] Luis Cordova, [email protected] SOURCE Embedded Ventures Related Links https://www.embedded.ventures CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IRI, a fast-growing, innovative, global provider of technology, data, and predictive analytics for the consumer, retail and media sectors, today announced that Euan Jarvie will join IRI as president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, effective immediately. In this role, Jarvie will drive strategy, commercial activity operations and financial performance for the EMEA region, and oversee its assets, alliances and partnerships. Jarvie will also join IRI's Executive Leadership Team. "We are thrilled to welcome Euan, a dynamic and charismatic leader with a unique set of management skills, to IRI," said Kirk Perry, president and chief executive officer, IRI. "Euan possesses exceptional business development and transformational experience, financial and commercial strategy expertise, talent and team-building vision, and a uniquely successful global client and stakeholder management focus. He also has a proven track record of maintaining partnerships and guiding strategy for start-up, turnaround and acquisition groups in global markets, making him an excellent fit for IRI and this role." Jarvie added, "I am tremendously excited to join IRI and work in tandem with Kirk and the rest of the talented team at IRI to drive performance, motivation and morale within the EMEA region. IRI has built strong relationships with its existing customers and partners within the region, and I look forward to continuing the company's acceleration toward its future goals." Prior to joining IRI, Jarvie served as the chief executive officer for UK and Ireland at Dentsu International, where he led the second largest group in Dentsu International's global organization and oversaw an acceleration program of innovation and growth. Specifically, Jarvie created a program that delivered improvements of almost $100 million and led the transformation of the market-leading capabilities in customer experience, creative and media agencies. He also previously served as president of global clients at Dentsu, where he led and won many of the world's largest advertisers, including Mondelez, JLR and Beiersdorf. Prior to joining Dentsu, Jarvie spent nearly 18 years with global media agency MediaCom, serving in a variety of roles, including chief operating officer of EMEA, chief client officer and chief operating officer of the USA, and was the founding director of the MediaCom operations in Scotland and Ireland. Jarvie holds an honors degree in business studies from Napier University in Scotland. About IRI IRI is a fast-growing, leading provider of big data, predictive analytics, and forward-looking insights that help CPG, OTC health care organizations, retailers, and financial services and media companies grow their businesses. With the largest repository of purchase, media, social, causal and loyalty data, all integrated into an on-demand, cloud-based technology platform, IRI is empowering the personalization revolution, helping to guide its more than 5,000 clients around the world in their quests to remain relentlessly relevant, capture market share, connect with consumers, collaborate with key constituents and deliver market-leading growth. For more information, visit www.iriworldwide.com. SOURCE IRI OAKLAND, Calif. , Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlaw, the cloud-native investigation and litigation platform, today announced the release of Everlaw Legal Holds, a new capability that will help in-house legal teams more easily preserve evidence in a defensible way. Additionally, Everlaw released a new cloud connector to Slack, which will enable teams to more quickly and effectively ingest and analyze data from Slack directly within Everlaw. As software solutions become increasingly easy to purchase, integrate and manage in the cloud, corporations are beginning to bring their previously outsourced legal services in-house. In fact, a recent Everlaw survey found that 32% of legal professionals reported plans to migrate to the cloud via in-house solutions. In-house legal teams often struggle with manual processes that make it difficult to provide consistent custodian notifications, track their responses and escalate when necessary for non-responsive custodians. As a result, they need an all-in-one solution that encourages efficiency from legal holds through discovery. Everlaw Legal Holds is an integrated part of the Everlaw platform at no extra cost, allowing users to keep legal work, from holds and document review to case strategy, in one highly secure place. Features such as built-in tracking and auto-escalations enable teams to manage legal holds more efficiently and deploy holds more quickly. Connecting data uploads to particular holds and custodians in Everlaw reduces friction as matters move toward discovery. These features help avoid the time-consuming, manual spreadsheet and email tracking that plague some in-house teams, and can help others stop wasting money on expensive siloed solutions. Legal Holds also helps in-house professionals proactively mitigate risk and avoid human error with an auditable tracking system that creates a more defensible audit trail. "Ediscovery continues to evolve as an industry and a practice area," said Ryan O'Leary, Esq. Research Manager for Privacy and Legal Technology at IDC. "Ediscovery champions within enterprises continue to be pressured to do more with less, all while having the desire to bring more of the ediscovery process in-house. Legal holds are a crucial step of ediscovery to ensure the appropriate information is collected and protected. Everlaw recognizes this reality and by incorporating legal holds as a feature, and not a product, differentiates themselves as a unique partner for ediscovery stakeholders. Auditable legal holds and defensible collections become easier and the additional value created for customers is a compelling solution within the ediscovery sphere." Everlaw Legal Holds lets teams: Quickly import custodian lists Draft customizable hold notices and copy language from an existing hold to maintain consistency Send notices with automated response tracking Flexibly modify and edit holds Encourage custodian acknowledgement of a hold with a simple, one-click flow Easily view holds and custodian statuses Download a tracking report of all acknowledgement, reminder and escalation events Send automated escalation and reminder notices Simply release holds Connect data uploaded to Everlaw to particular holds and custodians within the platform "Legal professionals need technology that's easy to use, convenient and encourages increased efficiency," said Everlaw CEO AJ Shankar. "Too often legal technologies have been disjointed, and when teams have to shuffle data across different platforms, they're wasting time and could even lose critical information on important matters in the process. Everlaw Legal Holds is an easy-to-use, all-inclusive system that helps legal teams avoid this fragmentation, providing one central location from initial legal hold, to document review and production, to pre-trial case and deposition strategy." Additionally, Everlaw released a Slack connector that allows users to import Slack data directly into Everlaw. Chat functions have historically been difficult to extract evidence from, especially as people communicate more online than ever before a recent Slack survey found that 78% of IT decision makers plan to keep using Slack or other collaboration tools even after the pandemic. With Everlaw's upload wizard, users can select custodians, date ranges, channels (both public and private) and view Slack messages as conversations directly within the Everlaw platform for easy review. The connector also extracts metadata from chat conversations, like the names of participants who contributed during a chat session or the date and times the messages were sent. The Slack connector builds on the rich set of cloud collection tools already available on Everlaw including: Microsoft Office 365, Google Vault, Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, ShareFile and Microsoft SharePoint. About Everlaw Everlaw blends cutting-edge technology with modern design to help government entities, law firms, and corporations solve the toughest problems in the legal industry. Everlaw is used by Fortune 100 corporate counsels and household brands like Hilton and Dick's Sporting Goods, 76 out of the AM Law 100, and all 50 U.S. state attorneys general. Based in Oakland, California, Everlaw is funded by top-tier investors, including CapitalG, Menlo Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and K9 Ventures. Learn more at https://www.everlaw.com. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Everlaw Related Links www.everlaw.com BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("First High-School Education Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: FHS), the largest operator of private high schools in Western China and the third largest operator in China[1], today announced changes in management. Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer Mr. Tommy Zhou ("Mr. Zhou"), who has served as the joint chief financial officer of the Company since September 2021, has been appointed as the Company's chief financial officer to replace Mr. Lidong (Ben) Zhu ("Mr. Zhu"), effective from October 11, 2021. Mr. Zhu has resigned from the capacity of the Company's chief financial officer due to personal reasons. Mr. Zhu continues to serve as a non-executive director on the board of the directors of the Company (the "Board") and a member on the audit committee of the Board. Mr. Zhu's resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Zhu for his efforts and contributions to the Company. Mr. Zhou brings with him over 10 years of capital market experience in top financial institutions. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Zhou had served as the senior vice president at Tianfeng Securities Co., Ltd. (SHA: 601162) from November 2020 to August 2021. From July 2019 to October 2020, Mr. Zhou served as an associate director at China Innovative Capital Management Ltd. From July 2016 to July 2019, Mr. Zhou served as an investment manager at Sunshine Asset Management Corporation Limited. From June 2013 to June 2015, Mr. Zhou served at multiple positions, including the last position as a financial accountant at The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Zhou received his bachelor's degree in Economic History from University of British Columbia in 2010, and a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University in 2014. Mr. Shaowei Zhang, chairman and chief executive officer of First High-School Education Group, commented: "On behalf of the Board and management team, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Zhu for all his contributions to the Company, including leading our IPO and NYSE listing in March 2021. We recognize the critical role he played in growing and strengthening our business, and look forward to continuing benefit from his valuable insights and extensive experience in the future as our board member. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors." "Mr. Tommy Zhou is a long-time friend of the Company and the management team, as he fully participated in our IPO underwriting process. We warmly welcome Tommy to our team. Tommy brings a wealth of knowledge to this critical role, and his deep experience in all facets of finance will be of great value to First High School Education Group. Our entire team looks forward to working closely with him and continue to create value for our shareholders," Mr. Zhang concluded. About First High-School Education Group First High-School Education Group is the largest operator of private high schools in Western China and the third largest operator in China[1]. The Company aspires to become a leader and innovator of private high school education in China, with the focuses on a comprehensive education management integrating education information consulting, education research project development, education talent management, education technology management, education service management, and general vocational integration development services. For more information, please visit https://ir.diyi.top/. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans and development, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: First High-School Education Group Lillian Liu Tel: +86-13062818313 E-mail: [email protected] The Blueshirt Group Ms. Susie Wang Phone: +86 138-1081-7475 Email: [email protected] In the United States: The Blueshirt Group Ms. Julia Qian Phone: +1 973-619-3227 Email: [email protected] Customer Service Phone: 010-62555966 (9:30-12:00, 13:30-16:00 CST) E-mail: [email protected] [1] In terms of student enrollment as of September 1, 2021, according to an industry report commissioned by First High-School Education Group and prepared by China Insights Industry Consultancy Limited. SOURCE First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd Related Links https://ir.diyi.top/ Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Acoustic Insulation Materials market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Acoustic Insulation Materials pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/acoustic-insulation-materials-procurement-market-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. Identify favorable opportunities in Acoustic Insulation Materials TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Subscribe Now for Free Some of the top Acoustic Insulation Materials suppliers listed in this report: This Acoustic Insulation Materials procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Total SA 3M Co. Co. Owens Corning Get the Details That You Are Looking for: Buy our detailed market analysis report to uncover: Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2025. Analyze the market's competitive and vendor landscape. How much marketing budget to set aside for geographical market expansion? Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries. Download the FREE sample Report Now! Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge Related Links http://www.spendedge.com SEATTLE, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Coherent Market Insights, the home healthcare market is expected to be valued at US$ 279,541.7 million in 2019, and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period (20192027). Home healthcare is direct personal care given by a trained caregiver in the person home where the client or patient is staying, rather than medical care given in specialized group settings such as nursing homes or clinics. Home healthcare is also sometimes referred to as domiciliary care, direct care or community care. It differs from traditional medical care in that it does not involve a physician, nurse or other health care professional. Rather, family members, friends or other caregivers provide this direct care in an informal setting - often a residential home, care facility or similar setting. In this setting, there is no uniformity of medical or mental health care and services provided. Rather, home health aides provide personal care to the client in his or her own home. The global home healthcare market is estimated to account for 525,833.3 Mn in terms of value by the end of 2027. Request for Sample PDF @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/840 Market Drivers: Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to propel growth of the global home healthcare market over the forecast period. For instance, according to the American Heart Association's Heart and Stroke Statistics 2019 Update, around 48% of all adults in the U.S. suffered from some type of cardiovascular disease in 2016. Moreover, increasing preference for home healthcare is also expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, according to a survey in September conducted by Morning Consult, along with The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, over nine in 10 (of the Medicare beneficiaries who took part in the poll) prefer to receive post-hospital short-term health care at home. Just 3% said they would prefer post-hospital nursing home care. Market Opportunities Raising funding for expansion is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global home healthcare market. For instance, in October 2021, Honor, the U.S.-based senior care network company, raised US$ 70 million in Series E funding to invest in its operations, technology capabilities and its ongoing expansion across the Home Instead network. Acquisition of major players is also expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global home healthcare market. For instance, in October 2021, Aveanna Healthcare, a home health care services company, announced to acquire Comfort Care Home Health for US$ 345 million. Market Trends Vaccine mandates may lead to major losses for home-based care providers in the U.S. Although home-based care providers are focused on offering staff-education for Covid-19 practices, they are still struggling to keep workers who refuse to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The U.S is also witnessing launch of new home health brands. For instance, in August 2021, Best Life Brands, a holding company, launched Boost Home Healthcare, a franchise brand that will operate as Best Life Brands' first home health provider. Competitive Landscape: Major players operating in the global home healthcare market include, 3M, Abbott Laboratories, Bayer AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Cardinal Health, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., GE Healthcare, Gentiva Health Services, Inc., Invacare Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., The Linde Group, Medtronic, Inc., Omron Healthcare, Inc., AdaptHealth, Current Health, Baxter International Inc., Optum (United Healthcare), Outset Medical, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Major players operating in the global home healthcare market are focused on adopting M&A strategies to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in October 2021, Pharos Capital Group, a private equity firm, acquired THEMA Health Services, a home health and palliative care provider that operates across Arizona U.S. Major players operating in the global home healthcare market are also focused on launching new products and services to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in April 2021, Seniors Helping Seniors, a personal care franchise company, launched "Seniors Helping Seniors 360," a new business model that mixes both medical and non-medical care services. Buy This Report Now @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/840 Market Segmentation: Global Home Healthcare Market, By Type: Devices Diagnostics and Monitoring Home Devices Therapeutics Home Healthcare Devices Mobility Assist Devices Medical Supplies Services Rehabilitation Services Telehealth and Telemedicine Services Infusion Therapy Services Respiratory Therapy Services Unskilled Home Healthcare Services Global Home Healthcare Market, By Region: North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East Africa Didn't find what you were looking for? Here are some similar topics: Digital Healthcare Market, By Technology (Healthcare Analytics, mHealth), By Component (Software, Services), By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2021 2028 RFID in Healthcare Market, By Product Type (Tags (Passive, Active), Readers, Middleware), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2020 2027 Animal Healthcare Market, By Animal Type (Production Animal, Companion Animal), By Product Type (Feed additives, Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2019 - 2027 About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: UK: +44-020-8133-4027 Japan: +81-050-5539-1737 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Coherent Market Insights DUBLIN, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hospital Information System Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global hospital information system market reached a value of US$ 115 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% during 2021-2026. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. The hospital information system (HIS) refers to a digitally integrated information management system that is designed to manage healthcare data. It aids in minimizing the chances of errors by using tools, such as electronic medical records (EMR), computerized physicians order entry, laboratory information systems, pharmacy information systems and radiology information systems. This replaces the paperwork, such as patient's health history, prescriptions, doctor's notes and dictations, with electronically preserved data. HIS also offers enhanced operational efficiencies and data management capabilities through data analytics, collaborative care, cost management and patient health management. Significant improvements in the healthcare infrastructure across the globe are one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, owing to the growing demand for efficient workflow, streamlined operations, and improved storage facilities management of patient data, there is an increasing preference for HIS over paper-based manual processes. Moreover, on account of the rising number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, market players are introducing virtual care systems for remote patient monitoring and telemedicine services, which are aimed at creating a safer environment for healthcare providers. Additionally, the widespread adoption of cloud-based computing systems is providing a boost to the market growth. Various technological advancements, such as the integration of eHealth platforms, Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), web-based programs, radiology information systems (RIS) and software-as-a-Service (SaaS) with HIS, is also acting as another growth-inducing factor. These advancements assist in improving the overall hospital administration significantly. Other factors, including the increasing automation across the healthcare industry, along with extensive research and development (R&D) activities in the healthcare information technology (IT) sector, are projected to drive the market further. Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Agfa-Gevaert Group. (Dedalus Holding S.p.A.), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., Carestream Health Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Cerner Corporation, Comarch SA., Computer Programs and Systems Inc., Epic Systems Corporation (Compass Group plc), GE Healthcare Inc. (Danaher Corporation), McKesson Corporation, Medical Information Technology Inc., Nextgen Healthcare Inc., Wipro Limited, etc. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global hospital information system market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global hospital information system market? What is the breakup of the market based on the component? What is the breakup of the market based on the deployment type? What is the breakup of the market based on the system type? What is the breakup of the market based on the end-user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global hospital information system market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Hospital Information System Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Component 6.1 Hardware 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Software 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Services 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Deployment Type 7.1 On-premises 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Web-based 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Cloud-based 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by System Type 8.1 Clinical Information System 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Administrative Information System 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Electronic Medical Record 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Laboratory Information System 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Radiology Information System 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Pharmacy Information System 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 8.7 Others 8.7.1 Market Trends 8.7.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by End-User 9.1 Hospital 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Insurance Companies 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Others 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Indicators 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players 15.3.1 Agfa-Gevaert Group. (Dedalus Holding S.p.A.) 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.1.3 Financials 15.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.2 Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2.3 Financials 15.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.3 Carestream Health Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.) 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.3.3 SWOT Analysis 15.3.4 Cerner Corporation 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4.3 Financials 15.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.5 Comarch SA. 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5.3 Financials 15.3.6 Computer Programs and Systems Inc. 15.3.6.1 Company Overview 15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6.3 Financials 15.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.7 Epic Systems Corporation (Compass Group plc) 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.7.3 SWOT Analysis 15.3.8 GE Healthcare Inc. (Danaher Corporation) 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9 McKesson Corporation 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9.3 Financials 15.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.10 Medical Information Technology Inc. 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11 Nextgen Healthcare Inc. 15.3.11.1 Company Overview 15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11.3 Financials 15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.12 Wipro Limited 15.3.12.1 Company Overview 15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.12.3 Financials 15.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ffona8 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HubSpot , the customer relationship management (CRM) platform for scaling companies, announced today the launch of The CRM Platform Fund a $100 million fund to actively support early- and growth-stage technology companies that share in HubSpot's mission to help millions of organizations grow better. Through this new fund, HubSpot will invest in more exceptional companies that are committed to helping their customers succeed. HubSpot Ventures formally launched in 2018 as a $30 million fund aimed at providing startups with the financial and educational resources needed to help them grow. This year alone, HubSpot made 12 investments in fast-growing startups such as Clari , Descript , xentral , Goldcast , and Circle to address the evolving needs of its customer base. From revenue operations to ERP systems, these companies provide valuable tools for customers with a wide range of complex use cases. With the CRM Platform Fund, HubSpot is expanding its commitment to customer-first B2B software companies that recognize the power of the HubSpot CRM Platform and are dedicated to helping further extend its value with integrations and other partnerships. "Since launching HubSpot Ventures in 2018, we've had the honor of supporting a wide range of companies that are building the next generation of powerful software for businesses," said Andrew Lindsay, SVP of corporate & business development at HubSpot. "Our position as a leading CRM platform for scaling companies gives us a unique perspective into the types of tools growing businesses need, which is where we've focused our investments. The ventures in our portfolio share our commitment to putting the customer first, and we're thrilled to launch a second fund to invest in even more innovative, customer-centric companies." Through the CRM Platform Fund, HubSpot will invest in companies that expand the impact of HubSpot's philosophy of growing better by never sacrificing the customer experience for the sake of growth. To receive an investment, portfolio companies must meet the following criteria: Are actively raising a funding round (seed through late stage) Align with HubSpot's mission to help millions of organizations grow better Have potential to deliver unique value to the HubSpot community Are building a leading SaaS-based product Embody the values in HubSpot's Customer Code and Culture Code "HubSpot and Clari both work to align teams to drive revenue growth HubSpot through its powerful CRM platform, and Clari through our purpose-built revenue operations platform," said Andy Byrne, CEO at Clari . "It's a natural fit to have the support of a company that shares our commitment to helping customers realize their fullest potential by transforming their revenue operations. We're excited for what the future holds as we work together to bring revenue operations to every business." Today's news follows HubSpot's announcement last year that it committed $20 million to social impact investing , with the first allocation going to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)'s Black Economic Development Fund. To help educate and inspire the next generation of startup founders, HubSpot also recently announced a partnership with Howard University . The donation from HubSpot supports the creation of Howard University's first Center for Digital Business, a space for students to receive academic and professional training to help launch careers in business and technology. To learn more about the CRM Platform Fund, please visit https://www.hubspot.com/ventures . About HubSpot HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform that provides software and support to help companies grow better. The platform includes marketing, sales, service, operations, and website management products that start free and scale to meet our customers' needs at any stage of growth. Today, more than 121,000 customers across more than 120 countries use HubSpot's powerful and easy-to-use tools and integrations to attract, engage, and delight customers. Named Glassdoor's #4 Best Place to Work in 2021, HubSpot has been recognized for its award-winning culture by Great Place to Work, Comparably, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Inc., and more. HubSpot was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company's thousands of employees work across the globe in HubSpot offices and remotely. Learn more at www.hubspot.com . SOURCE HubSpot Related Links http://hubspot.com OLDWICK, N.J., Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "People began to see their lives differently at time they were spending commuting and wanting to continue working remotely, digital overload, lack human connections, and family care burnout." In a February 2021 global Harvard Business Review study, 89% of workers said their work life was getting worse. 85% said their well-being declined. The Employment Caregiving Crisis and Caregiving Crisis are NOT the same. What problem are you solving? Tweet this The Employee Caregiving Crisis in America At the same time, our nation is facing the collision of employment with the exploding family care needs of 70 million aging Baby Boomers. Over 60% of all family caregivers are employed. "Employers hunt for 'employee's family caregiving' solutions, but caregiving is not an employee fix it problem," says Jeannette Galvanek, CEO, CareWise Solutions. Over 40% of every workforce are caregivers. Each employee works with 5 to 7 others. Disruptions and workload redistribution spill over to the team. Employee Caregivers are in every business, large and small, they are every age, ethnicity, gender, geography and pay grade. Employers pay an annual average in care related productivity losses of almost $11,000 per employee, and employee caregivers' out-of-pocket costs an average of $6,800 per year, personally. The collision of aging Baby Boomers' care needs grows every year, continuously clashing with the most productive period of employees' working lives. This is not a winning scenario for employees, employers or those who need care. Yet, according to AARP, "unpaid caregivers are serving as a core piece of the health and long-term services the main source for long-term care for adults living at home." "It is just not possible for employees to be caregivers for an extended period. We have a national labor utilization decision to make. Will we disregard a national employment model redeploying too many paid employees to an unpaid workforce of family caregivers? Can the nation agree to modern labor policy minimally aligning AARP reported - 58% of medical and healthcare tasks performed by family caregivers to the right industry? It's clear that employees and employers need institutional alignment so that employee-caregivers can care about, not for their family." Jeannette Galvanek, CEO, CareWise Solutions CareWise Solutions announces employer solutions to the changes in the caregiving landscape with an innovative platform to protect employment and raise the bar for institutional care provided at home. Visit carewisesolutions.org to select employee, employee caregiver and family packages. Contact Jeannette Galvanek to explore how your corporation can work and care- more naturally. About CareWise Solutions CareWise Solutions is a female owned, entrepreneurial business offering a robust employer-sponsored membership opportunity for their team. CareWise Solutions Org is a 501 (c) (3) organization. SOURCE CareWise Solutions Related Links https://carewisesolutions.org SUNRISE, Fla., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation's leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, announced that its CEO and President, Jennifer Sheets, was awarded Gold in the "CEO Achievers Advocate of the Year" category at the 9th annual CEO World Awards. The award program celebrates the achievements of leaders, executives, and the management teams behind the year's most outstanding initiatives and achievements, recognizing those who set industry benchmarks for excellence. With the support of her team, as well as the clinical and operational excellence of the more than 300 Interim HealthCare offices who represent the First in Home Care brand, Jennifer Sheets has worked relentlessly to uphold the highest standards of safety and care within the home healthcare industry. Jennifer's foresight in early 2020 ensured that Interim HealthCare was well-positioned to provide vital care services during the pandemic, while keeping both staff and patients safe. With her leadership, the company spearheaded the development of detailed guidance and resources to provide care for COVID-19 patients through Interim HealthCare's HomeLife Enrichment standard of care, which creates a customized care plan to support a patient's full mind, body, spirit and family. In addition, Jennifer and her team established programs that helped facilitate the partnership between hospitals and home healthcare, working to transition medically complex cases from hospitals into home healthcare settings to alleviate recurrent patient surges on ICU resources. Jennifer has also been integral to the continued success of building awareness of and advocacy for the home healthcare industry throughout 2020 and 2021. Advocating at both the federal and state levels for "essential" worker status of America's 3.2 million home healthcare workers, Jennifer helped ensure these professionals were part of the country's response to and continued recovery from the pandemic. With her team, she also established the industry's only website for sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) when resources were incredibly difficult to procure, distributing an estimated three million units of critical PPE items to more than 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and five other countries. "I am humbled to be recognized as an Advocate of the Year by the CEO World Awards," said Jennifer Sheets, CEO and president of Interim HealthCare. "Home healthcare is an indispensable part of our healthcare system and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue elevating both the industry's unique value and Interim HealthCare's role within it." The CEO World Awards are an annual industry and peer recognition program honoring CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and their management teams from organizations in every industry and of every size. The coveted annual CEO World Awards program encompasses the world's best in leadership, innovation, organizational performance, new products and services, excellence studies, corporate social responsibility, and milestones from every major industry in the world. Judges from a broad spectrum of industry voices from around the world participated and their average scores and inputs determined the 2021 award winners. See the complete list of 2021 winners here: https://globeeawards.com/ceo-world-awards/winners/. For more information on Interim HealthCare, please visit www.interimhealthcare.com. About Interim HealthCare Inc. Interim HealthCare Inc., founded in 1966, is a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing. It is part of Caring Brands International, which also includes UK-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care, both well-known franchise brands in their countries. With more than 575 franchise locations in eight countries, Caring Brands International is a global healthcare leader. Interim HealthCare in the United States is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 190,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care and healthcare staffing needs. For more information or to locate an Interim HealthCare office, visit www.interimhealthcare.com . About the Globee Awards Globee Awards are conferred in eleven programs and competition: the American Best in Business Awards, Business Excellence Awards (Best Employers), CEO World Awards, Communications Excellence Awards, Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards, Disruptor Company Awards, Golden Bridge Awards, International Best in Business Awards, IT World Awards, Sales, Marketing, & Service Excellence Awards, and Women World Awards. Learn more about the Globee Awards at https://globeeawards.com SOURCE Interim HealthCare Inc. Related Links https://www.interimhealthcare.com/ HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will host the 32nd Marshall Small Business Alliance meeting on Oct. 14. The virtual event will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 4:25 p.m. via WebEx. The event will include presentations from NASA's Office of Small Business Programs, as well as updates on acquisition and agency product service lines from Marshall and other NASA centers. Other topics will include the Human Landing System Program Lunar Exploration Transportation Services acquisition, updates from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and a Huntsville economic update. There also will be four afternoon breakout sessions: "Doing Business with MSFC Primes"; "Past Performance Evaluations in Competitive Acquisitions"; "Organizational Conflict of Interest"; and "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion." Participants for the event will include: Glenn Delgado , associate administrator, NASA's Office of Small Business Programs , associate administrator, NASA's Office of Small Business Programs Rhega Gordon, Marshall chief financial officer chief financial officer Jason Detko , director, Marshall Office of Procurement , director, Marshall Office of Procurement Robert Champion , director, Marshall Office of Center Operations , director, Marshall Office of Center Operations David Brock , Marshall small business specialist Media interested in covering the meeting should contact Janet Sudnik in the Marshall Office of Communications at 256-544-0034 or [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Oct. 13. For more than a decade, the Marshall Small Business Alliance meeting has aided small businesses in pursuit of NASA procurement and subcontracting opportunities. The meeting is sponsored by Marshall's Office of Procurement and Small Business Office. To learn more about doing business with Marshall, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/about/business.html SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies from the steel, aviation and shipping industries are mobilizing multi-trillion dollar plans that provide a path for their respective sectors to reach net zero by 2050 and to make significant emissions reductions within the next decade as part of the Mission Possible Partnership. Ahead of COP26, the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), an organization dedicated to decarbonizing seven of the hardest to abate industries, is releasing plans and the estimated costs of slashing carbon emissions for three sectors steel, shipping and aviation often ignored in national plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions that form the basis of negotiations at COP. Together, the three industries addressed in these initial plans emit close to 6 Gt of carbon dioxide per year in the global atmosphere, and are absolutely critical to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C. In less than two years, MPP has convened more than 300 corporate leaders from the seven harder-to-abate sectors, along with their suppliers, customers and financial institutions to develop clear paths to net zero across their value chains and start taking the first steps on that path. Among the participants are ArcelorMittal, Volvo, DHL, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Rio Tinto, JSW Group, BASF, Heidelberg Cement, Dalmia Cement, Bank of America, HSBC, Credit Suisse, UBS, Maersk, Wan Hai Lines and Tata Steel. Making the Impossible Possible: The costs of decarbonizing the steel, shipping and aviation sectors and the details on how exactly these industries will drive carbon emissions to zero are based on landmark science with clear milestones and metrics to monitor progress. The plans also offer policymakers a guide for regulations and investment. Chad Holliday, Co-Chair at MPP said: "The kind of change we are talking about to get these industries to net zero is unprecedented. The climate emergency is a fight for our lives. The good news is that we now know more on how to keep the planet below 1.5 degrees and have shown radical collaboration is possible, even among competitors, despite a global pandemic. MPP's Sector Transition Strategies provide the map to guide corporates, financial institutions and governments in the years to come." Commenting on the launch of the MPP sector transition strategy for steel Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, said: "The MPP sector transition strategy clearly sets out the challenges for the steel industry to decarbonise as well as two illustrative pathways for the sector to achieve net zero. The most important message is that we can only achieve the sectors potential with the support and engagement of the full supply chain as well as policy makers and the financial sector. I believe this sector transition strategy can be an important catalyst for harnessing the power of a multi stakeholder approach and enabling the steel sector to achieve its full decarbonisation potential and make a significant contribution to the 2050 net zero target." A second wave of announcements planned for 2022 will establish industry-backed carbon reduction pathways for the cement, aluminum, trucking and chemical industries which receives today a significant accelerator with the announcement of the The Low Carbon Emitting Technologies initiative (LCET) backed by 10 major chemical companies and supported by MPP. Setting the tone for COP26. In addition to industry, the finance sector is also beginning to rise to the challenge. MPP is working to unlock investment in low-carbon solutions in industry and mobility by working with RMI's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance to develop climate-aligned finance agreements for financial institutions across all seven MPP sectors, with a current focus on the steel sector, and with the World Economic Forum's Transition Finance Initiative to develop blueprints for breakthrough financing and de-risking solutions. Faustine Delasalle Co-Executive Director of MPP says, "When industry and finance leaders come together and align behind a strategic plan to decarbonize a sector, it creates confidence and emboldens decisionmakers. The MPP sector transition strategies provide a clear plan of attack to bring down emissions. Now we must turn to implementing this plan. But policymakers need to do their part to drive investment at a bigger scale and faster pace." Focused on sectors often neglected in countries' Nationally Determined Contributions, MPP is also setting the tone for COP by calling on policymakers to recognize the critical importance of massive investment in clean energy supply and industrial policies like carbon pricing as well as the need for bolder international agreements at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for aviation and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for shipping. Anthony Hobley, Co-Executive Director of MPP says, "Despite the pandemic, there is unprecedented momentum and willingness to collaborate to accelerate decarbonization in the most carbon-intensive sectors of the economy. With COP26 around the corner, the committed community of business leaders that MPP and its partners convene are demonstrating powerfully that corporates are not waiting for governments to act, but that they do need policy support to be successful." Marking the first steps on a three-decade journey: key sector actions enabled by the Mission Possible Partnership include: STEEL: Backed by some of the world's leading steel sector players, including ArcelorMittal, Rio Tinto, Tata Steel, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Liberty Steel Group and SSAB, the MPPs Net-Zero Steel Initiative is launching a sector transition strategy that lays out what it will take for the steel sector to reach net-zero by 2050. The strategy details the importance of early progress to avoid 1.3Gt of cumulative CO2 emissions and cut annual emissions by 37% by 2030 on the way to net zero by 2050. The pathway will have major implications for the energy system, where demand for electricity could increase by 11-13 times and where metallurgical coal demand would fall 80-90%. Annual investment of around $6 billion would be needed to 2050 to transition the global steel asset base to net zero. AVIATION: With the backing of 30 aviation leaders, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Airbus and Royal Schiphol Group, Mckinsey & Company and Deutsche Post DHL Group, MPP is launching together with the Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, a sector transition strategy for the aviation industry. This lays out what it will take for global aviation to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, including a complete phase out of fossil jet fuel. The strategy focuses on the need to ramp up the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as well as new hydrogen and battery-electric propulsion aircraft. It also includes details on the recommended annual investment of US$300 billion, primarily in the fuel supply chain, required to implement decarbonization plans for the sector. SHIPPING: This autumn, more than 150 industry leaders including A.P. Moller Maersk, Trafigura, the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, Yara, Euronav, GasLog, Hapag-Lloyd, Cargill, and the Synergy Marine Group, brought together by the MPP-supported Getting to Zero Coalition, a partnership between Friends of Ocean Action, World Economic Forum and Global Maritime Forum announced their commitment to decarbonizing international shipping by 2050. Moving ahead to develop the technologies and business models needed by 2030, while urging governments to work together with industry to unlock the scale-up of clean solutions. An analysis published today reveals that this will require $2 trillion in investment in scalable zero-emission fuels production and zero-emission vessels over the next 30 years. CHEMICALS: Today 10 major chemical sector companies and the World Economic Forum are establishing a breakthrough platform designed to accelerate low carbon emitting technologies. The LCET initiative supported by MPP will enable sharing of early-stage risks and co-investments in developing and upscaling of low-carbon-emitting technologies. LCET members include Air Liquide, BASF, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp, Royal DSM, SIBUR and Solvay. Notes to editors: Additional announcements including for concrete, aluminum and trucking will follow soon. The Mission Possible Partnership MPP brings together more than 300 of the most influential global leaders in industrial decarbonisation, finance, policy and business to trigger systems change in the world's most carbon-intensive industries. MPP and its core partners, the Energy Transitions Commission, RMI, WeMeanBusiness Coalition, and the World Economic Forum is focused on seven hard to abate sectors -shipping, aviation, trucking, cement, steel, aluminium and chemicals. These industries are collectively responsible for 30% of GHG emissions globally Our net zero industry platforms build on growing momentum, investor pressure and consumer expectations to develop pathways to the Paris Agreement. Developed for industries by industries, their customers, suppliers and capital providers. Ambitious industries enabling ambitious action to supercharge industrial decarbonisation. http://missionpossiblepartnership.org SOURCE Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) BILLUND, Denmark, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The LEGO Foundation has awarded the 2021 LEGO Prize to Mitchel Resnick, Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, for his work advocating for, and championing learning through play. Since 1985, the LEGO Prize has been presented to individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the lives of children. The prize is accompanied by a cash award of $100,000 USD to further research and development within learning through play. "Following 35 years of collaboration with Mitch, I am more than delighted to award this year's LEGO Prize to him. Mitch understands play better than most and he knows how important it is for children across the world" said Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, Third Generation LEGO Owner & Member of the LEGO Foundation Board "He and his team have created an amazing computer programming system, Scratch, which makes technology intuitive, accessible, and usable for children, while supporting the development of their creative skills. He is not only a true advocate for learning through play, but also a pioneer for creativity, curiosity and imagination in the school system, so that 'Lifelong Kindergarten' becomes lifelong learning." Sharing a passion for learning through play, the LEGO Group, the LEGO Foundation, and the MIT Media Lab have worked together for 35 years exploring how a hands-on, minds-on approach to learning empowers children to become creative lifelong learners. Resnick's Lifelong Kindergarten research group has collaborated with the LEGO Foundation to develop technologies and resources that support equitable and engaging approaches to playful, creative learning for educators and children around the world. A formal partnership between the LEGO Foundation and the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that grew out of Resnick's Lifelong Kindergarten research group, is bringing learning through play to millions of children from all backgrounds through Scratch, the free block-based creative coding platform and online community that is now the world's leading coding platform for children. "Throughout my career, I've always been inspired by the LEGO values of imagination, creativity, caring, and learning, so I'm deeply honored to receive the LEGO Prize. I plan to use the LEGO Prize to help spread the ideas, activities, and technologies of creative learning around the world." said Mitchel Resnick, Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, "But this award is not just for me. It is also for the many people I have worked with over the last 40 years: the dozens of researchers who have collaborated with me in developing technologies and activities to engage children in creative learning experiences; the thousands of educators around the world who have put our ideas and tools into practice; and the millions of children who have taken our technologies in directions we never imagined. We've learned as much from them as they've learned from us, and I share this prize with all of them." The prize was awarded at the annual LEGO Idea Conference, hosted by the LEGO Foundation. This year's digital event brought together hundreds of partners from across the world, including researchers, government representatives, educators, and practitioners to discuss the need to work better together to achieve change to give as many children as possible the opportunity to receive quality education. "The theme of this year's LEGO Idea Conference was Collaboration. We strongly believe that when we team up great things happen, and we wanted to use the conference to hear and learn from partners how they think we can better work together to support each other going into 2022 and beyond. The conference is part of our larger journey, "All in For All Kids", which supports the achievement of the LEGO Foundation's ambition to transform the lives of at least 75 million children each year with learning through play by 2032," said Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation. About the LEGO Foundation The LEGO Foundation aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow; a mission that it shares with the LEGO Group. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Its work is about re-defining play and re-imagining learning. In collaboration with thought leaders, influencers, educators and parents the LEGO Foundation aims to equip, inspire and activate champions for learning through play. Learn more on www.LEGOfoundation.com. SOURCE LEGO Foundation SAN DIEGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitchell, Genex and Coventry formally announced today the creation of their new parent brand, Enlyte. The three businesses have been moving towards this unification since the merger of Mitchell and Genex in 2018, followed by the acquisition of Coventry in 2020. This combination under the new Enlyte brand creates a one-of-a-kind organization in the Property & Casualty industry with technology innovation, clinical services and network solutions, all backed by an unrivaled collection of expertise across the entire claims continuum. The Mitchell, Genex and Coventry brands will continue to operate as solution providers, making the entire collection of the companies' trusted products and services available to all Enlyte customers. This new alignment allows the family of businesses to better serve the industry with a holistic point of view and expanded reach, while remaining focused on the individual needs of clients in the Auto Physical Damage, Auto Casualty, Workers' Compensation and Disability spaces. "We are so pleased to share the exciting work our people have been doing to bring our family of businesses even closer together," said CEO, Alex Sun. "Uniting our teams under Enlyte will make it easier for us to help customers manage costs while delivering quality service with an expansive collection of Mitchell, Genex and Coventry solutions from first-notice-of-loss to recovery." The launch of Enlyte includes the creation of a Customer and Market Operations team, which will bring together the casualty Sales, Client Services and Marketing teams from all three organizations. The new team will be led by Nina Smith, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell's Casualty Solutions Group (CSG). "I am excited about the opportunity to work with my colleagues to create unprecedented value for our clients and the P&C market." As the casualty Customer and Market Operations team from all three businesses is organizing under a single group, the Mitchell Auto Physical Damage group will continue to develop and offer the Mitchell-branded suite of solutions as they do today, dedicated to superior service and expertise in collision repair and claims. "We are proud of our legacy brands and the teams behind them," said CEO Alex Sun. "Each of the three companies will continue to develop and grow the branded solutions that our customers know, with the same collaboration and quality they trust." The changes were shared yesterday with an invite-only audience of Mitchell, Genex and Coventry customers at the 2021 Virtual mPower Conference. Attendees were given a first-look at the new brand, and heard directly from Sun and other leaders about the new organization and the promise of a future united. "Aligning under a single, unified brand, while keeping the greatness of our legacy companies, reminds us that we must continue to deliver on our strategic vision of bringing an ever-expanding set of capabilities that positively impact claims outcomes." About Enlyte Enlyte is the parent brand of Mitchell | Genex | Coventry, a leader in cost-containment technology, independent medical exams (IME), provider and specialty networks, case management services, pharmacy benefit and disability management. The three businesses have recently aligned their joint industry expertise and advanced technology solutions into a combined organization of nearly 6,000 associates committed to simplifying and optimizing property, casualty and disability claims processes and services. About Mitchell International Mitchell International, Inc. delivers smart technology solutions and services to the auto insurance, collision repair and workers' compensation markets. Through deep industry expertise, connections throughout the insurance ecosystem and advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, extended reality and cloud-based solutions, Mitchell enables its customers and clients to succeed in today's ever-changing environment. Each month, Mitchell processes tens of millions of transactions for more than 300 insurance providers, 20,000 collision repair facilities and 70,000 pharmacies. Its comprehensive solution and service portfolio empowers clients to restore lives after a challenging event. About Genex Services Genex Services provides best-in-class clinical solutions that enable customers to transform their bottom lines while enhancing the lives of injured and disabled workers. Genex, a clinical management leader throughout North America, serves the top underwriters of workers' compensation, automobile, disability insurance, third-party administrators and a significant number of Fortune 500 employers. In addition, Genex clinical services are enhanced by intelligent systems and 360-degree data analysis. Its clinical expertise consistently drives superior results related to medical, wage loss, and productivity costs associated with claims in the workers' compensation, disability, automobile, and health care systems. About Coventry Workers' Comp Services Coventry Workers' Comp Services offers workers' compensation, provider network and specialty network solutions for employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators. With roots in both clinical and network services, Coventry leverages more than 35 years of industry experience, knowledge, and data analytics. Its mission is returning people to work, to play, and to life, through networks, clinical solutions, specialty networks, and business tools that help customers focus on total outcomes. For more information about Enlyte or any of the Enlyte family of businesses, please visit enlyte.com. SOURCE Mitchell International; Enlyte Average annual production of 32,300 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) 23.8% after-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) $1.5 billion after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at an 8% discount rate at an 8% discount rate Upfront Capital costs of $547M , which includes $126M in contingency , which includes in contingency Lithium carbonate price assumption of $13,400 /tonne /tonne Payback period of 6.7 years, after-tax 15,000 tonne per day processing rate over a 40 year mine-life Cash operating cost of $5,974 /tonne LCE /tonne LCE All-in sustaining cost of $6,057 /tonne LCE /tonne LCE Break-even price (0% IRR) of $6,545 /tonne LCE /tonne LCE Overall lithium recovery of 74.7% Stephen Rentschler, Company CEO comments, "We are absolutely thrilled with the conclusions of the PEA on Bonnie Claire. The results demonstrate a very robust lithium Project, which is also one of the largest, if not the largest, lithium deposits in North America. The PEA also identified potential mining and recovery methods that we believe have ESG characteristics that will be attractive to lithium end-users. With current lithium prices significantly higher than the base case used in the PEA, the Project appears very well positioned to be a potentially significant and long-term contributor to the global lithium market. As evidenced by recent transactions, we believe the merger and acquisition environment in the lithium industry is very strong. Located in the world's #1 mining jurisdiction of Nevada, USA (2020 Fraser Institute Survey), we look forward to aggressively advancing Bonnie Claire through Prefeasibility and unlocking the value of this Project for our shareholders." The following table shows the after-tax IRR and NPV sensitivity to changes in various costs and lithium prices (Table 1): Table 1: Bonnie Claire Lithium Project Sensitivity Analysis Variable % of Base Case 50% 100% 150% NPV8 (million $) Capital Cost $1,755 $1,497 $1,235 Operating Cost $2,264 $1,497 $670 Lithium Price -$428 $1,497 $3,275 IRR Capital Cost 39.2% 23.8% 17.6% Operating Cost 32.0% 23.8% 14.9% Lithium Price 1.3% 23.8% 39.7% Variable Li 2 CO 3 Price $13,400 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 NPV8 (million $) $1,497 $3,248 $4,572 $5,897 IRR 23.8% 39.5% 50.2% 60.3% Note: IRR (internal rate of return) and NPV (net present value) are both shown after-tax Results of the PEA represent forward-looking information. This economic assessment is by definition preliminary in nature, and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Bonnie Claire lithium deposit is a sediment hosted lithium occurrence situated within the Sarcobatus Valley, in Nye County, Nevada. At Bonnie Claire, lithium mineralization is not present in clay minerals but rather is present as lithium compounds (lithium carbonate and lithium salts) deposited within the fine grain clay, silt, and sand pore space of the rock units. The nature of the lithium mineralization at Bonnie Claire may provide for unique advantages in processing not amenable to typical clay deposits where the lithium is contained in the crystal lattice of the clay mineral species. Mining Method The PEA applies a borehole mining method to extract in-situ mineralization and deliver it to the process plant at surface. The mining process involves high-pressure water pumped through drill holes into the formation while simultaneously pumping the resulting loosened material to the surface, where it is transported to the process plant for lithium extraction (Figure 1). The soft nature of the deposit material is anticipated to make it ideally suited to borehole mining methods. Assumptions made for the borehole mining method include a mining jet radius of 9.1 m (30 ft), minimum borehole spacing of 31.7 m (104 ft), a 5% dilution factor, and a minimum lithium grade of 1,200 ppm. The use of borehole mining allows for the targeting of high-grade mineralization at depth as well as offering other Project benefits, including reduced surface disturbance (i.e. no open-pit) and reduced tailings at surface due to tailings backfilling underground. Collectively, the method allows for significantly reduced surface disturbance compared to a conventional open-pit approach. Lithium Processing and Recovery Methods The lithium recovery process for Bonnie Claire has been developed by Hazen Research of Golden, CO, and is based on a pre-treatment approach developed by the US Bureau of Mines, followed by downstream industry-standard commercially proven unit operations. The Bonnie Claire process is divided into five (5) basic unit operations feed preparation, pre-treatment, lithium extraction, impurity removal, and lithium carbonate production. Pre-concentration of the lithium and rejection of calcite through size separation was shown to be effective. At a cut size of 45 microns (m), the coarse fraction contained approximately 90% of the calcite and less than 2% of the lithium, with a mass rejection of approximately 25%. The lithium bearing material is pretreated through thermal processing, which involves the calcination of the material with the addition of sodium sulfate. The lithium is subsequently extracted from the calcine in a hot water leach. High lithium extractions (up to 80%) have been achieved to date with significant optimization potential remaining. The benefit of calcination and hot water leaching is that the resulting leach liquor contains minimal deleterious impurities compared to alternative direct acid treatments particularly iron. As such, the lithium recovery is higher in the purification stage and the process is greatly simplified allowing for the use of conventional commercial unit operations. The designed throughput for the process is 15,000 tonnes per day or 5,175,000 tonnes per year. The anticipated overall lithium recovery is 75% into the final marketable product. The target would be to produce a lithium carbonate product of 99.5% purity. No secondary products production has been investigated; however, the Bonnie Claire material does contain significant sodium and potassium, and therefore has the potential to produce agricultural fertilizer (glaserite) or potassium sulphate (sulphate of potash). Updated Mineral Resource Statement The PEA is supported by an updated mineral resource estimate which is constrained by the borehole mining method only. As with the previous resource estimates, the updated mineral resource estimate confirms Bonnie Claire to be one of the largest lithium deposits in North America with a contained lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of 18.4 million tonnes (see Table 2). The mineral resource is supported by 2,056.7 m of RC drilling (8 holes) and 221.3 m of coring (2 holes) completed from 2016 through 2020. Table 2: Bonnie Claire Statement of Mineral Resource Class Extraction Method Applied for Constraint Mass (Million Tonnes) Li Grade (ppm) Li (Million kg) Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (Million kg) Inferred Borehole 3,407.3 1,013.0 3,451.5 18,372.3 Source: "Preliminary Economic Assessment NI 43-101 Technical Report, Bonnie Claire Lithium Project, Nye County, Nevada" (Effective date of August 20, 2021). Cutoff grade of 700 ppm Li. The Qualified Person for the estimate is Terre Lane of Global Resource Engineering Ltd., of Denver, CO, USA. Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves. Numbers in the table have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate and may not sum due to rounding. Assumes 68% recovery by borehole. The technical report is anticipated to be filed and available within 45 days, as required by NI 43-101, on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com." Project Ownership The Company currently owns a 20% interest in the Bonnie Claire Project (the "Project" or "Property") and holds an Option from Iconic Minerals Ltd. (Iconic) to acquire an additional 30% interest, for a combined 50% interest in the Project. For further information concerning the Company and its business, please see the long form prospectus dated September 14, 2021 (the "Prospectus") supporting its application for listing on the CSE. A copy of the Prospectus, as well as the recently completed Technical Report on Bonnie Claire, is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Qualified Person Terre Lane, SME Registered Member, Principal Mining Engineer, Global Resource Engineering Ltd and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. J. Todd Harvey, MBA, Ph.D., President and Director of Process Engineering, Global Resource Engineering Ltd and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. Hamid Samari, PhD, Senior Geologist, Global Resource Engineering Ltd and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. Rick Moritz, Principal Mining Engineer, Global Resource Engineering Ltd and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration of the Company and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. About Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company in the business of acquiring, exploring, evaluating, and developing natural resource properties. The Company currently owns 20% of the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project, Nevada, and holds an Option to acquire an additional 30% interest, for a combined 50% interest in the Project. The Bonnie Claire Project is prospective for sediment-hosted lithium and lithium brines, and currently hosts one of the largest lithium resources in North America. Forward Looking Information and Additional Cautionary Statements Certain information contained in this news release constitutes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "considers", "intends", "targets", or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may", "will", "should", "would" and "could". More particularly and without restriction, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information about the economic analyses for the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project and its potential for development and expansion, the anticipated IRR and NPV for the project, capital and operating costs, processing and recovery estimates and strategies, proposed mining method and development plans, mineral resource estimates and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the matters and activities contemplated in this news release. Such forward looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The assumptions made by the Company in preparing the forward looking statements contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: the specific assumptions set forth above and in the Technical Report; that the Company and Iconic are able to develop the property in the manner set out in the Technical Report; that the Company and Iconic are able to advance the property through to feasibility; that if viable, the Company and Iconic are able to obtain all necessary permits to develop the mine on the property; that the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, and the United States dollar remain consistent with current levels or as set out in this press release; that prices for lithium remain consistent with the Company's expectations; that prices for key mining supplies, including labour costs and consumables, remain consistent with the Company's current expectations; that the current estimates of mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery are accurate; and that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include: availability of financing to fund the proposed exploration and development activities, the ability of the exploration program to identify and expand mineral resources, operational risks in exploration and development for lithium, the ability to realize the PEA, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources, changes in commodity and power prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inaccurate geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral resources), changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors, title defects, government approvals and permits, cost escalation, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets, environmental regulation, operating hazards and risks, delays, taxation rules, competition, public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other uninsurable risks, liquidity risk, share price volatility, dilution and future sales of common shares, aboriginal claims and consultation, cybersecurity threats, climate change, delays and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's long form prospectus dated September 14, 2021 and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORS Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. "Kelvin Lee" Kelvin Lee, CFO and Director The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of any of the word "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. SOURCE Nevada Lithium Resources Inc IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BankTech Ventures, LP, (BTV) a venture capital fund with general partners from The Venture Center, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), Hovde Group and leading community banks including, Coastal and Sunwest Bank, today announced Carey Ransom as its Managing Director. Ransom, a serial technology entrepreneur and fintech investor, takes the helm as the fund looks to partner with many of the country's community banks. Supported and endorsed by the ICBA and The Venture Center, producer of Finovate's 2020 Best Accelerator of the Year, BankTech Ventures specializes in connecting and accelerating bank technology-focused startups. BankTech Ventures' limited partner base expects to reach over 150 community banks across the US, making the strategic value of the fund's ecosystem for both bank-focused startups and community banks unprecedented. "Community banks are the cornerstone of thousands of cities and towns across the country, and as they continue to evolve in serving their communities, emerging technologies will play a key role," Ransom said. "I'm excited to join an all-star banking and technology team in launching BankTech Ventures to invest in the next generation of community bank-focused technologies. Together, we will help ensure community banks remain competitive amid a rapidly changing landscape." Mr. Ransom's 25-year career in software and venture capital include being an early senior executive at both Aspiration and Happy Money, Chief Product & Innovation Officer at Experian, and most recently as co-founder and President of Operate, a venture studio investing in and partnering with over 20 SaaS and fintech entrepreneurs. "We are thrilled to have Carey Ransom join BankTech Ventures and lead the day-to-day fund operations," Carson Lappetito, President of Sunwest Bank said. "Carey and I have worked together on innovative technology and ideas for Sunwest over many years, and it's a wonderful evolution to continue our momentum with BankTech Ventures." BankTech Ventures, LP ( www.banktechventures.com ) is targeting $150-200MM for its first fund and expects a first close at the end of October. The fund is already evaluating several investment opportunities. The fund's other general partners are Eric Sprink, CEO of Coastal Community Bank; Carson Lappetito, President of Sunwest Bank; Steve Hovde, Chairman & CEO of Hovde Group; Charles Potts, Chief Innovation Officer, ICBA; and Wayne Miller, Executive Director, The Venture Center. About BankTech Ventures, LP. Established in 2021, BankTech Ventures, LP is the first venture fund created for and by key leaders in community banking, bank technology and fintech. BTV serves the community banking ecosystem through strategic investments, education and collaboration with its limited partners and ICBA members by delivering a de-risked and/or fully vetted network of leading and emerging bank technology companies to enhance a community bank's value, as well as aim for strong returns from the underlying investments in these companies. Learn more at www.banktechventures.com. About Sunwest Bank Founded in 1969, Sunwest Bank is a privately held commercial bank with more than $2.0 Billion in assets. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, with operations in California, Arizona, Idaho, and Utah; Sunwest is an entrepreneurial business bank with a long tradition of providing excellent service to entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, family offices, small-medium sized business and real estate developers throughout the Western United States. Sunwest Bank is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about Sunwest Bank, visit https://www.sunwestbank.com/. Contact: Heather Tidwell [email protected] 949-777-1333 SOURCE Sunwest Bank CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Biofidelity, a pioneer in precision cancer diagnostics, today praised California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California legislature for the October 6th passage of SB 535 , a bill that prohibits health care insurers that already cover biomarker testing from requiring prior authorization for patients with advanced stage cancer. "Every patient deserves to have the very best treatment options," says Barnaby Balmforth, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at Biofidelity. "This bill marks an important step forward in reducing the delays patients face in gaining access to the testing that makes those options available." The last decade has brought remarkable advances in precision cancer treatment, says Wendy Levin, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Biofidelity. As researchers discovered that many cancers are caused by specific mutations in genes, pharmaceutical companies developed drugs to directly target those mutations. For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for example, there are now more than two dozen drugs that directly target specific mutations. These targeted therapies offer patients an alternative to a harsh regimen of chemotherapy -- often with better results. Five-year survival rates for lung cancer have tripled since targeted therapies became available in 2010.1 In order to select the right drug or drugs for a particular patient, however, doctors must first test for the specific mutations, or biomarkers, in the patient's cancer cells. That's where the current system often fails patients, Dr. Levin explains. The reasons include the high cost of testingtypically about $5,000 per tumorand the challenges of getting health plans and insurers to pay for it. "Unfortunately, only about 50% of the patients in the U.S. diagnosed with cancer who are eligible for molecular testing are actually receiving the tests," Dr. Levin says.2 "By eliminating the need for prior authorization, the new California legislation improves the likelihood that doctors will order the tests." Equally important, prohibiting the requirement for prior authorization also eliminates dangerous treatment delays as doctors and patients wait for approval. These delays "can literally mean the difference between life and death for many patients," writes AJ Patel, a legal analyst from Orange County, in a Guest Commentary for CalMatters.org supporting the California legislation. "The sooner information on the existence of biomarkers is available, the sooner doctors can begin, in some cases, life-saving measures to treat the patient." Patel's own life was saved by genetic testing and precision medicine, he writes: "I tested positive for a biomarker known as the ROS1 mutation, which meant that my cancer could be treated with a revolutionary targeted pill. I am now in complete remission." Additionally, the days or weeks it now takes for doctors and patients to get reimbursement approval for testing takes a huge toll on patients, says Dr. Levin. "When you've just been presented with a devastating diagnosis, even a week or two is a long time to wait," she says. "All patients deserve the opportunity to receive the best targeted treatment, and California's new legislation takes us one step closer to that goal." About Biofidelity Biofidelity is transforming cancer care by revolutionizing access to best-in-class cancer diagnostics. Its breakthrough ASPYRE technology delivers ultra-sensitive, comprehensive biomarker results quickly and affordably, enabling patients and clinicians to make fast, well-informed treatment decisions. Biofidelity's mission is to improve and extend lives by breaking down barriers to early detection, precision diagnosis and routine monitoring for all cancer patients. Founded in 2019 in Cambridge, UK, Biofidelity is a rapidly growing private company that recently expanded to include both a U.S. headquarters and state-of-the-art clinical cancer diagnostic laboratory located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. For more information, visit biofidelity.com or connect on LinkedIn . Contact: Liz Dowling, (415) 388-2794 Dowling & Dennis PR [email protected] References SOURCE Biofidelity LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nord Anglia Education announced today the launch of a new US$500,000 community investment fund to support its students' activities as part of its Social Impact Programme with UNICEF. Each academic year, students from Nord Anglia's 76 schools worldwide will be able to apply for grants from the $500,000 fund to launch and enhance their local social outreach projects. This year, in line with UNICEF's key advocacy areas, Nord Anglia's students will tackle and develop solutions to challenges relating to: Climate, Education, Immunisation, and Mental Health and Wellbeing. Students' funding applications will be assessed by Nord Anglia's new Student Advisory Board. The nominated group of 15 student leaders from across Nord Anglia's family of schools will be responsible for reviewing and recommending social impact projects for funding each year. As well as further developing students' understanding about some of the world's biggest problems, Nord Anglia's Social Impact Programme challenges young people to work in partnership with community groups and local charities to take direct action. The new $500,000 community investment fund has been created to help students maximise their projects' sustainable impact. Nord Anglia's Social Impact Programme enriches each school's curriculum by providing exciting opportunities for students to develop their critical and creative thinking, advocacy and problem solving skills. Earlier this year, Nord Anglia entered into a new, three-year global partnership with UNICEF to help students gain the knowledge and skills required to make positive change within their communities. Lord David Puttnam, Chairman of Nord Anglia's Education Advisory Board, said: "Global citizenship starts with education, which is why we create experiences for our students to make a sustainable difference in their local communities. With the launch of our community investment fund and Student Advisory Board, we're challenging students to create and deliver community projects with long-term impacts. By working in teams and seeing first-hand what it takes to make a positive difference, our students can develop the creativity, resilience and leadership skills to drive change as global citizens." Dr Jane Gaskell, Education Advisory Board member and Chair of Nord Anglia's Charitable Giving Committee, said: "Our social impact programme encourages students to engage in projects that will bring about positive, sustainable social change. They will develop skills in working with diverse communities, making financial decisions and assessing the outcomes of their projects. In a rapidly changing world, these are key skills that will help students succeed at whatever they choose to do or be in life." About Nord Anglia Education Nord Anglia Education (NAE) is the world's leading premium schools organisation, with 76 schools across 31 countries. Our schools go beyond traditional learning to deliver a high quality, transformational education to 68,000 students from kindergarten through to the end of secondary school. We offer multiple internationally recognised curriculums, including the English Curriculum, the International Baccalaureate, the Swiss Maturite and the US Curriculum, amongst others. Our global scale enables us to recruit and retain world-leading teachers and to offer our students unforgettable experiences through our partnerships with world-renowned institutions The Juilliard School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UNICEF. As part of the NAE family, every student can connect and collaborate on our bespoke Global Campus platform to bring their learning to life beyond the classroom. Founded in 1972 in the United Kingdom, initially offering learning services such as English-as-a-foreign-language classes, NAE opened its first international school in 1992: the British School Warsaw. In the 2000s, NAE began a strategic focus on premium international schools, with rapid growth in Asia, the Americas, China, and across Europe and the Middle East. In July 2019, the company relocated its headquarters from Hong Kong to London. For more information, please visit www.nordangliaeducation.com. SOURCE Nord Anglia Education Related Links www.nordangliaeducation.com Dr. Al-Shabrawey is an expert on the study of diabetic retinopathy, a major cause of blindness, and has published nearly 70 articles on the disease in the past 20 years. His research funding has included major grants from the National Eye Institute and the American Heart Association, and he currently possesses a NIH R01 grant that extends to 2024. Along with his director role, Dr. Al-Shabrawey is the first V. Everett Kinsey Endowed Professor of Biomedical Sciences in the ERI. Dr. Kinsey was a co-founder of the ERI in 1968 and the recipient of a prestigious Lasker Award in 1956 for his pioneering studies on the pediatric eye disease of retinopathy in children born prematurely. Dr. Al-Shabrawey comes to OU from the Culver Vision Discovery Institute of Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. He succeeds Dr. Frank Giblin as ERI director after Giblin retired after 47 years at Oakland. "Dr. Al-Shabrawey's leadership will further elevate ERI as a preeminent international resource for eye research, and his vision aligns with the legacy established by Dr. Kinsey and developed by Professor Giblin," said OU President Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. "Working with researchers from around the university, the institute's multidisciplinary approach creates a dynamic research enterprise that ensures Oakland University has a major impact on diagnosing, treating, and preventing eye diseases." Within OUWB, Dr. Al-Shabrawey will serve as founding director of the OUWB Eye Research Center (ERC) and professor of Foundational Medical Studies. Researchers at the ERC will collaborate with researchers in OUWB, across other areas of the university, and with clinician researchers in the Ophthalmology department at Beaumont Hospital to translate basic science research into tools and therapies that can help diagnose, treat and prevent of eye-related diseases. The ERI will operate as a component of the ERC, but will retain its independent status as a unit within the university. Dr. Al-Shabrawey obtained his medical degree (MBBCH), M.Sc and Ph.D. from Mansoura University, in Egypt. His research program focuses on investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. SOURCE Oakland University Related Links WWW.OAKLAND.EDU CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prenosis, Inc., a precision diagnostics company transforming clinical diagnosis with predictive intelligence, announced today the expansion of an existing partnership with Roche Diagnostics that will total close to $6M to improve and expedite the clinical recognition of sepsis through advanced precision diagnostics. Building upon the collaboration that the companies started together in 2020, Prenosis will significantly expand its core NOSIS dataset, and the two companies will work together to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the Prenosis Sepsis Immunoscore and the Roche Elecsys IL-6 Assay. These tools aim to provide physicians with powerful new solutions for fighting sepsis through early risk identification. The Prenosis dataset, which features Elecsys IL-6 measurements, in addition to measurements of a diverse set of parameters representing several different dimensions of immune response, is the world's largest and fastest growing hybrid biomarker-clinical dataset for sepsis care. The partnership drives the unique combination of a traditional diagnostic test with next generation predictive analytics, demonstrating the potential to usher in a new era of holistic digital diagnostics for more comprehensive profiling of complex heterogeneous hospital conditions. According to the World Health Organization, more than 11 million people die from sepsis worldwide annually, more than the deaths caused by all cancers combined. Studies show that sepsis is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, with total annual costs of treatment and rehabilitation estimated at $62 billion.1 Before the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 1.7 million adults in the United States developed sepsis annually. During the pandemic, this problem was greatly exacerbated, as most COVID-19 deaths are due to viral and/or bacterial sepsis.2 Early prediction of at-risk patients that require emergency department evaluation and hospitalization can dramatically improve outcomes. Combining routinely obtained clinical information with additional critical biomarkers could help identify at-risk patients earlier and more accurately for life-saving treatment. The Roche Elecsys IL-6 assay measures interleukin-6 concentrations from patient plasma or serum samples. Elecsys IL-6 is a predictive biomarker essential in the disease pathways of many inflammatory conditions, including sepsis thanks to its early elevation. The Elecsys IL6 results can be provided in 18 minutes. The Prenosis Sepsis Immunoscore diagnostic utilizes the combination of Elecsys IL-6 with other sepsis biomarkers and distinct clinical risk parameters and aims to predict, diagnose and treat sepsis earlier. "We are excited to expand upon our relationship with Roche and to accelerate the birth of 'prenostic' testing to help reduce the burden of the sepsis crisis," said Prenosis CEO and Co-Founder Bobby Reddy, Jr. "Prenostics, or predictive and precise diagnostics, test the right patient parameters at the right time for the right clinical situation/context. The Prenosis platform is ushering in a new era in pre-emptive diagnostic testing. The implications are groundbreaking: we have the ability to accurately and cost-effectively predict disease much earlier, enabling prevention instead of treatment." The Sepsis ImmunoScore is an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) that Prenosis intends to submit to the FDA for clearance by the end of the year. It is intended to aid in the risk assessment for progression to sepsis of patients admitted to the emergency department or hospital. The solution incorporates holistic, multidimensional inputs using machine learning to more adequately capture the vast heterogeneity of sepsis and to improve accuracy of diagnosis compared to the current standard of care risk assessments. The solution incorporates 23 parameters from the patient's hospital Electronic Medical Record (EMR), including demographics, vital signs, labs, and other specific sepsis biomarkers, including Elecsys IL-6. The diagnostic creates a calculated sepsis risk score, a risk stratification category and other supplemental information that can be visualized in a unique Sepsis Patient View within a hospital Electronic Medical Record or via a web interface. By employing parameters representing many dimensions of information, the Sepsis ImmunoScore seeks to more effectively diagnose sepsis and risk stratify patients for care based on severity of illness. About Prenosis Prenosis is a health tech innovator devoted to ushering in a new era of precision diagnostics in acute care using artificial intelligence. Its Immunix precision diagnostics platform leverages machine learning algorithms trained on deep biological data and broad clinical data designed to more holistically capture and illuminate the complex health states of patients. Its proprietary NOSIS dataset is one of the the largest and fastest growing hybrid biomarker-clinical dataset for sepsis care. The Sepsis ImmunoScore diagnostic on the Immunix platform has the potential to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare spending annually. The Sepsis ImmunoScore is not yet approved for commercial use in the United States. For more information, please visit: www.prenosis.com 1 Buchman, Timothy G. PhD, MD, et al, Sepsis Among Medicare Beneficiaries: 1. The Burdens of Sepsis, 20122018*, Critical Care Medicine: March 2020 - Volume 48 - Issue 3 - p 276-288 doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004224 2 Karakike, Eleni MD, et al, Coronavirus Disease 2019 as Cause of Viral Sepsis, Critical Care Medicine: July 12, 2021 - Volume - Issue - doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005195 SOURCE Prenosis Related Links www.prenosis.com NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SCADAfence, the global leader in cybersecurity for Operational Technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) environments, announced today the launch of the 'SCADAfence Alliance Partner Program' to empower and enable channel & technology partners to join SCADAfence's leading partner ecosystem. The launch of SCADAfence's partner program comes at a very opportune time for the industrial cyber security industry as the demand for OT and IoT security is at an all-time high. SCADAfence experienced exponential growth in 2020 & 2021, tripling their revenues and the number of their customers. This milestone for SCADAfence's channel sales efforts is another stride for the company in building a bridge between IT and OT that offers industrial organizations an OT security platform that provides complete visibility and security across both IT and OT networks. The SCADAfence Alliance Partner Program enables a more advanced collaboration with SCADAfence by providing access to different sales enablement resources to speed up customer sales cycles. "Our strategic partnership with SCADAfence allows us to provide our customers with enhanced visibility into their IT and OT assets, as well as enabling their security teams to easily identify, manage and mitigate any risks within their OT environments" said David Beaver, Director of Global Strategic Alliances at Rapid7. The new program will include three tiers: Gold, Platinum, Diamond with associated requirements and benefits for each tier. All SCADAfence partners will have access to a dedicated partner portal, which includes comprehensive demo resources, technical resources, sales and marketing collateral, sales enablement materials, quarterly training sessions and more. "Security has become a critical aspect for industrial organizations, combined with the ever-growing threat landscape, there is an urgent need to secure OT environments," said Elad Ben-Meir, CEO of SCADAfence. "We believe that we are creating an ecosystem of partners that share the same vision of improving OT security while allowing organizations to scale and secure their cyber security within their industrial environments." SCADAfence is working with several strategic partners in both the United States and Europe such as Rapid7, Fujitsu, Cadre, Barracuda, Check Point, Fortinet, Cybereason, OTD, and other leading partners. SCADAfence's new channel program will provide technology partners, resellers, and MSSPs the opportunity to provide their industrial clients with the leading industrial cyber security platform for OT networks. With the SCADAfence product suite, channel partners can extend their offering to industrial clients and offer them cutting-edge solutions that reduce cyber risks. "SCADAfence has played a big role in ProArch's ability to secure our industrial customers. The new partner program provides ProArch the added support and sales enablement tools that we need to be successful. We look forward to building on our partnership with SCADAfence to expand our managed services and OT security capabilities," said Ben Wilcox, Chief Technology Officer at ProArch. To learn more about the SCADAfence Alliance Partner Program and partner benefits, visit: https://www.scadafence.com/partners/ About SCADAfence SCADAfence is the global technology leader in OT & IoT cybersecurity. SCADAfence offers a full suite of industrial cybersecurity products that provides full coverage of large-scale networks, offering best-in-class network monitoring, asset discovery, governance, remote access, and IoT device security. A Gartner "Cool Vendor" in 2020, SCADAfence delivers proactive security and visibility to some of the world's most complex OT networks, including the largest manufacturing facility in Europe. SCADAfence enables organizations in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and building management industries to operate securely, reliably, and efficiently. To learn more, visit our website , blog , and follow us on LinkedIn . Contact: Zev Brodsky [email protected] SOURCE SCADAfence SHANGHAI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn: The 2021 International Biopharma Industry Week opened in Shanghai on Oct. 11, bringing together industry gurus, research minds, investors, and government representatives to discuss the latest trends in the biopharmaceutical sector and drive new growth momentum. The four-day industry gathering, featuring an opening ceremony and 20 forums and conferences, marks the Chinese city's latest efforts to align industry players as it aims to become a world-class industrial cluster for the biopharmaceutical sector. Last year, Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry, as one of the city's top three priority industries, was valued at 600 billion yuan ($93 billion) with a gross industrial output of 140 billion yuan. According to a guideline issued by the Shanghai municipal government in May, the city's three-year action plan for biopharma aims to boost the annual industrial output to 180 billion yuan. To reach this goal, the city will give preferential policy support to four major sectors: innovative drugs, advanced medical facilities, high-end biopharma equipment and materials, and new forms of outsourcing services. It has also collaborated with industry leaders to promote partnerships that focus on R&D and expand the diversity of the R&D ecosystem. "In recent years, China has emerged as a research and innovation powerhouse, with Shanghai's innovation ecosystem and vision to become a world-leading biopharmaceutical cluster playing a central role," said AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot. He noted that the company is proud to have been part of this ecosystem and will continue this commitment in the way forward. AstraZeneca builds an innovation ecosystem The International Forum of Pharmaceutical R&D Innovation, hosted by biopharma giant AstraZeneca on Oct. 11, was a major event during the industry week. At the forum, AstraZeneca inaugurated the newly upgraded Global R&D China Center. According to AstraZeneca, the center's recent renovations involved investment increase, pipeline expansion, hardware upgrades, and headcount growth. It will function as a key engine for the company's global R&D, extending beyond confirmatory clinical trials and commercialization to early development stage. "It's a center that has a tremendously important role to play in advancing R&D and clinical trials of new medicines both from China and overseas to accelerate their launch, and helping to make much needed innovative medicines available to patients in China and worldwide," Soriot said in his opening remark at the forum. Also at the forum, the company, in partnership with Shanghai's Jing'an district government, launched the Shanghai International Life Science Innovation Campus (Shanghai iCampus), which will serve as a one-stop innovation incubator that helps both domestic and overseas startup companies with landing and expanding great projects. Focusing on medical AI and digital therapy, iCampus pools together wisdom and resources from the government, industry, academic and research institutes, as well as investors to deliver AI- and digital-enabled solutions in drug development, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Startups in iCampus will benefit from AstraZeneca's sprawling global innovation network that features ample exchange opportunities with world-leading innovation facilities like the R&D center in Cambridge (UK) and BioVenture Hub in Sweden. They will also be provided with potential commercial collaboration opportunities with AstraZeneca, as well as support in funding, commercialization and professional services. The forum also witnessed the launch of Medical Healthcare AI Innovation Center, an empowerment platform that will help to accelerate the application of new AI-powered smart healthcare technologies, products, and models in medical institutions. "Through these facilities, and with the support of our Healthcare Industry Fund set up in collaboration with the China International Capital Corporation, we hope to kickstart further investment here in Shanghai and establish new partnerships that will bring forward many more life-changing advances that help patients live healthier lives," Soriot said. The forum also included sessions addressing topics on research-oriented hospitals, the Fourth Yangtze River Delta Innovation Competition, precision medicine, and remote intelligent clinical trial innovation. The discussions were aimed at assisting the landing of innovative projects, boosting efficient blending of industry and capital, and accelerating industrialization of local pharmaceutical innovation in Shanghai. In China, for China and for the world Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, AstraZeneca has invested more than $1 billion in R&D and introduced nearly 40 innovative medicines in China. With its China headquarters in Shanghai and regional headquarters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Chengdu, the company has established a sprawling network and become the largest multi-national pharmaceutical company in the world's second largest economy. China is AstraZeneca's second largest market. Last year, the company's overall sales totaled around $5.38 billion. In the future, AstraZeneca will be committed to building R&D-focused partnerships among governments, industries, institutions, hospitals, and investors to construct a more diverse R&D ecosystem in China, the company said. "AstraZeneca has had a presence in China for over a quarter of a century. Underpinned by a commitment to being 'in China, for China,' we are making a difference to healthcare within China and advancing innovations to benefit patients around the world," Soriot said. Shanghai, industry partners to co-build world-class biopharma industry cluster http://www.china.org.cn/business/2021-10/11/content_77801522.htm SOURCE China.org.cn New Shipley franchisee Global Fuels opened its first shop at 2520 F.M. 1488 in Conroe on Sept. 13 , with plans to open three more in the next year. on , with plans to open three more in the next year. Longtime franchisee Andy Chang , who joined Shipley 30 years ago, operates five Shipley Do-Nuts locations and opened his newest on Oct. 4 at 4477 W. Davis St. in Conroe . , who joined Shipley 30 years ago, operates five Shipley Do-Nuts locations and opened his newest on at 4477 W. Davis St. in . Franchisees Carolyn and Phalyn Pao , who own five Shipley locations, celebrated the opening of their sixth Shipley Do-Nuts at 3607 S. Main, Ste. 100 in Stafford , on Oct. 5 . , who own five Shipley locations, celebrated the opening of their sixth Shipley Do-Nuts at 3607 S. Main, Ste. 100 in , on . Lianne Chang will open a Spring location, her 10th Shipley Do-Nuts, at 9116 N. Grand Parkway later this month. will open a Spring location, her 10th Shipley Do-Nuts, at 9116 N. Grand Parkway later this month. Sopheap Chem will open her third Shipley Do-Nuts later this fall in Bay City at 1916 Avenue F. will open her third Shipley Do-Nuts later this fall in at 1916 Avenue F. Charlie Dahu will open a Wallisville location at 15257 Wallisville Road, the second of three planned Shipley Do-Nuts locations for Dahu, later this fall. Also in October, the relocated Humble Shipley Do-Nuts will open at 19399 Highway 59 N. "This is a dynamic time for the brand as we ramp up on growth and reinvest in our infrastructure and growing team," said Clifton Rutledge, Shipley Do-Nuts CEO. "Our goal is to double in size in the next five years, and we'll get there with the help of our longtime Shipley franchisees who are growing with us, along with brand newcomers who see the incredible potential and opportunity that Shipley offers." The company is opening 18 new shops across several states in 2021. Shipley Do-Nuts currently has agreements in place for more than 70 new locations throughout Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Colorado over the next five years. The company is actively recruiting additional franchisees in new and existing markets, with a focus on increasing its presence in Colorado and Oklahoma. For more information, visit shipleydonuts.com/franchise . ABOUT SHIPLEY DO-NUTS Founded in 1936, Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts is a leading do-nut restaurant franchisor and manufacturer of specialty food products. Shipley franchises over 300 restaurants to a diverse group of operators across nine states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests. For information on franchising, visit shipleydonuts.com/franchise . Media Contact: Ashley Lennington, SPM Communications [email protected] 214-379-7000 SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest episode of Southern California Regional Energy Network's (SoCalREN) podcast series "ReEnergizing Communities" explores the role local governments can play in mitigating wildfire risks and achieving the state's clean-energy goals. Titled "CPUC and the Community," the episode features California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma, discussing a wide range of energy-efficiency and sustainability topics. "It's easy for those of us in state government to get isolated and we are looking to break down that barrier. Local government is in touch with your constituency. Your employees are working day-to-day with folks in all four corners of your jurisdictions, so you know more keenly where the need is, and that is key," said Ms. Shiroma. "If we are to achieve the statute driven goals and metrics, we must work closely with local jurisdictions and local governments." "ReEnergizing Communities" is available now. To listen, subscribe to 'ReEnergizing Communities' on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit socalren.org/about/podcasts. The Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) Programs believe in the power of their communities to lead their members toward a safe, secure, resilient, affordable, and sustainable clean energy future. SoCalREN offers a suite of customizable, no-cost services to remove barriers to achieving energy savings. SoCalREN is here to help community members save energy, save money, and lead a pathway to a clean energy community. Learn more at SoCalREN.org. SOURCE SoCalREN CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this South Korea data center market report. South Korea data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7.72% during the period 20202026. South Korea data center market research report includes market size in terms of area, investment, power capacity, and colocation revenues. Get insights on 33 existing and 5 upcoming facilities spread across 12 cities, including Seoul and Other Cities (Anyang, Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Gimhae, Gimpo, Goyang, Guro, Gwangju, Incheon, and Seongnam). Key Highlights Offered in the Report: 1. South Korea is an emerging data center market in APAC. South Korea has a geographical advantage due to its proximity to China and lower occurrence of natural disasters than Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2. According to Korea Data Center Council (KDCC) there are over 150 data center sites in the country. Seoul is a major market in the country, with 12 third-party colocation facilities contributing to over 80% of the existing power capacity. Seoul is followed by Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon in terms of data center development. 3. Digital Realty, Equinix, KT, Telehouse, and LG Uplus are a few prominent colocation operators in South Korea. The market is witnessing upcoming investments from Digital Realty, Naver, SOLIS IDC, NHN, and Kakao Corp, among others, that will contribute to market growth. 4. Data localization laws mandate local companies only to operate data centers and provide services to public institutions. This factor expects to boost the increase the demand for local data center facilities in South Korea. 5. South Korean ICT companies are consistency investing in AI-based technology in the country. Technology giants such as Samsung and LG Electronics are a few companies that are leading the race. SK Telecom and KT, which are telecommunications companies are not far behind. 6. In 2020, the overall power mix in South Korea consisted majorly of fossil fuels, contributing around 60% to the electricity generated, with coal, and nuclear power contributing over 35%. In 2020, the South Korean government announced its energy plan that aims to generate 40% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2034. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Area, Power Capacity, Investment, and Colocation Revenue | 2020-2026 Impact of COVID-19 on Data Center Market Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party facilities in South Korea Facilities Covered (Existing): 33 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 5 Coverage: 12 cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in South Korea Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2026) Retail Colocation Pricing Wholesale Colocation Pricing Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standard Key Market Participants List of 10 IT infrastructure providers, 7 construction service providers, 13 support infrastructure providers, and 4 data center investors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-korea-data-center-market-investment-analysis South Korea Data Center Market Segmentation The server Infrastructure market in South Korea expects to grow with increased data center investments. The server market in South Korea is estimated to receive an investment of USD 1.8 billion by the end of 2021. Hyperscale data center expansions are likely to increase the demand for servers and promote the procurement of high-performance infrastructure solutions. expects to grow with increased data center investments. The server market in is estimated to receive an investment of by the end of 2021. Hyperscale data center expansions are likely to increase the demand for servers and promote the procurement of high-performance infrastructure solutions. Lead acid battery is widely adopted by data center operators in the country. According to Korea Data Center Council (KDCC), over 65% of data centers on South Korea adopt lead acid battery, followed by over 20% of data center operators installing lithium-ion batteries. adopt lead acid battery, followed by over 20% of data center operators installing lithium-ion batteries. South Korea data center providers support free cooling techniques for majority of the time in a year. According to the Korea Data Center Council (KDCC), air-based cooling is adopted by over 40% of the data center operators in the country. Market Segmentation by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer, Switches & Switchgears Rack PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by General Construction Building Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building Design Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Market Segmentation by Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV South Korea Data Center Market Dynamics The cloud computing market in South Korea is growing rapidly and expects to generate revenue of over USD 2.5 billion by 2021. South Korea ranked fifth in the 2020 Cloud Readiness Index released by the Asia Cloud Computing Association. South Korea has the presence of both local and global cloud services providers, including Amazon Web Service (AWS), Oracle, Microsoft, Google, KT, LG CNS, SK C&C among others. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted cloud adoption in the country, with public and private enterprises and educational institutions adopting cloud platforms. In 2020, the South Korean government announced to shift entire systems used by government agencies to the cloud by 2025. Around 77% of government agencies expect to choose public cloud services and the remaining opting for private cloud services. By 2023, Software as a Service (SaaS) expect to lead the cloud market, accounting over 40% of the market, followed by Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) segment. In 2021, SK C&C agreed to merge digital platform and solutions for industries based on Multiverse (Korea's leading SaaS model by SK C&C) with the Google cloud to enhance the software as a service (SaaS) model. In 2020, Google launched its first cloud region in the country, and Oracle launched its second cloud region in Chuncheon, South Korea. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Increasing Internet and Social Media Users impacting Data Center Investments Implementation of Big Data Services and IoT driving Data Center Investments COVID-19 Pandemic Impacting on Data Center Investments 5G and Smart Cities Initiatives Leading Data Center Deployment South Korea Data Center Market - Existing Vs. Upcoming Data Centers Existing Facilities in the region (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) Seoul Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (White Floor Area and Power Capacity) Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-korea-data-center-market-investment-analysis Key Market Participants IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) IBM Inspur Lenovo NetApp Construction Constructors & Sub-Contractors BEHIVE Architects DPR Construction GS E&C HanmiGlobal ISG Posco ICT Samoo Architects & Engineers Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton Fuji Electric Legrand Rittal Mitsubishi Electric Piller Power Systems Rolls-Royce Power Systems Schneider Electric Vertiv Group Data Center Investors Digital Realty KT LG Uplus Lotte Data Communication Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: [email protected] Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence NOVI, Mich., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI), a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic vehicle systems, today provided a business update and preliminary third quarter results reflecting continued supply chain-related challenges that resulted in reduced production schedules by the Company's OEM customers and incremental material and logistics costs. On September 16, 2021, IHS Markit released its latest forecast for worldwide automotive production. Further, on October 1, 2021, LMC released its latest forecast for worldwide commercial vehicle production. Based on these updated forecasts, Stoneridge's weighted average end-markets for the third quarter 2021 declined by approximately 13.0% relative to third quarter forecasted production assumptions provided during the Company's second quarter 2021 earnings call. "The overall transportation industry continues to be challenged by the global pandemic and its aftermath. Recent production shutdowns and altered production forecasts at our automotive and commercial vehicle OEM customers, often on short notice, have created volatility and had a negative impact on our financial results for the third quarter," commented Jon DeGaynor, president and chief executive officer. For the third quarter 2021, the Company announced that preliminary sales are expected to be approximately $180.0 million. Third quarter 2021 operating loss is expected to be between ($9.2) million to ($8.2) million, or approximately (5.1%) to (4.6%) of sales, and adjusted operating loss is expected to be between ($7.2) million to ($6.2) million, or approximately (4.0%) to (3.5%) of sales. Third quarter 2021 loss per share ("EPS") is expected to be between ($0.40) to ($0.34) and adjusted EPS is expected to be between ($0.29) to ($0.23). The exhibits attached hereto containing Regulation G reconciliations provide additional detail on the normalizing adjustments. "While our top-line performance has declined less than overall market performance, we continue to face incremental material costs, logistics expenses and component shortages due to the unprecedented global supply chain disruptions and production volatility. In response, we have built on the cost mitigation processes we put in place during the second quarter, while at the same time instituting price increases where possible. Further, we have engaged in broader commercial discussions with our customers and suppliers to further mitigate these elevated costs and strengthen our future partnerships. Although these negotiations are ongoing, we are beginning to realize the financial benefits of these discussions and will continue to work closely with our customers and suppliers to navigate these headwinds both now and as we move forward," concluded Mr. DeGaynor. Due to the continued market volatility expected for the remainder of 2021, the Company will provide an update regarding its previously provided full-year 2021 financial guidance during its third quarter earnings 2021 conference call. Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call The Company will webcast its third quarter 2021 earnings conference call live on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET with president and chief executive officer, Jon DeGaynor, and chief financial officer, Matt Horvath. The webcast can be accessed on the Webcasts & Presentations page of the Investors section of the Company's website, www.stoneridge.com. About Stoneridge, Inc. Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway, motorcycle and agricultural vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at www.stoneridge.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release contain "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this report and may include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, with respect to, among other things, our (i) future product and facility expansion, (ii) acquisition strategy, (iii) investments and new product development, (iv) growth opportunities related to awarded business, and (v) operational expectations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "will," "may," "should," "designed to," "believes," "plans," "projects," "intends," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "continue," and similar words and expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors: the impact of COVID-19, or other future pandemics, on the global economy, and on our customers, suppliers, employees, business and cash flows; the reduced purchases, loss or bankruptcy of a major customer or supplier; the costs and timing of business realignment, facility closures or similar actions; a significant change in automotive, commercial, off-highway, motorcycle or agricultural vehicle production; competitive market conditions and resulting effects on sales and pricing; our ability to manage foreign currency fluctuations; our ability to achieve cost reductions that offset or exceed customer-mandated selling price reductions; customer acceptance of new products; our ability to successfully launch/produce products for awarded business; adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions, including tariffs, affecting our products or our customers' products; our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us; liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers; labor disruptions at our facilities or at any of our significant customers or suppliers; business disruptions due to natural disasters or other disasters outside of our control; the ability of our suppliers to supply us with parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis, including the impact of potential tariffs and trade considerations on their operations and output; fluctuations in the cost and availability of key materials (including semiconductors, printed circuit boards, resin, aluminum, steel and copper) and components and our ability to offset cost increases; the amount of our indebtedness and the restrictive covenants contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, including our revolving credit facility; capital availability or costs, including changes in interest rates or market perceptions; the failure to achieve the successful integration of any acquired company or business; risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber-attack and other similar disruptions; and the items described in Part I, Item IA ("Risk Factors") of our 10-K filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent our estimates only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information This press release contains information about the Company's financial results which is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to their closest GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release. The provision of these preliminary non-GAAP financial measures for the third quarter of 2021 is not intended to indicate that Stoneridge is explicitly or implicitly providing projections on those non-GAAP financial measures, and actual results for such measures are likely to vary from those presented. The reconciliations include all information reasonably available to the Company at the date of this press release and the adjustments that management can reasonably predict. Management believes the preliminary non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that preliminary adjusted operating loss and margin, preliminary adjusted net loss or preliminary adjusted loss per share are useful measures in assessing the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company's core operating performance or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company's continuing operating activities. Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. Preliminary adjusted operating loss and margin, preliminary adjusted net loss and preliminary adjusted loss per share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating loss, net loss, loss per share or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Regulation G Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations Reconciliation to US GAAP Exhibit 1 - Preliminary Adjusted Operating Loss Reconciliation of Preliminary Adjusted Operating Loss (1) (USD in millions) Q3 2021 Operating Loss $ (8.7) Add: Pre-Tax Change in Fair Value of Earn-Out (Stoneridge Brazil) 0.2 Add: Pre-Tax Restructuring and Business Realignment Costs 1.8 Adjusted Operating Loss $ (6.7) (1) Prepared at the mid-point of the Company's preliminary third-quarter financial results range Exhibit 2 Preliminary Adjusted EPS Reconciliation of Q3 2021 Preliminary Adjusted EPS(1) (USD in millions) Q3 2021 Q3 2021 EPS Net Loss $ (10.1) $ (0.37) Add: After-Tax Change in Fair Value of Earn-Out (Stoneridge Brazil) 0.2 0.01 Add: After-Tax Restructuring and Business Realignment Costs 1.5 0.06 Add: Adjustment to Tax Impact Related to Sale of Canton Facility 1.4 0.05 Adjusted Net Loss $ (7.0) $ (0.26) (1) Prepared at the mid-point of the Company's preliminary third-quarter financial results range SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc. Related Links www.dix-eaton.com PUNE, India, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to The Insight Partners study on "System on Module (SoM) Market Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Processor Type, Application, and Standard," the market is projected to reach US$ 2,911.2 million by 2028 from US$ 1,556.4 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2021 to 2028. Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 1,651.6 million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 2,911.2 million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 8.4% from 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2020 No. of Pages 172 No. Tables 88 No. of Charts & Figures 88 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Processor Type, Application and Standard Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Get Exclusive Sample Pages of System on Module (SoM) Market at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00019379/ Continuous advancements in communication systems and sensors are accelerating the demand for system on modules that play major role in delivering high productivity. Industry 4.0 has bolstered the adoption of service robots as robotics helps achieve high manufacturing productivity. The growing use of embedded systems in robots to reduce their reliance on external computing systems is also bolstering the System on Module (SoM) Market growth. Further, the demands for robots that are affordable and user friendly is on rise in the industrial, residential, and healthcare applications, which is fueling the need of controller microchips. The demand for ARM processors in SoM is increasing as they come with reduced instruction sets and support single-cycle computing. The leading manufacturers of ARM-based system on modulesuch as Congatec AG, Digi International, Kontron, and ARM Holdings Corporationare engaged in designing and developing ARM architecture. Lesser complexity of system on modules based on the ARM architecture, compared to those based on x86 processors, is accelerating the adoption of ARM-based processors. The growing use of control systems, and robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to handle processes in industries is one of the prime factors driving the adoption of system on modules. The solutions incorporated with system on modules feature high accuracy and precision, and enhanced manufacturing process performance. The use of integrated system on modules is on rise as it helps enhance manufacturing, product assembly, supply chain management, and logistics operations, among others. Download the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on System on Module (SoM) Market Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00019379/ The Asia Pacific system on module market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The projected growth is attributed to the rise in government initiatives to support the ongoing industrialization and increasing demand for efficient electronic components such as processors, boards, and system in modules from the consumer electronics sector. Government support to boost the regional electronics & semiconductors sector is anticipated to provide significant growth opportunities to the System on Module (SoM) Market. With the 2014 National Integrated Circuit Industry Development Guidelines, the State Council of China set the goal of becoming a global leader in all segments of the semiconductor industry by 2030. In addition, through its Made in China 2025 initiative, the country aims to achieve the standards of advanced semiconductor manufacturing as a vital component of its future economy. The Chinese government is spending aggressively in investments, acquisitions, and talent recruitment for encouraging the proliferation of the semiconductors industry, which is anticipated to boost the growth of the system on modules market. Growth of Embedded Computing Market Drives System on Module Market Proliferation Advancements in industrial technologies have led to the introduction of wireless connectivity technologies, smart sensors, and imaging solutions, which has enabled manufacturers to offer a "single chip with multiple cores" system to improve applications and boost reliability. For instance, in February 2020, Toradex, a leader in embedded computing, launched its latest family of system on modulesVerdinproviding a modern, future-proof set of interfaces focusing on the ease of use and robustness. Further, growing demand for system on modules in rugged embedded computers that are used in the aerospace & defense industry is further boosting the market growth. There is a high adoption of Internet of Things and embedded computers in industrial applications. The need of software-defined radio (SDR) in the automotive and transportation sectors, and benefits associated with system on modules, such as reduced cost, and greater stability and reliability are propelling the System on Module (SoM) Market growth. System on Module (SoM) market: Processor Type Overview Based on processor type, the system on module (SoM) market is segmented into ARM, X86, Power, FPGA, GPU, and DSP. They are widely used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Aaeon; Advantech Co., Ltd; Avnet, Inc.; Value Technology Inc.; and Connect Tech Inc. System on Module (SoM) Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Aaeon; Advantech Co. Ltd; Avnet Inc.; Value Technology Inc.; Connect Tech Inc.; Congatec Gmbh; Emac, Inc.; Somlabs; and Microchip Technology, Inc. are among the key players that are profiled during this market study. In addition to these players, several other essential market players were studied and analyzed to get a holistic view of the global system on module (SoM) market and its ecosystem. Order a Copy of System on Module (SoM) Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts 2021-2028 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00019379/ In November 2020, SoMLabs signed a contract with Reinfold Company for establishing its distribution network in India. All the products of SoMLabs will be available in the offerings of Reinfold. In August 2020, the Electronic Technologies Group of HEICO Corporation acquired 89.99% of Connect Tech Inc. Browse Related Reports: About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +1-646-491-9876 More Research: https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html SOURCE The Insight Partners WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TEAMFund, a hybrid Non-Profit/For-Profit Impact Fund whose mission is to enhance patient access to medical technology in low-resource settings, announced the release of their third annual impact report. Despite various countries having episodic lockdowns due to the pandemic, their 6 portfolio companies (JanaCare, Forus Health, Tricog Health, MediBuddy, Echonous, and Vezeeta) touched 6.5mm patients during the last year, and are now in 82 countries on 6 continents. The report is broken down into seven sections: Aggregated Impact Metrics, COVID Implications for Impact, New and Emerging Impact Metrics, Impact Themes and Common Success Factors, Research/Reporting and Activities(including for COVID-19), Non-Profit Programs and Advisory Network Deployment, and a Closing Summary. The section titled "Impact Themes and Common Success Factors" is new this year and encapsulates TEAMFund's three years visibility into how these companies scale and achieve impact over time including a series of new metrics and hypothesis on these success factors. In addition to the macro report there are hyperlinks to each company's individual impact report. Yousuf Mazhar, TEAMFund's Managing Partner, said, "We're very proud of our companies as they have touched an unprecedented number of patient lives in low-resource settings. Our philosophy of developing an impact thesis alongside an investment thesis, and the side letters we require with our investment insures a continuing dedication to focusing on impact achievement with financial returns. We've repeatedly heard from our entrepreneurs that analyzing their impact data helps foster additional business and strategic insights to better help them manage and grow their businesses". Some key takeaways: India and Africa now represents 92% of total units placed in 2020- Africa now 18%, up from a negligible total in 2019 Taskshifting continues to increase as the use of Digital Health and AI surges, 80% of users are non specialists Teamfund's 80+ Advisors provided nearly 5000 hours of support to 6 companies up from 1801 in 2019 For copies of TEAMFund's Impact Report please contact [email protected]. The report can be viewed online here. About TeamFund Transforming equity and access in MedTech, TEAMFund (www.teamfundhealth.org), is an organization that combines a nonprofit with an impact fund limited partnership, with a shared aim to expand access to affordable, appropriate and sustainable medical technologies that address unmet health needs in the world's most resource constrained populations. TEAMFund is co-founded and co-chaired by Timothy Ring former CEO of Bard, and Kathryn Gleason, former senior partner at Morgan Lewis, and count among their members over 20 MedTech and healthcare companies worldwide. Contact: Yousuf Mazhar 4159909687 [email protected] SOURCE TEAMFund Health SHANGHAI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Asieris Pharmaceuticals (Asieris) today announced that the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) NMPA has approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of oral APL-1202 in combination with BeiGene's tislelizumab as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This IND was already cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June. This is an open-label, multi-center Phase I/II clinical study with the following objectives: to evaluate the safety in MIBC patients; to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), and to assess efficacy as neoadjuvant therapy for MIBC. APL-1202 is an orally available reversible MetAP2 Inhibitor with anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor activities and can also modulate tumor immune microenvironment. It is currently in Phase III/pivotal clinical trials in China, either as single agent as first-line treatment for patients with intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), or in combination with a chemotherapy as second-line treatment in patients with intermediate and high-risk chemo-refractory NMIBC. Tislelizumab is a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody specifically designed to minimize binding to FcR on macrophages. The China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved tislelizumab in five indications, including full approval for first-line treatment of patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with chemotherapy and for first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy. NMPA also granted conditional approval for the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) who received at least two prior therapies, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) with PD-L1 high expression whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy, and for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received at least one systemic therapy. Full approval for these indications is contingent upon results from ongoing randomized, controlled confirmatory clinical trials. According to the 2020 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma, the Level I recommendation for MIBC is that patients who tolerate cisplatin undergo radical cystectomy (RC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The commonly used chemotherapy regimen is gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC). However, cisplatin can cause serious side effects such as renal dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and bone marrow suppression, and some patients are intolerant. For these patients no preoperative/neoadjuvant therapy is available that can bring survival benefits. "We are pleased with the IND approval by the CDE, following the earlier clearance in the US. We are looking forward to testing its efficacy and safety in clinical trials." said Dr. Xue Yong, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Asieris. "Asieris will continue to devote itself to exploring and developing safer and more effective therapeutic so as to meet the unfulfilled clinical needs and provide more treatment options for patients." About Asieris Asieris Pharmaceuticals, founded in March 2010, is a global innovative pharma company specializing in new drugs for the treatment of genitourinary tumors and other major diseases. We strive to improve human health and help people live a more dignified life. We aim to become a global pharma leader that integrates R&D, manufacturing and commercialization in our areas of focus, as we provide best-in-class integrated diagnosis and treatment solutions for patients in China and worldwide. The company has been developing its proprietary R&D platform and core technologies, exploring new mechanisms of action, and efficiently screening and evaluating drug candidates. With a well-established in-house R&D system and expertise in global drug development, Asieris is committed to launching first-in-class drugs and other innovative products to address huge unmet needs in its areas of focus. Asieris is also enhancing its pipeline for genitourinary diseases via proprietary R&D and strategic partnerships, while closely following cutting-edge technologies and therapeutics. The company strives to discover and identify unmet clinical needs, and adopts a forward-looking approach in product planning and life-cycle management. We aim to establish an outstanding portfolio that covers diagnosis and treatment in a bid to benefit more patients in China and globally. SOURCE Asieris BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Experiment today announced the expansion of intercultural opportunities for high school students in summer 2022 with seven new accredited programs and internships offered through the School for International Training (SIT). All of The Experiment's programs are now showcased on a more vibrant and user-friendly website that celebrates a return to in-person global programs after two summers in which programming was offered online due to the coronavirus. The new programs and internships carry three college credits through SIT, The Experiment's sister institution, for high school students studying or interning abroad. Subjects include LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy in the Netherlands; Arabic language in Jordan; and indigenous peoples in Peru. Other accredited programs or internships take place in Ghana, Portugal, Serbia and Croatia, and Switzerland. "We are thrilled that The Experiment has expanded its program offerings to accredited programs and internships following our first successful launch of accredited programs in 2019," said Christina Thomas, divisional vice president for Youth Exchange at World Learning, The Experiment's parent organization. "With this expansion, we continue to provide students even more options to fuel their future and explore their purpose-driven passions." The new accredited offerings are among 16 unique intercultural summer programs around the world that also include biodiversity in the Galapagos, international relations in Germany, anime in Japan, and much more. The Experiment will also continue to offer thematic virtual programs that connect high school students globally through dynamic digital platforms. Founded in 1932, The Experimentis the nation's most experienced provider of intercultural exchange programs abroad and virtual for high school students. The addition of accredited internships abroad gives high school students more options to explore a college major and career focus, and to earn critical technical and interpersonal skills that can set them apart in their education and careers. "What has set The Experiment apart for 90 years diversity, authentic connections, cultural immersion, academic innovation, and real impact is enhanced by providing students the ability to fuel their future no matter what purpose-driven path they choose," said Carol Jenkins, CEO of World Learning, Inc. The redesigned website at https://www.experiment.org showcases The Experiment's unique attributes, such as the new academic and internship programs, while relaunching The Experiment's classic programs and providing a more user-friendly experience. CONTACT: Kate Casa - [email protected] SOURCE World Learning, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fragrance Foundation (TFF) today announced #FragranceForwardTFF, a sweeping new initiative to advance, increase and sustain measurable levels of diversity, equity and inclusion in the multi-billion-dollar fragrance industry. The initiative will harness the collective power of TFF's membership base to share and allocate dedicated resources towards education and scholarship programs, recruitment and outreach, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities. In support of #FragranceForwardTFF, The Fragrance Foundation will present Industry Perspectives on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, a free webinar on Wednesday, October 20 at 12:00 PM EST: register here. The virtual event will bring to the fore the dynamism, excitement and challenges of building a career in the fragrance industry with real-time insights from pioneering professionals who are making a difference every day. Panelists include Chris Collins, Founder, World of Chris Collins; Corey Smith; Head of Diversity and Inclusion for North America, LVMH; Rob Smith, CEO and Founder, The Phluid Project; and Linda Song, Senior Perfumer, Givaudan. Helen Shelton, Global Chief Diversity Officer and luxury brand marketing communications expert, Finn Partners, will moderate the discussion. Industry Perspectives on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will be forward-focused by making it known that that there is a career path for people of all backgrounds within the industry. Panelists will address questions such as what inspired them to build a career in the fragrance industry; what some of the challenges are they face; and, how the industry can be more accountable in driving DEI across all levels from fragrance development to marketing, creative, retail and more. "The Fragrance Foundation is committed to working with our members and the entire industry to make representation a priority, says Linda G. Levy, President, The Fragrance Foundation. "This can only be achieved through a dedicated, sustainable effort, and through #FragranceForwardTFF we're bringing together the entire community to align on actionable steps to ensure access to opportunities for all people, everywhere. Together, we are creating pathways for success with the ultimate goal of shaping an industry that is a true reflection of the total population we all serve." A major element of #FragranceForwardTFF is the creation of an industry-wide, Fragrance Foundation DEI Signatory Pledge. TFF's 100+ members that include both independent and corporate entities will commit not only to furthering their respective DEI goals, but also pledging to assist TFF in building and shaping #FragranceForwardTFF in the months and years ahead. This will be achieved by sharing resources and creating opportunities for mentorship, educational advancement and more aggressive recruiting. The Fragrance Foundation is also embarking on a series of virtual listening sessions and tours of institutions of higher learning to engage with students and to discuss ways in which they might enter the field. A TFF Career Paths series will premiere this week with students, faculty and alumni during Homecoming at Spelman College, an Historically Black institution in Atlanta. The session will be led by Ms. Levy along with Spelman alumna Sharne Jackson, TFF's Senior Director of Events, Education & Give Back. "I am absolutely honored to lend my name, voice and brand to #FragranceForwardTFF and to this important event," says Chris Collins. "I hope to see a day where there are more brand owners of color in the market, and am grateful to Linda and TFF for making this happen." Adds Linda Song, "Historically a Eurocentric industry, perfumery is increasingly global and it's imperative we increase representation to reflect the market. I'm hopeful we can normalize diversity within our industry and will do all I can to help TFF drive #FragranceForwardTFF." "As a global arbiter of luxury and style, LVMH is 100% dedicated to advancing DEI across all of our houses and brands including fragrance," says Corey Smith. "We are proud and honored to stand with TFF to make the vision behind #FragranceForwardTFF a reality for years to come." "I'm proud to lend my name, voice, experience and brand to this initiative," concludes Rob Smith. "Gender expansive inclusion and representation is something that's moving beyond a trending topic and taking its place in our vernacular as a culture and as a society, breaking down outdated gender constructs and The Fragrance Foundation should be commended for taking an active position in making this possible." Industry Perspectives on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be recorded and can be replayed on The Fragrance Foundation's website www.fragrance.org. About The Fragrance Foundation: The Fragrance Foundation is the premier resource for industry expertise, innovation, and education. United under the mission statement "to inspire the world to discover the artistry and passion of fragrance," The Fragrance Foundation is devoted to nurturing talent, celebrating the creativity of perfumers, engaging consumers to increase appreciation for the world of fragrance and driving diversity, equity and inclusion. Follow The Fragrance Foundation on social media: @fragrancefoundation. SOURCE The Fragrance Foundation NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TowerData, LLC ("TowerData"), a leading technology company that powers email-based identity matching solutions, has merged with TZP's portfolio company FreshAddress, LLC ("FreshAddress"), an email marketing intelligence company that helps businesses clean, protect, and grow their email lists for maximum return on investment. The merger is supported by a strategic investment from TZP Group ("TZP"), a multi-strategy private equity firm. Together, FreshAddress and TowerData become the market leader of email verification and hygiene services and will continue to provide marketers and data scientists with fast, easy, and secure access to the accurate and complete data they need to better understand the person behind the email address. Powered by combined data assets leveraging over 1.5 billion historical email and postal addresses linked to mobile ids, cookies, demographics, and over 1 billion monthly activity signals, the companies currently service thousands of clients, including 25% of the Fortune 100, America's largest nonprofits, and leading technology and data companies. Tom Burke, CEO of TowerData, along with an experienced executive team from both companies, will provide leadership to the combined organization. Bill Kaplan, the co-founder and CEO of FreshAddress, will work with Mr. Burke to effectuate the integration of the companies, remaining with the business as a Strategic Advisor. The combined company will be headquartered in New York with additional offices located in Boston and Chicago, as well as remote locations across the United States & internationally. "We are excited about our merger with FreshAddress and partnership with TZP, and the opportunity to leverage the combined strengths of our two businesses," said Tom Burke. "TowerData and FreshAddress are both known for a customer-first philosophy, market-leading offerings, and expertise in all things email. By joining together, we reinforce our position as the premier source for technology-driven email data solutions." Integration of products and services begins immediately, with TowerData clients gaining access to FreshAddress's SafeToSend and SafeToSend+ email verification, hygiene, and monitoring services, the most powerful and accurate offering available, while FreshAddress clients will benefit from the over 1 billion monthly signals fueling TowerData's Email Activity Metrics to help further clean and protect their customer databases. Together, the companies will leverage their ever-growing data assets to continue adding features to their global Email Verification and Deliverability services, expanding coverage of Identity Matching and Email Intelligence services, and accelerating their Fraud Prevention program. "We're excited to be joining forces with TowerData, a company we've partnered with since their early beginnings," said Bill Kaplan, "Our two businesses have successfully helped companies and nonprofits maximize their engagement, revenues, and profits through email for over twenty years." By combining our platforms, data assets, and expertise, we will be able to provide our clients with the best tools for protecting and enhancing their email databases through real-time APIs, automated FTP, and via self-service portals." "The merger of these two industry leaders provides an opportunity to further expand and set new standards of quality and service that enable marketers to clean, enhance, and safely grow their customer databases," stated TZP Partner, Rodney Eshelman. "We plan to accelerate growth through product expansion, new product development, and strategic acquisitions to meet the evolving needs of our existing and future clients." Garros Group LLC served as strategic and financial advisor to TowerData in this transaction. About TowerData TowerData is a technology company that powers email-based Identity Matching Solutions with real-time, comprehensive, and accurate email data. With TowerData's suite of services, marketers and data scientists can improve the quality, depth, and reach of their data to meet customers with the right message in the right place at the right time. More information can be found at www.towerdata.com. About FreshAddress FreshAddress is an email marketing intelligence company that helps businesses clean, protect, and grow their email files for maximum return on their investment. Service offerings include industry-leading, patented Email Change of Address (ECOA) service, SafeToSend Email Validation, and a full suite of appending services. For more information, please visit www.freshaddress.com. About TZP TZP Group is a multi-strategy private equity firm managing approximately $2.0 billion across its family of funds including TZP Capital Partners, TZP Small Cap Partners, TZP Strategies, and TZP Strategies Acquisition Corp. focused on control, growth equity, and structured capital investments in growing business services and consumer companies. Founded in 2007, TZP targets companies with solid historical performance and sustainable value propositions and aims to be a "Partner of Choice" for business owners and management teams. TZP seeks to invest primarily in closely held, private companies in which the owners desire to retain a significant stake and partner with an investor with complementary operating and financial skills to accelerate company growth, increase profitability, and maximize the value of their retained stake. TZP leverages its investment professionals' operating and investment experience to provide strategic and operational guidance and is dedicated to long-term value creation. For more information, please visit www.tzpgroup.com. About Garros Group Garros Group is a boutique investment bank focused on the intersection of data, technology and digital. Garros Group is known for its deep sector-specific knowledge, strong client relationships, and history of work with the best-in-class companies in adtech/martech, performance marketing, eCommerce and digital media. Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12888082 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE TowerData BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tynt Technologies, Inc. (Tynt), a Colorado-based dynamic window company that's engineering the first ever blackout dynamic window, announced it has secured $8.5 million in funds through a combination of private financing and federal grants. Tynt Technologies, Inc Chief Scientist, Professor Mike McGehee, and CEO, Ameen K. Saafir Tynt Technologies Founding Team (from L to R) Dr. Michael Strand, Dr. Tyler Hernandez, Professor Mike McGehee, John Dwyer, Taylor Aviles, Ameen Saafir With the climate crisis looming large, the Department of Energy has identified dynamic windows as an area of interest with the potential to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4% annually. Several companies have worked on dynamic window technologies for decades; however, their high cost, poor color, and lack of privacy in the tinted state have stifled adoption, especially in the residential sector. Tynt, the brainchild of CU Boulder Professor Mike McGehee and former Halio Chief Engineer, Ameen K. Saafir, is setting out to disrupt residential windows with a revolutionary technology that will give homeowners the ability to black out their windows in a matter of seconds, leading to increased comfort and energy efficiency while maintaining a clean and modern look at an affordable cost. Ameen, Tynt's co-founder and CEO, is leading the team to new heights, driving development, and scaling up reversible metal electrodeposition (RME) technology. According to Ameen, "Teaming up with my former graduate school advisor to commercialize Tynt's unique technology was a no-brainer. By leveraging RME we can provide truly neutral color and full privacy at incredibly low cost, while meeting personal design standards for homes and having a positive impact on the environment. We are also thrilled to bring on climate-sector investors who are fully aligned with our main goals of sustainability and universal accessibility". Professor McGehee, co-founder and Chief Scientist, added: "Five years ago, my university research group and I noticed that nearly everyone pursuing dynamic windows were using essentially the same materials, and thus subject to the same limitations. We started from scratch, and RME proved to be more successful than we could have imagined. We found that we could make color neutral windows with a much better range of light transmission and knew that our low temperature solution-based process had potential to dramatically reduce costs. Because he has nearly a decade of dynamic window experience, I called Ameen to get his perspective on our approach. When he saw our technology in person he committed on the spot". Fundraising On the heels of a $1.5 million Angel Round, Tynt raised an additional $5.5 million in Seed Financing, co-led by Prime Impact Fund and Starlight Ventures, with participation from Kompas Ventures. The Seed Round closed in August 2021, and resulted in Dr. Johanna Wolfson, co-founder and Principal at Prime Impact Fund, joining Tynt's Board of Directors. McDermott Will & Emery represented Tynt in these transactions as an inaugural McDermott Rise member, a program launched in 2020 providing a set of free legal and business services to 20 entrepreneurs of color each year to help fuel the success of their business endeavors. Grant The United States Department of Energy also awarded Tynt $1.5 million under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) grant. The program awarded funds to 44 projects nationwide "that will lower Americans' energy bills by investing in new energy-efficient building technologies, construction practices, and the U.S. buildings-sector workforce." Read the announcement here. These financial resources will enable Tynt to deliver the first blackout dynamic windows in the very near future. Also joining Tynt from Professor McGehee's research group are co-founders Dr. Michael Strand and Dr. Tyler Hernandez. John Dwyer, former VP of Advanced Products at Katerra, joins as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer. Taylor Aviles, formerly of Halio corporate marketing, completes the founding team. About Tynt Technologies, Inc. Tynt Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2020 with the mission to optimize human health and comfort in the home by intuitively controlling daylight and privacy with dynamic windows, focusing on neutral color, energy savings, complete privacy, and affordable cost. Tynt's Vision is to change the traditional perception that windows are just commodity building products providing openings to the outdoors. With dynamic windows we are taking steps towards creating living, connected homes that coexist with the natural environment, leading us toward a sustainable future. We will optimize human health and comfort, while reducing overall energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions, without sacrificing privacy, convenience, and beauty. SOURCE Tynt Technologies, Inc. Related Links www.tynt.io PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company Breakthrough Device Designation for its Embozene microspheres for genicular artery embolization (GAE) for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Embozene is a medical device that is FDA cleared for the embolization of hypervascular tumors, arteriovenous malformations, uterine fibroids and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Embozene microspheres received this designation due to their potential to offer a more effective treatment for appropriate patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. GAE is designed to reduce the blood flow to the periarticular tissue of the joints, limiting the inflammatory process. "GAE is the first minimally invasive procedure that has demonstrated a significant symptom improvement for a prolonged duration," said Siddharth Padia, M.D, director, Interventional Radiology at UCLA Santa Monica and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "In a 40-patient, prospective study, the procedure resulted in a marked improvement in pain and function, and adverse events were uncommon and mild. I remain excited about the possibilities of this technology and its benefit to patients." Dr. Padia is currently working to initiate a randomized clinical trial and a 400-patient registry. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a "wear and tear" degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage and surrounding tissues.1 The knee is the joint that is most commonly affected with osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. adult population.2,3 It is estimated that 14 million individuals in the United States have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, with half suffering from advanced knee osteoarthritis.4 The management of osteoarthritis of the knee is estimated to cost the United States healthcare system from $5.7 to $15 billion annually.5 Treatment for osteoarthritis often escalates from over-the-counter medications and physical therapy to cortisone injections and sometimes knee replacement surgery. "GAE holds great promise in providing clinicians with a new, non-invasive treatment option, which may not only ameliorate pain, but reduce the economic burden of this common disease," said Frank Facchini, MD, FSIR, president, Varian Interventional Solutions. "Varian's investigational program for GAE exemplifies our commitment to investing in our core technologies to determine their potential to treat the world's most debilitating diseases." The FDA Breakthrough Device Program is intended to provide patients with more timely access to medical devices that have the potential to provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. As part of the program, the FDA expedites the traditional review and assessment process to help accelerate the development, assessment and review of the device for possible approval. About Varian Interventional Solutions Varian and Siemens Healthineers are investing in the future of interventional radiology. By partnering with interventional radiologists and researchers in the field, we are delivering a portfolio of intelligent solutions to benefit patients around the globe. We're committed to enhancing the patient experience at every stage of care by developing and delivering innovative solutions in ablation, embolization and beyond. About Varian At Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year. With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to care. Our 11,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter. Press Contact Lynne Tran Corporate Communications [email protected] Investor Relations Contact Siemens Healthineers Investor Relations 1 United States Bone and Joint Initiative: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States (BMUS), Fourth Edition. Rosemont, IL. Available at http://www.boneandjointburden.orgexternal icon. Accessed on June 10, 2021. 2 Felson DT, Naimark A, Anderson J, et al. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in the elderly. The Framingham Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheum. 1987;30:9148. 3 Peat G, McCarney R, Croft P. Knee pain and osteoarthritis in older adults: A review of community burden and current use of primary health care. Ann Rheum Dis. 2001;60:917. 4 Deshpande BR, Katz JN, Solomon DH, et al. Number of persons with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in the us: impact of race and ethnicity, age, sex, and obesity. Arthritis Care Res. 2016;68:1743-1750. doi: 10.1002/acr.22897. 5 Bedenbaugh AV, Bonafede M, Marchlewicz EH, et al. Real-World Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among US Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Compared with Controls. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2021;13:421-435. doi: 10.2147/CEOR.S302289. SOURCE Varian Related Links www.varian.com LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films, Inc. ("Vision") announced today that Tango Shalom, the successful dance comedy movie that has been resonating with diverse audiences across the country during its theatrical run, is now available for DVD pre-order at Amazon, will be in online retail stores, and on all the major cable, satellite, Telco and digital platforms beginning October 29 across the US and Canada. Tango Shalom dance comedy film poster In addition, to reach as wide an audience as possible, Vision is offering the opportunity for organizations to arrange group screenings, celebrations, watch parties, or discussion panels on the virtual screening platform Eventive. Tango Shalom holds the bragging rights to the best 2021 exclusive opening, as well having the best PTA, the Memorial Day to Labor Day summer season and boasts the number one independent film release of the summer title. With no signs of slowing down, Tango Shalom continues to dominate film festivals across the country. It opened on September 3 in Los Angeles and New York with a limited engagement and quickly expanded to over 45 theaters throughout California, New York, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Canada. The production team included a unique confluence of consultants representing The Vatican, a Hasidic Synagogue, a Mosque, and a Sikh Temple, promoting a timeless message of acceptance and inclusion. The film's authentic and genuine message of inclusion is resonating with diverse audiences, including many different religions, political organizations that promote world peace, and the LGBTQIA community, all actively supporting and promoting the film. Tango Shalom is directed by Gabriel Bologna, son of Renee Taylor and the late Joseph Bologna. The elder Bologna also co-wrote and produced the film with brothers Jos and Claudio Laniado of Convivencia Forever Films. Co-produced by Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks franchise), Zizi Bologna, and choreographer Jordi Caballero. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/R6w9qkvKca8 Tango Shalom stars Golden Globe Nominee Lainie Kazan, Academy and Emmy Award-winner Renee Taylor (Adam Sandler's The Do Over, The Producers, CBS' The Nanny, How to Be a Latin Lover), Karina Smirnoff (Dancing With The Stars), Joseph Bologna (My Favorite Year, Blame It On Rio, Big Daddy, Lovers and Other Strangers), Jos Laniado (Milcho Manchevski's Bikini Moon), Claudio Laniado (Mudbound), Bern Cohen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Judi Beecher (Taken 3, Family is Family, La Garconne). Synopsis : When a female Tango dancer (Karina Smirnoff) asks a Rabbi (Jos Laniado) to enter a dance competition, there's one big problemdue to his Orthodox beliefs, he's not allowed to touch her! Desperately in need of splitting the prize money to save his Hebrew school from bankruptcy, they develop a plan to enter the competition without sacrificing his faith. The bonds of family and community are tested one dazzling dance step at a time in this lighthearted fable. Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director Vision Films says, "We are so grateful to the cast and crew of Tango Shalom who worked tirelessly to get the word out about this film. It truly made the traditional theatrical run a success and there is no better time to expand the reach to everyone and anyone who couldn't get to the theater. We hope the masses will enjoy this feel good, family comedy with such a positive message!" Director/Producer Gabriel Bologna shares, "I would bet there has never been a film that has had a theatrical run only three weeks after acquisition, let alone a successful one. There is a reason they are called "Vision." From day-one, Lise Romanoff and Kristen Bedno planned a summer theatrical run and I attribute our Labor Day Weekend turnout and summer success to Vision's innovative marketing and their support of our grassroots efforts: including interfaith organizations, synagogues, and the tango milonga community. Most exciting of all, Vision is now giving anyone and everyone access to see the film through a wide variety of platforms." Soundtrack provided by Universal Music includes multiple Grammy Award-winning Gordon Goodwin, Latin Grammy-nominated Tango sensation Daniel Binelli, British chart-toppers Touch and Go, The Circolo S. Pietro del Vaticano Choir, as well as modern Klezmer bands Golem, The Burning Bush, and Barcelona Gypsy Klezmer Band. Score by Zoe Tiganouria and Zizi Bologna. For more information and the full-list of awards, accolades and endorsements, please visit tangoshalommovie.com. About Vision Films Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. visionfilms.net Contact: Andrea McKinnon (818) 415-9442 [email protected] SOURCE Vision Films, Inc. Thrombosis, commonly known as blood clots, can trigger a host of life-threatening medical conditions, including heart attack, thromboembolic stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE occurs when one or more blood clots form in a deep vein, most often in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), and can travel in the circulation and lodge in the lungs (a condition known as pulmonary embolism, PE). "Despite the fact that one in four people worldwide are dying from conditions caused by blood clots, it is not widely known, and is an urgent public health issue," said Prof. Beverley Hunt, OBE, chair of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee. This year, blood clots took to the global stage as research showed an increased risk of blood clots in hospitalized patients with COVID pneumonia. Additionally, blood clots were found as a very rare, but serious side effect to certain COVID-19 vaccines. "In a turbulent year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have unfortunately seen an increased rate of hospital-associated clots due to sick patients with COVID-19," noted Prof. Hunt. "The risk of clots in COVID-19, along with the other causes of hospital-associated clots, can be reduced if thromboprophylaxis is used (blood thinners)." Prof. Hunt as well as all members of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee including Alex Spyropoulos, M.D., FACP, FCCP, FRCPC, System Director, Anticoagulation and Clinical Thrombosis Services, at Northwell Health in New York, USA, have been on the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and have led the way in research around clotting, COVID-19, and treatment to ensure patients receive the best care possible globally. "Our clinic, which was once in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., experienced firsthand the severity of increased thrombotic events in severe COVID-19 patients," said Dr. Spyropoulos. "I am passionate about finding new treatments for these severely ill patients and I am currently involved in several research studies. We are optimistic about the progress that has been made for patients." The World Thrombosis Day campaign aims its focus on the following areas this year: Hospital-associated thrombosis : Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of blood clots due to immobility, their illness and/or surgery. Hospital-associated clots can occur in the hospital or within 90 days of discharge, and account for 60 percent of all VTE and well as being the leading cause of preventable death due to hospital admission. : Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of blood clots due to immobility, their illness and/or surgery. Hospital-associated clots can occur in the hospital or within 90 days of discharge, and account for 60 percent of all VTE and well as being the leading cause of preventable death due to hospital admission. COVID-19-related thrombosis : Research shows that COVID-19 increases the risk of clots by making the blood very "sticky". : Research shows that COVID-19 increases the risk of clots by making the blood very "sticky". Cancer-related thrombosis: Patients with cancer are four times more likely to develop a serious blood clot compared to the general population. This increased risk is driven by factors such as surgery, hospitalization, infection, and genetic coagulation disorders by cancer-specific factors including type, histology, stage of the malignancy, cancer treatment and certain biomarkers. Patients with cancer are four times more likely to develop a serious blood clot compared to the general population. This increased risk is driven by factors such as surgery, hospitalization, infection, and genetic coagulation disorders by cancer-specific factors including type, histology, stage of the malignancy, cancer treatment and certain biomarkers. Gender-specific thrombosis: Estrogen-based oral contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy pills, as well as pregnancy are all blood clot risk factors for women. Women are five times more likely to develop a blood clot during pregnancy and about one in every 1,000 pregnant women can develop a blood clot. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020, and Cardinal Health, 2019) Approximately 10 million cases of hospital associated VTE occur annually across the world, yet the condition can often be prevented with early detection and preventative blood thinners. The World Thrombosis Day campaign calls upon healthcare professionals to provide VTE risk assessments to all hospitalized patients. In addition, the campaign encourages the public, including patients, to ask for a VTE risk assessment on admission to hospital. World Thrombosis Day shares these key tips to help prevent blood clots: Know the signs and symptoms of a blood clot. Red flags to look for are unexplained leg pain, sometimes associated with tenderness, redness and swelling. Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Red flags to look for are unexplained leg pain, sometimes associated with tenderness, redness and swelling. Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Ask for a VTE risk assessment . All individuals, especially those who are hospitalized, should ask their healthcare professional for a VTE risk assessment, a questionnaire that gathers medical information to discern a patient's potential risk factors for developing blood clots. . All individuals, especially those who are hospitalized, should ask their healthcare professional for a VTE risk assessment, a questionnaire that gathers medical information to discern a patient's potential risk factors for developing blood clots. Stay active and hydrated. If you plan to sit still for a long period of time, set an alarm for five minutes before every hour, and use that time to get up, walk around and stretch. Staying immobile for long periods of time can increase the risk of blood clots. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can cause blood to thicken, resulting in blood clots. To learn more about blood clots, visit www.worldthrombosisday.org. About World Thrombosis Day Launched in 2014 and held annually on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day aims to increase public, healthcare professional and health care systems' awareness of thrombosis and, ultimately, reduce unnecessary deaths and disabilities from thromboembolic disease through a greater awareness of its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. The mission of World Thrombosis Day supports the World Health Assembly's global target of reducing premature deaths by non-communicable disease by 25 percent by 2025, as well as the World Health Organization's Thirteenth General Programme of Work 20192023, the Montevideo Roadmap 2018-2030 on NCDs and the Political Declaration of UNGA' Third High-level Meeting on NCDs. The ISTH and WTD participating organizations are grateful for the support of the corporate supporters, including the Trailblazers: Bayer; Bristol Myers Squibb; Pfizer; and Johnson & Johnson, the Champions: Daiichi-Sankyo; Sanofi; and Viatris, the Contributors: Inari Medical; and Leo, and the Impact Partners: Aspen; Cardinal Health; Roche; Stago; Sysmex; and Total CME. Visit www.worldthrombosisday.org for more information and to get involved. About the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,500 clinicians, researchers, and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees, and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at www.isth.org. SOURCE International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Related Links www.isth.org 66% of Canadian Consumers Plan to Celebrate Normally, Compared to 80% of US Consumers CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space, has launched a new Canadian holiday sentiment study to understand the impact of the pandemic and vaccination status on upcoming holidays, and specifically, how Canadian consumers plan to celebrate, shop and spend for Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve 2021. The sentiment survey of more than 2,800 Canadian consumers shows the following key findings: Overall, Canadian consumers are more cautious than US consumers when it comes to resuming holiday celebrations. Two-thirds (66%) of Canadian consumers expect to celebrate one or more upcoming holidays normally, compared to 80% of US consumers. Similarly, half of Canadian consumers (53%) say they have celebrated at least one holiday normally in 2021, compared to three-quarters (75%) of US consumers. Halloween 2021: 4 in 5 Canadian consumers expect COVID-19 to impact their Halloween plans, with 63% expecting a slight impact, and 19% expecting a significant impact. Of the Canadian consumers who typically celebrate Halloween, nearly 1 in 10 (9%) say they will not celebrate in 2021. Trick-or-treating sees one of the largest declines among Halloween celebration plans, down 13 points from typical years. 29% of vaccinated consumers say they plan to trick-or-treat, compared to nearly half (46%) of unvaccinated consumers (those who do not plan to get the vaccine). Fewer Canadians plan to buy Halloween candy than their US counterparts. In typical years, 90% of consumers in both countries purchase Halloween candy. In 2021, 84% of US consumers plan to do so, compared to 78% of Canadians. Christmas 2021: More than a quarter (27%) of Canadian consumers plan to buy Christmas gifts on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. 17% say they plan to spend more on Christmas gifts this year compared to typical years. The majority of Canadian consumers plan to buy their Christmas gifts from Mass (66%) and/or Online retailers (62%). This is followed by Club stores (40%), Specialty retailers (29%), Drug stores (26%), Grocery stores (17%), and Home Improvement stores (12%). Canadian consumers are planning to shift Christmas food and drink spend from traditional Grocery stores (-10 points vs typical years) to channels like Mass (+3.9 points), Club (+3.5 points), Delivery Services (e.g. Instacart, DoorDash, etc.) (+0.7 points), and Online (+0.2 points). New Year's Eve 2021: Fewer Canadian consumers plan to buy alcoholic beverages for 2021 New Year's Eve celebrations. 68% of consumers say they plan to buy alcohol this year, compared to nearly three-quarters (74%) of consumers in typical years. Canadian consumers remain cautious about New Year's Eve celebrations. Activities like attending parties (-17 points), gathering with family and friends (-10 points), and going out for food or drinks (-11 points) are all seeing double digit point drops compared to typical years. Despite impending vaccine requirements for air and train travel, unvaccinated consumers are more likely to travel than vaccinated consumers. While many are planning to avoid travel for this New Year's Eve (down 6 points in 2021), those who do not plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine are twice as likely as vaccinated consumers to say they would travel (13% unvaccinated vs. 6% vaccinated). The Numerator 2021 Q4 Canada Holiday Survey was fielded from 9/24/21 to 9/27/21 to 2,877 Canadian consumers. The 2021 Q4 US Holiday Survey was fielded from 9/15/21 to 9/17/21 to 5,092 US consumers. About Numerator Numerator is a data and tech company bringing speed and scale to market research. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Numerator has more than 2,400 employees worldwide. The company blends proprietary data with advanced technology to create unique insights for the market research industry that has been slow to change. The majority of Fortune 100 companies are Numerator clients. SOURCE Numerator Related Links numerator.com LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 9fin, a leading provider of data, news and predictive analytics for debt capital markets, has today announced an 8M Series A round to fuel its expansion into the US. The company is opening a New York office following increased demand from existing customers in Europe. The latest investment was led by Redalpine, alongside previous investors in the company, Fly Ventures. Angel investors Paul Forster, Co-Founder of Indeed, and Alan Morgan, Co-Founder of MMC Ventures, also participated along with Ilavska Vuillermoz Capital and a number of high net worth individuals. To date 9fin has secured over 10M in funding, including backing from Seedcamp and AI Seed Fund. Co-founded by Steven Hunter and Hussam El-Sheikh, long-time friends from University, 9fin was created to provide faster, smarter intelligence for the debt capital markets community. The inspiration for the venture came from the founders' extensive industry experience of working within investment banking and financial technology respectively. Steven Hunter, Co-Founder and CEO of 9fin, commented, "Debt capital markets is the world's largest asset class, but it operates using the worst quality data, information, and technology. Many companies in this space aren't large listed businesses, they're privately owned, that means important information about them isn't readily or easily available. When I worked in banking and asset management, I felt like I'd been teleported back 40 years in terms of the data and technology our market used. Finding simple things like earnings, price sensitive news flow, and key offering documents was incredibly painful. 9fin was created to fix that." Hunter continued, "We're delighted to have the backing of new and existing investors in this round. The Redalpine team has a very strong track record of FinTech investments. We're excited to welcome Aleksandra to our board, lending her capital markets and operational expertise to our team. In the last year we've used our analytics to predict multi-billion dollar deals, saved analysts hours of manual data extraction and allowed funds to spot lucrative trading opportunities. This fundraise will allow us to rapidly scale and bring similar benefits to new customers, asset classes and geographies." 9fin's tech platform uses machine learning and computer vision to extract and standardise debt capital markets data in real time. The company's predictive analytics helps its customers save time, spot trading opportunities and increase their share of the $65bn of debt capital markets fees earned by advisors each year. Within the last year, the company has quadrupled its number of clients, tripled the size of its team and partnered with the European Leveraged Finance Association on legal data and analytics. The Series A investment will be used to expand into the US market, with the company opening a New York-based office following strong client demand. Initial hiring in New York will focus on content, analytics and business operations. 9fin is also hiring across its sales, marketing, product and engineering teams. It expects to double its current team of 30 people before the end of the year. Aleksandra Laska, Partner at Redalpine, added "We are delighted to back Steven and Huss, they're an incredibly driven team who have the ambition, network, and know-how to turn 9fin into a massive business. They have deep industry expertise in debt capital markets and have experienced the pain of poor-quality information first hand. Faster, better quality data has huge value within this space. Whether that's predictive analytics to spot new business opportunities or freeing up an analyst team's time through automating the manual collection of data." Laska continued, "As well as a very impressive product offering, the team has built powerful customer relationships with the largest financial institutions in the world. We're excited to support them as they grow in the US market." For more information, go to 9fin.com Notes to Editors Press Kit: Available Here About 9fin 9fin is the faster, smarter way to find leveraged finance intelligence. Through an AI-powered data and analytics platform, 9fin centralises everything that's needed to analyse a credit or win a mandate in one place, helping subscribers win business, outperform their peers, and save time. Product offerings include: News alerts, Financials, Covenants, Comparables, Deal predictions, ESG, and Search. 9fin is trusted by nine of the top 10 investment banks, funds managing over 52bn of high yield assets under management and award-winning advisory and law firm franchises. About Redalpine Redalpine is a leading European early stage venture capital investor focused on disruptive innovation and with a broad sector investment strategy from health-tech to ICT startups. Redalpine's diverse team supports the 70+ portfolio companies not only with financial investment, but also with its in-house operational and subject matter expertise and extensive international network. Redalpine's ambition is to help talented entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality and scale their businesses into international success stories. SOURCE 9fin PARK RIDGE, Ill., Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an Oct. 5 letter to President Biden, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) President Dina Velocci, DNP, CRNA, APRN, drew attention to the benefits the healthcare sector could incur with the elimination of anti-competitive policies. Velocci called upon the White House Competition Council to develop robust provider nondiscrimination rules, remove unnecessary regulatory barriers such as Medicare's physician supervision requirement for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists' (CRNA) services, and implement full practice authority for CRNAs working in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). CRNAs play an essential role in ensuring that patients have access to critical anesthesia services, especially in rural and other underserved populations. Policies that increase competition among healthcare facilities will drive down healthcare costs and increase access to care for patients, allowing them to receive the care they need for surgery, labor and delivery, trauma stabilization, and chronic pain management. "Meaningful implementation of [the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021] is important to protect patient access to critical services provided by CRNAs and other advanced practice providers (APPs) from discriminatory practices in the private insurance market," wrote Velocci. "CRNAs, and other APPs acting within the scope of their license or certification under applicable state law or regulation, have experienced discrimination with respect to participation in and coverage of procedures that are clearly included in their state scope of practice. Such discrimination impairs access to needed healthcare services, consumer choice and competition, and impairs efforts to control healthcare cost growth. Further, this discrimination violates the federal provider nondiscrimination provision." The AANA also urged the White House to make the Medicare waiver of the physician supervision requirement for CRNAs permanent. "The [waiver] has shown the important need for healthcare professionals to work to the top of their scope to care for patients and highlights the important role that CRNAs play in our healthcare system . During this pandemic, we have seen barriers to CRNA practice removed at both the state and federal levels, allowing CRNAs to provide critical, lifesaving care to patients. CRNAs are practicing independently during this crisis, working under stressful conditions in facilities across America, providing invaluable support by using their expertise in rapid systems assessment, airway management, managing ventilators, vascular volume resuscitation, placing of invasive lines and monitors, overseeing complex hemodynamic monitoring, emergency preparedness, and resource management." Data shows that physician supervision does not impact quality of care and can increase costs. In addition, the AANA drew attention to a United States Federal Trade Commission recommendation in 2016 to allow CRNAs working in all VHA facilities to practice at the top of their scope without barriers. However, today CRNAs are not allowed to work independently throughout the VHA. "Allowing CRNAs to work to the top of their scope also provides inherent cost savings," wrote Velocci. To help ensure veterans have the high-quality care they have earned, AANA calls for development of national standards of practice that allow CRNAs and other providers to practice without supervision barriers. SOURCE American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology ALYI has undertaken the design and development of an electric motorcycle intended to build, advance, and expand the company's overall proprietary electric vehicle intellectual property. As part of the ongoing research initiative, ALYI has engaged iQSTEL (OTCQX: IQST) to design a battery solution that meets the challenging requirements specific to an electric motorcycle constrained by limited space for a battery. ALYI indicates that IQST has clearly set itself apart in the electric motorcycle market for battery solutions and expects IQST to even be potentially recognized industry wide as a leading solution for smaller electric vehicle battery solutions. The ALYI Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle is a byproduct of the company's research initiative. To support the company's ongoing electric vehicle research and to also support the company's branding as an electric vehicle market contender, ALYI will produce a limited series of Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycles for sale in North America. ALYI is a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem company. ALYI management repeatedly emphasizes that the electric vehicles are just the tip of an overall electric vehicle ecosystem . ALYI has recently published an overview of its electric vehicle ecosystem strategy covering both the design and production of electric vehicles and the array of impacts and considerations necessary for electric vehicles to replace combustion engine powered transportation to include the increased production of electricity: ALYI Understanding The Cryptocurrency Backed EV Ecosystem Behind The EV Company ALYI is launching its electric vehicle ecosystem in Africa where the transportation market is far from saturated and the opportunity exists to introduce consumers to a transportation solution for the first time, rather than convincing them to exchange one mode of transportation for another. Africa and the rest of the world's developing economic regions where ALYI will go next, provide a technology leapfrog opportunity. The United States and other economically developed regions are resistant to innovation when the innovation requires replacing an existing solution. Purveyors in developed economic regions are resistant to spending money on an innovation that may produce a superior solution, when a passable and profitable solution is already in place, and consumers are resistant to adopting any change in their daily routine. ALYI believes the best opportunity for electric transportation innovation resides in the developing economic regions of the world. ALYI is kicking off its electric vehicle ecosystem strategy in Africa with the introduction of electric motorcycles into the motorcycle taxi market. ALYI has recently announced that it expects to generate its first revenue this year from the sale of electric motorcycles in Africa designed for the motorcycle taxi market. Specifically, ALYI intends to generate $2 million by year end from the sale of electric motorcycles. ALYI has partnered with Revolt Token to finance ALYI's growth by offering democratized participation in the electric vehicle ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about Revolt Token and how to participate in ALYI's electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com . Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno [email protected] +1-800-713-0297 SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Nashville is hosting its 4th annual Real Men Wear Pink (RMWP) campaign throughout the entire month of October. 44 local leaders in Nashville have stepped up and committed to engage the community in the Society's mission to eliminate breast cancer. These individuals are using the power of wearing pink to draw attention to the cause, events, and social media to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society's breast cancer initiatives. Co-chairing the Nashville campaign is former Tennessee Titan wide receiver and current Principal of Centennial High School in Franklin, Dr. Kevin Dyson, and Co-Owner of Sinema and 8th & Roast and current American Cancer Society board member, Q-Juan Taylor- two individuals passionate about leading the fight against breast cancer. "I am excited to engage with motivated and empathetic supporters with the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in hopes to inspire others to support such a worthy cause. Most everyone has been affected by breast cancer, and it is an honor to participate in this campaign to help raise awareness," shared Dyson. "This year's class of Nashville Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors are an impressive, highly dedicated group of community leaders. We are thrilled that so many influential men in Nashville are willing to stand with us in the fight against breast cancer. This cause has touched each one of them and we appreciate everything they are doing to raise awareness and fund groundbreaking research", added Associate Director of Development for the American Cancer Society in Tennessee, Audrey Williams. This year, the Nashville campaign has set a goal to raise $175,000. To make a donation or to learn more about the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in Nashville, visit www.realmenwearpinkacs.org/nashvilletn. About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. We invest in lifesaving research, provide 24/7 information and support, and work to ensure that individuals in every community have access to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. For more information, visit cancer.org. Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE American Cancer Society in Tennessee ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE American: AMPE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the advancement of immunomodulatory therapies for prevalent inflammatory conditions, today announced the appointments of Howard Levy, M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D., M.M.M., as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and J. Kevin Buchi and Michael Martino to the Ampio Pharmaceuticals Board of Directors. Dr. Levy, Mr. Buchi, and Mr. Martino bring extensive experience to Ampio as CEOs, senior executives, and board members of both private and public biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies. Ampio also announced the promotion of Holli Cherevka to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ms. Cherevka has served as Ampio's COO since 2017. "With the announcement of what we view to be positive clinical trial results in severe osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) and the progress in our clinical trials focused on intravenous and inhaled Ampion used as a therapy in COVID-19, it was clearly time to strengthen the Board of Directors and realign the management team to prepare Ampio for its next phase," said Mike Macaluso, Chief Executive Officer of Ampio. "At this time, it is critical to ensure the infrastructure and talent are in place long-term to support key strategic initiatives and any potential licensing agreements or partnerships involving the Ampion platform. Howard Levy, Kevin Buchi, and Michael Martino's requisite knowledge and depth of experience in successfully leading organizations in similar situations will provide Ampio additional guidance and perspective, and I welcome them to the team." "In addition, Holli Cherevka has provided the senior leadership for all of our clinical, operational, and regulatory activities for the past several years, and this promotion is well deserved," continued Macaluso. "Her taking on the role of President, the continued progress of our clinical programs, and the integration of the expertise offered by Messrs. Levy, Buchi, and Martino will allow me to work remotely while taking time to continue medical treatment to address chronic and acute injuries that I have ignored for many years." Howard Levy, M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D., M.M.M., Chief Medical Officer Dr. Howard Levy has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working with both public and private biotechnology companies on clinical and drug development strategy and execution. He was most recently Chief Medical Officer of Catalyst Biosciences, Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Levy was the Senior Global Medical Program Director at CSL Behring; Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals; Chief Medical Officer at Sangart, Inc.; Associate Vice President, Clinical Research, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, at Novo Nordisk; Clinical Research Physician and Medical Director, Acute Care in the U.S. Medical Division of Eli Lilly and Company. He was also Chief of Critical Care Medicine at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque for 11 years. Dr. Levy holds M.B.B.Ch. and Ph.D. degrees from University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a M.M.M. from Carnegie Mellon University's H. John Heinz III College. J. Kevin Buchi, Board Member J. Kevin Buchi is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Cephalon, Inc., having also served as corporate vice president of global branded products at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited after Teva acquired Cephalon in October, 2011. Mr. Buchi also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Buchi joined Cephalon in 1991 and held various leadership positions during his tenure, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, before becoming Cephalon's Chief Executive Officer in 2010. In addition, Mr. Buchi currently serves as a Director of Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Benitec Biopharma Ltd, as well as Chairman of the Board and Independent Director of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Buchi previously served on the boards of several pharmaceutical companies, including EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Forward Pharma A/S. He holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Cornell University and a Master of Management, Accounting, and Finance from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Michael A. Martino, Board Member Michael Martino has extensive experience in the life sciences, spanning a 35-year career. He is currently acting-CEO and Director of HemaFlo Therapeutics, a start-up developing a novel therapy for Acute Kidney Injury, and serves on the board of Caravan Biologix, a start-up developing novel drugs, primarily for oncology. Prior to HemaFlow, Martino was President and CEO of Ambit Biosciences, a San Diego-based company developing a drug to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia, from November, 2011, to November, 2014. Under his leadership, Ambit initiated a large, multi-national Phase 3 study; secured $25 million in private financing; completed a $90 million IPO; and ultimately sold the company to a large, Japanese pharmaceutical company for $450 million in cash plus future milestone payments. Mr. Martino previously served as CEO, President, and a Director of Arzeda, a synthetic biology company, and Sonus Pharmaceuticals, an oncology drug development company. He was also a founding Director at Excision Biotherapeutic, Martino 's career began with Mallinckrodt, where he held over 20 discreet assignments in planning, business development, marketing, and general management over his 17-year tenure. Martino has a BBA from Roanoke College, where he served as a Trustee from 2016 to 2020, and a MBA from Virginia Tech. Holli Cherevka, President and Chief Operating Officer Holli Cherevka has served as Chief Operating Officer of Ampio Pharmaceuticals since 2017. Ms. Cherevka joined Ampio in 2013 as the company's vice president of operations, overseeing clinical, regulatory and manufacturing operations, and all phases of product development. In her time at Ampio, she oversaw product development including securing key FDA agreements; building Ampio's current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing facility; presenting Ampio's data at scientific and investor conferences; and has successfully expanded product development into COVID-19. Throughout her career she has provided site leadership, strategic planning, contractor management, and product portfolio leadership. Previous to Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Cherevka was the Director of Business Development at the American College of Radiology (ACR) Image Metrix, and Manager in Clinical Operations at BioClinica. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Chico, and holds a Master's of Science in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research from King's College, London. About Ampio Pharmaceuticals Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the advancement of immunomodulatory therapies to treat prevalent inflammatory conditions for which there are limited treatment options. Ampio's lead drug, Ampion, is backed by an extensive patent portfolio with intellectual property protection extending through 2037 and will be eligible for 12-year FDA market exclusivity upon approval as a novel biologic under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). Ampio believes there is a substantial competitive advantage from its proprietary production capability in terms of scale and cost. Forward Looking Statements Ampio's statements in this press release that are not historical fact, and that relate to future plans or events, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "design," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ampio's expectations with respect to Ampion, the progress and results of Ampio's clinical trials, the strength of Ampio's patent portfolio and intellectual property protection, including its eligibility for FDA market exclusivity and the likelihood of Ampion's approval as a novel biologic under the BPCIA, all of which are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties involved include those detailed from time to time in Ampio's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, under Ampio's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ampio undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Media Contact Katie Kennedy [email protected] 610-731-1045 SOURCE Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Related Links http://www.ampiopharma.com LONDON, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquadrill LLC ("Aquadrill" or the "Company") and a subsidiary of Vantage Holdings International (the "Manager") have reached an agreement to provide the Capella, an MPD outfitted 6th generation drillship, for a two well contract plus two priced optional wells for operations in Indonesia. The rig will be contracted to Premier Oil Andaman Limited for one well and subcontracted to Repsol Andaman B.V for a second well. The total contract value for the firm portion of the contract is expected to be approximately $42 million and work is expected to commence in Q1 2022 following the completion of its current contract, transitioning the rig to the new Manager, relocation of the rig from Malaysia to Indonesia and contract preparation. The contract is expected to run into mid Q3 2022. In the event the options are exercised and the work scope is similar to the firm wells, the rig is expected to be available in late Q4 2022 / early Q1 2023 and the total additional contract value is expected to be approximately $37 million. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement. CONTACT: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com SOURCE Aquadrill LLC NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What: Texas Ban Potentially Conflicts with Federal Requirements As Texas Governor Bans Certain Vaccination Mandates, Conflicts May Arise with Federal Requirements Anticipated for Private Employers and Those Already in Place for Federal Contractors Why: On October 11, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order stating that no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19. The order extends the governor's previous prohibition against government-mandated vaccination to private employers. It also suspends conflicting orders and statutes. "The state executive order has the potential to conflict with federal vaccination requirements anticipated for private employers and those already in place for federal contractors. To the extent that the governor's order conflicts with federal government requirements, businesses that rely on federal funding or reimbursement, such as health care, energy, agriculture, and transportation, may be put into a difficult positionaccept federal assistance or comply with the Texas order." Pamela Wolf, Senior Legal Analyst at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Potentially Conflicting Federal Requirements: Governor Abbott's executive order comes, at least partly, in response to President Joe Biden's plan announced on September 9 to require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated, or show a negative test at least once a week. Because the U.S. Department of Labor has not yet issued the planned emergency rule, it is unknown whether, and to what extent, that federal rule will conflict with Governor Abbott's executive order. Notably, though, President Biden's plan includes the option of requiring a negative test at least once a week for those who remain unvaccinated, an option that may alleviate any conflict with the Texas Governor's executive order. Businesses that contract with the federal government will also face difficulty because they must meet federal requirements that contractor employees be fully vaccinated no later than December 8, 2021 , or on the first day of a new, renewed, or extended contract. There are accommodations under those requirements for contractor employees who are not vaccinated due to a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. However, there is no exception to mandatory vaccination due to "a reason of personal conscience," as provided in Governor Abbott's executive order. Governor Abbott's executive order comes, at least partly, in response to President plan announced on to require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated, or show a negative test at least once a week. Because the U.S. Department of Labor has not yet issued the planned emergency rule, it is unknown whether, and to what extent, that federal rule will conflict with Governor Abbott's executive order. Notably, though, President Biden's plan includes the option of requiring a negative test at least once a week for those who remain unvaccinated, an option that may alleviate any conflict with the Governor's executive order. Businesses that contract with the federal government will also face difficulty because they must meet federal requirements that contractor employees be fully vaccinated no later than , or on the first day of a new, renewed, or extended contract. There are accommodations under those requirements for contractor employees who are not vaccinated due to a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. However, there is no exception to mandatory vaccination due to "a reason of personal conscience," as provided in Governor Abbott's executive order. Supersedes Conflicting Orders and State Statues: Governor Abbott's executive order is crafted to supersede any conflicting order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster. The order suspends Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.108 of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and any other relevant statutes, to the extent necessary to ensure that local officials do not impose restrictions in response to the COVID-19 disaster that are inconsistent with his latest executive order. Governor Abbott's executive order is crafted to supersede any conflicting order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster. The order suspends Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.108 of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and any other relevant statutes, to the extent necessary to ensure that local officials do not impose restrictions in response to the COVID-19 disaster that are inconsistent with his latest executive order. Governor Abbott's Justifications: The governor's executive order cites several rationalizations for his prohibition on private employer vaccine mandates, including: The governor's executive order cites several rationalizations for his prohibition on private employer vaccine mandates, including: His previous series of orders aimed at protecting the health and safety of Texans, ensuring uniformity throughout the state and achieving the least restrictive means of combatting the evolving public health threat. That COVID-19 vaccines "are strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, but must always be voluntary for Texans." His prior orders prohibiting governmental entities and certain others from imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates or requiring vaccine passports. Federal government overreach: "the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten the state's continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster." Texans who "fear losing their livelihoods because they object to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination for reasons of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19." Legislature's Primary Role Over Immunizations: Governor Greg Abbott also noted that via Chapter 161 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and other laws, including Chapters 38 and 51 of the Texas Education Code, the legislature has established its primary role over immunizations, and that all immunization laws and regulations in Texas stem from the laws established by the legislature. Further, the legislature has provided exemptions permitting people to opt out of mandatory vaccination for reasons of conscience or medical reasons. On October 11 , Abbott sent a letter to the Chief Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate adding this vaccination issue as an item to the Third Special Session agenda so that it can be considered for legislation. The governor said that this latest executive order will be rescinded upon the passage of such legislation. Who: Pamela Wolf, J.D., Senior Legal Analyst Pamela Wolf, J.D., is a senior employment legal analyst at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. who tracks and analyzes employment issues including White House and federal agency developments, federal regulations, court decisions, state and federal legislation, and labor and employment trends. Pamela can discuss the further anticipated conflicts that may arise throughout Texas following the ban, and what employers, employees, and residents should expect in the coming months. Contact: To arrange an interview with Pamela or other legal experts from Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. on this or any other related topics, please contact Linda Gharib: [email protected] About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACT: Linda Gharib Director, Brand & Communications Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Related Links https://www.wolterskluwer.com Now more than ever what, when, and how you communicate is critical. Tweet this Crisis Management Litigation and Investigations Financial Restructurings and Chapter 11 Cases Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Fintech Discrimination, Bias, and Diversity Healthcare Corporate Positioning and Reputation Management "The world is becoming increasingly polarized, and nowmore than everwhat, when, and how you communicate is critical to preserving and creating value and protecting reputation," said Steven Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer. "We founded August on the conviction that the best way to achieve excellence in helping clients tell their stories during their times of greatest need is by cultivating a team with deep expertise and empowering individuals to do their best work. We are dedicated to creating an environment that offers our people fulfilling development and growth opportunities that will set them up for success in their professional careers and in their personal lives." "I am excited to be joining this outstanding group of professionals who are committed to delivering results for clients that support business objectives, mitigate reputational harm, and preserve value," said Ellen Davis, Senior Managing Director and Head of the Crisis and Litigation Practices. "I have had the privilege of honing my skills as a strategic advisor alongside some of the most talented practitioners in the business, and this new firm represents an opportunity for me to deploy those skills in a collaborative environment that will draw upon each of our specialized areas of expertise, ensuring the best outcomes for our clients." August's founding team includes: Steven Goldberg , Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Financial Restructuring Practice Mr. Goldberg is a former corporate attorney and brings 20 years of experience advising clients on many of the most complex legal issues, crises, and financial restructurings of the past two decades. He has highly specialized skills in developing communications strategies that balance reputational and legal objectives. His training and practice as an attorney taught him the value of gathering facts, anticipating issues, and applying a multi-disciplinary approach to strategic communications. , Mr. Goldberg is a former corporate attorney and brings 20 years of experience advising clients on many of the most complex legal issues, crises, and financial restructurings of the past two decades. He has highly specialized skills in developing communications strategies that balance reputational and legal objectives. His training and practice as an attorney taught him the value of gathering facts, anticipating issues, and applying a multi-disciplinary approach to strategic communications. Ellen Davis , Senior Managing Director and Head of the Crisis and Litigation Practices Trained as an attorney, Ms. Davis has been recognized by Chambers and Partners as a top-tier strategic advisor who has advised clients on high-profile, high stakes litigation and other crises. Her practice is informed by decades of experience in government, news media, and strategic communications. , Trained as an attorney, Ms. Davis has been recognized by Chambers and Partners as a top-tier strategic advisor who has advised clients on high-profile, high stakes litigation and other crises. Her practice is informed by decades of experience in government, news media, and strategic communications. Steve Ginsburg , President and Head of the Diversity, Bias, and Discrimination Practice Mr. Ginsburg is an attorney, spokesperson, and leading practitioner who specializes in preparing for and responding to incidents of bias and discrimination. He joins August from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) where he helped manage crises by building trusted relationships with and among educators, activists, law enforcement, elected officials, philanthropists, and business leaders. He is regularly consulted by media, elected officials, and corporate executives on how to address issues of diversity. , Mr. Ginsburg is an attorney, spokesperson, and leading practitioner who specializes in preparing for and responding to incidents of bias and discrimination. He joins August from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) where he helped manage crises by building trusted relationships with and among educators, activists, law enforcement, elected officials, philanthropists, and business leaders. He is regularly consulted by media, elected officials, and corporate executives on how to address issues of diversity. Beau Falgout , Managing Director and Head of the Healthcare Practice Mr. Falgout brings differentiated, in-house healthcare expertise gained during his strategy and M&A roles at Medtronic. He has designed direct-to-patient marketing campaigns, led M&A integration communications, and developed internal communications strategies all with an eye toward compelling and empathetic narrative development. As an external communications advisor, he has served clients across the healthcare sector involved in crises, M&A, and regulatory disclosure issues, as well as in investor relations and corporate positioning campaigns. , Mr. Falgout brings differentiated, in-house healthcare expertise gained during his strategy and M&A roles at Medtronic. He has designed direct-to-patient marketing campaigns, led M&A integration communications, and developed internal communications strategies all with an eye toward compelling and empathetic narrative development. As an external communications advisor, he has served clients across the healthcare sector involved in crises, M&A, and regulatory disclosure issues, as well as in investor relations and corporate positioning campaigns. Nate Johnson , Managing Director and Head of the Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Fintech Practice Mr. Johnson has more than eight years of public relations and strategic communications experience, during which he has helped some of the biggest names in tech and other industries navigate their most critical inflection points. His expertise includes a focus on blockchain and digital assets. As an avid member of the crypto community since 2014, he brings a deep and nuanced understanding of the space, its key players, and the technology driving it. , Mr. Johnson has more than eight years of public relations and strategic communications experience, during which he has helped some of the biggest names in tech and other industries navigate their most critical inflection points. His expertise includes a focus on blockchain and digital assets. As an avid member of the crypto community since 2014, he brings a deep and nuanced understanding of the space, its key players, and the technology driving it. Jenny MacMichael , Director, Chief of Staff, and Head of Employee Development and Empowerment Ms. MacMichael has more than five years of experience in strategic communications and takes a thoughtful, analytical approach to narrative development to help clients achieve key objectives. She is an advocate of proactive team member development and is a firm believer in the significance of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to strengthen the firm and client results. , Ms. MacMichael has more than five years of experience in strategic communications and takes a thoughtful, analytical approach to narrative development to help clients achieve key objectives. She is an advocate of proactive team member development and is a firm believer in the significance of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to strengthen the firm and client results. Tierney Anderson , Associate and Assistant Chief of Staff Ms. Anderson's experience in strategic communications and nonprofit fundraising has given her an appreciation for organizations that use their platforms to "do well by doing good." She recognizes that client results are most successful when they are the product of collaboration, inclusion, and integrity. Tierney has provided support to clients involved in a wide range of special situations and key inflection points, including complex crises, litigations, IPOs and SPAC transactions, cybersecurity matters, and long-term corporate positioning campaigns. "Our objective is to guide our clients through frequently uncharted territory with steady, thoughtful, and dynamic counsel," said Mr. Johnson. "I'm excited to bring that to bear in the blockchain and digital assets space. This highly technical, digitally-native industry has given rise to a host of unprecedented communications challenges and regulatory scrutiny. We intend to leverage our deep industry experience to help companies and organizations effectively communicate the value proposition of their technologies, navigate regulatory concerns, and achieve mainstream adoption." "One of the most difficult challenges facing leaders and organizations in today's social and political environment is how to understand and authentically communicate about issues of diversity, bias and discrimination," said Mr. Ginsburg. "These are emotionally charged, often divisive, and always delicate matters. Effective responses are swift, empathic, and deliver meaningful change anything less is likely to further alienate stakeholders. I am thrilled to be part of the August team and look forward to helping our clients develop and implement best-in-class communications strategies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and protect and strengthen reputation, brand, and value." The August team is based in Los Angeles and New York, and the Firm has capabilities to serve clients across North America. The Firm also plans to establish a presence in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in 2022. About August August is a specialized strategic communications advisory firm based in Los Angeles and New York that advises clients on matters in several specific areas based on the unique expertise of the professionals in the firm, including: crisis management; litigation and investigations; financial restructurings and Chapter 11 cases; diversity, bias, and discrimination; blockchain, digital assets, and fintech; healthcare; and corporate positioning and reputation management. For more information, please visit www.AugustCo.com. Contact Steven Goldberg/Ellen Davis/Nate Johnson [email protected] 323.892.5562 SOURCE August LLC Related Links https://www.augustco.com PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Automotive Scissor Lift Market by Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, and Heavy Commercial Vehicles), Product Type (Hydraulic Scissor Lift and Pneumatic Scissor Lift), Lifting Capacity (Up to 5,000 lb, 5,00110,000 lb and More than 10,000 lb), and Rise Level (Low, Mid and High): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030." According to the report, the global automotive scissor lift industry generated $205.4 million in 2020, and is estimated to generate $386.3 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2030. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities Surge in automobile production, trend of vehicle customization, and increase in stringent workplace safety regulations drive the growth of the global automotive scissor lift market. However, high initial investments and rise in safety issues related to scissor lifts hinder the market growth. On the other hand, untapped developing markets such as Africa and Asia-Pacific and increase in automobile maintenance & repair activities create new opportunities in the coming years. Download Report (266 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12647 Covid-19 Scenario Production activities in the automotive sector were stopped completely or partially due to lockdown measures and lack of workforce in factories. This, in turn, affected the demand for automotive scissor lifts in the production factories. The demand for automotive scissor lifts reduced further as the repair and maintenance activities of vehicles slowed down. The lockdown measures resulted in reduced usage of vehicles and thereby, lowering the need for maintenance and repairs. The demand would be restored during the post-lockdown as the daily operations in the automotive sector begin and the commuting through private vehicles restart. Request for Customization at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/12647 The passenger cars segment to continue its lead position during the forecast period Based on vehicle type, the passenger cars segment accounted for the highest share in 2020, holding around four-fifths of the global automotive scissor lift market, and is estimated to continue its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to its vital role in the transportation industry. However, the heavy commercial vehicles segment is expected to manifest the highest CAGR of 9.6% from 2021 to 2030. This is attributed to rise in demand for safety features in vehicles and stringent government regulations across the world. The hydraulic scissor lift segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period Based on product type, the hydraulic scissor lift segment held the largest share in 2020, contributing to nearly three-fourths of the global automotive scissor lift market, and is projected to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is estimated to portray the fastest CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to numerous advantages such as fewer moving parts that make them safer and more economical to use as compared to other lifts and ease of control. The report also analyzes the pneumatic scissor lift segment. Interested to Procure the Data? Inquire here at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/12647 Europe, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America, to continue its leadership status by 2030 Based on region, Europe, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America, contributed to the highest market share in 2020, holding more than two-fifths of the global automotive scissor lift market, and is estimated to continue its leadership status by 2030. This is due to increased technological advancements and surge in vehicle production across the region. However, LAMEA is projected to register the fastest CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period, owing to rise in implementation of smart technologies in the region. Leading market players ARI-HETRA BendPak Inc. Challenger Lifts Inc. EAE Automotive Equipment Co. Ltd. Hunter Engineering Company MAHA Maschinenbau Haldenwang GmbH & Co. KG. Nussbaum Custom Lifts GmbH PEAK Ravaglioli S.p.A. Rotary Lift Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts to Find Solutions for Your Business at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/12647 Similar Reports We Have on Automotive Industry: In-Space Manufacturing, Servicing and Transportation Market by Operation (Transportation, Manufacturing and Servicing), and End Use (Military, Government and Commercial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030. Hands-Free Power Liftgate Market by Type (Fully Automatic and Semi-Automatic) and by Application (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicle): Global Opportunities Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017 2030. Electric Scooter Lift and Carrier Market by Type (Interior, Platform, Crane Style, Exterior, Outside, Hitch-Mounted, and Wheeled), Application (Public Transportation, Personal Mobility, and Others), and Sales Channel (Direct Sales and Online Sales): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030. About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | SOURCE Allied Market Research SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global B2B e-commerce marketplaces by power tools & accessories market size is projected to reach USD 15.11 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 18.1% from 2021 to 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting both buyers and sellers to consider third-party digital channels to buy and sell power tools, thereby driving the growth of the market over the forecast period. Manufacturers of power tools primarily rely on direct sales via e-commerce websites and distributors for selling their products. However, the growing popularity of third-party marketplaces, such as Amazon.com and eBay, owing to various marketing and promotional strategies, such as high discounts and coupons, these marketplaces pursue are particularly proving lucrative for power tool manufacturers.. Key Insights & Findings: The drills segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020 and is expected to continue dominating the market over the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the easy availability of sophisticated, lightweight drills featuring long-lasting batteries at affordable prices Amazon.com, Inc. is expected to gain a significant market share in terms of revenue due to its large customer base Asia Pacific , led by China , and North America , led by the U.S., are expected to contribute significantly to the growing regional demand over the forecast period. The growing customer bases of Alibaba and Amazon.com, both of which allow buyers to purchase in bulk at discounted prices, are expected to contribute to the growth of the two regional markets Read 120 page market research report, "B2B E-commerce Marketplaces By Power Tools & Accessories Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Drill, Saws, Wrenches, Grinders, Sanders), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", by Grand View Research The sales of power tools witnessed single-digit growth in the B2B marketplaces in 2020. However, they are expected to grow significantly over the next seven years. Marketplaces, such as Amazon.com, eBay, and Alibaba.com, have gained significant popularity among buyers worldwide. Bulk discounts and contractual pricing have typically triggered a paradigm shift in the buyers' attitude toward these e-commerce marketplaces, which bodes well for the growth of the market over the forecast period. The preference for DIY among individuals for home improvement activities is growing significantly, thereby encouraging e-commerce marketplaces to increase their Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) to cater to the rising demand for DIY tools. Home improvement activities typically call for power tools, such as power drills, circular saws, impact wrenches, hammer drills, and grinders. They can help individuals in various home improvement activities, such as roofing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and landscaping, among others. E-commerce marketplaces offer a wide range and options for buyers to choose the power tools of their choice. Various key functionalities, such as comparison of products on various parameters, coupled with transparency in features and prices are particularly encouraging buyers to prefer B2B e-commerce marketplaces over other channels, thereby contributing to the growth of the market over the forecast period. Grand View Research has segmented the global B2B e-commerce marketplaces by power tools & accessories market based on product and region: B2B E-commerce Marketplaces By Power Tools & Accessories Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Drills Saws Wrenches Grinders Sanders Others B2B E-commerce Marketplaces By Power Tools & Accessories Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K Germany France Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa List of Key Players of the B2B E-commerce Marketplaces By Power Tools & Accessories Market Alibaba.com Amazon.com, Inc. ChinaAseanTrade.com DIYTrade.com eBay Inc. eworldtrade.com Ferguson Enterprises, LLC. Flipkart.com IndiaMART InterMESH Ltd. Quill Lincolnshire, Inc. W.W. Grainger, Inc. Browse through Grand View Research's coverage of the Global Next Generation Technologies Industry Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Bahrain has launched the fastest regional multi-modal logistics hub in the region with only a 2hr turnaround time for all containers - meaning products can be with customers in half the time and at 40% of the cost. The launch of the "Bahrain Global Sea-Air Hub" capitalizes both on Bahrain's strategic position midway between European and Asian markets as well as on its proximity to regional target markets by establishing the most efficient multimodal sea-air transshipment hub in the region with a global reach. The hub relies on streamlined clearance procedures, optimized logistics, and full digitization to achieve an end-to-end lead time of just under two hours for goods transiting from Bahrain International Airport to Khalifa bin Salman Port, and vice versa. These gains translate to a 50% reduction in average lead time compared to pure sea freight and a 40% reduction in cost compared to pure air freight. Accordingly, Bahrain's sea-air hub serves as a valuable alternative for manufacturers and freight forwarders, particularly in the context of the ongoing shipping crisis. Bahrain will grant Partner status in this initiative to all markets globally which will allow for granting their nationally based companies the opportunity to become an authorized Trusted Shipper at the Bahrain's Global sea-to-air logistics hub. Bahrain Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, H.E Kamal bin Ahmed said: "The launch of this Global Sea-to-Air logistics hub, the fastest in the Middle East, here in Bahrain is a real opportunity not only for global logistics companies but also for exporters across the world. This service can lead to 40% cost savings compared to air freight only and 50% faster lead times than pure sea freight." He added: "We can only do this because of our unique position, the proximity of our ports, as well as our regulators, operators and port authorities working closely together and our state-of-the-art digital processing solution." This hub will enable the growth of the Bahrain logistics sector which will contribute to further diversify the Kingdom economy. Bahrain non-oil GDP year-on-year growth reached 7.8% in Q2 in 2021. The operating cost within the logistics sector is 45% lower in Bahrain compared to neighboring markets, as per KPMG 2019 report "Cost of Doing Business in Logistics". This has positioned Bahrain as an attractive destination for global and regional businesses operating within the sector. About Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) is the government body responsible for the development and regulation of the Kingdom's transportation and telecommunications infrastructure and systems. With the overarching objective of enhancing the quality of life and facilitating the movement of people and goods via land, sea, and air transport in line with the Economic Vision 2030, MTT is tasked with developing streamlined and sustainable transportation and telecommunications industries to support the Kingdom's economic growth. Website: www.mtt.gov.bh Twitter: @MTTBahrain Instagram: @mtt_bahrain SOURCE Bahrain Economic Development Board As more and more cities look to integrate shared micromobility into the climate action plans that focus on reduced carbon emissions in their communities, technology that prevents sidewalk riding has become increasingly important. Through its collaboration with u-blox, Bird co-developed the industry's first robust, integrated sensor fusion system that tracks location with centimeter-level precision. By combining u-blox's ZED-F9R high precision dead reckoning module with centimeter-level sidewalk mapping and Bird's suite of onboard vehicle sensors, the integrated system effectively and efficiently detects and prevents sidewalk or footpath riding in real time. For example, as opposed to traditional GPS with cloud based maps that can take more than 15 seconds to respond, Bird's new smart sidewalk protection solution can safely bring a vehicle that has entered onto a sidewalk to a safe stop while allowing the rider to walk the vehicle back to the roadway or bike lane. "Everything we build at Bird is centered around safety and scalability, sidewalk riding detection is no exception," said Scott Rushforth, Chief Vehicle Officer at Bird. "After three years of building, testing and piloting a range of technologies including but not limited to on board cameras, GPS tracking, ultra-wideband and beacons, we found that each was insufficient with regard to accuracy, precision, immediacy or scalability. Our testing led us to a collaboration with u-blox which resulted in the development of our end-to-end sensor fusion solution that meets our criteria." "We are very excited about this collaboration between u-blox and Bird," said Alex Ngi, Product Manager Positioning at u-blox. "Our centimeter-level precise GNSS positioning technology will now be implemented in the expanding micromobility industry, strengthening our contribution to a safer and more ecological world." Availability Bird's sidewalk detection technology is currently being piloted in Milwaukee and San Diego, and is expected to be piloted in Madrid in early 2022. For more about Bird's Sensor Fusion Solution that prevents sidewalk and footpath riding visit: www.bird.co/blog. About Bird Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in more than 300 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there. On May 12, 2021, Bird announced that it entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Switchback II Corporation (NYSE: SWBK). About u-blox u-blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global technology leader in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their smart and reliable solutions, services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity, u-blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative and reliable solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. For more information, visit: https://www.u-blox.com/en. SOURCE Bird Bitcoin of America sent their all-female team to the largest Bitcoin conference in the world, Bitcoin 2021 Miami. BOA's female team is hoping to encourage other women to join the industry. Alice Gorodetsky, Director of Business Development, shared her thoughts on the industry. Gorodetsky explained, "Male presence is huge in the technology sector and in the crypto space. I am excited to be part of an inclusive company like Bitcoin of America who encourages women to succeed in a male dominant industry." Bitcoin of America is currently hiring and looking to expand their female team. They are looking to promote women within the cryptocurrency industry and help give them a voice. Jenna Polinsky, Director of Marketing, spoke out about her experiences working in a male dominant industry. Polinsky mentioned, "I am lucky to be part of a team that values everyone's opinions. I have had a positive experience working for Bitcoin of America and am hoping to use my influence to help encourage other women to join the industry. Bitcoin of America is Registered as a money services business with the United States Department of Treasury, (FinCEN) Bitcoin of America offers several different services including Bitcoin ATMs, Bitcoin Tablets, and an online exchange. BOA has been known to provide fast and hassle-free transactions to their customers while offering top of the line customer support, which makes them one of the best in the industry. SOURCE Bitcoin of America Related Links https://www.bitcoinofamerica.org NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has added key challenges and trends for real estate activity industry profiles on their platform. All 84,000+ company profiles will now contain 50+ company data points, including a list of potential challenges which are expected to impact market participants over the next few years. Snapshot of key challenge impacting BizVibe's real estate activities industry group. One challenge which is being highlighted is a decline in house sales. The economic and financial depression caused by the pandemic have led to a severe decline in real estate transactions. Housing sales activities as well as housing prices have declined significantly in most regions. With housing transactions down, the business volume of real estate appraisers and other related service providers has been negatively impacted. By identifying such challenges, BizVibe is helping users analyze which suppliers are right for their business, while allowing them to efficiently monitor the risk of doing business. Get Free Access to all Industry Challenges Key Insights Provided for Real Estate Companies In addition to analysis on how key challenges are expected to impact businesses, BizVibe company profiles contain numerous high-quality insights to help users discover, track, compare, and evaluate suppliers or sales prospects. These insights include: Relevance and influence of industry trends and challenges, segmented by region Press releases and news coverage referencing key trends and challenges Risk of doing business score, segmented by operational, financial, compliance, and country risk Top company competitors at the global, regional, and national levels Names of top company decision makers, including job titles and social profiles Company financials such as annual revenue, profitability ratios, and management effectiveness View 50+ Company Data Points for Free Real Estate Activities Product and Service Categories BizVibe's platform provides access to over 10 million buyer and supplier company profiles. Businesses from more than 200 countries are categorized into 40,000+ product and service categories, each providing detailed insights tailored to the needs of procurement and sales teams globally. The real estate activities industry group features 84,000+ company profiles categorized into 10+ product and service categories, enabling clients to identify and connect with potential new business partners across diverse market segments. Product and service categories for the real estate activities industry include: Real estate investment services Real estate photography services Real estate virtual tour services Agricultural property management services Building management companies Get Free Company Profile Access for all Categories BizVibe for Buyers and Sellers BizVibe is a modern B2B platform dedicated to connecting buyers and sellers from around the world. Powered by the latest best-in-class solutions, BizVibe is designed to help companies generate leads, shortlist suppliers, request proposals, and identify global companies. Evaluate companies side-by-side to compare key metrics and initiate productive partnerships. Buyers use BizVibe to discover suppliers from among more than 5 million companies using advanced search filters and comparison tools. Features for buyers include: Shortlist potential suppliers Track and compare companies Set up custom news alerts Quickly create and customize RFIs Explore BizVibe's buyer services: https://www.bizvibe.com/buyers Sellers can take advantage of BizVibe's smart sales intelligence tools to discover, evaluate, and communicate with prospects across 300+ categories. Features for sellers include: Identify and qualify sales prospects Receive customized prospect recommendations Analyze and evaluate potential buyers Integrate CRMs for efficient data transfer Discover BizVibe's seller tools: https://www.bizvibe.com/sellers About BizVibe BizVibe has been conceptualized and built by a team based out of Toronto, Bangalore, and London. We are a branch of Infiniti Research and have dedicated units in all three locations. BizVibe helps buyers find the most relevant suppliers from around the world and helps sellers target prospects who need their products and/or services. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com and start for free today. Contact BizVibe Jesse Maida Email: [email protected] +1 855-897-5880 Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/ SOURCE BizVibe Related Links https://www.bizvibe.com/ BOOM! Moto distributes 100% electric motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters and is located in Oklahoma. Owner and CEO, Jeff Holley was in contact with Mr. Snipes in March of 2021 before the release of the film on Amazon about developing a character themed electric motorcycle. The film enjoyed a remarkable opening, scoring #1 in streaming that weekend and the #1 opening weekend of the past year. Its Virtual Premiere day, resulted in 5.6 billion global views. Following the success of the film, progress resumed on the project to create a custom designed motorcycle to raffle off to one lucky winner later in the year. BOOM! Moto worked with PDG+creative, a local marketing agency to create the art and produce the graphic to wrap the bike. Learn more about the film at DaywalkerExperience.com and enter to win the bike at wesleysnipes.boommoto.com. "If you're gonna do it, do it 'Izzi style' and make it go BOOM!" Wesley Snipes BOOM! Moto distributes 100% electric, low-to-no maintenance eMotocyles, eBicycles, and eScooters that present various advantages: NO Gas, NO More Oil Changes, NO More Clutch Replacement, NO More Air Filter Change, NO Timing Belt, NO Spark Plugs, NO Adjusting Clutch Cables! SOURCE boom! Mobile Converting sentences into quantum circuits, 'lambeq' accelerates the development of practical QNLP applications as quantum computing systems scale CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Quantum ("CQ") today announced the release of the world's first toolkit and library for Quantum Natural Language Processing (QNLP). The toolkit is called lambeq, named after the late mathematician and linguist Joachim Lambek. lambeq is the world's first software toolkit for QNLP capable of converting sentences into a quantum circuit. It is designed to accelerate the development of practical, real-world QNLP applications, such as automated dialogue, text mining, language translation, text-to-speech, language generation and bioinformatics. lambeq has been released on a fully open-sourced basis for the benefit of the world's quantum computing community and the rapidly growing ecosystem of quantum computing researchers, developers and users. lambeq works seamlessly with CQ's TKET, the world's leading and fastest-growing quantum software development platform that is also fully open-sourced. This provides QNLP developers with access to the broadest possible range of quantum computers. lambeq was conceived, designed and engineered by CQ's Oxford-based quantum computing research team led by Chief Scientist Bob Coecke, with senior scientist Dimitrios Kartsaklis, Ph.D., as chief architect of the platform. lambeq, and QNLP more broadly, is the result of a research project stretching back over a decade. "Our team has been involved in foundational work that explores how quantum computers can be used to solve some of the most intractable problems in artificial intelligence," said Coecke. "This work was based on advances originally pioneered by me, Steve Clark, now CQ's Head of AI, and others. NLP sits at the heart of these investigations. The release of lambeq is the natural next step after the publication a few months ago that provided details of the world's first QNLP implementation by CQ on actual quantum computers, and our initial disclosure of the foundational principles in December 2019." "In various papers published over the course of the past year," Coecke added, "we have not only provided details on how quantum computers can enhance NLP but also demonstrated that QNLP is 'quantum native,' meaning the compositional structure governing language is mathematically the same as that governing quantum systems. This will ultimately move the world away from the current paradigm of AI that relies on brute force techniques that are opaque and approximate." lambeq enables and automates the design and deployment of NLP experiments of the compositional-distributional (DisCo) type that CQ scientists have previously described. This means moving from syntax/grammar diagrams, which encode a text's structure, to either (classical) tensor networks or quantum circuits implemented with TKET, ready to be optimised for machine learning tasks such as text classification. lambeq has a modular design so that users can swap components in and out of the model and have flexibility in architecture design. lambeq removes the barriers to entry for practitioners and researchers who are focused on AI and human-machine interactions, potentially one of the most significant applications of quantum technologies. TKET has gained a worldwide user base now measured in the hundreds of thousands. lambeq has the potential to become the most important toolkit for the quantum computing community seeking to engage with QNLP applications that are amongst the most important markets for AI. A key point that has become apparent recently is that QNLP will also be applicable to the analysis of symbol sequences that arise in genomics as well as in proteomics. Merck Group, a launch partner and early adopter of lambeq, recently published a research paper on QNLP as part of a project with the innovation programme Quantum Entrepreneurship Laboratory from the Technical University of Munich. Thomas Ehmer from Merck's IT Healthcare Innovation Incubator and co-founder of the Quantum Computing Interest Group, said, "Using the unique features of quantum computing for fundamental breakthroughs is an important part of our research at Merck. Our recently disclosed project in QNLP with researchers from TU Munich has proven that binary classification tasks for sentences using QNLP techniques can achieve results comparable even at this stage to existing classical methods. Clearly, the infrastructure around quantum computing will need to advance before these techniques can be employed commercially. Critically, we can see how the approach employed in QNLP opens the route towards explainable AI, and thus to more accurate intelligence that is also accountable - which is critical in medicine." "There is a lot of interesting theoretical work on QNLP, but theory usually stands at some distance from practice," said Kartsaklis. "With lambeq, we give researchers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on experimental aspects of QNLP, which is currently completely unexplored ground. This is a crucial step towards reaching the point where practical, real-world NLP applications on quantum hardware become a reality." lambeq has been released as a conventional Python repository on GitHub and is available here: https://github.com/CQCL/lambeq. The quantum circuits generated by lambeq have thus far been executed and implemented on IBM quantum computers and Honeywell Quantum Solutions' H series devices. The toolkit is introduced by a technical report uploaded on arxiv available here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.04236. A more generally accessible blog post can be found here: https://medium.com/cambridge-quantum-computing/quantum-natural-language-processing-ii-6b6a44b319b2. Technical enquiries can be directed to [email protected]. In recent years, NLP-based applications have become ubiquitous across sectors worldwide, from customer service and consumer technology to healthcare and advertising. According to industry analysts, the global NLP market is expected to be worth $127.26 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of nearly 30 percent[1]. About Cambridge Quantum Founded in 2014 and backed by some of the world's leading quantum computing companies, CQ is a global leader in quantum software and quantum algorithms, enabling clients to achieve the most out of rapidly evolving quantum computing hardware. CQ has offices in Europe, USA, and Japan. On 8th June 2021, CQ announced a merger with Honeywell Quantum Solutions which is expected to close in Q4 2021. For more information, visit CQ at http://www.cambridgequantum.com and on LinkedIn. Access the source code for lambeq, TKET, Python bindings and utilities on GitHub. [1] https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/natural-language-processing-nlp-market-101933 SOURCE Cambridge Quantum Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas companies might not be able to take part in the fair. Therefore, the fair will invite multinational companies' buyers, agents and branches in China, overseas-invested companies, cross-border e-commerce companies and Chinese buyers to attend, said Zhang Jinsong, director of the department. Invitations to domestic buyers are also being expanded to large-scale supermarket chains, department store groups, cross-border e-commerce firms, and supply chain management companies in order to contribute to China's dual-circulation growth pattern. The fair, better known as the Canton Fair, will be held on and offline from Oct 15 to Nov 3 in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province. It is estimated to attract about 100,000 offline exhibitors, mostly branded enterprises, and many online participants. To introduce China's key industrial clusters and connect them with internationally renowned purchasing groups, 52 online promotion activities across 40 countries and regions will be held. Fair organizers have been improving services to enhance buyer participation and improve their experience. For example, conference participation guide videos have been produced in seven languages, and "one-to-one" and "one-to-many" training and guidance services are being provided for VIP buyers. Alexey Fedotov, chairman of the China Branch of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, was deeply impressed by the fair's services. "The exhibition organization and the services have always been of a high level, ranging from the visitor registration and the security inspection system, to the full support for the imports and exports of Chinese goods," he said. He noted that the trade volume between Russia and China has been increasing year by year, and the fair has played an important role as a trade platform for both sides. "It has pioneered in exploring new foreign trade fields and in the diversification and integration of export markets," he said. This year, the fair will feature 51 exhibition areas in 16 commodity categories, including electronics and home appliances, hardware tools, machinery, consumer goods, gifts, home decor, textiles and clothing. The fair's first Pearl River International Trade Forum will allow experts in global economy, trade and finance to give keynote speeches focusing on the global economy. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring Cross, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development of advanced medicines and enabling access to cures for all patients, everywhere, announced that its Co-founder and Executive Director Boro Dropulic, Ph.D., M.B.A., will be a featured participant in the "Democratization of Access to Transformative Cell and Gene Therapies" panel at the Meeting on the Mesa 2021 conference in Carlsbad, CA. The annual meeting brings together senior executives and top decision-makers in the industry to advance cutting-edge research into and address commercialization opportunities involving cell and gene therapy. Details of the presentation are as follows: Panel: "Democratization of Access to Transformative Cell and Gene Therapies" Event: Meeting on the Mesa 2021 Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Time: 7:15-8:45 a.m. PT Registration: https://meetingonthemesa.com/registration/ "The clinical successes of CAR-T cell and other gene-therapies has opened the possibility for developing curative therapies for many diseases," Dr. Dropulic said. "However, the current price of such therapies limits patient access, particularly in underserved and less-developed communities around the world. It is important that both non-profit and for-profit stakeholders work together to lower the cost of such therapies with business models that are impactful, sustainable and bring value to investors and stakeholders alike." Caring Cross recently launched its first initiative focused on CAR-T cell therapy utilizing manufacturing and distribution models that enable affordability and accessibility of these therapies to diverse patient populations and treatment indications. The non-profit aims to provide opportunities for both non-profit and for-profit innovators to change the way advanced medicines, like CAR-T cell therapies, are developed and how they are provided to patients in need. In support of this endeavor, Caring Cross has created a community of highly experienced scientists, entrepreneurs and community advocates that are currently working with more than 100 clinical sites around the world to enable affordable and sustainable place-of-care manufacturing of CAR-T cells, with outstanding clinical results observed thus far. Among Caring Cross' affiliations is the Global Gene Therapy Initiative (GGTI), which was formed in 2020 to tackle the barriers to low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) inclusion in gene therapy development and includes diverse stakeholders from all sectors. GGTI has set a goal of introducing two gene therapy Phase I clinical trials in two LMIC, Uganda and India, by 2024. GGTI recently published a paper in Gene Therapy entitled, "Working Group Report for the Global Gene Therapy Initiative (GGTI)," that points to the massive gap between the companies, clinics, and researchers developing advanced therapeutic approaches and their availability to the patients who need them. The paper details the geographic exclusion of LMIC in gene therapy development and patients' lack of access to gene therapies in these areas, particularly for HIV infection and hemoglobinopathies global health crises impacting tens of millions of people primarily located in LMIC. Caring Cross was also recently awarded a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the GGTI program for training of personnel from the Joint Clinical Research Center (JCRC) in Uganda on the methods for manufacturing gene-modified cell products. The training will occur at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Adair. "The Global Gene Therapy Initiative, or GGTI, is an alliance of scientists, engineers, clinical investigators and community advocates that aim to accelerate access to validated gene therapies in low- and middle-income countries, by grassroots community involvement, fostering education and training, infrastructure development and implementation of clinical trials," Dr. Adair said. "Our goal is to implement clinical trials in countries like Uganda and India by 2024." Dr. Cissy Kityo, Executive Director of the JCRC, commented: "We are pleased to receive support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to train our personnel on how to manufacture gene-modified cell therapy products locally at our facilities and plan to implement clinical trials in the future targeting diseases such as HIV and Sickle Cell Disease." About Caring Cross Caring Cross is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development of advanced medicines and ensuring access to cures for all patients, everywhere. To enable its mission, Caring Cross is mobilizing a growing community of healthcare professionals, scientists, engineers, community advocates, donors, investors and business leaders to support the development of technologies and candidate medicines and technologies. Currently, Caring Cross is advancing several initiatives that aim to improve the accessibility, affordability and applicability of CAR-T technology and stem cell gene therapy. These opportunities include developing and implementing affordable solutions for the manufacture of CAR-T cells, advancing a decentralized, place-of-care cell manufacturing model, and developing its first therapeutic candidate, an anti-HIV duoCAR-T cell therapy designed to suppress HIV replication and eliminate HIV-expressing cells in people with HIV. A stem cell gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-Thalassemia is also in development. For more information on Caring Cross visit https://caringcross.org/. CONTACT Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Investors Lisa Sher 970-987-2654 [email protected] Media Ingrid Mezo 646-604-5150 [email protected] SOURCE Caring Cross Related Links http://www.caringcross.org MIAMI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced it has been named as one of the World's Best Employers of 2021 by Forbes, a leading source of business news worldwide. Presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, the prestigious annual listing honors the best international employers from over 35 major industries, including travel and leisure. In Forbes' fifth annual survey, Carnival Corporation whose nine popular cruise line brands include namesake Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in the U.S., along with AIDA Cruises, Cunard, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia was ranked among the best 750 employers in the world based on results and feedback from 150,000 full- and part-time workers at multinational companies and institutions from 58 countries. The full list of the World's Best Employers for 2021 is available on the Forbes website. "We are honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of the top employers in the world, and we are extremely proud of our talented and passionate team members whose dedication and commitment is the foundation of our success," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "We fully embrace the importance and value of providing an inclusive and supportive work environment for all of our colleagues, and operating with integrity, trust and respect for each other. We are grateful to see the hard work of our entire team lead to recognition of this magnitude." Frizzell added: "Our ongoing focus to create one of the best places to work in the world is reflected in our highest responsibility and top priority, which is compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we visit, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel." The Forbes World's Best Employers list was determined through a globally administered independent survey of more than 150,000 employees in 58 countries working full- or part-time. Participants were asked to anonymously evaluate their current employer based on factors such as willingness to recommend their company to family and friends, while also providing recommendations for other employers in their industry. Respondents also ranked their satisfaction with various aspects of the overall employee experience, including working conditions, salary, potential for growth and diversity. Based on these direct and indirect employee recommendations, along with public perception scores, Forbes included only the top 750 companies out of thousands of organizations considered for the recognition. This latest honor as a top international employer is the most recent in a series of recognitions Carnival Corporation has earned for excellence in the workplace in 2021, including a separate listing from Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation was named a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award Winner honoring the best 100 U.S. places to work and earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, designating the company as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Carnival Corporation was also recognized for its commitment to corporate social responsibility leadership by Newsweek on its second annual list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2021. Most recently, the company was named as one of the Best Companies for Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine. The recognition for excellence in the workplace underscores Carnival Corporation's commitment to support diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its companywide operations and to provide a positive and empowering corporate culture for all its shipboard and shoreside employees. The company's success is a direct result of its employees, who represent nearly 150 countries across the globe and have helped create a collaborative and dedicated workforce committed to consistently exceeding guest expectations and providing extraordinary vacations for millions of guests around the world. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com. SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc Related Links www.carnival.com DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Experienced business trial lawyer Brian Shaw and intellectual property litigator Dr. Chad Ray have joined Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal LLP as partners, further bolstering the firm's considerable strengths in those practice areas. "Brian and Chad are exceptionally talented, accomplished attorneys," said Carrington Coleman Managing Partner Monica Latin. "They bring expertise that complements the firm's existing practices to better serve the needs of our clients. We are pleased to welcome them to our firm." Mr. Shaw has successfully tried high-profile, high-stakes lawsuits and arbitrations involving partnership disputes, shareholder rights, business divorces, and litigation involving contracts, oil and gas, employment, insurance coverage, construction, probate, bankruptcy and other corporate matters. He has also served as lead counsel in state and federal appellate courts. His business litigation work earned recognition in the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers legal guide. He is a 2006 graduate of Baylor University School of Law and is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow. He joins the firm from the Rogge Dunn Group, P.C. As a trial attorney and registered patent lawyer, Dr. Ray focuses his practice on patent litigation involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, electronics, chemicals, and automotive components at trial and before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He holds undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry. Dr. Ray's experience as a research scientist provided him broad technical expertise as he developed scientific instrumentation for the study of chemical and biological materials by repurposing the tools of nanotechnology. He earned his law degree in 2011 from the University of Michigan Law School. He joins Carrington from the Dallas office of Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP, and previously practiced at the Chicago office of Jenner & Block, LLP. Also joining the Dallas-based law firm is litigation associate Tania Sethi whom Alex More, head of the Litigation Practice Group called "an excellent addition" for the firm. Ms. Sethi is an experienced litigation attorney and certified alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mediator. She earned her law degree from the Baylor University School of Law in 2017. She joins the firm from Clark Hill Strasburger. About Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP Carrington Coleman is a 51-year-old Dallas-based law firm focused on litigation and transactional services in the real estate, oil and gas, securities, construction, professional services, technology, and health care industries, among others. The firm provides counsel in corporate transactions, corporate governance, banking, bankruptcy/restructuring, intellectual property, litigation and appeals, employment, and family wealth/estate planning. Learn more about the firm at www.carringtoncoleman.com. Media Contact: Rhonda Reddick 800-559-4534 [email protected] SOURCE Carrington Coleman NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light pressing health disparities in the U.S., especially in the area of mental health. The stressors and economic fallout from the pandemic have disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities, revealing a need for a new approach to service delivery. To address this mental health treatment gap, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Associate Professor and Center for Innovation in Mental Health Director Victoria Ngo, Harlem Health Initiative Director Deborah Levine, and Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement Executive Director Malcolm Punter are working with Healthfirst Managed Care, Coordinated Behavioral Care, and other community stakeholders to transform how mental health services are delivered in Harlem. The Harlem Strong Mental Health Collaborative received a nearly $2 million NIH grant to develop a multisectoral coalition to implement a community-wide collaborative care model to address mental health and socio-economic risks across a network of housing developments, primary care sites, and community-based organizations. "Health disparities require an integrated multisector equity-focused, community-based approach," says Ngo. "The long-term goal of our study is to develop a sustainable model for task-sharing mental health care that will be embedded in a coordinated comprehensive network of services. Now more than ever, we need to address the mental health and economic crisis for ethnic minorities and work with community partners in Harlem to build capacity for mental health care in places where people live and already go to get help for health and social services. By leveraging community assets and working across sectors to increase linkages to a wide range of community services, we hope to close the mental health treatment gap in Harlem and beyond." Ngo and team will: Examine the impact of the Harlem Strong Community Mental Health and Economic Empowerment Collaborative , a community-wide multisectoral coalition in which a health insurer works with community-based organizations and medical and behavioral health providers to problem solve financing, access, and quality of care barriers a community-wide multisectoral coalition in which a health insurer works with community-based organizations and medical and behavioral health providers to problem solve financing, access, and quality of care barriers Support capacity building for mental health task-sharing for community health workers Facilitate coordination and collaboration across mental health and behavioral health, primary care, and social services Identify a set of common metrics and strategies for continuous system quality improvement Evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of the program using a hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness design to assess effects of the Harlem Strong Collaborative on system and consumer outcomes Funding is provided by the NIH's Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity Initiative [Grant Number: 1U01OD033245-01], which backs projects aiming to prevent, reduce, or eliminate health disparities and advance health equity. About CUNY SPH The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE CUNY SPH Related Links https://sph.cuny.edu Commercial Loan Marketplace, Cerebro Capital makes two executive hires to support growth Tweet this "As our team worked hard to become a best-in-class, tech-forward marketplace for corporate borrowing, our need for best-in-class, tech driven leaders became greater and greater,'' explained Founder and CEO Matt Bjonerud. "After a careful search we're thrilled to welcome industry veterans as esteemed as Chris and Michele to join our team. Their financial acumen and experience growing businesses is welcomed and a strong cultural fit for our growing organization." Chris Dalo joins Cerebro as the organization's first Executive Vice President. In his role, Chris is responsible for leading revenue growth both tactically and strategically. He has over 30 years of experience building, growing and leading commercial lending businesses at banks, non-banks, and fintechs both in the US and internationally. Chris began his career at GE and GE Capital before moving to Standard Chartered Bank where he oversaw all credit functions for several countries and thousands of business development originators and lastly, was on the leadership team of a direct non-bank lender. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Michele Hsu joins Cerebro as the organization's new Vice President of Marketing. In her role, Michele is responsible for strategic growth marketing. Michele brings over 30-years of experience as a hands-on marketing leader for highly competitive businesses. With a deep background in database and business analysis, Michele has developed growth strategies for multiple companies in the financial sector. As Chief Marketing Officer for a specialty financial services company, Hsu also led marketing positioning initiatives, branding, and campaigns across all channels including digital, social media, and traditional media. Hsu holds a Master's of Business Administration in Marketing from Bentley University. In addition to revolutionizing corporate loan search, Cerebro has built out a niche as a thought leader on non-bank lending. The firm has created a one-of-a-kind quarterly survey of non-bank lenders to better understand the non-banking lending market. As a companion survey to the Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer survey, Cerebro's report illustrates the perspectives of private credit lenders, also known as alternative lenders, in middle-market commercial and industrial loans. About Cerebro Capital: Powered by over 1,500 commercial bank and non-bank lending institutions, Cerebro Capital ("Cerebro") is a data-driven marketplace purposefully designed to democratize access to credit markets by connecting corporate borrowers and lenders to find and close corporate loans ranging from $2 million to $100 million. Working with finance and technology experts, Cerebro has created a holistic corporate loan management solution designed to revolutionize the way borrowers, lenders, intermediaries, and stakeholders manage corporate debt. To learn more about Cerebro, please visit, https://www.cerebrocapital.com/. Contact: Marley Vawter, [email protected] SOURCE Cerebro Capital Related Links http://www.cerebrocapital.com BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Respecting and taking care of the elders, specifically one's parents, is regarded as a legacy through China's 5,000 years of civilization. The concept of filial piety goes back to 400 BC when it was mentioned in the early works by renowned ancient philosophers. Chongyang, or Double Ninth Festival, is celebrated on the 9th day of the ninth month on lunar Chinese calendar, which falls on October 14 this year. It has long been a day for Chinese to show care and love to the elderly. Busy working children would spend the day at home catching up with older relatives, with Chinese President Xi Jinping leading the way. Xi, the filial son Despite a tight schedule, Xi would take a walk with his mother, holding her hands, whenever he has time. According to CMG, there are two photos on his bookshelf: one of him taking a walk alongside his father in a wheelchair and other family members, and another of him walking with his mother. Deference to seniors has become one of Xi's traits, not just to the elderly in his family, but the entire society at large. Xi calls for respect for veterans Back in 1984, Xi, then secretary of the Zhengding County Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in north China's Hebei Province, wrote in an article that "young and middle-aged officials should respect the veterans in building a sincere relationship of cooperation, and thus work side by side and push forward the work of the Party." At that time, he called for more care for seniors. He emptied a meeting room and changed it to a recreation space for the elderly. In addition, he prioritized their hospitalization and solved many difficulties for seniors. Throughout his political career, the Chinese president has always championed the cause of elderly care. Moments demonstrating his care and respect for the elderly are quite popular. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has given a series of instructions and adopted relevant plans and arrangements to develop the country's elderly-care services and the pension system. During his domestic inspections, Xi would regularly visit elderly care facilities to check if support policies have been well implemented and the residents are given proper care. The development of an aged care system was included in the 13th Five-Year Plan and received 13.4 billion yuan (nearly $2 billion) from the central budget between 2015 and 2020. During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China will further improve the infrastructure that helps support elderly care services and improve their quality. According to the plan, the country's basic old-age insurance coverage will reach 95 percent by 2025, up from 90 percent in 2020. According to the newly released China's seventh population census, the country has 264 million people aged 60 and above and 191 million aged 65 and above, comprising 18.7 percent and 13.5 percent of the total population, respectively. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-13/-Chongyang-Festival-The-Chinese-legacy-of-filial-piety-14k7hkl3tS0/index.html SOURCE CGTN Related Links www.cgtn.com Biodiversity fund, national parks and plans to achieve carbon goals China will take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about $233 million) to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. Chinese President Xi Jinping made the announcement while addressing the leaders' summit of the COP15 via video link in Beijing on Tuesday. The fund will be used to support developing countries in biodiversity protection, Xi said, adding that China calls on and welcomes all parties to make contributions to the fund. To strengthen biodiversity protection, China is moving faster to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay, Xi noted. Over time, areas with the greatest importance to the natural ecosystem, and with the most unique natural landscapes, the most valuable natural heritage and the greatest biodiversity reserve will be included in the national parks system, he said. To achieve its carbon peak and neutrality targets, China will release implementation plans for peaking carbon dioxide emissions in key areas and sectors as well as a series of supporting measures, and will put in place a "1+N" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the president announced. China will continue to readjust its industrial structure and energy mix, vigorously develop renewable energy, and make faster progress in planning and developing large wind power and photovoltaic bases in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, Xi noted. Harmonious coexistence between man and Nature Man and Nature need to coexist in harmony, Xi said in his speech, stressing that "When we take care to protect Nature, Nature rewards us generously; when we exploit Nature ruthlessly, it punishes us without mercy." "We need to have deep reverence for Nature, respect Nature, follow Nature's laws and protect Nature, so as to build a homeland of harmonious coexistence between man and Nature," said the president. Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, Xi reiterated the signature concept he proposed in 2005. A sound ecology and environment is not just a natural asset, but also an economic asset, and it affects the potential and momentum of economic and social development, he elaborated. Xi called for more efforts to foster a green way of development and secure a win-win of economic growth and environmental protection, so as to build a homeland of coordinated advancement of economy and the environment. Xi calls for joint efforts for humanity's high-quality development Xi called on countries around the world to join hands and start a new journey of high-quality development of humanity. The development of ecological civilization should be taken as a guide to coordinate the relationship between man and Nature, Xi stressed, adding that human activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment. Xi urged efforts to let green transition drive people's efforts to facilitate global sustainable development, and called for stepping up green international cooperation to share the fruits of green development among all countries. Stressing the need to better people's well-being to promote social equity and justice, Xi noted that international law should be the basis to uphold a fair and equitable international governance system. Xi also said that the new environmental protection targets people set need to be ambitious on the one hand and pragmatic and balanced on the other. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-12/Xi-addresses-COP15-leaders-summit-via-video-link-14iuyQtyg48/index.html SOURCE CGTN Related Links www.cgtn.com GOTTINGEN, Germany, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Karin Sartorius-Herbst and LifeScience Holding SCSp ("LSH") have entered into option agreements to acquire a total portion of approximately 56.7 percent of the shares of inheritances ("Erbteile") of the Horst Sartorius community of heirs ("Erbengemeinschaft") from other members of the Sartorius family. In total, the inheritances of the joint heirship comprise 50.09% of the ordinary shares of Sartorius AG. Unaffected by the above-described transaction, all shares of the joint heirship continue to be subject to administration by the executor until mid-2028. Lothar Kappich, who is also chairman of the supervisory board of Sartorius AG, will continue to administer the executorship ("Testamentsvollstreckung") as executor of the will. Karin Sartorius-Herbst is a member of the Sartorius community of heirs since it has been established in 1998. LSH is a consortium of long-term oriented entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial families and is led by Armira. The agreement remains subject to common conditions and approvals and is expected to close by the end of 2021. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose any further details of the transaction. The changed composition of the joint heirship has no impact on the strategic direction and the management of Sartorius AG. This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future development of the Sartorius Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. This is a translation of the original German-language press release. Sartorius shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this translation. The original German press release is the legally binding version. About Karin Sartorius-Herbst Karin Sartorius-Herbst is the eldest daughter of testator Horst Sartorius. Since his death in 1998 she is a member of the community of heirs and currently holds a third of it. About Armira Armira is a Munich-based holding group that invests in established, profitable and fast-growing companies in Europe, with a focus on family businesses and technology. With its unique capital base of German and international entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurial families, Armira has the flexibility to invest without a fixed term and to focus on the long-term development of the companies. About Sartorius The Sartorius Group is a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry. With innovative laboratory instruments and consumables, the Group's Lab Products & Services Division concentrates on serving the needs of laboratories performing research and quality control at pharma and biopharma companies and those of academic research institutes. The Bioprocess Solutions Division with its broad product portfolio focusing on single-use solutions helps customers to manufacture biotech medications and vaccines safely and efficiently. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In fiscal 2020, the company earned sales revenue of some 2.34 billion euros. At the end of 2020, nearly 11,000 people were employed at the Group's approximately 60 manufacturing and sales sites, serving customers around the globe. Follow Sartorius on Twitter and on LinkedIn. Contact Petra Kirchhoff Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +49 (0)551 308 1686 [email protected] SOURCE Sartorius AG ZHANGZHOU, China, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Zenix Auto International Limited (OTC: ZXAIY) ("Zenix Auto" or "the Company"), one of the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturers in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume, today announced that the 2021 annual general meeting ("AGM") of shareholders of China Zenix Auto International Limited (the "2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders") will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Beijing time, at the Company's offices located at No. 1608, North Circle Road State Highway, Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China, 363000. Registered holders of ordinary shares at the close of business on October 26, 2021 (the "Record Date") or their proxies will be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person. Registered holders of American depositary shares ("ADSs") will be entitled to attend the AGM, but may exercise their voting rights for the underlying ordinary shares only through The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary of the ADS program. Beneficial owners of ADSs holding their securities through a financial intermediary must rely on the procedures of the financial intermediary in order to attend or exercise their voting rights at the AGM. The notice of the AGM will contain the resolutions to be submitted for shareholder approval at the AGM. It will be published on November 2, 2021 on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.zenixauto.com/en. Registered holders of ordinary shares whose names appear on the record of the Company as of the Record Date will receive the notice and other AGM materials from the Company directly. Registered holders of ADSs will receive the notice and other AGM materials from the Depositary. Beneficial owners of ADSs holding their securities through a financial intermediary will receive the notice and other AGM materials from their financial intermediary. The Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The annual report can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.zenixauto.com/en or on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. If you want to receive a paper or email copy of these documents, you may request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. You may send an email or call Donald Wang, Vice President Finance at [email protected] or +86 159 6062 3365. About China Zenix Auto International Limited China Zenix Auto International Limited is one of the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturers in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume. The Company offers approximately 883 series of aluminum wheels, tubed steel wheels, tubeless steel wheels, and off-road steel wheels in the aftermarket and OEM markets in China and internationally. The Company's products are primarily sold to large PRC commercial vehicle manufacturers and exported to over 67 distributors in more than 28 countries worldwide. With six large, strategically located manufacturing facilities in multiple regions across China, the Company has a designed annual production capacity of approximately 15.5 million units of steel and aluminum wheels as of June 30, 2021. For more information, please visit: www.zenixauto.com/en. Safe Harbor This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar terms. As forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those contained therein. Further information regarding these risks is included in our filings with the SEC. The "going private" proposal submitted to the Company on August 10, 2021 constitutes only a preliminary indication of interest from its chairman and his affiliates and does not constitute any binding commitment with respect to the transaction proposed or any other transaction. No agreement, arrangement or understanding relating to any proposed transaction, will be created until such time as definitive documentation has been executed by the Company and all other appropriate parties. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any definitive agreement will be executed relating to the "going private" proposal or any other transaction, or that any such transactions will be approved or consummated. The consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the automobile industry in general, and the financial position and operating results of our Company in particular, have been material in the first and second quarters of 2020, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Kevin Theiss Investor Relations Tel: +1-(212) 521-4050 Email: [email protected] SOURCE China Zenix Auto International Limited Related Links http://www.zenixauto.com MONETA, Va., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys for Virginia business owner and NASCAR legend Hermie Sadler prevailed in Circuit Court for Greensville County today, with the Court rejecting the Attorney General's demurrer filing. The case will proceed with the Court scheduling a December 6 hearing on Sadler's motion for injunctive relief. Sadler is asking the Court for declaratory and injunctive relief from the provisions of Virginia Senate Bill 971, which instituted a ban on skill games. The ban, which went into effect on July 1, has negatively affected revenue for hundreds of Virginia's small and family-owned businesses, including convenience stores, truck stops, and restaurants. Asserting the ban is unconstitutional, Sadler's lawsuit requests the Court restore the use of skill games in Virginia. Attorney General Herring's office filed the demurrer requesting the case be dismissed. The Court denied the Attorney General office's motions on each of the three counts in Sadler's Complaint, allowing attorneys for Sadler to proceed to trial with their contention that the law violates constitutional free speech protections and due process, as well as the vagueness and unenforceability of the statute as it is currently written. "We are grateful the Court was able to see through the Attorney General's latest and last-ditch attempt to avoid a trial in this case," said Bill Stanley, attorney for Sadler and Sadler Brothers Oil Company. "Mr. Sadler's lawsuit seeks to protect his constitutional rights and the rights of hundreds of Virginia's small and family-owned businesses. We're looking forward to December 6, when we hope the injustice and inequity of the skill games ban will be seen by the Court for what it is." "Mr. Sadler's lawsuit is exceptionally strong on the merits, putting the Attorney General's office in a near-indefensible position in moving for a dismissal," Ryan McDougle, attorney for Sadler and Sadler Brothers Oil Company, remarked. "The Court clearly understood this." "I am very pleased with the outcome of today's hearing," said Sadler. "While the wheels of justice may not move as fast as I'm used to, they still turn. Today, they turned in the right direction, guaranteeing that my business will get its day in court. December 6 will be here before we know it. I am confident that we will be successful in prevailing and restoring the constitutional rights of hundreds of small businesses across Virginia." Contact: Chad Monday, The Stanley Law Group Phone: (540) 721-6028 Email: [email protected] 13508 Booker T Washington Hwy Moneta, VA 24121 vastanleylawgroup.com SOURCE The Stanley Law Group Related Links vastanleylawgroup.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing Climavision CEO Chris Goode as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Goode as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Goode co-founded Climavision earlier this year to dramatically improve weather forecasting around the United States. Climavision is developing a weather services and intelligence platform powered by a private network of high-resolution radars, GPS-RO data, and proprietary software, to vastly improve the timing and accuracy of weather forecasting, and to fill low-level gaps in existing weather surveillance. In June, Climavision announced it had received a $100 million investment from The Rise Fund, TPG's global impact investing platform. "I am deeply honored to receive this designation from Goldman Sachs, and it is humbling to be on a list with some of the most innovative business leaders in the world," said Goode. "It undoubtedly underscores the importance of what Climavision is doing to address climate change. We are genuinely striving the make the world a better place, and people are noticing." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Chris Goode as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About Climavision Climavision brings together the power of a proprietary, high-resolution weather radar and satellite network combined with advanced weather prediction modelling and decades of industry expertise to reduce existing coverage gaps and drastically improve forecast ability. Climavision's revolutionary new approach to climate technology weather solutions is poised to help reduce the economic risks of climate change on companies, governments, and societies alike. Climavision is backed by The Rise Fund, the world's largest global impact platform committed to achieving measurable, positive social and environmental outcomes alongside competitive financial returns. The company is headquartered in Louisville, KY, with research and development operations in Raleigh, NC. To learn more, visit www.Climavision.com Press Related Questions, please contact Patrick Scanlan at [email protected]. Climavision Media Contact: Neal Stein Technology PR Solutions 321-473-7407 [email protected] SOURCE Climavision LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced that American Express has joined the Foundation as a Gold Member. American Express is a globally integrated payments company that provides customers with access to products, insights, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Over the past several years, the company has increasingly invested in cloud native development principles and practices, leveraging a number of CNCF projects, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. "We are committed to cloud native application development and to using cloud native as a standard," said Evan Kotsovinos, SVP and head of global infrastructure at American Express. "Joining CNCF was a natural extension of that commitment. Cloud native technologies help deliver the always-on experience that customers expect and deserve, and we share CNCF's goal to make cloud technology more accessible and more reliable." After modernizing its underlying infrastructure, American Express underwent an extensive application and platform transformation leveraging cloud native technology. The organization now runs a large-scale container-based cloud platform that has greatly improved application resiliency and boosted developer productivity and agility. Thanks to its fully automated CI/CD pipeline, American Express has improved quality, security, and deployment velocity across the board. "American Express is driving innovation within its own organization and is also a strong supporter of cloud native standards in the industry," said Priyanka Sharma, general manager of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "With the unique requirements of the fintech industry and the importance of uptime, speed, and security for customers, we look forward to the valuable insights and resources American Express will bring to the cloud native ecosystem." Join American Express and other CNCF members at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America in Los Angeles and Virtual, October 11-15, 2021, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon + Open Source Summit China Virtual , December 9-10, 2021, and KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe in Valencia, Spain, May 17-20, 2022. Additional Resources About Cloud Native Computing Foundation Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact Jessie Adams-Shore The Linux Foundation [email protected] SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation This event, both online and offline, with "Brave, Creative as I Can Be" as its theme, has attracted the participation of more than 9.56 million students of 4,347 colleges and universities from 121 countries and regions, with a total of 2.28 million projects involved. This competition has largely boosted the spirit and enthusiasm of college students for innovation and entrepreneurship, according to the organizer, adding that participation of college students worldwide has helped achieve the competition goal of "More National, More Global, More Educational, More Comprehensive, and More Innovative". With a separate "Undergraduate creativity team" set up, the competition organizer has tried to provide more opportunities to college students, make sure their in-depth participations, and so more "future stars" of innovation and entrepreneurship could stand out. The age limit of competition participants is 35 years old. An "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Achievement Exhibition" was also held during the competition, with the aim to highlight the achievements of colleges and universities around the country, by implementing the fundamental task of building morality and cultivating a new force for mass entrepreneurship and innovation. Despite COVID-19 situation, students from the world top 100 universities, including Oxford University, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Stanford University and MIT, formed teams to sign up for the competition. Through the combined forms of online and offline, participating teams at home and abroad have realized people-to-people communications, cultural exchanges and competitions. The event has helped built the largest communication platform for global innovation and entrepreneurship education, as well as enhanced the international impact and competitiveness of China's higher education. Besides keeping the main higher education track, vocational education track and emerging track, this competition has added an industry and business proposition track, which has caught attentions of many well-known enterprises such as Huawei, Tencent, JD, ByteDance and China Southern Airlines. This has effectively promoted the transformation of competition achievements, nurtured a good ecosystem for collaborative training of innovative and entrepreneurial talents, and promoted the transformation and application of scientific and technological innovation achievements. Inaugurated in 2015, the China International College Students' "Internet+" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has been held annually for seven consecutive years. This year's event is jointly sponsored by 12 ministries including the Ministry of Education and the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government, and is hosted by the Nanchang University and the Nanchang Municipal People's government. College Student Innovation, Entrepreneurship Competition has become an important carrier for deepening the reform of innovation and entrepreneurship education in China, a stage to help college students worldwide realize their innovation and entrepreneurship dreams, and a platform of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. SOURCE Ministry of Education of the Peoples Republic of China LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International financial firms should brace for major changes in the Asian financial industry, according to a seminar hosted by ComplianceAsia , the longest established compliance consulting firm in the Asia Pacific region. The half-day event in London provided the latest regulatory updates in key APAC jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Singapore, Mainland China, Japan and Australia, looking at Environmental, Social and Governance investing in Asia, the impact of sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) changes in the Asian financial industry and opportunities in the asset management space. During the seminar, Philippa Allen, CEO and Founder, ComplianceAsia, Alex Duperouzel, Managing Director, ComplianceAsia and Jasper Yip, Partner in the financial services practice of Oliver Wyman Hong Kong provided the latest regulatory changes around Asia Pacific and recent enforcement actions in Asia Pacific. Keynote speakers included Mr Minoru Nakamura, Minister for Financial Affairs, Embassy of Japan in the UK. Highlights included: In Hong Kong , the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC) has released amendments to the Fund Manager Code of Conduct (FMCC) and accompanying FAQs on the requirements fund managers must meet to consider climate-related risks during the investment and risk management processes along with new requirements governing the use of cloud storage and electronic data; , the Securities & Futures Commission of (SFC) has released amendments to the Fund Manager Code of Conduct (FMCC) and accompanying FAQs on the requirements fund managers must meet to consider climate-related risks during the investment and risk management processes along with new requirements governing the use of cloud storage and electronic data; In Mainland China , the People's Bank of China issued a "Notice on Further Preventing a Crackdown on Virtual Money Trading and Speculation" announcing that all virtual currency-related activities are deemed illegal financial activities. October 2021 saw the launch of the Greater Bay Wealth Management Connect Scheme which represents a way for international firms to access a current GDP of USD2.2 trillion and is projected to grow to USD4.6 trillion by 2030; , the People's Bank of issued a "Notice on Further Preventing a Crackdown on Virtual Money Trading and Speculation" announcing that all virtual currency-related activities are deemed illegal financial activities. saw the launch of the Greater Bay Wealth Management Connect Scheme which represents a way for international firms to access a current GDP of and is projected to grow to by 2030; In Australia , the Australian Treasury announced a major reversal to its plans to require foreign financial services providers to hold an Australian Financial Services License pending further consultation; and , the Australian Treasury announced a major reversal to its plans to require foreign financial services providers to hold an Australian Financial Services License pending further consultation; and New regulatory changes in Singapore introduced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) include the MAS Technology Risk Management (TRM) Guidelines, Individual Accountability and Conduct (IAC) Guidelines and Environmental Risk Management Guideline for banks, insurers and asset managers alongside enhancements to the VCC fund regime to strengthen Singapore's asset management ecosystem. Philippa Allen, of ComplianceAsia said: "Over the last two years, financial institutions in Asia are having to operate in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing regulatory environment and need to be able to respond quickly to emerging business opportunities. As a compliance consulting firm, we play an important role in helping businesses identify applicable regulations and ensure they have the appropriate internal controls in place to ensure their operations are compliant. From our four key locations in Asia Pacific, we are able to support the Asian offices of financial firms in the UK, EU and North America and reduce the regulatory burden of managing local compliance remotely from different time zones. Our seminar today in London is designed to provide practical guidance and updates to compliance officers with responsibility for offices in Asia Pacific." Alex Duperouzel added: "Financial services become more complex each year from a regulatory perspective and the Asian region is part of that trend. As major financial firms continue to see the opportunity that such a vast market presents, they need to temper that enthusiasm with the knowledge that a solid investment in understanding the regulatory environment is a must. We are pleased that we can be a part of that regulatory solution." Notes to Editors: For media enquiries or interviews with ComplianceAsia, please contact Brian Shiu at [email protected] or Sayoko Oyama at Kreab London at [email protected] or telephone: +44 7766 990 075 About ComplianceAsia ComplianceAsia is an independent compliance consulting firm in Asia Pacific, established in 2003 with key offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and London. We have an unmatched track record of completing complex compliance consulting projects for financial firms in the APAC region. With over 70 staff, including compliance experts with experience in dealing with the SFC, HKMA, MAS, CSRC, AMAC, JFSA and Asian Exchanges, we provide independent, unbiased advice on Asian financial industry legislation and regulations. Our international client base consists of asset managers, hedge funds, private equity funds, family offices, broker-dealers, insurers, wealth management and investment banks. www.complianceasia.com SOURCE ComplianceAsia CINCINNATI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Core Specialty" or the "Company") announced today that the Company entered into a new credit agreement with three banks, including BMO Harris Bank N.A. serving as administrative agent. The credit agreement provides for a $300 million unsecured revolving credit facility and carries an accordion feature allowing for an additional $100 million of capacity, subject to customary terms and conditions (the "Credit Facility"). The new Credit Facility has a maturity date of October 14, 2024, and includes two one-year extension options to the extent agreed by the relevant lenders. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate, which ranges from LIBOR plus 1.00% to 1.50% depending on the Company's financial strength rating determined by A.M. Best. Any borrowings under the new Credit Facility will be used for general corporate purposes; providing flexibility for Core Specialty's strong balance sheet and continued strategic growth initiatives via organic and inorganic opportunities. BMO Capital Markets Corp.; Fifth Third Bank, National Association; and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acted as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners for Core Specialty's new Credit Facility. About Core Specialty Core Specialty offers a diversified range of property and casualty insurance products for small to mid-sized businesses. From underwriting offices spanning the U.S., the Company focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge, offering traditional as well as innovative insurance solutions to meet the needs of its customers and brokers. Core Specialty is an insurance holding company operating through StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, a U.S. excess and surplus lines insurer, and StarStone National Insurance Company, a U.S. admitted markets insurer. The Company is rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best. For further information about Core Specialty, please visit www.corespecialty.com. Press Contact: Sam Reinhardt Associate Vice President Prosek Partners +1 646 818 9244 [email protected] SOURCE Core Specialty Insurance Holdings Institutional investors' adoption of ESG remains strong as anti-corruption, cybersecurity and climate change are top ESG concerns TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The adoption of environmental, social and governance ("ESG") integration remains strong amongst global institutional investors, while a significant group has also placed greater emphasis on ESG considerations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the 2021 RBC Global Asset Management ("RBC GAM") Responsible Investment Survey. The 2021 survey highlighted that while ESG adoption remains near peak levels amongst institutional investors globally, there is a sizable group of institutional investors (29%) who have placed greater emphasis on ESG considerations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These investors are also the most vigorous supporters of ESG as an enabler of investment performance, as nearly all of this group (97%) believe ESG integrated portfolios are likely to perform as well or better than non-ESG integrated portfolios, a significant difference compared to the overall global respondents who said the same (83%). Among this same group of investors who have strengthened their commitment towards ESG incorporation as a result of the pandemic, 80% believe ESG integration helps generate long-term sustainable alpha (versus 51% of the total respondents), and 88% believe that ESG integration helps mitigate risk (versus 61% of the total respondents). In addition, this group had the strongest opinions on the diversity of corporate boards, with 70% saying board gender diversity targets should be adopted (versus 47% of the total group). While the number of investors who use ESG appears to have plateaued over the past several years, there remains a geographic divide when it comes to adopting ESG principles. European investors remain most committed to ESG adoption for the fifth straight year, with 96% of European respondents using ESG in their investment approach. In contrast, U.S. investors remain the most skeptical, with just 64% of respondents using ESG. Although a strong majority of Canadian investors adopt ESG principles, this year saw a slight decrease, as 81% of respondents said they used ESG principles still a strong majority but down from 89% last year. Asian investors continue to show an increase in ESG adoption, with 76% of respondents using ESG principles this year, compared with 72% in 2020. "The findings suggest that for the most ESG committed investors, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of hardwiring environmental sustainability and social equality into their investment process," said My-Linh Ngo, Head of ESG Investment and Portfolio Manager at BlueBay Asset Management LLP. "The pandemic has impacted governments, companies and individuals in unprecedented ways, and it will continue to reshape how society and the economy operates going forward. We think this presents a unique opportunity for investors to review and recalibrate how they incorporate ESG considerations into their investment practices." "Over the past five years, our data has clearly demonstrated that institutional investors are convinced of the merits of ESG adoption, and are committed to incorporating ESG in their investment approach to help mitigate risk and generate long-term sustainable alpha," said Melanie Adams, Vice President and Head of Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment at RBC Global Asset Management. "In a year where ESG risks such as COVID-19, high profile cyber breaches and climate-driven weather events dominated headlines, it will be interesting to see how perceptions toward ESG will continue to evolve." Other key findings from the survey include: Investors are most concerned by anti-corruption, cybersecurity and climate change: The RBC GAM survey asked respondents to rank which ESG issues they are concerned about when investing. Anti-corruption ranked first globally for a second consecutive year. With the backdrop of recent headlines on data-hacking incidents and ransomware attacks around the world, cybersecurity jumped to the second-highest priority, after being ranked fourth in 2020. Climate change was the third-highest priority, after being ranked second last year. European investors are paying closest attention to climate change; regulation is a key driver for ESG incorporation: An overwhelming majority of European investors (80%) said they address climate risk in their investment policy a 15 percentage point jump from last year, and a significant divergence from other regions (32% in Asia, 31% in Canada and 20% in the U.S.). This divergence could be attributed to the European regulatory environment, as 45% of European investors said government regulations are a top reason for incorporating ESG in their investment portfolios, compared to just 12% of global respondents. Diversity on boards shows a split: Less than half of global investors (41%) said corporate boards should adopt visible minority diversity targets, almost unchanged from last year. Conversely, investors who said these targets should not be adopted by boards jumped to 35% this year, versus 28% last year. A similar trend was also apparent for gender diversity targets on boards: 47% globally said that boards should adopt gender diversity targets, which was consistent with last year, while those opposed rose to 35%, up from 26% last year. Europe and Canada had the strongest support for gender diversity targets, at 57% and 54%, respectively. On fossil fuels, engagement continues to outpace divestment: By a four-to-one margin, global investors said that engagement (45%) is more effective than divestment (10%) within the fossil-fuel free context, up slightly from 40% in 2020 and 39% in the year prior. Over the last three years, there has been no growing support for divestment amongst institutional investors, indicating a clear preference for engaging in dialogue with companies. ESG in a Pandemic World is RBC GAM's fifth annual global survey of institutional investors' perceptions regarding responsible investment. For this year's report, RBC GAM surveyed 805 institutional asset owners, investment consultants and investment professionals in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia between May and July 2021. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 88,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. About RBC Global Asset Management RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and includes RBC Global Asset Management Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, RBC Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, and BlueBay Asset Management LLP, which are separate, but affiliated subsidiaries of RBC. RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. The RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately $580 billion CAD in assets and have approximately 1,500 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc. Related Links https://www.rbc.com/ Designed for the perfect wind-down, Snooze Bites combine a unique 1:1 ratio of fast-acting THC and long-lasting CBN. The scientifically developed formula incorporates 5mg of nano-encapsulated THC, which is made by creating tiny, water-soluble molecules from cannabis oil and is therefore quickly absorbed into the bloodstream with effects typically experienced within 15 to 30 minutes. When paired together with 5mg of CBN - a cannabinoid typically known for its relaxing and restorative qualities - users can expect a heightened combined experience. According to BDS Analytics , the top reason adults choose to consume edibles is to "sleep better." Demand for CBN sleep products has surged in the country's top markets, reportedly generating $43 million in sales across California, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon in the first two quarters of 2021. "Our R&D team is constantly working to elevate and customize the cannabis experience, and Select's latest product innovation reflects Curaleaf's ongoing commitment to our customers' unique lifestyles and preferences," said Joe Bayern, CEO of Curaleaf. "Our ultimate goal is to help consumers experience cannabis with confidence - and the launch of Select Snooze Bites is one more example of how we are striving to serve an even broader spectrum of customer needs." Rich in terpenes such as myrcene, linalool, nerolidol and terpinolene, Select Snooze Bites will stand alongside the brand's Select Bites and Select Nano Bites which were relaunched earlier this year with a new look and better-than-ever taste. All Select Bites are made with a high stability, soft gelatin formula that provides a consistent experience with excellent texture and a delicious blackberry flavor. Select Snooze Bites are currently available in Arizona and Nevada, and will soon launch in states such as California, Colorado, Maryland, and Maine. For more information on product availability, please visit https://selectcannabis.com/find-us . About Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf and Select, provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 23 states with 111 dispensaries, 22 cultivation sites and over 30 processing sites, and employs over 5,400 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This media advisory contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or, "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information concerning the commercialization of Select Snooze Bites. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed April 28, 2021, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. INVESTOR CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Carlos Madrazo, SVP Investor Relations [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Tracy Brady, VP Corporate Communications [email protected] SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.curaleaf.com ROUND ROCK, Texas, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- News summary Dell Technologies Bare Metal Orchestrator software gives communication service providers an agile and cost-effective way to deploy and operate their open network infrastructure across diverse geographies New telecom solutions with Mavenir and Wind River bolster Dell's open ecosystem of industry partners Dell Technologies Respond and Restore for Telecom service provides expert support of Dell's network infrastructure for quick network resolutions Full story Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) introduces new telecom software, solutions and services to help communications service providers (CSPs) accelerate their open, cloud-native network deployments and create new revenue opportunities at the edge. To support the massive growth of data expected from 5G applications and services, CSPs are moving compute infrastructure to the edge and looking to integrate a broad ecosystem of software vendors to capture new revenue opportunities. New technologies like Open RAN (ORAN) are giving CSPs a broader set of options for deploying network infrastructure to support future growth. However, this trend is leading to a large, geographically distributed, open compute deployment that can be difficult to deploy and manage. "As server technology proliferates through increasingly open telecom networks, the industry sees an immediate and growing need for remote lifecycle management of a highly distributed compute fabric," said Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president and general manager, Dell Technologies Telecom Systems Business. "Bare Metal Orchestrator gives communication services providers an easier way to deploy and manage open network infrastructure while saving costs and time, allowing them to focus on delivering new and differentiated services to their customers." New Dell Technologies software modernizes network deployment and management Dell Technologies Bare Metal Orchestrator telecom software offers the breadth and scale to automate the deployment and management of hundreds of thousands of servers across geographic locations to support ORAN and 5G deployments. The company's first software to come from its Project Metalweaver initiative, Bare Metal Orchestrator gives CSPs the tools to discover and inventory servers, bring them online and deploy software, regardless of where they reside in the network. With declarative automation, Bare Metal Orchestrator tells the targeted server what to do, so that tasks and workflows such as deploying software stacks and workloads can be completed quickly and efficiently without human intervention. The software combines open standards technology with Dell Technologies intellectual property. With Bare Metal Orchestrator, CSPs can eliminate days or weeks of configuration and provisioning to bring network hardware into a workload-ready state. This reduces the time it takes for an open network to deliver differentiated, profitable services at scale. Over time, the software can reduce operational costs by orchestrating server lifecycle management and minimizing errors and reliance on IT expertise. ACG Research estimates an up to 57% OpEx savings for CSPs deploying Bare Metal Orchestrator in their networks.1 "As we prepare for the future of 5G mobility and edge, we at T-Mobile have been closely collaborating with Dell Technologies to develop a product that allows engineers to drastically reduce the time spent managing thousands of servers across hundreds of sites," said Quaid Campbell, director, network engineering cloud services, T-Mobile. "Solutions like Bare Metal Orchestrator allow us to focus on building out new strategic services, automating server provisioning and management tasks to software systems instead of engineers." "The industry is making progress toward Open RAN networks, but network operators are challenged with how to operate them cost-effectively at massive scale," said Caroline Chappell, research director, Analysys Mason. "To keep pace with innovation, telecom operators require more agile ways to deploy and manage their network infrastructure. Bare metal orchestrators, such as Dell Technologies' software, will be key to the flexible and efficient automation of the heterogeneous bare metal environments operators tell us they need to underpin cloud-native open RAN functions." New telecom solutions simplify network deployments, deliver better experiences Dell Technologies continues to expand its open partner ecosystem by introducing new telecom solutions, reference architectures and services to accelerate ORAN and edge deployments while providing CSPs more network support: Dell Technologies Validated Solution for Mavenir Open vRAN and VMware Telco Cloud Platform brings together many industry-leading RAN partners within a validated solution of hardware and software, helping CSPs accelerate their transformation to ORAN technologies with pre-tested multi-vendor solutions. brings together many industry-leading RAN partners within a validated solution of hardware and software, helping CSPs accelerate their transformation to ORAN technologies with pre-tested multi-vendor solutions. Dell Technologies Reference Architecture for Wind River Studio can streamline and reduce the cost of deploying a cloud-native, edge network while improving network performance. can streamline and reduce the cost of deploying a cloud-native, edge network while improving network performance. Dell Technologies Respond and Restore for Telecom service provides customers with support service level agreements to help maximize network uptime, limit network disruptions and maintain business continuity. Organizations have 24-hour access to designated Dell Technologies experts for complete support of the Dell Technologies infrastructure running their network, along with a full set of proactive, predictive and reactive capabilities. Dell Technologies is in a unique position to help CSPs transform. The company is backed by industry leading IT infrastructure; secure, global supply chain; and, IT services with more than 60,000 dedicated professionals and partners in more than 170 countries. Through Dell Financial Services, CSPs can choose flexible payment solutions for the products and services they need to transform or build their networks.2 Additional quotes "Open RAN is now moving from the trial phase to full commercial deployment as a cloud-native solution and is supported in Dell Technologies' reference architecture," said John Baker, senior vice president, business development, Mavenir. "Open RAN brings ease of deployment, the ability to orchestrate rapid architecture modifications and deploy zero-touch provisioning simplifying turnup and performance optimization." "Communications service providers have a tremendous opportunity in front of them to modernize their networks from core to edge to RAN and monetize 5G services. Building out an infrastructure that can support and scale edge-native apps will require collaboration between leading technology providers across the ecosystem. VMware and Dell Technologies plan to continue partnering in this area to help our mutual customers win in the new edge reality," said Stephen Spellicy, vice president of product marketing and business development, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. "As we move towards an intelligent systems world, the next generation of 5G services will require a cloud-native, carrier grade infrastructure to support innovative edge applications," said Paul Miller, chief technology officer, Wind River. "Wind River Studio enables communication service providers to solve their mission critical systems needs with a modernized approach. By working closely with Dell Technologies, we deliver validated reference architectures for 5G vRAN, Open RAN and other use cases to help service providers quickly and reliably deploy new services with industry leading total cost of ownership." Availability Dell Technologies Bare Metal Orchestrator will be available globally in November 2021 . . Dell Technologies Validated Solution for Mavenir Open vRAN and VMware Telco Cloud Platform will be globally available in early 2022. Dell Technologies Reference Architecture for Wind River Studio is available globally today. Dell Technologies Respond and Restore for Telecom is available globally today. Additional resources Learn how Dell Technologies helps communications service providers transform to capture opportunities at the edge Read more on how DISH and Dell Technologies will build the nation's first Open RAN 5G edge infrastructure Read more on why Vodafone selected Dell Technologies to help build first commercial Open RAN network in Europe Connect with Dell via Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and LinkedIn About Dell Technologies Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era. Copyright 2021 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell Technologies, Dell, EMC and Dell EMC are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. 1 Based on ACG Research report commissioned by Dell, "The Economic Benefits of the Dell Technologies Bare Metal Orchestrator" September 2021. Full report (https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/solutions/service-provider-solutions/industry-market/tco-benefits-of-bare-metal-orchestrator.pdf) 2 Payment solutions provided to qualified commercial customers by Dell Financial Services (DFS) or through Dell Technologies group companies and/or through Dell's authorized business partners (together with DFS "Dell"). Offers may not be available or may vary by country. Offers may be changed without notice and are subject to product availability, eligibility, credit approval and execution of documentation provided by and acceptable to Dell or Dell's authorized business partners. In Spain, services are provided by Dell Bank International d.a.c branch in Spain and in remainder of the EU by Dell Bank International d.a.c, trading as Dell Financial Services which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. SOURCE Dell Technologies Related Links http://www.delltechnologies.com NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Union, one of the country's largest commercial real estate finance firms, has named TJ Liebes to the position of senior underwriter. Mr. Liebes, who Iives in Lakewood, NJ and will work from Eastern Union's Howell, NJ office, will be responsible for underwriting, analyzing, and processing commercial real estate loan opportunities on behalf of commercial real estate investors. TJ Liebes has been named to the position of senior underwriter at Eastern Union, one of America's largest commercial real estate finance firms. He has extensive experience as an underwriter, having underwritten and closed nearly $100 million in transactions over the past several years for his prior employer, Woodlake Properties. Woodlake Properties is a family investment office based in Lakewood. Mr. Liebes held the position of vice president of acquisitions with the company, which owns and operates a portfolio of more than 5,000 units of multi-family properties in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois. Mr. Liebes had previously begun his career at Eastern Union, where he originated new loan opportunities. "TJ has a notable record of accomplishment as a loan underwriter," said Ira Zlotowitz, president and co-founder of Eastern Union. "With his proven capacity to present loan opportunities in an optimal light, we're confident that a bright future awaits him at Eastern Union." "After initially working with Eastern Union on the brokerage side, TJ Liebes decided to turn his attention to serving an owner," Mr. Zlotowitz said. "But he has now sensed a forthcoming correction in the market in favor of the broker component of the business, and he decided the time was right to return to the broker world." Mr. Liebes earned a finance degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. About Eastern Union Founded in 2001, Eastern Union is a leading, national commercial mortgage brokerage firm. It employs more than 125 real estate professionals and closes an average of $5 billion in transactions annually. Eastern Union leverages its relationships with lenders and its marketplace knowledge to secure the best available rates and terms. Eastern Union, headquartered in New York, closes transactions of all sizes across the United States. It secures financing for all asset types. Transactions -- which can include multi-state and multi-site portfolios -- encompass both conventional and structured financing. In 2020, Eastern Union's Multi-Family Group reset market pricing by offering a quarter-point fee for refinancing properties backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Capital introductions are handled through Eastern Union's affiliate, Eastern Equity Advisors. For more information, visit www.easternunion.com. Media contact: Steve Vitoff Eastern Union 516 652 0785 [email protected] SOURCE Eastern Union Related Links http://www.easternunion.com EDMONTON, AB, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - edatanetworks Inc. announced today the approval of patent 17/073,308 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This patent further enhances edatanetworks' patent protection relating to using artificial intelligence (AI) with tokenized rich transactions to benefit community. With patent 17/073,308 artificial intelligence and a neural network utilizes tokenized data of transactions between the consumer, merchant, and the community. This results in driving further community motivated transactions to the merchant with actionable incentives and merchant funded donations to the local community and charitable organizations selected by the consumer. The portfolio of granted patents includes emerging innovations in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, persona, voice, augmented reality, biometrics, e-feedback, data analytics and information optimization. "This intellectual property (IP) adds further value to our best-in-class, innovative Network of Giving Software as a Service platform, delivered through SMB4.0. The platform enables high-touch, technology-centric banking solutions for their digital-first users to enhance the customer and merchant engagement across online, offline and mobile banking platforms," said edatanetworks Chief Executive Officer Terry Tietzen. "By driving further transactions this IP increases the merchant's measured result on their marketing spend and validates the impact for good in local communities. The patent further strengthens the differentiation of our portfolio against its competitors and provides edatanetworks a sustainable competitive advantage." About edatanetworks edatanetworks Inc. (edata), edatanetworks.com, a privately held intellectual property company established in 2001, has worked with many organizations and conducted multiple live market deployments creating patented philanthropic innovations utilizing existing technological and financial infrastructuresconnecting consumers, local merchants, charitable and community organizations, digital media groups, communications companies, search providers, social networks, banks, payment networks, trusted intermediaries and other financial services organizations. Media Contact: Catherine Keill, KEILL&Co. Inc., 780-690-5283 SOURCE edatanetworks Inc. "We continue the 90 th Anniversary celebration of the World's Most Famous Building this fall in partnership with local favorite Bronx Brewery," said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. "With the implementation of our industry-leading indoor environmental quality, our guests can enjoy our new reimagined, immersive digital and tactile exhibits with confidence before they relax with an evening drink and the most spectacular 360-degree, open-air views that New York City can offer." The award-winning craft brewery from the Bronx's Port Morris neighborhood will sell four select beers their American Pale Ale, World Gone Hazy IPA, Smile My Guy IPA, and Das Bronx Oktoberfest from a special 90th Anniversary cart on the building's 86th floor. The Empire State Building's own STATE Grill and Bar will offer $10 mini NY-style cheesecakes alongside the brewer's selections. Bronx Brewery is the second vendor in the building's Observatory pop-up program after a successful August run with My Cookie Dealer. "We are proud to join forces with the Empire State Building to celebrate Oktoberfest in the heart of New York City," said Sean Valenti, spokesperson for Bronx Brewery. "Our work revolves around community, creativity, and inclusivity, which are all things that come to mind when we think of the Empire State Building." Guests are encouraged to sip their beverages on the iconic 86th Floor Observatory and tag photos with #PopUpTop for the chance to be featured on ESB social channels. Future monthly pop-ups at the Empire State Building Observatory will be announced separately. Relevant hi-res imagery can be downloaded here. For more information about the Empire State Building and to purchase tickets, please visit esbnyc.com. ### About the Empire State Building The Empire State Building , "The World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust , Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop-culture. Learn more at www.esbnyc.com . 2021 is the 90th anniversary year of the Building which officially opened on May 1, 1931. Declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, as well as the world's most popular travel destination by Uber and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet it welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world. Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors primarily house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn, Shutterstock, and Global Brands Group, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Weibo , YouTube , or TikTok . About Empire State Realty Trust Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." The company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of June 30, 2021, which consists of 9.4 million rentable square feet across 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; as well as approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio. Empire State Realty Trust is a leader in energy efficiency in the built environment and sustainability space, with 76 percent of the eligible portfolio ENERGY STAR certified and 100 percent fully powered by renewable wind electricity. As the first commercial real estate portfolio in the Americas to achieve the evidence-based, third-party verified WELL Health-Safety Rating for health and safety, ESRT additionally earned the highest possible GRESB 5 Star Rating and Green Star recognition for sustainability performance in real estate and was named a Fitwel Champion for healthy, high-performance buildings. To learn more about Empire State Realty Trust, visit esrtreit.com and follow ESRT on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.esbnyc.com SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency Nurses Association President Ron Kraus released the following statement on Wednesday Emergency Nurses Day announcing the association's support for the Biden Administration's Vaccination Plan. "From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency nurses have seen firsthand the worst of what this virus has brought into our nation's hospitals. The crushing number of emergency department patients, the death and the ongoing stress of this public health crisis has pushed us to our limits for nearly two years and it continues to take a toll on the mental health and well-being of ED nurses. The relentlessness of this pandemic has led many highly trained nurses experienced clinicians who are passionate about patient care to leave the bedside. Emergency departments that are overcrowded and short-staffed challenge the ability of emergency nurses to be there for patients when they need us most. We are tired and frustrated because the solution is within our grasp. Scientists and health experts agree increased COVID-19 vaccination rates represent the best route to ending this pandemic, saving countless lives and improving overall public health in this country. These reasons are at the root of ENA's support for the vaccine mandate plan recently introduced by the Biden Administration. Taken as a whole, this plan represents a move that puts the country on track to reduce COVID-19 cases numbers, especially those requiring hospitalization, and lessens this public health crisis' impact on overwhelmed emergency departments around the country. ENA has strongly encouraged vaccinations since the first vaccines received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA in late 2020 and, in July, the association signed on to a statement with dozens of other organizations in support of employer-based vaccine mandates for health care workers. ENA's support for the mandate plan takes into account current case data that indicates new cases and hospitalizations have predominantly been among the unvaccinated. The mandate also reups on the need for all health care workers to be vaccinated, a move ENA has previously supported publicly. Further, ENA also takes into consideration a National Safety Council report released in late September that indicates employers have seen increases in staff vaccinations after implementing their own mandates. ENA recognizes there will be continued debate on particular aspects of the mandate plan, but there should be no debate or controversy around the fact ED nurses and all front-line health care workers need help. The vaccine mandate plan can be the tool that helps turn the corner needed to end this pandemic. For nearly two decades, nursing has been voted as the most trusted profession, a distinction emergency nurses are extremely proud to hold. If there was ever a time to have faith in what nurses have to say, it is now. Hear our stories about what COVID is doing to patients. Hear our concerns if this pandemic does not abate. Hear our #EducateToVaccinate call so that, together, we can end this pandemic." - 2021 ENA President Ron Kraus, MSN, RN, EMT, CEN, ACNS-BC, TCRN Please visit ENA on Facebook and Twitter today for video messages from emergency nurses encouraging the public to #HearUsTrustUs to help put an end to COVID-19. About the Emergency Nurses Association The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With more than 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency healthcare public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org. ENA Media Contact: Dan Campana Director of Communications 847-460-4017 [email protected] SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association Related Links http://www.ena.org ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) today announced the launch of its new Digital Identity as a Service capability as well as an Innovation Partnership with Bonifii as a first adopter of the new solution. Bonifii "The Equifax Cloud is helping our partners and customers address the evolving fraud landscape and deliver innovative solutions to today's market challenges faster than ever before," said Bryson Koehler, Chief Technology Officer at Equifax. "Businesses worldwide are challenged with detecting increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts, and the cloud enables secure and scalable real-time insights and decisions that simply aren't possible in a non-cloud environment." Equifax Digital Identity as a Service combines data and analytics with modern cryptography to provide a higher degree of trust without sacrificing user experience. Adding Digital Identity as a Service to Bonifii's MemberPass will help enable credit unions to more confidently onboard members. "There's a common misconception that financial institutions must choose between mitigating fraud risk and acquiring new customers," said Adam Gunther, Senior Vice President of Global Identity and Fraud at Equifax. "With Digital Identity as a Service it's possible to achieve both with greater identity assurance through optimized technologies." Digital Identity as a Service gives consumers greater control over what information is shared, enhances protections against synthetic identity fraud and third-party account takeover, and strengthens user profiles with differentiated data only Equifax can provide. Credit unions interact with members across a number of channels, including websites and mobile applications, call centers, ATMs and branch drive-through lanes. MemberPass gives credit unions control over identity authentication while protecting personal data. It assigns members a digital credential that serves as verification for contact center interactions, loan applications and financial transactions. Bonifii's technology helps enable trusted peer-to-peer digital interactions among financial institutions, and helps them meet complex data demands while minimizing friction and supporting growth. "When credit union members authenticate with a MemberPass ID, we want to be certain they are who they say they are," said Bonifii CEO John Ainsworth. "Working with Equifax will allow MemberPass to help credit unions have the confidence to grow their businesses by saying "Yes" more to good consumers. That is the aspiration of this Innovation Partnership." Equifax Digital Identity as a Service gives credit union members more control over their information and will help to facilitate faster and easier user experiences for previously onboarded users. Functionality from Equifax's suite of identity protection products including Digital Identity Trust , Document Verification and the recently acquired Kount Identity Trust Global Network are incorporated into the new holistic solution. The Innovation Partnership is an example of technology-driven co-innovation that benefits all parties, particularly consumers. Bonifii will be the first of many organizations to participate. For more information on Equifax Identity and Fraud Solutions, visit equifax.com . For more information on Bonifii MemberPass, visit bonifii.com . ABOUT BONIFII Denver-based Bonifii is the financial industry's first verifiable exchange network designed to enable trusted digital transactions using open standards and best-of-breed and security technologies. Its mission is to provide a premier digital network of peer-to-peer financial exchange for financial cooperatives. The network brings a high degree of assurance to the exchange of value between peers over the Internet and other digital networks and streamlines processes affected by expensive, inefficient, proprietary and siloed systems. For more information, visit Bonifii.com ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX ), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 12,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com FOR MORE INFORMATION Kate Walker for Equifax [email protected] SOURCE Equifax Inc. Related Links http://www.equifax.com SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Falabella S.A. ("Falabella" or the "Company") today announced the tender results in connection with its offer to purchase for cash (the "2023 Notes Tender Offer") any and all of its outstanding 3.750% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes"), for the purchase price set forth in the table below. Notes CUSIP and ISIN Numbers Principal Amount Outstanding Purchase Price(1) 3.750% Senior Notes due 2023 CUSIP: 78386F AA4 (144A); P82290 AA8 (Reg.S) / ISIN: US78386FAA49 (144A); USP82290AA81 (Reg. S) U.S.$500,000,000 U.S.$1,048.50 Per U.S. $1,000 principal amount of 2023 Notes, validly tendered and accepted for purchase, excluding accrued interest, which will be paid in addition to the purchase price. The 2023 Notes Tender Offer was made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase with respect to the 2023 Notes dated October 4, 2021 (the "2023 Notes Offer to Purchase") and notice of guaranteed delivery dated as of the same date (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery," and together with the 2023 Notes Offer to Purchase, the "2023 Notes Offer Documents"). 2023 Notes Tendered, Aggregate Purchase Price and Payment of Accrued Interest As previously announced, the expiration time for the 2023 Notes Tender Offer was 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on October 12, 2021 (such date and time, the "Expiration Time"). As of the Expiration Time, $307,601,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes outstanding had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the 2023 Notes Tender Offer (not including approximately $2 million in principal amount of 2023 Notes for which notice of guaranteed delivery was given but which have not yet been delivered). All 2023 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn have been accepted for purchase, and the aggregate purchase price therefor amounts to approximately $322.5 million. Settlement of the 2023 Notes Tender Offer is expected to occur on or about October 15, 2021 (as such date may be extended, subject to applicable law, in Falabella's sole discretion, the "Settlement Date"). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the 2023 Notes Tender Offer set forth in the 2023 Notes Offer Documents, including the Financing Condition described below, the holders of 2023 Notes who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their 2023 Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time will receive, on the Settlement Date, the purchase price therefor, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (to but excluding the Settlement Date). Payment by Falabella for the 2023 Notes tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is expected to occur on the Settlement Date, subject to, and after, receipt by the information and tender agent of a duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other required documents at or prior to the Expiration Time and delivery of the tendered 2023 Notes by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 14, 2021, the second business day following the Expiration Time, all as provided in the 2023 Notes Offer Documents. 2025 Notes Tender Offer Simultaneously with the commencement of the 2023 Notes Tender Offer, Falabella also commenced its tender offer to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding 4.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes," and together with the 2023 Notes, the "Notes," and such offer, the "2025 Notes Tender Offer," and together with the 2023 Notes Tender Offer, the "Tender Offers") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase with respect to the 2025 Notes dated October 4, 2021 (the "2025 Notes Offer to Purchase," and together with the 2023 Notes Offer Documents, the "Offer Documents"). Further Information Falabella's obligation to purchase Notes in the Tender Offers is subject to certain conditions, including the Financing Condition (as defined in the Offer Documents), relating to the successful completion of an anticipated offering and sale of new notes (the "New Notes Offering") that would provide Falabella with cash proceeds sufficient to purchase the Notes tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offers. The New Notes Offering is not conditioned on the successful consummation of the Tender Offers. This press release is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Offer Documents. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or an invitation to participate in the Tender Offers. The Tender Offers are being made pursuant to the applicable Offer Documents, which set forth the complete terms and conditions of the Tender Offers. Holders of Notes are urged to read the applicable Offer Documents carefully before making any decision with respect to their Notes. The Tender Offers are not being made to, nor will the Company accept tenders of Notes from, holders in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer. Any Notes that are not purchased in the Tender Offers will remain outstanding. To the extent that the Company consummates the Tender Offers, the trading market for your outstanding Notes may be significantly more limited. For a discussion of this and other considerations, see "Special Considerations" in the applicable Offer Documents. The delivery of this press release, the Offer Documents or any purchase pursuant to the Tender Offers shall not under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained in this press release or such Offer Documents is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof or thereof or that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or therein or in the Company's affairs since the date hereof or thereof. Any new notes that are offered or sold in the New Notes Offering will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and therefore may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. The information agent and tender agent for each of the Tender Offers is D.F. King & Co., Inc. To contact the information agent and tender agent, banks and brokers may call +1 (212) 269-5550, and others may call U.S. toll-free: +1 (800) 669-5550 or email [email protected]. Additional contact information is set forth below. By Mail, Hand or Overnight Courier: 48 Wall Street 22nd Floor New York, NY 10005 USA Attention: Michael Horthman By Facsimile Transmission: (for eligible institutions only) +1 (212) 232-3223 Attention: Michael Horthman Confirmation by Telephone: +1 (212) 232-3233 Copies of the Offer Documents are available at the following web address: www.dfking.com/falabella. Any questions or requests for assistance or for additional copies of this notice may be directed to the dealer managers at their respective telephone numbers set forth below or, if by any holder, to such holder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Tender Offers. The dealer managers for the Tender Offers are: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street, 4th Flr. Trading New York, New York 10013 U.S. Toll Free: +1 (800) 558-3745 Collect: +1 (212) 723-6106 Attention: Liability Management Group Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC 200 West Street New York, New York 10282 U.S. Toll Free: +1 (800) 828-3182 Collect: +1 (212) 357-1452 Attention: Liability Management Group J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 388 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10179 U.S. Toll Free: +1 (866) 846-2874 Collect: +1 (212) 834-7279 Attention: Latin America Debt Capital Markets None of Falabella, the tender agent, the information agent, the dealer managers, the trustee or any of their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether holders should exchange their Notes in the Tender Offers. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to participate in the Tender Offers, and, if so, the principal amount of the Notes they wish to tender. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations, and those of our officers, with respect to (among other things) our financial condition and the Tender Offers. Our forward-looking statements are based mainly on current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect, or may affect, our business and results of operations. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to us. The words "believe," "may," "may have," "would," "estimate," "continues," "anticipates," "intends," "hopes," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements refer only to the date when they were made, and none of Falabella, the tender agent, the information agent, the dealer managers or any affiliate of any of them undertakes any obligation to update or review any estimate or forward-looking statement due to new information, future events or any other factors. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and do not guarantee future performance, as actual results or developments may be substantially different from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the events referred to in the forward-looking statements included in this press release may or may not occur, or may differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, due to factors that include but are not limited to those mentioned described in the applicable Offer Documents under "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." Holders are warned not to place undue reliance on any estimates or forward-looking statements in making decisions regarding the Notes or the Tender Offers. None of Falabella, the tender agent, the information agent, the dealer managers, the trustee or any affiliate of any of them undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Falabella S.A. The new facility is an expansion of Ferrero's existing Bloomington manufacturing center and will produce chocolate for CRUNCH, 100Grand, Raisinets, and other Ferrero products for the North American market. The $75M project will add 70,000 square feet to Ferrero's current Beich Road footprint and add as many as 50 new jobs. Annually, Ferrero currently spends nearly $300 million in Illinois, supporting over 1,300 employees and 560 suppliers. "The ability to process high quality chocolate here in North America is instrumental to building on our important growth in this market, which is advancing Ferrero towards our goal of being a world leader in global confectionery," said Todd Siwak, President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America. "I am so happy that we are able to reach this important milestone in Illinois, the heart of America's food and confections industry." "With its first-ever U.S. chocolate processing facility, Ferrero will create new jobs and economic opportunity in the Bloomington region, and will carry forward Illinois' proud food manufacturing tradition," said Gov. Pritzker. "Companies like Ferrero continue to choose Illinois thanks to our talented workforce and our role as a transportation hub for the nation, which makes our state a number one choice for production, innovation, and global distribution. We thank Ferrero for its vote of confidence in Illinois and look forward to supporting the company's continued success here." "Ferrero's continued investment in Illinois is a testament to the caliber of our talent, the strength of our infrastructure, and our direct access to markets across the country and around the globe," said Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). "Under Governor Pritzker's leadership, Illinois is committed to upholding our status as the leading Midwest destination for food production and supporting new and existing companies in their plans to innovate, fuel jobs, and produce their household brands from right here in Illinois." "We are so fortunate to have a global corporation like Ferrero breaking ground," said Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe. "Their confidence in Bloomington can only strengthen our already vibrant business community." Ferrero has made North America a focus for investment in recent years, including the expansion of its North American headquarters in New Jersey, new distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia, and significant development of facilities in Franklin Park, Illinois as well as Bloomington. The company's footprint in the market now totals eight offices and ten plants and warehouses in North America, including a cocoa processing plant in Brantford, Ontario. Ghafari Associates provided architectural and engineering design services for the bid documents associated with the project. Additionally, Ghafari will provide technical support and on-site construction supervision. The Austin Company is Ferrero's design-build partner responsible for the engineering and construction of the project. The new facility is set to open Spring 2023. About Ferrero: For over 70 years, Ferrero has created products loved by generations. We've grown from a bakery in Alba, Italy into the third largest confectionery company in the world. Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and continues to spread joy with Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac and Fannie May chocolates. Ferrero Group expanded its portfolio in 2018 with the addition of Butterfinger, CRUNCH, Baby Ruth, 100Grand and other legendary chocolate brands. We are a family-owned company with 3,000 employees in eight offices and ten plants and warehouses in North America, including a cocoa processing plant in Brantford, Ontario and a planned chocolate processing factory in Bloomington, Illinois. Instilled in every aspect of our business is the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders, and their passion for quality, creativity, and innovation. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and @FerreroNACorp on Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com About Ghafari Associates: An innovator since 1982, Ghafari embraces an integrated design approach to deliver solutions that connect building operations, systems, and people. This approach is made possible by the firm's full complement of capabilities, including architecture, interior design, civil + structural engineering, MEP, ICT + security, and operations + systems engineering. Winner of Engineering News-Record Midwest's "Design Firm of the Year" award in 2017, Ghafari supports the food, aviation, corporate / commercial, education, government and institutional, healthcare, and industrial / manufacturing sectors through 14 offices across the globe. To learn more, visit ghafari.com. About The Austin Company: The Austin Company is a design-builder that takes facilities from site selection, design, and engineering to construction and maintenance. Founded in 1878, Austin provides clients with decades of industry know-how coupled with innovative solutions designed to solve the toughest challenges. Austin has served as the trusted partner to hundreds of industrial manufacturing companies a trust earned by designing and building safe, quality, budget-conscious facilities. They deliver "Results, not Excuses". Austin's experience includes production and packaging plants, automated distribution, bulk storage warehouses, research laboratories, and operations centers. Press Contact: Hugh McMullen [email protected] 740-707-7493 SOURCE Ferrero North America VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Filament Health (NEO:FH;OTCQB:FLHLF), an exclusively-natural psychedelic drug discovery and extraction technology company, today announced that Benjamin Lightburn, CEO and Co-Founder, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on October 14th. DATE: October 14th, 2021 TIME: 4:00 PM ET LINK: https://bit.ly/3kObcQO This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask Benjamin real-time questions about Filament's upcoming plans and recent highlights, which include a stock uplisting and several psychedelic industry "firsts." If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com. Recent Company Highlights Announced common shares have been approved for uplisting and trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") under the symbol "FLHLF" Received approval from the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to make the Company's common shares eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through DTC ("DTC Eligibility") Became the first public company to be issued a patent for extraction of natural psilocybin; filed 20th patent application including three international PCT applications Received Health Canada Dealer's License amendment to allow the possession, production, and delivery of all controlled natural psychedelic substances Successfully completed industry-first export of natural GMP psychedelics to the United States About Filament Health Filament Health is an exclusively-natural psychedelic drug discovery and extraction technology company. Its mission is to see safe, approved, natural psychedelics in the hands of everyone who needs them as soon as possible. Filament believes measurable and efficacious medicines will be a catalyst to addressing many of the world's mental health problems and that natural psychedelics provide an optimal option for widespread adoption of these substances. Filament engages in natural extraction technology commercialization, utilizing its intellectual property portfolio, in-house GMP facility, and Health Canada Dealer's License for all natural psychedelics. Filament is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the OTCQB Venture Market (OTCQB:FLHLF) and Canada's NEO Exchange (NEO:FH). About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network. SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com Related Links http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/ PARIS and PORTLAND, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TotalEnergies, a global multi-energy company, and Simply Blue Group, a pioneer in floating offshore wind, launched a joint venture, TotalEnergies SBE US, to unlock the vast potential for floating offshore wind projects in the United States. TotalEnergies SBE US will combine TotalEnergies' expertise in large-scale offshore projects, Simply Blue Group's floating know-how, and a team of pioneers of the U.S. offshore wind industry, to unlock untapped deep-water opportunities that will provide renewable electricity to millions of U.S. homes. "Our ambition is to install 100 gigawatts of global renewable power generation by 2030, part of which will come from floating offshore wind projects. We are eager to see this partnership with Simply Blue help our Company meet this goal," said Stephane Michel, President, Gas, Renewables & Power at TotalEnergies. "We are convinced of the large potential of floating offshore wind to provide U.S. coasts with renewable electricity, and are committed to contribute our extensive expertise in offshore projects to make it happen." "The future and next frontier of U.S. offshore wind is floating. This joint venture with TotalEnergies has everything we need to deliver floating offshore wind on America's coasts," said Sam Roch-Perks, CEO, Simply Blue. "Almost two-thirds of U.S. offshore wind resources are found in deeper waters that require floating wind platforms. TotalEnergies SBE US brings together the scale, expertise, and international track record to responsibly develop floating offshore wind power on all of America's coasts." "Offshore wind has arrived. To bring its full benefits to market, we need to go big and go deep," said Stephanie McClellan, Ph.D., Chief of Strategy & Policy, TotalEnergies SBE US and founder, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind. "TotalEnergies SBE US will accelerate development of U.S. floating wind, and help states and the federal government meet their clean power goals." Today, TotalEnergies has over 6 GW of offshore wind in development around the globe, of which over 40% is comprised of floating offshore wind including over 2 GW of floating wind projects in South Korea. Simply Blue Group has more than 3.2 GW of offshore wind in development off Ireland and the UK. About the U.S. offshore wind market In March 2021, the Biden Administration set a 30 GW goal for U.S. offshore wind by 2030. Deep waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, Hawaii, Gulf Coast, and the East Coast hold as much as 35 GW of development potential by 2040. Along with enabling access to deep-water sites, floating wind offers additional advantages: the winds are stronger and more stable away from the coast, which allows for higher yields, and the wind turbines are out of view from the coast. The global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects more than tripled in 2020 alone to exceed 25 GW, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, with floating wind costs decreasing rapidly. For the United States, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports some 60% of viable offshore wind resources can only be tapped using floating technologies. TotalEnergies, renewables and electricity As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a portfolio of activities in renewables and electricity that should account for up to 40% of its sales by 2050. At the end of 2020, TotalEnergies' gross power generation capacity worldwide was around 12 GW, including 7 GW of renewable energy. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW of gross production capacity from renewable sources by 2025, and then 100 GW by 2030 with the objective of being among the world's top 5 in renewable energies. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people. On Twitter @TotalEnergies, LinkedIn/TotalEnergies, Facebook/TotalEnergies and Instagram/TotalEnergies. About TotalEnergies SBE US TotalEnergies SBE US is a joint venture of TotalEnergies and Simply Blue Group dedicated to developing and delivering floating offshore wind power to U.S. coasts. TotalEnergies SBE US is a team of experienced American developers directly connected to states and local communities, who are committed to grow floating offshore wind across the United States with the support of TotalEnergies, a global multi-energy company with a diverse portfolio of renewable assets. About Simply Blue Group Simply Blue Group, headquartered in Cork, Ireland, is a leading blue economy developer focused on replacing fossil fuels with clean ocean energy. It develops pioneering blue economy projects floating offshore wind, wave energy and low-impact aquaculture all in harmony with the oceans. The company has a pipeline of over 9 GW of floating offshore wind projects, primarily in the waters off Ireland and the UK. Simply Blue is committed to creating new economic opportunities for coastal communities, and developing projects that co-exist with sustainable fisheries and marine conservation. For more, go to: https://simplybluegroup.com and http://www.simplybluegroup.com/USA. On Twitter @SimplyBlueUS. Cautionary Note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for their acts or omissions. The terms "Company" or "TotalEnergies company" refer collectively to the company TotalEnergies SE and the companies it controls directly or indirectly. Such terms are used solely for the sake of convenience for purposes of the present communication. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Simply Blue Group Related Links https://simplybluegroup.com "The El Favor East zone is truly developing into a significant discovery in Los Ricos North," said Brad Langille, President and CEO. "We are currently drilling 900 metres to the east of the original discovery hole 48, and we are seeing what appears to be strong mineralization. These results and other pending results may impact on the upcoming initial resource for Los Ricos North." Table 1: Drill Hole Intersections Hole ID Area / Vein From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGF-21-073 El Favor East 59.7 61.1 1.3 0.42 139.0 2.28 170.8 and 159.5 186.5 27.0 0.44 64.2 1.29 96.8 including 169.4 170.9 1.6 6.26 763.0 16.43 1,232.2 LRGF-21-074 El Favor East 39.0 42.0 3.0 0.51 86.3 1.66 124.7 including 41.0 41.5 0.5 2.59 355.8 7.33 550.1 and3 70.0 93.8 22.3 0.31 117.8 1.88 140.8 including 87.5 88.5 1.0 3.96 943.9 16.55 1,241.0 LRGF-21-075 El Favor East 128.5 136.2 7.7 0.46 147.0 2.42 181.8 including 131.0 132.3 1.3 2.20 680.6 11.27 845.5 El Favor East 175.4 199.5 24.2 0.45 105.4 1.85 139.0 including 195.8 197.8 2.0 4.16 793.9 14.74 1,105.6 and 248.7 250.9 2.2 0.23 83.5 1.34 100.7 LRGF-21-076 El Favor East 119.5 125.6 6.1 1.32 328.4 5.70 427.5 including 121.4 122.2 0.8 9.75 2,302.5 40.45 3,033.9 and 157.6 159.6 2.0 0.38 134.6 2.17 162.9 and 182.8 183.5 0.8 0.47 117.1 2.03 152.4 and 186.4 187.2 0.8 1.13 279.9 4.86 364.5 LRGF-21-077 El Favor East 129.0 132.1 3.1 0.22 67.2 1.12 83.7 and 171.7 174.1 2.4 0.24 136.3 2.05 154.0 and 259.0 265.0 6.0 0.31 79.5 1.37 102.6 including 261.2 263.3 2.1 0.63 178.9 3.02 226.4 LRGF-21-078 El Favor East 119.1 120.0 1.0 0.31 197.5 2.94 220.5 and 170.7 172.1 1.4 0.24 137.6 2.07 155.3 and 210.0 211.0 0.9 0.63 119.1 2.22 166.4 LRGF-21-079 El Favor East 24.9 26.4 1.5 0.69 147.5 2.66 199.5 and 103.1 105.7 2.6 0.35 102.9 1.73 129.4 and 148.1 151.3 3.2 0.33 98.5 1.64 123.2 and 258.7 273.2 14.5 0.35 105.7 1.76 132.3 and 306.6 318.0 11.4 0.26 136.5 2.08 156.1 including 310.5 316.5 6.0 0.38 179.1 2.77 207.4 LRGF-21-080 El Favor East 49.5 51.7 2.2 0.46 154.1 2.51 188.4 and 220.5 240.6 20.1 0.22 67.8 1.12 84.3 including 231.5 232.5 1.0 2.59 563.2 10.10 757.3 and 270.9 272.0 1.1 0.74 182.2 3.17 237.6 LRGF-21-081 El Favor East 82.4 83.2 0.8 0.25 118.5 1.83 137.2 LRGF-21-082 El Favor East 132.0 133.5 1.5 0.56 156.9 2.65 198.7 and 235.3 253.5 18.3 0.30 97.9 1.60 120.1 including 245.8 251.3 5.6 0.90 254.7 4.29 321.9 including 250.1 250.8 0.7 4.39 972.0 17.35 1,301.5 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 at recoveries of 100% 3. Excludes 1.5m of historically mined void The exploration team has been moving east of El Favor with drilling in 25m stepouts in the eastern end of El Favor, beginning with discovery hole 48, and continuing to intersect wide strong mineralization. This area is known as the El Favor East zone, and a mapping program has extended the presence of mineralization 900m to the east of hole 48 (El Favor East zone discovery hole), as shown in Figure 2. To date, approximately 600m of El Favor East has been drilled showing the strong mineralization. Three of the four major veins (Salomon, Guitarrillas and Los Chivos) appear to converge into a 100m wide zone at the western end of the El Favor deposit in the vicinity of the Hundido Pit at an elevation of 1300m. The wallrock in between the veins is strongly silicified, altered and mineralized. The merging of these veins continue to provide significant widths of good grade which could be potentially amenable to bulk mining. The El Orito deposit (as presently defined) is located about 800 metres along strike to the west of the Hundido Pit (see Figure 3). Wide zones of precious and base metal mineralization were cut by drill holes at El Orito at elevations between 600 to 800m. Table 2: Drill Hole Locations Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Length LRGF-21-073 586106 2336764 1299 180 -45 266 LRGF-21-074 585982 2336753 1245 180 -45 240 LRGF-21-075 586083 2336824 1280 180 -45 323 LRGF-21-076 586159 2336747 1340 180 -45 267 LRGF-21-077 586297 2336778 1369 180 -45 318 LRGF-21-078 586328 2336775 1353 180 -45 318 LRGF-21-079 586475 2336781 1318 180 -45 353 LRGF-21-080 586373 2336752 1340 180 -45 332 LRGF-21-081 586247 2336789 1383 180 -45 168 LRGF-21-082 586349 2336784 1344 180 -45 308 VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the GoGold Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for GoGold can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/decks/10437 and on the Company's website at: www.gogoldresources.com. Los Ricos District Exploration Projects The Company's two exploration projects at its Los Ricos property are in Jalisco state, Mexico. The Los Ricos South Project began in March 2019 and an initial resource was announced on July 29, 2020 which indicated a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 63.7 million ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq contained in 10.0 million tonnes, and an Inferred Resource of 19.9 million ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq contained in 3.3 million tonnes. An initial PEA on the project was announced on January 20, 2021 indicating an NPV 5% of US$295M. The Los Ricos North Project was launched in March 2020 and includes drilling at the El Favor, La Trini, Casados and El Orito targets. During 2020, GoGold's exploration team identified over 100 targets on the Los Ricos North properties, demonstrating the significant exploration potential. The Company plans to drill 10 of these targets as part of its 2021 drilling program which is planned to exceed 100,000 metres of drilling and will be one of the largest in Mexico. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the ActLabs facility in Zacatecas, Mexico. ActLabs crushes the samples and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 150 mesh (106m). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 50-gram charge by fire assay (Code 1A2-50) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 1A3-50). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code 1F2 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 8-Ag FA-GRAV Ag). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed GoGold's QA/QC protocols. Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release. About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States. This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, including the intention to undertake further exploration at Los Ricos North, and the prospect of further discoveries there, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release. SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc. Related Links https://www.gogoldresources.com/ Modern Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) have steadily evolved from the old back-office system of records to a system of engagement . Intuitive HR tech platforms that all members of an organization -- including HR teams, senior leadership, managers, and individual contributors -- can use to engage and collaborate are mission-critical. Modern companies need technology to not only support the administration side of their HR processes, but also to cultivate positive cultures for all people, whether dispersed, fully remote, or hybrid. This is exactly the value proposition that Hibob offers, and is the reason why the company has achieved triple-digit revenue growth each year from 2017 to 2021 adding more than 200 new mid-sized customers that operate in more than 134 countries with offices spanning North America, EMEA, and Australia. "We are targeting a massive market that is worth tens of billions of dollars, and Hibob is just beginning its mission to penetrate this opportunity," said Ronni Zehavi, co-founder and CEO of Hibob. "Our vision is that the 'bob' platform will be the last HRIS suite that mid-sized companies will ever need to purchase, and as we continue to listen to our customers, we aim to grow our solutions with them and help propel their businesses forward. With this recent funding, Hibob's plan is to invest significantly in building tools to fit organizations' evolving needs and acquire great technologies to complement our offerings, while also expanding our global presence to reach more companies and their dispersed teams worldwide." The market has embraced Hibob as HR leaders are increasingly pinpointing viable solutions to address the ongoing workplace challenges of automation, global expansion, and agility. With legacy HR technologies ill-serving the unique needs of fast-growing mid-sized companies, the pandemic and subsequent current workplace environments have forced a fast maturation of this particular segment. Hibob is providing these organizations with one of the most premier modern HR technology solutions available. "Hibob has created a solution that serves and anticipates the needs of modern, evolving businesses," said Anton Levy, Co-President, Managing Director and Global Head of Technology Investing at General Atlantic. "We have tracked the company for years, and positive customer feedback further validates that Hibob's platform has become a mission-critical component of HR tech stacks. Hibob will mark our sixth investment in an Israel-based company in under two years, signifying our strong conviction in the country's market. We look forward to supporting the business' global growth as it redefines employee engagement and HR technology." As part of the transaction, Anton Levy will join the Board of Hibob. More information about Hibob can be found at http://www.hibob.com/blog/hibob-raises-150mm-series-c-funding . About Hibob Hibob was founded to modernize HR tech. Hibob's intuitive and data-driven platform, 'bob', was built for the way people work today: globally, remotely, and collaboratively. Since its launch in late 2015, Hibob has achieved consecutive triple-digit year-over-year revenue growth and become the HR platform of choice for more than 1,500 modern, midsize, and multinational companies who understand that a powerful, agile HR tech suite is mission critical and a key driver of organizational success. Fast-growing companies across the globe such as Cazoo, Gong, Hopin, Monzo, Happy Socks, Fiverr, and VaynerMedia rely upon bob to help HR and managers connect, engage, develop and retain top talent. About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 400 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $78 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of June 30, 2021, and more than 175 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Stamford. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com. SOURCE Hibob Related Links http://www.hibob.com RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group announced today that it has acquired a book of personal lines business from Rhode Island-based D.F. Dwyer & Associates, LLC. The transaction became effective October 1, 2021 and completes the acquisition of D.F. Dwyer by the Hilb Group. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, D.F. Dwyer provides a full range of Property & Casualty insurance products and services to businesses and individuals. Agency Principal Dan Dwyer and his team of insurance professionals have joined Hilb Group's New England regional operations, continuing to service clients from the Newport, Rhode Island, location. "We are pleased to complete the acquisition of D.F. Dwyer and, consistent with our growth strategy, to offer our expert products and solutions to an even greater number of clients in the markets and communities we serve," said Hilb Group CEO Ricky Spiro. About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 100 acquisitions and now has over 100 offices in 21 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com. Media Contact: Peter Lobred 804.548.4629 [email protected] M&A Contact: Ryan Havermann 804.414.6508 [email protected] SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC Related Links http://www.hilbgroup.com PHOENIX, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Her success story is a shining example of what many view as the "American Dream." Award-winning small business owner, and Latino community leader, Martha Llamas found herself surprised and thrilled upon receiving a call from the NRSC . She was informed that she had been chosen as the next recipient of the distinctive "Champion of Freedom Award," presented by the National Republican Senate Committee. Link to post on official website : https://marthallamas.com/champion-of-freedom-award/ Martha Llamas ORIGENES MAJ Productions "The award is presented to conservative leaders who have worked tirelessly to create jobs and protect the values that make our country great," said American politician and businessman Richard Lynn Scott . Scott served as the 45th governor of Florida and made the presentation in September. He continued, "Martha has an incredible impact in the Phoenix community advocating for domestic abuse survivors and Hispanic business owners." He also remarked that it was an honor to present her with the Champion for Freedom award, knowing that she will continue positively impacting her community and our country. "I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition," said Llamas. "There is still so much work to be done, but I am fully committed to doing what I can to help make things better for our community and the future." Her latest effort in promoting Latino heritage and culture involves a partnership with several Hispanic business owners who formed the company ORIGENES MAJ Productions. Their focus is on creating colorful, immersive dinner shows featuring the traditional songs, dances, and costumes of Mexico. Link to ORIGENES website : https://origenesusa.com/ We've already done our first two shows , and the response has been beautifully emotional and inspiring," says Llamas. "We are helping to create work for our local artists and performers, and they are putting their hearts and talent into sharing what we love about our music and history." She continued, "There's always a moment from the audience when we feel a welling up of nostalgia and pride. We see the tears and the smiles and can feel the emotion. That tells us we are making a positive impact." Link to ORIGENES Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OrigenesUSA "We invite those who wish to learn more about who we are and connect with Latino audiences in the Phoenix Metro area to become involved with our efforts," said Llamas. "We are touching the lives of more and more people in a powerful way and deepening bonds with the community," said Llamas. "We are making sure that our traditions are shared, and our voices are being heard." Martha Llamas was born and raised in Mexico and immigrated to the United States. After escaping life-threatening domestic abuse while living in South Phoenix, she began working as a janitor for a small cleaning company. Within a few years, she rose through the ranks and purchased a cleaning franchise that has since grown into an award-winning company with over 70 employees. Martha is known throughout Arizona for advocating for survivors of domestic abuse, encouraging Latina entrepreneurs, and supporting Hispanic businesses. Contact: Martha Llamas Company Name: M&R Inc Phone: 480-955-9574 E-mail: [email protected] Website URL: MarthaLlamas.com SOURCE Martha Llamas ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM ) today unveiled a groundbreaking commitment and global plan to provide 30 million people of all ages with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030. To achieve this goal, IBM is announcing a clear roadmap with more than 170 new academic and industry partnerships. The effort will leverage IBM's existing programs and career building platforms to expand access to education and in-demand technical roles. "Talent is everywhere; training opportunities are not," said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO. "This is why we must take big and bold steps to expand access to digital skills and employment opportunities so that more people regardless of their background can take advantage of the digital economy. Today, IBM commits to providing 30 million people with new skills by 2030. This will help democratize opportunity, fill the growing skills gap, and give new generations of workers the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and society." The difficulty employers worldwide face in finding skilled workers poses a significant hurdle to economic growth. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), closing the global skills gap could add US$11.5 trillion to global GDP by 2028. To help do so, according to the WEF, the public and private sectors need to collaborate on education and training that keeps pace with market demands, demographic changes, and technology progress. A Program for Everyone With diverse offerings and an adaptable approach, IBM's education portfolio strives to be unique and effective, reflecting IBM's understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work when it comes to education. IBM's programs range from technical education for teens at brick-and-mortar public schools and universities, and extend to paid, on-site IBM internships and apprenticeships. The company's skills and education programs also pair IBM mentorships with learners, and provide no-charge, customizable online curricula to aspiring professionals. IBM's plan to educate 30 million people relies on its broad combinations of programs, and includes collaborations with universities and key government entities -- including employment agencies. Partnerships extend to NGOs as well, particularly those that focus on groups such as underserved youth, women, and military veterans. In general, IBM's efforts mobilize the private sector across the globe to open and expand opportunity pathways for underrepresented and historically disadvantaged communities. Examples include: In the United States , IBM will expand partnerships with several new partners, including Workforce Development Inc, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurships (NACCE), and OHUB, to offer training on the IBM SkillsBuild platform to successfully upskill, reskill, and best prepare the workforce for the future of work. , IBM will expand partnerships with several new partners, including Workforce Development Inc, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurships (NACCE), and OHUB, to offer training on the IBM SkillsBuild platform to successfully upskill, reskill, and best prepare the workforce for the future of work. In India , IBM collaborates with Haryana State Board of Technical Education, and Uttar Pradesh State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), to upskill youth from across the country. , IBM collaborates with Haryana State Board of Technical Education, and Uttar Pradesh State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), to upskill youth from across the country. In Japan , IBM partners with Osaka Municipal Government and Osaka Roudou Kyokai (NPO) to offer SkillsBuild for Job Seekers in Osaka Prefecture , helping them to obtain IT skills and earn tech-related jobs. IBM's curricula include introductions to AI and cloud computing, particularly for positions like help desk specialist, web developer, and data analyst. , IBM partners with Osaka Municipal Government and Osaka Roudou Kyokai (NPO) to offer SkillsBuild for Job Seekers in , helping them to obtain IT skills and earn tech-related jobs. IBM's curricula include introductions to AI and cloud computing, particularly for positions like help desk specialist, web developer, and data analyst. In Latin America , IBM is partnering with Junior Achievement Americas to provide IBM SkillsBuild and IBM mentors to train women for web development and programming careers. , IBM is partnering with Junior Achievement Americas to provide IBM SkillsBuild and IBM mentors to train women for web development and programming careers. In Spain , IBM has partnered with Agencia para el Empleo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Madrid Council Employment Agency) to provide unemployed individuals with technical and professional skills through IBM SkillsBuild. Some of the courses will include: interpersonal skills, client engagement, web development and cybersecurity. , IBM has partnered with Agencia para el Empleo del Ayuntamiento de (Madrid Council Employment Agency) to provide unemployed individuals with technical and professional skills through IBM SkillsBuild. Some of the courses will include: interpersonal skills, client engagement, web development and cybersecurity. In Hong Kong , IBM partnered with Vocational Training Council (VTC), the largest vocational and professional education and training provider for learners of all ages, to include IBM SkillsBuild as part of their core learning on tech-related skills. , IBM partnered with Vocational Training Council (VTC), the largest vocational and professional education and training provider for learners of all ages, to include IBM SkillsBuild as part of their core learning on tech-related skills. In Nigeria , IBM partnered with Coca-Cola HBC to skill youth on workplace readiness skills and interpersonal skills. , IBM partnered with Coca-Cola HBC to skill youth on workplace readiness skills and interpersonal skills. In Sweden, IBM is working with War Child to provide STEM career readiness for women who have escaped war. Said Martin Sundblad, Research Manager and Co-Lead, European Skills Practice at IDC, "The digital transformation has come to a point where it reaches into all processes, functions and job roles across enterprises and organizations, and the need for training becomes imperative for societies to adapt. Digital skills development, albeit in different scale and form, is now required throughout the education system, in most business functions, and within the IT professional community in order not to jeopardize the investments made. The IBM program has the size and reach that will support this transition." Learn more about this commitment, and the stories of IBM skilling programs and participants, by going here . About IBM & Education IBM's longstanding commitment to education has long been core to its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ten years ago, IBM launched its P-TECH program, a revolutionary public education model designed to address the high-tech skills gap. Additionally, the company has created upskilling and reskilling programs for community members in every stage of their learning journeys. These teach technical skills for job roles that involve cybersecurity, quantum computing, cognitive AI, design thinking, and digital marketing. They also offer and human-centered professional workplace proficiencies for resume building, collaboration, presentation, time management even mindfulness. IBM offers these with a mix of hands-on and virtual programs to reach people wherever they are globally. Media Inquiries: Ari Fishkind IBM Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE IBM Related Links www.ibm.com The incorporation of multiple safety features in mats and the demand from the manufacturing industry is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the industrial floor mats market during the forecast period. However, the issues with curling and buckling of mats may hamper the market growth. Technavio analyzes the market by Product (Ergonomic floor mats and Entrance floor mats) and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA). This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. The industrial floor mats market covers the following areas: Companies Mentioned 3M Co. Co. Apache Mills Bergo Flooring AB ES ROBBINS Corp. Justrite Mfg. Co. LLC KLEEN TEX Industries Inc. Ludlow Composites Corp. Mountville Mills Inc. Unimat Industries LLC Wearwell LLC Related Reports: Luxury Pen Market -The luxury pen market has the potential to grow by USD 712.70 million during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.94%. Download a free sample report now! Office Stationery Market -The office stationery market in Europe has the potential to grow by USD 8.06 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.46%. Download a free sample report now! Subscribe to our "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 to join a community, who are eligible to view 3 reports monthly and download 3 reports annually. Industrial Floor Mats Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.30% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 914.50 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.17 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Apache Mills, Bergo Flooring AB, ES ROBBINS Corp., Justrite Mfg. Co. LLC, KLEEN TEX Industries Inc., Ludlow Composites Corp., Mountville Mills Inc., Unimat Industries LLC, and Wearwell LLC Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio STOCKHOLM, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolux results for the third quarter of 2021 will be published on October 27, 2021, at approximately 08.00 CET. A telephone conference will be held following the release of the results, starting at 09.00 CET. Jonas Samuelson, President and CEO and Therese Friberg, CFO will comment on the report. Slides used in the presentation and report will be available at Electrolux website, www.electroluxgroup.com/ir . You can listen to the presentation here. The details for participation by telephone are as follows: Participants in Sweden should call +46 8 566 426 51 Participants in UK/Europe should call +44 3333 000 804 Participants in US should call +1 631 9131 422 Electrolux is a leading global appliance company that has shaped living for the better for more than 100 years. We reinvent taste, care and wellbeing experiences for millions of people, always striving to be at the forefront of sustainability in society through our solutions and operations. Under our brands, including Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, we sell approximately 60 million household products in approximately 120 markets every year. In 2020 Electrolux had sales of SEK 116 billion and employed 49,000 people around the world. For more information go to www.electroluxgroup.com. Pin code: 52992645# This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/electrolux/r/invitation-to-electrolux-q3-presentation,c3431527 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1853/3431527/1480130.pdf Q3 2021 invitation eng SOURCE Electrolux DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) was awarded a contract for planning and engineering services by the U.S. Army's Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to integrate Engineering With Nature (EWN) approaches within Department of Defense (DoD) facilities. Under the terms of the three-year contract, Jacobs will collaborate with ERDC's EWN program leadership and their strategic partners to achieve three primary objectives: engage the DoD facilities community on nature-based solutions for resilience; develop an EWN roadmap for DoD; and create technical guides for application of nature-based solutions for DoD facilities. "Changing climate patterns and extreme weather events can have long-term impacts to mission assurance for our military," said Jacobs Federal & Environmental Solutions Senior Vice President and General Manager Tim Byers. "Integrating EWN principles into future DoD infrastructure projects results in more resilient and sustainable solutions that also deliver economic, social and environmental benefits while meeting military mission requirements." As the top ranked global environmental consulting firm, Jacobs is leading efforts to mitigate the impacts of the climate emergency; advance the transition to a clean energy, net zero economy; optimize the complete water cycle through an integrated approach to water management (One Water); clean-up chemical contaminants and nuclear waste; restore ecosystems and reduce biodiversity loss; promote environmental justice and social equity; plan, design, build and operate resilient infrastructure that generates enduring social and environmental value; develop circular economy supply chains; and rapidly respond to natural disasters. At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence and spread of variants of COVID-19, and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2020, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2021, and in particular the discussions contained under Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law. For press/media inquiries: Kerrie Sparks 214.583.8433 SOURCE Jacobs Related Links http://www.jacobs.com HOUSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded a dual-pressure nitric acid technology contract by Hanwha Corp. for its new plant at Yeosu, South Korea. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide license, basic engineering design, and technical support to Hanwha for a 1,200 metric tons per day dual pressure nitric acid plant. Nitric acid is an intermediate chemical for the production of various products including fertilizers, plastics, and dyes. "KBR is proud to be selected by Hanwha to deliver our leading dual-pressure nitric acid technology that offers tangible CAPEX and OPEX benefits including reduced net energy consumption through efficient energy recovery," said Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. "This contract highlights KBR's continued commitment to bringing energy-efficient sustainable technologies to the industry." Since 1954, KBR has licensed 76 grassroot nitric acid plants globally and is the No. 1 technology in the demanding US market. About KBR We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market;; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Related Links http://www.kbr.com LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WHO: Japanese Restaurant Association of America WHAT: Japanese food festival featuring live performances, a cosplay contest, Mikoshi, Taiko, Karate, and more. WHERE: Little Tokyo at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center JACCC (244 San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90012) WHEN: Sunday, November 14th, 11am-8pm CONTEST: Cosplay Costume Grand Prize $1,000! COST: FREE! PHOTOS: Download from HERE The Japanese Restaurant Association of America presents LA eats Japan, set for the first time in an outdoor venue. The annual food festival will feature local Japanese food booths, live music, a cosplay contest, and a classic car show at the LA Japanese American Cultural & Community Center: 244 San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, November 14 from 11:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. The event expects to draw in 4,000 attendees. There will be 17 food yatai or stalls, and one alcohol yatai for guests to enjoy. Traditional Japanese festival foods including yakitori chicken skewers, savory okonomiyaki pancakes, curry rice, ramen, yakisoba noodles and sushi will be served by local restaurants from their individual booths. Sweet treats such as kakigori shaved ice and baby castella cakes will also be available. Live performances, including the popular hardcore techno sounds of "Repezen Foxx," will be a highlight. Repezen Foxx's music has become very well liked culturally in Japan, especially on YouTube, where they have over 3 million subscribers. Guests will be encouraged to enter the festival's cosplay costume competition. The winner of the competition will receive a prize of $1,000. Second and third place winners will both receive a surprise gift. In addition to contemporary Japanese cultural performances, the festival will also showcase traditional musical and martial arts such as Taiko Japanese percussion and Karate. A mikoshi portable shrine will be paraded through the venue streets to ward off misfortune and wish happiness upon attendees. Admission to the festival is FREE. The Japanese Restaurant Association of America has hosted the annual Japanese Food Festival at an indoor venue since its inception in 1999. Last year, the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, our food festival emerges better than ever. For the first time, it will be held in an outdoor venue," said Kentaro Masuda, President of the Los Angeles Japanese Restaurant Association. "Come for the authentic Japanese cuisine and the outstanding mix of live traditional and contemporary performances." The LA eats JAPAN festival is generously supported by the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles. Official hashtag: #LAeatsJAPAN ABOUT Japanese Restaurant Association The Japanese Restaurant Association of America is a non-profit organization established in California in 1999 to serve as a resource for local Japanese restaurants. LA eats JAPAN Performance & Event Venue in Los Angeles, California Website | Instagram | Facebook Media Contact: Marian Goldberg & Kimiyo Naka MGMC and KCommunications [email protected] 347-559-6462 Photos: https://www.prlog.org/12889272 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Japanese Restaurant Association of America Related Links http://www.jraamerica.org NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has added key challenges and trends for lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets industry profiles on their platform. All 400+ company profiles will now contain 50+ company data points, including a list of potential challenges which are expected to impact market participants over the next few years. Snapshot of key challenge impacting BizVibe's lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets industry group. One challenge which is being highlighted is a lack of growth in R&D spending in most parts of the world. Global R&D spend as a percentage of GDP has not been consistently increasing across R&D powerhouses, with the exception of China. Government investments in publicly funded R&D projects are also lagging. On top of that, the coronavirus outbreak has compelled the private and public sectors alike to cut down on R&D spend (except in relation to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments). These factors will critically affect long-term advancements in science and technology, ultimately impacting the patent filing and licensing landscape. By identifying such challenges, BizVibe is helping users analyze which suppliers are right for their business, while allowing them to efficiently monitor the risk of doing business. Get Free Access to all Industry Challenges Key Insights Provided for Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets In addition to analysis on how key challenges are expected to impact businesses, BizVibe company profiles contain numerous high-quality insights to help users discover, track, compare, and evaluate suppliers or sales prospects. These insights include: Relevance and influence of industry trends and challenges, segmented by region Press releases and news coverage referencing key trends and challenges Risk of doing business score, segmented by operational, financial, compliance, and country risk Top company competitors at the global, regional, and national levels Names of top company decision makers, including job titles and social profiles Company financials such as annual revenue, profitability ratios, and management effectiveness View 50+ Company Data Points for Free Nonfinancial Intangible Assets Product and Service Categories BizVibe's platform provides access to over 10 million buyer and supplier company profiles. Businesses from more than 200 countries are categorized into 40,000+ product and service categories, each providing detailed insights tailored to the needs of procurement and sales teams globally. The lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets industry group features 400+ company profiles categorized into multiple product and service categories, enabling clients to identify and connect with potential new business partners across diverse market segments. Get Free Company Profile Access for all Categories BizVibe for Buyers and Sellers BizVibe is a modern B2B platform dedicated to connecting buyers and sellers from around the world. Powered by the latest best-in-class solutions, BizVibe is designed to help companies generate leads, shortlist suppliers, request proposals, and identify global companies. Evaluate companies side-by-side to compare key metrics and initiate productive partnerships. Buyers use BizVibe to discover suppliers from among more than 5 million companies using advanced search filters and comparison tools. Features for buyers include: Shortlist potential suppliers Track and compare companies Set up custom news alerts Quickly create and customize RFIs Explore BizVibe's buyer services: https://www.bizvibe.com/buyers Sellers can take advantage of BizVibe's smart sales intelligence tools to discover, evaluate, and communicate with prospects across 300+ categories. Features for sellers include: Identify and qualify sales prospects Receive customized prospect recommendations Analyze and evaluate potential buyers Integrate CRMs for efficient data transfer Discover BizVibe's seller tools: https://www.bizvibe.com/sellers About BizVibe BizVibe has been conceptualized and built by a team based out of Toronto, Bangalore, and London. We are a branch of Infiniti Research and have dedicated units in all three locations. BizVibe helps buyers find the most relevant suppliers from around the world and helps sellers target prospects who need their products and/or services. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com and start for free today. Contact BizVibe Jesse Maida Email: [email protected] +1 855-897-5880 Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/ SOURCE BizVibe Related Links https://www.bizvibe.com/?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=prn&utm_campaign=t6_bsh_week41_2021&utm_content=5331 PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Californians for School Choice today announced that the California Attorney General's Office has issued the official title and summary for the landmark Educational Freedom Act Initiative. Proponents can now move forward to collect the 1 million signatures needed to qualify the initiative to be placed on the November 2022 election ballot. The Educational Freedom Act, if approved by voters, would bring true school choice to all K-12 students in the state who choose to opt-into the proposed program. "Today marks the culmination of three years of hard work from our dedicated network of grassroots supporters that created this real movement for true school choice reform," said Mike Alexander, Chair, Californians for School Choice. "Under the Educational Freedom Act students would be able to attend any accredited private or religious school of their choice and save any money left over for college, vocational training or other qualified expense." California currently has nearly 6.6 million K-12 students. Six million attend public schools, 471,000 attend private schools and another 84,000 homeschooled. "The Educational Freedom Act is unique because it does not call for a means test," said Alexander. "It gives all students equal access to accredited schools that they might not be otherwise able to afford. There are no caps on the savings accounts." The Educational Freedom Act has four key components: An Educational Savings Account ("ESA") will be established for each K-12 child in California on request. The Act treats all K-12 California students equally. on request. The Act treats all K-12 students equally. Each year, that account will be credited with the student's share of what are known as Prop 98 funds. That share will rise to over $14,000 per year. The Act is designed to be tax neutral and does not impose any changes to public education. All programs under Prop. 98 will continue as before. Students who leave public school will have their fair share of Prop. 98 funds only, which will follow them to the accredited private school of their choice. per year. The Act is designed to be tax neutral and does not impose any changes to public education. All programs under Prop. 98 will continue as before. Students who leave public school will have their fair share of Prop. 98 funds only, which will follow them to the accredited private school of their choice. Parents can direct those funds to a participating public, charter, or accredited private or religious school. Private schools must be accredited and conform with local health and safety standards. There will be no curriculum or hiring requirements. There are no caps on the savings account. Any unspent funds will accumulate and can be spent on college, vocational training or other qualified educational expense. Funds not spent by the time a student reaches age 30 will be returned to the treasury. Californians for School Choice plans an aggressive statewide signature gathering effort to collect the signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. Signatures must be gathered within 180 days. To request a petition to sign and collect signatures, go to https://www.californiaschoolchoice.org/ Ad paid for by Californians for School Choice Committee major funding from Dale Broome SOURCE Californians for School Choice Related Links https://www.californiaschoolchoice.org/ Supports Combined Loftware & NiceLabel Vision To Extend Global Reach to Companies of all Sizes and Digitally Transform Supply Chains PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Loftware , Inc., the largest software company in the world specializing in Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management solutions today announced a brand refresh, solidifying the unification of Loftware and Nicelabel into one integrated Loftware global brand. The refresh comes after a momentous year for the company, experiencing record growth in customer sales and deployments in 2021 following the combination of Loftware and NiceLabel, another leading labeling solutions provider. This union has provided customers and partners with greater access to the most robust solutions, technologies, features, and capabilities enabling them to create new efficiencies across labeling and packaging artwork management, all from a single solutions provider and cloud leader. It has also brought together 60 years of combined expertise in solving labeling challenges for companies of all sizes throughout a wide range of industries across the globe. Now, the Loftware corporate brand will extend across the entire product portfolio with NiceLabel solutions maintaining the NiceLabel brand name. "I am excited to mark this critical inflection point with the launch of our new Loftware global brand. As part of our new organization, we wanted to redefine our identity including a new look and feel to accurately reflect our future vision, strategy, and direction. We believe this new brand captures the true essence of Loftware bold, modern, global, and innovative, while embracing the personality, humanity, and diversity of the company," said Josh Roffman, Senior VP Marketing & Product Management, Loftware. "The combination provided us with the opportunity to redefine who we are as a unified organization. We have never been in a stronger position to elevate mission critical labeling and artwork management solutions, transform businesses, and revolutionize the industry," he added. The new corporate identity, which highlights the company's vision "to enable companies of all sizes to digitally transform their business and revolutionize their supply chains," includes a mission, strategy, visual brand, and core values which reflect the spirit of the combined organization. Loftware plans to launch a single combined website in the future which will highlight the new brand, vision, and organization. The site, designed to be optimized for customers, partners and visitors, will continue to offer a blend of product and corporate information, product resources including downloads and a partner portal, as well as educational resources on labeling and artwork management. It also will provide insights on how Loftware teams with customers and partners to help them accelerate their business and succeed with innovative enterprise labeling and artwork management solutions. "Loftware and NiceLabel have always placed the highest importance in the overall wellbeing and interests of our employees, our customers, and our partners. This on-going commitment is still at the forefront of everything we do, and it further unites us as the one global team," said Robert O'Connor, Jr., President and CEO of Loftware. "Our size and scale have already allowed us to expand investments in products, people, and systems to the extent neither company could have ever previously considered. We now truly offer the industry's broadest and most advanced solutions, services, and support enabling us to help businesses of all sizes and across all industries to digitally transform their supply chains and solve business challenges," he added. If you're interested in finding out more, you can join the upcoming presentation at the company's upcoming annual user conference, Convergence , on October 19 21, when Loftware CEO Robert O'Connor, Jr., provides a firsthand overview of the company's new corporate identity and what it means for customers. As the industry's largest labeling and artwork management conference, Convergence will feature a range of sessions spotlighting emerging industry trends, customer stories, product innovations, interactive panel discussions and more. For more information, please visit: https://www.loftware.com . About Loftware Loftware and NiceLabel have combined to become the world's largest cloud-based Enterprise Labeling & Artwork Management solutions to provide companies the most robust solutions for companies of all sizes. Maintaining a global presence with offices in US, UK, Germany, Slovenia, China, Japan and Singapore, the union combines over 60 years of expertise in solving labeling challenges and helping companies improve the quality, speed, and efficiency of their labeling, while reducing cost. Together, as the leading global provider of Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management solutions, Loftware enables supply chain agility, supports evolving regulations, and optimizes business operations for a wide range of industries including life sciences, manufacturing, food & beverage, retail, automotive, consumer products and apparel. Media contacts: Maureen Perroni, Loftware Director of Content & Communications, [email protected] , 603.502.3901 Robert Brownlie, Bob Gold & Associates, [email protected] , 310.320.2010 SOURCE Loftware, Inc. Related Links https://www.loftware.com RAIPUR, India, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Machine Tool Bearings Market by Bearing Type (Ball Bearing [Angular Contact Ball Bearing, Deep Groove Ball Bearing, and Others] and Roller Bearing [Tapered Roller Bearing, Cylindrical Roller Bearing, and Others]), by Material Type (Metallic Bearings, Non-Metallic Bearings, and Hybrid Bearings), by Application Type (Metal Cutting and Metal Forming), by End-User Type (OE and Aftermarket), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World). This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's machine tool bearings market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. After a continuous interest in our automotive bearings, railway bearings, food & beverage bearings, construction bearings, and wind energy bearings market report from the industry stakeholders, we have tried to further accentuate our research scope to the machine tool bearings market to provide the most crystal-clear picture of the market. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies. Machine Tool Bearings Market: Highlights from the Report Machine tools are highly customized goods that are tailored to the needs of customers. They are intricate machines that make parts of various shapes, sizes, and materials. Spindles are a vital component in the machine tool industry that are used to shape materials using high-speed rotation and pressure. With continuous advancements in modern machinery, there is a growing need for machining equipment that is faster, more precise, and more durable than ever before. Bearings are important components that guide and improve spindle movement. The use of high-quality bearings increases the efficiency and dependability of machine tool spindles, resulting in increased production and reduced machinery wear and tear. COVID-19 has taken a toll on almost every industry that machine tool players serve. The global crisis left the machine tool industry in disarray. The demand for machine tools declined due to lockdowns, followed by reduced investment in the industry. The machine tool bearings market typically relies on the organic growth of the machine tool industry and usually takes the same path as the latter. Key challenges that arose in front of the industry stakeholders on account of the pandemic were lower orders, supply chain disruptions, along uncertain future demand. Amid pandemic-related shutdowns and economic uncertainties, all major stakeholders have responded by adjusting volume planning to suit the new landscape and focusing on addressing near-term financial management concerns. Robust government support across most of the regions, accompanied by joint efforts of OEMs and other sectoral stakeholders towards mitigating both the short- and long-term challenges of COVID-19, is signaling towards healthy and quick recuperation, helping the machine tool bearings market to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2021-2026 to reach the figure of US$ 3.7 Billion in 2026. Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1964/machine-tool-bearings-market.html Based on the bearing type, ball bearings are further classified as angular contact ball bearing, deep groove ball bearing, and others. In a similar way, roller bearings are further classified as tapered roller, cylindrical roller, spherical roller, and others. Ball bearings are expected to remain the larger segment of the market during the forecast period, driven by widespread deployment of angular contact ball bearings in the spindle of machine tool equipment. They consist of one or more rows of rolling balls between concentric grooved rings and are useful for both radial and axial loads in one direction. Based on the application type, metal cutting is projected to be the dominating segment of the market during the forecast period. Metal cutting application consists of machine tools that widely incorporate spindles in their design such as lathe, drilling, milling, boring, and grinding machines. Bearings are crucial parts that direct and boost spindle movements. The use of high-quality bearings improves the efficiency and reliability of machine tool spindles; thereby, increasing production and reducing wear and tear on machinery. In terms of regions, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest and the fastest-growing market for machine tool bearings during the forecast period. Increasing demand for metal cutting machines coupled with the well-developed supply chain and significant expansions and investments in the automotive, oil and gas, and railway industries in the region are among the major factors driving the growth of the region's market for machine tool bearings. Europe is also expected to offer sizeable growth opportunities during the forecast period, driven by increased demand for automation and precision in manufacturing processes as well as the rising demand from electric vehicles. Register Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/1964/machine-tool-bearings-market.html#form The supply chain of this market comprises several nodes including raw material suppliers, bearing manufacturers, OEMs, and MRO companies. Following are the key players in the machine tool bearings market. AB SKF Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG NSK Ltd. The Timken Company NTN Corporation JTEKT Corporation Trelleborg AB C&U Group Ltd. LYC Bearing Corporation Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. To maximize production, machine tools are being pushed to their limits. Simultaneously, machine operations are becoming more and more complicated. Higher speeds and faster development put a lot of strain on the machine's basic components, particularly the spindle units. The industry is shifting towards developing new application-oriented bearings for industry-specific demands. Bearing fabricators are focusing on addressing client needs such as lowering energy losses and increasing capacity through lubrication methods. Report Features This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report: Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis. Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis. Market trend and forecast analysis. Market segment trend and forecast. Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc. Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities. Emerging trends. Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players. Key success factors. This report studies the machine tool bearings market and has segmented the market in five ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the five ways in which the market is segmented: Machine Tool Bearings Market, by Bearing Type Ball Bearing (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) (Ball Bearing Type Analysis: Angular Contact, Deep Groove, and Others) Roller Bearing (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) (Roller Bearing Type Analysis: Tapered Roller, Cylindrical Roller, and Others) Machine Tool Bearings Market, by Material Type Metallic Bearings (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Non-Metallic Bearings (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Hybrid Bearings (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Machine Tool Bearings Market, by Application Type Metal Cutting (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Metal Forming (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Machine Tool Bearings Market, by End-use Type OE (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Aftermarket (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Machine Tool Bearings Market, by Region North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico ) Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe ) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan , China , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific ) Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , Saudi Arabia , and Others) Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the construction materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Construction-Equipment.html About Stratview Research Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas. We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies. Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making. For enquiries, please contact: Stratview Research E-mail: [email protected] Direct: +1-313-307-4176 SOURCE Stratview Research HOUSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce that it will release its third quarter 2021 results on Thursday, November 4, 2021, after the financial markets close. In conjunction with the release, Main Street has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live via phone and over the Internet, on Friday, November 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Investors may participate either by phone or audio webcast. By Phone: Dial 412-902-0030 at least 10 minutes before the call. A replay will be available through November 12, 2021 by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the access code 13724109#. By Webcast: Connect to the webcast via the Investor Relations section of Main Street's website at www.mainstcapital.com. Please log in at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay of the conference call will be available on Main Street's website shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days. ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION Main Street (www.mainstcapital.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies. Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides "one stop" financing alternatives within its lower middle market portfolio. Main Street's lower middle market companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. Main Street's middle market debt investments are made in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies. Main Street, through its wholly owned portfolio company MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSC Adviser"), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties. MSC Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Contacts: Main Street Capital Corporation Dwayne L. Hyzak, CEO, [email protected] Jesse E. Morris, CFO and COO, [email protected] 713-350-6000 Dennard Lascar Investor Relations Ken Dennard | [email protected] Zach Vaughan | [email protected] 713-529-6600 SOURCE Main Street Capital Corporation Related Links http://www.mainstcapital.com King spent most of his career at Domino's Pizza, working his way from up from accounting/assistant controller to national Vice President of Franchise Operations throughout his 25-year tenure. During this time, he learned all the vital ins-and-outs of business, from finances to operations, and contributed to the franchise's overall growth. At the time of his departure from Domino's Pizza, he was directing the operations of more than 6,000 stores across the United States before joining Donatos Pizza as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he managed company-wide operations, business development and innovation practices. "I am looking forward to applying my operations knowledge and leadership experience in this new role, placing added value on company culture to influence performance," shared King. "Marco's is on track to becoming the fourth largest pizza brand in the country and I am eager to utilize my category experience to accelerate company-wide success in achieving that goal." King reports to Executive VP and Chief of Operations Tim Brown, a 40-year veteran of the pizza business. King is responsible for franchise operations and development initiatives for non-Area Representative areas and serves as a member of Marco's Executive Team. "John's resume speaks for itself, and his values align with those of the Marco's brand," said Brown. "I am confident that he is the right person for this role and will be a strong asset in attaining our short and long-term goals as we continue to scale nationwide." An established brand, Marco's is growing at an explosive rate on track to expand its 1,000-plus unit footprint in 2021 by more than 10% over the prior year. Marco's is seeing record-breaking sales and continues to innovate and pilot new programs to build off this successful momentum. Marco's provides a strong operations team and full development support system, including technology and tools to help identify the right territories for expansion plus expertise in financing, real estate, construction management and field operations, to assist franchisees and multi-unit operators. Marco's proven performance coupled with high-tier franchise support has resulted in eager and sophisticated entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators flocking to the franchise opportunity. Opening a new store every three and a half days on average, the Top 50% of its franchised stores generated $1,059,574 AUV for 2020*. For more information on Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209. ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA Marco's Pizza is America's Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian quality pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,000 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 2 in the Pizza category on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2020 "Franchise 500" ranking, and No. 6 in the Largest Pizza Chain category on Restaurant Business' 2020 "Top 500 Chains" ranking. Other recent accolades include ranking No. 4 in Forbes 2019 "Best Franchises to Buy" Small/Medium Investment and ranking five consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 200" ranking. *Based on the Average Unit Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for fiscal year 2020. Based on fiscal year 2020, 142 of 369 Franchised Stores in the category (38%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2021 FDD please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well. SOURCE Marco's Pizza Related Links https://www.marcos.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Military.Finance supports Veterans benefit projects while making valuable contributions to historical national heritage and contemporary pop culture. To date, the community has donated $70,000 to veteran charities and injected over $15,000 directly to veterans and soldiers that were in need. Military Finance (token symbol $MIL on Binance Smart Chain) art pieces are publicly verifiable digital assets minted on the Ethereum blockchain. The Official NFT Presidential Series - Launching Halloween Night The first fine art collection being minted is "The Presidents" series. The first of these commemorative limited edition non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will be a fully original digitally painted and animated portrait of George Washington with contemporary and historical cues. "We're excited about the Presidential Series because of who and what they represent," said Shawn Burst, one of the first admins in the community. "We've taken a lot of time and research, collaborating with very talented artists in order to create something authentic, thoughtful, unique, and inspiring." The Presidential Series will release its first NFT at the end of October, honoring George Washington and his many achievements. The NFTs for this series will include additional unique materials including anything from premium content, to exclusive access to high-profile media personalities, to merchandise and swag commemorating the NFT. Ownership and authenticity of Military Finance NFTs are publicly verifiable by anyone with an internet connection. Transfer of ownership by gift, donation, auction, or public and private sale is immediately accessible anywhere in the world, at any time by virtue of the Ethereum blockchain, a globally decentralized immutable ledger. Military Finance raises funds to support its mission for supporting Veterans benefit projects from initial sales of these commemorative pieces, and from commissions on sales at the NFT exchange platform www.OpenSea.io. For more information, visit Military.Finance and follow the project on popular social media platforms with convenient hyperlinks at https://www.Military.Finance. SOCIAL LINKS Telegram: https://t.me/Mil_Finance_NFT Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Mil_Finance Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Military_Finance/new/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/military.finance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/militaryfinancetoken MEDIA CONTACT Company: Military.Finance Contact Name: Shawn Burst Address: 2121 Eisenhower Ave Arlington, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.military.finance/ SOURCE Military.Finance CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zekelman Industries funded $1 million of a $1.1 million Task Force Argo mission chartering two flights into and out of Kabul, Afghanistan that successfully rescued 534 American citizens and lawful permanent residents, spouses and children after the U.S. military withdrew from the city. When Army veteran Jim Young of Sabot Development reached out to Zekelman Industries, EVP Mickey McNamara and Chairman and CEO Barry Zekelman jumped on the opportunity to save lives and greenlighted the company's participation. "We went all in when our good friend and business partner Jim Young reached out to see if we could support this," Zekelman said. "We felt privileged to be able to do so to support those who have served and to play a part in rescuing American citizens, lawful permanent residents, spouses and children. It was the right thing to do. When we say, 'Life Reinforced,' it's more than a marketing campaign to us; it's a purpose statement. And this is a great example of what it means." The Task Force Argo team moved quickly, sourcing equipment, handling logistics and extraditing those rescued in six days. Amid the minute-to-minute chaos and ever-changing manifests in the face of ever-shifting Taliban rules, the team kept moving forward and diplomatically coordinated with contacts in Kabul, the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State to confirm and properly vet the passenger lists and clear all passengers for landing in Abu Dhabi. The team is continuing to work to secure safe passage for all evacuees to their final destinations. About Zekelman Industries Zekelman Industries includes the operating divisions of Atlas Tube, Picoma, Sharon Tube, Wheatland Tube, Western Tube and Z Modular. It is the largest independent manufacturer of hollow structural sections (HSS) and steel pipe, and the top producer of electrical conduit and elbows, couplings, and nipples in North America. SOURCE Zekelman Industries MANKATO, Minn., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raloy Lubricantes, one of the top four lubricant manufacturers and main supplier for automotive OEMs in Mexico, has selected the new mtu Series 500 generator set from the Power Systems business unit of Rolls-Royce to provide combined heat and power for its manufacturing operations in Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico. The electricity will be used to power operations, while the heat from exhaust will be used to warm up thermal oil for mixing processes. Thermal energy from jacket heat will be recaptured and run through an absorption chiller to produce chilled water for cooling plastic bottles manufactured in Raloy's sister company, Thermfluidos. The new mtu Series 500 is the successor of the mtu Series 400 and offers 3.1% more efficiency and 30% more available power than its predecessor. It is available to run on both natural gas and biogas, and is H2-ready, allowing for a blending of up to 10% hydrogen. The family of generator sets cover the 250-550 kWe power range and peak efficiencies of up to 42.6 percent in this power class. They offer a climate-friendly and economical solution for the industrial and utility sector in addition to other applications. Available in 50 Hz and 60 Hz versions, these highly efficient units feature an optimized engine designed to greatly lower fuel costs and come equipped with an mtu Module Control automation system that monitors all genset activities and enables easy integration with other systems. Raloy is a 100% Mexican company with more than 40 years of experience in the manufacture and commercialization of lubricants and fluids for automotive and industrial applications. Several of its products are authorized for use in mtu diesel generator sets and are under consideration for use in mtu gas engines. The mtu Series 500 was selected through an extensive bid process on the basis of total lifecycle cost, product efficiency and factory support. Raloy Group CEO, Ing. Jorge H. Loya Ramirez, expressed, "Our company found in the new mtu Series 500 the perfect solution to accomplish the objectives of sustainability, power savings and reliability in order to strengthen our manufacturing processes for our client's needs. The Rolls-Royce team has been a great partner on this project helping us understand how we can apply the state-of-the-art technology they develop. We look forward to work out more projects together in the future." "It is not common to work with a customer that is ready to embrace new technology and lead an industry, as it has been with Raloy," said Javier Gonzalez, Senior Manager of Gas System Sales, Americas, at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. "Raloy knows and trusts the high quality of our products and this added with their genuine interest of developing sustainable processes, is why they decided to put them to work in their operations." The new Series 500 generator set at Raloy is expected to be commissioned in April 2022. Press photos are available for download from https://www.mtu-solutions.com/eu/en/news-and-media/media-center.html About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030. We joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, and have committed to ensuring our new products will be compatible with net zero operation by 2030, and all products will be compatible with net zero by 2050. Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs around 9,000 people. The product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, power generation, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry as well as diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. Annual underlying revenue was 11.76 billion in 2020 and we invested 1.25 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE:RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69). SOURCE Rolls-Royce Power Systems WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Science Mission Directorate will hold a community town hall meeting at 3 p.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 18. Associate Administrator for Science Thomas H. Zurbuchen and his leadership team will discuss updates to NASA's science programs. Members of the science community, academia, the media, and the public are invited to participate by joining at: https://go.nasa.gov/3jfVYTR If prompted, please enter: Event number: 2762 947 3249 Event password gKt23HPT75w To ask a question during or prior to the meeting, participants may go to: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/m27c/#!/dashboard Users must provide their first and last names and organizations, and can submit their own questions or vote up questions submitted by others. Meeting leaders will try to answer as many submitted questions as possible. This town hall will be recorded. Presentation materials for the meeting will be available for download and a recording will be available later that day at: https://science.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Disability Institute (NDI) today announced that Sindy Marisol Benavides, Chief Executive Officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), has joined the organization's Board of Directors. As the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, LULAC's mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population in the United States. Benavides joins a distinguished Board that consists of some of the top leaders in the financial, nonprofit and disability communities. NDI Board members provide guidance and support for the organization's commitment to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families. "I am thrilled to welcome Sindy as a member of NDI's Board of Directors. Disability cuts across all ages, ethnicities, genders and races and having a diverse Board that understands these intersectionalities is vital to NDI's mission of economic inclusion," said Thomas Foley, NDI Executive Director. "I look forward to learning more of Sindy's insights and perspective and how, together, we can create strategies that include all members of the disability community." "It is an honor to join the Board of Directors of NDI and continue collaborating with this vital organization to improve the policies and services that impact people with disabilities, a quarter of which live in poverty," said Sindy Benavides, LULAC CEO. "NDI recognizes that the disability population is as diverse as the country itself, with one in four adults in the United States having some type of disability. Latinos already face barriers to employment, education, skill development and financial services, so NDI's advocacy on behalf of our community's disabled population is crucial for their success." Benavides is the founder, co-founder and founding board member of LULAC Council 4611, VA Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN), VA Coalition of Immigrant Rights (VACIR) and the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Action (HOLA). She is an alumna of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program through the University of Virginia and the Virginia Executive Institute and Minority Political Leadership Institute through Virginia Commonwealth University. Benavides serves on multiple boards, including serving as Vice-Chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the National Diversity Advisory Council for the American Red Cross. She is also a member of the External Diversity & Inclusion Council for Charter Communications, the External Diversity & Inclusion Council for T-Mobile and the AT&T Consumer Advisory Panel. The League of United Latin American Citizens is the nation's largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with 1,000 councils across the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit lulac.org. About National Disability Institute National Disability Institute (NDI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families. The first national organization committed exclusively to championing economic empowerment, financial education, asset development and financial stability for all persons with disabilities, NDI affects change through public education, policy development, training, technical assistance and innovative initiatives. To learn more, visit nationaldisabilityinstitute.org. Engage with NDI on Facebook: @NationalDisability or follow NDI on Twitter: @NatDisability. Contact: Kathleen Brannigan National Disability Institute 917-647-4430 [email protected] SOURCE National Disability Institute Related Links https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/ Sign up here to #RunForAustin. Register as an individual or create/join a team to run or walk any route, from anywhere, at any time, on the day of the race. Austin Tice is a Marine combat veteran, a seventh-generation Texan from Houston, a graduate of Georgetown University, and an award-winning journalist who has been unjustly detained in Syria since 2012. After seeing reports of the refugee crisis unfolding in Syria, Austin picked up his camera and headed straight to the front lines as a freelance reporter. He delivered important dispatches to The Washington Post and McClatchy before he was detained at a checkpoint near Damascus on August 14, 2012. After more than nine years, Austin has endured the longest detention of any U.S. journalist to date. Use the hashtags #RunForAustin and #FreeAustinTice to keep the conversation going. Tag @PressClubDC to share with us your trails, your training and your teams as race day approaches! Registered participants may download a personal race bib to print out and wear. After completing the virtual 5K on Saturday, Nov. 13, runners can submit race results through their registered participant account. Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members worldwide representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the globe. Contact: Kaitlyn Cotter for the National Press Club, 202-662-7511, [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club Related Links https://www.press.org PARIS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighty-five percent of organizations are concerned about reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Measurement is the most significant roadblock, as only 9% of companies are able to quantify their total emissions comprehensively. These are among the findings of a new survey being released today from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and BCG GAMMA titled "Use AI to Measure EmissionsExhaustively, Accurately, and Frequently." To assess companies' ability to measure and reduce their emissions, BCG collected and analyzed responses from executives at 1,290 organizationsacross nine major industries worldwidewho have full or partial decision-making responsibility in this regard. The survey found that companies are failing to measure their emissions: Exhaustively. 81% of respondents omit some of their internal emissions (those related to the company's own activities) in their reporting, and 66% of respondents do not report any of their external emissions (those related to the company's value chain) 81% of respondents omit some of their internal emissions (those related to the company's own activities) in their reporting, and 66% of respondents do not report any of their external emissions (those related to the company's value chain) Accurately. Respondents estimate an average error rate of 30% to 40% in their emissions measurements Respondents estimate an average error rate of 30% to 40% in their emissions measurements Frequently. 53% of respondents say they have difficulty in making and tracking decisions due to infrequent measurements 53% of respondents say they have difficulty in making and tracking decisions due to infrequent measurements Automatically. 86% of respondents still record and report their emissions manually using spreadsheets, and only 22% of respondents have automated processes "When companies aren't able to understand their baseline emissions levels, how can they expect to track their emissions and set the right targets?" asked Sylvain Duranton, the global leader of BCG GAMMA and a coauthor of the survey. "For instance, if they are not collecting and analyzing granular data and emissions factors, they can't expect their measurements to be accurate. We worked with a spirits company that was not breaking down and measuring emissions related to their glass bottles by input, such as supplier, color, materials, or country of origin; when they did, they found emissions were 45% higher than initially measured." Eighty-seven percent of the survey respondents want to increase the scope of their reporting, while 66% hope to update their emissions reporting yearlyor even more often. To do so effectively, however, they will require new AI-based tools. Organizations can use these tools in a range of ways, including to automatically ingest and report data, calculate a carbon footprint, run simulations, set targets, manage a global portfolio of abatement initiatives, and more. "New AI-supported tools can play a crucial role in taking companies to the next level of measurement and reporting and, ultimately, to significant reductions. In fact, our experience shows us that AI can directly enable the reduction of companies' emissions by as much as 40% through identifying the best initiatives, tracking results, and optimizing company operations," said Charlotte Degot, a managing director and partner at BCG and a coauthor of the survey. Explore some of the detailed survey findings in a slideshow here. View a TED Talk by Charlotte Degot in which she explains how AI makes it possible for corporations to set meaningful climate targets, more accurately track their progress, and reduce pollution over time here. To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or [email protected]. About BCG GAMMA BCG GAMMA is BCG's global team dedicated to applying artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to critical business problems at leading companies and organizations. The team includes more than 1500 data scientists and engineers who utilize AI and advanced analytics (including machine learning, deep learning, optimization, simulation, natural language, and image analytics) to build solutions that transform business performance. BCG GAMMA's approach builds value and competitive advantage at the intersection of data science, technology, people, business processes, and ways of working. For more information, please visit our webpage. About Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place. SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Related Links www.bcg.com The NFGC-21-238 discovery interval is summarized below and in Table 2. Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) Zone NFGC-21-238 384.35 387.7 3.35 88.53 Keats FW * Note that the true width of the mineralization is uncertain. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade and minimum width of 2m; grades have not been capped in the averaging. This new discovery interval of 88.53 g/t Au over 3.35m in NFGC-21-238 is located at an estimated vertical depth of 307m in the footwall of the Keats Baseline Fault and approximately 65m below the Keats Main Zone (see Figure 1). The high-grade intercept consists of fractures filled with sulphides and a massive quartz vein, both containing particles of free gold (see Figure 2). in NFGC-21-238 is located at an estimated vertical depth of in the footwall of the Keats Baseline Fault and approximately below the Keats Main Zone (see Figure 1). The high-grade intercept consists of fractures filled with sulphides and a massive quartz vein, both containing particles of free gold (see Figure 2). The Footwall Zone encompasses the wedge of rock located between the Keats Main Zone and the Appleton Fault Zone. This area remains under explored as drilling has focused on delineating the massive high-grade gold bearing quartz veins that are contained within and trend parallel to the Keats Baseline Fault. Several high-grade intercepts located within the Footwall Zone have been identified and previously reported; with continued drilling it has become evident that this area is structurally complex and hosts a number of secondary high-grade gold-bearing fault zones, the extents of which are open and demand the attention of follow-up drilling. Exploration drilling is now proceeding to test the extent and orientation of such high-grade gold domains within the Footwall Zone. Dr. Quinton Hennigh Director of New Found, stated: "The progression of drilling at Keats including the recognition of the potential for multiple zones of high-grade gold mineralization in veining and associated structures at different orientations very closely parallels the discovery progression I observed in the high-grade discoveries at the Fosterville Mine. The initial drilling focused on the Lower Phoenix and Eagle zones leading to their discovery. As drilling progressed, multiple subsequent high-grade gold discoveries were made including the Swan Zone. I believe there is good potential for the discovery of multiple zones of high-grade gold mineralization at Keats and that we are starting to see evidence that we are moving in this direction. Additionally, the newly discovered high-grade gold and sulphide mineralization in hole NFGC-21-238 is possibly analogous to another feature I observed at Fosterville. In the discovery drilling at the Lower Phoenix and Eagle zones at Fosterville, the grades of sulphide mineralization rapidly increased in proximity to the top of high-grade, quartz-gold lode mineralization. Based on this analogy New Found will drill test below the newly discovered high-grade sulphide mineralization encountered at Keats in hole NFGC-21-238 exploring for similar quartz-gold lode mineralization below this sulphide associated gold mineralization. I believe that the progression and modelling at Fosterville is a valuable analogy to pursue at Keats and my excitement for the discovery potential at Keats continues to build as these new results come in." Drill-hole Details Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) Zone NFGC-21-238 384.35 387.7 3.35 88.53 Keats FW Table 2: Summary of results reported in this release * Note that the true width of the mineralization is uncertain. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade and minimum width of 2m, grades have not been capped in the averaging. Hole No. Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) UTM E UTM N NFGC-21-238 297 -55.5 413 658120 5427133 Table 3: Details of drill holes reported in this release Queensway 200,000m Drill Program Update Approximately 51 percent of the 200,000 meters have been drilled to date with approximately 24,000 meters of core pending assay results. Nine core rigs are currently operating, with a tenth scheduled to commence shortly. Sampling, Sub-sampling and Laboratory True width of the intercept reported in this press release is uncertain. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional variability in true width. Assays are uncut, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 meters using a lower cut-off of 1.0 g/t Au. All HQ split core assays reported were obtained by either complete sample metallic screen/fire assay or standard 30-gram fire-assaying with ICP finish at ALS Minerals in Vancouver, British Columbia, or by entire sample screened metallic screen fire assay at Eastern Analytical in Springdale, Newfoundland. The complete sample metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or any samples displaying gold initial fire assay values greater than 1.0 g/t Au. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with National Instrument 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Company as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. Qualified Person The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Matheson consents to the publication of this news release dated October 13, 2021, by New Found. Mr. Matheson certifies that this news release fairly and accurately represents the information for which he is responsible. About New Found Gold Corp. New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15 km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18 km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 200,000m drill program at Queensway. With a current working capital balance of approximately $105 million, New Found is well funded for this program. Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Acknowledgements New Found acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Contact To contact the Company, please visit the Company's website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours. New Found Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer Email: [email protected] Phone: + 1 (910) 406 2407 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement Cautions This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to assay results, exploration and drilling on the Company's Queensway gold project in Newfoundland, interpretation of the assay results and the results of the drilling program, the discovery of zones of high-grade gold mineralization, follow-up step-out drilling and funding of the drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "suggests," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," "possibly," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of assay results and the drilling program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. SOURCE New Found Gold Corp. Related Links https://newfoundgold.ca/ MINNETONKA, Minn., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 20 years, New Perspective has helped older adults across the Midwest Live Life on Purpose. A new 192,000-square-foot community in Arden Hills, Minn. will provide opportunities for more older adults to experience this way of life. The new community will provide memory care, assisted living and independent living. The building will have exceptional amenities including a bar, bistro, dance hall, salon spa, warm water therapy pool, rehab/fitness gym, restaurant-style dining, library, multiple activity centers and game rooms, neighborhood living room areas, underground parking, outdoor green spaces and walking areas, as well as on-site physical therapy and wellness services. "Step into one of our buildings, and you'll feel the energy," said New Perspective CEO Ryan Novaczyk. "We're changing the way older adults think about their golden years. At New Perspective, every day is a great day to be living life." The company currently serves seniors in nine locations throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro, and Arden Hills will be the perfect place to serve older adults who want to call the northern Twin Cities home. "We're in the business of helping people thrive," said New Perspective President Chris Hyatt. "Arden Hills is a great place for us to do that. Our team is looking forward to bringing our unique approach to this community along with dozens of fulfilling jobs for people who love older adults." New Perspective-Arden Hills is set to open in early 2023. The project is being co-developed by Boldt and New Perspective and will be managed by New Perspective. About New Perspective: Founded in 1998, Minnetonka-based New Perspective is a family-owned company that develops, owns and operates 24 vibrant senior living communities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Its foundational belief that all seniors deserve to Live Life on Purpose and age with dignity was forged from the personal experience of Founder and CEO Todd Novaczyk and his family. For seven years, they cared for his mother-in-law, Betty Berkeley , in their home as she struggled to maintain her strong, independent spirit while coping with Alzheimer's disease. Learn more at NPSeniorLiving.com . Media Contact: Kevin Hurd 612-351-8442 [email protected] http://www.npseniorliving.com SOURCE New Perspective ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Imperial College London have developed a first-of-its-kind testing device that may help advance diagnosis and treatment of preterm birth. A study, published in Nature Communications, finds that the device can rapidly and accurately detect changes in vaginal bacteria and corresponding immune responses in pregnant women, which are associated with increased risk of preterm birth. This cost-effective test could facilitate faster clinical decision making and help improve targeted treatment strategies during pregnancy. Preterm birth remains a major cause of death worldwide in children under age five. One of the many factors that contribute to a woman's risk of preterm birth is changes during pregnancy to the type and amounts of microbes in the lower reproductive tract, referred to as the vaginal microbiome. In some women, certain bacteria from the microbiome can cause inflammation leading to an increased risk of preterm birth. This new testing device called direct-on-swab metabolic profiling by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (DESI-MS), rapidly analyzes chemicals in a clinical swab to simultaneously determine the type of bacteria in the vagina, and corresponding immune or inflammatory response to the bacteria. This two-minute test was found to be just as effective as 'gold standard' chemical profiling tests (e.g. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry assays) that require detailed sample preparation and extraction making them more time consuming (up to eight hours per assay), costly and difficult to introduce into routine bedside testing. The ability to monitor the vaginal microbiome and inflammation throughout pregnancy with DESI-MS could help identify women at risk of preterm birth sooner, potentially allowing obstetricians to monitor these women more closely and start preventative treatments earlier and in a more targeted way than currently possible. "This test is groundbreaking for March of Dimes and an example of how our Prematurity Research Centers are working toward ending the preterm birth crisis for moms and babies, especially in communities of color, where a woman is twice as likely to give birth preterm," said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of March of Dimes. "Furthermore, this innovative test will be able to help empower pregnant women with information that supports a full term, healthy pregnancy." Imperial College London researchers tested the direct-on-swab DESI-MS device by analyzing more than 1,000 samples collected from two independent groups of pregnant women (about 400 women in total) in the United Kingdom. The data found that women who had changing and diverse vaginal microbiomes (those that contained many different bacteria or had bacteria that changed during pregnancy) had higher rates of preterm birth and were more likely to have increased inflammation. The test also detected inflammation caused by some treatments received during pregnancy (e.g. a stitch put into the cervix for 'cervical cerclage' treatment). This inflammation was most frequently observed in women subsequently experiencing preterm birth. The device may have broader application to other areas of women's health where the vaginal microbiome has been implicated, including bacterial vaginosis, HIV and HPV infection, cervical dysplasia, IVF failure and miscarriage. Researchers now plan to register the technology and seek regulatory approval for its use in the U.K. and Europe and, eventually, in North America. They also are planning development of a miniature version of the test that can be used more widely in clinics and would allow for bedside testing. "We've known for some time that the vaginal microbiome can contribute to the risk of preterm birth, but now we have developed a device which in just a few minutes can report both the microbiome composition and inflammatory status of a sample collected during pregnancy," said Dr. David MacIntyre, Reader in Reproductive Systems Medicine, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College London. "This is the first rapid testing device of its kind and could be readily transferred to use in a clinical setting. This information could be used by doctors and patients to monitor risk of preterm birth but also to help optimize treatments, such as more selective use of antibiotics." Professor Phillip Bennett, from the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College London said, "An unhealthy microbiome is an important cause of preterm birth that, currently, we have no way of diagnosing or treating. The introduction of this test into research studies, and into clinical practice should have a dramatic effect on our ability to prevent these preterm births, and could have wider applications in other areas such as miscarriage and prevention of cervical cancer." March of Dimes, the infant and maternal health leader, is dedicated to advancing knowledge and solutions for preterm birth. It has five Prematurity Research Centers located in hospitals, medical centers and universities across the U.S. and London advancing this critical research. Each Prematurity Research Center pursues a set of research themes and their findings inform and amplify the work of the other centers. Additionally, their data are shared with the broader scientific community through a data repository to help move the entire field forward together. At Imperial College London, research is highlighting the important role of the reproductive tract microbiome in shaping preterm birth risk and other pregnancy outcomes. Learn more at marchofdimes.org/research. "Direct on-swab metabolic profiling of vaginal microbiome host interactions during pregnancy and preterm birth" appeared online today in Nature Communications. Other authors on the study are: Author list: Pamela Pruski, Goncalo D. S. Correia, Holly V. Lewis, Katia Capuccini, Paolo Inglese, Denise Chan, Richard G. Brown, Lindsay Kindinger, Yun S Lee, Ann Smith, Julian Marchesi, Julie A. K. McDonald, Simon Cameron, Kate Alexander-Hardiman, Anna L. David, Sarah J. Stock, Jane E. Norman, Vasso Terzidou, T.G. Teoh, Lynne Sykes, Phillip R. Bennett, Zoltan Takats and David A. MacIntyre. About Imperial College London Imperial College London is one of the world's leading universities. The College's 20,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business. Imperial is the world's fifth most international university, according to Times Higher Education, with academic ties to more than 150 countries. Reuters named the College as the UK's most innovative university because of its exceptional entrepreneurial culture and ties to industry. Imperial staff, students and alumni are working round-the-clock to combat COVID-19. Imperial has nearly two thousand key workers, and is at the forefront of coronavirus epidemiology, virology, vaccine development and diagnostics. More than one thousand Imperial staff and students are volunteering to support the NHS. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/ About March of Dimes March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. SOURCE March of Dimes Inc. Related Links http://www.marchofdimes.org PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing NEXT Insurance CEO and co-founder Guy Goldstein as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Goldstein as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Goldstein, a seasoned entrepreneur, brings over two decades of management, strategy and product development experience to his role. With more than $880 million in funding and over 300k customers, Goldstein has led NEXT to become the leading digital insurance company transforming small business insurance. Prior to NEXT, Goldstein founded mobile payment company Check, (acquired by Intuit for $360M), where he grew the company from zero to ten million members. "Small businesses have long been underserved and NEXT has set out to rebuild the insurance sector from the ground up with a digital offering that fits their specific needs to help them get going," said Guy Goldstein, CEO of NEXT. "It's an honor to be recognized by Goldman Sachs alongside so many notable entrepreneurs and innovators, and I'm excited for the future of the insurance industry with NEXT paving the way." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Guy as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars. NEXT was founded in 2016 with a mission to help small businesses thrive by providing digital, affordable, customized insurance policies that meet their exact needs. Today, through its one-stop-shop platform, the company serves over 1,100 classes of business including accountants, general contractors, fitness professionals, retail and restaurant owners and many more. In a momentous year for the company, NEXT raised $250 million in new funding bringing its valuation to $4 billion. It was also the first and only small business insurtech company to earn AM Best ratings of "A-" Excellent based on Financial Strength and Long-Term Issuer Credit, a notable recognition within the insurance industry. About NEXT Insurance NEXT Insurance is transforming small business insurance with simple, digital and affordable coverage tailored to the self-employed. Trusted by 300k business owners, NEXT offers policies that are easy to buy in 10 minutes or less and provides 24/7 access to Live Certificates of Insurance , Additional Insured, and more, with no extra fees. Revolutionizing a historically complicated insurance industry, NEXT utilizes AI and machine learning to simplify the purchasing process and drive down costs by up to 30% compared to traditional policies. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, has received a total of $881 million in venture capital funding, is rated "A- Excellent" by AM Best and has been recognized by Forbes Fintech 50 , JMP Securities InsurTech 50 and Forbes Best StartUp Employers . For more information visit NextInsurance.com . Stay up to date on the latest with NEXT on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook and our blog . SOURCE NEXT Insurance TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Odd Burger Corporation (TSXV: ODD) (OTCQB: GBLYF), one of the world's first vegan fast-food chains and first to go public, announced today it has completed construction of its Odd Burger location in Hamilton, Ontario its sixth restaurant. The 1063 square-foot store is scheduled to open October 27, 2021, and will bring its locally made plant-based burgers, fries, and shakes to the Upper Mountain area. Basic facts Odd Burger Vegan Fast Food, 920 Upper Wentworth Street Unit 5, Hamilton ON (CNW Group/Odd Burger Corporation) Address: 920 Upper Wentworth Street Unit 5 Soft opening: October 27 Bestsellers: Crispy ChickUn (6.99), Famous Burger (6.99), Wingalings (7.99), Pretenders (7.99), Fries Supreme (5.99), Onion Rings (4.89) For photo please visit https://app.box.com/s/p4pahzyfxy98clrueg8xvdytlf77za7q and for additional press images visit https://oddburger.com/pages/press-1 "Our social media support from The Hammer is off the charts, and our food truck has always been a huge hit in the area, so we think this location will be enormously successful," said James McInnes, Odd Burger co-founder and CEO. "With our first brick-and-mortar location here, everyone in town will now have access to guilt-free fast food." Odd Burger locations operate as compact smart kitchens for streamlined, easy takeout and delivery. Their advanced restaurant design uses the most modern on-demand cooking technology for a consistent food experience, quick service, low costs, and simplified employee training. The vegan fast-food concept pioneer opened its first location in London, Ontario in 2016, and currently has five locations with 15 additional locations planned for the next year. Odd Burger recently initiated its west coast expansion through a franchise in Calgary, Alberta and is beginning its U.S. expansion by seeking a location in Manhattan. Odd Burger manufactures 30 plant-based products used exclusively by its restaurant chain, allowing the company to keep costs down, while having complete control over product innovation. About Odd Burger Odd Burger Corporation (formerly Globally Local) is a chain of company-owned and franchised fast-food restaurants as well as a food technology company that manufactures and distributes a proprietary line of plant-based protein and dairy alternatives to its locations. Odd Burger restaurants operate as smart kitchens, which use state-of-the art cooking technology and automation solutions to deliver a delicious food experience to customers craving healthier and more sustainable fast food. With small store footprints optimized for delivery and takeout, advanced cooking technology, competitive pricing, a vertically integrated supply chain along with healthier ingredients, Odd Burger is revolutionizing the fast-food industry. Odd Burger Corporation, based in Toronto, is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ODD, and on the U.S. OTC exchange under the ticker GBLYF. For more information visit https://www.oddburger.com/. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements that relate to among other things, the Company's strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions (including but not limited to currency rates); changes in laws and regulations; legal and regulatory proceedings; and the ability to execute strategic plans. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE Odd Burger Corporation Related Links https://oddburger.com/ Golden Gate Capital to remain a significant minority shareholder TORONTO, BRONX, N.Y and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board ("Ontario Teachers'"), today announced an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Vantage Elevator Solutions ("Vantage"), a leading North American designer, manufacturer and distributor of elevator components and systems. As part of the transaction, Vantage's current owner, Golden Gate Capital, will retain a significant minority ownership stake in the company. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. Vantage is a leading North American elevator component manufacturer, providing a broad portfolio of parts and components used in elevator systems, including door operators, traction machines, and controllers, among others. The company is comprised of eight business units including GAL; GAL Canada; Hollister-Whitney; Elevator Controls; Courion; Thames Valley Controls; Vertical Dimensions; and Bore-Max. Vantage supplies almost all electro-mechanical devices used in contemporary elevators to independent elevator service companies and OEM service organizations engaged in the installation, maintenance and modernization of elevators. "We are thrilled to acquire a majority stake in Vantage. The company has a strong portfolio of brands and solid market position among elevator components manufacturers," said Karen Frank, Senior Managing Director, Equities at Ontario Teachers'. "We are attracted to the strong resilience of the sector, as well as the growth potential in this segment. We look forward to partnering with CEO Ron Cauchi, the Vantage management team and Golden Gate Capital to support the business as it enters its next stage of growth." "We are excited about this new partnership with Ontario Teachers'. The company's strong track record investing in leading diversified industrial businesses along with its active approach to value creation make it a perfect fit for us," said Ron Cauchi, President and CEO at Vantage. "I want to thank Golden Gate Capital for their valued partnership since 2017 and am glad that they will remain a part of our ownership group as we continue to grow our business in the years to come." "We have enjoyed a highly productive partnership with the talented Vantage team over the past four and a half years and look forward to continuing to support the company alongside Ontario Teachers' moving forward," said Felix Lo, a Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital. "Since our initial investment in 2017, Vantage has driven exceptional growth through five strategic acquisitions and a successful rebranding, while maintaining its over 90-year legacy of delivering superior products and outstanding service to its large base of longstanding customers." Vantage is the latest investment by Ontario Teachers' Private Capital team in high-performing diversified industrial businesses. Recent investments include TricorBraun, North America's largest primary packaging distributor, and Logoplaste, a leading global designer and manufacturer of innovative and sustainable rigid plastic packaging solutions. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2021. Harris Williams LLC served as lead financial advisor, Baird served as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Nob Hill Law Group, P.C. served as legal advisors to Vantage and Golden Gate Capital. RBC Capital Markets, LLC served as the financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as the legal advisor to Ontario Teachers'. About Ontario Teachers' Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with C$227.7 billion in net assets (all figures at June 30, 2021 unless noted). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region offices are located in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as at January 1, 2021, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 331,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo. About Vantage Elevator Solutions Vantage Elevator Solutions is North America's leading independent manufacturer of elevator components and systems for new equipment applications, equipment upgrade projects and service replacement parts. Vantage is comprised of eight business units including GAL Manufacturing Company and GAL Canada; Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corporation; Elevator Controls Corporation; Courion; Bore-Max; Thames Valley Controls; and Vertical Dimensions. Through its brands, Vantage supplies almost all electro-mechanical devices used in contemporary elevators. Vantage sells its products to a diverse range of customers including hundreds of independent elevator contractors, in addition to several well-known multi-national elevator companies. Founded in 1927, the Vantage group employs approximately 900 staff in multiple locations across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. About Golden Gate Capital Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $19 billion in cumulative committed capital. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Active Minerals, ANGUS, Antylia Scientific and Covia. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com. Media Contacts: Ontario Teachers' Dan Madge +1 416-419-1437 [email protected] Vantage Elevator Solutions David Mowat [email protected] Golden Gate Capital Jenny Gore / Alyssa Lorenzo / Elizabeth Lake Sard Verbinnen & Co [email protected] SOURCE Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Related Links www.otpp.com Industry leaders from technology, financial services, telco and cyber sectors respond to Biden's Executive Order Tweet this "This pan-industry commitment is answering the call from the White House to raise the baseline for our collective cybersecurity wellbeing, as well as 'paying it forward' to open source communities to help them create secure software from which we all benefit," said Jim Zemlin, executive director at the Linux Foundation. "We're pleased to have Brian Behlendorf's leadership and extensive expertise on building and sustaining large communities and technical projects applied to this work. With the tremendous growth and pervasiveness of open source software, building cybersecurity practices and programs that scale is our biggest task at hand." According to industry reports ( "2021 State of the Software Supply Chain," by Sonatype ), software supply chain attacks have increased 650 percent and are having a severe impact on business operations. In the wake of increasing security breaches, ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes tied to open source software, government leaders around the world are calling for private and public collaboration. Because open source software makes up at least 70 percent of all software ("2020 Open Source Security and Risk Analysis Report" by Synopsys), the OpenSSF offers the natural, neutral and pan-industry forum to accelerate the security of the software supply chain. "There has never been a more exciting time to work in the open source community, and software supply chain security has never needed more of our attention," said Brian Behlendorf, general manager, Open Source Security Foundation. "There is no single silver bullet for securing software supply chains. Research, training, best practices, tooling and collaboration require the collective power of thousands of critical minds across our community. Funding for OpenSSF gives us the forum and resources to do this work." The OpenSSF is home for a variety of open source software, open standards and other open content work for improving security. Examples include: For more information about OpenSSF, please visit: https://openssf.org/ Premiere Member Quotes AWS "Open source software plays an increasingly crucial role across the whole landscape of information security. Convening industry leaders to invest in developing policies, practices, tooling, and education around open source security benefits us all. AWS was a founding member of the Core Infrastructure Initiative in 2014, and we will now build on the relationships and investments that continue the mission by joining OpenSSF as a Premiere Member. With our partners in this initiative, and as active participants in many open source communities, we will help raise the bar in the security of open source software," said Mark Ryland, Director of the Office of the CISO at AWS. Cisco "OpenSSF will enable the community, across industries, to build tools and practices to secure the software supply chain for open source and beyond. This is crucial to the future of API and application security, which are fast becoming a primary attack vector for all business going forward," says Vijoy Pandey, VP of Emerging Technologies & Incubation at Cisco. "At Cisco, we believe the application experience is the new brand, which demands better app velocity, trust, security, and availability. This belief drives our deep investment in application security and full-stack observability, which is why joining forces with this prestigious foundation and group as a trusted advisor and partner was a no-brainer for us." Dell Technologies "The Linux Foundation's focus on security is fundamental to addressing the increasing risks associated with software," said John Roese, Dell Technologies' Global Chief Technology Officer. "The Open Source Security Foundation's work will help us collectively make sure critical software programs and the end to end software delivery pipeline is secure and trustworthy." Ericsson "As a leader in mobile communication, pioneering and driving 5G globally, security is at the core of the network infrastructure we build and deliver to our customers. In an industry increasingly built around open source and open standardization we are fully committed to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in a collaborative effort. We are proud to join the Open Source Security Foundation as a founding member and we look forward to continue to work with the community and wider industry for a secure software supply chain, including the open source components," says Erik Ekudden, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson. Fidelity "Open Source Software plays a critical role in Fidelity's technology strategy. We are proud to be part of the Open Source Security Foundation and to work with others to ensure that Open Source solutions and their supply chains are safe, secure, and reliable, enabling Fidelity to better serve our customers and clients," said John Andrukonis, SVP, Fidelity Application Architecture. GitHub "The world runs on software, and most of that software includes and relies on open source," said Mike Hanley, Chief Security Officer at GitHub. "As the home to more than 65 million developers around the world, we're excited to continue partnering across the open source community and with other Open Source Security Foundation members to power a more secure, trustworthy future that will benefit everyone." Google "We are doubling down on our OpenSSF commitment in the wake of rising open source software supply chain attacks and President Biden's Executive Order," said Eric Brewer, vice president of infrastructure and fellow at Google. "This decision is part of our White House pledge to spend $100 million to fund open source security foundations and follows a variety of investments we've made to support developers and security engineers across the public and private sectors. The OpenSSF is the best place for cross-industry leadership for these very challenging topics, and we look forward to working with the US and other governments to improve security worldwide." IBM "IBM is deeply focused on developing and building highly secure hybrid cloud, AI and quantum-safe technologies that are designed to protect our clients' most sensitive workloads both today and into the future," said Jamie Thomas, General Manager, Strategy & Development and IBM Enterprise Security Executive. "As a long-time open source leader, IBM looks forward to working with the OSSF, our industry partners and open source communities towards addressing the ever increasing challenge of hardware and software open source supply chain security." Intel "As a long-standing member of the open source software community, Intel contributes daily in the upstream projects we collaborate with," said Greg Lavender, senior vice president, CTO and general manager of Software and Advanced Technology at Intel Corporation. "Along with the Linux Foundation, we believe the Open Security Foundation (OpenSSF) is a unique opportunity to engage in projects and efforts focused on improving the quality and security for today and our future. Intel remains committed to providing contributions that benefit open source software supply chains and improving the security posture of critical projects on which our ecosystem depends." JPMorgan Chase "JPMorgan Chase is deeply committed to working with the open source community to solve our most pressing security challenges. As a founding member of the Open Source Security Foundation, we have worked together to improve the security of open source and the integrity of all software. We commend the US Government's recent initiative to raise awareness on this pressing topic and call to action the technology community to solve one of the most complex security challenges of our time. We welcome the new members to OpenSSF and look forward to continuing the journey of innovation and bringing meaningful change to how we build, secure, and validate software," said Pat Opet, Chief Information Security Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co. Microsoft "As open source is now core to nearly every company's technology strategy, securing open source software is an essential part of securing the supply chain for every company, including our own. All of us at Microsoft are excited to participate with others in contributing new investments to the Open Source Security Foundation and we look forward to building more secure software through community-driven efforts to create solutions that will help us all," said Mark Russinovich, Azure CTO and Technical Fellow, Microsoft. Morgan Stanley "Whether we are leveraging open source in our own code, contribute to OSS projects, or consume OSS via technology we procure and utilize, the safety and security of OSS and the creation of a trustworthy supply chain is critical to all businesses. To that end, we are delighted to join the Linux Foundation's Open Source Security Foundation project to collaborate with our cross-industry partners to improve the security, safety and trust in the OSS ecosystem," said Neil Allen, Global Head of Cyber Security Engineering, Morgan Stanley. Oracle "As a contributing member of the open source software community and an inaugural Linux Foundation member, Oracle has a large number of developers that contribute to third-party open source projects daily," said Wim Coekaerts, senior vice president of software development, Oracle. "Oracle looks forward to participating in the Open Source Security Foundation and working with other members to continue to strengthen the software supply chain, helping customer work more securely." Red Hat "Open source is pervasive in software solutions of all kinds, and cybersecurity attack rates are on the rise. Our customers look to Red Hat to provide trust and enhanced security in our open source based portfolio. Open source and community collaboration is the best way to solve big, industry wide challenges, such as open source supply chain security. And that's why we're excited to join together with the Linux Foundation and other industry leaders so we can continue to improve the technologies and practices to build a more secure future from open source software," said Chris Wright, senior vice president and CTO, Red Hat. Snyk "Open source is built by millions of empowered developers, who also need to secure this critical foundation of the digital world," said Guy Podjarny, Founder & President, Snyk. "The vital work of the Linux Foundation and the OpenSSF ensures we collectively live up to this responsibility. The Snyk community is fully committed to this important, collaborative effort and we look forward to working closely with the other OpenSSF members to better secure OSS so it can continue to safely fuel innovation." VMware "Every company that uses software should be concerned about their software supply chain," said Kit Colbert, chief technology officer, VMware. "For two-plus years, VMware has engaged in contributions to open source projects in the broader software supply chain security space and invested in initiatives to help customers further strengthen their security policies and processes. As a member of the Open Source Security Foundation, we're committed to collaborating across the industry to drive increased level of software supply chain security." General Member Quotes Devgistics "We seized the opportunity to join this foundation, because OpenSSF offers a real industry neutral forum to accelerate the hardening and security of the software supply chain. Devgistics (formerly InfoSiftr) provides critical enhancements to the world's most popular open-source repository. Devgistics has been involved in many free and open-source initiatives for years, including being a Moby (Docker Engine) maintainer, providing support to the Docker/container ecosystem, and serving in the Open Container Initiative. Devgistics continues to contribute cutting-edge solutions for security-conscious clients like the US Air Force," said Devgistics Founder and President Justin Steele. DTCC "DTCC is committed to developing highly resilient and secure code to safeguard the financial marketplace. DTCC is proud to be part of the OpenSSF community and looks forward to partnering with our fellow members on safe, secure and reliable computing," said Ajoy Kumar, Head of Tech/Cyber Risk at DTCC. GitLab "As organizations modernize software development and shift security left, GitLab believes that open source will play a key role in fostering this modernization and delivering secure software with speed to the market," said Eric Johnson, CTO at GitLab. "Supporting the Open Source Security Foundation aligns with GitLab's mission of enabling everyone to contribute and we look forward to supporting, collaborating, and sharing our expertise in implementing security in GitLab's DevOps Platform to the OpenSSF community." Goldman Sachs "Continuing to secure the software supply chain, in particular the many critical open source projects foundational to any modern organization's IT architecture, is a top strategic imperative for Goldman Sachs, our peers, partners, and clients in financial services, the technology ecosystem, and the wider economy," said Atte Lahtiranta, chief technology officer at Goldman Sachs. "This work cannot be done in individual organizational silos. We instead need to work collaboratively, across both the private and public sector, together with open source maintainers and contributors, to answer the call to action that is the recent cybersecurity executive order. The OpenSSF will provide an essential forum and associated infrastructure to allow us to share leading practices, develop improved tooling, and work together to better protect our digital infrastructure." JFrog "Open-source software is the backbone of hundreds of thousands of today's applications, making it critical that we do our best to flag new vulnerabilities and insecure components fastbefore they compromise businesses or critical infrastructure," said Asaf Karas, JFrog Security CTO. "We're happy to expand our membership with the Linux Foundation and support this cross-industry collaboration to identify and fix open source security vulnerabilities, strengthen tools, and promote best practices to ensure developers can easily shift left and bake-in security from the start of application planning and design all the way to software deployment, distribution and runtime." StackHawk "Software development is moving faster than ever before. The industry needs tooling and processes to ensure that security can keep up with today's pace of development. StackHawk is excited about the work that the Open Source Security Foundation is doing to improve security and we are proud to continue as a member," said Joni Klippert, StackHawk Founder & CEO. Wind River "As the dependency on open-source software becomes increasingly pervasive, the Open Source Security Foundation's community-driven approach to developing and sharing security metrics, tools and best practices becomes an imperative. Our customers are actively interested in the health of the open source from which their solutions are constructed, and assuring secure development across open the supply chain is vital," said Paul Miller, CTO, Wind River. "We are looking forward to collaborating more closely with the OpenSSF community. By working together, Wind River can provide customers with a level of open source security assurance that would otherwise be unobtainable." About the Linux Foundation Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,800 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, Hyperledger, RISC-V, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at https://www.linuxfoundation.org/ The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contacts Jennifer Cloer 503-867-2304 [email protected] SOURCE The Linux Foundation Related Links www.linuxfoundation.org SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PERR&KNIGHT is proud to be Certified by Great Place to Work. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at PERR&KNIGHT. This year, 95% of our employees said it's a great place to work as compared to 59% for the average U.S. company. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. "Great Place to Work Certification isn't something that comes easily it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. "It's the only official recognition determined by employees' real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that PERR&KNIGHT is one of the best companies to work for in the country." "We are thrilled to become Great Place to Work-Certified as we consider employee experience a top priority every day," said Tim Perr, Managing Principal and CEO. "We owe our continued success to our team of dedicated employees at PERR&KNIGHT. We celebrate and thank them for all they do to earn this incredible recognition." "We spend a lot of time and effort to provide our employees with a great place to work," said Scott Knight, Managing Principal and Chief Sales Officer. "For years we have done this in large part through two committees dedicated to focusing on our employees' experience: Employee Development and Appreciation Committee, and Corporate Culture Committee." According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company's profits and have a fair chance at promotion. WE'RE HIRING! Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: https://www.perrknight.com/about/careers-3/. About PERR&KNIGHT Founded in 1994, Perr&Knight provides insurance consulting and software solutions to the property & casualty and accident & health industries. Services include actuarial consulting, product development, insurance policy and forms consulting, regulatory compliance, state filings, licensing, technology consulting, statistical reporting, data services, and predictive analytics. Software includes StateFilings.com, a leading cloud-based state filings management solution. With offices in Santa Monica, Boca Raton, the New York Metro Area, Fort Worth, and Cincinnati, and more than 130 insurance professionals including over 30 credentialed actuaries, Perr&Knight is among the largest independent actuarial and insurance consulting firms in the United States. About Great Place to Work Certification Great Place to Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to Work-Certified. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contact: Scott Knight Phone: 310.889.0947 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Perr&Knight PlantX is inspiring consumers with innovative plant-based products as part of the Company's plant-based pop-up market celebrating the official launch of XMarket Squamish (" XMarket Grand Opening Barbecue "). Sampling delicious and nutritious plant-based products, like Beyond Meat, at the event creates an opportunity for the local Squamish community to experience and learn more about the benefits of plant-based products. "Beyond Meat is one of the plant-based pioneers continuing to catalyze the plant-based movement, and we're thrilled to share their high-quality products with our Squamish community at the official launch of XMarket Squamish," said Sean Dollinger, PlantX Founder. The XMarket Official Grand Opening Barbecue is a free and interactive celebration marking the official opening of XMarket Squamish, the Company's flagship physical retail location in Canada. XMarket Squamish was initially launched in May 2021. However, the opening event was initially delayed by COVID-related restrictions. This XMarket event is an opportunity for the Company to officially celebrate the opening of its Squamish store after a few months of successful operational activity. The event will take place in the 15,000-square-foot commercial space of the PlantX Squamish Location, which includes the Locavore Bar & Grill, and other related businesses including the Cloudburst Cafe and Locavore Food Truck. As part of the XMarket Grand Opening festivities, the Company will be offering a storewide sale, educational experiences, product tastings, promotional offers, and a draw with a grand prize of all the PlantX favorite plant-based items. In addition to Beyond Meat, the festival will also be supported by other local brands that will be educating the community by distributing free product samples, including Truffula, Mogiana Coffee, Clover Tea and Sea Cider. The grand opening of PlantX's plant-based market aims to officially welcome the Squamish community to its store, boost awareness of the Squamish XMarket brand, as well as catalyze community engagement and foster new partnerships with local plant-based brands. Additionally, PlantX will be capitalizing on the event to further promote its products and recipes, as well as create an educational and interactive opportunity for customers to experience the feasibility, accessibility, and delicious aspects of a plant-based lifestyle. "By organizing a plant-based barbecue to celebrate our XMarket Squamish location, we hope to bring plant-based value to life in a highly interactive way, and help our community experience the fun and delicious benefits of what plant-based lifestyle can offer!" said Lorne Rapkin, PlantX CEOr. "We estimate that more than 250 people will be attending our event, and we are looking forward to showing our customers that plant-based food is not only delicious, but also highly accessible and fun for all, whether they are vegan or otherwise." The Company website is http://investor.PlantX.com/. To visit the Company's YouTube channel, click here. You can tune in to PlantX's live vodcast tonight at 8 p.m. EST to watch a discussion between PlantX founder, Sean Dollinger and actress and model, Charlotte McKinney. They talk about Charlotte's plant-based lifestyle, how her entrepreneurial mindset factors into her life and career, and how she can be more involved with PlantX. To view the vodcast, click here. About PlantX Life Inc. As the digital face of the plant-based community, PlantX's platform is the one-stop shop for everything plant-based. With its fast-growing category verticals, the Company offers customers across North America more than 5,000 plant-based products. In addition to offering meal and indoor plant deliveries, the Company currently has plans underway to expand its product lines to include cosmetics and its own water brand but the business is not limited to an e-commerce platform. The Company uses its digital platform to build a community of likeminded consumers and, most importantly, provide education. Its successful enterprise is being built and fortified on partnerships with top nutritionists, chefs and brands. The Company eliminates the barriers to entry for anyone interested in living a plant-based lifestyle and thriving in a longer, healthier and happier life. Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "likely," "should," "would," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "potential," "proposed," "estimate," "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained herein includes, without limitation, the availability of certain products at the Squamish Flagship Location, the amount of customer visits per day, the Company's e-commerce platforms, the Company's education centre and the business and strategic plans of the Company. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate; that assumptions may not be correct; and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including, without limitation: the Company's ability to comply with all applicable governmental regulations, including all applicable food safety laws and regulations; impacts to the business and operations of the Company due to the COVID-19 epidemic; a limited operating history; the ability of the Company to access capital to meet future financing needs; the Company's reliance on management and key personnel; competition; changes in consumer trends; foreign currency fluctuations; and general economic, market or business conditions. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE PlantX Life Inc. Related Links https://plantx.com/ "I am excited to join a team that is so focused on leveraging private funding sources to reinvent the airport experience without increasing public debt or local taxes in the communities we serve," said Matt Shelby . "We regularly hear from passengers that they love the terminal experience at Paine Field, so our goal is to bring that exceptional level of service to more communities across the country. Propeller's mission is to focus on our customers, who include not only the traveling public but also our airline and government partners. Shelby, who began his career in airline station operations before attending law school, comes to Propeller after more than a decade in the real estate and development groups at Continental Airlines, then at United Airlines, and most recently at Alaska Airlines. Shelby led the Airport Real Estate team at Alaska, where he and his team managed an annual operating budget of more than $500M and led the carrier's successful effort to develop more than $600M in new commercial airport facilities. Matt also has extensive experience in airport/airline operations including the design, development, leasing and acquisition of airport assets. "Matt is a great addition to help grow the business," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports. "His experience and passion will help ensure that we develop projects in a way that truly adds value for our customers. We look forward to the contributions he will make to our team." About Propeller Airports Based in Everett, WA, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local communities and government to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the U.S. Propeller Airports, in partnership with Global Infrastructure Partners, is focused on bringing best in class practices to Paine Field for the benefit of travelers throughout the Puget Sound region. For more information please visit www.flypainefield.com, www.propellerairports.com and www.global-infra.com. SOURCE Propeller Airports Related Links http://www.propellerairports.com LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, compilers of the world's most consulted university rankings, have today released their annual list of the Arab Region's best higher education institutions. The regional leader remains Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz University, which retains the number-one spot for third second consecutive year. The 2022 QS World University Rankings: Arab Region features 181 universities, 13% more than in the previous iterations of the exercise and is QS's largest comparative evaluation of the region's higher education system. QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2022 Highlights For the fifth consecutive year that a Saudi Arabian university takes the regional number-one position; Qatar University rises one spot. University rises one spot. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (3rd), also rises one place; QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2022 - Top 10 2022 2021 1 1 KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY (KAU) SA 2 3 QATAR UNIVERSITY QA 3 4 KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS SA 4 2 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT (AUB) LB 5 5 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY AE 6 6 KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SA 7 8 SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY OM 8 7 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH AE 9 9 KHALIFA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AE 10 10 UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN JO The most-represented countries are Saudi Arabia and Egypt with 31 ranked universities apiece. They are followed by Iraq (22), Jordan (20), the United Arab Emirates (15), and Lebanon (12). Ben Sowter, Director of Research at QS, said: "The Arab region is home to a high number of young universities, with 80% of the universities in this year's ranking under 50 years of age. Most featured universities now provide programs in all faculty areas and more than half of now have an incorporated medical school. The institutions featured in this ranking are therefore, despite their young age, striving to ensure that their provision is extensive and that they are offering comprehensive curricula." Sowter continued: "A key strength of the region remains its ability to attract international faculty and students. On average, they record 31 international faculty per 100 faculty members, and 12 international students per 100 students, which exceeds the global averages from the latest QS World University Rankings. This internationalization is testament to their desire to capture the best talent from across the region, to forge a global presence, and join a highly-connected higher education ecosystem." The full rankings can be found at www.TopUniversities.com from Wednesday 13th October, 11:00 BST. SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds Related Links http://www.qs.com/ ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Remedy Spa & Salon Suites is proud to announce that they are currently offering franchise opportunities to qualified candidates in the United States, effective today. Qualified applicants who are awarded the opportunity to own and operate a franchise will be provided with an exceptional business model, extensive training, and consistent, ongoing support from senior management. Remedy Spa & Salon Suites Remedy Spa & Salon Suites, created by serial entrepreneur, Mychel "Snoop" Dillard, first opened its doors in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. As an attempt to enter the highly profitable health and beauty industries, Remedy Spa & Salon Suites came equipped with 22 fully leased salon suites. To date, they have opened three locations through Metro-Atlanta. "When I started Remedy Spa & Salon Suites, I wanted to create the perfect hub for beauty professionals who wanted a cost-effective and convenient solution for salon ownership," says Mychel "Snoop" Dillard. "With reduced overhead, fewer operational burdens, and minimal administrative obligations, leasing a suite with Remedy allows beauty professionals the ability to focus on building and retaining clientele." Amenities and perks to leasing include: 24/7 access, private upscale studios, spacious single/double suites, private parking, valet parking and premium fixtures, finishes and appliances. Once brought on board, franchisees will obtain access to the brand, tested and proven processes and support, purchasing power and distribution chains, cooperative marketing, new product research, development and roll-out, experienced training staff, and continuing training and education. "Currently, we are looking for franchisees that are looking to open salons and spas, create productive spaces, boost their city's economy, and do some remarkable things in their community," she adds. "We are looking to take this brand to a national level." Franchising opportunities are available to entrepreneurs and investors in all industries, but they are looking closely at health and beauty enthusiasts. The franchise must also fall in line with the company's mission, which is to satisfy consumer demand for private beauty and wellness services, while also addressing the burdens of salon ownership felt by beauty and wellness professionals. Remedy Spa & Salon Suites already has an established market presence and substantial market penetration in Atlanta. From this successful platform, the company is looking to expand the brand in select key areas domestically. Current company owned locations are: Remedy Downtown 139 Ralph McGill Blvd NE Unit G-Rear Atlanta, GA 30308 Remedy North 7855 Roswell Rd Suite A1 Atlanta, GA 30350 Remedy Salon 1120 Mount Zion Rd Morrow, GA 30260 To learn more about becoming a Remedy Spa & Salon Suites franchisee, please visit their website at: http://www.remedysalonsuites.com/franchise. For more general information or to set up any interviews or features, please contact Lamont Johnson at [email protected] or via phone at 305.219.2242. SOURCE Remedy Spa & Salon Suites "I am honored to join the Executive Committee of an organization I have so respected since the start of my career," says Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals All-inclusive Resorts , "This leadership team is passionately focused on the efforts of the travel and tourism sector and I am eager to contribute. Together, we will continue to promote an industry that is more sustainable and inclusive than it was yesterday, reminding our neighboring industries and international governments that travel is an essential necessity to life." The World Travel & Tourism Council represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the Travel & Tourism sector. Julia Simpson, President & CEO WTTC said: "I am delighted to welcome Adam to the Executive Committee of WTTC. Adam brings with him a wealth of experience having worked so closely with his late father to build what is now, one of the most recognised brands in our industry. Myself and the entire WTTC family look forward to working with Adam in his new role." The original vision of the council's founding members remains the same: governments are to recognize travel and tourism as a top priority, business should balance economics with people, culture, and environment, and a shared pursuit of long-term growth. Membership includes the spectrum of the industry, from airlines to tour operators to hospitality groups. The Executive Council is comprised of Chairs, Presidents, and Chief Executives from across the world's travel and tourism sector. A voluntary organization, WTTC leadership sets the example, offering their valuable time and resources to move global activity forward in this ever-changing world. Industry leaders invited to join the Executive Committee stand as catalysts for fundamental change and awareness, promoting safe and enriching travel for millennia to come. Sandals Resorts Sandals Resorts offers two people in love the most romantic, Luxury Included vacation experience in the Caribbean across its 16 stunning beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, and Curacao opening in April 2022. Celebrating 40 years, the leading all-inclusive resort company offers more quality inclusions than any other on the planet. Sandals Resorts exclusive include signature Love Nest Butler Suites for the ultimate in privacy and service; butlers trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers; the Red Lane Spa; 5-Star Global Gourmet dining, ensuring top-shelf liquor, premium wines, and gourmet specialty restaurants; Aqua Centers with expert PADI certification and training; fast Wi-Fi from beach to bedroom and Sandals Customizable Weddings. Sandals Resorts guarantees guests peace of mind from arrival to departure with the Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness, the company's enhanced health and safety measures designed to give guests the utmost confidence when vacationing in the Caribbean as well as the new Sandals Vacation Assurance, a comprehensive vacation protection program featuring an industry-first guarantee of a free replacement vacation including airfare for guests impacted by COVID-19 related travel interruptions. Sandals Resorts is part of family-owned Sandals Resorts International (SRI), founded by the late Gordon "Butch" Stewart, which includes family-oriented Beaches Resorts. For more information about the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included difference, visit www.sandals.com. Contact: The Decker/Royal Agency, [email protected] SOURCE Sandals Resorts International During her tenure as CMO, Orren led the company's rebranding process from Playbuzz to EX.CO, and oversaw global marketing, brand and communications and creative strategy for the company's leading clients (including some of the world's biggest media companies and brands such as Nasdaq, Audi, VICE, Hearst, MLB, Sky News and more), as well as global strategic partnerships. Tom Pachys, EX.CO's CEO & Co-Founder shared, "Since EX.CO's inception Shachar has always been a very meaningful part of the company, a true partner to our growth, and integral to building the vision and future of EX.CO. The transition to official Co-Founder at this stage is a natural and important step as we continue to transform the way audiences interact with businesses' websites. It's a unique opportunity to continue building EX.CO alongside Shachar as a Co-Founder, having worked side-by-side with her for years, thus giving me complete confidence that I've made the best choice." Before joining EX.CO, Orren was a journalist and senior editor in two of Israel's leading newspapers. In her free time, she speaks to students at top universities about marketing trends, and how to create a meaningful dialogue between companies and their audiences. For more information about EX.CO's website experience platform and full suite of interactive digital experiences, visit our website at EX.CO or follow us on LinkedIn . About EX.CO EX.CO is the global platform powering billions of website interactions that help companies grow. With an always-on, dynamic layer of experiences easily integrated across owned digital assets, EX.CO changes the way companies interact with their audiences to drive business results. Founded in 2012, the company today has employees around the world, clients such as ViacomCBS, Audi, VICE, and Sky and funding by investors including The Walt Disney Company, Saban Ventures, Viola Group, 83North and firstime. Media Contact: Avery Kaye Director of Marketing & Communications [email protected] SOURCE EX.CO Related Links http://EX.CO Shell and the consortium partnersincluding McDermott's CB&I Storage Solutions, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, GenH2 and the University of Houstonhave been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office to demonstrate that a large-scale LH 2 tank, with a capacity ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 cubic meters, is both feasible and cost competitive at import and export terminals. The DOE has awarded $6 million to finance the project, and Shell and CB&I Storage Solutions will both provide an additional $3 million each, for a total project fund of $12 million. "A cost-effective, long-range hydrogen supply chain can have a transformative impact in shaping a sustainable future for energy," said Yuri Sebregts, Chief Technology Officer for Shell. "Our consortium recognizes that this project can become a cornerstone in making that future possible. It's a sizable engineering challengebut we have the right people, partners and outlook to deliver this first-of-its-kind LH 2 storage technology." "McDermott is leveraging the sixty years of LH 2 storage technology expertise of our CB&I Storage Solutions business to exponentially scale up safe capacity thresholds to meet growing demands," said Samik Mukherjee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, McDermott International. "This consortium will accelerate that momentum as we work together to advance the next generation of sustainable energy." The consortium will collaborate to develop a technically innovative and economically viable concept design for the large scale LH 2 storage tank. Additionally, the group will engineer and construct a scaled-down demonstration tank that will be tested to validate the feasibility of the design and the thermal model for commercial-scale design. "GenH2 is focused on establishing efficient manufacturing capabilities and repeatable processes to mass produce standard solutions for hydrogen production, liquefaction, storage and transfer," said Cody Bateman, Founder and CEO of GenH2, a leader in liquid hydrogen infrastructure. "We're excited to be part of this consortium in demonstrating the viability of LH 2 storage solutions that will facilitate a global shift to carbon free energy." "The Cryogenics Test Laboratory at Kennedy leverages its experience supporting space exploration to provide cryogenic services for government and industry partners, cryogenic expertise and experimental testing and technical standards for energy-efficient cryogenics on Earth and in space," said Adam Swanger, NASA principal investigator for the Cryo Lab. "For many years, Kennedy has had the largest liquid hydrogen storage tanks in the world and we're excited to lend our years of experience in working with liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen to assist with this project." This project aims to advance the US as a global energy leader in LH 2 -based international supply chain development and facilitate the commercialization of both blue and green hydrogen export opportunities. The insulation technology, cryogenic testing equipment and thermal model developed under this program aims to have widespread benefits for several LH 2 applications. "I am honored to represent the University of Houston on this project," said Vemuri Balakotaiah, Ph.D., a professor and the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair in the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Houston. "I am eager to work with the University of Houston students and post-doctoral fellows alongside the other consortium companies in the development of effective insulation and thermal models of commercial scale LH 2 tanks." This public, private and academic endeavor will support the goals of the DOE [email protected] and Hydrogen Shot initiatives, bringing stakeholders together in an effort to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen and advance its role in the energy transition. Notes to the Editor: Shell will lead the project and provide guidance on hydrogen supply chain and safety. CB&I Storage Solutions will provide engineering, design and LH 2 construction storage expertise. GenH2 will design and manufacture one of the world's most advanced thermal testing devices, known as Cryostat-900. NASA will work closely with GenH2 on novel testing development. The University of Houston will focus their efforts on the creation of detailed thermal models of the proposed insulation systems. construction storage expertise. GenH2 will design and manufacture one of the world's most advanced thermal testing devices, known as Cryostat-900. NASA will work closely with GenH2 on novel testing development. The will focus their efforts on the creation of detailed thermal models of the proposed insulation systems. The ability to transport hydrogen between countries via pipelines and ships will be a key element of the future energy system. Multilateral cooperation between government and industry, as well as coordinated investment in infrastructure, ships and international standards, are fundamental to achieving an effective hydrogen supply chain. About Shell Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com. About McDermott's CB&I Storage Solutions CB&I Storage Solutions is the world's leading designer and builder of storage facilities, tanks and terminals. With more than 59,000 structures completed throughout its 130-year history, CB&I Storage Solutions has the global expertise and strategically-located operations to provide its customers world-class storage solutions for even the most complex energy infrastructure projects. To learn more, visit www.cbistorage.com. About NASA's Kennedy Space Center As a premier multi-user spaceport, NASA's Kennedy Space Center is the agency's main launch site, as well as home to research and development facilities that drives innovation and application of cross-cutting technologies to meet the needs of industry and government. Kennedy supports development of new technologies that boost the U.S. economy and maximize the return on the nation's investment. The presence of commercial companies is larger than ever before, enabling the agency to embark on a new era of space exploration. About GenH2 GenH2 is an industry leader in liquid hydrogen infrastructure solutions. The Titusville, Florida-headquartered technology company was founded by Cody Bateman, who is widely recognized as a visionary and expert in this industry. The GenH2 team includes former NASA researchers and developers that possess decades of experience researching, engineering, and producing hydrogen solutions. At GenH2, they are focused on the mass production of infrastructure solutions necessary for the transition to a clean energy economy. GenH2 technology will allow safe onsite production and storage of clean liquid hydrogen, making the product accessible for everyday use. GenH2's innovative approaches include end-to-end filling station solutions to make clean hydrogen on site with near-zero CO 2 emissions; the company has plans to deliver its product to hundreds of locations across the country in the coming years. Learn more about GenH2 at www.DiscoverHydrogen.com. About University of Houston The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than 47,000 students. For media inquiries, please use the below contact information for each company: Shell Media Line : 832-33-SHELL (832-337-4355) : 832-33-SHELL (832-337-4355) McDermott's CB&I Storage Solutions Media Line: 281-588-5636 281-588-5636 NASA's Kennedy Space Center Media Line: 321-867-2468 321-867-2468 GenH2 Media Line: 530-654-3642 530-654-3642 University of Houston Media Line: 713-743-4094 SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd MIAMI, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises has launched its first international television commercial, inspiring curious travelers to rediscover the world. Part of an integrated, multi-channel advertising campaign that includes print, digital, and social media, the 30-second television spot will appear on major national television networks and streaming platforms in the U.S. and the U.K., before rolling out in markets around the world. Silversea Launches Its First International TV Commercial, Inviting Curious Travelers To Open Up To The World The TV commercial, conceived by Silversea's Global Creative Director Jose M. Vuolo, invites curious travelers to rediscover the world with a renewed passion. Silversea collaborator and world-renowned photographer Steve McCurry, whose photographic storytelling embodies guests' spirit of curiosity, features as the commercial's protagonist, appealing to viewers to embrace their desire to reconnect with the world's authentic beauty. From his suite aboard the ultra-luxury Silver Spirit, McCurry pens an open invitation, addressed "To the Curious," in which he writes: "To all of you who have been yearning to travel: It's time. The world is reopening. Open up to the world." The television commercial focuses on journeys to discover the Earth's "most precious things," which "aren't things at all." Captivating photography expresses the beauty that can be found at "the edges of the world"from mystical mountaintops in Bhutan and the frozen wonderlands of Antarctica to graceful wildlife and untouched ancient cultures. These are the types of places and natural treasures that curious travelers are eager to rediscover as the world reopens, and which Silversea unlocks with its celebrated blend of service excellence and luxurious comfort. "Silversea is facing its greatest expansion ever," says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea's Chief Commercial Officer. "But this growth coincides with a very peculiar moment in the history of travel. The doors of the world were shut on us; now they're reopening and it's our responsibility as the leading ultra-luxury cruise line to reignite our guests' passion for discovery and let them know it's time to start exploring again safely, which is perhaps the greatest luxury of all right now. 'To the curious' is our mantra and our first international television campaign will appeal to curious travelers around the world. After all, our guests are travelers, not tourists; they collect interactions with people and experiences, not monuments. Curiosity is their common denominator, their driving force. Our television commercial enforces this concept with beautiful insights into the most remarkable destinations around the world. This is complemented by our print campaign, which showcases an especially breathtaking selection of images shot by Steve while he was traveling with us. These images are an invitation, almost, though there is hardly a need for one. People are ready to go." Jose M. Vuolo, Silversea's Creative Director, says: "Our new 'To the Curious' campaign was designed to empower travelers to indulge their passion for travel with new eyes. A born storyteller with the soul of an explorer, Steve McCurry was the perfect subject for the commercial: Steve is a passionate traveler who is encouraged to seek out the world's most enriching moments much the same as our guests. Steve's unique take on the world builds feelings of excitement and hope, marking a new beginning in travel. Steve's images are honest, captivating, and inspiring, but most importantly they convey the world in its most authentic form. In the same spirit, our new television commercial showcases the near-endless range of enriching experiences that our voyages unlock. With the reopening of the world, our guests have a renewed hunger to travel to new places, immerse themselves into new cultures, and experience new things." Steve McCurry is a valued, long-term ambassador of Silversea Cruises. Since the launch of his creative collaboration with the cruise line in 2017, the award-winning photographer has undertaken more than 25 immersive journeys with Silversea, capturing more than 500 images of intriguing cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and unique moments around the globe. "It felt great to be back on board a Silversea ship again, to film this commercial and to continue our close collaboration as the world reopens," says Steve McCurry. "My curiosity as a traveler encourages me to journey on; my travels with Silversea offer the chance to dive deep into the world, into the heart of fascinating cultures, wild landscapes, and warm-hearted communities. Silversea's television commercial will resonate with those who share my passion for discovery." The winner of over 40 international awards, celebrated documentary maker Denis Delestrac directed andin collaboration with ZETA SRLco-produced Silversea's television commercial. In 2001, after having worked as a writer and a photographer in France and the U.S., Delestrac switched his career to documentary filmmaking in India, where he first met Steve McCurry with whom he made his first short documentary. Delestrac has previously worked with Silversea and Steve McCurry on a variety of projects. Watch Silversea's 'To the Curious' television commercial and find out more information: https://www.silversea.com/lp-return-to-service.html Barbara Muckermann discusses Silversea's new television commercial, as well as the cruise line's 'To the Curious' campaign, in a new interview for Discover: https://discover.silversea.com/to-the-curious/letter-to-the-curious/ For their roles played in the production of the 'To the Curious' creative campaign, Silversea would like to extend thanks to Steve McCurry for his special contribution; Jose Vuolo, Creative Director; Denis Delestrac, Director; and TheMonk for creative coordination. About Silversea Part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit, Silver Muse and Silver Moon all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ships Silver Origin, Silver Wind, Silver Explorer, and Silver Cloud, Silversea's itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, both Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating destinations in between. Silversea is also looking forward to the launch of three new ultra-luxury ships: Silver Dawn and two Evolution-class ships. Browse Silversea's blog, Discover, and subscribe to receive the latest content directly into your inbox. SOURCE Silversea Cruises DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel technology leader Internet Travel Solutions (ITS) is proud to announce a new travel partnership with Smart Meetings, the essential resource for the event evolution, to provide a seamless and effective booking experience for Smart Meetings' live events. Smart Meetings has an upcoming national live event in Palm Beach, Florida on October 17-19, where ITS will provide travel booking solutions for this event as well as all of the future Smart Meetings live events. ITS and Smart Meetings SMART Meetings selects ITS to Help Attendees Save on Travel "Smart Meetings has long proven themselves as a leading media company and one of the most trusted resources for meeting professionals. ITS respects and acknowledges their reputation in moving our industry forward and was eager for the opportunity to form a strategic partnership," said Renee McKenney, Vice President of ITS' TripEvents. McKenney joined ITS to develop and grow meetings and events business as next generation travel technology to choose, self-book, and manage events. Smart Meetings is known for their elite corporate attendees, premier hotels and destinations. They have hosted seven in-person events for meeting professionals over this past year, as well as two more scheduled before year end. These live networking events have taken place all over the United States, from Fort Worth to San Diego to Boston. "ITS is thrilled to partner with Smart Meetings to effectively assist their meeting professionals in a cost effective and safe way, as we bring back future live events to our industry," said McKenney. The ITS booking engine connects travelers searching for flights with exclusive rates and fares and a simple user experience. Smart Meetings recognized the easiness of ITS' self-service booking capabilities and the additional effort to push trip information back into most major Event Registration software platforms. ITS provides the ideal travel experience, with high-touch customer service, making the journey along the way as enjoyable as the event itself. About Smart Meetings Smart Meetings is the leading media company and most trusted resource for meeting professionals. Their goal is to inspire their audience of meeting and event professionals to dream bigand create brilliant experiences that delight attendees, achieve desired results and elevate the impact of the meetings industry. Their team is passionate about connecting meeting planners with premier hotels and destinations, as well as offering dynamic, educational award-winning content and inspirational tools and resources for today's busy meeting planners. To learn more about Smart Meetings, visit www.smartmeetings.com . About ITS Internet Travel Solutions, LLC (ITS) develops and maintains technology for the corporate, convention, cargo, passenger airline, crew accommodation, and event and meeting sectors. ITS solutions, products and services solve problems, create savings and provide long-term value through ease of use, valuable integration, and scalability for large and small clients. ITS also provides support services to help travelers throughout their journey, making each trip productive and meaningful. https://bit.ly/3v6Aqxr to learn more. Media Contact Stephanie Smith 214-915-9109 [email protected] SOURCE ITS (Internet Travel Solutions) The full text of the letter is below. October 13, 2021 Mr. Carl C. Icahn 16690 Collins Avenue, Suite PH-1 Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 Dear Mr. Icahn: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us last week. We are always open to listening to ideas for enhancing shareholder value and appreciated the open and candid nature of our discussion. Our Board and management are committed to our shareholders and the Company's best interests, including continuously reviewing strategic priorities to drive long term value. That said, I do want to take this opportunity to formally respond to the points that you raised in your October 4th letter 24 hours before our announcement of the pending acquisition of Questar Pipelines. Questar Pipelines Is an Especially Compelling Asset That Aligns with Southwest Gas Holdings Questar Pipelines is a compelling, high-return suite of assets with unique strength and stability. As such, the Questar Pipelines acquisition signifies an increased and significantly diversified regulated business mix, as it provides robust, steady, and contracted cash flows. In fact, contrary to one of your specific points, it meaningfully reduces earnings volatility, and increases strategic optionality and flexibility. Forecasted to be accretive to earnings in 2022the first full year after the expected closethe transaction will enhance our dividend growth prospects and will help us fund critical, forward-looking investments for continued effective growth. Also, the permanent financing plan strengthens our balance sheet and will ultimately provide us extremely attractive energy transition opportunities in Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG), hydrogen and CO2 transportation. The Acquisition of Questar Pipelines is Appropriately and Fairly Priced The acquisition is appropriately priced and provides significant value to our shareholders. While the headline price we are paying is 10.9x estimated 2021 EBITDA, after accounting for approximately $200 million in value associated with the tax basis step-up, the adjusted multiple is 9.8x estimated 2021 EBITDA. This valuation is consistent with trading metrics for similar assets, especially recognizing market valuations since the Berkshire acquisition was announced. Our Financing Plan Rebalances Our Capital Structure and Supports Our Balance Sheet With committed term loan financing of $1.6 billion, we anticipate that permanent financing will be in place by May 2022. We expect that the takeout financing will include equity and equity-linked instruments and investment-grade bonds (in addition to assumed debt) that will strengthen our balance sheet and further enhance our earnings metrics. Assertions in Your October 4th Letter Negatively Comparing Our Earned ROE to Other Utilities Are Inaccurate Your October 4th letter does not take into account the material, strategic and fundamental differences between natural gas and electric utilities, as well as FERC-regulated assets. These differences are critical qualitative data points in the analysis of the strength of this acquisition. This is especially true of their respective capital plans and associated rate base growth profiles, each utility's unique operating conditions associated with the geographic footprint of their service territory, and each utility's ability to potentially increase sales to offset upward pressure on expenses. Due in large part to the growth occurring in the Southwest, and supportive regulatory relationships, we have a robust capital plan and have been investing in our business, which we believe will continue to translate to greater long-term earnings due to greater rate base growth. Because we must file rate cases to increase our revenue to reflect those investments, there is a regulatory lag that reduces short-term earned ROE. For example, in 2020 we had rate cases in all three jurisdictions that resulted in an increase in rate base of over one billion dollars and rate increases in 2021 that were not reflected in the 2020 ROE. We Have a Long and Demonstrated History of Constructive Relationships with Our Regulators Contrary to assertions in the October 4th letter, we have supportive and constructive regulatory relationships with each of our three state commissions Arizona, California, and Nevada. This belief is supported by our track record on reaching constructive stipulations with stakeholders, receiving approvals on major initiatives, including recent decisions that saw very successful and constructive approvals for our proposals each of which are a more accurate reflection of the status of our working relationship with regulators and our commitment to working productively with them. Our Shareholder Returns Continue to Climb Since the pre-Covid market peak, we have delivered shareholder returns in-line with or better than our peers. [please refer to the Comparative Stock Price graph] This and our other investments will drive further improved performance going forward. We also note, as we did on our investor call when we announced the deal, that the Questar Pipelines transaction enhances our ability to continue paying a dividend at a target level of 55% to 65% of consolidated earnings. We Remain Disciplined On G&A Costs as Part of Our Overall O&M Costs Any traditional and fair analysis of our business shows that we have been disciplined on G&A costs and, like all strong companies, we continue to make improvements that increase our efficiency. An appropriate comparison against our Gas LDC peers makes this clear. [please refer to Annual O&M Expenses Per Customer graph] Operational efficiency is a priority at Southwest Gas. As we have previously publicly acknowledged, a few de minimis personal expenses (less than 0.01%) were inadvertently included in the rate cases cited in your letter. When we became aware of the issues through the rate case process, we immediately contacted our regulators and withdrew these expenses. We subsequently strengthened controls and instituted additional processes to address and prevent this issue from recurring. This Transaction Increases Strategic Optionality and Flexibility Again, like all companies focused on strong and steady shareholder returns, we continuously evaluate our business mix. The Questar Pipelines acquisition significantly increases such optionality for the future of Southwest Gas by broadening our flexibility to source and allocate growth capital. While we do not need to divest or spinoff Centuri to finance the Questar Pipelines acquisition, we will continue to evaluate scenarios that offer the most long-term value for the Company and shareholders. Board Oversight Is Strong and Average Tenure Has Decreased We have strong governance and Board oversight. Our ISS Governance Quality Score is 3 on a scale of 1-10, where 1 represents low risk and 10 represents high risk. We are committed to refreshing our Board over time. With the addition of two independent directors in 2019, both who are utility industry experts, the average tenure of our independent directors is now 10.8 years. Our Board is comprised of diverse and experienced professionals, all of whom bring a variety of relevant skills and experiences to the Boardroom, and our evaluation of additional directors to further enhance our Board is ongoing. At each of the last several Annual Meetings of Stockholders, all Company directors were elected by overwhelming majorities, including the 2021 Annual Meeting, at which all directors were supported by at least 94% of the shares voted. Our Executive Compensation Is Well-Aligned to Support Long-Term Shareholder Value On compensation, the independent members of our Board oversee our executive compensation programs and ensure that they are structured appropriately to reward and incentivize performance and shareholder value creation. Our program provides a solid linkage between executive compensation and long-term shareholder value, aligns with best practices recommended by the Compensation Committee's independent consultant, is competitive compared to our peer companies for executive talent and responds to shareholder expectations for pay-for-performance alignment. The Company holds an annual say-on-pay advisory vote regarding executive compensation which is reviewed by the Board and Committee to determine if changes to the executive compensation philosophy, policies and decisions are necessary. At the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 98% of the votes cast were in favor of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers. All annual and long-term cash and equity incentives are "at risk" performance-based compensation. *** We hope this information provides clarity and assurance to you that the Questar Pipelines transaction was considered carefully and thoughtfully. We do believe it will deliver meaningful value for shareholders and help keep us on an important path related to future energy needs. Abandoning it now, as you suggested, would be highly value-destructive and cause the Company to miss a significant opportunity to maintain our commitment to ensuring Southwest Gas continues to grow in strength and stature. We look forward to engaging with you on these points and any other items you may wish to discuss. Thank you. Michael J. Melarkey John P. Hester Chairman of the Board President and Chief Executive Officer Additional Information and Where to Find It; Forward Looking Statements; Participants in the Solicitation How to Find Further Information This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval in connection with the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") (the "Annual Meeting"). In connection with the Annual Meeting, the Company will file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which the Company will furnish, with any other relevant information or documents, to its stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, WE URGE STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS WHEN SUCH INFORMATION IS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE ANNUAL MEETING. The proposals for the Annual Meeting will be made solely through the proxy statement. In addition, a copy of the proxy statement (when it becomes available) may be obtained free of charge from www.swgasholdings.com/proxymaterials . Security holders also will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement and any other documents filed by Company with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, and at the Company's website at www.swgasholdings.com . Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about, among others, the industry, markets in which Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the "Company," "Southwest Gas Holdings," "SWX," or "we") operates, and the transaction described in this press release. While the Company's management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, such information is necessarily subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of the Company's management. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the timing and amount of rate relief, changes in rate design, customer growth rates, the effects of regulation/deregulation, tax reform and related regulatory decisions, the impacts of construction activity at Centuri, future earnings trends, seasonal patterns, and the impacts of stock market volatility. In addition, the Company can provide no assurance that its discussions about future operating margin, operating income, pension costs, COLI results, and capital expenditures of the natural gas segment will occur. Likewise, the Company can provide no assurance that discussions regarding utility infrastructure services segment revenues, operating income as a percentage of revenues, interest expense, and noncontrolling interest amounts will transpire, nor assurance regarding acquisitions or their impacts, including management's plans related thereto, such as that currently planned in regard to Riggs Distler & Company, Inc. and the pending acquisition of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, LLC and related entities (the "Questar Pipeline Group"). Additional risks include the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Sale and Purchase Agreement by and between Dominion Energy Questar Corporation and the Company (the "Questar Purchase Agreement"), the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company and others following announcement of the Questar Purchase Agreement, risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations, the risks related to the ability of the Company to integrate the Questar Pipeline Group, the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transaction and the actual terms of certain financings that will be obtained for the transaction, potential negative impacts to the Company's credit ratings as a result of the transaction, the disruption to the Company's stock price and the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to, and the distraction of management's attention in connection with, any proxy contest or other stockholder related or similar matters, as well as other risks that are set forth under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and in future filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or changes in expectations after the date of this press release. Participants in the Solicitation The directors and officers of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting. Information regarding the Company's directors and officers and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is available in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and its most recent definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants is or will be included in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC, when they become available. About Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the business of purchasing, distributing and transporting natural gas, and providing comprehensive utility infrastructure services across North America. Southwest Gas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, safely and reliably delivers natural gas to over two million customers in Arizona, California and Nevada. Centuri Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a comprehensive utility infrastructure services enterprise dedicated to delivering a diverse array of solutions to North America's gas and electric providers. Contacts For stockholders information, contact: Ken Kenny (702) 876-7237 [email protected] For media information, contact: Sean Corbett (702) 876-7219 [email protected] SOURCE Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.swgasholdings.com SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As Washington continues to negotiate a federal package, Silicon Valley Leadership Group recognized California's bold action in prioritizing climate infrastructure investments with the weekend signing of AB 970 by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The new law, authored by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, spurs development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure by streamlining local permitting requirements. SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas pointed to the move as one that accelerates the transition to electric vehicles by both enhancing California's business ecosystem as well as helping to meet the state's ambitious climate goals. "We have no time to waste to confront this climate crisis and electric vehicles are critical to reducing our emissions and having a healthier environment. To get more people in EVs we must significantly accelerate the installation of charging infrastructure," said SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas. "SVLG applauds the Governor for taking this important step and California continuing to lead on climate. We support the transition of the market to zero emission vehicles by 2030 both to clean up our air and combat climate change." Previously, the drawn out permitting and approval process has been one of the largest barriers to charging infrastructure installation. As the state looks to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and have all electric vehicle sales by 2035, AB 970 is an important tool to help meet our ambitious climate goals. To get there, the Governor has set his sights on installing 250,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers by 2025. "Streamlining the charging station permitting process and establishing a specific time frame for cities and counties to approve permits is essential to expanding access to electric vehicles. We thank Assemblymember McCarty for his leadership on this issue and for working with us on this important legislation," said Mary Holing, Senior Director of Environmental Policy. AB 970 was a priority bill for the Leadership Group this year as it continues its work on behalf of its members, including electric vehicle charging companies Chargepoint and Volta, to facilitate charging infrastructure investments that serve the environment while growing the innovation economy. It follows the earlier signed law SB 1, authored by California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, which will provide critical resources to address sea level rise. The measure was enacted as part of a slate of climate action bills that allocate $15 billion to promote wildfire resilience - the largest investment to tackle the climate crisis in the state's history. Read SVLG's press statement on the climate package here. About SVLG Silicon Valley Leadership group is California's most dynamic business association. Building on four decades of success in championing the solutions that make Silicon Valley the best place to work and live, we promote solutions focused on fostering business competitiveness and the region's innovation ecosystem. Collectively, SVLG members provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley and contribute more than $3 trillion to the worldwide economy each year. To learn more, visit svlg.org. Laura Wilkinson, SVP Media & External Relations Silicon Valley Leadership Group 408.200.2330 [email protected] SOURCE Silicon Valley Leadership Group Related Links https://www.svlg.org/ AMSTERDAM, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synaffix B.V., a biotechnology company focused on commercializing its clinical-stage platform technology for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with best-in-class therapeutic index will present new data regarding its topoisomerase 1 inhibitor linker-payload based on exatecan (SYNtecan E), at the World ADC Conference on 13 October 2021: Title: GlycoConnect ADCs Based on Topoisomerase 1 Inhibitor Exatecan (SYNtecan E) Show Excellent In Vivo Efficacy and Tolerability Time: 9:30pm CEST / 3:30pm EDT / 12:30 PDT Authors: Floris van Delft, Remon van Geel, Jorin Hoogenboom, Marloes Wijdeven, Laureen de Bever, Sorraya Popal, Jord van Schaik, Sander van Berkel Synaffix utilizes GlycoConnect, a proprietary technology based on the native glycan of monoclonal antibodies, which is used as a privileged conjugation site for ADCs. In addition, a highly polar spacer technology (HydraSpace) enables the conjugation of any cytotoxic, hydrophobic payload, providing ADCs with significantly expanded therapeutic index (TI). Camptothecins form a class of clinically relevant chemotherapy drugs based on their ability to inhibit DNA topoisomerase 1 while also demonstrating excellent potential as payloads for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as exemplified by the recent market approvals of Enhertu and Trodelvy. Synaffix's data demonstrate that: Exatecan, a clinically validated and potent campothecin, is readily combined with Synaffix's HydraSpace technology, resulting in the SYNtecan E linker-payload GlycoConnect ADCs of trastuzumab were generated by conjugation of SYNtecan E to antibodies and evaluated for efficacy and tolerability Complete tumor regression was observed in a mouse xenograft study (BT-474) after a single dose, while safety studies in mice corroborated high tolerability of SYNtecan E ADCs Prof. Floris van Delft, CSO of Synaffix, said, "We are delighted to be presenting new data on our groundbreaking technologies at this distinguished annual meeting. As the ADC community once again comes together to share its latest research, Synaffix is excited to showcase its continued efforts to develop truly best-in-class ADC therapeutics." In the last few months, Synaffix has signed significant ADC technology out-licensing agreements with Kyowa Kirin, a global specialty pharmaceutical company; ProfoundBio, an emerging oncology biotherapeutics company; and Innovent Biologics, a leading biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for the treatment of major diseases. These come in addition to earlier collaborations with ADC Therapeutics, Mersana Therapeutics and Shanghai Miracogen. Three ADCs using Synaffix's technology are in the clinic. Notes to Editors About Synaffix B.V. Synaffix B.V. is a biotechnology company that enables ADC product candidates using its clinical-stage, site-specific ADC technology platform. In addition to GlycoConnect and HydraSpace technology, the toxSYN linker-payload platform rounds out a fully complementary technology platform that enables any company with an antibody to develop proprietary best-in-class ADC products under a single license from Synaffix. The Synaffix platform enables a rapid timeline to clinic due to the established supply chain of technology components. Granted patents covering Synaffix' technology provide end-to-end protection of the manufacturing technology as well as the resulting products through at least 2035. The business model of Synaffix is target-specific technology out-licensing, as exemplified through its existing deals with ADC Therapeutics, Mersana Therapeutics, Shanghai Miracogen, Innovent Biologics, ProfoundBio and Kyowa Kirin. Synaffix is backed by a top tier, European, life science-focused investor syndicate that includes Aravis, BioGeneration Ventures, BOM Capital, and M Ventures. For more information, please visit the website at www.synaffix.com. About The Synaffix ADC Platform Technology Synaffix' proprietary ADC technology platform consists of GlycoConnect, HydraSpace, and toxSYN technologies. Both GlycoConnect and HydraSpace are clinical-stage technologies that enable best-in-class ADCs with significantly enhanced efficacy and tolerability. GlycoConnect is a conjugation technology that exploits the native antibody glycan for site-specific and stable payload attachment and is tunable to DAR1, DAR2 or DAR4 formats. HydraSpace is a compact and highly polar spacer technology that is designed to further enhance therapeutic index, particularly with hydrophobic payloads. toxSYN is a linker-payload platform that spans key, validated MOAs for ADC product development, including SYNtecan E and SYNeamicin G, among other linker-payloads. The combination of these three technologies provides developers with a "one stop" and easy-to-use ADC technology platform, allowing any antibody developer to develop its own proprietary ADC and any ADC developer to expand its pipeline further and increase its competitive position. At the 2020 World ADC US event, Synaffix was recognized with first place in the "Best ADC Platform Technology" award category at the World ADC Awards ceremony following a global review of technologies, voting by industry peers and final evaluation by a panel of independent industry experts. In 2021 Synaffix is again on the Short List for this prestigious award. SOURCE Synaffix TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 6th, Taipei Fashion Week officially launched "Fashion of Our Time," an exhibition that leads audiences through over half a century of Taiwan's fashion memories through real-world scenes and photo stories. It will also feature original works by well-known Taiwanese designers, presenting how the different eras have affected the domestic fashion industry and how fashion manifested in Taiwan during these times. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Fashion of Our Time exhibition spans from the 1950s, which was the golden age of Taiwan's textile industry, all the way through to the modern era. Through the reproduction of historic scenes, fashion displays, and descriptive columns, viewers will be able to better understand the history of the Taiwanese fashion industry, as well as its cultural and aesthetic contexts. "Through the works and storytelling in the Fashion of Our Time exhibition, what history sees is not only the evolution and development of Taiwan's fashion industry. It also reflects the intertwining of international environmental trends, political policies, and cultural contexts, accumulating creative energy and cultural cultivation and continuing to use fashion to define Taiwan's development as a country in different eras." Winners of 2021 Taiwan Fashion Design Award: First Prize Gajadeera, Ruwanthi Pavithra -from Sri Lanka kli-A Sustainable Collection "Fashion designers of different generations, in the face of challenges during various times and the increasing intensity of international market competition, have always maintained an unstoppable enthusiasm for fashion," said Florence Lu, Curator of Taiwan Fashion History. The theme curation of Fashion of Our Time invites exhibitors to travel through space and time to return to previous eras of Taiwanese fashion. From the cornerstone textiles industry in the 1950s to today's age of digital transformation in fashion media, the exhibition showcases how local designers and brands have and continue to use fashion to define the role of Taiwan in global culture. As well as the launch of its Fashion of Our Time exhibition, Taipei Fashion Week also held its 35th annual Taiwan Fashion Design Awards event hosted by the Industry Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affair on October 6th. From nearly 450 participants from across 18 countries spanning Europe, America, and Asia, 12 fashion rookies were featured at the event's dynamic show stage. The first-place prize went to Gajadeera and Ruwanthi Pavithra from Sri Lanka for their work "Sustainable Fashion/Textile and Traditional Crafts". Second-place prizes went to Yeh, Yu-Hsien's work "Mirage" and Chen, Ching-Lin's "Where have all flowers gone." Taipei Fashion Week is running from now through Sunday, October 17th. In addition to the physical show, Taipei Fashion Week is also live-streaming the event on its official YouTube page About Taipei Fashion Week Organized by the Taiwan Ministry of Culture, Taipei Fashion Week promotes the development of the Taiwanese fashion industry and Taiwanese designers. The event aims to increase recognition of Taiwanese brands, strengthen Taiwan's global expansion in the fashion industry, and expand the influence of the country's fashion culture. For more information on Taipei Fashion Week, please visit tpefw.com. Media Contact Sunny Chiang studio25nyc.com 6462705533 SOURCE Taipei Fashion Week EDINBURGH, Scotland, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TC BioPharm LTD, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing an allogeneic gamma-delta T cell platform, today announces launch of a Phase I/II trial in COVID-19 infected patients in the UK. The Company will utilize ImmuniStim, its proprietary allogeneic gamma-delta T cell product in early-diagnosis COVID-19 patients. With recruitment initially commencing at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital under the leadership of Dr Brendon Payne, this is the first ICH-compliant application of an allogeneic gamma-delta product in a viral indication, an important milestone as TCB continues to expand its therapeutic pipeline. ImmuniStim, is derived from TCB's GMP-compliant allogenic cell banks using the Company's proprietary cell-expansion process and CryoTC - an innovative freeze-thaw process allowing global shipping of cell-based product from cleanroom-to-clinic in a reproducible and cost-effective manner. Each of TCB's allogeneic cell banks have potential to treat many thousands of patients, creating a true "off the shelf" cell therapy for patients with severe viral infections such as early-diagnosis COVID-19. Chief Executive Bryan Kobel commented, "In infected individuals, COVID-19 compromises immune function and some patients rapidly deteriorate, in many cases requiring hospitalization and constant oxygen support; boosting the immune system of affected patients with allogeneic gamma- delta T's could slow down disease progression, keeping patients out of overloaded ICUs." Dr Brendan Payne, Consultant Virologist and Infectious Diseases Physician at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University said, "I am very excited to be working with TC BioPharm to bring this potential new COVID-19 treatment to our patients. We already have treatments in our hospitals that can improve outcomes in the late stages of COVID-19 infection, such as dexamethasone or tocilizumab, but we don't yet have any treatments to give to patients with early infection to stop them from deteriorating. We hope that giving ImmuniStim early in the course of a COVID-19 infection will give a boost to the patient's immune system and help them to recover more quickly. This is a new kind of approach to treating a viral infection. If successful, it could also point the way to new treatments for other viruses". In previous clinical studies patients with late-stage blood cancer responded well to TCB's allogeneic gamma-delta T cell product 'OmnImune'. Despite exhausting conventional cancer treatment options, some individuals exhibited complete responses with demonstrable increase in life-expectancy. Founder and Executive Chairman, Dr Michael Leek added, "Gamma-delta T cells have potential to cause disease-reduction in both cancer and severe viral infections such as COVID-19; future use of these cell-based products will represent a massive step-change in treatment options available to physicians, fulfilling our aim of improving patient health and quality of life." About TC BioPharm, Ltd. TC BioPharm is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of gamma-delta T cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and viral infections with human efficacy data in acute myeloid leukemia. Gamma-delta T cells are naturally occurring immune cells that embody properties of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, and can intrinsically differentiate between healthy and diseased tissue. TC BioPharm uses an allogeneic approach in both unmodified and CAR modified gamma delta t-cells to effectively identify, target and eradicate both liquid and solid tumors in cancer. TC BioPharm is the leader in developing gamma-delta T cell therapies, and the first company to conduct phase II/pivotal clinical studies in oncology. The Company is conducting two clinical trials for its unmodified gamma-delta T cell product ImmuniStim -a phase II/III pivotal trial in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and a Phase I trial in treatment of COVID-19 patients. ImmuniStim uses the Company's proprietary allogenic CryoTC technology to provide frozen product to clinics worldwide. TC BioPharm also maintains a robust pipeline for future indications in solid tumors and other aggressive viral infections as well as a significant IP/patent portfolio in the use of CARs with gamma delta t-cells and owns our manufacturing facility to maintain cost and product quality controls. For more information, please visit www.tcbiopharm.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. These statements reflect our current beliefs, and a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in this press release. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reference to the website of TC BioPharm has been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such website is not incorporated by reference into this press release. SOURCE TC BioPharm Related Links https://www.tcbiopharm.com/ When government funding dried up in the early 1970's, King realized he had to pivot to survive. He took advantage of the relationships he had forged with OEMs while working on the space programs and decided to leverage all the capabilities in his tool box. With people, processes, and systems already established, King went to large companies like IBM and offered to build whatever they needed. IBM took him up on the offer and the rest is history. IBM began bringing in scattered boxes of parts and some sketchy drawings which eventually grew into the IBM PC1. King later changed his company name to SCI Systems which was acquired by Sanmina in 2001 for about $6 billion. SCI essentially pioneered contract manufacturing by being the first company ever to build another firm's designs. Contract manufacturing as a term became officially recognized in 1989, and today the global Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) market is projected to reach nearly $200 billion by 2026 with CAGR of about 10%. Alongside contract manufacturing, manufacturing in general, has changed drastically in the last 50 years. Demand volatility is skyrocketing as customers put extreme pressure on companies as they seek personalized products to be delivered in record time. Products and manufacturing operations are becoming more complex as industry 4.0 technologies add new and more complicated dimensions to an already fierce globally competitive market. New startup companies face a vertical learning curve and a risky investment horizon bringing manufacturing in-house. What is the best way to proceed with manufacturing in today's daunting environments? Contract manufacturing is the answer. In the following paragraphs, we will illuminate tec5USA's contract manufacturing's benefits, values, and competitive advantages for your medtech organization. The flagship tec5USA product base is firmly grounded in its roots as a leading designer and manufacturer of tailored inline process spectrometers (UV-VIS-NIR, LIBS and Raman) across a wide swath of major industries. Our contract manufacturing division is a natural extension of our current photonics expertise and focuses on photonics devices for the life sciences, medical devices, and lab analyzer instrumentation space. By leveraging our production capabilities in photonics and spectroscopy related devices, we are the ideal contract manufacturing partner for adjacent medical devices. tec5USA is the North American affiliate of tec5 AG, founded in 1993 and located in Germany, operating through subsidiaries and partners worldwide. We are a member of the international photonics group, Nynomic AG, and supported by a team of global scientists, developers, and engineers dedicated to delivering unique solutions for our customers. Since 2001, industry giants such as 3M, BASF, Albemarle, Buckman, Merck, Sanofi, and many others have trusted us with their R&D and manufacturing needs based on our sterling reputation. Clients across the world have experienced the distinct advantages we offer through our rare blend of American ingenuity coupled with German quality. tec5USA's contract manufacturing division has leveraged the very same natural skill progression that King and SCI followed back in the 1970's. Recognized as an internationally renowned and well-established spectroscopy partner, we have taken our collective expertise from process spectroscopy and expanded into the contract manufacturing space offering tremendous opportunities for medtech companies. With tec5USA, contract manufacturing is a core competency. The foundation for our contract manufacturing services originates from our team of renowned Applications, Engineering, and Manufacturing professionals with deep and rich expertise in the design, engineering, and high-volume production of complex opto-electronics devices, sensors, electronics, firmware and software of OEM spectroscopy and analytical instrumentation. We are backed by the strength of the 425+ employees of the Nynomic Group, with the flexibility, response time, and the lower overhead cost of a smaller facility. How does tec5USA's overall expertise translate into contract manufacturing benefits for your organization? We have implemented trusted and specific testing protocols pertaining to photonics related devices that guarantee outstanding results. Our expertise, proficiency, and rich experience in sensors, optoelectronics, spectroscopy, light sources from UV to Vis to NIR include laser technology, metrology-grade fiber, firmware, software, and industry automation makes us a logical partner to produce adjacent medical devices and ensure state-of-the-art quality. For over twenty years, we have served the semicon and medical technology markets with tailored spectrometers including unique multiplexing capabilities for cost reduction. Our production team has been extensively trained on high-precision semiconductor metrology related equipment and is deeply familiar with Copy Exactly! Guidelines. We have implemented ISO9001:2015 and are currently in process with ISO13485:2016, GMP, and FDA registration. The option for cleanroom operation is available for the manufacturing of specific medical devices. We also have the ability to automate parts of the manufacturing process to improve production efficiency and lower the costs. In order to ensure full quality compliance, First Article Inspection (FAI) is being conducted and FAIR reports can be generated during the pre-production run. How does your specific expertise in photonics and relevant testing protocols benefit my future projects? Adjacent devices such as hematology analyzers, microscopes, opthalmology (diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders, e.g. OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), laser surgery devices, medical imaging, oncology treatment devices based on light, flow cytometers, optical fiber based devices (e.g. endoscopy), DNA sequencers, etc. require specfic and deep knowledge as well as rich expertise in photonics which we are able to provide. We offer reduced time to market through our manufacturing readiness for companies of all sizes. If you are a small start-up or even a larger organization lacking the manufacturing capabilities, shop floor space, and production team for a new device, our contract manufacturing provides the perfect plug 'n play solution. Hiring qualified people and training them in highly specific product manufacturing and testing is even more challenging due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Once you have production in place, you should ensure a 90% utilization as a minimum to be really profitable which is not always possible. Additionally, most big Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) and CMOs concentrate on low-mix, high volume orders. In contrast, tec5USA's expertise also favors high-mix, low-volume orders expanding opportunites for medtech companies of all sizes. Our capabilities include: optical, opto-mechanical, opto-electronics, electronics, sensor assemblies, active alignment, smart fixturing, high-mix, low volume, and small to large batches. What about my IP and Confidential information? Your IP and Confidential Information are 100% safe with us. And we provide true cost transparency on your products. Companies can easily reduce their time to market, optimize manufacturing, achieve cost savings on capital, experience economies-of-scale in acquiring raw materials and components, and reduce operational risks. Additionally, our clients gain access to an expert production team and specific industry knowledge, have protection through Comprehensive Total Quality Management (TQM), meet regulatory requirements and enjoy the freedom that is necessary to focus on core functions such as product design and sales and marketing. We apply the same elite level of care and due diligence to your projects as we do to thousands of our own products and scientific instrumentation we manufacture every year. How does tec5USA handle logistics? Our clients receive the tremendous added value of our highly refined supply chain management. We offer a flexible approach to procurement your selected suppliers or ours, which will be continually audited and qualified. Our streamlined supply chain provides access to a worldwide network of strategic suppliers and key partners for electronics, sensors, mechanical and optical components that leverages the Nynomic Group of Companies' significant buying power. We deploy careful obsolescence and inventory management by our Operations and Purchasing teams accessing our curated network of existing relationships in the electronics supply world. Raw materials inventory stock, finished good safety stock, consignment and Kanban agreements are available on demand. Solid Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans exist to ensure high availablity and uninterrupted production. Our international teams of skilled engineers and technicians exist for the continuous exchange of knowedge and cross-training. We offer a tailored approach to your needs with international distribution. Our North American office has been located in Plainview, New York, since 2001, which positions us in one of the world's largest concentration of biotechnology and life sciences companies. We currently have three production areas that can be flexibly extended by another three dedicated areas for clients. What about Quality and Efficiency? Our state-of-the art manufacturing expertise, lean principles, disciplined execution, and agile methodologies already in place for the core tec5USA product line are also ensured in the Contract manufacturing division. Our culture of continuous improvement and fierce dedication to regulatory compliance with ISO-certified quality management systems provides the very highest quality and efficiency for our clients. We have the expertise you need to design, build, and deliver premier quality products at scale and faster than our competition. We guarantee the performance of the instruments that we design and manufacture. Let tec5USA become the trusted company behind your brand. Are you ready to transfer from your engineering department to our production floor? Experience the collaborative effort in the design, engineering, and refinement of your products for a flawless and successful execution and release. Consider tec5USA as a complement to your operations. We strive to become a long-term trusted partner and technical advisor, so that you can focus on your company's core competencies. Free up your facility and allocate resources for your core IP and let us handle the production. SOURCE tec5USA Related Links www.tec5usa.com The property was constructed in 1997 and offers one, two and three-bedroom single or multilevel townhome apartments. Among the distinctive attributes of this townhome-for-rent community are its large 1,200 square foot average unit size, private entries, one or two car direct access garages, and prime location with convenient access to shopping, entertainment, and major employment centers that today's renters demand. The property offers low density living with attractive amenities including a newly renovated clubhouse, well-equipped athletic club, resort-style swimming pool and pet spa. TGM Retreat at Danada is conveniently located within a few miles of the I-88 East-West Tollway with over 40+ million square feet of high-quality office space that is occupied by a diverse group of Fortune 500 companies. Less than 30 miles west of Chicago and a short drive from the Wheaton Metra station, residents benefit from a lower cost of living and a hassle-free commute. In addition to its accessibility to a plethora of major employment concentrations, its prime location on the corner of Butterfield and Naperville Roads also offers residents with unique walkable access to a myriad of retail amenities. TGM Retreat at Danada residents have the ease of walking to an abundance of retail choices such as Whole Foods, Aldi, Starbucks, Pete's Fresh Market and several fast-casual dining options in adjacent shopping centers. "TGM Retreat at Danada is in the highly desirable City of Wheaton which is a high barrier to entry submarket with a solid employment base, nationally ranked schools, and superb access to the regional suburbs and downtown Chicago. Wheaton, the county seat of DuPage County, is a vibrant and appealing community for a variety of lifestyles as evidenced by its Money Magazine recognition as one of the 'Best Places to Live',"said Zach Goldman, Managing Principal and Chief Operating Officer for TGM. TGM Retreat at Danada is managed by TGMs' property management company, TGM Communities. Also owned and managed by TGM in the Chicagoland area is TGM Park Meadows (Schaumburg), TGM Willowbrook (Willowbrook), TGM Springbrook (Aurora), TGM McDowell Place (Naperville), TGM Danada (Wheaton), and TGM NorthShore (Northbrook). About TGM Founded in 1991, the TGM Group ("TGM") was organized to provide an integrated suite of asset and property management services to its investors through a series of fully integrated operating companies. Through its vertically and horizontally integrated operating companies, TGM specializes in acquisitions, property management, leasing, construction, property maintenance and asset management services. An affiliate of TGM provides property management services under the brand TGM Communities. As of September 30, 2021, TGM has invested approximately $3.3 billion in 138 multifamily properties throughout 28 states. To learn more about TGM please contact John Gochberg, Managing Principal and Chief Executive Officer. Phone: (212) 830-9312, E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE TGM Related Links http://www.tgmassociates.com The global study uses data to reveal the smartest cities in the world, with a focus on how they are adopting new technologies to create a more sustainable and liveable present and future for their citizens. London, UK , ranks as the most intelligent and future-proof city with a population of over 3 million people, followed by New York, USA , and San Francisco , USA. Copenhagen, Denmark , ranks as the most intelligent and future-proof city with a population of between 600,000 and 3 million people, followed by Stockholm, Sweden , and Oslo, Norway . Lund, Sweden , ranks as the most intelligent and future-proof city with a population of between 50,000 and 600,000 people, followed by Stavanger, Norway , and Espoo, Finland . STOCKHOLM, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EasyPark Group, the global parking tech company, releases a study about the most intelligent and future-proof cities in the world that reveals which cities are best adopting new technological solutions to improve their sustainability and liveability. As mobility innovators, EasyPark Group recognizes the impact that new technologies have on societies, and how it can help to create sustainable and forward thinking urban areas that enhance the lives of their inhabitants. The company therefore set out to determine which global smart cities are leading the way in embracing technological advancements, and proving themselves to be Cities of the Future. Many governments are stepping up their responses to climate change and innovative solutions often begin in major cities before filtering out to the rest of the country. Many of the highest scoring cities in the index score well for high electric car usage and low CO2 emissions rates, and while cities continue to expand, mobility is taking on an increasingly important role in people's day to day lives. Whilst the world faces challenges relating to climate change, some of the most technologically advanced cities around the world have already adopted innovative services and solutions to optimize traffic flow and ease mobility, to make the city more liveable, says Johan Birgersson, CEO of EasyPark Group. How the study was conducted The study began by assessing several thousand cities around the world and looked at those smart cities that are leading the way in implementing the use of new technologies. Understanding that cities face different challenges depending on their population, the study was split into three size categories: 1) metropolitan areas with over 3 million inhabitants, 2) between 600,000 and 3 million inhabitants, and 3) between 50,000 and 600,000 inhabitants. The result of the study reveals the top 50 highest ranking smart and future-proof cities worldwide in each category. The study established the factors that determine how technologically advanced and sustainable a city is and scored the locations accordingly. To do this, the study retrieved data from sources such as the World Bank, the Economist, the International Monetary Fund and the Lancet. Four key areas were considered: Firstly, the Digital Life of each city is studied by assessing how widely technology has been adopted by the population, the government and within the healthcare sector. It also reviews the success and reputation of technology educational institutions in each urban area. Next, the study focus on Mobility Innovation. To do this, researchers looked at how innovative parking solutions are within each city, the overall traffic management system including public transport, and how clean transport in the city is. Following this, the study considers each city's Business Tech Infrastructure. To do this, the level of business innovation, prevalence of ePayments and quality of internet connectivity in each location is measured. Finally, the Environmental Sustainability of each city is evaluated by analysing green energy usage, the number of green buildings, the waste management system and the overall climate change response and planning. Findings (for full index: www.easyparkgroup.com/studies/cities-of-the-future/en/) Below list shows the world's leading big cities with over 3 million inhabitants. All factors combined, these cities are the best at adopting new technologies to create a more sustainable and liveable present and future for their citizens. London , UK 100,00 New York , USA 95,84 San Francisco , USA 94,43 Singapore , Singapore 94,21 Berlin , Germany 92,58 Rotterdam , Netherlands 91,44 Seattle , USA 90,40 Seoul , South Korea 87,50 Washington D.C. , USA 86,77 Manchester , UK 85,34 Below lists show the world's leading medium and smaller sized cities. All factors combined, these cities are the best at adopting new technologies to create a more sustainable and liveable present and future for their citizens. Population between 600,000 and 3 million Copenhagen , Denmark 100,00 Stockholm , Sweden 99,84 Oslo , Norway 98,48 Amsterdam , Netherlands 96,57 Zurich , Switzerland 94,04 Gothenburg , Sweden 88,93 Helsinki , Finland 87,92 Boston , USA 84,65 Utrecht , Netherlands 83,13 Edinburgh , UK 79,82 Population between 50,000 and 600,000 Lund , Sweden 100,00 Stavanger, Norway 88,75 Espoo, Finland 88,07 Malmo, Sweden 87,49 Aalborg, Denmark 87,09 Aarhus , Denmark 86,88 Trondheim, Norway 85,25 Bergen, Norway 84,77 Porvoo, Finland 81,35 Cambridge , UK 81,17 Below list shows the best ranking big cities (population over 3 million) within the area of green energy. A higher score indicates a higher usage of energy from renewable sources. Rio de Janeiro , Brazil 100,00 Seattle , USA 91,96 Montreal , Canada 85,62 Toronto , Canada 85,62 Santiago , Chile 77,06 San Diego , USA 74,92 San Francisco , USA 74,92 Los Angeles , USA 74,92 Berlin , Germany 72,95 Cologne (Cologne Bonn Area), Germany 72,95 Below list shows the big cities (population over 3 million) where citizens are best at adopting new technologies . A higher score indicates a faster rate of adopting new technologies in each location. San Francisco , USA 100,00 New York , USA 93,62 Seoul , South Korea 91,33 Washington D.C. , USA 90,92 Berlin , Germany 89,82 Seattle , USA 89,55 Atlanta , USA 89,29 Miami , USA 89,05 Singapore , Singapore 88,98 Toronto , Canada 88,69 Below list shows the best ranking big cities (population over 3 million) within parking innovation . A higher score indicates a more developed parking ecosystem in each location. London , UK 100,00 Manchester , UK 94,63 Berlin , Germany 92,42 Paris, France 91,31 Tokyo, Japan 87,34 Rotterdam, Netherlands 86,00 San Francisco , USA 85,59 Barcelona , Spain 84,95 Madrid , Spain 84,30 Cologne (Cologne Bonn Area), Germany 83,77 It is interesting to see patterns in development forming within continents. Whilst metropolitan areas in Europe score well across the various size categories, the study shows that Scandinavian cities all rank particularly highly. It is evident that these countries are at the cutting edge of adopting new technologies. Looking at urban areas with between 600,000 and 3 million inhabitants, 50 percent of the top 10 cities are in Scandinavia. This is also the case for cities with between 50,000 and 600,000 inhabitants, where 90 percent of the top 10 are from these countries. It is clear that Scandinavian nations are doing all they can to provide sustainable and liveable environments for their citizens, concludes Johan Birgersson, CEO of EasyPark Group. Read more about the Cities of the Future Index and see the full ranking here: www.easyparkgroup.com/studies/cities-of-the-future/en/ Press contact Louise Ekman, Head of Group Communications & PR, EasyPark Group [email protected] / +46 70 5222 117 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/easypark/r/the-cities-of-the-future-index,c3430635 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/12430/3430635/1479514.pdf EasyPark Group press release 20211013 - Cities of the Future Index https://news.cision.com/easypark/i/cotf,c2966047 COTF https://news.cision.com/easypark/i/johan-birgersson-landscape,c2966048 Johan Birgersson landscape SOURCE Easypark (UAGC) launched a new scholarship program on Oct. 11, providing an opportunity for six Rio Salado College scholars Tweet this The transfer partnership between UAGC and Rio Salado began in September 2020. These scholarships celebrate the relationship between the two institutions and provide a no-cost path to advanced degrees. UAGC will award four alumni and two faculty and staff scholarships. The application opened this week and is available to local and national Rio Salado alumni, current students who will complete an associate degree by 1/31/22, staff, and faculty. Eligible candidates can apply online now until the application deadline, December 10. The scholarship application page, including all terms and conditions of the scholarship program is: https://www.uagc.edu/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships/rio-salado-partnerships-scholarship. Scholars will be announced on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Applicants who are not granted a scholarship may be eligible for tuition savings* through the larger partnership between UAGC and Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges. "We are grateful to the University of Arizona Global Campus for extending this generous scholarship opportunity to our family of scholars," said Rio Salado President Kate Smith. "The investment UAGC is making in our community through this scholarship will likely have a life-changing impact on the scholars and a rippling effect on their families and communities. I look forward to joining the UAGC team in announcing the awardees this January and celebrating them on the next step of their academic journey." There are no restrictions on the types of degree programs scholarship recipients can pursue. UAGC has 50+ programs, including these seamless transfer pathways with Rio Salado College , which give students an opportunity to earn up to 90-credit hours at community college tuition rates: Free information session. Rio Salado and UAGC will host a webinar on Monday, Oct. 18 at 1:00 PM PT, to publicly celebrate their partnership, and to formally kick off this scholarship opportunity. *Savings on tuition and fees available to those who qualify. About University of Arizona Global Campus The University of Arizona Global Campus ("Global Campus" or "UAGC") is an independent university that is operated in affiliation with the University of Arizona. Global Campus is designed to provide flexible opportunities for working students from diverse backgrounds who seek to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to achieve their life and career goals. Global Campus is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is one of the nation's most innovative online universities, with approximately 30,000 students. UAGC offers more than 50 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. For more information visit uagc.edu, www.facebook.com/UniversityOfArizonaGlobalCampus, or https://twitter.com/uazglobalcampus. About Rio Salado College Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving nearly 50,000 students annually with more than 28,000 online in 50 states and internationally. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado offers 600+ online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs , and general education courses. The college also provides support for , military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona. dual enrollment , military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona. SOURCE University of Arizona Global Campus Related Links https://www.uagc.edu/ CANTON, Ohio, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TimkenSteel Corp. (NYSE: TMST), a leader in customized alloy steel products and services, today announced it will increase base pricing on all special bar quality (SBQ) products by $60 per ton. This increase is applicable to orders not already covered by pricing agreements and is effective for shipments beginning November 1, 2021. All surcharge mechanisms remain in effect. ABOUT TIMKENSTEEL CORPORATION TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST) manufactures high-performance carbon and alloy steel products from recycled scrap materials in Canton, OH, serving demanding applications in automotive, energy and a variety of industrial end markets. The company is a premier U.S. producer of alloy steel bars (up to 16 inches in diameter), seamless mechanical tubing and manufactured components. In the business of making high-quality steel for more than 100 years, TimkenSteel's proven expertise contributes to the performance of our customers' products. The company employs approximately 1,900 people and had sales of $831 million in 2020. For more information, please visit us at www.timkensteel.com. SOURCE TimkenSteel Corp. Related Links www.timkensteel.com Triverus' Life Sciences-focused services, specifically, Information Asset Management and IT Launch Enablement Services, have driven much of this growth. Both of these services are critical to enabling the successful commercial launch of new therapies. Heather brings 20 years of Life Science Sales/Commercial Operations experience to Triverus that as Director, and Life Sciences Service Lead, will be leveraged to support the growth of the Life Sciences service strategy and delivery. Prior to joining Triverus, Heather was the Commercial Information Management Associate Director at Endo Pharmaceuticals. Heather's experience with commercial pharmaceuticals and sales operations focused on project management and multi-channel team support, which will help Triverus continue to evolve our Life Science service offerings and provide valuable expertise to our clients. Triverus Consulting is a Boston based, Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), full-time employee, technology consulting firm that provides Technology Solutions, Information Asset Management and Agile Enablement Services from roadmap through execution with a focus on Life Sciences and Public Sector. Triverus helps clients realize their business objectives by providing information technology expertise and services, based on proven approaches and by leveraging accelerators. SOURCE Triverus Consulting Related Links www.triverusconsulting.com During his nearly 10 years with the U.S. Attorney's Office, de Llano managed complex financial cases involving a variety of federal crimes, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, securities and investment fraud, insider trading, bank, mail and wire fraud, money laundering, and tax violations. During this time, he also worked closely with civil regulators at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Prior to his time in the federal government, de Llano served as an Integrity Officer at the DC-based Inter-American Development Bank, where he conducted and managed fraud and corruption investigations in Latin America and the Caribbean. "Jordi is a highly respected attorney whose extensive domestic and international investigations background and trial experience as federal prosecutor will add depth in our Boston office and expand our capabilities in government investigations, False Claims Act, FCPA , securities fraud, and tax issues," said John West, chair of Troutman Pepper's Business Litigation Department. De Llano will be based in Troutman Pepper's Boston office and joins a number of former U.S. Attorney's Office alumni in the White Collar and Government Investigations Practice Group, including recent addition Charles Peeler. Troutman Pepper's White Collar and Government Investigations team also includes former government prosecutors, in-house compliance counsel, and experienced white collar defense attorneys who proactively resolve sensitive government investigations and proceedings. Todd Feinsmith, managing partner of the Boston office, stated, "Early in his career, Jordi was an associate with the Washington D.C. office of predecessor firm, Troutman Sanders. His decision to return to private practice provided us with an ideal opportunity to welcome him back while also adding an experienced and skilled litigator to help grow our white collar and litigation practice, especially in Boston where we have a very active U.S. Attorney's Office." "I'm thrilled to return to the firm where it all started and to be joining such a diverse and impressive group of attorneys. It was an easy choice. Troutman Pepper's reputation for providing best-in-class legal services for its clients is unmatched. I'm excited to contribute in the same way as a member of the White Collar and Government Investigations Practice, and I'm confident that my government service and legal experience will be leveraged to serve Troutman Pepper's clients ably and effectively," de Llano said. He earned his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and his bachelor's degree in business administration from American University Kogod School of Business. About Troutman Pepper Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including construction, energy, finance, health sciences, insurance, private equity, real estate, and technology, among others. Learn more at troutman.com. Diane Iselin [email protected] SOURCE Troutman Pepper Company celebrates opening of 97th dispensary in the Sunshine State, expanding access for medical marijuana patients in South Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), the largest multi-state operator (MSO) in the United States, today announced the opening of a new dispensary in Cutler Bay, Florida. Cutler Bay will be Trulieve's 97th location in Florida, joining others in nearby Kendall and Miami. The new 4,800 sq. ft. dispensary underscores Trulieve's commitment to ensuring all of Florida's medical cannabis patients have safe, reliable access to the high-quality products they rely on. All patients, from those new to Trulieve to the dedicated Trulieve community, will be eligible for a 25% in-store discount at the new Cutler Bay dispensary on opening day. ANNOUNCING: Trulieve Cutler Bay Grand Opening WHERE: 19300 S Dixie Hwy Cutler Bay, FL 33157 WHEN: Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 9:00 am Trulieve invites the Cutler Bay community to join the grand opening festivities, which include partner swag giveaways, custom t-shirt screen printing with St. Petersburg-based Craft Tee, and complimentary lunch from South Florida-based BC Tacos food truck. In stores and online, patients will find Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable flower, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. To assist patients with ordering, Trulieve's entire catalog of products is available for online orders, with in-store pickup or statewide home delivery options available depending on patient preference. Additionally, Trulieve offers complimentary 30-minute virtual consultations with a Trulieve consultant to help navigate questions on products, devices, or review their doctor's recommendation. Appointments can be made on Trulieve's website and are open to all patients, whether starting their journey with medical cannabis or those with experience looking for alternative treatment options. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com. About Trulieve Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S. operating in 11 states, with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. To learn more about Trulieve, visit Trulieve.com. SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. Related Links https://www.trulieve.com/ Key Highlights: TUT Fitness Group signs global partnership agreement with CENTRED wellness community The agreement will promote TUT Fitness Group as a featured fitness brand to a private marketplace of 57 million affluent consumers of health & wellness products Purchasers of TUT exercise equipment will also receive a free, lifetime membership to CENTRED community and concierge services VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - TUT Fitness Group Inc . (TSXV: GYM) ("TUT") announces that it signed a global partnership agreement with CENTRED to promote the TUT Trainer and TUT Rower exercise equipment to CENTRED's app-based community of 57 million consumers of wellness products and services. Per the terms of the agreement, CENTRED will promote TUT Fitness Group as a featured fitness brand, and earn affiliate commissions for each sale of TUT Trainer and TUT Rower exercise equipment. Consumer purchasers of TUT products will also receive a free, lifetime membership to CENTRED's private marketplace (valued at $1,500/year). Through this strategic partnership, TUT is able to capitalize on CENTRED's 57 million affluent members around the world. CENTRED serves as a private, one-stop digital concierge where members can access personalized recommendations for fitness studios & products, spas, telemedicine, restaurants, excursions, retailers, and lounges in more than 200 cities worldwide. The app-based marketplace connects CENTRED's members with premiere and emerging brands and experiences, and provides tailored recommendations that prioritize its members' health and wellness during and after their journeys. "We are excited about this partnership agreement because of the revenue potential it offers by exposing TUT products to a massive audience of affluent consumers, and also because we are able to give our new customers the gift of wellness with a free lifetime membership to CENTRED," said Rob Smith, Chief Executive Officer of TUT Fitness Group. LICENSING, SALES & DISTRIBUTION: TUT Fitness Group wants to revolutionize the home gym market by licensing its stackable resistance band technology to other equipment manufacturers. TUT Fitness products feature internationally patented TUT Plates resistance bands as the core element in both its TUT Trainer Tower and TUT Rower, which are being marketed and sold into the $9.5 billion market for home gym equipment. Parties interested in resale, wholesale, regional and international distribution and licensing should contact Mark Addison, Director of Strategic Sales & Partnerships, at: [email protected]. Please see our Corporate Video or our social channels: Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , TUT Highlights (YouTube) . ABOUT TUT FITNESS GROUP: TUT is a Vancouver-based Canadian manufacturer of high-performance fitness products. The company has designed, patented, and manufactured one of the world's smallest (11.6 lbs), and most affordable high-performance home gyms. Incorporated in 2018, TUT is an emerging player in the connected Home Gym and Fit Tech hardware space, targeting the US$9.5B Global Home Exercise Equipment Market1 and Online Fitness Market, expected to be US$30B by 20262 . TUT's patented stackable resistance bands (TUT Plates) allow the user to increase or decrease resistance loads with up to 200 lbs of resistance. Utilized in both the TUT Trainer Tower and TUT Rower this new breakthrough in functional strength and cardio training incorporates Time Under Tension to target every muscle group without the added pressure to joints or tendons, optimizing workouts, and raising the bar for personal home gyms. For further information please contact: [email protected] Rob Smith CEO, TUT Fitness Group Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements or information, which include the TSX Venture Exchange's approval of the AGORACOM and Investor Relations agreements, TUT Fitness Group licensing its technology, expectations and outcomes from the TUT Fitness Group's patented technology, development of technologies, customer demand for TUT Fitness Group's products, the updates to TUT products, future plans, regulatory approvals and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, security threats, and dependence on key personnel and including those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment and technology failures, litigation, increase in operating costs, the impact of COVID-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, competition, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, exchange rate fluctuations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. ___________________________ 1 Source ReportLinker https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/07/30/2070103/0/en/Home-Fitness-Equipment-Global-Market-Report-2020-30-Covid-19-Implications-and-Growth.html 2 Source: Global Market Insights, Inc. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/09/24/2098446/0/en/Online-Fitness-Market-growth-predicted-at-30-through-2026-Global-Market-Insights-Inc.html SOURCE TUT Fitness Group Limited Prior to joining Ada, Popp served as Vice President of Engineering at cloud communications leader, Twilio, where she spearheaded engineering efforts for the company's contact center platform, Flex. She joined Twilio through the acquisition of SendGrid, where she led the customer lifecycle application teams. Bringing more than 25 years of software experience to her new role at Ada, Popp's expertise in application research and development in a variety of consumer and scientific computing arenas makes her the ideal person to take the lead on key technical decisions that set Ada up for continued expansion and success. "Beyond the value Ada's technology is providing to its customers, the team has an incredible growth vision that I'm thrilled to be a part of," said Popp. "It's clear that Ada is paving the way for the future of customer experience automation. I look forward to bringing my years of experience building exceptional technical teams into the mix to accelerate the momentum." This new addition to Ada's executive bench comes on the heels of the recent appointment of Michele (MB) Bettencourt to its Board of Directors to support continued growth. An industry veteran with years of company leadership, MB will work closely with Ada's leadership team on go-to-market, sales and marketing strategy. Recently included on Great Place to Work's 2021 List of Best Workplaces for Inclusion, diversity in leadership is a top priority for Ada, who boasts an executive team comprised of 70% female and/or diverse leaders, far above Canada's leadership benchmark of just 10% of women in executive roles. This is reflective of Ada's three pillars: invite diverse voices to the table, ensure diverse voices have influence on decision making, and support diverse voices in the tech community. "We're ecstatic to welcome Jessica to our leadership team," said Mike Murchison, co-founder and CEO of Ada. "Her qualities represent everything we're looking for to lead our technical direction and strategy. We have lofty goals for the next year at Ada and we need the best of the best to help drive them. We have no doubt that Jessica's contributions will play a key role in making those goals a reality." Based in Toronto, Ada makes it easy for brands to automate their customer interactions with AI. In the last 12 months, the company has automated more than 1.5 billion brand interactions for customers like Zoom, Facebook and Square. These automated interactions are generating hundreds of millions of dollars in business value. By uncovering new opportunities for revenue, Ada's automation is designed to transform reactive CX models to proactive, personalized profit generators. Significant growth has propelled Ada to unicorn status, recently raising a $130M Series C round at a $1.2B valuation that positions the company as one of Canada's largest software firms. Ada ranked 15 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. In addition, Ada was included on The Globe and Mail's third-annual ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies, as well as LinkedIn's Top Startups in Canada , an annual ranking of companies that have remained resilient during tumultuous times, continuing to attract investment, employees, and attention. With continued business momentum, the company plans to hire aggressively in engineering, sales and marketing in Canada and around the world. To learn more about Ada, visit www.ada.cx . About Ada As the market leader in Automated Brand Interactions, Ada is the only conversational AI platform purpose-built to support a scalable, automation-first customer experience strategy. By uncovering new opportunities for revenue, Ada's automation is designed to transform reactive CX models to proactive, personalized profit generators. A global company, Ada's automation and AI enables clients around the world, like Facebook, AirAsia, and Zoom, to increase valuable interactions across the entire customer journey and empower CX professionals to succeed. SOURCE Ada "As mission-focused leaders, Brandon, Gilbert and Ameesh have made their mark in leading their organizations and teams, fueled by a deep commitment to take great care of our members and teammates," said Peacock. "They are helping to lead the way in preparing our association to ensure that we are at our best now and in the future." As president of USAA Life Insurance Company since 2014, Brandon has been instrumental in leading the digital transformation of USAA's life and health businesses. He joined the company in 1997 and has held several leadership positions including general manager of the company's Phoenix campus, executive leadership roles in wealth management, building the wealth contact center, member experience sales and marketing campaign management. Since joining in 2020, Gilbert has made an immediate impact with his deep internal audit, risk management, process improvement and governance experience, helping USAA build and sustain a best-in-class audit function. Prior to USAA, Gilbert was the chief audit executive for Freddie Mac. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience with other large financial institutions including Bank of America, GE Capital and American Express. Ameesh joined the company in June and is responsible for bringing together the strategy, digital and brand teams to increase our focus on innovation and member-centric strategies for the USAA membership. He brings 20 years of experience in financial services, joining USAA after 10 years at Truist Bank, where he held strategy, deposits and omnichannel leadership roles. Prior to Truist, he was an associate principal at McKinsey & Company as a leader in strategy, distribution, mergers, and operations for retail banking and property casualty clients. "These appointments reflect the leadership each has brought to their respective teams and horizontally across our organization," added Peacock. "Moving forward, each will have a critical role in ensuring we can deliver competitive products and services to military families." USAA Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 35,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com. Contact: USAA Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE USAA Related Links http://www.usaa.com CALGARY, AB, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion", "We", "Our", "Us" or the "Company") (TSX: VET) (NYSE: VET) is pleased to announce that it has achieved certification under the EO100 Standard for Responsible Energy Development (2017) from Equitable Origin for three of its natural gas production sites in west-central Alberta: Granada, Eta Lake and Carrot Creek. Vermilion is the third producer of natural gas in Canada to have achieved this rigorous certification, which is based on an independent assessment of performance targets within five Environment, Social and Governance-related (ESG) principles: corporate governance, transparency and ethics; human rights, social impact and community development; Indigenous People's rights; fair labor and working conditions; and climate change, biodiversity and environment. "This significant achievement demonstrates our continued commitment to the ESG leadership we have established over the past decade, and helps achieve our goal of providing responsibly produced natural gas to the market," said Curtis Hicks, President. "As the energy transition progresses, we believe it is essential to demonstrate verified excellence in the environmental and social conditions under which energy has been produced, including natural gas. Independent and stringent certifications such as Equitable Origin provide an important signal about operational quality to stakeholders such as our investors, governments and communities." Through its site certification program, Equitable Origin provides credible, independent recognition to energy developers that lead their sector in social and environmental performance. Certification for Vermilion's sites included an independent third-party assessment conducted in June and July 2021, covering a policies and procedures review, in-person field visits, interviews with workers, contractors and management, and meetings with Indigenous leaders, to verify performance. "In addition to meeting the standard for certification, which includes a commitment to continuous improvement, Vermilion demonstrated leading practices in several areas, including good faith consultation, land rights, community health and safety, and sustainable community investment," said Soledad Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Equitable Origin. Under Vermilion's first certified natural gas transaction, a portion has been committed to supply a natural gas distributor through Macquarie Energy Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group. This transaction is the result of extensive collaboration between Vermilion and the counterparties, along with Validere and Xpansiv, the global marketplace for ESG commodities, which provides the registry that ensures trust through data transparency. All of our partners share a vision to transition toward a lower-carbon economy. About Vermilion Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and optimization of producing assets in North America, Europe and Australia. Our business model emphasizes free cash flow generation and returning capital to investors when economically warranted, augmented by value-adding acquisitions. Vermilion's operations are focused on the exploitation of light oil and liquids-rich natural gas conventional resource plays in North America and the exploration and development of conventional natural gas and oil opportunities in Europe and Australia. Vermilion's priorities are health and safety, the environment, and profitability, in that order. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the public and those who work with us, and the protection of our natural surroundings. In addition, Vermilion emphasizes strategic community investment in each of our operating areas. We have been recognized as a strong performer amongst Canadian publicly listed companies in governance practices, a Climate Leadership level (A-) performer by the CDP, and a Best Workplace in the Great Place to Work Institute's annual rankings in Canada and Germany. Employees and directors hold approximately 5% of our outstanding shares and are committed to delivering long-term value for all stakeholders. Vermilion trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VET. About Equitable Origin Equitable Origin is a non-profit organization that created the first market-based mechanism to recognize and reward responsible energy producers and to empower energy purchasers through independent, site-level certification. The EO100 Standard for Responsible Energy Development is grounded in a set of comprehensive, globally applicable ESG performance targets developed with extensive stakeholder input. The EO100 Standard includes five core principles: corporate governance and ethics; social impacts, human rights and community engagement; Indigenous Peoples' rights; occupational health & safety and fair labor standards; and environmental impacts, biodiversity and climate change. Certification against the EO100 Standard promotes best practices and drives improvements in ESG performance while enabling a market for differentiated energy production. SOURCE Vermilion Energy Inc. Related Links http://www.vermilionenergy.com SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Winc, Inc. ("Winc") announced today the launch of an initial public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock. In addition, Winc expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 750,000 additional shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The initial public offering price is currently expected to be between $14 and $16 per share. Winc has applied to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol "WBEV." BofA Securities and Canaccord Genuity are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Craig-Hallum and Roth Capital Partners are also acting as book-running managers and The Benchmark Company is acting as co-manager. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained from: BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, by telephone at (800)-294-1322 or by email at [email protected] or Canaccord Genuity, Attention: Syndicate Department, 99 High Street, Suite 1200, Boston, MA 02110, or by email at [email protected]. A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to the proposed offering has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Winc Winc is one of the fastest growing at scale wineries in the United States, fueled by the joint capabilities of its data-driven brand development strategy paired with a true omni-channel distribution network. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including statements about the completion, timing and size of the proposed initial public offering. Each forward-looking statement is subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions and no assurance can be given that the initial public offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described or at all. Completion of the proposed initial public offering and the terms thereof are subject to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the control of Winc, including, without limitation, market conditions, failure of customary closing conditions and the risk factors and other matters set forth in the prospectus included in the registration statement, in the form last filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Winc undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Winc CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zayed Law Offices, a premier personal injury trial law firm, announced the promotion of Jeremy D. Lee to Partner. "Jeremy has proven to be an exceptionally talented trial lawyer and a relentless advocate for injury victims," said Adam J. Zayed, Founder and Managing Trial Attorney. The announcement comes at the two-year anniversary of Mr. Lee joining Zayed Law Offices. Mr. Lee practiced at a fast-paced personal injury firm prior to joining Zayed Law Offices. "Advocating for clients is an honor and a privilege," said Mr. Lee. "Becoming partner at Zayed Law Offices is a very special accomplishment, and I am humbled and excited to grow and build with the firm." Mr. Lee has recovered more than $20 million in verdicts and settlements, more than $5,000,000 with Zayed Law Offices, and has taken more than 35 cases to trial. Mr. Lee received his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and his Bachelor's degree in English from University of Illinois at Chicago. Mr. Lee has been recognized as a leader in many legal publications including earning recognition as a Super Lawyers, Rising Star. "Elevating Mr. Lee to Partner reinforces the firm's commitment to vigorous advocacy and compassionate representation in handling the most complex and significant cases in Illinois," said Mr. Zayed. The Chicago based firm, recently argued an important personal injury and workers compensation case at the Illinois Supreme Court and has numerous cases set for multi-million-dollar trials in the coming months, opposite some of the largest corporations and insurance companies. The firm recently reached $40,000,000 in firm awards. Zayed's brand of client advocacy has resonated with clients throughout Illinois. With the recent opening of its Wicker Park office, it now has seven locations across Chicagoland and continues to recruit like-minded attorneys willing to fight hard for its clients. Zayed Law Offices was founded in 2009 by nationally recognized and award-winning personal injury trial attorney trial attorney Adam Zayed. Zayed's trial advocacy integrates elements of medical acumen, statistics, business, finance, and strategy, mixed with tremendous legal experience. Zayed Law Offices currently represents victims of catastrophic personal injury, including truck accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries as well as the families of wrongful death victims. For more information visit https://zayedlawoffices.com or call 855-726-1616. SOURCE Zayed Law Offices Related Links https://www.zayedlawoffices.com United Nations, Oct 13 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, next month must be a turning point for climate action. "COP26 must be a turning point if we are to fulfill the promise of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, protect populations from the impacts of climate change and ensure that all financial flows are consistent with the goals of net-zero emissions and sustainable development," he told the sixth ministerial meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, in a video message, Xinhua reported. With COP26 fast approaching, he said, he remained genuinely concerned over the lack of progress on these priorities. The political package that must be delivered in Glasgow needs to contain at least three key elements: emissions reduction, financing for climate action in developing countries, and climate adaptation, he said. "First, we must swiftly close the emissions gap. That means national pledges must collectively put us on track to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. And each country must be ready to update its climate commitments until we collectively get on track to reach the 1.5-degree objective," he said. Second, developed countries must close the finance gap by providing and exceeding the promised $100 billion a year to developing countries for climate action, he said. "And this is just a starting point. Beyond that goal, all financial flows, public and private, must align with a net-zero emissions and resilient development pathway." Third, Glasgow must deliver a breakthrough on adaptation. Climate disruption is already here, affecting ever more lives and livelihoods every year, especially among the most vulnerable. Building resilience and adapting must be a priority for all, said Guterres. "I ask each of you in your national capacity and as shareholders of national and multilateral development banks to consider allocating half of all public climate finance in support of developing countries for adaptation. And I ask that you reconsider how you calculate gross domestic product. Nature's resources still do not figure in countries' calculations of wealth. We need nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation. The current system is weighted toward destruction, not preservation. Governments must reflect nature's true value in all policies, plans and economic systems," he said. As COVID-19 and climate change pose new and unique challenges to low- and middle-income countries, he asked the finance ministers to revise eligibility thresholds for official development assistance to improve access to finance for those countries. New York, Oct 13 : Three weeks back, Kamala Harris's social media team made a mess of her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They snoozed for nearly a day before making the first tweet. This time, it is poor due diligence and inadequate authenticity in a 9-minute-NASA-backed video, where a content shop called "Sinking Ship" sneaked in paid actors to talk to Harris on STEM and space. "I love the idea of exploring the unknown. There's so much out there that we still have to learn. As the chair of the National Space Council, I'm eager to get our young people interested in STEM and space exploration. Watch "Get Curious", Harris tweeted to her followers for a YouTube series called "Get Curious with Vice President Harris." Harris talked about her love of science, excitement over being able to see moon craters through a telescope and the importance of having big dreams. Her exaggerated animation and wide-eyed enthusiasm became a point of ridicule. Overacting just might have passed. But the identity of the kids came out too. Call it Harris' bad luck, a child actor in the video told the networks that he submitted a monologue and was interviewed for the role. The internet erupted, wondering if Harris knew how to talk to 'real' children. Parallels were drawn with the HBO show, "Veep," on an incompetent vice president and the hapless political team. It didn't help to have Democratic infighting, the stalling of major pieces of legislation in Congress, low jobs numbers, a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, all bringing Biden-Harris approval ratings to an all-time low. A White House official argued that the VP's office hadn't selected the children. Others in the Harris camp said the fact the children were actors explained why they performed better than the VP. But critics have the upper hand. The video gave them a chance to say that Harris was "faker than Hillary Clinton". As of now, thumbs downs are nearly 4x of thumbs up. The SM-clumsy Donald Trump team has scented blood. "Just when you thought the most fake human being in the history of the world couldn't get any more phony there's this - Her commitment to cringe is truly impressive!" Donald Trump Jr, the son, has tweeted to his 7 million followers. (Nikhila Natarajan is on Twitter at @byniknat) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 : Almost a year after the State government suffered a big setback when the Kerala High Court dismissed their plea against Centre's move to lease out Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Adani Group, starting midnight Thursday, the running of the airport here will be handed over to the Adani Group by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This airport, which was declared as the fifth international airport in the country in 1991, will now be run by the Adani Group for the next five decades. In February 2019, the financial bid for privatising five airports in the country was opened and it was won by Adani Enterprises. The other airports that the Adani firm got are situated in Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Jaipur. The Kerala government too placed a bid, but the Adani firm won it by quoting a bigger amount. While the Kerala government bid for Rs 135 per passenger, the Adani firm quoted Rs 168. After losing the bid, the Kerala government approached the Kerala High Court, but failed to get a favourable direction, following which they along with the Airport Employees Union approached the Supreme court and the case is going on. Consequent to the takeover, for the next three years the employees of the AAI along with the Adani's will run the airport, after which they can either become part of the new group or get transferred to any of the other airports of the AAI. Speaking to IANS, an airline official on condition of anonymity said what Adani needs to concentrate on is to increase the connectivity and the number of flights. "As of now the present international airport terminal has facilities, which includes four aero bridges. The need of the hour is there are two terminals here. Terminal one sees the arrival of few domestic aircrafts, while terminal two has both international and domestic. The best idea would be to see that all the flights are handled from terminal two and leave the terminal one exclusively for cargo aircrafts," said the official who has worked in a few international airports in the country. He also added that since Air India has now been taken over by Tata's, one will have to wait and see how much pressure the Adani's can put on Tata's. "If this airport has to become really successful, Adani's should ensure there are direct flights from here to Europe, the US and to Australia through Singapore. After the Covid pandemic struck, flights to Singapore have not happened. Singapore is a crucial hub," added the official, who did not wish to be identified. Incidentally, for the Adani's, they have the added advantage of building the Vizhinjam international seaport, which is coming up a few kilometres from the airport and one has to wait and see how best they are going to use it. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Panaji, Oct 13 : Durga Puja, West Bengal's most popular festival, has become a political metaphor in the poll-bound state and the deity Durga, a source of electoral salvation for leaders, who are with their backs to the wall ahead of the 2022 state Assembly elections, especially with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress seeking to make waves in Goa. Goa Forward party president Vijai Sardesai whose patience has been put to the test by the Congress party over possible alliance formation, has taken recourse to paying homage to Durga, invoking a 'new dawn'. "I have said that we have to awaken the Durga in us. Navaratri is about Durga Puja. We worship Durga mata and pray to her for something good to happen. The coming of a new dawn is a good thing," Sardesai said. Sardesai's reference to a 'new dawn' contains a coded, oblique reference to the Trinamool Congress, which has coined a new political slogan specially for Goa called 'Goenchi Navi Sakal' (Goa's New Dawn). Posters and banners by the hundreds have gone up in Goa over the last two weeks tomtoming the political slogan -- styled on the lines of 'khela hobe' slogan during the West Bengal polls -- with a photograph of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Sardesai's political position is a peculiar one. His Goa Forward won three seats (including Sardesai himself) in the state Assembly polls in 2017 on an anti-BJP plank, but joined the BJP soon after the election results were announced. Sardesai was, however, sacked from the cabinet soon after then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar's death in office in 2019 by Pramod Sawant, who replaced Parrikar in the top seat. Facing the 2022 polls, Goa Forward appears to have been reduced to the status of a political pariah, with the Congress not seemingly eager to ally with it. Sardesai argues that the Congress has a dichotomous approach while dealing with his party and vis a vis alliances. "On the one hand they say that we want to form an alliance, while in the papers we hear (statements like) we will contest all 40 seats. They are telling us one thing privately, on the other hand they say something else publicly. One leader speaks one language, state-level leaders say something else," Sardesai said. "This sort of inconsistency and lack of direction of the opposition party makes us hostage to a situation where by default this government can come back again. So we have to be very conscious and I am willing to make any sacrifice to ensure that the BJP does not come back to power in Goa," he added. Sardesai also claims that he is in talks with other parties as well as Indian-Political Action Committee's Prasant Kishor, who is the chief political strategist for Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. "I had met Prashant Kishor earlier, I have told you that. Everybody is in touch with everyone. This is election season. We have to look for options 100 per cent. We cannot rest idle and allow this government to rule for another five years," said Sardesai, who was a part of the BJP-led alliance government from 2017-2019. Sardesai is not the only politician who is keen on an association with the Trinamool. Sitting Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao, who contested on a Trinamool ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is also dropping political references identical to the one's coined by Trinamool's biggest Goa catch, former Congress Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro. "Me and Mamata Banerjee were MPs together. We know each other. We will see how politics plays out," Alemao, also a former Chief Minister, said. "If all four Congresses, Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress, YSR Congress and the Congress join together, it will bode well," Alemao said. Last month, soon after joining the Trinamool, Faleiro had said that the Congress, with its breakaway units was a "divided house", but added that his objective was to bring the breakaway groups together to take on the BJP. Latest updates on Navratri Festival 2021 -- Syndicated from IANS Bulandshahr : , Oct 13 (IANS) The highly decomposed body of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was recovered from a well near his home in Bulandshahr district. The jawan had gone missing almost seven months ago. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Bulandshahr, Santosh Singh, said, "After interrogating several people, we started tracking his phone. The strange part was that the last location of Rampal on the night of his disappearance (March 30) was his home. Even his son's phone location was at home while he had told us that he had dropped his father to Hapur. This raised doubts on their statements and when interrogated, the son confessed the crime." Rampal Singh, 57, had come home this year on March 29. He had taken leave to meet his family members before joining duty in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. But he never reported back to his battalion. The deceased's brother, Jitendra Singh, approached the Augata police station in Bulandshahr to file a complaint about the missing of his brother. He had expressed doubt that his sons may have been involved in his disappearance. "His sons had also filed a police complaint about the disappearance of their father on May 29. We have been investigating the matter since then," the SSP said. The son, during interrogation, said that he and his brother had allegedly killed their father and dumped the body in the well. They suspected that the father was "keeping an evil eye on his elder daughter-in-law". The younger son and his friend have been arrested. Backdrop The 13th round of Corps Commander level talks between India and China ending at an awkward note, was not a surprise to anyone analysing Chinese activities and signalling prior to the talks. The talks happened in the backdrop of recent incidents of intrusions by Chinese troops in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand, Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, heavy concentration of troops and modern arsenal along LAC, exercises and building permanent structures in areas which China had encroached in April 2020, vacation of which was the main purpose of the talks. It was, therefore, amply evident that China was in no mood to concede anything and went through the talks for optics of ongoing talkathon. Post disengagement of troops in Eastern Ladakh from North and South of Pangong Tso, some disengagement in Gogra, no disengagement in other areas to include Depsang plains, Hot Spring, Demchok, and no de-escalation, was therefore, a forgone conclusion. The Chinese intention to coerce India to resume business as usual, sidelining border/LAC issue and not insist on further pull back was refuted by the India earlier when it conveyed that disengagement at all friction points leading to de-escalation, peace and tranquility on borders are prerequisites to progressing smooth bilateral ties. This rightful Indian stance to get back to pre-April 2020 positions stands adversely affected by Chinese obnoxious allegations of 'India pushing for unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which is creating difficulties in negotiations', which indirectly conveys no more pulling back. In the recent past almost 80 per cent of Chinese top leaders, including President Xi Jinping have visited Tibet/Xinjiang. Massive infrastructure development in terms of airstrips, rail, road network to border towns like Nyngchi, accommodation and other activities are worth monitoring for India to strategise its responses. Aim and Strategies of China and India so far! Chinese political aim was and continues to be China centric Asia and forcing Indian subordination, a necessity to achieve it. This aim could not be achieved despite prolonged standoff in Ladakh so far, but will remain unchanged, even in future. Chinese strategic aim to control Eastern Ladakh was to provide depth to its National Highway G-219, Karakoram Pass, redraw Line of Actual Control (LAC) as per its perception (1959-60) and negotiate border on its terms thereafter. China can claim to have partially achieved it, with continued presence in extra kilometrage in Depsang plains, Hot Spring, Demchok areas, where disengagement hasn't taken place. Having developed its infrastructure in areas as per its perception of LAC, its aim to deny the same to India has not been so successful, as India continues to develop its infrastructure at unprecedented speed to catch up, in recent past. The Indian aim has been to get Chinese back to pre-standoff positions as of April 2020 in all friction points, not to concede unilateral change of LAC, and pursue talks towards its demarcation, hoping to lead to border resolution. With current disengagement, status quo stands achieved in areas north and south of Pangong Tso, albeit at the cost of losing the crucial leverage of giving up occupation of certain heights on Kailash range and north of Pangong Tso, prior to Chinese vacation of 'Other Areas'. Pursuing disengagement and de-escalation in remaining areas will be an uphill task due to shortage of leverages, given Chinese past track record and recent activities. China marched in areas, where it was not supposed to be, junking all CBMs, as part of overall 'Incremental Encroachment Strategy', exploiting first mover advantage. China soon found itself handicapped by strong Indian response, resistance and resolve, with proactive actions resulting in newly created vulnerabilities to Maldo Garrison and its launch pad, South of Pangong Tso. Despite disengagement in Pangong Tso area, Chinese discomfort due to Indian dispositions in Sub Sector North including DBO, infrastructure development including DSDBO road, as a threat to crucial Tibet-Xinjiang-Pakistan connectivity remains. The Indian planners will find it difficult to explain why disengagement was not sequenced on 'first in and first out' basis?, meaning thereby, that India should have vacated Kailash Range heights only after China had vacated all the areas, where it advanced in Depsang plains, Gogra, Hot Spring and Demchok areas, since April 2020, despite being pointed out by many strategic analysts. It is reasonable to believe that it has left India at a disadvantage, due to shortage of leverages and no worthwhile saving in financial and human cost, as no de-escalation has taken place. Notwithstanding the political debates over the legacy of Depsang issue, it remains strategically important and a threat to DBO and DS-DBO Road; hence a concern for India. What can India do other than talkathon? Unlike all major powers, India does not have a National Security Strategy (NSS) in open domain to steer capacity building to take on China's challenge in a synergised manner. The classified part of NSS is kept secret by all countries and rightly so. The reactive actions of India over several decades indicate diplomacy driven "Don't annoy China Approach", which has failed miserably as China gave no concession on displaying accommodation so far. Not calling out Xinjiang or Hong Kong by India did not prevent China from dragging India to UNSC on Kashmir issue or not progressing CPEC on Indian sovereign territory. In absence of not even stating our challenges, expecting different agencies to synergise in capacity building to take on Two-Front challenges seems far-fetched. India needs to formulate its NSS, prioritise its challenges and task required agencies to develop capacities. A change in mindset is required, from being reactive to proactive with additional offensive capability to demonstrate capacity to encroach into Chinese sensitive areas, in absence of which China has assumed no threat from India, with freedom to encroach anywhere, at will. Over a period the stands of China and India on stated positions on borders have hardened. The resolution has become extremely complex due to rising sentiments/ nationalism in respective countries increasing the political cost of any compromise by either side. In light of no major breakthrough in 22nd round of China-India border talks, no worthwhile development on delineation, delimitation for demarcation of LAC is expected, which is otherwise necessary to prevent repeated standoffs. India's strategic goal should be to continue insisting on a formal delimitation and demarcation of the LAC, which is difficult but not impossible. Indian aim should be not to concede Chinese attempt to redraw LAC as LAC-2020, because a temporary solution/side-lining main issue is a recipe for the next standoff, leading to LOC-ization of LAC further. The Chinese would like to keep the border unsettled, till the time the political cost of not settling it becomes higher than doing so for CCP, China. With no de-escalation by Chinese, India is and will continue to be ready for all contingencies with similar deployment along LAC, in coming months/years, including creating some more leverages, if situation demands so. India must be prepared for 'Two Front War' as a worst case scenario, and continue capacity building in all domains, including maritime domain, where Chinese vulnerable sea lines of communications can be threatened. Besides ongoing infrastructure development along borders it is recommended that States/UT along LAC should allot concessional land to security forces like regional SCOUTS, ITBP, SSB, and families hailing from that area (on son of soil concept), ready to settle in villages so constructed, along own perception of LAC. This will improve inclusive growth, integration, besides proof of our claims on the border, to ward off Chinese design of developing hundreds of new villages along LAC. The best way to avoid a two front war is to convince both adversaries that India can fight it, backed by appropriate capacity building and intent to use all instruments of power. Strategic partnerships with like-minded democracies and collective naval posturing to create a multifront situation for China are efforts in the right direction. There is a need for an alternative supply chain, trade and technological ecosystem, independent of China for which some initial steps taken by Quad countries need to be pursued. India needs to develop its strategic culture with professional strategists, as diplomacy driven patch ups and talkathon hasn't worked so far. The overall strategic approach has to be proactive at tactical, operational as well as strategic level. (Maj Gen S.B. Asthana, SM, VSM (Veteran) is Chief Instructor, United Service Institution of India. The views expressed are personal) Lucknow, Oct 13 : The 91st battalion of Rapid Action Force (RAF) will now be established in Lucknow. This is being done to ensure robust law and order in the state. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by additional chief secretary, home, Avanish Awasthi on Tuesday. The state government has already provided land for the establishment of RAF battalion headquarters in the state capital. A home department official said the state government would benefit from the establishment of this force in Lucknow. The RAF battalions are based in various parts of the country. The setting up of a battalion will cut down response time and rush the teams to maintain order at a short notice. Lucknow district administration officials said land had been identified in Bajpur Gangaura village in Bakshi Ka Talab to set up the headquarters of the RAF battalion. San Francisco, Oct 13 : Facebook has banned almost 1,000 groups on a leaked private list of 'Militarised' social movements, which are further part of the "dangerous individuals and organisations" list prepared by the social network. Facebook has taken most of the names in the terrorism category directly from the US government, reports The Intercept which first published the Facebook list. "Nearly 1,000 of the entries in the dangerous terrorism list note a 'designation source' of 'SDGT,' or Specially Designated Global Terrorists, a sanctions list maintained by the Treasury Department and created by George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks," the report said on Tuesday. In several instances, names on Facebook's list include passport and phone numbers found on the official SDGT list. "The lists seem to create two disparate systems, with the heaviest penalties applied to heavily Muslim regions and communities," said Faiza Patel, co-director of the Brennan Center for Justice's liberty and national security programme, who reviewed the material. The list suggests that "Facebook -- like the US government -- considers Muslims to be the most dangerous." By contrast, Patel told The Intercept, "Hate groups designated as Anti-Muslim hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center are overwhelmingly absent from Facebook's lists." In a Twitter thread, counterterrorism and dangerous organisations policy director Brian Fishman said that the leaked list was "not comprehensive". "Facebook does not want violence organised or facilitated on its platform and the (dangerous individuals and organisations) list is an effort to keep highly risky groups from doing that. It's not perfect, but that's why it exists," he tweeted. "This is an adversarial space, so we try to be as transparent as possible while also prioritising security, limiting legal risks, and preventing opportunities for groups to get around our rules," Fishman added. Facebook's "dangerous individuals" list also includes white supremacist bands, hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, and branches of Al Qaeda and other terror groups. The Facebook categories are divided into tiers. Tier 1 includes hate and terror groups, tier 2 includes "violent non-state actors" like armed rebels and 'Militarised' social movements are designated as Tier 3. In 2020, Facebook identified 600 'militarised' social movements and removed around 2,400 pages and 14,200 groups maintained by them. Facebook also banned all forms of content related to the radical conspiracy group QAnon. Mogadishu, Oct 13 : At least five people were killed and six others injured in a suicide bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday evening, police and witnesses said. A police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua news agency that a suicide bomber walked into a restaurant near the Fagah intersection and blew himself up, resulting in the death of five people and injuring several others. "We can confirm that five people died in the blast and six others got injured," he said. Witnesses said they heard a huge blast at Mogadishu's Fagah junction. "The blast was huge and I saw injured people being taken to the hospitals," said Abdirahman Mohamed, a witness. Santiago, Oct 13 : Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday decreed a state of emergency in the southern provinces of Biobio, Arauco, Malleco and Cautin, amid an escalation of violence in the conflict involving the indigenous Mapuche people. "The serious situation requires the state to make use of institutional means, and constitutional mechanisms and laws to protect the population, safeguard public order and the rule of law, and ensure constitutionally recognized rights," the president said from the government palace in Santiago, Xinhua news agency reported. The state of emergency will last for 15 days and may be extended for another 15 days, in accordance with the Chilean Constitution. The long-running conflict, which has persisted for decades between Mapuche indigenous communities claiming their ancestral lands and agricultural or forestry companies with deeds to the land, has led to outbursts of violence in recent years, with several community members, police and farmers being killed. Mapuche groups are demanding the restitution of their ancestral lands in the Biobio and La Araucania regions in southern Chile. Lucknow, Oct 13 : Even as non-BJP parties in Uttar Pradesh make a pitch for soft Hindutva, the BJP is trying to woo Muslim minorities in every assembly constituency. BJP workers have been given the target of ensuring support for the party from minority-dominated booths. Party workers up to booth level, have been assigned specific targets this time. As per an estimate, out of over 1.63 lakh booths, approximately 50,000 are the ones where minority votes swing results. The presidents of these booths and senior BJP minority cell members have been asked to convince at least 100 voters each from their respective booths to support BJP candidates. Sources said that directives have been issued by the secretary of UP BJP organization, Sunil Bansal. UP BJP minority cell president Basit Ali, claimed that the target to get at least 100 minority votes from each booth has been set this time. "Nearly 30 per cent of the beneficiaries of various schemes, including free ration distribution and houses for all, are from the minority community. The idea is to tap support from these beneficiaries through various outreach programmes," he said. He added that programmes would also be organized to win over intellectuals among Muslims and other minority communities. The party has minority cell structure at the grass roots which will play a key role in getting minority votes. "This structure formation will help in reaching out to minority youths, women and beneficiaries of the schemes launched by Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Yogi Adityanath government in the state," Basit Ali said. The BJP is making efforts to end the division of votes on the basis of caste and religion. The party is trying to win the support of all, irrespective of caste and religion, in the name of development and public welfare schemes. The party workers have also been asked to dispel the misinformation campaign being run by opposition parties. October 13 : While a few Bollywood personalities have come out in the open to support Shah Rukh Khan and his son Aryan, the stars of the industry are yet to come in the open with their support. However, Shatrughan Sinha, has come forward in support of Shah Rukh Khan. The veteran actor criticised the way Aryan Khan is being used in the cruise ship drug case. Shatrughan Sinha said Aryan, who has been arrested on October 3 in a drug-related case, is being targeted because he is Shah Rukh Khans son. We cannot say that its his religion that has come in the way, but some people have begun using that subject now, which is not right at all. Whoever is an Indian is the son of India and all are equal under our constitution. Shah Rukh is definitely the reason why the boy is being targeted. There are other names like Munmun Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant, but nobody is talking about them, he told a leading news portal. The veteran actor added that some people are now playing with Aryan Khan because they have got a chance to settle scores with Shah Rukh Khan." Shatrughan Sinha further said that some time back, Deepika Padukone was in focus in a similar case, though other names were also involved. Speaking about Bollywood not coming out to support the Khan family, Shatrughan Sinha said the film industry is a bunch of scared folks. Talking to ETimes, the legend said, Nobody wants to come forward. Everyone thinks it's the other persons problem and he should deal with it. They want the person to fight his own battle. Meanwhile, actress Geetika Vidya Ohlyanis, who played a cop in the crime drama film Soni in 2018, and had also appeared in Anubhav Sinhas Thappad in 2020, recently reposted a message that read as, He (Aryan Khan) did not sign a contract to be a role model for your children or society cut the kid some slack! Geetika, however, believes that Aryans arrest in the alleged cruise drug case has brought Bollywood together in support of Shah Rukh Khan. Isnt that a good thing? If not us, then who? If not now, then when? she asked. Kanpur : , Oct 13 (IANS) The IIT-Kanpur has announced a comprehensive revamp of its curriculum, laying down a new template with pathbreaking features. The transformative steps were part of the Undergraduate Academic Review Committee Report 2020-21 (UGARC 2020-21), which has been approved by the IIT-K Senate. According to director, IIT-Kanpur Prof Abhay Karandikar, "The revamping of the existing curriculum, introduction of courses relevant to today's changing world and the revised grading system is in continuation of our steps in this direction and in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (2020) of the government." He said that IIT-Kanpur already offers one of the most flexible academic programmes with options of double major, minor and dual degree with option of master's degree in different departments. The revamped curriculum will introduce new degree options, including the honours degree and options of new interdepartmental degree programs. It will also extend the scope of learning to include social-sciences, communication, humanities, economics, management and environment (SCHEME). The official release said that the core courses will be restructured to give greater flexibility to the core curriculum. Further, the programme will also enable counting of designated online courses done by students. The transformational template for undergraduate education will include innovative features such as new opportunities for student exchange across institutions for the master's part of the bachelors-masters dual degree program, direct admission for talented students via globally acclaimed Olympiads, academic credits for approved entrepreneurial activities and learning done in the industry set up. There will also be an exit option degree for those students who want to leave the programme in the middle. The academic programmes and the associated curricula at IIT-Kanpur will undergo a comprehensive review every ten years. The review process begins with exhaustive deliberations within a committee comprising members drawn from the various academic departments as well as the student community. United Nations, Oct 13 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that diversity must be seen as a source of strength instead of threat in search for peace. "For countries emerging from the horrors of conflict and looking to a better future -- indeed for all countries -- diversity must not be seen as a threat. It is a source of strength," he told an open debate of the Security Council on diversity, state-building and the search for peace on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Diversity should be seen as an anchor of peace and stability and a rallying point for every person to contribute to a better future -- for themselves, and for their societies, he said. Parties to conflict can agree to end hostilities. They can agree to begin the long process of rebuilding a country. And they can even join forces to reconstitute a government. But without including a wide range of diverse voices at every step of this process -- without bringing all people along -- any peace will be short-lived, he warned. Long-standing grievances, inequalities, mistrust and social divisions do not simply vanish when the fighting stops. They can easily flare up again. And they can be worsened if people and groups hungry for change do not see their needs and vision for the future being addressed, he added. To promote inclusion in the process of rebuilding communities and sustaining peace, Guterres emphasized three areas for action. First, national institutions and laws must work for all people. This means protecting and promoting human rights, including people's rights to health, education, protection and opportunity. It means implementing policies and laws that protect vulnerable groups, including laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. And it means working with all partners to develop stronger national capacities that can serve all people equally, he said. Second, countries should explore ensuring a greater voice to subnational regions. Countries emerging from years, or even decades, of instability cannot afford to ignore the views of entire segments of their populations and risk fueling future resentments. Governments must find ways to move people forward together, as one, through constant dialogue -- recognizing and respecting differences -- even if this means devolving some areas of authority, he said. Third, women, young people and the most marginalized must be involved every step of the way. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Taiwanese tech company ASUS on Wednesday said that it will help consumers in India responsibly dispose of their e-waste, by offering free home pick-up for the discarded gadgets. The #DiscardResponsibly campaign will go live on the International E-waste Day, which falls on October 14, and will run till October 31. According to the United Nations, each person on the planet will produce on average 7.6 kg of e-waste in 2021, meaning that a massive 57.4 million tonnes will be generated worldwide. Only 17.4 per cent of this electronic waste containing a mixture of harmful substances and precious materials will be recorded as being properly collected, treated and recycled. "Through this campaign, we aim to spread awareness and at the same time, encourage people to take accountability of their ecosystem by adopting eco-friendly practices," said Leon Yu, Regional Director, System Business Group, Asus India & South Asia. ASUS has released a toll-free number and a microsite (https://asus.in/discardresponsibly/) to activate the e-waste management drive, to provide information such as name, contact number, email, and address to schedule a pick-up slot. The company is also driving the campaign via its retail network. "More cooperative efforts are required to make people aware of this increasing issue and take appropriate countermeasures supported with appropriate research and training," said Yu. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan informed the federal cabinet that he had told Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa that he wanted Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed to continue as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general for some time due to the critical situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, Dawn reported. Reports about lack of consensus between the civil and military leadership over the matter had been making rounds on social media for the last few days, but after it appeared on regular media on Tuesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was compelled to clarify the government's point of view. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar said Prime Minister Khan and Gen Bajwa held a detailed meeting late Monday night on the matter. The meeting was also confirmed by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry during his presser after the cabinet meeting, stating that the issue of appointment of new ISI DG Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed Anjum had been resolved and that the PM enjoyed the authority to appoint the chief of the country's premier spy agency in accordance with law and Constitution. Also sharing details of the meeting, Pak PM's aide on political affairs Amir Dogar said the premier wanted Lt. Gen. Hameed to stay as DG ISI in view of the situation in Afghanistan, adding that Prime Minister Khan and Gen. Bajwa enjoyed relation of respect and dignity, the report said. Khan was of the opinion that the government wanted to take all institutions on board, Dogar said. "The body language of the prime minister was quite positive and he seemed confident," he added. The PTI's chief whip said the prime minister had told the cabinet that he was an elected prime minister and chief executive of the country. "The prime minister has the authority to appoint the DG ISI and he held a detailed meeting with Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa in this regard," Chaudhry told the press conference. "The federal government will follow a legal and constitutional procedure on the appointment of the Inter-Services Intelligence director general," he said. The minister categorically stated there would be no step taken from the PM Office or the military setup that damaged the repute of one another, the report said. Referring to rumours circulating about the matter, the minister said: "I see on social media, there are many who have wishes; I want to tell them that the Prime Minister's Office will never undermine the respect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan's prime minister or civil setup." He stressed that both the prime minister and the military leadership were in close coordination, and the DG ISI would be appointed after fulfilling all legal requirements. "Both (PM Khan and Gen Bajwa) are in agreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it," he added (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 13 : Pursuant to its commitment to promoting internationalization and continuing in its collaborative initiatives, Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), has signed MoUs to establish 10 new international collaborations with international partner universities. The new partners of JGLS include 10 universities in 8 countries Australia (2), New Zealand (1), Portugal (1), Slovakia (1), South Africa (1), United Kingdom (2), United States (1), and Uzbekistan (1). The types of collaborations include short-term study abroad programmes, J.D. transfers, pathways to master's degrees, joint research and faculty exchange programmes. Students of the 5-year law programmes, 3-year law programme, and postgraduate programmes will be the beneficiaries of these collaborations. Further, pathways to many MA and selected LLM programmes of the Queen Mary University London have been exclusively secured for the students of the three-year BA (Hons) Legal Studies programme. The Law Schools and Universities are: Federation University, Australia; University of South Australia, Australia; Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Portugal; The University of Waikato, New Zealand; Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia; The University of Capetown, South Africa; University of London, United Kingdom; Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom; Texas A&M University, United States of America; Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan. These new partnerships are in addition to the 20 MoUs signed since August 2020. With these new collaborations in place, the Jindal Global Law School has over 200 international collaborations that will provide unparalleled global education opportunities to its students. All collaborations of JGU are methodically planned, institutionally sustainable, and meticulously implemented. Reflecting on JGU's efforts in promoting international collaborations, Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University and Founding Dean, Jindal Global Law School, states, "Internationalization has been one of the five pillars of strength for JGU (the other four being its Interdisciplinary Curriculum, Global Faculty, vibrant Research Ecosystem, and effective Student Career Services). We have been putting relentless efforts in strengthening our ties with educational partners from all over the world such that we maximize the possibilities of intercultural learning experience for our students. As JGU and JGLS grows in leaps and bounds through the introduction of innovative and socially relevant programmes, thereby increasing its student strength, we consider it our duty and responsibility to make certain that opportunities are in abundance for all our students who aspire to become part of our short-term study abroad programmes, student exchange programmes, dual degree programmers and other pathways to pursue higher studies in the leading law schools and universities of the world. All these collaborations are based on the needs of our programmes, right-partner identification, and pre-assessed learning outcomes". Professor Kumar further observed, "The institutional resilience of JGU is demonstrated by the fact that the Jindal Global Law School has itself established 30 new international collaborations during the pandemic in the last one year. We are committed to providing a world-class legal education to our students and we will overcome all challenges to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of our students." According to Professor (Dr) Sreejith S.G., Professor and Executive Dean, Jindal Global Law School, "Our global rankings, international standing, and our galaxy of faculty members have a reputational effect that prompts many international institutions to collaborate with JGLS. Their openness and reception to JGLS have been refreshing. The immense success in the past collaborations and outstanding performance of our students during the short-term study aboard programmes have certainly contributed to this reception." Professor Malvika Seth, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (International Collaborations), Jindal Global Law School adds that "When we reach out to partner institutions and explain our motivations and goals during the preliminary meetings, we have found them to be sharing the same. Hence, they always reciprocate our enthusiasm to partner with them. This sense of having common goals and aspirations helps in mutually designing innovative and appropriate types of collaborations between two institutions. Apart from the custom collaborations, some of the partner universities have expressed interest to have joint clinics, joint moots, resource sharing, and mutual teaching of course modules". JGLS was established in 2009 and in a short span of 12 years, has grown to become a premier law school in the country. JGLS has been ranked 76th in the world and 1st in India in the "QS World University Rankings 2021 By Subject: Law". Today JGLS, as the law school of JGU, is also an "Institution of Eminence" as conferred by the Government of India. It has 10 academic programmes including 5-year and 3-year law programmes, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in law, and BA programmes in Legal Studies, Human Rights, Gender Studies, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. The School has more than 475 full-time faculty members from more than 25 countries in the world. New Delhi, Oct 13 : The suspected Pakistan terrorist, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in the national capital, has revealed that he was involved in the Delhi High Court blast in 2011 that claimed the lives of as many as 11 people then, official sources privy to the probe told IANS on Wednesday. "He accepted that he had done a recce of the Delhi High Court before the blast in 2011," the source said. However, his further involvement in the execution of the blast is yet to be ascertained. Apart from this terror attack in Delhi, the arrested Pakistan national, identified as Mohd Ashraf alias Ali, revealed that he was involved in several terror activities in the country, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Ashraf disclosed during the interrogation that he was involved in the terror attack at the Bus Station in Jammu in 2009. The attack was executed on the directions of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). "It is a stark revelation of Pakistan's role in every terror activity in India," the source underlined. The suspected terrorist Mohd Ashraf was arrested from the crowded Laxminagar area of Delhi at around 9 p.m. on Monday. The Special Cell had earlier said that the ISI had trained this terrorist for at least six months back in 2004. In the same year, he managed to enter India through Bangladesh at the Siliguri border, West Bengal. Since then he was living in India as a sleeper cell. "After entering India, he went to Ajmer and befriended a Maulvi at a local Masjid, Ajmer. In the year 2006, he accompanied the said Maulvi to Delhi," an official said. During the interrogation since Tuesday, the suspected terrorist has also disclosed that he has several times supplied arms and ammunition to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir. "His every activity was on ISI's directions," sources said. The accused terrorist was assigned to carry out terror strikes during this festive season at the behest of Pakistan's ISI. Earlier also on September 14, the Special Cell of Delhi Police which prevents, detects, and investigates cases of terrorism, organized crime, and other serious crimes in the national capital, had busted a Pakistan-based terror module and arrested seven suspected terrorists, including two people who were trained by ISI. The arrested terrorists were also planning to carry out terror attacks in the country during this festival season. All the suspects are currently in police custody. Los Angeles, Oct 13 : Payal Kapadia's Indo-French co-production, 'A Night of Knowing Nothing', which got the prestigious Oeil d'Or award for Best Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival 2021, joins Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke's 'Drive My Car' and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's 'A Hero' in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) nominations for best film, which were announced on Wednesday. Both 'Drive My Car' and 'A Hero', which had, like 'A Night of Knowing Nothing', debuted in Cannes, have been nominated for best film, best direction, best screenplay and best performance by an actor, reports Variety.com. The best film category is rounded out by nominations for 'The Pencil' from Russia's Natalya Nazarova and 'There is No Evil', an Iranian-Czech-German co-production directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, which had bagged the Golden Bear in Berlin. Organisers said that nominations had gone to 38 films from 25 Asia Pacific countries and regions. Films from Japan and Iran each collected seven nominations. After 14 years, a representative from Vietnam (cinematographer Nguyen Vinh Phuc nominated for his work in Le Bao's "Taste," aka "Vi") collected the country's first APSA nomination. The APSA nominations represented a complete shut-out for both mainland China and Taiwan. That is in stark contrast to the Asian Film Awards, announced earlier this week in Busan, in which three Chinese films won four awards, including the best director prize, which went to Zhang Yimou. The APSA nominations are also at odds with those for the Golden Horse Film Awards announced last week, in which Hong Kong's 'Drifting' and Taiwan's 'The Falls' each picked up nearly a dozen nods. Given the impact of Covid-19 on the region, the eligibility of films in competition this year was extended back to the end of 2019. This "(increased) the field and calibre of competition significantly," APSA organisers said. The best youth feature film award gives nominations to three emerging women directors with their debut or second features: Korea's Yoon Dan-bi for 'Moving On', Afghan director Granaz Moussavi for aWhen Pomegranates Howl' and Saudi Arabia's Shahad Ameen's 'Scales'. The APSA winners will be decided by a yet-to-be-announced jury. The prizes will be presented on November 11 at a ceremony at Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Lucknow, Oct 13 : Two Congress leaders, who had put up posters in Prayagraj welcoming BJP leader Varun Gandhi, have been served show cause notices. The posters showed Varun Gandhi and Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and the slogan said, "Dukh bhare din beete re bhaiyya, Ab sukh aayo re ( Days of miseries will end, good days are coming)." The two leaders, Irshadullah and Baba Abhay Awasthi, have been asked to explain their conduct or face action. The Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh have been rather excited over reports of Varun Gandhi's reported disenchantment with the BJP after he posted a series of tweets in support of the agitating farmers. A senior party leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "It would be wonderful if Varun Gandhi joins Congress and is made the chief ministerial candidate. The Congress will spring back to life within days. There will be no clash with his cousins because they are national leaders." Varun Gandhi has already dismissed rumours of his joining the Congress as 'baseless'. It may be recalled that both Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi have not been included in the national executive of the BJP, which has led to speculations about their future in the party. Indian Wells, Oct 13 : Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece came back from a set and a break down to hold off former world No. 9 Fabio Fognini of Italy in the third round at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday (IST). The world No. 3 Tsitsipas was rattled early on against the 30th seed, but worked his way back into the match for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and four minutes. It set a fourth-round meeting with 22nd seed Alex de Minaur after the Australian's 6-4, 6-2 win against 15th seed Cristian Garin of Chile. Tsitsipas extended his ATP head-to-head record against the Italian to 3-0 as he finished with 21 winners -- including 10 off the forehand -- and 28 unforced errors. Fognini clocked 32 winners -- 22 of those off his forehand -- but committed 32 unforced errors. "Great comeback, honestly... I don't know what happened," Tsitsipas told atptour.com. "I really wanted to get back in the match and it happened somehow. "From (a set and a break down) I just took it point by point and it worked out pretty well. A good mindset and also a bit of patience helped as well. I found solutions in those tough moments and really felt like I had momentum." Fognini set the tone early when he broke in the opening game and his sustained aggression had Tsitsipas unable to make any real inroads as the first set wore on. The Italian withstood a break point as he closed out the set. The crowd rallied behind the second seed Greek when he broke for the first time to draw level in the second set and it marked a switch in momentum as Fognini's error count grew. Tsitsipas carried the advantage to level the match at a set apiece and capitalised on a string of loose unforced errors from the Italian to land the crucial break for 3-2 in the deciding set and never looked back as he extended his tour-leading match wins this season to 53. Taylor Fritz of the US earned his biggest win of the year, easing past Matteo Berrettini of Italy 6-4, 6-3 to reach the fourth round. The California native, who was 2-6 in his past eight matches heading into Indian Wells, gained his first win against a top-10 opponent in 2021 and the seventh of his career in the 81-minute encounter. "We're coming to the end of the year, I could really use a big result," said Fritz. "This is just what I needed, playing one of my favourite tournaments close to home." "I had a really clear strategy on top of just doing what I do," said Fritz about his game against the world No. 7. "Big first serves, attacking the first ball, trying to be aggressive and play to my strengths to try and make him uncomfortable as much as I could." New Delhi, Oct 13 : The BJP leadership believes that the Lakhimpur Kheri incident has no major impact on the party in Punjab assembly polls. It was believed that in Punjab the violent incidents will adversely affect the BJP in Punjab, where the party is already facing strong opposition from farmers since last one year. BJP national general secretary and Punjab in-charge, Dushyant Gautam told IANS that farmers protest was politically motivated and the Lakhimpur Kheri incident had no impact on the polls in Punjab or Uttarakhand in the area bordering Uttar Pradesh. "There are only two per cent farmers misled by leftists and other political parties are trying to disturb the peaceful environment in the state. Lakhimpur Kheri incident has no impact either in Punjab or Uttarakhand," Gautam said. A senior BJP insider said that everyone knows that some political parties are politicising the farmers' unrest for their electoral benefits and in Punjab the protests were patronized by the ruling party to create a false atmosphere of unrest. "All the incidents of violence or attacks on BJP leaders in Punjab were politically motivated and done by a handful of anti-social elements. Political parties are misleading farmers over new farm laws with vested interest. Everyone understands that the Narendra Modi government brought the new farm laws for the benefit of farmers, but opposition parties misleading people by creating doubts in their mind. Now, they are trying to politicize the Lakhimpur Kheri incident but they will not succeed in their mischievous intention," a BJP leader said. Saffron camp claims that in Punjab only 2-3 per cent of farmers are participating in the agitation against the union government. "Only two or three per cent of farmers in Punjab are part of agitation. Most people in Punjab are peace loving and they are against any type of violence and they know the truth about who all are behind these protests," a senior party leader said. Eight persons including a journalist were killed during a farmers protest in Lakhimpur Kheri which turned violent earlier this month. New Delhi, Oct 13 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested four persons and conducted raids at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror conspiracy case, an NIA official said here on Wednesday. The arrested accused have been identified as Waseem Ahmed Sofi, a resident of Chattabal, Srinagar; Tariq Ahmed Dar, a resident of Shergarhi, Srinagar; Bilal Ahmed Mir, a resident of Srinagar and Tariq Ahmed Bafanda, a resident of Rajauri Kadal, Srinagar. The raids, that were conducted on Tuesday, came in the backdrop of information that a conspiracy was being hatched to carry out violent terrorist acts in J&K and other major cities, including Delhi by cadres of proscribed terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and similar other outfits and their affiliates such as The Resistance Front (TRF) and People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF). NIA had then registered a case on October 10 and initiated an investigation. "During the raids, several electronic devices, incriminating jihadi documents and records of suspicious financial transactions were seized," the anti-terror probe agency said in a statement. The NIA said the terror associates and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of these organisations were conspiring with their handlers and commanders based in a neighbouring country and also indulging in the radicalization of local youth for the purpose of recruiting and training them in handling arms, ammunition, and explosives. "These terrorists and cadres have effected several terrorist acts, including killings of numerous innocent civilians and security personnel, unleashing a reign of terror in the valley of Kashmir, thereby challenging the writ of the state," the statement read. It further said that the preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused persons are terror associates/OGWs of various proscribed terrorist organisations and have been providing logistical and material support to terrorists and facilitating them in their nefarious designs. "Further probe is still on to unearth the whole conspiracy," the probe agency added. Lakhimpur Kheri : , Oct 13 (IANS) Ankit Das, one of the accused in the Lakhimpur incident in which four farmers were mowed down by an SUV on October 3, has surrendered in court on Wednesday. The police had been conducting raids to arrest Ankit Das who is the nephew of former MP, late Akhilesh Das. A notice had been pasted at his residence residential address in Lucknow. According to reports, Ankit Das is a close friend of the main accused Ashish Mishra and the Fortuner in the convoy belonged to him. Ankit had earlier stated that he was not present there at the time of the incident. Nayagarh, Oct 13 : In January 2020, a few villagers in Mitukuli village in Odisha's Nayagarh, were patrolling the forests -- a practise popularly known as thengapalli -- when they found nearly 225 well-grown trees cut down by the forest department. Infuriated at the sight, they put forth the issue before the Community Forest Resources Management Committee (CFRMC) (Gosthi Jangala Sambala O. Parichalana Committee), formed by the villagers. This kickstarted the process to formally reclaim the forest lands that they have been protecting for generations, and legally petition for the ownership of Community Forest Resources (CFR) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Believing that this will empower them with rights for protection, regeneration, conservation and management of forest resources, the inhabitants of eight villages (including Mitukuli) in the Dasapalla block in the district met with the Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) On August 16 to submit the petition. "Ame ama janglara sima nirdharana karichu aau ame chahunchu amaku ama jangala uapare adhikar milu (we have demarcated the traditional boundary of our forest and demand our rights over CFR)," said Laxmi Mallick (54), pointing to the forest just behind Mitukuli village. On entering this village, comprising 50 homes, mostly belonging to marginalised tribal and Dalit families, one encounters a cement plaque displaying the words -- "Villagers protect and manage these forest resources". The final straw Last January, the day after the villages found the fallen trees, they noticed officials from the Forest Department, Forest Development Corporation and a few labourers bringing in a truck to remove the trees. The villagers protested the entry of the vehicle. "We didn't allow them to lift the wood; we sat on the timber. We protested because after all, we are protecting our forest but without informing us, they cut down our trees," Pramila Jani, a committee member, told 101Reporters. Initially, the department didn't agree and tried to forcibly take away the timber. But the villagers were firm in their refusal to move. To diffuse the situation, the District Forest Officer, Ranger and other officials agreed to a negotiation. "We demanded our share of the timber and asked them to not cut any more trees without taking permission from the committee," said Subhas Chandra Jani, President of the CFRMC. Finally, the forest department decided on a compromise and assured to pay the villagers Rs 87,700 against the trees they had cut down. The amount is yet to be transferred to the CFRMC account, but villagers are happy to have claimed their share for the first time. This incident built confidence among the villagers, and they decided to redraw the traditional forest boundaries to claim control over their entire CFR area. Reimagining borders "Our ancestors have been protecting this forest, and now we continue their legacy. If we establish the boundary, it will empower us to restrict the entry of outsiders," Dhaneswar Jani, an active member of Mitukuli CFRMC and representative of the Adivasi Cell in Nayagarh district, told 101Reporters. This already includes timber thieves and smugglers, against whom women like Mallick protect their forests, stick in hand. "But many times the Department itself cuts down and takes away timber in the name of making rath for Lord Jagannath, cutting down siali creepers just to clean the forest and plant trees which benefit them. They never thought to consult us or take our permission," said Mallick. Ironically, it's the villagers who had to worry about being arbitrarily pulled up by forest guards for venturing into the forest. The community sat together to redraw the traditional boundary line so they can use the resources and impose restrictions. They also invited neighbouring villagers, the Revenue Inspector and officials from the forest department for joint verification and to avoid any conflict in future. "We have considered the cattle grazing land, barren land, streams, types of trees, forest deity and places our ancestors used to visit while preparing the outline of the traditional forest area," said Bhubaneswar Jani, Secretary of the Mitukuli CFRMC. He added that once they finished the blueprint, each family contributed to buying lime powder to mark the boundaries. "Before beginning this divine effort, we performed a puja before our village deity and ventured into the jungle. Since then, we have been awaiting the official claim certificate over CFR," the secretary said with a confident smile. Nirman, a non-profit organisation, took steps to empower villagers about information surrounding community forest rights. Narayan Parida, Programme Officer at Nirman oversaw regular meetings and sensitisation programmes with community leaders, women and youth to guide them about the process. Reliance on forest produce Bankataila is one of the seven other neighbouring villages that was inspired by Mitukuli to petition for rights over CFR. With a population of 160, Bankataila began as a satellite village and was sharing forest land with the neighbouring village of Munduli. Laxmidhara Muduli, President of CFRMC, Bankataila, said, "When we heard Munduli were demarcating their forest area, we found they had taken away most of our forest land." But the villagers from both the villages were able to sit down together and amicably redraw the forest borders. "Ame kaani pati bhikhya magilu, ama jangala amaku diya (We begged and requested them to give us our forest land to survive). This touched the hearts of the village elders, and they returned the portion of the land to Bankataila," he said. In Mitukuli, the villagers barely have about two acres of cultivable land on average where they generally grow paddy. To supplement their income and nutrition, they collect sal, siali and tendu leaves, mushroom, fruits, jhuna, honey, mahul, palua, satabari and odanga from the forest. It is estimated that each family makes at least Rs 10,000-15,000 from forest produce yearly which can be substantially augmented if they have stronger rights over these resources. Dhaneswar told 101Reporters, "In 1999 and 2000 when we faced drought-like conditions, our forest saved us from starvation. Women ventured into the forest to collect siali leaves and stitch them, while men sold these in the market to buy rice for their families. Besides tubers, different types of spinach, potatoes and mushrooms helped us survive." This year too, they expect the sporadic rainfall to produce a below-average yield. "But we are hopeful that our forest will help us," he said. They also believe the restrictions on outsiders will help protect the forest from fires. "Last year, our sanctuary went up in flames. We toiled into the night to extinguish the fire. Though the reason is still unknown, we believe restrictions on access will protect the forest," said Muduli. Consolidating community efforts Though these eight villages in Dasapalla are waiting for recognition of CFR, they have already started following the rules formed by their respective committees. Each committee has 15 members with equal participation of women. If villagers require timber or bamboo for the construction of homes or any other purposes, they will have to obtain permission from the committee. "The committee will decide on which trees can be cut and the villager will have to pay for it," said Sukanti Behera, secretary of the Bankataila CFRMC, showing the receipt book. Till now, the Committee has received Rs 1,800 from villagers. "But the food from the forest has been exempted and we don't charge for it," she added. The Bankataila CFRMC hopes to be able to spend the funds collected on the development of the village and community. "We have planned to start a seed bank to collect seeds from the forest. Before the monsoons, we will plant them for the growth and regeneration of the forest," said Nandi Bhoi, a member. If the eight villages fail to get the CFR title in the next three months, they will bring this issue before the Collector. Dhaneswar Jani echoed their common belief, "After all, we are protecting our forests, so we rightfully deserve ownership over forest resources." (The author is a Bhubaneswar-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) Hyderabad, Oct 13 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sought the support of his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao for the demand to abolish NEET, the national exam for admission to medical courses. Stalin is reaching out to non-BJP chief ministers over the demand from the Centre to abolish National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). Two MPs of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday called on Telangana minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao and handed over to him the letter written by Stalin to Chandrasekhar Rao. MPs T.K.S. Elangovan and Kalanidhi Veeraswamy met Rama Rao, who is also the son of the chief minister and urged him to back DMK's stand over the issue. The MP said keeping in view the future of students, they were demanding abolition of NEET. He claimed that TRS leader responded positively to their request for support over the issue Elangovan said NEET exam was affecting the students of the states. "We built infrastructure for medical colleges and pay salaries to professors but NEET deprives our students from getting admissions in the same colleges," he said Stating that is against federal setup, the MP demanded that education should be brought back to state list instead of concurrent list. "We are talking to chief ministers of all opposition parties in the country in this regard. The attempts by Centre to take away rights of the states need to be stopped and we have to raise our voice strongly," he said. TRS MP Ranjith Reddy said the DMK MPs discussed the issue in detail with Rama Rao. Stalin demanded NEET abolition after three NEET aspirants from Tamil Nadu died by suicide last month. He is reaching out to non-BJP chief ministers to mobilize support for the demand. Panaji, Oct 13 : Goa's independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar on Wednesday extended his support to the Trinamool Congress, even as his brother Santosh and several other followers formally joined the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party. Incidentally, Gaonkar who had extended support to the Congress in July this year, while Santosh Gaonkar had already formally joined the Opposition party in the same month. Speaking to reporters at a press conference held near Panaji, Prasad Gaonkar said that the Congress had been unable to tap the anger against the ruling BJP, which was why he had chosen to align with the TMC. "The Congress should have capitalised on the anger against the BJP, but they have been unable to do so. So, I am supporting TMC," Gaonkar said. The independent MLA also said that a decision whether he would contest the 2022 state assembly polls on a TMC ticket would be taken after discussion with party leaders. Party sources said that Gaonkar was expected to formally join the TMC, after the culmination of the last session of the state assembly later this month. In 2017, soon after poll results were declared Gaonkar had supported the Congress party, before the latter's bid to form government fell into disarray. Gaonkar had then switched his support to the ruling BJP, before withdrawing support from the government in October last year. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Reacting to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's letter to Union Health Minister over Chhath Puja row, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday said that if Delhi government was keen to allow the festivities to take place in the national capital, it would have asked Centre to issue guidelines before the DDMA order was passed. In a letter dated October 13 to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Tiwari blamed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for appeasement. He wrote that the Chhath Puja is not just a festival of Purvanchal Community but an integral part of India's culture, tradition and history as well. On Tuesday, AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a letter addressed to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked the Centre to issue appropriate Covid-19 guidelines after consulting health experts and stakeholders so that people of Delhi can celebrate the festival safely. Post the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order that restricted Chhath Puja celebrations in public places in the city, advising people to celebrate the same at their homes, Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari, who is also a prominent face in the purvanchal community, has picked a bone with the Delhi government. Delhi BJP on Tuesday demonstrated in front of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, where North East Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari got hurt by water canon. Earlier, Tiwari had said that he would defy DDMA's orders to celebrate the festival, most popular in Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, the AAP has condemned the recent press meet on Chhath Puja by Delhi BJP saying, "The health and lives of people are most important for us. We feel sad that BJP is playing dirty politics over it. BJP has no concern for the lives of the people," it said in a statement. Hyderabad, Oct 13 : Akhil Akkineni and Pooja Hegde-starrer 'Most Eligible Bachelor' is slated for release on October 15. Being a Bhaskar directorial, it is expected that this movie would deliver a much-awaited hit for Akhil. Despite his looks, perfect dance moves, and decent acting skills, Akhil's previous movies didn't give him a single hit. So, Akhil Akkineni is in dire need of a decent hit now. Touted as a family entertainer, 'Most Eligible Bachelor' has grabbed the attention of all. The Akkineni clan, which is keen on Akhil's movie career, has kept most of the things related to this movie low key, so as to avoid any kind of disappointments. The previous movies of Akhil were huge on promotions, but failed to deliver. So, everything related to 'Most Eligible Bachelor' is being taken care with much attention, so as to give a decent impression. Akhil Akkineni who drew the Telugu audience's attention with his appearance in 'Sisindri' as a child artiste, later made a cameo in Nageswar Rao, Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya-starrer 'Manam'. Akhil's other movies 'Akhil', 'Hello', 'Mr. Majnu' also did not give expected results. So, all hopes are pinned on 'Most Eligible Bachelor'. So far, all the promotions have established a decent hype around the movie. The pair also appeared on 'Bigg Boss Telugu 5' to promote the movie, which is slated for release during Dussehra. The movie is directed by Bommarillu Bhaskar and GA2 Pictures is bankrolling it. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Washington, Oct 13 : US President Joe Biden will host Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the White House on Thursday, his Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. "The leaders will discuss the strong US-Kenyan bilateral relationship and the need to bring transparency and accountability to domestic and international financial systems," Psaki said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. "They will also discuss efforts to defend democracy and human rights, advance peace and security, accelerate economic growth, and tackle climate change," she added. Their meeting, which will be Biden's first bilateral talks as president with an African leader, comes amid the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, one of Kenya's neighboring countries. The Biden administration has threatened to impose sanctions against certain individuals involved in the Tigray conflict. Mumbai, Oct 13 : Actor Rohit Bose Roy, who plays a junior lawyer in the upcoming relationship drama 'Sanak: Ek Junoon', gives an insight into how power jobs really do increase people's thirst for success. Rohit said: "I believe setting benchmarks and working towards a goal drives us to do better in our lives but when you are hungry for power and recognition, the stakes will always be high and how far one would go to achieve this success depends on their personal willpower, I'd say. Personally, I'm driven but not power hungry. During my preparation for the character, I found out that every lawyer has a personal style of delivery to intrigue the judge, so they also rehearse like actors." 'Sanak: Ek Junoon' is the story of making compromises by common people at certain times either in terms of their values or other principles to achieve the set target or goals in life. Like 'Ajay', a junior lawyer is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by his boss for which he must compromise on his values and part with what is dear to him. He adds: "My character is quite a driven junior lawyer who wants to reach the top. The higher you go on the corporate ladder, the more power you have. This power was offered to 'Ajay' at the cost of his morals, and he decides to tread on this slippery slope. I think once a person has tasted success, it's a heady addiction that can make you feel hungrier for it and at times, you don't know where to draw the line". Directed by Krishna Bhatt, this series has a talented star cast including Rushad Rana, Rishi Deshpande, Antara Banerjee, Amaara Sangam, Tasneem Ali and Harpreet Jatail in pivotal roles. 'Sanak: Ek Junoon' will start streaming from October 16 on MX Player. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Oct 13 : The global PC market saw annual growth drop to 5 per cent in Q3 2021, with shipments of desktops and notebooks, including workstations settling at 84.1 million units, according to a new Canalys report. Despite the reduction in growth, volumes remain at a remarkably high level, given how strong the industry performed in Q3 2020. As a result, the PC market has undergone a two-year CAGR of 9 per cent from Q3 2019. Despite high demand, PC business suffered a series of blows, making it extremely hard to facilitate supply. Vendors and channel partners are still having difficulty fulfilling orders as backlogs persist. Notebooks and mobile workstation shipments grew 3 per cent year-on-year to hit 67.4 million units, while shipments of desktops and desktop workstations rose 12 per cent to 16.6 million units. "The shortfall in supply of PCs is expected to last well into 2022, with the holiday season of this year set to see a significant portion of orders not met. Vendors able to manage this period of operational upheaval by diversifying production and distribution and having better visibility of orders to prioritize device allocation will be equipped to ride out the storm," Canalys senior analyst Ishan Dutt said in a statement. Of the top five PC vendors, all but one continued to post-shipment volume growth in Q3 2021. Lenovo led the market with 19.8 million units shipped, for a modest increase of 2.5 per cent year-on-year. HP maintained the second position, but underwent a 5.7 per cent decline, with a drop off in Chromebook shipments to the US playing a major role in the downslide. Third-placed Dell was the big winner, posting the highest growth at 26.7 per cent with over 15 million units shipped and a market share gain of over 3 per cent from a year ago. Apple and Acer rounded out the top five with healthy growth of 14.4 per cent and 5.7 per cent, respectively, with the former also enjoying a market share gain. Tripoli, Oct 13 : Libyan authorities have recovered 25 unidentified bodies from five newly discovered mass graves in the city of Tarhuna. Located some 90 km south of the capital Tripoli, Tarhuna was once the eastern-based army's main military operation center during the war against the former UN-backed government in and around Tripoli, Xinhua news agency reported. One grave contained 10 bodies, the second contained 9, the third contained 4, and each of the remaining two graves contained one body, the General Authority for Research and Identification said, adding that a search is underway for more mass graves in the city. A week ago, 10 unidentified bodies were recovered from two mass graves in Tarhuna. Since the beginning of the search in Tarhuna in June 2020, many mass graves containing dozens of unidentified bodies have been discovered in the city. The former UN-backed government accused the rival eastern-based army of mass killings in Tarhuna. Dakshina Kannada : , Oct 13 (IANS) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the decision regarding the relaxation of Covid restrictions in the state's border areas and on reopening of primary schools would be taken after a meeting with the expert committee. He was speaking to reporters at the Mangaluru Airport on Wednesday. He said that the experts are assessing the situation in the districts of Karnataka bordering Kerala and Maharashtra. A meeting would be held with the Covid expert committee soon after Dasara to discuss the situation and a decision on relaxing the restrictions in border districts would be taken. The decision will also be taken regarding the reopening of primary schools too, the CM added. Trials of Covid vaccination for children aged between 2 and 18-year-olds are in the final stage. Children and adolescents will be vaccinated soon. Karnataka is at the forefront of vaccination, the CM observed. Speaking about the cases and charge sheets filed against the public during the pandemic, the Chief Minister said that a decision will be taken to withdraw the cases after holding discussions with the police officials. Karnataka government has imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people from Kerala following the precarious Covid-19 situation in the state. The government has also restricted the movement of people, including students from Karnataka to Kerala also. Mogadishu, Oct 13 : The Somali government has rejected an African Union (AU) proposal for a joint mission with the United Nations (UN) to spearhead peacekeeping operations in the country. It said on Tuesday that the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) did not consider Somalia's views, including that of a joint technical team created to assess the best option for the country, Xinhua news agency reported. Mogadishu said it strongly disapproved of such arrangements, saying the pan-African body should have stuck with its original plan under the Somalia Transition Plan, instead of endorsing the AU-UN multidimensional stabilization mission in Somalia. "The federal government of Somalia expresses grave concern at the AUPSC continued disregard of Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence by repeatedly pursuing an agenda that undermines the agenda of the AUPSC and violates the basic rights of a member state," the Somali ministry of defence said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. Under the Somalia Transition Plan, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ensures that the Somali Police Force is adequately equipped in preparation to assume full responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country when AMISOM leaves in 2022. The Somali defence ministry statement came after the AUPSC endorsed the deployment of an AU-UN hybrid mission under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which would ensure predictable and sustainable multi-year financing for the future mission, through UN-assessed contributions. AMISOM, whose mandate is due to expire in 2022, is a peace support operation with nearly 20,000 forces on the ground, mainly from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti. Dakshina Kannada : , Oct 13 (IANS) Commenting on moral policing during his visit to Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that there should be morality in the society, for which "everyone shares the responsibility". Answering a query on a BJP legislator supporting a youth from a Hindu outfit who has been taken into custody by the police in a moral policing case near Mangaluru, Bommai said that moral policing is a sensitive issue. "We all should take responsibility in the society. There are certain feelings in the society, whi one should not hurt," he said. When these feelings are hurt, there will be actions and reactions in the society, he said. "So it becomes our duty to maintain harmony. We need everyone's cooperation in this. The youth will have to ensure that they don't hurt the feelings of the society," he said. "There should be morality in the society. Without morality, we cannot live, and everyone should take responsibility in this regard," he said. The opposition Congress has alleged that the ruling BJP has the habit of attacking women and then protecting the attackers. The Congress has also alleged that moral policing is continuing unabated in the state. Referring to the Bengaluru incident of moral policing, where youth belonging to a minority community had questioned a lady travelling with her Hindu colleague, the Congress said that Bommai and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who had immediately said that they don't tolerate moral policing, are not reacting to Hindu youth questioning girls seen with boys belonging to the minority community. The Congress had also tagged a photograph of BJP legislator Umapathy Kotyan and alleged that he had supported an accused who was taken into custody in a moral policing case in Mangaluru. Patna, Oct 13 : A Patna-based model was shot and injured by unidentified assailants right outside her home, police said on Wednesday. Anita Devi alias Mona Roy, 36, was shot at by two bike-borne assailants as she was parking her two-wheeler inside the house in Basant Colony under Rajiv Nagar police station at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday.A She sustained a gunshot injury in her hip and is under treatment in a private hospital. Anita, who worked under famous director Nitish Chandra in his programme "Miss & Mrs Global Bihar session 7", was returning home with her 12-year-old daughter when she was attacked. "As soon as they reached the house, her daughter opened the gate and went inside. Anita was about to enter when the two bike-borne assailants opened fire from behind. One of the bullets hit in the hip and she collapsed," said an investigating officer of Rajiv Nagar police station. "After hearing the gunshots, neighbours assembled and took her to the hospital. She is out of danger. We will arrest the accused soon," he said. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Members of the G-20 meeting in a virtual summit pledged to provide aid to the people of Afghanistan in a bid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in the war-torn country, Tolo News reported. The summit was hosted by Italy on Tuesday. Some members of the summit cited that provision of aids didn't indicate recognition of the "Taliban" government. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, said that her country is not ready to recognise the "Taliban". According to her, the Taliban have not met the international measures and expectations of the world, the report said. The US said that it would provide donation through aid organisations to the people of Afghanistan. Addressing the summit, US President Joe Biden also expressed concerns over the presence of armed groups such as ISIS-K or so-called Daesh group in Afghanistan. The European Union pledged to provide one million Euro in support of humanitarian donation to the country. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the international community emphasised on preservation of the human rights, particularly the rights of girls and women. The summit was not attended by the Presidents of China and Russia. This comes as earlier, the UN and humanitarian organisations had warned of triggering a severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. October 13 : Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khans bail plea hearing started in court on Wednesday. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday said to the court that the agency has learnt that Aryan Khan used to procure contraband from his friend Arbaaz Merchant, another accused in the case. Replying to Aryan Khan's bail plea, the NCB said, "The material collated during the investigation has primarily revealed the Aryan Khan has a role in so far as illicit procurement and distribution of contraband is concerned." The agency further said that Aryans case cannot be considered in isolation as these people are an integral part of a common threat which "cannot be separated or dissected from each other". NCB also said that the quantum of recovery from an individual becomes inconsequential in such a situation. The agency pointed out that all these people form a part of a larger chain, and their involvement in a conspiracy to commit illegal acts under Section 29 cannot be ruled out. While drug was not recovered from Aryan Khan, the agency recovered 6 gram of charas from Arbaaz Merchant. NCB further argued that the primary investigation revealed the Aryan Khan has a role in illicit procurement and distribution of contraband, which is of concern. They added that Aryan is in touch with people who are a part of international drug network for illegal procurement of drug. Aryan Khan and seven others were detained after an NCB raid on a cruise ship off-shore Mumbai on October 2. Later Aryan was arrested on October 3. Earlier in the day, SRKs manager Puja Dadlani filed an application before the court, requesting it to allow her in for hearing as Aryans representative. Earlier, a Mumbai court rejected Aryans bail plea, following which the case came up in the special court today. The Mumbai court magistrate rejected the plea on the ground that it did not have the jurisdiction to decide on the matter. Aryans lawyer Satish Maneshinde pointed out that the 23-year-old was falsely implicated and that the NCB has no grounds to keep him in custody since no psychotropic substances were recovered from his personal possession. New Delhi, Oct 13 : India hit out at China on Wednesday for questioning the recent visit of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the state is an integral and inalienable part of India. Naidu visited Arunachal Pradesh on October 9 and addressed a special session of the state assembly. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China has never recognised the state. "China's position on the boundary issue is consistent and clear. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader's visit to the area concerned," Zhao said. In response to a media query about Lijian's comments, India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: "We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India." He said Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. "Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," he said. Talking about the current situation at Line of Actual Control, Bagchi further stated that the current situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements. "Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues," he said. India and China have been engaged in border dispute for the last 17 months. Last week, India and China military talks to end border dispute did not result in resolution of the remaining disputed areas with the Chinese not agreeable to "constructive suggestions" provided by the Indian delegation. Further, the Chinese also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. "The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas," the Indian Army had said in a statement. So far, 13 rounds of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting have taken place since the border dispute. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chandigarh, Oct 13 : Lending his shoulder to the bier of the martyr, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi on Wednesday paid tributes to Sepoy Gajjan Singh, 26, who was cremated at his native village Pachranda in Nurpur Bedi in Ropar district with full military honours. Accompanied by Assembly Speaker K.P. Singh, the Chief Minister laid wreath and participated in the 'ardas'. Channi also accompanied the martyr's nephew and his father to lit the pyre of the braveheart who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in a gunfight with the terrorists in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir on October 11. Sharing his sympathies with members of the bereaved family, the Chief Minister said that Gajjan Singh's unprecedented sacrifice would ever inspire his fellow soldiers to perform their duties with utmost dedication and commitment to preserve the country's sovereignty and integrity. Married eight months ago, Sepoy Gajjan Singh was youngest of four brothers and had joined the army nine years ago. He got married in February and his picture in wedding attire, holding a farmer union flag, was widely circulated on the social media. The martyr is survived by his wife Harpreet Kaur and parents -- Charan Singh and Malkeet Kaur. Bengaluru, Oct 13 : In an embarrassing development for the Karnataka Congress unit, the video of two senior leaders of the party calling State Party President D.K. Shivakumar a collection agent and discussing commissions in government work went viral on social media on Wednesday. A furious state Congress has suspended Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) media coordinator Saleem Ahmad from the party for 6 years. Another senior leader and former Lok Sabha MP V.S. Ugrappa has been served a show-cause notice by the Disciplinary Committee of the Congress. The incident took place on the sidelines of a press conference organised at the Congress headquarters in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Both the leaders were heard talking about the recent IT raids on former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's close associates in Bengaluru. Before the commencement of the press conference, Ahmad was heard talking to Ugrappa even as the media mikes were on the dais. Unaware that the mikes were catching what he was saying, he began talking about Shivakumar in a whisper. Saleem Ahmad says it was eight per cent before, it is now 12 per cent. It is all DK's adjustment. This is a big scandal. Mulgund (Shivakumar's aide) has made Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore. If he can have this much, can you imagine how much money DK (Shivakumar) possesses, he is just a collection agent. Ahmad continues talking as Ugrappa nods his head and smiles. Shivakumar stutters while talking in public. The media asked him whether he is drunk to talk like that. Compared to him, Siddaramaiah's body language and spoken style are precise, he says. Ugrappa is heard saying that he is one of the people who made him (DK) the President of the party. Saleem Ahmad takes the names of Uppar, G. Shankar, Hanumantappa in the video. He also talks about Uppar constructing a house opposite the residence of S.M. Krishna, senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister. The video went viral and the ruling BJP lost no time in attacking the state Congress on how the party's senior leaders are ridiculing and levelling allegations against its President Shivakumar. Shivakumar said that it is an embarrassing moment for him and the party. He maintained that there is no connection between the allegations of the Congress leaders in the video and him. He said that the party is not divided and the disciplinary committee is going to take stringent action against them. Commenting on being called a person who stutters and looking like he was in an inebriated state while talking to the media, Shivakumar explained that he came from a rural background. "I have developed a style, body language, individuality, character and I have my success also," he said. Ugrappa later held a press conference and claimed that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are two eyes of the Congress. Throughout the conversation, I never said a word or made a comment against Shivakumar. Shivakumar is a pro-people leader and never indulged in percentage politics, he added. "Saleem Ahmad wanted to explain that BJP is conspiring to make allegations against Congress leaders regarding IT raids, I cut him short," he maintained. Washington, Oct 13 : In a first, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised electronic cigarettes to be sold in the US markets, citing their benefits in helping smokers quit. The agency issued marketing rights to three tobacco-flavoured products marketed by RJ Reynolds under the brand name Vuse, and said their benefits outweighed the risks of hooking youths. "The FDA issued marketing granted orders to RJ Reynolds (RJR) Vapour Company for its Vuse Solo closed ENDS device and accompanying tobacco-flavoured e-liquid pods, specifically, Vuse Solo Power Unit, Vuse Replacement Cartridge Original 4.8 per cent G1, and Vuse Replacement Cartridge Original 4.8 per cent G2," said the agency in a statement. In September, the agency had rejected more than 946,000 flavoured electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products, such as e-cigarettes and e-liquids, prohibiting them from being marketed or sold due to lack of sufficient evidence on health benefits. The new approval marks the first set of ENDS products ever to be authorised by the FDA. "The manufacturer's data demonstrates its tobacco-flavoured products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products -- either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption -- by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals," said Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The agency will, however, "monitor the marketing of the products, including whether the company fails to comply with any regulatory requirements. We will take action as appropriate, including withdrawing the authorization", Zeller added. Moreover, the agency found that study participants who used only the authorised products were exposed to fewer harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) from aerosols compared to users of combusted cigarettes. "The authorised products' aerosols are significantly less toxic than combusted cigarettes based on available data," the FDA said. "The FDA determined that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use, would outweigh the risk to youth," it added. The FDA has been investigating, for more than a year, whether the e-cigarettes were a benefit or a danger to public health. The agency had received applications for approval of some 6.5 million products. "The importance of the FDA authorising a vaping product as 'appropriate for the protection of public health' should not be understated," Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, an industry group, was quoted as saying to the New York Times. "Now that the FDA has acted, we are hopeful that adult consumers and health communicators will begin to understand the harm reduction benefits offered by these and other smoke-free products," he added. The FDA said it is also working on its plan to eliminate menthol cigarettes from the market, a prospect the tobacco industry is vigorously lobbying against. October 13 : Priyanka Chopra is currently in Spain, shooting for her espionage thriller Citadel. The actress had checked in earlier this month with her mom Madhu Chopra and her pet pooch Diana. Since she has arrived in Spain, The White Tiger actress has actively been sharing pictures from what she has described as her workcation. On Wednesday, Priyanka shared a picture on her Instagram stories, wherein the actress can be seen with her mom and pet pooch. The actress captioned the post as, "Site seeing with Madhu Chopra and Diana." She also shared a picture of her meal, and wrote, "The Spain food tour continues. #paellalife." Image Source: Instagram/priyankachopra Priyanka Chopra shared a picture of her meal Last week, the actress took out a day off from her busy schedule to relax with friends and her mom. The actress made the day off perfect as she enjoyed a yatch ride in Valencia. The Quantico actress shared a bunch of pictures, giving glimpses of her perfect day off. Priyanka was seen on a yacht in Valencia, Spain, swimming in the water, and chilling with friends and family. In one picture, Priyanka looked gorgeous in a yellow swimsuit, which she teamed with a cream summer hat. In another, she looked stunning in a red two piece. The photos also featured her mother, Madhu Chopra, costume designer Sara Sensoy, actor Osy Ikhile and her dog Diana. From riding a water boat to basking in the sun, Priyanka made every moment fun-filled. Priyanka has been working of Citadel for quite some time now. A multi-series with productions from India, Italy and Mexico, the show also stars Richard Madden and is directed by the Russo Brothers. Citadel will be Priyankas second project with Amazon Prime Videothe first one, the Sangeet Project, a sangeet-themed dance reality show, was announced earlier. Priyanka will host Sangeet Project with husband Nick Jonas. The actress will also be seen in Matrix 4. Recently, Farhan Akhtar has signed her along with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif for his forthcoming film, Jee Le Zaraa. New Delhi, Oct 13 : The Congress on Wednesday demanded the dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni for a free and fair probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that claimed eight lives. A Congress delegation, led by its former president Rahul Gandhi, and comprising leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, A.K. Antony and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday morning during which it put forth the demand. The Congress had sought time to meet Kovind on October 9, and it was given a 11.30 a.m. slot on Wednesday by Rashtrapati Bhavan. The delegation discussed in detail with the President the farmers' deaths in the violence, investigation into the incident, and pressed for the removal of Teni. After meeting Kovind, Kharge said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi were included in the delegation as they have met the victims' families. "We have sought the President's intervention in the matter and have submitted a memorandum," he said. The Wayanad MP added that the families of the victims are demanding justice and punishment to the guilty. The families are worried that they will not get justice as the father of the accused is a Union minister, Rahul Gandhi said. They demanded an inquiry into the incident by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. Priyanka Gandhi shared some concerns of the victims' families who said that till the time the alleged accused's father holds a minister's post, a fair probe cannot be expected. "If you are poor, and a woman, you cannot get justice, but if you are a BJP minister, the law of the land does not apply to you," she alleged. The grand old party has launched a country-wide agitation pressing for the removal of Teni. On Tuesday, Priyanka was present during the last rites of the victims of the violence. Eight people, including farmers and a journalist lost their lives in the violence. The incident occurred when one of the vehicles of the convoy of the UP Deputy CM and the union minister allegedly mowed down protesters who were agitating against the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Teni. A probe is underway and FIRs have been registered against many people. Hyderabad, Oct 13 : Telangana's ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will elect its President on October 25. TRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao announced on Wednesday that the party President will be elected at the general body meeting to be held at HICC in Hyderabad. A total of 14,000 party delegates from across the state will participate in the plenary. He pointed out that the plenary could not be held for last three years due to general elections and Covid-19 pandemic. However, the election is likely to be a mere formality as Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been getting elected unopposed as the party President since its inception. KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, floated the TRS on April 27, 2001 to revive the movement for separate state. After formation of Telangana in 2014, he has been heading both the government and the party. Rama Rao said TRS office secretary Professor Srinivas Reddy will be the returning officer while senior leaders P. Krishna Murthy and General Secretary S. Bharat will supervise the entire election process. The process of party President's election will begin on October 17 with the announcement of election schedule. The same day KCR will preside over the combined meeting of party's state legislators and MPs. The returning officer will start receiving nominations on October 17 while October 22 will be the last day for filing of nominations. The scrutiny of nominations will take place the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations will be October 24 while the election will be held on October 25. The same general body meeting will discuss various issues related to the state and pass the resolutions. Senior party leader and former Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary will be Chairman of resolution committee and he will decide what resolutions to be taken up. Rama Rao said a massive public meeting will be held at Warangal on November 15 to mark completion of two decades of the TRS and to highlight its achievements and the progress made by Telangana on all fronts under the TRS rule during last seven years. Lakhs of party members from across the state will participate in the public meeting titled 'Telangana Vijaya Grajana'. The party will hold preparatory meetings in all Assembly constituencies on October 27 to make preparations for November 15 public meeting. Rama Rao pointed out that the party recently completed organisational elections. Committees at village, mandal, ward, and division level have been constituted. After November 15, the TRS will inaugurate party offices in all the districts barring Hyderabad and Warangal. The party will subsequently organise training camps for its members. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Even as supplies of coal are being ramped up at power plants, supplies to non-power sector plants may be kept suspended. Southern Eastern Coalfields, a subsidiary of Coal India has finalised the supply matrix of coal rakes to critical power plants after a meeting held by the Coal Ministry. The power plants where coal rakes will be provided are Rajpura, HRVUNL, Kawai, Akaltara, Binjkote, DSPM, Pathad, Sabarmati, GSECL, Uchpanda, Annupur, Seoni, MPPGCL, Amrawati, Warora, Dhariwal, Tirora, NTPC, and Mahagenco. Since the supplies of SECL are yet to be normalised, the supply of coal will be done equitably to these power plants. "Supplies to non-power sector plants may be kept suspended till further information," the SECL said. Meanwhile, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has written to Coal India on the alarming situation for the industry due to critical coal shortage and urgency for immediate resumption of coal supplies for survival of domestic industry. Despite untiring efforts of the Coal Ministry and the CIL to support the industry, the current acute coal crunch due to various factors which has created an immensely precarious situation, majorly for the highly power intensive industries like aluminium wherein coal accounts for 40 per cent of the production cost. Aluminium smelting requires uninterrupted quality power supply for production which can be met only through in-house CPPs which operate 24/7 and 365 days, and have signed FSA (Fuel Supply Agreement) with the CIL and its subsidiaries for assured long term coal supply. The recent decisions for stoppage of secured coal supplies and rakes for non-power sector is detrimental for aluminium industry and will jeopardize the sustainability as these continuous process-based plants are not designed for adhoc shut down and start of operations. Any power outage/failure (2 hours or more) results in freezing of molten aluminium in the pots which will lead to shutting down of plant for at least 6 months rendering heavy losses and restart expenses, and once restarted, will take almost a year to get desired metal purity. Aluminium is a sector of strategic importance and an essential commodity for diversified sectors crucial for nation's economy. Huge investment of Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($20 billion) have been made to double the domestic production capacity to 4.1 mtpa to cater to the country's increasing demand. The industry employs one million people and has developed 4000 SMEs in downstream sector. "The entire industry has been brought to a standstill and left with no time to devise any mitigation plan to continue sustainable operations. The coal stocks of operational plants have depleted to alarmingly low critical stocks of 2-3 days, from the level as high as 15 days in the month of April, 21, and plants are forced to operate at reduced power generation with huge risk of closure with threat of loss of huge employment and deterioration of MSMEs," the AAI said. Moreover, the ongoing global aluminium shortage due to supply demand mismatch is also adding to the woes for industry with the current coal situation in India. Adding to the plight of industry, the exponentially rise in coal prices have created a double whammy as the global coal prices have gone up exponentially and are on an upward trend while the ocean freight rates are also at all-time high. October 13 : Salman Khan visited Shah Rukh Khans home Mannat yet again on Wednesday, as a special court was hearing Aryan Khans bail plea. The sessions court in Mumbai has adjourned the bail hearing of Aryan Khan in a drug bust case till Thursday noon. This means that Aryan will be taken back to Arthur Road Jail today. Shah Rukhs son Aryan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on October 3 in a drugs-related case. A special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act court heard the bail application of Aryan Khan and four others today. Salman was spotted in his car, dressed in a casual t-shirt and mask, entering Shah Rukhs house today. Earlier, on hearing Aryans arrest on October 3, the Tiger 3 actor was the first one to visit him. Aryan was detained from a cruise liner on drug charges on October 2. Salmans sister Alvira Agnihotri also visited SRK and Gauri. Salmans father Salim Khan has also visited Shah Rukh at his home. Once at Salmans game show Dus Ka Dum, Shah Rukh became emotional while talking about Salmans affection for him and his family. In the throwback video, which went viral recently, Shah Rukh was seen saying, If I am ever in any trouble more than that if my family is in trouble, then Salman would support them. Salman hugged Shah Rukh after hearing his this. Aryan Khan and seven others, who were detained on October 2, after the NCB raided a rave party aboard a luxury ship, Cordelia Cruise, were arrested the following day on October 3. They were first in NCBs custody and then in judicial custody for the past nine days. During the bail hearing in the court today, Aryan Khans lawyer, Amit Desai, said he was "not even on the cruise" raided by anti-drugs officers on October 2, so the allegation of drug trafficking against him is "absurd". The bail hearing will continue tomorrow. Amit Desai pointed out that NCB's raid had started when he had not even checked into the cruise and that he had neither used drugs nor was anything found on him. "The allegation of illicit trafficking is inherently absurd. This boy who has nothing, he was not even on the vessel. It is an absurd and false allegation," he said. Also, Aryan Khan "had no cash" when he was on the cruise ship so he could not have bought drugs, the lawyer added. New Delhi, Oct 13 : The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, will visit the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir on October 14-15, where he will celebrate Dussehra with army jawans in Drass. "On October 14, the President will perform Sindhu Darshan puja at the Sindhu Ghat in Leh. He will also interact with the troops at Udhampur in the evening," a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said on Wednesday. On October 15, the President will pay tributes at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass and interact with the officers and jawans, it added. Mumbai, Oct 13 : Choreographer Terence Lewis will be seen as a judge alongside Geeta Kapur and Malaika Arora on 'India's Best Dancer' Season 2. He says he literally has to be on his toes! In a candid conversation, Terence Lewis elaborates on the theme 'Best Ka Next Avatar' and talks about the bond he shares with actress Malaika Arora and Geeta Kapur on the show. "In 'India's Best Dancer 2' we are looking for the 'Best Ka Next Avatar'. These days, social media has created awareness about different dance styles and has even inspired people across the country to take up dance as a full-fledged profession. I feel people have realised how they can make themselves standout and that is why I believe that the 'Best Ka Next Avatar' is the most suitable title for Season 2," shares Terence. Terence is back on the judges' panel and he is quite happy about it as he says: "It feels amazing because last season was such a big hit and we had some wondrous talent. I would also say that I am certain that this season is going to get even better." Ask him about the challenges he faces as a judge on the show: "The toughest part is to keep yourself updated with the different styles that these budding dancers come up with. Each form, each pattern needs to be improvised, and the contestants make it even more special when they own it! "It's about the minor details - the training, landing, style, aesthetic, we as judges need to keep all this in mind as we watch them perform. It must be perfect in terms of technique and the viewing experience should also tick all the boxes. Current trends, songs and a lot more are what we as judges, need to consider. It comes with great responsibility and all three of us try our level best to ace it, every time." Terence shares his bonding with Malaika and Geeta on the dance reality show and adds: "Geeta and I have been best friends forever. Malaika was my student 20 years ago. Geeta and I have grown together in our careers and it feels very comfortable to share the tag of a co-judge with her and Malaika both. All of us share a wonderful bond and have a lot of fun. Sometimes the production people have to especially ask us to 'be calm'." Aizawl/Imphal, Oct 13 : After the rampant smuggling of drugs and guns from Myanmar, the Assam Rifles troopers have seized a huge quantity of poppy seeds in Mizoram after the contraband was illegally traded from across the border, officials said on Wednesday. Illegal poppy cultivation is going on in a few northeastern states to produce narcotic opium drugs. Assam Rifles sources told IANS that the para-military personnel accompanied by customs officials and acting on a tip off seized 140 bags of poppy seeds valued at around Rs 19 lakh from Tlangsam-Tyao road in Champhai district along the India-Myanmar border. An official statement said that the smuggling of poppy seeds is a major cause of concern for Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar border. In India, opium poppy cultivation is prohibited under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, except under a license issued by the Central Bureau of Narcotics under NDPS Rules, 1985. Smuggling of poppy seeds from neighbouring Myanmar is a new item in the rampant illegal trade in various drugs including heroin, opium, poppy straw, tablets and capsules (including Yaba or methamphetamine), ganja (marijuana), morphine, bottles of cough syrup. Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh recently announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for Peh (Paoyi) village in Ukhrul district in appreciation of the endeavour by the villagers to destroy poppy plantations. This was also reported from Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states. The states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam continue to reel under the drug menace with cultivation of poppy and ganja (marijuana) destroying the forests. With poppy and ganja gradually emerging as a major cash crop a section of people are illegally farming these for easy money. Ganja is also being clandestinely transported to other states in India. Forest officials said that according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), most northeastern states lost a major chunk of forest cover during the past two decades as illegal cultivation of various narcotic drugs is increasing. The Assam, Manipur and Tripura governments, which had launched a crusade against narcotics to make the states drugs-free, are also keen to wipe out the supply of drugs to other parts of India through the northeastern region. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the drugs smuggled into India originated from Pakistan and from across the borders along the northeastern states specially from Myanmar. To make the people aware about the drug menace, seized drugs worth Rs 170 crore were burnt publicly in Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Hojai and Nagaon districts of Assam recently. The seized narcotics included methamphetamine tablets and foreign origin cigarettes. The methamphetamine tablets, also commonly known as 'Yaba' or 'Party tablets' or 'WY' (World is Yours), is a synthetic drug, and is misused as a high-dosage drug among the people specially the youth in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, besides India. Officials said that the drugs specially the highly addictive methamphetamine contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and various other contraband and arms and ammunition were often smuggled from Myanmar which shares 1,643 km of unfenced border with four northeastern states -- Mizoram (510 km), Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km) and Nagaland (215 km). While Assam Rifles guard the India-Myanmar border, the Border Security Force (BSF) has been guarding the 1,880-km India-Bangladesh borders with four northeastern states of Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km) besides West Bengal (2216 km). (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Chandigarh, Oct 13 : All formalities related to the construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rewari district have been completed, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday. While sanctioning a separate budget, Khattar directed the Revenue and Disaster Management Department to start disbursing compensation to the farmers for providing land for the project. He directed the departments of Town & Country Planning and Development & Panchayats to complete the necessary works related to the project. While interacting with the farmers here, the Chief Minister said that he has given in principle approval for their main demand regarding sanctioning Rs 40 lakh per acre of land given to the government, and development of a commercial complex along with the AIIMS. The delegation of farmers expressed their gratitude to Khattar, Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh and state Cooperation Minister Banwari Lal for accepting their major demands. Due to the development of the area, most of the farmers have agreed to give land for the project. New Delhi, Oct 13 : India may require the third dose of Covid vaccine by the middle of next year, said eminent scientist and biochemist Prof G. Padmanaban, as breakthrough cases even after full vaccination have been prevalent, even though mostly mild. Prof. Padmanaban, who is Chancellor of Central University of Tamil Nadu and a Padma Bhushan recipient, said that his opinion of a third dose is based on "scientific understanding". "In an infection by the Delta variant, which is widespread, there is a six-eight fold drop in the potential of antisera from vaccines to neutralise the variant compared to the wild type (used for vaccination- spike or whole virus). "Nobody still has a clear answer to how long the protective antibodies will last, it has been variably estimated to be between six months and one year. If the virus has not weakened by itself, by that time, there is possibility for a re-infection," he said. As scientists' understanding of cell-mediated protection (cellular immunity and humoral immunity) is still evolving in the case of Covid, "a third dose (sometime mid to late next year) by mix and match, also gives an opportunity to give a different vaccine against the variant," he noted. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a vaccine breakthrough infection as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person more than 14 days after they have completed all recommended doses of an authorised Covid-19 vaccine. Globally, many studies and scientists have claimed that two-doses of a Covid vaccine are sufficient for preventing infection, hospitalisation and death by SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the Delta Covid variant, which has now spread to more than 185 countries, as per the World Health Organisation, renewed the debate for Covid boosters. Israel, which was one of the first countries to fully inoculate (two doses) the majority of its people, suffered badly due to the Delta variant. It again became one of the first countries to roll out a third dose for its citizens. "As far as the variants are concerned, the Delta variant is not the end of the story. The larger question is -- do we have the vaccine for every variant being created? Perhaps not. Thus, I feel that by the middle of next year, India may need the third dose of vaccine," Padmanaban, the former Director of Indian Institute of Science, said at a weekly health show by the New-Delhi-based HEAL Foundation. While many countries, including the US, the UK, France, Germany, have rolled out of Covid booster, India is still weighing the need for it. Scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have not approved a booster dose yet in India. For India, a booster dose is not the central theme at the moment and getting two doses remains the major priority, media reports quoted ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava as saying. Countries which rolled out boosters, first gave the third dose to the elderly, majorly above 70, and to people with weaker immune systems. However, the Indian experts state that there is no need for booster doses in India as enough study has not been done on the subject. Padmanabhan said: "It is essentially a case of demand and supply. We are still not able to make enough doses to vaccinate all above 18 years. We would need 1,500 mn doses (two jabs) for 75 crore population. We have only reached, perhaps, 25 per cent (two doses). "If this population has to be vaccinated by December, we need to make at least 300 mn doses per month." India currently has four vaccines: Covaxin, Covishield, Sputnik V and ZyCoV-D. However, Sputnik and Zydus Cadila's vaccine production needs "to be scaled up". The other two vaccines expected in India are a mRNA vaccine by Gennova Biopharma, a subsidiary of Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals, and a Recombinant RBD vaccine by Biological E, Hyderabad. "If all these become a reality, hopefully, we can vaccinate 75 crore population before March (two doses). Giving a third dose to above 70 can only then be considered. In the meanwhile, children aged 2-18 have become another segment. Public health experts have to decide," said Padmanaban. The 83-year-old scientist said in his opinion "the SARS-CoV-2 virus has weakened and even if there is a third wave it is likely to be mild". But the probability of SARS-CoV-2 visiting us every year, like the flu virus, can only be a "speculation" at this stage, he said. "This tiny virus has challenged the scientists, despite our claim of huge scientific and technological progress, a lesson in humility!" he said. (Rachel V. Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Oct 13 : Industry leaders on Wednesday slammed Amazon for allegedly manipulating search results to boost its own product lines in India which is one of largest growth markets for the e-commerce giant. A Reuters report, that scanned thousands of pages of internal Amazon documents, revealed that Amazon team in India "secretly exploited internal data from Amazon.in to copy products sold by other companies, and then offered them on its platform", and also "rigged Amazon's search results" so that the company's products would appear on top. Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that this should be duly probed by the Indian government. "@narendramodi Ji, it's astonishing that Govt agencies have not taken any cognisance or have asked #reuters to share the papers," he tweeted. The report alleged that among the victims of Amazon's anti-market practices was a popular shirt brand in India called John Miller that is owned by Kishore Biyani-founded Future Group currently embroiled in a legal battle with Amazon. "Amazon decided to 'follow the measurements of' John Miller shirts down to the neck circumference and sleeve length, the document states", according to the report. A spokesperson for Biyani's Future Group was quoted as saying in the report that "they (Amazon) are in a powerful position of being both an online marketplace operator and a seller and collector of data. This is leading to misuse of consumer and seller data giving them the power to kill Indian entrepreneurs and their brands". Amazon said in a statement that: "As Reuters hasn't shared the documents or their provenance with us, we are unable to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the information and claims as stated. We believe these claims are factually incorrect and unsubstantiated". Amazon has been at the centre of controversy in India after recent reports of bribery charges against its legal representatives and associated legal firms in the country. The company is also facing an inquiry by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over alleged anti-competitive practices and a parallel inquiry by Enforcement Directorate for violation of domestic laws. The Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGI) has also issued a show-cause notice to one of its subsidiaries, Cloudtail, for evasion of GST and indirect taxes. Amazon has also legally challenged Future Group's deal with Reliance Retail to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics, and warehouse businesses to Reliance Retail Ventures. According to CAIT, Amazon's clarification on legal professional charges is "a blatant lie in order to hide its illegal business practices and is inconsistent with the regulatory filings of Amazon and its group companies". In a letter to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, CAIT had said that Amazon has spent Rs 5,262 crore towards legal professionals. Further, even if one were to accept Amazon's clarification that the legal charges were merely Rs 52 crore, Amazon must clarify without delay to whom was the remainder, i.e. Rs 5,210 crore, was paid as professional charges, it said in the letter. "Amazon is hell bent on discrediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tireless efforts to protect small traders and safeguard their interests. Amazon's business practices have instead been destroying these very traders and have caused large scale unemployment in the sector. It is only expedient in public interest that an urgent and time-bound inquiry by the CBI must be ordered into Amazon India's self-admitted charges," CAIT said. Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, has reportedly initiated an investigation into the conduct of its legal representatives in India. "We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of improper actions seriously, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time," a company spokesperson had said in a statement. However, CAIT demanded: "It is also suggested that Amazon India's operations, in all forms, must be suspended before it does any more damage or resorts to any other financial irregularity. A strong example must be set here so that it proves to be a deterrent for Amazon and companies like it from taking Indian law and government agencies for granted." Last month, Panchjanya, a journal with RSS leanings, opened an attack on Jeff Bezos-founded Amazon, with a cover story calling it the second generation of the East India Company that entered India with business interests but ended up colonising the country for 200 years. The cover story with Bezos picture accused Amazon of indulging in corrupt practices after allegations of bribery surfaced against it. Mumbai, Oct. Oct 13 : Reliance Industries, which got drawn into the ZEEL-Invesco tussle by virtue of its February proposal to merge its media properties with Zee, said on Wednesday that it has never resorted to any hostile transactions and regretted being drawn into the dispute now. The statement came a day after the ZEEL board considered a note from the company's Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Punit Goenka, that talked about another merger deal being pushed by Invesco earlier in February that would have robbed shareholders of at least Rs 10,000 crore. It now appears that the Invesco facilitated merger proposal was that of RIL, which was looking to merge its media properties with Zee. "We regret our name being drawn into the dispute between Zee and Invesco. The reports in the media are not accurate," RIL said in a statement, giving the sequence of events that resulted in discussions between its representatives and Punit Goenka for a possible merger. "In February/March 2021, Invesco had assisted Reliance in arranging discussions directly between our representatives and Punit Goenka, member of the founder family and Managing Director of Zee. We had made a broad proposal for merger of our media properties with Zee at fair valuations of Zee and all our properties. The valuations of Zee and our properties were arrived at based on the same parameters. The proposal sought to harness the strengths of all the merging entities and would have helped create substantial value for all, including the shareholders of Zee," the RIL statement said. Goenka in his board note had said that that the Company's management team had informed the board that in their considered view, the valuation attributed to the entities belonging to the Strategic Group could have been inflated by at least Rs 10,000 crore. This would mean that had the proposed deal been approved, the shareholders of the company would have suffered a loss of Rs 10,000 crore. "Reliance always endeavours to continue with the existing management of the investee companies and reward them for their performance. Accordingly, the proposal included continuation of Mr Goenka as the Managing Director and issue of ESOPs to management, including Mr Goenka," the RIL statement said. "However, differences arose between Mr Goenka and Invesco with respect to a requirement of the founding family for increasing their stake by subscribing to preferential warrants. The investors seemed to be of the view that the founders could always increase their stake through market purchases," the statement added, suggesting that the company did not proceed further with its proposal as it respects all the founders and has never resorted to any hostile transactions. Mumbai, Oct 13 : Pooja Hegde, who now awaits the theatrical release of her upcoming film, 'Most Eligible Bachelor', is receiving praise from south Indian filmmakers for her performance. The makers of the film arranged for a pre-release function. After watching the film, producer Dil Raju said, "We've first seen glamour in Pooja but slowly she started working on her character and by working on it she became a super performer. Being glamorous and a performer - very few heroines have this and Pooja did that in this movie." Producer Allu Aravind said, "Pooja, my love as ever, though you've done it (performed well) in my films and though you've done it before, the best you did in this ('Most Eligible Bachelor'). I could not stop myself and I approached you and informed you that I liked your performance." Filmmaker Hari Shankar, Bommarillu Bhaskar, Bunny Vasu, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni were among those who spoke highly of the actress at the event. Her upcoming projects include Thalapathy Vijay's 'Beast', Salman Khan's 'Bhaijaan', 'Cirkus' opposite Ranveer Singh, 'Acharya' with Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan, 'Radhe Shyam' opposite Prabhas and 'SSMB28' opposite Mahesh Babu. New Delhi, Oct 13 : There is more turmoil in the offing for the Uttarakhand BJP unit after the exit of Yashpal Arya and his son. Sources say that next month more BJP leaders are in the queue to join the Congress, but the party is weighing their utility in the upcoming elections. The Congress leadership is directly taking specific inputs from the state leaders. Congress leaders are not taking names but reportedly two BJP MLAs with a RSS background are ready to switch sides in the state. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat claimed that MLAs from the BJP camp are in touch with the party leaders. Rawat wants a public apology from the leaders who quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2016 but the Congress leadership is in talks with these leaders who now want to join the party. A sharp reaction came from Uttarakhand Minister Harak Singh Rawat who countered Harish Rawat, asking whether Yashpal Arya has apologized or regretted his statement. The Congress has got a big boost ahead of the elections as Arya is a prominent Dalit leader in Uttarakhand. He was holding the Excise, Transport and Social Welfare ministry. His joining will help the Congress as the state has a sizeable population of Dalits. Arya was earlier with the Congress and is the tallest Scheduled Caste leader in the state from Kumaon region. Congress General Secretary and Chairman of the Campaign Committee Harish Rawat, who has been pivotal in the whole operation, said that the Congress morale is high in the state after Arya came back to the party fold. Uttarakhand goes to the polls next year and the Congress is the main opposition party in the state. With many BJP leaders joining the Congress, which was on shaky ground due to the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party in the state, it is likely to be strengthened. Moreover, the internal rift within the party will also subside, the party claimed. New Delhi, OCt 13: Indian Army chief General MM Naravane's five-day visit to Sri Lanka has reinforced New Delhi's commitment to Colombo as "Priority One" partner in defence relations. The two nations are also looking at cooperating over regional security issues. Earlier this year, the Indian High Commission had described Sri Lanka as its "Priority One" partner in the defence sphere as the two nations celebrated the 70th anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). India had participated in the grand event with a large number of aircraft from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The Indian and Sri Lankan armies are currently holding a 12-day military exercise. In signs of rising defence cooperation between the two nations, the navies of the two countries had jointly held exercises last month. The Sri Lankan navy had also held military exercises with the Japanese navy last week. Sri Lankan newspaper The Island says that Naravane, "would also witness Exercise Mitra Shakti, one of the largest bilateral military exercises in the region. He would also participate in Gajaba Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. The General is also scheduled to deliver a talk at DSCSC, Batalanda and interact with students and faculty." On his second day in Sri Lanka, the Indian army chief met Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gen Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and General Shavendra Silva for strengthening defence ties between the two nations. Naravane also paid tributes to the fallen Indian soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Gulbin Sultana--Research Analyst at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), told India Narrative that, "Sri Lanka has realised that it cannot ignore India. It is definitely making efforts to shore up its relations with New Delhi." Sultana adds that this may not necessarily mean that Sri Lanka is completely moving away from China. "Sri Lanka is facing a major economic and foreign exchange crisis. It needs assistance and it has realised that it cannot cut itself off from the world and depend upon China alone for its needs". Just a few days back Sri Lanka gave the contract for the Western Container Terminal to an Indian firm at the all-important Colombo Port, marking an end to a stretched out controversy that involved investments from India, Japan and China. Similarly, in September it signed a deal with a US energy company to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal near Colombo. There has been a distinct change in Sri Lanka's foreign policy perceptions over the last few months as it inches closer to India and tries to extricate itself from China's clutches. Relations with China have resulted in a debt-trap for Colombo as it could not pay off the infrastructure loans for the Hambantota Port resulting in China taking over the port on lease for 99 years. Sultana says: "Colombo is reaching out to India, USA and the European Union (EU). It has begun to understand that the US and EU are big export markets, therefore, it cannot afford to isolate itself". Colombo is restoring its relations with democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region for economic support and military ties. Naravane will also call on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the defence secretary, the foreign secretary and senior defence officers. The army chief's visit comes on the heels of foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's visit to Sri Lanka last week when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured India that Colombo will not act in a fashion that is detrimental to India's interests. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Patna, Oct 13 : Rebellious RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav is facing the heat within the party these days. On Wednesday, former Rashtriya Janata Dal MP from Vaishali Rama Singh said that if Tej Pratap either stays or goes outside the party, it will not affect any leader of the party. Rama Singh visited the local Vidupur market for a private event where he spoke to reporters about Tej Pratap Yadav. "The RJD will win both the seats in the upcoming by-elections in Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. The people of Bihar are with Tejashwi Yadav. Due to his sharp leadership, RJD candidates will come out tops on result day," Singh said. Earlier, RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwari declared that Tej Pratap is not in the party. Despite facing criticism, Tej Pratap is not in a mood to step back. He has announced he will start a LP (Lalu Prasad) movement in Bihar similar to the JP (Jai Prakash) movement. His family has made efforts to bring back Tej Pratap Yadav into the party. His mother came to Patna on Monday evening and went to his official residence but he refused to meet her. It will be interesting to see when his father Lalu Prasad comes to Patna for the by-elections campaign. Moscow, Oct 13 : Russia's Sputnik Light vaccine, as a Covid booster shot, is over 83 per cent effective against infection and over 94 per cent against hospitalisation, according to a new study released on Wednesday. The one-shot vaccine, when administered alone, demonstrated 70 per cent efficacy against infection from the Delta variant of Covid during the first three months after vaccination. The vaccine was also found to be 75 per cent effective among people under the age of 60, said a statement from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) and the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. "Sputnik Light is safe and highly effective when used both on a standalone basis and when combined with other vaccines. The vaccine provides flexibility in immunising the population, contributing to the formation of primary immunity and effective re-vaccination for recipients who originally received a different vaccine," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), in the statement. "Taking into account its high safety and efficiency, Sputnik Light can become the best universal booster shot globally," he added. Gamaleya Center has published the study on the preprint server medRxiv, meaning not peer-reviewed yet. The analysis was conducted based on data from 28,000 participants who had received a single dose of Sputnik Light, compared with a control group of 5.6 million individuals who were not vaccinated. The data used in the study was collected in July 2021 in Moscow. The study also showed that Sputnik Light has demonstrated superior efficacy compared with some two-shot vaccines, which have shown a major decline in efficacy against the Delta variant to less than 50 per cent five months after injection. Standalone use of Sputnik Light also provides much higher efficacy against severe disease and hospitalisations. "The efficacy results of the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine against the Delta variant of coronavirus significantly outperform those of a number of two-shot vaccines," Dmitriev said. The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on the human adenovirus serotype 26, the first component of Sputnik V - the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. It has been authorised in more than 15 countries with the registration process ongoing in a further 30 countries. In India, Sputnik Light will be produced by Pune-based Serum Institute of India. RDIF has partnered with more than 10 countries (China, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, Argentina, Serbia, Turkey, etc.) for the Sputnik Light jab. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Brussels, Oct 13 : The World Steel Association (WSA) on Wednesday said that it has elected JSW Steel Chairman and Managing Director Sajjan Jindal as its Chairmanfor the 2021-22 period. With this, Jindal becomes the first representative from India to serve as Chairman of the WSA. Jindal addressed the board members of WSA thanking his predecessor Yu Yong for his capable chairmanship over the last two years and noting the challenges for the global industry going forward, particularly with respect of climate change. WSA acts as the focal point for the steel industry, providing global leadership on all major strategic issues impacting the industry, particularly focusing on economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Its members represent approximately 85 per cent of the world's steel production, including more than 160 steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations and steel research institutes. Established in 1967, it is one of the largest industry representations in the world, and is headquartered in Brussels. Eengaged in the manufacturing of iron and steel products in India and across the globe, JSW Group's flagship JSW Steel is India's leading and one of the world's most efficient integrated steel-makers. The company is executing expansion projects to reach a steelmaking capacity of 37.5 MTPA by FY2025, including 1.5 MTPA capacity in the US and entities under joint control, from 18 MTPA as of FY2021. The company has a goal of reaching 45 MTPA steelmaking capacity by FY2030. JSW Steel is also investing in R&D for sustainable products and controlling emissions, improving resource consumption, making processes efficient, and ensuring multi-pronged digital focus, helping improve existing practices. It has issued the global steel industry's first sustainability-Linked US dollar bond in 2021, linked to its decarbonisation target for 2030. Established in 1982, the company primarily produces hot-rolled and cold-rolled coils. It provides colour-coated products, thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars, wire rods, and special alloy steel products. These products are used in automotive, general engineering, machinery, projects, and construction applications. These products serve the domestic market, and are exported to more than 100 countries. Kunming : , Oct 13 (IANS) The High-Level Segment of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15) closed on Wednesday with the adoption of the Kunming Declaration in this Chinese city, where over 100 nations committed to develop, adopt and implement an effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework on a path to recovery by 2030 at the latest. They also decided towards the full realisation of the 2050 vision of "Living in Harmony with Nature." Critically, the framework would also include provision for the necessary means of implementation, in line with the convention and its two protocols, as well as appropriate mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and review. The landmark post-2020 global biodiversity framework is due to be adopted at part two of the UN Biodiversity Conference in May 2022, following further formal negotiations in January 2022. The declaration gives clear political directions for those negotiations. The declaration addresses the key elements needed for a successful post-2020 framework: The mainstreaming of biodiversity across all decision-making; phasing out and redirection of harmful subsidies; strengthening the rule of law; recognising the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring an effective mechanism to monitor and review progress, among others. The High-Level Segment opened on October 12 with the announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping setting the tone by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about $230 million) to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity protection in the developing countries. Xi also invited other countries to contribute. Accordingly, the government of Japan extended its Japan Biodiversity Fund by 1.8 billion yen (about $17 million). During the meeting, the Global Environment Facility, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), announced its commitment to fast-track immediate financial and technical support to developing country governments to prepare for the rapid implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework once it is formally agreed next year at COP-15. The commitment from Japan to extend its funding will provide support for national biodiversity strategies and action plans. The European Union noted the doubling of external funding for biodiversity. French President Emmanuel Macron noted the commitment for 30 per cent of climate funds to be used for biodiversity. Great Britain and Northern Ireland also announced that a significant part of their increased climate funding will be directed towards biodiversity. A coalition of financial institutions, with assets worth 12 trillion euros, committed to protect and restore biodiversity through their activities and investments. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said, "The adoption of the Kunming Declaration is a clear indication of the worldwide support for the level of ambition that needs to be reflected in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be finalized next spring in Kunming. "I also want to congratulate President Xi for the establishment of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and look forward to more financial and technical commitments in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and its implementation." Hyderabad, Oct 13 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh uttered a lie that it was on Mahatma Gandhi's request that Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British. Owaisi, a member of the Lok Sabha from Hyderabad, disputed Singh's claim in a series of tweets. "Here's the letter to Savarkar from Gandhi. No mention of petition to British begging for leniency, mercy & promising to be a faithful servant of the crown," wrote Owaisi while tagging the letter dated January 25, 1920 as published in 'The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi'. The president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) pointed out that Savarkar wrote the first petition in 1911, just 6 months after going to prison. Gandhi was then in South Africa. Savarkar wrote again in 1913/14. Gandhi's advice is from 1920. "Is it a lie that this "Veer" rejected tricolour & wanted Bhagva as our flag?," asked the MP. "In your speech yesterday, you mentioned that Savarkar defined Hindu as anyone for whom India was fatherland or motherland. However, Savarkar, as a man of limited intellectual prowess had actually defined Hindu as someone for whom India was fatherland AND holy land," Owaisi wrote. "In his view, India was not the holy land for Muslims & Christians and so they couldn't be fully loyal to India. What is your view on this as Defence Minister? Do you subscribe to this theory?," he asked the minister. Owaisi demanded that whoever wrote this speech for Singh should be fired, saying it's not good to have advisers who have a Savarkarite relationship to truth. Earlier, Singh hailed Savarkar as a staunch nationalist and India's first military strategist in the 20th century. He also stated that people from the Marxist and Leninist ideology wrongly accuse him of being a fascist. Speaking at an event to release a book on Savarkar, Singh described him as a 'national icon' and said he gave the country a 'robust defence and diplomatic doctrine' Meanwhile, Owaisi told reporters that the BJP and the RSS are giving a message to the country that the day is not far when Savarkar will be declared Father of the Nation in place of Mahatma Gandhi. Owaisi said as a MP it was painful for him to see Savarkar's portrait opposite the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in the Central Hall of Parliament. He said Rajnath Singh uttered a lie when he stated that Savarkar wrote mercy petitions on Gandhi's advice. He pointed out that Gandhi believed in going to jail as a non-violent way of protest. "Savarkar wrote mercy petition in eight months after being sent to Kaala Paani. Why others who were imprisoned did not write mercy petitions," he asked. On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement praising Savarkar, Owaisi said it has become Bhagwat's habit to utter 'half-truths' and 'full lies'. He asked the RSS chief if he would deny that Sardar Patel had stated that the financial wing of the Hindu Maha Sabha which used to work under Savarkar assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. "Will he also deny that Justice Kapoor Commission of Inquiry in its report said that Savarkar was complicit in Mahatma Gandhi's assassination?" Owaisi asked. The AIMIM leader disputed Bhagwat's claim that Savarkar was not an enemy of Muslims. He cited Savarkar's statement that only Hindus are true nationals of this country. He alleged that Savarkar was a believer in fascism and Nazism. Hyderabad, Oct 13 : Hyderabad's Nehru Zoological Park will get two pairs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos from Japan. Nehru Zoological Park Curator V.V.L. Subhadra Devi announced on Wednesday that they will be a part of the Zoo family in the coming months. The kangaroos will come from Japan's Yokohama Zoo. The curator made the announcement when Hyderabad-based Gland Pharmaceutical Ltd came forward to donate Rs 20 lakh for the construction and maintenance of the kangaroo enclosure at the Nehru Zoological Park. Gland Pharmaceutical Ltd's CSR head, Raghuram, and CSR members P. Sampath Kumar, and Swathi visited the zoo and presented the cheque. The work for the enclosure will be taken up during 2021-22. Later, Raghuram and his team members, along with the zoo officials, visited all the animal enclosures and appreciated their maintenance and upkeep. They further promised to continue their support in the financial year 2022-2023. Subhadra Devi thanked Raghuram and other officials of Gland Pharmaceuticals for showing a great gesture towards the development and maintenance of the kangaroo enclosure. She said that in this pandemic season, this contribution will be very helpful in development of infrastructure like animal moats without compromising the development of the zoo due to paucity of funds. She appealed to all the citizens and corporates to come forward to adopt the animals and take part in the conserving the wildlife in the zoo. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Tata Motors led the Tata group stocks in a blistering rally which catapulted the Sensex and Nifty to new highs on Wednesday. Tata Motors alone was up by Rs 88.85. Overall for the Group, the acquisition of Air India obviously acting as a catalyst but there are other triggers too. Tata Power stocks were up due to: Excess Demand for Electricity due to coal shortage Increase in spot price of power being traded at Rs 20/block on IEX Tie up with Tata Motors and Morris Garage for and JLR for EV infrastructureTata Chemical was up due to: Being major chemical producer for battery in the EV segment Tata Investment was up due to: Represents overall Tata group The recent acquisition of Air IndiaTata Teleservices gained due to: The positive sentiment of overall Tata GroupTata Coffee was up due to: Bullish price patterns * Forming higher highs and lowsGeojit Financial Services Chief Investment Strategist V.K. Vijayakumar said: "The hallmark of today's record breaking moves by the Sensex and Nifty is the surge in Tata stocks led by Tata Motors and strongly supported by Tata Consumer, Tata Chemicals and Tata Power. Surge in a heavyweight like Tata Motors by more than 20 per cent in a day is extremely rare. But this surge is backed by positive news of massive investment of Rs 7,500 crore by TPG." Kotak Securities' Deputy Vice President - Fundamental Research, Arun Agarwal, said the TPG group will invest Rs 75 billion in Tata Motors EV subsidiary and the newly-formed subsidiary will invest in expanding product offerings. Tata Motors will aggressively launch new products in EV space over the next five years. Tata Motors would be looking at leveraging its group companies to accelerate EV adoption. Favourable government policies and further decline in battery prices can rapidly accelerate electrification in the passenger vehicle industry. Tata Motors can establish itself as a formidable player in the EV space in India. Proficient Equities Founder and Director, Manoj Dalmia, said Tata Power stock was up due to excess demand for electricity due to coal shortage, the tie-up with Tata Motors and Morris Garage and JLR for EV infrastructure. Giving reasons for the rise in Tata stocks, Dalmia said Tata Chemicals is the major chemical producer for batteries in the EV segment. Tata Investment represents overall Tata group and in addition, there is the recent acquisition of Air India. The inflow of funds as well as strong demand and product tailwinds of various Tata Group products boosted sentiment, Dalmia said. San Francisco, Oct 13 : Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space venture Blue Origin has blasted off its second human flight to space, with the original Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk (actor William Shatner) onboard, the company said. The lift-off took place a little after 9 a.m. CDT (7.30 p.m. India time) from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in Texas. "Liftoff! #NewShepard has cleared the tower with astronauts on board for the second time. #NS18," the company tweeted. The launch marks New Shepard's 18th mission, and the second crewed flight to space. The NS-18 is carrying four astronauts to space and back: Shatner, who will be the oldest man ever to travel to space, former NASA engineer Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, co-founder of software company Medidata, and Audrey Powers, Vice President of missions and flight operations. The mission will last nearly 10 minutes. The fully automated and reusable New Shepard rocket will fly beyond the Karman line, 100 km above the ground and the internationally recognised boundary of space where the passengers can experience 3-4 minutes of microgravity. The five-storey tall New Shepard rocket, named after the first American in space Alan Shepard, is designed to launch a crew capsule with seats for six roughly 340,000 feet into the sky toward the edge of space. The booster is topped by a gumdrop-shaped Crew Capsule with space for six passengers inside and large windows. After reaching the Karman line, the capsule will detach from the booster, allowing those inside to view the curvature of the earth and experience weightlessness. The booster and capsule will then land separately, with the capsule landing in the west Texas desert with the help of parachutes. The space flight was initially scheduled for launch on Tuesday, but got delayed due to unfavourable weather. "#NewShepard is go for launch! The mission team has completed the Flight Readiness Evaluation prior to #NS18. This is our final meeting with the engineers and Mission Control team to ensure all systems are go for launch," the company said on Twitter on Wednesday prior to launch. "Forecasted winds at launch have subsided and weather currently looks good for Wednesday," it added. On July 20, Blue Origin successfully carried its first human flight which included Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and Blue Origin's first customer, Oliver Daemen. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari on Wednesday asked Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi to oppose the Ministry of Home Affairs notification for enhancement of the Border Security Force operational mandate in Punjab. Manish Tewari said in a tweet ,"MHA Notification enhancing operational mandate of BSF, 15 to 50 KM's in Punjab, West Bengal & Assam transgresses upon Constitutional Public order & Policing remit of States Half of Punjab will now fall under BSF jurisdiction @CHARANJITCHANNI must oppose it ". As per reports, the notification issued this week by the MHA extends the operational mandate where the BSF has powers of search, seizure and arrest under the NDPS Act, Customs Act and Passport Act to a 50 km-belt in some states including Punjab. Tewari added that, "Mischievous part of Section 139 of BSF Act or of any cognizable offence punishable under any other Central Act; ..'It allows GOI to institutionalise an alternative policing paradigm. Was Punjab Govt consulted?" Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968, empowers the Centre to notify the area and extent of the border force's operational mandate, from time to time. The addition of an extra 35-km stretch to the BSF's mandate could lead to a political storm in Punjab and Bengal which are ruled by non-BJP parties. The Congress leaders from Punjab are the first to oppose the move. The Hague, Oct 13 : Dutch prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday the arrest of a 22-year-old man from Amsterdam in July for planning an assassination attempt on caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The confirmation came after a report in newspaper de Volkskrant disclosing the arrest. The man, named Yavuz O., is said to have posted inflammatory messages in public Telegram groups. According to the indictment, he talked about "storming the parliament," "letting that damn gang bleed" and "shooting Rutte when he goes outside on his bicycle", the Xinhua news agency reported. The suspect is also said to have been looking for a weapon. He posted the messages between Dec. 9, 2020 and July 15, 2021, when one day later he was arrested by the police. A hearing with the suspect is scheduled for next week at the court in The Hague. He is charged with three counts: incitement to a terrorist offence, gathering intelligence in preparation for such a crime and threatening with a terrorist offence. The man's arrest in July is believed to have no connection with the arrests of nine terror suspects in Eindhoven on Sept. 23. The nine were arrested on suspicion of preparing and training for a terrorist attack. According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, they may have plotted an attack on Rutte and right-wing politicians Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet. The newspaper reported that following the arrests in September, Rutte had received extra security. New Delhi, Oct 13 : India's Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister, Bhupender Yadav, on Wednesday said equity and climate justice are touchstones of any global climate response. "The need of the hour is a comprehensive set of actions within socio-economic and developmental context to deal with the issue of climate change. Concrete actions are needed in terms of cooperation between all countries, especially the developed countries taking a lead in climate actions through mitigation, adaptation and providing support to developing countries in terms of climate finance, capacity building and technology transfer," he said at the 'National Conference on COP26 Charter of Actions' organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Stating that mechanisms such as long-drawn strategies and global stock-taking have to duly account for adaptation, finance, technology, and equity consideration, Yadav said: "Concerted actions are needed in terms of cooperation between all countries especially with developed countries taking a lead in climate action through mitigation, adaptation and providing support to developing countries in terms of climate finance, capacity building and technology transfer." India has repeatedly called developed countries to fulfil their promise of $100 billion each year. "In this regard, COP26 should focus on climate finance, its scope, scale, and speed, along with development, transfer of technology and capacity building support," he said, adding, "I am hopeful of a successful balanced outcome of COP26." He also listed out the several steps that India has taken in multiple fields, including the ambitious National Hydrogen Mission. TERI had organised the the conference, with the support of the British High Commission, among others. The 'Charter of Actions', a knowledge document prepared by TERI, was released to facilitate dialogues and discussions around raising climate ambition at the national and global level. It assimilates questions and challenges concerning key themes for India such as equity, green finance, adaptation and resilience, nature-based solutions, energy, clean transport, and business and industry. TERI Director General Dr Vibha Dhawan said: "Successful climate negotiations in COP26 will further our fight against climate change." Counsellor, Economics and Prosperity at the British High Commission, Natalie Toms, said: "The UK and India are working together to tackle climate change under the UK-India Roadmap agreed by our Prime Ministers in May." Former climate negotiator and Distinguished Fellow Emeritus, TERI, Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, said, "From a purely practical point of view, equity considerations apart, there can be no magical year in which every country, individually, whether it is one of the most affluent ones or a developing country, can achieve net-zero in 2050." Former Ambassador and Distinguished Fellow, TERI, Manjeev Puri, summarised the discussions at the conference, as he said: "India needs to act and can become a global leader but at the same time, needs to protect its policy space. For a large developing country like India, a level playing field for international response is crucial." Chennai, Oct 13 : Tamil Nadu Police's CB-CID has got one day custody of DMK leader and Cuddalore MP, T.R.V.S Ramesh, who is the accused in a case related to the murder of his cashew factory worker. Cuddalore's Chief Judicial Magistrate, N. Prabakar on Wednesday granted one day custody of Ramesh, who, along with five factory employees, is accused of murdering K. Govindarasu, 60, and directed the CB-CID to produce him before it on Thursday noon. The CB-CID, which is investigating the case after the deceased's family alleged that they won't get justice from the Kadampulliyur police, had sought two-day custody of Ramesh but the court allowed only one day. According to the FIR registered by the Kadampulliyur police, Govindarasu was allegedly tortured to death by Ramesh and other workers for stealing 7 kg of cashew from the factory. Govindarasu was brought to the local police station on September 19 evening by two workers of the cashew factory, Kandavelu, and Shanmugham, who complained that he had stolen 7 kg of cashew from the factory. On finding that the accused was bleeding from the mouth, police directed the two to take him to the hospital and bring him back. However, they went back to the factory and on September 20 morning, Govindarasu was found dead in the premises of the factory. While the cashew factory management, including Ramesh, claimed that he committed suicide, the family alleged that he was killed by the MP and his accomplices. Ramesh was on the run and PMK leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss had called upon the police to immediately arrest him or he would tamper with the evidence. He surrendered before the court on Monday. New Delhi, Oct 13 : IT major TCS will encourage employees to join offices by the end of calendar year 2021. At present, about 5 per cent of the IT major's associates are working from offices. "Towards the end of CY'21, we will encourage our associates to return to offices, at least initially, before we switch to the '25/25' model. This will be done in a phased and flexible manner and will depend on respective team leaders and the requirements of each team or project. "We are committed to the 25/25 model but before transition to the model, we need to start by getting people back to office and gradually evolve to 25/25," the TCS said. Under the model, by 2025, no more than 25 per cent of the company's employees will need to work from the office at any given point, and an employee will not need to spend more than 25 per cent of their time in office. As a preparation for coming back to office, the IT major has requested employees to plan to get back to their deputed location (their base branch) by November 15. "The return to office will be a calibrated move taking employee safety to consideration." According to the company, the '25/25' model is an important design element, and will take a couple of years to mature. "Hybrid models of work are here to stay. In the new 'Future Of Work', both the physical office and remote working will play an integral part. Eventually, everybody will have to come to office for a period and at the same time, they will have the flexibility to work from home. At the end, whatever we do, it will be fully taking into consideration, employees' safety, health, and well-being." Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 : The Kerala cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Wednesday decided to order a vigilance probe against 86-year-old former Congress Minister Aryadan Mohammed and sought sanction of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The complainant in the case was Saritha Nair, one of the key accused in the 2014 solar scam which had rocked the then Oommen Chandy-led Congress government and led to a massive campaign by Vijayan, ending in the rout of the Congress-led UDF in the 2016 Assembly polls. Nair's petition accused Mohammed, the then state Electricity Minister, of misusing his official capacity and taking Rs 4 million as bribe. The issue was taken up by Vijayan and since Mohammed is a former Minister, sanction for the probe has to be obtained from the Governor. Incidentally, this fresh case comes soon after the CBI registered cases against Chandy, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and and party MPs Hibi Eden, and Adoor Prakash, party state legislator A.P. Anilkumar and BJP national Vice President A.P.Abdulla Kutty on a complaint by Nair that she was sexually exploited by these leaders. Like in the present case against Mohammed, Nair had raised a complaint with Vijayan, who handed over it to the CBI. Nair and her then live-in partner went around selling solar schemes and collected money from several people but cheated them. After her links with a few office staffes of Chandy surfaced, it became the biggest campaign issue of the Left. Incidentally, a few months back, Nair was jailed in another cheating case registered against her. New Delhi, Oct 13 : Stating that India and European Union's collaboration represents aspiration of two billion people, India's Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday called for reinforcing their strategic partnership and developing a shared approach at the multilateral level to address global challenges. At a meeting with a European Union delegation, led by Ambassador Ugo Astuto, he expressed happiness that the India-EU Science & Technology Agreement has been renewed recently for a period of five years. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's exhortation that the ultimate aim of all scientific endeavour is to bring "Ease of Living" for common man, Singh said that both India and the EU must deepen cooperation in the areas such as health, agriculture, water, renewable energy, biotechnology, electric mobility, ICT, AI, robotics, and environment. India is engaged in development of platforms for high-level engagement of countries for clean energy transition, especially in the wake of climate change challenges, he added. Noting that the European Union has recently launched "Horizon Europe (2021-2027)", which is a planned seven-year scientific research initiative, and is approaching Indian scientific agencies for its participation in Horizon Europe, he said that India is willing to participate in this programme provided some of the concerns on issues related to IPR sharing, scope of the joint call, signing of a model grant agreement, and joint evaluation are addressed at the satisfaction of both the sides. Both sides agreed that IPR, data-sharing and materials/equipment transfer would be done as per relevant provisions in India-EU S&T Agreement and principles and policies of IPR. A joint panel will be created to draft the IPR and data sharing mechanisms. In his remarks, Astuto called for deepening people-to-people contact, apart from focusing on areas like clean energy, genome sequencing, marine protected areas in Antarctica and collaboration on research using high-performance computing. The EU Ambassador also thanked Singh for India's support for protecting the Antarctic environment by co-sponsoring the EU's proposal for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) recently. Jaipur, Oct 13 : Amid the much-awaited cabinet expansion and reshuffle in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's proposed trip to Delhi on October 16 to attend the CWC meeting has once again triggered speculation in the desert state. Gehlot, as per sources, will go to Delhi to attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled on October 16. This will be his second visit to Delhi this year after his trip to the national capital on February 27. The Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states have been attending the CWC meetings so far. Following that trend, Gehlot will attend the CWC meeting on October 16, official sources said. During his visit, the long-pending issues of cabinet reshuffle, political appointments and organisational expansion can be discussed with the party high command. Sources said that these pending issues are likely to receive green signal when Gehlot meets interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi. During his Delhi tour, Gehlot is likely to meet many senior party leaders, including General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, and the party's in-charge for Rajasthan, Ajay Maken. A few days back, state Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary had said that the cabinet expansion will be done the day the Chief Minister's plane lands in Delhi. So, Rajasthan can expect a cabinet expansion after Divali, or even before. Former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot's camp has been demanding a cabinet reshuffle for a long time now. Apart from this camp, even MLAs from the BSP have been raising the demand for a cabinet expansion and political appointments. Maken has set deadlines for a possible cabinet expansion many times, but has been unable to meet them. Now after Gehlot's proposed visit to Delhi, the winds of change have again gathered momentum in this desert state. Shillong, Oct 13 : Nearly 50 years after it was carved out of Assam as a full-fledged state in 1972, the demand to further bifurcate Meghlaya on ethnic lines has surfaced with two local parties forming a coordination committee for this purpose, ahead of the bye-elections to three Assembly seats on October 30. The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) - which is a part of the ruling National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, and the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) have formed the committee to intensify their claim for the proposed Khasi-Jaintia and Garoland states. The demand for creation of Garoland also comprising western Assam's four districts -- Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri and Kokrajhar -- inhabited by the matrilineal Garo community once become a major issue in the northeast region when the Bodoland statehood movement was its peak. The Bodoland issue was more or less resolved after the Bodoland Territorial Region accord was signed in January 2020 and 1,615 extremists along with their arms and ammunition surrendered to the government. HSPDP President K.P. Pangniang told the media that after bifurcation of Meghalaya, one of the states would be for the Garos and the other for the Khasi-Jaintia communities. "Demarcation of the boundaries clearly be done to create a separate state for the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo people so that no problem emerges in future similar to the existing inter-state problem between Assam and Meghalaya," he said, adding that the coordination committee would identify and demarcate the areas that would fall in the two proposed states. The GHSMC, a conglomerate of seven Garo organisations including regional party Garo National Council, along with the HSPDP, have also decided to launch a joint movement to intensify their demand for bifurcation of Meghalaya. Pangniang said that they would release booklets in local languages to explain their demand for the creation of a separate state for the Khasi-Jaintias. The GHSMC had in December 2018 raised the demand for a separate Garoland state after several extremist outfits also voiced for the similar demand. Several former militant leaders are also part of this renewed movement. The Garo Hills region, comprising five of Meghalaya's 11 districts and 24 out of 60 Assembly seats, is spread across 10,102 square km. As per the 2011 Census, this region had 13.94 lakh people compared to the 22.44 lakh spread across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region covering 15,546 square km. In 2014, the Meghalaya Assembly had rejected demand for the creation of a separate Garoland state in the western part of the state. By-elections will be held on October 30 in three assembly seats -- Mawryngkneng and Mawphlang in the East Khasi Hills, and Rajabala in the West Garo Hills district. New Delhi, Oct 14 : A day after the 'antim ardaas' for the farmers who were mowed down by a cavalcade in Lakhimpur Kheri October 3, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday threatened to burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other BJP leaders, including MoS for Home Ajay Misra, whose son Ashish Misra is a prime accused in the case, on October 15 on the occasion of Dussehra. Reiterating its demand that Ajay Misra Teni should be sacked and arrested immediately, the SKM said in a statement: "Multiple videos exist of Ajay Misra's outright threats to the farmers protesting with black flags; it is clear that he was promoting enmity, hatred and disharmony. His continuation as a Union Minister of State for Home compromises justice, and it is unimaginable that the Narendra Modi government is continuing to defend him." Nine persons, including farmers and a journalist, were killed on October 3 in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Terming Tuesday as 'Shaheed Kisan Divas', the SKM had observed 'antim ardaas' for the slain farmers. Thousands of farmers across India had held homage meetings with candlelight vigils, the statement said. Dhaka, Oct 14 : Amid vibrant celebrations across Bangladesh to mark its biggest Hindu religious festival, a string of attacks on temples and Durga Puja pandals occurred in Comilla district and elsewhere following "rumours" spread through social media. Authorities have taken serious note of the incidents, deploying paramilitary forces and asking authorities to act against the perpetrators. A temple in Comilla became the flashpoint on Tuesday night for allegedly disrespecting the Quran. Local officials told IANS that some BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam miscreants planted a copy of the Holy Quran at the feet of Ganesh in the Durga pantheon at Nanuyar Dighir Par Temple on Tuesday night. "The miscreants took some pictures of this and ran away. Within a few hours, using Facebook, the propaganda spread like wildfire with the provocative pictures," said a district official. Angry mobs vandalised puja pandals, and the temple. Ruling Awami League workers swung into action along with police to cordon off the Durga Puja pandals and temples. Later in the day, more units of security forces were deployed in Comilla town and other sensitive areas of the district and elsewhere in the region. In an emergency notice, the Religious Affairs Ministry said it had come across news that the religious text had been "disrespected" in Comilla, but urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands and reiterated calls to maintain religious harmony and peace. Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed in Comilla in the face of rising communal tensions. BGB's Comilla Battalion commander, Lt Col Fazle Rabbi said: "Four platoons of the BGB were deployed at noon to ensure that there is no unrest in Comilla. The BGB has been deployed to prevent any hostilities." The Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council appealed for calm. "We would like to say to our Muslim brothers, please do not believe the rumours. We respect the Quran. There is no need for the Quran in Durga Puja. This is someone conspiring to create a riot. There will be a fair investigation. Please don't attack any more Hindu temples," it said, in a statement circulated widely through Facebook and You Tube. But Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta said: "Already, temples are being attacked countrywide, including Banshkhali in Chittagong, Pekua of Cox's Bazar... the communal threat has been spread countrywide. We are going to decide to stop music and use of mikes as a protest... cannot stop the rituals at that moment." "The District Commissioner of Comilla told me, 'All are 'fake photos' in social media.'... So, what is the role of the state, why doesn't the administration stop Facebook or any social media to assure the security of the Hindu community? "All of these are prejudicial acts... it is the same practice of political crime, ethnic cleansing practice, to clean 10 per cent Hindu community, which increased 2 per cent in last 10 years, as the government report says. It is a positive sign, which is targeted by the communal groups. It breaks the confidence of the Hindu community. We want the proper responsible role of the administration and political parties," Dasgupta told IANS on Wednesday evening. Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader told IANS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the criminals behind spreading communal attacks and propaganda be identified and punished as an example. Mohila Awami League's Commilla Organising Secretary Aysha Zamam Shimu told IANS that "the Islamist opposition of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are responsible for this mischief because they want a communal riot to discredit our government and cause bilateral problems with India". "They tried the same tactics when Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh in March," she said. Awami League social media coordinator Tanmoy Ahmed expressed concern at the role of Facebook, through which the provocative messages of "insulting Quran" were spread, using fake accounts of Jamaat militants named 'Juelpradoxical' and 'Sk Media'. Ahmed said Facebook refused to block these accounts despite repeated complaints that these were being used to whip up communal tensions and could lead to considerable public disorder, and instead urged complainants "to use the platform for counter-speech in form of accurate information to create a safer environment". Former Telecommunication Minister Tarana Halim also told IANS that Facebook "must cooperate with the government to prevent the breakdown of public order and it is important for them to tighten their Community Hate standards". Meanwhile, Awami League leaders noting that Sheikh Hasina donated three crore takas for the Durga Puja, said that party volunteers have been mobilised to protect Hindu temples and "all troublemakers will be firmly dealt with". Mexico City, Oct 14 : The governments of Mexico and the US agreed to reopen their common border in November, following vaccination progress against Covid-19, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Wednesday. "The northern border will be opened. We will have normalcy on our northern border as of November 1," Lopez Obrador said during his daily press conference from the National Palace in Mexico City, Xinhua news agency reported. The Mexico-US border has been closed to "non-essential" traffic since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The closure imposed restrictions on travel for tourism or shopping, but did not affect trade or other essential crossings, such as transit for goods and for work or health reasons. Intervention now is imperative to save this lost generation, and the good news is its not too late." - Express CEO Bill Stoller With now hiring signs on every street corner across the United States, businesses are in crisis as more than one-third of Americans (35%) know someone who left the workforce entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic. And hiring woes may continue well into the future as 71% of adults agree that between people retiring earlier and the impact of reduced learning time for children over the last year, the workforce is in trouble. The long-term personal, professional, mental and financial ramifications of remote learning for students and companies are explored in a new white paper out today from Express Employment Professionals: A Lost Generation. Survey data fielded and compiled by The Harris Poll reveals 81% of adults believe the school disruptions will pose long-or short-term challenges to young peoples performance at school or, later on, the workplace. Only a slight majority (56%) say the U.S. is taking the right steps to help students recover. The disruptions to education will mean a whole generation or more is falling further behind, Express CEO Bill Stoller said. Getting back to the pre-pandemic status quo wont be enough. And Americans are in general agreement: were witnessing the creation of a lost generation. Slightly more than one-third of adults (34%) think current students will have fewer of the skills necessary to be successful when they enter the workforce compared with current entry-level workers. Further, the vast majority (84%) think a lost generation of students will be a problem for employers in the U.S., including around one-third (34%) who think it will be a large problem. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) believe society as a whole will suffer from the lost generation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when asked who is responsible for fixing the lost generation of students, Americans most commonly say the individuals themselves are responsible (52%). This is followed by parents of the individuals (45%), educators (e.g., teachers, school administrators, etc.) (43%), the U.S. Department of Education (39%) and employers (31%). Although employers are not the top party entity for fixing the lost generation, there is an expectation that they must do something to accommodate these new workers. Nine in 10 (90%) say employers will need to change something to accommodate the emerging generation of workers; most commonly, theyll need to offer more job-specific training (51%), provide flexibility in work hours (45%) and pay employees who have advanced skills higher salaries (44%). This has implications not only for individuals or for employers in certain industries. The ripple effects of disrupted education are predicted to be a drag on economic growth for a generationif lawmakers, employers and educators do not act swiftly to rethink and improve the education system, not just in the short-term but for the long haul. Other highlights of the white paper include: School closures creating domino effects that further strain the workforce Minority and disadvantaged students hardest hit Disruption today means lost earnings tomorrowand lost GDP Negative impact on overall individual lifetime earnings Parents concerned about mental health and other behaviors in their children Accelerating the preexisting demographic crisis The start of this new school year is an inflection point with big implications in the coming years, Stoller says. Intervention now is imperative to save this lost generation, and the good news is its not too late. Change will take a concerted effort by many entities, but its well worth the investment. Survey Methodology The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between July 29 and August 2, 2021, among 2,099 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. *** If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing company has more than 830 franchises in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Since inception, Express has put more than 9 million people to work worldwide. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 526,000 people globally in 2020. For more information, visit http://www.ExpressPros.com. BrainBox AI is leading the green building revolution, and we are looking forward to bringing frictionless, multi-sensor technology and a touchless authentication feature to the office, said Tina D Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. Alcatraz AI announced today that they are bringing the Alcatraz AI Rock to BrainBox AIs offices. BrainBox AI is at the forefront of building automation and a leader in the green building revolution. As BrainBox AIs office recently re-opened with limited capacity, the company is taking proactive steps through Alcatraz AIs robust identity and facemask verification to keep employees safe. As one survey showed, two-thirds of employees have safety concerns regarding the return of onsite operations. Considering these statistics, health and safety must be top priorities for businesses as they re-open. BrainBox AI is keeping its employees' safety top of mind by installing Alcatraz AIs Rock before they return to provide safety and security. Alcatraz AIs facial authentication solution combines advanced AI and 3D sensing technologies that provides facilities with enterprise-grade identity verification needed to create secure spaces. Its state-of-the-art security features include touchless access, multi-factor authentication, video at the door and intelligent tailgating detection. Alcatraz AIs access control solution, the Rock, effectively detects tailgating and sends real-time alerts if an unauthorized person enters and sends real-time notifications to ACS/VMS. BrainBox AI is leading the green building revolution, and we are looking forward to bringing frictionless, multi-sensor technology and a touchless authentication feature to the office, said Tina D Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. By utilizing the Alcatraz AI Rock, weve helped BrainBox AIs offices re-open smoothly and safely. BrainBox AI is excited to announce its partnership with Alcatraz AI. Our employees safety is always our top priority. We are confident The Rocks touchless authentication and the frictionless security system will give each BrainBox AI employee peace of mind when returning to the office, said Jean-Simon Venne, co-founder and CTO of BrainBox AI. For more information on Alcatraz AI access control solutions, visit http://www.alcatraz.ai. About Alcatraz AI: Alcatraz AI transforms access control by leveraging artificial intelligence and analytics to make powerful decisions at the edge, where your face becomes your credential. Alcatrazs facial authentication technology and intelligent tailgating detection enable enterprises to innovate and future-proof their security strategy. Our state-of-the-art product, the Rock, is designed to be easy to deploy on any access control system, providing an enterprise-grade security solution to protect businesses, people and assets. Visit http://www.alcatraz.ai for more information and follow the companys updates on LinkedIn. About BrainBox AI: BrainBox AI was created in 2017 with the goal of redefining building automation through artificial intelligence, positioning itself at the forefront of a green building revolution. Headquartered in Montreal, a global AI hub, BrainBox AI has a workforce of over 100 employees and supports real estate clients in numerous sectors, including office buildings, airports, hotels, multi-residential, long-term care facilities, grocery stores and commercial retail. BrainBox AI works in collaboration with research partners, such as the US Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO) as well as educational institutions including Montreals Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) and McGill University. Learn more about BrainBox AI. Were extremely proud of the ways in which we have been able to maintain and even nurture our core values in the midst of external pressures like the pandemic and internal growth as we continue to diversify our service offerings and expand into new geographies." Zeo Solomon, Avenue Codes Founder Tech in Motion is proud to announce that Avenue Code is the San Francisco Bay Areas Timmy Award winner in the Best Tech Work Culture (Large Employer) category for the 7th Annual Timmy Awards, created to celebrate the best tech workplaces across North America. Best Tech Work Culture Regional winners like Avenue Code know how to create a rewarding team environment, bring tech employees together over a shared mission, and foster a community that values innovation, learning, and technical creativity. As a part of the Timmy Awards, we are honored to help shine a light on workplaces leading the tech industry when it comes to empowering employees and creating the best possible environment to thrive in, said Mandy Walker, Executive Director of Tech in Motions founder Motion Recruitment. Winners of the Best Tech Work Culture award are dedicated to bettering the lives of their tech teams. With regional winners selected across North America by local tech community vote, Avenue Code and the other North American finalists will be judged by industry leaders from companies like Netflix, PayPal, and Oracle. Winners will be announced live at the Timmy Awards ceremony on October 28th. It is a clear testament to Avenue Codes strong work culture that, even throughout challenging times like the pandemic, the software consultancy has won regional and global awards for Best Place to Work (by BuiltIn), Best Company to Work For (by Great Place to Work), and Best Company for Career Growth (by Comparably) -- purely because of employee ratings. Employees have regularly commented that at Avenue Code, there is no disconnect between stated company values and team experience. Whether consultants have been with the company since it opened in 2008 or joined as recently as 2021, they have remarked on the consultancys demonstrated commitment to company values of Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, Passion, Play, Possibility, Respect, and Trust. Zeo Solomon, Avenue Codes Founder and CSO, reflected that Were extremely proud of the ways in which we have been able to maintain and even nurture our core values in the midst of external pressures like the pandemic and internal growth as we continue to diversify our service offerings and expand into new geographies. Avenue Code operates globally in more than 30 locations, and our employees represent more than 50 different countries with a wide spectrum of backgrounds. But we are all one Avenue Code. Thats what has enabled us to create the most endearing and diverse culture youll ever find. This year, the Best Tech Work Culture is separated into Small to Medium Employers (1-250 Employees) and Large Employers (251-999 Employees), and companies will represent the San Francisco Bay Area in the Best Tech Manager, Best Tech for Good, Best Enterprise Tech Employer, and Best Tech Startup categories. To see if Avenue Code takes home the North American Timmy Award, mark your calendars for October 28th for the 2021 ceremony. After the success of last years show, the evening will once again be an entirely digital experience, honoring the best the tech world has to offer. Streaming live on YouTube, the virtual ceremony will feature amazing guest speakers and some fun surprises. If you are interested in learning more, or want to know how you can be a part of the Timmy Awards, visit the Timmy Awards website. About Tech in Motion Events Tech in Motion is a North American events series that brings local tech community professionals together to connect, learn and innovate. What started as a small collaboration in 2011 by IT recruiting firm Motion Recruitment grew into an organization of over 250,000 members across 14 chapters in North America including Boston, Dallas, NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, LA and more. Visit techinmotionevents.com for more information about notable speakers, sponsors and events. About Avenue Code Avenue Code is the leading software consultancy for full-service digital evolution solutions (http://www.avenuecode.com). Since 2008, the firm has partnered with Fortune 100 companies and enterprise organizations in every vertical to accelerate innovation. Headquartered in San Francisco, Avenue Code has offices in Brazil, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. "We are inspired by Anna Bond, Rifle Paper Co.s co-founder, and her ability to curate products that express her design aesthetic, and allow people to carry her hopeful designs with them every day. Today, ACCO Brands Corporation, one of the worlds largest designers, marketers, and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer, and business products, is proud to announce a collaboration between its Cambridge planning brand and Rifle Paper Co., an international stationery and lifestyle brand founded in 2009 by husband-wife team Nathan and Anna Bond in Winter Park, Florida. With a mission to bring beauty to the everyday, co-founder and CCO Anna Bonds illustrations and distinctive color palette are at the heart of the Rifle Paper Co. brand, as well as the new collection for Cambridge. With prices ranging from $3.99 to $28.99, the Rifle Paper Co. for Cambridge Collection is available nationwide beginning today. The collection features 30+ products including 2022 planners and calendars in a variety of formats, notebooks, journals, pencils, and desk accessories like scissors, rulers, staplers, pencil cups, and much more. We are thrilled with this collaboration, said Lori Conley, Vice President of Office Products and Licensing at ACCO Brands. We are inspired by Anna Bond, Rifle Paper Co.s co-founder, and her ability to curate products that express her design aesthetic, and allow people to carry her hopeful designs with them every day. Rifle Paper Co. Co-Founder and CCO Anna Bond set out to design a collection that encompasses the Rifle Paper Co. design aesthetic and brand mission. When designing the Rifle Paper Co. for Cambridge Collection we were inspired to bring moments of beauty to everyday tasks, said Bond. We created a collection of everyday and giftable products that allows customers to express themselves with bold colors and bright florals, but is also full of functional details that make organization easy and inspiring. Lemons, hearts, and charming floral designs bring this collection of planners, calendars, and desk accessories to life. For more information, and to shop the Rifle Paper Co. for Cambridge Collection, please visit: https://www.meadcambridge.com/collaborations/rifle-paper-co/ About Rifle Paper Co. Rifle Paper Co. is an international stationery and lifestyle brand based in Winter Park, Florida. Launched in 2009 by husband-wife team Nathan and Anna Bond, Rifle Paper Co. has since grown into an industry-leading brand known for stationery, accessories, home decor, and more. Its signature aesthetic, shaped by Anna Bonds hand-painted illustrations, appeals to an array of customers with a look that is both modern and timeless. Visit riflepaperco.com and @riflepaperco on Instagram for more information. About Mead Cambridge and ACCO Brands Mead Cambridge is a leading provider of innovative, fashion-forward planners, notebooks, desk pad calendars, wall calendars, padfolios and office essentials. Mead Cambridge believes that office products can help to organize your life and keep you productive, creative, and collaborating, while at the same time, express your aesthetic. Mead Cambridge is a registered trademark of ACCO Brands, headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois. ACCO Brands is home to some of the worlds most iconic academic, consumer and business products. Brands in the ACCO family include Mead Cambridge, Five Star, DERWENT, AT-A-GLANCE, Swingline, GBC, Kensington, TruSens, PowerA, Mead, and Xyron, to name just a few. Mead Cambridge, a division of ACCO Brands. All rights reserved. "The average Alexandria homeowner pays about $800 in taxes and that cost will only go up as home prices increase. Home ownership is crucial to building strong communities, and high property taxes push working families away from the state." Virginia House of Delegates candidate J.D. Maddox, whose 45th District includes eastern Alexandria and parts of Arlington and Fairfax, has proposed a mold-breaking 1% limit on homeowner property tax in Virginia. "This may raise some eyebrows, but this one percent limit is a solution to the complicated problem of affordable housing, and it will ensure that our area remains attractive to new home buyers and current homeowners alike," Maddox said. "The average Alexandria homeowner pays about $800 in taxes and that cost will only go up as home prices increase. Home ownership is crucial to building strong communities, and high property taxes push working families away from the state." Recent analysis of the Washington, D.C., real estate market indicates that the commercial real estate market is flagging, with no new commercial construction and increased vacancies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maddox assesses that municipalities will most likely have to turn to homeowners for tax revenues as the market shifts. "City governments in this area, especially Alexandria, have shown they're not up to the task of providing basic services, such as public education, policing, and infrastructure. They will have a tough time justifying the high taxes citizens are paying for their homes," Maddox explained. Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax's homeowner property tax rates are currently above 1%. J.D. Maddox is running for state delegate on a centrist platform. Voting is underway now though November 2nd. Maddox, a 20 year resident of Alexandria, is a small business owner, an adjunct professor at George Mason University and an appointed member of Alexandria's IT Commission. Maddox served honorably as a CIA branch chief and US Army Special Operations soldier. More information is available at http://www.maddoxforvirginia.com. "My fondest memories revolve around sharing a good meal. Im glad that ClearAngel is helping us raise awareness and provide meals to those in need. For every apron sold, 100 meals are provided to the malnourished," - Seema Sanghavi, Founder & CEO, Cooks Who Feed. Clearco, the worlds largest e-commerce investor revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced that its ClearAngel program is funding Cooks Who Feed, producer of eco-friendly handcrafted aprons, proceeds of which help mitigate food insecurity and food waste. ClearAngel gives early-stage founders access to revenue share capital, data-driven advice, and Clearcos extensive network of apps, agencies, and investors. Established in 2019, founder Seema Sanghavi, an avid cook and foodie, had always been bothered by the inequality between herself and those dealing with food insecurity. In 2016, she visited an NGO in India that provided safe, fair-trade work to marginalized women. Upon returning home to Canada, Sanghavi felt compelled to help provide opportunities for these women. She also learned that the amount of food wasted could feed the worlds hungry four times over. Cooks Who Feed was born. Today, Cooks Who Feed works directly with the aforementioned NGO in India to produce their kitchen textiles. While the company has had tremendous success so far in generating income and donating 289,000 meals to the underserved, their funding from ClearAngel will fuel increased marketing and awareness growth. ClearAngel is one of a few equity-free, flexible capital options for early-stage founders who would benefit from raising an angel round or joining exclusive accelerators, but dont have the network to do so. In the short time since February 2021, the program has already funded over 350 companies. Consumers are conscious of where their money is spent, and an increasing number of them discern whether a business is ethical and socially-responsible,'' said Andrew DSouza, CEO and co-founder, Clearco. This latest ClearAngel investment exemplifies our interest in advancing the causes of deserving early-stage founders who use creative e-commerce models to help tackle some of the worlds biggest problems. In addition to $10,000 of flexible capital, Cooks Who Feed will also get access to a network of more than 500 investors, growth teams, agencies, apps, lawyers, and buyers; and data-driven advice designed to help scale and hit new revenue milestones. Besides ramping up marketing efforts, the company will also use ClearAngels resources to promote new product lines. This fall, Cooks Who Feed will be debuting childrens versions of their three most popular adult designs. Also, this holiday season, the company will release tea towels and linen napkins designed with Canadian chef Vikram Vij. My fondest memories revolve around sharing a good meal. Im glad that ClearAngel is helping us raise awareness and provide meals to those in need. For every apron sold, 100 meals are provided to the malnourished, said Seema Sanghavi, Founder & CEO, Cooks Who Feed. I never set out to create a company. I set out to create a movement that would empower foodies everywhere to fight hunger in sustainable and socially-responsible ways. To learn more about Cooks Who Feed, the charities that they support and their locally-sourced, and sustainable products for yourself, visit cookswhofeed.com. ClearAngel is currently onboarding E-commerce and product companies. There are limited spots available for SaaS, Apps, marketplace and stealth companies. To learn more, visit angel.clearbanc.com. About Clearco: Co-founded as Clearbanc in 2015 by Michele Romanow from Canadas Shark Tank (Dragons Den), Andrew DSouza, Ivan Gritsiniak, Charlie Feng, and Tanay Delima, Clearco offers the most founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders as well as a full suite of products and access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations. Clearco has invested over $2 Billion in over 4,500 companies to date, including Leesa Sleep, fashion-rental service Le Tote, home goods company Public Goods, shirtmaker UNTUCKit, online speech therapy practice Expressable, and digital real estate marketplace SetSchedule. For more information visit clear.co and @getClearco. We are excited to put Hunter in a position to do what he knows he is called to doand that is serving others in need, said co-founder Leila Watson. I am confident he will positively impact the lives of many of our current and future clients. Cory Watson Attorneys, a national personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, is proud to welcome Hunter Phares as a new associate attorney. Hunter Phares earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Auburn University before going on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from the Cumberland School of Law. Hunter enjoys giving back to the Birmingham community, and his career as a lawyer gives him the ability to help people when they need it most. He is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of his clients through helping them navigate legal challenges to get the justice and compensation they deserve. As an associate attorney at Cory Watson, Hunter focuses his practice on consumer protection and personal injury cases primarily involving motor vehicle accident litigation. We are excited to put Hunter in a position to do what he knows he is called to doand that is serving others in need, said co-founder Leila Watson. I am confident he will positively impact the lives of many of our current and future clients. About Cory Watson Attorneys Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally-recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama as well as Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving product liability related to serious injuries from defective products, and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts. To learn more, visit CoryWatson.com. Bobby has been instrumental in not only leading the company during the complexity of the pandemic but also helping us achieve growth during that time, said Dillard. Central Research Inc. (CRI), a provider of management and financial service solutions to the federal and state government and commercial sector, today announced changes to the executive leadership team effectively immediately. CRI President Bobby McKinnon has been named the companys Chief Executive Officer, taking over the CEO duties from Scott Dillard, who co-founded CRI in 2002 with his late father Johnny Dillard. McKinnon, who joined the company in January 2020, will continue as president while expanding his responsibilities to include managing the daily operations and resources of the company. Dillard will continue his role as Executive Chairman for CRI, moving into a more strategic role for the company that has experienced recent significant growth, including last years acquisitions of Global Emergency Response and Skyline ULTD. Bobby has been instrumental in not only leading the company during the complexity of the pandemic but also helping us achieve growth during that time, said Dillard. His overall experience will be key to helping us accomplish our strategic vision and continue growing and diversifying the company. CRI also announced that Andra Grasis has been named Chief Operations Officer and has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations Management Solutions. Grasis joined CRI in August 2019 as Vice President of Operations Management Solutions, leading the companys management solutions business unit operations. In her newly expanded role, she will be responsible for synchronizing activities among executive operations and business units, including providing oversight in support of the C-staff and quality management efforts. About Central Research Inc. Central Research, Inc. (CRI) provides management and financial service solutions to the federal and state government and commercial sector, including call center support, debt collection, staff augmentation and IT services. We are committed to providing excellence with every service and solution. Learn more at central-research.com. ### This project emerged during the Covid pandemic as a way to reach many who were living in fear and without hope. Authors Reverend David A. Fisher & Michelle Nicola-Grossmiller provide encouragement through faith to readers in Speak Lord For Your Servant is Listening: Reflections On Sacred Scripture ($20.49, paperback, 9781662831072; $9.99, e-book, 9781662831089). Reverend Fisher & Nicola-Grossmiller penned a thoughtful collection of reflections on biblical passages and two short articles on how translation of the original Greek text is used in translating the Our Father or Lord's Prayer and Christ the Good Shepherd. Christian readers will appreciate more than two hundred biblical reflections, many written during the Covid pandemic. While both authors are Catholic and references to Catholic teachings and the Fathers of the Church are abundant; the authors recommend their thought-provoking text will be meaningful for all men and women of faith, anyone yearning to make sense of life in their search for God in the Sacred Scriptures. This project emerged during the Covid pandemic as a way to reach many who were living in fear and without hope, said Fisher. The Sacred Scriptures are the remedy for our ills and doubts as human beings. Being a Catholic priest I come from a definite perspective on Christianity, but I hope all Christians and indeed all men and women will find it accessible and meaningful for their lives. Reverend Fisher was ordained a Maronite Catholic priest in 1984 by Pope Saint John Paul II in St. Peters Basilica in Rome, Italy. He studied at Romes Pontifical Gregorian University. Reverend Fisher is a professor of world religions, philosophy and theology, presently teaching Eastern Christian Theology at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. For many years, he has been a contributing writer for The Maronite Voice. Reverend Fisher also serves as an outreach priest for Cross Catholic Outreach, which funds missions to the poor around the world. Retired from a 40-year healthcare career, Nicola-Grossmiller holds a bachelors degree in Medical Technology. She also performed some graduate work in CQI, in addition to undergraduate/graduate level Theology Studies. Nicola-Grossmiller is a proud mother and Godmother, who enjoys meditating on scripture and praying. She is excited to continue furthering her religious education, Bible study, writing, creative writing and providing informal counseling of troubled youth. Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Speak Lord For Your Servant is Listening: Reflections On Sacred Scripture is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. Funding to women entrepreneurs fell from 2.7 percent in 2019 to 1.8 percent in 2020, and mixed-gender teams received a mere 11.1 percent in 2020, compared to 12.9 percent in 2019. Venture capital and private equity firms make investment decisions that dont always make sense; they are not seeing the better opportunities in Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and women-owned startups. In 2015, more than three-quarters of venture capital money in the U.S. went to companies in Massachusetts, New York, and California. Only 5 percent went to women founders. Just one percent went to African-Americans and Latinos.(1) Since then, the numbers havent improved. Funding to women entrepreneurs fell from 2.7 percent in 2019 to 1.8 percent in 2020, and mixed-gender teams received a mere 11.1 percent in 2020, compared to 12.9 percent in 2019.(2) But, enter curious disruptor Paul Ford, Founder and Managing Partner at DS9 Capital, who explains to Karla Jo Helms, host of the Disruption Interruption podcast that venture capital and private equity firms will make investment decisions that dont always make sense; they are not seeing the better opportunities in Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and women-owned startups. After college and nine years in the corporate world mastering the relevant skills, Paul saw how investors talked about looking for companies that matched their companys thesis and invented KPIs to support them, but did not speak about profitability. Thats when Paul said THATS ITIM DONE WITH THE STATUS QUOand picked another path. Despite the venture capitalist and private equity opinions that companies without $100 million growth potential (which comprise the bulk of the U.S. economy) were merely lifestyle businesses and not worth the investment, Ford would focus on growing these very businesses that the VC and PE firms are choosing to ignore. Paul explains: 1. Curiosity is the essential component of disruption. Its what encourages you and keeps you moving. Work wont feel like work. It will feel more like a hobby. 2. Due the way venture private equity investing is organized, everyone tends to follow the pack and take the same path, which is not sustainable 3. Everyone wants to create a million-dollar company and become a millionaire, but you need to create realistic objectives and set achievable goals. 4. The bulk of the US economy (80%) is built on mom-and-pop businesses. 5. Consider your first job as a training program. Absorb all the important lessons about your field, but dont think youll become an expert immediately. 6. Dont keep your wisdom to yourself. There could be others who need your help, and its always beneficial to lend what youve learned. 7. The best education is on-the-job experience, and can often be a better education than more time in school. But that education will only serve you if you remain curious. Disruption Interruption is the podcast where youll hear from todays biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about change and how they overcome opposition to adoption. Disruption Interruption can be listened to via the Podbean app, and is available on Apples App Store and Google Play. About Disruption Interruption: Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping and logistics, and moreand COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, THATS IT! IVE HAD IT!? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo KJ Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews bad a**es who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traitsand not-so-commonthat are changing our economic markets and lives. Visit the worlds key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at http://www.disruptioninterruption.com. About Karla Jo Helms: Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR(TM) Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors(TM). Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the lineand how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumni of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinionKarla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception. About DS9 Capital: DS9 Capital is a founder-friendly portfolio management holding company focused on building enduring and stable cash-flowing businesses in the insurance and healthcare technology space. DS9 is generally focused on frontier technology and service offerings in the insurance and healthcare space largely leveraging cloud-based infrastructure, and more specifically on applying our domain expertise to nano-cap sized businesses to expand the value chain for all stakeholders. This value creation typically includes investment, leveraging our vast resources and networks to create a strategic pipeline for organic growth, and realigning the businesses to optimize commercial and IP assets. Our tactical goal with each of our companies is to leverage our expertise into higher margin and missed revenue opportunities. 1. Schiller, Ben; Why Venture Capitalists Arent Funding The Businesses We Need; Cells; Last updated 29 September 2017; FastCompany; fastcompany.com/40467045/why-venture-capitalists-arent-funding-the-businesses-we-need. 2. Ackerman, Maya; Bias In Venture Capital; Last updated 04 February 2021; Illuminate; scu.edu/illuminate/thought-leaders/maya-ackerman/bias-in-venture-capital.html. Dr. Markus Kuhn, Rigaku Fellow of the Rigaku Semiconductor Metrology Division. I am honored and excited to join Rigaku, an innovative company with a clear vision from Dr. Ogata for delivering X-ray solutions in the semiconductor metrology space. Rigaku Corporation (Headquarters: Akishima-shi, Tokyo; President: Toshiyuki Ikeda; "Rigaku"), a global leader in X-ray analytical instrumentation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Markus Kuhn as a Rigaku Fellow of the Rigaku Semiconductor Metrology Division (RSMD). Following a distinguished 25-year career at Intel and Digital Equipment Corporation, Dr. Kuhn brings invaluable experience to Rigaku which he will use to help guide the development of advanced solutions for semiconductor metrology. The complexity of semiconductor manufacturing is increasing dramatically, and Dr. Kuhns knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to the RSMD and its customers. Dr. Kuhn will be working closely with the renowned Dr. Kiyoshi Ogata, Rigaku Executive Vice President and Head of the RSMD. In this capacity, he will use his unique industry insights to shape the RSMDs forward-looking efforts to ensure its metrology solutions align with the future requirements of the semiconductor industry. During his time with Intel and Digital Equipment Corporation, Dr. Kuhn was responsible for the development and implementation of a broad range of thin film and surface analysis capabilities to help meet semiconductor technology goals and was a key technical contributor to Intels breakthrough strain, high K/metal gate, FinFET, and advanced memory programs. He has also published over 100 refereed papers and holds more than 30 patents relating to semiconductor technology. Most recently, he led Intels materials analytical pathfinding efforts by engaging with instrument suppliers, university researchers, national labs, and consortia partners. Combined with expertise in advanced analytical capabilities and machine learning, he is well placed to help the RSMD remain at the forefront of semiconductor metrology utilizing emerging technologies. Commenting on Dr. Kuhns appointment, Dr. Ogata said, Aligning with the future requirements of the semiconductor industry is very important to the RSMD and Dr. Kuhn brings invaluable experience that will guide our research and development. Dr. Kuhn, replied, I am honored and excited to join Rigaku, an innovative company with a clear vision from Dr. Ogata for delivering X-ray solutions in the semiconductor metrology space. I look forward to leveraging my industry experience to help enable new opportunities and growth, and to deliver advanced metrology solutions for our customers. Dr. Kuhn joins a team of dedicated and talented individuals at Rigaku which is a pioneer and world leader in designing and manufacturing X-ray based measurement tools (X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray reflectometry) to solve semiconductor manufacturing challenges. Rigaku products enable everything from in-fab process control metrology to R&D for thin film and materials characterization. About the Rigaku Semiconductor Metrology Division The RSMD designs and manufactures X-ray based measurement tools to solve semiconductor manufacturing challenges. With nearly 40 years of global market leadership in the semiconductor industry, Rigaku metrology tools employ X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray reflectometry (XRR), and Critical-Dimension Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (CD-SAXS) techniques, enabling everything from in-fab process control metrology to R&D for thin film and materials characterization. About Rigaku Corporation Since its foundation in 1951, Rigaku Corporation has provided leading-edge analytical and industrial equipment with X- ray and thermal analysis as its core technologies. Today, based not only in Japan, but also in the United States, Europe, China and other parts of the world, the Rigaku Group plays an advanced role in the fields of general-purpose X- ray diffraction (XRD), thin film analysis (XRF, XRD, XRR), X-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF, EDXRF, WDXRF), small-angle X-ray scattering analysis (SAXS), protein and small-molecule X-ray crystal structure analysis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray optical elements, semiconductor inspection (TXRF, XRF, XRD, XRR), X-ray generators, CT scanners, non-destructive inspection, and thermal analysis. By leveraging its extensive knowledge of X-rays and related technologies, Rigaku has built collaborative relationships with customers and promoted partnerships, communication, and innovation globally through academic societies and industries. Rigaku will continue to provide integrated solutions for a wide variety of fields, including protein structure analysis, nanotechnology development, general-purpose X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), material analysis, and quality assurance. For more information, please visit http://www.rigaku.com. Freedom Financial Network Our mission is to help everyday Americans move from struggling to thriving as we provide solutions to path them to brighter financial futures. Weve helped more than 800,000 consumers, and we look forward to growing that number. Freedom Financial Network, a leading consumer-centric financial services company, announced today that its Freedom Debt Relief solution has become the first in the debt negotiation industry to resolve more than $15 billion in total consumer debt. Founded in 2002, Freedom Debt Relief(FDR) reached this new milestone just two years after reaching $10 billion in debt negotiation. FDR engages directly with creditors on consumers behalf to resolve debt balances, helping people who are unable to repay all of their debt repay an amount they can afford. By offering an alternative to credit counseling, debt consolidation and bankruptcy, the company has helped more than 800,000 consumers resolve their debts to date. The solution has more than 200,000 active customers enrolled currently. We are proud to reach this historic milestone as we become the first business to negotiate more than $15 billion in total consumer debt, said Sean Fox, president of Freedom Debt Relief. Our mission is to help everyday Americans move from struggling to thriving as we provide solutions to path them to brighter financial futures. Today, we can say that weve helped more than 800,000 consumers, and we look forward to growing that number in the years ahead. Freedom Financial Network offers a full suite of financial solutions for every step of the financial journey. In addition to debt solutions and restructuring, Freedom offers personal loans, home equity lines of credit and financial education. As we continue to contend with the impacts of COVID on the economy, many Americans have found themselves struggling to pay their bills, said Andrew Housser, co-founder and co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network. Even more will feel the financial stress with the final stimulus benefits ending in early 2022. While there are many ways to contend with debt, not everyone can tighten their budgets. For so many, Freedom offers the help they need to move forward. For more information on Freedom Debt Relief, visit https://www.freedomdebtrelief.com/. Freedom Financial Network (http://www.freedomfinancialnetwork.com) Freedom Financial Network provides consumer-centric solutions that empower people to live healthier financial lives. Financial solutions include FreedomPlus and Consolidation Plus personal loans, debt relief and restructuring (Freedom Debt Relief), home equity lines of credit (Lendage) and financial education (Bills.com). Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Freedom Financial Network also has offices in Tempe, Arizona. The company employs nearly 2,300 team members and has been voted one of the best places to work in both the San Francisco Bay and Phoenix areas for several years. Contact: Erica Bigley, ebigley@freedomfinancialnetwork.com, 415-710-9006 Hope Always Wins will inspire and challenge you to believe in God's great plan for you, starting exactly where you are. Author Marla Lucas encourages readers to hope in Hope Always Wins: 15 Days to Strong ($17.49, paperback, 9781662829307; $8.99, e-book, 9781662829314). Lucas knows something about hopelessness. She miscarried her first baby, divorced after 20 years of marriage, navigated frightening career changes, lost her father to COPD and battled breast cancer. Through it all, she felt Gods presence right by her side, cheering her on and seeing her through. In this book, she strives to inspire others to believe in hope again. Hope Always Wins will inspire and challenge you to believe in God's great plan for you, starting exactly where you are. Everything you've been through will work in your favor. Hold on tight, hold on to God, and trust His plan, said Lucas. Marla Jean Lucas is a Christian radio host, Executive Director for a non-profit, and an author. She has two amazing sons, Stephen and Christian, who live nearby in the Show-Me state of Missouri. Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Hope Always Wins is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. A new report shows that 47% of renters over 55 and not working in Milwaukee are rent-burdened, with many spending more than half of their income on rent. Heartland Housing's new affordable housing development aims to be the first step in rectifying that. Heartland Housing, a division of Heartland Alliance, joins city, county, and statewide partners in the grand opening of the new 37th Street Apartments. The former 37th Street School has been renovated into 49 units of affordable for Milwaukees aging populations. The buildings grand opening coincides with a report, developed in partnership with Heartland Alliances Social IMPACT Research Center and the RRF Foundation, that finds a dramatic need for more affordable housing as south east Wisconsins population continues to age. Our Social IMPACT Research Center has found that 47% of renters in Milwaukee are rent-burdened, with many spending more than half of their income on rent, said Heartland Housing Executive Director, Earl Chase. We need to continue developing concrete solutions to ensure safe, affordable housing for all of us. The report, titled Housing Needs for Older Adult: An Assessment of Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties states that the aging population (people over 55) is growing in all three counties in south east Wisconsin. At the same time, older adults are facing declining incomes as they age, relying more on social security or lower wage jobs for living expenses. The data illustrate trends that threaten housing stability for older adults in Southeastern Wisconsin, said Katie Buitrago, Senior Director of Research and Analytics at Heartland Alliance. Older adults deserve safe, affordable housing that allows them to age independently, but there are not enough resources to bridge the gap between what older adults can afford and what it costs to operate affordable housing. The historic building at 1715 N. 37th St. was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Heartlands rehabilitation has repurposed the building into 49 modern apartments, and will be available for individuals with incomes between approximately $17,500 and $45,000 per year, with a few units for those with incomes above $45,000. New space has been redeveloped in partnership with Community First to address the specific needs of Wisconsinites over 55. The development of 37th Street Apartments was supported by historic preservation tax credits and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Other lead partners in the development include the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the City of Milwaukee, along with funding partners Enterprise Community Investment, and BMO Harris Bank. This will be Heartland Housings fifth housing development in the city of Milwaukee. Previous developments include: Maskani Place (320 E. Center St. opened 2014) Capuchin Apartments (2502 W. Tamarack St. opened 2011) Prairie Apartments (1218 W. Highland Ave. opened 2008) St. Anthony Place (1004 N. 10th St. Opened 2020) About Heartland Housing Heartland Housing, Inc., a subsidiary of Heartland Alliance, is a community housing development organization which facilitates the development of people through the preservation and creation of affordable and supportive housing, with a priority in meeting the needs of those facing homelessness, those with very low-income, and those with chronic disabilities. http://www.heartlandhousing.org About Heartland Alliances Social IMPACT Research Center Heartland Alliances Social IMPACT Research Center conducts research that helps leaders create change and advance real-world solutions to poverty. For more info, visit http://www.heartlandalliance.org/research/ and follow us on Twitter. For Electronic Renderings and Pictures of St. Anthonys check out: https://www.heartlandalliance.org/news-media The promise and power of IDbyDNAs approach to democratizing Precision Metagenomics has never been more evident, and we are delighted to welcome these esteemed leaders to our Scientific Advisory Board. On the heels of its appointment of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) leader Neil Gunn as CEO, IDbyDNA is announcing the additions of several notable leaders to their Scientific Advisory Board, including Dr. Adrian Egli, Head of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology at the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland and Dr. Tamara V. Feldblyum, who most recently served at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Egli and Feldblyum are joined by Dr. Karl Voelkerding, one of the worlds leading experts in next-generation sequencing; Dr. Christopher Woods, Executive Director of the Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health and professor of Medicine and Pathology at Duke University; and Dr. Stephen Young, Director of Research and Clinical Trials at TriCore Reference Laboratory. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need and use case for metagenomics to help support complex clinical cases, including the detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 and implications of co-infections. By providing deeper insights into the complete pathogen profile, Precision Metagenomics is capable of delivering comprehensive data to better inform treatment of critically-ill patients. IDbyDNA and its growing team are well positioned to broaden the availability of its platform for rapid identification and actionable insights needed to better understand and classify infectious diseases. The promise and power of IDbyDNAs approach to democratizing Precision Metagenomics has never been more evident, and we are delighted to welcome these esteemed leaders to our Scientific Advisory Board said Gunn. These additions reinforce our commitment to bringing together the best and brightest in the field to make our mission a reality - and we recognize the impact of having Adrian, Tamara, Karl, Christopher, and Steve join our team - particularly as it relates to our progress in the regulatory, diagnostic and antimicrobial resistance space. We know this is just the beginning of a very significant period in our evolution as a company and reinforces our role as the leader in precision metagenomics. More about IDbyDNAs new advisory board members: Dr. Adrian Egli: Is the head of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology at the University Hospital Basel and an Independent Research Group Leader at the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel. As a physician scientist, he has pioneered the introduction of whole genome sequencing, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and artificial intelligence in clinical microbiology. Dr. Tamara Feldblyum: Served for 15 years at the FDAs CDRHs Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health as a Branch Chief in the Division of Microbiology Devices and was also the director of a core sequencing facility at The Institute for Genomic Research, where she was responsible for genome library construction, high throughput sequencing, genome finishing, quality control and assurance, research and development, new technology implementation, and more. Dr. Karl Voelkerding: Dr. Karl Voelkerding is one of the worlds leading experts in diagnostic genomics. As part of the College of American Pathologists and the Association for Molecular Pathology he has led the development of guidelines and recommendations for best practices in NGS-based testing. Dr. Christopher Woods: Serves as Chief of Infectious Diseases for the Durham VA Medical Center. He has published over 210 peer-reviewed articles. His genomic approach to harnessing the host response for diagnosis of infectious diseases has been called a paradigm shift in the field. Dr. Stephen Young: Steve Young is an infectious disease pioneer. During his decades-long career, Dr. Young has provided technical expertise and laboratory operations experience to approximately 40 in-vitro diagnostics device companies and has completed over 200 FDA clinical trials, contributing immeasurable breadth of clinical understanding in the field of microbiological diagnostics. This is a pivotal time for the global health community - and with it, the world has become keenly aware of the potential sequencing may have in expanding our knowledge about infectious diseases, added Feldblyum. Having spent more than a decade at the FDA, I look forward to helping IDbyDNA accelerate the availability of its platform so that clinicians and researchers can take advantage of metagenomics. About IDbyDNA IDbyDNA is driving a paradigm shift in infectious disease testing by democratizing the power of Precision Metagenomics, delivering precise insights for better health. Explify* data analytics enable laboratories to detect and profile microorganisms from any specimen in a scalable, intuitive way at genomic-level resolution. Our industry-leading expertise in microbial genomics delivers complete infection profiles for infectious disease testing and pathogen surveillance. For more information, visit http://www.idbydna.com. *For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Lemont, Illinois-based children's author Meg Dagnino encourages youngsters to use their imaginations in her book: "Witch's Brew" published by Fig Factor Media. In true me style, I took this party to the next level and wrote the Witchs Brew for it. It was back when you could bring food into the classroom and the kids loved the activity and the snack! I kept doing the brew at every Halloween party and each year the kids got more and more into it. With excitement brewing and Halloween just around the corner, Chicagoland first-time childrens author Meg Dagnino, is launching her delightful interactive book, Witchs Brew at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12 during a Facebook Live event. Dagnino has concocted the perfect magical recipe counting book to get children to create lifelong memories by using their imagination. The book is published by Fig Factor Media and illustrated by Daniella Turano. Geared to children ages 2 to 10, Dagnino uses the friendly witch Eldora and her adorable and curious Goldendoodle pup Mae to spread Halloween cheer and encourage readers to create their own special brews by assigning silly names to 10 foods presented in the book. For example, bat brains are raisins and spiderwebs are popcorn. Dagnino, a former oncology nurse and a school nurse, adds an interactive element to the reading experience as readers can access a special video through a QR code in the book. In the guise of Eldora, Dagnino creates her brew and encourages the viewers to help her add and stir ingredients. The book idea came about eight years ago when Dagnino planned a Halloween party complete with games, crafts and other activities for her sons kindergarten class. In true me style, I took this party to the next level and wrote the Witchs Brew for it, she said. It was back when you could bring food into the classroom and the kids loved the activity and they loved the snack! I kept doing the brew at every Halloween party and each year the kids got more and more into it. It was always something they looked forward to. If I can spread this joy to other families by bringing the brew into their homes, then it all is worth it! Her father saw that the idea of the brew could be the recipe for a childrens book. Ever since then, I couldnt get it out of my head and I started looking into the process, she said. The book is more than just the book. Its the experience as well and that is why I created the video to go along with it which can be found by scanning the QR code in the book that takes you to my website. Dagnino hopes that children will be inspired to make their own beautiful Halloween traditions and continue to create lifelong moments. Part of the books proceeds will go to the adoption agency called All Gods Children International which has helped the Dagninos add son Ray, 14 and Emme, 11 to their family. Our children are internationally adopted and we are still heavily connected to this agency and their mission to end the orphan crisis of the world. We as a family, always think of ways we can support and this will be a perfect way to give back to them! Witchs Brew is available on Amazon. For more information about the book, visit http://www.witchsbrewbook.com/. About Witchs Brew: Witchs Brew is a delightful interactive experience geared towards families with children ages 2-10. While reading an engaging lighthearted rhyme, the children are also counting their favorite snacks and creating a spooky and delicious treat! As they listen to the tale, they use their imaginations to add the individual elements of the snack to the brew, which assists in not only holding their attention, but also creating anticipation for the next element. The 10 individual ingredients make this an interactive counting book for our youngest readers, but young and old alike will enjoy the tale and creative activity. A book and interactive experience that will spark any child's creativity and learning all while creating a yummy treat! For more information about the book, visit http://www.witchsbrewbook.com/. ### Kym Frank is an absolute powerhouse... Intermx, a leading location data and platform-provider, today named Kym Frank to the newly-created role of Global Chief Experience Officer (CxO). Intermx is already the dominant provider of location and human mobility intelligence solutions for the out-of-home advertising industry (OOH) in the United States. Their product profile also includes travel and tourism, retail visitation, real estate, city planning, and agency solutions. In this new role, Frank, a veteran media and market research expert, will solidify Intermxs brand profile and expand their product footprint into new industry verticals, geographies, and media channels. I partnered with Intermx in my prior role because of their superior approach to everywhere intelligence as well as their ability to harness the power of data through user-centric platform design, said Frank. Now, I look forward to maximizing the organizations potential and helping companies across the media and marketing ecosystem leverage smarter analytics through Intermx partnerships. I am thrilled to join this team of absolute rock stars. "Kym Frank is an absolute powerhouse," said Ryan Kinskey, Cofounder of Intermx. "I have had the pleasure of working with Kym over the past 6 years. She has an unmatched eye for crafting a vision and voice, understanding the power of great data and the nuts and bolts of bringing new products to market. As Intermx has laid a foundation of accessible population insights via the marriage of data science and elegant interfaces, Kyms in-depth knowledge of media research across all channels is a huge asset to recognizing our full potential. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to the positive impact she most surely will have at Intermx, both internally and externally." Frank brings more than two decades of media and market research expertise to Intermx. Previously, she was the President of Geopath, the non-profit organization that provides the currency for out-of-home advertising, where she led the organization through a full rebrand, launched a new, state-of-the-art measurement system, and tripled the membership. While there, she launched the Global OOH Research Leads, a consortium of the worlds leading OOH measurement experts, established to foster collaboration and research excellence internationally. Prior to joining Geopath, she led client solutions for Symphony Advanced Media, an industry leader in cross-platform measurement. There, she developed several signature products and helped more than triple the firms revenue. She has also held leadership positions at ZenithOptimedia, FTI Consulting (previously Financial Dynamics), CBS Television Distribution and King World. Frank currently serves as the President of the Market Research Council and won the 2020 Cynopsis Top Women in Media award. About Intermx Founded in 2017, Intermx provides everywhere intelligence to partners in advertising, government, tourism, transportation engineering, and retail. Powered by geospatial technology authorities, data scientists, engineers, and experts in UX, Intermx delivers human mobility insights via its data enablement platform. Their proprietary solutions provide historical, real-time, normative, and predictive information about population movement while preserving consumer privacy. For more information, visit http://www.intermx.com If you would like to know more about the KaiserAir, Inc. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The San Francisco labor law attorneys, at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against KaiserAir, Inc. for allegedly failing to provide employees with legally compliant meal and rest periods. The KaiserAir, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. RG21113701, is currently pending in the Alameda County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, KaiserAir, Inc. allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 226, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay overtime wages; (2) pay minimum wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) reimburse for required business expenses; (5) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (6) provide sick pay at the correct rate of pay; and (6) provide wages when due. The lawsuit also alleges KaiserAir, Inc. violated the Private Attorneys General Act ("PAGA"), which gives rise to civil penalties as a result of KaiserAir, Inc.'s conduct. PAGA allows aggrieved employees to file a lawsuit to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. An "aggrieved employee" is defined as "any person who was employed by the alleged violator and against whom one or more of the alleged violations was committed." Cal. Lab. Code section 2699(c). PAGA allows aggrieved employees to become deputized as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. If you would like to know more about the KaiserAir, Inc. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- Logistyx Technologies CEO Geoffrey Finlay Being honored with a 2021 Global CEO Excellence Award is a testament to the dedication of the entire team at Logistyx and our continuous drive to help our clients discover efficiencies and achieve robust results each and every day. Logistyx Technologies, the leader in strategic parcel shipping and fulfillment technology, recently announced that Logistyx Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Finlay has been honored in the fifth annual CEO Monthly Global CEO Excellence Awards as the Best Parcel Shipping CEO of 2021. The CEO Monthly Global CEO Excellence Awards commend leaders who continue to demonstrate unmatched levels of dedication in their role and serve as inspiration for those seeking to overcome a challenging year. With the myriad supply chain obstacles faced over the last year and beyond, companies seek more viable solutions to create efficiencies and increase agility, helping them transcend supply chain boundaries, said Finlay. Being honored with a 2021 Global CEO Excellence Award is a testament to the dedication of the entire team at Logistyx and our continuous drive to help our clients discover those efficiencies and achieve robust results each and every day. Finlay joined Logistyx as CEO with more than 35 years of experience leading global companies within the software and computer technology industries. Hes accompanied by a strong executive team at Logistyx with a significant depth of knowledge around parcel shipping solutions, positioning the company well to support enterprise clients from around the world. Under Finlays leadership, Logistyx has experienced significant growth of talent, technology, and clients in recent years, which fuels continuous innovation and propelled Logistyx onto the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America. Logistyx is the leading cloud-based multi-carrier shipping technology provider in the world, empowering companies of all sizes to build more efficient, intelligent, connected supply chains. Anchored by an advanced portfolio of shipping software solutions, deep expertise, and a library of more than 550 carriers, Logistyx helps businesses automate the parcel shipping process to reduce costs and consistently achieve on-time delivery. To learn more about Logistyxs leading cloud-based multi-carrier solution for global parcel shipping, visit http://www.logistyx.com. Read Finlays full winner profile and visit http://www.CEO-Review.com to see the complete list of 2021 Global CEO Excellence Award winners. About Logistyx Technologies Logistyx Technologies connects top retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers to more than 550 in-network carriers with strategic parcel shipping and omnichannel fulfillment technology. Shippers rapidly realize fulfillment cost savings and end-to-end visibility for all shipments, proactive alerts to delays and potential solutions, and unparalleled insights and scenario forecasting with Logistyx. As businesses increasingly embrace omnichannel retail, Logistyx provides faster and more expansive delivery options and business intelligence to drive loyalty through customer satisfaction. Headquartered in Chicago, Logistyx Technologies has international offices in Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore. For more information, visit http://www.Logistyx.com. # # # MARI - Exterior We are thrilled to be breaking ground on our latest development, delivering a premier property to the market at a time where there is a need for new for-sale housing options in Downtown Bellevue MARI, Bellevues distinctive high-rise residences in the heart of Downtowns vibrant retail and the Eastsides prestigious residential neighborhoods, has officially broken ground on its 17-story tower. A masterpiece of architecture and design, MARI blends traditional design with a modern flair to its 138 condominiums, inviting future residents to find inspirations in one of the Eastsides most desired markets. The ground breaking signals the project for completion in 2023. Developed by Create World Real Estate alongside a renowned design team, MZA Architects and B+H Architects, MARI is the citys newest luxury building encased within a striking exterior facade and includes curated amenities, 24/7 onsite concierge services and Downtown Bellevues only rooftop amenity space atop of a condominium high rise. The distinctive high-rise will offer studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences with voluminous market-leading ceiling heights and luxuriously appointed finishes. MARIs design fully express Create Worlds vision for creating a high-design high-rise community for todays discerning buyer in the heart of downtown Bellevue. Incorporating approximately 15,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor amenity space, residents will have access to a sky lounge, rooftop deck, a private dining room, zen library, fitness center, yoga studio and a pet spa. Additionally, MARI offers 2,700 square foot of street level restaurant space and 3,000 square feet of second floor retail space. Create World recognizes the growing appeal of Bellevues Downtown, MARI is well-positioned in the center of culture, cuisine and creativity, said Dehlan Gwo, Director of Marketing and Sales at Create World Real Estate. We are thrilled to be breaking ground on our latest development, delivering a premier property to the market at a time where there is a need for new for-sale housing options in Downtown Bellevue. MARI celebrates high design with a spacious, yet intimate boutique feel that brings warmth into each of the building's 138 homes. Starting in the kitchen, quartz countertops and full-height quartz backsplashes are complemented by a custom-designed island and cabinetry. Buyers will also find frameless glass enclosed showers and designer-selected porcelain tiles throughout the residence bathrooms. MARI residences also include soaring ceiling heights up to 1110 on the highest residential floors and floor-to-ceiling windows to allow ample natural light. Many homes include balconies. Located at NE 10th Street and 103rd Ave NE, MARIs central location provides easy access to a vibrant mix of the best shopping, parks, top-rated Bellevue public and private schools and the urban upmarket amenities, while also offering a 3-level below grade garage with 160 parking stalls. MARI sits in close proximity to the Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue Square, Meydenbauer Bay Park and Lake Washington. Close proximinity to the newly completed Amazon 1001 office towers and Microsofts headquarters. MARIS groundbreaking marks Create Worlds third condominium project in the area, following the success of Mira Flats in Bellevue and The Emerald in downtown Seattle. MARIs new collection of modern high-rise homes are set to hit the market in mid 2022. For more information, please visit MariBellevue.com. "Our team is passionate about serving others, from patients to physicians and caregivers, and it shows in everything we do." Ananth Ravi, Chief Science and Clinical Officer, MOLLI Surgical MOLLI Surgical Inc. a medical device innovator providing breast cancer patients with a better experience through wire-free localization technology for breast cancer surgery is now certified as a Great Place to Work after a thorough, independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work Institute Canada. This certification is based on direct feedback from employees, provided as part of an extensive and anonymous survey about their workplace experience. The survey results showed that our people take a great deal of pride in the work they do at MOLLI Surgical and in the work of their colleagues, said Fazila Seker, CEO of MOLLI Surgical. This certification is a tremendous testament to the values we share and Im tremendously thankful to our team for their valuable feedback, for being ambassadors of our values, and for their trust in our executive team. Our team is passionate about serving others, from patients to physicians and caregivers, and it shows in everything we do, said Ananth Ravi, Chief Science and Clinical Officer, MOLLI Surgical. They inspire me every day in this work that means so much to all of us. Nancy Fonseca, Senior Vice President of Great Place to Work Canada, says that a great workplace is about the level of trust that employees experience in their leaders, the level of pride they have in their jobs, and the extent to which they enjoy their colleagues. "Our data shows that great workplaces benefit from stronger financial performance, reduced turnover, and better customer satisfaction than their peers. What's more, work environments with trust at the foundation are ripe for innovation, agility, resilience and efficiency," Fonseca said. MOLLI Surgicals technology helps radiologists mark lesions quickly and accurately, and enables surgeons to locate and remove lesions more efficiently while facilitating the best cosmetic results and a better patient experience. About MOLLI Surgical: MOLLI Surgical started in the operating room, where surgeons were using dated tools to treat cancer patients and we knew we could do better. Our surgical wand is precise, easy-to-use and built with the realities of the operating room in mind. More importantly, it is built with patients in mind. Our technology replaces procedures to mark tumours with one that is not only kinder but more accurate, efficient and cost-effective. MOLLI Surgical is proud to build the advanced equipment that patients prefer to have and that physicians prefer to use. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. About Great Place to Work: Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes Canadas Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit them at Great Place to Work or find them on Twitter. Media inquiries, please contact media@mollisurgical.com New York City recipients' award badge We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review and evaluate insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the New York, New York recipients of its inaugural Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for 2021. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award Program evaluates brokers based on industry experience, company size, online ratings and reviews and recognizes esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers and peers. Our list recognizes consultants who primarily work with mid-to-large sized employers, as well as brokers who work with small businesses. Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier, said Brian Freeman of Mployer Advisor. We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. The industry has been dependent on referrals and existing relationships instead of data-driven outcomes for too long. With Mployer Advisor, we celebrate this distinguished group of brokers and consultants. The New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY and NJ market is a competitive job market in the U.S. Northeast, employing more than 8.9 million people. Offering industry-leading, competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring and engaging top talent for New York and New Jersey employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2021 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for New York are as follows: AssuredPartners Crystal & Company, An Alliant Company EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management & Consulting HUB International Marsh & McLennan Agency NFP USI Insurance Services Willis Towers Watson The above winners are a brief snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 30, 2021. To determine award winners, Mployer Advisor analyzed each brokerage based on historical data, business experience across employer size, industry and products, as well as relevant online ratings and reviews from employers across several platforms. To view a full list of consultants in New York and New Jersey, visit MployerAdvisor.com. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Since Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Jacob Westfall (Public Relations Consultant) Jacob.Westfall@mployeradvisor.com Newark, New Jersey recipients' award badge Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review and evaluate insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the Newark, New Jersey recipients of its inaugural Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for 2021. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award Program evaluates brokers based on industry experience, company size, online ratings and reviews and recognizes esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers and peers. Our list recognizes consultants who primarily work with mid-to-large sized employers, as well as brokers who work with small businesses. Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier, said Brian Freeman of Mployer Advisor. We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. The industry has been dependent on referrals and existing relationships instead of data-driven outcomes for too long. With Mployer Advisor, we celebrate this distinguished group of brokers and consultants. The Newark, New Jersey market is a competitive job market in the U.S. Northeast, employing more than 280,000 people. Offering industry-leading, competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring and engaging top talent for Newark employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2021 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Newark are as follows: Brown & Brown Insurance Marsh & McLennan Agency Mercer Health & Benefits PeopleStrategy Savoy USI Insurance Services Willis Towers Watson The above winners are a brief snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 30, 2021. To determine award winners, Mployer Advisor analyzed each brokerage based on historical data, business experience across employer size, industry and products, as well as relevant online ratings and reviews from employers across several platforms. To view a full list of consultants in Newark, visit MployerAdvisor.com. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Since Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Jacob Westfall (Public Relations Consultant) Jacob.Westfall@mployeradvisor.com San Francisco recipients' award badge We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review and evaluate insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the San Francisco, California recipients of its inaugural Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for 2021. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award Program evaluates brokers based on industry experience, company size, online ratings and reviews and recognizes esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers and peers. Our list recognizes consultants who primarily work with mid-to-large sized employers, as well as brokers who work with small businesses. Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier, said Brian Freeman of Mployer Advisor. We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. The industry has been dependent on referrals and existing relationships instead of data-driven outcomes for too long. With Mployer Advisor, we celebrate this distinguished group of brokers and consultants. The San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA market is a competitive job market in the U.S. West, employing more than 2.3 million people. Offering industry-leading, competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring and engaging top talent for San Francisco employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2021 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for San Francisco are as follows: Advanced Estate & Insurance Services (AEIS) EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants FCE Benefits Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management & Consulting HUB International Johnson & Dugan Newfront Insurance ProCo Risk Strategies Sequoia USI Insurance Services Woodruff Sawyer The above winners are a brief snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 30, 2021. To determine award winners, Mployer Advisor analyzed each brokerage based on historical data, business experience across employer size, industry and products, as well as relevant online ratings and reviews from employers across several platforms. To view a full list of consultants in San Francisco, visit MployerAdvisor.com. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Since Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Jacob Westfall (Public Relations Consultant) Jacob.Westfall@mployeradvisor.com Nassau and Suffolk County recipients' award badge Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review and evaluate insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the Nassau and Suffolk County, New York recipients of its inaugural Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for 2021. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award Program evaluates brokers based on industry experience, company size, online ratings and reviews and recognizes esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers and peers. Our list recognizes consultants who primarily work with mid-to-large sized employers, as well as brokers who work with small businesses. Who an employer chooses as their insurance broker has significantly more impact on the cost and quality of their benefit plan than who they chose as their insurance carrier, said Brian Freeman of Mployer Advisor. We are proud to honor this distinct group of insurance consultants who have demonstrated a wide range of experience and positive employer feedback on service and quality. The industry has been dependent on referrals and existing relationships instead of data-driven outcomes for too long. With Mployer Advisor, we celebrate this distinguished group of brokers and consultants. The Nassau and Suffolk County, NY market is a competitive job market in the U.S. Northeast employing more than 2.7 million people. Offering industry-leading, competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring and engaging top talent for New York employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2021 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Nassau and Suffolk County are as follows: Alliant Employee Benefits Brown & Brown Insurance EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants FNA Insurance Consultants Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management & Consulting HUB International Marsh & McLennan Agency Professional Group Plans SterlingRisk Insurance The above winners are a brief snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 30, 2021. To determine award winners, Mployer Advisor analyzed each brokerage based on historical data, business experience across employer size, industry and products, as well as relevant online ratings and reviews from employers across several platforms. To view a full list of consultants in New York, visit MployerAdvisor.com. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Since Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Jacob Westfall (Public Relations Consultant) Jacob.Westfall@mployeradvisor.com Our firm has thoroughly enjoyed our partnership on past projects, and we look forward to continuing that partnership on this important project. Cadence McShane Construction Company is excited to break ground on the two-part project for New Braunfels ISD NBISD New Elementary School, located on South Guenther Avenue in New Braunfels, Texas. This is the final project in the 2018 bond program to break ground. The scope includes demolition of the existing ninth grade center as well as ground-up construction of a two-story elementary school. The new campus will function as a replacement for Carl Schurz and Seele elementary schools which were built in 1935 and 1950. The elementary school will be approximately 115,000 square feet and will be able to accommodate 850 students in grades kindergarten through fifth. Cadence McShane has worked closely with New Braunfels ISD in the past, having completed two ground-up elementary schools, Veramendi and Voss Farms, as well as renovations to New Braunfels High School and stadium in 2017. Cadence McShane is thrilled to continue working with New Braunfels ISD, remarked Srinath Pai Kasturi, Executive Vice President of Cadence McShane. Our firm has thoroughly enjoyed our partnership on past projects, and we look forward to continuing that partnership on this important project. As part of the assignment, Cadence McShane is completing all sitework including surface parking, site concrete, courtyards, exterior play areas and revisions to an existing detention pond. Stantec is serving as project architect. The new elementary school is slated for completion in August of 2023. About Cadence McShane Construction Company Founded in 1985, Cadence McShane Construction Company (CMC) has grown to become one of the most trusted and well-established contractors in the State of Texas. Specializing in the Education, Multifamily, Senior Living, Commercial, and Industrial market sectors, we offer design-build, and construction management services from our offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. CMC is part of The McShane Companies and, along-side our sister company McShane Construction, is recognized as one of the largest general contractors in the United States, with Top-10 rankings across the Multifamily, Senior Living and Education sectors. For additional information, visit the firms website at https://cadencemcshane.com/. The Hispanic Federation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Latin Americans. This organization accomplishes this feat by providing the community with several resources that are critical elements to a better life, including: Medical Economical Educational Environmental Civic Engagement The Hispanic Federation is also dedicated to helping those who are living in poverty keep their homes, fight hunger, and come together to help one another. Their mission is to create A Stronger New York City by increasing access to these resources for Latinos in the community. Goidel & Siegel is dedicated to protecting workers and those who have been injured in construction sites and automotive accidents. Their team of personal injury lawyers has years of experience in fighting for Latino communities throughout New York City. Goidel & Siegel also believes that legal resources should be available for Hispanic communities. Goidel & Siegel is proud to be a partner in creating change by offering a generous donation to the Hispanic Federation in support of their efforts. Johnathan M. Goidel and Andrew B. Siegel co-founded this New York City personal injury firm with one mission: To help those who have been injured by no fault of their own. Their lawyers are not afraid to take cases the distance needed to get their clients fair compensation for their injuries. The construction industry is notorious for having the highest rate of death and injuries from slips and falls. These accidents are catastrophic and often result from employer negligence regarding on-the-job training, education, and/or lack of fall prevention protocol. Slips, trips, and falls account for nearly one-third of all Hispanic work-related deaths in the construction industry. Data also shows that Latinos are at a disproportionate risk of suffering from automobile crash-related injuries and deaths. Automobile crashes are the number one cause of fatalities in Hispanics under age 34. Both construction site accidents and automobile crashes can leave victims with injuries that negatively affect their quality of life. Common injuries include: Broken Bones (hips, wrist, arm, ankles, back) Lacerations Spinal Cord Damage Head Trauma Victims may also suffer from anxiety and depression due to the financial burden caused by lost wages and medical bills. Oftentimes, these injuries leave victims with disabilities that result in the inability to work. Employers are responsible for protecting their workforce by providing adequate training, equipment, and resources. Failing to do is an injustice to the community and these companies should be held responsible for their negligence. Victims of these tragic accidents may be due compensation for their injuries, including: Lost Wages Medical Bills Pain and Suffering More About Goidel & Siegel The disproportionate death and injury rate of hardworking Latinos is an injustice to our communities. Goidel & Siegel has been representing construction site and automobile injury cases for over thirty years. Reach out to Goidel & Siegel if you or a loved one have been injured on a construction site or automotive crash. A team of compassionate and experienced lawyers will be happy to assist you in building a case to get you the compensation that you deserve. You can learn more or schedule a free consultation on their website at http://www.goidelandsiegel.com Excellence in instruction and equity in opportunity are core tenets of our work at NOVA and we are proud to announce a new way to support our AANAPI students, said Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA. We are grateful to the US Department of Education for funding this exciting, innovative program. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will build on its commitment to inclusive excellence by launching a new program to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) students. Funded by a $1.3 million grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Education, NOVAs new Asian Pacific Pedagogy for Equity, Achievement and Learning (APPEAL) program will provide AANAPI students with services to promote course success in foundational Math and English courses, overall college retention and overall degree completion. NOVA, a Minority-Serving Institution, is one of only 13 institutions of higher learning to receive this award in 2021. Excellence in instruction and equity in opportunity are core tenets of our work at NOVA and we are proud to announce a new way to support our AANAPI students, said Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA. We are grateful to the US Department of Education for funding this exciting, innovative program. "This grant will enable NOVA to do more for our AANAPI students as our country continues to address the impact of COVID-19 and confront ongoing biases that impact AANAPI communities, said Dr. Nathan Carter, NOVAs chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. This program was written with comprehensive student wellness and representation in mind and will significantly expand the colleges ability to support our students. Through the APPEAL program, NOVA will provide low-income AANAPI students with transformative learning experiences that utilize high-impact practices and culturally responsive pedagogy to improve student success. The program will also establish an AANAPI Intercultural Learning Center for tutoring, mentorship, community building and other student support services. Fairfax County, Northern Virginias largest jurisdiction and home to NOVAs Annandale Campus, has the nations 7th largest population of Asian Americans, including those of South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese immigrants. The Intercultural Learning Center will be situated on NOVAs Annandale Campus. NOVA will take a scalable and coordinated approach that emphasizes Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) and High-Impact Practices (HIPs), which are both are known to reduce gaps in equity and opportunity for minoritized students. NOVAs APPEAL program will develop a culture of learning for faculty who teach foundational courses in Math and English to become more aware of issues that impact AANAPI students and develop culturally responsive and high-impact classroom practices to help students succeed in these critical foundational courses in order for them to complete their desired degree or certification. NOVA continually works to address the growing concerns of discrimination against AANAPI communities. The new Center will be instrumental in engaging with local AANAPI leaders, alongside NOVAs faculty, staff, AANAPI and other students to promote practices that emphasize truth, racial healing and transformational experiences. Led by NOVAs Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the project manager of the grant will be Dr. Nathan Carter. A search for essential grant-funded personnel to provide day-to-day operation of the program, as well as assisting in recruitment of AANAPISI Peer Mentors from NOVAs AANAPI student body is the first step. NOVAs Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is committed to advancing inclusive excellence for improving the well-being and success of all NOVA students, faculty, staff and community members. The office works to raise awareness of divergent ideas, values, beliefs, abilities and perspectives while also advancing equity within the Colleges Mission and Strategic Plan to help create and sustain a more inclusive and accepting college community. The Department of Educations Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program provides grants and assistance to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to enable these institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve the AANAPI community. More information about the program can be found here. NOVA congratulates the other recipient institutions of this prestigious grant: Century College (Minn.) Chabot College (Calif.) Cosumnes River College (Calif.) California State University, Fresno (Calif.) California State University, Long Beach (Calif.) California State University, Sacramento (Calif.) North Seattle College (Wash.) San Diego Mesa College (Calif.) Seattle Central College (Wash.) Shoreline Community College (Wash.) South Seattle College (Wash.) University of Nevada, Las Vegas (NV) For questions about the grant, contact Dr. Nathan Carter, NOVAS CDEIO, at nacarter@nvcc.edu. For all other media inquiries, please contact Hoang Nguyen, NOVAs public information officer, at hdnguyen@nvcc.edu. ### Northern Virginia Community College is the largest public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America's largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 75,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge, and through NOVA Online. For more information about NOVA and its programs or services, call 703-323-3000 or visit the College's Web site, http://www.nvcc.edu Jen Gilburg, VP of Business Development Perceptive Automata, the leading provider of software that allows machines to understand the state of mind of people, is pleased to announce the expansion of their leadership team by welcoming Jen Gilburg to the position of Vice President of Business Development. Jen is an established business executive with several decades of proven success in launching groundbreaking initiatives and technologies. We are delighted to welcome Jen Gilburg to our leadership team, said Bruce Reading, CEO of Perceptive Automata. Jen brings a wealth of experience in security software and hardware markets, sensors, cloud services and Internet of Things to our company, along with a comprehensive understanding of customer and partner requirements that are vital to our growth. Before joining Perceptive Automata, Jen was Sr. Director of Strategy for TE Connectivity, where she led strategy and business development for the TE Sensor Solution division. At TE, she oversaw the acquisition of First Sensor, a Berlin-based technology company, which makes sensors for LiDAR systems. She also directed efforts to expand TEs deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors. Prior to TE, Jen held various Business Development and Strategy positions at Intel, where she was co-creator of Intel Secure Device Onboard, a method for securely onboarding IoT devices, which has recently become an industry standard. Im incredibly excited to be able to join Perceptive Automata, said Jen. This is a company that truly understands the Autonomous Vehicle and Robotics Industries, and whose AI-driven SOMAI technology will play a key role in accelerating the widespread rollout of autonomous vehicles. About Perceptive Automata Perceptive Automatas artificial intelligence software gives machines, such as self-driving vehicles, the ability to understand the human state of mind. Traditional AI techniques have historically perceived people merely as black boxes. By combining psychophysics techniques with machine learning, the companys AI removes the black box, giving autonomous systems the capability to anticipate and react to human behavior as people do. This is essential for autonomous systems to safely and seamlessly roll out in human-dominated road environments and to deliver a smooth ride experience for passengers of autonomous mobility services. For more information about Perceptive Automata, visit http://www.perceptiveautomata.com. Our emergency room nurses work so hard to care for our patients so the company decided to join the Emergency Nurses Association in celebrating these nurses. It is our way of saying thank you to them for all their efforts and hard work. SignatureCare Emergency Center has announced plans to celebrate its emergency room nurses this week in honor of Emergency Nurses Week. The 24-hour emergency room operator said it plans to distribute gifts to all of its emergency room nurses as a way of showing the nurses how much the company appreciates their hard work. Rhonda Abbe, Director of Operations for SignatureCare Emergency Center said that emergency room nurses work so hard to care for patients that it is only fitting to honor and celebrate them. Our emergency room nurses work so hard to care for our patients so the company decided to join the Emergency Nurses Association in celebrating these nurses. It is our way of saying thank you to them for all their commitment, efforts, and hard work, she said. This year, the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is celebrating Emergency Nurses Week Oct. 10-16, and Emergency Nurses Day is Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. According to the ENA, this years Emergency Nurses Week theme highlights an emergency nurses persistence, their passion, their grit. Emergency nurses face any number of challenges during any given day and do not back down. They are willing to face adversity and do what is needed for their patients. Emergency nurses come back for more day in, day out. They embody the word grit, the ENA said. Since 1989, the Emergency Nurses Association has recognized the second Wednesday in October as Emergency Nurses Day to honor emergency nurses for their commitment to patient care. In 2001, ENA expanded the celebration to devote an entire week to celebrating emergency nurses, because one day is simply not enough to recognize all contributions made by emergency nurses. For more information on emergency nursing or Emergency Nurses Week, please visit the Emergency Nurses Association website at http://www.ena.org. More information about SignatureCare Emergency Center is available at https://ercare24.com. About SignatureCare Emergency Center Houston, TX-based SignatureCare Emergency Center owns 24-hour emergency centers throughout Texas including nine ER locations in the Houston area (Montrose, Houston Heights, Cypress/FM 1960, Copperfield, Memorial City, Westchase, Bellaire, Mission Bend/Sugar Land, and Stafford), and over ten locations in Atascocita/Humble, Killeen, Austin, College Station/Bryan, Paris, Midland, Odessa, Texarkana, Spring, Plano, and Lewisville, TX. Alexander Akel Included in South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 List The South Florida Business Journal, the leading source for business news, data, and networking for Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, unveiled its 2021 Class of 40 Under 40 honorees, Alexander Akel being recognized as one of them. This years class of 11 women and 29 men were selected from more than 100 nominations from all regions of the United States. The diverse group of young men and women consist of 40 honorees who lead organizations across essential industries for our region, including technology, hospitality, real estate, health care, sports, and education. When these individuals are not contributing to local economic growth, theyre assisting their communities by volunteering at local nonprofit organizations. On July 30th 2021, The South Florida Business Journal marked their first in-person event since February 2020 by celebrating the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021 during a luncheon event at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida. Alex Akel is the President of Akel Homes, a private semi-custom homebuilder in South Florida specializing in developing energy-efficient and design-oriented lifestyle communities within urban and suburban areas. He became a licensed contractor in the state of Florida by the age of 23. Moving forward, he learned every aspect of the real estate development and homebuilding business by jumping right into the deep end as he started to build out each department of Akel Homes. Today, Alex is one of the youngest homebuilding executives in the country, and is well-versed in all aspects of homebuilding: land acquisition, financing, design, purchasing, land development, construction, and sales, and marketing. Under his leadership, Akel Homes has established itself as one of the largest builders in South Florida. Alex and the Akel Homes team are in the process of closing out Villamar at Toscana Isles, a resort-style, master planned community of 208 single-family homes in Lake Worth. Akel Homes has various development projects in the pipeline in Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie Counties due to break ground in 2022 and beyond. Learn more about the South Florida Business Journals remarkable 40 Under 40 Class of 2021, by viewing their profiles online at BizJournals.com/SouthFlorida/40-under-40. About 40 Under 40 Awards The award recognizes outstanding professionals under the age of 40 based in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties for their leadership, success in business, and contributions to their communities. About Akel Homes Akel Homes is a boutique semi-custom homebuilder based in South Florida. At Akel Homes, we build exceptional homes and amenity-rich communities that cater to all lifestyles. Akel Homes utilizes the highest quality building materials, innovative construction methods, and forward-thinking architectural designs to create unparalleled single-family residences, townhomes, and multifamily apartments in resort-style master-planned communities. Since 1986, the principals of Akel Homes have built over 4,000 residences and many of South Floridas most renowned communities. For more information, visit http://www.akelhomes.com California Direct Appeals Attorney Ronald A. Ziff helps with guilty verdict appeals. To the client, the legal process thus far has appeared to be oppressive, draconian, and lacking meaningful explanation from their prior legal representatives. The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ziff today announced that an influx of inquiries for direct appeals has led the firm to expand its focus on this process of criminal appeals. The shift in concentration will give necessary attention to recently sentenced appellate clients looking to appeal guilty verdicts that came as a result of ineffective representation and other errors during their criminal trial. To the client, the legal process thus far has appeared to be oppressive, draconian, and lacking meaningful explanation from their prior legal representatives, says California Direct Appeals Attorney Ronald A. Ziff. Were looking to correct that outlook through a successful appellate experience. In addition to addressing the rising number of direct appeals inquiries, the expanded coverage into direct appeals will facilitate the ability for Ziff and California Appeals Attorney Abby Besser Klein to swiftly assess the causes of clients inappropriate sentences and move immediately to appeal convictions. Only by filing a Notice of Appeal within 60 days after a California state court felony sentencing can direct appeals for criminal convictions be made. Ensuring the narrow timeline is met will afford the firms clients an opportunity to present their cases in front of a higher court, such as the California Court of Appeals and/or the California Supreme Court. While providing this intensified focus on direct appeals and other processes for overturning convictions, The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ziff will continue to offer comprehensive California criminal defense. The firm has seen routine criminal defense success, particularly in its defense of doctors charged with crimes. As a California criminal defense attorney, Ziff has helped doctors and their board lawyers retain their licenses and maintain their practices and livelihoods. We pride ourselves in navigating our clients through the criminal justice system and presenting them with a positive result, says Ziff. Our clients leave feeling relieved that a great burden has been lifted from their shoulders. Its very gratifying. About The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ziff, APLC Located in Los Angeles and practicing throughout Southern California, The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ziff provides unparalleled California criminal defense and exceptional representation in California criminal appeals. California criminal appellate attorneys Ronald A. Ziff and Abby Besser Klein have established reputations in the Los Angeles area for their successes in tough California criminal appeal cases. For more information about your right to a fair trial, getting started with a direct appeal, or habeas petition (writ of habeas corpus) of your criminal conviction and/or prison sentence, call The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ziff at (888) 953-9433 or visit http://www.socalcriminalappeals.com. Press release writing by WebSiteText and Proofreading Services by The Proofreaders. Driving without a license is not worth it. Besides facing financial penalties, drivers caught driving without a license can also face jail time., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents some of the reasons why drivers should avoid driving without a license. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/the-most-important-reasons-why-drivers-shouldnt-drive-without-a-license/ Many people are tempted to get behind the wheel, even if they dont have a license yet or they have it revoked, or expired. However, people driving a vehicle without a license risk losing more things than they can imagine. The consequences of driving without a license are the following: High fines. The fines for driving without a license are ranging from $150 to $10,000 for first offenses. Offenders will spend more money on their insurance premiums, possible court costs, vehicle impoundment fees, and more. Lawyers fee. Drivers who face jail time because they have been caught driving without a license and have been charged with a criminal offense should consider how much a law firm will cost to represent them in court. Its not cheap to pay a criminal defense lawyer by the hour just to lessen the penalties and charges. Drivers can add a misdemeanor or a felony to their record. In New York, drivers caught without a license can go to jail for 30 days. In Arizona, driving without a license is a Class I misdemeanor, and drivers caught without a license can get imprisonment for up to six months. Higher premiums. Not all insurance companies cover high-risk drivers, like drivers caught without a license. Also, the ones that do cover high-risk drivers are extremely expensive. Vehicle impoundment. In some states, driving while revoked, suspended, or otherwise unlicensed means immediate vehicle impoundment. Besides paying a $100-$500 fine, drivers will also have to pay several hundred dollars to the impound lot. However, in Alaska, drivers caught without a license can lose their cars for good. Vehicle registration can be revoked. After getting the car back from the impound lot, drivers will also have to make a trip to the local DMV and spend more money to re-register their vehicles. Prolonged license suspension. In Colorado, drivers who are caught twice driving without a license are no longer allowed to get one for at least three years. In North Carolina, drivers charged with a third offense can face a permanent license suspension. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. This Exclusive Real Time Digital Platform has redefined the way clients access Private Aviation making it more convenient and transparent with a new mobile application for Luxury Travel, Services, and Goods globally. With the release of the AvanteFly mobile App, we are committed to providing high value and uncompromising experience to ensure our members & clients get the utmost safety, privacy, and luxurious experience.-CEO AvanteFly, Bria Okonkwo AvanteFly has launched its Mobile Application with adequate features for Private Jet, Helicopter, Luxury Car charters, Hotels and Executive Spaces bookings. AvanteFly LLC is gaining new entry into the African space with the goal of facilitating Luxury travel and Lifestyle management for Corporate Executives, High Net Worth Individuals, and Individuals seeking a special luxury experience. For people desiring the exclusivity of private travel, AvanteFly is focused on an unparalleled commitment to providing a range of services from flight chartering to ground transportation, hotels, and other types of executive spaces. Our Partner Network is carefully chosen, meticulously guided, and held accountable to global safety and a premium standard; aligned with AvanteFlys service quality. AvanteFly Mobile App is the first African real-time aviation mobile application, that utilizes real time data, distance, and time to automate Private air charter bookings and payments. This eliminates avoidable delays using manual quotes, and lack of visibility in booking fees usually experienced in the private aviation industry. AvanteFly maintains these primary objectives 1. To provide luxury without compromising on privacy, safety, reliability, and convenience 2. To offer the greatest value and the most memorable experience through their extensive network and brand partners 3. To offer a holistic service for the luxury ecosystem with strategic luxury brand partnership across the globe. 4. To meet the exigent needs of corporate and high-profile clients with just a few clicks. With the COVID -19 pandemic, more travellers have increasingly turned to private jet travel to minimize their risk of exposure to the corona virus. AvanteFly has a robust and agile safety protocol to ensure that our clients are safe. The reveal of the AvanteFly mobile App is focused on providing value to our members without compromising on privacy, safety, reliability and a luxurious experience. Lets revolutionize the way you access and experience air travel. Its a world of possibilities! says AvanteFlys Founder and CEO, Bria Okonkwo. At its core, AvanteFly is a Benefit Corporation, Bria explained, Launching an Exclusive Charter and Lifestyle management company is timely; especially for the African market. AvanteFly offers 4 levels of membership to meet our clients needs. These 4 levels are: Garnet, Jadeite, Blue diamond and Black Diamond. Members take advantage of all exclusive add-ons such as Empty legs, Priority boarding on shared flights, access to Executive lounges and others. Also available to members are 14 additional services which include Private Banking, Global Mobility (Citizenship by Investment), Family Office, Luxury Goods Sourcing and much more. The AvanteFly team provides real time booking support (24/7) with a dedicated Personal Lifestyle Manager assigned to every member. AvanteFly members earn Membership Points with each successful booking and can also access promotional discounts available on bookings. To sign up as a member, simply download the AvanteFly app from the App store or Google Play Store and choose from any of the membership packages. For more information, visit http://www.avantefly.com or call +234 (1) 914 2000 for more information. AvanteFly: Fly Anywhere! Anytime! With a few clicks. Follow @AvanteFly on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/avantefly/?hl=en @AvanteFly on Twitter - https://twitter.com/avantefly?lang=en @AvanteFly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/avantefly @AvanteFly on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/avantefly Googles data shows that 48% of dental patients in the US researched for more than two weeks before scheduling an appointment. With users taking a close look during that period, the care provider's website stands out with an 83% visit rate among patients. it's at the top of the list of looked-at resources, while only 50% visited health information guides. DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with specialized agencies, has issued the October list of the top small business and dental web design companies that help customers choose their brand and patients feel at ease before scheduling a visit. The top small business web design and dental web design companies in October 2021 are: 1. eSEO Space - eseospace.com eSEO space is a web design and development agency specialized in building affordable and high-quality solutions. Started as a free service to local businesses in San Diego, eSEO Space covers start-ups, the health and wellness industry, but also caters to Fortune 500 companies and Government alike. 2. gang&lani media - askusforanything.com gang&lani media specializes in social media, branding and design, and web design, tackling complex problems and delivering simple solutions. They actively work with clients in dental web design, in general health, hospitality and others. 3. Java Logix - javalogix.ca Java Logix claims to utilize "100% data-driven" and result-oriented marketing techniques. These are used to scale and predictably measure both the utilization method and results of the various techniques they employ, be it PPC and social media marketing, or reputation management. 4. Digital Rankking - digitalrankking.com Expertise: Lead Generation, Web Design, Social Media Marketing and more 5. Yaadvi Brand Creators Inc. - yaadvi.com Expertise: Creatives, Digital Marketing, Web Design and more 6. webloftdesigns - webloftdesigns.com Expertise: Website Design, Systems Integration, Marketing Automation and more 7. Crediso Media - crediso.io Expertise: Social Media Optimization, Web Design and more 8. Techvantage Innovations - techvantage.org Expertise: Web Design, Big Data, Custom Software Development and more 9. ForeFront Web - forefrontweb.com Expertise: Success Plans, Social Media Management, Web Design and more Brands can explore the top small business and dental web design companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush. About DesignRush: DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies through expert reviews and agency ranking lists, awards, knowledge resources and personalized agency recommendations for vetted projects. Were excited to fund ONE UP in its mission to provide all-in-one party services, said Andrew DSouza, CEO and co-founder, Clearco. Clearco, the worlds largest e-commerce investor and the company revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced that its ClearAngel program is funding ONE UP, a premium party planning service that provides top quality personalized cakes, balloons and flowers for any event. ClearAngel gives early-stage founders access to revenue share capital, data-driven advice, and Clearcos extensive network of apps, agencies, and investors. Founded in 2016, ONE UP is different from traditional party planning services, focusing on adapting the one-stop-shop method while prioritizing creative, bespoke and trendy elements for all of your party needs. Co-founder, Lily Gao, has long been passionate about planning unique events that encourage others to be present and create long-lasting memories together. ONE UP has had amazing growth within the Vancouver community but with ClearAngels support, the team will now have access to innovative tools that will analyze the business in new, comprehensive ways to understand development and growth. ClearAngel will also provide ONE UP with access to higher-tech business strategies helping the business to continue its expansion to different markets. ClearAngel is one of a few equity-free, flexible capital options for early-stage founders who do not have the network to raise an angel round or join exclusive accelerators. The program has already funded over 350 companies since its February 2021 launch. Were excited to fund ONE UP in its mission to provide all-in-one party services, said Andrew DSouza, CEO and co-founder, Clearco. Investing in ONE UP reflects ClearAngels interest in empowering talented founders around the world to continue to grow their business. In addition to $10,000 of flexible capital, ONE UP will also get access to a network of more than 500 investors, growth teams, agencies, apps, lawyers, and buyers; and data-driven advice designed to help scale and hit new revenue milestones. Clearcos support is an integral step in scaling our business to the next level, said Lily Gao, Co-Founder, ONE UP. With Clearcos investment, we will continue to recruit team members and utilize our growing network to train new hires in strategic marketing and inventory plans. To learn more about ONE UP and experience their unique party planning services for yourself, visit oneupballoons.ca. ClearAngel is currently onboarding E-commerce and product companies, and has limited spots available for SaaS, Apps, marketplace and stealth companies. To learn more about applying, visit angel.clearbanc.com. About Clearco: Co-founded as Clearbanc in 2015 by Michele Romanow from Canadas Shark Tank (Dragons Den), Andrew DSouza, Ivan Gritsiniak, Charlie Feng, and Tanay Delima, Clearco offers the most founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders of as well as a full suite of products and access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations. Clearco has invested over $2 Billion in over 4,500 companies to date, including Leesa Sleep, fashion-rental service Le Tote, home goods company Public Goods, shirtmaker UNTUCKit, online speech therapy practice Expressable, and digital real estate marketplace SetSchedule. For more information visit clear.co and @getClearco. It feels amazing to be honored for your work, your artdoing what you love to do." On Thursday, September 16, the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) celebrated their annual Celebration of Design and Design Excellence Awards at the Mart River Park and Marshalls Landing in Chicago. Vertical Interior Design in Elgin was announced as the winner in two categories: Contract Over 10,000 SF and Kitchen. It feels amazing to be honored for your work, your artdoing what you love to do, said Jamie Leonard, Vertical Interior Designs designer who worked on the two winning projects. This years program placed the spotlight on the slate of exceptional work from the past year. Over 150 designers and enthusiasts joined together to congratulate our winners. ASID-Illinois President Susan El-Naggar, ASID, NCIDQ, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP and Professor Tarik El-Naggar, AIA, RA, hosted the celebration. For the Kitchen category, VID submitted a project of a French Country Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois that was built in 1955. The owner loved the kitchen space and bones it had but wanted a fresh, modern style to entertain visitors and welcoming family for meals. The team opened the breakfast area up to the dining room to create a better flow and a more open feeling. Other design elements included a custom shelving wall and storage that doubled as an area to present food when entertaining; leathered quartzite counters and textured vinyl barstools and an island extension for additional seating and baking. This was a fun client who loves to entertain and it was a joy to help them create a space they could share with their family and friends, Leonard said. For the Contract Over 10,000 SF category, VID submitted its work done for West Side Tractor, a Lisle-based family-owned farming equipment sales and repair company. The project focused on a new branded office design for its headquarters. Some of the design elements included color matching the iconic yellow used on its product and sourced metal to use on front of its client-facing and internal custom-made receptions desks, building an entire history wall and display area, designing custom workstations, and presenting a new interior design to bring together its service department and administrative office . This client had a lot of pride in their company and brand and it was a pleasure to help them bring that out through the design of the space, Leonard said. The Design Excellence Awards recognized design professionals that were either members of ASID or IIDA Illinois Chapters as well as registered interior designers in the state of Illinois. Designers submitted their entries in over 50 categories including residential, contract, and product design. A panel of distinguished interior design professionals from 8 other ASID Chapters across the country reviewed the entries and selected category winners based on lighting, scale and proportion, color and composition, design creativity, function, and solutions appropriate to the design criteria. All entrants also included an IMPACT statement an explanation of how the project affected the users lives or livelihoods. Event sponsors included Presenting Sponsor, Monogram; Event sponsors: Design Center at the Merchandise Mart; Artist Frame Service; Cambria; Crystal Head Vodka; Artistic Tile; Oscar Isberian Rugs, and Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago served as the events exclusive luxury media partner. About Vertical Interior Design: Vertical Interior Design (VID) is a full-service interior design firm committed to designing office interiors that are healthy work environments. Their diverse staff includes multi-disciplinary experts in interior design space planning, workplace strategy, project management, and furniture design. Each project is a collaboration from space planning to finish selection, furniture, lighting, and accessories, and results in a tailored solution for each client. For more information, visit https://verticalinteriordesign.com/. About ASID-IL: The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is a community of people designers, industry representatives, educators and students committed to interior design. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change peoples lives. Its more than 30,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The American Society of Interior Designers - Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) is a professional association representing the interests of more than 1,000 Illinois interior designers, students and design industry partner members. Its vision is to be the voice of design in Illinois, to provide information through quality, timely communications, to educate its members and clients and to grow and support market expansion. ASID Illinois is led by a volunteer board that includes the Chapter's president, president-elect, five directors and two student representatives. Please visit http://www.il.asid.org for more information. ### It is a pleasure for us to further expand our client base in the architectural industry by working with one of the leaders in the field of materials. This proves how physical and digital offerings go hand in hand. Material Bank will leverage the Vizoo xTex system as a key component of a comprehensive strategy to create digital twins of physical samples. Capable of directly outputting seamlessly tileable digital materials with a focus on textiles, these assets will be utilized directly across multiple visualization initiatives. As the leading system in the Apparel industry, Vizoo offers unparalleled texture capture and processing. Architects and designers using Material Bank can conduct complex searches and place sample orders across hundreds of brands and hundreds of thousands of materials in seconds from a single source. Using the platform, members can search by design, color, performance, and technical attributes. Order fulfilment takes place in a 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, robotics-powered logistics facility just minutes from the FedEx Express World Hub in Memphis. Designers who order samples by midnight EST receive a single box containing their full sample order the following morningalways free for design professionals and always shipped carbon neutral. Vizoo has led the material digitization field in the fashion and apparel industry for years by providing highly accurate materials for photorealistic digital sampling, design review and 3d rendered ecommerce imagery. Partnering with Material Bank will allow Vizoo to bring the same material capture process to architectural design clients for use in architectural previsualization. Martin Semsch, the founder and CEO of Vizoo said, We do see a growing demand for our solutions in home fashion and architecture. Therefore, it is a pleasure for us to further expand our client base in the architectural industry by working with one of the leaders in the field of materials. This proves how physical and digital offerings go hand in hand. Material Bank has built the world's largest physical material library to support its partner brands and the design community; as a result, manufactures and members are experiencing greater ease and efficiencies and the platform has transformed an industry. While Material Bank will continue to grow its physical library, the company is investing millions of dollars in building the worlds largest digital materials library; Vizoo is an important tool in this initiative, allowing exceptional small and oversize image capture techniques on the platform. Said Scott Riley Vice President, Virtualization of Material Bank, The nature of the Vizoo system makes it an ideal solution to capture the immense Material Bank catalog and were excited to explore its functionality across our many material categories. With its exceptional capture quality, effective software, and high throughput, we anticipate this system to be a significant workhorse within our comprehensive digitization initiative. About Vizoo Vizoo is the number one supplier of solutions for the physically accurate digitization of material swatches. Since 2013, automotive, apparel, footwear, home fashion brands and their suppliers rely on Vizoos xTex system to digitize their material processes and create digital twins of physical material samples. To date, the company has developed an extensive network of more than 300 customers and is distributing their systems to more than 40 countries globally. About Material Bank Material Bank is the worlds largest marketplace for design professionals and brands in the architecture and design industry, providing the fastest and most powerful way to discover and sample materials. The revolutionary platform powers complex searches across hundreds of brands in seconds. Samples ordered by midnight (ET) are delivered in a single box by 10:30 AM the next dayalways free for design professionals and always shipped carbon neutral. With a rapidly growing community of members, Material Bank is the easiest way for brands to connect with thousands of vetted design professionals in the specification process. Dean Erika James of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania announced today the continuation of Beyond Business, an annual, semester-long lecture series exploring some of the most pressing issues impacting individuals and organizations around the world. Following its successful introduction in 2020, this three-part series will feature conversations with esteemed Wharton faculty alongside global thought leaders on the risks and rewards around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. Confirmed speakers include Engine No. 1 COO David Swift, Bank of America Global Head of ESG Andrew Plepler and Diligent Corporation CEO Brian Stafford, W98. All sessions are free and open to the public, and will stream live to a global audience on the Wharton Schools LinkedIn page. As companies look to establish and amplify their roles as global corporate citizens, its important to consult the data as we coalesce around a shared set of foundational criteria to measure impact, said Wharton Dean Erika James. This years Beyond Business theme lets us convene our esteemed faculty, alumni and distinguished thought leaders to discuss how thoughtful analysis can best support the burgeoning desires companies have to positively impact environmental and social causes. Developed as an extension of the Tarnopol Deans Lecture Series, Beyond Business engages academia and industry to delve into important topics for both audiences through invaluable insights and opinions from faculty and industry guests. Following a discussion led by Dean James, panelists will field questions from the audience and provide their thoughts on where and how businesses can operate to see the biggest impact. Details for the three panels are included below. For more information on each panel, visit the event website: Beyond Business. Tackling the Climate Crisis: What Can Companies and Policymakers Do To Drive Impact? Wednesday, October 20, 2021 4:305:30 pm EDT Speakers: Erika James, Dean, The Wharton School David Swift, Chief Operating Officer, Engine No. 1 Benjamin Keys, Rowan Family Foundation Professor, Professor of Real Estate & Finance, The Wharton School Sarah E. Light, Associate Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, The Wharton School Redefining Corporate Governance: Establishing Essentials for the New Business Era Tuesday, November 16, 2021 4:305:30 pm EST Speakers: Erika James, Dean, The Wharton School Brian Stafford, W98, CEO, Diligent Corporation Mary-Hunter McDonnell, Associate Professor of Management, The Wharton School Luke Taylor, Associate Professor of Finance, The Wharton School Humanizing ESG: Why Diversity, Wage Inequality, and Workers Rights Deserve Our Attention Tuesday, December 7, 2021 4:305:30 pm EST Speakers: Erika James, Dean, The Wharton School Andrew Plepler, Global Head of ESG, Bank of America Witold Henisz, Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management, The Wharton School About the Wharton School and the Tarnopol Deans Lecture Series Founded in 1881 as the worlds first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Educations individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 100,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit http://www.wharton.upenn.edu. The Tarnopol Deans Lecture Series features high-level business influencers and executives and is hosted by Wharton Dean Erika H. James. A global business leader, Mr. Tarnopol served as Vice Chairman of the International Banking Division of Bear, Stearns & Co. Mr. Tarnopol was well known in the Wharton community as a long-time member of the Board of Overseers, and as Vice Chair of Penns Board of Trustees. He earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Wharton Alumni Association in 1997, and the Deans Medal in 2003 for his work as co-chair of Campaign for Sustained Leadership. Mr. Tarnopol founded the Penn Club of New York, along with his wife, Lynne, CW60. He passed away in 2005. Previous speakers in the series include Marc Rowan, W84, WG85, Co-Founder & Senior Managing Director of Apollo Global Management; Edith Cooper, Global Head, Human Capital Management, Goldman Sachs; and Mohamed A. El-Erian, Senior Global Fellow, the Lauder Institute and President of Queens College (UK). ### Having rental car insurance might come in handy for people who are driving a rental car. If something goes wrong with the rental vehicle while driving, rental car insurance can pay for the medical expenses, damaged or stolen property, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of IMC Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents the benefits of rental car insurance and from where to get one. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/read-more-about-car-rental-insurance/ Driving a rental car without the proper insurance can be risky. If the vehicle is stolen or totaled, the driver can end up buying the rental car company a new car to replace it. Rental car insurance covers loss, damage, and liability expenses that drivers incur while driving a rental car. Just like ordinary car insurance policies, rental car insurance is actually a bundle of different coverage options that kick in under varying circumstances. When looking for rental car insurance, drivers can choose from the following types of coverage: Collision. It protects the driver if it drives the rental car into something or if something else crashes into the vehicle. When a driver arrives at the rental dealerships customer service counter, he will certainly get a loss damage waiver for the vehicle. This is not true collision coverage, but a promise that if the rental car is damaged or stolen the rental car company will not require the driver to cover replacement or repair expenses. Liability. This coverage helps with expenses related to damaging other vehicles, property, or people. Being involved in an at-fault accident in a rental vehicle means that collision coverage will pay to repair the rental vehicle, while liability coverage will pay to repair the other vehicle. Personal effects. This type of insurance is used to cover the cost of replacing any personal items damaged in an accident or stolen from the rental vehicle. Personal accident. This coverage will pay for the medical expenses if the driver of a rental car is involved in a car accident. Also, most personal accident coverage extends to the passengers of the rental vehicle. To get rental car insurance, drivers can go to the following types of providers: Rental car dealerships. The easiest way for a driver to get rental insurance is to get one when he gets a rental car. In most cases, the person renting the driver a vehicle will likely push their particular brand of insurance. Credit card companies. Most major credit card companies automatically provide rental car insurance coverage, so long as the driver uses the card to pay for the rental car. However, this is secondary coverage that will kick in after the primary rental coverage is exhausted. A few credit cards do offer primary rental car coverage, in which case the credit card companys insurance will be used first. American Express, Visa, and Mastercard offer free rental car insurance. Car insurance companies. Most insurance policies extend coverage to rented vehicles. However, there are some limitations. A personal car insurance policy on a personal vehicle will also cover any rental car used for personal activities, but not rentals used for business purposes. Also, in many cases, coverage is limited to domestic trips only. Private providers. Some companies sell rental insurance policies that include special options, or offer coverage similar to that of rental car company policies but at a lower cost. The biggest benefit of using a private insurer instead of a personal car insurance policy is that drivers dont need to worry about their insurance premiums going up if they have an accident in a rental car. Allianz and Bonzah are some of the companies that sell rental car insurance. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand name insurance companies, etc. Premier Global Distribution Igor Kurochkin, Vice President, Global Vendor Management and Marketing at Winncom said: Winncom is dedicated to providing customers with cutting edge, industry-leading solutions. The addition of Nokias 4G LTE/CBRS solution to our product portfolio is perfectly aligned with our mission." Winncom Technologies today announced it has signed a channel partner agreement with Nokia. As a result of this relationship, Winncom Technologies will market and distribute Nokias CBRS solutions. Nokias 4G LTE RAN solutions operating in Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) shared spectrum allow CSPs to deliver high-bandwidth connectivity to regions that are difficult to reach with fiber. Igor Kurochkin, Vice President, Global Vendor Management and Marketing at Winncom said: Winncom is dedicated to providing customers with cutting edge, industry-leading solutions. The addition of Nokias 4G LTE/CBRS solution to our product portfolio is perfectly aligned with our mission. We look forward to building this new partnership. Matt Arnoldus, VP, North America CSP Partner Program, Nokia Global Partner Program, said: "Nokia is helping to connect more of rural America through our CSP VAR Partner Program. We are excited to welcome our new partner Winncom into the program to represent our 4G/LTE and CBRS solutions. Nokia is creating technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, it is committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. About Winncom Technologies; Winncom Technologies, global value-added distributor of wireless and wired broadband equipment, offers the most advanced forms of communication solutions on the market today. With a far-reaching international scope, Winncom remains at the forefront of the global technology marketplace, demonstrating a reputation for quality products, a full range of network infrastructure and access products, and a customer-centric business model. We offer the most notable product portfolio along with scalable solutions, world-class customer service, and outstanding engineering services and support. For more information, please visit http://www.winncom.com PR Contact: Igor Kurochkin, VP Global Vendor Management and Marketing Winncom Technologies http://www.winncom.com In an effort to avoid harmful stereotypes of marginalized people, several Christian fiction publishers are taking steps to uncover bias and ensure authenticity in books. One such measurethe use of sensitivity readersis on the rise. Sensitivity readers are editors who review content that depicts minorities in order to flag problematic language, cultural inaccuracies, and more. The issue of harmful representations of BIPOC people and culture in Christian fiction came to the forefront in August after the Romance Writers of America (RWA) rescinded its Vivian Award for Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements from Karen Witemeyer, author of At Loves Command (Bethany, 2020). The award was withdrawn over the books plot, which RWA said glorified the Wounded Knee massacre, in which hundreds of Native Americans, including women and children, were killed. The story follows Matt Hanger, an army captain who fought in the Battle of Wounded Knee and killed several Lakota members. He later atones for those sins and finds redemption in God. In response to RWAs decision to rescind the award, Bethany said in a statement that it is listening to conversations about whether content related to atrocities, even if historically accurate, is appropriate or helpful. Speaking to PW as a group, Bethanys fiction staff says that sensitivity readers are valued, and that more and more authors are initiating the process themselves. Part of the ongoing conversation around sensitivity involves critically evaluating what stories are being told and whos telling them, the team says. We would especially like to ask thoughtful questions along these lines earlier in the processat publication board or when discussing next book ideas with an authorrather than when evaluating a manuscript thats already been turned in. The editorial team is attending more in-person and virtual events, including those specific to BIPOC authors, such as Publishing in Color and Romance Slam Jam, while also seeking more manuscripts from BIPOC authors. Tyndale Fiction is also looking more closely at how people of color are depicted in their books. We have sought sensitivity readers as a resource and will continue to do so, though we dont see that as an end-all, be-all solution, says Stephanie Broene, senior acquisitions editor. Our biggest efforts so far have centered around trying to educate our acquisitions and editorial staff by listening to as many conversations as possible taking place about race and diversity. Broene points out essential questions to ask as a company: Where are our blind spots? What have we done well? What have we not done well? How do we need to adjust on both macro levels, in what we choose to acquire, for instance, and micro levelsthe language we use, our implicit biases, etcetera? Consequently, Tyndales business decisions are not based on a clear-cut guide, according to Broene. Its more nuanced than a list of donts, though there are some words or stereotypes that would more quickly get flagged for discussion, she says. But the more subtle things are just as important to discuss. Its back to the importance of listening, reading, educating ourselves on the current conversations about race and inclusion, and sharing [those findings] with each other. Associate publisher for Iron Stream Media Suzanne Kuhn says she wants to be ahead of the curve on issues related to responsible representation of diverse people in books. The publisher has used sensitivity readers and hired one, Edwina Perkins, as an acquisitions editor. Does that guarantee well catch everything, Kuhn posits. Probably not, but it shows we are doing our best. Perkins, who had three years of experience as a sensitivity reader before she joined Iron Steams Harambee Press fiction imprint, notes some of the problematic plots she has read over the course of her career: stories in which a Black character is killed first, cast as the criminal, or ascribed no signs of intelligence. Perkins also points out tendency of writers to describe skin color by drawing comparisons to foods, such as coffee or caramel. Today, Perkins is both an acquisitions editor at Iron Stream and manager of Sensitivity Between the Lines (BTL), which connects sensitivity readers with authors who are writing about a culture, background, identity, or experience that is different from their own. The program was launched at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in May, and it now includes 10 sensitivity readers. Publishers are starting to open their eyes to the need for sensitivity readers, Perkins says. Yet, she puts the onus on authors to be well informed. It really should start with the author. If the author uses a sensitivity reader, a lot of the issues that flow into the publishing house would be stopped. It is essential, Perkins says, for authors to look beyond their own realm of experience while writing: Dont be afraid to write about other communities, but do your homework, she says. More than ever, authors are asking questions and wanting to make sure theyre doing it correctly. The conversations surrounding responsible representation are ongoing industry-wide, though Perkins says change is "a slow process." She adds: Im hoping publishing houses will take a hard stand on these issues, though some people arent going to be happy. We cant wait to make everybody happy to start doing this work. On October 11 and 12, the Frankfurt Book Fair launched its virtual conference program in advance of the in-person main event, which runs from October 20-25. Dubbed the Frankfurt Conference, the two-day virtual event offered a dozen panels, with Monday focusing on academic publishing and Tuesday on trade books. The general topic of discussion was industry trends. Tuesdays panels opened with a talk from Cyrus Kheradi, senior v-p of international sales for Penguin Random House (US). Kheradi noted that PRH saw significant double-digit growth in export markets last year, which he called a silver lining to the pandemic. He added that PRH was investing heavily in the supply chain, and had already spent $100 million on the U.S. supply chain and predicted another investment of $100 million, focusing on assisting booksellers with managing inventory better. He also said PRH would begin printing more books locally in various markets as a hedge against the supply chain issues that have been plaguing the book business this year. In addition, he added, flying books around the world is not the greenest thing to do. Kheradi was followed by Siv Bublitz, publisher of Germany's S. Fischer, and Marco Garcia, editorial director of V&R Editoras (Brazil). In discussing their businesses, the theme of inclusion and diversity was raised again and again by the speakers, both of whom acknowledged that the making of diverse books begins by diversifying the staff. More own voices need to be heard, said Garcia. Own voices are closer to the customer, he added, referencing a finance book V&R published by a Black woman from a lower income bracket, as opposed to a wealthy white man, who is the typical author of a finance books. Bublitz noted Germany did not have the same diversity some other countries did, but there has long been a focus on attaining gender equality. Its said in publishing that there are twice as many women, who are half as powerful, as men, Bublitz noted. She also highlighted the dearth of people from the former East Germany in the industry. Bublitz and Garcia also discussed the sales potential of commercial vs. literary fiction titles. Commercial fiction is more predictable, while with literary titles, you are always developing the audience, Bublitz said. In the third event of the day, Peter Warwick, the recently appointed president and publishers of Scholastic, offered his thoughts on the direction of the childrens publishing company following the death of former CEO Dick Robinson. Warwick said the pandemic delivered a boost to backlist sales, which he deemed a return to the familiar by readers Scholastics Harry Potter series was one beneficiary -- and underscored how the shift to virtual and home learning stimulated sales of workbooks, books that fostered social and emotional learning and books parents and children could read together. Warwick added that Scholastic would put even more emphasis on parent purchasing of books in the future and find new ways to market to them virtually. The home learning trend was especially important in Asia, Warwick said, where it's all about learning and reading at the house. Scholastic has benefitted from this by selling increasing numbers of English language books into the Asian markets, such as Korea, where the company has been developing advanced, AI-powered multimedia learning tools. Warwick said that while exports dipped during the pandemic, they are now back to prior levels, and exports in September surpassed those for September 2019 and 2020. Like other companies, Scholastic has encountered supply chain and logistics challenges. We shifted from a lack of demand to a lack of supply, Warwick said. Asked why he agreed to take over the role of CEO at Scholastic, Warwick who has been a Scholastic board member since 2014 said that it was the companys role in the lives of children that motivated him. Literacy and education can foment positive change in the world, said Warwick. [Scholastic] is an organization that changes kids lives. From left Marcus Wallenberg, chairman of the board for Saab Inc., Micael Johansson, president and CEO of Saab, Purdue President Mitch Daniels and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening celebration of the Saab facility in the Discovery Park District, adjacent to Purdue Universitys campus. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca McElhoe) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue Universitys economic impact on the state continues to grow. Thats why Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and state officials joined those from Purdue on Wednesday (Oct. 13) to celebrate the grand opening of Saabs West Lafayette facility. The multimillion-dollar facility, located in the Discovery Park District adjacent to the Purdue campus, supports production of the U.S. Air Force's next-generation T-7A jet trainer. When at full capacity by 2027, Saab will employ over 300 people in the West Lafayette facility. The facility, announced in May 2018, opened early this year on the West Lafayette site. However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the grand opening to this week. Saab is part of Purdues rapidly growing defense research and technology ecosystem, which includes plans for the only Mach 8 HYPULSE wind tunnel in the world and an expanding Rolls-Royce presence. Within the last couple of years, Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL at Purdue) also has built and located within the Discovery Park District. All of these are adding jobs in Indianas economy and filling multiple needs in research and development while making the state more attractive in its efforts to gain in prestige in the U.S. tech sector. The Saab advanced manufacturing facility also supports Purdue's Next Moves strategic initiatives designed to advance the university's competitive advantage. "Purdue and the state of Indiana recognize the importance of the United States maintaining its advanced technology capabilities relative to strategic rivals," Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. "One of the university's goals and, we believe, duties, is to bring leading-edge companies like Saab to the Discovery Park District along with federal laboratories and startups." Holcomb said establishing the Saab advanced manufacturing facility is another example of how industry and the state can succeed together. "Indiana continues to grow its national footprint in the high-tech, national security sectors because of partnerships like this with Saab," Holcomb said. "When universities make strategic decisions to join such partnerships, like Purdue with its outstanding researchers, students and alumni who are making the next giant leaps, Indiana's impact on the world grows even stronger." Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab Inc., said the state-of-the-art facility in West Lafayette is a fundamental part of the company's strategy to grow its U.S. industrial and technology base. "This facility brings us closer to our U.S. customers and deepens our relationship with them," Smith said. "We also see there are great opportunities for innovative research through our partnership with Purdue University." Indiana partners in the project include the cities of West Lafayette and Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Greater Lafayette Commerce and Purdue Research Foundation, all of which offered local and county tax abatements as incentives to bring Saab to the area. About Saab Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers changing needs. About Purdue Research Foundation The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Discovery Park. The foundation received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information visit Purdue Research Foundation. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. Writer, media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org 10/13 NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 REPORT FROM SENDAI, JAPAN By James Kurokawa on 2021-10-13 18:56:00 10/13/21 A Block Results from New Japan's G1 Climax 31 from Sendai, Japan: Kosei Fujita vs. Hiromu Takahashi Hiromu forces Fujita to tap out to a Boston Crab. Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima Ibushi pins Kojima with a Kamigoye. Ibushi grasped the hand of Kojima, in a respectful manner, thanking him for a hard fought match. Ibushi will face KENTA at the next A Block event. G1 Climax 31 - A Block Matches: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi, with Pieter Takahashi attacks Ishii before the bell. They take the match to the floor. Ishii throws Takahashi into the guardrail. Pieter distracts the referee. Takahashi hits Ishii with his Pimp Stick. Back in the ring, Takahashi hits a Yakuza Kick. Two count. Takahashi throws some basement dropkicks to Ishii. Ishii begins to shrug them off. Takahashi throws elbows and kicks. Ishii starts to hulk up. Takahashi rakes Ishii's eyes to stop his momentum. Takahashi with a Hot Shot. Ishii counters with a powerslam. Takahashi hits a Fisherman Buster. Ishii clutches his neck. Takahashi hits two more Yakuza Kicks and goes for another Fisherman Buster. Ishii counters into a suplex. Ishii puts Takahashi on the top rope. Ishii plants Takahashi with a superplex from the second rope. Two count. Takahashi stuns Ishii with a DDT, but Takahashi is slow to follow up. Both get to their feet. Ishii throws multiple elbows to Takahashi's face. Takahashi hits a Collegiate Slam. Two count. They exchange and block each other's blows. Takahashi hits a lariat, then picks up Ishii in a powerbomb position and runs him into the turnbuckle. Takahashi hits Miami Shine. Ishii kicks out at two. Takahashi tries for Pimp Juice but Ishii reverses into a back suplex. Takahashi hit Ishii with elbows. Ishii connects with an enzuigiri. Ishii with a sliding lariat. Takahashi hits a brainbuster. Ishii writhes in pain. Pieter applauds. Takahashi hits Pimp Juice. Ishii kicks out. Wow! Takahashi goes for Big Juice but Ishii fights out with elbows. Ishii hits a nasty headbutt. Ishii with a release German suplex and a lariat. Ishii hits a brainbuster. Ishii pins Takahashi. Tomohiro Ishii earns 2 points, reaches 10 points and is in a 4-way tie for second place in A Block. Takahashi looked really good in this match, despite his loss. He connected with his moves, but he was not able to hit Big Juice. Ishii made Takahashi look great as well as he sold for his moves. Both men came out of the match looking strong. KENTA vs. Tanga Loa, with Jado All three men do the Two Sweet Salute. Tanga shows his power advantage in the opening moments, by throwing KENTA to the mat. KENTA throws a kick to Tanga's left leg. Tanga with a shoulder tackle. KENTA rolls to the floor. Tanga shakes out his leg after KENTA's kick. KENTA tries to avoid Tanga by jumping in and out of the ring. Until Jado stopped. Jado screamed at him to fight. Tanga hits KENTA in the back and throws him to the floor. KENTA gets thrown into the guardrails. Tanga hits a back suplex, dropping KENTA on the ring apron. Tanga pushes him into the ring and connects with a flipping senton. Two count. They start slapping each other in the face. Tanga locks in a reverse chinlock. KENTA fights to his feet. KENTA comes off the ropes and Tanga connects with a big boot. Tanga with a standing moonsault. Two count. Tanga locks KENTA in the Operation Jado Killer. KENTA almost gets to the ropes. Tanga rolls him in the middle of the ring. KENTA is able to get to the ropes with his feet. Tanga stomps on a fallen KENTA. KENTA looks at him and tells him to 'bring it". KENTA blocks Tanga's attack and he counters by dropping Tanga on the top rope. KENTA with a top rope clothesline. KENTA with a powerslam. KENTA starts to kick Tanga in the chest. Tanga powers up. KENTA kicks him in the chest and back. Tanga counters with his own kick combination. Tanga with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Two count. Tanga picks him up for Apeshit, but KENTA rolls out of the ring. Tanga follows and drops KENTA on the guardrail. Tanga steps on KENTA's neck on the floor. Tanga throws KENTA in the ring, but is slow to follow up. KENTA kicks Tanga twice in the chest as he enters the ring. KENTA hits a knee from the second rope on the back of Tanga's head. KENTA plants Tanga with the Green Killer. KENTA hits a running Yakuza Kick. Tanga hits a running lariat. KENTA counters with another Yakuza Kick. KENTA with a running dropkick to the face. KENTA hits a double stomp. Two count. Both men get to their feet and they trade elbows and kicks. Tanga with an Exploder. Tanga charges for a spear. KENTA moves out of the way. Tanga almost hits the referee. KENTA splashes Tanga and the referee takes a bump. KENTA hits a low blow on Tanga. Jado gets pissed and enters the ring. KENTA low blows Jado and takes his Kendo stick. The referee gets Jado out of the ring. KENTA tries to hit Tanga with the Kendo stick and Tanga low blows KENTA. Tanga goes for a powerbomb. KENTA wiggles out. Tanga goes for Apesh**, but KENTA pushes Tanga into the turnbuckle and rolls up Tanga in a school boy. KENTA puts his feet on the ropes. KENTA pins Tanga Loa. KENTA gets 2 points and now is in a tie with Kota Ibushi for the lead with 12 points. KENTA will meet Kota Ibushi at the next A Block event which could be for the winner of A Block. Solid match. Both men spent time during the COVID months in the L.A. Dojo. I expected they would be familiar with each other's style and could put together a good match, which they did. Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr. ZSJ applied a Sleeperhold on Yano during his ring introductions. Yano makes it to the ropes for a break. ZSJ applies the Sleeper again. He transitions to a crucifix pin. Two count. Yano rolls ZSJ up for a two count. ZSJ goes for Cobra Twist. Yano tries to avoid it. ZSJ falls back into a pin attempt. Yano kicks out at two. Yano escapes the ring to get his ring gear off. Back in the ring, they grapple. Yano hits a belly to belly suplex. ZSJ goes to the floor. Yano follows. Yano picks up ZSJ and carries him all the way back through the entrance way. Both disappear behind the curtain. Yano appears and runs to the ring, as the referee counts. ZSJ appears from behind the curtain with a black bag on his head. He stumbles out from behind the curtain and hits the guardrail. He pulls the bag off and dashes to the ring. He beats the count. Yano catches him and attempts a cross arm breaker. ZSJ reverses out and applies a cross arm breaker of his own. Yano gets to the ropes. He rolls out of the ring and ZSJ follows. ZSJ wraps his arm around the guardrail. Yano screams in pain. Yano escapes under the ring. ZSJ grabs Yano's leg and applies an ankle lock submission. Yano uses his weight and momentum and pulls ZSJ headfirst into the ring apron. Yano pulls out handcuffs and tries to hand cuff ZSJ to the guardrail. ZSJ fights him off and hand cuffs himself to Yano. They both continue to fight outside the ring. The referee's count is at 18. Both run back to the ring. They trade pinfall attempts, still handcuffed together. ZSJ traps Yano in a triangle choke with his legs. Yano reaches for his boot and pulls out a key for the handcuffs. As Yano tries to unlock the handcuffs, ZSJ transitions to a cross arm breaker. Yano cannot reach the handcuff to unlock it. Yano screams in pain. Yano taps out. Zack Sabre Jr. earns 2 points and gets to 12 points. He is in a tie for first place of A Block with Kota Ibushi and KENTA. ZSJ takes the key and unlocks himself from the handcuffs. Shingo Takagi vs. Great O-Khan Takagi comes to the ring with his left abdomen taped up. Both men begin the match with power moves. Takagi takes down O-Khan with a shoulder tackle. He drops two elbows and senton on O-Khan. Two count. Takagi charges O-Khan and takes him into the corner. He hammers him with punches. O-Khan fires back with a big shoulder block which sends Takagi to the floor. Takagi is dazed, but gets on the ring apron. O-Khan hits a big boot and Takagi flies off the ring apron and into the ring barricade. O-Khan goes to the floor and pummels Takagi on the guardrail. Back in the ring, O-Khan slows the pace with a rear chin lock. Takagi gets to the ropes. Both men get to their feet and trade chops. Takagi stuns O-Khan with a DDT. Takagi with a suplex. O-Khan tosses Takagi with a judo throw. O-Khan hangs Takagi on the Tree of Woe. He dropkicks Takagi right in the face. Two count. O-Khan grabs the neck of Takagi to kiss his boot. O-Khan mockingly slaps Takagi in the head. Takagi get mad and hammers O-Khan with elbows in the corner. O-Khan fights back and they blast each other with elbows. O-Khan hits a chop right into the throat of Takagi. Both men fall to the mat. Takagi with a lariat and back suplex. O-Khan with a big boot. Takagi with a lariat. O-Khan with a back suplex. Takagi with a sliding lariat. Crowd applauds both men. Takagi goes for Made in Japan. O-Khan blocks it. Takagi tries for a Noshigami. O-Khan blocks it. O-Khan pushes Takagi into the corner. Takagi clutches his taped abdomen. O-Khan bearhugs Takagi and sends him into the corner again. O-Khan picks up Takagi for a suplex then drops him, ribs first, onto the top rope. O-Khan traps Takagi in the Sheep Killer. O-Khan hits a backbreaker and locks on the Sheep Killer again. O-Khan with a powerslam. Two count. O-Khan tries for an Eliminator but Takagi reverses into a cross arm breaker. O-Khan tries to block it but Takagi snaps the arm and hyperextends it. But Takagi lets go. Takagi attacks O-Khan's arm with headbutts and punches. O-Khan shrugs off the attack and tries to hit a lariat. Takagi blocks it and hits Made in Japan. Two count. O-Khan hits a Gourdbuster. Both men crawl on their knees and throw elbows. They get to their feet and exchange elbows. O-Khan hits a straight right punch to the jaw. Takagi returns with a headbutt under the chin. O-Khan charge and Takagi rocked him with an elbow to the temple. O-Khan goes for the Eliminator but Takagi escapes. O-Khan plants Takagi with a lariat. Two count. Takagi with a release Dragon Suplex, then a running elbow to O-Khan's head. Takagi hits a Pumping Bomber. Two count. Takagi hits Last of the Dragon. Takagi pins O-Khan. Shingo Takagi earns 2 points, gets to 12 points total, and in a 4-way tie for 1st place with Kota Ibushi, Zack Sabre Jr. and KENTA. Brutal match, but a great match as well. These two men beat the crap out of each other. After the G1 Climax, there will be World Tag League and Best of Super Juniors. Everyone in the G1 will need to rest and get healthy especially after such a grueling match like this main event. A Block Standings as of 10/13/21: Kota Ibushi - 12 Yujiro Takahashi - 4 Great O-Khan - 8 Tanga Loa - 4 Toru Yano - 8 KENTA - 12 Zack Sabre Jr. - 12 Tomohiro Ishii - 10 Shingo Takagi - 12 Tetsuya Naito - Forfeit On 10/18, the final night of A Block, the important matches will be 1) Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA, 2) Shingo Takagi vs. Yujiro Takahashi and 3) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tanga Loa. There are several ways that this could play out. The card order will be reshuffled by order of importance. All wrestlers tied for the lead will need the win their respective matches. ZSJ holds the tie breaker over Takagi and Ibushi. KENTA holds the tie breaker over ZSJ. It should be interesting to see how it all plays out. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! Boston University and Boston College, two private schools in Massachusettss capital city, both rank in the nations top 50 colleges and universities, according to U.S. News and World Report. However, new survey data from RealClearEducation, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), and the research firm College Pulse shows both Boston schools are among the nations worst for free speech on campus. The schools were two of the 159 colleges and universities featured in the 2021 College Free Speech Rankings, based on a survey of more than 37,000 students at institutions across the country. Both Boston College (151st) and Boston University (143rd) finished among the worst 20 schools in the rankings, which were determined by student survey results and school policies related to speech on campus. At Boston College, a Jesuit school southwest of Boston, students on both sides of the political spectrum expressed dissatisfaction with the speech culture on campus. Im a Republican and if I am going to write about a conservative topic on a paper it is a given that I need to meet with the professor first to gauge if they will penalize me for my views or not, one BC student said. Another student argued that the BC administration really has an issue with race on campus and said sometimes these topics can be uncomfortable to discuss. Survey results from BC substantiate those students frustrations. Fifty-nine percent of students said they would be uncomfortable expressing their views on controversial topics in an in-class discussion. Only 21% said it was very or extremely clear that the administration supports free speech. Nearly two-thirds said they were uncomfortable publicly disagreeing with a professor on a controversial subject. FIREs Senior Research Counsel Adam Goldstein told RealClearEducation that BCs written policies restricting student expression also contributed to the schools low ranking. Boston Colleges [internet-use] policy prohibits potentially offensive language in network messages and intolerant language anywhere, and retains sole discretion to decide what those terms mean, he said. Much of the BC student body appears to support such speech restrictions. For example, 66% of BC students surveyed would oppose allowing a speaker on campus who believes abortion should be illegal. This is notable given that BC is a Catholic institution, and the visible head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called abortion murder and claimed that those who carry out abortions kill. If you take BC students at their word, a majority would oppose allowing the Pope to speak on campus. At nearby Boston University, the schools low ranking is due to several similar factors a lack of student confidence in administrative support for speech, a censorious campus culture, and restrictive written policies. Only 27% of surveyed BU students said it was very or extremely clear that the schools administration supports free speech on campus. Fifty-nine percent of BU students are uncomfortable publicly disagreeing with a professor on a controversial issue, and 45% are uncomfortable airing their views on such subjects in a class environment. Despite this restricted environment, some BU students argue that the school has not gone far enough to crack down on right-wing speakers. BU felt the need to capitulate to the extreme right-wing student groups demands for student tuition to be provided for extreme right-wing speakers security fees despite the conflict with campus culture and general morality and refused to hear student opinions demanding the speaker be either not provided security fees or not allowed to speak on campus, one student told pollsters. Goldstein said that BU also has written policies that restrict student speech. Boston University prohibits using the [University network] irresponsibly or transmitting offensive material, and no student could reasonably be expected to know what every recipient might find offensive, or what a given administrator thinks is irresponsible, he told RealClearEducation. At both BC and BU, the biggest problem may be a lack of consistency. Boston College and Boston Universities are private institutions, meaning they are not legally bound to offer students the First Amendment speech protections guaranteed by the Constitution. Both schools, however, make written commitments to free expression in their student codes of conduct. Neither school, argues Goldstein, lives up to their word. While both BC and BU claim to preserve student free expression rights on campus, he said, [their] policies cannot be reconciled with those promises. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/12/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Juliana Custodio de Sousa claims Michael Jessen is lying about why they are divorcing and she was supporting him financially and "felt like a maid" before the couple's split.Shortly after Michael, 44, posted a long statement on Tuesday confirming the couple's split , Juliana, a 25-year-old Brazilian model, took to Instagram and shared her side of the story through a shocking statement of her own.Juliana -- who appeared on Season 7 of with Michael -- posted a photo of herself in Hamburg, Germany with a rainbow in the background and captioned it, "After the storm comes a rainbow."Juliana also shared a slideshow of images featuring her lengthy statement, which began with, "Happy 2 year anniversary and the couple of years together, Michael. As you well said, only our second anniversary and our last."Touching on the cause of their split, Juliana wrote to Michael, "You pointed [out] the COVID-19 as one of the reasons we are [no] longer together, but we all know that there are more than that.""I am grateful for all the lessons and the moments we got to spend together and the beautiful memories with your family. As [you well] pointed out, we went through a lot together, the Covid was a hard time but the hardest part for me was to picture you as someone that would be by my side, and unfortunately, you showed something completely different."Juliana insisted she did everything to keep Michael's family afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.As shown on a May 2020 episode of : Self-Quarantined on TLC, Michael and Juliana began quarantining in March 2020 with Michael's ex-wife Sarah and her new husband Sean as well as Michael and Sarah's son Maxwell and daughter Cece.Sarah had just been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in February 2020, and so the blended family decided to support one another -- although the living situation was a little hectic and became overwhelming at times, especially for Juliana, who confessed she was "frustrated" about having to stay home."As everyone, we went through a hard time financially, but it was not a problem for me to help you, the kids, ex wife and her husband financially because I was the only one working at the time, but we all know how the situation wears out," Juliana claimed."I wasn't part of the family anymore, I was feeling like a maid. It was toxic to a point. I was not living the life I wanted to live."Juliana, who moved to the United States in Summer 2019 and married Michael in October of that year, apparently lost sight of her own wants and needs in the relationship."I needed to leave because I wasn't recognizing who I am anymore. I left my life in Europe and career to live with you, because I loved you. But I love myself more, to the point to recognize I am important, and I want to be happy," Juliana explained.When Michael announced the couple is divorcing , he claimed that Juliana "quickly moved on with someone new," suggesting she's already dating a new guy.But Juliana responded, "You say I have found 'someone new,' but the truth is, I found happiness within myself. I am happy with the new phase, and I ask you to let me go.""Stop making me feel guilty to put myself as the most important person because this is how we [are] supposed to do [things]," she continued in her statement."I apologize for the way this happened, but we talked multiple times about it and you never seemed to listen or try to understand me."Juliana went on to address her followers and fans and give them some relationship advice."Girls and boys, if you're in a relationship [and] you're not happy and you know it doesn't matter what you do, this will not work out, stand up for yourself! Don't [be] afraid to live your best life because you're afraid of what people will think," Juliana wrote."You are the only person that [knows] what you've been through. Everyone deserves respect, protection, understanding, love and kindness. Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth."Juliana insisted that someone who values you would never put themselves "in a position to lose you.""No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Don't be afraid to start over. It's a brand new opportunity to rebuild what you truly want," Juliana said."Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be! I wish you all the best, MJ. Peace and happiness to everyone."Michael, a Connecticut native, wrote in his statement earlier in the day that his marriage was a "COVID-19 casualty."Michael described Juliana as resilient, self-reliant, joyful and positive, before saying, "I understand how our situation throughout the pandemic could slowly, and eventually completely, drain you of these qualities."He added, "All of us were completely drained by the end of it and I did not maintain the strength of mind and the fortitude to be the husband that you wanted me to be."But Michael claimed he felt "stress" and "pressure" to provide for his family during the crisis, which allegedly resulted in him not taking care of himself or acknowledging how Juliana had been there for him."I do not blame you for wanting to leave and for desiring a new start. You are more suited for the life that you had before we met and I can understand why you would want to return," Michael wrote on Instagram.He continued, "My love for you remains true and will always be there for you. I am happy that you have moved on and have quickly found someone new... I hope that you will have lasting love and happiness and achieve every dream that you set out upon."Michael said he'll always root for Juliana and cherish the wonderful memories they had created together.On September 30, Michael posted a picture with his daughter on Instagram and answered a few questions about his relationship status at the time.When an Instagram user asked if it's true Juliana had cheated on him, Michael replied, "I hope not!"And another follower asked Michael, "Did you divorce or not?"Michael firmly replied, "No."When a person yelled at Michael's followers saying a marriage is private and Michael and Juliana should be left alone, Michael responded, "It's okay... I'll answer questions I want to... Ignore those I don't... [I'll] more likely offer vague and possibly misleading answers in order to continue the intrigue."Juliana had alluded to a breakup with Michael in a series of September TikTok videos. Michael and the kids did not appear in any of her videos, and she complained about doing all the grocery shopping.Juliana was previously married once before. She said on a episode she felt pressured to enter an arranged marriage at age 19 and the union only lasted for one year.Michael had been married to Sarah for 20 years prior to Sarah officiating his wedding with Juliana. Sarah tied the knot with Sean , an aspiring hip-hop artist, in November 2019.Juliana and Sarah ultimately became very close friends and got along well, and they made sure Michael's children were being raised in a loving environment with no hostility or resentment.During an April 2020 broadcast of Tamron Hall , Tamron videochatted with Michael, Juliana, Sarah and Sean, while they were all quarantining under one roof in Greenwich, CT.Sarah said she and her husband were planning a move to Los Angeles, CA, soon, and Michael was happy about his entire family being together, despite the group having little altercations here or there.Michael said there was no jealousy or rivalry between Juliana and Sarah, but he revealed how COVID-19 had a negative impact on Juliana's blossoming career."Juliana is just on the cusp of getting modeling jobs. She signed with a really great agency in New York City, and then suddenly, this happens and it's frustrating for her," Michael said.But Juliana and Michael agreed their marriage hadn't crumbled under the stress of quarantining because Juliana was being "very patient."When asked to share the most difficult part of self-isolating together, Juliana joked, "Him having to see my face every day.""I love that!" Michael responded with a laugh, before Juliana admitted the hardest part was having to do all the housework solo.Michael appeared in distress based on Juliana's comment, so she kissed him on the cheek and assured him, "I love you. It's okay! I know you do everything, like pay the bills."There seemed to be no trouble in Paradise at the time, as Juliana also shared how she didn't miss her old life in Brazil."To be honest, not really, because I always wanted to work to have a family in the future," Juliana told Tamron. "And now I have a family, so it's my dream come true."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Squid Game has taken over the streaming airwaves as Netflix's most streamed show in every market where it is available, but the South Korean thriller is not the streaming giant's only foreign language offering. ADVERTISEMENT The series, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, hit No. 1 in late September in 83 countries, and viewers who quickly binged all nine episodes might be left with the problem of what to watch next. To help fill that void, here are 10 of Netflix's most popular foreign language TV dramas. Money Heist Spanish crime drama Money Heist follows Tokyo (Ursula Corbero), a member of a team of robbers committing high-stakes heists under the instruction of a mysterious leader known only as the Professor (Alvaro Morte). The series has been praised for its complex plotting and rich interpersonal drama. Lupin French mystery thriller Lupin features Omar Sy as Assane Diop, a man who is inspired by novelist Maurice Leblanc's famed master thief character Arsene Lupin as he sets about a plot of revenge against the wealthy family who framed his father for a crime he did not commit. The Chestnut Man FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Danish thriller The Chestnut Man follows detectives Naia Thulin ( Danica Curcic ) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard) as they pursue a serial killer who leaves behind a tiny figurine made from chestnuts in the place of a victim's missing limb. Alice in Borderland Japanese science-fiction thriller Alice in Borderland features video game-obsessed Ryohei (Kento Yamazaki) and mountain climber Yuzuha (Tao Tsuchiya) in an abandoned Tokyo, where they are forced to play a series of dangerous games. The series is based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso. Ganglands French thriller Ganglands stars Bakary Diombera as Modi, a skilled thief tasked with saving his niece, Shainez (Sofia Lesaffre), from a powerful crime lord with the help of small-time crook Liana (Tracy Gotoas), who is Shainez's lover and partner in crime. Sweet Home South Korean horror series Sweet Home follows the residents of an apartment building attempting to survive the apocalypse as monsters arrive on earth to wipe out humanity. The series is based on the Naver Webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan. Dark German science fiction thriller Dark follows the residents of the fictional town of Winden as they investigate the disappearance of a child and unravel a conspiracy involving time travel and multiple generations of four families. The series concluded with its third season in 2020. Who Killed Sara? Mexican mystery thriller Who Killed Sara? stars Manolo Cardona as Alex Guzman, a man attempting to solve the titular mystery. Guzman, Sara's brother, was wrongfully convicted of her death and spent 18 years in prison, after which he attempts to find the real killer and take revenge on those who framed him. 3% Brazilian dystopian thriller 3% takes place in a future where 20-year-old residents of the impoverished "inland" compete for the chance to relocate to the distant paradise of "Offshore." Only 3% of candidates successfully complete "The Process," and many don't survive the attempt. Girl From Nowhere Thai mystery thriller Girl From Nowhere is an anthology-style series where each episode finds enigmatic teenager Nanno (Chicha Amatayakul) attending a new high school, where she uncovers and exposes the secrets and lies of the students and faculty. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/03/2021 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have split up and divorced? And where are they now? has featured 44 different couples getting married at first sight during it's first twelve seasons -- so which couples are still together, who has split up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which premiered in the United States seven years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd , and Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out! BEGIN GALLERY >> Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Netflix announced it has renewed You for a fourth season on Wednesday. Season 3 premieres Friday on the streaming service. ADVERTISEMENT You stars Penn Badgley as Joe, a stalker who becomes obsessed with women. In Season 2, he married Love (Victoria Pedretti) and they have a baby in Season 3. A video announcement Netflix posted to YouTube plays on Joe's insistence that he commits all his crimes "for you." "4 You" becomes "You 4" indicating a fourth season is coming. Season 3 sees Love and Joe move to the fictional suburb of Madre Linda, Calif., to try to settle down. As their murderous impulses continue to threaten their public lives, Joe and Love try couples therapy. You is based on the books You and Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes. Sera Gamble adapted the books and show runs. Season 1 of You premiered on Lifetime in 2018. After the cable network declined a second season, Netflix picked up the show to continue production. Greg Berlanti is an executive producer of You along with Gamble. Netflix is set to launch a Book Club initiative with Uzo Aduba along with social series But Have You Read the Book? ADVERTISEMENT Netflix Book Club will select a new book every month for fans to read that is being adapted by Netflix, the streaming service announced on Wednesday. Fans can then watch the Netflix adaptation of the book and join Aduba in But Have You Read the Book? The former Orange is the New Black star will be the inaugural host and will hold discussions about the book and the adaptation process with authors, cast members and creators over coffee at Starbucks in the series. But Have You Read the Book? will premiere on Nov. 16 on the Still Watching Netflix channel on YouTube and Netflix's Facebook page. The first selection for Netflix Book Club is Nella Larsen's novel Passing. Netflix is releasing a film adaptation of the book written and directed by Rebecca Hall on Nov. 10. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga star. "I can't tell you how many times I've asked friends, 'But have you read the book?' So I'm excited to host Netflix Book Club and bring together loyal book fans, TV and movie obsessives and the creators behind their favorite stories. I can't wait to dive deep into the creative process and what it takes to bring a book to life," Aduba said in a statement. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/12/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. 's third season premiered with Chantel Everett finally graduating nursing school and the family celebrating, major tension between Royal Everett and his relatives, and Pedro Jimeno 's sister Nicole Jimeno preparing for a breast augmentation during Monday night's episode on TLC.broadcast began where last season had left off, with the Everett family leaving the Philippines following Chantel's brother Royal and his wife Angenette's big wedding.Angenette planned to "stay away" from the Everett family after crazy drama imploded before and during the wedding events, and Royal agreed they needed to limit their time with his relatives.Chantel's mother Karen said she was "traumatized" from the "very funky time" -- which included the Everett family accusing Angenette of using Royal for a Green Card -- and everyone just needed some time and space to digest everything that had transpired in the Philippines.Three months later, Chantel said there was distance between her family and Royal because of how he had treated everyone in the Philippines. Royal had taken Angenette's side, and at one point, he asked his relatives not to attend the wedding, even though that request didn't stand.Pedro finally passed his driving test and Chantel was working as a nurse. Chantel was so relieved to no longer be a student."Soon after graduation, I'll be working as a home health pediatric nurse. After that, I'm going to transition into one of the major hospitals in Atlanta on the neuro floor," Chantel said.Pedro gushed about Chantel potentially making big money, adding, "We can go get houses and start to build a family, maybe, we don't know. Maybe."Chantel's family was going to throw her a graduation party, but she didn't anticipate seeing Royal and Angenette at the birthday bash. She said Royal's life was "a mystery" to her at this point and she was "disappointed" in him for siding with Angenette without at least hearing his loved ones out.Chantel wanted to have a good relationship with her brother, but she acknowledged they needed more time to heal and move on. Royal also kept transferring his mother's calls to voicemail."I have not heard anything from Royal. I call Royal, no answer. I text Angenette, no response. Now I am starting to worry," Karen admitted to the cameras. "I want to be there for my kids and give them support... Worst case scenario, Royal and Angenette got on a plane and went back to the Philippines."Karen therefore took a ride over to Royal's home but no one answered the door.Royal finally answered his mother's phone calls and said, "Don't call me," and then the pair briefly spoke privately off-camera. Royal apparently told Karen that they're doing fine but they just needed some space and Angenette was "embarrassed" about everything that happened.Royal and Angenette apparently apologized but just needed some room, and Karen suggested the pair needed marriage counseling to work through their issues.Karen said she had time to heal from the wedding events and didn't want Royal and Angenette to think everyone was "stewing" mad at them. But she was willing to give the couple some space.Pedro's sister Nicole Jimeno then revealed how she had traveled to see Alejandro in New York in 2020 and then when COVID-19 hit, she got stuck in the city. Nicole said very romantic times were also met with tense and stressful moments.After three long months, Nicole was finally able to return home to the Dominican Republic, and she began filming the series two weeks after reuniting with her mother Lidia.Nicole and Lidia also had a tense relationship given Lidia had asked her daughter not to go to New York to begin with."You should show your little boyfriend the door," Lidia said, adding, "Alejandro is not the right person for her as a boyfriend. And from the moment I met him, I knew I didn't like him. Pedro thinks the same as me."Nicole argued that Pedro just needed a distraction from "his miserable life with Chantel."Lidia was angry because Alejandro had yet to finalize his divorce from his wife, and she hoped Nicole would never marry him.Chantel and Karen then planned her "car parade" and graduation party amid the coronavirus pandemic, and Chantel wondered if Winter's boyfriend Jah, whom Winter had moved back in with, would be coming to the party.Karen said her last meeting with Jah was very awkward because he had been keeping a son secret from Winter, who had been his live-in girlfriend for years. Karen said Jah needed to prove himself, both to Winter and to the family."He is not somebody who I want for my sister," Chantel lamented.Chantel didn't graduate on time last semester but the time had finally arrived for her to graduate and celebrate big. Pedro, Winter and Chantel's brother River said they were so proud of Chantel for getting the job done."Chantel is the first person in my family to spend 12 years in college," River joked, before cracking up with laughter."She's going to be so mad! But not only did she graduate, she graduated with her Bachelor's [degree] and she's a nurse. Nobody can call her 'a dumbass b-tch.'"Chantel revealed her entry-level position would probably pay between $45,000-50,000 but she could work her way up to the top. Chantel told Pedro that if he went to school and obtained a degree, they could make six figures together as a team."After I become a nurse, you find a career. That's what the plan was," Chantel told her husband, knowing he's capable of doing more.Pedro admitted he was feeling a little insecure and not confident about going to school. Pedro said he was "comfortable" working in the warehouse, but Chantel wanted more for her life partner.Meanwhile, Nicole confessed she was really stressed in New York for several months because she didn't have her mother or any friends to talk to, other than being with Alejandro 24 hours a day. Nicole was therefore excited to see her pal Coraima.Nicole said living with Alejandro for the first time was not what she expected and they had "a lot of problems" and clashes. The couple would argue over food, and Nicole said neither she or Alejandro handle stress well.Nicole was therefore questioning her relationship with Alejandro, and she told Coraima that she wanted plastic surgery against Alejandro's wishes.Alejandro allegedly told Nicole that he didn't want her to get breast implants and he was "totally against it" because he liked her just the way she is."He argued with me to the point that he told me that he would leave me," Nicole revealed. "He thinks women who want an operation have self-esteem issues, they want an operation so other men will like them and not just their boyfriend or husband."Nicole said Alejandro doesn't understand that women are free and have the right to choose whatever they want for their bodies, regardless of whether they're in a relationship.Nicole then met with a surgeon about having her breasts done and making her body "a masterpiece."While Nicole tried on different cup sizes in an exam room, Coraima told the cameras that Alejandro seemed "selfish," "manipulative" and "insecure."Nicole booked the procedure and said she was so excited to have more confidence in herself. Nicole said she wanted to have the surgery regardless of what Alejandro thought or said.Meanwhile, at Chantel's party, she said she didn't graduate college in four years because she was also working full-time and dating Pedro long-distance, which resulted in a challenging and expensive K-1 visa process.Karen and Chantel's father Thomas said Pedro needed to step up to the table and find a career to make more money for his future family.Jah attended the party with Winter, and everyone was shocked to see him."You can't just walk in here and pretend it's all good," Chantel told Jah.River also had a bone to pick with Jah, and the episode ended on a cliffhanger of the confrontation.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! BELLAIRE Bellaire Public Schools closed its doors and canceled classes through Oct. 15 after officials were notified of multiple school-related COVID-19 cases. On Oct. 8, the school district announced it would close Monday after it was notified of two students who were confirmed to have COVID-19 infections. By Monday, the school district was notified of six more student-related COVID cases, totaling eight student cases. The latest on COVID-19 Continuing coverage of COVID-19 and its impact. If you have a question about the novel coronavirus pandemic and haven't been able to find an a On Tuesday, two staff members were identified as potential positive COVID cases as well. According to a statement from Superintendent Mark Brenton, there are about 50 students in the Bellaire elementary, middle and high schools who have been identified as close contacts to the eight student COVID cases. Those 50 students make up about 17% of Bellaires student population, the statement said. The definition for close contacts is someone who has been in close proximity to someone who has COVID-19 at a time when they were deemed contagious within 3 feet while wearing masks or within 6 feet without masks. Every decision that we make as a district is in the best interests of our students, and this one was no exception, Brenton said in the statement. While it was not an easy decision, I believe that it was the right one for our students, our staff and our community. Brenton said in an interview that this week the custodial staff will clean all areas where students go and school administrators will work with the local health department to consider new measures to put in place such as social distancing and prepare for future virtual school if it becomes necessary. Brenton said that officials simply werent set up for a shift to virtual learning this week. We dont want to get caught the last second without anything in place, Brenton said. Laurel Johnson, Public Information Officer at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, said that the public health department had not yet been contacted by the school district at the end of the day Tuesday. Bellaire public schools require students to wear masks as part of a mask mandate issued by the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. It doesnt seem to me [that] requiring the kids to wear masks is helping, said Jarris Rubingh, an Antrim County commissioner who also serves on the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health. I think it should be left up to the local school districts and parents. The Board of Health is not made up of medical professionals, and some members have recently been at odds with the departments decision to issue orders for school districts to require masks. According to data from MI Safe Start Map, Antrim County currently has a 24 percent positivity rate and 532 weekly cases per 100,000 between Oct. 3 and Oct. 9. By Tuesday, Munson Healthcare reported 74 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across its facilities, 40 of those patients are at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. That number of inpatient hospitalizations is about three-quarters of the peak numbers during two previous surges in infections during the past year one in December and the other in April a number that nearly doubled in recent weeks. Brenton said the school district is planning on turning half days into full days and using snow days to cover lost class time in order to avoid extending the end of the school year. Students who test positive must quarantine for 14 days, while close contacts have a few options when it comes to quarantining, Brenton said. Quarantine days count as medical absences for students. About the author: Lisa Peacock is the health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. She submitted this opinion piece as a private citizen. The sheriffs office in other cases released reports with the following details and allegations: The Greenville Police Department released reports with the following details and allegations: Contact Pat Gruner at pgruner@reflector.com and (252)-329-9566. 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students from Windham Elementary School get a surprise visit from the plow truck they named as part of the Vermont Agency of Transportation's Name a Plow program on Wednesday, 11/17/21. If You Go Domino toppling sensation Lily Hevesh will attend the screening of the documentary film Lily Topples the World, about Heveshs rise as an internationally recognized domino artist, on Saturday, at 7 p.m. at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St., Brattleboro. Long-term care facilities currently experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks included the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington, which has about 26 cases. Arts & Entertainment Editor Gena (pronounced Jenna) Mangiaratti has worked for the Brattleboro Reformer since 2018, and became arts editor for Vermont News & Media in 2021. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sunny along with a few clouds. High near 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 24F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. BRATTLEBORO A school climate assessment will look at the health and safety of Windham Southeast School District schools following a report o Peter Fish Case is a man with an opinion. He offers up a weekly podcast discussion that can be heard at www.theearspoon.com. Questions, compliments and complaints can be sent to him at fish@theearspoon.com. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Tristan Roberts writes about nature and self from Quill Nook Farm in Halifax, Vermont, where he lives with his family. NEW HAVEN The case of New Haven officer Robert Ferraro, charged in connection with a fatal crash in Las Vegas last month, recently was continued until January. Ferraro, 34, is charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving in the Sept. 17 crash, on which claimed the life of fellow city police Officer Joshua Castellano. A status check in the matter was recently held, at which Ferraro was required to continue to abstain from drugs and alcohol and not to drive during the case, according to Las Vegas judicial records. He was required to surrender his passport ahead of the court date, as well. The case is next scheduled for Jan. 27, according to judicial records. Ferraro previously was granted the opportunity to return to Connecticut to await adjudication of the case, according to his defense attorney Gabriel Grasso. As part of that, he has to check in weekly over the phone with authorities and has an alcohol monitor that requires random tests, Grasso said. Authorities said Ferraro was driving a 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan around 4 a.m. Sept. 17 when he entered an intersection at a high speed and began to lose control. He allegedly then drove off the side of the road, hitting a 2021 Ford Mustang, utility poles, landscaping and a fire hydrant, authorities said. The car turned onto its roof, ejecting Castellano from the vehicle. He later died at the hospital, according to a release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. New Haven Officers Matthew Borges and John Truhart, as well as two women from San Antonio, Texas, also were in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The report alleged Ferraro showed signs of impairment and allegedly refused to participate in any standardized field sobriety tests. Related: New Haven officer refused field sobriety test after crash that killed fellow officer, report says Grasso said Ferraro and Castellano were close friends from high school and were in the police academy together. He said the two, with two other friends from the academy, had an annual tradition of taking vacations together. Not everyone in the car was associated with the same New Haven police academy class, he said. Every year they do a trip for whoever can make a trip. For the last couple years because of COVID they hadnt done a trip. It was the first trip in a while and they were here for the weekend to be tourists in Las Vegas, he said. It is a huge, huge devastating loss thats being felt, he said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com; reporting from Brian Zahn is inclued in this story As Anupam Kher frequently shares glimpses of his reel and real-life on social media with all his fans, he recently dropped in another glimpse of himself in which he was seen spending quality time with the children of Nepal. As Anupam Kher is currently filming for his upcoming movie, Uunchai, alongside Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani, he took some time off and met the kids of Lukla, Nepal and gifted them sweaters made by his mother, Dulari. Anupam Kher meets the kids of Nepal Anupam Kher recently took to his official Instagram handle and shared a video clip in which he can be seen spending a fun time with the kids in Nepal. As the video begins, the actor can be seen walking like a Santa with a bag in his hand while singing that he has arrived with the sweaters made by his mother. He then interacts with the children and asks them whether they know his name to which they deny it. He then tells them his name and later asks them to recite a prayer they learnt in school. As they all recite the prayer, he informs them that he brought a bunch of sweaters for them that his mother made herself. He then hands them over to them and makes them wear the same. In the end, he gathers all of them together while they thank Anupma Kher's mother, Dulari and hail 'Dulari Rocks.' In the caption, he stated how his mother frequently knits sweaters for children and asked him to gift this to the kids in person. he further mentioned how he invited the kids of Lukla, Nepal and gifted the sweaters. he also revealed how delighted they were to wear them. The caption read, "Mom constantly knits sweaters for children! She insisted that I personally present them to children. So I invited the children of #Lukla and asked them to pick up their favourite Color! They were delighted to wear them and scream loudly #DulariRocks!Thank you @shwvenkat for putting this video together!" (sic) Many fans took to Anupam Kher's latest Instagram post and praised the actor for his noble work. Many of them thanked the actor for being 'Santa' for the kids and added that it was such a sweet gesture. Some fans also expressed their love by pouring hearts and heart-eyed emojis in the comments section. Take a look- Image: Facebook/@anupamkher A North Korean soldier clad in a blue superhero-like costume in a military group photo has created a stir online with people comparing him with a captain DPRK, and a rocket man among many other names. The unidentified soldier can be seen standing with at least 30 other soldiers while the group posed for a photo with leader Kim Jong Un during an exhibition of weapons systems. The photo captured the audiences attention after it was published by North Korea the next day. While the rest of his comrades can be seen wearing their usual olive green military uniforms, the now-viral soldier stood in an unusual blue outfit. The purpose of his being clad in the said attire although remains unclear. North Koreas autocratic leader Kim Jong Un was spotted in his usual black suit as he accompanied the troops to pose for the state military photograph. While North Korea hurled praises on the soldier dressed differently, he became the centre of mockery among the Americans and South Koreans who joked about his unusual appearance labelling him a human cannonball, and Captain America. Kim Jong-Un must be hearing very positive reports on this soldier. Appears to have let him know that the future looks bright, one joked on Twitter, sharing the clip. ts a super-soldier.Captain North Korea, one other joked. Havent you heard? Thats Captain DPRK, North Koreas first super-soldier, meanwhile the third said. For the Red Dawn remake, they had to re-shoot and cgi all soldier markings from Chinese military to North Korea because China bought the studio. Tim (@Krommsan) October 5, 2021 Kim Jong-eun must be hearing very positive reports on this soldier. Appears to have let him know that the future looks bright.#NorthKorea pic.twitter.com/xDpT023Xwf Devi Rhamesz (@ChrliesWarchest) October 12, 2021 Captain North Korea pic.twitter.com/pWXpMROdEi Okay Then (@AhOkayThen_) October 12, 2021 Hot Dog on a Stick is changing things up a bit. https://t.co/eQdnGjUXEx Kyle Mizokami (@KyleMizokami) October 12, 2021 Dude. That's Captain North Korea! a6m5 (@a6m5zero) October 12, 2021 Kim Jong-un calls for 'improving peoples lives' Earlier yesterday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un asked officials to focus on improving the lives of citizens via the recovery of the countrys COVID-19 battered economy, according to state media. Kims appeal was made as the country marked the 76th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers Party of Korea on October 11, KCNA news agency reported. Discussing the unprecedented difficulties witnessed by North Korea, Kim stated that the countrys ruling party had to develop single-minded unity in face of the grim situation. The anniversary was marked by the North with the art performances, galas, and fireworks, KCNA reported, although there was no military parade held. North Koreas autocratic ruler urged his country to make collective efforts to focus on improving people's lives during the pandemic. The Union government has amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 kms stretch, instead of the existing 15 kms, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. In Gujarat, that shares border with Pakistan, the same limit has been reduced from 80 kms to 50 kms while in Rajasthan the limit has been kept unchanged at 50 kms. Rajasthan and Punjab also share fronts with Pakistan while Assam has an international border with Bangladesh. The Union home ministry issued a notification in this context on October 11 amending a July, 2014 enabling provision for the BSF personnel and officers while they operate in the border areas. The about 2.65-lakh personnel paramilitary force guards over 6,300 of Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh. BSF officials said the amendment will help them in effectively curbing trans-border crimes and the new amendment brings in "uniformity" for its operations in the borders states of Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Assam where it can now operate within 50 kms area from the border. "The amendment effected on October 11 establishes uniformity in defining the area within which Border Security Force can operate as per its charter of duties and execution of its role and task of border guarding in its areas of deployment." "This will also enable improved operational effectiveness in curbing trans-border crime and to an extent of 50 kms from the international boundary within the states of states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, running along the borders of India," the BSF said in a statement. Earlier, the statement said, these limits were fixed to 80 kms in case of Gujarat and 50 kms in the case of Rajasthan and 15 kms in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. The notification will allow the border guarding force to execute the powers of search, seizure and arrest for the purpose of prevention of any offence punishable under the Passport Act, the Registration of Foreigners Act, the Central Excises and Salt Act, the Foreigners Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the Customs Act or of any cognisable offence punishable under any other Central Act, a senior officer said. The new amendment in the BSF Act will also allow the force to apprehend any person who has committed offences under these laws. The BSF personnel will continue to invoke these powers in the "whole of the area" comprised in the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya and Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In one of the biggest ever crackdowns in Jammu and Kashmir by the National Investigation Agency, Agency has arrested 14 terrorists and their associates last 72 hours. NIA conducted raids at more than 30 locations in six districts of Kashmir valley. As per an official statement by NIA, Agency conducted raids in 6 districts of Kashmir including Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, Kulgam and Baramulla; 31 locations were raided by NIA, followed by subsequent raids at some places, in the past 72 hours. NIA, on 10 October 2021, conducted searches at 7 locations in Kulgam, Srinagar and Baramulla districts of J&K in NIA case relating to the recovery of an IED from a Lashker-e-Toiba terrorist in Bathindi Jammu. NIA arrested TRF operatives namely Tawseef Ahmed Wani of Baramulla and Faiz Ahmed Khan of Anantnag for their involvement in the conspiracy. In second raids, NIA raided 8 locations in Srinagar and Anantnag district and arrested three ISIS Operatives identified as Tawheed Latief of Chattabal Srinagar, Suhail Ahmad of Shergari Srinagar and Afshan Parvez of Khanyar, Srinagar in a case linked to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Conspiracy Voice of Hind Case. NIA, on 12 October 2021, arrested 4 TRF Operatives identified as Waseem Ahmed of Chattabal Srinagar; Tariq Ahmed Dar of Shergarhi Srinagar, Bilal Ahmed Mir @ Bilal Fufu of Parimpora Srinagar and Tariq Ahmed Bafanda of Rajauri Kadal Srinagar in connection with J&K Terrorism Conspiracy Case. 16 locations were raided by NIA in Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian district. Following 16 raids, subsequent raids were conducted and NIA arrested 5 more accused persons identified as Md Haneef Chiralu of Srinagar; Hafeez of Budgam; Owais Dar of Pulwama; Mateen Bhat of Shopian and Arif Farooq Bhat of Srinagar. Among those arrested in NIA raids in Srinagar, was the mastermind of Delhi Serial Blast, Tariq Ahmed Dar. He was arrested in connection with J&K Terrorism Conspiracy Case (RC-29/2021/NIA/DLI) registered at NIA Delhi Police Station. "He was providing financial help and hatching conspiracy for Lashkar-e-Taiba and was involved in conspiring with Pakistan based terror commanders to radicalize local youth to join terror ranks and provide them arms and ammunition training." Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan on Tuesday asserted Indias commitment towards developing the most cost-effective Information Communication Technology (ICT) services for accelerating digital transformation. The MoS was participating in the Ministerial Roundtable Session of the 50th-anniversary edition of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Digital World 2021, where he made these remarks. The Union Minister remarked that India's telecom strategy was guided by the goals of affordability, accessibility, and availability of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) services to all citizens. India has brought in landmark telecom reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategic vision, ensuring the most inexpensive communication services, which would lead to the next stage of digitalization, he added. MoS asserts Indias push for ICTs, cites PM Modis visionary leadership The telecom reforms brought under the PM Modi-led Centre include raising the spectrum tenure from 20 to 30 years, simplifying the bank guarantee requirements for a licence, eliminating the Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) for spectrum acquired in future spectrum auctions, and allowing 100% foreign direct investment via the automatic route, among other things Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), the press release issued by Ministry of Communications stated. "This reformative process will unleash the true potential of the Indian telecom sector to the benefit of all sections including those who live in the remotest part of the country. The vision of the Prime Minister of India will also inspire other countries to charter the same path as adopted by India," Devusinh Chauhan added. According to Chauhan, India has made accessibility one of the top priorities of its telecom policy, in addition to affordability. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed that all of India's six lakh villages be connected by optical fibre," he added. Participated in Ministerial Round Table session of International Telecommunications Union's Digital World 2021 held on 12th October 2021. It was also attended by PM Vietnam & Ministers of 5 other countries. Deliberated on implication of cost & its impact on digital transformation pic.twitter.com/F6UyU8vA6T Devusinh Chauhan (@devusinh) October 13, 2021 The ITU's Deputy Secretary-General praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support for the country's communications revolution. He went on to say that if revolutionary initiatives are adopted at the highest levels, their chances of success and potential skyrocket, with India serving as an excellent example. This year, the Vietnamese government was responsible for staging the event. The Prime Minister of Vietnam, as well as ministers from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, attended the above session. (With ANI Inputs) (Image: Twitter) Watch William Shatner's Blue Origin's spaceflight launch here: Blue Origins much-awaited manned mission NS-18 is now all clear and will launch today, October 13. The launch was earlier postponed from October 12 to October 13 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Now, the space flight is ready to etch history as the companys New Shepard rocket will carry Star Trek actor William Shatner along with three other civilians to outer space and back. Interestingly, Shatner is set to become the oldest person to travel to space at the age of 90 years. The take-off will take place from Blue Origin's West Texas site, near the town of Van Horn. Forecasted winds at launch have subsided and weather currently looks good for Wednesday. Liftoff is now targeted for 9:00 am CDT / 14:00 UTC due to forecasted winds at rollout, the space exploration company had tweeted on Tuesday after its final meeting of engineers. How to watch blue origin rocket launch live online The take-off will take place from Blue Origin's West Texas site and interested viewers can watch the launch by logging onto the companys official website. Viewers can also watch the launch on the companys official YouTube channel. Blue Origin has already scheduled the live cast of the launch by the name, New Shepard Mission NS-18 Webcast on YouTube. Besides, the viewers can also keep up with the updates on the company's official Twitter handle. The lift-off will take place at 7:00 pm and the broadcast is likely to commence an hour earlier. Forecasted winds at launch have subsided and weather currently looks good for Wednesday. Liftoff is now targeted for 9:00 am CDT / 14:00 UTC due to forecasted winds at rollout. Blue Origin (@blueorigin) October 12, 2021 William Shatner to script history Star Trek fame William Shatner will script history by becoming the worlds oldest person to travel to space once the mission is successful. Talking to the Associated Press, he had said, "Ive heard about space for a long time now. Im taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle." Moreover, he also shared a post on Twitter expressing his excitement. However, he recently revealed that he is also "terrified" ahead of the upcoming launch. Moreover, Shatner will be accompanied in his first-ever suborbital flight by Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice-president of mission and flight operations, Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of Earth observation company Planet Labs and Glen de Vries, vice chair at French software company Dassault Systemes. Image: Twitter In a major step forward, Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte hypothetically stated his stance on homosexuality for the royals. He was of the opinion that any king or queen could marry a person of the same sex to ascend to the throne. It is to be noted that the Netherlands parliament acknowledged same-sex marriage in 2001. However, it was not applicable for the Dutch royalty as there would be no biological heir in the arrangement. As per BBC, Rutte's remarks came on Tuesday as a response to a written question about "theoretical situation" from his party in the parliament and does not refer to the heir of the Dutch throne, who is a 17-year-old Princess Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria. The crown Princess is Dutch King Willem-Alexander's eldest child who has recently come under scrutiny due to a book named Amalia, Duty Calls over the last summer. The book argues orthodox laws and questions about the necessary solution may the situation of homosexuality arises in the royal family. "The cabinet does not see that an heir to the throne or the king should abdicate if he or she would like to marry a partner of the same sex," his letter read. However, PM Marks' statement did not indicate a possible wedding in the royal family any time soon since the Princess is about to turn 18 years old in December and join University. Notably, earlier last month, Princess Amalia, through a handwritten letter to the PM has also refused to accept the royal allowance she is entitled to as a student. 'Frightfully complicated' royal situation The Netherlands PM's comment, however, fails to shed light on how gay marriage could affect the later succession of the royal throne. "It does not make sense to try and decide that now," the Independent reported quoting him. Explaining the situation to be "frightfully complicated", he added, "It's just very dependent on the facts and circumstances of the specific case, as you can see by looking back at how family law can change over time." For those who don't know, royal family members need to seek the permission of the parliament to enter into matrimonial bonds. In fact, royals around the world have on many occasions defied existing norms to make history. Image: AP Over a hundred people have been vaccinated with an expired COVID vaccine in Nykoping, Sweden. The regional vaccination manager Magnus Johansson has accepted about inoculating the people with the expired vaccine, reported Sputnik News citing a press release. Johansson admitted that they had "breached internal control". As per the Sputnik News report, 102 people were administered expired vaccines in Nykoping, Sodermanland County, south of Stockholm. Over 100 people inoculated with expired vaccine The expired doses were reportedly administered on Monday and the local authorities have insisted that they had properly stored the vaccine, reported Sputnik News. However, the vaccine manufacturer Pfizer has informed that the vaccine expiry date had passed. The people were vaccinated with expired vaccines in the Swedish city Nykoping, Sodermanland County, south of Stockholm. The people who were vaccinated included 88 people who were aged between 12 to 15 years. As per the Sputnik report, the authorities have informed the people who have been inoculated with expired vaccines. The authorities have revealed that the vaccines that have been stored after the expiry have "no known medical risks". Magnus Johansson told SVT NYHETER that the vaccines even after expiration protect people who have been inoculated against COVID. Johansson added that they have contacted Pfizer vaccine to have more information about the effect of the vaccine. Johansson mentioned that they need to know whether the vaccine which has been stored for a long time have the same effect against COVID and if they need to revaccinate the people. It is worth mentioning that 899 people were vaccinated with the expired vaccine in June at a vaccination site in Times Square in the United States, according to AP. The Sweden administration has started vaccination for children aged between 12 to 15 years. The Sweden Public Health Agency mentioned that even children can face serious illness due to COVID and has urged everyone aged 12 years and over to get vaccinated against coronavirus. Earlier this month, Sweden's health officials halted the use of Moderna's COVID vaccine for people aged 30 and below, according to AP. According to Sweden's Public Health Agency, the decision was taken after an elevated risk of heart inflammation, a rare side effect connected with the shot was noted. Inputs from AP Image: AP A recent study of ancient writings revealed that Italian sailors from the hometown of Christopher Columbus were aware of America 150 years before its actual discovery. Experts in Medieval Latin literature from the University of Milan were transcribing the Cronica Universalis, a document written by a Milan monk named Galvaneus Flamma in 1345. While transcribing the historic text, the experts discovered that one of the paragraphs references talk about a place that is actually North America. This essay, which was discovered in 2013, claims that Genoa sailors were aware of the existence of the territory of Marckalada. The researchers also discovered an indication that America had its mention in the Mediterranean region too. Notably, the Cronica Universalis is a single manuscript that has been preserved. The finding was published in the peer-reviewed journal Terrae Incognitae and it comes just a few days ahead of Columbus Day 2021, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October in the United States. It is also known as Indigenous People's Day in some parts of the country. The new findings add to the ongoing argument over what exactly did Columbus anticipate to find when he crossed the ocean. They also follow a period when his sculptures were decapitated, smeared in crimson paint, lassoed around the head and pulled down, set ablaze, and dumped into a lake. According to The Times, Paolo Chiesa, one of the authors of the study, said that this discovery is the most important evidence to circulate in the Mediterranean region of the American continent. He also mentioned that Columbus' expedition would have been much easier for him had he been aware of the sailors' knowledge. Columbus set off from Spanish port in 1492 to discover Asia Chiesa went on to say that details of the journeys may be found in early Nordic writings but that there is no indication that the name of this region was known to the Mediterranean people. It is should be mentioned here that on August 3, 1492, Columbus set off from the Spanish port of Palos in the hopes of discovering Asia. Columbus set sail with around 100 men and three ships - the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria - in a diametrically opposite direction from where he was intended to arrive. The ships arrived in the modern-day Bahamas on October 12, 1492, and later that month, he spotted Cuba, mistaking it for mainland China. When the ships arrived on the shore two months later, Columbus assumed the place to be Japan. Columbus returned to America three more times, exploring the Lesser Antilles in 1493, Trinidad and the northern coast of South America in 1498, and the eastern coast of Central America in 1502. Image: ANI/Unsplash Iran has slammed Israel at the United Nations (UN) and termed its nuclear programme as the most serious threat to the security of all states in the Middle East. As per Tasnim News Agency of Iran, in an address to the First Committee of the 76th UN General Assembly on Tuesday, October 12, Iranian diplomat Heidar Ali Balouji lashed out at the Israeli regime for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Middle East proposed by Iran back in 1974. He also criticised Tel Aviv for painting Tehrans conventional weapon capabilities as a threat to regional stability. The Iranian diplomats remarks came amid Israel repeatedly threatening to launch a military attack against Iran and called out Tehran to cease the alleged nuclear weapons programme. However, Iran has repeatedly denied having any aim to build such arms. Sputnik stated that both the supreme leaders of Iran have issued religious rulings decreeing nukes as well as other weapons of mass destruction to run contrary to the tenants of Islam. In the committee meeting in New York City on Tuesday, as per the Iranian agency, Balouji said, Israel continues to defy all international regimes governing weapons of mass destruction by refusing to adhere to the [Non-Proliferation Treaty], the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Committee. He reportedly accused the Jewish state of seriously hampering the process of creating a nuclear-free Middle East. As per the report by Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian diplomat said, Nevertheless, [Israel] attempts to portray Irans conventional weapons capabilities or its exclusively peaceful nuclear programme, which is under the most robust verification of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as a challenge to regional stability. This is but a hypocritical move to distract attention away from the real danger posed to regional peace by Israel, particularly its nuclear weapon arsenals as well as clandestine and un-safeguarded nuclear installations and activities, he further alleged, as per the report. Balouji accused Israel of making false accusations' Further in his address, Balouji accused Israel of making standard practice of dissemination of false and fabricated accusations against regional countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of IranNevertheless, it is quite evident that no amount of disinformation and manufactured crises can cover up the criminal nature, as well as the expansionist and war-mongering policies, that this regime has pursued over the past 70 years. Image: AP, Twitter@naftalibennett Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again urged the international community to lift sanctions against the Islamic Emirate. Khan said that the engagement with the Afghan Taliban is important to avoid it going back to becoming land for terrorists like in the 1990s. Khan went on to claim that the Taliban can help get rid of ISIS (Islamic State for Iraq and Syria). Imran Khan was talking in an interview with the Middle East Eye when he urged the international community to engage with the Taliban. He went on to warn that the decision to not lift sanctions against the Islamic Emirate could have dangerous repercussions. It can easily go back to the Taliban of 2000, 20 years ago. And that would be a disaster, Khan said in the interview. The Pakistan PM went on to claim that the international community could use the Taliban as a good tool to defeat Deash in Afghanistan. He also added that the Islamic Emirate has promised to respect human rights. He further reminded that the current rulers of Kabul had also promised to cut ties with militant groups. Believe me, Taliban are the best bat to get rid of ISIS, Khan told the Middle East Eye. Meanwhile, several international relations analysts have now raised concern over Khans repeated calls for the recognition of the Islamic Emirate. Experts in the field have said that the Pakistan PMs constant interest in the matter is worrying. According to TOLOnews, Mohammad Khan Andar, an international relations analyst called for the international community to oversee the situation and analyse why Pakistan insists on recognition of Afghanistans affairs. So far, the international community has repeatedly chosen against recognising the Islamic Emirate until they respect human rights, especially womens rights, and ensure that Afghanistans soil will not be used against any country. The US will recognise Taliban 'sooner or later' says Pak PM Earlier this month, Imran Khan had said that the United States is in a "state of shock and confusion" after the Taliban's conquest of Kabul on August 15. Speaking at an interview with Turkish-state affiliated TRT World, Khan had said, "sooner or later" the USA will have to identify the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. Joining US President Joe Biden's critics on the US troop withdrawal debate, Khan indicated that the retaliation of the international community by freezing funds of Afghanistan was not the "rational mindset for a way forward. However, Khan rebuffed claims about Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs. Image: AP The appointment of Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum as the new Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has sparked tensions between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and influential Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, reports have speculated. The post of the ISI chief was vacated by Gen Faiz Hameed after he was asked to take charge as the Peshawar Corps Commander in the first week of October. However, following his transfer, decisions regarding the new spy chief reportedly caused friction between Khan and Bajwa. The post of the ISI chief is considered to be one of the most powerful positions in the Pakistan Army- which wields power in matters of security and foreign policy as a deep state. Even though the Prime Minister is the legal authority for the appointment, the Army Chief's blessings are key to the post. Speculations of dissension between the two sides emerged after sources revealed that the PM had still not issued the notification for Anjums appointment, almost a week after his name was finalized. Both are in agreement: Pak Minister Fawad Chaudhry As per law, the appointment of the post is the legal and prerogative right of the Prime Minister. After maintaining a long silence, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry addressed the matter during a press conference. Refuting speculations of differences between the civil and military leadership, Fawad Chaudhry attempted a face-saver and said that Prime Minister Khan and Army chief Bajwa had a long sitting to discuss the matter of the ISI chief. "The legal procedure will be followed in the appointment of the new DG ISI, for which both are in agreement, he said, adding that after the meeting, the premier had taken the Cabinet into confidence over the issue. "I see on social media, there are many who have wishes; I want to tell them that the Prime Ministers Office will never undermine the respect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistans prime minister or civil setup," the Pakistan Minister asserted. As per Geo News, damage control has been done and Imran Khan has assured the Cabinet that all the people concerned "are on the same page". The appointment will be finalized amicably, the report said. (With Agency Inputs) G20 leaders and ministers on Tuesday, 12 October, agreed that they have "no option" but to involve the Taliban in sending humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. During the virtual G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan, the world leaders agreed to act through the United Nations and its agencies to provide aid to the war-torn nation, which is on the verge of a humanitarian meltdown. Mario Draghi, the Italian PM and the current rotating chair of the G20, said that it is very hard to see how the world can help people in Afghanistan without involving the Taliban. Addressing the humanitarian crisis will require contacts with the Taliban, but this does not mean their recognition. We must acknowledge that they will be judged for what they do, not for what they say, Draghi added. Speaking at a press conference following the virtual summit, the Italian PM also said that the lives of women had gone back 20 years, adding that right now there was no visible progress on human rights, womens rights, education or an inclusive government. These issues, Draghi said, would hinge on future recognition of the insurgents by other countries. The G20 comprises twenty of the worlds major economies. The G20 member countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, UK, US and the European Union. Tuesday's summit was the first time the worlds richest countries, including the United States and the UK, met to discuss the consequences of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not join the virtual meeting and instead sent their foreign ministers. UK PM Boris Johnson also did not take part either as he was on holiday. G-20 Summit Meanwhile, during the summit, the European Union announced an extra 700 million in emergency aid to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. The support package was decided following the discussion held by the EU Ministers, who agreed to opt for a more calibrated approach to give direct support to the Afghan population. The funding is aimed at preventing a humanitarian catastrophe without legitimising the Taliban interim government, the European Commission stressed on Tuesday. PM Narendra Modi also virtually took part in the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan and stressed on preventing Afghanistan from becoming a source of terrorism and radicalisation. PM Modi called for humanitarian assistance to Afghan citizens and an inclusive administration of women and minorities. In his remarks, he emphasised the centuries-old people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan. (Image: AP/Twitter) On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his two-day visit to Armenia by paying a tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in the first genocide of the 20th century at the hands of the Turkish government. The homage was paid at Yerevan's Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex erected in memory of the victims of the genocide. "Began the day by paying homage at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex," tweeted Jaishankar who is the first Indian External Affairs Minister to visit Armenia. On Tuesday, October 12, Jaishankar arrived in Yerevan and was greeted by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Jaishankar left for a three-nation tour of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia on October 10, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). After paying tribute, the Indian Foreign Minister held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan where the two countries agreed to boost economic, education, and cultural exchanges. Jaishankar also met the President of Armenia's National Assembly, Alen Simonyan and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar informed that he discussed the importance of nurturing the bonds between two parliamentary democracies. In Yerevan, Jaishankar and Mirozyan also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi's statue and planted a friendship tree. The Indian Foreign Minister also met Indian students and expressed gratitude to the Armenian government for their well-being. Began the day by paying homage at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. pic.twitter.com/cBVcXNAivh Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 13, 2021 India-Armenia relations It should be mentioned here that in 1964, then Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan paid a visit to the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid a visit in June 1976. Three months after declaring independence from the Soviet Union, India recognised Armenia in December 1991 and both countries went on to establish diplomatic ties in 1992. In March 1999, India established its embassies in Yerevan, whereas, Armenia established its embassy in New Delhi in October 1999 after opening an honorary consulate in April 1994. In 1995 and 2003, then Armenian Presidents Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan visited India. Notably, in 2019, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with WION that Armenia supports India in the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan. (With ANI inputs) Image: Twitter/ @ Dr. S. Jaishankar Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday, October 13 met Sri Lankan Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd). Naravane also met Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Sri Lankan Army General Shavendra Silva. During the meeting, they expressed interest in exploring new avenues for strengthening India-Sri Lanka defence ties. General Naravane meets Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and Chief of Defence Staff On Tuesday, October 12, General MM Naravane arrived in Sri Lanka, where he was welcomed by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lankan Army at the airport. Taking to Twitter, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka informed about the meeting between Indian Army Chief General Naravane, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and Commander of Sri Lankan Army General Shavendra Silva. Indian Army also informed about the meeting on Twitter. Indian Army in a tweet, said, "General MM Naravane #COAS called on General GDH Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) Secretary, Ministry of Defence and discussed steps to take forward the excellent defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and India." Gen MM Naravane #COAS #IndianArmy met Defence Secretary Gen Kamal Gunaratne (Retd),&Gen @SilvaShavendra CDS&Cdr of #lkaArmy.Close camaraderie& cooperation were recalled.Expressed keen interest to explore newer avenues for deepening defence ties between & . pic.twitter.com/hpMllvqGoL India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) October 13, 2021 General MM Naravane #COAS called on General GDH Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) Secretary, Ministry of Defence and discussed steps to take forward the excellent defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and India.#IndiaSriLankaFriendship pic.twitter.com/UzVWzN9RFY ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 13, 2021 General MM Naravane #COAS arrived in Sri Lanka and was extended a warm welcome by General Shavendra Silva Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Sri Lankan Army at the airport.#IndiaSriLankaFriendship pic.twitter.com/dQKnScaAe6 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 12, 2021 Revealing details of the meeting between General Silva and General Naravane, the Indian Army in a tweet said that the two army chiefs discussed issues related to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. On 13th October, Naravane met Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During the meeting, they discussed issues of "mutual and strategic cooperation". General MM Naravane laid a wreath at Indian Peace Keeping Force War Memorial and paid tributes to the Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives during the Peace Keeping Operations in Sri Lanka. General MM Naravane #COAS called on General Shavendra Silva #CDS & Commander #SriLankanArmy and discussed issues related to boosting bilateral defence cooperation between two countries. #COAS also interacted with the senior officers of the #SriLankanArmy during the visit. pic.twitter.com/gwK0yQEwad ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 13, 2021 General MM Naravane #COAS called on President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed issues of mutual & strategic cooperation.#IndiaSriLankaFriendship pic.twitter.com/9W6YYHW46M ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 13, 2021 In a Twitter post, the Indian Army said that during his four-day visit to Sri Lanka from October 12 to October 16, General Naravane will be meeting the civilian and military leadership of the island nation. As per the government press release, General Naravane, during his visit, will be interacting with the Service Chiefs, visit the Headquarters of the Sri Lankan Army - Gajaba Regimental Headquarters, and the Sri Lankan Military Academy. The Ministry of Defence informed that the Chief of Army Staff will witness the culmination phase of the joint exercise between India and Sri Lanka, "Exercise Mitra Shakti". Later, Gen Naravane will also address the students and faculty at the Defence Services Command and Staff College at Batalanda. General MM Naravane #COAS proceeded on a four day visit to #SriLanka. #COAS will be meeting the apex civilian and military leadership of #SriLanka and discuss avenues for further enhancing India- Sri Lanka defence cooperation. #IndiaSriLankaFriendship pic.twitter.com/fmouTir4SP ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 12, 2021 Image: Twitter/@IndiainSL Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 22 October in Sochi to discuss a range of bilateral, political, security, and economic issues including the Iran threat, the former announced in a statement on Tuesday. Stressing that the two countries plan to hold dialogue on important regional issues for the first time since he assumed the leadership in the Israeli parliament, Bennett stated that he will primarily discuss the Iranian nuclear program," with the Russian President, his office informed in a statement. It is being reported that the Israeli leader is travelling on the invitation of the Russian president and the two counterparts will have a meeting in the seaside resort city, marking a fresh era of diplomacy. Israel and Russia already operate a military hotline to coordinate air force operations over Syria to avoid conflict. Russia, meanwhile, was also part of the negotiations for the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, an arrangement that the ex-US President Donald Trump pulled out of, unilaterally, alleging Irans breach of the terms of the historic treaty. As the Biden administration has been in talks to ramp up efforts to revive The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal [JCPOA], Israel plans to hold talks with Russia to discuss the threats arising out of the Iranian territory. Israel PM alerts missions worldwide of 'Iranian threat' Reports of the Israeli leader's expected Russia visit comes just days after the Mideast country warned its missions around the world of a possible Iranian threat. Israeli PM Naftali Bennett-led administration issued a warning to the Israeli diplomats alleging a risk of being targeted by the Islamic Republic in the aftermath of the incident wherein at least three Iran-backed suspects accused of a deadly attack fled Cyprus, Channel 12 reported. Both Israel and Iran continue to trade barbs over a variety of subjects and have often blamed each other for terror attacks. The Islamic Republic has blatantly accused its adversary of conducting aerial strikes on its marine vessel and its nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, Israel has said that Iran was behind a bombing on its embassy in India. Notably, a similar warning to Israeli citizens was sent previously in March by the countrys National Security Council. Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated to resolve the issue of the disputed island with Russia very soon, news agency Sputnik reported on Wednesday. According to the reports, the statement from the Prime Minister came at a hearing in the upper house of Japan's parliament. Citing Kishida, the news agency said that Japan has been consistent with its position on the issue of ownership of four disputed islands. Notably, both nations have a decades-old territorial controversy regarding the autonomy of the four islands Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai which the Soviet Union captured in 1945. Subsequently, Tokyo surrendered in front of the Soviet Union. "Since then, Japan has been trying to re-capture the island that currently falls under the jurisdiction of Russia. They (Japan) argues the expansion was unconstitutional and demands their return, while Russia says it was a legitimate consequence of the war. "The sovereignty of our country extends to the Northern Territories [Southern Kuril Islands]. The government has not changed its stance on this matter. The subject of negotiations on the conclusion of the peace treaty [with Russia] is the issue of ownership of the four islands. This is Japan's consistent position," Sputnik quoted the Japanese Prime >inister as saying during a hearing in the upper house of Japan's parliament. PM Fumio Kishida reiterates to speed up 2018 deal Further, he noted that the issue could no longer be delayed, and Japan would continue the efforts to resolve it based on previous agreements. It is worth noting in 2018, Japan and Russia agreed to speed up discussions on the peace treaty on the basis of the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956. During the joint declaration, Russia agreed to consider the feasibility of transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands to Japan. Earlier this month, Kishida had a telephonic conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin where the two leaders agreed to solve the issue of four islands. According to the report, the Japanese leader dialled Putin to wish him on his birthday and talked for around 25 minutes over various topics including, negotiations for a postwar peace deal. However, irrespective of Putin's assurance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday expressed disagreement with Kishida's earlier statements about Japan's ownership of the disputed islands, saying they belong to Russia. With inputs from ANI Image: AP Dubai (UAE), Oct 13 (AP) Qatar's diplomatic point man on Afghanistan said Tuesday countries should engage the country's new Taliban rulers, warning that isolation could lead to instability and a wide-reaching security threat, as happened when al-Qaida used the country as a base to plot the 9/11 attacks. Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, Qatar's special envoy for counterterrorism and mediation in conflict resolution, said he's held conversations with the Taliban about combating terrorism. The Taliban, he said, are committed to fighting the Islamic State group, which is increasingly active in Afghanistan, and ensuring the country is not used by terrorist organizations. The sides have also discussed pressing issues related to the role of women in society, girls' access to education and the importance of an inclusive government. Qatar's policies and insights on Afghanistan are watched closely because the tiny gas-rich nation has played an outsized role in the war-torn country in the wake of the US withdrawal. What we are saying to the Taliban, which is the caretaker government, the de facto authorities in Kabul, (is that) discrimination and exclusion... this is not a good policy, al-Qahtani said in a speech at the Global Security Forum in Doha organized by The Soufan Center. As a de facto authority, you have certain responsibility, obligations to discharge." The current Afghan government, which the Taliban say is only interim, is comprised solely of Taliban figures, including several blacklisted by the United Nations. They need more collaboration and more cooperation and more assistance from other countries, al-Qahtani said, adding that engagement with the world is the only way forward to stave off a humanitarian catastrophe in the impoverished nation. Qatar was crucial to the chaotic US airlift of more than 100,000 people from Kabul after the Taliban's surprise takeover of the capital August 15, and has hosted face-to-face talks between the Taliban and the United States. Just this week, the US and Taliban held more direct talks in Qatar's capital, Doha, in their first such meeting since the American troop withdrawal August 31. Representatives of the European Union and Taliban were holding similar talks in Doha on Tuesday. Al-Qahtani explained why Qatar encourages engagement with the Taliban, who for years carried out suicide bombings and killings of troops and civilians. Although the group wants international recognition and agreed on a peace deal with the US, it has resorted to public hangings and other brutal tactics since taking power. If we are going to disengage and not to engage with them, I think again we are committing the same mistake that we did in 1989... when we abandoned Afghanistan, the Afghan people, he said. One of the consequences of that action is 9/11, so I think we should learn from this. The Taliban, however, have ruled out cooperation with Washington on containing the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, even as they fight the group, which is seen as more radical and extremist. Additionally, the Taliban's long-time support for al-Qaida makes the group an unreliable U.S. counterterrorism partner. While ruling Afghanistan during the late 1990s, the Taliban sheltered al-Qaida and its chief, Osama bin Laden. Their refusal to hand over bin Laden and other al-Qaida members after the September 11 terror attacks prompted the US military assault that ousted the Taliban and led to a 20-year war in Afghanistan. Al-Qahtani argued that Taliban officials who have been residing in Qatar, where the group has had a political office since 2013, were positively impacted in their thinking by their interactions with Western diplomats and others over the years. How to engage with the Taliban remains an issue for nations around the world. During their previous time in power in the late 1990s, only three nations recognized the Taliban's rule of Afghanistan. No country has yet announced formal recognition this time around, though neighbouring Pakistan has also encouraged engagement with the Taliban. At a virtual meeting on Afghanistan by the Group of 20 most powerful economies in the world on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the international community should keep channels of dialogue open with the Taliban to patiently and gradually steer them toward establishing a more inclusive government. Erdogan said Turkey, which is a close ally of Qatar and which already hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians, cannot burden an influx of migrants from Afghanistan, warning that European nations would also be affected by a new wave of migrants. French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants the G-20 nations to set conditions for recognizing the Taliban, including ensuring women's rights. That sentiment was echoed by nations in meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Taliban have only allowed young Afghan girls and boys of all ages to return to primary school, but older girls have been barred from going to high school and most women have not been allowed to return to work. Male and female students have been allowed back to university, but are being segregated. Al-Qahtani said that in conversations with the Taliban, Qatar has said that Islam supports the rights of both men and women to work and learn. He cautioned, though, that on issues of politics, it's not up to us to decide or to impose what we think is the right thing. Another urgent issue facing Afghanistan is access to the world's financial system now that the Taliban is in power. Aid organizations warn the nation of nearly 40 million people faces total poverty and hunger as winter approaches. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the Afghan people should not suffer a collective punishment because of the Taliban, urging the continued flow of humanitarian aid. The European Union announced a one-billion-euro (USD1.15 billion) support package for the Afghan people on Tuesday. After their meeting with US officials in Doha on Sunday, the Taliban said the US agreed to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The US statement was less definitive, saying only that the two sides discussed the United States' provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people. A humanitarian official told The Associated Press that the Taliban has been moving aid through with a large degree of transparency with no evidence seen of corruption, which had hurt aid distribution during the previous U.S.-propped Afghan government. The official spoke anonymously to discuss ongoing aid operations. Al-Qahtani, too, said the Taliban have been cooperative in terms of facilitating humanitarian assistance to the country. (AP) RAX RAX (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening and funding for emergency aid is urgently needed to help 20 million people there, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday, 12 October. This comes after the UN had led an appeal for solidarity for the people of Afghanistan, seeking $606 million for the war-ravaged nation. In a press release, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees informed that out of the total, only 35 per cent of the funds it needed to fund operations for the next two months had been received. Core relief items include essential household items such as blankets, plastic sheets, buckets, jerry cans, kitchen set & soap When people flee for their lives they often leave behind household goods Yesterday, we provided CRIs to 4,470 IDPs & persons affected by conflict pic.twitter.com/dY1vnMGQUW UNHCR Afghanistan (@UNHCRAfg) October 12, 2021 On Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said that the agency was trying to establish a logistics hub just outside Afghanistans border to distribute aid to the countrys many hundreds of thousands of internally displaced. He explained that Afghans economy was at breaking point. He said that this collapse had to be avoided at all costs, particularly as temperatures were now plunging at night with the approach of winter. So, resources are really needed to reach more and more Afghans, I mean, when you talk about half of the population relying on humanitarian assistance; 20 million, that number is rising day by day, he said, adding We need those resources as immediately as possible. Airlifts to scale up supplies Baloch said that UNHCR has planned to conduct three airlifts to scale up supplies to Afghanistan in the coming period. He informed that consignments will be airlifted to Termez, Uzbekistan, and subsequently trucked through the Hairatan border point into Mazar-i-Sharif. These airlifts will deliver urgently needed humanitarian relief items, with the first flight expected to arrive mid-October, Baloch said. According to UN News, the officials insisted that the window to assist is narrow as only five per cent of Afghan households have enough to eat every day. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs separately said that severe drought and disruptions to farming have increased the risk of food insecurity as the winter approaches. The UN has also warned that more than half of all Afghan children under five are expected to become acutely malnourished in the next year. Meanwhile, at the G20 Extraordinary Meeting on Afghanistan UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed there are three areas for essential action: ensuring a lifeline of help to the Afghan people, avoiding a total meltdown of the countrys economy and a "constant commitment" to move things in the right direction, for the Afghan people. The World Food Programme (WFP), on the other hand, warned that there is no money to pay wages or buy food, medicine or clean water. The agency stressed that deaths can be prevented if further funds are freed up for Afghanistan now. (With inputs from ANI) Hundreds of Indigenous people from multiple ethnicities protested peacefully in Paraguay's capital on Tuesday, demanding the return of colonized land. The protest in Asuncion comes weeks after the passing of a law that punishes with criminal charges land invasions. It would affect several Indigenous communities who reside on improvised settlements pending the restitution of their lands. October 12 also marks the start of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Mario Rivarola, a member of the Indigenous Network for a Dignified Life, said the day was "painfully" known as an Indigenous celebration because it is also a reminder of the violence and displacement. Another member of the network, Mauricio Franco, said Indigenous people from Paraguay remain less privileged than foreigners who settled on what was once their land. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In major developments in Gabby Petito's homicide, authorities ruled that she was strangulated until death. As per legal documents filed with Teton County Clerk of District Court, Coroner Dr. Brent Blue on Tuesday stated that the cause of death was "manual strangulation/throttling" about three to four weeks before her body was retrieved on September 19. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has continued the manhunt for Gabrielle's fiance Brian Laundrie, who is a "person of interest" but not for the homicide. For the unknown, Gabby Petito's fiance Laundrie has been convicted of "knowingly and with the intent of defraud" using "one or more unauthorised access devices, namely a Capitol One Bank debit card," and PIN for two accounts. It is to be noted that Laundrie's whereabouts in recent days are unknown as he had gone missing since September 18 after he went hiking at the Carlton Reserve in Florida the previous week. Where is Brian Laundrie? The North Port Police had carried out rigorous search operations for Brian Christopher Laundrie. In a press briefing, the agents updated the media by stating that they had searched over 25,000 acres of swampy forestland and all the investigators had "exhausted all venues" near Sarasota before they raided Laundrie's home on September 23. Petito's family attorney, on September 16, requested Laundrie's family to help in the investigation to bring the girl back home. Dog the Bounty Hunter joins frantic search for Laundrie Besides police and the FBI, famed bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman has launched an active search after he received "thousands of tip-offs" from people across the nation. The reality-tv star-turned-investigator and his team looked for the FBI-declared fugitive Brian Laundrie on an island near Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, FL. "K-9 teams have been brought in to assist. The search will continue into the evening," Duane wrote on Twitter. He also expressed gratitude to "everyone assisting & for the thousands of tips," he added. The private investigation team opened an anonymous tipline number to 833-TELL-DOG to receive any information regarding the case. This has been a very different search, Dog told Fox News. Gabby Petito homicide: Timeline On September 19, the FBI announced that they had discovered a body at the Moran Vista camping area of Wyoming park which resembled Gabby Petito. On September 22, the federal team, following an autopsy, confirmed that the human remains found were of the blogger whose sudden disappearance had rocked the United States. As per several media reports, Gabby last spoke to her mother Nicole Schmidt on August 11, sometime after she embarked on a cross-country trip with her fiance, Brian. As per FBI updates on Twitter, Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito, who documented her road trip with her fiance was last seen in Grand Teton National Park in late August. On September 11, Schmidt filed a missing report of 22-year-old Gabriella. (With inputs from AP) Image: @GABSPetito_Instagram Amid strained ties between the United States and Pakistan, a new report has revealed that Afghanistan was not the reason for US President Joe Biden's unfriendliness against Pakistan. Former Pakistan Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik revealed that Joe Biden was miffed with Pakistan for its partisan role in favour of former US President Donald Trump during the 2020 US election campaign. Speaking to The News International, Malik also informed that the Pakistani Embassy in Washington was used as Trump's election office. This was found out by Joe Biden. "During the US presidential election, a Pakistani businessman used the Pakistani Embassy in Washington as Trump's election office and when President Joe Biden found out about it, he got annoyed," Malik told The News International. In addition, Malik also advised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to pen a letter to the United States President and clarify the country's position. He added that the 'ice had not melted yet' between the two countries and therefore the two sides did not talk, The News International reported. US distances itself from broad-based ties with Pakistan Recently, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visited Pakistan. However, the visit was more focused on Afghanistan's current situation instead of discussions on broad-based ties between Washington and Islamabad. The same was confirmed by US State Department's statement on Shermans's engagements which indicated the centrality of the Afghan issue in US-Pakistan talks. It is pertinent to mention that Sherman, at an event in Mumbai on last Thursday clearly declared that Washington no longer sees itself building a 'broad-based relationship' with Pakistan. She made these remarks before her trip to Islamabad and also added that she was going there with a 'specific and narrow purpose' of talks on Afghanistan. However, in spite of the differences between the two countries on Afghanistan and other issues, the Biden administration will continue its engagement with Pakistan, the media reports stated. The focus will be on four major points: Recognition of the Taliban government in Kabul, international sanctions on Afghanistan, access to the land-locked country and counter-terrorism cooperation, the media reports added. (With ANI inputs) On Tuesday, October 12, US President Joe Biden-led administration appointed veteran diplomat Elizabeth Jones to manage efforts for relocation and resettlement in Afghanistan. According to the official announcement, Ambassador Jones will oversee the entire Afghanistan relocation effort, from the United States' ongoing efforts to facilitate the departure of individuals from Afghanistan to their onward relocation and resettlement in the US, reported news agency ANI citing Dawn. Notably, Jones has been brought back from retirement to oversee the country's resettlement efforts. She will be replacing Ambassador John Bass who held the position for the last few months but is stepping down to focus on his nomination for another State Department position. Jones' team has been assigned to focus on four primary areas: transporting people out of Afghanistan, Afghans resettlement in the United States, processing those people in third countries and engagement with volunteers and veterans' groups, reported Dawn. The appointment comes as the US continues to work to reunify hundreds of Afghans, as well as Americans and legal permanent residents, who were left behind following the chaotic and rushed military pullout from Afghanistan at the end of August. Thousands of Americans have been evacuated since the US military left Afghanistan, said State Department official, adding that there are still at least 100 Americans stranded who wish to leave the war-torn country. The department stated that more Americans have come forward wishing to flee the nation as the evacuations have continued, reported CNN. Jones will also be responsible for liaising with interagency partners, including the Department of Homeland Security and the White House team, according to the official. 'Ambassador Jones not to communicate directly with Taliban' The official further stated that Ambassador Jones is not expected to communicate directly with the Taliban as the majority of such interactions will be handled by the US team in Doha and the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation's staff. He further informed that she will be stationed in Washington, DC, as reported by CNN. It should be mentioned here that Jones also has the distinction of serving as Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and also as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and European and Eurasian Affairs. Meanwhile, last week, United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners appealed to countries around the world to keep their promises to Afghanistan as they scramble to scale up the delivery of vital aid ahead of the upcoming winter season. Image: AP The United States Embassy in Colombia is investigating several cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome that has allegedly impacted some of its staff, reported the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, October 12. Citing emails sent to embassy personnel, the report has added that the US State Department has pledged to address the issue while they work to determine how many staff have been affected by the disease. Colombian President Ivan Duque has also stated that his government is aware of the Havana Syndrome at the US embassy in Bogota but is leaving the inquiry to Washington. The report has also added that at least five US families associated with the embassy in Colombia have come down with symptoms of the mysterious affliction. These symptoms reportedly include headaches, nausea and possible brain damage. Meanwhile, as per ABC, during an official US visit in which he included a trip to Washington, Duque told the reporters in New York that of course his government was aware of the situation involving Havana Syndrome, but added that he wishes to leave the investigation of the matter to the American authorities because it is about their personnel. Biden signs order for Havana Syndrome Notably, the reported cases of Havana Syndrome among US embassy staffers in Colombia are only the latest among dozens of previously flagged instances experienced by US diplomats and intelligence officials since 2016. The first such case was reported in Cuba, followed by China, Germany, Australia, Taiwan and even the US capital, Washington. Just last week, US President Joe Biden signed the Havana Act into law providing financial assistance to the victims of unexplainable illness. The Havana Act reportedly provides financial compensation for members of the State Department as well as the CIA who suffer from a brain injury from what officials have suggested could be directed microwave attacks. In a statement, Biden said, Civil servants, intelligence officers, diplomats, and military personnel all around the world have been affected by anomalous health incidents. "Some are struggling with debilitating brain injuries that have curtailed their careers of service to our nation. Addressing these incidents has been a top priority for my Administration, he added. Image: AP/Pixabay In a key development, the US national security advisor Jake Sullivan and his South Korean counterpart Suh Hoon and discussed regional security on October 12, the White House said in a press release. "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Republic of Korea (ROK) National Security Advisor Suh Hoon today, and both leaders emphasised on the importance of the US-ROK alliance as the linchpin of peace, prosperity, and security in northeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific," said Emily Horne, US National Security Council spokeswoman in the press release. Sullivan emphasised the need for the DPRK to refrain from escalatory moves while also reaffirming US support for inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation, according to the White House statement. Emily Horne said in the statement, "Mr Sullivan and his South Korean counterpart Mr Suh held detailed discussions about the current security situation in the region, and called on the DPRK to engage in serious and persistent negotiations toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." North Korea, according to US national security advisor, Sullivan, should avoid escalatory measures. Horne further stated in the press release that Sullivan and Suh recognised the pertinent steps taken to broaden and expand the US-ROK relationship following ROK President Moon Jae-in's Washington visit in May, and committed to expanding cooperation in critical areas such as advanced technology, secure and trustworthy 5G, resilient supply chains, and global health. The recent remarks on the Korean Peninsula come just days after North Korea re-established contact with its southern neighbour, following a months-long stalemate in talks between the two Koreas. Kim Jong Un says US, ROK threaten peace North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un remarked on October 12 that his country's weapons development is essential in the face of hostile US policies and South Korean military expansion, both of which are destabilising the peninsula. According to Al Jazeera, Kim stressed that Pyongyang is beefing up its military for self-defence, not to start war, while speaking at the Defence Development Exhibition (KCNA). The US has frequently claimed that it is not hostile to our country, but there is no behavioural evidence to back up this assertion, he added. While the US has declared that it is willing to engage in diplomatic talks with North Korea any time, Pyongyang has stated that it is not interesting as long as Washington's policies in South Korea, such as sanctions and military activities, continue. The United States continues to increase tensions in the region with its erroneous judgments and actions, according to Kim, who referred to the US as a "source" of instability on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has long sought stronger relations with the United States in order to achieve sanctions relief and a more secure environment in which to revive its moribund economy. Image: AP The U.S. State Department is stressing "parity," "fairness" and "visa reciprocity," in talks with Russia over normalizing activities at their diplomatic missions. Russia has offered to roll back several rounds of sanctions and Washington and Moscow have agreed to hold another round of talks to discuss a resolution to their diplomatic tug-of-war. State Department spokesman Ned Price said there was an open discussion at meetings between U.S. and Russian diplomats in Moscow. Our stance on the staffing of our mission remains firm, he told reporters in Washington. We expect parity on staffing numbers and we expect visa reciprocity. There must be fairness, there must be flexibility on the Russian side if we are to achieve an equitable agreement and thats precisely what we are after. Price said the parties agreed to have another round of discussions, adding that we hope that continued talks will bring to bear a resolution so that our mission in Moscow can resume its normal activity. Russia and the U.S. exchanged several rounds of diplomats expulsions and took other steps restricting the activities of their respective diplomatic missions over the past years as relations between Moscow and Washington sank to post-Cold War lows over Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, its interference in U.S. elections, its hacking attacks and other irritants. As part of trading diplomatic blows, Russia banned the U.S. Embassy from hiring local residents. The Embassy said the move forced it to reduce its consular workforce by 75% and cut most U.S. citizen services as well as non-immigrant visa processing for non-diplomatic travel. The Russian proposal to roll back sanctions was made during the talks between Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Also on a day when the European Union pledged 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) in support for the Afghan people, and the Group of 20 countries vowed to accelerate aid, Price updated reporters on the departure of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from Afghanistan since August. "There was another charter flight that departed from Kabul International Airport yesterday. In total, at least 129 U.S. citizens and 115 lawful permanent residents have departed Afghanistan with our assistance since August 31st," he said. G-20 leaders demanded at a virtual summit the Taliban government allow humanitarian access across Afghanistan, keep Kabul Airport and the country's borders open and ensure security for U.N., humanitarian and diplomatic staff. They also repeated previous demands that women's rights be respected. Price said the U.S. has previously agreed to provide 3.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Afghanistan, adding, "should there be an additional need, that is something we would entertain in the context of our broader humanitarian support." (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Voeun Veasnas poem criticized Cambodias strongman for amending the constitution and destroying the countrys forests. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the arrest of a former monk and forestry activist living in exile who shared a disparaging poem about the countrys strongman on social media, RFA has learned. Voeun Veasna currently resides in neighboring Thailand. A Khmer Times report on Oct. 11 described him as a 35-year-old activist affiliated with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). On Oct. 9, Voeun Veasna used his Facebook account under the name Kranhoung Preylang to post a poem titled Hun Sen is a Traitor on the prime ministers own Facebook page. The poem criticized Sen for amending Cambodias constitution, thereby destroying the country. The poem also accused Hun Sen of allowing Cambodias forests to be destroyed during his rule. Hun Sen quickly responded to Voeun Veasnas poem, calling it an expression of extremist theory, and called for his arrest, according to the Khmer Times report. Now there are extremist rebels left that need to be eliminated for peace to be maintained, the report quoted Hun Sen as saying. Hun Sen said that he hoped the police would track Voeun Veasna down, whether he was inside or outside the country. Speaking from exile in Thailand, Voeun Veasna told RFAs Khmer Service that his opinion on Hun Sen remains unchanged. I commented on Hun Sens Facebook because ever since I was born, I have not seen Hun Sen do anything to benefit his country and his people, he said. Hun Sen has looked the other way as his powerful friends stole land from the people. People are crying throughout the country, but Hun Sen has ignored them. The former monk said that his poem reveals the truth of Hun Sens leadership, andthat he plans to continue speaking out against the strongman. I am concerned about my security, but I dont know what to do when this regime likes bloodshed, he said. Even though Hun Sen ordered his arrest this week, Voeun Veasna said that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court had already charged him with incitement in May and ordered his arrest. He said he would be arrested if he were to return to Cambodia. Hun Sen, as a public figure, is not immune from criticism, and the governments role should be to educate the public rather than punish them for their political opinions, Soeung Sengkaruna, spokesperson for the local ADHOC NGO told RFA. Our country is not open to criticism and has taken many actions against expression, he said. Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017, two months after arresting its president Kem Sokha over an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Scores of supporters of the group have since been incarcerated, awaiting a tortuous legal process made slower by COVID-19 restrictions. The move came amid a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on the countrys political opposition, independent media, and NGOs that allowed the CPP to win all 125 seats in parliament in a July 2018 election and drew U.S. sanctions and the suspension of trade privileges with the European Union. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Jens Galschit hits out at the University of Hong Kong for ordering the sculpture's removal with a few days' notice. Members of the University of Hong Kong student union clean the 'Pillar of Shame,' a monument that commemorates the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, at the University of Hong Kong, June 4, 2021. UPDATED: 12:40 pm EST on 2021-10-14 A Danish artist is trying to reclaim his sculpture commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, as a deadline issued for its removal from the University of Hong Kong campus passed on Wednesday. Jens Galschit, whose nightmarish "Pillar of Shame" sculpture in copper featuring entwined, naked people crying out in anguish has stood on the HKU campus for 24 years, said he had hired a lawyer to write to the university after it insisted the sculpture be removed by the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. The Alliance, many of whose leaders now face charges of "colluding with foreign powers" under a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), released details of a letter it had received from Chicago-based law firm Mayer Brown on the HKU's behalf on Friday. Galschit in a statement Thursday noted the deadline for the sculpture's removal had passed, "and for now the sculpture is still standing." "When asked if Hong Kong University would extend the deadline due to the weather, a Hong Kong University spokesperson did not directly respond, but told Hong Kong Free Press that they 'are still seeking legal advice and working with related parties to handle the matter in a legal and reasonable manner.'" "Neither I nor my lawyer have been contacted by Hong Kong University or Mayer Brown," he said. Galschit had previously told RFA that he wasn't being given enough time to remove the sculpture, and that he wanted to direct the process of dismantling and removal himself. He said it was impossible to complete the job in such a short space of time, and that the sculpture was only on loan to the Alliance. Mayer Brown's letter demanded the removal of the Pillar of Shame by 5:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, although no immediate action was taken as the deadline passed. An attack on art We are still seeking legal advice and working with related parties to handle the matter in a legal and reasonable manner, the university said in a statement quoted by Hong Kong government broadcaster RTHK. "This sculpture is very important to Hong Kong. It is a symbol of June 4th," Galschit told RFA. "It also represents the fact that while Hong Kong has become a part of China, Hong Kong people still have the right to remember their own stories and have the right to lay flowers at the monument to mourn those who died in 1989." He said the order to remove it was an attack on art, and on the memory of the June 4, 1989 massacre by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that put an end to weeks of student-led pro-democracy protests and hunger strikes on Tiananmen Square and other Chinese cities. Galschit told the AP that his lawyers have contacted the authorities at HKU in a bid to reach a settlement on the fate of the sculpture. "Hong Kong has completely changed," he told RFA. "Looking at the situation in Hong Kong from Europe feels very sad." "All the rights that China promised to the Hong Kong people have been taken away," he said. "Now ... they are transferring everything that is bad about [mainland] China to Hong Kong and suppressing freedom of speech." Galschit said he hoped for a better future for young people, and quoted the inscription on the Pillar of Shame: "Empires pass away but art persists. The old cannot kill the young forever." Civil society targeted The 32-year-old Alliance stands accused of acting as the agent of a foreign power, with leaders Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho, and Lee Cheuk-yan arrested on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power," and the group's assets frozen. The group is the latest in string of civil society groups to disband following investigation by national security police under the national security law that took effect from July 1, 2020. China and the Hong Kong government have moved swiftly to erase the large gap between the CCP-ruled mainland and the former British colony in civil and political rights, as well as media and academic freedom. The annual Tiananmen vigils the Alliance hosted on June 4 often attracted more than 100,000 people, but the gatherings have been banned since 2020, with the authorities citing coronavirus restrictions. Chinas Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office says the Alliance incited hostility and hatred against the CCP and the central government. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Chinese tech billionaire Jack Ma is currently in Hong Kong, amid reports that he is in the process of divesting from a slew of media companies following calls for a ban on such investments by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing, according to Reuters. Ma, who founded the Alibaba Group, has been keeping a low profile since his criticism of China's financial regulators in October 2020, which was quickly followed by the government pulling the plug on a planned U.S. $35 billion initial public offering (IPO) for Ma's fintech Ant Group in Hong Kong. Reuters quoted two people on Wednesday as saying that Ma is currently meeting with business associates in Hong Kong, where Alibaba holds the controlling stake in the English-language South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper. While Ma was initially lionized by state media as a loyal entrepreneur and billionaire, his huge wealth and power are increasingly being seen as a threat to CCP rule, political commentators have told RFA. Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Ma is under pressure from Chinese regulators to sell off Alibaba's media assets, which include stakes in online news providers and newspapers including the SCMP, television production companies, social media and advertising. Alibaba didn't respond to requests for comment from RFA during office hours on Wednesday. Ma was last photographed in public visiting greenhouses in the eastern province of Zhejiang, where Alibaba and Ant are headquartered. The following day, Ma pledged to invest 100 billion yuan (U.S. $15.5 billion) in CCP leader Xi Jinping's "common prosperity" program aimed at easing social inequality. Pulling out of media While RFA was unable to confirm the report of Ma's appearance in Hong Kong independently, the report comes amid growing reports of Alibaba's divestment from the media industry. On Sept. 23, Mango SuperMedia announced that Hangzhou Ali Ventures would transfer approximately 93.65 million shares in the company -- representing its entire stake of around five percent -- less than one year after acquiring them. Chinese financial websites including NetEase Technology and Sohu reported on Oct. 12 that Ma's Ant Group has sold all of its shares in Caixin Media after investing tens of millions of yuan in 2016. Ant Group has now disappeared from the list of Caixin shareholders, Sohu reported, while Tencent holds 4.5655 percent of Caixin shares through the Shenzhen Litong Industrial Investment Fund. Veteran political journalist Gao Yu said the move is likely linked to an Oct. 8 proposal by the State Development and Reform Commission to ban private investment in any media organizations. "That was a fulfillment [of that directive]," Gao told RFA. "Jack Ma has been involved in the media industry for a long time." "He still owns the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, [but] all media shares must now be turned over to state-owned investors," she said. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun said the CCP's goal under general secretary Xi Jinping is to shrink the private sector at the expense of the state-owned sector of the economy. "As for Jack Mas future, it could go two ways," Cai said. "One is that he gives up all of those controlling stakes, because the leading role he once imagined for himself in his country's future is not happening." "And it's not just Jack Ma: all of these big businessmen will soon be history," Cai said. "Even if he is in Hong Kong, that doesn't mean that there's any let-up, or that he can leave via Hong Kong." "It takes a while to boil a frog." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Local militia members say the attack killed a tactical commander, but the military disputes the claim. Clashes between Myanmars military and Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militias in embattled Sagaing region have left at least 30 government troops dead, PDF sources said Tuesday, while reports emerged of soldiers loyal to the junta attacking civilians and looting their possessions. The fighting took place on Monday as reinforced junta soldiers launched a clearing operation in the townships of Pale, Yinmabin, Monywa, Mingin, Hteegyaing, and Chaung-Oo, according to PDF members and residents. All six townships have seen frequent clashes since the military seized power from Myanmars democratically elected government in a Feb. 1 coup. At least 30 government troops, including a tactical commander, were killed Monday morning when a military convoy triggered landmines outside of Pale township, local PDF spokesman Boh Nagar told RFAs Myanmar Service. We had been waiting for the convoy since [Sunday] as we heard a senior commander would be coming along, he said. He was in a small car in the middle of the 23 vehicles and we waited patiently to blow it up. He was fatally wounded in the head. Our area of Sagaing has the strongest resistance and fights the fiercest battles. Boh Nagar also claimed that his militia had ambushed a military convoy in Pale township twice on Tuesday morning but said the extent of the damage was unknown. Additionally, PDF members told RFA that a grenade attack on the No. 2 Police Station in Monywa township left at least two officers dead on Monday, while militiamen shot and killed a soldier in a guard tower in Minging townships Kyauk-khe-det village the same day. Also on Monday, four militia fighters were killed in a shootout with local security forces near Hteegyaing townships Laytha village, a member of the local PDF told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal. The military came in huge numbers, hoping to find many PDF fighters in the villages, the PDF member said, adding that the soldiers were troops from the juntas 33rd Division. They mostly used heavy weapons most of the time and our young fighters bravely fought them back ... [but] four people were killed in the incident. The PDF member said that a fifth person from the militiaa 50-year-old man named Tin Nyuntwas killed after being arrested, but did not provide further details. He said soldiers had arrested at least 20 residents of Hteegyaing, including a doctor, from Oct. 9-11, and claimed that around 100 government troops were stationed at the school in Laytha village as of Tuesday. Conflicting accounts Speaking to RFA, the militarys deputy information minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun confirmed that fighting had taken place in Sagaing on Monday but denied PDF claims that an officer or any other soldier had been killed. In the incidents in both Pale and Hteegyaing, there were some casualties, he acknowledged. The enemy numbers only 10-15. They dynamited our vehicles in the attack. Some of our soldiers were wounded, but not in a life-threatening way, and we confiscated some of the enemys weapons and ammunition. Zaw Min Tun said that one of the vehicles in the convoy that had escaped the attack in Pale was later damaged in a landmine ambush near Yinmabin townships Tebin Kan village, leaving several troops wounded. He added that the military had only suffered major casualties once in Sagaing, during a clash in Pinglebu township on Sept. 22a claim regional PDF groups dispute. Residents of Yinmabin township confirmed that the landmine ambush had occurred near Tebin Kan on Monday and said junta troops were quick to respond, forcing villagers to evacuate. The clash occurred near Tebin Kan village yesterday, said one resident, who declined to be named. When they reached the cemetery west of [nearby] Waran village, several residents fled with their belongings. Soldiers then searched Tebin Kan village before setting fire to two homes and confiscating five motorcycles, the resident said. Myanmars military has attempted to justify its Feb. 1 overthrow of the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government by claiming the party had stolen the countrys November 2020 ballot through voter fraud. The junta has yet to provide evidence of its claims and has violently repressed anti-coup protests, killing at least 1,167 people and arresting 7,219 others, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). On Sept. 7, the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) declared a nationwide state of emergency and called for open rebellion against junta rule, prompting an escalation of attacks on military targets by various allied pro-democracy militias and ethnic armed groups. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Police launched the operation after the killing of refugee leader Muhib Ullah last month. Bangladesh foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen (center) listens to a relative of slain Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah during a visit to the crime scene at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, Oct. 9, 2021. Bangladesh police have arrested nearly 40 refugees, including many suspected of involvement with illegal weapons and drugs, since they launched a crackdown against criminality at Rohingya camps after community leader Muhib Ullah was slain last month, an official said Tuesday. Among the dozens of Rohingya refugees taken into custody as part of the crackdown, five are suspected of being linked directly to the Sept. 29 killing of Ullah, a prominent Rohingya activist, at his office in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Coxs Bazar district, according to the authorities. During a statement before a judge on Saturday, one of suspects confessed to being involved in the killing, police told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Police so far arrested 38 Rohingya from different refugee camps since the murder of Muhib Ullah, Rafiqul Islam, an additional police superintendent in Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews on Tuesday. Law enforcers are continuing the drives to reduce any offenses or illegal activities in refugee camps. Of those taken into custody, five were arrested over their suspected roles in Ullahs killing, he said, adding that weapons and Yaba (methamphetamine) were recovered from the other 33 people who were taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in different criminal activities. Md Elias, 35, one of the five accused in Muhib Ullah's murder case, has made a confessional statement before a Coxs Bazar court admitting his involvement in the incident, Islam said, adding that the suspect appeared in court after being arrested on Oct. 3. Armed Police Battalion 14 commander Naimul Haque, whose officers arrested Elias at the Kutupalong camp, said a special hotline number was launched in the Rohingya camps on Sunday and that the identities of those who call would be kept confidential. Camp dwellers were asked to inform the law enforcers about criminals or criminal activities through the hotline, he said. About 1 million Rohingya live in refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar, a southeastern district that borders Myanmars Rakhine state. As many as 740,000 Rohingya fled across the border after the Burmese military launched a brutal offensive in August 2017, in response to deadly raids mounted on government outposts in Rakhine by Rohingya rebels. Efforts between Bangladesh and Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingya to their homes in the Rakhine state have failed since soon after the 2017 mass exodus to Bangladesh began. Meanwhile, the leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rebel group blamed for the 2017 attacks on police posts in Rakhine, issued a video message on Monday that went viral. ARSA is in favor of a safe and dignified full repatriation which Muhib Ullah also wanted. There was no difference between the work of ARSA and Muhib Ullah, Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi, the groups commander-in-chief, said in the video message. Myanmar agents or any other international NGO, those who are against the repatriation, have killed Muhib Ullah and now are trying to get an advantage by accusing ARSA. The killing made the Myanmar military government very happy, Ataullah said. Police in Bangladesh said they were investigating the source of the ARSA video. We are collecting all the video and audio messages that spread among the Rohingya in various ways since Muhib Ullahs murder, said Islam, the additional police superintendent in Coxs Bazar. Habib Ullah, who filed a complaint with Ukhia police accusing unnamed people of killing his brother, had previously told BenarNews that ARSA members were responsible. Foreign ministry visit On Saturday, a four-member Bangladeshi foreign ministry delegation led by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen visited the office at the Kutupalong camp where Muhib Ullah, the chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, was gunned down by a group of armed intruders. Muhib Ullahs group maintained a database of information related to alleged atrocities carried out by the Burmese military against Rohingya during the 2017 offensive in Rakhine. The delegation at the beginning asked me if ARSA was my brothers killer? I replied yes. And, I asked them to ensure our security, Habib Ullah told BenarNews. Momen did not share details about his conversations, but said the ministry remained committed to helping the refugees return to their home villages across the border. The killing of Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah will not have any impact on repatriation of Rohingya people to their homeland Myanmar, Momen told reporters. Five persons have been arrested over the Muhib Ullah killing and the government is taking into account the incident with due importance. Also on Saturday, Bangladeshs government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) for humanitarian relief efforts on Bhashan Char, a remote Bay of Bengal island where 19,000 Rohingya have been relocated. The government plans to house 100,000 on the island. The MoU covers key areas of protection, education, skills-training, livelihoods, and health, which will help support the refugees to lead decent lives on the island and better prepare them for a sustainable return to Myanmar in the future, UNHCR said in a news release. Some Rohingya in the refugee camps welcomed the pact. We are very happy for the MoU. Many Rohingya already showed interest in going to Bhashan Char, Mohammad Amin, a Rohingya leader in Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Detained leader Win Myint says military officials threatened him with harm if he refused. Myanmars detained former president Win Myint testified in court Tuesday that senior military officials attempted to force him to resign, citing a false health condition on the day of the coup that saw the junta seize power, according to his lawyers. Speaking during a hearing for his trial on charges of defamation at a court in the capital Naypyidaw, Win Myint said that two high-ranking officerspossibly lieutenant generals or generalscame into his home early on the morning of Feb. 1 and demanded that he step down due to ill health, his defense team said in a statement. When he refused, the officers threatened him, but he would not be swayed, his lawyers said. The president turned down their proposal, saying he was in good health, the statement said. The officers warned him the denial would cause him much harm, but the president told them he would rather die than consent. According to the statement, Win Myint ordered the officers not to orchestrate a power grab and demanded that they adhere to the law. The former president was detained later that day, along with ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) leader and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and several other high-ranking party officials, and the military took control of the country. In the more than eight months since the coup, security forces have killed 1,167 civilians and arrested at least 7,219, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)mostly during crackdowns on anti-junta protests. The junta says it unseated the NLD government because, they claimed, the party had engineered a landslide victory in Myanmars November 2020 election through widespread voter fraud. It has yet to present evidence of its claims and public unrest is at an all-time high. Win Myints defense team said that during the hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors repeatedly asked him about the formation of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), Parliaments Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Committee of Representatives (CRPH), and the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militia. The former president responded that he had nothing to do with thes groups, which were established after his arrest, and his defense team objected to further inquiries about the groups activities, saying the questions were irrelevant to the case. Defamation charge Win Myint, Aung San Suu Kyi, and former Naypyidaw Mayor Myo Aung all face the charge of defamation of the state under Article 505 (b) of Myanmars Penal Code related to two statements issued by the NLD Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Feb. 7 and 13 that prosecutors say were meant to disrupt public order and instigate against the state. Win Myint has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The NLD CECs Feb. 7 statement urged foreign governments, diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies, and international organizations not to recognize the junta and claimed the military had violated Myanmars 2008 constitution by staging a coup against elected government leaders. The Feb. 13 statement, which was released while the junta was circulating a restrictive bill on cyber security, claimed that all regulations, rules, and laws enacted by the military government were illegal. The court in Naypyidaw on June 29 overruled objections by defense lawyers that the statements were inadmissible because they were released after the leaders were detained and held incommunicado. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. The vote in the 17th parliaments first session followed a four-month impasse over the seating of 45 MPs elected in an April 11 vote. Tibets exile parliament in an historic move on Monday voted three women into positions in the Kashag, or cabinet, of the Dharamsala, India-based exile government, the Central Tibetan Administration. The vote in the 17th parliaments first session followed an impasse over the seating of 45 new parliamentarians elected in an April 11 vote held in Tibetan communities worldwide. Controversy over the validity of the oaths of office taken by two separate groups had stalled the legislatures business for four months, and was ended only following the intervention of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Presiding over Mondays meeting, Penpa Tseringnow Sikyong, or political leader, of the exile governmentproposed six nominations for the post of Kalon, or cabinet minister, and three women were quickly voted in. Gyari Dolma, a former minister and deputy speaker of the House; Tharlam Dolma, a former school principal; and Norzin Dolma, a former researcher at the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, will now serve in the CTA cabinet, each with responsibility for one of the governments departments. The new Kalons specific assignments will be made at a later date. Tharlam Dolma, Gyari Dolma, and Norzin Dolma are shown left to right. After 19 members staged a walkout Monday over the nomination of one MP, Ngodup Dorjee, over questions of incompetence, Tsering in a meeting next day withdrew his other nominations, moving discussion of their candidacy to a later date. In order to uphold the importance of this first session, I will withdraw the remaining nominations until the next session, Tsering said. And I therefore request the members of parliament to respect the proceedings of the House next time. The Tibetan parliament in exile meets twice a year, once in March to discuss the CTA budget and once in September to discuss reports from each of the governments departments. Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force 70 years ago, following which the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world. Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the Tibetan region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. The Tibetan diaspora is estimated to include about 150,000 people living in 40 countries, mainly India, Nepal, North America, and in Europe. Reported by Lobsang Gelek for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. A Uyghur who served 15 years in prison on unknown charges in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region was not released when his sentence ended in June, and his family has no knowledge of his whereabouts, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Ilham Iminjan, 36, is the second-oldest male in a family of five sons, four of whom have been detained by authorities. He was scheduled for release on June 22, but did not return to his family in Chapchal Xibe (in Chinese, Chabuchaer Xibo) county in the Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture, said a classmate of the mans detained brother Arkin. The family expected him to come back home on June 22, but he did not return, and no notice has been received regarding an extension of his jail term, the source told RFA. Ilham Iminjan was jailed when he was 21, he said. The entire golden period of his life was spent in prison. The family had planned to let him marry as soon as he was released. In early October, a Chapchal Xibe county official also told RFA that Ilham had not been released and has not returned to the community. I have not seen him in these past months or years, he said. An official from the village in Jaghistay township where Ilhams family lives, also confirmed the man had not been released from prison in Chapchal county. They called from the prison and said he would be released in a few months or so, but he has not yet been released, he told RFA. Another county official did not answer RFAs question as to why Ilham had not been released despite having completed his sentence. He also did not respond to a request for general comment on the numbers of detainees released. Ilhams older brother, Memetjan, 40, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2018. His younger brother, Arkin, 33, served a six year-sentence from 2009 to 2015 for disrupting public order and attempting to divide the country by having illegal materials on his cell phone, his former schoolmate told RFA in an earlier report. Arkin was detained a second time in 2017 as a former prisoner and served two years in an internment camp. He was then jailed again this September because of a phone call he had received from a marked person, according to the former classmate. The second youngest son, Enwer, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison this June. China has held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and others in re-education camps since 2017, while dismissing widely documented evidence that it has mistreated Muslims living inside and outside the camps including testimony from former detainees and guards describing widespread abuses in interviews with RFA and other media outlets. China has said that the camps vocational training facilities where Uyghurs and other Turkic people learn skills in an effort to prevent religious extremism and terrorism in the region, where about 12 million mostly Muslim Uyghurs live. The Jaghistay village official did not deny that the four sons from one family were in state custody, but declined to provide details of the specific circumstances of Ilham and his brothers, including their sentences. I know that the sons of the family have not shown up for long time, but I have no idea where they are now and when they will be back in our community, he said. I can assume that some of them are serving jail terms and some are in a training center. Most of the Uyghurs and members of other Turkic minority groups arrested in Xinjiang in the past four years have not been released, while many of those who were have been rearrested and sent to internment camps because they were former prisoners, according to sources in the region. Those who completed their sentences have almost never returned to their families. In a 2017 report, Xinjiang authorities explained why former prisoners should be rearrested, arguing that Uyghurs arrested in the aftermath of violent unrest in Xinjiangs capital Urumqi (Wulumuqi) on July 5, 2009, had been released from prison in the following years. Because former detainees and their relatives might contemplate revenge, authorities said, training centers have been set up under the guise of clearing religious extremism, and those in the centers have been detained only to maintain stability even if they have not committed any crime, Qiu Yuanyuan, a researcher at the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions Party School, said in the report. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Her family and lawyers learned only recently that the investigation of Trang was completed in August. In a file photo, journalist Pham Doan Trang display the books she wrote that were banned by the Vietnamese government Authorities in Vietnam are ready to try activist and author Pham Doan Trang after more than a year of pretrial detention, but her family and lawyers told RFA that they have not had access to Trang or been shown the indictment against her. Pham Doan Trang was arrested at an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2020 and charged under article 117 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, accused of making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For three years prior to her arrest, she had constantly moved and changed her residence to avoid being intimidated and arrested by Vietnamese public security officers. Rights groups at the time of her arrest condemned her apprehension and warned that the blogger faced the risk of torture in custody. After the family asked permission to meet with Trang, the Hanoi Procuracy told them the indictment was completed on August 30, and sent to the court in early October, Trangs representative Trinh Huu Long told RFAs Vietnamese Service. This is a serious violation of legal procedures. Its serious because responsible agencies detained Pham Doan Trang and kept her in complete isolation from outside information as well as denied her the right to legal access, Long said. Long said the prosecution had an unfair advantage in the case, because they have access to the investigation file and the full strength and resources of the legal system, while Trang has not been able to meet even with her family, let alone with lawyers with access to the indictment. I think these are serious and major violations in a criminal case, said Long. Lawyers are typically allowed to participate in a case only after the investigation is complete, Dang Dinh Manh, one of Trangs lawyers, told RFA. Therefore, we can only do registration procedures to be defense lawyers at the procuracys prosecution stage. We submitted our registrations in early September, said Manh. However, we recently received a notice from the procuracy saying they had already sent the file to the court as well as completed their indictment." "They also said that they could not grant the permits for us to work as defense lawyers as they no longer kept the file. We had no choice but to register ourselves again with the court, and so far we havent heard back, he said. Manh said that without a permit defense lawyers would not be able to access the indictment or visit with Trang to provide legal advice. When defense lawyers preparations are limited, the trial will have a lot of shortcomings. Limited access to the file of the case and the client would prevent us from making necessary recommendations, he said. For example, it may stop us from making requests for additional investigations or for clarification of circumstances and details. In general, all of what we can request as defense lawyers will be limited, said Manh. Trang was a cofounder of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam, a California-based NGO that says its mission is to build a democratic society in Vietnam through independent journalism, research, and education. The group condemned the Vietnamese government in a statement for continuously harassing Trang on the one-year anniversary of her arrest. Her arrest and detention was a flagrant violation of the freedom of expression. Speaking more broadly, this is an attack on press freedom and independent journalism, the statement said. The group called on its supporters to demand Trangs immediate release. Brad Adams, Asia Director at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, described Trangs lengthy pretrial detention as horrible. Its horrible to detain a person for a whole year without a court trial. Pham Doan Trang is innocent. She only wants Vietnamese peoples lives to be better and has used her right to freedom of expression to do that, Adams told RFA. A year has passed, and if the Vietnamese Government fails to present specific, clear evidence of what it has called a violation of the law by Pham Doan Trang, she must be set free immediately, Adams said. Vietnams already low tolerance of dissent deteriorated sharply last year with a spate of arrests of independent journalists, publishers, and Facebook personalities as authorities continued to stifle critics in the run-up to the ruling Communist Party Congress in January. But arrests continue in 2021. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong. German authorities have complained of a flood of illegal migrants via the "Belarus route" while Polish officials have announced plans to permanently strengthen the border with Belarus as a long-running border crisis mounts between EU states and the regime in Minsk. The German Federal Police said on October 13 that the flow of migrants arriving via Poland and Belarus has spiked with more than 4,300 illegal entrants to the country since August, amid a long-running crisis in which the European Union has accused Minsk of "weaponizing" refugees. They said on October 13 that most of the undocumented migrants arriving via the "Belarus route" are from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. They are mostly being housed at asylum reception centers in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, police said. "The situation is not drastic, but it is hard," Olaf Jansen, head of the central foreigners' office in the eastern German town of Eisenhuettenstadt, said, adding that numbers were likely to increase: "We are not seeing any efforts to halt this." The arrivals in Germany mark an expansion of similar problems this year as swelling numbers of migrants from increased flights to Belarus have crossed porous borders into EU member states Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. EU and national officials have accused Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka of orchestrating the "weaponization" of migrants in response to Brussels' sanctions on Minsk over a brutal crackdown on dissent since a 2020 presidential election that is widely considered to have been rigged and Belarusian authorities' diversion of an international flight to detain a Lukashenka critic in May. Poland's interior minister announced late on October 12 as soldiers continued work on a 2.5-meter barbed-wire border fence that Warsaw wants to permanently fortify the frontier with Belarus. Mariusz Kaminski said the country needs a "solid, high barrier equipped with a surveillance system and motion detectors." A government plan for the construction that avoids use of the term "wall" in favor of the terms "barrier" and "barricade" is currently headed to the Polish parliament for approval. The European Commission said on September 29 that it wants member states to consider suspending parts of a "visa facilitation agreement" with Belarus that came into force in July 2020 and was meant to bring the former Soviet republic closer to Europe. Based on reporting by AP and dpa The president of the Serb-majority entity that makes up part of Bosnia-Herzegovina has implemented a decree to reverse a ban criminalizing the denial of genocide and other serious crimes stemming from the bitter ethnic wars there in the 1990s. Republika Srpska President Zeljka Cvijanovic's edict on the non-application of Inzko's law" was meant to go into effect on October 8 after it was published in the official bulletin the previous day. Valentin Inzko was the international community's overseer as high representative to Bosnia until German Christian Schmidt took over the job on August 1. In late July, Inzko amended Bosnia's criminal code to prohibit and punish the denial of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, saying there is no reconciliation without the recognition of crimes and without responsibility. Inzko's move particularly upset elements who refuse to acknowledge that the killing of 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces was genocide, including secessionists in Republika Srpska. The legitimacy of Cvijanovic's decrees could still face legal challenges, including via the country's Constitutional Court. Just last month, that court struck down as unconstitutional a law in Republika Srpska declaring its forests the sole property of Republika Srpska. The court said such properties belonged to the whole country. A spokesperson for the Bosnian Constitutional Court told RFE/RL that by October 12 it had received no challenges to Cvijanovic's impending decrees. A second decree by Cvijanovic that was published on October 8 prohibits disparaging and mocking the Republika Srpska, one of two entities along with the Bosniak and Croat federation that compose Bosnia. The country is still governed and administered along ethnic lines established by the 1995 Dayton accords that ended the three-year Bosnian War following the breakup of Yugoslavia. The Dayton accords established the Office of the High Representative to ensure compliance with civilian aspects of the agreements, but secessionists in Republika Srpska and some outside countries have been pressing hard for its abolition. The Serb representative to Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Milorad Dodik, has said the Srebrenica genocide "did not take place" and has refused to work with "Bosnian institutions" since Inzko's ban was instituted. Russia and China challenged Schmidt's appointment at the UN Security Council session in July. Efforts to thwart Inzko's denial ban mark one of the most serious challenges to the high representative's authority in its history. The first article of Cvijanovic's decree on the Inzko law states that "the decision of the High Representative shall not apply" to Republika Srpska. A second article states that Republika Srpkska authorities "will not cooperate with the competent authorities" of Bosnia to implement the ban. The decree says it is pursuant to legislation "on non-application" of Inzko's law that was passed by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly on July 30. Seventy of the 73 deputies present for that vote backed the challenge. TBILISI -- On a recent Sunday, two dozen political activists, lawyers, and investigative journalists gathered beside Lake Bateti, a beautiful expanse of turquoise water in the heart of the mountainous nation of Georgia. They had left Russia facing harassment and possible prison time for their work. Now, shaded by evergreen conifers reflected in the lake's surface, many sought community among other exiles and forged ties that would help acclimatize them to an unplanned life abroad. "We sat down by the water, lit a fire, and got to know each other," said one of the participants, Maria Kuznetsova, who arrived in Tbilisi over the summer fearing retaliation for her involvement in the banned opposition group Open Russia. A sweeping crackdown launched by Russia's government since the January jailing of Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny has prompted hundreds of opposition activists to flee the country seeking refuge in neighboring ex-Soviet states with Russian-speaking minorities and foreign policies critical of Moscow. Some have settled in Ukraine and the Baltic states, others further west. But about 300 activists, according to unofficial estimates, have arrived in Georgia, a country whose low cost of living and lenient immigration laws make it one of few easily accessible destinations in pandemic times. In Tbilisi, the Georgian capital and a city of 1.1 million people, many Russian exiles say they have begun cultivating the sort of solidarity and collaborative spirit that seemed impossible in Moscow, a vast metropolis where the opposition movement has long struggled to come together as a unified force against the authoritarian government of President Vladimir Putin. "There's a sense that a major political event may happen in Russia in the next few years, and we have to be ready for it," said Yaroslav Konvei, the 23-year-old head of Russia's Libertarian Party who fled as authorities began targeting its members. "The goal of those who have left -- the journalists, activists, lawyers -- is to prepare civil-society structures able to capitalize on such a moment." 'Putin Exodus' A century ago, more than 220 prominent intellectuals were forcibly exiled from Russia just weeks before the official establishment of the Soviet Union in December 1922, packed into so-called "philosophers' ships" that transported them to Germany and other European states. The authorities continued expelling dissidents in the decades that followed. The Russian opposition today talks of a "Putin exodus" -- the mass emigration of educated citizens that accelerated after Putin, who has been in power since 2000, returned for a third presidential term in 2012. "Today we leave not on ships, but on planes," quipped lawyer Ivan Pavlov, who left Russia in early September after he became the target of a criminal investigation for disclosing details of a treason case against a Russian journalist. But the difference today, he and fellow exiles contend, is that Putin's government rarely forces its opponents out of the country. Instead, it allows them to leave of their own accord, choosing emigration over further house raids, jail, or worse. Activists who flee argue that they can achieve more in exile than under siege or behind bars. After searching Pavlov's St. Petersburg apartment in April, investigators confiscated various items but left his passport lying on a desk in his office. Official documents listing the charges against him stipulated no restrictions on his movement. The message, he figured, was simple: Here's your chance to leave. "Having too many political prisoners is not good for the state. There'll be too much international pressure to release them," said Pavlov, who was trailed to St. Petersburg airport by two unidentified men who recorded his movements but made no effort to stop him. "In Soviet times, they actively pushed people out. But this way is economically and politically more advantageous for them." Anton Mikhalchuk, a former Open Russia coordinator who left for Georgia in 2019 after being targeted for working with an organization deemed "undesirable" in Russia, said the state's ultimate goal is to "exclude people from the system." For the government, he said, placing them behind bars is the least preferable route to achieving that goal. "The main aim is to destroy organizations, and to remove anyone capable of occupying a leadership position," he said. "When such a person leaves Russia, he effectively ceases being a threat. He can write a post or record a video, and so what? The main danger for the state is street protest. A person who has left Russia can't effectively do that." Many observers, for example, believe that the Kremlin wanted Navalny to remain abroad after several months recovering in Germany from a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning he blames on Putin. When he nevertheless returned to Russia in January, he was arrested before even passing through customs, and now languishes in prison. Those who take the state's cues -- who are driven to the point of abandoning their homes and sometimes their families in a country they worked for years to change through political activism and protest -- often arrive in Georgia needing not only assistance in finding jobs and accommodation, but urgent psychological help, according to Mikhalchuk. 'Pretty Terrifying' The former opposition coordinator, who now helps new arrivals in Georgia as an employee of the NGO Free Russia Foundation, says many come after having spent months fleeing from law enforcement in Russia, and they walk the streets of Tbilisi jittery and extremely distrustful, seeing in every Georgian policeman a potential enemy. "It's a pretty terrifying thing when you run up against the state machinery tasked with essentially destroying you, depriving you of the means to live, pressuring you and raiding your home and the homes of your relatives and friends," he said. "It's an enormous amount of stress, it breaks people. And they arrive in Georgia broken." And even outside Russia, anti-Kremlin activists can come face to face with that state machinery. Interpol officers sometimes stop activists at major international airports, and Russian state TV crews visit Tbilisi for propaganda reports portraying the exile community as Western stooges. Kuznetsova said a reporter who recently tried to elicit information from Russian dissidents in a Tbilisi bar locked herself in the bathroom after the barman threatened to call the police. Exiles interviewed by RFE/RL in Georgia, several of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared the consequences of going public about their emigration, said they had not encountered any hostility from the local population, though many noted struggles to find work and a sense of purpose in a country where speaking Georgian is a necessary requirement for employment. Some also echoed fears voiced by Georgian opposition politicians who contend that the Georgian government is increasingly susceptible to influence from Moscow, which banned direct flights to Georgia amid rising tensions in June 2019. Violent mob attacks on LGBT activists in July, a massive surveillance-tape leak, and the arrest earlier this month of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili have furthermore fueled claims by critics of a democratic backslide in a country with high popular support for integration with the European Union and NATO. "If Putin wanted to, he could push Georgia to extradite those people," opposition politician Giorgi Kandelaki told RFE/RL, referring to Russian political exiles. "Georgia should be helping them. But for this government, they're uncomfortable guests." Azerbaijan and Iran have agreed to resolve their diplomatic crisis through dialogue amid tensions that erupted last month over exercises near their shared border and a dispute over a possible Israeli military presence in Azerbaijan. Both sides announced the de-escalation effort on October 13 after they said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had spoken by phone the previous evening. "The sides noted that recent rhetoric has harmed bilateral relations and that any differences should be settled through dialogue," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In September, Iran protested and threatened unspecified action over what it alleged was the presence of archenemy Israel in Azerbaijan, which reportedly used Israeli drones last year in an intense battle with Armenia over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku has denied that there's an Israeli presence in the country. Iran's military then staged major exercises near the border with Azerbaijan, further ratcheting up tensions. Azerbaijani authorities' imposition of customs duties on Iranian truck drivers bound for Armenia has also grated on relations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on October 13 that Amir-Abdollahian had stressed that both sides' would like to "avoid misunderstandings and boost relations." "Tehran and Baku have enemies and the two governments should not give them the opportunity to disrupt relations," Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying. Baku has long bristled at Tehran's backing of Armenia in its decades-long "frozen conflict" with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring districts. Based on reporting by AFP In a rare ruling, an Iranian man who blinded his neighbor during a fight in 2018 has been sentenced to be blinded based on the Islamic eye-for-an-eye retribution law. Blinding rulings have rarely been carried out in Iran, where Islamic law was reintroduced following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. In many cases, victims have halted the punishment and agreed financial compensation, or so-called blood money, with the perpetrators. But a 40-year-old man from Tehran, who was blinded by his neighbor with a knife, has demanded a literal application of the retribution law. Islamic law adheres to the notion of an "eye for an eye" under the Qisas principle. Victims or their families have the final say in such cases and can stop the punishment. The implementation of corporal punishments under Islamic law, including lashings, amputations, and blinding, are controversial in Iran where many citizens have criticized them as inhumane and barbaric. Human rights groups have said the punishments violate international laws and amount to torture and the cruel treatment of convicts. 'I Suffered A Lot' The blinding ruling issued in Tehran was reported by Iranian media on October 9. It was not clear when the court itself issued its ruling. It came after the victim, who has not been named, requested a retributive sentence. The perpetrator, who has also not been identified, said he did not intend to blind his neighbor when he attacked him with a knife. But the victim has said that he is not ready to show clemency or agree to financial compensation. I suffered a lot during these four years, and I have no intention of forgiving [the perpetrator], the man was quoted as saying by the government daily, Iran. The retribution law allows victims and their families to demand retaliation for homicide or bodily harm. The punishment in such cases should be proportionate to the crime. Convicts have 20 days to appeal their verdicts under Iranian law. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal An Iranian convict has his fingers amputated as punishment. Amnesty International has called on Iran to carry out an "impartial and transparent" investigation into the "suspicious" death in custody of prisoner Shahin Naseri, who claimed that he witnessed the torture of champion wrestler Navid Afkari before his execution on homicide charges. The London-based rights group said it has received information that a day before his death in custody, Naseri called at least two people from the prison clinic using another prisoner's phone, expressed fears about his life being in danger, and indicated he'd been transferred from his regular ward to a cell intended for solitary confinement, but at the time used to detain several prisoners. Iranian authorities said last month that they were investigating Naseri's death after the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group quoted unnamed sources as saying Naseri had died under "suspicious circumstances" in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary after being transferred to solitary confinement. The rights group said the source told it that Naseri had been transferred to an unknown location on the anniversary of the execution of Afkari, who had been convicted of murdering a security guard during mass anti-government protests in 2018. Afkari was hanged on September 12, 2020, despite an international outcry after he said he was tortured into making a false confession, while his attorney said there was no proof of his guilt. Iran's judiciary dismissed the torture claim. Naseri claimed he witnessed Afkari being subjected to a severe beating by two plainclothes agents and that he had heard him scream. A statement by the General Directorate Of Prisons of Tehran Province on September 23 said Naseri died 45 minutes after being taken to a prison clinic, where resuscitation efforts, including cardiac massage and artificial respiration, failed to save him. The statement, which said Naseri was serving a prison term for fraud, theft, and forgery, added that the cause of his death was being investigated and would be announced later. In a report released in September, Amnesty International said it had recorded at least 72 such deaths in custody since January 2010 despite credible reports that the deaths were the result of torture or other ill-treatment, or the lethal use of firearms and tear gas by officials. The rights group said not a single Iranian official had been held accountable for these deaths. The top European diplomat coordinating international talks to revive the 2015 nuclear with Iran is traveling to Iran to push for a resumption of nuclear talks that have stalled amid a change of government in Iran. Enrique Mora said on Twitter on October 13 that he will raise "the urgency" to resume nuclear talks in Vienna. "Crucial to pick up talks from where we left last June to continue diplomatic work," Mora said, noting that his trip comes "at a critical point in time." Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who is expected to lead Iran's new negotiating team, confirmed that he would meet Mora. "Exchanging views on bilateral & regional issues including Afghanistan, as well as talks on removal of cruel sanctions, are on the agenda," Bagheri Kani said on Twitter on October 13. Mora's trip to Tehran comes amid mounting pressure from EU countries as well as the United States for a swift resumption of talks on the revival of the nuclear agreement, which restricted Iran's sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has said repeatedly that it is ready to resume talks "soon," while being vague about the time frame. Diplomats from Britain, France, and Germany were quoted by Reuters as saying that Mora's visit cannot be considered "business as usual" given the worsening nuclear situation on the ground. "The visit comes at an important time, as the Vienna talks on a full return to the JCPOA have now been suspended by Iran for almost four months," the diplomats from said in a note. "The situation in the nuclear field has been worsening and worsening continuously since then. For this reason, we do not see this visit as 'business as usual,' but rather as a crucial visit in the crisis." "The European capitals, including Berlin...must give their clear assurance to the Islamic republic that this time, no party will violate the nuclear deal," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on October 12, referring to the 2018 withdrawal from the deal by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who reimposed tough economic sanctions on Iran. Tehran reacted by gradually decreasing its commitments under the accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). U.S. President Joe Biden has signaled a willingness to return to the deal if Tehran returns to full commitment. Speaking on October 13, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that "time is running short" for Iran to return to compliance with the 2015 deal and that Washington would look at every option to deal with the challenge posed by Tehran. "We are getting close to a point at which returning to compliance with the JCPOA will not in and of itself recapture the benefits of the JCPOA and thats because Iran has been using this time to advance its nuclear program in a variety of ways," Blinken said. Talks in Vienna between Iran and the remaining parties to the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- have been on hold since a June election in Iran that brought to power hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi has stressed the need for sanctions to be lifted through diplomatic means amid concerns that his negotiating team could make new demands. Mora attended Raisi's inauguration in August. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Amnesty International says Iran has postponed the execution of a man arrested at age 17 and sentenced to death following what rights groups said was a "grossly unfair" trial. The "execution is now postponed to Saturday, 16 October. He remains at risk of imminent execution in Iran," Amnesty International said on Twitter on October 13. The London-based rights group publicly urged Iranian authorities this week to stop the execution of Arman Abdolali after he was moved to solitary confinement in a prison in Karaj, west of Tehran. United Nations human rights experts have also called on Iran to halt Abdolali's execution and annul his death sentence. "International human rights law unequivocally forbids imposition of the death sentence on anyone under 18 years of age. We understand the authorities have encouraged negotiations about a pardon, but this does not replace the absolute prohibition on such executions," the UN experts said in a statement on October 12. Abdolali was sentenced to death for murdering his girlfriend, whose name was not given. She disappeared in 2014 and has never been found. Iranian officials have twice postponed execution plans for Abdolali, most recently in July under international pressure. Amnesty International has called his trial "grossly unfair" by a court that "relied on torture-tainted 'confessions.'" A retrial affirmed his criminal responsibility despite questions about his "maturity" at the time of the disappearance. Amnesty International has demanded a retrial "with fair trial standards generally and those pertaining to children in particular." PRISTINA -- Ethnic Serbian villagers have blocked roads and clashed with police in northern Kosovo as police units conducted sweeps aimed at cracking down on cross-border smuggling. The October 13 violence left at least 20 people injured, including police officers, and renewed fears of wider violence and tension between Pristina and Belgrade. It also prompted a new warning from the European Union. An RFE/RL crew that was covering the unrest, near the village of Rudare, was attacked by a mob that surrounded the taxi the journalists were traveling in and broke the crew's camera. The reporters escaped without injury. Clashes were also reported in North Mitrovica, not far from Rudare, where trucks and other vehicles were parked on main roads, blocking traffic. Tear gas was fired to disperse crowds in North Mitrovica, and another nearby village, Zvecan. At least eight people were arrested, Kosovar officials said. Of the 20 injuries, 10 were police officers, according to Sabedin Mehmeti, director of Kosovo's police. Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla pushed back on assertions the sweep was aimed at local Serbs, saying that most of those arrested were ethnic Albanians. "This operation is not directed against any nationality. This operation is directed against criminals who smuggled goods illegally in Kosovo," Svecla told a news conference. In a statement earlier, the police said the violence broke out in the town of North Mitrovica when "criminal groups...created roadblocks with various means of transport, [and] used gas cylinders, shock bombs, gunfire and hand grenades, in order to prevent and attack customs and police officials who have been on duty." The violence came just weeks after the resolution of another dispute between Kosovo and Serbia over license-plate requirements that were imposed by Kosovo. Ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo balked at the new rules, and blockaded parts of the border. At one point, Serbia sent fighter jets and helicopters flying along the border, and Kosovo sent riot police to the region. EU officials ultimately brokered an agreement between the two sides, and troops from the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the country, known as KFOR, deployed to the region. Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who won office pledging greater "reciprocity" in relations between Pristina and Belgrade, defended the police sweeps, and promised officials would continue cracking down on smuggling. "Crime and criminal groupings will not be tolerated and will be fought," Kurti said. "We shall fight and prevent smuggling." In Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic demanded that the international community, including KFOR, help avoid "wider chaos." "The situation is more than dramatic and this is the last moment in which a clear reaction is needed to stop the crazy policy pursued by Pristina," Brnabic said in a statement. "This kind of behavior has gone beyond any measure and leads us to the brink of chaos." Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was reportedly headed to the town of Raska, on the Serbian side of the border, for meetings with representatives of Serbian communities in Kosovo. During the license-plate standoff last month, Vucic had threatened direct sanctions before the European Union brokered an agreement. Serbia, which doesn't recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, has imposed a similar requirement on Kosovar-registered vehicles for years. A U.S. State Department spokesman called for calm following the clashes: "The United States urges calm in response to the events in Kosovo today. We will continue to work with EU and NATO partners to help all parties maintain progress in normalizing relations and reducing tensions." The European Union's foreign-policy chief, Josep Borrell, called for an end to the violence. "The violent incidents in the north of Kosovo need to stop immediately. Unilateral and uncoordinated actions that endanger stability are unacceptable," Borrell said on Twitter. "All open issues must be addressed through the EU-facilitated Dialogue," he added. WASHINGTON -- The United States is rallying dozens of allies and partners at a two-day virtual conference to discuss ways to combat ransomware as online attacks proliferate, hurting businesses and undermining national security. Representatives of 30 countries from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Asia will join Biden administration officials at the conference on October 13-14 to consider how to disrupt the ransomware ecosystem, including making it harder to use cryptocurrency as a means of payment. The meeting -- whose participants include representatives from Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania -- will also focus on how to prosecute cybercriminals and how to deal with nation-states that fail to tackle cybergangs operating inside their borders. The Biden administration has made fighting ransomware a top priority as the number and severity of cases has surged in recent years, impacting a wide array of industries from retail and food to health care and critical infrastructure. Ransomware payments globally topped $400 million last year, the White House said. Frank Cilluffo, the director of Auburn Universitys McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security and a government adviser, told RFE/RL that ransomware has become a transnational issue which requires some transnational solutions. "We're going to need to be able to work with like-minded allies to start addressing this challenge in earnest and collectively applying some pressure on countries that are turning a blind eye to some of this," Cilluffo said. "I'm not sure we're going to get to the goal on all that (at the conference) but you need to start the conversation." In two high-profile cases earlier this year, cybergangs believed to be based in Russia disrupted the operations of a major U.S. pipeline operator as well as a large meat packing company. Moscow has denied allegations of cyberattacks on Western countries. Representatives from Russia were not invited to the conference, a senior administration official told reporters on October 12, adding that Washington and Moscow recently set up a high-level, bilateral dialogue on cybersecurity. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed at their June summit in Geneva to relaunch talks about cyberattacks. Biden called on Putin to tackle cybercriminals operating from inside Russia. The senior official said that the United States has "seen some steps by the Russian government" since the talks began in the summer but declined to say what they were. The official said the October 13-14 conference would be the first in a series on the topic and did not rule out that Russia could be invited in the future. The acceptance of cryptocurrencies and the partial anonymity they offer has helped fuel the growth of ransomware. Herbert Lin, a senior research scholar for cyber policy and security at Stanford University, told RFE/RL that conference participants need to focus on how to interfere with cryptocurrency payments. Ransomware will become less attractive if cybercriminals can't turn the cryptocurrency payments into cash, he said. "The more countries involved in the discussion, the better but in the end you want to have global controls on cryptocurrency redemption," he said. The Treasury Department last month imposed sanctions on a cryptocurrency exchange for the first time as it seeks to crack down on the use of digital currencies in ransomware attacks. The department said about 40 percent of the transactions at Suex, which operates in Russia, involves illicit activities. The new sanctions will block all trades involving Suex and U.S. entities. Cilluffo also said the conference needs to draw attention to the problem of servers that host malware and black market websites. Along with cryptocurrencies, such servers are key elements in the ransomware ecosystem and many are located in East European countries. "The big issue that I'd like to see coming out of this is...putting a little bit of pressure or at least raising of awareness of what these service providers and services are offering," he said. With reporting by Todd Prince Romanian doctors have issued an open letter titled A Cry Of Despair as the country's overwhelmed health-care system copes with a surge of coronavirus infections and deaths. The College of Physicians of Bucharest, a nongovernmental organization representing doctors in Romania's capital, said in an October 13 letter that the medical system had "reached the limit" and that low vaccination rates revealed a "failure of trust." "We are desperate because every day we lose hundreds of patients who die in Romanian hospitals," the letter reads. "We are desperate, because, unfortunately, we have heard too many times: I can't breathe. I'm not vaccinated." One of the poorest countries in the EU, Romania is suffering from a spike in COVID-19 deaths amid a fourth wave described by officials as "catastrophic." On October 13, Romania-- the EU member state with the second-lowest vaccination rate -- recorded 442 deaths and nearly 17,000 new confirmed virus cases. Anti-vaccine sentiment is widespread in the country, especially in rural areas, fueled both by conspiracy theories on social media and a lack of trust in the authorities. "Every day we witness tragedies: dying patients, suffering families, doctors who have reached the end of their powers," the letter from Bucharest's doctors reads. The pressure on hospitals prompted Romanian officials last week to suspend nonemergency medical procedures for 30 days and to ask the EU for help. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on October 13 that his country will help Romania treat 50 COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care. Szijjarto said the 50 people would be treated at two Hungarian hospitals and the countries would work out the logistics over the coming days. Janez Lenarcic, the EU commissioner for crisis management, said last week that the EU would send 250 oxygen generators to Romania. Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Romanian Service, AP and Reuters Russia's Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of gulag historian Yury Dmitriyev, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing his foster daughter. The decision was announced on the court's website. "Refusal to transfer the case for consideration in the session of the court of cassation," said the case card on the court's website. The Supreme Court's decision comes after a St. Petersburg appeals court also rejected the request by Dmitriyev, who has said the charges brought by prosecutors were based on fabricated evidence. Dmitriyev, 65, who is also the head of the Karelian branch of the Memorial rights group, was arrested on charges related to child pornography in 2016 based on photographs of his foster daughter that authorities found on his computer. He said the images were not pornographic and were made at the request of social workers concerned about the child's physical development. In July last year, he was found guilty, and he was scheduled to be freed in November due to time served. But a court in the northwestern Karelia region, where Dmitriyev lives, abruptly added a decade to his sentence and ordered him held in a high-security prison. Dmitriyev's historical work has focused on exposing the victims of the 1937-38 Great Terror, in which nearly 700,000 people were executed. After the Soviet collapse, he found a mass grave containing thousands of bodies of Great Terror victims. Memorial has said the accusations against Dmitriyev were groundless. Ukrainian archaeologists say a discovery in a Scythian tomb sharpens our understanding of the prehistoric warriors who once ruled the steppes of Eurasia. On the island of Khortytsia, in the middle of the Dnieper River in Ukraine, archaeologists are scraping away at the brown soil that held the secrets of a Scythian warrior for nearly 2,500 years. Scythians are believed to have been a people of Iranian origin who once ruled over vast swaths of land stretching from Europe in the west to the mountains of Central Asia in the east. They were known as fleet-footed nomads who were masters of horseback blitzkrieg on Eurasia's untamed steppes, but excavations on Khortytsia capture a very different lifestyle. The Scythian island tribe apparently served as "guardians" controlling who was able to cross the Dnieper. "Almost everyone was convinced that we were looking at nomads who roamed the steppe for millennia," says Maksym Ostapenko, the acting director of a national reserve on the island. "But on Khortytsia we unearthed a completely different Scythian culture of settlements that maintained livestock and agriculture." Evidence of fishing -- which suggests the use of boats -- has also been found on the island, which lies a stone's throw away from the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhya. Waterways, especially those such as the broad Dnieper River, were previously seen by historians as a hostile environment for steppe dwellers such as the Scythians. The Khortytsia site has been studied since the 1990s, but the most significant find was the 2020 discovery of the warrior from the band of apparent river guardians. The man, who died aged around 30, was respected enough to warrant an elaborate tomb topped with several heavy stones to protect against grave robbers. Ostapenko told RFE/RL that the island tribe "blocked the place of crossing to Khortytsia Island. That is, it was a deliberately built settlement, a fortification that controlled the crossing from the left bank of the Dnieper River to Khortytsia Island and onward to the western bank." The strategic friction point would have been critical, according to Ostapenko. "The Scythians mostly lived in the steppe, and roamed with huge herds of animals. There were seasonal migrations, so controlling the crossing of large rivers was a hugely important," he says. "Whoever controlled the crossing actually controlled the flow of various animals. Those animals dictated the lives of the steppe people." It is unclear if the island tribe taxed those crossing the river, or were tasked with controlling the crossing point by a more powerful organization. Serbia's neighbors are no strangers to the red, blue, and white tricolor flags that fly outside some homes and Serb-led institutions or are splashed around some of the ethnically charged political rallies in the region. After all, there are a combined 1.3 million ethnic Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo alone, according to estimates. But all three of those countries are likely to see increased flag-waving and other public expressions of Serbian identity this week on a joint holiday declared last year by the governments of Serbia and of Republika Srpska -- the mostly Serb entity that along with the Muslim and Croat federation composes Bosnia-Herzegovina. "I support the day and I think it benefits everyone, especially students, because it shows us that we should be united, to respect our compatriots in all countries," says Rastko, a high school senior in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska's capital. He cites historical themes that are "common to all of us nationally," such as his school's plans to teach a lesson on the Salonica Front, also known as the Macedonian Front. That World War I theater of battle's liberation in 1918 is ostensibly why Belgrade and the secession-minded leadership of Banja Luka decided -- in lightning succession over two days last year -- to celebrate Serbian Unity, Freedom, and National Flag Day every year on September 15. But the shared heritage of a century-old battle attributed to Serbian forces and a cross-border celebration of Serbian nationality -- in a region freshly scarred by ethnic warfare -- is less self-evident to some of Republika Srpska's non-Serbs. To me, it's this effort to try to emphasize nation-building beyond the borders of the state of Serbia." Bosnia is still divided -- some would say dysfunctionally so -- by the parallel governing structures established along Bosniak, Serbian, and Croatian ethnic lines by the Dayton agreement 25 years ago to end three years of intense conflict accompanying the breakup of Yugoslavia. Students in Srebrenica, the scene in Republika Srpska of one of postwar Europe's worst atrocities when Bosnian Serb troops massacred more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in 1995, complain that while Serbs should be allowed to celebrate their heritage, republican officials avoid events more closely aligned with Bosniak or Croat identity and history. One student, Alija, calls Serbian unity day an official effort at "segregation, discrimination, and humiliation of non-Serbs in Republika Srpska." Meanwhile, analysts warn that the holiday looks like a politically cynical and wrongheaded effort radiating from Belgrade to emphasize nation-building beyond recognized borders while encouraging the notion that Serbian national identity is under threat. Such a campaign has rattled neighboring governments and could threaten the current Serbian leadership's preferred narrative of their country as a regional political and economic leader, analysts say. "To me, it's this effort to try to emphasize nation-building beyond the borders of the state of Serbia," Florian Bieber, director of the Center of Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, says of the new Serbian holiday. He calls it a "symbolic manifestation" of Serbia's long-standing reluctance to accept its borders after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. It also hints at political opportunism as hopes of an early EU entry fade and a "natural inclination" of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic toward his political and ideological origins "in Serb nationalism and an anti-Western worldview," according to Bieber. And all of it amid intensifying talk in Belgrade of a new "Serbian world" that critics say is little more than a new label for ethno-nationalist ambitions of a "Greater Serbia." Serbia's 'Dilemma' "The basic issue, if you're a nationalist, is how to conceive of this relation between the people inside the state and the people outside the state," says Eric Gordy*, a professor at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies. "And that's what they've been talking about for 100 years." The "big political dilemma" in Serbia -- where frustration particularly among young people has fed a demographic crisis that has reduced the population to under 7 million -- is that a large number of Serbs don't live there, Gordy says. I have never said, and I won't react more harshly because if [Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin] hadn't said 'Serbian world,' you would have invented something else just so that Serbs would be guilty of something." That fosters European fears of a return to the kind of conflict that wracked the region in the 1990s, killing at least 130,000 people and displacing millions more. Gordy and consistent polling suggest there's no appetite for more war in the Balkans. But like Russia in the 19th century with its appeals to pan-Slavism and Hungarian leaders' ongoing posturing as the protector of ethnic Hungarians abroad, Serbia looks like it's "attempting to achieve what they tried to achieve through force [in the 1990s] but in a softer way," Gordy says. In that sense, he says, the new Serbian unity holiday looks like projecting influence while "promoting this idea that the national identity is threatened." Whose Unity? Serbian Unity, Freedom, and National Flag Day is a collaborative project between Belgrade and Banja Luka. It was first organized last September by current Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, one of three members of the Bosnian presidency and an avowed separatist who, in the words of the director of the Center for Regionalism in northern Serbia, "spends more time in Belgrade than in Banja Luka." There was no need to reconcile it nationally in Bosnia since the country has no unified law on public holidays. A day later, after Vucic noted that it broke no laws, the Serbian government followed suit, and the joint holiday was born. Within a week, public buildings and major institutions in both Serbia and Republika Srpska were festooned with Serbian flags as ceremonies were held and anthems broadcast to mark the holiday. Always 'Guilty Of Something' This year, Serbian unity day arrives with several of the region's governments on guard against interference from Belgrade. EU enlargement has lost its sizzle on both sides, disappointing a handful of Western Balkan states and eroding one of the prime incentives for lasting democratic and institutional reforms in the region. Censuses have been postponed in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, in part, over obstacles to the accurate enumeration of ethnic minorities. (Bosnia isn't due for a new census until 2023.) The internationally mediated Serbia-Kosovo normalization effort remains largely stalled, with a more politically pugnacious Kosovar prime minister, Albin Kurti, in charge of negotiations for Pristina. And tensions have even mounted between Belgrade and Podgorica, the capital of neighboring NATO member Montenegro, where around one-third of citizens identify as "Serb." Scuffles broke out there last week over Serbian influence and the enthronement of the Serbian Orthodox Church's top local cleric in a former Montenegrin capital. Vucic was forced to publicly distance his administration from the notion that it was pursuing a "Serbian world" that threatened Montenegrin or Bosnian independence. "As for the 'Serbian world,' that is a phrase used by [Interior Minister Aleksandar] Vulin and it is not part of the official policy of the state of Serbia," Vucic said at a press conference. "I have never said that," Vucic said, "and I won't react more harshly because if he hadn't said 'Serbian world,' you would have invented something else just so that Serbs would be guilty of something." What's A 'Serbian World' Anyway? "Serbian world" is a term coined -- or at least popularized -- by right-wing Serbian historian Aleksandar Rakovic a little more than a year ago. In a front-page polemical in the Balkans' oldest surviving newspaper, Politika, in July 2020, Rakovic suggested that a "Serbian world" exists that implies the unification of Serbia, Republika Srpska, and Montenegro. The term was quickly adopted by Interior Minister Vulin, a veteran Serbian nationalist politician and member of the cabinet whose Socialist Movement has governed alongside Vucic's senior Progressive Party (SNS) since 2012. Vulin acknowledged that current circumstances didn't allow for the creation of a single state to unite all Serbs, but he predicted it would happen within decades. "There was no talk of the 'Serbian world' five years ago, or anything of that sort," says Bieber. He calls its public emergence part of a "continuous" effort, but one that has escalated in recent months. "It's gradual and incremental, but it's certainly a distinctive shift away from where Serbia positioned itself [previously], and it's got a lot to do with the fact that EU integration is just not that powerful [of an incentive] anymore," Bieber says. Until last week, Vucic had mostly batted away questions about a "Serbian world" policy, despite explicit calls by Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic and Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani for him to reject it. And Jeta Krasniqi, project director at the Kosovo Democratic Institute in Pristina, an NGO, tells RFE/RL that the ethno-nationalist tones mean that "any kind of project of this kind needs to be taken seriously." She notes that despite the Serbian president distancing himself from talk of a "Serbian world," Vulin remains a key minister with a decade of experience working in tandem with Vucic. Krasniqi, who participated in a meeting between regional leaders and outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the latter's farewell tour of the Balkans on September 14, says that despite the cooling of accession efforts, "it is up to the EU to reject this kind of rhetoric." Enough Is Enough But absent the carrot of EU membership in the immediate future, will Belgrade listen? Gordy warns that the Serbs' recent use of the term "Serbian world" is "part of that continuum" that includes visions of a Greater Serbia or would-be efforts to create a "sphere of influence" in the Balkans. He speculates that Serbian public opinion is probably "broadly sympathetic" to the idea of a "Serbian world," and that if Vucic thought he could succeed at promoting it he might be "behind it all the way." And sometimes, he warns, "unfortunately the only thing that really stops these kinds of campaigns is failure." But Gordy predicts that outside pressure will only mount on Vucic to cool his language and notes the challenges for a country like Serbia. "What makes it difficult here is that this [creation of spheres of influence] is something that major powers can do because they're major powers. Serbia is not a major power, so it's not going to be able to enforce that claim in the same way. "I think he's seeing it backfiring and stepping away from it," Gordy says of Vucic. Bieber says it's a "worsening problem" that's "becoming more and more pertinent and stronger in recent months." But the stakes for Vucic and Belgrade are particularly high, he says, given their efforts to paint Serbia as a regional power in the rapidly changing Balkans. So the crucial question is how Serbia decides to resolve the "continuous tension" between policies that promote good relations with its neighbors or ones that favor an ethno-nationalist policy toward ethnic kin. "Being able to get away with more, in a certain way, and having [neighboring] countries which have weaknesses -- like Kosovo sovereignty, Bosnia's fragmented nature of politics, and in Montenegro the [deep] political divisions -- all of these things make it easier for Serbia to promote this kind of [ethno-nationalist] policy," says Bieber. "But that's something which again contradicts the other narrative of Serbia as a kind of leader of the region, not in an ethnic way, but in an economic and political way beyond supporting Serbs." *CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified Eric Gordy of University College London. Written and reported by Andy Heil with additional reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondents Marija Augustinovic and Goran Katic Anti-Taliban resistance leader Ahmad Masud briefly visited Dushanbe for Afghan peace talks -- sponsored by Tajikistan and Pakistan -- but Taliban representatives failed to attend, sources close to the Tajik government told RFE/RL. Three sources told RFE/RL that Masud's trip to Dushanbe took place shortly after Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said on September 17 that his country would host negotiations between the new Afghan rulers and Masud's predominantly ethnic Tajik resistance force based in Afghanistan's Panjshir Province. "We have agreed to facilitate negotiations between the Taliban and the [ethnic] Tajiks [in Afghanistan]," Rahmon announced at a press conference with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The sources in Dushanbe told RFE/RL on October 6 that Masud arrived in Dushanbe "from Panjshir three days after Khan's visit to Tajikistan." Khan's two-day official visit to Dushanbe coincided with a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that began on September 16. According to the officials, Masud's trip to Tajikistan "lasted only a day and a half" and that he "returned to Afghanistan" after it became clear no Taliban representatives were coming to Dushanbe. The officials said Dushanbe was assured by Pakistani authorities that the Taliban had agreed to send representatives to Dushanbe to meet Masud. The officials in Dushanbe spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. 'Historic Step' Not Taken? Both Tajikistan and Pakistan said joint efforts to help bring peace and stability to neighboring Afghanistan were high on the agenda of the talks between the two leaders. Rahmon especially insisted on the formation of an "inclusive government" and the protection of the "interests of ethnic Tajiks and other minorities" in Afghanistan. Upon his return to Islamabad, Khan said he contacted the Taliban to convey the messages from Rahmon and other regional leaders he met in Dushanbe. "After [meetings] in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan's neighbors [and] especially a lengthy discussion with...Rahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan [government] to include Tajiks, [Hazara], and Uzbeks," Khan tweeted on September 18. Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry confirmed that Khan and Rahmon were ready to play a role in bringing the Taliban and ethnic Tajiks closer, Pakistani media reported. He described the announcement of possible talks with the Taliban in Dushanbe as a "historic step." But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told RFE/RL on October 6 that the Taliban government "hasn't received such information so far." Masud's spokesman didn't respond to RFE/RL's request for comment. But Masud has repeatedly expressed his readiness for peace talks with the Taliban. Masud -- the son of legendary Afghan politician and anti-Soviet resistance commander Ahmad Shah Masud -- announced the creation of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan a day after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15. Hundreds of people were killed in battles between the resistance forces and the Taliban in Masud's native Panjshir before most of the province finally fell to the Taliban in early September, the last province to come under Taliban control. The Taliban says the resistance has been defeated but Masud supporters insist the anti-Taliban opposition forces continue to resist and there are reports of sporadic fighting. Tajikistan has accused Taliban fighters of carrying out killings in Panjshir and denying the residents of the predominantly ethnic Tajik region access to food and electricity and of shutting down the Internet there. Tajikistan is the only Central Asian country that hasn't sent officials or diplomats to meet with Taliban officials since the hard-line Islamist group formed a government in Afghanistan. Rahmon has refused to recognize any government in Afghanistan that undermines the "interests" of ethnic minorities. Rahmon's criticism and comments on Afghanistan have even prompted the Taliban government's acting deputy head, Abdul Ghani Baradar, to accuse Tajikistan of interfering in Afghanistan's internal affairs. Tajikistan and the Taliban-led Afghanistan have held several military parades in border regions amid rising tensions in recent weeks. Tajik officials deny a Taliban claim that Masud and former Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh are based in Tajikistan. However, several other senior Afghan resistance figures -- including Abdul Latif Pedram -- have been based in Dushanbe since the collapse of the Western-backed government in Kabul in August. Masud's paternal uncle, Ahmad Wali Masud, was also visiting Dushanbe in early October. Inhabitants of Tajikistan's Yaghnob Gorge, located some 3,000 meters above sea level, are used to being largely cut off from modern life. Most make a living from farming and tending livestock in the mountain pastures. But a pastoral life high in the mountains comes at a cost to some residents, who spoke of being unable to travel to the hospital or finish their basic education. YouTube has blocked a channel belonging to a U.S. news organization known for its coverage of Central Asia, Caucasus, and Russia, after state media in authoritarian Turkmenistan complained about copyright violations. The site, Eurasianet, said it was notified by Google-owned YouTube that its channel was being blocked after receiving several "takedown notices" over several days this week. The notices, YouTube said, were filed by Watan Habarlary, the official TV channel belonging to Turkmenistan's State Committee on Television, Radio Broadcasting, and Cinematography. David Trilling, managing editor for Eurasianet, said the site had struggled to find someone at YouTube to appeal the decision. He said that Eurasianet's website, which publishes mainly in English and Russian, is itself blocked in Turkmenistan, as is YouTube. "It's ironic given that [YouTube] is blocked in Turkmenistan...just like every other social-media company," he told RFE/RL Trilling said the organization's YouTube channel had a couple thousand subscribers, and was mainly used to clip videos from the nightly newscast by Turkmen state TV, and embed them in web articles about Turkmenistan. The organization republished the clips under fair-use laws, and were contextualized to give them added news value. An e-mail sent to Turkmenistan's embassy in Washington, D.C., was not immediately responded to. YouTube did not respond to a message sent by RFE/RL to its main complaints e-mail address. Eurasianet isn't the first news organization or foreign organization reporting on Turkmenistan to be hit with copyright strikes from YouTube. In May, the Chronicles of Turkmenistan, run by an Austrian-based opposition group, also reportedly had its YouTube channel blocked after complaints from Turkmen state media. One of the most closed countries in the world, Turkmenistan is run by an authoritarian government that controls all media and strictly limits Internet access and outside media. State media devotes lavish coverage to the country's president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. The country has some of the world's largest natural-gas reserves. Trilling said Eurasianet was seeking to move its small online video presence to a smaller network, Vimeo. YouTube's move comes amid growing questions about the reach and clout of U.S. technology and social-media companies, who critics say hold outsized power to censor, or amplify, people or organizations. Critics say some of the biggest technology companies -- Facebook, Twitter, Google, Apple, for example -- have also shown a willingness to bend to the demands of authoritarian governments, to censor information that, for example, might embarrass the government. In the run-up to last month's elections for Russia's lower house of parliament, Russia demanded that Google and Apple remove from their stores an app that was used by opposition activist Aleksei Navalny to promote candidates who were not from the Kremlin-allied ruling party. Another popular tech platform, the Telegram messaging app, also removed some Navalny-linked information prior to the election. Both Google and Apple have local employees in Russia, and the authorities threatened to prosecute them if the U.S. tech giants did not remove the Navalny-backed app. Other countries like Turkey and India have also increasingly pressured the tech companies to remove or outright censor some political speech. Housed at Columbia University's Harriman Institute, Eurasianet is a private nonprofit corporation, funded by grants from the Open Society Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. In northern Kosovo, six police officers and nearly a dozen others were injured when ethnic Serb crowds tried to stop Kosovar authorities from carrying out an anti-smuggling operation. Police said that they responded with tear gas when they were attacked with hand grenades and stun grenades in North Mitrovica. The town has a mostly ethnic Serb population who do not recognize Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia. At least eight people were arrested as a result of the clashes and protests on October 13. In this Register file photo Madison County sheriff's deputies maintain a presence on Union City Road after a vehicular pursuit of a suspect. The suspect left his vehicle in this area and fled on foot. Written By Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December with a bachelor's degree in journalism. | News featured popular urgent Minimum wage issue spurred Kimberly Reuter to join Congressional race SWAHILI-KEELEY PHOTOGRAPHY LLC Kimberly Clark Reuter is running in the Democrat Primary for Georgias 10th Congressional District. Editors note: This is the first in a series of interviews with candidates in the 10th Congressional District race. For a full Q&A with candidate Kimberly Clark Reuter, go to www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com. I want to be the change I seek. Kimberly Clark Reuter says thats one of her favorite sayings. The 33-year-old mother of three is hoping to be that change by winning the U.S. Congressional 10th District seat with a platform that ranges from supporting a $15 minimum wage to climate change measures to greater regulations and fees for corporations. A Democrat, this is the first time Reuter has ever sought public office. I kind of decided to jump right in, she said. I was looking around for what office needed the more progressive values that I champion, and Jody Hices seat looked like it needed to be flipped. Right now, its just an open seat. Hice, a Republican is not seeking re-election to Congress, but rather running to unseat Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. A resident of Johns Creek, Reuter grew up in Loganville, having gone to Loganville Primary, Elementary, Middle and High schools, She says she has always been fairly political. Ive always had opinions and things I wanted to say, she said. I wanted to get involved more actively probably around mid-March when the Senate voted to not include the $15 minimum wage in the COVID relief package. That would have helped a lot of people. I was just very tired of sitting back and watching politicians disregard what people needed either to appease their donors or to create drama. I got tired of sitting back and watching that. I said Im going to run for Congress and see if I can make a difference... While her last two jobs have been $15-an-hour jobs, Reuter says in her early 20s, she had to work two jobs to make ends meet. Each of those jobs paid $7.65 an hour, she recalls. Thats barely over the minimum wage... A $15 minimum wage is essentially a living wage for people. I know, Ive had experience with this and people working in a minimum wage job who cant support their family. Its not enough to support yourself. A $15 minimum wage is a basic amount for people to work for, to support their families, have a roof over their heads and electricity. We need that floor at the federal level. You shouldnt work 40 hours per week and be away from your family and then not be able to support them. You shouldnt have to work two-plus jobs to provide a living for yourself and your family. Reuter says she has done a lot in her 33 years. Her first job was at Blockbuster followed by a job working concessions at a movie theater. She went to college and then worked as an after-school lead teacher for Primrose. She sold car and rental insurance; worked as a bartender and had a position in information technology (IT). And Im a parent of a 15-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son and a 4-year-old son, she added. After high school, Reuter went to Georgia Perimeter College where she got an associates degree in psychology. This past year, she completed her bachelors degree in psychology from Georgia State University and she hopes to go back to school and get her masters degree to practice as a therapist. Raised by a single mother from the age of 10, Reuter spent much of her life in Loganville with her mother, Cheryl McCoy, and in Snellville, where she enjoyed time with her grandparents, Douglas Clark and the late Shirley Clark. They were very instrumental in my life, she said. When she was 17, she met her husband, John, who is in IT, and they married in 2015. They have 4-year-old Thomas together and are the parents of 15-year-old daughter, Satawney and 12-year-old son Benjamin. My husband and I moved to Johns Creek for his job, but I still find myself in Loganville several times a week, Reuter said. My mother still lives there and my stepson attends Loganville schools, just like I did. I have a vested interest in representing GA-10 to make it a better place for growing families. I will advocate for a quality education system, universal health care and better infrastructure. Reuter says education, health care and infrastructure are her top three concerns. In education, I know at a federal level the funds are doled out more at a state level, but I want to use the platform I have for equal funding for students not based on local property taxes, but equal for everybody, Reuter said. Its a shame that one school district would be funded better than another just because the houses are better. Its a disservice and an equity issue. She also supports universal health care and bachelor degrees. The candidate says she is very passionate about health care. Personally, I advocate for universal health care, she said. I think its a human right, and the government should provide it to all citizens as a human right. Regarding infrastructure, Reuter said she likes the idea of a more efficient transit system. (I advocate) having a sufficient broadband structure to ensure everybody has the Internet where they can have the worlds knowledge at the tip of your fingers, she said. Thats so important. I advocate for more community green spaces. If we have more spaces to come together as human beings, well come together as human beings and our communities will be more tight-knit. Considering how to pay for those programs, Reuter said a look should be taken at where taxes go. I did some research, and theres quite a bit of waste, she said. It seems like airplane tickets for government officials that dont get used, dont get refunded things like that looking at programs that may or may not be helpful. Making sure we are spending tax money to be beneficial. If not, cut that program and put those funds in the universal health care pot. I do believe in raising corporate taxes. I do like the 28% President Biden has proposed. If you look at a corporation, they use our roads more than your average citizen would. Theyre using the system more. Would corporations then pass along those expenses to the consumer? By the nature of capitalism, yes; however, I do want to point out that in todays world, everything is more open and under a microscope, Reuter said. It is a lot less easy for corporations to just raise prices and not have a backlash for that. Honestly, I dont know if that would happen because people would see that greed and there would be accompanying backlash from that. While Reuter says she is pro-capitalism, she adds, but it does need restraint. So pro-capitalism, but also government regulations, she said. Im not an economist, but I would love to work with an economist to see what we could do to rein in capitalism. This type of laissez-faire weve got going on is not working. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. Reuter said restraints would be more geared toward multi-million dollar corporations. I feel like its restraining greed, she added. ...Capitalism created these uber-rich people, buying yachts for their yachts, going into space commercially and only claiming $80,000 on their taxes. While Reuter agrees the rich pay the majority of taxes, she cites the tax code and said they dont pay what they should. Regarding climate change, Reuter said, Were watching our ice caps melt. That is what is convincing me that it is real and scientifically, its being caused by the CO2 emissions. That is what is causing that, so capping that, which is something the corporations should be responsible (for) and should also pay a carbon tax. When asked what she loves about America, Reuter names one thing: the freedom of speech. The freedom to express my opinion and not worry about the government coming after me, she said. Thats it. Its just the freedom, and while I understand the U.S. isnt the only country with freedom of speech or religion, I enjoy the freedoms I have. The freedom to express my opinion. The freedom to run for office if I choose to and to do what I feel is right. What would she change about the U.S? It would be to make everybody (understand) that we are a large community and we need to work together to help everybody prosper, she said. If we all do a little, none of us has to do a lot. I believe thats a direct quote from my friend in Arkansas, Kelly Krout. That would be my wish for everybody to do their part... Shes running for lieutenant governor in Arkansas. Ive never met her face-to-face, but were friends on TikTok and my financial manager also worked for her. While Reuter says her mentor in politics is Sen. Bernie Sanders, she stops short of calling herself a democratic socialist. I would consider myself a progressive, she said. This is a tricky one because I think the government should work for the people and not just the rich. So at the heart, I do think that everything in this country we have for the people enshrined into our founding documents, the government and economy should work for all of the people. Bernie is definitely influential to me more because he sticks to his guns. He sticks to what he thinks is right, and he will fight for it... Reuter says she does not want to label herself democratic socialist because there is a stigma attached to socialism. I dont want to attach myself to it. People hear socialism and hear communism and hear dictator...I would describe my views and words as everybody thriving and looking out for my fellow man... Being a wife, mother and now a candidate, Reuter has a busy life, but when she has time to relax, she has a couple of special hobbies. She likes to play Final Fantasy, a multi-player online role playing video game where she competes with players across North America. She also taught herself to crochet and enjoys making hats and other items. For more information, visit www.kimberly2022.com Candidates running for the 2022 U.S. Congressional District 10 seat are being asked to answer a questionnaire posed by the Citizen. A sampling of Reuters answers is below. The full Q&A transcript can be found under Election 2022 on our website www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com. Why are you a Democrat? I find that my political ideology is closest to that of the Democratic party. I agree with raising the minimum wage to $15. The Democrats are also the party that cares about climate change. In some ways, I appreciate the official platform, but also feel that it does not go far enough. Things like healthcare and education up to a bachelors degree should be publicly funded. At the end of the day, I have two choices. I am a person who believes we should have more than two choices. What led you to get involved in politics? Watching how dispassionately those in Washington vote against the best interest of their respective constituencies is what spurred me to action. Do you think U.S. businesses should pay more in taxes? If so, how much more and why? Large businesses, yes. They use our roads, our mail services, our police. They should pay their fair share. If you make more money, your cut is a little higher. I support a 28% corporate tax. Do you support the current open border immigration system? What do you think about a border wall? Please explain your answers. The wall makes no sense. In most cases, illegal immigrants came into the U.S. legally then overstayed their visas. Our current immigration system is a disaster. We make it too hard to become a tax-paying citizen of the United States. It will take years and thousands of dollars to achieve it. Our immigration policy should be simple and straightforward. First, illegal immigrants already in the U.S. should be offered a pathway to citizenship. They should not be scared to walk into an immigrations office and start the process. DACA recipients should be given a pathway as well, so that they are not living in this weird can we stay or not limbo. We should have humane means of housing individuals who do try to come into this nation legally while they wait for their immigration trials. Regarding Critical Race Theory, do you think promoting it will help or hurt efforts to improve race relations in the U.S? Please explain your answer. Also, should it be taught in Americas public schools? Why or why not? I think that history should be taught how it happened. If certain laws were built to disenfranchise a certain group, that shouldnt be shied away from. I do think acknowledging our past will do nothing but help race relations. A former City of Rocky Mount employee is claiming that Elton Daniels, who was parks and recreation director before being promoted to assistant Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Rutland, VT (05701) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 24F. Winds light and variable. A Vicious Cycle: Lack of Gender Equity at Both Home and at Work Many gender inequities are rooted in deeply held cultural norms that also influence how men and women are treated differently in the workplace and in the expectation of who should be primary caregivers. In the United States, the gender pay gap starts early. Male-dominated fields, like computer engineering, pay far more than female-dominated professions, like care work. In addition, research continues to find pay gaps between men and women in the same role with the same education and experience levels. One study found that 38 percent of the pay gap is unexplainable, and could likely be the result of gender bias. On top of it all, the United States has a motherhood penalty and a fatherhood bonus, where men start making far more money and women start earning sharply less when they become parents. Studies show that employers often perceive mothers as less committed, competent or available, and by extension, less financially valuable. Alternatively, men typically see a 12 percent increase in pay after they become fathers. In the end, married mothers with at least one child under age 18, earn 76 cents to a married fathers dollar. If a woman is unmarried, has more children, or is a woman of color, the gap only widens. As a result, at home, women spend about twice the amount of time providing care and doing housework as men, while men spend more time at work. This double shift, where women work a full day at the office before returning home to hours of domestic labor, hasnt budged in decades. Additionally, unlike every other advanced competitive economy, the United States does not have a paid maternity leave policy, and is one of only seven wealthy nations with no paid paternity leave policy. Private companies are not filling much of this gap. Eight in ten workers in the civilian workforce in the United States have no paid family leave benefits through their employers at all, with low-wage workers least likely to have access to any benefit. Shifting Gender Norms Through Policy In contrast, countries around the world are carefully designing public policy to shift antiquated gender norms, and the financial disincentives that reinforce them. For instance, when paid parental leave was introduced in Sweden, the first iteration of the policy was gender neutral, meaning that either parent could accept any portion of the leave. Yet, because of social norms around care, mothers wound up taking the bulk of the leave, which disadvantaged them at work. Some employers were reluctant to hire young women, and many women wound up working either part-time or in the public sector. With an eye toward fostering true gender equity, lawmakers redesigned paid leave policies with individual entitlements. Rather than a gender-neutral default, each parent received a specific amount of leave. That meant that if fathers did not take their portion of leave, the balance could not be transferred to the mother, and the family would lose out on maximizing the overall amount of time a baby spent with their parents at home. This use it or lose it policy change resulted in Swedish paternity leave acceptance rates skyrocketing from 5 to 90 percent within a few short years. Cultural norms began shifting as well. Being a good father came to mean spending time with family and using the paid leave allotment, rather than doubling down at work. Global gender equity rankings show that these and other reforms have narrowed the gender pay gap in Sweden, while the time men and women spend at work and giving care is becoming more equal. Meanwhile, in Japan, good policy is only one piece of the gender equity puzzle. To affect change, cultural narratives, mindsets and workplace norms also must shift. Japan has one of the most generous paid leave policies for men, yet even after concerted efforts to get men to take it, only about 7 percent actually do. Even those who accept the benefit usually take it only for a few weeks, not the full year thats guaranteed. According to some studies, these men are afraid that taking time to care for their families would damage their careers. This is where fielding surveys, discussing barriers, and sharing stories of pioneering men who normalize male caregiving can help. Research has found that, because gender equity is not openly addressed, men in Japan want to be more active caregivers, but are worried that they will be ostracized for doing so. Other nations may want to take notice of Swedens nuanced approach, and design incentives that specifically account for the gender bias that makes so many men hesitant to be active caregivers. When the policies are carefully designed to account for the cultural resistance and stigma associated with men investing their attention and energy into their children, they are especially effective. When cultural stigma and financial punishments are removed, men can and do engage in care work. For instance, our research found that men anticipate needing time off of work to care for a loved one at the same rate that women do. The difference, however, is that many men dont feel they can follow through on fulfilling those caregiving needs, and women feel they have no choice, taking time off even when its unpaid because someone must give care. As the world has already shown us, real solutions to support men, women, and people of all genders who care are not out of reach here. Weas a nationjust have to be willing to find them and make them a reality. About the Authors Brigid Schulte is the director of the Better Life Lab, the work-family justice and gender equity program at New America, a nonpartisan think tank, that uses narrative to move public policy, workplace practice and culture so that people of all genders and racial and ethnic identities can thrive, with decent, dignified work and time for care and connection across the arc of their lives. Jennifer Ngandu, managing directorProgram, at RWJF, helps lead grantmaking activities to advance social and environmental changes that help ensure that all children and their families have the full range of opportunities and resources to lead healthy lives, starting from a childs earliest years. We failed to make DesignBold become a leading and popular design tool, the company said on its website. As a startup, DesignBold faced a lot of problems, and as the world reeled, we witnessed waves of rapidly evolving technologies, design tools, and business markets that demanded us to pivot for innovative exploration and catch the waves head-on, the statement continued. Founded in 2016 the same year as Canva, which is now valued at about US$19 billion DesignBold aims to empower everyone from everywhere to create visual content limited only by their own imagination. According to Tech in Asias database, the startup has not raised venture capital funding in the past five years. It was crowned as the winner of the fan favorite category at the Echelon Asia Summit 2017. DesignBolds co-founder and CEO, Hung Dinh, also confirmed the closure to Tech in Asia, saying that he wanted to focus on building his new venture, the Rada Blockchain Seed Investment Community. Dinh is a well-known tech entrepreneur and investor in Vietnam. In 2015, he was on Tech in Asias list of the top 10 people to meet if you wanted to understand Vietnams startup ecosystem. Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. Chula Vista has a pension problem. Rising pension costs for public employees are creating a structural deficit in the citys budget meaning Chula Vista spends more money than it receives. If left unchecked, that growing deficit could impact the citys ability to provide basic services in the future. San Diego Countys second-largest city isnt the only municipality in California with a pension problem. The states pension system is underfunded, meaning it doesnt have enough money to pay benefits owed to retirees and current employees. Because of how the system is structured, cities throughout the state are being asked to fund the system by paying more. The San Diego Union-Tribune sat down with Chula Vistas finance director, David Bilby, to find out where the problem comes from, what impact it has on Chula Vista, and what the city is doing about it. Advertisement HOW DID WE GET HERE? The California Employees Retirement System, commonly known as CalPERS, is funded by a combination of tax dollars from member agencies, employee contributions, and investment returns. The way it works is thousands of government entities like cities and water districts send hundreds of millions of dollars to CalPERS. The system takes that money and invests it. In order to be fully funded, CalPERS needs to earn a certain return on that investment. When the state doesnt meet its investment goals, cities are asked to make up the shortfall. The pension systems unfunded liability grew during the two most recent economic downturns the 2001 dot-com crash and the 2007 housing crisis. Since then, the gap between how much money the fund has and how much it needs to pay out benefits has grown, even though the economy has largely bounced back from the Great Recession. To help bridge the gap, CalPERS took several measures to make the system more sustainable in the future. But those changes placed a lot of financial stress on cities like Chula Vista. For example, CalPERS lowered its investment return goals from 7.5 percent to 7 percent. It may seem like a small change, but that means Chula Vista will likely have to pay $200 million more toward the unfunded liability over 20 years. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CHULA VISTA? Chula Vista doesnt have to pay it all at one, but the amount increases every year for the next five years. For example, the city owes CalPERS $21 million this year and $24 million next year. The 2018-19 budget set aside 15.8 percent of the general fund to pay for the benefits of 820 retirees and beneficiaries. The single factor that is making the structural deficit grow is pension costs, Bilby said. The city doesnt have a funding source to pay for all of this. But it is taking several steps to prevent cutting any public services. The current plan is to cut costs wherever possible and have public employees pay their fair share of pension costs. The city is already taking several steps to bring costs down. They include relying more on interns, volunteers and hourly and seasonal workers, and increasing fees the public pays for services such as renting a gazebo. Yes, the pension situation now means renting a gazebo for a family reunion is more expensive. Additionally, the city is investing in technology to make government more efficient. For example, switching to a paperless accounting system may save Chula Vista hundreds of thousands a year. Another part of the plan is to get public employees to pay more of their pension costs. Historically, Chula Vista has picked up most of the tab. But over the last couple of years, the city has asked workers to contribute more during union negotiations. Miscellaneous employees meaning city workers who are not firefighters or sworn police officers are at or near the 50 percent mark. Police and firefighters are not there yet. Currently, Chula Vista contributes more than double what police and firefighters hired before 2013 put in toward pension costs. The finance director hopes the city can close the gap during labor negotiations next year. Were trying to create a sustainable and stabilized pension system and if we ignore the cost side and just say the city can pick up the tab, then the city would have to resort to cuts to service, Bilby said. There is just no way you can balance the ledger if people arent contributing more or if we cut services. WHAT HAS CHULA VISTA ALREADY DONE? Pension reform to lower the costs of future benefits. During the booming economy of the 1990s, Chula Vista joined other California cities in enhancing employee benefits. Chula Vistas benefits were among the more generous in the state. They promised public employees who worked 30 years and retired at 60 a pension of 90 percent of their single-highest year salary until they die. The city realized that was unsustainable in 2011 and introduced another benefit tier for new hires. Employees hired after the reform were promised a pension of 60 percent of their highest salary, assuming they work 30 years and retire at 60. Then, in 2013, then-Gov. Jerry Brown introduced another pension tier that had public workers earn that same 60 percent of salary pension benefit that Chula Vista introduced in 2011, but with the caveat that workers dont earn the benefit until they retire at 62 instead of 60. While the reforms will help in the long-term, Chula Vista is still on the hook for the promises it made in the 1990s. Every retiree and a majority of current employees receive the most generous package. That means it will take decades for the new pension packages to have a significant impact on the citys finances. It will be 20 years before you see this cosmic shift in a significant reduction in current costs because then the tier ones will mostly be gone, Bilby said. HOW DO RECENT TAX MEASURE FACTOR IN? Chula Vista voters approved three different sales tax measures since 2016. The first two, Measure P and Measure A, were to pay for increases to services. The latest one, Measure Q, is a special tax on marijuana businesses and revenues have not been allocated to specific purposes. Measure P revenues do not pay for pension costs. That measure was passed to complete infrastructure projects that had previously been neglected. It is a direct result to staff cuts made after the 2008 recession. Most of the work is being done by contractors, not employees who get benefits; therefore, it does not add to the citys pension liabilities. Measure A revenues will be used to cover pension costs of police officers and firefighters hired with money from the tax measure. However, the amount of Measure A revenues being spent on pensions is proportionate to the number of employees hired with Measure A money. Measure Q, a sales tax measure on the citys new marijuana industry, is a different story. The city was careful not to promise those tax revenues for specific purposes. The finance directors hope is that some of those revenues will be spent on pension costs. Its not a silver bullet, but its certainly going to be a revenue stream someday that we can hopefully dedicate to pension costs and ensuring we have service levels in public safety, Bilby said. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has been shrinking fast due to climate change and global warming, leaving only less than half the area than it did in the 1980s. Due to the thinning sea ice in the region, many scientists pondered whether the year-round sea ice would still be around in the future and what would happen to the animals that rely on it. According to Phys.org, a study led by researchers from Columbia University's Earth Institute addresses the question, revealing that the 1 million square kilometers region north of Greenland and the Canadian coasts will likely be the most resilient. They call this the Last Ice Area, where the summer sea ice will likely make the last stand. The Ecosystem in the Arctic Ocean Summer Ice Scientists have pondered the fate of Arctic sea ice as global warming and climate change worsen. But looking back to its history, Fuetitech reported that most of the Arctic Ocean's surface freezes, and scientists predict that even with climate change, it will still freeze. But in the summer season, melting will occur, and open waters will appear. This will help the wind and currents carry floating ice at great distances, such as from North Atlantic to Greenland, Norway, and in Canadian islands. Repeated inflows of ice can build layers and pressure ridges as high as 10 meters in this region. It will most likely last for more than a decade and will result in a rich marine ecosystem. This is where photosynthetic diatoms bloom, feeding tiny animals living near the fish that feed on them as well. Then seals and polar bears would eat these fish. However, scientists predicted that this ecosystem would slowly disappear by mid-century as the multi-layered ice will become history and form the Last Ice Area that is only a meter thick. But if higher emissions continue by 2100, ice-dependent ecosystems will most likely vanish. ALSO READ: Global Methane Pact of Two Dozen Countries Pledge to Reduce Emissions by 30% by 2030 to Combat Climate Change Arctic Ocean's Last Ice Area Will Disappear by 2100 In the study titled "Defining the "Ice Shed" of the Arctic Ocean's Last Ice Area and Its Future Evolution," published in the journal Earth's Future, researchers showed an optimistic and pessimistic view on what will happen when sea ice melts. Phys.org reported that an optimistic view suggests that some summer sea ice could stay indefinitely if carbon emissions are reduced by 2050. However, the pessimistic view showed that summer sea ice would likely not survive the end of the century along with the ice-dependent creatures if emissions continue to rise. Researchers predict that if the year-round sea ice disappears and the entire ice-dependent ecosystem collapses, something new will also begin. Arctic Ocean's Last Ice Area World Wide Fund for Nature shared a map of the sea ice on the Arctic Ocean as projected for 2040 and beyond. The map shows a view from the north pole, demonstrating how the Arctic's summer sea ice moves and changes. The Last Ice Area is focused on which the map predicted that it would be the only remaining part where ice will be seen. It is located in Northeast Canada and Northern Greenland when the summer sea ice is gone. The organization encourages everyone to safeguard this globally significant region as the last refuge for creatures that live on it, such as seals and polar bears, as the world warms. RELATED ARTICLE: Extreme Melting of Arctic Permafrost May Free Trapped Ancient Viruses, Radioactive Waves Check out more news and information on Climate Change in Science Times. While many magazines and websites have shied away from the idea of best restaurant lists during the COVID era, The New York Times went with just a light reframing, calling its 2021 list "The 50 places were most excited about right now." Seattle put up an outsized showing, with three local restaurants included in the list Hillman Citys Filipino tiny fine-dining destination, Archipelago, Queen Annes casual modern Korean spot Paju, and Kristi Browns much-acclaimed Communion in the Central District. Only one city garnered more spots on the list New York though both Philadelphia and San Francisco equaled Seattles total. Portland tailed just behind with two spots: Thai-Texas barbecue spot Eem and quintessential neighborhood restaurant Coquine. The list is not limited to brand-new spots Coquine opened in 2015, and New Orleanss Brigtsens in 1986 all three of the Seattle spots opened in the last two years. The choices give a distinct glimpse at the quantity and direction of growth in the Seattle restaurant scene. The New York Times sent a variety of editors and reporters out to cover the story and Los Angeles-based restaurant critic, Tejal Rao, wrote up all three of the Seattle spots though one of the packages editors, Brian Gallagher, is a former Seattle resident. Rao praised how Archipelago [told] complicated, expansive stories about the Pacific Northwest and the many ways that Filipino immigrants have shaped it, using words, pictures and even some unexpected dance moves behind the pass. At Communion, she found the vibes "warm and welcoming," and declared that chef Brown "Doesnt miss." After dismissing the dining room at Paju as plain, she declared chef Bill Soo Jeongs modern Korean dishes elegant and expressive. All three restaurants already sported mile-long waitlists for very limited seats, and this likely just made those reservations even harder to get. Thankfully, the strong showing on The New York Times' list indicates that much more of the local dining scene sits just behind these big three. But you'll have to get out and find them yourself before everyone else does. Thank you for reading! You have reached your 30-day limit of free access to SentinelSource.com, The Keene Sentinels website. If you would like to read two more articles for free at this time, please register for an account by clicking the sign up button below. We hope you find The Sentinels coverage of the Monadnock Region valuable. We rely on our subscribers to bring you strong local journalism and hope you will consider supporting our work by taking advantage of this special subscription offer here. This article is being shared by a partner in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org. Twenty-eight years after surviving a mass shooting at the 101 California St. office building, Alan Hinman still felt panic well up when he arrived in San Francisco Tuesday morning. I fight PTSD, in fact, even just sitting here, Hinman said, sitting in a circle with six other crime victims, several advocates and two top prosecutors who gathered that day at the office of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Speaking in measured tones, occasionally pausing to wipe their eyes, the survivors told Boudin and Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton how traumatic moments of violence reshaped their lives. They described persistent anxiety, wrecked marriages, difficulty keeping jobs, endless phone conversations with representatives of persnickety bureaucracies, eating disorders, insomnia and, above all, the aggravating sense that no one seemed to be listening. While the speakers did not present a concrete set of policy objectives, most had the same message: Victims need a complex array of ongoing services, and right now, the states criminal legal system is failing to deliver them. The event organized by the nonprofit Prosecutors Alliance of California a coalition of progressive district attorneys working to steer away from mass incarceration came at a moment of shifting political winds in California. After a string of high-profile election victories by reform-minded district attorneys and a year of protests highlighting racial injustice in law enforcement, prosecutors in many counties are now under pressure to crack down on crime. Boudin, in particular, has emerged as a polarizing figure, beloved by people who share his vision of compassionate sentencing and diversion programs, but intensely criticized by residents who see him as too lenient and indifferent to crime victims. Sitting on the sidelines are crime survivors whose stories and voices often get co-opted by one side or the other a problem that several of them noted on Tuesday. Were not a monolith, Tinisch Hollins said. A San Francisco resident and executive director of the nonprofit Californians for Safety and Justice, she lost two brothers to gun violence, in 2013 and 2017. Hollins said that she has also experienced other forms of abuse and that her family has never recovered from grief. On Aug. 16, a third brother died, and investigators found that he had likely taken his own life, Hollins said. The survivors, who spoke for two hours in the courtyard of Boudins Potrero Hill office, hailed from diverse backgrounds and relayed starkly different experiences, though their stories had common themes: Each person had at one point wound up in a bureaucratic purgatory, unable to get compensation or struggling with a finicky insurance company, or having to fill out mountains of forms. And each one was still weathering the aftereffects of the crime, whether it happened last year or decades ago. Boudin said he was struck by these parallels. One of the things that was really telling was how common their experience was, regardless of what year, regardless of what county or district attorney or police chief their needs are not being met, Boudin told The Chronicle. We as a criminal justice system have to start remembering that victims are more than pieces of evidence. They are real people with real harm that lasts well beyond the conclusion of any particular criminal case or police investigation. His proposed solution: investment in support services, perhaps funded by savings gleaned from reducing the jail states population. Of the seven survivors who convened Tuesday, two had witnessed mass shootings, three had seen family members slain, one had suffered sexual assault during childhood and another endured a traumatic brain injury after an assailant struck her with the butt of a pistol. Jenifer Redmond of Sacramento arrived with a small stack of flyers detailing the killing of her 19-year-old daughter, Sarayah Jade Redmond, on Sept. 25 of last year. Sarayah had been visiting a friend at the Creek apartment complex off West El Camino Avenue and Stonecreek Drive in Sacramento when someone sprayed gunfire through the window. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. No one has yet to be apprehended and held accountable for taking her life, the flyers said, beneath a collage of photographs of Sarayah. Redmond said she began feeling desperate once her daughters story faded from the news media, realizing that if she wanted the crime solved, she might have to do the legwork herself. Its my job to help other mothers, other fathers, other siblings that get forgotten, she said Tuesday, her voice trembling. Becton said that like Boudin, she came away from the conversation realizing the need for more robust services. She observed, moreover, that the survivors did not seem single-mindedly bent on punishing their perpetrators. Although one of the speakers, Norma Marquez, said she was grateful to have her ex-partner jailed for a week after a domestic violence incident allowing her time to seek a restraining order others said they would like to see alternatives to incarceration, even for acts of violence. I ... am very aware that stories like mine, of a young white woman walking around, getting attacked randomly ... are often weaponized to extend police services, Lucy Andrews, the victim of the pistol-whipping in Oakland, said of her experience. And, she added, that is directly counter to my view of the world. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan UC Berkeleys Bancroft Library made a recent addition to its collection of Mark Twains writings: an 1861 letter that provides a glimpse into a little-known period of the authors life. Written when he was still known as Samuel Langhorne Clemens, a 25-year-old steamboat pilot traveling the Mississippi between New Orleans and St. Louis, the letter shows that even before he considered himself a writer and adopted his pen name he had a way with words. Its really beautifully written, said Benjamin Griffin, associate editor of the Mark Twain Papers & Project and and Twain scholar. in a drunken style that seems intentional. It shows that he has the avocation of a writer even if hes not officially a writer. The five-page letter to a friend, St. Louis journalist, George William Beaman also helps fill in a gap in Twains life, including his thoughts on the then-impending Civil War, Griffin said. The most significant thing about it is it helps to fill a gap in the documentary record, the autobiographical record of his life, Griffin said. Its an opportunity to see the man himself a snapshot. Twain refers to the Civil War in the Jan. 27, 1861 letter from the start, in a heading mocking war reporting of the time: Latest from the Seat of War! Express from St. Mary street! No Lives Lost! Twain proceeds to describe his trip by carriage or horse railroad to the house where hes staying, and mentions the owners dog, named Secession, which he notes, is dead. Its not clear whether the comment is a political comment, Griffin said. We really dont know, he said. Its tantalizing. Mystery surrounds Twains feelings about the Civil War, Griffin said. Later in 1861, the Civil War gradually forced the steamboat business to slow to a stop and Twain returned home to Missouri. He joined a Confederate militia, but not the Confederate Army, then abandoned it after three weeks. He later moved to Nevada, where his brother, Orion, was the states first and only secretary of the Nevada Territory. Eventually, after adopting his pen name, he found his way to California. His stance on the Confederacy is ambiguous, Griffin said. He joined a militia, but he also deserted from it. The librarys Twain researchers first learned of the letter two years ago when an autograph collector sent four iPhone photos of the document and asked for help in verifying its authenticity for the descendants of Twains correspondent, George William Beaman, a St. Louis journalist who later became a noted Civil War correspondent. The researchers excitedly verified the authenticity and expressed interest in it but heard nothing until it was put up for auction recently. The Mark Twain Project submitted the winning bid of $17,000, and as of Oct. 1, the letter resides in a climate-controlled vault inside the Bancroft Library. The money to buy the letter was donated by a library benefactor. Robert Hirst, general editor of the project, feared the letter would sell for more but it pleased him that its in the hands of the library, where its available to the public. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. If it goes to a collector, our chances of being able to see it go down, he said, but now that its owned by the library, Anyone who wants to can come and see it (by appointment). We are as open as we can be. Scholars believe that Twain penned as many as 50,000 letters. The UC Berkeley collection includes 3,000 written by Twain and another 17,000 written to him or his family. What makes the recently acquired letter special, Griffin said, is that no one knew it existed or what it it would reveal. The letter is significant in reminding us that we dont know everything about Mark Twain, he said. So much of this great writer has not survived. Its humbling to know how much we dont know. Everyone has a picture of Mark Twain in their minds. But he was a complex human being. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan On a crisp night in February, a caravan of cars and trucks tore through San Jose, following a cryptic set of directions posted on Instagram, police said. The participants stopped at the corner of Hamilton and Leigh avenues and formed a circle around the intersection. In the center an area that police call the pit drivers took turns spinning doughnuts and figure eights, tires squealing on the asphalt. Spectators fired guns as smoke from burnt rubber fogged the air, the cars careening in every direction. When police swept the area the next morning Feb. 14 they picked up 100 shell casings. It was one of five sideshows that took place in San Jose that night, all corresponding to addresses posted by a single Instagram handle. In San Jose and cities across the Bay Area, the trend had such volcanic intensity that authorities were confounded, unsure whether to hand out citations, or put barriers in roads, or muzzle the organizers on social media. During the pandemic it really became a much bigger issue, San Jose Council Member Dev Davis said of these improvised car stunt demonstrations, a longstanding Bay Area tradition that grew out of old-school cruising culture, but has been remolded by the internet. These spectacles may have been cathartic for teenagers cooped up during the pandemic, Davis ventured, but for neighborhoods and law enforcement, they are a burden. Most police departments lack the resources to contain sideshows, let alone track down license plates and link them to drivers, making prosecutions both rare and challenging. While Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law this month allowing a six-month drivers license suspension for people convicted of street racing, cities are enacting a dizzying array of policies and ordinances of their own. As sideshows exploded, political leaders struggled to balance demands from angry residents, police weary of playing cat-and-mouse with crowds that scatter quickly and advocates who object to heavy enforcement, or who view sideshows as a noteworthy cultural scene. Overwhelmingly, cities are taking a hard line. The message has been Stay out of San Jose, City Council Member Maya Esparza said. She has sponsored two ordinances, in 2019 and this year, to discourage sideshows and street racing. Philip Pacheco/The Chronicle From May 2020 through February this year, San Jose police fielded about 460 calls for service related to these events, according to police statistics compiled Esparzas office. This year, Oaklands police dispatch received 960 such calls. Richmond police reported 122 sideshows last year and 82 so far this year, while the San Francisco Police Departments stunt-driving response unit logged 41 vehicle citations, 37 towed cars and 16 30-day holds through the end of last month, with 21 active cases pending more information or a judges signature. All but three of those motorists hailed from outside the city. Its large groups of individuals from outside coming here, said San Franciscos acting deputy police chief, Daniel Perea, noting that cars swarm in from as far away as Los Angeles and bounce from city to city, forcing leaders to treat sideshows as a regional issue. Perea said he doesnt know what is fueling this years increase but that the persistent warm weather could be a factor. In Oakland, residents and politicians urged Newsom to send in the California Highway Patrol, largely to help manage sideshows and other dangerous driving. Kathleen Heafey, a resident of the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood above Interstate 580, described convoys of 30 to 40 cars that would blast up from the freeway, blowing through stop signs until they reached the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Keller Avenue. From January through the end of September, police reported 31 sideshows on that patch of road. You could hear the gun activity, Heafey said. There were always (shell) casings in the intersection. During the summer, the city came up with a deterrent: posts and bumps to narrow the road. Since they went up, the nights have been quieter, Heafey said. San Jose began ratcheting up its sideshow enforcement in 2019, with an ordinance that made it illegal to watch a sideshow. Spectators could face misdemeanor charges with fines of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, an idea that Fairfield replicated this month, and that some city leaders are contemplating in Richmond. In June, San Jose began targeting sideshow organizers, with a new ordinance that made it illegal to promote them online. The law passed its first test on Sept. 30, when a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge granted the citys request for a preliminary injunction against four defendants accused of advertising sideshows on Instagram. An attorney for one of the defendants viewed the injunctions as trampling on free speech and the right to association. Its overbroad, attorney Timothy Burke said, contending that the city had scant evidence against his client, Luis Felipe Garcia, whom police said posted at least one promotional video for a gathering on West Capitol Expressway, under the Instagram handle SJBoss. When officers arrived, they found at least 100 cars and Garcia wearing an SJBoss T-shirt. He admitted the shirt referred to his Instagram account, Sgt. Brian Winco wrote in a court affidavit. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Some cities are supplementing enforcement with softer forms of prevention, largely in the form of road redesign: traffic circles, bumps and bollards that can be put up or taken down quickly. In the Evergreen neighborhood of San Jose, some residents got so desperate that they built their own roundabout in a popular location for street racing. City crews recently tore it down and erected a new one. Businesses are installing their own barriers. On a recent Saturday night, Richmond officer and police union president Benjamin Therriault drove his patrol vehicle to the end of Canal Boulevard and found a new padlocked gate blocking the waterfront parking lot. Shining his flashlight, Therriault saw big, looping tire marks on the pavement, a telltale sign that stunt drivers had been there. But if a new road impediment slows down these drivers, its not enough to stop them altogether. So, some people are pressing a bold idea that officials have contemplated for decades, but never seriously pursued: putting sideshows in legal venues. Sideshow enthusiast Sean Kennedy said he tried to pitch that concept several years ago, as a member of Oaklands Cultural Affairs Commission, but that he met resistance from political leaders. Richmond City Council Member Eduardo Martinez discussed the possibility of legalizing sideshows during a Council meeting in July, but the concept has apparently not advanced. Kennedy and another sideshow aficionado, Oakland filmmaker Yakpasua Zazaboi, view sanctioned sideshow events as a potential outlet for drivers with near-acrobatic skills at the wheel, or self-taught mechanics who can build their own high-powered engines. Both men also remember an era during the 1980s and 90s in Oakland, when sideshows were more of a performance art, than made-for-YouTube extreme sport. People came to flaunt their old-school Mustangs, Cougars, Cutlasses, or Oaklands beloved icon, the 1980s box Chevrolet Caprice. Legitimizing these gatherings could do what the X Games did for skateboarding, Zazaboi said. Theres some drivers, it looks like theyre sliding around on ice, and they have total control of the car, Kennedy said, arguing that if cities were more creative, they could cultivate these drivers skills. Instead, he said, they criminalize it. Others doubt that sideshow participants would willingly switch to a legal arena. Anything thats too convenient I just dont think it would have the same attractiveness as stopping traffic and seeing people get angry, Sequoyah Hills Homeowners Association President Sandra Bethune said. Thats part of the thrill, I think. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan Mark Winema / Getty Images/Mark Wineman / Getty Images A man whose sleeping bag was allegedly set on fire while he was sleeping in it Friday morning died the next day, San Francisco police said. Police responded to a reported aggravated assault with fire in the area of 25th Street and South Van Ness Avenue at about 5 a.m. Friday and found a 43-year-old man who said he woke up to find his sleeping bag aflame, according to a police news release. Journalists in California will be allowed to cover protests without police interference under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. State law now allows reporters and photographers to enter areas closed off to the public because of emergencies but does not apply to political demonstrations or rallies. That will change in January under SB98 by state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, which Newsom signed last week. Advocates of the measure said journalists in California and elsewhere have been assaulted by police while covering demonstrations. They cited an incident in May 2020 when Leonardo Castaneda, a San Jose Mercury News reporter, identified himself as a reporter but was detained, searched and had his hands zip-tied by San Francisco police while covering a protest against the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. In other incidents cited by supporters, a radio journalist in Long Beach was shot in the throat with a rubber bullet while covering a protest, and a reporter and photographer for the UCLA Daily Bruin was shot at with rubber bullets while wearing a press pass and a vest with press insignia, and carrying three cameras. We have seen a surge in egregious acts of violence and obstruction made against members of the press, McGuire said in a statement. This law will provide critical protections for the press as they attend and report on First Amendment events. The bill was opposed by organizations of police chiefs, sheriffs and officers, who said allowing the press nearly unfettered access to an emergency command post could disrupt law enforcement at large gatherings. But the measure passed both houses with substantial majorities, 29-5 in the state Senate and 50-18 in the Assembly. It would not protect journalists from prosecution for any crimes they might commit during a demonstration, but prohibits officers from citing them for failing to disperse, violating curfew or resisting arrest for legally protected activities. Journalists who are detained at protests will be allowed to contact an officers supervisor. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The bill could have gone further by penalizing officers who violate its provisions, said Richard Knee, who heads the Legislative and Political Committee of the Pacific Media Workers Guild. But he said those officers may be subject to lawsuits by reporters. Journalists put themselves in harms way as a matter of routine when they cover things like protests and demonstrations, said the Guilds president, freelance reporter Derek Moore. They should not have to fear on top of that being assaulted or arrested by law enforcement. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko A fire that swept through a delta-area RV park in unincorporated Sacramento County has destroyed more than 40 structures, authorities said Tuesday. Forward progress of the blaze was stopped by Tuesday afternoon, after it had scorched 40 acres, said Hugh Henderson, deputy fire chief for River Delta Fire District. The fire was 70% contained Tuesday afternoon, he said. Photos of the aftermath showed blackened rubble and metal covering the ground of the RV park. The Red Cross was assisting residents of 21 households whose homes were among the 40 destroyed structures, said spokesperson Stephen Walsh. The vegetation fire started near the Rancho Marina RV Park along Brannan Island Road in unincorporated Isleton, a Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta community in southern Sacramento County, officials said. It was first reported shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, when strong winds between 25 mph and 30 mph blew flames into the RV park, Henderson said. The confluence of strong winds and low humidity caused the fire to rapidly spread into structures within the park making firefighting efforts extremely difficult, fire officials said Monday in a Facebook post. Twenty-five mobile homes, 16 RVs and a park building were destroyed, county officials said. Twenty structures were still threatened late Tuesday. Were feeling a lot better than we did last night, Henderson told The Chronicle on Tuesday afternoon. The winds seem like theyre starting to slow down a little bit, and crews are doing a great job on the hot spots. Cal Fire aircraft helped extinguish flames in areas that were difficult for firefighters to access, officials said. A video on the Fire Districts Facebook page shows a Cal Fire plane dropping red fire retardant on a cluster of orange flames as black smoke rose from a field. Authorities expected to get full containment of the blaze Tuesday night, barring a change in condition. Some 60 firefighters and other personnel were fighting the fire and working to protect threatened structures, county officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries have been reported, fire officials said. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California The RV park remained under a mandatory evacuation order because the area is an active fire scene, Henderson said. Several residents of the RV park were displaced. In Napa County, the Newell Fire, which sparked Monday in American Canyon, was 100% contained Tuesday, Cal Fire officials said. The blaze burned 132 acres. Firefighters were expected to monitor the area for any hot spots. The Napa County sheriffs department said deputies detained a 26-year-old man in connection with the Newell Fire after he was found near a car that was on fire. The car was reported to be stolen, and the man had sustained burns, authorities said. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez In another alarming measure of Californias historic drought, the summer months this year were the states driest on record since 1895, when data-gathering for the governments standard drought index began. The monthly average dryness for July, August and September 2021 was -6.8 on the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which indicates extreme drought. Anything below -4.0 on the Palmer scale is considered extreme drought. A year with normal precipitation would fall between -0.49 and 0.49 on the scale, and an extremely wet year would land above 4.0. The Palmer Index, the most widely used index in the United States for drought monitoring and research, looks at a number of factors together precipitation, temperature and the amount of water available in soil to monitor drought. The idea is to measure moisture inflow, outflow and storage, according to the National Center for Drought Mitigation. The last time California had a wet mid- to late-summer season was 2011, when the dryness level was at a 2.4 moderately wet on the scale. By 2015, the number had dropped to -6.3. Since then, only 2019 had near normal dryness for July, August and September, hitting -0.2 on the index. For Californias last drought, a state of emergency was in place statewide from 2014 to 2017. So far this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a drought emergency for 50 of Californias 58 counties, including eight in the Bay Area. The Bay Area also received a little more than a third of normal precipitation from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021 a time frame known as the water year according to data from the National Weather Service. Precipitation on this scale has been below normal for San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Clara for half or more of the past six years and the most recent was the worst. The effects of the drought can already be seen throughout the Bay Area and Northern California this week at Lake Tahoe, for example, the water level is expected to sink below the basins natural rim, or the point at which the lake pours into the Truckee River. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Parched land and vegetation are also a driving factor in why wildfires across the state are exploding so quickly. Another year with a particularly dry late-summer season was 1924, according to the index. California experienced a two-decade dry period in the 1920s and 1930s, according to the California Department of Water Resources. The year 1924 was one of the driest ever in the state, according to the California Water Science Center. Danielle Echeverria and Yoohyun Jung are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com, yoohyun.jung@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev, @yoohyun_jung Firefighters rushed to douse a series of vegetation fires that erupted within an hour Wednesday morning in Santa Rosa, with an arrest made soon afterward. The first incident began at 6 a.m., when crews arrived at Guerneville Road just east of Ridley Avenue and extinguished a 5-foot-by-20-foot blaze, according to a news release from the Santa Rosa Fire Department. About a half-hour later, officials received reports of burning debris near Guerneville Road and Lance Drive, and minutes later got a report of another fire along the creek at Herbert Street and Jennings Avenue. Police officers were also dispatched to the area, the release said. Shortly before 7 a.m., a fire investigator discovered a fourth fire, with vegetation and debris burning along the train tracks at Central Avenue and Carrillo Street, according to the release. All the fires were extinguished, and no injuries or damage to buildings were reported. According to officials, a witness provided a description of a potential suspect who was found by fire investigators, and the person was taken into custody by the Santa Rosa Police Department. An investigation is ongoing, the release said. The incident followed several suspected recent arsons as California is experiencing severe drought and an active wildfire season that has produced one of the largest wildfires in state history. In September, a man was arrested in Santa Rosa on suspicion of intentionally lighting a field on fire near a shopping mall. Also last month, a Palo Alto woman was charged with starting the Fawn Fire in Shasta County, which charred more than 8,500 acres and destroyed 185 structures before it was contained early this month, according to Cal Fire. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. This story was updated Oct. 14 to correct the details of a September arrest in Santa Rosa: It was related to a fire in a field near a shopping mall. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang The longtime Original Joes family of restaurants is growing, with two San Francisco additions: an Italian spin-off in the Marina and a Mexican restaurant in West Portal. Co-owners and siblings John and Elena Duggan are bringing Little Original Joes to 2301 Chestnut St., a large, prominent corner space on the restaurant-filled Marina corridor. Elenas, their first-ever Mexican restaurant, is headed to 255 West Portal Ave. Both restaurants will open in late 2022. The Marina restaurant will be what they originally planned for the first Little Original Joes, which opened in West Portal last December. They had envisioned Little Joes Pizza, Pasta, Parmigiana, a spin-off with Original Joes hit dishes, plus pizza. But because of the pandemic, this morphed into an Italian market that served takeout food, with no dine-in service. The 3,600-square-foot Chestnut Street spot will be a full-service restaurant with a bar, outdoor dining and takeout. It will serve familiar Little Original Joes fare, like chicken parmesan, housemade ravioli and pizzas topped with spicy soppressata, plus new dishes that arent on the West Portal menu. The owners envision the Marina restaurant as an all-day destination open for lunch, dinner and brunch on weekends. While Original Joes has been known for decades for its hearty Italian comfort food, Elenas will celebrate the Mexican heritage of Elena Duggans two oldest daughters, who have been asking their mother to open a Mexican restaurant for years. The casual spot will serve classic Mexican American fare, Elena Duggan said, like tacos, tostadas and enchiladas. The menu will take inspiration from the time her daughters have spent visiting their fathers side of the family in San Bartolo Morelos, Mexico, just outside of Mexico City. There will also be an emphasis on seafood, with crudos and ceviche. Elenas will also have brunch on weekends and a bar serving Mexican twists on classic cocktails. John Storey/Special to The Chronicle 2016 The location is personal for the Duggans, who grew up in West Portal and still live there. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Theres a need for a full-service Mexican restaurant in that community, done with integrity and a strong dash of fun, John Duggan said. Our goal is to provide that. Original Joes first opened in San Francisco in 1937. After a fire shuttered the flagship location in 2007, the restaurant moved to North Beach in 2012. John and Marie Duggan took it over in the 1980s and eventually passed the restaurant to their children, John and Elena. Both the Original Joes in North Beach and a newer Daly City location are Bay Area staples, frequented by locals as much as people visiting San Francisco. Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany The owner of Oaklands Hi Felicia Supper Club is doing something she said she never would: Moving her unconventional, wildly in-demand and slightly illegal fine-dining pop-up into a permanent home. Imana, who goes by her first name only, is opening her first restaurant at 1726 Seventh St. in West Oakland next year, she announced on Instagram. (She has not officially signed the lease but intends to.) Hi Felicia will serve a $250, seven-course tasting menu at 12 tables on the ground floor, while a mezzanine floor will be home to Sluts, a more casual wine and vermouth bar. She hopes to open by February or March. The Hi Felicia menu changes often, and Imana describes the food as market-driven Mexican fare with Japanese and Spanish influences. The handwritten menu might include dishes like rabbit smothered in mole negro or a smoked scallop ceviche, paired with wines. The pop-up dinners have taken place at eight tables set up on the deck of Imanas home, and have grown enormously popular during the pop-ups 9-month life. Imana debuted Hi Felicia after months-long stints at Leos Oyster Bar, Coi and Californios and other high-end Bay Area restaurants. Reservations, which Imana releases on Instagram and keeps track of in a notebook, are sold out through the end of the year. Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame has dined there. The pop-ups $225 price tag might be competitive with fine-dining establishments, but Imana has always aimed to make it scrappy and approachable, she said. There are no white tablecloths or staff wearing matching uniforms. Imana, a Black, queer woman, wants to create a more inclusive, diverse industry, she said. Fine dining is very white, and we are not that, she said. Im a little grungier and little more loose and very vulgar. ... I have the word sluts tattooed on my hand. Im not what fine dining taught me to be, no matter what Michelin-starred restaurants I worked at. Courtesy Hi Felicia Supper Club Despite finding a permanent space, Imana says the brick-and-mortar Hi Felicia will stay true to its scrappy roots. She never wants to serve more than 12 tables, to ensure its an intimate experience. The style of food will remain the same. Imana doesnt plan to put any signage outside the restaurant, which will be under a highway overpass. Were always going to be the underdogs in this fine dining community, she said. Although its not in my home anymore and it wont be illegal, it will always have an edge and a charm that I dont think anyone else can replicate. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The upstairs wine bar will be open only two days a week, likely Monday and Tuesday to be accessible for restaurant staff, who usually work weekends and are off those days. Sluts will serve wine, vermouth, tacos and tapas. She hasnt decided how the wine bar will function: It might be cash only, and Imana might post to Instagram that the bars 15 tables are free on any given night and see who shows up first. A GoFundMe campaign she launched in September to raise money for the new restaurant has raised $10,000 toward a $50,000 goal. More for you Many Bay Area chefs saw pop-ups as a pit stop. The pandemic changed that Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany Even as COVID case rates decline in California, health experts cautioned the hard times may not be over. When San Francisco and Marin County loosen mask mandates on Friday, fully vaccinated people in some public spaces will face new decisions. Californias higher-education systems differed vastly in terms of how the coronavirus pandemic affected undergraduate enrollment. San Francisco schools have lost 3,499 students in the past two years, a drop in enrollment that could mean a $35 million hit in state funding. Resources on COVID-19 and Californias reopening: For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check The Chronicles Coronavirus Tracker. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter. Latest updates: No link between Sonoma teen's death and COVID-19 vaccine: The death of a 15-year-old Santa Rosa boy who died within 48 hours after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in June is unrelated to getting the shot, Sonoma County officials said Wednesday during a COVID-19 briefing. After an investigation by the county health department and officials from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was determined that the boy died from a heart attack. "The only correlation between the vaccination and the death was the timing," said Paul Gullixson, the county's communications manager, emphasizing that the vaccines are safe and effective. "This was a very rare and tragic and complicated case." Marin becomes only California county to fall to moderate transmission: While the rest of the Bay Area remains at substantial or high levels of coronavirus transmission, Marin County has fallen to the yellow, or moderate tier of transmission, according to the CDC. Most of California as a whole remains in the high, or red tier. S.F. health officials urge residents to get flu shots: The San Francisco's Department of Public Health is asking city residents ages 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine, warning that the holiday season will bring the combined circulation of flu and the coronavirus. Vaccines are our best defense against COVID-19, and they are our best defense against influenza, said Dr. Grant Colfax, the city's health director. We urge every eligible San Franciscan to get vaccinated against both viruses so we have a healthier holiday season where we can be together safely. After all we have been through this past year and a half, we deserve it. United Airlines terminating 232 unvaccinated employees: 232 of the airline's 67,000 U.S. employees who have chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be terminated, CEO Scott Kirby told CBS Mornings. "I wish we would have gotten to 100% but out of our 67,000 US employees, there are 232 who haven't been vaccinated and they are going through the termination process now," Kirby said on Wednesday. He said 99.7% of United employees have been vaccinated ahead of the company's Oct. 25 deadline. Mixing and matching on boosters is effective for Johnson & Johnson recipients, study finds: People who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will receive increased protection from a supplemental dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, compared to a booster produced by Johnson & Johnson, according to a study published Wednesday by the National Institutes of Health. The report, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that mixing and matching vaccines is safe and effective in producing a strong antibody response. Those who received either of the two-shot mRNA vaccines will also benefit from a third dose. The findings of the report will be reviewed Friday by the Food and Drug Administrations advisory committee charged with recommending boosters. Only 25% of Marin County residents 65 and older who received the Pfizer vaccine have gotten boosters: Just 25% of Marin County residents 65 and older who are eligible for a Pfizer booster shot have gotten one, public health officer Dr. Matt Willis told county supervisors Tuesday. Health officials are urging older residents to get boosters because they are at higher risk for post-vaccination infection, and have set a goal to increase booster uptake in this group to 50% by Nov. 12. Currently, 77% of breakthrough hospitalizations in the county 20 out of 26 people are people over 65. This substantiates what weve seen nationally, that unique vulnerability based on age, Willis said. Southern California ports will double operations under Biden plan: As pandemic-related supply chain issues continue to cause bottlenecks at the world's ports, the Biden administration is stepping in to help alleviate some of the pressure. Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese met with operators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as representatives from Target, Walmart and Home Depot on Wednesday to help facilitate 24/7 operations, according to a White House memo. Participants discussed how the movement of cargo during less congested times will allow trucks to move more quickly on highways during less crowded nighttime hours, and truckers at the ports can drop off and pick up loads more quickly," it said. FDA stumped by incomplete Johnson & Johnson booster data: Scientists with the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that data submitted by the pharmaceutical company did not present clear evidence for the need of booster shots, or when recipients of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine need another dose two months or six months after receiving their initial dose. The FDA group said the company offered little information that showed its vaccine offered protection against the delta variant of the coronavirus, according to the Associated Press. An advisory panel will meet Thursday and Friday to decide whether to recommend booster doses of both the J&J and Moderna vaccines. During a roundtable of COVID experts on Tuesday hosted by the California health department, Dr. Kristian Andersen, an immunology expert with Scripps Research said J&J recipients should receive supplemental doses of an mRNA vaccine because they "provide stronger protection. Those are the ones we should use for boosters." Sacramento City Unified School District Board approves vaccine mandate for students and staff: The board on Tuesday voted to set a deadline for students and staff in the district to get vaccinated against COVID-19, KCRA reports. The move comes ahead of Gov. Gavin Newsom's statewide requirement, which will most likely go into effect July 1. Students ages 12 and older who are currently available for vaccination under the FDA's emergency authorization will need to show proof that they have received at least their first dose of vaccine before the start of the second semester. Teachers and administrators will need to get verify that they have received their shots by Nov. 30. COVID was the leading killer of police officers in the U.S. in 2020: At least 62% of law enforcement deaths in the line of duty in 2020 were from COVID-19, according to a report released Tuesday by the Fraternal Order of Police. As of Wednesday, there have been 731 virus deaths nationwide among officers since the start of the pandemic, with 60 of those lives lost in California. Those who died will be honored Thursday at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund annual candlelight vigil on the National Mall, which will be led by Attorney General Merck Garland. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. U.S. to open borders: The U.S. will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, the Associated Press reported, citing senior administration officials. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The new rules will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the U.S. regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel into the country. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the U.S., such as truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated. COVID is never going to go away, California scientist says, even as case numbers improve: Even as the rate of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues trending downward in California, health experts on Tuesday cautioned that the hard times may not be over. Read the full story here. California to launch more than 100 school vaccine clinics: The state will open more than 100 school-located vaccination clinics this fall in vulnerable neighborhoods, officials announced Tuesday. The clinics will offer shots to students and staff at K-8 schools in low socioeconomic zip codes, in an effort to increase access and lower illness-specific school absences. This is bringing vaccine to where people are, said state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan. Its so much more convenient to go where they are so no family has to be make a special trip to a clinic. The clinics will offer the COVID-19 vaccine, with some also offering the flu vaccine. Pan anticipated that all schoolchildren in California will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus by July 1. California testing out COVID-sniffing dogs in schools: The states health department recently received federal funding for a pilot program to introduce COVID-sniffing dogs into schools, starting this month. State epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan offered a sneak peek at the project during a meeting with other medical experts Tuesday and said more details would be announced shortly. Scientists say the coronavirus, like other diseases, has a distinct scent and several research centers across the U.S. have been working on training dogs to detect the presence of the disease. Contra Costa County considering mask-free sectors: When asked about San Francisco and Marin Countys plan to lift indoor masking Oct. 15 at gyms, indoor offices where everyone is vaccinated, Contra Costa County health officer Chris Farnitano said he was considering similar action for Contra Costa. Were reviewing it now and hope to make some announcement about that in the next week or so, he told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Southwest Airlines to comply with federal vaccine mandate, ignoring Gov. Abbots pushback: Southwest Airlines will comply with President Bidens mandate requiring vaccination against COVID-19 for its employees, despite the Texas governors executive order that blocks employers from issuing such rules. According to the presidents executive order, federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and we would be expected to comply with the presidents order to remain compliant as a federal contractor, the Dallas-based airline said in a statement. Contra Costa County supervisors label vaccine misinformation a public health crisis: Two county supervisors on Tuesday backed a resolution labeling COVID-19 misinformation as a public health crisis. It is incumbent on us to call it out, said Supervisor Karen Mitchoff during a board meeting. We are seeing it in our hospitalizations and our deaths. The misinformation out there is leading to some individuals choosing not to get vaccinated. Supervisor John Gioia, who codrafted the resolution, said that despite Contra Costa Countys high vaccination rate, misinformation is preventing the holdouts from getting their shots. Reaching the last 13% in our county to be vaccinated is a lot harder than the first 13%, Gioia said. He added, Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but they are not entitled to their own facts. States with colder climates see a rise in cases: Even though COVID-19 cases are on a downward trend nationally, handful of states with high vaccination rates saw coronavirus case rates rise over the past month and temperatures dropped. Youre starting to see an uptick in cases in the colder parts of the country and as people are driven indoors without masks on, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former director of the US Food and Drug Administration, told CNN on Monday. Among those states, Michigan recorded a 91% jump in new cases; Montana, 83%; Minnesota, 76%; New Hampshire, 54%; Vermont, 43%; and Colorado and Idaho, both 22%. Last week, I officially signed my soul away to Big Law. First-year associates at the nations biggest law firms now make more than $200,000. How could I say no? With $189,700 in debt from the pursuit of two graduate degrees staring me in the face, the idea of forgoing a six-figure salary to scale up my side hustle a nonprofit focused on the digital divide seemed crazy (especially to my parents, who have been kind enough to indulge my social consciousness by helping me chip away at my mountain of debt). Like so many other graduate students, my pursuit of advanced degrees was meant to multiply my ability to incite positive change. Early in my career, I served as an executive assistant to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, where I saw from behind her shoulder how much having a law degree can help you end up in the room where it happens. I later worked as a lobbyist for a small nonprofit focused on Oregons children and discovered my passion for championing investments in early childhood education and ensuring every child has access to clean air and water, and fast, reliable internet. It also became obvious to me that to make an impact on these issues, Id have to develop the skills and leverage the networks that the best grad schools are able to provide. So, I went to the schools that promised to empower my idealism: UC Berkeley School of Law and Harvard Kennedy School. There, I attended events with titles indicative of a planet with an expiration date on the imminent horizon: Climate Chaos: How to Mitigate the Worst Effects of Climate Change, Saving Democracy: The Threats to Democratic Stability Posed by Populism and Responding to Future Pandemics: COVID-19 Is the First of More Pandemics to Come. My friends and I attended these talks and left feeling ready to take drastic and immediate action. And yet, saddled by student debt, most of us are now looking for consulting or transactional legal work with the hope to make enough money to consider doing something meaningful down the road. Friends of mine at Stanford Law, meanwhile, entered school with the intent of closing the civil justice gap only to graduate with signed offer letters to work for (fill-in-the-blank) big law firm. It may be the case that I just have a group of uninspired and financially motivated friends, but I think the more likely reality is that the institutions capable of funding thousands of smart and passionate young people are hoovering our tuition dollars while placating our idealism in service of the status quo. Harvard has an endowment of nearly $42 billion, while Berkeley is sitting on almost $5 billion. The lack of urgency to use this money to empower graduates is rampant throughout similar academic institutions, all sitting on huge stores of human and financial capital while the world withers. These institutions could decide to help individuals focus less on their own financial well-being and more on helping solve the wicked problems confronting our communities. Outside of hosting endless lectures on various calamities, they could provide graduates with the financial security required to take career risks while shunning the likes of Deloitte (Big Consulting) and Kirkland & Ellis (Big Law). How many articles must be written on the size of the Harvards endowment before the administration decides to unleash the human capital within its ranks? The idea of subsidizing public service is not new. The Texas Education Association, for instance, specifies which educator roles are in short supply and offers to forgive student loans for those who fill those gaps. At the federal level, graduates can apply for debt forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by working for a local, state, federal or tribal government or a not-for-profit for 10 years. Its long past time that Harvard and its peer institutions scale and broaden this approach. Just as Exxon shifted the obligation to respond to climate change to consumers by making them think about their own carbon footprint, elite higher education institutions have offloaded their responsibility to help solve the worlds problems to graduates, while simultaneously suffocating them with debt. Podcasts, lectures and thought pieces wont diminish the severity of climate change nor the spread of populism. If the UC Berkeley School of Law, Harvard Kennedy School and institutions like them actually want students to lead change, then they must make it financially possible for them to do so. Absent such an investment in graduates, our earnest efforts to preserve democracy, fight inequality and stave off climate change will face an early demise, regardless of how impactful and necessary they may be. Kevin Frazier will graduate from the UC Berkeley School of Law and Harvard Kennedy School in May 2022. Outside of class, he runs a nonprofit, No One Left Offline, focused on closing the digital divide. The alarm clock rang far too early. The cold mist hung far too thick. Standing on the bleachers at Aquatic Park, shivering as I looked at the gray water I was about to plunge into, nothing about the morning seemed like a great idea. But as the pandemic drags on and each day feels a lot like the last one, its important to try new experiences including my first swim in the bay. And, thankfully, I had a very encouraging and reassuring tour guide in Bonnie Tsui, an avid surfer and swimmer whose book, Why We Swim, is the fall pick for the Chronicles Total SF Book Club in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library and Green Apple Books. Though I was a little reluctant to dive into the actual water, diving into Tsuis riveting book was easy. The 44-year-old Berkeley resident researched everything there is to learn about swimming, telling the captivating stories of everyone from an Icelandic fisherman who survived a six-hour swim to safety after his boat capsized to a Baghdad swim club that uses Saddam Husseins former palace pool. Of course, with San Francisco surrounded on three sides by water, much of Tsuis beautifully written, unusual look at swimming takes place here including the story of Kim Chambers who nearly lost her leg in a bad fall down stairs, but later became the first woman to swim from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge. Tsuis love for swimming feels as though its in her DNA. Her parents met at a swimming pool in Hong Kong and raised her on Long Island with frequent visits to Jones Beach. She enthusiastically told me and my Total SF partner, Chronicle pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub, about all the wonders of swimming in the bay for an episode of our podcast, Total SF. When you look around at these people crisscrossing the water even the guy on the stand up paddle board or the guy in the kayak or the people swimming with their dogs theres something about the water that calls us, she said. Just sitting here looking at it is restorative, she continued. It does something to our brains. It does something to our bodies. Its medicine you can take on a daily basis. Well, you cant say no to that. Even if it looks downright frigid. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2019 Ive been trying to say Yes to almost every social invitation that feels safe since the city started opening up again. And trying activities that arent in my usual routine makes the doldrums of this never-ending pandemic easier to take. I dont plan to board any airplanes until my kids are vaccinated, but if I have to be stuck somewhere, San Franciscos a great place to be. Total SF Chronicle columnist Heather Knight and pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub will chat with Bonnie Tsui, author of "Why We Swim," for the next Total SF bookclub gathering, 6 pm Nov. 17 at the Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. Or via Zoom. Register for either at sfpl.org/events. Hear Tsui describe her book and her love of bay swimming in this week's Total SF podcast episode. New episodes available every Friday wherever you get your podcasts. Knight and Hartlaub have also teamed up with the library for a Total SF film festival featuring free San Francisco movies at the Koret every Thursday at noon through October. This Thursday features "The Last Black Man in San Francisco." See More Collapse A recent weekend included roller-skating at the Church of Eight Wheels, riding the carousel at Golden Gate Park, shopping at the art warehouse SCRAP in the Bayview, having lunch in a parklet at the Old Skool Cafe as a band played on the sidewalk, seeing Shang-Chi at the Balboa Theater and watching a show at the citys premiere drag club, the Oasis. These were simply fun. Swimming in the bay seemed fun, too, but also a little scary and definitely very cold. The coldest part of the swim is right before you get in, Tsui assured us. Like a total wimp, I insisted on swimming in a wet suit even though the water temperature was a middling 65 degrees. Still, thats plenty cold for me. Tsui and Hartlaub braved the bay in just swim suits. After getting over the initial jolt of cold, we swam toward the Municipal Pier, taking in the gorgeous view: the Golden Gate Bridge to our left, the tall ships docked at the Hyde Street Pier to our right and Alcatraz up ahead. Seals and dogs splashed alongside us. Aquatic Park has long been popular for hearty swimmers who dont mind cold temperatures with regulars including Supervisor Aaron Peskin, novelist Andrew Sean Greer and his fellow writer, Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket. But its become popular with newbies during the pandemic as people longed for a safe way to exercise. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Many loyal bay swimmers belong to either the Dolphin Club or the South End Rowing Club, next-door neighbors with a longstanding rivalry and different philosophies. Apparently the main difference, according to Tsuis research, revolves around how much one believes in following rules. If the answer is not much, the South End Rowing Club is the place for you. Tsui doesnt belong to either club, spending more of her time surfing ocean waves. Pete Mulvihill and Kevin Ryan, co-owners of Green Apple Books, are not fans of rules so theyre South Enders. They joined us for our swim and provided very welcome shots of Jameson and cold brew on the bleachers afterward. The key to a good swim, Tsui said, is the ability to relax, and wed managed that despite the trepidation. Its not a race, she said. Its not about speed. Its not about time. Its about being out here in this incredible place and that feeling we had when we got in, which was a little bit of shock and thrill and awe and then coming out and feeling really exhilarated and proud of yourself. You earned your whiskey and cold brew, and you get to say to yourself forevermore you did that! she continued. Thats pretty fun. It sure was. And Id definitely try it again. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf A 47-year-old woman from Los Gatos, Calif., faces multiple charges for allegedly hosting high school parties where she served teenagers copious amounts of alcohol and encouraged sex acts that she sometimes watched, authorities said. Shannon OConnor, who is also known as Shannon Bruga and now lives in Idaho, allegedly "bought vodka and Fireball whiskey, provided condoms, and discouraged the teens from telling their parents about the parties or calling for help when one of them passed out in their own vomit," the statement of facts said. She allegedly lured teens to her house in the middle of the night over SnapChat and text, and warned them not to disclose the parties or she could go to jail, a press release from the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said. The parties held from 2020 to earlier this year were mainly attended by 14- and 15-year-olds, and it wasn't uncommon for teens to drink until the point of vomiting and passing out, the release reported. O'Connor was charged with 39 criminal counts, including felony child abuse, sexual assault, and providing alcohol to minors. She faces incarceration if she is convicted. It took a lot of brave children to come forward and to untangle this deeply disturbing case, Santa Clara District Attorney Rosen said in a statement. As a parent, Im shocked. As the DA, Im determined to hold those adults who endanger children fully accountable to the law and our community. OConnor faces additional felony fraud charges in a separate case for making more than $120,000 in unauthorized charges on a company card she was given as an administrative assistant for Aruba Networks, the district attorney said. A statement from the District Attorney's Office detailed several incidents at wild parties allegedly thrown by O'Connor at her home. At one party, she allegedly handed an underage teenager a condom and pushed him into a room with an intoxicated minor, and at another attended by about five 14-year-olds, the defendant watched and laughed as a drunk teen sexually battered a young girl in bed. The statement said she allowed a minor to drive her SUV in the Los Gatos High School parking lot while two other teens held on to the back. One fell off and was knocked unconscious, the District Attorney's Office said. Snakes on a plane? No, but there was definitely a movie-worthy amount of snakes living under a house in Santa Rosa, a city in California's Wine County 60 miles north of San Francisco. Al Wolf, director of Sonoma County Reptile Rescue, responded to a call Oct. 2 from a woman who said a snake den was under her home. Al Wolf On the first visit, Wolf found 59 newly born babies and 22 adults, as well as a dead cat and a dead possum. On two follow-up visits, Wolf wrangled 11 more adults. "I've been doing this 32 years," said Wolf, who runs the Sebastopol-based nonprofit offering wildlife rescue and relocation. "I get calls with snakes under the house pretty often. The most I've done under a house is four or five." Wolf noted that he has seen dens the size of the one under the Santa Rosa house in the wild, but never in an urban area. All the snakes were Northern Pacific rattlesnakes, the only venomous snake found in Northern California. Southern California has another seven species of venomous snakes, Wolf said. The Northern Pacific isn't aggressive unless provoked. When Wolf first went under the house, he quickly found seven snakes and returned to his car to get special gloves. Crawling on his hands and knees and even on his stomach at times, Wolf tipped over rocks and scanned the area for three hours and 40 minutes to retrieve all the snakes. "Exciting" is the word Wolf used to describe the situation and the moment when he first realized he was coming upon a big den. "You go under the first part of the house and there's storage and then it goes into the area that's tight and you have to crawl into it and you can smell the rattlesnake smell," he said. "It's the smell of their droppings. I got in, and I smelled that and it's like when you smell popcorn and you go 'Oh!' Right away, I knew I might have something special and I was hoping ... and occasionally your hopes come true." Al Wolf Wolf doesn't kill the snakes he retrieves from people's properties, and these were released overnight in areas where there are no people. He said he also often brings the snakes to ranches where the owners request them for pest control. The situation at the Santa Rosa home was unique as the house was built on top of a rocky area and access from the area under the foundation to the outdoors was left open, creating an environment snakes like. "This was obviously their den site," he said. "They had access to travel in and out and get food." Al Wolf Wolf was impressed by the homeowner, who he said was calm about the situation. "She told me, 'Now I know why I haven't had any rodents all these years,'" he said. Wolf plans to return to the house one more time this month and again in the spring. "This lady wasn't afraid of them," he said. "She doesn't mind having them there. There were just a couple too many." A San Francisco man died after his sleeping bag was set on fire early Saturday in the city's Mission District, police said Wednesday. The 43-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was asleep at the corner of 25th Street and South Van Ness Avenue on Friday. He awoke to find his sleeping bag in flames, officials said. The San Francisco Police Department responded to the report of an aggravated assault with fire at 5 a.m. Saturday. The victim sustained injuries to his lower extremities and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He passed away the next day. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner called the incident a homicide; an investigation is underway. The incident is an example of the extremely dangerous environment people who lack permanent housing face on San Francisco streets. Robert Rueca, an SFPD spokesperson, said the acts of violence committed against the city's vulnerable population are tragic. "We know they are a vulnerable community," Rueca said. "And the city is doing all they can to address not only the violence, [but also] provide people in the community the resources they need to improve the situation." People living outdoors are also often robbed when they are sleeping. "Obviously with theft, that's a different picture for someone who has all their belongings with them, for someone who doesn't have a lot to begin with," Rueca said. "It's that much more threatening to their ability to continue." Jennifer Friedenbach, director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said the incident was "really tragic" and could have been easily prevented if the victim had a home. "When an individual does not have a door to lock, they exist at the mercy of those around them, and are easy targets for violence - violence that often occurs when they are sleeping, violence that often goes unreported," Friedenbach said in a statement. "Adding to that lack of safety a home provides, far too often unhoused people experience hate based attacks as members of a class of people who are scapegoated, typecast and vilified for their impoverished status. Policy makers in SF sadly have for decades tapped into the fear many people feel around homelessness and use homeless people as a political wedge, furthering the dehumanization process and driving up violence against them. " Anyone with information on the incident can call the police department tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous. A city with this many hills was bound to struggle with its long-term vision. Every vista has the power to limit or expand our perspective of the city. It all depends on your angle. If you saw the city from behind the windshield of a car in 1948, the vision of the future was one filled with elevated expressways and quick arrivals. Thats when the aptly named Comprehensive Trafficways Plan proposed to inject San Francisco with a tangle of freeways. Freeway proponents saw the ever-expanding presence of the cement octopus as an inevitability, a concrete solution that would propel drivers to their destinations with the ease and immediacy that modern life required. These enthusiasts were convinced that their desire to arrive right now would benefit the communities underneath the freeway by removing traffic (i.e. themselves) from nearby streets. Yet in the 1960s and again in the 1990s, the proponents of right now were stopped. The Gum Tree Girls, whose fight to protect Glen Canyon went so far as to threaten to tie their children to the trees that stood in the way of the proposed freeway, were some of the first to successfully argue that the future of right here is more important than the urgency of right now. Much has been said about the Freeway Revolts, but the throughline between this series of events, which spanned 50 years from 1948 to 1998, is ordinary people fighting against the urgency of the present on behalf of the livability of the future. As the inheritors of the future those revolters fought for, it can be hard to imagine Glen Canyon or the Panhandle criss-crossed by freeways, but this reality was only averted through a series of razor-thin 6-5 votes at the Board of Supervisors. Modern politics is uniquely susceptible to the charms of right now, as power rests on the issues and alliances of yesterday, and long-range plans rarely fit within election cycles. Even so, its easy to wonder how nearly half of the citys Supervisors could ever be in favor of replacing the Panhandle with a freeway or rebuilding the Embarcadero freeway that separated the city from its waterfront. Still, it took a coalition of 77 organizations, 20,000 letters, and numerous editorials to convince our leaders that the San Francisco we enjoy today was worth saving that beautiful green space at the end of Golden Gate Park. Now, a new effort to separate San Franciscans from their parks and waterfront is underway. The siren song of right now calls to all those eager to shave a few minutes off of their commutes, earnest in their desire to please their loudest constituents, and dismissive of the dangers of prioritizing the convenience of today. Yet if the angle you see the city from is located above a stroller, behind a set of handlebars, or seated at a cafe table in what was recently a parking space, the vision for the future of the city is already coming into view. COVID has led to San Franciscos biggest streetscape changes in decades, as Slow Streets, Shared Spaces, and new pedestrian promenades along JFK Drive and the Great Highway have all revealed what tomorrows streets might look like. These new public spaces have found their own proponents, as neighbors artists, teachers, parents and small business owners discover the many opportunities our streets present when cars become visitors and people become the guest of honor. In the same spirit as the revolters of our past, San Franciscans are now building coalitions, creating art, writing songs, signing petitions, holding rallies, and engaging in civil disobedience. Theyve yet to threaten to tie their children to trees, but if our leaders continue to bow to the pressures of right now, theres little doubt that they will. We are no longer threatened by a sky blocked with concrete thoroughfares, but rather a sky increasingly filled with smoke, smog, and weather that intensifies with each passing season. If we want the next generation of San Franciscans to inherit a healthy planet, not to mention the same parks, burritos and gorgeous October days that we enjoy, we need to cut our emissions to zero before todays babies celebrate their 30th birthdays. Considering the task at hand, the efforts within any 49 square miles may be negligible, but these 49 square miles have an outsized influence. If we can make a sustainable urban future work here, we can change the angle for how others see their cities. Ken McLaughlin / Hearst Bay Area Despite our commitment to sustainability and the lip service we pay to being a transit-first city, its clear that our leaders' perspectives are still largely shaped from behind the wheel. These leaders often speak of a need for compromise, but when it comes to our streets, there are no more compromises left that dont compromise future generations. Our only path forward is to embrace a future that puts the movement of people over the movement of cars not just for sustainability, but for our commercial corridors, our kids and our social fabric. The magnitude of climate change necessitates a spaghetti-at-the-wall approach when it comes to finding solutions, and our streets are the best spaghetti bowl we have. Not only is our street grid a network that can readily absorb the multitude of iterative changes needed to create a truly livable city, but the exhaust from cars and trucks is our largest source of emissions. Its a truth that no politician wants to acknowledge given the growing pains it will require, but the future of San Francisco is one where it gets harder to drive yet easier, safer and more enjoyable to do just about everything else. During the pandemic, I became a father, so my angle has changed too. Suddenly the future is not off in the distance, but asleep in my arms. This transition has put me behind the wheel of a car more than ever before, which has made it clear how overblown the recent tales of gridlock are. My driving experience has been remarkably average, yet from behind a stroller the city can often feel treacherous. The Gum Tree Girls fought to protect Glen Canyon from this reality. My daughter will inherit what we fight for. If history is our guide, we shouldnt look to politicians to lead the way. They are usually a trailing indicator of a city determined to protect the wonder that is right here against the insatiability of right now. The revolt against right now is already underway though, and its visible in every San Franciscan giving up some of today to create a better tomorrow. The antidote to urgency is to go slow. Perhaps thats why some of our Slow Streets have a mind-boggling 90% approval rating. Its why the many mantras of slow keep getting repeated. Keep it slow. Go slo, yo. Slow is forever. The urgency of right now means going slow is an act of resistance. We cant all be heroes in this revolt who has the time for that? But each small act counts. Slowing down for five minutes to fill out the survey on the future of JFK Drive counts (only one minute if you use this voter guide). Even the 12 seconds it takes to click twice on a pre-populated email counts. Because those in power are often simply counting the revolters before choosing sides. Rest assured though, our heroes will show up. The revolt against right now is looking for more Scott Newhalls, the San Francisco Chronicle editor who gave the paper a decidedly anti-freeway stance. Itll find them, perhaps because its good for business, or simply because they love biking along the Great Walkway. The revolt against right now is looking for more Sue Biermans, the outspoken supervisor who helped convince her colleagues to save the Panhandle. Itll find them, perhaps as soon as a supervisor decides to put the quiet constituents of tomorrow their kids over the loudest ones of today. If the angle you view the City from is a historic one, you might one day find yourself sitting on a bench in Sue Bierman Park, staring at the Ferry Building from a place where a highway off-ramp once stood. The view makes it easy to realize that while the monuments of speed are temporary, the monuments of slow are forever. Luke Spray is a Cole Valley resident and the co-host of BFF.fm's Thursday morning wake-up show Roll Over Easy. Ohio might not be the first place that pops into your mind while planning a trip, but dont rule out the Buckeye State when it comes to driving excursions. The central and southern half of the state has two Rust Belt cities in full renaissance Columbus and Cincinnati each saturated with more than a days worth of sites and activities, plus food fare tied to their storied pasts. Columbus Columbus has a hip, young urban feel and is surrounded by art, a booming restaurant scene and plenty to do in the heart of this affordable city. Sitting outside, passing small plates while hearing the buzz of the citys nightlife on High Street, groups of friends walking by to grab cocktails and couples zipping past on electric scooters for a date night reflected a welcome youthfulness. Checking into BrewDogs Hotel, The DogHouse, 100 Gender Road, Canal Winchester Outside of Columbus is the world's first craft beer hotel. It stood out from all the other hotels in the area. As you walk up to the building, the smell of pub food hits you and the brightly colored art murals catch your eye. We were greeted with a check-in beer. The room overlooks the brewery. Theres a refrigerator near the shower stocked with beer and every night at 7 the hotel provides cookies and a stout thats included with your stay. Check out the attached Beer Museum to learn more about the process of creating beer and its history. Dining Del Mar Kitchen (705 N. High St., first floor) has delicious appetizers like the tender Peekytoe Crab and Burrata. The cocktails were flavorful and the dairy-free coconut sorbet was so creamy and slightly sweet, you didnt even miss the dairy. The Guild House (624 N. High St.) had a perfectly cooked rack of lamb served with a spinach puree, peas, wild mushrooms, local ramps, pearl onions, watermelon and molasses. The rock shrimp-stuffed poblanos and cheesy grits served with a runny yolk started off the meal. Save room for the sticky toffee sundae. The North Market (59 Spruce St.) is an absolute must. Check out Hoyos Kitchen for Somali food like spicy mango chicken rice bowl. Next to Hoyos is a Polish vendor serving juicy kielbasa sandwiches topped with tangy sauerkraut and mustard. Save room for Jenis ice cream options like the wild berry lavender in a homemade waffle cone. If youre not in the mood for ice cream, a hibiscus raspberry doughnut from Destination Donuts is chewy and dense. Activities Explore the street art throughout the city. Its free and always fascinating that somebody has the vision to create such a large image. Theres plenty of street art to discover throughout Columbus, particularly Summit and High streets. Shop along the line of boutiques full of accessories and clothing, flower shops and comic book stores. Head over to The Book Loft of German Village to grab a coffee and browse through the books, both old and new. If youre into vintage clothing, decor and jewelry, check out Flower Child. Grab a quick beer nearby at Seventh Son Brewing Co. before dinner. Otherworld (5819 Chantry Drive) is full of interactive art installations, including secret passageways or tunnels perfect for pictures. Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 OH-664, Logan If youre not in a hurry to get to Cincinnati, Hocking Hills State Park is about an hour south of Columbus. Ash Cave, one of the seven big trails in the park, is particularly worth it (especially if it recently rained, which feeds a waterfall within the cave). Cincinnati Disclaimer: *Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Please consult with your physiciam for any medical advise. (Ad) Medical alert systems are devices that offer seniors emergency help with the click of a button, as in the case of a fall or medical emergency. The best medical alert systems offer the independence that seniors desire while giving families the peace of mind they need, knowing that their loved ones can call for help if needed . The best medical alert systems offer a variety of helpful features, including GPS tracking, automatic fall detection, mobile apps, professional monitoring, and access to emergency services with the click of a button. However, choosing the best medical alert system for your needs is no easy task. There are dozens of life alert devices on the market today, each with their own unique features and benefits. To help you decide which medical alert system is right for you, we've reviewed the top life alert devices available. We evaluated each medical alert device on a variety of factors including battery life, equipment range, features, price, reputation, and monitoring. Here are our top picks for the best medical alert systems in 2021. Top 10 Best Medical Alert Systems for Seniors in 2021 #1. Medical Guardian: Best Overall At the top of our list of the best medical alert systems is Medical Guardian. Medical Guardian stands out for its premium features, furthest signal range, longest battery life, and best-in-class fall detection technology. This medical alert company has been around since 2005 and has been repeatedly ranked as one of the top medical alert systems on the market by many independent review sites. Whether you're looking for an on-the-go mobile system or an in-home system, Medical Guardian has you covered with 5 different device options to choose from. Device Options Classic Guardian: Starting at just $0.90 per day, Classic Guardian is one of the most cost-efficient medical alert devices in the industry. This in-home system includes a base station and a wearable help button that has a signal range of 1,300 feet. Classic Guardian requires a landline telephone to connect the base station to the U.S. based monitoring center. Home 2.0: Home 2.0 is Medical Guardian's high-end medical alert system designed for in-home use. This in-home system uses a 4G cellular connection instead of a landline, giving you the strongest-ever signal. This system comes with a base unit, wristband, and a necklace. Home 2.0 allows you to customize your system with add-ons such as wall buttons and fall detection. You can also add additional help buttons to your plan, allowing you to offer protection to a spouse or family member. Mobile Systems: Medical Guardian offers 3 different mobile medical alert devices to choose from. These mobile systems come with GPS and WiFi location technologies, offering the most advanced protection while on-the-go. Medical Guardian has a longer battery life than any mobile system on the market and comes equipped with fall detection technology. Medical Guardian's mobile devices come with a built-in, two-way speaker, allowing you to talk with a highly trained operator directly through the device. It's designed to be worn as a lanyard, giving you emergency help with the click of a button wherever you go. With Medical Guardians wide range of product options, you may be unsure which one is right for your needs. Thankfully, the company offers a product quiz that helps you find the perfect fit for your needs. Things We Like Most About Medical Guardian MyGuardian Customer Care Portal When you call for help with a Medical Guardian medical alert system, you can opt for Medical Guardian to contact anyone you have listed in your care circle through email or text, so that they are kept up to date. Optional Lockbox Add-On Medical Guardian also offers lockboxes to ensure that medical professionals can access your home when you need assistance. These simple, easy-to-install lockboxes utilize a four-digit code that responders can use to obtain a key to your home. The operator relays your code to first responders in the event of an emergency. Automatic Fall Detection Additionally, the company offers an optional fall detection add-on to maximize your protection with its medical alert technology. This fall detection device uses the best technology in the industry to identify when you have fallen and may be unable to press your alert button. Two-Way Voice Communication Medical Guardian devices feature clear, reliable two-way communication. As a result, you can feel confident that your operator will hear you during an emergency and that you will be able to understand their questions, as well. Long Battery Life Mobile devices also feature up to 168 hours of battery life on a single charge. With this battery life, you wont have to worry too much about recharging your device every day or not having access to battery power when you need it. Furthest Signal Range If you choose to purchase an in-home device, you will appreciate that Medical Guardians in-home unit features a signal range of up to 1,300 feet. This is the longest signal range in the medical alert industry. U.S. Based Monitoring Center You can trust Medical Guardians monitoring center to be available and reliable when you need it. The company operates a 100% U.S.-based monitoring center that offers nationwide coverage. Medical Guardian trains all its operators to dispatch emergency and non-emergency help, allowing them to be flexible and suit your specific needs when you call them. Altogether, Medical Guardian is a good medical alert company with the versatile features you need to feel protected living independently. Key Features: No contracts, no hidden fees, and free equipment Mobile devices and in-home systems available Top medical alert system for fall detection Longest battery life (up to 168 hours) Longest signal range in the industry (1,300 feet) Rated as the No.1 medical alert system by many review sites Two-way voice communication 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring Power-outage protection Waterproof pendants Click Here to Learn More About Medical Guardian #2. MobileHelp: Best Mobile Systems The best medical alert systems are reliable, easy to use, discrete, and high-tech. If youre looking for a system that checks all these boxes, you cant go wrong choosing MobileHelp. MobileHelp provides mobile personal emergency response systems to individuals in all 50 states. MobileHelp uses industry-leading technology in its systems and was even the first company to produce a fully integrated system with GPS technology. Device Options MobileHelp offers a wide range of systems, including in-home units, mobile devices, Duo systems, and more. This broad selection allows you to purchase the MobileHelp medical alert system that suits your needs to a T. If youre looking for a simple in-home medical alert system, MobileHelp Classic may suit your needs well. This system includes one base unit and one help button with a 1,400-foot range from the base unit. In addition, you dont need a landline to use this in-home system because MobileHelp uses the AT&T cellular network to connect its customers to emergency services. If you spend much time away from home, you may benefit more from the MobileHelp Duo system, which includes a home unit and a mobile unit. You can wear the mobile device on a pendant or watch and use GPS tracking, giving service providers precise information about your location in the event of an emergency. Things We Like Most About MobileHelp Fall Detection MobileHelp also offers an optional fall-detection button that you can add to any system and plan. The technology behind automatic fall detection perceives sudden downward movements on your device. The optional fall detection button automatically sends an alert to your emergency contact or service provider when you fall. Waterproof Pendants Additionally, all of MobileHelps help buttons are waterproof, which means you can wear them in the shower or bath without a problem. Because falls often happen in the shower or bathroom, having access to the help you need in these locations is essential. Two-way Voice Communication MobileHelps medical alert systems also feature two-way communication. Instead of automatically sending help when you press the button, a U.S.-based operator will gauge the situation and then send the appropriate responder to your house, be it a neighbor, loved one, or medical team. FDA-registered and FCC-certified MobileHelp is FDA-registered and FCC-certified, so you can feel confident that the company uses the best practices in the industry to serve its customers. And while many medical alert companies require you to sign a long-term contract to activate the system, MobileHelp makes its contract terms clear and charges no hidden fees. 30-Day Guarantee You can try MobileHelp for a 30 days guarantee. With this 30-day money-back guarantee, you can receive a full refund on your purchase if you decide not to continue service. U.S. Based Monitoring Center When you call for help using your MobileHelp system, the company will connect you to a U.S.-based monitoring center. The monitoring center will already know your location and contact information when you call and can dispatch emergency services immediately if needed. Altogether, MobileHelp is a trustworthy medical alert service with products suitable for a wide range of customers. If youre looking for a reputable brand, reliable devices and systems, and a friendly customer support team, MobileHelp may suit your needs well. Key Features: Try MobileHelp guarantee for 30 days No long-term contracts or hidden fees Optional fall detection FDA-registered and FCC-certified No landline required Easy installation 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring 1,400-foot equipment range Waterproof help button Free lockbox with every order Water-resistant wearable devices In-home medical alert systems and GPS devices available Click Here to Learn More About MobileHelp #3. Medical Care Alert: Best Monitoring Center Because monitoring centers play such a valuable role in your safety and security with a home medical alert system, you want to feel confident that your center is reliable and helpful when you need it. After reviewing dozens of alert systems, we found that Medical Care Alert offers the best monitoring center of any medical alert provider. Medical Care Alert is a family-owned and -operated alert company that serves customers in all 50 states. The company has won several awards over the years for its excellent customer service, reliable monitoring center, and top-quality products. Device Options Medical Care Alert offers three systems: an in-home system, a home and yard system, and a home and away system. If you need coverage only while you are at home, you can take advantage of the in-home system, which includes coverage up to 1,000 feet from the base unit. The home and yard system covers the yard area as well, while the home and away mobile system uses the AT&T cellular network to provide nationwide coverage. Each of these systems includes a two-way communication feature, allowing you to talk directly to a care provider when you call for help. Things We Like Most About Medical Care Alert Free Lockbox Medical Care Alert includes a free lockbox with each of its medical alert systems. This lockbox allows emergency responders to access your home to help you even if your door is locked. Medical Care Alert will tell emergency medical services (EMS) the lockbox combination, preventing them from needing to break into your home to get to you. Automatic Fall Detection This company also offers automatic fall detection devices that automatically signal to the monitoring center when they detect a fall. Some falls may prevent you from calling for help, but these devices give you extra protection and security so that you receive the assistance you need. Affordable Plans Medical Care Alert stands out as one of the more affordable medical emergency companies, offering plans for less than $30 a month. Even better, the company provides a price-lock guarantee, ensuring that your plan never increases in cost. Best Monitoring Center One of Medical Care Alerts best features is its top-quality monitoring centers. Medical Care Alert has two monitoring centers: one in California and one in New York. Every operator at each monitoring center is EMT/EMD-certified, providing knowledgeable, professional assistance to customers in need. Multilingual Operators Medical Care Alert also ensures that Spanish-speaking operators are available on every shift, making services accessible for a broader customer base. If desired, your operator will stay on the line with you until help arrives to assist as needed. Overall, Medical Care Alert is one of the top medical alert companies for its world-class monitoring centers and reliable customer support. Key Features: Landline and cellular options available Mobile app with GPS location tracking 24/7 monitoring by EMT/EMD-certified operators SMS text message alerts to your emergency contact list Free lockbox included Automatic fall detection available A+ BBB rating Base station has 1,000-foot equipment range Two-way speakerphone Click Here to Learn More About Medical Care Alert #4. Bay Alarm Medical: Best Reviews Customer reviews give you essential information about a medical alert systems real-life benefits. When a company has mostly positive reviews, you can expect it to provide an optimal user experience for you, as well. Bay Alarm Medical is a medical alert company with some of the best customer reviews in the industry. This company has been helping customers feel secure for more than 70 years through its array of industry-leading medical alert devices. Device Options Bay Alarm Medical offers several alert devices, including in-home systems, versatile mobile systems, and bundle packages. The classic in-home system provides two-way communication through a mounted speaker and includes 32 hours of backup battery life. Even better, you can easily move the in-home system to different residences, which means you can even take it on vacation. Meanwhile, the company offers three on-the-go devices: a GPS help button, an in-car alert device, and an SOS smartwatch. The help button gives you access to a medical alert provider wherever you are and includes automatic fall detection. The stylish, sleek smartwatch uses a 4G cellular network to connect you to help, while the in-car device automatically detects crashes and your location. Things We Like Most About Bay Alarm Medical Mobile App Bay Alarm Medical devices are compatible with a user-friendly Bay Alarm Medical mobile app. This app allows your family members and care providers to access your location when they need it while giving you a convenient place to manage your account and make payments. Customizable Add-Ons Bay Alarm Medical also offers a few accessories to give you added peace of mind with your medical alert system. For example, you can purchase a lockbox to allow emergency responders to access your home in the case of an emergency. You can also buy additional Bay Alarm Medical buttons to give to your spouse or to place in convenient locations throughout your home. Sleek, Attractive Design Some older adults stay away from medical alert devices because they look clunky and outdated. Bay Alarm Medical saw this need and answered it by providing attractive charms for its pendants, turning them into necklaces. Similarly, Bay Alarm Medicals smartwatch devices offer a modern, sleek way to stay connected to medical services. 30-Day Trial If youre unsure whether Bay Alarm Medicals devices are suitable for you, you can take advantage of the companys trial. This trial allows you to test the product for 30 days and receive a full refund if you decide not to continue with a subscription. Fast and Responsive Monitoring Center Bay Alarm Medical has two monitoring centers: one in Idaho and another in Utah. With two centers, you will always have access to help if one center goes offline because of a power outage or technical issue. Because these centers are separate from the Bay Alarm Medical headquarters, you can feel confident that you will receive fast, knowledgeable assistance. Positive Customer Reviews On Bay Alarm Medicals website, you will find customer reviews detailing the positive experiences they have had with the company over the years. Many customers have benefited from the companys services for decades and recommend it in the highest regard. Overall, Bay Alarm Medical is one of the most trusted medical alert providers with millions of satisfied millions during its over 70 years in business. Key Features: In-home systems, GPS help buttons, and SOS smartwatch available Rated as one of the best medical alert systems for seniors Free spouse coverage No contracts and no upfront costs Over 170 languages supported 24/7 live operators with two-way voice communication Easy installation Available with automatic fall detection 4G LTE cellular for homes without a landline On-the-go help button for emergency services whenever you need it Made in the USA Try it for 30 days Click Here to Learn More About Bay Alarm Medical #5. LifeFone: Best Value Some older adults choose not to purchase a medical alert system because they think it will be outside their budget. While some systems are on the pricier side of the spectrum, you can also find affordable alert systems with high-quality features and reliable service. LifeFone is one of the best medical alert systems on the market in terms of value and price. LifeFone is a reputable alert company that has been in business since 1976. The company has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and was even rated the #1 Medical Alert System of 2021 by U.S. News & World Report. LifeFone is dedicated to producing quality devices and systems for customers across the U.S. at affordable prices. Device Options LifeFone offers a wide selection of in-home and mobile devices. If you have a landline, you can save a bit of money by purchasing a landline-connected in-home system. If not, LifeFone will connect your in-home system to emergency responders using a cellular network. LifeFones most comprehensive system is the At-Home & On-The-Go (VIP) Voice-in-Pendant. This device features GPS location tracking, WiFi, and cellular location services to keep you connected 24/7. Additionally, the pendant features an unlimited range, 30 days of battery life on a single charge, and optional automatic fall detection. If you live an active lifestyle, this device may be your perfect solution. Things We Like Most About LifeFone Bonus Features LifeFone offers several helpful bonus features to help its customers feel secure and protected. First, customers on any plan can opt in to receive daily check-ins, in which a LifeFone care agent makes a daily call to the customer to make sure they are OK. These check-ins can include medication reminders to help customers remember what medications to take at what time. Activity Assurance Feature Alternatively, customers can opt in to the Activity Assurance feature. With this option, they press a button on their base unit each day to show that they are at home and responsive. If they do not press the button, a care agent will reach out to them to check in. Affordable Plans LifeFone is incredibly affordable compared to other alert devices. Plans start at less than $1 a day and include 24/7 monitoring. Also, you dont need to pay any installation fees or upfront deposits when you begin a medical response plan. Cancel Anytime Additionally, your LifeFone plan includes no time commitment. You can cancel your subscription at any time and receive a full refund for any unused services for which you have pre-paid. Optional Spouse Protection Even better, if you live with another person, you can protect them through your LifeFone plan for no additional charge. You and the second person can add as many emergency contacts to your file as you want and implement custom emergency contact instructions whenever you press your panic button. Professional Medical Monitoring LifeFones monitoring center is reliable and professional. U.S.-based customer care agents are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring that help is just a call away when you need it. Paying for round-the-clock protection doesnt need to break the bank. If you are looking for an affordable in-home medical alert option with reliable systems and services, we recommend LifeFone. Key Features: Landline and cellular options One month free At-home and mobile devices 24/7 professional care assistance A+ Better Business Bureau rating Waterproof pendant and wristband Optional fall detection 30-day money-back guarantee No activation or equipment fees Spouses protected for free with basic service Click Here to Learn More About LifeFone #6. Aloe Care: Best for Remote Caregiving The best medical alert systems do more than just connect you to a monitoring center when you press a button. They also make your life easier by providing special features to help you stay on top of your medical needs and help ensure that your family members are kept up to date. Aloe Care is a medical alert device company that makes its customers its top priority. The company creates reliable medical alert systems and offers caregiving services for its customers, creating a collaborative solution for older adults. Device Options Aloe Care offers three packages with unique features and pricing systems. The Essentials pack includes one in-home hub and one care button. Meanwhile, Essentials Plus provides coverage in your home and while youre on the go, and the Total Care package includes these features along with automatic fall detection and motion sensors. Things We Like Most About Aloe Care Two-Way Voice Communication One unique feature of Aloe Cares devices is their voice-activation capabilities. Sometimes, you cannot reach a button in the case of an emergency, especially when you are in pain or a precarious position. However, Aloe Care allows you to call for help vocally using its two-way communication system. Motion Sensors Aloe Care also uses motion sensors to detect any unusual activity in your home. The company will communicate any concerns to your family members or contact emergency medical services, allowing them to check in on you and make sure everything is OK. Amplified Clarity for Hearing-Impaired Aloe Care devices also feature amplified clarity, which makes them suitable for individuals with hearing impairments. You can rest assured that you and your responder will be able to communicate effectively in your most vulnerable times. Caregiver Team Collaboration Aloe Care goes above and beyond traditional medical alert devices by offering special remote caregiving features. The companys collaborative-care app allows you to stay connected to your caregivers, call for help from your phone, and have easy access to your health card. Your family members can also use this app to check in on you and see alerts about your activity in the home. Free Lockbox Additionally, Aloe Care includes a free lockbox with all its packages. Emergency professionals and your loved ones can use this box to access a key to your home when they need it. No Long-Term Contracts Aloe Care offers affordable pricing with no long-term contracts. You can cancel your subscription at any time and receive a refund of any amount you have pre-paid. Five Diamond Emergency Response Center Additionally, the companys 24/7 monitoring center gives you access to a helpful operator whenever you need it. The monitoring center has received Five Diamond Emergency Response Center classification from the Monitoring Association, giving you confidence in its ability to assist you when you most need help. Overall, Aloe Care is a comprehensive medical alert company that goes beyond the duties of other companies to offer you collaborative care and protection. Key Features: Best life alert system for caregivers Voice-activated medical alert system Automatic fall detection No contracts Collaborative-care app Free shipping Five Diamond emergency response center One-touch connection to family from hub 30-day money-back guarantee Click Here to Learn More About Aloe Care #7. QMedic: Medical Alert Designed for Managed Care Some older adults are at a higher risk of needing medical attention than others. If you are a high-risk patient, you may benefit from a medical alert system with added features to track your movements and ensure that you remain cared for in case of a fall inside and outside the home. QMedic produces medical alert systems that use intelligent monitoring, ideal for high-risk patients living at home. The company operates in 46 states across the U.S. and helps older adults age independently while feeling confident in their homes. Device Options QMedic offers two in-home base stations and two mobile devices. The company structures its plan so that every customer must have both a base station and a mobile device, creating more comprehensive medical alert coverage. To start a QMedic plan, first choose between a cellular base station or a mobile GPS system. The in-home cellular system is ideal if you plan to spend most of your time at home, while the mobile medical alert system provides services anywhere with a cellular connection. Next, choose between a wristwatch or pendant mobile device on which to wear your help button. QMedic recommends the watch button for higher-risk patients. This waterproof device stays securely on the wrist, allowing users to wear it 24/7 and increasing patient compliance. Things We Like Most About QMedic Two-Year Battery Life The QMedic in-home watch device does not require a battery charge because it has a two-year battery life. Your system will alert you when its battery starts to drain, giving you plenty of time to replace it. This extensive battery life ensures that you stay connected and have access to emergency monitoring when you need it. Wellness Checks Unlike the other companies on our list, QMedic advertises that it does not provide automatic fall detection. The company states that fall-detection systems are more of a nuisance because they frequently create false alarms. Instead of offering fall detection, QMedic tracks your activity intelligently and provides wellness checks. Caregiver Collaboration One way that QMedic uses intelligent monitoring is by providing proactive data reports to your caregivers regularly. For example, if a loved one wants to check in on you, they can view your wellness reports in the caregiver dashboard. Online Dashboard Your QMedic device will detect your activities throughout the day, including your sleep patterns, and report them in your dashboard. The device will also detect whether you are home and if you are wearing your device, allowing your caregiver or loved one to understand your behaviors better if they cant physically be with you. Easy Installation QMedic systems are easy to set up, and they ship quickly and require little maintenance. The companys intuitive devices feature simple buttons that make them more accessible for all patients. 24/7 Emergency Monitoring Additionally, Qmedics emergency monitoring center remains available 24/7 to assist you. However, because the company monitors you throughout the day, you can also feel confident knowing that you will still receive the assistance you need if you cannot reach your device or call for help. All in all, QMedic offers innovative, reliable medical alert systems, possibly a perfect device for individuals at a higher risk of falls or medical emergencies. Key Features: Best life alert device for managed care and high-risk patients Perfect for blind, aging, and disabled users Customize how medical alerts are routed when help button is pressed Provides 24/7 activity data via mobile app and phone alerts Waterproof medical alert button Two-way voice communication No need to charge battery Choose between comfortable wristband or discreet pendant No automatic fall detection (helps prevent false alarms) Click Here to Learn More About QMedic #8. GetSafe: Best Voice-Activated System Traditionally, medical alert systems utilized wearable devices with large buttons you could press in times of need. However, many people realized that being able to access a button after a fall or other accident is sometimes challenging. GetSafe created its home medical alert system with the intent to provide more accessible assistance for its customers. As a result, the company has stayed away from small wearable buttons in favor of voice-activated ones that its customers place throughout their homes. Device Options When you purchase a GetSafe medical alert plan, you receive a base unit, a personal help button, and as many standard and voice-activated wall buttons as you need. The base unit features an emergency response system you can press if you happen to be near it. Meanwhile, all the wall buttons include a bright cord you can pull if you need help. With the voice-activated GetSafe wall buttons, if you need assistance and cannot reach the button, you can say Call 911 twice to connect to an operator. GetSafe recommends attaching your wall buttons in areas where you are at a higher risk of experiencing a fall, such as in the bathroom, at the bottom of the stairs, or in the kitchen. Having access to several voice-activated buttons throughout your home ensures that you can call for help when you need it without having to wear a pendant or watch at all times. If you prefer having a help button on your person, dont worry GetSafe includes a personal help button in all its standard packages. You can wear this button if youd like, but you don't need to rely on it to have access to fast assistance. Things We Like Most About GetSafe Customizable Plans GetSafe offers three plans to suit the size of your home. If you have a one-bedroom home, you may need just a small system. You can take a quiz on the GetSafe website to find the perfect fit for your home. Cellular Coverage GetSafes in-home systems use 24/7 monitoring through 4G LTE. Even if you do not have a landline, you can use cellular coverage to contact emergency services. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee If youre unsure whether GetSafe is right for you, you can take advantage of the companys 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can test out all your devices features in your home. If you decide not to continue your subscription, you can receive a full refund, no questions asked. 24/7 Medical Monitoring GetSafes U.S.-based monitoring center is available in all 50 states and provides 24/7 coverage for customers. The company has all the necessary state and local certifications to deliver monitoring services nationwide. Overall, if youre looking for a medical alert system that can help you feel independent without needing to wear a button, GetSafes system is a suitable option to consider. And with the companys 30-day money-back guarantee, you cant go wrong. Key Features: Voice-enabled medical alert device Wall buttons, base system, and wearable devices available Automatic fall detection available as an upgrade 24/7 in-home monitoring service Customizable packages to fit your homes needs Complimentary lanyard button Click Here to Learn More About GetSafe #9. Lively Mobile Plus: Mobile Device with Fall Detection Sometimes, AARP offers discounts on certain medical products to its members. If you are an AARP member, you may want to look for a home medical alert system that falls into your member benefits. Our top choice that comes with an AARP discount is Lively. Lively offers several unique services and devices to help older adults feel secure living independently. Formerly GreatCall, Lively has been in business since 2006. Device Options Lively sells both traditional medical alert devices and more advanced phones for seniors. If youre looking for a medical alert device, you can choose between Livelys mobile help button and a wearable fall-detection device. Both options can connect you to a help team 24/7. However, the Lively Wearable2 includes additional features, such as a step tracker and daily health tips. Lively also offers a flip phone (Lively Flip) and smartphone (Lively Smart) designed with older adults in mind. The flip phone includes big buttons and a large screen and is compatible with Amazon Alexa. It also has an Urgent Response button on the keypad, making it easy to call for help when you need it. Meanwhile, the Lively Smart smartphone includes a large screen and a simple menu, allowing you to make calls, browse the web, and send texts with ease. This phone also includes an Urgent Response button at the bottom of the screen, available when you need it. If youd rather not purchase a Lively device, you can download the Lively app on most smartphones and Apple Watch models. This app gives you access to an emergency medical monitoring team just like you would receive with a designated Lively device. With a Lively subscription, you have access to several benefits that surpass what other medical alert services offer. For example, you can talk to a physician, schedule a ride with Lyft, and ask a personal operator for driving directions or phone numbers. You can also download the Lively Link app to keep your friends and family connected and informed about your health. Things We Like Most About Lively Mobile Plus No Base Station Lively devices are unique in that they do not require a base station. Some older adults find this product model simpler and easier to adjust to than having to equip their home with an entire security system. Discounts for AARP Members AARP members get up to $60 off their Lively Health & Safety package through their membership. If you arent an AARP member, you can sign up anytime to begin receiving this discount. Certified Urgent Response Agents Livelys monitoring center consists of certified Urgent Response Agents who are ready to help you any time of the day. All response agents receive certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, which ensures that they have the expertise necessary to help you in your time of need. Lively agents are prepared to help with more than just dispatching emergency professionals to your house. They can also call a locksmith if you lose your key, help you find your way if you get lost, or even help you get a new prescription if you forget your medication while traveling. Depending on which package you end up going with. Altogether, Lively goes above and beyond to help older adults through any crises they may experience. Key Features Mobile medical alert device with no base station needed Fastest call response times Waterproof Two-way communication Fall detection Enhanced GPS monitoring Long-lasting battery life (up to 80 hours) Mobile app with alerts to family and friends Click Here to Learn More About Lively Mobile Plus #10. Philips Lifeline: Most Trusted Brand If any of the companies on our list is familiar to you, its probably Philips Lifeline. Philips Lifeline is a recognizable name in the medical alert industry as the first medical alert service in North America. Customers across the country trust Philips Lifeline to provide them with assistance whenever they need it. Philips Lifeline has been helping older adults remain independent since its beginnings in 1972. Since then, the company has continually updated its product line and expanded its services to reach a broader customer base of older adults and caregivers. Device Options Philips Lifeline sells four medical alert systems, with two in-home options and two mobile medical alert systems. The HomeSafe Standard system includes an in-home system with two-way communication, a waterproof help button, and long-lasting battery life. Meanwhile, HomeSafe with AutoAlert has automatic fall detection technology. Philips Lifelines most popular mobile device is the GoSafe 2, a single-piece wearable device that includes automatic fall detection, precise location abilities, and two-way communication. You can wear this device anywhere you go and feel confident that you will be able to reach help when needed. Things We Like Most ABout Philips Lifeline Cellular Medical Alert System All Philips Lifeline devices connect you to help through a cellular connection. Whether you are in your home or on the go, you can rely on the trustworthy AT&T cellular coverage to provide quick and efficient communication. GPS Location Tracking The companys mobile devices also use five location-tracking technologies to identify your location when you call for help. Using mobile GPS tracking and other reliable methods allows the emergency monitoring center to direct help to your exact location, wasting no time giving you the assistance you need. Personalized Response Plans Your Philips Lifeline membership allows you to create a personalized response plan, giving the monitoring center precise information about your wishes when you press your panic button. You can add family members, friends, and neighbors to your care team and then request that your operator contact one of these individuals instead of emergency professionals. Mobile App When you sign up for a Philips Lifeline subscription, you also gain access to the Philips Cares app. This app allows you to view your device status and share medical notes and information with your care circle. No Long-Term Contracts Philips Lifeline subscriptions never include any long-term contracts. You can cancel your subscription at any time with no fear of hidden costs or unnecessary charges. 24/7 Response Center Additionally, Philips Lifelines monitoring center is said to be trustworthy and reliable. The companys Response Center is available 24/7, even on holidays, and consists of multilingual, professionally trained employees who are prepared to help you. With almost 50 years in business, Philips Lifeline has saved more lives than any other medical alert provider. You can trust this brand to go above and beyond in helping you feel protected. Click Here to Learn More About Philips Lifeline What Is a Medical Alert System? A medical alert system is a device that connects you to a medical response team with the push of a button. These systems are ideal for older adults who want to live independently but fear being unable to reach out for help after a fall or other medical emergency. Most medical alert systems consist of an in-home system and a mobile system. The in-home system connects to an outlet in your home and provides coverage to a specified radius, such as 600 feet. Companies often offer in-home systems that connect to your landline and ones that use a cellular connection to contact their monitoring centers. Meanwhile, mobile systems use cellular service to keep you connected from anywhere in the U.S. These devices act as simple cell phones, connecting you to an operator when you press a button. In recent years, medical alert companies have updated their mobile devices to look more discreet and trendier. You can find mobile devices in the form of wristwatches, attractive pendants, belt clips, or even small emergency call buttons that you can keep in your pocket. Many medical alert companies have also begun including additional services in their subscriptions. For example, some companies offer apps that you can use to keep your family and friends informed about your medical situation. Others provide access to urgent care services, and some include a platform that your caregivers can use to collaborate about your medical needs. All in all, medical alert systems offer a solution to allow older adults to remain independent in their homes longer. How Do Medical Alert Systems Work? In their simplest form, medical alert systems connect you to an emergency monitoring service when you press a button. Most systems use cellular service, such as the AT&T network, to call for help the same way you would through a cell phone. However, these devices always connect you to their emergency monitoring team rather than a local dispatcher. Once you connect to an operator, they assess your situation, pinpoint your location, and send help your way. If you request it, the operator can contact a family member or friend to assist you. However, if you are unresponsive or ask for emergency assistance, the operator will call your local EMT services and request an ambulance for you. Things to Consider When Choosing the Top Medical Alert System The top medical alert systems on our list all differ in the features they offer, their pricing, and the services included in their subscriptions. As you search for the best medical alert system for your needs, you should consider each of the factors that make up these systems and choose an option that checks all your boxes. Here are a few parameters to consider as you search for the best medical alert device. Home-Based or Mobile System? You may have noticed that most of the medical alert companies on our list offer in-home systems and ones that use mobile GPS tracking. As you search for the right system for your needs, be sure to consider which type of system will best suit your lifestyle. You may benefit most from an in-home system if: You spend most of your time at home Your home has three bedrooms or fewer You live alone You leave the house only with another person However, you may benefit more from a mobile GPS system if you: Leave your house often Go out alone If youre unsure which system to choose, consider going with one that includes an in-home device and a mobile one. U.S.-Based Monitoring Center The best home medical alert systems connect you to a reliable, trustworthy monitoring service when you call for help. While monitoring centers outside the U.S. can sometimes be reliable, you cannot always trust that these centers will have a clear connection and employ operators who speak fluent English. Instead, we recommend looking for companies that utilize U.S.-based medical alert monitoring. Keeping medical monitoring services in the country can ensure that you have a smooth connection and receive a quick response when you need assistance. In-Home Range of Equipment In-home systems typically use your landline or cellular service to extend coverage to a specific radius around the base station. If you plan to use only an in-home system, you will want to make sure that the coverage range encompasses your entire property. Be sure to check a systems range before purchasing it. Battery Life Mobile medical alerts often operate on a rechargeable battery. To ensure that these devices work properly when you need them, you will need to keep their batteries charged. Some devices have a battery life of a few days, while others include batteries that last for several months on a single charge. The longer the battery life a system has, the more convenient it will be to keep it charged and ensure uninterrupted protection. Aside from battery life, you should consider whether an in-home medical alert device has a backup battery that it can access during a power outage. Without a backup battery, your system may go offline when your home does not have power, leaving you without a way to contact help in the event of an emergency. In sum, before signing up for a service, look closely at its battery life, and prioritize devices with a solid backup plan. Monthly Monitoring Fee Traditional senior alert systems charge a monthly cost for their services. Some companies have different monthly fees depending on the type of plan you choose, such as a mobile or in-home plan. Be sure to consider what monthly fees you can incorporate into your budget when searching for an elderly alert system. Activation Fee Medical alert companies may also charge activation fees, which are one-time costs that you must pay when you begin your subscription. Sometimes these fees cover the cost of the equipment you are using, while other times you have to pay for equipment separately. Be sure to factor activation fees into the monthly cost before signing up for a service. Customer Reviews As you search for the right medical monitoring system, be sure to read each systems customer reviews. Reviews give you insider information about a systems quality, reliability, and effectiveness. If an elderly monitoring system has primarily positive reviews, you can trust its devices to work well for you. Ease of Setup Alert companies often require medical alert users to set up their new systems themselves. However, some medical alert systems have a more straightforward setup process than others. Be sure to read about each companys setup process to ensure that you will be able to connect your new system on your own. Comfort and Wearability (for Mobile Devices) Many mobile medical alert systems are wearable so that you can position them on a watch, pendant, keychain, or belt loop holder and wear them. If you plan to wear your mobile GPS device, be sure to look for one that is comfortable and will seamlessly fit into your everyday routine. If a device is not comfortable to wear, you may be tempted to leave it at home, which would leave you without access to help. Additional Features to Consider in a Good Medical Alert System Not all medical alert systems include the same features and functions. Some systems are more basic, offering simple access to emergency calls with the press of a button. Others have more advanced features that make your life easier and more convenient through several means. Here are a few additional features you should consider as you search for the right medical alert system. Fall Detection You probably noticed that many of the devices on our list feature automatic fall-detection technology. Devices with fall detection have sensors that detect when they suddenly hit the ground or experience sudden downward movement. Automatic fall detection can be incredibly helpful for individuals who are prone to falls. Unfortunately, your risk of falling increases as you age. More than 25% of older people experience falls each year. However, when you purchase a device that includes optional fall detection, you may not have to worry about reaching your medical alert device or pressing a button after falling. Instead, you may rely on the automatic fall detection to track your movements and alert the operating center as soon as you experience a fall. Some users dont like fall detection because they have experienced false alarms with such systems. Devices with fall detection may think you have fallen when you really dropped your device or sat down quickly. However, other users agree that its better to take caution than sorry when it comes to their independence, so they go for the optional fall detection. GPS Location Tracking The best medical alert systems utilize GPS tracking to identify your precise location when you reach out for help. Unfortunately, when you call 911 from a mobile device, dispatchers cant detect your location through your cellular connection. As a result, unless you are able to tell them where you are, they have difficulty finding you. However, medical alert monitoring companies use GPS tracking in their mobile alert devices to see your exact location when you call for help. They can use this information to inform medical professionals (or your family members) of your whereabouts, getting help to you quickly and effectively. Water Resistance The purpose of having a mobile alert device is to wear it wherever you go, ensuring that you always have access to help when you need it. As a result, you want to make sure that the medical device you purchase can withstand any conditions you regularly encounter, such as water. Many falls occur in the bathroom when individuals are getting into or out of the shower or bathtub. However, being able to wear your device in the shower gives you access to medical assistance in this dangerous location. Caregiver Tracking Some companies allow you to update your medical information and track your activity through their mobile apps. Your caregivers can then access your information on the mobile app and make changes to your treatment plan, monitor your activity, or stay up to date about your medical history. While caregiver tracking isnt a necessary feature for everyone, you may want to discuss with your caregiver whether this feature could benefit you. Medication Reminders Remembering to take medications is a challenge many older adults face. However, several personal emergency response systems on our list offer medication reminders throughout the day on their in-home systems or personal devices. If you frequently forget to take your medications, you may want to purchase a system that includes these reminders. However, keep in mind that a free mobile app for your smartphone could offer the same features. Wall-Mounted Buttons Some medical alert systems provide you with several wall-mounted buttons that you can position throughout your home in dangerous areas, such as in the bathroom or at the bottom of the stairs. If you think you may forget to wear your mobile device while you are at home, you may want to opt for a system that includes these buttons. Two-Way Voice Communication Two-way voice communication may be one of the most critical factors to look for in an in-home or mobile system. When you press your alert button, you want to be able to speak with an operator directly, vocalize your concerns, and hear their responses. Without two-way communication, you will not be able to specify why you need assistance, which will lead to less tailored help. Cellular Medical Alert Systems vs. Landline Many medical alert organizations offer systems that operate through a landline and systems that use cellular service to connect you to the monitoring center. If you already have a landline in your home, you may save a bit of money by purchasing a landline-only system. If not, however, we recommend sticking to a cellular medical alert system. Should I Get an In-Home System or Mobile Device? If you spend most of your time at home or dont tend to leave home by yourself, an in-home system may suit your needs. However, if you leave home frequently, you may want the security of a mobile device you can take with you anywhere. Most of the medical alert monitoring companies on our list offer dual systems that include in-home components and mobile devices. If you arent sure which type of system to purchase, you may want to buy one of these dual systems to cover all your bases. How Much Do Personal Medical Alert Systems Cost? The cost of a medical alert system depends on the type you purchase, the coverage you receive, any additional features you include (such as automatic fall detection), and the companys pricing system. In general, you can expect the monthly cost to be between $30 and $70 for these systems. You may also need to pay an initial activation fee along with the monthly cost. Every company has a different pricing model, so be sure to ask whether each company adds an activation fee to the monthly cost before you sign up. Types of Medical Alert Devices You can find numerous types of medical safety devices on the market today. Choosing a device that you can seamlessly integrate into your lifestyle will allow you to have continual access to your device whenever you need it. The four most common types of devices on the market are base stations, bracelets, necklaces, and watches. Base Station A base station is a unit you place in your home to provide coverage throughout your property. The most advanced base stations require only that you plug them into an outlet to receive cellular coverage. If you plan to purchase an in-home system, you will probably need a base station. Bracelets Some companies offer mobile alert devices that you can slide into a bracelet or watch to increase their functionality and attractiveness. Wearing your device on your wrist may make it easier to keep it with you at all times, giving you access to assistance whenever you need it. Necklaces Wearing your medical alert device around your neck is another convenient way to keep your device on you at all times without making it too obvious that you're wearing a medical device. Several companies have even begun offering gemstone pendants with device inserts, making their necklaces more attractive than ever. Smartwatches Medical alert smartwatches offer a more discreet, sleek way to wear a medical device. If you typically wear a watch anyway, you may be able to integrate an alert smartwatch into your routine more easily than another type of device. Who Should Consider a Life Alert System? Any older adult can benefit from purchasing a medical alert system. However, seniors in the following categories may see the most benefits from personal emergency response systems: Older adults who live alone Older adults who want to age at home Older adults with chronic or high-risk medical conditions If having immediate access to emergency calls and assistance sounds beneficial to you, you may want to consider a medical alert system. Does AARP Recommend Medical Alert Systems for Seniors? AARP strongly recommends medical alert systems for seniors. While the organization does not recommend any specific brands, it does offer a discount for certain companies, such as Lively. Aside from looking for devices discounted by AARP, you can search for medical alert offers and prioritize companies that are vetted by the Better Business Bureau. Does Medicare or Insurance Cover Medical Alert Systems? Many people wonder whether their insurance will cover traditional medical alert systems. Unfortunately, Medicare does not consider medical alert systems to be essential medical devices, so it typically does not cover them. However, if you have private health insurance, you can check your terms to identify any medical alert systems covered under your plan. Final Thoughts on Medical Alert Systems Medical alert systems may provide the peace of mind and security you may need to continue living at home as you age. With so many high-quality systems available on the market today, youre sure to find an option that suits your needs well. It may just take a bit of time to sort through your choices and determine the most suitable system for you. However, choosing any of the top 10 medical alert systems on our list will leave you with a reliable, effective method to get the help you need when you need it. Try one of the medical alert systems on our list today to begin experiencing the life-changing independence and security these systems provide. *This article is provided by an advertiser. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Any studies cited here may be preliminary, and may or may not be peer reviewed, and may or may not have sufficient participants to be statistically relevant. Anecdotal accounts should not be taken as scientific results. Products discussed in this article are not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements. Consult your doctor about possible interactions, allergies, and if you are considering using a natural and/or dietary supplements for any condition. Individual results will vary. Transgender Netflix employees and co-workers will stage a walkout next week protesting the streaming giants decision to release Dave Chappelles latest comedy special, multiple Netflix staffers have confirmed to the Los Angeles Times. On Oct. 20, members of the Netflix employee resource group Trans* and their allies will take a day of rest prompted by their concerns about Chappelles The Closer, which includes several transphobic remarks. I encourage all [members of] Trans* and allies not to work for Netflix that day. ... As weve discussed through Slack, email, texts and everything in between, our leadership has shown us that they do not uphold the values for which we are held, a Netflix employee posted Monday in a public, company Slack channel comprising more than 800 staffers representing gender minorities of all sorts and their allies, in a message reviewed by the L.A. Times. Between the numerous emails and non-answers that have been given, we have been told explicitly that we somehow cannot understand the nuance of certain content. I dont know about you, but asking for us to show the whole story and not just the pieces that harm trans and [LGBTQ+] people is not an unreasonable ask, the employees Slack statement continued. So, I encourage us all to state clearly that we, as Netflix employees are stunning not simply when we are doing the work that our roles demand of us but also when we challenge the very principles of our company. Another Netflix employee, who like other employees interviewed for this story asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, confirmed to the L.A. Times that the demonstration will follow a virtual event on Oct. 19 that will be open to all employees and will be hosted by gender-nonconforming writer and performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon to discuss the Chappelle specials impact on the trans community. Netflix did not immediately respond Wednesday to the L.A. Times request for comment. According to another Netflix staffer, the walkout is meant to pressure the streaming giant to acknowledge the harm caused by Chappelles transphobic comments. The comedian said he supported Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has been labeled a trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) for repeatedly expressing anti-trans sentiments. Organizers of the protest are also demanding that Netflix commit to releasing more LGBTQ+ content on the platform. They are not expecting the company to remove the special, especially after Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos announced that the streamer would keep it despite mounting criticism. News of the walkout comes shortly after Netflix suspended three employees, allegedly for attending a quarterly business review, or QBR meeting, that they were not invited to, during which directors and vice presidents at the company discussed the fallout from the Chappelle special. One of those staffers, senior software engineer Terra Field, has since been reinstated following a probe into her activities. Netflix has reinstated me after finding that there was no ill-intent in my attending the QBR meeting, Field tweeted Tuesday. Im going to take a few days off to decompress and try to figure out where Im at. At the very least, I feel vindicated. Field also shared a screenshot of an email documenting the results of the investigation, which found that Field genuinely didnt think there was anything wrong with seeking access to this meeting, and that a director at Netflix shared a link to the virtual gathering with Field, which further supported that this was a meeting [Field] could attend. Before her suspension, Field publicly condemned The Closer in a viral Twitter thread listing the names of trans people who were not offended by Chappelles comments because they died in transphobic attacks before The Closer was released. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 38 transgender or gender-nonconforming people have been killed so far in 2021. Historically, Black and Latinx women have been attacked at higher rates than other trans individuals. Promoting [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act, Field tweeted last week. This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who dont want us to be, Field added. This all gets brushed off as offense though because if were just too sensitive then it is easy to ignore us. In a Monday statement to the L.A. Times, a Netflix spokesperson insisted it is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so, the spokesperson said. Around the time Field and her co-workers were suspended, reports surfaced of an internal memo from Sarandos that defended Netflixs long-standing collaboration with Chappelle and refused to scrub The Closer from the platform. Several of you have ... asked where we draw the line on hate. We dont allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we dont believe The Closer crosses that line, Sarandos wrote in an excerpt of the memo obtained by the Verge. I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries. Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean spirited but our members enjoy it, and its an important part of our content offering. By Eli Walsh Bay City News Foundation Monterey County supervisors punted Tuesday on a plan to build a senior care and assisted living facility with more than 100 units on a vacant lot near the Las Palmas Ranch subdivision south of Salinas. The supervisors unanimously elected to send the project back to the county's Planning Commission, amid concerns from the subdivision's residents and homeowner's association about the development's proximity to the plot of single-family homes and about the affordability of the planned units. The plan before the supervisors would have allowed for the construction of the River View at Las Palmas Assisted Living Facility, which would have included 13 casitas with 26 dwelling units, 40 assisted living units and a 21,600 square foot, three-story facility with 39 units for people suffering from memory loss illnesses like dementia. The facility was to be developed on a vacant 15.74-acre lot near the intersection of River Road and state Route 68. Real estate agency Anthony Lombardo and Associates, which is representing the project applicant, argued that the facility will be necessary in the coming years as the county's population of seniors who need daily assistance increases. At the board's July 20 meeting -- when the board voted to continue discussing the project at a meeting in August and, subsequently, Tuesday's meeting -- Lombardo cited a 2018 study by the California Association of Counties that estimated that more than 30 percent of Monterey County's total population would be seniors by 2035. On Tuesday, Lombardo acknowledged that, after talking with the subdivision's homeowner's association, the Las Palmas Ranch residents "were never going to be in favor" of the River View project. In lieu of that, Lombardo proposed that the development be returned to the Planning Commission for consideration as a group of 30 single-story homes for seniors and with at least 10 of them kept affordable for low-income tenants. The 30 percent housing affordability component "is extraordinarily high," Lombardo said Tuesday with a chuckle. "In fact, I hope the board doesn't require all my clients to have projects like that ... This is an extraordinary circumstance with this client being willing to provide that high affordability." Christine Kemp, the attorney representing the Las Palmas Ranch homeowner's association, agreed with Lombardo that the River View project will never be viable, but that a residential development is much more likely to get buy-in from the nearby residents. Still, Kemp tempered expectations about the 30-unit concept the developer is now proposing. According to Lombardo, the parcel of land is zoned for up to 42 medium-density residential homes. "That's a lot," Kemp said of the 30-unit proposal. "I'm hoping that there's some middle ground that we find with the developer. I think the developer has an interest in not alienating the community." Board Chair Wendy Root Askew also acknowledged the River View project as dead on arrival, but also pushed back on concerns by Las Palmas Ranch residents, some of whom questioned whether the supervisors would want high-density senior housing near their homes. "When I look at the Las Palmas community, I don't see any reason to not feel that this would be an appropriate location," Root Askew said. "I live in Marina; in my backyard I have more homeless shelter beds than the rest of the county combined. ... I also have, within 50 feet of my own home, a senior residential care facility that is adjacent to my house." County staff had also noted in analyzing the project's potential environmental impacts that it would detrimentally affect traffic near the project site. Root Askew argued that higher-density housing would likely mitigate the traffic concerns to some extent as it is often more efficient than vehicle traffic to and from single-resident homes. Lombardo argued that the parcel of land near the Las Palmas Ranch subdivision is one of few viable choices if the county intends to add more housing and assisted living services for seniors and low-income residents. "There's water and sewer service available to the site, and really (it) comes down to if not here, then where, because this is a site that is ready, willing and able to be used to solve or help solve our housing problems," he said. Several steps will be required before the county's planning commission and the board are likely to hear the proposal again, including an updated tentative map of the project and changes to the project's environmental impact report and engineering plans. All told, the process could take upwards of a year before the board and the planning commission are again able to consider a proposed development near Las Palmas Ranch, according to county officials. Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This week, San Francisco is expected to once again ease certain indoor mask mandates for portions of the adult population. Mayor London Breed has celebrated this news because it will allow offices to have more normal routines and interactions. Noticeably lacking in the new guidance is any update for school and child care mask mandates or even any acknowledgement that kids might also need more normal routines and interactions. Considering they are in peak development years, children need these things even more than adults. Its not as if mask relief for kids couldnt safely become a reality. In fact, Mayor Breed and the San Francisco Department of Public Health recently acknowledged what has been known almost from the beginning: Serious COVID-19 illness in those under 18 is extremely rare, pediatric cases make up a small percentage of total cases, and this percentage has been relatively consistent over time, including during our delta wave. In fact, numbers indicate that COVID-19 poses a significantly lower risk to kids than drowning, homicides, suicides, cancer, car accidents, common flu and heart disease all risks weve previously accepted without dramatically altering the school environment. San Francisco has also acknowledged that the majority of pediatric COVID-19 cases in the city are a result of household adult-to-child transmission. The simple truth is even when they are infected, children rarely pass on the infection at high rates. A study suggests that less than 4% of household outbreaks are caused by children, meaning approximately 96% are not. Since March 2020, there have been a total of 13 pediatric hospitalizations among San Francisco residents at San Francisco hospitals, and hospitalizations are so low that the city says the data cannot be publicly reported without concern for privacy and confidentiality." There also hasnt been a single COVID-19-related death under the age of 20 in San Francisco. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 risk assessments by age estimate that simply being a child aged five to 17 is 99.9994% protective against the risk of death and 98% protective against hospitalization. While any death of a child is tragic, of the 74 million Americans age 17 and under, there have been just 499 deaths attributed to COVID-19 since January 2020, while more than 57,000 deaths in that age group have been attributed to other causes. Additionally, any concern around the risk of long COVID in kids appears to be unsubstantiated. Even with this established good news, San Francisco remains an outlier on child mask mandates compared to the vast majority of Europe. The CDCs European counterpart the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control only recommends masking for children ages 12 and up. After consulting an international and multidisciplinary expert group on COVID-19 disease and transmission in children, and taking into consideration childrens psychosocial needs and developmental milestones, UNICEF and the World Health Organization have not recommended masks on age 5 and under. They also allow for nuance when it comes to masking children ages 6 to 11, including a childs proximity to other people who are at high risk of developing serious illness, such as the elderly. This guidance is likely why England, for example, has never masked children in school, reasoning that there is greater use of the system of controls for minimising risk, including through keeping in small and consistent groups or bubbles, and greater scope for physical distancing by staff within classrooms. Face coverings can have a negative impact on learning and teaching and so their use in the classroom should be avoided. During the U.K.s delta wave in June, the country actually saw lower case rates in schools compared with the previous fall and the general population, and have since removed any recommendations around classroom bubbles. Similarly, Sweden has continued to run school as normal, even during their peak COVID-19 wave. An analysis from March through June 2020 took a look at roughly 2 million preschool- and school-age children (ages 1 to 16), where there was no masking, no social distancing and no school building ventilation improvements. Just 15 total kids (0.00075%) required hospitalization from COVID-19, with zero deaths. Another significant finding is that there was no greater COVID-19 illness risk for the preschool and school teacher population than members of the general public. Norway has also never recommended face masks for any age of schooling, while Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland have either never recommended masks on elementary age students or have shifted to no masks for the current school year. Switzerland instead focuses on maintaining good ventilation and testing. Denmark, Norway and Sweden all have lower adult vaccination rates than San Francisco, yet have removed most, if not all, COVID-19 restrictions. Spain and Italy make mask exceptions for ages six and under, while France is in the midst of removing elementary mask requirements in communities with low case rates. As the above examples demonstrate, Europe has consistently acknowledged childrens incredibly low risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and the importance of the learning environment and childrens developmental and psychosocial needs. We believe that faces are essential to early speech and language development, as well as social skills, and that masks can impair face recognition and nonverbal communication for young children. Its not until they are teenagers that children are able to move beyond a reliance on facial features, and that was before we entered a 20-month phase of heavy mask wearing. It seems very few are actually studying any potential downstream impacts. While there continue to be articles on how schools and parents can help kids compensate for mask wearing, the bigger question should be: Why concern ourselves with any of that if mask wearing by kids is simply unnecessary? The onus should be on SFDPH and Mayor Breed to demonstrate that the benefits of masking kids outweigh the costs. They have been enforcing a fundamental, risky shift in classroom interactions and childhood development indefinitely, and they should prove with certainty there is no other way. Neither have offered such proof. Its incredibly illogical that SFDPH doesnt mandate face coverings for children under 10 in indoor public buildings, yet requires them for children ages 2 and up in child care and school settings, where learning and socialization are key components. In addition, school interactions happen in much more stable groups than interactions at a grocery store or restaurant, for example, yet masks are only required for them at the former, often for eight to 10 hours a day. As San Francisco parents, educators and concerned adults, we believe city officials are long overdue in balancing public health requirements with the medical necessity for kids, and the impact on their overall well-being, psyche and development. We ask SFDPH and Mayor Breed to allow for mask choice for chilren ages 12 and under in child care, youth programs and in-person school, as much of Europe has. This would also be in line with California Department of Public Health guidance, which allows for local flexibility. Parents who prefer that their kids still wear masks would of course be free to make that decision. Our duty as adults is to not only protect the younger generation, but also to do as much as possible to ensure they thrive. Their incredibly low COVID-19 risk should be celebrated and reflected in public health policy. It is well past time for our children to return to normal routines and interactions and to be freed from this singular focus on virus mitigation. This op-ed was submitted by a group of 41 Bay Area parents and residents. Their names follow: Laura Fagan (12-year San Francisco resident, professional, and parent of three) Ram Duriseti (Menlo Park parent of three) Michelle Koskella (Burlingame parent of two) Lelia Glass (San Francisco resident, educator, academic linguist) Anh Shah (San Francisco parent of two) Pradyut Shah (San Francisco parent of two) Kathleen Laipply (San Francisco parent of three) Ashwin Krishnan (San Francisco parent of three) Daniel Bryant (Windsor Unified parent of three) Anne Woodward (San Francisco resident) Mercedes Hoglund (San Francisco parent of three) Heath Hoglund (San Francisco parent of three) Lesley Fisher (San Francisco parent of two) Katja Wishart (San Francisco parent of one) Robin Attia (San Francisco parent of three) Jenny Gillespie Mason (Berkeley parent of two) Mary Wellhausen (Antioch parent of three) Sally Hwang (San Francisco parent of one) Eric Passetti (San Francisco parent of one) Elizabeth Woods (Berkeley parent of two) Michael Senger (San Francisco resident) Reza Musavi (San Francisco parent of two) Markus Shayeb (Marin parent of four) Meghan Weber (San Francisco parent of two) Geoff Weber (San Francisco parent of two) Julia Sterling (San Francisco parent of two) Eva Chung (San Francisco parent of two) Kai Sparnas (San Francisco parent) Justen Sepka (San Francisco resident) Michelle Gyorke-Takatri (San Francisco resident parent of three) Katelyn Ribero (San Mateo resident) Ashton Wilson (San Francisco parent) Alexandra Gutentag (Berkeley resident) Erica Sandberg (San Francisco parent of one) Evan Bailyn (Berkeley parent of one) Eileen Godsey (San Francisco parent of two) Jed Godsey (San Francisco parent of two) Robert Chappell (Berkeley resident) Marie Hurabiell (San Francisco parent of two) Matthew Ryan (San Francisco and Marin County parent) The Fog opens with the tension of a ticking pocket watch dangled above the glow of a crackling campfire. The minute hand tremors precariously close to midnight. But theres enough time for one more ghost story, the seafaring narrator tells a circle of children seated on pieces of driftwood, the howling gusts of salty Northern California air providing a sinister accompaniment to the tale. He speaks of a shipwreck that occurred on this very coastline nearly a century ago, but it was no accident. The founders of their sleepy town of Antonio Bay purposefully misguided and sank the boat, drowning the men aboard so they could steal their gold to build a church and establish their own town. And heres where the fog comes in: Generations of fishermen have believed that when it returns, a curse will overtake the town and with it, the ghostly crew will rise from the water, seeking their revenge. As Antonio Bay prepares to celebrate its centenary, the tale becomes a gory reality as the fog rolls in from the bay, shrouding the ghosts while they prowl the streets to claim their victims the hour after midnight. Antonio Bay might be a fictional place, but any Bay Area local will recognize the movies sweeping backdrop as that of Point Reyes Station, about 40 miles north of San Francisco, with additional exterior shots filmed at Drakes Beach, Tomales Bay, Inverness and Bodega Bay. Debra Hill Productions Maybe its been years since youve seen The Fog, or youve mistaken it with the flop of a follow-up that was its 2005 remake. Perhaps youve never seen it at all. In any case, Im here to tell you its essential viewing for Halloween, made all the more chilling if you live in the Bay Area. It features a legendary cast, namely real life mother-daughter duo Janet Leigh (Psycho) and Jamie Lee Curtis (fresh off her breakout role as final girl Laurie Strode in 1978s Halloween), while Adrienne Barbeau captivates as the mysterious DJ Stevie Wayne, hosting her late night radio show from an isolated lighthouse. The Fog establishes an eerie ambiance on a shoestring budget utilizing the moody, natural lighting of a full moon (which the films 30-day shooting schedule started and finished on) and practical effects masterminded by Rob Bottin, who also helped create the Star Wars cantina band and would go on to win an Oscar for his work on Total Recall. Add to that the Bay Areas natural mystique, an eerie synthesizer score and a deft balance of horror and humor that would become the trademark of director and composer John Carpenter, and the result is a criminally overlooked film. Shot on the heels of the success of Halloween, which would lay the foundation for decades of slasher movies to come, Carpenter had a tall order to fill as he sought inspiration for a new film. On a trip to Stonehenge, he and the late screenwriter-producer Debra Hill observed a distant fog bank on the horizon and let their imaginations get carried away. What if there was something in that fog? Wouldnt that be scary? Hill remembered Carpenter telling her in a DVD commentary for the film. And thats how it sort of evolved. Debra Hill Productions Later, the pair would go on a location scouting trip along the coast of California and discover the Point Reyes Lighthouse in Inverness. It was just perched out on a cliff, and it looked very scary, said Hill. They were so taken by the lighthouse and the cape, known as the second foggiest point in North America that Carpenter decided to buy a house in the area and lived there for many years, utilizing his surroundings as the setting for one of his later films, a remake of Village of the Damned. [Its] one of the most beautiful areas in the entire world, he said. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Throughout the film which takes place over the course of 24 hours the residents of Antonio Bay encounter a chain of unexplained events as midnight approaches. Car windows shatter. A boat out at sea with a few of the local fishermen aboard goes missing. A creepy, distorted voice disrupts the signal on Waynes radio show. All of these supernatural occurrences culminate, of course, in the greenish hue of the glowing fog that blankets the town in terror. Some of it was real, but the crew also utilized dry ice and liquid nitrogen, which wasnt exactly a breeze for the actors on set. It wasn't pleasant to work with the fog," Barbeau said in a 1980 interview with Roger Ebert, "and that's an understatement. They made it out of kerosene and water. It was smelly and sticky and the entire production was permeated with it. And there was a basic problem: It was the easiest thing in the world to get the fog into a scene, but it was almost impossible to get it out. We had to act backwards in some scenes: They'd blow the fog in and have us move in reverse, and then reverse the film to create the illusion that the fog was retreating. I had one scene in which I had to move from terror to apprehension to interest to indifference, so they could then reverse it for the fog." Debra Hill Productions When the fog isnt busy looming over the town as a distant threat, its seeping underneath the front doors of the ghosts victims, followed by three soft knocks. Loretta Farley, a retired ranger with the National Park Service who gave many tours of the Point Reyes Lighthouse over her 20-year career there, said this became a running gag among the staff. There used to be apartments at the lighthouse in the 1980s, she said, and when a new tenant moved in, they would encourage them to watch the film. Then someone would slip out and knock on their door three times to startle the new neighbor and let them know the vengeful sailors were coming, Farley told SFGATE, laughing. All jokes aside, she added, Ive seen The Fog at least 15 or 20 times over the years. Ive bought a number of copies of the film because its a great travelogue of West Marin, the lighthouse, the stairs. If you know the area and youre from the bay and see the scenery, its kind of special that way. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Farley, who grew up in San Rafael and at one point lived in a house that appeared in Village of the Damned, said the lighthouse looks just as it did during the filming of The Fog and offers many of the same views. It resonates with some folks who saw the movie and seek it out. Its a very distinctive looking, memorable landmark, and a wonderful place to watch whales in the winter, she said. Built in 1870, the lighthouse was recently refurbished for its 150th anniversary. Farley noted that while it obviously doesnt have its own radio station inside she recommends KWMR headquartered nearby for that people can visit on weekends and take in the serene landscape. With the distant echoes of seagulls and crashing waves, the atmosphere is a sharp contrast to the still-functional lighthouses deadly ties in the film. It was a top tier technology, she said. It saved many, many lives. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images The premise of The Fog seems prescient, especially now that weve lived through a year-plus of a pandemic thats caused people to fear leaving their own homes. It perfectly captures the dread of isolation and broken communication the sense of feeling terrified of an invisible threat that you cant quite understand because of its ever-changing nature. But in an odd way, the film is also deeply comforting, with its relatable dialogue, moments of genuine empathy and Waynes soothing voice over the crackling radio, which serves as a unifying force that connects all of the characters and ultimately helps them survive. It also offers a teaching moment. Theres one thing Ive learned, said Hill in the DVD commentary. If theres a knock on the door and its at night, you dont answer it. Especially if there's fog outside, joked Carpenter. "The Fog" is available to stream for free on Tubi. Debra Hill Productions Debra Hill Productions Illustrative photo The FDI from large corporations who own advanced technologies is setting the scene for transfer of technology, know-how and expertise to Vietnamese enterprises to improve their competitive edge and build capacity for local economic sectors, he told an international conference on Global FDI and Responses of FDI Enterprises in Vietnam in the New Context held last week. Echoing Hois view, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Nhan from the University of Commerce said studies show that there is a shift in FDI from the textile and garment industry to hi-tech industries, for example, computer and electronics manufacturing. Hoi made several recommendations to help Vietnam lure more new-generation FDI, saying it is necessary to produce outstanding and competitive incentives to attract high-tech, eco-friendly projects, particularly those building R&D and innovative centres in Vietnam; and to strengthen linkages between foreign and domestic investors and facilitate technology transfer. The country should also accelerate investment promotion to catch the eye of financially capable and experienced multinationals; keep a close watch on the movement of FDI and technologies into Vietnam to select proper investment projects; and enhance human resources quality, he added. According to Assoc. Prof, Dr Nguyen Truc Le, Rector of the Vietnam National University (VNU)s University of Economics and Business (UEB), Vietnam was named among the worlds Top 20 FDI recipients for the first time last year. The new normal may pose various challenges to Vietnam but it also provides the country with many chances, he said, adding that these opportunities have been driven by the governments highly-regarded effort to keep the COVID-19 at bay and boost economic growth at the same time for months. Vietnam is also taking advantage of new-generation free trade agreements to draw more FDI, he continued. The launch of new incentives to selectively attract FDI and improve business climate also play a role in enhancing the quality of the FDI, he cited. Expectation from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is driving the FDI from the EU into Vietnam, said Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers, Country Director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Vietnam. Vietnam is the most attractive destination among ASEAN member states, Stoffers said. Having one of the most liberal economic systems in the region, Vietnam offers appealing conditions for foreign investors to actively do business in the country, he noted, adding that it was not without reason that Vietnam was chosen by the EU to sign a trade pact with. You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short. SHELTON Huntington Fire Company No. 3 hosted a fire prevention event in Shelton on Oct. 9. The first-ever event featured a variety of activities. Children learned valuable fire safety tips from firefighters, got a close up view of life-saving equipment and donned some exotic designs on their faces. Convenient home delivery Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! Get the Ludington Daily News delivered straight to your door and receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition when you purchase a Print + Digital Subscription. Page Content The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of building open and sincere relationships between managers and their reports. "How do you know how your company is doing right now?" asks Dennis Baltzley, global head of leadership solutions at Korn Ferry in Washington, D.C. "You know from your employees." It's well worth the effort to cultivate genuine relationships with your workers because candid conversations with employees may be the best tool leaders have right now for assessing the health of a company. Even employee engagement surveys can be deceiving if workers have reasons to hide how they really feel. Workers may feel pressured to say "the right things" if there's not a deep manager-employee relationship. But keep in mind that employees often have a good sense of whether their managers are honestly interested in them. Leaders who check in with their reports on a regular basis may be doing so as a way to stay connected, but these efforts can backfire if check-ins seem more like "check-offs" on a to-do list. Workers can tell the difference. Empathy Is Key Research shows that leaders who develop sincere relationships with workers take the time to learn about the employees as people. They ask questions about their employees' lives and approach each conversation with empathy. Showing empathy means listening and trying to understand not only how a person feels but also why the person feels that way. This can be harder than it seems because "that person's culture and beliefs may be very different from yours," said Jyoti Jani Patel, a Seattle-based leadership consultant and co-creator of the website The Empathy Tour, which features an online collection of stories celebrating organizations that are practicing empathy in creative ways. "Empathy says, 'I get it, from your perspective,' " Patel said. Leaders should always be engaging in "communication with employees about what we hear their needs to be and explaining what the needs of the company are," said Michael Brisciana, SHRM-SCP, vice president of human resources at Janel Group, an import/export company based in New York City with 15 offices nationwide. "It's about trying to balance the two sides." Empathy Starts with the Self Back in the spring of 2020, many leaders expected the COVID-19 pandemic would be a short-term problem, lasting perhaps a few weeks. But as the public health crisis has dragged on, "what we're seeing playing out on a global scale is organizations that are stressed," Patel said. "And there's a lot of really stressed-out leaders out there who are struggling to have empathy." Research from the Society for Human Resource Management found that almost all of the CEOs surveyed (97 percent) agreed that their actions have a direct impact on workplace culture. Yet in the Workplace Empathy Study, conducted in February 2021 by HR software company Businessolver, 7 in 10 CEOs reported that it's difficult for them to consistently show empathy in the workplace (a 29-point increase from the previous year's survey). In addition, 68 percent of CEOs said they fear they will lose respect if they show empathy in the workplace (a 31-point increase from the previous year). "I think we're still trying to find the balance between understanding employees and being strong leaders," Brisciana said. Nearly everyone's life has changed. "We have a lot more demands now in all the roles that we play, whether parent or caregiver, employee or company leader," Patel said. Leaders need to make sure they're being empathetic to themselves first. "We've got to take care of ourselves and become strong before we can take care of and be strong for others." Transparency Is a Must It's also imperative for leaders to be transparent about the company's challenges and financial situation. Employees don't expect leaders to immediately have all the answers to a company's challenges, but they do expect them to be forthright about any difficulties and to be truthful about when answers can be expected. "Be very transparent about all decision-making processes, who was consulted and how any decision was madefor example, by consensus or by majority opinion," Patel said. In addition: *Acknowledge difficult situations. Leaders should show employees that they understand what's hard about a situation. Be careful not to minimize problems or give them a positive spin. Don't feel pressured to find a solution, either. "Be realistic about the current situation, and not how you wish it was," Baltzley said. "A lot of leaders think that communication is [relaying] information. But communication is connection." Employees "know I'm paying attention if I'm checking in and saying, 'I don't have all the answers, but how are you doing?' " *Model agility. Make sure your employees feel supported when you ask them to adapt to change. "You want people to be willing to try things," Baltzley said. Support that willingness by being an example for your employees. Do you take lessons from the past and apply them to new situations? Do you get back up when you've been knocked down? *Seek out all employees' viewpoints and be open to whatever is said. If there are people who have been quiet at work in the past, it's especially important that you hear from them now, Patel said. "You want alternative perspectives, to get the voices that are not usually heard." Empathy and transparency can create a psychologically safe workplace where employees won't be afraid to talk about difficult topics and managers won't be afraid to delve into discussions that bring up conflicting ideas. Conflict is often a good thing, Patel said, because it means people are being honest and a wider range of viewpoints are being heard. Natalie Kroc is a freelance writer based in the Chicago area. Los Angeles, Oct 13 (IANS) Payal Kapadia's Indo-French co-production, 'A Night of Knowing Nothing', which got the prestigious Oeil d'Or award for Best Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival 2021, joins Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke's 'Drive My Car' and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's 'A Hero' in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) nominations for best film, which were announced on Wednesday. Both 'Drive My Car' and 'A Hero', which had, like 'A Night of Knowing Nothing', debuted in Cannes, have been nominated for best film, best direction, best screenplay and best performance by an actor, reports Variety.com. The best film category is rounded out by nominations for 'The Pencil' from Russia's Natalya Nazarova and 'There is No Evil', an Iranian-Czech-German co-production directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, which had bagged the Golden Bear in Berlin. Organisers said that nominations had gone to 38 films from 25 Asia Pacific countries and regions. Films from Japan and Iran each collected seven nominations. After 14 years, a representative from Vietnam (cinematographer Nguyen Vinh Phuc nominated for his work in Le Bao's "Taste," aka "Vi") collected the country's first APSA nomination. The APSA nominations represented a complete shut-out for both mainland China and Taiwan. That is in stark contrast to the Asian Film Awards, announced earlier this week in Busan, in which three Chinese films won four awards, including the best director prize, which went to Zhang Yimou. The APSA nominations are also at odds with those for the Golden Horse Film Awards announced last week, in which Hong Kong's 'Drifting' and Taiwan's 'The Falls' each picked up nearly a dozen nods. Given the impact of Covid-19 on the region, the eligibility of films in competition this year was extended back to the end of 2019. This "(increased) the field and calibre of competition significantly," APSA organisers said. The best youth feature film award gives nominations to three emerging women directors with their debut or second features: Korea's Yoon Dan-bi for 'Moving On', Afghan director Granaz Moussavi for aWhen Pomegranates Howl' and Saudi Arabia's Shahad Ameen's 'Scales'. The APSA winners will be decided by a yet-to-be-announced jury. The prizes will be presented on November 11 at a ceremony at Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. --IANS dc/kr Local officials told IANS that some BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam miscreants planted a copy of the Holy Quran at the feet of Ganesh in the Durga pantheon at Nanuyar Dighir Par Temple on Tuesday night. A temple in Comilla became the flashpoint on Tuesday night for allegedly disrespecting the Quran. Authorities have taken serious note of the incidents, deploying paramilitary forces and asking authorities to act against the perpetrators. "The miscreants took some pictures of this and ran away. Within a few hours, using Facebook, the propaganda spread like wildfire with the provocative pictures," said a district official. Angry mobs vandalised puja pandals, and the temple. Ruling Awami League workers swung into action along with police to cordon off the Durga Puja pandals and temples. Later in the day, more units of security forces were deployed in Comilla town and other sensitive areas of the district and elsewhere in the region. In an emergency notice, the Religious Affairs Ministry said it had come across news that the religious text had been "disrespected" in Comilla, but urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands and reiterated calls to maintain religious harmony and peace. Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed in Comilla in the face of rising communal tensions. BGB's Comilla Battalion commander, Lt Col Fazle Rabbi said: "Four platoons of the BGB were deployed at noon to ensure that there is no unrest in Comilla. The BGB has been deployed to prevent any hostilities." The Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council appealed for calm. "We would like to say to our Muslim brothers, please do not believe the rumours. We respect the Quran. There is no need for the Quran in Durga Puja. This is someone conspiring to create a riot. There will be a fair investigation. Please don't attack any more Hindu temples," it said, in a statement circulated widely through Facebook and You Tube. But Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta said: "Already, temples are being attacked countrywide, including Banshkhali in Chittagong, Pekua of Cox's Bazar... the communal threat has been spread countrywide. We are going to decide to stop music and use of mikes as a protest... cannot stop the rituals at that moment." "The District Commissioner of Comilla told me, 'All are 'fake photos' in social media.'... So, what is the role of the state, why doesn't the administration stop Facebook or any social media to assure the security of the Hindu community? "All of these are prejudicial acts... it is the same practice of political crime, ethnic cleansing practice, to clean 10 per cent Hindu community, which increased 2 per cent in last 10 years, as the government report says. It is a positive sign, which is targeted by the communal groups. It breaks the confidence of the Hindu community. We want the proper responsible role of the administration and political parties," Dasgupta told IANS on Wednesday evening. Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader told IANS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the criminals behind spreading communal attacks and propaganda be identified and punished as an example. Mohila Awami League's Commilla Organising Secretary Aysha Zamam Shimu told IANS that "the Islamist opposition of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are responsible for this mischief because they want a communal riot to discredit our government and cause bilateral problems with India". "They tried the same tactics when Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh in March," she said. Awami League social media coordinator Tanmoy Ahmed expressed concern at the role of Facebook, through which the provocative messages of "insulting Quran" were spread, using fake accounts of Jamaat militants named 'Juelpradoxical' and 'Sk Media'. Ahmed said Facebook refused to block these accounts despite repeated complaints that these were being used to whip up communal tensions and could lead to considerable public disorder, and instead urged complainants "to use the platform for counter-speech in form of accurate information to create a safer environment". Former Telecommunication Minister Tarana Halim also told IANS that Facebook "must cooperate with the government to prevent the breakdown of public order and it is important for them to tighten their Community Hate standards". Meanwhile, Awami League leaders noting that Sheikh Hasina donated three crore takas for the Durga Puja, said that party volunteers have been mobilised to protect Hindu temples and "all troublemakers will be firmly dealt with". --IANS sumi/vd Car search platform CarDekho on Wednesday said it has raised $250 million, taking its valuation to $1.2 billion and becoming the 31st unicorn of 2021 in the country. The fresh round of funding included $200 million Series E equity and $50 million debt in its pre-IPO round. The funding round was led by LeapFrog Investments, a global impact investor focused on financial services and healthcare access. The company said it plans to expand across India with retail hubs that will focus on both used car buying and certified pre-owned car retail transactions with customers. The CarDekho team is currently present in India, Indonesia and Philippines and aims to use the funds to expand internationally. The company's auto and non-auto products are currently used in more than 30 countries globally. "The new fundraise will help us expand our Used Car transactions and Financial services businesses. The trust and conviction of our investors will help us to accelerate our growth plans," said Amit Jain, Co-founder and CEO, CarDekho. CarDekho currently buys cars from customers in more than 100 markets and has a catalogue of more than 3,000 certified pre-owned cars for online purchase. The company will expand its used car retail transactions business geographically and is set to increase its catalogue to 10,000 cars in the near future. As CarDekho Group continues to scale, LeapFrog will support the company's plans to deliver quality and affordable vehicles, insurance, and finance to millions of new emerging consumers. Improved mobility remains a proven driver of access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. Other new investors who participated in the new funding round included the US based Canyon Partners, Mirae Asset and Harbor Spring Capital, along with existing investors Sequoia Capital India and Sunley House. "CarDekho is making vehicles more accessible, affordable and trustworthy for over three million emerging consumers," said Stewart Langdon, Partner and Co-Head of South Asian Investments, LeapFrog Investments. India is adding at least three 'unicorns' per month in 2021. India is the third in the list of countries having the most unicorns, trailing the US and China, but ahead of the UK and Germany, as per a report by Hurun India. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Traders in the global foreign exchange market are rapidly being replaced by computers that decide which currencies to buy and sell and when, execute thousands of orders a day and process them in milliseconds. In "high frequency" trading, the only role of human beings - beyond developing the program - is to turn the computer on and off. This is the trend that Bank of America, the second largest US bank, wants to exploit as it competes in the foreign exchange industry which turns over more than $US2 trillion a day. What makes high frequency trading more profitable is simply its speed and volume. Even a tiny profit can turn into big money as it is multiplied many thousands of times. Whatever profit a manual trader makes in a year, the system can potentially make in a day. Thus on the same profitable trades, the computer always beats the man - or so the argument goes. At the centre of this group was the restless genius of Lou Reed, who sounds like he was accompanied by his own storm: aggressive, mercurial and at the time, solidly gay. He had endured shock therapy for his teenage nervous breakdowns (his sister insists the shock therapy was not to rid him of his gay tendencies). By 16, he was well into drugs and alcohol, as was Cale, who had been sexually abused as a child in the Welsh valleys. Reed and Cale wanted a band that could improvise without a set structure on stage, like free jazz musicians. Reed was an accomplished songwriter with a degree in English literature. He wanted to write lyrics as good as a novel. The ideas behind this band were nothing if not ambitious. That attracted Andy Warhol, who became their manager for a few heady years (until Reed fired him). Warhol brought in the German model Nico who sounded almost like a drone herself. Loading To some extent, the VU followed the trajectories of rock n roll cliche a meteoric rise followed by an equally meteoric fall, fuelled by drugs and personality clashes. Reed eventually fired Cale, but he sent the guitarist Sterling Morrison to do it. Then in 1970, Reed quit. Cale wonders if drugs killed the band. Its pretty clear they didnt help, but there were many contributing factors, lack of success being one. Reed had more success when he went solo. Haynes is interested in the heady madness of these times in New York. He thinks weve lost the spirit of revolt that produced such a band. Were too cosy, he told The Guardian recently. He raises some interesting questions about how culture works. The energy between Reed and Cale was often destructive, but productive. And commercial success had nothing to do with their influence and impact. Go figure. Theres an enjoyably grouchy moment when Moe Tucker says they hated Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. They were too hippy, she says: nothing ever changed because someone put flowers in their hair. The global clean energy economy is flourishing but its growth is still far too slow to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and avoid catastrophic climate change, says the International Energy Agency, in a stark warning ahead of the COP26 climate meetings in Glasgow. In its annual World Energy Outlook, released on Wednesday, the agency highlights the need for greater ambition and action on clean energy at Glasgow in an era of increasing climate disasters and energy market volatility. In May, the agency put fossil fuels on notice with its first report aligned with the 1.5-degree goals, finding that net zero by 2050 meant there should be no new oil, gas or coal extraction. Wednesdays report reinforces this position. Global deployments of solar and wind energy are soaring, the report finds, and in 2020 even as economies staggered under the weight of coronavirus lockdowns they continued to grow rapidly. In most markets, solar and wind now represent the cheapest available source of new electricity generation. But both resource states have now hit 70 per cent of over-16s first-jabbed, and what experience tells us that is about a month later, first jabs become second jabs. WA Premier Mark McGowan will not commit to targets publicly and if there is a concrete plan to reconnect WA with the rest of the nation and the world, he has not shared its specifics. It feels like February-March is the (moving) target. Is there advice that that is the soonest workforce issues in WAs stretched public hospitals will begin to ease? He says our vaccination rate must get up above 80 per cent of the over-12s, and then there will be a period of two months grace that would allow everyone who wanted to get vaccinated to get vaccinated. In Perth, there appears to be literally nothing stopping anyone getting a jab today. On Tuesday, there were more than 2500 free spots at the state-run vaccination clinics and on Wednesday there will be more than 3500 free spots. And thanks to more Pfizer supplies and the arrival of Moderna at community pharmacies, the over-60s can avoid the (superior) Astra Zeneca should they continue to wish to do so. In regional areas the story is different, though the evidence seems to be that supply is good in major regional centres. On current rates, WA is likely to hit 80 per cent of over-16s double-jabbed in the middle of December. It feels like February-March is the (moving) target. Is there advice that that is the soonest workforce issues in WAs stretched public hospitals will begin to ease? Demand would get a boost overnight from a serious outbreak, human nature being what it is, but it would be nice to think we could get there on this side of a potentially punishing lockdown. McGowan is cautious by nature, and he has clad himself in the political armour of COVID-zero. Freedom Day saw Sydney come back to life. Credit:Louie Douvis Thus, in his critique, NSW was unforgivably too slow to lock down, but also to be mocked on its Freedom Day for enjoying considerably fewer freedoms than residents of the west. More recently he has talked about a globally rare window for a soft landing a difficult dismount which, if it sticks, would be a remarkable achievement. It would see the virus begin to circulate in the community but without overwhelming rates of hospitalisation or death as the vaccines do their protective work. It also requires a certain de-stressing of both the public, and the public health bureaucracy. We will need to be de-programmed to regard every COVID-positive truckie from the east as a threat to public safety, while holding the institutional nerve when it comes to restrictive lockdowns. Any soft landing requires a very high level of vaccination before the Delta variant arrives, and before citizens start to look askance at life including international travel finding a new and enticing level of normal in other parts of the country. Vaccine mandates have been introduced to the all-important mining industry, and the one-third of school leavers who intend to celebrate at the official party in Dunsborough must be first-jabbed if they want to attend. The levers are being pushed and pulled to get the vaccination rate up. Vaccine Commander Chris Dawson, expected to return to his policing duties in the New Year, is on an outreach charm offensive to culturally and linguistically diverse communities and the bush. Loading The working principle is to get first jabs into arms, knowing that second jabs will inevitably follow. He will visit with Kalgoorlie Aboriginal leaders on Wednesday, and later this week visit a mosque in Perths undervaccinated south-eastern corridor. The pattern of vaccinations follows the usual socioeconomic geography. The state rollout was designed by WA Health, so of course the first mass vaccination clinic was set up at the Claremont showgrounds in the affluent western suburbs, whose population is pretty well fully jabbed, while poorer parts of the city and more remote parts of the state lag. Anti-vax sentiment is real, fuelled by online information sources outside the mainstream, though smaller than first thought. There is a real issue that must be addressed in some remote Aboriginal communities, however, due in part to scepticism of whitefella institutions here to help but also due to conservative Christian influences that object to these vaccines on misconceived but no less real theological grounds. More influential is the boring old inertia of human nature and our indifference to the unseen threat over the horizon. Is your preventative dental care fully up to date, or was your last visit to the chair after a toothache or bleeding gum? The state government has decided not to evacuate an apartment tower in Sydneys south-west despite an engineers report warning that the building was at serious risk of collapse due to structural flaws. After emergency inspections on Wednesday, NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said inspectors from Public Works Advisory had advised that there was no immediate safety risk to residents of the 10-storey tower in Canterbury. They will now take the time necessary to review the materials gathered during the investigation, he said. Building inspectors at the apartment complex in Canterbury on Wednesday afternoon. Credit:Janie Barrett While the building has been deemed safe for now, Mr Chandler said there might be a need for some temporary actions and further works to make the building compliant with the building code and to ensure the ongoing safety of residents. There is also likely to be a need for longer-term monitoring, he said. Almost 40 years after its maiden voyage on Sydney Harbour, the iconic Queenscliff ferry made its last trip across the Heads. The first of two Freshwater class ferries to be retired by the NSW government entered service in July 1983 and docked for the last time at Circular Quay on Wednesday afternoon. Passengers aboard the Queenscliff wave to her sister the Freshwater during its final voyage on Wednesday. Credit:James Brickwood Ferry master Austin Hart, whose father Ron was the master of the Queenscliffs first passenger service, helmed the vessel on its last journey from Manly to Circular Quay as ferry horns rang out across the harbour from passing craft. I think he would be pretty proud of me doing this, Mr Hart said of his father. An attempt by NSW Police to remove two videos from a high-profile YouTube channel should be refused because it is tantamount to an abuse of process and represents police trying to shut down criticism of themselves, a court has been told. Police have sought a court order removing videos from the Friendlyjordies channel which refer to the arrest of its producer Kristo Langker. They are also seeking an order stopping the face of the channel, Jordan Shanks, from commenting on Mr Langkers case until it proceeds to a hearing. Jordan Shanks (right) and Kristo Langker outside Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. Credit:Kate Geraghty Mr Langker was arrested in June and charged with two counts of stalking former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, after he twice approached Mr Barilaro and spoke to him. Mr Langker has pleaded not guilty. Footage of Mr Langkers arrest at his Dulwich Hill home by members of the Fixated Persons Unit was published on the Friendlyjordies channel. Pharmacists will start vaccinating children in schools in Queensland, while the state recorded no new local cases of coronavirus on Wednesday. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the first high school to welcome pharmacists to deliver the vaccinations would be at Mareeba, near Cairns, from Friday, with more schools to be announced. Pharmacists will start vaccinating children against COVID in Queensland high schools. Credit:Getty Young people have been fast to line up to get the vaccination, with more than 34 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 receiving the first dose of the vaccine in Queensland one month after the rollout opened to the cohort on September 13. A pop-up vaccination clinic will also open on Wednesday from 11am at King George Square in the Brisbane CBD. A hard-hitting review of Victorias Environment Department has found it is unable to demonstrate it is halting a further decline in threatened species. Only 20 per cent of the states 2000 threatened species have had action plans developed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, according to a report from Auditor-General Andrew Greaves. Critically endangered helmeted honeyeaters Credit:Joe Armao These plans, which are required by law, outline how vulnerable plants and animals should be protected and the efforts being made to help them recover. Many of the existing plans are more than 10 years old and may no longer reflect the species status and emerging threats, the Auditor-General found. The West Australian government will make it illegal for bikie gang members to wear their patches or any other insignia, including tattoos, under tough new laws to be introduced to Parliament this week. The laws are a significant step up to the anti-consorting laws that failed to make it through Parliament during the last term of Mark McGowans government, before its re-election. Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch. Credit:Peter de Kruijff In addition to making it illegal for offenders to consort with other bikie offenders, the new laws will include the ability for police to issue notices to gang members to remove any insignia being displayed in a public place. This law applies to 46 organisations specifically named in the legislation from outlaw motorcycle gangs to feeder clubs and smaller street gangs. Insignia means patched vests, flags and even tattoos. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size AWest Australian teacher is fighting to save her career and sue the Department of Education after what she describes as malicious lies stemming from attempts by her ex-husband to destroy her life had the desired effect. Within two years of their breakup, Cherie Meyer has watched her exemplary 25-year teaching reputation be dragged through the mud with unfounded and unsubstantiated investigations by child protective services, the education department and police, all the while living in terror of being stalked, attacked and threatened in her home. Ms Meyer, whose name has been changed for legal reasons, has been stood down by the Department of Education and had her teaching and working with children licences revoked over allegations ranging from having students stay at her house without permission to smoking drugs with students. Ms Meyer said the allegations made her feel sick to her stomach and she offered proof they never occurred, including alibis and witnesses for her whereabouts at the time, as well as text messages from the students allegedly involved saying Ms Meyer was innocent. These have been seen by WAtoday. Why are people believing these things? Its unbelievably distressing. Ms Meyer She blames a vendetta waged by her ex-husband, who told her following their break-up he would put an end to her much-loved career and bury her if she pursued a violence restraining order through the courts. I will make sure you never work in education again, she says he told her. Advertisement Ms Meyer saw signs over the years that her ex had a temper and was aware that his first divorce took a vindictive path when his first wife got a violence restraining order. Ms Meyers ex-husband has admitted to lying to others about her mental health. But she wasnt aware her son was being frequently beaten by his step-father, including having tools thrown at his chest or a belt to his ribs, until she went to hug him one evening after school in May 2019. Cherie Meyer took pictures of her sons bruising on her phone. Ms Meyer said after she discovered her ex-husband had been physically abusing her son, she made repeated efforts to have her ex removed as a registered trusted guardian at her sons school but they went ignored. Raising an official departmental complaint against her sons school principal, unbeknown to her, sparked a series of defamatory emails to officers in education that have left her floored. The character assassinations against her, which cannot be repeated for legal reasons, were only obtained by Ms Meyer using Freedom of Information laws a year later. Advertisement Ms Meyers lawyers, HHG Legal, have taken steps to notify the department of more than 20 defamation allegations against its employees, who attacked her parenting, professionalism and character. The Department of Educations Executive Director of Professional Standards and Conduct, Craig Ward, said he could not comment on the matter while it was before the Industrial Relations Commission. In late November 2019, Ms Meyers son went missing from his schools pickup spot one afternoon, which caused her immeasurable distress. It turned out he had been held crying in the principals office and subjected to an interview with a Department for Child Protection officer over allegations Ms Meyer had hit him. The department confirmed to Ms Meyer two weeks later that they were closing the case as [her son] is not exposed to harm, but it was continued to be investigated by the Department of Educations internal assessment unit. Ms Meyer was stood down on no pay from her regional teaching post in April 2020 to undergo psychological assessments, with no reason provided. When she was cleared by two doctors of mental health issues and returned a negative drug test as part of this process, she was forced to complete six weeks of counselling with no pay. Advertisement Then she received a letter stating she had been found to have committed serious misconduct. The vocational psychiatrist specialist I was referred to said, In my 44 years of doing this job, I have never seen such vicious and personal attacks on anyone, Ms Meyer said. He said these complaints are no reason for you to be placed on a fitness work check. Text messages between Cherie Meyers son and one of the students at the centre of Education Department allegations against her. Five months later, she was notified of 14 allegations of misconduct. Her 84-page submission to the department denying the allegations included proof that her personal computer, private email and social media messaging had been hacked. Yet her teaching licence and licence to work with children were still revoked. Advertisement Ms Meyer has been forced to sell her house and her car to help pay legal fees, leaving her destitute and fearful of the future. Im fighting something I dont know what Im up against, she told WAtoday. Why are people believing these things? Its unbelievably distressing. Her last employer wrote in March 2020, only days before Ms Meyer was stood down: You are doing an amazing job teaching English. And if [my daughter] is coming home and telling me how great it is, then other students must be doing the same with their parents. Id still like to be able to ask some other teachers to observe you teaching ... to see the structures you have in place, the classroom management and your very scaffolded lessons. Even though she got an interim family violence restraining order against her ex-husband on June 23, 2019, it did not help her. She said Mandurah police denied it existed in their database over the 18 months that followed and did practically nothing to investigate her allegations against her ex, including the original assaults to her son. Advertisement A West Australian teacher and her young son feel betrayed by WA Police and their messages about the importance of protecting domestic violence victims after they repeatedly failed to bring charges against a violent ex-husband. Cherie Meyer, whose name has been changed for legal reasons, left her husband after she discovered he had been beating her primary school-aged son by hitting him across the ribs with a belt, smacking him and throwing tools at his chest up until May 2019. She says her ex-husband also assaulted her more than once. Cherie Meyer (not her real name) has told of her struggle to get help from Mandurah Police after they said her FVRO wasnt in their system. Credit:Getty Images/Marta Pascual Juanola Yet she says she was turned away from the Mandurah police station in tears 27 times over 18 months, from June 2019 until December 2020. She said officers told her the Family Violence Restraining Order she had taken out in June wasnt in their database and refused to accept it, even when she tried to present them with the hard copy. Australias JobKeeper program was designed by Treasury officials at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The aim to was to keep workers connected to their jobs by handing employers a $1500 per fortnight subsidy to cover their wage bills. Any firm which had reasonable grounds to suspect their turnover would fall by 30 per cent (or 50 per cent for big business) was eligible to get the money. For some, however, that did not happen. Figures released by Treasury this week have revealed the exact amount of money handed to businesses who did not suffer a decline in their turnover as large as 30 per cent, and indeed, to business who actually increased their turnover during that time. So, was JobKeeper money wasted? Today on Please Explain, economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Jess Irvine to discuss. Officials in the Department of Defence told their superiors they were left distressed and mystified by Peter Duttons ban of special morning teas to mark an annual day in support of LGBTQI colleagues, with one staff member saying it had cemented their decision to quit. Defence employees spoke out about feeling immediate disappointment and shame and of being slightly disturbed by the tone deaf decision to stop the events celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Emails reveal staff felt shame after Defence Minister Peter Dutton banned IDAHOBIT celebrations, claiming we are not pursuing a woke agenda. Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in May revealed that the Defence Minister had ordered his department and serving military personnel to stop events with particular clothes in celebration after Defence held morning teas where staff wore rainbow clothing to mark IDAHOBIT. Mr Dutton told Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell and secretary Greg Moriarty to issue a note ending such events, saying he would never tolerate discrimination but would not pursue a woke agenda either. Australias 90,000-strong armed forces face a difficult task dealing with the chaotic ending of the 20-year war in Afghanistan and pivoting to deal with Chinas rise. If Australia is to attract and retain talented staff for this dangerous and taxing work it is vital that the army maintain morale. Yet Defence Minister Peter Dutton seemed to have his attention elsewhere in May when he started a silly culture war over the issue of a morning tea for LGBTQI people in the military. Even though LGBTQI service people have fought with distinction since the founding of the nation, their presence in the military has long antagonised some sections of the community. Until 1992, they could be thrown out of the service if they were discovered. Since then, the Defence Force has changed policy and LGBTQI military personnel have been freed from the hypocrisy of hiding their identity to serve their country. The dire predictions that the change in policy would destroy morale have proved untrue. Senior Nationals are putting the Prime Minister on notice over his promise to protect regional jobs under a commitment to reach net zero emissions, warning the bush has been burnt before by national reforms like the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the sale of Telstra. Federal cabinet will on Wednesday debate a plan to decarbonise the economy developed by Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor, ahead of a Nationals party room meeting on Sunday. Nationals Minister Bridget McKenzie. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison has signalled his intent to commit Australia to set a 2050 target of net zero emissions ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow next month, but he needs the junior Coalition partner to back the move. Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie said on Wednesday said there would be no deal with her party unless its right for the regions. Former NSW premier Mike Baird will be among the first witnesses to give evidence in a corruption inquiry investigating the conduct of former premier Gladys Berejiklian during her secret relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire. Mr Baird was named in a witness list released by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday, ahead of the public inquiry into Ms Berejiklian starting on Monday. He is scheduled to front the commission on Wednesday. Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird in 2010. Credit:Marco Del Grande Newly minted deputy leader of the Liberal Party and Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres is also due to appear as a witness on Friday. The ICAC recently named Ms Berejiklian as the focus of an extended inquiry, examining whether she breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during the five-year relationship with Mr Maguire. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage 20 years ago. But for the Dutch royal family, the rules were different: the government held that if an heir wanted to marry someone of the same sex, they would have to forfeit their right to the throne. That position changed on Tuesday when Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the Dutch princess, 17-year-old Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria, could marry someone of any gender without fear of relinquishing the crown. Netherlands Princess Amalia, who turns 18 in December. Credit:AP The new stance is a clear break from the traditions of other royal families around the globe, including those that have avoided addressing the issue or disapprove of the practice outright. In the Netherlands, Parliament must approve royal engagements. But Rutte, a longtime proponent of LGBTQ rights both at home and in Europe, said that times have changed since the issue was last addressed in 2000. US forces in Iraq said on Tuesday they had arrested two leaders of a network suspected of killing about 900 civilians and wounding nearly 2,000 others in a series of high-profile car bomb attacks. Haytham Kazim Abdallah al-Shimari and Haydar Rashid Nasir al-Shammari al-Jafar were arrested separately on March 21 in Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiyah, the US military said. "It is estimated that since November, the car bombs from this cell have killed approximately 900 innocent Iraqi civilians and another 1,950 have been wounded," the military said. Shimari, the alleged leader of the network, was arrested after he and his driver engaged in a shootout with US troops trying to flag his vehicle down. The US military said Shimari is suspected of "being involved in the planning and execution of the majority of car bombs which have killed hundreds of Iraqi citizens in Sadr City". THE BOTTOM:--- Students of the Saba Comprehensive and Sacred Heart Primary School in Saba have expressed a big thank you to NAGICO Insurances, for providing them with care packages, to help them maneuver face-to-face learning while staying safe in the pandemic. The administrator of the NAGICO Saba Office, Sheritsa Brigida Oleana made a courtesy call to the schools, where she presented the packages to the eager students. Trying to return to a state of normalcy during a pandemic is very difficult, especially with the new strain of the COVID-19 Delta variant affecting many of us personally, she said. We have gone from hearing about the virus oceans away in other countries to seeing it in our homes and in some cases, claiming the lives of our friends and family. As an insurance provider, we know that we must play our part in not only spreading awareness but also in providing the necessary assistance where possible. The students received backpacks with reusable masks, hand sanitizers, pens, and pencils. Telling them what to do is not enough, Brigida- Oleana said about the COVID-19 precautionary measures, providing them with the resources to protect themselves is important in stopping the spread of the virus, and for the recovery of our education system. By providing them with this tangible protective material, we hope to make the move back to normalcy a bit easier and safer. The students expressed their gratitude and thanked NAGICO for their continued contribution to the community of Saba. ST. MAARTEN:--- As part of Carnival Cruise Lines return to guest operations, Carnival Freedom arrived in St. Maarten, Netherlands, today, for the first time since the industry-wide pause in operations. Carnival Freedom became the fourth Carnival ship to resume operations from Miami when it departed on Oct. 9 on an eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. St. Maarten is the ships first port of call, and the next featured ports will include St. Thomas, San Juan and Amber Cove. We are delighted to return to St. Maarten and offer guests an opportunity to experience all of the beauty and charm of the island while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. On behalf of Carnival, I would like to thank our partners in St. Maarten for working with us to bring safe cruising and our guests back to the port. With more than half of its U.S. fleet already in guest operations, additional ships will resume service in the coming weeks and months as Carnivals successful restart of operations continues. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben has provided the necessary funds to redo the interior of the Sister Baslia Center (SBC). The Residence of SBC opened in October 2001 and is specialized in residential care for persons with intellectual disabilities. After 20 years, the Residence was in need of new furniture, curtains and special beds to fit the needs of our clients. This project has now been completed, and the WYCCF likes to extend its sincere gratitude to the Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben for making this renovation possible. The clients and staff of the SBC are delighted with the new look and possibilities. The facelift consists of new beds and nightstands. But also new chairs, couches, and tables for the living and dining rooms and the staff area. In addition to that, the project also incorporated several wall and window decorations and a fresh paint job to give the Residence a fresh new look. With additional funds, several beds, specifically made to fit the needs of some of the SBC clients, were custom build by Koene in the Netherlands. Our Residence really got a whole new look and feel after this project, says Department head, Mimi Hodge. It has really brightened up the place, and we can see the effect it has on both our staff and clients every day. Because of this donation, we now have a more home setting and are able to provide quality care to those with special needs. Once more, the WYCCF would like to thank the Samenwerkende Fondsen, and specifically the Kansfonds and De Groot Fonds, for their generous donation. With help from partners like this, the WYCCF can continue to provide quality care to those who need it. PHILIPSBURG:---The House of Parliament will sit in a public meeting on October 13, 2021. This urgent public meeting, which was adjourned on September 23, 2021, in the first round; will be reconvened on Wednesday at 13.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, and the Minister of Finance will be present. The agenda point is: Management of government (long lease) land by the government of Sint Maarten (IS/016/2021-2022 dated September 15, 2021) This meeting was requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams, MP C.A. Buncamper, MP M.D. Gumbs, MP A.E. Arrindell, MP W.V. Marlin, MP G.S. Heyliger-Marten and MP C.T. Emmanuel. During the meeting of September 23, 2021, a motion to extend the speaking time to 30 minutes in the first round and 20 minutes in the second round was voted on and accepted unanimously. During the continuation on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure will return to provide answers to questions posed by Members of Parliament in the first round. Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sX Bridgetown, Barbados 12th October 2021. FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited (FCIB Barbados), has agreed to sell its banking assets in St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica and St. Kitts to: The Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ltd., Grenada Co-Operative Bank Limited, National Bank of Dominica Ltd., and St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Ltd. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, FirstCaribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited (FCIB Cayman), has agreed to sell its banking assets in Aruba to Aruba Bank N.V. The transactions are all subject to regulatory approval, including from the Central Bank of Barbados, and are expected to be finalized in the coming months. In Aruba, the purchaser is Aruba Bank, the largest commercial bank on the island. That transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Aruba (CBA). In announcing that the applications will be submitted shortly to the various regulatory bodies, CIBC FirstCaribbeans Chief Executive Officer, Colette Delaney, noted that: these transactions enable FirstCaribbean to optimize and simplify its business, further enhance efficiency and focus on core markets to accelerate growth. She noted: in each case we chose a partner that is an excellent fit in its respective market, given that its knowledge of the local markets match with our product offerings and client base and strong market positioning. They each bring a depth of local knowledge to the market and the needs of our clients there, which we believe will serve them well in their positioning for the future. We remain committed to executing on our long-term strategy and delivering the best outcome for clients, shareholders, employees and communities." The four OECS-based banks are market leaders in their respective territories, which offer the full spectrum of commercial banking services and electronic channels. They are supervised by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and require its regulatory approval. Collectively, they have been serving the peoples of the ECCU for a combined period of over 200 years. Their customer base includes consumers, small and middle-market businesses, large corporations, statutory bodies and central governments; and remain committed to helping their customers achieve success. With total assets of over AWG 2.7 billion, Aruba Bank was established in 1925. Based on the State Ordinance on the Supervision of the Credit System, Aruba Bank is being supervised by the Central Bank of Aruba. Aruba Bank has a market leading position and is a full-fledged customer-oriented commercial bank. Their affiliation with the Orco Group ensures that they can offer customers a complete, global experience. Aruba Banks Managing Director, Peter Staal, noted: Our banks mission is to provide superior and innovative banking services tailored to meet the needs of our clients in a cost-effective way by utilizing technology and the skills of a highly trained and motivated cadre of employees. The increased reach that this acquisition will give us will assist us in delivering on our mission. Managing Director of The Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Limited, Derry Williams, who led the negotiations on behalf of the four OECS banks stated: "This acquisition represents a significant development in the evolution of the Banking System of the ECCU. Once approved by the regulators, we are very confident that it will lay the basis for further enhanced value creation in these economies and greater prosperity for our society." In announcing the signing of the various agreements to CIBC FirstCaribbeans staff across the region, Ms. Delaney noted that all sides are working diligently to ensure the transition will be seamless in the five countries. These transactions are not expected to have a material impact on CIBC FirstCaribbeans Tier I and Total Capital ratios. PHILIPSBURG:--- ASLF is pleased to announce that Seven Seas Waters has matched Art Saves Lives Foundations donation of $2,500.00 toward free ballet classes for little girls on the island. The gift has been well received by N.I.A.s (National Institute of Arts) director Arlene Newhouse who is elated by Seven Seas' gesture. Their donation now allows up to 46 ballerinas ages 3-9 to participate in free ballet classes through December 2021. The dresses for this program were given by the Bronxville Ballet NOT FOR SALE. Director of Bronxville Ballet NOT FOR SALE, Ana Dimas explained that her goal is to collaborate with dance studios around the world who are in need of assistance. Through this, she hopes to give opportunities to the girls so that they may learn new skills, gain a positive self-image and have a chance to be a princess. In 2020 Ms. Dimas sponsored 10 classes for the students with the assistance of Nicole de Weever of Art Saves Lives Foundation. Ms. de Weever hand-delivered some 25 custom-made Princess dresses to NIA from New York City. With the success of last years program Ms. de Weever, Ms. Dimas, and the NIA are more than grateful to Mr. Franklyn Richards and Seven Seas Waters for their commitment, especially in such times. As a result of their generosity, the program will be extended until December 2021. NIA and ASLF hope that Seven Seas Waters's actions will encourage more benefactors to come forward and support their efforts. Additional donations would allow the program to be extended until the end of the school year. Donations can be made to NIA by contacting the school at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Robert Syphax, passed away Thursday, November 18, 2021 in Somerset, Kentucky. Arrangements are pending and will be announced later by Pulaski Funeral Home. Pulaski Funeral Home is Honored to assist the family with arrangements. Fire crews work the scene of a small plane crash, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Santee, Calif. At least two people were killed and two others were injured when the plane crashed into a suburban Southern California neighborhood, setting two homes ablaze, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Officials from SCC and SPEDA celebrated the sale of land at the Vally Oak Complex on Ky. 461 which will allow SCC to expand the types of courses it offers. Pictured are, front row, from left: SCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Cindy Clouse, Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley, SCC President Dr. Carey Castle, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and SCC Vice President of Workforce Solutions Alesa Johnson; back row, from left: SPEDA board attorney Jeremy Bartley, SPEDA board member Ameet Patel, SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler, and SPEDA board members Michelle Allen and Forrest Spillman. Network operator fraud remains the biggest threat to the revenues of mobile operators As anti-fraud company Revector marks 20 years of operating, CEO and Founder Andy Gent believes that telecommunications fraud is still not high enough on the corporate agenda for network operators this should be a significant concern to shareholders. In 2001, Revector was launched to combat specific fraudulent activity against mobile network operators. The companys management expected the business to have a shelf life of no more than five years such as the belief that mobile operators would quickly get a grip on network fraud and reduce it to zero. Twenty years later frauds continue to persist costing shareholders, networks, and Governments billions in lost revenue annually. Revenue through mobile service According to Andy Gent, fraudsters are, at heart, business people, exploiting an opportunity for money. Gent explains how this relates to network fraud thus, Mobile service providers generate revenues in two ways - by having their subscribers that pay the company to access the networks they run and associated services such as voice calls, text messages, and data usage. The second known as termination revenue involves transporting calls from other networks. Revenues from termination are shared between all networks that help deliver the call Revenues from termination are shared between all networks that help deliver the call, as Gent outlines: Imagine a call from the UK to Australia. This will pass through several service providers that will each take a small percentage of the call revenues for passing on the call. Telecommunications companies establish relationships with others around predictable calling patterns. For example, BT may know that they need one million minutes of calls to South Africa per month. They, therefore, establish a relationship with a South African telecommunications company to provide this. Trading termination minutes The issue comes when the unexpected happens, for example, an earthquake in Cape Town. Now UK residents with relatives in Cape Town suddenly demand a lot more telephone time. BT needs more minutes than it has. It is unlikely that its partner in South Africa can provide these they are facing the same issue due to the increased volume of calls in and out of the country so it will look to the open market for the minutes it needs. Gent continues, Termination minutes are traded in the same way as other commodities. Exchanges combine minutes from multiple sources, bundle these together and sell them. The issue is where these minutes come from. The bundles may well include white routes premium minutes provided by legitimate telecommunications companies. However, many will include so-called grey routes. A simple but effective fraud Grey routes are not provided by the telecommunications companies but by third parties or through fraudulent means. Typically, the grey routes come at a lower cost than the white routes, but some telecommunications service providers may not know this or care about it. The natural pressure on cost means some telecommunications companies end up using grey route minutes. The threats to network providers revenues come from these grey routes. A primary risk is SIM Box fraud. SIM Box fraud SIM Box fraud occurs where there is a differential price between the cost of routing a call in a country and the cost of terminating a call, as Gent outlines below: Imagine a network is offering a promotion with free calls to others on the same network. At the same time, the value of terminating a call to that networks customers is $0.05 per call. One single SIM card being used in this way can generate $3000 per month and there are hundreds of cards in each SIM box If someone can procure SIM cards with the promotion, these can be loaded into a SIM Box a device that can house hundreds of SIM cards in racks and be connected to the internet - to terminate calls. The owner of the SIM box can then offer to terminate calls for $0.03 per call. The cost to the SIM box owner is close to zero the local minutes they are using to terminate calls are bundled with the SIM deal. The $0.03 per call is pure profit after the SIM cards and SIM boxes have been purchased. While this sounds like a complicated scam it can be lucrative. One single SIM card being used in this way can generate $3000 per month and there are hundreds of cards in each SIM box. Loss of termination revenues Service providers can quickly find a large proportion of revenues lost to SIM boxes. Gent has seen up to 90 percent of termination revenues being lost. The nature of SIM box fraud is transitory: fraudsters will pick the countries with the strongest opportunity to generate revenues quickly, sweep in and terminate calls for a month or two before the operator notices the revenue drop and takes action. Is it illegal? If this practice sounds entrepreneurial rather than illegal, it is probably because it seems like a victimless crime. However, mobile network operators have paid millions if not billions for the ability to operate networks and generate termination revenues. A reduction in this revenue will mean less investment into next-generation networks or customer service. For the consumer, illegal termination often means poor quality calls with a lack of services such as caller line identification (CLI). But perhaps the most concerning issue is where the proceeds of crime go, as Gent outlines. Often these SIM box frauds are run by criminal gangs using the process to launder money or finance organised crime or people trafficking. With widespread restrictions on the number of SIM cards that can be sold to one person, the only way to procure enough SIM cards is via criminal activity. Gangs bribe or coerce network operation staff into supplying SIM cards by the thousand, generating millions in illicit revenues. Other telecommunications fraud Threat to operator termination revenues comes from OTT service providers that have an eye on termination revenues Another threat to operator termination revenues comes from Over-the-Top (OTT) service providers that have an eye on termination revenues as well as competing with telecommunications service providers for a share of the voice and messaging market. While most telecommunications companies see Voice over IP (or OTT) as fair competition, in recent years several new OTT service providers have grown extremely quickly. WhatsApp, for example, was incorporated in 2009 and acquired by Facebook just five years later for almost $20 billion. The business models of these companies vary. Some focus on the freemium approach where the initial service is free but add-ons become chargeable. OTT app fraud However, recently some OTT players are looking to terminate revenue to monetise their business models. These operators have been offering competitive termination rates by hijacking a traditional call made from one telephone number to another and terminating it within an OTT app, as Gent explains, We are seeing OTT apps intercepting traditional telephone calls and delivering them within a users app. The call starts as a dialled telephone call, but the user receives it within an OTT app. If OTT players can achieve this, they can generate termination revenues at zero cost other than to the traditional operator. Using an app to make calls Of course, if the recipient of the call believes the caller has used an app to call them, they are more likely to use this method of communication in the future and less likely to dial a number directly. For the OTT players, termination acts as a marketing tool as well as a revenue stream. According to Gent, one OTT service provider has gone as far as including a setting within their app that states receive regular incoming calls within the app when possible. This is defaulted to on when the app is downloaded. Only the most technologically savvy users would even know it was there. Combatting the fraud against networks Networks are less worried about losing revenue to fraud and more about grabbing as many subscribers as possible" Why do networks not do more to combat fraud? The reality, according to Gent, is a combination of priorities and ignorance. He comments, Most mobile network operators are large but still relatively young companies typically built around customer acquisition. Networks are less worried about losing revenue to fraud and more about grabbing as many subscribers as possible. This has led to a mindset where whatever the questions the answer is always more marketing promotions. A small number of innovators around the world continue to fight these frauds directly, but the fraudsters simply move on to the next victim and, when the anti-fraud measures are relaxed, the fraudsters return. An opportunity for the future As mobile networks mature and become more commoditised, Gent believes the issues around combatting fraud will become a wider concern. If you had told me in 2001 that fraud would still be an issue in 2021, I would have been shocked. Yet operators are still losing significant revenues to criminals. Addressing this needs to remain a priority for the industry, not just to ensure networks have the revenues to build and maintain robust networks but also to ensure that criminal behaviour that this kind of illicit activity funds is reduced. This is not just an issue for network operators but also for wider society. Enterprise, AL (36331) Today Partly cloudy. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Enterprise, AL (36331) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. News spotlight Council denies petition calling for environmental assessment at Kraewood development Dozens of speakers expressed concerns about the development of the Paulson tree farm property at an Oct. 5 Northfield City Council meeting that lasted nearly five hours. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) Questions concerning the proposed Kraewood development on a 12-acre former Christmas tree farm where residents say they've seen the endangered rusty patched bumble bee came to a head at the Oct. 5 Northfield City Council meeting. Developers' plans include construction of a 100-unit apartment building, 22 single-family homes, two twin homes and a four-plex off Lincoln Parkway just south of Greenvale Park Elementary. Among those who spoke at the meeting, which lasted for 4 hours and 50 minutes, were three groups: Northfield for Sustainable Housing, Environments & Development (SHED), a residents' advocacy group united in demanding that the council require developers to order and pay for an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW); the Kraewood development team which opposed the EAW for reasons of timeliness and cost; and dozens of unaffiliated residents who mostly spoke out in favor of the council requiring the order. More than 750 people, at least half of whom were Northfield residents, had signed a petition calling for the EAW in September, a number frequently referenced by Northfield SHED during their presentation to the council. Northfield City Council met for nearly five hours Oct. 5 to consider a petition to require developers to order an environmental assessment worksheet for their proposed development of the Paulson property. (File photo/southernminn.com) Nearly two hours after voting to extend the meeting beyond the 3-hour time limit, the council voted unanimously with the exception of Councilor Brad Ness due to a conflict of interest to deny the resident petition for the preparation of an EAW. Requesting an EAW The council chambers were at capacity, with dozens of residents inside the full room and outside in the hallway waiting their turn to speak out on the matter during public forum. Nearly every speaker used their allotted 2-minute speaking time to implore the council to order an EAW. Pollinators are in decline across the globe, said Derek Haars, a beekeeper who sells honey and manages around 100 bee colonies in Rice and Dakota counties. The rusty patched bumble bee is dependent on spring ephemerals the only way to save bees is by making responsible land management decisions. He added that the EAW is a good tool for making decisions regarding those issues and urged the council to vote yes on requiring developers to order one. Another resident, Tristan Cox, said that the matter of the EAW is a matter of law, citing Minnesota Statute 116D.04, Subd. 2a, which states that [w]here there is potential for significant environmental effects resulting from any major governmental action, the action must be preceded by a detailed environmental impact statement prepared by the responsible governmental unit. Diane Angell, a biology professor at St. Olaf College who holds a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology and has worked with endangered species for 30 years with the National Forest Service, told the council that, As a scientist and Northfield citizen, I have both an ethical and moral responsibility to speak up when I see environmental concerns are not being taken seriously. Diane Angell, a biology professor at St. Olaf College, made her case to the council that an EAW should be ordered prior to development. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) Angell spoke for about 10 minutes on what she saw as the developments threat to the endangered rusty patched bumble bee, as well as the negative environmental impact it could have on the citys west side. The bee has been living in the 12-acre parcel, she said, and the surrounding wildlife will not provide the adequate nesting and overwintering needs of the queen bees. Adjacent neighborhoods do not have spring ephemerals, she said, which queens rely on for their survival. One point that was focused on by the councilors, who asked Angell questions after her presentation, was that EAWs are best completed in the March through October timeframe. Angell addressed Councilor Jami Reisters question about whether an EAW could be done outside that timeframe, saying that it would not be ideal, but it might be possible. Reister followed up. I guess Im wondering if there are any intentions of actually insisting that it be done in March through October, thus delaying any project for months? Reister asked. I cant speak to that, Angell said. Im not in charge of that. To me, that is the council members choice. If you request an EAW, and somebody is required to complete that EAW, then thats going to get completed. Councilor Jessica Peterson White asked about Angells statement during her presentation that the ordering of the EAW would not delay development. Could you just explain how you see that to be the case? Peterson White asked. It will slightly delay development, but the time taken for an EAW is time well spent, Angell responded. Understanding what is there, I think, should be a priority. Reister stepped in again to question Angells point that the development will affect the west side of town, the only region of Northfield identified by the MPCA [Minnesota Pollution Control Agency] as a region of environmental justice concern due to poverty, according to Angells Powerpoint. Reister asked how providing a safe community and affordable housing supports Angells broader points, to which Angell expressed her concern about the distribution of accessible green spaces to lower socioeconomic groups. The need for housing isnt gonna go away, Councilor Clarice Grenier Grabau said later to Angell. How do we justify [canceling or delaying the development] to, for instance, a mother who needs an affordable place to live, and she could potentially walk her child to school across the street and were saying that we cant do that because of these reasons? I think we have maybe a more nuanced understanding of what makes a great development, Angell said. We could have smaller apartment buildings. I would welcome people to ask the folks that live in our community what they would like to see, instead of assuming that people would like to be in large apartment buildings. Thats not always what people would prefer. Developers respond In responding to residents request for an EAW, developers invited in a traffic consultant, landscape architect, civil engineer and environmental consultant to present to the council on various concerns, including traffic and environmental risks. Responding to Angells point that city staff confirm there will be 808 total daily trips for the construction, putting the endangered bee through a 14.7% increase in traffic, Vern Swing, of Swing Traffic Solutions, said that the scale of that increase requires some perspective to understand. The Minnesota Department of Transportation, he said, typically requires 2,500 per day before they require an EAW, or 250 peak-hours trips we are not close to that threshold. Swing added that his traffic studys analysis indicated that all of the intersections involved in the development will operate at level of service A, indicating very low delay, with the worst movements operating at level of service B, indicating low delay. His results, he said, are the same as those arrived at by the traffic study done on Greenvale Elementary School, as well as by engineering consulting firm Bolton & Menk, and similar to those arrived at by city staff regarding the St. Olaf access reconfiguration. Annie Weeks, of Midwest Natural Resources, an environmental consulting firm, presented the firms survey of the parcel, which she said was conducted Oct. 1. The results of the survey, she said, came after looking at publicly available data pertaining to ecological resources followed by an in-person field assessment by the firms senior botanist. Historical aerial photographs, Weeks said, show that the site has been cleared since sometime prior to 1938, and since then, its been used for agricultural production, meaning there are no native plant communities onsite. What its botanist later discovered, she said, is that generally the site is pretty degraded as a result of historic land use. Northfield City Council met for nearly five hours Oct. 5 to consider a petition to require developers to order an environmental assessment worksheet for their proposed development of the Paulson property. (File photo/southernminn.com) The site doesnt necessarily provide high-quality forage habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee, she said. You can tell that to the bumble bee, an audience member mumbled. While there are some spring ephemerals, she said, those mostly occur in smaller pockets right along the edges of the property, a forested boundary, which the developers said they are planning on maintaining. So a lot of that area may not even be impacted. Later in the evening, Peterson White said that her understanding of EAWs is that their proper function usually pertains to things like former dry cleaning sites or places where gas tanks might be buried. "This is not a native space," she said. "I do not view this land as a treasure of natural space, as it has been framed to be." Wrapping up Forty-five more minutes of public comment took place after the developers presentation, in which residents mostly advocated for the ordering of the EAW and disputed the environmental consulting firms results, some suggesting the group was biased since it was funded by the developer. Some who spoke, though, claimed to have never seen the bee on the property and disputed the necessity of the EAW. This is a really precise thing were called to do tonight, and a lot of the testimony I think has really failed to see that, Councilor Suzie Nakasian said. The question of significant environmental impact to me comes down to the word significant, and not we must, and we may, and you must and you better and 808 of us and then veiled threats. Pull Quote "This is not a native space ... I do not view this land as a treasure of natural space, as it has been framed to be." Councilor Jessica Peterson White News spotlight Middle School introduces new program to ensure no student is left behind Emily Kahnke / By EMILY KAHNKE emily.kahnke@apgsomn.com Christina Bell, a student at Owatonna Middle School, spoke to the School Board of her experience with the SOAR program and the benefits shes seen for herself and her peers. The SOAR program is new at the middle school this year and allows students an opportunity to fine-tune skills in various subjects. (Emily Kahnke/southernminn.com) Emily Kahnke / By EMILY KAHNKE emily.kahnke@apgsomn.com Owatonna Middle School Principal Julie Sullivan approaches the School Board, joined by assistant principals Matt Zurbriggen and Erin Halverson, to discuss the new SOAR program implemented into the Wednesday schedule at the school. (Emily Kahnke/southernminn.com) Owatonna Middle School students are ready to SOAR this year, thanks to the administration team introducing a new and improved program to give them a second chance at complex concepts and enrich their day with fun activities. A few years ago, the former Junior High School implemented a program called WIN, or What I Need, with the idea to help students who were struggling in certain areas. Still, it lacked the system and organization to be successful. With the implementation of Infinite Campus, the new SOAR program has taken off and been successful in ease of use for students and staff alike. We knew we needed to try something a second time around, said OMS Assistant Principal Matt Zurbriggen. We knew we needed to find a way to help kids through the learning process. SOAR Skills, Organization, Accountability, and Responsibility is an intervention and enrichment program that has been built into the school day for students. It is similar to the COMPASS program at Owatonna High School, with two sessions at the beginning of every other Wednesday that run for 36 minutes. Classes on these days are shortened to accommodate the SOAR sessions. Students can be assigned an intervention time to practice skills they had trouble grasping in courses over the previous days. They can retest on skills, complete homework, or (as the school calls it) practice. Students who are not pulled into an intervention period may choose an enrichment program such as yoga, card games, sports, PC gaming, cooking, fat tire biking, and more. Out with the old, in with the new Due to budget and student access concerns, the middle school decided to eliminate homework help sessions and Saturday school, making the SOAR program that much more beneficial and, in some cases, crucial. Middle School Principal Julie Sullivan said theyd seen attendance take a downturn for homework help and Saturday school because many kids couldnt access these resources due to time constraints, or they were unable to get a ride to school early or on Saturday. During the first SOAR session, 21% of students were pulled for an intervention, according to data provided by Owatonna Public Schools. By the second term, 40% of students were pulled, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. As the course curriculum progresses, some kids may struggle to grasp concepts right away. Zurbriggen stressed that individuals are often given second chances at tests in life, such as drivers tests and college entrance exams. He asked, why shouldnt students be given the same opportunity for a second chance at skills in school? Weve emphasized that in our grading work with assessments being a key part of that primary focus in whats calculated into the grade, Zurbriggen said. We knew we needed a way to give kids a chance to reassess and to have a chance to reteach if they didnt get something the first time. They need another opportunity. In the classroom Erin Klecker, a math teacher at the middle school, said that her experience with the SOAR program has been nothing short of positive. She took a poll with her students asking what they think of the program, and reported back that nearly all of them responded with thanks. She also said shes seen a shift in the mindset of her students becoming motivated to learn skills and not fearing being left behind. Ive seen a lot of things in my time at the middle school, Klecker said. I dont think in all of those years have we had a time built into our school day to pull kids and work on skills and focus on their learning instead of just getting something done. Spanish teacher, and student council advisor Andrew Malo said he was excited to come before the school board to talk about SOAR because he loves it and sees the benefits reflected in his own grade book. Im glad we revisited the WIN program because the point of it was so good, Malo said. We learned from the mistakes and its been great. In the eyes of a student Christina Bell, a student at the middle school, spoke to her experiences with the SOAR program at a work session Monday night for the Owatonna School Board. It gives you a chance to reboot back into school, Bell said. Having a break in the schedule from traditional school work and having time to relax is good for students. Bell also talked about how she thinks the opportunity to do a fun activity will drive students to complete and learn the material because they want to participate in the various activities being offered. She also mentioned that she was thankful for the opportunity to retake a math assessment and found value in being able to have more one-on-one time with the teachers to better understand the skills. Im very glad the principals made a change to the system this year, Bell added at the end of her speech. The administration team for the middle school have planned and scheduled out the program for the entire first semester to ensure its success. News spotlight Waseca celebrates partial opening of long-awaited dog park Julian Hast / By JULIAN HAST julian.hast@apgsomn.com Waseca celebrated the partial opening of its first-ever dog park on Friday at the former westernmost ball field at Memorial Park, between Kieslers Campground and Barneys Drive-In. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) Srp Dushaw Its often said at City Hall that its all about the kids, Mayor Roy Srp said at the former westernmost ball field at Memorial Park, between Kieslers Campground and Barneys Drive-In. This is all about the dogs. Waseca celebrated the partial opening of its first-ever dog park on Friday, with pups of all sizes playing and running as they may not have ever done before in the city. The event was the culmination of at least three years of sustained effort on the part of the Waseca Park Advisory Board and Dog Park Subcommittee. It also took place only four months after the City Councils unanimous vote July 6 to approve funding for the ball fields conversion into a dog park. Julian Hast / By JULIAN HAST julian.hast@apgsomn.com Officials from the city of Waseca and the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce gathered Friday morning to celebrate the partial opening of Wasecas first dog park at Memorial Park. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) It feels so awesome. Wow. Wow, said Jeanne Sexton, a Park Advisory Board member who spearheaded the effort to deliver Waseca a dog park. She struggled to find the words that morning to express her gratitude and joy that the effort succeeded so definitively. We are very blessed. Having joined the board in 2017, Sexton knew that the desire for a dog park in Waseca stretched on for years before her involvement. When I came on the board I said, I know it cant happen tomorrow how do I start the process of this? Sexton said. That process involved researching various parks that a dog park might be able to occupy, including Oak, Clear Lake, Northwest, and Sportsman parks. Every location fell through for reasons related to size, restrictions by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and more. Park Superintendent Brad Dushaw emphasized the boards determination before the ribbon cutting ceremony. The neat thing is they kept on track, Dushaw said. They were determined to make the dog park a reality. We definitely had some setbacks, but they kept pushing to make this what it is today. Since turf establishment is still taking place on the west side of the dog park, the east half is the only area open for now. When the ground freezes, Dushaw said, the city may look to open the west side as well, though the separation between both halves of the dog park will remain. The Park Advisory Board plans to open the whole dog park by spring 2022. As City Manager Lee Mattson explained, this separation makes room for dog owners should their dog want that. If you have a dog that you know is aggressive, you dont want it around other dogs, but you still may want to play fetch with it, Mattson said. Beyond serving the demand of Waseca residents, Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ann Fitch added that repurposing a dog park, rather than establishing a new one, is economically preferable for the city. That park is already not having its taxes be paid out because its owned by the city, Fitch explained. But if they were to take some other land that was meant for commercial development, then that would be taking potential revenue land off the books. So its a net zero as far as property taxes go. Residents of Waseca and neighboring towns were also thrilled, showing up with their furry friends and furry friend accessories, ready to play. I like having one here because I used to go to Owatonna or Mankato, said Stephanie Geyer of Waterville. Im like, God, I wish Waseca would get one because its only 15 minutes from my house. Julian Hast / By JULIAN HAST julian.hast@apgsomn.com Elaine Spain of Otisco was delighted Friday morning to have a nearby public venue to play with her dog. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) Robert Harris III of Albert Lea, who was on the Dog Park Subcommittee and served as director of programs for the Waseca-based nonprofit Lead for Minnesota, was also delighted that the Park Advisory Boards years of efforts finally paid off. I got involved only like a year ago so its nice to kind of sneak in at the end when it gets done, he said, laughing. Julian Hast / By JULIAN HAST julian.hast@apgsomn.com Robert Harris III of Albert Lea, a former member of the Dog Park Subcommittee of Wasecas Park Advisory Board, said it was heartening to see the subcommittees years of work finally pay off. (Julian Hast/southernminn.com) Standing outside the fence, the mayor remarked on the exceptional nature of his constituents efforts. I dont remember such an exuberant group of citizens working so hard to get something accomplished for a long time, Srp said. I dont remember something like this. Vicki Adame covers Minnesotas Latino communities for MPR News via Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities. {span} 2020 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.{/span} Paws up if youve missed the SJPDs Major Crimes division, and St Johns beautiful scenery. Yes, Hudson and Rex is back with Sid and Nancy, and one of the shadiest police constables youll ever meet. We open to rugged, windswept landscapes, and watch as a happy couple, Paul and Molly, become newly engaged. Its a joyous moment, but sadly it isnt to last. Two tarps amongst the rocks tell us they did not survive the opening.Charlie and Rex arrive at the scene and are met with disdain and annoyance by local police. Not everyone is as charmed by Charlie and his canine partner as you might expect.It appears notorious killers Sid and Nancy are in town. On a killing spree, heading east, its possible theyve now arrived in Newfoundland.The first suspect for the murder of Paul and Molly is Quinn Carter, a friend of the victims, and the person who found the bodies. But the killer will turn out to be one of the more obviously suspicious characters this week. The SJPD has a new mobile command centre, which Jesse is driving. Thats an error none will repeat again as Jesse doesnt quite understand the urgency.Theres a different feel to the show now that the team is out in the field in the mobile unit. The bonds are tighter. They may need to go a bit easier on Jesse though. Hes hurt by Donovan not letting him drive, despite the two having quite the father/son relationship and Donovans teasing being good-natured.At the bar, Constable Lyle complains to Jesse about his superintendent, and because Jesse thinks a connection is being made, the manipulation goes unseen. Feeling like he isn't being taken seriously by the team, Jesse bonds with Lyle. He finds a sympathetic ear in Lyle, someone who seems to understand some of his frustrations, and who appears to respect him.Jesse wont make a new friend here, but hes better at these interactions than he used to be, and it helps that Lyle treats him like an equal.Lyle feeds off Jesse's insecurities and together they trek into the woods, to the home of Byson, whom Lyle says is connected to the deaths. When they arrive at Bysons trailer, Lyle knows exactly where any evidence is located, and it all feels a little planted. Jesses uneasy about the situation, and with good reason because Lyle is soon revealed to be responsible for Paul and Molly's deaths.Yes, it was obvious from the start, but thats okay. It upped the tension, knowing Jesse was putting himself in danger, and made us all feel a little smug when we knew wed picked the killer from his first scene. Joes interactions with both the local superintendent and the grieving mother were all handled with patience and respect. Having Joe out in the field with them more will bring this tight-knit group even closer together. He might need to become the permanent mobile command centre driver, until Jesse gets another chance behind the wheel, that is. Sarah and Charlie's friendship continues to grow, and the two tease one another a few times this episode. Charlie fishes for compliments, because low-key flirting with Sarah is just part of his day now. They enjoy one anothers company which is a good thing because theyre soon to be in cramped quarters for the night. Sarah and Charlie working like real partners is a wonderful season four addition. Theyve had moments in the past, but this feels more official. The two head out in search of a hunting shack to investigate, and with the sun going down, they hunker down for the night. Cozy cabin. Wood stove Charlie cant get working. A bottle of rye to share. And only the one bed. Be still my fanfiction heart. To make this scene even better, Sarahs job offer in London is addressed and Charlie opens up a bit more about his feelings. Hes glad she decided to stay. Sadly, Sarah falls asleep before he can finish the sentence. But whats important here isnt necessarily whether Sarah did or didnt hear (with any luck there will be more admissions that she is awake for this season), but that Charlie finally said how he felt not how Rex felt. Its another moment of character growth, and another step towards them finally admitting how they really feel about one another. Final Thoughts: The new opening really showcases all the relationships. Its no longer just Hudson and Rex, but all the team. Rex destroying the mannequin in the cabin took me back to every dog Ive ever had. That was a nice touch, a fun moment of Rex off-duty, just being a dog. Charlie taking Lyle down was the role-reversal I didnt know I needed. Are Charlie and Sarah moving towards more this season? Considering their journey so far, it seems inevitable. And guess what? If they do, it wont turn this show into a soap opera. Promise. Written by new showrunner Peter Mitchell, Sid and Nancy was a strong premiere, with a refreshed tone. Having the mobile command centre means seeing the team in more intimate settings, and also allows them to travel further together. Season four is promising to be another uplifting season, encompassing everything weve loved in the past, with relationships that are more defined, yet all still evolving. Hudson and Rex airs Thursday at 8/7c on Citytv. Over the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk played the role of Gatsby and threw a party for 9,000 people in Gruenheide, Germany. Musk hosted the event complete with decorations ranging from flashing lights to techno music to celebrate the opening of Tesla's Berlin-Brandenburg gigafactory. At the October 9 event, Musk said the factory could start production as early as next month. Were aiming to start production in a few months, basically, November or December, and hopefully deliver our first cars in December, Musk said at the festival. But starting production is kind of the easy part. The hard part is reaching volume production. According to TechCrunch, Tesla is expected to manufacture Model Y vehicles and millions of battery cells at the factory. The company submitted plans to invest around $5.8 billion in a battery plant next to the 300-hectare site. Related: Jeff Bezos Tweets 'Don't Let Anyone Tell You Who You Are' and Elon Musk Responds With a Second-Place Medal Tesla's over-the-top celebration comes after numerous protests from locals throughout the factory's two-year construction process. Bloomberg reports locals have filed more than 800 complaints against the factory. Chief among the locals' concerns is the factory's impact on the area's water supply and wildlife. Tesla has been responding to complaints by reasoning that Tesla is ultimately aiding Germany in its electric mobility goals and creating jobs for the country. Musk has also been quick to defend the factory's impact on the environment. Sounds like we need to clear up a few things! Tesla wont use this much net water on a daily basis. Its possibly a rare peak usage case, but not an everyday event. Also, this is not a natural forest it was planted for use as cardboard & only a small part will be used for GF4. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 25, 2020 Even with numerous protests from locals, Brandenburg's economy minister Joerg Steinbach says the factory has a 95% chance of getting approval to operate. The complaints are being discussed through an online residents consultation process, which is due to end on October 14. After that, environmental authorities will make a final decision on approval for the factory. "I am fully convinced Tesla can have a positive effect on Germany," Steinbach told Reuters. Related: Why is Elon Musk So Successful? It All Comes Down to These 5 Key Personality Traits Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved STAMFORD The Stamford Board of Education has a number of challenges to face, including finding ways to get along. Some of the candidates vying for one of the three open spots on the board in the upcoming Nov. 2 election said they would help restore professionalism and order to the body, which has often been disrupted by board member arguments. Board member behavior has come under fire this year; a 60-page report by an outside law firm addressed allegations of bullying and harassment by board members against members of Superintendent Tamu Luceros cabinet. Democratic candidate Michael Hyman, a staff member at the Stamford nonprofit Domus and former Stamford NAACP president, said one of the main reasons he chose to run was to help improve board relations. He called out some board members, without naming names, for coming to meetings unprepared, not reading board material and asking uninformed questions. I am truly disappointed as a resident, as a taxpayer in this town, and everyone should be, on the behavior that the current board has shown us, he said, during a candidate forum hosted by University of Connecticut-Stamford Politics Club Tuesday night at Ferguson Library. It is not a proud moment in Stamford when our elected officials yell and scream at one another. Republican candidate Josh Esses, a lawyer, said he would help restore professionalism, productivity and preparedness to meetings if elected. I will be reading the board packet before the Board of Education meetings and asking questions at the meetings that are pertinent to the matters being discussed, he said. The event was an opportunity for students at the school to ask candidates questions. Many of them focused on diversity and inclusion and ways to make schools more equitable. Almost all of the candidates said the district needs to do a better job retaining teachers of color. Incumbent board member Jackie Pioli, a community and parent activist who is running as an unaffiliated candidate, said the district does have programs that address hiring diverse teachers but shes more concerned about retention. We can keep hiring diverse teachers, administrators and other support staff, but why are they leaving our district? she asked. Candidate Versha Munshi-South, a former teacher and principal at Public Preparatory Network in Manhattan who is running as a Democrat, said she would like to see the district conduct exit interviews for teachers leaving the district to learn more about what can be done to keep them from leaving. On the question of promoting diversity and inclusion, Republican candidate Joe Gonzalez, a former Stamford Police officer, said the district doesnt have to promote either, touting the vast number of languages spoken in the district and its current diversity. He said work could be done, however, with increasing the diversity of the teaching staff, which remains predominantly white, even though Latinos make up the largest ethnic group in the district. Esses suggested partnering with the private sector to provide rental assistance to Stamford teachers to attract candidates and keep them in the system once hired. He also proposed adjusting the pay structure of educators to provide higher compensation for better teachers and lower salaries for worse teachers. Some of the candidates mentioned the districts communications as something they would work to improve. Republican candidate Becky Hamman, an incumbent, said the district has not allowed parents voices in the decision-making process. We need parents involved, she said. Parents have reported feeling blindsided by a number of recent policy changes, such as the decision to eliminate tracking at middle schools, eliminating some Advanced Placement classes at Stamford High School and implementing a new grading policy at Westhill High School. The way theyve been communicated and a lack of family engagement has resulted in a lot of push back from families or just frankly misunderstanding, Munshi-South said. Both Gonzalez and Hamman said the board needs to be more transparent. It seems like the Board of Education with the superintendent isnt very welcoming to the parents, Gonzalez said. Hamman said she would continue to fight for transparency and keep the board honest. She claimed that a group of board members operate behind closed doors. Hamman also advocated for returning to in-person board meetings, something that has not happened since early 2020. Munshi-South, a former classroom teacher, said the curriculum in Stamford is embarrassingly outdated and supported the districts ongoing curriculum audit. We need board members who understand what different curriculum is out there, whats most effective, what we know doesnt work and what would work with our unique population of students, she said. Democratic candidate Ben Lee, a current member of the Stamford Board of Representatives, said the district should embrace its recently approved diversity and inclusion policy. During the forum, he brought up Critical Race Theory, making him the first candidate to reference the concept in any of the three forums. A handful of parents have spoken at Board of Education meetings this year claiming that Stamford schools are teaching CRT, though no evidence has emerged that the theory is in fact being taught in classrooms. CRT is an academic concept that originated in the 1970s as a way for college students to examine history through a racial lens and opponents of it have alleged that the framework is an anti-American, political ideology. Lee called the criticism nonsense. We have to boldly defend our values, he said. We cannot be bullied by the loudest people in the room who want to deny the inequities that have grown in our country, some of the inequities within our history and the inequities in outcomes that do exist. Hyman also addressed CRT. I would ask anyone to talk to any teacher who has graduated and to find out anywhere on their college transcript they actually took a course in the pedagogy of Critical Race Theory so that they could teach it to their students in the school, he said. That has not happened. There is no such course. The Stamford Board of Education operates under a minority representation rule, which stipulates no more than six of the nine members may belong to the same party. Five Democrats are not up for re-election this year, meaning only one Democrat can join the board through the upcoming election if they finish among the top three overall candidates. The rule does not stipulate that the minority representation on the board be all Republican. A candidate running as unaffiliated, or any minority party, would also qualify. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com The New York State Thruway spent $135 million on a massive reconstruction project on Interstate 95 just south of the Greenwich border, but it evidently cut costs on proofreading a major sign leading into Connecticut. The misspelled sign in Port Chester, N.Y., just before the state line alerts motorists that they are approaching Exit 2 for the Thruway, for the Bryam section of Greenwich at Delavan Avenue. Its just before the bridge over the Byram River, which forms the dividing line between the two states. The misspelling on the sign drew some laughter this week in the Byram neighborhood. A friend called me and said, Im living in a new town. I didnt even have to move, said state Rep. Stephen Meskers, who represents the Byram neighborhood. They shouldnt be renaming our rivers and towns. And youd think after spending hundreds of millions of dollars, they could at least spell the river right. Meskers said he was informed it was an error made by the contractor. The good news is that the taxpayers of Connecticut, and the taxpayers of New York, wont be responsible for fixing it. It will come out of the contractors pocket, he said. The sign was provided and installed by a private contractor as part of the Last Mile project. They are aware of the error and will correct it, said Jessica Mazurowski, a spokesperson from the Thruway Authority. Joe Kantorski, head of the Byram Neighborhood Association, reacted with a laugh when someone sent him a photo of the sign. We appreciate having our name spelled correctly. But were sympathetic, that were all human beings, and were all capable of mistakes, he said. As a graphic designer, he said he knows all about typos and how they can end up in print even after multiple sets of eyes have checked the words. Construction on the stretch of I-95 in Rye and Port Chester, N.Y., began two years ago, the so-called Last Mile project. It followed earlier reconstruction work on the other 14 miles of the New England Thruway that runs through Westchester County, N.Y. The misspelled road sign in Port Chester is hardly the first time a sign with an improper name has been put up by road crews around the region. Earlier this year, a sign appeared in Staten Island directing motorists to the Geothals Bridge instead of the Goethals Bridge. A sign for the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge had been missing a second z for years. Beachgoers were once directed to Jonse Beach, which is named for for Maj. Thomas Jones, who first came to Long Island in 1692. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com STAMFORD In Mayor David Martin's quest to get more municipal employees vaccinated, police lag almost 20 percent behind. Among city employees broadly, Martin reported that 81 percent are fully immunized against the virus. "Unfortunately, the police have the lowest reported vaccination rate of any employee group in the city at just over 60 percent, and obviously, we'd like to see that go," Martin said at his biweekly virtual coronavirus update. The Stamford Police Association did not immediately return a request for comment. Week over week, the number of new vaccinated employees in the city has steadied, according to data reported by the mayor and the city Department of Human Resources. The mayor has put a mandate in place that requires city employees to get a vaccine or get tested weekly. Human Resources Director Al Cava told The Stamford Advocate on Oct. 7 that 81 percent of municipal employees were vaccinated, and just over 300 staff members had to undergo weekly testing to comply with the mandate. "There will be actions taken against employees that are unwilling to be tested," he added. According to the vaccination mandate Martin put in place in August, "actions" can include termination for existing employees and revoked job offers for new employees. Among all Stamford residents, the vaccination rate lags the employee vaccination rate. Martin reported that 78 percent of residents have received at least one shot as of Oct. 6, which translates to about 70 percent of residents reaching full vaccination. But for the second week in a row, Martin suggested that the full vaccination rate is even higher than what the state reports because of Stamfords newfound status as the second-largest city in Connecticut. "Most of their numbers are based upon out-of-date census data," he said. Martin estimated that 88.4 percent of city residents over 12 have received at minimum one COVID vaccine using the new Census figures. For the under-12 crowd, Martin made another announcement during his update. The mayor endorsed trick-or-treating as his weekly update, deeming that cases were low enough and vaccinations high enough for the signature Halloween activity to transpire after discouraging it in 2020. "We do recommend the masks (if) you're going to be traveling as a group and coming indoors, but they are not going to be required this year," Martin added during the presentation, though he still advised that people avoid large groups, use hand sanitizer whenever possible and stay away from indoor gatherings. veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com Environmentalists sounded off Wednesday against plans to keep Connecticuts only ash disposal landfill operating for the next several decades in Putnam, where they say it threatens to leak contaminants into local groundwater and the nearby Quinebaug River. The landfill, operated by Wheelabtrator since 1999, is the disposal site for about 525,000 tons of ash produced each year by trash-to-energy plants in New York and Connecticut, including the companys large incinerator in Bridgeport. However, Wheelabrator said it will likely run out of space to dispose of that ash in the next few years, unless it is granted permission to expand its current 60-acre site into about 128 acres. That would expand its life cycle by up to 30 years and allow millions of additional tons of ash to be dumped there. Closing the dump would force ash produced in Connecticut to be routed to other facilities in Massachusetts and other surrounding states, the company said in documents. The companys request to expand the landfill and modify its existing permits is under review by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which granted preliminary approval to the project in June. Local opponents subsequently petitioned to force a public comment hearing Wednesday, at which environmental advocates raised numerous concerns over the project while local officials defended Wheelabrators track record in the area. Opponents questioned the need for the proposed landfill expansion by pointing to the planned closure of one of the largest incinerators sending ash to the site, and raised concerns about the presence of toxic PFAS chemicals in treated wastewater released into the Quinebaug River. The landfill expansion is an unnecessary and ineffective waste solution, said Huda Khwaja, an attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation based in Vermont. We are concerned that the ash at Putman contains chemicals that are not properly treated when discharged, and will inevitably leak within the units as well. While the proposed expansion received opposition from both regional environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, local residents were more divided over the plan. Several local officials pointed to a hefty sum $60 million over 20 years that Putnam has received in host fees for allowing Wheelabrator to dump its ash at the landfill. That money has allowed the town to stabilize its tax rate and invest in capital projects, such as the recent construction of a new municipal building, Mayor Barney Seney said Wednesday. He added that he had no qualms with the companys environmental record. I can say over 20 years, every issue that was brought up by any citizen within the town of Putnam, or any elected official, was handled in a professional manner and that the issue was addressed to the satisfaction of everybody involved, Seney said. While officials from other towns did not testify about the project, Wheelabrator Vice President Don Musial told a reporter Wednesday that the company has no plans to shutter its waste-to-energy plants in Bridgeport, Lisbon and Westchester, N.Y. If the Putnam landfill closes, waste ash from those plants would be exported elsewhere, he said. The company regularly tests both its wastewater and nearby groundwater for contaminants, he added. Putnam monofill, weve operated for 20 years with very stringent environmental monitoring requirements, Musial said. The results of all of that monitoring has found nothing that would ever be attributed to an actual defect or an issue with the ash monofill. Beyond local concerns, opponents of the plan said that any contamination that occurs from the landfill has the potential to impact a broad swath of property down the Quinebaug River watershed and eventually Long Island Sound. We have not asked those constituents, Do they want to welcome these toxins? said Hope OShaughnessy, a resident of Putnam who spoke against the project. DEEP will hold an evidentiary hearing next week that will include testimony from both Wheelabrator and opponents of the project, before closing out the hearing process and issuing a final determination. More than two dozen state employees have been fired and hundreds of health care workers have been suspended and face termination for failing to comply with COVID vaccination requirements. After announcing last week the termination of 12 probationary employees state workers who have been hired within the last six months Gov. Ned Lamont said that number has grown to nearly 30. During an event in Southington, Lamont said Tuesday 28 state employees were fired Friday for noncompliance. He said Tuesday was the last day for employees to comply with the vaccinate-or-test orders. I think we were at 28 as of the end of Friday. Were contacting all the folks who are not in compliance, saying come into human resources, one more chance, see if we can help you fill it out correctly, make sure youre following the rules, the governor said. Otherwise, theyll be on unpaid leave. But the governor sounded more hesitant about issuing a vaccine mandate for the state National Guard, only about 1 percent of whom he said remain unvaccinated. Asked about staffing shortages, Lamont said the state is considering sending additional support to Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown. The comment came on the heels of an investigation by the state Department of Public Health that found drastic staffing shortages at the facility. Youre working in there with those folks, youve got to be vaccinated. Thats the CDC guidance and thats our rules as well, Lamont said. Connecticut health systems are also facing shortages as several hundred workers face termination for refusing to be vaccinated or seek an exemption. At Yale New Haven Health, 225 employees are expected to be fired next week, the hospital said Monday. Those employees have received written notice they will be suspended until they are terminated. The employees can avoid termination if they show they are completely vaccinated before Oct. 18. At Hartford HealthCare, 176 employees had been suspended as of last Thursday, Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Ajay Kumar said at the time. He said those employees could still choose to take the vaccine, otherwise they will be choosing a different type of career, at least in health care for Hartford HealthCare. Kumar said the employees, who had each been contacted, represented a small fraction of the health systems 26,373 workers. As of Tuesday, a Hartford HealthCare spokesperson said 99.6 percent of employees were in compliance. She said about 97 percent are fully vaccinated, while the remaining have approved exemptions and will undergo weekly testing. The percentage is a significant increase from early July, when around 72 percent of the hospital systems employees were fully vaccinated. Nuvance Health, which operates Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford and Sharon hospitals as well as others in New York, said as of Monday 2 percent of employees were suspended without pay for failing to comply with its vaccine mandate. Nuvance employees had until Oct. 1 to get vaccinated, while new hires were required to show proof they had been vaccinated starting Aug. 23. A Stamford Health spokesperson said 99.7 percent of its approximately 3,700 staff members were in compliance as of Oct. 6 with the health networks vaccine mandate. The spokesperson said the network has approved 86 religious or medical exemptions. The remaining 0.3 percent of employees about 10 people who have not complied have been suspended and could be terminated, the spokesperson said. Trinity Health New England said about 96 percent of its employees were in compliance with its vaccine mandate as of Oct. 1. Griffin Health officials did not respond to a request for their employee vaccination rates. While hospital officials address internal vaccine mandates, the number of COVID patients requiring admission has been declining. Since Friday, hospitalizations remained flat at 234 one of the lowest numbers in weeks. The state on Tuesday reported 1,473 new cases since Friday with a three-day positivity rate of 1.98 percent. Overall, the states vaccination rate continues to slowly rise. Statewide, about 88.7 percent of those who are eligible have received at least one dose as of Saturday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 68,000 doses of vaccine were administered in the state during the most recent week of data available. It was the first time the number of weekly shots had risen above 60,000 since June, according to state figures. TOLLAND State police say they are looking for four people wanted for an armed carjacking outside a local club last weekend. Police said the preliminary investigation indicated the victim spent Saturday night at the Electric Blue Cafe at 62 Merrow Road until about 2 a.m. Sunday. Republicans in the state Senate on Wednesday proposed a drastic change in the police transparency rules adopted after the killing of George Floyd last year, along with a plan to come down harder on juvenile car thieves. It is the latest effort by the GOP to propose criminal justice reforms, two months after their colleagues in the House of Representatives tried and failed to persuade majority Democrats to convene a special session amid allegations of rising violent crimes and stolen cars. Proposals include improvements in response to crime; better support of law enforcement personnel; and ways to look at the origins of criminal behavior, including issues of trauma, housing, jobs and education. The package of proposals includes efforts to end recidivism and increase social-service spending to an unspecified level. It would also eliminate parts of the police transparency law that make it easier for rogue law enforcement officers to be decertified and not bounce from one town to another after disciplinary action. The initial response from Democrats, who control the Senate 23-13 and the House 97-54, was that Connecticuts crime rate is among the lowest in the nation. State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the law-writing Judiciary Committee, said that while he favors some of the proposals, they do not warrant a special legislative session. State Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, pointed to homicide incidents statewide and in Waterbury, Hartford and New Haven in particular. We need immediate action to properly respond to crime, Kelly said during a noontime news conference outside the east entrance of the State Capitol, supported by eight members of his caucus, most of whom represent suburban districts. We need to ensure that law enforcement and our justice system have the tools to keep all people safe. Outlining a proposal they call A Safer Connecticut, the proposal would address responses to crime and create mentoring services to help steer young people away from accepting criminal opportunities. People, our constituents, are asking and demanding results, Kelly said. This is what we hear when we go back to our communities. I dont know what the Democrats hear, but I believe the people deserve this response. We want to have the conversation, because they deserve better. Its bringing everything together, said state Sen. John Kissel of Enfield, a top Republican on the Judiciary Committee. Its a holistic approach. These things should really happen now, not yesterday, and while some of these will have to be addressed in the Judiciary Committee in the next legislative session, a lot of these things can take place right now. And the public depends on it, right now. The GOP proposals include: More use of rules that allow juvenile cases to be transferred to adult court. Mandatory around-the-clock GPS monitoring for juveniles arrested for violent crimes if they are awaiting trial on previous charges. Speedy, next-day arraignments for juveniles. An assessment of services within the criminal justice system, including the Deprtment of Children & Families. Easing the way for students to gain occupational licenses and other workforce development programs. Winfield, speaking online with reporters later in the afternoon, said that ideally, next-day arraignments would be a good idea, but he warned the dangers of putting teenagers into the system with adults. I think thats a conversation thats ongoing, Winfield said. If you think that the answer is to get services for these young people, then thats what we work on. But to say were going to get services by putting them into a deeper, more-dangerous end of the system, where theyre in contact with people that we likely dont want them in contact with, is not something that I think makes a lot of sense. Winfield said funding programs is important. Clearly there are things in there that even I have advocated for, but the proposal as a whole is what Im responding to, and as a whole I dont think we should be going into special session, he said. When I look at the facts, I dont see a need to enact the proposal before us. Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said that several of the GOP proposals had been expressed earlier this summer in bipartisan talks that ended without agreement. Connecticut remains one of the safest states in the country, Stafstrom said in a statement. Crime has decreased over the past several years because of our approach to be smart on crime, not reactive. While some of the proposals offered by state Senate Republicans require further study and research, others will reverse common-sense policy and move our state backward. In August, the Judicial Branch announced that it would make information on juvenile defendants easier to share with local police and prosecutors, to help decide whether recently arrested youths should be detained. On Tuesday, and again Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont said he was open to proposals. Yeah, if there are some constructive ideas that require legislative approval, you know thats fine by me, Lamont said on Tuesday. The governor recently visited a program for at-risk youth called The Wilderness School. On Wednesday, he said his administration had taken a lot of steps to provide support services in the criminal justice system. Asked what his idea of constructive would be, Lamont said concrete proposals. Things that make a difference, Lamont replied. Not rhetoric about getting tough on law-and-order, but ways that we can, you know, maybe you want to put car theft as one of the serious crimes, listed as such, so we can get them on an accelerated docket. Theres some things that would make a difference. Whether we do that in special session or regular, we should do it. As for the wave of youth crime the Republicans warn about, Lamont said on Wednesday, The data shows that we are one of the safest states in the country with one of the lowest levels of violent crime in the country. He added, Weve gone through incredible distress over this last year and a half, which has added to some criminal activity. But he said there is not a cookie-cutter way to manage the issue. While the FBI reported that Connecticut had the nations second-largest drop in crime in 2019, violent crime around the nation has risen over the last year and a half in what experts believe is a result of the COVID pandemic. Still, the FBI recently reported that Connecticut was the fourth-safest state , with 181.6 violent crimes per 100,000 population. The U.S. average was 398.5 per 100,000 and Washington, D.C., leads the country with 999.8 crimes per 100,000. On Wednesday, The Sentencing Project, a research and advocacy organization, issued a report indicating that in Connecticut, Blacks are incarcerated at a rate 10 times higher than that of whites. Latino individuals are incarcerated at a rate 3.7 times higher than non-Hispanic whites, the report indicates. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT STAMFORD The long-stalled Lione Park murder case inched one step closer to trial Wednesday, despite impassioned objections from both defendants attorneys. DeShawn Hayes, 29, and Jhonel Telemin-Valerio, 26, are scheduled to go to trial on murder charges next month, nearly six years after they were first arrested. Hayes and Telemin-Valerio have been imprisoned since November 2015 for their alleged connection to the homicide of Maxine Gooden, a 43-year-old mother of five who was killed when she was struck by a stray bullet while hanging out with loved ones at Lione Park. The trial will be the first murder case and only the third trial held at Stamford Superior Court since the COVID-19 pandemic shut it down in April 2020. Jury selection for the case kicked off with fireworks Wednesday with a shouting match between attorney Darnell Crosland, who represents Hayes, and Judge Gary White, who is presiding over the case. The heated discussion revolves around Croslands claim that White has ignored repeated requests for a continuance on the case due to a time conflict he has with an ongoing federal court case tied to the Bridgeport Courthouse shooting in January 2020, which he was scheduled to also begin on Wednesday. In a letter sent to the Office of the Chief Court Administrator dated Oct. 11, Crosland said hes been vocal with both White and Judge Janet Bond Atherton, who is presiding over the federal case, and made motions seeking to resolve the scheduling conflict. But, he claims, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. It is unfair for me to have to listen to one judge speak of what case is older, what court is more powerful or less powerful, and what judge refuses to yield to another judge. I should not have to get in the middle of that behavior. My only obligation is to represent my client and to be respectful to the court, Crosland said in the letter. This is more than inappropriate, it is abusive and unacceptable. Crosland argued before White on Wednesday that his being double booked for both a state and federal trial has prevented him from adequately prepping for either case. This situation has rendered me ineffective assistance of counsel in both matters, he said. White responded prior to jury selection Wednesday, saying that Crosland has had ample time to prepare for the case, which he called one of the oldest cases in the courthouse. The Stamford case, he explained, had been on the docket for trial as early as February of 2020 before getting postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. When you say you havent had time to prepare for this case, thats nonsense, White said. Your federal case has nothing to do with this. Attorney Lindy Urso, who represents Telemin-Valerio, joined Crosland in asking for a continuance in the case. He agreed with Crosland that it is pretty much impossible to prepare for two major cases at one time and expressed concerns about what may happen due to the scheduling conflict. Now, Im worried about my client having spillover prejudice from an ineffective counsel, Urso said. Despite the concerns raised, White commenced the jury selection. But that did not stop Crosland from griping over the decision. Crosland continuously interrupted jury selection proceedings with complaints over the scheduling conflict. At one point, White threatened to hold him in contempt of the court if he continued raising his objections. This is totally inappropriate, White said. The trial for Hayes and Telemin-Valerio is scheduled to begin on Nov. 1. It is expected to be completed by Nov. 12. Hayes, Telemin-Valerio and a third man, Morris Joel Moore Jr., 29, were arrested in the wake of the fatal shooting of Gooden, who was well-known for the homemade food she sold at Lione Park. Police say Gooden, 43, a mother of five who was selling her home-cooked Jamaican food in the West Side park, was an innocent bystander in the shooting. Goodens daughter Andrina Roberts said during a probable cause hearing that she and her younger sister were standing next to their mother when the shooting occurred. After hearing four blasts from a pistol, Roberts said she turned around and saw her mother facedown on the ground. Gooden suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and died shortly after at the hospital. Police say a witness followed the two shooters and took pictures of the getaway vehicles license plate. The Jeep was pulled over near Strawberry Hill Avenue and the three occupants Hayes, Telemin-Valerio and Moore were arrested. Police said they later found the gun stashed in the dashboard of the Jeep. In 2018, Moore accepted a plea deal that saw him plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail. While imprisoned, Moore wrote a letter claiming he was the gunman in the fatal shooting, that the gun that shot Gooden was his and that Telemin and Hayes had no idea he had the gun on him when they went into the park that day. In addition to the murder charge, both men also face criminal possession of a firearm charges. The firearm charges carry up to 10 years in prison. Amy Goodman is the host of Democracy Now!, a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 1,400 stations. She is the co-author, with Denis Moynihan and David Goodman, of the New York Times best-seller Democracy Now!: 20 Years Covering the Movements Changing America. As many as 60,126 doses of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered in the last 24 hours, of which 29,544 represent the first dose, 5,249 - the second dose and 25,333 - the third dose, the Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informed on Wednesday. According to CNCAV, since the beginning of the anti-COVID vaccination campaign, on December 27, 2020, there have been 10,933,473 vaccine doses administered to 5,852,729 people, of which 5,586,420 received the full scheme and 437,884 were immunized with the third dose. There were 32 adverse reactions recorded in the last 24 hours, 3 local types and 29 general types. In total, since the beginning of the vaccination campaign there were 17,634 adverse reactions recorded for the anti-COVID vaccines, 1,885 local types and 15,749 general types. The chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Florin Citu, stated on Wednesday that the Liberals will have a proposal for the position of Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, yet at the moment the proposal of the party's leadership is to support Florin Roman as interim for the position. "The decision was that we will support for interim deputy Speaker Florin Roman. After that we will discuss and we will see if and who will be the person designated from our part for Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies," said Florin Citu, at the PNL headquarters, when asked what is the Liberals' proposal for the Speaker of the Chamber position, following Ludovic Orban's resignation. Asked if he would like to take over the leadership of the Senate, he said: "For the moment I am interim PM and there are many things to resolve." "Beside political discussions, you know very well that we brought last night 5,000 doses for COVID treatment, other doses will come from Germany, we are looking for other drugs as well. Today, the first patients started to come to Pipera Hospital, so the first 100 beds are functioning, there are a lot of issues to solve. Romania is going through a crisis situation. We did not need this political crisis. Unfortunately, those who threw us into this political crisis don't have a solution yet," said Florin Citu. A new batch of 303,030 doses of vaccine from Pfizer BioNTech will arrive in the country on Thursday, the National Coordinating Committee for Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 (CNCAV) informs. The vaccines will be delivered by air and will arrive at Otopeni Airport on Thursday. Transport to storage centers is provided by the producing company, including by land. The vaccines are transported in optimal conditions, in special containers, with carbonic ice and sealed foil, CNCAV specified.Doses will be distributed as follows:* Bucharest National Storage Center - 186,030 doses;* Brasov Regional Storage Center - 117,000 doses.To date, Romania has received 13,071,689 doses of vaccine produced by Pfizer, and 8,330,820 have already been used to immunize the population. Romania received on Wednesday, from the Polish stocks, through the European Mechanism for Civil Protection, 50 oxygen concentrators for the patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, which are to be sent to the modular unit in Letcani. "At the request of the Romanian state in order to provide support in combating the effects generated by the exponential increase in the number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, addressed to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission (ERCC), through the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS), by the Department for Emergency Situations and the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, on Wednesday, 50 oxygen concentrators from the Polish stocks arrived in Romania," informed the Strategic Communication Group (GCS). Poland has provided the transportation of these essential medical supplies for the treatment of patients infected with the novel coronavirus who need oxygen.The transport arrived in Iasi on Wednesday morning, and the ISU (Inspectorate for Emergency Situations) Iasi will receive the equipment, after which it will be sent to the modular unit in Letcani."European solidarity materialized through concrete actions in support of all countries affected by various emergencies has represented and continues to represent of a priority manner the preliminary step towards what we call in the management of emergencies, the return to normalcy," said GCS. Romania's Acting Health Minister Cseke Attila says that Wednesday criteria for the monoclonal antibodies therapy used in mild cases of COVID-19, will be published in the Official Journal. A C-27 J Spartan aircraft of the Romanian Air Force brought on Tuesday evening from Milan approximately 5,200 doses of monoclonal antibodies, which are part of the COVID-19 therapy. "Italy is offering us this important support in the COVID-19 treatment. I can tell you that tomorrow in the Official Journal there will be updated criteria for such therapy, which consists of an intravenous injectable drug, important in mild cases and where symptoms persists up to seven days. The criteria were established by a specialist board of the Ministry of Health, so that tomorrow, with this shipment, we will have the medical criteria for treatment and distribution in Romanian hospitals," said Cseke on Tuesday night at 90th Airlift Base, after the arrival of the aircraft.He pointed out that there are "promises from other European Union states to support Romania". "It is an important mechanism of solidarity," the interim minister of health said.In his turn, the Italian ambassador to Bucharest, Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni, mentioned the assistance given by Romania to his country last spring in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are happy to have the opportunity to help our Romanian partners and citizens in these difficult times," the diplomat said.The assistance offered to Romania by Italy, by making available these doses in the stockpiles of the Lombardy Region, comes as a result of Romania's request for support in combatting the effects generated by the exponential increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.The request was addressed to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission (ERCC), through the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS), by the Department for Emergency Situations and the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations.The flight was carried out at the request of the Department for Emergency Situations as part of the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, with the mission conducted under the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union.The distribution of the monoclonal antibodies from the Comandor aviator Gheorghe Banciulescu 90th Air Transport Base is carried out by the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations with the Ministry of Interior.Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system's ability to fight off harmful antigens such as viruses. They are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and is designed to block the virus' attachment and entry into human cells. The Hungarian Democratic Union Of Romania (UDMR)'s goal is to find solutions in a government formula, leader Kelemen Hunor said on Wednesday, stating that the talks with the Prime Minister-designate Dacian Ciolos have not led to any conclusion. "We have not reached a conclusion and, of course, we have to see what each of the parties will discuss when they get back to the decision-making forums. What I have seen (...) - the lack of trust. Without trust it is difficult to build something. UDMR's goal is to find solutions in one form or another of government for all the problems we are facing. (...) I hope that everyone leaves aside pride showed on all sides," said the UDMR leader, at the end of discussions. According to him, the political solution is in the hands of the prime minister-designate. Over 52,000 pilgrims have passed by the canopy in the courtyard of the Moldova and Bucovina Metropolitan in order to worship and pray to the relics of Saint Pious Paraskeva, considered to be the Patron saint of Moldova and the needy. The spokesperson for the Romanian Gendarmerie, colonel Sorin Despina, declared that this year's pilgrimage to the Saint Paraskeva Feast took place without any incidents until this point. "Over 52,000 pilgrims passed by the relics and together with the organizers there were measures established, so that overcrowding can be avoided, as well as respecting sanitary measures. There was a corridor established where 3,500 people can fit together at once. Personnel was established throughout the length of the entire corridor so that they can ensure that masks are being worn, hands disinfected and social distance of one meter between pilgrims maintained," Sorin Despina specified. According to the quoted source, for the day of October 14, when the orthodox calendar celebrates the Feast of Saint Pious Paraskeva, there were additional safety measures taken. Thus, the Liturgical service will be officiated on a specially designed podium, on Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral. A few large screens are placed on the boulevard, so that those who came for the pilgrimage to be able to listen and follow the religious ceremony. Access in the area is permitted to anyone, regardless of the town or residence or if they are vaccinated or not. The only conditions are to observe the measures of social distancing that are mandatory during the COVID-19 pandemic and to wear the sanitary protection mask. Since 1955, the Romanian Orthodox Church decided to celebrate the feast of Saint Pious Paraskeva on October 14, a reason why around this day the City of Iasi becomes the largest pilgrimage center in the country. Numerous believers from the country and abroad gather to the Saint Pious Paraskeva relics, but also to other saints' relics brought especially to this pilgrimage. The believers who come to Iasi during this period can also pray to the relics of Saint George the Pilgrim, whose reliquary is placed in the same canopy where the relics of the Saint Paraskeva are. Prime Minister-designate Dacian Ciolos, chairman of the Save Romania Union (USR), stated, on Wednesday, after meeting the leaders of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) and the national minorities, that no conclusion was reached. "No conclusion was reached. I will have an Executive Bureau meeting," stated Ciolos. The USR leader will hold statements at the Union's headquarters. Dacian Ciolos met, on Wednesday, with the chairman of the PNL, caretaker Prime Minister Florin Citu, the chairman of the UDMR, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor, and the leader of the parliamentary group of the national minorities, Varujan Pambuccian. Whoever assumes the government in the next weeks and in the next months will make a sacrifice, prime minister-designate Dacian Ciolos said on Wednesday. Ciolos had a first meeting with the leaders of the PNL (National Liberal Party), UDMR (Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania) and the parliamentary group of national minorities in view of forming a new government. "Whoever assumes the government in the next few weeks and in the next few months will make a sacrifice. The party that assumes the government in the next few months is making a sacrifice anyway, because it will be a very difficult period. I do not think there is greater sacrifice than governing in this period from a political point of view and we are not afraid of any other form of sacrifice," the Save Romania Union leader said at the end of the meeting, asked if he considered himself a "sacrificial prime minister". The ports of Constanta North, Constanta South-Agigea and Midia were closed on Wednesday morning due to strong winds, the Infotrafic Center within the Romanian Police informs. "In Constanta County, due to the strong wind, starting with 6:30 am, the maneuvers were stopped in the river ports of Constanta North, Constanta South-Agigea and Midia," an Infotrafic Center release reads. The National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued on Tuesday a Code Orange warning of heavy rains in the coastal area.According to meteorologists, between October 12, 21:00 - October 13, 10:00, there will be code orange of bad weather in areas of Tulcea and Constanta counties, where it will rain heavily and quantities of water that will locally exceed 50 - 70 liters / sqm will be recorded. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III will visit Romania next week, informs the Romanian Embassy to the United States of America. According to a message posted on the diplomatic mission's Facebook page, the visit is part of a tour that includes visits to Georgia and Ukraine, before attending a meeting in Brussels of NATO defence ministers. "Romania is the only NATO member country in the tour that ends with the participation of the secretary of defence in the meeting of NATO defence ministers," the embassy said. Jonas Koponen, an antitrust attorney with Linklaters LLP in Brussels, said the Reuters findings on Amazons practices in India would likely interest the European Commission, which is probing whether the company has used non-public seller data to boost its own retail business. India has cooperation agreements with the United States and the European Commission to exchange information related to enforcement of antitrust laws. The documents also support criticism of Amazon laid out by Lina Khan, the new chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or FTC. Khan published a paper in 2017 that argued that Amazons private-brand business raised anti-competitive concerns. It is third-party sellers who bear the initial costs and uncertainties when introducing new products; by merely spotting them, Amazon gets to sell products only once their success has been tested, she wrote. The anticompetitive implications here seem clear. Amazon filed a petition in June with the FTC asking that Khan recuse herself from all matters related to the company because of her repeated proclamations that Amazon has violated the antitrust laws. Khan and the FTC didnt respond to requests for comment. Cockerill fished from his files an old letter to the editor that called Slayback a coward and derided his Confederate service. Cockerill ran it in the Oct. 13 edition. Slayback saw the paper and was outraged. He grabbed fellow lawyer William Clopton and marched two blocks to the Post-Dispatch at 515 Market Street. They burst into the managing editors office as Cockerill was chatting with the newspapers business manager and composing-room foreman. Cockerills pistol was on his desk. Stories differ on the ensuing exchange, but Cockerill fired. Slayback fell dead on the floor. Cockerill went home to wash up and surrendered to police. Officers had to rush to the newspaper to defend it from an angry mob gathering on Market. The next day, the Post-Dispatch called the homicide an Unfortunate Affair and said Slayback had a pistol. The St. Louis Republican, which backed Broadhead, called Slayback an unarmed victim of Post-Dispatch venom. At the coroners inquest, Post-Dispatch employees identified a .44-caliber revolver with some rust as Slaybacks weapon. Cockerill and his witnesses said he fired in self-defense. Claudean Kizart, 44, of Alton testified that the Camaro sped past her as she was driving on Halls Ferry Road with her two children and said Marquarts SUV appeared to chase the Camaro without lights and sirens. After the crash, Kizart said she tried to help the girl in the road and recalled that the officer was really shaken. Akeelah was on the ground, and she needed somebody to pray with her, Kizart said. I sat on the ground, and I sang to her and I prayed with her. Marquart remained at the crash scene, cooperated with police and consented to a blood test that was negative for alcohol and drugs. Officer Matthew Wieczorek, lead investigator, testified that the incidents two main contributing factors were Marquarts speed and Akeelahs running into the street. But he said he did not conclude who was at fault. He and his supervisor, Sgt. Edward Moran, who approved Wieczoreks report, testified that they did not seek criminal charges against Marquart. EAST ST. LOUIS A nurse pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges and admitted stealing pain medications from at least 23 residents of eight nursing homes in Madison and St. Clair counties, causing some to go without pain relief. Angela M. Mohler, of Shiloh, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis on Wednesday to five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud or deception. In August of 2018, Mohler stole hydrocodone from two patients at Caseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation, falsely indicating in records that the patients had been given the pills, her plea says. The next month, Mohler stole two oxycodone pills from a resident at the Lebanon Care Center, replacing them with regular acetaminophen. In October and November of 2018, she stole hydrocodone from four residents of Integrity Healthcare of Belleville, her plea says. In August of 2019, Mohler took hydrocodone from three residents at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville, falsely claiming in records that the pills had been given to the patients. That November, she took six hydrocodone pills from a patient at Elmwood Nursing and Rehab in Maryville. CLAYTON The St. Louis County judge who will preside over the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting two women and murdering a third in 2018 at a Catholic Supply store has ordered all future court filings to be sealed from the public until the trial is finished. Circuit Judge Joseph Dueker cited the potential effect of extensive and on-going media coverage on preserving Thomas Bruces right to a fair trial as compelling justification for sealing pleadings in the case. Jury selection for Bruces trial is set for Oct. 27; prosecutors are to begin presenting evidence Nov. 1. The judges order said the court would make all contents of Bruces court file accessible to the public at the conclusion of the trial. Bruce, 55, is charged with first-degree murder and multiple counts of sodomy, armed criminal action, kidnapping, burglary and tampering with evidence. Police say that on Nov. 19, 2018, Bruce sexually assaulted the women and murdered Jamie Schmidt, 53, a customer at the Catholic Supply store, 14069 Manchester Road. ST. LOUIS Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and retiring police Chief John Hayden faced questions from residents Tuesday on how the citys next top cop will build trust with communities, work with the circuit attorneys office and address overall public safety. The questions came as part of a listening session held virtually via Zoom to get feedback from residents on what they want from their next police chief. Hayden announced in September that he will retire in February after 35 years with the St. Louis Police Department. When I think about the future leader of our police force, I know it has to be someone who understands that public safety doesnt mean one magic fix, Jones said. Responses from a resident survey on the citys next chief also were shared. Among top priorities listed were reducing 911 wait times, keeping parks and sidewalks clean, finding new uses for vacant lots and improving safety on public transit. The survey also drew some questions, including how the next chief will ensure accountability by officers. The survey is still available online. In a blistering letter to Days, sent on July 28, Khan accused several members of the audience of heckling him, making racist comments and shoulder-bumping him as he left accusations that were not corroborated by several videos of the meeting, or by testimony from police officers who were there. He also complained in his letter that Days had allowed those offensive comments to be made unchecked, and accused Fitch of questioning his credentials and stoking the crowd. Trakas on Tuesday urged Khan himself to authorize the county executive to release the report so we will have that information, because, as it stood, there was no credibility to Khans allegations. If thats the case, then it impacts our consideration, he said. Because Khans position is a political appointment, the council vote on his confirmation would not be binding. Page has said he plans to keep Khan in the position as acting director should the council vote against his confirmation. Fitch also accused Page, who was not present at the Tuesday meeting, of withholding the investigation because it would dispel Khans allegations. He argued the council does have authority to vote to open the records, which would make them subject to public records requests. ST. LOUIS Chris Carter, a former St. Louis alderman and state representative, was named Tuesday as city supply commissioner by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. Carter, whose family has been prominent at City Hall and in the Missouri Capitol for decades, succeeds Pam Kuehling, an appointee of former Mayor Lyda Krewson. Carter, 40, will be in charge of an agency that purchases supplies, equipment, maintenance services for city government and administers about 200 contracts, according to the city website. He will be paid about $109,000 a year. Carters late grandmother, Paula Carter, was a longtime state senator and representative. Chris Carter was a Missouri House member from 2009 to 2012, when he was elected 27th Ward alderman to succeed his late uncle, Gregory Carter, who died in a traffic accident. In May 2016, the St. Louis County counselors office issued a summons to Chris Carter on a domestic assault charge. On April 30 that year, police were called to a home near Florissant, where they found Carters wife with bruises to her left biceps. Carters wife called police to report that he had injured her during an argument. If there is a conflict of interest, the rule says attorneys may represent clients if certain conditions are met and the clients give informed consent in writing. The case summary said the siblings signed a waiver Viets provided them. My clients signed a waiver of conflict of interest, Viets said on Tuesday. I thought I was abiding by the rules. I think the essence of what the court has found is that they said my waiver wasnt adequate. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel said Viets waivers did not constitute informed consent under state rules. The DePriests had no legal training, little experience with the criminal justice system and little to no experience in hiring an attorney, the office said. The Waivers did not disclose that different levels of culpability or group plea offers create conflicts. The state also said Viets led the DePriests to believe there would be no conflict of interest unless they decided they wanted to turn on each other. According to the case summary, Viets argued he should be reprimanded, not suspended. The Washington Post report, which was anecdotal rather than based on polling results, reported that many Wyoming residents think Cheney betrayed them because of her impeachment vote and her position on the Jan. 6 committee. Park County GOP chairman Martin Kimmet is quoted as saying, Seemingly she just doesnt really care what we want her to do. But back to my original question. Is Cheneys duty primarily to uphold the Constitution? Or is it to do what her constituents want that is, represent their interests? Of course, ideally it should be both. Members of the House take an oath to uphold the Constitution on the opening day of each new Congress. The First Congress (17891791) wrote the words to the oath, although it had been changed several times. The following oath has been used since 1862: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. Many cities that experimented with police defunding are now realizing what a bad idea it was. After initially cutting $92 million from the New York City police department to defund a new precinct, Mayor Bill DeBlasio this year bumped up the departments funding by $200 million. Los Angeles is boosting officer pay. In Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson and the city council have done an about-face and not only reversed funding cuts but approved a plan to hire 250 additional officers. Its hard to have a serious conversation with folks about cutting a police departments budget when crime is up, Philadelphias former mayor, Democrat Michael Nutter, told The Wall Street Journal. Some defund activists in St. Louis point to a recent decline in homicides to pre-pandemic levels as a sign that deemphasis on aggressive policing is having beneficial effects. Interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom suggested in August, however, that the reduction might be the result of boosting policing during times when homicides most often occur on weekends and at night. That said, activists are correct to question traditional policing methods and urge experimentation with alternative ways to de-escalate tense situations, such as mental health crises, that too often yield tragic results when police respond with a guns-drawn standoff. Thats a public conversation Jones should encourage. But if she lets these community engagement sessions devolve into anti-police tirades, the job of replacing Hayden with a highly qualified, enthusiastic leader can only be made that much harder. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Paid press release content from Mcap MediaWire. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. London, UK, October 12, 2021 McapMediaWire Advisory Excellence is pleased to introduce Carlton Fon Akkum and AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES LLP to our network. Carlton is a Founding Member and Senior Managing Partner of the law firm. AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES LLP is preparing to celebrate Carlton Fon Akkums 23rd anniversary with the Cameroon Bar Association. You can book your ticket here. Carlton has joined the Advisory Excellence network, as our exclusively recommended Full-Service Law expert in Cameroon. AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES LLP was established in 2002 with a resolve to create a distinguished Full-Service Legal Practice. AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES are a dynamic partnership registered under the laws of the Republic of Cameroon. AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES main mission is to deliver premium service, quality, and value to their clients. AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES incorporate a rich blend of traditional legal practice with the spirit required to satisfy the constantly evolving dynamism of business in their result driven professional services . Carlton is also a member of the AEA-ASOCIACION EUROPEA DE ABOGADOS (also known as AEA INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS NETWORK). Advisory Excellence is an international network. With over 1500 members around the globe, we are ready to help you wherever you are in the world. Our news is also shared on Google News, Street Insider, Mcap MediaWire, NewsEdge (by Moodys) and Stocks News Feed. Advisory Excellence News & Press Release Distribution Lynton House, 7-12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3137 6198 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7183 3073 Email: info@advisoryexcellence.com Website: https://www.advisoryexcellence.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/advisoryexcellence MCAP Media Wire | Home MONTICELLO, Miss., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas-SSI, the largest full-service traveling water screen manufacturer in North America, announced the launch of its new GATOR RAKE line of bar screens designed to protect critical downstream infrastructure by efficiently removing debris from raw water sources. GATOR RAKE bar screens remove debris under harsh conditions with real-time monitoring and remote operation capability. As a first line of defense for stormwater and flood plain management, water treatment plant operation and industrial raw water supply, the GATOR RAKE is designed to minimize the impacts of worsening and unpredictable water quality conditions due to periods of extreme drought or heavy rain. The rugged bar screen is installed in canals or water intake openings and features reinforced frames and chains, heavy-duty motors and unique head shaft assemblies. In addition, non-metallic teeth are incorporated on the GATOR RAKE bar screen to extend equipment life and enable operators to conduct quick and simple maintenance. These features help to ensure the reliable and efficient removal of grass, trash and debris from the bar racks, even under high loading periods. "The GATOR RAKE offers an unmatched performance advantage for operators, especially under difficult conditions due to its rugged design and intelligent automation features," said Paul Lewis, CEO of Atlas-SSI. "We partner with our industrial and municipal clients to help them better manage the impacts of climate change on their operations with innovative solutions such as the GATOR RAKE that are engineered, manufactured and supported from our facilities in the USA." Intelligent automation controls and sensors can be combined with the GATOR RAKE bar screen to automatically adjust system cleaning speed based on rain events or trash removal requirements. Ultrasonic differential level indicators, automatic timers and local manual overrides provide additional operator controls, which are especially important when bar screen stations are unmanned or remote. When required, GATOR RAKE bar screens can be designed with conveyors and compactors to efficiently collect and move debris to a designated location for removal from the site. For more information, visit https://www.atlas-ssi.com/intake-screens/trash-rakes/ About Atlas-SSI Atlas-SSI is the largest full-service manufacturer of raw water intake equipment, traveling water screens, 316(b) fish-friendly screens and trash rake systems in North America. Certified field service and dive teams support turnkey installations, on-site maintenance, inspections, repairs, and preventative maintenance. The Atlas-SSI material handling division designs and builds high-performance industrial clamshell buckets and grapples. To learn more, visit atlas-ssi.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atlas-ssi-launches-new-gator-rake-bar-screen-301398538.html SOURCE Atlas-SSI, Inc TICKERS: XG; EXGMF, HSTR; HSTXF; RGG1, NCM, NEM, OGN, SLVR; SLVTF, SIL; SILV, VZLA, YRI; AUY; YAU Source: Streetwise Reports (10/13/21) Funds from a new $4 million private placement will advance exploration in Mexico and Alaska for a proven management team building a high-grade portfolio. The scene of a desperate Charlie Chaplin eating his shoe is far from todays reality for gold prospectors and explorers in Alaska. For example, at Heliostar Metals Ltd. (HSTR:TSX.V; HSTXF:OTC; RGG1:FRA) Unga property in the Aleutian Islands, Charlie could have had groceries delivered by Amazon, thanks to daily flights into the nearby Sand Point airstrip. The Unga property is the flagship project in Heliostars plan to build a portfolio of projects with high-grade ounces in North Americas premier mining jurisdictions, according to CEO Charles Funk. At 250 square kilometers twice the size of Manhattan Island Unga has a resource of 394,000 ounces at 13.8 grams/tonne gold (g/t). The company is equally excited about its three early-stage projects in Sonora, Mexico. All of these properties are under-explored, and all have great potential, Funk told Streetwise. Whats more, unlike many exploration companies, we have proven discoverers and team members who have made money for companies like Newmont Corp. (NEM:NYSE) and Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM:ASX). Managements experience include Funks lead role in the discovery of Panuco for Vizsla Resources Corp. (VZLA:TSX), and he remains a director of that company. He also was involved with Evrim Resources (now Orogen Royalties Inc. (OGN:TSX.V)) on its Ermintano West gold/silver discovery, now in production in Sonora. Sam Anderson, Heliostars VP of exploration has led discoveries in Suriname for Newmont. Rob Grey, Investor Relations Manager, was involved with Extorre Gold Mines Ltd. (XG:TSX; EXGMF:OTCQX) (bought by Yamana Gold Inc. (YRI:TSX; AUY:NYSE; YAU:LSE) and Exeter Resources Corp (bought by Goldcorp, now part of Newmont). In 2019, Funk launched Heliodor, a private company that built its portfolio in Mexico, focusing on cheap opportunities with huge upside, he said. But we were looking for a high-grade flagship that was more advanced to bring us closer to the mining option. We identified Unga in 2020 when it was owned by Red Star. We consolidated the capital structure, brought in a new management team, and renamed the company Heliostar. Alaska Heliostars flagship Unga project currently has two reverse circulation drill rigs and one diamond rig turning. The primary focus is on the SH-1 target, with activity also underway at Aquila, Apollo, and Zachary Bay. Work will start at Centennial in November or December 2021. Apollo was the site of the first underground gold mine in Alaska. It hosts a 2,000-meter-long vein with historically reported production of approximately 130,000 oz at 10g/t gold, according to Heliostar. Recent results from Unga include: SH-1: Resource of 384,000 oz. at 13.8 g/t gold over a drilled strike extent of 1.75 km and remains open at depth. The central portion of the vein has returned several intersections in excess of 10 g/t gold, and a few in excess of 100 g/t gold. Aquila: Intercepts over 475 m showing 1.77 g/t gold over 18.28 m from 4.57 m, including 3.44 g/t gold over 7.62 m from 10.67m; and .55 g/t gold over 41.15 m from 1.52m, including 5.95 g/t gold over 1.52 m from 4.57m Zachary Bay: Two reverse circulation holes targeted porphyry gold-copper mineralization of 0.44 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) over 71.63 m from 30.48 m downhole, including 0.58 g/t AuEq over 16.76 m from 30.48 m and 0.69 g/t AuEq over 6.10 m from 30.48 m. While Heliostars priority is high-grade gold, Funk said that the proximity of the different deposit styles highlights the potential value creation of exploring both styles of mineralization. Analyst Michael Gray of Agentis recently visited the Unga project and noted five takeaways: Consolidated epithermal vein field, ripe for systematic exploration One-to three Moz. gold potential Plethora of targets means an array of opportunity (and opportunity cost) Positive ESG (environment, social, and governance) related to Alaska Native corporations and tribes Reasonable access (not as remote as we thought) Regarding Unga as a whole Funk, said, This year we built out a framework to show that this could be much bigger, and our mid -term goal is lifting the resource to rather more than a million ounces, said Funk. We are excited to unlock the larger district to reveal the full resource potential of a large property that has seen very little systematic exploration. Mexico Heliostars most recent results are from its 100%-owned, five-square km Cumaro project, adjacent to SilverCrest Metals El Picacho district (360,000 tonnes at 8.5 g/t gold and 40 g/t silver). Those veins extend from Picacho onto Cumaro, where drilling was done by Yamana, the previous operator. Its 2021 drilling program in the Western Block of Cumaro hit multiple channels of up to 12.6 g/t gold equivalent over 5.0 meters. Funk called these results a significant step forward. Returning so many high-grade hits on surface over a broad area is very positive. Drilling continues in the Eastern Block of the claim. Heliostar owns 100% of two other projects in Sonora: Oso Negro 40km northeast of the SilverCrest Metals Inc. (SIL:TSX.V; SILV:NYSE.American) Las Chispas deposit with similar grades and vein styles outcropping at surface. The veins include Prospector (360m long, with an average width of 1.3m and a weighted average grade of 420 g/t silver equivalent) and Tere (730m long, with an average width of 1.0m and a weighted average grade of 172 g/t silver equivalent). Heliostar also has identified new vein zones with dump samples up to 1,500g/t silver equivalent. La Lola a large, preserved system 20km to the west of the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (SLVR:TSX.V; SLVTF:OTCMKTS) El Tigre project, features a 6 by 5 km zone of veining and alteration, including the 5km long La Barra vein which swells to 40m wide. Rock chips return up to 57 g/t gold and another with 424 g/t silver. In 2021, drilling encountered high grade silver: 92.0 g/t over 2.5 m. Having two strong strings to our bow in Alaska and Mexico gives us a lot of optionality that most small companies don't have, he concluded. Financials On October 6, 2021, Heliostar announced a $4 million non-brokered private placement of up to 5,714,285 units at a price of $0.70 per unit. Each unit will consist of one common share and one half of one common share purchase warrant in the company. Each warrant shall be exercisable for one common share at an exercise price of $1.20 for the 24-month period following the closing date. Heliostars market cap is in the CA$25 to $30 million range. More than half of its shareholders are in the retail category, while management and institutions each hold approximately 14%. The Phoenix Gold Fund, K2 and US Global Investors are among the institutions that hold shares. [NLINSERT] Disclosure: 1) Diane Fraser compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor/employee. He/she or members of his/her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He/she or members of his/her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. His/her company has a financial relationship with the following companies referred to in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Heliostar Metals Ltd. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Heliostar Metals Ltd., a company mentioned in this article. The 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., prepares to release a GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator bomb for the first time, Oct. 7, 2021. (Samuel King/U.S. Air Force) The Air Force is testing a mammoth, 5,000-pound bomb designed using advanced modeling to increase its impact in reaching and destroying hardened underground facilities the likes of North Koreas ballistic-missile and nuclear-weapons facilities. An F-15E strike fighter completed a series of three tests Thursday with the GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator dropped at 35,000 feet over the range at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the Air Force said in a news release Tuesday. The series, planned by the 780th Test Squadron and performed by the 40th Flight Test Squadron, began on July 23 and marked the first time the 2.5-ton bomb was loaded, flown and released, the Air Force said. The tests successfully showed that the weapon could be safely released from the jet that had been modified from its usual capability of carrying a 2,000-pound bomb to one that weighs 5,000 pounds, the Air Force said. The GBU-72 was also tested during a series of detonations on the ground at Eglin, the largest such open-air test ever held at the bases range, the Air Force said. The warhead was surrounded by blast pressure sensors and equipment used to count fragments, measurements designed to determine the bombs lethality, the Air Force said. An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 40th Flight Test Squadron drops a GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator bomb over the range at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 7, 2021. (Samuel King/U.S. Air Force) A GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator bomb is dropped for the first time on the range at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 7, 2021. (Samuel King/U.S. Air Force) The GBU-72 was developed using advanced modeling and simulation techniques that substantially increase its lethality compared to the GBU-28, a decades-old 5,000-pound bunker-buster bomb, the Air Force said. The GBU-28 was first used in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and again during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The GBU-72 and 28 are dwarfed by the Air Forces 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker buster, which can only be carried by advanced bombers. One of the advantages to the modeling and simulation process used in designing the GBU-72 is that the early prototype represents what the actual hardware and software would be when it is mass produced for the field, James Culliton, program manager for the GBU-72, said in the release. This helps us bring our operational test partners in sooner with eyes on, hands on participation, validating our design and procedures sooner while including input that improves the weapon. The GBU-72 is slated to begin operational testing next year, the Air Force said. Petty Officers 2nd Class Nathan A. Milca, right, and Drake W. Childers perform maintenance on the forward house antennae aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Hershel Woody Williams while moored in Cape Town, South Africa, for maintenance, Oct. 5, 2021. (Malachi Lakey/U.S. Navy) The U.S. Navy and its contractors have finished two weeks of work on the USS Hershel Woody Williams in South Africa, marking the first such maintenance and repair effort on an expeditionary sea base in a country service officials called an important partner in the region. The Navy also flew in 26,000 pounds of supplies on the first ever naval logistical support flight into Cape Town for a U.S. warship, a service statement said Tuesday. The flight carried supplies, mail and additional items needed for the southern reaches of the U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Naval Forces Africa areas of responsibility. Both the U.S. and South African economies rely on maritime shipping and secure sea lanes, the statement said. As the only ship permanently assigned to AFRICOM, much of what we do is geared toward continuing to build ties with partner nations in Africa and exploring how we can work together, Capt. Chad Graham, the ships commanding officer, said in the statement. This maintenance period was a perfect example of that, where we received mission-critical repairs from a South African company and benefited the local economy. The maintenance period wrapped up Monday. Repairs were done on the flight deck safety nets, the mission deck, the freeboard, the superstructure, the insulation and the lighting fixtures. The supply flight into Cape Town involved the Multinational Heavy Lift Airlift Wing, based out of Papa Air Base, Hungary, the statement said. Buy Photo Navy spouse Katie Kortman shows off her home design studio at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Sept. 30, 2021. She is a contestant on the upcoming season of Bravo's fashion competition series "Project Runway." (Daniel Betancourt/Stars and Stripes) YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan A Navy spouse is set to compete on Bravos Project Runway, and this base south of Tokyo will be hosting a watch party to support and celebrate her debut. Yokosuka resident Katie Kortman, 40, of West Palm Beach, Fla., is taking on 15 other designers in season 19 of the Emmy-winning fashion competition series. Theyll compete in a variety of challenges for a grand prize of $250,000 and a chance to show a collection at New York Fashion Week. American Forces Network and the naval base are hosting the watch party on the second floor of the Yokosuka Officers Club at 7 p.m. Saturday, when the first show is aired in Japan. We are always looking to celebrate the achievements of our sailors, family members and community members whenever possible, base spokesman Randall Baucom said in a Wednesday email. When we heard Ms. Kortman was a contestant on this seasons Project Runway, we started looking at ways to recognize this unique achievement. A self-taught designer, Kortman recently told Stars and Stripes that the chance to appear on the show is a life-changing situation one that she didnt even seek out. Buy Photo Starting in 2018, Navy spouse Katie Kortman began posting pictures of her fashion designs on Instagram. In February 2020, a Project Runway casting agent reached out to ask if shed consider auditioning for the show. (Daniel Betancourt/Stars and Stripes) Starting in 2018, Kortman began posting pictures on Instagram of designs she had made for herself and soon developed a following. In February 2020, a Project Runway casting agent reached out to ask if shed consider auditioning for the show. I was like Oh my gosh, are you kidding? Its a joke, this has to be a prank call, Kortman said. But they were for real. Its a show that Ive watched since it started. Its like a dream. Initially set to film in May 2020, the coronavirus pandemic delayed that schedule by a year. By the time the show was ready to shoot, Kortman and her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Francisco Kortman, and their four children had moved to Japan. Despite the logistical challenges of caring for her children, working around her husbands busy schedule as an obstetrician and traveling internationally during the pandemic, Kortman managed to fly out to New York for filming in May. Kortman said her lack of professional experience proved challenging. Having previously designed clothes only for herself, she had to learn a variety of skills. For example, the shows format has designers making clothes for a different model for each episode. I had only ever sewn for myself my body, my measurements so I was very scared of having to sew for all different bodies, Kortman said. Every challenge, you have a different person, and you dont always get to pick your person. I was really scared of that, but I learned a few tricks about how to use a dress form to make the pattern. Buy Photo Navy spouse Katie Kortman shows off her home design studio at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Sept. 30, 2021. She is a contestant on the upcoming season of Bravo's fashion competition series "Project Runway." (Daniel Betancourt/Stars and Stripes) Kortman also hopes to use her Project Runway debut to launch her clothing line, Katie Kortman Clothing. As for her design choices and influences, Kortman said she strongly prefers comfortable clothing that looks artistic. She said many of the more stylistic choices are meant for going out or formal wear, but she wanted to design more creative choices for casual clothing, too. I'm a little dramatic theres usually something interesting like a crazy sleeve or volume but color is a big part of it, Kortman said. You see a lot of moms with kids wearing jeans and a shirt or workout clothes because its comfortable. I was really looking for clothing that felt just as comfortable but that was more dramatic and fun and exciting, and it felt like wearing art. Season 19 of Project Runway premieres on Bravo at 9 p.m. EST on Thursday in the United States, and at 7 p.m. Saturday on AFN in Japan. A U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk flies off Japan's southern coast with a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60K on Sept. 14, 2021. (U.S. Navy) A pair of American and Japanese helicopter crews paired up to practice detecting and tracking enemy submarines during a first of its kind exercise for the squadrons based outside Tokyo. Two MH-60R Seahawks from the Navys Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 51 flew alongside an SH-60K from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Air Development Squadron 51 for the Sept. 14 drills, the Navy announced in a news release Tuesday. The focus on anti-submarine warfare was new for the two squadrons, Task Force 70 spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Joe Keiley said in a Wednesday email. Their helicopters use a collection of sensors and sonar buoys to detect and track the subs, 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Mark Langford told Stars and Stripes by phone that day. The exercise that we conducted with JMSDF demonstrated that we are fully capable of integration between our two nations, one of the U.S. pilots, Lt. Kris Appel, said in the Navys release. I believe this sets us up for an increase in lethality and prepares us to face any future challenges our two countries may face together. China and North Korea, both of which have contributed to mounting tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, have a significant number of submarines in their fleets. China has approximately 50 diesel-electric submarines and 10 nuclear submarines, according to a 2020 Department of Defense report. North Korea has about 70 subs, although none are nuclear powered, the DOD reported in 2015. The exercise, conducted in the Philippine Sea off Japans southern coast, also helped the squadrons practice flight formation safety and tactics, according to the Navy. We were able to improve our joint operational skills through this event, one of the Japanese pilots, Lt. j.g. Jumpei Yoshimura, said in the release. We are looking forward to flying the next event with the U.S. Navy. Both squadrons are based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, approximately 28 miles southwest of Tokyo. Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop for the military services, receives wine for communion at MacDill Chapel in Tampa, Fla., in 2019. Catholics in the U.S. military have the right to refuse the coronavirus vaccination if they have a conscientious objection to the inoculation, Broglio said in a statement Oct. 12, 2021. (Frank Rohrig/U.S. Air Force) Roman Catholic service members may refuse the coronavirus vaccine if they have a conscientious objection to the inoculation, which in certain cases was developed with cell lines derived from abortions, the archbishop for the military services said Tuesday in a statement. Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the archdiocese in the United States, reiterated the Catholic Churchs position that it is morally permissible to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations available in the U.S., the statement said. But that doesnt preclude a person from forming a sincerely held religious belief to the contrary, Broglio said. Accordingly, no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience, he said. Broglios statement, first reported by Defense One, comes as the Pentagon moves ahead with a mandate for all troops to be fully vaccinated by late November, barring medical or religious exemptions. Broglio singled out the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as more problematic than its counterparts from Pfizer and Moderna. Thats because the former was developed, tested and produced with abortion-derived cell lines, he said. If it were the only vaccine available, it would be morally permissible, Broglio said. But the faithful Catholic is to make known his or her preference for a more morally acceptable treatment. Archbishop Timothy Broglio leads a Sunday mass in 2012 at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va. Catholics in the U.S. military have the right to refuse the coronavirus vaccination if they have a moral objection to the inoculation, said Broglio, archbishop for the military services, said in a statement Oct. 12, 2021. (Antonio P. Turretto Ramos/U.S. Navy) Broglio added that although the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had been tested using a cell line derived from abortions, that type of linkage is considered remote material cooperation with evil and therefore is never sinful. The Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in December that taking a vaccine derived from a fetal cell line did not constitute formal cooperation with abortion. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain fetal cells. The cell line used for certain vaccine development came from two abortions in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website. The cells from those decades continue to divide and grow in a lab as a cell line, the website says. Broglio said that those who refuse vaccines must take steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus for the sake of the common good by wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, undergoing routine testing and quarantining. In addition, those troops should remain open to receiving a treatment should one become available that is not derived from, or tested with abortion-derived cell lines, Broglio said. So far, 96.7 % of active-duty personnel have received at least one vaccine dose, while 83.7% are fully vaccinated, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday. Medical exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination for service members must be approved by a health care professional. Religious exemptions are granted or denied by the military services. A family health technician administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine to an airman at Aviano Air Base, Italy, in February, 2021. Some U.S. military bases opened vaccinations to all tiers of eligible beneficiaries Monday, but few had available appointments. (Brooke Moeder/U.S. Air Force) WASHINGTON Leaders of the federal effort to speed coronavirus vaccine development should have developed better communication strategies to convince more Americans to receive the shots, a key figure in the operation said Wednesday. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, director of supply, production and distribution for Operation Warp Speed, said that while the program successfully helped bring about the first coronavirus vaccines less than a year after the pandemic began, leaders blew it when it came to messaging. The biggest lesson learned is the value of strategic communications, and were fighting that today, Ostrowski said at the convention of the Association of the United States Army. Ostrowski said the military was the bandwidth behind Operation Warp Speeds mission to develop, clinically test, manufacture and then deliver 300 million vaccines to the American people by January of 2021. Though that mission was completed, the work to get shots in arms continues since the issue became politicized, Ostrowski said. We always knew based on the politics [and] based on surveys about 50% of Americans said they were going to get it, Ostrowski said. We had another 20% who were anti-vaxxers and they were never going to get it. And then we had this 30% called the movable middle. Where we failed was the movable middle, and were paying that price today, he added. As of Wednesday, more than 400 million vaccines have been administered in the U.S., Ostrowski said. Still, just 56.5% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated nearly a year after the first vaccine was made available to people aged 16 years and over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is our biggest failure, the fact that we did not follow through with an effective strategic campaign to move the movable middle from the left side i.e., not getting the vaccine to the correct side [of] getting the vaccine, Ostrowski said. Within the military, the Pentagon relied heavily on strategic communication campaigns to convince service members to take the vaccine before making it mandatory in August. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks in May issued a memo on ways to encourage and promote coronavirus vaccinations among the force. The communication campaign was meant to increase vaccination acceptance among all service members and emphasized the power of information on increasing vaccination rates. The campaign urged leaders to continue engaging with service members regarding their vaccination concerns. These conversations are not easy, they may not be short, and they may require multiple touch points, but they are critically important, Hicks wrote in the memo. We know from our experience within the department that use of this approach works and encourage its widespread adoption. But Ostrowski said not enough was done to convey that message to the broader American public. The strategic communication piece is the piece that we always seem to fail to take into account in the nuts and bolts of fighting, Ostrowski said. In the future, Ostrowski said the military should do more to embrace communications and social platforms to spread strategic messaging campaigns to reach audiences where they are. Social media has completely changed the landscape of this country, and frankly, the world, Ostrowski said. Until we get ahead of that, to take that on as another domain, we are going to be challenged in that particular arena. A vial of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine sits on a table during a vaccination clinic at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Connecticut, April 18, 2021. (Steven Tucker/U.S. Air National Guard ) (Tribune News Service) As the Kansas National Guard implements the first phase of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a group of legislators is raising questions of potential conflict with state law. Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, sent a legislative inquiry to the Adjutant General of the National Guard on Tuesday. His letter seeks answers on whether the order runs afoul of a law passed last session that bars state funds from being used to enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Proctor's question is under what legal authority the vaccines are being mandated. A spokesperson for Maj. Gen. David Weishaar, the adjutant general, did not immediately respond to a Capital-Journal request for information Tuesday. The National Guard has apparently already started the first phase of its vaccination requirement, according to a copy of a warning order provided by Proctor. The warning order, dated Sept. 24, indicates the education phase of the vaccine mandate began immediately. "The Secretary of Defense has directed every service member under the Department of Defense to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus," the order states. The mission, according to the order, is for the Kansas Army National Guard to achieve 100% COVID-19 vaccination by June 30. The Guard "deliberately conducts vaccination of uniformed service members in order to protect personnel from the COVID-19 disease." After President Joe Biden announced vaccine mandate plans last month, the U.S. Army released details on Sept. 14. Army officials said that National Guard members fall under the Department of Defense vaccine mandate, with a deadline of June 30 for guardsmen and guardswomen. Religious and medical exemptions are available. The only mandatory vaccine is the Pfizer one, which is fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration, though the vaccines with emergency-use authorizations are also acceptable. The vaccine mandate comes as coronavirus pandemic indicators are descending from a surge fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. Last month, an Air National Guard service member died from complications caused by COVID-19, according to the governor's office. Michael Baker was the assistant fire chief of the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field in Topeka. Baker reportedly contracted the disease while on duty. "This is quite literally a matter of life and death for our Soldiers, their families and the communities in which we live," said Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, the U.S. Army Surgeon General, in the military's September announcement. "Case counts and deaths continue to be concerning as the Delta variant spreads, which makes protecting the force through mandatory vaccination a health and readiness priority for the total Army." The federal authority could conflict with SB 159, a budget appropriations law with a section blocking state agencies from using state money to issue or require anyone to use a COVID-19 vaccine passport. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly did not use her line-item veto authority on the provision. A vaccine passport, as defined by the law, includes written or electronic documentation of an individual's vaccination status. The law doesn't prohibit state agencies from "instituting COVID-19 screening protocols in accordance with state and federal law to protect the public health." "The provisions of this statute, as I understand them, bar you from issuing or requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination from any of your servicemembers (unless they are activated by the federal government and become subject to the provisions of Title 10 of U.S. Code)," Proctor wrote. Proctor, a retired Army colonel who is a member of the House Committee on Veterans and Military, noted that the National Guard is subject to state laws except for when it is activated for federal service. The letter was co-signed by fellow committee members Rep. Ronald Ellis, R-Meriden, and Rep. Timothy Johnson, R-Bonner Springs. The timeline of the vaccine requirement opens an opportunity for further legislative action. Leadership established a Special Committee on Government Overreach and Impact of COVID-19 Mandates, which is tasked with finding ways to challenge Biden's mandates. The order states that the education phase will be used to inform all unvaccinated guardsmen and guardswomen about the vaccines, including how to request medical or religious exemptions. The phase ends no later than Dec. 31. The vaccination phase, focused on inoculating all remaining unvaccinated service members and processing exemption requests, begins Jan. 1 and ends no later than March 31. The validation phase begins April 1 and ends on June 30. That appears to be when the National Guard could "order initiating involuntary separation actions on those who refuse the vaccine who are not pursuing exemptions." Soldiers in mobilizing units could be subject to accelerated timelines. The special committee hasn't scheduled its first meeting. (c)2021 The Topeka Capital-Journal, Kan. Visit The Topeka Capital-Journal, Kan. at www.cjonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Actor Eric Bana talks to troops about his many film roles, including "The Hulk" and "Black Hawk Down," during an online session organized by the USO, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (USO) Military films and motorsports were the focus of an online question-and-answer session between Australian action star Eric Bana, service members and their families organized Wednesday by the USO. Bana speaking via video link from Melbourne, Australia, to troops at home and at USO clubs all over the world told backstories to some of his famous roles in movies such as Black Hawk Down (2001) and Lone Survivor (2013). Bana, 53, started out making sketch comedy but was acclaimed for his first dramatic role in Chopper, a 2001 film about notorious Australian criminal Mark Chopper Read. That led to a career in Hollywood action and historical flicks such as The Hulk (2003), Troy (2004), Munich (2005) and Star Trek (2009). Director Ridley Scott cast Bana in Black Hawk Down, which tells the story of U.S. forces in Somalia in 1993. Bana plays a Delta Force soldier who fights his way out of a battle in Mogadishu after a mission goes awry. There is huge responsibility, he said of taking on a military role. I felt that on Black Hawk Down. In Lone Survivor, Bana played Lt. Cmdr. Erik Kristensen, a Navy SEAL who was one of 16 troops killed in a MH-47 Chinook helicopter crash in an effort to rescue other SEALs during combat in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. Taking on the role of Kristensen and knowing what happened to him and his men is something you feel the weight of, but it is a real privilege, Bana said. Acting in historical roles doesnt involve trying to be the exact person youre playing, he said. Youre trying to embody the spirt of that person, he said. Asked by a youngster at the USO at Fort Hood, Texas, why the Hulk is green, Bana replied that he is unsure. Maybe I didnt pay enough attention when I was a kid reading comics, he said. Maybe secretly he wishes he was a military guy. A sailor assigned to the Navys Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore, who was celebrating the Navys 246th birthday during Wednesdays virtual event, asked Bana about resilience in acting. There is a lot of pressure to be resilient, Bana said. As a parent, one of the things I learned over the last couple of years is to encourage resilience but also have space for when resilience is not at its peak. Asked by another sailor what drew him to military roles and what he learned from playing them, Bana said he enjoys researching his characters. The cast of Lone Survivor camped on a military base and spent time with troops in the field to prepare, he added. The people you get to hang out with and learn from are the best, he said. Clad in a flannel shirt and sporting a handlebar mustache, Bana looked like a typical Down Under motorhead or bogan, in the local lingo, as he talked about his 1974 Ford Falcon XB coupe. The car, known as The Beast, is similar to the Ford Falcon driven by fellow Australian actor Mel Gibson in 1979s Mad Max. Bana has raced at Australias legendary Mount Panorama track, where Ford had a decades-long rivalry with General Motors local Holden brand, but he said he has just as much fun riding his 450cc dirt bike in the Australian bush. I get on the track on my motorcycle but less on four wheels these days, he said. My need for home care was immense, but the nearby agencies who provide home care staff did not have available personnel to send. It was impossible for me to grow my business and care for my family at the same time, and I came to the realization that I would have to make a choice. A growing business needs 24/7 attention, as does a frail or ailing loved one. (Marcy Sanchez/Army) In the military, we are taught principles to live by. One of them is, leave no one behind. And that doesnt just mean fellow active duty service members. It includes our families, neighbors and the broader community. We have a duty to care for everyone. Right now, the country is leaving behind elderly Americans and Americans with disabilities, as well as working class families who care for them. Over 70% of American voters consistently support funding home care, and its the best way for patients to get individual attention in the familiar setting of their own homes. But our nations home care industry is underfunded and crumbling. On average, home caregivers make $17,200 a year and rarely receive benefits or proper training for the challenging work they do. They are quitting the profession, and families are left struggling to make up the shortfall. Millions of women in particular are leaving the workforce to step up and care for their loved ones. Thats my story as well: I closed my small business to care for my mother and sister. After my time in the service I left a subsequent job with the federal government in 2014 and started a healing center in Cottonwood, Ariz., where I offered counseling, acupressure and meditation. I offered free services to veterans to help with their post traumatic stress, because it was something I cared about and knew about firsthand. I worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the local medical center to offer free workshops as well. I had a beautiful office in town and I was really excited about my business, which was really taking off after about a year. I was at the point of turning a profit. At the same time, I was helping care at home for my ailing sister and my aging mom, who had become sick with dementia. My need for home care was immense, but the nearby agencies who provide home care staff did not have available personnel to send. It was impossible for me to grow my business and care for my family at the same time, and I came to the realization that I would have to make a choice. A growing business needs 24/7 attention, as does a frail or ailing loved one. I made the difficult decision to sell everything, close my business and take on the task of caring for my relatives full time. My mother passed away in May of this year. It was such a difficult time, but I had to put my grief aside and continue caring for my sister. I realize that there sometimes are people who are able to just write a check and hire someone to live with and care for their loved ones. Most of us, however, are not able to do that. We rely on scarce social services provided in our communities. The Biden administration has proposed investing $400 billion in the home care industry, which would expand access to home caregivers. It would increase workers pay, and improve their training and benefits. But as Congress debates components of the reconciliation bill, investment in home care may be cut significantly. Lawmakers should include as much funding as possible as home care reaches a crisis point. In Arizona, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema comes from a military family and Sen. Mark Kelly is a veteran. Their votes will be a key factor in whether home care investment remains in the bill. I urge them to remember the principle of leaving no one behind. In this country, Americans deserve access to the care they need, whether they are elderly or disabled, working families, or four-star generals. Annette Moody, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, wrote this column in partnership with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, which advocates for progressive policies. China is sending record numbers of warplanes in drills aimed at Taiwan, while the U.S. and its allies mount growing naval exercises in the western Pacific. A new Cold War or worse may loom ahead, and Hawaii is in the thick of it. (Molly Crawford/U.S. Navy) (Tribune News Service) Taiwan's president said over the weekend that her country will not bow to pressure from China, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said that "peaceful reunification " is sought, but complete reunification "must be realized." Taiwan's defense minister last week said tensions with China are the worst they've been in 40 years. China is sending record numbers of warplanes in drills aimed at Taiwan, while the U.S. and its allies mount growing naval exercises in the western Pacific. A new Cold War or worse may loom ahead, and Hawaii is in the thick of it. "The situation in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming more tense and complex by the day, " Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said in her National Day address. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks observed earlier this month, at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event, that the "Chinese are advancing their (military) capabilities at a remarkable clip." That includes submarines, Hicks added, "but even beyond what they're doing in the undersea, it's a very clear pattern of expanding out the geographic capability, the range of their capability to (threaten) other interested parties whether that's around Japan, whether that's around, in the case of the United States, Guam or even Hawaii." China is "spanning out now, getting closer to Australia, (with) the ability to threaten their interests, " Hicks said. In late August, during a patrol in the Bering Sea and Arctic region, the Coast Guard cutters Bertholf and Kimball the latter of which is out of Honolulu observed four People's Republic of China ships a guided missile cruiser, guided missile destroyer, an intelligence-gathering ship and an auxiliary vessel operating as close as 46 miles off the Aleutian Island coast. While China's reach is growing across the Pacific, it is the more immediate threat to locations including Taiwan, and by extension, Japan and the U.S. territory of Guam, that is of greatest concern. Asked about a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Hicks said, "It's something we watch very carefully. If you're (at ) Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, you're watching it day to day. We have a significant amount of capability forward in the region to tamp down any such potential." She added that, "The United States and China and the globe have a significant interest in maintaining peace and stability in the western Pacific." "So the fact that the United States and the U.K. and Australia are coming together around this issue set I think just demonstrates how the opinions in the region, in the western Pacific, are shifting, and honestly, in Europe, how the positions are shifting with regard to how serious this Chinese challenge is, " Hicks said. Earlier this month, the U.S., Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Netherlands navies came together in the Philippine Sea for an approximately 20-ship interoperability exercise involving an impressive four aircraft carriers two U.S., one Japanese and one British and more than 15, 000 sailors from the six nations. Japan's Ministry of Defense said part of the multilateral exercise occurred in the waters and airspace southwest of Okinawa. The U.S. Navy said the strike groups conducted air defense operations and simulated strikes against maritime targets. The commander of the U.K. carrier strike group tweeted that it was a "momentous weekend " with the quad carriers and escort ships representing "half a million tons of sea power projection from six nations." After rebuffing communist China's reunification demands for more than 70 years, Taiwan now is at the heart of a deepening discord between the United States and China, the New York Times reported. "The Taiwan issue has ceased to be a sort of narrow, boutique issue, and it's become a central theater if not the central drama in U.S.-China strategic competition," Evan Medeiros, a member of President Barack Obama's National Security Council, told the Times. The U.S. and allied goal is to deter President Xi Jinping from invading Taiwan, a thriving Democracy that's strategically located just 100 miles from mainland China. Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific security chair at think tank the Hudson Institute, said at an Oct. 4 forum that despite Chinese fighter aircraft swarming the air defense identification zone of Taiwan, he believes an attack is not imminent. Rather, coercion in the form of psychological and other operations to wear Taiwan down is likely to persist. China may be thinking, "Let's test the Americans, the Japanese, the Taiwan government ... about strategic stability, " Cronin said. From an invasion standpoint, Taiwan "is not an easy problem" for China, H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser under President Donald Trump, said at the forum. Scott Harold, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corp. and Asia expert, said at the same forum that Taiwan "needs to do much more, much faster" militarily, but it's position is not hopeless in part because it has the will and some capacity to resist an invasion. The channel is rough and choppy for much of the year and most of the beaches are not ideal for an amphibious landing. "Taiwan is a highly urbanized terrain, meaning that it's basically built right up to the coast," Harold said. "So as soon as Beijing tries to push on shore, it's either pushing across mud flats and rice paddy, which is not ideal for heavy vehicles, or it is pushing into urban terrain," which is extremely dangerous. Taiwan has fielded "very capable" anti-ship cruise and other missiles that have some deterrent capacity. He also noted that Taiwan has "spent the last 70 years preparing to defeat a Chinese assault." Cronin said that not only does China have to worry about Taiwan, "they're going to have to really worry about the U.S.-Japan alliance," and "there's a lot for China to worry about." Japan has become "much more vocal" about the Taiwan Strait and the government position has "been very clear that Taiwan is part of the vital interest of Japan. And that's because they see Taiwan security as inextricably linked to the territorial sovereignty of Japan," Cronin said. Adm. Phil Davidson, the former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Oahu, now is famous for his "Davidson window" statement "that by 2027, ostensibly at the end of a third five-year term as general secretary of the Chinese communist party, Xi Jinping may think, 'Ah, the military balance is now more in my favor. This is my chance for history and legacy, '" and mount an invasion, Cronin said. That's the concern, he said. "So we have to be ready. The United States, Japan, obviously the Taiwanese, and the international community, for that kind of miscalculation on the part of Xi Jinping and the Chinese," Cronin said. (c)2021 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, poses for a group photo with fighter pilots who made the demonstration flight at the opening of an exhibition of weapons systems in Pyongyang, North Korea, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) North Korean state media on Tuesday released footage of Kim Jong Un smiling and clapping as shirtless soldiers participated in an exhibition intended to showcase the muscular power of the countrys troops, as well as weapons Pyongyang had developed to launch nuclear strikes. The video footage showed uniformed soldiers striking their bare-chested colleagues with wooden posts and breaking apparent slabs of concrete placed on soldiers stomachs with a mallet. Others had bricks smashed over their heads. One particularly dramatic sequence showed a shirtless soldier breaking out of chains and lying on broken glass before a slab of concrete was placed on his stomach and smashed. The extraordinary videos were part of a self-defense exhibition on Monday in which totalitarian North Korea showcased its latest nuclear and military weaponry, including a version of the hypersonic weapon that Pyongyang said it tested last month. Analysts have expressed doubts over that weapons capabilities. In a speech, Kim said he was building an invincible military to counter what he called persistent U.S. hostility, and not to renew hostilities with South Korea. The U.S. has frequently signaled its not hostile to our state, but there is no action-based evidence to make us believe that they are not hostile, Kim said Monday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The U.S. is continuing to create tensions in the region with its wrong judgments and actions. The exhibition marked the 76th anniversary of North Koreas ruling Workers Party. It was the first event of its kind since Kim took control of the impoverished country in late 2011, according to South Korean officials. In recent weeks, North Korea has conducted several missile tests designed to showcase milestone developments in its military and nuclear weapons program. South Korea has also showed off new military technology of its own. Tanks pass in front of the Presidential Office during the National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan, on Oct. 10, 2021. (I-Hwa Cheng/Bloomberg) Taiwan's top military leadership warned China that the closer its aircraft and ships get to the island the harder Taipei will respond, raising the stakes for further escalation with Beijing. Taiwan will take tougher measures to fend off Chinese military sorties should they get too close to the Taiwanese mainland, according to a report by the island's defense ministry sent to legislators and seen by Bloomberg News. Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is scheduled to present the report in a speech to lawmakers Thursday. "In response to the intrusions by Chinese Communist military aircraft and ships into our air defense identification zone, we will adhere to the principle of 'the closer they get to the island, the stronger we will hit back,'" the report said. The warning comes as China intensifies its military pressure on the government of President Tsai Ing-wen. Nearly 150 People's Liberation Army aircraft flew into Taiwan's self-declared ADIZ over four days around China's National Day holiday. Chinese state media has dismissed the idea of Taiwan retaliating, warning that any attack on People's Liberation Army Air Force planes would be met by force, or even an invasion. "If Taiwan fires, it would mean that the Chinese mainland will launch a destructive retaliation," the Communist Party-backed tabloid Global Times wrote in an editorial last month. "Even a war to liberate the Taiwan island will start. In this context, the Taiwan military will never dare to fire at a PLA aircraft on such a mission." Taiwan's military will adopt a multi-pronged approach that utilizes aircraft, ships and its air-defense systems to counter Chinese military incursions, the report said, increasing the flexibility of the island's threat response and helping avoid overly burdening military personnel. Speaking to lawmakers last week, Chiu described the current state of relations across the Taiwan Strait as the most severe he'd seen in his 40-year military career. He warned China will have "full capacity" to attack Taiwan by 2025. "We hope for an easing of cross-strait ties and won't act rashly, but don't assume that Taiwanese people will bow to pressure," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in statement Wednesday. "Cross-strait should respect each other, and solve the problem with practical dialogue." Over the weekend, Chinese president Xi Jinping reiterated his goal of bringing the self-ruled island under Beijing's control. A day later, Tsai said that her government would do its utmost to maintain the status quo in its relations with China amid a "complex regional landscape." "Through gray zone activities, military threats and information manipulation, authoritarian regimes aim to erode our citizens' confidence in democratic institutions," Tsai said in a video message posted to Twitter on Wednesday. "Taiwan stands on the front line of this assault and we have been working diligently to combat such coercion." In a statement last week, Pentagon spokesman John Supple stressed the U.S. had an "abiding interest" in the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific, including in the Taiwan Strait. "The United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on both sides," Supple said. Aman Khalili, third from right, had been in hiding in the weeks after Kabuls fall to the Taliban in mid-August and the U.S. withdrawal from the country. Khalili and his family were rescued last week in a joint effort by a group of Arizona military veterans, aid organizations and the Department of State. (SAFI RAUF/HUMAN FIRST COALITION) The Afghan interpreter who in 2008 was part of a team that rescued then-Sen. Joe Biden when his helicopter got caught in a blinding snowstorm in Afghanistan safely left the country with his family last week. The interpreter, Aman Khalili, had been in hiding in the weeks after Kabuls fall to the Taliban in mid-August and the U.S. withdrawal from the country. Khalili, his wife and several of his children a number he did not want to disclose for safety reasons were rescued last week in a joint effort by a group of Arizona military veterans, aid organizations and, ultimately, the Department of State. Some of the U.S. veterans involved in the operation to get the family out had worked with Khalili on the 2008 operation to rescue Biden, D-Del., and two other senators John F. Kerry (D-Mass., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. when their helicopter was forced to land in an Afghan valley vulnerable to a Taliban attack. Aman was on that mission, and the significance of what he did on that mission he didnt know it was anyone, it was just another mission to him, said Brian Genthe, an Arizona combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient who led the effort to get Khalili and his family out of Afghanistan after the interpreter sent him Facebook messages asking for help. Genthe said that Khalili was there the entire time as U.S. troops fought the Taliban in 2008. He literally sacrificed time with his family because he wanted to make his country right, because he believed that we were there to help them out, Genthe said in a phone interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday. He would literally go six, seven months for whatever interpreter pay was and not see his family. And especially with what we did with him, we engaged the Taliban, we actually fought the Taliban. On Aug. 31, the Wall Street Journal reported that Khalili had been left behind during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan. Khalili, in an interview with the Journal, directly appealed to President Biden, asking him for help. Days later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the administration would help him evacuate. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Khalili had been evacuated. Ultimately, the Department of State stepped in, but only after the Arizona veterans and the Human First Coalition - a nonprofit run by volunteers, including U.S. veterans, that was formed soon after the fall of Kabul with a focus on evacuating Americans and other vulnerable people from Afghanistan coordinated an escape route for the family through Pakistan. After a few days in Pakistan, the family arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Monday after Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman asked for Pakistani approval to fly them to Qatar aboard a U.S. military plane. The State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the familys evacuation. In WhatsApp messages to The Washington Post, Khalili said that his family is tired of long travel, but that, other than one of his children feeling joint pain, they are all well and feeling safe in Doha. His son, he said, will receive medical attention Wednesday. Khalili said he is thankful for the individuals involved in their escape, telling The Post that they saved my life. Khalili said his family is working on their Special Immigrant Visas, which will allow them to travel to the United States. He said theyre all excited to get here. Genthe said the State Department provided a specialist who will work with them on their applications. The first time Khalili applied for a special visa, he was rejected because of a misunderstanding with the contractor who originally hired him to work as a translator with the U.S. military. Alex Plitsas, a spokesman for Human First Coalition and an Iraq War veteran, noted that, because of the known connection between Khalili and Biden, the Afghan interpreter was in danger. This gentleman did have an increased risk to his life because of his connection to the sitting president of the United States, which would make him a target of opportunity to a terrorist group, Plitsas said. But there are tens of thousands of people who remain in Afghanistan who do similar things, acts of valor protecting Americans over the course of the last 20 years, maybe not for somebody who is as famous as the president, but who are just as deserving to leave. Plitsas said Human First Coalition has received 30,000 requests from people in Afghanistan seeking support and have, since August, provided safe housing opportunities and secure transport to the airport to about a third. So far, Plitsas said, the organization has helped 6,000 people reach safety, including 1,000 Americans. He estimated that there are about 200 high-risk individuals that have made their way into Pakistan because its too dangerous for them to be in Afghanistan. Flying them out of Pakistan is still a problem that his group is working on. It is our expectation that they will be given the visas they were promised, he said. Ajmal Ahmadi grieves for his family, all 10 civilians who were killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Marcus Yam, Los Angeles Times/TNS) KABUL, Afghanistan (Tribune News Service) Emal Ahmadi and his older brother Zemari Ahmadi were inseparable. Theyd sit on the plush red and tan rug in their shared living room and eat meals together, discussing family, work and the distressing changes shaking their country as U.S. troops began evacuating and the Taliban rode to power. He was a good man, said Emal, cracking a brief smile while recounting how Zemari loved to sing popular Afghan songs at parties. As an aid worker for a California-based charity, the 40-year-old Zemari was also the familys breadwinner. When he was errantly killed along with nine other family members in a U.S. drone strike in August, Emal took some solace in comments by American officials that they were considering paying compensation. But six weeks after he lost his brother, Emal said he has yet to be contacted by the U.S. government to apologize or to offer help. A jobless father in a battered land his 3-year-old daughter Malika was killed in the blast Emal is struggling to provide for an extended family of 15. Why are they not contacting us? Why are they not reaching out to us? We lost 10 members of our family. Its very difficult for me, for our family, for all of us, said Emal, 32, standing in front of the charred remains of a car in the family compound near Kabul that the U.S. military mistook for a vehicle used by an offshoot of Islamic State, known as ISIS in Khorasan, or ISIS-K. Im so angry, Im so sad, added Emal, who is also requesting the U.S. help his family relocate to safety. Emal Ahmadi, left, looks off into the distance as relatives around him try to provide support after a U.S. drone strike killed members of his family in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Marcus Yam, Los Angeles Times/TNS) Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Afghanistan operation, offered sincere and profound condolences to Emals family in a news conference on Sept. 17. He said the U.S. was exploring the possibility of an ex gratia payment, but suggested it was difficult to reach people in Afghanistan now that American troops had left. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment and an update on plans to pay Emals family. McKenzie said the strike was launched because the military believed there was an imminent terrorist threat to U.S. forces at Kabuls airport, where tens of thousands of people were fleeing the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in a chaotic and deadly evacuation. Days earlier, 13 U.S. service members were killed in a suicide bombing outside the airport. Zemari, who worked for 16 years for the Pasadena-based nonprofit Nutrition & Education International was killed when a drone fired a Hellfire missile at his white Toyota Corolla. Seven children were among the victims. McKenzie called the attack a tragic mistake. It was a horrific final act, and its chaotic nature seemed to distill two decades of Americas failure to build a stable Afghan government. The admission of error so soon after the incident was unusual and likely prompted by the intense media attention, experts tracking civilian deaths in conflict zones said. The U.S. has a poor track record awarding condolence payments to noncombatants. Not a single offer of monetary compensation to civilians was made in 2020 despite Congress allocating $3 million in funding each year to compensate those harmed by U.S. military operations anywhere in the world. Independent estimates suggest that about 71,000 noncombatants were killed in the Afghanistan war since the U.S. invaded in 2001. When it comes to ex gratia payments specifically, once the U.S. investigates and confirms civilian casualties, the decision to offer an ex gratia payment is a matter of commanders discretion, said Annie Shiel, a senior advisor for U.S. policy at the Washington-based Center for Civilians in Conflict. In a case like this one, Shiel said of Emals family, where civilian harm has already been confirmed and where the identities of survivors are known and they are reachable by the U.S. government, it should just be a matter of just making the decision to offer a payment. Emal said the only officials who have spoken to him about the strike were three Taliban members who visited his home to inform him of the U.S. apology after McKenzies news conference. He fears for the safety of his surviving family and other Afghan civilians as political instability widens, sectarian violence intensifies and the U.S. adopts an over the horizon counter-terrorism strategy that relies heavily on drone strikes. I have no doubt more people will die the way my family members died, Emal said. If we are to avoid what my family has gone through, we need a working government. There should be rule of law and accountability. But if this continues, more families will suffer. Los Angeles Times staff writers Pierson reported from Singapore and Yam from Kabul. 2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. These booking photos released Oct. 9, 2021, by the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority show Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe. (West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority) BALTIMORE, MD. (Tribune News Service) Federal prosecutors said Monday they are seeking pretrial detention for an Annapolis-based Navy nuclear engineer and his wife who are facing espionage charges for selling military secrets to people who they thought were representatives of a foreign country. Jonathan and Diana Toebbe were arrested Saturday in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and federal prosecutors say they should be held pending trial because they face a maximum possible penalty of life in prison and are a serious risk to flee or obstruct justice. A criminal complaint unsealed Sunday in U.S. District Court in West Virginia alleges that Jonathan Toebbe reached out to an unidentified foreign country in the spring of last year offering to sell secrets, but the package was obtained by the FBI, who began communicating with him in December. Jonathan Toebbe allegedly communicated with undercover agents via secure channels, received secret signals and left memory cards with sensitive information embedded in a peanut butter sandwich and a Band-Aid wrapper at prearranged locations, according to the complaint. His wife was observed assisting with the drops, the FBI says. They are scheduled for an initial appearance Tuesday morning in a West Virginia federal court, with prosecutors requesting a detention hearing later in the week. They do not yet have defense attorneys listed in court records. As part of the criminal complaint, prosecutors allege Jonathan Toebbe told the person he was in contact that he had considered the possible need to leave the U.S. on short notice. Should that ever become necessary, I will be forever grateful for your help extracting me and my family, the document quoted him as writing. I surmise the first step would be unannounced travel to a safe third country with plans to meet your colleagues. We have passports and cash set aside for this purpose. Toebbe, 42, a former naval officer, held a top-secret security clearance and had worked on projects related to the nuclear propulsion of Navy submarines since 2012. He was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. His wife, 45, has been a humanities teacher at the Key School in Annapolis for 10 years. According to their Facebook pages, Jonathan and Diana Toebbe are originally from Southern California, and neighbors said they have two children. The complaint charges a plot to transmit information relating to the design of our nuclear submarines to a foreign nation, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. 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. Neighbors said that on Saturday federal agents swarmed the Toebbes home in the Hillsmere Estates neighborhood of Annapolis, which they purchased in 2014 for $430,000, according to state real estate records. Agents knocked on every door in the quiet, kid-friendly, tree-lined neighborhood wanting to know about the couples patterns of life, how they acted or whether they ever heard any arguing, said the neighbors, who declined to give their names. The information Jonathan Toebbe allegedly provided during the sting included information about the nuclear reactors for the Virginia-class of fast attack submarines, according to a court document, which he allegedly agreed to provide data from in exchange for thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency. The Navy already has taken delivery of 19 Virginia-class submarines, built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, and Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Virginia. The Navy plans to eventually buy 66 of the submarines, which carry cruise missiles and also are designed to hunt and destroy other submarines and to be used for gathering intelligence. Replacing the older Los Angeles-class attack subs, they currently cost about $3.5 billion each. While the technology has been around for years, the United States has long been a leader in nuclear submarine development. That gives the U.S. an advantage in that nuclear submarines can stay underwater for long periods without needing to refuel, said Camille Palmer, associate professor of nuclear science and engineering at Oregon State University. Thats not the only technology that could be of use to other nations. There is also research into refining the subs that could be imparted to interested countries. Its different than the commercial nuclear reactors, Palmer said. Theyre operating in very close proximity to the reactor so they have to deal with noise and also battle situations such as withstanding shock. 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. With his wife, Toebbe drove June 26 to a location in West Virginia to drop off an SD card, wedged in a half-peanut butter sandwich, containing restricted material that cannot be shared under the federal Atomic Energy Act, the complaint said. Diana Toebbe appeared to be acting as a lookout as her husband left the material, according to the court filing. In July, Toebbe and his wife drove to a location in south-central Pennsylvania and allegedly dropped off another SD card with hundreds of pages of schematics, drawings and other documents. The complaint described it as sealed in a Band-Aid wrapper on this occasion. This information was slowly and carefully collected over several years in the normal course of my job to avoid attracting attention and smuggled past security checkpoints a few pages at a time, the FBI quoted Toebbe as messaging them. I no longer have access to classified data so unfortunately cannot help you obtain other files. In late August, Jonathan Toebbe allegedly dropped off another SD card in Virginia, concealed in a chewing gum wrapper. When he and his wife arrived Saturday in Jefferson County, allegedly for another drop-off, they were arrested. Jonathan Toebbe had at one point sent a message saying he was concerned that he was being set up. The amount of money he was being offered was a common tactic used by U.S. security forces to expose agents, he said, citing news reports. U.S. security forces are lazy, he said. But he nonetheless continued to work with the undercover agents, hailing their partnership. One day, when it is safe, perhaps told old friends will have a chance to stumble into each other at a cafe, share a bottle of wine and laugh over stories of their shared exploits, he wrote. Whether we meet or no, I will always remember your bravery in serving your country and your commitment to helping me. The Navy provided a summary of Toebbes military career Sunday that said he joined the service in 2012 in Denver, studied at the Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, and was a nuclear engineering officer based in Northern Virginia and Pittsburgh. He became a lieutenant in 2016 and left active duty in 2017. He was a human resources officer in the reserves until he left the Navy in December 2020. But court records said he continued to work as a nuclear engineer with the U.S. Navy, holding an active top security clearance from the Department of Defense and a Q clearance from the Department of Energy. The Key School said in a statement that it was in no way connected to the investigation nor any personal criminal activity involving the Toebbes. Diana Toebbe has been suspended from Key School indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation. (Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker, Christine Condon and McKenna Oxenden contributed to this article.) 2021 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Honor guards patrol the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., in 2018. (Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post) WASHINGTON When Arlington National Cemetery marks the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknowns next month, members of the public will be allowed to place flowers there for the first time, the cemetery said Tuesday. "For the first time in nearly 100 years . . . as part of the . . . Centennial Commemoration, the public will be able to walk on the Tomb of the Unknowns Plaza and lay flowers," the cemetery said in a statement. "This is a rare opportunity for the public to walk next to the Tomb . . . a privilege otherwise given only to the sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, 'The Old Guard,'" who stand watch over the site 24 hours a day, the cemetery said. Registration is required. Those interested can register at Eventbrite. Attendees must have government-issued identification. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flowers, the cemetery said. But complimentary roses, daisies and sunflowers will be available. The cemetery's trams will be available free of charge for the public to reach the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the tomb. The tomb was established Nov. 11, 1921, when the body of an unknown soldier who perished during World War I was brought from France and buried at the site. Two additional crypts, for unknowns from World War II and the Korean War, were added in 1958, the cemetery states on its website. In 1984, an unknown from the war in Vietnam was interred at the Tomb. But in 1998, the Vietnam remains were removed and identified as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. They were reburied in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis in 1999. The crypt remains empty. An array of events is scheduled at the cemetery to mark the anniversary. "On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the public will be invited to observe a joint full honors procession" and aircraft flyover, the cemetery said. More information is available at Arlington National Cemetery's website, arlingtoncemetery.mil/. Afghan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va., on Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport. (Olivier Douliery, AFP via Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Only a fraction of the tens of thousands of Afghan refugees who have arrived in the United States in recent months have been resettled into American communities, while the vast majority remain on U.S. military bases. But an infusion of $6.3 billion in government funds, allocated in the stopgap spending bill signed into law Sept. 30, could provide a much-needed boost to the resettlement effort. The additional funding authority may help clear problems stemming from a combination of mandatory medical quarantines, scarce resources and sheer volume of people in need. Only around 7,000 of the Afghans who have arrived in the U.S. after the Taliban takeover have been matched with resettlement agencies and affiliates to join communities in 46 states across the country where they will receive initial relocation services, a State Department spokesperson said last week. But most of the evacuees more than 53,000 continue to wait at one of eight domestic U.S. military bases, with an additional 15,000 being vetted at overseas sites before they can enter the country, according to the Department of Homeland Security. As increasing numbers of people arrived at U.S. bases from overseas lily pad locations, without equal numbers of people leaving to be resettled, populations at the bases expanded, straining resources. The Department of Defense received $2.2 billion in the stopgap bill for Afghans at military installations, where they undergo collection of biometrics, medical screenings, file for employment authorization and work with resettlement groups to determine their final destination in the U.S. More and more people were arriving at the military bases, and we werent moving them to their local sites, said Meredith Owen, director of policy and advocacy at the resettlement group Church World Service. So the population at the bases got a lot bigger. And then it takes longer to do processing. A key provision in the stopgap bill made Afghans who entered the country under humanitarian parole, which allows temporary U.S. stays without visas, eligible for the same benefits as traditional refugees, including assistance with housing, employment placement and training, and medical care. Advocates say that expanded eligibility for refugee benefits will make it easier to meet the needs of parolees and help them begin their life in the U.S. Resettlement sites were being asked to do a lot of resettlement services without too many additional resources to do the work, Owen said. We were able to leverage as many volunteers as we can, but the additional resources can go a long way towards stabilizing capacity. The bill also provided $1.7 billion to the Administration for Children and Families, within the Health and Human Services Department, which provides funding to states and resettlement agencies for refugee-related expenses, such as reimbursing state Medicaid programs for medical care. We are working closely with our resettlement agency partners to build capacity to provide these initial relocation services to newly arriving Afghans in their communities, the State Department spokesperson said. The stopgap spending bill included $21.5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for medical screening and support for Afghans, which could bolster the response to a handful of measles cases among evacuees that led to widespread vaccinations against the disease. The CDC now requires a three-week quarantine period for Afghan evacuees after receiving the vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella, so that the vaccine can take effect, keeping many people on military bases until that time period is up. My expectation would be that as the quarantine periods end, that there should be significant numbers of people moving from military bases to communities, said Mark Greenberg, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute and former top official at the Administration for Children and Families. A weaker refugee resettlement infrastructure also has made it difficult to resettle large numbers of refugees, advocates say. During the Trump administration, refugee admissions sharply declined, leading the government agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in resettlement to draw back their resources. There are still challenges for resettlement agencies, because during the Trump administration, the resettlement agencies lost staff and had to close offices and suspend processing, Greenberg said. And now the arriving evacuees are large numbers in relation to the numbers of refugees they have been working with in recent years. 2021 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Participants in a pro-Trump mob take over the inaugural stage at the Capitol on Jan. 6. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) WASHINGTON The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is planning to ramp up its efforts to force Trump administration officials to comply with its subpoenas as the former president attempts to stymie the inquiry. Lawmakers who sit on the panel said they are prepared to pursue criminal charges against witnesses like Stephen Bannon who have balked at cooperating. And the committee may issue a subpoena as early as Wednesday to Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who sought to deploy department resources to support former president Donald Trump's false claims of massive voting fraud in the 2020 election. "We are completely of one mind that if people refuse to respond to questions without justification that we will hold them in criminal contempt and refer them to the Justice Department," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a member of the panel, said in an interview Tuesday. Tensions over compliance with subpoenas are increasing as the committee's plan to hold depositions this week with Bannon and three other Trump administration officials former chief of staff Mark Meadows, former deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino and Kash Patel, who was serving as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary on Jan. 6 is already facing head winds. Although lawmakers maintain that the deposition dates still stand for this week, it is increasingly unlikely that they will occur and it is unclear when they will as talks between the committee and the former officials' lawyers continue. Negotiations between Clark's legal team and the committee did not proceed as rapidly as the committee hoped, according to a person familiar with the conversations who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks. As a result, the committee is contemplating issuing a subpoena, this person said. A committee spokesman declined to comment on any possible future subpoenas. Clark is considered a key witness for the panel, which is looking into Trump administration efforts to overturn election results and interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. Clark, the former acting head of the DOJ's civil division, emerged as a key player in Trump's push to amplify his voter-fraud claims after it was reported that the two men were in close touch in the days leading up to the Jan. 6 attack, which was the most serious attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812. Clark authored and circulated a draft letter dated Dec. 28, addressed to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, that urged officials in the state to investigate unfounded claims of fraud. The Washington Post has previously reported that in early January, Trump entertained a plan to oust acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and replace him with Clark, who was open to pursuing Trump's attempts to overturn the election results. Trump has urged his former aides not to cooperate with the committee and is asserting a claim of executive privilege to prevent the release of records from the National Archives after the Biden administration last week said it will not stand in the way of the information's release. A lawyer for Bannon said Wednesday that the committee's public statements about his client were not productive. Bannon has provided testimony to investigators in past cases where Trump waived executive privilege. In a letter last week, Robert Costello, Bannon's lawyer, informed the panel that Bannon will adhere to the former president's directive to not comply with the committee's requests. "We will comply with the directions of the courts, when and if they rule on these claims of both executive and attorney client privileges," wrote Costello. "Since these privileges belong to President Trump and not Mr. Bannon, until these issues are resolved, Mr. Bannon is legally unable to comply with your subpoena requests for documents and testimony." Bannon was subpoenaed last month along with Meadows, Scavino and Patel. Of the four, Bannon is the only one who was not part of the administration on Jan. 6. He left his job as a top White House adviser to Trump in 2017. Several legal experts questioned whether executive privilege could shield Bannon from responding to requests for information about what happened during a period when he was not a White House employee. It is not clear whether Meadows, Scavino or Patel will comply with either the committee's requests for testimony or documents, which are due at the end of this week. Meadows and Scavino did not respond to requests for comment. Patel said he continues to "engage" with the committee, but did not elaborate. The committee previously confirmed that Patel and Meadows were "engaging" with investigators. In the subpoenas sent last month, the committee said it expected Bannon and Patel to sit for interviews with the committee Thursday and Meadows and Scavino to do the same on Friday. Democrat-led congressional inquiries into the Trump administration were often frustrated by legal battles over how much a sitting president and his aides had to comply with the inquiries due to issues of executive privilege and separation of powers. But Schiff and others connected to the inquiry said they believe they now have a much better chance at forcing compliance with Trump out of office because they expect the Biden Justice Department will help them take action against people who do not cooperate with the inquiry. "Unlike the last four years, we expect the Justice Department to adhere to the principle that no one is above the law," Schiff said. "I'm very encouraged that the administration recognizes the imperative that the public learn the full facts of Jan. 6." To proceed with a criminal contempt charge, the full committee must meet, which might be unlikely this week, but lawmakers will probably signal their intention to proceed to seek contempt charges, said a person familiar with the process. In the past, congressional panels pressing for testimony have used civil contempt citations to leverage cooperation. After House approval, lawyers for the chamber can go to court seeking civil contempt penalties. Criminal contempt charges require action by the Justice Department. During the Trump years, criminal prosecution was not seen as a practical way to proceed because the Justice Department then was considered unlikely to accept the criminal case. With a new attorney general, Merrick Garland, in charge, things have changed. The department has indicated its interest in pursuing the Jan. 6 inquiry and cooperating with investigators. Details of Clark's dealings with Trump were uncovered thanks to cooperation from the department, which helped pave the way for some former top Trump Department officials to testify. Schiff noted that the Garland Justice Department has allowed "us to interview top ranking and justice officials, to obtain documents from the archives and I think that's a very positive sign." In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, leaves federal court in New York. Lawyers opened Parnas trial on Wednesday with plenty of talk about $1 million from a Russian financier that prosecutors contend was aimed at illegally influencing U.S. politicians, but there was little mention of Giuliani and other prominent political figures whose names will arise later in the trial. (Seth Wenig/AP) NEW YORK Lawyers opened the trial of an associate of Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday with plenty of talk about $1 million from a Russian financier that prosecutors contend was aimed at illegally influencing U.S. politicians, but there was little mention of Giuliani and other prominent political figures whose names will arise later in the trial. As it turns out, only about $100,000 of the $1 million ever made it into the hands of U.S. politicians, prosecutors say. The trial of Lev Parnas and Andrey Kukushkin began a day after jury selection with claims by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aline Flodr that the men conspired to hide illegal foreign campaign contributions made with money from Andrey Muraviev. She called Muraviev a "Russian tycoon" and said Parnas referred to Muraviev as "Big Andrey" as he "made connections with movers and shakers in the political world." "That is what secret foreign money infiltrating American elections looks like. That it why we are here. That is what this trial is all about," Flodr told the Manhattan federal jury. The first trial witness, Wesley Duncan a Republican candidate for attorney general in Nevada in 2018 testified that he returned $10,000 that Parnas had donated to his campaign because his campaign believed it was illegal. "As soon as we found that out, we sent it back," he said. Duncan also testified he once turned down an invitation from Parnas to fly to an event in a private jet. Flodr portrayed Parnas, 49, as a man who tried to live large on the money of others, passing himself off as a wealthy and connected political donor. Attorney Joseph Bondy said that Parnas, his client, was not guilty and that some of his work was on behalf of a natural gas pipeline deal he pursued. "That's what the evidence in this case will show you. He didn't knowingly, willfully violate any federal election laws," he told jurors. Kukushkin's attorney, Gerald Lefcourt, also said the prosecutor had it wrong, telling jurors that if they follow the evidence, "you'll have no trouble in finding Mr. Kukushkin not guilty." He said Kukushkin, born in Ukraine in 1973, was primarily interested in expanding his legal marijuana business in California and had teamed up with Muraviev to do so after the pair met while both were studying at a U.S. school. Kukushkin, who became a U.S. citizen at age 26 and settled in San Francisco, was thought of by his supposed co-conspirators as a "rube, unsophisticated, inexperienced, not knowing what he's doing," Lefcourt said. Throughout the openings, prosecutors and defense lawyers made few references to Giuliani, whom Parnas aided in his effort to persuade the government of Ukraine to investigate the son of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Bondy did cite Parnas' "relationship with America's mayor," a reference to Giuliani's years as New York City's mayor, and he noted that Parnas, a Florida businessman, had traveled to campaign events with Giuliani. Giuliani is not charged in the case, and prosecutors haven't alleged that he knew anything about illegal campaign contributions. But Manhattan federal authorities seized his electronic devices in an April raid and are looking into his activities related to Ukraine to see if he violated a law requiring a person to register as a foreign agent for certain activities. Giuliani has maintained anything he did was in his capacity as a personal attorney to then-President Donald Trump. This photo from 2018 shows a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va., not far from where John Henry James was lynched by a mob in 1898. The statue was removed in July. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Michael S. Williamson. (Michael S. Williamson) It was 1898, and John Henry James was on a train headed toward certain death. The Black ice cream vendor had been falsely accused of raping a White woman, arrested and taken to a neighboring town to avoid a lynch mob. But the next morning, authorities put him on a train back to Charlottesville, where he was to be indicted at the Albermarle County Courthouse. He never made it; an angry crowd pulled him from the train outside of town and lynched him. Within a few years, a Confederate monument nicknamed "Johnny Reb" went up at that same courthouse, along with some old Confederate cannons. Then came a statue of Stonewall Jackson next door, and two blocks away, a monument to Robert E. Lee. The fact that James' lynching and the erection of the memorials took place in the same era and the same area is not a coincidence, according to a report from the University of Virginia published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It found that in formerly Confederate states, counties with more Confederate memorials also had more lynchings. This "provides compelling evidence that these symbols are associated with hate" and racism, and not more innocuous things like "heritage" or "Southern pride," the study's authors concluded. The study was led by social psychology researcher Kyshia Henderson, along with data scientist Samuel Powers and professors Sophie Trawalter, Michele Claibourn and Jazmin Brown-Iannuzzi at U.Va.'s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. As recently as 2015, 57% of Americans saw the Confederate flag as representing "Southern pride" more than racism, according to a CNN poll. Seventy-five percent of White Southerners felt it represented pride, versus only 11 percent of Black Southerners. Those numbers had hardly moved from a similar poll taken 15 years earlier in 2000. But the debate around Confederate symbols and memorials is not just a matter of opinion; it contains "testable questions," Henderson said. "Specifically, we can test whether Confederate memorials are associated with hate." The team compared county-level data on lynchings between 1832 and 1950 with data on Confederate memorials. They found that in any given area, and even controlling for population and other demographic variables, the number of lynchings was a "significant predictor" of the number of memorials. The findings are correlational only; the researchers make no claims that one caused the other. "We can't pinpoint exactly the cause and effect. But the association is clearly there," Trawalter said. "At a minimum, the data suggests that localities with attitudes and intentions that led to lynchings also had attitudes and intentions associated with the construction of Confederate memorials." The study did not include Confederate memorials or lynchings in states that were not part of the Confederacy, like Maryland or Kentucky. Another recent study that looked at nearly 50,000 public monuments throughout the United States found that Confederate Gen. Lee was the sixth most honored historical figure, after Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Christopher Columbus, Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Francis of Assisi. Of 5,917 monuments in the study that mentioned the Civil War, only 1 percent also mentioned slavery. "Where inequalities and injustices exist, monuments often perpetuate them," the authors of that report said. Confederate flags and monuments have been largely ignored or defended by a majority of Americans for decades. Public opinion has shifted somewhat following several major events, including the 2015 racist murders at the Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, S.C., the 2017 White supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville, and the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd. But in 2021, a majority of Americans though a smaller one thought Confederate memorials should stay, according to several polls. Polling expert Ariel Edwards-Levy pointed out in HuffPost that responses depend largely on how the poll questions are worded. The U.Va. report builds on previous studies, the authors said, that have shown the parallel rise in racist lynchings and Confederate memorials broadly rose in parallel across the country during the Jim Crow era, and found that speakers at the dedications of these memorials used white supremacist language half of the time. In 2018, the exact site of James' lynching outside Charlottesville was identified, and soil from the spot was gathered for the national memorial to lynching victims in Montgomery, Ala. Charlottesville's memorial to Lee came down in July. At the courthouse, the cannons, "Johnny Reb" and the statue to Jackson are also gone. In their place is a new marker, unveiled in 2019, honoring a local ice cream vendor falsely accused. During an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is sitting down to talk cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks around the world was not invited to a two-day meeting starting Wednesday. (Susan Walsh/AP) US talks global cybersecurity without a key player: Russia WASHINGTON Amid an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is discussing cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks was not invited to a two-day meeting starting Wednesday to develop new strategies to counter the threat. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan called it a gathering of "like-minded" governments in agreement on the urgency of the need to protect citizens and businesses from ransomware. "No one country, no one group can solve this problem," he said in opening remarks. The virtual discussions will focus in part on efforts to disrupt and prosecute ransomware networks like the one that attacked a major U.S. pipeline company in May, a senior administration official said. The attack on Colonial Pipeline, which led to gas shortages along the East Coast, was attributed to a Russia-based gang of cybercriminals. The exclusion of a country so closely tied to the global ransomware phenomena reflects the overall poor relations between Moscow and Washington. Despite that, the U.S. has used a "dedicated channel" to address cybersecurity with Russia, said the official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity to preview this week's meeting with around 30 countries and the European Union. Since President Joe Biden raised the issue directly with President Vladimir Putin this summer in a summit and later phone call, there have been "candid discussions" about cybercriminals operating within Russia's borders, the official said. "We've had several, and they continue, and we share information regarding specific criminal actors within Russia, and Russia has taken initial steps," the official said. It is unclear what steps Putin's government has taken. Russia does not extradite its own citizens, and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate told a security forum last month that he has seen "no indication that the Russian government has taken action to crack down on ransomware actors that are operating in the permissive environment that they've created there." The issue was expected to be on the agenda this week in Moscow as Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland met for talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The Biden administration took office amid a massive cyberespionage campaign known as the SolarWinds attack, which U.S. officials have linked to Russian intelligence operatives. Ransomware attacks, perpetrated generally by criminal hacker gangs rather than state-sponsored groups, have caused tens of billions of dollars in losses to businesses and institutions and become a major source of tension between the two nations. Ransomware payments reached more than $400 million globally in 2020 and topped $81 million in the first quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. government. Actions taken by the Biden administration include imposing sanctions on a Russia-based virtual currency brokerage that officials say helped at least eight ransomware gangs launder virtual currency and issuing security directives that require pipeline companies to improve their cyber defenses. In addition, the State Department has announced rewards of millions of dollars for information on people who engage in state-sponsored malicious cyber activities aimed at transnational criminal networks that Sullivan said operate "across multiple countries, multiple jurisdictions to carry out their attacks." Most of this week's ransomware meeting is expected to be private as participants attend sessions led by India, Australia, Britain and Germany and will focus on themes such as developing resilience to withstand ransomware attacks. Other participants include Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Kenya. In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, a member of the Proud Boys, right, stands in front of a counter protester as members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators rally in Portland. (John Locher/AP) U.S. military veterans need tools to help them identify and resist increased recruiting efforts by violent extremist groups, expert witnesses told the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Violent extremist groups target military veterans because they value their training in small unit tactics, communications and weapons skills, said Seth Jones, who directs the Transnational Threats Project at Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. Extremists often target veterans online and prey on those struggling to adapt to civilian life and those facing economic or emotional hardships, added Joe Plenzler, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel. They provide them with a tribe, a simplistic view of the world and its problems, actionable solutions and a sense of purpose, said Plenzler, a former infantry and public affairs officer who retired in 2015. Then they feed these vulnerable individuals a concoction of lies and an unrelenting narrative of political and social grievance, and theyve been successful. But the U.S. government and researchers also need more data and analysis to fully understand what drives some of those who served their country into groups that use violence against Americans, the experts said. Republican House members, meanwhile, said they worried the committees public examination of the issue was a political ploy by Democrats which threaten veterans freedom of speech. The hearing Wednesday comes in the months after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by some of former President Donald Trumps backers, who sought to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens November election victory. The mob included members of several right-wing and anti-government groups, including the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters, the Justice Department said. Among the more than 620 individuals who have been arrested and charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack, at least 66 were military-affiliated veterans, active-duty service members or current reservists, lawmakers said Wednesday. Plenzler called it shocking that veterans, who make up about 6% of the U.S. population, comprised at least 10% of those charged in the assault. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said the hearing was necessary to examine the issues that have drawn veterans into domestic violent extremist groups. Takano noted that FBI director Chris Wray has identified domestic extremism as the greatest threat to U.S. national security in the homeland. Takano said he hoped the two-panel hearing would help the committee support veterans who may be targeted by violent groups. Data shows that domestic terrorist attacks and plots last year were at their highest levels since 1994, Jones said. The percentage of such incidents involving military veterans has increased, as well during recent years, he said. In addition to the Jan. 6 incident, he said military veterans were also involved in a plot last year to kidnap Michigans Democratic Party Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other incidents. Jones and Cynthia Miller-Idriss, the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University, told lawmakers they need more data to better understand the issue and determine when service members and veterans are most vulnerable to extremist propaganda. They suggested Congress mandate the Pentagon provide service members transitioning out of the military detailed training on such groups and their recruiting tactics. They also suggested service members and veterans receive cyber training to avoid becoming a target online What were seeing with veterans is a manipulation of their values, of their interests, of their loyalties to their country by persuasive extremist tactics that deliberately target them, Miller-Idriss said. It is our obligation to help equip them with the tools to help them recognize and resist that propaganda. We owe that to them. Republicans attacked both Democrats on the panel and some of the expert witnesses during the hearing, repeatedly calling on them to characterize left-wing groups, such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter, as equally responsible for violence in the United States as right-wing militias. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., called the hearing wildly offensive and dangerous, and claimed Takano was essentially labeling veterans stupid because they might be vulnerable to recruitment by various extremist groups. I think this hearing is offensive, Banks told Takano. And the fact that youre going to save our veterans from becoming political terrorists is offensive to every veteran in America. Other Republicans labeled Takanos efforts as partisan and unhelpful to veterans, who they said face certain stigmas in the civilian world. Our veterans are hardworking, high-skilled individuals, and leaders in our communities who have made incredible sacrifices to protect each and every one of our freedoms, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said. It is an unfortunate reality that veterans have long battled stigma associated with mental health issues resulting from their service, as well as perceptions, they have a propensity to violence. I am deeply concerned that todays hearing, in the Veterans Affairs Committee, rather than empowering our veterans by dispelling these stigmas will further perpetuate these stigmas for all veterans. Takano pushed back, arguing that the hearing was a step toward providing veterans the means to combat savvy recruiting efforts by violent groups, which would ultimately help military veterans. Were not here to condemn or vilify veterans engaged with these groups, but rather to draw attention to what these groups actually represent and to highlight the lurking threat posed by these groups, he said. Only by understanding who these groups are, what they believe and what violent activities they encourage from their members, can we begin to assess our ability to intervene and help veterans ... reclaim their lives. The remains of Army 1st Lt. Anthony Mazzulla, who was killed during the Korean War, are returned to Rhode Island on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. (Kris Craig, The Providence Journal/TNS) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Tribune News Service) The remains of a former altar boy and Providence College student came home to Rhode Island on Tuesday, more than 70 years since he disappeared in one of the most consequential battles of the Korean War. An airliner carried the remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Anthony R Mazzulla to Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport late in the afternoon, nearly completing a path that first took them from North Korea to the United States and a DNA testing facility in Delaware. A military honor guard and family members, including Mazzulla's 66-year-old niece, who was close to his mother, and a military honor guard received the remains on the tarmac. A motorcade then moved the soldier's flag-draped casket to the Nardolillo Funeral Home in Cranston, Rhode Island. "I'm very proud to say he was my uncle and he served his country," said Mazzulla's niece, Lois Marandola, of Johnston. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice. I never really thought we would see this day." Lois A. Marandola holds a picture of her uncle, Army 1st Lt. Anthony R. Mazzulla, in her backyard. Army 1st Lt. Anthony R. Mazzulla was listed as missing on Dec. 2, 1950. His remains were recently identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and returned to Rhode Island. (David DelPoio, The Providence Journal/TNS) Mazulla served with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in late 1950 when waves of Communist Chinese troops poured from China into Korea, foiling U.S. plans for an decisive action to end the conflict. The battalion was deployed deep into northern Korea as part of a task force that was nearly annihilated, according to a history compiled by the chief historian of the Army Historical Foundation, Matthew Seelinger. About 3,200 U.S. soldiers and Marines and about 700 Republic of Korea soldiers made up the task force, says Seelinger's report. Initially, the task force, operating in extreme cold, had the job of relieving U.S. Marines serving near a large reservoir. Led by U.S. Col. Allan D. "Mac" MacLean, the force also had the responsibility of protecting areas to the east of the Chosin Reservoir. Meanwhile, troops on the western side of the water would assault enemy supply lines to the west. Mazzulla's battalion took positions farthest to the north on the eastern side. But on the night of Nov. 27, says the report, Chinese Communist Forces encircled units of the task force and attacked, "blowing bugles and screaming wildly," according to the report. Mazzulla's battalion was hit first, it says, taking 100 casualties. Other U.S. infantry battalions to the south took heavy casualties as well. Enemy attacks and deep mud stymied a column of tanks that was sent north to help. On Nov. 28, says the report, the commander of X Corps, Maj. General Edward M. Almond, flew into the battalion's perimeter, "seemingly unaware" of the crisis and announcing the task force's role in a pending U.S. attack, saying "Don't let a bunch of Chinese laundrymen stop you." The Chinese forces struck again on Nov. 29 and the combat was "often hand to hand," says the report. As snow fell, Mazzulla's battalion moved south to join up with another battalion in anticipation of mounting the pending attack ordered by Almond. They found that battalion under enemy fire. At one point, says the history. the task force commander, MacLean, confused certain enemy troops with friendly forces. MacLean himself was captured(and another American POW would later tell investigators that he died from his wounds four days into his captivity). The commander of Mazzulla's battalion, Lt. Col. Don C. Faith, took over the hobbled task force, which, with almost 500 wounded, could not mount the attack ordered by Almond. Communications with U.S. Marines and the 7th Infantry Division's headquarters were severed. Another enemy attack that night inflicted 100 more casualties, says the report. With orders to withdraw, the force rolled south encountering enemy roadblocks and drawing fire. During a fight at one of them, Faith was killed by grenade fragments, according to the history. Some wounded soldiers were killed inside the motorized transports. Other troops left their trucks to dodge enemy fire or to attempt escape across the frozen reservoir. Many died from wounds or exposure, says the history. Others were captured. In all, only about 1,000 members of the task force made it to U.S. Marine positions to the south, says the historical foundation's report. In the immediate aftermath, it says, many critics felt that the demise of the task force was shameful. But since then historians have agreed that the task force blocked the Chinese drive on the eastern side of the reservoir over a period of five days, which allowed the withdrawal of U.S. Marines on the reservoir's west side. The task force was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation in September 1999. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and RI state chapter of the Legion Riders were on hand as the hearse carrying the remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Anthony R Mazzulla entered the airfield through a service entrance. The remains of a former altar boy and Providence College student came home to Rhode Island on Tuesday, more than 70 years since he disappeared in one of the most consequential battles of the Korean War. (Kris Craig, The Providence Journal/TNS) Neither Mazzulla's niece, Marandola, nor Mabel Langlais, a casualty assistance officer for the Rhode Island Army National Guard, were able to specify the circumstances of Mazzulla's death. The 26-year-old was listed missing on Dec. 2, 1950. The return of his remains to the U.S. was an offshoot of diplomacy between former President Donald Trump and North Korea Leader Kim Jong-un. He was lost and then he was found, says Paul K. Kim, the national chaplain of the Korean War Veterans Association, who sees a spiritual metaphor. When Mazzulla is remembered Saturday prior to his burial in St. Ann's Cemetery, a wreath from the association will be on hand, adorned with a message. "Rest in eternal peace, brother," it says. "You were not forgotten." 2021 www.providencejournal.com Visit providencejournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Benjamin Bascom is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of U.S. Army veteran Carlos Cruz-Echevarria, 60, on Nov. 11, 2017. (Frank Fernandez, The Daytona Beach News-Journal/TNS) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Army veteran thought he was helping a stranded motorist whose car was mired in a ditch in Deltona on Veterans Day in 2017. But the stranded motorist was actually a hired assassin and his target was the veteran himself, prosecutors said Tuesday. Benjamin Jaquaric Antonio Bascom, 28, is on trial this week charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Carlos Cruz-Echevarria, 60, on Nov. 11, 2017. He is also charged with witness tampering because prosecutors said he tried to get his girlfriend not to help investigators in the case. Assistant State Attorney Joe LeDonne described the alleged plot to the jury during opening statements in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Matt Foxman at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. LeDonne said Bascom's passenger car was in a swale on Malaga Avenue, near Cruz-Echevarria's home in Deltona. "He got the vehicle stuck in a ditch and he waited for the victim, in this case, Carlos Cruz- Echevarria, to drive by and offer his help," LeDonne said. "And when the defendant was ready and the victim was in the perfect position, the defendant shot the victim four times execution style and left him on the side of the road to die." LeDonne said that the man who wanted Cruz-Echevarria dead was Kelsey McFoley. McFoley was facing a possible prison sentence in a road rage case in which the only witness and victim was Cruz-Echevarria. LeDonne said that prosecutors would present evidence to show that McFoley enlisted Bascom to kill Cruz-Echevarria. "This was in fact a murder for hire," LeDonne said. "And the price, ladies and gentleman, of this crime, the price of this man's life: $1,000." McFoley, 28, went on trial in 2019 and was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to the mandatory life in prison without parole. McFoley's girlfriend at the time, Melissa Rios-Roque, 24, is also charged with first-degree murder in Cruz-Echevarria's slaying. At the time, she was pregnant with McFoley's child. She is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail while she awaits trial. McFoley was under investigation by the FBI in an unrelated case and the feds found he had pictures on his cellphone of a police report and witness list about the road rage incident containing Cruz-Echevarria's address. Before the killing, prosecutors had offered McFoley a deal of three years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to the road rage. Now, he faces life in prison. Bascom's defense attorney Philip Massa told jurors that his client was innocent. "The evidence is going to show that Mr. Bascom absolutely could not be the person who shot Carlos Cruz-Echevarria," Massa said. Massa said that at 7:38 p.m. the night of the shooting Bascom was allegedly in a hit-and-run accident with Cruz-Echevarria's truck about a mile away from the shooting. He said evidence will show that the shooting of Cruz-Echevarria occurred around 7:40 p.m., but another witness will say they heard the shooting about 10 minutes before 8 p.m. and another witness said they heard the shooting at 8 p.m. "So the state's evidence is going to show that they have Mr. Bascom shooting Mr. Echevarria and at the same time being in a hit-and-run accident a mile away," Massa said. "That's what the evidence is going to show. Impossible." Massa added that a detective looking for evidence found no DNA car or fingerprints belonging to Bascom in the car in the ditch. The car had been stolen, according to investigators. "They never found Mr. Bascom's fingerprints in any part of that car," Massa said. But LeDonne, who is prosecuting the case along with Assistant State Attorney Andrew J. Urbanak, said that investigators did find a partial print from Bascom on a gasoline container. A detective later showed jurors the red plastic gasoline container found in the backseat of the stranded car on which investigators found the print. Among the witnesses on Tuesday, prosecutors called to the stand criminal defense attorney Robert Rawlins III, who was representing McFoley in the road rage case in which Cruz-Echevarria was the victim and the lone witness. Under questioning by Urbanak, Rawlins said he told McFoley that it was a bad case for prosecutors because it was one person's word against the other. "I told him it was a very weak case. We should beat it no problem," Rawlins said. In response to another question, Rawlins said that without Cruz-Echevarria prosecutors certainly could not prove their case against McFoley. Prosecutors dropped the case against McFoley after Cruz-Echevarrias' killing. The documents prosecutors provided to the defense as part of the discovery process in the road rage case against McFoley contained an address for Cruz-Echevarria, Rawlins said in response to another question. Under cross examination, Massa asked Rawlins if the discovery documents included a photograph of Cruz-Echevarria. Rawlins said he did not recall a photo of him being among the documents. 2021 www.news-journalonline.com. Visit news-journalonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Buy Photo The Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C. is shown in this undated file photo. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department plans to hire 2,000 new workers starting this month to deal with an expected increase in backlogged claims which have tripled since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic last year, VA officials announced Wednesday. VA officials hope the new hires will help them slow the backlog which they expected to grow from about 204,000 overdue claims at the end of September to some 260,000 by the end of October, according to a VA statement. In addition to adding claims processors, the VA intends to mandate overtime work for its current processors to cut into its backlog, which it intends to pay for with emergency pandemic funding. The backlog has grown from about 64,000 overdue claims before the coronavirus swept across the United States last year, as pandemic-mitigation efforts forced the VA to halt exams to evaluate disabilities known as compensation and pension examinations and slowed the Federal Records Centers ability to provide documents. The VA considers backlogged claims for benefits to be those that take longer than 125 days to approve or deny. VA is committed to ensuring timely access to benefits and services for all Veterans. This includes making sure Veterans who may have experienced adverse health effects from military related exposures can get access to the benefits they need, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. The hiring of new employees will help us resolve these claims more quickly. The VA said the backlog has also been driven by recent court and Capitol Hill decisions granting new benefits to some Vietnam veterans who believe they were exposed to Agent Orange during the war in that country. So-called Blue Water Navy veterans, who served on ships within 12 miles of Vietnams shores, were granted a review of their claims last year. And, VA identified 70,000 claims it must review for new benefits granted by Congress citing a link between Agent Orange with Parkinsonism, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism. Despite the expected increase in claims this month, the VA said it has decreased its backlog by about 14,000 claims since the end of August. With the planned new hires and overtime authorizations, the VA expects to cut its backlogged claims to about 100,000 by April 2024, it said Wednesday. Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view. Winston Watusi Music Plus Musicians around the country have been feeling a bit like James Bond and, like the dapper Englishman, are slowly emerging from hibernation. But often thats not through choice. Its hard at the moment. Its hard for venues and its hard for musicians who play in them. It is particularly hard if you want to release an album. Consider the massive amount of work that goes into creating an album of music, from writing, through arranging, learning to play the damn songs, recording, mixing, mastering, artwork design and everything else. It is no small task. At the end of such a time-consuming, not to mention expensive process, you want to give the thing a proper launch - a tour maybe, or at least a few shows to share your year(s) of work. Its also possibly the only way for most acts to sell physical copies of the album, which is your only recompense financially. It is a little easier if you are for instance media darling Reb Fountain, who has just released her new album. She, deservedly, is in a position to get enough media coverage without performing live. Reb Fountain But most people lower down the musical visibility ladder need to be out there live to get the media interested. Even National Radios Music 101 barely bothers to mention most New Zealand releases these days unless its an act signed with a recognised publicist (another expense). So there are, currently, more than a few frustrated musicians out there, with albums ready to go, waiting to present them in person to the public. Tauranga There are at least two in the queue in Tauranga at the moment, and Im sure thats just the start. Long-standing band Kokomo celebrates its 30th year together in 2021, but have called off plans for a big anniversary concert after the continued difficulty getting musicians out of Auckland and securing an, er, secure venue. A planned album will now be released in November, sans concert. And Brendan McCartney, making music under the name Apollo SteamTrain, whom I wrote about a few weeks back, is also going right ahead with the release of his debut album, Generation Overload, on October 22, without any accompanying live launch. I must say I feel for Brendan. Hes been working on this album for years now a double A-side single emerged about three years back and everything Ive heard from it has been nothing short of excellent. Next weekend he was due to launch his album on all digital platforms and at a concert on Friday, then run one of the stages at the Historic Village Fringe Festival on Saturday. Now he has a free weekend. Next week Next week Im going to review Generation Overload, and Im stretching it out over a couple of weeks like this because I feel the least Brendan deserves is as much publicity as I can give him. It must be soul-destroying to put so much work into something and he has, even recording some songs up in Auckland at Neil Finns expansive and expensive Roundhead Studio and then having to send it out into the world with so little fanfare. But youve got to do it. Brendan is an active guy. He is already working on new things, including some very cool electronica-leaning material that hes posted on his website. You cant just wait forever, even if youre James Bond. If youre a creative artist you have to move on, you have to keep creating. And with that in mind, can I finish by repeating the call of Save Our Venues: Now we want to get back to gigging again as quickly - and safely - as possible. The best thing you can do to get back to enjoying live music at your favourite venue ASAP? Get a Covid-19 vaccination. If you care about live music: get a vaccination. If you want to go to summer festivals: get a vaccination. But mainly to save our venues. People are losing their livelihoods, and musicians need places to play. If you care at all about music in New Zealand then I urge you: leave behind your hesitation, get a vaccination. When Warrant Officer Dale Kutia joined the Air Force women were segregated from men, hardly any trades were open to them and their male colleagues were paid more. She wasnt even allowed to ride a bike. Now, after nearly 50 years, Warrant Officer Kutia is the longest-serving woman in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and is leaving after witnessing momentous changes in the service. In 1972, after leaving Taurangas Otumoetai College, the 17-year-old was the only applicant at the local RSA, where she passed her entry test. At the time, enlisted females joined the Womens Royal New Zealand Air Force and were only given a three-year contract rather than the eight- to 12- year contract offered to men. Jobs were limited to clerical trades, such as shorthand typists and data processors and were paid 80 percent of the mens rate. Women were required to be single on enlistment and if they married or got pregnant they were discharged. The six-week recruiting course was also more limited. We werent allowed to use weapons, so there was no rifle drill or ground defence exercise instead we had a picnic at West Melton. W/O Dale Kutia engages with the locals and local wildlife during her deployment to Timor-Leste. They spent the time making bed packs and having blankets thrown on the floor if beds werent made properly. They also polished brass and their shoes. Following recruiting training, Warrant Officer Kutia began her Clerk General Duties course at Wigram, where they were finally allowed to mix with the males but only during the work day and not to socialise out of hours. A big shock was not being allowed to ride a bike because wearing a skirt meant it was unladylike. It wasnt until 1977 were we allowed to ride bikes. In 1983, Warrant Officer Kutia and her husband Richard, also in the Air Force, were chosen to be the first married couple to be posted together to Singapore. However, the posting was pulled because the perceived unfair financial advantage they would both receive. So I chose to go on leave without pay and followed my husband, she says. After two years the pair returned to Woodbourne and Warrant Officer Kutia returned to work. She excelled at her trade and was awarded the Meritorial Service Medal for her role of looking after a $300,000 budget and turning a team in turmoil into an efficient unit. She was also heavily involved in recruiting, on and off for about 12 years, shaping the face of the RNZAF. In 1997, she was the first person from the Air Force deployed to the Sinai in Egypt as an officer clerk. The posting had always previously gone to Army personnel. Later, she was chosen for a year-long deployment to Timor-Leste, where she was an advisor to the Timor-Leste Army. Warrant Officer Dale Kutia has witnessed immense progress for women in the New Zealand military during her 48 years but says more needs to be done. In the later part of her career she took on major projects that affected the entire Defence Force. She created a computer version to replace paper payslips, which would arrive weeks after pay day and generally ended up in bins. Relaxing in her Waipukurau home, Warrant Officer Kutia says looking back on her career it doesnt feel like 48 years has passed. The decision in 1977 to integrate the WRNZAF with the RNZAF was significant as it offered women so many more opportunities, she says. Over the years we started to have a voice. Theres still work to be done, especially with leadership opportunities. New Zealand-made wines have taken 42 of the 50 placings in the New World Wine Awards Top 50 list announced this week. Over the competitions 19-year history the results have become a highly anticipated, go to list for award-winning drops that are both widely available and affordable. All the Top 50 wines are now available in liquor-selling New World stores nationwide for $25 or less. It took three full days of judging, conducted in Blenheim prior to the recent lockdown, to find the best wines among more than 1100 entries from around New Zealand and the world. After swirling, sniffing, tasting and spitting, lots of retasting, and even more discussion, our independent judging panel finally reached a consensus on the 50 best wines, says co-chair of Judges Sam Kim. Our judging is blind we dont know the brand of any wine, and we assess to international standards. Every one of these winners have truly earned their place in the Top 50 and we are really excited for consumers to explore the list for themselves. The 2021 New World Wine Awards Top 50 includes many classic favourites from local winemaking hot spots like Marlborough, Hawkes Bay and Central Otago, alongside stand out wines from smaller-producing regions, exciting first-time winners and interesting new varieties. The winning wines will appeal to a broad range of wine lovers, from those looking for a classic choice to those with a desire to experiment and explore. A toast to the triple crown years Kim says that the judges were presented with an incredibly strong field again this year, thanks in part to three outstanding winegrowing seasons in New Zealand. The vintages of 2019, 2020 and 2021 will be remembered as The Triple Crown for many of our local wine regions and especially for our most famed wine, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Indeed, consumers will be spoilt for choice with Marlborough delivering 19 of the Top 50 wines including well-known name Yealands taking the Champion Sauvignon Blanc title, te Pa the Champion Chardonnay, and Rapaura Springs the Champion Pinot Gris. Hawkes Bay was close behind clinching seven of the top spots including local icon Trinity Hills trifecta of Champion titles for Syrah, Red Blend and Red Wine of the Show, while Otago retained its prowess in Pinot Noir with three winning wines. Meanwhile New Zealands smallest wine regions some representing just 1% to 3% of the countrys total wine production, punched above their weight with Top 50 wines from Gisborne, Wairarapa, Nelson and Canterbury. New and rare varieties take pride of place on shelves nationwide For wine drinkers looking for something new, there are several exciting varieties nestled among the big names too, says co-chair Jen Parr. The New World Wine Awards strives to welcome a wide range of entries to give smaller wineries a chance and enable a list that that spans not only regions, but varieties and preferences too and its really paid off this year. For example, Albarino, a Spanish variety that is fast gaining a foothold in New Zealand vineyards, has made the Top 50 again for the second year running, this time from Villa Marias Reserve range. Albarino is relatively new to Kiwi palates, but it is right up our alley and is really starting to develop a following. To me it tastes a bit like someone bottled sunshine and a warm sea breeze, and its the perfect match to a summers evening and fresh seafood. Even rarer, a 2015 Ehrenfelser from first time-winner Lone Goat, is a must try if you like aromatic wines and are keen for something new, but youll have to be quick insists Parr! There is only one commercial hectare of the German Ehrenfelser grape grown in New Zealand, and there are just 1800 bottles of this beautiful six-year-old wine available. It really is something special. Other emerging variety wines in the Top 50 come courtesy of Argentina with a Malbec, Spain with a Tempranillo and via Australia with a Petite Sirah. Trend-setters return with a fresh approach The 2021 New World Wine Awards Top 50 also shows that trendy wines can be top-notch too. In total, nine Rose wines earned a Top 50 spot making nearly 1 in 5 of the winning wines a stunning shade of pink, with two of these being sparkling. This is a class that just keeps proving itself through both increasing quality and popularity with consumers, says Parr, noting Rose is becoming a common choice year-round and for its versatility with food. And she suggests its the sparkling Rose winners which may catch the eye of the keenest trend-setters, with offerings from Lindauer and Invivos Graham Nortons Own range combining the popularity of both Rose and bubbly. The Top 50 list is attached with this release and the full results are available here. Taurangas Tina Neville was left relieved after lifeguards and doctors saved the life of a friend who suffered a massive heart attack at the beach. The Zumba teacher was also inspired to ensure she did everything possible to prevent any potential tragedy elsewhere. Her journey led her to fundraise toward buying what she calls her baby, a $3100 Lifepak Defibrillator she now keeps in the back of the car and takes to the over-65 Zumba class she teaches at venues like Bethlehem Hall. I started fundraising not long after my friends heart attack, she says. When I turned 50 I asked for people to give me money towards this instead of useless stuff I dont need. It is one of the newer ones that you can use on children, babies and adults. They say it is similar to the ones that they use in the ambulances. It is very easy to use. It talks to you and it is pretty fool-proof. Tina will now take the defibrillator with her to various venues where she teaches her Zumba classes. The halls she typically hosts classes in do not have onsite defib access. She is also registering the device with GoodSAM. It means if St John get a call-out, but Tina is nearby, she will also be notified. If I am closer they say can you go out first and administer first-aid and help out, says Tina. Hopefully, I will never have to use it but it is there if needed and could save a life. Tina is speaking ahead of World Restart a Heart Day, a global initiative to raise awareness of the use of bystander CPR and defibrillation use. Around five people a day are treated for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in New Zealand. Of those, 25 per cent will have a pulse when they arrive at hospital and only 13 per cent will survive more than 30 days following a cardiac arrest. Rapid treatment, including CPR and AED use is vital toward improving survival rates in cardiac arrest patients. Tina taking her Zumba class at Bethlehem Hall this week. Photo: John Borren/SunLive. Bay of Plenty District Health Board resuscitation coordinator Jayne Conning has seen first-hand how important out of hospital CPR and defibrillation can be across her 20-plus years as a registered nurse working in intensive care and coronary care units. I have nursed a lot of people who have recovered because they have had CPR in the community, says Jayne. It is the CPR in the community that keeps them alive long enough to get them to hospital when we can do all the extra things that they need. That is the most important thing, the hospital is then secondary. If we can get people getting CPR and defibrillated their chance of survival is much higher. Jayne says there are resources for learning CPR and she encourages people to do so. She also highlights that members of the public should not be discouraged from using a public AED, explaining how simple they are to use. The thing about this is, if you turn it on, it will actually tell you what to do, she explains. So you can use this without any formal training. You just open it up and follow the instructions. Jayne, whose mum is part of Tinas Bethlehem Zumba class, is hopeful more devices like this can be located in the general public. It would be great if there were more of them in the community, she says. Especially in places like this, like the halls, where Tina identified there was a need for it. For more information on World Restart a Heart day visit restartaheart.net Matata residents and those in the rest of the Whakatane district can expect to soon become much better informed about what is happening with the long awaited Matata wastewater project. Whakatane District Councils projects and services committee heard at a meeting on Thursday that a communications and engagement plan is being developed by the team working on the project to keep the entire district abreast of developments. Project manager Janeane Joyce presented a progress report on the project to the committee at the meeting. The project is the first the council has developed through a collaborative co-design approach with its iwi partners. Councillor Lesley Immink said at the meeting that she felt it was important to keep not only Matata residents informed about the process but also residents throughout the district. She said as this was the first time the council had undergone a project through this co-design approach ratepayers are looking at how we manage this. With no reticulated wastewater scheme, Matata is reliant on septic tanks. With the area poorly suited to this form of wastewater system because of the high water table and wet, clay-like soil, this arrangement has led to long-running public health risks and environmental contamination. The council previously applied for and was granted resource consent to build a reticulated wastewater scheme in Matata in 2013, which would discharge partially treated water to sandhills east of the Tarawera river mouth. However, the consent was overturned in the Environment Court after an appeal by Ngati Rangitihi in which the iwi showed that the discharge site was wahi tapu. Earlier this year it was reported that the council had put together a team with the aim of having a reticulated wastewater scheme in Matata by 2026. Ms Joyces report to council last week said the co-design approach was agreed upon through hui held last year between the council and the Whakatane Iwi Chairs Forum. An initial project steering group meeting was held in June this year with representatives from Ngati Awa, Ngati Rangitihi, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau, the Whakatane District Council, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health. A subsequent hui was held in Matata on August 2, where it was reaffirmed that having the right representatives at the table was critical. Representatives provided access to information that would help the project team to better appreciate the deep cultural and historic significance of the area. The co-governance group has since been agreed upon to include involvement at iwi and hapu level. It has also been agreed that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health will support and offer strategic advice to the co-governance group. The group met on September 22 for a very productive hui with open discussion and ideas on how to work together as well as support the project. Regular hui will be held to support strong engagement and partnering as well as strategic and governance support to the project with the next one planned for early November. Mayor Judy Turner asked whether the co-governance process was more time consuming and expressed the concern that rising costs over time would put the cost of the project outside those allowed for in the councils long-term plan. The total funding set aside for the project is $19,066,396. Ms Joyce replied that the project was on track and that although it took a bit more time at the beginning to get the co-governance group set up, once this was done it would allow the process to go ahead much more smoothly. She said with the partner project teams set up and also two desktop reviews completed to look at currently held technical data and identify information gaps, the next step was to undertake monitoring of the areas surface and groundwater over the next nine-to-12 months. Three bores were being drilled for this purpose. UPDATE 1.26PM: The parts of Waikato that have been in Alert Level 3 and Northland will remain in Alert Level 3 for five more days, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. This follows the 55 new cases in the community today, with 53 of these in Auckland and two in the Waikato, bringing the total number of cases in the current community outbreak to 1719. There are also 32 people in hospital with Covid-19 and 6 are in ICU or HDU units. Auckland still remains at Alert Level 3, Step 1. Based on the latest public health information, ministers have decided that maintaining the status quo in Northland and parts of the Waikato is the safest course of action, says Hipkins. This will be reviewed by Cabinet on Monday, October 18. The Waikato has done a phenomenal job in getting tested and getting vaccinated. However, this morning we were informed of two new cases that are as yet unlinked to the existing cluster. Public Health believes the risk from these cases a couple is low and there will be few locations of interest. However we need to assure ourselves that there is not undetected transmission before lowering alert levels. Genome sequencing is underway and will hopefully shed new light on these cases. Unfortunately, we still dont have confidence we have a full enough picture of the situation in Northland. Getting information from the two cases who travelled around the region while infectious and are now in quarantine, remains slow going. We may not get any further information from contact tracing interviews so are now relying on other sources of information to piece together their movements. The best thing people in Northland can do right now is to get tested if they have symptoms of Covid-19, even if these are mild. Over the last week, more than 7000 swabs have been taken. Thats encouraging but to shift alert levels with high confidence we need even more testing over the next five days. Its also great to see Northlanders coming out to get vaccinated. There have been 19,691 vaccinations in the past seven days thats more than double the previous week. Its really important to keep this going. When we see a high level of testing and vaccination, this gives us more confidence to move down the alert levels. Since the start of the Delta outbreak, of 158 people hospitalised, only three of those were fully immunised. This is the protection that the vaccine provides, and it is imperative that everyone who is eligible gets vaccinated as soon as possible. If you have any contact with any positive cases, visited a location of interest or have any symptoms, get tested as soon as possible, says Hipkins. EARLIER: Earlier today, Hipkins said the case numbers in Waikato were encouraging as Cabinet decides today whether the region and Northland can down to level 2. "I want to see the testing numbers in both places." The Waikato cases are all linked, and the three announced yesterday were already in isolation. "That's really encouraging for the Waikato," he says. In the case of Northland, contact tracing is important, and the second woman who travelled to the region is co-operating and providing information on locations of interest and the nature of the activities undertaken while in Northland. "That certainly helps us identify the risk, isolate the risk, and that increases the chance of Northland being able to come back down the alert levels." The minister denied Auckland had gone to level 3 too soon, saying the shift down from level 4 had not made a lot of difference. The rise in cases since then was not necessarily an effect of the level change, he said. "The people that we're talking about in many cases were moving around at level 4 even though of course we try and ask people not to. So the shift from level 4 to level 3 didn't make a huge difference to this particular group of people in terms of the level of movement that they were undertaking. The longer you keep people at a higher level of restriction, the more people stop following the rules, he said. "The rules only work if people voluntarily follow them. "We don't have the resources to put police officers on every street to make sure people are staying home unless they can leave so we do need to keep the goodwill of the majority of people." Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins is rejecting suggestions Auckland's border is too easy to flout, after two women travelled to Northland and have since tested positive. Hipkins says the Ministry of Social Development approved, and then revoked, the women's border exemption. The second woman was found on Monday and has been co-operating with contact tracers. Both women are in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ). "There was a degree of error in the approval in the first place," Hipkins says. The mistake in granting the exemption was corrected but only after the pair had crossed the border. Hipkins told Morning Report he did not have any information on reports one of the women hid in a car boot to cross the border, and says it's up to police on whether car boots are checked at the crossings. "Given the volume of people who are having to travel and the queues that are already forming they will be relatively efficient in the way they process those queues so they may not be doing a thorough inspection of every vehicle. "I think the police are doing as much as they feasibly can do." Hipkins says there were issues with the two women's border exemption but he did not accept Auckland's boundary was porous. "A land-based border is pretty tricky for a country like New Zealand where a huge amount of our economic activity happens in Auckland." Freight comes in via the airport and port, and people do have to move in and out of the city, he said. "We try and limit that as much as we can but it is just the reality." Work-related travel At Alert Level 3, travel is restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Essential workers who are moving around create more risk of transmission of the virus than people who are staying at home. The Government has introduced a requirement for workers who need to cross Alert Level boundaries to work at a permitted business to get tested, whether they have symptoms or not. At Alert Level 3, workers who are permitted to cross an Alert Level boundary will be required to have evidence of a test taken within the seven days before crossing the boundary. From 11.59pm on 9 September 2021, employers of essential workers who need to cross regional Alert Level boundaries for work must have a process in place to enable these employees to be tested for COVID-19. This includes enabling their workers to undergo testing, medical examination, or both during their working hours. The obligation for workers crossing the boundary to carry this evidence took effect at 11.59pm, 16 September. Police compliance checking will involve them spot checking and turning people around who do not have evidence of a test. The proof of test will be in addition to permission to travel documentation (the Business Travel Document, work order or employer letter) that all workers are currently carrying when they travel in and out of Auckland. There is no cost for essential workers who get a test for this purpose. Nasal swab testing is available at community testing sites or at GP practices. Go to the Healthpoint website for testing locations in your area This regular testing will provide the assurance that travel is being done safely and prevent COVID-19 crossing boundaries from these higher risk settings. Public health advice continues to be that anyone who develops symptoms should get tested. We also know that fully vaccinated people are more likely to have a mild illness and may not develop symptoms, and that transmission may still be possible, although less likely in people who are vaccinated. These workers will not be required to stand down or stay at home while awaiting their result, as this additional testing is to provide assurance travel in and out of boundaries is being done safely. We are working with different sectors to understand how we can minimise the impact of this additional testing for workers, employers and supply chains, while providing assurance that travel across the boundary is being done safely. If you need to travel across or within an Alert Level boundary for work or business reasons, go to the MBIE website to check if you need to apply for a travel exemption. Health care workers If youre a health care worker (including pharmacy staff) you can travel within and across an Alert Level boundary if you can present photo ID from your place of work. If you dont have a work photo ID, you will need to have: a letter from your employer confirming your place of work, and dates and reason for travel; and a form of photo ID, such as a New Zealand driver licence or passport. If you dont have photo ID, a personal photo that is contained within the letter from your employer is recommended. Alternatively, your employer may have supplied you with a QR code to facilitate fast processing at the Alert Level Boundary. Exemptions for personal travel across an Alert Level boundary Alert Level 3 boundaries are in place around Northland, Auckland and some parts of Waikato. View a map of regional boundaries. Travel into, out of or through an Alert Level 3 region is highly restricted. There are some already permitted reasons for personal travel listed on the Unite Against COVID-19 website. If your reason for personal travel is listed there, you do not need to apply for a personal travel exemption. If your reason for travel is not permitted on the Unite Against Covid website, you can apply for an exemption. Before you apply you must be sure that: your need to travel across the Alert Level boundary is urgent and cannot be delayed ; and and ; and there is no one else (who would not need to cross an Alert Level boundary) who can attend the event or perform the activity instead of you. Given ongoing concerns about the Delta variant it will be very difficult to get an exemption for personal travel. The following reasons for a personal travel exemption will not be approved. Please do not apply if your reason for travel is: going on a pre-booked holiday attending a wedding or civil union attending a significant celebration of a close whanau or family member collecting an item you purchased online returning to the region you attend school travelling to attend an exam or other assessment assisting someone else to travel for the above reasons. If your proposed travel is to meet with a foreign Embassy or High Commission, for example to organise a visa, please contact them first to see if the activity can be done remotely. Travel exemptions to meet with an Embassy or High Commission are seldom approved. Anyone travelling across an Alert Level boundary is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated before travelling across the boundary. Only the Ministry of Health can approve personal travel exemptions to cross an Alert Level boundary. Change to some personal travel exemptions As of September 22, it is possible to apply for an exemption to travel across the regional Alert Level boundary into Auckland to: attend a funeral/tangihanga, accompany a tupapaku/deceased person or visit a dying family member, or provide support or care to another person who is unwell, or provide childcare where the parents or guardians are returning to work. The threshold for exemption approval remains very high, as we still need to contain the virus, and people will need to provide evidence of the need for travel. As with other exemptions, if people are approved, they must also: stick to the approved travel and not go anywhere else. If leaving the Alert Level 3 area, have a negative Covid-19 test no more than 3 days prior to departure or a certificate from a doctor who examined them within three days prior to travel confirming they have been exempted on medical grounds from being tested and exhibited no symptoms of Covid-19. Read here for more information about border crossings at Alert Level 3. -Additoonal reporting by RNZ. Leaders of all Bay of Plenty district, regional and city councils are in unified support of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Regional Councillor David Love, who chairs the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups Joint Committee, says the endorsement makes sense on every level: Vaccination is a core part of protecting and restoring the Bay of Plentys economic and social health, and it protects at-risk communities. So getting a high vaccine uptake will benefit us all. The mayors of Opotiki, Kawerau, Whakatane, Rotorua and Western Bay of Plenty, and Tauranga Citys commissioners -who comprise the CDEM joint committee along with Councillor Love- have all voted to officially endorse the work of the Ministry of Health, Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHBs and Toi Te Ora Public Health. All Bay of Plenty councils are working alongside health and hauora providers and community groups to support vaccine activities on Super Saturday and beyond. Councillor Love says the Covid-19 crisis remains a significant issue for the region: Our communities have shown amazing spirit - especially during the higher alert levels, and we have been very lucky so far. But to beat Delta, we all need to back the vaccine rollout and encourage each other to get both shots as early as we can. Councillor Love is confident local businesses and organisations will echo the regional leaders call: The sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner we can make plans. So we are asking people to get double-dosed so we can all enjoy a wonderful Bay of Plenty summer together. Kiwis can now view their Covid-19 vaccination records through the website My Covid Record, as the first step in our work towards providing vaccination certificates. "Were listening to whanau, communities and business who want to see a return to a more normal life as soon as possible. My Covid Record is one of the tools were putting in place to help enable us to open up New Zealand," says Michael Dreyer, Ministry of Health Group Manager, National Digital Services. "Thanks to the hard work of New Zealanders, we have over 80 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated with their first dose, which gives us more options for the future. Being fully vaccinated will help us have a classic Kiwi summer. To make that happen, were making it as easy as possible for people to prove theyve been vaccinated." Later this month, Covid-19 test results will be available on My Covid Record. And from late November, vaccination certificates will be available for use within New Zealand and abroad. The exact timing for when and where vaccination proof will be required are still being finalised, says Dreyer. "The Government is also consulting with the business, hospitality and events sectors on the finer details of how it will work. "There is plenty of time to create an account on My Health Record, and the Ministry of Health will be prompting people over the coming weeks to create an account, starting with those who received their vaccinations earlier in the year. "So far, the Ministry has had positive feedback that the website is very easy to use. However, for those who dont have internet access or require alternative accessible options, we will be providing alternative solutions. "Everyone who is eligible and has not yet booked their vaccination appointments is encouraged to do so and receive their first dose by the end of this month. This will ensure youre fully vaccinated for when My Covid Record will be able to display vaccination certificates at the end of November." You can visit www.mycovidrecord.nz from your smartphone or computer. Until the end of November, if you need official proof of vaccination (for example, for international travel), you can request your vaccination records from the Ministry of Health. For test results, use the results you receive directly from your District Health Board. Gibraltar government says it is pleased with EU talks It is still early days, but the atmosphere so far has been constructive and positive In a short statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Gibraltar government said it was pleased at progress in the first round of talks about Gibraltars future relationship with the EU. Although the parties have been presenting their respective and sometimes contrary views on how best to implement the New Years Eve Agreement, the relevant exchanges have been pursued in a mutually constructive and positive spirit. We look forward to this continuing engagement in coming weeks in future rounds of talks, the statement said. The negotiations began in Brussels on Monday, and are based around the agreement-in-principle drawn up by Gibraltar, UK and Spain last December. Although the future relationship would include many different aspects, the possibility of Gibraltar having tailor-made access to the Schengen Area, while remaining outside the EU, is one of the most important. If this were to be granted, the existing land border would disappear and the external Schengen border would be at Gibraltar airport and port. This would involve a second passport check for people arriving on the Rock by air or sea, which the Gibraltar government has proposed should be manned by the EUs Frontex force. Normally, as Spain is responsible for the external border in this area, Spanish officers would carry out these controls, but Gibraltar insists that this would not be acceptable. The chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, tweeted on Monday that he had been very pleased to kick off the negotiations. He did so virtually, as he was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. Today is an important day as the process of negotiation is underway. I 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, he said. As it did with Brexit, Gibraltar has prepared contingency plans in case it is not possible to reach an agreement with the EU. Picardos period of self-isolation came to an end yesterday, and he tweeted that he was back in action. Five-million-euro works to improve Malaga's roads and eliminate potholes The first phase of the provincial council's plan affects roads that connect 25 towns and villages across the Antequera, Axarquia, Serrania de Ronda and Guadalhorce Valley regions Malaga's Provincial Council is launching the first phase of a plan to improve the surface on 22 roads and eliminate potholes in the province. The council has approved a 5,208,897 euro budget that will affect roads that connect 25 municipalities throughout the province. Councillor Francisco Oblare, explained that now the works - which have been divided into 16 projects - will be put out to tender. Antequera In the northern part of the province and in the Antequera region, there will be improvements on eight roads amounting to almost 2.5 million euros. Among the actions aimed at improving access to the Antequera Dry Port, some 768,000 euros will be spent on a new asphalt surface on 16.7 kilometres of the MA-4403, through Bobadilla Estacion. Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves In the Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves, six roads will be improved with an investment of 1.4 million euros. Half a million euros will be used to improve nine kilometres of the MA-5401 (from El Burgo to Casarabonela); and 377,096.51 euros for a new asphalt surface on ten kilometres of the MA-8300 (access to Casares from the A-7), among other improvement works. Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves In the Axarquia region, the works are focused on seven roads, with an outlay of 976,000 euros. On the MA-3200 (from Rincon de la Victoria to Benagalbon) 402,428.64 euros will be allocated to 3.9 kilometres of the road. For the improvement of the MA-3103 that serves as an access to Comares from the A-7000 (Los Montes de Malaga road) - some 357,185.18 euros will be dedicated to improving the road surface on 4.5 kilometres of the route and installing new crash barriers in some sections. Guadalhorce Valley Finally, in the Guadalhorce Valley, work will be carried out on ten kilometres of the MA-3304 (Cartama-Alhaurin el Grande), at a cost of 320,000 euros. Bank robbers face charges for blowing open 14 cash machines on the Costa The gang allegedly made off with 270,000 euros in just a couple of months from bank branches in Estepona, Marbella, Mijas and Malaga city The thieves took 20,000 euros from this cashpoint in Marbella. / JOSELE Eight people are facing a court in Malaga charged with using homemade explosives to blow open 14 bank cash machines on the Costa del Sol and stealing more than 270,000 in just over two months. According to the public prosecutor, the gang used oxygen and acetylene gas cylinders, as well as a pressure gauge, hoses, cables and a battery to break their way into the cashpoints in Estepona, Marbella. The bank raids took place between December 2013 and the months of January and February of the following year. The first of them was on 18 December, when they stole 9,650 euros from the Deutsche Bank branch on the Benamara residential development, in Estepona. Loot Most raids were carried out in Marbella, where half a dozen branches were hit, but the gang also carried out robberies - or attempts - in towns including Estepona (two), Mijas (three) and Malaga city (three). Santander was the most frequently hit bank, with six cashpoints blown open and almost 160,000 euros taken. Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Caja Rural de Granada and Banco Popular also suffered robberies and the gang looted some 114,359 euros from them. In addition to the cash amounts stolen the gang caused substantial damage to the bank offices, which in some cases amounted to 20,000 euros. The Prosecutor's Office considers the eight defendants responsible for the crimes of belonging to a criminal group and robbery with force, amongst other charges and is calling for six-year prison sentences for each of them. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Do you already have a paid subscription to any of the SWNewsMedia newspapers? If so, you can Activate your Premium online account by clicking here. Activation will allow you to view unlimited online articles each month. To activate your Premium online account, the email address and phone number provided with your paid newspaper subscription needs to match the information you use in setting up your online user account. If you are having trouble or want to confirm what email address and phone number is listed on your subscription account, please call 952-345-6682 or email circulation@swpub.com and we'll be happy to assist. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Local officials joined Gov. Ron DeSantis as he visited Crabby Bills in St. Pete Beach to announce the city has received a $2 million grant to help upgrade its master pumping station. From left are St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue Chief Jim Kilpatrick, Planning and Zoning Director Wesley Wright, Director of Community Development Michelle Gonzalez, Commissioner Melinda Pletcher, DeSantis, City Clerk Amber LaRowe, Commissioner Mark Grill, Mayor Al Johnson, Chief Operations Officer Jennifer McMahon, City Manager Alex Rey, and Assistant City Manager Vincent Tenaglia. Axe77 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,878 Thanked: 6,555 Times re: Jeep Compass 4x4 vs Toyota Fortuner Legender 4x4 | EDIT: Getting the Compass Model S Personally, I find the Compass half a size too small and the Fortuner half a size too big. Which is why I am keenly awaiting the Jeep Meridian next year. I am hoping it will get more monocoque convenience but at the right size, compared to the Fortuner. I also checked out the Fortuner since a friend gave a down payment for the 4x4 Legender recently and I am warming up to the vehicle off late. Link below is the T BHP thread on the Jeep Meridian / Commander. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...er-suv-16.html (India-bound Jeep Commander 7-seater SUV) Do you think you can wait for the Meridian thats launching next year? Seems to be the perfect middle path between the Compass and Fortuner for you. EDIT : If I had to buy today and had to choose only between the above two, Id honestly struggle to choose between these two - my choice would depend on whats the second car that would complement it. If I picked the Fortuner, Id want the second car to be a sub 25 lakh sedan / EV. If I picked the Compass, Id want the second car to be a Uber comfy Camry or similar to be chauffeured around in. Theyre different as chalk and cheese in my opinion, just given the vast difference in footprint, and only you can answer what will work for you. You can take comfort in the fact that both are absolutely brilliant vehicles so you wont regret either choice.Personally, I find the Compass half a size too small and the Fortuner half a size too big. Which is why I am keenly awaiting the Jeep Meridian next year. I am hoping it will get more monocoque convenience but at the right size, compared to the Fortuner. I also checked out the Fortuner since a friend gave a down payment for the 4x4 Legender recently and I am warming up to the vehicle off late. Link below is the T BHP thread on the Jeep Meridian / Commander.If I had to buy today and had to choose only between the above two, Id honestly struggle to choose between these two - my choice would depend on whats the second car that would complement it. If I picked the Fortuner, Id want the second car to be a sub 25 lakh sedan / EV. If I picked the Compass, Id want the second car to be a Uber comfy Camry or similar to be chauffeured around in. Last edited by Axe77 : 10th October 2021 at 19:20 . As featured in: WhatsApp Business is free to download and was built with the small business owner in mind. The app makes it easy to personally connect with your customers, highlight your products and services, and answer their questions throughout their shopping experience. Create a catalog to showcase your products and services and use special tools to automate, sort and quickly respond to messages. If you have separate business and personal phone numbers, you can have both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger installed on the same phone, and register them with different numbers. In addition to the features available in WhatsApp Messenger, WhatsApp Business includes: Business Profile: Create a profile for your business to help your customers find valuable information like your website, location, or contact information. Business Messaging Tools: Be more responsive to your customers by using Away messages to indicate when you're away or Greeting message to send your customers an introductory message when they first message you. Landline/Fixed Number Support: You can use WhatsApp Business with a landline (or fixed) phone number and your customers can message you on that number. During verification, select the Call me option to receive the code over a phone call. Run Both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business: You can use both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger on the same phone, but each app must have its own unique phone number. WhatsApp Web: You can more efficiently respond to your customers right from your computer's browser. WhatsApp Business is built on top of WhatsApp Messenger and includes all the features that you rely on, such as the ability to send multimedia, free calls*, free international messaging*, group chat, offline messages, and much more. In context: Microsoft's handy "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) tool has been available in some capacity for years now. WSL allows users to run a full Linux environment of their choosing -- and your favorite Linux utilities and software -- directly inside Windows. No need to worry about dual booting or setting up a resource-intensive virtual machine. Now, with the launch of Windows 11, snagging the WSL has become easier and more accessible than ever. To be clear, it was never a difficult process, per se; Microsoft maintains a set of easy-to-follow installation instructions over in its WSL documentation. However, it did require basic knowledge and familiarity with command lines, which the average user may not have. Granted, those users might prefer to stick to Windows instead of Linux, but the latter OS is certainly gaining popularity in the mainstream world. At any rate, the WSL App is available on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 machines, despite Microsoft dropping the latter from its official announcement post. However, Windows 10 users will need to be running version 22000.0 or higher of the OS to use it. Notably, the non-Windows Store version supports Windows 10 builds as old as 19041 (or so Microsoft says). Here's a direct link to the Microsoft Store page for the WSL app. It's roughly 442MB in size, so it won't hog too much space on your PC. It is currently considered a "Preview," though, so be prepared for bugs or missing functionality. With that said, assuming it is WSL 2.0, it should be a decent-enough experience out of the box. Hopefully, most of you won't have any problems, but if you do, be sure to let us know in the comments below. As a final clarifying point, existing WSL users are not required to download the MS Store version to continue receiving updates. You can still get those the old-fashioned way, but Microsoft would like you to transition eventually, as it hopes to make the Store app the "best way to install and use" the WSL in the long term. Why it matters: Electric scooters have become a common sight in many of the worlds cities, but with them comes the annoyance, and danger, of people riding them on sidewalks. Shared rental service Bird, however, has come up with a solution that could address the problem. Bird partnered with a Swiss-born company called U-blox to create an end-to-end GPS system designed to deliver centimeter-level accuracy specifically for the micromobility industry. It notes that GPS data in cities can be inaccurate due to signal interference from tall buildings, also called the urban canyon effect, but working with U-blox, the pair developed a custom multi-sensor and GPS module that offers much more accuracy than traditional solutions. Anyone riding one of the scooters with the new tech will hear audio alerts if they mount a sidewalkin addition to receiving notifications on their phoneswarning them to return to the street. If this is ignored, the scooter will slow and gradually come to a standstill. The system is based on a unique version of U-bloxs ZED-F9R module, a dual-band multi-constellation GNSS receiver that supports up to eight times more satellite signal types and four times more constellations (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou) than standard solutions. Its able to processes real-time vehicle data, including wheel speed, IMU sensor data including acceleration and spatial orientation, and real-time kinematic data that corrects for ionospheric interference. Bird has laid out a step-by-step explanation of how its centimeter-level sidewalk mapping works: Step 1: It starts with a geofence outline constructed from satellite imagery or city GIS data. Step 2: From here, we use surveying equipment to measure the location of three city landmarks. Only a few measurements are needed for each city. Step 3: Once the landmarks have been identified, we compare their location to the satellite imagery to determine offsets and rotations. Step 4: We then use these offsets and rotation values to shift and transform each of our original geofence outlines. Step 5: Finally, after our geofence outlines have been updated, they are pre-loaded onto our vehicles to eliminate latency. The Smart Sidewalk Protection system is currently being tested in Milwaukee and San Diego, with Madrid set to be the first city in Europe to receive the new scooters. Bird says it is planning a wider rollout in 2022. Bird previously tried using AI-powered cameras mounted to the scooters to detect sidewalk riders, but these expensive devices were at risk from vandalism and the weather, unlike the GPS system. The Tesla Insurance service is coming, says Elon Musk, and it would be available for all of its products, especially on the electric vehicle models it has. It has been recently confirmed by the tech CEO, saying that getting the approval for it, as well as agreeing that it is needed by its vehicles, as well as to be offered in-house by the company. This follows the recent topic that was brought by a fan, as it talked about Tesla's focus on R&D more than in advertising or marketing their brand more into people's everyday use of the media. It was also known that the CEO has talked about Tesla Insurance once before, and it has brought the focus for the clean energy company as a self-sustaining one and focusing more on what people need. Tesla Insurance is Coming The Tesla Insurance is coming, and there is no doubt about that as Elon Musk has confirmed it via his Twitter page, where he replied to a tweet to him by a Tesla fan that has asked for it. There have been users that have asked about seeing the in-house insurance that would help in keeping a car and its driver secure with regards to accidents. Insurance is a big thing in the country, and it is one of the top priorities of people when it comes to new purchases or other maintenances to utilize their use of an object. From healthcare to car insurance, it is a must for people, as it would help in aiding against massive charges or other problems with regards to the object like cars. The fan said that Progressive, the insurance company, does a lot of advertising and that they cannot stand it as it should not be the company's focus; rather, its service like Tesla. Agreed. Trying to get all the approvals needed to offer insurance is extremely difficult, but its coming. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 12, 2021 Read Also: [VIRAL] Tesla Model 3 Vs. Four Kidnappers! What This Viral Video, a Real-Life 'GTA' Moment What is Tesla Insurance? To date, there has been limited information on what Tesla Insurance is, apart from it being an in-house service or offer by the company, but also focus on being the "safety net" for each car and driver. Insurances are massive because they would help in making a person know that they have someone to help them in times of need, especially during accidents or unwanted events. Moreover, it would help in making things "smooth sailing," as Musk has initially mentioned and has meant when aiming to debut its idea. Elon Musk and Tesla $0 on Ads The initial focus of the conversation was how much Tesla was paying for Research and Development (R&D) compared to how much it spends on advertising for every car it sells. In the chart, Tesla spends as much as $2,984 for R&D and $0 or nothing on advertising. It means that Tesla focuses more on the development of the vehicle rather than selling it to drivers. Related Article: Tesla FSD Beta 10.2: Pure Vision Autopilot Now Available for All; Elon Musk says It's Better than Radar This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scientists just discovered something mysterious from close to the center of the Milky Way: mysterious radio signals. unlike nothing they've ever detected. Using the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope located in the Western Australian Outback, the scientists first detected this signal appearing as much as four times in a row in two weeks, reports ABC Australia. The signal also appears to occur very randomly. According to Tara Murphy from the University of Sydney, the signal seems to sometimes stay on and remain detectable for days or even weeks. At times, it "turns on or off" in one day, which they consider quite fast for any object known to astronomy. Murphy is the co-author of the study detailing the radio signal, which was published by an international team in The Astrophysical Journal. The scientists named the signal ASKAP J173608.2-321635 after its coordinates which pointed out its location close to the galactic core. Since the radio signal seems to never occur in a pattern, the scientists are theorizing that it could be a "new" type of stellar object, as per this tweet from the University of Sydney: "Weve never seen anything like it" #USYD astronomers have discovered unusual signals coming from the #MilkyWays centre which fit no currently understood patterns of variable radio source & could suggest a new class of #Stellar object pic.twitter.com/1w6dteSkYY University of Sydney (@Sydney_Uni) October 12, 2021 Unusually Random Aside from the seemingly random appearances and timings, the radio signal has also varied in strength. There was even a time when it became 100 times brighter when detected in the radio spectrum, according to scientists. Another unusual quality that the scientists detected was the radio signal's alignment: it seems to be in one direction only, and it's rotating as it travels towards the Earth. As Professor Murphy says, these qualities are "ruling out" almost every object they know of in astronomy. Read also: UK Should Invest More Heavily in The Space Exploration Industry: Virgin Galactic President Scientists Theorize on the Origins Ziteng Wang, the lead author of the study, has a few ideas as to what the radio signal's source might be. And before you assume that it could be aliens, it's not. This is mainly due to the signal's apparent randomness. Taking this into account, Wang's team first thought that the source was a pulsar--a super-dense spinning dead star writes Unilad UK. Perhaps it could've been a type of star that sends out massive solar flares. Still, the random qualities of the radio signal made the scientists say it doesn't match the profile of what's expected from any known celestial object. Looking For The Signal Again After first detecting it using ASKAP, the scientists moved to use the MeerKAT radio telescope located in South Africa. Eventually, the radio telescope picked up the signal again, allowing the team to observe it for at least 15 minutes every few weeks. And when it did "return," the scientists claimed that the source of the signal behaved vastly differently--it seemed to disappear in one day, despite lasting for several weeks while being observed with the ASKAP telescope. What's Next? Radio signals from deep space are often sent out by well-known sources such as planets, stars, and galaxies which are still forming, to name a few. But this mysterious signal's apparent random nature is a first, basically making it an astronomy detective story. Related Article: Green Bank Telescope Is so Powerful it Can Reach Distant World's Surfaces This article is owned by Tech Times Written by RJ Pierce 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook has a three-tier banning system on its current operations, which categorizes individuals and organizations to whichever violation they have committed online. Recently, Facebook has been leaked more than 4,000 names, groups, and collectives that have been banned by the company that includes harmful content, hate speech, and more. The big blue social media company has been known for banning a lot of people off its platform, especially those who have violated the Terms of Service of the website and more. Others have been banned for posting harmful content on social media, something which Facebook has tried to solve since the early days of the platform. Facebook Three-Tier Banning System The social media company has a three-tier banning system that can be seen via its Transparency Page, under its Policies and Community Guidelines. It shows that the company has different policies and rules with regards to trouble makers, and it categorizes them on whichever they fall in, putting their cases together for easier review. Bans are not permanent on Facebook, as even the one that was supposed to get a permanent ban has only gotten a 2-year maximum de-platforming and is subject to review soon. The same goes for those who are lesser-known in the industry and small-time troublemakers that see bans via Facebook. Facebook's Tiers Tier 1 is for terrorists or those that cause "serious offline harm." Inciting fear and violence online and in the real world is a big violation of human life, and is a criminal offense that Facebook does not tolerate. Tier 2 is for "Violent Non-State Actors" or those outside the country or region that do not incite violence but focuses on "praising" the cause or collective. Everything that shows support to these rebel causes would be up for a ban and be removed off the face of the platform. Tier 3 is for "Hate Speech and Dangerous Operations" that would implicate to do violence in the future, despite being regular people or not having a notorious record behind them. This may be the least restrictive tier, but it still does not tolerate misbehavior or violating the Community Guidelines online. Read Also: Facebook Gets Shamed on SNL, As Spoof Focuses on MySpace's Non-Harmful and Less Toxic Experience Facebook's 4,000 Ban List The Intercept has released a report, and it contains a screenshot list of who Facebook has banned for their actions that incite violence or the intent to do so via the platform. The report shows how much Facebook has already banned on its platform, and as much as 4,000 of these organizations show their aggression and invitation for others to do the same. Of course, this is something which the big blue social media is against, hence the ban. Moreover, it has a lot of hate crimes and terrorist groups to be banned, which will continue to grow. Related Article: Facebook and Google-Backed Tech Group Sets Up Panel for Misinformation Complaints This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Image from Unsplash Website) Australia Ransomware Action Plan Sees to Collect Data from Compromised Organizations and Requires Them to Report Australia's new Ransomware Action Plan is now looking to collect data coming from compromised organizations and requiring them to report any incidents. The government has also announced a new set of different stand-alone criminal offenses for those particular individuals using ransomware under what it has reportedly labeled its own Ransomware Action Plan. Ransomware Used in Cyber Extortion Under the official new plan, as seen in the Ransomware Action Plan, people who are reportedly using ransomware in order to conduct cyber extortion will be given new stand-alone aggravated criminal charges. A brand new criminal offense has also been created for those that are targeting critical infrastructure with ransomware. According to ZDnet, the new acts of dealing with stolen data that were knowingly obtained in the course of committing yet another separate criminal offense and buying or even selling malware for purposes of undertaking certain computer crimes are both considered criminalized. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews gave a statement. Ransomware Action Plan According to Karen Andrews, the new Ransomware Action Plan is taking a decisive stance. It was noted that the Australian Government does not condone any ransom payments that are being made to cybercriminals. It was noted that any ransom payment, either small or large, would fuel the whole ransomware business model and thus put Australia at risk. Alongside the brand new criminal offenses, the new plan is set to roll out a new mandatory ransomware incident reporting regime. This would require organizations to formally notify the government if they are experiencing any particular cyber attack. Even the largest companies aren't immune to ransomware, as Microsoft Exchange servers were just hacked by a ransomware gang in August. Read Also: White House 'Bill of Rights' to Protect Citizens Against AI Technology | Public Comments from AI Developers, Experts, and Affected Needed Security Legislation Amendment Critical Infrastructure Bill 2020 The brand new plan will also see the current government work in order to introduce additional legislative reforms that would help potentially allow law enforcement to track, seize, or even freeze ransomware gangs' proceeds of certain crimes. The new criminal offenses as well as reporting regime is said to be regulated through the official Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020, according to the government. The new bill is now expected to be passed soon after it gets the tick of approval coming from a joint parliamentary committee soon. The new measures were actually specifically recommended to be passed immediately by the parliamentary committee as it reportedly stated that there was compelling evidence regarding the complexity as well as the frequency of the cyber attacks on certain critical infrastructure increasing. Committee chair Senator James Paterson noted that Australia is not immune and as of the moment. Paterson also noted that there is clear recognition from both government and industry that they need to protect the nation against the new, more sophisticated cyber threats, which are particularly against their critical infrastructure. There are certain precautions that can be taken in order to avoid getting penetrated by ransomware. Related Article: SMS Routing Company for All Major US Carriers Found to be Hacked for Five Years | Was Text Messages Compromised? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple is only one of few tech companies that continues to suffer from the ongoing chip shortage worldwide. As a result, the firm's iPhone 13 production could likely be affected, according to a person familiar with the issue. Originally, the Cupertino giant had set 90 million units to be released in the remaining months of the year. However, the latest report suggested that it would only produce around 10 million units due to semiconductor problems. Apple Slashes Production Targets of iPhone 13 According to Bloomberg's report on Wednesday, Oct.13, the manufacturing goals of Apple for its flagship smartphone will be lowered for this year, as per a source who knows the companies' plans. This is because Texas Instruments and Broadcom are struggling to keep up with chip supplies. The slash in the production accounts for around 11 percent of the total number of iPhone 13 units. To date, Apple relies on buying semiconductors from the biggest suppliers. Although the company manages to release new products, the usual production targets for them could not be met. As the demand for the chips increases, the chipmakers struggle more in coping up with the supplies for their client companies. Some of them have warned that if this persists, the supply will not catch up anymore to the demand by next year. Texas Instruments provides the display components for Apple, whereas Broadcom is focused on delivering the wireless parts. Meanwhile, TSMC is assigned for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro's A15 Bionic chip. Apple CEO Tim Cook Sees Future Chip Shortage The Verge wrote in its latest report that Apple CEO Tim Cook imposed a warning during the Q3 earnings call. According to the Cupertino boss, he could see upcoming problems with chip supply. However, he said that they would do everything to deal with the issue. Although Apple has an established relationship with its processor suppliers, it still won't be enough to mitigate the declining production of iPhones. In the next few months, we could see the arrival of more iPhone 13 units in the market. At the same time, this would indicate that we could only get a limited number of smartphone models for the remainder of 2021. Read Also: Foldable iPhones Rumor: Apple Will Ship 15 to 20 Million of Them in 2023, Predicts Kuo How TSMC Coped Up With the Chip Shortage? TSMC, along with another processor manufacturer, Intel, sought new plants in Arizona last June. Amid the chip crisis, the chipmakers decided to come up with a solution to the problem. The said factories reportedly cost $20 billion to build. In April, Apple also delayed the production of iPad and Macbooks due to the same reason. At that time, the sources said that there was a "tight" scenario in the supply of iPhone components. The issue forced Apple to reschedule the production of the two gadgets for the second half of 2021. Related Article: Global Chip Shortage to Be Answered by Sony and TSMC's New Plant in Japan? Would This Affect Relationship with Apple? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA's James Webb Telescope, worth a whopping $10 billion, has reached French Guiana on Tuesday, Oct. 12, after a 16-day ocean voyage. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Arrives at Launch Site A cargo ship traveled with the $10 billion worth telescope from Seal Beach in the Orange Country of Southern California last Sept. 16, as per Space.com. Next, the vessel reached the Panama Canal on Oct. 5. The large boat carrying the James Webb Space Telescope then sailed across the Pacific Ocean up until the Caribbean Sea, making its way to the French Guiana, where its launching site is located. The program director of the James Webb Space Telescope, Gregory Robinson, said in a statement that its arrival to the launch site in French Guiana "is a momentous occasion." The NASA program director further said that they "are very excited to finally send the world's next great observatory into deep space." It is worth noting that the Webb telescope took years before it reached its launch pad. To be precise, the NASA endeavor began way back in 1996. What's more, its launch was initially scheduled in 2007, but has been moved to 2021 due to some hiccups that involve some cost overruns. That said, the arrival of the massive observatory has long been awaited. Meanwhile, in 2017, NASA started the assembly of the telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Launch Its arrival at the French territory in South America is ahead of its launch scheduled to lift off on Dec. 18 at Europe's Spaceport in the town of Kourou in French Guiana. The $10 billion telescope will fly to space atop the Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket. The Webb telescope project is a collaboration between three space agencies including the United States, Europe, and Canada, according to BBC's latest report. Read Also: NASA James Webb Telescope's Mid, Near-Infrared Tech To Capture Better Images Than Hubble, Spitzer: What Makes It So Different? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope: What's Next BBC further said in the same report that the James Webb observatory will undergo some final tests with its rocket as it waits for its launch in December. After its launch, the telescope will go to the Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2 where it will be looking into the cosmos via infrared light technology. The $10 billion telescope will then replace the Hubble Space Telescope. The James Webb observatory will further help researchers and scientists to observe and study the galaxies and stars, as well as any signs of life in other neighboring planets of the Earth. The NASA Administrator, Bill Nelson, even went on to say that humanity is now "close to unlocking mysteries of the cosmos." Related Article: NASA Boeing Starliner Update: Valve Issue Remains-Possibly Leading To 2022 Test Launch and Module Replacement This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Android's digital car keys support may be launching soon and it is being speculated that the launch just might take place during the Google Pixel 6 event, which will happen on October 19. An update to Google Play services hints at the possibility of the launch taking place sooner rather than later. Should the launch take place, it is also being speculated that a limited initial rollout for the digital car keys support will take place. Google first announced the possibility of a digital car keys support for Android phones at Google I/O. Android Digital Car Keys Support May Launch Soon Android's digital car keys support may be launching sooner rather than later. A Gizmodo report speculates that the launch might just take place during the Google Pixel 6 event next week. The report mentions a Google Play services update that "indicates the ability to add your car key to your phone is just around the corner." "There are multiple lines of code included in the update that appear to be related, including lines of code that refer to NFC use for unlocking a car," the report adds. Gizmodo also says that the code also gives an indication that the digital car keys support may have a limited rollout at first. Digital Car Keys Feature To simply put, Google's digital car keys feature makes it possible for you to use your Android smartphone to unlock your car. Google first announced its digital car keys feature during Google I/O. Per the Gizmodo report, users will get setup prompts once the feature rolls out. A specific digital car key service must be installed, and the user also has to set up a password-protected lock screen. According to Gizmodo, "Google worked with car manufacturers to enable the digital key through UWB (ultra-wideband) tech and NFC" for its digital car keys feature." "Ultra-wideband, which can operate at up to 100 feet, is still being added to more smartphones and premium vehicle models, while NFC has a lower range and requires you to tap your phone on a physical access point," Gizmodo explains. Google is not the only one set to add a digital car keys feature that users can use. It was reported in June that Apple is also planning to add a similar feature to iOS 15. Related Article: Apple WWDC: iOS 15 to Receive Digital Car Key Support in Wallet Like Google Google Pixel 6 Launch There are speculations that the Android digital car keys support will be officially launched during the Google Pixel 6 launch. The Google Pixel 6 launch is scheduled to take place on October 19. Should that be the case, it may be a possibility that the more premium Google Pixel 6 Pro may already include the digital car keys support. Rumors have been swirling for the past few months about the specs, features, and price of the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro. The latest leak was a German retailer's advertisement, which specified the specs, pricing, and even availability of the Google Pixel 6. Also Read: Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Final Full Specs, Support Updates, Release Date, and MORE! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isabella James 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google TV now brings multi-user profile support for users who want to have personalized profiles on their watchlists. The most requested feature has finally arrived in the app after its successful release in 2020. Google TV Now Allows Users to Have Personalized Profiles On Tuesday, Oct.12, Android Community reported that Google TV would soon allow users to have their own profiles on the platform. The said feature will be arriving on smart TVs such as Sony and TCL, as well as in the latest Chromecast device. Previously, Google had an Android TV OS but later decided to upgrade it to Google TV. By 2022, the company aims to stop using the Android TV branding to encourage more users with the newer version. Google TV comes with the latest changes on its screen, starting with a revamped user interface. Its improved home screen works like a typical recommendation library of movies and shows. For a year, the app continued to operate without the personalized user profiles that's why Google ended up adding it in the following year. This feature tackles the most recommended content that users prefer to watch or save. What Could Google TV's Multi-User Support Do? According to an Oct.12 report by Ars Technica, the multi-support feature would be a useful update for those who want to get uninterrupted in streaming. Through this improvement, users could only get clips that are under the recommended movies. What's amazing about this feature is its ability to track individual watchlists for the viewers. You can get started by personalizing your profile by connecting Google Assistant to your Google account data. The multi-user support could come in the ambient mode, which would appear when the TV is not used. "From the latest game score to the weather, news, and more, your TV will keep you up to date with info based on your profile. You can even scroll through the on-screen shortcuts to jump into your photos or start playing your music and podcasts with just a click," Google said. At the moment, only US-based users can access the ambient mode. The company announced that it would launch the said feature soon for Google TV subscribers worldwide. Read Also: Google TV Likely to Stream Free TV Channels Like Roku and Samsung TV Plus Google TV Anime Library and Play Store Navigation Over the past months, the official Play Store was readily made available on Google TV. To access it, you can use voice command via Google Assistant. All you need to do is to hold down the button and speak "Play Store" to open the app store. There's another option if you don't want to utter a command. You can do that by opening the home screen of Google TV. After that, click Settings. The update will also tour you to remap the remote buttons on the Google TV remote. However, you first need to download the "Button Mapper" app for this technique to work. Last month, Google TV officially added Cruncyroll's anime library, which consists of hundreds of anime for the fans. Related Article: Realme 4K Google TV Stick Specs Revealed | Official Announcement on October 13, 2021 This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. William Shatner's Blue Origin spaceflight was recently delayed because of the forecasted winds near its West Texas launch site. "Due to forecasted winds in West Texas we are pushing #NS18 launch target to Wednesday, October 13," said Jeff Bezos' giant space station via its recent official tweet. Now, the upcoming space launch that would bring the popular "Star Trek" actor to outer space is expected to happen at exactly 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. EDT this Oct. 13. "There is this mystique of being in space and that much closer to the stars and being weightless," said the popular Canadian actor via BBC's latest report. He added that he wanted to look at the orb form of Earth and appreciate the planet's tenacity and beauty during his 10 minutes of spaceflight. Is It Safe for William Shatner To Visit Space? Once William Shatner completes his most-awaited spaceflight, the 90 years old passenger would be considered the oldest individual to visit space. Also Read: SpaceX's 5th Crewed Flight, Crew-3, to Launch to ISS on Oct. 30 However, is it really safe for the old actor to go outside the Earth's atmosphere without any Blue Origin employee in the spacecraft? According to CNN Business' latest report, Bezos' giant space company already conducted a dozen of uncrewed test flights. These activities of Blue Origin involving its New Shepard rocket were successful since no one was injured during their spaceflights. The billionaire CEO is even one of the recent passengers to be launched into space. This just shows how the boss of Blue Origin trusts his company when it comes to delivering passengers outside the planet. But, there are still some effects that individuals would experience once they are floating in outer space. Effects of Outer Space To Old People The loss of gravity could greatly affect humans if they stay in that situation. But, old individuals would experience these changes at a faster rate. To give you more idea, here are some of the effects that people would experience outside the planet: Bones would lose density Muscles become smaller and weaker Their legs would have trouble standing up once they are back on Earth Possible bone fracture, especially with old astronauts or passengers Older individuals would be more at risk of bone and muscle deconditioning For more news updates about William Shatner and other upcoming passengers of Blue Origin, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: William Shatner Blue Origin Spaceflight NEW Schedule | Twitter Users Mocking Jeff Bezos' Company Because of Delay This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Image from Unsplash Website) Apple Releases New Security Research Report Making Its Case Against Sideloading Apps Apple has just released a new security research report that makes the company's case against sideloading apps. Apple has reportedly spent years marketing its own iPhones and iPads as better when it comes to security and reliability compared to competing devices powered by Google's very own Android software, including Samsung. Apple App Store and Sideloading According to the story by CNet, one of the primary reasons is that the Apple App Store remains the only sanctioned way for users to download apps on their iPhones and iPad. Although there are other phone makers that have their very own app stores as well, they still often allow what would be called sideloading. Sideloading is where users will be able to find and download apps from certain sources aside from the primary app store of their app. Apple had recently pushed to bolster its case in favor of having the controller App Store and stood against sideloading with a new research paper that points towards increasing attacks as well as malware infections that happen on competitor's devices. Could Sideloading Apps be Harmful? The new report that is now called Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps: A Threat Analysis of Sideloading is currently underscoring reports coming from governments around the whole world. This includes the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Europe counterparts who have issued warnings over how people download apps. In particular, Apple noted that the Android-powered devices actually have up to 47 times more malware infections compared to iPhones. Apple noted in its white paper that maintaining security and privacy on the whole iOS ecosystem is of critical importance to different users. The new Apple watch 8 2022 could come with a larger third size. Read Also: IBM AI Service Now Helps Companies with Climate Change Analysis Combining Weather Data, Risk Analysis, and More Apple 'White Paper' Research It was noted that supporting sideloading through direct downloads and third-party app stores could cripple the privacy and security protections that have actually made the iPhone so secure and expose users to some serious security risks. Apple's published research is usually called "white paper" and remains the latest way it is making its case in favor of the iPhone and iPad App Stores and its own controlling approach to its devices. In June 2021, the tech giant officially published a pamphlet-style breakdown of its particular arguments against sideloading, which was timed when the U.S. lawmakers started debating proposed laws that would potentially require Apple users to sideload apps and more. Apple has also faced opposition in the courts. The older Apple Watch chargers are not going to be compatible with the upcoming Apple Watch series. Apple noted that if the company was forced to support sideloading through direct downloads as well as through third-party app stores, iPhone users would then be constantly on the lookout for certain scams. This would make them unsure of whom or what to trust, resulting in users downloading fewer apps coming from fewer developers. Related Article: Olympus Hit by Cyberattack Forcing Company to Shut Down IT Systems in US, Canada, and Latin America This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Pixabay/PhotoMIX-Company) Bitcoin crypto The United States is now the leader in bitcoin mining as China's share has fallen to zero. In June, China instructed banks to seize transactions and issued bans on mining. The U.S. Overtakes China in Bitcoin Mining According to the research done by the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index or CBECI stated that at its peak in September 2019, China accounted for more than three-quarters of all bitcoin mining. China's crackdown in mining led to a 38% fall. However, this was offset by a 20% bounceback over July and August, suggesting that some mining equipment was redeployed overseas. China has since announced that all bitcoin transactions are illegal. The ban happened after the period covered by Cambridge's research. Miners earn money by creating new bitcoin, but the computing power needed to do it requires massive amounts of energy. They audit bitcoin transactions in exchange for a chance to get the digital currency. Also Read: China Bank Recognizes Cryptocurrency Value, Says it's an 'Investment Alternative'-A Change of Heart? Global mining needs massive computing power, which uses huge amounts of electricity, and contributes to global emissions. The CBECI tracks the distribution of power that bitcoin mining uses, and it gets its data from numerous commercial mining pools around the world. The latest data covering May to August shows that most bitcoin mining is now based in the U.S. Around 35.4% of the activities are done in the country. The U.S. became leading in bitcoin mining it was predicted it might ban Bitcoin due to its environmental consequences. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan gets second place in bitcoin mining, covering 18.1% of the activities, while Russia is third, covering 11% of the Bitcoin mining activities, according to Bloomberg. The changing attitudes around the world to crypto are confusing businesses. The decline of China as a crypto mining leader has been unexpected, and it happened fast. In June, China caused a cryptocurrency market crash that affected bitcoins after restrictions was imposed. Eventually, the Chinese government has decided that it would no longer accept crypto. The country does not trust its anonymous nature, and it is cautious of the environmental effects of mining. On the flipside, Kazakhstan has welcomed crypto companies and is cashing in. The country has more than doubled its contribution to crypto mining since early 2021. However, there are still signs of strain. The rapid growth is already putting pressure on electricity levels in some cities, according to BBC. China's mining ban has reflected a decline in bitcoin's energy consumption, but that fall will flip as mining recovers. Currently, Bitcoin is 0.45% of global electricity production. The researchers are still studying how the new ranking will change the energy sources used to mine bitcoin. It can be either with renewables or fossil fuels. Renewable Mining Earlier research by Cambridge revealed that Chinese miners migrate annually. Chinese miners move between provinces due to the cheap electricity offered by some regions where hydroelectric power is available. With the ban, miners need to look for cheap electricity. Massive amounts of mining in the United States are based in areas like Washington, where hydropower is used. It ensures low-cost electricity. According to the BBC, some Chinese miners have migrated to Texas's electricity grid's cheap electricity. And Kazakhstan taking over these crypto miners will come at an environmental cost. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that at least 87% of Kazakhstan's electricity is from fossil fuels, while coal consists 70% of generation. Related Article: Breaking: Binance Banned from Operating in UK a Day After Japan and Canada Ban, FCA This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are numerous opportunities throughout the month to schedule a flu and/or COVID vaccine. (Screenshot by Suzanne Cheavens/Telluride Daily Planet) Telluride Brewing cofounders, Tommy Thacher, left, and Chris Fish hold up their most recent award-winning beer, the Face Down Brown. (Planet file photo) If the state is forced to try a Baton Rouge man before one jury in the April 2020 slayings of his girlfriend's stepfather and a police officer, an "absolute prejudicial circus" would result, a prosecutor told a judge Wednesday. East Baton Rouge Parish Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings argued that Donkeisha Allen, the longtime girlfriend of accused killer Ronnie Kato, has demonstrated not only unwavering allegiance to Kato but also hostility toward the slain officer's family, and even threatened to kill members of the prosecution team. +5 Girlfriend of man accused of killing her stepfather, officer threatened prosecutors, filing says The girlfriend of a man accused of fatally shooting her stepfather and a Baton Rouge police officer in April 2020 threatened last October to k "There can be no greater prejudice," Cummings told state District Judge Christopher Dassau during a hearing. "Her hostility toward the state is overwhelming. We can't expect her to be an honest witness in this case. She would have the opportunity to sabotage the case in front of the jury." But one of Kato's lawyers, Sean Collins, argued that the deaths Curtis Richardson and Lt. Glenn Dale Hutto Jr. several hours apart on April 26, 2020, are "intertwined" and he accused the state of trying to manipulate the system by requesting that the first-degree murder charges be severed, or tried before separate juries at separate trials. Collins told the judge that the state is alleging "inconvenience" rather than "prejudice." "At most they've demonstrated inconvenience to them," he said, adding that prosecutors offered no evidence that Allen won't comply with a trial subpoena or tell the truth on the witness stand. "They just want it easier for them. They are manipulating the system." Dassau took the arguments from Cummings and Collins and the testimony of several witnesses Wednesday and said he'll issue a written ruling within the next 10 days. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against Kato in the Hutto slaying and want to try him first in that killing. They are not pursuing the death penalty in the Richardson slaying, citing the unwillingness of Allen and her mother Richardson's wife to cooperate with prosecutors. Allen's mother has told prosecutors she wants what is best for her daughter and her grandchildren, who love and need their father. Kato, 37, is the father of Allen's three children. Authorities say Kato killed Richardson, 58, during a domestic dispute with Allen on North Pamela Drive. Several hours later, he's believed to have fatally shot Hutto, 45, and wounded another officer while police were searching for Kato at a home on Conrad Drive. Richardson's wife was also at the Pamela Drive scene. A detective previously testified that Kato ambushed the officers with an assault-style rifle as they searched for him in the backyard of the Conrad Drive home. The same rifle was used to kill Hutto and Richardson, the detective said. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In recorded jail calls played in court Wednesday, Allen told Kato two days after the killings, "Trust me I'm on your side. I'm going to be here for you and support you all the way." In response to prior court testimony that Kato stood over a wounded Hutto and fatally shot him, Allen told Kato, "I wasn't there, but I know you wouldn't do that." Allen referred to Kato as a family man and a good person. +4 Man accused of killing BRPD officer and girlfriend's stepfather not a 'monster,' she says in jail call Two days after Ronnie Kato allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend's stepfather and a Baton Rouge police officer in April 2020, the woman tol Prosecutors revealed for the first time in a court filing Monday that Allen threatened last October to kill those prosecuting her boyfriend. She allegedly made those statements to a medical provider at Our Lady of the Lake, and OLOL representatives in turn notified the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office under a state law that obligated the notification, the filing indicates. That notification resulted in the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office providing security details for about two weeks at the homes of District Attorney Hillar Moore III, Cummings and fellow Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Barrios, and one of Moore's victim assistance coordinators, the documents state. Security patrols also were conducted at Allen's home, the new court filing says. She was not charged in connection with the alleged threat. Security measures remain in place for District Attorney's Office personnel attending court in the Kato case. Abbey Vaughn, an investigator with the District Attorney's Office, testified Wednesday that she recently interviewed an OLOL family nurse practitioner and a social worker to whom Allen allegedly conveyed her threat. "She thought the threat was credible," Vaughn said of the social worker who reported that Allen was overwhelmed with two jobs, three children and a death penalty prosecution looming against her boyfriend of 20 years. "Maybe she was just venting," Collins suggested to Vaughn. Cummings argued that Allen crossed a line that can't be crossed when she threatened District Attorney's Office employees. "She is so prejudiced," the prosecutor told Dassau, "that she made a threat against the state." Matthew Mire faces additional criminal charges in East Baton Rouge Parish after detectives filed a new arrest warrant Wednesday detailing more evidence about how he repeatedly opened fire on law enforcement officers during a daylong manhunt for the murder suspect on Saturday. About 12 hours into the massive multi-parish search effort, a state trooper was found dead inside his squad car around 6 p.m. Saturday, about the same time Mire was shooting at other troopers outside an abandoned house on Hoo Shoo Too Road in the southeast corner of the parish, according to police. The chase started around 5 a.m. that morning when Mire fired at yet another trooper who tried to pull him over in Prairieville. An ensuing high-speed chase morphed into the manhunt that lasted until after 10 p.m. when Mire was finally taken into custody near Bayou Manchac, largely unharmed. Mire was initially booked into East Baton Rouge jail on counts of aggravated flight from an officer and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer charges referring to the 5 a.m. attempted traffic stop and chase. +5 Suspected gunman arrested after daylong manhunt, high-speed chase, consecutive double shootings A gunman who led police on a high-speed chase and daylong, multi-parish manhunt is in custody and unharmed, officials said. He was rebooked on additional counts Wednesday: illegal possession of stolen firearms, obstruction of justice and misdemeanor resisting an officer. His arrest report contains new details about the final stages of the manhunt Saturday evening, when law enforcement finally started zeroing in on where Mire was hiding. A State Police SWAT team arrived at an abandoned house at 23584 Hoo Shoo Too Road after receiving information that Mire was hiding there, according to the arrest report. "LSP SWAT drove their Bearcat vehicle down a long driveway to the residence and Mire was waiting under the carport at the front of the residence," troopers wrote in the report. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Mire fired about four rounds and ran inside the house, the report says. He then fired more rounds and ran out the backdoor into a "wooded and swampy area," troopers wrote. The manhunt continued through the woods, with law enforcement using police helicopters to track Mire. At one point, troopers observed the man throw an object into Bayou Manchac, according to the report. A dive team later recovered a Smith & Wesson handgun from underwater. Mire was finally placed in handcuffs sometime after troopers saw him discard the gun, the arrest report says. He did not immediately comply with commands to stop resisting and refused to release his hands, but was successfully restrained after a police dog bit his leg, according to the report. Authorities confirmed that the recovered firearm had been stolen out of the blue Silverado pickup truck that Mire allegedly stole from a house in French Settlement and drove during his shooting rampage, which began around midnight Friday when he shot two of his neighbors in French Settlement, stole the nearby truck and drove to Prairieville, according to police. In Prairieville, Mire allegedly ambushed Master Trooper Adam Gaubert, who was typing reports in his patrol car. Officials say that after killing Gaubert, Mire entered a house less than a mile away and shot two of his relatives, leaving one dead. +13 It took 15 hours to find Louisiana trooper dead; agency on 'radio silence' during manhunt A Louisiana state trooper was shot to death while typing reports inside his patrol car early Saturday morning in Prairieville, but another 15 Officials believe Mire used the stolen gun in both those shootings, according to the new arrest report. Mire is being held without bond in East Baton Rouge Parish. He also faces charges in Livingston and Ascension parishes in connection with the other two shootings and the alleged ambush of Gaubert. Louisiana's score on a national test of college readiness fell for the fourth year in a row and remains among the lowest in the U.S., officials said Wednesday. The exam, called the ACT, measured skills in the class of 2021 in English. reading, math and science. The state's composite score is 18.4, down from 18.7 last year out of a possible 36. Only Mississippi, Nevada and Hawaii scored lower. The average nationally is 20.3, which dropped from 20.6 last year and is the lowest score in more than a decade. Louisiana students' ACT scores fall again and are in the lowest 7 years Setting off alarm bells, Louisiana's score on a test of college readiness called the ACT fell for the third consecutive year and is the lowest Only 20% of test takers here met the national benchmarks in math and 23% in science, according to the results. In reading, 31% met the national standards and 48% in English. A total of 98% of high school seniors in Louisiana took the test, which state officials note is among the highest rates in the nation. Education leaders often say the state should only be compared to others with similar turnouts. Louisiana ranks 13th of 15 states where 75% or more of students took the test. Massachusetts has the highest composite score in the nation 27.6 but only 9 percent of high school seniors took the exam there. Some students take the SAT, and some colleges are dropping ACT and SAT requirements for admission amid claims that the tests discriminate against minorities. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley mentioned the results in his report Wednesday to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. ACT exam is unfair to Black high schoolers seeking college credits, education group says The ACT requirement is the key barrier, and an unfair one, to Black students enrolling in high school classes for college credit, education of Brumley said the composite score, which he did not mention, is down from 2020 and he noted that scores dropped nationally. "Our students have faced extraordinary challenges over the last two school years," he said in a statement issued later in the day. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up About 50,000 students took the test. In a statement, Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed said "significant improvements are necessary," but there are also encouraging signs in the latest results. "Persistence from the Louisiana education community around participation in ACT testing, encouraging students to take the test multiple times and requesting and using fee waivers to improve testing affordable for students resulted in some notable achievements for our state despite the COVID disruption," Reed said. New policy may allow students to boost ACT scores, 'I think it is a great opportunity' State education officials said Monday they are grappling with how to handle a new national policy that will allow students to re-take individu "However, today the race, background and zip code of our students tell us too much about their likelihood of success and we must change that," she said. "Improving minority student performance as it relates to college readiness benchmarks must be a priority in order to expand prosperity in our state," Reed said. The test is part of the criteria on whether students qualify for scholarships that can pay for tuition and more the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS. A score of at least 18 is needed to qualify for the most common form of the aid, called TOPS Opportunity. Officials of the ACT, which is based in Iowa City, Iowa, said completing a core curriculum in high school is one of the keys to success on the test. They said students who did so scored an average of 22.5 compared to 19.2 for others. National scores have fallen for four years in a row too, which means the plunge began well before the coronavirus pandemic. Janet Godwin, CEO for the ACT, said in a statement that, aside from COVID-19 challenges, "too many of our seniors are simply not prepared for college level work." "As a country, we ignore these related trends at our own peril," Godwin said. Whether students meet national benchmarks is an indicator of college success, test officials said. Those who do so have a 50% chance of earning a "B" or better on corresponding college courses and a 75% chance of making a "C" or higher. Banking giants Westpac and Commonwealth Bank will require staff in offices and branches to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, as a growing number of large employers tell workers they must be inoculated to work on company premises. The countrys two biggest banks, which together employ about 75,000 people in Australia including tens of thousands in the Sydney CBD where they are based, on Thursday argued that mandating COVID-19 vaccinations would protect the health of staff and customers. Westpac chief executive Peter King: With a large workforce, it is important that we have the safest possible work environment. Credit:Jessica Hromas However, Melbourne-based National Australia Bank and ANZ Bank are not currently planning to require COVID-19 vaccination. Both NAB and ANZ indicated they would follow government guidance, pointing to more prescriptive Victorian government rules for authorised workers, and highlighting staff surveys that show a large majority of employees was on track to be fully vaccinated. Mining giant Rio Tinto is investigating the use of biomass to substitute coal in the emissions-intensive steel-making process, as pressure builds for Australias largest miners to tackle the huge carbon footprint of their customers. Following several years of laboratory research, the nations top iron ore exporter said it had begun testing the patent-pending process that combines raw plant matter with microwave technology to remove oxygen from iron ore and convert it to metallic iron. Australias top mining companies are facing growing calls to tackle emissions across their global supply chains, including the steel-making sector. Credit:Bloomberg If the trial and larger testing of the technology prove successful, Rio said there was potential for it to be developed at commercial scale to help drive down the greenhouse gases emitted by the carbon-heavy steel mills. We are encouraged by early testing results of this new process, which could provide a cost-efficient way to produce low-carbon steel from our Pilbara iron ore, Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott said. The local sharemarket lost some steam at the end of Thursdays session but tech and mining stocks still powered stocks to gains of 0.5 per cent. The ASX200 started the day with broad gains, taking the lead from their Wall Street peers which advanced as US earnings season kicked off on Wednesday. After a shaky start to the week, the ASX is less than 10 points off where it began on Monday. The ASX200 erased most of its losses this week. Credit:Louie Douvis Tech stocks were fastest out of the blocks and the sector jumped 4.1 per cent higher for the session. Afterpay finished the day up 4.5 per cent to $120.68 while Xero gained 5.3 per cent to $143.04. Stabilising US treasury yields helped fire up the tech sector globally. Blue chip stocks in the materials and healthcare sectors also provided a lift: CSL finished the session up 1 per cent to $296.90, while BHP was 0.6per cent stronger. Victoria saw a record 2297 coronavirus cases on Thursday but Premier Daniel Andrews said the state was still on track for reopening once it hit its target of 70 percent of citizens over 16 becoming fully vaccinated. Consumer discretionary stocks finished the day with gains of 0.8 per cent but travel exposed stocks did not feel the love: Flight Centre was 1.2 per cent lower, while Webjet was modestly higher to $6.18. Australian labour force data for September was mixed, with total jobs slumping by 138,000 for the month and worse than consensus estimates. The unemployment rate was better than expected, at 4.5 per cent, but this comes down to fewer Australians actively looking for work. UBS economist George Theranou said in a note that given COVID-19 lockdowns across the country, it will take several months to get a true read on the trend of the unemployment rate. Looking ahead, there still should be another weak print for employment in October, which should see the unemployment rate rise, he said. Meanwhile, Blackmores shares finished 1.1 per cent higher as tensions rise ahead of its annual general meeting this month about board appointments, while South32 advanced per cent 4.9 after buying a 45 per cent stake in Chilean copper mine Sierra Gorda. T-shirt design platform Redbubble sunk 12.5 per cent after a quarterly sales update revealed a 21 per cent drop in sales and 34 per cent decline in gross profit. The US has become the worlds epicentre for Bitcoin mining after a crackdown in China effectively eliminated the practice in the former cradle of the industry. At the end of August, America accounted for 35.4 per cent of the global hash rate, a measure of computing power used to extract the digital currency, according to a Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance study published on Wednesday. Thats more than double the activity seen in April. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been banned in China in part due to concerns over criminal activity. Credit:AP The surge in the countrys relative share has been driven by Chinas move to whittle down the industry to control financial risk. In the early days of Bitcoins 2009 inception, the Asian nation was the base for the biggest miners tapping into cheap electricity from coal and hydro plants. Now, Beijings intensifying efforts to curb the cryptocurrency market, announced in May, is paying off. Chinas observed share of Bitcoin mining has effectively hit zero, the Cambridge researchers found. Thats down from as high as 75 per cent in September 2019 when Cambridge started collecting data. Its also a marked decrease from the 46 per cent level notched in April just this year. As a specialist in pain medicine, I care deeply about palliative care, but I was also the husband of a woman who suffered for many years before she chose the timing of her death. She did not have the support of a voluntary assisted dying law, such as the one about to be debated in the NSW Parliament. She did not have the option of telling me or others about her choice, or seeking our assistance, which a VAD law would have provided her. With my perspective as both doctor and husband, I pose some questions: Are there people who need VAD but do not have pain, and instead have conditions such as worsening shortness of breath as a complication of their cancer treatment, and for whom no medication or procedure can stymie its crippling advance? Yes. Dr Gavin Pattullo, who approaches the assisted dying debate as both a pain specialist and as the husband of a woman who chose to end her suffering. Are there people who are not depressed or sad, who are surrounded by love and not at all lonely, who will choose VAD? Yes. A Victorian parliamentary inquiry investigating the closure of a food company accused of infecting an elderly woman with listeria has found government officials didnt deliberately omit evidence. The inquiry into the closure of I Cook Foods was reopened following media reports that the health department was warned that 86-year-old Jean Painter, who died while a patient at Knox Private Hospital, may not have eaten food from the company just hours before it shut it down in February 2019. Listeria was recorded as a contributing factor to Ms Painters death. Listeria infection is rare but the bacteria can be fatal. Signing off on the shutdown of the business, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, who at the time was acting chief health officer, said the infection was linked to sandwiches provided by I Cook Foods. The committees investigations found that there was no reason to believe that evidence from Department of Health officials deliberately intended to obstruct the inquiry, committee chair, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten said in a foreword to the inquirys report, released today. However, their omissions of evidence that was later published in the media led to considerable confusion and instigated the re-opening of this inquiry. The evidence included a report provided to the department by a former Knox Council employee that said Ms Painter was only eating soft foods at the time, a type of meal the company doesnt make. However, the inquiry found that Ms Painter was on a full ward diet between 13 and 23 January 2019 during the suspected incubation period and a soft diet after 25 January 2019. Read the inquirys full report here. The High Court has rejected an attempt by mining billionaire Clive Palmer to scrap legislation that shielded the state of Western Australia from a compensation bill of up to $28 billion. On Wednesday morning, the full court rejected Mr Palmers arguments that the legislation was unconstitutional. The eleventh-hour bill, which altered a state agreement between Mr Palmer and the government, was rushed through WA Parliament in August 2020 to block the billionaire from claiming compensation he said he was owed over the stalled Balmoral South iron ore project in the Pilbara. At the time the legislation was tabled, WA Premier Mark McGowan said that compensation figure could reach up to $28 billion and bankrupt the state. A border-hopping trip to Western Australia for the AFL grand final has ended in two Melbourne Demons fans being sentenced to three months behind bars, with the pair to be released after Christmas. Restaurant owner Hayden Burbank, 49, and financial planner Mark Babbage, 39, were sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday after admitting they sneaked into WA illegally. Mark Babbage and Hayden Burbank attended the grand final eve luncheon at Crown Perth. Appearing via video link from Hakea Prison, the men pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to abide by a direction under WAs Emergency Management Act and one count of fraud after submitting false information on their G2G border applications to be granted permission to fly from Darwin to Perth on September 22. Police prosecutors said the pair used fake NT drivers licence and vehicle registration in their applications to enter WA, in order to appear to be Northern Territory residents. It was once deemed the wonder drug in the fight against heart attacks and strokes. But an influential medical taskforce in the United States has overhauled guidelines for aspirin, recommending that middle-aged and older people no longer take a low dose of the mild analgesic to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, in a move experts hope will make Australians rethink taking aspirin preventatively of their own accord. The new recommendation is based on increasing evidence that the risk of serious side effects far outweighs the benefit. Bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and older who havent had a heart attack or stroke outweigh potential benefits from the painkiller, the US Preventive Services Task Force said in its draft guidance. Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who have already had a heart attack or stroke, and the taskforce guidance does not change that advice. A change in the way aged care staff are now required to assess sexual abuse of residents is likely to contribute to under-reporting of the crime and at worst, may silence abuse victims. Having staff categorise the seriousness of an incident, as obligated under the serious incident response scheme (SIRS), is highly subjective and could lead to incidents not being reported to police, despite a serious crime having been committed. A new system designed to protect residents in aged care is contributing to the under reporting of abuse. Credit:Nic Walker Priority 1 incidents are required to be reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission within 24 hours, while priority 2 are reportable to the regulator within 30 days. However, incident classification should not affect the timeframe that incidents are reported to the police, but this is not clear to aged-care staff. Victorians will be able to resume home renovations as early as next week, as health authorities consider allowing home visits earlier than planned if hospitalisations and case numbers allow. While much of the industry has already returned from a two-week shutdown announced last month, industry leaders say they were told indoor home renovations would be banned until the state reached its 80 per cent double-dose COVID-19 vaccination target. Home renovations are set to be permitted earlier than scheduled. Credit:James Brickwood However, the government has confirmed the industry will reopen once 70 per cent of people over 16 are fully vaccinated, according to two industry sources who spoke anonymously because the government was yet to make the decision public. There had been confusion as to whether renovations fell into the 70 or 80 per cent reopening phase. Government forecasts suggest the state will reach the 70 per cent milestone as early as next Friday rather than Tuesday, October 26 which was the date earmarked in the reopening road map. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Mandy Nicholson was in her early 20s when she found a book containing singular Woiwurrung words. It was the first time the Wurundjeri woman had seen her traditional language in print and it became, she says, the beginning of her language journey. It was a bumpy start. Her first attempts to learn those words were totally wrong. I tried my best to learn how to say them, but I had no idea. I was reading it the English way, she says. Looking back, I was totally wrong in what I was doing. As years went by I got more and more involved in First Language education, because I wanted to learn how to say these words properly, how to use Woiwurrung in context today rather than like an ancient language only used in the past. The restoration and preservation of Indigenous languages has attracted considerable popular interest over the past two decades. Great effort although too often under-resourced has gone into reawakening many threatened First Languages after they have sat dormant for a century or more. Advertisement Community language centres have appeared, as have school programs, workshops and camps; there have been several well-received films with dialogue entirely in traditional lingo; and requests are regularly submitted to language holders for permission and assistance to use traditional local words for everything from new buildings to new boats, clothes labels to reconciliation action plans. Sadly, the well-meaning general enthusiasm for these First Languages appears unlikely to stall the ongoing destructive forces of colonisation from terminating all but a few by 2050. Of the 350-plus First Nations languages once spoken across present-day Australia, fewer than 50 remain in wide usage. Of the 40-plus First Languages in present-day Victoria before 1835, none are considered to be in wide, everyday use. Wurundjeri woman Mandy Nicholson is an expert in Woiwurrung, the language of the traditional owners of Melbourne and its surrounds. Credit:Justin McManus Mandy Nicholson began her work revitalising Woiwurrung the language spoken by the traditional owners of Melbourne and its surrounds at the Galina Beek Living and Cultural Centre in Healesville on the former grounds of the culturally and historically significant Coranderrk Aboriginal Settlement. The land had been gazetted in 1863 as a reserve to settle about 40 Kulin Nation peoples. In the 28 years after the arrival of John Batman from Van Diemens Land in 1835, the Kulin peoples had been dispossessed of their homelands and repeatedly displaced from their subsequent camps and government-assigned settlements. Nicholsons great-great-grandmother was among them. Later, her great-grandmother would be born on Coranderrk under a pine tree that still stands on the site. Advertisement She told me that, as a kid, she had heard her grandmother speaking this foreign language she had never heard before to some Blackfellas that were outside of the reserve, says Nicholson. Years later she realised her grandmother was speaking her Woiwurrung language, but because [speaking] it was restricted, she didnt teach my grandmother. That meant my dad didnt know language either. But then it came to me and I thought, Im going to break that cycle as much as I can. A group of children at Coranderrk Aboriginal Settlement in 1878. Six years after the establishment of Coranderrk, Victoria became the first colony to legislate an act that allowed government to regulate the lives of Aboriginal people. The model would later be adopted by other colonies around the continent. With the passing of the Aborigines Protection Act 1869, the Central Board for the Protection of the Aborigines was established. The board sought to break any persisting cultural associations of the remaining Aboriginal peoples by placing heavy restrictions on cultural practice and the use of language on Aboriginal reserves. Anecdotal histories tell of how speaking lingo could result in the loss of your rations or worse punishments at the protection boards discretion, such as the removal of your children. To break a culture you take the language, or you take the kids, says Nicholson. Both of those things happened. Language was smashed. So the key to breaking a persons identity, breaking their culture, is to get rid of the way they communicate with each other. The thing that makes them who they are is language. Advertisement Gunditjmara language custodian and co-chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages Dr Vicki Couzens uses the expression linguicide to describe the strategic decimation of Indigenous languages by colonial agencies. This continues through inertia, low-level prioritisation of language, lack of policy implementation and paucity of resource allocation, she says. The work of language revitalisation, especially in the south-east of Australia, requires a comprehensive spectrum of work to be undertaken from research and sourcing language held in community and historical archives; community protocols around language development, uses and sharing; recording and documentation; development of orthographies, learning and teaching and so on. None of this work is adequately resourced. Nor are the government-funded programs, generally, part of a cohesive community-led strategic approach. Australia has difficulty in celebrating that weve got the oldest living culture, let alone the oldest living languages. Dr Vicki Couzens is the Gunditjmara language custodian and co-chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. Founded in 1994, the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages is the only independent community-led Victoria-wide representative organisation focused on language revitalisation, representation and advocacy. It provides First Language training, supports communities in education programs in schools, and receives many requests for naming this and naming that, but Couzens says the lack of resourcing makes it difficult for the peak body to respond to the demand, let alone sustain its core work of language restoration and maintenance. Advertisement Theres no adequate resourcing for any of that. The state doesnt have an identified bucket of money for Aboriginal languages. Language that is supported by government funding is usually part of another priority strategy, for example, language in schools. While these programs have value as part of a strategic language revitalisation approach, the work required to support these programs is not funded. Next year its the start of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenousness Languages and were like, Wheres the resourcing and planning and the priorities for that? Couzens says. She says attending to language attrition in Aboriginal communities is imperative to closing the gap of Indigenous disadvantage in health, education, housing and employment. First Languages are also vital to social cohesion and inclusion, and cultural rights, she says. Language goes across all and every aspect of those areas. Language is foundational, she says. While it is not yet clear what part language will play as Victorias Yoo-rrook Justice Commission embarks on its truth-telling process, it will be important. Advertisement Women with disability are twice as likely to experience sexual violence in a year as those without but often struggle to be believed when reporting abuse or assault. The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability heard on Wednesday there were few domestic violence services accessible to these women and the current one-size-fits-all model of support did not work for many. Women with disabilities are disproportionately affected by sexual violence. Credit:iStock Senior counsel assisting the royal commission Kate Eastman said women with disability were disproportionately affected by domestic violence. Women with disability make up around 20 per cent of the total Australian population but they are nearly half of all domestic violence victims survivors, she told the hearing. Women with disability are twice as likely to experience sexual violence over a one-year period compared to women without disability. The NSW Coalition could be plunged further into minority government after the shock resignation of a fourth MP in a fortnight on the day former premier Mike Baird and Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres were named as witnesses in Gladys Berejiklians corruption inquiry. Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons on Wednesday announced she would be quitting state politics to run for Liberal preselection for the federal seat of Hughes, held by United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly. Melanie Gibbons Credit:Brook Mitchell Holsworthy in Sydneys south-west is one of the Liberals most marginal seats on a margin of 3.2 per cent. Some parts of the electorate were under the harshest lockdown measures during the Delta outbreak. The resignation means Premier Dominic Perrottet faces at least four byelections in Willoughby, Monaro, Bega and Holsworthy. Mr Sullivan gave evidence on the third day of IBACs investigation, which has already prompted the resignation of state minister Luke Donnellan. On Monday, counsel assisting the commission Chris Carr said the IBAC hearing was probing premeditated systemic rorting of taxpayer resources. The Age and 60 Minutes revealed the industrial-scale branch stacking operation last year. You can draft the best constitution that was ever seen, you can tinker with all the mechanisms you like, at the end of the day, somewhere along the line, someone has to make a decision to either do the right thing or do the wrong thing, Mr Sullivan told IBAC on Wednesday. As you will see from my testimony, the testimonies of people before me, the testimonies of people who come after me, we chose repeatedly to do the wrong thing again and again and again and again. And ultimately the choice was that we put our own interests, and our own loyalty to a factional machine and a system of patronage above the interests of the public. Loading The 2018 Ombudsmans report into the red shirts scandal did not deter Labor MPs or staffers from misusing taxpayer funds for factional activities, Mr Sullivan said, because there were so many skeletons in the closet and anyone who blew the whistle would guarantee mutually assured destruction. IBAC heard Mr Somyureks father was paid for cleaning his sons electorate office even though he hadnt, and former MP Mr Byrne and aspiring politician Steve Michelson gave wads of cash in envelopes for the kitty, which was used to pay for membership to control branches and secure positions in Parliament for allies. Mr Carr asked Mr Sullivan if he was involved in a quite deliberate course of conduct to misappropriate the electoral office budget in Mr Somyureks office. Yes, I was, the former staffer replied. I believe you would be referring to the purchase of stamps by Mr Somyureks budget. He estimated that he personally bought between $11,000 and $14,000 worth of stamps in 2018 using Mr Somyureks electorate office budget, and a fair number of them were used to help Mr Richardsons campaign for re-election that year. Mr Richardson released a statement on Wednesday evening saying he had not been involved in branch stacking nor had he paid for any memberships, but he did not address the substance of the allegations raised at IBAC on Wednesday afternoon. IBAC has heard evidence about how state MP Adem Somyureks office was run. Credit:Jason South I have always complied with the requirements of my electorate office communications budget, he said, adding that his focus had always been working as hard as I can for the wonderful Mordialloc consituents. I will not be making any further comment on an active inquiries [sic]. Mr Sullivan spoke of a culture in which he felt apprehensive about telling Mr Somyurek, his defacto boss, he would be resigning from Mr Kieus electorate office in January 2020 and leaving politics. Mr Carr revealed in the hearings that in private text messages Mr Sullivan referred to Mr Somyurek as Mein Fuehrer. Daniel Andrews campaigning in 2014 with Labor Mordialloc candidate Tim Richardson. Credit:Penny Stephens Thats a particularly evocative term ordinarily; if its deployed, its deployed to indicate some sort of dictator, Mr Carr said. Mr Sullivan responded: Those were obviously private text messages; I wouldnt refer to Mr Somyurek or anyone in those terms ... It occurred to all of us, I even recall Anthony referring to one of the Moderate Labor meetings as the meeting of the Fourth Reich. Loading By January 2020, Mr Somyurek accumulated quite an amount of power and influence over the party. He could be an overbearing person at times ... and of course anyone who tends to have that much power tends to become a megalomaniac. On Tuesday, IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich noted that, despite a 1998 internal Labor Party review aimed at ending branch stacking and a 2018 Ombudsman investigation into the red shirts rort, it did not seem there was sufficient will to clean up some of the partys cultural problems. In 2018, Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass found Labor misused $388,000 of public money by deploying electorate staff to do campaign duties in safe seats before the 2014 election. Mr Sullivan said the scrutiny did little to deter Labor MPs or staffers misusing taxpayer funds for factional duties. No one would be stupid enough to engage in that exact same scenario [behaviour] going forward, Mr Sullivan said. However, when the Ombudsman closes one window, another door still remains open. There are other avenues to exploit, for a lack of a better word. You wouldnt be engaging in the exact same sort of behaviour; in that instance it wasnt viewed as too big of an issue. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:Scott McNaughton This week, Mr Redlich has said the commission might examine party activities from the late 1990s when Mr Byrne and Mr Somyurek were pitched in a factional battle against Daniel Andrews, now state Premier, and the Socialist Left faction to which he was aligned. The period was known for heavy branch stacking, which was not prohibited by party rules at that time. Loading Three party sources involved at the time confirmed to The Age that Mr Andrews was a key lieutenant of left-wing factional head Alan Griffin. Their grouping battled Mr Byrne in the 1999 preselection for the seat of Holt, which Mr Byrne won. Mr Andrews has consistently said he never broke party rules. Speaking on Wednesday morning, Mr Andrews declined to say whether IBAC had spoken to him about the Operation Watts investigation, saying it would be deeply inappropriate to discuss his recruitment activities in the 1990s. I wont be providing you with a commentary on matters that are absolutely being deliberated on, being discussed. Evidence is being led, claims are being made, he said. Those issues, that period of time if you like, are being canvassed, and are part of an IBAC process. Im not going to try and do their job for them or cut across the work theyre doing. Mr Sullivan said at one stage he was one of five employees in Mr Somyureks electorate office, although there wasnt much work for them, or much foot traffic. Employee records obtained by IBAC showed staffer Pinar Yesil was employed in the office as a casual for six weeks full-time, but Mr Sullivan said she rarely turned up to the office. It could have been a situation where she would come in for a number of hours on maybe one or two days out of that week, or she will be coming in for maybe four days a week but an hour or two here and there, Mr Sullivan said. When asked what work she was doing, Mr Sullivan said: Nothing that would approach typical electorate office work. She was logged into the computer, as to exactly what she was doing, I cant say. Loading Mr Sullivan also told IBAC Mr Michelson paid about $5000 for Labor Party membership renewals. Mr Michelson, was once an adviser to former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, but quit in 2017 over a blackface costume controversy. His name was raised during evidence on Tuesday, when Mr Somyureks lawyer cross-examined Mr Byrne, reading him a series of foul-mouthed text messages it was alleged Mr Byrne had sent to Mr Somyurek in 2019. Mr Sullivan said Mr Michelson handed him between $4000 and $5000 in cash for the kitty to be used to pay for other peoples membership or renewals. Especially in light of the politicisation of this particular aspect, she said, we want to take this back to the science, take this back to our mandate as an organisation to bring together the worlds best minds to outline what needs to be done. Loading What most needs doing in the hunt for COVID-19s origins, many scientists believe, is something that the new advisory group will be powerless to achieve: persuading China to release evidence about the first infections and to let researchers inspect virology labs, bat caves and wildlife farms within its borders. China has reacted angrily to the idea that the virus may have emerged from a lab, pushing instead for investigations into early cases in other countries, like Italy, or into US research facilities. This new group can do all the fancy footwork it wants, but Chinas not going to cooperate, said David Fidler, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, a research institute. For them, all of this continues to look like an attack on Chinas response to the pandemic, and there its a zero-sum game. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the WHO has been caught in the middle of a tug of war between China and the United States first over Chinas response in the early days of the pandemic, and more recently over the question of how the virus emerged. Loading Even as China has resisted deeper studies of the virus origins, the Biden administration has pressed the WHO for a renewed investigation. The Department of State pointedly questioned the results of a joint study by the WHO-chosen scientists and Chinese researchers from March that said a leak of the coronavirus from a lab, while possible, was extremely unlikely. That WHO team, too, struggled to coax the data it needed from Chinese scientists. Members of the team, which has been disbanded, warned in August that time was running out to recover crucial evidence about the beginning of the pandemic. But it is unclear whether China has taken up the teams recommendations for future studies, including analysing blood banks for evidence of early coronavirus infections, testing workers on wildlife farms and assessing wild bats and farmed animals for signs of exposure. Some scientists have said that studies of Chinese animal markets, and of bats harbouring close relatives of the virus behind COVID-19, have strengthened their belief that the coronavirus spilled naturally from animals into humans. The WHO has said that Chinese researchers were conducting new studies but that it had not been kept abreast of any findings. I dont have any detail on what was done, or is being done, Van Kerkhove said of the Chinese research. Loading President Xi Jinping said last month that China would support science-based origins tracing, but would oppose political maneuvering in whatever form. The new committee, known as the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, will differ in several respects from the team that the WHO sent to China. Because that team visited Wuhan, China had considerable influence over its membership. That is not the case for the new committee, a permanent panel that Van Kerkhove said would begin with frequent, closed-door meetings on the coronavirus. In soliciting applications, the WHO asked potential committee members for a statement about any conflicts of interest, in addition to a cover letter and resume. That appeared to be an attempt to head off critics who complained that a member of the previous team, Peter Daszak, an animal disease specialist, was too closely tied to a Wuhan virology institute at the centre of lab leak theories to offer a dispassionate assessment. Daszak has said that his expertise on China and coronaviruses made him well-suited to participate in the earlier trip. Conflicts of interest of members of the last group put a huge cloud over the head of the World Health Organization, said Lawrence Gostin, who directs the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Of the new advisory group, he added: Its a committee with a proper charge, and a proper global mandate none of that happened before. For the WHO, Gostin said, the new committee serves several purposes. In choosing a larger group reflecting a wider range of expertise and geographic regions, the organisation can try to amass widespread international support for its work and underscore Chinas intransigence, he said. Crucially, forming the new group could also help shore up the WHOs standing with its key Western backers, none more important than the US. Despite the agencys attempt to act deferentially toward China during the pandemic, Gostin said, China had repeatedly stonewalled the organisation and concealed crucial information. Now, he said, the organisation needed to pay heed to the desires of Europe and the US not least because Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, is counting on their support as he seeks reelection in May. Despite the eventual avalanche of applications, recruiting for the new committee was no simple task. In some cases, scientists rebuffed the WHOs pleas to apply. Originally scheduled to close on October 31, the Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues will play one additional week of performances at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, where it is performing under the banner of Manhattan Theatre Club. The final performance is now scheduled for November 7. This extension comes after several performances were canceled in recent weeks: The production canceled performances the weekend of September 24 and postponed the opening night to October 7. That opening night performance was also canceled, as were performances from October 8-12. Santiago-Hudson has been suffering from a recurring back injury. He resumed performances on Tuesday, October 12. Written, performed, and directed by Santiago-Hudson, with original music by Bill Sims Jr. performed onstage by Grammy Award-nominated blues guitarist Junior Mack, Lackawanna Blues tells the true story of a big-hearted woman who runs a boarding house outside Buffalo and who was instrumental in Santiago-Hudson's childhood. The actor-director portrays over 20 vibrant characters over the course of this theatrical tribute with music. In his review, critic David Gordon described the 90-minute show as "a real feat of acting." The creative team for Lackawanna Blues includes Michael Carnahan (scenic design), Karen Perry (costume design), Jen Schriever (lighting design), and Darron L West (sound design). Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 will present the world premiere of At the Wedding, a new play by Bryna Turner and directed by Jenna Worsham. Performances will run February 12-March 27, 2022, with an official February 28 opening at the Claire Tow Theater. A story of loss, love and redemption, Turner's new comedy follows the world's loneliest (and wittiest) single woman, Carlo (Mary Wiseman), as she crashes her ex-girlfriend's wedding to a man. Through a series of flirtations, conversations, and collisions with past lovers, old enemies, new friends, and perfect strangers, Carlo strives to understand whether or not heartbreak is a permanent human condition. Joining Wiseman in the cast will be Rebecca S'Manga Frank, Keren Lugo, Carolyn McCormick, Will Rogers, and Han Van Sciver. The creative team will feature sets by Maruti Evans, costumes by Oana Botez, lighting by Oona Curley, and sound by Fan Zhang. Katie Kennedy is the Stage Manager. Turner made her professional playwrighting debut in 2017 with Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3's production of her play Bull in a China Shop. Her other plays include Phases of the Moon and How to Separate Your Soul from Your Body (in ten easy steps!). It feels like a lifetime ago that I saw Rajiv Joseph's play Animals Out of Paper. It was 2008 and I was writing for a website called NYTheatre.com, an outlet that is now so defunct even the famed internet "Wayback Machine" has a hard time finding it. I was recently searching for my review of that Second Stage Theatre Uptown production, just to see what younger me had to say, but alas, all I've got are few sentences handpicked out of context by a book editor and used at the front of the published edition of the script: "Animals Out of Paper is one of the most satisfying new works I've seen all yearfunny and sad, down-to-earth and unpretentious, with a great deal of meaningJoseph's play is refreshingly genuine." I'd like to use a lot of those same words to describe Letters Of Suresh, Joseph's new follow-up to Animals, which Second Stage is premiering at their 43rd Street home base through October 24. You needn't have seen the original to follow and enjoy this lovely sequel, which, 13 years later, would have been a very lofty ask of an audience. Joseph provides any sort of contextual information you may need as exposition, although those who did venture up to the McGinn/Cazale Theatre more than a decade ago and cherish the memory, like I do, will find themselves once again in the thrall of a mesmerizing protagonist and a handful of delightful Easter Eggs. Animals, in brief, followed the tempestuous relationships between an origami master, her gifted prodigy Suresh, and his sweet calculus teacher. The only hold over here is Suresh (Ramiz Monsef), now an enigmatic twentysomething who has, for years, had an equally stormy correspondence with Father Mitsuo Hashimoto (Thom Sesma), an elderly Japanese priest. A play ago, Father Hashimoto was reduced to tears simply by watching Suresh fold a bird out of a yellow piece of paper. Now, he's dead, and his grand-niece, Melody (Ali Ahn), is trying to get in touch with Suresh to inform him of both that news and the fact that Father Hashimoto not only kept every single letter, but the yellow bird, too, and it's all in her possession. This sends everyone, including Suresh's older former lover Amelia (Kellie Overbey) on journeys of self-discovery as they search for a tangible connection to each other. This is a play and production that are filled with longing, a trait that all four actors have intrinsically imbued in their performances in different ways. For Ahn's loquacious Melody, it's an inability to sit still. For Overbey (who played the origami master in Animals), it's operating at an uncomfortable distance from others. Sesma, who only appears briefly at the end, is tranquil, but not necessarily at peace. And Monsef's Suresh can't stop moving around, searching for something to hang his hat on and call home. It's a hard play to do the characters rarely, if ever, actually interact, and May Adrales's swift production underscores the distance between the characters through the use of a very wide set by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams. But it all seems effortless, like they were born with the words in Joseph's sweet, even-handed script. I was surprised by how moved I was to watch a play about difficulties in communication now, but we are in the wake of a pandemic that cut everyone off from each other, and we are all just starting to re-meet our friends and colleagues after a long time away. That extends to theater, too, as we gather for our first shows back, and this uncommonly graceful play is a very nice welcome back. University of Texas graduate and politician, Mike Collier held a gathering in College Station on Tuesday, Oct. 12 as part of his campaign for Democratic Texas Lt. Governor. Van Buren, AR (72956) Today Clear skies. Widespread frost likely. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies. Widespread frost likely. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. Up for debate: Live legislation tracker Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics. Indiana schools have $4 billion more to spend in the last year The Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge, which connects Madawaska, Maine to Edmundston, Canada, is seen in 2017. A sign directs motorists to a "by appointment only" drive up COVID-19 vaccine clinic set up by the New Hampshire National Guard in the parking lot of Exeter, N.H., High School, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Exeter. Staff Reporter Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times. Associate Editor Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky. News Updates Would you like to receive our newsletter? Get local, Wyoming, and national news, the weather forecast, and more, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up today! Instant unlimited access to all of our E-Editions and content on thechronicleonline.com. The Chronicle E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Batavia, NY (14020) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 41F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. This is the temporary subscription pass for users returning from the Vision Data subscription process. Your subscription will be updated within 24 hours, after your information is verified. Please click the button below to get your pass. Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom. Follow Melanie Tucker 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 Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com. Meet Banjo! She's a fun and loving rescue kitten who brings smiles to everyone's face! Banjo's favorite thing to do is cuddle up to you for he Screenshot from video of 16-year-old Grace Smith being arrested at Laramie High School Oct. 8 for not wearing a mask. (YouTube video/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) 16-Year-Old Female Student Arrested at School for Not Wearing a Mask Grace was 'standing up for all the kids who can't' While the National School Board Association characterized the effort of parents who voice opposition to forced masking and critical race theory (CRT) as a form of domestic terrorismand asked the Department of Justice to use the Federal Bureau of Investigation against themadministrators at a school in Wyoming decided to have a 16-year-old female student arrested for not wearing a mask. Grace Smith enjoying the snow at home in Wyoming. (Photo courtesy of Grace Smith) On Thursday, Oct. 7, Grace Smith was on her way to the nurses office at Laramie High School (LHS) to get ice for her shoulder, which she had injured while snowboarding. She had just returned to school from her third, two-day suspension for refusing to comply with a new mask mandate. As she walked through the hall, she was stopped by a school administrator, who asked her to come into her office. When Grace declined, another administrator closed the doors to the main class area and locked them. While Grace was prevented from passing through the doors for not wearing a mask, other studentswearing masks below their noses, also against policywere allowed through. Grace was given suspension paperwork and issued a trespassing citation, which came with a fine of $500. It was the third time this ritual had played out. What made this suspension ceremony different from the others was that this time, Grace refused to leave school grounds. It was time to make her proverbial stand. So Grace sat down on the steps in the lobby. During the hour and a half standoff, school resource officers placed the school on lockdown. Grace was a threat to the health safety of her fellow classmates and faculty. The police were called. They asked if she was going to leave. When she said no, they told her she was going to be arrested. Grace propped her cellphone against the steps where she had been seated to record the arrest. The Arrest My brother had been on the phone with the lieutenant who is in charge of the schools security, Luke Smith, Graces uncle told The Epoch Times. When we got off the phone with him we drove to the high school and saw other supporters standing out front. Luke wondered why there was only one police car and suggested another car may have gone around back to prevent people from seeing Grace arrested. They went to the back of the building. Grace was already in the car and they watched as it pulled away. Grace being booked at the detention center in Laramie Wyoming after her Oct. 5 arrest at Laramie High School for not wearing a mask. (YouTube video/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) They followed the police car to the detention center. Luke recorded a video as Grace got out of the car. We love you, Grace! he called to her. Another officer came from around the building. Seeing Luke recording, he moved to block his view of Grace. As the two officers escort Grace to the front of the building, Luke follows, recording. You ought to be ashamed, Luke shouts as they take Grace inside. All this over a face mask? Luke follows them into the detention center. Grace is taken through a door that has a narrow window. The same officer sees Luke is recording from the other side of the door and positions himself to block Lukes view of Grace. The officer sits in the chair next to Grace. He is not wearing a mask. In a second video, the unmasked officer is still blocking Lukes view. A second masked officer stands nearby. A third, unmasked male officer enters the room in the company of a masked female officer. Luke records the sign on the door. Masks are required for service. Graces Family Responds The Smith family, Grace (left), Jacob (front), mother Erin (center), brother Jonah (right), and father Andy (back). (Photo courtesy of Andy Smith) Its been so amazing to witness this young ladys grit and tenacity to rise up and stand for what is right, Graces mother and father, Erin and Andy, told The Epoch Times. She did this at a time when people need to see courage and be encouraged to act, they added. As parents, we pray for our kids and try to raise them the best we know how. For us, we personally feel often inadequate for the job. Now we are humbled by God seeing Him use this young lady and this situation for His glory as if He is saying SEE! This is why I made Grace the way I did! My plan and My purpose for Grace is to impact the world. We are so proud of Grace, amazed at who she is becoming, and blown away at how God is using her story. Im really proud of my big sister that shes standing up for her constitutional rights, Jonah, Graces 14-year-old brother, told The Epoch Times, and I would also like to say shes a great sister. If I was in high school Id be right by her side. Jonah explained that, with the mask mandates imposed the previous school year, his stress level was through the roof. I just had a terrible time at school, he said. To avoid the masking stress this year, Jonah decided to switch from Snowy Range Academy, a public school, and attend Laramie Christian Academy because they dont require masks. Its nice to have a sister who can actually stand up for herself and not be like everyone else and just stay quiet about it, 10-year-old brother Jacob Smith added. Masking at Snowy Range Academy was terrible because we werent allowed to take them off outside. Classmates and Parents Speak Out When everything happened to Grace I was kind of irritated because Grace does have a right to an education, 17-year-old LHS student Ashlyn Price told The Epoch Times, citing that the right to an education is provided to Grace in the Wyoming Constitution. Like Grace, Ashlyn opposes the mask mandate. While some of her peers wonder why Grace doesnt just put on a mask, she supports Graces resistance because if someone doesnt fight back you dont know when its going to end. Ashlyn Price and her father Travis at their home in Laramie, Wyo., on Oct. 11, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Travis Price) The school board is not above the law, Ashlyn said. They are not exempt from the Constitution. That is what makes the United States a free country. Travis Price, Ashlyns father, posed a question to those who feel the need to chastise a 16-year-old girl who found the courage to stand up for her rights. Where was the courage when your idols were out there having birthday parties or fundraisers and theyre not wearing masks? Travis asked. Where was your courage when your idols were out there handing down the mandates they themselves dont follow and wheres your courage while your idols allow hundreds of thousands of people to come into this country unmasked, unvaxxed, and untested? The facts, the science, and more important the actions of your idols do not support their beliefs. In my opinion, our rights dont end where their political beliefs begin. A mother who knows Grace spoke to The Epoch Times under the condition of anonymity. She wants to protect her two children, who also attend LHS. The mother said she admires Grace for taking a stand when so many adults are unwilling to do the same thing. Shes brave to do what she did. The mother explained that wearing a mask for seven hours a day isnt healthy for these children and many are truly suffering, including her son who has to be medicated to attend school because the mask triggers debilitating migraines. I feel like Grace was also standing up for all the kids who cant, the mother said. Lethe Peden and her father Mike. (Photo courtesy of Mike Peden) We heard from several of our childrens friends that Grace was first suspended and then arrested by the Laramie police for refusing to wear a mask in school, Mike Peden told The Epoch Times. Pedens daughter, Lethe, is also a student at LHS. I think this an onerous reaction from the school given that the Wyoming State Constitution requires schools to educate our children. I am against the mask mandates. I think people should be free to wear the mask and get the vaccine if they want to. But given the questionable effectiveness of the mask, I think its an overreach by the government and the school board to require people to wear the mask, especially in school and for long periods of time. Im disappointed that they chose to take such a drastic legal response to Graces civil disobedience by having her arrested. I do not agree with mask mandates, Lethe said. Even though I am young, I am 17, I think I still have the capability to make health decisions for myself. If people want to wear the mask thats cool with me but please dont ask me to wear one and dont force me to wear one. Lethe said she believes the learning environment is better without the masks, and while some teachers and students choose to wear them, she knows a lot of teachers who say theyd rather not wear the mask in the classroom because it helps students to see the face of the teacher. Hand-Written sign made by Laramie High School Physics Teacher Christopher West, posted in his classroom September 2021. (Photo courtesy of Grace Smith) One teacher, however, strongly prefers to have students cover their faces. The hand-written message posted in the classroom by LHS Physics teacher Christopher Wests classroom made it very clear to his students, including Grace, precisely how he feels about masksand them. Grace said West is not known for humor, so students understood he was not trying to be funny. The Epoch Times reached out to West for clarification of his sign. He did not respond. In The Beginning With the start of the new school year there was an outbreak of a new Delta variant and that brought concern for schools that were getting ready to open, Andy Smith, Graces father, told The Epoch Times. So certain schools started to make policies to enforce masks based on the Delta variant and their COVID fears. For the first two weeks, Grace said masks were optional. However, even after the mandate was imposed, only about half of the students wore them and no one enforced the mandate. The school also continued to tell students who didnt want to wear masks to get exemption forms. That changed Sept. 8 when the school board announced it had passed a universal mask mandate that eliminated all acceptable causes for exemptionexcept for medical. According to the new rules, the school board will only grant exemptions based on health reasons, for children with a physical or intellectual condition that renders them unable to remove a cloth face mask independently. For conditions that leave children with a need for communication assistance, which is impeded by wearing a cloth face mask or a condition such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or a mental health disorder that makes it difficult for children to tolerate the use of a cloth face mask, the school board decided these should not be used to justify a medical exemption. Parents were advised that any exemptions given before Sept. 8 will need to be re-evaluated because of the latest vote by the Board of Trustees to approve the most updated operations plan. According to Grace, the school has also started a system of having teachers write down the names of all the kids who didnt have masks on or wore them below their nose and/or below their chin and the teachers would email that list to the principal every morning, every period, every day. Because Grace did not qualify for an exemption under the new standard, she received her first morning suspension on Sept. 9. Frustrated by this, Grace was inspired by a post on social media calling for a nationwide walkout of high school students at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10. She started sending out text messages. According to Grace, around 80 students and 30 parents showed up and stood on the corner of Grand and Boulder Drive from 10:30 to 2 p.m. They even made it in a local paper. The Run Around and Double-Talk In a proactive measure to assist his daughter in her effort to be given an exemption for wearing a mask, Andy sent an email to Albany County School Board Chairman Janice Marshall advising that Grace made the decision not to wear a mask at school and that he and her mother supported her decision. In the exchange that followed, Andy explained he had also looked into the legality of the mask policy and suggested it appears the Board is operating outside their authority because Wyomings 2020 state of emergency had long since expired. Furthermore, Andy said the State and County Board of Health had informed him that all protocols surrounding COVID-19 are recommendations only. In response, Marshall referenced a statement made by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Sept. 26 and the current mask policies established by the board. In his statement, Gordon said he believes that the same implied authority claimed by schools to impose dress codesin order to provide a safe environment for studentsalso gives a school board broad authority to force kids to wear masks even though it is not expressly stated in statute. Andy also contacted Albany County School Superintendent Jubal Yenny, who responded with the same information provided by Marshall. However, Yenny also included a warning that students who do not follow the school board rules and do not wear a face covering will no longer be permitted in District facilities starting September 29. Further refusal to follow school rules may result in disciplinary measures including suspension and expulsion, Yenny added. The Epoch Times also reached out to Marshall. She replied with the same information she provided to Andy. However, she did not explain what gave the school board the authority to supersede the rights provided to Graces parents regarding healthcare decisions by the Wyoming Constitution. When The Epoch Times asked Marshall to provide clarity, she did not respond. The Epoch Times reached out to Yenny with the same questions. He did not respond. The Epoch Times also reached out to Gordon. As you have been in communication with the school district, you appear to already have this information, Michael Pearlman replied on behalf of the governor, providing the same information. The Governor is a strong proponent of government closest to the people and believes that this issue is best addressed by locally elected school boards. The Wyoming Constitution When we started down this path to search for the legal grounds for their policy, we did not approach this about the mask or about the coronavirus or the efficacy of the mask or anything like that, Andy insisted. We approached it based on what we found in Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution. Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution (pdf) clearly states: (a) Each competent adult shall have the right to make his or her own health care decisions. The parent, guardian or legal representative of any natural person shall have the right to make health care decisions for that person. Subsection (c) makes it clear that only the legislature may determine reasonable and necessary restrictions on the rights granted under this section to protect the health and general welfare of the people or to accomplish the other purposes set forth in the Wyoming Constitution. Article 2, Section 1 of the Wyoming Constitution states that the powers of the government of Wyoming are divided into three distinct departments: The legislative, executive and judicial, and no person or collection of persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any powers properly belonging to either of the others. On Thursday, Sept. 30, Grace received a two-day suspension and a $500 trespass citation. Present at the meeting was Laramie High School Principal Jeff Lewis, Yenny, Grace, and her father, who recorded the meeting. While Andy argued that the suspension violated Graces Constitutional rights, Lewis said he was advised to suspend Grace by his supervisor and legal counsel. Albany County School Superintendent Jubal Yenny, Laramie High School Principal Jess Lewis and Grace Smith are seated during the Sept. 20 suspension meeting with Graces father Andy Smith recording the proceedings. (YouTube video/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Youre sitting there making that argument and that argument is not going to be made here, Yenny said, insisting he has the authority by statute to be able to suspend her for willful disobedience. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, Grace returned to school. Because she did not wear a mask, she was again called to Principal Lewis office where she was issued another two-day suspension and a second $500 trespassing citation. On Thurs., Oct. 7, Grace was issued another two-day suspension, a third $500 trespassing citation, and arrested. According to Graces father, his daughters activism had drawn unwanted attention to the confusion and chaos going on at her school. Despite the mandate, threats, and bullying, kids were not complying with the full measure of rules handed down by the school board. Other kids were getting suspended as well. They were losing control, Andy said. To help with mounting costs, Graces parents set up a GoFundMe page. Because the account was related to the resistance of a mask mandate, GoFundMe administrators shut down the account. They opened another account through a Christian crowdfunding group called GiveSendGo and another page called Stand With Grace. While the current mask mandate was approved by the Board of Trustees on Sept. 8, and is set to expire Oct. 15, the board maintained it has the opportunity to extend the requirement at its Oct. 13 meeting. An ambulance arrives at the emergency entrance outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on April 13, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters) 911 System in Jeopardy Amid Crippling Labor Shortages: Association President An emergency medical service (EMS) group has issued a warning about a U.S.-wide shortage of workers that could imperil the 911 system in some places. This has been a problem that has that been developing over several years because of chronic underfunding shortfalls from Congress for ambulance services, but certainly during the pandemic, things have hit a crisis level, American Ambulance Association President Shawn Baird told Fox News on Oct. 10. In recent months, weve seen a tremendous amount of workforce attrition and schools had shut down paramedic training institutions and stopped graduating new students for the last year, so were suddenly in a severe shortfall, Baird said. His organization sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership saying the EMS system is facing a facing a crippling workforce shortage, noting its a long-term problem that has been building for more than a decade. The labor shortage, the letter warned, may undermine the 911 emergency system and deserves congressional attention. In a study released (pdf) by the groups 2019 Ambulance Industry Employee Turnover Study, the turnover for paramedics and EMTs was 20 percent to 30 percent. That number has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, Baird told Fox News. When you take a system that was already fragile and stretched it because you didnt have enough people entering the field, then you throw a public health emergency and all of the additional burdens that it put on our workforce, as well as the labor shortages across the entire economy, and it really has put us in a crisis mode, Baird told NBC on Oct. 8, warning about the 911 system. Vaccine Mandates May Contribute to Shortage In some areas, vaccine mandates have contributed to the EMS labor shortage, officials said. Julie Keizer, the town manager of Waldoboro, Maine, told NewsCenter Maine that the vaccine mandate has contributed to the loss of first responders. I think part of the problem is everybody thought [workers] would conform because nobody wants to lose their jobs, Keizer said. But when you look at the rate of pay for emergency workers, they can make more delivering packages than patients. Earlier this month, meanwhile, nearly 900 firefighters in Los Angeles filed a notice of their intent to sue the city over the Los Angeles vaccine mandate slated to go into effect in the coming weeks. The claims will be filed in Superior Court as an unlimited civil case pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure, Kevin McBride, attorney for the firefighters, wrote in a notice. Deborah Clapp, executive director of Western Mass Medical Services in Massachusetts, told local media that overworked crews and low wages may contribute to the high turnover rate and staffing shortages. What happens if theres a disaster of some sort? And a disaster doesnt need to be very big in western Massachusetts, she told Fox6. We need all these logistics to be able to step into place and handle these events and, meanwhile, 911 is still being called for the heart attack, the baby being born, the car crash. We have one trauma center in western Massachusetts. One level one trauma center. The American Ambulance Association didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment on vaccine mandates. A woman stomps on a free speech sign at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley in Berkeley, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2017. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) Academic Freedom Relegated to the Dustbin of History by Australian High Court Commentary The High Court Of Australia has now unanimously rendered its judgment in the Peter Ridd case. The facts of the Ridd case are well known. James Cook University sacked Peter Ridd, a physics professor, in 2018 for criticising his colleagues research on the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef. Professor Ridd went public with his criticism, denouncing the universitys Australian Institute of Marine Studies as untrustworthy on Sky News Australia. He disagreed with the research of his colleagues, who linked climate change and polluted water to coral bleaching of the Reef. For Ridd, the Reef was not in substantial decline, and any deterioration could be reversed. The university disciplined him on two occasions, and it also imposed a confidentiality obligation on himwhich he could not honour. The Federal Court of Australia in the first instance upheld Peter Ridds claimthat his right to academic freedom had been illegally abrogated and that his dismissal was unjustifiedit awarded him more than $1 million in compensation. However, that ruling was overturned on appeal. The High Court was then presented with an opportunity to rule on the protection of academic freedom in universities. The choice was between relegating academic freedom to the dustbin of history, or reinstating it in our institutions of higher education. The choice was that stark. There has been great interest in the case. Former JCU Professor Peter Ridd. (IPA) Graham Young, executive director of the Australian Institute of Progress, wrote on July 1, 2021, in The Spectator magazine, If Ridd loses, then, without remedial action by the government, academics become mere cyphers of their universities, unable to strenuously critique the work of their colleagues. Instead of fearless seekers after the truth, their role will be as little more than publicists for their respective institutions, and whatever work is produced by their colleagues, good, bad, or indifferent. The High Court has now decided that Ridd breached the universitys Code of Conduct and that the intellectual academic freedom protected by Clause 14 of its Enterprise Agreement did not amount to a general freedom of speech provision. The High Court, in its summary of the judgment, indicated that Ridds academic freedom was subject to constraints contained in Clause 14, including some adopted from the Code of Conduct and that these constraints included respect for the legal rights of others, and required that an expression of disagreement with university decision-making be in accordance with applicable processes, including confidentiality obligations. Hence, the court rejected the proposition that the quality of the research work undertaken in a university may be publicly criticised, even though the research is funded by the public purse and that the state of the Great Barrier Reef is an issue of concern to all Australians. But what exactly does academic freedom involve? I recall that on Sept. 11, 1991, the Higher Education Supplement in The Australian newspaper reported that student protestors prevented the South African Ambassador to Australia from speaking at the Australian National University. The university invited him to discuss his countrys constitutional developments and its transition to a multi-racial democracy. As he attempted to address attendees at the meeting, students shouted at him, and the cabal caused him to abandon his scheduled presentation. This incident generated a debate on whether a persons right to speak on a university campus should depend on the content of their opinion, even if their views are unacceptable to those who want to abrogate their right to speak. This issue, namely an academics right to publicise their views with impunity, even in public, is central to an understanding of the High Courts judgment in the Ridd case. It squarely raises the question of the place of academic freedom on campus. Of course, there is confusion on the scope of academic freedom. Indeed, as the South African ambassadors case reveals, both those who invited the ambassador to speak and those who opposed his right to speak, based their actions on the concept of academic freedom. A booth calls for protesters to shut down controversial right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos, on Sproul Plaza at the University of California, Berkeley, on Sept. 21, 2017. (Jocelyn Gecker/AP Photo) Academic freedom, as a concept, originated in Germany where it is known as Lehrfreiheit. Literally translated, Lehrfreiheit means teaching freedom. Professor Walter Metzger of Columbia University explains that the concept referred to the statutory right of professors, who were salaried civil servants, to discharge their professional duties outside the chain of command that encompassed other government officials. The concept enabled academics to decide on the content of their lectures and to provide them with opportunities to publish the results of their research without seeking prior ministerial, or ecclesiastical approval. It protected the restiveness of academic intellect from the obedience norms of hierarchy and emphasised the right of academics to be free from unreasonable state or university interference in their academic activities. Academics are people who should be involved in the free and stimulating exchange of ideas. Alfred North Whitehead, who taught philosophy and education at Harvard University, argued that academics should be involved in the imaginative impartation and extension of knowledge. To fulfil that function, academics should consider all relevant arguments and fearlessly criticise those who are intellectually deficient. But academics should abandon or modify their own, sometimes strongly held views if their colleagues make more coherent, persuasive, or insightful arguments. The practice of academic freedom is a journey involving the eternal search for truth. Academics, by their very nature, are independent and free agents, who individually or collectively, search for a better world. Following requests by the Australian government, all universities have now adopted a free speech code. Although this is an encouraging development, academics should regard the nurturing of academic freedom as a duty. The High Courts judgment in the Ridd case certainly does not help to entrench academic freedom in the country. It is a sad day for academic freedom, and it may well eventually adversely affect the reputation of Australias higher education sector. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force loadmasters and pilots, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, load people being evacuated from Afghanistan onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 24, 2021. (Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/U.S. Air Force via AP) Afghan Interpreter Who Helped Rescue Biden in 2008 Leaves Afghanistan An Afghan interpreter who helped with the rescue of President Joe Biden in 2008who was then a senatormanaged to leave the war-torn nation with his family, according to multiple reports. Aman Khalili, along with his wife and four children, safely departed Afghanistan and subsequently initiated onward travel from Pakistan, a representative for the U.S. State Department told BBC News on Monday. They did so with extensive and high-level engagement and support from the U.S. Government, and we are grateful for the many others who also supported him along the way, the official said. Biden and his fellow senators at the time, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, were traveling in Afghanistan in 2008 when a snowstorm forced the helicopter they were flying in to land in the mountains. Khalili helped rescue Biden and the other two U.S. lawmakers by driving the group to safety. The senators were then escorted by U.S. troops to Bagram Airbase on foot. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and Vietnam veteran Chuck Hagel speaks about the war during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, on July 8, 2015. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Since the Taliban terrorist group took control over Afghanistan in August, the interpreter, who went by the alias of Mohammed, had been appealing to Biden for help overcoming visa issues to leave the country. Hello Mr. President: Save me and my family, he told The Wall Street Journal at the time. Dont forget me here. Khalili tried applying for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and evacuating Afghanistan before the United States withdrawal, even earning a recommendation from Lt. Col. Andrew Till because of his assistance to the U.S. military. But his application was not approved, the paper reported, and an attempt to get into the Kabul airport in September wasnt successful because American troops told him they would only let him through, not his wife or children. White House press secretary Jen Psaki expressed gratitude for the interpreter in September for offering help to Biden in 2008, saying American officials will try everything to help get him out. We will get you out. We will honor your service, and were committed to doing exactly that, she said. Tens of thousands of SIV applicants remain in Afghanistan, according to aid groups. The Association of Wartime Allies has pegged the number as high as 118,000 when including the applicants family members. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. From NTD News A university graduate is seen outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 1, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) All Australian Universities Have Now Adopted Free Speech Code All Australian universities have now adopted policies to strengthen and protect free speech on campus, two years after the recommendation was made. University chancellors have also agreed to publicly report on how they are upholding academic freedom and freedom of speech on campus on an annual basis from 2021. Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said these developments were significant for protecting free speech for students and academics on campus. If universities are not places for free, robust speech, then their very purpose is jeopardised, Tudge said. You cannot advance knowledge without challenging existing orthodoxies, and risk causing offence in the process. Freedom of expression is the most fundamental foundational principle of a university. Academics who dont believe in free speech, or cannot handle someone challenging their work, should not be at a university. Tudge acknowledged that it would not solve the entire problem, but said it was a significant step in the right direction. Ultimately, what we want to see is viewpoint diversity so that students are challenged with different ideas, he said. Former Chief of Justice of Australia, Robert French AC, put forward the French model code as a key recommendation in the 2019 review into the freedom of speech in higher education. It supports academic freedom, freedom of speech, and institutional autonomy as its three core principles, but doesnt extend to protecting a person from feeling offended or insulted. Minister for Education Alan Tudge at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 27, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) It comes as former professor Peter Ridd lost his appeal to the High Court of Australia, which determined that his sacking from James Cook University was not a violation of his right to intellectual freedom. Ridd, who was fired in 2018 for criticising his peers and some Australian scientific institutions, said the legislation was a great step in the right direction. If my case had been fought under this legislation, I would have had a better chance of winning, Ridd said. But it would still have been far from certain. There would still have been a clash between the new legislation and the work agreement. Tudge said he respected the High Courts decision but was concerned about the chilling effect of employment conditions on academic freedom. University staff and students must have the freedom to challenge and question orthodoxies, without fear of losing their job or offending others, he said in a statement. This is why I have insisted that universities adopt the French Model Code to provide a clear statement about the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom. Tudge said he would get further advice on the implications of Ridds case. A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, labeled for use under emergency use authorization, is seen in San Rafael, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Pfizers COVID-19 Vaccine With Comirnaty Label Still Not Available in US Mandates 'violating federal law' due to lack of availability, lawyer says Officials in 19 states confirmed this week to The Epoch Times they have not received doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine labeled Comirnaty. So did pharmacies in New York, California, and Missouri. A Pfizer spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that there are no doses of Comirnaty in the United States as of Oct. 12. The FDA-approved Comirnaty and the EUA-authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have the same formulation and, according to the FDA labeling, can be used interchangeably to provide the COVID-19 vaccination series, a Pfizer spokesman told The Epoch Times. However, lawyers representing clients challenging vaccine requirements, say the lack of availability means vaccine mandates based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval are unlawful. Under the emergency use authorization, everyone has an option to accept or refuse the product. And that means every person, military and civilian. So this is critical. All of the mandates, from the military to the civilian population, are violating federal law, Mathew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group, told The Epoch Times. The situation would be different if Comirnaty was available, Staver said. You cannot interchange BioNTechs Cominarty with Pfizers [shot] from a legal standpoint. They are legally distinct. Contact with state and federal officials and pharmacies revealed widespread confusion regarding the differences between the approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the version that received emergency use authorization (EUA) in December 2020 and continues to be administered under EUA now. A number of officials were unaware of any differences and others insisted they were the same for all intents and purposes, including several officials with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which handles distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Its the same thing, an HHS official told The Epoch Times. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) building is seen in Washington, on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images) Thats a different message than that being sent to states, some of which have been told by federal officials not to expect doses of Comirnaty for a while. The CDC anticipates that Comirnaty will begin to ship some time in November at the earliest, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health told The Epoch Times in an email, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Maryland Department of Health has been told by the CDC that Comirnaty will not ship until the end of October/beginning of November, a spokesman with the Maryland Department of Health told The Epoch Times in an email. According to the latest update DOH has received from the CDC, shipments of Comirnaty likely wont begin until next month, a spokeswoman with the Washington State Department of Health told The Epoch Times in an email. We dont expect vials with the brand name Comirnaty affixed to them to be delivered until later in the year, a spokesman with the Idaho Department of Health told The Epoch Times in an email. A spokeswoman for the Tennessee Health Department said that the federal government still has a large amount of the authorized doses and there is no timeline on when Comirnaty will be shipped. The only state expecting doses soon is Delaware. Officials there were told 5,850 doses manufactured after the Aug. 23 approval date should arrive this week, a spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Health said. The FDA referred questions to the CDC and HHS. The CDC did not respond to repeated queries. The HHS official who wasnt aware of the differences alleged approved doses were available, but said she was puzzled by follow-up questions on when they started being available and how many are available and ultimately referred questions to the FDA. A different HHS official indicated the agency is not tracking when approved doses enter the distribution system. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Aug. 23. On the same day, the drug regulator extended the EUA for existing doses and for children between 12 and 15. The approval triggered vaccine mandates across the country, including for the Department of Defense. Many officials said they were waiting for the approval to impose mandates. In the letter extending the EUA, Denise Hinton, the FDAs chief scientist, said the vaccines are legally distinct with certain differences that do not impact safety or effectiveness. The letter is no longer available on the FDAs website, though the same language is used in an FAQ on the approved vaccine, known as Comirnaty. The FDA has declined to say what the differences are. Pfizer told The Epoch Times previously that they refer to certain manufacturing processes. Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Md., on Aug. 29, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) In a follow-up missive on Sept. 22, Hinton wrote that the authorized and approved versions have the same formulation and that the products can be used interchangeably to provide the vaccination series without presenting any safety or effectiveness concerns. Federal agencies in various documents have indicated recently there is little or no Comirnaty supply in the country. Both of Hintons letters stated that there is an insufficient supply of Comirnaty in the United States to distribute to the U.S. population in its entirety. A document posted by the CDC last month said Pfizer does not plan to produce any product with new labeling, referring to Comirnaty, over the next few months while EUA authorized product is still available and being made available for U.S. distribution. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has questioned (pdf) why the existing doses were not approved and, given the lack of Comirnaty supply, whether the FDA was de facto endorsing vaccine mandates utilizing EUA vaccines? The FDA declined to answer questions on the approval process. Several experts told The Epoch Times that federal law appears to preclude approving existing authorized products. To cast a wider net on the matter, The Epoch Times also contacted 12 private companies, mostly pharmacies involved in vaccine administration. Walgreens, Kroger, H-E-B Pharmacy, Publix Pharmacy, Thrifty White Pharmacy, the Mayo Clinic, and Novant Health did not respond to requests for comment. CVS referred questions to the federal government. Northwell Health, a New York health care system, declined to comment. The Legacy Specialty Pharmacy in Queens, New York said they do not have Comirnaty doses. A pharmacist at Lorena Pharmacy said he was not aware of any differences and thought the approval in August was only for booster doses, indicating they do not have Comirnaty. A pharmacist at Kilgores Medical Pharmacy in Missouri said they only get Moderna vaccine doses. Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. news, including politics and court cases. He started at The Epoch Times as a New York City metro reporter. zackstieber This illustration photo taken in Los Angeles on April 6, 2021, shows a person looking at the app for the New York State Excelsior Pass, which provides secure, digital proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, in front of a screen showing the New York skyline. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images) Are Democrats Introducing Apartheid by HealthStealth? Commentary The 16 states that met Joe Bidens vaccine mandate to fully inoculate at least 70 percent of adults by July 4 were all Democratic states. New York state has had its Excelsior Pass in place since March and on Aug. 16, Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out his COVIDSafe app to prevent the unvaccinated gaining access to restaurants, gyms, and performance venues in New York. Now, California is making its COVID-19 vaccine records available online, and the Los Angeles City Council has recently approved a new ordinance requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, hair salons, and other venues. Its beginning to look a lot like apartheid, and, most likely, it will be coming to Democratic states first. By the beginning of September, seven U.S. states had developed COVID-19 apps, while 22 had banned them. The split was mainly along predictable political lines, although the erstwhile red-state Arizona joined the banning side. It was the Democratic Party that once fought to keep slavery and later introduced segregation. Now, theyre introducing discriminatory laws to deprive the unvaccinated of employment, through their vaccine-or-job policy, and entrance to many places. This even goes beyond segregation. African Americans were allowed to have jobs and to eat in some of the same restaurants at the same time, just in different parts. Now, 50 years later, the Dems are once again clamping down on individual liberties with legislation that suits one section of society and violates another. So outrageous and harsh are the terms being imposed on people who choose to not take the not fully safety-tested COVID-19 vaccines that it poses the question: Is it all being done intentionally to spark a reactionan actual insurrection that would allow the Democrats to clamp down even further? When a government becomes more focused on controlling its own citizenry than on external threats, its a sign that it has turned both totalitarian and afraid. Following the Jan. 6 breach on Capitol Hill that lasted for three hours, during which time an unarmed female protestor, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed, the Biden administration deployed 25,000 National Guard troops to defend the building from a repeat incident that never materialized. That is, they didnt kill any more unarmed protestors. The troops were reduced significantly after the inauguration, but when they were stood down five months later, they still numbered 2,500. During that time, the southern border was experiencing hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants breaking into the United States. And while U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was making plans to treat parents as domestic terrorists for criticizing school boards over their curriculum choices, the Biden administration gifted the Taliban control of Afghanistan, plus billions of dollars worth of U.S. military equipment. It was a similar kind of governmental paranoia that led to the building of the Berlin Wall by communist East Germany in 1961not to keep enemies out, but to keep its own citizens in. When the wall eventually came down on Nov. 9, 1989, it gave East Berliners access to the West for the first time in 28 years. The event also came to symbolize the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe, with it being replaced by Western democracy in most countries. No one was thinking about what might be going the other way. Two years earlier, Ronald Reagan made his famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate, goading Russian leader Michael Gorbachev to tear down this wall! Less well-known is that, at the start of his political career, Reagan prophetically warned delegates at the 1964 Republican National Convention that Americans shouldnt take liberty for granted, either. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction, he said. We didnt pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free. The Gippers advice is particularly apropos today. The centralized control of the Kremlin, which failed its people so miserably, seems to be finding a new home in the Democratic Party, although it has reached them via Beijing. A critique of communism used to be that it couldnt work economicallyeven Russia, its main home for 70 years, eventually rejected it for capitalism. However, one-time Chinese Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping saw that by embracing both systems, economic liberalism could be harnessed to finance and maintain communist political control. His reforms came just in time for Chinas reacquisition of Hong Kong from the UK in 1997 and led to its membership in the World Trade Organization in 2001. China has since become an economic superpower, although it isnt just its wealth, but its one-party model that has begun to appeal in the West. Chinas gift of lockdowns has given Western governments a taste of real power. Already, Western countries mostly adopt uni-party compliance in areas such as climate change and vaccines, but democracy can still get oddballs such as Donald Trump elected to oppose the globalist consensus. So, has it outlived its usefulness for those countries? Slavery and segregation were ultimately about control, and through its draconian vaccination laws, the Democratic Party is showing that it hasnt lost that craving. What will happen if they lose in 2024? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Australian Marine Geophysicist Loses Battle for Academic Free Speech Marine geophysicist and Great Barrier Reef (GBR) expert Peter Ridd has lost his appeal to the Australian High Court, which determined that his sacking from James Cook University (JCU) was not a violation of his right to intellectual freedom. Ridd was fired in 2018 after he questioned the quality and reliability assurance processes of his colleagues in their coral research, and called the Australian Institute of Marine Science and other GBR scientific institutions untrustworthy in an interview with the media. Unlike many of his peers, Ridd did not believe the GBR was in any danger of dying out due to climate change and said the coral ecosystem was one of the most adaptable ecosystems in the world to rising temperatures. The legal fight was seen as a test of Australias academic freedom, and whether academics are able to freely criticise and question people and institutions they disagree with. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that we have lost the appeal in the High Court, Ridd wrote in a post on Facebook. We lost, in my opinion, because JCUs work contract, under which I was employed, effectively kills academic freedom of speechand the contract is effectively the law. So, JCUs actions were technically legal. But it was, in my opinion, never right, proper, decent, moral or in line with public expectations of how a university should behave. Assorted reef fish swim above a staghorn coral colony as it grows on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia on Oct. 25, 2019. (Lucas Jackson/REUTERS) In April 2019, Ridd won his initial case and was awarded $1.2 million (U.S.$800,000) in compensation, a decision that was overturned by the Federal Court of Australia and upheld today by the High Court, Australias highest court. Ridd said despite the comments costing him his job, career, and over $300,000 (U.S.$220,000) in legal fees, it was worth the battle, which he believes was more important than the result. This is just a small battle in a much bigger war. It was a battle which we had to have and, in retrospect, lose, Ridd said. Decent people and governments can see the immense problem we have. The universities are not our friends. Only when the problem is recognised will public pressure force a solution. The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) said they were dismayed at the High Courts judgement. This decision proves Australias universities are in crisis and a culture of censorship is overtaking Australia, IPA Executive Director John Roskam said. Our institutions increasingly want to control what Australians are allowed to say and what they can read and hear. Ridd said the failure of the legal action demonstrates that further legislation is required to ensure universities behave properly, especially under public funding. The Commonwealth government introduced excellent legislation in parliament early this year, partly in response to our legal case, to bolster academic freedom of speech, Ridd said, referring to the French model code that has been forcefully implemented into every Australian university to ensure greater protections of free speech. It is an excellent step in the right direction, Ridd said. Afghan men carry the dead body of a victim to an ambulance after a bomb attack at a mosque in Kunduz on October 8, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) Australian PM Urges Humanitarian Aid to Afghans Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged world leaders to continue to provide aid to the Afghan people living under Taliban rule. Morrison made the comments when he attended the virtual Group of 20 (G20) summit overnight, hosted by the Italian prime minister. He also called on global leaders to maintain pressure on the Taliban to live up to the commitments that they had made following their takeover of Afghanistan in August. The G20 leaders had agreed to work together to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the country, after the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops in August, with the European Union pledging more than one billion euros ($A1.57 billion) in aid packages. However, since the Taliban seized power, ISIS or the Islamic State terrorists have launched more than 30 attacks in Afghanistan, The National reported. ISIS, an enemy of the Taliban, has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks, including the Oct. 8 suicide bombing that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims. Washington considers ISIS its greatest terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan. Afghans inspect the inside of a mosque following a bombing in Kunduz province, northern Afghanistan, on Oct. 8, 2021. (Abdullah Sahil/AP Photo) A readout of the G20 meeting said leaders were deeply concerned about the crisis unfolding in the country and emphasized continued humanitarian support. They demand the Taliban allow unimpeded access for aid workers, uphold human rights especially for women and girls, and that it allow those who want to leave to be able to do so, the readout said. It was revealed earlier this week at an Australian senate inquiry that 100,000 Afghan nationals have sought humanitarian visas from Australia, with 26,000 applications in just the last seven weeks. Australia evacuated 4,100 people from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August. The G20 meeting also called on the Taliban to not allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists. Several (leaders) called for a unified stance, especially on messages to the Taliban, and a number noted that to get things done, they had to deal with the Taliban but that this did not constitute recognition, the readout said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 26, 2021. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image) Morrison said ahead of the meeting that a coordinated approach from leaders was needed for Afghanistan. I stand with G20 members in supporting international agencies delivering much needed humanitarian assistance on the ground, he said. Australia is committed to helping Afghanistan build a stable and secure future. U.S. Delegates Meet Taliban in Doha This comes after the United States pledged to provide aid directly to the Afghan people while refusing to give political recognition to the Taliban, according to NPR. On Oct. 10, the U.S. Department of State spokesman Ned Price released a statement after U.S. officials met with senior Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 9 and 10 for their first direct talks since the U.S. troops withdrew at the end of August. The former enemies discussed the United States providing robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people. The talks also focussed on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals, and the United States Afghan partners. The United States also highlighted human rights concerns in Afghanistan, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society, Price said. 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. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said that the movements interim foreign minister assured the United States during the talks that the Taliban is committed to seeing that extremists do not use Afghanistan to launch attacks against other countries. NPR reported that the Taliban said the talks in Doha, Qatar, had gone well, with the United States not tying any aid to official recognition of the Talibans rule. AAOP contributed to this report. A riot police officer wields a weapon looking onwards at protesters near the Shrine of Remembrance, in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 22, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Australian Police Officer Quits After Seeing Force Treat COVID-19 Protesters Like Foreign Invaders A second member of the Victoria Police force has joined former Acting Senior Sergeant Krystle Mitchell in breaking rank over criticism of how directions from the states chief health officer are being enforced. In Australia, chief health officers have emergency powers under the Biosecurity Security Act 2015 to make and impose public health orders in attempts to protect human health from COVID-19. Mitchell, who has worked for Victoria Police for more than 16 years, quit the force after going public with criticism of how police had enforced the directions in an interview with media studio Discernable, which aired on Oct. 8. Craig Backman, a former senior constable with Victoria Police, has also resigned from the force. In a Facebook post, Backman describes himself as until recently, a proud Senior Constable and said he had written an email to management of Victoria Police on Sept. 17, in which he outlined his reasons for refusing to be a part of any activity that I believed unfairly breached the Human Rights of Victorian citizens, as ordered by the Victorian Government. Speaking to local show Cafe Locked Out on Wednesday, Backman said he made the decision to leave the force because, my personal beliefs about what I believe to be right and ethical appear to be at complete odds with the organization. How can I possibly reconcile myself with working for an organization that is involved with the enforcement of the removal of human rights? Thats the opposite of what I felt that I was joining, Backman said, citing basic human rights such as freedom of movement, freedom of speech, the freedom of association, and the freedom of bodily autonomy. Backman spoke of the recent protests at Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance, the citys most famous war memorial, which saw protesters involved in tense standoffs with police. Prime Minister Scott Morrison branded the protests highly distressing, telling reporters, That is not an appropriate response to trying to deal with an outbreak of this nature. Videos showed police firing shots of pepper balls at at unarmed civilians as they sought to disperse crowds. A separate video showed a policeman tackling a woman onto the ground. Backman said that he felt heartbroken watching the incident play out on TV, knowing that the situation could have been completely avoided. Once again were talking about peoples rights here, he said. Is it justified to shoot someone in the back because theyre at a location where you dont want them to be? In my humble opinion, thats not even a question that needs to be asked. That is an absolute no way, Backman added. Police arrest construction workers and demonstrators with tear gas on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance during a protest against COVID-19 regulations in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 22, 2021. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Those things that I saw in Victoria I never imagined I would ever see anything like that, barring an invasion from a foreign enemy. Not from people who were being told they werent allowed to go to work unless they participated in a medical trial. Now these people were fighting just to be heard. All they wanted was to be heard. And they were treated like foreign invaders. Is it justified use of force to shoot someone as they were fleeing? Absolutely not, in my opinion. And if anybody was injured I would suggest itd be well within their rights to make a complaint about it, he added. Backman said he saw police officers firing indiscriminately at people just to try to make them disperse after theyd already agreed to disperse and has seen images of those who were injured during the protest, with some who displayed multiple shots to the back. Construction workers and demonstrators react after police fire tear gas around the Shrine of Remembrance during a protest against COVID-19 regulations in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 22, 2021. (Con Chronis/AFP via Getty Images) Frankly I was absolutely disgusted. Absolutely disgusted and I was embarrassed. And I made that decision after that day that there was no way that I could possibly be able to associate myself with this organization that thinks that they can justify that behavior, he said. Backman also noted clear differences in how Australias COVID-19 protests have been handled by police compared to other protests, such as those regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, stating that the latter had seen police simply issue penalty notices to event organizers. The former senior constable said he hopes that by sharing his own personal beliefs on how the police force have responded to COVID-19 protests, it will make the general public realize that not all police are their enemy. How [the community] once supported the police and now they no longer do, he observed, adding, And I knew that there were so many of my colleagues that dont really want to be having any part of this. And it was heartbreaking to me to see that loss of community relationship that wed built over many years just be burned to the ground in a few days. And I think its been coming for a while with this COVID stuff, its been detrimental to the relationships as a whole. But the way theyve responded to these protests that theyve been doing in regards to the mandatesthat seems to me that its the message theyre trying to silence, and nothing else, he continued. In his Facebook post one day prior, Backman said that he had hoped his email to Victoria Police management would be taken seriously, however he claims he has not received a response to his letter. Victoria Police told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: Victoria Police is aware of an interview conducted by a senior constable on social media last night. While the member has tendered his resignation, he is still a current serving police officer and is on leave until his resignation takes effect later this month. We understand people have the right to their opinions, but it is critical that all police officers remain apolitical while they are serving police officers. Police cannot pick and choose what laws we enforce and the current CHO [chief health officer] directions are set by the Victorian government based on health advice. The matter is now being investigated by Professional Standards Command and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further. Australian State Threatens Hefty Fines for Workers Who Dont Comply With Vaccine Mandate 'Simply not wanting the vaccine is not a reason' for an exemption Australias Northern Territory is set to impose one of the worlds strictest COVID-19 mandates for workers, as the country plans to reopen its borders. During a press briefing on Wednesday, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner imposed a Nov. 12 deadline for frontline and public facing workers to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and a Dec. 24 deadline to be fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. If workers fail to comply to the new rules, they could lose their jobs and be handed a A$5,000 (USD$3,380) fine, Gunner said. The mandate applies to all employees who interact with members of the public, for example, workers in retail, hospitality, supermarkets, hair salons, beauty centers, and banking, workers who may come into contact with vulnerable individuals, such as those are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and those who work in essential infrastructure, supply, or logistics. You must receive the vaccine if in the course of your work you come into contact with vulnerable people, your workplace has a high risk of infection, or you perform maintenance of essential infrastructure or logistics in the territory, the chief minster said. Critically, the direction also applies to industries who directly face customers and circumstances where the worker may not know the vulnerability of the person they are interacting with. If your job involves interacting with members of public you need to get the jab, he said. This is a very broad vaccination policy. Gunners direction also includes a provision that mandates COVID-19 booster shots for eligible workers, NCA NewsWire reported. You have 30 days, Gunner warned. That is the deadline to keep working in these jobs. You know I am passionate, sometimes aggressively passionate about the importance of the vaccine and I want as many people as possible to be vaccinated, he continued. At the end of the day with all the best information, with all the goodwill, with all the repeated attempts, there are some people and some communities who have said no to the jab and could keep saying no. Complacency terrifies me, Gunner added. It [COVID-19] will come in. There is an invisible clock ticking on this. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said that the 30-day notice period will allow people to try and get their house in order. The states Chief health officer Hugh Heggie described the directive as a chance for us to save ourselves. Gunner said that an extremely narrow portion of employees would be eligible to be exempted from the vaccine mandate. These must be backed up by medical evidence, he said. Simply not wanting the vaccine is not a reason. Australian workers against mandatory vaccinations earlier this month mounted a nationwide strike in dozens of cities across the country as deadlines loom for workers across various sectors. Efforts among Australians to resist lockdowns and vaccine mandates continue among organizations such as National Education United and Reignite Democracy Australia. Telegram groups have also become a hub for Australians to coordinate and share about their efforts and resources, including by sending letters, signing petitions, launching lawsuits, and organizing peaceful demonstrations. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. President Joe Biden speaks during an event to celebrate labor unions, in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 8, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Biden Administration Submits Private Employer COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Review President Joe Bidens administration on Tuesday submitted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers for review, the first solid step its taken since Biden announced plans for the requirement last month. Biden said the Department of Labor would develop the mandate, centering around a provision that every company with more than 100 employees would need to receive proof of vaccination from each worker or make them get tested for COVID-19 once a week. A Department of Labor spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email late Oct. 12 that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an office within the agency, has been working expeditiously to develop the mandate, which it described as an emergency temporary standard. Earlier Tuesday, as part of the regulatory review process, the agency submitted the initial text of the emergency temporary standard to the Office of Management and Budget, the spokesperson added. Once the office concludes its review, the mandate will be published in the Federal Register. The public can view it and submit comments about it. The submission is the first concrete step the administration has taken since Biden made his announcement on Sept. 9, leaving many business owners stunned. The bottom line: Were going to protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated co-workers. Were going to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by increasing the share of the workforce that is vaccinated in businesses all across America, Biden said from the White House. The White House had said previously it wouldnt support forcing Americans to carry proof of vaccination but has since ordered federal workers to get a vaccine before announcing a private company mandate. The mandate has drawn significant pushback, with state-level officials in over half the states promising to fight it once its unveiled. The reality is, the president of the United States cannot just make up laws. Thats outside of his purview, outside of his constitutional role. The executive branch implements laws thats their job, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said on EpochTVs Crossroads last month. Thats not the way the Constitution works, so we are pretty sure what hes doing will be unconstitutional, if it is what he said when he made the statement. So obviously, that would be for our first line of attack, just to say, Look, you didnt have the authority to do this,' he added. Many companies have expressed displeasure with the prospect of a mandate, though some have indicated support for the pending rule. The White House has said the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 grants the Department of Labor office the authority to impose a mandate. I would say that requiring and mandating for businesses of 100 people or over vaccines is not a small task. That is a big bold proposal idea and something that we want to implement with as much clarity as we can, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday. We know there will be questions, even after these rules are put out, we understand that. But thats why we wanted to take a little bit of time, not too much time, to get it done. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. A Boeing logo is pictured during the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition at Geneva Airport, Switzerland, on May 28, 2018. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters) Boeing Tells Workers They Must Get COVID-19 Vaccine by December Boeing has told employees they must be vaccinated against COVID-19, a spokesperson confirmed. The policy will apply to roughly 125,000 employees in the United States, of which about 57,000 are in Washington state, The Seattle Times reported. Employees must be vaccinated by Dec. 8 in line with the deadline set by President Joe Biden requiring federal employees as well as companies that are contractors and subcontractors of the government to receive the shots. To ensure compliance with President Bidens executive order for federal contractors, Boeing is requiring its U.S.-based employees to either show proof of vaccination or have an approved reasonable accommodation, based on a disability or sincerely held religious belief, by Dec. 8, a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to The Epoch Times. Boeing will continue to carefully monitor guidance from public health agencies, and requirements from federal, state, and local governments to inform our COVID-19 policies. We continue to prioritize the health and safety of all of our employees, they added. Multiple airlines have mandated vaccines for employees, with United Airlines being the first U.S. carrier do so, announcing the mandate in August. United Airlines confirmed on Sept. 29 that it was going to terminate 593 of its employees who have chosen not to comply with the companys vaccine mandate. Workers at multiple airlines across the United States last week protested against COVID-19 vaccination mandates after numerous carriers announced employees must get vaccinated or risk losing their jobs. Hundreds of American Airlines workersincluding pilots and flight attendants in uniformstook to the streets outside the companys Fort Worth, Texas headquarters on Thursday to protest against the new measures, The Dallas Morning News reported. Many of them brandished signs reading Mandates wont fly and Dont fire my Dad in response to the new rules, while some protesters said they were skeptical of the effectiveness of the vaccine and concerned about side effects. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hasnt reported any long-term side effects from the approved COVID-19 vaccines, noting that they have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. American Airlines told workers in an email on Oct. 6 that they have to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 24 or face termination. Southwest Airlines (SWA) also announced it will require all of its 56,000 U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), a union, announced on Oct. 5 that it would be filing a temporary restraining order against SWA to stop the company from carrying forward its mandate. The order forms part of a lawsuit that SWAPA filed on Aug. 30 challenging forced time off and other changes to working conditions imposed by the airline during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to be perfectly clear: SWAPA is not anti-vaccination, but we do believe that, under all circumstances, it is our role to represent the health and safety of our pilots and bring their concerns to the company, SWAPA said in a statement. Multiple other big businesses across America have also mandated vaccines, including Walmart and Ford, and tech giants Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Delta Air Lines remains a major U.S. carrier that has chosen not to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all its employees, although it does require all new U.S. employees to be vaccinated, and that all unvaccinated Delta staff enrolled in its health care plan pay a $200 monthly surcharge. The latest employee mandate from Boeing comes as more than a dozen states such as Texas are actively opposing Bidens mandate orders. On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning vaccine mandates by any entity in the state, including private employers. Abbott has called Bidens executive order an assault on private businesses and previously said that the state is working to halt this power grab. No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, the governor said in his executive order on Monday. A partially illuminated sign of the Evergrande Center at the Evergrande Center building in Shanghai, China, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP) Broader Financial Stress May Emerge: IMF Warning About Evergrande Crisis Chinese property developer Evergrandes struggles could ripple through the global economy, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It came as the debt-laden property giant has missed payments on bond interests for the third time in three weeks. While the authorities have the tools to step in if the situation were to escalate, there is a risk that broader financial stress may emerge, with implications for both the Chinese economy and financial sector as well as global capital markets at the extreme, the IMF said in its Global Financial Stability Report published this month. Researchers said the strains can widely spread to the domestic property market, financial institutions such as banks and trust companies, offshore markets, and global investors. There are challenging trade-offs in terms of the extent of support to affected financial entities and sectors and the timing of the intervention, according to the report. Since Evergrandes eye-watering $300 billion debt pushed the property developer to the brink of collapse, with hundreds of unfinished projects nationwide, Chinese authorities have been worried about knock-off effects over the market future. A state-owned company stepped in to buy Evergrandes stake in Shengjing Bank for $1.5 billion. Reuters said Beijing has prodded government-owned firms and state-backed property developers to purchase some of Evergrandes assets, citing unnamed sources. [The Chinese regime] will first spin-off Evergrandes assets, the ones with good cash flow or good values, to a state-owned enterprise, Hong Kong-based finance and economics columnist Liao Shiming told The Epoch Times. Hong Kong-listed real estate firm Hopson Development planned to purchase around 51 percent of Evergrandes property services unit, Chinese media reported. Construction site of an Evergrande housing complex in Beijing, on Sept. 13, 2021. (Greg Baker/AFP) Yet problems have already spread well beyond just Evergrande, as more high-profile real estate companies joined the ranks, possibly running into serious trouble. Last week, mid-sized rival Fantasia missed paying $206 million worth of bonds that had matured. More recently, Beijing-headquartered developer Modern Land with $1.35 billion of bonds outstanding, is seeking an extension to avoid a possible default; Shanghai-based homebuilder Sinic Holdings said in an announcement (pdf) on Oct. 11 that it would be unable to repay a $250 million dollar bond due Oct. 18. Chinas once-booming property sector now sees a cooling housing market as home sales fall, despite Beijings claim to have maintained the steady and healthy development of its real estate market. A slowdown in economic growth and a tightening in financial conditions in China could bring spillovers to the rest of the world, the IMF said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a virtual conversation in Ottawa on May 28, 2021, to discuss the Canada Child Benefit. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Canada Child Benefit Helps the Middle Class More Than Low-Income Families: Report The federal governments claim of reducing child poverty substantially through its Canada Child Benefit (CCB) doesnt seem to hold water, a new report suggests. Empirical testing of the claim reveals the cash benefit skews toward the middle class rather than helping families mired deeper in poverty, according to the study, Does the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Actually Reduce Child Poverty? published by the Fraser Institute. One of the stated goals of the Canada Child Benefit was to help lift children out of poverty, but most of the households that benefit from this new program compared to the previous ones were never living in poverty in the first place, said Professor Christopher Sarlo, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of the study, in a media release. In 2016, the federal Liberals replaced two existing child benefit programsthe Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)with the CCB, which provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible families with children under the age of 18. At the time, the Liberals said the former programs were inadequate and not sufficiently targeted to those who need it most. In their latest available data, Statistics Canada reported a sharp decline in the number of Canadians living below the poverty line between 2015 and 2017, decreasing by 826,000 people. During his 2019 federal election campaign, Sarlo noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed this was due to the CCB being a key factor in lifting low-income families out of poverty. In a press release on Feb. 24 of this year, Employment and Social Development Canada stated that through programs like the Canada Child Benefit, 367,000 children have been lifted out of poverty since 2015. But when the actual distribution of the cash benefits from the CCB was analyzed, Sarlo argued that it appears that they are targeted to the middle class rather than the poor. In a previous report in the same series he co-authored last year, Sarlo determined that families with annual incomes below $40,000 received 21.8 percent of CCTB and UCCB benefits in 2019, but under the CCB they only received 16.2 percent. Middle-income families earning between $50,000 and $120,000 annually received 44.4 percent of the total benefits from the previous programs, but under the CCB they got 56.9 percenta 28.1 percent increase. In his latest report, Sarlo argues that empirical testing is needed to verify the accuracy of the governments claims. Using a key measure of income, the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), in a simulation test, Sarlo calculated there were about 390,600 children in families whose income would be below LICO under the old programs in 2019. However, once the CCB was introduced, the number would drop to 299,700a reduction of 90,900. According to Statistics Canada, LICO is the income threshold below which a family will likely devote a larger share of its income on food, shelter and clothing than the average family. In 2019, LICO ranged between $27,085 and $41,406 for a family of four. In 2018, academic and government studies began using the Market Basket Measure (MBM), which makes Canadas official poverty line 20 to 30 percent higher than LICO did. According to Statistics Canada, MBM is an income threshold based on the cost of a basket of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and other items for individuals and families representing a modest, basic standard of living and ranged between $38,239 and $50,055 for a family of four in 2019. If the MBM is used in a simulation model, an estimated 987,306 children would have been in households with income below the MBM under the old programs in 2019, the report said. With the CCB, that number falls to 702,942. This represents 77.5 percent of the governments estimated decline in child poverty of 367,000, said Sarlo. While the model results tend to support the governments claim when the MBM is used, Sarlo says a comparison to the results when using the LICO is crucial. What is clear is that the way the CCB is distributed has particularly benefited families that were just below the MBM, bumping them above the threshold (indicating that theyve been lifted out of poverty). However, the CCB did not help people who were deeper in poverty nearly as much. A U.S. service member prepares to get a COVID-19 vaccine at Fort Knox, Ky., on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Catholic Troops Can Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine: Military Archbishop U.S. troops who are Catholic can refuse to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the militarys archbishop said Tuesday. People can sincerely hold a religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience, Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy Broglio said in a statement. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in August ordered military branch heads to draw up COVID-19 vaccine mandates, all of which have since been issued. Lawyers for clients seeking religious exemptions have told The Epoch Times some of the opposition to the jabs center on their use of aborted fetal cells. Three vaccines are authorized or approved in the United States. The Johnson & Johnson shot used abortion-derived cell lines in design, production, and laboratory tests, according to an analysis (pdf) of the vaccines from self-described pro-life scientists. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also utilized the cells. The companies have said the final products do not contain aborted fetal cells. Broglio said the testing with the cells done for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has long been considered not sinful because of its remote link with evil. However, he said the Johnson & Johnson shot is more problematic He also said that each Catholic is bound to follow his conscience, quoting St. Paul VI. Accordingly, no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience, he wrote, adding later, The denial of religious accommodations, or punitive or adverse personnel actions taken against those who raise earnest, conscience-based objections, would be contrary to federal law and morally reprehensible. Tully Rinckey is representing more than 100 military members in their fight over the vaccine mandate. Sean Timmons, a managing partner and military attorney with the firm, told The Epoch Times hed seen Broglios letter. Clients have gotten similar missives from local priests or bishops in their effort to obtain exemptions. The accommodation based on religion is not up to a test of the validity of the religious tenets adherence, meaning the Army and Navy cant say, okay, youre Catholic therefore you believe a and b, Catholic leadership says the vaccines fine, so youre not really a Catholic. That doesnt affect the way that it works because that would be objective analysis of the contents of religious practice. The military cant possibly do that. The only thing the military can do is look at it subjectively, is your religious religious beliefs sincere, yes or no. If your religious belief is sincere, thats the only analysis necessary, it doesnt really matter what the leadership of a religion says, Timmons said. Several clients of Tully Rinckey have already secured exemptions while others are working their way through the process. None have been rejected so far. Asked about the letter, a Department of Defense spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email that each service has put into place processes that let members apply for religious exemptions. These exemptions are considered on an individual basis and service members are welcome to apply for religious exemptions, he said. The branches did not respond to requests for comment. The Air Force has the earliest deadline, Nov. 2. Nearly 97 percent of the 335,818 active-duty airmen have received at least one vaccine dose, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters this week. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told troops during a town hall on Tuesday, when queried about mandate exceptions, that applications are evaluated by senior Army leaders and considered. Concerns about health and readiness compelled the mandate, she added, asserting that the vaccines are safe and effective. Children are seen wearing masks in compliance with a mask mandate in an activity in class at the Xavier Academy in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Children Much More Likely to Have Asymptomatic Cases of COVID-19: Study Children are much more likely to have cases of COVID-19 without showing symptoms than adults, according to a new study. Roughly half the children between 0 and 11 years old who tested positive for COVID-19 across households studied in New York City and some counties in Utah showed no symptoms, researchers found. Almost half the kids 12 to 17 had COVID-19 without symptoms. That compared to just 12 percent of adults 18 or older not having symptoms from the disease. The study followed 1,236 people in 310 households between September 2020 through April to track asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. Participants self-collected nasal swabs. The study found similar COVID-19 infection rates across age groups, though the risk of infection was higher in New York City. Forty of the households had one or more COVID-19 infections during the study period. Ninety-four participants tested positive. The study was well-designed, Dr. Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told The Epoch Times. They could basically stratify that 0 through 4, 5 to 11, and then going up from there are very unlikely to get sick, Gandhi said. Researchers, including Dr. Fatimah Dawood with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the study showed that households remain a common site for transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. Our findings suggest that children and adults have similar incidence rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, underscoring the need for rapid evaluation of vaccine efficacy and safety in children to expand vaccine indications to younger age groups. We also found that SARS-CoV-2 infections were more frequently asymptomatic in children compared with adults, highlighting the need for additional data on risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from persons with asymptomatic infection, including children, they concluded. SARS-CoV-2 is another name for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. In an accompanying article also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Flor Munoz, an infectious disease and pediatric expert in Texas, said the study should drive mitigation measures like masking and social distancing in various group activities, including childcare and after-school programs. Others werent as sure. The risk of serious outcome (hospitalization, death) is very low in childrenabout the same as for a middle aged, vaccinated person. The decision about whether children should be expected to adhere to mitigation measure (or try to) depends on the level (and type) of virus circulating in the community at the time, the degree of vaccination among the eligible population, and our overall risk tolerance. There is certainly room for people to disagree on these points, Dr. Adam Cifu, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, told The Epoch Times in an email. Gandhi said her primary takeaway was how low-risk children are from COVID-19. Even in dense households in high transmission areas, children are so much less likely to get sick, she said. Other studies have indicated that children often dont suffer severe cases of COVID-19 when they contract the disease. Another study recently published, from the United Kingdom, found that school-aged children who contracted the illness typically had a short duration of symptoms, even after the Delta strain of the CCP virus became prevalent. The median illness was found to be five days, with the odds of several symptoms being higher with Delta compared to the Alpha strain. Few children presented to hospital, and long illness duration was uncommon, with either variant, researchers said. Chinas Coal Prices Hit Record High Amid Growing Power Crisis The price of thermal coal used to generate electricity in China surged to a fresh high on Oct. 13, adding more pressure on Beijing as it attempts to tackle an ongoing power crisis. More than half of the country has recently experienced power rationing, which has disrupted the daily lives of tens of millions of people, crippled industrial output, and wreaked havoc on global supply chains. As over two-thirds of the countrys electricity comes from burning coal, the power crunch brought on by coal shortage and surging costs has further pushed the coal price to rise. Thermal coal futures on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange reached a record high of 1,640 yuan ($254.44) per tonne in Wednesday trade, having surged almost three-fold year-to-date. The price jump comes after the countrys key coal mining regions were hit by torrential rain last week, adding further strain on the countrys tight coal supply. Shanxi, Chinas top coal-producing province, suspended operations at 60 coal mines after almost a week-long deluge beginning on Oct. 2. Many sites are slowly resuming production, but four mines with a combined annual output capacity of 4.8 million tonnes remain closed, an official said at a Tuesday conference. Moreover, widespread safety issues at mine sites have prompted provincial authorities to suspend operations at hundreds of facilities. From January to September, Shanxi had shut down a total of 236 coal mines, demanding them to rectify safety issues, according to data compiled by China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association (CCTD). The neighboring Shaanxi Province, the third-biggest coal producer, also reported heavy rains, triggering floods and mudslides, and disruptions to coal production, according to state-backed Security Times. The extreme weather has complicated the authorities efforts to ease the power crisis. Just last week, Beijing ordered its two top coal-producing provinces, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, to raise production by more than 160 million tonnes. According to a Chinese commentator, theres a simple solution to the coal shortageeasing Chinas ban on Australian coal imports. Wen Xiaogang said, however, that such a move may not be politically palatable to the Chinese regime. The ban was enacted as part of a campaign of economic coercion targeting Australia after the countrys prime minister called for an independent investigation into the pandemic origins last year. Rather than withdraw its pressure over Australia, the regime would rather cut supply to factories and thus jeopardize economic growth, Wen said. On Wednesday, China, worlds biggest steel producer, directed steel mills in 28 cities around Beijing to cut output by at least 30 percent from Nov. 15 to March 15 next year, according to a statement jointly issued by Chinas industry ministry and environment ministry. The authorities said the order was aimed at reducing air pollution during wintertime. Analysts have suggested that the countrys power crisis is a result of the regimes restrictive policies on energy emissions implemented to tackle climate change. Hsieh Chin-ho, a Taiwan-based economic commentator, told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, that the power crisis will likely be a long-term issue for the country. Reuters contributed to this report. COVID-19 Cases Decrease in a Mask-Optional North Carolina School System One of the few public-school systems in North Carolina that has stood its ground on keeping masks optional, despite a legal threat from the state, has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases. The COVID-19 dashboard for the Union County Public Schools (UCPS) reported 170 positive cases last Friday, down from 252 the previous week, and down from 479 in the second week of September. There are 53 schools, 41,500 students, and 5,100 employees in the school system. The Union County Board of Education voted to keep masks optional in July, and since, has faced heated criticism. In its meeting last week, the board voted 72 to remain mask-optional. Senate Bill 654 requires that each school district revisit its masking policy monthly. UCPS is one of seven out of the 116 school districts in North Carolina that is currently keeping masks optional. In August, Gov. Roy Cooper sent a letter to 55 school districts, including UCPS, that had voted to keep masks optional. After that letter, 50 of those districts reversed to mask required. Two later reversed course. We have stayed the course, UCPS Board Chair told The Epoch Times. We never went back to mask-required for several reasons. Though the bill leaves the decision up to the school board, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) threatened Union County based on the allegation that UCPS had not only voted to make masks optional but also voted to drop quarantine and contact tracing procedures; however, Melissa Merrell, the UCPS board chair, said UCPS never stopped quarantining or contact tracing. The state had required masks for all school districts from August 2020 to July 2021, and during that time UCPS was one of the few school districts that offered in-person learning, as others had gone virtual. Though masks were required, Merrell said UCPS was still sending thousands of kids home on quarantine, which allowed for UCPS to master its quarantining and cleaning protocols designed to prevent the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, the pathogen that causes COVID-19. We felt like we had the expertise to return to mask-optional, compared to the districts that had gone to Plan C, or all virtual, last year, Merrell said. But NCDHHS later changed the rules, Merrell said. In the 2020-2021 StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit, even under the mask requirement, people were sent home if identified as having been within six feet of a positive case for 15 minutes. In the July 30, 2021, updated toolkit, mask-required schools no longer have to identify and quarantine anyone within six feet of a positive case, while schools that are mask-optional are required to quarantine anyone who was within six feet for 15 minutes for 14 days, even if that person hasnt tested positive. We did not feel that was fair, Merrell said. Leaving the school system mask-optional is the safest, most responsible option, she said, because by being optional, UCPS is still required to identify anyone who has been around someone who has tested positive. Students and staff are sent home unless they had tested positive within the last three months, unless the identified and the positive case were both wearing a mask, or unless they had been vaccinated. Those people get a phone call from the health director, and if they do not meet one of those three exclusions, they go home, Merrell said. In looking at the other counties around us that reversed to mask required in August after they received Gov. Coopers letter, they are still having COVID-19 positives in their schools, so if masks work, then why do they still have hundreds of people each week testing positive? Mask-required districts arent required to identify and send home people within six feet of a positive case, which Merrell said is a reward to those schools that mandate masks, and a bribe to schools that are mask-optional. My question is, what problem are we solving here? Merrell asked. Are we really reducing COVID cases, or simply reducing the number on quarantine? I contend that we are not solving anything by not having to identify close contacts and allowing them to stay in school until they become positive only because you reverse from mask-optional to required. The Union County Health Director Dennis Joyner, who Merrell said had never attended their board meetings and declined offers to do so, had denied UCPS request to reduce quarantine time from 14 to 10 to seven days as allowed by CDC and the toolkit. He said he would not give us anything less than 14 days until we reversed to a mask mandate, and he and two county commissioners told us that we were reading the toolkit wrong, which we werent, Merrell said. We took that back to the school board and they said, Absolutely not.' NCDHHSs Threat Days later, Merrell said UCPS received the letter from Mandy Cohen, the secretary of the NCDHHS, threatening the board with legal action if it did not reinstate quarantines and contact tracing. We never stopped doing that to begin with, though they were under the impression that our 60 nurses had dropped those procedures, she said. That has been a false narrative with the state and the media. NCDHHS also threatened UCPS with legal abatement, meaning that it would take over all of UCPS 53 schools if we posed an imminent threat to the community, Merrell said. This honestly made me laugh because not only were our COVID [cases] decreasing, but we were also just named the number one performing school district in North Carolina, Merrell said. After reaching out to an outside attorney for a second reading of the toolkit, the attorney confirmed that the board was reading the toolkit correctly, and found that state statute required the health director, not the school nurses, must handle quarantining and contact tracing. We immediately became concerned that our nurses were in violation of state statute because at this time we had about 7,400 students and staff out on quarantine, Merrell said. In September, UCPS called a special meeting in which it requested and received its reduction in quarantine after finding that only 99 of the 5,410 students and staff that had been sent home on quarantine for 14 days later tested positive. They were perfectly healthy and being denied their right by state law to receive a sound education, Merrell said. This was the problem: only about 1 percent tested positive for COVID, but they were sending home over 16 percent to quarantine for 14 days. This is why I pleaded with the health director and county leadership for a reduction so we could get our kids back in school. A Mecca of Conflict As the board has persisted in keeping masks optional, the meetings have become meccas for pro-mask and anti-mask protesters who have had to be separated by barricades set up by the sheriffs department. Our decisions have brought out social activists from other counties and states pushing for what they call universal masking, Merrell said. In addition to threats on her, her family, and her students, Merrell said someone used her UCPS email address to list her house for sale and to move her out of state. My phone blew up, and I started getting offers on my home, and movers calling to work out bids on our moving to California, Florida, and Maryland, Merrell said. Ive also had bank accounts opened under my name that are currently under investigation. Though its been challenging, Merrell said, what keeps her moving forward is her belief in the success of UCPS and the county. I believe that the parents and taxpayers that voted for me in 2014 and 2018 trust me to be their voice on our board of education, and they keep me going because Im going to finish the job that they elected me to do, Merrell said. People cross floodwaters caused by tropical cyclone Kompasu during an evacuation assisted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at Brooke's Point, Palawan, in the Philippines, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard via Reuters) Cyclone Kompasu Strikes Philippines, Kills 9 MANILANine people have been killed in the Philippines and 11 were missing on Tuesday due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rain from tropical cyclone Kompasu, the national disaster agency said. Kompasu, with maximum sustained winds of 62 miles per hour, had absorbed remnants of an earlier cyclone before making landfall in the Philippines on Monday evening. Nearly 1,600 people were evacuated. In this photo released by the Gonzaga Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, a resident is pulled along a rope as rescuers wait on the other side of a swollen river caused by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Kompasu in Gonzaga town, Cagayan province, northern Philippines, on Oct. 11, 2021. (Gonzaga MDRRMO via AP) The disaster agency said it was verifying information from its regional units that reported four people killed in landslides in northern Benguet province and five killed in flash floods in Palawan, an island province in the countrys southwest. Authorities were conducting search and rescue operations for 11 people missing mostly after landslides. Rescuers carry the body of a victim caught in a landslide. A number of people have been killed and others were reported missing in landslides and flash flood set off by a storm that barreled through the tip of the northern Philippines overnight caused by Tropical Storm Kompasu in Baguio city, northern Philippines, on Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo) The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands is hit by about 20 storms or typhoons annually, bringing heavy rains that trigger deadly landslides. President Rodrigo Duterte was monitoring the governments disaster response, his spokesperson, Harry Roque said on Tuesday. Rescue personnel were at the scene, while power and water restoration and road clearing was ongoing, he added. Kompasu, the 13th tropical storm to enter the Philippines, is expected to leave its territory on Tuesday, the state weather agency said. Defying Texas Governor, Southwest, American Airlines Stand by Bidens Vaccine Mandate American Airlines and Southwest Airlines announced on Tuesday that they would follow President Joe Bidens executive order requiring that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8, defying Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order blocking mandates by any entity in the state. The companies, both based in Texas, argued that Bidens mandate supersedes Abbotts, which was issued on Oct. 11. The Republican governor said in a statement upon issuing his executive order (pdf) that the COVID-19 vaccine should remain voluntary and never forced. Southwest Airlines told The Epoch Times in an email that it would be expected to comply with the Presidents Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor. American Airlines meanwhile said that although it was reviewing Abbotts order, this does not change anything for the company. We believe the federal vaccine mandate supersedes any conflicting state laws, the carrier told The Epoch Times. The carriers are among the states largest employers. Southwest Airlines added, There is much work to do regarding this requirement and its compliance. We dont want any employee to lose their job over a vaccination issue. We have every intention of working with our employees as best we can. But for us to do this, we need our employees to either let us know if they are vaccinated or make the request for accommodation. The company said that as the Nov. 24 deadline approaches, we may find we need more time to process all of our employees requests for exemptions. U.S.-based employees for both carriers have been asked to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, by Nov. 24. Despite the carriers latest announcements, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told CNBC on Tuesday that he has never been in favor of corporations imposing that kind of a mandate, adding that the company only imposed one because of Bidens executive order. But the executive order from President Biden mandates that all federal employees and then all federal contractors, which covers all the major airlines, have to have a [vaccine] mandate in place by Dec. 8, Kelly said. My goal, obviously, is that no one loses their job. The objective here, obviously, is to improve health and safety, not for people to lose their jobs, Kelly added. White House press secretary Jen Psaki has accused Abbott of putting politics ahead of health with his executive order on Monday. Its not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing, she told reporters in Washington. Were going to continue to implement the lawwhich the president of the United States has the ability, the authority, the legal authority to doand we are going to continue to work to get more people vaccinated, to get out of this pandemic. Abbott has called Bidens executive order an assault on private businesses and previously said that the state is working to halt this power grab. More than a dozen states have resisted the presidents mandate. No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, the governor said in his executive order on Monday. Abbotts press secretary, Renae Eze, told The Epoch Times that the governors executive order aims to protect Texans from having to make the choice between getting the COVID-19 vaccine and losing their jobs. Governor Abbott has talked to countless Texans who are worried about losing their jobs because of this federal overreach, Eze said in an email. The Biden Administration has left Texans in the impossible position of having to choose between providing for their families or being fired for not getting the COVID vaccine because of their religious belief, medical condition, or personal conscience. And they have left employers with the unfair choice of either violating federal regulations or losing their valued employees, the press secretary added. Abbott intends to put his order before a special session of the state House and Senate, which would pave the way for the legislature to enshrine it into law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, told The Epoch Times that he hopes the legislature passes a law to ensure that employees can make their own health decisions and cannot be discriminated against, or lose their job as a result. When youre affecting peoples ability to ever work again and taking away their livelihood, thats a pretty big impact and something that should be a personal decision, not some company or government telling them what to do, because those companies dont have to live with the long-term consequences of that decision. So that seems wrong and unfair to me. Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report. DHS Secretary Defends Use of Title 42 to Expel Illegal Immigrants U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday defended how the Biden administration is continuing to use a Trump-era policy to expel illegal immigrants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last year it was using Title 42, a public health authority, to order the expulsion of illegal aliens due to concerns of COVID-19 transmission during the pandemic. The order has since been extended a number of times and the Biden administration has used it for nearly 750,000 expulsions, some of which are of repeat offenders. Mayorkas said in new comments that the administration would not embrace the policy in normal times. The Title 42 authority is a public health authority. And it is not an immigration policy. It is not an immigration policy that we in this administration would embrace. But we view it as a public health imperative as the Centers for Disease Control has so ordered, he said in a virtual interview that aired during a forum hosted in Qatar. Were in the midst of a pandemic. For anyone to think its business as usual I think would be, frankly, ignoring a pandemic that has taken more than 700,000 American lives, he added. Over 100 groups joined together to urge President Joe Biden over the summer to stop using Title 42, alleging it is unlawful. Some health experts have argued theres no basis for the order despite the ongoing pandemic. A top State Department lawyer, meanwhile, resigned earlier this month over the deportations under Biden, reportedly telling colleagues in a memorandum that the administrations use of Title 42 authority violates legal obligation not to expel or return individuals who fear persecution, death, or torture, especially migrants fleeing from Haiti. Haitians who crossed the U.S. border illegally and were processed by Border Patrol before being dropped at a local NGO Border Humanitarian Coalition to catch a bus to San Antonio or Houston are seen in Del Rio, Texas, on Sept. 22, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) After a flood of Haitian nationals crossed the border into Texas last month, the U.S. government released many of them into the interior of the country but deported several thousand, angering immigration advocates. Daniel Foote, another administration official, stepped down last month over similar complaints. White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded to the lawyer, Harold Koh, by saying Title 42 remains in place because were in the middle of a pandemic and does have exceptions for people who are fleeing persecution. Mayorkas said Kohs memo didnt trouble him but that a visit to Del Rio, where illegal immigrants overwhelmed local authorities, did. Mayorkas recounted seeing the immigrants in person and knowing that a number of them, a material percentage of them, will, in fact, be expelled under the Title 42 authority and these are individuals who are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Its a heartbreaking thing to see. I dont need anyone to share words to explain to me what that heartbreak is and what it means. But this is what is necessary as a matter of public health imperative as ordered by the Centers for Disease Control. And that is the authority were executing, he added. Critics say the order is no longer needed because vaccinations have gone up and so have people who have recovered from COVID-19 and thus have some level of immunity against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Some allege the CDC never had the authority to impose immigration restrictions. But others argue it was necessary and remains necessary. Title 42 remains essential during the COVID-19 global pandemic even though Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has revealed that his administration does not embrace the order as an immigration policy. Without it in place or fully applied to all migrants, illegal immigration would likely increase at our southern border. As America continues its struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, responsible border controls that diminish illegal immigration reduce the public health risks to our country, Matthew Tragesser, press secretary for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), told The Epoch Times via email. Biden upon taking office nearly immediately exempted unaccompanied minors, or illegal immigrant children, from Title 42. The administration later stopped using it to expel many family units. FAIR estimates at least half a million illegal immigrants that would have been expelled during the Trump era have been exempted. The administration has also tried avoiding a revival of the Remain in Mexico program in defiance of a court order and stopped building portions of the wall along the southern border. It should reimplement those border initiatives, among others, to bring illegal immigration under control, Tragesser said. Mayorkas said he was not sure how long Title 42 authority will continue to be in place. A review determined it is still needed in light of the spread of the CCP viruss Delta variant. I think we are unanimous in the fact that we hope public health authorities are no longer necessary because we have the pandemic behind us. But that is not where we are, he said. ECB Policymaker Kazimir Charged With Bribery, Denies Wrongdoing PRAGUESlovak central bank Governor and European Central Bank governing council member Peter Kazimir has been charged with bribery but denies wrongdoing and will defend himself against the charges, Kazimir and his lawyer said on Tuesday. I do not feel guilty of any crime, Kazimir, who served as finance minister before taking the central bank post in 2019, said in an emailed statement that followed a media report that he had been charged. Kazimirs lawyer Ondrej Mularcik confirmed to Reuters by phone that Kazimir had been charged with bribery and would appeal the decision, but gave no further details. The state of facts in the resolution is untrue and in the reasoning itself lacks confirming evidence, Kazimir said. I do not have any information nor I am aware of breaking the law, nor did I ever have any interest in influencing any proceedings. ECB Governing Council members can be removed if they have been found guilty of serious misconduct or authorities provide sufficient evidence that they have engaged in such misconduct. The ECB declined to comment. By Robert Muller and Jan Lopatka Employees of German carmaker Volkswagen work in a production line of VW's new battery plant in Salzgitter, Germany, on Sept. 23, 2019. (Fabian Bimmer/Reuters) Europes Carmakers Face Raw Material Bottleneck for EV Batteries FRANKFURTMajor carmakers like Volkswagen, Daimler, and Stellantis have been racing to secure battery cell supplies in Europe, but may face a bigger challenge as they seek to go electricfinding enough battery raw materials. Failure to obtain adequate supplies of lithium, nickel, manganese or cobalt could slow the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), make those vehicles more expensive, and threaten carmakers profit margins. There is a serious question as to whether supply can keep up with demand across the battery supply chain, says Daniel Harrison, an auto analyst at Ultima Media. Until recently, Europe was seen as having lost the battery race to the dominant Asian manufacturers like CATL in China, South Koreas LG Chem, and Japans Panasonic, says Ilka von Dalwigk from EIT InnoEnergy, which has set up a company network funded by the European Union in the European Battery Alliance. Nobody saw that as a problem, says von Dalwigk. The thinking was that we can import battery cells. But forecasts from banks like UBS that EV sales would soar over the coming decade shook the political establishment and carmakers, and forced a rethink of battery production. Plenty of Battery Plants This was followed by EU funding programs worth billions and major battery plant announcements by car manufacturers and suppliers. Volkswagen alone plans six battery plants in Europe, while Daimler will build four with partners. Recently, battery cell factory announcements have come thick and fast, and EIT InnoEnergy now lists almost 50 planned projects in the EU. If all those plans become reality, local production should meet demand around 2030. About 640 gigawatt hours (GWh) would be available, enough for average annual production of 13 million cars. By 2030, Ultima Media estimates global worldwide supply at 2,140 GWh, with demand at 2,212 GWh. Ultima Medias Harrison projects Volkswagens six planned plants would allow the Wolfsburg-based company to cover around two thirds of its own battery needs. Supply Chain Gap The problem lies with raw materials like lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt. Market experts from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) speak of the great raw material disconnecthigh investments in cell factories, but missing investments in raw material extraction. Within a year, the price for lithium carbonate has more than doubled, explains Caspar Rawles, head of price and data analysis at BMI. In the case of cobalt, where the largest deposits are located in the Congo and are sometimes extracted under miserable working conditions, an increase in price is also expected. At the very beginning of the supply chain, it takes around seven years for new mines to be developed. Europe is not the only region that is raising its e-car targets and reducing CO2 emissions, said Rawles. A global race is under way. The automotive industry is currently experiencing painful production disruptions due to the shortage of semiconductors. Some carmakers, including Volkswagen, are trying to secure the supply of raw materials with exclusive supply contracts. So far, lithium has mainly come from Australia and Chile, cobalt from the Congo, and graphite from China. The largest processors of cathode and anode material are also located there, and in Japan. But imports can become more expensive due to tariff increases in trade disputes and interrupted by logistics problems, as a tanker accident that blocked the Suez Canal recently showed. Even in Red Tennessee Election Integrity an Uphill Battle Commentary You would think Tennessee, one of the reddest of Red States (Trump won in 2020 by roughly two-thirds), would have a government among those most concerned with achieving election integrity into the future. But, Im sad to say, you would be wrong. How do I know this? On Monday Oct. 11, I attended an extended meeting of the State Election Commission in the Nashville Room of the Tennessee Tower for which the announced subject was election integrity. It was a disaster. The commissionmost of whom, it may or may not surprise, were Republicansnot to mention the Coordinator of Elections, also a Republican and also in attendance, who clearly didnt want such a meeting to be happening. They treated one woman, Sharon Siegel, who had given up a year of her life to research in detail electoral malfeasances across the country, as if she were an escapee from a leper colony. I only mention her name because I would like to reassure her publicly, we in the audience were well aware of the disdain she and her husband, a retired oncologist, encountered. At their worst moments, these commissioners put one in mind of the contempt with which AG Merrick Garland dealt with parents seeking educational reform, but at least no one was accused of being a terrorist. This only emphasized the extraordinary (and often growing) gap you see in many red states between the rank-and-file, many of whom are passionately devoted to the Constitutional vision of our Founders and are extremely worried about the fate of our Republic, and much of their leadershipelected officials and appointedfor whom the status quo is just fine and should be protected. The main presenters this day were the Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity, an ad hoc, public-spirited, group largely from Williamson County that had spent from November 2020 until now researching election integrity in both their county and the state. (Williamson is an upscale neighbor of Nashville/Davidson and recently the fastest growing county in the country. Its still experiencing remarkable population growth, largely from California. As I wrote earlier, besides electoral issues, its also having problems with Critical Race Theory infecting their supposedly highly-desirable schools.) The group was led by longtime activist Kathleen Harms and Frank Limbus. I only mention their names becausemore than everpeople working for change at the state level deserve recognition. These days, as they say, thats where its at. Several others deserve credit too. This group was greeted somewhat more politelyseveral were known to the commissioners for some timebut there was considerable grousing by those same commissioners about not receiving all the groups proposals with sufficient time to review them before the meeting. They also claimed the group was barking up the wrong governmental tree. The changes the group sought had to go through the state legislature, not them. As the man used to sing, It aint me. Something was afootthe activists were treading on dangerous territory, it seemedabout which I will give my theory shortly since it may be one of the strongest blockades against the desperately needed electoral reform in our country. Until we have elections trusted by the populace, we dont have a country. And as of now, according to the polls, the people dont. In any case, the Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity did rather exhaustive research over their eleven months and presented the commission with a spiral-bound print-out plus Power Point not quite the size of your average Democratic Party infrastructure bill, but substantial. It includes considerable documentation. (Incidentally, they should put this online. All states could profit.) A large number of complaints garnered from Tennessee citizens will not astonish readers at this point (i.e., Mail-in ballots are virtually impossible to police). They are a similar to those in John Fund and Hans von Spakovskys forthcoming (Nov. 2) Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote that I am half-way through in the advanced readers copy. No doubt much of it is also in Mollie Hemingways just published Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections, next on my list. Nevertheless, the Tennesse group had some principal findings. Their voters want to minimize the proliferation of technology and for the state to decertify DREs (Direct Recording Devices) and BMDs (Ballot Marking Devices) because both are too easily subject to hacking and manipulation of various sorts. They prefer optical scanners for self-adjudication and tabulation of the vote. That would mean, of course, preservable paper ballots for all elections. They would want those watermarked as well and passed a sample to the commissioners and audience. I was quite surprised to hear, in the midst of this, that some 70 percent of Tennessee counties did not have paper backup. During the meeting jousting occurred between the group, suspicious of the Dominion-type voting machines and similar technologies, and Mark Goins, the state Coordinator of Elections. Mr. Goins insisted he and his personnel were capable of, essentially, heading off at the pass whatever techniques hackersstate or otherwisecould bring to bear on elections. That didnt sit well with me as I stared down at the iPhone 12 Pro Max in my hand. (Sorry, not getting the new one this year.) I realized this little device was technologically lightyears ahead of anything Dominion or the others were likely to come up with, market forces being so much stronger in the highly-competitive cellphone industry. It was not surprising, as we were told, that an 11-year old had been able to use one to break into voting machines and change votes. So what gives? Why the grumpy expressions on the faces of the commissioners? Werent they, as they said, as anxious as anyone to assure secure elections. Well, heres the nasty part that will make them squirm. Yes, they are right that much of the reform must go through the state legislature, as specified by the Constitution. But some group, some er commission must certify which voting machines (Dominion and so forth) are recommended for the counties to choose for their elections. Thats not the legislatures job. Yes, just as an education committee much choose the textbooks that supposedly pass muster (think about that one), the State Elections Commission is charged with approving voting machines. If those machines and attendant software prove to be corrupt or corruptibleits on them. Should I go further? Okay, I will. Although I have no evidence that anything of the sort has taken place, if kickbacks from these election machine companies occurred, they could well have begun at the state commission level to obtain certification and then have devolved to the county level to be selected. Whatever the case, and as I said and emphasize, I am not making any accusations, the opportunity for corruption exists in both the voting and textbook/education businesses. It can come in a myriad of ways. We have seen this most recently in the company Panorama, which sells information on Critical Race Theory to schools and is owned by Merrick Garlands son-in-law. Its also been reported Pfizer has hired seven hundred lobbyists. No wonder Modernas vaccine was banned first. Our electoral system, of course, is the most important of all going forward. Some have argued that the problem is an old and inescapable one. Kennedy likely defeated Nixon in 1960 because Chicagos Mayor Daley shifted votes JFKs way and, yes, way back in the mid-Nineteenth Century Boss Tweed ran New York City and its elections in a manner Comrade Stalin would have envied. But when it comes to the flow of information, even 1960 is the Paleolithic Age compared to now. We can no longer be blase about the supposedly minor corruption of our elections. Even a couple of dozen votes being switched in a swing state can, quite literally, change history. If we dont fix our elections, we might as well be China. Bravo to the Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. More companies in the Chinese property sector are now caught up in debt. And the poster child for the sectors woes, Evergrande Group, has missed its third round of bond payments in a matter of weeks. More floods strike northern China. Heavy rain caused one river to overflow, drowning a dozen nearby towns. As for farmers, many are hard at work trying to rescue their harvests and livestock from water damage. Armed with sub-par equipment, some have resorted to manual labor. China limits video game access for children to three hours a week. But some may have already found ways to bypass the rule. In Taiwan, more deaths have been reported in those who got vaccinated than from the pandemic itself. An Explainer on Taiwans Vaccination Data Taiwans CDC updates its vaccine-related statistics daily. As of Oct. 20, over 20 million shots have been administered, and reports of reactions after vaccination climbed over 10,000, including over 900 deaths. These incidents occurred chronologically after vaccination, but Taiwanese authorities say theres no proof they happened because of the vaccination. The Taiwanese CDC says, The number of adverse event reports alone cannot explain or be used to draw conclusions about the presence or absence, severity, frequency, or incidence of vaccine-related problems and should be interpreted in the context of other scientific information. Currently, the rate of incident reports after vaccination is lower in Taiwan compared to other countries. In the UK for example, the rate of reports per million doses is about 17, whereas in Taiwan its only 2. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. Exclusive: Poll Shows Independent Voters Want Durham to Probe Biden Aide Commentary Reflecting the national medias scant coverage of the Spygate scandal, only three in 10 Americans say theyre aware that a special prosecutor is investigating the origins of the TrumpRussia collusion probe, according to a nationwide survey conducted this month by the TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics (TIPP). But of those who say they know of special counsel John Durhams investigation, most say they want him to get to the bottom of whether the FBI opened investigations into several Trump campaign advisers during the 2016 election without proper predication. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of respondents said they wanted the Justice Department to renew Durhams budget for another fiscal year, the TIPP poll found, and a whopping 81 percent of respondents want the department to release his final report to the public. Attorney General Merrick Garland, an appointee of President Joe Biden, holds the purse strings to Durhams investigation. He also has authority over whether his report will be made public. Americans who know of the Durham investigation have a keen interest in it, said Raghavan Mayur, president of New Jersey-based TIPP. Regardless of party or ideology, the majority of them want the attorney general to continue the investigation and release the report to the public. We found unanimous consent there. A surprisingly high share of Democrats68 percentagreed with Republicans and independents that Durhams budget should be renewed, while 82 percent of Democrats agreed that his report should be released in full. Its very interesting to see Democrats also are very interested in the results of the investigation, Mayur said. Known as a tough, nonpartisan prosecutor, Durham resigned from his post as U.S. attorney for Connecticut earlier in 2021 to lead the special counsels office case full-time. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and the other Democratic senator from Connecticut, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), have both praised Durham as a fierce and fair prosecutor. The so-called Russiagate investigation of Trump and his aides began under the Obama administration. After the Department of Justices inspector general exposed in 2019 FBI abuses of the top-secret FISA surveillance program to spy on at least one Trump aide, former Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham to conduct a criminal probe. Earlier in 2021, the special counsel secured a felony conviction of top FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who doctored an internal email critical to obtaining a FISA warrant to continue spying on former Trump adviser Carter Page. And in September, Durham indicted former top Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann for making a false report to the FBI linking Trump to Russia. Sussmann has denied the charges and is fighting them in court. TIPP asked the subset of survey respondents who said they were aware of Durhams investigation if they think he should also question Hillary Clinton and her former top campaign officialsspecifically, Jake Sullivanas part of his investigation. Sixty percent answered yes to interviewing Clinton, while 58 percent said they wanted to see Sullivan and other Clinton aides questioned before the federal grand jury Durham has impaneled in Washington. Sullivan is now serving in the White House as Bidens national security adviser. His wife, Maggie Goodlander, formerly clerked for Garland when he was a federal judge, posing a potential conflict of interest for the attorney general as he oversees Durhams workparticularly as it relates to Sullivan, whos referenced in the Sussmann indictment. Garland and Goodlander have a close personal relationship. In 2020, they exchanged warm sentiments during an interview conducted by Goodlander, then a law professor at the University of New Hampshire. One of the real joys and benefits of being able to clerk for you was to have an insiders view on how you do your job, Goodlander told Garland. You can ask me as many questions as you want, Mag! Garland said in reply. When asked at his Senate confirmation if he would commit to providing Durham with the time and budget needed to complete his investigation, Garland declined to do so. According to the TIPP poll, 80 percent of Republicans thought Durham should question Clinton as part of his investigation, followed by 74 percent of independents and 44 percent of Democrats. Nearly three-fourths of Republican respondents said Sullivan and other senior Clinton advisers should be interviewed by investigators, and 68 percent of independents agreed. Among Democrats, 46 percent said they wanted to see Sullivan and other Clinton aides questioned. The national survey also asked whether Durham should question former President Barack Obama as part of his investigation. Of the respondents who said they were aware of the special counsels probe, 73 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of independents, and 37 percent of Democrats answered yes to the question. Obama was engaged in the Russiagate investigations progress. During the 2016 campaign, both the FBI and CIA briefed him about it. After the election, he held a high-level White House meeting to discuss investigating Trump and his advisers. In fact, he ordered then-FBI Director James Comey to look at things and put the right people on the case. What about his vice president? Biden attended the high-level January 2017 meeting and even offered the FBI a pretext to investigate retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who Trump had nominated as his national security adviser. The vast majority of Republicans (70 percent) and independents (62 percent) wanted Durham to question Biden about his own role in the investigation of Trump. Democrats are less eager to see the head of their party dragged into the investigation. Only 36 percent said they wanted to see Biden interviewed. Asked if they wanted Durham to question Clinton, Sullivan, Obama, and Biden, the majority of Republicans (58 percent) and independents (51 percent) chose all of them, compared with just 16 percent of Democrats. Overall, 33 percent of respondents said they wanted them all questioned. The data show more grassroots support for Durhams investigation than the media has reported, Mayur said in an interview. It appears to be a matter of great import to Americans, regardless of party affiliation. Americans want to have faith in and respect for the FBI. When there is a smidgen of irregularity, they want it exposed. They likely see a thorough Durham investigation settling the issue and putting closure to questions about the origins of the Russia probe. Mayur, who runs the oft-cited IBD/TIPP poll, has been recognized as Americas most accurate pollster over the past three presidential election cycles. He conducted the Durham investigation survey from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, polling 1,308 American adults. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. FAA Dismisses Claims Weekend Flight Cancellations Were Related to Vaccine Mandates The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the numerous flight cancellations at Southwest Airlines and other airlines over the weekend were not related to vaccine mandates. To be clear: None of the information from Southwest, its pilots union, or the FAA indicates that this weekends cancellations were related to vaccine mandates, the FAA said early Tuesday morning. To be clear: None of the information from Southwest, its pilots union, or the FAA indicates that this weekends cancellations were related to vaccine mandates. https://t.co/G1fLODSIDS The FAA (@FAANews) October 11, 2021 Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,800 flights nationwide over the weekend. The airline announced employees must be vaccinated by Dec. 8. Some pilots had asked a court to block the mandate prior to the cancellations, leading many to speculate there was a connection. ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation. We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected Customers, and Customer Service wait times are longer than usual, the airline said in a Twitter post on Saturday. On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines released an updated statement regarding the weekends cancellations. As we complete efforts to stabilize our network, Southwest expects a more normal operation on Tuesday with approximately 90 system-wide cancellations out of the airlines almost 3,300 flights scheduled for the day, the statement noted. The Southwest Team appreciates the patience of Customers, and we extend our gratitude to our Employees who have worked tirelessly to stabilize our operation, it added. The events also occurred as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, where Southwest Airlines is located, issued an executive order on Monday against enforcing vaccine mandates in the state. The order declared no entity in Texas can require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer. The order called the Biden administrations recent vaccine mandates another instance of federal overreach, and added the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texass continued recovery from the COVID- 19 disaster. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced, Abbott said in a press release. The governor also announced plans for a special session of state lawmakers to vote on a similar law. Texas is not the only state to issue such an order. Florida has already opposed vaccine mandates, while other GOP-led states are considering similar executive orders or legislation. A crowd is seen at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in Ashburn, Va., in a file photograph. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) Father Says Rape of Daughter in School Bathroom Led to Inclusion on School Boards Domestic Terrorism Letter A Virginia father says his daughter was sexually assaulted by a male student at school earlier this year, setting off a series of events that saw his outburst at a school board meeting included in a controversial letter that compared some parents to domestic terrorists. Scott Smiths daughter, 15, is a freshman at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County. On May 28, Smith says, a boy raped her in a bathroom at the school. Smith told The Daily Wire he was called and told there had been a physical altercation. When he arrived, he learned that there had actually been a sexual assault. Smith said he became furious. Loudoun County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene. Smith avoided arrest and he and the familys lawyer say a rape kit and other tests showed a sexual assault had occurred. A spokeswoman for the sheriffs office told The Epoch Times via email she could confirm that an incident on May 28 is still being investigated. No documents can be provided because the case is pending, she said. The same boy allegedly, after transferring to another school, was charged with sexual battery after being accused of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old in Ashburn. The sheriffs office declined to confirm whether its the same male. Juvenile records arent publicly available. Smiths attorney, Elizabeth Lancaster, told the Wire that the boy was charged with multiple counts, including forcible sodomy. Lancaster didnt return a request for comment. Smiths saga continued when he and his wife attended their first school board meeting on June 22, where a discussion on a proposal to protect transgender students was set to be discussed. My wife and I are gay- and lesbian-friendly, Smith told the Wire. Were not into this children transgender stuff. The person that attacked our daughter is apparently bisexual and occasionally wears dresses because he likes them. So this kid is technically not what the school board was fighting about. The point is kids are using it as an advantage to get into the bathrooms. During the meeting, Beth Barts, a school board member, asked if there were assaults happening in bathrooms or locker roomsa key concern for opponents of letting biological males in girls facilities. To my knowledge, we dont have any record of assaults occurring in our restrooms, Superintendent Scott Ziegler said, adding later that the predator transgender student or person simply does not exist. Smith said he was accosted by an activist who insisted his daughter was not assaulted. An officer came over because of the tense situation. Scott Smith and his wife are seen in an undated photograph. (Safe Schools Legal Fund/GoFundMe) The next thing I know, Im getting touched from all over the place. I didnt know who was touching me, who was grabbing me. I turn around, the police are grabbing me and next thing I know, Im tackled to the ground. Im just shocked and horrified, he said on Fox News on Tuesday. The arrest was widely reported and was cited by the National School Boards Association in its recent letter to President Joe Biden urging him to take action to combat incidents the board likened to domestic terrorism. Several days later, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced federal officials would be targeting people who harass, intimidate, or threaten school board members and others who work with or at public schools. A Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email that it is aware of reports concerning the alleged sexual assaults at two high schools in the district and declined to provide details. However, the district said the sheriffs office was contacted within minutes of the earlier assault. Once a matter has been reported to law enforcement, LCPS does not begin its investigation until law enforcement advises LCPS that it has completed the criminal investigation. To maintain the integrity of the criminal investigation, law enforcement requested that LCPS not interview students until their investigation is concluded, the spokesman said. LCPS has cooperated and continues to cooperate with law enforcement. Furthermore, LCPS is prohibited from disciplining any student without following the Title IX grievance process, which includes investigating complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault. LCPS does impose interim measures to protect the safety of students involved in the original incident, deter retaliation, and preserve the integrity of the investigation and resolution process. LCPS has complied and continues to comply with its obligations under Title IX, it added. The district also said that members of the school board were not aware of the assaults until this week. The board approved the transgender-friendly policy in August. Federal Court Blocks Racially Discriminatory Pandemic Relief in Colorado A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Colorado agency from distributing pandemic relief funds based on the color of an applicants skin. Attorney Wen Fa of Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) told The Epoch Times in an interview the day after the ruling: This is a great day for equality. Its a great day for opportunity, and its a great day for the Constitution. Fa previously stated that Colorado cannot use racial preferences to grant COVID-19 relief, as reported by The Epoch Times. Equality before the law is a vital part of the Constitution, and discriminating against individuals based on arbitrary classifications like race is always wrong, he said. Were not challenging that the program gives relief and grants to small businesses. Were challenging the fact that the program provides for a minority-owned business preference in doing so. The temporary restraining order from Denver-based U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez came on late Oct. 12, less than a week after plaintiff Stephen E. Collins, a white man, and his event-planning business, Resort Meeting Source, filed a lawsuit against the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) for what Fa, Collins attorney, previously called a racially discriminatory program. The program gives a preference to minority applicants. The defendant, Patrick Meyers, is being sued in his official capacity as executive director of OEDIT. After acknowledging in the 11-page order that Collins is the Caucasian owner and sole proprietor of Resort Meeting Source, Martinez, an Obama appointee, found based on what he called the admittedly limited record before him that the plaintiffs have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. The Court further finds that the balance of harms and public interest weigh in favor of temporarily restraining Defendant from awarding grants, now scheduled to commence during the week of October 18, 2021, in order to preserve the status quo ante until the Court can consider more fulsome arguments from both parties on the merits, the order reads. This Temporary Restraining Order shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on October 26, 2021, unless extended by the Court for good cause. The recipients of the grants under the states Disproportionately Impacted Business Grant program, which was created to help small businesses, had been scheduled to be announced next week, but Martinezs order immediately restrains Meyers, as well as his agents, employees, successors, and assigns, and all other persons in active concert or participation with him, from awarding the grants for the duration of the restraining order. The program is part of SB 21-001, a measure that Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, signed into law on Jan. 21. According to Collins, a minority-owned business, unlike a non-minority-owned business, automatically qualifies as a disproportionately impacted business regardless of whether it meets any of the other criteria, Martinez wrote. Collinss lawyers at PLF argued that their client was less likely to obtain relief because the program establishes a preference for minority-owned businesses and hes therefore disadvantaged in the process due to his skin color. PLF is a Sacramento, California-based national public interest law firm that describes itself as defending Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. In an interview, Fa said he believed that the court recognized that this program is very likely to be held unconstitutional both by this court and by potentially a higher court because it gives a preference not on the basis of any individual characteristic, but instead imposes a preference based on race. Now, the program, as we allege in our complaint, has already set very strict eligibility requirements, such as a business must lose 20 percent at least of its revenue since March 2020 and must not have received over $20,000 in [Paycheck Protection Program] loans. And our client Steve Collins, he meets all those eligibility criteria. And I would say that any business, any small business that qualifies for the grant has been impacted by COVID. So theres even less of a reason for Colorado to be making these arbitrary racial determinations and discriminating and giving a preference to businesses just because they are minority-owned. UPDATE: After press time on Oct. 13 an OEDIT spokesperson advised The Epoch Times that the agency is contesting the lawsuit. OEDIT provided documents filed with the court indicating that the plaintiffs were awarded the grants they sought and arguing that therefore they lack standing to sue. A pro-life activist holds a sign outside the U.S. Supreme Court during the 48th annual March for Life in Washington on Jan. 29, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Federal Suit Filed Against Connecticut Law That Punishes Pro-Life Speech Attorneys for a Connecticut faith-based pregnancy center are mounting a constitutional challenge to a state law requiring it to provide abortion referrals, claiming the statute violates the First Amendments guarantee of religious freedom and freedom of association, due process, and equal protection. The lawPublic Act No. 21-17proscribes deceptive advertising by limited services pregnancy centers (LSPC) and exclusively empowers the state attorney general to impose monetary fines and require corrective advertising to be paid for by the offending center. Limited services pregnancy centers are those that dont provide abortions or abortion referrals and that offer faith-based counseling, health care, and other services to encourage a pregnant woman not to abort the baby. The Connecticut legislature approved the law in May after it failed to gain passage in 2020 and 2019. State Attorney General William Tong told the legislature in testimony that some limited services pregnancy centers openly acknowledge in their advertising that they do not provide abortions or emergency contraception, and that they believe abortion is wrong. Tong said he supports the right to express a pro-life viewpoint, but there is also the reality of deceptive advertising by other LSPCs. Some LSPCs have misled pregnant women into the false belief that they offer abortion services, emergency contraception, and unbiased counseling. But the Connecticut law goes far beyond merely making clear that a particular center doesnt offer abortion services, according to attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) representing the Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center of Southeastern Connecticut. This law allows the attorney general to prosecute pro-life speech for substantial fines, to bring an action in court and prosecute them, and ultimately the centers would have to pay $1,000 per violation and unlimited attorneys fees, ADF senior counsel Denise Harle told The Epoch Times on Oct. 13. The suit was filed on Oct. 11 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. There is no way to protect yourself because this law allows the attorney general to say, Ive decided that you are deceptive. If you dont correct your speech with the speech of the governments choice, I will take you to court in 10 days and you will be subject to fines and all the fees you use to defend yourself if the judge goes my way,' Harle said. Harle says that while the law doesnt provide a basis for an individual to sue the centers for not providing abortion referrals or services, it does allow anyone to complain to the attorney general and he can then immediately launch an investigation and prosecution. So it opens it up for any citizen in the state who is opposed to pro-life views and is hostile to that viewpoint to say that a pregnancy center did something wrong. And thats exactly the point, because this law is targeting pro-life speech. In testimony earlier this year, Tong pointed out that the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding a San Francisco ordinance that he said the Connecticut law closely tracks. But the ADF said in a statement that it previously reached a successful settlement in a similar Connecticut case when the city of Hartford agreed that a faith-based pregnancy center isnt subject to a law that would have forced the center to post materials that undermine its life-affirming message. Harle also said, The Supreme Court has made it clear that the government cant target certain messages because it doesnt like a particular viewpoint. Care Net should have the freedom to continue serving women in southeastern Connecticut without government censorship. In its filing, the center argued that as a nonprofit, it is an expressive association because people with likeminded beliefs, including those on staff and volunteers in its organization, are joining together to assist and serve women in the Connecticut area and to express their religious beliefs about Gods creation of life, sexuality, pregnancy, and motherhood. The volunteers and staff at Care Net advocate the position that women deserve dignity, respect, and truth when seeking information and counsel about their pregnancy or a potential pregnancy. Forcing Care Net to make curative statements would undermine its ability to advocate that position and cause it to reconsider its operations going forward, the filing stated. Subjecting Care Net to the Acts vague and over-broad Speech Regulation would also undermine its ability to advocate its beliefs-based position and its free association with women it seeks to associate with. The suit asked the court to declare the Connecticut law unconstitutional because it violates the First and 14th Amendments. Former Connecticut Teacher of the Year Could Be Fired for Refusing Vaccine or Testing A teacher who had been awarded as teacher of the year could lose his job after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or submit to coronavirus testing. Kahseim Outlaw, a physical education teacher at Lyman High School in Wallingford, Connecticut, said during an interview on The Donlon Report he is on unpaid leave for not adhering to the school districts policy. Im a personal advocate, a big advocate, for personal health and the choices that we make with our medicine and with our medical procedures and therefore I believe its my own choice on how to maintain that and how to manage it, Outlaw said during the interview. He also noted that he tested positive for COVID-19 last year and believes he has natural immunity or antibodies, though he has not been tested. Outlaw describes himself as an Enthusiastic Physical Education & Health Instructor, Passionate Husband & Father, Spiritual Seeker, Lifelong Learner on Twitter. The teachers fate has not yet been announced, though he has been excluded from teaching on campus. Outlaw confirmed in a written response to The Epoch Times that he is on unpaid leave until the board votes on whatever decision the superintendent proposes to them. It is my personal belief that how we manage our individual health, and the way in which we access medicine and medical procedures is a matter of personal choice. This is a belief that Im willing to champion as long as Im alive. Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, announced an executive order (pdf) in August that all state employees, childcare, and school staff would be required to receive a vaccine for the coronavirus or face testing on a weekly basis. Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective means of preventing infection and subsequent transmission, Lamont said in a statement. Our dedicated state employees must work together to ensure a safe work environment for one another and can do so by getting vaccinated, he added. The governor also emphasized the requirement in order to keep public schools open. Ensuring all of our educators, including early childhood educators, and school staff are vaccinated will keep students in the classroom and keep childcare open for families. Getting vaccinated keeps yourself safe, keeps your community safe, and will help beat back the ongoing spread of this virus, Lamont said. The governor has also extended masking in an executive order in September to provide the authority to require masks in schools, childcare facilities, and certain higher-risk settings, as well as providing municipal authority to require universal masking in certain settings. The legal group JD Supra commented on the Connecticut order that the rules indicate if a covered worker refuses to receive weekly testing, that worker must not be allowed on school premises, and that any further consequences for a covered workers refusal to receive weekly testing are to be determined by the school board, to the extent permissible by law and any collective bargaining agreements, etc.' The Connecticut teacher now awaits the ruling of the school board regarding his decision. Outlaw did not immediately respond to a request for a statement on the situation. Police wear masks as they stand guard outside the No. 2 Intermediate People's Court where human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang was being sentenced in Beijing on Dec. 22, 2015. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Former Deputy Director of Chinas Gestapo-Like 610 Office Charged for Corruption Peng Bo, who once worked for a secretive agency that has carried out decades of atrocities as an arm of the Chinese Communist Party, has been charged with corruption. Chinas top procuratorate, the state prosecutor for the communist regime, announced the charges against Peng on Oct. 11. However, the announcement didnt mention the human rights violations he might have committed while acting as deputy director of the extralegal 610 Office. The state prosecutor said Peng was charged for crimes of illegally accepting large amounts of bribery and censoring the internet for the benefit of certain companies. These crimes were committed over the course of his long political career since 2006, during which he also held several different positions in Chinas cyberspace sector, including deputy director of Chinas internet regulator Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). Peng was a CAC deputy director from 2012 to 2015. Then he took the position of deputy director of the 610 Office and was a team leader in managing cyber public opinion in the communist regimes top legal body, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. His political career appeared to end in 2018. That year, he began working as a professor at his alma mater, Peking University. Peng was placed under Party investigation in March before he was stripped of his Party membership five months later. The 610 Office, named after the date of its founding, was established on June 10, 1999, by former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin for the purpose of implementing the Chinese regimes persecution of Falun Gong. The office would go on to function in a manner akin to Nazi Germanys Gestapo, with powers overriding Chinas courts and police. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice with meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The practice became very popular by 1999, with official estimates putting the number of adherents in China between 70 million and 100 million. Jiang, who saw the practices popularity as a threat to the survival of the communist regime, launched on July 20, 1999, a nationwide campaign to persecute Falun Gong adherents. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities in China, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. The 610 Office has been directly responsible for many cases of torture and death, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the regimes persecution of Falun Gong. For example, in December 2004, Chen Xiuchong, who was 74 and living in southern Chinas Xiamen city, was beaten to death in her home by officials from the local 610 Office, according to Minghui. In 2016, Minghui documented how the regional 610 Office in Dehui, Jilin Province, was subjecting local Falun Gong adherents to brainwashing sessions in an effort to force them to renounce their beliefs. One former 610 Office official has been placed under U.S. sanctions. In May, Yu Hui, who once headed the regional 610 Office in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, was sanctioned by the State Department for his role in gross violations of human rights, namely the arbitrary detention of Falun Gong practitioners for their spiritual beliefs. Peng is the second official from the 610 Office purged by the Chinese regime this month. Fu Zhenghua, former head of the 610 Office and former Chinese justice minister, was placed under investigation on Oct. 2. The Partys organ for policing corruption, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, hinted that the investigation was related to corruption crimes, but it didnt say whether the commission was also looking at Fus possible involvement in human rights violations. The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, a U.S.-based nonprofit, has named Fu as a perpetrator of crimes against Falun Gong adherents. Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) corporate paperwork is seen outside the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne Tuesday, April 28, 2015. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) Former Somyurek Staffer to Front Anti-Corruption Inquiry A former staffer to disgraced Labor party powerbroker Adem Somyurek is set to appear before a Victorian anti-corruption inquiry. Adam Sullivan will give evidence at the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) inquiry into allegations of branch stacking by Labor MPs and their staff on Wednesday. Sullivan worked for Somyurek and his allies in Labors moderate factionfederal member for Holt MP Anthony Byrne and state MP for Kororoit Marlene Kairouz. Adem Somyurek is seen outside his home in Melbourne, Australia, on June 16, 2020. AAP Image/Daniel Pockett) Byrne has admitted to paying for other peoples Labor party memberships as part of a well-entrenched model of branch stacking led by Somyurek. The memberships helped the faction gain influence in Melbournes southeast and to ensure their preferred candidates were preselected. The practice is not illegal in Australia but is against Labor party rules. IBAC is investigating whether public funds were used for such work. Somyureks former executive assistant Ellen Schreiber told the inquiry on Tuesday that she did factional work during office hours. Federal Labor Member for Cunningham Anthony Byrne during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on May 25, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Schrieber said she had not been asked to do so when she first joined the office in January 2019. However, between June and July of that year 80 per cent of her time involved dealing with ALP memberships and factional work. This included attending internal Labor Party meetings that approved party memberships, along with Mr Sullivan and another man named Oscar Goodwin. The trio were responsible for assessing applications in Melbournes west, north and southeast. Schrieber left the office in August 2019 to work for Byrne, who blew the whistle on Somyureks behaviour. Byrne told the inquiry on Tuesday that he was aware of branch stacking in other factions, including Premier Daniel Andrews socialist left in Melbournes southeast. The premier told reporters outside parliament on Tuesday he had not attended factional meetings since he became Victorian Labor leader in 2010 and had always followed party rules. In this courtroom sketch Diana Toebbe appears for her first court hearing on charges that she and her husband, former U.S. Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe at a courthouse in Martinsburg, W. Va., on Oct. 12, 2021. (Bill Hennessey/Reuters) Former US Navy Engineer, Wife Face Judge in Submarine Espionage Case WASHINGTONA former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer and his wife on Tuesday faced their first court hearing on charges they attempted to sell secrets about nuclear submarines to a foreign power in exchange for cryptocurrency. Wearing orange prison jumpsuits, they briefly appeared at a federal courthouse in Martinsburg, West Virginia, for a formal reading of the criminal charges against them. They have not yet been asked to enter a plea to the charges. Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, Diana, were arrested on Saturday in Jefferson County, West Virginia, following a yearlong sting operation by undercover FBI agents, the Justice Department said in a statement. Toebbe, 42, a nuclear engineer with top-secret security clearance, is accused of sending Navy documents to an unnamed foreign entity in 2020, along with instructions for how to obtain additional information. In this courtroom sketch former U.S. Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe appears for his first court hearing at a courthouse in Martinsburg, W. Va., on Oct. 12, 2021. (Bill Hennessey/Reuters) The Toebbes did not speak other than to briefly answer the judges questions, indicating they understood their rights. The Justice Department did not name the country involved. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Trumble scheduled a court hearing for Friday on the Justice Departments request that the Toebbes be jailed while they await trial. The Toebbes will remain in jail while they await Fridays hearing. No lawyer was present for the couple at Tuesdays initial 15-minute court appearance. The judge told them they qualify for court-appointed legal counsel. Toebbe, with the aid of his 45-year-old wife, allegedly sold secrets to an undercover FBI agent posing as a foreign official over the course of several months, the Justice Department said. At one point, Toebbe hid a digital memory card containing documents about submarine nuclear reactors in half a peanut butter sandwich at a dead drop location in West Virginia while his wife acted as lookout, the Justice Department said. The memory card contained militarily sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarine reactors, according to a federal court affidavit. Another memory card was concealed in a chewing gum package, the Justice Department said. Toebbe received separate cryptocurrency payments totaling $100,000, according to the Justice Department. Officials said Toebbe and his wife, who are from Annapolis, Maryland, were arrested after placing another memory card at a drop site in West Virginia. They were charged with conspiracy and communication of restricted data, according to a criminal complaint. By Jan Wolfe France's Minister of Defense Florence Parly speaks during a press briefing at Karlberg Castle in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sept. 24, 2021. (Claudio Bresciani/TT News Agency via Reuters) French Soldier Dies in a Maintenance Accident in Mali, Minister Says PARISA French soldier died in Mali on Tuesday in a maintenance accident, Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly said on Wednesday. The military said in a statement the serviceman died after the truck cabin fell while he was working on the vehicles engine. It also said it was investigating the precise causes of the accident. The soldier, aged 29, was a mechanic specialist for the army. A French serviceman was killed last month in a clash with an armed militant group in Mali. More than 50 French soldiers have died in the region since Paris deployed a counter-terrorism force in 2013 to drive back Islamist militant groups that had seized cities and towns in northern Mali. By Nicolas Delame, Matthieu Protard, and Myriam Rivet A California-legal AR-15 style rifle is displayed for sale at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif., on June 5, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Gov. Newsom Signs Passel of Gun-Control Bills Commentary Gov. Gavin Newsom late last week signed into law seven new gun-related bills. In sum, they make Californias gun laws, already the strictest in the nation, even more strict. Senate Bill 264 is by state Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine). It bans gun shows at the Orange County Fair and Event Center. Newsoms press office explained, Gun violence prevention experts warn that gun shows can create a venue to circumvent gun safety laws. No citations were given. In fact, according to a 2019 study (pdf) by the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice, Among prisoners who possessed a firearm during their offense, 0.8% obtained it at a gun show. And gun shows are already highly regulated in California. Critics say SB 264 will kill about $1 million worth of business and the associated jobs. People still will be able to buy guns at other gun shows, at stores, or in other states. Criminals will still be able to get them on the black market. Assembly Bill 1191 is by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). It requires the Department of Justice to analyze crime gun data for patterns of illegal possession and trafficking. This actually would be useful to dispel myths of gun use and abuse. The five remaining bills concern domestic violence and guns. Two make technical or minor changes to existing domestic violence laws: Assembly Bill 673 is by Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield). And Senate Bill 320 is by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton). Assembly Bill 887 is by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin County). It allows domestic violence victims to file restraining orders online against alleged perpetrators. Senate Bill 538 is by state Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park). By July 2, 2022, it requires a court or court facility that receives petitions for domestic violence restraining orders or gun violence restraining orders to permit those petitions to be filed electronically. Opponents say these two bills violate the Fourteenth Amendment right to due process of law. As the SEIU union said of SB 538, Unfortunately, our experience with remote proceedings and appearances during the pandemic has proven that with existing technology, our court reporters ability to do their very jobs is all but impossible. Assembly Bill 1057 is by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach). It concerns so-called ghost guns, which can be made or assembled at home, including with parts from 3D printers. According to the Assembly summary, Includes in the definition of firearm a frame, receiver, or precursor part for the purpose of surrender or seizure pursuant to a Gun Violence Restraining Order and a domestic violence restraining order. There was no opposition registered to AB 1057. But how does one define precursor part? What if a pipe for another purpose is labeled a gun barrel, even if it isnt? Can anyone with plumbing be arrested? The Supreme Court and California Gun Laws The new laws come as the U.S. Supreme Court may take up previous California gun-control restrictions. In June, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez threw out the states strict assault weapons ban, the RobertiRoos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989. Benitez ruled: This case is not about extraordinary weapons lying at the outer limits of Second Amendment protection. The banned assault weapons are not bazookas, howitzers, or machine guns. Those arms are dangerous and solely useful for military purposes. Instead, the firearms deemed assault weapons are fairly ordinary, popular, modern . This is an average case about average guns used in average ways for average purposes. One is to be forgiven if one is persuaded by news media and others that the nation is awash with murderous AR-15 assault rifles. The facts, however, do not support this hyperbole, and facts matter. In June the Benitez ruling in the case, Miller v. Bonta, was stayed by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the Heller decision, affirmed a personal right to keep and bear arms. That is, its not just for militias. California gun-controllers like to say theres no similar guarantee in the California Constitution. Except that document stipulates in Article III, Section 1: The State of California is an inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution includes the Second Amendment. Columnist Dan Walters noted, The previous rulings [by Benitez in other gun cases] are making their way through the appellate process and the latest case is headed there as a precursor to a probable showdown in the Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority with recent appointments by former President Donald Trump. The court is unpredictable. The decisions, if there are any, would come as murders jumped 30 percent across the country in 2020. No wonder gun sales soared to 39.7 million nationally that year. Thats on top of an estimated 400 million guns already owned by Americans, more than the population. The conservatives on the court, at least, are well aware of the need for honest, law-abiding citizens to arm themselves against criminals. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) House Votes to Extend Debt Limit Through December Biden Expected to Sign Measure The House of Representatives voted late Tuesday to extend the federal debt ceiling through early December, sending the bill to President Joe Bidens desk. Biden is expected to sign the legislation, which was approved 219206 along a party-line vote. The bill would increase the debt limit by $480 billion until Dec. 3, lifting it from $28.4 trillion. The move would temporarily avert a government default that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned would cause irreparable harm to the economy. The default was forecasted to happen by around Oct. 18, after which the Treasury Department would be unable to meet the governments financial obligations. The Senate passed the bill last week on a party-line vote of 5048, coming after 11 Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), joined Democrats to end a filibuster that required 60 votes. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) looks at the final version of the bill to increase the debt limit as the House Rules Committee meets at the Capitol in Washington, on Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) With the debt ceiling pressure warded off for now, lawmakers continue to debate over two Democrat spending billsa $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan with nearly $550 billion in new spending, and a $3.5 trillion effort that includes home health care and child care, education, safety net programs, and the environment. Both bills accord with the priorities in Bidens jobs and families plans. Congress will have to revisit the debt ceiling issue in December to avoid a government default. McConnell told Biden on Oct. 8 that Republicans wont help Democrats raise the debt limit again. I am writing to make it clear that in light of Senator Schumers hysterics and my grave concerns about the ways that another vast, reckless, partisan spending bill would hurt Americans and help China, I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement, he told Biden. He said that Democrats would have to use the reconciliation process to pass such a bill through the upper chamber. The reconciliation process would allow the Senate to pass a budget package by a simple majority instead of the 60 votes typically required. The 51-vote threshold can be achieved without any Republican votes in the 5050 split upper chamber because Vice President Kamala Harris, who holds the role of Senate president, can give Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote. However, a single Democrat senator could ruin efforts by defecting, and Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) are not on board with the larger bill. The state of Sinaloa in Mexico. (Google Maps/Screenshot via NTD) Hurricane Pamela Strengthens as It Barrels Toward Mexicos Bread Basket MONTERREY, MexicoHurricane Pamela gathered strength on Tuesday as it barreled toward Mexicos western coast, with the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicting it will strengthen further before crashing into the fertile farm state of Sinaloa. Sinaloa is the countrys top grower of corn, Mexicos staple grain, as well as a major producer of tomatoes and other fruits that figure prominently in the countrys agricultural exports to the United States. The Category 1 hurricane was located about 280 miles (450 km) south of the major Sinaloa beach resort of Mazatlan, the latest NHC advisory showed. Pamela packed maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour (130 kph) early Tuesday morning, the NHC said, with the center forecasting steady to rapid strengthening before reaching land at almost major hurricane strength early on Wednesday. Pamela is expected to drench Sinaloa, which in recent months has been hit by dry weather seen potentially hitting agricultural production. A tropical storm watch extends from the fishing village of Los Barriles on the Sea of Cortes side of Mexicos Baja peninsula down to the southern tip at Cabo San Lucas. But Pamelas fury is seen mostly targeting Mexicos southwest mainland, with large and destructive waves near the coast and rainfall of between 4 and 12 inches (10 and 30 cm) seen hitting both Sinaloa and the neighboring state of Durango. The hurricane was churning northward at about 13 miles per hour (21 kph) early Tuesday. This rainfall may trigger significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, the NHC added. Last year, Sinaloa alone produced more than 380,000 tonnes of tomatoes, or nearly a fifth of national output and overwhelmingly destined for export, according to government data. By Laura Gottesdiener and David Alire Garcia A person takes in the work of artist Richard Bell at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art Australia) in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Is It Really Freedom Day? Commentary The message from the elitesthe political class and the mainstream mediacould have come from the Ministry of Truth in George Orwells 1984. This is the celebrated novel about the future when the world is governed by three evil dictatorships based on the communist and fascist models which emerged in the 20th century. The message from our elites was to rejoice what mainstream media named Freedom Day on Oct. 11, which would see a batch of new freedoms released from under heavy government-mandated health restrictions. But it was hardly a day in which freedom was being restored in Australias most populous state, New South Wales (NSW). The lives of its people are still being minutely regulated in a way not known in democratic societies under the rule of law. It was still as if NSW were one of those long gone Soviet-controlled East European communist republics. The rules, made without reference to Parliament and without the regularity of the process required by submission to the Governor in the Executive Councilnormal even in colonial days and even in wartimewere without doubt beyond the power authorised under the public health legislation. People take in the harbour view at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) There will in due course be the subject of a multiplicity of legal actions claiming serious misfeasance in public office. Many of these could succeed. They will involve the award of massive damages to those whose businesses, careers, education, health, and lives have been damaged or destroyed by the politicians. But those politicians involved will not be paying. Most will be retired and living on taxpayer-funded superannuation. On past indications, many will be raking in a fortune in consultancies and appointments, even those from entities with links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In the meantime, the so-called Freedom Day in NSW has divided its people into three classes. At the top, there are the power elites, especially the politicians who have suffered little except for an increase in their incomes, privileges, and power, which seems out of control. Then in the middle are those who are fully vaccinated who will have a few crumbs tossed to them by the politicians. They will be allowed to have haircuts and go to cafes, provided they prove they are obedient to the rules set down by those above. Then there will be those at the bottom of society, the unvaccinated, who are being blamedin some quartersfor spreading the virus. Australian state governments have imposed measures which could never have any effect in restricting the spread of the virus. For example, the NSW governments decision to close down the construction industry at massive cost and without medical advice (not that we will ever be allowed to see such advice). How could Oct. 11 then be a Freedom Day? To a proud Australian, aware of what our predecessors did in building this country and in fighting for it and in too many instances dying for it, Oct. 11 should be a day of shame and indeed, infamy. There was never, and there is now, absolutely no justification in overriding democratic rights for the sake of health restrictions. It was obvious soon after closing the international borders that the CCP virus was serious but unlike earlier pandemics, such as poliomyelitis, striking the elderly and the already sick. The death rates for a remote island nation were always going to be less than the worst flu epidemics. The federal government decided to form the misnamed National Cabinet that allowed the prime minister to underwrite the decisions of state leaders and to avoid exercising powers available to the federal government under the Constitution. Patrons return to the MCA Cafe (Museum of Contemporary Art Australia) in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) At its formation, the National Cabinet ignored what was then the worlds best practice in handling the pandemic as demonstrated by Taiwan, where schools and businesses remained open as usual. Instead, the National Cabinet shockingly adopted the Beijing communist model, the lockdown, while rejecting the more democratic model of dealing with health crises. This is no doubt a reflection of the inordinate influence the CCP has over the Australian political class, like too many in the West, they followed Beijing-style lockdowns which have little regard for the fundamental rights of individuals and punishes small business. On Oct. 11, we should not be giving thanks to our great leaders for the fact that the death rate from the CCP virus in Australia is lower than in most other countries. This is obviously because we are a remote island nation, one far more easily defended than most. Nor should we be giving them thanks for politicians forsaking worlds best practice exemplified by an island which Beijing regards as a rebellious and renegade province. Taiwan was also denied the possibility of informing the world of their experience after being unseated from the World Health Organisation at the insistence of Comrade Xi Jinping, who helped establish the standard in how to deal with victims of the CCP virus, including restrictions such as sealing people in their apartments. Ultimately, it is unacceptable that political leaders establish expanding control over our lives, nor should this be allowed to continue. We must never forget the warning by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didnt pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. St. Peter's Italian Church on the edge of Chinatown in Los Angeles was vandalized, on Oct. 11, 2021. (Hayley Smith/Los Angeles Times/TNS) Italian Church on Edge of LAs Chinatown Vandalized With Anti-Colonization Graffiti LOS ANGELESThe delicate, gold-specked mosaic that hangs above the entrance to St. Peters Italian Catholic Church on the edge of Chinatown was marred with bright red paint Monday morning in an apparent act of vandalism, officials said. A small crowd had gathered at the building by noon, where detectives investigating the scene said it appeared to be linked to the days holidays, which include Indigenous Peoples Day and the former Columbus Day. A fallen banner on the churchs front steps read, STOP COLONIZING OUR LAND, while graffiti on the sidewalk spelled out phrases including Land Back, USA and Stolen Land. Explosions of red paint dotted the steps, doors, and walls of the church on North Broadway, which was established in 1904 and holds Masses in English, Spanish and Italian. Arturo Martinez said he first spotted the red paint around 8:15 a.m. on his way into his daughters nearby clothing shop. He believed it happened sometime after 6 a.m. because a neighbor did not see signs of vandalism earlier. I think its all related to Columbus Day, Martinez said, noting that St. Peters is an Italian church. We know the history of Columbus, so they have taken a direct hit to Italy and what Columbus represents. Columbus was Italian, but his famous voyages were sponsored by Spain. The Los Angeles City Council and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in 2017 voted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition of the harms and injustices suffered by Americas native people at the hands of Christopher Columbus and other colonial settlers. This gesture of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day is a very small step in apologizing and in making amends, councilman Mike Bonin said at the time. On Monday, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced plans to rename Father Serra Park in downtown Los Angeles one of several policy initiatives intended to right historical wrongs and rectify the citys relationship with its Indigenous people. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been working closely with several of L.A.s Indigenous communities to acknowledge the churchs role in the colonization of California and to heal the wounds of the past through dialogue and understanding, spokeswoman Carolina Guevara said. St. Peters Italian Church on the edge of Chinatown in Los Angeles was vandalized, on Oct. 11, 2021. (Hayley Smith/Los Angeles Times/TNS) As a community of faith, we offer our prayers for those who felt compelled to express their concerns in this way, Guevara said. We also pray for the parish community as they work to clean up the damage. Church officials noted that it was too soon to link the vandalism to any group or person. Officer Jeff Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department said no suspects had yet been identified. Last year, the 250-year-old San Gabriel Mission was gutted by an arsonist, although the suspects motive was unclear. Martinez said he could not recall other acts of such vandalism in the neighborhood. Theres a right way to make a protest, and this is not it, obviously, he added. 2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Italian Church Vandalized in Downtown LA St. Peters Italian Catholic Church in the Chinatown neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles was vandalized Oct. 11, likely related to Indigenous Peoples (Columbus) Day. The incident occurred Monday morning while priests and church staff were praying inside, according to the Los Angeles Police Dept. According to officials, the suspect threw red paint on the front windows and doors of the church, which was built in 1904. Additionally, authorities said the suspect attempted to break into the church but failed. The church was sprayed with red and black graffiti, including the phrase LAND BACK. Additionally, a banner that read: STOP COLONIZING OUR LAND was left at the churchs front steps. Father Fernando Cuevas, who only recently joined the parish as a pastor, said he would pray and forgive whoever was involved in the incident. We pray for all the people who suffer discrimination and isolation, so that they can find peace in their hearts, and we can live in harmony and peace, Cuevas said. We forgive and look forward to having the strength to do Gods will. The National Italian American Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., condemned the vandalism and pledged $5,000 for its restoration. The foundation recognizes Columbus Day as an important and historic holiday for Italian Americans, the 5th largest ethnic group in the US. When Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937 it provided a sense of dignity in light of the hostility and discrimination many Italian immigrants & Italian Americans faced, the organization posted on Twitter on Monday. Columbus Day was first celebrated by Italian Americans to honor Christopher Columbuss spirit of exploration. The date was meant to celebrate the anniversary of Columbuss arrival in America. In 2017, the Los Angeles City Council voted 14-1 to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day to commemorate indigenous people and Native Americans. Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, is an Italian American and was the only councilmember to vote no. Yesterday, Buscaino condemned the vandalism and said he hoped those who committed these acts to a sacred place of worship will be found and prosecuted. [Columbus Day] should be about celebrating our diversity and contributions to society, without the need for hatred or violence. We all need to work together, not breed division and hate with one another, Busciano wrote on Facebook on Monday. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) listens during the opening hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the attack on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 27, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Jan. 6 House Panel Could Advance Criminal Contempt Charges if Subpoenas Ignored: Rep. Cheney The special House of Representatives panel investigating the U.S. Capitol breach will move criminal contempt charges against those who do not comply with its subpoenas, one of its Republican members warned on Tuesday. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), a Trump critic and the panels vice chair, told reporters at the U.S. Capitol that those subpoenaed will have the opportunity to cooperate, but if they do not, the committee will enforce its subpoenas. Late last month, the House panel, formally known as the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, subpoenaed four members of former President Donald Trumps administration. A round of subpoenas for documents and testimony were issued to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former White House deputy chief of staff for communications Daniel Scavino, former Defense Department official Kashyap Patel, and former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon on Sept. 23. In general, people are going to have to appear, or, you know, we will move contempt charges against them, Cheney said. She said the entire committee was in agreement on that point. Cheney said the committee expected to have depositions from Meadows and Patel later this week. Well see if they show up. If they show up, well be prepared, she said. In issuing the subpoenas late last month, Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in a statement that the four have close ties to the former president and were working in or had communications with the White House, on or in the days leading up to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building. The Select Committee is investigating the facts, circumstances, and causes of the January 6th attack and issues relating to the peaceful transfer of power, to identify and evaluate lessons learned and to recommend corrective laws, policies, procedures rules, or regulations, the Democratic congressman from Mississippi wrote at the time, highlighting the Jan. 6 committees authority established by House Resolution 503. Bannon, Meadows, Scavino, and Patel were asked to appear for a deposition in mid-October. According to the Justice Department, more than 570 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 U.S. states for crimes related to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 170 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. No one who participated in the breach has been charged with insurrection. Reuters contributed to this report. John Durham Given 1,000 Intelligence Documents: Former Director of National Intelligence Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe says he provided special counsel John Durham about 1,000 intelligence documents in Durhams probe of the origins of the Russia collusion probe that may support additional charges after lawyer Michael Sussmanns arrest last month. Sussmanns is the first of what I would hope would be a number of additional people who are charged in the probe, Ratcliffe told Fox News on Oct. 10. I provided not just those declassified documents, but I provided 1,000 intelligence community documents that I think support additional charges that I would expect John Durham to bring. Then-Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham, the then-U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, to investigate the origins of the investigation into whether Trumps 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. Sussmann was the second person to be charged in the investigation, coming about a year after former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith was convicted, although he avoided prison time. In 2020, Ratcliffe announced that he handed over hundreds of pages of materials to the Department of Justice to aid Durhams investigation. I will continue to ensure the Intelligence Communitys responsiveness to the DOJs requests, Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman, said at the time. We also look forward to supporting the DOJ in further declassifications consistent with their investigation. As the President has made clear, we must be appropriately transparent with the American people and give them the confidence that the extraordinary work of Intelligence professionals is never misused or politicized. In mid-September, Sussmann pleaded not guilty after he was charged with allegedly lying to the FBI when trying to present information that would damage then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. Sussmann had worked with the high-powered Perkins Coie law firm that had represented the Democratic National Committee. Before that, a Durham-empaneled grand jury indicted Sussmann over his September 2016 meeting with then-FBI general counsel James Baker, who is now employed by Twitter. He passed along an allegation that there were secret communications between the Trump Organization and a Russian bank. Sussmann stated falsely that he was not doing his work on the aforementioned allegations for any client, which led the FBI General Counsel to understand that Sussmann was acting as a good citizen merely passing along information, not as a paid advocate or political operative, the indictment against Sussmann read. The alleged false statement to the FBI was intentionally false and misleading because, in assembling and conveying these allegations, Sussmann acted on behalf of specific clients, namely, a U.S. technology industry executive at a U.S. internet company, and the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign, it read. A United Airlines Boeing 737 plane is seen at the gate at Washington's Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va.,, on March 2, 2021. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images) Judge Orders United Airlines Not to Put Workers Seeking Vaccine Mandate Exception on Leave A federal judge on Tuesday ordered United Airlines not to place workers seeking an exemption to the companys COVID-19 vaccine mandate on unpaid leave. The temporary ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman so workers who filed for an exemption arent unduly harmed before he can hear oral arguments in the case. Six United workers sued the company last month over its plans to put on leave any employees who requested religious or medical exemptions. The suit said the employees were effectively told theyd be terminated if they sought exemptions and alleged that the company was violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. Uniteds actions have left Plaintiffs with the impossible choice of either taking the COVID-19 vaccine, at the expense of their religious beliefs and their health, or losing their livelihoods. In doing so, United has violated Title VII and the ADA by failing to engage in the interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations, and also by retaliating against employees who engaged in protected activity, the suit states. United and the plaintiffs reached an agreement that the company would not place exempted employees on leave during a Sept. 24 hearing, Pittman said, obviating the need for an immediate ruling. He planned to hear arguments on a motion for a preliminary injunction on Oct. 8 but United the day before the hearing filed a partial motion to dismiss, alleging the court lacked jurisdiction over some of the claims. The hearing was reset to Oct. 13. Ahead of the arguments, Pittman said he concluded it was necessary to issue a temporary restraining order that is effective through Oct. 31. Absent entry of the order, the parties stipulation will expire before the Court can rule on whether a preliminary injunction is warranted, the Trump nominee wrote. If the parties stipulation were to expire without temporary injunctive relief in place, nothing would prevent hundreds of workers from ostensibly either: (1) being compelled to take a vaccination in violation of their religious beliefs or medical restrictions, or (2) being placed on indefinite unpaid leave by United, he added. United said earlier this month that 320 workers in the United States, or 0.5 percent of the U.S. workforce, were not in compliance with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. United told news outlets after Pittmans order that vaccine requirements work and nearly all of Uniteds U.S. employees have chosen to get a shot. For a number of our employees who were approved for an accommodation, were working to put options in place that reduce the risk to their health and safety, including new testing regimens, temporary job reassignments, and masking protocols, the airline said. Mark Paoletta, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told The Epoch Times in an email that Uniteds refusal to provide reasonable accommodations to its vaccine mandate violates the federal civil rights protections of our clients, the hard working men and women at United, adding, We look forward to our clients rights being permanently protected. During his campaign for governor of California, Larry Elder was constantly attacked by the left-wing media. The L.A. Times labeled Larry the Black Face of White Supremacy. When Larry called it out in an interview with The L.A. Times, they were speechless. Later, Larry was attacked by a woman wearing a gorilla mask during a visit to Venice Beach. The L.A. Times published an article with the title LAPD is investigating altercation involving Larry Elder at Venice homeless encampment with a misleading photo, making it look like Larry was slapping a woman. After receiving criticism, The L.A. Times changed the photo. Larry also talks about why the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom failed, how the left-wing media treated him, how they tried to frame him by asking his opinion on the 2020 election result and abortion, and how Newsom got endorsements from left-wing politicians. Follow EpochTV on Facebook and Twitter The Larry Elder News Show is available on YouTube, Youmaker, and EpochTV. It also airs on cable on NTD America. Find out where you can watch us on TV. Legal Outrage After Western Australia Law Designed To Block $30 Billion Lawsuit Upheld The High Court of Australia has ruled in favour of a Western Australia (WA) law that specifically prevents mining billionaire, Clive Palmer, from suing the state, sparking anger from legal experts. Palmers Mineralogy company had pursued WA for around $30 billion in damages over a 2012 mining dispute. However, due to concerns of overwhelming financial harm, the WA government took two days to enact the Mineralogy Actan unprecedented legislation that effectively terminated any damages Palmer sought, prompting Palmer to escalate the matter to the High Court. Emeritus professor of law at the University of Queensland, Gabriel Moens, said the outcome went against the fundamental rules of law. Its an abuse of legislative powertheres no doubt about that, Moens told The Epoch Times on Oct. 13. If the government or a parliament adopts a law, a law must be generally applicablebut not used for the purpose of punishing or penalizing a particular person. In this instance, WA Attorney-General John Quigley had himself admitted the legislation was unprecedented, but had defended the move due to the exceptional circumstance. But Moens said the High Courts verdict effectively enshrined the power of the WA government at the cost of citizens. The High Court, in upholding the legislation, is basically upholding the absolute sovereignty of the WA parliament, even in circumstances where a particular citizen has been targeted by the legislation, Moens said. WA Premier Mark McGowan took to social media to celebrate the ruling. This is a monumental victory for all Western Australians, McGowan said in a Facebook post. This legislationnow upheld by the highest court in the countryhas terminated Mineralogys claim for damages against WA. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan addresses the media at a press conference at Dumas House in Perth, Australia, on Apr. 27, 2021. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) McGowan had previously told reporters that the outcome would have left WA bankrupt. The potential financial consequences could be dire, absolutely dire, Mr McGowan said. A payment to the tune of $30 billion would cripple, cripple the state we had no choice but to take this course of action to protect every West Australian. Quigley outlined the costs would exceed those in the states coffers. To put that in context, the total net debt of the state of Western Australia is in the order of $35 billion to $40 billion, and the budget of the state of Western Australia is approximately $30 billion, Quigley said. If the cost of Mr Palmers claim was shared equally amongst all Western Australians, it would cost every man, woman, child and baby in Western Australia more than $12,000. However, Palmer argued against the ability of the WA government to formulate laws that prevents citizens from challenging the state. They brought in this act of Parliament which is unconstitutional, mainly as a punishment, because I was taking a point of law to the court, Palmer told 6PR radio. You cant do that. You cant attack your opponent and your litigant just to try to stop them from exercising their normal rights. This is not the first legal challenge between the two figures, with Palmer previously challenging the McGowan government for closing the states borders on two occasions. While one has been dismissed, Palmer is currently challenging WA over a border policy that only allows vaccinated to cross. A stone bust of Montesquieu by French sculptor Felix Lecomte (1737-1817) hidden under the foliage of the square Honore-Champion in Paris. (Jebulon via Wikimedia Commons/CC0 1.0) Machiavellian Necessities and the Fragility of Liberty Commentary In the introduction to their translation of Niccolo Machiavellis Discourses on Livy, Harvey Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov make a profound observation about Machiavellis political wisdom. He tries to show, they write, that to understand political situations correctly, one must not listen to the intent of the words people use but rather look at the necessities they face. What makes this profound isnt only its truthwho doesnt know that to understand political actors, one needs to look beyond what they say to what they do?but also the distance of its conclusion from the words that articulate it. How, in other words, can we know what people believe are the necessities they face? And what should we budget for any discrepancy between the necessities they believe that they face and the necessities they, in fact, facesomething that the searchlights of time have a way of picking out, sometimes long after the dramas they reveal have ended? What prompts this reflection isnt only a fresh reading of Machiavelli but also my first trip into Paul Rahes excellent Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty, an overlapping companion to his Soft Despotism, Democracys Drift, an important study of what makes democratic republics tick as well as what makes them stop ticking. While I will probably have more to say about Rahes study of Montesquieu when I finish the book, for now, I want to say a word or two about two central observations he makes. Armed Conflict The first revolves around the centrality of armed conflict in the history of mankind. Some writers of a utopian cast of mind believe that we have proceeded beyond the messiness of war. Since you may have just eaten, I wont spoil your meal by invoking the name of Francis End-of-History Fukuyama. You know how that rosy-fingered speculation turned out. Very few colleges or universities devote serious resources to the study of military history these days. But that just underscores their lack of seriousness. Rahe is fond of quoting Winston Churchills astringent observation that battles are the principal milestones in secular history. Indeed, Churchill was right that great battles, won or lost, change the entire course of events, create new standards of value, new moods, new atmospheres, in armies and in nations, to which all must conform. Churchill admitted this was an uninspiring truth, though perhaps sobering would be a more apposite adjective. A friend sends around a near-daily on-this-day-in-history email, to which he appends some recent political cartoons. At a rough estimate, Id say fully seven-eighths of the entries concern battles or other incidents attendant upon military matters. On Oct. 8, for example, we learned that on that day in 314, Constantine I defeated his rival emperor Licinius; that in 876, Frankish forces led by Louis the Younger prevented a West Frankish invasion and defeated emperor Charles II (the Bald); that in 1573, the Spanish siege of Alkmaar ended, the first Dutch victory in the Eighty Years War; that in 1862, the Confederate invasion of Kentucky was halted at the Battle of Perryville. And we havent even gotten to incidents in World War I and World War II yet. I mention this to supply some candidates (not the only candidates) for those necessities that Mansfield and Tarcov mention. Fragility of Liberty Martial matters also provide a convenient bridge to the second of Rahes observations I want to touch upon, namely the fragility of liberty in modern democratic republics. At first, this may seem counter-intuitive, especially for residents in the United States. Were prosperous, arent we? We have the Bill of Rights, with protections such as habeas corpus, the First Amendment, and so on. We also have robust traditions of individual liberty and limited government. Against that, alas, we have things such as nationwide vaccine mandates, the intrusion of the federal government into university life, the life of the media, and even the world of business. We have an attorney general mobilizing the police power of the state at every levelfrom the FBI down to your local constabularyto go after parents who complain to school boards trying to foist the anti-American diktats of critical race theory on their charges. Ask any average American, Do you live in a free country? The answer is almost certain to be Yes. Unless, that is, they happen to have visited Washington on Jan. 6, in which case there is a good chance they are being detained without bail as political prisoners for the non-violent crime of walking through the Capitol. Ditto for those parents complaining about the catechism of CRT or vaccine mandates in schools. What happened with the lockdowns and other limitations of individual freedom during the height of the COVID crisiswhat is happening still on every train, plane, and bus in many localitiesshows just how subservient the populace and how overbearing the lieutenants of the government are. Fully Enslaved It was in this context that Montesquieus description of a state in which all intermediary institutions had been dismantled applies to our situation now, today: You will soon have, he said, a popular stateor, indeed, a state despotic. In Spirit of the Laws (1748), Montesquieu saw in England the cynosure of liberty. But he also saw, as Rahe reminds us, how the lineaments of English liberty were susceptible to novel forms of despotism. Ill end with this snippet that Rahe quotes from Montesquieu: The English, in order to favor liberty, have eliminated all the intermediary powers which formed their monarchy. They have good reason to conserve this liberty, for, if they should come to lose it, they would be one of the most fully enslaved peoples on the earth. Like an old television with bad reception, this reality is coming into focus only intermittently for the present. The technology is steadily improving, however, and I fear that the day isnt long off when that most fully enslaved peoples on the earth may shift from the realm of possibility to the harder currency of those necessities with which I began. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A man makes his way along a flooded area after heavy rainfall in Jiexiu in the city of Jinzhong in China's northern Shanxi Province on October 11, 2021. (China OUT/AFP via Getty Images) Floods Devastate Chinas Shanxi as Flood Victims Fend for Themselves Recently, floods have devastated the entire province of Shanxi in northern China, an area famous for vast reserves of coal and iron. Dam water discharge coupled with heavy rains and landslides, have damaged railways, and caused tens of thousands of victims to flee, farmlands to vanish, and massive coal mines to suspend production. By Oct. 4, heavy rains halted production in 27 coal mines, 99 other types of mines, 7 hazardous chemical enterprises, and 231 construction projects, and closed 74 scenic spots, the Chinese media reported. Yuncheng, Southwest Border City In the evening of Oct. 7, the local dam of Yuncheng City collapsed and flooded nearby counties and villages. Local residents fled to drier ground. Yuncheng, in the southwest tip of Shanxi Province, is bordered by the Yellow River to the west, and sits where local river Fen meets the Yellow River. Ms. Zhao, a resident of Qiaodong Village, Xinjiang County, said: It was in our village, the dyke collapsed yesterday [Oct. 7] the breach was huge. The water kept rising over the bank the armed police and local youngsters tried to block it today, but it was too huge. She added, The flood [water] was more than three feet high in the streets. There are around 5,000 residents in her village, and their low-lying houses are steeped in water. The villagers either stay with relatives and friends or take refuge in the gymnasium. Zhao said, Now, I only care about surviving. The temperature dropped below 50F. Most people evacuated carrying just a few clothes. Villagers eat instant noodles, sausages, and other food that is mostly donated by volunteers. Mr. Li is a shop owner in Yangwang Town, Xinjiang County. He said, The reservoir discharged in the early morning of the seventh, it flooded the county and the village the embankment failed villages were completely flooded, the water was very high. He said that the flood did not happen when it was raining, it occurred after the reservoir discharged, It was said that the water came from the dam in Taiyuan City, because too much water was released. Taiyuan, Central Shanxi Taiyuan City, the capital of Shanxi, is located in the center of the province. According to the weather records, it rained in Taiyuan from 6 a.m. Oct. 4 through 6 p.m. Oct. 6. Villagers have suffered tremendous losses because of the floods, as all crops are soaked in water. Our crops on the three plus acres of land are all over. There will be no harvest this year. The loss is heavy, Zhao said morosely. This aerial photo taken on October 10, 2021, shows a flooded area after heavy rainfalls in Jiexiu, in Jinzhong city, Chinas northern Shanxi province. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) According to Chinese media reports, multiple dykes failed due to heavy rains and a torrential influx from upper reaches, which flooded thousands of miles of fertile fields and damaged roads. Zhuangzi Village is known in Taiyuan City for its crops, vegetables, and livestock. On Oct. 8, Mr. Lin, a local villager, said the flood affected more than three acres of land in the village, Our vinesgrapes were growingare now all gone. Impeded Drainage Canals Lin believes that the cause of the flood was the drainage canals that were destroyed last year when an eight-acre plus disaster relief material warehouse in Shanxi Province was built. He said, The canals go through the construction site, they just filled the canals with soil it happened just last year, villagers opposed the idea many times, but no one listened. Villagers complained to the manager of the warehouse, Instead of providing relief, it brought disaster! said Lin. On April 22, the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection supervision team reported pollution in the canal regions surrounding the Fen River that runs northeast into the basin of Taiyuan City. The southeast bound river flows through the city before merging into the Yellow River coming from the west. Taiyuan authorities established a work team to deal with the canals in the north juncture areas. According to villager Mr. Zhao, reinstatement of the canals never happened. A similar situation also occurred in Jiexiu City, central Shanxi. Ms. Liu lives in the village at the lowest point of water discharge area around the dam in Jiexiu City. She said, Our village is always flooded whenever its [the dam reservoir] discharging water. She said no one expected the water to rise so high this time. Villagers were forced to quickly leave after seeing that the sandbags had failed. The dyke near the village collapsed, she said. During the hasty evacuation, villagers only managed to relocate some of their livestock. With no time to prepare, villagers stayed in motels with little clothing and received no aid. Ms. Liu believes that a factory in the neighboring village blocked the drainage canal and should be held accountable for the flooding. She said her village has been the victim of flooding ever since . Liu said, The factory made enough money, but the heavy pollution finally caused it to close. However, rocks were left in the canals. We suffered such a huge loss this time, its everything we have. According to Liu, there are more than 1,000 people in the village. She said that local villages are mostly undeveloped and poor. Shes concerned her house will collapse from soaking in the flood water for days. Homes are our roots. We finally built our homes after suffering so much hardship, but now they are all gone. Does the government care? Ms. Zhao, owner of a fruit picking yard in Jiexiu City, said that her family invested tens of thousands of dollars in building the yard, It was just built a couple of years ago. It takes several years to grow a fruit tree. Thats my savings of years! I will be bankrupt! She said all the crops were soaked, and corn and sorghum were yet to be harvested. I have four children. We cant afford school this year. I dont even have food to feed them. Our rations are gone. A Land of Generations Jishan County also suffered from heavy rains that lasted for more than two weeks. Local villager Lin Jie told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times: The water storage capacity of the local Fen River has reached its limit. The disaster took place when floods were discharged from multiple upstream reservoirs but the water downstream had nowhere to go. Rescuers drain flood waters after heavy rainfall at a flooded area in Jiexiu in the city of Jinzhong in Chinas northern Shanxi province on October 11, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) Villagers were on watch along the dike when the water finally erupted around midnight on Oct. 7. Lin said, The water rose really fast, I heard the roaring waves you cant describe it. In less than an hour, the flood hit the last line of defense. The village hurriedly sounded the first-level alarm. People moved to higher places on their own. At around 1 a.m. on Oct. 8, the water rushed into the village. Lin said, Everyone just hurried home to move the children and the elderly outside, abandoning everything else At that time, I was totally shocked and didnt know where to go. She continued, It was so cold, we just walked toward the neighboring village in the highland. We could only sit by the road, it was around 2 a.m. We waited until a little past 6 a.m. when villagers finally woke up and found us sitting out there. They let us in and cooked some hot meals for the kids and elderly. While recounting the scene, Lin could not help crying, It was really miserable. On Oct. 9, villagers borrowed a boat to go into the village. The flood water was around seven feet high and low-lying houses were all submerged in water. Lin said: That is our property, inherited from our ancestors. Who would leave the land where their family had rooted for so many generations? Many of us just stood by the entrance of the village. Just looking at it would bring us some comfort. She cried, There are many online films on Weibo saying that we are making it up, and there is no flood. They should go to the village, take a look at those houses, and see whats inside the house. Water Discharge Without Warning Lin said that theres no notice that a water discharge would occur. Wang Hui, another villager, also said that authorities gave no warning to evacuate. We dont know if the village cadres were aware of it, but the villagers had no clue. Wang explained, They did not say if the village would be flooded we organized villagers to contain the flood on our own, and when all failed, we just evacuated on our own. Thats how it is. It was rumored that the flood discharge reached a flow rate of 1,000 cubic meters per second, but the dams can only withstand a flow rate of 600 cubic meters per second, according to Wang. Lin said, Last time, the flood was released at a much slower rate, and the last line of defense was able to resist the flow. This time, it only took an hour for the flood to break the dyke and to go from the first line of defense through the last line of defense. Think about the speed of that water. Wang said, The authorities stated that Liang Yonglin, the director of the Emergency Management Bureau of Jishan County, instructed them to keep the breakage of the dyke as it is. As for the flood water, Wang complained, We have pumps, but theres no place to drain the water and the authorities have provided no plan. The leader only responded, as long as you can eat and drink, Wang added. Li Sha, a villager in Changzhi City, southeastern Shanxi, said that the flood wasnt so deep in her village, but most villagers live in traditional dwellings, known as Yaodong, earth caves carved along hillsides. Days of rain have sunken the dwellings and buried belongings under the earth. Children play outside their cave-style homes beside a pile of coal, 26 May 2004 in Xiaoyi, in the hills outside of Taiyuan in northern Chinas Shanxi province, the countrys biggest coal producing province. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Disinterested Officials Li said, Our village was flooded for five days, but no officials care. There are more than 800 villagers in the area. A few leaders came to the caves, they just looked and told us to get outside quickly, to seek dwelling with friends and family. Theres no word from the government. On Oct. 9, Sun Yi, a villager in Jiexiu City, central Shanxi, said the flood water was still deep, and the houses were all soaked. She was worried that the houses could collapse at any time She said, Its very dangerous for those people who tried to prevent the breakage. Its very cold. The temperature was low, they couldnt do anything about the water. About 70 local villagers went to the town hall demanding water pumps, but the government just kept them waiting. She said: We have been here since this morning. Its now around 5:30 p.m. Around a dozen of us are still waiting. We cant leave in case people from other villages take all the pumps. As for the damages from the flood and compensation, Sun said that the local government has not mentioned it. According to state mouthpiece Xinhua News, as of Oct. 10, the floods have affected 1,757,100 people, 76 counties and regions, and 11 cities in Shanxi Province. A total of 120,100 people were relocated, 470,000 acres of crops damaged, and more than 17,000 houses collapsed. All interviewees were given pseudonyms for their safety. Hong Ning, Gu Qinger, Gu Xiaohua, and Zhang Bei contributed to this report. Marine Officer Who Criticized US Military Officials Over Afghanistan Withdrawal to Plead Guilty as Part of Plea Deal A Marine Officer who faces trial by court-martial on Oct. 14 for criticizing senior military officials over the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is set to plead guilty to several charges, his lawyers said. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller has been charged with contempt toward officials, disrespect toward superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, dereliction in the performance of duties, failure to obey an order or regulation, and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Scheller will allegedly plead guilty to some charges in the hopes of avoiding a prison sentence and secure instead either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. The possibility of such a plea deal was first reported by Coffee or Die Magazine. Our hope is for him to get a letter of reprimand, and no more, Tim Parlatore, one of Schellers attorneys, told The Washington Post. Scheller was placed in confinement at the Regional Brig for Marine Corps Installations East at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, on Sept. 27. Two days later, a number of Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, requesting an expedited review and removal of Scheller from pretrial confinement. Given his excellent record and more than 15 years of dedicated service, we do not believe and have seen no evidence that LTC Sheller poses a grave risk of criminal misconduct, lawmakers wrote in their letter. The Marine was released from confinement on Oct. 5, as part of a mutual agreement between Lt. Col. Scheller, his Defense counsel, and the Commanding General, Training Command, Captain Sam Stephenson, Training and Education Command, spokesperson confirmed. Scheller gained viral fame back in August when he posted a video on social media alleging that top military leaders were not taking responsibility for how the military withdrawal from Afghanistan was handled, including the ISIS terrorist attack that left 13 service members dead in Kabul. Lt. Col. Stuart Schellerthe U.S. Marine jailed for criticizing senior military officialshas been released from detention but could still face charges, The Epoch Times understands. (screenshot) A U.S. Marine passes out water during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps/Isaiah Campbell/Getty Images) The reason people are so upset on social media right now is not because the Marine on the battlefield let someone down, Scheller said in the video. People are upset because their senior leaders let them down. And none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying, We messed up.' He then continued to release further videos on LinkedIn and Facebook as well as written statements criticizing military officials, and was reportedly told by his superiors to stop posting on social media entirely. However, he appeared to defy that directive in a further post, in which he announced he had been relieved from his position as the battalion commander for the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion at School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, based on a lack of trust and confidence. At the time, Schellers mother, Cathy Scheller, said she believed the military was treating her son unfairly, and confirmed he has been taken to a lockup pending a hearing. He is an American war hero. He has fought for his men and women that follow him. Hes fought on the battlefield for them. I believe he has risked his life for his fellow service people and Americans. He is now risking his livelihood for them. He saw a misjustice happening at the top and he felt that they should be held accountable for it, Cathy Scheller said on NTDs The Nation Speaks. Parlatore told The Post that details about the plea deal are still up in the air but that he is willing to take accountability for his actions, in light of the fact that he is demanding military officials also take accountability for their own actions regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The lawyer also noted that Scheller went through an emotional roller coaster after posting his first video, noting that this is something many other veterans experience in a more private manner. There is no question that there is some severe emotional distress throughout, and he definitely went to some very dark places, Parlatore said. This is unfortunately not uncommon for a lot of the veteran community. On Oct. 9, Task and Purpose published a story based on leaked documents that purported to show Schellers support for the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach. Schellers defense team has criticized military officials for leaking the case documents ahead of his trial, saying that the leak is designed to harm Schellers reputation and distract people from his calls for accountability for senior leaderships disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. Parlatore told The Epoch Times that the alleged conversation was taken out of context and that Scheller was only commenting on how the Jan. 6 situation could have been worse. Schellers hearing is set to take place at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. "Jeopardy!" contestant Matt Amodio is seen during a taping of the popular game show. (Jeopardy Productions Inc. via AP) Matt Amodios History-Making Run on TVs Jeopardy! Ends NEW YORKAll good things must come to an end and Matt Amodios historic run on Jeopardy! did just that on Mondays show, leaving the Yale doctoral student with 38 wins and more than $1.5 million in prize money. Amodio failed to answer the Final Jeopardy! clue correctly and came third on Mondays show, his streak cut short by new champion Jonathan Fisher, an actor originally from Coral Gables, Florida. Amodio finished No. 2 on the all-time consecutive wins list behind only Ken Jennings with 74 wins. He won a total of $1,518,601, which puts him third on the all-time non-tournament cash winnings list behind James Holzhauer ($2,462,216) and Jennings ($2,520,700). l know going into every bar trivia game that I play that Im going to come in with a little intimidation factor. But also, I just like the badge that it represents. As somebody who prioritizes knowledge and knowing things, this is really a good one to have following me everywhere, Amodio, a fifth-year computer science Ph.D. student at Yale University, said in a statement. He became known for starting all of his questions with Whats instead of using suitable alternatives such as Who is, an unorthodox approach that made some longtime viewers groan. But it was within the quiz shows rules and, as Amodio explained, helped him limit any unnecessary moving parts that might undermine his effectiveness. What became known as the Amodio Rodeo proved a welcome distraction for the quiz show and its producer Sony Pictures Television, which saw its effort to replace its late and beloved host Alex Trebek founder. Sony turned to guest hosts Mayim Bialik and Jennings after its original pick for the job, Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards, exited the show following the disclosure of his past disparaging podcasts remarks. Sony has said it was resuming its search for a permanent host. General view of Prony Resources operations which produces nickel and cobalt, east of the capital of Noumea, in New Caledonia, in 2020. (Radikal Pictures 2020/Handout via Reuters) New Caledonias Prony to Supply Nickel to Tesla in Multi-Year Deal MELBOURNEProny Resources said on Wednesday Tesla Inc. had agreed to purchase around 42,000 tons of nickel in a multi-year deala pact that is set to make the New Caledonian miner a key supplier of the metal to the U.S. electric car maker. Prony, which bought the loss-making nickel operations in the French territory from Brazils Vale SA this year, added it aims to produce 44,000 tons of nickel by 2024, double its expected 2021 output. Electric vehicle makers have made securing sufficient supplies of nickela key ingredient in automotive batteriesa top priority and are particularly keen to seek out sustainable and low-carbon nickel supplies. The agreement with Tesla will make the carmaker by far Pronys largest customer, Antonin Beurrier, the miners chief executive, said during a news conference. The 42,000-ton volume was indicative and could vary, he said, declining to specify the duration or other details of the deal. The supply agreement with Tesla was negotiated by Swiss commodity trader Trafigura, a shareholder in Prony Resources, and signed last month, he added. Tesla was already associated with Prony as an adviser on product and sustainability standards. The carmaker has also signed a deal to take supply from BHPs nickel operations in Australia earlier this year. Prony initially expects its nickel to supply Teslas battery supply chain in Asia, Beurrier said. Its focus on producing an intermediate nickel product that can be processed for batteries has allowed Prony to benefit from rising nickel prices this year and become profitable in core earnings in recent months, he said. However, a coronavirus outbreak in New Caledonia and planned maintenance are expected to hit output and profitability for the rest of this year, Prony said. It also expects the nickel market to return to a surplus for four years from 2022, partly as top producer Indonesia will boost supply, before exponential battery demand outstrips supply again, it said. Prony is 51 percent owned by New Caledonias provincial authorities and other local interests, while Trafigura has a 19 percent stake and the rest is held by a joint venture between Prony Resources management and investment firm Agio Global. The miner is planning to borrow 220 million euros ($254.2 million) from the French state, subject to approval in Frances 2022 budget, on top of a 200 million state loan earlier this year to help cover investments in production and improving waste treatment at its nickel site. Prony will also choose in December a partner to develop a new electricity plant for the site to support a goal to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2040, Beurrier said. The future power plant will be solar-based and replace a current coal-fired installation, he added. By Melanie Burton and Gus Trompiz Ohio Man Says Kidney Transplant Canceled Because Donor Didnt Get COVID-19 Vaccine An Ohio man says he was informed just five days before his scheduled kidney transplant that the operation was off because his donor has not gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. Mike Ganim is fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. But his donor is not. Ganim and his wife told WKYC they were told on Oct. 8 that the Cleveland Clinic started a new policy that requires both organ donors and recipients to be fully vaccinated. Its just wrong in so many ways, Debi Ganim said. All because of a policy that was just decided. We were blindsided, Sue George, the donor, told the outlet. She said shes not getting a COVID-19 vaccine due to medical, religious, and freedom reasons. We have one goal here and thats to get Mike a kidney. So, it may come down to looking for another donor, George told News 5 Cleveland. Asked about what happened, a Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an email that the clinic did recently implement a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for donors and recipients of solid organ transplants. Vaccination is particularly important in these patients for their safety. Living donation for organ transplantation has been a life-saving treatment, but it is not without risks to the donor. For the living donor, reducing the risk of a COVID-19 infection around the time of their surgery and recovery is crucial. We continually strive to minimize risk to our living donors, and vaccination is an important component to ensure the safest approach and optimal outcomes for donors, she said. For the transplant candidate, in addition to a major operation, medications taken after an organ transplant weaken a persons immune response. Serious complications of COVID-19 are most likely to develop in those individuals who have weakened immune systems, as their body has a reduced ability to fight and recover from infections. The FDA-authorized vaccines have been determined to be safe and effective and are the best way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19, she added. No one at the Cleveland Clinic has been removed from the transplant waiting list as of yet for not being vaccinated. The rejection comes after Leilani Lutali, a Colorado woman, was informed a kidney transplant was no longer proceeding because neither she nor her donor were vaccinated. The case drew nationwide attention and cast the spotlight on evolving transplant policies. Vaccination policies are in place at facilities across the country, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit that manages the U.S. organ transplantation system. They are not required. A study (pdf) published in July found that less than 7 percent of the 92 transplant centers who responded to a survey reported inactivating patients who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Very few centers are requiring COVID-19 vaccination prior to transplantation despite early evidence suggesting reduced immunogenicity in transplant patients on immunosuppression, researchers said. The University of Colorado Hospital, which was slated to perform Lutalis transplant, told news outlets that it is requiring COVID-19 vaccination for almost all organ transplants. Not all centers have implemented such requirements. A spokeswoman for the University of Kentucky HealthCare, which runs a transplant center, told The Epoch Times in an email it does not. There is not a vaccination requirement in place but we encourage patients to obtain the vaccine both pre and post-transplant, she said. Clean-up efforts are underway for an oil spill off the coastline of Orange County in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Orange County DA Calls for Immediate Inspection of All Oil Pipelines Following the oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called on the U.S. Dept. of Transportations Office of Pipeline Safety to immediately inspect all Orange County oil pipelines for structural vulnerabilities, according to a statement from Spitzers office. In an open letter to the pipeline safety office, Spitzer said he has concerns regarding any environmental damage the oil will bring. I am extremely concerned regarding the vulnerable oil pipeline infrastructure off the coasts of Orange and Los Angeles Counties, Spitzer wrote. Those waters have been subject to an unprecedented influx of shipping traffic as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced large container ships to anchor for extended periods of time as they wait offshore to be allowed into the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to be offloaded. That same shipping traffic is suspected to be the cause of the pipe rupture. U.S. Coast Guard investigators currently believe that the underwater pipeline was struck by an anchor of one or more container ships while waiting to unload cargo at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports. The pipeline was also found to have been dragged 105 feet from its original location. The mistake has devastated the local ecology, including protected wetlands, and caused millions of dollars of economic devastation to local businesses that were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, Spitzer wrote. The overwhelming impacts to the environment and our economy will continue for decades. Amplify Energy, the company operating the pipeline, said they immediately shut down oil operations as soon as they discovered oil in the water, although questions still remain regarding automatic shutoff procedures and how long the company took to shut down operations after receiving a low-pressure alarm. So far, around 5,500 gallons of oil have been recovered by cleanup crews. In the letter, Spitzer additionally demanded pipeline operators off the coast of Orange County be required to submit certified statements attesting to their pipelines current physical condition under penalty of perjury. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into the incident on Oct. 11 to determine what caused the spill as well as to launch criminal or civil action if necessary. Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have fully reopened their beaches and oceans after water quality testing revealed undetectable amounts of oil, though Laguna Beach has only opened its sand, not the shoreline or the water. A request for comment to the U.S. Department of Transportation was not immediately returned. Orphaned Mountain Gorilla, 14, Dies in the Arms of Her Caretaker: I Loved Her Like a Child An orphaned mountain gorilla from Africa, who became renowned after a selfie with a park ranger went viral, died in the arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend. At the age of 14, Ndakasi, the beloved gorilla that had been cared for at Virunga National Parks Senkwekwe Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo for more than a decade, took her last breath on the evening of Sept. 26. Her condition had deteriorated following a prolonged illness, according to a statement by the park. It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age, caretaker Andre Bauma said. I am proud to have called Ndakasi my friend. Ndakasi died in the arms of her life-long friend and caretaker at Virunga National Park on Sept. 26, 2021. (Courtesy of Brent Stirton/Virunga National Park) The mountain gorilla, who was born to the Kabirizi group in April 2007, was only 2 months old when she was found by Virunga rangers clinging to her mothers lifeless body. Nyiransekuye, Ndakasis mother, had been gunned down by armed militia. Rangers then became aware that there were no family members present to care for the infant gorilla and they thus nursed her back to health and immediately transferred her to a rescue center in Goma, where she was introduced to Andre. During the first night, Andre kept the baby gorilla on his bare chest providing the warmth and comfort she needed. Luckily, Ndakasi survived. However, she wasnt able to make her way back to the wild because she was still dealing with the trauma of losing her family and was vulnerable due to the long period of rehabilitation. In 2009, Ndakasi was transferred to the Senkwekwe Centerthe only facility in the world that cares for orphaned mountain gorillaswhere she went to live a happy and peaceful life with other mountain gorillas and caretakers for over a decade. Over the last few years, Ndakasis heartwarming personality began to shine through. She was featured in many television shows and movies, including a 2014 Netflix documentary called Virunga, where she won audiences hearts with her laughter while being tickled by her caretaker. In 2019, Ndakasi became a viral sensation when she photobombed a selfie of park ranger Mathiew Shamavu. The picture, which was taken on Earth Day, shows Ndakasi and fellow orphaned gorilla Ndeze posing with their bellies out. Ndakasi and Ndeze rose to fame after photobombing ranger Mathiew Shamavus selfie in 2019. (Courtesy of Virunga National Park) I loved her like a child and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her, Andre said. She will be missed by all of us at Virunga but we are forever grateful for the richness Ndakasi brought to our lives during her time at Senkwekwe. Ndakasi, according to the statement, embodied the spirit of Virunga, and her story of survival is interwoven with that of the Parks. The global population of mountain gorillas was critically endangered when Ndakasi was born. However, through the years, the species has grown by 47 percent; from 720 individuals in 2007 to an estimated 1,063 in 2021. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Pennsylvania Veteran Overwhelmed to Receive a Gifted Home Its life-changing, and Im eternally grateful. Army Staff Sergeant Veronica Hally was overwhelmed to see her new dream home in Glenside, Pennsylvania, a gift last month from Building Homes for Heroes. We are gifting 11 homes in 11 weeks, between Sept. 11 and Nov. 11, David Weingrad, senior communications manager of Building Homes for Heroes, told The Epoch Times that Hallys home is one of those 11 gifted homes to wounded veterans, in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and Veterans Day this year. Hally was medically retired from the military in 2019 after serving 23 years. She served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was left with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. She also suffers from tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, and chronic lumbar strain. Army Staff Sgt. Veronica Hally (Courtesy of Veronica Hally) Hally received numerous accolades, including the Army Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and was named Special Agent of the Year. Its gorgeous! Like a dream! Hally said at a ceremony held by Building Homes for Heroes on Sept. 29 in front of her new home. And so it still feels so surreal. And the gratitude I feel in my heart is nothing that could ever be explained, and [Im] eternally grateful. Hally is rated 100 percent injured by the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a single mom with three children. Hally told The Epoch Times last Friday that she is proud of what she has done to serve the country: You can look up a bunch of wars but I think our service to our nation, this flag, should be something that should be taken into consideration and should be respected and not ever desecrated. Building Homes for Heroes has modified and gifted 280 mortgage-free homes to severely wounded veterans in 37 states since 2006. Because our servicemen and women serve and sacrifice for all of us. They left their families; they put their lives and their bodies on the line. And they came back injured. So its a debt that we owe them. Weingrad said, Its the least we can do to provide them with a home and a foundation where they could live happily and peacefully for the rest of their life. Its our honor to serve them. Building Homes for Heroes offers three types of homes: homes built from scratch, OREA (Other Real Estate Owned) homes donated by JPMorgan Chase Bank, and modifying veterans homes to make them more handicap accessible and beautiful. Weingrad said that the most important and unique feature of homes from Building Homes for Heroes is they are handicap accessible. Because lots of these veterans are in wheelchairs, a lot of them are missing a leg or an arm. Some of them are blind. So we do very unique features to all of these homes that you would never see in any other home, Weingrad continued. Building Homes for Heroes provides all recipients homes with ramps, because even if they dont need a wheelchair now, they may need one later in life. There are always hardwood floors, widened doorways, oversized bathrooms, and lower, specialized cabinets for a wheelchair. For blind veterans, the lights are censored and automatically turn on when they enter the house. Weingrad appreciates all the donors who support this mission: We get a wide range of support from regular people, from state governments, foundations, and major corporations. The State of Florida provides a budget to Building Homes for Heroes annually, so they have done more than 100 homes alone in Florida. In addition, JPMorgan Chase donates mortgage-free homes, and Advance Auto Parts, Lowes, SAIC based in Virginia, and Truck Hero based in Michigan have been sponsoring Building Homes for Heroes. York installs air conditioners and heating systems for free. Weingrad said lots of veterans know about Building Homes for Heroes and apply for homes on the website. Military hospitals and the military also reach out directly to them, because many high-ranking officials in the military know about Building Homes for Heroes. Building Homes for Heroes plans to reach its 300th home gift sometime next year. May Lin contributed to this report. Pfizer Moves A Step Further Towards Providing Under-12 Vaccine in Australia Australias medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has approved a key step towards the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine being made available for use in children aged five to 11. The TGA said on Wednesday it had granted a provisional determination to Pfizer Australia in relation to the vaccine. It is currently provisionally approved only for use in people 12 years or older. The granting of this determination means that Pfizer is now eligible to apply to vary the provisional approval for the vaccine to include children aged five to 11 years, the TGA said in a statement. This provisional determination is the first step in the process and does not mean that an application for variation has been made by the sponsor or that any such variation will be provisionally approved by the TGA. However, Pfizer will now need to submit comprehensive clinical data on trials done on the age group to gain approval. Caleb Chung from the United States receives the first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine or placebo as a trial participant for kids ages 12-15, at Duke University Health System in Durham, N.C., on Dec. 22, 2020. (Richard Chung via AP) Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the assessment would be done very quickly and had the potential to be completed in a matter of weeks. However, he said the vaccine would also need to receive the green light from the technical advisory group ATAGI. It will be assessed very quickly, he told 4BC radio. We are hoping they (Pfizer) bring it forward in the coming weeks. Weve got the supply, and weve got the distribution mechanisms. Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt discusses the COVID-19 vaccination program at press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, on April 9, 2021. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) Pfizer told AAP this week that the company had provided trial data to the U.S. regulator for initial review. A trial of the two-dose vaccine involving 2268 children had come back with favourable safety and antibody responses. The pharmaceutical giant is also running a study involving children aged six months up to five years, which should produce results by the end of this year. Polish soldiers unload materials to construct a barbed wire fence on the border with Belarus in Zubrzyca Wielka near Bialystok, eastern Poland on Aug. 26, 2021. (Jaap Arriens/AFP via Getty Images) Poland to Improve Border by Spending Over $400 Million on New Wall Polands government plans to spend more than $400 million on improving its border defense by building a solid barrier along the countries border with Belarus as immigration levels have recently surged. The countrys latest announcement came as German police reported an upsurge in the number of migrants illegally entering Germanythe most popular final destination among asylum seekersafter first crossing the Belarus-Polish border and making their way westwards across Poland. The draft law on the construction of a new wall to protect Polands and the EUs external frontier was approved by Polish authorities on Tuesday. In late August, shortly after the Taliban terrorist group took control over the Afghan capital, Poland started the construction of an 8.2-foot (2.5-meter) high fence along its 260-mile (418-kilometer) border to halt the flow of illegal immigrants. Jarosaw Kaczynski, leader of the Law and Justice party and the deputy prime minister of Poland, said last week that the new wall should replace the temporary fence and protective measures now in place. A view of a vehicle next to a fence built by Polish soldiers on the border between Poland and Belarus near the village of Nomiki, Poland, on Aug. 26, 2021. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) The actions taken by the Alexander Lukashenko regime demanded a firm response from the Polish government, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski told PAP, news agency AFP reported, adding that this kind of wall worked in other countries, and will pass the test in Poland. Kaminski noted that additional measures and the fence were necessary due to the number of attempts by illegal immigrants to cross the border have not been going down despite the fact that there are more border guards, soldiers, and policemen on the border. On Sept. 2, Poland declared a state of emergency as thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan, tried to unlawfully enter the country from neighboring Belarus. The Polish Border Guard also said in a statement in August that illegal border crossings have reached record heights. From the start of January till the end of September, the Border Guard prevented 9,287 attempts to cross the frontier from Belarus into Poland, and of those around 8,000 took place in the last two months alone. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News Polish Prime Minister Accuses Opposition of Lying About Polexit BUDAPESTPoland has no desire to leave the European Union, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday, accusing opposition politicians of spreading what he said were lies about a possible Polexit. His comments came after the Polish Constitutional Tribunal ruled last week that parts of EU law were incompatible with the countrys constitution, undermining a key tenet of European integration and fuelling talk that Poland could one day quit a Union that has helped drive its economic development. The ruling was published in the official gazette on Tuesday, making it legally binding. More than 100,000 Poles took part in rallies on Sunday in support of EU membership. Our dear opposition is trying to insinuate that we want to weaken the union by leaving the EU, Morawiecki said during a summit of the four central European Visegrad nations in the Hungarian capital Budapest. This is obviously not just fake news, it is something worseit is a lie that aims to weaken the Union. A spokesman for Polands largest opposition party, Civic Platform, could not immediately be reached for comment. At Sundays demonstration in Warsaw, Donald Tusk, former head of the European Council and now leader of Civic Platform, said PiS was jeopardizing Polands future in Europe. PiS says the European Union has overstepped its mandate in trying to stop judicial reforms in Poland that Brussels says undermine the independence of the courts. Brussels should concentrate on security, stopping terrorism, economic collaboration with other countries, Morawiecki said on Tuesday. The right-wing populist governments in Poland and Hungary have long been at odds with the EUs executive Commission over issues including media freedoms, migration, LGBT rights, and judicial independence. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key ally of Poland inside the EU, signed a decree on Saturday welcoming the ruling by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal. Despite Warsaws clashes with Brussels, support for EU membership remains very high in Poland, the blocs largest ex-communist country and a top beneficiary of EU aid to help poorer members close the development gap with wealthier ones. By Gergely Szakacs, Anita Komuves, Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz Progressivism in a Youths Eyes Commentary Do elite liberals or progressives have anything good to say about America? Do they find anything in the nation deserving of celebration? Not much, judging from what we typically hear in the left-leaning media and in the schools and universities. The prevailing concerns in recent years are all negative. Climate change, racism past and present, COVID, misinformation, #MeToo, Trump, police brutality, gun violencethey add up to a very dark vision in the left-wing mind. Donald Trumps positive message, Make America Great Again, could only strike those worriers as blather and denial, bigoted and culpablethat was obvious. The entire Trump presidency showed them only indisputable proof that something was terribly wrong with our country. For the moment, lets not argue against that liberal/left fear and dismay. I dont want to summon evidence and put it away, or to cite fatuous college presidents saying at one moment that their campuses are guilty-guilty of systemic racism, only to announce one day later that their campuses are the greatest places in the world for students of all kinds. Instead, lets take a different tack and pose another question, a generational one: How does this dim interpretation of the country strike young Americans? How do adolescents just beginning to interact in a circuit wider than home and friends absorb this conception of Americaand of the world at largeas a dispiriting and fearsome place? Those questions dont naturally occur to liberals and progressives, and not only because so many of them dont have children. They cant address those questions, because if they did they would have to reconsider the merits of casting the past (and the present, too, however many improvements have been made) as inferior and unjust. If the present is reasonably good and productive, progressive reforms arent necessary. They cant worry about how youths will apprehend their negativitythey have a world to fix. The problem is that adolescents have a different relation to the world than adults do. The latter live within it, and have been there for a long time. The former are just coming into it and learning how it works and what it means. Theyre a little insecure; they dont know how the world is going to treat them. Naturally, they want the world to be generous and predictable. When I went off to college for freshman year in 1977, I was a little lost and uncertain, and I knew that I didnt have the strength to fight back if the environment mistreated me. Theres no way for rising adults to take the dystopia of the progressives America as an inspiration except by becoming fledgling progressives themselves, social justice warriors eager to defend the victims and assail the villains. But most youths dont want that kind of life at age 20. The inspired leftists Ive encountered over the years have passion, yes, but not very much joy. They dont like jokes, they dont entertain ideas contrary to their own, and they cant relax. The diversions of their peers appear to them as guilty pleasures. The comforts of middle-class life cant hide the systemic shame theyve identified (racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.). As I said, most of their fellows have other concernssports, sex, music, grades. They dont have the energy or disposition for protest. Their professors impart to them a legacy of American guilt, but the students just tune them out and go about their young adult business. But in a quite different sense, the social-justice minority has a great advantage over the normal-youth majority. Both groups have been handed a negative habitat, a shame-ridden inheritance. The minority takes a stand against it, decrying Western Civilization, patriarchy, transphobia, American imperialism, and the rest. The majority takes no stand at all, neither one way nor the other. They simply ignore it. Theyre happier than their leftist peers, but which ones lead a more meaningful existence? To which group does the universe present a moral significance? The normal American youth finds the negative past of, say, the 1619 Project something best ignored, while the same gives shape and purpose to the young leftists life. The racism of America may be a downer, but it has a goal and a direction for those who absorb it: a racism-free future. This is a source of strength. I remember watching a video from November 2015 taken in the Dartmouth College library and showing Black Lives Matter protesters marching through the stacks, chanting and berating the kids studying in the carrels, which demonstrated all too well the unequal energies of the two sides. The marchers were fired up, aggressive and in-your-face, violating the rules of the library and daring anyone to challenge them. The students hitting the books, studying for finals, had no such force. They sat in silence, most kept their heads down, a few drew out their phones to film. The intimidation was complete. It happened not only because the protesters were mostly black and the studiers mostly white and Asian. The protesters had something else: a worldview that empowered them, that roused them to righteous indignation. The studiers had no such thing, only their coursework and test-anxiety (I presume). Progressivist history has inspired the few to voice frustration and wrath, and it has led the many to voice nothing. It is unlikely that this is a deliberate scheme in the minds of intellectuals who long ago concocted this myth of American guilt and Western shame, but the result certainly wouldnt disappoint them. The suppression of dissent, the elimination of anyone whod like to defend America, would have pleased them all the way. But a wrinkle remains: Where does the indignation go? What comes next after the protest? Thats what one wishes to ask the progressives. Would they be gratified by the other feelings the protesters suffernot the indignation, but the inferiority, the rage, the envy, the disappointment? For the protesters dont appear satisfied by the silence and deference of the rest. Winning doesnt seem to be enough. They arent happy, and theyre never going to be happy. Heres why: They dont have a positive vision of reality. They push against the isms, but theyre also consumed by them, fixated on the injustice and exploitation and discrimination they perceive all around them. Theyre in a tragic condition. The very outlook they have embraced as the truth and the good condemns them to eternal bitterness. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Amid Staffing Shortages, Quebec Extends Mandatory Vaccination Deadline for Health Workers The Quebec government has conceded to a one-month extension of its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers, giving them until Nov. 15 to receive the shot needed to stay on their jobs. Health care workers were previously given until Oct. 15 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or face suspension without pay. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said that the Quebec government made the difficult decision to extend the vaccination deadline amid an urgent staffing shortage. He said if the provincial government enforced the Oct. 15 mandate, they risked the potential loss of 25,000 health care workers who are not fully vaccinated. We find ourselves adding undue pressure on our network, and especially on the vaccinated health workers who have been at the front for months, Dube said in a press conference on Oct. 13. If we continue like this, we will run into a wall. Dube also said that starting Oct. 18, workers who are not fully vaccinated must receive at least three COVID-19 screening tests per week. This measure has already been enforced in public facilities, but will now be extended to private networks. All new hires in the public health network will have to be adequately vaccinated, Dube said. The government will also maintain the requirement for visitors and caregivers to show a vaccine passport before entering hospitals. Dube said there will be financial consequences for unvaccinated workers. Nurses who are not vaccinated by Nov. 15 will no longer be eligible for Quebecs bonuses of up to $18,000 for health workers, which was announced last month to retain employees amid staffing shortages. Facing questions from reporters on the governments about-face after asserting just yesterday there would be no change to the Oct. 15 vaccination deadline, Lucie Opatrny, Quebecs associate deputy health minister, who joined Dube at the press conference, said it would be irresponsible to be completely inflexible. To say that one would be completely inflexible on a hard deadline, faced with facts, Im not sure that that would be responsible, Opatrny said. I dont know that that would be a responsible way to act, given the needs of the population to receive health care and social services. Opatrny noted that at least 35 operating rooms and roughly 600 hospital beds in Quebec would be closed if the Oct. 15 deadline was enforced. The deadline extension was welcomed by the medical union Federation de la Sante du Quebec (FSQ-CSQ), which represents more than 5,000 health workers in the province, saying it was satisfied with the postponement. As he admitted, the Minister [Dube] simply had no choice, given the fragile state in which the network finds itself, to make this responsible decision, said FSQ-CSQ president Claire Montour said in a news release. Vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland-New South Wales border in Brisbane on April 15, 2020. (Patrick Hamilton /AFP via Getty Images) Queensland Reinstates Travel for State Border Zone Bubble The Queensland government on Wednesday eased travel restrictions to and from New South Wales (NSW) border communities regardless of COVID-19 cases. This will mean Queenslanders travelling to, and residents of, Bourke Shire, City of Broken Hill, Kyogle, Lismore City, Richmond Valley, and the unincorporated Far West will be able to cross the border for more reasons, a Queensland Health statement read. The move comes as at least 70 to 80 percent of residents in most of the NSW border zone local government areas (LGA) are fully vaccinated with two doses. Queensland Health has said that any resident who has had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose can cross into Queensland or the border zone for work, education, volunteering, caregiving, health care, or essential shopping. The move also comes despite some border NSW LGAs recording new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young also revealed Queensland Health had modelled reopening at 80 percent and said that state hospitals would be stretched but would be able to cope with the increased demand. Federal Employment Minister Stuart Robert called on the state Queensland government to set a target for reopening the border, so people and businesses could plan around it. He warned that a lack of any clear target was making it hard to drive up vaccinations in Queensland, with only 53.35 percent of eligible people fully vaccinated and 70.59 percent having had one dose. We see in NSW and Victoria, we see very high vaccine rates because theres a plan, theres certainty that the citizens of those states know exactly whats going to happen when certain rates are reached, Robert told Nines Today program. And thats our plea to the Queensland premier, let us know, let Queenslanders know what happens at 80 percent. Let Queenslanders plan for Christmas, because right now we live minute by minute and press conference to press conference. NSW and Victoria are in the midst of severe COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, with the premiers of both states only promising freedoms to residents once vaccination targets are achieved. This is a different scenario from Queensland, which is not under stay-at-home orders but whose state borders are closed. Meanwhile, 389 people have started a trial of home quarantine in Queensland with hopes a successful test run can allow thousands of Queenslanders currently stuck interstate to get home. The government has said that if successful, the trial will be opened up to other Queensland residents. Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the trial, which is only open to people who fly into Queensland, could possibly be extended to those who are driving into the state. Look, it is no doubt that this is very tight; it is a trial; as Jeannette Young said, we want to see how this goes, he said. We are quite confident that people will do the right thing, and if we can prove that this system works effectively, I am sure we can review what restrictions really need to be in place and which ones can be eased. Queensland recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and four overseas-acquired infections in hotel quarantine on Wednesday. AAP contributed to this report. San Diego County Releases Guidelines for Medical Personnel to Assess Domestic Violence SAN DIEGOSan Diego County officials released a countywide set of guidelines on Oct. 13 for medical professionals to screen for signs of domestic violence when assessing patients. The new standards aim to provide medical personnel with the tools for identifying signs of intimate partner violenceparticularly strangulationand guidance on how to respond when suspicious injuries are discovered. Officials say recognition of these signs is a necessary preventative measure, with healthcare personnel often the first and only people able to assist victims when they are apart from their abusers. Domestic violence, including strangulation, goes largely under-reported by survivors, said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. Healthcare staff can be a critical point of intervention and connection to help in a safe and private setting. The standards were developed over the past year by the Healthcare Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council and approved by county health officials and the San Diego County District Attorneys Office. Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego Countys public health officer, said, The purpose behind these standards is to have a collective and coordinated healthcare community response as we see and treat patients who have experienced violent crime. Claudia Grasso, president of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, said the goal is for universal screening in healthcare settings, where every patient is asked whether they are experiencing abuse and received education and resources. Even if that patient is not personally experiencing abuse, odds are that they know someone who is and this information could make a difference to someone who needs help. According to the District Attorneys office, a recently implemented county policy requiring training for more than 5,000 peace officers on detecting signs and symptoms of strangulation has coincided with a reduction in domestic violence homicides in the county. Stephan said a reported 15 percent decrease in domestic violence homicides involving strangulation since 2017 is the most compelling data point that the partnership between healthcare and public safety is working. Memphis Police Department officers work the scene of a post office after a shooting, in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis, Tenn., on Oct. 12, 2021. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP) Shooter Among 3 Dead After Shooting at US Postal Service Facility in Memphis Two United States Postal Service employees were shot dead by a third worker at a postal facility in Memphis on Tuesday before the shooter took their own life. U.S. Postal Inspector Susan Link said the three postal workers were found dead after the shooting at the East Lamar Carrier Annex. The Annex is located at 2801 Park Ave in the prominent Memphis neighborhood of Orange Mound, southeast of downtown Memphis and is typically only used for employees and not retail customers. The shooting was carried out by a third postal service worker, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot, FBI spokeswoman Lisa-Anne Culp said, The Associated Press reported. Officials have not yet released any additional information on the shooting, including the identities of the victims or a motive of the shooter, however, a family member identified one of the people who died as James Wilson, a manager, Commercial Appeal reports. The Epoch Times has been unable to independently confirm if Wilson was among the victims. Wilson was married with no children, his cousin Roxanne Rogers told the local Memphis outlet. He didnt mind going the extra mile for his job or the workers there, Rogers said. He wasnt just a manager, he was a friend to all. At around 2:50 p.m. local time, the Memphis Police Department said the East Lamar Carrier Annex is secured and there was no active threat. We are working jointly with the Memphis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. At this time there is no additional information the Inspection Service can release, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said, CNN reported. Family members of victims wait with Memphis Police Department officers outside of a post office after a shooting, in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis, Tenn., on Oct. 12, 2021. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP) The area where the shooting took place has been barricaded and blocked off by officials as they investigate. A white four-door car was towed from the facility during the investigation but it is unknown who the vehicle belongs to, according to AP. The Postal Service is saddened at the events that took place today in Memphis, USPS said in a statement. Our thoughts are with the family members, friends, and coworkers of the individuals involved. The Postal Service will be providing resources to all employees at the East Lamar Carrier Annex in the coming days and weeks. The latest incident marks yet another high-profile shooting in or near the Tennessee city in recent weeks. Last month, 29-year-old shooter UK Thang killed one person and wounded 14 others at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville. Thang was a third-party vendor for the supermarket chain where he worked daily. He suddenly opened fire, hitting 15 individuals before he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Just a week later, a 13-year-old boy was shot and critically wounded by another teenage student at the Cummings School in Memphis. Police detained a second boy believed to be the shooter. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, said Tuesdays shooting at the post office marked the latest site of gun violence in the Memphis area and that he was closely monitoring developments in the shooting. Todays shooting at the postal facility in Orange Mound is yet another example of why I am concerned that too many guns are out there and in possession of people who arent able to control their anger, Cohen said in a statement. I express my profound condolences to all those affected by this terrible event. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Firefighters extinguish flames that were spotted ahead of the fire front along Highway 101 southbound at Vista Point, north of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, Calif., on Oct. 12, 2021. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP) Southern California Fire Shuts Highway, Forces Evacuations SOLVANG, Calif.Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday for a growing wildfire driven by intense winds that has shut down a key Southern California highway for more than a day. At least 200 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire, which had scorched 12.5 square miles coastal Santa Barbara County and remained completely uncontained. The fire erupted Monday on a ridge and blasted toward the ocean, forcing closure of U.S. 101, the only major highway on that section of the coast. Evacuation orders and warnings were in place for several areas of the lightly populated region. The fire is burning in dense chaparral and is being pushed by strong winds and growing at a rapid rate of speed, a fire update said Tuesday. Gusts reached 70 mph in some areas, officials said. In Northern California, fire crews increased containment of a blaze that destroyed 25 mobile homes, 16 RVs and a park building at the Rancho Marina RV Park in Sacramento County. At least 20 structures were still threatened, according to the River Delta Fire District. No injuries were reported, and the cause remained under investigation. To the south in San Joaquin County, a man suffered burns and about five mobile homes were damaged by flames that raced through the Islander Mobile Home Park, Lathrop-Manteca Fire Chief Josh Capper told Fox40-TV. The injured man suffered severe third-degree burns over most of his body, Capper said. Powerful gusts that swept through the state on Monday also toppled trees and whipped up blinding dust clouds. Red flag warnings for critical fire danger remained in effect Tuesday for much of the interior of Northern California, with lesser wind advisories continuing in Santa Barbara County. In anticipation of the wind event, the Pacific Gas & Electric utility shut off power Monday to about 24,000 customers in targeted areas of 23 counties to prevent fires from being started if gusts damaged electrical equipment. While in the process of restoring service on Tuesday, PG&E said it may need to cut power to about 29,000 customers across 19 counties on Thursday because of potential wildfire threat. PG&E equipment was blamed for a 2018 fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise in Butte County. The company filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter. PG&E also faces criminal charges for fires caused by its fraying equipment, including involuntary manslaughter counts in connection to a blaze near the city of Redding last year that killed four. Fires that began in late summer are still burning after destroying hundreds of homes. In the Sierra Nevada, the KNP Complex fire that may have burned hundreds of giant sequoias was only 30 percent contained. Southwest Airlines Pilots Warn Fatigue, Future Problems Could Arise Following Series of Flight Cancellations Pilots from Southwest Airlines have warned that additional flight problems could occur as the company faces fatigue and other struggles among its staff members. Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,800 flights over the weekend. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, representing the companys 9,000 pilots, blamed company management concerning the issues. Were going to see it next weekend or the holidays or whenever a thunderstorm pops up in Mexico, Capt. Casey Murray told The Wall Street Journal in a Monday interview. On Saturday, the company announced on Twitter, ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation. We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected Customers, and Customer Service wait times are longer than usual. ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation. We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected Customers, and Customer Service wait times are longer than usual. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/o1scQJ5lLb Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) October 9, 2021 Airlines cancellations continued Monday and Tuesday, with the airline releasing an update statement on Tuesday to address the ongoing problems. As we complete efforts to stabilize our network, Southwest expects a more normal operation on Tuesday with approximately 90 system-wide cancellations out of the airlines almost 3,300 flights scheduled for the day. The Southwest Team appreciates the patience of Customers, the company said in a statement. By Wednesday, an update to the statement noted Southwest Airlines had resumed normal operations. Some suggested the problems were due to the companys vaccine mandate policy. However, both the company and the pilots association said this was not the case. Pilots have expressed the situation could happen again due to a variety of issues. In addition to the mention of management concerns, the company remains in the middle of hiring back many of its furloughed workers unable to work during the coronavirus pandemic. Worker shortages are also a concern, both for Southwest Airlines and across the nation as companies struggle to recruit and retain quality workers in the aftermath of COVID-19. In July, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, wrote a letter to the CEOs of major airlines for information related to worker shortages. I am deeply concerned by recent reports highlighting workforce shortages that have caused flight cancellations and generated delays for passengers, Cantwell wrote. These shortages come in the wake of unprecedented federal funding that Congress appropriated, at the airlines request, to support the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, she added. The senator also added a series of questions for airline leaders regarding safe operation. Congress recognized the need to ensure that airline workers, including pilots, flight attendants, baggage crews, customer service professionals, contractors, and others could retain their jobs and, in turn, keep the airline industry operating safely for the American public, Cantwell wrote. A view of a destroyed chapel following an earthquake is shown in the village of Xerokampos on the island of Crete, Greece, on Oct.12, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters) Strong Quake Rattles Crete, Minor Damage but No Casualties ATHENSA powerful earthquake rattled Crete on Tuesday, causing minor damage on the Greek island in the Mediterranean, and the tremor was felt as far away as Cyprus. There were no immediate reports of casualties after the magnitude 6.3 tremor, which the Athens Geodynamic Institute said was centered at sea about 23 km (14 miles) east of the village of Zakros in eastern Crete. The quake, which was shallow at a depth of 2 km (1.2 miles), was felt by residents of the island of Rhodes and by people living in high-rise buildings in Cyprus, 600 km (373 miles) east of Crete. Pictures on social media suggested a chapel collapsed in the village of Xerokampos, in eastern Crete. We dont have reports of injuries, a fire brigade official told Reuters. There might be some minor damages to old buildings. Many people in Cretes main city Heraklion rushed outdoors, after the second tremor since a quake last month measured magnitude 5.8 shook Crete and killed one person. A Greek seismologist said Tuesdays quake came from a different fault. By Akriti Sharma, Angeliki Koutantou and Lefteris Papadimas This famed French dessert showcases all the best ingredients of its home regionNormandy. (Audrey Le Goff) Tarte Normande: A Classic French Apple Tart With Local Flavor Famous for its bucolic villages, lush apple orchards, and storied dairy farms, Normandy is a northern French region that produces exceptional apples, Calvados, butter, and creme fraicheall of which collide in the delicious Tarte Normande. This iconic regional dessert features a sandy, buttery crust filled with juicy apple wedges, nestled in a Calvados-infused custard. Its an easy, rustic recipe for your baking repertoire, best made in the fall, when apples are in season. From the best apples to pick to the perfect homemade pate sablee, heres what youll need to make it at home. The Local Liquor Calvados, an apple brandy from Normandy, is one of the regions most renowned exports. The amber-hued elixir is distilled from dry cider, produced with blends of only specially-grown Normandy applesmaking it an AOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) product. Beloved for its sweetness and smooth layers of fruit and oak, Calvados became the drink of choice for U.S. and Canadian regiments that settled into the region after the storming of the D-Day beaches and the Battle of Normandy during World War II. These episodes assuredly contributed to carrying the fame of this distinct, locally produced brandy across the Atlantic. Calvados, a local apple brandy, is enjoyed as an aperitif or a digestif, or incorporated into various recipes. (AndreyCherkasov/Shutterstock) Many Calvados distilleries, damaged during the war, were reconstructed and modernized to meet increasing demandwhich to this day hasnt decreased. Large-scale producers, such as Boulard and Pere Magloire, have now gained international recognition, and their bottles can easily be found in most liquor stores across North America. Calvados can be enjoyed as an aperitif or as a digestif. Its also widely used in Normandys regional cuisine to flavor sauces and dessertsone of which is the Tarte Normande. The Apples As with most apple tarts or cakes, you should look for baking or cooking apples, which arent as juicy as eating varieties and wont turn mushy once baked. In the United States, good options for baking include Honeycrisp (perhaps my favorite), Melrose, Jonagold, Braeburn, Gala, Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, and Granny Smith. This tart recipe requires 3 large or 4 medium apples. You can opt for one single variety or a mix. Try combining tart Granny Smiths with sweeter Honeycrisps for a nice balance of textures and flavors. The Creme Fraiche A final ingredient that makes this tart filling so special is the creme fraiche. Widely used in northern French cooking, and especially in Normandy, creme fraiche is a thick, unpasteurized, soured cream. Its similar to sour cream, but has a higher fat content (usually 30 to 40 percent) and a richer, rounder, and slightly less tangy flavor. Although it wasnt easy to find until a few years ago, creme fraiche has now become common in grocery stores in the United States and Canada. You can usually find it next to the sour cream. Ideally, look for creme fraiche packaged in a glass pot, which generally indicates a better quality, rather than plastic tubs. If possible, look for one labeled Creme Fraiche de Normandie. If you cant get your hands on creme fraiche or would like a more affordable option, you can substitute with heavy cream (35 percent milkfat) or half-and-half. This will make the custard less rich, but wont affect the overall texture once baked. The Crust The crust for a Tarte Normande is known as a pate sablee, translating to sandy crust. This type of crust is traditionally used in France for tart shells meant to encase soft fillings, such as pastry creams and fruits. The crust is buttery and not too sweet, with a lovely sandy texture, yet its sturdy enough to hold the filling of cream and apples. A pate sablee usually needs to be baked a blanc (blind-baked) before being filled, but this Tarte Normande recipe is an exception. The unbaked crust is simply filled with the apples and custard, and the assembled dessert bakes in the oven all at once. If youre short on time, a store-bought shortcrust works just fine, but I find that making your own pastry crust from scratch really brings this tart from just good to exceptional. Normandy-Style Apple Tart (Tarte Normande) This tart is best enjoyed the day of making. Makes one 9-inch or 10-inch tart For the Crust (Pate Sablee) 1 1/4 cup (155 grams) all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick/125 grams) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes 2 egg yolks For the Filling (Creme Normande) 3 large eggs 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (20 grams) almond flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (250ml) creme fraiche, or heavy cream (35 percent milkfat) or half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 1/2 tablespoon Calvados (apple brandy) 3 large or 4 medium baking apples (about 1 1/2 pounds) Prepare the pate sablee: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar. Add the cubed butter and use your hands to mix the ingredients together, rub them between your palms until you get a crumbly, sandy texture with pea-size bits of butter still visible. Add the egg yolks and combine until the dough comes together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Butter and flour a 9-inch or 10-inch tart pan (ideally with a removable bottom). Take the pate sablee out of the fridge. Place it between two large sheets of parchment paper and roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Transfer the crust into the tart pan, gently pressing it in to line the bottom and sides. Dont worry if the crust tearsyou can easily patch it together and press it to seal. Trim the edges all around and poke the bottom evenly all over with a fork. Place the crust in the fridge while you prepare the filling. Poke the bottom of the crust evenly all over with a fork. (Audrey Le Goff) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with a rack in the middle. Prepare the filling: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and 1/2 cup sugar. Whisk in the almond flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, creme fraiche (or heavy cream), and Calvados. Set aside. Peel and core the apples. Cut each apple into 12 wedges. Remove the crust from the fridge. Arrange the apple wedges at the bottom of the crust in a circular pattern. Pour the filling over the top. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the top. Arrange the apple wedges at the bottom of the crust in a circular pattern. (Audrey Le Goff) Pour the cream filling over the apples. (Audrey Le Goff) Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until the crust is golden. Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Bake until the crust is golden. (Audrey Le Goff) The American People Are Rejecting a President Too Weak to Take On the Radicals in His Own Party Commentary President Joe Bidens poll numbers are tanking, especially among independent voters. The American people do not like weak leaders, and they do not like the craziness thats infiltrating their daily lives. Biden campaigned as someone who could bring the country together. Since taking office, hes made no effort to do that. Instead, he has continually conceded to his partys far-left wing, which is growing crazier by the day. Its not clear if Biden is just too weak to take them on or if he is buying into their craziness, but either way, people are not happy. The Democrats are somehow making the Republicans seem appealing again to your average non-politically aligned voter. Given the current disarray in the Republican Party, this was a tall task. Its almost as if the two parties are competing to see who can turn off the middle more. This week, the Democrats are in the lead. Their policies are so crazy not even their allies in the dominant corporate media can succeed in selling them. First, the numbers: Quinnipiac University is a major polling outlet not known for a bias. In their latest poll, Bidens overall job approval has plummeted down to 38 percent from highs in the mid-50s earlier in his presidency. Things look even worse for Biden when you look at the complete collapse of his support from political independents, who now disapprove of him by a 60 percent-to-32 percent margin. It gets worse yet again when you look at key issues independent voters really care about. On the economy, Bidens underwater by 28 points. On taxes, by 30. On immigration overall, Biden is down 48 points among independents with only 22 percent approving, versus 70 percent disapproving. On Mexican border matters, its even worse, with a net negative of 55 percent. Sixty-three percent of independents dont think Biden is a good leader, versus only 34 percent who do. Finally, only 35 percent of independents think the Biden administration has been competent running the government, versus a whopping 62 percent who think they are incompetent. Its not a pretty picture. How did Biden squander all his popularity? Its not hard to see when you analyze each issue. On immigration and border security, the hard left is in favor of open borders. Biden claims to disagree with this view, but the policy changes hes put in place since coming to office have obliterated any semblance of security America had on the southern border. Millions of migrants are crossing illegally. The U.S. government doesnt even know the real number, and it also does not know how many terrorists or criminals are crossing or how much deadly fentanyl is making it across with so little resistance. People dont want this. On economic issues, the socialist wing in the Democratic Party is firmly in charge of the agenda in Washington. The new policies they are trying to ram through Congress will add trillions of dollars in new spending and taxes. Somehow, Biden seems to have been convinced that ramming through this level of increased government involvement in our economy will make him a historic leader. Nobody voted for this. Certainly, the many independents who voted for Biden to help heal a broken country did not sign up for it. The hard left is harassing the two Democratic senators who stand in the way of the socialists, and Biden is passively watching it happen. The situation in American schools is out of control. Radicals are instituting programs and curricula that are most accurately described as racist in school districts across the country. A school in Buffalo, New York, for example, prescribed a curriculum including Marxist teachings on disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure. A private school in New York City even encouraged its students to stop using the terms mom and dad. And racial segregation is back. Its advocates this time are so-called anti-racists, as opposed to the traditional brand of racist who used to advocate for such policies. The results are the same. A school in Madison, Wisconsin, for example, segregated students and parents by race into so-called affinity groups for class discussions. And in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the public school hosted an event pushing a so-called healing space available only to minority students. The school did not try to hide its overt racism: Note: This is a safe space for our Asian/Asian-American and Students of Color, not for students who identify only as White. Parents are understandably up in arms over these attempts by radical educators to brainwash their children with Marxist thought or even overt racism. They have taken to school boards in record numbers to push back. The Biden administrations response? This week, the attorney general sent a memorandum to the FBI and federal prosecutors asking them to work with local law enforcement to crack down on parents protesting school board actions. Nobody is in favor of parents threatening or committing violence against teachers, but the memorandum was worded so broadly as to be reasonably viewed as itself an attempt to intimidate parents away from questioning the radical ideologies being imposed on students across America. Biden has earned his unpopularity through some combination of weakness and incompetence. The left wing of the Democratic Party has gone firmly out of the American mainstream in several policy areas. Instead of standing up to this fringe, Biden and the party have been catering to the socialists. Its not clear if they do this because they agree with the insanity or they are too weak to oppose it, but either way, the good news is the American people are not buying it. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The American Regime and Its Moral Ground Commentary In the night he was elected president in November 2008, Barack Obama addressed a vast throng in Grant Park in my hometown of Chicago and remarked that we had built this country calloused hand by calloused hand, for 221 years. Obama professed an admiration for Abraham Lincoln, but it was clear that he hadnt understoodor acceptedLincolns teaching. In contrast to Obamas 221 years, Lincoln said at Gettysburg that Four score and seven years earlier our fathers brought forth a new nation. Counting back, Obama found the beginning of the country in 1787, with the drafting of our current Constitution. But counting back, Lincoln took the beginning of the nation to 1776 and the Declaration of Independence. It was not merely the claim of independence; it was the articulation of that proposition as Lincoln called it, the father of all moral principle among us: that all men are created equal, that the only just government over human beings must draw its powers from the consent of the governed. Lincoln reminded us that the Union, the American republic, was older than the Constitution. The Constitution was made, as it said, for a more perfect Union. For Lincoln, the nation began with that first principle that marked the character of the regime. The task of forming a Constitution was a matter of working out a structure of governance consistent with that principle. The first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, did not work well. The government couldnt summon the wherewithal to support itself and defend the country against enemies foreign or domestic. Instead of integrating the separate states into a more unified nation, it set off centrifugal tendencies, driving the states farther apart with discriminatory tariffs, and separate currencies. It was not the sense of a nation we would come to know, with the free movement of persons and goods across the boundaries of the states. Lincoln recalled the biblical proverb that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Prov. 25: 11): The words fitly spoken were all men are created equal, which provided the apple: The Union and the Constitution are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was made, not to conceal or destroy the apple; but to preserve it. The picture was made for the applenot the apple for the picture. The Constitution was made for the Union, not the Union for the Constitution. When the Founders took up the task of framing a new Constitution, they had to draw upon those principles of law and moral truths that were thereas they had to bebefore the Constitution. If those principles were not there, to tell us of the forms of government that were better or worse, how would we know of just what institutions claimed a rightful authority to put in place those positive laws that we were obliged to obey? And over time, jurists found it necessary to appeal back to those principles that were there before the Constitution, in order to apply the Constitution sensibly to the cases coming before them. John Quincy Adams would argue that the right to petition the government was simply implicit in the logic of a free government: it would be there even it hadnt been set down in the First Amendment. By the same reasoning, it would be there even if there were no First Amendment; it would be there even if there were no Constitution. But if that is all true, people will raise the question: Are you saying that we dont need a Constitution? Of course we do, for it is a matter again of the structure of governance. It is utterly critical to know just whom the military will be expected to obey if a president dies in office. And we would certainly want to know if any state may enter a treaty or alliance or make its territory available as a military and naval base for a foreign power. Even more recently there was a jolting bump in the road to the enactment of Obamacare, when the Constitution delivered up, for the 111th time, in peace and war, a midterm election. And no one thought of litigating over this working of the Constitution. But what of the beginning of everything in that first principle itself? Obama has affected the manners of the urbane half-educated in our own day as he blithely dismisses the notion that all men are created equal has ever been a real truth, let alone one of those anchoring, necessary truths that furnished the moral ground of this government. He has fallen in readily with the doctrines of historic-ism: that truths can be known only in that historical period when they are believed to be true; that there are no moral truths that hold across the agesexcept of course for the truth of historic-ism. And yet Lincoln and the Founders did take that proposition seriously. Lincoln regarded it as one of those abstract truths applicable to all men and all times. Alexander Hamilton went to the root in explaining that point when he wrote about those first principles, or primary truths on which all subsequent reasonings must depend. They contained an internal evidence which, antecedent to all reflection and combination command the assent of the mind. They were grasped per se nota, as true in themselves, as we grasp the law of contradiction: that two contradictory propositions both cannot be true. Then how would one grasp in that way that anchoring principle of the American regime? The answer would be quickly revealed if we posed this question to anyone we know: Why is it that, in this age of animal liberation, we are not signing labor contracts with our horses and cowsor seeking the informed consent of our household pets before we authorize surgery on them? We can expect any person we encounter to be quite puzzled by the questionand wondering why we are asking it. But what the ordinary man grasps already is that animals cannot reason about the terms of a contract, give a promise, and keep their commitments. Only one kind of creature understands what it means to consent to a contractand to honor a commitment even when it no longer accords with his self-interest. The ordinary man who grasps at once that simple thing takes hold of the principle in the Declaration. As the argument ran, no man is by nature the ruler of other men in the way that God is by nature the ruler of men and men are by nature the ruler of dogs and horses. Anyone who denies that, said Jefferson, had to assume that the mass of mankind had been born booted and spurred, ready to ride them. The question, as Lincoln said, was whether the black man is not or is a man. If he is not a man he who is a man may do just as he pleases with him. But if the negro is a man, is it not a total destruction of self-government to say that he too shall not govern himself? And so, when the question was put, Where in the world would it be wrong for human beings to be ruled in the way that dogs or horses are ruled? The answer was: that would be wrong anywhere in the worldand at any timewhere that difference in nature remains the same. Thus the notion of certain enduring rights, grounded in an enduring nature, or natural rights. But as Lincoln recognized, slavery was in conflict with those deep premises of the American regime. And that disturbing truth was recognized in the South as well as the North. A group of slave-owners, meeting at Darien, in Southern Georgia, declared in 1775 their disapprobation and abhorrence of the unnatural practice of slavery in America debasing part of our fellow creatures below men, and corrupting the virtues and morals of the rest, and is laying the basis of the liberty we contend for upon a very wrong foundation. They vowed then to emancipate their own slaves. After the war, the move to gradual emancipation swept through the North, and by 1810 the number of blacks freed through manumission in the South exceeded the number of free blacks in the north. The famous black leader Frederick Douglass would say later that the Founders had made the right judgment: They had to accept slavery in the South in order to have the Union. But if those southern states had formed a separate nation, they would have expanded a slave empire into the Caribbean or beyond. It was far better to bring the slave states into a Union, or framework, in which slavery was rejected in point of principle. The word slavery would appear nowhere in the Constitution; as Lincoln said, only covert language was used. But at the same time, the framers would block the import of more slaves from abroad (after 1808) and bar its extension into the western territories. As Lincoln said, all of the marks here suggested a policy, not of endorsing and encouraging, but discouraging and compressing, with the hope of putting slavery in the course of ultimate extinction. As Justice George Sutherland reminded us in the 1930s, the Union was older than the Constitution, and the right to defend the country would be there under any Constitution. But defending the country meant the need to plan military operations, while concealing those operations from potential enemies. There could be a need, then, of course, to deploy spies and secret agents. These are the things that are, by nature, executive functions. And they continue to be distinctly executive functions even if they are directed by John Jay as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, through a committee in Congress, under the Articles of Confederation. When the Iranian revolutionary government seized American hostages in 1979, the Carter administration froze Iranian assets in the United States. That could not be done by the Congress, after holding hearings, for those assets would have been gone by the time the hearings had concluded. If this strategic action were to be done at all, then in Macbeths words, twere well / It were done quickly. Only the executive could act with dispatch in a crisis of this kind. At the beginning of the Civil War, the novelist Richard Henry Dana defended, in the Supreme Court, the authority of President Lincoln to order a naval blockade of the South. Dana observed that a Declaration of War was an artifact, a thing created under the positive law of a Constitution. But war, he said, was a fact. And could it really be sensible to assume that an enemy would be decorous enough to hold back its attack until the Congress could be assembled to declare war? Or was it more sensible to conclude that the authority to defend the country had to fall to that one branch of government that was never out of town, or out of session: namely, the executive, charged with the ongoing administration of the laws. In that vein, it is one of the deepest principles in the American regime, running back to the revolution, that the safety of the American people cannot be put in the hands of officials in Westminster, or unelected judges, who bear no direct responsibility to the people whose lives are at stake. That is why some of us would argue that it was a profound mistake for Justice Anthony Kennedy and four of his colleagues to inject the judges onto the battlefield in Iraq in the Boumediene case (2008). Actions taken in the heat of battle may not indeed satisfy a demanding test of due process of law. But judges are in no decent position to second guess because they bear no responsibility for the lives that may be lost. Before the Civil War there was in this country another civil warin Rhode Island. Two different legislatures and governors were put forth to represent the legitimate government of Rhode Island. President John Tyler signaled the intention to intervene on the side of the established government, and that signal was enough to induce the armed opposition to stand down. Chief Justice Roger Taney would later explain (in Luther v. Borden, 1842) that a crisis of this kind could not be handled by trial court, with the time it takes to select a jury, hold a trial, and reach a verdict. Nor could an appellate court handle the matter by calling for briefs, hearing the arguments, and retiring to chambers to write opinions. What came through was an unseasonable but inescapable truth: that it is not mainly the courts that sustain a regime of constitutional freedoms. It is rather the sword of the law that preserves that civil peace in which courts are free to render a more scrupulous justice, with those procedures more exacting and more fitting the function of judges. We have seen, in recent years, presidents and administrations blocked in their initiatives by judges operating with nationwide injunctions. And yet we have also seen, on matters ranging from the launching of wars to the steady administration of the laws, that the executive will hold a rightful authority to act at grave moments outside the reach of the legislative or judicial branches. If that leaves people uneasy, we think of Thomas Hobbess taunt: If you are uncomfortable with the notion of sovereign power, you will have to call forth some other authority to limit it. And whatever power you call forth will be, then, even more sovereign yet. If one doesnt trust an American president in conducting war and foreign affairs, the solution cannot be had by putting authority in the hands of unelected judges, who cannot be held responsible for their acts. Even a president bound up with a thick body of laws will be compelled at times to act well beyond the restraints of the law. The question will always arise then how we can be sure that a president, freed in this way, will use his power to preserve this regime and our freedoms, and not create a new regime built around himself. The only answer to that old question remains the same: the only ground of assurance lies in the character of that person we elevate to the highest office. We would find the deepest assurance in a man who could say, as Lincoln said to a contingent of soldiers, that I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am a living witness that any of your children may look to come here as my fathers child has. This was a man whose loyalty to the regime ran to the deepest levels of his own character. The question for us now is whether we cultivate men like that anymoreand whether we have cultivated among ourselves the wit to recognize them when we see them. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. President Joe Biden (C) hosts a Quad leaders summit along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian PM Scott Morrison, and Japanese PM Suga Yoshihide in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 24, 2021. The four leaders are expected to discuss a range of topics including climate change, Covid-19 vaccines and a free and open Indo-Pacific ocean region. (Pool/Getty Images) The Perfect Storm for a War With China Part 2 of the 2-part series 'Taipei, Beijing, and Washington: A Perfect Storm' News Analysis A war between China and Taiwan is nearly inevitable. And if the U.S. military intervenes, it could easily escalate, drawing in several of the worlds most powerful militaries. Chinas Ministry of National Defense published its defense policy, which includes suppressing proponents of separatist movements and to oppose and contain Taiwan independence. The document goes on to outline a number of goals, including to solve the Taiwan question and achieve complete reunification of the country. Its clear that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sees Taiwan as part of China and is determined to rule over the island nation. In 1979, when the United States switched its recognition to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) from Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China or ROC), U.S. troops were removed from Taiwan, but Washington stressed that it would continue to maintain cultural, commercial, and other relations with Taiwan. The United States did, however, erase the name ROC from all official documents and began referring to the island as Taiwan. While not officially backing Taiwans independence, the Taiwan Relations Act states that if China attacks Taiwan, the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities. Additionally, the United States regards continued, close relations with Taiwan as a significant part of its Asia policy to maintain peace and stability in the region. In 2019, President Donald Trump moved the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the U.S. representative office, into a newly constructed $255 million compound with more than 500 employees, including military personnel. These were the first uniformed U.S. military personnel in Taiwan since 1979. During the Trump administration, and continuing under President Joe Biden, the United States has increased its arms sales to Taiwan, as well as increasing the U.S. Navy presence in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (center) and assembled naval personnel take part in a ceremony to commission two Perry-class guided missile frigates from the United States into the Taiwan Navy, in the southern port of Kaohsiung on Nov. 8, 2018. (Chris Stowers/AFP/Getty Images) One fact that may be responsible for Beijings increasing aggression could be a belief that the United States willingness to fight for Taiwan is diminishing. In an interview on Chinese state-run TV, Teng Jianqun, a former PLA Navy captain asked, Would the United States court death for Taiwan? Immediately after the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, in August, Peoples Liberation Army warships fired missiles into the sea near Taiwan, while Chinese marines practiced amphibious landings on a shore in China. The drill was clearly a simulated invasion of Taiwan and represented the largest such exercise to date. State media have claimed that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan signaled the death knell of U.S. hegemony as well as the end of U.S. military credibility. The CCP even warned Taiwan that the fall of Kabul was proof that Taiwan had lost its best ally in a war for independence. While the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan could have been handled better, the U.S. military is still ranked the most powerful on Earth by Global Firepower. The U.S. Navy has been transiting the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from mainland China, roughly once per month. This suggests that the U.S. commitment to countering China and defending Taiwan is still strong. These freedom-of-navigation transits have increased under the Biden administration. A war triggered by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would involve not only the United States, but could also include the Quad (the United States, Japan, India, and Australia), as well as AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States that combines their military might to counter China and protect the Indo-Pacific region. Japan also has territorial claims against China, such as the disputed Senkaku Islands, which could also play a factor. U.S. and allied forces deploy troops and ships from Japan for the purpose of China containment. Recently, the USS Ronald Reagan, the USS Carl Vinson, and HMS Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by warships from Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Canada, conducted joint exercises in the Philippine Sea, near Okinawa, and the South China Sea. While the CCP speculates that Taiwan may not be enough of an impetus for the United States and its allies to fight, there is a much larger picture that must be considered. The fall of Taiwan to the Chinese regime would most likely accompany a loss of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, which are crucial for international fishing and shipping. It would also mean a loss of territory for Japan and Southeast Asian nations that have territorial disputes with China. So it is possible that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a catalyst, rather than a direct cause, of a larger war. The regime in Beijing may believe that the United States wouldnt fight for Taiwan, and while Washington has purposely kept its position on Taiwan vague, its clear that the United States could fight if it wished to do so. A war for Taiwan could include Taiwan, China, and the United States, but would very likely draw in U.S. allies Japan, India, Australia, and the UK, among others. Unlike other potential conflicts in the world, the Taiwan issue is unique in that it is the stated goal of the CCP to take Taiwan and the stated goal of Taiwan to defend itself, which almost ensures that a conflict will happen. How much that conflict escalates depends on the United States. In the words of an adviser to the CCP, this dynamic has all the makings of a perfect storm. Read part 1 here. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Deputy Attorney General Jeffery Rosen speaks to the media about charges and arrests related to a computer intrusion campaign tied to the Chinese regime by a group called APT 41 at the Department of Justice in Washington, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis-Pool/Getty Images) They Choose to Steal Rather Than Innovate: Experts Sound Alarm on Chinas Theft of American IP U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed that the threat of intellectual property (IP) theft from the communist Chinese regime is one of the most important trade issues facing the country. But at the root of the problem lies a larger issue, one that is rarely broached in public, according to Evan Anderson, CEO of INVNT/IP, a Strategic News Service initiative. The most undiscussed issue that presents a bigger problem that people pretend doesnt exist is thatby Chinese lawcompanies cannot refuse to work for the Chinese Communist Party [CCP], Anderson told The Epoch Times. It is through these laws that the Chinese regime is effectively able to mobilize the whole of society in its efforts to steal foreign technology and IP, he said. Anderson, whose 2016 briefing book Theft Nation was featured on one of the most-watched investigative segments of 60 Minutes, said that five years ago, people didnt quite believe IP theft was really as bad as it was. Today, it hasnt improved in any meaningful way. Compliance at Home and Abroad According to Anderson, Chinas National Intelligence Law, which was enacted in 2017, is one of the most overlooked reasons for the continuation of the regimes IP theft. The language of the legislation showcases the far-reaching laws and regulations associated with national security, cyberspace, and law enforcement under Xi Jinpings leadership. The national security laws that have been passed in China actually mean, in writing, that any Chinese citizen, or anyone thats ethnically Chinese abroad, is technically subservient to their government, he said. According to the way the laws are written, he said, there isnt necessarily anything Chinese citizens working abroad could do if the [CCP] required them to steal IP. Coercion, he added, is a key tactic to compel others to commit such an action, as the individuals life or the lives of his family members could be threatened. Article Seven indicates that no citizen or organization can dodge helping the MSS [Ministry of State Security] in whatever way they desire, [and] Article Ten makes that [edict] extraterritorial, so it doesnt matter where the citizens or organizations are in the world, they still have to do what they are told. He added, These laws put into writing what everyone knew was already true, essentially stating that no individual or company can say no to the Chinese governmentand thats a bad thing because the Chinese government is using this to get access to the data around the world that they want. MSS Agents of Theft Anderson also said that the average person doesnt realize that some countries have robust programs designed to steal intellectual property. China, by far and away, has the largest and most robust program built specifically to steal IP, he said. They choose to steal rather than innovate. Anderson added, With little money, time, or effort, someone can get into a companys computer system and steal everything they know about how to make the best medical devices, for example. Whether an idea from an email or an actual physical design is acquired, the CCP can use this kind of information to create a copycat company or product, he said. These products are then sold on the global market. When someone buys products from companies that participate in this kind of activity, their money is technically going into the coffers of the Chinese Communist Party, Anderson said. One tactic deployed by the Chinese regime is that it often hacks emails to see how contracts are negotiated, Anderson said. From his perspective, how a contract is negotiated is considered intellectual property just as much as a blueprint. Another tactic used involves cyber threats from within a company. There are plenty of insider threats at companies from people who have been compromised by the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] government and Ministry of State Security, and theyre stealing from the very companies theyre working for, he said. Many of these operations are well-planned, according to Anderson, and orchestrated by what he calls IP theft agents working for the MSS. Thus, these perpetrators are trained to steal IP while legitimately working for a given company. Economic Losses Tactics used by the CCP to steal IP from the United States have been recognized as a major problem by senior U.S. enforcement and intelligence officials. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray in 2020 described the scale of the regimes theft of technology and trade secrets as so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history. According to a 2017 IP Commission report by the National Bureau of Asian Research, the annual cost of IP theft to the U.S. economy could be as high as $600 billion. And China is the worlds top IP infringer, responsible for between 50 percent and 80 percent of all IP theft costs, according to the IP Commissions estimates. Around 80 percent of all economic espionage prosecutions run by the Justice Department involve China, according to the department. Human Rights But its not only the Chinese regimes rampant IP theft campaign that worries Anderson. Beijings use of Uyghur slave labor in the Xinjiang region should give foreign companies pause when conducting business in China. How do you know that you havent supported a Chinese company that uses slave laborers in concentration camps from Xinjiang that were trained on some sort of factory equipment to produce a product? The CCP has detained more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of internment camps, in a campaign the United States and other Western companies have designated a genocide. The United States has also banned all tomato and cotton products from the region in a bid to protect the U.S. supply chain from forced labor. Human rights issues, and the success and health of innovative business, are all part of the same problem, Anderson said. And the Chinese regime has benefited from the financial successes of its criminal activities, including slave labor and IP theft, for far too long, he added. Best-selling author and investigative journalist, James Simpson, agreed. Businesses around the world have essentially become addicted to slave labor and the low cost of goods it produces, Simpson said. When the Chinese regime uses business models that rely on forced labor and IP theft, the rest of the world cannot compete, he added. Pushing Back More pressure needs to be put on the Chinese regime to prevent IP theft while also encouraging innovation and value for human life, according to Anderson. The only were going to actually move the needle on this issue is by causing economic pain, which means we must stop doing business with these people. Simpson said the Chinese regime should face the harshest economic penalties for stealing intellectual property. The author, a former economist and budget examiner for the White House Office of Management and Budget, considers a boycott on Chinese goods, in theory, a good idea, but a hard thing to do in practice. He noted that packages from China were once clearly identified as products coming from China, but that isnt the case today. Unfortunately most people dont know what products are produced by China, or what products could be assembled in America but still contain Chinese components, Simpson said. Furthermore, consumers are not able to identify which products were developed using ripped off intellectual property, he said. Anderson said that whether its a human rights issue, the health of the global economy, or the health of the global supply chain, none of it is going to get fixed until we directly address each issue and come up with solutions that cause enough economic pain to the Communist Party, so they recognize that it is the path of least resistance to actually do something better than what theyre currently doing. If the regime is not stopped from its thievery, human society as a whole loses out, he said. The world is going to see more and more companies that are less innovative putting the companies that were once the innovators out of businessand theres going to be a certain degree of lost human potential in society because of it. But Anderson still holds hope that the tide will turn. Countries are realizing the level of the threat and the level of instability that comes with working with China as a government, and thats a good thing, Anderson said, adding that he is encouraged that the world is waking up. Anderson said that major business interests have been pretending theres no other choice but to do business with China, but hes hopeful that thats going to change. While this change is unlikely to occur in the next five to 10 years, Anderson projects that there will be a drastic difference in the global stance on the evil activities of the Communist Party, and those perspectives will spark changes to how business is conducted with China. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes questions after announcing that Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been released from detention in China, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sept. 24, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Trudeau Joins G20 Leaders in Pushing Taliban for Aid Access, Respect for Rights OTTAWACanada joined its G20 allies in pushing Afghanistans new Taliban rulers to allow humanitarian aid to better reach the countrys suffering people. During a virtual summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his fellow G20 leaders discussed the crisis in Afghanistan created by the Taliban rout of Kabuls Western-backed government. The European Union emerged from the summit Tuesday announcing a support package of $1.4 billion, about two-thirds of which was new money. There was no sign of any renewed Canadian financial commitment following Canadas August announcement of an additional $50 million in humanitarian assistance to international organizations helping Afghanistan. The financial assistance being offered by Canada and its allies is channelled through international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, and has never been sent directly to Afghan governments of any stripe. A senior government official said Trudeau used his speaking time at the G20 meeting to push the resettlement of Afghan refugees, noting that Canada had doubled its commitment to accept 40,000 asylum seekers. The official provided details of the Trudeaus participation at the meeting on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. Trudeau joined other leaders in pressing the Taliban to protect the fundamental rights of all Afghans, especially women. The meeting marked one of the first multilateral gatherings since the August collapse of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American military forces, which ended two decades of Western military and political engagement with the country. Afghanistans economy is now on the verge of collapse and its population is facing dire food shortages. Even before the country fell to the Taliban, Afghanistan was heavily reliant on foreign spending assistance. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi hosted the Tuesday meeting because his country currently holds the chair of the G20. The United States, China and Russia are among the group members, and their leaders also attended the virtual summit. Thousands of shipping containers at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, England, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Joe Giddens/PA) UK Christmas Shoppers Urged Not to Panic as Ships Diverted Due to Port Congestion Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden said on Wednesday that hes confident Britons will be able to get Christmas gifts, while some logistic industry leaders suggested it may be wise to buy early. It comes after container ships were turned away from Felixstowea port that handles 36 percent of the UKs container ship trafficdue to congestions. Danish shipping giant Maersk told The Financial Times on Tuesday that the company had to divert bigger ships from the port of Felixstowe and to European ports instead, so it can transfer the containers to smaller ships and then send them to the UK. Lars Mikael Jensen, head of global ocean network at Maersk, said Felixstowe was among two or three worst-hit terminals in the world as shortages of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in the UK meant it takes longer to move cargo out of the ports. Speaking to Sky News, Dowden said the container backlog is clearly a challenging problem, but the government was working through these challenges. Asked about potential Christmas shortages, Dowden suggested people stick to their normal shopping schedule. The situation is improving, Im confident that people will be able to get their toys for Christmas, he said. Some buy very early for Christmas, my wife is quite an early Christmas buyer, others buy later. I would say just buy as you do normally. Tim Morris, chief executive of the UK Major Ports Group, also said there is no need to panic about Christmas over short-term fluctuations because the global supply chains, though very busy, are also pretty robust. We managed it successfully last Christmas and were confident that it will happen again this Christmas, and thats what Ive told my kids. A Hamleyss elf and child actors sit in a sleigh drawn by reindeers displayed inside the shop during the annual Hamleys Christmas toy photocall at their toyshop in central London on Oct. 15, 2020. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) However, Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, felt it may help to prepare early. Asked about the suggestion that there will be empty shelves at Christmas and asked how Grinchy he feels, Bannister told Times Radio that he didnt feel particularly Grinchy. But at the same time, you know, listen, Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton, these big container ports, for the goods coming on the long supply routes, on these big ships from Asia and India and the Middle East, these are providing a lot of the goods that people want to have around Christmas time, he said. Bannister said he expects European goods to be on the shelves for Christmas, he also does wonder about if his wife needs to pre-buy some early Christmas presents for the kids. Bannister assured people that there is no congestion at Dover, adding that people can count on the route to the Kent port functioning as the ferries always keep moving. Peter Wilson, managing director at Cory Brothers shipping agency, said that while problems affecting shipping and transport are a global issue, the UK has a significant pinch point around HGV drivers and the demand on them to move goods from the ports. Thats a really significant issue for us here in the UK, he told BBC Radio 4s Today Programme. Asked if it will affect Christmas, he said it has the potential but stressed that the supply chain will not fail in the UK, adding that consumers should be sensible, think ahead, plan appropriately, and order your Christmas goods and the items that you need in a timely fashion to ensure that you have them. Wilson said there is a potential that some items may not be available nearer to Christmas, and when asked what items are most at risk of that, he said its a real mixed bag of all items, but toys could be where were going to get pinch points. Toy shops are urging consumers tobuy now to avoid Christmas disappointment. Robert Gliddon, owner of Gliddons Toy Shop in Sidmouth, Devon, said apart from potential shortage, customers will also have to face the reality of price rises, anything from 10 percent to 15 percent on anything from across the seas. A spokesman for the British Toy & Hobby Association said toy manufacturers are working around the clock, but it would be prudent to buy early. PA contributed to this report. Protesters from Insulate Britain block the M25 at junction 31, near to the Dartford Crossing in Thurrock, Essex, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Insulate Britain/PA) UK Climate Protesters Dragged Off Roads by Angry Motorists Angry drivers clashed with climate protesters who blocked traffic once again on Wednesday morning, in some cases dragging them off the roads. During the morning rush hour, around 20 protesters from climate group Insulate Britain (IB) blocked a junction near a busy industrial estate in Thurrock, in the outskirts of London. They sat or laid down in the road at the junction of St Clements Way and London Road, forcing multiple vehicles including HGVs to stop and turn round. Lorry drivers blasted their horns and motorists ripped banners out of the hands of demonstrators. A female protester was nearly run over after stopping in front of a blue Hyundai car, and was berated by the driver who told her This is stupidity. Some members of the group were dragged off the road multiple times by drivers, who pulled their backpacks and clothing. But they immediately returned to the middle of the road and sat down again. Footage circulated online showed one woman get out of her black Range Rover and argue with the climate activists blocking her car, saying my son is 11 and he needs to get to school today. Essex Police said officers responded to the situation quickly. We were called at 8.26 a.m. and officers were on scene within five minutes, the force said on Twitter. Police said 35 people had been arrested in Thurrock, including 16 at Junction 31 of the M25 and 19 in Stonehouse Lane, Purfleet. Insulate Britain, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, has been demanding that the government insulate all homes across the UK to cut carbon emissions. After the group repeatedly shut down parts of M25, the UKs busiest motorway, last month, the government obtained an injunction against the protests and warned that activists would face possible imprisonment if they made further such attempts. A survey result published last week by YouGov showed that 72 percent of the people surveyed on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 were against the groups actions, up 13 percent from the result of a survey from three weeks prior. Around 18 percent of participants supported IBs actions, and 10 percent said they didnt know the answer. Among participants who considered the environmental issue the most important to them, about 58 percent opposed IBs tactics, 33 percent supported them, and 10 percent couldnt decide. Asked if IBs actionssuch as blocking roads and fixing themselves on roads and other infrastructure or objectshelp or hinder their cause from their own perspective, 67 percent of those surveyed said they hinder their cause, a 10 percent increase from three weeks prior. Lily Zhou and PA contributed to this report. A crowd at the U.S. capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) US Judge Holds DC Jail Officials in Contempt Over Mistreatment of Capitol Breach Defendant A federal judge on Oct. 13 held top Washington jail officials in contempt, finding that they violated a U.S. Capitol breach defendants civil rights by impeding his access to medical care. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, found Washington jail warden Wanda Patten and Department of Corrections Director Quincy Booth in civil contempt in a written order after expressing displeasure with them during a court hearing. The order doesnt include sanctions or penalties, but was being transmitted to Attorney General Merrick Garland for an inquiry into the potential civil rights violations of defendants charged in relation to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, as exemplified in this case. Its clear to me the civil rights of the defendant were violated by the D.C. Department of Corrections, Lamberth said in federal court in Washington. I dont know if its because hes a January 6 defendant or not. The referral concerns the treatment of Christopher Worrell, who has been charged with civil disorder and other counts. Worrell, who has been held since being arrested in March, has been dealing with a finger fracture and cancer, according to court records. In June, an orthopedic surgeon at a nearby hospital recommended that Worrell have surgery to repair the fracture. A surgery for the fracture is still in the process of being approved by U.S. Marshals, Worrells attorneys and prosecutors wrote in a joint update last week. Lamberth said that after receiving the update, he contacted Acting U.S. Marshal Lamont Ruffin to inquire about the subject. Ruffin said that repeated requests for medical records from the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) didnt yield necessary notes. The judge then ordered the D.C. jail and DOC to provide the records to the court. Jail officials didnt respond to the order, Lamberth said in a separate filing on Oct. 12. He ordered them to appear before him and show why they shouldnt be held in civil contempt. A lawyer for the jail argued that they had been working to get the records together to comply with the courts order before the contempt hearing was set. Hes needed an operation. He hasnt gotten it, the judge said. Defense lawyers representing a number of Capitol defendants have said their clients are being treated poorly in the Washington jail. Several defendants have said guards beat them. Theyre being treated like third-world country political prisoners, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told The Epoch Times. Chris Geldart, deputy mayor for public safety and justice in Washington, told The Epoch Times in an email that the DOC has made every effort to comply with the orders of District Court including the provision of external medical records referenced in this case. The Department works to ensure the Constitutional rights of all residents and will fully cooperate with any lawful inquiries or investigation by the United States Department of Justice and/or the United States Attorneys Office, Geldart wrote. Department of Justice officials didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Both my client and I are pleased with the outcome of the hearing and Judge Lamberts ruling today, Alex Stavrou, an attorney representing the defendant, told The Epoch Times in an email. On behalf of all January 6 defendants, we support the [judges] position that the Office of the Attorney General investigate into potential civil rights violations. On behalf of Christopher Worrell and all January 6 defendants, we trust and pray that the Office of the Attorney General will conduct this inquiry immediately and without prejudice, Stavrou wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Canadian and U.S. flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Windsor, Ont., on March 21, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Rob Gurdebeke) US to Open Canada, Mexico Borders to Fully Vaccinated Travelers Next Month: Officials The United States plans to reopen its land borders with Mexico and Canada to nonessential travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting in early November, Biden administration officials said on Oct. 12. The restrictions for nonessential travel at the countrys land borders have been in place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. News of the new rules from the Department of Homeland Security comes just weeks after President Joe Biden announced similar planned requirements for international air travelers. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the rules on Oct. 13. Today and tomorrow, we are announcing that we will be implementing similar requirements for foreign nationals traveling across the land border from Canada and Mexico, White House deputy coordinator Natalie Quillian said on Oct. 12. To be fully vaccinated is an important step that will further enhance the safety of international travel and the safety of Americans at home. Starting in November, alongside the Biden administrations new international air travel system, the United States will begin allowing fully vaccinated travelers from Mexico and Canada to enter the country for nonessential reasons, such as to visit friends and family or for tourism, Quillian said, noting that unvaccinated travelers will continue to be prohibited from entering the country for nonessential reasons. Quillian told reporters that as part of the systems second phase, beginning in early January 2022, the Biden administration will require inbound foreign national travelers crossing land borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, whether traveling for essential or nonessential reasons. Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy, Mayorkas wrote on Twitter. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner. Several lawmakers praised the decision to lift the travel restrictions that were implemented as part of measures to curb the transmission of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said the Biden administrations announcement will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada. Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report. A man stands next to a fire at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore., on July 21, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Violent Protests Omitted From Domestic Terrorism Data Presented to Congress Right-wing extremists were responsible for 66 percent of the 110 domestic terrorism plots or attacks committed in 2020, according to data presented to an Oct. 13 congressional hearingbut the study doesnt include most of the roughly 450 violent protests from that year. Data on domestic terrorism was presented on Oct. 13 at a House Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing on extremist groups recruiting veterans. The hearing is the first in a three-part investigation on what role military veterans might play in such activities. Some members of Congress, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security have deemed domestic extremism as the greatest threat to the homeland, although they have yet to produce comprehensive data supporting that claim. Center for Strategic & International Studies Director Seth Jones said during testimony that violent far-right extremists were responsible for 66 percent of the 110 domestic terrorist attacks and plots in 2020. Of these, active-duty military personnel took part in seven attacks or plots, Jones told committee members. Citing his April CSIS paper on domestic terrorism, Jones said 23 percent of the terrorist plots or attacks in 2020 were perpetrated by far-left groups, while those inspired by Salafi-jihadist ideology fell to 5 percent. However, Jones didnt share with the panel that his study omits nearly all of the roughly 450 violent protests from 2020. There were approximately 450 violent protests between May and August 2020, the reports section on methodology states. Yet [CSIS] only verified 12 incidents of far-left terrorism during that period, since most of the violence did not meet the definition of terrorism. CSIS defined terrorism as the deliberate useor threatof violence by non-state actors in order to achieve political goals and create a broad psychological impact. For inclusion in the data set, events had to meet all parts of this definition, the report stated. [CSIS] did not seek to address other issues, such as hate crimes, protests, riots, or broader civil unrest. CSIS also stated it verified that 11 of more than 100 vehicle attacks at protests were far-right terrorist attacks. Investigations have found that some of the attacks were politically motivated, although many were due to drivers being frightened or enraged when surrounded by protesters. Along with providing data for 2020, Jones told the committee that military veterans were involved in 10 percent of the terrorism plots or attacks from 2015 to 2020. Veterans comprise about 7 percent of the adult population, according to Pew Research. Active duty and reserve members were involved in seven of the plots or attacks in 2020, one of the 65 in 2019, and zero in 2018, according to Joness data. Jones added that at least 66 veterans were involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. At the hearing, Jones and others used the events of Jan. 6 to illustrate the growing threat of veterans joining extremist causes. From Oklahoma City in 1994, to Fort Hood in 2009, to Thousand Oaks, California, in 2018, and even the assault on our own United States Capitol in January, misguided individuals have committed violence against their fellow citizens in pursuit of distorted objectives, said committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.). This is a real threat to our nation and to our democracyand directly impacts the work of our Committee, as an alarming number of these individuals have served our country in the Armed Forces. But other committee members criticized the hearing for pathologizing and stigmatizing all veterans for the actions of a few. Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), a former Navy officer, pointed out that there are more than 18 million veterans in the United States. And yet, the entire veteran community is painted with a broad brushand while the [Jan. 6] investigation is still ongoing, he said. The investigation is not over, and the legal rights of those involved have not been addressed appropriately. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) criticized witnesses and some members for making anti-militia remarks. Having a militia is a protected right under the Second Amendment of the Constitution, he said. There are incredible numbers of militias within my district, and Im proud to say that these are people who want to safeguard our liberty in case we ever have a tyrannical government. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), meanwhile, criticized the FBI for not tracking Antifa-related violent crimes, while Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) stated that the hearing would have a chilling effect on veterans free speech rights. I am deeply concerned this will have a chilling effect of silencing veterans from engaging in political speech, in effect depriving them of the very rights they fought to defend, Rosendale said. We saw just last week the DOJ weaponized against concerned parents who take their time to voice their concerns at school board meetings. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said the hearing is a distraction from more important issues, such as rising veteran suicide rates. He said he hopes veterans watched the Oct. 13 hearing so they can see what their government thinks of them. I hope every veteran in America is watching this hearing today, and hearing from the majority party in control that our veterans are so stupid and susceptible into becoming domestic terrorists, that the Democrats have to save them from it, he said. Its wildly offensive and dangerous. Virginia Mother Who Survived Maos Cultural Revolution Sees Parallels in America The communist political movement that devastated China decades ago is unfolding in America, warned Xi Van Fleet, a parent-turned-activist who made national headlines after speaking out against critical race theory (CRT) at a school board meeting. When the Cultural Revolution started, I was a first grader, the Virginia mother told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders. She said that all classes ceased at schools and colleges as older students proclaimed themselves Mao Zedongs Red Guards. Emboldened by Maos slogan To Rebel is Justified, the Red Guards did not hesitate to instigate violence and destruction on everyone and everything they considered counter-revolutionary. "We see little girlsgoing to social media denouncing their parents as racist." It's like in #China during Mao's Cultural Revolution, says Xi Van Fleet. "Everyone was encouraged to report on everyone else, including your parents." WATCH: https://t.co/RkX7GMmJR6 pic.twitter.com/1UUiEwTeS7 Jan Jekielek (@JanJekielek) October 12, 2021 With Maos approval, no one could stop them, said Van Fleet, recalling a story she heard from someone who witnessed the Red Guards beating to death a man, who was deemed an oppressor and exploiter for simply being able to withdraw a large sum of money from his bank. The perpetrators faced no consequences for the killing, since the criminal justice system was already paralyzed. Another key feature of the Red Guards movement was to attack the Four Olds, namely old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. To enforce what Van Fleet described as a cancel culture, the Red Guards would go door to door to search and destroy any item that was connected to the period before the communist takeover of China. I remember this whole street was just a mess of things destroyed, and the people, those homeowners, howling and crying, she said. While the madness and lawlessness of Maos Cultural Revolution may sound extreme to Americans, Van Fleet warns that America is following a similar path. One of the things that I noticed is people are afraid, she said. There is the right way to talk. There are the right ideas, and those who dont share it feel like, if they tell their own opinion, they might run the risk of being considered racista word like Chinas counter-revolution.' The term racism, much like the vaguely defined counter-revolution, no longer means anything but serves as a political weapon, according to Van Fleet. For the longest time, my understanding of racism is that someone who discriminates someone else based on the race, she said. But in the last few years it has changed its meaning. Anyone who kind of disagrees with the the ideology from the left becomes a racist. During the Cultural Revolution, the term historical counter-revolution was used to criminalize people for what they did or said in the past. Van Fleet said there is also an American version of it. In Virginia, Gov. [Ralph] Northam was called today a racist, because in the past, when he was in college, he wore blackface, she said. That is the equivalent of Chinese historical counter-revolutionary. In Maos China, citizens were classified into the favored Five Red Categories and the undesirable Five Black Categories based on their political identities. Descendants of members of the latter group, which included rich farmers and other class enemies, were routinely humiliated and forced to go to struggle sessions where they were made to confess their privileged status. Van Fleet said this echoes with what advocates of CRT push to Americans and their children. Does that remind us of CRT? she said. [According to CRT] if you are born white, you are an oppressor; if youre born black, youre oppressed, and as oppressed people, you have no hope in this oppressive society. Thats the most effective way to divide people, and thats from the Marxist playbook to divide, she continued, pointing out that CRT is Marxist class struggle rhetoric repackaged to focus on race so that it works better in American society. And then they have gender, sexuality, and intersectionalityall of these are tools to divide and they are rooted in cultural Marxism. Mao used that, the [American] left is using it now. Whats happened here in America is nothing new, she said. It happened in China, it happened to me. If we let it go, and not stopping it, [we] will have the same result. The result of the Cultural Revolution is the total destruction of the society, and thats what awaits us if we dont stop it. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 6, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images) White House on Vaccine Mandates: Federal Law Overrides State Law The White House says recent actions taken by Republican governors, to oppose forthcoming federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private businesses, will be overridden. President Joe Bidens executive order, announced Sept. 9, is set to require all workers at private businesses with 100 employees or more to be vaccinated against the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, or show a weekly negative test. An Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implementing the order is expected in the coming weeks. In an act of opposition, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued his own executive order banning Texas businesses from requiring vaccines for employees, or customers. And the Florida Department of Health released a list of businesses under investigation for requiring vaccinationa move in line with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis threats to impose a $5,000 fine per violation to local governments, schools, and businesses that impose mandates. At Mondays White House briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said the actions taken by the governors fit a familiar pattern that weve seen of putting politics ahead public health. Over 700,000 American lives have been lost to COVID-19, including more than 56,000 in Florida and over 68,000 in Texas, Psaki added. Every leader should be focused on supporting efforts to save lives and end the pandemic. Why would you be taking steps that prevent the saving of lives, that make it more difficult to save lives across the country, or in any state. Psaki also says the health administration rule will override Abbotts executive order. We know that federal law overrides state law, she said. I would note that earlier when we put out our guidance on the presidents announcement about mandates several weeks ago, it made clear that requirements are promulgated pursuant to federal law and supersede any contrary state, or local law or ordinance. At least one Texas law expert agrees with Psaki. I think that, yes, when OSHA promulgates [the ETS] it will preempt Abbots order to the extent that OSHA holds jurisdiction, Professor of Law at the University of Texas at Austin Tom McGarity told The Epoch Times. McGarity adds that while a number of Republican state attorneys general have vowed to challenge the temporary standard when it comes out, he thinks they will lose in court. My view is that its probably authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, because I think that there is a grave danger in workplaces that is posed by COVID, and thats what OSHA needs to find is there a grave danger, said McGarity. The OSHA law on ETS states: Under certain limited conditions, OSHA is authorized to set emergency temporary standards that take effect immediately and are in effect until superseded by a permanent standard. OSHA must determine that workers are in grave danger due to exposure to toxic substances, or agents, determined to be toxic, or physically harmful, or to new hazards and that an emergency standard is needed to protect them. Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches carrying passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers, and Glen de Vries from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2021. (LM Otero/AP Photo) William Shatner Becomes Oldest Man to Visit Outer Space LOS ANGELESActor William Shatner, 90, who played Capt. James. T. Kirk in Star Trek, returned safely to earth in West Texas on Wednesday, making history as the oldest person to travel to space. Im overwhelmed. I had no idea, Shatner said following an 11-minute suborbital journey into weightlessnessand the history booksaboard Blue Origins New Shepard rocket ship. Shatner, one of four passengers aboard, became the oldest person to venture into space. He called the trip the most profound experience he could imagine. William Shatner signs copies of his new book Star Trek Academy Collision Course at Book Soup November 20, 2007 in West Hollywood, California. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images) I hope I can maintain what I feel now. I dont want to lose it, he said as the crew gathered outside the capsule upon landing. You look down, theres the blue down there and the black up there there is Mother Earth and comfort, and there is, is there death? I dont know, but is that death? Is that the way death is? It was so moving. This experience, it was something unbelievable. It was the second human spaceflight for Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder who was himself aboard the companys maiden voyage in July. Shatner was joined on Wednesdays flight by Audrey Powers, Blue Origins vice president of mission and flight operations; Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and health care at the French software company Dassault Systmes; and Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet. The flight lifted off at about 7:50 a.m. Pacific time from Blue Origins Launch Site One and hit its apex at around 300,000 feet. The crew experienced about four minutes of weightlessness before floating back to Earth. The spacecraft got off the ground following several liftoff delays that Shatner said made him a little nervous. He also worried about the G forces, wondering am I going to be able to survive it? And he also joked about his age, saying, Good Lord, just getting up the bloody gantry. Oh, my God, what an experience. Blue Origin is planning one more crewed flight this year, with more flights planned for 2022. At Blue Origin, we are motivated by the dreamers that inspire us and the builders who turn those dreams into reality. Todays crew represented both dreamers and builders, Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said. We had the honor of flying our very own Audrey Powers, vice president of New Shepard operations, who fulfilled a lifelong dream to go to space and has been an integral part of building New Shepard. Our two customers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, have built their own successful ventures and have now realized their own dreams of space travel. And, as everyone knows, William Shatner has played an important role in describing and imagining the wonders of [the] universe and inspired many of us to pursue a career in the space industry. For his part, Shatner said, Everybody in this world needs to do this. To see the blue color whip by you, and now youre staring into blackness, thats the thing, the actor said. It would be so important for everybody to have that experience through one means or another. A mural of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his space company Blue Origin a day before his company will send "Star Trek" actor William Shatner into space from the company's facilities in Van Horn, Texas, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Mike Blake/Reuters) With Captain Kirk Aboard, Blue Origin to Return to Space, the Final Frontier VAN HORN, TexasThree months after billionaire U.S. businessman Jeff Bezos soared into space aboard a rocketship built by his Blue Origin company, the craft is set on Wednesday to take another all-civilian crew on a suborbital ride, this time with Star Trek actor William Shatner in the lead role. As one of four passengers selected for the flight, Shatner, at age 90, is poised to become the oldest person ever to venture into space. It is a fitting honor for an actor who became a pop culture mainstay for playing Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise in the classic 1960s television series and seven subsequent films. Shatner now gets to live out the mission he described during the opening credits of each episode of the series to explore space the final frontier. After a 24-hour weather-related postponement, Shatner and his fellow passengers on Wednesday are set to strap into Blue Origins fully autonomous 60-foot-tall (18.3-meters-tall) New Shepard rocket, blasting off from a base in the west Texas town of Van Horn on a journey to the edge of space. Actor William Shatner speaks during a handprint and footprint ceremony honoring actor Christopher Plummer at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, on March 27, 2015. (Phil McCarten/Reuters) Im going to see the vastness of space and the extraordinary miracle of our Earth and how fragile it is compared to the forces at work in the universe, Shatner told NBCs Today program. Im thrilled and anxious and a little nervous and a little frightened about this whole new adventure. The launch represents another crucial test of Blue Origins technology as the company competes against billionaire-backed rivals Elon Musks SpaceX and Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc to attract customers willing to pay large amounts of money to experience the exhilaration of spaceflight. Demonstrating safety and lowering ticket costs are crucial in tapping a nascent space tourism market that, according to UBS, could reach an annual value of $3 billion in a decade. Wednesdays flight is expected to roughly follow the duration and path of Blue Origins inaugural commercial trip on July 20 when Bezos, founder of e-commerce powerhouse Amazon.com Inc, and three other passengers took a suborbital flight lasting just over 10 minutes. The New Shepard vehicle carried the foursome 66.5 miles (107 km) above the Earth, giving its passengers a few minutes of weightlessness, before the crew capsule parachuted safely back to the floor of the Texas desert. On that flight, pioneering female aviator Wally Funk at age 82 became the oldest person to reach space. The three other crew members joining Shatner include Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer; Glen de Vries, a clinical research entrepreneur; and Audrey Powers, a Blue Origin vice president, and engineer. The company did not disclose how much any of the passengers had paid or whether any had been allowed to fly for free, though Shatner said Blue Origin approached him about taking the flight. The launch comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it will review safety concerns raised by former and current Blue Origin employees who asserted that the company was prioritizing speed and cost savings over quality control and adequate staffing. Blue Origin, founded by Bezos in 2000, promised to investigate any claims of misconduct and defended its safety record, calling New Shepard the safest space vehicle ever designed or built. Branson inaugurated his space tourism service on July 11, riding along on a suborbital flight with six others aboard his companys VSS Unity rocket plane. The most established industry player is SpaceX, the company founded in 2002 by Musk, CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. SpaceX has launched numerous astronauts and cargo payloads to the orbiting International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX debuted its space tourism business by flying the first all-civilian crew to reach Earths orbit in a three-day flight ending Sept. 18. By Mike Blake Workers in Yangtze Delta Protest Lower Wages Caused by Chinas Power Cuts The impact of state-enforced power cuts in parts of China is becoming evident with one example being worker unrest. Worker protests have broken out in a major city in the countrys east coast economic center the Yangtze Delta, due to lower wages and shortened work hours caused by power restrictions put on factories. In the delta city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, workers protested at Wujiang Jingyuan Computer Factory on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. Nearby roads were blocked and both local police and riot police showed up at the scene. Yesterday, the workers went to the factory to protest, Li Xing (alias), a worker at the factory, told Chinese language Epoch Times on Oct. 11. I didnt go but I heard that there were more than 800 people there. Today I am at the scene and there are more than 1,000 people, Li said. The basic salary in the factory is about 2,000 yuan ($310) a month, and the rest of our salary is provided by the labor service company that hired us, Li said. The workers are all on hourly wages. Now I cant even get to work 160 hours per month. According to Li, the labor service company notified the workers that if they do less than 160 hours a month, they will lower their hourly wages. Because of the power rationing, the factory has given workers days off; one day work and off the next day, Li said. Today is already Oct.11, and I have only had 40 hours of work for this month so far. If this continues, how can it be possible to have 160 hours of work a month? The labor service company cannot cut our salary because of power cuts! On Oct. 11, Li said that thousands of workers gathered at the Wujiang Computer Factory, some of whom arrived at 1 am or 2 am. It was very chaotic at the scene. Workers contracted by various labor service companies were all there. Riot police and local police came, Li said. Nobody from any of the companies showed up. The police said they would pass on our request to the companies. The entrances to the factory were blocked and no more people could get in, Li said. The Epoch Times obtained a video (see below) showing the scene of the protest at the factory. On Oct. 11, the Jiangsu authorities implemented power rationing for the greater Suzhou area, Kunshan, and other areas of the Yangtze Delta. Factory production was earlier suspended from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30. Add on top of that a seven-day holiday for the Oct. 1 National Day, local companies had unprecedentedly stopped production for 11 days. Jiang Xiaolei (alias), an employee of a labor service company in Kunshan, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 11 that the company had not recruited workers for several days. We are affected by the power rationing, there is less work, so fewer people are recruited, he said. Jiang said that Wujiang Jingyuan Computer mainly produces accessories such as routers, mobile phone fittings, and items for Apple computers. He has previously recruited for the company but not during the past two months. The situation for those formally employed workers with the factory can be a little better with paid leave but there is nothing for hourly workers, Jiang said. And usually there are no formally employed workers at all in small factories such as Wujiang. The states power cuts in coastal provinces and cities such as Jiangsu and Guangdong have impacted migrant workers the most. Migrant workers are typically paid hourly without social welfare or benefits. Hong Ning and Lin Cenxin contributed to the report. Chinese leader Xi Jinping waves during a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on July 1, 2021. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo) Xi Jinpings True Intentions Behind the Redistribution of Wealth News Analysis In recent years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has gradually tightened control over private capital. State-owned enterprises took over countless private businesses amid a wave of bankruptcies and in a bid to redistribute wealth. During a conference with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials on Aug. 17, Xi called for common prosperity and redistribution of wealth of the private sector, which targets certain wealthy individuals and groups in China. On July 1, Xi delivered a speech at the centennial of the founding of the CCP. Its noteworthy that Xi was dressed in a Mao suit, a style worn by former leader Mao Zedong. This made the outside world wonder if Xi is taking China back to the Maos era. The Chinese regime has also been stressing an open and reform policy, and support for the private sector. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, for example, paid a visit to Chinas southwestern Guangxi region from Sept. 16 to 18. He said that the private sector is an important force in the creation of employment and wealth. During a forum in the southern city of Guangzhou on Sept. 16, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said that Beijing firmly supports the healthy development of the private sector economy. So what does Xi really want? Xi Wants to Reset the Rules Chinese dissident Wang Juntao, co-chair of the China Democracy Party, believes that Xi wants to rebuild a communist society, but not to replicate Maos model. Xis true intention is to maintain a communist society, but in a seemingly more civilized, market-oriented way, Wang told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. Maos revolution is a complete elimination of wealthy landlords and entrepreneurs. According to Wang, Xi is different from Mao because he needs the private sector, which accounts for more than half of the Chinese economy. Xi paid various visits to private enterprises during the pandemic to show his support. But Xi doesnt want the private sector to become too wealthy and powerful. So he set up his own rules in order to maintain control over them, Wang said. Wang analyzed that Xi is promoting a five-tier wealth distribution model. The first tier distribution is through the market. In the market, some people make money, while some others lose money. Then the regime uses the second-tier distributiontaxation. On top of the existing multiple taxes, the CCP plans to introduce new taxes on inheritance and property, Wang said. Alibabas co-founder Jack Ma (R) and Tencent Holdings CEO Pony Ma applaud during a celebration meeting marking the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening up policy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec. 18, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images) The third-tier distribution involves asking the rich to donate their wealth or give back to society, Wang said. If they dont comply, then the CCP uses the fourth-tier distribution methodto bankrupt the rich. Then state-owned companies or local governments take over those bankrupt private companies, he said. The fifth-tier distribution involves arresting the rich people, Wang said. He named two prominent Chinese businessmen who were taken downXiao Jianhua, founder of Tomorrow Group, and Wu Xiaohui, ex-chairman of Anbang Insurance Group. Xi Is Being Pragmatic Li Linyi, a current affairs commentator, told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times that Xi is just being pragmatic, and tries to appease his opponents and other Party members. Turning left is a very convenient choice, as the CCPs ideology is leftist. If Xi turns right, he will face tremendous resistance from the CCP. So he turns left, which enables him to control the majority of people within the CCP, Li said. Turning left is generally regarded as going back to Maos era and the regimes centralized/planned economy. Xis Left Turn Serves to Cover Up Chinas Problems Hu Ping, a U.S.-based scholar and chief editor of pro-democracy online publication Beijing Spring, said that Xi is only pretending to go back to Maos eraa move that would distract the public from their growing discontent over the huge disparity between the rich and the poor. The CCP took over power by violent armed revolutions, said Hu. It won the support of the Chinese people by claiming to fight against capitalism and build socialism for the good of the people, which is the legitimacy of its rule. However, what the CCP has done since it came to power has been completely different from what it had promised, Hu said. Former CCP leader Deng Xiaoping encouraged a small number of people to become rich in the late 1970s. Hu pointed out that these people have close ties to influential CCP members, and these red families have become the new elite class in China. They [CCP members] killed Chinese landlords and capitalists, now their families have become landlords and capitalists, Hu said. This is extremely bad, which has never been seen in Chinese history. A December 2012 Bloomberg report revealed that the three sons of powerful political figures controlled state-owned companies with combined assets of about $1.6 trillion in 2011, which accounted for more than a fifth of Chinas annual economic output, and that their families benefited from their control and have accumulated huge private wealth. Hu pointed out that the red elite families are led by two factionsDengs faction, which represents the veteran CCP members; and the Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong faction, which represents the nouveau riche. Hu added that Xi is aware of the rising resentment among the Chinese people, which is why he waves the red flag of socialism. However, Xi also knows he is not able to go back to the economy that Mao had set upa lesson Xi has learned during the Cultural Revolution. Xi must keep claiming that he is a socialist; otherwise, the CCP has no ruling legitimacy. Hu said that socialism is only Xis cover and to show people that he is different from Deng and Jiang. The CCP Has Never Given Up Socialism Current affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan analyzed the differences of the three eras of Mao, Deng, and Xi. According to Tang, Mao insisted on the basic fundamentals of socialism, while Deng used very tricky strategies to fool the West in the past decades, pretending that China was moving toward an open, market-oriented economy. By cheating the West, the CCP has attracted foreign investment and technology into China, thus accumulating its wealth and strength. Xi now feels ready to use the strength to take over the world with the CCPs communist rule. No matter what strategy or method they use, their goal is the same: to rule the world with authoritarianism, Tang told The Epoch Times. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. NORWALK So far, no Norwalk employee has been fired or suspended in relation to a local mandate to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive weekly tests, according to city officials. About 70 percent of Norwalk employees have provided proof of vaccination, city spokesperson Josh Morgan said Wednesday. Morgan did not specify if there is a deadline for employees to provide proof of vaccination or choose to receive weekly COVID tests. To be clear, this is not a vaccine mandate, he said. There is a testing option available for those who do not supply proof of vaccination status. We are working with the employees and union leadership on the process for testing, submitting vaccine status, and penalties for noncompliance, Morgan added. It will take a few more weeks for this all to be finalized. The city announced implementation of a vaccination or testing mandate on Aug. 19 for Norwalk Public Schools and city employees, giving the option for employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to weekly testing, according to a joint statement. The announcement came after weeks of rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, largely due to the delta variant. Norwalk Public Schools representatives did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The city continues to host vaccination and testing clinics and recommend employees and residents get the coronavirus vaccine. We continue to encourage our employees, as well as residents, to get vaccinated, Morgan said. The vaccine is FDA approved, free, safe and effective. Getting vaccinated is the best way to beat this pandemic. The citys indoor mask mandate, reinstated about two months ago, will remain in place until the county remains in the moderate-to-low COVID transmission rate for two consecutive weeks, Mayor Harry Rilling said Friday. As of Monday, Fairfield County remains in the substantial transmission rate, according to the CDC, the second highest of the four transmission levels. As of Oct. 6, about 84 percent of eligible school-aged children in Norwalk and about 75 percent of all Norwalkers were vaccinated, according to Department of Public Health data. On Monday, Nuvance Health, which operates Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford and Sharon Hospitals, said 98 percent of its staff was vaccinated against the virus. The remaining 2 percent of employees were placed on suspension on Oct. 1 pending proof of vaccination. Nuvance, like other hospitals and health networks in the state, enacted a COVID-19 vaccine requirement, announcing the mandate on Aug. 17, days before the city announced its own. Nuvances employees were given about seven weeks to receive at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before the Oct. 1 deadline. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com NORWALK The citys school district will open its continuing conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion to the whole community on Thursday. Norwalk Public Schools will host A Community Conversation on Equity Literacy at Marvin Elementary School from 6 to 8 p.m. The conversation will be one of four events focused on defining equity in schools that will take place over the next six months. The district asks that participants register for the event using its online form. A virtual option will also be available on the school website. Dr. Edward Fergus, an associate professor of urban education and policy at Temple University, will lead the workshop that aims to normalize what is diversity and inclusion, and what benefits does it bring to individuals, society and the school environment. Fergus and the district will work to build equity literacy, using a common vocabulary and teaching strategies that parents can bring back to their neighborhoods and their friend groups to develop cross cultural skills. The workshop also aims to help parents be supportive of what their kids are learning. The community conversation will build off discussions already occurring among school leaders to identify disparities between groups of students. The goal is to include parents in those same discussions and not have the conversations isolated to the school administrators. One disparity of particular interest for the district is how suspensions and expulsions are handed out and the levels of recidivism in the individual schools, according to Superintendent Alexandra Estrella. Data collected last year showed Black students, as well as male students, in the Norwalk Public Schools were more likely to be suspended from school. We want to identify the cause and build support plans. That will yield a reduction, particularly among Black and brown students, who are more frequently identified for suspension and expulsion. Why is that happening? I dont believe its a product of the child, Estrella said. School leaders are also looking at disparity gaps in diverse programming such as gifted and talented programs, International Baccalaureate, and other specialized programs and pathways. Estrella added, As well as paying close attention to performance, how are different subgroups doing compared to other groups and whats leading to those outcomes day in and day out. The next conversation will take place in January and be held in Spanish with English interpretation available. Spanish is the second dominant language in the district and the next event will allow Spanish speakers to immerse in a school workshop in a way that isnt always available to them, according to Estrella. We want them to have the experience where theyre the most predominant, Estrella said. The last two events will take place in March and May. Exact dates for all future events are yet to be finalized. emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com WESTPORT The Westport Board of Selectmens unanimous approval of a townwide diversity, equity and inclusion statement was met with applause during the boards Wednesday morning meeting. But town officials were quick to point out that the statement is just one step in making Westport a more inclusive and welcoming place. This is a challenge thats never done, said First Selectman Jim Marpe early in the meeting. The board has been mulling such a statement for a while, but Marpe said it seemed particularly relevant now, in the wake of recent townwide discussions on racism and other forms of discrimination. During the meeting, Marpe made reference to the recent appearance of the website Westport Parents 06880, an anonymous group that has criticized the increasing focus on racism in the towns schools and in the community. Though the group claims to reject political activism and moralizing intrusions into the classroom, many in the community have called its rhetoric divisive and hurtful. It seemed appropriate that we address these issues in light of recent events, Marpe said before introducing the proposed statement. The statement pledges that Westport is committed to fostering a civic culture that provides the equitable respect, belonging and treatment of all citizens, students, employees and visitors by its populace, government, schools, businesses and organizations. That commitment extends across all community segments including but not limited to races, ethnicities, religions, genders, abilities and LGBTQIA+. There are also multiple commitment action items within the statement, including proactively identifying and dismantling systemic inequities and othering, and providing training in equity and inclusion for elected officials and employees. Many of these pledges we make in here were already in the middle of actually doing, said Second Selectwoman Jen Tooker, who is also the Republican candidate for first selectman. Its an action document. Its not just a statement. A driving force behind the statement was TEAM Westport, a group whose name stands for Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism and that aims to make Westport a more welcoming community. TEAM chair Harold Bailey, Jr., who is Black, spoke at the meeting and said that the statement represents work thats gone on here on TEAM Westport for the past 18 years. He said theres been an increasing focus on these issues in the past few years. Whats important is the breadth of what were talking about here, he said. And really what were talking about is a statement against othering. A statement that says welcoming means we recognize that its not just Black and brown people. Its not just Asian Americans alone. Its not anti-Semitism alone. Its all these categories that we talk about here, people that can be marginalized. There was more than an hour of discussion on the proposed statement, including comments from several members of the public. Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Thomas spoke and said, though she lives in Norwalk, Westport is one of the towns she represents in the Legislature. Thomas, who is Black, applauded the statement and said she believes it will be good for the town as a whole, and particularly for young residents. If the town I was living in when I was young put out a statement like this, it would have changed my life, she said. Her fellow state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, who is the Democratic candidate for first selectman, also spoke in praise of the statement, though he said he wished the statements approval wasnt coming in the midst of the Westport Parents 06880 controversy, because it makes it seems as if this is a reaction to that, rather than something we should and have been saying all along. The parents group did come up several times during the discussion. Selectwoman Melissa Kane said she was particularly disturbed by the fact that the group is anonymous. Marpe expressed concerns that the group uses town halls address as its mailing address and emphasized that Town Hall has no connection to Westport Parents 06880. Ive talked to our attorneys and theres not much we can do about this, Marpe said. Ultimately Kane proposed adding an amendment to the Board of Selectmans motion to adopt the statement that the board also would denounce efforts to divide and instill fear in our community based on characteristics including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, ability and LGBTQIA+. The amendment passed unanimously, and was followed by the unanimous passage of the statement. COLLINSVILLE Not everyone needs to go to college, and creating a realistic pathway to high-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector was the main focus of a manufacturing roundtable sponsored by local workforce development agencies. The event was held Tuesday at Collinsvilles Gateway Convention Center, and also broadcast via Zoom. About 50 people attended in person. The event was sponsored by Madison County Employment and Training, and the St. Clair Intergovernmental Grants Department-Workforce Development Group, in part to celebrate National Manufacturing Month. October is Manufacturing Month nationwide, said MCET Director Tony Fuhrmann. The point of this event is to spread the word in our region about some of the interesting things that are being done, both at the education level and by certain businesses. While much of the emphasis was on education, part of the program included discussions by non-traditional manufacturers. Every year the state celebrates manufacturers across the state, said Jonathan McGee, deputy director, regional economic development for the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity. Over 18,000 manufacturers employing 550,000 Illinoisans. We know its one of the biggest sectors in industries in our state. McGee was at the conference for a short time, then had to go to SIUE for a presentation dealing with the states $200 million Back-to-Business program. In addition to discussing the state of manufacturing and educational programs and opportunities, participants at the event also got a chance to look over Southwestern Illinois Colleges Advanced Manufacturing Mobile Lab. The lab is primarily used at local high schools, both as a recruitment tool for the college and to help high school students by giving them access to modern high-tech manufacturing machines. The program today is pretty good, said Dennis Cooper, CEO of MAC Medical, a Columbia, Illinois-based manufacturer of stainless-steel hospital products. The involvement from the state and local government has been very impressive. Workforce development is extremely important, he said. What were finding in the current market is that a lot of what people should be taught early on just hasnt been. It creates a lot of problems for manufacturing. Specifically, he said there are turnover issues, in part because promises and expectations are not aligned. However, he said schools are absolutely getting better at it. Specific topics included the new Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence in the Belleville Township High School District; SWICs new $7 million Advanced Manufacturing Training Facility, to be built on the colleges Belleville Campus; and the Saint Louis University Center for Additive Manufacturing. While manufacturing and especially heavy industry has declined in many parts of the U.S., it continues to play a major role in the Metro East economy. That has also influenced the rise of the logistics and transportation industry in the region, especially Madison County. It is the largest sector, still, Fuhrmann said, referring to manufacturing. He added that this area still has a great deal of heavy industry. If you go to Granite City, if you go up the river to Alton, you see those heavy manufacturing plants, he said. But were also seeing a new birth of more modern manufacturing, more computer-generated and things like that. One of the biggest issues, like most other sectors of the economy, is workforce. Like everybody else, theyre looking for employees, he said. Its a matter of getting the word out that those jobs are here, they pay well, and theres a future with them. MCET continues to offer services ranging from job postings and help with resumes or job searches, to paying for up to two years of training for high-value jobs. For information about employment and workforce training opportunities, call 618-296-4301, visit the Madison County website at https://www.co.madison.il.us/ or visit the departments Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MCETD. 3 1 of 3 Courtesy of the Glen Carbon Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of the Glen Carbon Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GLEN CARBON - Over the weekend of Oct. 9-10, the Glen Carbon Police Department investigated five residential burglaries in two separate neighborhoods across the village. In following up the investigation into these break-ins, officers and detectives of the Glen Carbon Police Department determined the cases all involved common suspects and common patterns of entry into homes. Mankato, MN (56001) Today Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 21F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 21F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Elizabethtown, KY (42701) Today Plentiful sunshine. High around 45F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Phuket honours King Bhumibol PHUKET: Leading island officials led by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew observed a small but solemn ceremony this morning to honour and remember King Bhumibol The Great, who passed away on this day five years ago. culture By The Phuket News Wednesday 13 October 2021, 05:48PM King Bhumibol, also referred to as Rama IX, passed away on Oct 13, 2016, at Siriraj Hospital. He was 89. The day is now marked as the national public holiday, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great Memorial Day. At the ceremony at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning, Governor Narong led top-ranking officers in laying wreaths in front of an image of King Bhumibol, and recited a speech recounting the late Kings great achievements throughout his 70-year reign. Specifically honoured was King Bhumibols grace, wisdom and compassion for the Thai people, and for his legacy of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a guideline for the people to live by. His light shone all over the land. like a pure soul of the people who are all appreciative of His Majestys infinite grace, Governor Narong said. The small gathering observed 89 seconds of silence to pay homage to His Majestys grace. Phuket officials noted that the ceremony today was observed strictly under the measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Phuket officials tired of people not understanding the word or PHUKET: Phuket officials this morning posted a notice explaining the definition of the word or in response to questions about the new domestic entry requirements to the province to come into effect on Saturday (Oct 16). tourismCOVID-19Coronavirushealth By The Phuket News Wednesday 13 October 2021, 12:20PM Along with the notice, posted on the Phuket COVID-19 & Phuket Sandbox (Official Phuket information Center), operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, was the message: Some people dont understand what the word "or" means, so the admin finds a clear answer according to the Royal Institutes dictionary. The notice itself literally read: The statement "Choose one or the other" For example, take money or gold The Royal Institutes Dictionary, B.E. 2554 admin [ends] The post follows Phuket officials launching an intensive public-awareness campaign to inform people about the new relaxed measures that will come into effect on Saturday. The new measures specifically regard domestic travellers that is, people already in Thailand wanting to come onto the island. The requirements apply to all people entering Phuket, including island residents who leave Phuket and want to return. The main relaxation of the provincial entry requirements to start on Saturday is that fully vaccinated people will no longer need to present evidence that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within seven days before arriving. However, much confusion has been expressed in the public response to the announcement of the new measures, despite Phuket officials issuing a slew of public notices in a variety of different formats to explain the new relaxed measures. The public notices, including a video explaining the Oct 16 entry requirements, issued so far have been in Thai language only, though Phuket officials have repeatedly in the past posted notices in English to assist non-Thai speakers. A new notice explaining the new provincial entry rules for domestic arrivals is expected soon. Phuket officials this morning re-posted one notice explaining the Oct 16 rules. The notice broke down the requirements into segments to help people understand the new measures, as follows: SECTION 1 - PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED (The following list of people will be deemed fully vaccinated) People must be vaccinated against COVID-19 with: Sinovac - 2 doses Sinopharm - 2 doses AstraZeneca - 2 doses Pfizer - 2 doses Moderna - 2 doses Sputnik V - 2 doses OR Completed a 2-dose crossed formula vaccination as prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health (example: 1 Sinovac + 1 Astrazeneca jab) OR Have received 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 14 days before arriving OR People under 18 years of age who have received 1 dose of Pfizer vaccine at least 14 days before arriving OR A person who has recovered from symptoms of COVID-19 not more than 90 days previously PEOPLE NOT VACCINATED Must have been tested for COVID-19 by RT-PCR or ATK (Antigen Test Kit) with a confirmed negative test result issued by a hospital or laboratory within the past 7 days. (People may no longer bring their own ATK test kits to the Phuket Check Point to be tested there, but a professional rapid test service is available at the checkpoint that people may use) SECTION 2 - EXEMPT FROM REQUIREMENTS Exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated or present negative COVID test results are children under 6 years old traveling with parents or caregivers, and people traveling in a medical emergency vehicle, emergency patients, lifeguards and rescue workers. SECTION 3 - STUDENTS NEEDING TO REGULARLY ENTER AND LEAVE PHUKET Children 12-18 years old: Must have received 1 dose of Pfizer vaccine at least 14 days before arriving OR in the case of students in Phuket waiting to be vaccinated [in the mass vaccination campaign for children] from 12 years of age to under 18 years of age, and it is necessary [for them] to travel into - out of Phuket - Must show their identification card to the competent official when traveling into - out of Phuket; and - Must have a certificate issued by a medical facility or government hospital showing they have tested negative for COVID-19 by antigen test; the certificate is valid for no more than one month. FOR ALL PEOPLE ENTERING PHUKET All people entering Phuket must register their travel details in advance through the gophuget.com online registration system and must download and install the Mor Prom app. * SPECIAL NOTE: Not mentioned in the notice, but included in the provincial order issued announcing the new entry requirements, is that children 7-12 years old must be tested for COVID-19 by means of RT-PCR or ATK (Antigen Test Kit) which can be used to confirm results for no more than 7 days at a time. TAT to invite Blackpinks Lisa to Phukets Countdown BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to invite world-renowned artists such as Thai-born K-pop singer Lalisa Lisa Manoban of Blackpink fame and Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli to perform at Phukets New Year countdown celebration event this year. tourism By National News Bureau of Thailand Wednesday 13 October 2021, 05:28PM Photo: NNT To mark the countrys grand reopening, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said this plan is still pending and requires further consideration as the project needs additional budget approval from the government and partial support from the private sector. He said the move is hoped to promote the province as a world-class destination, reports state news agency NNT. Mr Yuthasak pointed out that an appearance by world-renowned artists could draw tourists from around the world to Phuket, especially Blackpink fans and admirers, so-called Blinks. Mr Yuthasak said Phuket might be the destination for the countdown event as the government has already created a plan to establish the Andaman island as a World Class Destination, which was approved by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) earlier this month, said the report. Get full access to our electronic edition, website and print delivery! Note that you will need to create a site user account. If you do not already have one, to purchase an instant subscription. Local area rates are for Randolph, Chambers, Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama A UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter is parked on Muir Army Airfield for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new variant Oct. 6 at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. EAATS was the first unit in the Army active duty, National Guard or Army Reserve to receive the new variant. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low -3C. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. ALTON AT&T on Tuesday announced it invested nearly $6.7 million in wireless and wireless networks in Alton between 2018 and 2020. AT&Ts investment in Alton confirms our commitment to expanding coverage and helping boost the local economy, said Eileen Mitchell, president, AT&T Illinois and AT&T Great Lakes States. We hope to keep the citys businesses, residents and visitors connected, while helping to ensure the efficiency of its local public safety personnel. GODFREY Lewis and Clark Community College board members on Tuesday received a tour of Main Complex challenges Tuesday. The problems in the Main Complex was the main topic of discussion at the LCCC board meeting Tuesday night. In August, LCCC closed two floors of Baldwin and Caldwell Halls in the Main Complex because of safety and health concerns. HVAC issues were found to have been contributing to mold growth. On Tuesday, LCCC President Ken Trzaska and the trustees joined a small group in a walking tour of the Main Complex. While most of the rooms have been kept intact, some have had to have the carpet removed due to mold growth. Additionally, some rooms also have had parts of the ceiling removed, again because of mold growth. Last month LCCC trustees voted to commit $12.5 million to support a major renovation of the Godfrey Campus Main Complex. In 2019, Illinois allocated $37.5 million to LCCCs Main Complex Renovation Project. So far the college has not received any of that funding. Trzaska said he is meeting Thursday, Oct. 14, with the Illinois Capital Development Board in Springfield to define the scope of the Main Complex project. The main question is how that money will be released, he said. If its a grant, we have control of the project. If its not released as a grant and the board controls the project, they would control the scope of the project. If the board controls the project, Trzaska said, the process could be stretched out. He also said that Baldwin Hall and the enrollment center would be where the project would start. This summer, outdated HVAC systems, moisture and humidity in some spaces led to the presence of mold being discovered during air quality testing. Classrooms with mold detected in air quality testing were closed Aug. 27, with classes shifted to other areas of campus. In an August email to staff and students, Trzaska said the mold was mainly a result of the buildings aging process as well as its limited use throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month LCCC officials said the closures in Baldwin and Caldwell Halls have displaced 46 faculty, 26 offices and 136 class sections a total of 153 classroom moves to other locations on campus and 33 moves from face-to-face to virtual classes. Student services were among the offices impacted. The affected spaces will remain closed indefinitely. SPRINGFIELD More than half of Illinois corn crop is now out of the field, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Illinois Crop Progress and condition report. As of Sunday, corn harvested for grain reached 55 percent, compared to the five-year average of 46 percent for this point in the season. The corns condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 50 percent good and 20 percent excellent. Soybeans harvested reached 43 percent as of Sunday, compared to the five-year average of 45 percent. Soybeans turning color reached 97 percent, compared to the five-year average of 96 percent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 87 percent, compared to the five-year average of 89 percent. Soybeans condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Also on Tuesday, the USDA released its updated corn and soybean outlooks for Illinois this year. Eleven million acres of corn were planted this year in Illinois, down 3 percent from last year. The USDA anticipates 10.8 million acres of corn will be harvested this fall, also down 3 percent from last year. Based on Oct. 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at a record 210 bushels per acre 19 bushels more than in 2020. Total production is forecast at 2.27 billion bushels, up 7 percent from last years production. Illinois total soybeans acreage is estimated at 10.60 million acres planted and a projected 10.55 million acres both figures up 3 percent from 2020. Based on Oct. 1 conditions, the Illinois soybean yield is forecast at a record 64 bushels per acre, up four bushels from 2020. Production is forecast at a record 675 million bushels, up 10 percent from 2020. In other state agriculture news, winter wheat planted reached 21 percent as of Sunday, compared to the five-year average of 32 percent. Winter wheat emerged was at 7 percent, compared to the five-year average of 8 percent. GODFREY The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) hosted its 20th annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 8 in the Hatheway Cultural Center at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey. The ceremony celebrated the second-year cohort of 50 dental students representing the Class of 2024, as well as an additional six International Advanced Placement Program dental students who will graduate with the Class of 2022. The White Coat Ceremony is an important event at the School of Dental Medicine, with a purpose thats two-fold, said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. First, it recognizes our students in their path to becoming quality practitioners in the profession of dentistry. Second, and most importantly, it reaffirms the students commitment to their patients, the profession and the ethical standards that we embrace. SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook offered the keynote address. He began by expressing his gratitude for Dean Rotters outstanding years of service to SIUE and the SIU SDM. Rotter will retire in December 2021. Pembrook has also announced his retirement, effective June 2022. The SIU School of Dental Medicine has a rich legacy of community service and excellent, experienced-based, hands-on education, Pembrook noted. Thank you, Dr. Rotter, and thank you faculty and staff for your role in that accomplishment. Pembrook went on to address the students with a theme of Adjusting to Lifes Challenges. With great wit and insight, he shared why adversity exists and the keys to overcoming it. Adversity exists to remind us to ask, Why did I start down this path? said Pembrook. Along with the question of why, adversity sometimes exists to address the questions of when or who. Who am I? What strengths do I bring to this task? What gaps do I most need to develop to fully realize my potential? Good things will happen, he offered assuredly. Keep working, and believe in tomorrow. I know you will do well. When life gives you adversity: pause, question, self-assess and learn. The SIU SDM White Coat Ceremony was sponsored by the Central Illinois Academy of General Dentistry, Illinois Section of the American College of Dentists, Illinois State Dental Society Foundation and the Eighth District of the International College of Dentists. GLEN CARBON Two people have been charged in five residential burglaries in Glen Carbon. Over the weekend of Oct. 9, Glen Carbon Police investigated five residential burglaries in two separate neighborhoods. Officers and detectives determined the cases all involved common suspects and common patterns of entry into homes. This is my sixth update to the citizens of the 111th District as your state representative. I hope your fall has been pleasant so far. Mine has included two trips back to Springfield for session days, each one called for specific purposes. We returned on August 31st to vote once again on the state legislative maps. In previous updates, I have discussed that the legislative maps voted on and signed by the governor in June were challenged in court and that these maps were out of balance in population numbers according to the 2020 census data which was released in mid-August. Because of this, Democrat leadership once again drew new maps behind closed doors, did not release the drafts until after the hastily-called public hearings were over, and then put another new draft out just moments before we had to vote on them. These maps passed on party lines, and the governor signed those new maps into law in September. The lawsuits over the June maps were amended to include additional complaints regarding these September maps, including claims of voting rights violations that affect Latinos in Chicago as well as Black communities in the Metro East. The federal lawsuits will ultimately decide the outcome and remedy for the legislative maps, and will hopefully be concluded by the end of the year. We still have yet to vote on the Congressional maps, but we will do that during veto session at the end of October. On Sept. 9 we were called back to vote on a long-awaited energy bill. Early that morning before leaving for Springfield, I toured Alton Steel and visited with management. We discussed the effects that energy prices have on Alton Steel and other local manufacturers who use high amounts of electricity. Low-cost energy is one of the few competitive advantages Illinois has left compared to our surrounding states. The bill that ultimately passed that day is SB2408, I voted no. This new law contains the largest utility rate hike in Illinois history, paid by customers including our manufacturers. It puts downstate Illinois at a disadvantage, due to the requirements to reduce carbon emissions by an arbitrary date, which will close downstate coal plants. Carbon emission reduction is necessary, but the timeline in this law is not realistic. It results in less energy produced to meet our energy demands, leaving Illinois to import power from out-of-state sources. The bill also dealt with the very real threat by ComEd to close two nuclear plants in upstate Illinois if it didnt receive subsidies to keep them open. Sadly, this threat of job losses was used as a negotiation tactic to get this bill passed. The governor quickly signed the bill and considers it one of his legislative victories. While in-person session dates in Springfield are rare this time of year, we continue to hold Zoom committee hearings on legislation and pressing issues. One of my assigned committees has held joint hearings regarding the response by the states nursing homes to the pandemic, and what needs to be done to improve infection control and care for our seniors. The Inclusive American History commission I am appointed to has also begun its meetings, with the goal of issuing a report by end of the year. On Oct. 6, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin visited Wood River for a law enforcement roundtable. We hosted two dozen area police chiefs, sheriffs office officials, States Attorney Tom Haine and police association representatives. We had excellent discussions on the legislation passed in the lame-duck session in January, HB3653, and how we can fix this bad law. We also discussed recruiting and retaining police officers in this climate, and how the provisions in the legislation are driving people away from a career in law enforcement. We will be back in Springfield for veto session from Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28, and I am hopeful that Democrat leaders in the House and Senate will hear these concerns during that time. Also, this week, Leader Durkin appointed me to the new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force. I look forward to using what we learned from our roundtable discussion for better policy related to crime and violence in Illinois. In August I began hosting mobile office hours throughout the district, visiting Nameoki Township, Hartford, Fosterburg and Bethalto. Upcoming dates include Elsah as well as evening hours at my office in Alton. Please call my office for the details at 618-433-8046. I want to be accessible to you, so if the office hours dates dont work for your schedule, we can meet or talk at another time convenient for you. Please dont hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. Amy Elik of Fosterburg is the 111th District State Representative. Im a classic news junkie. I kind of want them all and having to pick one or two is really difficult so I manage without which is a real shame, says Dominic Young. The founder of Axate thinks hes found the solution to this problem of what online news site or app to pay to read, with his service that lets users pay pennies to read an article that would normally be behind a paywall. Subscription paywalls are now part and parcel of the media landscape, as many online publishers seek to rely not just advertising and ask their readers to pay for news and journalism. But in a world of Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime, subscriptions can swiftly add up, so what if there was a middle way? By letting people pay 20p, for example, to read an article, or a small sum for a day pass, Axate aims to deliver one. Dominic Young launched Axate in 2017 in a bid to support journalism in a digital world As a self-confessed news junkie, who spent years working at Rupert Murdochs News Corp, Young, who launched Axate with fellow former exec, Victoria Silberbauer, thinks this pick and mix way of paying for news offers something different. I personally dont think theres one single model that works for all media. I think most payment models try to shoehorn people into one way of behaving when thats not right, he says. Plenty of people have bandied the idea of micropayments around over the years without them taking off, but Young thinks this more casual approach has considerable mileage, despite subscriptions dominating the way people are charged. The cost of reading an article is set by the publisher and Axate's system includes a travelcard-style price cap, and once readers hit that any more articles read are free. This could let a publisher charge up to a cap that was the same as their weekly or monthly subscription, for example. Axate has gained attention through its crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube, which has raised almost 400,000 and valued it at 11.3million. It currently works with some local and other smaller publishers, but can it persuade some of the big players to get on board and change how people consume news? The question, Young had mulled before starting Axate was what if there was a way for consumers to only pay for the articles they want to read? For anyone who reads articles online it has become increasingly obvious that the days of an 'everything on the internet is free' mentality are numbered. Among some publishers there has been a distinct shift from an entirely free ad-supported model to a subscription paywall one, this can be either with a freemium element of a certain number of articles free first, or a hard paywall where nothing can be read without paying. Subscriptions may help businesses make a profit but casual readers are left locked out and it can be impossible for people to read important investigations without paying a monthly fee. 'I think news is like coffee and sandwiches. Asking people to be more formally considered about it almost guarantees a large proportion will walk away The idea for Axate was born more than 10 years ago when it became obvious to me and others that neither advertising nor subscription on their own would be enough. What can we do in the middle? Thats a question that has not left me, says Young. It wasn't just his experience of the media industry but his own personal consumption of news and other services that crafted the idea for Axate. The things I subscribe to are things I need the whole time and give me all I need, like Spotify or my phone. 'The things I dont subscribe to is where I need lots and lots of things and I dont want to be too restricted to just one, or my need is variable some days more than others. 'I think news is like coffee and sandwiches. Asking people to be more formally considered about it almost guarantees a large proportion will walk away. Axate users choose an article to read and pay from the money in their account Interestingly, considering that comparison, Pret launched a coffee subscription last autumn. But while that has attracted thousands of customers, people paying for their coffee this way is a fraction of the casual footfall it has on a daily basis and if Pret only sold drinks by subscription its sales would slump. Although the logic of a payment alternative may make sense, Young, is aware that big publishers make considered decisions and are unlikely to upend any current systems at haste. But he says that Axate can play into this by potentially sitting alongside an existing model. You dont have to suddenly have a massive shutdown. Down comes the paywall, lock everyone out, doing something very disruptive and hostile, he says. Its important to me that publishers implementing Axate can do so without that turbulence and adding options they can adjust and evolve as their products, their relationship, their audience develops and also their ability to invest more in the product. How does Axate work? Once a user signs up to Axate, they can go to a publisher using the system and choose an article to read and pay from the money pot in their account. Axate does not charge any upfront fees to readers and instead gets a cut of the revenue from publishers. Currently, this pay-as-you-go way of reading journalism can be used for 15 publishers, among them are some local news websites, including the Yorkshire Post, and the music and celebrity site born out of popular email newsletter Popbitch, but it is yet to roll out to bigger name publishers. The charges are set by the publisher and could be 10, 20 or 50 pence for an article, for example. Some, such as the Yorkshire Post, offer a daily pass rate. Axate suggests a benchmark but publishers are given the freedom to adjust the price and crucially cannot charge different prices for different articles. Additionally, the company has introduced a travelcard-style price cap. Once readers hit that upper limit over a certain period of time, they can then continue to read a site for free. It would be perverse to punish people for reading a lot. You want to encourage them to read a lot to give them better value for money when they do, says Young. Most importantly there is no ongoing commitment. Young likens it to cup of coffee-type money spending, with the average amount put in around 3. [The money] doesnt get taken away from you every month regardless of what youre doing, which is one of the main things people are nervous about with subscriptions. Can Axate turn paying for news into profits? Axate isnt the only company to try and make casual payments work for journalism. Dutch company Blendle, dubbed the iTunes of journalism when it launched seven years ago, was recently bought by French peer Cafeyn. However, in 2019 it ditched its micropayments to lean on premium subscriptions because it failed to turn a profit. Axate is not yet profitable and its recently launched crowdfunding campaign will help to fund its ongoing operations and expansion. With crowdfunding, personal investors take a small stake in a fledgling business, alongside founders and others who have backed it. Crowdfunding has become a popular way for early stage companies to raise cash, creating a pool of small investors backing something they are interested in, and raising a company's profile. Young says: It really is about growth. I think we need to be ready to be in scaling mode, because if we do sign up a really high volume publisher, you can expect the numbers to quite rapidly increase.' We think this funding will take us past that point. We may or may not need to do additional fundraising after that. We need to scale up customer and technical support as we grow. The idea is for Axate to be a facilitator for a lot of people rather than becoming itself a big thing. Axate has already beaten its 350,000 crowfunding target with over a week to go until the round closes, raising 399,500 at the time of publishing this article. It says it has also raised 2million from private and media industry investors. The idea clearly resonates with people - and Axate says it has 31,000 users - but it is unlikely to really gather steam until a big hitter in the industry takes a punt on readers paying for news online this way. That said, it is perhaps start-up journalism operations that have the most to gain from small payments to read their articles, allowing readers to support them without taking a subscription and mediating the difficulty of relying on online advertising, which works best at scale. Young is convincing and optimistic about the future of news which will undoubtedly play well with publishers, but will they go for it? He seems to think so. He says: I think the big subscription publishers are open to the idea of expanding their customer base, opening up new revenues but are cautious because of their subscriber base and they want to protect it. The pathway in implementing something like this is a little bit slower for them. Axate's crowdfunding campaign can be seen here. It closes on 21 October. West Virginia fire investigators are offering a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction after two intentionally-set fires in Wiley Ford, including at this Stately Street residence on Sept. 14. Barre, VT (05641) Today A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Carolyn Sue Bryant Ellis, 78, of Fort Walton Beach, FL, passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at Somerby of Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Born March 15, 1943, at Dr. Daniel's Hospital in Pavo, Georgia, Carolyn was the youngest of nine children born to Franklin and Marie (Dailey) Bryant, of Route 2 The new MacArthur geniuses and how you can be a genius Scott Fisher, the owner of Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute, points to the area in which a trotline was placed during Memorial Day weekend. Fisher said a student in his class was ensnared by the trotline, which led him to cut it. ALBANY - Welcome to the Matrix. Although the leader of this enterprise, Susan Sharfstein, a professor of nanobioscience at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany, is harvesting cancer-killing cells, not humans, her work is redolent of the classic 90s-era sci-fi movie franchise. But this is not science fiction. It's science reality. Sharfstein recently was awarded a $125,000 grant from the the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals. The NIIMBL, as it is known, is a public-private partnership based in Delaware that is funded by the federal government to promote cutting-edge drug manufacturing in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry. The grant will support efforts by Sharfstein to grow so-called hematopoietic, or blood stem cells, that can be used to fight cancer in a futuristic machine called a wicking matrix bioreactor. The hematopoietic cells can be used to treat certain cancers through immunooncology therapy, which uses human immune cells to target cancer cells rather than relying solely on the chemicals used in standard chemotherapy. The hardest part of this cutting-edge cancer therapy is making the cells, which is why the NIIMBL funding is so important to Sharfstein and her SUNY Poly collaborators, including fellow nanobioscience professors Yubing Xie and Robert Brainard. A critical aspect of NIIMBL projects is that they include industry collaboration as well, and so Sharfstein will have researchers from Merck, Genentech, and Sepragen, the company that makes the bioreactor. The bioreactor is designed to culture immune cells, including T-cells and natural killer cells, without changes in cell behavior. These killer cells are important because they can attack infections invading the body's cellular system as well as tumors. The machine uses a "matrix" or scaffolding that supports the growth of cells. Among other things, Sharfstein's team will work to develop an "automation and control" system to propagate the growth of these potentially life-saving cells. J. Andres Melendez, interim dean of SUNY Polys College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, said the "boundary-pushing research" highlights the "exciting academic-industrial collaborations" at SUNY Poly and the Albany Nanotech campus where the school is located. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. And it's not just the companies and the three professors who will benefit. The funding will also support a postdoctoral fellow as well as a graduate student and undergrad student being involved in the project. Working with Sepragen for a number of years, we are thrilled to be the nexus for helping to find the best application for this pioneering innovation," Sharfstein said. Vinit Saxena, CEO and chief technology officer of Sepragen, says the study builds upon other work that SUNY Poly has done with the company, which is located in Union City, Calif. SUNY Poly and Sepragen previously had collaborated on Small Business Technology Transfer grant projects that are also funded by the federal government to encourage costly research and development by small businesses. "We look forward to the continued benefit from research utilizing the novel bioreactor that we developed, which can potentially lead to more impactful cancer treatments, Saxena said. This article was featured in the Capitol Confidential newsletter. Sign up here to get it each morning. New York's vaccine mandate for health care workers was dealt a damaging blow on Tuesday when a federal judge in Utica granted a preliminary injunction on behalf of 17 medical workers who contend the state's failure to consider religious exemptions has violated their constitutional rights. (TU) Gov. Kathy Hochul is ending a program begun under her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, which had helped suppress negative information about Cuomo and his administration. (TU) Heres the rest of your roundup: After failing by a vote to rescind the agency's approval of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's book deal at a September meeting, Commissioner Gary Lavine is planning a different tact: A motion arguing that JCOPE staff never had the authority to issue the approval. (TU) the New York Daily News' editorial board published a 61-page letter, which an attorney for ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo wrote to the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office. It reveals new details of investigations into the Cuomo administration. (TU) Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a lead over a field of potential Democratic candidates for governor, according to a new Marist Poll. The poll was taken right after the New York Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs endorsed Hochul. (TU) Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Lori Van Buren/Times Union Gov. Kathy Hochul has quickly put together the state's Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force, an 11-person board that will recommend any new safety regulations following the 2018 limo crash in Schoharie that killed 20 people. Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation and a member of the task force, has not enacted changes suggested by federal regulators to address limo safety concerns in New York. (TU) The words of Lauren Salzman are a part of nearly 40 letters sent to Senior U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis on her mothers behalf prior to his sentencing of her last month. Garaufis unsealed the letters, which Nancy Salzmans attorneys tried to shroud in secrecy, following a request by the Times Union and arguments by its attorneys. The notes portray Raniere as a master manipulator who exacted absolute control over even his closest ally in NXIVM. (TU) Fall is popular with all walks of outdoorspeople, including both hikers and hunters. As New Yorks hunting season picks up steam and daylight hours dwindle, hiking and biking advocates urge those exploring the woods recreationally to take extra precautions so as to maintain the safety of themselves, their pets and hunters. Hunting is an activity thats quite popular and has a long heritage here, says Andy Mossey, Stewardship & Advocacy Coordinator for The Catskill Center. As people are getting out and recreating, we should be prepared that were sharing the woods with hunters. Wear orange Hunters are required to wear orange or pink when hunting with a firearm. So, too, should hikers and bikers. Maria Bedo-Calhoun, president of the 3500 Club, says a recent hike raised some alarms for her. I was out hiking yesterday, and it didnt seem like we saw a lot of people in orange, she says. Mossey says he recommends that during peak foliage season, when orange is common in the woods, people also incorporate a bright cyan blue. Do a blue shirt or backpack, he says. And rocking an orange hat is really important. Keep dogs in orange and on leash Mossey says in the past few years, its been dogs, not people, that are more commonly mistaken for a deer or bear. He urges dog owners to be particularly mindful. Especially if they happen to be a mid-to-large size dog thats darker in color, they should definitely be wearing a reflective, bright vest. Orange reflective dog vests can be found in any local pet supply store or online. Its also crucial to keep dogs on leash to control their running through leaves and underbrush, which could confuse hunters. Stick to daytime hikes and rides Hunters are particularly active at dawn and dusk, when deer are as well. To optimize safety, Scenic Hudson advises hikers and bikers to limit their outdoor activities on wooded trails to prime daylight hours. Stay on established trails Established trails are the best place to hike during hunting season. While it may be enticing to go for those bushwhack hikes this time of year, I typically recommend sticking to peaks with trails, and trails that are somewhat busier, says Mossey. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. And although some hikers occasionally contact private landowners to ask if they can hike despite no trespassing signs, Bedo-Calhoun discourages this during hunting season, when private landowners may be more wary of people on their property. If youre wanting to do a specific hike and are calling to ask for permission, just be aware it might be best to just wait until [hunting] season is over, she says. Ask questions Mossey notes that some of the stated rules around hunting season when bowhunting ends, when rifle hunting begins can vary by county and can be confusing to the general public. Hunters in particular know those things but the general public does not, says Mossey. I recommend people give DEC or the Catskill Visitor Center a call to ask so that they know what to expect. Those in Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Putnam or Dutchess County can call the DEC at 845-246-3098. Residents and visitors in Delaware, Greene or Columbia County can call 518-357-2355. The Catskill Visitor Center can be reached at 845-688-3369. ALBANY Long-running efforts to hold city police more accountable passed a major hurdle this spring when lawmakers adopted a package of reforms, including those that would give teeth to the citys civilian police oversight board. The law would allow the Community Police Review Board to conduct independent investigations of police misconduct, issue subpoenas and establish a disciplinary matrix with the police chief. But voters still need to sign off through a ballot measure on Nov. 2. Civic and elected leaders are in support of this and were supplementing that today, said Anita Thayer, who is part of a coalition of police reform advocates and activists who are drumming up support for whats known as Proposition 7. If passed, the ballot proposal, which was unanimously approved by Common Council in March and is backed by Mayor Kathy Sheehan, will trigger a legal fight with the police union. There may be some components we would be willing to negotiate, but ultimately we know our disciplinary process is fair, said Mike Delano, president of the union representing Albany police officers. Two dozen advocates gathered outside Albany police headquarters on Wednesday to generate support for Prop 7, also known as Local Law J, which delivers reforms supporters say are long overdue and critical to restoring a sense of trust between the public and police. Community Police Review Board Chair Nairobi Vives said the current oversight process is largely a pro forma review of a review of the departments own internal process. Currently, the board can only review the departments internal investigations and make policy recommendations to the city and the department. Weve been very upfront about the limitations of that review process, Vives said. We want there to be a check on otherwise unchecked police power, and Proposal 7 is the way for that change to happen. Several other cities, including Rochester and Schenectady, have also enacted legislation to give civilian review boards more power over police departments, including the power to investigate and discipline officers. The changes are part of packages of police reform bills passed in the wake of protests over the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police in Minnesota and police brutality in general. Watered-down oversight boards discourage people from filing complaints because they see the process as illegitimate, said Alice Green, executive director of the Albany-based Center for Law and Justice. Mistrust grows when residents observe how they are mistreated and underserved with no policing accountability, Green said. Green pointed at a long line of Albany police who were never held accountable after they killed or injured Black men, including Jessie Davis, who was gunned down by police in 1984 at his Arbor Hill apartment, and Ellazar Williams, who was shot and paralyzed by a detective in 2018 during a chase, a shooting an internal police probe later determined was justified. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Simply increasing training, said Albany NAACP President Debra Brown-Johnson, isnt a panacea. Albanys Community Police Review Board adjudicates between 40 to 50 cases annually. But the numbers would be higher if more people had trust and faith in the process, Green said. Delano, the police union president, said the force is full of dedicated individuals and good human beings giving it their best at an increasingly difficult job. Prop 7, Delano said, would "only seem to put the average citizen at odds with the department and would exacerbate an already strapped department contending with staffing levels at the lowest hes seen in 18 years. We dont mind being the most scrutinized group, but we demand to be treated fairly, Delano said. Following approval of Local Law J by the Common Council, the union that formerly represented city police officers, Council 82, filed litigation. But Council 82 later was defeated in an election by the PBA, which will not be following through on that lawsuit, Delano said. The narrative that police are bad actors who arent held accountable for their actions is just fiction, plain and simple, he said. Ultimately, we hope the citizens of Albany show their support for us and vote down Prop 7. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month rejected a request to hear the case of public sector union members who had been seeking a retroactive refund of union fees or dues following the June 2018 Janus decision that made those dues voluntary rather than mandatory. Had the court ruled in favor of David Seidemann and Bruce Martin it could have set a precedent under which public sector unions might have had to refund untold sums of money to members or retirees who had paid the fees for years. But the court without comment turned down the request. The case of Seidemann v. Professional Staff Congress had its roots in June 2018 when the high court, in a landmark decision, ruled in the Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees case that public sector unions couldnt charge mandatory dues-like fees from people who worked in jobs with union representation. In New York, public sector workers who rejected unions still had to pay a fee that was equivalent to dues if their work unit was represented by a union. The Janus decision was seen as a major win for conservatives and critics of public sector unions who contended the unions have long enjoyed protections that are not available to their private sector counterparts. Following the ruling, David Seidemann, a professor of earth and environmental sciences at Brooklyn College, sued his union, the Professional Staff Congress, to get his dues refunded retroactively. Brooklyn College is part of the City University of New York system. Because dues and fees are shared among sister and umbrella unions, other bargaining units were also named in the suit. That included United University Professions, which represents State University of New York professors, as well as New York State United Teachers, which represents K-12 public school teachers. The original suit also named the AFL-CIO and American Association of University Professors Collective Bargaining Congress. Seidemanns agency fees, similar to dues, were about $1,000 annually and he wanted a refund of three years, which was based on a statute of limitations for such matters. Seidemann, who initially represented himself, was later joined by Bruce Martin, a SUNY professor. It was one of several such suits regarding union dues in the wake of the Janus decision, some of which were financed by conservative or anti-union organizations. Seidemann at the time said he was represented without charge by the Clark Hill law firm. The Janus decision remains in place, but efforts like Seidemanns to get retroactive refunds have been rebuffed by the courts. Judges have determined that unions couldnt have known the Janus decision was coming and they legally collected the dues/fees in good faith while the mandatory payments were legal. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Judge Katherine Polk Failla, in New Yorks federal Southern District, agreed in January 2020, dismissing Seidemanns suit. She dismissed it with prejudice, meaning that court wont hear the case again. The Court joins the numerous other district courts that have heard substantially the same facts, claims, and arguments, in finding that Plaintiffs have failed to state any claim upon which relief may be granted, Polk Failla wrote in her decision. Seidemanns lawyers, though, appealed to the federal second circuit, which upheld the lower courts dismissal. They then sought a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was denied. Leaders of the PSC and affiliated NYSUT said they were pleased but unsurprised by the ruling We are not surprised that the Supreme Court has put an end to Professor Seidemann's meritless lawsuit. His suit was one of many near-identical, unjustified attacks filed by individuals looking to undermine unions and the people we represent, PSC President James Davis said in a prepared statement. Were pleased the Supreme Court sees this lawsuit for what it really is: a baseless attempt to tie unions up in the courts and distract us from our work advocating on behalf of hard-working members, added NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU KERHONKSON Liza is one lucky dog. The 12-year-old canine was rescued Tuesday evening after being stuck for five days without food or water in a narrow rock crevice near the Gertrudes Nose Trail in Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County. She was ultimately lured toward a catchpole with a hot dog on the end of it wielded by a petite cave rescue expert from New Jersey who was able to squeeze 40 feet down into the crevice to reach the stranded pet. Lizas ordeal began last Thursday, Oct. 7, when an Ulster County woman noticed her dog had fallen out of sight, according to the state Office of Parks and Recreation. The dog could be heard barking, prompting park staffers to try and get the animal out before dark. That was to no avail. By Tuesday, however, members of the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals came and used a specialized plumbing inspection camera to try and reach the dog. The New Jersey Initial Response Team, a regional volunteer group specializing in cave rescue, had also gotten involved by then. First they used the camera to make sure the dog was still alive and OK. Two response team members were able to descend into the crevice to get the plumbing camera close enough to observe the dog moving in a narrow area, and apparently unharmed. One rescuer, Jessica Van Ord, was able to squeeze and contort herself in order to get a modified, extended catch pole around the dog, which was lifted close enough to be placed into a rescue pack and brought to the surface at about 5 p.m. Tuesday. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Van Ord used a hot dog hanging from the end of the catch pole as a lure in order get the catch poles rescue loop around the animal. SPCA officials determined the dog, while hungry and thirsty, was in good health and was later reunited with its owner. While under observation with the camera, the dog was seen licking the damp walls of the crevice, likely providing itself with moisture that helped it survive. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU SCHENECTADY SUNY Schenectady County Community College has even more room to grow in the future now that it has an expanded real estate portfolio. On Tuesday, county legislators passed several resolutions approving the purchase of eight parcels of land around the Lower State Street campus in downtown Schenectady that it will hold in trust for the college, according to county officials. All told, the price tag for all properties works out to about $3 million. The properties include three row houses on South Ferry Street and two storefront buildings on Erie Boulevard. A third of the purchase amount, or about $1 million, will pay for roughly an acre of land at 222 S. Ferry St. on what used to be MVPs parking lot, according to legislator Gary Hughes. He explained that $250,000 of that $1 million figure to buy what is the largest tract of the bunch will go to the state Department of Environment Conservation to cover their cost of cleaning up certain contaminants in the soil at the site, including petroleum. The county will seek matching funds from SUNY to help offset half the price it paid for the 1-acre site. "The college is poised to embark on its next five-year plan, and depending on what the college uses the property for, at some point they will be able to apply for some reimbursement from SUNY for some of the property acquisition costs, added Hughes. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. All together what it does is assemble a parcel that the college can use for future expansion, whatever form that may take added Hughes, who also serves on the board of trustees for the college. "I see it as planning for the future... we know we can't grow in the direction of the (Mohawk) river so the only place to go is into Lower State Street, and this secures for the college a blank slate, which the college's master planners can plot the physical future of the college." In a statement SUNY Schenectady College President Steady Moono said the future of the college must be lower State Street due to natural constraints posed by the Mohawk River. The area is also in a flood plain. ALBANY Prior to the pandemic, Plattsburgh-area grocery stores boasted displays piled with Thanksgiving turkeys twice every fall: once in November and once on the second weekend in October, in time for the Canadian version of the harvest celebration. But both this October and last, the first turkey rush never happened, and even Novembers shopping numbers shrank. The border being closed has changed it a lot, said Tim Bedore, who has worked at the local Hannaford grocery store for decades. But they're going to be opening up the border next month, probably in time for Canadians to come down here for our Thanksgiving, and I expect them to flock down here in heavy, heavy numbers. Even without store-specific discounts, U.S. birds are far less expensive than those sold in the northern country. Thanksgiving shopping trips were so common before the pandemic that Canadas government website even specifies a one turkey per person limit for travelers. For Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, New Yorks cross-border turkey trade is just one example of how deeply intertwined the states economies and communities are with Canadas. He is one of many advocates in the state celebrating the news this week that federal officials intend to open the countrys land borders with Canada and Mexico to vaccinated travelers in early November. We cannot replace two lost summers or the long impact on families and business, Douglas said. "We may finally be seeing light at the end of a long tunnel. Senior officials in the administration of President Joe Biden previewed the new policy late Tuesday, saying the updated rules will come into effect next month and allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the U.S. by land, regardless of their reason for travel. They will coincide with an update to air-travel rules that will similarly bar U.S.-bound travel by unvaccinated foreign nationals but permit leisure trips from any country. A statement released by the Department of Homeland Security said that come November, travelers crossing for non-essential purposes will need to carry appropriate paperwork that provides proof of vaccination. By early January 2022, the requirement will apply to all inbound foreign national travelers entering by land or ferry. The latest change was announced over two months after Canada began allowing vaccinated U.S. visitors to enter the country by land or air on Aug. 9. Both countries had placed strict restrictions on land-border transit for public health reasons in March 2020, as the pandemic began. Lawmakers from New York on both sides of the aisle have come out in support of the most recent announcement, with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat, sending kudos to president Biden for doing the right thing, and state Sen. Dan Stec, a Republican, pointing to bipartisan efforts and saying the reopening cant come soon enough. U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, whose constituents have lauded him for his consistent pressure on the issue, said that for months now weve heard from businesses that are suffering and families distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown. He noted this update has been met with a sigh of relief from the states northern border communities. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The change will also mark the end to a two-tiered policy that has allowed Canadian and Mexican nationals to fly into the U.S. as tourists, while barring them from driving across the border, even to visit family members. The months of restrictions have generated a strong backlash from New York families whose cross-border lives have been disrupted for over a year and a half. Devon Weber, a New York native living across the northern border with her Canadian husband, founded the Let Us Reunite campaign last October and has spent the past year raising awareness of how the closed border has affected families like hers. This means that families are going to be able to afford to spend more time together, without having to buy plane tickets, Weber said. It was just such an unrealistic and unaffordable method of travel for so many binational families. Weber added that for many in border communities, the change could mean a 20-minute cross-border drive in a private car, as opposed to a day of expensive flights. And while her own family doesnt celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday, the November break will now mark the first moment since the beginning of the pandemic when they will have time off and the ability to meet. The first thing I did last night was I booked a rental car so my family can drive to New York for American Thanksgiving, Weber said. My husband hasn't seen my full family in 19, 20 months. While some details of the latest change have yet to be clarified, Weber is one of many New Yorkers extremely happy and a little surprised by the announcement. ALBANY Their first displacement was caused by political unrest and economic crisis. The second was caused by a house fire. The family from Burundi lost their apartment in West Hill about a month ago, and couldnt find a new one even with at least three refugee resettlement organizations helping. Finally, an affordable apartment was found but it wouldnt be available until Nov. 1. Until then? A hotel has been their home. As Albany is anticipating the arrivals of roughly 400 refugees in this fiscal year, in addition to over 100 Afghan refugees quickly being resettled in the area, refugee resettlement organizations are concerned that the newcomers will face the same difficulties as the family from Burundi: Finding quality, affordable apartments in a timely manner. We had everybody looking for an apartment, and it just wasnt there, said Tim Doherty, executive director of the West Hill Refugee Welcome Center (RWC). We dont know how many (refugees) are going to come where can we even house them? An affordable housing shortage For many involved in public and affordable housing, the low supply and high demand is nothing new. But the levels seen this year have been exacerbated. The group is probably experiencing first-hand what low-income residents and communities of color in Albany have been experiencing for decades and has only worsened, which is a severe lack of affordable housing, said Rebecca Garrard, legislative director and housing advocate with Citizen Action of New York. The Albany Housing Authority waitlist for public and Section 8 housing alone hovered at 10,000 before the pandemic hit, with families or individuals possibly counted twice if they're on both lists. Today, that number has climbed to almost 13,400. The shortage of quality, affordable housing isnt unique to the Albany area its a statewide and national trend. But with the coronavirus pandemic, those who work in the sector are seeing an increased strain on the industry particularly as landlords fight back after dealing with paused rent payments and eviction moratoriums for the past year and a half. We know that a lot of (income) should be coming back to the landlords through (emergency rental assistance), but theres a lack of patience, Garrard said. What weve seen is landlords increasing rents to recoup the losses they suffered during the pandemic. As landlords make up for that lost income, refugee and housing advocates have also frequently seen resistance to accept tenants receiving assistance from the Department of Social Services or those with Section 8 vouchers despite it being illegal to discriminate against applicants because of their source of income. Some landlords dont like to get DSS because they are priced at the very, very low end, said Francis Sengabo, operations director at the Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus (RISSE). An example Sengabo provided is that DSS provides $350 for housing for one individual, and $575 for two. The housing market for public housing is very complex, which means refugees suffer, he continued. Even when there are people who accept DSS, the housing is a poor, poor, poor environment. Part of the difficulty in finding quality, affordable housing is that many options are located in neighborhoods that were redlined by the federal government in the 1930s, leading to nearly a century of disinvestment, blight and inequitable living conditions in those neighborhoods. With less financial incentive, landlords may end up letting the quality of their properties deteriorate. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. What it costs to rehabilitate houses that have fallen into disrepair, it doesnt make economic sense to do it, said Ali Schaeffing, a board member at the West Hill Refugee Welcome Center. Theres not a return on investment that supports what is a big risk. Lori Van Buren/Times Union Desperate times call for creative measures For the past four years, 100 was the average number of refugees the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants resettled in the Albany area, due to former President Donald Trumps severe shrinking of the refugee cap. But for the first time in four years, USCRI is expecting numbers closer to what it saw under President Barack Obama's administration roughly 400. Its just that its potentially more people in a short amount of time, executive director Jill Peckenpaugh said of the current challenges finding quality, affordable housing. We hoped this would come, weve been gradually gearing up, but it feels different when youre actually getting names and numbers that are coming. Over the years, USCRI Albany has resettled about 4,500 refugees, which means theyve been able to build relationships with good landlords some of them immigrants or former refugees themselves for good housing options. But this year, the options are more limited, and the resettlement agency has not been receiving sufficient advance notice of arrivals to easily find housing in time. That has meant that organizations have had to get creative about where to place refugees. AirBnB, for example, has a nonprofit branch that has given USCRI thousands of dollars in vouchers for housing. The home rental agency has also made apartments available for newly arriving Afghan refugees, though the exact number of apartments in the area is unknown. Organizations have also looked to local residents who may have in-law apartments with private entrances they could offer up temporarily for refugees. College campuses have also been a resource recently, Russel Sage College announced that it would be hosting a refugee family in early 2022. The (refugee resettlement) collaborative is having these big conversations and calling attention to the complicated historical and current factors that are truly contributing to this impossible situation, Schaeffing said. Were having these conversations, while also getting creative about housing solutions. ALBANY A feud between rival biker gang associates apparently triggered a brazen shootout at an underground private lounge in Albany over the weekend that left a 29-year-old military veteran dead and six others wounded. The shooting incident that rocked a neighborhood Saturday night two blocks north of Central Avenue on the edge of West Hill underscored what some law enforcement officials fear could be increasing tensions between a proliferation of biker gangs that have recently formed in the region, and others that have made a resurgence. Court records and interviews with law enforcement officials indicate the shooting began after a fight outside the lounge at the corner of Elk Street and North Lake Avenue. The lounge, which city officials said was operating without a permit, is apparently a hangout for members of Suicide Squad, a local biker club. Police who executed a search warrant at the club noted in arrest reports that the location is a "Suicide Squad Club House." Law enforcement sources said their investigation is focusing on whether individuals with ties to the Pagans Motorcycle Club allegedly went to the location because of an earlier incident in which they believed someone associated with another gang had insulted them by screeching a tire in their direction. There also was information that the club's patrons had organized a social event there that same evening. The shootout involved at least three firearms. A 9mm handgun with a round still in the chamber and a homemade 9mm ghost gun neither with serial numbers were seized by police after they obtained a search warrant and found the illegal weapons tucked under a mattress inside the back of the club at 117 N. Lake Ave. Ten people, ranging in age from 29 to 54, who were inside the club all were arrested on felony weapons charges based on the two handguns that were seized. Seven of those arrested list addresses in Troy. Three others arrested live in Albany, Schenectady and Ballston Spa. Lori Van Buren/Times Union Forensic evidence at the scene indicated there had been a dangerous firefight between multiple people. Police recovered nearly 70 shell casings that were scattered around the intersection and the lounge in patterns that suggested guns were being fired from behind cars and through windows of the lounge. There were also shell casings recovered inside the lounge. Police also recovered casings from a .380-caliber handgun, but it's unclear if that weapon was recovered by police. Forensic detectives dug many of the rounds that were fired from the walls of buildings, including a nearby school, and from cars. The New Bedford, Mass., man who was killed, Alexander Bolton, was in a parking area near the club when paramedics and police arrived. He had been shot in the chest and later died. Five other people went to Albany Medical Center Hospital and walked into the emergency room with wounds from the gunfire, while another victim went to a local motel and then called 911 for help. More for you Albany shooting victim survived war wounds only to die in hometown There has been a surge in shootings and homicides in Albany over the past two years, but Saturday's melee has cast a spotlight on the intensifying relations in the region's biker underworld. Law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said police started monitoring an Albany tattoo shop around the beginning of this year when neighbors complained about members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club congregating there. The presence of people associated with that club, who are relatively new to the region, has set up the potential for tensions with a Hells Angels charter that has been headquartered in Troy since 1984 one of roughly seven Hells Angels clubs that are chartered in New York. A year ago, the Times Union profiled Joseph Brady, a former longtime legislative director for state Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate Jr., who was the co-founder of a chapter of the biker gang East Coast Syndicate. The Capital Region motorcycle club formed about seven years ago and has drawn the attention of law enforcement for its members' alleged drug use and violence. The group also was the focus of a homicide investigation in Saratoga County, although no one in the club was arrested in connection with that case. Saratoga County sheriff's investigators acknowledged last year that biker club members were a focus of an investigation into the disappearance of a Saratoga County biker, Michael P. Ahern, of Stillwater, who was last seen on Jan. 6, 2019, nine days before he was reported missing. His pets and vehicles were still at a garage on Brickyard Road where Ahern, who would now be 44, had resided. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In January, Jack L. Jeffers, a 25-year-old New York National Guard member from Clifton Park, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the disappearance of Ahern. But police and prosecutors never recovered Ahern's remains and, in an extraordinary move, allowed Jeffers to plead guilty without providing any details as to what happened or why he was responsible for the homicide. There is no indication that anyone associated with East Coast Syndicate was involved in Saturday's shooting in Albany. A spokesman for the Albany Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan this week called the Lounge an "illegal, after-hours club." In response to questions Wednesday about any concerns she has regarding the presence of apparently violent biker gangs in the city, Sheehan issued a statement, saying: "The events that occurred last weekend are deeply concerning to me. As we stated yesterday, this is a highly sensitive, serious, and active investigation. It has our full attention and the full attention of our law enforcement partners.' Neither police nor the mayor have mentioned the biker gang connection to Saturday's shooting in public statements. Jeff Bolton, the shooting victim's father, told the Times Union again on Wednesday that his son, "was in the wrong place at the wrong time." When he and Alex's mother met with police this week, he said, they assured them they would do everything in their power to solve the homicide. ALBANY Gov. Kathy Hochul this week offered the first formal apology to nursing home advocates who have been seeking for the state to recognize the issues they and their loved ones have gone through during the coronavirus pandemic. Hochul confirmed she met with Queens Assemblyman Ron T. Kim, a progressive, who has been a leading voice within the Legislature for families who lost loved ones that were in nursing homes during the peak of the pandemic last year. Kim, who lost his uncle to COVID-19, thanked the governor for the meeting and hopes the administration will work with him on legislation to improve shortcomings within the elder care industry, as well as in determining a firm count on the number of people who died in nursing homes during the pandemic as a result of symptoms of COVID-19. "I apologized for the pain that those poor families had to endure as a result of their family members contracting COVID in nursing homes," Hochul said Wednesday at a coronavirus briefing. "It was a very emotional meeting." The meeting with Hochul's team, Kim and representatives of six families, came together in what Hochul described as an "unusual" manner. Kim had been holding a rally outside of the governor's Manhattan office two weeks ago on a related issue, with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at his side. Williams, a progressive, is exploring a run as governor. When walking back to his car, Kim said he crossed paths with Hochul. She said she told him, "assemblymember, you don't have to stand out here to get my attention. Come inside. Let's have a meeting." The meeting planning took shape over the next two weeks, Kim said. He had hoped for a town hall-style meeting and he said Hochul likely wanted a one-on-one with him, but instead they agreed to invite a few families to her office, to comply with COVID-19 guidance. "I can't see her not getting ahead of the nursing home and the elder care issue, a top political problem that she must resolve," Kim told the Times Union. "In light of what may be coming down the pipeline with the Judiciary Committee and a potential federal probe ... this is not going away." That meeting occurred Tuesday, around the one-year anniversary of the publication of Cuomo's $5.1 million book, "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic." The use of staff time to write the book is under scrutiny, including by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which is expected to release its full investigation into Cuomo soon, possibly this month. "I handed the governor my father's death certificate," advocate Peter Arbeeny said. "I said, you made national news when you added 12,000 COVID deaths, but is my father a part of that 12,000? There is no mechanism in (the state Department of Health) for any family member to confirm ... to double-check." Arbeeny wants to see a full audit of nursing home coronavirus deaths, which he believes to still be significantly undercounted by the state. He also wants a way for him to speak to the Department of Health to confirm whether his father is within their count. After he explained why there could be an undercount, Arbeeny, of Brooklyn, said, "her whole team raised their eyebrows and shook their heads." "She said, 'We're going to get this done, because 50 years from now we shouldn't be counting. It should be accurate. And 50 years from now they could use the numbers,'" Arbeeny said. He also requested for his Freedom of Information Law request, more than seven months outstanding, to be completed by the state. Arbeeny said Hochul told him that now, unlike under the prior administration, his public records request would no longer be screened by the Executive Chamber. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "For her credit, she led with empathy and listened and apologized for the state, for what they had to go through," Kim said. "Treating them like decent human beings, I think was really meaningful for them." Kim said they hope to see a memorial for the family members lost, which could be separate from the more general one Cuomo had planned in Battery Park. Hochul had indicated during her news conference that the already planned memorial may remain her administration's plan. "I feel confident that they're taking it seriously, but there's a lot of politics here," Kim said. "She needs to raise a lot of money. ... Where is she going to raise that money from and what does that mean for the policies that you'll be championing?" Hochul has been aggressively fundraising in anticipation of a potential Democratic primary in June for a full term as governor. After it became clear she would become governor in August, Hochul took in some donations from health care executives, according to campaign finance records. "My message was very clear: I understand the political game, but if you don't see this moment to give the families a chance at coming up with a solution, but only going to the industry, that can you raise you a lot of money, to write these executive orders, we're only going to repeat the same mistakes," Kim said. "If you do that, the voters will not reward that behavior. I did not say that explicitly, but that was implied." Kim has previously stood alongside Williams, a fellow progressive. He and advocates who represent a broad political coalition, including Republicans have also viewed state Attorney General Letitia James favorably because her office issued a February report that challenged the status quo on nursing homes and said the death count had been undercounted. James is viewed as a potential candidate for governor though she has not said she will enter the race. Hochul, who pledged before she was sworn in as governor to address the nursing home issues, is now more formally putting forward her commitment to the issue. Kim has been at times a vocal critic of the administration and said that he had previously, formally and informally, requested a meeting on the issue. Hochul said this week's meeting is "not a one-off" and she holds herself accountable for the issue. "People deserve to know their government listens and gives a damn about them," Hochul said. "We actually opened the lines of communication where there were none." SKIP DICKSTEIN SARATOGA SPRINGS Forno Bistro will host its annual fundraiser, called Corks & Cuisine, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. The event will feature wines, spirits and beers, and food tastings from Forno as well as its DZ Restaurants siblings, Chianti Ristorante and Boca Bistro. Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Mary Casuccio will be at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church on November 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Interment follows at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Domico Funeral Home. Homeownership is a longstanding aspiration for millions of Americans. According to a Gallup poll, more than nine in every 10 American investors consider owning a home to be either an essential or important component of the American dream. Homeownership can also be one of the best and most practical ways to build wealth -- both through appreciation of equity and tax deductions. The past year has been historic for the American housing market. A surge in demand, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and record-low mortgage rates, helped push the national homeownership rate -- or the share of housing units occupied by their owners -- to 67.9% in the second quarter of 2020, its highest level in over a decade. Still, homeownership rates vary considerably in the U.S., and in some parts of the country, people are far more likely to own their homes than in others. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2019, the most recent year of available state level data, Pennsylvania has the 16th highest homeownership rate among states, at 68.4%. For reference, the national homeownership that year stood at 64.1%. Homeownership rates in different parts of the country are impacted by many factors, and one of them is housing costs. Though it is not always the case, states where real estate is more expensive often have lower than average homeownership rates, while areas where home prices are lower often have high homeownership. In Pennsylvania, the typical home is worth an estimated $192,600, less than the national median of $240,500. The low median home price also likely helps explain why homeowners are less likely than average to be paying down a mortgage. An estimated 59.1% of owner-occupied housing units in the state have a standing mortgage, compared to 61.7% nationwide. All data used in this story, including supplemental data on the median home value of owner-occupied homes and the percentage of housing units with a mortgage, are from the 2019 ACS. States were ranked based on the number of owner-occupied units as a share of all occupied housing units. PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Molecular, a founding member of Philadelphia's biotech community, celebrates its 20th anniversary as a leader in antibody discovery and virology. With a mission to develop and apply innovative technologies that advance therapeutic discovery, the company has recently been at the forefront of Pennsylvania's contribution to the fight against COVID-19. "Integral Molecular is a long-time leader of Philadelphia's biotech community and we are thrilled to see the company's continued progress and expansion in our city," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney while celebrating this milestone. He additionally applauded the company's hard work and contribution to vaccine research. Integral Molecular was co-founded by Drs. Benjamin Doranz, Sharon Willis and Joseph Rucker who share a long history that began as trainees at the University of Pennsylvania. Still working together, they steer the company into its third decade and actively shape its scientific direction. "We started the company with a few interesting ideas and a small incubator space at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia," said Benjamin Doranz, CEO of Integral Molecular. Twenty years later, we are just as passionate about science and creating solutions, but now with the creativity of a larger team and over 400 customers around the world." "Integral Molecular is proudly committed to the local community," said Sharon Willis, Vice-President. "We have an outstanding team of dedicated people with a desire to make a difference, and cultivate the next generation of scientists, including many from our immediate neighborhood." Integral Molecular works with students, artists, and workforce development initiatives in West Philadelphia. This includes the University City Science Center's BioArt residency program, BULB lab basics program, FirstHand STEM program, and Wistar Institute's Biomedical Technician Training Program. With two research facilities in University City, Integral Molecular is actively planning its next expansion in Philadelphia's uCity Square. About Integral Molecular Integral Molecular (integralmolecular.com) is the industry leader in developing and applying innovative technologies that advance the discovery of therapeutics against difficult protein targets. With 20 years of experience focused on membrane proteins and antibodies, Integral Molecular's technologies have been integrated into the drug discovery pipelines of over 400 biotech and pharmaceutical companies to help discover new therapies for cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and viral threats such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Zika, and dengue viruses. Press Contact: Integral Molecular, Inc. Soma Banik, PhD, Director of Communications 215-966-6061 info@integralmolecular.com www.integralmolecular.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philadelphia-biotech-integral-molecular-celebrates-20-years-of-innovation-growth-and-community-301397739.html SOURCE Integral Molecular October 13, 2021 Former Chief Business Officer for Uber Emil Michael offered his foresight into the future of business for companies like Uber and Instacart in an interview with MarketBrief host Caroline Woods. Michael relied on his vast experience working for Uber, the Obama administration, and Goldman Sachs, as well as several other start-ups and technology firms, in order to help predict what could happen in the world of business over the next year. Michael offered opinions on meme stocks, government regulations, and foreign affairs in business, which comes at an opportune time as China continues to add new regulations to their economy. Caroline Woods: For unique insight into the future of the gig economy, let's check in with Emil Michael, former Chief Business officer for Uber. Emil Michael: During the pandemic, you had the gig economy: companies that were doing delivery because everyone was home, and those took off wildly. DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, you name it. The other tail was the ride sharing companies. Because no one was going anywhere, that business really flattened out. So what you have now coming out of the pandemic is actually the inverse. People are going out more and now you have a driver shortage on the ride hailing side. And on the food delivery side, it's still robust, but people are going out more also. So you'll see that crash or plateau a bit. Both parts, I think, are going to get a big boost in the next couple of months as the extended unemployment ends, the eviction moratorium ends, student loan forgiveness ends. People are going to need to go back to work in a way that they haven't so far this year. Caroline Woods: You were formerly Chief Business Officer at Uber, so when you look at Uber's business now, given that it's poised for this bump, where do you think Uber can find the next fresh opportunity or partnership? Emil Michael: Well, I think what you'll see is them to go hard at grocery delivery, because that is the one missing link in the big delivery categories that Uber doesn't have today. They have the ride sharing, they have hot food delivery, but when you're talking about groceries, Instacart has really dominated in the last couple of years. Uber bought a little company called Cornershop, out of Chile, that actually has some great software to do delivery of fresh foods, and they're going to expand that in North America. And I think that's going to be their big bet going forward. Caroline Woods: What are the biggest challenges ride hailing or ride sharing companies like Uber will face in time to come? Could it be volatile energy prices, restrictive government, new regulations, or something else completely? Emil Michael: No, I think your second point is really the big point, regulations. This administration is much more focused on labor contractor distinctions than the last one was. Some of the states, particularly in blue cities, are putting restrictions whether drivers are minimum wage levels or employees. That battle is, I think, going to be a big one for the ride sharing companies and the delivery companies in the next couple of years. Caroline Woods: Well, speaking of challenges and regulations, you led Uber's expansion in China. So I want to get your take on China's recent tech crackdown and how far reaching, long lasting you think the impact could be for tech companies? Emil Michael: It was very surprising. Having spent four years shuttling between San Francisco and Beijing, when Uber had launched Uber China, I got to learn a little bit about the capitalist theory that was happening there, and it was much more optimistic six years ago. Mark Zuckerberg (News - Alert) was there trying to get Facebook legal. Google had an office there. Uber was able to launch, other companies like Airbnb, LinkedIn, WeWork, you name it, had efforts to establish themselves. Now, those efforts have stopped. You're going to see a lot more caution for American companies going into China because of the uncertainty and you're going to see a lot more caution by investors putting dollars in Chinese companies to work. Because, if you put money into Ant Financial or DD or ByteDance, and it gets stuck in some way or delayed, or the value of the company gets hit because of some unexpected regulation that's not negotiable, think you could see a big slow down. So I think the Chinese government is going to relax on this because they know that'll happen. But that's my bet. Not through the end of this year. I think you'll see more crackdowns then maybe more of an opening next year. Caroline Woods: I also want to get your take on IPO mania. Robinhood, of course, just recently went public and it was largely considered a bust because of how it traded on its first day. It's since been on a roller coaster ride, really trading in a wide range. But what do you make of the weight that's placed on the stock performance of these tech companies on day one? Emil Michael: I think it's too much. I think it's like a hot take on Twitter (News - Alert) that's bad a few hours later. It's a hot take on an IPO that's done that moment where all the factors and people are just trying to sort out, traders are trying to sort out what they should pay for this company. Is it going to become a meme stock? What do the numbers look like? Who's in and who's out? I think we make these judgments and forever now we'll think of Robinhood's IPO as a failure. And yet today, even with the volatility, it's more than 50 percent higher than its IPO price. So you've got to give these things some time. I think the hot takes, maybe we should make them warm takes, and then look at them over a little bit of time. [October 13, 2021] AION Labs, Biotech Innovation Lab Launched by Top Pharma, Tech and Investment Leaders REHOVOT, Israel, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AION Labs, a first-of-its-kind innovation lab spearheading the adoption of AI technologies and computational science to solve therapeutic challenges, today announced its official launch and the opening of its international headquarters. The alliance of four leading pharmaceutical companies - AstraZeneca , Merck , Pfizer and Teva and two leaders in the hi-tech and biotech investment sphere , respectively - Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) and Israel Biotech Fund (IBF) who have come together with the aim of building groundbreaking AI and computational ventures that will leverage the cloud to transform how new therapies are discovered and developed. The launch of this consortium of global leaders follows the winning of a government tender to establish an Innovation Lab in December 2020 after the Israel Innovation Authority identified life sciences as a vital area for growth potential and investment. AION Labs will create and invest in early-stage start-up teams focused on AI and computational biology in drug discovery and development, offering each of them top-notch resources and mentorship while working closely with them to develop new technologies that meet the most acute and significant challenges in the pharmaceutical industry. Each start-up will harness the power of artificial intelligence, and scale and security of the cloud, to find new treatments faster and more efficiently, avoid animal experiments, and advance healthcare towards patient-centric precision medicine. AION Labs also announced today that Mati Gill, a former senior executive at Teva Pharmaceuticals, has been appointed CEO of the lab, and former head of computational biology at Compugen and science operations at CytoReason and principal scientist at MSD, Yair Benita, Ph.D., has been appointed CTO. "We are excited to launch our new Innovation Lab for new drug and device discoveries," said Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs. "Our R&D needs-based approach, coupled with our outstanding alliance, is poised to transform the process of therapeutic discovery and development. With a strong talent pool, AI technology at our core and a significant commitment of the Israeli government, we hope to contribute to the health and well-being of humankind. I'm honored to lead such a meaningful initiative, and to work closely with our consorium members to solve many of the world's critical health issues." In addition, AION Labs has announced its strategic partnership with BioMed X , an independent biomedical research institute based in Heidelberg, Germany. BioMed X has a strong track record of seeding biomedical innovations at the interface between academic research and the pharmaceutical industry. BioMed X's innovation model, based on global crowdsourcing and local incubation of the brightest research talents and ideas, will serve as the R&D engine to propel AION Lab's venture creation model. "We are excited to extend our successful innovation model to Israel," said Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of BioMed X. "In our view, Israel is currently the best place to jointly leverage the power of artificial intelligence for drug discovery and development together with leading global players in pharmaceuticals, tech and venture capital." AION Labs will include both a wet lab, where biomedical research will be performed, and a cloud-based computational lab environment, focusing on the development of new algorithms and computational methods with the aim of accelerating the discovery and development of potential new therapies. Both will be under the guidance of top senior researchers and experts from AION Labs' partners. Quotes from Founding Partners: QUOTE FROM PFIZER: "AION Labs is an excellent example of what Pfizer seeks to help build through collaboration within biopharma and across industries: a program with the potential to accelerate the development of meaningful breakthroughs that could change patients' lives," said Uwe Schoenbeck, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for Emerging Science & Innovation, Pfizer. "We look forward to playing a pivotal role in AION's pursuit of innovation." QUOTE FROM ASTRAZENECA: Jim Weatherall, Vice President, Data Science and AI, R&D, AstraZeneca said: "Data, analytics and AI are already starting to transform the way we discover and develop new medicines and I believe we are only at the tip of the iceberg in terms of its promise. Through AION Labs we have the potential to solve some of the greatest R&D challenges and find new and better ways to discover, test and accelerate the potential medicines of tomorrow. I look forward to helping form the challenges and select and mentor the companies that will enter the Lab." QUOTE FROM MERCK: Joern-Peter Halle, Head of Global Research at the Healthcare Business Sector of Merck said: "The AION Labs build on our longstanding and successful investments in innovation coming out of Israel. We are excited to work with the partners to create tangible value in applying AI to drug discovery and development in the biopharmaceutical industry and make virtual drug discovery a reality." QUOTE FROM TEVA: "Teva is truly excited to collaborate with top pharma, high-tech and investment companies to assemble this unique biotech venture to develop novel therapeutic treatments," said Dr. Eran Harary, Global Head of Specialty R&D at Teva Pharmaceuticals. "The way we discover and develop new drugs is undergoing transformation. AI technologies and cross-industry collaborations will play an increasingly significant role in revolutionizing the way we address unmet patient needs. We are especially proud to continue our innovative work with the Israeli healthcare and biotech ecosystem and look forward to seeing the fruits of this new collaboration," added Dr. Harary. QUOTE FROM AWS: "We are honored to join this prestigious consortium in tackling some of the biggest R&D challenges in drug discovery and development. AWS is committed to supporting global healthcare and life sciences innovation from bench to bedside, and look forward to helping AION Labs startups with on demand, cost-effective, high-performance computing power and AI/ML capabilities on our extensive cloud infrastructure," said Dan Sheeran, Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences at Amazon Web Services.. QUOTE FROM IBF: "We are thrilled to be part of this first of its kind innovation lab led by an outstanding group of international pharma and tech companies" said Ido Zairi, Founder & Managing Partner of IBF. "The lab's dedication to ameliorating the biotech industry by developing cutting-edge technologies and solutions and embedding them in pharma aligns with IBF's goals." QUOTE FROM IIA: Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority: "The Innovation Authority congratulates the companies involved in the establishment of this innovation lab as part of the Innovation Authority's strategy to develop an ecosystem of researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies and the growing field of Bio-Convergence for innovative and disruptive technologies relating to the future of medicine. Fusing the world of biology with various disciplines of software in which Israel has global leadership will lead to the creation of cutting-edge companies and a globally innovative ecosystem." About AION Labs AION Labs is a first-of-its-kind alliance of six global pharma and tech leaders that have come together with one clear mission: to create and adopt groundbreaking new AI technologies that will transform the process of drug discovery and development in order to contribute to the health and well-being of all people world-wide. AION Labs is a unique venture hub where brilliant innovators and scientist-founders convene from around the world to solve the biggest R&D challenges guided by years of accumulated know-how, data and experience in big pharma. The lab leverages its partners' wealth of knowledge and a new multidisciplinary mindset with the ingenuity, agility and innovative power of Israel's start-up ecosystem, to develop strong companies with clear long-term strategies, that will pave the way to the future of healthcare. AION Labs cultivates innovation from within; its unique venture creation process bridges the gap between outstanding academic research in the field of AI and the biggest R&D needs in the discovery and development of new medicines for the benefit of patients. For more information, visit www.aionlabs.com Media Contact: FINN Partners for AION Labs Lior Feigin lior.feigin@finnpartners.com @LiorFeigin +1 929 588 2016 +972 54 282 4503 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aion-labs-biotech-innovation-lab-launched-by-top-pharma-tech-and-investment-leaders-301399164.html SOURCE AION Labs [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Amperity Honored by Goldman Sachs for Entrepreneurship SEATTLE, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amperity, the leading customer data platform (CDP) for enterprise consumer brands, today announced Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing Amperity's CEO and Co-Founder, Kabir Shahani, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit beginning today, Wednesday, Oct.13 and running through Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 at the Montage Healdsburg in Healdsburg, Calif. Goldman Sachs selected Kabir Shahani as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. A serial entrepreneur, Kabir co-founded Amperity in 2016 to help consumer brands unify customer profiles across disparate systems and sources and glean insights to deliver better customer experiences and stronger business outcomes. That same year, the company launched the first version of Amperity CDP, now the number one enterprise customer data platform for providing intelligent capabilities across data management and unification, analytics and insights, and activation. Last month, Amperity launched Amperity 4.0, the latest evolution of its award-winning CDP platform with enhanced features that enable customers to tackle new challenges. These include the death of the third-party cookie; increasing consumer demand for real-time, personalized experiences; and internal teams' desire to collaborate on enterprise-wide customer data initiatives with modern, easy-to-use technology that doesn't acrifice data governance. The company serves many of the world's most-loved brands, including Patagonia, Alaska Airlines, Lucky Brand, Crocs, J. Crew, Brooks Running, Seattle Sounders FC, and many more. "I'm humbled to be recognized for the work we are doing to help brands better know their customers to provide more personalized experiences at scale," said Kabir Shahani, CEO and co-founder at Amperity. "It's also a privilege to stand alongside other entrepreneurs whom I greatly respect and who are each working to transform their respective industries and help customers in new and innovative ways." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Kabir as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About Kabir Shahani As co-founder and CEO of Amperity, Kabir Shahani started the company with the vision of using data and software to unleash the potential of marketers and analysts with the world's leading consumer brands. Appature, his previous venture, was acquired in 2012 by IMS Health after six years in the cloud-based software market. Earlier in his career, Kabir was named one of BusinessWeek's Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs of 2009 and was awarded the U.S. SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012. He has a bachelor's in informatics from the University of Washington. About Amperity Amperity is the leading Enterprise CDP trusted by the world's most loved brands to accelerate their shift to first-party customer relationships. Amperity has revolutionized the way brands identify, understand, and connect with their customers by leveraging AI to deliver a comprehensive and actionable Customer 360. This unified view improves marketing performance, fuels accurate customer insights, and enables world-class, real-time customer experiences. With Amperity, technical teams are freed from endless integration and data management, and business teams have direct access to the comprehensive data they need to build long-term customer loyalty and drive growth. Amperity serves many of the world's most loved brands, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Alaska Airlines, Michaels, Tapestry, Lucky Brand, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Crocs, Servco Automotive Retail, First Hawaiian Bank, and many more. To learn more, visit Amperity.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amperity-honored-by-goldman-sachs-for-entrepreneurship-301398854.html SOURCE Amperity [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] BioIntelliSense Honored by Goldman Sachs for Entrepreneurship DENVER, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing BioIntelliSense for Entrepreneurship and Founder and CEO, James Mault, MD, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Featuring entrepreneurs from a wide array of industries, the event focus is on building great and enduring companies that reshape their industries and make the world better through innovation. Goldman Sachs selected James Mault, MD as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Dr. Mault is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BioIntelliSense, a company based in Denver, Colorado delivering breakthrough medical-grade biosensor technology with advanced clinical intelligence for scalable remote patient monitoring. Previously, Dr. Mault served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Qualcomm Life; Medical Director, Health Solutions Group at Microsoft; and CEO of Microlife. Dr. Mault proudly serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Bose Corporation and The American Telemedicine Association, as well as the Executive Board of the Consumer Technology Association. Dr. Mault has founded five health IT and medical device companies, leading these companies to develop and successfully commercialize novel devices and software technologies. He has been board-certified in both General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery, having specialized in heart and lung transplantation, thoracic oncology, and critical care. The BioIntelliSense medical grade Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform and portfolio of multi-parameter wearable devices, including the flagship FDA-cleared BioSticker and coin-sized BioButton, provides a ew standard for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), by combining an effortless patient experience with medical grade clinical accuracy. James Mault, MD, CEO of BioIntelliSense, commented, It is an honor to receive this distinguished award and for BioIntelliSense to be recognized by Goldman Sachs for its Entrepreneurship based on an impressive portfolio of medical-grade wearable innovations. Through a dedicated and sophisticated team of biosensor technologists and data scientists, we are advancing personalized remote care globally. Innovation doesnt happen just anywhere; it thrives where theres a wide range of thoughts and perspectives, said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders weve chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Dr Mault as one of this years most intriguing entrepreneurs. For nearly 150 years, Goldman Sachs has been advising and financing entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their businesses. In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics, and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About BioIntelliSense BioIntelliSense is ushering in a new era of continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Its medical-grade Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform seamlessly captures multi-parameter vital signs, physiological biometrics, and symptomatic events through an effortless patient experience. The FDA-cleared BioSticker and medical-grade BioButton devices make remote monitoring and early detection simple. Through the platforms advanced analytics, clinicians will now have access to high-resolution patient trending and reporting to enable medical grade care at home. For more information on how BioIntelliSense is redefining remote patient monitoring through medical-grade and cost-effective data services, please contact us at info@biointellisense.com or visit our website at BioIntelliSense.com. Media Contact BioIntelliSense, Inc. Carolyn Walsh Chief Commercial Officer cwalsh@BioIntelliSense.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Bird Debuts Cutting Edge Smart Sidewalk Protection LOS ANGELES and THALWIL, Switzerland, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bird, the leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, today announced the first-of-its-kind "smart sidewalk protection" technology - a sensor fusion solution - designed and developed in partnership with u-blox (SIX:UBXN), the leader in wireless communication and positioning technology and services. Smart Sidewalk Protection, which is integrated into Bird's vehicles, is designed to prevent micromobility devices from being used on sidewalks and footpaths. As more and more cities look to integrate shared micromobility into the climate action plans that focus on reduced carbon emissions in their communities, technology that prevents sidewalk riding has become increasingly important. Through its collaboration with u-blox, Bird co-developed the industry's first robust, integrated sensor fusion system that tracks location with centimeter-level precision. By combining u-blox's ZED-F9R high precision dead reckoning module with centimeter-level sidewalk mapping and Bird's suite of onboard vehicle sensors, the integrated system effectively and efficiently detects and prevents sidewalk or footpath riding in real time. For example, as opposed to traditional GPS with cloud based maps that can take more than 15 seconds to respond, Bird's new smart sidewalk protection solution can safely bring a vehicle that has entered onto a sidewalk to a safe stop while allowing the rider to walk the vehicle back to the roadway or bike lane. "Everything we build at Bird is centered around safety and scalability, sidewalk riding detection is no exeption," said Scott Rushforth, Chief Vehicle Officer at Bird. "After three years of building, testing and piloting a range of technologies including but not limited to on board cameras, GPS tracking, ultra-wideband and beacons, we found that each was insufficient with regard to accuracy, precision, immediacy or scalability. Our testing led us to a collaboration with u-blox which resulted in the development of our end-to-end sensor fusion solution that meets our criteria." "We are very excited about this collaboration between u-blox and Bird," said Alex Ngi, Product Manager Positioning at u-blox. "Our centimeter-level precise GNSS positioning technology will now be implemented in the expanding micromobility industry, strengthening our contribution to a safer and more ecological world." Availability Bird's sidewalk detection technology is currently being piloted in Milwaukee and San Diego, and is expected to be piloted in Madrid in early 2022. For more about Bird's Sensor Fusion Solution that prevents sidewalk and footpath riding visit: www.bird.co/blog. About Bird Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in more than 300 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there. On May 12, 2021, Bird announced that it entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Switchback II Corporation (NYSE: SWBK). About u-blox u-blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global technology leader in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their smart and reliable solutions, services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity, u-blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative and reliable solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. For more information, visit: https://www.u-blox.com/en. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bird-debuts-cutting-edge-smart-sidewalk-protection-301398807.html SOURCE Bird [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Datto Unveils SaaS Defense for Advanced Cyber Threat Protection Datto Holding Corp. ("Datto") (NYSE: MSP), the leading global provider of cloud-based software and security solutions purpose-built for delivery by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), unveiled SaaS (News - Alert) Defense, its advanced cyber threat protection product, live on stage at DattoCon NOW, the largest open-ecosystem MSP-centric event. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005837/en/ Datto CEO, Tim Weller, unveils Datto SaaS Defense during his keynote at DattoCon NOW (Photo: Business Wire) Following its acquisition of Israel-based cyber threat detection company BitDam earlier this year, Datto proudly debuted its SaaS Defense security product built exclusively for MSPs. The advanced threat protection and spam-filtering solution provides MSPs with patented technology to proactively detect and prevent malicious malware, phishing, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks that target Microsoft (News - Alert) Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. "MSPs protect and manage more Microsoft 365 accounts collectively than any one enterprise. This technology will now be put to work to help keep small and medium businesses safe by blocking the number one attack vector -- email, and it actually works across the entire Microsoft 365 suite," said Tim Weller, CEO of Datto. "We were so confident about the impact this technology will have on MSPs that we wanted to own it, and bring the talented minds who created it to work with us on our greater security mission." According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, phishing remains the #1 reported cybercrime type in the United States, with BEC complaints exceeding $1.8 billion in 2020. Globally, Datto's latest State of the Channel Ransomware Report found that nearly 1 in 4 MSPs reported ransomware attacks on clients' SaaS applications, with 64% of those reporting attacks within Microsoft 365. Datto SaaS Defense creates the opportunity for MSPs to attract new clients and expand market share with a robust yet simple security solution that eliminates the need for additional headcount or in-depth security training. Benefits include: Proactive monitoring, detection, and elimination of unknown malware threats and phishing attempts that other solutions miss with signature-independent technology designed to analyze the composition of a safe email, chat, or document rather than just scanning for already known security threats. Minimizes the time to detection by preventing zero-day threats as soon as they are encountered, without manual interference or end-client disruption. SaaS Defense does not rely on third-party software, signatures, or malware reports. Robust reporting capabilities show why a threat was flagged as malicious without a complex scoring matrix. Seamless deployment and management sets new clients up in minutes. Complete integration with Datto SaaS Protection provides a multi-layered security approach to protect against permanent cloud data loss caused by user error, ransomware, or other security incidents. Streamlined, reliable protection saves MSPs time and resources previously spent on threat reporting, managing false positives, and updating blocklists. "This product is a game-changer for us. We needed a more forensic solution for our clients that quickly and clearly showed why a threat was flagged," said Charles Love at ShowTech Solutions, an MSP in Tampa, Florida. "SaaS Defense does just that; not only is it easy to use, but it lifts the covers in a way none of the other current solutions on the market can." In his opening keynote address at DattoCon NOW, CEO Tim Weller surprised all current Datto SaaS Protection partners in attendance with a ready-to-use SaaS Defense product available in their Datto Partner Portal to protect them and their clients. Global availability of Datto SaaS Defense for the entire MSP community is expected in November of 2021. Learn more about Datto SaaS Defense here. About Datto As the world's leading provider of cloud-based software and security solutions purpose-built for delivery by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Datto believes there is no limit to what small and medium businesses (SMBs) can achieve with the right technology. Datto's proven Unified Continuity, Networking, and Business Management solutions drive cyber resilience, efficiency, and growth for MSPs. Delivered via an integrated platform, Datto's solutions help its global ecosystem of MSP partners serve over one million businesses around the world. From proactive dynamic detection and prevention to fast, flexible recovery from cyber incidents, Datto's solutions defend against costly downtime and data loss in servers, virtual machines, cloud applications, or anywhere data resides. Since its founding in 2007, Datto has won numerous awards for its product excellence, superior technical support, rapid growth, and for fostering an outstanding workplace. With headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut, Datto has global offices in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. MSP-C View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005837/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] DigitalBridge Completes Acquisition of Controlling Stake in Vertical Bridge DigitalBridge Group Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) (the "Company" or "DigitalBridge") today announced that funds affiliated with DigitalBridge Investment Management, the Company's investment management platform, have completed the previously announced acquisition of a controlling stake in Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC ("Vertical Bridge"), the largest private owner and operator of wireless communication infrastructure in the United States. "We are pleased to extend our longstanding relationship with Vertical Bridge, the industry's leading independent tower platform led by the preeminent tower management team," said Steven Sonnenstein, Senior Managing Director of DigitalBridge Investment Management. "The rapidly increasing demand for telecommunications infrastructure in the United States has created exciting and meaningful opportunities for long-term growth. Our ownership position in Vertical Bridge is representative of our conviction in its future." Since its founding in 2014, Vertical Bridge has rapidly expanded its portfolio to include more than 308,000 owned or master-leased sites, including over 8,000 towers in the U.S. Vertical Bridge is well-positioned to continue this trend as it addresses the growing need for 5G services created by the continued popularity of next-generation digital devices. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisor to DigitalBridge Investment Management in connection with the transaction and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal counsel. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to Vertical Bridge and Greenberg Traurig, LLP served as legal advisor. About DigitalBridge DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global digital infrastructure REIT. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $35 billion portfolio of digital infrastruture assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. Headquartered in Boca Raton, DigitalBridge has key offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Singapore. About Vertical Bridge Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC is the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure and locations in the United States, with a portfolio of more than 308,000 sites, including over 8,000 owned and master-leased towers and the nation's largest and tallest collection of broadcast tower sites. The Company's portfolio spreads across all 50 states and Puerto Rico and is comprised of towers, rooftops, billboards, utility attachments, convenience stores and other locations in support of wireless network deployments. In addition to colocation, Vertical Bridge offers build-to-suit, edge data centers and in-building wireless network solutions. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Vertical Bridge was founded in 2014 and is led by a senior management team with over 300 years of collective experience in tower infrastructure and related sectors. Vertical Bridge is certified CarbonNeutral and in 2020, became the first tower company in the world to reach net-zero emissions. For more information, please visit http://www.verticalbridge.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation, whether the Company will realize any of the anticipated benefits from the acquisition, the ability of Vertical Bridge to continue to grow its platform, the level of demand for digital infrastructure in the United States, the Company's ability to continue to execute its digital transformation and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, and its other reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, nor to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and the Company does not intend to do so. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005437/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Mastercard to Preview New Fragrances at Fashion Group International's Night of Stars Celebration Today Mastercard introduces two world-class fragrances under the brand Priceless and will preview them at Fashion Group International's Night of Stars celebration at Cirpriani South Street in New York. This latest iteration of the company's transformative, multisensory branding approach combines these dual fragrances into one unique collection. Both elegant fragrances in red and yellow, Mastercard's iconic brand colors, express passion and optimism - embodying some of the most exquisite ingredients in the world of perfumery. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006175/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Combining two of the most exquisite extractions of Rose known in the world of perfumery - Rose Centifolia Pays cultivated in Grasse and Rose Absolute from Morocco - Priceless passion illuminates each facet of the storied flower, sweet and honey-like and deeply rich, spicy, and green. Their essence is amplified with an ultra-luxurious assembly of warm woods and red berries completing the fragrance's signature fiery spirit and passionate allure. A high-quality, clean woody, vetiver fragrance designed to convey optimism, Priceless optimism is built around Vetiver Haiti from the Firmenich NaturalsTogether program. An elixir of citrus creates immediate optimism with Sicilian Orange (News - Alert) , Grapefruit, Mandarin, and Rhubarb. Together they lift the spirits and create an extraverted energy. "Science has shown that fragrance has the ability to evoke powerful emotional connections and with Priceless, we hope to provide an uplifting, immersive and unforgettable experience to consumers," said Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard chief marketing and communications officer and president of Healthcare, who is receiving FGI's Tech and Brand Innovation award at the Night of Stars event. "The Night of Stars celebration features some of the most talented innovators in the fashion and beauty industries, making it the perfect place to introduce the newest signature of our multi-sensory brand." The fragrances will be available early next year. Fragrance advances Mastercard's focus on multisensory branding In a world where the extraordinary volume of advertising clutter, combined with the shrinking attention span of consumers, has created a perfect storm for brands, forcing them to find new and innovative ways to capture people's attention and engage them. Mastercard has pioneered the emphasis on multisensory marketing to authentically engage consumers through multiple doors of perception - cultivating stronger connections with them and distinguishing the brand. The fragrances follow Mastercard's introduction as a symbol-only brand mark (sight) and sonic brand (sound). The company has also added taste to its brand positioning with two original macaron flavors with Laduree and the launch of its restaurants (taste). Priceless fragrance embodies Mastercard's inclusivity and sustainability mission Crafted by two world-renowned female perfumers-Dora Baghriche and Marie Salamagne of Firmenich-the fragrances evoke the spirit of passion and optimism. With the ability to layer them, they also express individual identity, representing Mastercard's commitment to inclusivity. The fragrances also showcase Mastercard's continued emphasis on sustainability. A handful of the ingredients are derived from Firmenich's NaturalsTogether program, which sources from some of the most precious, innovative, and sustainable natural ingredients, supplied by 22 producers across 25 countries, contributing to the livelihoods of thousands of small farmers families. "Firmenich is thrilled to be a part of this novel sensorial approach to capturing and maintaining consumer attention, says Theo E. Spilka, Global Vice President, Strategic Licensing & Business Development. "We at Firmenich are passionate about creating positive emotions and improving wellbeing, while preserving the planet! What our two talented perfumers Dora Baghriche and Marie Salamagne have achieved in creating two scents that are comparable with one another is remarkable; as this is symbolically in parallel to our company values on diversity and inclusion." About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. www.mastercard.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006175/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] mPhase Signs Agreements to Add 625 mPower Sites in Illinois Gaithersburg, MD, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- mPhase Technologies, Inc. (OTC Pink: XDSL) (mPhase or the Company), a technology company developing the mPower 5G-enhanced electric vehicle (EV) charging network and consumer engagement platform, today announced that it has signed agreements with members of the Asian American Store Owners Association of Illinois (AASOA of Illinois) to add 625 mPower locations in the state of Illinois. The mPower ecosystem is an integrated set of platform technologies consisting of consumer engagement software, EV charging, and 5G connectivity designed to create a beneficial link between consumers and retailers transitioning to an EV-centric future. All sites will initially receive the consumer engagement portion of the ecosystem and pay a base recurring monthly fee. Following site assessments, locations with appropriate facilities will also qualify for installation of 5G and/or EV charging stations, which will generate additional monthly recurring revenue. The mix of locations includes convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants and other businesses primarily focused on serving mobile consumers. Many of our members own gas station properties or retail establishments tied to consumer travel, so they will be significantly affected by the steady transition to electric vehicles, said AASOA of Illinois President Nirav Patel. The mPower ecosystem provides a much-needed path to that future by providing our members with access to an EV driver network today. Those sites with the right facilities can also add EV charging stations and 5G to become an even bigger part of the EV experience. We believe that the mPower platform will be an essential part of our effort to future proof our Illinois locations for changes in the way that people travel and fuel. Todays release replicates our recent announcement in Florida and is part of our larger strategy to quickly populate specific geographies to build a seamless connected ecosystem catering to EV drivers, explained mPhase CEO Anshu Bhatnagar. While we realize that not every retail site can support EV installations, our mPower ecosystem is built on three distinct technologies, allowing retailers to adopt configurations that best suit each individual location. So, for example, a site that cannot support EV chargers can still be part of the mPower network by installing our consumer engagement compnent, complemented by our high-speed 5G. We are creating a new way for retailers and consumers to connect, with strong incentives for consumers to use our platform. mPhase will receive recurring revenue from each mPower site, which will vary depending upon the equipment configuration and other terms specific to each location. The number of EV and 5G installations will be determined after site surveys, but is expected to be sufficient to create highly effective mPower coverage in the state of Illinois, with additional expansion planned in future phases. About mPhase Technologies mPhase is an emerging EV-centric technology company focused on consumer engagement using data analytics and artificial intelligence to create a monetizable link between consumers and retailers at opportunistic times and places. The Company is currently building a connected ecosystem of EV charging, 5G internet connectivity and software solutions that optimize consumer engagement within the framework of a SaaS/TaaS model. Branded under the mPower name, this ecosystem will empower the way people shop, dine, fuel and interact with the world to create a richer life experience. The mPower ecosystem is tailored to each individuals tastes and needs, with particular emphasis on empowering tomorrows green consumer. mPhase also has data driven business units generating recurring revenue outside of its consumer ecosystem, in addition to legacy nanobattery technology and a related patent portfolio that are slated for future development. Additional information can be found at the mPhase website, www.mphasetech.com ; and at www.mpower.co. Please follow us on twitter: @mPhase_Tech for the latest updates. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words could, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, may, continue, predict, potential, project and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investor Contact: ir@mphasetech.com Investor Contact Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA MZ Group - MZ North America 561-489-5315 XDSL@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] PepGen Welcomes Esteemed Neurologist Dr. John Day to Scientific Advisory Board BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PepGen, Inc., a company advancing next-generation oligonucleotide therapies for neuromuscular and neurologic diseases,?today announced the appointment of neuromuscular neurologist John W. Day, M.D., Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Day is a Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics (Genetics) and Pathology and Director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at Stanford University. Its my pleasure to welcome Dr. John Day, who brings decades of experience working and teaching in the neuromuscular disease space, to PepGens Scientific Advisory Board, said James McArthur, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of PepGen. John is a renowned expert in neuromuscular diseases and particularly myotonic dystrophy, a severe, progressive disorder that currently has no cure. John will provide valuable guidance to PepGens team of dedicated industry leaders as we work to advance our lead candidates in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy type 1 into clinical studies. Throughout his career, Dr. Day has investigated the multisystemic effects of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2 and other genetic disorders and has more than 30 years of experience directing clinical trials of oligonucleotide and other novel treatments that correct genetic disorders of nerves and muscles. After completing his neurology and neuromuscular training at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Day was recruited to the University of Minnesota, where, as Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Genetics, he founded and directed the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center. I 2011, he was recruited to Stanford to establish a comprehensive Division of Neuromuscular Medicine. He is an advisor for multiple organizations in the neuromuscular disease space, including the National Advisory Committee for the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, and is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the American Academy of Neurology, and the World Muscle Society, among others. Dr. Day received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota and earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he studied synaptic physiology and plasticity. I am delighted to be joining PepGens Scientific Advisory Board. PepGens founders and team share my own passion for supporting people and families in the fight against neuromuscular and neurologic diseases and have developed a differentiated scientific approach that has potential to transform treatment of these disorders, Dr. Day said. I look forward to working alongside these talented researchers in advancing PepGens Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotides for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. About PepGen PepGen, Inc. is a biotechnology company advancing next-generation oligonucleotide therapies for neuromuscular and neurologic diseases. PepGens proprietary Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotides (EDOs) are designed to target the underlying causes of rare genetic diseases safely and effectively such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). In preclinical studies, PepGens enhanced delivery peptides achieved cell penetration and delivery of therapeutic candidates to multiple tissue types, including cardiac tissue. PepGen was founded by leading neurology researchers in Oxford, UK and is backed by a strong syndicate of investors including RA Capital Management, Oxford Science Enterprises, and others. The company is headquartered in Boston, Mass. For more information, visit www.pepgen.com or follow PepGen on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact Gwen Schanker LifeSci Communications (269) 921-3607 gschanker@lifescicomms.com Investor Contact Laurence Watts Gilmartin Group, LLC (619) 916 7620 laurence@gilmartinir.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] SafeGraph Launches Global POI Dataset, Becoming the Worldwide Leader in Places Data DENVER, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SafeGraph - a global data company that specializes in providing high quality data on places - announced a launch of their Global Brands dataset that includes point of interest (POI) data on any brand around the world. Customers of SafeGraph use Global Brands data to track retail location open/close trends, understand global market footprints, and more. A free sample of Global Brands data can be found at safegraph.com/global-brands . During a year of intense growth, including a $45M Series B fundraise, SafeGraph has focused heavily on expanding coverage of both rows and columns in its datasets. The launch of Global Brands represents a commitment to being the source of truth for places around the world, as well as delivering detailed attributes about each of those physical locations to enhance analytics across industies. Data scientists have already been leveraging SafeGraph's high quality POI data for the US, UK, and Canada, but have long been asking for global coverage. Now SafeGraph data users can rely on one dataset to compare global markets and power models. "We are thrilled to launch the Global Brands dataset and bring these highly sought-after POIs to the market. Data scientists from large corporations, small organizations, and academic institutions alike have been asking for a truly global POI dataset, and we're committed to continuously increasing our coverage to help power their analytics." said SafeGraph's Head of Product Marketing, Stu Kendall. SafeGraph is partnering with analytics software provider AtScale to host a launch event to dive deeper into the data, explore use cases, and answer questions on October 20th. You can sign up here . SafeGraph Global Brands POI data includes: Coverage of 522 brands in 193 countries (and counting) POI data that includes location name, address, lat/long, brand affiliation, category classification, open/close info, and more Customers of SafeGraph can request coverage of any additional brands. A free sample of the data can be downloaded at safegraph.com/global-brands. About SafeGraph: SafeGraph is a geospatial data company that provides high quality data on physical places to organizations like Sysco, Domino's, Esri, Choice Hotels, and more. Data scientists can preview and browse POI, building footprint, and foot traffic data, as well as related datasets, for free on safegraph.com . For more information: Briana Brown Content Manager press@safegraph.com Related Links https://www.safegraph.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/safegraph-launches-global-poi-dataset-becoming-the-worldwide-leader-in-places-data-301398480.html SOURCE SafeGraph [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] SAVVYY Brings the Future of Lending to Canadian Banks; Appoints Duncan Hannay to Board of Directors Today, SAVVYY, a Canadian-based technology leader in lending software solutions and infrastructure, announces Duncan Hannay has joined its Board of Directors. Currently President and CEO of Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation, Hannay has previously held senior roles at Street Capital Bank of Canada, Finastra, Scotiabank and E*TRADE Financial. During his time as COO at Finastra, the business established itself as the third largest fintech company globally. The appointment marks a major step forward as SAVVYY brings next-generation digital lending capabilities to Canadian and international financial institutions. As a transformative executive leader in high growth technology-enabled businesses with deep experience in financial services, Hannay will be a key advisor to the SAVVYY team as the company modernizes mortgage lending for Canadian financial services. "Joining SAVVYY's Board is a rare opportunity to work with one of Canada's most talented and experienced development teams as they modernize legacy lending platforms of the major banks," said Duncan Hannay. "Having spen more than 20 years of my career at the intersection of technology and financial services, I can say with confidence that the manual, costly, and error-prone mortgage technologies that most lenders rely on are overdue for innovation. SAVVYY's AI-capable lending infrastructure will save time, streamline workflow, and result in a dramatically improved customer experience." SAVVYY co-founders Salim Naran and Norm Cappell bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and connections to SAVVYY's mission to transform Canada's lending industry. The SAVVYY executive leadership team consists of seasoned technology and financial services professionals with a proven track record of building enterprise lending systems through senior roles at Borrowell, Paradigm, Filogix, RBC, and Merrill Lynch. "We have meaningful traction as a Canadian fintech and the time is right to strengthen the governance of our growing company. Duncan's experience and advice will be invaluable as we grow our team, onboard new customers and evolve our roadmap," said Sal Naran, Co-founder, SAVVYY. "We're on a mission to transform banks into fintechs and are looking forward to bringing our AI-mortgage ready platform to many more Canadian lenders." Established in 2018, SAVVYY is currently working with three leading Canadian financial institutions to modernize their mortgage lending infrastructure, optimize workflow for underwriters and significantly speed up the mortgage application process for customers. ABOUT SAVVYY SAVVYY's specialist team is building digital infrastructure for the lending industry, using data and design to modernize loan processing. Their modern, cloud-based software solutions turn lenders into fintechs, and allow them to transform a patchwork of legacy systems and manual process into an efficient, flexible and automated process that delivers a vastly improved client experience. SAVVYY was established in 2018 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. https://savvyy.ai/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005162/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Startek Announces New Executive Appointments - Appointment of Bharat Rao as President to support business transformation & reorganize strategic priorities - Appointment of Vivek Sharma as Chief Revenue Officer to drive expansion & strengthen organic growth GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colorado, MUMBAI, India, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Startek (NYSE: SRT), a global provider of customer experience management solutions, announced today the appointment of two executive leaders in a strategic move to enhance its leadership team to best support the company's continued growth and execution of its strategic priorities. Bharat Rao has been named President of Startek. Mr. Rao will focus on transforming Startek into a more customer-centric organization that leverages emerging technologies to deliver innovative solutions in specific industry verticals. Mr. Rao will be responsible for driving business operations, client value, and synergy across the organization and aligning organizational priorities with Startek's long-term strategy. As President, Mr. Rao will assume leadership of the executive team at Startek. Startek also announced the appointment of Vivek Sharma as the Global Chief Revenue Officer. Mr. Sharma will lead the global go-to-market organization, including key client relationships, business growth and industry-specific digital initiatives. He will play a critical role in driving Startek's next growth phase, building momentum with a focused industry and go-to-market approach, strengthening sales and solutions capabilities and sharpening market positioning. "We will focus on business and operational excellence across the company that will support our investments in innovation and growth," said Aparup Sengupta, Executive Chairman and Global CEO at Startek. "The new appointments will significantly strengthen our leadership and ensure that we focus on understanding and responding to our customers' business an their digital CX transformation journey. Bharat and Vivek are invaluable additions to our senior management team and provide complementary and value-added insights to our customers and partners. I am excited to welcome them to Startek." Mr. Rao has been a Managing Partner at Capital Square Partners (CSP), a mid-market private equity fund that owns a controlling stake in Startek. He has been on the board of Startek since 2018. Before CSP, Mr. Rao was a Managing Director with the investment banking arm of Credit Suisse in Asia. He has a successful track record of driving growth and innovation in his roles at ING Bank, PwC and Citibank. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. He has also attended executive programs at the Harvard Business School and the Said Business School at Oxford. "Companies across the world are transforming their business models to significantly improve their customer value proposition and transform CX platforms and, in doing so, they are looking for partners that can help them in their journey. Startek has an impressive suite of digital solutions and a strong portfolio of tenured customers across industry sectors, serviced from multiple locations globally in over 30 languages. It is ideally placed to help drive business transformation through innovation and operational excellence," said Bharat Rao, President at Startek. Mr. Sharma has over 25 years of experience managing large enterprise clients across technology and business process services. Prior to joining Startek, Mr. Sharma worked with Infosys BPM as Senior Vice President for Global Sales. He was a member of the Executive Council and was responsible for scaling the global Business Process Management practice for Infosys BPM. He led and expanded global GTM efforts and championed business growth across new industry segments, markets and service lines. He has also held leadership positions at iGATE, Virtusa and Asian Paints. Mr. Sharma holds a bachelor's degree in Engineering from IIT and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. He has also attended an executive management program at Stanford Business School. "Startek is a proven market leader with a strong suite of customers, deep industry knowledge and a successful track record of helping brands transform their businesses. It is strategically placed to be a partner to its customers in their digitally-enabled CX transformation journey," said Vivek Sharma, Chief Revenue Officer at Startek. "I'm thrilled to be leading Startek's global sales organization and look forward to expanding existing client partnerships, developing new ones and architecting innovative strategies to take Startek into its next phase of growth." About Startek Startek is a global provider of tech-enabled business process management solutions. The company provides omni-channel customer experience, digital transformation, and technology services to some of the finest brands globally. Startek is committed to impacting clients' business outcomes by focusing on enhancing customer experience and digital & AI enablement across all touch points and channels. Startek has more than 40,000 CX experts spread across 46 delivery campuses in 13 countries. The company services over 250 clients across a range of industries such as Banking and Financial Services, Insurance, Technology, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel & Hospitality, Ecommerce, Consumer Goods, Retail, and Energy & Utilities. To learn more about Startek's global solutions, please visit www.startek.com Contact Details: Investor Relations Giuseppe Montefinese Startek +1 732-890-8929 giuseppe.montefinese@startek.com Cody Cree or Jackie Keshner Gateway Investor Relations +1 949-574-3860 SRT@gatewayir.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/970560/Startek_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Turkey Data Center Market Size by Investment to Reach USD 902.7 Million by 2026 - Arizton CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this Turkey data center market report. Turkey data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.24% during the period 2020-2026. Turkey data center market research report includes market size in terms of area, investment, power capacity, and colocation revenues. Get insights on 18 existing data centers and 3 upcoming facilities spread across Istanbul, Ankara, and other cities. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Turkey is an emerging data center market, with factors such as a unique geographic location, strong economic and cultural ties with the Middle East and Europe , increased growth in digitization, IT development, shift from on-premise to cloud and colocation facilities, and data localization requirements acting as the major drivers. is an emerging data center market, with factors such as a unique geographic location, strong economic and cultural ties with the and , increased growth in digitization, IT development, shift from on-premise to cloud and colocation facilities, and data localization requirements acting as the major drivers. Global colocation providers such as Equinix and Telehouse along with telecom operators such as Telecom Italia Sparkle, Turkcell, Vodafone, Turk Telekom, and Teknotel Telekom are some of the main data center service providers in the market. In addition, the market has a presence of small to medium sized hosting providers. Istanbul is a major market in the country, with 20 third-party colocation facilities contributing to around 75% of the existing power capacity. Cities such as Ankara , Bursa, Denizli, Izmir, and Corlu are also expected to witness further growth in coming years. is a major market in the country, with 20 third-party colocation facilities contributing to around 75% of the existing power capacity. Cities such as , Bursa, Denizli, Izmir, and Corlu are also expected to witness further growth in coming years. In 2021, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to support digital transformation in Turkey . The grant will fund the required technical assistance to expand Istanbul's data centers and establish an Analytics Center of Excellence (ACoE). . The grant will fund the required technical assistance to expand data centers and establish an Analytics Center of Excellence (ACoE). Turkey has over 340 Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs), contributing over 30% of the country's exports, employing over 2 million people. In January 2021 , the World Bank announced an investment plan of around $300 million to further develop these OIZs. has over 340 Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs), contributing over 30% of the country's exports, employing over 2 million people. In , the World Bank announced an investment plan of around to further develop these OIZs. The government Renewable Energy Vision 2023 expects to supply around 30% or 160,000 GWh of the total demand of around 530,000 GWh from renewable energy. The government launched the Renewable Energy Resources Area (YEKA) scheme, through which it plans to increase the renewable energy share in the country. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Area, Power Capacity, Investment, and Colocation Revenue | 2020-2026 Impact of COVID-19 on Data Center Market Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party facilities in Turkey Facilities Covered (Existing): 18 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 3 Coverage: 5 cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Turkey Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2026) Retail Colocation Pricing Wholesale Colocation Pricing Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standard Key Market Participants List of 11 IT infrastructure providers, 11 construction service providers, 18 support infrastructure providers, and 5 data center investors Get yoursample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/turkey-data-center-market-investment-analysis Turkey Data Center Market Segmentation Increasing investments in data centers and the entry of global cloud service providers in the country are likely to be major factors for the growth of the IT infrastructure market. Mission-critical and high-performance server systems expect to dominate the market owing to the increase in 5G deployment and IoT-related technology. Lithium-ion batteries will slowly replace VRLA battery-based UPS systems in Turkey , thereby decreasing data center OPEX. Vendors such as Vertiv Group, Schneider Electric, and Eaton witness high demand for lithium-ion UPS systems from data center operators. , thereby decreasing data center OPEX. Vendors such as Vertiv Group, Schneider Electric, and Eaton witness high demand for lithium-ion UPS systems from data center operators. In Turkey , data center operators are likely to use air-based cooling techniques as it supports free cooling depending on the areas and the city. Equinix IL2 data center facility is equipped with air-cooled chillers with CRAC units in data halls with N+1 redundancy. Market Segmentation by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer, Switches & Switchgears Rack PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by General Construction Building Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building Design Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Market Segmentation by Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Turkey Data Center Market Dynamics To attract data center operators, the Turkey government provides several investment and sales tax incentives. Most of tax incentives are based on economic development, where incentives are focused on effective data center operations and investments, thereby driving the demand during the forecast period. Free Zones (FZ) are designed to attract investments with several tax incentives. For instance, there are over 20 FZ across the country that offer 100% exemption from the real estate tax, 100% exemption from customs duties and other assorted duties, import permit for second-hand, used machinery, among others. Technology Development Zones (TDZ) are designed to attract investments in high-technology fields. There are over 80 TDZ across the country. Some tax incentives for TDZs include profits derived from software development, R&D, and design activities exempted from income and corporate taxes until December 31, 2023. Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ) are designed to allow companies to operate within an investor-friendly environment with ready-to-use infrastructure and social facilities. There are over 320 OIZ across the country and some incentives include no VAT for land acquisitions, exemption from real estate duty for five years, starting from the date of completion of the plant construction and so on. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Cloud Computing Boosting Market Growth Big Data and IoT fueling Data Centers Demand 5G Technology fueling Data Center Deployments Increased Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources Turkey Data Center Market - Existing Vs. Upcoming Data Centers Existing Facilities in the region(Area and Power Capacity) Istanbul Ankara Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/turkey-data-center-market-investment-analysis Key Market Participants IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Huawei Technologies IBM Inspur Lenovo Juniper Networks Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors AECOM Anel Group Arup Deerns Enmar Engineering Hill International Mace Manco Architects Prota Engineering Palmet International RED Engineering Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Aksa Power Generation Alfa Laval Canovate Caterpillar Cummins EAE Eaton Grundfos HITEC Power Protection Legrand Rittal Rolls-Royce Power Systems Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Key Investors Equinix Telecom Italia Sparkle Telehouse Turkcell Turk Telekom Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: Middle East & Africa Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026 & Africa Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026 Nigeria Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 Saudi Arabia Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 United Arab Emirates (UAE) Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2021-2026 About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] White Paper: Gen Z And Millennial Perspectives On Emerging Trends In Banking And Finance LEHI, Utah, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MX, the financial data platform and leader in modern connectivity, today released a joint white paper with Finn AI, Q2 and Rival Technologies, exploring the use of financial products and services by millenials, Gen Z and baby boomers. The study highlights perspectives on the future of banking, customer support preferences and level of trust and adoption of digital financial solutions from money transfer apps to buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) offerings. "As the world of finance continues to evolve, banks, credit unions and fintechs are working to build sustainable solutions that will connect with millenials, Gen Z and baby boomers," said Shayli Lones, VP of Go-to-Market at MX. "The greatest opportunity for banks and credit unions is to capitalize on the level of trust they've already established with their customers. This includes offering competitive and valuable products and services, and keeping the human touch even as interactions move into digital channels." Key findings include: Generational Differences in Banking Habits: Only 47% of Gen Z respondents claimed to have an account with a traditional bank, credit union, neobank or technology company. Only 47% of Gen Z respondents claimed to have an account with a traditional bank, credit union, neobank or technology company. Attitudes Toward Financial Apps: More than 80% of Gen Z and millenials are using a money transfer app. More than 80% of Gen Z and millenials are using a money transfer app. Customer Support Preferences: 53% of Gen Z respondents and 42% of millennials wanted to be able to find their answer online, while 27% of baby boomers preferred this channel. 53% of Gen Z respondents and 42% of millennials wanted to be able to find their answer online, while 27% of baby boomers preferred this channel. Satisfaction and User Experience with Digital Banking: 85% of respondents were at least somewhat satisfied with their overall banking services experience, though baby boomers were much more likely to be very satisfied. 85% of respondents were at least somewhat satisfied with their overall banking services experience, though baby boomers were much more likely to be very satisfied. Top Priorities When Choosing a Financial Service Provider: "Level of trust and security" was selected by more than 48% of respondents as their top priority. Among Gen Z and millenials, "rates, products, services and special offers" was the second-most-important category. "Level of trust and security" was selected by more than 48% of respondents as their top priority. Among Gen Z and millenials, "rates, products, services and special offers" was the second-most-important category. Trust in Financial Institutions: More than 80% of respondents said they trust their primary financial service provider with their personal financial data; however, Gen Z and millennials were less likely than baby boomers to completely trust their FIs. "Millennials and Gen Zs are set to become the most important customer group for most banks and credit unions over the next decade, as nearly $70 trillion in wealth transfers to them from their parents. But, as our research shows, what worked for mom and dad will not be enough to win and keep this younger demographic as a customer," said Jake Tyler, CEO at Finn AI. "Traditional FIs need to bring the trust and personal touch they delivered in branch and phone to boomers into their mobile experience, which is wheremost younger consumers bank. Tools like live-chat combined with virtual assistants and automated chat can help them deliver this and compete with new tech and fintech entrants." "It's Q2's mission to build strong and diverse communities by strengthening their financial institutions. This means we need to serve every demographic, and that starts with understanding what each needs," said Carlos Carvajal, chief marketing officer at Q2. "This report highlights exactly what millennials and Gen Z are looking for in their financial institutions and poses a tremendous opportunity for financial institutions and fintechs alike to come together to serve them. They are the future of banking." "The way that we bank is changing quickly. The institutions that will be successful are the ones that are providing tools and services to educate their customer base and improve financial literacy, said Niamh Cunningham, COO at Rival Technologies. "If you're not talking to your customers about their financial health and future during the largest transfer of wealth in history, then another financial institution is." This study incorporates feedback from 1,039 respondents from various regions across the United States. Approximately 40% of the responses come from the Gen Z segment, 40% from the millennial segment, and 20% from the baby boomer segment. To view the full report, visit: https://view.ceros.com/mx/genz-millenial-whitepaper/p/1 About MX MX, the financial data platform and leader in modern connectivity, helps organizations everywhere connect to the world's financial data and turn raw, unstructured data into their most valuable asset to deliver intelligent and personalized money experiences. MX connects more than 16,000 financial institutions and fintechs providing the industry's most reliable and secure data connectivity network. Additionally, MX powers 85% of digital banking providers, as well as thousands of banks, credit unions, and fintechs, with a combined reach of over 200 million consumers. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @MX or visit www.mx.com . About Finn AI Founded in 2014, Finn AI is the leading AI-powered chatbot platform for banks and credit unions working with top financial institutions, including one of the largest US card networks, a top 10 US retail bank, ATB Financial, United Federal Credit Union, Banpro Grupo Promerica, TymeBank, and more. Banks and credit unions use the award-winning Finn AI chatbot to transform and deepen customer engagement, while delivering the operational efficiencies and cost savings of conversational AI. For more information, visit http://www.finn.ai . About Q2 Holdings, Inc. Q2 is a financial experience company dedicated to providing digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance, and fintech companies in the U.S. and internationally. With comprehensive end-to-end solution sets, Q2 enables its partners to provide cohesive, secure, data-driven experiences to every account holder from consumer to small business and corporate. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Q2 has offices worldwide and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the stock symbol QTWO. To learn more, please visit Q2.com . About Rival Technologies Rival Technologies is the world's best mobile market research platform. Building on 20 years of experience in the research space we blend?best-in-class digital experiences?with sophisticated market research rigor in a way that inspires people to share deep, rich and actionable insights. Email surveys are dead tech. Rival engages consumers in real-time, on their mobile phones in a way that feels organic, familiar, and fun. By using chat, video, and machine learning Rival's system captures?robust?quantitative and?rich ?qualitative feedback fast and effectively. Working with leading edge brands like MSFT, Walmart, P&G, Dell & ViacomCBS, Rival makes market research more inclusive, accessible, and relevant to the modern mass consumer. For more information, visit rivaltech.com. Contact: Tom Cook tom.cook@mx.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-paper-gen-z-and-millennial-perspectives-on-emerging-trends-in-banking-and-finance-301398769.html SOURCE MX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 12, 2021] Russell Investments Canada Limited Announces Quarterly Distributions for Exchange Traded Fund Series Russell Investments Canada Limited ("Russell Investments Canada") today announced cash distributions for the ETF Series of certain mutual funds ("ETF Series") for the months of October and November. Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, as of the Record Date, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on the Payment Date. Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows: Fund Name Ticker Symbol Cash Distribution per Unit ($) CUSIP ISIN Record Date Payment Date Exchange Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool RIFI $0.0308 78249T103 CA78249T1030 Oct 20, 2021 October 25, 2021 TSX November 22, 2021 November 25, 2021 Russell Investments Global Unconstrained Bond Pool RIGU $0.0277 78250N102 CA78250N1024 October 20, 2021 October 25, 2021 TSX November 22, 2021 November 25, 2021 Russell Investments Global Infrastructure Pool RIIN $0.065 78250R103 CA78250R1038 October 20, 2021 October 25, 2021 TSX November 22, 2021 November 25, 2021 Russell Investments Real Assets RIRA $0.067 78250P107 CA78250P1071 October 20, 2021 October 25, 2021 TSX November 22, 2021 November 25, 2021 The Manager, Russell Investments Canada, administers and manages the ETF Series. About Russell Investments Canada Limited Russell Investments Canada Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Russell Investments Group, Ltd. Established in 1985, Russell Investments Canada Limited has its head office in Toronto. About Russell Investments Russell Investments is a leading outsourced CIO (OCIO) partner and global investment solutions firm providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Building on an 85-year legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, Russell Investments works every day to improve the financial security of its clients. The firm is the world's fifth-largest investment adviser, with CAD$3.57 trillion in assets under advisement (as of 12/31/2020) and CAD$410.6 billion in assets under management (as of 6/30/2021) for clients in 32 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 18 cities around the world, including in New York, London, Tokyo, and Shanghai. For more information, please visit www.russellinvestments.com. Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or dissemination in the United States. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as or similar to, "expects", "anticipates", "believes" or negative versions thereof. Forward looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risk, uncertainties and assumptions about economic factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated. We encourage you to consider these and other factors carefully before making any investment decisions and we urge you to avoid placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Russell Investments has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. Income tax considerations for investors are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Russell Investments is the operating name of a group of companies under common management, including Russell Investments Canada Limited. Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates with minority stakes held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners, Russell Investments' management and Hamilton Lane Incorporated. Copyright Russell Investments Canada Limited 2021. All rights reserved. Frank Russell (News - Alert) Company is the owner of the Russell trademarks contained in this material and all trademark rights related to the Russell trademarks, which the members of the Russell Investments group of companies are permitted to use under license from Frank Russell Company. The members of the Russell Investments group of companies are not affiliated in any manner with Frank Russell Company or any entity operating under the "FTSE RUSSELL" brand. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211012006123/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 12, 2021] easyMarkets Integrates with TradingView LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- easyMarkets is very happy to announce its integration with the TradingView platform. Now our clients can access TradingView's social network for traders, one-click trading directly from charts and advanced analysis features by connecting their easyMarkets account to the TradingView interface. This offering extends our client's choices of platforms to trade on easyMarkets Web and App, MT4 and now TradingView. easyMarkets CMO, Ohad Golan: We are very excited about offering our clients yet another trading platform, especially one as robust as TradingView. This integration also makes us one of the few brokers in the industry to provide our customers with a choice of four environments to trade on. easyMarkets has always been on the cusp of innovation and an eager early adopter, I am sure this latest offering will make us even more competitive while also giving our clients another great new platform to trade on. When using your easyMarkets Account on TradingView you combine easyMarkets industry leading conditions, regulated trading and tight fixed spreads with a social network for traders, advanced charting and analytics. easyMarkets on TradingView Benefits and Features easyMarkets Benefits TradingView Features No Slippage on limit orders Tight Fixed Spreads Negative Balance Protection Highly Rated Customer Support Licensed and Regulated No Hidden Fees or Commission Seamless Integration Close trades opened on TradingView with easyMarkets app or on easyMarkets web platform Social Network for Traders. Share your trades, strategies and ideas with other traders Advanced Charting. Customize your charts with an extensive choice of overlays and indicators Deep Market Insights. Access analysis and real-time web-based charts. easyMarkets conditions not only offer traders the security of trading with a regulated, well-established broker but also price transparency. No slippage on limit orders means that you can rest assured the execution of your stop-loss or take-profit will happen at the price you intended. This protects you from additional costs or loss due to your order executing at a higher or lower rate. Tight fixed spreads never change during trading orders, first helping you avoid inflated spreads during volatility and secondly allowing you to calculate your costs upfront. Completing its price transparency guarantee easyMarkets never charges commission, funding or hidden fees. About easyMarkets Since its founding in 2001 (as Easy Forex) easyMarkets has focused on offering its clients security, competitive conditions and convenient access to global markets. That is why our product and service offerings are continually expanding. In the past year we have added multiple instruments including new shares and cryptocurrencies. SOURCE easyMarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 12, 2021] Hubilo Announces US$125 Million Investment as the New Era of Events Begins to Unfold Lead Investors Alkeon Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners Bet Big on Many-to-Many Collaboration Technologies BENGALURU, India, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hubilo, a leading global virtual events platform, announced that in a funding round led by Alkeon Capital and additionally, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Balderton Capital, it has raised $125 million in Series B funding to further the development of the future of events and engagement on Hubilo's platform. This brings the company's total funding to US$153 million to date in 18 months. The investment, one of the largest in the event technology category, signals the revolution in ways by which people connect, engage, share experiences, and create opportunities at a time when uncertainty about COVID-19 and its variants have resulted in canceled events and delayed a return to traditional office environments. The Series B funding will further enhance Hubilo's continued Indian and international growth by allowing the company to develop new business functions, advance innovation of its platform, strengthen its product, engineering, and design teams in India, and go-to-market teams in the US, UK, EMEA, and APAC. Hubilo also plans to set up new sales offices in key regions to expand its operations and reach a greater volume of customers. In addition, Hubilo will also increase the overall employees' count by 150% to support its rapid growth plans and to respond to the increased customer demand for virtual and hybrid events. "The power to engage with massive audiences unlocks the potential for more diverse, geographically dispersed communities to come together for business and consumer events, remote workforces to stay engaged, and organizations to rethink the way they hire and train. The potential ahead of us with this investment is massive," said Vaibhav Jain, CEO and founder at Hubilo. "But what we've earned over the last 6 years is that an intuitive platform is just table stakes. Our commitment to event organizers is that we will always provide a dedicated event team to ensure flawless execution of every event. This is why so many event organizers make Hubilo their platform of choice." Hubilo was founded in 2015 to build event tech that increased attendee engagement at in-person events. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Hubilo saw revenues dwindling to zero, but rather than declare bankruptcy, they reworked their technology in 26 days and emerged as one of the leading architects of large-scale communications with the first version of their event platform. Hubilo works with some of the globe's largest brands such as Blackboard, Walmart, United Nations, Roche Pharma, Maersk Shipping, with several others. Although the Asia Pacific region accounts for 25 percent of Hubilo's business, the company still plans to further grow in the APAC region, especially in India. The recent additions to Hubilo's India clientele are Publicis Sapient (TLG India Pvt Ltd), Nivea, Reliance Jio, Schneider Electric, and George P Johnson. "We believe strongly in the global distributed workforce being a megatrend that will impact all of us in the future. It is clear that the way we collaborate and connect will need to be rearchitected in order for any global player to succeed," said Abhi Arun, Managing Partner at Alkeon Capital. "In Hubilo, we saw a powerful technology capable of connecting the offline and online worlds, a strong CEO, and an amazing market opportunity that gave us the confidence to invest." Now that the Delta variant has cemented the need to rethink every meeting and event strategy for the long term, companies realize that collaboration and communication technologies are essential for more than just events. While Hubilo started as an events technology platform, its solutions go beyond special occasions. It has successfully supported 10,000 events with more than two million attendees across more than 100 countries. "Businesses spend over one trillion dollars of direct spending on events. In the last couple of years, 15-20% of the enterprise events budget has permanently moved to digital events. Hubilo is one of the fastest-growing and innovative platforms serving this market. I expect in the next few years that Hubilo will be broadly acknowledged as a market leader in the space." said Guru Chahal, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. As the new era of events unfolds amongst the uncertainty, one thing remains steady: Hubilo's innovation and commitment to foster human connection through the reimagination of events. Click here to unleash the power of immersive events. About Hubilo Technologies Inc: Hubilo is the virtual + hybrid event platform built for engagement and event excellence. Hubilo's mission is to drive engagement - first and foremost - yielding greater business results. With a 24/7 fully dedicated customer success team, the industry's largest suite of engagement and gamification features, and robust branding capabilities, Hubilo is the architect of the new reality for future events. Led by Founders Vaibhav Jain and Mayank Agarwal, the company is headquartered out of San Francisco, with a base office in Bengaluru in India. Hubilo's clients include names like Walmart, United Nations, AB InBev, Roche Pharma, Echo, GITEX, and several others across the United States, Europe, APAC, Middle East, and Africa. In less than a year, Hubilo has raised a Seed round of $4.5 million, a Series 'A' round of $23.5 million, and Series 'B' round of $125 million from leading Venture Capital firms like Alkeon Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Balderton Capital, and Lightspeed India Partners, and several strategic angel investors. SOURCE Hubilo [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 12, 2021] AXI Re-Launches Forex Managed Accounts Services Platform SINGAPORE, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AXI, a leading global FX and CFD provider, today announced the launch of what is believed to be the industry's most advanced Forex Managed Accounts Services platform, or MAM/PAMM, offering. Designed and engineered in collaboration with Singapore based specialist, FINTECH, FYNXT, and quickly implemented as a Cloud platform which resets the benchmark in business-critical areas of speed, precision, transparency, flexibility, and user experience. AXI's Chief Commercial Officer, Louis Cooper describes the offering as 'genre defining'. He comments, "we've long understood the limitations of traditional MAM and PAMM offerings out there; as the industry evolved to address the money and fund management sector, technology enhancements have been only piecemeal, incremental and so too, the business benefits." "Technological superiority here meant a fundamental re-think - a deep dive, 'what's-possible' analysis, specifically and consultatively, through the prism of the fund management industry," notes Cooper. "A seriously in-depth understanding of the peculiarities and nuances within the 'managed' sector was key for me; once we had nailed this, killer technology from our friends at FYNXT in Singapore would be the enabler for us to continue offering our clients the trading edge." Singapore -based CEO, Aeby Samuel, "anything we can do to help our clients better serve their clients is what drives us. We are immensely proud of our latest Social Fund Management offering and if preliminary feedback from our early clients is any guide, we look forward with a high degree of confidence and excitement ." Selected Features Enhanced Administration and Automation: With a suite of pre-built templates and selectable fee structures, and agreements, Fund Managers can create and manage new strategies within just a few minutes. With a suite of pre-built templates and selectable fee structures, and agreements, Fund Managers can create and manage new strategies within just a few minutes. Almost infinite flexibility in fee management: Fund Managers can administer different fee requirements of customers within a single Master account, to ensure that fees are precisely aligned with the customer's needs whether a) performance, b) management, c) subscription, d) upfront, d) penalty or e) a combination based. Fund Managers can administer different fee requirements of customers within a single Master account, to ensure that fees are precisely aligned with the customer's needs whether a) performance, b) management, c) subscription, d) upfront, d) penalty or e) a combination based. Superior customer experience: The new service provides, intuitive experience for both Fund Managers and Investors with enhanced visibility and transparency of accounting entries and associated reporting, including auto calculation and settlement of fees. The new service provides, intuitive experience for both Fund Managers and Investors with enhanced visibility and transparency of accounting entries and associated reporting, including auto calculation and settlement of fees. Unheard of Precision in asset allocation: The new platform removes the dependency of MT4/5 accounts for the Investors, protecting the Fund Managers strategy being copied illegally by the investors; and offers Investors with 100% allocation accuracy in asset allocation, offering lot sizes down to 0.0000001 lots, previously not possible from traditional MAM/PAMM . About AXI AXI is a global online FX and CFD trading company, trusted by thousands of ambitious customers in 100+ countries around the world. We help new traders, pro-traders, trading businesses, banks and financial organizations find the edge they need to achieve their financial goals through informed transactions made on the world's financial markets. AXI offers a wide range of assets including CFDs for several asset classes including Shares, Forex, Gold, Silver, Coffee, Indices, Oil and other commodities. At AXI, we are proud of our reputation as an honest, fair, and trusted broker. Our many awards and 'excellent' Trustpilot reviews prove we have earned the confidence of customers who value our outstanding service, fast execution, secure payments, segregated funds, and easy withdrawals. Moreover, we also work pro-actively with leading regulatory governing authorities globally to ensure we exceed the highest standards in the industry. About FYNXT The Forex Managed Accounts Services is developed in partnership with FYNXT (previously known as Simple2Trade). FYNXT is a Singapore-based fintech that empowers FYNancial Services with the NXT-Gen Digital Front Office and transforms its legacy business into an agile, efficient, and modern Digital Business. We are immensely proud of what we do and the real-world empathy we bring to every client relationship - spanning FOREX-CFD and Multi-asset brokerages, Remittance Providers, Banks and other Financial Services firms globally. SOURCE AXI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 12, 2021] Lazada welcomes leading K-pop superstars SEVENTEEN as first regional Happiness Ambassadors KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Set to deliver more zest and joy to the region, Southeast Asia's leading eCommerce platform Lazada welcomes leading K-pop superstars SEVENTEEN as first Lazada Happiness Ambassadors ahead of its annual flagship 11.11 shopping festival Lazada's Biggest One-Day Sale, starting at midnight on 11 November. Comprised of 13 members, SEVENTEEN, one of South Korea's most acclaimed K-pop groups, burst into the international music scene with their creative musical experimentation and electrifying performance acts. SEVENTEEN's latest EP Your Choice debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart, and their list of accolades include being nominated for 'Top Social Artist' at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards and winning the 'Main Prize' for four years at the Seoul Music Awards. Raymond Yang, Chief Operating Officer of Lazada Group, said, "It is my great delight to welcome our first-ever Lazada Happiness Ambassadors, SEVENTEEN, to the Lazada family. With their talent and lively personalities, I hope SEVENTEEN can inspire our consumers across Southeast Asia to stay bold and passionate in experimenting new ideas, and to continue pursuing goals and dreams with the trust that challenges along the way can be overcome." At Lazada's signature 11.11 Super Show on 10 November, SEVENTEEN will take the main stage to perform their hit songs like "Left & Right" and "Ready to love". The star-studded countdown Shoppertainment-packed virtual concert to 11.11 will also feature top local celebrities in Southeast Asia coming together to celebrate hope and joy, including appearances from Nora Danish and Dayang Nurfaizah from Malaysia. Across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, shoppers can also tune in to Lazada's 11.11 Super Party concert via Lazada's in-app livestream channel LazLive, as well as local broadcasting networks TV3 and Lazada social media platforms, across YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The 13-member K-pop group also stars in Lazada' latest 11.11 short film, which transports the Lazada Happiness Ambassadors into Lazada World, a dynamic and fantastical realm filled with larger-than-life everyday objects and exclusive 11.11 rewards. Playfully dancing along to a special rendition of global hit song "Low" by Flo Rida, SEVENTEEN embarks on an adventure filled with surprising discoveries at every turn. Speaking as a group, SEVENTEEN said, "Shooting Lazada's 11.11 film was a fun and refreshing experience, and we are excited to be a part of the upcoming Lazada 11.11 Super Show. As the regional Happiness Ambassadors for Southeast Asia's leading eCommerce platform, Lazada, we look forward to create even more meaningful experiences with everyone. Please continue to show support and love for Lazada and SEVENTEEN!" In the Lazada 11.11 short film, Lazada's pioneer brand ambassador and beloved mascot, Lazzie, makes a special cameo dancing the iconic shuffle moves alongside SEVENTEEN, sporting a new, refreshed look with blue and purple hues for their mane and an adorable snout in the shape of Lazada's iconic heart-gram. In addition, Lazzie will continue to be featured in popular LazGame, Lazzie Star, from 6 November onwards in Malaysia, continuing the quest with consumers to "level up" to become a super star idol while unlocking exclusive vouchers and rewards to maximise shopping savings during Lazada 11.11 Our Biggest One-Day Sale. Lazada will also launch a region-wide TikTok #HowLowCanYouGoLazada1111 Hashtag Challenge, inviting consumers to join in a fun and creative showcase by curating their own version of the dance shuffle moves from the Lazada's 11.11 film in a freestyle 20-second TikTok dance video. Participants with the most creative dance moves stand to win up to RM1,111 worth of vouchers when they join the social media challenge happening from 26 October to 5 November. Raymond Yang added, "Lazada is constantly finding new ways to fully immerse our customers with fun and experiential activities, both online and offline, to create a holistic and enjoyable shopping experience. Leveraging our strong Shoppertainment approach and working closely with our merchants to curate unbeatable promotions and rewards, we constantly challenge ourselves to deliver high impact and find meaningful ways to uplift the communities across Southeast Asia. I'm excited to celebrate another edition of our flagship 11.11 shopping festival as we pursue hope, dreams and progress in all aspects of our lives." Besides access to the lowest prices and free shipping[1] during Lazada 11.11 Our Biggest One-Day Sale, consumers can anticipate an exciting line up of exclusive deals and interactive Shoppertainment activities that will unlock vouchers and Lazada Bonus rewards. -END- About Lazada Group Founded in 2012, Lazada Group is the leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia. We are accelerating progress in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through commerce and technology. With the largest logistics and payments networks in the region, Lazada is a part of our consumers' daily lives in the region and we aim to serve 300 million shoppers by 2030. Since 2016, Lazada has been the Southeast Asia flagship platform of Alibaba Group powered by its world-class technology infrastructure. About SEVENTEEN Racking up 2 billion streams and selling 10 million albums, SEVENTEENcomprised of S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINOhas rocketed to the forefront of the music scene fueled by a fiercely independent spirit and a nonpareil in-house creative ecosystem. The group's innovative structure hinges on the interplay of three units: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. Living up to the title of "musical all-stars," SEVENTEEN has unassumingly made history and become one of the biggest groups ever due to their world-class synchronization, jaw-dropping choreography, and tight teamwork. Moving at an unparalleled pace, the global performance powerhouse recently made their U.S. television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden and followed it with unforgettable performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and MTV's Fresh Out Live. SEVENTEEN's latest EP Your Choice debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart and No. 15 on the Billboard 200. It also recorded the highest first-week sales for any album released in Korea in the first half of 2021, earning them the "quadruple million sellers" title as it joins their last three consecutive releasesAn Ode, Heng:gar and ; [Semicolon]in selling over 1 million copies each. [1] Terms and conditions apply. SOURCE Lazada Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] CNN's 'Tech for Good' showcases the technology that could shape the future of education HONG KONG, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The pandemic has made online learning commonplace across the world, turning digital learning tools into a lifeline for many students. On this month's episode of 'Tech for Good', CNN anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout meets the entrepreneurs demonstrating how technology can be used to support education, in spite of lockdowns and uncertainty. With its blue body and big eyes, Moxie is an animated robot that wants to be friends with your child. Developed by Embodied, a robotics company based in California, the AI-powered companion is designed to support the social, emotional and cognitive development of children. Meanwhile, Germany-based company Tonies has created a screen-free audio player for kids, and US-based Volley has come out with a suite of interactive games for children to play on voice-controlled devices. For some entrepreneurs, a hands-on approach is the way to educate the next generation of technologists. Lu Stout speaks with Marina Bers, a professor at Tufts University who co-founded KinderLab Robotics, a company which produces a robot kit called KIBO that teaches children how to create and program their own robots. CNN also learns how Swedish company imagiLabs is trying to make coding more accessible for girls. Next, we hear from the Head of International at perhaps the most famous virtual classroom: Zoom, the California-based video conferencing platform. Lu Stout also speaks to Divya Gokulnath, co-founder of Byju's, an Indian education technology company whose flagship app offers video lessons, interactive content and assessments aimed at personalizing learning. Outschool, an education startup based in Los Angeles, is also bullish on the promise of online learning, offering a variety of classes that won't be found in your average curriculum. Beyond teaching materials, some companies are offering digital tools to help students stay connected to learning. Eilert Hanoa, CEO of Norway-based quiz game company Kahoot!, discusses the value of game-based and social learning. Finally, CNN hears from the co-founder and CEO of Numerade, a tutoring platform powered by AI that seeks to match different teaching styles to how an individual student learns. Tech for Good trailer: https://bit.ly/3FGGVvH Tech for Good images: https://bit.ly/3uGrvT7 Tech for Good microsite: https://cnn.it/2ECCs23 Airtimes for 30-minute special: Saturday, 16th October at 1:00pm HKT Sunday, 17th October at 11am and 6:00pm HKT About CNN International CNN's portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 475 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI's non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a WarnerMedia company. SOURCE CNN International [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Invitation Letter to 2021 China-Central and North America International Trade Digital Expo BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ -- In order to enhance the friendly exchanges between Chinese enterprises and the Central and North American countries, promote trade & economic exchanges, CCPIT- China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will hold and China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and ZhongZhan Information Cooperation Data Service Company will undertake the 2021 China-Central and North America International Trade Digital Expo from October 20 to 29, 2021. The details of the exhibition are as follows. 1. Basic information of the exhibition Exhibition Name: China-Central and North America International Trade Digital Expo Exhibition date: October 20-29, 2021 Venue: CCPIT cloud exhibition platform (https://cna.ccpit-expo.com/) Organizer: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Undertaker: China Chamber of International Commerce ZhongZhan Information Cooperation Data Service Company Exhibition content: Consumer electronics, automobiles and accessories, building materials, home furnishings, mechanical equipment, medical materials, textile products, etc Exhibition scale: more than 1000 Chinese enterprises are expected to participate in the exhibition. Exhibition supporting activities: In order to deepen trade cooperation and enhance trade exchanges between China and countries in Central and North America, 2021China-Central and North America International Trade Digital Expo will hold 6 "live docking activities of Trade Week" in combination with trade experience, time difference, culture and industry characteristics, focusing on bilateral trade advantageous industries and building an online trade negotiation platform. We sincerely invite people from all walks of life in Central and North America to participate in the expo. The specific arrangement of the docking meeting is as follows: industry date Time (Beijing time) Textile and clothing/cotton products in major cotton producing areas 2021.10.20 10:00-11:30 Consumer electronics 2021.10.21 10:00-11:30 Building materials household 2021.10.22 10:00-11:30 Medical supplies 2021.10.25 10:00-11:30 mechanical equipment 2021.10.26 10:00-11:30 Automobile and accessories 2021.10.27 10:00-11:30 2. Exhibit / visit method Register to participate / visit the exhibition free of charge. Platform website: https://cna.ccpit-expo.com/. Chinese exhibitors and friends from all walks of life in Central and North America are well-welcomed to participate in the exhibition. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invitation-letter-to-2021-china-central-and-north-america-international-trade-digital-expo-301398840.html SOURCE ZhongZhan Information Cooperation Data Service Company [October 13, 2021] Canton Fair encourages participation of overseas buyers in China GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from chinadaily.com.cn: The 130th China Import and Export Fair is encouraging the on-site participation of overseas buyers' agents and branches in China, according to the Department of Commerce of Guangdong province. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas companies might not be able to take part in the fair. Therefore, the fair will invite multinational companies' buyers, agents and branches in China, overseas-invested companies, cross-border e-commerce companies and Chinese buyers to attend, said Zhang Jinsong, director of the department. Invitations to domestic buyers are also being expanded to large-scale supermarket chains, department store groups, cross-border e-commerce firms, and supply chain management companies in order to contribute to China's dual-circulation growth pattern. The fair, better known as the Canton Fair, will be held on and offline from Oct 15 to Nov 3 in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province. It is estimated to attract about 100,000 offline exhibitors, mostly branded enterprises, and many online participants. To introduce China's key industrial clusters and connect them with internationally renowned puchasing groups, 52 online promotion activities across 40 countries and regions will be held. Fair organizers have been improving services to enhance buyer participation and improve their experience. For example, conference participation guide videos have been produced in seven languages, and "one-to-one" and "one-to-many" training and guidance services are being provided for VIP buyers. Alexey Fedotov, chairman of the China Branch of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, was deeply impressed by the fair's services. "The exhibition organization and the services have always been of a high level, ranging from the visitor registration and the security inspection system, to the full support for the imports and exports of Chinese goods," he said. He noted that the trade volume between Russia and China has been increasing year by year, and the fair has played an important role as a trade platform for both sides. "It has pioneered in exploring new foreign trade fields and in the diversification and integration of export markets," he said. This year, the fair will feature 51 exhibition areas in 16 commodity categories, including electronics and home appliances, hardware tools, machinery, consumer goods, gifts, home decor, textiles and clothing. The fair's first Pearl River International Trade Forum will allow experts in global economy, trade and finance to give keynote speeches focusing on the global economy. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canton-fair-encourages-participation-of-overseas-buyers-in-china-301398885.html SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Temenos Selected by Green Dot to Help Build and Power the Digital Bank and Fintech's Cloud-Based Processing Platform Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) has enlisted The Temenos Banking Cloud as its platform of choice to power its direct digital bank and banking platform services (or "BaaS") partners, enabling more feature-rich, secure and streamlined banking and payment experiences for customers, as well as scalable growth. Temenos' robust and scalable cloud platform will power Green Dot's technology stack, enabling the leading Banking Platform Services (BaaS) provider's partners to embed financial services - including credit, payment, lending, DDA accounts and other features - into their ecosystems. The Temenos Banking Cloud will also support Green Dot's 33 million-plus customers who are served across its retail and direct-to-consumer digital banking channels. "We selected Temenos as our platform partner because of their hyper-efficient and secure open-cloud capabilities, which align with and support our goals to provide exceptional, scalable solutions to our customers and partners," said Dan Henry, President and CEO of Green Dot. "This is a critical component of our mission to seamlessly connect people to their money, both directly through our digital bank and products like GO2bank, and through our valued partners." Max Chuard, CEO, Temenos, said: "At Temenos we have a vision to power a world of banking where financial institutions and businesses open opportunities for people to achieve their ambitions. Green Dot continues to pioneer new ways to support underbanked Americans, through its own financial products as well as its strategy to offer embedded finance through Banking Platform Services to the world's leading brands. Temenos' intelligent, cloud-based open banking platform will drive innovation and growth as Green Dot continues to build out its ecosystem and grow its digital bank platform and customer base. We're excited to partner with Green Dot to make banking more human and accessible for everyone." Jacqueline White, President - Americas, Temenos, said: "Green Dot is a techology-driven company with a mission to seamlessly connect people to their money. We are proud that Green Dot selected The Temenos Banking Cloud to accelerate its impressive track record of growth, innovation and social impact. We are pleased to see strong traction in the U.S. market across all our products, as we continue to support financial institutions to deliver value to their customers." - Ends - About Green Dot Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) is a financial technology and registered bank holding company committed to delivering trusted, best-in-class money management and payment solutions to customers and partners, seamlessly connecting people to their money. Green Dot's proprietary technology enables it to build products and features that address the most pressing financial challenges of consumers and businesses, transforming the way they manage and move money and making financial empowerment more accessible for all. Green Dot offers a broad set of financial services to consumers and businesses including debit, checking, credit, prepaid, and payroll cards, as well as robust money processing services, tax refunds, cash deposits and disbursements. Its flagship digital banking platform GO2bank offers consumers simple and accessible mobile banking designed to help improve financial health over time. The company's banking platform services business enables a growing list of the world's largest and most trusted consumer and technology brands to deploy customized, seamless, value-driven money management solutions for their customers. Founded in 1999, Green Dot has served more than 33 million customers directly and many millions more through its partners. The Green Dot Network of more than 90,000 retail distribution locations nationwide, more than all remaining bank branches in the U.S. combined, enables it to operate primarily as a "branchless bank." Green Dot Bank is a subsidiary of Green Dot Corporation and member of the FDIC1. For more information about Green Dot's products and services, please visit www.greendot.com. 1 Green Dot Bank also operates under the following registered trade names: GO2Bank, GoBank and Bonneville Bank. All of these registered trade names are used by, and refer to, a single FDIC-insured bank, Green Dot Bank. Deposits under any of these trade names are deposits with Green Dot Bank and are aggregated for deposit insurance coverage up to the allowable limits. About Temenos Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence. Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211012005847/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] 9fin Raises 8M Series A to Expand its Debt Capital Markets Intelligence Platform to the US - Redalpine led the investment round, and was joined by previous investors Fly Ventures, and high net worth angels. Total investment raised to date is over 10M. - In response to strong product adoption in Europe and significant client demand, 9fin is opening a New York office and will launch a US product. The company will also double its team before the end of the year - The London founded FinTech already counts nine of the top 10 investment banks in Europe as clients, and also works with asset managers, hedge funds, legal and advisory firms. LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 9fin, a leading provider of data, news and predictive analytics for debt capital markets, has today announced an 8M Series A round to fuel its expansion into the US. The company is opening a New York office following increased demand from existing customers in Europe. The latest investment was led by Redalpine, alongside previous investors in the company, Fly Ventures. Angel investors Paul Forster, Co-Founder of Indeed, and Alan Morgan, Co-Founder of MMC Ventures, also participated along with Ilavska Vuillermoz Capital and a number of high net worth individuals. To date 9fin has secured over 10M in funding, including backing from Seedcamp and AI Seed Fund. Co-founded by Steven Hunter and Hussam El-Sheikh, long-time friends from University, 9fin was created to provide faster, smarter intelligence for the debt capital markets community. The inspiration for the venture came from the founders' extensive industry experience of working within investment banking and financial technology respectively. Steven Hunter, Co-Founder and CEO of 9fin, commented, "Debt capital markets is the world's largest asset class, but it operates using the worst quality data, information, and technology. Many companies in this space are't large listed businesses, they're privately owned, that means important information about them isn't readily or easily available. When I worked in banking and asset management, I felt like I'd been teleported back 40 years in terms of the data and technology our market used. Finding simple things like earnings, price sensitive news flow, and key offering documents was incredibly painful. 9fin was created to fix that." Hunter continued, "We're delighted to have the backing of new and existing investors in this round. The Redalpine team has a very strong track record of FinTech investments. We're excited to welcome Aleksandra to our board, lending her capital markets and operational expertise to our team. In the last year we've used our analytics to predict multi-billion dollar deals, saved analysts hours of manual data extraction and allowed funds to spot lucrative trading opportunities. This fundraise will allow us to rapidly scale and bring similar benefits to new customers, asset classes and geographies." 9fin's tech platform uses machine learning and computer vision to extract and standardise debt capital markets data in real time. The company's predictive analytics helps its customers save time, spot trading opportunities and increase their share of the $65bn of debt capital markets fees earned by advisors each year. Within the last year, the company has quadrupled its number of clients, tripled the size of its team and partnered with the European Leveraged Finance Association on legal data and analytics. The Series A investment will be used to expand into the US market, with the company opening a New York-based office following strong client demand. Initial hiring in New York will focus on content, analytics and business operations. 9fin is also hiring across its sales, marketing, product and engineering teams. It expects to double its current team of 30 people before the end of the year. Aleksandra Laska, Partner at Redalpine, added "We are delighted to back Steven and Huss, they're an incredibly driven team who have the ambition, network, and know-how to turn 9fin into a massive business. They have deep industry expertise in debt capital markets and have experienced the pain of poor-quality information first hand. Faster, better quality data has huge value within this space. Whether that's predictive analytics to spot new business opportunities or freeing up an analyst team's time through automating the manual collection of data." Laska continued, "As well as a very impressive product offering, the team has built powerful customer relationships with the largest financial institutions in the world. We're excited to support them as they grow in the US market." For more information, go to 9fin.com Notes to Editors Press Kit: Available Here About 9fin 9fin is the faster, smarter way to find leveraged finance intelligence. Through an AI-powered data and analytics platform, 9fin centralises everything that's needed to analyse a credit or win a mandate in one place, helping subscribers win business, outperform their peers, and save time. Product offerings include: News alerts, Financials, Covenants, Comparables, Deal predictions, ESG, and Search. 9fin is trusted by nine of the top 10 investment banks, funds managing over 52bn of high yield assets under management and award-winning advisory and law firm franchises. About Redalpine Redalpine is a leading European early stage venture capital investor focused on disruptive innovation and with a broad sector investment strategy from health-tech to ICT startups. Redalpine's diverse team supports the 70+ portfolio companies not only with financial investment, but also with its in-house operational and subject matter expertise and extensive international network. Redalpine's ambition is to help talented entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality and scale their businesses into international success stories. Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436759/9fin_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] HTPE invests in SJSemi's Series C Funding JIANGYIN, China, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huatai International Private Equity Fund ("HTPE") is pleased to announce its investment in a $300M Series C financing of SJ Semiconductor Co. ("SJSemi" or the "Company"), a leading MEOL (Middle-End-Of-Line) foundry in China, to power its growth plan for capacity expansion and R&D investments. Huatai International Private Equity Fund focuses on the investment opportunities of import substitution and technology upgrade in China. The deal is a firm step taken by HTPE in the semiconductor field. It reflects the fund's high recognition of SJSemi, and is also in line with the fund's investment philosophy, pave the way for the growth of leading companies and assist the development within the industry. SJSemi is specialized in advanced bumping and water level packaging (WLP) for semiconductor industry, and is the first one to provide bumping for advanced DRAM and 12" power management chips in Mainland China. The newest funding brings the Company's total amount raised to $630 million and the valuation will be above $1B. With this financing, the Company is well-capitalized to roll out more investments in R&D to expedite its patented SmartPoserTM, a multi-die 3D integration platform, for manufacturability, to serve multi-die integration needs from emerging markets such as HPC and high-end consumer electronics. "We are excitd to partner with SJSemi to help them achieve their vision in this rapidly growing market within semiconductor industry chain," said Mr. Yang Lei, Managing Partner of HTPE, "This investment is a model case to demonstrate HTPE's investment philosophy and deep understanding in the technology industry, as technology upgrades and import substitution have become the key drivers of future development in the sector. We are committed to identify and work alongside top-notch domestic semiconductor companies, empowering their long-term sustainable growth into blue-chip market leaders. Beyond its good reputation among leading semiconductor companies around the globe, we see the value of SJSemi as the leader of bumping process providers in mainland China with advanced technology, stable delivery, excellent quality control, and dedicated after-sales services. We believe that led by its founding team comprised of industry veterans with impressive track records in this field, SJSemi will benefit from fast-mover advantage and maintain rapid and steady growth to evolve into a cornerstone that connects the front- and back-end parts of the semiconductors industrial chain." About SJSemi Located in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province, SJSemi is China's first 300mm MEOL (Middle-End-Of-Line) foundry specializing in advanced Bumping and wafer-level packaging (WLP). The Company was founded in August 2014, started 28/14nm bumping for Smartphone AP chips in 2016, and is the first one to provide bumping for advanced DRAM and 12" power management chips in the Mainland of China. About HTPE Huatai International Private Equity Fund ("HTPE") is a USD private equity fund under Huatai Securities, one of China's largest financial conglomerates. HTPE is focused on mid-to late-stage significant minority growth equity and mid-market buyout investment opportunities in China and beyond, covering healthcare, semiconductor, hard tech, TMT, and consumer sector. The core investment team is comprised of investment veterans with more than ten years of experience in private equity and capital markets. Leveraging on Huatai's solid platforms and networks in China and worldwide, HTPE utilizes a unique multi-pronged strategy and integrates its broad know-how, deep industry understanding, and comprehensive expertise to capture high growth potential across a variety of sectors, to identify and work with top-notch companies with promising capabilities at different stages. Contact: Shujun Chen +86-13916426619 htpeir@htsc.com SOURCE Huatai International Private Equity Fund [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] CIBC Launches $450 Million Fund Focused on Venture Capital and Growth Equity Funds CIBC is pleased to announce the creation of a $450 million fund dedicated to investing in key Canadian and U.S.-based venture capital and growth equity funds. "As CIBC continues to deepen relationships with highly successful investors in the North American tech, life science and clean tech sectors, dedicating a new pool of capital to invest in our core fund sponsor clients is a natural next step in enabling growth in these important sectors," said Mark McQueen, President & Executive Managing Director, CIBC Innovation Banking, CIBC. "This capital will fuel the growth in leading start-ups as part of each fund manager's multi-year investment strategy." Over the past three years, CIBC has made financial commitments as a Limited Partner to 12 Canadian-based venture capital and growth equity funds, covering every stage of the entrepreneurial lifecycle. The underlying fund strategies have included woman-led startups, Fintechs, disruptive tech and early stage software companies. These financial commitments are above and beyond CIBC's previously-announced leadership role in the establishment and early capitalization of the Canadian Businss Growth Fund. CIBC has recently doubled its capital commitment to venture fund investing and is now making Limited Partner investments in select later-stage, U.S.-based growth equity funds supporting the tech and life science sectors. "We believe our bank has a broad role to play in supporting the advancement of innovation across North America, including high growth sectors such as tech and life sciences, and clean tech," added Mr. McQueen. "Our commitment to the renewables and clean energy sectors takes many forms, and partnering with leading Fund managers in this way is another avenue for CIBC to build a best-in-class franchise with global perspectives." Since the launch of CIBC Innovation Banking in early 2018, CIBC has grown both its footprint and team to now cover 11 key innovation ecosystems across North America, and recently expanded to the UK with the opening of a new London office. About CIBC Innovation Banking CIBC Innovation Banking delivers strategic advice, cash management and funding to innovation companies across North America, the UK, and select European countries at each stage of their business cycle, from start up to IPO and beyond. With offices in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, London, Menlo Park, Montreal, New York, Reston, Toronto and Vancouver, the team has extensive experience and a strong, collaborative approach that extends across CIBC's commercial banking and capital markets businesses in the U.S. and Canada. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005141/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Medical Care Corporation Rebrands as "Embic Corporation," Announces Free Analytic Services to Academic Research Community NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Care Corporation, a leading innovator in the field of cognitive analytics, today announced a name change to Embic Corporation. As part of this rebrand, the company has made a major commitment to academic researchers in the field of Alzheimer's disease and will offer them access to the company's proprietary digital cognitive biomarkers at no cost. Through this academic initiative, Embic will support new discoveries in the vitally important field of cognition, and reinforce the company's ongoing commitment to the science of brain health. Embic's digital biomarkers, which have been validated with grant funding from the National Institute on Aging (Award Number R44AG065126), provide quantified measures of unobservable cognitive processes such as information encoding and retrieval. The utility of these biomarkers for identifying pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease has ben published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. Without such insightful biomarkers, researchers have historically relied on inferential observations from tests of memory, orientation, language, and judgment. While such surrogate measures have value, each relies on the principle underlying processes of encoding and retrieval. Embic's digital cognitive biomarkers quantify these underlying processes and provide more granular insight into a subject's cognitive health. Embic's Chief Medical Officer, William Shankle, MD, shared that, "Our digital cognitive biomarkers are derived from data collected using standard neuropsychological test batteries. In that regard, there are a great many historical studies, including FDA clinical trials, that could greatly benefit from further analysis. By providing Embic's digital cognitive biomarkers to the global research community for deeper analysis of past and future studies, we are confident that we can significantly accelerate the understanding of Alzheimer's disease and other medical conditions that impair cognitive health." About Embic Corporation Embic Corporation (www.embic.us) is a data analytics company that develops digital biomarkers for characterizing human cognition and brain health. The company's intellectual property includes multiple patents in the cognitive health field, a registry of individuals monitoring their brain health, and a proprietary dataset of two million cognitive assessments that facilitates ongoing R&D efforts. Media Contact: Karen Kalil, karenbkalil@gmail.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-care-corporation-rebrands-as-embic-corporation-announces-free-analytic-services-to-academic-research-community-301398592.html SOURCE Embic Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Kennedy Wilson Unveils a New Master-Planned Community Totaling 589 Residential Units on 32 Acres in Camarillo, California Building on a unique public-private partnership with California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) has signed a long-term ground lease for a 32-acre parcel in Camarillo, California owned by the University and unveiled plans for a new mixed-residential community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005241/en/ Kennedy Wilson Unveils a New Master-Planned Community Totaling 589 Residential Units in Camarillo, California (Photo: Business Wire) The soon-to-be-named development project contributes to Kennedy Wilson's growing global development pipeline totaling approximately 4,700 multifamily units that are currently expected to deliver by 2024 and will expand Kennedy Wilson's global multifamily portfolio to over 33,000 units once they are complete. Kennedy Wilson was awarded the development opportunity via public RFP and has re-entitled the land for a master plan that will deliver 310 market-rate apartments, 109 for-sale homes, 170 income-restricted apartments for seniors, as well as community-serving amenities to the University-adjacent site at the western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. "Developing this new community is an important step in our larger partnership with CSUCI and will meaningfully contribute to a region that is short on supply of high-quality apartments and homes for faculty, staff and local residents," said Kennedy Wilson Managing Director Nick Bridges, who structured the partnership with CSUCI. "Many people are rethinking how and where they want to live, and we continue to see a trend of residents moving from city centers towards communities that have access to the outdoors, are commutable to major employment centers, and are relatively affordable. Camarillo and CSUCI are uniquely positioned to benefit from this renewed interest in suburban living." As master develper, Kennedy Wilson has assembled a top-tier team that will break ground in Q4 2021. Kennedy Wilson will develop the wholly owned apartments and Kennedy Wilson's affordable housing joint venture, Vintage Housing, will use a combination of affordable housing tax credits and other financing sources to build and offer 170 apartment homes to income-qualified seniors. The townhome sites will be built and sold by Comstock Homes in a joint venture that includes Kennedy Wilson as a minority partner, as well as Hearthstone. "We are thrilled to see the site's redevelopment process begin, and to move ahead on a pioneering public-private partnership that will also generate a significant revenue stream to benefit our campus's future growth for years to come, as well as provide housing options for our faculty, staff and other community members," said CSUCI Interim President Richard Yao, Ph.D. "We value our partnership with Kennedy Wilson and their proven commitment to building and maintaining strong communities, and we look forward to working together to bring our shared vision to life." The project is a continuation of a seven-year partnership between Kennedy Wilson and CSUCI. Kennedy Wilson originally acquired an existing wholly owned 386-unit apartment community and the 15,000 square feet of retail from CSUCI in the adjacent University Glen neighborhood in 2016 and has since invested approximately $8 million to enhance unit interiors and the community's amenities. Kennedy Wilson has also committed $1.5 million toward the future construction of an Early Childhood Education center on the CSUCI campus to provide affordable, high-quality early childhood education to the region's underserved population. The center will serve as a training experience for students in the University's School of Education and will provide support to student parents in attaining their educational goals. Including this 32-acre development in Camarillo, CA (News - Alert) , Kennedy Wilson is progressing on a 3,800-unit Western U.S. development pipeline, including the second phase of construction at 38 North in Santa Rosa, California; The Oxbow in Bozeman, Montana; and Dovetail in Boise, Idaho. Within the Western U.S. development pipeline, approximately 1,600 units are under construction through Vintage Housing, Kennedy Wilson's growing affordable and senior housing joint venture. In Ireland, where Kennedy Wilson is one of the country's most active multifamily real estate investors and operators, nearly 1,000 new multifamily units are in various stages of development at prominent Dublin projects including The Cornerstone on the former Leisureplex site, The Grange and Coopers Cross. About Kennedy Wilson Kennedy Wilson (NYSE:KW) is a leading global real estate investment company. We own, operate, and invest in real estate through our balance sheet and through our investment management platform. We focus on multifamily and office properties located in the Western U.S., U.K., and Ireland. For further information on Kennedy Wilson, please visit: www.kennedywilson.com. KW-IR Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are estimates that reflect our management's current expectations, are based on our current estimates, expectations, forecasts, projections and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate and involve known and unknown risks. Accordingly, our actual results, performance or achievement, or industry results, may differ materially and adversely from the results, performance or achievement, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including for reasons that are beyond our control. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "plans", "intends", "projects", "indicates", "could", "may" and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We assume no duty to update the forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005241/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] True to Its Mission, Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Will Expand Its Direct Supply Program in Response to Farmers Losing Horizon Contracts Stonyfield Organic, the country's leading organic yogurt maker, announces its plans to help save at-risk Northeast organic family farms by inviting a number of farms into their direct supply program during the coming months. The move comes after over 89 regional family farmers recently received notice that their contracts will be terminated by Horizon, owned by Danone North America - leaving them with no outlets for their milk. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005284/en/ True to Its Mission, Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Will Expand Its Direct Supply Program in Response to Farmers Losing Horizon Contracts (Photo: Business Wire) The decline in the number of small family farmers is unfortunately not a new story, as the United States, and especially the Northeast, has seen drastic reductions in the number of both farms and acreage over the last decade. From 2012 to 2021 alone, Vermont has lost over 390 individual dairy farms as food production has largely been ceded away from small families, and into large, agri-business operations. "This is not something new for us. Supporting organic family farms has been at the heart of our DNA since the day Stonyfield started as an organic farming school in Wilton, New Hampshire back in 1983," said Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and Chief Organic Optimist. The company is still headquartered in New Hampshire, and makes most of its yogurt at its Londonderry facility. "From our founding, we've always been dedicated to improving the health of people and our lanet, and particularly to ensuring that family farmers are fully honored and supported. Over the decades, it has become clear that the very best way that we and our consumers can support Northeast family dairy farms is by helping them convert to organic production. The potential loss of 89 organic family farms would be a devastating loss for our region and our environment. When we heard about the contract terminations, we knew we had to step up and help as many farms as we possibly could, beginning with our initial commitment to take a group of these farms into our program. It's a challenging time for the organic dairy market to absorb more farms, but we can't just stand by and watch these farms in our own backyard go out of business," Hirshberg added. "We will bring on the farms that we can, and we have launched an internal task force of senior company leaders to work alongside various state departments of agriculture, nonprofit organizations, retailers and institutional food customers to find ways to keep more of these farms alive and in business." "We are incredibly disheartened to see real people and families losing their livelihoods and believe responsible companies need to do everything they can to be a part of the solution right now. We invite everyone - brands, consumers, retailers and food service customers and anyone who has an interest to join the conversation with us," said Esteve Torrens, CEO at Stonyfield. "We won't stop until every stone has been turned and every possibility has been explored," he added. Stonyfield has long championed organic family farms. Over 20 years ago, the organic yogurt maker was the lead funder of the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm to help the region's family farmers. In 2014, Stonyfield helped found the Organic Dairy Farmer Training Program at Wolfe's (News - Alert) Neck Center in Maine - a first of its kind, two-year residential apprenticeship which aims to increase the number of organic dairy farmers entering the industry. With the aging population of organic dairy farmers, Stonyfield knew it was important for them to play a leading role in sustaining and rebuilding organic dairy in the United States and the funding of Wolfe's Neck Center was one way to do that. At its core, Stonyfield supports over 200 small, organic family farms in the Northeast through its milk supplier relationship with Organic Valley, and its Direct Supply Program in the region. It also provides technical assistance funding and mentorship to farms it contracts directly from. In addition, it was a founding member of OpenTEAM, a farmer-driven, interoperable suite of tools that provide farmers around the world with the best possible knowledge to improve soil health. Stonyfield hopes to share more news over the coming months and encourages consumers to vote with their purchase dollars, researching the brands they buy their groceries from and supporting those that support and strengthen organic family farms. About Stonyfield Organic As the country's leading organic yogurt maker, Stonyfield believes that taking care of organic farmers, cows, and their life's work will produce healthy food, healthy businesses, and a healthy planet. Stonyfield, a Certified B-Corp, is also making a difference by helping to protect and preserve the next generation of farmers and families through programs like its Direct Milk Supply and Wolfe's Neck Organic Training Program as well as #PlayFree, a nationwide, multi-year initiative to help keep families free from toxic persistent pesticides in outdoor spaces across the country. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005284/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] BlackRock Reports Third Quarter 2021 Earnings BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) today released its financial results for the third quarter of 2021. The company's earnings release and supplemental materials are available via ir.blackrock.com/QuarterlyResults. Teleconference, Webcast and Presentation Information Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Laurence D. Fink, President, Robert S. Kapito, and Chief Financial Officer, Gary S. Shedlin, will host a teleconference call for investors and analysts on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public who are interested in participating in the teleconference should dial, from the United States, (800) 374-0176, or from outside the United States, (706) 679-8281, shortly before 8:30 a.m. ET and reference the BlackRock Conference Call (ID Number 5162309). A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the investor relations section of www.blackrock.com. Both the teleconference and webcast will be available for replay by 11:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 and ending at midnight on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. To access the replay of the teleconference, callers from the United States should dial (855) 859-2056 and callers from outside the United States should dial (404) 537-3406 and enter the Conference ID Number 5162309. To access the webcast, please visit the investor relations section of www.blackrock.com. About BlackRock BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter (News - Alert) : @blackrock | LinkedIn (News - Alert) : www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005544/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Fluidra Wins Several Awards in the Institutional Investor 2021 "All-Europe Executive Team" Ranking Fluidra, global leader in pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, has received two awards in the Institutional Investor 2021 "All-Europe Executive Team" ranking. The company was given first place in its sector by investors and analysts for the categories, "Best Investor Relations Program" and "Best Capital Markets Day", their event aimed at analysts and investors. These awards place Fluidra in the top five overall in its sector at European level. The "All-Europe Executive Team" by Institutional Investor is the European benchmark ranking and is created each year as the outcome of a comprehensive survey of analysts from more than 650 institutions and more than 1,500 financial investors. Participants vote for the best executives and IR professionals across over 1,000 European companies. Institutional Invstor is an internationally renowned journal, specialising in international finance, with more than fifty years of history. Being included in this list represents important acknowledgement of leadership and management within the economics and finance industry. About Fluidra Fluidra S.A. (FDR:SM), is the global leader in the pool and wellness equipment business. It is currently included in the Ibex 35, the benchmark index of the Spanish stock market, and in the FTSE4Good Index Series, the benchmark sustainability index. Within its activity, it stands out for the extensive offer of innovative products and services, as well as connected solutions, and operates in more than 45 countries. The company has a portfolio of some of the most recognized brands in the industry, including Jandy, AstralPool, Polaris, Cepex, Zodiac, CTX Professional and Gre. To learn more about Fluidra, visit www.fluidra.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005549/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] LQwD to Provide BIGG with Bitcoin Lightning Network Capability; LQwD Selects BIGG Digital Assets as Preferred Liquidity Partner and Compliance Software Provider VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - LQwD Fintech Corp. (TSXV: LQWD) (OTC: LQWDF), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic services agreement with Netcoins Inc. ("Netcoins"), a leading Canadian crypto trading platform and subsidiary of BIGG Digital Assets Inc. ("BIGG") (CSE: BIGG). Under the agreement, Netcoins will establish a node on the Bitcoin Lightning Network via LQwD's proprietary Lightning PaaS (Platform as a Service) software. This marks the first institutional grade Lightning payment channel for Netcoins and BIGG. Netcoins will also serve as preferred liquidity provider for LQwD's wholly owned virtual currency platform, Coincurve.com. Additionally, BIGG's Blockchain Intelligence Group ( Blockchaingroup.io ), and Netcoins' affiliate, will provide Coincurve and LQwD's Lightning Network Platform with a suite of institutional and government grade compliance software, including BitRank and QLUE. Mark Binns, BIGG's CEO, remarked, "As the only publicly owned and regulated crypto trading platform in Canada, becoming the liquidity partner for LQwD makes perfect sense. We can offer LQwD industry leading rates as an institutional customer, and bundle BitRank and QLUE blockchain tech for a complete package. Correspondingly, we are thrilled to establish a node with LQwD on the fast-growing Lightning Network. " Shone Anstey, CEO of LQwD, commented, "We are grateful to have a strong relationship with Netcoins and Blockchain Intelligence Group as we expand our footprint in the rapidly emerging Bitcoin Lightning Network. LQwD can now leverage BitRank and QLUE for our AML needs and route crypto purchases for Coincurve.com and additional platforms through Netcoins, Canada's first publicly traded, licensed crypto trading platform. It also allows Netcoins to have an early mover advantage in the Canadian markets for handling instant deposits and withdrawals of Bitcoin via LQwD's Bitcoin Lightning Network platform." About the Lightning Network The Lightning Network is a solution to mass scaling the usage of Bitcoin for microtransactions globally, dramatically improving upon fees, as well as instant settlement times. The Lightning Network has experienced explosive growth in the past 90-days with node growth doubling and Lightning Network BTC capacity increasing 51.74%. Some well-known companies such as Jack Dorsey's Twitter and Square have expressed their enthusiasm to incorporate Lightning Network into their platforms. About LQwD Fintech Corp. LQwD is a Lightning Network focused company developing payment infrastructure and solutions. The Company's mission is to develop institutional grade services that support the Lightning Network and drive improved functionality, transaction capability, user adoption and utility and scaling Bitcoin. LQwD also holds Bitcoin as an operating asset establishing nodes and payment channels across the Lightning Network. About BIGG Digital Assets Inc. BIGG Digital Assets Inc. (BIGG) believes the future of crypto is a safe, compliant, and regulated environment. BIGG invests in products and companies to support this vision. BIGG owns two operating companies: Netcoins ( netcoins.ca ) and Blockchain Intelligence Group ( blockchaingroup.io ). Netcoins develops brokerage and exchange software to make the purchase and sale of cryptocurrency easily accessible to the mass consumer and investor with a focus on compliance and safety. Netcoins utilizes BitRank Verified software at the heart of its platform and facilitates crypto trading via a self-serve crypto brokerage portal at Netcoins.app . Blockchain Intelligence Group is a global developer of blockchain technology building a secure future. Financial institutions and crypto companies depend on its technology to monitor risk from crypto transactions. Investigators and law enforcement quickly identify and track illicit activity. The crypto forensics technology was designed by investigators for investigators. Blockchain Intelligence Group is trusted globally by leading financial institutions, crypto companies, Fintech, Regtech, law enforcement and regulators. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's business plans and the outlook of the Company's industry. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, LQwD, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lqwd-to-provide-bigg-with-bitcoin-lightning-network-capability-lqwd-selects-bigg-digital-assets-as-preferred-liquidity-partner-and-compliance-software-provider-301399081.html SOURCE LQwD FinTech Corp. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Clickatell Announces Chat Commerce Platform with New Payment Capabilities REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ -- Today Clickatell, a leader in mobile communications and chat commerce, announced it will unveil new payment capabilities via its Chat Commerce Platform at Money 20/20 Las Vegas, Oct. 24-27. Clickatell helps businesses easily deploy payments in chat channels with low to no execution risk associated with regulatory considerations, payment ecosystem of payer and payees, and consumer adoption on the most popular chat channels. Clickatell's enterprise grade Chat Commerce Platform improves brands' customer experience and drives revenue. In its report "Add Digital Payments as Part of Communications Platform as a Service Offering," Gartner recognized Clickatell as a "Who's Who in CPaaS Payments and How They Are Going About It" section and stated, "Currently there are a limited number of CPaaS providers that provide the payment capability." Additionally, Gartner's report predicts "by 2025, around 50% of CPaaS vendors will enable the functionality as part of their communications modules and offerings."1 Starting in 2011, Clickatell already recognized the need for chat commerce and moved to the model that combines communication and commerce. Currently, Clickatell processes 1.5 million transactions daily. "With billions of consumers actively chatting on chat apps, we believe Chat Commerce is the future of digital commerce enabling brands to connect, interact, and transact where their customers are," said Pieter de Villiers, CEO and co-founder at Clickatell. "Paying a utility bill should not take 15 minutes of your life every month. Imagine a utility company sending a simple notification in chat to customers for the amount due giving them the option to tap an pay the bill right there from within the notification itself. And, if the customer has a query, we enable brands to leverage a bot or live agents then and there in the same channel. Consumers no longer have to scramble to find a number to call or fire off an email into the abyss." Clickatell's enterprise grade Chat Commerce Platform improves brands' customer experience and drives revenue by personalizing communications, delivering higher customer satisfaction and retention, increasing sales, improving business efficiencies, and reducing operating costs. It provides low/no code tools for brands to connect, interact, and transact with their customers: Connect enables messaging and notifications, such as a bank sending a customer a credit card transaction verification alert, which is much less intrusive or inefficient than a robocall or an email; Interact provides back-end system integration and orchestration complete with a chat bot and agent desk enabling a bank, for example, to communicate with customers interactively to check balances or pay bills versus calling an 1800 number on the back of a card; and Transact supports API payments and digital transactions capabilities through Clickatell's new Chat 2 Pay. Chat 2 Pay enables businesses to securely accept payments in chat messaging by sending consumers a payment link via SMS or WhatsApp. In its design of Chat 2 Pay, Clickatell efficiently has orchestrated the complex relationship between messaging, payments, and the order management system (OMS) of their customers, and in the process mitigates the risk of businesses managing payment card details. For more information about Clickatell's Chat Commerce Platform visit here and view the Chat 2 Pay product page here. 1 Gartner, "Add Digital Payments as Part of Communications Platform as a Service Offering", Lisa Unden-Farboud, Daniel O'Connell, Brian Doherty, Dayna Ford, 27 August 2021 Gartner Disclaimer: GARTNER is a registered trademark and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Clickatell We create a better world through technology, making commerce in chat accessible for everyone, everywhere. Consumers can now connect with brands to find goods and services, make purchases, track orders, and resolve issues with a simple text or chat. No need for cash, phone calls, in-person interactions, or apps. Founded in 2000 with now over 10,000 customers, Clickatell is powering the digital commerce transformation through Chat Commerce. Clickatell is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA and has offices in Canada, South Africa, and Nigeria ( www.clickatell.com ). Media Contacts Clickatell, Andrea Mahoney, andrea.mahoney@clickatell.com , 415-846-1543 , 415-846-1543 Clickatell, Nadia Louw, nadia.louw@clickatell.com , +27 (21) 910 7700 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clickatell-announces-chat-commerce-platform-with-new-payment-capabilities-301399082.html SOURCE Clickatell [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Benson Hill Expands Board of Directors Expertise with Appointments on the Heels of its New York Stock Exchange Listing ST. LOUIS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benson Hill, Inc. (NYSE: BHIL, the "Company" or "Benson Hill"), a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants with its cutting-edge food innovation engine, announced the appointments of Linda Whitley-Taylor and Molly Montgomery as independent members of its Board of Directors. The appointments underscore the Company's commitment to this critical next phase of growth toward becoming a leading publicly traded sustainable food tech company composed of exceptional teams from a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds. Whitley-Taylor, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Change Healthcare, brings a unique perspective to Benson Hill's Board of Directors with her decades of experience in human resources, talent retention and people strategy development. She will serve as chair of the Board's Compensation Committee, which will center on investing in and retaining top talent to position the Company and its teams for success. "We apply cutting-edge science and an integrated approach across the food value chain, requiring purpose-driven talent across multiple disciplines to execute our strategy," said Matt Crisp, Chief Executive Officer of Benson Hill. "Linda has a deep appreciation for our culture and the importance we place on our people. Her extensive experience will be a great asset as we continue to grow and develop our organization." Prior to joining Change Healthcare, Whitley-Taylor served in operations leadership and executive human resources positions at Amerigroup Corporation, Genworth Financial and GE. Whitley-Taylor has a B.A. in psychology from Radford University. She currently serves as a Board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville, on the Board of Trustees of Hampden-Sydney College and formerly served as rector of the Board of Visitors at Radford University. "Matt and his team at Benson Hill understand that aligning talent, passion and culture can create exponential impact. I look orward to advising the Company's people strategy as it continues its significant growth trajectory and matures in the public markets," said Whitley-Taylor. Montgomery, Board Director at Wilbur-Ellis, is an experienced public company CEO and Board Director with a deep passion for sustainability and leading teams throughout the food and agriculture supply chain. On Benson Hill's Board, she will chair the Sustainability and Governance Committee charged with oversight of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) priorities across the company. Montgomery simultaneously serves as Board Director at Wilbur-Ellis, The Wine Group and Custom Made Meals. Previously, she served as CEO, President and Board Director of Landec Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science and a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. "Molly's extensive background of leadership in the agriculture and food value chain, matched with the immense value she places on sustainable practices, makes her a seamless addition to our Board as we continue to scale. We are honored to have her on the team," said Crisp. "Benson Hill has the potential to redefine our food supply chain with a technology platform that enables nutrient-dense foods to be made available at a lower cost and with a reduced carbon footprint," said Montgomery. "I look forward to supporting the Company's innovative path to be the 'picks and shovels' of the rapidly growing plant-based food revolution." The appointments of Whitley-Taylor and Montgomery come at an opportune time as Benson Hill continues to build momentum. The food tech company is building out the supply chain for its proprietary soybean ingredients designed to enable more sustainable, nutritious and affordable food choices for consumers. About Benson Hill Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature's genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on Twitter at @bensonhillinc. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company's future financial or operating performance, and may be identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," or similar words. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our strategy, our plans for growth, and the benefits we anticipate our new directors will bring to our Board, its committees, and our company. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, our ability to grow and manage growth profitably, our ability to execute our business plans, our transition to becoming a public company, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We expressly disclaim any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. Media Contact Benson Hill Melanie Bernds 314-605-6363 mbernds@bensonhill.com Media Kit View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/benson-hill-expands-board-of-directors-expertise-with-appointments-on-the-heels-of-its-new-york-stock-exchange-listing-301399169.html SOURCE Benson Hill [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Menlo Security Honored by Goldman Sachs for Entrepreneurship Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing Amir Ben-Efraim, Menlo Security CEO and co-founder, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005405/en/ Amir Ben-Efraim, Menlo Security CEO and co-founder (Photo: Business Wire) Goldman Sachs selected Amir Ben-Efraim as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Ben-Efraim, a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, founded Menlo Security with a mission to provide a new approach to security that leverages a cloud-based platform (Security Service Edge) to eliminate malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. An entrepreneur at heart, Ben-Efraim previously founded Altor Networks, where he also served as CEO. Altor Networks was acquired by Juniper Networks (News - Alert) , where Amir served as the company's vice president of cloud security, defining the strategy for securing virtualized data centers and publicand private clouds. For far too long, security companies have been content to pacify customers with detect-and-remediate solutions that are no match for today's highly evasive malware threats. Menlo Security has pioneered an entirely reimagined, impervious approach to security built on Zero Trust principles that leverages isolation as a core architectural pillar. It's the only way to truly eliminate malware, secure work, and protect productivity-the things that matter most to businesses and end users. "Protecting against cyber risk is a top priority for the customers we serve, which include some of the most demanding enterprises and governments worldwide," said Ben-Efraim. "This recognition is a testament to the efforts of our team, who innovate and find new ways to deliver value to our customers every day." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Amir as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, and resident scholars. About Menlo Security Menlo Security protects organizations from cyberattacks by eliminating the threat of malware from the web, documents, and email. Menlo Security's isolation-powered Cloud Security Platform scales to provide comprehensive protection across enterprises of any size without requiring endpoint software or impacting the end-user experience. Menlo Security is trusted by major global businesses, including Fortune 500 companies and eight of the ten largest global financial services institutions. It is backed by Vista Equity Partners, Neuberger Berman, General Catalyst, American Express Ventures, Ericsson (News - Alert) Ventures, HSBC, and JP Morgan Chase. Menlo Security is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information, please visit www.menlosecurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005405/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Lakeview Village's Innovation District to Bring 9,000 Long-Term Jobs and World-Class Talent to Ontario's Innovation Corridor Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL), the developers behind Lakeview Village, a vibrant 177-acre mixed-use waterfront community coming to Mississauga, today highlighted its ongoing preparation work on the ambitious project that will serve as a model for sustainable mixed-use developments across Canada. Living up to its moniker of a "smart, future-ready city" it will feature a state-of-the-art Innovation District that aims to become the largest hub for technology, innovation and research in Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005367/en/ Square and Hotel Innovation at Lakeview Village - Renderings by Cicada Design Inc., Toronto Canada Lakeview Community Partners Limited Job creation within higher-paying, knowledge-based sectors that draw and keep talent continues to be important to the economic recovery of Mississauga and the surrounding region, along with a variety of housing options to address the supply crisis. Bringing over 8,050 units of diverse housing to the region and an anticipated 9,000 long-term jobs in partnership with the City of Mississauga's Economic Development Office, Lakeview Village is uniquely positioned to deliver on these key priorities. The Lakeview Innovation District - Driving the Future Centrally located within the region's Innovation Corridor and integrated into the broader Lakeview Village community, the Lakeview Innovation District builds upon the community's sustainable foundation to create an ecosystem that facilitates collaboration, research and innovation with the potential to compete alongside the top technology hubs in the world. As a central hub for research, the Innovation District will stimulate a thriving business community that attracts and retains a diverse pool of talent, creating an environment for people to develop cutting-edge solutions that drive global change. In creating an openinnovation ecosystem, the District will transform land that was once occupied by the Four Sisters coal plant into a living, breathing green space with the opportunity for use and development of sustainable technology solutions focused on energy, waste and water industries. It will be a uniquely attractive hub for inventors and academics to conduct research while enabling potential partnerships with post-secondary and environmental institutions. Lakeview Innovation District Highlights: 1.9 million square feet for office space, tech and research facilities and employment 9,000 long-term jobs 20+ acres for campus, culture and innovation Over 200,000 square feet for new retail and restaurant opportunities Well-connected to the broader pedestrian, transit, and bike networks, reducing traffic delays, congestion, energy consumption and pollution Central location close to Canada's largest airport, Pearson International Airport, and only 19 kilometers away from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, with multiple commuting options including nearby GO Transit stations and major highways/roadways LCPL is currently exploring leading green technologies which would be used for the first time in Canada at scale to power the district and broader Lakeview Village community With its striking and timeless architectural design, open space working environment, proximity to integrated transit routes, a thriving retail community and the waterfront, Lakeview's Innovation District will act as a magnet for high-tech firms, technology incubators and entrepreneurs. A Next-Generation Employment Hub Ranked among the top 20 Best Locations in Canada for the fifth consecutive year by Site Magazine, the City of Mississauga is an ideal location for creative and innovative companies. The Lakeview Innovation District builds upon the City's strategic priorities to further attract business, envisioned to become a world-class innovation hub propelling necessary advancements in science, technology and corporate culture. Projected to accommodate over 1.9 million sq. ft. of employment space and 9,000 long-term jobs, the District will help drive the City's path towards sustained economic prosperity. "We believe that an investment in infrastructure is an investment in talent, industry and business," said Brian Sutherland, Vice-President of Development, Argo Development Corporation and development lead for Lakeview Village. "With flexible office space, co-working space, and state-of-the-art facilities, the Innovation District is not only integral to our vision for the future of the community, but a critically important element that supports the growing City of Mississauga, the broader region and Canada at large." Collaboration has been central to the strategy behind the Innovation District's design, with open concept co-working spaces, flexible office use and event spaces available to innovators to work together and connect with investors, experts and potential partners from around the world. "The Innovation District is deeply important to Mississauga's economic recovery and future prosperity - it will stimulate the economy and bring meaningful new employment opportunities, positioning Mississauga as a competitive, global hub for business, right on the waterfront," continued Sutherland. To learn more about Lakeview Village and how it is redefining the idea of smart cities in Canada, visit our website: www.mylakeviewvillage.com About Lakeview Community Partners Limited Lakeview Community Partners Limited is a partnership of community builders that includes TACC Construction Limited, Greenpark Group, CCI (News - Alert) Development Group, Branthaven and Argo Development Corporation. The partnership represents an unprecedented collaboration dedicated to transforming Mississauga's waterfront through the development of Lakeview Village, a sustainable mixed-use community and all-season destination on the former site of the Lakeview Generating Station, a decommissioned coal-fired power plant. This transformative 177-acre revitalization project will revolutionize the way people live, visit and experience the waterfront through its thoughtful design and curated collection of housing, retail, office and recreational programming. For more information, visit www.mylakeviewvillage.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005367/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Sheela Foam Ltd. (NSE: SFL) Chooses Deepspatial Inc. for Market Expansion and Business Growth Deepspatial Inc. (CSE:DSAI) (OTCQB:DSAIF) ("Deepspatial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Sheela Foam Ltd. has chosen Deepspatial to provide its AI-driven solutions to assist in market expansion and business growth, with the expectation of expanding throughout India & Global Locations following successful outcomes. Sheela Foam Ltd (NSE: SFL) is a publicly traded company on the National Stock Exchange in India (NSE) and is currently trading at a market cap of over CAD$ 2 billion and is the largest polyurethane foam manufacturer in Asia Pacific with footprints in India, Australia and Spain and also the largest manufacturer of mattresses in India under renowned brand name Sleepwell. Deepspatial will assist Sheela Foam in identifying new market opportunities for expansion and provide better coverage for their existing markets. Deepspatial's AI-driven solutions will be adopted by Sheela Foam Ltd., to help maximize its distribution & retail coverage which is expected to reduce costs and increase profitability, margins, and revenue. "The fusion of Artificial Intelligence, Spatial Sciences & Data Sets of Deepspatial along with the inhouse talents of Sheela Group would help enhance our business growth plans. Sheela Foam has always been a pioneer and with this, we look forward to initiating a new domain for our complete industry." said Charu Bhargava, Vice President of IT at Sheela Foam Ltd. "What's also exciting about working with Sheela Foam Ltd., is the fact that we are marking our entrance into a new industry vertical. Not to mention Deepspatial is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence for business growth in this industry." Said Dr. Rahul Kushwah, CEO of Deepspatial Inc. Dr. Rahul Kushwah appeared on Proactive Investors Media to talk about the client announcement and what it means for Deepspatial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHgoknkIcmg&ab_channel=Proactive About Deepspatial Inc. Deepspatial Inc. is an artificial intelligence, technology SaaS (News - Alert) company at the forefront of geospatial artificial intelligence and geographic informational systems, specializing in providing robust, AI-powered solutions to businesses by leveraging the power of geospatial data. The company has currently built products that target four specific customer needs across industry verticals. Thse are (1) geodemographic customer profiling, (2) price recommendation engine, (3) inventory management and supply chain analytics (market entry and expansion), and (4) sentiment monitoring to measure and improve brand health. To learn more, please visit our website at www.Deepspatial.ai or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. About Sheela Foam Limited. Sheela Foam Limited (NSE: SFL) is the Largest Polyurethane Foam Manufacturer in Asia Pacific with footprints in India, Australia and Spain and also the largest manufacturer of mattresses in India under renowned brand name Sleepwell. Sheela Foam are bulk manufacturers of PU Foam and make a variety of Technical Foams including - Memory Foam, Flame Retardant Foam, High Resilience Foam, Soft /Hard Foam, Reticulated Foam used in various applications. https://www.sheelafoam.com/. Caution regarding Forward Looking Information: THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results of the Company. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein, such as, but not limited to dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; the ability to obtain intellectual property rights related to its technology; limited operating history; general business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties, and in particular, uncertainties related to COVID-19; risks related to factors beyond the control of the company, including risks related to COVID-19; risks related to the Company's shares, including price volatility due to events that may or may not be within such party's control; reliance on management; and the emergency of additional competitors in the industry. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005449/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] SMART Meetings Selects ITS to Help Attendees Save on Travel DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel technology leader Internet Travel Solutions (ITS) is proud to announce a new travel partnership with Smart Meetings, the essential resource for the event evolution, to provide a seamless and effective booking experience for Smart Meetings' live events. Smart Meetings has an upcoming national live event in Palm Beach, Florida on October 17-19,?where ITS will provide travel booking solutions for this event as well as all of the future Smart Meetings live events.? "Smart Meetings has long proven themselves as a leading media company and one of the most trusted resources for meeting professionals. ITS respects and acknowledges their reputation in moving our industry forward and was eager for the opportunity to form a strategic partnership," said Renee McKenney, Vice President of ITS' TripEvents. McKenney joined ITS to develop and grow meetings and events business as next generation travel technology to choose, self-book, and manage events. Smart Meetings is known for their elite corporate attendees, premier hotels and destinations. They have hosted seven in-person events for meeting professionals over this past year, as well as two more scheduled before year end. These live networking events have taken place all over the United States, from Fort Worth to San Diego to Boston. "ITS is thrilled to partner with Smart Meetings to effectively assist their meeting professionls in a cost effective and safe way, as we bring back future live events to our industry," said McKenney. The ITS booking engine connects travelers searching for flights with exclusive rates and fares and a simple user experience. Smart Meetings recognized the easiness of ITS' self-service booking capabilities and the additional effort to push trip information back into most major Event Registration software platforms. ITS provides the ideal travel experience, with high-touch customer service, making the journey along the way as enjoyable as the event itself. About Smart Meetings Smart Meetings is the leading media company and most trusted resource for meeting professionals. Their goal is to inspire their audience of meeting and event professionals to dream bigand create brilliant experiences that delight attendees, achieve desired results and elevate the impact of the meetings industry. Their team is passionate about connecting meeting planners with premier hotels and destinations, as well as offering dynamic, educational award-winning content and inspirational tools and resources for today's busy meeting planners. To learn more about Smart Meetings, visit www.smartmeetings.com . About ITS Internet Travel Solutions, LLC (ITS) develops and maintains technology for the corporate, convention, cargo, passenger airline, crew accommodation, and event and meeting sectors. ITS solutions, products and services solve problems, create savings and provide long-term value through ease of use, valuable integration, and scalability for large and small clients. ITS also provides support services to help travelers throughout their journey, making each trip productive and meaningful. https://bit.ly/3v6Aqxr to learn more. Media Contact Stephanie Smith 214-915-9109 321250@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-meetings-selects-its-to-help-attendees-save-on-travel-301398724.html SOURCE ITS (Internet Travel Solutions) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] AM Best to Demonstrate Financial Information Resource at the 2021 SIR Virtual Annual Conference AM Best representatives will be providing demonstrations of Best's Financial Suite at the 2021 SIR Virtual Annual Conference & Exhibit Fair on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at 2:45 p.m. (EDT). The conference takes place Oct. 18-19, 2021. Jennifer Rudy, account manager, and Jay Eihausen, senior account manager, will be available at AM Best's online booth to explain and discuss how the product can power your insurance industry research with quality data, insurer credit ratings and analytical tools. They will also be available to discuss: Best's Insurance Reports : Enhance top-level research with AM Best's insight into the financial performance of insurance companies worldwide, along with the latest insurer informaion. : Enhance top-level research with AM Best's insight into the financial performance of insurance companies worldwide, along with the latest insurer informaion. Best's State Rate Filing : Keep up with U.S. property/casualty program innovations, determine which competitors are entering specific markets and create targeted product development strategies. : Keep up with U.S. property/casualty program innovations, determine which competitors are entering specific markets and create targeted product development strategies. Best's News & Research Service: Stay on top of what's happening, why it's happening, and how it affects your business with news and research from AM Best's unique perspective. sales@ambest.com. More information about the 2021 SIR Virtual Annual Conference & Exhibit Fair is available at this official event page. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005668/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] General Assembly Pizza's New Master Facility Comes Online, Expands Production General Assembly Holdings Limited (the "Company" or "GA Pizza") (TSXV: GA), a Toronto pizza restaurant turned omnichannel consumer packaged goods ("CPG") brand, is pleased to announce the opening of its "expanded kitchen": a 42,060 square-foot master production facility in Vaughan, Ontario. The new facility equips the Company to meet surging demand for its freshly frozen, naturally leavened premium pizzas. It also allows the flagship General Assembly restaurant in downtown Toronto-which has been producing frozen pizzas since the advent of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020-to reopen to diners as a refreshed and expanded hospitality experience. The Company secured the new production facility in July and commenced production on September 9. Located on Marycroft Avenue and emblazoned with GA Pizza's signature pizza siren, the facility has increased the Company's monthly output of frozen units to 100,000, with greater output to come in the months ahead. "On September 9, our first day of production at the new facility, we made 600 pizzas. Within three weeks, we were making more than 4,000 per day-more than double our maximum capacity at the restaurant," said Hormis Tharakan, Chief Operating Officer of GA Pizza. "We now have the capacity and the technology to not only meet consumer demand, but to further grow our output. And we have a clear plan to do it." The Company's plan to scale its frozen pizza output at the new facility has three phases: Phase I: Launch (September and October 2021). Prior to opening the facility on September 9, 2021, the company sourced equipment, commissioned the construction of its first production line and hired a full staff. The site was certified by Toronto Public Health, as well as by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which allows the Company to sell throughout Canada. The facility is currently operating between two shifts, five days a week. Phase II: Optimization (Q1 2022). GA Pizza will install new equipment, including a bigger oven and the capacity to produce more dough. This new equipment will add a greater degree of automation. This will increase production to 300,000 pizza units per month. Phase III: Automation (2023). The Vaughan facility will be fully automated enabling monthly production of up to 600,000 units. The opening of the dedicated facility enables GA Pizza to support its fast-evolving omnichannel business model, which now includes: Retail sales. The Company's new production capacity allows it to pursue enhanced distribution capabilities in retail channels-specifically, through large grocery banners. GA Pizza is currently available in more than 100 stores. A five-store pilot program with Fortinos Supermarket, a grocery chain owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd., is expected to expand to 23 stores in Q4 2021. A sales partnership with national CPG food broker Propel Natural Foods provides the Company with infrastructure and expertise to sell into natural, grocery, mass merchandise and club retail channels. The Company's new production capacity allows it to pursue enhanced distribution capabilities in retail channels-specifically, through large grocery banners. GA Pizza is currently available in more than 100 stores. Direct-to-consumer sales. Building on successes in several key Ontario markets (including the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Muskoka, Prince Edward County, Kingston and the Windsor corridor), the Company's new e-commerce website offers an enhanced customer experience and a new one-time purchase option. Building on successes in several key Ontario markets (including the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Muskoka, Prince Edward County, Kingston and the Windsor corridor), the Company's new e-commerce website offers an enhanced customer experience and a new one-time purchase option. Restaurant sales. The restaurant's takeout and delivery channels re-opened in the latter half of Q3. In Q4, the Company will officially welcome guests back to where it all began: the flagship General Assembly restaurant on Adelaide Street West in Toronto. Led by former Alo Group manager Quentin Meloff -who has joined GA Pizza to help elevate and redefine premium fast casual dining-the fully renovated space will reflect the Company's refreshed brand, include expanded food and beverage offerings and feature a curated bodega for take-home shopping. The restaurant has been closed to diners since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic; its reopening will allow GA Pizza to operate on all cylinders for the first time in nearly two years. The restaurant's takeout and delivery channels re-opened in the latter half of Q3. In Q4, the Company will officially welcome guests back to where it all began: the flagship General Assembly restaurant on Adelaide Street West in Toronto. Ali Khan Lalani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GA Pizza. "We plan to produce 270,000 frozen units in Q4, giving more pizza-lovers than ever what they have come to crave: a convenient and delicious frozen option. This capacity, paired with our work to deepen our retail and direct-to-consumer sales channels, is unlocking economies of scale that lead us on a clear path to profitability." About GA Pizza GA Pizza began its life as a fast-casual pizza restaurant in the heart of Toronto. More than three years later, we also offer a freezer-to-table consumer packaged goods line and a revolutionary direct-to-consumer eCommerce experience-not to mention a pizza box with more than one pizza in it. Our ambition? Make delicious pizzas available to everyone, everywhere. We're always working to take pizza to new heights-from showing the world that better pizza is possible, to finding new spaces and places to deliver unrivaled pizza experiences. Find us in your freezer or visit gapizza.com for more information. GA Pizza media assets available for download. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (together "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding anticipated increases to the Company's production capacity at the master facility and the Company's growth strategy. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the combined company. Among key factors and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information may include, without limitation, the following: there being no market for the securities of the Company; the Company's limited operating history; global economic risk; COVID-19's impact on the Company; the general economic environment; cybersecurity risks; financial projections may prove materially inaccurate or incorrect; the Company may experience difficulties to forecast sales; general competition in the industry from other companies; management of growth-related risks; reliance on management; risks relating to insurance; changes in food and supply costs could adversely affect profitability and ultimately our results of operations; our business could be adversely affected by increased labour costs or difficulties in finding suitable employees; changes in customer tastes and preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends could cause sales to decline; changes in nutrition and food regulation; failure to establish our master production facility; failure to expand production capacity; disruption at our facilities; government regulation of the food industry creating risks and challenges; risk associated with food safety and consumer health; changes in internet and social media search algorithms; risks associated with leasing commercial and retail space; third party reliance for shipping and payment processing; environmental laws; we may not persuade customers of the benefits of paying our prices for higher-quality food; our marketing and advertising strategies may not be successful, which could adversely impact our business; requirements for further financing; the Company may prioritize customer growth and engagement and the customer experience over short-term financial results. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and market conditions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005636/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] SafeStreets Wins HomeSecurityReviews.org Best Home Security of 2021 GRASS VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeSecurityReviews.org, an independent online home security reviews site, announced today that SafeStreets ADT Authorized Provider has been honored for the Best Home Security System of 2021. HomeSecurityReviews.org recognized SafeStreets for having the best home security system, best home security app, and best home security monitoring of the 11 ranked providers. HomeSecurityReviews.org scoured over 100,000 consumer reviews of home security systems, landing on those compiled by independent review portal TrustPilot. Also evaluated were the home security apps on the App Store and Google Play, as well as home security monitoring, by considering monitoring center redundancy and industry experience. "What we found was impressive," said Jerry Allen, Senior Writer at HomeSecurityReviews.org. "SafeStreets topped every metric we looked at. Their customers were most likely to rate them "Great" or "Excellent" of the 11 companies evaluated. And, as an ADT Authorized Provider, SafeStreets leans on ADT's industry-best nine redundant monitoring centers in North America, and the ADT Control app, which topped home securityapp ratings. Those reviews are important, because the smartphone app is now the window into modern home security." Integrity of customer reviews was crucial to the process, with fake online ratings having the power to sabotage many purchase decisions. That's where TrustPilot proved integral. "TrustPilot is an independent collector and evaluator of consumer reviews," said Allen. "They have a staff of over 70 people committed to separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff. That allowed them to remove over two million fake reviews in 2020 alone. We wanted genuine reviews, and we believe TrustPilot had them." "Consumers should question reviews, and we invite them to question ours," Allen continued. "The decisions we made, and the data we used to make them are detailed thoroughly on our site. We hope people will take a look for themselves." SafeStreets ADT Authorized Provider sells and installs ADT-monitored home security systems nationally, with a footprint covering 90% of the U.S. population. They carry over 46,000 customer reviews on TrustPilot, by far the most of any company in this analysis. Over 94% of those reviewers rated them "5 Stars/Excellent." About HomeSecurityReviews.org HomeSecurityReviews.org is an independent home security reviews site that helps consumers cut through the fog of misleading and fraudulent reviews, making purchase decisions easier. Their team is committed to analyzing consumer ratings to help find the Holy Grail of pre-purchase information: what actual users of products and services actually think of what they've purchased, then reporting that information as clearly and compellingly as possible. Contact: Jerry Allen HomeSecurityReviews.org 707-341-0775 321282@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/safestreets-wins-homesecurityreviewsorg-best-home-security-of-2021-301398923.html SOURCE HomeSecurityReviews.org [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Illumio CEO and Co-Founder Andrew Rubin Receives Goldman Sachs Recognition for Entrepreneurship SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Illumio, Inc. , the pioneer and leader of Zero Trust Segmentation, today announced Illumios CEO and co-founder, Andrew Rubin, has been recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Andrew as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event and also awarded him with this honor in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. Innovation doesnt happen just anywhere; it thrives where theres a wide range of thoughts and perspectives, said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders weve chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Andrew as one of this years most intriguing entrepreneurs. Andrew and chief technical officer and co-founder PJ Kirner founded Illumio eight years ago to prevent minor cybersecurity incidents fro becoming real-world disasters with Zero Trust segmentation. In the last fiscal year , Illumio reported the highest number of new customers within a single fiscal year, greater than 100 percent increase in international annual recurring revenue (ARR), and a quarter (Q4) that was the strongest in company history. In June 2021, Illumio secured a $225 million funding round at a $2.75 billion valuation led by Thoma Bravo and supported by Franklin Templeton, funds managed by Hamilton Lane, and Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital. Its an incredible honor to receive this recognition from Goldman Sachs for the fifth time, but its truly a testament to the creativity, ingenuity, and drive of every Illumineer, said Rubin. The relentless onslaught of ransomware attacks has made one thing clear the legacy model of cybersecurity that focuses solely on trying to prevent attackers from breaching your business is broken. The industry needs Illumios approach to keep critical assets safe, even after an initial breach. Illumio helps customers see risk, isolate cyberattacks, and secure their data so organizations can dramatically reduce risk by stopping cyberattacks and ransomware from moving around their IT estate. About Illumio Illumio, the pioneer and market leader of Zero Trust Segmentation, stops breaches from becoming cyber disasters. Illumio Core and Illumio Edge automate policy enforcement to stop cyberattacks and ransomware from spreading across applications, containers, clouds, data centers, and endpoints. By?combining intelligent visibility to detect threats with security enforcement achieved in minutes, Illumio enables the worlds leading organizations to strengthen their cyber resiliency and reduce risk. Contact Information Holly Pyper comms-team@illumio.com 669.800.5000 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Habu and Ibotta Partner to Provide Exclusive Data through Privacy- and Governance-Safe Collaboration to Power Advanced Analytics, Measurement, and Attribution for CPG Companies Habu, the Global Innovator in Data Clean Room Software, today announced its partnership with leading rewards platform and technology company, Ibotta. The partnership enables CPG companies to securely and seamlessly access high-value transaction data in privacy- and governance-safe clean room environments and empowers brands to unlock and accelerate new insights to fuel profile enrichment, journey analysis, and closed-loop attribution. As the industry embraces a more privacy-first approach, brands are looking to accurately measure performance by identifying key partners that offer the robust data and high-value signals needed to enrich consumer profiles and close gaps in the customer journey. Habu's partnership with Ibotta provides data clean room customers with the ability to reimagine measurement by leveraging Ibotta's rich deterministic transaction data (identified by registered email, MAID, and IP address) within Habu's end-to-end marketing applications. Use cases include advanced segmentation and activation, customer journey analysis, measurement, experimentation, and distributed machine learning. The partnership also creates unique possibilities for those that are current Ibotta and/or Habu customers and unlocks brand new opportunities for those tha aren't, allowing all to take full advantage of the value and innovation that Habu and Ibotta can deliver together. "As regulatory shifts impact the acquisition of consumer data, it is critical for CPG companies to access high-quality, consumer-consented transaction signals to complement their own first part data asset to continue operating in this new world," said Matt Kilmartin, Co-Founder and CEO of Habu. "Our partnership with Ibotta provides innovative analytics and measurement solutions that will enable brands to thrive in a cookieless future. Habu is proud to deliver a best-in-class end-to-end solution as we continue to solidify our position as an innovator and leader in data clean room software." Leading CPG companies leverage Habu to safely and securely collaborate around data for advanced measurement, attribution, analytics, and insights. "The combination of Habu's privacy-safe platform and Ibotta's fully compliant, non-cookie based purchase data allows CPG brands to future-proof their consumer marketing efforts with confidence," said Thomas Benedict; SVP Data & Media at Ibotta. "Partners that proactively address regulatory and identity challenges allow CPG brands to focus on what's most important--driving sales and customer loyalty with increased efficiency." For more about Habu's leading data clean room software, visit www.habu.com. About Habu Habu is a global leader in data clean room software, enabling companies to benefit from the value of data without the risk. Habu connects data internally and externally with other departments, partners, customers, and providers in privacy safe and compliant ways for better collaboration, decision making and results. The company is headquartered in San Francisco CA (News - Alert) and Boston, MA. For more information on Habu Data Collaboration solutions visit www.habu.com. About Ibotta Headquartered in Denver, CO, Ibotta ("I bought a...") is a free-to-use cash back rewards platform that has delivered $1 billion in cumulative cash rewards to its users for making purchases in-store, on mobile apps or via websites. Launched in 2012, Ibotta has more than 40 million downloads, is one of the most frequently used shopping platforms in the United States, and offers cash back on purchases at more than 2,700 leading brands and retail partners. Ibotta was named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for the fourth year in a row after debuting on the list in 2018, and the company has also been named as a Top Workplace by The Denver Post four consecutive times. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005215/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of New York Life Insurance Company and Certain Subsidiaries; Upgrades Issuer Credit Ratings of Life Insurance Company of North America and New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of "aaa" (Exceptional) of New York Life Insurance Company and New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation. Additionally, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICRs to "aaa" (Exceptional) from "aa+" (Superior) and affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) of Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) and New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (NYLGICNY). All companies are referred to as New York Life and are headquartered in New York, NY. AM Best also has affirmed the Long-Term ICRs of "aaa" (Exceptional) of New York Life Global Funding and New York Life Funding. Lastly, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) on the funding agreement-backed securities programs, the outstanding notes issued thereunder and the Long-Term IRs on the existing surplus notes of New York Life Insurance Company. The outlook of the Credit Ratings (rating) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the Long- and Short-Term IRs) The ratings reflect New York Life's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management. The Long-Term ICR upgrades of LINA and NYLGICNY and rating affirmations include the addition of these two companies, which were acquired from Cigna Corporation on Dec. 31, 2020. LINA and NYLGICNY focus on the employee benefits segment. The addition of this segment expands the diversification of the group business as a core competency for New York Life, with expectations of management that the expanded business segment will be accretive to earnings, further supporting continued organic capital growth through positive earnings. AM Best expects that these new companies will maintain strategic importance to the parent as early indications are that the financial fundamentals and operations are fully integrated into New York Life. The ratings of the group reflect its ability to maintain capital levels, financial flexibility and earnings while funding a business acquisition during a period of volatile fiancial markets. The company continues to exhibit the ability to absorb, through its balance sheet, continued financial market volatility and credit impairments. As assessed over time, the group's well-diversified asset portfolio has provided protection from credit market impairments during the past rating cycle. The group's very strong operating performance is derived from a diverse revenue base, which has improved as a result of the recent acquisition, providing ample additional protection from financial market volatility. An expanding and diverse profitable book of annuities, life insurance and employee benefits provides support of the New York Life's favorable business profile. The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks: New York Life Funding - "aaa" (Exceptional) program rating New York Life Global Funding - "aaa" (Exceptional) program rating -- "aaa" (Exceptional) on all outstanding notes issued under the program New York Life Insurance Company- -- "aa" (Superior) on $1 billion 5.875% surplus notes, due May 2033 -- "aa" (Superior) on $1 billion 6.75% surplus notes, due November 2039 -- "aa" (Superior) on $1.25 billion 3.75% surplus notes, due May 2050 -- "aa" (Superior) on $1 billion 4.45% surplus notes, due May 2069 The following Short-Term IR has been affirmed: New York Life Capital Corporation - -- AMB-1+ (Strongest) on the commercial paper program This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005720/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Valley Bank Selects Built Technologies to Streamline Construction Finance Management Built, the fastest growing construction finance platform in the U.S., has been selected by Valley Bank to power its construction management solution. Valley Bank is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, with approximately $42 billion in assets. It has a construction loan portfolio of over 700 loans. Built is an early partner of the Future State Operating Model (FSOM) that Valley is developing to enhance automation and efficiency throughout its operations. Built is a cloud-based solution that will be used by Valley, its clients and their designees to eliminate time-consuming, paper-based tasks associated with the construction loan management process, such as document collection and inspections. Clients can digitally request draws and collaborate with key stakeholders through Built. Valley selected Built for its ability to monitor/track various construction loan types and its robust reporting capabilities. Built's software is projected to improve the Bank's funding turnaround times by 25%. "Valley continuously pursues the best of everything for its customers and associates, putting an emphasis on enhncing the customer experience, deepening relationships and leveraging a broader ecosystem," said Robert J. Bardusch, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, Valley. "Built helps us on all of those fronts, and they have a shared passion for excellence. We're proud to partner with Built to deliver a more streamlined, seamless experience for our customers." "Valley is a future-focused, multi-billion-dollar, multi-state commercial lender with an extensive construction portfolio," said Chase Gilbert, CEO of Built. "This requires not only active daily management, but also robust reporting to ensure that it is managing construction risk effectively. The Built platform is designed specifically to meet those needs while providing a truly digital and convenient borrower experience." Valley is hosting a panel session on October 13 at CRETech that includes Amrit Gill, head of partnerships for Built Technologies, titled "Building for Innovation: How Banks are embracing CRETech." About Built Built is the leading provider of construction finance technology. Built connects commercial and consumer construction lenders, property developers, commercial general contractors, residential homebuilders, specialty contractors, title companies, and other critical industry vendors to improve the flow of capital through the construction ecosystem. By connecting all key stakeholders involved in the construction financing process in real-time, the Built platform helps mitigate risk, power faster draws and payments, ensure compliance, and inspire customer loyalty. Built is used by more than 150 of the leading U.S. and Canadian construction lenders and thousands of developers and contractors. For more information, visit www.getbuilt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005722/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Fugue Adds Kubernetes Security Checks to Its SaaS Platform and Open Source Regula Project Fugue, a cloud security SaaS (News - Alert) company, today announced support for Kubernetes security prior to deployment. Using policy as code automation built on the open source Regula policy engine, Fugue provides a unified platform for securing infrastructure as code (IaC) and cloud runtime environments using a single set of policies, saving cloud teams significant time and ensuring consistent policy enforcement across the development life cycle. With this release, organizations can now use Fugue to secure infrastructure as code for Kubernetes, Terraform and AWS CloudFormation. Fugue has also added rules that align with the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark. As a sponsor of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America, the company will be demonstrating Fugue virtually through Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.fugue.co/container-kubernetes. "Engineering teams are increasingly using a mix of container orchestration, virtual machines, and serverless across cloud providers, and using different policies for everything wastes a tremendous amount of time and invites vulnerabilities to lip through the cracks," said Josh Stella, co-founder and CEO of Fugue. "Teams need a unified way to secure everything at every stage of the development life cycle, and with support for Kubernetes, they can secure all of the infrastructure as code and apply those policies to their running cloud environments." Fugue provides centralized IaC security management for cloud resource configurations, container orchestration, and containers. Teams can use Fugue to establish IaC security visibility across their organization. Fugue's open source Regula policy engine provides tooling for engineers to check their IaC configurations locally and for developing and testing custom policies, including those that can check for multi-resource vulnerabilities. Fugue and Regula use Open Policy Agent (OPA), the open standard for policy as code. OPA is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) graduated project. The Fugue SaaS platform and Regula project include hundreds of pre-built policies mapped to the CIS Foundations Benchmarks for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google (News - Alert) Cloud, and Kubernetes. Additionally, Fugue provides compliance mappings for SOC 2, NIST 800-53, GDPR, PCI, HIPAA, ISO 27001, CSA CCM, CIS Controls, CIS Docker, and the Fugue Best Practices Framework to catch misconfigurations that compliance may miss. The Fugue API and CLI are first-class citizens in the product, enabling engineers to build automated IaC checks into Git workflows and CI/CD pipelines to prevent misconfiguration vulnerabilities in deployments. Unlike with other cloud security products, teams can use those same policies to ensure cloud runtime environments stay secure post-deployment, including cloud resources deployed outside of IaC and CI/CD pipelines. About Fugue Fugue is a cloud security SaaS company enabling regulated companies such as AT&T (News - Alert) , Red Ventures, and SAP NS2 to ensure continuous cloud security and earn the confidence and trust of customers, business leaders, and regulators. Fugue empowers engineering and security teams to automate cloud policy enforcement and move faster than ever before - without breaking the rules. Since 2013, Fugue has pioneered the use of policy-based cloud security automation and earned the patent on policy as code for cloud infrastructure. For more information, connect with Fugue at www.fugue.co, GitHub, LinkedIn and Twitter. All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Tags: Fugue, cloud security, SaaS, infrastructure as code, IaC, unified policy engine, policy as code, cloud, Open Policy Agent, runtime security, Josh Stella, KubeCon, CloudNativeCon, Kubernetes, open source, Regula, cloud security automation View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005422/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Top 10 Tech Unicorn Themes Thematic Research Report 2021 - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Tech Unicorns - Top 10 Themes in 2021 - Thematic Research" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The term unicorn describes a rare, mythical creature, but unicorns (privately-held companies worth $1bn or more) are no longer rare. There are currently 826 unicorns, of which 751 are tech unicorns. Key Highlights In early 2020, there was a pandemic-induced slowdown in new tech unicorn births. However, 2021 promises to be a record year, with 228 new tech unicorns created in H1 2021 alone. Half of today's tech unicorns are operating in the ecommerce, cloud, or fintech themes. Another 30% operate in the AI, healthtech, edtech, big data, cybersecurity, digital media, and blockchain themes. The US is home to half of the tech unicorns today, while China hosts 22% of them. The US hosts most of the cloud, fintech, healthtech, big data, and cybersecurity unicorns. China leads in AI unicorns. Tiger Global is the leading ivestor in tech unicorns. Sequoia Capital (News - Alert) and Softbank follow closely behind. All three have a strong portfolio in top three themes: ecommerce, cloud, and fintech. Scope This report looks at the top 10 themes in which today's tech unicorns operate. It includes a list of all the current unicorns for each theme. It also provides details of the current top 10 unicorns operating in each theme, including valuation, funding, country, and description. In addition, we include the geographical distribution of the current tech unicorns for each theme, the top investors by number of investments in the current unicorns, the unicorns which we expect to exit the club in the next two years, and a list of start-ups that we expect will soon become unicorns. Reasons to Buy The number of tech unicorns is growing rapidly. This report will help you understand why and identify the themes that are driving this growth. It highlights the top 10 tech themes in which today's unicorns operate. These include ecommerce, cloud, fintech, AI, healthtech, edtech, big data, cybersecurity, digital media, and blockchain. It includes predictions on which unicorns might IPO soon and analysis of start-ups that we expect to achieve unicorn status. In addition, it provides analysis of the leading investors in unicorns, including a look at the themes in which they are investing. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary How many tech unicorns exist today? Where do today's tech unicorns live? What are the top 10 unicorn themes? Who are the top investors in tech unicorns today? Glossary For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1kkpjq View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005748/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Ohi Announces $19 Million Series A Funding Round Ohi, the next-generation instant commerce platform that enables brands to meet their customers' expectations of superfast delivery in under two hours, today announced the completion of a $19 million Series A funding round. Ohi will use the funds to expand its US operations to enable near-instant delivery of everything from CPG products to luxury goods in 25 markets. The funding round was led by Palm Drive Capital, a New York-based venture capital and growth equity fund, with participation from JAM Fund, a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm led by internet entrepreneur Justin Mateen. Health-Ade, SolaWave and Untuckit are among the beverage, CPG, beauty and DTC brands using Ohi's platform to increase conversion, customer satisfaction and repeat purchases. "At Ohi, we believe that 'instant' is the future of commerce, and we are building a world in which consumers can get anything from their favorite brands in less than an hour," said Ben Jones (News - Alert) , Founder and CEO of Ohi. "COVID-19 has accelerated this shift in consumers' expectations of immediacy to the point that many now view two-day delivery as unacceptably slow. We want to provide all brands, regardless of size, with a best-in-class instant commerce experience while selling through their own website, allowing them to retain control of their brand story, data and customer relationships." Additional investors in the round included Flybridge Capital; Afore Capital; RiverPark Ventures; Ryder Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Ryder System, Inc.; Peter Rahal, Founder of RXBAR; Edward Shenderovich, Founder of Knotel; and Electric Feel. Ohi's network of microwarehouses enables midmarket DTC and enterprise brands to offer powerful post-purchase experiences from teir own websites, with Amazon Prime-level delivery speeds of under two hours. Brands that partner with Ohi realize significant ROI via improved customer satisfaction, an average increase in conversion of 28% and increases of up to 120% in repeat purchase rates. Consumers who order with Ohi have up to 35% higher LTV for brands than those who choose a UPS/FedEx shipping option. Ohi's growing network of microfulfillment centers has quickly become the go-to solution for brands across the beverage, CPG and beauty categories, among others. Currently serving New York, Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ohi will use the new investment to expand throughout the US, with a near-term goal of operating in 25 cities by the end of 2022. Ohi will also use the funding to expand its product offering to include an option for delivery in under 20 minutes. "In the last year, the e-commerce market has seen significant growth driven mainly by small and medium-sized companies, despite them making up just 32% of the market," said Nick Hsu, Partner at Palm Drive Capital. "We are starting to see a major shift towards instant delivery play out more broadly across the DTC market space, and Ohi has effectively captured the post-purchase customer experience the same way that Shopify has created a renowned pre-purchase one." "It's no secret that the future is instant," said Justin Mateen, Principal at JAM Fund. "Ohi has the vision to completely transform the post-purchase space, enabling instant commerce for everyone, everywhere, without depending on large marketplaces. Ohi is led by an inspired and driven leader, and I'm proud to have invested in the team shaping the future of commerce." Since closing the funding round in April, Ohi has been building a team of experts from across the e-commerce and fulfillment industries. Russ Griffin, formerly VP of Sales at BigCommerce and ShipStation, joined as CRO; Rodrigo Silveira, a veteran of Dematic and Flexport, joined as Head of Engineering; and Jarrod Lovell, who ran network development at Flexe, joined as Head of Platform. The team has grown to more than 55 people, with many Amazon and Uber alumni filling out the ranks. For more information, visit Ohi.com. About Ohi: Ohi is the leading instant commerce solution for direct-to-consumer brands looking to grow their business by enabling powerful post-purchase experiences. Leveraging its proprietary, data-driven inventory management technology and robust microwarehouse platform to forward position inventory within city centers, Ohi enables brands to offer a premium, environmentally responsible, instant delivery experience to their customers. About Palm Drive Capital: Palm Drive Capital is a New York-based venture capital and growth equity fund that invests in leading software and internet companies with a US focus. Since their launch in 2014, they've espoused the notion that innovators are everywhere. They also believe that the most successful founders are visionary and principled. Palm Drive has a unique combination of strong Silicon Valley roots and New York financial discipline. In addition to its investments on the West Coast, Palm Drive has a presence in emerging US tech centers including the Northeast, the Midwest, and the South. With backing from top entrepreneurs and institutions, Palm Drive also has an expansive and differentiated network that spans across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. For more information, please visit www.palmdrive.vc. About JAM Fund: JAM Fund is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm investing in visionary founders who are focused on disrupting large spaces, redefining products and services that are core to our lives. For more information, please visit https://justinmateen.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005701/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Esusu Honored by Goldman Sachs for Entrepreneurship at 2021 Builders + Innovators Summit HARLEM, N.Y., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is recognizing Esusus leadership at the upcoming Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Esusus Co-Founder Abbey Wemimo, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021. In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics, and business leaders as well as resident scholars. Innovation doesnt happen just anywhere; it thrives where theres a wide range of thoughts and perspectives, said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders weve chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Abbey Wemimo as one of this years most intriguing entrepreneurs. Over 45 million people in the United States are credit invisible and struggling to build their credit profiles. Abbey Wemimo and Samir Goel co-founded Esusu to solve this problem based on their personal experiences of being credit ivisible when their families immigrated to the United States. When they realized that rent does not count towards credit building despite being the single largest monthly expense for most renters, they decided to build a solution. Esusu ensures that renters get credit where credit is due. Esusu is honored to receive this award from our partner Goldman Sachs. We are particularly proud to see Abbeys purpose-driven leadership recognized alongside other entrepreneurs transforming the status quo and shaping the future of business, said Samir Goel, Co-Founder of Esusu. Esusus participation at this years Builders + Innovators Summit provides a unique opportunity to amplify and accelerate our vision to unleash the power of data to bridge the racial wealth gap. Prior to starting Esusu, Abbey Wemimo founded Clean Water for Everyone, a global social venture providing affordable access to clean water for 250,000+ people in six countries. He also founded a data analytics company designed to gather machine-readable data on NGOs operating in Africa which was acquired in 2014. Previously, he was a mergers and acquisitions consultant at PwC and worked with Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and the European Commission. About Esusu Esusu is the leading financial technology platform that leverages data solutions to empower residents and improve property performance. Esusu's rent reporting platform captures rental payment data and reports it to credit bureaus to boost credit scores. This allows renters to build and establish their credit scores while helping property owners increase revenue, lower evictions, and fill vacancies powered by differentiated data and insights. Founded in 2018, Esusu reaches over two million rental units across all 50 states in the United States. Learn more at www.esusurent.com and follow us on Facebook @myesusu and on Twitter @getesusu. Press Contact: Chanel Cathey Esusu / CJC Insights chanel@cjcinsights.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Building Hope Provides Financial Advisory Services, Helps Babcock Neighborhood School Secure Funding for Expansion Project Building Hope, a non-profit foundation dedicated to creating high-quality K-12 charter school opportunities for students through its expertise in real estate, finance and operational services, today announced its partner school - Babcock Neighborhood School in Punta Gorda, Fla. - secured funding for its expansion project that will add facilities and create an integrated campus serving 1,043 students in grades K-12. Building Hope served as a financial advisor in connection with the transaction. Babcock Neighborhood School offers students in southeast Charlotte County a place-based, environmentally focused "greenSTEAM" education program that integrates science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics within a holistic learning environment. Last year, Babcock served 490 students in grades K-9. Babcock will continue to add high school grades and ultimately serve 1,043 K-12 students. The recently secured funds will be used to finance the acquisition of land and construction of additional education facilities. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity for our students to have the full experience of our greenSTEAM education," said Babcock Neighborhood School Principal Shannon Treece."I can't imagine going through this process without Building Hope by our side. They helped to ensure that we secured the best possible deal, so we can be confident tht we are operating on solid financial ground." Babcock High School will be located immediately south of the existing K-8 site and will consist of approximately 43,000 square feet of facilities on nearly 1.65 acres of land. The building, which is expected to be completed next summer, will include 26 classrooms, science labs, assemble areas, administrative offices and a media room. "Growing a successful school like Babcock benefits an entire community, and lenders are eager to support quality charter schools," said President of Building Hope Services Richard Moreno. "We help the schools find the financing mix that is the most affordable, so they can put more dollars towards education." Building Hope also helped Babcock Neighborhood School secure financing for its original building in 2018. Building Hope helps charter schools identify, finance and build facilities customized to schools' needs. The organization also provides support services that allow school administrators to keep their focus on educating students. For more information about how Building Hope helps charter schools nationwide with facilities, financing, and operational services, visit www.buildinghope.org. About Building Hope Building Hope is a non-profit foundation created to support education and public charter schools. Since 2003, Building Hope's purpose has been to identify and finance viable facilities so that all students have access to a quality K-12 education. Building Hope has grown the capacity of charter schools nationwide by providing facilities, financial, and operational services so that schools can focus on and devote more resources to educating students in underserved communities. Building Hope has supported 300 charter school projects and 150,000 students in 20 states and the District of Columbia, by providing more than $363 million in direct loans, credit enhancements, and equity investments to support $1.9 billion in school construction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005801/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Flux Raises $12M to Reimagine Collaborative Electronics Design Flux, makers of the first fully collaborative, in-browser platform for ??electronics design and engineering, announced that it has raised $12 million in a round led by Austin McChord's Outsiders Fund. Additional investors include Bain Capital Ventures, 8VC, Liquid2VC; as well as select investors such as Tom Preston Werner, Founder and Former CEO of GitHub. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005803/en/ The funding will be used to further expand the development team, build additional features, and support marketing efforts. Although Flux's development began in 2019, the platform's launch comes at a critical time: hardware teams are overwhelmingly required to work remotely while chip shortages have simultaneously spurred organizations to adopt more agile design processes. Flux was founded by Matthias Wagner, Christian Blank, and Lance Cassidy; whose collective experience includes hardware and software projects within Apple, Facebook (News - Alert) , and NASA. Flux's browser-based platform offers instant collaboration and design access for electronics hardware designers, streamlining inefficient processes that have plagued the industry for decades. "I was fortunate to serve on teams behind some of the world's most influential personal computers," said Joanna Hoffman (News - Alert) , a Flux investor and an original member of the Apple Macintosh team under Steve Jobs. "Yet, even though today's hardware has evolved exponentially, the software that teams use to design electronics hasn't changed very much. Collaboration with electrical engineers is still as clunky and inefficient as it was nearly 40 years ago. That's why I'm so excited about Flux - finally, someone has a fresh vision on how to fix it." Another standout feature of Flux is its Community Library, which enables the storage and sharing of open-sourc parts, simulation models, and schematics created by its user community. Much like GitHub, engineers never have to start a project from scratch again and, accordingly, the former CEO of GitHub is an investor in Flux. "Flux is building upon many of the ideas that made GitHub successful and applying them to the hardware industry," said Preston-Werner. "Making it easy to collaborate and build off the work of others will accelerate hardware innovation." Flux can run in any modern web browser and requires no software downloads or licenses. The platform features a programmable simulator that eliminates the need for repeated downloads and uploads into cumbersome, more resource-intensive simulators. Combined with its real-time collaboration tools, version control, and automated part-sourcing, Flux helps teams work together seamlessly by eliminating the hurdles and work stoppages that have afflicted engineers for decades. "In my experience building hardware, I've found that designing a specific part or subassembly is only half the battle," explained Jonathan Ng, a Flux investor and product manager at Nest and Waymo. "The real challenge is getting all of it to work together with an entire team of engineers approaching the problem from different angles, varying expertise, multiple time zones, and in different locations. Flux is building the hardware collaboration tool I wish we had." "The world has changed dramatically since the first commercial chip developers opened shop in the 1970s and 80s. Today's chip shortage is just the latest sign of that," explained Wagner, who serves as Flux's CEO. "The supply chain challenges we're seeing now aren't just a pandemic problem, they stem from decades of inattention to the design process itself. We built Flux to finally address these issues and we feel very fortunate to have found so many incredible investors who share our vision." In addition to Werner, Ng, and Hoffman, investors include Anne Raimondi, Board member at Asana, Patreon, and Gusto; Lenny Rachitsky, Product Growth Lead at Airbnb & Product Management Guru; Andy Szybalski, Design Lead at Uber Eats; Alain Rossmann, founding member of the original Apple (News - Alert) Macintosh team; Seth Bannon, Founding Partner at fifty.vc; Adam Lisagor, CEO, Sandwich Video; Andy Berman, Founder & CEO at Nanit & Vowel; Lucy Guo, Founder at Scale AI; Brian Norgard, CPO at Tinder; Chris Schaepe; Drew Moxon; Philip Berner; and others. To sign up for Flux, visit https://www.flux.ai/. About Flux Founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, Flux created the first electronics design tool that enables instant, browser-based collaboration for electronics hardware designers. The platform offers the first programmable simulator, version control, instant part sourcing, and unblocks projects with the help of its open-source Community Library. Flux facilitates seamless product development and helps electronics teams to get to market faster. Learn more at www.flux.ai. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005803/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Chargeurs Appoints Gianluca Tanzi as CEO of Both Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies and Chargeurs Luxury Materials The Chargeurs Group, the global leader in temporary surface protection, garment interlinings, technical textiles and Nativa brand Merino wool, today announced that it has appointed Gianluca Tanzi as CEO of Chargeurs' textiles division, comprising Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies and Chargeurs Luxury Materials. Tanzi brings more than two decades of global operations, manufacturing and supply chain experience spanning fashion, textiles, eyewear, footwear and accessories from his time at Luxottica, United Colors of Benetton, Geox and other companies. The appointment is effective October 11, 2021, and Tanzi will report to Chargeurs Chairman and CEO Michael Fribourg and Chargeurs Director of Group Performance Gustave Gauquelin. "As we continue to prioritize digitalization, efficiency and sustainability, we're extremely pleased to welcome Gianluca Tanzi to Chargeurs Group. Mr. Tanzi will confirm the CFT-PCC leadership and cutting-edge market advantage in green interlining solutions and performance material technologies and will accelerate the commercial synergies between our inner component business and our Nativa wool business," said Michael Fribourg, Chairman and CEO of Chargeurs. "We're confident that his vast international leadership experience and deep operational and supply chain expertise across textiles and fashion will enable us to further build on our recent momentum and success. We also extend our deep thanks to Audrey Petit, who has served so successfully as interim CEO of Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies since January 1, 2021." The copany stated that Audrey Petit will fully resume her duties as Group Chief Strategy and Diversification Officer and that Federico Paullier will remain in his role as Managing Director of Chargeurs Luxury Materials. "Chargeurs has been a highly respected industry leader for more than 140 years and I'm thrilled to join the company at this crucial moment, when we see such a significant opportunity to expand our textiles business globally," said Gianluca Tanzi, CEO of Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies and Chargeurs Luxury Materials. "I look forward to working with both the Chargeurs*PCC and Luxury Materials teams to take the business to new levels of growth and to continue to build a more sustainable fashion industry through pioneering technologies." Tanzi is a highly experienced global executive who has designed and executed successful retail, wholesale and e-commerce strategies for textile, fashion and accessories companies in Europe and the US. He previously served as Chief Operations Officer and member of the board of directors of Brooks Brothers, where he achieved significant cost reductions, incorporated new technical innovations from Italy and managed the company's Made to Measure division. He served concurrently as CEO of Southwick, an American tailored clothing brand under the Brooks Brothers umbrella. Tanzi has also served as COO of Italian shoe and clothing brand Geox, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Luxottica Group and EVP of Supply Chain for United Colors of Benetton. Early in his career, he spent 14 years in general management roles in some of the top textile mills in Italy. Tanzi holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and Management from the Polytechnic University of Milan. ABOUT CHARGEURS CHARGEURS is a world leader of niche technologies and services, offering integrated, high value-added solutions to its B2B and B2C customers. Active in 90 countries with nearly 2,500 employees, the Group, whose global signature is High Emotion Technology, develops its manufacturing and technological expertise across a range of sectors including premium materials protection, fashion and luxury goods, museum services and healthcare. As the Group begins a new chapter in its history of nearly 150 years, the Leap Forward 2025 strategic plan is aimed at seizing market opportunities linked to developments in production, distribution and consumption methods and widespread demand for sustainable manufacturing solutions. Recognized for their highly responsive, agile manufacturing and their global footprint, Chargeurs' many areas of expertise are intended to support its profitable and sustainable growth. In 2020, the Group generated revenue of 822m. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005811/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Blend and Frost Bank Extend Partnership into Mortgage, Consumer Banking, and Deposits Blend (NYSE: BLND), a leader in cloud banking software, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Frost Bank, a Texas-chartered bank based in San Antonio, to further the bank's digital transformation strategy and deliver seamless customer experiences. Frost Bank first partnered with Blend on home equity loans and lines of credit, and will now carry the technology through to drive efficiency and simplify processes in its mortgage, consumer banking, and deposits business lines. One of the 50 largest U.S. banks, Frost Bank is the highest ranking bank in the state of Texas for customer satisfaction in retail banking according to J.D. Power and is recognized by the Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Award for its superior service, advice and performance to small-business and middle-market banking clients. The bank's dedication to supporting its customers' financial journeys from start to finish makes Frost Bank an ideal partner to support a variety of financial needs. "Frost Bank is bringing its industry-leading customer service to mortgage lending, and working with a highly regarded company like Blend will allow us to be involved in the entire process from start to finish so that we can provide a great experience to our customers," said Frost Chairman and CEO Phil Green. This expanded partnership will create consistent and streamlined customer experiences across all consumer banking products and services, and allow customers to set up seamless auto-payment options with deposit account openings on a single platform. ??Frost Bank will now also be able to provide a mortgage solution to their customers in a modern, digital way, allowing the bank to keep pace with customers' technological expectations. As a result, loan officers will experience improved efficiency with a single digital portal from which they can operate, allowing them to spend more time providing informed guidance to their customers based on their individual financial situation. Nima Ghamsari, co-founder and head of Blend, said, "As we work to build the future of financial services, it's critical we partner with firms like Frost Bank that have a continued commitment to customer experience and digital transformation. This partnership is a testament to the fact that digitization and technology are imperative when it comes to advancing how financial services firms serve their customers, and being able to offer digital, in-person, and hybrid solutions is key to building long-lasting consumer relationships." For more information on how Blend partners with financial institutions, please visit blend.com. About Blend Blend's cloud banking platform is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product, from application to close. Our technology is used by Wells Fargo (News - Alert) , U.S. Bank, and over 310 other financial services firms to acquire more customers, increase productivity, and deepen relationships. Through our software, we enable our customers to process an average of more than $5 billion in loans per day, helping consumers get into homes and gain access to the capital they need to lead better lives. To learn more, visit blend.com. About Frost Bank Frost is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company with $46.7 billion in assets at June 30, 2021. One of the 50 largest U.S. banks by asset size, Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services to businesses and individuals in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost has helped Texans with their financial needs during three centuries. For more information, visit www.frostbank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005818/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Quantum Health Named One Of 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned And -Led Companies For The Tenth Year DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Health, the healthcare industry's first and leading consumer navigation and care coordination company, announced that it has been named one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies by the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO). 2021 marks Quantum Health's tenth year on the list. The WPO award, now in its fourteenth year, recognizes companies from various industries representing a combined $4.1 billion in revenue and collectively employing more than 24,000 people. Since founding the consumer healthcare navigation industry in 1999, Quantum Health has grown steadily, with over 1,400 employees serving hundreds of top employers and more than two million plan participants. "Healthcare is incredibly complex, costly and confusing. It's very difficult for people trying to find their way through this extremely complicated landscape, particularly when they are overloaded, stressed or sick. I founded Quantum Health on the belief that no one should have to navigate the healthcare experience alone," said Kara Trott, founder and chairman of the board. "We are honored to be once again joining the 50 fastest-growing companies, and it's a testament to the essential work that we do every day." Quantum Health navigation and care coordination simplifies and optimizes the healthcare benefits experience for self-insured employers across the U.S. It helps employees and their families understand and use their healthcare benefits more effectively, giving them an outstanding overall experience that leads to more engagement and better outcomes. In turn, these same benefits positively impact employers, who also realize proven ROI, consistent and significant cost savings, and reduced healthcare cost trends. "Healthcare is only getting more complicated, and we firmly believe that our unique, consumer-first navigation and care coordination is more essential than ever," said Trott. "I am incredibly proud of our talented teams, and it's thanks to theirexpertise and commitment that we continue to grow and thrive. Our focus has always beenand will always beon delivering remarkable results for our members and our clients." As the company continues to grow, it correspondingly expands its teams and leadership bench, recently adding Zane Burke as its new CEO, as Trott focuses on her roles as founder and chairman of the board. "Our goal is to serve even more people and provide even more value, and Zane is the perfect addition to our leadership team as we launch our next phase of growth," said Trott. "More than ever, people need the empathy and expertise our Quantum Health Warriors provide, and by expanding on how our solutions support our members' healthcare journeys, we'll be able to help even more people and continue to deliver substantial and sustained results." About the 2021 Women Presidents' Organization and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Awards For 14 years, the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) has ranked the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies in the U.S. The companies on this year's 50 Fastest list span industries from consumer products to STEM-related fields. To qualify for the ranking, businesses must be privately held, woman-owned or led, and must have reached annual revenues of at least $500,000 in each of the past five years. All eligible companies are ranked according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth. The winners were honored during a ceremony last week at the WPO Annual Conference in Nashville, TN. About Quantum Health Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Health's proprietary Real-Time Intercept model identifies opportunities for early intervention in a member's healthcare journey, resulting in better engagement, outcomes and cost efficiencies. The company was founded in 1999, is based in Dublin, Ohio and is backed by Great Hill Partners L.P. and Warburg Pincus LLC. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, Ernst & Young's Regional Entrepreneur of the Year, the Stevie Awards' Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and a Great Place to Work by FORTUNE Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. The Women Presidents' Organization has ranked Quantum Health as one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. Columbus Business First has honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work. To learn more about the company, visit www.Quantum-Health.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact: Susan Simkins Corporate Communications Susan.Simkins@Quantum-Health.com 800-257-2038 x13494 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-health-named-one-of-50-fastest-growing-women-owned-and--led-companies-for-the-tenth-year-301399385.html SOURCE Quantum Health [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] New Analysis from Global Industry Analysts Reveals Robust Growth for Construction Robots, with the Market to Reach $218.7 Million Worldwide by 2026 SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new market study published by Global Industry Analysts Inc., (GIA) the premier market research company, today released its report titled "Construction Robots - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics". The report presents fresh perspectives on opportunities and challenges in a significantly transformed post COVID-19 marketplace. FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 9; Released: April 2021 Executive Pool: 353 Companies: 28 - Players covered include Advanced Construction Robotics, Inc.; Alpine Sales & Rental Corp.; Apis Cor; Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI); Beijing Borui Intelligent Control Technology Co. Ltd.; Brokk, Inc.; Conjet AB; Construction Robotics; Cybe Construction BV; Cyberdyne, Inc.; Ekso Bionics; Fastbrick Robotics Ltd.; Fujita Corporation; Giant Hydraulic Tech Co., Ltd.; Husqvarna AB; Komatsu Ltd.; MX3D B.V.; nLink AS; TopTec Spezialmaschinen GmbH; Ying Chuang Building Tech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Winsun) and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Application (Public Infrastructure, Commercial & Residential Buildings, Nuclear Dismantling & Demolition, Other Applications); Automation (Semi-Autonomous, Fully Autonomous); Type (Traditional Robot, Robotic Arm, Exoskeleton) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Construction Robots Market to Reach $218.7 Milion by 2026 US$87.4 Million in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$218.7 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.4% over the analysis period. Traditional Robot, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 15.2% CAGR and reach US$140.1 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Robotic Arm segment is readjusted to a revised 16.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $30.7 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $38.3 Million by 2026 The Construction Robots market in the U.S. is estimated at US$30.7 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$38.3 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 15.8% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 14.5% and 14.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 12.1% CAGR. Exoskeleton Segment to Reach US$22.8 Million by the year 2026 In the global Exoskeleton segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 21.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$5.6 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$21.8 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: ZA@StrategyR.com LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media Info411@strategyr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-analysis-from-global-industry-analysts-reveals-robust-growth-for-construction-robots-with-the-market-to-reach-218-7-million-worldwide-by-2026--301397778.html SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Pozavarovalnica Sava d.d. AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "a" (Excellent) of Pozavarovalnica Sava d.d. (Sava Re) (Slovenia), the operating holding company of the Sava Re group. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Sava Re's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). Sava Re's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), liquid investment portfolio, prudent reserving and good internal capital generation collectively contribute to an overall balance sheet assessment of very strong. Additionally, the company exhibits low reliance on reinsurance and sound financial flexibility, with access to both equity and debt markets. Sava Re has a track record of generating strong and stable operating results, indicated by a five-year (2016-2020) weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 12.5% (as calculated by AM Best). Consistent reporting of operating profits over the past five years has been driven by sound life and non-life underwriting performance, supplemented by healthy investment income. At year-end 2020, the company reported a combined ratio of 93.9% with a five-year average combined ratio 93.8% (as calculated by AM Best). The 2020 result was negatively impacted by EUR 10.8 million in COVID-19-related losses; however, this was offset by lower claims frequency in some lines of business, particularly motor. The group originates approximately 71% of its non-life gross written premiums in Slovenia where its leading competitive position and prudent underwiting helps generate strong and relatively stable underwriting earnings. Sava Re benefits from a strong position in its core domestic market of Slovenia, where it is the second largest player and holds an approximately 20% market share in terms of gross written premiums. The group's insurance business is dominated by premiums written in Slovenia; however, the company has been actively expanding in the West Balkan markets. AM Best expects to see further geographical diversification in the medium term in both the direct and reinsurance segments, as the group continues to prudently develop its position in the international reinsurance market. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005894/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Harris Williams Advises Vantage Elevator Solutions on its Pending Majority Sale to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it is serving as lead financial advisor to Vantage Elevator Solutions (Vantage), a portfolio company of Golden Gate Capital, on its pending majority sale to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'). As part of the transaction, Vantage's current owner, Golden Gate Capital, will retain a significant minority ownership stake in the company. Vantage is a leading North American elevator component manufacturer, providing a broad portfolio of parts and components used in elevator systems, including door operators, traction machines, and controllers, among others. The transaction is being led by Tim Webb, Eric Logue, Patrick McNulty, Ty Denoncourt, Chuck Walter and Matt Crisafi of the Harris Williams Industrials Group. "We are very excited to be working with the Vantage team and Golden Gate Capital" said Tim Webb, a managing director at Harris Williams. "Ron Cauchi, CEO of Vantage, and the rest of his team, in partnership with Golden Gate Capital, have built a premier industrial platform. We look forward to following their continued success." "Ontario Teachers' is a great partner for Vantage and Golden Gate Capital," said Eric Logue, a managing director at Harris Williams. "The stability of the platform, coupled with attractive growth opportunities and a great management team, create a very unique opportunity in today's market." "This transaction represents another marquee deal for the Harris Williams Industrials Group," said Patrick McNulty, a managing director at Harris Williams. "We continue to work with world class platforms, helping identify new partners for the next stage of growth." Vantage is one of North America's leading independent manufacturers of elevator components and systems for new equipment applications, equipment upgrade projects and service replacement parts. Vantage is comprised of seven business units including GAL Manufacturing Company and GAL Canada; Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corporation; Elevator Controls Corporation; Courion (News - Alert) ; Bore-Max; and Thames Valley Controls. Through its brands, Vantage supplies almost all electro-mechanical devices used in contemporary elevators. Vantage sells its products to a diverse range of customer types including hundreds of independent elevator contractors, in addition to several well-known multi-national elevator companies. Founded in 1927, the Vantage group employs approximately 1,000 staff in multiple locations across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $19 billion in cumulative committed capital. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Active Minerals, ANGUS, Antylia Scientific and Covia. Ontario Teachers' is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with C$227.7 billion ($180.7 billion) in net assets (all figures of June 30, 2021 unless noted). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region offices are located in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East and Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as of January 1, 2021, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 331,000 active and retired teachers. Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The Harris Williams Industrials Group has experience across a variety of sectors, including advanced manufacturing; building products; chemicals and specialty materials; industrial technology; and packaging. For more information on the firm's Industrials Group and other recent transactions, visit the Industrials Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005896/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Improving Business Performance: Incenter LLC Showcases Solutions for Mortgage Bankers at MBA Annual Convention, Booth 214 Incenter LLC, a family of companies that help mortgage bankers optimize business performance, will showcase their latest services and solutions at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Annual Convention and Expo, October 17-20 in San Diego, at booth 214. Facing new opportunities within the purchase market, as well as challenges from foreclosures, defaults, and natural disasters, lenders are turning to Incenter to help them streamline cumbersome processes, remove delays and backlogs, and scale up to generate new revenues. Incenter's Enterprise Business Development team will be meeting with executives to discuss their goals and challenges. Moreover, individuals who visit booth 214 will learn about specific Incenter technologies and services to help them compete. A sampling includes: gents National Title Insurance Company: REalSearch instant title Boston National Title Agency LLC: End-to-End Default Title Lifecycle Management Services (from foreclosure to REO disposition) CampusDoor: Microloans and Student Loan in a Box (News - Alert) (private loan refi's with a secondary market) Incenter Appraisal Management: RemoteVal remote appraisal inspections Incenter Marketing: Branding, marketing and public relations Incenter Mortgage Advisors: eMSR best execution and trading platform Incenter Servicing Solutions: Title services, remote inspections, MSR advisory and insurance Incenter Insurance Solutions: REO buyers, lender placed ( LPI (News - Alert) ), residential investment property, and nonstandard homeowners' insurance About Incenter LLC Incenter ideates and deploys innovative solutions for optimizing business performance in the mortgage and specialty finance industries. The company is based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and employs over 1,600 professionals across its sub-brands. For more information, please visit incenterms.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005918/en/ [October 13, 2021] EQUITY ALERT: ROSEN, A TOP RANKED LAW FIRM, Encourages Vipshop Holdings Limited Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - VIPS WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS) between March 22, 2021 and March 29, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 13, 2021. SO WHAT: If you purchased Vipshop securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Vipshop class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2178.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 13, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its prctice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley sold a large amount of Vipshop shares during the Class Period while in possession of material non-public information about Archegos Capital Management (at the time a family office with $10 billion under management) and its need to fully liquidate its position in Vipshop because of margin call pressure. As a result of these sales, the defendants in the case, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, avoided billions in losses combined. To join the Vipshop class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2178.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter (News - Alert) : https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook (News - Alert) : https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005919/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] RBC Gives $1M to Concordia University in Support of Internships for Underserved Students and Co-op Placements at Non-Profits A $1-million gift from RBC to Concordia University will strengthen Canada's first university-led internship program for students from historically underserved backgrounds and will help students who seek non-profit sector experience. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005921/en/ Beat the Odds student interns Sevda Bostanci, undergraduate student at the John Molson School of Business and Fawaz Halloum, undergraduate student at the Faculty of Arts and Science. (Photo: Business Wire) The donation to the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen. Now will support Beat the Odds, run by Concordia's Experiential Learning Office, and the Non-Profit Sector Internships Program offered by the Institute for Co-operative Education (Co-op). "RBC's support helps our university meet its objective to provide every student with at least one experiential learning opportunity," says Concordia President Graham Carr. "This gift also accelerates a novel program that encourages students on the margins to succeed beyond university as well as those who wish to acquire experience at non-profit and grassroots community organizations." Nadine Renaud-Tinker, president, Quebec Headquarters at RBC, says: "RBC is thrilled to continue its unique partnership with Concordia and to contribute to the university's experiential learning and diversity, equity and inclusion priorities. We look forward to seeing these innovative programs positively impact scores of students for years to come." Over four years, RBC Foundation's gift will support 40 annual internships through Beat the Odds as well as nine annual internships through the Co-op's Non-Profit Sector Internships program. Piloted by Concordia's Experiential Learning Office in the summer of 2020, Beat the Odds bolsters students who stand to benefit most from paid professional experience in their field of study. The program was created to counter systemic barriers that reduce opportunities for students from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds or communities. WATCH: Beat the Odds student interns describe the value of the program. "The Beat the Odds internships funded by RBC will help level the playing field," says Nadia Bhuiyan, BEng 95, vice-provost of partnerships and experiential learning at Concordia. "RBC's support will promote inclusiveness and address challenges often encountered by international, Black and Indigenous students, refugees, peoples of colour, students with significant financial challenges, students who are parents and students with disabilities." Sevda Bostanci, a Human Resource Management student at the John Molson School of Business, says that her Beat the Odds internship made a big difference: "I had a wonderful experience at the Concordia University Student Parents Centre, where I was given plenty of hands-on opportunities to apply knowledge acquired in the classroom. I came away inspired, motivated and ready for the next step on my career path." Non-profit sector internships supported by RBC at the Institute for Co-operative Education will strengthen a program that has allowed Concordia students to go beyond the classroom and the working world over the last four decades. WATCH: How support from RBC will advance Co-op at Concordia. "Every year, more than 3,500 students across 45 undergraduate and graduate programs benefit from four to 16 months of on-the-job education," says Claude Martel, BA 85, MA 92, PhD 09, director of Concordia's Co-op. "We thank RBC for empowering our university to connect more students with work-integrated opportunities at non-profits that might not otherwise have the resources to hire them." Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97, vice-president of University Advancement, thanks RBC for its steadfast support. "We are grateful for this gift to the Campaign for Concordia and the assistance it provides our students." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005921/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Insigneo Welcomes Advisors from Amerant Bank Insigneo, the Miami-based Independent Broker-Dealer and Registered Investment Advisory firm, has incorporated new top talent as three Advisors from Amerant Bank join the firm's independent network based in Miami. The Advisors are Vicent Costa, Ciro Vasquez, and Juan Zenck, who came together to form a team at Insigneo. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005937/en/ Insigneo Welcomes Advisors from Amerant Bank (Photo: Business Wire) Vicent Costa, Ciro Vasquez, and Juan Zenck have decades of experience in the investment advising and wealth management professions. The three previously worked at various financial firms, including Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Advisors, Morgan Stanley, and RBC, earning the trust of many domestic and international private clients. By coming together to form a team, they have implemented their unique financial and personalized service model tailored to high net-worth individuals, combining it with a dep understanding of the comprehensive financial planning needs of each client's family and business. Vicent Costa most recently worked with Amerant Bank (previously known as Mercantil Commercebank). He has also worked for Credit Agricole SA, Banesto, along with Citibank and Merrill Lynch during the 1990s. He has an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology and a BA in Economics from the University of Valencia in Spain. Additionally, he holds Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65, Series 55 licenses and passed Level I Of CFA Examination. Prior to working for Amerant Bank, Ciro Vasquez also worked at Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust and Banco de Venezuela. He earned his MBA at the Universidad Santa Maria in Venezuela and is Series 7 and 66 licensed. Juan Zenck previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, Morgan Stanley, and RBC before joining his new team members at Amerant Bank. He holds a NASD Series 7 & 66 License and is currently finishing his MBA in Finance at Florida International University in Miami. "The three of us have worked for many years in the finance and banking world here in Miami and in many other locations and cultures," said Vicent Costa. "We are excited to join the Insigneo network, which will allow our team to continue to expand, further strengthening our relationships with our high net-worth clientele." "We are beyond excited that Juan Zenck, Ciro Vasquez, and Vicent Costa, have joined our family of independent international Financial Advisors in Miami. We look forward to working with them as we grow the business together for their many high net-worth clients here in Miami and other regions of the world," said Javier Rivero Insigneo's President. Insigneo empowers Financial Advisors managing clients around the world with a comprehensive menu of services and technology that focus on wealth management, multi-family offices and institutional services. Insigneo manages over 13 billion in client assets with a growing list of over 180 financial advisors, serving more than 11,000 clients globally. Insigneo is an international leader for independent financial services. www.insigneo.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005937/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Demystifying AI for AML: European Banking Federation and SAS help banks worldwide fight financial crime CARY, N.C., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that US$800 billion to $2 trillion is laundered through worldwide financial systems each year. That's an astonishing 2-5% of global GDP. The European Banking Federation (EBF) uniting 32 national banking associations in Europe, representing 5,981 banks with roughly 2.6 million employees has partnered with SAS to help financial firms worldwide curb the deluge. The AML Masterclass will explore how AI and machine learning technology can help boost banks' AML compliance efforts. "Rapidly evolving business and technology render conventional methods for anti-money laundering (AML) inefficient and call for a more innovative approach for fighting financial crime," said EBF CEO Wim Mijs. "The future of AML is rooted in the use of innovative technologies and shared solutions that, in practice, enhance experts' judgment and reveal the full picture when dealing with complex criminal networks. We are confident that this collaboration with SAS will help us prepare our members, and the broader banking community, for this new reality." In the European Union, despite the ever-rising number of suspicious activity reports, data from Europol shows that no more than 1.1% of criminally obtained assets were confiscated between 2009 and 2014. To combat this worrying trend, the European Commission introduced a new AML package this July. Among other changes, for the first time, banks and other obliged entities will need to comply with a directly applicable regulation. A new European AML Authority will also become operational in the years to come. AML Masterclasses, free of charge In early 2022, the EBF and SAS will launch a joint, virtual AML Masterclass series, led y AML experts versed in using advanced analytics for AML. Unlike conventional courses on the subject, which focus primarily on the regulatory and operational aspects of AML, this series will spotlight how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can boost the effectiveness of banks' efforts in fighting financial crime. Pre-register today for the complimentary, two-part AML Masterclass, which will include: Demystifying AI for Anti-Money Laundering . Debuting in March 2022 , the inaugural session will examine how AI and machine learning technology for AML really works. It will also explore shared transaction monitoring facilities as an opportunity for enhancing AML transaction monitoring and how it fits into the current regulatory framework. Debuting in , the inaugural session will examine how AI and machine learning technology for AML really works. It will also explore shared transaction monitoring facilities as an opportunity for enhancing AML transaction monitoring and how it fits into the current regulatory framework. New Technologies for KYC. In April- May 2022 , the second session will snapshot the current legislative landscape and delve into novel ways advanced analytics can facilitate banks' know your customer (KYC) and customer due diligence processes. Experts will also demonstrate how solutions like digital identification and network visualization can improve the transparency and efficiency of customer onboarding. Following the online Masterclass sessions and aligning with the ACAMS Europe Conference in June 2022 the EBF will host an in-person social event with SAS in Brussels. There, a panel of AML experts will lead a discussion and live Q&A on how banks can embed advanced analytics into their AML frameworks. More than just "checking boxes" In January, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the intergovernmental watchdog for financial crime, warned that the COVID-19 pandemic had enabled criminals to exploit digital identity loopholes. Around the same time, SAS, KPMG and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) surveyed more than 850 ACAMS members globally to gauge how compliance professionals were adjusting their AML strategies amid the pandemic. The resulting AML technology study, published in August, revealed that: One-third of financial institutions reported accelerating their AI and machine learning adoption for AML compliance in response to COVID-19. Another 39% indicated their AI and machine learning adoption plans continued unabated, despite the pandemic's disruption. "Our research shows the industry at a critical crossroad. Banks by and large recognize AI as an AML game changer, yet most are still trying to wrap their arms around the technology and how to optimally harness it," said Stu Bradley, Senior Vice President of Fraud and Security Intelligence at SAS. "In collaboration with the EBF, we look forward to illuminating banks' paths forward with practical guidance that raises their thinking beyond merely checking the compliance boxes. With the right approach, AML can deliver bigger-picture transformation across the breadth of banks' fraud and risk management functions." Today's announcement was made at Sibos 2021, the world's premier financial services conference, organized and facilitated by SWIFT. Register to join SAS at the free, digital-only event, through Oct. 14 and later on demand. Attendees will learn more about the AML Masterclass series and other ways the AI and analytics leader is helping financial services organizations elevate people, the planet and profit through analytic innovation. About the European Banking Federation The European Banking Federation is the voice of the European banking sector, bringing together national banking associations from across Europe. The EBF is committed to a thriving European economy that is underpinned by a stable, secure and inclusive financial ecosystem, and to a flourishing society where financing is available to fund the dreams of citizens, businesses and innovators everywhere. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2021 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact: Danielle Bates danielle.bates@sas.com 919-531-1959 sas.com/news View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/demystifying-ai-for-aml-european-banking-federation-and-sas-help-banks-worldwide-fight-financial-crime-301399531.html SOURCE SAS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Orient Software Won the Most Impressive Growth Award Despite the Challenges Amid Covid-19 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orient Software, the leader in software development outsourcing, announced that the company won the Top 10 Impressive Growth Companies prize awarded by VINASA in 2021. Orient Software had gone through 3 rounds, judged by the top IT experts and senior editors, and met all the evaluation criteria. Finally, the company had defeated other strong competitors and became the winner chosen for the prize. The award is added to the list of Orients achievements as the company also won Top 10 ICT Companies and Top 10 Outsourcing Companies prizes for the last seven consecutive years. Being honored by VINASA again means Orient Software has successfully proven itself to be one of the best Vietnam-based software outsourcing solution providers. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Orient Software had an amazing 92% growth in both project scale and revenue compared to the last year. The company also doubled the new hires to adapt to the great demand for expansion. Additionally, it has an ambition to further expand its footprint in the US, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and other markets. Until now, Orient Software has successfully delivered over 250 software outsourcing projects to 100+ global clients, and the company gained 96% customer satisfaction. The remarkable success of offshore software development and project-based services could not be achieved without the excellent performance of our IT experts and engineers who are all skillful and dedicated, stated by yvind Forsbak, Orient Softwares CTO and Co-founder. Notably, in 2021, Orient Software also ranked No.2 in the Top 15 IT Companies in Vietnam by ITViec thanks to 4.8/5 employees recommendations. It helps the company fulfill recruiting talent quickly in the event of projects expansion. Reportedly, Orient Software has been nurturing a big dream to transform Vietnam into a global IT hub. The Vietnam IT market affirms itself as a ew promising destination with 400,000 IT engineers and over 50,000 IT students graduating from 153 IT institutions annually. It provides an excellent IT talent pool and software development outsourcing solutions with cost-efficiency, high-quality, around-the-clock services. Therefore, many global technology giants have located their technology hub in Vietnam, typically Intel, Samsung, Panasonic, Microsoft, IBM, etc. "IT engineers skills in Vietnam can compare to engineers in developing countries like the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Hungary, etc. We strive to bring Vietnam's IT market to the next level and make Vietnam as a technology hub, where software outsourcing projects in the world will be conducted with talent and passion," said Ms. Nhung Nguyen, CEO of Orient Software. To make it happen, the company has constantly been strengthening its team by significantly investing in staff training, R&D activities to embrace new technologies and create the next generation of IT experts. Remarkably, the team published globally a white paper on Digit detection from digital devices in multiple environmental conditions and received good feedback from local and global IT experts. ABOUT ORIENT SOFTWARE Orient Software Development Corp. is a Vietnam-based software development company specializing in AI, IoT, Machine Learning, and Web/App Development. With 16 years in outsourcing software development, Orient Software understands clearly what its mission is. They always strive to improve and go above and beyond in everything they do. Committed to high-quality custom software and building a long-term relationship with their global clients, Orient Software is proud of its exceptional services in providing solutions for many international clients. With over 100 worldwide companies as their clients and over 250 custom projects, it makes the most profitable software for clients. For more information, please visit ORIENT SOFTWARE ABOUT VINASA Vietnam Software & IT Services (VINASA) is a national association in Vietnam, operating on a non-governmental and not-for-profit basis. Established in April 2002, VINASA promotes the development of the Vietnam software industry, protects the members rights, and encourages cooperation and mutual support among members. For more information, kindly visit VINASA For the original news story, please visit https://prdistribution.com/news/orient-software-won-the-most-impressive-growth-award-despite-the-challenges-amid-covid-19-2.html# Media Company: Orient Software, Media Name: Thuong Tran, Media Phone: +84 938 123 663, Media Email: contact@orientsoftware.com, Media URL: https://www.orientsoftware.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] GS Foods Expands with New Distribution Center in Missouri GS Foods Group, Inc. ("GS Foods"), a leading specialized food distributor owned by affiliates of Highview Capital, LLC ("Highview") and A&M Capital Partners ("AMCP"), today announced its continued expansion with recently-opened operations in Wright City, Missouri. The new distribution facility will serve school districts and other specialty foodservice partners throughout the state delivering the quality products and top-notch service that GS Foods promises. With headquarters in California, GS Foods encompasses a family of specialized foodservice distribution companies, including Gold Star Foods, one of the nation's largest and most experienced school nutrition providers, serving 3,000 K-12 school districts nationwide to provide meals to 8.7 million students per day - more than 30% of the school lunch population. "The hardworking and dedicated team at GS Foods has enabled our continued expansion opportunities, allowing us the ability to reach more customers across the country with fresh, healthy meals every day and we are proud to be extending our service to Missouri," said Sean Leer, CEO, GS Foods. "We look forward to sharing and combining our experience and capabilities with the expertise of our local Missouri partners to ensure we meet the needs of surrounding communities and all Missourians we will be serving." The establishment of GS Foods' Missouri facility follows the opening of new distribution centers in Pennsylvania and Texas earlier this summer and two distribution centers in Oregon and Colorado last year. GS Foods now has distribution centers in nine states including Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Virginia, Louisiana, California and Missouri. To learn more about GS Foods, visit: GSFoodsGroup.com About GS Foods Group GS Foods Group ("GS Foods") is a family of specialized foodservice distribution companies. GS Foods uses its sophisticated network of facilities to provide trusted food distribution and product solutions to specialized foodservice segments, including education, corrections, non-profit, business & industry and healthcare. GS Foods' independent subsidiaries, Good Source (News - Alert) Solutions, Inc. and Gold Star Foods, Inc., collectively serve over 8,500 customers nationwide. GS Foods is owned by affiliates of Highview Capital, LLC and A&M Capital Partners. About Highview Capital, LLC Highview Capital, LLC is an opportunistic private equity investment vehicle headquartered in Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) with approximately $500 million in assets under management providing transformational equity. Highview leverages its creative vision and expertise to partner with management teams of leading middle-market businesses undergoing periods of transformation, including growth, expansion or performance improvement. For more information, visit www.highviewcp.com. About A&M Capital Partners A&M Capital Partners is Alvarez & Marsal Capital's flagship investment strategy focused on middle-market control transactions in North America with total assets under management of approximately $1.8 billion. AMCP partners with founders, corporates and management teams, providing the capital and strategic assistance that we believe is required to take businesses to the next level of success. AMCP invests in businesses across a wide range of sectors including Business Services, Industrials, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Consumer & Retail, Government Services, Financial Services and Energy Services. More broadly, Alvarez & Marsal Capital is a multi-strategy private equity investment firm with over $3.0 billion in total assets under management across three investment strategies, which maintains a strategic association with Alvarez & Marsal, one of the largest operationally-focused advisory firms in the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005434/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Dividend Finance Welcomes Three New Hires to Support Rapid Industry Growth of Commercial PACE Financing Dividend Finance, a leading national provider of renewable energy and energy efficiency financing solutions for property owners, has hired Ed Wlodarczyk, Steven Senft and Chad Kenney to fill newly created positions as Vice Presidents of Business Development in Dividend's Commercial PACE division. Wlodarczyk brings over 30 years of experience in acquisitions, dispositions, finance, and portfolio management to Dividend, having completed over $1B in transactional and advisory business nationwide. He will utilize his experience and knowledge in capital markets and investment advisory to assist the CPACE Division in the area of energy efficiency upgrades on outdated commercial real estate. Wlodarczyk previously was a Senior Director with Ten-X, an online platform for buying and selling commercial real estate. Wlodarczyk attended Loyola University Chicago, specializing in Business and Communication disciplines. Senft brings 20-plus years of diverse hospitality experience to Dividend to finance hotel measures to reduce their energy spend and carbon footprints. His career includes stints in hotel ownership, management and operations; financial analysis; strategic planning; equity and debt capitalization; and transacting acquisitions and dispositions valued at over $7 billion. Prior to joining Dividend, Senft was a Senior Sles Executive at Ten-X. He previously was a Principal of CRU Global Innovations (a Printed Light, Printed Battery and Printed Solar technology company) and CRU Real Estate Group, a full-service real estate company with an emphasis on Hotel Asset and Property Management, Commercial Brokerage and Investments. Senft earned two degrees from California Polytechnic University, Pomona: his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the Collins College of Hospitality Management and a Master of Business Administration. Steven also received his Certificate in Real Estate, Development, and Hotel Investment from Cornell University. Kenney joins the Dividend C-PACE team with more than 15 years' commercial banking experience, focusing on real estate and operating company lending. In his banking career, Kenney has held relationship management and leadership positions with smaller regional banks and super-regionals including Truist Bank and PNC (News - Alert) Bank. He holds an MBA from Missouri State University, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Evangel University, and is a graduate of BB&T's Management Development Institute. Peter Grabell, Dividend's divisional head of PACE, commented, "The explosion of PACE financing and its rapid shift to becoming a more prevalent part of a property's capital stack influenced Dividend to significantly increase the resources it is committing to PACE. We'll continue to aggressively invest in our PACE business to ensure that Dividend fully serves the clean energy and energy efficiency financing needs of commercial real estate owners." PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy (News - Alert) ) is a public-private financing mechanism for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and seismic upgrades on privately owned commercial property. Since its inception, PACE financing has grown throughout the United States and has grown to over $2.3B in related transaction volume. For more information about Dividend and its various financing solutions for commercial property projects encompassing renewables, energy efficiency or resiliency, contact pace@dividendfinance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005203/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Sole Source Capital Raises $555 Million for Second Fund Sole Source (News - Alert) Capital LLC ("SSC" or the "Firm"), an industrial-focused private equity firm, today announced the final closing of its second fund, SSC Partners II ("Fund II"), with aggregate total commitments of $555 million. Fund II was significantly oversubscribed with an initial target of $400 million and reached its hard cap. With the closing of Fund II, Sole Source Capital now manages in excess of $1 billion just three years after the launch of Fund I. Since 2016, Sole Source has completed 24 transactions focusing on driving rapid value creation in lower middle market companies. The Firm is often the first institutional capital partner for its portfolio companies and seeks to drive significant operational transformations within sectors experiencing secular tailwinds, including warehouse automation, barcoding and food distribution. Thus far, Fund II has completed 10 total transactions, including add-ons, across three portfolio companies: Dallas Plastics (acquired October 2020), a leading manufacturer of blown polyethylene film with printing, embossing and other value-add capabilities. Peak Technologies (acquired April 2021), a leading IT services and hardware provider of supply chan automation solutions. I.D. Images (acquired August 2021), a leading manufacturer of secondary labels. "We are grateful to have garnered such strong support among our highly respected, global base of investors," said Sumil Menon, Head of Investor Relations for SSC. David Fredston, Founder and CEO added, "We believe Sole Source Capital's investment process and commitment to human capital and data analytics can deliver great results, and we are humbled to have our limited partners investing alongside us." Gibson Dunn LLP served as legal counsel and Eaton (News - Alert) Partners, a Stifel company, served as the exclusive placement agent. About Sole Source Capital Founded in 2016 by David Fredston, Sole Source Capital is a private equity firm that thematically invests in fragmented, high-growth industrial subsectors. Sole Source seeks founder-owned businesses or corporate carve-outs that will benefit from the team's operating and M&A capabilities. The Firm has a strong operating heritage that enables it to execute a buy and build strategy with significant downside protection. The Firm is headquartered in Dallas, Texas with an additional office in Santa Monica, California. For more information, please visit www.solesourcecapital.com or contact investor.relations@solesourcecapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005972/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Harvard MedTech to Present New Approach to Patient Care Leveraging Virtual Reality at National Workers Compensation and Disability Conference Harvard MedTech, a breakthrough digital health company, will host a panel presentation highlighting virtual reality technology and the biopsychosocial approach to patient care at the National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at 1:45 PM. The session, titled "A Closer Look at How Virtual Reality Produces Real Results for Injured Workers," will be moderated by Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Harvard MedTech, Gerry Stanley, M.D., and will demonstrate how this new approach to pain management can decrease claims volatility, reduce claims cost, and help return injured employees to work. The panel, including two medical directors of major insurance carriers, will discuss the issues and challenges related to managing care for patients with chronic pain and trauma, and how they are using virtual reality therapy to address challenges and mitigate risk. Additionally, a patient who has experienced the technology will provide input on his journey and his experience using this innovative approach. "Workers' compensation payers and providers have struggled for decades to find an effective approach to healing the trauma, chronic pain and other effects of workplace injuries," said Gerry Stanley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Harvard MedTech. "We are excited to demonstrate how Vx Therapy reduces the risk of higher cost workers' compensation claims, the likelihood of long-term claims due to pain and psychosocial problems, and the cost and risk of addiction to prescription medications or illegal drugs to control pain and mood. This breakthrough approach, using virtual reality technology and customized behavioral interventions, guided by artificial intelligence, allows the brain to re-pogram itself to reduce the sensation of pain and anxiety, breaking the cycle of chronic pain and giving patients a chance to resume their normal life." Harvard MedTech's Vx Therapy is based on new science about how the brain works. The patient uses the virtual reality technology to have positive, engaging experiences that reduce the sensation of pain while the brain builds new neural pathways. The VR therapy is used in the home, and is coupled with personalized behavioral health intervention strategies that teach more skills to permanently lower pain and discomfort that contribute to depression and sleep disorders. With the application of digital health, Vx Therapy is a scalable solution for employers, carriers and risk managers to manage patient populations and contain costs. The panel features speakers Adam Seidner MD MPH, Chief Medical Officer for The Hartford; Tyler Wilson, Sheriff's Deputy Florida Law Enforcement Dept, Patient Panelist and PTSD Survivor; and Stephen Fisher MD., Ph.D.., Advisor to the CEO, Chesapeake Employers'? Insurance Company. The conference runs October 20-22 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas. For more information, contact Pat McCutcheon, PMcCutcheon@harvardmedtech.com, 516-946-7938 About Harvard MedTech Harvard MedTech is a breakthrough digital health company that is tapping the new science of how the brain works, combining specially designed virtual reality experiences, psychosocial support, digital engagement and proprietary AI algorithms to retrain neural pathways and alleviate the effects of trauma, including pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. The company's Vx Therapy model is the first to comprehensively integrate this unique combination of digital technologies with behavioral health interventions, in a virtual application that moves the points of care to the patient's home. This virtual engagement drives high compliance, patient satisfaction and optimal outcomes. It also allows the solution to be affordable and scalable at a population health level. This non-invasive and non-pharmacological approach also provides data that is trackable for a clear assess of its value to patient and health care providers. Visit www.harvardmedtech.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005846/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] ALYI Highlights Essential IQST EV Battery Technology Contribution As Potential Market Leader DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) ("ALYI") has released a snapshot taken in the design shop of its Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle prototype number two in final assembly. The first prototype was released earlier this year. The purpose of the second prototype initiative was to move the motor to the rear hub making more frame space available for increased battery capacity. ALYI EV Research and Development Workshop ALYI has undertaken the design and development of an electric motorcycle intended to build, advance, and expand the company's overall proprietary electric vehicle intellectual property. As part of the ongoing research initiative, ALYI has engaged iQSTEL (OTCQX: IQST) to design a battery solution that meets the challenging requirements specific to an electric motorcycle constrained by limited space for a battery. ALYI indicates that IQST has clearly set itself apart in the electric motorcycle market for battery solutions and expects IQST to even be potentially recognized industry wide as a leading solution for smaller electric vehicle battery solutions. The ALYI Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle is a byproduct of the company's research initiative. To support the company's ongoing electric vehicle research and to also support the company's branding as an electric vehicle market contender, ALYI will produce a limited series of Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycles for sale in North America. ALYI is a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem company. ALYI management repeatedly emphasizes that the electric vehicles are just the tip of an overall electric vehicle ecosystem . ALYI has recently published an overview of its electric vehicle ecosystem strategy covering both the design and production of electric vehicles and the array of impacts and considerations necessary for electric vehicles toreplace combustion engine powered transportation to include the increased production of electricity: ALYI Understanding The Cryptocurrency Backed EV Ecosystem Behind The EV Company ALYI is launching its electric vehicle ecosystem in Africa where the transportation market is far from saturated and the opportunity exists to introduce consumers to a transportation solution for the first time, rather than convincing them to exchange one mode of transportation for another. Africa and the rest of the world's developing economic regions where ALYI will go next, provide a technology leapfrog opportunity. The United States and other economically developed regions are resistant to innovation when the innovation requires replacing an existing solution. Purveyors in developed economic regions are resistant to spending money on an innovation that may produce a superior solution, when a passable and profitable solution is already in place, and consumers are resistant to adopting any change in their daily routine. ALYI believes the best opportunity for electric transportation innovation resides in the developing economic regions of the world. ALYI is kicking off its electric vehicle ecosystem strategy in Africa with the introduction of electric motorcycles into the motorcycle taxi market. ALYI has recently announced that it expects to generate its first revenue this year from the sale of electric motorcycles in Africa designed for the motorcycle taxi market. Specifically, ALYI intends to generate $2 million by year end from the sale of electric motorcycles. ALYI has partnered with Revolt Token to finance ALYI's growth by offering democratized participation in the electric vehicle ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about Revolt Token and how to participate in ALYI's electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com . Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno info@lithiumip.com +1-800-713-0297 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alyi-highlights-essential-iqst-ev-battery-technology-contribution-as-potential-market-leader-301399634.html SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Globalization Partners Honored by Goldman Sachs for Entrepreneurship Nicole Sahin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Among 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs at 2021 Builders + Innovators Summit BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ -- Goldman Sachs is recognizing Globalization Partners' Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Nicole Sahin, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Sahin as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Sahin invented the trillion dollar-plus Employer of Record (EOR) industry in 2012 when she founded Globalization Partners to enable companies to hire the best talent anywhere in the world without having to figure out all the complex legal, HR and tax issues typically associated with hiring global remote team members. Sahin's mission is to democratize access to opportunity for everyone, everywhere, which Globalization Partners is achieving with its global employment platform that provides unmatched technology and support that enables customers to hire talent anywhere they find it, quickly, securely, and easily. As the world's largest and most established fully compliant platform, Globalization Partners has seen the demand for its solution skyrocket. The company will reach $1 billion in annualized recurring revenue by the end of this year. Sahin also works with several charitable organizations to bring education, basic income, job opportunities and clean water to people in underserved communities in the US, Latin America, in Africa, India, which supports people who don't already have access to the digital economy. "I am hnored to receive this award on behalf of Globalization Partners as we further our vision for a more inclusive and ethical global economy, where anyone, anywhere, can achieve their full potential and companies also have the ability to reach their full potential, by hiring the best talent wherever they can find it," said Nicole Sahin, CEO and Founder of Globalization Partners. "This recognition is a testament toward the progress our team has made in strengthening the global workforce and unlocking new markets and talent pools for our customers. It also demonstrates Globalization Partners' commitment to changing the way the world works via global compliance, intuitive technology, tailored expertise and ethical management principles." "Innovation doesn't happen just anywhere; it thrives where there's a wide range of thoughts and perspectives," said David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs. "One of our great strengths is our ability to bring together people from different walks of life and to spark conversations today that will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow. The leaders we've chosen to highlight at our Builders + Innovators Summit are truly remarkable, and we are pleased to recognize Nicole Sahin as one of this year's most intriguing entrepreneurs." In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics, and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About Globalization Partners Hire anyone, anywhere, quickly, and easily. Use our AI-driven, automated, fully compliant global employment platform powered by our in-house worldwide HR experts. Trust the named industry leader that consistently attains 98 percent customer satisfaction ratings. Globalization Partners: Succeed Faster To learn more, please visit: globalization-partners.com or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or check out our Blog. Media Contact: Karen Pantinas Globalization Partners kpantinas@globalization-partners.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/globalization-partners-honored-by-goldman-sachs-for-entrepreneurship-301399550.html SOURCE Globalization Partners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Nexa Acquires Answering Services Division of Crocker Communications Nexa Receptionists Holdings LLC ("Nexa"), the leading provider of tech-enabled business services for companies of all sizes across the US, today announced it has acquired the answering services division of Crocker Communications, a Massachusetts-based telecommunications company. The acquisition expands Nexa's footprint within the healthcare and medical answering services category, and further bolsters its tech-enabled and people-powered service offerings with Crocker's 24/7 live answering and encrypted messaging and HIPAA-compliant text messaging services for healthcare organizations. With the acquisition, the answering services division team of Crocker Communications will join the Nexa Healthcare business unit. Additionally, Crocker Communications' existing client base of physicians, medical clinics, and hospital systems will now have access to Nexa's full suite of tech-enabled and people-powered services. "Crocker Communications is one of the most well-respected and trusted in the industry and a perfect fit for Nexa because of their commitment to customer success and innovation," said Jeff Mosler, CEO of Nexa. "The acquisition of their answering service division brings HIPAA-compliant and encrypted messaging services to Nexa, and further positions us to support our healthcare and medical clients with appointment scheduling, patient intake, and an overall superior patient experience." Crocker Communications began as an answering service for physicians in 1956 and has since expanded its product and service offerings across the telecommunications category. The answering services division, which specifically serves the healthcare industry, will now join the Nexa family, bringing together the best-in-class services of the two companies. This enables physicians, medical clinics, and hospital systems to deliver human-centered experiences to patients whether that's through voice, web, chat, or text. These servies will now include: 24/7/365 People-Powered Live Chat & Text: Human-powered and HIPAA-compliant live chat connects patients and caretakers faster and with greater accuracy. Human-powered and HIPAA-compliant live chat connects patients and caretakers faster and with greater accuracy. EHR and CRM Integration: Integrations allow for easy and efficient management of patient data and scheduling in one place. Integrations allow for easy and efficient management of patient data and scheduling in one place. Website Chat Features: Website chat boxes and text capabilities automatically boost engagement and provide patients peace of mind. Website chat boxes and text capabilities automatically boost engagement and provide patients peace of mind. Streamlined Patient Intake: Live healthcare virtual receptions handle patient intake, freeing up caregivers and medical staff to have more face time with patients. Live healthcare virtual receptions handle patient intake, freeing up caregivers and medical staff to have more face time with patients. 24/7/365 Medical Answering: Medical virtual receptionists handle communications and scheduling, route appropriate calls to on-call providers, and escalate emergency calls. The Internet and VOIP services of Crocker Communications will remain with Crocker. For questions regarding Crocker services, please contact Thomas Poulin at tpoulin@corp.crocker.com. To learn more about Nexa's healthcare service offerings, visit https://nexa.com/medical. About Nexa Receptionist Holdings, LLC Nexa Receptionists Holdings, LLC is a leading provider of tech-enabled business services for companies of all sizes across the United States, helping them to grow and scale with expert-level call answering, inbound & outbound sales, live chat & text, and client & patient intake services. The company goes to market with the following three brands: Nexa, Nexa Healthcare and Alert Communications. Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Nexa was founded in 1982. For more information, visit www.nexa.com. Useful Links: Nexa on LinkedIn Nexa on Twitter Nexa on Facebook View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006062/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] flyExclusive Delivers Greater Control and Transparency for Jet Club Members with New Concierge App flyExclusive, a leading provider of premium private jet charter experiences, today announced the launch of its new concierge app for Jet Club Members at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (booth #1525) in Las Vegas. The new app makes it easier than ever for Jet Club Members to book and manage a flight on flyExclusive's versatile fleet of more than 75 Light, Midsized and Super-Midsized aircraft. Developed in flyExclusive's technology hub in Durham, North Carolina, the app builds on the company's commitment to technology innovation while giving Jet Club Members more control and transparency of their Jet Club membership. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006035/en/ The new flyExclusive Jet Club concierge app gives Jet Club Members more control over their private jet experience than ever before. (Photo: Business Wire) The new Jet Club concierge app gives Members exclusive access to the complete luxury flight experience.Members can book and manage flights with the touch of a button, receive personalized care from flyExclusive's Member Services team and get first-hand access to exclusive offers. The Jet Club app takes the hassle and complexity out of private flying with an experience tailored to Members' unique needs. Additional features include: Save time : Eliminate the need for calls or emails when booking or managing a flight. Book or manage directly through the app and update baggage, passengers, catering and ground transportation. Re-book a favorite flight itinerary. : Eliminate the need for calls or emails when booking or managing a flight. Book or manage directly through the app and update baggage, passengers, catering and ground transportation. Re-book a favorite flight itinerary. Stay in the know : Receive notifications for an upcoming flight, including day-of reminders, delay notifications and the ability to indicate ETA to the flight crew so they can receive them upon arrival. : Receive notifications for an upcoming flight, including day-of reminders, delay notifications and the ability to indicate ETA to the flight crew so they can receive them upon arrival. Gain transparency: Check and monitor account balances and see a running list of transactions while updating account preferences so flyExclusive's Member Services team can better meet the member's unique flying needs. flyExclusive's Jet Club is the only private jet membership in the marketplace that lets Members truly fly like an owner. With new enhancements and expanded international capabilities, the program features a membership and rate structure that allows members to save more, the more they fly. Future updates to the concierge app will include the ability to cancel and request flight time changes as well as add funds to the Jet Club membership without the need to contact a Member Services representative. "From the beginning, Jet Club has been designed to give Members more control over the private flying experience," said Tommy Sowers, president, flyExclusive. "Technology is essential to helping us deliver on that promise. With our new Jet Club app, Members now have a tool to tailor their experience to their unique lifestyle and needs, while keeping the reliability and consistency clients have come to expect from flyExclusive." flyExclusive is demonstrating its new Jet Club concierge app at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (booth #1525) taking place October 12-14, 2021 in Las Vegas. For more information about flyExclusive's range of private jet charter offerings and Jet Club program, visit www.flyexclusive.com. About flyExclusive flyExclusive is a premier owner/operator of private jet experiences that surpass expectations for quality, convenience and safety. From our world-class Jet Club to our unmatched private jet charter, clients who fly with us receive a curated private jet experience that anticipates their needs for comfort and style. Our leadership team uses decades of flying experience, industry knowledge in private jet experiences and expertise in fleet logistics and management to deliver a premium experience every time out of the gate. With services provided across North America, Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and beyond, our floating fleet of more than 70 aircraft are ready to take you wherever you dream of flying. To learn more, visit www.flyexclusive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006035/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] HP Inc. to Host Virtual Securities Analyst Meeting on October 20 PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) will host its 2021 Securities Analyst Meeting on Oct. 20. Join the live webcast to hear President and CEO Enrique Lores, Chief Financial Officer Marie Myers and other members of the executive team discuss HP's strategy and financial outlook. The webcast will begin Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT. The webcast will be available at www.hp.com/investor/SAM2021. A replay of the audio webcast will be available at the same website shorty after the call and will remain available for approximately one year. About HP Inc. HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at hp.com. Copyright 2021 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Editorial contacts HP Inc. Media Relations MediaRelations@hp.com HP Inc. Investor Relations InvestorRelations@hp.com [October 13, 2021] Blackstone Announces Appointment of Emily Yoder as Senior Managing Director, Strategic Relationships Blackstone today announced the appointment of Emily Yoder as Senior Managing Director, Strategic Relationship Management. She will serve as a primary interface with Blackstone's banking and other financial services partners. In this newly created role, Ms. Yoder will be responsible for delivering a firm-wide approach to relationship management. Commenting on the announcement, Vik Sawhney, Chief Administrative Officer and Global Head of Institutional Client Solutions said: "We've known Emily for many years, and I'm very excited to welcome her to the Blackstone team. Her skills will help us deepen our relationships with key financial partners as we continue to rapidly expand into new verticals." Emily Yoder commented: "I've grown to know Blackstone during my tenure in the financial services industry and am thrilled to be joining the firm during a time of rapid growth. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to deepen our banking relationships and provide capital solutions as the business expands" Before joining Blackstone in 2021, Ms. Yoder worked at JPMorgan as a Managing Director in their Senior Relationship Management team, focusing on hedge funds and alternative asset managers. Ms. Yoder started her career in trading for JPMorgan, and was a founding member of the Emerging Markets Eurobond Trading team at JPMorgan in London. Ms. Yoder was the primary risk taker focusing on FX, Cross-Currency Swaps, and Local Market government bonds in CEEMEA & Latin America. Ms. Yoder graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas with a B.A. in Mathematical Economic Analysis and Latin America Studies. About Blackstone Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $684 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter (News - Alert) @Blackstone. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006144/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Canon evolves instant camera printer range with new 2-in-1 model - Canon Zoemini S2 Canon's Zoemini S2 instant camera printer combines innovative in-app editing and on-the-go printing with fun shooting options for the ultimate 2-in-1 instant camera printer. DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon today introduces the Canon Zoemini S2, the latest addition to the instant camera printing sector for those wanting to snap, customise, and print on the go. An evolution from its predecessor the Canon Zoemini S, this innovative 2-in-1 design allows users to add borders and filters, choose between shooting modes and save favourite snaps to print later - all on one device. Available in Dark Teal, Pearl White and Rose Gold, the Canon Zoemini S2 remains light and compact, making it easy to carry around day-to-day. Power your creativity using the Canon Mini Print App Ideal for creative minds, content creators and craft lovers alike, the Canon Zoemini S2 connects to the Canon Mini Print App via Bluetooth to produce fun creations, from collages and circular printouts, to adding text and printing pre-made or custom stickers. Hand-drawn signatures and symbols can be snapped on a mobile device, edited in-app and printed using the Canon Zoemini S2, perfect for scrapbooking or zines. Perfectionists can tweak poses and ensure friends and family are all in shot before printing by checking out the live view through the Canon Mini Print app. Shoot, print, peel and stick with 2-in-1 functionality The creative functions of the Canon Zoemini S2 are enhanced by its 2-in-1 functionality, allowing users to shoot, customise and print on the go. Stylish selfies can be snapped with the in-built mirror and ring-light, while the new Effects and Frames buttons add vintage style filters and borders. For optimal shooting, users can flick between portrait, outdoor or selfie mode using the topslider button, and then print in different formats on up to 10 sheets of sticky-backed Zink Photo Paper to personalise everything from laptops to bedroom walls or journals. Carry it with you anywhere thanks to its compact design With a compact design and weight of just 188g, the Canon Zoemini S2 is the perfect pocket-camera and chic holiday companion. If users forget to refill the paper tray before setting out on an adventure, they can still snap away and save images onto the MicroSD card for printing later, with time information automatically added once synchronised with a smartphone. The print queue has now also been extended from its predecessor, reducing the wait between taking photos and the need for frequent paper refills, while the battery life lasts for up to 25 photo prints ideal for making memories on the go. The Canon Zoeminin S2 will be available in the Middle East region beginning December 2021. Find out more information about the Canon Zoemini S2 here: https://en.canon-me.com/cameras/zoemini-s2 Canon Zoemini S2 key features: Vivid and vintage colour filter options supported as well as black and white Automatic white balance and exposure adjustment Borderless and white border printing both supported Circular printing supported in addition to rectangular, with the use of Zink ZP-Circle Photo Paper Bluetooth 5.0 compatible Product specifications: Power Source - Rechargeable lithium polymer (700mAh) Display Window Size - N/A Body Colours - Rose Gold / Pearl White / Dark Teal / / Dark Teal Body Size (W x H x D) - 121 x 80.3 x 22.4 mm Weight - 188g About the Canon Mini Print App: Requires mobile device to be connected to the Canon Instant Camera Printer via Bluetooth and the Canon Mini Print App, available for free on the App Store and at Google Play Compatible OS: iOS 9.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later Supported languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Turkish, Slovenian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Russian, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Armenian, Ukrainian About Canon Middle East Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE. Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation. Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at www.canon-me.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1652862/Canon_Zoemini_S2.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] ComEd to Host Virtual Technology and Energy Expo for Chicago's Bronzeville Community ComEd will host a virtual event featuring a job fair and networking opportunities for the Bronzeville community on Chicago's South Side as part of the Community of the Future program, which creates partnerships that tap into community strengths to enhance sustainability, resiliency and connectedness. ComEd encourages Bronzeville residents and others interested in new energy technologies to register for the event at www.techandenergyexpo.vfairs.com. ComEd's Community of the Future: Bronzeville Technology and Energy Expo will be held online on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The event will provide a virtual platform for networking opportunities and a job fair with representatives from ComEd and their partners in the energy and sustainability industries. Attendees will also learn from executives, industry leaders and visionaries about new energy technologies, innovative energy programs and how they can participate in the advanced energy economy. "The Bronzeville Community of the Future features a variety of advanced technologies that improve the quality of life of the community and its residents, but we're equally committed to investing in partnerships that create opportunities and lift communities," said Michelle Blaise, ComEd Senior Vice President of Technical Services. "The Technology and Energy Expo creates a unique opportunity for Bronzeville residents to meet prospective employrs, network with industry experts and learn more about how they can be a part of our clean energy future." The event will feature panel discussions with topics such as: Breakthrough Energy Technologies The Landscape of Energy Start-ups What is the state of the Bronzeville Community of the Future? For more information or to register, please visit www.techandenergyexpo.vfairs.com. For questions, please email TechEnergyExpo@ComEd.com. ComEd's Community of the Future: Bronzeville Technology and Energy Expo Details Virtual Event: Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 100 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers - the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013006150/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Safely2Prosperity Announces SaaS Platform Enhancement to Its COVID-19 Safety Program Protecting Employees BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Safely2Prosperity LLC (S2P) Chairman and CEO John Norris, JD, MBA, announces, for immediate demonstration, S2P's COVID-19 Safety Platform and Employee Dashboard, the first in the world comprehensive and combined system for far better managing COVID-19 and its variants. With even one life saved or just one lawsuit prevented, Safely2Prosperity's COVID solution more than pays for itself. This platform and employee dashboard together enhance worker, teacher, government employee, and family member COVID-19 safety by using: 1. Structured preparation, oversight, and management. 2. Improved monitoring and tracking, including multi-dashboard custom reports. 3. Effective preventions, mitigations, nd other tools, including alarms, alerts, and trends, all based on continuous risk-monitoring and risk-assessments. To arrange a demonstration, contact S2P at 617-680-3127 or info@safely2prosperity.com. Or visit our website at safely2prosperity.com. Norris says: "S2P's advanced SaaS platform and employee dashboard empower the whole organization from CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CLOs, and CHROs to regional managers and facility or team managers to employees themselves to manage their COVID-19 responses safely and effectively." They assess and report on the risks, actions, and inactions at: (1) the county, facility, and floor levels, (2) the department, region, and facility-manager levels, and (3) the team, shift, date, time, and direct-manager levels. The overarching goal: Getting back to work. Safely. They are similar to the factory- school- and government agency-based Fire Safety Programs that are now ubiquitous worldwide. With even one life saved or just one lawsuit prevented, S2P's solution more than pays for itself. S2P Has a Powerful Vision "Well-thought-out top-down ideas to manage the Covid Pandemic can be helpful. But the best buy-in occurs with bottom-up initiatives. So, we now need comprehensive, bottom-up initiatives and supporting tools for companies, schools, and government agencies to fight better against the current Pandemic and the next one and the next one." Fred Hassan, Former Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) and President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Associations (IFPMA), two of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry advocacy groups. About Safely2Prosperity S2P is a leading Boston-based healthcare risk-management innovator and infectious disease safety program provider. Chairman and CEO Norris is known worldwide as a thought-leader in healthcare and healthcare risk-management, a former US FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner and COO, a former Harvard faculty member, and a successful businessman. 2021 Safely2Prosperity LLC and John Norris, JD, MBA. All Rights Reserved. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/safely2prosperity-announces-saas-platform-enhancement-to-its-covid-19-safety-program-protecting-employees-301399830.html SOURCE Safely2Prosperity [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 13, 2021] Mission Possible Partnership Unveils How Three of the Most Carbon Intensive Industries can Reach Net Zero by 2050 and Cut Emissions in the Next Decade LONDON, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies from the steel, aviation and shipping industries are mobilizing multi-trillion dollar plans that provide a path for their respective sectors to reach net zero by 2050 and to make significant emissions reductions within the next decade as part of the Mission Possible Partnership. Ahead of COP26, the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), an organization dedicated to decarbonizing seven of the hardest to abate industries, is releasing plans and the estimated costs of slashing carbon emissions for three sectors steel, shipping and aviation often ignored in national plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions that form the basis of negotiations at COP. Together, the three industries addressed in these initial plans emit close to 6 Gt of carbon dioxide per year in the global atmosphere, and are absolutely critical to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C. In less than two years, MPP has convened more than 300 corporate leaders from the seven harder-to-abate sectors, along with their suppliers, customers and financial institutions to develop clear paths to net zero across their value chains and start taking the first steps on that path. Among the participants are ArcelorMittal, Volvo, DHL, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Rio Tinto, JSW Group, BASF, Heidelberg Cement, Dalmia Cement, Bank of America, HSBC, Credit Suisse, UBS, Maersk, Wan Hai Lines and Tata Steel. Making the Impossible Possible: The costs of decarbonizing the steel, shipping and aviation sectors and the details on how exactly these industries will drive carbon emissions to zero are based on landmark science with clear milestones and metrics to monitor progress. The plans also offer policymakers a guide for regulations and investment. Chad Holliday, Co-Chair at MPP said: "The kind of change we are talking about to get these industries to net zero is unprecedented. The climate emergency is a fight for our lives. The good news is that we now know more on how to keep the planet below 1.5 degrees and have shown radical collaboration is possible, even among competitors, despite a global pandemic. MPP's Sector Transition Strategies provide the map to guide corporates, financial institutions and governments in the years to come." Commenting on the launch of the MPP sector transition strategy for steel Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, said: "The MPP sector transition strategy clearly sets out the challenges for the steel industry to decarbonise as well as two illustrative pathways for the sector to achieve net zero. The most important message is that we can only achieve the sectors potential with the support and engagement of the full supply chain as well as policy makers and the financial sector. I believe this sector transition strategy can be an important catalyst for harnessing the power of a multi stakeholder approach and enabling the steel sector to achieve its full decarbonisation potential and make a significant contribution to the 2050 net zero target." A second wave of announcements planned for 2022 will establish industry-backed carbon reduction pathways for the cement, aluminum, trucking and chemical industries which reeives today a significant accelerator with the announcement of the The Low Carbon Emitting Technologies initiative (LCET) backed by 10 major chemical companies and supported by MPP. Setting the tone for COP26. In addition to industry, the finance sector is also beginning to rise to the challenge. MPP is working to unlock investment in low-carbon solutions in industry and mobility by working with RMI's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance to develop climate-aligned finance agreements for financial institutions across all seven MPP sectors, with a current focus on the steel sector, and with the World Economic Forum's Transition Finance Initiative to develop blueprints for breakthrough financing and de-risking solutions. Faustine Delasalle Co-Executive Director of MPP says, "When industry and finance leaders come together and align behind a strategic plan to decarbonize a sector, it creates confidence and emboldens decisionmakers. The MPP sector transition strategies provide a clear plan of attack to bring down emissions. Now we must turn to implementing this plan. But policymakers need to do their part to drive investment at a bigger scale and faster pace." Focused on sectors often neglected in countries' Nationally Determined Contributions, MPP is also setting the tone for COP by calling on policymakers to recognize the critical importance of massive investment in clean energy supply and industrial policies like carbon pricing as well as the need for bolder international agreements at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for aviation and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for shipping. Anthony Hobley, Co-Executive Director of MPP says, "Despite the pandemic, there is unprecedented momentum and willingness to collaborate to accelerate decarbonization in the most carbon-intensive sectors of the economy. With COP26 around the corner, the committed community of business leaders that MPP and its partners convene are demonstrating powerfully that corporates are not waiting for governments to act, but that they do need policy support to be successful." Marking the first steps on a three-decade journey: key sector actions enabled by the Mission Possible Partnership include: STEEL: Backed by some of the world's leading steel sector players, including ArcelorMittal, Rio Tinto, Tata Steel, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Liberty Steel Group and SSAB, the MPPs Net-Zero Steel Initiative is launching a sector transition strategy that lays out what it will take for the steel sector to reach net-zero by 2050. The strategy details the importance of early progress to avoid 1.3Gt of cumulative CO2 emissions and cut annual emissions by 37% by 2030 on the way to net zero by 2050. The pathway will have major implications for the energy system, where demand for electricity could increase by 11-13 times and where metallurgical coal demand would fall 80-90%. Annual investment of around $6 billion would be needed to 2050 to transition the global steel asset base to net zero. AVIATION: With the backing of 30 aviation leaders, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Airbus and Royal Schiphol Group, Mckinsey & Company and Deutsche Post DHL Group, MPP is launching together with the Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, a sector transition strategy for the aviation industry. This lays out what it will take for global aviation to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, including a complete phase out of fossil jet fuel. The strategy focuses on the need to ramp up the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as well as new hydrogen and battery-electric propulsion aircraft. It also includes details on the recommended annual investment of US$300 billion, primarily in the fuel supply chain, required to implement decarbonization plans for the sector. SHIPPING: This autumn, more than 150 industry leaders including A.P. Moller Maersk, Trafigura, the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, Yara, Euronav, GasLog, Hapag-Lloyd, Cargill, and the Synergy Marine Group, brought together by the MPP-supported Getting to Zero Coalition, a partnership between Friends of Ocean Action, World Economic Forum and Global Maritime Forum announced their commitment to decarbonizing international shipping by 2050. Moving ahead to develop the technologies and business models needed by 2030, while urging governments to work together with industry to unlock the scale-up of clean solutions. An analysis published today reveals that this will require $2 trillion in investment in scalable zero-emission fuels production and zero-emission vessels over the next 30 years. CHEMICALS: Today 10 major chemical sector companies and the World Economic Forum are establishing a breakthrough platform designed to accelerate low carbon emitting technologies. The LCET initiative supported by MPP will enable sharing of early-stage risks and co-investments in developing and upscaling of low-carbon-emitting technologies. LCET members include Air Liquide, BASF, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp, Royal DSM, SIBUR and Solvay. Notes to editors: Additional announcements including for concrete, aluminum and trucking will follow soon. The Mission Possible Partnership? MPP brings together more than 300 of the most influential global leaders in industrial decarbonisation, finance, policy and business to trigger systems change in the world's most carbon-intensive industries. MPP and its core partners, the Energy Transitions Commission, RMI, WeMeanBusiness Coalition, and the World Economic Forum is focused on seven hard to abate sectors -shipping, aviation, trucking, cement, steel, aluminium and chemicals. These industries are collectively responsible for 30% of GHG emissions globally Our net zero industry platforms build on growing momentum, investor pressure and consumer expectations to develop pathways to the Paris Agreement. Developed for industries by industries, their customers, suppliers and capital providers. Ambitious industries enabling ambitious action to supercharge industrial decarbonisation. http://missionpossiblepartnership.org [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kansas City insiders warned us about this toxic dump where KCMO allowed homeless to endanger their health . . . Aftermath . . . DEADLY GUNFIRE ERUPTED TODAY AT A HOMELESS CAMP THAT HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF LOCAL CONTROVERSY AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINTS!!! We've documented problems near this site throughout the year and even KCUR noted the hazardous threat . . . Mayor Q and the city manager weren't persuaded and so tragedy inevitably ensued . . . Unofficially, this is homicide #118 so far this year compared to around 149 last year and 115 the year before that . . . Here's the report . . . Just before 2 PM, officers were dispatched to a shooting in the area of Independence Avenue and Paseo. Upon arrival officers found an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was in the area of the homeless camp located to the north of Independence Avenue. The victim was transported to the hospital and was pronounced deceased once at the hospital. Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene. If you have any information please call the Homicide unit at 234-5043. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS, with up to a $25,000 reward for an arrest in this case. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Homicide at tent camp near Independence and Paseo One person is dead following a shooting in the homeless camp on City property at the southwest corner of Independence Avenue and The Paseo earlier this afternoon. Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers and medical personnel were called to the scene just before 2 p.m. Man dies after shooting at Independence and Paseo in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police are investigating a homicide Tuesday afternoon near Independence Avenue and the Paseo. The deadly shooting happened just after 2:30 p.m. A man with gunshot wounds was transported to a hospital where he died. Investigators said the shooting happened at an area where people who are homeless are known to gather. 1 dead after KCMO Tuesday afternoon shooting near Independence Ave., Paseo KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One man was found dead after a shooting that occurred around 2 p.m. Tuesday. The shooting happened near Independence Avenue and The Paseo, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. There, in the area of a nearby camp where people experiencing homelessness stay, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Developing . . . A local protest group continues to push their agenda on local streets and in the headlines of friendly Kansas City media. Here's the crux of their latest political gambit . . . KC Tenants accuses Mayor Quinton Lucas of breaking a promise to support their plan for governing and funding a housing trust fund for the city and to make sure residents have a say in that. The group wants the City Council to vote no on Lucas proposed ordinance, which they say fails to give tenants a voice in how affordable housing dollars are spent. Lucas plan for governing the Kansas City Housing Trust Fund looks different from The Peoples Housing Trust Fund that KC Tenants designed in August, at the mayors request. They proposed a fund administered by the city and overseen by a community-led board. While the mayor says his plan is in line with what the group wants, the group sees a major omission. The group also disagrees with the citys definition of affordable, arguing it allows for rent such as $950 for a studio apartment thats out of range for many Kansas Citians. We're not sure if this is worth jumping the paywall, read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link tease . . . Life lesson for another local school district at what we hope is the end of the current plague . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board will require all eligible staff and onsite volunteers to either get vaccinated against COVID or agree to weekly testing. The board voted on the decision Tuesday night. This means that all staff will be asked to have their COVID immunization on record by Dec. Traffic trouble wasn't as bad as many feared . . . Even better, the first lady wore her infamous heels again as she offered encouraging words for the Latino community . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . First lady Jill Biden visits KCK to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, talks with Latino community KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Kansas City, Kansas, is one of the most diverse communities in the country with a strong Latino community. First lady Dr. Jill Biden chose KCK as one of three cities to visit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. She heard stories from leaders within the community working to amplify Latino voices. First lady visits hidden gem in Kansas City that many locals don't even know exists KANSAS CITY, Kan. - First lady Jill Biden spent several hours in Kansas City Tuesday afternoon. She visited El Centro Academy to hear about concerns and other issues Hispanic Americans face. After the meeting, Biden and her entourage headed to lunch at a popular restaurant, but it wasn't a barbecue spot politicians normally chose while in KC. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden comes to KCK for National Hispanic Heritage Month event The First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is visiting Kansas City, Kansas, today in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The First Lady's event near El Centro Academy is billed as a conversation and listening session with the Hispanic community in Kansas City. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hears from small business owners in KCK KANSAS CITY, Kan. - First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stopped by Kansas City, Kansas, Tuesday for Hispanic Heritage Month. It was her first of three stops across the country to host a "charla," which means chat in Spanish, to hear from members of the Latino community. First Lady Jill Biden urges Latino community in Kansas City to 'pay it forward' First Lady Jill Biden paid a visit to Kansas City, Kansas, on Tuesday, to hear from members of the local Latino community as part of her Hispanic Heritage Month listening tour. Biden came to El Centro Academy with Small Business Administration director Isabella Guzman, touting the administration's Build Back Better agenda and their use of coronavirus relief measures to support Latino-owned businesses. Developing . . . Tragically, most Kansas City crime coverage and commentary becomes routine and doesn't offer much insight into the reality of light on rough local streets. This passage and perspective on a recent murder shares remarkable understanding . . . This is not your typical murder, said Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd. We have a man who knew his assailant by all accounts, but there doesnt seem to be any bad blood between the two of them. Zahnd said not having a motive to explain the actions is odd but not unheard of. We always want to know why. The human condition is to want to know why somebody did something particularly if its something really terrible, like a murder, he remarked. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Man charged in connection to shooting deat at Riverside QuikTrip RIVERSIDE, Mo. - A 50-year-old man has been charged in connection to the shooting death of another man Saturday, Oct. 9, at a QuikTrip in Riverside. Platte County prosecutors charged Daniel H. Kelati, of Kansas City, Missouri, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of 39-year-old Tariku Fite. Man charged in fatal shooting outside Riverside gas station PLATTE COUNTY, MO (KCTV) -- A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside a gas station in Riverside. According to the Platte county Prosecutor's Office, 50-year-old Daniel H. Kelati has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Charging documents in Riverside QuikTrip murder provide new details RIVERSIDE, MO (KCTV) - A man found shot dead outside his Jeep at a gas pump at a Riverside QuikTrip on Saturday was shot in the head from behind at close range. That's just one piece of new information available in a charging affidavit filed in court. What's missing though, is a motive. Developing . . . For news junkies and insomniacs we share more than a few items for consideration as we snag some of the most interesting topics from pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check the TKC collection . . . Local Public Safety Plea . . . Kansas City mom asking people to slow down after losing daughter in Monday crash KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri mom is making a plea for people to stop speeding after her daughter died in a Monday afternoon crash. Mother's Day is special for every mom but especially for Anna Hixon. "My daughter, Kayla Whitney was born on Mother's Day. Urban Vaxx Effort Cont'd Community group pushing to vaccinate more people on Kansas City's eastside Kansas City's east side has some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccinations numbers in our area.But the community group Our Healthy KC Eastside is hoping to bump the area's vaccinations numbers up. "Painless, you really didn't feel anything," said Cesar Guzman, who received his first dose at the group's vaccination clinic at the W.E.B. Community Outreach After Tragedy After Chiefs fan dies in hit-and-run, witness urges drivers to come forward KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It's been more than two days since a Kansas City Chiefs fan was killed outside of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night in a hit-and-run. The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said two drivers ran over 66-year-old Steve Hickle during the Chiefs vs. Near Disaster In The Dotte Today Gas leak closes Kansas City, Kansas supermarket, two people taken to hospital by: Brian Dulle Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A gas leak Tuesday afternoon closed a Kansas City, Kansas supermarket and sent multiple people to the hospital. Crews with the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department responded to a medical call just after 12 p.m. Luxury Redux: Retail Revival?!? Amazon taps Country Club Plaza for its first brick-and-mortar retail store in Kansas City The first Amazon retail outlet in the Kansas City metro is in the works for the Country Club Plaza, according to a permit application filed with the city last week. Would You Date A Pr0n Star?!? Adult actress Riley Reid quit filming scenes with men as dating became too hard The life of a porn star can often be glamorised, but popular adult actress Riley Reid has revealed that she had to stop filming certain scenes in order to form romantic connections outside of her work. The OnlyFans model has been open in the past about her struggles balancing the sexual activities in her career with her personal romantic life. Right Wing Comes Out Swinging Conservatives blast Biden's 'blatant intimidation attempt' to push his LGBTQ agenda President Biden celebrated "Coming Out Day" on Monday with a statement expressing love and acceptance for LGBTQ people and attacking state legislators for proposing and passing "discriminatory" and "anti-LGBTQ+ bills." Conservative groups that helped formulate those bills shot back, with one group accusing Biden of engaging in "blatant intimidation" with his statement. Many Have Money On MAGA Opinion: Ivanka Trump almost landed one of the world's biggest jobs Michael D'Antonio writes that former President Donald Trump's musings about appointing his daughter, Ivanka, to run the World Bank has severe implications. Congress Kites Check House passes bill to raise US debt ceiling through early December The US House of Representatives gave final approval on Tuesday to a Senate-passed bill temporarily raising the government's borrowing limit to $28.9tn, putting off the risk of default at least until early December. Democrats, who narrowly control the House, maintained party discipline to pass the hard-fought, $480bn debt limit increase. Veep Lashes Out Against History Kamala Harris denounces European explorers for ushering in 'wave of devastation' for Native Americans Vice President Kamala Harris denigrated the European explorers who discovered the Americas during a Tuesday speech at the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention. "Since 1934, every October, the United States has recognized the voyage of the European explorers who first landed on the shores of the Americas," said Harris. American Symbolism Evolves Black flag: Understanding the Trumpists' latest threatening symbol It's an old truism that the "real bad men" (and bad women) "move in silence and violence." That's certainly true for the most dangerous and most effective of Donald Trump's allies, henchmen, henchwomen, and other followers. But for Donald Trump himself, and most of his political cult, that rule does not apply. GREAT RESIGNATION WORSENS!!! A record 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in August, led by food and retail industries Job openings declined sharply in August while hiring also fell and the level of workers quitting their jobs hit the highest level since at least late-2000, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Employment vacancies fell to 10.44 million during the month, a drop of 659,000 from July's upwardly revised 11.1 million, according to the department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Blessing For Resistance?!?! Military archbishop says Catholic troops can refuse Covid vaccines on religious grounds "This circumstance raises the question of whether the vaccine's moral permissibility precludes an individual from forming a sincerely held religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience," he wrote. "It does not." Broglio has expressed support for President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for the military in the past - citing guidance from Pope Francis, the Holy See and the U.S. Latest Viral Sensation Squid Game is Netflix's biggest debut hit, reaching 111m viewers worldwide Dystopian South Korean drama Squid Game has become Netflix's most popular series ever, drawing 111 million fans since its debut less than four weeks ago, the streaming service said Tuesday. The unprecedented global viral hit imagines a macabre world in which marginalised people are pitted against one another in traditional children's games. Second Act Deconstructed Dave Chappelle's Betrayal You ever hear the one about the famous Black comedian who disappeared when he realized the white people watching him were laughing a little too hard and likely for the wrong reasons? Hottie Variety Sells Merch Emily Ratajkowski, Cindy Crawford, Vanessa Hudgens, and more stun in lingerie for Rihanna's Savage runway show Many celebrity friends of Rihanna walked in her third Savage X Fenty show that premiered Friday in Los Angeles on Amazon Prime. Former supermodel Cindy Crawford, 55, opened the show in a jewel-toned dress with a keyhole in the front and a thigh-high slit. She walked down a spiral staircase as Jade Novah sang. Old School Tribute Bust Out Emmy Rossum rocks a platinum blonde wig on the set of Angelyne Emmy Rossum was seen working on the Los Angeles set of the upcoming bioseries Angelyne on Tuesday afternoon. The Shameless actress, 35, was nearly unrecognizable while costumed to appear like the eponymous pop culture icon, whose image appeared on billboards all over Hollywood in the 1980s. Piggy Promo On Local Affiliate Actor and KC native Eric Stonestreet works to dispel the myths of pig farming Yes, that Eric Stonestreet. The former pig farmer turned actor Stonestreet grew up in Kansas City on a farm. He is plenty familiar with pigs."Wyandotte County Fair was a big thing in my life every year, going to the fair and spending the night at the fair with my friends," Stonestreet said. Healthy Upgrade For Hospital Saint Luke's Health System raises minimum wage again KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the second straight year, Saint Luke's Health System has announced an increase to its minimum wage. Saint Luke's will pay its frontline employees a minimum of $17.50 per hour, effective the first pay period in November. The health system announced a minimum-wage increase to $15 an hour last November. The Dotte Remains A Dump Wyandotte County residents can get rid of trash piling up on these two days by: Mike Coutee Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Unified Government's Public Works Department is hosting a community's first Dumpster Days on Oct. 22 and 23. Residents can head to the parking lot of the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas, from 8 a.m. Elon Error Or Middle-Class Mistake?!? Tesla crashes into Olathe business Tuesday afternoon KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A car crashed into an empty Olathe business Tuesday afternoon near West 151st Street and Lone Elm Road. A Tesla with two women in the car drove into Ariel Infrastructure Services, according to an Olathe Fire Department spokesperson. The business was empty at the time. Autumn Cool Down Underway Increasing clouds tonight, lows in the 60s Hide Transcript Show Transcript KELLY: STILL HAVE SOME RAIN IN THE FORECAST. LARA: I WAS LOOKING AT THE WEATHECIR RCLE. HERE COMES NEVILLE. HE IS MULTITASKING. NEVIE:LL WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON OFF TO THE WEST'S ARE DOUBLE CHECKED THE EVENINGS. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . . Hopefully, we'll have more for the morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!! Local news is skipping this angle but it's important . . . Southwest is the leader and one of the biggest investors in New KCI. More than a few denizens of our blog community blame the airline for persuading voters with a bevy of sketchy promises for a smallish and ultimately disappointing new airport. And now . . . Southwest is mired in vaxx mandate confrontation and allegations from right wing pundits and keyboard warriors. And so this begs the question . . . WILL SOUTHWEST CULTURE WAR WITH CONSERVATIVES SOUR NEW KCI?!? Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Tucker Carlson blames Southwest flight disruption on Biden vaccine mandate Tucker Carlson has claimed the cancellation of thousands of flights by Southwest Airlines was "a direct consequence" of the Biden administration's vaccination mandate for federal workers. Southwest is a private company, not subject to federal vaccine rules. Amid Southwest cancelations, unsupported 'sickout' claims circulate When Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights over the weekend, citing bad weather and air traffic control issues, unsupported claims blaming vaccine mandates began taking off.Conservative politicians and pundits, including Republican Sen. Southwest CEO says he's against vaccine mandates, blames Biden Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly says he's against making his employees have the COVID-19 vaccine, but President Joe Biden has forced his hand with the federal mandate. "I've never been in favor of corporations imposing that kind of a mandate. Southwest Airlines Pilots Association Wants Clarity On The Details Of The Covid Vaccine Mandate Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), joined CNBC's 'Squawk Box' on Tuesday to talk about the thousands of canceled Southwest flights that the company and union agree has nothing to do with a lawsuit objecting to the way the airline is implementing federal vaccine requirements and recommendations. Southwest Airlines Woes May Foreshadow Trouble for Busy Holiday Travel Season American air travel is taking off again for the upcoming holidays but passengers may need to deal with possible headaches like the recent cancelations at Southwest Airlines, experts say. "Don't be afraid to get out there but just be patient. That's the key," said Daniel Burnham, senior passenger operations specialist for Scott's Cheap Flights. You decide . . . Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : MALDIVES TOURISM MARKET WORTH USD 5 BILLION BY 2027 INDICATES IMPRESSIVE GROWTH RATE DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD Industry: Destinations Maldives will attract more than 2.5 million international tourists and generated more than US$ 5 billion revenues by 2027 (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - October 12th, 2021 - Latest released, the research study on Maldives Tourism Market Report Forecast 2021 2027, offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the Maldives Tourism Market. Download Free Sample Report @ https://dpiresearch.com/request-a-free-sample-report Maldives Tourism Market offers the most up-to-date industry data on the actual market situation and future outlook for Maldives tourism market. The report uses data and analysis to discuss future trends related to international tourists arrivals, spending, the purpose of visits and main destination markets. 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DPI Research reaches across the globe with global standards from established markets in North America and Europe to emerging markets in South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa to provide the best business solutions. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release : CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Maria Rai Company: DPI Research Phone: 07667648693 Email: sales@dpiresearch.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS On the slate Pink Ribbon Bagel: Through Oct. 31, Panera Bread, 400 Town Centre Drive in Richland Township, will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center. Walk-in mammography screenings: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Conemaugh Somerset Outpatient Center, 1291 N. Center Ave.; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at Conemaugh East Hills Outpatient Center, 1450 Scalp Ave., Suite 003B, Richland Township; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at Conemaugh Miners Medical Center, 290 Haida Ave., Hastings. Say Yes to Yoga: 9 a.m. Monday in the Good Samaritan building, 1020 Franklin St., Johnstown. The gentle, mindful yoga session is for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. Color Me Pink Run/Walk: 5K begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 23 and the walk begins at 9:15 a.m. Register online at www.windbercare.org/pink21. For more information, call 814-467-3705. Event benefits the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center. Open house: 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 at Conemaugh East Hills Outpatient Center, 1450 Scalp Ave., Suite 003B, Richland Township. There will be breast health speakers, refreshments, giveaways and a raffle drawing. Open house: 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 at Conemaugh Somerset Outpatient Center, 1291 N. Center Ave., Somerset. There will be breast health speakers, refreshments, giveaways and a raffle drawing. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: Dorsett Automotive Instant unlimited access to all of our content on triplicate.com. The Triplicate's E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Tucson, AZ (85741) Today A few clouds. Low 54F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 54F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. A shot of more than 200,000 flags in the exhibit, "In America: How Could This Happen..." Visitors to the site are encouraged to walk among the flags, which stretch for two blocks, and mark them with names and tributes to loved ones who died of COVID-19. As part of City Week celebrations in San Fernando, the Nalis West Indian Reference Library was launched at Harris Promenade today. It signals the library's partial move back to Library Corner since its relocation six years ago. The Library will open to the public in less than a month. Over the past 24 hours, October 12, Russian occupation forces six times violated the ceasefire, including two using weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Thats according to the Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports. Outside Zaitseve, the enemy fired small arms at the Armed Forces defense positions. Near Novozvanivka, the invaders fired automatic machine grenade launchers. In the area of Krymske, enemy armed groups used easel-mounted anti-tank grenade launchers. Toward Prychepylivka, the enemy fired anti-tank grenades and employed large-caliber machine guns. Positions of Ukrainian troops near Krasnohorivka came under fire of 82 mm mortars and grenade launchers of various systems. In the direction of Maryinka, mercenaries opened fire using 82 mm mortars and MANPADs. Enemy provocations brought no casualties to the Joint Forces. Ukrainian defenders returned fire without using weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements. As of 7:00 Kyiv time on October 13, no new ceasefire violations were reported. im Humanitarian cargo weighing 39.17 tonnes was delivered to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions currently occupied by Russia. As the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine informs, the humanitarian cargo was transferred from all Geneva Conventions member states that contribute to the global budget of the International Committee of the Red Cross. "We would like to thank for the long-term cooperation between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. In accordance with Paragraph 1 of the Order of the Ministry No. 51 of July 17, 2020, the ICRC informs about the intentions to deliver humanitarian aid to the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are beyond the control of the Government of Ukraine," the ICRC said in a letter to the Ministry of Reintegration. Three trucks transported the humanitarian aid through the Novotroitske entry-exit checkpoint. As reported, on October 11, the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories stated that the Russian-controlled occupation administration in certain areas of Luhansk region had been blocking the entry-exit checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska since October 10. ol The Security Service of Ukraine has confirmed that the members of illegal armed groups with the self-styled LPR/DPR have been using Russian-made unmanned aerial vehicles, including in strikes on Ukraines defense positions. Thats according to the SBU press center, Ukrinform reports. The inquiry has precisely identified a downed enemy drone earlier used in attacks on Joint Forces positions. Russian proxy forces had been using the aircraft, later intercepted over the demarcation line, in reconnaissance missions, as well as artillery spotting in attacks on Ukrainian military positions. According to the forensic examination report, the intercepted UAV turned out to be a Grenade-1 combat drone, produced by one of the Russian defense factories. Further investigation is underway within the framework of criminal proceedings launched by the SBU into an act of terror and violation of laws and customs of war, to identify all circumstances of the said offenses, identify perpetrators, and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, another two enemy UAVs intercepted on the line of demarcation were sent for forensic examination. im The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy is not considering the issue of commercial imports from Russia and Belarus for the heating season. The Ministry of Energy is not considering the issue of commercial imports from Russia and Belarus for the planned passage of heating season. The Ministry of Energy has proposed the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities that imports from Russia and Belarus be banned, the Ministry of Energy said in a statement, Ukrinform reports. At the same time, as to the current coal accumulation rates, the ministry noted that the schedule of accumulation, which has almost doubled in August, "provides for the possibility of constant passage of the autumn-winter period in the most critical conditions." The ministry also noted that the issue of voluntary or compulsory restrictions of electricity consumption is not on the agenda. As reported, the Ministry of Energy expects to balance coal reserves in the warehouses of thermal power plants (TPPs) and combined heat and power plants (CHPs) though imports. As of October 4, coal reserves in the warehouses of Ukrainian (TPPs) amounted to 713,000 tonnes, which is 8.2% less than on September 27. According to the Ministry of Energy, in October, Ukraine plans to import 600,000 tonnes of coal, the own production is projected at 1.7 million tonnes. iy G7 Ambassadors discussed Ukraines progress in its IMF program with IMF mission chief to Ukraine Ivanna Vladkova Hollar. Ambassadors were pleased to hear about Ukraines delivery against some conditions for its Stand-By Arrangement, including steps on banking and the Deposit Guarantee Fund, reads the statement posted on Twitter account of the UK Presidency of the G7 Ambassadors Support Group in Ukraine. As noted, Ambassadors remain committed to help Ukraine implement the reforms that, alongside the IMF program, will support Ukraines prosperity. According to G7 Ambassadors, these include completing comprehensive judicial reform, including the High Council of Justice, and corporate governance in line with OECD guidelines. On October 12, the International Monetary Fund presented its World Economic Outlook. According to the document, the IMF downgraded Ukraine's GDP growth forecast by 20% for 2021 but slightly upgraded its estimate for 2022. ol The ground infrastructure of Russias gas transmission system is in poor condition. Thats according to the article by the Center for Strategic Communications "Ukraines GTS capacity would be sufficient to cover demand of two Europes," posted on Ukrinform. The poor condition of the Russian GTS is confirmed by both its operating time and technical indicators. This is especially true of traditional transit routes Urengoy, Progress, and Souyz. Since the beginning of 2021 alone, the Russian GTS suffered seven major accidents: the one on the Perm-Gorky-1 trunk pipe, the emergency situation on the Kachkanar branch, accidents on the Soyuz and Orenburg-Novopskov pipelines, fires at the Yubileyniy field, a branch to the Beloretsk gas distribution system, the Central Asia-Center 2 and Urengoy-Center 2 pipelines. Earlier, the chief of Gas TSO of Ukraine Sergiy Makogon said the statistics of emergencies recorded suggest that Russia should boost investment in supporting its own GTS. Nord Stream is only a small part of Russia's GTS that requires daily attention. Therefore, the money spent on the excessive Nord Stream 2 could be spent on upgrading Russia's existing GTS, Makogon said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ukrainian GTS is undergoing further modernization. Since year-start, more than UAH 4.6 billion has been spent to its end. im As of October 13, Ukraine registered 29,493 agreements on the purchase and sale of agricultural land, Ukrinform reports. According to the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, 5,129 notaries submitted applications for access to the State Land Cadastre. The total number of applications is 5,759. Of these, 5,094 applications were approved, whereas 662 were rejected. Between July 1 and October 13, 73,447 hectares of agricultural land were sold in Ukraine. The largest areas of farmland were sold in Kirovohrad region (10,150.3 ha), Kharkiv region (9,520.2 ha) and Poltava region (6,578.7 ha). As reported, Ukraine officially launched the land market on July 1. Until 2024, only Ukrainian citizens will be able to buy agricultural land - up to 100 hectares per person. The issue of selling land to people without Ukrainian citizenship will be decided only in a nationwide referendum. iy The Board of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has met with G7 Ambassadors and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, according to the central bank's press service. "It is very important for me to maintain a dialogue with international partners, which enables us to discuss our achievements and lines of further cooperation," NBU Governor Kyrylo Shevchenko said as he opened the meeting. The NBU Governor and his deputies briefed the representatives of the international diplomatic community on the progress and results achieved on important issues: cooperation with the IMF, strengthening the NBUs institutional capacity and independence, improving corporate governance in banks, progress in the recovery of insolvent banks assets, and recent changes in Ukrainian banking legislation. Among other things, the participants talked about the macroeconomic situation in Ukraine, the NBUs monetary policy, the resilience of the Ukrainian banking sector to potential global challenges, as well as the regulatory framework for the virtual assets market, the report says. The central bank added that international partners expressed their support for the activities of the NBUs top management. iy Kyiv's Pechersky District Court has rejected the petition to change the measure of restraint for Viktor Medvedchuk, an MP from the Opposition Platform - For Life party, in the form of arrest with the possibility of putting up UAH 1 billion bail and left him under round-the-clock house arrest, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. The term of house arrest was set until December 7, 2021 inclusive. The prosecutor's office earlier handed Medvedchuk a petition on the measure of restraint for him changed from house arrest to arrest with the possibility of posting UAH 1 billion bail. According to the investigation files, Medvedchuk persuaded the leadership of Ukraine to deliver fuel from "LPR" and "DPR" and pay directly to the leaders of terrorist organizations. According to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, in 2015, at least UAH 200 million was transferred, cashed out, and distributed to "LPR" and "DPR" for coal supplies from the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions and for the implementation of the overall criminal plan to promote their activities, not taking into account the funds paid in cash, out of the planned more than UAH 3.16 billion. op Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Ihor Zhovkva has said that the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit was an important stage in the development of political dialogue and the deepening of integration between Ukraine and the European Union, the President's Office has reported. "The European Union is developing, Ukraine is developing, and our relations are becoming more ambitious, and accordingly, the results of our negotiations and plans for the future are increasing," he said, commenting on the results of the meeting. Zhovkva focused on a joint statement adopted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of European institutions after the summit. The statement consists of 25 clauses and contains key achievements and agreements of the parties. "Such volume of the document testifies to an increasingly broader and comprehensive bilateral agenda between Ukraine and the European Union," Zhovkva said. He singled out three main blocks of the joint statement: foreign policy, economy, and reforms. The economic block of the document sets out achievements in the field of economy and outlines further prospects. In particular, Ukraine will begin even deeper integration into the EU internal market. According to Zhovkva, there have been no such provisions in joint Ukraine-EU statements so far. "It is very typical that this provision appeared in the paragraph on European aspirations and Ukraine's European choice - we have not had such a combination before," he added. The document also mentions the main successes of Ukraine in the implementation of the Association Agreement and integration with the European market, and further plans, for example, an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products. The parties agreed to complete the second phase of the mission on preliminary assessment of the quality of the Ukrainian infrastructure as soon as possible in order to start official negotiations next year, Zhovkva said. In the political part of the joint statement, much attention is paid to the issue of security - it is addressed in as many as seven points in the document. According to Zhovkva, along with the traditional signals of the EU's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is clearly stated that Russia is a party to the conflict in Donbas. The need for the deoccupation of Crimea was also clearly supported, and support for the Crimea Platform and the declaration approved by the EU member states was confirmed. In addition, according to Zhovkva, the EU is currently considering launching an EU military advisory and training mission in Ukraine with the support of the Lithuanian side. "Given that 2022 has been designated the year of European defense in the EU, the leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and dialogue in this area, given that the security of the whole Europe depends on the security of Ukraine," he said. In the issue of implementing reforms in Ukraine, the European Union has clearly supported judicial reform and the laws adopted to implement it. In addition, the success of the head of state in anti-corruption policy was noted. The European Union also noted the Ukrainian president's efforts towards de-oligarchization, commending the adoption of the relevant legislation and emphasizing the need for its full implementation. Also, according to Zhovkva, an important topic of the Ukraine-EU Summit was the energy security of Europe. "At a time when Russia is using gas as a weapon, we could not help but talk about it during the summit and stipulate it in the joint statement," Zhovkva said. According to him, the document clearly states that Russia has no right to use gas as a weapon against Ukraine. The EU has once again supported guarantees of gas transit through Ukraine after 2024. It was also made clear that any new gas pipelines must meet the requirements of the EU's Third Energy Package. "It is very important that both in the joint statement and following the summit the parties agreed to launch a high-level dialogue on energy issues. This means that Ukraine will be involved in a dialogue with all EU member states, and not only on gas issues," Zhovkva said. According to him, the potential unification of energy systems of Ukraine and the EU, scheduled for 2023, was discussed at the summit. It was also agreed to start a strategic dialogue on promising areas for the development of renewable energy sources and the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities. According to the report, the participants in the meeting paid a lot of attention to the issue of the digital economy. Ukraine's integration into the European Union's digital market was positively noted. In general, according to Zhovkva, "we can say that the results that Ukraine had sought have been achieved: the achievements of our state have been noted and further steps have been identified." "Today, the achievements are significant, but several important projects that we will implement have been identified at the summit, and a report on their implementation will be discussed during the next summit," Zhovkva said. After the signing at this year's summit of the Common Aviation Area Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, the main topic of negotiations in the field of infrastructure was the liberalization of road transport and joint projects in the field of transport aviation. In addition, according to Zhovkva, important agreements have been concluded, including Ukraine's participation in Horizon Europe, a program that supports science and innovation, and Creative Europe, a program that support Ukrainian writers, directors, musicians, journalists and more. "In general, the 23rd Summit was a joint success of Ukraine and the European Union. Today, important results were summed up and priorities for the next year were outlined," Zhovkva said. On October 12, in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a joint statement following the Ukraine-EU summit, in which the EU reaffirmed its continued commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union and reiterated its unwavering support and commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. op Ukraine has not yet received any signals from Russia that it is ready to hold a meeting at the level of foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine) in the coming weeks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this at an online briefing on Wednesday, October 13, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Kuleba said that this year, his German or French colleague asked him several times about his readiness to meet in the Normandy format at the level of foreign ministers. Kuleba said he had always declared his readiness to meet, but each time this meeting did not take place because Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov avoided it in every possible way. "I will be glad if the result of the last conversation between the French president, the German chancellor and the Russian president is a clear instruction from President Putin to Minister Lavrov to take part in the ministerial meeting, and he will do so, rather than find a reason to avoid this meeting again. I am ready for this conversation, so we are waiting, in fact, for a signal from Moscow. We have not received any signals so far. As soon as they make the decision, we will be ready to hold such a meeting," Kuleba said. The Elysee Palace reported on October 12 that following a phone call between the leaders of the Normandy Four countries, all parties had agreed to organize a meeting at the level of foreign ministers between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine in the next few weeks. op The Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests holding a meeting of the Associated Trio of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova with the European Union in the near future to discuss further trade liberalization in the context of the Green Deal and the digital transition of the EU. "We propose to hold another meeting in the EU + Associated Trio format in the near future to discuss further trade liberalization between Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and the EU in the context of the Green Deal and the digital transition of the European Union," Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said during an online briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Kuleba also stressed that the alliance countries would continue the practice of joint visits to the EU member states at all levels in order to acquaint European partners in detail with the Associated Trio initiative and the development of new areas of cooperation. According to him, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova seek to find additional tools to promote and accelerate the integration of the Associated Trio into the EU internal market. The priority areas of cooperation between the Associated Trio and the EU are trade, security, healthcare, improving relations between the countries of the region, digitalization, and environmental protection, the chief Ukrainian diplomat noted. As reported, on May 17, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova signed a memorandum on the establishment of the Associated Trio for the joint successful European integration of the three countries. On July 19, the leaders of the Associated Trio countries held a meeting in Batumi with the participation of European Council President Charles Michel. In the declaration following the meeting, the parties called that accession to the European Union a goal uniting the three countries. The Associated Trio has no alternative to European integration, and no one will be able to influence that choice. ol Ukraine is determined to respond decisively to any manifestations of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, intolerance and to prevent the spread of hate crimes, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. According to the government portal, he said this during his speech in Sweden at the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism. "The memory of the Holocaust tragedy is an element of the national memory of the Ukrainian people. By honoring it, it is possible to form a society characterized by feelings of tolerance, interethnic and interfaith understanding, where human rights are basic," Shmyhal said. Read also: Ukraine to cooperate with United States to preserve Jewish heritage sites He also noted that Babyn Yar is one of the most difficult memories of the Holocaust. "This tragedy is an eternal reminder of the need for joint, decisive efforts to prevent the revival of totalitarian ideologies, manifestations of intolerance on ethnic grounds," Shmyhal said. He added that Ukraine became the first post-Soviet country to include the topic of the Holocaust in the 1990s as mandatory for students in all schools in the country in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Europe. He also recalled that in September this year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Preventing and Combating Anti-Semitism," which at the legislative level defines the term "anti-Semitism" and aims to prevent and combat anti-Semitism and its manifestations in Ukraine. The International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism brought together representatives of 70 countries and organizations. It should result in the reaffirmation and revision of the norms of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration and the adoption of new norms, the most important of which is the fight against anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. The event is being held in Malmo on October 13-14 under the chairmanship of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and with the participation of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the leadership of the European Union, heads of state and government, representatives of international organizations. Shmyhal is on a working visit to Sweden. op As part of a working visit to Sweden on October 13, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with his Estonian counterpart Kaja Kallas. Thats according to the Cabinet Communications Department, Ukrinform reports. "Digitalization and e-governance are a priority in our cooperation. Estonia's achievements in this area are recognized all over the world, being a roadmap for Ukraine. Id like to express sincere gratitude to the Estonian side for assistance in implementing the State in a Smartphone" project, said Shmyhal. Ukraines PM stressed that the country seeks to intensify Ukrainian-Estonian cooperation, including as regards the use of transit, logistics, and industrial potential, as well as partnership in cybersecurity and digital economy. Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Estonia for their strong support of Ukraine in obtaining membership in the Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE). The head of the Ukrainian government also stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector. "Development of renewables, as well as strengthening energy security, are key issues on the Ukrainian Government agenda today. We have completed the entire technical part toward connecting the Ukrainian power system to ENTSO-E. This will mark an important step towards Ukraines energy independence," the prime minister noted. In addition, Denys Shmyhal said the latest signing of the Common Aviation Area deal with the EU should offer an incentive for the development of transit and tourism potential between Ukraine and Estonia. The prime minister of Ukraine thanked the Government of Estonia for COVID-19 vaccine supplies, including to the Ukrainian military. Shmyhal also expressed gratitude for the comprehensive humanitarian, financial, and technical assistance provided, inter alia on the path of reform implementation. im Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba highlights 10 genuinely new provisions of the statement made following the UkraineEU Summit on October 12. During his online briefing, Kuleba said he was satisfied with the joint statement made following the Summit, which has important and strong wording, and outlined 10 genuinely new provisions. In particular, for the first time in recent years, one of the main goals of the Association Agreement was confirmed further integration of Ukraine into the EU internal market, which is the foundation of economic integration with the European Union, and the Associated Trio was recognized. The minister also noted that the format managed to overcome skepticism, for which Moldova and Georgia are grateful to Ukraine. He believes that this is especially important on the eve of the Eastern Partnership summit. In addition, the foreign minister highlighted the EU's support for Ukrainian reforms, including anti-oligarchic legislation; specific provisions on strengthening security and defense cooperation, namely the possible support for Ukraine in the field of professional military education, and the interest in participating in certain PESCO projects. Kuleba also drew attention to the readiness to start revising customs tariffs and to ambitiously update the Association Agreement; commendation of the progress on the path towards signing the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products; confirmation of Ukraine's integration into the ENTSO-E network and strong support for Ukraine's energy security in the fight against Russian energy blackmail. "The EU is ready to cooperate with us to counter the use of gas as an energy weapon, and it is especially important that the EU confirmed in the closed part of the negotiations and publicly that the Third Energy Package will be applied to Nord Stream 2. This was one of Ukraine's demands, something we have consistently insisted on," the minister commented the issue of energy security. Kuleba also stressed the clear condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the full support for the Crimea Platform and the readiness of the EU to work on the implementation of the provisions of its declaration. "It was difficult to imagine such detailed formulations by the EU a few years ago," he said, commenting on the European Union's condemnation of Russia's aggression. On October 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen signed a joint statement following the UkraineEU Summit, in which the EU reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Ukraine's political association and economic integration with the EU and its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. ol More than 71 tonnes of humanitarian cargo has been delivered to the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the press service of the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine has reported. "Today, October 13, humanitarian cargo weighing a total of 71.1 tonnes has been delivered to Russia-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," the report says. The cargo was transferred from all member states of the Geneva Conventions that make contributions to the global budget of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "We would like to thank you for the long-term cooperation between the ICRC and the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. In accordance with paragraph 1 of the ministrys order, No.51, of July 17, 2020, the ICRC informs about the intentions to deliver humanitarian aid to the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are not under the control of the Ukrainian governor, the ICRC wrote in a letter to the Ukrainian ministry. Thus, four trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed the Novotroitske entry-exit checkpoint, according to the ministry. As Ukrinform reported, on October 12, humanitarian cargo weighing 39.17 tonnes was delivered to Russia-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. iy Internally displaced and local women grow vegetables together on community land in Rutshuru Territory, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu province. UNHCR/Blaise Sanyila Geneva The 16th of October is World Food Day. This year, the World Food Day commemorations will be jointly led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Food Programme (WFP). As part of the commemorations, the three agencies will host a panel discussion on Friday, 15 October 2021, titled Celebrating efforts to strengthen local food systems for displaced and host communities. The event, which will be held virtually, will spotlight how inclusion of forcibly displaced people into local food systems can contribute to greater food security and socio-economic prosperity for them and the host communities. It will bring together frontline stakeholders and governments. Speakers include: H.E. Felix Bauman, Head of Multilateral Division, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN Representative from the US Mission in Geneva (TBD) Mr. Sajjad Malik, UNHCR Director, Division of Resilience and Solutions Mr. Peter Musoko, WFP Country Director in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ms. Irene Omondi, UNHCR Head of Sub-Regional Office in Mozambique Ms. Felicita Aniboti, refugee from DRC living in South Sudan Mr. Antonio Querido, FAO Representative in Uganda To participate in the event, members of the media can register here. To mark the event, the agencies are supporting the distribution of 300 lunch boxes to vulnerable people, including refugees. The lunch boxes are prepared by CuisineLab, a social enterprise run by refugee chefs in Geneva, and distributed throughout Geneva by Mater Fondazione. World Food Day is commemorated each year on 16 October to mark the founding of FAO in 1945. Events are organized in some 150 countries across the world with multiple partners and governments. For more information please contact: Linda Layson White, 70, passed away Wednesday. Nov. 10, 2021. Services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at West View Cemetery. Mrs. White was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 16, 1951, to Howard Winkfield Layson and Toy Curry Layson. She grew up in Macon and graduated f Jim Beck, commissioner of the Georgia Insurance Department, speaks at a press conference about an insurance fraud bust in a courtroom at the Clayton County Superior Court in Jonesboro, Ga., Friday, March 1, 2019. A federal judge has sentenced former Georgia Insurance Commissioner Beck to more than seven years in prison for fraud. The judge on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, also ordered Beck to pay $2.6 million in restitution to make up for money he stole from an insurer. (Emily Haney/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) San Francisco, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2021 ) :Apple is unlikely to meet production goals for its new iPhone before the holidays because of a global electronic chip shortage, a report said Tuesday. The firm had planned to produce 90 million iPhone 13s before the end of the year, but will have to settle with 80 million as suppliers Broadcom and Texas Instruments cannot meet demand, the Bloomberg news said, citing sources familiar with the matter who asked to remain anonymous. Apple presented a new line of iPhones last month, with four new models, including the iPhone 13 Mini, which sells from $700, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which costs $1,100. "We estimate that overall demand has been robust globally," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said, highlighting strong demand in China and the United States especially. "Apple will be running into a 5 million-plus iPhone 13 unit shortage for the holiday season if consumer demand keeps up at this pace," he added. Chief executive Tim Cook warned during quarterly earnings reports in late July that supply chain constraints would have an even bigger impact on the current quarter than it had in the previous three months. He pointed out that electronic chip shortages were affecting all parts of the industry, not just Apple, and stemmed from significantly higher-than-expected demand. juj/mav/caw/dan (@FahadShabbir) ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 13th Oct, 2021) The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), has announced it accredited six of its centres in Al Dhafra to provide COVID-19 rapid PCR test results within five hours. These rapid PCR tests are available in: COVID-19 Prime Assessment Centre in Madinat Zayed, as well as the SEHA COVID-19 Drive-Through Services Centres in Madinat Zayed, Gayathi, Delma, Liwa and Marfa. Members of the public who wish to receive their COVID-19 results within five hours will need to pay in advance AED250 at the time of registering for their screening appointment. SEHA COVID-19 Drive-Through Services Centres in Al Dhafra are open for 12 hours from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. For the COVID-19 Prime Assessment Centre in Madinat Zayed, its working hours are from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Those wishing to receive a rapid COVID-19 result will receive the test results via SMS, as well as through the Al Hosn app and SEHA app. Al Dhafra Hospitals provides specialised COVID-19 services covering all the cities in Al Dhafra Region across its facilities in Madinat Zayed, Gayathi, Silla, Delma, Liwa and Marfa, with a capacity of up to 3,500 checks per day. Appointments are available the SEHA app. To ensure PCR rapid test results are delivered in record time, all COVID-19 screening services centres in Al Dhafra Region are equipped with the latest devices and technologies and supported by SEHAs highly qualified and trained medical, nursing, and administrative teams. New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2021 ) :Daily exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals used in everything from plastic containers to makeup, may lead to approximately 100,000 deaths in older Americans annually, a study from New York University warned Tuesday. The chemicals, which can be found in hundreds of products such as toys, clothing and shampoo, have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors," affecting a person's endocrine system. The toxins can enter the body through such items and are linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, said the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution. The research, which was carried out by New York University's Grossman school of Medicine and includes some 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64, shows that those with higher concentrations of phthalates in their urine were more likely to die of heart disease. However, higher concentrations did not appear to increase the risk of death by cancer. "Our findings reveal that increased phthalate exposure is linked to early death, particularly due to heart disease," said study lead author Leonardo Trasande. "Until now, we have understood that the chemicals connect to heart disease, and heart disease in turn is a leading cause of death, but we had not yet tied the chemicals themselves to death." Trasande cautioned, however, that the study does not establish a direct cause and effect relationship between phthalate exposure and death, in part because the specific biological mechanisms of that relationship are unclear. "Our research suggests that the toll of this chemical on society is much greater than we first thought," Trasande said, adding that it "is undeniably clear that limiting exposure to toxic phthalates can help safeguard Americans' physical and financial wellbeing."Other studies have already linked phthalates to more than 10,000 deaths per year associated with reduced testosterone levels in adult men. The study added that the economic loss due to phthalates is between $40 billion and $47 billion -- more than four times what was previously estimated. The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) on Wednesday awarded licences to carry out oil and gas exploration activities in Attock district of Punjab province and Loralai district of Balochistan, under its strategy to make the country self-reliant in energy sector ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2021 ) :The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) on Wednesday awarded licences to carry out oil and gas exploration activities in Attock district of Punjab province and Loralai district of Balochistan, under its strategy to make the country self-reliant in energy sector. Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar witnessed the licence-awarding ceremony, a Petroleum Division news release said. Hammad Azhar said $ 30,000 would be spent to undertake social welfare activities in each well-drilling locality every year. He expressed confidence that with successful drilling and subsequent discoveries of hydrocarbon deposits, the country's fuel import bill would reduce, adding the government had stepped up the efforts to identify and exploit the untapped existing mineral resources in potential areas across the country. The minister said the government would award offshore oil and gas licences in the coming few months. He said the government was in the process of establishing new terminals for increased import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) aimed at meeting the country's ever-growing energy needs efficiently. Besides, he said exploration activities had been initiated on war-footing to discover new oil and gas reservoirs in the country. BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2021) Kosovar Serbs will use all available means to defend themselves from the security forces in case of further intervention in the northern regions, Goran Rakic, the leader of the Serb List party, said on Wednesday. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Kosovar Serbs in the Serbian town of Raska, near the administrative line between central Serbia and northern Kosovo, in the wake of riots over a law enforcement operation by the Kosovo police. In his speech, Rakic, whose party represents the interests of ethnic Serbs in the self-proclaimed republic, talked about heavily armed policemen using violence against protesters. "Think of it as you will but we will defend ourselves with all means available. And the Serb List will fight alongside its people to the end," Rakic said during a meeting with Vucic, broadcast by Serbian news agency Tanjug. Earlier in the day, civil unrest broke out in the Serb-populated area of the city of Mitrovica, allegedly over actions by Kosovo law enforcement officers. According to local media, residents blocked several streets after the police raided pharmacies and retail locations, demanding paperwork for their goods and customs declarations. The police used flashbang grenades and teargas against the protesters. At least ten people have been hospitalized, including one in life-threatening condition. The self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo dispatched officers of the regional operational support unit (ROSU) to the Northern Mitrovica region, part of North Kosovo with an ethnic Serb majority, as locals protest against anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Kosovo Interior Ministry, Kosovo Online reported on Wednesday BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2021) The self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo dispatched officers of the regional operational support unit (ROSU) to the Northern Mitrovica region, part of North Kosovo with an ethnic Serb majority, as locals protest against anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Kosovo Interior Ministry, Kosovo Online reported on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, people gathered in the Serbian part of the city of Mitrovica to protest against the actions of the Kosovo police, which raided local pharmacies and shops and required owners to provide customs declarations and documents related to the goods. The citizens blocked off several streets, the news said. After the local police officers used tear gas and flashbangs to disperse the crowds, ROSU officers were reportedly dispatched from the southern, Albanian, part of the city. The situation in the city remains tense, the news outlet said. According to the Kosovo police, the raid is part of the operation against smuggled goods launched in four regions of Kosovo, including Prishtina, Peja, Mitrovica South and Mitrovica North. The operation is carried out in coordination with competent authorities, the prosecution, Kosovo customs officers and different police units, the police noted. BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th October, 2021) Paraguay will begin COVID-19 vaccination of children aged six and over, as well as certain categories of citizens with a booster vaccine dose, before 2022, Health Minister Julio Borba said on Wednesday. "We will begin to provide the third dose of vaccine to citizens over 50 years of age with low immunity, and to health personnel. By the end of the year, it is planned to extend vaccination to children over six years old. We want to do this by the end of the year," Borba said at a summit of ministers at the presidential palace. Paraguay will also start vaccination of adolescents aged 12 and 17 without comorbidities, the minister added. The number of registered COVID-19 cases in Paraguay for the entire period of the pandemic is estimated to be 460,244, with 16,207 deaths. The daily number of cases is currently decreasing, with an average of 22 new infections per day, representing 1% of the peak reported on May 27. Paraguay has administered at least 4,836,914 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which means about 34% of the country's population has been vaccinated. (@FahadShabbir) Slovakia is ready to deploy border guards to Poland as assistance in protecting the border with Belarus from illegal migrants, Slovak parliamentary speaker Boris Kollar said on Wednesday WARSAW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2021) Slovakia is ready to deploy border guards to Poland as assistance in protecting the border with Belarus from illegal migrants, Slovak parliamentary speaker Boris Kollar said on Wednesday. "Slovakia is ready to send a certain contingent of police or Border Guard officers, as it did earlier in the case of Macedonia, if there is such a need on the Polish side," Kollar said. As the Polish border is part of the external borders of the European Union's Schengen Area, within which 26 member states have opened their internal borders for the unrestricted movement of people, Kollar stressed that the Slovak contingent, if sent to Poland, will be "guarding the border of not only Poland but the entire Schengen zone. " Over the past seven weeks, the Polish Border Guard has reported over 18,000 attempts by illegal migrants to cross from Belarus. Over 6,000 such attempts were recorded in October alone. Since August, when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said EU sanctions left Minsk with no resources to restrain the flow of migrants to the EU any longer, Poland, as well as neighboring Lithuania and Latvia, have reported an increase in illegal crossing attempts. They accuse Belarus of encouraging the migration, which Minsk denies. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will hold Interaction-2021 military drills in Tajikistan close to the Afghan border from October 22-23 under monitoring of CSTO member states' lawmakers, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2021) The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will hold Interaction-2021 military drills in Tajikistan close to the Afghan border from October 22-23 under monitoring of CSTO member states' lawmakers, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly said. "From October 22-23, CSTO nations' lawmakers will take part in the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces drills Interaction-2021 on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan as part of the military and political monitoring of the situation in the Central Asian region," the parliamentary assembly wrote on Telegram on Wednesday. "During the exercise, the lawmakers will monitor actions aimed at identifying and destroying terrorist armed formations invading CSTO state border areas in the Central Asian region of the organization's responsibility," the statement read. National Archives Month - How does VA do it? Many people interested in our progress have asked excellent questions about what we are doing, how we are going to get there, and who we intend to be. As those answers have come clearer, Archives Month seemed to be an excellent time to discuss them. VA's archives are both digital and physical One of the earliest decisions I made as the VA History Office Senior Archivist was that digital and textual records would carry equal importance in the National VA History Center (NVAHC) Archives, and that the infrastructure was built at the same time. The truth is that digital materials are as fragile and at risk, just in a different way. Think about the 1990s through the mid-2000s, when we were saving everything to 3.5 inch disks and CD-ROM. Through time, hardware and software changes, and disks simply being thrown away, many of those records are simply gone. This dual concept was important enough that when designing an image for the cover of NVAHCAs Collections Management Plan, I asked our designer, Tessa Kalman, formerly of the Dayton VA Medical Center, to represent both of these priorities, and she did a beautiful job. This balanced emphasis means we can serve a good portion of researchers now. Although we do not currently have the kind of physical working space that a researcher would expect, we can still meet at least some of those needs. For example, we have a French researcher working on mental health of returning soldiers. Because one of our collections is solely digital, we are able to respond to her faster than if we only focused on textual collections. It doesnt make textual materials less important, rather theres a value lost there if we focused on one aspect of our development. Our collections exist to serve researchers and thats what we do. How we serve researchers now and in the future. How do we actually serve researchers in France, at universities, and in our own senior leadership? First, by developing an excellent Collections Management Plan (CMP), which tells NVAHC Archives what and how, but also defines what researchers can expect and creates a level playing field for service. Then, researchers contact us -- usually through the VAHO email vahistoryoffice@va.gov, with their request. One of the ways we aid research requests is the use of finding aids. What is a finding aid? Its a document that spells out everything about a collection. The example below is from our Postcards Exhibit: These give the researcher the opportunity to find materials they are looking for and to expand into areas they may not have considered. Where will we be in a year? By this time next year, it is a fervent hope that we will have the type of web presence allowing researchers to look through our finding aids and then request the specific documents they wish to see. Next year is too soon for a fully-fledged website that will enable them to pull the documents on their own, but thats our desired long term end-state. The back-end analytics will allow us to maintain our metrics and glean information about where to further direct resources. Why is the NVAHC important? While the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has long been responsible for collecting federal government documents, they are selective and only collect 3-5% of records, focusing mostly on the what of an agencys work. At NVAHC Archives, we are interested in the answering how did that happen." We have a scope of collections and defined criteria (the CMP) that help ensure we stay within scope and provide researchers with unique material. *************************************************** Ok, I read all that. Now show me something cool! *************************************************** Below are images from a scanned souvenir program book from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, circa 1890. At that time, the campus was a tourist attraction as well as a domiciliary. The booklet gives glimpses into what Veterans and tourists experienced. I wouldnt call it Insta-worthy but you can very much see what things looked like at that time. A number of the buildings pictured still stand, including Building 116 which is where the future museum will be housed. Your prize is on the last page youll know it when you see it! Happy Archives Month, everyone! Archives Month Graphics: https://www2.archivists.org/initiatives/american-archives-month-the-power-of-collaboration The head of the French bishops has discussed the recent CIASE report on Sexual Abuse in the Church with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, clarifying his recent remarks on the seal of Confession in cases of abuse. By Lisa Zengarini The president of the Bishops Conference of France (CEF), Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort of Rennes, met the French Interior Minister, Mr. Gerald Darmanin, on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of the Report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE). The report was released on October 5 following a two-and-a-half-year investigation commissioned by the French Bishops and religious superiors in 2018 in response to a growing number of historical sexual abuse claims. According to the Commissions findings, an estimated total of 216,000 people currently living in France have been sexually assaulted by Catholic priests and religious between 1950 and 2020. Looking into Church's practices A press release issued after yesterdays meeting says Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort and Mr. Darmanin agreed that the Report is a major step towards truth and justice for the victims and commended the CIASE for its extraordinary work. During the talks, the prelate also referred to his recent comments regarding the seal of Confession, which Mr. Jean-Mark Sauve, president of CIASE, said should be removed in cases of abuse. The prelate sparked controversy earlier last week by saying in a radio interview that the secrecy of confession is above the law of the French Republic. He later apologized for using these inappropriate words. Speaking to the Interior Minister, he further clarified that Christian faith calls Christians to always pursue the Good and to be law-abiding citizens and acknowledged that the scale of sexual abuse on minors revealed by the CIASE report requires the Church to closely look into its practices. It is therefore necessary he said - to reconcile the intimate nature of the Sacrament of Confession and the indisputable need to protect children. Child protection an absolute priority The CEF president subsequently reaffirmed bishops determination to make child protection an absolute priority and to cooperate with the French authorities. In this regard, he recalled that 17 Dioceses across France have already established protocols with prosecution authorities in order to facilitate and speed up the processing of abuse cases. The prelate confirmed that French bishops will thoroughly examine the CIASE report and its 45 Recommendations during their Fall Plenary Assembly in November. Among other things, the recommendations call for stronger internal control mechanisms, a clearer definition of the role of the bishop so to ensure an impartial examination of the cases, and enhancing the involvement of laypeople in Church governance. Together against the scourge of sexual abuse in Church and society He reiterated his shame and dismay over the Report, but also his determination to carry out the necessary reforms so that the Church in France can regain the trust of all citizens. To this end he has invited parishes, movements, and communities to read and share the CIASE findings and to work on its recommendations. Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort has also urged all women and men of goodwill to work together against the scourge of sexual abuse in the Church and society at large. Pope Francis' personal shame at the CIASE report On Wednesday last week, Pope Francis expressed his personal shame and that of the entire Church over the CIASE Report: "I wish to express my sadness and pain to the victims for the trauma they have suffered and also our shame, my shame at the Churchs too long failure to place victims at the centre of its concerns, he said during his weekly General Audience. He encouraged the French Bishops and religious superiors to continue to make every effort so that similar tragedies will not occur again and called on Catholics to assume their responsibilities to ensure that the Church is a safe home for all. CEF and the Conference of Men and Women Religious in France (CORREF) have asked Pope Francis to meet the CIASE president and its 21 members. The Bishops' Conference of Central Asia brings together bishops and administrators of the Churches in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan By Vatican Radio staff reporter The Catholic bishops of Central Asia have formed a new regional bishops conference, bringing together the tiny Catholic communities of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, to help forge unity and growth through greater sharing. The move comes three decades after the five nations became independent from the communist rule under the Soviet Union. Central Asia The territory of the former Soviet republics covers the Caspian Sea in the west to China in the east, which is home to the Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz ethnic groups. Except for the Tajik, most of them speak local dialects of the Turkish language. The region has Russia and Iran to the north as neighbours, with Afghanistan and Iran to the south. It is a vast area of some 4 million sq km, which is about 64 percent the size of Europe, without Russia. With an estimated population of 72 million, mostly Muslim, Central Asia has a significant concentration of Russian Orthodox Christians. Walking a common path "It is the result of two years of work and will bring the Catholic presence in this land to grow and mature, said Bishop Adelio DellOro of Karaganda in Kazakhstan. We will have the opportunity to give greater meaning to our mission here, to understand what it means, 30 years after the independence of these countries, to be in a territory with a Muslim or Orthodox majority," the Italian-born bishop told Vaticans Fides news agency. This is an important issue for all five countries. In this way, we will be able to go back to following a common path. What until recently only happened between the various dioceses, is now also happening between the churches of the five states. The new episcopal body was established by a decree from the Vaticans Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on September 8. It aims to help the regional bishops respond together to common challenges and to ensure mutual support to address problems in each country. Following the decree, the Bishops' Conference of Kazakhstan held its 41st plenary session on September 20. The Apostolic Nuncio, Indian Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikat, who has been doing the groundwork for the creation of the new body since 2016, attended the gathering. The Kazakh Church Kazakhstan is the largest among the five Central Asian nations, with over 17 percent of its 19 million inhabitants professing Islam. Christians come next with over 26 percent, mostly Russian Orthodox Christians. They are followed by Buddhists and others. The countrys some 250,000 Catholics, mostly of Polish, German and Lithuanian origins, make up a little over one percent of the countrys population. The Christian population saw a rise in the 19th century, with many Poles, Lithuanians, Belarussians, Ukrainians, and Russians being deported to the Kazakh steppes under the Russian tsars. Under the atheist ideology of the harsh Soviet rule, a new wave of Christians flowed to Kazakhstan with hundreds of thousands deported to the Soviet labour camps under Stalin in the 30s and 40s. Christians kept their faith alive, secretly gathering in their homes to pray. In 1978, the government relaxed the rules and people began to profess their faith more openly. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Catholic Church in Kazakhstan was restored and Catholics felt free to worship publicly. A large number of deportees returned to their native homes and countries. At least four million people emigrated. While the Christian population dwindled, the Muslim population grew. Pope Saint John Paul II established the Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan on 13 April 1991, covering all of Central Asia. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan were established in 1994. In 1999, the Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan was divided into three new Apostolic Administrations of Astana, Almaty, and Atyrau; and the Diocese of Karaganda. The reborn Church of Kazakhstan received a much-needed boost with the visit of Saint Pope John Paul II in September 2001. Some forty thousand people attended the Popes Mass. Today, Polish Archbishop Thomas Peta heads the Archdiocese of Astana, the Kazakh capital; Spanish Bishop Jose Luis Mombiela Sierra heads the Diocese of Almaty; Bishop Dell'Oro, the Diocese of Karaganda; and the Apostolic Administration of Atyrau is taken care of by Apostolic Administrator Father Peter Sakmar of Slovakia. Greek-Catholic Bishop Vasyl Hovera looks after the Byzantine-rite Catholics of Kazakhstan and in other nations. During their meeting, the bishops of Kazakhstan consecrated their Church to the special protection of St. Joseph, according to the indications of Pope Francis' letter celebrating the 20th anniversary of the apostolic visit of the holy Pope John Paul II. The Church in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan In the other states of the region, Catholics are gathered in temporary ecclesial structures not large enough to justify the creation of fully-fledged dioceses. In 1997, Pope John Paul established the four sui iuris missions of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. While Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are apostolic administrations, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are sui juris (independent) missions. Bishop Jerzy Maculewicz is the Apostolic Administrator of Uzbekistan; Father Anthony James Corcoran, the Apostolic Administrator of Kyrgyzstan; Father Pedro Ramiro Lopez, the Superior of Tajikistan; and Father Andrzej Madej, the Superior of Turkmenistan. Challenges of the Churches Bishop Dell'Oro said church leaders will have the opportunity to give greater meaning to our mission here, to understand what it means. Basically, what until recently only happened between the various dioceses is now also happening between the churches of five states, he said. The new bishops conference had scheduled a two-day webinar on October 12 on the theme: "The mission of evangelization in Central Asia in times of Evangelii Gaudium Context, difficulties, perspectives." Among the challenges the Church in Central Asia faces is that of faith linked only to rites and traditions, and the painful legacy of atheism imposed during the former Soviet era. While the Catholic Bishops Conference of Kazakhstan is a member of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are associate members. A group of gunmen attacked Christ the King Major Seminary, Kaduna, northern Nigeria on Monday, injuring several seminarians and kidnapping three. By Benedict Mayaki, SJ Bandits have reportedly attacked a major seminary in the Catholic diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna, and have kidnapped three seminarians. Announcing the incident in a statement released on Tuesday, the diocese said that the attack on Christ the King Major Seminary located in Fayit, Fadan Kagoma in Jemaa Local Government Area, took place on Monday evening. According to the statement, the diocesan Major seminary is domiciled within the St. Albert Institute where the seminarians receive academic formation. The Seminary houses the seminarians preparing for the Catholic priesthood and their formators. Attack in the chapel The statement notes that the attack took place on 11 October around 7:26pm in the chapel of the Seminary. As at the time of the attack, 10 formators, including the Rectors of the Seminary and the Institute, 132 seminarians, 6 non-seminarians, 1 female non-academic staff member and one steward were on ground. Six seminarians sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack and they were accompanied by a dispatch of soldiers to a hospital in Kafanchan where they were treated and discharged after being confirmed to be stable. According to the seminary security agents and law enforcement personnel, a headcount conducted after Mass on Tuesday showed that three seminarians had been abducted. The kidnapped seminarians belong to the Apostles of Divine Charity and the Little Sons of the Eucharist congregations and are all in their fourth year of theology studies. Local news sources report that a police official said that a combined team of police tactical and anti-kidnapping squads have launched a manhunt for the bandits, with the aim of bringing them to book and rescuing the kidnapped victims. Appeal for prayers We ask for your closeness to us in praying for the quick and safe release of our abducted brothers, read the statement signed by Fr. Emmanuel Uche Okolo, the Chancellor of the diocese. The diocese also called on well-wishers of the Institute and the Seminary to desist from taking the laws into their hands adding that we would use every legitimate means to ensure their prompt and secure release. May Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and St. Wilfred intercede for our abducted brothers and all other kidnapped persons, the statement said. Insecurity in northern Nigeria Nigeria has been facing an ongoing challenge against insecurity. In the north of the country, Kaduna is one of the states most affected by banditry, with thousands of people killed or kidnapped by armed men despite the efforts of security agencies. This latest attack comes in spite of recent more-stringent measures put in place by the governors of some states in the north of Nigeria. In Kaduna, a ban has been placed on movement by motorcycles which are the favored means of transportation of the bandits, and telecommunication services have been disrupted in efforts to hinder the activities of the bandits. CHLOE MILLER is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Miller can be contacted at cemill4@ilstu.edu. Follow Miller on Twitter at @chloemiller_04 IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. ASHLEY DANIELS is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Daniels can be contacted at Adanie6@ilstu.edu. Follow Daniels on Twitter at @RTV_Ash210 IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. The National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), a political organization dedicated to promoting conservative principles and candidates in the Republican Party, passed a resolution calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Partys religious persecution and organ harvesting of prisoners, mainly Falun Gong practitioners, during its national convention in Scottsdale, Arizona, on October 9. The resolution calls on the U.S. Congress and state legislatures to pass legislation condemning and stopping forced organ harvesting by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and called on the Chinese government to immediately release all Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience, and to oversee the U.S. Department of States ban on granting visas to those involved in forced organ harvesting. The resolution states that Falun Gong is a qigong practice centered on the values of truth, kindness, and forbearance. It gained popularity in the 1990s. However, in July 1999, the CCP launched an intensive nationwide persecution campaign to eliminate Falun Gong. It reflects the partys long standing intolerance of large independent civil society groups. Since 1999, hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained extrajudicially in reeducation-through-labor camps, detention centers, and prisons, where torture and abuse are commonplace. The resolution also said that according to a 2015 report by Freedom House, an international NGO, Falun Gong practitioners are the most prominent prisoners of conscience in China and face a high risk of death or murder in custody. Wheras, the United Nations Committee Against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Torture have expressed concern about allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. They called on the Chinese government to strengthen accountability and transparency in the organ transplant system and to punish those responsible for abuses. Killing religious or political prisoners to sell their organs for transplantation is an egregious and intolerable violation of the fundamental right to life. Therefore, the National Republican Coalition calls on the United States Congress and state legislatures to pass legislation that would; (1) Reprimand the Peoples Republic of China for its state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting. (2) Call on the government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Communist Party of China to immediately stop the practice of harvesting organs from all prisoners of conscience. (3) Demands that the government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Communist Party of China immediately cease the 22-year persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and immediately release all Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience. (4) Calls on the Peoples Republic of China to allow a credible, transparent, and independent investigation into the abuse of organ transplants; and (5) Calls on the U.S. Department of State to include in its annual human rights reports a more detailed analysis of state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience and to report annually to Congress on the implementation of Section 232 of the State Department Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, which prohibits the granting of visas to Chinese and other nationals who engage in a coercive organ or body tissue transplants. The Solano County chair of the California Republican Assembly, Norman Reece, sponsored the resolution and introduced a similar resolution at the California Republican Alliance in 2018, which was passed unanimously. This year, he hopes to reintroduce the resolution to the National Republican Coalition convention to draw more attention to the atrocities taking place in China. I think its essential to continue to hold the CCP accountable for the atrocities its committing, and this is the most brutal of them all the persecution of religion, the live organ harvesting, the whole thing is disgusting, its abominable, he said in a phone interview with The Epoch Times on Oct. 10. Independent investigators have accused the Chinese government of systematically harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience on a large scale for organ transplants and soliciting organ tourism for profit. The victims have primarily imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups. David Jogow conducted the most significant independent investigation in his work titled, Report on the Allegations of Organ Harvesting by the Chinese Communist Party. Many governments and agencies have adopted resolutions and policies against forced organ harvesting The allegation has been included in reports by the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Congress, and other agencies for years. The Republic of China, the European Parliament, the Senate of Australia, the Senate of Italy, the Irish Parliament, and the U.S. Congress have all passed resolutions condemning the forced harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience. The European Union has also adopted the European Council Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, and Israel, Spain, and Taiwan have completed legislation to ban organ transplant tourism to China. On June 17, 2019, in London, the China Tribunal, established by the International Coalition to End the Abuse of Organ Transplantation in China (ETAC), and handed down its final verdict in the case of forced organ harvesting by the Chinese government. The tribunals chairman, Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC, who served as a prosecutor in the war crimes trial of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at the International Court of The Hague, convicted the Chinese government in the forced organ harvesting case. A key witness in the trial was Dr. Enver Tohti, who was himself asked to harvest the organs of a prisoner alive. The US has reached an inflection point, and we can no longer be onlookers Mr. Reece said that the National Federation of Republican Coalitions holds a national convention every two years and proposed this resolution at the last convention in 2019, but it was ignored. This time, with the support of his colleagues in the California Republican Coalition, they made sure the resolution was voted on and passed by a majority. A lot of people are starting to realize that the mainstream media doesnt cover things like this, so the more attention we raise to this, the better. Reece believes the mainstream media ignores news like this because the Chinese Communist Party threatens them: Theres a lot of investment by the Chinese [government] and people feel threatened by that. The CCP may have something on them, and they are afraid of being exposed. Thats why he hopes grassroots organizations like the National Republican Coalition will play a more significant role in waking people up: The professional politicians and consultants, who get paid whether they win or lose, dont have that sense of urgency. Volunteers dont get paid; they work to make things happen. So were trying to work with grassroots volunteers to emphasize that America is at an inflection point , so we need to act, we need to get involved, and we cant be spectators anymore. The National Federation of Republican Alliances (NFRA) is a grassroots movement of Reagan conservatives who believe in small government, low taxes, free-market capitalism, strong national defense, the right to life, and a decent America. The California Republican Coalition is the oldest chapter of the organization. Notable current and former members include President Reagan, Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly, Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, and current U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), among others. The United States on Wednesday accused Cambodia of lacking transparency about Chinese construction activities at its biggest naval base and urged the government to disclose to its people the full scope of Beijing's military involvement. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Wednesday made public what it said were satellite images showing construction in August and September of three new buildings and the start of a new road. U.S. embassy spokesperson Chad Roedemeier in a statement said that any foreign military presence at Ream would violate Cambodia's constitution and undermine regional security. "The government of Cambodia has not been fully transparent about the intent, nature, and scope of this project or the role of the PRC military, which raises concerns about the intended use of the naval facility," he said, referring to China. "The Cambodian people deserve to know more about the project at Ream and to have a say in this type of military agreement, which has long-term implications for their country." Cambodia's ties with the United States have frayed in recent years over U.S. allegations its ruling party is persecuting its opponents, and concerns about China's growing influence. A year ago, Cambodia said it had razed a U.S.-funded facility at the Ream naval base to allow for further expansion. The United States said Cambodia had a year earlier turned down its offer to repair the base. Cambodia has repeatedly denied reports that it is planning to let China place its forces at the facility. Such a move would be significant for China in a region where the United States has for decades maintained a regional presence through bases it once operated or joint exercises in countries like Thailand and the Philippines. Phay Siphan, Cambodia's government spokesman, said Chinese construction at Ream was part of its development assistance. "Our port is open to all when the construction is finished," Phay Siphan said, adding that China was not building a facility for its military. "If there are other friends who want to help constructing, we allow and when the construction is finished, we welcome all countries to use it," he said. A man armed with a bow and arrows killed five people and wounded two others on Wednesday in southeastern Norway, police said, adding that they had arrested the suspect. The motive for the attack, which took place in several locations in the center of Kongsberg, was not yet known, but police said terrorism could not be ruled out. Local police official Oyvind Aas confirmed that five people were dead. The two wounded were in critical care units in the hospital but their lives did not appear to be in danger, he told a news conference. One of the wounded was an off-duty police officer who had been in a store, one of the several places attacked. The suspect "has been arrested by the police and, according to our information, there is only one person involved," Aas told the news conference. He said that "given how events unfolded, it is natural to assess whether this is a terrorist attack." "The arrested man has not been interviewed and it is too early to say anything about his motives," he said, adding that "all possibilities were open." Norway's intelligence service PST had been alerted, spokesman Martin Bernsen told AFP. "It is all conjecture at the moment," he said when asked about the possibility of a terrorist motive. Police said the suspect had been taken to a police station in the nearby town of Drammen but gave no other details about the man, including whether he had previously been known to the authorities. Police were informed of the attack at 6:13 p.m. local time (1613 GMT) in the town of 25,000 people, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of the capital Oslo. The suspect was arrested at 6:47 p.m. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter that he was "shocked and saddened" by the tragedy. "These events shake us," said Prime Minister Erna Solberg on her last day in office. On Thursday she will hand over the prime ministership to Jonas Gahr Store, whose Labour Party won parliamentary elections on September 13. The scene of the attack was blocked off by police, an AFP correspondent said. Police urged the public to stay at home and several neighborhoods were cordoned off, with television footage showing ambulances and armed police in the area. Police in the Scandinavian country are not normally armed, but after the attack the National Police Directorate ordered that officers be armed nationwide. A helicopter and bomb disposal team were also sent to the scene. The website of public broadcaster NRK published an image sent by a witness of a black arrow sticking out of a wall. In other pictures from the scene, what looked like competition-grade arrows could be seen on the ground. Norway suffered one of history's worst mass shootings on in July 22, 2011, when right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people. Breivik first set off a bomb in Oslo next to the building that housed the office of the prime minister, then went on a shooting spree at a summer camp for left-wing youths on the island of Utoya. In another right-wing attack, self-proclaimed neo-Nazi Philip Manshaus opened fire into a mosque on the outskirts of Oslo in August 2019 before being overpowered by worshippers, with no one being seriously injured. However, he had earlier shot dead his step-sister, who had been adopted from China, in what prosecutors termed a "racist act." Several planned jihadi attacks have also been foiled by security services. Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank, is holding a series of meetings with senior U.S. government officials and business leaders in Washington to encourage increased investments in Africa. VOAs Peter Clottey spoke with Adesina, a Nigerian economist, to discuss why he thinks the continent is ripe for foreign investment - especially from the United States. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: How do you plan to encourage foreign investment in Africa? Adesina: I think first and foremost ... remember that Africa even before the pandemic - has six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world. You look even with the African Continental Free Trade Area that is going to be a free trade area with 1.3 billion people and a collective GDP of $3.3 trillion...And so when you look at what that means, you have big consumer and business expenditures on the continent going to rise to $6.7 trillion by 2030. So that tells you that the fundamentals of Africa are strong as they were. And so basically my mission into the U.S. is to encourage the U.S. private sector to invest massively in Africa in particular in infrastructure and energy in terms of renewable energy and digital infrastructure. So basically, our role as the African Development Bank is to tell the investment story of Africa. Second is to actually give the investors the confidence that they can invest because we can help to source the deals, we can design bankable projects, we can do risk projects and we can ensure that governments actually do the right thing in terms of the business investment and regulatory environment. VOA: Speaking about the pandemic, you have been very vocal around the issue of vaccine inequity. Why this stance? Adesina: I've been quite vocal about access to vaccines. Take a look at it today in Africa. Only 24 million Africans have been vaccinated. And so, you have a continent that is not being treated fairly in terms of access in terms of the equity with regard to vaccinations. And that's because you have a situation wherein the developed countries bought up all the vaccines, advanced purchase agreements, locked it all up. And so the key really is making sure that Africa doesn't go through this again. So, we want to make sure that we're dealing with this in three ways. One is to encourage global manufacturing companies of vaccines to relocate to Africa, and I think we're making some good headway there. You need to build your own indigenous research and development capacity. And at the African Development Bank, we are working right now to support Africa in this. We need to have an African health care defense system. Look at this as a defense system that requires greater investment in pharmaceuticals, greater investment in vaccine manufacturing on the continent, but also joining that with greater investment in quality health care infrastructure primary health care, secondary, tertiary health care infrastructure and diagnostic facilities. So those three things have to work in tandem to secure the health of Africa. VOA: One of the African Development Banks annual flagship events, which has drawn significant investor interest from around the world in the last three years, is the bank's Market Days to be held in December. Tell me a little bit more about it and your expectations for this year. Adesina: The Africa Investment Forum has become Africa's premier investment marketplace. And what makes it very unique is that there are actually no speeches in these meetings. You know, it's all transactions, deals and deals and deals. What investors will tell you is, Why will I want to invest in Africa because I actually don't know whether they are bankable projects. Well, we've shown that there are really bankable projects. In 2018, when we had the Africa Investment Forums first premiere edition, we were able to mobilize $38.7 billion dollars of investment interest in Africa on bankable projects in less than 72 hours. Just think of that. And we did it again in 2019 and were able to secure investment interests of $40.1 billion U.S. dollars. And so that means that the investment opportunities are actually there. Of course, things got really affected by the COVID-19 situation; however, going back now to the Africa Investment Forum Market Days for 2021, the event will be held December 1-3 in Abuja under a hybrid model. We will have some people in Abidjan that will link to others globally. We will run the investment boardroom sessions where we bring in the investors, the project developers, the insurance companies, the legal facilities and the banks that can help to co-finance or syndicate or do risk projects that are all going to be there with heads of state. Everybody is eager to have investment rebound now in Africa. VOA: You have been outspoken about the importance of renewable energy, climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation as well as emerging technology. How do you see Africa embracing these issues? Adesina: Well, quite honestly, we have to. We have no choice. Africa only contributes no more than 3% or 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. But now we have to actually deal with the negative consequences of it. For example, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that just came out was scary. It basically says that Africa will get drier, much hotter. It will make some parts of Africa probably almost unlivable. I think we have to very quickly respond to that. Part of responding to that is the African Development Bank and the Global Center for Adaptation, which is chaired by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We set up what's called the African Adaptation Acceleration Program. This is to mobilize an additional $25 billion dollars towards adaptation in Africa. We want to reach 30 million farmers and pastoralists in Africa with digital climate advisory services that will allow them to be able to have good information and therefore be able to adapt to climate change. From other parts of the bank's work, which is on agriculture, we are providing today access to farmers with drought tolerant maize varieties all across eastern Africa and southern Africa. Botswana's Court of Appeal on Tuesday reserved judgement in a case in which the state seeks to overturn a 2019 ruling that decriminalized same sex relations. In a landmark case the High Court had ruled in favor of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, but the government is challenging the judgment. Members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community will have to wait a little longer before they know the outcome of an appeal challenging a ruling in their favor. Court of Appeal judge, Ian Kirby said the bench needs more time before making a determination. We will reserve judgement in this case. Its obviously an important case that we need to research and debate thoroughly so we are not going to promise judgement next week as we have done with others [cases], he said. The respondents defense lawyer, Tshiamo Rantao, said the LGBT community is entitled to constitutional rights and privacy. He said the laws criminalizing same-sex relations should be expunged. "The courts have a sacred duty which they must exercise objectively and without fear or fear to test any, we emphasize, any law passed by parliament against the imperatives of the constitution and to strike down any law including a customary law that does not pass constitutional master. That will always be so," said Rantao. State attorney, Sidney Pilane however, wants the earlier ruling to be overturned. He argued, the majority of people in Botswana did not concur with the 2019 judgement. Batswana respect the law and they respect courts. But dont assume that they are happy when courts make decisions that courts should not make. Please dont make that assumption. When Batswana are quiet, please dont think that they agree. And when they watch court decisions come down, dont think they necessarily agree with those court decisions, he said. Bradley Fortuin, spokesperson for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGAGIBO), says regardless of courts eventual decision, they will continue to advocate for marginalized groups. "This is just another opportunity for LEGAGIBO to continue doing advocacy work to ensure that there is visibility, that there is continuous awareness raising and inclusion of marginalized groups, not only the LGBTIQ community but other groups like people living with HIV, people living with disabilities who are often sidelined," he said. Before the June 2019 judgement, Botswanas Penal Code criminalized unnatural offenses and indecent practices with those found guilty facing up to seven years imprisonment. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday announced a state of emergency and deployed troops to two southern regions where clashes had broken out between Mapuche Indigenous people and security forces. The Mapuche are demanding the restoration of their ancestral lands and self-determination. "We have decided to call a state of exception" in four provinces of the southern regions of Biobio and Araucania and the deployment of troops to help control "the serious disturbance of public order" there, Pinera said in a speech. The billionaire right-wing president addressed the nation on a controversial national holiday that marks the "discovery" of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. It is a day in history that is viewed as a disaster by many Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas because of the colonization that followed. Pinera, 71, said that the four provinces in question have seen "repeated acts of violence linked to drug-trafficking, terrorism and organized crime committed by armed groups," and that innocent civilians and police officers have been killed in the violence. The state of exception is initially due to last two weeks in the provinces of Biobio and Arauco in the Biobio region, and in Malleco and Cautin in La Araucania. The Mapuche are Chile's largest Indigenous group, numbering 1.7 million out of the country's 19 million population, and live mostly in the south. Their leaders are demanding that land owned by farms and logging companies be restored to them. The lack of a solution to Mapuche demands has prompted radical groups to carry out attacks on trucks and private property over the last decade. One person was killed and 17 injured on Sunday when clashes broke out in Santiago between security forces and protesters marching for Mapuche autonomy. Political analyst Lucia Dammert criticized Pinera's decision, saying that the deployment of troops could further intensify the Mapuche conflict. "The government has been unable to generate an effective and fair policy to solve the problems that exist in Araucania," Dammert, a professor at the University of Santiago, told AFP. She added that sending troops to the region could lead to "an escalation of violence." But Luciano Rivas, the ruling party's governor of Araucania, backed the deployment, saying there is "a very deep security crisis" in the region. "Today we are living in a very complex situation where the police are overwhelmed by groups with heavy caliber weapons," Rivas told CNN Chile. Human rights activist Julienne Lusenge of the Democratic Republic of Congo was recently proclaimed the winner of the 2021 Aurora Humanitarian Prize for her work with wartime victims of sexual violence. She was one of five humanitarian finalists who were up for the award, often referred to as the Nobel prize for humanitarian work. The sixth Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was announced Saturday (October 9) in Italy at a ceremony on the Venetian island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni. Lusenge was awarded the one-million-dollar prize for her tireless work with women and girls abused during wartime and for her efforts in helping bring the perpetrators of rape and sexual violence to justice. She's the co-founder and director of the Congolese Women's Fund. The other nominees included Gregoire Ahongbonon, who helps people in West Africa with mental illness, Ruby Alba Castano, a Colombian activist who protects the rights of peasants, Ashwaq Moharram, a Yemeni physician who provides life-saving support to victims of starvation and Paul Farmer, an American medical anthropologist and physician. The ceremony began with music and a special prayer in the monastery of the island of San Lazarus by a sect of Armenian monks who have lived on the island since the early 18th century. After speeches and a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the finalists were called on an outdoor stage with a view of the Venetian lagoon. The name of the winner was announced in what turned out to be a very emotional moment, not only for Lusenge, but for many of those in attendance, which included two women winners of the Nobel peace prize: Iran's Shirin Ebadi and Liberia's Leyman Gbowee. Lusenge was in disbelief and in tears when she heard she had been chosen. This prize is very important for all Congolese people, Congolese women and Congolese girls because now we will have enough money to support them, she expressed. For many years, Lusenge said, she struggled to find funds to help these women. This prize will contribute a great deal in that regard, she said. The Aurora prize for Awakening Humanity was established by three philanthropists of Armenian origin: Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan in 2015 on the centennial of that country's genocide. They decided that for eight years the length of time the atrocities lasted in which one and a half million Armenians perished the prize would be awarded to extraordinary humanitarians for their work and impact. Afeyan described it as a gift from the Armenian community to the world. Their aim, he added, is to help people who are making a difference in the world in the same way as those who helped Armenians survive. In addition to creating the annual award for those who have faced personal risk to enable others to survive, Afeyan is also the founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, a venture capital company focused on biotechnology. The company has fostered the development of more than 100 scientific ventures including Moderna, on which he serves as chairman. Afeyan last year was recognized as one of four U.S. immigrants leading the efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19. Spain has experienced a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the past month which have prompted authorities to impose fresh restrictions in many parts of the country. The 14-day coronavirus contagion rate was 469.50 per 100,000 of population, according to Spanish health ministry data released on Wednesday, making Spains one of the highest levels in Europe. Barcelona and the surrounding region of Catalonia plan to impose a curfew to curb the delta variant of the coronavirus, which is running rampant among younger, unvaccinated Spaniards. The Catalan regional authorities on Thursday were waiting for a judge to approve a nightly curfew after the two-week contagion level surpassed 1,000 cases per 100,000 people. Only Cyprus has a worse level of COVID-19 cases, according to data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Among young people the situation is alarming. The rate among young people aged 20-29 years old is now more than 3,000 infections per 100,000 over the past 14 days. Spain surpassed four million cases of Covid-19 this week, but the number of intensive care beds used for coronavirus cases are still relatively low at 8.75%, health ministry figures showed. Nearly 50% of the population have been double-vaccinated. As COVID-19 levels rise dramatically across Spain, health experts are calling for the re-imposition of central government controls to replace regional authorities which have been managing the pandemic across Spain since the last state of emergency ended in May. Restrictions unconstitutional However, this may be more difficult to do after Spain's constitutional court ruled on Wednesday that parts of the lockdown to contain the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, were unconstitutional. Spain brought in the state of emergency in March last year, suspending some civil liberties, confining almost all of Spain's 47 million inhabitants to their homes and shutting down all but essential industries for three months. Vox, the far-right party, with 52 lawmakers in the Spanish parliament and the third largest political party, brought a suit in Spain's constitutional court, claiming the original government order violated basic rights to freedom of movement. In a split decision, six constitutional court magistrates supported Vox's claim, while five voted against. The magistrates ruled the state of emergency did warrant restricting some citizens basic rights but the laws the leadership invoked in doing so did not give authorities sufficient legal backing to go as far as they did. Instead, the judges said that to justify this restriction of personal freedoms, the government should have declared the more serious state of exception. The court did reject part of Vox's case which claimed that the state of emergency was unconstitutional in relation to funerals and wakes. More than a year after the first lockdown ended, the court ruling represents a political victory for Vox. Possible payback For the Spanish state it also means a potential financial headache because 1.1 million fines imposed for breaking the state of emergency can now be appealed in court, meaning the government could be forced to refund the fines it imposed on some people. After the court ruling on Wednesday, Spain's Justice Minister Pilar Llop told a press conference that said the original state of emergency saved 450,000 lives. "The duty of the government was to take immediate, urgent measures when faced with the rapid propagation of the virus," she added. Pablo Simon, a political analyst at the Carlos III University in Madrid, said the ruling had important implications for how Spain can control the pandemic. "All fines imposed can now be appealed which will cause financial implications for the government," he told VOA. "According to the constitution, the state of exception can only be applied for 30 days. It was designed for public disturbances, not for pandemics." "Spain is left in a situation where it lacks a judicial instrument to impose limitations on personal liberties which are suited to a pandemic." Delta variant Rafael Bengoa, a former World Health Organization health systems director who is now the director of the Institute for Health and Strategy in Bilbao, said he believed Spain has been overwhelmed by the spread of the delta variant. I said three weeks ago we would not control the delta variant. That variant is faster in everything; more transmissible, more virulent, when infected you reach higher viral loads sooner, he told VOA. Hospitals are beginning to fill up like they did in the UK with younger people. Vaccination is proving insufficient when there is community transmission and that can only be controlled with much tougher measures, he said. At present regional authorities must ask judges if they can bring in curfews, close bars etc but this is a sign of helplessness. Re-centralization of decisions would help to save the end of the summer, Bengoa added. Cuba's government on Tuesday rejected a request from the opposition to stage a protest on November 15, claiming the organizers are backed by the United States and want to overthrow the regime. The proposed demonstrations would follow unprecedented anti-government protests that erupted on July 11 in around 50 Cuban cities. "The promoters and their public representatives, some of whom have links with subversive organizations or agencies financed by the American government, have the clear intention of promoting a change in Cuba's political system," the government said in a statement on the official Cuba debate website. Organizers wanted to stage protests in six of the island's 15 provinces in a call against violence and for change. But the communist government said the reasons were illegitimate and constituted a "provocation," adding that the new constitution adopted in 2019 states that the current socialist system is "irrevocable." The protest request published on social media pointed to Article 56 of the new constitution that protects the right to meet, protest and to associate for lawful and peaceful purposes. "Even though that is a constitutional right, it cannot be exercised in detriment to other rights," the government said in response. Film director Yunior Garcia, who organized the planned Havana protest, lashed out at the government's reasons for refusing the requests. "Whatever the Cuban does, they always say the idea came from Washington. It's as if we don't think, as if us Cubans don't have any brains," he said. "Of course, every sane Cuban wants change for the better. They want democracy in Cuba. More progress. More freedom." In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the July outpouring on the streets "was not about the United States." "The prohibition on peaceful protest that we've seen, all of this reminds us that it is a Cuban people who are paying dearly in their fight for freedom, their fight for dignity," Price told reporters. "We call for the government in Havana to respect the fundamental freedoms and the fundamental rights of the Cuban people." The opposition protest was originally slated for November 20, but it was changed after the government last week declared the day "National Defense Day" and said it would be preceded by two days of military exercises. "We could not be irresponsible. We didn't want any violence. We didn't want Cubans fighting each other, and we couldn't send protesters into a street battle against the army that could respond with violence," Garcia said. The government crackdown over the July protests left one person dead, dozens injured and more than 1,000 people detained, several hundred of whom remain behind bars. From the United States to Germany, developed countries are scrambling to source energy supplies and satisfy a booming consumer demand for goods. Supply chains disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic are straining to cope and factories are unable to meet the surge in demand from consumers, who are spending far more than normal, a consequence of governments pumping $10 trillion collectively into their economies, say business analysts. Shortages in Britain have made headlines with shoppers facing empty food shelves, with fruits and vegetables especially in short supply. Supermarket bosses warned Wednesday they might have to ration meat to prevent panic buying, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. Britains supply challenges have been intensified by its departure from the European Union, its main trading partner. But European neighbors, as well as the United States, are also reporting shortages of clothing and electronic goods. Manufacturers say they are finding it hard to source microchips due to factory shutdowns in Asia. Politicians have sought to reassure voters that things will return to normal soon and that shortages are transitory. But are they? Some economists and trade analysts fear the developed world may be entering a new era of scarcity partly because of climate action, which will be costly and slow economic growth, and because of a growing trend toward economic protectionism. While few doubt that carbon reduction in economies is essential, if an existential climate disaster is to be averted, a rise in the imposition of tariffs and quotas and government regulations, aimed at restricting imports, has free market advocates and economists worried. Shortage economy They say turning away from globalization and free trade will slow economic growth, lead to scarcity, reduce productivity, and make the world poorer. Britains influential Economist magazine this week warned, Around the world, economic nationalism is contributing to the shortage economy. The magazines editors say, Trade policy is no longer being written with economic efficiency in mind. They pointed to the recent decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to keep in place tariffs from the prior administration of President Donald Trump, which average around 19%, on Chinese goods. Free trade opponents welcome the trend, arguing globalization results in job losses in developing countries, leads to increasing and unfair economic disparities and income inequalities, results in the exploitation and underpayment of workers and roils local communities. Debate aside on the benefits or drawbacks of globalization, economic protectionism has been increasing in recent years. Data compiled by the London-based Center for Economic Policy Research suggests that more than 50% of exports from G-20 countries are subject to trade measures, up from 20% in 2009. Global cross-border investment has declined dramatically during the past two pandemic years, but even before the emergence of the coronavirus, it was falling according to figures published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based intergovernmental body with 38 member states. Since 2015 foreign direct investment by companies has fallen by half relative to world GDP, according to the OECD. Governments are increasingly showing a reluctance to sign new free trade deals and instead have been talking up the need to boost manufacturing capacity and the economic security of their countries. Analysts and business leaders also say geopolitical rivalry, where nations see trade as a zero-sum game, meaning there have to be winners and losers, is also playing an increasing role in the policy-making and economic thinking of governments. Last week, a group of CEOs from some of the world's biggest companies, brought together by the World Economic Forum, WEF, an independent international organization, called for greater global trade cooperation. In a joint statement, the business leaders drawn from 17 countries highlighted the potential of trade and investment to speed the global economic recovery from the pandemic. We believe trade and investment support human development and that global recovery can be built upon a trade recovery. Governments must creatively re-engage on trade reform and refrain from protectionism, they said. And the CEOs added, Through jointly upholding environmental and social standards, trade cooperation should prevent a race to the bottom and avoid harmful distortions to markets for goods and services. Trade cooperation can improve outcomes for underrepresented members of society, including women and minorities. Last month, Biden played down the prospects of a post-Brexit free trade deal between the United States and Britain during bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the White House. Biden said he would discuss the issue a little bit with Johnson, who has been eager to strike an agreement with the U.S. in the wake of Britains exit from the EU. Later, Johnson told British reporters that a U.S.-UK trade deal was just not a priority for the Biden administration. The U.S. is not alone in running shy of new free trade deals and focusing on national self-reliance and boosting manufacturing capacity. When first elected in 2014, Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, raised the prospect of implementing wide-ranging economic reforms and opening his country much more to free trade. Some incremental reforms were introduced, but soon after entering office Modi put a pause on trade deals and adopted policies focused on India supplying the goods and services it needs from within the country, rather than getting them from abroad. There has been some tempering of Modis self-reliance policy since, but his government has been highly cautious in discussing regional trade deals, say analysts. Social media giants were urged to act Wednesday to stem online antisemitism during an international conference in Sweden focused on the growing amount of hatred published on many platforms. The Swedish government invited social media giants TikTok, Google and Facebook along with representatives from 40 countries, the United Nations and Jewish organizations to the event designed to tackle the rising global scourge of antisemitism. Sweden hosted the event in the southern city of Malmo, which was a hotbed of antisemitic sentiment in the early 2000s but which during World War II welcomed Danish Jews fleeing the Nazis and inmates rescued from concentration camps in 1945. "What they see today in social media is hatred," World Jewish Congress head Ronald Lauder told the conference. Google told the event, officially called the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism, that it was earmarking 5 million euros ($5.78 million) to combat antisemitism online. "We want to stop hate speech online and ensure we have a safe digital environment for our citizens," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a prerecorded statement. European organizations accused tech companies of "completely failing to address the issue," saying antisemitism was being repackaged and disseminated to a younger generation through platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Antisemitic tropes are "rife across every social media platform," according to a study linked to the conference that was carried out by three nongovernmental organizations. Hate speech remains more prolific and extreme on sites such as Parler and 4chan but is being introduced to young users on mainstream platforms, the study said. On Instagram, where almost 70% of global users are aged 13 to 34, there are millions of results for hashtags relating to antisemitism, the research found. On TikTok, where 69% of users are aged 16 to 24, it said a collection of three hashtags linked to antisemitism were viewed more than 25 million times in six months. In response to the report, a Facebook spokesperson said antisemitism was "completely unacceptable" and that its policies on hate speech and Holocaust denial had been tightened. A TikTok spokesperson said the platform "condemns antisemitism" and would "keep strengthening our tools for fighting antisemitic content." According to the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, 9 out of 10 Jews in the EU say antisemitism has risen in their country and 38% have considered emigrating because they no longer feel safe. "Antisemitism takes the shape of extreme hatred on social networks," said Ann Katina, the head of the Jewish Community of Malmo organization that runs two synagogues. "It hasn't just moved there, it has grown bigger there," she told AFP. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has made the fight against antisemitism one of his last big initiatives before leaving office next month and has vowed better protection for Sweden's 15,000-20,000 Jews. Reports of antisemitic crimes in the Scandinavian country rose by more than 50% between 2016 and 2018, from 182 to 278, according to the latest statistics available from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. The Jewish community in Malmo has fluctuated over the years, from more than 2,000 in 1970 to just more than 600 now. In the early 2000s, antisemitic attacks in Malmo made global headlines. Incidents included verbal insults, assaults and Molotov cocktails thrown at the synagogue. In response, authorities vowed to boost police resources and increase funding to protect congregations under threat. Mirjam Katzin, who coordinates antisemitism efforts in Malmo schools, the only such position in Sweden, said there was "general concern" among Jews in the city. "Some never experience any abuse, while others will hear the word 'Jew' used as an insult, jokes about Hitler or the Holocaust or various conspiracy theories," she said. Efforts to get Tehran to return to the terms of the Iran nuclear deal are in danger of falling short, forcing the United States and its allies to consider non-diplomatic options to contain the threat, according to top U.S. officials. For months, the U.S., along with other major powers, has sought to salvage the 2015 deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) through a series of indirect talks in Vienna. But those talks have stalled, with key officials in Washington now warning time is quickly running out. "With every passing day and Iran's refusal to engage in good faith, the runway gets short," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Wednesday during a press availability with his counterparts from Israel and the United Arab Emirates in Washington. "We continue to believe that diplomacy is the most effective way to do that, but it takes two to engage in diplomacy, and we have not seen from Iran a willingness to do that," he said. "We are prepared to turn to other options if Iran doesn't change course." Washington's special envoy for Iran offered an equally dour assessment during a virtual talk earlier Wednesday. "We're realistic. We know there's a good possibility Iran is going to choose a different path," Robert Malley said when asked about hopes Tehran would return to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. "We have to prepare for a world where Iran doesn't have constraints on its nuclear program, and we have to consider options to dealing with that," Malley said. "Every day that goes by we're getting a piece of Iran's answer, every day where they are not coming back to the table, every day where they are making statement about how little was achieved in Vienna." The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, under then-U.S. President Donald Trump, as part of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions and what it described as Tehran's malign activities. In response to the U.S. withdrawal, Iran increasingly abandoned its commitments under the deal by enriching uranium to a higher level of purity and holding larger stockpiles of enriched nuclear material. To entice Tehran to return to the nuclear deal, Malley said Washington offered to remove all sanctions "that were inconsistent with the JCPOA." However, he said while the offer seemed to create some initial momentum, any progress that had been made stalled following the election of new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Blinken warned Iran's leadership was playing a dangerous game. "We are united in the proposition that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon," he told reporters. "We are prepared to turn to other options if Iran doesn't change course." Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said those other options were at the core of talks Wednesday at the State Department with Blinken and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "Every day that passes, every delay in the negotiations brings Iran closer to a nuclear bomb," Lapid said. "Sometimes the world has to show its hand to make sure Iran understands the consequences of running to become a threshold country." Syrian government forces backed by Russia have recently ramped up attacks against Idlib, the last rebel enclave. A Turkish military force stands in the way of Syrian troops that are poised to seize Idlib, a move Ankara fears could result in millions of refugees fleeing to Turkey. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul An Indian government-controlled arms maker with high-profile U.S. and European shareholders has been supplying Myanmar, even after the countrys military toppled a democratically elected government on February 1 and killed hundreds of civilians in a bid to crush any resistance, a local rights group has said. The group, Justice for Myanmar, said in a report earlier this month that data obtained from global trade tracking service Panjiva shows that Indias Bharat Electronics Ltd. shipped several parts for a remote-controlled weapons station to Mega Hill General Trading Co. Ltd., a known broker for Myanmars military, in July. Panjiva is a U.S.-based firm that gathers and shares commercial shipping data using government-issued records from 19 countries, including India. VOA was able to confirm the information from Justice for Myanmar independently. Multiple online company records and stock tracking sites show a number of big-name foreign firms holding shares in Bharat Electronics, which is 51.1% owned by the government of India. They include Goldman Sachs Asset Management and The Vanguard Group in the United States, French banking giant BNP Paribas, and an Indian subsidiary of Japanese insurer Nippon Life. BELs continued business with the junta shows the urgency for targeted sanctions against the junta's arms suppliers and brokers and a global arms embargo, Justice for Myanmars Yadanar Maung told VOA. The spokesperson also urged the United States to add Bharat Electronics to the entities list of the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, which would place additional conditions on certain U.S. exports to the Indian arms maker. The United States, Britain and others have already announced a series of sanctions since the coup, targeting Myanmars senior military leaders and companies under their direct control. Some Western companies have taken action on their own. Finlands Nordea Bank, which also held shares in Bharat Electronics, placed the company on its blacklist ((https://www.nordea.com/en/doc/nordea-exclusion-list0.pdf-0)) in July for exporting to Myanmar. Yadanar Maung called on the arms makers other investors to follow and immediately divest. BNP Paribas and Dimensional Fund Advisors, another U.S. firm with shares in Bharat Electronics, told VOA they would not discuss individual stocks. The other shareholders highlighted by Justice for Myanmar did not reply to VOAs requests for comment. Bharat Electronics did not reply either. Contact information provided by Mega Hill General Trading on its website was not working. In June, the U.N. General Assembly passed a nonbinding resolution calling on member states to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar. India was among the 36 countries that abstained. China and Russia, Myanmars largest arms suppliers by far, abstained as well. Helping the military Kyaw Win, who heads the U.K.-based Burma Human Rights Network, which uses another name of Myanmar, denounced any and all sales to the countrys military. It is a crime to sell even one needle to the military that commits genocide. Thats not what any ethical government will do, he told VOA. A U.N.-appointed panel accused the military of genocidal intent in 2019 after investigating security operations in western Myanmar two years earlier that drove some 700,000 ethnic minority Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, where they remain. The military claims it was conducting legitimate counterinsurgency against violent separatists. Since the coup, rights groups say security forces have killed well over 1,000 civilians to put down protests and pockets of armed resistance against the junta. On Friday, the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said the military had been ramping up attacks in western Myanmar over the past month, including killings, raiding of villages and burning of houses. It also relayed recent reports of mass arrests, torture and summary executions. By owning shares in Bharat Electronics, Kyaw Win said foreign firms were in effect supporting the militarys operations. They might not directly wish to help the military, but their actions with the investment and this engagement, its helping the military, he said. The question is, is this company happy to get profit from a genocidal government, genocidal military? The question is upon the investors, he added. Rather than pulling out of Bharat Electronics right away, though, Kyaw Win suggested Western and Asian investment firms and their shareholders use their leverage to convince the Indian arms maker itself to break with the junta. That would be better, he said, rather than selling away and let this continue. So, they need to pressure the Indian company to stop investing or dealing with the Burmese military, otherwise they will withdraw their shares. Maximum leverage According to a 2017 press release from Bharat Electronics, the weapon system it recently shipped to Myanmar is an improved model of its 12.7 mm air defense gun for mounting on tanks or boats. It adds that the system can track both air and ground targets. The Panjiva records list the price of the delivery at $612,000. Justice for Myanmar said it was likely a single unit for the military to put through a trial and that a larger order could follow. Bharat Electronics business with the Myanmar military goes back years. In June, Justice for Myanmar reported on Indian export data showing seven shipments from Bharat Electronics to Myanmar in February and March, mainly radar parts, and more in December and January. In 2019, the same U.N.-appointed panel that accused the military of genocidal intent reported on a 2017 deal the military struck with Bharat Electronics for 10 torpedoes. The panel also reported various weapons transfers to Myanmar from Israel, North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Ukraine, in addition to China and Russia. Tom Andrews, the U.N.s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, would not comment to VOA on Bharat specifically. However, he said he urged any company doing business in Myanmar to exert maximum leverage on the Myanmar military to stop its widespread human rights violations and that they follow the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. He said these U.N. guidelines oblige those companies to try to prevent human rights abuses linked to their operations even if they have not added to the abuse themselves. A congressman from California has introduced legislation that would give Afghan Fulbright scholars special immigrant visas. The legislation would automatically issue a special immigrant visa to any Afghan who lived in the United States as a Fulbright scholar and to their immediate family members to help them "escape persecution by the Taliban and relocate safely to the United States," according to a statement from the office of U.S. Representative John Garamendi, a Democrat. "Fulbright Scholarships are one of the most vital U.S. cultural exchange programs that help to improve intercultural relations, diplomacy, and coordination between the United States and other countries," Garamendi's statement read. "This is the right thing to do for our Afghan allies who stood with the United States against the Taliban and the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks." The proposed legislation is called the Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act of 2021, or House Resolution 5482. It would issue a special immigrant visa to any citizen or national of Afghanistan, and their legal spouse or children, selected on or after October 7, 2001, for the following State Department-sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs: Last month, the Institute of International Education (IIE) announced plans to award scholarships to 10 former American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) students so they could "safely reconnect to their studies at a college campus abroad." AUAF was shut down by the Taliban-led government after the U.S. withdrew forces in mid-August. IIE also announced other programs Afghan students could explore for financial assistance, including the Scholar Rescue Fund, which funds fellowships for "threatened and displaced" students at partnering colleges and universities around the globe. Eighteen emergency scholarships have been awarded, and future scholars are being identified. Other programs available to help Afghan scholars and refugees are as follows: The Emergency Student Fund (ESF), which provides grants to international students enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. "when natural disasters, war or other crises in their home countries threaten their education," according to IIE. Since September 20, the ESF has funded 80 Afghan students on U.S. campuses who were experiencing financial difficulties. The Platform for Education in Emergencies Response, an online clearinghouse that connects refugees and displaced students with scholarships and online learning. Students from Afghanistan are eligible. The Artist Protection Fund (APF), which will award fellowships to two threatened Afghan artists from any field of practice and place them "at host institutions in safe countries where they can continue their work and plan for their futures." The Odyssey Scholarship, which was awarded to 10 Afghan students to allow them to study "in the safety of a college campus abroad." It enables "motivated and qualified refugees or displaced persons to pursue fully funded undergraduate or graduate programs throughout the world." Columbia University in New York offers full scholarships every year for refugees and other displaced students. The Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students (CUSDS) was launched in December 2019 and has committed up to $6 million in scholarship money for up to 30 students so far. To be eligible for the CUSDS, applicants must apply to and be accepted by one of the degree programs listed on the website. Acceptance requirements and application deadlines differ depending on the school and degree program. A mysterious incident involving an American nuclear submarine in the South China Sea has analysts weighing the risk that a similar mishap perhaps involving a U.S. treaty partner could spark an unwanted conflagration between the United States and China. Experts say the danger is growing as Beijing aggressively advances its territorial claims in the South and East China seas while Western nations counter with a growing number of naval passages designed to support freedom of navigation through the contested waters. The stakes were further raised last month with the announcement of the new AUKUS alliance among the United States, Britain and Australia, which will provide Australia with 10 new nuclear-powered submarines. In the latest incident, a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine hit an unknown underwater object on October 2, the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a news release. The Navy said crewmembers aboard its Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut were hurt, though no one's life was threatened, and that it is investigating what happened. But an analysis published on the Chinese state-controlled CGTN news website said last week that the U.S. use of nuclear submarines to "secretly infringe on China's maritime territory in the South China Sea runs the risk of triggering a war between these two major powers by miscalculation." The CGTN analyst is not the only one who is worried. Other experts tell VOA they fear that a more serious incident between China and a U.S. treaty ally such as Japan or the Philippines could, under certain circumstances, trigger a severe response from Washington. The exact U.S. recourse would depend on the details of the actual incident, said Scott Harold, Washington-based senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation research organization. "Is a bump an attack or does it have to result in an injury or an actual death or a sinking?" Harold asked. "I think those would be areas where U.S. policymakers and in particular U.S. defense officials and military officers would be very quickly trying to assess what is the intention, what is the threshold, is the host nation meaning the third-party Japan or the Philippines is it able to respond without the United States?" The U.S. Indo Pacific Command in Hawaii did not answer requests for comment on the risk of accidents near China. China's neighbors, US alliances China calls about 90% of the South China Sea its own despite competing claims from the Philippines and three other Southeast Asian countries that are sympathetic to the West. Beijing claims all of Taiwan, a self-ruled island that's supported by Washington, and vies with Japan for control over parts of the East China Sea. Successive U.S. presidents have seen their Asian allies as buffers against China in any showdown between superpowers. Treaties obligate Washington to consider helping its allies in military crises. Increasing numbers of Chinese military flights near Taiwan, where the island's air force sometimes chases the planes away, is raising the specter of a mishap now, analysts believe. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act gives Washington the option of intervening on Taipei's behalf. "How long do you keep poking your fist in Taiwan's face before you miscalculate at one point?" asked Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales in Australia. "The aircraft could cross a line, or Taiwan's air defenses, which have been turned on and locked onto some of these flights as a warning, could lead to firing missiles." News reports this month saying the United States has stationed troops in Taiwan for at least a year could prompt an angry China to send more planes toward the island, said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. The Philippines, for its part, might risk an accident with Chinese vessels even if warned against it by the United States, Oh said. The 2022 Philippine presidential race could be a trigger point, he added, if Sino-Philippine relations become a campaign issue. Vessels from China and the Philippines got into a protracted standoff in 2012 over Scarborough Shoal, a fisheries-rich feature that each side claims as its own. "I think the Filipinos, they are very independent minded, and when something happened, the U.S. may be obligated by treaty obligation to come to their rescue," Oh said. A miscalculation involving China and Japan would probably prompt the United States to examine "gray zone contingencies" before responding, Harold said. Those would mean learning, for example, whether the mishap involved Chinese naval boats or fishing boats, Harold said. U.S. officials would explore further whether Japan needed U.S. help or could follow up on its own, he said. Allies, including the United States, U.K. and Australia, are making ever clearer to China that they would "react in a contingency," Harold said. Informal Sino-foreign channels to bury accidents China and the United States have their own informal resolution channel for collisions and accidental misfires, lowering the risk of conflict, analysts believe. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command holds regular maritime consultations with the PLA to boost sea and air safety while reviewing any incidents, a command spokesperson said. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command vessels and aircraft comply with international laws and norms that guide safe and professional operations in international waters and airspace and we rely on other nations operating in the Indo-Pacific to do the same, the spokesperson said. Beijing hopes to avoid war but will fume and blame the United States over any accidents, they say. China did both after the deadly U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in 1999 during a war over Kosovo Washington called the strike accidental and after the 2001 emergency landing of a U.S. reconnaissance plane that two Chinese fighter jets had chased near China's south coast. "The situation has become a chicken game basically, and countries are just shadowing each other," said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapore's public policy school. "There's no intention to harm each other probably, but accidents can and do happen." Police shot a protester to death Wednesday in Eswatini, the latest casualty in months of demonstrations that have left more than a dozen people dead. Agence France-Presse reported Wednesday that the man was killed during a clash between police and a group of commuter bus operators demonstrating for political reform in the small town of Malkerns. "A man was shot at Malkerns after a group of protesters stopped a truck carrying sand and used it to block (a) road," said William Tsintsibala Dlamini, the police commissioner general. "Officers came with guns and tried to reason with them, but they retaliated by throwing stones at them, and that is when one of them was shot dead," he told reporters. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is Africa's last absolute monarchy. The international community has criticized the country over the past few months for its use of excessive force against protesters. In June, at least 27 people were killed when civil society and opposition groups clashed with police during demonstrations in Manzini and Mbabane, the country's largest cities. For months, residents have been demanding political reforms in the small kingdom, specifically calling for the release of two pro-democracy lawmakers arrested during protests over the summer. Large protests in July demanded that the new prime minister be selected by the people instead of the king. Earlier this week, soldiers and police were deployed to schools across the country, as many high school students have boycotted classes in conjunction with the protests. Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse. The Qatar foreign minister said Wednesday the issue of recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan is currently not a priority, but the global community now is inline with helping the war-ravaged country deal with growing humanitarian and economic challenges. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told an international conference in the Qatari capital, Doha, the Taliban is a de facto power in Afghanistan and isolating the country would be a big mistake because it would mean punishing the Afghan people for something they didnt commit. We cannot just wait for steps to be taken by the Taliban, and then we react to these steps, Al Thani said while speaking at the Global Security Forum. I believe the international community has a responsibility to direct those steps and to have a clear roadmap in dealing with the situation, he added. Heads of government and foreign ministers from the worlds 20 leading economies, the G-20, agreed Tuesday at a video gathering hosted by Italy to look at ways to inject more cash into Afghanistan to help tackle the humanitarian crisis there. The United Nations has warned that the economy of the war-ravaged country is approaching a humanitarian disaster unless urgent action is taken. We need to find a way forward, not to abandon this country and I think everyone now is in line with that and we are moving forward without talking about the recognition at this stage but may be on the way forward, Al Thani said in his talk Wednesday. Doha hosts the Talibans political office, and the Qatari government has been facilitating the Islamist groups negotiations with the United States and Western governments. Al Thani noted the new rulers in Kabul are facing critical economic challenges and there is no clear path for unfreezing about $10 billion in Afghan government funds, mostly parked in the U.S. federal reserve. The financial system is totally closed, public servants are not paid, the government's assets have been frozen without also a clear path forward, he said, adding that without access to those funds the Taliban would not be able to pay salaries to teachers, doctors and employees in other key social sectors. The Qatari official spoke a day after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi renewed his demand for ending the ban on Afghan assets. Muttaqi warned Tuesdays meeting with American and European envoys in Doha that attempts to pressure his government through sanctions would undermine the security of not only Afghanistan but the world in general. [The] weakening [of] the Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone because its negative effects will directly affect the world in [the] security sector and economic migration from the country, the Taliban foreign ministry quoted Muttaqi as saying. The Islamist group ousted the U.S.-backed government in Kabul nearly two months ago to regain power after waging a 20-year-long insurgency against American and allied troops. Washington and other Western countries have been pressing the Taliban to keep promises they will form an inclusive Afghan government, protect human rights, especially those of women, fight terrorism and would not place restrictions on freedom of expression. We urge world countries to end existing sanctions and let banks operate normally, so that charity groups, organizations and the government can pay salaries to their staff with their own reserves and international financial assistance, Muttaqi said. Saad Mohseni, an Afghan Australian owner of a company that runs Afghanistans top 24-hour television network, TOLO News, told Wednesdays conference in Doha the Taliban so far have not hampered their work. Surprisingly, if the situation is as it is today in six months, I would be very pleased. So, so far, its good, Mohseni said. But you know, the Taliban havent had the bandwidth to deal with the media to deal with civil society, and I foresee a more restrictive environment. Will we still be able to operate as we are today? I am not sure. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price reiterated Tuesday that Washingtons current engagement with the Taliban does not mean it is moving to grant any sort of recognition or conferral of legitimacy on the group. He told reporters that will be determined by the conduct of the Taliban in any future Afghan government. The Taliban will ultimately be judged not only on its words, but solely on its actions. And in the context of that discussion, we engaged on a practical and pragmatic basis with the Taliban, as we have done in recent weeks, focusing on security and terrorism concerns, Price said. Somalia has welcomed the International Court of Justice decision giving it the right to control much of the 100,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean following a dispute with its neighbor, Kenya. Somalia called on Kenya to respect the court verdict. Kenya says it will not abide by the courts decision. On Tuesday evening, Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo said his country accepts the International Court of Justice verdict. The Somali leader said that in respecting international laws, the Somali federal government accepts the court ruling in line with international laws and norms. He said Somalis hope Kenyas government will respect the supremacy of international law and forgo what he described as its misguided and unlawful pursuits. He said Somalia hopes Kenya will take the verdict as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and cooperation between their people. Kenya and Somalia have been involved in a court battle since 2014 over where each countrys border in the Indian Ocean starts and ends. After a seven-year process, ICJ president Joan Donoghue delivered the much-awaited ruling over the border dispute. [The court] decides that the starting-point of the single maritime boundary delimiting the respective maritime areas between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Kenya is the intersection of the straight line extending from the final permanent boundary beacon PB 29 at right angles to the general direction of the coast with the low-water line, said Donoghue. In a statement issued Tuesday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has criticized the court decision and alleged the court has no jurisdiction over the matter. He said the decision will damage its relations with Somalia. Kenya argued in court there was an agreed boundary between the two countries but the court said Kenyas claim was not consistent because it signed a memorandum of understanding acknowledging the matter was in dispute. The judges unanimously decided there was no agreed borderline between the two countries. The court awarded Somalia the bulk of the territory while adjusting the border slightly northward. Nabil Orina, an international law expert, said the adjustment was meant to address Kenyas security and economic interests. The court agreed that there was a need to slightly adjust the equidistant line northwards in order to accommodate Kenya which will be significantly cut off if the line remains like that. So, thats why the line was again redrawn. So, in this case, then Kenya gained a bit of maritime territory but a bigger chunk of that went to Somalia. said Orina. The Hague-based court also rejected Somalias demand for compensation for Kenyas past economic activity in the area. It remains to be seen how the two East African nations manage the border situation as the region faces pressing issues, including terrorism. Turkeys president has brushed aside criticism of the countrys press freedom record, telling a U.S. broadcaster the country is incomparably free. But his comments on CBS came in the same month that several journalists were fighting lawsuits. One of those -- journalist and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) representative Erol Onderoglu-- was back in court on September 30 for a trial related to his role in a 2016 solidarity campaign with Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem. Turkey is still one of the countries with the harshest conditions for arresting journalists in Europe, if not in the world, Onderoglu told VOA. As well as arrests, often on accusations of supporting or producing propaganda for terrorist organizations, Onderoglu said that opposition journalists have problems in obtaining press cards; critical TV channels are arbitrarily fined by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) regulator; and opposition newspapers have lost government advertising revenue. But during his interview, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that U.S. President Joe Biden has not raised Turkeys treatment of journalists during private conversations between the two leaders and that Erdogan does not accept the findings of media rights groups that have documented mass arrests. We don't have any problems of that nature in terms of freedoms. Turkey is incomparably free, Erdogan told CBS. Turkey's communication directorate did not respond to VOA's request for comment. RTUK directed VOA to fill out a form providing personal information such as address, date of birth and identity card number. Media watchdogs including RSF and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists have documented hundreds of arrests or lawsuits filed against the media in the past five years. Because of that, Onderoglu said, Our view cannot be similar to Mr. Erdogan's understanding of media freedom and his view of critical and alternative media in Turkey. We see severe problems in the field. Gorkem Kinaci, of Turkish daily Evrensel, also believes that arrests and lawsuits counter Erdogans view. The trials of journalists, fines handed to newspapers, and censorship laws reveal the governments record on freedom of the press very clearly, Kinaci told VOA via email. Kinaci holds the title of responsible news editor at Evrensel, a unique role that makes him legally responsible for the content his outlet produces. Others, however, said that Turkeys record needs to be viewed in the context of an attempted coup in 2016. Hilal Kaplan, a columnist at the Sabah newspaper and its English edition Daily Sabah, told VOA, It is necessary to look at the unique conditions in Turkey following the coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of more than 250 people. Legal threats Kinaci, from Evrensel, is one of the many journalists in Turkey facing legal action. He and his paper are fighting a civil defamation suit filed last month over its reporting on allegations of corruption directed at the deputy health minister, Selahattin Aydin. The paper later published a rebuttal from the deputy minister, as ordered by the court, but Aydin is still seeking thousands of lira in damages. VOA emailed Aydin and the Ministry of Health for comment but did not receive a reply. Evrensels lawyer Devrim Avci called the case a violation of press freedom and said the case is just one example of dozens made against the outlet. Honestly, it can be challenging to catch up with all of them sometimes, Avci told VOA. Evrensel has always paid the consequences of being an opposition newspaper, but this has increased after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, Avci said. Beside the defamation case, Avci said the outlet has been accused of insulting the president and inciting hatred and enmity among the public. The lawyer said she believes the government is trying to silence Evrensel by punishing it financially. As well as legal cases that can result in fines or damages, Turkeys Press Advertising Agency (BIK) banned the paper from receiving an allocation of government ad revenue in September 2019. Overseen by the presidencys directorate of communication, the BIK is responsible for distributing official announcements that provide a regular source of revenue for newspapers. The government body has power to impose public advertisement bans on newspapers deemed to have violated press ethics. Media freedom advocates have said the BIK is using bans to stifle critical media and is not being transparent about the distribution of public money. BIK ended the practice of sharing its annual reports with the public when Turkey transitioned to a new presidential system in 2018. Details of how the body works however, were revealed in May when the Turkish service of Germanys public broadcaster Deutsche Welle published details from an internal report it had obtained. DW reported that in 2020, pro-government newspapers received around 78% of public funds paid for official announcements, while 97% of advertisement bans were issued against five opposition outlets including Cumhuriyet, Evrensel, and BirGun. When VOA sent an email to BIK requesting comment it was directed to fill out a form requesting personal information. Coup investigation The number of journalists jailed in Turkey rose sharply in 2016 as authorities arrested those it said were connected to the coup attempt. Data from the end of that year by CPJ, which covers media workers imprisoned as a direct result of their work, showed 86 journalists in custody. Media watchdogs have accused Ankara of using the coup attempt as an excuse to silence critical or opposition voices. Kaplan, who contributes to outlets that are part of the Turkuvaz Media Group, a company widely described as pro-government, believes some people used their profession as a cover during that time. In Turkey, there are people who serve the terrorist organization with their journalistic identity, Kaplan said, referring to the Gulen movement which Turkey blamed for the coup attempt. The group is led by Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whom President Erdogan says masterminded the failed coup. The cleric, who lives in self-imposed exile in the U.S., denies involvement. As well as Gulenists, supporters of groups including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and far-left Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Party/Front use their journalism as a cover, Kaplan said. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by Turkey and the United States. This distinction, Kaplan said, is not taken into account when watchdogs condemn Turkey for jailing journalists. Therefore, considering all these, I think that a correct assessment, file by file, should be done. But unfortunately, without taking this into account, there is a biased view that calls anyone who says they are just a journalist, a journalist, and does not seek any credibility, in this sense, Kaplan said. RSFs Onderoglu, who has documented and advocated for hundreds of journalists detained or facing legal charges for their work, says media repression is ongoing. The enmity to the critical press and the environment in which the critical, independent media are wanted to be brought to their knees did not end, Onderoglu said. A report marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction finds many deaths and economic losses from natural disasters could be averted by investing in preventive risk reduction measures. Climate-related disasters have nearly doubled over the past 20 years, with developing countries bearing the brunt of the damage. Though extreme weather events and other emergencies are growing, the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction says little money is being allocated to help countries prevent or reduce risks. The report finds $133 billion of official development assistance was allocated for disaster-related aid between 2010 and 2019, but only $5.5 billion was invested in measures to reduce the risks and lessen the impact of disasters. For every $100 spent on disaster-related development aid, only 50 cents goes toward protecting development from the impact of disasters, according to the report. Ricardo Mena, director of the Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, said even that low-level funding should be better targeted to address the needs of poorer, more vulnerable countries. "One would think that countries that are more prone to disasters and that experience higher mortality rates would be the ones where DRR, disaster risk reduction, financing would be allocated the most. But that is unfortunately not the case," he said. "Insufficient investment is being provided to prevent future disasters in areas where high mortality is likely." Mena said failure to invest in DRR is like buying a nice car that has no brakes. "Investing in DRR, we know it makes sense and, in terms of cost-benefit, it is tremendously positive," he said. "So, yes, we are saying it is better to attack the underlying factors of risk, then having to spend more money at a time when disasters actually happen." Academic studies find every dollar invested in disaster risk reduction prevention can result in savings of $3 to $15 in disaster losses. Mena is calling for an increase in funding to help poor countries adapt to climate change and implement national strategies for disaster risk reduction. The United States said Wednesday it was providing an additional $26 million to address the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The assistance will enable humanitarian agencies to help many of the estimated 6 million to 7 million people in need in the north, "including some of the 900,000 who are facing famine-like conditions, and over 48,000 refugees who have fled from northern Ethiopia to Sudan," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The humanitarian situation "will continue to worsen without a political solution," Blinken said. The Ethiopian federal government has been engaged in an armed conflict with forces of the Tigray People's Liberation Front for nearly a year. The government announced a unilateral cease-fire and withdrew its forces from the northern Ethiopian region in June, but the conflict has since spilled into the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar. Blinken called for "immediate, full, safe, and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations and workers" in Tigray. The United Nations has said few humanitarian aid trucks are getting through to the region. At the U.N. Wednesday, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the situation in northern Ethiopia "continues to be highly unpredictable and volatile. The delivery of humanitarian supplies into Tigray remains heavily constrained through the only road access route from Afar." Dujarric said 211 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies arrived in Tigray October 6-12, up from 80 a week earlier. He said the increase is positive, but the number is still not sufficient to meet the region's needs. For that, he said, 100 trucks must enter the region each day. Tigrayan leaders and Ethiopian government officials blamed each other's forces for blocking roads so the trucks cannot reach areas in need. Last week, Ethiopia expelled seven top U.N. aid officials, saying they were meddling in Ethiopian affairs and had diverted aid to the TPLF. The U.N. said the officials did nothing wrong. Blinken said the U.S. has provided nearly $663 million in humanitarian assistance for northern Ethiopia since the crisis began. Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. The White House is holding a two-day international conference starting Wednesday to combat ransomware computer attacks on business operations across the globe that cost companies, schools and health services an estimated $74 billion in damages last year. U.S. officials are meeting on Zoom calls with their counterparts from at least 30 countries to discuss ways to combat the clandestine attacks. Russia, a key launchpad for many of the attacks, was left off the invitation list as Washington and Moscow officials engage directly on attacks coming from Russia. This year has seen an epidemic of ransomware attacks in which hackers from distant lands remotely lock victims computers and demand large extortion payments to allow normal operations to resume. Ransomware payments topped $400 million globally in 2020, the United States says, and totaled more than $81 million in the first quarter of 2021. Two U.S. businesses, the Colonial Pipeline Company that delivers fuel to much of the eastern part of the country and the JBS global beef producer, were targeted in major ransomware attacks in May. Colonial paid $4.4 million in ransom demands, although U.S. government officials were soon able to surreptitiously recover $2.3 million of the payment. JBS said it paid an $11 million demand. Other U.S. companies were also attacked, including CNA Financial, one of the countrys biggest insurance carriers; Applus Technologies, which provides testing equipment to state vehicle inspection stations; ExaGrid, a backup storage vendor that helps businesses recover after ransomware attacks; and the school system in the city of Buffalo, New York. Attackers have also targeted victims in other countries, including Irelands health care system, the Taiwan-based computer manufacturer Acer and the Asia division of the AXA France cyber insurer. A senior White House official, briefing reporters ahead of the ransomware conference, said the U.S. views the meetings as the first of many conversations on ways to combat the attacks. At a summit in Geneva in June, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin created a working group of experts to deal with ransomware attacks. We do look to the Russian government to address ransomware criminal activity coming from actors within Russia, the White House official said. I can report that we've had, in the experts group, frank and professional exchanges in which we've communicated those expectations. We've also shared information with Russia regarding criminal ransomware activity being conducted from its territory. We've seen some steps by the Russian government and are looking to see follow-up actions, the official said, without elaborating. While U.S. officials say they know the identity of some of the attackers in Russia, Moscow does not extradite its citizens for criminal prosecutions. One of the major topics at the conference, the Biden official said, will be how countries can cooperate to trace and disrupt criminal use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The countries scheduled to join the U.S. at the ransomware conference are Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The European Union will also be represented. The senior White House official said, I think that list of countries highlights just how pernicious and transnational and global the ransomware threat has been. Aside from government action, the Biden administration has called on private businesses, which most often are blindsided by the ransomware attacks, to modernize their cyber defenses to meet the threat. The United States will move ahead with its plan to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem as Washington restores ties with the Palestinians and commits to a two-state solution. "As I said in May, we'll be moving forward with the process of opening a consulate as part of deepening those ties with the Palestinians," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Wednesday press conference. But he stopped short of providing a timeline. The U.S. supports efforts to advance a lasting peace in the Middle East, Blinken added, and will continue to "strengthen all aspects of the U.S.-Israel partnership." The top U.S. diplomat's remarks followed his meeting with Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem has been closed since 2019, and Palestinian affairs have been handled by the embassy. In May, Blinken announced the U.S. plan to reopen its consulate during a visit to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where he held talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel had opposed Washington's plan, calling the reopening a "bad idea." In early September, Lapid told reporters at a press conference, "We know that the (Biden) administration has a different way of looking at this, but since it is happening in Israel, we are sure they are listening to us very carefully." The Biden administration has repeatedly said that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state that lives in peace alongside a viable, sovereign and democratic Palestinian state. The United States announced Wednesday that it will reopen its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated travelers beginning next month. The borders have been shut down at all automobile, train and ferry crossings since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the exception of essential travel such as trade. The lifting of restrictions for non-essential travelers at the land borders comes just weeks after the administration of President Joe Biden announced it would allow fully vaccinated foreign citizens to fly into the country beginning next month. An exact date for the new rules has not been set, but officials said they would be in effect in early November. Administration officials told reporters that people seeking to enter the United States illegally would continue to be subject to the so-called Title 42 order put in place by former President Donald Trump that prevents many border crossers from seeking asylum. The Biden administration has been under pressure from U.S. lawmakers, as well as Canada and Mexico, to lift the restrictions, which they say has cut off families and deprived the United States of billions of dollars of tourism dollars. In a related matter, the Indonesian resort island of Bali is preparing to welcome international travelers from several countries back to its renowned beaches on Thursday after being closed for more than a year due to the pandemic. Visitors from China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates will have to show proof of being fully vaccinated, undergo testing upon arrival and quarantine in their hotel rooms for at least five days. The World Health Organization released Wednesday a proposed team of experts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that has sickened nearly 239 million people around the globe, including nearly 4.9 million deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The proposed team of experts, known as the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, includes specialists in fields like laboratory safety and biosecurity, a nod towards speculation among Western governments pressing for consideration of whether the virus emerged from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it was first detected in late 2019. A team of investigators dispatched to Wuhan earlier this year concluded the outbreak likely began as an animal-to-human transmission, but the report was criticized by many as incomplete, mainly due to the Chinese governments refusal to cooperate with the investigation. In July, a senior Chinese health official rebuffed WHOs future plan to study the origins of COVID-19. The U.S. intelligence community was ordered by Biden to come up with its own determination of the origins of the pandemic, but reportedly told the president it could not reach a definitive conclusion. The nations top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, acknowledged Wednesday the coronavirus may never be eliminated and that "much of the world" remains in the pandemic phase of the outbreak. Fauci, the Infectious Diseases Director at the National Institutes of Health and Infectious Diseases, made the assessment during a regular White House briefing on the pandemic. "It is going to be very difficult, at least in the foreseeable future and maybe ever, to truly eliminate this highly transmissible virus," he said. To put the battle against the coronavirus in perspective, Fauci said "Theres been only one disease thats a human disease thats been eradicated and that is smallpox." He said "much of the world" is still "in some aspects in the pandemic phase of the outbreak" but is "now seeing now a decline in acceleration" of new cases. The U.S. continues to lead the world in coronavirus deaths, with more than 717,000, and in new infections, with nearly 44.6 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The chief of the World Health Organization on Wednesday honored the late Henrietta Lacks, an American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge during the 1950s and ended up providing the foundation for vast scientific breakthroughs, including research about the coronavirus. The recognition from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus came more than a decade after the publication of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot's book about the discrimination in health care faced by Black Americans, the life-saving innovations made possible by Lacks' cells and her family's legal fight over their unauthorized use. What happened to Henrietta was wrong, Tedros said during a special ceremony at WHO Geneva headquarters before handing the Director-Generals Award for Henrietta Lacks to her 87-year-old son Lawrence Lacks as several of her other descendants looked on. Reproduced infinitely ever since, HeLa cells have become a cornerstone of modern medicine, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping and even COVID-19 vaccines. Tedros noted that Lacks lived at a time when racial discrimination was legal in the United States and that it remains widespread, even if no longer legal in most countries. Henrietta Lacks was exploited. She is one of many women of color whose bodies have been misused by science, he said. She placed her trust in the health system so she could receive treatment. But the system took something from her without her knowledge or consent." The medical technologies that were developed from this injustice have been used to perpetuate further injustice because they have not been shared equitably around the world, Tedros added. The HeLa cell line a name derived from the first two letters of Henrietta Lacks first and last names was a scientific breakthrough. Tedros said the cells were foundational in the development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, which can eliminate the cancer that took her life. As of last year, WHO said, less than 25% of the world's low-income countries and fewer than 30% of lower-middle-income countries had access to HPV vaccines through national immunization programs, compared to over 85% of high-income countries. Many people have benefited from those cells. Fortunes have been made. Science has advanced. Nobel Prizes have been won, and most importantly, many lives have been saved, Tedros said. No doubt Henrietta would have been pleased that her suffering has saved others. But the end doesnt justify the means. WHO said more than 50 million metric tons of HeLa cells have been distributed around the world and used in more than 75,000 studies. Last week, Lacks' estate sued a U.S. biotechnology company, accusing it of selling cells that doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital took from her without her knowledge or consent as part of a racially unjust medical system. We stand in solidarity with marginalized patients and communities all over the world who are not consulted, engaged or empowered in their own care, Tedros said. We are firm that in medicine and in science, Black lives matter, he added. Henrietta Lacks life mattered -- and still matters. Today is also an opportunity to recognize those women of color who have made incredible but often unseen contributions to medical science. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. (FILE PHOTO) This is typically what the BWCA looks like in the calm summer months, but the October, snowy rescue of a man with severe hypothermia at a campsite on Nina Moose Lake was harrowing at best. User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate Alajuela (73 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Quick but hard .... seemed to slowly disappear not abruptly. | 4 users found this interesting. Herrado (27.4 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Sitting at a table - horizontal shakes for 3 seconds. Very mild. | 4 users found this interesting. Hotel room 26 floors San Jose la sabana / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was sleeping I wake up I felt the bed was shackling right & left , I felt it strong because Im in hotel room in 26 floor | 3 users found this interesting. Samara Guanacaste (82.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Laying down, it felt like clear horizontal shaking for some seconds, a brief pause, a smaller shake afterwards | 2 users found this interesting. San Jose / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s : The room shook like a huge truck was going by | 4 users found this interesting. Jaco, (28.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Moderate shaking | 3 users found this interesting. Jaco, Costa Rica / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 10-15 s : hard rolling waves, varied intensity and rolling after shocks | 3 users found this interesting. Santa Ana Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Woke up from sleeping as my bed was shaking | 3 users found this interesting. 32 km of Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (34 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Light shaking, building swaying slightly, short duration. | 2 users found this interesting. Jaco, Puntaneras / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I quickly recognize it as an earthquake as the rattling and shaking went on for a few more seconds. Vibration is similar to heavy traffic | One user found this interesting. santa teresa, costa rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : was sitting in bed and it felt as if a force was rocking the bed back and forth from head rest to foot end | One user found this interesting. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Pochote, Provinz Puntarenas (27.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Es war ein mehrfaches Ruckeln zu spuren. Es war ein Gefuhl von ubermaigen Genu von Alkohol, ein Gefuhl von Versagen des vestibularischen Systems. Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : bed shaking | 2 users found this interesting. Monteverde / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : light shaking and swinging | 2 users found this interesting. San Jose Costa Rica, hotel balmoral / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Moderate | 2 users found this interesting. Jaco Beach (28.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shaking chandelier swinging doors rattled | One user found this interesting. Residence Inn Escazu San Jose (91.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Light shaking. On second floor. Felt bed moving back and forth. | One user found this interesting. Playa Hermosa, puntarenas (44.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Montezuma, Costa Rica (26.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Shook the whole room but nothing fell | One user found this interesting. Florencia, San Carlos (101.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : light sway, side to side. | One user found this interesting. Guadalupe, San Jose (101.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s A bit if rattling like real close thunder | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Jaco, Garabito, Puntarenas (28.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : Was in bed and it started to shake | One user found this interesting. Maual Antonia (79.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : In bed, whole house started to shake in rabid back and fourth motions somewhat violently. | One user found this interesting. 37 km of Samara, Nicoya, Guanacaste (81.5 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : A few seconds shaking | One user found this interesting. Punta leona (29.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Moved inside of the room in a hotel we are staying at. Weak shaking. | One user found this interesting. Santa Ana, San Jose (87.4 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Hotel room was swaying side to side | One user found this interesting. near Parrita, Puntarenas (46 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 10-15 s : sitting at my desk | One user found this interesting. near Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (29 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Taking dinner outdoor, the door vibrates and it looks like somebody shakes out chairs from behind | One user found this interesting. San Jose (95.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / very short : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Montezuma, (27 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : At home, house shook | One user found this interesting. San Jose Costa Rica near airport / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s : My bed was shaking it scared me so I put my iPad down and just looked around listening then about about 30 seconds it passed Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I felt a slight Rocking side to side on third floor condo building. It was raining heavily so thought it was Thunder. Herradura / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Felt like the whole resort was being lifted and swung around a bit. Not small shakes but a rolling feeling. Was pretty intense for a few seconds- but we had all just gone to bed so were still for it - there were no immediate signs of damage Pochotal / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Side to side | One user found this interesting. Santa Ana centro / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Estaba en la mesa y senti que virbro todo durante unos 5 segundos maximo | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Barva, Heredia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Mild shaking for a few seconds | One user found this interesting. Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Montezuma / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : Bed shook | One user found this interesting. San Ramon / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The house shook for about 8 to 10 seconds. | One user found this interesting. Jaco / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Sitting in bed, 4th floor. Building swayed | One user found this interesting. Playa Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Shaking that rattled doors and tables | One user found this interesting. Pozos, Santa Ana, Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / very short : Weak back and forth roll. | One user found this interesting. Jaco, Cpsta Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : the bed moved | One user found this interesting. Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : A couple jolts followed by shaking | One user found this interesting. 94965 (0.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Tambor (28.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Well felt shaking. Curtains and lamps swinging. Santa Teresa (36.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s San Ramon, Alajuela (80.6 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short Santa Ana (87.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : very weak shaking, although the building is built strong that I was in near Ciudad Cortes, Osa, Puntarenas (143.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Montezuma, Costa Rica (26.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Shook the whole room but nothing fell Joco (27.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Santa Teresa (34 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Jaco (28.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Indoor. Floor moved horizontally back and forth. Like someone shaking a table top. Grecia, Costa Rica (93.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Light shaking movements of objects on floor near Jaco, Garabito, Puntarenas (10.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Playa Hermosa, Jaco (29 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 31 km of Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (33.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s San Juan, Grecia, Provincia de Alajuela (92.4 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s Jaco (28.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s Jaco (27.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Jaco, Costa rica (28.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s Playa Hermosa, near Jaco (33.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s San Joaquin de Heredia (94.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s 32 km of Nandayure, Guanacaste (46.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / very short Joco (27.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Escazu centro (91.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Jaco Costa Rica (27.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Cot, Oreamuno, Provincia de Cartago (125.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app / not felt / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Jaco (29.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s Jaco (28 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Jaco costa rica (29.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s San Jose Costa Rica (92.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s Jaco Costa Rica (45.2 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 27 km of Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (28.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s Santa Teresa (36.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s San Isidro de Heredia (104.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s near Daniel Flores, Perez Zeledon, San Jose (119.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Playa Guiones (98.2 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Jaco (28.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : In bed, the bed was shaking San Pedro, Montes de Oca (99.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Watching TV on the couch. Couch started to shake... Guapiles / not felt Manuel Antonio / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Laying in bed and felt the house shake hard for 5-10 seconds. No damage observed. Monteverde de Puntarenas / not felt Esterillos Oeste / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Sitting on couch, felt as though it was swaying back and forth. Los Suenos Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Woke from a light sleep with shaking bed playa pavones de golfito / not felt Playa Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Shaking that rattled doors and tables Mal pais / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : yes shaking / shifting for 10 seconds Santa Ana / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Sustained but light shaking. Less than 10 seconds. Nuevo Arenal cost rica / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Very week movement of my couch Jaco, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 10-15 s Santa ana / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short Jaco Beach / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 20-30 s : I live in a 7 story complex and the building was swaying , felt like someone shaking my bed JACO , COSTA RICA / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shaking at dinner table quepos costa rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s Atenas, Alajuea Province / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : closet door vibrating open and shut; one shake and it was over. Quepos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s Oceano Hotel Calle Lapa Verde Jaco 61101 CR / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Jaco, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Hangers in closet were swinging, bed shook sideways, windows rattled Manuel Antonio / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Swing side to side Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Rolling sensation. Santa Teresa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Like the earth is moving Oceano Hotel Calle Lapa Verde Jaco 61101 CR / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Birri ,Heredia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Moved the hanging lamp plug Playa hermosa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Playa Hermosa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short Quepos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Light shaking Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Santa Cruz / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Saen drauen auf dem Balkon. Vibrieren von Fensterglas und Schwingungen des Balkons zu spuren. Atenas / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Weak shaking (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Laying in bed, felt rolling and saw slider move Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s San Miguel de Sarapiqui / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s Manzanillo / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Escazu / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Pocosol / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 10-15 s : Light shaking 6 floors up San Jose / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Rhythmic shaking. Woke from sleep on 7th floor of hotel. Last Bonita De Rivas San Isirdo de General / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Desamparados / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Temblo muy poco como 2 o 3 segundos muy suavemente mi televisor se movio un poco Santa Ana / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s Paquera / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s montezuma / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s San Jose / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s Montezuma / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 20-30 s Montezuma / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s Playa Bejuco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Mal pais / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Manuel Antonio / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Cabuya / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s Palmares / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Tambor Puntarenas / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s Herradura, Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) Mal pias / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Santa Teresa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Santa Theresa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Playa Jaco Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate San Jose / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s : The room shook like a huge truck was going by | 4 users found this interesting. Alajuela (73 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Quick but hard .... seemed to slowly disappear not abruptly. | 4 users found this interesting. Herrado (27.4 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Sitting at a table - horizontal shakes for 3 seconds. Very mild. | 4 users found this interesting. Hotel room 26 floors San Jose la sabana / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was sleeping I wake up I felt the bed was shackling right & left , I felt it strong because Im in hotel room in 26 floor | 3 users found this interesting. Jaco, (28.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Moderate shaking | 3 users found this interesting. Jaco, Costa Rica / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 10-15 s : hard rolling waves, varied intensity and rolling after shocks | 3 users found this interesting. Santa Ana Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Woke up from sleeping as my bed was shaking | 3 users found this interesting. 32 km of Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (34 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Light shaking, building swaying slightly, short duration. | 2 users found this interesting. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Atenas, Alajuela (68.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : It sounded like something big hit our glass door in our bedroom that goes to the patio. It was mostly just noise for me, maybe a slight jolt to the doir. Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : bed shaking | 2 users found this interesting. Samara Guanacaste (82.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Laying down, it felt like clear horizontal shaking for some seconds, a brief pause, a smaller shake afterwards | 2 users found this interesting. Monteverde / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : light shaking and swinging | 2 users found this interesting. San Jose Costa Rica, hotel balmoral / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Moderate | 2 users found this interesting. Jaco, Garabito, Puntarenas (28.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : Was in bed and it started to shake | One user found this interesting. 37 km of Samara, Nicoya, Guanacaste (81.5 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : A few seconds shaking | One user found this interesting. Santa Ana, San Jose (87.4 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Hotel room was swaying side to side | One user found this interesting. near Parrita, Puntarenas (46 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 10-15 s : sitting at my desk | One user found this interesting. near Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (29 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Taking dinner outdoor, the door vibrates and it looks like somebody shakes out chairs from behind | One user found this interesting. San Jose (95.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / very short : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Jaco Beach (28.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shaking chandelier swinging doors rattled | One user found this interesting. Jaco, Puntaneras / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I quickly recognize it as an earthquake as the rattling and shaking went on for a few more seconds. Vibration is similar to heavy traffic | One user found this interesting. Pochotal / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Side to side | One user found this interesting. santa teresa, costa rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : was sitting in bed and it felt as if a force was rocking the bed back and forth from head rest to foot end | One user found this interesting. Santa Ana centro / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Estaba en la mesa y senti que virbro todo durante unos 5 segundos maximo | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Barva, Heredia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Mild shaking for a few seconds | One user found this interesting. Residence Inn Escazu San Jose (91.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Light shaking. On second floor. Felt bed moving back and forth. | One user found this interesting. Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Montezuma / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : Bed shook | One user found this interesting. San Ramon / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The house shook for about 8 to 10 seconds. | One user found this interesting. Playa Hermosa, puntarenas (44.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Light shaking | One user found this interesting. Montezuma, Costa Rica (26.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Shook the whole room but nothing fell | One user found this interesting. Jaco / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Sitting in bed, 4th floor. Building swayed | One user found this interesting. Florencia, San Carlos (101.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : light sway, side to side. | One user found this interesting. Playa Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Shaking that rattled doors and tables | One user found this interesting. Pozos, Santa Ana, Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / very short : Weak back and forth roll. | One user found this interesting. Jaco, Cpsta Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : the bed moved | One user found this interesting. Guadalupe, San Jose (101.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s A bit if rattling like real close thunder | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : A couple jolts followed by shaking | One user found this interesting. Maual Antonia (79.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : In bed, whole house started to shake in rabid back and fourth motions somewhat violently. | One user found this interesting. Punta leona (29.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Moved inside of the room in a hotel we are staying at. Weak shaking. | One user found this interesting. Montezuma, (27 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : At home, house shook | One user found this interesting. San Ramon, Alajuela (80.6 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short near Ciudad Cortes, Osa, Puntarenas (143.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s San Juan, Grecia, Provincia de Alajuela (92.4 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s 32 km of Nandayure, Guanacaste (46.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / very short Cot, Oreamuno, Provincia de Cartago (125.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app / not felt / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 27 km of Paquera, Puntarenas, Puntarenas (28.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s near Daniel Flores, Perez Zeledon, San Jose (119.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s San Pedro, Montes de Oca (99.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Watching TV on the couch. Couch started to shake... 94965 (0.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Guapiles / not felt Manuel Antonio / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Laying in bed and felt the house shake hard for 5-10 seconds. No damage observed. Monteverde de Puntarenas / not felt Esterillos Oeste / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Sitting on couch, felt as though it was swaying back and forth. Los Suenos Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Woke from a light sleep with shaking bed Tambor (28.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Well felt shaking. Curtains and lamps swinging. Santa Teresa (36.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s playa pavones de golfito / not felt Playa Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Shaking that rattled doors and tables Mal pais / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : yes shaking / shifting for 10 seconds Santa Ana (87.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : very weak shaking, although the building is built strong that I was in Santa Ana / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Sustained but light shaking. Less than 10 seconds. Nuevo Arenal cost rica / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Very week movement of my couch San Jose Costa Rica near airport / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s : My bed was shaking it scared me so I put my iPad down and just looked around listening then about about 30 seconds it passed Jaco, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 10-15 s Santa ana / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I felt a slight Rocking side to side on third floor condo building. It was raining heavily so thought it was Thunder. Jaco Beach / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 20-30 s : I live in a 7 story complex and the building was swaying , felt like someone shaking my bed JACO , COSTA RICA / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shaking at dinner table quepos costa rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s Atenas, Alajuea Province / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : closet door vibrating open and shut; one shake and it was over. Montezuma, Costa Rica (26.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Shook the whole room but nothing fell Quepos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s Joco (27.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Oceano Hotel Calle Lapa Verde Jaco 61101 CR / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Jaco, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Hangers in closet were swinging, bed shook sideways, windows rattled Manuel Antonio / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Swing side to side Jaco / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Rolling sensation. Santa Teresa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Like the earth is moving Santa Teresa (34 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Herradura / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Felt like the whole resort was being lifted and swung around a bit. Not small shakes but a rolling feeling. Was pretty intense for a few seconds- but we had all just gone to bed so were still for it - there were no immediate signs of damage Jaco (28.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Indoor. Floor moved horizontally back and forth. Like someone shaking a table top. Oceano Hotel Calle Lapa Verde Jaco 61101 CR / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Birri ,Heredia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Moved the hanging lamp plug Playa hermosa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Playa Hermosa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short Quepos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Light shaking Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Santa Cruz / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Saen drauen auf dem Balkon. Vibrieren von Fensterglas und Schwingungen des Balkons zu spuren. Atenas / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Weak shaking (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Laying in bed, felt rolling and saw slider move Grecia, Costa Rica (93.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Light shaking movements of objects on floor Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s San Miguel de Sarapiqui / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s Manzanillo / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Escazu / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s 10.6 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Playa Hermosa, Jaco (29 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Pocosol / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s 33.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Jaco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 10-15 s : Light shaking 6 floors up Pochote, Provinz Puntarenas (27.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Es war ein mehrfaches Ruckeln zu spuren. Es war ein Gefuhl von ubermaigen Genu von Alkohol, ein Gefuhl von Versagen des vestibularischen Systems. San Jose / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Rhythmic shaking. Woke from sleep on 7th floor of hotel. Last Bonita De Rivas San Isirdo de General / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Desamparados / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Temblo muy poco como 2 o 3 segundos muy suavemente mi televisor se movio un poco Jaco (28.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s Jaco (27.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Santa Ana / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s Jaco, Costa rica (28.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s Paquera / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s Playa Hermosa, near Jaco (33.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s San Joaquin de Heredia (94.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s Joco (27.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s montezuma / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s San Jose / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s Escazu centro (91.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Jaco Costa Rica (27.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Montezuma / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 20-30 s Montezuma / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s Playa Bejuco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Mal pais / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Manuel Antonio / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s Cabuya / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s Jaco (29.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s Palmares / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Jaco (28 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Jaco costa rica (29.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s San Jose Costa Rica (92.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s Jaco Costa Rica (45.2 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Tambor Puntarenas / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s Herradura, Costa Rica / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Santa Teresa / Light shaking (MMI IV) Santa Teresa (36.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Mal pias / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s San Isidro de Heredia (104.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s Santa Teresa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Santa Theresa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Herradura / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Nosara / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s The Iraqi legislative elections were boycotted by 59% of the citizens. The population is aware that the system is rigged, that foreign powers are calling the shots, that corruption is rife among the elites and that the militias do not abide by the law. It therefore lends no credibility to so-called democratic institutions. The 41% of voters who showed up at the polls upset the political balance. The party of Muqtada el-Sadr (nationalist Shiite) [photo] received the largest number of votes. The party of Council Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi (nationalist Sunni) came in second followed by the PDK of Massoud Barzani (Kurdish, separatist), while former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (Shiite, pragmatic) made a powerful comeback. The big loser is the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance (16 seats versus 48 in 2018). It denounced the election as a scam and refuses to accept the official results. Was Emily Dickinson a war poet? The famed New England author is traditionally known as a recluse, but she was most prolific during the Civil War, and Apple TV+s Dickinson loves nothing better than upending your assumptions about her life and work. As the genre-bending comedy heads into its third and final season, its bringing Hailee Steinfelds Emily into the Civil War literally, in the case of a dream sequence, where shes on the battlefield that you can see in the trailer. That trailer also hints at the shows other key preoccupations: Emilys relationship with her sister-in-law Sue Gilbert, which is strained once again, and her legacy as a poet, which comes up in her interactions with an ebullient Walt Whitman (Billy Eichner) and, mysteriously, Sylvia Plath (SNLs Chloe Fineman), who calls her the original sad girl. Dickinson will release its third seasons first three episodes on November 5. In advance of the shows premiere, creator Alena Smith spoke with Vulture about what to expect. Youve said you had a three-season plan for the show. In that plan, what did you want to accomplish in this third season? I always knew going into it that the third season would take place during the Civil War, which was the culmination of a lot of what we had been tending toward the whole time. The exact four years of the Civil War are when Emilys writing output went through the roof. I knew, also, when I pitched this three-season arc, that one of the most important characters who would enter Emilys life in season three is Thomas Wentworth Higginson (Gabriel Ebert), a radical abolitionist minister who Emily did the equivalent of cold-emailing in the spring of 1862. She sees Higginsons essay in The Atlantic encouraging young writers in their process and inviting them to reach out to him for advice. Emily writes Higginson a letter asking him if her poems are any good. Its interesting she chose this person who was explicitly a radical and an activist. At the time she wrote to him, he was stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina, putting together a federally unauthorized regiment of Black soldiers. They ended up corresponding for 24 years, and after her death, he became her first editor. The fact that hes an activist is key to understanding her quest in season three, which is basically asking the question Can I make a difference? The only thing that Emily knows shes good at is writing poetry, and shes asking, Can my poetry help people? The trailer opens with a confrontation between Emily and Sue. What did you think about the endgame for how they would end up within the show? Well, the quote, unquote endgame that the fans love to refer to, you can go to the museum and learn about that, which is that they were next-door neighbors for 40 years and Emily wrote Sue hundreds of letters and love poems. Those are the facts, but the question is the interpretation of the facts. Season two was about Emily almost losing Sue because Sue almost lost herself. But luckily for all of us who love Emily and Sue, Sue recovered her true self and the fundamental fact that she loves Emily more than anyone in the world. We come into season three with a renewed honesty and intimacy between them. Its like a homecoming to season one but with the characters having deepened and grown to the original predicament: Sue has traditional responsibilities as a wife that Emily doesnt have because shes chosen a different path for herself. But also, in season three, we push Emily the character to define her sexuality in ways she has not so far in the series. We liked the idea that there was a fluidity to Emily because in the 1850s they didnt have the same words and categories for sexuality we have today. But in season three, we, along with Sue, are pushing Emily to say, I am gay, I am queer, to own her love of Sue. You wrote and shot this season during the pandemic. How did that affect it? My goal for this show was always to use the story of Emily Dickinson as an unexpected mirror for where we are today. Part of why I found the Civil War so disturbing and engaging as an artist was what society was already going through, even before the pandemic. But then the pandemic came along and suddenly I found myself writing this show over Zoom. That certainly added to these tremendous layers of grief, which happened to be what Emily and her family were going through as well. The Civil War changed the conception of death in America, which has been written about by Drew Gilpin Faust in her book This Republic of Suffering. You suddenly had death on this mass scale, which is where we got this whole idea for Nobody [a figure in Dickinsons poems who appears on the show as Frazer Stearns, who would go on to die in the war]. In any case, it all got very meta. By design, and by the way the world changed around us as we were writing it, I do think this season is bigger and deeper and theres a real emotional distance we all traveled together that feels fitting for a time when everyone involved in the making of the show is being challenged so much. Youve announced three new guest stars so far: Ziwe as Sojourner Truth, Billy Eichner as Walt Whitman, and Chloe Fineman as Sylvia Plath. Why these figures, and also, with Sylvia Plath, how? With Ziwe, I loved her on Twitter and her appearances on various podcasts, and in March 2020, I said, Would you want to write for Dickinson this year? She said yes, and then during that time we were in the writers room over Zoom, she was also doing Baited on Instagram Live. Then I was like, well, we have to put Ziwe in the show, and we didnt realize that within a year she would be one of the biggest guest stars we had ever had because everything started happening for her. Then Billy was its own full-circle moment. Billy and I had crossed paths in 2009 when he was part of my show The Piven Monologues at Joes Pub, where we read internet comments about Jeremy Piven dropping out of Speed-the-Plow because of mercury poisoning. It featured both Billy and Julie Klausner and deserves a revival. But weve had all these guest stars of people from the 19th-century cannon who were important in one way or another to Dickinson. Of all of them, the most important was going to be Walt Whitman. They are the two most influential poets in American literature, and yet they embody such extremes of lived experience and reception. Emily is cloistered and interior, a woman defined by what her life didnt include. Whitman is out and about, walking down the Bowery, knowing everybody, self-publishing, self-mythologizing, and in the Civil War, working as a nurse and frequenting a gay nightclub called Pfaffs. In our show, Whitman takes Emily to Pfaffs, and its her first experience of realizing people can be gay. So I wanted to bring these two great forces of Dickinson and Whitman together, and it was fabulous to put Billy in the role because he plays Whitman as a character in his own right, but its also a little bit of Whitman on the Street. Ziwe and I also co-wrote the episode where Emily meets Sylvia Plath through a mechanism that I will not reveal because its going to be a lot of fun for the audience to figure that out. I learned about Chloe a couple years ago because Hailee sent me her Instagram videos of her imitations of people, so that was also a nice full-circle moment. The function that Sylvia plays also has to do with Emily embracing her queerness, because Emily learns that in the future of the 1950s, the mythology thats collected around Dickinson is that she died of unrequited love for a man. This pushes her to be like, Thats not true! I have requited love and its Sue. It also interested me to bring Sylvia into the mix because many times when I said, Im making a show about Emily Dickinson, people would say, When did she kill herself? I think theres this idea that every female poet kills themselves, which I might call the Plath Effect. I wanted to use Sylvia, or at least a caricature of Sylvia, to investigate that. The Madison County Sheriffs Office has arrested a man it says is responsible for a string of scam phone calls targeting elderly residents. (Learn more HERE) The office has another suspect it is looking for who is tied to the crimes. Kino Deandre Roper, 26, was arrested Sunday and charged with three counts of theft by deception. Bond was set at $90,000, but hes also on hold for the FBI, Athens Police, and the Limestone and Morgan counties sheriffs offices. Agencies recovered $166,000 in cash when Kino Roper was arrested, the sheriffs office said. Investigators now seek the location of a second suspect, 30-year-old Christopher Roper. According to a news release, Kino Roper and his associates have a network of individuals who, through extortion and fraud, induced elderly citizens across North Alabama and surrounding counties to pay thousands to tens of thousands of dollars each to purportedly help their relatives in need of assistance while preying on their concerns for loved ones. More from the release: Over the last month, Madison County Sheriffs investigators as well as other local law enforcement agencies throughout North Alabama began an investigation into several elder abuse scams that affected numerous individuals in our area. The investigations revealed calls originating from someone claiming to be a lawyer representing a family member who is in need of money for bail, or legal fees. These scammers can be cunning, and may tell you that there is a legal gag order in place and not to contact anyone else about the incident. They will request a large sum of money and say they will send someone to your home to pick it up. Oftentimes, they will reach out a second time, claiming the gag order was violated and your family member needs additional funds. These scammers often call using prepaid phones and use couriers or rideshare services to coordinate the pick-up. Sheriff Kevin Turner stated, We take crimes against the elderly serious here in Madison County. These scams have left citizens financially and emotionally devastated and we are committed to investigating, locating, and prosecuting those individuals who take part in such schemes that target and prey on our elderly. I want to personally thank the men and women who worked tirelessly to bring this individual to justice. The Madison County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Secret Service, Athens Police Department, Morgan County Sheriffs Office, Huntsville Police Department, Homewood Police Department, and the Limestone County Sheriffs Office. Anyone who believes they were a victim of this scam is urged to contact your local agency and report it. These multi-agency investigations continue and more arrests are expected. It was a beautiful night in Sheffield for a benefit concert Tuesday at Riverfront Park. The concert was held to honor Sheffield Police Sgt. Nick Risner, all while continuing to support his family. "I am going to support him no matter what, and I know all these good people are, too," Janice Mcintyre said. She attended the benefit concert as a supporter, but Mcintyre said she's also Risner's cousin. Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson got the night underway with a tribute to Risner. "It's a great event, and it's good that somebody had the foresight to put all this together to help this family in the loss of their loved one," C.R. Hood said. Hood went on to say he supports all law enforcement and first responders "in whatever capacity they serve." Award-winning country group Shenandoah organized the special benefit concert. It was a free event, with donations encouraged for Risner's family. "It has been such a shock, and this officer was just so well-loved that I am just so thrilled that we are having this tonight," Delaina Greene said. Several people attended the 90-minute concert wearing shirts with Risner's name. Several Sheffield police officers and firefighters also attended. As society moves closer to the 100-year anniversary of a landmark case in which nine Black teens were falsely accused and convicted by an all-white jury of raping two white women a case that led to two major Supreme Court rulings a building that housed one of the accusers is being renovated to tell their story and of civil rights in Decatur, according to one of the women behind the renovation. The Scottsboro Boys-CEOTA Civil Rights Museum was first announced about two years ago, and board members are currently in the process of raising funds for each phase of construction. Frances Tate, founder of Celebrating Early Old Town with Art, said its been overwhelming, but she and others are focused on preserving and sharing the history of Old Town, Decatur and the Scottsboro Boys. Tate grew up in the Old Town community of Decatur. She remembers her parents telling her about the Scottsboro Boys trial and learning mostly through oral storytelling what life was like back then. The Old Town community was terrorized during the trial, day and night, by the (Ku Klux) Klan and the shooting up the neighborhood, Tate said. One young man, James Royal, was killed during one of those episodes. All of the reporters that came in, from all over the United States had to be bused from house to house and stand guard to keep them from getting killed. The first trials took place in the early 1930s in Scottsboro. All but one of the Boys were sentenced to death. Their cases were appealed, with some eventually being retried in Decatur between 1933 and 1937. Ruby Bates, one of the women who falsely accused the Scottsboro Boys, was housed during the trial in the building that will soon be used for the civil rights museum that will tell the Boys story in Decatur, Tate said. I tell people, You have to think of the time it happened, Tate said. Its something that, for some reason, has been forgotten. But people do not realize the historical and legal aspects of the Scottsboro Boys trial. Among them are the two Supreme Court rulings brought about by the trial. One, you had to have a jury of your peers, and you had to have legal counsel, Tate said. If you dont have the money, the city or state got to give you someone for your legal defense. A lot of people dont realize it, but that revolutionized the whole legal system, those two rulings. Tate hopes to raise awareness of Decaturs role in the trials and in history through the museum. She said her mission started with creating photos of Old Town to share that communitys history. As the years went on, she decided there was a need for a museum. Now, they have a building that played a prominent role in the trial and the property next to it for the museum. Tate said Phase One of the museums construction is renovating the old house, a $500,000 project. Nothing is up to code, she said. We are in the process of doing all the eaves and the facia boards then were going to put a complete new roof on. We have brick masonry structure that has to be done. Everything has to be done. The next step, which Tate called Phase Two, will be constructing a new, $10 million building on the adjacent property. Tate said the house is not large enough for everything they want to include in the museum, but we need to preserve the house because of its historical value. Once complete, the museum will include exhibits reflecting the rich history of North Alabamas civil rights struggles and victories, including the Scottsboro Boys trials, oral interviews about Old Town and numerous other items and memorabilia. Tate said the goal is to have the house renovated within the next 18 months and the museum ready for visitors within about three years. Those who wish to support the project financially can do so through a tax-deductible donation. Checks should be made payable to Scottsboro Boys-CEOTA Civil Rights Museum Fund and mailed to: Scottsboro Boys-CEOTA Civil Rights Museum Fund P.O. Box 802 Decatur, AL 35602 Donors can also click here to visit the museums website. Many people are seeing a short supply of some items in stores because of a massive disruption in the supply chain. That means they're also having to dig deeper in their pockets for some items. It's never too early to start ordering for the holidays. Businesses said that's especially true this year, because it's already taking longer to get things in the mail. Experts suggest starting holiday shopping early Experts suggest starting holiday shopping early We dont control the post office," said Morgan Price, manager of Thrive Boutique in Huntsville. "If you get something from us and youre trying to send it to somebody else or you order through our website, once we send it out, we have no control. Thrive Boutique currently has plenty of clothes in stock. However, Price said, they are seeing some items take longer to arrive. "It's more of supplies: receipt paper, some bagging stuff we actually have a sign thats been in California in a port since July," she said. Price said her business is already preparing for this holiday season in case the products take too long to arrive from their suppliers. Usually we wait until probably the end of October to start getting our stuff together for Black Friday or the Christmas season, but weve already started," Price said. "So, hopefully, well be prepared." The Alabama Retail Association expects record-breaking sales in 2021 for the holiday season. Businesses are already anticipating their products to take longer to arrive to customers. That's because the labor shortage is causing an increase in shipping delays. There currently aren't enough truck drivers to get items to businesses and to get packages to people's doors. Price said the time to shop is now. Start early. Do not wait until the last minute because you can never count on somebody else, so make sure you give yourself enough cushion room," said Price. "If you see it, you better go get it because theres no guarantee that were going to get it back in." There are currently shortages of various items. Experts said toys and electronics are some items that may be hard to get your hands on if you wait. U.S. Space Command headquarters is coming to Huntsville. Right? Maybe not, if Colorado politicians get their way. In January, the Air Force announced the Rocket City will be the permanent headquarters for its growing Space Command, bringing new jobs to Redstone Arsenal and the entire region. But that game-changing decision means the command will leave Colorado behind. The entire Colorado congressional delegation is pushing the Biden administration hard to suspend that decision, instead calling for the Air Force to keep Space Command where it is currently housed in Colorado Springs, Colo. Right now, the Department of Defense Inspector General's Office and the Government Accountability Office are both conducting reviews of this decision. It is unclear when their report will be completed. That review launched after Colorado Democratic senators led the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation in urging President Joe Biden to suspend the Trump administrations decision. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper released a statement after Trump said he single-handily made the decision to move the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama during a rally in Cullman earlier this year: Former President Trump has admitted what we already knew: That he made a strictly political decision to move Space Command and completely disregarded both critical national security and budgetary considerations. This is exactly why weve called for a review and reconsideration of the decision. We look forward to the Air Force doing just that -- looking at what is best for our national security -- and making sure Space Command is located where it belongs, in Colorado Springs," Hickenlooper wrote. But powerful Southern Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said shell oppose efforts by Colorado leaders to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs. Of course, Space Force is coming our way," Blackburn said Tuesday while in Huntsville for the Lee Greenwood tribute concert. Blackburn sits on the Armed Services Committee and says the decision just makes sense. It was a logical choice when you look at workforce, we have a ready workforce. Blackburn points to the detailed site-selection process the Air Force conducted before picking Huntsville. Blackburn says this will impact the entire region. A lot of Tennessee folks work here in Huntsville so when you look at Redstone Arsenal," she said. A the DOD review of how this decision was reached continues behind closed doors, Blackburn remains confident. I mean look at Fort Campbell and then you look at the capacity that is here in Huntsville and the innovation and research work. Blackburn says politics aside, this was a good call for the country. The best is yet to come for our region," Blackburn added. WAAY 31 reached out to Space Command officials Wednesday who say the status remains unchanged and they are moving here. But during a congressional hearing in April, Gen. James Dickinson, Commander of Space Command, acknowledged there are many unanswered questions about the move, including its costs and impact on workforce retention. Kayla White is suing the estate of her ex-husband over the murder of their 10-year-old son, Tate Buening. The wrongful death civil suit against Brian Buening, who authorities say killed himself after murdering their son, was filed Tuesday. White found her son dead in Buenings home Aug. 6 in Harvest. (Read more HERE) According to the lawsuit, White filed a motion July 9 to suspend visitation between Tate and Buening after she received threatening messages from him. The lawsuit says White is seeking punitive damages. Officials arrested the man they believe is responsible for a string of scam phone calls targeting elderly residents. Kino Roper is facing several theft by deception charges and is expected to face more charges from federal and local agencies across North Alabama. However, officials warn there are more scammers out there. Kino Deandre Roper Kino Deandre Roper "This is just one person," Brent Patterson of Madison County Sheriff's Office said. "They are everywhere. They are nationwide." Patterson said deputies went above and beyond their call of duty when they started seeing an uptick in scams in the last month. "When you've got a situation where criminals come out and target intentionally target the elderly citizens in our community to rip them of their life savings, we have a serious problem with that," Patterson said. Patterson couldn't go into detail about how the suspect was found but said they were able to use new technology to get some leads. "It's a cat-and-mouse game," he said. "They have their resources. We have our resources." On Sunday, they arrested Roper and found $166,000 in cash. "Greed got them arrested," Patterson said. Roper is accused of pretending to be a lawyer and asking people for money to help a loved one pay bail or legal fees. Officials said the fake lawyer would even tell the victims a legal gag order was in place to keep them from telling anyone. They would then lie to say the order was violated to scam people out of more money. "People have said, 'How are people just giving money away like that?' You'd be surprised what you do when you're scared and it's involving a loved one," Patterson said. Some of the victims gave away their life savings. Some of that money will go back to the victims. However, Patterson warned some of the victims may not be able to get their money back. Unfortunately, this situation is not unusual. "It's just devastating when they realized they've been conned, and we just want to avoid these tragedies as much as possible," Jamie Harding with AARP Alabama said. She's seen a rise in scams during the pandemic. "Isolation and loneliness can really create perfect conditions for con artists to take advantage of someone," Harding explained. She said knowledge is power against these scammers. "The more you know about how they operate," Harding said. "They better you can protect yourself." Harding said scammers use several tactics, like calling in the middle of the night or threatening victims, to make them give up their hard-earned cash. "They try to make you feel fearful, and they also prey on your feelings for your loved ones," Harding said. "This is how they make their living. They practice. They try different things. Keep using what works, and they will sell your phone number to other criminals, so they can try to take advantage of you as well." Harding said she recently heard of two men in Mobile who took their lives after falling victim of a scam and losing their life savings. "These are very upsetting crimes," Harding said. "Very upsetting situations, especially for people who have worked their whole lives and save their money. To have it taken under false pretences like criminals, it's devastating." She hopes victims of the scam in North Alabama do not lose hope. "Please don't be embarrassed," Harding said. "Just please don't feel bad about yourself. We don't want them to feel anything other than victims of a crime." She urged victims to reach out to their loved ones for their support. "Your family loves you," she said. "They don't love your money, so we want people to reach out for help. Don't go through this alone." Officials encourage residents to listen to their gut, hang up when they get these types of calls and check in with loved ones or local law enforcement agencies. "Verify this information," Patterson said. "Do not give people money that you don't know." Officials said Roper is suspected of working with a network of individuals. So far, they've identified a second suspect as Christopher Roper. At this time, their relation is unclear. Investigators are following up on some leads right now and expect an arrest soon. The Madison Police Department reports that emergency crews are on the scene of a wreck on westbound Interstate 565 near Toyota Field. Police said to expect delays until about 7 p.m. Avoid the area if possible. Use caution if you cannot. In a private phone call Tuesday, the White House urged governors to prepare to begin vaccinating elementary-age kids in early November. Once federal regulators give the green light, the pediatric Pfizer vaccine will be distributed in 100-dose packs. The doses, which are about one-third of what is given to adults, will be sent to thousands of sites, including pediatricians, family doctors, hospitals, health clinics and pharmacies enrolled in a federal program that guarantees the shots are provided for free. Some states are planning to provide the vaccine through schools, as well. We've secured plenty of supply, and we'll be putting in place an allocation ordering and distribution system similar to what we've used for the other vaccines, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said on the call. While the White House said shipments of the pediatric vaccine will begin as soon as the FDA gives the green light, shots wouldnt happen until the CDC makes its recommendation on who should get the vaccine. The CDC is drafting guidance on the practice of test to stay being used by schools in lieu of quarantines, according to the White House call. CDC director Rochelle Walensky said its possible that the guidance is released this week. Click here to log in and see all of our other subscription options for the Walker Pilot, including online only & auto-renewal subscriptions. Man admits to murder of grandmother, faces up to life in prison Police arrest second juvenile believed to be involved in shooting incident near Centennial 23 million Italians will be affected when the new Green Pass rules come into force on 15 October. All workers in Italy will be required to have a Green Pass from Friday 15 October, under contentious new restrictions being ushered in by the Italian government. The Green Pass is a digital or paper certificate showing that people have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from covid-19. What are Italy's new Green Pass rules? From this Friday the Green Pass will be compulsory for all workers - in both the public and private sectors - affecting around 23 million people. Those caught violating the new rules will face hefty fines or suspension without pay, however nobody can be fired for not having the health certificate. Those who do not have the Green Pass are not permitted to enter their workplace, with every day they miss as a result regarded as "unjustified" absence. After five days off work, employees will be suspended and have their pay frozen, with this time off not counted for pension contributions or accrued for holidays. Unvaccinated employees can still enter the workplace but only if they undergo a covid test every 48 hours, at their own expense, with a fixed cost of 15. Green Pass penalties Those who go to work without a Green Pass risk fines of between 600 and 1,500. Employers are responsible for ensuring that their staff have the Green Pass and have been equipped with an app for this purpose by the government. Managers and employers are required to carry out checks, on a daily basis, on at least 20 per cent of their workforce. Businesses who fail to carry out checks risk fines of between 400 and 1,000. The only workers not required to have the Green Pass are those who have a medical certification that exempts them from being vaccinated. The Green Pass obligation for workers will be in force until 31 December, when Italy's covid state of emergency expires, after which its scope may be revised. Opposition to Green Pass Critics say that extending the Green Pass requirements to all workers amounts to forced vaccination by the back door however premier Mario Draghi says the move is designed to help Italy to "continue to open up." Protests over Italy's Green Pass had begun to fizzle out over the summer however there are renewed tensions in recent weeks, with violent clashes in Rome last weekend as well as threats of protests and strikes on 15 October. Pharmacies are also coming under pressure to cope with a surge in bookings for covid tests. When the government announced the measures a month ago Italy saw an initial surge in vaccination bookings however the campaign has since slowed down, with the desired "Green Pass effect" failing to materialise. Italy's vaccination campaign The scope of the Green Pass continues to be extended in a bid to boost Italy's vaccination campaign as the country recently hit its target of fully vaccinating 80 per cent of the population over the age of 12 against covid-19. There are currently 43.2 million people in Italy fully vaccinated against covid, with around 8 million who have yet to receive even the first dose. What is Italy's Green Pass? Italy's Green Pass, or certificazione verde, was first introduced in June and was used originally for travel within the EU and to facilitate access to large events such as weddings or to visit nursing homes. However over the summer the scope of the Green Pass - which does not apply to children under 12 - was expanded progressively, and has been updated several times. The pass is currently required for indoor dining in restaurants, long-distance domestic travel, a host of cultural, leisure and social activities - such as museums, swimming pools nightclubs - as well as in certain workplace environments including schools and universities. Details about the Green Pass can be found - in Italian - on the Certificazione Verde website while for official information about the covid-19 situation in Italy - in English - see the health ministry website. Photo credit: Adnkronos Finally, Auchan needs to get round the problem that its shares dont have a public price. A solo all-cash deal looks like a stretch, and a private-equity firm is unlikely to want to add firepower as a minority partner. Auchan could do an initial public offering or merge with a blank-check company to put a price on its stock. But its hard to see investors dashing to put another French grocer in their trolley on the basis of the standalone strategy. Talks to merge with billionaire Xavier Niels special-purpose acquisition company were explored over the summer, according to Reuters. Modern trading desks at banks are steel traps for capturing every single action that happens in their purview, but even such pervasive monitoring doesnt always prevent bad things happening, as Credit Suisse Group AG found in its dealings with Archegos Capital Management. But take away the cameras, recorded phone lines, MiFID II justification for every step on a transaction and the in-house compliance teams presence, and life is bound to have become a bit more relaxed. It is not just your boss breathing down your neck but also your colleagues presence overhearing your conversations that helps keep most people on the straight and narrow. The restraints are off when youre in your kitchen all day every day for hours on a mobile phone. For instance, Cathy ONeil has noted that Facebooks machine-learning algorithms dont work well enough in stopping harmful content. (I agree.) The company could double its 15,000 content moderators, as suggested by a recent academic study. But Facebook could also bring its existing moderators out of the shadows. The contract workers are required to sign strict NDAs and arent allowed to talk about their work with friends and family, according to Cori Crider, the founder of tech advocacy group Foxglove Legal, which has helped several former moderators take legal action against Facebook over allegations of psychological damage. Facebook has said content reviewers could take breaks when they needed and were not pressured to make hasty decisions. Fortunately, two major airlines based in Texas understand that vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect public health in the Covid-19 era. They plan to ignore Abbotts browbeating. Other companies large and small should follow suit, no matter the political standoffs and threats in Texas and elsewhere. Theres early evidence that vaccine and testing mandates work, and plenty of companies were making use of them well before President Joe Biden said he would ask the Labor Department to issue rules for corporate America. Not necessarily. Abbotts order and the presidents will probably see each other in court. While employment law experts say the supremacy of federal OSHA regulations over a governors executive order is a given, theres nothing stopping the state from seeing how a judge might rule. Abbott could attempt to bring novel arguments to court, expanding on his position that employees and customers should be allowed to cite religious, moral or medical objections to the federal mandate. That argument might come up short, however, since Bidens mandate already allows workers to submit to weekly testing instead of getting the inoculation. Abbotts order is likely to be put on hold during such a lawsuit, according to Kapoor. Thats because a judge will probably find that vaccine mandates benefit public health, while an executive order against them creates potentially costly policy U-turns for larger businesses, she said. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy As a result, since Sept. 13, videoconference hearings for federal Capitol riot cases and other jailed defendants have been sharply curtailed, at the same time that the jail is no longer performing coronavirus tests on all inmates who must go to court in person, judges said. That has led to at least one instance in which a hearing was canceled because a defendant taken to the court was sent back because he showed covid-like symptoms, only to learn that he had a pending negative test result, Lamberth said. Baker is the first among the nine Democratic gubernatorial candidates to announce a choice for lieutenant governor. Del. Daniel L. Cox (Frederick) , who is running for the Republican nomination, selected Gordana Schifanelli, an attorney from Queen Annes County, as his running mate last week. Schifanelli is a parent who helped push for the ouster of the countys schools superintendent, who had sent a letter to parents in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Candidates must select their running mates before the Feb. 22 filing deadline. He spent his career as a specialist in private-equity funds. Early in his career, he was executive director of the Forsyth County (N.C.) Economic Development Corp., founded and ran his own investment company and also worked for USAID as a senior venture capital adviser focused on Africa, Europe and the former Soviet Union. He joined OPIC, now the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, in 1999. Miyares went on to say Herring was part of that problem because he had failed to speak up about the early release of a handful of violent felons by the states parole board, which was criticized by the states inspector general over its handling of the cases. Miyares returned to the theme more than any other during the debate in Leesburg that was sponsored by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Smallwood Dr. and Leonardtown Rd., 2:27 a.m. Oct. 3. Officers responding to a report of gunfire initiated a traffic stop. A passenger jumped out of the vehicle with a rifle, fled to the woods and was located by the K-9 unit. The driver remained in the vehicle. Two Waldorf men, ages 26 and 32, were arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and other related charges. But thats not what left many people alarmed and outraged. That occurred after a construction vehicle scooped up a tent while a man remained in it. The man, who had gone unnoticed as he slept in the tent during the cleanup, was lifted by a front loader vehicle. Afterward, he was taken to the hospital and city officials said he did not suffer serious injuries. Even so, the mistake was not one that could, should or would be ignored. Voters arent terribly familiar with either candidate. About two-thirds of registered voters, 65 percent, say they know a lot or a fair amount about McAuliffe, while 34 percent say they know just a little or nothing about the Democrat who was governor just over three years ago. Even fewer Virginia voters say they are familiar with Youngkin, with just over half, 52 percent, saying they know a lot or a fair amount about his qualifications to be governor and 48 percent saying they know just a little or nothing at all. Parnas and Fruman were arrested in dramatic fashion in October 2019 at Virginias Dulles International Airport, where they had one-way tickets to Frankfurt, Germany. Their association with Giuliani, who is not charged in the case, and their role in assisting his efforts in trying to dig up dirt on President Biden and his son Hunter before the 2020 election, played heavily in Trumps first impeachment trial. We are particularly troubled by the news coming out of the facility in our district, especially reports of misconduct by staff, said Chad Meacham, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, who joined Clarke in the online news conference, along with the states three other U.S. attorneys. Both sides said progress had been made, although both have indicated they want more than the other may be willing or able to give. The administration offered Iran an accounting of nuclear-related sanctions it was prepared to lift. Iran indicated it was prepared to reverse advances in its nuclear program to where it stood when Trump pulled out. The Rev. Jesse Jackson carries an American flag outside the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., on Thursday. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Closing arguments are expected Monday morning after 10 days of witness testimony. One of the things that I learned in May is that as an elected official, you cant sit away from this and put people out there whose lives are in danger and not allow them to make some of those decisions, Walz said. What do you think would have happened Sunday night or Monday night, especially had there not been a fence there and had there been no one there, he said, referring to the fortification of the Brooklyn Center police station after Wrights killing. Ive learned from the past that building would have been burned down, and my fear was that the surrounding apartments would have burned, too. All citizens of Georgia have a right to know whether or not counterfeit ballots were injected into the Fulton Co. election results, how many were injected, where they came from and how we can prevent it from happening again in future elections, Favorito said. It is not adequate for any organization to secretly tell us there are no counterfeit ballots and refuse to let the public inspect them. Bannon was subpoenaed last month along with Meadows, Scavino and Patel. Of the four, Bannon is the only one who was not part of the administration on Jan. 6. He left his job as a top White House adviser to Trump in 2017. Several legal experts questioned whether executive privilege could shield Bannon from responding to requests for information about what happened during a period when he was not a White House employee. The 26-foot tower of naked bodies twisted together, some in mid-scream, was created by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot and is the last remaining Tiananmen commemoration on Chinese soil. Activists view the universitys demands for its removal as an egregious example of an official campaign to make Hong Kong more like mainland China, in the process stripping the city of its freedoms and identity. Officials have already banned an annual Tiananmen vigil and arrested activists. A museum documenting the Tiananmen crackdown has been shuttered and its online successor blocked in Hong Kong. June Mattingly, 73, passed away at her home surrounded by her family Nov. 10, 2021. She was born Sept. 23, 1948, in Washington, Indiana, to Elmo and Maxine (Thomas) Ledgerwood. On May 24, 1969, she married Gary Mattingly. A 1967 graduate of Washington High School, June was a homemaker who pr Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. We are indeed seeing a very serious slowdown in the property market, with falling prices, sales and construction activity, and this is likely to drag down economic growth in the next couple of quarters, said Arthur Kroeber, managing director of Gavekal Dragonomics, an independent economic research firm. Evergrande was once a paragon of Chinas real estate boom. More recently, though, it has shaken global markets with news of a possible collapse. It has missed several key payments to foreign investors in recent weeks. On Monday, it missed another round of interest payments on two US dollar bonds, a person familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity because the information is confidential. Waiting for a lifeline, it halted its shares last week and announced the potential sale of a lucrative unit. Construction has been halted at many of Evergrandes developments. Credit:Bloomberg The companys troubles have elicited recent comments from central bankers around the world and even the US Secretary of State, who urged China to act responsibly in handling Evergrandes future. Chinas 100 biggest real estate companies are expected to report that sales in September plummeted by more than a third compared with a year earlier, according to China Real Estate Information, an industry data provider. Fantasia, a developer known for luxury properties, unexpectedly defaulted last week, sending shock waves through the financial markets. The month may have been worse for Evergrande. The developer has already warned investors that it expects a significant continuing decline in sales. And as its cranes and hammers stop in cities across the country, some 1.6 million homebuyers remain in limbo waiting for their apartments. He Qiang said his friends and neighbours who were once interested in buying real estate now tell him they worry about putting a down payment on an apartment that might never be built. Families once lured by Evergrandes slick sales offices and impressive marketing are staying away. Without a clear message that Beijing will help Evergrande and other developers continue construction projects and deal with the enormous debts, many Chinese families are holding on to their money and holding off buying new homes. People worry, If I buy now, what if the developer has a sale later? He said. He doesnt blame them. Evergrande stopped the work on his own apartment in June. Construction at three of its other sprawling projects in his city have either stopped or are expected to stop because builders said they have not been paid. The dramatic headlines focused on property in China are likely to keep homebuyers away for longer than just a month or two. Online government forums designed to receive feedback from local citizens are now inundated with complaints from angry families who bought apartments from Evergrande. Some wondered if they should keep paying the mortgage on a property that hasnt been completed. One used the forum to ask if his lifelong savings would simply be thrown into the water if Evergrande were to go bankrupt. A group of homebuyers on a forum in Guangzhou said they learned that Evergrande had placed the money from their down payments in a private bank account and not the one stipulated by the local authority and monitored closely. Another homebuyer in the city of Meishan in Chinas Sichuan province used the forum to plead with officials, Please uphold justice for your people! Chinas central bank last month issued a rare comment saying it would monitor the real estate market. Credit:Bloomberg Even as prominent investors question whether an Evergrande collapse could lead to Chinas so-called Lehman moment, referring to the investment bank that triggered the 2008 global financial crisis, Beijing has been largely silent, having vowed to no longer rescue companies once considered too big to fail. Many local officials have been left on their own to respond to the growing frustration. Local governments in cities as far and wide as Shiyan, Shenyang and Chongqing have each set up special task forces to help manage the potential fallout. One official in the southern city of Shifang, responding to complaints on a government forum, said the local construction regulator, the police and other government bodies met and informed the developers and contractors of the grim consequences they faced because of delayed construction. The regulators who engineered the property slowdown have started to make moves to bolster the sector if things get worse. Chinas central bank last month issued a rare comment saying it would monitor the real estate market. While a reckoning in the financial markets is unlikely, the central bank has also opened emergency spigots to make it easier for local banks to draw more money, just in case. Without a clear message that Beijing will help Evergrande and other developers continue construction projects and deal with the enormous debts, many Chinese families are holding on to their money and holding off buying new homes. Loading He Qiang is still waiting to hear from Evergrande about his apartment. Although the developer has not sent him a notice of delay, he can see that construction on his building stopped several months ago, and has had to reconsider his plans to get married in May. The apartment was supposed to be finished by the end of the year, giving him time to decorate so that the space could feature prominently in the wedding festivities. Things turned raucous over AUKUS. Last months WordPlay queried how to say this newborn acronym, a blend of Australia, UK and US. Nobody doubts how to say each nation, but mash the trio into one and awkwardness ensues. By way of update, AUKUS is the trilinear accord to build submarines. Originally France was Australias lone partner, but PM Scott Morrison torpedoed that deal, seeing a potential FAUST devolve into farce, and maybe a revenge drama by Act III. Diplomacy turned icy. Trade deals wavered. Yet for most of us, the bugbear emerging from this backflip was how to utter the upshots alliance. While each elected crony in the acronym favours aw-kus, several readers have responded with their own views. David Astles WordPlay column about AUKUS last month inspired a strong reader response. Credit:Jo Gay Simon Dickinson believes France should return to the table, making way for FAUKUS, a fusion more in keeping with President Macrons sentiments. Others such as Kel Roberts are eager to massage the amalgam. Given the Seawolf subs are American in design, then surely USUKA says more about the blocs hierarchy. In so many ways. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Metro Police Department said it's ready to help anyone trapped in an abusive relationship. The topic is getting special attention in October, which is considered Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "Everyone deserves to be in relationships free of domestic violence," said Nicole Carroll, director of the LMPD Victim Services Unit. "When you're ready, we're here to help." Carroll said these are the common warning signs to look for, including: Extreme jealousy. Controlling behavior. Possessiveness. If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk to an LMPD Victim Services specialist at 502-574-8788. Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. Reporter I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Dana Bowman parachuted from a helicopter, bringing with him a large American flag as he landed on the Weatherford Christian School field Tuesday, Nov. 9 for a special ceremony in honor of Veterans Day. Heady's is a popular Tri-State pizza shop with two locations between Evansville and Henderson. But while the orders keep coming, its Evansville location is having a hard time keeping up with demand. "We have a couple of driver positions open, we're looking for management and we're looking for in-store help," Heady's Pizza Operations Manager Jason Pinkston said. "We'll have people, 30 applicants a day, schedule 5 interviews out of them, none of them shows up and usually the ones that do show up will go through the whole hiring process, get them in the system, pay the accounts, put them in the system and they never show up for work." Heady's struggle is just a snapshot of the ongoing labor crisis. Just pull up one of the public job-sharing groups on Facebook and you'll find an endless list of opportunities updated almost daily. Nationwide the food industry continues to be among the hardest hit. The most recent U.S. Labor Department report shows nearly 900,000 people left jobs in restaurants, bars and hotels in August, up 21% from July. That's why, like many others, Heady's is hoping to better entice prospective hires. "We've changed our focus a little bit," Pinkston said. "We care about our employees; we try and offer incentives for being here." By adding a few more toppings to the pie, Pinkston said his employment issues have lessened and he's been able to close some of the gaps, but even though things are looking up, he's bracing for whatever comes next and he's determined to deliver Evansville city-wide service for years to come. "If COVID outbreaks again, people are going to be scared to go to work, but we're still going to be there," Pinkston said. "Someone is going to be here, these ovens are going to be on." A drug trafficking investigation in Madisonville, Kentucky, ended with six people being arrested on Tuesday, according to the Madisonville Police Department. MPD says that detectives were conducting surveillance at a home on Calumet Lane in Madisonville Tuesday after receiving a tip about possible drug trafficking there. Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Kenneth Hoge, Adam Strader, Robert Gatlin, Maria Faith, Kristen Smith, Stephen Householder - (Hopkins County Jail) Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Kenneth Hoge, Adam Strader, Robert Gatlin, Maria Faith, Kristen Smith, Stephen Householder - (Hopkins County Jail) As detectives were watching the home, MPD says they saw a gray SUV pull into a driveway. According to MPD, detectives saw a man get out of the SUV and take a bag from inside the spare tire underneath the vehicle. When the vehicle was stopped by authorities, they say a K9 alerted to the presence of drugs. During a search of the SUV, police say they found drugs and a large amount of cash. After getting a search warrant for the home, authorities say they found more drugs including meth, marijuana, and pills, along with more cash. In total, six people were arrested and booked into the Hopkins County Jail on a slew of drug charges. Police identified the people who were arrested as 51-year-old Stephen Householder of Clay, 60-year-old Kenneth Hoge of Madisonville, 39-year-old Adam Strader of Madisonville, 41-year-old Kristen Smith of Madisonville, 54-year-old Maria Faith of Madisonville, and 56-year-old Robert Gatlin of Madisonville. Left to Right: Kenneth Hoge, Adam Strader, Robert Gatlin, Maria Faith, Kristen Smith, Stephen Householder - (Hopkins County Jail) The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. In 2010, rescuers in Chile using a missile-like escape capsule pulled 33 men one by one to fresh air and freedom 69 days after they were trapped in a collapsed mine a half-mile underground, and more events that happened on this day in history. Video 1792: The White House 1944: Aachen, Germany 1974: Ed Sullivan 2000: Kim Dae-jung 2006: Ban Ki-Moon 2006: Muhammad Yunus 2010: Chile 2011: Bob Dylan 2011: Raj Rajaratnam 2016: Donald Trump 2016: King Bhumibol 2020: Amy Coney Barrett 2020: Texas Channel 3 took 20 Towns to Middlefield to check out some of the best parts in town. HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - Connecticut Senate Republican leaders unveiled a plan to address a surge in violent crime. Their package of legislative proposals was revealed during a news conference at noon on Wednesday outside of the State Capitol in Hartford. Waterbury police chief calls on legislators amid surge in juvenile crime A 14-year-old boy was shot in the back overnight while inside a home in Waterbury. Republicans said the plan includes justice reforms to improve crime response, support law enforcement, and remove barriers to intervention services, as well as policies to address the root causes of crime including issues related to trauma, education, housing and jobs. Sen. Kevin Kelly of Stratford, Sen. Paul Formica of East Lyme, and Sen. John Kissel of Enfield spoke about the plan. Republican Minority Leader Sen. Kevin Kelly said, we need to ensure law enforcement and our justice system have the tools to keep all people safe, but its so much more than just that. We also need action to prevent crime to end the cycle of juvenile injustice and a lack of opportunity that pushes people especially our young people toward crime. Lawmakers and advocates pushed to have juvenile crime discussed during a special session. That didn't happen. Democrats said Connecticut is still one of the safest states, and Republicans are trying to scare people. The republican plan does call for more accountability, but it also calls for investing in programs and services. Sen. John Kissel of Enfield said, the approach senate republicans are taking is holistic. Kelly said, we also need action to prevent crime to end the cycle of juvenile injustice and a lack of opportunity that pushes people especially our young people toward crime. Democrats say some of these programs already exist and there is no emergency. Governor Ned Lamont said, data shows we are one of the safest states in the country one of the lowest levels of violent crime in the country. Sen. Gary Winfield of New Haven stated, I understand the proposal they are putting forward, I dont know if its actually the solution. Lady Carrie McCrorey works with kids in Hartfords public schools, she also started a non-profit and is a community activist. She said the focus has to be on prevention not just punishment. I bring the families in, I bring the parents in, said McCrorey. We need to be more proactive before things start happening. We need to have things set up in place for these kids to go. Democrats said some of these proposals may be worth looking at, and there will be more discussions when lawmakers return for their regular session in February. Stay with Channel 3 for continuing coverage. Exclusive: The new musical based on Kahlil Gibran's Broken Wings, adapted for the stage by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan, has announced a full staging in London. Playing at the Charing Cross Theatre from 26 January (with previews from 21 January) until 5 March 2022, the piece has been seen a number of times in concert form but the new production will mark the first full staging of the musical. Tickets are available now here. Naaman said today: "Nearly four years after our semi-staged concert debut, I am frankly ecstatic that Broken Wings is returning to London. This new production will be the first time our musical is fully staged. "It feels particularly special to be bringing Gibran and a piece of Lebanon back to the London stage, following the many difficulties faced by the Lebanese people over the past few years. We are so grateful to Katy [Lipson, producer] for her longstanding support and belief in Broken Wings, and we can't wait to welcome audiences early next year." The story begins in New York in 1923, where an ageing Gibran looks back on his life in Beirut and a fated love affair there. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the piece will be staged in the round with cast and full creative team to be revealed. Lipson adds: "As soon as I heard this beautiful and arresting score I became committed to bringing this story to the stage in London in full production. I find it a unique musical set in the melting pot of the Middle East but with a familiar story of longing, loss and discovery with an incredible writing team. I hope audiences will enjoy the romance and beauty of the story and enjoy another powerful new musical which deserves to be part of the canon." Thank you for reading the Herald-Whig You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. Willmar, MN (56201) Today Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 44F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. IQALUIT, Nunavut - The City of Iqaluit has declared a local state of emergency after finding evidence of gasoline in its tap water. Downtown Iqaluit, Nunavut, is shown after 2 p.m. sunset on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Iqaluit residents are being told not to drink, boil or cook with the city's tap water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter IQALUIT, Nunavut - The City of Iqaluit has declared a local state of emergency after finding evidence of gasoline in its tap water. All Iqaluit residents are being told not to drink, boil or cook with the city's water. A statement issued by the Nunavut government said there is observed evidence of petroleum hydrocarbons, or fuel chemicals, in the water. It also said newborns and infants should not be bathed in tap water. Amy Elgersma, chief administrative officer for the city, told a council meeting Tuesday evening that the city is working to fix the issue and tests are being done. "In this case, we suspect that there is ... some type of petroleum product in the water," Elgersma said. The city ran tests last week and had said the water was safe to drink after residents complained on social media that their tap water smelled like fuel. Tap water can still be used for bathing, showering and laundry, Elgersma said. The city said an emergency water source is available and residents were asked to bring their own jugs. Photos posted on social media Tuesday showed residents filling up jugs of water at Iqaluit's Sylvia Grinnell river and buying bottles of water in bulk at the city's two grocery stores. The statement from the Nunavut government said tests are ongoing and results are expected back within five business days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said tests found evidence of fuel in the water. CALGARY - A Calgary judge says he is sparing a pastor, his brother and a cafe owner jail time for violating COVID-19 rules because he doesn't want the men to cash in on notoriety with more time behind bars. A message of support on the closed front door of the Whistle Stop Cafe during a rally against measures taken by government and health authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Mirror, Alberta on Saturday May 8, 2021. Christopher Scott, owner of the Whistle Stop Cafe in the hamlet of Mirror, northeast of Red Deer, will pay $20,000 in fines and get 18 months probation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson CALGARY - A Calgary judge says he is sparing a pastor, his brother and a cafe owner jail time for violating COVID-19 rules because he doesn't want the men to cash in on notoriety with more time behind bars. Justice Adam Germain ruled Wednesday that Pastor Artur Pawlowski and his brother Dawid Pawlowski must pay stiff fines and Alberta Health Services costs because they would like nothing better than to become martyrs in jail. AHS had recommended 21 days' jail for the pastor and 10 days for his brother. But Germain opted for a $23,000 fine for Artur Pawlowski and $10,000 for Dawid Pawlowski. The brothers will also have to pay $15,733 in costs, and the pastor an additional $4,758. Artur Pawlowski must also serve 18 months' probation and Dawid Pawlowski 10 months' probation, which prevents them from leaving Alberta. Christopher Scott, owner of the Whistle Stop Cafe in the hamlet of Mirror, northeast of Red Deer, was alsolooking at a recommended 21 days in jail. He must instead pay $20,000 in fines and costs of nearly $11,000 and serve 18 months' probation. The three were convicted in June of contempt. The Pawlowski brothers had been holding church services that flouted rules on masking and physical distancing. Scott was arrested at the end of an anti-lockdown rally at his cafe, which had earlier been closed by health officials. Court orders allowed AHS and police to arrest and charge those who advertised gatherings that would breach health restrictions. While Germain delivered his sentencing decision, a loud demonstration from supporters could be heard outside. The judge said the three men "contributed to this ominous health situation by their defiance of health rules and their public posturing, which has encouraged others to doubt the legitimacy of the pandemic and disobey the health orders assigned to protect them." "(They) are on the wrong side of science. They're also on the wrong side of common sense." Artur Pawlowski spent three days in custody after his arrest. He would have loved more time in jail, said Germain. "The 21 days in jail would be a slap on the wrist that will make him a martyr," said the judge. "After Pastor Artur Pawlowski was found guilty of contempt, he went on a speaking tour of the United States, where he parlayed his title as a pastor and the fact he had been arrested for holding a church service into a rally cry that attracted like-minded individuals," Germain said. Last month, the pastor told court they had done nothing wrong and described himself a "political prisoner of conscience." Germain ordered the men to begin making payments Nov. 1. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2021. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) Hundreds of Bulgarian coal miners and energy workers staged a protest on Wednesday to demand government guarantees for their jobs amid bids by the European Union to close mines and reduce carbon emissions. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) Hundreds of Bulgarian coal miners and energy workers staged a protest on Wednesday to demand government guarantees for their jobs amid bids by the European Union to close mines and reduce carbon emissions. Buses carried protesters from across Bulgaria for the rally in downtown Sofia, where demonstrators chanted We want jobs! as they marched to the government headquarters. Bulgarian miners say the EUs time frame for closing coal mining and coal extraction is too short and argue it shouldn't come at the expense of the blocs poorest and most carbon-dependent regions. The organizers of the protest the country's two largest trade unions said they were defending Bulgaria's energy independence and warned that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk should the biggest coal mines and energy plants in southeastern Bulgaria close. The protesters submitted to the government a petition with 110,000 signatures demanding to extend the operational lifetime of the coal-fired power plants. They also warned that a possible energy crisis this winter in the EU could lead to a social crisis because of the high carbon prices in the EU. Nearly half of the electricity in the Balkan country of 7 million is produced by coal power plants, while another 35% comes from nuclear energy. The rest is covered by hydroelectric, solar and wind generation. The financial burden of reducing carbon emissions poses a huge challenge to Bulgaria, which has one of the lowest gross domestic product per capita rates in the EU. Bulgaria will hold an early general election on Nov. 14. There is no operational parliament at the moment, and the caretaker government has limited powers. After meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev, union leaders said the government had agreed that the closure date for the coal power plants should be after 2040. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change. NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) Drilling by ExxonMobil set for late next month to confirm how much natural gas is contained in a sizable deposit off Cyprus' southwestern coast will map out how the fuel will reach potential markets in Europe and Asia, the island nation's energy minister said on Wednesday. Cyprus Energy Minister Natasa Pilides speaks to the Associated Press in an interview at her office in the capital Nicosia, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Cyprus energy minister says ExxonMobils drilling slated to start in 6-8 weeks to confirm how much natural gas is contained in a sizable deposit off the island nations southwestern coast will map out how the fuel will reach potential markets in Europe and Asia. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou) NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) Drilling by ExxonMobil set for late next month to confirm how much natural gas is contained in a sizable deposit off Cyprus' southwestern coast will map out how the fuel will reach potential markets in Europe and Asia, the island nation's energy minister said on Wednesday. Minister Natasa Pilides says the significant drilling at the Glaucus-1 well inside block 10 of Cyprus exclusive zone scheduled to start in 6-8 weeks will determine if the deposit is at the higher or lower end of its estimated size of 5-8 trillion cubic feet (142-227 billion cubic meters) of natural gas. A higher confirmed quantity would naturally mean greater profits and in turn push exploitation of the deposit up the priority list for ExxonMobil and partner Qatar Petroleum among the different projects theyre currently working on. Pilides told The Associated Press in an interview that transferring the gas by pipeline to Egyptian processing plants where it would be liquefied for export aboard ships is currently the most likely option. But possible construction of a processing plant on Cyprus isnt completely out of the picture depending on the overall quantity of gas found off the island that would make the project economically feasible. A consortium made up of Frances Total and Italys Eni is set to start drilling in the first half of next year to determine the size of what was described as a promising deposit at its Calypso 1 well in block 6 that abuts area where ExxonMobil-Qatar Petroleum is licensed. The Total/Eni consortium is licensed to prospect for hydrocarbons in seven of 13 blocks off Cyprus. Calypso could extend to neighboring block 7 which belongs to the consortium. Pilides said natural gas is a cleaner-burning, conventional fuel that countries in Europe and elsewhere could use to transition to more renewable sources for energy generation. She said that models show that even countries that generate most of their energy from renewables still have quite a high percentage of either natural gas or nuclear power as a back-up energy source. Technology hasnt reached the point where renewables could cover all a countrys energy needs so theres still room for natural gas. Because (gas) prices are rising were going through a phase where theres definitely more hope that if theres sufficient quantities in Cyprus, it could provide an alternative for our region, said Pililides. Pilides said Egypt has been keen in nudging forward regional cooperation for a pipeline to transfer gas from Cypriot and even Israeli waters to its processing plants. Although no numbers have been discussed, Pilides said the possibility is being examined for a pipeline that would convey gas to Egypt from Cyprus Aphrodite deposit and Israels huge, adjacent field Leviathan - both of which are operated by Chevron. FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) The International Energy Agency is urging governments to make stronger commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at an upcoming U.N. climate summit, warning the world is not on track to meet environmental goals and that new investment in clean energy was needed to jolt the energy system onto a new set of rails. FILE - In this Thursday, April 29, 2021 file photo, a coal-fired RWE power plant steams on a sunny day in Neurath, Germany. The International Energy Agency is urging governments to make stronger commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at an upcoming U.N. climate summit. The 30-country organization said Wednesday, Oct. 13 in its annual world energy outlook that the economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic also has seen an increase in the use of coal and oil as well as a leap in emissions. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file) FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) The International Energy Agency is urging governments to make stronger commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at an upcoming U.N. climate summit, warning the world is not on track to meet environmental goals and that new investment in clean energy was needed to jolt the energy system onto a new set of rails. The Paris-based international organization said Wednesday in its annual world energy outlook that great strides have been made to move away from fossil fuels by relying on more wind and solar energy, while electric vehicles are setting sales records. But the economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic also has seen an increase in the use of coal and oil, the report said, as well as a leap in emissions. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that scientists blame for climate change. The worlds hugely encouraging clean energy momentum is running up against the stubborn incumbency of fossil fuels in our energy systems, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the 30-country IEA. Governments at the summit needed to "give a clear and unmistakable signal that they are committed to rapidly scaling up the clean and resilient technologies of the future. The social and economic benefits of accelerating clean energy transitions are huge, and the costs of inaction are immense. The report said the recovery was putting major strains on parts of the energy system, leading to sharp rises in prices for natural gas, coal and electricity as worldwide energy demand is set to regain the ground lost last year during the pandemic. Electricity demand in particular had come roaring back" in Asia, leading to a rise in the use of coal-fired plants. Such energy crunches were a prelude of more disruption to come if investment in new sources of energy did not increase, according to the report. Representatives of more than 200 countries will gather for the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss new targets for cutting or curbing the growth of emissions that contribute to climate change. The goal under the 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit the rise of global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees. The U.N.s scientific committee on climate change has said emissions must be cut to net zero when greenhouse gases are balanced out by their removal from the atmosphere by 2050 to reach the 1.5-degree limit. Birol said governments' current pledges would result in only 20% of the reduction by 2030 needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. He said investment in clean energy and infrastructure would have to triple over the next decade to jolt the energy system onto a new set or rails. Most of that spending would have to come in emerging and developing economies, where financing can be scarce and which are still facing a public health crisis. There was remains only a narrow but achievable pathway to net zero, according to the agency. ___ Follow AP's coverage of climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to the nation's debt limit, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the economy. FILE - This Sept. 18, 2021, file photo shows the East Front of the U.S, Capitol in Washington. Members of the House are scrambling to Washington to pass a short-term lift of the nations debt limit. The vote Tuesday will ensure the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December. House Democrats are expected to have enough votes on their own to ensure that President Joe Biden can sign the bill into law this week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to the nation's debt limit, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the economy. The $480 billion increase in the country's borrowing ceiling cleared the Senate last week on a party-line vote. The House approved it swiftly so President Joe Biden can sign it into law this week. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned that steps to stave off a default on the country's debts would be exhausted by Monday, and from that point, the department would soon be unable to fully meet the government's financial obligations. A default would have immense fallout on global financial markets built upon the bedrock safety of U.S. government debt. Routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel would also be called into question. The relief provided by passage of the legislation will only be temporary though, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December a time when lawmakers will also be laboring to complete federal spending bills and avoid a damaging government shutdown. The yearend backlog raises risks for both parties and threatens a tumultuous close to Biden's first year in office. Im glad that this at least allows us to prevent a totally self-made and utterly preventable economic catastrophe as we work on a longer-term plan, said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Republicans signaled the next debt limit debate won't be any easier and warned Democrats not to expect their help. Unless and until Democrats give up on their dream of a big-government, socialist America, Republicans cannot and will not support raising the debt limit and help them pave the superhighway to a great entitlement society," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. Procedurally, the House took a single vote Tuesday that had the effect of passing the Senate bill. The measure passed by a party-line vote of 219-206. The present standoff over the debt ceiling eased when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to help pass the short-term increase. But he insists he won't do so again. In a letter sent Friday to Biden, McConnell said Democrats will have to handle the next debt-limit increase on their own using the same process they have tried to use to pass Biden's massive social spending and environment plan. Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 that's typically required. In the 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote. Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts. Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, but never to the extent of jeopardizing it." Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, I think it has merit." In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Bidens big federal government spending boost with the nations rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden's $3.5 trillion plan makes it into law. Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it," McConnell said in a letter to the president. "They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help." McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage. The debate over the debt ceiling has at times gotten personal. McConnell last week suggested that Democrats were playing Russian roulette" with the economy because they had not dealt with the debt ceiling through the process he had insisted upon. He called out Pelosi for traveling to Europe last week. I can only presume she hopes the full faith and credit of the United States will get sorted out," McConnell said. Pelosi did not let the shot pass. Russian roulette from Moscow Mitch. Interesting," she said. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday's vote marked the 50th time dating back to President Ronald Reagan that he has voted on extending the debt limit. Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit, he said. Because the Senate bill only allowed for a stopgap extension, Hoyer called it a lousy deal." And then were going to play this game one more time, a despicable and irresponsible act for adults who know better, Hoyer said. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he wanted to thank" Hoyer for sharing that he had previously voted for raising the debt ceiling 49 times. When he came into this body, the debt was about a trillion dollars," Roy said. Thank you, I guess, on behalf of the people of America who are staring at 28-and-a-half trillion dollars of debt." The current debt ceiling is $28.4 trillion. Both parties have contributed to that load with decisions that have left the government rarely operating in the black. The calamitous ramifications of default are why lawmakers have been able to reach a compromise to lift or suspend the debt cap some 18 times since 2002, often after frequent rounds of brinkmanship. LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands (AP) Hundreds of people in Spain's Canary Islands feared for their homes and property Wednesday as a new river of lava from an erupting volcano threatened another neighborhood on the island of La Palma. A volcano continues to spew out lava on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain in the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. A new river of lava has belched out from the La Palma volcano, spreading more destruction on the Atlantic Ocean island where molten rock streams have already engulfed over 1,000 buildings. The partial collapse of the volcanic cone has sent a new lava stream heading toward the western shore of the island. (AP Photo/Daniel Roca) LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands (AP) Hundreds of people in Spain's Canary Islands feared for their homes and property Wednesday as a new river of lava from an erupting volcano threatened another neighborhood on the island of La Palma. Island authorities ordered the evacuation of around 800 people from the coastal town of Los Llanos de Aridane on Tuesday after the lava took a new course on its way to Atlantic Ocean and put their homes in a probable path of destruction. It was the first mass exit since around 6,000 people were told to leave immediately after the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on Sept. 19. Volcanologists found that a new lava flow north of the main river of molten rock had branched off and was heading toward an inhabited area outside the previous evacuation zone. Lava flows destroying a banana plantation on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. A new river of lava has belched out from the La Palma volcano, spreading more destruction on the Atlantic Ocean island where molten rock streams have already engulfed over 1,000 buildings. The partial collapse of the volcanic cone has sent a new lava stream heading toward the western shore of the island. (AP Photo/Daniel Roca) A part of the neighborhood had already been evacuated, but given the evolution of the lava stream, it was deemed necessary to clear this specific zone, Los Llano de Aridane Mayor Maria Garcia told Spanish state broadcaster TVE. Residents of the La Laguna neighborhood had only a few hours to gather up their most precious belongings and leave. Volunteers helped school employees salvage educational materials, while others loaded up cars and trucks with furniture. On Wednesday, police accompanied individual families who asked to go back into the exclusion zone to retrieve more belongings. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to the island on Wednesday, his fourth visit since the initial eruption. Unfortunately, the news we have from the scientific committee is that the volcanos activity is not decreasing, so a reduction in its activity is not foreseeable in the coming days, Sanchez said. I know it is tough after so many days and nights of suffering, but I ask you to remain patient, because we can not do anything until the volcano stops. Lava from a volcano flows destroying a banana plantation on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. A new river of lava has belched out from the La Palma volcano, spreading more destruction on the Atlantic Ocean island where molten rock streams have already engulfed over 1,000 buildings. The partial collapse of the volcanic cone has sent a new lava stream heading toward the western shore of the island. (AP Photo/Daniel Roca) Sanchezs government has pledged 214 million euros ($247 million) to help rebuild homes, farms and businesses in the affected area. The volcano that cracked open the Cumbre Vieja mountain ridge 24 days ago has now lasted longer than the previous eruption on La Palma in 1971. It is the third eruption on the island in the past century. Most of those who had to leave their homes have found refuge with family or friends. Some 280 people are in a hotel. Authorities are working on buying empty or newly built homes for those whose dwellings have been destroyed. La Palma is part of Spains Canary Islands, an Atlantic Ocean archipelago off northwest Africa whose economy depends on tourism and the cultivation of the Canary plantain. Lava has destroyed over 1,400 buildings on the island, including homes, farms and other structures, and covered 656 hectares (1,621 acres), including 90 hectares (over 200 acres) of plantains. No lives have been lost. ___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona. ___ Follow AP's coverage of volcanic eruptions at https://apnews.com/hub/volcanic-eruptions General Motors has reached an agreement with its battery-maker supplier over the heavy costs to recall nearly 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs globally. General Motors has reached an agreement with its battery-maker supplier over the heavy costs to recall nearly 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs globally. On Tuesday, GM said LG Electronics Inc., which is a division of LG Chem, will reimburse GM for US$1.9 billion in costs and expenses associated with the Bolt recall due to manufacturing defects in battery modules that LG supplied. As a result of the agreement, GM will recognize a recovery in its third-quarter earnings that will offset charges it previously took associated with the recalls, the automaker said. "LG is a valued and respected supplier to GM, and we are pleased to reach this agreement," said Shilpan Amin, vice-president of GM Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, in a statement. "Our engineering and manufacturing teams continue to collaborate to accelerate production of new battery modules and we expect to begin repairing customer vehicles this month." GM is partnered with LG in a joint venture called Ultium LLC in which they are building two new battery plants to supply batteries to GMs proprietary battery system, Ultium. One plant will be in Lordstown, Ohio, and the other in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Ultium will underpin and power the 30 new EVs GM has promised to launch by mid-decade. GM first recalled model years 2017-19 Bolts last November for a potential fire risk. But after more parked Bolts caught fire, GM expanded a second recall on the vehicles in August to include 2017-22 model year Bolt EVs and the new EUV, an all-electric compact SUV. GM said last month that it and LG have found a fix for the problem. Starting this month, the 2017-19 model year Bolt EVs will get five new battery modules, essentially getting an enhanced battery pack. Those repaired Bolts will get an eight-year or 100,000 mile warranty on the new battery pack. For the 2020-22 models, they will get all new modules, too, unless GM can finish developing software first that will allow it to identify whether they have defective modules that need replacing or not. GM and LG confirmed the root cause of reported battery fires are two manufacturing defects known as a torn anode and a folded separator. Both defects must be present in the same battery cell for a fire to occur. So far, GM confirms that 13 Bolts have caught fire while parked, causing three injuries. Eleven of those fires were in the U.S. Detroit Free Press SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) A wildfire raging through Southern California coastal mountains threatened ranches and rural homes and kept a major highway shut down Wednesday as the fire-scarred state faced a new round of dry winds that raise the risk of infernos. In this photo provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a Croman Corp. Sikorsky SH-3 heads back to refill its tank to make another water drop as the Alisal Fire continues to burn in Refugio Canyon on Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, 2021, in Santa Barbara County, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire via AP) SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) A wildfire raging through Southern California coastal mountains threatened ranches and rural homes and kept a major highway shut down Wednesday as the fire-scarred state faced a new round of dry winds that raise the risk of infernos. The Alisal Fire covered more than 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara, and the number of firefighters was nearly doubled to 1,300, with more on the way. Containment remained at 5%. While the scenic region along the Pacific shoreline is lightly populated, the blaze was a threat to more than 100 homes, ranches and other buildings, fire officials said. Fire crews were protecting Rancho del Cielo, which was once owned by Ronald and Nancy Reagan and was known as the Western White House during his presidency. The 688-acre (278-hectare) ranch where Reagan hosted world leaders sits atop the mountain range, above the flames feeding on dense chaparral and grasses. Based on staff reports from the ranch, the fire was about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) away late Wednesday morning, but that section of the blaze was not as active as others, said Jessica Jensen, vice president and chief of staff of the Young Americas Foundation, which now operates the ranch. In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, firefighters extinguish flames Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2021, that have spotted ahead of the fire front along Highway 101 southbound at Vista Point, north of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP) We are thankful that there has been no fire activity on the actual Reagan Ranch property. The Ranch, itself, is still in a very defensible position, Jensen said in an email to The Associated Press. The area hadnt burned since 1955, according to the conservative youth organization. Fire engines were on the ranch property, and fire retardant will be sprayed around its structures, the foundation said in a statement. It noted that helicopters have filled up with water from one of the ranchs two lakes. In this photo provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Alisal Fire continues to burn the dry vegetation in Refugio Canyon on Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, 2021, in Santa Barbara County, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire via AP) Young Americas Foundation has emergency personnel on site, and our fire suppression systems are tested and ready to go, it said. Crews also protected an Exxon/Mobil gas processing facility in a canyon surrounded by flames. The fire erupted Monday near the Alisal Reservoir, and powerful winds from the north swept the flames down through the mountains, forcing the closure of U.S. 101 in western Santa Barbara County. At one point, the fire jumped the four-lane highway and reached a beach. The closure has forced motorists to take a circuitous detour on smaller routes. In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Cal firefighters extinguish a roadside fire off Calle Real near Refugio Rd., in Goleta, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP) The highway could remain shut until the weekend, said Andrew Madsen, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. Firefighters working in steep, rugged terrain got help from more than a dozen water-dropping air tankers and helicopters that returned to the skies amid calmer daytime winds, Madsen said. The aircraft are probably going to get shut down later this afternoon when the big winds return, he said. This Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021, photo provided by Santa Barbara County Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire Hand Crew members fight fire with fire and burn off pockets of grass along northbound Highway 101 north of Arroyo Hondo Canyon in Santa Barbara County, Calif. The Alisal Fire has scorched more than 9 square miles (23 square kilometers) by early Tuesday and remained completely uncontained. The fire erupted Monday afternoon on a ridge and blasted down toward the ocean, forcing closure of U.S. 101, the only major highway on that section of the coast. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire via AP) The National Weather Service said there would be a new round of south Santa Barbara Countys notorious Sundowner winds Wednesday night, and other parts of California also were expected to experience increased fire danger. Red flag warnings were expected to go into effect in the interior of Northern California on Thursday because of gusts and low humidity levels. Forecasters also planned to issue a fire weather watch Friday in parts of Southern California because of the predicted development of Santa Ana winds. Pacific Gas & Electric said it would likely have to shut off electricity to targeted portions of 13 Northern California counties on Thursday to prevent wildfires from being ignited by wind damage to power lines. The utility just restored power to about 25,000 customers who had their electricity shut off due to Mondays windstorm. California wildfires have scorched nearly 3,900 square miles (10,101 square kilometers) this year and destroyed more than 3,600 homes, businesses and other structures, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. A historic drought in the American West tied to climate change is making wildfires harder to fight. It has killed millions of trees in California alone. Scientists say climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Workers' compensation for injured employees doesn't cover medical marijuana because the drug remains illegal under federal law, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2019, file photo, cultivator Hunter Rogness prunes fan leaves from marijuana plants in the Leafline Labs grow center in Cottage Grove, Minn. Workers' compensation for injured employees doesn't cover medical marijuana, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, because the drug remains illegal under federal law. (Scott Takushi/Pioneer Press via AP, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Workers' compensation for injured employees doesn't cover medical marijuana because the drug remains illegal under federal law, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The state's highest court issued a pair of rulings that overturned earlier decisions by the state Workers Compensation Court of Appeals' that ordered employers to pay for medical marijuana to treat work-related injuries. The Supreme Court ruled that federal law, which prohibits the prescribing and possession of marijuana regardless of state laws authorizing it, blocks employers from being required to pay for medical cannabis. Writing for the majority, Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson wrote that the proper remedy would be for Congress to pass and the president to sign legislation to resolve the conflicts between state and federal laws. The court noted that Congress has prohibited the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical marijuana laws, and that the federal governments position on criminal prosecution of marijuana offenses has been in a state of flux. But it said possession remains illegal under federal law, so mandating that employers pay for medical cannabis makes them criminally liable for aiding and abetting possession. In a pair of dissents, Associate Justice Margaret Chutich wrote that the effect of the decisions is to prevent injured workers who suffer intractable pain from receiving the relief that medical cannabis can bring. She said that frustrates the Legislature's goal with workers' compensation of quickly and efficiently delivering medical benefits to injured workers at a reasonable cost to employers. The cases involved a Mendota Heights dental hygienist who suffered an on-the-job neck injury and an employee at a Prior Lake outdoor equipment dealer who suffered an ankle injury when an ATV rolled over it. Both workers were certified by their doctors to use medical marijuana after other treatments to control their pain, including opioids, proved inadequate. Minnesota has allowed medical cannabis since 2015 but has some of the country's most restrictive rules. The state currently allows only oral, vapor and topical forms, and health insurance companies don't cover it. That has kept costs high for patients. That's about to change, however. The Legislature earlier this year relaxed the law to allow for allow smokable medical marijuana starting next spring. The change is expected to slash costs and to triple or quadruple the number of patients using it. The Democratic-controlled Minnesota House voted to legalize recreational marijuana earlier this year, but the proposal got no traction in the GOP-controlled Senate. The issue is expected to come up again in the 2022 session and campaign season. NEW YORK (AP) Moccasin maker Minnetonka is publicly apologizing for making money off of Native culture and promised to do more to support Indigenous communities in the future after 75 years in business. NEW YORK (AP) Moccasin maker Minnetonka is publicly apologizing for making money off of Native culture and promised to do more to support Indigenous communities in the future after 75 years in business. In a statement posted Monday on its company website, Minnetonka CEO David Miller said the company is not a Native-owned business. He noted the Minneapolis-based company acknowledged its appropriation in the summer of 2020, but Miller said this public apology was long overdue. We deeply and meaningfully apologize for having benefited from selling Native-inspired designs without directly honoring Native culture or communities," said Miller While Minnetonka has evolved beyond our original product set, moccasins remain a core part of our brand, and in 2020 we began to step up our commitment to the culture to which we owe so much." The company timed the apology to coincide with Indigenous Peoples Day. President Biden issued a proclamation on Friday to observe Oct. 11 as a day to honor Native Americans, marking the first U.S. president to do so. To better address the needs of the Native American community, Minnetonka said it has hired Adrienne Benjamin as a reconciliation advisor. She is a Minnesotan, Anishinaabe, and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The company said its also making a concerted effort to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented groups at Minnetonka. It added that it made updates to the language it uses in telling its story and describing its products. It also noted its committed to collaborating with local Native artists and designers and is exploring potential partners for future collections. Minnetonka also will seek out more partnerships with Native-owned businesses as vendors and suppliers. In the past year, it has done business with two different Native-owned companies, the company said. _______ Follow Anne DInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio WASHINGTON - A motley coalition of elected officials, bilateral business leaders and travellers-turned-lobbyists briefly cheered the coming reprieve from restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border Wednesday before confronting their next challenge: the question of mixed-dose vaccinations. A car heads to the U.S. border crossing, Monday, August 9, 2021 in Lacolle, Que., south of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz WASHINGTON - A motley coalition of elected officials, bilateral business leaders and travellers-turned-lobbyists briefly cheered the coming reprieve from restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border Wednesday before confronting their next challenge: the question of mixed-dose vaccinations. The plan for early November, spelled out by senior Biden administration officials as well as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, was short on key details, most notably whether the U.S. will consider the many Canadians who received two different vaccines to be fully immunized. "Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner," Mayorkas said in a statement. "This new travel system will create consistent, stringent protocols for all foreign nationals travelling to the United States whether by air, land, or ferry and accounts for the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccinations." U.S. officials say experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are actively exploring the issue of whether to allow travellers who received a mix of vaccines. Ottawa has also been actively lobbying the White House on the issue, including with the Public Health Agency of Canada's own research on the effectiveness of mixed doses. That question, along with the absence of a hard start date beyond early November and a lack of specificity on what kind of paperwork travellers will be required to show, dampened the enthusiasm for an announcement people on both sides of the border have been waiting to hear for months. "The job is not finished," said Perrin Beatty, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "The two governments need to work together to ensure that fully vaccinated Canadians with mixed-dose combinations are eligible for entry into the United States." Researchers in Quebec and B.C. have all found preliminary evidence that appears to vindicate Canada's controversial strategy of mixing vaccine doses and spacing them out four months apart in hopes of stretching the available supply. New York congressman Brian Higgins, whose crusade against the U.S. travel restrictions has made him the movement's de facto spiritual leader, acknowledged that the White House needs to clarify precisely how it will define a fully vaccinated traveller. Why the decision took so long remains a mystery, he added. Canada relaxed its border restrictions for Americans in early August. "I think it's completely irrational. I think it's totally unnecessary. These borders should have been opened at the same time, and should have been opened months, months earlier than they actually were opened." The U.S. will not be requiring travellers to show proof of a negative test for COVID-19, unlike Canada, which includes a recent negative PCR test among the requirements for everyone entering the country, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Stephanie Frizzell of Magog, Que., a U.S. citizen and permanent resident in Canada, said the testing requirement in her adopted country remains a deal-breaker. "I'm happy, but it's still ridiculously complicated," said Frizzell, who spends time when she can taking care of her parents in Vermont. "I dont know what relief it provides to anybody that the American border is open if you're going to get crucified when you want to go home." Beatty and others, including Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, urged the federal government to eliminate the pre-departure test requirement. "PCR tests, at least in Ontario, cost about $200 a person," Dilkens said. "So you're not going to go over for the day, you're not going to go over to see a baseball game or a concert or just pop over to see Mom and Dad it's going to be a very planned trip and it's going to be very expensive." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who happened to be in Washington on Wednesday, warned Canadians to stay vigilant about the risks of international travel. "We have almost almost gotten past COVID," Freeland said, citing the advice of Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health. "'Just try to do the things you need to do, and maybe hold back on doing the things that you just want to do.' I think if we can keep on doing that for a few more weeks, Canada can really fully put COVID behind us." Mayor Mike Bradley of Sarnia, Ont., said he believes Canadians will continue to be cautious, given that some parts of the U.S. have looser public health measures and higher COVID-19 case counts a concern he said also emerged when Canada eased its border restrictions. "I do believe the Canadian government made a mistake by opening our border without getting a reciprocal arrangement with the Americans," Bradley said. "It's four months later, but it's happening, and it's a good thing." Evan Rachkovsky, spokesman for the Canadian Snowbird Association, said he anticipates vehicle traffic at the border will come close to pre-pandemic levels once the restrictions are eased but said the White House is definitely "cutting it close" for snowbirds hoping to winter in the southern U.S. "There is obviously a bit of scrambling some snowbirds have already made plans to ship their vehicle down south and then fly to meet those vehicles in the United States," Rachkovsky said. The Biden administration's strategy is to dovetail the land border policy with its new international travel rules, which will also take effect in November and replace existing travel bans with a new proof-of-vaccination requirement.As of early January, all foreign nationals entering the U.S., whether for essential or non-essential reasons, will be required to show proof of vaccination, officials said. As of early January, all foreign nationals entering the U.S., whether for essential or non-essential reasons, will be required to show proof of vaccination, officials said. In order to be considered fully vaccinated, travellers must have received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization. That includes Oxford-AstraZeneca, a vaccine used in Canada that never received FDA approval. The National Governors Association joined the chorus of voices welcoming Wednesday's news, but added a pointed caveat aimed directly at the White House: next time, check with us first. "Should future changes be warranted, governors call on the administration to work with states and territories to ensure that policy guidance takes into account the local impacts on communities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2021. With files from Paola Loriggio in Toronto, Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal and Chris Reynolds in Ottawa Before the pandemic, wage disparities already made it tougher for working women to pay off student loans than men. Now, after a second year of juggling increased caregiving duties, over a million women have had to drop out of the workforce as a new/old problem looms: the restart of federal student loan payments. Before the pandemic, wage disparities already made it tougher for working women to pay off student loans than men. Now, after a second year of juggling increased caregiving duties, over a million women have had to drop out of the workforce as a new/old problem looms: the restart of federal student loan payments. Not to paint over individual experiences that could have been good or bad (during the pandemic), but theres more concern for women that do have college debt and earn less money, says Kathryn Anne Edwards, an economist at the Rand Corp., a nonprofit global policy think tank. When the federal student loan payment pause ends after Jan. 31, 2022, repayment will be especially difficult for certain groups of women who saw their earnings plummet, experts say. STUDENT DEBT WAS ALREADY A GREATER PROBLEM FOR WOMEN Although women surpass men in degree attainment , women also have more student debt. A 2021 analysis of federal data by the American Association of University Women showed women carry an average student loan burden of $31,276, about 7% more than men. Once women enter the workplace, theyre less able to pay off that debt due to earnings disparities as a result of gender and for Black and Hispanic women racial wage gaps, multiple experts say. (Borrowers) accrue this debt, and then a thing like a pandemic appears, exposing issues that are already present, says Dominique Baker, assistant Professor of Education Policy at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. WOMEN COULD SEE THEIR LIFETIME EARNINGS REDUCED Say youre a woman in a partnered relationship with a man. You both work, but he earns more than you. When the pandemic hit, your toddlers day care closed and your elementary school-age child switched to learning from home. The two of you couldnt manage to take care of the kids and keep your jobs. Who can you expect to leave their job first? We have not made it so people can easily take time off or have more flexible schedules to also be able to care for others, Baker says. That creates an environment where women have had to slow down or stop their participation in the labor market while trying to care for others. It could take time for women to make a comeback : Nearly 1.66 million women left the workforce and did not return from February 2020 to August 2021, according to federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Leaving the labor force for any period of time can have long-term effects on lifetime earnings , Edwards says. Slower earnings increases could make it more challenging to repay debt. WOMEN DIDNT HAVE TO LOSE THEIR JOBS TO BE AT A DISADVANTAGE There were also changes in the way women work that could have lasting impact, experts say, including reduced hours, time off for caregiving and switching to more flexible or lower-paying jobs. Now that employers know more about the details of employees lives thanks to video calls, Edwards adds, women with children may be perceived to be less committed to the job and could be passed over for promotions. Women are often responsible for elderly relatives in addition to children and are expected to take off work to provide care, says Kate Nielson, senior director of public policy, legal advocacy and research for the Association of American University Women. If youre lucky, its a few weeks endeavor, and if youre not, its much longer and can be incredibly disruptive, Nielson adds. WOMEN WITH DEBT AND NO DEGREE ARE MOST AT RISK Women who hold student debt but not degrees will be the most vulnerable to payment challenges come February. Its unclear precisely how many women fall into this category, but the majority of students who attend college take on loans, and nearly 40% of students do not complete their degrees within six years of entering college, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Taking on debt without completing college leaves borrowers carrying debt without the career opportunities and lifetime earnings benefits of a college degree. This can lead borrowers to miss payments and default, which has consequences like wage garnishment, damaged credit and loss of eligibility for federal student loan safety nets. FIND WAYS TO GET HELP WITH LOAN PAYMENTS When the student loan payment pause ends, all borrowers have options to keep their accounts in good standing and avoid default. That includes enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan which sets payments at $0 if youre unemployed or requesting a payment pause (this time with interest). Youll need to contact your loan servicer to make changes to your payment plan. Keep in mind that your loan servicer may have changed during the payment pause. Make sure your current servicer has your most up-to-date contact information. _________________________________________ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Anna Helhoski is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. RELATED LINKS: NerdWallet: Student Loan Default: What It Is and How to Recover https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-student-loan-recovery VANCOUVER - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is expanding its U.S. operations after reaching an agreement to purchase a lumber mill in Lufkin, Texas, for about US$300 million. Logs are piled up at West Fraser Timber in Quesnel, B.C., on April 21, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward VANCOUVER - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is expanding its U.S. operations after reaching an agreement to purchase a lumber mill in Lufkin, Texas, for about US$300 million. The purchase from Angelina Forest Products will be funded with cash on hand and is expected to close after receiving U.S. regulatory approvals. The Vancouver-based company will provide further details about the transaction during its third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 28. Annual synergies are expected to reach about US$13 million within two years. The facility, which produces southern yellow pine lumber products, has been in operation for about two years and is expected to reach full capacity of about 305 million board feet in the next three to four years. The sawmill will be one of West Fraser's lowest-cost operations and contribute to increasing its overall lumber capacity to about seven billion board feet, with southern yellow pine representing about half of that output. "We believe this modern, high-margin facility will enhance our existing U.S. platform of lumber mills and help us to better meet the growing demand for our lumber products in Texas and the U.S. South," stated West Fraser CEO Ray Ferris. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:WFG) OTTAWA - A broad swath of Canadians has a sour view of Facebook, with half of respondents to a new poll saying it should be regulated or broken up as a "corporate image" crisis rocks the social media giant yet again. In this July 30, 2019, file photo, the social media application, Facebook is displayed on Apple's App Store. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Amr Alfiky OTTAWA - A broad swath of Canadians has a sour view of Facebook, with half of respondents to a new poll saying it should be regulated or broken up as a "corporate image" crisis rocks the social media giant yet again. Forty per cent of those who responded to an online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they had a negative opinion of the company. The vast majority also agreed that Facebook amplifies hate speech, helps spread fake news, damages individuals' mental health and poses a risk to children and teenagers. However, more than three in four believe the social network helps them stay connected to their loved ones, with just over 50 per cent saying it is key to sharing information and positive for free expression. Conducted Oct. 8 to 10, the online poll surveyed 1,545 Canadians and cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random samples. Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque says Canadians maintain a dependence on Facebook but not a strong affection for it, as the platform confronts intense public scrutiny over how its algorithms fan inflammatory rhetoric and affect users' self-esteem. "Theres sort of an I-need-you-but-I-dont-love-you relationship," Bourque said in an interview. "Facebook really has a corporate image problem now that they will need to face." Last week Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before a United States Senate committee that the company's products harm children and fuel polarization in the U.S., a claim supported by internal company research leaked to the Wall Street Journal. The former executive's testimony piles on more baggage to a corporation already staggering under the weight of hate-speech concerns, conspiracy theory proliferation and the Cambridge Analytica data-mining debacle of 2018. Facebook is starting to be an onion. The leaks were basically just one more layer," Bourque said. He highlighted the platform as a space where supporters of then-president Donald Trump called on citizens to storm the U.S. Capitol in the lead-up to the Jan. 6 insurrection. "A single event is never enough to destroy a company. But a series of events, then it becomes something, becomes like a snowball." Facebook Canada said in an emailed statement it continues make investments that target misinformation and harmful content. Canadians come to Facebook to connect with their loved ones, grow their businesses and share what matters to them," the company wrote. It also highlighted the platform's banning of several Canadian hate organizations and a $500,000 partnership with Ontario Tech Universitys Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism that aims to bolster research on the spread of those elements online. Claiming roughly 2.9 billion active monthly users, Facebook also owns the mobile apps Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, each of which counts at least 1.3 billion users. Asked whether the conglomerate should be broken up "to ensure healthy competition" and have its interactions with users regulated, more than one-quarter of survey respondents replied in the affirmative. Another 23 per cent said it should only be regulated by government. "We agree that thoughtful regulations for the internet are needed and stand ready to work with Canadian policy-makers," Facebook Canada said. Only one in five respondents had a positive view of Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with nearly half checking the negative box and one-third unsure. About 87 per cent of respondents said his company contributes to misinformation and can harm youth, amounting to a Canadian "consensus" that reflects a similar but slightly weaker American one, Bourque said. In last month's federal election, the Liberals pledged to introduce legislation within 100 days that combats online hate speech and content that incites violence. The promise comes after the minority Liberal government tabled a bill last November proposing to regulate Facebook, YouTube and other platforms, but which died in the Senate once the election was triggered. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2021. The former president of a Manitoba Progressive constituency association has been fined after pleading guilty to withholding material from an investigation by the elections commissioner. The former president of a Manitoba Progressive constituency association has been fined after pleading guilty to withholding material from an investigation by the elections commissioner. Rajpal Grewal, 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of withholding information or material relevant to an investigation under the provincial Election Financing Act. He was ordered to pay $3,400. Evan Roitenberg, lawyer for the elections commissioner, said Rajpal Grewal and his brother Rajbir were investigated after the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party was alerted to "a large number of questionable transactions" in the Waverley constituency association's financial records dating back to 2017. At the time, Rajpal was president of the association and his brother was treasurer. The commissioner launched an investigation into the brothers' conduct, and later charged both men with several offences under the Election Financing Act, alleging they withheld information, obstructed the investigation and failed to keep appropriate records, among other charges. Rajpal Grewal was convicted on one charge of withholding information between Sept. 25 and Dec. 10, 2020. On Oct. 6, Rajbir Grewal pleaded guilty to one charge of omitting to state material facts when providing information in a report or record under the Election Financing Act, and one count of failing to comply with the required duties of a financial officer by failing to keep proper records of all income. He was ordered to pay $1,650 in fines. Manitoba PC party spokesman Keith Stewart said the party launched the complaint to ensure it complied with the Elections Act. "(Elections Manitoba) determined who was ultimately responsible for these actions and determined who should pay the penalty and in what amount. The PC party is satisfied with the result," Stewart wrote. The brothers face criminal charges of theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Rajpal Grewal is expected to appear in provincial court on Oct. 18, while Rajbir Grewal is expected to appear Oct. 28. OTTAWA A Manitoba senator may be booted from her caucus over what she describes as an attempt to silence voices that want to reform the Red Chamber. OTTAWA A Manitoba senator may be booted from her caucus over what she describes as an attempt to silence voices that want to reform the Red Chamber. "It's looking alarmingly like a kangaroo court right now," Sen. Marilou McPhedran told the Free Press. As first reported by the Globe and Mail, the Independent Senators Group is undertaking a procedure to have a closed-door vote Oct. 18 on whether to remove McPhedran from the group, which is the largest bloc in the Red Chamber. The Globe reported the issue surrounds McPhedran emailing all senators last month with concerns about Sen. Sarabjit Marwah doing consulting work for the federal finance department. She had suggested Marwah may have breached ethics rules to which he explained he had cleared this with the ombudsman and law clerk in advance, and only received $1 in nominal compensation. McPhedran apologized to Marwah and her colleagues for raising the issue. She claims shes being cast out due to years of riling up her colleagues over what she deems to be inadequate policies to prevent harassment and abuse of expenses. "As much as this appears to be a complaint from one of the richest, most powerful, male senators and clearly it is that it's also about my strong position about the use of confidentiality (and non-disclosure) agreements in harassment procedures." McPhedran said there is a lack of transparency from the Independent Senators Group leadership, who would not provide anyone for an interview Wednesday. The group is committed to reforming the Senate and rebuilding the institutions public image, but McPhedran argues its falling short on both fronts. She questioned why the caucus was moving to expel her instead of temporarily suspending her, as the groups charter allows for either move when a senator breaches principles such as maintaining "decorous and respectful behaviour." The group refused to explain its rationale or to comment on her request to have the hearing held in public. McPhedran also accused the groups leader, Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, of a conflict by being the person to launch the vote process and also the main person providing evidence in support of booting her. Woo was unavailable for an interview Wednesday, but his staff provided a statement saying hes simply following the charter all caucus members signed onto. "When a question of expulsion arises, the charter provides for hearings to give an opportunity to examine the case, so all our colleagues can make up their own minds," reads the statement attributed to Woo. McPhedran was unsure how shed proceed if she actually was removed. Senators can opt to remain unaffiliated with any caucus, but get less resources and a marginal voice in committee studies of legislation. "I haven't given it much thought, because you're talking an old, feminist war-horse here and I'm deep in the battle right now," McPhedran said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made all his Senate appointments non-partisan, breaching with decades of senators being members of parties whose votes could be dictated by the party leadership. The Red Chamber is still sorting out how to fulfill its mandate to represent regions and minorities outside of a party system. "I think hard about the implications of being an independent senator for Manitoba," said McPhedran, whom Trudeau appointed in October 2016. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The Manitoba PC government has won its appeal of a lower court ruling that found its controversial public-sector wage freeze was unconstitutional. The Manitoba PC government has won its appeal of a lower court ruling that found its controversial public-sector wage freeze was unconstitutional. Wednesday's decision was a blow for labour groups that represent some 120,000 civil servants. Following the release of the Manitoba Court of Appeal's ruling, the Partnership to Defend Public Services said it is disappointed. On its behalf, Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck said the group would review the decision. "While this is not the outcome we were hoping for, we will continue to fight for the rights of workers to collective bargaining," Rebeck said in a news release. "We will be reviewing the Court of Appeals ruling in detail and we expect to come to a decision about our next steps in the near future including the prospect of an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada." Wednesday's decision overturns last year's ruling by Manitoba Court of Queens Bench, which found the governments wage-freeze law, Bill 28, was unconstitutional. In June 2020, trial Judge Joan McKelvey called the government's 2017 Public Services Sustainability Act "draconian," and ruled it violated the charter right to association and collective bargaining. Bill 28, which was passed by the government but never proclaimed into law, called for two years of wage freezes followed by pay hikes of no more than 0.75 per cent and one per cent in the third and fourth years of any new public-sector agreement. The bill was roundly criticized by labour groups for robbing them of the right to collective bargaining. During the Court of Appeal hearing June 3, lawyer Heather Leonoff, acting for the provincial government, said the trial judge failed to properly take into account a precedent-setting Supreme Court of Canada collective bargaining case involving the federal government and the RCMP. "Broad-based, time-limited wage-restraint legislation is constitutional and does not violate... the charter," Leonoff told a three-member appeal court panel. On Wednesday, there was one glimmer of hope for labour groups: the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling the Tories interfered in the collective bargaining process between the University of Manitoba Faculty Association and the University of Manitoba in 2016. Rebeck said the Tories have "continually thanked Manitobas public-sector workers for their service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," and said if they "truly valued these workers, then it would stop fighting them in court and stay out of their way while they negotiate fair deals with their employers." Two years ago, Khawja Latif and other members of the Bangladeshi community began to dream of a place that would honour the languages they and others carried within them: the words of diasporas, immigrants, Indigenous nations. Languages that still ring across Manitoba, passed from one generation to the next. Two years ago, Khawja Latif and other members of the Bangladeshi community began to dream of a place that would honour the languages they and others carried within them: the words of diasporas, immigrants, Indigenous nations. Languages that still ring across Manitoba, passed from one generation to the next. Now, that dream is a reality. On Tuesday, organizers officially cut the ribbon on the International Mother Language Plaza, a gathering space and sculptural installation at Kirkbridge Park in Richmond West. The grand opening marked the culmination of two years of work. "Im overwhelmed by the reaction I have received today," said Latif, president of the Manitoba Bangladesh Bhaban Corp., after a ceremony which included Bangladeshi dance, speeches from dignitaries and a presentation by students of nearby Bairdmore School, who offered greetings in their own heritage languages. The plaza features an Indigenous medicine wheel, watched over by a replica of the Shaheed Minar monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh. That monument was designed by sculptors Hamidur Rahman and Novera Ahmed to honour those killed in the 1952 Bengali Language Movement, which ultimately gave rise to Bangladeshs independence. In that way, the plaza recognizes that groundbreaking fight to secure rights for Bangla speakers, which eventually inspired the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to honour Feb. 21 as the International Mother Language Day, a statement of support for global ethno-linguistic rights. "Any Bangladeshi, if they come here they will feel emotional, for sure," Latif said. "Thats brought us together." To design the medicine wheel at the plazas heart, organizers consulted with students from Southeast Collegiate, a unique institution that offers students from Manitoba First Nations lodging and education centered on Indigenous culture. Students consulted with elders and studied medicine wheels from across different traditions. The final design features a red circle at the heart of the plaza, which symbolizes the person, surrounded by bands of four colours: white, which faces cardinal north, followed clockwise by yellow, red and black. At Tuesdays ceremony, collegiate director-principal Sheryl McCorrister was delighted to see the design was executed faithfully. "As you go through the medicine wheel, it describes you going from birth to an elder," McCorrister said. "Each colour represents one part of that. Its the cycle of life and theres so much importance in that... Its the first time Ive seen it, Im so excited. Its beautiful." On recent afternoons, Latif and other organizers have gone to the plaza to sit and talk with people who visit, telling them about how much language can mean to identity, and to maintaining a connection to ones heritage culture. He hopes it will serve as a place for reflection on the value of language. "We came for prosperity, freedom, and other things," Latif said. "But we also lost some other things: a connection to our own culture. If we can bring it here, we can put it into the discussion. It can be part of this beautiful country. And we can contribute to the Canadian culture, and make it more rich, more diverse and truly multicultural." melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca Southern Manitoba will face new self-isolation rules after the province announced Tuesday that the majority of COVID-19 related deaths over the long weekend came from the provinces least-vaccinated health district. Southern Manitoba will face new self-isolation rules after the province announced Tuesday that the majority of COVID-19 related deaths over the long weekend came from the provinces least-vaccinated health district. People in Southern Health who live with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a close contact of someone with the virus will also have to self-isolate, deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said after seven people from the region died due to COVID-19 over the past five days. Exemptions exist for people who are fully vaccinated, had a diagnosed case of COVID-19 in the past six months or are asymptomatic and participating in a regular rapid-testing program. Atwal said it is expected that people from Southern Health will continue to be over-represented among severe outcomes and deaths in the coming weeks. "Disproportionately the cases are there, disproportionately were seeing hospitalizations come from Southern Health-Sante Sud and disproportionately were going to see fatalities from there, as well," he said. "Thats what were trying to curtail with these newer measures in place, and thats what were trying to curtail with the orders that we have, to really mitigate and limit interactions of those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated and to promote vaccine uptake." The region has roughly 15 per cent of Manitoba's population but makes up 25 per cent of the province's active COVID-19 cases. As of Tuesday, 66.7 per cent of eligible people in Southern Health had received at least one vaccine dose, the lowest immunization rate in the province. The region also includes the districts of Winkler and the RM of Stanley, which had immunization rates of 42.4 per cent and 24.9 per cent, respectively. Of the 85 Manitobans in hospital being treated for COVID-19 Tuesday, 33 (or 39 per cent) were from Southern Health; 56 per cent of COVID-19 patients in intensive care were from the region. Longtime Winkler doctor Don Klassen called the high case counts and deaths in the Southern Health region an "inevitable" result of low vaccine uptake. "I think, just as it's been seen in other provinces... the likelihood has to be that we will see more cases, a disproportionate number, from the regions that are at the lowest vaccination rates," he said. Klassen, who has practised in Winkler for more than four decades, said medical professionals in the area are focusing on one-on-one conversations with unvaccinated patients and changing individual minds. "I would hope that a good number of the folks here who are not yet vaccinated would take the opportunity to speak with their health-care providers or people they trust, and weigh the evidence," he said. Currently, the region is reporting the second-highest rate of infection in Manitoba after the North. Atwal said two localized outbreaks on isolated First Nations communities, including one large outbreak on Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, are behind the inflated infection rate. By contrast, the Southern Health region an area covering more than 27,000-square-kilometres is seeing widespread, unchecked transmission of the virus. Last week, Manitoba public health said 47 per cent of recent cases there could not be traced back to a specific source. "Were seeing much more of a diffuse nature of cases throughout the region," Atwal said. "We needed to break transmission chains as much as possible within that region and, hence, we made some stricter measures in regards to case and contact management." Compliance with public-health requirements for testing, case management and isolation has been an issue in the region, Atwal acknowledged. "Were working with the region, were working with stakeholders on the ground to work at understanding and working with public health in relation to the public-health measures, were also working with them in relation to vaccine uptake," he said. "A tremendous amount of work is being done there." Morden Mayor Brandon Burley said he wasnt surprised that the province was facing hurdles getting people tested in the region, saying he believed there were many more COVID-19-positive people walking around than there are actually getting tested. "Ultimately, this is why the province is hesitant about even releasing Southern Health numbers, is because they aren't representative of anything useful," he said. "They've been skewed by people who refuse to do the right thing. And that's a shame." "When I see these numbers, its not surprising, its not shocking, both because we have such high numbers of unvaccinated populations, but also the fact that we seem to have decided that prevention and identification is bad as well. "It's possibly the two worst ideas put together at the worst time possible in human history, to have these anti-scientific views, and it's to the point now where we're not even allowing the medical professionals in our communities to do their job until we're presenting... on death's door." Despite the rising case counts in the area, about 60 unvaccinated southern Manitoba health-care workers, including some employed at personal care homes and Boundary Trails Health Centre, are planning a group walkout coinciding with Oct. 18, when testing for unvaccinated provincial staff begins. The walkout, which was confirmed to the Free Press by Burley and health-care staff in the region, is being organized with plans for employees to leave their jobs permanently. "What theyre trying to say is that they feel like theyre dispensable, and theyre trying to make the point theyre not," Burley said. "I think it will leave a bit of a lurch. Senior personnel are aware of it at Boundary Trails, and I would assume appropriate contingencies will be put in place in the event it happens." Southern Health officials did not respond to a request for comment. Atwal said current public-health restrictions could be modified if conditions do not improve in the region. However, the focus remains on vaccine promotion and education as well as collaboration with community leaders, he said. malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Malak Abas Reporter Malak Abas is a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography Manitobas health minister refused to speak to reporters after the NDP revealed the government spent less than five per cent of the $50 million it had budgeted to address the massive backlog of surgeries and diagnostic procedures as of Aug. 30. Manitobas health minister refused to speak to reporters after the NDP revealed the government spent less than five per cent of the $50 million it had budgeted to address the massive backlog of surgeries and diagnostic procedures as of Aug. 30. Instead, the office of Health Minister Audrey Gordon released a statement about how her government plans to tackle the backlog, which was estimated at 110,000 procedures, including 39,000 surgeries, by Doctors Manitoba this summer. The NDP raised the issue Tuesday, saying just $2.46 million had been spent toward reducing backlogs that have made life difficult for tens of thousands of Manitobans. "We all know that Manitobans are struggling as of the result of the surgical backlog," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said after question period. "In some cases, people are dealing with illnesses that you or I would think are very, very serious or life-threatening," Kinew told reporters as he shared a freedom of information request that shows the province has underspent on its promised $50 million to address the backlog. The Tories promised to spend that amount at a news conference held by then-premier Brian Pallister on March 31. A statement from Gordons office Tuesday said after preparing for the fourth wave of COVID-19, dealing with the severe backlog is the provinces main priority. Gordon was not made available for an interview but her press secretary, Draper Houston, outlined in an email what her department is doing to resolve the backlog. It said that in 2020-21, $4.2 million was spent to address the backlog and, so far this fiscal year, $8.1 million has been spent on 8,300 procedures. Manitoba has contracted with five organizations and partners to perform more than 11,000 additional procedures, the press secretary said. They include the Pan Am Clinic for hand and foot procedures; Western Surgery Centre for cataracts; pediatric dental, and plastic surgery; Cancer Care Manitoba for urology; Vision Group for cataracts; and Maples Surgical Centre for general surgery, and ear, nose and throat procedures. As of Oct. 4, the province issued its fifth request-for-supply arrangement for surgical services to address the backlog due to COVID-19, he said. "All jurisdictions are experiencing surgical slowdowns as a result of COVID," he said. "This problem is not unique to Manitoba." Kinew said the province hasnt addressed its nursing shortage or prepared adequately for the second, third or fourth waves of the pandemic. Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the Tories have mismanaged surgeries and procedures, and contributed to the backlog. "Theres an artificial cap on operations," said Lamont. "There are orthopedic surgeons whove said we can be operating more, I just need more operating room time," he said. "If theyre provided with supplies, they could be doing hundreds more surgeries a year and the same thing is true with cataract surgeries," Lamont said. "Theyve done a terrible job managing it. It has to be more deliberate." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Adam Treusch is off again today, and it's a good day to stay inside, with wet, cold fall weather continuing. What you need to know Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Battling backlog: Health Minister Audrey Gordon did not speak to reporters after the NDP revealed the government spent less than five per cent of the $50 million it had budgeted to address the massive backlog of surgeries and diagnostic procedures. The backlog is estimated at 110,000 procedures, including 39,000 surgeries. Read More U.S. border to open: Land border restrictions will ease for fully vaccinated Canadians travelling to the U.S. beginning in early November. The Associated Press reports. Read More Perfetti to play: Jets rookie Cole Perfetti will start when the team faces the Anaheim Ducks in California tonight. Jason Bell reports. Read More Weather Your forecast: Cooler temperatures continue with an expected high of 11 C today, and we're in for rain this morning, between 10 to 15 mm, with wind from the northeast. In case you missed it From left, Terry Duguid, Khawja Latif, Sheryl McCorrister and Janice Lukes cut the ribbon at the new International Mother Language Plaza at Kirkbridge Park. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) Honouring languages: Organizers officially cut the ribbon on the International Mother Language Plaza, a gathering space and sculptural installation at Kirkbridge Park in Richmond West. Spurred by members of the Bangladeshi community, the site is meant to honour and support immigrant, diaspora and Indigenous languages. Melissa Martin reports. Read More Affordable fare: A city initiative to provide a low-income bus pass may need to be retooled, as it requires a person to have a fixed address, but city bureaucrats are looking at allowing non-profits to help people without a fixed address get the bus pass. Gabrielle Piche reports. Read More On this date On Oct. 13, 1921: The Manitoba Free Press reported that after a $1,200 bank robbery in Elie, two suspects fled and later surrendered to a posse; the two suspects were from Detroit and Toronto, respectively. A Winnipeg man the pair had allegedly hired to be their driver under false pretenses was found tied up in the bushes near Headingley. In London, at Irish peace talks, in the matter of recent killings in Galway both Sinn Fein supporters and Crown troops were found to have been at fault for breaking the terms of the truce. Today's front page Get the full story: Read today's e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press Read More Maybe I am idealistic, but I thought my friendships would last forever. That changed dramatically when the coronavirus arrived. Opinion Maybe I am idealistic, but I thought my friendships would last forever. That changed dramatically when the coronavirus arrived. COVID-19 forced me into an email correspondence with friends I couldnt see in person. The pandemic had a significant impact on our beliefs and values. Did we believe what medicine, science and our government told us, or did we doubt the official pronouncements as outlined in the mainstream media? It came as a shock to me that a few of my friends were in this latter camp. I discovered they were anti-science, anti-government and, in many ways, diametrically opposed to what I stand for. The question, for me, became: could I reconcile my long-standing friendships with people who were radically different from me? As a group of friends, we made the mistake of trying to resolve our differences online. Godwins law is an internet adage indicating that the longer you try to discuss something online, the higher the probability is of a comparison involving the Nazis or Adolf Hitler. Fortunately, we didnt quite get to this stage, but we came close. Our friendships suffered; we are not as close as we used to be. Under the heading of "Heres what," I took it upon myself to try to understand, but not make excuses for, my "outlier" friends. I am fortunate in having a background in trauma counselling. In a medical crisis such as COVID-19, I know we go through a period of disorganization in which we deal with such emotions as shock, denial, anger and beliefs about safety, trust and meaning in life, all in the pursuit of a reorganized "new normal" life. Interestingly, what we are seeing, however, is that many people have not progressed past the denial and anger stages. What I learned about my outlier friends is that they filter their experiences through a lens that mistrusts mainstream medicine, media and government statements. Individual rights and freedoms are promoted over collective responsibilities. Unfortunately, due to cognitive dissonance, these beliefs are often not amenable to rational discussion. One of my friends said that he is "at peace" with his beliefs. The problem is I am not at peace with his beliefs. These friends say that they respect my beliefs and I should respect their beliefs. But I dont, and I cant. The anti-vaccine beliefs of my outlier friends are anathema to me. So the question becomes "Now what?" And it is a question that starts with thinking about what respect means in the context of friendship. Do I have to respect my friends views, even though I disagree with them? No, I dont. I respect their right to self-determination in making a decision, but I dont have any respect for the sources of information they use to come to their conclusions. I dont respect the idea that their truths have become, for them, the truths. Novelist and historian Anita Brookner said, "Accountability in friendship is the equivalent of love without strategy." Ultimately, you have to be honest with your friends. But you have to be honest in a way that offers them empathy rather than condemnation and judgment. Labels such as "selfish" and "anti-vaxxers" are distancing phenomena; they are hurtful and not helpful. It is also important to separate the person from their choices. I know that fundamentally my outlier friends are caring and loving individuals. If I was in trouble, they would be the first to go to bat for me. In the final analysis, COVID-19 is a formidable adversary in ways I never anticipated. Ill be honest with my outlier friends, stating that we differ on some extremely important issues. But I need my friends, and they need me. We can maintain our friendships by focusing on what unites us, rather than divides us. Even if they dont last forever, I want my friendships to survive COVID-19. Mac Horsburgh lives in Winnipeg and is a patient advocate. Employment gains in September brought Canadas total employment back to the pre-pandemic level of 19.1 million, Statistics Canada announced last week. Total employment had fallen to 16.1 million in April 2020, two months after the pandemic struck. Employment gains in September brought Canadas total employment back to the pre-pandemic level of 19.1 million, Statistics Canada announced last week. Total employment had fallen to 16.1 million in April 2020, two months after the pandemic struck. In effect, it took Canada just two months to lose three million jobs in the first stages of the campaign against COVID-19. It then took 17 months of struggle and re-adjustment to recover the lost ground. Falling off the cliff was quick. Climbing back up was slow and painful work. Since Canadas population increased by 1.4 per cent during that period of collapse and recovery, we are not exactly back to where we started. And since some industries have fared worse than others, the world of work has been transformed almost beyond recognition by the pandemic experience. Noah Berger / The Associated Press David Card, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in economics. The virus seemed to be in retreat in most of the country this past summer, but still a quarter of the people who worked in Canada in September were working from home. Though some employers were starting to call employees back into their offices, working from home was as common last month as it had been a year earlier. The habit of remote work was proving tough to break. Working mothers of young children were especially inclined to work from home. Fathers of young children also worked from home, but not to the same extent as mothers. Employment in hotels and restaurants was still well below pre-pandemic levels. Restaurants have been re-opening, but many restaurateurs complain the employees they lost to the pandemic are not coming back to work. The labour force survey figures suggest those employees have gone back to school, started a family or found work in other industrial sectors. Its not just governmental income support programs that are keeping people away from restaurant work: people who used to cook or wait on tables have re-shaped their lives. If that is the case, the restaurateurs will face an uphill struggle to bring them back. The surprising popularity of remote work and the surprising unpopularity of restaurant work point to ways the pandemic is changing Canada. This weeks Nobel Prize economics award for Canadian economist David Card points to a related change in the world of work. The labour force survey figures suggest those employees have gone back to school, started a family or found work in other industrial sectors. Mr. Card astonished his colleagues back in 1993 when he showed that a sharp increase in the minimum wage in New Jersey had no effect on the number of people employed in a wide range of fast-food restaurants in the state. Economists had previously taken for granted that a government-enforced pay increase would automatically lead employers to reduce the number of jobs in minimum-wage work. The majority of economists at first doubted Mr. Cards conclusions. Scholarly opinion soon shifted, however, so that by 2000, only 46 per cent of members of the American Economic Association said minimum wage laws increase unemployment. Mr. Cards New Jersey restaurant study did not prove all minimum wage increases in all circumstances have no effect on levels of employment. Employers of minimum-wage labour will usually object to paying more and will often warn that jobs will disappear and sometimes they will be right. Some businesses can pass on cost increases to their customers and some cannot, depending on competitive conditions. Canadians may have to get used to fewer restaurants than we had in the old pre-COVID-19 days, and more clerical and professional personnel working from home. They might learn to expect more frequent minimum wage increases if Mr. Cards doctrines become orthodox opinion among economists and the makers of government policy. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) A man armed with a bow fired arrows at shoppers in a small Norwegian town Wednesday, killing five people before he was arrested, authorities said. Police at the scene after an attack in Kongsberg, Norway, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Several people have been killed and others injured by a man armed with a bow and arrow in a town west of the Norwegian capital, Oslo. (Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB Scanpix via AP) COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) A man armed with a bow fired arrows at shoppers in a small Norwegian town Wednesday, killing five people before he was arrested, authorities said. The police chief in the community of Kongsberg, near the capital of Oslo, said there was a confrontation between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate. Two other people were wounded and hospitalized in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said. The man who carried out the act has been arrested by the police, and there is no active search for more people. Based on the information we have, there is one person behind this, Police Chief Oeyving Aas said. Acting Prime Minister Erna Solberg described the attack as gruesome and said it was too early to speculate on a motive. The prime minister-designate, Jonas Gahr Stoere, who is expected to take office Thursday, called the assault a cruel and brutal act in comments to Norwegian news agency NTB. Police were alerted to the attack around 6:15 p.m. and arrested the suspect about 30 minutes later. The community of some 26,000 inhabitants is about 66 kilometers (41 miles) southwest of Oslo. Police at the scene after an attack in Kongsberg, Norway, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Several people have been killed and others injured by a man armed with a bow and arrow in a town west of the Norwegian capital, Oslo. (Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB Scanpix via AP) According to police, the suspect walked around downtown Kongsberg shooting arrows. Aas declined to comment on reports that the man used a crossbow, saying only there were several crime scenes. The man has not been questioned yet, Aas said. Norways domestic security agency PST was informed of the assault. Town officials invited people who were affected by the attack and their relatives to gather for support at a local hotel. Mass killings are rare in Norway. The country's worst peacetime slaughter was on July 22, 2011, when right-wing extremist Anders Breivik set off a bomb in the capital of Oslo, killing eight people. Then he headed to tiny Utoya Island, where he stalked the mostly teen members of the Labor Partys youth wing and killed another 69 victims. Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum under Norwegian law, but his term can be extended as long as hes considered a danger to society. NEW YORK (AP) Lawyers opened the trial of an associate of Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday with plenty of talk about $1 million from a Russian financier that prosecutors contend was aimed at illegally influencing U.S. politicians, but there was little mention of Giuliani and other prominent political figures whose names will arise later in the trial. Lev Parnas leaves the courthouse in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. A jury was selected for the trial of Parnas, a onetime associate of Rudy Giuliani who is accused along with a co-defendant of making illegal campaign contributions. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NEW YORK (AP) Lawyers opened the trial of an associate of Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday with plenty of talk about $1 million from a Russian financier that prosecutors contend was aimed at illegally influencing U.S. politicians, but there was little mention of Giuliani and other prominent political figures whose names will arise later in the trial. As it turns out, only about $100,000 of the $1 million ever made it into the hands of U.S. politicians, prosecutors say. The trial of Lev Parnas and Andrey Kukushkin began a day after jury selection with claims by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aline Flodr that the men conspired to hide illegal foreign campaign contributions made with money from Andrey Muraviev. She called Muraviev a "Russian tycoon" and said Parnas referred to Muraviev as "Big Andrey" as he "made connections with movers and shakers in the political world." "That is what secret foreign money infiltrating American elections looks like. That it why we are here. That is what this trial is all about," Flodr told the Manhattan federal jury. Lev Parnas leaves the courthouse in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. A jury was selected for the trial of Parnas, a onetime associate of Rudy Giuliani who is accused along with a co-defendant of making illegal campaign contributions. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The first trial witness, Wesley Duncan a Republican candidate for attorney general in Nevada in 2018 testified that he returned $10,000 that Parnas had donated to his campaign because his campaign believed it was illegal. "As soon as we found that out, we sent it back," he said. Duncan also testified he once turned down an invitation from Parnas to fly to an event in a private jet. Flodr portrayed Parnas, 49, as a man who tried to live large on the money of others, passing himself off as a wealthy and connected political donor. Lev Parnas leaves the courthouse in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. A jury was selected for the trial of Parnas, a onetime associate of Rudy Giuliani who is accused along with a co-defendant of making illegal campaign contributions. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Attorney Joseph Bondy said that Parnas, his client, was not guilty and that some of his work was on behalf of a natural gas pipeline deal he pursued. "Thats what the evidence in this case will show you. He didnt knowingly, willfully violate any federal election laws," he told jurors. Kukushkins attorney, Gerald Lefcourt, also said the prosecutor had it wrong, telling jurors that if they follow the evidence, "you'll have no trouble in finding Mr. Kukushkin not guilty." FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, leaves federal court in New York. Lawyers opened Parnas' trial on Wednesday with plenty of talk about $1 million from a Russian financier that prosecutors contend was aimed at illegally influencing U.S. politicians, but there was little mention of Giuliani and other prominent political figures whose names will arise later in the trial. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) He said Kukushkin, born in Ukraine in 1973, was primarily interested in expanding his legal marijuana business in California and had teamed up with Muraviev to do so after the pair met while both were studying at a U.S. school. Kukushkin, who became a U.S. citizen at age 26 and settled in San Francisco, was thought of by his supposed co-conspirators as a "rube, unsophisticated, inexperienced, not knowing what he's doing," Lefcourt said. Throughout the openings, prosecutors and defense lawyers made few references to Giuliani, whom Parnas aided in his effort to persuade the government of Ukraine to investigate the son of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Bondy did cite Parnas' "relationship with America's mayor," a reference to Giuliani's years as New York City's mayor, and he noted that Parnas, a Florida businessman, had traveled to campaign events with Giuliani. Giuliani is not charged in the case, and prosecutors havent alleged that he knew anything about illegal campaign contributions. But Manhattan federal authorities seized his electronic devices in an April raid and are looking into his activities related to Ukraine to see if he violated a law requiring a person to register as a foreign agent for certain activities. Giuliani has maintained anything he did was in his capacity as a personal attorney to then-President Donald Trump. Winona, MN (55987) Today Mostly cloudy. High 41F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 34F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Photo by Alexandra Retter (From left) Keira Boucek, Bryn Kauphusman and Holden Scoville complete an assignment during class as students in Winona Area Public Schools Rios Spanish Immersion Program. The programs teachers, students and families worked to tackle unique obstacles while learning in Spanish during distance and hybrid learning. A familiar face, both locally and nationwide, is now a featured part of downtown Beaver Dam. A mosaic mural of the late Nancy Zieman was installed Wednesday morning by Hometown Glass on the east wall of Beaver Dam Area Community Theatres Fine Arts Center, 117 W. Maple Ave. The mural was created by world-renowned artist Stephen Bennett using tiles painted by community members during the inaugural Wisconsin Arts & Peony Festival held June 12 in Beaver Dam. Zieman was a fiber artist, author, designer and sewing educator who grew her business, Nancys Notions, in Beaver Dam. She gained fame as the host of television show Sewing with Nancy, which ran for 35 years on public television. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Former BDACT president Scott Eberle took the lead on the mural project. He, along with a volunteer crew, adhered the colorful tiles last Thursday to a 12-foot by 12-foot frame made by Breuer Metal Craftsman. Deanna Springer, a longtime colleague of Ziemans, said she was overwhelmed and cried watching the mural go up. She said the mural is similar to the art of quilting. A Necedah man found with more than $45,000 in cash and cocaine, fentanyl and heroin was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years extended supervision after pleading guilty to numerous felony charges. According to a release from the Juneau County Sheriffs Office, Richard Jones, 55, of Necedah was stopped by deputies April 7 after they observed his vehicle had no front license plate. Authorities conducted the stop as part of an on-going investigation by the Juneau County Drug Task Force and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} During a subsequent search of the vehicle, over 55 grams of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin were located, Juneau County Sheriff Brent Oleson said. Deputies also located approximately 200 grams of heroin and fentanyl that was dumped inside of soda cups in an attempt to destroy the evidence. More than $4,000 in cash was found in the vehicle, and following the acquisition of a search warrant law enforcement found an additional $41,000 in cash at Jones residence. Officers also found 52 grams of fentanyl, 458 morphine pills and a stolen firearm at Jones residence. "Mensah, having learned the lessons of a police department rife with racism and racial discrimination, immediately decided that a Black man sleeping in his car was suspicious and dangerous," attorney Kimberley Motley wrote in the lawsuit. "The WPD devalues people of color which is reflective in their over policing of Black people." The filing seeks unspecified damages from Mensah, the city, and former Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber. Online court records did not list attorneys for Mensah or Weber. Wauwatosa City Attorney Alan Kesner didn't immediately respond to a message Wednesday morning. Mensah joined the Wauwatosa Police Department in 2015. That year he fatally shot Antonio Gonzales, who identified as Latino and American Indian. Prosecutors said Gonzales refused to drop a sword. The following year he discovered Anderson sleeping in his car in a park around 3 a.m. He said he shot Anderson because Anderson reached for a gun on the passenger seat. Motley contends that Anderson never touched the gun. Last year, Mensah fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole as he fled from police following a disturbance in a mall. Cole was Black. Mensah said he shot him because he pointed a gun at him. That shooting sparked months of protests. ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. Kathy Hochul says New York will appeal a Utica judge's decision to continue to allow religious exemptions to the states vaccine mandate for health care workers. In mid-September, Judge David Hurd blocked the state from enforcing the mandate, ordering state officials to respond to the lawsuit by Sept. 22. A court hearing was originally scheduled for Sept. 28 but postponed for two weeks. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, Hurd ruled against the mandate again, saying the Department of Health is barred from enforcing any requirement that employers deny religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination or that they revoke any exemptions employers already granted prior to the mandate. Hochul said Wednesday she is working with the state attorney generals office to appeal the decision in the second circuit Court of Appeals, maintaining her stance that religious exemptions arent valid based on statements from religious leaders. If someone needs more confirmation, if they're going to use the religious exemption -- and I think the courts should pay attention too -- what the religious leaders are saying is that they want people to get vaccinated. It's simple. We want to make sure people are safe and doing the smartest thing we can, getting vaccinated, said Hochul. The initial lawsuit was filed by 17 health professionals in New York, all Christians, who say they dont want the vaccine because aborted fetus cell lines were used in either testing, development or production. Hochul provided quotes from religious leaders in support of vaccination, including the Catholic Archdiocese of New York saying, Pope Francis has made it very clear that it is morally acceptable to take any of the vaccines and said we have the moral responsibility to get vaccinated. Below are the current vaccination rates among health care workers at certain facilities based on state data: UTICA, N.Y. Mohawk Valley Health System is offering Pfizer booster shots to those eligible at its location on Burrstone Road. The MVHS Burrstone House, 1710 Burrstone Road, opened Wednesday and will operate from 7 a.m. to noon Mondays through Saturdays. Appointments must be made ahead of time here. Vaccine cards must also be presented before the booster can be administered. The boosters are provided through Upstate Family Health Center and Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corp. UTICA, N.Y. -- Mohawk Valley residents who love where they live are invited to apply to be featured on the Whats Upstate website, which showcases the region and why people choose to live and work there. Whats Upstate is an initiative supported by seven local organizations aiming to promote the region by telling stories of local residents in hopes of drawing more people to the area. Applicants are asked to share why they choose to live in the Mohawk Valley and list their favorite things to do and see, including hot spots, activities, restaurants and more. "So, we are looking for people to tell their authentic stories, what they love about the Mohawk Valley; tell us what you do on the weekend, what your jobs like, why you choose to live here," said Kari Puleo, executive director of the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce. "We're looking for people who are great on camera, who are really passionate about the area; all types of diversity so, we want people with families, single people, people who have maybe grown up here, had an early career somewhere else and moved back, somebody who stayed here their whole life. We're really looking for that breath of diversity to show off who we are in the Mohawk Valley, because we know that our people are one of the greatest treasures that we have here." The casting call is open to residents of Herkimer and Oneida counties through Oct. 18. To apply to be featured on the website, click here. Whats Upstate was launched through a collective effort by the following organizations: The Community Foundation, Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, Mohawk Valley EDGE, Oneida County Tourism, Rome Area Chamber of Commerce and The Genesis Group. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) The Lafayette Christian School's Dutch Apple Pie Sale is back. Last year it was canceled due to the pandemic. The sale kicks off Wednesday at 8:30 am at the Lafayette Christian School. There will be a drive-through to pick up the pies, the sale lasts until Friday. Volunteers strive to make over four thousand pies to sell. The proceeds will go to helping the school lower tuition prices. It's the 27th year of the sale and the first one since the pandemic broke out. The apples in the pies come from Covington and the crusts are also from Indiana. But, the Dutch pies stem from the school's history. It was first opened by Dutch people. The school's former principal Abe Vreeke was born in the Netherlands, he came back from his current home in Grand Rapids, Michigan to volunteer his time making pies. "We want to make sure that the children here get a really good education," Vreeke said. The school's director of advancement Jennifer White says this fundraiser is not just about Lafayette Christian School, but the community as a whole. "[The fundraiser] builds the community," she told News 18. "We have people from Purdue, we have parents, grandparents that come in and volunteer to make these pies ... We're just grateful for our community. We have great neighbors around us. We have Sunnyside across the road and we are just so so grateful for our community here in Lafayette." The Lafayette Christian School is located at 525 N 26th St in Lafayette. DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI)-The Delphi Community School Corporation has adopted its budget for the 2022 school year. Along with that, the corporation has come to a tentative agreement with its teachers. Teachers starting salary will now be $40,600 per year. In the state budget legislators wrote in a stipulation that corporations had two years to get teachers' salaries up to the $40,000 a year threshold. The Delphi Community School Corporation Superintendent Ann Marie Circle says, due to the extra funding they were able to decrease their class sizes.. and focus on learning loss due to the pandemic. "We have a lot of state pressure we've got testing and assessments coming up and yet we are trying to move forward trying to cover those standards for that school year but yet we've got to look back at the things that they've missed," said Circle. "So you are trying to fill that gap and also go forward with the curriculum that's a lot of pressure on the teachers." Circle says they have seen learning loss affecting kids in grade pre-k through 4th the most. Reading and math seem to be the two subjects students are struggling with the most. Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech via video link at the leaders' summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 12, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping attended and addressed the leaders' summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity via video link in Beijing and called on the international community to enhance cooperation, build consensus and pool strength to build a community of all life on Earth. Noting that biodiversity makes Earth full of vigor and vitality, and lays the foundation for human survival and development, Xi said protecting biodiversity helps protect Earth, our common homeland, and contributes to humanity's sustainable development. The Kunming conference will work for the conclusion of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and identify targets and pathways for global biodiversity protection in the future, Xi said. He stressed the need to respect Nature, follow Nature's laws, protect Nature, and build a homeland of harmonious coexistence between man and Nature. "A sound ecology and environment is not just a natural asset, but also an economic asset, and it affects the potential and momentum of economic and social development," Xi said, calling for speeding up efforts to foster a green way of development and securing a win-win of economic growth and environmental protection. Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over global development, Xi said developing countries in the face of the dual tasks of economic recovery and environmental protection "need help and support all the more." "We need to strengthen solidarity to overcome difficulties and let people across countries benefit more and in a fairer way from development outcomes and a sound environment," Xi said. "We are living in an era both fraught with challenges and full of hopes," Xi said. "For the sake of our common future, we need to join hands and start a new journey of high-quality development for humanity." The development of ecological civilization should be taken as a guide to coordinate the relationship between man and Nature, Xi stressed, adding that human activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment, and holistic conservation and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts need to be carried out. Xi urged efforts to let green transition drive people's efforts to facilitate global sustainable development. "We need to build a green, low-carbon and circular economic system, translate ecological strengths into development strengths, and bring out the great benefit that green mountains and clear waters can offer. We also need to step up green international cooperation and share the fruits of green development among all countries," said the president. Stressing the need to better people's well-being to promote social equity and justice, Xi called for pursuing win-win results in environmental protection, economic development, job creation, poverty alleviation and other endeavors, and increase the sense of fulfillment, happiness and security of people in all countries. "We shall take international law as the basis to uphold a fair and equitable international governance system," Xi said, adding that people need to practice true multilateralism, and effectively honor and implement international rules. He also said that the new environmental protection targets people set need to be ambitious on the one hand and pragmatic and balanced on the other. Noting China has made remarkable progress in building an ecological civilization, Xi said China will continue to advance ecological progress, stay committed to implementing the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, and build a beautiful China. Xi announced China's initiative to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (about 233 million U.S. dollars) to support biodiversity protection in developing countries. China calls on and welcomes all parties to make contributions to the fund, Xi said. Pointing out that China is moving faster to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay, Xi said areas with the greatest importance to the natural ecosystem, and with the most unique natural landscapes, the most valuable natural heritage and the greatest biodiversity reserve will be included in the national parks system over time. To achieve its carbon peak and neutrality targets, China will release implementation plans for peaking carbon dioxide emissions in key areas and sectors as well as a series of supporting measures, the president said. The country will also put in place a "1+N" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, he said. China will continue to readjust its industrial structure and energy mix, vigorously develop renewable energy, and make faster progress in planning and developing large wind power and photovoltaic bases in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, Xi said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape and Britain's Prince Charles also attended the summit via video. (Source: Xinhua) Members of the dancing group with the Technical College for the Deaf of the Tianjin University of Technology interact with each other by sign language during a break of dressed rehearsal at the theatre of the Tianjin University of Technology in Tianjin, north China, May 10, 2021. [Xinhua/Sun Fanyue] BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) The China Disabled Persons' Federation on Monday said that 57,477 students with disabilities earned admissions to colleges and universities in the 2016-2020 period, up 50.11 percent from the 2011-2015 period. A total of 9,966 students with disabilities were also enrolled at institutions of special higher education between 2016 and 2020, an increase of 47.54 percent from the previous five-year period. China has seen a steady rise in employment among college graduates with disabilities, with one-on-one services provided by more than 2,700 employment institutions readily available, according to the federation. (Source: Xinhua) Lyu Yun'e, 88, a veteran and doctor, has volunteered by offering medical service to the neighborhood in her community in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, free of charge, for the last 27 years. [chinadaily.com.cn] Lyu Yun'e, 88, said saving people's lives is the happiest thing to do. She has done that for the last 70 years. A veteran and doctor, she once treated soldiers in Northwest China who returned from the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). At that time, she worked at a hospital. After retirement in the 1990s, she volunteered to offer medical services in the neighborhood in her community in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, free of charge. Lyu Yun'e, 88, a veteran and doctor, has volunteered by offering medical service to the neighborhood in her community in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, free of charge, for the last 27 years. [chinadaily.com.cn] Though an elderly person herself, Lyu routinely works at the community's home-based elderly care service center every week, offering medical consulting services. She is in good spirits and has a good memory. "I keep health records of all residents here in my brain," she said. In one instance, a neighbor, Liao Dafeng, had a cerebral infarction. Lyu came to visit him for three months, offering consultations and giving injections, and even buying drugs for him, until he recovered. Young Lyu Yun'e [chinadaily.com.cn] A woman surnamed Xu in the community said she has contacted Lyu every time she or someone in her family felt ill for over 10 years. "Doctor Lyu came to help whenever someone needed it," she said. To contribute to poverty reduction, she gave financial aid to 12 poor families using her pension. She donated books to the community library. She asked her husband, who graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University, to assist with English learning for children from poor families, free of charge. Lyu became a member of the Communist Party of China in 1954. "It's great to be able to contribute after retirement. I want to try my best to be a health guardian for the neighborhood," she said. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) The sanitary napkins and tampons donated by a Beijing-based biotechnology company are ready for delivery to Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, on February 23. [rongmeiti.net] A Beijing-based biotechnology company sent 70,000 sanitary napkins and pads to female medical staff fighting against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, on February 23. More than 10,000 female medical workers in the city's six hospitals will receive the donation, including the Hubei Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital and the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. The company's research and development department has come up with a new sanitary napkin targeting the female medical staff working for hours without time to answer a call of nature, according to Lu Yunjuan, president of the company. The team has replaced the non-woven fabrics with long-staple cotton in the pad, which boasts a water absorption of up to 400 ml, which is twice or even three times other products' absorption capacity. In addition, a static bacteria-inhibiting chip has been implanted to prevent infection of the reproductive system and alleviate the inconvenience of female medical workers during their menstrual periods. Its cotton care pads are good for the females' health after their menstrual period or after using diapers during their long hours of work. The company is busy preparing a second batch of donations. Though the cost of its new product is about 10 times the ordinary one, Lu said they will continue to donate to meet the female medical workers' needs. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) 94 year old Woodward, OK resident passed November 17, 2021. Services Saturday November 27, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Vici Church of the Nazarene and burial following at Sunnyside Cemetery, Vici. Shaw Funeral Home of Vici Watson Assistant Uses AI to Drive Better Customer Engagement While call center work has become more automated in recent years, there is still a strong need for live agents with live human intelligence to interact with customers, particularly for more complex transactions. This doesnt mean, however, that there is no place for artificial intelligence (AI) to help make the calls go more quickly, with better resolution outcomes. Last month, IBM (News - Alert) announced new updates to Watson Assistant, the company's intelligent virtual agent, to help businesses leverage AI and natural language processing (NLP) to address customer issues on first contact. Watson Assistant is designed to provide customers with relevant answers more quickly over the phone, SMS, web, or any messaging platform, and seamlessly hand-off to a live agent when additional support is needed. New features included the integration of the IntelePeer (News - Alert) Atmosphere Communications Platform-as-a-Service available as an add-on in Watson Assistant so that users can set up voice capabilities and a new phone number for a virtual agent quickly; Watson Assistant's Search Skill feature update to include short-answer retrieval, which is based on question-answering (QA) system from IBM Research; and a new agent app feature designed to help customer service agents pick up with a customer right where the virtual agent left off. Increasingly, companies are using Watson Assistant to support call centers that are facing a rising number of inquiries related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. When new COVID-19 cases began to surge last year, the State of Rhode Island realized fielding hundreds of thousands of calls from concerned residents was unsustainable. The State needed to improve its engagement with residents with more efficient processes and timely updates to rapidly changing COVID information. In response, the state turned to Watson Assistant to address the engagement processes with residents and to improve the support with the contact center. IBM Global Business Services (GBS) and the State of Rhode Island launched a virtual agent, "RHODA," that uses Watson Assistant to answer questions about COVID-19 in both English and Spanish. Since October 2020, RHODA has had more than 100,000 conversations on topics related to test scheduling, test results, travel restrictions, and vaccine eligibility. In addition, IBM GBS integrated Watson Assistant into the IVR for Vaccine Appointment Scheduling to help enable an improved experience for individuals that needed assistance with appointment scheduling. "The pandemic slammed my team at the State of Rhode Island Department of Health and we quickly realized that our outdated systems and smaller call centers were completely unequipped to handle the influx of phone calls from concerned citizens, forcing us to pull staff from all directions within the department," said Kristine Campagna, COO of COVID Operations for the Rhode Island Department of Health. "With IBM's wealth of experience in AI, we were able to work together to seamlessly integrate Watson Assistant into our call centers, helping us provide thousands of citizens in a matter of days with information about COVID-19." Edited by Luke Bellos Oftentimes, it is the surrounding scenery that magnifies the spectacular natural wonder that is a waterfall, that the United States is rich in. Coming in various configurations of cascades, free-falling waters, or rushing down the base surface, as if embracing the rock, these are the ten most spectacular waterfalls of the country. Bridalveil Falls, California Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite Valley, California. One of the Yosemite National Park's waterfalls, Bridalveil Falls is a favorite, providing a full-on spectacle of its 620-feet cascade gushing in a veil-like formation between giant rocky walls, year-round. Framing the Yosemite Valley, the landscape, has been described by John Muir and captured by Ansel Adams. The setting that keeps on giving, with the Bridalveil Trail leading to the falls being easily hike-able, is as if it wants to be seen and admired by all, young and old. Upon exiting the Wawona Tunnel, the views from the Tunnel View point, of the waters plundering down into the forested valley is a revelation of a truly natural, naked beauty, with daily visitors agreeing that it is the most beautifully-situated waterfall they had ever witnessed. Moreover, sitting opposite to the El Capitan, one of the most famous rock facades in the world, the falls are also within the vicinity of other natural landmarks, such as the Half Dome, Sentinel Rocks and Cathedral Rocks. Burney Falls, California Burney Falls in California. Sitting in close proximity to Mt. Shasta, in Northern Californias McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, this waterfall, which falls on itself, is one of the most unique in the United States, and in the world. With a 260 feet drop and an underlying line of springs squirting out of its upper two thirds, portion of the cliff, it also has an exceptionally deep and wide pool of magically clear and aquamarine blue waters. Being so versatile, the Burney Falls was dubbed by President Theodore Roosevelt as the eighth wonder of the world. The daily dispel of some 100 million gallons of spring-fed water can be observed throughout the year with the waterfall being easily accessible by a simple quarter-mile hike to its base. One can also take the one-mile Burney Falls Loop Trail for various perspectives along the way. Set in an ultimate location for visitors, there are about dozen more falls in the vicinity, such as the 70-feet Potem Falls and the McCloud Falls of three tiers, set within the scenic Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Grand Canyon Falls Of Yellowstone, Wyoming Upper Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States. Framed by luscious greenery of the region, the Grand Canyon Falls is a combination of the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, and the Crystal Falls. Free-falling in a thick veil of water over rock, they are a picturesque spectacle to behold, giving off a vibe of freedom. The scenery, filled with wildlife, is where one can truly connect with nature, especially if willing to hike up some rough 500 feet up and then back down, for the best views. Other optimal viewing spots include the platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls, Red Rock Point, Artist Point, and the South Rim Trail. The 308-feet Lower Falls and the equally astounding 109-feet Upper Falls dropping off of the Yellowstone River receive 4 million spectators each year. Many that flock to the area, stay longer than a day-hike for the wild natural scenery, the colorful Grand Canyon, and the Yellowstone River behold other adventures to commence. Active tourists can explore the north and the south rims of the Canyon before returning to the falls and relaxing in its hot springs, also holding many predictable geysers. Havasu Falls, Arizona Havasu Falls in Arizona. This striking fall of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, is a favorite for being situated in one of the most picturesque natural locations of the country. While lacking in size and power, the fall, flows every day of the year within a setting that invites visitors for the colors and the contrast of the rustic Grand Canyon to the iridescent waters. The light-reflecting stalactites and the blue-green hued travertine, deposited from mineral creeks, contrast the dark dams around the falls and the red cliffs of the Grand Canyon. The unmatched sight of this limestone creek composure with the constantly changing flow and character of the falls are an oddity within a desert surrounding, worthy of lifelong memories. Even the rough eight-some mile hike from a remote trailhead at the Hualapai Hilltop to the scenic Supai village in the heart of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, is worth it, to experience this most, thought after spectacle. Multnomah Falls, Oregon Multnomah Falls in Oregon. Editorial credit: Bob Pool / Shutterstock.com The famous Pacific Northwest underground water-fed Multnomah Falls is a tiered and irresistible sight of moody speed and volume flow falling down a basalt cliff. The viewing spot of this second-tallest waterfall in the US is best from the its upper-level section, where the scenery of the Columbian Gorge unfolds, unseen from the ground, and the Little Multnomah falls reveals itself. The scenic 5 mile Wahkeena Falls Loop Trail with the Multnomah and Wahkeena Creek flowing through the canyons offers a walkaway amongst some towering evergreens with other falls on the way, including the Fairy Falls and Wahkeena Falls. Made of three sections, the upper falls are 542 feet cascading into the 69-feet middles, falling into the 9-feet lower falls, set within the lusciously green, forest-framed setting. This iconic fall of the long Columbia River Gorge, drops its waters for 620 feet into many pools, 365 days of the year, and easily is accessible. Benson Footbridge on the trail leading to the falls offers an access to the lower cascade, while following the trail further, will bring one to the upper portion. Read MoreMultnomah Falls Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls, New York. Sitting near Buffalo, this border-set waterfall, shared between Canada and the United States, is the most powerful, as well as the largest and most popularly visited by tourists from all over the world. As one of the top three waterfalls in the world, this ample natural wonder is comprised of three different falls, the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. With an average of 758,000 gallons of water dispelled every second, one will hear the powerful roar from far away, before even seeing it. The Horseshoe or the Canadian Falls are the uppermost, with the other two being downstream on the US side of the river. The waterfall has tons of attractions, including lighting up at night, a glass elevator, as well as the Maid of the Mist boat tour through the waterfall whitewater and the surrounding massive rocks. Read MoreNiagara Falls Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho Shoshone Falls, Idaho. Taking off from the Snake River, this 212 feet long and 900 feet wide waterfall, taller than Niagara, is best seen in spring and early summer, when the melting snow waters have added to its full beauty. Its most ample flow of meltwater reaches some 20,000 cubic feet per second, and one can always check the live feed for the optimal visiting time. Being called the "Niagara of the West", it is the largest natural waterfall in the United States, with the surroundings almost as astounding as the falls themselves, containing mesmerizing basalt canyons and ancient waterways at each step. As part of the Twin Falls, located within the Dierkes Park, the Shoshone Falls give the eyes and the mind a rest whilst one is relaxing on a picnic, or taking a stroll along the many walkways. Read MoreShoshone Falls Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan. This grand fall starts off from the Tahquamenon River, as it courses its way into the Upper Falls composing 50 first feet of this wide spectacle. Some miles downstream, the river, once again dispels its waters over the edge, creating the Lower Tahquamenon Falls, with a triple-stair section in between offering ultimate spots for photographers to capture their shots. Sitting in a scenic forest that is also a park, there are also paved paths with many stops to obtain the ultimate view. The united five lesser declines of water that make up the Lower Falls, see off the river's flow that continues downstream to flow into Lake Superior. For its sheer breadth falling over the precipice of a classic block-shaped granite wall, the Tahquamenon Fall is one of the most stunning in the world. The surrounding scenery adds on, with the iconic Pictured Rocks and the yellowish-brown hue of the river, this true natural paradise can be observed from the river banks, or from the brink itself. Union Falls, Wyoming Union Falls waterfall in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Located within the Yellowstone National Park, albeit difficult to reach, this dropping 260 feet tall waterfall is a real jewel of Wyoming. Set within bears' habitat requiring some 15-mile round-trip hike of rough hill-climbing and a river fjord on the way, the ultimate reward are the Union Falls, the delicate grace of which, go unmatched by any other waterfall of the country. From a front-on perspective, the fall appears to be a giant portal door, entering through which, will take one to another world. When looking at the waterfall sideways, it is a glamorous spectacle of water, rushing down in a thin wide veil to embrace the huge boulder underneath, with a separate narrow gush of water on its left-hand. Aside from obtaining the satisfaction of the adventure and the well-earned spectacular sight, there is a thermally-heated creek in close proximity at the Ouzel Pool, being optimal for the sore muscles before commencing the hike back. Yosemite Falls, California Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park. This majestic waterfall is a crown jewel of the Yosemite National Park as a 2,425 spectacle of cliff-diving waters, and one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. Easily accessible by driving or hiking, one should note not to visit mid to late summer, when the waterfall is dry. As a grand gushing force, it runs out of the wintertime meltwater supply rather quickly due to its unmerciful granite drainage system. Composed of three different falls, with the Upper Yosemite Fall, at 1,430 feet being the tallest, flowing into the middle cascade, and the 320 feet Lower Yosemite Falls, altogether it is 2,245 feet in height. Best viewing places of this remarkable natural energy, are from the Yosemite Village and the Yosemite Lodge, although most spots on the Yosemite Valley also offer observation points. One can also venture on an all-day hike for a close-up of the giant, take a one-mile round-trip to the Lower Falls with an unforgettable sight of the escorting Upper Falls cascade, or a two mile round-trip to the upper level of the Lower Falls, although the views from there become obstructed. Read MoreYosemite Falls Waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes from being full-bodied, thin, and thick, to falling at different rates depending on their structure, and dispelling various amounts of water. Although they are nothing more than rivers letting out waters to rush over a precipice, the magnificent cascades are a force of nature that continue to amaze for their sheer power and beauty. Biden's approval rating has fallen. Pollsters say there's one way to bounce back. BLUE POINT, NY. - SEPTEMBER 26: Members of the public leave flowers at a memorial site for Gabby Petito, September 26, 2021 in Blue Point, Long Island, New York. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Welsh health service facing the most challenging period of time during the pandemic, says NHS chief exec The Welsh NHS is facing the most challenging period of time during the pandemic as it works to tackle a growing backlog of operations and coronavirus. That is the view of Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of the NHS in Wales, who was speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme this morning. He said that despite less patients being admitted into hospital with coronavirus, hospital capacity is now at its fullest seen across the system in the last 20 months as the health service continues to come under strain. Data released last month revealed that waiting times had continued to grow, with 643,108 people waiting to start treatment in July 2021. This is the highest since comparable data was first collected in 2011. In North Wales there are 135,398 people waiting to start treatment, up slightly from the 131,362 recorded in June 2021. Demand has also continued to grow on emergency departments, which were the worst on record in August after the target of 95% of patients spending less than four hours in an emergency department was not hit. Just 68.7% of the 61,281 patients attending Welsh NHS emergency departments spending less than four hours in the department from arrival until admission. This is 1.6 percentage points lower than the previous month, 11.3 percentage points lower than the same month in 2020, and 8.8 percentage points lower than the same month in 2019. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was the worst performing in Wales, with 64.9% of A&E attendees spending less than the target time waiting to be seen. Dr Goodall said that despite the extraordinary efforts of staff over the last 20 months of the pandemic, this feels like the most challenging period of time. He said: We are still responding to a coronavirus context, we still have significant numbers in our system and we have high community prevalence levels. Whilst the number of patients being hospitalised are much lower than weve seen over the last 20 months or so, and that is a positive development, it still means that we have patients who are affected by lots of the precautions that we take place within our hospital and our healthcare environments. Staff are still needing to PPE up, our physical environments still need to be protecting patients and staff as they move through. But the real thing that has changed over these last three or four months in particular, is the recovery of activity because NHS staff wants to ensure that patients are cared for and treated and weve actually seen months where high, if not record numbers of patients, are coming into our system from ambulances through to A&E. Of course, weve been wanting to restore planned operations across the system. So the numbers are increasing, we are probably at the fullest that weve seen across our system in the last 20 months at this stage. Earlier this month the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that it would be receiving military support as it faces increased demand following the easing of lockdown measures. For the third month in a row, there was an average of more than 100 immediately life-threatening (red calls) a day. The percentage of red calls receiving a response within 8 minutes was 57.6% in August 2021, down slightly from the previous month, lower than pre-pandemic levels and below the 65% target for the thirteenth consecutive month. Dr Goodall was also challenged on why waiting times for routine procedures in Wales were longer than for patients in England. He said: We have been affected by the decisions that we took back in spring 2020 and the need to step away and ensure that the NHS was prepared, and that was a recognition that we needed to move and redeploy staff from routine activities. Our waiting list has been increasing probably around 3% a month at this stage, they are similar increases that has been seen in the English system. We have however, been able to show that more patients have been treated for elective operations since spring 2020 through to now. Before we were coming into the pandemic, we had some issues around our waiting times and weve been focusing on actions to improve that, there has been very significant investment. Irrespective of a range of examples of transforming our services in a different way and seeing the recovery happen at this stage, we have too many patients not able to access their services, for reasons that people will understand on the one hand but we have got a responsibility to ensure that we can speed up the access to care and make sure that we have other plans. He added: As we have come out of the pandemic, weve really clear that if we look at the numbers that we are facing at the moment, it could take the whole of a government term actually to clear those areas. Speaking on Tuesday (12 October) Health Minister Eluned Morgan said that the Welsh Governments winter plan for the NHS and social care service will be released next week. However there has been criticism that such a plan outlining how the health system will be supported as it deals with a backlog of patients, the rollout of vaccines, an expected increase in cases of covid and other respiratory illnesses and winter pressures, has not been published sooner. Commenting on todays interview, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: Although it is always a pleasure to hear more about Wales on UK-wide news outlets, it is a shame it is again in the context of the Welsh NHSs leader admitting its experiencing its most challenging period. NHS Wales is right to say it is facing its most challenging time we can see this in its worst-ever A&E waiting times, longest ever waiting list, and second slowest ambulance response times. The Labour Government has been responsible for running our Welsh NHS for quarter of a century and it is down to their mismanagement that we are seeing these problems now do not forget that the NHS backlog doubled just a year before the pandemic hit, and now its out of control with one-in-five people in Wales waiting for treatment. Hopefully, Dr Goodalls admission will mean his expertise in health will be better listened to when he becomes the Welsh Governments permanent secretary in a few months time. Around the world, ports are congested as a result of the rapid rebound in demand for commodities and goods as much of the global economy has recovered from the pandemic. Container ships are shown here off the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports in Long Beach, California, U.S., on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Two teenage boys have been charged after "allegedly deliberately killing 14 kangaroos" in the Australian state of New South Wales. This injured baby kangaroo was also found by police. MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) - A juvenile court judge at the center of a class action lawsuit in Rutherford County is no longer affiliated with MTSU, the school announced in an email to staff and faculty on Tuesday. Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport had been an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Administration program at MTSU. A class action lawsuit said children in Rutherford County were put in jail for misdemeanor charges like school fights. The lawsuit alleges any of these arrest stem from Davenport. Adjunct instructor Judge Donna Scott Davenport, whose actions overseeing Rutherford County Juvenile Court have recently drawn attention in national media reports, is no longer affiliated with the University, MTSU President Dr. Sidney A. McPhee wrote in an email sent to faculty and staff. MTSU stated it would make no other statement on the matter since it is a personnel issue. Davenport sent News4 a statement about the allegations and no longer being an adjunct professor at MTSU. "Thank you for reaching out to me and your willingness to allow me to tell my side of the story," Davenport said in the statement. "At this time, due to pending litigation, I cannot make further comments." The lawsuit said anyone born after October 1997 and jailed at the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center can file a claim in an $11 million settlement connected to the class action lawsuit. Tennessee Democrats said they want to launch an investigation into juvenile court systems across the state as the result of the lawsuit. We want to make sure that we get everyone out who is in Rutherford County who was impacted by this particular judges decision, and actions and abuse of power, to make sure that we get them notified as best as possible, state Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, said on Tuesday before MTSUs decision was public. With almost 9 million inhabitants, Austria is not among the largest European countries. But the abyss of ruthlessness, corruption and crime that opened up with the recent government crisis in Vienna is symptomatic of the state of bourgeois democracy in all Western countries. The new Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and predecessor Sebastian Kurz (Image: BKA/Wenzel/CC BY-SA 2.0) Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned last weekend after the Central Public Prosecutors Office searched the Federal Chancellery, the Ministry of Finance and the party headquarters of his conservative Austrian Peoples Party (OVP) to prosecute white-collar crime and corruption. The prosecutor has accused the chancellor and his closest colleagues of serious disloyalty to the detriment of the Republic of Austria, corruption and making false statements. Specifically, Kurz and his team are said to have bought manipulated opinion polls four years ago, placed embellished articles in the media outlets of tabloid publisher Wolfgang Fellner and financed the entire operation with funds from the budget of the Ministry of Finance to enable the then 31-year-old Kurz to secure the leadership of the OVP and the chancellery. Under Austrian law, such charges can result in a prison term of between 1 and 10 years. Kurz denies all allegations, although they are factually well-documented. He also only resignedor stepped aside, as he put itwhen his Green Party coalition partner threatened to vote with the opposition to bring down the government. Kurz still pulls the strings of government policy. He remains chairman of the OVP and after his resignation was also elected as club chairman (parliamentary group leader) of his party in the National Council. In this capacity, he continues to attend government meetings. Kurz also personally selected his successor, the previous foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg. Schallenberg, who was sworn in on Monday, has three advantages in the short term: firstly, he is one of Kurzs loyal admirers and supporters; secondly, he has no domestic political experience; and thirdly, the career diplomat and offspring of an old noble family has good connections and a serious reputation. Observers assume that Kurz will try a comeback if he survives the investigation, as he did two years ago. At that time, he was hit by the so-called Ibiza affair, but returned to the chancellery four months after resigning thanks to the support of the Greens. The investigations of the public prosecutors office are based, among other things, on numerous chats that were found on the cell phone of Kurz confidante Thomas Schmid, which had been confiscated as part of another investigation. They provide the material for a novel by an author of the rank of Balzac, Zola orto stay closer to AustriaKarl Kraus. They paint a picture of a conspiratorial troop who meticulously plan their promotion to the chancellery and do not shy away from any means to achieve their goal. For example, although Kurz himself was a minister in the grand coalition of the Austrian Social Democrats (SPO) and OVP from 2013 to 2017, he intrigued against Chancellor Christian Kern (SPO) and Vice Chancellor and OVP Chairman Reinhold Mitterlehner to oust both of them. Among his closest confidants were the young OVP boss from Vienna, Gernot Blumel, and Thomas Schmid, who as a top functionary in the Ministry of Finance had access to the state budget. Schmid organised, among other things, the fake opinion polls and media reports that brought down Mitterlehnerthe very same reports that the public prosecutor is now investigating. Both enjoyed high-flying careers under Kurzs chancellorship. Blumel first became head of the chancellery and then finance minister. Schmid was rewarded with the head post of the state holding company Obag, which guaranteed him an annual income of between 400,000 and 610,000. The circumstances of his appointment as Obag boss are now the subject of public prosecution investigations. The chats of the conspirators at the time are hard to beat in terms of cynicism and vulgarity. After he had succeeded in loosening up tax money, Schmid cheered in a chat to Blumel, Kurz can now shit money. Mitterlehner is regularly referred to as oasch or ass. Efforts by Kern and Mitterlehner to agree on joint projects were sabotaged, especially if they had a social policy component. When the two were planning to invest the proceeds from the bank levy into all-day schools and afternoon childcare, Schmid wrote to Kurz: Mega explosives! Kurz replied, Not good at all! How can you stop that. Can I incite a federal state? Schmid affirmed and added, If Mitterlehner does that1.2 billion for Kern by yielding on all education points, that would be madness. They were only concerned with political obstruction. According to Schmid, the programme is just awesome. More interesting than this intrigue, about which publications like Der Standard, Der Spiegel, and Falter have reported in detail, is the question of why Kurz and his confidants were successful. After all, although their plans and machinations were criminal and perfidious, they were neither particularly original nor unknown. The left-liberal weekly newspaper Falter published a detailed article about the machinations of Kurz and his team under the title Project Ballhausplatz in September 2019, which was based on internal documents. The answer to this question leads to the very heart of the problem: the rottenness of bourgeois democracy. If there were only one political party that represented the needs and interests of the working population to some extent, Kurz and his conspiratorial gang would quickly have reached their limits. But there is no such party in the established political spectrum. They are all far more afraid of a working-class movement than of the most right-wing politics. When capitalism was reintroduced in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union and China three decades ago, the media cheered the victory of freedom and democracy. Indeed, capital lost all inhibitions. In the East, oligarchs stole social property and brought regimes to power that are as corrupt as they are right-wing. In the West, a small minority enriched itself at the expense of the large majority. The gap between rich and poor has now reached dimensions that are no longer compatible with democratic forms. All parties that defend capitalism are responding to growing social tensions with a sharp lurch to the right. Social Democracy, the dominant political force in Austria for decades, has, like the unions associated with it, become a tool of social counterrevolution. Since 1987, the SPO has only governed in coalitions with the OVP, until it was finally ousted from power entirely in 2017. At that time, Kurz formed an alliance with the right-wing extremist Freedom Party (FPO) and implemented their policy. There was no resistance from the other parties. It was not until the Ibiza affair, which exposed Vice Chancellor and FPO boss Heinz-Christian Strache as a politician for sale, that the coalition with the FPO fell apart. The Greens then stepped into the breach and helped Kurz return to power without changing his policies. In terms of refugee policy, Austria is on the extreme right wing in a Europe that is pervaded by hostility to refugees. Vienna maintains close ties with the right-wing Orban regime in Hungary. Over 1.5 million people, or 17.5 percent of the countrys population, live in poverty. The unemployment rate is 10 percent. In its policy on COVID-19, Austria has repeatedly led the way in implementing premature and inhuman reopenings. As a result, 763,000 people have been infected and 11,100 died. The shift from Kurz to Schallenberg will not change anything about these policies. So far, the new chancellor has only made a name for himself on one issue. When it comes to immigration, he is a man of conviction, he told the magazine Profil. As foreign minister, he denounced the rescue of children from the inhumane Greek camp Moria as shouting about the distribution of refugees. Schallenberg emphasised in his first speech in parliament on Tuesday that he would continue to work closely with Kurz, adding that anything else would be absurd in terms of democratic politics. Kurzs ministers, including Finance Minister Gernot Blumel, remain in office. The role of the Austrian Greens as a prop for ultra-right politics also sheds light on the negotiations on a coalition between the Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats (a so-called traffic light coalition) that are currently taking place in Germany. Prospective chancellor Olaf Scholz is on the right wing of the SPD, the FDP sees itself as a guarantor for the protection of the wealth of the rich and compliance with the debt brake, and the Greens are trying to outdo both parties from the right. Only an independent movement of the working class, oriented towards an international, socialist programme, can effectively counter these right-wing politics. One of the most socially-explosive reasons for Australias new anti-democratic electoral laws is that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the already staggering levels of wealth and health inequality, producing mounting class tensions. Mass jobless queue in Sydney at the beginning of the pandemic [Credit: WSWS] At all costs, the ruling class must try to shut down political opposition, muzzle dissent and confine debate to official channels within the existing media and parliamentary establishment. New data on COVID deaths lays bare in the most graphic form the terrible human cost of social inequality. An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report released last month found that during the first year of the pandemic there were almost four times as many COVID deaths recorded for people in the lowest socioeconomic group compared with those in the highest. The report also found that health care workers, who have been placed on the frontline of the pandemic in chronically under-staffed and under-funded public hospitals, were 2.7 times as likely to contract COVID-19 as the general community. These are just two indicators of a conscious policy to impose the burden of the pandemic on working class households for the benefit of the financial elite. Profits are being prioritised over health and lives. This class divide will intensify as Liberal-National and Labor governments alike accelerate the reopening of the economy despite the deadly Delta variant surge. In the name of living with the virus, the capitalist class and its political servants are insisting that more working class people must die with the virus. The party de-registration laws are a bid to stifle the resulting political disaffection and block it from any expression in the looming federal election, which is due to be held by May. In particular, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), the only political party opposing the homicidal reopening drive, will be barred from having its party name on ballot papers unless it files an expanded list of 1,500 electoral memberstriple the current requirementby December 2, even amid a raging pandemic. The AIHW report confirmed that the pattern of death is entirely predictable. It listed the well-known reasons: [H]igher population density housing, reduced capacity to work from home lower levels of income and education, and lack of private transport to access health care, as well as more need to use public transport. Further analysis by the Guardian showed that nearly 60 percent of people who have died during the Delta wave in the state of New South Wales lived in the southwestern or western Sydney local health districts, home to 1.8 million mainly working class people. These are the suburbs with the highest proportions of workers, mostly young, who have had to keep working throughout the pandemicincluding in factories, construction and other non-essential industriesand potentially bring infections back into large households. By contrast, the more affluent local health districts of Sydney, southeastern Sydney and northern Sydney, which boast a population of about 2.4 million, accounted for 26 percent of the deaths. Likewise, in Melbourne, the next biggest city, one of its most disadvantaged local government areasHume in the northern suburbshad nearly a third of the state of Victorias fatalities during Delta. Almost another 30 percent occurred in the similar nearby areas of Moreland and Whittlesea. Another factor in Australias death divide has been unequal access to vaccines. Despite repeated government pledges that they would be prioritised, some of the most vulnerable people, such as health, aged and disability workers, teachers and indigenous people, still have not been inoculated, even months after the protracted government delay in the delivery of vaccines. Dr George Disney, a research fellow in social epidemiology at the University of Melbourne, told the Guardian: Its almost like society is designed to deliver COVID to the most disadvantaged. The people on the lowest incomes, the people who are most unlikely to be able to work from home Theyre often doing jobs that involve contact with other disadvantaged groups, people with disability, people in aged care. We knew this before COVID started. Governments are also cutting off even the inadequate income support initially provided to workers unable to work because of the pandemic. Despite limited JobKeeper wage subsidies and social security benefit supplements last year, the AIHW report found that almost two-thirds of JobKeeper recipients reported they had reductions in their income. These payments have long ceased, and other schemes are being withdrawn, deliberately forcing working class people into low-paid, insecure and unsafe jobs, helping employers to restructure their operations to exploit cheap labour. Meanwhile, as the federal government has now admitted, at least $27 billion of the more than $90 billion poured into business pockets by JobKeeper went to companies whose turnover either increased or did not drop enough to qualify for the handouts. Workers are starting to resist the destruction of jobs, conditions and their basic right to a safe workplace. However, this assault cannot be fought solely on a national basis. What is needed is an independent mass movement of the working class to fight for the eradication of COVID-19 worldwide. That strategy will be explained at the October 24 online webinar How to end the pandemic: The case for eradication, organised by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. All those looking for the way to save lives should register and share the event as broadly as possible. At the same time, the party re-registration laws must be defeated. The basic democratic right to stand for election on a party platform must be defended. Above all, the working class must have a voice, to fight for its basic social rights, not least to life and health. That is why we are calling on all WSWS readers and supporters in Australia to sign up as an SEP electoral member today and help us provide the necessary socialist alternative. On September 23, far-right commentator Eric Zemmour, who has not officially declared his candidacy for the 2022 presidential election, held a live televised debate with Jean Luc Melenchon, the leader and presidential candidate of Unsubmissive France (La France insoumiseLFI). Zemmours political identity is well established. He has enjoyed wide media coverage through his roles as an editorialist for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro, owned by the industrial corporation Dassault Group, then as a commentator on his own television show on the news channel CNews, created and run by the billionaire Vincent Bollore. Zemmour was convicted of incitement to racial hatred for his anti-Muslim comments in 2019. He is ferociously hostile towards the historian Robert Paxton and his famous work published in 1972, La France de Vichy, against which Zemmour defends the policy of deportation of Jews by Vichy. The decision by Melenchon to debate with a political criminal who is still undeclared as a candidate for 2022 is politically wretched. The debate between the two men focused entirely on the reactionary terrain of national identity, where Melenchon provided Zemmour with a foil for his far-right provocation and ravings. Eric Zemmour and Jean-Luc Melenchon Melenchon justified his participation in the debate by declaring: I wanted this debate because we are seven months away from a presidential election, I am a candidate, and opportunities to convince must be taken, especially when the country is contaminated by the absurd perspectives of a man who has become the ideologist of the right and the extreme right. He added, addressing Zemmour: You are a danger to our country, you have a stunted vision of France, you are a racist, you have been convicted for that. Despite this quip, the debate highlighted the many areas of agreement between the two men, who are former friends. Melenchon did not criticize Zemmours violent hostility to coronavirus lockdowns and other public health measures to stop the pandemic by eradicating the coronavirus, even though more than 1.2 million Europeans have died from it. He also did not criticize the war in Mali, which he supported when it was launched by Socialist Party president Francois Hollande in 2013. Melenchon began the debate by warning that France is entering its most terrible social and financial crisis in decades. Mentioning in passing the 10 million poor and six million unemployed in France, he warned of the political implications of an explosion of working-class anger: Only fools can believe that a situation like this can go on without chaos. Zemmour replied by inciting hatred against immigrants, as one would expect from a profascist intellectual who claims that immigration is leading to a great replacement of the French by foreigners. Melenchon attempted to respond to Zemmour on this issue by referring to Zemmours threats to deport Frances five million Muslims, and saying, Mr. Zemmour, there will be many of us who will not let you do this. The torrent of figures that Mr. Zemmour cites to invoke a crisis atmosphere does not hold water. You will not drive out the Muslims, you will not force them to choose between Islam and France. Zemmour replied by recalling all the Islamophobic past declarations of Melenchon himself and accusing him of hypocrisy and inconsistency: You said yourself, Mr. Melenchon, once, the other Melenchon, that the Islamic veil was an act of self-stigmatization. What has become of this Melenchon? Melenchon has betrayed Melenchon. You have converted to the ideology that you were fighting in the 80s. Mr. Melenchon is against Mr. Melenchon. You are always wrong and you always deny yourself. Melenchon responded against Zemmour with a notion of the development of a multicultural France (creolisation) through immigration: We are the country that openly practices a form of creolisation. It is nothing other than the creation of a common culture of people who live together. Different cultures arrive and form a common culture. Human beings come together and form something in common. What has fertilized France is this immense idea of the human being who is the creator of this history. However, Melenchons Islamophobic positions on the veil underline that this conception of creolisation is not a defense of democratic rights against Zemmour. Historically speaking, it marks a step backwards from bourgeois democratic conceptions arising from the French Revolution, according to which citizenship is a right of those who live in France and who accept the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity proclaimed by the Revolution of 1789. In order to move, work, study or live wherever they wanted, immigrants were not obliged to conform to a common national culture. The creolisation desired by Melenchon is a compromise with the assimilation advocated by Eric Zemmour, which requires the Francoisation of Islam and Muslims and the banning of first names, such as Mohamed, that Zemmour would arbitrarily declare not to be French. Melenchon did not denounce Zemmour for his statements in support of Vichy leader Philippe Petain on mass murder in the 20th century, nor for his support for what the British Medical Journal has called social murder during the coronavirus pandemic in the 21st century. Zemmour is fiercely opposed to a science-based health policy, praising the policy of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who declared no more f***ing lockdowns, let the bodies pile high in their thousands! Melenchon could not attack Zemmour, because Melenchon and LFI called for demonstrations against the Macron governments health pass and mandatory vaccination, organized by far-right politicians close to Zemmour, including Florian Philippot and Marion Marechal Le Pen. Melenchon did not warn in the debate of the danger of a military putsch threatened by neo-fascist army officers in the face of rising popular anger. On all these subjects, he preferred to remain silent. The wretched debate shows that insofar as the working class wants to fight, it will have to oppose Melenchon, who is totally integrated into the crimes of the French ruling class. The fact that a political criminal like Zemmour can present himself as a presidential candidate is the product of a vast degeneration of the French ruling class, and above all of the forces that broke with Trotskyism to pursue a middle-class pseudo-left politics. Indeed, Melenchon joined Pierre Lamberts Internationalist Communist Organization (OCI) shortly after its break with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in 1971, to join the Union of the Left between the Socialist Party (PS) and the Stalinist Communist Party of France (PCF). He ended up as a PS minister before later forming his own movement. While the PCF was discredited by its betrayal of the general strike of May 1968, the OCI supported the alliance of the PCF with the PS led by the ex-collaborationist Francois Mitterrand. This alliance, presented as a struggle for socialism, was in fact an alliance between Stalinism and bourgeois forces complicit in the crimes of European fascism. Although the PS was a social-democratic party, Mitterrand had Petains grave in the Ile dYeu decorated and said that it was necessary to understand Vichywhile Melenchon was still his adviser. For almost half a century, Melenchon has struggled to suppress Trotskyist opposition against the austerity and war policies of the social democrats and Stalinists. But this has also involved a repudiation of any principled opposition to the legacy of French collaboration with the Nazis, as seen in the Melenchon-Zemmour debate. Indeed, the two men know each other, and Melenchon attended Zemmours 50th birthday party as a friend. Since the dissolution of the USSR, the milieu of the PS and its satellites has shifted enormously to the right in France and across Europe. This Melenchon-Zemmour debate should serve as a warning that the pseudo-left milieu to which Melenchon belongs is moving ever closer to neo-fascist positions, propelled by an ever more violent movement of the entire ruling elite to the right. A class gulf separates the workers from this reactionary ruling elite. The millions of avoidable deaths in Europe in the Covid-19 pandemic and the fear of a social explosion referred to by Melenchon in the face of the austerity and militaristic policies of the European Union underline the extent of this chasm. Indeed, the Melenchon-Zemmour debate provides yet another example of the fact that the rise of the far right is driven primarily by the ruling elite. Melenchons highlighting of Zemmour may suit many potential presidential candidates, including the incumbent president. Indeed, Mitterrand got himself elected for a second term in 1988 by dividing the right-wing vote through a focus on Jean-Marie Le Pens neo-fascist National Front. Now, as Macron hopes to win re-election against the neo-fascist candidacy of Marine Le Pen, Melenchon and LFI, who maintain close ties to Macron, are launching a move that could split the neo-fascist vote. The life-and-death political questions facing working people against the backdrop of a global pandemic will not be resolved at the ballot box, but through the conscious political mobilization of the working class on an international scale against the entire ruling class. This perspective animates the struggle of the Socialist Equality Party, the French section of the ICFI for socialism and against the corrupt pseudo-left represented by Melenchon. The 90 percent no vote at Deere on Sunday against a deal backed by the United Auto Workers union is the latest in a wave of massive contract rejections across the auto industry. In this video, WSWS Labor Editor Jerry White reviews the issues behind the contract rejection and why Deere workers are pressing for strike action Wednesday night. For more information on joining a rank-and-file committee, go to wsws.org/workers. Deere workers reject UAW-backed contract by 90 percent On Tuesday, Republican allies of former president Donald Trump held a fascistic rally on the steps of the Lansing, Michigan Capitol to promote Trumps conspiracy theory that the election was stolen and that President Joe Biden is illegitimate. The event, dubbed by Trump in an October 8 statement the Big Michigan Rally, drew a crowd of roughly 300 supporters, including about a dozen current and aspiring Republican politicians. While the turnout was small, the presence of Republican officials underscored the continuing hold of the would-be Fuhrer on the GOP. Speakers at the event toed the line set by Trump, denouncing the election as fraudulent, without presenting any evidence. They touted their far-right credentials, proclaiming their adherence to God, family, guns and country, while denouncing public health measures such as masks and lockdowns as examples of Marxism and socialism. The rally on Tuesday, October 12 at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing (Source: Twitter/Ford Fischer) WMMT News Channel 3 reported that in anticipation of the rally, Michigan State Police increased their presence at the Capitol building while several lawmakers avoided the area entirely. Unlike the anti-lockdown rally held in the same location on April 30 of last year, at which armed Boogaloo Boys and far-right militia men stormed the Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to seek cover, participants did not openly carry assault rifles or wear body armor. This did not alter the fascistic character of the event. Many of the demonstrators were draped in American flags. Dozens of signs and flags were explicitly pro-Trump, with several denoting support for the III Percenter militia group and the QAnon conspiracy theory. One of the speakers, Michigan State Representative Daire Rendon from Lake City, wore a button that featured an American Flag with a gold Q on it, according to the Detroit News. Asked by a Detroit News reporter what the button represented, Rendon said, The Q is the highest level of security in the federal government. During her speech on the Capitol steps she implied that voting machines were accessible and susceptible to hacking, and questioned why others did not see the evidence of fraud. County election officials and clerks in Michigan have conducted over 250 audits since the 2020 election. All have affirmed that Joe Biden won the state by over 154,000 votes, or 3.0 percent, and there was no evidence of significant voter fraud. The day after the Lansing rally, on Wednesday, Trump released a statement threatening to support primary challenges against Michigan Republicans who do not support yet another audit. Why wont they give respected professionals and representatives at yesterdays rally the right to do a Forensic Audit of Wayne County (Detroit) and Macomb County? Trump demanded in his statement. He continued: That includes the RINOs [Republicans In Name Only] in the State Senate and House, who, for whatever reason, do nothing but obstruct instead of seeking the truth. Hopefully, each one of these cowardly RINOs, whose names will be identified and forthcoming, will be primaried, with my Complete and Total Endorsement, in the upcoming election. The rally was organized by a group calling itself the Election Integrity Force, an opaque non-profit formed by concerned Michigan citizens in 2020. Speakers included Michigan State Representative Steve Carra from Three Rivers. Cara was endorsed by Trump and is seeking to primary US Representative Fred Upton, (St. Joseph), one of a select few congressional Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. Other state reps speaking at the event included Matt Maddock (Milford) and John Reilly (Oakland). Trump-endorsed candidate for state attorney general Matthew DePerno, former State Senator Patrick Colbeck, and Melissa Carone, a candidate for the Michigan State House of Representatives, also spoke. Carone briefly worked for Dominion Voting Systems and was the key witness in the Trump campaigns efforts to prove fraud in Michigan. However, her bizarre and lying testimony, given alongside Trumps personal lawyer and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, proved the opposite. Michigan is being led by a bunch of communists, Carone said at the rally. Thats (Governor Gretchen) Whitmer. Thats (Secretary of State Jocelyn) Benson. Thats (Attorney General Dana) Nessel. And if we dont get rid of them, were totally screwed. This is particularly sinister given the plot hatched by Michigan militia members, including some who stormed the state Capitol in April of 2020, to kidnap and likely murder Whitmer, which was exposed by the FBI and state authorities in early October of 2020. Fourteen men were arrested and jailed, six of whom were charged by the federal government and eight by state prosecutors. Republican gubernatorial candidates Garret Soldano and Ryan Kelley also attended the rally. Kelley, who has donated thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, organized the April 30, 2020 rally at the Capitol in Lansing and the Well-Regulated Militia American Patriot Council (APC) rally in Lansing on June 27, 2020 to protest coronavirus restrictions and government tyranny. He is one of the founders of the APC, which circulated a petition last year calling for the arrest of Whitmer, Nessel and Benson. At his June 27, 2020 event, Kelley invited militia members to openly carry weapons. William Null, a Wolverine Watchmen currently on trial in the kidnapping plot against Whitmer, was one of Kelleys guests. Kelley is on video participating in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He has yet to be charged or arrested for any of these crimes. In an interview with State News on Tuesday, Kelley claimed that the entire election was invalid, and called for a redo of the entire election in Michigan in a legal manner. At Tuesdays rally, the Trump-endorsed candidate for state attorney general, Matthew DePerno, vowed that if elected he would ensure elections are free of fraud and corruption. DePerno denounced mask mandates, crippling shutdowns and corrupt politicians. He promised to end all public health measures meant to stem the spread of the pandemic, as well as critical race theory. We need an army to fight, said DePerno. We love God, family and country. We wont sit back and let these Marxists and socialists dictate our lives. We need to fight back now. On Sunday, October 24, The World Socialist Web Site will host an online event featuring a panel of scientists, to explain how COVID-19 can be eradicated and the pandemic finally brought to an end. We urge all those concerned about the situation in New York to register today. *** Over the last month, New York University (NYU) and Columbia University, two of the largest universities in New York City, have experienced significant outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus among students, faculty, and staff. Hundreds of people at both universities have contracted COVID-19 as a result of the profit-driven decisions of administrators to hold in-person instruction amidst the Delta variant-fueled resurgence of the deadly pandemic. New York University (Credit: Flickr.com, Lars Kiesow) Despite a high vaccination rate at NYU, the number of coronavirus cases at the university has steadily increased since the beginning of the fall semester. According to NYUs weekly COVID-19 testing data, there have been at least 540 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the university community since August 30. This number is undoubtedly an underrepresentation of the true extent of the outbreak on campus. NYUs reported case numbers are based on the universitys voluntary testing program and COVID-19 tests administered outside of the university. These outside tests are only counted by NYU if they are reported by students and staff to the universitys COVID-19 Prevention & Response Team. The available data is an exposure of the fallacy of the universitys guidelines for a safe reopening. The universitys safety policies are nothing more than pseudo-scientific nonsense, based on the lie that vaccination and mask mandates alone can prevent infection and end the pandemic. The strategy of mitigation, promoted by the Democratic Party, ultimately has the same result as the herd immunity strategy promoted by the far-rightthe proliferation of COVID-19, dominated by the more transmissible and lethal Delta variant. NYU, with a student population of over 50,000, has abandoned any enforcement of social distancing inside and outside of NYU buildings and has eliminated its mandatory testing program for the vast majority of students, faculty and staff. Classes are being held at capacitysome with more than 100 students in attendanceand student-led organizations and clubs are allowed, even encouraged, to hold in-person events with dozens of attendees. The university has made little effort to warn students, faculty and staff of the extent of the outbreak on campus. Early findings in a study being conducted by chemistry professors at NYUs College of Arts and Sciences indicate that the quality of air circulation in NYU classrooms is not adequate for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Levels of carbon dioxide in classrooms have been found to be higher than what is recommended by experts. A deceptive public memo from September 21, written by NYU Provost Katherine Fleming, Executive Vice President Martin Dorph and the Executive Leader of the universitys COVID-19 Response Team boasted that in early-September, NYU administered nearly 3,500 tests and had a positivity rate of 1.39%. These results suggest that NYUs test positivity remains low (by way of comparison, NYCs rate is approximately 3%) and is in line with what we have seen at other universities. Data from the official New York City COVID dashboard completely contradicts the claim that infection transmission levels at NYU have ever been at an acceptable level. In fact, through the entire month of September, Manhattans infection levels never sank below 120 positive cases per 100,000 residents. This figure is well beyond the 100 out of 100,000 threshold of high community transmission outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) guidelines. Current COVID-19 case numbers in Greenwich Village and Soho neighborhoods, where NYUs main Washington Square campus is located, are roughly 105 per 100,000. These figures have remained above the high transmission threshold since July. Recent coverage in the Columbia Spectator, Columbias student-led publication, pointed to an outbreak of 112 positive cases on Columbias campus during the week of September 13a 100 percent increase from the week priorand 117 positive cases during the week of September 20. Criminally, Columbia does not make this cumulative data publicly available. The universitys public COVID-19 dashboard only reports COVID-19 tests administered by the university and leaves out positive cases, which community members must self-report, from outside testing facilities. Yet, administrators recently encouraged students to use outside testing facilities, due to long lines and delays in on-campus testing sites. While current numbers from New York Citys dashboard for Morningside Heights and the Upper West Side are above the CDCs substantial transmission threshold, Columbias COVID-19 alert level remains at low risk. As the outbreaks started to occur, the administration, which has relied only on vaccination and masking mandates as well as its limited testing regimen as its primary mitigation strategy, prepared to lay blame for the outbreaks on the students and their activities outside of the classroom. Dean of Undergraduate Student Life Cristen Kromm sent an email stating that testing and tracing indicates that the main cause is students socializing unmasked at gatherings in residence halls. Meanwhile, Senior vice president of Columbia Health Dr. Melanie Bernitz claimed, We were not seeing [transmission] in the classroom, and thats borne out by data and studies that weve seen, actually, in multiple settingsother universities, other classroom settings, even before vaccine mandatesso were really confident about that statement. The Spectator also reported that Columbia would shift away from an absolute prevention of infection policy, with Dr. Bernitz stating during a University Senate meeting, Its unrealistic to expect we will never have positive casesIts unlikely that we will eliminate every case, at least in the near future. This statement that students, faculty and staff must live with the constant spread of the virus, and the sickness and death that comes with it, received deserved backlash and opposition. In line with the universitys dropping of mitigation efforts, Columbia recently announced they will allow mask-less indoor dining at all dining halls on campus starting on October 13. Scott Wright, vice president for campus services, justified this with twisted logic. The longer we dont have dining rooms or events on campus, the more likely it is people will go off campus where its not a fully vaccinated community and that I worry about. The reckless and negligent policies being implemented by NYU and Columbia are being met with growing concern and opposition from students, faculty and staff. A recent Washington Square News (WSN) article titled, Packed classrooms provoke COVID concerns, cites students speaking out against the NYU administrations COVID-19 policies. NYU students reported the impossibility of socially-distancing under conditions in which classes were filled to capacity, as well as a lack of enforcement of masking mandates. Students bemoaned lecture halls with hundreds of seats and cramped classrooms being completely full. One student told WSN, I have a few classes that are in conference rooms... that arent even real classrooms and my professors have said how stressed they are about it because there is no ventilation because there are like 15 people in one small conference roomIts a room with a big circle table where everyone is sitting within an inch of each other. Ive had a lot of professors complain about it. In an extensive interview with the WSWS published last month, an NYU senior described his experience, noting, In my math class, in an auditorium that fits 50-60 people, there were 50-60 people in there. There were only four empty spaces in the entire auditorium. Everywhere else it was packed with students, shoulder to shoulder. I sat down and felt someone cough on my neck. I started to have a panic attack and had to leave because it reminded me of my experience contracting COVID. All I could think of was the loved ones I had lost to COVID and how the NYU administration is just so unconcerned about student health and more concerned about profit. He added, I dont think theres been one student that Ive spoken to who has been in favor of in-person classes. At Columbia, students pushed back against the admins narrative of blaming students for the outbreaks. Speaking to the Spectator, one student spoke of classes with hundreds of students packed into a tiny lecture hall, concluding that it just feels like maybe the burden is being put on the students rather than the University as a whole. Everyones here now. There are so many people, and it doesnt feel like their infrastructure for COVID testing and tracing and all that is necessarily able to handle that. It just feels like its not sustainable. You know, if there is an outbreak, it would spread really easily. It feels weird like how packed classrooms and dining halls and dorms are. So I guess the main concern is what are they going to do in the event of an actual crisis? Responding to Columbias new policy which accepts the continued spread of the virus, Joseph Howley, an associate professor of classics and University senator, spoke with the Spectator, saying, I immediately think of all of the ways in which it would still be catastrophic for me to contract this infection. I would pass it on to my unvaccinated children, or because someone else in my position might be even more vulnerable as a faculty member than I am. He also criticized the universitys lack of transparency when it comes to outbreaks, leaving many to ask, exactly what is the state on campus? One student worker and member of the Student Workers of Columbia, who are fighting for improved working and living conditions, told the Spectator, It absolutely seems like implicitly, they have decided that we are all just expendable. And if we get COVID, we get COVID. The situations at NYU and Columbia are not unique. Both universities, run by boards of multi-millionaires and billionaires and strongly tied to Wall Street and the state, represent the broader subordination of academia to the profit interests of the ruling class. Academic institutions around the world have sacrificed the health and lives of students and staff to fill their coffers. Duke University, where 98 percent of students and 92 percent of faculty are vaccinated, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and numerous other schools have reported hundreds of new cases since fully reopening. Last week, the University of Michigan even refused to cancel classes despite the threat of a mass shooting. The reopening of universities is part of the larger, homicidal campaign by the ruling class in the US and internationally to fully restart the production of profits by herding children into unsafe schools and workers into COVID-infested factories and workplaces. In the US, this policy, spearheaded by both the Democratic and Republican parties, has killed over 730,000 people and destroyed the health of millions. In New York City there is currently a massive cover-up of COVID infections in K-12 schools, and the administration is determined to keep the schools running fully in-person no matter the cost to the lives of children. Students and workers in New York City looking for a scientific alternative to the policies of continued sickness and death should get involved with the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the New York City Educators Rank-and-file Safety Committee, and register to attend the critical October 24 meeting How to end the pandemic: The case for eradication. On Monday, the Washington Post published an editorial reviving the discredited claim that COVID-19 is a biologically engineered virus created in China by the worlds leading coronavirus researchers, Shi Zhengli and Dr. Peter Daszak, with funding by the National Institutes of Health under Dr. Anthony Fauci. According to this libel, the genetically engineered virus was accidentally released from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and the event was covered up through a conspiracy of the Chinese government and all reputable scientific authorities, who allegedly colluded to dismiss the lab leak theory. A view of the P4 lab inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology is seen after a visit by the World Health Organization team in Wuhan in Chinas Hubei province on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) There is not a word in this editorial (To prevent the next pandemic, we must find the source of covid-19. Chinas stonewalling is unacceptable) that has not been repeatedly disproven by scientists, international bodies and even the US government itself. The Wuhan lab lie is motivated not by science but geopolitics. As the United States, Australia and the UK move to provoke a military showdown with China over Taiwan, the purpose of this torrent of lies is to demonize China and the Chinese people and to scapegoat them for a disease that has killed over one million Americans, according to IHME projections. One cannot shake the suspicion that the Posts defamatory rant was given the imprimatur of the editorial board to save its authors the shame of having it published under their names. The Post ignores every single piece of information that disproves its narrative, while taking massive leaps of faithin which the claim that something may have happened is presented as evidence that it did happento back up the lab-leak canard. To this end, the Post proclaims that scientists looking for the natural origins of the pandemic have come up empty-handed. This is refuted by recent breakthroughs, including the discovery of bat coronaviruses with binding domains that are closer to the wild type of COVID-19 than the Delta variant is. In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 declared the lab leak narrative highly unlikely and stated it was not worth further research. After the Biden White House ordered the US intelligence agencies to review the theory, four out of five agencies concluded that COVID-19 was not genetically engineered. The Post simply ignores these conclusions, declaring that the reports raised more questions than they answered. The shameless, defamatory libels go on and on. The Post cites, and links to, the discredited April 14, 2020, column by Josh Rogin that misinterpreted a State Department cable, which, upon its release led the Post itself to declare, The full cable does not strengthen the claim that an accident at the lab caused the virus to escape. The Post only hints at its real motives in the final paragraph. The editorial concludes, No investigation will succeed as long as Chinas doors remain shut. The key to decoding these cryptic statements is supplied in an editorial published by the Post less than 24 hours later, entitled How the US government can deter Chinas threat in Taiwan. The editorial is the most open call for a military conflict with China to date by any newspaper that nominally opposes Donald Trump. It calls for a massive build-up of the US military, on top of the hundreds of billions of dollars added to the defence budget under Trump, declaring that the US must back up its threats against China over Taiwan in terms of military deterrence. The Post praises the fact that the United States has sold $750 million worth of artillery to Taiwan and continued a deployment of Marine trainers to the island begun under President Donald Trump. The moves praised by the Post have brought East Asia to the brink of war, pushing for the Taiwanese government to move toward formal independence from China and provoke Beijing into military conflict. The aggressive destabilization of the Asia Pacific region is entirely the work of Washington, and the Post is egging this on. It continues, The United States itself needs to invest more heavily in the hard-power assetsespecially naval forcesrequired to back up its commitments in East Asia. The editorial condemns the military budget requested by the Biden administrationthe largest in historyas totally inadequate, declaring that new ships ... might impress China more than even the sternest words. In other words, the Post, which falsely claims that China is responsible for a deadly pandemic that has killed one million Americans, is also openly advocating that the United States prepare to fight a war with China. Left: Students at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (AP Photo/Heng Sinith); RIght: An autoworker in Dearborn, Michigan (Ford Media) The aim of the Post is to corrupt public opinion, to make the people hate, through the promotion of a lie that can be used to justify a war. The military and political campaign against China is motivated by two factors. There is, first of all, the geopolitical imperatives of American imperialism, along with its allies in the UK and Australia. The American ruling class sees China as a principal threat to its global hegemony. Secondly, and no less important, the ruling elite is desperately attempting to contain a mounting domestic crisis through the creation of an external enemy, that is, to manufacture an artificial national unity military aggression and, what will inevitably follow, domestic suppression. The Washington Post, like the New York Times, is an organ of American imperialism. What appears on its pages is carefully reviewed and coordinated with the US intelligence agencies, if not directly written by them. Its their job to sell war. The financial oligarchy for which the Post speaks, including the newspapers owner, Jeff Bezos, is deeply disoriented by cascading financial, economic and political crises. They are enthralled by the desperate idea that the solution to Americas domestic problems is a war. In the normal course of events, history punishes ruling classes that take such disastrous measures with revolutions. But a war between the United States and China would be the first world war fought with nuclear weapons on both sides. There is an immense danger that, before the working class could be mobilized to stop the war, the death toll could be in the millions. Urgent action is required now. Workers in the United States are entering into the most significant wave of strikes and struggles in decades. It is necessary for workers to take up the demand not only for decent wages and safe working conditions, but for a struggle against all forms of jingoism, nationalism and xenophobia, and for the international unity of the working class against war and the capitalist system. Coronavirus deaths in Russia are reaching all-time highs, as the federal government does nothing to control the pandemic. Over 970 people died in the country on Tuesday, surpassing the worst moments of the 2021 winter peak. According to the government agency Rosstat, 418,000 Russian citizens have now perished from COVID-19. The real numbers, however, are widely considered to be far higher. Ambulances with patients suspected of having coronavirus stand near a hospital in Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia on October 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) According to the latest numbers from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), Russia experienced a staggering 71.6 percent increase in mortality over the past 12 months, driven above all by the high mortality from COVID-19. Overall, between September 2020 and August 2021, 2.36 million people died in Russia, while only 1.4 million children were born. The natural population decline has now reached dimensions unseen in the country outside of war times. Meanwhile, daily confirmed cases continue to climb, and had reached more than 28,000 a day as of Tuesday. Nationwide, there has been a 16 percent increase in infections over the last seven days, and in 11 regions of the country that number is 30 percent. On October 12, the Ministry of Health said the situation was worst in Orenburg, Bashkortostan, and Tatarstan, which are east of Moscow and north of the border with Kazakhstan, respectively. Other areas are also being extremely hard hit. The republic of Mari El declared that it has no more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, as did the city of Chelyabinsk. Hospitals in the Komi republic are 90 percent full, and in Vologda oblast 97 percent. In Voronezh, a local chemical plant has suspended its tests of jet rockets in order to furnish the regions hospitals with oxygen. It delivered 42 tons of the life-saving resource to medical facilities last week alone. Still, more supplies are being shipped into the region. Three hundred and ten doctors and 800 medical personnel have been dispatched to Adiga, and another 780 hospital beds brought online. But health officials are warning that even this may not be enough to handle the surge. According to the head of Russias consumer protection agency, 605 schools in 25 regions and 117 childcare facilities in 22 regions are shuttered due to outbreaks. It is clear, however, when one reads local news outlets that these numbers are much higher. The latest spike in cases and deaths followed by two weeks the nationwide reopening of schools in early September. The country does not report child COVID deaths, intentionally hiding the toll on the young. Denis Protsenko, the head of Moscows central infectious disease hospital, Kommunarka, said on Tuesday that the surge is the anticipated outcome of the restart of the school year, with kids contracting the virus and bringing it home to adults in their households. He also added that his facility is filling with patients and its ICU is stretched. With both the federal government and regional authorities unwilling to impose a lockdown, officials in hard hit areas are imposing rules requiring proof of vaccination, prior infection, or a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter everything from cafes to museums to stores to educational institutions. In some areas, such as Saint Petersburg, they have set target vaccination rates for certain sectors of the workforcepublic employees, service workers, educators, and those working in critical industries. Others regions currently being swamped by the virussuch as Sverdlovsk, Karelia, Novosibirskare taking similar measures. However in Russias two largest cities, Saint Petersburg and Moscow, coronavirus restrictions are essentially non-existent and mask mandates are poorly enforced, if at all. The patchwork of limited efforts that vary from one place to the next cannot stem the tide of the spreading Delta variant, which can rip through even highly-vaccinated populations unless other essential public health measures are imposed. In Russia, just 29 percent of the population has received the two shots necessary to be considered fully vaccinated, despite the fact that supplies are abundant there. A total of only 33 percent have gotten at least one shot, a sign that the rate of those initiating vaccination remains very low. Nonetheless, the Kremlin has made clear that it will do nothing else. On Tuesday, speaking to deputies of the Russian Duma, President Vladimir Putin made a pathetic appeal to the countrys parliamentary representatives to speak on mass media in support of vaccination. People believe you and listen to your advice and recommendations. The countrys extremely low vaccination rate demonstrates the preposterousness of this claim. Lockdowns, along with other stringent measures, are absolutely essential in order to contain and eradicate the virus. But just as this approach has been abandoned in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere around the globe, so too has it been ruled out by the Russian ruling class. Elites everywhere view it as an intolerable limit on profit-making, both in terms of the extraction of surplus value from the working class and the cost of sustaining the population through the economic impact of the closure of all but essential workplaces. Writing in response to an article in The Penza Post about the regions appeal by its health minister for people to stay home and away from social areas with concentrations of people, one reader replied, And is work a social area? And is the bus a social area? If everything is so bad, then close enterprises, pay people money, and then they will stay home. On Sunday, October 24, The World Socialist Web Site will host an online event featuring a panel scientists, to explain how COVID-19 can be eradicated and the pandemic finally brought to an end. Register today. *** The latest American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report shows that 22 children died from COVID-19 across the US during the week ending October 7, bringing the countrys official pediatric death toll to 542 since May 2020. Coinciding with the bipartisan push to fully reopen schools this fall, 164 children have died from COVID-19 over the past two months alone, with an average of 20 child deaths each week or roughly three each day. The AAP report notes that last week there were 148,222 official COVID-19 infections among children in the US, a slight decline from the previous week but still as high as during the major surge of infections last winter. A closer look at the data shows that the only significant decline in cases occurred in the South, where cases dropped from an estimated 75,000 to 50,000 cases, still horrifically high numbers. PS 245 elementary school in New York City, September 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Ongoing infection in children has had devastating reverberations for families, including child deaths as well as hospitalizations and deaths among family members. A recent study revealed that an estimated 140,000 children in the US have lost a caregiver to COVID-19 since the pandemic began, while the global figure stands at more than 1.56 million. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there is currently a seven-day average of 188 new pediatric hospitalizations for COVID-19 every day across the US. Additionally, in recent months there has been an acceleration of pediatric hospitalizations for Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C), a condition which causes major inflammation of different parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs, and usually appears six to eight weeks after initial COVID-19 infection. The CDC reports that there have been 1,217 cases of MIS-C since June 2, raising the total number of cases to 5,217 since May 2020. To date, there have been 46 reported MIS-C deaths. Doctors have been warning about an increase in MIS-C cases following the ongoing explosion of infections among children since the summer months and in particular after schools fully reopened. Between July and August, the number of daily MIS-C cases nearly doubled, according to CDC data. The official figures make clear the immense impact of COVID-19 on children, but they are undoubtedly a significant undercount. There are entire states that either do not report age distribution of cases, hospitalizations, or deaths, or have changed the parameters of their reporting, effectively downplaying the impacts of the virus on children. According to the AAP, Texas, Alabama and Nebraska recently stopped reporting child COVID-19 cases in their state data. Michigan, Montana, New York (excluding New York City), Rhode Island, Utah and West Virginia do not report the age distribution of deaths in their state data. Any child deaths that have occurred in these states are not included in the AAP cumulative death toll. Added to the lack of systematic reporting of COVID-19 data among children across the US, there is no robust testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases among youth or real contact tracing measures to identify cases and the breadth of community spread. Children under 13 years old are still not eligible for vaccination, presenting immense dangers for millions of children who have been herded back into classrooms with no real protections in place and under conditions of high community spread. Attempts by the Biden administration, state officials, the unions, and the mainstream media to assuage real concerns of parents fearful of their children contracting COVID-19 by promoting the roll-out of a vaccine as early as next month come too little too late. If an emergency vaccine is available a month from now, children will not be fully vaccinated until weeks later, at which point over 100 more children will have died from COVID-19 and hundreds of thousands more will have been infected. The impact of school reopenings has been most disastrous in the South, where herd immunity advocates have entirely scrapped mitigation measures such as masks, while opposing vaccine mandates. The region accounts for 14 of the 22 child deaths from COVID-19 in the latest APP report. In Tennessee, there were three reported child deaths this past week alone. Local news reports show at least 23 school employees have died in the state since August when schools began reopening. Data from the Tennessee Department of Health shows there were approximately 5,000 more COVID-19 infections in August and September than the four-month previous winter surge among Tennessee residents age 20 or under. In neighboring Georgia, more than 30 school employees have died of COVID-19 since the start of the school year in July. In Florida, the reopening of schools has been catastrophic. Florida Education Associations Safe Schools Report notes that 24 children and 102 school employees have died from COVID-19 since July alone. The Florida Department of Public Health has logged 209,535 cases among children since August 1. Texas has reported an astonishing 88 total child deaths since May 2020, the highest number of any state. At least nine child deaths have been reported since late September. On October 6, 16-year-old George Moralez, a student at Connally High School in Waco, Texas, died from COVID-19. He became the fourth person to die from the virus in the school district since the school year began in August. On October 1, Richardson Independent School District in Richardson, Texas confirmed that Berkner High School junior Shanya Maggie and Christa McAuliffe Learning Center teacher Eroretta Piashik both died from COVID-19. In Democrat-led districts and states that reopened with promises that limited mitigation measures would prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, the reality is that hundreds of thousands of children have been infected this semester. Even these measures are being rolled back as cases steadily rise. Significantly, the APP report noted that there were 45,000 COVID-19 cases among children in the Midwest last week, over 17,000 in the Northeast and over 37,000 on the West Coast, parts of the country largely run by the Democratic Party. In New York City, the largest school district in the country with roughly 1.1 million students, 4,335 students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since schools reopened September 13. This figure is known to be a vast undercount, as only 10 percent of the New York City student body is tested once per week. Although a City Council hearing in October revealed a coordinated cover-up by the administration of Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Department of Education has still not revealed the exact enrollment for this school year because they fear exposing the large number of parents who are refusing to send their children into unsafe schools. The explosion of cases and deaths among children in recent months corresponds directly to the full reopening of schools and has fueled growing opposition among parents, educators and students in the US and internationally. On October 1, a global school strike initiated by British parent Lisa Diaz was met with a huge international response, prompting her to issue a call for a second global school strike to be held this Friday, October 15. Over the course of the pandemic, educators and parents have formed rank-and-file committees across the US and globally in opposition to the deadly reopening of schools. These committees, affiliated with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), are fighting to close schools and nonessential workplaces as part of a broader strategy aimed at the eradication of COVID-19. This must be combined with the combined deployment of all public health measures, including mass testing, contact tracing, the isolation of infected patients, masking, a globally-coordinated vaccination program, and more. Over the coming week, rank-and-file committee meetings will be held in the South, on the West Coast, and in New York City, Pennsylvania and Michigan to build awareness of and interest in the upcoming October 24 webinar hosted by the IWA-RFC and the WSWS, How to end the pandemic: The case for eradication. All educators, parents and workers who seek to end the pandemic and save lives should take part in these committee meetings, register to attend the October 24 event and build for it as widely as possible. Parents, educators and other workers have sent in messages of support for the global school strike being held on Friday. The strike was called by Lisa Diaz, a parent of two children from Wigan in the northwest of England. Lisa, a member of the SafeEdforAll (Safe Education for All) campaign group, called the first global school strike on October 1. That strike, supported by the WSWS, won support internationally from parents, educators and other workers. Thousands registered their support on social media, with many making short videos and sharing hashtags for the event. Deaths of children due to COVID continue to increase due to the Conservative governments stay in school policy. Today, October 14, SafeEdforAll are calling for participation in an online vigil for all the forgotten children who have lost their lives to Covid. The vigil, beginning 8.00pm GMT, was called by @hivetosurvive, a Collaboration Network, supporting and campaigning for ALL affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa posted a video in support of the vigil stating, Across the UK and throughout the world children are dying of COVID. Since the pandemic began 94 children have lost their lives to COVID in the UK alone. Eleven children have died since the schools have gone back. In the United States theres an average of three children dying every single day. In Brazil COVID is the leading cause of child death. In Indonesia 700 children lost their lives to COVID in July alone. These children are completely forgotten about. They are not talked about in the media. The reality that children are dying of COVID, that they do get sick, that they do get Long COVID is just pushed under the rug. Its just swept away. Because the truth is too painful, and it is too inconvenient. The governments would have to take action if people knew the true extent, the death, the pain that COVID is causing. So, as an initiative from The Hive, which is one of the groups which I work with, Nikki came up with the idea and I think its an absolutely wonderful idea, that these children are not forgotten. On Thursday 14th of October, were going to hold a vigil for these children, both in the UK but across the world. So, at 8 oclock [20:00 UK time], if you could light a candle and film it on either Twitter live or a pre-recorded video for 2 minutes in memory and in remembrance to all the children who have lost their lives to COVID. There is no greater burden. You would never, ever get over the death of a child. And yet they are forgotten about. So, a vigil on Thursday the 14th of October, a 2-minute silence with a candle showing. If you could have the hashtag #child and then a broken heart and also #UK and a broken heart emoji. Thanks so much. The vigil and school strikes are expressions of growing working class opposition to the homicidal policy of keeping unsafe schools open in the middle of a pandemic. They take place as the details of another tragic death of a child due to COVID were made public. An inquest being held into the death of a 12-year-old girl, Fabiana Zoppelli, heard this week that she died in June 2020, just six days after developing a minor cough. Fabiana Zoppelli began coughing on June 1, 2020 and fell ill. She was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital and tested positive for coronavirus. On June 3, after the schoolgirl developed a rash and started vomiting, her mother, Itohan Ehiggie, phoned a doctor and Fabiana was taken to the A&E department at the Royal Oldham Hospital. Fabianas health worsened, and she was referred to Manchester Childrens Hospital. On June 7, the girl, who had a rare genetic disorder, floating-harbor syndrome, had a cardiac arrest and died. Fabiana passed away as she was leaving Manchester Childrens Hospital on a mobile ventilator to be taken to Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool where she was to be treated on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. Fabiana Zoppelli (Credit: Faces Of Covid 19/Facebook) The death of Fabiana and many others gives the lie to the propaganda of governments, parroted by the media, that COVID is not really a danger to children who can expect to have only a mild reaction. Kathryn, a WSWS reader in Australia said, What you are leading and doing Lisa is vitally important. You are taking a stand against the murderous policy of herd immunity the UK government and every government around the world has adopted. And standing up for working class children, to protect their future. I dont have children of my own but if I did, I would join the strike and keep them home from school. I applaud you and support you 100 percent and encourage every parent and child in every country to join the strike on the 15th October. I wish you every success. Karin Hilpisch wrote to the WSWS, Im a retired social worker in Germany, and I wish to express my unconditional and unequivocal support of the UK school strike called for by Lisa Diaz. In the face of the governments herd immunity policy, principled non-cooperation is an act of self-defence of the working class in a matter of life and death. The situation in Germany is essentially no better than in the UK. As long as schools remain unsafe, children must have access to remote learning by default, and working parents who need to stay at home with their kids must be given full financial compensation. The school strike is an important part of workers increasing opposition to being made to pay, in a number of ways, for the pandemic by the ruling class via intensified exploitation leading to maximized profits. Peter Bentley, a retired teacher and former official of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, said, I write in support of those parents who are refusing to send their children to school on Friday, 15th October. The Tory Government has failed to protect the population from Covid and, in particular, it has ignored the issue of making schools safe from Covid. Peter Bentley and his daughter Lisa Diaz This is the sequence of events: [Prime Minister Boris] Johnson appointed [his main advisor Dominic] Cummings. Cummings called for weirdos and misfits to apply for advisers jobs. He appointed Andrew Sabisky who was (and, presumably, still is) an advocate of Hitlers Untermenscha blanket label for Subhumans, for non-Aryan inferior peoplethe Jews, Roma and Slavs, (Russians, Poles and Serbs, etc.), Mulatto and Black People, the physically and mentally disabled. All were to be exterminated in the Holocaust. Sabiskys so-called herd immunity was the policy embraced by the Johnson Government. Care homes were denied Personal Protective Equipment. Patients and staff died of Covid. The old were abandoned because they were going to die soon anyway. Even the respectable press exposed Sabisky, so he was sackedalas too late! Profit before people Johnson sacked Cummings thanks to the persuasion of Carrie, his partner, then wife. Alas, too late to save the lives of the elderly in Care Homes! All we need to know about any form of Covid is that it kills! That is sufficient information to implement measures to assist the people of every country in the world, regardless of its form of government and its geographical location. And why the necessity for strike action? To inform and, hopefully to effect change! More recently, 11 children died of Covid in September alone; this was absolutely preventable. 1 in 7 who catch Covid will have debilitating symptoms 15 weeks later. Contrary to scientific evidence, Covid-deniers still claim that children do not catch Covid, that they cannot pass on Covid to others and so on. We cannot sit around and wait for politicians to have meetings whilst our children get sick and die. Nothing is being done to make schools safe. Sadly, the Labour Party, despite Keirs [leader Sir Keir Starmers] ritual jousting in Parliament, has done little to advocate protective measures to counter the Tory Partys murderous policies. We urge the widest support for the school strike. Follow Lisa Diaz on Twitter: @Sandyboots2020. Send messages of support for Fridays strike to the WSWS here. Messages of solidarity on Twitter should be sent using the hashtag #SchoolStrike2021 and should tag the World Socialist Web Site (@WSWS_Updates). All those participating in the school strike should attend the October 24 webinar How to end the Pandemic: The case for Eradication called by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. Around 25,000 health workers, including in Sri Lankas war-ravaged north and east, struck work last Friday for five hours from morning to noon, demanding the reinstatement of a special COVID-19 monthly allowance. This strike followed a lunchtime protest on September 22 and a countrywide health workers strike on September 27, mainly on the same demand. Nurses from Kalubovila hospital in Colombo picketing (Photo: Facebook/GNOA) Striking health workers from National Hospitals in Colombo and Kandy, Colombo South Hospital in Kalubowila, Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, and other hospitals, including Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Gampola, Maligawatte, Avissawella and Muthur in Eastern Province, joined picket lines in front of their hospitals. They displayed placards of their demands and chanted slogans for around an hour before returning to work. The government stopped the pandemic allowance from September, after providing it for three months. Health workers had been involved in countrywide struggles, including protests and a strike on June 11, demanding a special allowance equal to 78 percent of their basic salary, due to unsafe conditions and heavy workloads in the pandemic. The trade unions betrayed the campaign by agreeing to a 7,500-rupee ($US37) allowance, just one fifth of the workers demand. Other demands of the health workers, raised in Fridays strike, include adequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe transport to and from workplaces, special leave for workers with increased workloads due to the pandemic, the filling of vacancies, and overtime and holiday payments for work performed without limitations. Nurses, attendants, paramedics, office staff and junior staff took part in the industrial action, defying President Gotabhaya Rajapakses draconian essential services law, which threatens jail terms up to five years for participation in such stoppages. Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara had threatened severe actions against strikers, referring to the October 6 countrywide demonstrations of schoolteachers, who have been on an online teaching strike for three months demanding a wage rise. Hospital workers from Karapitiya hospital in the south picketing (Photo: Facebook/GNOA) The industrial action was not held in all hospitals. Health workers expressed their disgust at the unions poor organisation of the strike. In some hospitals, health workers said they were not informed about the strike at all. A junior staff member at Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama told the WSWS: The unions were compelled to call the strike due to workers pressure. They did that with reluctance and their real objective is to liquidate the struggle. The Health Sector Union Collective (HSUC), an alliance of 44 health unions covering nurses, paramedics, junior staff and office staff, called the strike. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU), which openly backs the government, did not support the strike. PSUNU leader and Buddhist monk Muruthettuwe Ananda personally intervened in some hospitals, demanding that workers not join the strike, bogusly claiming that the government had promised to fulfill their demands. PSUNU members had defied his orders and joined the last strike on September 27. The trade unions, including those in the HSUC, have been isolating the health workers struggle from other sections of workers and driving it to the blind alley of trying to pressure the government and health authorities. Nurses picketing in front of Muthur hospital in the eastern province (Photo: Facebook/GNOA) Saman Ratnapriya, the leader of the Government Nursing Officers Union (GNOU), a key member of the HSUC, told a media conference during the strike that the sole target was to obtain a discussion with the government. If the government did not convene a discussion, the unions would intensify their pressure, he said. Asked what the HSUC would do if there were no solution to the strike, he said: Some struggles are dragging like this. In fact, the health workers demands have been dragging for years already, with the unions repeatedly selling them out on the basis of the governments empty promises. Striking health workers expressed their disgust during discussions with members of the Health Workers Action Committee (HWAC), established at the initiative of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP). A nurse from Kandy Hospital said: Even though I support the strike, I have no hope this fight will win. The government has cut six billion rupees from the health budget for next year. They are going to cut the remaining allowances. All essentials are skyrocketing. Trade unions rip off 250 rupees from our monthly salaries. We should have an alternative. Another Kandy Hospital nurse said: We cannot depend on these bankrupt trade union struggles. What I see is that uniting trade unions as one organisation is not a viable task. Even this time, some government-inclined trade unions did not support the strike. Hence I accept that independent action committees are the form we should take forward. Health workers from Gampola hospital picketing (Photo: WSWS media) A junior staff worker from Gampola Hospital said: The trade unions are dividing the workers and these divisions serve the purpose of the government. I agree that we have to establish unity not only among ourselves as health workers but also with striking teachers and the rest of the working class to win the struggle. HWAC members distributed a statement titled: Let us unite our struggle with other workers struggles and take it forward with a socialist program!, among striking workers at the hospitals in Kandy, Gampola and Maharagama. The statement explained the importance of uniting the health workers across the grades and uniting with the other workers struggles, as the working class confronted the government onslaught as a whole. The HWAC statement pointed out how the experience of previous union actions showed that health workers burning issues could not be solved by trying to apply pressure to governments. It explained that the Rajapakse government, amid the economic, political and social crisis intensified by the pandemic, was working to boost big business profits by carrying out massive attacks on the living conditions of the working class and oppressed masses, and strengthening state repression against their struggles. Health workers from Badulla hospital picketing (Photo: Facebook/GNOA) The statement concluded: Under these conditions, the HWAC insists that there is no other alternative for workers than winning their rights by going forward to the establishment of a workers and peasants government, which will implement socialist policies, overthrowing bourgeois rule. This government, which will be established as a part of a union of socialist republics internationally, will nationalise the giant banks, factories and plantations under workers control and jointly fight with the international working class to reorganise the global economy to fulfill human needs rather than capitalist profit interests. As the unions, which are closely bound to the capitalist system, are utterly hostile to this program, the statement called on all workers, including health employees, to break from the unions and build rank-and-file committees as organisations through which they can take decisions democratically and take forward the struggles on that program. Explaining the need to build such committees at all hospitals and health care centres, cutting across grade divisions, the statement said: We insist that this struggle against international finance capital cannot be won without a unified struggle with millions of international workers who face similar attacks and have also come to similar struggles. That is why we are fighting for an International Workers' Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. Following Septembers general election, the ruling class is aggressively pushing forward its policy of mass infection that has already cost the lives of more than 94,000 people in Germany. Despite new infections continuing at a high level of about 8,000 per day on average, and virologists warning of a severe wave this autumn and winter, the federal and state governments are eliminating even the last protective measures against COVID-19. Significant steps are the ending of free coronavirus tests beginning this week and the reopening of universities in the winter semester of 2021/22. Students at the University of Michigan strike against a return to face-to-face teaching amid the pandemic on Sept. 11, 2020 (Photo: WSWS) Officially, the reason given for abolishing free tests is to increase vaccination rates by putting pressure on the unvaccinated. In fact, this does not increase the vaccination rate, but rather systematically dismantles the infrastructure for combating the virus. A large number of testing centres across the country are now closing. The detection and tracing of infections are thus made more difficult and the ground is being prepared for the massive spread of the virus. On Monday, the Marburger Bund doctors union warned of new chains of infection developing because of the abolition of free coronavirus tests. Paid coronavirus tests will lead to fewer people with symptoms getting tested in the future, union President Susanne Johna told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). This is a gateway for further transmission of the virus. The reopening of universities is also particularly threatening in this context. Just like the reopening of schools before, the return of nearly 3 million students to German universities will not be accompanied by increased safety measures. On the contrary, they will be further reduced. The specific regulations differ in detail from state to state and from university to university. However, the majority of courses are being held in person everywhere. At the universities where online options are still offered, these are only intended to supplement face-to-face courses. Compulsory testing applies only in the form of the inadequate 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19, tested) which, with the abolition of free tests, also represents a heavy financial burden for students. Distancing rules apply only at some universities, and even there it is almost impossible to comply with them. Even the requirement to wear a mask does not apply at most universities. The situation is particularly deadly due to the lack of air filtration. Exact figures on how many rooms are equipped with air filters often do not exist. In addition, facilities exist that are not designed to reduce viral loads. Hardly any universities provide information on whether and how many more new filters are to be installed. A few days ago, process engineer Lutz Bohm of the Technical University (TU) of Berlin warned of the potentially deadly consequences. In a tweet, he explained, If in-person attendance is (politically) wanted for a semester, the absolute minimum is that the ventilation works, especially in rooms without windows. Anything less potentially puts students and faculty in mortal danger. He refers to studies by aerosol researchers at the TU Berlin. Martin Kriegel, head of the TUs Hermann Rietschel Institute and an expert on indoor health, explained in an FAQ on aerosols and coronavirus that simple ventilation is not enough. What is needed, he said, are filtration systems with HEPA filters, as well as CO2 traffic lights that give a realistic impression of the actual air quality. Among other things, the return to normalcy at the universities is justified by the allegedly high vaccination rate among students. This is a dangerous sham in two respects. On the one hand, the vaccination rate of 71.1 percent in the 18 to 59 age group is comparatively low. Secondly, figures from the US show that even a very high vaccination rate does not prevent the spread of the virus. At Duke University in North Carolina, where 98 percent of students and 92 percent of all faculty have been vaccinated, 365 people became infected in one week. At the University of California, Berkeley, the vaccination rate is 97 percent. Despite this, the rate of those testing positive rose from 0.5 to 5.8 percent in one week. In Germany, reports of infection breaking through the vaccine are mounting, with sometimes fatal consequences. A total of 67,661 vaccine breakthroughs have already been reported. According to the Robert Koch Institutes (RKI) latest weekly report, 28.4 percent of all symptomatic infections in the 18- to 59-year-old age group represent vaccine breakthroughs. Fatal outcomes are not ruled out. Last week, seven employees and 18 residents, all of whom were fully vaccinated, became infected at a nursing home in Zell. Seven residents died. The murderous policy of mass infection, which is supported and pushed by all parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament), goes hand in hand with vicious social attacks. With the reopening of universities, financial support for students is also dropping off. Until the end of September, students could still apply for up to 500 in grants per month. The aid was completely inadequate from the start, and a calculated fraud that excluded many students from the outset. The fact that a total of 619,200 applications were nevertheless submitted shows how much students depend on such support payments. In addition, 50,000 student loans of up to 650 were issued during the pandemic. These must be repaid in full. With the end of these measures, hundreds of thousands of studentsin addition to the unsafe conditions in their educationwill be forced to work in jobs under unsafe conditions as well, risking their health and their lives. Resistance to this profits before lives policy is growing around the world. Lisa Diaz, a mother from the UK, called for a school strike on October 1. Worldwide, the strike was supported by thousands of students, teachers and parents. Diaz is now calling for more school strikes this Friday and all other Fridays. Protests are developing internationally against unsafe learning and working conditions. This movement needs a clear perspective and strategy. The whole experience of the pandemic shows that the fight against the virus depends upon building an independent movement of the international working class. On October 24, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are organizing an online webinar with leading scientists and epidemiologists to explain the urgent need for policies to eradicate COVID-19. Register here and also inform friends, classmates, and co-workers about this important event. A revealing article in the New York Times last month gave some insight into the way in which US corporations dictate the conditions under which the lives of workers around the globe are sacrificed for capitalist profit. Garment workers in Vietnam [Credit: Chau Doan/United Nations Industrial Development Organization] Retailers Latest Headache: Shutdowns at Their Vietnamese Suppliers, by Sapna Maheshwari and Patricia Cohen, published on September 29, details how COVID shutdowns in the Southeast Asian country are affecting apparel and footwear supplies to US retailers as they head into their all-important holiday season. Vietnam is the second-biggest supplier of apparel and footwear to the US after China. The pandemic, however, has forced many Vietnamese factories to close or operate at reduced capacity. American firms are facing disruptions of supplies, along with higher prices from shortages, labour restrictions and skyrocketing shipping costs. One US retailer, Everlane, told the Times it was facing delays of four to eight weeks, depending on when factories it worked with in Vietnam had closed. Nike cut its sales forecast last month, citing the loss of 10 weeks of production since mid-July. Vietnam supplies 40 percent of Everlanes stocks, along with brands such as Gap and Old Navy, while the countrys contract factories manufactured 51 percent of Nikes footwear last year. Acutely concerned about the threat to profits, US businesses are ramping up political pressure in both Washington and Vietnam. Executives from 90 companies, including Nike and Fruit of the Loom, wrote to the Biden administration in August to accelerate vaccine donations, saying that the health of our industry is directly dependent on the health of Vietnams industry. The apparel industry employs about three million workers in the US. Steve Lamar, president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association told the Times some US companies had been setting up vaccination sites at their Vietnam suppliers to help administer COVID shots. They were, he openly admitted, trying to keep manufacturing going through a three-in-one place policy, where workers eat, sleep and work at factories [emphasis added]. Put bluntly, highly exploited Vietnamese sweatshop workers are being effectively imprisoned by the profit demands of US corporates. Jason Chen, owner of the Singtex garment factory, said: This year in the USA, everybody wants to go shopping. Some goods cannot be delivered in the right time. So it really will affect the holiday. The companys 350-person factory in Binh Duong Province is operating with 80 people who live permanently on the premises, which is allowed by the government in a bid to minimize the hit to exports. Throughout 2020, the Vietnamese government successfully kept infection rates low through a preventative public health strategy prioritizing contract tracing and targeted quarantine measures. Early in the pandemic, Vietnam remained mostly open, allowing the economy to function. Computer chip manufacturer Intel and others increased production by up to 30 percent in the first half of 2020. With the arrival of the Delta variant last April, new case numbers surged, with a single day record of 9,684 cases on August 8. Ho Chi Minh City and 18 southern provinces went into lockdown in mid-July. The provision of components to global supply chains was severely disrupted. Samsung was forced to cut back production while Apples new iPhone 13 is facing longer-than-expected delivery times due to constrained supplies of camera modules from the manufacturing facility in southern Vietnam. The trade ministry has warned that Vietnam risks losing overseas customers because of shuttered factories. In three months, the virus has infected 770,000 people and killed over 20,000. While daily case numbers have trended downward since their peak of over 14,000 in late August, on October 10 there were still 3,528 new cases registered, with the 7-day average running at 4,441. To date, the country has registered a total of 840,000 cases and 20,555 deaths Only 9.3 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, with short supply blamed for the delay. About 80 percent of fatalities and half of all infections have occurred in Ho Chi Minh City, a metropolis of 10 million people. Overwhelmed hospitals and food shortages highlight an emerging social disaster. The Ho Chi Minh City lockdown was lifted at the end of September. The Stalinist Communist Party government is now trying to speed up vaccinations and reopen the country with priority for big cities, vulnerable locations and industrial zones. More people are able to leave their homes, restaurants can serve take-away meals and other businesses have opened. Migrant workers have fled to their home provinces in a mass exodus, in a desperate bid to escape the gathering crisis. Amid growing imperialist pressure on Vietnam to drop restrictions, US Vice President Kamala Harris visited Vietnam in August. While the focus of her tour was to intensify Washingtons confrontation with Beijing, Harris promised the US would send an additional one million vaccine doses to Vietnam, on top of five million already donated, along with $23 million in emergency aid and 77 freezers to store vaccine. This is a paltry amount given the dire situation facing a population of 97.3 million. So-called vaccine diplomacy has nothing to do with concerns over the health and well-being of the people. Ruling elites around the world are pushing to get vaccine rates at a level pronounced safe enough to remove all restrictions and open up the economy. It is a strategy to get thousands of highly exploited workers back into factories as soon as possible in order to start ramping up profits again. The plight of the Vietnamese workers is a product of the directives coming from big business over an escalating supply chain crisis impacting everything from auto production to strategic materials such as semiconductors and computer chips. Virtually every manufacturing firm is dependent on the supply of raw materials, such as steel and copper, tin and parts from across the globe. Fortune declared that addressing global supply-chain blockages in Southeast Asia is vital to avoid dampening foreign investor appetite for the dynamic region. The Times similarly warned about the longer-lasting impact on future investment decisions in Vietnam and other emerging economies. Companies deciding where to invest, it noted, have always evaluated a broad slate of conditions, like taxes, regulatory requirements and labor force availability. Vietnam is very much at the centre of the relentless search by finance capital and transnational corporations for access to cheap labour and high profits. Over the recent period it has become an important part of the tech supply chain, with companies including Samsung, Intel and Apple suppliers relocating from China amid rising costs and trade and geopolitical tensions. Tariffs on China instituted under former US President Trump accelerated the shift. Even as factories in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere are now preparing to resume production, however, American companies are looking outside Vietnam, according to the Times, to find partners elsewhere and even returning to Chinese factories that they had worked with previously. As the WSWS has explained, the capitalist class is using the COVID pandemic to vastly restructure class relations and create a new normal of relentless exploitation. Everywhere, workers are fighting against intolerable working conditions, low wages and widespread social immiseration resembling the early 19th century, while the world billionaires enrich themselves to obscene levels. At the same time, the globalisation of production brings with it the powerful growth of an opposite force, the international working class which is emerging into historic struggles. The growing movement involving workers in transnational corporations such as Volvo, Deere, Kelloggs and Dana in the US, must intersect with workers in other parts of the world, including Southeast Asia. This provides the impetus for the construction of a global movement of the working class based on a socialist perspective against inequality, inhuman working conditions and the sacrificing of workers lives for private profit. Carpenters in Seattle, Tacoma and across western Washington state narrowly ratified a union-backed sellout contract by a vote of 54 to 46 percent, according to an announcement late Monday by the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Union (NWCU). This was the fifth effort by the NWCU to push through an agreement favorable to the Associated General Contractors (AGC) after months of resistance by rank-and-file carpenters, which included a three-week strike. Striking carpenters picket in downtown Seattle Large numbers of carpenters abstained from the vote, disgusted by the treachery of the union. Only 5,318 workers voted, less than half of the unions 12,000 members. Of those, 2,853 voted to ratify the deal, less than a quarter of the membership. From the beginning of the negotiations, the NWCU and its parent union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), have functioned as tools of the contractors and open strikebreakers. After repeated no votes, including a three-to-one rejection in June, the NWCU was forced to call a strike on September 16, but only called out 2,000 out of the 12,000 carpenters. Then last week, the union announced a new deal and suspended the strike even before workers saw, let alone voted on, the three-year contract. It then rushed through a ratification vote giving workers as little time as possible to study the details of agreement. Workers are outraged over the deal, which only provides a $10-an-hour raise over three years, well below the $15-an-hour increase workers demanded to keep up with skyrocketing costs of living in the Seattle area. Top-paid carpenters will now earn $49.18 an hour, well below the $58.29 an hour needed to support a family of four in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area, according to the MIT Living Wage calculator. It's messed up, the corruption, the blatant disregard for what members wanted, one worker told the WSWS. It makes you feel embarrassed to be in the carpenters union, by having leadership that does whatever the hell they want. The union undermined this process from the very beginning, he continued. We voted down the same contract four times. When it finally came to a strike, they slow-rolled the strike and sent people to empty holes that werent even being built yet. They sent notifications to the contractors to let them know what days we would or would not picket a third site, which would allow them to communicate and schedule with other trades and deliveries of materials to keep their jobs going. Thats not a strike. When you get to the point where you have to strike you shut down every job possible and for sure you shut down all the biggest jobs every single day. The carpenters voted by 76 percent against the first tentative contract, which provided only an $8.64-an-hour increase over three years. Rather than sanctioning a walkout, the NWCU extended the contract with a no-strike clause as it attempted to push through a similar deal. On July 3, the second deal was defeated by 52 percent, followed by a 60 percent rejection of the third deal on August 5. The fourth deal, which was extended to four years, was rejected by 56 percent on September 11. On September 16, the NWCU sanctioned a strike but only called out a sixth of its membership, citing no-strike pledges with the AGC and various state and local Democratic Party politicians. It warned rank-and-file workers that wildcats and sickouts or picketing without the express permission of authorized officials of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters (PNWRCC) would not be tolerated. We were told by [the] PNWRCC that we were only allowed to picket four sites and they were clearly sites that would have zero impact on the contractors, another worker told the WSWS. They threatened us with legal action if we disobeyed them, he said. The strike was only expanded after carpenters organized opposition to the unions strikebreaking through Facebook, including through the Peter J. McGuire Group. When the strike was shut down, the worker told the WSWS, We were picketing 18 different high-profile sites in multiple counties, including a multi-billion-dollar job at Microsoft. The militant carpenters were subjected to a vicious red-baiting campaign by NWCU Secretary-Treasurer Evelyn Shapiro-OConner and King County Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Grant. The latter denounced members of Peter J. McGuire Group as Marxist extremists who were wreaking havoc within the union. Throughout the struggle, the WSWS opposed the attacks on the social media group and called on carpenters to build a rank-and-file strike committee, completely independent of the union, to expand the strike to all construction sites and building trades workers and to reach out to educators, health care workers, Amazon and Boeing workers and other workers to back the carpenters fight. While many carpenters looked to the Peter J. McGuire group for a lead, the perspective of its leadershipof pressuring the union bureaucracy to adopt more militant tactics and reform itselfwas fatally flawed, the WSWS warned. These false and naive conceptions were reinforced by Seattle Councilwoman and Socialist Alternative leader Kshama Sawant, with whom the group had close relations. Sawant presented the sabotage of the strike as the mistaken direction of the leadership who were pursuing a losing strategy, not the deliberate decisions of union executives whose material interests have been long separated from the working class. In repeated letters and public statements, Sawant urged Shapiro (salary $259,038) and other elected labor leaders to reduce their salaries to the level of an average worker so they can be more in touch with the conditions of the workers they represent. During her tenure in office, Sawant has done everything she can to direct workers struggles into official channels of the union, while calling on workers to pressure progressive elected officials, i.e., Democratic Party politicians. These include making appeals to the American Federation of Teachers and President Joe Biden as they coordinate to herd educators and children back into pandemic-infected schools. The hostility of the union toward its members was not limited to Seattle, and was also on display in St. Louis. The day the strike vote results were announced, an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed that the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council was likely embezzling millions of dollars during the tenure of its now ex-Executive Secretary-Treasurer Al Bond. Payroll for union officials overall jumped 63 percent to $20.5 million and the number of union bureaucrats climbed from 100 to 240 in a year. Bonds own salary ballooned 50 percent to $303,000. At the same time, the unions debt grew to $8 million, suggesting it was taking on debt to finance these operations. The union also loaned out millions to developers, including more than $3 million of its members money to two Northside projects, ostensibly the companies the union was fighting against. There are also some evidence union bureaucrats were looting the unions health benefit plan. The struggle of the Washington state carpenters is far from over. Construction workers have been disproportionally hit by COVID-19 and the industry has one of the highest rates of industrial accidents, along with suicides caused by chronic pain due to the physically demanding nature of the work. Living costs continue to rise and as the impact of this sellout contract hits, carpenters will be driven into struggle again. The carpenters walkout, despite its betrayal, is part of the growing strike wave that includes nurses, Kelloggs food-processing workers and impending struggles by Deere, Dana, Kaiser Permanente and Hollywood movie and television workers. Carpenters must draw the necessary conclusions. New organizations of struggle, rank-and-file factory and workplace committees, must be built to unite every section of the working class against the corporate-government attack on jobs, working conditions and living standards. These organizations will not make fruitless appeals to the union bureaucracy but will mobilize the independent power of all workers against the subordination of lives and livelihoods to corporate profit. In line with the demands of the Biden administration, state officials and school boards in Washington state forced the full reopening of schools this fall. In doing so, they falsely claimed that mitigation measures and vaccines would ensure that schools were safe havens from COVID-19. Nearly two months into the semester, the reality of high case rates, pediatric infections, and hospital capacity has exposed the so-called safe return to in-person schools promoted by the Democratic Party and teachers unions as a lie. In September, King County, the largest county in Washington with a high percentage of people fully vaccinated, reported 11 outbreaks in K-12 schools and seven outbreaks among child care and extracurricular locations. The Seattle and King County Public Health site reports that King County is at a high level of community transmission. Last week, 50 percent of outbreaks in Pierce County, the second largest county in WA, were in the K-12 and child care settings. PS 245 elementary school in New York City, September 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) According to the Washington Department of Health, the latest seven-day case rate for children ages 4-10 years old is 183.8 per 100,000 people, while the rate stands at 198.6 for children ages 11-13, and 192 for children ages 14-19. These case rates are the highest of all age groups. COVID-19 case rates have been on the rise statewide since August and have stayed at a high level of transmission, making the situation worse than the third wave last winter. The seven-day case average in Washington in September averaged around 3,000 cases. According to the Washington Department of Health, hospital admissions continued to increase over the month of September and recently peaked at a level 60 percent higher than in the winter of 2020. Although admission rates appear to be slightly declining, hospitals across the state are operating at full capacity and projections suggest that high levels of occupancy are likely to persist through the fall. While pediatric cases had previously been lower in Washington state before schools and businesses were fully open, the latest data shows that one in four new COVID-19 cases are now among children. Washington has had 893 children hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms and 13 children die from the virus. Regional data is consistent with the rise in pediatric cases nationally. Despite the insistence from local school officials, politicians, and union bureaucrats that transmission is not likely to occur in schools, the rise in infections coincides precisely with the return of children to classrooms. Although many pediatric cases are asymptomatic or mild, that is not the case for all infected children. There is not enough information about how this virus effects children to fully grasp how many will develop severe COVID-19 or long-term symptoms. With children 0-11 still not eligible for vaccination and vaccination rates in Washington for children 12-17 only around 50 percent, outbreaks and hospitalizations will continue in this population. Commenting on this, an educator in Washington told the World Socialist Web Site, A logical society does not tell a 10-year-old, who cant be vaccinated, that they have to be in a classroom during a pandemic. Any society should protect its children. If the social structure isnt accomplishing that goal, it has failed. Teachers and students were forced back into classrooms by agreements negotiated between Washington Education Association (WEA) affiliates and local school boards, typically including vague language for safety measures like quality ventilation, social distancing when possible, and mask requirements, which are meant to slow down the rate of infection but not eliminate transmission. However, the measures are not consistently implemented and enforced, and in some rural Republican-led districts, mitigation measures are being dropped altogether to accelerate the spread of the virus. Many teachers report that even the measly requirement of three feet of social distancing is impossible to maintain and enforce throughout the school day. Kids naturally gravitate towards one another and when they are in the hallways and eating lunch, they often do not keep distance. Additionally, many teachers report on social media that it is difficult for kids to keep their masks on all day and that while they do their best to remind students, the numbers show that these mitigation measures are not enough to keep kids safe. Parents in Washington are keeping track of the numbers and are deeply scared for their children. One parent who is fighting a battle to keep her child out of schools told the WSWS, COVID, and Delta specifically, has increased to a higher point than it was last fall and winter, when in-person learning was closed. I feel strongly that we could see a spike. The first student death in our district happened the same week schools opened. I thought that would be a big alarm, forcing the district to say we need to shut down, but it didnt. It shows why eradication is needed, reopening caused the current state of high transmission. As an educator and parent, I dont need to look at more graphs. The environment is very high-risk. With restaurants, non-essential businesses, we saw the increase in cases. Just look at that timeline. When mandates are dropped, cases increase. While the pandemic is far from over, the Democrats refuse to take the essential steps to protect the public, instead promoting solely vaccines and mask-wearing. No one has peddled these insufficient mitigation measures and the unsafe reopening of schools harder than American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. She has consistently backed the Biden administrations insistence that schools must remain open and has applauded the most meager of measures, including Bidens recent Six-Part Covid-19 Action Plan, which outlines the administrations commitment to the reopening of schools and forcing workers back to their jobs, regardless of community spread and how much it leads to infection and death. In opposition to this policy, which demands that workers learn to live with the virus, educators and parents in Washington, across the US and globally are increasingly determined to eradicate COVID-19 and put an end to the needless suffering and deaths of millions. Eradication measures include the universal deployment of every possible public health measure, including the short-term closure of schools and nonessential workplaces, a globally-coordinated vaccination program, mass testing, contact tracing, masking, the safe isolation of infected patients, and more. An educator in Washington commented on the fight for eradication, stating, Eradication is possible and it is necessary. Science has proven that this virus, like all viruses, will continue to mutate to provide better propagation, and will thus become more transmissible, finding ways to evade natural immunities and vaccinations. To eradicate the virus will be hard work and we must all make sacrifices, but it has proven itself as a viable strategy in New Zealand and China. Canceling public events and gatherings, closing non-essential workplaces, and using technology to remain connected with each other, in addition to vaccinations, treatments, masking and social distancing when staying at home isnt possible, will reduce opportunities for COVID to spread and continue mutating. It is clear that these sacrifices can be borne by the working class; although communities want to gather, people recognize the need to protect one another. That is fundamental to human civilization. It is also clear that the ruling class will not bear those sacrifices. It challenges their power and profits and growth. They will not concede but must be compelled by the just demands of the united working class. In order to put an end to the pandemic, the working class must understand the science of the pandemic and the policy of eradication. For this reason, the WSWS and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) are hosting a webinar with leading scientists on Sunday, October 24, to discuss these issues and chart a path forward. All parents, educators, students and workers in Washington should register today and invite your coworkers, friends and family to attend. If you thought 2020 was bad, just wait for 2024. That's the message from comedian Bill Maher in a powerful segment in which he suggests that what happened in 2020 -- Donald Trump insisting, without proof, that the election was stolen and leaning on Republican election officials to change the vote (or ignore it entirely) -- was only a test run for what is coming. "Trump has spent his [post presidency] figuring out how to pull off the coup he couldn't pull off last time," Maher argued, noting that the former President has systematically sought to eliminate those who kept him from overturning the election -- from Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. On this, Maher is spot on. Since his 2020 election loss, Trump has spent the vast majority of his time fighting with his own party -- insisting that they aren't fighting hard enough and that he will find people willing to do just that come 2022. In addition to endorsing a challenger to Raffensperger for Georgia secretary of state, Trump is backing a state representative for Arizona secretary of state who not only worked to overturn the election results in the state but also attended the January 6 "Stop the Steal" rally that served as a prelude to the riot at the US Capitol. Those are two of many people Trump is endorsing who, had they been in office during and after the 2020 election, would have worked to change the outcome. Maher envisions a 2024 election where a) Trump runs again b) Trump wins the Republican nomination again and c) Trump refuses to acknowledge the results again. The difference? "This time his claims of illegal voting by immigrants or mail-in ballots coming in after deadline or the system was hacked by Venezuela ... will be fully embraced by the stooges he's installing right now," argued Maher. That reality will create a post-election period in which two people are claiming to be president. In short, chaos. And in Maher's imagining violent clashes the likes of which we only had a hint of on January 6. "The dings-dongs who attacked the Capitol, that was like when al Qaeda tried to take down the World Trade Center with a van," Maher said. "It was a joke. The next time they came back with planes." The Point : A year ago I might have rolled my eyes at Maher's nightmare scenario. After what happened on January 6 -- and the ways in which Trump and his allies have sought to rewrite what happened that day -- we all should take what Maher envisions very seriously. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - We are learning more about the four companies that have applied to build a casino in Vigo County. The Indiana Gaming Commission released a detailed breakdown of all four. Here's how it looks. The four companies are Full House Resorts, with its American Place Casino, Churchill Downs, with its Queen of Terre Haute Casino, Premier Gaming, and Hard Rock, with its Rocksino. Where would they be built? Full House Resorts - Full House says it will build its permanent facility at 5995 Margaret Avenue in eastern Vigo County. Full House is the only company that proposed a temporary location while its main building is under construction. If selected, they plan to open in the Haute City Center Mall temporarily. Churchill Downs - The documents didn't provide an exact location for the Churchill Downs proposal, but this would go on Terre Haute's southside, unlike the other three. They would build on what they say is an undeveloped plot of land on Honey Creek Drive west of Haute City Center. Premier Gaming - The information on Premier didn't identify an exact location either. The company says it would build near the I-70 and State Road 46 interchange in eastern Vigo County. Hard Rock - We've previously reported on the Hard Rock's proposed location. They would build at 2555 S. Joe Fox Street on the city's east side. This is just south of the eastside Walmart. How many jobs will they bring under the proposals? Permanent jobs Full House - 800 Churchill Downs - 500 Premier Gaming - 400 Hard Rock - 674 Construction jobs Full House - 1,800 Churchill Downs - 1,000 Premier Gaming - 250-300 Hard Rock - 2,058 Gaming and hotel rooms Hotel rooms Full House - 100 Churchill Downs - 125 Premier Gaming - 80 Hard Rock - not provided Gaming Full House - 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games Churchill Downs - 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games Premier Gaming - 800 slot machines, 20 table games Hard Rock - 850 slot machines, 35 table games See the full readout, including financial information below: GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI)- After almost 25 years, the community of Greene County is still wondering what happened to Eva Hale. On October 15th, 1996, Hale was reported missing. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance were startling. Hale had been decorating the graves of several family members at the Marco Cemetery. At the time, investigators found her car and purse nearby. Since then, little has been known about where Eva Hale is. With the anniversary of her disappearance approaching, Sergeant Matt Ames with the Indiana State Police says they still receive tips about this case. Ames said there has been a tip as recent as two months ago. "The Bloomington Post received some information," Ames said. "And that detective continues to follow up on that." Since this is still an ongoing investigation, Ames was not able to share exact issues on the case. Still, Ames said the police department is open to any tips on Hale's disappearance. "We'll continue to follow-up on every tip that we receive," he said. "Granted, this was a crime that happened 25 years ago, but there's someone out there that's guilty that needs to pay for the crime and the family needs to have closure for themselves. Ames said an investigator has kept in contact with Hale's family. He said the family would like to lay Hale to rest at a gravesite they have for her. Ames said investigators are confident that there are still people alive with information. "We still believe that there are people out there in the community that know what happened that day," he said. "And we're just hoping over time people have matured, they get a guilty conscience and it's time for them to get that off their conscience." The closure of this case would also be a big relief for those in Greene County. Hale was just one of several women who disappeared from the community at the same time. Ames said the closing of this case would mean a great deal to the community and Hale's family. "It would be very big for the community," he said. "Number one that they know that we are still actively investigating this crime that did occur on that day. And then we're here trying to bring justice for the family." If you have any information on Eva Hale's disappearance, please contact the Indiana State Police. "Squid Game" a fictional drama from South Korea is Netflix's "biggest-ever series at launch," the streaming company exclusively told CNN on Tuesday. The dystopian series, in which contestants who are deeply in need of money play deadly children's games to win cash prizes, has been viewed by 111 million accounts since debuting on Netflix September 17. To give that number some context, Netflix announced earlier this year that 82 million households watched "Bridgerton" in the first 28 days following its Christmas debut. "Squid Game" surpassed that number in a shorter amount of time. The series is No. 1 on Netflix's Top 10 lists in 94 countries around the world. It's the platform's first-ever Korean series to reach No. 1 in the United States. The numbers speak to the sheer size of "Squid Games'" popularity and the speed at which it took off. But Netflix's and all streaming services' ratings data comes with some important caveats. For starters, these numbers are from Netflix itself and have not be vetted by any outside sources. Also, that 111 million figure doesn't mean everyone watched the series from start to finish. It is based on Netflix's metric of accounts watching at least two minutes of the series. Regardless of Netflix's often opaque accounting of its shows' popularity, the important context is that the streaming giant's competition is growing fiercer by the day, and "Squid Game" shows Netflix remains on top for a reason. For investors, as long as Netflix keeps adding subscribers, Wall Street will likely continue to be happy. "Squid Game" has hit the zeitgeist in a significant way, and buzz is the best means to attract new subscribers and keep current ones happy. The series has also earned great reviews, garnering a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Like many top streaming series, "Squid Game" has become a pop culture phenomenon. The series has generated memes and even Halloween costume ideas. The success of "Squid Game" speaks to Netflix's ability to craft a worldwide hit. Netflix has 209 million subscribers and the company has worked to reach audiences on a global scale. "When we first started investing in Korean series and films in 2015, we knew we wanted to make world-class stories for the core K-content fans across Asia and the world," said Minyoung Kim, Netflix's vice president of content for Asia Pacific, excluding India. "Today, Squid Game has broken through beyond our wildest dreams." "'Squid Game' gave [Netflix] more confidence that our global strategy is going towards the right direction," Kim told CNN. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - Four people are in custody for a shooting that happened Tuesday evening in Oxford. According to the Oxford Police Department, police officers responded at approximately 8:15 to the 200 block of Pegues Road. De'Mond Campbell wanted in Oxford, Mississippi. Source: Oxford Police Department. De'Mond Campbell wanted in Oxford, Mississippi. Source: Oxford Police Department. Deniero Buchanan wanted in Oxford, Mississippi. Source: Oxford Police Department. Deniero Buchanan wanted in Oxford, Mississippi. Source: Oxford Police Department. Someone fired 25 shots and one person was injured. Four people have been taken into custody: Deshawn Lewis, 26; Aaron Pomerlee, 25; Shawntez Draper, 30; and DeMond Campbell. Police charged Lewis with possession of a weapon by a felon, and Pomerlee was charged with accessory after the fact. Draper and Campbell face three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon. A fifth suspect Deniero Buchanan is wanted for four counts of aggravated assault. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Oxford Police Department at 662-232-2400 or Lafayette County Crime Stoppers at 662-234-8477. OKOLONA, Miss. (WTVA) - A shooting in Okolona injured a boy and put the father behind bars. According to the Okolona Police Department, the shooting happened Sunday, Oct. 10 sometime between 8-10 a.m. Dontae Doss arrested in Okolona, Mississippi. Source: Chickasaw County Sheriff's Department. Dontae Doss arrested in Okolona, Mississippi. Source: Chickasaw County Sheriff's Department. The boys were playing with a gun they found lying around the house, per police. One boy shot the other boy in the leg. Medics flew the shooting victim to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He has since returned home and is expected to be OK. Officers arrested the boys father, Dontae Doss, and charged him with child neglect. MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) Authorities say three people are dead and an infant wounded after a shooting in the east Mississippi city of Meridian. Meridian police say the gunfire happened Tuesday afternoon at a home on 17th Street. Meridian police Sgt. Heather Luebbers said officers found that two of the men had been shot multiple times and were declared dead at the scene. Coroner Clayton Cobler tells WTOK-TV that the third man died after being flown to a hospital in Jackson. The Meridian Star reports that he had also been shot several times. Luebbers described injuries to the infant, who is less than 1 year old, as not life-threatening. The identities of the victims were not immediately released. No suspects or motives have been announced. 'It really, really should be stopped': Man targeted three times by Social Security thieves Sales agency The Playmaker Munich has signed a deal with Elsani & Neary Media to handle the international sales for The Albanian Virgin. The film had its world premiere in the competition section of the Warsaw Intl. Film Festival on Friday, and The Playmaker Munich will present it to buyers at MIA Market in Rome, with a physical screening taking place on Thursday. The film, which was written by Katja Kittendorf and directed by Bujar Alimani, is set in 1958 in Albania. An arranged marriage forces Luana to deny her love for Agim. To meet her fathers expectations, she almost sacrifices her love, but she soon realizes that the Kanun the set of traditional laws governing Albanian society only benefits men. So, she decides she has to become one of them: A man. More from Variety The Albanian Virgin does not judge or raise a moral finger, but presents the events in real terms as they could have happened exactly then in Albania, or even today?, Anita Elsani, the films producer and CEO of Elsani & Neary Media, said. The film shows possibilities for a new era without promising a universal solution and without telling the audience whats right and whats wrong. This film wants to inspire [the audience] to talk and to empathize. It touches and moves, shakes and shocks and is equally a plea for reconciliation, love. Alimani made his feature debut in 2011 with Amnesty, the first Albanian film ever to be funded by Eurimages. It played at the Berlin Film Festival, winning the CICAE Prize, as well as jury prizes at Lecce and Lisbon film festivals. The film was Albanias candidate for the Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2012. Chromium, Alimanis second feature film, played at film festivals in Hamburg, Montpellier, Brussels, Segovia and Munich, and was also the Albanian candidate for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 2017. Story continues The Delegation, his third feature, also received Eurimages funding. It won best feature at the Trieste Film Festival in 2019 and the Grand Prix at Warsaw Film Festival. The Albanian Virgin is produced by Elsani & Neary Media, in co-production with Potemkino Port, 90 Production, Circle Production and ZDF/ARTE. The production was supported and funded by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Eurimages, Filmforderungsanstalt FFA, Deutscher Filmforderfonds, Filmforderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Kosovo Cinematography Center, Albanian National Center of Cinematography, the Belgian Tax Shelter, the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, and RTSH. The Playmaker Munich will launch several new films as market premieres at MIA Market, including Monte Verita by Stefan Jager, which premiered in Piazza Grande at Locarno Film Festival this year, Zurich Film Festivals opening film And Tomorrow We Will Be Dead by Michael Steiner, and A Pure Place by Nikias Chryssos, which won the best director award at the Munich Film Festivals German Cinema New Talent Awards in July. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Essex Police explain how they investigated the crimes. (Expectation Entertainment/Jillian Edelstein) One of the most shocking people smuggling cases ever to hit UK soil features in a BBC Two documentary, Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers. It delves into the investigation by Essex Police which spanned the UK, Europe and Vietnam and uncovered an extensive crime network that proved deadly for 39 migrants. Read more: What was the true story behind Catching a Predator? Take a look at the true story behind the case which shocked the nation in 2019. When is Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers on TV? The documentary will air on BBC Two on Wednesday, 13 October at 9pm. What was the Essex Police case about? DC Martin Brown and his colleagues explain how they caught the gang. (Expectation Entertainment) In October 2019, a shocking story hit the headlines when an HGV driver discovered 39 dead Vietnamese migrants in a container on his vehicle. However, the story was set to become much worse when Essex Police, suspicious that the driver didn't seem to be particularly upset, started to question his claims that he'd had no idea they were there. It soon became clear that the driver was in fact a part of a much larger people smuggling ring that saw him and his co-conspirators facing manslaughter charges. Read more: What to watch on TV this autumn Police could prove his involvement through phone records and CCTV footage, with the investigation uncovering a multi-million-pound, international operation that was being run from a haulage business in Northern Ireland. The 39 victims of the tragedy had travelled from Vietnam after being promised a better life in the UK, but were never to make it out of the lorry as they suffocated in the container on its journey by sea between Belgian port Zeebrugge and Purfleet. Grieving relative Nguyen Dinh Gia gives a heartbreaking account of the crime's impact. (Expectation Entertainment/Tung Le) BBC Two's documentary takes the time to visit the grieving families in Vietnam who talk heartbreakingly of their terrible loss and the dream of a new life that their loved ones had been sold. Some of the migrants were just 15 years old, and an investigation into their journey showed how they had tried in vain to break through the roof of the lorry with a metal pole. Story continues Phone messages between the driver and his smuggling ring boss showed that he had been told "give them air quickly don't let them out", at which point the driver had discovered that none of the 39 had survived the ship's crossing. What happened to the smugglers? Members of the people smuggling plot. (Thames Valley Police/AFP via Getty Images) At the smuggling gang's trial, judge Mr Justice Sweeney summed up the severity of their crimes: "I have no doubt that the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long-running and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese people across the channel." He added: "There were desperate attempts to contact the outside world by phone and to break through the roof of the container. "All were to no avail and, before the ship reached Purfleet, they all died in what must have been an excruciatingly painful death." The 39 victims of the smuggling ring. (Essex Police/AFP via Getty Images) Four men were convicted of manslaughter, including lead conspirators Ronan Hughes and Gheorghe Nica who were sentenced to 20 and 27 years respectively. Eamonn Harrison, who towed the container to Zeebrugge, was given 18 years, and Maurice Robinson, the HGV driver who collected the trailer at Purfleet and discovered the bodies, got 13 years and four months. Three other members of the gang were sentenced for conspiracy to facilitate unlawful immigration. Watch: Migrants tell of risky journeys crossing Channel Small plane crashes into UPS delivery truck and home, Santee K C Alfred/San Diego Tribune/Shutterstock Family and co-workers are mourning the loss of a UPS driver who was killed when a small plane crashed in a Southern California city Monday afternoon. Steve Krueger was a hard worker who "was held in high regard," a spokesperson for UPS said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday. "We are heartbroken by the loss of our driver Steve Krueger, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends," the spokesperson wrote. "Those who knew Steve said he took pride in his work, and his positive attitude and joyful laugh made the hardest days a little lighter." The plane, which the Federal Aviation Administration identified as a twin-engine Cessna C340 in a statement shared with PEOPLE, crashed at around 12:14 p.m. PT. The FAA was unable to identify how many people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. According to updates posted to the Santee city website Monday, the plane "crashed into two residential homes," also striking a delivery truck and fire hydrant. Witnesses told NBC San Diego that the plane's wing hit a UPS truck and the body of the aircraft then "slid toward two homes and exploded." The pilot of the plane, who was identified by NBC San Diego as Dr. Sugata Das, also died in the crash, authorities said. Two others were transported to the hospital for their injuries, according to a news release issued Monday by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Small plane crashes into UPS delivery truck and home, Santee K C Alfred/San Diego Tribune/Shutterstock RELATED: California Plane Crash Kills At Least 2, Including Pilot and UPS Driver Steve's brother, Jeff Kreuger, told NBC San Diego that the news of his brother's death was "unbelievable." "He is still young too young to be taken from us," Jeff said. "But he also had a pretty good chunk of life and so he'd want everybody to be thinking of him in a positive light, laugh about it, and all that. That's just the way he is." The Ocean Beach resident said his brother was always reminding him that "things will always get better and don't take life so serious that it gets you down. Have fun with things." According to NBC San Diego, UPS coordinated a moment of silence for Steve at 12:14 p.m. on Tuesday, marking 24 hours since his tragic death. The company also reportedly flew a flag outside the customer service center in Kearny Mesa at half-staff in his honor. This Celebrity Hairstylist-Loved Brand Just Launched a Collection for Repairing Breakage on Curly Hair Courtesy Anyone blessed enough to have naturally curly, textured, and voluminous hair knows that taking care of curls and coils is serious business. Ringlets can easily become frizzy in summer heat and staticky in winter dryness, so finding the right products that infuse a good dose of hydration without any crunch is crucial. And it's even better when they actively repair and strengthen your hair to minimize breakage, which is exactly what this new haircare collection is here to do. Already a household name in Japan, haircare brand NatureLab. Tokyo expanded stateside in 2018, offering its smoothing shampoos and conditioners, scalp-reliving scrubs, and moisturizing hair masks beloved by J-beauty insiders this side of the Pacific Ocean. And Perfect Texture, the new collection, launches tomorrow but NatureLab. Tokyo is offering InStyle readers the first chance to shop it before anyone else. The new line comes to the U.S. first, before rolling out in Canada, the United Kingdom, then Japan; you can find all five products from the line below. The new Perfect Texture Shampoo and Conditioner work together to gently clean and condition your curls without stripping natural moisture. They detangle and strengthen snarled strands with ingredients like alpine rose stem cells (a natural adaptogen primarily for retaining moisture), camellia oil (a J-beauty essential for conditioning hair), and blue algae for protection against environmental aggressors that leave hair brittle. NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $13$30; naturelab.com The new Texture Wave Cream, meanwhile, enhances natural waves to make them extra bouncy and shiny while minimizing frizz. Just scrunch and shape curls with a quarter-sized amount of the cream while hair is wet or lightly towel-dried. Same goes for the Texture Curl Cream, which is best for coiled hair and designed to reduce frizz and humidity's harmful effects. If you want more hydration after showering and before the creams, the Texture Leave-In Conditioner and Detangler adds an extra layer of protection against tangling and breakage. Story continues RELATED: The 11 Best Gels for Every Curl Type, According to Natural Hair Experts NatureLab. Tokyo is an insider favorite that's garnered attention from celebrity hairstylists, such as the Kardashians' go-to, Andrew Fitzsimmons. For the new Perfect Texture line, the brand partnered with Marty Harper (known for his work with Zendaya and Halsey, among others) to celebrate the launch. "The NatureLab. Tokyo Texture collection is my go-to these products are truly phenomenal and available at an accessible price point," he tells InStyle. Harper notes how their key ingredients strengthen and hydrate curls without weighing them down. "I love to use NatureLab. Tokyo on my client with kinky, coily, curly, and wavy hair," the hairstylist explains. "After cleansing the hair with the Perfect Texture Shampoo and Conditioner, I love using the Leave-in Conditioner which is great for protecting against damage and detangles. My kit must-have is the Curl Cream because it retains moisture post-wash and makes the curls pop." Topping out at just $17, NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Texture truly is an affordable collection for curls of all shapes and sizes. Shop the entire haircare line below before it's available to the rest of the States on October 14. NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $15; naturelab.com NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $15; naturelab.com NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $13; naturelab.com NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $15; naturelab.com NatureLab Tokyo Courtesy Shop now: $17; naturelab.com Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast MAGA megafans are still determined to reinstall Donald Trump as presidentbut theyre divided over how to do so. As far-right efforts to audit the 2020 election fizzle, some of the movements biggest names have accused each other of being communists, FBI informants, and homewreckers. On this weeks episode of Fever Dreams, hosts Will Sommer and Kelly Weill dive into the feuds roiling the Republican Party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the QAnon-hyping congresswoman from Georgia, went on the attack against a former ally this weekend when she implied that conspiratorial attorney Lin Wood might be cooperating in investigations into the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Wood, who previously acted as Greenes attorney, has spent weeks accusing the lawmaker of being a communist because she has not instituted an audit of Georgias vote. Greene hit back, accusing Wood of swindling money fundraised in defense of Kyle Rittenhouse, who is accused of killing two people at a protest last summer. You have this fight between true believers like Lin Wood who think the election was stolen and that because the election was stolen, theres really no point in campaigning or doing any activism on behalf of the midterms or 2024, no point in donating to Republican candidates, really nothing to support the party until the 2020 election is overturned, Sommer says. On the other hand, you have people who are certainly pretty kooky themselves, but are slightly more cynical, a little more opportunistic. Greene and Wood arent alone in their rift over audits. Wendy Rogers, an Arizona state legislator who took Woods side in the argument, is embroiled in her own audit fight. Rogers was one of the most vocal champions of Arizonas doomed audit, and is now calling for audits in all 50 states. Those calls, along with Rogers fundraising efforts, have struck a bad note with some Arizonans who were disappointed by their states audit. Some, in the group Patriot Party of Arizona have accused Rogers of being a grifter who only supports audits for their fundraising potential. In a series of tweets this weekend, Rogers struck back at the group, tweeting that its members were homewreckers, fornicators, unfaithful spouses, gold-diggers, and #DeepState operatives. Story continues Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos Getty Meanwhile, other right-wing figures have more pressing concerns: namely, how to launch their own airlines for pilots and passengers who refuse to be vaccinated. Those anti-vax voices are responding to airlines new requirements that pilots and flight crew be vaccinated. I love this idea of conservatives hitting a minor social roadblock and then trying to launch a billion-dollar enterprise to avoid it, says Weill. Its like all the Thiel fellows who want to live out in the sea to avoid taxes. At a certain point youre like, OK man, just go. Will a squadron of conservative Twitter personalities earn their pilot licenses, buy planes, and give a new meaning to airborne virus? Or will their efforts end as dismally as previous libertarian plots to avoid taxes by building boat-based societies in the middle of the ocean? Elsewhere on the podcast, Sommer and Weill speak to journalist Jennings Brown, whose new podcast, Revelations, chronicles the dark history of the California doomsday group Fellowship of Friends. Brown, who stayed on the groups bizarre compound during its supposed apocalypse, says he was fascinated by what led people to their beliefsand what kept them in the group even after its prophecies failed. Hes been doing this for 50 years, Brown says of the Fellowships leader. These members, time and time again, have had to go through the mental gymnastics of processing these predictions and the buildup and then the disappointment and their new reasoning. It seems to have sowed this very strong devotion to their leader and begs the question: What does he do with that kind of devotion hes built over half a century? Finally, Weill and Sommer dish on the dumbest new t-shirt slogan thats about to take off with Trump fans. Lets go Brandon is the rights favorite new chant. Its a play on MAGA fans Fuck Joe Biden chants, which are too profane for TV. When one of the chants was audible on a recent NASCAR broadcast, a TV host cut away from the crowd, suggesting that they were chanting Lets go Brandon in support of a driver. Since then, Trump fans have shown up at rallies with Lets go Brandon printed on T-shirts. Donald Trump Jr. has also tweeted the slogan. The Trump campaign has sent out fundraising texts with Lets go Brandon, Sommer says. So I regret to inform our listeners, but this is really going to be with us for a while. Listen, and subscribe, to Fever Dreams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. Two Black men killed by police, 80 hot summers apart, symbolize two of the greatest threats to democracy in 2021: racialized violence by police and racialized voter suppression by public officials. George Floyd, the symbol of Americas racial reckoning, was murdered in 2020 and Elbert Williams, the first martyr of the NAACP, was killed in 1940. The circumstances and causes of their deaths represent threats to democracy today. These threats provide Congress the urgent justification to pass both comprehensive voting rights and transformational police legislation. Passing this legislation over a filibuster threat would be a democracy exception to the usual requirement of 60 votes to move legislation in a nearly evenly divided Senate. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., acknowledged last month that bipartisan police reform negotiations were cold and dead. This grim announcement left many Americans, millions of whom participated in the protests surrounding George Floyd's death, wondering, what next? Voting rights advocates have argued, amid unproven allegations of voter fraud, that Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act over the threat of a filibuster. The deaths of Floyd and Williams, 80 years before, make clear that voting rights and police brutality are related civil rights threats to our democracy demanding simultaneous legislation. The death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. Williams, a charter member of the Brownsville, Tennessee, branch of NAACP, was kidnapped from his home by the local police after being warned to leave town because he tried to organize Blacks to vote. Williams body was later found beaten, bruised, bloodied and floating in the Hatchie River with what appeared to be two bullet holes in his chest. Williams was never under arrest, nor were his murderers arrested nor his body even autopsied. Williams was one among many who were lynched by police or by those aided and abetted by the police because of their advocacy for voting rights. Story continues The relationship between police brutality and voter suppression From Ida B. Wells path-breaking study on lynching, the Red Record in 1895, through Bryan Stevensons national lynching memorial today in Montgomery, Alabama, advocates and academics have demonstrated the relationship between police violence and efforts to deny the vote. Crushing voting rights with law enforcement-aided lynching was an obvious threat to democracy, but what about police brutality more broadly? Mike Thompson: VIDEO: How the civil rights movement exposed the harsh realities of racism in the US At the moment of Floyds death under the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020, the following facts were and are tragically true: About 1,000 people are killed by police each year in the United States. Police homicide, like hypertension and heart disease, is a leading cause of death among Black men. Black men are about 2.5 times more likely than white men to be killed by police. Black boys ages 15 to 19 are 21 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than their white peers. According to a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, American Indian men are up to 1.7 times more likely to be killed by police compared with white men, and Latino men are up to 1.4 times more likely. Black women are about 1.4 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement, and American Indian women are up to 2.1 times more likely, when compared with white women. Passing transformative legislation After Floyds murder, as many as 26 million people protested in 550 jurisdictions across the nation in the largest, most geographically widespread, and most diverse demonstrations in American history. A historic number, if not most Americans, considered police brutality as not merely a violent threat to the black and brown they, but a larger threat to the democratic values of the multi-racial and multi-ethnic us. While his well-publicized death mobilized millions, regular and routine police violence has the opposite effect. Studies show that though exceptional acts of police violence, like murder, can ignite local activism, the tragically ordinary police violence experienced by Black people causes distrust in democratic institutions and decreases civic engagement. Police violence not only intimidated Black voters back in the day, it also drives if and how many vote today, posing a threat to our democratic values. Ed Stetzer: When will Christians learn from the unending engagement cycle of evangelicalism and race? Both police brutality and voter suppression say to an increasingly diverse citizenry: Some bodies and voters matter less, or not at all. Democracy, by definition, is massively delegitimized by both police brutality and voter suppression. Therefore, we must pass both transformative police legislation, certainly the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and sweeping voting rights legislation over the threat of a GOP filibuster. This is not merely a civil rights exception, it is a democracy preservation exception saving the credibility, legitimacy and values of this democracy for the next generation of voters. President Joe Biden, as a 36-year veteran of the Senate, values the filibuster. In 2021, with hashtagged Black bodies stacking up and voter suppression continuing, democracy is being delegitimized by not only insurrectionists but public officials and the police. The president must make a democracy exception and use every tool to pressure and pass voting rights and policing transformation together filibuster be damned. Cornell William Brooks is the Hauser Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit Organizations and Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Social Justice at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also director of The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice at the Schools Center for Public Leadership, and Visiting Professor of the Practice of Prophetic Religion and Public Leadership at Harvard Divinity School. Brooks is the former president and CEO of the NAACP, a civil rights attorney and an ordained minister. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pass police reform and expand voting rights with filibuster exception Oct. 13Portland police have arrested a man in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place Saturday afternoon while the victim was using a portable toilet in Deering Oaks. John Aboda, 31, who is homeless in Portland, has been charged with aggravated assault and gross sexual assault, police department spokesman David Singer said in a news release Tuesday. The victim, a 47-year-old Portland woman, told police that Aboda punched her in the face several times before sexually assaulting her. Singer said the victim was taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. An investigation by Portland police led to Aboda's arrest. Anyone with information that could assist police in this case are being asked to contact the Portland Police Department at 207-874-8575. The Premier League has been urged to meet with Amnesty International after last weeks Newcastle takeover by a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium. Amnesty UK boss Sacha Deshmukh has written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters requesting a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the English top flights owners and directors test. A consortium led by Saudi-based Public Investment Fund were given Premier League approval last week to take control of Newcastle, sparking widespread criticism due to the Middle East countrys poor human rights record. Amnesty International described the reported 305million deal as an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders. Deshmukh said: The way the Premier League waved this deal through raises a host of deeply troubling questions about sportswashing, about human rights and sport, and about the integrity of English football. How can it be right that the Premier Leagues current owners and directors test has nothing whatsoever to say about human rights? The events of last week will have lent even more urgency to the Governments ongoing review of the governance of English football. Football is a global sport on a global stage it urgently needs to update its ownership rules to prevent those implicated in serious human rights violations from buying into the passion and glamour of English football. We hope that Richard Masters will see that making the footballs ownership rules human rights-compliant can only be for the long-term good of the game. The Premier League approved Newcastles takeover after receiving legally binding assurances that the Saudi state would not control the club. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, is listed as chair of PIF, but the Premier League was satisfied the state would have no dealings with the club. Amnesty has offered to meet Masters with corporate lawyer David Chivers QC, who last year co-wrote a new human rights-compliant owners and directors test on the campaign groups behalf. Story continues Amnesty UK boss Sacha Deshmukh has written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (Miike Egerton/PA) This updated test was sent to the Premier League last July, Amnesty said, when it appeared the Saudi-led consortiums deal was unlikely to proceed. However, the speedy finalising of the deal last week has lent new impetus to calls on the league to urgently update its ownership rules, Amnesty said. Amnestys analysis shows the current ownership test has numerous serious shortcomings, with no bar on ownership for those complicit in acts of torture, slavery, human trafficking or even war crimes. The PA news agency has been sent a copy of Amnestys letter to Masters, in which The Chivers document Proposed change to the Premier League Rules Owners and Directors test to address international human rights and discrimination was attached. In the letter, Deshmukh added: David Chivers has asserted that this proposed revision is reasonable, measured, goes with the grain of best practice across sporting bodies, and could be implemented without cutting across other elements of the Premier Leagues rules. I am asking you to give careful consideration to what is proposed, with particular regard to establishing a corporate culture that is aligned with the Premier Leagues purpose and strategy, promotes integrity, values diversity and is reflective of broader stakeholder concerns. PHOENIX Deandre Ayton made his point. The Suns big man addressed his contract talks with the Suns for the first time since ESPN reported last week they had stalled over the franchise being reluctant to offer the five-year rookie max extension of $172.5 million. The deadline to complete a rookie extension deal is Oct. 18. "I love Phoenix, but I'm really disappointed we haven't really gotten a deal done yet," Ayton said after Tuesday's training camp practice. "We were two wins away from winning a championship and I just really want to be respected, to be honest. To be respected like my peers are being respected by their teams." Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he's "disappointed" a deal hasn't gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021 Ayton is referring to Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets). All four have received rookie max extensions going into this season. Doncic and Ayton are under the same agency in BDA Sports Management. Like those four, Ayton is up for a rookie max extension along with his Suns' teammate Mikal Bridges, as both were first round picks in the 2018 draft. Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, shown during a preseason game on Oct. 6, 2021. Ayton, the top overall selection in 2018 out of Arizona, blossomed in the 2021 playoffs, posting 14 double-doubles. The Suns went 10-4 in those games. "Give that man his bread," said ESPN NBA analyst and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins before the Suns preseason road win Sunday over the Los Angeles Lakers. Story continues The Suns have one allotted spot for a rookie max contract available, with two-time All-Star Devin Booker having the other one filled. "I'll just let them handle it in the most professional way possible and just control what I can control," Ayton said, who is entering the final year of his initial four-year deal. Despite the contract negotiations not going to his liking, Ayton is still interacting and having fun with his teammates. "The relationships I have on this team will never change regardless of whatever the outcome is," Ayton said. "At the same time, still got to come in and work. There's a job to be done and it's to win games. The team we have, we still a goal and task at hand that will never change." When asked if he'll have a sit down with either Suns General Manager James Jones or team owner Robert Sarver in the coming days, Ayton said he'll let his agents handle it. Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deandre Ayton disappointed Phoenix Suns haven't reached new contract For my mom, my safety and my future have always felt more valuable than her own. She has often told me that if I were to become a US citizen that will be enough for her, even if it means she remains undocumented. All the nights spent worrying about my future and about whether she made the right choice to seek a better life for our family here would feel lighter knowing that, at the very least, her child could live a stable life as a citizen. As a DACA recipient, stability has rarely, if ever, been something I've known. As a DACA recipient, stability has rarely, if ever, been something I've known. Shuffled from court to court, my future and the ability to continue building my life with my family in the US have always felt contingent on whether DACA will be here tomorrow. Judge Andrew Hanen's ruling in July, which ended DACA as we know it for first-time applicants, was a reminder to me and hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth that DACA can be stripped away at any moment. The program has always been temporary, leaving it vulnerable to attacks from politicians hell-bent on putting me and my community on a path to detention, deportation, and family separation. Related: Reclaiming Tus Raices But as I've come to learn, stability for me cannot be possible without stability for my entire family. Even if DACA were to remain in place, it continues to exclude people like my parents, leaving them vulnerable to the threat of deportation. That's why, two months ago, when I walked into the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, I carried with me a vision for what a safe, stable life for my family and millions more just like ours, can look like. It was during that meeting that I shared with the Vice President that I am pregnant with my first child. As she listened to me share what citizenship would mean for me and my family, she made a promise to fight for all of us and to keep my family together. But keeping my baby safe means ensuring he can grow up in a home where he won't have to worry about his mom or grandparents being deported. Story continues Much like my mother has done for me, I know with certainty that I would do anything to keep my baby safe. But keeping my baby safe means ensuring he can grow up in a home where he won't have to worry about his mom or grandparents being deported. It means living a life where he won't have to bear the weight of keeping our family afloat financially because employment has never been a certainty for his undocumented loved ones. It means a life where citizenship for his family isn't simply a dream, but a reality. Vice President Harris has the power to deliver citizenship for my family and millions more just like ours if she commits to following through on her word by any means necessary. That day in the White House with her, Vice President Harris looked in my eyes and promised she would fight for me. She would fight for my undocumented parents. And she would fight to keep my family together. Vice President Harris, this is the time to fight. In recent weeks, the Senate parliamentarian has continued to advise against including a pathway to citizenship in President Joe Biden's budget reconciliation package, leaving the lives of millions of undocumented people, including myself and my parents, on the line. Headline after headline, news about the parliamentarian has doubled down on the possibility of citizenship being slammed shut for undocumented communities. But the truth remains: Democrats have the final say on whether citizenship is delivered this year. As the Senate's presiding officer, Vice President Harris has the power and the responsibility to push Democrats to move forward, despite the parliamentarian's opinion, and pass citizenship for millions through reconciliation. In moments of pain and trauma - moments where undocumented lives continue to be put on the line - we have always proven our resilience and our power. But our resilience to fight against anti-immigrant attacks is just as much an indication of our courage and commitment to protecting our communities as it is a reminder that our country's immigration system is, by design, built to hurt us. The Biden administration made a commitment to chart a new path forward on immigration - one that is rooted in humanity, dignity, and protections for all. To truly deliver on her promise to protect immigrant communities and to fight for my family, Vice President Harris must use her power to deliver an expansive and inclusive pathway to citizenship. DACA is not enough. Citizenship for just immigrant youth is not enough. To truly deliver on her promise to protect immigrant communities and to fight for my family, Vice President Harris must use her power to deliver an expansive and inclusive pathway to citizenship. At the end of my meeting with Vice President Harris, she turned to me to take a photo, sharing that this picture was her gift to me and my baby and that she would work hard to make sure my family would never be separated. This photo will forever be a reminder of whether or not Vice President Harris fulfills that promise. Adult film star Ron Jeremy is expected to be tried early next year on multiple rape charges after a hearing Tuesday, during which an unidentified woman stood up and addressed the judge to complain about his "inhumane" treatment. Jeremy's trial is likely to last four to six weeks and is expected to begin by the end of February; a next hearing was scheduled for Dec. 1, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office and Jeremy's lawyer, Stuart Goldfarb. Jeremy, 68, who's been jailed since June 2020 when he was first charged, appeared in the courtroom before Judge George Lomeli wearing a jail jumpsuit, sitting in a wheelchair, his hands cuffed, his long hair turned white, according to Rolling Stone and confirmed by Goldfarb. Jeremy's only comment during the hearing was to answer, "Yes," when asked if he understood that his trial could start around late February. Ron Jeremy at arraignment on rape and sexual assault charges on June 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. Jeremy, whose real name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of sexual assault, including 12 counts of rape, after a grand jury returned an indictment against him on Aug. 25. Goldfarb said the next hearing in December will likely revolve around prosecutors' motion to call more accusers of uncharged alleged "prior bad acts" to testify in the case. Goldfarb said the actual charges against Jeremy involve 20 accusers who say he assaulted them in encounters dating back to 1996. Tuesday's hearing was interrupted when a woman in the gallery in the mostly empty courtroom stood up and addressed the judge, complaining that it is "inhumane" for Jeremy to be in jail and accusing his lawyer of delaying hearings. The judge asked who she was she wouldn't say and her connection to the case. She said Jeremy had been her friend for 10 years. Goldfarb said the woman has done this before at a prior hearing. He said Jeremy knows the woman but the lawyer declined to identify her. The Los Angeles district attorney's office declined to comment. Story continues "This poor woman, she attacked the district attorney, she attacked me, and last summer in court, she screamed out in court, 'Ron I love you!' She's challenged," Goldfarb told USA TODAY. "The judge is not going to allow her to do that again she won't be allowed in court." Goldfarb said Jeremy remains in jail because his bond has been set at $6.6 million. Ron Jeremy ,seen here in 2015, has been charged with sexually assaulting multiple women in Los Angeles. Goldfarb claimed he's been fielding calls "from Canada to Florida" from Jeremy's supporters offering to help and pushing back against the prosecution's case that he's a sexual predator. "He's been in the industry 40 years, he's been entertaining for years, he's a comedian, he's a musician, he's lectured on the First Amendment on college campus all over the country and in London, and he's appeared at hundreds of conventions," Goldfarb said. "People have befriended him over the years. We're going to do whatever we can to show that real side of him that is not being portrayed" by the prosecution. According to grand jury testimony from his accusers, Jeremy is accused of leveraging the novelty of his celebrity to meet and often isolate women whom he raped and sexually assaulted, using the same tactics for years. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog," Jeremy has been among the best-known and most prolific performers in the porn industry for decades, and became a recognizable pop cultural novelty through reality shows, public appearances and music videos. He has long been a magnet for seekers of autographs and selfies, which is how most of the women and girls aged 15 to 51 he is accused of assaulting first met him. Contributing: The Associated Press, Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron Jeremy sex-crimes trial likely February, 'friend' interrupts court Yankton, SD (57078) Today A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High 51F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low near 30F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. If you watch enough old movies, you know that there are two types of bank robberies. The fir Ian McDowell is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which hes proud of and none of which hes ashamed of. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. NEWS - Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Classic Retro Shooter Returns With Gleylancer Classic Retro Shooter Returns A no messin shooter on consoles. Indie publisher Ratalaika Games is pleased to announce the digital release date of Gleylancer coming on PS4, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Switch on October 15th. Originally released in 1992 Greylancer was exclusive to the Sega Mega Drive, released only in Japan and then made an appearance worldwide on the Wii Console in 2008. With continued retro fans and community requests for its appearance on current consoles, its port, with enhancements, which include new accessibility features, translations for the cutscenes has now been completed ready for its release. Billed as a no nonsense, single player, horizontally scrolling shooter, this is a must have for your collection. Features: Improved modes available with accessibility features and modern controls Classic and deep space shoot em up gameplay Epic space opera with anime cutscenes Option to customise the ships attacking power Iconic retro console graphics and sound Legacy 16-bit title from the 1990s! Setting the Scene: The story follows Lucia, a 16-year-old star fighter pilot in the Earth Federation. A war breaks out between humans and an unknown alien race in the year 2025. Lucias father, Ken, a high-ranking admiral in the Federation Navy, is captured after his ship is warped out of the combat zone with 4 alien modules which have the ability of teleportation. Lucia, heart-broken after hearing her fathers disappearance, decides to hijack the prototype fighter CSH-01-XA "GleyLancer" with the help of her friend Teim and go after her father. I explained to the children how God has answered and gave us this chicken. We need to give them a thank you card. declared Hosanna. Yes, you are right, we want to, I agreed. We now just needed the perfect day to butcher chickens. It so happened that my in-laws from Ohio came for a visit the following week. Dad could help us butcher chickens, Daniel suggested. As they arrived at our house we told them about the projected plans of butchering. Last time you were here I told you how Im praying for chicken, now this time youre here we are butchering them! I told my mother-in-law. We made plans to start butchering at 3:00 when Daniel gets off work in the shop. The children and I were eagerly waiting, with their help we had large containers filled with cold water to rinse and cool the chicken. Daniel hung several twines in the barn for butchering, just like my dad always did. As we butchered those first chickens I couldnt resist telling Daniels parents how I link special memories to a job as yucky as butchering chickens or turkeys. I told them of the times Dad and I would butcher cull turkeys at our turkey farm a mile down the road. New Delhi: December Gold futures on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) on Wednesday, October 13, were trading with a gain of Rs 257 at Rs 47455 per 10 grams, courtesy of the rise in the global gold prices. In the national capital, Delhi, gold rose Rs 63 to Rs 46,329 per 10 grams, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had settled at Rs 46,266 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, Silver also jumped Rs 371 to Rs 60,788 per kg, from Rs 60,417 per kg in the previous trade. In the global market, gold was trading higher at USD 1,768 per ounce and silver was flat at USD 22.80 per ounce. "Gold prices traded firm with spot gold prices at COMEX trading 0.46 per cent up at USD 1,768 per ounce on Wednesday. Gold prices traded higher supported by a weaker dollar and lower US bond yields," said HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel. Currently, gold is trading at Rs 47455 per 10 grams. This means that gold is currently selling way cheaper than its record highs. For instance, in August 2020, the yellow metal was trading at about Rs 56,191 per 10 grams. Also Read: Sensex rallies 453 points to new peak, Nifty claims 18,100 level In comparison, gold is currently selling at about Rs Rs 8736 cheaper than its record high prices. This could offer a wonderful opportunity to investors who are planning to invest in the yellow metal amid the festive season. Also Read: Salman Khan announces his NFT collection: Twitter reacts to possibility of bhaicoin - With PTI inputs. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak talked about how the BJP is exploiting the underprivileged of this country. He said that the BJP ruled MCD is exploiting Safai Karamcharis for the last 15 years and crushing the poor for personal gains. Pathak said that BJP has been talking about regularizing 200 employees appointed till 2003, while thousands of sanitation workers are already in the same queue, adding that the BJP has no respect for the people of this country; has not implemented all the promises made to the sanitation workers to date. The AAP MCD in-charge further reinforced that Delhi's development will progress rapidly once the Arvind Kejriwal Model of governance is implemented in MCD like the Delhi government. He said, BJP is talking about regularizing 200 employees appointed by the year 2003, while thousands of sanitation workers are already waiting to be regularized. Neither the promises made by the BJP to the sanitation workers of the corporation to date nor the schemes mentioned by them have been implemented. The dependents of the sanitation workers who died are waiting to get permanent jobs. But their wait as well is not over yet. Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said, The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been exploiting the sanitation workers for the last 15 years. They do not give them a salary, deprive them of their entitlement schemes, make false promises. They even fire their employees saying 'we don't need you anymore. So BJP in its rule is killing employees like this, playing with their sentiments. He continued, Now the BJP is saying that they will regularize 200 employees appointed till the year 2003. Whereas several thousand Safai Karamcharis working on daily wages are waiting for the last 20 years to become regular. So why is the BJP talking of regularizing only 200 employees when thousands of workers are already in the queue? What about the rest of the thousands of employees? I think this is a new ploy of the BJP to mislead the Safai Karamcharis. Because BJP only knows to cheat and mislead people. BJP leaders have repeatedly announced the welfare of sanitation workers in their 2017 election manifesto, in budget speeches and in press conferences. But none of them has been implemented." "Many schemes have been announced to implement cashless health scheme for Safai Karamcharis, to provide them uniform and modern cleaning equipment, to set up rest-rooms for them in each ward, free health insurance etc. But not a single announcement has been implemented so far. Retirement dividend of Safai Karamcharis, implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendation, DA bonus and various arrears have not been paid for many years," Pathak said. In the last 15 years, he said, several thousand Safai Karamcharis have retired but not a single Safai Karamcharis has been appointed in their place. Due to which the additional burden of cleaning has fallen on the shoulders of the remaining employees. The AAP leader continued, The dependents of the sanitation workers who died are waiting to get permanent jobs, but their wait is not over yet. BJP leaders are misleading the sanitation workers by giving false assurances when the municipal elections are nearing 2022. Even before this many times, their strikes have been called off by giving false assurances. BJP leaders cite the poor financial condition of the corporation for not fulfilling the demands of the Safai Karamcharis, whereas they have money to waive the tax of crores of rupees to the advertising mafia and parking mafia. Durgesh Pathak concluded, "False promises are made to the workers. The Aam Aadmi Party opposes this and strongly condemns it. When the Aam Aadmi Party protested, then only they paid salaries. So I want to ask BJP - how much more will they exploit their employees? We know they don't fear the public but they should at least fear God! In the upcoming elections, people are going to throw you out, at least in the time that is left for 6-7 months, do some good work because now the public wants to give a chance to the 'AAP' government. People have understood that if Arvind Kejriwal's government is there in MCD along with Delhi, then Delhi will develop at double the speed. Live TV Boston: India is looking at near close to double-digit growth this year and the country will be one of the fastest-growing economies, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. The minister also emphasised that she expects the economic growth next year to be in the range of 7.5-8.5 per cent, which will be sustained for the next decade. (Also read: FM takes swipe at Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, read what she says) As regards the growth of India, we are looking at near close to double-digit growth this year and this would be the highest in the world. And for the next year, on the basis of this year, (the) growth would definitely be somewhere in the range of eight (per cent), Sitharaman said here on Tuesday during a conversation at Harvard Kennedy School. She noted that while the Ministry of Finance has not done any assessment as yet about the growth number, but the World Bank, IMF and rating agencies have all come nearer to this kind of growth number for India. So, the next year would also be somewhere in the range of eight to nine (per cent), 7.5 to 8.5 (per cent) would be the growth. And I expect that to be sustained for the next decade because of the rate at which expansion in core industries is happening, the rate at which services are growing, I don't see a reason for India to be any way lesser than in the next coming decades, she said. During the conversation with Professor at Harvard University Lawrence Summers during the talk organised by the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Sitharaman, when asked about the state of the global economy, said: I don't think you can have one picture for the entire globe. The emerging market economies are likely to recover speedily and are likely to have a growth trajectory, which will probably be even the title of engine for growth. They are the ones who are going to be pulling forward the global economy. And in that, at least from the data which has been released yesterday and the week before, I can say that India's growth this year will be the highest in the world, of course, based on a lower base of last year, but that will continue into the next year. And even there, we will be one of the fastest-growing economies, she noted. She added that some other countries in the emerging market areas will also record high growth rates. The developed world will also catch up because their base is very high. So, the growth that they can show off will not be closer to double-digit but certainly will be also adding to the global growth, she said, adding that she sees "different picture in different regions. When asked about the sustained growth of 8 per cent, a historical rarity, her medium and longer term vision of where that growth is going to come from, Sitharaman underlined that she does not think the growth of any country post-pandemic can be compared with what had happened earlier, prior to the pandemic. The reset which the globe has seen itself tells you a narrative that the way in which countries are going to plan their growth is going to be very different from what it was earlier, she said. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic itself is one of the reasons for the reset, which is happening from certain geographical territories where people are coming out of it, looking for other places where they can run their businesses from because no longer you have the transparency and rule of law in certain geographical territories. Therefore, the industry is the first one to get out. Investments are the first ones to get out and they are looking for destinations where certain assumptions can be taken up - rule of law, democracy, transparent policies and assurance that you're with a broad global frame of things and that you are not an outlier, that you will not have anything to do with the global scheme of things, and it's no good for us. The minister said all these are extraneous factors that helped India to attract industries to set businesses there. She also pointed out that India itself is a huge market. Today, our demographic dividend is not a dividend without reason. It's a dividend, which has great purchasing power ability. The middle class in India has the money to buy things, she said, adding that the people who are moving from other destinations to invest in India and to produce in India will have a captive market. The same demographic dividend also gives us another advantage - the youth population of India today is a skilled set of youngsters skilled in various different areas, most of them in STEM, the minister noted. Sitharaman said India will attract investments and have the purchasing power to demand the best of things from whoever produces it. India is even today best in agriculture. The food security of many countries depend on imported food. Many in the Middle East depend on India for their basic food materials. We will be one of the largest exporters of food and food processed materials, she added. Similarly, labour intensive units, partly-skilled labour-intensive sectors such as textile, footwear, leather, and certain parts and components for the industry are all manufactured in India. So, I see every reason to believe that this 7.5 to 8.5 (per cent) growth is absolutely sustainable for the next decade. These are features that don't exist in any one country all put together. You may have one in one country, and the other in a different country. But India has it all, the minister said. Live TV #mute New Delhi: In a relief to many, candidates will not be required to have PhD as a mandatory qualification for recruitment to Assistant Professor posts for the time being. The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday (October 12) postponed the mandatory requirement of PhD for candidates to apply for Assistant Professors till July 2023, ANI reported. Making an extension in view of the COVID-19 situation, UGC said in a statement, "University Grant Commission the apex body of Higher Education has made an amendment in the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education), Regulation, 2018 regarding clause 3.10 that stipulates that the Ph.D. degree shall be a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Department of the Universities w.e.f. July 1, 2023. This amendment will be known as UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education), Amendment Regulation, 2021, the Commission said. "This amendment has been published in Part - III, Section- 4 of Gazette of India (Extraordinary) each in Hindi and English which can be downloaded from the official websites," the statement further read. In early October, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had divulged that the Centre has decided not to go ahead with the plan to make PhD the minimum qualification to hire assistant professors this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry has put a temporary hold on PhD for assistant professor recruitment and PhD would not be mandatory for this post as of now but has not been cancelled, he had said. Candidates possessing postgraduate degrees, who have cleared the National Eligibility Test, will continue to remain eligible for recruitments to the assistant professor posts. In 2018, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had modified the criteria for recruitments for entry-level posts at universities and colleges. It had given a three-year window to candidates to complete their PhDs and asked all universities and colleges to start applying the criteria for recruitment from the 2021-22 academic session. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Bollywood's finest of the fine, actress Kajol was spotted at the famous North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal for the celebrations. She looked gorgeous in a pop pink saree and sleeveless blouse. The light-eyed beauty got emotional meeting her uncle Deb Mukherjee along with another relative. Kajol got all teary-eyed as she greeted her relatives and probably met them after long as the COVID-19 pandemic did change life for everyone around. Celeb pap Viral Bhayani shared the video on Instagram, and fans showered the actress with positive comments. Take a look: Deb Mukherjee is Ayan Mukerji's father and Kajol's uncle. At the Sarbonjanin Durga Puja 2021, Kajol's cousins including Sharbani Mukherjee was also spotted and the two sisters posed for clicks as well. Every year, the Mukherjees play an active role during Pujo festivity without a fail. The Kapil Sharma Show actress Sumona Chakravarti was also clicked at the Durga Puja 2021 festivity looking graceful in a saree. The most auspicious Durga Puja festivity began this year on October 11 with Shashthi. The 5-day festivity is a major Bengali festival celebrated with utmost gusto and zeal. Durga Pujo, as Bengalis call it, coincides with the 9-day Navratri festival. It is believed that goddess Durga arrives on earth on the day of Mahalaya to kill the demon Mahishasura. The 5-day Durga Puja festivity, widely celebrated across the globe, is a major festival of Bengalis. Here's wishing everyone a very happy Durga Pujo 2021! New Delhi: Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was a famous Pakistani nuclear scientist and metallurgical engineer who is regarded as the father of Pakistans nuclear weapons programme. Khan gave Pakistan the gas-centrifuge enrichment technology that it used for its nuclear deterrence programme. As the head of Pakistans nuclear program 25, he is considered a national hero. But while he is lauded as a hero in his home country, as per the former CIA Director George Tenet, Khan is at least as dangerous as Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks on the US. For decades Khan was involved in the black market of nuclear technology and sold and traded his expertise to countries like Iran, North Korea, Libya and many more. Khan was not only responsible for single-handedly jumpstarting Pakistans nuclear weapons programme but also gave the technology for weapons of mass destruction to unstable and dictatorial regimes like North Korea and Iran. Khan didnt start out as a nuclear spy but inevitably that is how things turned out. After Pakistans defeat to India in 1971, Pakistan wished to build a nuclear bomb as a future deterrent. During this time, Khan was working at a European company involved in building centrifuges to enrich uranium. Khan secretly copied the files he required and returned to Pakistan, where he set about building and enhancing Pakistans nuclear arsenal and also spreading nuclear technologies to rogue nations. Khan was a major contributor to Iran's centrifuge programme at Natanz and also exchanged nuclear technology with North Korea in exchange for missile technology. According to historical records, Khan had a close and cordial relationship with General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq and the Military of Pakistan. In particular, he maintained a close relationship with Pakistans Air Force. After years of globe-trotting and selling nuclear technology to rogues states, the US finally confronted with evidence of Khans action and he was put under house arrest in 2004. On October 10, 2021 he passed away at the age of 85. But even with Khans death, Pakistans role in providing nuclear technologies to rogue nations and dictatorial leaders continues. In a recent development, Pakistan has formed a nexus with Turkey and is fully supporting President Erdogan in his ambition to turn Turkey into the worlds next nuclear power. According to reports, there have been high-level military dialogues between Pakistan and Turkey. One of these meetings took place on December 22 last year. The Pakistani delegation was led by Defence Secretary Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, while the Turkish side had sent Deputy Chief of Turkish Army, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu to lead their delegation. The Pakistani delegation visited top Turkish defence companies and even met with the CEO of Turkish Aerospace Limited (TAI). These indicators all point towards nuclear delivery and collaboration being the main goal of the dialogue. In a more recent meeting, Pakistans Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Nadeem Raza, visited Turkey from 27th March to 2nd April this year. During his visit, Raza met with Turkeys Chief of General Staff, General Yasar Guler and both of them discussed collaborations on several military projects and existing geopolitical issues. Turkish President Erdogan has already publicly stated that he wishes to create Caliphate atom bomb in order to create a new Caliphate and dominate the Muslim world. In addition to blatantly assisting Turkey in acquiring nuclear capabilities, Pakistan is also subtly assisting Ukraine in getting hold of its own nuclear arsenal. Given the geo-political situation of Ukraine, it finds itself threatened by its Russian neighbour and as a result, more than 20 years after willingly giving up its nuclear arsenal, it has once again begun to have nuclear ambitions in order to safeguard the countrys security. At the same time, Pakistan has been attempting to increase military and defence ties with Ukraine and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa the country in order to further bilateral ties. Pakistan already has an infamous reputation of bartering its nuclear expertise to other nations in exchange for benefits to other military sectors. In this regard, Pakistan has shown interest in several Ukrainian military hardware like the Oplot tank and Skif missiles and thus the very real possibility exists that Pakistan may exchange nuclear know-how in exchange for military hardware from Ukraine. There are three factors that point towards Pakistans collaboration with Ukraine - Ukraines renewed willingness to acquire nuclear weapons, Pakistans past wherein they repeatedly sold nuclear secrets to rogue nations like North Korea and Iran (and continues to do so in Turkey) and Pakistans unbridled attempts to enhance bilateral ties with Ukraine. Live TV Four Muslim men, arrested after activists of the Bajrang Dal objected to their presence at a Garba dance event organized at a private college in Indore, were released on Tuesday after they furnished bonds, an official said. Their family members questioned the rationale behind the arrests. Two of them were students of the same college and serving as volunteers during the event, family members said. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Parag Jain ordered the release of Adnan Shah, Mohammad Umar, Abdul Qadir and Syed Saqib after they furnished bonds of Rs 50,000 each, a district official said. The four were arrested on Sunday under section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) from the campus of a college located in Gandhi Nagar. Abdul Hamid Shah, Adnan's father, told PTI that his son was a student of second year B.Com. "He was serving there as a volunteer and was handling light and sound system during the program," Shah said. Displaying the identity card issued by the college and invitation to the program, he asked, "On what basis my son was sent to jail under CrPC 151? We feel it was done under political pressure." Abdul Aleem, Qadir's elder brother, too said he was handling garba arrangements as a volunteer. But additional superintendent of police Prashant Choube said these men had a dispute with some others during the program, so they were arrested as a precautionary measure under section 151. Eyewitnesses said that Bajrang Dal activists had created a ruckus objecting to the presence of members of the Muslim community at the event, following which police took four persons to the police station. Bajrang Dal's local coordinator Tarun Devda in a complaint filed with Gandhi Nagar police station alleged that the district administration had given permission to the organizers to invite only 800 persons, but they turned it into a commercial event by selling tickets, and between 2,000 to 3,000 people were in attendance. Devda also claimed that by inviting a large number of Muslim youths to a Garba program organized during the holy festival of Navratra, the college was encouraging them to take part in such events. On Devda's complaint, a case under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) was also registered against Akshay Tiwari, a member of the college management, police said. Elsewhere, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday put up posters in Ratlam `prohibiting' the entry of "non-Hindus" at Garba dance pandals to avoid the repeat of "controversial incidents" of the last year. It had put up such posters in 56 pandals with the consent of respective organizers, said an office-bearer of the right-wing outfit. Live TV New Delhi: In a strong-worded message, the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday (October 13) rejected the objections made by China to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidus recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Responding to questions from the media on the issue, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the Chinese claims are unreasonable. We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people, said MEA in a statement. Further, as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements. Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues, it added. Naidu visited Arunachal Pradesh on October 9 and addressed a special session of the state assembly during which he said the visible transformation of the northeast is clear evidence of a resurgence in the region's pace of development which remained neglected for decades. China said that it is firmly opposed to the VP's visit to the state as it has never recognised it. China's position on the boundary issue is consistent and clear. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader's visit to the area concerned, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. Live TV New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday (October 13, 2021) targeted the Centre and said that central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate and the Narcotics Control Bureau, are being misused to target the opposition parties in Maharashtra. The Centre has been continuously using some institutions, like the CBI, Income Tax department, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau. All these agencies are being misused for political purposes, the NCP chief claimed. Sharad Pawar went on to alleged that these developments are taking place to ensure political opponents are "defamed" using the central agencies. Pawar, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress, made these statements at a press conference in Maharashtra. The NCP chiefs statements came days after the I-T department raided some entities linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar said personnel of the agencies have been conducting raids for the sixth day on Wednesday. In the press conference, the NCP chief also referred to the case of former Maharashtra home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh, who is facing probe by central agencies on multiple charges. Sharad Pawar said that Deshmukh had to step down (as home minister of Maharashtra) following allegations levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. "The one who levelled the charges (Param Bir Singh) is untraceable. But, it never happens that a responsible officer makes allegations against a responsible minister. But, Anil Deshmukh resigned and there are a string of allegations against him. And he (Singh) has fled. This is the difference, the NCP president added. Param Bir Singh has been booked in multiple cases of extortion. He is also facing a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act registered in April this year on a complaint lodged by a police inspector. His (Deshmukh's) house was raided for the fifth time. I don't understand what the agencies got after going there for the fifth time. But they (the agencies) have created a record, Sharad Pawar quipped. Taking a dig at the BJP, he said the party leaders are the forefront to defend the central agencies. The NCP chief further said in his 54-year legislative career, he handled administrative responsibilities for nearly 26 years and had good relations with the administration when he was in the opposition or in the government. We never showed arrogance of power, the former Union minister said. He also targeted the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), recently conducted a number of raids including on some high-profile people, saying the Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has done a better job than the central agency. The state agency does its job with honesty, but it appears that the central agency does its job only to give their record to the Centre, he said. Apart from the recent drugs bust onboard a cruise liner off the Mumbai coast, that led to the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, NCB's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede last year investigated a drug case linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and several other matters related to narcotics involving high-profile people. Sharad Pawar said he also got to know about other incidents during Wankhede's tenure at the airport. However, the NCP chief did not elaborate further, saying he does not have full information about this. In his earlier tenure, Wankhede, an IRS officer, had served at the Mumbai airport. Talking about the recent killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district, Sharad Pawar said, "From the very first day, the ruling party (BJP) took a stand that there is no truth in this (killing of farmers). The Uttar Pradesh chief minister cannot absolve himself of the responsibility of not taking action against the crime." Eight people, including four farmers, died in violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. The farmers died after being knocked down by vehicles reportedly carrying BJP workers, after which an angry mob allegedly lynched some people in these vehicles. On Saturday night, Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra was arrested by the police in Lakhimpur Kheri in connection with the October 3 violence. Pawar also demanded the resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra. (With PTI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Indian envoy to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that the "character and content" of Indo US relationship is very substantial and PM Modi and President Biden's "chemistry was very much visible" during the former's Washington visit. Speaking to WION Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Washington, Envoy Sandhu said PM's US visit in September was a "landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance" with key focus during the bilateral on Covid, trade, Afghanistan, defense. The September in-person meet between PM Modi and President Biden was the first such meet between the two leaders since the new admin took charge in Washington earlier this year. He pointed out the increased engagements between the two sides including the visit of US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman, United States' chief of naval operations admiral Michael M Gildays India visit, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's US visit. He said, "No area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership". Both sides will soon be part annual 2+2 foreign and defense ministers meet in US towards the end of the year. He also slammed Pakistan, saying, "events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more". Pakistan's support to cross border terror has been key part of India, US conversations. Sidhant Sibal: How do you describe the visit of PM, in terms of outcome? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: The PMs visit was very important landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance, you are aware of the background of the visit that COVID 19, you yourself was here. There were regional and global developments, and despite all this the summit took place and showed the commitment of the leadership. In this I may say very clear 7 elements of the visit--It was the first in-person bilateral summit of President Biden, first in-person meeting of Vice President Harris, first in-person Quad leaders' summit, bilateral with Japan and Australia, focus meeting with top CEOs, return of Indian antiquities and finally the address to the UN. Let me come to the bilateral, there were very clear 10 takeaways, first of course, in Covid-19 health care which was very much in focus, then on climate-- we heard the concept of trusteeship with PM underlining about climate finance, transfer of technology, third issue was cyber, in which promoting critical infrastructure, building capacities was discussed, then there was the tech in which expanding partnership in new domains including emerging technologies, health security, space, semi-conductors, AI, 5G, 6G, future generation telecom technology, block chain etc. Then there was trade, mechanism like trade policy forum, commercial dialogue, high technology working group, economic and financing dialogue are coming into play and they will enhance trade and economic cooperation. Moreover, the movement of skilled professionals, students, investors, was a priority in the enhanced bilateral economic and technology partnership. Sixth was defense and seventh was terrorism in which cross border terrorism, Mumbai attacks, use of terrorist proxies, working together to deny logical financial military support to terrorism, all this was covered, eight was Afghanistan, ninth was international organization in which India's UNSC and NSG membership these all came in. Final the antiquities, in that, I want to underline, that in the joint statement, President committed to strengthen effort to combat the theft, trafficking of cultural objects, all those developments return took place under that. So what I said in the beginning, in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance, it was a very significant visit. Sidhant Sibal: In terms of PM Modi, Prez Biden meet, how does it give an impetus to India-US ties? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: It was a very important meeting both in terms of signaling, and messaging. Substance, I have mentioned. The 10 takeaways. It was a very warm and positive meeting, I just want bring to your attention, sceptics for long have been saying that once Biden administration comes there will be a change of tone, but I think the chemistry was very much to be seen by all, and I must add here that in both the meetings--bilateral and Quad, the chemistry was very visible, not only to all of us but also other leaders who were there. In this I would say, it is that trust and partnership are key. Both sides have the basic trust, and if you permit me to say, the bipartisan character of the relationship is again being shown here. I have been part of the relationship for the last 20 years and I have been underlining this, I have seen this grow. This has been very reflective, this interaction, this chemistry, and they have earlier interacted in 2014, 2016 but this clearly showed both are very committed to taking the relationship ahead. As PM Modi said, that that this is a decade of transformative relation and he underlined 5 Ts--tradition, technology, trade, trusteeship and talent. Challenges have been international in nature; it is more imperative to work together. For example, Covid-19 surge, you have seen India and US, they have helped each other and this has been recognized by President Biden. It clearly reflected that this chemistry and this meeting will play significant role in giving indication to what is to come in the future. Sidhant Sibal: What more is expected in the relationship. We have seen the visit of US official to India, and Indian officials to the US. More such visits in the anvil? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: It is not wrong to say, no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership. In this, health care, IT, emerging technologies, energy, environment, education, infrastructure, knowledge partnership, supply chain etc. We have seen in joint statement; all of these have been covered. Take a look at the first six months itself, after Biden admin has takeover-- there have been in person meets, the bilateral, Quad. There have been 4 virtual summits-- Quad, climate, covid, G20, and four telephonic calls between PM and President and Vice President. Several other engagements, at EAM level, NSA, various cabinet ministers have been talking with their counterparts. In fact, the commerce minister had interaction with his counterpart in Italy, and as you pointed out the finance minister is in US and has had several meetings in Boston and will be coming later this evening to Washington DC. From US side, a number of visits-- secretary of state Blinken has visited, Secy Autin and Secy Kerry has visited, Deputy NSA has visited and one of the seniors most and most experienced diplomats, Deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman just recently visited India. Just between the time PM has left, we had a very substantial finance minister interaction coming in. Not only because of world bank meetings but also because of meetings at bilateral level. She is interacting with a number of key investment and business counterparts here and there will be roundtable with number of investors. We had the visit of CDS and the defense secretary, the defense policy group has met and from US to India, health dialogue has taken place, industrial security agreement has taken place, then deputy USTR has visited. As you asked what is scheduled, the economic and financial partnership dialogue will happen this week. The chief of naval staff of US is visiting India, then we have Malabar phase 2 exercises, then we have the Yudh Abhyas, the Vajra Prahar, the trade policy forum expected to happen. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue in December, and finally the commercial dialogue, the CEO forum, they all plan in coming months. So, lot of action in coming days. Sidhant Sibal: Wendy Sherman in her remarks said, No interest in returning to days of a hyphenated India and Pak visit is for a narrow and specific purpose. What do u make of the comments? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: I think the remark speak of themselves; I think it is very important to take them as they have been stated. This is also reflected in a number of similar statements from across the board from the US--from the administration, the US Congress, think tanks, media and public at large. It is very significant to understand the length and depth of this relationship between US and India. Everyone here knows, and has been speaking about the character of Pakistan. The events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more. On the other hand, please look at the character and content of relationship with India, which is very different. There is substantial cooperation, much deeper and wider, not only in counter terrorism, take a look at joint statement on counter terrorism. But as I have indicated, the joint statement covered Mumbai, cross border terrorism, terrorist proxies, denying logistical financial military support but as I have said, look at the depth of our relationship--health care, IT, digital, emerging technologies, energy, education and knowledge partnership--that speaks for themselves. Sidhant Sibal: In terms of Quad, where do you see the grouping? Will India host the Quad summit? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: There are global challenges and therefore there is a requirement for like-minded partners coming together. I think QUAD is a reflection of that. There have been intensifying engagements. In 2019, the foreign ministers meet, the first virtual summit took place in March 2021, and that time President Biden had clearly indicated that he would like to hold first in-person summit by end of this year. You saw, by September the first in-person summit took place despite all the challenges, particularly of Covid. You were here and have seen the situation. Here as far as Quad is concerned, the first virtual summit laid out three practical areas of cooperation, those are very very clear and grounded areas. First was Covid-19 vaccines in which 1 billion vaccines by 2022 and mind you these will be produced in India. It is creating capacity in India and that is very much on board. In climate change and critical technology, this summit reviewed all this and took stock of the situation and furthered deepen it. In this summit, leaders have expanded the scope to include new areas and important amongst them is space which includes exchange of satellite data, tackling climate change, sustainable uses of ocean, marine resources, and responding to challenges in shared domains. In cyber security, work force talent and secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure itself. There will be effort by all four countries to map out infrastructure needs, technical assistance and promoting sustainable infrastructure development and for the first time education has been part of the Quad initiative. There is Quad fellowship in Quad areas, and I don't need to remind you, among the 200,000 Indian students in US 2/3 are in STEM areas. These all areas, are practical, people-oriented and underpinned by mutual respect, cooperation for global common good. As PM Modi has himself highlighted, that this is a force for global good. India is going to play a significant role in all these areas. About the annual meeting, the Quad joint statement mentions, they are committed and they will be meeting regularly. Live TV Chandigarh: The central governments new notification of giving more power to the Border Security Force (BSF) in the border state of Punjab has irked certain political parties. While condemning the new notification Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said, I strongly condemn the Government of India's unilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50 km belt running along the international borders, which is a direct attack on the federalism. I urge the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately roll back this irrational decision. According to the notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the jurisdiction of BSF in West Bengal, Punjab and Assam. With the newly given power, the BSF can make arrests and carry out search operations with or without taking the help of the state police. Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) described the move as an assault on federal principle. In a statement, senior Akali leader and former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that this was a frontal assault on the federal principle through highly questionable misuse of constitutional provisions. He said that it was shocking that the BSF has been given sweeping powers divesting the state police of even the normal policing duties. It is pertinent to mention that the Government of India has been issuing border area development funds to the border states to develop 20 km stretch. As per the constitution, only the state government can call out the central forces to aid and assist the state administration. The Center cannot thrust these forces on the state without a formal request from the state government, said Dr Cheema. On the other hand, Punjab's former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh through a tweet said, "Our soldiers are being killed in Kashmir. Were seeing more and more weapons and drugs being pushed by Pak-backed terrorists into Punjab. BSFs enhanced presence and powers will only make us stronger. Lets not drag central armed forces into politics. He further said, Partisan considerations cant and shouldnt dictate our stand on issues of national security. Id said that at the time of the 2016 surgical strikes and am saying it again. Weve to rise above politics when Indias security is at stake, as it is now. Live TV New Delhi: A controversy erupted today when Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at a book launch event said that it was Mahatma Gandhi who had advised Veer Savarkar to apologise to the British government. There are some people who are bent on proving freedom fighter Veer Savarkar a coward. Naturally, the ministers statement did not sit well with these people. Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Wednesday (October 13) discussed the truth behind Savarkars mercy petitions that he wrote to the British government while he served the Kala Pani sentence. There are some people who dislike Savarkar and do not want to acknowledge his friendship with Gandhi. They should know that Gandhi wrote an article supporting Savarkar and also appealed to the British for his release. Veer Savarkar sent a total of 6 mercy petitions to the British government during the punishment of Kala Pani out of which five petitions were sent between 1911 and 1919, while one petition was sent in 1920 on the suggestion of Mahatma Gandhi. But some people are arguing that when Mahatma Gandhi came to India from South Africa in the year 1915, how he advised Veer Savarkar to apologise. Veer Savarkar was first arrested in London in 1909. One of the charges on Savarkar was the abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson. He was also accused of trying to create a war-like situation by instigating a rebellion against the British government. This proves that the British government at that time considered him to be his biggest enemy and he was one of the biggest revolutionaries of India. After his arrest, he was sent to the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the year 1911, which was then also known as Kala Pani Jail. During this sentence, Veer Savarkar was subjected to terrible torture, after which he wrote the first letter to the British government on 30th August 1911 and pleaded the British to waive his sentence. But after 3 days, his petition was rejected. After this, on 14th November 1913, he filed another petition in which he assured not to rebel against the British government. However, there is a difference of opinion among historians about whether this letter should be considered only an apology or a war strategy because Savarkar knew that revolution cannot be brought by being imprisoned in jail and that it was important for him to get out. He served the terrible punishment for 10 years and during this time sent a total of six mercy petitions to the government in 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1918 and 1920. In 1919, after the first World War, King George V of Britain issued an order, under which all political prisoners in prisons were pardoned. This was a gift to the people of India because during the war many leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, had taken an oath of allegiance to the British. Under this order, many prisoners were also released from the Cellular Jail in Andaman, but the British government did not pardon Vinayak Savarkar and his elder brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar. After this Savarkar's younger brother Narayan Rao Savarkar wrote a letter to Mahatma Gandhi on 18 January 1920, which was cited by Vikram Sampath in his book titled Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past. He asked Gandhis advice and help in that situation. He wrote that Savarkar had been serving the sentence for almost 10 years and that his health had suffered a lot and his weight has come down to 45 kg. A week later, Mahatma Gandhi replied to this letter on 25 January 1920. He writes, I have received your letter. It is difficult to give any advice in this matter. But I will give you a suggestion that you should prepare a detailed petition to prove Vinayak Savarkar to be a political prisoner. Gandhi said that this could generate public support. It was only after Mahatma Gandhi's suggestion that Veer Savarkar sent his sixth and last mercy petition to the British government, which was later rejected like the rest of the petitions. Gandhi had also written an article in Young India newspaper on 26 May 2020, titled "Savarkar Brothers" calling for his release. Veer Savarkar remained in jail for a total of 15 years, out of which he spent 10 years in Kala Pani, which was considered the most dreadful prison. Apart from this, he was also under house arrest for 13 years in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. A freedom fighter who spent almost 28 years of his life in such terrible situation for the freedom of the country - Can his patriotism be doubted? But there are some people in the country who are used to playing politics over it. New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was hospitalised on Wednesday (October 13, 2021) evening. The former prime minister was rushed to the hospital after he complained of fever and weakness. He has been admitted to the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (file photo) pic.twitter.com/SAm5NOpeiF ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2021 AIIMS, Delhi said the 89-year-old had a fever on Monday and had recovered from it, but turned weak and is currently on fluids. The eighty-nine year Congress leader had complained of weakness and is stable and under the observation of doctors, hospital sources said. The former prime minister was admitted to the cardioneuro unit of the AIIMS and is under the care of a team of cardiologists led by Dr Nitish Naik, Singh's personal physician for years. "There are some unsubstantiated rumours with regards to former PM, Dr Manmohan Singh ji's health. His condition is stable. He is undergoing routine treatment. We will share any updates as needed. We thank our friends in media for their concern," AICC secretary Pranav Jha tweeted after he was flooded with queries about Singh's health. Many political leaders sent prayers for the early recovery of the former prime minister. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, former Union minister Ashwani Kumar and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also wished Singh a speedy recovery. "Praying for quick recovery and good health of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji who has been admitted to AIIMS," said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. In April this year, Singh was admitted to the hospital due to a coronavirus infection. Live TV Srinagar: There is a new challenge for security forces in Kashmir valley - the presence of part-time or hybrid terrorists'. These terrorists are Hybrid'' are not listed with the security forces as ultras but are people who are radicalized enough to carry terror attacks and then slip back into routine life. In the last two weeks, seven civilians were killed and most of them were shot by pistol-borne youth who are not listed with the security forces. Hybrid terrorists or part-time terrorists are those who are not listed with us but are in touch with militants. They are locally trained and after taking out one or two attacks they slip back into normal life. 97 pistols have been recovered so far this year. This shows Pakistan has a new agenda that maximum number of pistols and hand grenades be pumped. The main reason is to create an atmosphere of fear, said Vijay Kumar, IG Kashmir. Most of the killings that have taken place this year in the Kashmir valley were done using pistols. And many of such attacks were carried out by these part-time terrorists. Police are now trying to break the chain of these attacks. More than 500 people have been detained by the Jammu Kashmir police in the last few days after the rise of civilian killings. There is a new modus operandi of terrorists to kill innocent civilians using pistols. All the policemen who have been killed this year were without weapons at the time of the killing. And most of the attacks were carried out by pistols. It's very easy to carry and attack using a pistol. Pakistan has chosen a new modus operandi to let them use pistols, Kumar added. The security forces are now trying to formulate a new strategy to break through the new modus operandi of the terror groups. Also Read: Top Jaish commander killed in Tral encounter: Jammu and Kashmir police Live TV New Delhi: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on Wednesday (October 13, 2021) declared the results for its CS Professional Program and the Executive program. The candidates who appeared in the ICSI CS examinations can visit the official website www.icsi.edu to check their scores. It may be noted that the institute will also send the scorecard for Professional Programme to the address of all candidates. In case they don't receive it within 30 days of declaration of result, the candidates must contact ICSI. On the other hand, candidates for the Executive and Foundation programs will not be given a physical copy of the results. They will only receive a digital copy of their results through the website. Formal e-result-cum-marks statement of executive programme (old and new syllabus) and foundation programme examinations will be uploaded on the website of institute www.icsi.edu, ICSI had said in a notification earlier. Live TV New Delhi: After the United Kingdoms softening stand on Indians arriving in the country, India reciprocated by lifting the recently imposed restrictions on their nationals visiting here. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued an order which said that the revised guidelines for UK nationals arriving in India issued on October 1, 2021, stand withdrawn. The government added that the earlier guidelines on international arrival issued on February 17, 2021, will be applicable for those arriving in India from the UK. This comes after PM Narendra Modis recent conversation with UK PM Boris Johnson signaling a thaw between the two countries. The tussle regarding travel curbs started after the UK objected to the COVID vaccination certificates issued by the Indian government and called for an additional quarantine period for the visiting Indians. India registered a strong protest against this. In a tit-for-tat move, the country made a 10-day quarantine mandatory for all travelers visiting India from the UK. The rule applied irrespective of vaccination status. But after discussions at various levels, the issue seems to have been resolved as both countries have now reduced the additional curbs. Live TV Boston: The Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which four farmers were killed, is "absolutely condemnable," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, emphasising that there are issues of such nature happening in other parts of India equally which should be raised "when they happen and not when it suits others" because there is a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Sitharaman, who is on an official visit to the US, was responding to a question during a conversation at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday about the killing of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri and the arrest of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra. She was asked why there is no word on this from the prime minister, senior ministers and why there is a "defensive reaction" when somebody asks questions about such things. Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman in a wide-ranging conversation with Mr Larry Summers @LHSummers on the theme of "Structural Reforms and Inclusive Development: Indias Experience" at @Kennedy_School in Boston, USA, today. pic.twitter.com/RYvEGxCvsk Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 12, 2021 "No, absolutely not... It's nice of you to have picked up that one incident which is absolutely condemnable, every one of us say that. Equally there are instances happening elsewhere, is my concern. "India has issues of such nature happening in very many different parts of the country equally. I would like you, and many others, including Dr Amartya Sen, who all know India, to raise it at every time when it happens, not just raise it when it suits us because it's a state where BJP is in power, one of my cabinet colleague's son is in probably trouble, and also assume that it's actually them who did it and not anybody else. Due course of justice will also have a complete inquiry process to establish it," she said. "And it's not being defensive about my party or my Prime Minister. It's being defensive about India. I will talk for India, I will talk for justice for the poor. I will not be mocked at. And if it is mocking, I will be defensive to stand up and say "Sorry, let's talk on facts'. That's my answer for you," she said. Ashish Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit on October 3. To a question on the farmers' protests, Sitharaman said that the three acts which the government brought in were discussed by the various parliamentary committees over a decade. She said all the three acts have been discussed variously by the State governments, by the Center after the BJP came into power in 2014. "This has been in the making for a decade now. Every stakeholder has been consulted," she said. "When the farm laws were brought in the Lok Sabha, there was an elaborate discussion and the agriculture minister gave his reply as well. It was only when it came to the Rajya Sabha, there was a lot of noise and disturbance," she said. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and several other states have been protesting on various borders of Delhi since November 26 last year, seeking repeal of three farm laws enacted in September. Dubbing these laws as "anti-farmer", these farmers claim that the newly enacted legislations would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations. Sitharaman said the protesters belong to one state and some parts of other states - "Punjab, Haryana and some parts of western Uttar Pradesh." She said the government has been saying that it is willing to talk with the protesters and has been engaging with them. The government has asked pointedly what is that one aspect in any one of the three laws which have been passed to which the protesters object, she said. "We are willing to talk about it, tell us that one particular aspect in any one of the three laws. Till date, we have not had even one particular aspect which is being questioned. And therefore, the protesters are not sure on what score they are protesting, what is it that they are objecting. "Then there's this issue about the minimum support price to be given to farmers," she said, adding that the MSP are announced well in time and the farmers can decide whether they want to grow a crop or not and they can otherwise choose to grow something else. She said once the farmers choose to grow any of these, for which a minimum support price is announced and procurements are done, through direct benefit transfer using technology, money is deposited as a lump sum into their accounts. "The highest amount of procurement, the largest ever payment per farmer under the minimum support price which is declared has happened in the last seven years after Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has come. Highest ever. "The number of farmers, the total quantum of money, total quantum of grain procured in each one of them - the highest as has happened season after season in the last seven years," she said. Highlighting that there are recorded conversations "which you can see of farmers even from Punjab, even from Haryana", she said farmers have got the entire amount into their account. "This is verifiable, not a claim which I'm making. You can go and check it out. Highest amount and the entire amount is given into the account directly the day after procurement is done. No staggering, no delaying," she said. "So we have not been told what it is that they're protesting against as yet and the minister is willing to talk even today." Live TV The landlord of Mohammed Asraf, the Pakistani terrorist who was arrested from East Delhis Laxmi Nagar on Tuesday, said that they were not in touch for six months. Uzaib, the landlord said that his father got Asrafs Aadhaar card made. He said, He lived here for 6 months. My father got his Aadhar card made for documentation. After he left, we were not in touch with him. If needed, we will cooperate with the police. He lived here for 6 months. My father got his Aadhar Card made for documentation...After he left, we were not in touch with him...If needed, we will cooperate with the police: Uzaib, landlord of terrorist Mohd Asraf, who was arrested by DP Special Cell pic.twitter.com/bnjgk4KadZ ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2021 Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Police said it has foiled a major terror plan during the festival season with the arrest of a 40-year-old Pakistani terrorist who has ISI links and had been living in India for over ten years under a fake identity. Mohammad Ashraf alias Ali Ahmed Noorie, a resident of Naroval in Pakistan's Punjab province, was arrested from east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, officials said, adding he is also suspected to be involved in terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India in the past. The police said that preliminary interrogation revealed that Ashraf had been acting as head of a sleeper cell in India and was assigned to carry out terror strikes during the festival season at the behest of Pakistan's ISI. Based on his interrogation, raids were carried out in and around the Trans-Yamuna area and one AK-47 assault rifle, one hand grenade, two magazines of AK-47 along with 60 rounds, two sophisticated China-made pistols along with 50 rounds, and one Indian passport and other Indian IDs obtained on forged documents were recovered from his possession, the police claimed. Ashraf came to India via Bangladesh and had been staying in the country for over a decade as Ali Ahmed Noorie. On Monday, information was received that Ashraf was staying in the area of Laxmi Nagar. Thereafter, a team was deployed at Laxmi Nagar area and it apprehended Ashraf, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha said. In pics: Terrorist arrested in Laxmi Nagar, drama unfolds in Bigg Boss 15 The police said that with the arrest of Ashraf, a possible terror strike during the festival season has been averted. The police got a tip-off around two months ago regarding an active sleeper cell, officials said. They found that a Pakistani national has been directed to undertake terror attacks in India and was in an advanced stage of preparation for procuring arms and explosives. It was also learnt that Ashraf has been an active part of a sleeper cell and has carried out many terror attacks and espionage activities in India in the last several years, police said. He has managed to obtain Indian identities and had been living in Delhi while posing as a 'maulana' (religious preacher), they said. A case under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act and Arms Act has been registered in order to thoroughly investigate the matter and to prevent any terror attack, the police said. Ashraf was recruited by the Pakistani spy agency ISI directly after he completed his Class X and was trained for six months, he said. He had been staying in India using the fake identity of Ali Ahmed Noori, a resident of Shastri Park in Delhi, the DCP said. In 2004, he got his training from an ISI handler code name Nasir' in Sialkot, Pakistan. Nasir motivated him to work as a sleeper cell for subversive activities for Pakistan in India, police said. After completion of his training, Ashraf managed to enter India through the Siliguri border, West Bengal during the same year. He stayed in Siliguri for a couple of months and later went to Ajmer and befriended a cleric at a local mosque in Ajmer, police said. In 2006, he accompanied the cleric to Delhi. He came to a factory of a relative of the cleric in the walled city area and started Tilawat (daily wages prayer job) at factories in that locality, they said. He met other relatives of the cleric and managed to win over their trust and started receiving money from his ISI handler via money transfer through their IDs, police said. During his stay in India, he was in regular touch with his handler Nasir through different secure communication channels of social media. Recently, he was tasked by his Pakistani handler to carry out terror strikes during the festival season and the recovered arms and ammunition were arranged by the Pakistani handler to carry out the same, Kushwaha said. Officials said Ashraf was supposed to get information from Nasir about the planned terror attack. He has changed five-six locations in over a decade, they said. He never stayed at any specific location for long and to acquire documents, he also got married to a woman in Vaishali, Ghaziabad for a couple of months and later left his wife. He lived in India in various places, including Delhi, Ajmer, Ghaziabad, Jammu and Udhampur, they said. He established his Indian identity from a village in Bihar after his marriage. Later, he made ID cards on other addresses and on the basis of those documents, he got his passport made in 2014. He had visited Saudi Arabia and Thailand, police said, adding that the dates are being verified. He has a permanent address of Bihar and has different addresses on other IDs, they said. He portrayed himself as 'Peer Maulana' and claimed to cure diseases by reading Ayats from Quran in Delhi and nearby areas. He has two hideouts in Delhi -- one in the walled city and the other one in Laxmi Nagar, police said. Further investigations are on including if a lone wolf attack had been planned. The identification of the source of the weapon is also underway, police said. (With inputs from PTI) Live TV New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (October 12) said Veer Savarkar wrote mercy petitions when he was lodged in Andaman jail on the suggestion of Mahatma Gandhi. Attending the launch of a book on Savarkar, Singh as quoted by ANI said, Lies were spread about Savarkar. Time and again, it was said that he filed mercy petitions before British government seeking his release from jail... It was Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to file mercy petitions. #WATCH | Lies were spread about Savarkar. Time & again, it was said that he filed mercy petitions before British Govt seeking his release from jail... It was Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to file mercy petitions: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at launch of a book on Savarkar y'day pic.twitter.com/Pov4mI0Ieg ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2021 Calling Savarkar a "national icon", the defence minister alleged that people who adhere to Marxist and Leninist ideology wrongly accuse him as a fascist. "He was an icon of the Indian history and will remain so. There can be a difference of opinion about him, but to look down on him as inferior is not appropriate and justifiable. He was a freedom fighter and a staunch nationalist, but people who follow the Marxist and Leninist ideology are the ones who accuse Savarkar of being a fascist, PTI quoted Singh as saying. Lauding Savarkar, the veteran BJP leader said, "Savarkar was India's first military strategic affairs expert in the 20th century, who gave the country a robust defence and diplomatic doctrine. Singh said for Savarkar "Hindu" was not associated with any religion, but it was linked to India's geographical and political identity. "For Savarkar, an ideal state was the one where its citizens were not differentiated on the basis of their culture and religion and therefore, there is a need to deeply understand his Hindutva," he added. Meanwhile, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said Savarkar's ideology of Hindutva never suggested to differentiate between people on the basis of their culture and methodology of worshipping the god. "Savarkar used to say, why do we differentiate? We are the sons of the same motherland, we are brothers. The different methodologies of worship have been the tradition of our country. We have been fighting for the country together," he said. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested five more terror operatives in Jammu and Kashmir terrorism conspiracy case on Wednesday (October 13). The agency said that the five were involved in a conspiracy for undertaking violent terrorist acts in J&K and other major cities by cadres of proscribed terrorist organisations Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and their affiliates. The arrested have been identified as Md Haneef Chiralu, Hafeez, Owais Dar, Mateen Bhat and Arif Farooq Bhat. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the 05 arrested accused persons are terror associates/OGWs of various proscribed terrorist organisations and have been instrumental in providing logistical support to terrorists and facilitating them in carrying out terror activities, said NIA in a statement. During the searches, the NIA seized electronic devices and incriminating jihadi documents. Live TV New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday (October 12) conducted raids at 16 locations in Jammu and Kashmir in a major crackdown against terror outfits. NIA arrested four people including Waseem Ahmed Sofi, Tariq Ahmed Dar, Bilal Ahmed Mir aka Bilal Fufu and Tariq Ahmed Bafanda in a terrorism conspiracy case. According to a preliminary investigation, the accused persons are "terror associates or Over Ground Workers (OGW) of various proscribed terrorist organisations and have been providing logistical and material support to terrorists and facilitating them in their nefarious designs," NIA said. These raids were conducted across several locations in J&K districts including Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian districts. Releasing a statement, NIA said, The case pertains to information received regarding hatching of conspiracy both physically and in cyberspace for undertaking violent terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir and other major cities including New Delhi, by cadres of proscribed terrorist organisations Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and similar other outfits and their affiliates such as the Resistance Front (TRF), People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF) etc. The terror associates/OGWs of these organisations are conspiring with their handlers and commanders based in a neighboring country and also indulging in radicalization of local youth for the purpose of recruiting and training them in handling of arms, ammunition and explosives. These terrorists and cadres have effected several terrorist acts including killings of numerous innocent civilians and security personnel, unleashing a reign of terror in the valley of Kashmir, thereby challenging the writ of the state, the statement further read. NIA recovered several electronic devices, incriminating jehadi documents, records of suspicious financial transactions during its searches on Tuesday. Further investigation into the case is underway. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Gamaleya Center on Wednesday said one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrates 70 percent efficacy against infection with the Delta variant of coronavirus during the first three months after vaccination. Gamaleya Center has submitted an article analysing the efficacy of the Sputnik Light vaccine against the Delta variant to the medRxiv preprint server for health sciences, RDIF said in a statement. The analysis was conducted based on data from 28,000 participants who had received a single dose of Sputnik Light, compared with a control group of 5.6 million individuals who were not vaccinated. The data used in the study was collected in July 2021 in Moscow, it added. "The vaccine is more than 75 percent effective among subjects under the age of 60. Sputnik Light also provides much higher efficacy against severe disease and hospitalisations," RDIF said in a statement. ALSO READ | India reports 18,833 new COVID-19 cases, active count drops to lowest in nearly 7 months The one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine is authorised in more than 15 countries, with ongoing registration processes in another 30 countries, it added. "The Delta variant of coronavirus is one of the most common and dangerous strains. The data analysis presented in the article by the Gamaleya Center demonstrates that Sputnik Light remains highly effective months after vaccination," Gamaleya Center Deputy Director Denis Logunov said. The vaccine's one-shot regimen makes it a strong solution for countries with low vaccination rates. Sputnik Light can also be successfully used to maintain existing herd immunity as a booster shot, he added. On the development, RDIF Chief Executive Officer Kirill Dmitriev said, "The efficacy results of the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine against the Delta variant of coronavirus significantly outperform those of a number of two-shot vaccines." Sputnik Light is safe and highly effective when used both on a standalone basis and when combined with other vaccines, he added. ALSO READ | Covaxin recommended for 2 to 18-year-olds in India "RDIF actively supports research into combinations of Sputnik Light with other vaccines and has also invited independent international researchers and scientific institutions to cooperate on real-world studies of safety and efficacy of coronavirus vaccines," Dmitriev said. Live TV New Delhi: PM GatiShakti-National Master Plan will give a push and direction to various development plans besides encouraging investments, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal at Pragati Maidan here on Wednesday (October 13). He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the G20 summit will be held here in 2023 for the first time. Addressing the function, the Union Minister said, "PM GatiShakti-National Master Plan will give a push and direction to various development plans and will also encourage investments. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the G20 summit will be held here in 2023 for the first time." PM Modi launched PM GatiShakti-National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity at Pragati Maidan in the national capital. PM GatiShakti is the result of the Prime Minister`s constant endeavour to build Next Generation Infrastructure which improves Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business. The multi-modal connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services from one mode of transport to another. The plan will facilitate the last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people.PM GatiShakti will provide the public and business community information regarding the upcoming connectivity projects, other business hubs, industrial areas, and the surrounding environment. Under the PM GatiShakti, the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports and UDAN. Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity and make Indian businesses more competitive. The plan will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics). Notably, Rs 100 lakh crore national master plan for multi-modal connectivity aims to develop infrastructure to reduce logistic costs and boost the economy. It targets to cut logistic costs, increase cargo handling capacity and reduce the turnaround time, Modi said at a function to launch the plan. The plan involves the creation of a common umbrella platform through which infrastructure projects can be planned and implemented in an efficacious manner by way of coordination between various ministries/departments on a real-time basis. (With Agency Inputs) Live TV New Delhi: With the Taliban seizing control of Afghanistan, the security agencies here are apprehensive of a surge in the incidents of both surface and aerial infiltration from across the border into the Indian territory. The top commanders of Indias first line of defence- Border Security Force (BSF)- have rushed to the forward areas of Indo Pak international border in Punjab to review the situation and fortify the borders to prevent any temerarious attempts in the future even as the incidents of violation of Indian airspace by the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) flying from Pakistan's soil have increased in recent past. Since August 15 when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan there have been over five incidents of violation of Indian airspace in the Gurdaspur sector alone which has triggered the panic button prompting the BSF to take stock of the situation and not only strengthen its presence at the nearly 553 kilometres of international border with Pakistan in Punjab but also put in place the high-end surveillance systems. According to sources, there have been a total of sixteen incidents of drone infiltration in the Gurdaspur sector alone during the current year. In few attempts, Pak drones have been successful in airdropping the arms, ammunition, and drugs too. On the night of October 5, there have been three incidents of sighting of drones in the Gurdaspur sector of BSF. Two drones were spotted simultaneously in the area of responsibility of Bohar Vadala and Kashyam Barman Border out Posts (BoP) of BSF while another drone was sighted in the area of Chauntra BoP. ISI-backed Pakistan militant groups have always been trying to find chinks on the international border in Punjab to infiltrate into India and cause havoc informed sources. It is believed that the Pak fidayeens suicide bombers who had sneaked into Indian territory to carry out pre-dawn attacks at Dinanagar police station and Pathankot Air Force station on July 27, 2015, and January 2, 2016, respectively had infiltrated into India via the Gurdaspur sector. In 2019 drones originating from Pakistan had dropped weapons in Punjab's border district Tarn Taran villages. In December 2020 Pak drones had successfully dropped 11 Austrian made hand grenades, 1 AK 47 rifle, and ammunition in the border villages of Gurdaspur. During his two-day visit to Punjab in the recent past, the BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh visited the border areas under the Gurdaspur sector and reviewed the domination and operational preparedness on the ground. After being briefed by the operational commanders, the BSF DG also gave suitable directions to further strengthen the domination. Srinagar: A top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander was killed in a gun battle that started between the security forces and terrorists in Tilwani Mohalla in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmirs Awantipora district on Wednesday (October 13). Terrorist Sham Sofi (was) killed in Tral encounter, IGP Kashmir said. Top JeM Commander #terrorist Sham Sofi killed in Tral #Encounter: IGP Kashmir@JmuKmrPolice Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 13, 2021 The security forces suspect there are one or two militants trapped. The joint operation of CRPF and the police was launched after receiving inputs of the presence of terrorists in the area. A police officer said, As a joint searching team of forces cordoned the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon the searching party which was retaliated and an encounter started. Kashmir zone police tweeted, #Encounter has started at Tilwani Mohalla Waggad in #Tral area of #Awantipora. Police & Security Forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. The sources in the police said that they have input that one to two terrorists are trapped. However, the actual number can be said once the operation concludes, he added. This is the fifth encounter in the last three days between security forces and terrorists in the union territory. So far, seven terrorists have been killed by security forces in the last four encounters. Live TV New Delhi: Anushka Sharma who is currently embracing her motherhood after welcoming her first child Vamika, has now shared a heart-warming post on the auspicious occasion of Durga Ashtami. The post has been dedicated to her daughter Vamika in which Anushka can be seen cuddling with her little toddler. Sharing the picture on her Instagram handle, she wrote, Making me braver and more courageous every day. May you always find the strength of the goddess in you my little Vamika Happy Ashtami.. Fans and members of the film fraternity flooded the post with likes and comments. Virat and Anushka got married in a fairytale wedding that was only attended by the couple's family and friends on December 11 in 2017. Post their nuptials in Italy, the couple hosted grand receptions in Delhi and Mumbai. The duo had welcomed their daughter at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital on January 11, 2021. Meanwhile, on the work front, Anushka, who was last seen in the 2018 movie 'Zero', co-starring actors Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, has produced two acclaimed projects - Amazon Prime Video web series 'Pataal Lok' and Netflix movie 'Bulbbul'. She is currently producing 'Qala', which marks late actor Irrfan Khan's son Babil's debut. New Delhi: Veteran actor Shatrugan Sinha has extended his support to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan, who is arrested in a drugs case by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Without mincing his words, the veteran actor and politician said that Aryan Khan is targetted as he is SRKs son and it has given people, a chance to settle scores with the actor. Shatrugan also points out that no drugs were recovered from Aryans possession. Shah Rukh is definitely the reason why the boy is being targeted. There are other names like Munmun Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant, but nobody is talking about them. The last time such a thing happened, the focus was on Deepika Padukone, although there were other names involved, and known names too, but the focus was on her only, Shatrugan told ETimes. On being asked if it is Shah Rukhs Muslim identity that has caused the trouble, the veteran actor does not agree. We cannot say that its his religion that has come in the way, but some people have begun using that subject now, which is not right at all. Whoever is an Indian is the son of India and all are equal under our constitution, he said. Shatrugan Sinha also questioned the investigation and asked why Aryan is still behind bars despite no drugs recovered from him. We also know they havent found any drug on him, nor have they got any incriminating material. Even if they had found any drug, the punishment is at the most one year but that does not arise in this case. Another big question that needs to be asked after they arrested Aryan and others, why werent the urine and blood tests done? That is normally done in these kinds of cases. The veteran actor also called the film industry people a bunch of scared folks as they are afraid to speak on issues. Nobody wants to come forward. Everyone thinks it's the other persons problem and he should deal with it. They want the person to fight his own battle. The industry is a bunch of scared folks. Just like the godi media they are godi kalakars. The NCB on October 2 evening raided a cruise ship that was going from Mumbai to Goa and made a seizure of 13 grams of Cocaine, 5 grams of MD, 21 grams of Charas and 22 pills of MDMA and 1.33 lakhs in cash. Aryan Khan was also present on the cruise ship and was detained along with seven others Arbaz Seth Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha, Vikrant Chhoker, Ismeet Singh, Nupur Sarika, Gomit Chopra and Mohak Jaswal by the officials. The next day he and Arbaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were arrested. No recovery of drugs was made from Aryan personally. New Delhi: Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan is mother to two of the nation's most papped and loved kids - Taimur Ali Khan (4 years old) and Jehangir Ali Khan (8 months old). The Veere Di Wedding actress however wants to raise her kids in a way that they are aware of the LGBTQ community who she says are no different from straight people. Even calling them (those from the LGBTQ community) 'different' is something I don't like. We are one. That's the whole idea. Why are people even saying that 'this is different'? No! We're all the same na with our hearts, lungs, and liver so why are we seeing them in any other way? That's the way I think and that's the way I'll always bring up my boys to think also, the actress told Filmfare magazine in an interview. Sending love to her fans belonging to the LGBTQ community, Bebo said she and Saif are open-minded and open-hearted and thats how they plan to raise their kids. love you guys! I love the fact that you always shower me with so much love. I'm all for transparency and both Saif and I are people who live life transparently and have friends all over the world from the LGBTQ community. We are open-hearted and open-minded and that's the way I look forward to bringing up my children. We talk to them about issues pertaining to the community and I feel that's how it should be, shared the actress. On the work front, Kareena will next be seen in Aamir Khans Laal Singh Chaddha which is an official Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood film, Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks. The movie is set to release on February 14, 2022. New Delhi: Days after announcing separation from wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Naga Chaitanya has ended his social media silence. He tweeted after a brief hiatus and it's certainly not what you are expecting it to be. Chay, as he is fondly called, took to Twitter and wished good luck to the team of upcoming Telugu film Anubhavinchu Raja. He shared the title song and wrote: Heres the fun- filled massive mass title track of #AnubhavinchuRaja https://youtu.be/19me5pGFHLs Good luck to the entire team ! @AnnapurnaStdios @SVCLLP @itsRajTarun @GavireddySreenu @adityamusic @GopiSundarOffl A few days back, Samantha also posted something on social media. Her first social media post after announcing separation from her husband Naga Chaitanya happens to be on Lakme Fashion Week. Announcing separation, ChaySam (as they were fondly called by fans) wrote in a joint statement shared on social media: To all our well-wishers. After much deliberation and thought Chay and I have decided to part ways as husband and wife to pursue our own paths. We are fortunate to have a friendship of over a decade that was the very core of our relationship which we believe will always hold a special bond between us. We request our fans , well wishers and the media to support us during this difficult time and give us the privacy we need to move on. Thanking you for your support. For the unversed, the rumours of ChaySam divorce (their fans call them that) gained ground after Sam dropped Akkineni (her surname) from social media handles. Samantha and Chaitanya met on the set of Gautham Menon's Ye Maaya Chesave in 2010 and dated for a while. The couple tied the knot in Goa on October 6, 2017, followed by a Christian wedding on October 7, 2017, respectively. On the work front, she made her digital debut with Manoj Bajpayee starrer 'The Family Man Season 2' which earned her immense love and appreciation. She even bagged the Best Actress (Series) award for her performance as Raji in The Family Man Season 2 at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2021. Naga's film Love Story with Sai Pallavi was released on September 30, 2021. New Delhi: Couple Shefali Jariwala and Parag Tiwari have celebrated Kanya Pujan at their home by offering food to unprivileged girls. Talking about the same, the couple said, "Every year we celebrate Navratri at home, we bring Matarani at home and we fast for all the days, ashtami is a very big day for us, that's when we perform the Kanya pooja. Every year we invite children that live around our streets, some from the slums, even the kids of our domestic house helps. We wash their feet and we take their blessings. We cook traditional halwa, puri and channa for them and we feed all of them at home. We also give them chocolates and gifts as a token of appreciation." According to Shefali and Parag, the girls are a "swaroop of Maa Durga." "This is just our way to celebrate Ashtami. These children dont come from fortunate backgrounds and if we can do something for them our way with the blessings of Mata Rani then why not. We believe that these Kanyas are a swaroop of Maa Durga and once we feed them, we then break our Navratri fast and eat the same food as them. I feel this is a very positive time of the year, it's a very big day for us and we try to make it joyous for these kids as much as we can," they added. Celebrities like Shilpa Shetty and Yuvraj Singh have also shared pictures of their Kanya Pujan celebrations on social media. New Delhi: Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL) on Tuesday launch Micro ATMs across the country. Customers of all banks who possess a debit card can use a Kotak Micro ATM for key banking services such as cash withdrawals and checking account balances. A mini version of an ATM, micro ATMs are small handheld devices. "KMBL is using its extensive Business Correspondents (BC) network to launch micro ATMs. The Business Correspondent could be a shopkeeper for instance, who will act as a convenient touchpoint for customers and assist them with the transaction. Using their debit card and PIN, customers can conduct transactions instantly through the Kotak micro ATM. The micro ATM is connected to the core banking network using the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology," a bank statement said. (This Bank to shuts down its ATMs from October 1 --Got an account here?) In the first phase, KMBL is introducing micro ATMs in the outskirts of the top 8 metro cities locations where the demand for cash withdrawal services is high but the prevalence of ATMs is low. The Bank has four Strategic Business Units Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Treasury, which cater to retail and corporate customers across urban and rural India. As on 30th June, 2021, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has a national footprint of 1,612 branches and 2,591 ATMs, and branches in GIFT City and DIFC (Dubai). Live TV #mute New Delhi: The nail-biting contest in the BIGG BOSS house has become more intense as contestants keep coming up with cunning strategies, and rivalries continue to grow. Surviving the wild has tested the Junglewasis like never before. They are now eager to get back into the house to live comfortably. After a long wait, Bigg Boss has now given them a chance to do so as they take on a quirky task. As Junglewasis break into teams for this task, they brace themselves to put their best foot forward. Meanwhile, Vishal finds an alternative to get back into the house. Knowing that Shamita is the Sanchalak that decides which team has the upper hand, Vishal approaches her with his plan. He smartly convinces her that she would benefit from having him and his team in the house. Agar aaj tum apne liye nahi khelogi na, toh phir aage chance nahi milega!, he says. As Shamita gives her decision in favour of team Tiger, the opposing team senses foul play and begins arguing with her. Now that Shamita has taken this bold step, she will have to face the wrath of the Junglewasis in the other team, who take her on with a complete fury. On the other hand, another conflict begins between Jay and Karan, who have remained good friends so far this season. While Karan raises objections about Jays swearing, the latter stands his ground. He argues with Karan saying, Mujhe maalum hai ki main sahi hoon! Karan, however, points how Jay hasnt been in good form, unlike Pratik. In an unexpected twist, the tide seems to be turning for Pratik as Jay begins to lose his closest friends in the show. Only time will tell what will happen in future. Meanwhile, things aren't smooth in the couple Ieshaan and Miesha's lives, where an argument has erupted, threatening to compromise their relationship. Ieshaan expresses his discomfort at Miesha openly talking about their relationship, assuming everyone is making fun of them. This upsets her as she asks him to shut up. In a fit of anger, she even swears at him and says, Mujhse baat mat karna! Is this the end of their bittersweet romance? To see what happens next, keep watching this space for more updates related to Bigg Boss 15. New Delhi: One of the iconic Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata this year made on the world-famous skyscraper Dubai's Burj Khalifa has suspended its laser show on Monday evening allegedly after pilots of commercial planes' complained to the Air Traffic Control in the city. Flight movements affected due to lighting system at Sreebhumi Durga Puja Pandal, South Dumdum. Captains from three different flights lodged a complaint with Kolkata ATC yesterday. ATC has already informed Kolkata Airport Authority, airport sources were quoted by ANI. The organisers Sreebhumi Sporting Club, however, denied receiving complaints. They said the laser strobe lights were switched off to prevent overcrowding in view of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Presently, only still lights are on at the pandal in the Lake Town area. Kolkata, WB | We haven't received any complaint. Lights have been reduced in the pandal as there's a huge footfall of people here: State Min & Sree Bhumi Sporting Club chief, Sujit Bose on being asked about a complaint allegedly against pandal lights hindering flight movement pic.twitter.com/rcJQHi1o3G ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2021 The 145-feet pandal was erected in the lake town on the outskirts of Kolkata based on the theme of Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa tower and it has been a major crowd-puller this year. The laser show at the pandal, much like 829 m Dubai's coloured projectors, changed colours from red to blue to yellow. The state fire minister Sujit Bose, who a part of the organising committee, said. Every year, we build one iconic structure as our `pandal (marquee). Last year, we had built a replica of the Kedarnath Temple. This year our artist proposed Burj Khalifa we sent him to Dubai to get every detail of the structure so that a good job could be done," he had said in an earlier interview. Live TV Beijing: Amid Chinas bid to tighten the control over free speech in the country, the Xi Jinping-led government added investment in media organisations to a list of `banned investments`. As per the measure posted in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP`s) website, the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) said it is `soliciting public opinion` on adding private sector investment in media organisations to a list of banned investments, Radio Free Asia reported. "The government is making sure that it controls its message, it won`t hand over the pen to anyone else," a retired lecturer at Shanxi University adding that "It wants a dominating voice to rule over everything." The order stated that "organisations with no public sector investment shall not engage in business involving newsgathering, editing or broadcasting."This order intends to curb private investments in news agencies, newspaper publishing groups, radio or television broadcasters, and providers of online news, editing services or publishers, the order stated. Besides the media, Beijing has also banned private investments in areas including political, economic, military, or diplomatic organisations, Radio Free Asia reported. Meanwhile, China has also significantly increased its efforts to influence media coverage to improve the global narrative about itself. Beijing has been using media as an important tool for asserting power and enhancing its narrative in international discourse, China is bankrolling scholars, journalists, and experts abroad, censoring domestic media while keeping a tab on Chinese Diaspora abroad, The HK Post reported. Live TV Washington: The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. They are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters. Lawmakers from New York state praised the move. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. The officials from President Joe Biden`s administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump`s administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico. The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said. Canada on Aug. 9 began allowing fully vaccinated U.S. visitors for non-essential travel. Once the U.S. curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing U.S. land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said. U.S. lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern U.S. border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions. The White House announced on Sept. 20 that the United States in early November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections. By contrast, all non-U.S. air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight - and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization. The U.S. land border restrictions have not barred U.S. citizens from returning home. Live TV